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 firste Chapter.

¶ Of the. xxx. susters that first inhabited this lande & named it Albion, that nowe is Englande, Wales & Scotlande.

THe whyle that Troye was reignyng in his might, In Greece there was a kynge right excellente, That Dioclesiā some booke [bookes.] sayeth he hight, [Kyng Dioclesyā and Albyne his wyfe.] And of Surray that had the regimente. Dame Albyne hight his wife, a lady gente, Who doughters had. xxx. wedded to there degree, To kynges all of greate nobilitee:

¶ Whiche fell in pryde and hye elacion, Thynkyng to be in no subieccion Of husbandes more, ne dominacion, But only, by a fell conieccion, Toke hole purpose and full affeccion, To kyll there lordes slepyng sodaynly, Soueraynes to be, and [lyue all] [reygne.] seuerally.