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. xlii. Chapiter.

¶ How Iulius Caesar came to Britayn, that nowe is Englande, and arryued in Thamis, and fled to Fraunce for newe succour.

HE made also then Tenancius [Tennancius.] , Duke fo Cornwail, y^t time of mikel might, In whiche tyme so came Caesar Iulius Into the lande of Fraunce, that nowe so hight; [And on a daye walkyng vp and downe full right] [And whan he hade it gotyn with manly fight.] On the sea syde, wher he this lande did see, Desyryng sore [of it] [thereofe.] the souerayntee.

¶ His nauye greate, with many soudyoures, To sayle anone into this Britayn made, In Thamis aroue [arrofe.] , wher he had ful sharpe shores [shoures.] ,

And countred was with Brytons that abade With Cassibalayn, the kyng of Brytons brade: Wher, after battayll, smytten [soore smetyn.] and forfought, Iulius fled, and then preuayled nought,

¶ To Fraunce agayn, and there he did soiorne, The Frenche wer fayn of his discomfiture, And trowed to make hym so fro theim retorne; [But the Britons full besely did there cure In this batell, as came them of nature:] [

In this bataile, as come theym of nature, Were these astates, whiche were of grete norture.

] The dukes of Kent, and eke of Cornewayle, And Nemynus theyr Eme did moste preuayle.

¶ Crudan, the kyng that tyme of Albany, Gnechet [Guychet.] , the kyng also of Venedose, [That North Wales nowe is] [North Walys is nowe.] called specially, And kyng Bretayle [Brectoile] , that was full vertuous, [A manne in armes passyngly curious,] [A goodely prynce and full chivalrous.] Of Denycye [Demecy.] , South Wales that nowe hight, He asked [axed.] helpe of Fraunce, that fayled hym right. [Fol. xxxvii.]

¶ Then sent he to all landes there about; To poore menne all he gaue full great ryches, And exyled men of warre that wer full stoute; He gaue liuelode, and felons all douteles He delyuered quyte fre of all distres: All outlawed menne he graunted full perdon, The bondemen also [als.] of eurey region.