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

C^m 26^m.

THE thridde Henry the secunde Henryes sone regned amonge Duchys [Duche, Cx.] men as it were fifty ȝere. Som tyme he dis|tourbed holy chirche agenus pope Hiltebrand [Hyllebrande, Cx.] and wolde ȝif he myȝt have put yn another pope; but he was ceesed at laste and went to the Holy Lond with the dukes Godefride and Beamund, as hit schal be seide ynner more. After Victor, the nynthe Steven abbot of Mount Cassin was pope eiȝte monethes. After hym the tenthe Benet was pope nyne monethes. He cam yn by strengthe and resigned the poperiche afterwards. Agelricus, bischop of Durham, lefte his own bischoprich by his owne gode wille and went into the abbay of Burgh [Bourgh, Cx.] there he was norisched and lyved twelve ȝere in pees and quyete. His brother Agelwyn was bischop after hym. Marian'. Also this ȝere the noble erle Leofricus, the sone of Leofwynus, duke of Mercia deyde in his own toun Bromleygh, [Bromley, Cx.] the last day of Novembre and was buryed at Coventre in the abbay that he had buld. Som tym by counseyl of God and of his owne wif Godgiva, that worschiped myche oure Lady, he amended and made riche the abbayes of Leoven [Leonen, Cx.] besides Herford, of Wenlok of Wircetre and of Evesham and twey chirches of Chester oon of Seynt Joon and another of Seynt Werburgh. While he was alyve his witt and his redynes stode in grete stede, to the lond of Englisch men. R. Also at a [α] om. γ.] busy prayer of his wif he made his toun of Coventre fre of al maner tol [tolle, Cx., bis.] out take the tol of horses. [hors, γ.] For to have [habbe þat, γ.] the [the] that, Cx.] fredom graunted his wife Godgiva the countesse rode naked thurȝ the myddel of the toun in a morowe tide nouȝt heled [in a morning not keuered, Cx.] but with hir owne heer. After the deth of Leofricus his sone Algarus had the erledome of Mercia, but the same ȝere he was convict of tresoun and

outlawed. But of Griffyn kyng of Wales he was underfonge as he had y-be toforhond and reconciled. Willelmus de Regibus. A ȝonge citesyn of Rome Lucianus by his name a riche man of catel [cataylle, Cx.] and of gold, a man of grete kyn, he wedded a wif Eugenia, by cause therof he made a grete feeste and went into the felde after mete, with other men to descharge the stomak. And this newe wedded man for he wolde playe atte bal, dide his spousyng ryng on the finger [vyngur, γ.] of an ymage that was there fast by. And whanne he had pleyed and was hote he drouȝ hym first out of the game and went to fecche [vechche, γ.; fette, Cx.] aȝen his ring. But he fond the ymages fynger with the ring y-clyȝt into the pawme [pame, γ.] of the hond. Thanne he bigan to wrynge and wraste [wreste, γ.] longe tyme but he myȝt nouȝt wrest of the ryng nother wreche [wreth, Cx.] ne breke nother ryȝt up the fynger, thanne he went stillich [stilleche, γ.] awey for his felawes schuld nouȝt wite [wytte, Cx.] therof lest thei wolde scorne hym while he were there, other take awey the ryng whanne he were thennes. Thanne he cam thider with his servauntes whanne it was derk nyȝt and fond the fynger y|streiȝt out and the ryng awey and had grete wonder. Whanne it was tyme he arayed hym to bed with his wif and feled [velede, γ.] a dym thing and a sad walwe [walowe, Cx.] bitwene hym and his wif. And that spake to hym and seyde; Ly by me and dele with me for thou hast spoused me this day, ich am the goddesse [godas, γ.] Venus. Thanne he was sore aferde and woke al the nyȝt; and so hit ferde [vurde, γ.] as it were everech nyȝt. Thanne his wif playned and chargide that he schulde warne his fader and his moder and so he dide. Thanne his fader and his moder warned Palumbus the prest [prust, γ.] of the suburbes that was the grettest nigromauncer that was thanne alyve. He feng grete mede [myde, γ.] and ȝaf the ȝonge man a lettre that he schulde take to hym that he mette last a nyȝt commynge aȝenus hym with a chare [chaar, Cx.] in the metyng of twey weyes. The ȝonge man stode in the metyng of the twey weyes at nyȝt and syȝ a womman sitte on a mule arayed as a strompet [a strompet] om. γ.] an hoore [houre, γ.] and hir heer abrode with a chaplet [cheplet, γ.] of gold on hir hed and a ȝerde [rodde, Cx.] of gold in her hand. Thanne he toke his lettre to hym that cam laste rydyng. Whanne the lettre was rad that principal feende haf [vend have, γ.; hafe, Cx.] up bothe hondes to hevene and seide; Almyȝty God, how longe schal the wicked|nesse of Palumbus the prest dure. Anoon his knyȝtes come

to Venus to have the ryng, but heo wrenchide and blenchide [blynchede, γ.] and strof longe tyme, but atte last the knyȝtes wreste of hir the ryng and toke hit to the ȝong man aȝen and so he had his wille and ioye of his love that he had longe desired, but Palumbus herde the fende crye of hym unto hevene, and kitte [of] [From Cx.] his owne lymes and knowlechide al his trespas to the pope in the presence and heryng of the peple. Mar'. Aldre|dus bischop of Wircetre made seynt Wulfstan [Wolstan, γ.] priour of Wir|cetre by leve of the kyng, and ȝaf the bischoprich of Wiltoun to Herman, that was com aȝen from byȝond see. And Al|dredus went over see and forth by Hungary a [α] on, Cx.] pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Me redith of no bischop of Englond that so dide tofore that tyme. At Coloyn in Almayn twey abbayes of Scottes were brent with her owne fuyre. Oon Paternus [Patronus, Cx., tris.] a monk that was there closed warned hem of that brennyng long tyme to|forhond. But whanne the fuyre was y-come, he wolde out in noon maner wise but there he was brent for love of martirdom. Trevisa. In that doyng Paternus the monk semeth a lewide gost [lewde goost, Cx.] that kouthe nouȝt know the cause and circumstaunces of verye [verrey, γ.] martirdom, for there is no verye martirdom, but hit be for meyntenyng other for the feth [other for the feth] om. γ.] of truthe and with|stonding of wronge and [and] om. γ.] of synne, but God graunt ȝif hit is his wille, that Paternus be noȝt dampned for his blinde de|vocioun. Thanne hit follewith in the storye. About that tyme in the provynce of Apulia was y-founde an ymage of marbul, with an hed of bras and had a garlond in the whiche garlond hit was writen. The first day of Maij atte sunne risyng, y schal have an hed of gold. A Sarsyn, [Sarasyn, Cx.] that the duke of the Longobardes had take prisoner, understode what hit schuld meene [what it meaned, Cx.] and come the first day of Maij and toke heede of the schadewe of the ymage in lengthe and brede, and fonde under the schadewe wonder grete tresour and payed hit [hit] om. Cx.] for his raunson. Willelmus de Regibus.

END OF VOL. VII.