The story of England

¶ Diuisio Regni inter Belynum & Brennum.

Belyn and Brenne parted þe lond On þys manere, als y hit fond: Brenne schold of Belyn holde His lond, fro Humber northward he tolde; Line 2804 Ilk del in-tyl Katenesse [

Belyn lete brenne of him holdefro humber north his lond he toldeIlk a dele vnto Cathenesse.

] Held Brenne of Belyn, more ne lesse; Seruise schold he do þer fore, He & hyse for euere more. Line 2808 Belyn held til his partie, Logers, [Londres, Wace.] Wales, & Cornubye. So þey helden hit [held it.] fyue ȝer In pes & in faire maner; Line 2812 Bot contek & couetyse Out of þe north wyl alwey [will algate.] ryse, ffor þus men seide by elde [be olde.] dawe, & ȝit hit ys a comun sawe: Line 2816 " Souþerne [sothron.] der gos Northward, " & Norþerne [northren.] werre to þe south ys hard;

" Bot norþern [sothron.] der & souþern [northren.] werre, " Non dredeþ, oþer þey come nought nerre; " Bot norþerne [werre] [northern were.] þat ys þe doute, Line 2821 " & southern [souhren.] der þe norþ dos loute." In Brennes tyme, als ȝe may here, [Lambeth folio 12b:2] Hit ferde in þys ilke manere; Line 2824 Abouten Brenne were lozengeours, Bakbiteres & werreours: On was þer þat ful euele spak To whette Brenne to reyse contak; [

One þer was þat wikly spakebituex þe breþer raised contake.

] Line 2828 Þus he spak al wiþ tresoun:— Y gyue swyche [gyf suylk.] [Petyt folio 17b:2] Crystes malisoun!—