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

Capitulum novum. Edgarus.

EDGAR ȝong [ȝung, γ.] of sixtene ȝere olde was i-made kyng, and regnede after his broþer aboute an sixtene [yere]. [From Cx.; ȝere, β., ȝer, γ.] In þe twelþe ȝere of hym [ham, β. and γ.] in Athamannus [Athamannes, β.] his citee, [Athamannes cyte, Cx.] þat is Baþe, þe fifteþe [fiftenþe, β.; vyfteþe, γ.] day of May, in a Witsonday, he was anoynt [anoynted, β.; enoynted, Cx.] kyng of þe holy bisshops Donston and Oswold; anon he reconsilede Donston, and made hym of þe abbot of Gastyngbury [Glastonbury, γ., et infra.] bisshop of Wircestre; [Wircetre, β.; Wyrcetre, Cx.] he onede [oned, β.; connexyd, Cx.] þe kyngdoms þat were to deled, [to deled] divided, β.; devyded, Cx.] and made þerof [but, add. Cx.] oon kyngdom. He bare doun wickded [wicked, β.; wykked, Cx.] men, and chastede hem þat were rebel; he loved wel good men and sobre; [sober, γ.] he rapayralde [reparailed, β.] and amendes [amended, β.; amendede, γ.] chirches. In meny places he dede [plas he dude, γ.] awey clerkes þat lyvede in outrage, and dede þere oþer [oþer] om. α., β., and Cx.] monkes. Trevisa. In þat, save reverens [reverence, β. and Cx.; reve|rauns, γ.] of Edgar, he was lewedlich i-meoved, while þere were oþer clerkes þat lyvede wel i-now. [ynowȝ, β.] Þanne it foloweþ [volweþ, γ.] in þe storie: he bulde moo þan fourty abbayes, amonge þe whiche [whoche, γ.] he made

riche Glastyngbury, [Glastenbury, β. and Cx.] Abyngdoun, Burgh, Thorney, Ramsey, Wiltoun, and Wynchestre; but at Wynchestre, in þe newe abbay þat now hatte Hida [Hyda, β. and γ.] for an happe þat þere byfel, [bifil, β.; byvul, γ.] he was þe firste þat dued [dide, β.; dude, γ.] monkes in stede [put in monkes instede, Cx.] of clerkes, [monkes, α.] for clerkes fliȝ þe travayle of þe queere, [kere, γ.] and spended [spende, γ.] þe catel of holy cherche in oþer places [plas, γ.] at here owne wille, and dede [dede] om. β. and Cx.] vikers [dude vykers, γ.] in here stede þat hadde ful [fol, γ.] litel for to lyve by; and whanne þey wolde nouȝt be amended by warnynge of [warnynge of] om. Cx.] kyng Edgar, noþer of bisshop Ethelwolde, noþer of þe arche|bisshop Donston, þe kyng ȝaf þe provendres [provendes, Cx.] of þese [þues, γ.] chirches [clerkes, β. and Cx.] to þe forseide [vorseyd, γ.] vikers. But þe [þese, β.] vikers were worse þanne þe raþere whan þey were i-made persouns, and lyvede in more out|rage þan þe raþer dede; and [and now . . . hem nedede (page 467)] om. β., γ., and Cx.] now for þe moste partie monkes beeþ worste of alle, for þey beþ to riche, and þat makeþ hem to take more hede aboute seculer besynesse þan gostely devo|cioun; þerfore, as it is i-seide bifore in 4^o. libro in þe 26 capitulo, by Ierom, seþþe holy cherche encresede in possessiouns hit haþ decresed in vertues. Þerfore seculer lordes schulde take awey the superfluyte of here possessiouns, and ȝeve it to hem þat nedeþ, or elles whan þey knowen þat, þey beeþ cause and mayn|tenours of here evel dedes, seþþe þey helpeþ nouȝt to amende hit while it is in hir power, what evere covetous preostes seyn.

For it were almesse to take awey þe superfluite of here pos|sessiouns now, þan it was at þe firste fundacioun to ȝeve hem what hem nedede. [See note 19, page 465.] Þanne þe kyng was agreved, and by assent of þe þrittenteþe [þritteþe, α.; xiii., Cx.] pope Iohn he put [pot, γ.] awey [awey] out, Cx.] þe clerkes and brouȝt [brouȝt] put, Cx.] þere [þare, γ.] monkes. Willelmus ubi supra. In his tyme was noon þeof i-take, [þef ytake, γ.] open ne prive, þat he ne hadde his peyne. Also þis kyng caste to destroye [distruye, β.; destruye, γ.] þe wilde bestes [beestis, β.] þat desireþ blood, þerfore he made Ludwallus kyng of Wales bere [to bere, β.] hym certeyne ȝeres a tribute of þre hondred wolfes, and whanne he hadde payed þus [þese, α.; þys, γ.; this, Cx.] þre ȝere to giders, in þe fourþe ȝere myȝte nevere a wolf be founde. [founden, β. and Cx.; yvound, γ.] Item Willelmus. Þeigh [Þouȝ, β.] þis Edgar were smal and litel of stature he wolde overcome everich man, were he evere so strong, þat wolde wiþ hym fiȝte. [vyȝte, γ.] In a tyme at a feste þere [þere] from β.; where, Cx.; þre, MS.] iangelers [þare jangulers, γ.] scheweþ hem self most, me seiþ þat Kynadius, [Kynadus, Cx., et infra.] kyng of Scottes, seide in his game þat it semede wonder þat so meny provinces and londes were suget to so litel a man as Edgar was. A mynstral herde [mynystral hurde, γ.] þat worde and tolde

þe kyng fore, [fore] om. Cx.; vore, γ.] and he tolde nouȝt his men [fore], [From α. (not β. and Cx.); vore, γ.] but aroos [he aros, β.] up from [bote aros vram, γ.] þe feste þere Kynadius was, and hadde Kynadius to hym as it were for a greet counsaile, and ladde hym fer [ver, γ.] into a wode, and took hym oon of tweie swerdes þat he hadde brouȝt wiþ hym, and spak to Kynadius, and seide: "Now þou hast leve to kyþe [kiþe, β.; kuþe, γ.] þy strengeþe, and assaye [assaye] from β.; stryngþe and assaye, γ.; essay, Cx.; assaile, MS.] wheþer of us tweyne schal be suget to oþer, for now we beeþ here al [al] om. γ. and Cx.] alone: [here aloon, β.] hit is a foule [voul, γ.] þing for a kyng to iangle moche [myche, β.] at þe feste and nouȝt fiȝte [vyȝte, γ.] in batayle." Kynadius was aschamed, [abasshyd, Cx.] and fil doun to Edgar his feet, and prayed hym for|ȝifnesse of þat symple word þat he hadde i-seide in his game. Everich somer after he wolde gadre [gaddre, γ.] schippes to gidres, and departe hem afoure, and sette hem in þe foure parties of Enge|lond. Þanne wiþ þe weste navey he wolde seile [seyle, β.] into þe norþ contrey, [cuntray (quater), β.] wiþ þe norþ navey he wolde seyle into þe est [est] from α., β., γ., and Cx.; west, MS.] contray, wiþ þe est navey he wolde seille into þe souþ contray, and wiþ þe souþ navey into þe west [west] from α., β., γ., and Cx.; est, MS.] contray. In þat doynge

he was a mylde aspie for see [see] þe, β.; se, γ.] þeves [espye for the theves, Cx.] schulde nouȝt greve in water noþer in londe. In þe wynter tyme he wolde ryde aboute in þe lond, and enquere and aspye for see þeeves and [for . . . and] om. α. and β.] þe domes and dedes of his ministres. He wolde take cruel [cruwel, β. and γ.] wreche of hem þat trespased aȝenst [trespaside aȝenus, β.] þe law. At al tyme he was a profitable [profithabel, γ.] counsaillour for þe comynte; but he favored þe Danes unwisely in hire axynge, ffor unneþe was þere oon street in Engelonde but Danes woned þerynne with Englische men. Þat was i-suffred wiþ a good herte, but þerof com a wel [wel] ryght, Cx.] grevous ende, for þe Danes were grete drynkers by kynde, [kunde, γ.] and lefte wiþ Englisshe men þat oon doynge þat is i-knowe [knowen, β.] and dureþ alwey, so þat now þe doynge of Englisshe men doþ preiudice [pryjudice, Cx.] to al þe world in emptynge [amtyng, β.] of cuppes. [worl in amtynge of coppes, γ.] Þerfore kyng Edgar made stike nayles in þe cuppes, [coppes, γ., bis.] and marked [merked, β.] so þe cuppes, for þey schulde drynke by mesure anon to þe nayles. Willelmus de Regibus et Pontificibus, libro 2^o. Þan þis Edgar on his wif Egelfleda, þe white by hir surname, [surname] om. Cx.] he ghat [gate, β.; bygate, Cx.] his eldest sone Edward, þat was aftirward [Edward, add. Cx.] kyng and martir. Þan oon Alfritha, þe duke his douȝter of

Devenschire, he gat Edmond þat deide tofore his fader, and Egelredus þat regnede after seint Edward. At þe laste [laste] om. β.] on seint Wilfritha he gat seint Edithe þe mayde. Þis Wilfritha was nouȝt verrayliche [verreylyche, γ.; verely, Cx.] a mynchoun, [monchon, β., et infra; meyn|chyn, γ.; menchon, Cx.] as þe comoun [comyn, β. and γ.] sawe madliche meneþ, but for drede [deede, Cx.] of kyng Edgar, þat desirede here unlawfulliche, [unlawefollych, γ.] sche took [heo toke, β.] mynchene [monchon, β.; nonnes, Cx.; he touk meynchene, γ.] cloþynge, but so sche [heo, β.; hue, γ.] was i-brouȝt to þe kynges bed: and for þe kyng lay by þat womman þat was i-hold and semede a mynchoun, [meynchen, γ.; nonne, Cx.] he was i-blamed of seynt Donston, and dede penaunce sevene ȝere. Also whan sche [heo, β., bis, et infra; hue, γ., bis.] hadde childe sche [heo, β., bis, et infra; hue, γ., bis.] forsook flescheliche [vleyshliche, γ.] likinge and manis companye, and lyvede religiousliche, [relygyously, Cx.] and is i-holde a seynt in þe abbay of Wiltoun, so it is i-seide. Also of here douȝter Edithe it is i-seide þat while sche was a myn|choun [menchon, Cx.; hue was meyn|chen, γ.] at Wiltoun sche [hue, γ., quater.] used ofter [ofte, Cx.] gayer cloþes þan here professioun axede, [axide, β.] and sche [hue, γ., quater.] was þerfore i-blamed of seint Ethelwold, [Ethelword, α.] and sche [hue, γ., quater.] answerde noþer unkovenabeliche [uncovenablich, β.; unkuvena|beliche, γ.; uncovenably, Cx.] noþer ful curteisliche: [curtously, Cx.; fol corteys|lyche, γ.] "Goddes dome," quod sche, [hue, γ., quater.] "[þat] [From α. and Cx.] may

nouȝt faille, he [he] om. α., β., γ., and Cx.] is i-plesed onliche wiþ conscience; þerfore I trowe þat as clene a soule may be under þis [þues, γ.; these, Cx.] cloþes þat beeþ arayed wiþ golde, as under þyn slit furrour [slyt forour, β., γ., and Cx.] skynnes." In a tyme while Donston halowed [halewide, β.] a chirche, he sigh [syȝ, β.] þis [þues, γ.] mayde croyse ofte here owne forhede wiþ here riȝt þombe. Donston was glad þerof, and seide: "I praye God þat þat þombe mote nevere roote." [rotye, α., β., and γ.; rotte, Cx.] And anon at þe masse Donston gan to wepe, [weope, β.] and seide, "Anon after sexe wokes þis faire [þues veyre, γ.] rose schal folwe:" [welwye, β.; wolwe, γ.; wel wydre, Cx.] and so it byfel. [hit bifil, β.] For afterward whan here body was i-take up of þe erþe it was i-founde [yvounde, γ.] al i-roted [founden al rooted, β.] and [i-roted and] om. γ.] i-torned into powder, [to pouþere, α.] out take þe [þat, α.] thombe and here wombe wiþ þe prive chose byneþe. Donston hadde þerof greet won|der, and þouȝte moche þerynne, and why it myȝte be. Þanne sche [heo, β.; hue, γ., and to the end of the chapter.] appered to hym, and tolde hym þe cause, and seide: "Wonder þow riȝt nowt þey I [þouȝ ich, β.; þeyȝ ich, γ.] be hole [hool, β.; hol, γ.] and sownde in þe neþer partie [partyes, α. and γ.; parties, β.; partes, Cx.] of my body, for I [ich, γ.] was nevere gilty [gulty, γ.] of out|rage

of mete and drynke, noþer of flescheliche likynge." Also of þis holy mayde it is i-rad þat while [wile, β.] kyng Canutus lyvede litel [lovede lyte, α. and γ.; loved litel, β.; loved lytel sayntes, Cx.] on [on] om. α., β., and γ.] seyntes of Engelond, ones in a Witsontyde at Wiltoun at a feste he made open [oppen, γ.] mowes, and scornede seint Edithe, and seide þat he wolde nevere trowe þat of Edgar his children, [chyldern, γ.] þat was leccherous and a greet tyraunt, schulde be a seynt. Ednotus þe archebisshop wiþseide, þat þo was present þere, [þere present, α. and β.] and opened anon þe grave of þe mayde. Þanne sche [heo, β., et infra.] arered here self up [to] [From β. and γ.] þe girdel stede, so þat it semede as þeyȝ sche schulde [schulde] wolde, β.; wold, Cx.] have i-resed on þe rebel kyng. For [vor, γ.] þat drede [dede, Cx.] þe kyng was astonyed, [astoneyed, γ.] and fil [vul, γ.] doun to þe grounde as þeyȝ he were i-sowe, [a swowe, β.; y-swowe, γ.; in a swoun, Cx.] and drowȝ breth at þe laste, and was aschamed, and glad þat he was i-saved and i-kept [entended, Cx.] to do worþy penaunce. [penauns, γ.]