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. lvii. Chapiter.

¶ Asclepiadote, kynge of Britayne, reygned. x. yere, in whose tyme was great persecucyon in Britayne. Sayncte Albns slayne, and many thou∣sandes slayne, for Chrystes sake.

ASclepiadote was crowned king agayne [certayne.] [* Asclepiadote reygned. x. yere.] In royall [all.] wyse, with all solempnyte; The lawes well he helde, and put [in] great payne, Ouer [Of.] trespassours for their peruersite, Theuys and robbers on galowis hanged [to be;] [he.] [Fol. xlvii.] But in his tyme the emperoure Dioclesyan, Into Britayne then sente Maximian.

¶ This Maximian to surname Hercelyus [Herculeus.] , A tyraunte false that Christente [cristened.] anoyed, Through all Britayne, of werke malycious, The [christoned folke] [Cristen people.] felly [and sore] [he.] destroyed; [And thus the people with hym foule accloyed.] [In cursed doynge as a tiraunte he enyoied.] Religyous men [folke.] , the prestes and clerkes all, Wemen with chylde, and bedred folkes all [ouer all.] ,

¶ Chyldrē soukyng vpon the [theyr.] mothers pappis, The mothers also, withoute[n] any pytee, And chyldren all in theyr mothers lappys, The crepyls [crisomes.] eke, and all the Christentee, He kylled [knewe.] and slewe with full great cruelte: The churches brent, all bokes or ornamentes, Bellys, relyquys, that to [the churche] [churches.] appends.