Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum octavum.

EDREDUS, consecrate of Odo archebischop of Cawnterbury, in þe towne of Kyngeston, succedid Edmunde his broþer x. yere; for the childer of his broþer, Edwyne and Edgare, were but of tendre age. This kynge Edredus contryvede soore men of Northumbrelonde rebellynge ageyne hym in the firste yere of his reigne; wherefore the Scottes, dredynge hym, made theim subiecte to hym. Iohn the xij^te succedid Agapitus the pope viij. yere. Albericus the fader of whom, a myȝhty man in the cite of Rome, commaunded the noble men of the

cite to swere that, Agapitus dedde, thei scholde electe his son Octovian to be pope, and so thei did, and callede hym Iohn; whiche was a hunter and insolente, in so moche that he wolde kepe women openly. Wherefore somme of the cardinalles perceyvynge that, did wryte to Otho themperoure, that he wolde comme to Rome, and save the churche from sclawnder. The pope understondynge that, causede the noose of the cownseillour to be kytte awey, and the honde of the wryter. Neverthelesse the pope warnede oftetymes by themperoure and by the clergy to amende hym of that grete vice; whiche wyllynge not to amende hym, was deposede, and Leo subrogate in his stedde. But themperoure returnede, a man callede Benedicte was electe; wherefore themperoure turnynge to the cite of Rome, segede hit until thei restorede Leo to be pope, and sende Benedicte to hym. Lodowicus, son of Charls the simple, and kynge of the Weste men of Fraunce, diede in this yere; whom Lotharius his son did succede xxxvij^ti yere, and

diede withowte eny childer. Marianus. But kynge Edmunde remembrenge the infidelite of men of Northumbrelonde, wastede theire londe, and brente the monastery of Ripen; but the kynge returnede from Yorke, an hoste brekynge owte from that cite hurte soore the extreme parte of the kynges [folio 306b] hoste. The kynge, displeasede moche, intended to have de|stroyede utterly the cuntre abowte Yorke; but men of Nor|thumbrelonde pleasede the kynge with ȝiftes. This kynge Edredus laborynge in grete infirmite, sende for seynte Dun|stan his confessour, whiche makynge grete haste to comme to hym, herde a voyce seyenge: "Kynge Edredus restethe nowe in pease." That voyce herde, the horse on whom seynte Dunstan did ryde felle downe to the grownde, withowte eny hurte to the sytter on hym, and dyede. And seynte Dunstan beryede hym at Wynchestre in the olde monastery; whiche

dedde withowte eny childer, Edwinus, the firste son of Ed|mund, was consecrate into the kynge of Ynglonde, by Odo archebischoppe of Cawnterbery, at Kyngeston nye to London; whiche felle into unlawefulle desire of the flesche and synne in the firste day of his consecracion. Whiche reprovede of seynte Dunstan þerfore, put hym to exile, and, takynge the goodes of the monkes, constreynede theym to exile, and ȝafe the monastery of Malmesbery to his clerkes, the monkes ex|pulsed. But at the laste men of Northumbrelonde and of the Marches expulsede this kynge Edwyne for his wikked life, and erecte Edgarus his broþer into þe kynge, havynge xvj. yere in age. In the begynnynge of the reigne of whom seynte Dunstan herde angells syngynge: "Pease is spronge to the londe of Ynglischemen;" and the foreseide Edwyne reignede allemoste iiij. yere, and was beryede at Wynchestre. Never|thelesse his sawle was delyverede from helle unto purgatory

after his dethe thro the praier of seynte Dunstan. Willelmus de Regibus, libro ij ^o. And lyke as the same grownde berethe and norischethe bothe goode herbes and ylle, and oþer while a feire roose is nexte to a nettelle, so in lyke wise of Edmunde kynge come ij. sonnes, Edwine moste wickede, and Edgare moste goode.