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

SEQUITUR CAPITULUM SECUNDUM. Capitulum secundum.

THIS yere was an huge froste lastyng fro saynt Andrews tyde vnto the fourtenthe kalendas of Apryll. In this yere ther was a scoler whiche slepte contynuelly by the terme of seven yere in Lubyke. And after he awoke and lyved long tyme. Also this year was a grete batayll bytwene Syre Johan of Mountford, duc of Brytayne, and Syre Charles de Bloys, but the vyctorye fylle to syre Johan thurgh helpe and socoure of

Englysshmen. This same yere deyde at the maner of Savoye kynge Johan of Fraunce, and after was caryed to saynt Denys in Fraunce & there buryed. After Innocent, the fyfth Urban was pope eyght yere. This was abbot of Massylyenne of saynt Benettes ordre,doctour of decrees, and reputed an hooly man; he made to be preched grete pardon to warre ageynst the Turkes; vnto him seint Brygytta was sente from Cryst for confermacion of her Rule & ordre. Atte laste he was poysoned and deyde. In this yere seynt Katheryn of Senys was in her floures, an hooly vyrgyn of the ordre of the frere prechours; she had the stygmates in her handes and feete and side: whiche deyde the yere of our lord MCCC. & four score. This yere was or|deyned that Peter pens from thens forth sholde not be payd, whiche of old tyme was graunted for contynuynge of scole in Rome. In this yere was borne at Bourdeaux Rychard, prynce Edwardys sonne; whiche after the deth of his fader and of kyng Edward also was crowned kyng in the enleventhe yere of his age by ryght lygne and assent of al the comunes of the royame. This yere fyl a grete variaunce in Spayn & grete warre bytwene Peter ryghtful kyng of Spayne & Henry his bastarde broder, in soo moche that kynge Peter cam to prynce Edward to Bordeux to axe socour and helpe of hym, on whome he had grete compassion & pyte. And by lycence of kyng Edward his fader he pourveyed for his ayde and helpe. In this tyme was seen thre dayes duryng in the Scottyssh see two Egles, one comyng out of the south and that other out of the north, which fought fyerfly to geder, & the south fyrst scomfyted the north egle, & he than fled home ageyne to his own costys; & anon after were seen many sterrys gadred to geder on one hepe, which fyl doun to therth leming with fire lemes in maner of lightnynges, whos flames brente mens clothes & heris walkyng on the ground. In this yere prince Edward & the duk of Lancastre, his broder, with a grete armee went in to Spayn, and had a batayll at Nazers ageynst Syre Harry the Bastard whiche had putte doune kynge Peter, & wan the bataylle and had the vyctorye, and put the bastard and his men to flyght, and there were slayne a syx thousand of the bastardes partye, and a two thousande prysonners taken, of whome the Erle of Dene, Syre Bertram Claykyn, and many other lordes were prysoners; & the noble Prynce Edward restored the sayd kyng Peter to his Royamme ageyne. In the same yere was seen a blasyng sterre named Cometa bytwene the north & south, with bemes to|ward Fraunce. In this yere sir Leonel, kynge Edwardes sone due of Clarence, wente to Melane and maryed the doughter of Galoys, And in the natyvyte of oure Lady he deyde. In this yere the bastard of Spayne reentryd ageyne, and slewe the kyng Peter, the two and twentyest day of August.

In this same yere the Frensshmen brake the pees rydyng in Guyan and Pontiew, takynge castels and tounes, surmysynge on the Englysshe men subtylly and vntruly that they were cause of the brekynge of the pees. In this same yere deyde the Duchesse of Lancastre, and is buryed at Powlys in London.