The chronicle of Iohn Hardyng. Containing an account of public transactions from the earliest period of English history to the beginning of the reign of King Edward the Fourth. Together with the continuation by Richard Grafton, to the thirty fourth year of King Henry the Eighth. The former part collated with two manuscripts of the author's own time; the last, with Grafton's duplicate edition. To which are added a biographical and literary preface, and an index, by Henry Ellis.

The. C.xii. Chapiter.

¶ Edward, the first kyng of Englande, reigned. xxiii [xxiiii. edit. alt.] . yere, and died the yere of Christe. ix. C. and. xix.

EDwarde his sōne so crouned was anone Of Westsex, then by all the parlyamēt Protectour was made [was he.] again the fone,

Which warred sore in Englād by assēt The yere. viii. C. lxxx. and fyftene [sextene.] spent, Earle Athylwolde [Ethelwolde.] he exyled into Fraunce, For he a nonne had rauyshed to his vsaunce.

¶ But after that this same erle Athylwolde [Ethelwolde.] With Danyshe hoste Mers and Estanglande [Englande. edit. alt.] Destroyed sore bothe [but.] ; kyng Edwarde full bolde, Slewe Ethalwode [Ethilwolde.] and his hoost I vnderstande, Discomfet whole and droue them out of lande; And made all kynges of Englande his subiectes, For so he thought it was his very dettes.

¶ He sommoned then at London his parliamēt, Where he deposed the kynges euerichone Of all Englande, and made them by assent Dukes and earles [thence] forwarde so anon; In euery [eche.] kyngdome then he ordayned one, And in some three, he made by ordynaunce, And all kyngdomes foriuged by gouernaunce.

¶ And he to be [been.] the kyng of all Englande, Proclaymed whole to voyde all varyaunce, Discorde, and warre, that many yeres had stande Whyles seuen kynges had the gouernaunce, There might no lawe ne peace haue perseueraūce; Wherefore he toke of euery [euerich.] duke homage, Of erles also, and of the baronage.

¶ Scotland and Wales he warred sore in dede, [Homage of y^e Scottes.] Till they became his men, and made homage For souerayne lorde of Britayne, as I rede. The kynges then [ther.] dyd for their herytage, For all theyr men and for their vasselage, To ryde with hym where that euer he gooe, In warre and peace agayne frende [both frende.] and fooe.

¶ Duke Ethelrede of Mers, and also [als.] his wyfe Elfled that hyght, Westchester then repayred, That wasted was by Danes warre and strife [The Harleian MS. adds, Whiles they this londe assailed with malice fired.] [Fol. C.xiii.] ,

Whiche Roomaynes first builded had and feired, [In tyme when thei to this lande repeired:] Of Roomayne werke, whiles thei here [ther.] occupied That citee first, full freshly edified.

¶ Thē faught the kyng w^t Danes at Wodefeld sore, In Mers [Merse.] , & also at Herford, w^t greate pain, Wher victorye he had of theim euermore; Again he faught with Danes soth to sain At Towcester, and laid theim on the plain. In Yorkeshire also [als.] he slewe the Danes downe [all.] , And voided [voide.] theim all out of his region.