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.

HERE BEGYNNETH THE CHRONYCLE OF IOHN HARDYNGE.

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.

The. ij. Chapter.

¶ Note that wemen desyre of al thynges soueraynte, &, to my conceypt, more in this land then in any other; for they haue it of the nature of the saied susters.

THe youngest suster the mater all discured To her husbande and to her father gent, For whiche she was of al that dede assured, But they were putte in exile by iudgement: So rightfull were the princes of there entente, [Fol. vii.] They iudged them to be put in the see, In shyppe, to passe echeone fro there [hir.] countree,

¶ As fortune would, to make [take.] there auenture; Which, by processe, with streames to and fro, [This chronicle is not true.] And tempestes greate, and sore disauenture, Of sickenes great and mykell other wo: And moste of all, they knewe not whether to go, Tyll at laste they came vnto this ysle That then was waste, as chronicles [do] compile.

¶ But I dare saye this chronicle is not trewe; For in that ylke tyme, in Surraye was no kyng, Ne afterwarde, to tyme that Saul grewe: Ne no kyng was in Surray euer lyuyng, [Saul was the fyrste kyng in the thyrde age.] That had that name; for Saule was y^e first kyng Of Surray realme, at the ende of the thyrde age, In Samuels tyme, the prophete wyse and sage.

The. iij. Chapter.

¶ Note, that Hughe de Genesis, a Romayne historiographier, declareth in his chronicle all the kyngdomes of the worlde, and all the names of suche kynges as ruled in theim, from Noes floude vnto the byrthe of Christ. In whiche chronicle the foresayed Hughe writeth, that Danays, kyng of y^e Grekes, had. l. doughters, and that Egistus his brother, kyng of Egypte, had as many sonnes, that maryed together, which doughters kylled theyr owne husbandes, and for that cause were banyshed; and saylyng on the sea, were dryuen vnto a certain ysle, which Albina, beyng the eldest suster

of theim, named, accordyng to her name, Albiō; and Brute after that called it, accordyng to his name, Brytayne.

NE, afore Brute, was in [no ealme y^t name,] [that reame no name.] No kyng on liue, that hight ne called so; But of Argiuos [Argiues.] , the kyng of full hye fame Had doughters fifty, whose name was Danao: The kyng of Egipte, his brother Egisto, Had soonnes also fifty, together wedde, In chronicles of olde as I haue redde.

¶ Whiche doughters slew their husbandes ech one, Long before Brute was of his mother bore: So fynde I [I well.] , by these women alone, And by these soonnes, thus [thusgates.] slain before, The chronicle trewe in their persones more Then in the doughters of Dioclesian. Were, in no lande, that tyme, so hight kyng none [kynges name.] .

¶ So in the yere of Aioth iudge of Israell, These ladies here landed full [full seke.] weery and sore; ••euenty and twoo [sixty and twelve.] , as Hugh dooeth tell, Whiche was, I saie, an hundred [two hundreth.] yere afore That Brute came into this lande, and more By fyue yeres trulye and well accompted, Of yeres [ode] [olde. edit. alt.] so muche more amounted.

¶ [Also in Surray] [Als in Sirie.] there was no kyng before Kyng Alexaunder dedde [died.] and expired; For Seleucius was the first kyng thore, By all chronicles that I haue enquired. That chronicle should not bee desired, Seyng that it is not trew ne autenticke, By no chronicle vnto the trewth oughte [oure.] like.

¶ I dare well saie he sawe neuer Hugh Genesis, [This sheweth that our chro∣nicle is false in the begynnyng.] Ne he redde neuer the chronicles of Surry, Of Israell, Iude, ne of Egipciis, Of Argiuos [Argiues.] , of Athenes, ne [ne of.] Thessaly, Of Macedon, Cesile, ne of Assery, [Fol. viii.]

Of Lacedemon, of Lyde, ne yet of Latyn, Of Affrique, of Asis, ne yet of Babelyn,

¶ Of Perce, ne Meede, Italye, ne Albany, Of kyng Alexaunder, (ne of his successors, That afore tyme reigned dyuersly, In dyuerse realmes, citees, castelles and toures, Of Romany, ne of state [th'astate.] of emperours:) For had he seene all these, and their stories, Of Dioclesian he would make no memories.

The. iiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe these ladies had this Isle in the yere of Aioth. lxxii. in the third age of the world, and she called it Albion of hir name, and toke feauty & seruice of theim all, as souerayne ladie of this Isle, that nowe is En∣glande, Scotlande and Walis, as Hugh Genesis wryteth in his Dyaloge.

THese ladies so ay dwellyng in this Isle, The yeres of Aioth seuenty & two [sixty and twelve.] no lees, Dame Albyne was, as men̄e can compile, The eldest sister, and thought she would encrees Hir self aboue theim all: apon the dees Sittyng, she tooke feauty then of theim all, Trewe to hir to bee, for aught that might bee fall.

¶ And then she gaue this Isle a propre name, Of Albion, out of hir name as chief, And called it so, frome thens forward the same: She ordained then bowes to their relief, Arowes & boltes, and bowstrynges made in brief, To slee the dere, the bull, and also the bore, The beer and byrdes, that were therin before.

¶ With pitfalles great & trappes thei did begile The beastes and byrdes to theyr sustenaunce; They gatte eche daye with nettes, and other wile, The fyshe in stagnes [stankes.] and waters sufficiaunce: Eche daye they made wyttye cheuesaunce, To helpe them selfe at their necessitee For hungre, that they shulde not perished bee.

The. v. Chapter.

¶ Howe spyrites gatte giauntes vpō the ladies, which gatte other giaūtes within this lāde. Before Brute came were xii.M. giauntes, what in this lāde that nowe is Englāde, and the north that nowe is Scotland, and the west y^t nowe is Wales, as the Scotte Marian saieth in his dialoge.

THese ladies, with meate & drynke replete, And of nature reuigured corporally, And all there care forgette and vnder fete, Had great desyre to play them womanly, As wemen yet wyll do, full louyngly; For to fulfyll the werke of womanhed, And bryng forth frute, the lande to rule and lede.

¶ So wer they tempted with inwarde meditaciō, And vayne glorye within their hertes implyed, To haue comforte of mennes consolacion, And knewe nothyng howe of them to prouyde, But inwardly theim [in it.] they glorifyed, So hote, that spyrites, in mannes forme, Laye by theim their desyres to performe [refourme.] .

¶ So duryng forth in suche lust and delyte With nature of theim selfe and feminacion, The spyrites gatte children y^t were gyaūtes tyte, [Of them through their owne ymaginacion] [On thurough theire oune generacion.] , By feruent hete, moued with temptacion; [Fol. ix.] Thus gatte they then great giaūtes ful of might, Within shorte tyme that were longe [both longe.] and wight.

The. vi. Chapter.

¶ How the fathers laye by theyr doughters, the brethren by theyr systers, the sonnes by theyr mothers, and euery kynde with other, as Hugh Genesis reporteth in his chronicles.

THe fathers then by theyr doughters laye [all.] , Mother ne syster agayne it not [noughte.] replyed, Of chylder fell [many.] sonnes and doughters ay [over all.] ,

They gatte eche daye and strongly [stoutely.] multiplied. Of theim this ysle then was so fortifyed: So stronge then was this [theire.] generacion, None durst it noye for theyr malignacion.

¶ Amonge theim fell so great vnkyndnesse, Accordynge ryght well to there [lyfe] inordinaté, That echone [eche.] of theim [dyd other] [slewe other and dide.] oppresse That none of theim was lefte on lyue of [y^t] [theire.] estate, Of. xii. thousande, within a lytell date; Whose pryde fell afore the incarnacion Twelue hundreth yere, by veraye computacion.

¶ But Bartholomew de proprietatibus rerum, Sayth howe this ysle of Albion had name Of the see bankes full whyte, all or sum, That circuyte the ysle; as shyppes came, Fro ferrome sene, as thei, through the see fame [fome.] , Sailed by & by, for rypes and roches whyte To shipmen were greate gladnesse and delyte.

¶ But Maryan saieth [Scott.] , the [chronicler to sewe] [truest cronyclere] , That [Saith.] dame Albion was the fist that named it so. Both two myght be together [clere and trewe,] [true and clere.] That shippes so saylinge to and fro, And at her coming they called it so both two: And so both waies maye be right sure & trewe, From whiche there wyll no chronycler [it renewe.] [remewe.]

¶ Of this nowe wyll I sease, and saye no more To time come ofte y^t Brute hath wonne this lande, [Brutus.] And slayne them all in batell foughten sore. But nowe of Brutus ye shall well vnderstande, Howe that he did in Greece and tooke on hande; And of what bloude he cam by clere discente, And howe in Greece he had greate regiment.

¶ And howe he gate this ysle by his prowesse, And called it by name the ysle of Britayne; And of his name, for theyr worthynesse, He called his men Britaynes ay furth certayne

That Troyans were afore not to layne: To whiche I praye the holy Trinyte, That is one God in [in verey.] personnes thre,

¶ Of helpe and spede to bryng this boke to ende, [The cracyon of the authoure for y^e makyng of this booke.] For symple is my wytte of all scyence, Of rethoryke as [yet neuer] [never it.] I kende, And symple am of all intellygence. Yet wyll I not so hurte my conscyence, On olde goddes to muse, or on to call, That false were euer, and euer so wyll be fall:

¶ Of Saturnus, ne yet of Marcury, [The names of false goddes.] Of Jubiter, of Mars, ne yet of Venus, Of Pallas, ne of Mynerue, ne Megary, [Fol. x.] Ne of Phebus, Ceres, ne of Geneus, Of Cupyde, ne yet of Thisophonus, Dyan, Bacchus, ne of Cerbery; All these I wyll refuse nowe and defye.

¶ And to y^e God [in heauen] I praye in magestie, My wytte to enforce with might and sapience, With langage suche as may ought plesaunt be To your pleasaunce and noble excellence; For I am bare [and] naked of eloquence, By insuffycience and all symplicyte, To ende this booke as were necessyte.

The. vii. Chapiter.

¶ How Brute conquered Albyon & called it Britayne of his owne name, [The armis of Brute.] y^t now is England, Walis and Scotland; and the armes of Brute in whiche he was clade fyrste when he entred this ysle, after Genesis the Italyane Chronycler, were of gowlys. ii. lions crowne of golde, rampant and com∣battaunt.

AS chronycles telleth & make notificacyō, [Brutus.] Who so them wel shal know & vnderstand, Of what kynne [kynn's.] blode and generacyon Brutus firste came, that conquered all this lande, It to remember I haue nowe take on hande,

Through all olde stories by philosyphers cōpiled, In balade thus it shall be made and fyled.

¶ As out of olde feldes newe corne groweth eche yere, Of olde bokes, by clerkes newe approued, Olde knyghtes actes w^t mynstrelles tonge stere The newe corage of yonge knightes to be moued: Wherfore, me thinketh, old thinges shuld be loued, [Oute of old bokes cōmeth new wisedome.] Sith olde bokes [cunnynge.] maketh young wittes wise, Disposed well [with vertues] [to vertuous.] exercyse.

¶ At olde Adam therfore I wyll begyn, [Adam.] Who was, I fynde, the first olde creatur, Conueyng downe lynyally in kyn, As discent [They distente.] in byrth and in gendur [engendrure.] , Next vnto Brute, as mencion maketh [menciond hath.] scriptur: I shall reporte, as God wyll please [deyne.] to lede, My symple ghoost with language it to fede.

¶ For well I wote, without his supportacion, For [to reporte his veraye] [well to reporte this.] genealogie, Howe he by discent in all generacion, From Adam downe to Troyane auncetrye, Gotten and borne certeyne in Italye: Full herde it is, although I woulde full fayne, [The generacion of Brute.] So symple be my spyrites and my brayne.

¶ Of Adam whiche [so that.] was the fyrst creature, [Adam.] Came Seth forsothe, and Seth gat Enos than, [Seth.] And Enos gatte afterwarde full sure, [Enos.] A sonne that hight and called was Canayn, [Canayn.] Who gatte Melaliel, as scripture tell can, [Melaliel.] Who gatte Iareth, of whom Enoke came, [Iareth. Enoke.] That Matusaly gatte of mykill fame. [Matusale.]

¶ Matusale gatte Lameke, who Noe gatte, [Lamech.] And Noe Iaphet, who gatte Cichym than, [Noe. Iapheth. Cichym.] That Cipre gatte, after whom Cipres hatte, [Cipre. Crete.] Cipre gatte Crete, that the ysle of Crete began [A famouse and a ryght notable man.] [Wheryn nowe duelleth many a man.]

And Crete gatte a sonne hight [that hight.] Cely, [Fol. xi.] [Cely.] Who gatte Saturne a wyse man and a wittye. [Saturne.]

¶ Of whome came then Iubiter of Frigy, [Iubiter.] Whiche is Turky, wherin Troyes citee In honoure stode, and in great victorye; And Iubiter gate Dardanus no lee [Dardanus.] That of Frigy, in greate felicitee, So reygned kyng greatly magnifyed, [And as a god amonge theim glorifyed:] [Omitted. edit. alt.]

¶ Of whom came so his sonne Eritonus, [Eriotonus.] Who gatte a sonne that firste Troye edifyed, That Troilus [Troyus.] hight, of whome came kyng Ilis, [Troilus, Ilis.] That Ilyon made a palays of great pryde, [Ilyon.] Whiche for passyng other was both long & wyde; [Where Hercules slough kynge Lamadone, [Hercules.] And led awaye the royalles of the towne.] [

Roially wrought with stonys full preciouse, And kynge of Troie stode longe full gloriouse. This Ilus gote a sonne Lamedon, Who kynge of Troie wase roiall in that tide, Whan that Iason at Troie first evercion Caste doun Ilion the paleys of grete pride, And Troie destroied, that wase both longe and wide; Where Hercules slewe kynge Leamedon, And ledde awaie the roials of the town.

] [Lamadone.]

¶ Lamedone gatte the kyng Priamus, [Priamus.] Who made agayn his palays Ilion, And Troies citee also [als.] more glorious Then they were before their [the.] subuercion; And royall [roially.] without peruercion, In ioye and myrth they stode many a yere, [Achilles was Priamus brother.] And Achilles with hym his brother dere.

The. viii. Chapiter.

¶ A shorte lamentaciō of the maker, for y^t kyng Lamedō lost his life and his estate, that might haue stande in peace and suretie, for a litle suc∣cour of Iasone in his voiage.

O Lamedon of Troye, that bare the crowne, What fortune [infortune.] droue the to dooe Iasone vnkyndnesse,

Where he to paye was so readye and bowne, For his vitayle? that came in by distresse [Lamedō shewed to lason vnkind∣nesse.] Of tempest greate standing in heuinesse; Hym for to dryue oute of the [thy.] regyon, And not refreshe hym at his requisicyon.

Whiche was the cause after of thy heuynesse, When he the slough and destroyed all thy cytee, And caste downe all thy myght and great nobles [noblenes.] , With lytell thing that sauyd might haue bee; O good lorde! why shoulde [shewed.] thy royall dignytee To straungers shewe [so.] that cruell vnkyndnesse, That to thy lande purposed no distresse?

Of Priamus came Hector, and Troylus, [Hector, Troilus, Dephebus, Helenus & Parys, came of Pryamus.] Dephebus, Helenus, and Parys, Of royall bloude and dukes full glorious, Of excellence and greatest of empryse, Whiche were all slayne by fortunes exercyse: All [at. edit. alt. MS.] the sege of Troye knyghtly in the [their.] defence, In mercyall actes as princes of excellence.

¶ The palays greate and the noble cytee, [Greekes.] By Grekes seeged longe and many a yere, Was wonne at laste, and wast as men yet see; This kyng & quene both two were slayne in feere, Where Anchises and Eneas his sonne dere, [Anchyses, Eneas, Ascaneus.] And Ascaneus the sonne of Eneas Escapyd awaye, and on the sea dyd passe.

The. ix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Eneas, exyled oute of Troye, came to Cecyle and to Affrike, to the cytee of Carthage, and fro thence to Italye, & there was made kynge of Tuskayne and of Latene.

ANd in Cicile they after did aryue, [Fol. xii.] Where Anchises dyed and was dispent; Eneas and his sonne to the sea gan dryue [Eneas.] With shippes. xii. to Italy had they mente, But wynde theim droue again there entent,

Into Affrique, where, for Eneas sake, They welcome wer, and worthely vptake.

¶ Fro thence after he tooke the sea agayn, And landed then in Italia, In Tibre mouth with trauayll & with payne, Where the towne and porte is of Hostia; Where, by the god, he bidden was to ga To helpe the kyng Euandre in his right, [Euīdre.] For after hym the god that land hym hight.

¶ To whom he went, as hym was prophecied, And welcome was into Italie, Of kyng Euandre greatest magnified, For his wisedome, fame and cheualrye, For his worshippe and for his auncetrye. he gaue hym than [greate lordshippe] [worshippe. edit. alt.] and riches, And gold enough right of his worthynes.

¶ Kyng Euandre made warre on kyng Latene, [Latene.] In whose defence Turnus kyng of Tuskayn [Turnus.] Came with greate hoste of Tuskalayns [so fyne] [Omitted. edit. alt.] Agayn Euandre, wher Turnus then was slayn: Eneas did that dede, and that derayn With mighty strokes, courage, and cheualrous He wanne the felde in batell fortunous.

Betwene Euandre so and the kyng Latene, The peace he made, reste and concordaunce, And kyng Latens his doughter, y^t hight Labyne, Wedded to his wyfe; by veray good accordaunce, Betwene theim forth was no more discordaunce: And Eneas kyng was made of Tuskayne, Of whiche the kynge Euandre was full fayne.

¶ Sone after then dyed the kyng Latene, Whose realme Eneas had also in peace; In which he made a castell fayre and fyne, Labynyon it hyght wythout leace, His wyues name to worshyppe and encreace; Of whome he gatte a soonne, and dyed afore That he was brought into this worlde and bore.

¶ This worthy prince, kyng Eneas, mortally Ended his lyfe, that was of hye prowesse, Where, so God wyll, to reigne eternally Within the house of fame; where, as I gesse, Wer knightes fell of noble worthynesse, That more desyred in armes to haue a fame, Then be the best in dede and beare no name.

The. x. Chapiter.

¶ Of the house of fame, where knightes be rewarded, after the merites in armes, by Mars, the god of armes; some translate wich kyrcheues of plea∣saunce & some with rynges and ouches. Their sepulture in the felde of pitee, by heuen gates, y^t haue be veraye louers of theyr louers ladyes, and neuer payneles, but aye graceles.

BVt than hys soonne Siluius Postumus, [Siluius.] Newe borne, so young and tendre of age,' Kyng of this lande was made, Ascanius, [Ascanius.] His brother dere, that ruled his heritage, And peaceably kepte out of all seruage, Twenty wynter and eyght full mannely, [Fol. xiii.] And gatte a soonne that called was Syluy.

¶ Whiche Siluius gatte and generate [Siluius y^e father of Brutus.] His soonne Brutus, on Crensa Labius nece, All priuelie by hym de virginate, And sore besought by his subtilitees, And sumwhat of hir womanly petees, That tendred hym of good femynete, As womanhod would of all humilitee.

¶ Soo after sone the fate of death would soo, That passe away muste nede Ascanius; He gaue his brother Siluius Posthumus tho His heritage and [of.] riches plentuous; But Brutus waxed [wexe.] echedaye full beauteous, [The praise of Brute.] And in mannehod, well more in all vertue, Was none hym like in no place that mēne knewe.

¶ Of. xv. yere, when he was commen [com.] to age, At huntyng, as he shotte at [to.] a dere,

He sleugh his father, vnto his greate damage. [Howe Brutus slewe his father.] And at his birth, as saieth the chronicler, His mother dyed, as wrytten is full clere, Anone after as he was of hir bore; For whiche. ii. causes his herte was [wexe.] wonder sore.

¶ Seyng Iuly this fals fortunite, The soroes greate in hym so multiplied, That there for shame of his [that.] fortunite, In no wyse would [he no] lenger dwell ne byde; But into Grece, his sorowes for to hide, He went anone, where exiles wer of Troye, Whose sorowes great he leched all with ioye.

¶ Sir Helenus was Priamus sonne of Troye, [Helenus. Priamus. Anchises.] And Anchises an olde worthy knight, And. vi. M. that of hym had great ioye, Of gentilmen of [from.] Troye exiled forth [for. edit. alt.] right, That [which.] hym besought with instaūce day and night, To helpe theim out of their great heped sorowe, In whiche they lay oppressed euen and morowe:

¶ For whiche he wrote his letter [letters.] in that tide To kyng Pandras, that [which.] kyng was of that lande, [Pandras.] Requiryng hym to let hym [theym.] passe and ride Frely, where so they would withouten bande: For whiche the kyng with power tooke on hande, To siege Brutus within his castell fayre, To whom Troyans strongly gan [gan to.] repayre,

¶ To Brutus so to helpe theim [hym.] at there might, [Brutus. Anacletus.] Who then anone sent forth [for. edit. alt.] Anacletus, His prysoner, whom he had taken ryght, Vnto the hoste, to tell theim how Antigonus [Antigonus.] Laye in the wood, stollen awaye fro [for. edit. alt.] Brutus, Who went to theim that next the wood then laye, And bad theim come and rescowe hym or daye.

¶ Whiche warde so brake & to y^e wood can ryde, Brutus with that, with all his hole power, There brake in and would no longer [no thynge.] abyde,

But slough the Grekes, and tooke the kyng infer [in fere.] : But than, as saith the veray chronicler, No lenger wolde he there abyde ne dwell. But furthermore, as chronicler doeth tell,

¶ With kyng Pandras he made his appoinctement, [Fol. xiiii.] [Pandras.] Hym to deliuer, on [upon.] this condicion, To wedde his doughter by will and assent, Dame Innogen; and shippis of his region, With vitaile and riches to wynne [wyn hym.] lande & towne; For there he woulde no longer make soiourne, But with Troyans to their lande [other londes.] attourne.

¶ All this [these. edit. alt.] promysses [premys.] and whole apoinctement Fulfilled and spede, Brute with his wife [The pillers y^t Hercules made of brasse.] So sailed furth, thorowe the Grekish oryent [se went.] , To Marytayne, and twoo [to the.] pillers ganne he driue, That [of.] Hercules also with busy liue; To tyme he [they.] came to [unto.] an olde citee, No creature therin that tyme [men.] coulde see,

¶ But a [oone.] goddas menne called [callede hir.] Diane, [Diane the goddas.] That [which.] coulde declare and expounde destynie. To whome Brute [Brutus.] anone went vp alone [al bane.] , And laye afore hir there full deuoutely, With candell brennyng and [with] ceremonie; Besekyng hir of succour and [and of.] grace, Where that he might hir worship in sum place,

¶ With his Troyanes, therin for to abyde And inherite: to whome then saied Dyane, By yonde all Gualle [Gallie.] , an Isle full long and wide Enclosed whole within [the] occiane, With giauntes kepte, his destyned the alaan, And thy Troyanes to haue and enhabite, Therin to dwell, for euermore and [to.] enheret.

¶ So sailyng furth by Columpnes [Pillers.] of Hercules, Whiche been of brasse, by Hercules their sette, For when he came into the sea no lees

Of Spayne, wher that his meny Troianes mette Of their lynage, as it was [was so.] to theri dette, Thei came with hym echeone by one acorde, Corneus their capitain was and lorde. [Corneus capitain of y^e Troyās.]

The xi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Brute came frome Grece into Albion, and named it Britaine; and howe he arryued at Totnesse, in Deuinshire.

HE sailed so fourth by [the sea] [see to.] Aquitaine, Where y^t he arriued [reste.] y^t nowe is Guyā lāde, And sleugh the buckes, of whiche thei wer full faine, The bere & the bore and hartes all that thei fande, With out licence or yet any warand: Wherfore, Guffor, kyng of the [that.] lande, full fell With Troyanes faught; but Goryne [Coryne.] [their] bare y^e bell. [Goryne.]

¶ Brute tooke shippe and arriued [rofe.] in Albion, Where Diane saied should been his habitacion, And when he came the coastes of it vpon, He was full glad and made greate exultacion, Reioysed highly of his fortunacion: In armes of Troye, couered and well [hole.] araid, Of whiche Troyanes wer [wer all.] full well apaid.

He bare of goulis, twoo liones of [all of.] golde, [The armes of Brute.] Countre rampant, with golde onely crouned, Whiche kynges of Troie inbataill bare ful bolde, To whiche frō Troye was distroyed & confoūded, Their children slain, the next heire was he founde. And in tho armes this Isle he did conquere, [Fol. xv.] [Maryan chroni∣cler.] As Marian saieth, the veray chronicler.

At Totnesse so this Brutus [Brute.] did arriue, Corneus [Coryneus.] also [als.] , and all their coumpaignie; [Corneus.] The giauntes also [all.] he sleugh [slewe theym.] doune beeliue [blyue.] Through all the lande in battaile mannely: And left no moo but Gogmagog onely in all this Isle, so had he theim destroyed, Whom in prisone he kepte and anoyed.

The. xii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Corneus wrastilled with Gogmagog, the giaunt of the Isle, and sleugh hym.

BVt for he would knowe all his resistens, What he might dooe more then Corneus [Coryneus.] , He made theim bothe dooe their sufficiēce In all wrastleyng, whiche was moost rigorous [vigorous.] , And to defende or sawte moost [more.] curious. On the sea banke, afore Brutus [Brute.] thei mette, Where, by accorde, the daye and place was sette.

¶ This Gogmagog so thrafte [thraste.] Corneus [Coryneus.] , That rybbes three were broken in his side; Corneus [Coryneus.] then of might full laborous, Thought he would [sone] reuenge [revenge it.] that tide, With that he stode and sette his leggues wyde, And gatte hym vp betwene his armes faste, And ouer the roche into the sea hym caste.

¶ Whiche place hight yet Gogmagoges sawte, By cause he leped their frome Corneus [Coryneus.] , All if it wer nothyng in his defaute, But by the might of Coryn full vigorous, [Coryn.] Who was alway in bataill fortunous: For whiche Brutus [Brute.] had hym in greate deynte, And gaue hym aye worship and dignite.

¶ This Brutus [Brute.] thus was kyng in regalite, And, after his name, he called this Isle Briteyn, [This Isle Bri∣teyne.] And all his menne, by that same egalite, He called Briteynes, as chroniclers all saine, Of whiche thei all were full [than full.] glad and faine: To Corneus [Coryneus.] he gaue to his availe [Corneus.] The duchie whole, and lande of [of all.] Cornwayle.

The. xiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe he buylded the citee of Troynouaunt, that nowe is called London. [London.]

SO was the name of this ilke Albyon All sette on side in kalandes of achauange, And putte awaye with greate confusion, And Briteyn hight so furth by newe eschaunge, [Briteyne.] After Brutus, that slewe these giauntes straūge, And wanne this Isle, by his magnyficence, In whiche he dwelled long tyme in excellence.

¶ The citee greate, of Troynouaunt so faire, He buyleded then on Thamis [Themys side.] for [his] delite, [Vnto the north,] for his dwellyng & for his moost repeier: Whiche is to saie, in our lāguage perfect, Newe Troye, in bookes as I canne nowe endicte; And Nouell Troye, in Frenche incomperable, [Of Breteyne, a] [Of all Britayn.] citee moost profytable.

¶ This Briteyne is in length eyght. C. myle, [Fol. xvi.] Fro Monsechole [Mous hool.] , that is in Cornewayle, right [The lēgth and bredth of y^e Isle of Bryteyne.] Vnto the northend of Catenes, to compile: And also [als.] in bredeth [brede.] frome Sainct Dauid y^t hight To Yarmoth, that in Norffolke is by sight, Twoo hundred myle accoumpted well [hole.] and clene, As autours saie, t his Isle dooeth whole contein.

The. xiiij. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Brute sette his lawes & peace of Troye in this Isle, without whiche a kyng is no better then his subiecte or his leege manne.

IN which through out his peace & lawe he set, Whiche been y^e floures of all regalite; With out [outen.] whiche, but if thei twoo bee met, There maie no prince holde principalite, Ne endure long in worthy dignite: For if those twoo bee nought vp holden, than What is a kyng more worth then his liege lāne?

¶ This kyng Brute [Brutus.] kepte well this Isle in peace, And sette his lawes of Troye with ordre [other.] rites And consuetudes, that might the lande encrease,

Suche as in Troye he knew was most profittes [parfites.] Vnto the folke and the [to.] common profettes. He made theim [be.] wryten, for long rememory, To rule the [this. edit. alt.] Isle by theim perpetually.

¶ His menne he did rewarde full royally With landes and rentes, y^t with hym suffred pain; And Troynouaunt he made full specially An archflamme [archeflamyne.] his sea cathedrall certain, A temple therof Apolyne to opteyne By Troyane lawe, of all suche dignite, As [As an.] archbyshop hath nowe in his degree.

The. xv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Brute departed Britaine in thre partes to his thre sonnes, the two yonger to holde of the elder; so that Wales and Scotlande shulde do homage to Englande, by hys ordynaunce, by the lawe of Troye.

THis kyng Brutus this ysle deuided in. iii [Howe Brutus deuided this ysle.] A lytell afore out of this ysle [worlde.] he dyed: To his thre sonnes y^t were full faire to se After his dayes to ioyse he signifyed, And when he had the Isle all tripertyed, He called the chyefe Logres [Loegers.] after Locryne, [Thre sonnes of Brute.] That doth extende fro Monsehole [Mous hoole.] to Hūber fine.

¶ Fro Humbar North vnto [so to.] the Northwest sea [Locryne, Cam∣bir, Albanacte.] Of all Britaine, which he called Albanye, For Albanacte the kyng therof to be, His second sonne, that was both good and manly, To holde it of Locryne perpetually, And of his heyres, by homage and feaute, As to chiefe lorde longeth the suffraintie.

¶ And fro the water of Waage right in y^e Southe, And Strigell castell to Seuerne all by and by, And so to Dee at Chester, as [it] is full couth, Ryght in the North, Cambre he called for thy For Cambre [Camberte.] shulde it haue all plenerly;

And on [of.] Locryne it should euer be homage, And of his heyres euermore in herytage.

The. xvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe, by lawe Troyane, the souerayntie belongeth to the eldest brother or syster.

AS, after the lawes of Troye, y^e soueraintie, [Fol. xvii.] And all resorte of ryght doth apertayne To the eldest brother in propertie, The eldest syster ryghte, so by ryght shulde bene Souerayne lady, and ouer thiem all quene [the quene.] , By equytie of that ylke lawe and ryghte, In place where it is holden lawe perfyghte.

¶ This kyng Brutus made people faste to tylle [Brutus ordered y^e people to sowe corne.] The lande aboute, in places [place.] both farre and nere, And sowe with sede, and get theim corne full wele To lyue vpon, and haue the [theire.] sustynaunce clere. [And so in feldes both farre and nere] [And his people he severde here and there.] ; [By his] [Thus by.] wysdome and his [his high.] sapience, He sette the lande in all suffycience.

And as the fate of death doth [it dide.] assygne That nedes he muste his ghoost awaye relees, To his goddas Dyane he dyd resygne His corps to be buryed withouten lees, In the temple of Apolyne; to encreace [meres.] His soule amonge the goddes euerychone, After his merytes trononized [intronozed.] highe in trone.

Fro beginnyng [the begynnynge.] of the worlde, to Brutus Into this isle entred fyrste at Totnesse, Foure thousande yere. lxxx. and. iiii. were thus, As the chronycles therof beareth witnesse; And after [afore.] the incarnacion, [to] expresse, A thousande hole, a hundreth and fyftene; And of Hely Iudge in Iury [Iude.] was eyghtene.

In the thyrde age he came into this ysle, And in the yere as it is afore expressed; But howe longe y^t he reygned, or shorte whyle, Walter of Oxforde hath confessed, Foure and twenty yere, as he hath inpressed; And other sayne he reigned thre and fourty yere; But Marian saith thre score he reygned here:

¶ Whiche is moste lyke to be verifyed, By all his workes and greate operacions, Whiche in shorte tyme myght not been edifyed, Ne performed [perfournyshed.] with shorte occupacyons, But in longe tyme by good consyderacyons: Rather it is lyke he reigned thre score yere, By his greate workes and beginninges [beeldynges.] y^t appeare.

The. xvii. Chapiter.

¶ Kyng Locryne, the souerayne lorde of all Britayne, had Logres to his parte, to whom his. ii. brethren dyd homage for Albyne [Albeny. edit. alt Albanye MS.] and for Cambyr.

THis [His.] eldest sōne was king y^t hight Locrine, Of all Britayne hauing y^e souerante, Hauing Logres as Brute dyd determine, To whome Cambre, and Albanacte the free, Obeying both vnto his royalte, There [Theire.] homage made as to y^e lorde souerayne, And emperoure of that lande [the Ile.] of Britayne. [Locryne.]

¶ There [Theire.] homage made and to Cambre went, Albanactus then rode to Albyne [Albeny. edit. alt Albanye MS.] , And reigned so [by lyfe in] [in loue by.] one assente, Eche [one] other to helpe and fortifye, [And thus in peace holding their regalite] [As bretherne shuld of theire frateruytie.] ; [Fol. xviii.] But as they satte [so] beste in peace and reste, Kyng Humbar arose [rofe.] in Albyne [Albanye.] full preste.

The. xviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Humbar slewe Albanactus, wherfore Locryne and Cambre

gathered a great power and disconfyted king Humbar, & ceased Al∣bany, by excheter vnto Logres againe for defaute of an heyre.

IN the ryuer that called is Humbar nowe, Where Albanactus anon did w^t hym fyght, And in batel stroke [smote.] Humbar on the browe, And felde hym were he neuer so wight; But Humbar arose agayne w^t all his myght, [The death of Albanact.] And in that stoure [houre. edit. alt.] was Albanacte slayne, Kyng Humbar had the felde w^t mikyll payne.

¶ King Locryne then & Cambre [Camberte.] , elles his brother, With hoostes great vpon king Humbar faughte, That of Humbartlande [londe.] was king, w^t many other, In Albany that mikyll [right muche.] sorowe wrought, And with hym met where [he before had fought] [before had sought.] ; [The ryuer of Humbar wherof it tooke y^e name.] Where sore for [for sore.] fyght he fledde to the ryuer, And there [theryn.] was drowned in [withyn.] that water clere.

¶ A greate parte of his hooste was drowned also, As they dyd flee in that water [rivere.] clere, And many slayne that myght no [not.] further go, And many other taken for prysonere. Locryne the felde had, and his brother dere, And to the shyppes where they had all rychesse, Theyr men to helpe that suffred there distresse.

¶ All Albayne into his hande he seased, And helde hole to Logres ioyned then agayne As it was firste, and [and all.] that lande well pleased, Of the resorte the people were full fayne: But in the shyppes, [a lytell from] [a lade of.] Almayne, He fande the kynges daughter of Germanye, Dame Estrylde that was full womanly.

¶ Whome for his wyfe he helde at his plesaunce, For whiche the duke Corneus [Coryne.] was [was full.] wroth; But frendes then by noble gouernaunce, The playne trouth to saye in soth, Made hym to wed, all [yt it] [he.] were full loth,

The doughter so of [Duke Corneus] [Coryneus.] , With all frendshyppe they were accorded thus:

¶ Dame Gwendolyne y^t hight by proper name, Of whome he gate a sonne [y^t hight] [called.] Maddan. And, in [the] meane whyle, in preuy [secrete.] wyse at hame, He helde Estrylde as his loue and leman, Therof his wife vnwetyng, or any other man; And of [on.] her gate a doughter full femynyne, That Sabren hyght, as chronycles [do deuyne.] [defyne.]

¶In this meane tyme Corneus [the duke Coryne.] so dyed, To whome the quene Gwendolyne was heire; Whome kyng Locryne forsoke and replyed, And Estrylde weddid againe y^t was full fayre: [How Locryn was slaine in battayle by hys wyfe Gwen∣dolyne.] But Gwendolyn to Cornewayle dyd repayre, With her power, and faught w^t kyng Locrine, Where he was slayne and had none other fyne.

¶ She drowned Estrilde and her doughter dere, In a ryuer whiche that tyme had no name, [Fol. xix.] But fro thens forth for Sauer [Sabren.] farre and nere; [That ryuer that was plentuous of name,] [The ryuer of Seuerne, wherof it tooke the name.] Was called then Seuerne y^t hath greate fame: Thus Seuerne firste had name in propertee, Of that lady that [there.] drowned [was] in specyaltee.

The. xix. Chapiter.

¶ Gwendolena, quene of Britaine, had Logres and Albayne [Albany. edit. alt.] in peace and [Guendolena.] reste. xv. yere.

GWendolyne, so after fro kyng Locryne Had reigned hole. x. yere, and was slayne, The quene was of [so of.] all Logres lādes so fine, [And] of [all] Albanie also through out, [in]certayne, [Crowned quene, and so reigned with mayne,] And seruyce tooke of Cambre [Camberte.] for his lande. Who gouerned well her tyme, I vnderstande,

¶ Fiftene [But fiftene.] yere, and then her sonne she crowned, That Maddan hyght; & into Cornewaile went, And then [ther.] she dyed with sycknesse sore confounded [confound.] , And to her goddes her wofull [herte she] [goste furth.] sent. [And thus this quene, in her beste entente,] To set amonge the goddesse enerychone, Euer to complayne her wedowhed alone.

The. xx. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Maddan kynge of Britayne reygned after Gwendolena his mother, and reygned. xl. yeres.

MAddan her sōne was king of Britain then, Hauyng Logres, and also Albany, [That fourty yere there reygned as a man,] Kepyng the lande in peace from tyrannye: [Maddā kyng of Brytain that is Englād & Scot∣lande.] In whose tyme was none in his monarchye Durste ought vary, or any thing displease, So was he dred, and set the realme in ease.

Throughe all Britayne durste none another dysplese, So wel the lawe and peace he dyd conserue, That euery man was gladde other to please; So dred they hym, they durst no thing ouer terue Againe his lawe nor [and.] peace, but theim conserue [obserue.] . So was he dred through his great sapience, Both in and oute, by all intellygence.

¶ He dyed so, and to his father yede. His sonnes two, Maulyne and eke Memprise, A daye then sette, which of theim shoulde precede To the croune, but then by couetyse; [Howe y^e one brother slew thother to be kynge.] And [At.] that ylke daye the yonger [yonger brother.] , Memprise, Slewe his brother Maulyne, elder of age, To that entent to haue the [the hole.] herytage.

Memprise thus [this.] kyng, destroied his men all oute, [Mēpryse kyng of Britaine.] Their landes, their [and.] goddes, or elles their liues certayne, He tooke from theim all his lande aboute,

Fulfylled all with [of.] pryde and great disdayne, His comonnes all with taxes did [he did.] distrayne, So tirauntely, he lefte theim nought to spende, By consequent thrifteles he was at ende.

His wyfe he dyd refuse and foule forsake, [The wretched end of Mem∣pryse.] Vsynge the synne of horribilyte With beastes ofte, in stede right of his make; Whiche, by all ryght and [and by all.] equytee, Vengeaunce asked by fell bestialitee. [Fol. xx.] And so hym fell, as to the wood he wente, A route of wolffes hym slough and all to rent.

The. xxi. Chapiter.

¶ Ebranke, kyng of Britayne, had Logres and Albany. Also he had. xx. wyues, xx. sonnes and. xxx. doughters. He made Yorke, Bamburgh, Eden∣burgh, Dumbritayne and Alclude. Also he made an archeflaume at Yorke, & his temple, that nowe is an archebishoppe.

EBranke his sōne thē crowned was anone, [Ebranke reygned xl. yeres.] Who shippes great made on y^e sea to sayle, Whthhelde [Which helde. edit. alt.] his knightes w^t hym so forthe to gone, Vpon warre he went without [withouten.] fayle; Then into Gaule with a full manly tayle, Wher that he had riches innumerable, To holde estate royall incomparable.

¶ XX. wyues he had, [as chronicles saith] [the Cronycle is soth.] , And xx. sonnes of his owne generacion, And doughters fayre. xxx. that wer not laith [loth.] , Whiche doughters so, for theyr releuacion, Into Italie with great supportacion, There to be wedded [wedde.] in Troyan blodde & maried, For ladies theyr with Troyans wer [were all.] alyed.

¶ In Albany he made and edifyed [The Castell of Dūbrytayne in Scotlād.] The castell of Alclude, whiche Dumbritayne, And some autours by chronycle hath [haue.] applied, And some sayen on the pight [Pict.] wall certayne;

At the West ende it stode that nowe is playne, And some menne sayen it is Yorke cytee: Thus stande menne nowe in ambyguytee.

¶ But, sooth it is, he made this Dunbrytayne, A castell stronge that standeth in Albany, Vpon a roche of stone, hard to optayne; About the whiche the sea floweth dayly, And refloweth again nocturnally, Twyse in his course and to the sea again, In [the whiche] [whiche castell.] no horsse maye dunge certain.

¶ He made also the mayden castell stronge, That men now calleth [the] castell of Edenburgh, [The castel of Edīburgh.] That on a roche standeth, full hye out of throng, On mounte Agwet [Agrewat.] , wher mē may see out through Full many a towne, castell, and boroughe. [In] the shire aboute, it is so hye [in sight] [on hight.] , Who wyl it scale, he shall not fynde it light.

¶ He made also, vpon [on.] mounte Dolorous, A castell strong that this daye Bamburgh hight, [The castell of Bamburgh.] That on a roche [crag.] is sette full hye and noyous, Full hard to gette by any mannes might: The castell is so stronge and so well dight, If menne therin haue stufe sufficient, Or it be wonne, many one muste bee shent.

¶ His sonnes all he sent to Germanye, To wynne thesame [theym.] lande by labour and conquest, Vnder the rule of their brother Analye [oonlye.] . Duke Assarake that was the eldest, [A worthy knight proued with the best] [Outetake Brute Greneshelde the eldeste trulye.] , All Germanye they gatte at theyr entent, [Fol. xxi.] And lordes wer made their as there father ment.

¶ Sixty yere whole he stoode and bare y^e crowne, Reignyng fully in all prosperytee; No enemyes durst again hym vp ne downe Warre [verrie.] , ne do [in] no wyse again his royaltee.

He made a temple in [That is Yorke.] Ebranke citee, Of Dyane, where an archeflame he sette, To rule temples as that tyme was his [it.] dette.

The. xxii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe, after the death of Ebranke, reygned Brutus Greneshilde.

BRutus Greneshilde then by his name full ryght, Both good & trewe, and easy of all porte, His people all, that came into his syght, With all his might, euermore, he recomforte Of all there sorowe [sore.] that they to hym reporte. And why he hight Greneshilde to his surname, Because he bare on grene ay wher he became.

¶ Xii. yere he stoode reignyng full well in peace, [Brutus Grene∣shilde reigned. xii. yeres.] And dyed so, and by his father buryed In Ebranke afore Dyane no lees, With Britons hole thyther accompanyed, With all honours that might bee multiplyed In any wyse, with all seruyse funerall, As longed to the fate of death ouer all.

The. xxiii. Chapiter.

¶ Leyle, kyng of Brytayn, had Logres & Brytayne. He made at Carlele a temple flamyne, and a flaume to rule it.

THē Leyle his sōne was kyng of Britain so, [Lelye, kyng of Briain, reygned. xxv. yeres.] That Carleele made that tyme in Albany, That now Carleile is called by [with.] frend & fo, Whiche in Englyshe is to say fynally, The cytie of Leyle; for in Brytayn tongue playnly, [The cytee of Carleile by whō it was buylded.] Cair is to saye a citee, in theyr language, As yet in Wales is there commen vsage.

¶ This ilke [same.] kyng Leyle made then in that citee A temple greate, called a temple flaumyne, In whiche he sette a flaume in [of.] propertee,

To gouerne it by their lawes dyuyne, Of Iupiter, Saturne and Appolyne, That then wer of all suche [in] dignitee, After theyr lawes, as nowe our byshoppes bee.

¶ When he had reigned hole. xx. yere and fyue, In youth full well, [and kepte] [had kepte both.] lawe and peace, But in his age his people beganne to stryue, Failyng his lawes, cyties wold not warre cease, Cyuill warres greately beganne to encreace; [And] he dyed then, settyng no remedy, Buried at Carleyle [in] his citee royally.

The. xxiiij. Chapiter.

¶ Rudhudebras, kyng of Brytayne, had Logres and Albany. He made Caunterbury, Wynchester, and Shaftesbury, and three temples, and three flaumes of theim.

RVdhudebras his sonne was kyng anone, [Rudhudebras kynge reygned xxxix. yeres.] Cair kent he made, y^t now is Caūterbury; Cair went, also, [& buylded] [he beelde.] of lyme & stone, That Wynchester is nowe, a towne full mery; Caire Paladoure, that nowe is Shaftesbury, [Fol. xxii.] Where an Engel [Angell. edit. alt. Egle. MS.] spake, syttyng on the wall, Whyle it was in workyng ouer all.

¶ In whiche citees he made [then] temples three, And flaumes also, as nowe these bishoppes been, To kepe the rites after their moralytee Of there goddes, as in there bookes was [were.] seen, [Of their fals lawes as thei dyd meen.] [In theyr beleue though it than were vnclene.] When he had reigned by thyrtye yere and nyne, The dulful death made hym to earth enclyne.

The. xxv. Chapiter.

¶ Bladud, kynge of Britayne, had Logres and Albany. He made an vniuer∣sitee and a study at Stamforde, & a flaume and his temple at Bathe his citee, whiche vniuersitee dured to the commyng of saynt Augustyne;

and the byshoppe of Roome enterdited it for heresyes that fell emong the Saxones and the Britons together mixte.

BLadud his sòne sone after hym [did] succede, [Bladud reigned xx. yeres.] And reigned after then full. [fully.] xx. yere; Cair [Bladud, so that now is] [Bladun which is nowe.] Bath I rede, He made anone y^e hote bathes there infere. When at Athenes he had studied clere, He brought with hym. iiii. philosophiers wise, Schole to holde in Brytayne and exercyse.

¶ Stāforde he made y^t Sāforde [Staumford.] hight [at.] this daye, [Stāforde.] In whiche he made an vniuersitee, His philosophiers, as Merlyn [Malyn.] doth saye [it say.] , Had scolers fele of greate habilitee, Studyng euer [in bookes.] alwaye in vnitee, In all the seuen liberall science, For to purchace wysedome and sapience.

¶ In Cair Bladim [Bladun.] he made a temple right, And sette a flamyne theirin to gouerne; And afterard a* Fetherham [a federde slavyn.] he dight, [A manne decked in fethers.] To flye with wynges as he could [couth.] beest descerne, [Aboue the aire nothyng hym to werne;] He flyed [flowe.] on high to the temple Apolyne, [And ther brake] [ther broke.] his necke for al his great doctrine.

The. xxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Kyng Leyr of Brytaine gaue away, with his doughter, all his lande, and had it all again, and dyed kyng possessid.

HIs soōne was kyng high sette in royaltee [Leyr kyng.] Of all Brytaynes, by name y^t hight kyng Leyr, Who Laiceter made after hym called to bee, Cair Leyr his citee that buylded was full faire: He had doughters three to been his heire, The first of theim was called Gonorelle, The next Ragan, and the youngest Cordelle.

¶ Emonges theim, as [all.] Leyr satte on [upon.] a daye, He asked theim howe muche thei [that they.] hym loued; Gonorell saied "more then my self [seluen.] ay," And Ragan saied, moe then was after prouid, [For ioye of whiche the kyng was greately moued], "I loue you more then all this worlde so fayre:" [He graūted theim twoo, of thre partes to bee heire] [He graunte theym two departe and so tobe his heire.] .

¶ Cordell [the] yoūgest, then saied full soberly, Father, as muche as ye been in [of.] value, So muche I loue you; and shall, sikirly, At all my might and all my herte full trewe. [Fol. xxiii.] With that he greuid at hir and chaunged hewe, "Senne thou me loues lesse then thy sisters twain, The leest porcion shalt thou haue of Bryteine."

¶ With that Maglayn, duke of Albanie, Gonorell wed[did], and had the [that.] lande all out; Euin [Hanemons.] of Walis, and of Cornwayle ther by, That duke was of those twoo landes stoute, Ragan wed [did]: to whiche twoo dukes, no doubte, Kyng Leyr gaue rule and [and all the.] gouernaunce, Of all Bryteine, for age and none puissaunce.

The. xxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Leyr made a temple, and a flamyne to rule at all Laiceter.

A temple that [yit.] in his citee of Kaireleir, A flamyne also, as he a bishop were, In name of Ianus, the folke into repere: And then he wente Gonorell to requier, [Of the greate loue that she aught hym so dere,] That of hir promyse [she] failed vnkyndly. Wherfore he wente [yede.] vnto Ragan in hye;

¶ She failed also [him als.] , for all hir greate promyse: And to Cordell, that weddid was into Fraunce, Long after that [so.] he wente, in greate distres, To [For.] helpe to wynne hym his inheritaunce.

She succurred hym, anon, with all plesaunce, Bothe [with] gold & syluer of right [full.] greate quātitee, To gette his lande again in all suertee.

¶ Aganippe, hir lorde, was kyng of Fraunce, That graunt hym menne, and goud [good. edit. alt. gohl. MS.] sufficient, And sent his wife with hym, with greate puisaūce, With all aray that to [hir wer] [the werre.] apent, His heire to been by their bothes assent; For he was olde, and might not well trauell, In his persone, the warres to [for to.] preuaile.

¶ Kyng Leyr thus wāne his lande, w^t [all] might again, And riegned well there after full thre yere, And died so, buried at Kairleir menne sayn, In Ianus temple; in whiche tyme for age clere The kyng of Fraunce, Aganype infere, Dyed, wherfore Cordell his ayre [heire.] was soo To rule Brytaine alone with outen moo.

The. xxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Cordell, quene of Fraunce and doughter of kyng Leyr, reigned after the deat hof hir father.

COrdell quene [the quene.] of Fraūce, and doughter to kyng Leyr, [Cordell quene of Fraunce.] Quene of Englāde [Britayne.] after hir fathers daye, Fiue yeres reigned, as for hir fathers heyre, And gouerned well the realme, all menne to paye. [His sister soonne,] [hir susters sonnes.] then, Morgan of Albanie [Albany so feyr.] , And Condage [Gundage.] also, of Cambre and Cornewaile, In battaill greate hir tooke and putte in baill [vayle.] .

¶ For sorow then, she sleugh hir selfe for tene, And buried was by side hir father right, In Ianus tēple, whiche kyng Leyr made I wene, At Kairleyr so that nowe Laicester hight. [Thus died this quene, that was of muche might,] Hir soule went [so went.] to Ianus, whome she serued, [Fol. xxiiii.] And to Mynerue, whose loue she had deserued.

The. xxix. Chapiter.

¶ Morgan, kyng of Albanie, that claimyd all Briteyne. But this Isle of Britayne was departed, for this kyng had but Albany.

MOrgan, [y^e] eldest soōne of Dame Gonorell, [ Morgan.] Clamed [Claymynge.] Brytein as for his heritage, Warred [sone of Condage] [full sore on Gundage.] as I spell [seell.] , That kyng was of [so of.] Cambre, in younge age, Duke of Cornewaile also for his homage; But this [kyng] Morgan was kyng of Albany, Soonne and heire of the eldest sonne [sister.] varelie.

¶ Cōdage [Gundage.] was kyng of [Cābre, y^t Walis is nowe] [Walys, Cambre hight than.] [Cōdage [Cambre, edit. alt.] is that which we nowe call Walis.] And duke of Cornewaile his [of his.] patrimonye, Claymed Logres, as soonne and heire to Regawe [Regan.] , The myddill sister, for his mothers proprete [purparty.] , As she that aught to haue hir partourye [Parteney.] : At Glomorgane, with Morgan did he meete, In bataill sleugh hym, there casten vnder fete.

The. xxx. Chapiter.

¶ Condage, kyng of Logres, Cambre, and duke of Cornewaile, gatte all Bryteine againe, and made a temple w^t w flamyne at Bangor.

COndage [Gundage.] was kyng of all great [the hole.] Britaine, [Condage reigned xxxiii. yeres.] And in his hande he seased [all] Albanie For [As.] his eschete, that ought to hym againe Resorte of right, and returne verelye. He made a flamyne [flaume.] , a temple also in hye, Of Mars at Perch, y^t nowe his. S. Iohns towne, In Albany [that now is Scotlande] [Scotlonde is the regioun.] region.

¶ He made another temple of Mynerue In Cambre, which [so wher.] now is named Bnagour: The thyrde he made [in] Cornwayle, for to serue Of Mercury, in place where he was bore,

For his people to serue the goddes there: Wherby he reygned. xxx. yere and three, In rest and peace and all tranquilitee.

¶ Ryueall [Rivalle.] his sonne that was pacificall, [Ryueall reygned xxii. yeres.] Crowned was than easye of gouernalle, In whose tyme the [so.] greate tempest dyd befall, That dayes thre the flyes did hym [men.] assayle Enuenoned [envenomd.] foule vnto [the] death no faile; And rayned bloodde thesame. iii. dayes also, Greate [Muche.] people dyed, the lande to mykell [right grete.] woo.

¶ Gurgustyus his sonne so reygned then, [Gurgustius reygned xv. yeres.] In mykill ioye and worldly selynesse, Kepyng his landes [londe.] from enemyes as a manne, But drunken [drunkenlye.] he was echedaye expresse, Vnaccordynge [Vnaccordaunte.] to [a] prince of worthynesse: [Out of] [To.] drunkennesse succedeth euery vice, Whiche all men shuld eschewe if thei wer wise.

¶ Scicilius his sonne then did succede, [Scicilius reygned xiiii. yeres.] In whose tyme echeman [so echeman.] did other oppresse, The lawe and peace was exiled so in dede That ciuill warres and slaughter of men expresse, [Was in euery parte of the lande without redresse;] And murderers [murder.] foule through all his lande, dayly, Without redres or any [other] remedy.

¶ Iago succeded [succede.] , and kyng was of this lande, [Fol. xxv.] [Kyng Iago reigned. x. yere.] As eiuill as was the kyng [of] Scicilus, The same vices, as I vnderstand [can vnderstand.] , Or els wourse and more malicious; Wherfore our lorde toke [on theym toke.] vengeaūce [of hym] thus; He smote theim bothe in such [a] letargie That sone thei dyed, for marrid with frenesie.

¶ Kymar [Kymaure.] his soonne had then the diademe, [Kyng Kimar reigned. xx. & viii. yere.] And kyng [then was, with all kyndes of] [so with alkyn.] royalte, Kepyng his lande, as well did so hym seme, In lawe and peace, with greate felicite.

The common weale and their vtilite He did prefer euer in vniuersall, Whiche to a prince is [a] vertu principall.

¶ [First, if he kepe] [For who kepith.] not lawe nor [ne.] peace certein, His people will nothyng dred [hym drede.] he doubt; Than stande he moost in parell to bee slaine, Or els putte dounce right by his vnderlout, No better is he, bee he neuer so stout: Then [is] his subiect, or another wight, That with rebell [rebels.] vnlawfull kill hym might.

¶ Gorbonyan [Gorbodian.] , that was his soonne and heire, [Gorboniā reigned. xi. yere.] Was kyng, who had that tyme but soonnes twoo; The eldre hight Ferrex, that was full faire, The younger hight Porrex, which discordid so That either fo theim was [alwaye others] [other.] foo: [For that the] [Wherfore their.] father sent Ferrex into Fraunce, To kyng Syward, that was of greate puissaunce.

¶ But after long, when he had reigned. xi. yeres [yere.] , Dyed [He died.] awaye frome all [all his.] royalte, Leuyng his lande by his good rule inclere [and clere.] , In sufficiente [sufficience.] and all prosperite. Ferrex, heryng of his mortalite, With power strong came to this lande againe, And with Porrex faught sore, wher he was slaine.

¶ For sorow of whiche, ther mother y^t Indō hight, To Ferrex came, with hir maydens all in ire, Slepyng in bed slew hym vpon the night, And smote hym all on peces sette a [so on.] fyre. Loo this cruell mother sett on fyre, With suche rancor that she could [couth.] not ceas, Whiche, for passyng [ire, was mercyles.] [was moders ire no lese.]

The. xxxi. Chapiter.

¶ Clotane, Pynner, Ruddan & Stater reigned, with barōs warres. xl. yere.

Howe this Isle of Brytaine was departed in foure parties, & stood de∣parted. xl. yere in barōs warres.

CLotane, [that then was duke] [The duke that then was.] of Cornwaile, [Clotane, with his feloes, reign∣ed. x. yeres.] Next heire then was by all succession; But Pinner thē had Logres ī gouernaile, And kyng ther of was by wrong ingression. Ruddan had Cambre in his possession, And Stater was then kyng of Albany: Thus was this Isle then lede by tirannye.

¶ Thus Brytain was to [foure kynges deuided,] [to kynges four deuyde.] Echeon of theim warryng on other. The barons also [als.] on warre were so prouided [prouyde.] , That [and.] all the people to wast father and mother; Thei spared none, [all wer thei] [though they were.] sister or brother: And eche citee on other, bothe towne and tour, And eche tyranne [tyrant. edit. alt. MS.] was a [as a.] conquerour. [Fol. xxvi.]

¶ And lordes faine subiectes then to been; The poore menne, that afore y^e warre wer desolate Of all honour and worship that [as.] was seen, Through their manhode, with people congregate, Lordeship [lordeshippes.] conquered, and roose to high astate. Laddes and boyes the ladeis tho [so.] did wedde, Their kynne afore nether lande ne hous hadde [they hadde.] .

¶ Fourty wynter, thus duryng barons warre, This Isle so stoode in sorowe and in strife; In faute of might, the weaker had the wer, And suffered wrong that was [woo was.] then their life: For who that might aught gette w^t spere or knife, He helde it furth, as for his heritage, And [waxid a lorde that a fore was] [waxe a lord before that was.] a page.

¶ Defaute of peace & lawe sette theim on hight, To ouer runne lordes and bee [been.] victorious, As worthy was, for of their wrongfull might

The lordes were cause that thei were rygurous, That would not so their wronges malicious At first withstande, and punishe trespassoures, But suffer theim endure in their erroures.

The. xxx. Chapiter.

¶ The conseipt of the maker of this booke, touchyng barrons warres, in defaute of peace and lawe.

DEfaut of lawe was cause of this mischief, Wronges susteined by mastry & by might, And peace laied downe that should haue been the chief, Through whiche debates folowed all [and all.] vnright. Wherfore vnto a prince accordeth right, The peace and lawe, [euen with] [evenly in.] equite, Within his realme, to saue his dignite.

¶ What is a kyng without [withoutyn.] lawe and peace, Within his realme sufficiently conserued? The porest of his [his reame.] maye so encrease By iniury and force of menne preserued, Till he his kyng so w^t strēgth haue ouerthrowed [so ouerterned.] , And sette hym self in royall maieste, As tratour Cade made suche [an iuoperte.] [a juperte.]

¶ O ye, my lorde of Yorke, and veraie heire Of Englande, so this matter [well] impresse Deipe in your breste, lette it synke softe and feire, And suche defautes sete you aye to represse: At [the] begynnyng lette your high noblenes The trespassoures to chastes [chastice.] , and [to] restreine, And lette theim not lawe ne peace disobeine.

¶ O ye lordes that [been in] [beth of.] high estate, Kepe well the lawe [with peace and] [and peace with.] gouernaunce, Lest your hurtes [subiectes.] you hurte and depreciate, Whiche been as able, with wrongfull ordynaunce, To reigne as ye, and haue also [as.] greate puisaunce:

[For lawe and iustices in lordes vnpreserued Causeth many of theim to bee ouerthrowed.] [

If lawe and peas be leide and unyte, The flowres been lefte of all your soueraynte.

]

The. xxxi. Chapiter.

¶Dunwallo Moluncyus, kyng of Cornewayle, conquerid Logers, Cambry, and Albanie, as right heire of Brytayne. He gaue fraunchises to the temple, plough, merkettes, feyres, and hie wayes; so that none should disturbe by lawe nor by wrong. He made sixe temples in Logers, [Fol. xxvii.] Cambre, & Albanie; and also many flāynes to rule theim of estate, as bishoppes nowe dooen.

KYng Clotein [Clotayne.] died, y^t reigned in Cornewaile, Wherfore his soōne, Dūwallo Molūcius, Was kyng of all his realme without faile [any faile.] : [Dūwallo reign∣ed. xl. yeres.] A mannly prince, in armes full cuorageous, Assembled his hoost, and came full vigorous, Of [On.] kyng Pynner, in [of.] Logres intrusour, And sleugh hym ther as wrongfull gouernour.

¶ Kyng Ruddan [Ruddan of Cambre.] , and kyng Stater Of Albanie, with hoostes strong and wyght, Gaue hym battaill with mighty [full myghty.] power, Where Ruddan & Stater wer slain downe right, [With all their hoostes, and their greate might;] And Dunwallo had the [all the.] victory, With muche [right muche.] ioye and manhod mightely.

¶ Dunwallo so called Moluncius, At Troynouaunt, with royall diademe Of gold crouned, moost [right.] riche and precious, Vpon his hede as did hym well besene. [Dūwallo was y^e first king of Bryteine that was croned with golde.] The first he was, as chronicles expreme, That in this isle of Brytein had [bore.] croune of golde, For all afore copre and gilt was [were.] to beholde.

¶ He graunted [graunte.] pardon vnto all trespasoures, Of whiche thei were full glad and ioyus, Amendyng all their faultes [forfettis.] and errours,

With all their hertes full beneuolous. [He eked] [And encreste.] then by his witte full curious, With his lawe [lawes.] called lawe Moluntyne, Chargyng all menne to theim fully [to] enclyne.

¶ He graunted vnto the temples euery one, And to the plough [plowes.] , and all [to all.] commen wayes, To markettes [markettis all.] & faires wher mēne should gonne, Fraunchesies [Fraunchise.] so greate, and liberties alwais That all menne, beeyng in theim night or [nyghtes and.] dayes, Should not betake[n] ne troubled [in] any wyse, Neither by lawe, nor by no [any.] maistries.

¶ Sixe temples he made, in Cābre & Logres als, And in the lande also of Albany, Of flamynes [flaumes.] as fele to serue their goddes fals; A temple also [als.] in Troynouaunt sothely, [This tēple was S. Poules churche in Lōdon.] Of peace and concorde he made verely, In whiche, when there fell any discorde Emong his lordes, there were thei made [well.] accorde.

¶ When he had stond so kyng by fourty yere, He dyde awaye, and buryed was full fayre In his temple [then of concord] [of concorde than.] full clere, At Troynouaunt, with [with people.] greate repeir; To whom Belyn was eldest soonne and heire, And Brenny next was borne, of younger age, Wherfore Belyn had [all the whole] [hoole the.] heritage.

The. xxxi. Chapiter.

¶ Belyne, kyng of Brytain, who gaue to Brenny, his brother, Albany, that made hym homage for it, and sone after made hym greate warre, and was false to hym, and after frendes againe in other landes, but not in Englande ne in Scotlande.

BElyn was kyng and sat in royall trone, [Fol. xxviii.] [Belyn.] Crowned with all maner of royaltee; To Brenny [Brenne.] , his brother, he gaue the [his.] lande anone Of Albany; for whiche homage & feautee

He made forthwith, as to the souerayntee; His [man became, and] [His name become the.] kyng of Albany Confirmed was [so.] , and made full honorably.

¶ But after sone his men hym sette to warre Vpon Belyn, that fought in batayll sore; But Brenny [Brenne.] fled, [and] his men discomfite wer, For then [tene.] he went vnto Norwaye therfore, [And in that he dwelled thore,] [To pray for helpe to gete that he hade lore.] Wher he wedded the kynges doughter fayre, That taken we by sea, homeward in repayre,

¶ By the kyng of Denmarke, y^t Cuthelake hight, Who, by tempest, into Logres wer driue, And broughtvnto Belyn, mykell of might, Wher he bande hym, as chronycles doth briefe, Denmark to holde of Belyn, to haue leife Home with his wyfe to passe so anone, Whom Belyn graunted home agayn so to gone.

¶ Brenne anone great hoste of [on.] Belyne brought, Wher in the forest that tyme of [Colatre,] In batayll [strong, kyng Brenny all forfought,] [strekyn Brenne all forsought.] Discomfite fled in Burgoyn for feare To duke Segwyn, to whom he gan hym beare So manfully and wisely in all thyng, That he hym wedded vnto his doughter ying.

Sone afterwarde this duke Segwyn dyed, So Brenny [Brenne.] than was duke (by [there by.] his wyfe,) That to his brother alwaye full sore anoyed [envied.] , Came with great hoste to fight with hym ful ryfe. Conwen, their mother, by her prerogatyfe, Betwyxte theim treated, & made there wel accorde, On her blissyng, no more for to discorde.

¶ With wordes peteous, and mothers naturesse, Shewyng her pappes and wōbe w^t [of.] great beautie; "Lo here the wombe that bare you with syckenesse, As womanhode would and femynitee;

Lo here the pappes, as was necessitee, That fed you ofte in your [your moste.] tendre age, For my loue nowe let be all this outrage."

The. xxxij. Chapter.

¶ These, ii. brethren wanne all Fraunce, and all Italie to Rome, and besieged Rome, gatte it, and wer Emperours of it.

SO made she theim at one and well accorde, And [made] theim kisse, & coūcelled theim to gone To their [other.] lādes, [lest thei after] [lesse afterwarde they.] discord; Whiche [And so.] thei did with hostes greate anone [moone.] , [With manly men of armes full greate, wonne] [Sodeynly toke ship, both hertis sett in oone.] All Fraunce; thei wanne Sauoye and Lunberdy [Lombardie.] , Tuskayne also, and all great Italye.

¶ Thei sieged Rome, wherfore their coūcellours, Galbo [Gabo.] and Porcenna, came it to rescue, With hostes greate, wher then these emperours Slewe syr Galbo [Gabo.] and Porcenna the trewe, And Rome thei wanne, that alway was vntrewe. Italye throughout obeyed theyr dominacion, Without more stryfe or [or any.] altercacion. [Fol. xxix.]

¶ Kynge Belyne there no lenger would abyde, But lefte [lete.] Brenny [Brenne.] alone with all that lande, And home he came with mykill [grete.] ioye and pride, And Albyon [Albany.] he seased [in his owne] [into his.] hand, [And so kyng and lorde of all Brytayn lande.] [Logres als, and Britayne, nowe called Englonde.] A citee fayre he made, that Kaire Vske hight, Which mē nowe callē Carlyō by name ful right.

The. xxxiii. Chapter.

¶ He made the hye wayes through out Britayn, and he founded three archeflamynes; at London one, for Logres; another at Yorke, for Albany, that nowe is Scotlande; (for that tyme fro Humbre North, that was that tyme Scotlande;) & the thyrde at Carlion in Wales, for all Wales.

IN Brytayn then he made frō Cornwel sea, Of lyme and stone through [A strete thorowe.] all Brytayn, That men might [ryde and go] [gone and ride.] in al suertee, Vnto the sea by Northe Catenes [Catnesse.] certayne, [Whiche vnto all men was brode and playne.] [And fro Cornewaile it lieth full playne.] Another he made in bredth fro Saint Dauid towne, Vnto the sea flowynge at Southamptone.

¶ Thre archeflamynes [archeflaumes.] he made through al Brytayn, As archebyshoppes now in our lawes [lawe so.] been, There temples all to gouerne and domayne. At Troynouaunt, on Logres to ouer seen, [Her fals goddes to serue and to queme.] [Nowe Engelonde called in all cuntrese I ween.] At Embranke [Eboranke.] another for Albany, And at Karleō for Cambre, on [one.] soueraynly.

¶ A towne he made ful hie, [that hight Belyn] [called Belyns.] gate, At Troynouaunt, his citee moste royall; Thyrtene flamynes [flaumes.] of bishoppes high [hole.] estate, And temples as [als.] many, in citees all: So that there were in his tyme ouer [ther ouer.] all, With other so afore edificate, Xxviii. flamynes [flaumes.] in temples ordynate.

¶ And at his death, [he bad his corps to be brent] [his cors he bode be brent.] Into powder, all in a barell of golde [To put,] [putte be.] and sete [vpon his toure,] [his toure on.] to represent His body hole; who [that seen it] [so it seen that.] wolde His triumphes all, that enemyes might beholde, Well wrought about, in ymagerie and scripture, Full royally wrought for to refigure.

¶ He reigned had then one and forty yere, When he thus died, and to his God had sent His woofull ghoost out of his [corps full] [cors not.] clere, Emong the goddes euermore to bee present, For whiche his people of wepyng coulde [couth.] not stent; There sorowes great in teares bitter [thei did] [dide they.] stepe, Whiche in streames rāne & fro their eyē did wepe.

The. xxxiiii. Chapiter.

GVrgwyn [Gurdwyn.] his sōne was crowned after him, Of Britayn bare then [than so.] the diademe, [Gurgwyn reigned. xxx. yeres.] Who made his lawe vpon [on payne of.] lyfe & lymme; His peace also he [be.] kepte, as he did deme, As his iudges coulde [couthe.] it full well exprime. Into Denmarke he went for his truage, Whiche kyng Cuthelake [graunt him in] [had graunte in.] heritage.

¶ He slewe y^e kyng, and Danes great multitude [Fol. xxx.] His seruise had, and made the lande [to] enclyne To his lordshyppe, and to his altitude, There truage paye, forthwarde nomore declyne: And as he came by sea then homewarde fyne, He founde shippes thyrty full of myghty men Accordyng well as many fayre women.

¶ At whose request, of his speciall [especiall.] grace, He gaue to theim the land [that nowe is] [called now.] Irelande, Wher they did wone & make their dwellyng place. There gouernaunte, so then I vnderstande, Was Partheleyn [Partholoym.] , to holde it then hym bande Of [kyng Gurgwyn] and all his lynage, Perpetually by feautee and homage.

¶ Neuerthelesse some chronicles reporte, That Irelamall their capitayn had to name, [How Irelande was hold of this kyng & his heires.] By whome it was so bigged [beelded.] and supporte, That out of Spayn wer exiled, and thither came; And some sayth [seyn.] that Hiberus [Luberus.] of great fame, There duke was than and there gouernour, That of Spayne [Hispayne.] afore had been the floure.

¶ This king Gurgwyn his surname was Batrus, Came home agayn, after the [that.] voyage sore, All forbeten, so was he corageus. That from his corps [cors.] his ghoste departed thore; Reigned that had. xxx. [yere afore:] [wynter before.]

In Carlion [Caierlion.] , after his high degre, Was buried [so] with full greate royaltee.

The. xxxv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Guytelyn, kyng of Britayne, wedded Marcian to wife, that Mercian lawes made, by her great wisedome.

[GVytelyn, his sonne, gan reigne as heyre] [Gwithelyne, kinge of Britayne.] [Guytelyn reygned. x. yere.] Of all Brytayn, aboute vnto the sea, Who wedded was to [unto.] Marcyan full fayre [fayne.] , That was so wyse in her femynitee; That lawes made of her syngularytee, That [Which.] called wer the lawes Marcyane In Britayne tongue, of her owne witte alane.

¶ This Guytelyn was good of his estate, Full iuste he was in all his iudgement, Wise and manly of porte, erly and late, Right meke and good euer [euermore.] in his entente, [Although of state he was right excellent,] With eche poore man that came to his presence, Through whiche he waxed [wexe.] of moste hie sapience.

¶ When he had reigned, [ful peacebly,] [pesebly full.] x. yere, He lefte the realme to [unto.] his sonne and heire, And to his wife to be his counceller, For his sonne then was. vii. yere olde, full fayre: Whom,at her death, she sent for all repayre Of barons all, [their she] [she there.] delyuered hym To kepe in [on.] payne of losse life [of life.] and lymme.

¶ Sicilius, his sonne, reygned. xxiiii. yere, [Sicilius reygned, xxiiii. yeres.] And crowned was, and dyed in iuuentude, That gouerned wel the [realme full well and] [londe and lawe full.] clere; Atr Karlyon [Caerlyon.] buryed, after consuetude, As kynges afore in all simylitude, With all repayre of all his baronage, As well accorded [doth accorde.] vnto his hye parage. [Fol. xxxi.]

¶ Kymar his sonne, the barons dyd crowne, [* Kymar kynge.] With honoure, suche as fell to his degree, Who twenty yere and one so bare the crowne, And kepte lawe and all tranquilytee, And peteous was euer, as a king shulde be; In ryghtwesnesse accordyng with his lawe, Hauyng pytee and mercy where hym sawe [awe.] .

¶ Danius kyng [than.] his brother dyd succede, [* Danius kynge.] Duryng. x [than ten.] . yere in warre, and greate [in grete.] payne, Withouten reste he was alwaye in dede. The lawe vnkepte, was cause there of certayne, As myne [authour it lyste] [auctour liste it.] nothyng to layne, I wyll [woll.] it [nowe] wryte, and in this boke expresse, That men may knowe his foly and lewdenesse.

The xxxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Moruile, kyng of Britaine, was slayne by his owne immoderate ire, withoute knowledge of eny man, with a fysshe bestyall of the sea.

MOruyle [Morwide.] his sonne, [a baste] [of baaste.] goten and bore [Moruyle reygn∣ed. xvii. yere.] On Tangusta his specyall paramour, Was crowned, then after [that after:] faught full sore With the kyng of Morians, as [a] conqueroure, Where he hym kylled, and had the felde y^t houre; And lefte no man on lyue, and [but.] brente theim all, His ire excede[d] hsi wytte and gouernall.

¶ Sone after then came fro the Yrishe sea, A bestyous [beestish.] fyshe, a monstre sume [dyd it] [it dide.] call, Wherof afrayde was [were.] all the comontye, For it deuoured the folke both great and smalle; Wherfore the kyng his yre myght not apall, Ne cesse, afore he foughten with it had, All sodaynly alone, as [a] man ryght mad.

¶ Where both were dead or any man it knewe, His yre full [so.] fell was and [so.] vntemperate, His discrecyon out of his brayne flewe,

But [That.] he coulde [couthe.] not, by reason ordynate Proroge his wyll, [ne yre inordynate,] [and yre ymmoderate.] By other meanes with people multytude, It to haue slayne by wytte and fortytude.

¶ He reigned had that tyme but seuentene yere When he thus dyed, and fondly dyd expire, Vnsemingly of any prynce to heare, That he with suche a monstre shoulde desyre TO fyghte alone so preuely of yre. But sonnes he had full fayre then [that then were.] fyue, Of manly men also [and full.] substantyfe.

¶ Gorbonian, his eldest sonne of fyue, [Gorbonyā reygned. x. yere.] Was after kyng, and helde the maieste, Ryghtwesse [right wise.] and trewe to euery creature [man on live.] ; [In peace his realme] [his reame in peas.] and all tranquillyte [prosperite.] , And to his people he helde all [hoole.] equyte; Tyllers of lande with golde he dyd comforte, And soudiours all with goodes he dyd supporte [

Here the following stanza is added in the Harleian and Selden Manuscripts.

"That they shulde not to other doo no wronge. Ten yere reignynge in welth and moste plente: And as nature of life, by processe longe, Muste nedes haue ende by some mortalite, The deth his gooste, with his subtilite, Oute of his cors for euer than dide exile. At Troynovaunte buried, as men compile."

] .

¶ Arthegall, his borther, signed with diadene [diademe. edit. alt.] , [Arthegall.] The kyng was then, with all solempnytee, By natyfe byrth nexte brother, as men deme, [Fol. xxxii.] Who good men [hated] of his iniquyte, Oppressyng them by greate subtylyte, And all fals folke with ryches dyd auaunce: His barons all deposed hym for that chaunce.

The. xxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe this kyng was crowned, in defaute of his elder brother, and after, of pure pytee, crowned his brother agayne.

ELydoure [Eledour. edit. alt.] then, the thirde brother generate, [* Eledoure, kyng, reygned. v. yeres.] Was kynge create by all successyon, And bare the crowne with all royal estate, By [lordes wyll] [by wyll of lordes.] and there [theire.] concessyon, That [Which.] ruled well withoute oppressyon. When he had reigned so fully fyue [by five.] yere, Arthegall he founde, that was his brother dere,

¶ As he was gone on huntyng for [his] disporte, In the forest and woode of Collatre [Calatre.] ; That sought had frendes and found had no comforte, But heuy was, and of full simple chere, Whome Eledoure toke in his armes clere, And brought hym to his cytee of Alclude, That then was of great myght and fortytude.

¶ In Albany [then] was [it] the greatest citee tho, Besyde the woode that tyme of Collatre [Calether.] , Where his barons, and many other moo, At his biddyng were come, and presente there; Whome syngulerly he made them for to swere Vnto Arthegall his brother to be trewe, [* Arthegall reygned. x. yere.] So purposed he to crowne hym all newe.

¶ And then anon, in haste, so forth they rode To Ebranke [Eboranke.] , and [helde then] [there.] his parlyament, Where of good loue and tender brotherhod, The crowne he set, with very trewe entente, On Arthegalle[s] hede, & thought it was wel spent, By hole decree [degre.] , and iudgement of his mouth, And made hym kyng agayne by North and South.

¶ Arthegall, [kyng crowned so all newe] [so kynge now crownede.] agayne, Full well his lordes [after dyd loue all perlees,] [dide after love & pleese.] Forsoke all vyce[s] and tooke to vertue playne, And set his lande and people in all [kyne and] [maner.] ease. Reigning. x. yere, he fell in greate disease, In maladye of [and.] dyuerse [divers.] great syckenesse, Dead [diede.] , and buried at Carleyle, as I gesse.

The. xxxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Eledoure was y^e seconde tyme crowned king of Britayne for his good rule.

THe Briteines all crowned Eledoure [Kinge Elidoure.] , [Eledoure reign∣ed. xiii. yere.] That reygned after. xiii. yere in dignytee, So well theim payde to haue hym gouernoure For his goodnesse and his benignyte, And for he was so full of [all] pytee, That in all thynge mercy he dyd preserue, Well better euer then men coulde [couth.] it deserue.

¶ Iugen [Vigen.] , with force, and eke syr Peredoure, [Iugen and Per∣dour reigned. vii. yere to∣gether.] His brethren two [on hym rose] [rose on hym.] traytorously, Deposed hym oute of his hye honoure, And prisoned hym full sore and wrongfullye, All in the towre of Troynouaunt for thy; [And parted the realme betwixte] [That they dide part the reaume betuene.] theim two, Together reignyng. vii. [by seuen.] yere and no mo.

¶ Paredour [Peridoure.] then had all the lande full clere, [Fol. xxxiii.] And crouned was, reignyng after [full.] worthely; [Paradour reign∣ed by hym self iiii. yeres.] His lawe and peace kepyng fulll well foure yere, And dyed then, and to his goddes full [on.] hye He passed so, and buryed full royally, After their [the.] rites and their olde vsage, With greate honour by all the baronage.

The. xxxix. Chapiter.

¶ Eledour, kyng of Brytein, thrise crouned for his good rule and good condicions.

ELedour [Elidoure.] was [kyng all newe made] [all newe made kynge.] againe, [Eledour reigned. x. yeres.] Thrise crouned, y^t kepte his olde cōdicion, Of whome the lordes & cōmons were full faine, And sory for his wrongfull deposicion [decepcion.] :

He reigned so fro losse and all perdicion: Reignyng after full peacebly tenne yere, Buried full faire at Alclude, his citee clere.

¶ Gorbonian that was [Gorbonian his] [Gorbonian's.] soonne, [Gorboniā kyng of Brytaine.] The croune after his vncle in all thynges, That ruled well fro tyme that [he] begonne, Full well beloued with olde, and also [als.] with young, He reigned tenne [hole ten.] yere of Brytein kyng, And dyed then, with worship whole enterred, As to suche a prince of right should bee required.

¶ Morgan, y^t was the soonne of kyng Arthegall [Arthgall.] , [Morgan reigned. xiiii. yere.] Was crowned then, and held the royalte, Full fourten yere he ruled the realme ouer all, The lawe and peace with all tranquillite He kepte full well, [in all prosperite;] [with all egalte.] For whiche he was full greately magnified In all his realme with peole landefyed [lawdified.] .

¶ Emnan [Emman. edit. alt. Enman. MS.] , his brother, so was crouned kyng, [Emnan kyng reigned. vii. yere.] Seven yere reigned [reignyng.] in all [kynd ofe] [maner.] tiranny, For whiche he was deposed, as [an] vnderlyng, When he had reigned [seuen yere fully;] [sex yere full contrarye.] [That to God and manne was euer contrarie,] [Unto the lawe of the Britayne cuntrie.] Till all his [the.] lordes and commons euerione: [Whiche] wer full glad awaye [alwaye. edit. alt.] that he was gonne.

¶Iuall [Rivall.] , the soonne of kyng Ingen, did reigne, [Kyng Iuall reign∣ed. xx. yere.] Louyng alwaye to kepe [all] rightwesnese, Hatyng all vice[s] and of good menne was faine, All vicious menne he helde in sore distres, Helpyng poore menne fallyng [fallen.] in feblenes When he had reigned full well by twenty yere, He dyed awaye, as saieth the chronicler.

¶ Rymo, the soonne that of kyng Paradour [Peridoure.] , [Kyng Rymo reigned. xvi. yere.] Crouned was then, louyng all gentilnes, All vertue euer he louid, and all honour,

And in his tyme was plenty and larges, [Of his people full well belouid I gese,] [Whiche followeth lawe guyded by sadnesse.] And dyed so [right so.] in all felicite [on hye,] Sixten yere whole reigned [reigned, omitted in the other edition.] when he ganne dye.

¶ Gerennes [Geronnes.] then, the soonne of Eledour, [Kyng Gerēenes reigned. xx. yere.] To reigne beganne, and ruled well this [his.] daye, And sone [the] deathe hym toke [and dyd] [to his.] deuour: If I the trueth of hym shall saye, That twenty yere [he] reigned [all menne] [him.] to paye; The lawe and peace [full well aye] [alwey well.] conserued Of his commons the loue aye deserued [he deserved.] . [Fol. xxxiiii.]

Catellus, his [so his.] soonne, [then] ganne succede, [Kyng Catellus reigned. x. yere.] Kepyng the lawe and peace as he had hight; Oppressours all, that poore menne did ouer lede, He hanged euer on trees full hie to sight, [That ensample of theim euery manne take might:] [And trewe iustice he kept with all his myght.] Tenne yere reigned [reignynge.] , full of felicite, And dyed so vnder his vnsure deite.

Coile, his soonne, after hym succede [did succede.] , [Kyng Coile reigned. xx. yere.] And crouned was, reignyyng so twenty yere, In lawe and peace; as to his worthihede, Accordyng was for lawe and peace cōserued clere, [As euery manne maye se bothe farre and nere:] The fluores been of royall dignyte [dignite withoutyn pere. The Harleian MS. also here adds this line. And grete riches and love also he hade therbye.] , In whiche he reigned twenty yere ere [or.] he did dye.

¶ Porrex, his soonne, was crouned in his astate, [Kyng Porrex.] Esye of porte to speake with [to.] euery wight; Their comonnyng to hym was delicate, Who reason spake, he fauoured as was right: Who viceous [viciously.] spake or did in his sight, He chasticed theim after the cause [case.] required; Reignyng fiue yere, of no lande had [was.] he fered.

¶ Cheryn, his soonne, norished in dronkennes, [Kyng Cheryn.] Customably [to whiche] [wher to.] folowed all [kynde of] [maner.] vyce, It exiled witte out of his brayn doubteles, And reason after that made hym full vnwyse, He was of all his gouernaunce so nyce, And reigned so in Brytein but one yere, When he dyed, laied [and laid.] was on the bere.

¶ His soonne Fulgen reigned but one yere; [Fulgen, Eldred. & Androge.] Eldred his brother, and Androge hight the thirde, Kynges after hym echeone were synguler, A yere reignyng, whose good rules are hid, For why, vnto no manne was it kyde: Thei dyed sone, for long that might not dure In suche drōkennes, full weake was their nature.

¶ Vryan, the soonne of kyng Androge, [Vryan.] Three yere reigned, that was full lecherous; A mayden young, wher he did ride or goo, He had euery daye, he was so vicyous: But yet he was gentill and bounteous, All if he had maydens in suche charte, Wedowes and wifes, he had in greate plentie.

¶ Elynde was kyng, & fiue yere bare the croune, [Elynde.] Full well ruled the realme in all kynd of thyng; In Astronomye, full redy aye and bowne. Dedancius also reigned fiue yere full young, [Dedancius.] Who the realme ruled in all maner thyng, Full peseably frome that Elynde was dedde: Bothe twoo dyed in their floreshed youthede.

¶ Detonus then was kyng, reignyng twoo yere; [Detonus. Gurgūcius. Merian. Bledudo. Cappe. Owen & Sicilins. All these reigned eche of theim. ii. yeres.] Gurguncius so twoo yere bare also [als.] the croune; And Meryan twoo yere by wrytyng clere; Bledudo, then, full ready bowne, Twoo yere also bare the croune; Cappe and Owen, and then Sicilyus, Eche after other by twoo yere reigned thus.

¶ Bledud Gabred [Grabred. edit. alt.] reigned, expert in song, [Bledud. Gabred. Cantor.] And in all musike instrumentes Farre passyng was all other, and had been long, [Fol. xxxv.] Suche was his cunnyng and his sentementes, That for a god in all folkes ententes, In myrth, and ioye, and maner of melodye, Thei honoured hym tenne yere onely.

¶ Archiuall then, his brother, reigned so, [Archiuall. Eldoll. Redon. Redrike. Samuel. Pirry. Penifell. & Capre. Eche of these reigned two yeres.] And Eldoll after, his soonne, succeeded anone; And Redon then, his soonne, came nexte hym thoo; Redrike his soonne, when his father was gonne: Croune and septer receiued, hath anone, Samuell, Pirre, Peneysell, and Capre, Seuerally, eche one reigned twoo yere.

The. xl. Chapiter.

Elynguellus, kyng of Brytein, had greate will to here all mēne whē thei came to hym, whiche is a vertue. For greate cunnyng maketh a manne wyse, and to knowe muche, and for mischefes to fynde remedies; as my lorde Vmfrewill commended neuer a manne that putteth a mischief, and canne fynde no remedie therfore.

ELynguellus, whiche was Capre his sōne, Bothe wyse and sadde, and in his realme helde right, He herd all menne what counsaill that thei conne, (For oftymes a symple manne to sight More wysedome hath in his insight, And better reason canne in his braynes fynde, Then canne a lorde, though he may beres bynde.)

¶ Who in his lande did wrong or any vnright, He prisoned hym in sore and greate distresse; He gaue his menne, y^t souldyours were full wight, Lyuelode to liue vpon, frome all destres; Sicke folke and poore, caste into feblenesse, He visited aye, and reigned had seuen yere, When that he dyed, and left his realme full clere.

¶ Hely, his soonne, in all thyng good and wise, [Howe Hely the soonne of Elyng∣wellus made the Isle of Hely.] Succeded then; the Isle of Hely made; His palais gaye, that might right well suffice, He buylded ther, that was bothe long and brade, Wherin he dwelled muche, and moost abaide. The lawe and peace he kepte, and conserued, Which him vpheld, that he was neuer ouer terued.

¶ Three soonnes he gatte, Lud, and Cassibalain, [Kyng Hely reigned. xl. yere.] The third was called that tyme sir Nemynus: When he had reignede sixty yere in certaine, The death, cruell to menne, that is aye noyeous, In his commyng that is alwaye douteous, Hym sleugh a waye, who was at Hely buryed, Afore his god that ther was edified.

The. xli. Chapiter.

¶ Lud, kyng of Brytain, buylded frome London stone to Ludgate, & called that parte Luds toune; & after, by processe, was called London, by turnyng of tongues.

HIs soonne and heire [was Lud, of muche] [Lud was of mekyll.] might, [Kyng Lud reigned. xl. yere.] Thē crouned by [was by.] all the baronage; His citees all, [eke his heritage] [and eke his.] castelles wight, He did repeire that were his heritage; And where was worthy [due.] his seruesse and homage, To hym was doone, in landes al aboute Was none withstode, so was he dred and doubte.

With walles faire, and towres freshe about, His citee great of Troynouaunt, full fayre, [Fol. xxxvi.] Full well he made, and batelled [batailed well.] throughout; And palays fayre, for [royalles to appeare,] [rialles and repaire.] Amendyng other defectyfe and vnfayre, From London stone to his [This palays is nowe the bishop of Londōs palays beside Poules.] palays royall, That nowe Ludgate is knowen [full wide.] ouer all.

¶ Betwene Londonstone & Ludgate forth right, That called was then for his name Ludstone,

He made men buyld that [London, so then] [Lud toun than so.] hight: His palays fayre then made he there anone, [With toures high, bothe of lyme and stone;] [For his astate there to be kept alone.] Besyde Ludgate, and his temple nere thereby, His God to serue and hym to glorifye.

¶ When he had reigned by fourty yere all out, He died so, and in his temple fayre Entoumbed was, with stories all about. Androgeus was then his sonne and heyre, [Passyng of sight and Iuly fayre,] [A goodely childe full manerly and feir.] Tenancius [Tennancius.] his yonger sonne, of age Which wer to young to rule the [their.] heritage.

¶ Cassibalayn there vncle then was kyng, [Cassibalayn reigned. xxxiii. yere.] And founde his neuewes full honestly and well, And nourtred [nourished.] theim while [whiles.] thei we chylder [childerne.] ying, And at there age when they could [couth.] reason fele, [He theim auaunced right worshipfully and well:] Androge he made and created [create.] duke of Kent, Of Troynouaunt also by whole [his free.] entent.

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.

The. xliii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe, whan Iulius Caesar failed power, he gatte newe power, by wily polycy to haue his purpose, and came again to Brytayn, and fled the seconde tyme.

IN whiche meane tyme, whē he was redy so With his nauy, [came to Brytayn] [to Bretayne come.] again, Into Thamis [In Temmys so.] , where Cassibalayn tho

Great pyles of tree and yron sette hym again, His shippes to peryshe [perse.] , and so he did certain: Throughe whiche greate parte of hys nauy was drowned, And [some other] [other sum.] in batayl wer cōfoūded.

¶ Then fled he eft with shippes that he had Into the lande of Fraunce, wher he wsa ere [are.] , Hym purposyng to Rome, full wo by stad Of his rebuke with sorowe and with care. But then [the kyng full glad of his euell fare,] [welfare.] A feaste royall at [in.] Troynouaunt he made, Where great discorde with his neuewes he had.

The. xliiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Iulius Caesar came agayne to Britayne the thyrde tyme, & accorded with the kyng, and had truage of hym.

PVrposed fully on theim to bee auenged, For whiche thei sent anone to Iulius, And prayed [praied hym.] to come his right y^t he had chalēged. To clayme it hole, thei wrote [hym right] [unto hym.] thus, Thei should hym helpe with people plenteous. Through whose councell ful gladly then he came, At Douer arryued [rofe.] with mykeil ioye and game.

¶ Where then the kyng Cassybalayn he met, And fought full sore, where that Androgeus Out of a woode on Cassibalayn set, And to a mounte hym droaue, where [that] Iulius [And he hym sieged [hym beseged.] ] again [agayn he.] full coragious. [He] fought full sore, with [all] manly defence [resistence.] , All nyght [afore, by myghty resistence.] [after by watche and grete defence.]

¶ But some [after soone.] , for drede fo famyshement, He treated with the duke Androgeus, To paye his tribute to Roome in good entent, And to amende all thynges greuous, With all his might and [hertes beneuolence.] [herte benevolous.]

Androgeus to all this did assente, And made Iulius to this fully consent.

¶ This truage was. iii. M. li. well payde Eche yere to Rome, of siluer good and fyne; These princes thus accorded wer and daied In peace and reste; and Iulius went fro heyne [hyne.] To warre vpon Pompey, y^t nought wold enclyne To Romys senate, after [afore.] that Iulius Hym had conquered by [warre full fortuous.] [were fortunous. Fortunuous. MS. edit. alt.]

¶ With whome then went the duke Androgeus, [Fol. xxxvliii.] And in Britayne no lenger wolde abyde; He lefte his brother, duke Tennancius, In Britayne with Cassybalyn [Cassibelayne.] that tyde, [And so to Rome with Iulius dyd ryde:] [Who afterwarde Engelonde gouerned so wide.] But Neminus, brother of Cassybalayne, Full manly fought on [with.] Iulius tymes tweyne.

¶ With strokes sore ayther on other bette, But [at the laste this prynce syr] [at laste this grete prince.] Iulius, Crosea [Crosea.] mors, his swerde, in shelde [the shelde.] sette Of the manly worthy sir Neminus; [Whiche, of manly force and myght vigoros,] [To haue him slayne in his grete furious.] The [whiche.] swearde he brought away oute of the felde, As Iulius it [set faste] [faste sett bade.] in his shelde.

¶ Through which stroke [strokes.] sir Neminus then died, And buried was at [the North gate,] [North-west gate.] certayne, Of London then, where nowe is [Scotlande] edified, [London, cytee royall of all Britayne.] [A yate roiall of all citese in Britayne.] [Thus this worthy knyght in his graue befayne,] [Por whome was made grete sorowe not to layne.] Crosea [Crocea.] mors, his swearde layde by his syde, Whiche he [brought from] [by strenght toke fro.] Iulius that tyde.

¶ After whiche accorded [accorde. edit. alt. this accorde, MS.] , this kyng Cassybalayn Reigned fully in Britayne then. vii. yere,

Payeng [trybute to Rome alwaye] [a tribute for ever to Rome.] certayne, Rulyng his lande in lawe and peace full clere: And reygned had, in all, full thyrtye yere, And foure aboue, vnto his god so yede; Buryed at Ebranke w^t all knyghtly [manner.] worthihede.

The. xlv. Chapiter.

TEmancius, his neuewe then full faire, [Temancius reygned. xvii. yere.] Kyng Luds sonne [son of kynge Lud.] , y^t duke was of Cornewayle, With diademe was crowned as ryght heire, Of all Britayne had the [all the.] gouernalle; Who kepte the lande, in his tyme, by good gouernalle [counsayle.] , Full. xvii. yere; to his God then wente, Buryed full fayre, as to suche a prynce appente.

¶ Kymbalayne so was, his sonne and heyre, Noryshed at Rome, instructe with [in.] cheualre, That knyght was made, with honour great & fayer, [Kymbelyne.] By Octauyan, reigning then enterly, Emperour [then of Romes great] [of Rome the myghty.] monerchy: In whose tyme was both peace and all concorde Through all y^e worlde, and borne was Christ oure Lorde.

This Kinbelyne reigned fully. x. yere, And ruled this lande in lawe and peace full well, And dyed then, as sayth the chronycler, That ilke same yere that Christe was [borne w^t zele,] [bore with sele.] [Of his mother a mayden fayre and wele,] [In Bethleem of Marie the maiden so clere.] For christen folke by grace then [theym.] to redeme From payne [the payne.] of hell to blysse, as clerkes deme.

¶ From tyme y^e worlde firste was begoonne and made, Vnto the tyme of Christes natiuytee, Accompted ere [were. edit. alt. been. MS.] through Christendom full brade, Fyue. M. yere. ix. score and. xix. bee [Or Goddes sonne cam man for to bee;] [In bokes wretyn of olde antiquyte.] As Orosius, the discyple of Austyne, In this writyng so [as he coulde] [couth it.] determyne.

¶ Guyder [Gwider.] , his sonne and heyre, full corageous [Guyder reigned. xliiii. yere.] [Fol. xxxix.] That crowned was, nd kyng of excellence, The trybute which the Romayns had [claymed.] of vs, [Denied then,] [He denyed.] and made greate resystens, With [great trouble and manly violence,] [his Britons and theire manly defence.] Vnto the tyme that he had reygned clere In Bretayne by. iiii. And fourty yere.

¶ In whiche yere then the Emperour Claudius, At Caire Peers [Caier Peris.] , that nowe Porchestre hight, [Arryued a] [Arofe to.] lande, with people full corageous; [He closed the gates afore] [assawte that tovn.] with [with full.] mykyll myght, And [the cytee assauted both] [it seged both be.] daye and nyght, The cytezens to famyshe and conquer [to conquer.] , His name in armes and honour to proffer [prefere.] .

¶ But king Guider [Gwider.] fought there w^t themperour, And slewe men [his men.] on euery syde aboute, Rescowyd the towne as very protectour, And made [caused.] hym [to] fle, were he neuer so stoute; But one Hamon rode faste into the route, Hauyng on him the Britains sygne of warre, Who, in the prees, slewe the kyng Guyder [Gwiderre.] .

The. xlvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Aruiragus, kynge of Britayne, reygned. xliiii. yere. And howe, in his tyme, Claudeus, Emperour, had truage of this lande, and maryed his doughter to the kynge.

ARuiragus y^t sawe his brother slayne, [Aruiragus reigned. xliiii. yere.] His brothers armis vpon hym self he cast, And king was then of all y^e Great Britain, Vpon Hamon pursued, tyll [to.] at the laste, He droue hym into the hauen full faste, And drowned him there, after [after hym.] hight Hamō towne, That [men nowe call] [nowe men call for.] shorte speche Southhāpton.

To Winchester kyng Aruiragus rode, Whether Claudius came w^t Romans ful of pryde, Where Aruiragus with Britayns him abode; But as they should haue fought [foughten.] in that tyde, By both theyr councelles [counsailers. edit. alt.] they were [drawē on] [drawe.] side: [Claudius doughter] [The doughter of Claudius.] to wed they were accorde, And truage to paye eche yere withoute discorde.

Then Claudius sente for dame [Gennyse,] His doughter fayre, full womanly to see; She came in haste, as then it myght suffyse, To come oute frome [of.] so farre [lande and] countre, And in a mede, with floures of greate [fresh.] beaute, Wedded they were; where Claudius then made A cytee fayre, Cayre Glowe [Clau.] to [the.] name it had.

¶ Of his name it was so denominate [*Wherof Glou∣cester was so named.] Nowe Gloucester, standynge on Seuerne syde: The [This.] maryage, after Christe was incarnate, Was in the yere fourtye and syxe that tyde. So in Britayne two yere he dyd abyde; Orcades ysles in the meane tyme he conquered, In whiche he enfeffid [feoffed.] the kyng, & hym preferred.

¶ And home to Rome he passed so agayne; But after [efte.] agayne, the kyng truage denyed, And none wolde paye; wherefore Vaspasyan Hyther was sent, with Romains fortifyed. At Ruteporte, that nowe Sandwiche is notifyed, The kyng hym met and put hym [frome the] [fro his.] lande, To Totenesse went, and notwithstandyng [no withstondyng.] fande.

¶ So went he forth to Exceter his waye, [Fol. xl.] Caire Penelgorte then hight, and it assaide [assailed.] , Where then the kyng hym met the seuentene [seventh.] day With hoste full stronge, but then the king preuayled; But Gennyse, the quene, greatly auayled, By her trety made them full well accorde, That with Rome he dyd no more discorde.

The. xlvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Ioseph Aramathie came vnto Britayne with Vaspasyan, and chrys∣tened a parte of this lande.

VAspasyan wintered then in Britayne, At the prayer of quene Gennyse, And had truage then fully payde agayne [To Vaspasyan, as before was the gyse;] With whome Ioseph full holy and full wyse, Of Aramathie, with his felowes fourtene, [Into this lande then came and gaue contene.] [

Of holy lifynge full vertuouse and perfite, Into this londe than come with grete delite.

]

¶ For whome so then Vaspasyan praid the kyng, [Vaspasian.] The quene also, to hym to be good lorde And good ladie, which they graunted [graunte.] in all thing, Declaring then, and fully dyd recorde, [This worthy Vaspasyan by his owne worde] Howe he hym tooke oute of Cayphas prysone, Preserued by God, and [not by] [by no.] mannes reasone.

¶ For fourty yere and two he [in prisone] [prisouned.] laye, [Fro Christes death to tyme that he hym fande,] [Fro deth of Criste to tyme he hade hym founde.] Withoute meate or drynke by any [maner] waye, But only was conforted [comforte.] by Goddes sonde, [And howe he hym brought oute of Ierusalē lond.] [And of Criste blode he founde in Iosehe honde.] All this he tolde the king and eke the quene, And prayde theim his supporters to been.

¶ After the wynter, nexte in somer [the somers.] tyed, Vaspasyan to Rome then [he.] went agayne; Ioseph abode, and fully landifyed [lawdefiede.] The lawe of Christe, to whiche he was full fayne, And [And than.] the kyng gaue, [him gave.] the sothe to sayne, Twelue hydes of lande y^t then Mewtryn [Insewetryne.] hight, Whiche Glastenbury is nowe named full right.

In Bretayne then this Ioseph dyd conuerte Brytons ay howe [where.] to knowe [the incarnacyon,] [their caucion.] Afore that [Paynyms] [were Payn̄s.] and also peruerte, He taught them, of his conuersacyon, Of his [Cristes.] passyon and his [of his.] resurreccyon, [With other thinges, as the chronycler saith, That apperteygneth to Christes fayth.] [

At Caier Lyoun a crucifixe he made, Full like to Criste, that after ther abade.

Agrestes kinge of Walys he did converte, And people grete; but soone that kynge gan̄ madde, He drowned that rode and falsly was preuerte, Into the see he caste it, as hym badde The deuels whome afore he serued hadde; For the which on hym Gode toke full high vengeaunce, That in an oven he brent for that offence.

]

¶ Agrestes [This.] reynged by. iiii. and syxty yere, [Agrestes.] When he was dead, [& in Caire Glawe] [at Caier Clau.] was buryed In a temple entoumbed fayre and clere, Of his goddes, that there were deifyed: [Aboute whyche] [In whos.] tyme so oure ladye Mary dyed, Or elles assumpte in body and soule on lyue, Vnto the blysse after her ioyes fyue.

¶ But Vaspasyan, with his hoste full royall, And Ioseph also [als so.] , came into Britayne, The yere of Chryste was then accompte, in all, Seuenty and syxe, the sooth for to sayne; [Whē Vaspasiā to Roome retourned home again, [Fol. xli.] The kyng enduyd Ioseph in Meutryne.] [

To whom wase yevyn a cuntrey lowe and playne. The kynge endowed Ineswetryne, That Avalon was called after syne.

]

The. xlviij. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Ioseph conuerted this kyng Aruiragus, & gaue hym a shelde of y^e armes that wee call sainct George his armes, whiche armes he bare euer after; & thus became that armes to bee y^e kynges armes of this lāde, lōg afore sainct George was gotten or borne. And as Maryan, the pro∣founde chronicler, saieth, he bare of siluer, in token of clennes, a crosse of goules, significacion of the bloodde that Christe bleedde on y^e crosse, and for it muste nedes of reason by [be. edit. alt.] called a crosse.

IOseph conuerted [converte.] this kyng Aruigarus, By his prechyng, to knowe y^e lawe deuine, And baptized hym, as writē hath Neninus [Nenius. edit. alt. Mewinus. MS.] , The chronicler, in Bretain tongue full fyne, [And to Christe lawe made hym enclyne;] [And shewed hym a figure of Cristes pyne.] And gaue hym then a shelde of [as.] siluer white, A crosse endlong and ouertwhart full perfect [

After this stanza the Harleian MS. has the following.

Of his oun blode, whiche from his necke did rynne, He made that crosse in signyficacion Of Cristes blode, that ranne out fro withynne Vpon the crosse at his expiracion: Whiche shelde, by Ioseph exhortacion, He bore on hym in feldes of werre alwaye, And in his baners and cote-armour gaye.

] .

¶ These [The.] armes were vsed through [in.] all Brytain For a cōmon signe, eche māne to knowe his naciō Frome enemies, whiche nowe we call, certain, Sainct Georges armes, by Nenyus [Mewyns.] enformaciō: [And thus this armes, by Iosephes creacion,] [Whiche armys here were hade after Criste passion.] Full long afore sainct George was generate Were [worshipt heir] [Were worshipped here.] of mykell elder date.

The. xlix. Chapiter.

¶ Marius, the kyng of Brytain, reigned sixty yere and three. Howe the Peightes inhabited firste in Albany, y^t is Scotlāde nowe in these dayes, in Catenes, & thei wer the North Peightes; and a part of theim inhabited sone after bytwyxt the Scottes sea and Tweid, that were called South Peightes.

MAryus [Maurius. edit. alt.] , his soonne, was then intronizate, And sette on high in trone of maiestie, With croune of golde full royally coronate, As worthy was vnto his royalte; Who nourished was at Rome in [his] iuuente, With his mothers [moder.] kynne, the beest [best.] of the empire, With Claudius also, that was his oune graūdsir.

¶ In whose tyme a Peight [Picte.] hight Rodrike, With power greate by sea came fro Sythy,

As proude and bryme as lyon Marmerike [Marmorike.] , Arreued [so vp] [up so than.] in Albanye, Distroiyng whole the lande al sodainly; With whome y^e kyng thē faught in greate battell, And sleugh [hym with oute any] [right ther withouten.] faile:

¶ Wher then, in signe of his high victorye, He sette there vp a stone in remembraunce Of his triumph of his aduersarie, Titled [on it] [out.] his fame [for] to auaunce, [Howe the Peightes there brought to vttraunce,] [Marius hath slayne Rodrike here with a launce.] Wher the redde [rere.] crosse is nowe in Westmerlande, In [On.] Stanys more, as I canne vnderstande.

¶Then to y^e Peightes [Pictes.] [left a liue,] [on lyve.] he gaue Catenese, To dwell vpon and haue in heritage, Whiche weddid wher with Irish as I gesse, Of whiche after [Scottes came on that] [come Scottes of their.] linage: For Scottes bee, to saie their [in their. edit. alt. MS.] langage, A collecciō of many into one, Of whiche the Scottes were called so anone.

The. l. Chapiter.

Howe Scottes came of Scota, kyng Pharois doughter, y^t came after many [Fol. xlii.] daye into Albanye; so y^t of Peightes Irish, & of Pharois people, collect to gethers, wer Scottes named: for at the tauerne, or at a gatheryng of people, or of mony, is called a Scotte, and so came first y^e name of Scottes, which Scottes inhabited theim by twixt Catnes & y^e Scottishe sea.

BVt Mewyns, the Bryton chronicler, Saieth in his chronicles orther wise; That Gadelus [Gadolus.] and Scota in the yere Of Christe [seuenty and fiue, by] [sexty and fifteene of.] assise, At Stone [Scone.] inhabitte as might suffise, And of hir name that countre there [rounde.] aboute Scotlande she called that tyme with outen doubt.

[¶ This Scota was, as Mewyn saieth the sage [Howe Galway had fyrst the name of kyng Gadelus.] Doughter and bastarde of kyng Pharao y^t daye, Whome Gadele wedded, and in his olde age

Vnto a lande he went, where he inhabited ay, Whiche yet of his name is calle Gadelway; And with the Peightes he came into Albanie The yere of Christ aforsaid openlye.]

¶And at hir death she left a precious stone [In Albany, on whiche Moses did preache,] [At that same place on whiche Moyses preached.] And buryed there she was by hir [self] alone; [Whiche stone was holy, as some menne then did teache, And did miracles, so was y^e cōmon speache; In honour it was had bothe of greate and small, And holden for a relique moost speciall.] [

Instead of these four last lines the Harleian and Selden MSS. Have the following, with an additional stanza.

For Gadolus of sekenes was well leched, Vnto a londe he went as he was teched, And it ynhabite for his abidynge ay, And of his name he called it Gadelway.

Which by shortenes of newe mens langage, Nowe is named and called is Gallaway. This Scota was, as Mewyn saith the sage, Doughter bastarde of kynge Pharao that day, Whome Gadell wed and brought with hym away, And with the Pictes come into Albany The yere of Criste aforeseide opynly.

]

¶This stone was called the regall of Sctolāde, [The regall of Scotlande.] On whiche y^e Scottish kynges wer brechelesse set At their coronomente, as I canne vnderstande: For holynes of it, so [did thei] [they dide.] of debte, [All their kynges vpon this stone was sette,] [Whiche custome so amonges theym wase not lett.] Vnto the tyme kyng Edward with long shankes, Brought it awaye again the Scottes vnthākes.

¶ At Westmonestery [Westmynstre.] it offered to sainct Edward, [The subieccion of Scotlād.] Where it is kepte and conserued, To tyme that [the.] kynges of Englande afterward Should coroned bee, vnder their fete obserued, [To this entent kept and reserued;] [As souereyne lorde ouer Scottys to be preserued.] In remembraunce of kynges of Scottes always, Subiectes should bee to kynges of Englāde ay.

¶ Also afore the fifte kyng Henrye[s] daye, Their siluer coigne was, as it ought to bee, The kynges face loked [shewed.] on side all waye

To his soueraigne [lorde] of Englande as I see; Whiche [to been hetherwarde] [hiderwarde toben.] of egalite, Vnto their lorde thei haue of newe presumed To looke euen furth, whiche would nowe bee consumed.

¶ Kyng Maryus kepte y^e [realme in lawe &] [well the londe in.] peace, Full of riches and of prosperyte, And dyed so at Sarum, buryed dowteles, When he had reignd sixty yere [yeres.] and three; His tribute payed full well to Roome citee: Of Christes faith sumwhat he was enformid, But muche more he neded [nede.] to haue been reformid.

¶ Coylus his soonne was kyng then crouned so, [Coylus reigned xiii. yere.] Who nurtryed was at Roome in greate vertue, Held well his lawes egall to frende and foo, And in his dooynges [domes.] full iuste he was and trewe; His life alwaye and rule in [and.] vertue grewe, [Fol. xliii.] That full great name [fame.] of hym was notifyed, And in all landes of honoure [honoures.] multiplied.

¶ The lordes, gentiles, yemen, and commontee, He cherished well, and in no wise oppressed, And to theim gaue wher was necessitee, And tribute payde to Rome vndistressed: And at his death, with sickenesse impressed [sore impressed.] , He buried was at Norwhiche then full clere, When he reigned had fully. xiii. yere.

¶ Somewhat in fayth of Christ he was instruct, But not fully, as was necessitee, Like as [he was in Rome with hym inducte,] [at Rome he was in it inducte.] So helde he forth in all stabilitee, And as he harde in ally symylitee, Howe Ioseph had his graundser [graundesire.] enformed, With benyng herte and wil, he hym confyrmed [confourmed.] .

The. li. Chapter.

¶Lucius, kyng of Britayn, reigned. liiii. yere, and was the seconde christ∣ened

kyng of Britayn, by Faggan & Dubyan, that baptized all this lande; and for the same cause bare the same armes after he was baptized. Also he made of. iiii. archeflamynes in Britayn, three archebyshoppes, at London, Yorke and Carlion.

AFter kyng Coile his sonne, then Lucius, [Lucyus kyng.] So crowned was with royall diademe, In all vertue folowed his father Coilus; To compare hym in all that myght beseme, He put his will after, [as] his witte could deme, In so farre forth that of Christentee [the Cristente.] , He contynued [coueite.] so a Christen man to bee.

¶ And in the yere of Christes incarnacion An. C. foure score [And therto four score.] and tenne, Eleuthery [Pope Euletherye.] [the] first, at supplicacion Of Lucyus, sent hym twoo holy menne That called wer [Faggan and Duuyen] [Phagane and Dirvyen.] , That baptized hym, & all his realme throughoute, With hertes glad and laboure deuoute.

¶ Thei taught y^e folke y^e lawe of Christ eche daye, And halowed all the temples in Christes name, [All mawmentes] [And the mawmets.] and idols caste awaye Through all Britayn, of al false goddes thesame, The [temples flamynes,] [temple-flaumes.] the idols for to shame. They halowed eke and made [made theym.] bishoppes sees Twenty and. viii. at dyuers great citees.

¶ Of. [iii. archeflamynes] [the archflaumes.] thei made archbishoprikes; One at London, [Troynouaunt that] [that Troynovaunt than.] hight, For all Logres, with lawes full autentikes To rule the churche & christentee in right: Another at Carlyon, a towne of might, For all Cambre: at Ebranke [Eboranke.] the thirde [thrid.] , From Trent North for Albany is kyde.

¶ All these workes [Eugeny then] [the Pope gladly.] confirmed. The kyng then gaue to [Faggan and Duuyen] [Phagane and Dirvyen.] The ysle of Analoon, and by cherter affirmed,

That was called otherwyse Mewtryen [Inswetryan.] , Also [As.] frely as Ioseph and his holy men Had it afore [then forth] [thensfurth.] for theyr dispence, Wherof [Therof.] [thei] wer glad, and thought it sufficience. [Fol. xliiii.]

¶ [But whē this kyng had reygned in cotēplaciō, Fyftie and. iiii. yere in all prosperitee, He departed to God, desyryng his saluacion, In heauen to dwell with all felycytee, Where the aungelles synge incessauntely Glory, honoure, and euerlastyng prayse Be to the lambe of God, nowe and alwayes.] [

Instead of this stanza the Harleian and Selden MSS. have,

The yere of Crist an hundreth four score and sixtene, The crucifixe whiche Ioseph made and sett At Caierlion, euermore to haue honoured bene, In Themmys come up, withoute any lette, Wher Poules qwarfe is now with flodes bett; Whiche Lucius, with Troynovaunte cite, With procession brought with solempnyte,

And sett it up at Poules with reuerence, At the North dore by inspiracion̄, Wher long it stode whiles Britons had regence; But whan the kynge hade reigned, in contemplacion, Fifty and four yere in grete prosperacion, He passed to Gode whome he hade alwaye serued, To haue the blisse that he hade euer deserued.

]

¶ At Cairglowe [Caier Clau.] buried, after his dignitee, For whom all men made great lamentacion; Who bare before the [his.] baptyme of propertee, His auncestres armes, and after with consolaciō, He bare the armes, by [of.] his baptizacion, Whiche Ioseph gaue vnto Aruigarus, [As the Briton saith, that hight Mewynus] [As saith the Britoun called Mewynus.] .

¶ For cause he had no[ne] heire to kepe the lande, Through all Britayn the barons gan discorde, Vnto the tyme that Romayns toke on hande To chese a prince by there stedfaste accorde, But. iiii. yere were gone or [then] they could accorde [couth concorde.] ; In whiche tyme then Seuer the senatour, Hether came [than come.] to be theyr [the.] gouernoure.

The. lii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe that ther was Britons warre. iiii. yere after the death of Lucius.

SEuerus thus the worthy senatour, [Seuerus kyng.] Descēded downe right heire to Androgeus, The eldest soonne of Lud, that with the Emperoure [Out of Britayn that went with Iulius: Whiche senatoure afore sayd, Seuerus,] To Britayn came and was intromizate, And with a crowne of golde was coronate.

¶ He brought with hym frō Rome two legion [legiouns.] , With whom great part of Britons [Britayne.] helde ful sore, And other parte of [the] northren Britons With Fulgen stode, was kyng of Scotlande bore, [Gathered great people euer more and more;] With whom y^e Pightes [Pictes.] & fugitiues. viii. esenable [unresonable.] , Destroyed the lande by warre full violable.

The. liii. Chapter.

¶ Howe Seuer made a dike with a wall on it of turues and soddes, to kepe the Pightes and the Scottes from the Britons, ouertwharte the land, frō the east sea vnto y^e west sea.

BVt kyng Seuer hym droue w^t batayl sore Farre north vnto [beyonde.] the Scottishe sea, Wher thei abode & dwelled for[th] euermore, Betwene the [Scottishe sea] [Scottys so.] and Twede no lee; But some bookes saye[n] to Tyne in certayn [certaynte.] , And so is like, for Seuer there did make, [A dike and wall,] [a diche, a wall.] for [the] Scottes & Pightes sake,

¶ From Tymnouth [Tynmouth.] to Alclud his fayre citee, With turues & soddes, & wer theim [to againstand,] [agayn stode.] Where the water myght not the enemytee Kepe of [warre] from his trewe Britayn lande [blode.] , By fyfty myles accompte[d] I vnderstande [vnderstode.] , To the Weste sea, that was of greate Brytayn: [This wal, w^t dikes, Pightes & Scottes did refrein.] [This walle-diche Pictes and Scottys dide refrayne.]

¶ But kyng Fulgē of Pightes & Scottes again, [Fol. xlv.] With hoste full great [sieged Ebranke] [besieged Eboranke.] citee; Whiche Seuer rescowed, and was [ther was.] slayn, And Fulgen also for beten there did dye, [Receaued his guerdon for his tyrannye:] [And Scottes and Pictes to Scotlonde faste dide flee.] At Ebranke [Eboranke.] the kyng Seuer was buried, With victorie and honours glorified.

¶ Getan his sonne, a Romayne generate, [Getā king of Britain chosen by y^e Romayns.] The Romaynes then hastely did crowne: And Britons bloodde [bolde.] together congregate By hole assente [entente.] and playne eleccion, Bassyan chase without collucion [with shorte conclusioune.] ; For borne he was of the feminytee Of Britayn bloodde and consanguitee.

¶ This Bassian with Getan then did fight In great batayll, wher Getan so was slayn, To Bassian so discended all the right, [Bassian reygned vii. yere.] Of whcihe the Brytons all were full [than full.] fayn; Within. iiii. wekes was all this done full [still.] playn: But Bassian then his brother buried, And Romayns all on hepes mortifyed.

Bassian then was crouned kyng of Brytayn, Full well he helde the realme. vii. yere in peace, To tyme Caranse confedered hym agayn, With Scottes & Pightes vpō hym gon [gan.] encrease, All fugitiues, outlawes, to hym [came prease;] [gan prees.] For long he had a robber [been] by the sea, And richer was then any kyng myght bee.

By his manhode set all on [by grete.] roberye, Of lowe bloodde came, rysen by insolence; To soudyours he gaue wages full greatly, For to betraye the kyng, by diligence, He to the [be.] kyng so made by violence; Whiche promyse kepte, he slewe the kyng anone, In place wher as thei wer [with hym] [by theym.] alone.

The. liiii. Chapiter.

¶ Carense [[Carausius.]] , kyng of Britayne, reigned. iiii. yere by treason, borne of lowe bloodde, and rose vp of robery by the sea.

THrough treason [of Carense, Scottes & the Pightes,] [so of Caranse, Scottes & Pictes.] [Caranse reigned iiii. yeres.] Assented so by fals cōfederaciō, Through his giftes & his subtyll slightes, Betwene theim wrought in councell priuatly [priuely.] , This false Carense [Caranse.] so gatte the monarchie Of all Britayn within the sea aboute, Foure yere he reigned, of porte that was full stoute.

¶The Barons were [so with gold englaymed,] [with golde so en....] By this Carense [Caranse.] , and by his language swete, Semyng like truth in maner as he proclaymed, As nothyng is more redy for to mete Then coueteous [covetyse.] and falshode as men lete; So wer they all with his giftes enfecte, The kynge was slayne and he was electe [king electe.] .

¶ But whē to [at.] Rome was knowne y^e false disceyt, Of this Caranse and his wronge intrucion, The senate sent [a letter,] [Allecte.] hy theyr conceyte, Hym to distroye by dewe execucion, Who for his faute gaue hym absolucion, In batell stronge slewe hym and had the felde, [Fol. xlvi.] And Scottes all and Pyeghtes [Pictes.] y^t with hym helde.

The. lv. Chapiter [The first of the two stanzas of this Chapter is placed in the Harleian MS. between what are here the first and second of the fifty-fourth Chapter.] .

¶ The wordes of the maker of this booke vnto my Lorde of Yorke, touch∣ynge gouernaunce of this lande, by example of this kyng Caranse, through robbery refen of poore bloude to royall estate.

O worthy lorde and duke of Yorke y^t been, Consyder well this case full lamentable, The righwes kīg, wel gouerned as [it] was sene, Thus murdred was of him y^t was vnhable, And set hym selfe in trone moste honourable

Of all Britayne; yet came he vp of nought, And of lowe bloude, and [if.] it were wysely sought.

¶ Good lorde when ye be set well vnder crowne, With treytours and misruled ryatours Dispence right so with all suche absolucyon, And lette hym [theym.] seke no other correctours, But maynteyne [theim your lawes gouernours;] [than of lawes the gouernours.] And ouer all thyng be ye the chefe Iustyce, To kepe the peace, that no false you [do you.] suppryse.

The. lvi. Chapiter.

ALlecto [Allecte.] then crowned [was crowned.] and made kyng [* Allectus kyng reygned. iii. yere.] Of all Britayne [Britons.] , reigning fully yeres thre, And well he ruled in all maner werkyng [of werkyng.] , By power of the Romans greate postee, That brought with him from Rome legions thre; But Britayns then dyd set a parlyament, And chase a kyng by theyr [all theyr.] hole assent.

¶ Asclipiade [Asclepiadotus.] , that was duke of Cornewayle, Who with Brytons to Troynouaunt came [than came.] Whylest [while.] Romans were, by theyr hole gouernalle, At sacrifyce [the sacrifice.] of their goddes faynte and lame; Agaynste whome Alecto [Allecte.] of greate fame Full mightly then faught, tyll [to.] he was slayne; But Gallus drewe all Romans in [theryn.] agayne,

And kepte the wallys, for whiche Asclepiadote The seege aboute the cytee strongly layde: In which meane while Britōs brake in, God wote, And slewe Gallus and Romains sore affrayde, [All out of araye and sore dismayde,] [And for Gallus dede to the grounde wase laiede.] Besyde a broke that Walbroke men nowe call, That Galbroke then was called there ouer all,

Of Gallus name, that slayne was in that place, And some [som men̄.] sayne of Walshemen afterwarde, Walbroke it called, for a sodaine case

That then [theym.] byfell vpon a daye full harde; [Of the Brytons that with theim so miscaryed] [Where they were slayne myscheuously and marde.] [Ouer tha ylke] [On that same.] brooke, full sore & harde distressed, By Cornyshmen slayne downe ther & oppressed.

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.

The. lviii. Chapter.

¶ This persecucion was in y^e yere of Christes birth, a C. lxxx and. iiii. yere, and the. x. yere of kyng Asclepiadote.

HE slew, that time, & martyred saint Albone, And with him [also Iulus and Araon,] [als Iulius and Aron.] And amphimabal [Amphibale.] y^t wolde not dye [lyue.] alone, But offered hym to dye with him [them.] anone, For Christes loue, as [als.] faste as he myght gone; For thousandes sele were martered in those daies, Whose soules be nowe in blysse and shal alwaies.

¶ Asclepiadote reygned fully but. x. yere, Who, for great feare, suffred all this payne, And durste nothyng agayne this tyraunt steare, But him withdrewe to hyde hym was full fayne. This persecucyon, as some chronyclers sayne, The. x. yere was of Asclepiadote, For whiche duke Coyle agayne him rose ful hote.

¶ The duke Caire Colun, [that hight] [called.] Coylus, Whiche cytee [nowe] this daye Colchester hight, Then crowned was, [that slewe] [because.] Asclepiadotus, [For cause he came not fourth w^t all his might,] [Come not furth to shewe all his power and might.] The tyraunt fell to agaynstande as he hight: Wherfore Britayns were all full gladde & fayne, Of kynge Coylus y^t succured all theyr payne.

The. lix. Chapiter.

¶ Kyng Coyle of Briteyne reygned. xi. yere, that was father to saynte Elyne.

HE ruled the realme in lawe and peace ful wel, [Kyng Coylus reygned. xi. yere.] That, for his wyt and vertuosyte, Able he was, as chronycles coulde [couth.] fele, To haue ruled all the emperalyte [temporalite.] , For ryghtwesnesse, manhode and moralytee: A doughter had he, and none other heire, Elyne that hyght, farre passyng good and fayre;

¶ That afterwarde she was and is canonyzed, In shryne at Rome, that is [nowe is.] Saynt Elyne; Her father Coyle set her to be excercysed, In philosophye and other [in other.] scyence clene,

[In whiche she coulde her selfe ryght wel demeane,] [Lettred she wase knowinge the science seuene.] That she was able, by wytte and sapience, The realme to rule, and haue therof [the] regence. [Fol. xlviii.]

The. lx. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Constancius, senatoure and emperour of Rome, wedded saynt Elyne, and by her was kyng of this lande.

THe Romans sēt to Britayne Constancius, That Spayne had put in hole subieccyon, Vnto Rome, as chronicles [haue] writē thus; Who landed here withoute reieccyon, To whome kyng Coyle by good direccyon His message sente, offeryng hym his truage, [And] he to stande king and holde his herytage.

¶ [Of whiche] [wherof.] Constance was glad of his entente, And here abode at prayer of the kynge, His doughter wed by their [whole assente,] [both consent.] Elyne, his heyre, y^t was both good and yonge, Of hye [his hgh. edit. alt.] wysdome, and womanly conning; And there with all the fairest that men knewe, More angelyke then womannyshe of hewe.

¶ Within fyue wekes after her father dyed, Buryed at Care Colune, his owne cytee, Greatly cōmended, well famed and laudifyed, Both on this syde and beyonde the sea, Eleuen yere reigned in greate dignyte; And ouer all thyng alway [the.] comon publyke, Of his realme wrought not many kīges him lyke.

The. lxi. Chapiter.

COnstance was kīg crowned w^t diademe, [Constaūce kyng reygned. xv. yere.] And Elin quene, through al great [the grete.] Britain, On whom he gate a sonne y^t had bapteme, That Constantyne called was then in certayne; But kyng Constaūce of Rome was hye cheftaine,

By the senate fyrste made [the] Emperoure, And after kyng of Britayne and gouernoure.

Whiles he laboured for Romes publyke [comyne.] profete With his felowe, that hyght Galerius, That Emperoure [Emperours.] of Rome by greate delyte, Whiche [of Maxdence] [Oon Maxencius.] of porte malicyous, Werryd [Warred. edit. alt.] full sore with [werke full] [vengeable.] cheualrous; And all the weste this Constaunce had and hylde, Galerius had the este there into [therein to. edit. alt. theryn hym to MS.] bylde.

¶ And after, when this Constaunce of Britayne, Was crowned kyng, the comon wele preferryd [he preferred.] Of all his realme, not lettyng for disdayne, He wrought it aye, and no tyme it differed, As chronycles of hym sayde and referred: And when he had reygned hole. xv. yere, At Ebranke was he buryed [he was.] full clere.

The. lxii. Chapiter.

¶ Constantyne, kyng of Britayne, sonne of Constaunce and of saynte Elyn, by. xxxiiii. yere, was fyrst kynge of Brytayne, and afterwarde Emperoure of Rome.

HIs sonne ful yonge, Constantyne, his heire, [Constantyne reygned. xxxiiii. yere.] Then crowned was by all the baronage, Who lykely was, semely and ryght [also.] feire, Of. xv. yeres, so in his tender age, Great manhode had to rule his heritage; Of greate wysdome was, and of sapience, By discrecyon [had he] [and high.] intellygence.

¶ He had also a lambishe pacience, [Fol. xlix.] To here all pleyntes mekely with sobernes, A lyons chere in felde, with good regence, Discrecion good to chastysh [chastise.] wickednes; The welfare of his realme, with busines, Preserued euer and kepte in regyment, And wher nede was, he made suppowelment.

¶ The senatours of Roome, by letters well endite, Praied hym to come to Roome as emperour, For to destroye Maxence, and disherit, Of Christen folke the cruell turmentour, Of Christen [Cristes.] faieth the cursed confoundour; For of his birth thei saied it sette hym so, Maxence to stroye, that was his fathers fo.

¶ [For whiche] [wherfor.] he went to Roome w^t greate power Of Britons strong, w^t Flemynges and Barbayns [Brabans.] , Henauldes, Gelders [Gellers.] , Burgonians [Burgoynes.] , & Frenche [full clere,] [infere.] Duchemēne, Lūbardes, also many Almains, They yere of Christ three. C. and ten w^t Romains; Mette with Maxence and with Dioclesian, And their feloe that hight Maximian.

¶ Sumwhat afraid of their multitude, Constantyne [then he held vp to] [beheld up unto.] heuen, And sawe a crosse, in [in the.] whiche was enclude This reason good, "In hoc vinco [Vince.] , full euine, His ferdnes so anone then did hym leuen; In signe of whiche, a crosse of goules [golde.] he bare In his baner [bane.] white, & with hym [theym.] faught [he] there.

¶ He had the felde, and putte theim to the flight, Wherfore euer after [furth.] he bare twoo [tho.] armes clere, In all likenes to euery mannes sight As Englishemenne in this lande bare theim here, Sainct Georges armes nowe called w^toutē wer: Thus hath the kyng of englade to theim right, Throughe [by his.] eldres gottē, [by God his] [thorough Godes.] verey might.

¶ The senate whole, hym mette and magnified, His high tryumphe and mighty victorye, With laude and honour fully glorified, As vsage was that tyme of [in. edit. alt.] Romanye, At certain gates sette vp for memory; And crouned hym in [in the.] imperiall trone, That so manly had quit theim of their foone.

The. lxiii. Chapiter.

¶ Thanswere of Constantyne whā he was a leper, & should haue been heled with the bloodde of innocentes; and howe he sent his mother, sainct Elyn, to seke the holy crosse. And howe he gaue his palis and dignite emperiall of Roome to Siluester. And howe he went to Besaūce, and builded it all newe, & called it Constantyne, & destroyed all the Aryanes here∣sies, and dyed there at Sainct Nychomede, whose daye is halowed with the Grekes in the twenty and one daye of Maye.

BVt howe that he a leaper after grewe, And by his leches vtterly infourmed, Many [Feele.] innocentes whiche ther [then.] were borne newe, For his health [heele.] should slain beē & disformed, [By theim into heale again returned;] [Trustynge that he therto wolde haue confourmed.] In whose bloodde bathed he should haue been, His leprous swames [squamys.] to haue weshed of clene.

¶ But [And.] howe their death, of emperiall [his imperiall.] pitee, [Fol. l.] He then released, rather to [than to.] haue his pain, Then to recouer by [tyranne crueltee] [cruell tiraunte.] , His health [heele.] and life so to [for to.] gette again, [For whō these innocentes should haue been slain:] [He in no wise wolde suffre no childe slayn.] And howe he was by Siluester made clene, [Sorcerie.] With holy water, that yet in Roome is seen.

¶ Nor [And.] howe he sente his mother, sainct Elin [To seke] [seche.] the holy crose, whiche she hym brought; Ne howe she brought the clerkes with hir again, Of Iewes lawe, it to approue for nought, With Christen clerkes, by reason [reasouns.] well out sought; Ne [And.] when our lawe by Siluester for trewe Was best approued, that other lawe vntrewe.

¶ Howe then he gaue [his awne] [the grete.] palais royall [Constātine first graūted to the. b. of Rome y^e primacye.] With Roome all whole, and all the dignite Through [out] Romany, with sea [cee.] emperiall, To Siluester that had the papall sea [cee.] ,

[He gaue it to hym all quite and free,] And to his successours perpetually; Ne [And.] howe he distroyed the Aryans heresy.

¶ [Nor howe] [And than.] he went frome Roome to [towarde.] Besaunce, And, of his name, then called it Constantyne; Nowe menne it call, by all rememoraunce [remembraunce.] , Constantyne noble, wher to dwell he did enclyne, [There his lawes to kepe and to determyne;] [And Emperoure wase there as auctours determyne.] And there he sette his throne emperiall, And, for his domes, his sea [cee.] iudiciall.

¶ Nor [And.] howe he dyed, after that [at.] Nichomeyd, In cathologe emong the sainctes noumbred, Of Maye the twenty and one daye in dede, Vnder shryne buryed and [subumbred,] [gretely honoured.] [Emong all Christē kynges worthy] [As Cristes oune knyght so.] to bee remembred; Whose daye & feast y^e Grekes haue [halowe.] eche yere, Solemply, as for a sainct full clere.

¶ And when he dyed, reigned had and imperate, In Brytain, Roome, and also [als.] at Constantyne, By thirty and foure yere ende [and] determinate; And in the yere of Christ, as menne [did] determine, [When this worthy emperour his life should fyne,] [By accompte of yeres to a certayne fyne.] Three hundred was and fourty also [als.] full euen, So when his soule was rauished into heuen.

¶ And [All.] these lōgyng [long not.] not to Brytons [Britayns.] gouernaūnce, But vnto Roome and the empire, Whiche me nede not with my stile auaunce, For Marian [Martyn.] hath, the Rooman chronicler, [All the whole substaunce and the mater;] [In his volumes compiled so clere.] So [And so.] well it maye [made.] with rethorike termes fayred, Whiche by my simplenes I would not wer appaired.

¶ [But] after his daye came one Octauius, [Octauius.] Duke of Westesax that crouned was for kyng, That sleugh the werdeins of Constatynus [Constantinus.] ,

Whiche that he sette for Brytain gouernyng, In his absence to keipe it in all thyng; For whiche the senate Traherne to Brytain sent, [Sainct Elyns vncle, that into Brytain wente.] [Whiche to Elene was vncle by true discent.]

¶ With legyons three at Portesmouth [Porchester.] did lande, And to Wynchester then rode [rode he.] furth right, Where Octauius came, hym to withstande [gaynstonde.] , [Fol. li.] And with hym faught and putte hym to flight [the flight.] ; [Went to Portesmouth again full right,] [With the Romaynes for all their grete myght.] Wher then he shipped [shipte.] full faste to Albanye, Wher on Stanemore [Staynesmore.] thei faught again on hye.

¶ Wher Traherne wan̄e the felde with victorie, [Kyng Traherne.] And into Logres came, crouned with dignite, And well did rule then all his monarchie; All menne hym loued for his sanguynite [consanguynyte.] ; In his tyme in [the reame in.] greate nobilite, He kepte [it well frome all] [full well fro all kynnes.] tyranny, Foure yere complete in all thyng worthily.

¶ [In] whiche tyme, so then the said Octauius Procured his death, by whiche then was he slain By a traytour full false and odyus; So was he kyng of Brytain then again, And [sone then] [so ther.] after, he fell in age vnbain: [ungayne.] A doughter he had, [that was bothe good] [full good that was.] & faire, Whō sume counsailed bycause [for cause.] she was his here,

¶ To Conan Meryadoke anone for to marye, And other counsailed vnto Maximian, Kyng Traherne [his] soonne, a prince of Romanye, To Constantyne next heire he was alaane, Whiche maryage was fulfilled and tane: Maximian hir wed, then Octauius, By fourten yere then reigned and dyed thus.

¶ Maximian after hym ganne succed, And crouned was maugre of all his fone;

For ire of whiche Conan departe[d] in deede, And warred sore on Logres so anone: [Maximian reigned in all xxxiiii. yere.] Wherfore the kyng full faste with hoost gan [dide.] gon, And countred hym with bataile fell and strong, The kyng preuayled, that other so did emong.

¶ Till on a daye, their frēdes made theim accorde. The kyng ruled the lande full well in peace, Fiue yere fully without any discorde, In whiche tyme he [so he.] gratte full greate riches; [Thought in hym self, ouer the sea to passe,] [Whiche he wolde spende to gete hym some prowes.] Hauyng no will in Bryton long [lenger.] to abide, But into Fraunce he was [wolde.] so sette in [on.] pryde.

¶ With hoost full greate he landed [londe.] in Armorike, A duchy [that] was longyng vnto Fraunce, [The] lesse Brytain, nowe [it hight of.] of Gaule kyngrike, And conquered it by marciall gouernaunce; To Conan then it gaue hym to auaunce, To holde of hym, and called it lesse Brytain, And stuffed it then with Brytons, soth to sain.

¶ And furth he went & wan the realme of Fraūce, And so, by processe, Almaigny [Almayne.] hym obeyed, So did [a] greate parte of Italy, by accordaunce: He putte to flight Gracyan, that hym desobeyed, And Valentynyan with hym [hym so.] conueighed; And [He.] sleugh by battaile, Fulgen [and fightynge.] mightely, And Emperour was made of Romany [of all grete.] .

¶ Conan the kyng then of litle Brytayn, To Dyanote the duke of Cornewaile sent, For Vrsula his doughter, letters plain, His wife to bee in verey good entent; With her also, of maydens that wer gente, [Fol. lii.] [The. xi. M vyrgina.] Xi. thousande, in his land to bee wed, For Frenchewemen they would haue none to [in.] bed.

¶ This Dianote custos [regent.] was of Britayn, [His doughters w^t those virgyns then forth sente [he sente. edit. alt.] ,] [His doughter with alleuye thousande furth sente.] In Thamis shipped, and cast in [into.] Almayne, By tempest greate, there shippes all to rente, Many of theim wer dead [saufe.] , and many shente, In sykenes, frayde in [with.] stormes and sore [grete.] tempest, That ful fayn thē there wold haue had there rest.

¶ Gwames was [then kyng of Houndelande,] [kynge of Hunes so hight that londe.] And Malga [Melga.] kyng of [Pightes, paynymes] [Pictes Paiens.] hatous, In whose landes they arryued [roue.] , I vnderstande, Vnto theim [then, they wer] [were these kynges.] full odyous, [Passyng yrefull, and full malicious;] [And theym to ravish they were full laborous.] And for they would not be deuirgynate, They slewe theim all, through crueltee and hate:

¶ Whiche now beē saynts & marters euerychone, In nonnes [oone.] mynster, conserued in Coleyn, That noumbred been both [and called.] with frend and foone, Xi. thousand virgins, of greate Britayn. Maximian the emperoure of Romayn, When he had reigned. xxxiiii. yere [xxxiii. edit. alt.] , By Gracyās frendes was buried [slayne.] , & layd on bere.

The. lxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Gracian, kyng of Britayne, in whose tyme kyng Malga & Gwaymes distroyed all Britayne.

GRacian, when Maximian was slayne, [Gracian kyng.] To Britayn sent then by the senatours, In whose time kīg Malga [Melga.] & kīg Gwayme This lande ouer road, standyng in all honoures; [errours.] That mortall fooes and cruell tormentours, To Christen [Cristes.] fayth wer, and malicious All mercylesse and passyng rigorous.

¶ Whiche kynges two, roote of all crueltee, Full false paynemes replete of felony,

The churches brent, and slewe the commontee; Wyues nor childre, ne [prestes ne.] yet the clargye, Ne religious, ne yet the prelacye, Thei spared not, but mercylesse theim kylled, Of wickednes so foule thei wer fulfylled.

¶ But Gracian that crowned was and kyng, In domys false, and in his iudgementes Fell dispiteous, great tallages takyng Both of the lordes there [and of their.] landes and rentes, And of gentilles agayn all there ententes: So did he also [als.] of all the commontee, For whiche thei slewe hym [than.] without pitee.

¶ Gwames and also Malga [Melga.] the kynges two, Destroyng Britayn without any reste, The senate sent [a legion] [two legiouns.] of knightes tho Into this lande, of eche region the beste, Chosen out of all the worthieste; The whiche putte Gwames and Malga [Melga.] to [to the.] flight, That shipped home vnto there lande [londes.] full right.

The. lxv. Chapiter.

¶ The senate of Rome sente a legion of knyghtes into Britayn, who mae the Britons to make a walle of lyme and stone from the Easte sea vnto the Weste sea, and called it the Peight wall.

[THis legion] [These legiouns.] and Britons hole assembled, [Fol. liii.] That [than.] made a wall well wrought of lyme and stone [stones.] , Where Seuer [Cesar.] made of turues & soddes sembled, With castelles strong and towres for [all for.] the nones, At eche myles ende to agaynstande [gaynstonde.] all the foonyse [foones.] ; From sea to sea as yet it is well seen, In dyuers places [place.] , where it was wonte to been.

¶ This legion home returned then agayn, For [But.] Britayn then suffred great [full grete.] disease;

The Scottes & Pightes [ther] did theim ful great payn, Syxe yere then next, [of whiche to haue some ease,] [for whiche for some eas.] To kyng Aldrye [Aldroe.] there sorowes to apease, Of lesser [lesse.] Britayn, then [who.] sent theim Constantyne, To be there [head, and also] [helpe and eke.] there medecyne.

¶ This Constantyn, kyng [Aldries brothers wife,] [Aldroe bro∣ther wise.] [Constātyne reigned. x. yere.] Was crowned then with royall diademe, At Caircester [Circestre.] , as Brytons could [canne.] deuyse, That with his hoste royall as did hym seme, Gwayme [Gwayne.] and Malga [Melga.] , as chronicles [do] exprieme, The Scottes and Peightes [Pictes.] he vēged [venqueshed.] & ouercam, That [Brytayne wrought afore full mykel] [to Britayne afore hade doo grete.] shame.

¶ Thre sonnes he had full fayre by [so by.] his wife, Constance then was the eldest sonne of all, That was not wise, wherfore then, in his life, He made hym monke, he was so bestiall, To gette the life aboue celestiall: His secounde sonne [that hight] [hight than.] Aurelius, His surname was called Ambrosius:

¶ The yonngest sonne hight Vterpend ragon: These two were wyse, but young they wer of age, To there vncle sent, to be at his direction Nurture to learne [lere.] , and all maner language, By whiche after they maye haue knowelage [hoole knowlage.] , With discrecion and all good ordinaunce, To rule and haue the realme by gouernaunce.

¶ When Constantyne had reigned well [full.] . x. yere, Vpon a daye, as he in his garden went, [A Peight that was in his house, hym full nere,] [A Picte than in his house was hym full nere.] Hym slewe anone, by treason and consent Of Vortiger, that euer [ay.] in his entent Conspyred had, to haue the regaltee Of greate Britayn, the kyng so to bee [for to be.] .

The. lxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Constaunce, kyng of Britayne, reigned but one yere, that was monke first and after made kyng, and was not wyse, but an ideote; whome Vortiger crowned to that entent to make hymselfe kyng by false cōtryuyng, seyng the kyng full symple to rule the lande.

COnstaunce his sonne y^t mōke was in Cairgwente, [Constaūce kyng.] Vortiger [Vortigern.] , duke of Westsex, was that daye In haste crowned by barons hole assente, Knowyng he shulde be but a foole alwaye, [The realme to saue, and kepe out of disraye:] [And so he thought the rule to haue for ay.] He waged Peightes [Pictes.] on [an.] hundreth to serue y^e kyng, Alwaye vpon his body abydyng.

¶ He made the kyng full certenly beleue Thei shuld espie emong the enemytee By their frendes, y^t no Peightes [Pictes.] shuld hym greue, [Fol. liiii.] Ne Scottes of theyr greate peruersitee; But thei of it afore in certayntee Shuld let hym witte, there malice to vnderstande [gaynstonde.] , Such subtyll meane [means.] to fage [fade.] the kyng he fande.

¶ And vnder that, a while he payed theyr wage Full well, with chere full good, & all pleasaunce, Vnto a daye he sayd, to theyr knowlage, The kyng nomore would haue theyr attendaunce, But wer he kyng, he shuld theim well auaunce: [Whiche thyng, and euer came to preefe, About his persone they shuld be cherished as cheefe.] [

And geue theym giftes with chere and herte benynge, And thus he seide be treason tobe kynge.

]

¶ There wages also [als.] full well shuld [ay shulde.] be payde, For whiche behest anone they slewe the kyng, And brought his head to hym full foule arayde, Of which he made hym wroth in all semyng; But to London, by his subtyll wrytynge, He gaue charge [in charge.] the Peightes [Pictes.] all to kyll, And none escape [to escape.] , nether for good ne yll.

¶ This Vortiger protectour was that yere, And in his handes [honde.] the kynges castels all He had, and sawe he might the crowne full clere Haue at his wyll; so dred [the] lordes temperall, And prelates hie that were spirituall, His heuynesse and indignacion, That they assente[d] to his coronacion.

¶ Whē Cōstaūce thus y^e kyng had been one yere, And could [couth.] nothyng of rule ne gouernaunce, The commons sawe he was an ideote clere, Theyr voyce[s] all gaue, with all theyr obeisaunce, To Vortiger with theyr hole attendaunce; As comons would euer yet of olde and newe, Eche yere their kyng to chaunge [chaungen.] and renewe.

The. lxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Vortiger, kynge of Britayne, reigned. xviii. yere, through his falshed and treason cōspired with Peightes to slea his kyng. And howe Engist and Horsus, paiens, landed in Kent, and were beloued with Vortiger. And how Wednisdaye and Frydaye had name, and what goddes and goddisses they honoured. Howe and when Engist and Horsus lāded in Kēte, & made Thoncastre & Horne Castre in the coūtre of Lyncolne. & howe Engist sent for his doughter, & maried her to kyng Vortiger, and brought in with her greate multitude of paiens, that accombred all the realme both of warre & of Christen fayth, wherfore the Britons crowned the kynges sonne.

THis Vortiger thē crowned kyng of might, [Vortiger, kynge of Britayn, reygned. xviii. yeres.] The Peightes [Pictes.] and Scottes for he there kyng [kyn.] so kylled, They sclaundred hym, that [mikell good] [right grete goodes.] he hight, Vnto Peightes [his Pictes.] , [the kyng haue slayn] [that Constance slew and.] and spilled, By suche treason his will they so fulfilled; And after, by his preuy ordinaunce, He made thesame be slayne, for thesame chaunce.

¶ For whiche they aroose [rose.] on hym to been auēged, With ful great hoste destroyed [destroyinge.] both corn & towne,

And brent his [the.] lande, and felly reuenged [it reuenged.] In whiche tyme came into this region Engist and Horsus [Horne.] , dukes of great renoune; By sort sent out all voyde of Saxonye, With menne of warre also of Germanye.

¶ In shyppes thre [there. edit. alt.] arryued [arroue.] so then in Kent, [Fol. lv.] When Vortyger at Caunterbury laye, Whiche [whome.] he withhelde anon, and farre [for. edit. alt. MS.] him sent, To [warre on the] [to werre with him on.] Scottes and Pyeghtes [Pictes.] aye, That brente his lande and noyed [noyed it.] day by daye. Peynemis they were, and trowyd of [on.] Mercury, And on Venus theyr goddes [goddesse.] of Payanie.

¶ That Mercurie Woden, in their language, Was called so by his propre name, For whome they honoured of olde [and age,] [usage.] The fourth daye in euery weke at hame [home.] , [And so of Mercury geuing it a name;] [In Germanye frome whens that they come.] And of Wodē called [they called it.] it Wednisdaye, [* Wednysdaye, wherof it was named.] Of olde custome as they haue vsed alwaye.

¶ And Venus, also, was [was called.] theyr hygh goddesse. For whome alwaye they halowed the sixte daye Of euery weke in prayer and holynesse, Who in theyr tonge Friday [Fry.] was called alwaye, For whose honoure, that named was Frydaye. The Sonne, the Moone, Iubiter and Saturne [Satoure.] , And Mars, the god of armes, they dyd adorne [honoure.] .

¶ The yere [after] of Christes incarnacyon, Foure hundreth [full fourty] [fully fifty.] and syxe also, Was when Engyst into this regyon Firste came, and hauen [Horne.] w^t thre shippes and no mo, As saynte Bede sayeth in [De.] Gestis Anglorum so: With Scottes & Pieghtes [Pictes.] they faught ful mightely, And droue theim oute and had the victorye.

¶ This Engist [had then none habitacyon,] [then hade noone inhabitacion.] Desyringe so a castell in to dwell, Hym and his men to kepe frome [all] aduersacyon, Of Scottes & Peyghtes [Pictes.] y^t enemyes were then fell, [As all olde chronyclers canne you tell:] [And for that he the enemyse dide so quell.] Asked as much ground as a bulleis skyn thonge, [Myght cyrcuyte fully of brede and longe,] [Myght fully compase as it was brode and longe.]

¶ Whiche the [which so.] king him graunted then anone. [He made a thonge then] [Engiste then made a thong.] of a bullys skyn, So small and longe that rounde about dyd gone A stony grounde to set his castell in: [And thus by subtelte and his sleghty gyn,] [So stronge it was that no man myght it wynne.] Where then he made Thongcastre [Thongcastell.] as men tolde, In Lyndesey, that nowe is [Castre of] [the castell on.] the Wolde.

¶ Engyst then sent for his doughter Rowan [Rowayn.] , [That came anone, with shyppes eyghtene,] [Whiche come anoone with shippes grete eightene.] Well stuffed of men, for [they were] [the werre.] of Britayne Agayne the Scottes and Peightes [Pictes.] to opteyne, Whome Vortiger then thought ful longe to sene; She proferred him a drynke and sayde "Wassayle;" As he was learned, he sayde to her "Drynke hayle:"

¶ Which wordes fyrst came vp [so into] [than in.] this land. With that he set his herte her for [so.] to loue, That he her wed by all [kyndes of] [manner.] lawfull bonde, As then the church [could best hym learne] [hym dide avise.] & moue, [And thus the Saxons by Vortiger set aboue;] [Hir to forsake his lawfull wife to loue.] For whiche his sonnes, and all the Baronage Hym hated sore, [ryght for his] [for that wronge.] maryage

¶ Of paynimes [Payans.] bloodde; for to their ydolatrye Greate people were then turned and peruerte, And greate [grete partie.] also in Pilagien heresye [Fol. lvi.] Were accombred, and [hole] to it aduerte;

Wherfore his sonne, the people to conuerte, For Lupus sent, and his felowe Germayne, Christen fayth to preache in all Britayne.

Which bishoppes. ii. the folke conuert [did] againe By processe so, and home agayne then went. This Engyst then, to please the kyng full fayne, For his sonne Occa [Octa.] to Germany sent [than sent.] , For Ebissa and Cherdryk by consent [assent.] Of Vortiger, that. iii. C. shyppes brought, Of [with.] men of warre, the best that might be sought.

Of whiche his sonne, that then hight Vortimer, Of his fyrste wyfe, and also [als.] the barons all, Of suche multytude of people affrayed were, And to the kyng, as then it did befall, Compleyned had, without helpe in generall; Wherfore anone together they dyd consent [assent.] , This Vortymer to crowne by hole assent. [consent.] .

The. lxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Vortymer, the sonne of kynge Vortyger, kynge of Brytayne, to withstande the power of Engyste, and of Saxons, was twyes crowned. Howe this Engyst, vnder treaty, slewe all the Baronage of Brytons on y^e playne of Salysburye.

THen Vortimer [they crowned anon] [anoone they crowned.] ryght, [Vortymer kynge of Britayne.] With royalte that might to it appende, That was ful wise approued, lyke a knight, In all courage, that to knighthode did extende, For to assayle or elles [for] to defende [offende.] ; Who with myscreauntes faught sore vpon Derwent, So did he elles [als.] at all place where he went.

¶ At Abirforth [Abirforde.] he fought with theim also, The better ay he had where as he yede, But Catigerne his brother was kylled tho, And Horne also was slayne by greate manhede, [And thus Vortimer victorius where so he yede;] [Eche of these two slewe other in that stede.]

An other tyme vpon the North sea bankes, He faught with them in batayle their vnthankes.

¶ They fled vnto the ysle then of Tenecte, Where he theim syeged fearfully and assayled, And slewe theym doune on hepes ay as they met, That theyr power almoste then was fayled; All forefoughten and full sore batayled, Besought the kyng they myght haue his lycence, To Germany to make their reuertence.

¶ So wente they home, with [lytell folke alyfe,] [people feaue on lyue.] That, in his tyme, they came no more agayne, But [Than.] cytees all and churches amended [he mende.] full ryfe, The Christentee to mainteyne was full fayn; But then anone the subtell quene Rowayne Made hym [to] be [poysoned, of whiche] [poisounde wherof anoone.] he dyed; With her venymes thus was he mortifyed.

¶ In a pyller of brasse [he layde] [hym laye.] on hyght, At the gate were Saxons had landed [londe.] afore, He bad his men for also [as.] farre as he [they.] myght Hyme se, he truste they wolde not [no.] nerre come thore, But, neuerthelesse [nethelesse.] , they letted not therfore; But buryed hym at Troynouaunt citee, [Fol. lvii.] As he them bade, with all solempnite.

¶ Kyng Vortiger was crouned then again, For Engest sent, and bade hym come anone, For Vortimer his soonne was deade and slain; Who w^t three hūdred shippis, full of mēne echone, In Brytain landed [londe.] , and to the kyng ganne [dide.] gone: Of whome he was full glad, and well reioysed, And of his folke [that were of] [ther was.] greate power noised.

¶ But [Wherfor.] Brytons all, and also [eke.] the baronage, To fight with hym arose by whole consent [assent.] , For whiche he sent to theim by [by hoole.] message, That to the realme, none eiuill he ment,

But for to helpe the lande in [was.] his entent, And if thei were of his hoost displeased, As thei could [couthe.] best deuise, thei should been eased:

¶ And bad theim set a daye wher thei might mete, By their auise his power home to sende, Or all [els.] to hold for their common quiet, Fro their enemies the realme for to defende, All his defaute by their auise [t] amende. The Brytons [barouns.] thought his profer reasonable, And to the realme also full profitable.

¶ Thei sent hym woorde to mete [the] first daye of Maye, With foure hundred so [on euery] [of eyther] side, [The craft & pollicye of Engist.] Vpon the plain of Sarum [Salisbury.] in meeke araye, That Caire Cradok was called so that tyde, Byside Awmesbury [Amesbury.] [full] fair edefied; Again whiche daye this Engist bad his menne Within their hose[s a long] [a large.] knif to haue then.

¶ And when he saied, "Nemyth [Nymeth.] your sexes, then, Eche manne [then] slee a Bryton with his knife;" For so I shall vs marshall as I can, A fore a Bryton a Saxon sette full rife: So shall wee reue theim sonest of their life, And sette vs ay in rest and moost quiete, At [a] daye lymete, together when wee mete.

¶ A daye assigned, as was his ordinaunce, The watche woorde saied, eche panyme [Paian.] a Bryton slewe: Foure. C. lordes, of Christes holy [oun̄.] creaunce, Betrayed were by Engist so vntrewe, [The death of whome, many a Bryton did rewe;] [But yit with stones the Britons of theym slewe.] [Whose corps all] [All Britons cors.] were buryed at Awmisbury, Whiche [after that daye was made a] [this day is a full deuoute.] nonnorye.

¶ [With the hoost of panymes came full fast,] [Engist the paian than come on full fast.] And took the kyng, held [hym at] [in.] Troynouaunt, For marred sore and greately was agast:

What so thei asked [axed.] , anone he did theim graunt, The citees all and castels sufficiaunt, To lette hym passe awaye without [with such.] troublaunce, Whiche Engist graunted [graunte.] , because of aliaunce.

The. lxix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Engist caused Logres to bee called then Engestlande, of whiche the commons putte gest awaye in their common speache, and calle it England, for shortenes of speache.

ENgist with [his] hoost had all [all the.] thorient, [Fol. lviii.] The South & North, in all [y^e] greate Britain In his kepyng, except thoccident, [Englāde wherof it was so named.] Whiche Brytons held of warre and muche [mekell.] pain, By olde chronicles as I haue herd saine. And then anone, he called it Engestes [Engist.] lande, Whiche after was shorted and called England,

¶ Through the cōmons, y^t thought it long to say, And muche lighter in tongue to saie Englande, Then with their mouth, ouer [so.] long to name it aye, By long producyng, to call it Engistislande [Engistlonde.] . [And thus came first in as] [The name of Britayne loste was.] I vnderstande, As I conceiue, thus came first Englandes name, For short [shorter.] speach corrupt per sincopene.

¶ But Engist then gaue all the lande about To Saxons all, and kyng was so of Kent. But Vortiger in Cambre sought through out, To buylde vpon a castell, to his entent, To holde hym in fro the panymes [payens.] violent; Whiche [Where.] in Cambre the castell of Genoren, He made full strong, in the lande of Hergigyen,

¶ Vpon the ryuer of Ewey, on Cloarte [Galoarte.] hill. But of dragons and of [the] water vnder, That Merlyn saied that castell did so spill, [Ne of his] [Of whos.] birth, that many menne on wounder

Of that werke, bothe aboue and vnder, That no father had, ne of his prophecye, I cannot wryte of suche affirmably [affirmandlye.] .

¶ [Notwithstandyng that philophiers wise,] [Not gaynstondynge the philosophers wise.] Affirme [Affermen.] well that sprites suche there been, Bitwene the moone and therth, called Incubice, That haue gotten chyldren of wemen vnseene, As in stories diuerse I haue so seen: Howe the philosophier, wise [full wise.] Magancius [Maganeyus.] , Affirmeth it also, and Apuleyus.

The. lxx. Chapiter.

¶ Aurelius Ambrose, kyng of Brytain, the seconde soonne of Constantyne.

AVrelius Ambrose, brother of [to.] Constaunce: Into Britain with strong & greate power, And segid then Vortiger by ordinaunce In his castell of Genoren [Generon.] full clere, Whiche with wild fire he [was.] brent, [and hym] [theryn.] in feere, And crouned was by all the baronage, To reioyse [enjoye.] Britain [that was his] [his true.] heritage.

¶ He sought Engist, that panyme [payan.] was full grym, With hooste[s] thei faught, but Aurele had y^e better, The Saxons fled, before that were full brime, For in their quarel it might bee no better. Duke Eldoll toke Engist and did hym fetter, In Kent, as he hym mette awaye fleyng, At Conanburgh [Conyngesburgh.] hym brought to the kyng;

¶ Where he was heded with swerd and decollate. And Occa [Octa.] then [and his soonne] [his son, and.] Ebissa, His cousins [cosyn.] dere, at Yorke, came in ful late, [And with hym Saxons full many one moo,] [And kepte the toun with hauberke and escua.] Wher then the kyng [hym segid with muche woo;] [theym seged, as I herde sa.] But Occa [Octa.] then, and al his compaignie, Came to the kyng, to whome he gaue mercye.

¶ The kyng then made a worthy sepulture, [Fol. lix.] [With y^e stone hengles,] [Withyn Stenehenge.] by Merlins whole aduise, For all the lordes Brytons hye [of high.] nature, That there were slain in false and cruell wise, By false Engest, and his feloes vnwise; In remembraunce of his forcasten treason, Without [Withoutyn.] cause, or [any els] [or els any.] encheson.

¶ But Pascencius, the soonne of Vortiger, With hoost of Irish, Cambre he [so.] destroyed, With whome the kyng faught with his power, And droue hym out to Irelande sore anoyed, [Of his people many slain and foule acloyed;] [And many of his hooste were ther destroied.] [But] Eopa then clad in monkes clothyng, With his poysonis then poysoned had the kyng.

¶ But then the kyng of Irelande and Pascence In Cambre brent, the kyng full sicke then laye, He sent Vterpendragon for defence, With hoost royall and mighty greate araye: He faught [w^t hym, for whiche thei fled that daye,] [with theym, and made theym flee away.] With shame and hurt to Irelande home again, Vterpendragon the felde so had [full plain.] [certayne.]

¶ Then [This.] Vter sawe a [starrye beame] [blasynge sterre.] full bright, And asked [axte.] Merlyn what that it might meane; He said it is Stella Cometa [comata.] righte, It syngnifieth the kyng his death to been, That nowe is gonne to the blisse I ween; The dragon also [als.] , thy self dooeth signifye, With beames twoo extendyng seuerally.

¶ The beame southward, to Fraūce y^t dooeth extende, Thy soone that thou shalt haue, dooeth signifie, That shall conquere all Fraunce vnto thend [the ende.] , Almaignie also, and [and eke.] all Germanie, And so to Roome, throughout al Romanie: Aboue all princes in his tyme moost famed, Through Christente moost dred and best named [benamed.] .

¶ That other beame, to Irelande extendyng, Thy doughters eke [so.] dooeth also signifie, Their children also [als.] , that of theim shalbe [beth.] comynge, [The realme to haue, with all the regalie: Thus Merlyn to hym dooeth specifie.] [

This is tokenynge that thy blode trulie This reame shall haue with all the regallie.

] So went he furth anone to [vnto.] Cairgwente, Where he had woorde of his brothers enterremēt.

¶ Within [the] Giaūtes carole, that so then hight, The [stone hengles,] [Stonehenges.] that nowe so named been, Where prelates & [all.] dukes, erles & lordes of might, His sepulture to worship there were seen. [Thus this worthy kyng was buryed by dene,] [And comons many whome he defende fro teene.] That reigned had that tyme but thirten yere, When he was dedde, and laied [so on] [was on his.] beere.

The. lxxi. Chapiter.

¶ Vter Pendragō, kyng of Brytain, and of his armes that he bare.

HIs brother Vter [Vther.] at Cairgwēt was croūd, [Vter Pendragō kyng of Brytain.] In trone royall thē fully was admit: Twoo dragons made of gold royall that stound, [That one] [Oon he.] offred of his [his owne.] deuout wit, In the mynster there, as he [had] promit; That other before hym euer [aye.] in battaile bare, Of gold in goulis, wher so he gan to fare.

¶ [Tharmes also] [The armes als.] of Troye, that Brutus bare, [Fol. lx.] Tharmes also of good kyng Lucius, Whiche after baptyme his armes alwaye ware The same armes that kyng Constantynus, At his batayll against Maxencius, So [He.] bare alwaye, y^t saynt George armes we call, Whiche Englyshemen nowe worshippe ouer all.

¶ And for he bare the dragon so in warre The people all hym called then Pendragon, For his surname, in landes nere and farre,

Whiche is to saye in Britayn [Britouns.] region, In theyr language, the head of the dragon; And in the North as he a castell made, Pendragon hight, wher he his dwellyng had.

¶ But Occa [Octa.] sonne then of that false [the.] Engist, And Oysa [Eosa.] also the sonne of Occa [Octa.] with, That [The.] Northlande brent, of which wen Vter [Vther.] wyst, He faught with theim, there saued theim no grith, [Nor none of the people that came theim with;] [And slewe theym doun with grete myght and pith.] He tooke Occa [Octa.] and Oysa [Eosa.] in batayll, Beside Dane hill [hilles.] , wher [they did hym] [he dide theym.] assayle.

¶ The Saxones also [als.] he slewe y^t with hym [theym.] came, And had the felde, with [all the] [ioye and.] victorie; For ioye of whiche he made [great ioye] [muche myrth.] and game, Proclaymed his feast of Pasche solemply [full solemplie.] To holde at London, wher then he made his crye, That euery lorde his wife with hym shuld bryng, For [worshippe of] [to worship.] that feast, and [of] the kyng.

The. lxxii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng was an amoured of the duke of Gorloys wyfe, and how he gatte on her kyng Arthure.

EMonges other, Gorloys, duke of Cornewayle, His wife did bring, Igrene [Igerne.] , fayre of figure, Whose beautee their all others made to faile; So well and hole auised was nature, Her womanhede excede[d euery] [ech.] creature: That though nature her beautee woulde [haue] amēde, Hir cōnyng might therto in no wise extēde.

¶ Of whiche beautee, and of her goodlyhede, The kyng with loue so greatly was oppressed, It chaunged all his corage and manhede, In kalendes [kalenders.] of eschaunge he was [so] impressed:

For whiche the duke with hir then home adressed, Perceauynge well the kynges fykelnesse [sekelynesse.] Was set, for loue, on [of.] her womanlynesse.

¶ In Tyntagell his castel strong [he] her set, Hymselfe then laye in castell Dymyoke, Wher then the kyng hym sieged her to get; But Merlyne then from it hym did reuoke, [And by his councell subtelly dyd prouoke,] [And made the kynge the sege that he forsoke.] Knowyng his loue he had to dame Igrene [Igerne.] , By coniurisons [congerasiouns.] made in haste [grete haste.] full yerne.

¶ He made the kyng vnto duke Gorloys like, Hymselfe like [to] Brethel in all semblaunce That [then was] [was then so.] the dukes preuy myke, And Vlyn lyke, by all [kyns gouernaunce,] [maner conysaunce.] Vnto Iordan [Iurdayne.] in all maner conysaunce [gouernaunce.] , That moste knewe of the dukes preuytee, By whiche he brought to Igrene [Igerne.] all three. [Fol. lxi.]

¶ Thus laye the kyng hir by euer [aye.] whē he would, She trustyng then [euer.] that he had been hir lorde; But euer his siege he made sadly [to] been holde, [His people assautyng the castell by one accorde:] But Gorloys men then pleynly did recorde Theyr lorde was slayn, and Vter [Vther.] had the felde, Of which she merueyled, & then fast hym behelde.

¶ There gatte he then on hir a sonne full fayre, And fro hir went vnto his hooste agayn, The duke was slayne, with all his moste repayre, [Of whiche the kyng glad is not to layne:] To Tyntagell, with all his hoste full fayne [The Harleian MS. adds Fro Dymyoke they were remeued certayne.] , He came anone and had it at his wyll; He comforted hir and bad her holde it styll.

¶ But then betwene theim two he did discure, The priuetee in all, as it was wrought, And sette his daye to wed hir, and to cure

Of heuynes, that she was then in brought, Her lordes death so muche was in hir thought; For hir so slayne, hir wyfehode also [als.] defouled, Afore that tyme that euer was kept vnfouled [vndefouled.] .

¶ And at the daye he [wedded hir] [hir wed.] and cround, And she ferforth with childe was then begonne, To comforte her he sette the table rounde At Wynchester, of worthiest knightes alone Approued best in knighthode of [on̄.] their foone; Whiche table rounde Ioseph of Arimathie, For brether made of the [seynt Grall] [Seyngrale.] onely.

¶ In whiche he made the seege pereleous, Where none shulde sytte without great mischeife; But one that shuld be moste religious Of knightes all, [&] of the rounde table chiefe, The saynt Graal [Seyntgrale.] that shuld recouer and acheue [eschief.] By aduenture of [and.] his fortunitee, And at his death a virgyne shulde bee [he be.] .

¶ But at hir tyme the quene had borne a soonne, That Arthure hight, and [that.] was of statur fayre, More large of lymme and wysest vnder sunne Of hs age then, to bee his fathers heyre, [Of all his lymmes right comly stronge & fayre;] [Vnto this kynge the Britons dide repeire.] But Occa [Octa.] then, and Oysa [Eosa.] , that afore Stale [Were escaped.] home, were come & warred [in Britayn] sore.

¶ The kyng sent forth syr Loth of Lowthian [Lothyanne.] , A worthy prince, hardy and bounteous, His doughter had wed[ded], y^t hight thē dame Anne; [A manly manne and right cheualrous,] The first knight [that] was electe, right fortunous [The Harleian MS. adds In marciall actes full adventerous.] , Of the table round, that ofte with theim did fight, That [And.] ofte preuayled, and sometyme put [was put.] to flight.

¶ For whiche the kyng ordeyned a horse litter, To beare hym [so then vnto the] [than so to.] Verolame,

Wher Occa [Octa.] laye, and Oysa [Eosa.] also in feer, That Saynt Albones nowe hight of noble fame: Bet downe the walles, but to hym forth they came, Wher in battayll Occa [Octa.] and Oysa [Eosa.] were slayne, The felde he had, and therof was full fayne.

¶ There was a well whiche his enemyes espied, That he vsed [the water ofte] [with that water.] to alaye [Fol. lxii.] His drynkes, all his sores to be medifyed [modified.] , Whiche they venomyed with poyson on a daye, Of [On.] whiche he dyed, and went to blisse for aye, In the carole, besyde his brother dere As to suche a prynce it dyd ryght well affere.

¶ He reygned had then. ix. and thyrtye yere, And in the yere of Chrystes natiuyte, Fyue hundreth and syxtene, then was full clere, The realme he lefte in good felicyte Arthure his sonne to haue the royalte, To reygne and rule the realme y^t then was able, That, of his age, was none so cōmendable.

The. lxxiii. Chapiter.

¶ Arthure, kyng of Britayne, reygned. xxvi. yere. Howe the kynge bare syxe banners in his warre; and howe he renewed and increased the table rounde, and helde vp royally the rule of it: and howe he conquer∣ed Irelande and Denmarke, with all the ysles of theim.

ARthure, his sōne vp growen, then peerlesse, [Kynge Arthure.] Throughout y^e world approued of his age, Of wyt and strength, beawte and [and also.] largesse; Of persone hye, aboue his baronage, And other all of Brytons vasselage, By his shoulders exceded in longitude, Of all membres full fayre in latytude.

¶ At Circestre, then of. xv. yere of age, When Dubryk [Dubrice.] , archbishoppe of Carilyon, With all estates within his herytage, Assembled there, duke, earle, [lorde] and baron, And commentye of all the regyon,

Vpon his hedde did sett the [his.] dyademe, In royall wyse, as wele hym [it.] dyd beseme.

¶ The yere of Christe[s byrth.] v. C. and syxtene, Was whan he was crowned all with golde, Where than he made a vowe for to sustene The Chrysten fayth, the churche also [to] vpholde, The peace and lawes, mawgre who [so] other wold; The Saxons also [als.] to warre [werre on.] and destroye, That of longe tyme [had done vs] [hath doone this lande.] greate anoy.

¶ King Arthure sought y^e Saxons in Scotland: His chiefe baner of goules was to see, An ymage of our Lady of golde enthronde, Crowned of golde, as freshe as it myght be; His other banner was of the Trynite; Of golde and goulis of saynt George was y^e third [thrid.] ; The. iiii. was Brutus armes knowen [and kyd.] [vnhid.]

¶ The fyfte baner of goulis. iii. crownes of gold; The syxte of goulis, a dragon of golde fyne: With hoost full great of Britons y^t were bolde, On Douglas water the Saxons he did vntwine, Colgrim, [y^t was] their capitayne, fled fro thyne To Yorke anon, and it with people helde, His men then slayne, the kyng had so the felde.

¶ Cheldrik & Baldoffe [Baldulfe.] , two dukes of Germanie, With hostes great then landed in Britayne, To Colgrym came, and brent that [the.] lande [in hye;] [ther by.] But to Arthure kyng Howell [Hoele.] came full fayne, [Fol. lxiii.] With hoost great [full grete.] , his systers sonne certayne, Of lesse Britayne, that with his vncle went Against Colgrym to fyght in his entent.

¶ Cador the duke that tyme of Cornewayle, The kynges brother of his mothers syde, Came to the kyng with people y^t might auayle, So dyd all other of all Britayne full [so.] wyde: With their enemies then met [of mikell] [with full grete.] pryde,

And vaynqueshed theim at Lyncolne then seging, For whiche they fled full faste y^t syege leauing.

¶ To Calidon wood, nere [vnto the sea,] [nygh to the cite.] Where the kynges two theim seged sore about, That for [famishment & fought] [famyshte and faynte.] they swore to be The kynges men, and their lande throughoute, [For to voide their people of all the land out & out;] Colgrym, Baldolffe [Baldulph.] , and also duke Cheldryk, [That chieftayns] [Whiche capetayns.] were w^t dughty duke Cordrik:

¶ And leyde hym hostage all this to spede. And when they were vpon the sea agayne, They landed eft at Totnesse so in dede, And seged Bathe, where Arthure was full faine, Their hostage[s] honged in their syght ful plaine, And with them fought, Colgrym & Baldof [Baldulph.] slewe, To Cordryk [Cerdike.] gaue Westsex to [be] his man trewe.

¶ Duke Cador then folowed vpon the chace, And slewe Cheldryk and his [of Saxonie,] [Saxonry.] And to the kyng agayne came for this case, That kyng beseged [Hoell seged.] was in Albanye; Wherfore they went with hoste full manly To Alclud, where Scottes & Peightes [Pictes.] laye about, Theim discomfyted [discomfite.] and hym delyuered oute.

The Scottes & Peightes [Pictes.] he droue into oute [the out.] ysles Of Scotland then, & there became his men To lyue in peace, that euer were full of wyles; [But Gwillomare, the kyng of Irelande then, Ouer kyng Arthure full harde warre beganne, With hoste full greate of Iryshe and Saxonye,] [

And of disceite they sent by their fals giles, To Gillomaure the kyng of Irlonde then, Whiche with grete hooste of Irysh and Saxony.

MS. Harl. The Selden MS. except in the word Saxonry agrees with Grafton's Text.

] In Scotlande brent, and also [als.] in Albanye.

¶ But then y^e kyng hym met, & with hym faught, Discomfyted [discomfite.] hym, and put hym to the flygt, Vnto [Into.] Irelande, with batayle sore vnsaught;

Of Scotlande, then [of Lowthyan] [Loth of Lothian.] by ryght, The kyng was then, that [loth of Lowthian hight,] [was of full grete myght.] The fyrste knyghte was so of the table rounde, To Arthure true & also [als.] his lyegeman founde;

¶ His syster Anne vnto his wyfe had wed, On whome he gate the curteous knyght Gawen [Gawayne.] , In Dunbar castell his lyfe [there] he ledde; And Aguzell [Agnysell.] was kyng that tyme certayne, Of Albanye, and Vryan, of Murref [Murefe.] playne: The kyng was then [that,] to kyng Arthure full trewe, His lyegeman aye, [and chaunged not of] [that were of olde and] newe.

¶ The [This.] kyng Arthure then wedded to his wyfe Gwaynore, faiereste of any creature, That tyme accompte[d] for passyng [birth natyfe,] [any life.] So iuly [ynly.] fayre she was of her fygure, More aungelyk then womannyshe [of] nature; In so ferfurth mē thought them selues wel eased, [Fol. lxiiii.] Her to beholde, so well al folke she pleased.

¶ The table rounde of knightes honourable, That tyme were [nygh.] voyde by great defycience, For many were, through actes marcyable, Dispended then by warres violence; Wherfore the kyng then of his sapience, The worthyest of euery realme aboute In the table rounde then sent [serte edit. alt. MS.] without doute.

¶ The thre kynges foresayde [aforesayde.] of Scotlande, Two kynges also of Walys, full chyualrous, Howell [Hoell.] , the kyng of lesse Briteyne lande, And duke Cador of Cornewayle corageous, [And worthy Gawen, gentyll and amarous,] [Knyghtes of the rounde table were made aunterouse.] And other fel [suany.] ; theyr rule was wronges to oppresse [represse.] With their bodyes, where lawe myght not redresse [expresse.] ,

The fayth, y^e church, maydens, & widowes clene, Chyldren also that were in tender age,

The cōmon profyte euer more to sustene; Agayne enchauntmentes his body for to wage, [Agayne whiche crafte of the deuelles rage, Theim to destroye, and all kinde of sorcerye, Of whiche were many that tyme in Brytayne.] [

Theym to destroy and sorcery outrage, Of which was that tyme in Britayne, Grete wonte and custume, if I shuld be playne.

]

¶ On Whitsonday alwaye euery yere, They shoulde eche one at the feaste be [been.] w^t the king, In anye place where euer so that he were; But yf he were in prysone, or harde [hade.] lettyng, By dede of armes, death, or elles sycke lyeng, In whiche cases one of the table rounde Shulde seke hym [all y^t yere, tyll here] [aboute all to that he. MS. He edit. alt.] were found.

¶ Also their rule was eche [euerech.] one should tell, His owne actes of warrys auenture, Afore the kyng at meate, howe hym [he.] byfell In his trauayle, or of his misauenture, The Secretorye should put it in scrypture: For none auaunt it should [not] then betake, But for his rule to holde, y^e king [then] dyd [it] make.

¶ Also to steare & moue yonge knightes corage, To seche armes and warrys of [for.] worthynesse, And [of] dyuerse landes to learne the [so the.] language, That elles wolde lyue at home in ydylnesse, For honoure & ease abideth not together doutlesse; Also it moueth these poore & yonge knighthode To be [been.] auaunced by theyr ladies lyuelode:

¶ For doute it not ladies ne gentlywemen No cowardes loue, in maner [man.] that is abusyon, And shamefull also [als.] repreuable amonges men, His cowardyse doth him greate confusyon, [A man to withdrawe him by feynt collusyon,] [And in knyghthode it is the grettest poison.] For better is with honour for to dye, Then with [lyfe ay] [the life.] ashamed for to be.

¶ The somer nexte Arthure went to Ireland, With batayle sore forfoughten yt conquered, [And of the kyng had homage of that lande, To holde of hym, so was he of hym feared, And also gate, as chronycles haue vs lered,] [

And of the kynge homage for that londe He toke glade forto suere be the crosse of his swerde, To holde of hym, so was he of hym ferde.

With the exception of the last line of the three in Grafton's Text, the Selden MS. and the old printed copies here agree.

] Denmarke, Friselande, Gotelande, & Norway, Iselande, Greneland, Thisle of Man, & Orkynay.

¶ He conquered these to hold of hym euermore; [Fol. lxv.] He made kyng Loth, that was of Lowthian, Of Norway kyng, wher he had fought full sore; And Lowthyan [Of Lothiane.] he made his soonne Gawayne The kyng, to hold of hym by homage then [in certayne.] : For Norway was his veray heritage, Discent of bloodde of kyng Sechelynes [Sichelmes.] lynage.

¶ Kyng Arthure then through Christētie moost famed, And [As.] conquerour aboue all kynges royall, Was [the] moost doubted of [māhode &] [all manhode.] best named; But [That.] kynges and princes of Septentrionall, [His to present] [To his presence.] most high emperiall Eche daye came newe, that then more like it semid, An heuenly life, then erthely, as menne demid.

¶ He held his houshold and the rounde table, Some time at Edenburgh, some tyme at Striueline [Etryuelyne.] , Of [kynges renomed] [knyghtes famouse.] and moost honourable [Here the MS. adds, Thorough oute the worlde named moste notable.] , At Carleile sumwhile, at Alclud his citee fyne, [Emōg all his knightes and ladies full femenine]; At Bamburgh also [als.] , and Ebrank citee, At London, at [and.] Wynchester, with greate royalte.

¶ At Carlion, Cardif, and Aualyne [Avallon.] ; In Cornwaile also, Douer, and Cairelegion [Caerlegion clere.] ; And in Scotlande, at Perthe [Perch.] , and Dunbrytain, [At Dunbar, Dumfrise, and sainct Iohns towne, All of worthy knightes moo then a legion,

At Donydoure also, in Murith region, And in many other places bothe citee and towne.] [

At Douydour, in Murrefe region infere, And in many other citese ferre and nere, As the cause requyred for nyghyng of the feste Of Witsontide, whiche that he loued best.

The Selden MS. has only the two last of the four lines of Grafton's text.

]

¶ But euer as next the valey is the hill, After long rest commeth [so comyth.] sharpe labour, Kyng Arthure [then] had so firmely sette his will To conquer Fraunce, as his progenitour Maximian did, with full greate honour, Wherfore he sent to all his homagers, That to hym came with all their powers [hole powers.] .

The. lxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Arthure conquered Fraunce, and sleugh kyng Frolle, of Fraūce, and wan many lādes thitherward. And when he had wone Fraunce and ruled it nyne yere, he came to Carlion, and he and the quene were crouned there again with greate solempnite, & dewe seruice dooen by his homagers.

ANd into Fraunce anone so furth he went, And in Paris Frolle y^t was gouernour, Bysegid [He seged.] then, who vnto Arthure sent, [Profered hym bataile with full greate honour,] With hande for hande for right of themperour, To fight with hym to iudgen [so all.] all the right, Whiche to fulfill Arthure graunted and hight.

¶ [At a] [The.] daye assigned thei twoo together mette Within an Isle without Paris citee, Wher either other with wepons sore then bette; But kyng Arthure, by greate humanyte, [That daye hauyng of hym the souereingte,] Sleugh Froll y^t daye, with Caleburne his swerd, For whiche all Fraunce [of hym were sore] [than were for hym.] aferd.

¶ Paris thei yeld, and all the realme [londe.] of Fraunce, The royals all to kyng Arthure obeyed, Seruice did hym, and [all] whole obeisaunce [Fol. lxvi.] As to their kyng, and hym nomore disobeyed.

He sent Howell [Hoell.] with hoost, and hym conueighed To Guyan then, who made Guytard obeye To kyng Arthure, with all that euer he maye.

¶ Nauerne and Spain, Portyngale, Aragon, Prouince, Sauoye, and Langdok, with also Flaundres, Braban, Henauld and [als and.] Burgoyn, [Orliaunce, Poytiers, and Lectoo, Cateloigne, eke Almaignie, and many mo,] [

Catelyne, eke Almayne, and many moo Cuntreise he conquerde, and made rebels full woo,

] Holande, Selande, and Gelders, [within fere,] [als in fere.] His menne became, as prince without [withoutyn.] pere.

¶ At Paris then he feasted all thastates By fourty dayes, were he [and] also the quene Were crouned then, and had the lande subiectes [so gates.] ; [In all honour and ryalte as was seen, He feasted all the commonalte full clene,] [

He fested all the comonte full clene, Oppyn housholde to all clenelie besene.

] The prelates whole, and the vniuersite, And ladies all, with their feminite.

¶ Nine yere he helde his throne riall in Fraunce, And open hous, greately magnified Through all the world, of welthe and suffisaunce Was neuer prince so highly gloryfied: The rounde table with princes multipled, That auentures then sought cotidianly, With greate honour, as made is memory.

¶ And when he had so ruled Fraunce nine yere, To Brytain went he home then [so than.] again; At Cairlion, his citee faire and clere, At Witsondaye to se his knightes faine, He sette his feast royall, the sooth to sayne, By fourty dayes for all that there woulde been, Moost for his knightes that [whome.] he desired to seen.

¶ At whiche feast he and the quene also Crouned were with royall diademe By Dubrice [Saint Dubrice.] , that tharchibishop was tho At Carlion, as the churche did deme, [With all rialtie as well did beseme;] [The prelacye full well dide hym beseme.] Tharchebishopes of London and Ebrank [Eboranke.] , Came to that feast, and had [full muche] [deserved.] thanke.

¶ At [the enoyntyng] [at thanoyntment.] of this moost noble kyng, Tharchebishop of London the right arme, Tharchbishop of Yorke, by all writyng, The left held vp, without [withoutyn.] any harme, [While the people to see that sight did swarme;] [Their myters on their hedes in copes arraied warme.] This was their charge and verey dewe seruise, Of anonxcion [auncien̄.] tyme to dooe and excersise.

¶ Kyng [Agurell that was of Albanye,] The kyng Posses [Pelles.] of Southwalis that hight, And of Northwalis Ewayn [Owayne.] the kyng manly, And duke Cader [Cador.] of Cornwaile, by right, A fore the kyng bare foure sweordes [full bright;] [upright.] Whiche was seruice of greate [olde.] antiquite, For their landes dewe to [vnto.] his souerente.

¶ Afore y^e quene Gwaynour the queenes came, Of Southwalis, Northwalis, and Albanye [of Albanye.] , And the duches of Cornwaile, of greate fame, [Right well bee seen of chere benyngly;] Eche of theim bare on [upon.] her hande on hie [Fol. lxvii.] A turtel doue, that was of coloure white, To please the queene so was her [theire.] moste delite.

¶ Syr Kay was then the duke of Aungeoy, At Parys made by Arthur and create, His stewarde was, that had with mekell ioye, A thousande knightes [to serue early and late,] [with hym consociate.] [Ententyfly, not feynt, wery ne mate,] [Manlie, jauntill, louynge no debate.] Duryng the feast, clothed [all] in ermyn, For best araye that he [could best] [couth then.] ymagyn.

¶ Sir Bedwer then at that feast was boteler, A thousande knightes with hym consociate, The [That.] feast to serue of wynes good and clere, Clad all in graye of pelury preordinate, That was full riche, accordyng to there estate: Thetis, goddesse of waters, ther had no might, For Bacchus, god of wynes, shed his power right.

¶ Thousādes many of lordes & knightes honorable, Eche daye during the [That.] feast imperiall, Afore the kyng and quene incomperable, To masse and meate went in especiall, A thousande ladies of estate temporall; Besyde thousandes that were of lesse degree, Wyues and wydowes with other virginitee.

The. lxxv. Chapiter.

¶ A good cause to make knightes worthy and coragious, and ladies and gentilwomen to lyue in great clennes.

THer was no knight accompted [accompte than.] of honoure But if he wer in warre approued thrise, Nor [Neither.] with ladies beloued as paramoure; Whiche caused knightes armes to exercyse, To be [been.] vertuous, and clene of life and wise; It comforte [comforted.] also ladies and theyr femynitee, To lyue the more in perfite [honeste.] chastitee.

¶ And when this feast royall was dissolued, The kyng rewarde[d] so highly eche estate, And in his mynde ymagened and inuolued Howe sone and when, at tyme preordinate, They might agayn bee [so been.] consociate; And commaunde[d] theim at the nexte Pentecost, There for to bee [been.] with him, both least and moste.

¶ Dubricyus, then archebyshop of Cairlyon, Mekely ceased and [hole] forsoke his cure, Purposyng so, of good religion,

An heremytes [ermyte.] lyfe thence forwarde to endure; In whose steade Dauid, of life full pure, Was set to rule the churches dignitee, To Gods pleasaunce with all [all the.] libertee.

¶ To Mangauero, the sea [cee.] pontificall Of Chichester [Circestre.] he gaue withouten lette, Of Wynchester with [the] cōmoditees all To Duuyan he gaue, and hym in sette, [To God and the churche as fell of dewe dette;] Thysle of Alclud also pontificall To Eledoure [Eledenne.] he graunte[d] as might befall.

¶ As then befell the feast of Whytsondaye, That all his knightes of the table rounde [Fol. lxviii.] To his presence were commen in good araye, And euery knight his auenture that stounde Had tolde the kyng, as his order was founde; Whiche aduentures the kyng made [all] be writtē In his register, euer to be knowen and weten [not forgetyn.] .

The. lxxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Galaad came to kyng Arthure, and acheued y^e seege pereleous in the roūd table, & howe the saynt Graal apered at supper in y^e hal, wherfore he made a vowe neuer to abide two nightes in one place, to tyme he knewe what it was, and that he might se it agayne.

GAlaad that tyme was. xv. yere of age, The goodlyest [afore that men] [that men afore.] had seen, Whō Laūcelot gat, in very clene spousage, On Pelles doughter, (y^t kyng full longe had been Of Venedose, that Northwales is nowe men wene,) Clene armed came at meate [&] obeyed the kyng, The quene also, and estates there syttyng.

¶ And sate hym [right.] downe in the siege pereleous Of the table rounde. where none durst sitte afore But Ioseph, that was full religious, That made it so ere [or.] Galaad was [were.] bore,

And kyng Arthure that satte therin therfore [to fore.] , And neuer moo that it had ought presumed, But they were brent therin, shamed & consumed.

¶ Whiche Ioseph sayd afore that tyme ful long, In Mewyns booke, the Britayn chronicler, As writen is the Britons iestes emong, That Galaad the knight, and virgyne clere, Shuld it acheue [eschieve.] and auentures [in all] [all in.] fere Of the [seynt] Graale, and of the great Briteyn, And afterwarde a [clene.] virgyne dye certeyne.

¶ But the knightes all then of the round table Conceyued well, and fully then beleued He was thesame persone incomperable Of whō Merlyn sayd euer shuld be[en] wel cheued, Moste fortunate of all knightes that [then] lyued; For whiche they all [anone] to hym attende, In all thynges that to knighthode appende.

¶ At supper as he sate agayn at euen, In thesame seege with full knightly constaunce, That proued well, whiche made theim al beleuen That by his rule and noble gouernaunce, To all knightes he shuld do great pleasaunce; In speciall [especiall.] to all of that order, Ful greate worshyp and all knightly honoure.

¶ So sodenly doores and wyndowes al [fast.] clapped With hydeous noyce, farre passyng meruelous, Opened and sperred [shett.] al by theim selfs fast rapped, For whiche thei trust [of some cause meruelous;] [some care auenterouse.] As [and.] with that noyse the saynt Graall precious Flowe [Flewe.] thryse about within the hall full ofte, Flytteryng [Fetherynge.] full fast aboue [theim] high on lofte.

¶ And as it came sodenly vnknowen Right so it went awaye withouten lees, The knightes all that tyme [that had it sawen,] [whiche had it seen.] Amerueled were of it doutelesse [so douteles.] ;

Wherfore they all with wepens gan to presse [prees.] , [Fol. lxix.] To see and wete [witt.] what thyng it [that it.] myght bee, But whether it went they could [couth.] nomore it see.

The. lxxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Galaad and the knightes of the rounde table made theyr auowes to seke the saynt Graal, some tyll their found it, and some for a yere.

BVt on y^e morowe Galaad & other knightes, Afore the kynge by one assent compered, Where Galaad made his auowes & hightes, Neuer [to lye,] [for tobe.] but he were presoned, [In one place, in no maner of grounde,] [Or els so seke that he myght not iourneid.] Two nightes together, no where tyll he it see, Besought the kyng his knight that he might bee.

¶ The kyng hym made a knight of y^e table roūd, And armes wolde haue geue [hī,] but he wold none, Afore [that] he gatte theim in [a stronge] [ane straunge.] grounde, By auenture, or els vpon his foone, And tooke his leaue to passe so forth anone; The knightes all then of the rounde table, Graunt hym seruice a yere then perdurable.

The. lxxviii. Chapiter.

¶ The lamentacion of kyng Arthure for his knightes vpon theyr departyng from hym; & of the rule whiche Galaad made emōg the knightes, in the queest of the saynt Graal: and howe at Auelon he found a shilde of the same armes, a speare & a sweorde, that Ioseph lefte there for hym; which armes Aruiragus, Lucyus, and Constantyne bare of siluer, a crosse of goules.

FOr whiche the kyng, w^t heuy & dulful chere [herte.] , Thus sayd: "O God, what shall I do or say, That my knightes al which I had ī quere [querte.] , Thus sodenly fro me that passe awaye, They [They were.] , my blisse, my hertes hele eche [every.] daye, My landes helpe, custodyes [and keners.] of my crowne, And membres of my corps to kepe my region.

¶ O God, y^t [if.] deth wold brest myne hert on twayne, Who shall maynteyne my crowne & my ryghtes, I trowe nomore to see you eft agayne Thus hole together, and so goodly knightes; Would God I might make myne auowe & hightes, To passe with you in what land so [that.] ye go, And take my parte with you [both] in well and wo."

¶ This Galaad [then] rode forth with [so with.] his route, At euery waye he made a knight for to departe, To tyme they were all seuerally [severably.] gone oute, And none with hym, so had echone theyr parte; And yf any [oone.] met another at [any arcte,] [ane arte.] His rule was so, he shuld his felowe tell His auentures, what so [that] hym befell.

¶ And also sone as theyr waye laye on sūdrywise, They shulde departe and mete nomore agayn, But aduenture it made of [by.] exercyse, Of diuers stretes that together layne, [Of this mater is nomore to seyne;] [And as is seide than to departe agayne.] But [And.] when he had his felowes all conueyed, He tooke his waye full like a knight arayed.

¶ Of auenture he came to Auelon, [Fol. lxx.] Where that he found a shylde that was ful white, A crosse therin of [in. edit. alt.] gowlys, by it one A speare also, a sweard of great delyte, The whiche with hym he bare awaye full tyte; He gyrde hym with the swerde anon full [furth.] ryght, The shylde he hunge vpon his shoulder lyght.

¶ The spere he toke on hande ful lyke a knyght; But there he founde in bokes clerely wryten, Howe Ioseph loste that shylde therin forth [full.] ryght, When he there dyed, as then it was well weten; [And also in scrypture lefte there wryten,] [For a tokyn that Criste shuld not be forgetyn.] That no man should it beare without mischeue, But one that should y^e doughteous siege acheue [eschieve.] .

¶ [That same was wryten] [The same writynge.] ryght there of y^e swerd, Whiche Vacyan [Nacian.] lefte there when he dyed, And of the speare he was nothyng a ferde, All yf the same parell of it was notifyed, [Lyke as to fore of it was] [Thus went he furth as it is.] specifyed; But [And.] when [that] he had laboured so foure yere, He founde in Walys the Saintgraal [sank roiall.] full clere.

¶ Then rode he forth vnto the Holy Lande, Through God and holy inspiracyon, To God he gaue his seruyce, and hym bonde To chastyte, and greate contemplacyon; And kyng was made, by hole coronacyon [creacioun.] , Of Garras [Sarras.] then, and duke of Orboryk, Of whome the people full well [dyd theym] [than dide.] lyke.

¶ Syr Boers [Bors.] with hym went, and syr Percyuall, And other moo of the table rounde, Whome knyghtes he made of the [seynt Graall,] [sanke riale.] Whiche order so he ordeyned then [so.] and founde At Sarras, that to Egypt lande doth bounde; To [Forto.] lyue chaste and maynteyne Christentye, Lyke as Ioseph dyd of Armathye.

¶ But longe after, vpon the Whitsondaye, Sir Boers [Bors.] and Percyuall came to the kyng, With knyghtes all that lyuyng were that day, At Carlyon: but Percyuall dyd bryng, [Vnto that courte full dolorous tidyng,] [Out of Sarras withoute any lettynge.] Syr Galaad [his] herte closed all with golde, Vnto the kyng full openly and [he.] tolde,

¶ Howe Galaad had acheued [escheued.] the auenture In kyng Pellis householde with great honoure, That called was y^e [saint Graall] [sanke roiall.] by scrypture, And kyng was made by his worthy laboure; [As he that was of knygthode a worthy floure] Of Sarras so, and duke of Orboryk, Besyde Egypte, where there [than.] was none hym lyke.

Where thenne he made. xii. knightes of the order [The saynt Graall what it is.] Of [saynt Graall] [the sanke roiall.] , in full signifycacyon Of the table whiche Ioseph was the founder, At Aualon, as Mewyn made [maketh.] relacyon; In token of the table refyguracyon [and refiguracion.] , Of the brotherhede of [at.] Christes souper & maundie Afore his death, of hyghest dignytee.

¶ And howe Galaad [then] at his deth you prayed His herte to bury, besyde kyng Eualake [Ewelake.] , And duke Saraphe [Seraph.] , in golde thus arayed, [Fol. lxxi.] [Where they be buryed besyde Ioseph their make; And thus muche he prayed you to do for his sake,] [Thus he you praied for oure lade sake, Wher they be buried beside Ioseph their make.] In the chapell of our Lady, Chrystes mother, At Glastenbury, with dyuers sayntes other.

¶ This [The.] kyng Arthure, with princes & barons al, And all [with.] knyghtes of [als of.] the rounde table, To Glastenbury then rode as myght befall, And there enterred the hert of Galaad honorable, With all seruyce for the death accordable; And ouer it he hanged [honge.] his shylde [that he bare,] [he bore.] The whiche afore saint George armes were [wore.] .

¶ And when this feaste was come [vn]to an ende, The kyng Arthure also and quene Gwaynour To all estates greate gyftes gaue and [or.] sende, As they were wonte eche [alwaye ech.] yere afore, [For his great honoure encreased more and more;] [At that same feste opyn house euermore.] Of hyghe knyghthode [kynghode.] , houshold [he held.] , and all largesse, Aboue all princes moste famous he was doutlesse.

¶ These were knightes [the knyghtes.] then of the table rounde: Morued the earle that tyme of Gloucestre, Of Shrewisbury therle Heralde [Harolde.] that stounde, Therle Mawren also of Worcestre, Therle Ingence that was of Leycestre,

Arthegall therle of Warwyke [full] corageous, Therle [And erle.] Curson of Chestre [full] bounteous,

¶ [Kymar then earle] [Kynmare the erle than.] of Caunterbury, When [Vrgen.] the earle of Bathe, and Ionathall, Thearle of Dorcestre, Gallus [Vrgen.] erle of Salisbury, [The earle Gurgen,] [erle Gurgoyne.] of Herforde, knowen ouer all, Beuyse [Beaufitz.] earle of Oxenforde that men dyd call, Gwerande [Emerade.] earle that was of Excestre, And Paradoure [Peridure] the earle of Wynchester,

Cador, the duke that then was of Cornewayle, The kynges brother was [on the syster] [of the seker.] syde, Dame Igrene [Iugerne.] was their mother without fayle, Gwytelene [Guythelyne.] , earle of Carlele was that tyde, Waldeue [Waldif.] the duke, cōmended and laudifyed, Of Northumberlande, a lorde of greate power, Fro Humbar North to Twede then was full clere,

¶ Kynge Aguzell, that was of Albany, Kyng Vriayn of Murref, with Ewayne [Owayne.] His sonne, that was corageous and manly, And the noble and curteous knyght Gawayne, That kyng was then of all fayre Lowthyan [Lothiane.] , And syster sonne vnto the kyng Arthure, Mordred his brother was of the same ordoure,

¶ Loth, of Lowthian [Lothiane.] , that kyng was of Norway, Of Lowthyan [Lothiane.] that kyng afore had been, Father to Gawayne, and murdred [mordred.] was that daye. Kyng Vryan of South Walys I wene, The kyng Pellis [Pelles.] of Northwalis full clene, The kyng Howell [Hoell.] also [als.] of Lytell Britayne, Boers [Bors.] , and Hester [Hestor.] , Degionaunt [Degrevaunte.] and Ewayn [Owayne.] ,

¶ Syr Percyuall, Launcelot Delake and Kaye, Sir Colingraunt [Colgrevaunt.] Bedewer, and syr Degarye, Geryn of Charters, y^e douzepers of Fraunce gaye, The kynges of Man, Orkeney, Irelande, all thre,

Of Iselande, Gotlande, and dukes of dignyte, [Fol. lxxii.] Of Portyngale, Nauerne, and Cateloyne, Of Spayne the kinges, & the duke of Burgoyne,

¶ Syr Lyonell, Gryffith, Kynkar [Kyncure.] , Olenius [Clenyus.] , Donalde, Macoyle [Mapcoile.] , Cynmarke [Cimmarke, edit. alt. Kymmarke. MS.] & Gorbonian, Kymbalyn, Rydran, Eualake and Carthelius [Cathelyus.] ; Crade and Cradok, Dunwallon [Dunwalen.] , and Morgan, Gadwaloure [Cadwaloure.] , Eneas, and Ternuan, And many mo y^t were full longe to wryte, Whiche with my style I canne not nowe endyte.

The. lxxix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the embassade of the Emperoure Lucius was receyued solemplye, and presented the Emperours letters vnto kynge Arthure; and also of the tenoure of the same letters, the whiche Lucius sent to hym.

BVt whyles the kyng sate in his trone royal, His prynces all, and knyghtes of dignite, Aboute him, there thambassade [the imbassiate.] imperyall Were fayre brought [brought ynne.] vnto his [royall dignite;] [roialte.] [That prynces] [Whiche princes twelue.] were of authoryte, Of [moste] rype age and [and of.] reuerende chere, With olliffe braunchies in their landes [hondes.] clere.

¶ Otokyn [A token. edit. alt. In tokyn. MS.] of message and legacye, A stately pase [paase.] vnto his hye presence, Where they offered of Lucius Heberye The letters then, on knees with reuerence, Of whiche this [this was.] the wordes and comprehence As foloweth nowe, when they were reed and sene, As [chronyclers wryten thus do] [cronycles so wretyn doth.] contene.

¶ "Lucius of Rome, the emperoure, Procurator for all the hole senate, Of [the] publyke profyte chiefe gouernoure, By hole senate made and denominate; To Arthure kyng of Britayne procreate,

Sendeth gretyng, [lyke] as thou haste deserued, Nowe in [Late in.] Fraunce, which was to vs preserued.

¶ Amerueled [Mervailynge.] much of wronge[s] that thou hast done Within our lande of Fraunce, by great rygour, Without [Withoutyn.] ryght, that better had bene vndone; But yf thy wytte amende thy foule erroure That syth of Fraunce then [thou.] were the gouernour, No trybute payde, but as thyne owne conquest Haste [holde it aye] [holden it.] vnder thyne [thine oun.] areste.

¶ And for thou haste no wyll it to amende, And were [was.] so prowde to do [so cruell a] [such cruell.] dede, Kyng Froyle to sle, to vs that dyd apende, And mekell [muche.] more, for cause thou takest no [noone.] hede Of the gate [greate. edit. alt. astate. MS.] imperyall that [whiche.] we lede; To whiche all landes obey and paye truage, Saue [Saufe.] thou alone gaynstandest of thyne outrage.

¶ Wherfore we byd strayghtly and cōmaunde, That from August nowe nexte within a yere, Thou come to Rome, and pay that we demaunde, The truage, which thou haste of thy power Of Britayne longe withholde [witholdyn.] so in feare; And thy defautes amende thou did in Fraunce, By sentence of the senates ordynaunce.

¶ And elles we shall approche to thy countre, And what so thy foly hath vs [be]refte, [Fol. lxxiii.] With sweordes wee shall it make restored bee, Till [To.] our senate, as first it was infefte, The liuelode that thy father so the lefte: Thou art els like for thine intrusion, To lose and [be brought] [bryng.] into confusion.

¶ Wrytten at Roome in the consistorye, By whole auise of all the wise senate, At Pasche last past, to byde in memorie, Their regestred and determinate, Lest thy youthed our letter[s] and the date

Would couer with feyned forgetfulnesse, Trustyng in vs the same defaute I gesse."

¶ With that the kyng went to the giaūtes toure, With princes all that were of his counsaile, By their aduise to wryte to themperour, For his honour and for his gouernall, Of whiche so wise would not [for gette] [foryete.] ne faill: So well were made to Lucius and endite, Whiche saied right thus, as in [with.] my stile I wryte.

The. lxxx. Chapiter.

¶ The letter that kyng Arthure sent again to Lucius, themperour of Roome.

"ARthure, kyng [the.] of all the greate Brytain, And emperour of Rome by title of right, [Whiche deforced] [With wronge deforced.] by Lucius Romain [Lucius.] , Pretendyng hym for emperour of might, Vnto the same Lucius, for [of.] thyne vnright, Vsurper of the sea [cee.] emperiall, Sendeth gretyng, as enemie moost mortall.

¶ To the senate of Roome it is well knowe[n,] Howe Iulyus Ceaser with iniurye The truage had, Brytain was brought so lowe, By helpe of erle [duke.] Androgeus and [his] traytorye, That brought hym in by his false policye, Without right or title of discent, Or any right [that to the senate] [the senate.] appent.

¶ And what so he had then by iniurye, Leefull to vs [nowe is it to] [is nowe forto.] withstande; For what euer [maner.] thyng is take vniustly [vnjustfullie.] , Maye neuer he had, as I can vnderstande, By any other, to hold it with strong hand, Frome hym that had it well and rightfully, By none other maye bee had lawfully.

¶ By whiche reason the [thy.] wrong we shall defende, And hold our realme so in our [his.] first astate, Of seruage free, as it to Brute apende, Who held it free afore that Roome bare date, Whose right to vs is nowe determinate; And by suche right as thou dooest nowe pretende, We maye clayme Roome & to thempire [the empere.] ascende.

¶ For kyng Belyn, that was our auncetour, And Brenny also [als.] , the kyng of Albanye, All Roomain did wyn by [conquest there;] [theire conquestre.] Of [And.] Roome thei had, and all greate Italie, [And sleugh themperour by their great maistrie,] [In their power by their grete victory.] And crouned were in [the sea] [cee.] empiriall, Wher no prince was that tyme to theim egall.

¶ But yet we haue a better title of right To thempire [the empere.] whiche nowe we will pretene; [Fol. lxxiiii.] For Constantyne, sainct Elyn soonne of right [myght.] , By right of bloodde, of Constaūce downe discēde, Emperour was, that Roome did well defende Again Maxence, and his feloes tweyn [tweye.] , Whiche there [thre.] made muche Christē people [to dien.] [deye.]

¶ Maximian kyng of greate [the greate.] Brytain, By whole decre, and will of the senate, Was emperour of Roome, and ruled Almaigne, Whose rightes we haue, and al their [whole] astate, And [As.] heire of bloodde borne and generate; Wherfore we clayme the throne empirial, Frome hens furth by lawe iudicial.

¶ As to the daye whiche [the whiche.] thou hast vs sette, To paye to Roome the tribute and truage, We shall bee their to chalenge, of dewe debte, Truage of Roome, with all [their rerage,] [the arerage.] And to enioyse and hold our heritage Of Roome citee, to kepe the souereigne sea [cee.] With all that longeth to themperalite [the imperialte.] .

¶ And if thou wilt me sonner haue or seeke, Bryng Romanye with the wher so thou will, With me I shall [shall so than.] bryng Brytain eke, And whiche of vs that daye maye other kyll, Bere Roome with hym, and Brytain also [als.] their till. Wryten at our citee of Cairlion, By whole aduise of all our region."

The. lxxxi. Chapiter.

He gaue to thambassatours royall giftes, and sent his letters with his ambassatis to passe to Roome with theim in cōpaignie, & he with his hoost folowed sone after theim.

THe kyng then gaue [vnto [to.] [vnto [to.] y^e hie ambassate, Full riche giftes & golde enough to spend, And bad theim giue their lordes [lorde.] in whole senate His letters so, whiche he then to hym send, And bad theim saie, that soner then he wend, He should hym se, before the daye assigned, In trust of whiche theim with his seale assigned [he signed.] .

¶ This noble kyng Arthure his princes prayed, And barons all, and knightes honorable, To passe with hym at wagis to bee payed, With their power and their retenue able, For to directe his right full resonable; Marciall [By marciall.] actres thempire to obtein, To whome thei all [consented whole and clene.] [consente the soth to seyne.]

¶ And with the kyng thei passed forth anone Into Brytain, wher Howell [Hoell.] then was kyng, Wher then he hard y^e countre make greate mone, For a gyaunt horrible in all thyng, That rauished had, by his cruell werkyng, Kyng Howell [Hoell.] sister, Elein without pere Bytwene his armes was slain and layed on bere.

¶ For whiche y^e kyng to [mount Michell] [Michell mounte.] thē wēt, With that gyaunt that [ther.] faught a bataile sore, With Caliborne his sweord, or that he stint, He sleugh hym there, to death for euermore,

And charged Kay for his victorie thore, To smyte his hedde of then for memorye, In [For.] worship of his worthy victorye. [Fol. lxxv.]

¶ In whiche mount [mount so.] kyng Howell [Hoell.] hir tōbe made, A chapell faire theron [therouer he.] edefied, Sith that tyme hether vpon that place abade, Wher that gyaunt and she were homycied: But all his hoost and people hym magnified, [And all the landes about wholy enioyed,] [The londes aboute also highly enyoied.] [Of] that gyauntes death so [that theym soore.] felly anoyed.

¶ The kynges all, of Portyngale and Spain, Of Nauerne also [als.] , and eke of Catheloyne, Vnto hym came, and dukes of Almaigne, The dukes of Sauoy, and of Burgoyne, Douze peres of Fraunc, and the duke of Lorain, The kynges also of Denmarke and Irelande, Of Norwey, [Iselande, and of] [and of Iselande and.] Gotelande.

¶ Through Fraūce, Burgoyn [Burboyne.] , Sauoye & Lumbardie, Into Italy, and so through all Tuskayn; Fro Tuskayn then so into Romany, To Awbe ryuer kyng Arthure came so than, And [loged on that water as] [on that water hym loged as a.] manne; Wher with Lucius he faught in [a.] battaile strong, Either other proued with strokes sore emong.

¶ But kyng Arthure, and the [eke his.] princes all, His knightes also [als.] there of the round table, So manfully theim bare that daye ouer all, That neuer their better were seen, [nor] more able, [So were Romaynes] [the Romayns als.] that daye full [were.] comendable; [Ne none] [no man.] might dooe better in any wise, So worthely thei faught without feyntise.

¶ And at the last the Brytons bare the bell, And had the felde and all the victorye, Wher Arthure sleugh, as chronicles dooeth tell,

[Themperour Lucius Hibery,] [The procuratour of the comonte Lucius Hiberie.] And [toke his feloe] [made Leone the emperoure.] contributorye; But Lucyus [hedde to] [had.] Roome for his truage He sent, [his corps also for their] [to Rome his corps for the.] arerage.

The. lxxxii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the senate and the citee of Roome, mette hym in seuen processions, and crouned hym, and there wintred hym by all the whole winter.

THe senate sent vnto the kyng Arthure, [And prayed] [prayinge.] hym thempire to admit, Whiche became hym & semed hym of nature, As Constantyne did in the honour sitte, And al truage forthward [thens forwarde.] thei would remitte Of greate Brytain, neuer to aske it more, But make it free as [it was euer before:] [euer it was.]

¶ To whiche prayer kyng Arthure did consent, And came to Roome in [with.] royall high astate, Wher the citee, by good and whole assent, Full richely [roially.] hym mette, and the senate, With greatest laude that might been [be.] estimate, And [At.] euery gate his triumphe and his glorie, Full curyously was wrought in greate storie.

¶ The seuen orders in procession, Full solemplye at Peters churche hym mette; The wifes whole by good discrecion, The wydowes after full deuoutly sette, In order came then [ther.] nexte, as was there dette, [Fol. lxxvi.] The virgyns [maydens.] then, of virgynitee, And then thynnocentes] [the Innocentes.] of tender iuuentee.

¶ Thorders all of good religion, The preastes and clerkes seculer, The byshop and cardinalles in vnyou, With the sacrement and lightes clere, And belles ryngyng therewith in fere;

Euery order with laude and reuerence, Reioysed [enyoied.] greatly of his magnificence.

¶ At [the] Capytole, in [the sea] [cee.] imperiall, They crowned hym with crownes thre of golde As emperoure moste principall, And conquerour that daye moste worthy holde; Wher then he fested [feeste.] the citee manyfolde, [Of Rome the byshop, and all his cardinals,] [The pope and all his worthy cardynals.] The senatours, with other estates als.

The. lxxxiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe that tydynges came to the kynge at Roome that Mordred had wedded his wyfe, and vsurped the crowne of Englande; for the whiche he came home agayne, and gaue Mordred batayll at Douer, where Arthure preuayled, and after again at Wynchester, wher the round table began, and fell for euer.

ALl that wynter at Rome he did soiourne, In palays of Mayns [Mayus.] palacium; The [To.] somer cā y^t home he might retourne, At whiche somer so when it was come, Tydynges came to Arthure hole [all.] and some, That duke Mordred was kyng of all Britayn, And wedded [had.] Gwaynour to [as for.] his wyfe certayn.

¶ For whiche at Rome he made his ordenaunce To rule that lande and all the [that.] hole empire, And home in hast with full great purueyaunce To [Towarde.] Britayne [came,] to venge hym on that sire That [Whiche.] trayterously agayn hym did conspire, [To rauyshe his wife by stronge and mighty hāde, And also for vsurpyng the crowne of his lande.] [With all his hooste that thedir with hym went, Theym outakyn that there were dede and spent.]

¶ At porte Rupyn, whiche nowe [this daye.] Douer hight, He landed then, where duke Mordred hym met, And fought full sore, by all a daye to night, Wher syr Gawen & Anguzell [Agnyzell.] were sore bet,

And slayne both two, so sore they were ouer set; But Arthure had the felde, and Mordred fled To Wynchester that night, full fast hym sped.

¶ The kyng folowed fast vpon the chace, And there he fought agayn with hym full sore, Where many princes and lordes, lin that case, Were slayn on bothe sydes for euermore; Of the round table, that longe had been afore, Many worthy knightes there were spended, For Arthures loue, that might not been [be.] amended.

¶ The rounde table at Wynchester beganne, And there it ended [ende.] , and there it hangeth yet; For there were slayn [at this ylke battayl] [of that rounde table.] than, The knightes all that euer did at it sitte, Of Britayne borne, saue Launcelot yode quyte, And with the kyng folowed on [upon.] the chase, When Mordred fled to Cornwayle for y^e case. [Fol. lxxvii.]

The. lxxxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ The battayll of Camblayn, where Arthure preuayled and slewe Mordred, and Arthure had his deathes wounde; and howe Arthure died, and was buried in the blacke chapel of Glastenbury.

¶ WHer on the water y^t called was Camblayne, Mordred abode, w^t mightie hoste & stronge, With Arthur fought y^t day [of hie] [with grete.] disdayne, Full oft alone euer as they met amonge; But Arthure slewe Mordred with his knyfe [suerde.] long, That Calibourne was called, of suche vertue, That whomsoeuer he smote therwith he slewe.

¶ But this Mordred gaue Arthure deaths woūd, For whiche he yode his woundes to medifie [medieeye.] , Into thysle of Aualon that [wher he diede that.] stound, [And gaue] [He gaufe.] Britayne that was full solitarie, To Constantyne, duke Cader [Cador.] sonne on [in.] hye, His neuewe was, for Cader [Cador.] was his brother, As well was knowen they had but one mother.

¶ Kyng Arthure then in Aualon so died, Wher he was buried in [beside.] a chapell fayre, [The death of kyng Arthure.] Whiche nowe is made and fully edified, [The mynster churche this daye] [Weste fro the mynstre churche.] of great repayre Of Glastenbury, where nowe he hath his leyre; But then it was called the blacke chapell Of our Lady, as chronycles can tell.

¶ Wher Geryn, erle of Charters, then [ther.] abode, Besyde his toumbe for whole deuocion, Whether Launcelot Delake came, as he rode Vpon the chace, with trompette and clarion; And Geryn tolde hym ther, [all] vp and downe, Howe Arthure was there layde in sepulture, For whiche with hym to byde he hight full sure.

¶ And so they abode together in contemplacion, And preastes were aboute his toumbe alwaye In prayers greate, and holy meditacion, With heare the fleshe repressyng night and daye, Three dayes eche weke at breade and water aye, They fasted [faste.] & lyued in great [sorowe and] [and sore.] penaūce, To soules helth and Goddes hye pleasaunce.

¶ But whē the quene Gwaynour had perceyued Howe Mordred was fled awaye then thryse, Frō Yorke then yode, lest she were deceyued [out disseived.] , On fote by night, with a mayden full wise, To Carlion to lyue in Goddes seruice, In the mynster of saynt Iuly, with nonnes, In prayers whole and greate deuocions.

¶ This kyng Arthure, to whō none was cōdigne Through all the world, so was he then perelesse, His life and soule to God he dyd resigne, The yere of Christ, as chronicles expresse, Fyue hudreth and two, in sothefastnesse, And fourtye also accompted hole [faire.] and clere, At his endyng without [withoutyn.] any were.

The. lxxxv. Chapiter.

¶ The commendacion of Arthure, after the conceipte of the maker of this [Fol. lxxviii.] booke, in fewe woordes; and also the compleynte and lamentacion of the sayde maker, for the death of Arthure.

REigned he had then sixe and twenty yere, Moste redoubted in erth & moste famous, The worthiest and wysest without pere [any pere.] , The hardyest man and moste coragious, In actes marciall moste [in hooste.] victorious. In hym was neuer a drope of cowardise, Nor in his herte a [oon.] poynte of couetyse.

¶ There was neuer prince [of giftes more] [yit of yiftes so.] liberal, Of landes geuyng, ne of meate so plenteous, Agayn his fooen was moste imperiall, And with his owne subiectes [sogettis.] moste bounteous; As [And as.] a lyon in felde was moste douteous, In house a lambe of mercy euer replete, And in iudgement euer [eguall was] [wase egall.] and discrete.

¶ O good Lorde God, suche treason & vnrightes, Why suffred thy deuyne omnipotente, That of theim [hym.] had precience and forsightes, That [And.] myght haue lette that cursed violence Of Mordredes pryde, and all his insolence, That noble kyng forpassyng [ferre passynge.] conqueroure, So to destroye by treason and erroure.

¶ Fortune [O Fortune.] , false executryse of weerdes [worldes.] , That euermore so with thy subtilitee, To all debates [thou strongly so enherdes,] [so strongely enheredes.] That where men euer [aie.] would lyue in charitee, Thou doest perturbe with mutabilitee, Why stretchest [streched.] [thou] so thy whele vpon Mordred Agayne his eme to do so cruel dede.

¶ Wherthrough that high & noble conqueroure Without [Withoutyn.] cause shuld algates [sogates.] peryshed bee, With so [many kynges] [goode knyghtes.] and princes of honour, In all the worlde might [none there] [there no.] better bee. O fals Fallas, of Mordredes propertee, Howe might thou so in Gwynoure haue such might, That she the death caused of so many [goode.] knightes.

¶ O false beautie of Gwaynour, predestinate, What vnhappe made the [false to] [falsen.] thy lorde, So good a prince and so fortunate [well fortunate.] Was neuer yet seen, as all men can recorde, The whiche betwene you made so greate discorde, That he and [all] his princes wer there slayne, Thy chaungeable hert to venge he was so fayne.

¶ But O Mordred, tofore [before.] so good a knight, In greate manhode proudly [aye approued,] [ever thou proued.] In whom thyne eme, the noblest prince of might, Put all his trust, so greately he the loued, What vnhappe thy [so thy.] manly ghost hath moued, Vnto so foule and cruell hardynesse, So [many] to be slayn through thyn vnhappynes.

¶ The highnesse of thyne honoure had a fall, When thou began to do that iniurie, That great falshode thy prowesse did appall, As soone as [in the entred] [thou entred into.] periurie, By consequens treason and traitourie, Thy lorde and eme, and also [als.] thy kyng souerayn, So to betraye thy felowes eke certayne. [Fol. lxxix.]

The. lxxxvi. Chapter.

¶ Constantyne, kynge of Britayne, sonne of duke Cador of Cornewayle, reygned foure yere.

COnstantine, his brother sōne was crowned, Duke Cador sōne of Cornwaile boūteous,

Afore had been one of the table rounde, In Arthures[s] tyme, a knight [was] ful auenturous; In trone royall was set full precyous, With diademe on his hed sygnifyed, At Troynouaunt, where no wight it replyed.

¶ Who then anone with Saxons sore did fight, And also with Mordred sonnes two Their capitaynes were, & put theim [to the] [both to.] flyght, That one fled to Wynchester, and hyd hym so, That other to London with mykyll woo, Where Constātyne theim bothe in churches slew, At the autres where they were hyd in mewe.

¶ This Constantyne set all his lande in peace, And reygned well foure yere in greate noblesse, And dyed then, buryed at Caroll no lesse, Besyde Vterpendragon [Vther Pendragon.] full expresse, Arthures father, of greate worthynesse; Whiche called is the [stone Hengles] [Stonehenge.] certayne, Besyde Salsbury [Ammesbury.] vpon the [that grete.] playne.

¶ Aurelius Conan, his cosyn fayre [than feire.] , [Aurelius Conan, kīg of Britayne, reygn∣ed thre yere.] The sea [cee.] royall then [he.] helde, and ganne succede To hym as nexte then of bloude [his blode.] and heyre; His vncle and his sonnes two in dede In prysone slewe, to crowne hym selfe I rede, That should haue been kynges of [all] Britayne Afore hym so, yf they had not be slayne.

¶ He maynteyned aye ciuyle warre and debate, Bytwene cytees, castelles, and countees [countrees. edit. alt. MS.] , Through al [his] realme, w^t mysruled mē associate, Whiche was greatly agaynst his royaltees, And but thre yere, he reygned in dignitees; As God so wolde, of his hye ordynaunce, For wronge lawes maketh shorte gouernaunce.

¶ Then Vortyper [Vortipere.] succeded after hym, [Vortiper, king of Bri∣tayne, reygued. vii. yere.] Crowned was then with all the royalte, Agaynste whome the Saxons stronge & grym

Made full greate warre, destroyed the comente [comynalte.] ; But in batayle by greate humanyte, He them ouercame, and set his lande in peace, Vnto the tyme that death made him decease.

¶ Seuen yere he reigned and his people pleased, And tender was he of his comynalte [comonte.] , Aboue all thyng he sawe that they were eased, The [publyke cause] [comon well.] afore the syngulerte, [Preserued also] [Preferred ave.] as it of ryght should be; For cōmons fyrst for prynces supportacion Were set, and [nought been waste] [not tobe wasted.] by dominacion.

¶ Malgo nexte hym to the crowne attayned, [Malgo, kīg of Britayn, reygn∣ed. xxii. yere.] Feyrest of other that euer was in his daye, All tyranny fully he restreyned, [And conquered holy thryse] [He conquered hole the Iles.] of Orkenay, Irelonde, Denmarke, Iselonde, and eke Norway; [Fol. lxxx.] And [Gotlande also] [Scotlande als.] obeyed his royalte, He was so wyse full [and full.] of fortunyte.

Within his realme was none so large ne strong, Ne none that was in feacte [feete.] of warre so wise, With swerde or [ne.] axe to fyght [fighten.] in the thronge, Nor with his [a.] speare that had suche exercyse, For to assayle hys fooes [foone.] , and them suppryse; And defence [And in.] [also] he had [great keenying] [also cunnyng.] As any prynce euer had [or any kyng.] [afore euer levynge.]

¶ But one defaute he had of greate offence, Of Sodome synne, he wolde [it] not amende; He haunted [haunte.] it euer withoute any defence, Whiche greued God, and brought hym to an end. Two and twenty yere as [with croun as.] dyd appende, His lande [he] helde in peace and vnyte, Without suppryse of any enmytee.

¶ Carreys [Careys.] was then crowned kyng [to be kyng.] anone, [Carreys, kīg of Britayne, reygned thre yere.] That loued well in all cytees debate,

Betwene townes [cuntrees.] and citees euery chone, And in suche wyse maynteyned early and late, Imagened of his [selfe.] wyll preordinate, So muche in [that.] warre that [in.] cytees and countrees Full comen [were, of his] [was through his.] malicyousnesse.

¶ For which Britons made hym [full mykel] [right muche.] war, And Saxons also [als.] vnto [which to.] kyng Gurmound sent Of Affrycans that then in Irelande were, Who with his fleete to perfourme his [their.] entent, To Britayne came by [with.] all theyr hole assent; But Saxons then and he were full accorde, And Britons also [als.] that had [helde.] ciuyle discorde.

The. lxxxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Gurmounde, kynge of Affrycans, conquered Brytayne, and de∣parted it in seuen kyngdomes, to Saxons & Englyshe; and went to wynne moo landes, & made Gurmonde Chester.

GVrmoūde, [y^t then was] [than a.] mighty cōquerour, King of Affricās [Fraunce.] , most dred in euery lond, With helpe of Britōs & theyr great socour, And of Englishe & Saxons had made thē bonde, That dwelled that tyme in [withyn.] Northumberlande, And other places [place.] in Britayne vnder truage, Rose with hym whole agayne y^e kynges outrage.

¶ And fought with him, and put hym to y^e flight, To Circestre went and strongly helde the towne, But kyng Gurmound y^e towne then seeged right, And gate it so [with myght & greate] [by myght and be.] renowne, Wherfore he fled to Wales for [his] proteccyon. What came of him myne authour nought expressed, But with the death I trowe he was oppressed.

¶ But [Kynge.] Gurmound then [Britaine hole] [of Britayn which he.] destroied, Bothe churche and towne & eke the Christen faith, For he a paynym [payoun.] was, and sore anoyed

The Chrystentye [Cristen people.] , as Gyldas wrote and seyth, Through [All.] Logres [y^t] whole was lost w^t paynī [Payans.] leyeth: The prelates all [and.] , curates and religyous, With reliques all fledde awaye full dolorous,

¶ And hid them then in [than in.] hilles, woodes and caues: Tharchbishops, the one [theon̄.] of London then, [Fol. lxxxi.] And Tadyok [Chadioke.] of Yorke, that fled fro [for.] Knauis With sainctes bones, to wildernes fast ranne [And hid hym there, and Gurmond sore did banne] [To hide theym there and Gurmonde cursed than.] With crosse and bell, & with greate candill light [Cursyng.] Thei cursed hym, as ferre as the churches [church.] might.

¶ This kyng Gurmōd gaue all Northūberland, Frome Trent North, [y^t] then hight [Berun & Deyre,] [Berne & Doery.] Northfolke, Southfolke, and Cābrydge shire at hāde, (Whiche Estāgle Bede calleth in his storie,) And all fro Trent to Themis, for memorye, Mers [Mersh.] he called, all [all these.] to English gaue [That dwelled ther for euer to reioyse] [Ther to duell euer it so to ioye.] and haue.

¶ He gaue all these to Englishe menne in deede, Whiche came out of a lande hight Angulo, In Germany that was, and [with] woodes, I rede, [Replenished of wild bestes buck and doo,] Sith that tyme hether, hathe been and yet is so: Wherfore thei were of it called Englishemenne [Anglish men̄.] , All Logres & Northumberlande Anglande [Angulonde.] then.

¶ He gaue Sussex then to the Saxons, Essex, Midelsex, with Surry whole and Kent; But then Hamshire, Barkeshire, toures & townes, And Shropshire whole, & Gloucester as thē apēt, All these were [were than.] called Westsex, as Bede ment: Thus dalt he the lande to theim therin dwellyng, Whiche long afore paied truage to the kyng.

¶ Thē went he home through Fraūce & it distroied, And many other landes and regions;

But Brytons then to y^e West parties sore anoyed [noied.] , [Droue theim of Logres, with all religions] [Drewe theym fro Loegres and fro their mansiouns.] To liue in peace, for dred of rebelions; For after [fro.] Carreis was fled thei had no kyng, To tyme Cadwan was made by their chosyng.

¶ So stode thei then kyngles by twenty yere, [Howe y^e Britons were kynglesse 11. yere.] Fro the yere of Christ fiue hundred and four score, And therto three, as clerly dooeth apere, Vnto the yere after that Christ was bore Sixe hundreth and three, without any more, When Cadwan was of Brytons kyng elect, And crouned was, to rule theim and protect.

¶ O kyng Carreis [Careis.] , vnhappiest [the vnhappiest.] creature [A lamentacion of y^e maker of this booke to y^e lordes.] That in Brytain reigned euer afore, What infortune made the flee from thy cure, What caused the to maintene so euermore, Cyuile discord within thy realme so sore; That might haue reigned ouer many a lande, Through whiche thyne owne is lost I vnderstād.

¶ Thou vnderstandest [vnderstode.] full litill theuangilye [the euangell.] , That euery realme within it selfe deuide, Shall desolate bee [made,] as clerkes tell [doone tell.] , [Mat. xii.] And euery hous on other shall fall and slyde. Thy wycked will, that nowe is knowen [knowe full.] wyde, That suffred so debate bytwyne lorde and lorde, Bytwyne citees and landes [townes.] cyuyle discord,

¶ The cause was [so was.] of thy disheriteson, And of thy realmes [reame.] desolacion, That with lawe and peaceble constitucion Might haue been saued, with greate consolacion, [Fol. lxxxii.] And the churche preserued in greate prosperacion; The Christen faith in thy lande distroyed, That with the peace shuld haue be kept vnnoyed.

¶ O woful Carreis [Careys.] , thyne heires & thy Brytons, Their children all, the widdowes and their wifes,

The commonalte [comonte.] in citees and in townes, The churche also may bāne [curse.] full sore those [thi.] striues By thy [the] supporte, that rest so many [fell.] their liues; Wher lawe and peace [if thou had] [thou myght haue.] well conserued, [All had been saued] [And saued all.] with thanke of God deserued.

¶ Defaute of lawe was cause of this mischiefe[s], Wronges sustened by maistry and by might, And peace layed downe that should haue been the chief For whiche debate folowed and vnright: Wherfore vnto a prince accordeth right To kepe the peace with al tranquillite, Within his realme to saue his royalte.

¶ What is a kyng without lawe and [or.] peace Within his realme sufficiently conserued; The poorest of his realme maye so encrease By iniury and force to bee preferred Till he his kyng with strength haue ouerterued, And sette hym self in royall maieste, If that he bee in suche a ieopardie.

¶ O ye lordes and princes of high astate, [The coūcel of the maker to duke Richard of Yorke.] Kepe well the lawe and peace in [with.] gouernaunce, Lest your subiectes defoule you and depreciate, Whiche been as able with wrongfull gouernaūce [ordynaunce.] To reigne as ye, and haue as greate puysaunce, If peace and lawe been voyed and vnytee, The floures are [been.] lost of all your souerentee.

¶ O worthy prince! O duke of Yorke I meane, Discendid downe of highest bloodde royall, Se [Se ye.] to suche ryotes that none sustene, And specially that alyens none at all Inhabite not with power greate ne small, That maye this lande ought trouble or ouer ride, For twies it was so wonne with muche [full muche.] pride,

¶ Through Vortiger, by Engist and Horsus, Whome he receiued [resett.] , whiche after hym distroyed,

And with his [their.] helpe full false and noyous [odeous.] , The worthy bloodde of Brytain sore anoyed, At the Caroll murdred [and all] [all and.] accloyed: And nowe again when Carreis [Careys.] was exiled, The [By.] kyng Gurmōd & [the] Saxons hym beguiled.

¶ For Saxons, Peightes [Victes.] and Englishemenne, Reigned then [tho.] through all [the Logres] [Loegres.] lande, Deuided in seuen realmes [kyngdomes.] fully then, Westsex, Sussex and Kente, I vnderstande, Estsex and Mers [Mersh.] , Estangle & Northumberlande, That droue Brytons into the West countre [cuntrees.] , To Walis and Cornwaile [to Cornewaile.] fro [towne and citee.] [

townes and citees. Here the Harleian MS. has the following passage in prose. In the Selden MS. it does not occur.

Nota quod legitur in libro Gilde sapientissimi Britonum, et in libro primo Willielmi de Malmesbury de gestis Regum Anglorum, quod Britones propter auariciam et rapinam regum et principum, propter iniquitatem et injusticiam judicum, propter desidiam predicacionis episcoporum et aliorum virorum ecclesiasticorum, et propter luxuriam & malos mores populi, regnum et patriam perdiderunt. Ubi vero Saxones et Angli regnantes in diversis Insule partibus successerunt, nam post decessum Gurmundi Affri∣cani, de quo jam supra diximus, inceperunt Saxones et Angli regnare de claro in Anglia qui prius non regnabant sed dominabantur, quia Hengistus non fuit rex neque regulus sed dux; licet ita scriptum sit quod tanto tempore regnavit, et sic de aliis ducibus usque ad annum sextum. Postquam Gurmundus Ca∣recium Regem Britonum devicit et a regno fugavit: quia post Vortigernum fuerunt plures monarche vi∣delicet octo.

]

The. lxxxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Ethelbert kyng of Saxons.

WHils Ethelberte was reignyng kyng of Kēt, Sainct Austin, sēt by Gregory [of R. [Rome. edit. alt.] bisshop,] [the pope.] Landed in Tenet with clerkes of his assēt [intent.] , [And many] [Of holy.] monkes, to teache the faith I hope, [Fol. lxxxiii.] That clothed were echeone vnder [a] blacke cope; Whiche in procession with crosse and belles came, The latinies [latenye.] syngyng [syngynge deuoutely.] in [Iesus his] [Ihesu.] name.

¶ In the yere of Christ his incarnacion Fiue hundreth foure score and sixtene, Kyng Ethelbert [had in] [and.] his dominacion All Kent throughout, with greate ioy, as was seen, Were [He.] baptized then in holy water clene;

To whome Gregory [the pope.] sent Mellito [Mellite.] and Iusto, With other clerkes and doctours many mo.

¶ Gregory [the pope.] hym made archebishop of Caūterbury, Of all Englande hiest [the hieste.] then primate, And had the paule [palle.] with hyest legacye By Gregorye sent to hym and ordinate. Fro London then, thus was that tyme translate, To Caunterbury, the sea [cee.] metropolitan, And London sette as for his suffrigan.

¶ Saynt Augustyne [Austyn.] then, w^t helpe of Ethelbert, Saynt Augustyns [Austyns.] made, & Christes churche [Crichurche than.] also, That Chriestes churche hight, as it was aduerte, And sacred so by hym and halowed tho, For the chiefe sea [cee.] metropolitan so Of all Englande, by Gregory ordinate, And saynt Augustyne [Austyn.] of all Englande primate.

¶ Then Augustyne [Austyn.] made Peter, a clerke deuoute, Of saynt Augustynes [Austyns.] thabbot religious; And made Mellito [Mellite.] , as Bede clerly hath note, Of London then byshoppe full vertuous, A clarke that was then beneuolus; Who then conuerted [conuerte.] of Essex the kyng Sebert, And all his lande baptized with holy herte.

¶ Kyng Ethelbert sainct Poules edefied, And kyng Sebert Westminster founded, Mellito [Mellite.] theim both halowed and edefied [deified.] . Austyn then made clerke full wel grounded Iusto [Iustus.] that hight, of Rochester [full] well bounded The bishop then, to preache and helpe Austyn, And to baptise the folke by his doctrine.

¶ Saint Austyn set ful nere [nygh.] to Walis his seane, That prelates all, bishops and doctours wise, Of Brytons bloodde, thither might well atteine, To make all rest and loue in humble wise, Through all y^e churche and lande, by good auice;

To whiche sean came tharchbishop [archbishopes.] of Brytain, And bishops fiue, with doctours wise certain:

¶ In [To.] whiche Austyn syttyng as president, Archbishop, and also [eke.] the high primate, Required and prayed, with all his whole entent, As he that was of England high prelate By Gregory [pope Gregorie.] sacred and ordinate, Of fraterne loue and due obedience, To helpe hym furth with all their diligence.

¶ To [For to.] conuerte and to teache the Saxons all, The Englishe also, in Christen feith and trewe, And baptize theim; through Brytain, ouer [than ouer.] all, The pasche to kepe, as Roome did then full dewe: To whiche Brytons aunswered, y^t they not [ne.] knewe That he had suche estate in all Britayn, [Fol. lxxxiiii.] For they had three archebyshops to obeyn;

¶ Of Cairlyon, London and Yorke citee, By byshops of Rome graūted to vs & ordinate, Full long afore ye had suche dignitee, Wherfore we will obeye no newe primate, And specially none Englyshe newe prelate: For Englyshemen and Saxons haue vs noyed, And [haue our lande] [hath oure londes.] and all our kyn [londe.] destroyed.

¶ And Pasche we wyll holde forth as we afore, And holy fathers vnto this daye haue vsed, We wyll not chaunge for youre doctrine ne lore, There shall no newe emong vs been abused, As saynt Iohn did we haue it not refused, That on Christes bozome [breste.] saw his great priuetees, So will we vse, and none other solempnitees.

¶ S. Austyne saied, sith ye nowe thus forsake The seed of God to sowe, by your doctryne, The Christen fayth for to encrease and make; By ryghtfull dome of God ye muste enclyne Vnder theyr handes that fro the fayth declyne,

The cruel death to suffer for hie vengeaunce, Sith ye refuse Christes wyll and ordinaunce.

¶ This tyme eche kyng warred on others lande, Of seuen kynges of Saxones nacion, And of Englyshe with Peightes [Vectes.] I vnderstand, And Britons also [als.] did great aduersacion; But Ethelfryde of Englyshe gouernacion [generation.] , Of Northumberlande kyng, and panyme [paien.] cruell, Fought with Aydan the kyng of Scottes fell.

The. lxxxix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kynge Ethelfryde of Northumberlande had seruyce of Aydan kyng of Scottes, the yere of Christ. vi. hundreth and three, after saynt Bede.

AT Degfastan [Deysaston.] , wher Ethelfryde preuayled, And sette Aydan [Aidon.] in his subiection [subdicion.] , To Bedes dayes y^e Scottes nomore assayled [Homage of the Scottes.] Englande, but aye obeyed his ediccion, And was his man without contradiccion; And held of hym his lande as [as it.] was accorde, By many yeres, thens forth nomore discorde.

¶ This battayl was of Christes incarnacion, Syxe hundreth yere & three, as sayth saynt Bede, And of his reygne, by Bedes computacion, The eleuenth yere it was then, as I rede, That twenty yere and. iiii. reygned there in dede, In all his tyme; to whom the Peightes [Pictes.] obeyed, And Iryshe also [als.] , and nomore hym disobeyed.

¶ In that same yere of Christes incarnacion, The Britons all did sette theyr parliamente At Cairlion, by good informacion, [Cairlegeocestre hight] [Caerlegio that Chestre hight.] , as some men ment, That Westchester is [become of] [be comon̄.] entente; Where they did chose Cadwan vnto there kyng, Theim to defende fro theyr fooes warryng.

The. xc. Chapiter.

¶ Cadwan, kynge of Britayne, that firste was prince of Northwales. This [Fol. lxxxv.] Cadwan was crowned in the yere of Christ syxe hundreth and thre, and, after Bede, by. xiii. yere reigned ouer the Britons, in the West parties of all Wales and Cornwayll.

THis kyng Cadwan at Wynchester crownd, Was made y^e kyng of Britayne & Brytōs, Agayn whom kyng Ethelfrede y^t stound, Warred full sore all the regions [religiouns.] Where Brytons were, so did he all religions [religiouns.] ; Who Westchester sieged with violence, Wher Brochewall [Brochivale.] therle made greate defence.

¶ But there he slewe Brochewall [Brochivale.] in batayll, And gatte the towne of Westchester [in] that tyde, Where. xii.C. monkes, without [withoutyn.] fayle, [A murder of mükes.] fayle, He slewe downe right, a lytle there besyde, That [Which.] came to praye for peace without [withoutyn.] pride, Fro Banger there in hole [holy.] procession, That marters wer there by his oppression:

¶ Whō kyng Cadwan w^t mighty hoste & strōge, Met in felde [the felde.] full ready for to fight, But both theyr frendes treated so theim emong, That good accorde betwene thē was made righte, Duryng theyr lyues well kepte as they hight; With all frendshippe, great loue and vnytee, That both theyr realmes stoode in great dignitee.

¶ But Ethelfrides wyfe with chylde farre gone, Violently exiled and repudiate, And wedded another full wrongfully anone, Wherfore she went to recouer his [hir.] estate To kyng Cadwan, full sycke and desolate; Whom he receyued [recette.] with noble reuerence, And sory was for her [his.] wofull offence.

¶ [But thē his wife] [Than Cadwans wife.] as great was gone w^t childe, For whiche he [kept hir in] [held both in his.] house to abyde

To tyme he might hym haue reconsyled Her to receyue, and set [the other on syde;] [th' other aside.] But in [the] meane tyme they might no lēger abide, [Both queenes delyuered wer] [Tho quenes both deliverde.] of sonnes two, That one Edwyn, that other hight Cadwallo.

¶ The [These.] chylder two together noryshed were, In tender age, to tyme [the tyme.] that they were men, At whiche tyme there [so there.] rose full cruell warre Betwene Redwald, kyng of Estangle then, And Ethelfride, [that fought as folke did kenne;] [kynge of Northumbers yken.] Wher Ethelfryde on [in.] Idell was downe slayne, And Redwald [kynge Redwalde.] the feld ther had with payn.

¶ Kyng Cadwan then out of this worlde so died The [That.] same yere, so [als so.] dyd Austyne also, And Laurens made fully and glorifyed Archebyshop [The archebishope.] of Caunterbury tho, And Ethelbert of Kent to heauen dyd go; Thus chaunged they theyr habitacion, Some to [vnto.] payne, and some to [vnto.] saluacion.

Cadwall [Cadwallo.] then, [the] some of kyng Cadwan, [Cadwall lxi. yeres reigned.] After his father had [he.] reigned. xiii. [thritty.] yere, Was crowned at Westchester as a man, Of Britons all, as [and.] clerely dyd appeare, The yere of Christ. vi. C. and. xvi. cleare; [Fol. lxxxvi.] That reygned well full syxtye yere and one, Aboue all kynges, as souerayne [of echeone.] [ouer echone.]

¶ But kyng Edwyn then of Northumberlande, The sonne and heyre vnto kyng Ethelfryde, Was crowned kyng at Yorke, I vnderstande, For whiche the kyng Cadwall [bere.] hym defyed, And made hym warre with Britons fortifyed; And sente hym worde no crowne for to were [bere.] , And elles he should [wolde.] vnder it his hed of shere.

Which Edwyn then accompted at ryght nought, But kepte estate full royall and condigne,

With crowne of gold at Yorke ful freshly wrought: Elfrydes sonnes [Ethelfride son.] of his wronge wyfe vndigne, Goten and borne, he felly dyd repugne [repygne.] ; [Hym dyd exyle] [Theym he exiled.] in Scotlande dyd [to.] abyde, For his mother [was exyled] [exiled was.] by Ethelfryde.

¶ And [For.] Ethelfryde hym [theym.] gate on his wrong wyfe, And had exyled his owne wyfe truly wed, Edwyns mother, as knowen was full ryfe, Full great w^t chylde with hym, as Bede hath red. Then made he welles in dyuerse countrees spred By the hye wayes, in [with] cuppes of copper clene, For trauelyng folke, faste chayned as it was sene.

¶ And euery daye he rode withouten reste, With trompettes lowde afore him where he rode, That euery wyght myght suerly in hym truste, That he wolde then of his ryghtwyshode [high rightfulhode.] [Do euery man ryght without more abode;] [That same waie cume as than longed to knyghthode.] [All complayntes] [Compleyntes to.] here, & as lawe wolde reforme, So all his lyfe to rule he did confirme.

¶ He sente vnto Ethilbalde [Edbalde.] kynge of Kent, His syster [for] to haue, and [to.] wed her to [to his.] wyfe, Dame Ethelburge that was full fayre and gent; But Ethelbalde [Edbalde.] then sent hym worde by lyfe, It was not good, but lykely to make stryfe, That [a Christē woman] [Cristen women.] to [a] paynim shuld be wed, And elles he sayde his message had be sped.

¶ Edwyne then sent his message so [furth.] agayne, He wolde well she kepte her owne creaunce, And bade hym sende with her a chapelayne And clerkes wyse, [without any] [withoutyn.] varyaunce, To kepe he in her fayth [and] in all suraunce; And yf her fayth be better then is myne, When it is [knowen I wyll therto] [knowe to it I woll.] enclyne.

¶ Kyng Ethelbald [Edbalde.] her [than hir.] sent with Paulyne, That sacred was byshop of Yorke that tyme,

By Iusto [Iustus so.] archbyshop, [that] was full fyne Of Caunterbury, to kepe her true bapteme And her beleue, that none her fethers lyme With heresye, to [foule his] [voide hir.] owne creaunce: Thus wedded he her at Yorke in all suraunce,

¶ The yere of [our Lorde.] [Criste.] vi. hundreth &. xx. tho And fyue therto, as Bede hath clerely writen, And in the yere. vi. hundreth and twenty so, And syxe therto, kyng Edwyn, as is [was.] weten, To Westex went, where batayle sore was smyten Betwene hym and byshop Quychelyne, King Kinigils [Kynegils.] sonne, of Westsex then so fyne.

¶ Where then he slewe this manly Quichelyne, [Fol. lxxxvii.] For cause he had compassyd his death afore, By pryuey wyse, as he coulde [couth.] ymagyne: He put the lande then vnder trybute sore, And Kynygell [Kynegils.] , the kyng of Westsex thore, Became his man, and helde of hym his lande, At his byddyng to ryde with hym and stande.

The. xci. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Cadwall fled, and was dryuen from his realme by kynge Edwyn, and helde it in subieccion, and was baptyzed by saynt Pawlyn, archby∣shop of Yorke.

KYng Cadwallo then of all Brytons [the Britouns.] , The yere of Chryste. vi. C. and eyghtene, By wronge councell, on Edwyns regions Great warres made; but Edwyn then full kene, Faught with hym there full sore, as it was sene, And to the flyght hym droue out of the felde, All Britayne lande he conquered so and helde.

¶ Cadwallo [Cadwalleyn.] fled vnto [into.] lytell Britayne, And dwelled there in heuynesse and [in] payne [The subieccion of the Scottes.] By dyuers yeres, and durste not come agayne; For power none he myght not yet [longe.] obteyne, The Britaynes durste hym not obeyne,

For kyng Edwyn had hole dominacyon Of theim and [and of.] Saxons, & [of the Scottyshe] [Scottys.] naciō.

¶ And in the yere of Chryste. vi. C. xx. and. vi. Edwyns doughter, that named was Eufled, At Yorke was borne; to whome men dyd complex Maydens twelue, to take the chrystenhede, That lordes doughters wer of great worthihede; Whiche saynt Paulyn archbyshop dyd baptyse, In Yorke mynster [in full] [full well in.] holy wyse.

¶ And in the yere of Chryste. vi. C. [xx.] & seuen, The Chrysten lawe, disputed [dispute.] amonge his lordes, Was founde [foundon.] beste to wynne [fynde.] the blysse of heuen, [Wherfore Edwyn, by good and hole concordes, Both of his comons and also of his lordes,] [

His payans lawe so voide was they accorde, Wherfore Edwyn by goode and hole concorde.

] With all his realme, baptime toke as goddes mē, Of saint Paulin that archbishop was then.

¶ In that same yere byshoppe Honorius, To Paulyn sent the palle of dignyte. The kyng Edwin and this ylke Paulins, [Paulius. edit. alt. Paulinus.] Yorke mynster made newe of greate beaute; And comons all full well so baptized he, In Northumberlande, in Swale, Owse & Trent, And other ryuers in countrees where he went.

¶ By thyrty dayes and sixe labored he [thus,] And then he came to Lyncolne with Edwyn, Where he conuerted Blecca [Blacta.] , as Bede sayth, [to] vs, The Mayre and all the cōmons by his doctryne, And Lyndsey hole vnto the fayth deuyne; and made the mynstre of Lincolne at [his] costage, Of Kyng Edwyn, [and also the] [than called the kynges.] colage.

¶ And in the yere. [yere of Criste.] vi. hundreth and thyrty moo, Iusto [Iustus.] dyed, to whome Honoure [dyd] succede, Of Caunterbury archbishop made was tho [so.] , Whome saint Paulin, as wryten hath sent Bede,

Dyd sacre then at Lyncolne so in dede, In the mynster that he and Edwyn founde, [Fol. lxxxviii.] The kynges colage [named that ylke] [that named was that.] stounde.

¶ And in the yere. vi. hundreth thyrty and two, Kynge Edwyne, by holy [the holy.] doctryne Of saynt Felyx, an holy preste [that] was tho, [And preachyng of the holy archbyshop Paulyn, Of Chrystes worde and verteous discyplyne,] [

Whome Redwalde herde publysh the lawe devyne, And the prechyng of tharchebishope Paulyne.

] [Conuerted Edordwolde,] [Conuerte Redwalde.] of Estangle the kyng, And all the [his.] realme where Felyx was dwellyng.

¶ At Dōmok [Dommake.] then was Felyx fyrste byshop Of Estangle [Estenglonde.] , and taught the Chrysten fayth, [That is full hye in heauen I hope;] [

Which sacred is in hevyn full high I hope, Amonge the sayntes that in that place nowe pleieth.

] But then the kyng Edwyn, as Bede [seynt Bede.] sayth, [Had made the people stable in the Chrysten layth,] To Yorke went home, with hym also Paulyn, To rule the [that.] lande after the lawe deuyne.

The. xcii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Cadwall and Penda slewe kyng Edwyn, and reigned ouer Brytons agayne.

BVt in the yere. vi. Hundreth thyrty & thre, Kyng Cadwall [Cadwallo.] of Britaine that had been, With king Penda of Merces [Mersh.] great coūtre, Assembled stronge with hostes fell and kene, And Northumberlande brent, as then was sene; And slewe both wyfe and chylde, olde and yinge, [Prestes] [The prestes.] and clerkes, they spared there no thyng.

The churches all they brente and foule destroied, Whome Edwyn met with power that he might, At Hatfelde towne, in herte full sore anoyed, All redy so in batayle for to fyght,

Within Yorkeshyre, where Edwin was slaine right, And all his realme [was wasted] [wasted was.] and subuerte By kyng Penda, that [a paynym] [payen.] was peruerte.

¶The same yere then, for cause of warre & stryfe, Saint Paulyn went to Kent, there to [for to.] dwell With Ethelburge, that was kyng Edwyns wyfe, That [welcome were,] [well couth duell.] as Bede surely doth tell, At Rochester, [as that tyme] [and than as it.] befell Saint Paulyn was vnto [the sea] [that cee.] translate, And byshop therof [then] denominate.

¶ Kyng Cadwall [Cadwallo.] reygned full hole agayne In Britayne lande, as prynce without [withouten.] pere, Aboue Englyshe, as lorde souerayne, [Subiecciō of Scottes.] Ouer Saxons, Scottes [& Peightes] [Pictes and Vectes.] clere, And [Englyshe also,] [Irish als.] as clere did appere. And Eufryde [Amfride.] then, and Osdryk [Osrike.] , paynimes [payens.] fell, Northumberlande [Sum of Northumberlonde.] then helde, as Bede doth [can.] tell,

¶ Whome Cadwall [Cadwallo.] and Penda felly slewe. From tyme they two had reygned but a yere, Oswolde theyr cosyn, as knowen was full trewe, That in Scotlande noryshed was full clere, To Englande came with mighty greate [stronge.] power, And gate his ryght and all his herytage, [With helpe and socoure of his baronage.] [At whiche tyme he was but yonge of age.]

The. xciii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Oswolde, kynge of Englande, reygned ouer Brytons, Scottes and Peightes, Iryshe, and ouer all Logres and Cambre.

THis kyng Oswolde [in] Englāde gan succede [Fol. lxxxix.] [Oswold.] The yere of Christ, vi. c. was thē clere, Thirty and fiue, replete of all manhed, And afterwarde full clerely did apere, As to suche a prince of nature should affere; That [Whiche.] Yorke minster repaired [repairailed.] then all newe, Of lyme and stone, as Christen prince and trewe.

¶ Who for ayde [Aidane.] then into Scotlande sent, An holy monke he was and religious, And bishop sacred, after Christes entent; In Christes doctrine he was full laborous, Whome for teachyng and preachyng vertuous, [He made hym] [Made was.] bishop of all Northumberlande, Whose sea [cee.] was chief then at [the] holy Isle lande.

¶ In that same yere Oswold to Westsex rode, For Christ his loue at prayer of sainct Biryne, Wher thei the kyng Kynygill, of paynymhode [paienhode.] Baptized, and made a Christen manne full fyne, And sette Westsex vnder tribute syne, For to bee payed to hym and [and to.] his heires, Perpetually by yere [yeres.] at certeine feires.

¶ Sainct Biryne bishop [than bishope.] thei made furth right, Of all Westsex, at Dorchester was his sea [cee.] , Frome Oxenforde, but litill waye to sight. Kyng Oswold wedded Beblam [Bebba.] his wife to bee, Kyng Kynygilles doughter full [that was full.] faire to see, And on hir [he] gatte a soonne hight Cidilwold [Othilwolde.] In Deyre reigned vnder his father Oswold.

¶ And in the yere sixe hundrith thyrty [sexty.] and sixe, Kyng Penda sleugh Ordewold [Oswalde.] of Estanglande [Northumberlonde.] , In bataile strong, and mighty gan to vexe [wexe.] , That wastid sore about hym euery lande; As tyraunt fell, wher he the Christen fonde, He sleugh theim downe, and cruelly ouer ran Sparyng [nother wife] [no wife, widowe.] childe, ne manne.

¶ The kyng Oswold so mighty was in deede, That ouer Scottes, Peightes [Pictes.] , and Brytaines, Irish, Westsex, and English I rede, And ouer Logres and all the Saxons, None so mighty, aboue all regions; As Flores and Bede hath wrytten [wretyn us.] thus, Whose [wrytynges are full] [writynge is full trewe and vertuous.] vertuous.

¶ As he at meate did sitte vpon a daye, At Bamburgh, a [so a.] palmer [came to] [at.] his gate, Asked some good for Christ [his] loue alwaye, To whome he sent his dishe of syluer plate, For cause he had not [nought.] els for his astate, The poore manne to [so to.] refresh and comforte; Sainct Bede of hym thus clerely dooeth reporte.

¶ An holy manne within his hermitage [heritage. edit. alt.] , Desired sore in his meditacion, If any better, [of any maner] [lever of any.] age, Wer in the lande of any nacion; To whome was said [sent.] by reuelacion, That kyng Oswold more holy was of life, Notwithstandyng he had weddid a wife.

The. xciiii. Chapiter.

¶ How an hermite proud sainct Oswold his wife, at his desire, by biddyng of sainct Oswold. [Fol. xc.]

WHerfore he came vnto the kyng Oswold, And prayed hym he might knowe [here.] his life, And of his reuelacion then hym [he.] told: Wherfore he toke to hym is ryng by life, And [bade hym] saye the quene that was his [so than his.] wife To dooe with hym, [on] nightes twoo or three, As she was wonte at home to dooe with me.

¶ This token had [he], he satte with hir at meate, His meate & drynke when he would haue the best, But water and brede he might none other gette; And then at night she leide hym for to rest Right with hir self, so well hir self she trest; And when he [was ought] [oute.] sette to dooe amisse, In water [he] was cast, his fleshe to [keele and lisse.] [slake and lesse.]

¶ But when the daye came, he was full fain, And of the quene full soone toke his leue; Vnto the kyng he went anone again, And prayed hym fast he might passe home at eue, For of his life he would no more [more than.] preue, Whiche more holy was one [on a.] daye and night, Then all his life he [he saied.] euer been might.

¶ But Cadwall [Cadwallo.] , the kyng of Brytons, sent The kyng Penda to warre on kyng Oswold, Whome Oswold mette with greate assemblemēt [suppowelment.] , In battaile storng, at Heuenfeld, as God would, Wher people [Penda.] fled, with people manyfold, To kyng Cadwall, who with Penda anone Assembled an hoost on Oswold for to gon.

¶ Oswold thei [theym.] mette on Marfeld [Masterfelde.] that tyde, Wher he was slain, the yere of Christ was than Sixe hundred whole and fourty and twoo beside; His hedde and armes [arme.] , as Bede, the holy manne, In his chronicle hath write, who [so] rede it can, Vpon a tre was hong [honged.] many a daye, That rotted not, nor [ne.] in this world neuer maye.

¶ Oswy then in all Northumberlande [Oswy kyng of Northūberlande] The croune had and all the royalte, With Cadwallo he hight allwaye to stande; As souereigne lorde of Bryton then [so. edit. alt.] was he, And ouer [of.] all other [had then] [than hade he.] the mageste, But this Oswy made Humwald for to kyll The kyng Oswyn, that feloe was hym tyll.

¶ For cause he rose on hym with multitude, And nought for thy when thei together mette, All his people of full greate fortitude He withdrewe then, and with Humwald [therle Humald.] sette In pryue wise, without [withoutyn.] any lette; But false Humwald priuely hym slewe, On whome he trusted [truste.] and [trowed had bee] [went he hade be.] trewe.

¶ Quene Eufled that was kyng Oswys wife, Kyng Edwyn his doughter full of goodnesse [goodelynes.] , For Oswyns soule a minster in hir life Made at Tynmouth, and for Oswy causeles That hym [made hym.] so bee slain and killed helpeles; For she was kyn to Oswy and Oswyn, As Bede in chronicle dooeth determyn.

¶ This Oswyn nowe is canonized in shryne, Saynt Oswyn called at Tynmouth gloriously, [Fol. xci.] But kyng Oswy to Cadwall did enclyne, And Oswalde [his] hed and arme had leue to burye, Whiche he betoke [tooke.] to quene Bebla [Bebba.] in hye, Who closed theim in siluer fayre and clene, And theim betooke to saynt Aydan I [as men.] wene.

¶ This kyng Cadwall his feast at Londō made, [Kynge Cadwal.] To hym all kynges as souerayne lorde obeyed, Saue kyng Oswy at home that tyme abade, For whiche he trowed that he hym disobeyed; Wherfore he sent to Penda and hym prayed To warre on Oswy without delaye [any delaye.] , And make hym to his souerayne lorde obey.

¶ In which meane tyme this Penda slewe [hade slayne.] Anne Of Estangle [Est Englonde.] , that long had ben kyng [the kynge.] , A Christen prince and a full manly [worthy.] manne, And so [than.] came on kyng Oswy fast rydyng, Wher on [the felde] [mened.] they met sore fyghtynge, Whom Oswy slewe, and. xxx. dukes also That with hym came, and. xxx. M. moo.

The. xcv. Chapiter.

¶ In the yere of oure Lorde God. vi. Hundreth and. lv. Penda slewe the kyng of Estangles; and the yere of our Lord God. vi. hundreth and. lvi. Oswyne slewe Penda, kynge of Marchelande; and the foresayde kynge Oswyne condiscended to holde and kepe his Easter accordyng to the vse of Roome and Caunterburye, the yere of oure Lorde vi. hūdreth and. lxiii. whiche before was celebrated accordyng to the Iudeicall custome.

THose [These.] battayls two after thincarnacion Syxe hundreth yere fyfty [wer,] & [also] fyue, [In the yere after, by] [And oone therto by dewe.] computacion, That [And than.] kyng Oswy made Penda kyng belyue, [Of Marces lande and to conuerte his lyue,

By teachyng of Dwyma made byshop thare, And all his lande, by vertue of his lare.] [

Of Mercia, son of Penda, full ryve, Who wedded hade Efflede doughter of kynge Oswy, Vpon couenaunt Cristen feith not to deny.

]

¶ Kyng Oswy made houses. xii. of religion, Sixe in Deyry, and sixe in Berū [Berne.] to bee, With his doughter Elflede [Efflede.] for deuocion, Whom he auowed in clene virginitee To sacre so and lyue in chastitee, For his triumphe and for his victorie Of [Agayn.] kyng Penda and his panymerye [paianry.] .

¶ The kyng Oswy, of Christes incarnacion The yere. vi. C. lx. and also three, Had all the clerkes of his dominacion, With many other clerkes of farre countree, For to dispute the Pasche when it should bee, The whiche afore was held [holdyn.] diuersly, One vse at Yorke, another at Caunterbury.

¶ But this seynt Oswy [then] helde [it] at Whitby, Where then saynt Hilde in all deuinitee Was hole instructe amonge all the clergie, Where Wilfride with Eglibert [Agilberte.] and she, Concluded [Concludynge.] all the clerkes of the [that.] countree, And fro thens forth thei helde it in certeyne [certaynte.] , As Caunterbury vsed [and did obeyne.] [they obeied playnle.]

¶ This kyng Oswyn [then] died [in] the yere [the yere I gesse.] Sixe hundreth hole, sixti and also ten, [Fol. xcii.] At Whytby [then] wher Hild was [abbas clere,] [than abbesse.] At [That.] Streyneshalgh named was so then, [Emonge the couente of this holy woman,] [That tyme a place of worshipe well knowen.] And [Where.] in Hildes schole. vi. byshops wer enfourmed In holy wryte as she theim had confourmed.

¶ These were the names of the byshoppes right: Bosa [Bossa.] , Oskford [Oskefore.] , Etla [and] also Tatfryde [Catfride.] ,

Iohn of Beuerley the fyfte, that then so hight, The sixte then was the holy man Wilfryde; [All in the lawe of Christ enfourmed that tyde,] [In vertue lerned withoutyn any pride.] [With] this virgyne clene of royall [royall blode.] discent, Of kyng Edwyn and Oswalde bloode full gent.

¶ Whiche virgyne [clene] died so in the yere Of Christ. vi. C. and foure score also [than also.] , About whiche tyme saynt Awdry y^e virgyne clere At Hely [Ely.] died emonge hir floures tho [Of holy virgyns and wydowes also,] [Of vertuouse life, whiche kepte her frome all wo.] Whiche she had gathered & kept in cloyster clene, Whyle she there was thabbasse, as was sene.

¶ Who wyfe was twyse, in Westsex first espoused, The secounde tyme vnto the kyng Egfryde Of Northūberlande, her maydenhed euer [ay.] housed, I dar well saye it was neuer set asyde; There might no man hir herte frō Christe deuide, So hole it was sette vnto [in.] chastitee, Inuiolate she kepte her [her pure.] virginitee.

¶ For good ne gold nor any great rychesse, With her housebandes to been deuirginate, Hetherto [Hir hight.] might neuer eschaunge her sekirnesse, So sad it was, it [she.] was neuer violate [But euer clene, as in her fyrst estate,] [Ne of vertue neuer repudiate.] By her housbādes, for ought they could [couth.] her hight, Bu virgyne died through grace of God Almight.

¶ [Thus Awdry then] [This Etheldrede.] frō Egfride was deuorced, For [By.] cause she would not lese hir maydenhede; [To tyme hir soule wer lowsed and vncursed In Hely abode, where then she made in dede] [

In Ely bode she than maide in dede, To tyme hir soule were lesed and uncorsede.

] An house of nunnes, as writtē hath saynt Bede, To serue the God aboue celestiall, In prayers good and matens nocturnall.

¶ Wylfride from Yorke exiled and expelled, The kyng of Sussex and all his lande Conuerte all hole, and mawmetrye downe felled; Wher so three yere afore, I vnderstande, [Suche vengeaunce reigned in that kynges land,] [For theire presomptuouse life lewed and fonde.] [That] ther grewe no grasse, nor [ne yet.] no maner [of] corne; The [So the.] people died for hunger all for lorne.

¶ And that same daye, when they were conuerte, The grasse and corne, that welked [fallowed.] were afore By three yere passed, waxed grene and gan reuert, Through prayer of Wylfryde y^t prayed therfore, For whiche the kyng made hym bishoppe thore, That fyue yere hole there so occupyed The byshopyes cure, and Christes fayth edefied.

¶ And in the yere. vi. hundreth. lxxx. And fyue, Kyng Egfride rode with hoste into Scotlande, And warred [on Pightes] [vpon Pictes.] & Scottes w^t [mekel] striue, Whō [then] they slewe, as Bede could [can.] vnderstande, [Fol. xcii.] [With many worthy knightes of Northūberland: At Nettansmore in an hye mynstre buryed,] [

In batell stronge with myght of theire londe, And at Nectanesmersh in theire mynstre buried.

] A worthy place in Scotlande edified.

¶ Eche kyng of seuen on other warred sore, [But] kyng Cadwas [Cadwall.] that then was souerayn lorde, Accorded theim as myster was ay [euer.] where; By his good rule he made [euer good accorde,] [alway concorde.] Wher any strife or warre was, and discorde: And all [the realmes] [kingdomes.] in Britayn hole baptized, And bishoppes in theim sette and autorised.

¶ Kyng Ethelride of Mors [Mercia.] , and quene Ostride His wyfe, doughter of Oswy Berdnaye [at Bardenaye.] , Buried Oswalde [Wher Oswalde.] , with myracles glorified, Where many yere [yere after.] full styll [there after] he laye, Vnto the tyme he suster, as bookes saye,

Of kynge Edward thelder [hym translate] [ytranslate.] To Gloucester abbey, to his estate.

¶ Cadwallo, kyng of Britons [Britayne.] , in the yere Of Christe goddes sonne. vi. C. sixty and sixtene [seuentene.] , So died awaye, who reigned had full clere Full sixty yere and one, as well was sene, That souerayne lorde of all Britayn had been, After the decease of [the] good kyng Edwyn, And made all [all the.] seuen kynges to hym enclyne.

¶ He made his ymage of laton full clene [clere.] , In whiche he put his body balsomate [balsamere.] Vpon an horse of laton fayre [to sene,] [infere.] With a sweorde in hande, crowned like [his] estate, Full hye sette [vp] to sight on [vpon.] Ludgate; His battayles all and his greate victorie Aboute hym wrought, was made for memorye.

The. xcvi. Chapiter.

¶ Cadwalader, kyng of Brytayn, and lorde of all. vii. kynges in Britayne.

CAdwaladrus [Cadwalladre.] after hym gan succede, [Cadwalader kyng.] Both young and fayre in florishyng iuuēt, That Cadwalader [Cadwalladrus.] was called, as I rede, Who of Britayn had all the souerayntee Of Englyshe and [als.] Saxons in eche countree: Of Pyghtes [Pictes.] , Iryshe, & Scottes, [his vnder] [under his.] regēce, [Subiecciō of y^e Scottes.] As souerayne lorde and moste of excellence.

¶ Kentwyne, the kyng of Westsexe, then died, The yere of Christ sixe hundreth. lxxx. and sixe, The mekill [Full much.] warre had made and fortifyed Vpon Britons and felly did [hym wexe,] [theym vexe.] [So combrous he was and cruell gan to wexe;] Whose realme the kyng Cadwalader conquered, And Sussex also [eke.] , and slewe y^e kynge w^t [his] swerde.

¶ In whiche yere then Gatta [Gata.] , byshop, died, Whose sea [cee.] was [then] at Hexham vpon Tyne, That byshop was of Yorke notified, For Wilfryde was hold [holdyn.] out with mekyll [much.] pyne, [And exiled from his benefice that tyme,] From Yorke that tyme, by the kynge Alfride Of Northumberland, whose cure Gatta [Gata.] occuied.

¶ After whose decease then Iohn of Beuerlay [Fol. xciiii.] Was made byshop of Yorke, and had [the sea,] [his cee.] [Then the] [And.] Cathedrall at Hexham so alwaye, For Wylfryde was in Sussex farre countre; But then certayne Alfryde of cruelte, Cōmaunded Iohn to vexe and noye Wylfryde, But tender loue they helde on eyther syde.

The. xcvii. Chapiter.

¶ How Cadwalader fel in greate impotencye, that he might not gouerne the lande; wherfore, in defaute of lawe and peace, fell barons warre and ciuyle discorde in all the realmes.

THe kyng Cadwaladre [beyng impotent] [fill in impotence.] So euery daye, & helde no gouernaunce, Nether lawe ne peace w^tin his regiment, Wherfore Britons dred none ordynaunce, But eche one [toke on other] [of other toke.] great vengeaunce; Fro that time forth, eche countre [lorde.] on other warred, And euery [ech.] cytee agaynste other marred [wase meved.] .

¶ Thus in defaute of lawe and peace conserued, Cōmon profyte was wasted an deuoured, Percyall profyte was sped and obserued, And Venus [also was cōmonly] [all comonly wase.] honoured, For lechery and aduoutry [was] moste adoured; Amonge them was cōmon as [the] carte waye, Ryot, robbery [briboury.] , oppressyon, nyght and daye.

Of which came then manslaughter & homicide, And cyuyle stryfe with sore contencyons,

Through Britons land euery [ay.] where on eche side, With batayles greate and fell discencions, As Bede wryteth amonge his mencyons. They dred nother the kyng ne God Almyght, Wherfore he sent vengeaunce on them [full] ryght, [* A greate plage.]

That through the warre y^e tylth was all destroied, Churches all, and husbandrye vnoccupyed, That with hunger the people [folke.] were sore anoyed, That people great in stretes and feldes dyed; And muche folke [people.] , as Bede hath specifyed, The fayth of Chryste for hunger then forsoke, And drowned thē selues, so sore [y^e payne thē] [they the peyne.] toke.

¶ Their catell dyed for faute of fode eche daye, Without [Withoutyn.] meate or any sustenaunce, In townes and feldes, and [the cōmon waye,] [in commons always.] Through which their [the aier.] enfecte was w^t [by.] that chaūce, That multitude of folke, in [and.] greate substaunce, On hepys laye full lyke vnto the mountaynes, That horryble was of sight aboue the playns,

Vnburyed hole withoute sacrament. By pestylence [also many one] [full many.] dyed, Some woode, some raynage [ramage so.] went, And some were in lytargie [a letargy.] implyed, An other some [mo.] with batayle [batels.] mortifyed; With murther also amonge themselues dispent, Full many were that none an [of.] other lament.

Through which defautes not [a]mēded nor correct, The bishoppes fled, the prestees & clerkes anoyed, [To Walys went, there] [Full hevy went to Walys.] to be protecte, In cauys hyd accombred and accloyed, [Full] heuely deseased, and full greatly [pituously.] anoyed, With saynctes bones and relyques many one [Fol. xcv.] Morning full sore and makyng there their mone.

¶ Then fel a yere of pardone and of grace At Rome, where [wherfore.] the kyng Cadwaladrus

All desolate and sory for that case, In pylgrymage thyther purposed thus With herte deuoute and wyll [full.] beneuelous, With his Brytons together consociate, Of worthy bloude so borne and generate,

¶ To haue pardone and playne remissyon Of theyr trespasse, synnes, and neglygence, That they put nought [not.] reddour ne punissyon, By lawe [lawfull.] , payne, and discrete prouidence, [On trespassours that dyd violence,] [No vice punyshte ne noone offence.] Through which their land & they were so mischeued, That w^t law kept might wel haue bene acheued.

To Rome they came, of whom y^e bishop [pope.] was glad, Sergio [Sergius.] that hyght, who them graunt remissyon Of all their synnes, with herte and wyll glad [full glad.] , Saue onely then of their omissyon And neglygence of hole punissyon, That they put nought [not.] vpon the trespassoures Of cōmon people [well.] that were destroyours;

Whiche was not [in] his power to relese Without amendes made and [of.] restitucyon To [common weale,] [cōmons well.] and theyr [to their.] due encrease As they were hurte in faute of due punissyon: He charged them for theyr playne remissyon, The cōmonte to supporte and amende, Of [And.] as greate good as they [were so] [hade theym.] offende.

In y^e [this.] meane whyle whyls they [as they.] at Rome s o were, The Saxons hole and Englyshe consociate, Toke all theyr lande, liuelod, and other gere; To Saxon they sente ambassyate To Angulo to be assocyate, With many mo [of theyr countree men,] [in that countre levynge.] For Britons all at Rome were [bidyng then.] [abidynge.]

¶ And bad them come in haste and tary nought [not.] , For theyr owne helpe and for their waryson [merison.] ,

[The whiche they dyd] [Which they obeyed.] and hither fast they sought; The Brytons lande they toke in possessyon, And kepte it forth with [many a] [manly.] garyson: For Brytons came no more therto [hider.] agayne, For [king] Cadwallader thē dyed at Rome certain.

His Brytons also [als.] dyed homewarde by the waye In dyuerse places [place.] , and some went to Britayne, Other some to Fraunce there to abyde for aye, And some also to Normandy [Naverne.] , and to Spayne, That to theyr owne they came no more agayne; But Saxons hole and Englyshe it occupyed, Euer more after, and strongly edifyed.

¶ Some chroniclers saye he had by visyon, No more to come into Britayne the more, But to the [bishop of Rome] [pope.] with great contricion, Confesse hym and take his penaunce thore, And absolucyon for his [ablucion of his.] synnes sore: And howe y^e bishop of Rome buryed him royally, And on [in.] his tombe set [made.] his epitaphye,

¶ In Laten letters, in marble stone well graue, [Fol. xcvi.] Declared hole his conuersacyon, Forsakyng [all] the worlde heuen to [for to.] haue; And howe y^e [byshop of Rom] [pope.] by his confyrmaciō, Called hym Peter, whome Bede by relacyon Calleth a saynt in blysse, hole disposed, Fro whiche he may in no wyse be deposed.

¶ This Cadwalader of Britons was y^e kyng That reygned full as souereygne lorde. xii. yere, And in the yere. vi. Hundreth and nynte beyng, And dyed so, as sayeth the chronyclere, That of Westsex then had be kyng two yere, Of whome Walshemen holden opinyon Of Englande yet to haue the reuercyon.

¶ When [y^t] his bones be brought fro Rome again, Amonge them all haue suche a prophecye,

And Englande then, [efte synce] [Eftsonsys be.] called Britayne, Thus stande they yet, in suche fonde matesye, In truste of whiche vayne, [veynly.] fantasye, They haue full ofte Englande sore anoyed, And yet they wyll proue yf it maye be destroyed.

The. xcviii. Chapiter.

¶ The lamentacyon of the maker of this booke, and his counsayle to my Lorde of Yorke, for good rule in the realme of Englande.

O Gracyous lorde, O very heyre in ryght Of Great Britayne enclosed with a [oone.] sea, O very heyre of Logres [y^t] now England hyght, Of Wales also [als.] , of Scotland, which all [of all.] thre Britayne so hyght of olde [grete.] antiquyte; O very heyre of Portyngale and Spayne, Whiche Castell is and Lyons [Lyoun.] soth to sayne.

¶ O very heyre of Fraunce and Normandye, Of Guyan, Peytowe, Bayen, Man [Mayne.] , & Angeoy, Membrys of Fraunce, of olde warre [very.] openly; O very heyre of Ierusalem and Surry: All this meane I by you that [which.] should enioye, Ye or [and.] your heyres, my lorde of Yorke certayne, That wrongefully haue bene [holde out to seyne.] [holden oute certayne.]

¶ But, O good lorde, take hede of this mischieue, Howe Cadwaladore not kepyng lawe ne [and.] peace, Sufferyng debates and cōmon warr[ys] acheue, And fully [felly.] reygne, and put hym nought in preace, By lawe nor myght to make it for to cease; For whiche there fell so great diuisyon, That he was put vnto dehervteson. [disherison.]

¶ Not he alone, but all his nacyon, Deuolued [Devowred.] were, and from theyr ryght [myght.] expelled, Full fayne to flee with greate lamentacyon, From Greate Britayne, [in which they had excelled,] [thus they were exiled.] In which their aūcetour afore lōg time had dwelled [By the doome of God whos lawes they had defiled.] ;

And knew their foes [foone.] mortal shuld it occupy For euermore without [withoutyn.] remedye.

¶ Which is the payne most fell [aboue all] [of any.] payne, A man [to haue] [hath.] bene in hye felycite, And [to fall] [fallon.] downe by infortune agayne In myserye and fell aduersyte; Howe maye [many.] a man haue [a thyng more contraye] [more contraryosite.] [Mat. xii.] [Then to haue been] [That hath be.] well, and after woo begone, [Fol. xcvii.] Incomperable to it bee [been.] paynes echone [euerychone.] .

¶ Wherfore, good lord, the peace euermore mainteine, And ryottes all chastyce by prouisyon, And lawe vpholde ryghtfully and sustene, And ouer all thyng se there bee no deuisyon, [But reste and peace without discencyon;] [Among the lordes but se that they beene oon.] For where a realme or [a] cytee is deuyded, It maye not stand, as late was verified.

¶ In Fraunce as fell full greate diuision, Through whiche y^e first [fifte.] Henry kyng of Englāde Ouer rode their lande by greate prouision, And conquered theim thei might not hym wstāde; All their citees were yeld into [vnto.] his hande, For cause of their cruell descencion, Emong them [theym selfe.] sustened by contencion.

¶ Roome, Carthage, and many other citees, And many realmes, as clerkes haue specified, Haue been subuert [subuerted.] , and also [eke.] many countrees By diuision emong theim fortified, Wher vnite and loue [had been] [well.] edified, Might theim haue saued in all prosperite, Frome all hurt [maner hurte.] and all aduersite.

¶ Wherfore, good lord, thynke on this lessō nowe [newe.] , And teache it to my lorde of Marche, your heire, While he is young, it maye bee for his prowe To thynke on it, whē that the wether waxeth [wexe.] faire,

And his people vnto hym dooeth repaire, And litill hath theim to releue and pease [please.] , Then maye it hap with it his people ease [to case.] .

¶ For what sauour a newe shell is taken with, When it is olde it tasteth of the same, [Or what kynd of] [And what maner.] ympe in gardein or in frith Ymped is, in stocke fro whence it came It sauourith euer [ay.] , and it [is.] nothyng to blame; For of his rote frome whiche he dooth out spryng, He must euer tast and sauour in eatyng.

¶ While he is young, in wisedome hym endowe, Whiche is full hard to gette without labour, Whiche labour maye not bee [bide.] with ease nowe, For of labour came [come.] kyng and emperour; Let hym not [bee] idill [that] shall bee your successor: For honour and ease together maye not been, Wherfore writh [graffe.] nowe [the wand while it] [whiles the ympe.] is grene.

¶ Endowe hym nowe with [in.] noble sapience, By whiche [The whiche.] he maye the wolf werre [bete.] frome the gate, For wisedome is more worth in all defence, Then any gold or riches congregate; For who [wanteth witte] [want it.] is alwaye desolate Of all good rule and manly [witty.] gouernaunce, And euer enfect by his contrariaunce.

¶ Endowe hym [also in] [als in all.] humilitee, And wrath [werre.] deferre by humble pacience, Through whiche he shall increace in dignitee, And catch alway full greate intelligence Of all good rule and noble regymence; And to conclude, wrath will euer [allway.] sette a side All maner [of] thyng whiche wisedome would prouide.

¶ Behold Bochas what prīces [haue] through pride, [Be cast] [Been caston.] downe frome all their dignitee, [Fol. xcviii.] Wher [Where if. edit. alt.] sapience and meekenes had bee guyde Full suerly [sekerly.] might haue saued bee,

And [haue] stand alwaye in [might & greate] [mighty.] suertee; If in their hartes meekenes had bee ground, And wisedome also [als.] thei had not be confound.

¶ Nowe foloweth of the Englyshe kynges and Saxon

The. xcix. Chapiter.

[THis Cadwalader,] [Cadwalladre the kynge.] nowe laide in sepulture, That some tyme [was y^e] [founde was.] kyng of great Brytain, And of Westsex also therw^t full sure, To whome succedid [Iuore his soonne] [Ine sonne of Kenrede.] certain, Reignyng ouer [all ouer.] Brytons that did remain In Wales then, without any socour, But onely he became their gouernour:

[¶ With whome Iue his cousin was at nede, That warred sore the Englishe and Saxonye Many winters, and nought preuayled in deede, Sauyng thei reigned vpon the vasselry That wer out castes of all Brytany; But Ingils and Iue his brother dere In Westsex reigned, which Cōrede his sonnes were:

¶ Whom Englishe then and all the Saxonye Theim chose and made to bee their protectours, Again Iuor and his cousin Iuy, That were that tyme the Brytons gouernours, To Wales fled for helpe and greate socours; But Ingils and Iue, of Englishe bloodde discent, Then kept Englande full well by one assent

¶ A yere all whole, and then this Ingils dyed: And Iue was kyng of Westsex fully cround, That reigned then full greately magnified Eyght and thyrty wynter full well and sounde, With his brother, and what alloen that stoūde; In whose tyme Theodore then dyed, Of Cauntorbury archebishop signified [sacrifyed. MS. Seld.] .

¶ Whiche Ingile & Iue did call this lande Englande, After Inglis, as thei had harde afore: After Engest it called was Engestes lande, By corrupt speach Englande it hight therfore, And afterwarde so that name it hath euer bore: As Gurmound also afore it had so named, Whiche sith y^t tyme hath been ful hougely famed.]

¶ Kyng [Iue and Ingils in Westsex] [Ine in Westsexe to reigne.] first began, The yere sixe hundred foure score & therto nyne, So did Iuo [Iuor.] and Iue [Iuy.] in Wales then Ouer the Walshe that were of Brytons line, [In muche trouble and woo as fill that tyme;] Kyng Alfride in all Northumberlande, Wittred [Withtride.] and Welbard [Webbard.] in Kent I vnderstande.

¶ In Englande yet were kynges seuen [alway seuen.] Vnder kyng Iue [Ine.] , that twenty battailes smote Vpon Iuor and Iue [Iuy.] , accompted euen [Here the Harl. MS. adds, And other kynges that he subdued I wote.] ; But in the yere, as Bede hath saied and wryte [wrote.] , That euery manne his debte to kynd paye mote: Kyng Iue [Ine.] dyed at Roome, then was the yere Seuen hundred and seuen and twenty clere.

¶ And at his death he gaue to Roome eche yere The Roome [Petre.] pence, through Westsex all about, [Fol. xcix.] [Roome pence.] Perpetually to bee well payed and clere [After this line the Harleian MS. adds, Which yit in Englonde of antiquyte be paied.] ; For vnto Roome he went without [withoutyn.] doubt, [And with theim lordes and gentils a greate route] In pilgrymage, for eld [age.] and impotence, When he [that.] might not [the lande well] [well the londe.] defence.

The. C. Chapiter.

¶ Etheldred, kyng of Westsex, protector of Englande, that reigned thyrty yere.

[ETheldred in Westsex to hym] [Ethelarde to hym in Westsexe.] gan succede, And [That.] kyng was then and held the royalte, [Etheldred.]

Protector was of Englāde their [then.] in deede, And helde his tyme euer [aye.] furth the souereingtee In heritage [and perpetualitee;] [after his auncestry.] That thyrten yere reigned in good astate, [Whiche cherished peace and chastised all debate.] [And kept the reame in pease withoute debate.]

¶ Wher any wrath was growyng in his lande, Emong prelates or lordes temporall, In citees or in cuntrees wher he fande, Accordid theim in euery [euerich.] place ouer all, [And in] [In all.] his tyme the kynges inspeciall, Vnder his rule and sure proteccion, He kept in peace by lawfull direccion.

¶ Who dyed so of Christ his incarnacion, The yere sixe hundreth & fourty accompted [counted.] tho, Entombed at Bathe, with sore [grete.] lamentacion Of all Englande, as well of frende as [or.] foo; Which Bathe citee some tyme was called soo Achamany in Brytain [olde Britons.] language, By Achaman [that] had it in [by.] heritage.

¶ In his tyme was Oswyk [Osrike.] in Northumberlād, And dyed then, to whome Codwolphe did succed, Edbertpren [Edbarte than.] in Kent I vnderstand, And Ethelbald in Mers was thē I rede; In Essex also, was then reignyng Selrede, And Ethelrede in Estangle [Estenglonde.] that daye, All these wer kynges and vnder hym alwaye.

¶ [So fro that tyme furth] [That tyme fro forth.] , & fro the Scottish sea, To Sulwath floud and to the water of Tyne, The Peightes [Pictes.] had and kept without [withoutyn.] lee, [Wher kyng Edwin their kyng was by right line, Rulyng that lande in peace and lawe full fine,] [

With grete defence of suerde and armoure fyne, Wher kynge Eden their kynge was be right lyne.

] That chaunged then mayden castell name To Edenbrough, a towne of greate fame [name.] .

The. C.j. Chapiter.

¶ Cuthred, kyng of Westsex, protectour of England, and reigned sixtene yere.

CVthred was kyng crouned of al Westsex, [Kyng Cuthred.] And protectour of all Englāde that daye, His [The.] kynges vnder hym, y^t then wer full [fully.] sixe, Did hym homage anone withoute[n] delaye, Saue Ethelbald of Mers that saied hym naye, For whiche he warred on hym then full sore, That bothe their landes troubled were therfore.

¶ Full oft thei mette & faught with great power, Some that one, some tyme that other had Victorie in felde [the felde.] , with strokes bought full dere; But when that kyng Ethelbald was moste glad This kyng Cuthred, that was nothyng a drad, At Berford [Bedforde.] with hym mette in strong battaill, And slewe hym then, as Bede maketh rehersall. [Fol. C.]

¶ Which Ethelbald in Mers one & fourtye yere Had reigned hole, and diuerse abbeys founded, In Mers lande, at Crouland one full clere Of monkes blacke within the fennes groūded, To whiche Turketyll his chaunceler founded Gaue sixe maniers [maners.] to theyr foundacion, And abbot there was made by installacion.

¶ This battayl was of Christes natiuitee Seuen hundreth and fyue and fyftye yere, Wher Ethelbalde of Mers the kyng did dye, To whom Borrede [Bernrede.] there was the kyng full clere; [But this] [And than.] Cuthrede of Westsex layed on bere, Was in the yere of Christes birth [to weten] [wretyn.] Seuen hundreth hole, and syxe and [fyfty written.] [fifteene wetyn.]

¶ To whome Segbert in all regalitee, [Segbert kyng.] His cousyn next of bloode, by all recorde, Was kyng crowned and had the dignitee,

But full he was of malice and discorde, That with his [the.] kynges could [couth.] no tyme wel accorde, Wherfore they would no lenger of hym holde, But droaue hym out of [from.] all his lande [full bolde] [thikfolde.] .

¶ For lawe ne peace he did not well conserue, But chaunged lawe euer [ay.] after his deuise From good to euell eche [echone.] other to ouerterue, To spoyle and robbe, his commons to supprise, Thus in the lande he made full great partyes; Wherfore the kynges and lordes did hym expell, That but one yere he dyd in it excell.

¶ And afterwarde exiled, as he hym hyd Within a wood, a swynherd made his ende, Then with his staffe he slewe hym so betyd, For all his hye estate thus was he spend. A prouerbe is of olde was [which. edit. alt. as. MS.] wysemen kend, That wronge lawes [make euer] [maketh.] shorte lordes, Whiche wysemen [yet] remembre, and recordes.

The. C.ii. Chapiter.

¶ Kynulphe, kyng of Westsex, protectoure of Englande, the whiche reigned. xxvi. yere.

KYnulphe succede[d] & had the gouernaunce [Kynulph kyng.] Of Westsex then, with all to it appente, Protectour was by all thordinaunce Of kynges all, and [whereto.] the lordes assent, As his elders afore had regimente, The yere of Christ. vii. hundreth fyfty and seuen, As Bede hath written and accompted [full] euen.

¶ Of all the kynges and lordes of Englande, He tooke feautee and royall hole homage, As soueran lorde honoured in all the lande, And mightly mayntened his heritage, His kynges all, and all his baronage; The peace and lawe he kepte by diligence, Was none that would displease his excellence.

¶ He reigned hole in all kyndes [maner.] suffisaunce, Sixe and twentye yere fully accoumpted, In greate Honoure and myghty great [high.] puysaunce, Was none hym like, nor none hym surmounted; But death alone [to his corps] [that his corse.] amounted, [Fol. C.i.] Dryuyng his soule out fro the worldly nest, To heauens blisse eternally [there] to rest.

¶ At Wynchester he was full fayre buryed, The yere. vii. hundreth foure score and [also] thre, Emong the people highly magnifyed, As to suche [a prince] [prynces ther.] longeth [of] royaltee, [Right well beloued of his lordes and cōmontee:] [With service devoute the soul to remyde.] In whose tyme Offa, of Mers [Merses.] kyng, Vnto the [B. of Roome] [pope.] sent his letters prayeng,

¶ To [Forto.] depriue Lambert [Lambarde.] of Cauntorbury, Of primacy, and also of the palle, Whiche [the byshop Adrian anone] [all the pope Adrian.] hastely Graunted hym then, by bulles written papall, [Lambert depriuyng of his sea primall;] [Wherby Lambarde depriued was ouer alle.] [By whiche] [And.] Aldulphe, byshop then of Lychfelde, Hye primate was, and [and all.] thestate there helde,

¶ The pall he had and all the dignitee: Lambert [Lambarde.] depryued without any delay, Of primacie and of all souerayntee, Of all the churche of Englande hole that day, From Humber South, to Aldulphe did obeye, And Lychfeld then [for] metropolitan sea [cee.] , Was set aboue and had the dignitee.

¶ But Egfryde then, the sonne of Offa, kyng Of Mers, the pall and all [als.] the primacie Did well restore, to Christes hye pleasyng, To Award [Athelarde.] then byshop of Caunterburye, Wher it abode euer [ay.] after worthyly Vnto this daye, with all the dignitee, As of olde right it should haue souerayntee.

¶ This tyme Kynot of Pyghtes [Pietes.] was the kyng Fro Forth to Carleile, and from the Scottishe sea To Tyne, that tyme his lordshyp was & dwellyng; The whichethe helde by homage and feautee, Of the kyng then of Northumberlande in fee, And was his man also in warre and [and als.] peace, As his elders had doen without leace [leese.] .

¶ In whose [tho.] dayes tharchbyshop Egbert Of Yorke, brother was, as I can vnderstande, To the kyng of Northumberlande Edbert, The primacye and pall brought to Yorkes [Yorke.] lande, [By the B. of Rome] [And by the pope.] graunted without gaynstand, Whiche from the death of the good kyng Edwyn, Had ceased [long from the] [and from.] tyme of saynt Paulyn.

¶ About this tyme, as well is [it is.] expressed, Vnguste the kyng of Pyghtes [Pietes.] rode in Englande On [In.] warre, wher then he was full sore distressed By the manly kyng of Northumberlande; Where he auoiwed [auowed.] , yf he came to his lande, A churche to make of full great dignitee, In worship of saynt Andrewe should it bee.

¶ And at his home commyng one Regalo [Regulo.] , Fro Constantyne, by reuelacion, Brought certayn bones of saynt Andrewe tho, To kyng Vngust, where, by his relacion, [Ignoraūce in those dayes.] He founded then a mynster of his fundacion, Of saynt Andrewe, wher his bones shryned been, As there in dede I was, and haue it seen. [ C.ii.]

The. C.iii. Chapiter.

¶ Brightryke, kyng of Westsex, protectour of Englande, reigned. xvi. yere, that began to reigne in the yere of our Lorde vii. hundreth. iiii. score and three, and died in the yere. vii. C. foure score and nynetene.

BRightrike, cousyn y^t was nexte [than nexte.] of bloode To kyng Kenulphe, by hole intelligence,

Of Westsex was kyng full wise & good, And protectour of Englande in regence, [Whiche gouerned right well with great sapience,] [Whiche ay loued pease and thoughte it be-te defence.] The yere of Christ. vii. hundreth. iiii. score & three, When that he tooke on hym the dignitee.

¶ He [wedded Edburge] [wedde Ethelburge.] , kyng Offa [his] doughter fayre Of Mers [Merse.] , for loue & peace & good accorde Betwene theyr landes, with all theyr hole repayre: The kyng Albert also of [for.] good accorde [concorde.] , [Only of purpose to make concorde, Of Eastlande came to Offa for peace] Betwene theyr lande the warres for to ceasse,

¶ And his doughter to wed vnto [hir to.] his wyfe, For more suertee of loue and good accorde: Whom quene Eburge [Ethelburge.] , of Mers [Merse.] , because of strife, Afore had be [beene.] betwene hym and hir lorde, [And for she would not vnto the mariage accorde,] Made hym [to] bee slayn in [full priue] [prive hatefull.] wise, Within his bed afore that he myght ryse.

¶ For whiche Offa greatly [full strongely.] was agreued, And buried hym at Harforde his citee; And Offa then and Humbert, as is breued, Bishop of Lychefelde wher then was [was so.] his see [cee.] , [Whiche kyng and byshop with great royaltee, Translate that tyme saynt Albone in shryne] [

Fro Caunterbury chaunged wase the dignyte, Who transelate than̄ seynt Albon in a shryne.

] Of siluer gylt, with stones fayre and fyne.

¶ Whiche Offa died the yere of Christ full [was.] clere. Seuen hundreth. iiii. score and thereto seuentene, When he had reigned so. ix. and thyrty yere, At [Offa aye] [Offelay.] buried that tyme, as [well is] [wase.] sene, [With all honoure as to suche a kyng beseme,

To whom Egfride his sonne then gan succede,] [And in his life he crowned Egfride I weene, His son so than that after gan succede.] And after hym Kynuphe [Kynulphe.] reigned in dede.

¶ Whiche Offa [gaue] through Mers the Rome peny, Vnto the churche of Rome full longe afore Tharchebyshoprych from Cauntorburye Vnto Lychefeld translate[d] for euermore, [By his will euer to abyde thore:] [Ther to abide the pope had writte therfore.] [So stode it then] [And so it stode.] for certeyn all his lyue, As Flores sayth and doeth it so subscriue.

¶ This [Azdulphe,] [tyme Alfwolde.] kyng of Northumberlande, Slew Wade his duke [that] again hym was rebel, Besyde Mulgreue, where as men vnderstande, His graue is yet, men saye, vpon the fell, [For his falshed and treason, as bookes tell,] [In that cuntreye people yit doone so ten.] Betwene Gysburgh and Whitby, sothe to saye, Where for treason [he] was layd in the hie waye.

¶ In his fourth yere w^t duke Kylrike [Kelrike.] he fought, And droaue hym to his shippes then agayn In Humbar, so [that] he had [not to] [nought for.] his fraught, [Fol. C.iii.] But fewe persones [were lefte alyue] [that were on lyve.] vnslayne; And in his yere eleuen, with mykell [full great.] payne, With Danes he fought againe Yorkeshyre right, Where [many thousādes] [thousandes fe••le.] he slewe y^t were ful wight.

¶ And on a daye as he from huntyng came All hote chased [chansed.] , his men [servauntes.] bottelles founde In his chaumber, in which was wyne of name [Menne] called y^t tyme Vernage of straunge land, [Whiche wine was poysoned, as I vnderstande,] Of whiche he dranke and poysoned was anon [that stounde.] Vnto the death, and might no ferther gone [The Harleian MS. adds, For whome his men̄ made sórowe and grete moone.] .

¶ He dyed the yere. vii. C. lxxx. and nyntene, At Tewkisbury [Tokbury.] buryed [entered.] in sepulture,

Of whose death Edburge [Ethelburge.] that was quene, Was blamed then for that mysauenture; For she dyd make that drynke, men sayde ful sure, Certayne persones by venym to haue slayne, That loued her nought and was [were.] her euer agayn.

But what for feare and what for speche she fled, With great rychesse of [fer.] passyng great measure, In Fraunce vnto [to.] the kyng full fast she [she her.] sped; But of [for.] her rule thence forth I set no cure, It was so lewde to reporte in scrypture, I wyll not breake my brayne it to reporte, For wemens wele the which I wolde comforte.

The. C.iiii. Chapiter.

¶ Egbert, kyng of Westsex, protectour of England, that reigned. xxxv. yere, & dyed in the yere of Chryste. viii. hundreth thyrtye and thre, as after shall appere.

EGberte, cosyn to the sayde [kynge.] Segberte, [Kyng Egberte.] Kyng of Westsex was royally accepte, With all honour y^t [the lordes could] [lordes couth moste.] aduert, [And eche man] [Eche man wase.] glad, no creature excepte, So graciously fortune then had hym kepte, That all people ioyed his coronacyon, For cause he was of Britons [roiall.] generacyon:

¶ For downe he was from Asserake discent, Kyng Ebrank sonne of consanguinytee, Syth Cadwalader dyed and was dispent Was none ryght heyre of Brytons bloud but he, [As chronycles tell, lyke as a man maye se;] For systers sonne he was to kyng Sygbert, Of Westsex hole, as Flores [coulde aduerte.] [couth auerte.]

¶ Also men sayde he came of Ingils [Saxons.] bloude, And very heyre he was [to hym and] [unto kynge.] Iue, For whiche Englysh & Saxons with him stode, And helde with hym [as for theyr bloude natyfe.] [in pease and eke in striue.]

Protectour was he made there so belyue, Of [So.] all Englande and Wales hole [he.] conquered, And Cornewayle [also, as] [als.] it is chronicled.

¶ Then toke he of all kynges leege [high.] homage, Excepte Bernulphe y^t kyng of Mers [Merse.] was tho Woulde do hym none then for his herytage, Wherfore he brent his lande [& did him] [with.] mikyl wo; [And so they gathred great hoost on both sides tho, Where Bernulphe then at Glenden hym met, In Mers lande trowyng hym to ouerset.] [

Wher Bernulph at Elyngdon hym mett soo, In Merse londes trowynge hym to ouersett, Notwithstandynge he and his men were bett.

]

¶ But [So.] kyng Egberte had then the victory, [Fol. C.iiii.] [And slewe Bernulphe] [Wher Bernulph fled.] for all his boste and pryde: To Ludican [Ludecyne.] he gaue that laude in hye, To holde of hym as other [dyd on euery] [on ech.] syde, Through [all] Englande, y^t was both longe & wide: Then droue he kyng Balrede [Baldrede.] out from all Kent, And all his realme destroyed sore [it.] and brent.

¶ But Ludican [Ludecyne.] was false, by foule treason, Whome kyng Egbert then slewe in batayle sore For his falshode and his rebellyon, And to Wylaffe [Witlafe.] he gaue that lande ryght thore, Was Bernulphs sonne, to haue for euermore, To holde of hym of ryght and herytage, By seruyce dewe of [feaute and] [sute and of.] homage.

¶ Then in his tyme the Danes sore destroyed The ysles of Shepey and Tenet also, And to the sea they went [agayne] vnanoyed, And after sone in Northumberlande tho, They dyd aryue and wrought full mekell [grete.] woo, With whome Egbert there faught w^t smal meny, [That oute of the felde they made hym to flye.] [But they hym drofe oute of the felde forthy.]

¶ Kyng Egbert [drewe South then] [then drew South.] into the lande, And helde the felde to tyme his sonnes two,

Athylwolfe and Ethylbert, I vnderstande, With hoste full greate came ridyng to hym tho, Where then he bare the crosse of golde ay so In his lefte hande, and in his ryght a swerd, With which he made his [fooes therwith] [foone ther.] al aferd.

¶ For there he had the felde and victorye, And slewe Dardan, a knyght full chyualrus, The kynges sonne of Denmarke sekerly, And all his hoste that was full malicyous, By vertue of the crosse patyfe [patife and.] precyous; For whiche alwaye [after] in hys banner, Of azuer whole the crosse of golde he bear.

¶ Whiche armes so full [after this] [long afore that.] daye, Kyng Kinigyll [Kynrike.] of Westsex had them bore Fro his bapteme thenne afterwarde alwaye, And all the kynges [after] so dyd euermore Of Westsex, so, in mynde of Christes lore, His crosse, his death, and his holy passyon, Whiche Iewes him wrought without compassiō.

When kyng Egbert had fyue and thyrty yere Reygned in lande, and felt full great syckenesse, Of whiche he dyed of Chrystes birth full clere, The yere so then. viii. C. was expresse, Foure and thyrty, nother more ne lesse, At Wynchester then royally buryed, As Flores sayeth and well hath notifyed.

The. C.v. Chapiter.

¶ Athelwolfe, kynge of Westsex, reygned. xix. yere, & dyed the yere. viii. hundreth. liii [lviii. edit. alt.] . after Chrystes byrth.

AThelwolfe was king crowned at his citee [Tythes firste graūted to the clergy in En∣glande.] Of Westchester, in [all] royall estate, To whome the kinges & lordes made feaute, And homage leege as was preordynate, That reygned after. xix. yere fortunate,

[And graunted] [Which graunte.] the churche tythes of corne & haye, [Fol. C.v.] Of bestiall also [als.] through [through all.] Westsex for ay.

¶ In the [The. edit. alt.] yere eyght hundred thirty and eyght, The Danes arriued [arrofe.] with shippis fourscore & thre, Where Athelstane his sonne did with theim feight, And duke Wolfward, by greate fortunitee, Theim toke and slewe with all [grete.] felicitee; But Athelstane in that battaile was slaine Of his warres, that was the capitain [chief capetayne.] .

¶ And in the yere eight hundred thirty and nyne, The kyng faught sore with Danes at Mersyngtō, Wher erle Harbart was slain, a prince full fyne, But Danes all were take and slain their [there.] [a] doune, Without mercie cracked vpon the croune: The kyng came home with honour and victorye, As Flores saieth right in his memorye.

¶ And in the yere eyght hundred fourty and one, The Danes watched thest sea cost throughout With diuers hostes, for which y^e kyng made [great] mone, Al helples thē; the Danes that [than.] wer so stout, In many places with many diuerse [a divers.] rout, All harmlesse went, without [withoutyn.] hurt or pain, By diuers tyme that yere home [and home.] again.

In the yere eyght hundred foure and fourty, At Carham then the kyng full sore did fight With Danes fell, and had the victorye; And at Aluewik [Alnewik.] he faught again furth [full.] right With Danes also, wher kyng Redwolf [Alfwolde.] that hight Of Northumberlande, and erle Alffride was slain, And full greate parte [party.] of their hoost certain.

¶ Kyng Athilwolf came to the South contree, Wher Danes then in battaill with hym fought In Somersetshire, where he made many dye, And gate the feld and sleugh all that he caught,

[Wher great people y^t daie the death hath raught;] [And made theym flee vnto the see full straught.] Tharchbishop with his full wise clergie, Bysyde Sandwiche of Danes had victorye.

¶ And in the yere eyght hundred fifty and one, The Danishe hoste in Thamis did arriue, Kent and Southray, Sussex and Hāshire anone Distroyed sore, and through the South gā dryue, Wher muche folke thei sleugh bothe māne & wife; Whiche host [efte.] y^e kyng with battaile slewe doune sore, That home again retourned thei no more.

¶ And in the yere eight hundred fifty and three, The kyng Edmond of Estangle [Estenglonde.] began To reigne after Albert [Egilberte.] , of greate beautee, That holy was, as his legend tell can. But Athilwolf [Athelwolfe.] the kyng, buryed [and Burthrede.] then The kyng of Mers [Merse.] , that had his doughter wed, All Wales wan, theim [they.] thought thei had well sped.

¶ This Athilwolf to [vnto.] Roome toke his [the.] waye, In pilgremage with hym his soonne Alured, [Cardinall was] [With the bishop then.] of Wynchester that daye, [Wher then he had the bishoprike in deede;] [Norished had beene, and deacon made in dede.] A perfecte clerke he was, as saieth sainct Bede, A philosphier wise and well approued, And [by the bishop of Rome] [with the pope.] cōmēdid well & loued.

¶ And there thei were abydyng full twoo [oone.] yere, And home thei came vnto the kyng of Fraunce, [Fol. C.vi.] And his doughter Iudith ther weddid clere, [By assent of hym and all his hole puysaunce. And so with worship and noble gouernaunce,] [

Doughter to Chareles the balde for alliaunce, By assent of hym and all his hooll puyssaunce.

] Fro thens he came sone into England, With hir and with his soonne, [as] I vnderstand.

¶ And in the yere eyght hundred fifty and three, The death his soule [gan frome his body] [fro the body gan.] dryue,

Vnto the blisse eternall, there to bee In heuen aboue, wher is euerlastyng life. To Peter and Pole he graunted infenitife, The Roome pence then of all Englande, As Flores saieth, as I [can vnderstande [have vnderstande] .

¶ He was thē buryed at Winchester, in royallwise, As to suche a prince of reason should affere; And with his wife as did full well suffice, Foure sonnes he had, worthy without pere, Sir Athilwold [Athilbalde.] , Ethelbert, Elfride the dere, And Alrude [Alurede.] the youngest of echone; Afore theim all [one bast had,] [the booste hath.] Athelston.

¶ Athelbold was kyng after hym and heire And protector, with all [the] prerogatife, His stepdame wed, menne saied it was not faire, The churche hym gan punishe [to punysh.] and chastiue For cause he wed hir so vnto his wife, Again the lawe and Christen concience, Vnaccordant with his magnificence,

¶ That reigned [whole twoo yere and no more] [than two yere hoole and no more.] In greate sikenesse and pain inmorderate, Greately vexed [vesitt.] and punished was right [full.] sore, Menne saied he was for sinne inordinate With his stepdame that was so consociate; But then he had, as God would [woll.] , repentaunce, For his trespas and [and his.] misgouernaunce.

¶ Afore he dyed he did full sore repent, And for his synne stode to [in.] correccion Of holy churche, for his amendement, Submitted whole without obieccion; And for to liue in clene perfeccion, Departed were by lawe and deuorced, Afore his soule was passed and vncorced.

¶ The. C.vi. Chapiter.

¶ Ethelbert, kyng of Westsex, protectour of Englande, that reigned fiue yere.

SIr Ethelbert his brother gan succede, In whose dayes y^e Danes destroied sore The East parties of Englād thē in deed, And home again thei went harmeles therfore, [Destroyed y^e people & the lāde right sore;] [And grete riches fro theste parties they bore.] But sone there after kyng Ethelbert them mette, And sleugh them doune in battaill [sore and] [and sore theym.] bet.

¶ An other hoost [then newe spoyled all] [all newe than spoyled.] Kent, And by treaty wyntred within the Isle Of Tenet, then by Kentishe mennes assent, But at last [the last.] thei, with a subtel wyle, Despoyled all Kent, and falsely did beguyle, And to their shipis went [so went.] without delaye, Into Denmarke with muche [mekell.] riche araye.

¶ This Ethelbert reigned hole [fully.] fiue yere, [Fol. C.vii.] And dyed the yere of verey Christ his date, Eyght hundreth hole and therto sixty clere, As Flores saieth, and hath it approbate; But with sickenes he was so alterate, He dyed then, [and] at Shirborne buried, With greate worshyp and honour laudified.

The. C.vii. chapiter.

¶ Elfride, kyng of Westsex, protector of Englande, reigned sixe yere, & died in the yere of Christ eyght hundred. lxvi.

ELfride [Ethelrede.] was kyng after his brother then, [Elfride kyng.] That reigned so with all the dignitee In Westsex hole, and mightely began, Protector was as was necessitee; For Danes then of great iniquite

His land foule brent, wasted and destroyed, That al England was combred and anoyed.

¶ In the East cost of Englande, specially In Eastangle [Estenglonde.] , where Edmond then was kyng, There [The Danys.] did great hurt ful cruelly; [In Northumberland ful felly warryng, The people destroiyng and the land brennyng,] [

And with an other hooste they were murderynge, In Northumberlonde full cruelly werrynge.

] Wher Danes then sleugh the kyng of that lande, Byside Yorke, so as Flores [dooeth] vnderstand.

¶ Also thei sleugh in Northfolke all about The people doune, and in Suffolke also, The kyng Edmond thei sleugh without doubt, Of Estangland with arowes sharpe tho [than so.] Was shot to death, with [muche other] [other mekeyll.] woo; That [Whiche.] is a sainct honored this daye in blisse, At Edmondes Bury canonyzed I wisse.

¶ Hungar and Vbba sleugh him ful cruelly, And brent abbeis throut [throughout. edit. alt.] [all] England y^t tyme, By North and South, and priestes full cursedly. [All holy folke fled out of that realme, Thei sleugh all people that had take bapteme.] [

They slewe all folke that hade takyn baptyme, They spared noone so cruell was theyr tyme.

] At Colyngham [Coldyngham.] sainct Ebbe that was abbesse, Their [Hir.] nonnes put from theim in sore [grete.] distresse,

¶ For dred of the tyrauntes. ii. full cruell, And their people cursed [and] ful of malice, That rauished nonnes [euer wher thei] [ay wher as she.] herd tell, In her chaptre [ordeined againe their] [lesse that tho fell.] enemies Should not deffoule their clene virginitees, She cut hir nose of and her ouer lippe, To make hir lothe that she might from hym [theym.] slipe.

¶ And counseled all hir susters [to] dooe the same, To make thei[r] fooes to hoge [bouge. edit. alt. vgge. MS.] so with the sight; And so thei did afore thenemies came, Echon their nose and ouer lipe ful [furth.] right Cut of anone, which was an hogly sight: For whiche tho fooes thabbey and nonnes brent, For thei them selfe disfigured had [hade and.] shent.

Frō Twede to Thamys abbais [all abbaies.] then thei brent, And churches hole and people sleugh right doune, Wiues [Wifes and.] , maydens, widdowes and nonnes shent, Through all the lande the [of the.] Est region, [People sleyng in euery borough and toune;] [And dispoilynge euerich mansioun.] The women euer [ay.] they diuiciate In euery place, and fouly defflorate. [Fol. C.viii.]

¶ And in the yere. viii. hundreth fyftie [sexty.] and sixe He died so, and from this worlde expired; Whome all his tyme the Danes full sore did vexe, Againe him euer [ay.] ful sore they had conspired, [Theyr hertes in malice alway sore affeerd;] [Hym to haue stroied in wagese men they hired.] Sometyme the worse they had, sometyme the better, As Flores sayeth, and written hath in letter.

The. C.viii. Chapiter.

¶ Alurede, kyng of Westsex, protectour of Englande, reigned xxi. yere, and died the yere. viii. C.xcv.

ALurede kyng was of this [his.] region, [A lurede kyng.] That brother was to this noble Elfryde; A perfect clerke, proued in opynyon, As clerkes could discerne and proued [previde.] ; In knighthode [also] approued and notified So plenerly, that no man knewe his peer, So good a knight he was and singuler.

¶ In battayles many [feele so.] in his fathers dayes, And also in his brethren tyme al thre, He fought ful ofte, and bare hym wel alwayes,

That for his dedes and singularitee, He was commended among thenemytee, Within the lande and out, as wel was knowe, His fame among the people hye was blowe.

¶ Whyles he was kyng he had aduersitee With Danes oft, that on him dyd riue [arrive.] , Destroyed his land with great iniquitee, The whiche ful oft with might he did out driue, And [And many.] slewe thousandes that lost theyr lyue, Through the [their.] warres begon of theyr outrage, That meruayll was to sene of one lynage.

¶ And in the yere. viii. hundreth sixty and eyght, The Danes came to Yorke and toke the towne, Hunger and Vbba with many a wyle sleight [and sleight.] , Wasted the lande about both vp and downe, And so came forth to Mars with hostes boune, And to Westsex, whom then the kyng Alurede Discomfited [Discomfite.] there with the host that he did lede.

¶ The [This.] Danyshe host to Redyng came againe, Another host at London was with pride Of Danes also [als.] , that wrought him mekyll paine; But whyles these hoostes were parted and deuide, [With his power Alurede gan to ryde,] [He sent after his men̄ on euery side.] [And at Anglefeld] [At Anglishfelde.] he fought in Barkeshyre right, Where victorie he had [maugre of theyr] [with mekyll.] might.

¶ At Redyng, [in Barkeshyre, then] [than in Wilteshire so.] he mette An hoste full greate, where he had then agayn The victorye, and his fooes [foes ther.] downe bette. At Basyng also [als.] he slew theim downe certeyne, At Asshenden [he droue them] [they droue hym.] out all playne, And gotte the felde with all the victories, As Flores sayeth right in his memories.

¶ And in the yere. viii. hundreth [syxty] & fourtene, The Danishe host rode Lyndsey & Mars [Merse.] coūtre, And home agayn as then was [it was.] wel sene:

[In Northumberlande with great prosperitee, The Danes rode doyng great aduersitee,] [

By Northumberlonde so to take their nave With grete riches gote by their robbere.

] [Fol. C.ix.] Where the bishoppe [then of] [of the.] holy Isselande And all his monkes were ful fast fleand.

¶ With s. Cuthbert[s] bones bare about. vii. yere, [Superstition.] Nowe here, nowe there, in dyuers places aboute, For dread of Danes and enemyes that there [than.] were In Northūberland dwellyng that tyme ful stout; But then the kyng the sea sayled throughout, And shyppes gatte with muche [right.] great ryches, For to defend his land fro great distresse.

¶ In Westsex then with fooes agayn he mette, Where they fro him to Exeter that night Fled full faste, where Alurede theim ouer sette, And slewe theim doune in batayll [and in] [sore and.] fyght; [And then] [After in.] in Mers [anone he fought forth] [he fought with theym full.] ryght With Danes tho [so.] , and also with Norwayes, That wasted had al Mers in many wayes.

¶ Then fought he also [als.] at Chipnā [Chepynham.] in Wilshire, [And] Hunger and Vbba, and duke Haldene, Tyrauntes cruell, hote as any fyre, The Christen folke did [to.] brenne, wast and slene, [With cruell tourmentes did them care and tene,] [They spared noone, murdre to theym was fayne.] Where Alurede had the [all the.] victorie, And slewe that daye al the Danyshyre [Danysherie.] .

The. C.ix. chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Alurede fled to Ethelyngay in Hidils, for dreade of Danes, and serued an oxherde of the countree.

GVtron [Guthrum.] the kinge of Denmarke, y^t [than.] was tho, In Westsex werred ful sore, & brent y^e lond; Wyth [For.] whych y^e kyng so marred was w^t wo, He wyst not wel whether to ryde or stond;

But to Ethelyngay anone he toke on honde To ryde, where then he hyd him in a plaee, For drede of Danes, suche was hys hap & grace.

¶ In Denwolfes house thoxherd of the towne So was he then in [poore and symple] [symple poner.] aray, Where Denwolf cladde him in his owne gowne, And tender was to [vnto.] him there alwaye; [But hys wyfe made him to laboure aye] [But by his wife he made wase laboure aye.] Wyth bakyng and with bruynge wonder sore, In [And.] water beryng she made [him] worke euer more.

Where then hys lordes & knyghtes in good araye Came to hym then with hooste and greate powre; Where than the kynge vpon Gutron [Guthum.] that daye In batayle stronge, with corage freshe and clere, Foughte sore [Full sore.] , and tooke Gutron [Guthrun.] prysonere, And thyrtye dukes with him in companye, Vnchrysten were they al of panymrye [paianry.] .

¶ And had the feld wyth al the victory, And of Danes manye thousande slewe. He baptyzed than, as made is memory, This kynge Gutron [Guthrun.] that after was ful trewe, And named was Athylstan all [than so.] newe; To whome the kynge gaue than al Estenglande, As Edmonde had, to holde of hym that lande.

And all hys dukes were also there baptyzed, And Chrysten menne by came for Goddes loue, [Fol. C.x.] The yere of Chryste. [viii.] C. thenne compeysed, Scuente and. viii. as Flores doth approue, The kyng was then agayne at his aboue, Remembred hym of Denwolfe that hym hyd, And sent for hym to Ethelingay, he dyd.

¶ His wyfe was deed, & somwhat was he letred, At his desyre the kyng set him to lerne, To tyme that he was wyse and mekell betred [bettered.] , In holy wryt that he coulde [couthe.] well discerne;

And then the kyng made hym byshop as [full.] yerne Of Winchester, when Dunbert [Dunbarde.] there so dyed, That bishop was afore him sacrafied.

¶ In the yere. viii. C. and foure score The Danes in [by.] Thamis & [had.] wintred at Foulham [Fulham.] , The kyng came [venquyshed.] in somer after thore, And slewe them all, that they went [yede.] neuer hame; The deede, the quycke, the maymed and the lame, All buryed were where the batayle was smyten, As Flores sayeth, and clerly hath it wryten.

¶ At Rochester the Danes were [efte] on lond, With whom the kyng there faught & many slew, Many drowned and lyeng on the sonde; As they vnto theyr shyppes agaynwarde flewe, He droue them there vnto a warmely stowe [stewe.] , After theyr laboure to haue recreacyon Vpon the sondes to make theyr habitacyon.

The. C.x. Chapiter.

¶ How [Marine bishop of Rome,] [pope Mauryne.] graūted to kyng Alurede to founde an vniuersytee and study for clerkes, whiche he made at Oxenford, where the clerkes [graduates.] be sworne [they shall not rede for theyr fourme] [that they shuld not teche at Stamforde.] at Stamforde.

ANd in the yere. viii. C. lxxx. and tweyne, [Marine [Martin. edit. alt.] bishop of Rome] [The pope Mauryne.] graūte[d] to king Alurede To foūd & make a study thē again, And an vniuersyte for clerkes in to rede, The whiche he made at Oxenford in dede, To that entent, that clerkes by sapyence Agayne heretykes shulde [to.] make resystence,

And Chrysten fayth mayntayne by theyr doctrine. The kyng also to comforte and counsayle By theyr teachyng and wytty disciplyne, As phylosophers of olde dyd great auayle

To kynges, prynces, and cytees gouernayle, Gaue all theyr wyt in studye and dilygence, Agayne mischeues to fynde and make defence.

And in the yere. viii. C. lxxx. and eyght, All his ryches in fyue partes he [ganne] deuyde, One part to men of warre to kepe his ryght, An other parte to lande tyllers in that tyde, The husbandry to mayntayne and to guide, The thyrde part all [als.] churches wasted to restore, The fourth vnto the studye of their lore;

And to the iudges and men of lawe well lerned, The fyfte part [ful wysely he dispende,] [so of his goode he sende.] To holde the lawe in [and.] peace truely gouerned: Disposed thus he was the realme tamende. This was a kyng [ful greatly to cōmende,] [gretly to recommende.] [Fol. C.xi.] That thus could [couth.] kepe his lande from all vexaciō, And not to hurte his commons by taxacyon.

¶ For truste it well, as God is now in heuen, Who hurte the poore people and the commontee By taxes sore [and] their goodes fro them reuen [For any cause but necessytee,] [Or holy churche for theire speritualte.] The dysmes to paye compell of royaltee, Though they speake fast & mūble with the [their.] mouth, Thei praie full euil with hert [hertis.] bothe North & South.

¶ The yere of Chryste. viii. C. lxxx. and thyrtene, The duke Hastyne of Danes, euer vntrewe, Destroyed the lande with hostes proude and kene, By Easte and West, that all the lande did rewe, Whome the [Than the.] kyng in batayle felly slewe, After diuerse batayles amonge theim smyten, In sondry places [there as] [as than.] it was well weten.

¶ In euery shyre the kyng made capitaynes To kepe the lande with folke [men.] of theyr countree, And shippes many [feel.] , & galaies lōg with chieftains, And balyngers with bargys in [on.] the see, With whiche he gate ryches greate quantyte;

And at [a flud] [the felde.] was called Vthermare [Vthenmore.] , He slewe an hoste of Danes with batayle sare.

¶ The. C.xi. Chapiter.

¶ How duke Rollo, a panyme, gate Normandye, of whō all the dukes of Normandy be lynally discended.

ANd in the yere. viii. C. lxxx. and seuentene [nyntene.] , The duke Rollo of Denmarke nacion, A painim [paian.] stout, with mighty hoste & kene, In Englande brent without any delacyon, Whome Alurede, by good supportacyon, Droue then agayne vnto his nauy ryght, And of his men a thousande [he] slewe in fyght.

¶ Whiche Rollo then landed in Normandye, Of whome all dukes of that prouynce discent, And wan that lande with swerde full manfully [manlie.] , And duke there was [made of] [so in.] hole entent, By processe after and by the kynges assent Of Fraūce, whose doughter he wed [vn]to his wyfe, And Christen man became so all his lyfe.

¶ At Charters firste he seged so [sore.] the towne, [Supersticious∣nesse with damnable ido∣latrie.] Where thei within our ladies smocke thē shewed For theyr banner, and [and for.] theyr saluacyon. For feare of whiche full sore in hert he rewed All sodaynly [and vnto Roan] [to Rone so he.] remoued, Where thē his wyfe dame Gille was dede & buried, Without chylde betwene theim notifyed.

¶ But then he wedded Pepam [Popa.] the syster fayre Of duke Robert of Normandy and Roone, On whome he gate William his sonne and heire, That after hym was duke thereof anone, When yeres many were passed and ouergone. But now at this to ceasse I will enclyne, Till afterward I shall tell forth their lyne.

¶ Kyng Alurede the lawes of Troye and Brute, Lawes Moluntynes and Marcians congregate, With Danyshe lawes that were well constytute, And Grekyshe also [als.] well made and approbate, [Fol. C.xii.] In Englyshe tongue he [he dide.] theim all translate; Whiche yet bee called the lawes of Alurede, At Westminster remembred it [yit.] in dede.

¶ And in the yere. viii. C. lxxx. and eyghtene [fifteene.] , Then [Whan.] Alurede this noble kyng so dyed, When he had reygned. xxix. yere clene; And with the Danes in batayls multiplyed, [He faught often] [Had foughten ofte.] as Colman notifyed In his chronycle and in his cathologe, Entitled well as [als.] in his dyaloge.

¶ That fyftye batayls and syx he [he also.] smote, Somtyme the worse, and somtyme [ofte tyme.] had the better; Somtyme the felde he had [at his] [as it is.] note, [Sometyme he fled awaie, as saieth the letter, Lyke as fortune his cause lefte vnfeter;] [

Sometyme the Danys it hade, as saith the letter, Sometyme he fledde awaie for the better.

] But neuerthelesse as ofte when so thei came, He contred them, and kepte the lande fro shame [

Nobilitas innata tibi probitatis honorem Armipotens Alurede dedit probitasque laborem, Perpetuumque labor nomen eui juxta dolori Gaudia semper erant spes semper mixta timori: Si modo victus erat ad crastina bella parabat, Si modo victor erat ad crastina bella pauebat. Cristus ei sit vera quies sceptrumque perhenne.

] .

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.

The. C.xiii. Chapiter.

¶ This kyng made an vnion of all the realmes, and called it Englande, and after it failed neuer of that name.

THis noble kyng thus made an vnion Of seuē realmes, y^t stode three hūdred yere; Sixe and thyrty also [als.] in greate deuision And warres many [fell.] , as Colman saieth full clere, Fro Gurmond had driuen out Carreis [kyng Careis.] here, Whiche was the yere fiue. C. iiii. score & thirtene [threne.] , Vnto the yere of Christ nine hundred & nientene.

¶ These [His.] erles all, and dukes then held the lawe As shryues [shireuys.] nowe in shires dooen and maintene, That the commons ouerlaied full sore with awe, And sore oppressed their states to sustene, Wherfore he voided [voide.] theim out of office clene, And shryues [shireuys.] made through all his region, Whiche haue not forgete [forgoten. edit. alt. yit forgete. MS.] extorcion.

¶ This noble kyng Edward thelder hight, When he had reigned full twenty & foure yere, Buryed he was at Winchester full right, As in Flores full clerely dooeth apere, Who in his tyme surely had [had then.] no peere

Of wysedome nor [nor of.] manhode as was seen, The lawe and peace that could [couthe.] so well sustene.

The. C.xiiij. Chapiter.

¶ Athelstane, kyng of England, reigned fiftene yere and dyed in the yere of Christ nine hundred thirty & fiue. How Constantyne, kyng of Scottes, warred again Athelstane; but he recouered his homage by myracle of sainct Iohn of Beuerley as sheweth here afterward.

SIr Athilstane, his eldest soonne of age, In wisedome euer full sadly [&] well auised, At Kyngstō was [than was.] crouned, & toke homage Of all the lordes right as he had deuised [aduised.] , Agaynste whome all Wales as thei suffised, [Then he warred,] [werred on hym.] but he made theim obeye, And made [make.] homage, his menne to bee for aye.

¶ [In whose tyme so y^e yere of Christ nine hūdred And thyrty more and fiue full accompted, Robert Rollo his soule and corps asondred, His corps to the earth, his soule amounted, Whiche in knighthod his Danes surmounted; That reigned had then duke of Normandy, By thirty yere accompted full clerly.] [

Insteud of this stanza we have the following in the Harleian MS.

And in the yere nyne hundreth and als thrittene, Whan duke Rollo of tharchebishope Franco Of Rone wase then cristeyned full clene, Seuen daies after clothed he wase tho All in white to clennes chaunged so, And full devoute after in all his life, And eke pacient he wase and hated strife.

]

¶ To whom succedid his soōne Wyllyā Lōgspee, That after hym was duke of Normandy; [Fol. C.xiiii.] But then the kyng of Scottes by cruelte, [Rebellyō of the Scottes.] Hight Constantyne, hym warred cruelly; For whiche kyng Athilstane mightily

[Stroyed all] [Destroyed.] . Scotland, till [so long.] his people dyed For [by. edit. alt.] cold and hunger [dyed and] [and so were. edit. alt.] mortified [

Here the Harleian MS. has three additional stanzas.

For which his lordes vnto hym than complayned, Supposynge that his quarell wase not trewe To axe homage of Scottis, but mater fayned, And praied hym faste upon his folke to rewe. He bade theym cume the morowe to hym newe, He shulde theym geue an ansuere for to treste, Which nyght he lay, and praied withoute reste

Vnto seynt Iohn of Beuerlaye full boun, To latte hym with a verray trewe knowlage, If he hade right be title of his croun, To Scottis service and to their liege homage: And made a vowe his church to privelage. To whome seynt Iohn appered and to hym seide, Axe thy service and be nothynge affraiede.

And to the tokyn that all thy folke may trest, Thou shalte well smyte to morne in stone right doun An elne deepe with myght of Gode doun threst, That noone myght doo of all the regioun, The which at morne by Goddes direccioun, He perfourmed wele right with his naked suerde In Dunbarre cragges, that neuer maibe werde.

] .

¶ [But he was so comforted euen by] [for gladnesse than of this myghty.] miracle [That] he faught a none w^t this kyng Constātyne, And had the feld and his [fro his.] habitacle, Theim [Him.] droue through all the lād w^t muche payne [pyne.] , To tyme he was full fain to [for to.] enclyne [Homage of the Scottes.] To Athilstane, for to make his homage For all Scotland that was his heritage.

¶ Anlaaf, the kyng of Denmark, full of pride, Cousyn to kyng Constantyne of Scotland, With shippis many arriued [arroue.] on Humberside [At Burnesburgh, and claymed of England For to haue of the kyng as I vnderstand] [

With many a Dane in warre with hym to stonde At Brennysburgh, and claymed of Englonde.

] The truage whiche his eldres had afore, And with hym brought Colbrōd to fight therfore.

¶ And Athilstane, at the daye assigned, Made hym redy the battaill to haue smitten

Again Colbroad, armed with hart benyngned, But then sir Guy of Warwike, as was weten, [Guy of War∣wicke.] In palmer wyse, as Colman hath it wryten, The battaill toke on hym for Englandis right With Colbrond in [than in.] armes for to fight:

¶ Wher then he sleugh this Danyshe champion, By whiche battaill the truage was relesed, By couenaunt made and composicion Betwene the kynges afore [forseide.] , and warres cesed: Thus kyng Aulaaf [Anlafe.] home to Denmarke presid, Without more warre or conturbacion, And sir Guy went to his contemplacion.

¶ Kyng Athelston then fraunchesid Beuerley In the worship of God and [and of.] sainct Iohn, Wher in his life is written for euer and aye, The miracle of his [the.] stroke so in the stone, That neuer manne might dooe but Athilston, Through grace of God and his direccion, [Through] [And be.] prayer of sainct Iohn and affeccion.

¶ This noble kyng was euer [more] iust & trewe To God his faith, and [to churches] [the churche.] deuocion, To poore menne grace, on subiectes euer did rewe, To preestes and age reuerence in feld and towne, In dome sadnes, trouth and discrecion [Supersticion. edit. alt.] ; And in the yere nene hundred thyrty and fiue, When he had reigned sixtene yere with life.

¶ His brother Edmōd for kyng thē was crouned [Kyng Edmōd reigned vi. yere.] Of Englande whole, by concent of all [eche.] estate; To whome Dothowe [Kynalde.] , kyng of Scotlāde y^t stoūde, And Howell of Walis, the kyng then [so than.] create, As was afore vsed and determinate, Fraute to hym made [made than.] and leege homage, For Wales and Scotlande [y^t was] [which were.] their heritage. [Homage of y^t Scottes.]

¶ He sette sainct Dunstan then at Glastenbury, Vnder [To be.] thabbot of monkes and [and of.] religion,

That abbot was [with hym] [whan.] at Canturbury; This kyng Edmond was slain by a felone, [Whiche of malice and his false treason,] [That he afore exiled for his regioun.] [Fol. C.xv.] That forfet had, and dampned was to dye For his forfet [trespasse.] , and for his felonye.

¶ At Cauntorbury, as y^e kyng hym saw on a da, For yre on hym he ranne, and sore hym wounde, For whiche he stroke the kyng [the kynge to deth.] for aye, [So they dyed both two ther in that stounde, Eche of theim, of his mortall wounde,] [

With a sharpe knyfe as he laye on the grounde, So than they die both two ther in that stounde.

] Whiche to a prince accorded in no wyse, [To put hym selfe in drede, wher lawe may chastice.] [Hym to juberde whan his lawe may chastise.]

¶ He reigned but. vi. yere then all out, And died the yere. ix. hundreth fourtye and one; At Glastenbury buried without [withoutyn.] doute, For whome the people made then ful great mone, For lawe and peace he kept to euerychone, And his commons neuer his tyme supprissed, And oppressours of [hym alwaye were] [theym alway.] chastised.

¶ His brother Edrede after hym had the crowne [Edrede kynge of Englāde.] At London then, and tooke royall feautee Of all estates within his region, [Rebelliō of y^e Scottes.] Excepte Scotlande, that through theyr vnlewtee, Crowned Gilryke [Eilrike.] a Dane of great beautee, Of royall bloodde borne and generate, And for theyr kyng hym fully had create.

¶ Kyng Edrede went to Scotland w^t his power, And all the lande wasted sore [full sore.] and brent; Wherfore the Scottes, by hole consent for feer, Put down Gilryke [Eilrike.] from all the regyment, And droaue hym [hym oute.] to Denmarke or they stent, [Homage of y^e Scottes.] And to Edrede came all the baronage, And to hym made feautee [theire feaute.] and homage.

¶ And in the yere. ix. hundreth fourty and nyne He died, buried [and buried.] at Wynchester his cytee, When that he had his soule made to enclyne [declyne.] Out of his corps, to passe awaye and flee Where God of heauen would [wold than.] that it should bee; But. viii. yere full he reigned and no more, When death hym toke, with sikenes great & sore.

¶ Edwyn, his brother, resceyued then the crowne, [Edwyn kynge.] Folyshe and proude, and of his will maligne, And in his wytte was full lytle reason; Whom his barons, for cause he was vndigne, [Made hym his crowne for to resigne;] Deposed hym then out fro his regiment At the parliament, by [theyr commen] [the comons.] assent.

¶ Whom saynt Dunstane for aduoutre blamed, But it amende he would in no kyn wyse, Of whiche he was full openly defamed Through all the realme, he was the more vnwise, For whiche the lordes and commons all did ryse, And droaue hym out, awaye wher no man knewe: Thus synnes olde, make shames come full newe.

¶ He reigned had but. iiii. yere and no more, When he was depriued [thus deprived.] of his estate, Without [withoutyn.] thanke of God. or man therfore, And well worse was of all men moste behate, [Of his reygne hauyng no lenger date;] [As he that loued vice and eke debate.] Who dyed the yere. ix. hundreth fyfty and thre, Foriuged hole from [all] his magestee. [Fol. C.xvi.]

The. C.xv. Chapiter.

¶ Edgare, kyng of Englande, reigned. xviii. yere & died in y^e yere of Christ. ix. hundreth three score and eleuen.

HIs brother Edgare, by a [all.] commē assente, [Edgare.] Was chosen kyng, as chronicles [chroniclers.] recorde, With diademe crowned at his parliamēt,

And homage toke royall of euery lorde, So mercyfull and [graceouse.] full of misericorde, [Was he, that] [he was that he.] saynt Dunstan reconciled, Whome kyng Edwyn wrongfully had exiled:

¶ Whom archebyshop of Cauntorbury he made, With all estate and primates [prymytefe.] dignitee; Of monkes and nonnes, mynsters fayre & glad, Fourtye founded of religioustee Within his realme, of his owne royaltee, Endewed theim all in lande and tenemente, Sufficiently with all establyshemente.

¶ He wedded Elfbede [Egelflede.] , y^e dukes doughter, Ozmere [Ormere.] , On whom he gate a sonne both good and fayre, That after was saynt Edwarde the marter, Who was his eldest sonne, and [and als.] his heyre, [A lykely prince towarde, both comly and fayre;] [Who lieth nowe at Shafteshury right there.] El ede [Egelflede.] died, he wedded Elfrith [Olfrith.] to wyfe, That doughter was to duke Orgare [be life,] [full rife.]

¶ On whom he gate Ethelbert [Ethelrede.] so anone, The kynges of Wales he had in subieccion; [Homage of y^e Scottes.] The Scottes kynge Kynowth [Kynalde.] withouten moon, Made hym homage without [withoutyn.] obieccion: Thus [the Iles.] all were vnder his proteccion, And rode with hym alwaye in warre and peace, In all his tyme [reigne.] withouten leas.

¶ So trewe he was, and in his dome [doomes so.] wyse, That for no mede nor [not.] fauoure wold [he false] [the fals.] The trewe leuers his [lawe did] [lawes that.] not despyse, He socoured euer, and felons hanged by the halse, [Conspiratours, murtherers, and traytours als:] [Thus ech man hade as he deserued als.] The cōmon weale aboue all thyng preferred [conserued.] , Which euery prince shuld se wer wel obserued.

¶ He taxed not his commons, ne supprysed Ne holy churche, nor yet the clergie,

But lyued on his owne, as it was assised, Vpon his rentes and landes morallye. His officers hym ruled full no tably, In euery shire he went in priuetee, To spie and knowe who hurte[s] the commontee.

¶ He [This.] was a kyng full worthy and condigne, That let not, for his ease nor his laboure, To searche and see defautes that were maligne, And theim correcte, he was a gouernoure. God set neuer kyng to be a ryotoure, [Thoffice of a king.] To trippe on tapettes, and lyue in ydelnesse, But for to rule [with all kyndes of] [in all maner.] busynesse.

¶ He died the yere. ix. hundreth sixty and eleuen, When he had reygned full eyghtene yere: Buried he [that.] was at Glastenbury to neuen His corps to the earth, his soule to heauen clere. [Fol. C.xvii.] When he had been dead foure and twenty yere, Byshop Oswald, of that same diocise, By counsell of thabbot that was wyse,

¶ Abbot Edwarde, of that place that [than.] hight, Who layde hym in a toumbe made of newe; For it was shorte, he brake his legges wight, Of whiche the bloodde, as rede and freshe of hewe As euer it was, sprent out, all hote and newe Into his eyen, by whiche he lost his sight, Men sayd it was for he had so hym dight.

¶ Edwarde his sonne, that eldest was and heire, [Edwarde marter kynge of Englande.] Saynt Dunstan then, as made is mencion, (Tharchbyshop of Cauntorbury fayre,) So crowned hym kyng of this region, Whom dame Alfrith [Elfrid. edit. alt.] , of false presumpcion, His stepmother, to crowne syr [hir son.] Ethelrede At Cornisgate [[Corf gate?].] , so cut his throte in dede,

As be with her did drynke of good entent, And buryed was at Warham then anone;

But afterwarde the [B. of Rome] [pope.] to England sent To take hym vp, and laye hym [hye anone,] [be hym oone.] [In a toumbe made of siluer, gold, and stone, As a marter then hym canonized At Shaftesbury, where he is autorized.] [

As a martire so was he canonysed allone, At Shaftesbury wher he is auctorised, As myracles hath shewed as there is sised.

]

¶ [And dyed in] [He died the.] the yere of Christ. ix. hūdreth clere, Sixty also accoumpted and fyftene, That reigned had in [ouer.] Englande but. iiii. yere, His soule to blysse went then, as [is well] [it is.] sene; Where [Where forwarde.] nowe he muste euer [ay.] dwell and been, In ioye eterne emonge the sayntes of [in.] heauen, And there with Christ Goddes sonne beleuen [thus we beleuyn.] .

The. C.xvi. Chapiter.

¶ Kyng Ethelrede, kyng of Englande, reigned. xxxviii. yere, and dyed in the yere of Christ, a thousande and thirtene.

THen [Whan.] Ethilrede, withouten tariyng At Kyngstone, tho [so.] by all the baronage Crowned was fayre & royally as kyng His brother was, and heyre of heritage; But saynt Dunstan then, by his trewe language, Prophecied and sayd, withouten leas In all his tyme, he should not reigne in peace.

¶ For to this realme he sayd he [ye.] had no right, But by murther and cruell homycede Of your brother, that [for you] [foule for you.] was dight, Whiche murther euer [ay.] asketh [axe.] vengaūce on euery [ech.] syde: Wherfore he said, serue God what so betyde; And then [thynke.] it is the fayrest chastisement, To be put out fro that same regyment.

¶ Saynt Dunstan died [than died.] , and went to heauen, The kyng rode forth to London, his citee,

And as he rode, he sawe a cloude full euen; [A wonderfull token.] As rede as bloodde, as all the people [did] see, Whiche Englande hole ouerspred in quantitee, Fro whiche the bloodde reyned vpon the ground, That men [trouwed to haue ben peryshed] [ther trowed haue perished been.] y^t stound.

The next yere after, the Danes at Southhāpton [Fol. C.xviii.] Arryued [Arroue.] , and brent the countre there aboute; Also they spoyled and sore [felly.] brente the towne, And so they dyd all Cornewayle throughout, And Deuenshire also [als.] , [and Somerset] [Somersett shire.] no doubte, With Dorsetshire, [and] Wylshyre, & Barkeshrye brent, And to London came, or euer [y^t] they stent.

The suburbes there they spoyled sore and brent, Two dukes then of Denmarke and Norwaye, Northfolke, Southfolke, & Essex, or they stent, Brent and spoyled, and so forth helde the waye To London then, where theyr felowes laye, So assembled they, [and] passed into Kente, Where that countre they [spoyled sore] [robbed foule.] and brent.

¶ The lande [shire.] of Kent to them graunted truage To lyue in peace, and home agayne they went; But in Northfolke an other hoste their passage Made then, and so to Lyncolne or they stent All Lyncolneshyre throughout [then] they brent, And Yorkeshyre also [als.] , and home they went againe With pylage great, of which they were full faine.

¶ The king might get no helpe w^t them to fight, [For which] [Wherfore.] he treated w^t king Aulaaf [Anlaf.] , of Norway, And w^t king Swaan [Swayne.] of Denmarke, for his right, That destroyed had the lande in fell araye, And truage hight them furthwarde [forwarde so.] to paye, [For they had no power amongest thē to prayse,] [For noun power than forto sitt in pease.] And [He.] was full fayne the [theire.] warres for [so.] to cease.

But yet kyng Swayne wold nothīg rest for this, He came agayne, and crowned was for kyng;

Greate tallage of all this lande a mysse, He toke alwaye, and [specyally all other] [speciall ouer all.] thyng: Saynt Edmūdes landes [Edmondesbury.] he hurt by great taskīg [taxynge.] And tallage, which of it that he raysed, [Vnegally he] [Not egally.] pondred then and peysed.

For whiche warrys quene Emme to Normandy, To her brother duke Rycharde the thyrde, With her [Ethelrede.] sonnes [Alurede and Edwarde her by,] [Edmonde Irenside forthy.] [And Edmunde Ironesyde then it so betyde,] [Alurede als and Edwarde so betide,] [All these she toke, and in a shyppe she dyd;] [Hir husbonde als theder she helped to gide.] [And with] kyng Ethelrede by [the] sea led pryuely, For helpe to haue gotte [to gete.] his lande there by.

¶ In whiche tyme, whyls he in Normandye Was soiournyng, kyng Swayn full lowde [then] cryed And sayde vnto his men, & fast gan crye, I am but deed, saint Edmunde hath me spyed, And with a speare hath me here mortifyed; Wo worth y^e day, I noied S. Edmundes ground, For with his speare [my hert he hath] [he hath me.] sore wounde.

¶ He dyed ryght so without confessyon, And whyther he went I [ne wote] [I wote nothynge.] ne whare, But well I wote, in good and true professyon [confession. edit. alt.] , Saynt Edmonde king dyed, and made his fare To blysse eterne, withoute [withoutyn.] any care; But then the barons and lordes of Englande Sent worde to Ethylrede with hym [for] to stande.

And wrote to him, how y^t kyng Swayn was deed, And bade hym come to [unto.] his lande agayne; [Fol. C.xix.] And so he dyd, by councell and theyr rede: He exyled [all] the Danes with greate disdayne, And slewe them downe in batayle w^t great payne, For whiche therle Edryk sent to kyng Knowte [Knute.] , To Englande [to] come with hoost great and stout.

¶ This ylke kyng Knowte [Caute.] , y^t sonne was to kyng Swain, To England cam w^t host & great power, Whome Ethylrede then met, and faught agayne In batayle stronge, & droue him home full clere, With whome Edryk then fled, as dyd apere, Into Denmarke, as [a] false traytoure vntrewe, Purposyng so to come agayne all newe.

But kyng Ethelred in the meane tyme then dyed, The yere of Chryste a thousande and thyrtene, And reygned had, as Colman notifyed, Thyrtie and eyght, in warre [werrys.] and in tene, Euer newe and newe vexed, as was sene; His owne lande fled for drede [cause.] of enmyte, Without socoure, fro it [he] was fayne to flee.

¶ Thus was he chastysed for his mothers gylt, Accordyng well to holy trewe scrypture, For cause that she his brother had slain & spylt; And lyke the wordes of saynt Dunstane, full sure That sayde it was a punishyng full pure, Oute of the realme [to be] [been.] dryuen and expelled, In whiche by syn he had so hye excelled.

The. C.xvii. Chapiter.

EDmond Ironeside gotē & generate, [Edmonde Irone∣syde reigned kīg of Englād thre yere.] Of his first wife, a dukes doughter of Englād, After Ethelrede his father was prorogate Vnto the crowne of all this royall lande, Men called hym so, as I can vnderstande; Where euer he rode, armed was he ay, Oppressours all to chastyce in his waye.

¶ Knowt [Caute.] of Denmarke assayled ofte [so ofte.] this lande, So in this [his.] tyme that euer he armed went, To vse the feate of armes I vnderstande, As to knyghthode full well it dyd [so.] appent; Thus Colman sayth, and Flores that he ment:

But [For.] syxe batayles agayne king Knowt [Cnute.] he smote, With victorye, as Flores hath it note.

¶ But then to voyde [weye.] the greate effusyon Of Chrysten bloude, they two together accorde To fyght them selfe for full conclusyon, Within an yke [ile.] of [on.] Seuerne, by concorde Withouten warre, or any more discorde, And who so then myghte get the victorye, Reioyse the realme, and all the monarchye.

¶ And at theyr daye and place [so] assygned They armed met with strokes knyghtly set, With speare and swerd eyther other so [sore.] repugned With axe and dagger, eyther on other bette, Eyther of them tryste the ouerhande to gette; But at laste kyng Knowt [Cnute.] to hym alayde, These wordes there, and thus to hym he sayde:

¶ "Wolde God Edmonde thou were so couetouse [Fol. C.xx.] As I am nowe, and as myne herte now wolde, And in this case as glad and desyrous We shulde not longe this batayle thus [Thusgate.] holde, And to our men great gladnesse manifolde; Yf thou the halfe of Denmarke had with me, And I the halfe of Englande had [so.] with the."

With whiche they both the wepons fro thē caste, And eyther other in [armes gan them] [armys gan.] embrace, That both theyr hostes amarueled [were] ful faste, What it dyd meane to ceasse [cessen.] in so lytell space; But when they knewe betwene them the [stode the.] case, They kneled all, and Chryste they [than.] laudifyed With herte deuoute, y^t [eche of them] [either.] so victoryed.

¶ Their realmes both they parted then in two, By hole accorde, betwene them [so] concorded, And loued euer, as brethren after so, As chronycles [chroniclers.] haue well hole recorded, Fro that tyme forth, no more [then] they discorded;

This ysle where they faught, hyght Clyues [Oliuees.] , Of cōmon langage, as then it dyd them please.

¶ But Edryk of Lyncolne, euer [aye.] vntrewe, Reconsyled home by Edmonde was agayne By subtyll meane, this [good king Edmond] [king Edmonde he.] slewe, In pryde [priuy. edit. alt. prive. MS. Harl.] wyse without [withoutyn.] wounde or mayne [mayme.] ; But in what fourme I can not wryte nor [or.] sayne: When he had reygned y^t tyme fully. iii. yere, Buryed he was, but where [no man durste] [men durste not.] spere.

¶ But in the yere of Chryste a thousande so He dyed awaye accompte [accompted.] , and syxtene; Vnknowen to his people and lordes tho, For whom they made great dole, as thē was seen; But neuerthelesse, it myght no better bene; This false Edryk, so falsely it couered, That openly it was not then discouered.

The. C.xviii. Chapiter.

KYng Knowt [Cnute.] reigned in Englād thē anon [allone.] , [Knowt kynge of Englande and of Dēmarke.] And wedded had quene Eme [Emme.] of England, Ethelrede wife, which gate him loue anon In [Of all.] Englande of all [the] estates of the londe, Of cōmons also [als.] that were both [than.] fre and bonde: On her he gate a sonne, that harde Knowt [Hardeknute.] hight; [On his fyrste wyfe] [And be Algyue.] had Swayne & Herold ryght.

¶ He sent Edmonde and Edwarde, y^e sonnes two, Of Edmōd Ironeside, to Swithen to kīg Knowt [Cnute.] To [slee or lowse,] [to sleen or to lowe.] to kepe in pouerte so, That they should neuer haue power, in nor oute, To claime England, neyther with hoost ne route, [Whome he sent forth,] [Which were conveied.] then into Hungry, [To the emperoure, with letters worthely,] [Whome the kynge ther resceived worthelie.]

¶ [Besechyng hym, to noryshe them and saue,] [The messangere hym praied theym to saue.] Declaryng hym whose sonnes that they were [The whiche he dyd full worthy,] [Them he cherisshed full worthely.] and gaue Vnto Edmonde his owne doughter dere; Whiche Edmonde then dyed, and she in fere Without [Withoutyn.] chylde, wherfore Agas [Agath.] his coosyn, Doughter of Herry [Henry.] , he gaue to Edwarde fyne [syne.] .

¶ Of whiche Edwarde, called Edwarde thexyle, Came Edgare, then called Edgar Athelyng [Here the Harleian MS. adds, Margarete also and Cristeyn that while, Whiche Edwarde than after hym shuld been kynge.] ; But Knowt [Cnute.] it let, hym self then crounyng, [Fol. C.xvi.] That to London to hold his Christmas, With his houshold went then with greate solas [gladenes.] .

¶ Wher erle Edrik to kyng Knowt [Cnute.] hym cōfessed That he had slain kyng Edmond Ironeside, His owne leege lorde, with cruell death impressed, To gette his loue and with hym dwell and bide, For vnlikely [vngoodely.] it was to goo or ride, Twoo kynges together in [so in.] Englande, He saied was not accordyng in the [oone.] land.

¶ [The kyng] [Kynge Cnute.] his woordes well herd and cōceiued, And howe he asked a reward for his mede, There made hym tell howe he his lorde disceiued, Afore the lordes, as he had dooen in deed, The whiche boldely he did without [Withoutyn.] dreed, Hauyng no shame [to aske] [axed.] a greate reward, For whiche the kyng & lordes gaue whole award,

¶ To hang hym on the toure duryng his liue, To he were dedde that all folke [the folke.] might hym se, And his treson there openly to shriue, And after that to hang [there till] [to that.] he dye; For whom then was emong the [commons truily] [comonte,] A greate biworde, as many one y^e woundre & rōne, As did on therle Edryke of Strettoun.

¶ [The kyng] [He.] went to [into.] Norway and it conquered, And droue the kyng Olaaf out of that land, And held it so by conquest of his swerd. Full worthily he gouerned euery land, To [The.] peace and lawe, he kept [theim as] [wher euer.] he faund, And in his domes was rightwyse and [ay and.] stable, And to the poore alway merciable.

¶ [Kyng Malcom of Scotland the] [Malcolyne than kynge of Scotlonde.] did homage [Homage of y^e Scottes.] To hym, and furth became for euer his manne; So did the kynges of Wales of hye parage, And all the North West [iles of North West.] occian, For their kyngdomes and for their landes than: And in his tyme moste he was redoubted Of all princes and in all londes loaued [loued. edit. alt. louted. MS.] .

¶ To Roome he rode in royall goodly wyse, And there was with the bishop [pope.] greately commēd As Christen prince by papall whole aduise, The cardynalles foure, whiche the bishop [pope.] had sēd, At Malburgate [Male Burgate.] , foure mile fro Roome extende, With greate meyne hym mette & greate honour, As if he had been of Roome themperour.

¶ At his commyng again into England, He gaue Norway vnto his soonne sir Swayne, And to Herold his soonne, [as] I vnderstand, England he gaue, of whiche he was full fain, And to Harknowt [Hardeknute.] , Denmarke he gaue certain, And so dyed in Christen whole creaunce, At Shaftisbury [buryed by his] [entered by.] ordynaunce.

¶ The yere of Christ a thousand so was than, And thirty foure also truly written, When he had reigned, fro the tyme that he began, Eightene yere whole, as well it was wrytten [than wetyn.] , [With the darte of death whē that he was smitten] [And of his reigne muche more is ther wretyn.] : In whose dayes the land was inquiet [in quiet.] , Full of riches and [of] welfare whole replete. [Fol. C.xxii.]

The. C.xviij. Chapiter.

¶ Herold, kyng of England, the soonne of kyng Knowt, reigned fiue yere, and dyed in the yere a thousand and. xxxix.

HErolde, his soonne, was crouned then in deede, [Herold.] By Leofrike y^e duke of Leiscestre, By Londoners, in [als in.] Flores as I reede, By Danyshyr [Danyshery.] also, as saieth the letter, That strong werre then, and of power greater Then other lordes of Englishe nacion: At London made was this [his.] coronacion.

¶ Alurede, the soonne of kyng [the kynge.] Ethelrede, With fifty sailes landed at Southampton [Northampton.] , Wher kynge Herold with hoste hym met in deede, Redy to fight with hym for [than for.] the croune; But certain lordes of Englondes region Betwene theim treated [trete.] , that Alurede went again To Normandy, to duke Robert full plain.

¶ But afterward, as Alurede so rode Fro his mother vnto the kyng Herold, The duke Goodwyn [on Gyldismore] [at Gilforde Moore.] hym bode With people greate, of nombre manyfold, And slewe his menne downe [all doun.] there as he would, And led hym furth to Ely and hym slewe, As traitour false that euer [had bee] [wase.] vntrewe.

¶ Some chronicle saieth he putte out bothe his eyen, Fro whiche he dyed sone for pain and woo: Some other sayin [seith.] he slette his wombe full keen, The lengest gut to a stacke [stake.] he nayled tho, Led hym about the stack [ther with muche] [with mekell.] wo, Till all came out that was his wombe within, Thus sleugh thei hym with [sobteltie and] [suche a sotille.] gyn.

¶ His mother, [quene Eme, Edward then] [than quene Emme than Edwarde.] sent To Normandy, to duke Wyllyam anone,

[That] hir cousyn was, to kepe he were not shent By kyng Herold of his cruelty alone, [Warnyng hym of the treasō y^t Herold had dooen,] [And fals Godewyne for they two were both oone.] For whiche cause Herold [Than kynge Harolde.] hir exild Out of England, and Edward also [als.] hir child.

¶ To Flaundres she fled, then full sore amoued, To erle Badwyn hir cousyn nie of bloodde, Declaryng [to] hym howe Herold had distroyed Hir soonne Alurede, that [which.] heyre of England stood, And exiled hir without socour [livelode.] or good, And Edward also [als.] hir soonne, heire of England, His brother children, [also] awaye in vncouth land.

¶ Wherfore therle to kyng Hardknowt [Hardeknute.] then wrote All hir compleynt, and of his socour prayed And he should help with all his might God wote, [It were amendid] [That it were mende.] of that she was affrayed. He came anone in warre full well aryed [arraied.] Into Flaundres, his mother for to please, Hir for to socour and sette hir hert in ease.

¶ In whiche meane while the kyng Herold dyed At Westminster, and buried was full feire, After he had [had than.] reigned, as it is notified, [Fiue yere reigned without] [Fyve yere and an halfe withoutyn.] any heire Of his body gotten, after hym to repeire [Fol. C.xxiii.] England [to gouerne, wherfore] [his reame, so.] the lordes, by assēt, To kyng Hardknowte [Hardeknute.] then into Flaundres sente

¶ To bee their kyng, sith Herold was a [so.] gone, To please hym with [and] his mother to comfort; Who came to [into.] England furth with anone, And crouned was with all [the] whole disport That lordes conde [couthe.] , as Flores dooeth report: Thus kyng Hardknowt [Hardeknute.] was kyng of Englande than, Who worthily [y^t tyme to reigne tho] [to reigne that tyme.] began.

¶ This kyng began his brothers death to venge [Kyng Hard∣knowt.] On [erle Gowyn,] [duke Godwyne.] that erle [lord.] was then of Kent,

That peased was for he should not reuenge With riche giftes whiche that [than.] he on hym spent, With meekenesse lowe, & [he.] swore that he was sent To dooe that thyng on pein of high treson By kyng Herold charged without reason.

¶ Through good and giftes & mighty hie riches, And of his kyn that meekely hym [theym.] obeyed, And by acquaintaūce that thei made then expresse, [Vpon the holy euangelis] [On holy euangels.] sworne vndelayed, The kyng graūte[d] hym his grace & was well payed, To make hym of his coūsell & [of] gouernaūce, Without more wrath or any discordaunce.

¶ He maried then his sister Gunylde to Henry Themperour, that falsly was accused Of synne and cryme vsed in auoutry With [a young manne the] [an olde man.] whiche hir excused, After the lawe of [the land that was] [that land.] there vsed; By battaill of his hand that then their slewe [His accusour,] [Hir accusoure.] approuyng hym vntrewe.

¶ For the whiche she would nomore come in his bed, But lyued sole euer after so hir life, For good ne gold, for aught that he [she. edit. alt.] hir beed, For loue ne threte, for betyng ne for strife, With hym dwellyng forthwarde [ay furthwarde.] as his wife; In all thynges els euer at his gouernaunce, Bothe daye and night in womanly pleasaunce.

¶ Kyng Hardknowt [Hardeknute.] then his [his oun.] doughter maryed Vnto a duke of [than of.] the Danishrie, At Lambirgh [Lambehith.] dyed, at his feast magnified Emong his lordes and all [also.] his prelacie, And putte hym whole in God his high mercye, And charged theim his brother Edward [to] croūe, To reioyse [joie.] the land of Englandes region.

¶ This was the yere of Christ then inscriued [inscribed.] A thousand whole fourty also and one,

When that he had reigned, as was subscribed, The [By.] twoo yere whole whē he was [thus wyse] [Thusgates.] gone; For whom was [made] that tyme full muche [grete.] mone, At Wynchester, byside his father buryed, With lordes all thither [full] well accompaignied.

The. C.xix. Chapiter.

¶ Kyng Edwarde the Confessour, kyng of Englād, reigned twenty and foure yeres, y^t began the yere of Christ a thousand fourty and one, and dyed the yere a thousand sixty and fiue.

EDward his brother, sōne of kīg Ethelrede, [Fol. C.xxiiii.] [King Edwarde y^e cōfessour.] Was crowned then [kyng of] [the kynge of all.] Englande, The yere of Christ a M. then in dede, Fourtye & one, as Flores could [can.] vnderstande, To whom the kyng Swayn, of [than of.] Denmarke lande, The tribute whiche he had fully relesed, And warres all betwene theim ceassed [alwaie cesed.] ,

¶ To sende hym then the hole Englyshe nauy Agayn Magnus, that kynge was of Norwaye, That helde it so by wrong and tirannie; Whiche Edwarde sente anone in great araye, With lordes, knightes [and knightes.] and squiers freshe & gaye, With archers many [good.] , by whiche he gate his lande Of Norwaye hole, and seazed [it] in his hande.

¶ Erle Eustace of Boleyn, that had wed Edwardes suster on his mother syde, To Edwarde came, at Douer sore bested, Where then his men a burges slewe that tyde: [Therle Good∣wyn.] Wherfore therle [the duke.] Goodwyn, set full of pryde, Asked the kyng to haue delyueraunce Of therls men, to byde his ordynaunce.

¶ Notwithstandyng y^e burges slewe his knight, For that same cause: wherfore he it denyed, But made peace then as he¹¹ therle had hight, Of Boleyne, so his brother in lawe alied,

For whiche therle [the duke.] Goodwyn sore replied, And warred sore vpon the kyng eche daye, With his sonnes fyue in [full great] [in right foule.] araye.

¶ Not cōsideryng y^e kyng his doughter had wed, And his treason perdoned had and hyd Of his brothers death, when [whome.] y^t he murthered had; Whom then the kyng somond, cōmaunde & bid, [Vpon his legeaunce whatsoeuer betid] [To his parlement to cume that was sad.] , For to aunswer in his [that.] courte and amende Defautes all [betwene theim might be kende.] [wheryn he hade offende.]

¶ At whose summons he would not [then] apeare, But warred sore [foule.] both he and his sonnes fyue, For whiche the kyng theim exiled out all clere; But after [they landed] [soone they londe.] and did aryue At Sandwiche, so [where.] the kyng theim met belyue, Where lordes then theim treated and accorded, And afterwarde [nomore they] [they two nomore.] discorded.

The. C.xx. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Sywarde, duke of Northumberlande, slewe in battayle Malcom [Malclome. edit. alt.] , kyng of Scotlande, and crowned Malclome kyng at Scome, accordyng to saynt Edwarde the Confessoures commaundement, whiche Malclome did homage to saynt Edwarde, as apeareth by his letters patent.

DVke Siwarde then was of Northūberlād In batayle slewe kyng [Maclom so] [Malcolyne.] in dede, Of Scotlande then y^t false was of [to. edit. alt.] his bād, Whiche to the kyng he made, who taketh hede; Wherfore the kyng, in Marian as I reade, By his letters charged duke Siward take [to take.] on hād, To croune Malcolin [y^t was] [erle than.] of Comberland.

¶ The whyche he dyd full myghtely anon At Skone abbey, wher kynges were all crouned, Vpon his hed he set the crowne anone [allone.] , [Fol. C.xxv.] [Homage of y^e Scottes.] And toke homage of hym vpon the grounde In Edwardes name, as he of right was bounde

For that ylke realme, and as his elders dyd, Suche fortune then to Englande was betid.

¶ The kyng Gryffyn [Griffith.] of Wales then was slayn, That Herford shire [Herefordshire than.] spoyled had and brent, His hed set vp at Gloucester full playne, For his vntruthe and falshed that he ment, And sone therafter his brothers hed was sent Vnto the kyng for his rebellion, So wer they both foriuged for treason.

¶ And as kyng Edward in his palayce [of pride,] [so wide.] Duke Goodwyne then sittyng at his table, Sawe the butler on his one fote slyde And lyke to fall that other fote full stable, [As he was seruyng the kyng at his table,] Then held hym vp that he fell not to grounde, Kyng Edward sayd to [Gudwyn in] [Godewyne thus.] that stounde,

¶ "As his one fote ye se [helpe that] [hath holpe.] other, Full well and trewe I I fynde it dayly nowe [newe.] , Had ye ne bene, thus had helpe me my brother;" Therle then to the kyng on side gan bowe, And sayd, "if I wer cause, I praye God nowe This breade passe not my throte, but dead I bee, And straungled here anone that ye maye see."

¶ At his prayer anone with that he died, For with that breade straungled was he y^t stound, It might not passe his throte, as men espied, Wherfore the kyng then bad drawe out y^t hounde Vnder the boorde, as he that false was founde, On whome God shewed an hasty iudgement [sore vengeaunce.] , Approued well by [good experiment.] [gode and trewe experiaunce.]

¶ Wher Herolde had therle Algare exiled Fro Leycestre, where erle he was so then, The kyng Edward agayn hym reconsiled, And perdoned hym and toke hym for his man; Of Couentre, as Flores tell it can,

The lord he was, and there thabbey founde, And buried there [is] with his wyfe that [this.] stound.

¶ This Algare was the sonne of [erle] Leofryke, Whiche Leofrike was the duke Lofwynes [Leofwyne.] sonne, That erle[s] had been there, none afore theim [hym.] like; But duke Siwarde, [as he] [at Yorke than.] did wonne, Syckenesse hym tooke and sore vpon hym ronne, [In whiche he dyd hym arme] [The whiche so dide hym harme.] in all degree, [And had] [He toke.] his axe in hand, full lyke to dye.

¶ He sayd vnto the lordes then hym about, "Thus semeth well in armes a knight to dye, And not in bed to [lye, loure,] [lie lowe.] and loute, Tyll death hym kyll with paynes cruelly, [As would God] [That wolde goode Gode.] here were my moste enemye, That I myght dye vpon hym nowe in right, In armes thus arayed like a knight."

¶ With that he died for paynes that he felt, Vpon his fete standynge in that araye, And shoke [his] axe, [while y^t] [unto.] his hert gan swelt, And to the ground he fell in that afraye, Who buried was at saynt Marie abbeye, At Yorke citee, with worshyp and honoure, [Fol. C.xxvi.] As likely [Like so.] was for suche a gouernoure.

¶ The kyng Edward, the duke [the duchie.] of Northūberlād To Tosty [Tostyue.] gaue, the sonne of duke Goodwyn, Vnder the name of erle, as Flores [doth] vnderstād: After whiche tyme all haue [hath.] been erles syne, [With landes and rentes both fayre and fyne;] [Unto this day discendynge doun be lyne.] Whiche estate suffice for princes ben both two, In euery lande accompte[d] where they go.

¶ He disherite[d] erle Waldyue his [owne] sonne, Who erle was then create of Huntyngdon, Of Northampton also [als.] , as chronicles [tell can,] [conne.] A worthy prince of all this region,

That rule a realme coulde [couth.] well then by reason; Another prince [was Loafrike] [erle Leoffrike.] that daye, Erle of Leycestre and Couentry no naye:

¶ Whiche Loefrike had a wyfe y^t Godiue hight, That naked [naked rode.] throughout all Couentree, The tolles sore and seruage agayn right To redeme [remedie.] hole [of her] [ayenste.] femynitee, She in her heare hangyng beneth [unto.] her knee, Vpon a daye, rode so through all the towne, To bye it free by her redempcion:

¶ For otherwise therle would not it free, But yf that she rode naked through [all] the towne, Vpon the daye that all men might her see, Trustyng she would not for no waryson Haue doen it so, by suche redempcion; But thus by witte she kept her selfe vnshamed, And freed the towne, worthy was he blamed [be blamed.] .

¶ Kyng Edwarde sente then into Hungary For his cousyn, the sonne of Emond Ironesyde. Themperoure sent hym Edwarde gladly, His brother sonne, and folke with hym to ryde, His sonne Edwarde [Edgare.] Athelyng by his syde, Margarete and eke Christine his doughter [doughters.] dere, Whiche kyng Edward receyued with good chere.

¶ He maried Margarete, [mighty w^t] [with mighty.] great riches, To [kyng] Malcolyne of Scotland was [kyng.] that daye, That [Which.] on her gatte fiue sonnes of great noblinesse [noblesse.] , Edwarde, Dunkan, Edgare, Alixander the gaye, And Dauid also [als.] , that kynges were all no naye Eche after other, of [of all.] Scotlande throughout, Whose mother is now S. Margrete w^tout doute.

¶ At Dumfermlyn shryned and canonized, On whom Malcolyne a doughter gate also, Kyng Henryes wife, the first full wel auised, Quene Mawd y^t hight y^t well loued Englāde tho;

These [The.] crosses fayre and roiall as menne goo, Through all Englande she made at hir expense, [And dyuerse good orders throwe his prouidence.] [And to theym gote pardoune and indulgence.]

¶ Another sustre this same saint Margarete had, That [Which.] Christine hight, kyng Edwarde thē professed In religion to lyue, she was full glad To holy lyfe disposed and adressed, [An holy woman of lyfe and of God blessed;] [All holynes in hir soule wase impressed.] Who at hir death hir soule then vncouered [vncoffred.] , [And to] [vnto.] our lorde full mekely so it offred.

¶ In his forest, as he pursued a dere, [Fol. C.xxvii.] In Essex, a palmer with hym met, Askyng hym good, whome gladly he dyd here, He claue his ryng and in sonder it bette, The halfe of whiche he gaue without [withoutyn.] lette To the palmer that went awaye anone, That other good to geue [hym] there had [he] none.

¶ But after that full longe and many [a] daye, Two pylgrames came vnto that [this.] noble kynge, And sayde, saint Iohn thappostell in pore araye [Ignoraūce and supersticyon.] Vs prayed, and bad straytly aboue all thyng, To you present and take this halfe golde rynge, Whiche ye gaue hym of almesse and charyte, And bade vs say that ryght sone ye should [shull.] him se:

¶ Whiche ryng he set together there anone, And that ylke place he called ay after Hauerynge, And that same place where they it braste [broke.] alone He called ay after that tyme Claueryng, In Essex be bothe [both two.] fayre standynge, Where that [than.] he made two churches [chapels.] of saint Iohn Theuangelyst, and [whiche.] halowed were anon.

¶ Sone after that he dyed and went to blysse; But fyrste he made duke Herold protectoure Of his cousyne, to gouerne and to wysse, Edgar Athelyng, full yonge a gouernoure,

Whome he ordeyned to be his successoure, As very heyre to Edmonde Ironesyde; But thus [this.] Herolde then set all that asyde.

When he had be kyng. xxiiii. yere, He dyed the yere a thousande syxtye and fyue, [Herolde, kynge of Englande, duke Goodwins sōne.] At Westminster canonyzed [is] full clere; All newe he made the churche there in his lyue, All were he not ryght heyre as men in [doo.] stryue: A confessoure he is full hye in heuen, With God to dwell euermore and beleuen [

Here the Harleian MS. adds,

A blisfull kynge he wase and fortunate, The tribute whiche his fader hade paied, The Danyshyelde called, he quyte and exonerate, That Englonde wase no more for it affraied, Nor neuer after to Denmarke ought obeied: But full of welth and all prosperite, He lefte Englonde the tyme whan he dide dee.

] .

Herolde by strength then crowned [was] for kynge, Forsworne that was vpon the euangelystes For to crowne Edgar Athelynge, And hym protecte and defende in all wyse Vnto his age, that none the realme suppryse. This was his othe of whiche he was forswore, All yf he made Edgar an earle therfore.

¶ The earle Tosty [Tostyue.] then of Northumberlande, That brother was vnto the [this.] kyng Herolde, By kyng [kyng Edwarde.] exyled out of the lande, To Englande came with kyng Herold full bold Of Norwaye then, in chronycle as is tolde; But kyng Herolde of Englande with them met, At Staūford brydge to death they both wer bet.

¶ Besyde Yorke was this batayl ful sore smyten, Where kyng Herolde of Englande had the felde, And slewe Herolde Harngrey, as was wryten [wetyn.] , Kyng of Norwaye, and earle Tosty [Tostyue.] vnder shelde, That neuer after myght armes [none armes.] welde, And thousandes fell [many.] of Danes and Norwayes, He kylled there that daye, as Flores sayes.

[A yere he reygned, whom] [Nyne moneths he reigned whan.] Willyam Conquerour, That [Whiche.] duke was then of all fayre Normandye, [Fol. C.xxviii.] Hym slewe in batayle for his ymagyned [vntrewe.] erroure Agayne hym that he dyd [so] cruelly, And not [nought.] wolde mende [ne yet] [nor yit him.] satisfye; The duke Willyam so the felde then conquered With strokes sore, for whiche the lande was ferd.

This kyng Herolde at Waltam, whiche he found Of foure score chanons, full fayer was buryed At [the] hye aulter, & as a kyng was crownde, All yf he were intrusor notifyed, And in batayl slayne and victoryed, Of gentylnesse the Conquerour bad so, All yf he were afore his mortall fo [Here the Harl. MS. adds, Nota hic quod linea regum Saxonum extincta est, et Normanni regnare incipiunt. Tamen remansit per muliebrem sexum, scilicet per Margaretam Scottorum reginam, uxorem Malcolini regis Seocie, et filiam Edwardi filii Edmundi Irenside regis Anglie, et Agathe filie Henrici Imperatoris, et sic de linea ejus moderni reges, ut de Saxonibus, linialiter discendunt.] .

¶ Willyam Conquerour, kyng of Englande and duke of Normandye, beganne to reygne the yere of Chryste a thousande. lxvi., and reygned. xxiiii. yere, and dyed the yere a thousande. lxxxx., and the sayde Conqueroure founded the abbaye of Batayle, for the soules of the people slaine there the fouretene daye of October, in the yere of Chryste a thousande thre score and syxe.

The. C.xxi. Chapiter. [Duke Willyā of Normandye.]

THe. xiiii. daye of October accompted, The duke Wyllyam y^t was of Normandye, At London was crowned and annoynted In trone royall to haue the monarchye, By his conquest and [be his.] his victorye, Withoute tytle of ryght to hym discente, But onely of his tryumphall entente.

¶ The yere of Chryste was when Alurede hym crowned, Tharchbyshop of Yorke & hye primate, A thousande hole. lxvi. well founde,

Quene Mawde his wyfe to hym assocyate, He crowned also [als.] that tyme in her estate, The abbay of Batayle [that] then he bounded, And for the soules there slayne he founded [it founded.] .

¶ He called it so then for a memorye Of his batayle by whiche Englande he gate, In token of his myghty victorye, [Fol. C.xxix.] That Englande there he had so well ouerset, [To praye for the soules slayne as was his det;] [Ther kynge ther slayne and his hooste ther bette.] Whiche abbaye is in Sussex, in that stede Where the batayle was and the people dede.

¶ The South part [partie.] of England then he rode, And dalt it largely vnto his menne, The North again hym rebelled then abode [and bode.] With help of Danes in that countre were then, And Scottes also [als.] that false wer when and whē; But kyng Wyllyam, that worthy conquerour, Discomfite theim with long and sore labour.

¶ To Normandy he went then right anone, And with hym had Edgar [Edwarde.] called Athelyng Edwyn and Morkar afore that [which.] were his fooen, For cause they should not then make more risyng In his absence while he were ther abidyng, But at his home commyng with hym again, He brough [brought.] theim all, of whiche the folke were fain.

¶ Gospatrik that then was erle of Cumberland, That [not again stode] [nought gaynstode.] king Malcolm [Malcolyne.] in his werre, When he distroyed therldome [his erledome.] and his land, But hym withdrewe out of waye [his waye.] full ferre; Wherfore the kyng, as saieth the chronicler, Hym disherite[d], and gaue to Rauf Mesthyne His erldome [erledome hoole.] , to whom menne did enclyne.

The. C.xxii. Chapiter.

¶ Homage of Scotlande dooen to kynge Willyam conquerour at Birmithi

in Scotland; and also howe the kyng of Fraunce scorned the kyng Wyllyam, & he quit it hym after.

THen rode the kyng into Scotlād anone [so anoone.] , And brent the land vnto Abirnythy, Where kynge Malcolyne submitt[ed] hym with great mone, And homage leege hym did full humbly, [Homage of the Neottes.] And amended there all his iniury. Then went he furth to Duram wher he offred, And to the churche he gaue great good vncoffred.

¶ He thē his lawe and peace alwaye proclaymed, Officers made in euery shire about, And so held on to London vnreclaymed, Wher his iustice he sett y^e land throughout, The kyng of Fraunce thus scorned hym out of doubt; That kyng Wyllyam in Gesine [Geysian.] had lyen long, And tyme hym [it.] wer been kyrked [churched.] with good songe.

¶ When he this hard, to Fraunce he went anone, There to bee kirked [churched.] he offrid his candill bright, A thousand townes he brent as he did gone. At theim he prayed the kyng of Fraunce to light His candill then, if that he goodly might; Whiche at his kirkehale [churchale.] and puryficacion To Mars he thought y^t tyme [to] make his oblaciō.

¶ Edwyn [therle proclamed of Leicester,] [the erle of Leicestre proclaymed.] After decesse of Algary [Algare.] his father dere, And erle Morcare [Morgare.] his brother that after [after claymed.] Dyed bothe twoo, Lucy their suster clere Of Leicester then and Lyncolne bothe in fere The coūtesse was, whome [whame.] kyng William maried To Iue Tailboys erle of Angeou magnified.

¶ To [The.] kyng Wylliam then came full glad again, [Fol. C.xxx.] At Wynchester he held his parliament, Wher he then slewe for wrath and greate disdain The duke Waldiue, that no harme to hym ment, But onely for he counselled and consent

To erle Edgar to gette his heritage Of England whole, and made to hym homage,

¶ Who duke was then of Northumberland, And erle create was also [eke.] of Huntyngton, By chronicles olde as menne can vnderstand, Entitled whole [as of all] [als and of.] Northampton, Beheded [was at Wynchester towne,] [he wase be fals ymagynacion.] Whose hedde together grewe to the necke again, Buried at Crowland for sainct the soth to sain.

¶ The kyng then made, as I vnderstand [can vnderstonde.] , The bishop then of Duresme that Walter hight Erle proclamed of Northumberland, Whom at Catteshede [Gateshede.] y^e countre [people.] slewe doune right. The kyng then made a lord that Awbryke hight Erle of y^t countre [londe.] , y^t durst not Scottes withstande, Wherfore he gaue Robert Mowbray that lande,

¶ And made hym erle of [than of.] Northumberland. The kyng then sent vnto euery shire Iustices [Iustice.] to sitte throughout all the land, Of all lordshipis and knightes fees enquere, What temporales [he] had to knowe he had desire, And what perteined vnto his royall croune, And what the churche had of deuocion.

¶ Vnto his soonne, eldest then generate, All Normandy he gaue in heritage, And England whole to Wyllyam nominate, His second soonne gaue with all [th]auauntage; And to Henry his third soonne young [of age,] [and sage. edit. alt. In yonge age. MS.] Therldome gaue then of Gloucester sea, With [the] honour of slede [Shelde.] for euer in certente.

¶ He dyed the yere a thousand four score and ten, And of his reigne twenty yere and four tho, At Cane [Caen.] buried, in thabbey that hight then Sainct Stephēs abbey by Cane [Caen.] that stādeth so. His doughter Ade [Ede.] afore had maried tho

Vnto therle Stephē of Bloyes, a prince of might, Of warres wyse and a full manly knight.

The. C.xxiij. Chapiter.

¶ Wyllyam Rufus, kyng of England, reigned thirtene yere, and began to reigne in the yere of our Lorde a thousand four score and ten, & dyed y^e yere a thousand one hundred & three.

HIs soōne Wylliam Rufus, as he deuised, [Kyng William Rufus.] Was crouned then w^t great solempnitee, But after soone duke Robert was auised To clayme England by his priorite, And Normandy also [as for his] [in.] proprete; As he that was his eldest soone and heire, With hoste full greate in England game [ganne.] repeire,

¶ And made greate warre vpon his brother so Three yere all out betwene theim [so] continued, Till at last thei bothe betwene theim twoo Did condiscende as well to theim perteined, [With whole herte and will nothyng feined,] [They to abide be theire othis certeyned.] The iudgement of kyng Philip of Fraunce [Fol. C.xxxi.] To vndergo and bide his ordinaunce.

¶ In whiche meane while his brother erle Hēry, The castels all belongyng to the croune, As high [his.] constable of England properly Then seazed had in his possession, As his office, by good dereccion, Asked of right and of [good] consuetude, To kepe theim sure to the crounes excelsitude.

¶ The kyng Philip, by his auised parliament, Gaue iudgement betwene the [tho.] brethren twoo, As kyng Wyllyam their father full [fully.] ment: All Normandy Robert should haue euer moo, And Wyllyam England, & frendes should bee so, And liue in peace without [withoutyn.] any clayme, And either other releace and whole disclayme.

¶ Therle Henry, of England then constable, Deliuered all the castels and citees right To kyng Wyllyam his brother enheritable, As he was bound and fully so had hight. Duke Robert then, his brother, a worthy knight, To England came to sport hym with his brother, At whiche tyme either was glad of other.

The. C.xxiiij. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Malcolyn of Scotland warred in England for his wifes right, pretendyng y^t she was right heire of England; and afterward he did homage to kyng Wyllyam Rufus for the realme of Scotland.

THis [The kyng.] Malcolin of Scotlād greatly claimed To haue England then by his wifes right, Margarete, suster of Edgar, heire proclamed Of England whole, that expelled was by might, Of kyng Wyllyam conquerour by vnright; So for his right the Northland he destroyed, And home he went again nothyng annoyed.

¶ But then the kyng and his brethren twoo To Scotland rode and wasted sore the land, Till Malcolyne came and did his homage [homage tho. edit. alt. MS.] , [Homage of the Scottes.] By letter wrytten and sealed I vnderstand, Whiche Hardyng gaue in to kyng Henryes hād, Without reward or any recompence, [Of mayne] [For his.] labour, his costagis [costage.] and expence.

¶ The duke Robert went home to Normandy, And kyng Malcolyne & his soonne then, Edward, Warred again [agayne in.] Northumberland in hie; But erle Robert that kepyng had and ward Of Northūberland, w^t hym then faught full hard: Byside [Alnwike at Malcolyne well] [Alnewike at Malcome wher.] were slain There [The kynge.] Malcolyne and Edward [his soōne] [als.] certain.

¶ Whē quene Margret so of y^e [tho.] tidynges knewe, She eate neuer meate, for sorowe dyed anone, At Dunfermelyn buryed as then was dewe;

But nowe she is there shryned in fleshe and bone, [Workyng miracles, as sayeth many one,] [And miracles hath shewed many oone.] Entombed faire, and in [the firetree] [a shryne.] translate, Of whiche abbey nowe is she aduocate.

¶ The Scottes then made Dunwalde so their kyng, [Fol. C.xxxii.] Malcolynes brother that to it had no right; But Dunkā, sonne of Malcolyne, that knowyng, With helpe of kyng Wyllyam and royall might [Homage of y^e Scottes.] Of Scotlande [Engelond.] , so droaue hym awaye to flight, And crouned was, as chronicles [chroniclers.] vnderstande, [And homage made to Wyllyam] [To kynge William dide homage.] for his lande.

¶ Sone after kyng Dunkan of Scotland slayn By treason was, and Dunwall [Dunwalde.] restitute Vnto the croune of Scotlande then agayne, Whome Edgare then by succoure and refute Of kyng Wyllyam droue out all destitute Of any helpe, and crouned was in Scotlande, [Homage of y^e Scottes.] [To kyng Willyam did homage] [And homage made to William.] for his lande.

¶ Of whose homage Iohn Hardyng gaue y^e letter, Full clerely made, written well and sealed; The whiche also, with other letters better, That by reason maye not be repeled [reueled edit. alt.] , The whiche yf he would haue enbeseled, The kyng Iames vnto his waryson A M. marke hym hight of his discrecion.

¶ And in his tyme Roes [Rees.] that Richarde hight, The kyng of Wales, in battayl strong [sore.] was slayn Besyde the castell of Brekenham [then] full right, Fro whiche tyme forthe theyr kynges seazed full playn, And princes called they were soth [the soth.] to sayn. The kyng with hoste on Robert Monbraye rode, Who with the kyng faught of [for. edit. alt.] his traytourhode,

¶ And discomfite helde Bamburgh castell then, And [Agayne.] the kyng enduryng full. vii. yere,

Consentyng with the lordes that so began For to depose the kyng of his croune clere; And duke Robert his brother, with great power To croune and make the kyng of all Englande, With Normandy to ioyse [joie.] I vnderstande.

¶ The kynge exiled Anselme of Cauntorbury Tharchebyshop, that withstode his wronges Doen to the churche and to the prelacie; To the commons also [als.] that theim belonges, [Seuētene tounes, w^t also many churches amōges] [Plough and tilthe he wasted and furlonges.] And abbeys foure he wasted and confounde, The newe forest in Hamshire for to founde [

Opposite to this stanza in the Margin of the Harleian MS. is the following rubric:

Nota quod Rex Willielmus Rufus statuit sanctum Anselmum Cantuar' Archiepiscopum, postea vero enormiter eum prosequens usque ad exilium, et sic, eo exulante, in quadam Visione nocturna videbat quod omnes sancti Anglie conquererent Altissimo super tirantude Regis Willielmi ecclesias suas destru∣entis. Et ait Deus accedat Anglorum prothomartir Albanus, et tradidit ei vnam sagittam ignitam, dicens, "Ecce mors illius de quo querimoniam coram me componitis;" et beatus Albanus accipiens, dixit, "Et Ego trado eam spiritui nequam ultori peccatorum," et projecit in terram volantem per aerem ad instar comet. Rex autem in cra tino post eandem vi-ionem, in noua foresta dum venaretur, Walterus Tirell cum sagitta Ceruo intendens Regem percussit, inscius Rex corde ictus corruit nec verbum edidit.

] .

¶ He buylded the [than the.] Newcastell [vp]on Tyne, The Scottes to [for to.] gaynstande and to defende, And dwell [duelte.] therin; the people to enclyne The towne to builde and walle as did append, He gaue theim ground & golde ful great to spend, To buylde it well and wall it all aboute, And fraunchised theim to paye a free rent out.

¶ The rentes & frutes to tharchbishop perteinyng, And to the byshoppes of Wynchester & Sarum, And also. ix [of nyne.] . abbeys lyuelod conteynyng, In his handes seazed and held all and some, But for his workes & buyldynges held eche crome [crum.] , With whiche he made then Westmynster hall, And the castel of Newecastell [the newe Castell.] withall,

¶ That stādeth [stonte.] on Tyne, therin to dwel in warre, Agayne the Scottes the countree to defende, Whiche, as [that.] men sayd, was to hym mekill [muche.] deer,

And more pleasyng then otherwyse dispende, [Fol. C.xxxiii.] And muche people for it did hym cōmende; For cause he dyd the commen wealthe sustene, Of marchers [His marches.] vnnumerable to mayntene.

The. C.xxv. Chapiter.

¶ This kyng Willyam Rufus taxed so sore the commons, y^t they might not mayntene tilthe; for whiche fell great derth and great myschiefe, and moren of catel for defaute of food: for whiche the commons wer glad of his death.

GReat tallage of England then was [he.] raysed, In so ferforth that [the.] tilthe of land was leyd; Of which sued mischiefe nothyng praysed, For faute [wante.] of food, morayn of bestiall frayed, And death of people for hunger sore arayed: A kyng woteth [wote.] not what harmeth housbandrye, Housbande [Husbondes.] to pill and taxe outragiously.

¶ To [Godis dome haue no] [the doome of Gode haue.] consyderacion, Howe that this kyng on huntyng as he stoode Vnder a tree, [and as writynges] [as writynge.] maketh mencion, Walter Tyrel at his game [triste.] in that wood [Shotyng at] [Shotte to.] a dere, of whiche he drewe no bloode, But stroke the kyng vnto the dethes wounde, That there anone he died vpon the ground.

¶ At Wynchester then buried anone, The date was then of his reygne. xiii. yere, For whome the folke no sorowe made nor moone, He hurte theim so with taxe and tallage here [sere.] , Of Christ a thousande an. C. and three [yere] clere, Whose death the folke in no wise did complayn, Were [So were.] they all therof bothe glad and fayn.

The. C.xxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Henry the first kyng of Englande, and duke of Normandye, reigned. xxxvi. yere, and died in the yere of Christe a thousande. C. and. xxxix.

HEnry his brother y^t first was of that name, [Kyng Henry the first.] Was crouned thē w^t al [y^e] honour might be, He recōsiled saynt Anselne that cam hame, Who crouned Maude his wyfe full fayre & free, That doughter was, full of benignitee, To kyng Malcolyne, & saint Margarete y^e quene Of Scotlande whiche afore that tyme had been;

¶ On whom he gate Willyam, Richard, & Mold Whose goodnesse is yet spoken of full wide, If she were fayre hir vertuous [vertues.] manyfolde Exceaded farre and vices [vice.] she set aside, Debates [And debates.] all, that [en]gendred were of pride, She staunched hole with all beneuolence, And visited [vesite.] sycke and poore with diligence:

¶ The [presoners also] [prisons als.] & wemen eke [all.] with childe, And in gesene [Gisean.] lyuyng ay where aboute, Clothes and meate and beddyng newe [clene.] vnfiled, Wyne also [als.] and ale she gaue without [withoutyn.] doubte, Where she sawe [se.] nede in countrees al throughout; These crosses all that yet bee moste royall, In the hye wayes with gold she made theim all.

¶ Kyng Edgare [thē] hir brother was of Scotlād, That to kynge [the kynge.] Henry then made homage, [Homage of y^e Scottes.] The byshop of Duresme then toke on hande, The [To.] duke Robert to gone in [so in.] message, [Fol. C.xxxiiii.] To make [cause.] hym clayme Englande his [as his. edit. alt.] herytage; The [To.] whiche he dyd anon withoute delaye, As they accorded [accorde.] vpon a certayne daye.

¶ But Anselne [seynt Anselme.] byshop of Caunturbury, And also [als.] quene Maude then made them well accorde, The kyng to paye thre. M. marke yerely To duke Robert withoute [withoutyn.] more discorde, And counsayled then the kyng, as was recorde, To loue the lordes that made the discencyon Betwyxte his brother and hym by conuencyon.

¶ The [Then. edit. alt.] kyng Henry warred Robert Estenuyle [Estoutvile.] The eldest sonne of Roger Mountgomery, And his brother that was so called that whyle And create earle of [then of.] Shrewysbury, Who his castell [castells.] of Arundell helde for thy, And Shrewysbury also and the cytee, With other mo castels in his countre [counte.] :

¶ Whiche to the kyng he yelde [helde. edit. alt.] by conuencyon, He and his brother to passe to Normandye, With all theyr men without [withoutyn.] discencyon, To theyr father Roger Mountgomerye, That earle was there of Bolesmo [Bolesme.] manly. The kyng went then to Caue [Caen.] and to Barhous [Bayhouse.] , Helde them with force [strenght.] and herte full couetous:

Whiche towres [townys.] Robert, the duke of Normandy, Asked of hym to haue delyueraunce, And his money of thre thousand marke yerely, Whiche he ought hym by the [their.] hole concordaunce, Whiche he [agayne sayde] [geynseide.] and stode at variaunce; Wherfore they fell on warre and toke the felde, With hostes greate full sore faught vnder shelde,

¶ At Tenarthbray, that is in Normandye, Where Nigell then, of Albany that hyght, Toke duke Robert in batayll manfully, And brought him bound vnto the kyng w^t might; For which y^e kyng anone there made him knight, And gaue hym landes that were forfet afore, By Robert Stutuyle [Stutevile.] in Englande for euermore.

¶ He gate also a castell besyeged [seged.] longe, Whiche he scalyd with noble polycie, And to the kyng it gaue, though it were wronge; For whiche the kyng gaue hym anon in hye The landes all that forfet were only, By Robert Monbray [Moubray.] , earle of Northumberland, In his brothers tyme as I [I can.] vnderstande.

¶ The [This.] same Nygell, that hyght Albanye, A sonne had then, whome [whome so.] the kyng Henry Roger Monbray [Moubray.] dyd call [euer after] [for ay.] ay, Thus Albany was chaunged morally Vnto Monbray [Moubray.] for the lyuelod onely; Whiche Monbray [Moubray.] had afore of herytage These [Monbrayes nowe] [Moubrays newe.] rose fyrst of hye corage.

¶ This kynge Henry then seazed Normandye, And made his sonne Willyam duke of y^t lande, And home came [come so.] to Englande then in hye; And in the yere of Chryste to vnderstande A thousande hole, an. C. and ten on hande, His doughter Maude he maryed to Henry, That emperour was then of Romanye [high Romany.] [Fol. C.xxxv.]

He put his brother duke Robert in straite warde, And many other that were of his cognisaunce [inheraunce.] , Where he released couenauntes and forwarde, Afore wryten of his enherytaunce That betwene them myght make any dystaunce, And founde hym euer [longe.] in all [full.] royall estate, By good auyse and councell ordynate.

¶ Whiche duke ordred [men seide.] was so for he forsoke The realme of al the lande of Ierusalem, When he was chose therto, and nought it toke, For couetyse to haue this Englyshe realme, [For he forsoke that fortune as men dyd deme,] [After the deth of his fader kynge Williame.] Agayne Goddes wyll and his hye ordynaunce, For chosen he was by all Chrysten creaunce.

¶ For at wynnynge of [of this.] Ierusalem, Where prynces many, kynges and dukes were, He was the worthyest of any realme, And bare hym beste in knyghtly dede of warre, At all assautes moste knyghtly dyd [aye.] hym beare, The honoure all and fame he had euermore, And chosen was there to be kynge therfore.

¶ Men saide y^t God gaue hym suche punyshmēt, His brother to put hym in greate [suche.] myserye Vnto his death agayne his owne entente, For he forsake Chrystes owne monarchye, [In whiche he was borne & for man lyste to dye,] [Of Ierusalem and all the regallie.] The Chrysten fayth to mayntayne and encrease, For couetyse his brother to discreace [disencrese.] .

¶ The yere of Chryste a thousande was ful clere, [And] an hundreth also [als.] and therwithall eyghtene, When good quene Maude was deed & laide on bere, At Westminster buryed as well was sene; For heuynesse of whiche the kyng, I wene, To Normandy then went vnto his sonne, The duke William, & there with hym dyd wonne.

¶ The third yere after to England came agayn The duke his sonne, Willyam of Normandye; His brother Rycharde also, the sothe to sayne, And earle Rycharde of Chester in company, With many other lordes in shyppes them bye, Vpon the sea were dreynt in greate distresse, Of [the] whiche the kyng had then great heuinesse.

¶ Which duke Williā had wed y^e doughter then Of Fowke Tailboys, earle of Angeou had bene, With whome a. C. lx. knyghtes with many men, And [With.] ladyes many were drowned as was sene; And then the kyng wed Hadelyse [Adelise.] the quene, [The] duke Godfrey daughter y^t was of Loreyne, Of his mournyng to comforte him agayne.

¶ And in the yere a thousande fully accompte, And an. C. twenty and also fyue, Themperour Henry the death surmounte, And passed to God fro Maude that was his wife, Who to her father king Henry came belyfe, Abode [And bode.] with hym in Englande then two yere, Maude empryce was called then full clere.

¶ And in the yere of Chrystes incarnacyon, [Fol. C.xxxvi.] A thousande was an. C. twenty and seuen, When kyng Henry, in greate prosperacyon, His doughter Maude thempryce to neuen, The [To.] earle Geffrey Plantagenet euen Earle of Angeou, the sone of Fowke Tailboys, So maryed had of fame that had the voyce,

¶ On whome he gate a sonne y^t Henry hyght, By surname called Henry Fitz Empryce. Then dyed his [hir.] eme Alexaunder forth ryghte, [* Homage of y^e Scottes.] The kyng of Scottes, a prīce of great enterpryce [enprice.] , That homage dyd for Scotlande as suffyce, So dyed, then to whome Dauyd succede, His brother was, saint Margarete sonne in dede,

¶ That to kyng Henry made his homage, And then to Maude the foresayde empryce, [* Homage of y^e Scottes.] By hole assent of all his baronage, By letter wryten and sealed as maye suffyce, Which Iohn Hardīg in Scotland brought [bought.] of price, With many mo, for foure. C. marke and fyftye, At biddīg & cōmaundement of the w^t [fifte.] king Henry.

¶ Cadwalan prynce of Wales, at Wadeyet In batayle faught, where kyng Henry him slewe, And greate people of Wales that there forset Were slayne that daye, to hym y^t were vntrewe, Of whiche batayl Wales maye alway rewe, The yere a thousande an. C. and thyrtye, And [there tyll] [therto.] two, as made is memorye [In the Harleian MS. this stanza immediately follows the last of fol. cxxxv.] .

¶ Then went the kyng to Normandye agayne, And there abode, and kepte all Normandy To tyme he dyed, of whome that lande was fayne, But Englande then of it was full heuy; When he had [had so.] reygned so full worthy [worthely. edit. alt. royally. MS.] , He dyed in the syxe and thyrtye yere, At Boys Leon, of his reygne then full clere.

¶ Of Chrystes date was then a thousande yere, An hundreth also [als.] and. ix. and thyrtye moo, Buryed at Redynge as well it doth appere, In the abbaye whiche there he founded [founde.] so Of monkes blake, where euer they ryde or goo That pray for hym, & [for] quene Maude his wyfe, Who eyther other loued withouten stryfe.

The. C.xxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Stephan of Bloys, kynge of Englande, reygned. xix. yere, & beganne the yere of Chryst a thousande. C. and. xxxix. and dyed in the yere a thousande. C. lviii.

STephā of Blois his sister sōne was croūd, [Kyng Stephan.] A manly mā was thē of great power, And king was made of England y^t [in that.] stound, Withoute stryfe or any maner warre. To Normandy he went and seazed all there, And gaue it to his sonne syr Eustace, And made hym duke therof with great solace.

¶ Thus [This.] Eustace then, duke of Normandy, To Parys went to kyng Lewys of Fraunce, His homage made for his lande so in hye, And put oute then, with greate contraryaunce, The offycers that dyd to Maude pleasaunce, [Fol. C.xxxvii.] And wed the suster of kyng Lewes to wife, For supowaill [suppowell.] of it without [withoutyn.] strife.

¶ The kyng Stephā to Englād thē home came, And tidynges had howe kyng Dauid had distroied The North parties, & dooen [full muche harme;] [grete hurte and grame.] [Wherfore he brent Edenburgh then and noyed, And the countree aboute he sore accloyed:] [

Wherfore kyng Steuyn with hoo te not acloted, Scotlonde entred Edenburgh, brente and noied.

] For wiche Dauid his soonne to Henry then sent To bee his manne thens furth at his entent.

¶ To whome kyng Stephan therldō of Hūtyngton Then gaue, and erle therof hym [so] create;

Who then for it by verey due reason His homage did as it was ordinate, [Homage of the Scottes.] Whiche Hēry dyed, and neuer had kynges estate; For whiche the Scottes seyn thei owe no seruice To Englishe kynges, but onely of [in.] this wise.

¶ Kyng Stephan then bet the castell [castels.] doune In England so that stode hym to defence, His menne thei [them.] gaue to their enheritesoun, And all foon [his foone.] for cause of their offence He disherite with [be.] might [mighty. edit. alt.] violence: Diuers erles and lordes he disherite, And many other of his frendes enherite.

¶ The yere of Christ a thousand was then gone, An hundred thirty [als thritty.] and eight also, Kyng Stephan brake [than brake.] all his othe[s] a none That he had made vnto the barons tho; For whiche thei rose full sore again hym so, [And warred hym felly on euery side,] [And made hym werre felly on eche side.] And he on them also [with mikyl] [with full grete.] pryde.

¶ [The yere] a thousande an. C. thyrty and nyne, Maude Empryce in England claymed her right With [The.] earle Robert of Gloucestre her brother fine, And earle Randolf of Chester with all his might, Syr Bygot [Hugh Bigott.] earle of Northfolke then hyght, Awbrey Ver then earle of Oxenforde, And Willyam Bawne [Boune.] [y^t] then was earle of Herforde.

¶ Willyam Legroos earle of Almarle tho, Robert Louell, & Willyam lorde Percy, Kyng Dauyd her [als hir.] eme, [and many other] [with many.] mo Of earls and barons [that] were full hardy, The castell then Lyncolne [of Lyncolne.] gate on hye; The cytee helde of Lyncolne with [with them.] also With hoste full greate lyggyng with them so [tho.] .

¶ Where then the kyng y^e castell seged longe, Tyll he had by treaty and conuencyon,

And bode therin with power greate and stronge, Tyll Maude and he, as made is mencyon, With stronge batayles and great [soore.] discencyon, Besyde Lyncolne, where then she had the felde, And Stephā taken & hurt sore through his sheld.

To Brystowe then earle Roberte Clare hym led, And in the towre there kepte in stronge pryson The empryce Mawde with power that she had [hedde.] , To Wynchester then she rode segyng the towne, Where the quene Maude, as made is mencyon, Kyng Stephā his wyfe it rescowed w^t batayl sore, And toke the earle Clare [his eme] [hir vncle.] thore.

The. C.xxviij. Chapiter. [Fol. C.xxxviii.]

¶ Thenterchaunge of kyng Stephan and of the duke Robert Clare duke of Glocester.

FOr [which] cause thē to haue [hir eme] [hir vncle.] again Themperesse and quene Maude accordid To enterchaunge y^e kyng so then full fain For erle Robert, without [withoutyn.] more concordid. This enterchaunge thus made and [as is.] recordid, The kyng hir sued vnto Oxenford, Fro whens she went by night to Walyngford,

¶ Vpon the [frost in the] [ies in snowe in.] wynter season, In her smocke alone with hir vncle dere, That none hir knewe of theim without the towne, So like hir smocke and the snowe was [were.] in feer: The kyng knewe not in what place that [than.] she wer, For Oxenford he gate and Awbray slewe, Of Oxenford that was an [the.] erle full trewe.

¶ The kyng Stephan a castell then began At Wilton, where kyng Dauid with power And erle Robert of Glocester that was then, Hym droue awaye out of [fro.] that place full clere, And bet it downe to the ground full nere.

To Walyngford the [for the.] kyng with power went, Themperesse to sech [sege.] was his entent.

¶ Hir partie then droue hym then [thens.] awaye With greate slaughter of menne and occision; And euery lorde on other made greate affraye, And spoyled other through al this region, By greate impression [mysprision.] and cruell sore raunson. The kyng treated with erle Randolf full trewe, But false then was his treaty, as menne knewe;

¶ For when he came vnto his presence, Anone he putte hym in [into.] sore prisone, To tyme he had by his magnificence The castell of Lyncolne vnto his croune, And putte hym then to fyne and greate raunsom, So variaunt he was alwaye of hight, Fro euē to morowe, that no man trust hym might.

The fiftene yere of the [this.] same kyng Stephen, Therle Geffrey of Angeou decessid [so discessed.] , A noble prince as all menne did beleuen. Henry his soonne of persone well encressed, Of childishe wit also full relesed, And of age he was then fiftene yere; To Scotland came kyng Dauid to require

¶ Of his socour and of his supportacion England to gette that was his heritage, Who made hym then full greate consolacion, And with hym came without [withoutyn.] fee or wage, With full assent of all his baronage. Vnder baners kyng Dauid made hym knight Vpon the felde, again kyng Stephen to fight.

¶ But suche treaty was made and good accorde, That kyng Stephen to Henry shoulde retourne [attourne.] , As very heire without [withoutyn.] more discorde; At his decesse to Henry whole retourne, [The croune of England without more soiourne,]

Who died then after in his. xix. yere, [Fol. C.xxxix.] At Feuersham buried he was full clere.

¶ Of Christes date was then a thousande yere, And an hundreth fyftye [als fiftye.] and eyght also, His wyfe and he there buried both in feer; The whiche he found whyles he was lyuyng so, [And reigned here in muche trouble and wo,] [As kynge of Engelonde reignynge in drede and wo.] And [He.] had this realme without [withoutyn.] any ryght, For themprise Maude that [fayre lady] [ladie feire and.] bright.

The. C.xxix. Chapiter.

¶ Henry Fitz Emprice kyng of Englande, and erle of Angeou, duke of Normandye and Guyen, by. xxxvi. yere, and beganne to reygne the yere of oure Lorde a thousande a hundreth. lviii. and dyed the yere a thousande an hundreth and. xciiii.

HEnry therle of Angeou was tho [so.] [Kyng Hērye the Seconde.] In this meane tyme had bē in Normādy, And set his rule therin for frende or foo, And crouned was at London worthely, With all the lordes of his hye monarchie, And made hym then theyr feautee and homage, The prince of Wales also [als.] for his heritage.

¶ He wedded then a lady fayre and bright, Dame Alianor the dukes doughter of Guyen, And heyre therof and lady by all right, Possession had with all the profytes then, And welbeloued was she with her men, Deuorced fro the kyng Lewes of Fraunce, That hyr had wed to wyfe of his puysaunce,

¶ And on her gatte two doughters fayre & gente, But for sibrede [kynred.] and consanguinitee They were departed by papall iudgement. On whome kyng Henry, by Christes decree, Gatte sonnes foure of great humanitee, Henry, Richarde, Geffrey, and Iohn also, Elianor and Ihone [Iohan.] , his doughters two.

The. C.xxx. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Malcolyne the seconde kyng of Scottes made homage for Scotlande, & for therldome of Huntyngdon.

IN this meane whyle kyng Dauid then so dyed, To whō Malcolyn Hēryes sōne was heire, Whiche Henry was erle notified Of Huntyngdon without any dispayre, [Of that erldome bothe good and fayre,] [In Engelonde an erledome of goode leire.] And sonne was [he wase.] to this noble kyng Dauy, That wedded had erle Waldens [Waldeue.] doughter onely.

¶ To enioye [ioye.] therldome by her enheritaunce, That gat on her this Malcolyne that was kyng Of Scotlande nowe, of mighty hye puysaunce; That homage made for his enherityng, [Homage of y^e Scottes.] [Vnto Henry that then was of Englande kyng,] [To Henry Courtemantell Fitz Emperesse no lesynge.] For all Scotlande, and also [als.] for Huntyngdon; Whiche seruices [seruyce.] both were due vnto the croune.

The. C.xxxi. Chapiter.

¶ This kyng Henrye exiled Thomas Becket, byshop of Cauntorburye. [Fol. C.xl.]

HE maried [then] his sonne the young Henry To the doughter of the kyng of Fraunce. He exiled then Thomas of Cauntorbury Out of Englande, and many of his aliaunce, For cause of [his rebellious] [the churches.] gouernaunce: And as he came fro Rome by Fraunce awaye, With language fel he prayed [paied.] the kyng that daye

¶ The poyntes to mende, [and so] [so he.] to Englād went, For which the kyng was with hym sore [so.] displeased, That then he sayd, had I [had] men that ment Myne honeste, I were not thus diseased, With suche a clerke thus greued and vneased.

Therfore [For whiche.] three knightes, Raynold le Fitz Vrsy, [Raynold Fitz Vrsy, Hughe Maruile, Robert Tracy.] Hughe Moruyle [hym slewe with] [and also.] Robert Tracy [

Here the Harleian and Selden MSS. add,

Pursued hym sore anoone into Engelonde Vnknowen to the kynge withoute hidynge, In his oun churche as men can vnderstonde, With violence hym slewe withoute lettynge; For whiche the kynge with teres full sore wepynge, Remordyng than his wordes of occasion, Repented sore and axed absolucion.

Kynge Henry than vnto the pope furth sent Ambassiatours with his supplicacion, Besechynge hym with verry humble entent For to admytte his trewe declaracion, Touchynge the deth and the desolacion Of Thomas of Caunterbury his clerke, For it wase neuer his will in worde ne werke.

] .

¶ But kyng Malcolyne died that was full true Of his homage at Westchester ensealed, To kyng Henry dooen so as it was due; [Homage of y^e Scottes.] For it should not be gaynsayd ne counselled [concealed. edit. alt. MS.] , Nor afterwarde of Scottes be repeled: To whiche Malcolyne Willyā his sonne & heyre Was crouned kyng of Scotlande then full fayre.

The. C.xxxii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kynge Wyllyam of Scotlande wente into Normandye, with kyng Henry of Englande the seconde, as his liegeman.

THis kyng Wyllyam then rode with hoste full stronge, [Subieccion of y^e Scottes.] The Northrē lād he brent & sore distroyed, [By East and West of both merches of Englande,] [By Weste and Este of both marches endelonge.] The lorde Vesty with it was anoyed, The lorde Vnfreuyle [Vmfrevile.] with syckenesse so [sore.] accloyed, With power great at Aluwike [Alnewik.] with hym faught, Wher he was takē in batayll sore and caught.

¶ Whō to the kyng to Londō then thei brought Vnto kyng Henry with great honoure. Then had the kyng tydynges he liked nought: His sonne Henry by kyng Lewys socoure

Besieged Roan with hoste [great and] [and grete.] rygoure; For when [whiche.] the kyng to Normandy then went, The kyng Wyllyam with hym his labour spent.

¶ And Dauid also [als.] his brother with [at.] al his might, That erle was then create of Huntyngdon, And Robert Ferers erle of Leycester so hight, And Roger Clare, with theim of great renoume, Of Gloucester [that] erle was in possession, With other lordes, and the siege sone remeued, And his cytee of Roan full well rescued.

¶ The siege and saute perdoned and forgeuen, At the prayer of kyng Lewys of Fraunce, Within fewe yeres in peace and rest to liuen, He crowned his sonne without [withoutyn.] distaunce Kyng of Englande, and gaue hym gouernaunce; And at the feast of his coronacion He sewed afore hym for his consolacion.

The. C.xxxiii. Chapiter.

¶ This yonger Henry reigned but. iiii. yeres, and died before his father; [Fol. C.xli.] wherfore he is not accompted as kynge, because his father outlyued hym, and reigned after his death.

ANd to hī said, "Sōne thinke I do you honour, A kynge to serue you thus nowe at youre meate;" He aunswered hym full vnthankefully that houre, And sayd it was no reproue ne. forfete, An erls sonne to serue the [a.] kynges sonne at meate [sete.] ; For whiche the father Henry to Irelande went, [Tyll young Henry the kyng] [And ther abode to yonge Henry.] was dead and spent [In the margin of the Harleian MS. is this rubrick. Nota iste juuenis Henricus Rex regnavit nisi quatuor annis, et obiit ante patrem. Ideo non numeratur pro Rege quia pater ejus Henricus Rex senior supervixit et regnavit ad mortem.] .

Then came Henry and had the gouernement, The father and kyng was then admytte agayn, And reigned then and had the regiment, And but. iiii. yere his sonne reygned soth to sayen; Wherfore he is among kynges certeyne

Not accoumpted by no chronicler, For his father was kynge afore and after clere.

The. C.xxxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Wyllyam of Scotlande made his homage to kyng Henry the seconde.

THe kyng Wyllyam at his daye assigned [Homage of y^e Scottes.] To Yorke came to do there his homage, That made it then & nothyng it repugned, But [for his] [as.] due dette then for his heritage Of Scotlande whole, by veraye due [trewe.] knowlage Of his barons and by his euydence, Agayne it founde he then no trewe defense.

¶ The kynge Henry then [tho.] cōquered all Irelande By papall dome there of his [the.] royaltee, The profytes and reuenues of the lande, The dominacion and the souerayntee, For errour whiche agayn the spiritualtee They helde full longe, & would not been correcte Of heresyes, with which they were infecte.

¶ He founded then the priory of Newstede Within Shirwod, and Waltham founded newe Afore were secular without hede, Whiche regular he made in order due; And other two houses [places.] of order trewe, [He founded there for his soule to praye, Where was holy seruyce kepte euery daye.] [

He founded faier for Thomas deth adjoynte Of Caunterburye the archbishope anoynte.

]

¶ Geffreye his sonne the thyrde gotten and bore, That duke of Britayne was hole create, By his wyues right to enioye for euermore, [Whiche was a prince of royall great estate,] At Parys [dyed that Arthure create] [he died who Arthure generate.] To sonne and heyre, and Isabell the fayre His doughter was without any dispayre.

¶ In [And in.] the yere of Christ a thousande clere, An hundreth and sixty also and one, Baudewyn the thyrde died taken priesoner By the Sarysens, that were his mortall foone, Of his body that yssue then had none: To whome his brother Almarike did succede To Ierusalem, and there was kyng in dede.

¶ By treason of therle Triples [of Triples.] then, The Christen hoste that had foule betrayed, When Bawdewyn was so taken through y^t false man, [Fol. C.xlii.] That great people of Christē had thē reised, And on the felde nothyng to be praysed, To the Sarysyns went with all his power, And discomfyt the Chrysten hoost full clere.

The. C.xxxv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Geffrey Plantagenet, otherwyse called Plantageneth earle of Angeou, elder brother of Bawdewyne and Almaryk, shoulde haue ben king of Ierusalem afore, and so by consequens thys kynge Henrye shoulde haue be kynge of it.

BVt yf ryght had lynally procede, Geffray Plantagenet earle [the erle.] of Angeou, The elder brother of Bawdwyn so in dede, And of Almaryk with [mykell blysse] [muche myrth.] and ioye, [Whiche Geffray so earle of Angeou] Shulde haue be kyng afore of all that realme, Both of Surry and also [of.] Ierusalem.

¶ When duke Robert Ierusalem forsoke, For couetyse to haue and ioyse [ioie.] Englande, Godfray Boleyne [De Boleyn̄.] the realme of Surry toke, And of Ierusalem eke [as.] I vnderstande, And crowned was to be kynge of that lande, That duke had bene afore of all Loueyne [Lorreyne.] , A noble prynce and a worthy chyefteyne.

¶ A thousande was an hundreth sixty & syxtene, Withoute yssue of his body cōmynge

Dyed, to whome his brother as was sene Bawdwin succeded, and of that realme was king, That ruled the lande as was full well semyng, Full worthy [worthely.] accompted amonge [all] estates, That Chrysten fayth susteyned without debates.

To whom his sonne king Bawdewin did succede, The seconde was that had so borne that name, A noble prynce [of all] [in euery.] marcyall dede, And in that lande greate honoure had and fame, [Whiche on his wyfe gate without blame] A doughter then had [he hade.] vnto his heyre, That lande to haue enheryte and repayre:

Whom then earle Fowke of Angeou wed to wife, And kyng was of that lande then by her ryght, On whome he gate thre sonnes in his lyfe, [Worthy knyghtes and men of greate myght,] The eldest Geffray Plantagenet hyght [so hight.] That gate this same Henry Fytz Empryse, Kyng of Englande, of noble [and] hye enterpryse [emprice.] :

The. ii. sonne of Fowke was Bawdewin [y^e] thirde, Dyed prysoner as [it] is expressed afore, Without yssue of his body betyd: The third sonne then of Fowke & laste was bore, Hyght Almaryk, whiche two were kynges thore, Where erle Geffrey their elder brother had ryght, That suffred them to ioye that lande by myght,

¶ Which Almaryk dyed kyng so of that realme: After whome then reygned his sonne Bawdwyn, That fourth was of that name of Yerlam [Ierusaleme.] , That impotent was without medecyn, To mayntayne warre he myght no more enclyne, Who called was Bawdewyn Paraliticus, [Fol. C.xliii.] For with the palsye stryken was he full hydeous.

The. C.xxxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe that kyng Henry the seconde was very heyre of Ierusalem, and by consequens Rycharde of Yorke shoulde be the same.

WHerfore he sent to kynge Henry his crowne, His banner also of his armes full fayre Of Ierusalem that were of great renowne, As to hym that was then the very heyre, Of earle Geffray eldest sonne full fayre Was to kyng Fowke and to his wyfe the quene Doughter and heyre to Baudewin [the. ii.] [seconde.] clene.

¶ This fourth Bawdewyn, called Paraliticus, This message sent the yere of Christe a thousand An hundreth ful foure score and thre, ryght thus, When Henry was requyred to haue that lande, Whiche he proroged and sent agayne his sounde [sonde.] , He shulde be there yf that the kyng of Fraunce And he myght well accorde of gouernaunce.

¶ He went so forth anon to Normandye, With hoost full great with kyng Philyp to treat Of that voyage and warre accorded [accorde.] on hye, But then the death hym felly ganne reherte [rehete.] ; Wherfore anon he satte vp in his seate, And to his sonne Rycharde greate sōme [goode.] he gaue, Thether to go that holy lande to saue.

¶ And then he dyed at Pount [Founte.] Euerard buryed The [With.] sorowe of herte and great contricyon, A [As.] prynce Chrysten fully notifyed, Withouten pere in all comparyson, Of worthy knygthode and manly renowne, A thousande yere an. C. lxxx. and fourtene, And of his reygne was syxe & thirty clene.

The. C.xxxvii. Chapiter [Here the Harleian MS. gives, "The Title of Irɫm. and the londe of Behest.] .

¶ Howe Richard king of England, duke of Normādy & earle of Angeou, reygned. x. yere, and beganne the yere of Chryst a. M. an. C. lxxxxiiii. & dyed the yere. M. CC. and. iiii.

• Robertus Curtehose, filius primogenitus Willielmi Conquestoris Anglie, qui fuit dux Normannie, electus fuit rex Irɫm. A^o. Mlxxxxix. qui reliquit illud.
  • Henricus frater suus rex Anglie, dux Normannie, succedens post ipsum.
  • Matilda filia sua unica & heres, imperatrix Rome, postea vxor Galfridi Plantagenet, qui habuerunt filium, que obiit Anno M^o. clxvi^to.
  • Henricus [Iste Henricus incepit regnare Anno Domini M^o. clv^to. filius & heres predictorum Galfridi Plantagenet & Matildis Imperatricis, rex Anglie, dux Normannie ex jure matris, verus heres de Irɫm. & Comes Andegauie ex parte patris, & dux Acquietanie ex jure uxoris sue, et sic per jus hereditarium discendit Ricardo filio suo.] rex Anglie, secundus filius & heres predictorum Galfridi & Matildis.
  • Ricardus [Iste Ricardus, jus habens & titulum ad Irɫm. transfretavit illuc Anno M^o. clxxxx^o. et cepit Irɫm. & omnes civitates & castra illius Regni & terras & dedit illud Regnum A^o. M^o. clxxxxij^o. Henrico Comiti Saxonie & Campanie nepoti suo & A^o. M^o. clxxxxiij^o. captus fuit Ricardus Rex per Syngualdum ducem de Ostriche & liberat' Henrico Imperatore qui redemptus fuit A^o. M^o. clxxxxiiij^to.] , rex Anglie.
• Fratres fide jurati.
• Godefridus de Boleyn, dux Lothoringie, fiebat rex Irɫm. in defectu dicti Roberti. Anno Domini Mlxxxxix. qui obiit sine exitu de corpore suo, unde jus discendebat Baldewino fratri suo qui regnavit ij. annis.
• Fratres carnales.
• Baldewinus frater ejusdem Godefridi, post decessum dicti Godefridi, regnauit apud Irɫm. xvij. annis qui obiit Anno Domini. M^o. cxviii^o.
  • Baldewinus filius ejus rex Irɫm. secundus, obiit anno Domini M^o. cxxxiij^o. qui regnavit xv. annis.
  • Fulco filius Ivonis Tailbois [Et vocatur Tailbois quia conduxit soudiarios ad elargigandum vias & semitas per desertum in terras, causa succidendo & amputando bosca et subosca ut exercitus Christianus poterit pertransire super Sarracenos.] Comitis Andegavie, qui quidem Fulco duxit filiam Baldewini secundi regis Irɫm. ex Iuie vxoris sui qui regnavit viij. annis & obiit Anno. MCxli^o.
    • Galfridus Plaunkegeneth, primogenitus ejus Comes Andegauie, secundum aliquas cronicas vocatus Plantagenet, verus heres de Irɫm. qui obiit A^o. M^o. cliiij.
    • Baldewinus secundogenitus rex Irɫm. captus per Saracenos, sine exitu de se mortuus Anno M^o. clxj^o. qui regnavit xx. annis.
    • Almericus tercio-genitus rex Irɫm. succedit post fratrem suum Baldewinum tercium qui regnavit xiiij. annis & obiit A^o. M^o. clxxv.
      • Baldwinus Paraliticus, rex Irɫm. filius Almerici resignavit coronam & jus suum Henrico regi Anglie, filio & heredi Galfridi Comitis Andegavie, filio Avunculi sui, tanquam recto heredi Irɫm. & obiit sine exitu A^o. M^o. clxxxiiij^to. et regnavit ix. annis.
      • Sibilla [Ista Sibilla, filia Almerici regis Irɫm. nupta fuit Marchiso de Monte serrato Willielmo, qui, per illam, rex fuit, o••cisus in Tiro civitate tempore Ricardi Regis in terra sancta existent' qui habuerunt filium Baldewinum regem quintum mortuum duorum; norum quam Sibillam Rex Ricardus dedit Henrico Comiti Campanie & Saxonie nepoti suo cum Regno Irɫm. A^o. M^o. clxxxxij. post decessum Marchesi predicti."] filia sua vnica.

RYchard his sōne to kīg thē was crowned [Kyng Rycharde the fyrst, called Cure de Lion.] By Bawdewyn archbyshop & primate Of Cauntorbury, & of England y^t stound That ruled the churche then by lawe ordynate, His brother Geffray of baste so procreate Archbyshop was of Yorke then newe electe The northren churche vnder him to be protecte.

¶ The lorde Lucye, that Godfray Lucye hight, Afore hym bare a royall pyllyon, And Iohn Marshal his spores of gold ful [so.] bright, Willyam Maundeuile his mighty hye crowne, That earle was then of Almarle vp and downe Of his wyues ryght, & Willyam Marshal bolde, Earle of Strigeyll, the scepter bare of golde.

¶ Willyam Patryk that was [called was.] then Longspee, That earle was then create of Salysbury, A staffe of golde, for constable then was he Of Englande hole to haue the regeny [regency.] , By ryght of his offyce of constablery; For yf the lande were voyde & none heire knowe, [Fol. C.xliiii.] To kepe the realme by his offyce hym owe.

¶ This ylke Willyam was earle also create Of Gloucestre, by whiche that offyce grewe To hym of ryght, for he was generate Of Roberte Clare earle of Gloucestre trewe: Foure barons bare by theyr seruyce full dewe Aboue his hed then in processyon A cloth of golde by good direccyon.

¶ Earle Dauyd then that tyme of Huntyngdon, Brother of the kyng Willyam of Scotlande, And Iohn the earle of Morten [Morteyne.] of renowne, Kyng Rychardes brother as I vnderstonde, [Ryght worthy lordes that tyme of this lande,] And Robert Ferrers earle of Leycester tho Thre swordes bare afore the kyng there so [tho.] .

Syxe earls then and barons of estate A cheker bare with iueles full royall,

And clothes ryche that were well ordynate, For that ylke feste and state imperyall Fro South vnto the Septentrionall, Where then none suche accompted of rychesse As there were then as wryten is expresse.

The. C.xxxviii. Chapiter.

¶ How kyng William of Scotland made homage for Scotlande, and then after his coronacyon at Westmynster, he went to Fraunce, and so to Ierusalem, by the assent of the kynge Phylippe.

THe bishop of Duresme on his right hande, [Homage of the Scottes.] The bishop also [als.] of Bathe on his left syde, The kīg of Scottes, Willyā, for Scotlād Made hym homage and feaute leege that tyde; Kyng Rychard then to Fraūce with muche pride Anone so yode: tharchebishop Bawdewyne, With hym then went [worthy clerkes] [a worthy elerke.] and fyne.

¶ Sir Rauf Fulgence [Fulgers.] erle of Perche then also, Robert Ferrers earle of Lecester then, With erles fell and barons many moo, [Of all this land went many a worthy then] Of England and Scotland many a manne, Of Ireland, Wales, Guyan and Normandy, Then with hym went in that voyage on hie.

¶ The [Then. edit. alt.] kyng Philip shippid his hoste at Iene, The kyng Rychard tooke the sea at Marsile With all his hoste without [withoutyn.] other meene Within short tyme arriued vp in Cisile, Wher he full faire receiued was that while By kyng Tancred soonne [the sonne.] of Wyllyam, Whiche Wyllyā wed his suster Iohan by name.

¶ The kyng Rychard twoo Isles ther cōquered, Byside Cisile to his suster theim gaue To hir lyuyng, and bade hir not bee fered, For he should se hir dower she should haue, [Longyng to the right that she should craue,] [And furth he went and praied Gode hym saue.]

And at Meschyne, kyng Rychard then did make A bastell strong, the Sarsyns for to wake.

¶ And sailed furth, to Cipres then by sea, Wher his mother hym mete with dame Barnage, [Fol. C.xlv.] The kyng his doughter of Nauerne faire & free, Whom ther he wed in lawfull mariage, At Lymosyn, in his pilgremage; A citee great, full of all habundaunce, [Whiche by assaute he gate of his puysaunce.] [Where than wase ioye and myrth with grete plesaunce.]

¶ The kyg Rychard rode then to Nichosie, And gate the citee with [ther with.] force and might; The citee also of Cheryn mightely, Wher his [the kynges.] doughter and heire he toke full right, To Buffenet and Baffe, that were full wight; To Dendamour and Candor [Candare.] , [his citees,] [the cite.] He went anone with greate felicitee[s].

¶ He gate theim all, & all the realme throughout, And toke the kyng Isaak and hym [than hym.] slewe, And wed his doughter vnto the kyng full stout Of Ierusalem, whose wife was dedde then newe, That Sibill hight, y^e doughter was [mēne knewe] [full trewe.] Of Almarike, kyng of Ierusalem, The brother of Geffrey, of Angeou hir eme.

¶ This kyng Rychard y^e realme of Cipris wāne, [To whome the lordes, echeone did their homage, And anone by sea, with many a manne, To Acres wher in that ilke voyage, He toke a ship of high and greate auantage; Of ablementes for warre, and ordinaunce, The whiche he had, with hym in gouernauce.]

¶ But fiftene [fiftene hundreth. So in MS. Seld.] Sarsyns there he dreyncte [dreynte.] , [And twoo hundred he kept, that ship to gnie, To Acres then, wher kyng Philip full feynt, Had sieged long without remedie; But kyng Rychard, of Acres toke in hie

The stronger syde, and gaue it greate affraies, Late and erly, bothe by nightes and dayes.

¶ He gate it sone, with his greate ordinaunce, And on the walles his baners full hie he sette, The kynges armes he sette vp also of Fraunce, And kyng Guyes armes of Ierusalem well bette: The duke of Oistrich, Lympold, without lette, Set vp his armes after aboue theim all, Whiche kyng Rychard did cast doūe ouer y^e wall.

¶ With wages greate and riches manifold He ryched his mēne, & rode throughoute all Surry, The citees all and castelles that he would, He gate with force, and came again in hie To castell Pilgrym, whiche kyng Philip pleinly Beseged had full long, and went his waye, Whiche Rychard beseged in greate araye.

¶ To the whiche there was no waye but one full straite, On a cawsey with dikes depe and wyde, Strongly walled, with towres on to wayte, With many drawe bridges, wher none might go ne ryde, Strongly cheined, w^t barris on eche side, Whiche castell then he gate in dayes ten, With battaill sore, wher he sleugh many menne.

¶ The cheynes of yrone, he stroke vp w^t his axe, Bothe at Acres and at castell Pilgrym, And brent theim all, as thei had been of waxe, Cheynes & barres, with muche might that tyme; [Fol. C.xlvi.] The Sarasyns also he slewe with muche gryme: The kyng Philip fell sicke and home would gone To Fraunce anone, and toke his menne echeone,

¶ Vnto the duke of Burgoyn theim to lede, To bide for hym, vpon the warres there, And home so went to Fraunce without drede, Wher then he made greate warre and muche dere; In Normandy and Guyan fouly hym bere,

Against his othe and his greate assuraūce, At their passage, by couenaunt and concordaunce.] [A blank space is left in the Harleian MS. as for the future insertion of the six stanzas here placed in brackets.]

The. C.xxxix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Rychard sold the realme of Cipres to Statyn once, & an other tyme to the kyng Guye Lezinaunt, to resorte to hym & to his heires, in defaute of issue of theim.

HE sold Cipresse to kyng Statyn of might, An other tyme to Guy Lizenaūt full bold, For great riches, the resort again [to him ayen.] of right, And for greate sommes of innumerable [of] gold, His prisoners he raunsomed sore and sold; But with his hoste full well he distribute All that he gate, vnto their greate refute.

¶ Ioppen he gate, and it repaired newe, He and the duke of Burgoyn full sore sought On the Soudan and felly did pursue To castell Assure, fro whens he fled vnfought [vnsought.] ; But kyng Rychard, that of no perill rought, Was hurt right ther, with dartes venemous, Fiue woundes sore, mortall and perelous.

¶ They droue hym then into Ierusalem, And layed a sege about the citee rounde, And kyng Rychard hard howe fro Egipt realme Came strong vitail [bataile.] , and ryches in that stounde, With full greate hoste, the Christen to confounde; By night he came, and there theim discomfete With worship greate, and farpassyng profite.

¶ Gase he buylded full faire, and Ascaloyn [Ascaloūn.] , To the Templers, to whome afore thei longid, He deliuered, and made hym redy boun For to assayle the citee, and haue [haue it.] fongid, With might of menne, & laddirs full well hongid; Engynes and gonnes greate stones for to cast, Whiche to haue wonne, thei were [full] like at [at the.] last.

¶ The Soudan out by night then stale awaye, And Christen menne the citee gate anone, And kyng Rychard, with all the [his.] hoste, his waye Toke [to the Flum of Cedar,] [the flum of Cesar.] on his foon He folowed fast with hoste as he might goon; With the Soudan faught, & putte hym fro y^e feld, And mightely fro hym he rest his sheeld.

The. C.xl. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the Soudā toke a trewce w^t kyng Rychard, after he had putte hym to flight & wonne his citee and castels in Surry. Kyng Rychard gaue Ierusalem and y^e realme of Surry to his susters soonne Henry erle of Campanya with the heire Sibill to his wife, and homeward was takē [Fol. C.xlvii.] prisoner in Oistrich; but in his gift of Surry & Ierusalem he reserued the resort to hym & to his heires.

THe Soudā toke a trewce w^t kyng Richard For thre yere whole to bye all marchandise, And sell and passe saufly thitherward To the sepulcre, in all maner wyse, With entercomen, as then it did suffice; And home he went, for cause his brother Iohn Then purposed had for to bee crouned anon.

¶ He sent his mother and wife [his wife.] to Cisile, And of Acres he made then capitain The baron bold sir Rychard Vmfreuile, Ierusalem to Henry erle of Champein, With all Surry, to haue and to demain, And made hym kyng therof without delay, For his susters soonne he was without [withoutyn.] nay.

¶ For the marquis Wyllyam Mountferrate That kyng therof was, by his wife enherite, Was slain in Tire his citee, by debate All sodeinly for cause of greate dispite; Vetulo de Mount [Monte.] , his brothers death to quite, His bretherne twoo to Tire, with power hath [had.] sent, That slewe hym there, by Vetulo [his] assent.

¶ Whose wife he gaue to Henry his cousyn, For she was heire of Ierusalem. He made kepers, in euery place full fyne, And homeward came then by the sea stream, [Coostyng by diuerse countres and realme,] To Romany, Tuskan, and Lumberdy, In to Oistrich, [and there] [ther he.] was take in hye.

¶ Thēperour [To themperoure.] led home, thē to Mē[ske he brought,] In strong ward brought [kepte.] , to tyme that his finaūce Was fully payed emong his commons, [&} sought Of holy churche, vnto ful greate greuaunce, The marchaūtes also [als.] thē made great cheuisaūce; Of all the shryues was take full greate riches, Through all England, to raūsom w^t his highnes.

¶ And home he came & Iohn his brother chastised, And his fautours emprisoned all full sore, To Normandy then went, and there supprised The kyng Philip, and werred hym euer [ay.] thore, That stroyed his land of Normandy afore Against his othe and his hie assuraunce, Whilest he labored vpon the miscreaunce.

¶ He then appeled the kyng Philip to fight, Thei twoo alone hand for hand in feld, That he was false of his promise and hight, Whiche kyng Philip graunted, but not it held; But cowardly with royall hoste hym beld, Vpon hym came all sodeinly to fight, Within three dayes then for their brothers right.

¶ Beside Gysours thei faught with hostes sore, Wher kyng Rychard had the victorie, Kyng Philip fled fro his baner thore, With muche [mekell.] shame reproffe and vilanie; Kyng Rychard segid a castell then in hie, That Caluce hight, not ferre fro Lymosyne, Wher hurt he was full sore and dyed fyne.

¶ An arblaster with a quarell hym smot, [Fol. C.xlviii.] As he about the castell went to spie; But then he made therto a saute [assaute.] full hote, On euery syde, about full cruelly, And gatte the place so then full myghtely, And slewe theim all, without [withoutyn.] any grace, Agayn hym so [that] holden had that strong place.

¶ He shroue hym then vnto abbots three, With great sobbyng and hye contricion, And wepyng teares, that pitee was to see, Mekely askyng penaunce and absolucion, That it might please God, at his peticion, [To forgeue his offences tyll domysday] [The purgatorye to have to domesdaye.] , So afterwarde [That after that.] in blysse he might been ay.

¶ He quethed his corps then to bee buried At Fount Euerard, there at his fathers feete, To whom he graunte[d] and made it notifyed Traytour he was, and false of his behete: His herte inuyncyble to Roan he sent full mete, For their greate truth & stedfast great constaunce, His bowelles lose to [Poytou] [Omitted in the previous edition.] for deceyuaunce.

¶ [Whose soule, from the body dyd departe, And into heauen went where is eternall ioye, Because from synne he did conuerte, Longyng for that blessed daye To see Christ, that for his synne dyd paye; That crucyfied was vpon the roode, Redemyng his synne by the shedyng of his blode.] [

Whos soule after full longe and many daye, To blisse so wente assoiled full clene of synne, As seynte Edmonde it sawe at Pountenaye, With opyn eyen withoutyn any dynne, Thrugh Cristes mercy that neuer may faile ne blynne, With Steuyns soule tharchebishope and prymate Of Caunterbury to gedir consociate.

]

¶ And of his reigne he died the. x. yere, And in the yere of Christes incarnacion, A thousande hole, two hundreth and. iiii. clere,

As written is by clere computacion, Who in his life had hole dominacion In Normandy, Guyen, Cypers [Cipresse.] and Surry, Whose honoure shone, aboue all other clerely.

The. C.xli. Chapiter.

¶ Iohn kyng of Englande, duke of Normandy and Guyan, &erle of Angeou, began to reygne the yere. M. CC. and. iiii. and reigned. xvii. yere, and died the yere. M. CC. xxi.

HIs brother Iohn, was kyng then of Englande, [Ihō kyng of Englande.] And crouned was at Westminster ful faire By all estates and lordes of his [this.] lande, And sone therafter deuorced, full vnfayre, From his wife wed[ded] that there afore was heyre Vnto therle of Glucestre full wyse, That sonnes had that tyme of great enterprise.

¶ For cause of whiche and of consanguinitye Deuorce was made, and toke another wyfe, Dame Isabell, therles doughter fayre and free, [Of Englande, and his heyre knowen ryfe,] Whiche after made hym ful great warre & stryfe, For she was wyfe, of Hugh Brune of [Toreyn] The viscount then, toke [taken.] fro hym [a virgyne.] [vng.]

¶ Wherfore Hugh Brune nomore of hym wolde hold, But warred hym [on hym.] on euery side aboute, Tyll he hym toke, with other manyfolde, And slewe theim all, were thei neuer so stoute. In his first yere a taxe he tooke full [thrugh.] out, Of eche plough land thre shyllynges fully payed, For whiche the people [folke.] bitterly for hym prayed. [Fol. C.xlix.]

The. C.xlii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Wyllyam of Scotlande did homage leege to kyng Iohn at Lyncolne: the duke Arthure of Britayne & all the lordes of Ire∣lande did thesame.

IN his first yere kyng Wylliā of Scotlād Made hys [hym.] homage in Lyncolne his citee, And Arthure duke of Britayne, I vnderstande, Sone after made hys [hym.] homage & feautee, At London then, with great humilitee; The prince there made his [than his.] homage, For Wales then that was his heritage.

¶ The great [a Neele,] [Onele. edit. alt. Aneele. MS.] and Makmurre also [than also.] , And al the lordes and kynges of Irelande, Therles also [als.] of Vlster did right so, Of Ormond and [als and.] Desmond, for there lande, And all estates there, as I vnderstande, Wer sworne to hym, and to hym did homage For theyr lyuelodes, and theyr [for their.] heritage.

¶ The kyng Philip confedered with Arthure To rebell sore agayne his eme kyng Iohn, And graunte hym men & power stronge and sure To gette Guyan, Poytou, and Angeou anon: Wherfore kyng Iohn to Normandy gan gone, And there he tooke Arthure duke of Britayn, In [castell Mirable dyed,] [the castell Mirable he died.] in mykell payne.

¶ Dame Isabell, the suster also [als.] of Arthure, In the castell of Bristowe was then holde, And died there in pryson then full sure, As kyng Iohn hir vncle so it wolde, [A lady of greate beautee she was hold, Beshet in pryson in paynes strong, So endeth her life, for sorowe liued not long.] [

For the deth of Arthure and of his suster soo, Many astates were to kynge Iohn a foo.

]

¶ Thus slewe he both Arthure and Isabell, The chyldren of his brother, duke Geffrey, To ioye the croune of Englande, as men [bokes.] tell; Wherfore moste parte of all his landes that daye Beyonde the sea forsoke hym then for ay, Retournyng to the kyng of Fraunce in hye, To holde of hym and his perpetually.

¶ Bishop Hubert of Cauntorbury tho [than.] died, Wherfore kyng Iohn vnto the couent sente To chose his clarke, whiche they refused & denied: Wherfore the kyng was wroth in his entente, [For they disobeyed the lettre, whiche he sent,] [And manaished theym full sore they shuld repent.] [The piteous & lamētable storye of king Ihō, who by the Roomyshe byshop and his adherētes was most shamfully & vylanously abused, as by this hystory doeth appeare.] For they had chosen mayster Stephan Langton, An worthy clarke of all disposicion [goode disposicion.] .

¶ Whom kyng Iohn then wold not admytte [to it.] For Romayn [papall.] bull, ne for the prelates prayer; But prisoned some, and some to death commytte, Some he exiled, and [and some.] theyr eyen clere, And all personnes and prelates in fere He then put out and seazed theyr benefice, Through all the lande, as his mortall enemyes.

[The Romyshe byshoppe curssed hym openly,] [The Pope hym cursed in Engelonde opynly.] And all the realme fully did enterdite, That sacramentes none therin should occupie, [Fol. C.l.] And to the kyng of Fraunce, without respite, He wrote his letters so full fayre endite To take Englande hole in [in his.] gouernaunce, [For kyng Iohn his great] [for cause of kynge Iohn.] misgouernaunce.

¶ Many erles also, and many great barons, Vnto the kyng of Fraunce wrote openly, To sende his sonne Lewes the rebellions To helpe, to whome they promysed sikerly To croune hym kyng of England worthely [roially.] , If that kyng-Iohn would not his trespasse amēd [mend.] , Vnto the churche in whiche he had offend.

¶ Wherfore y^e kyng of Fraūce to England sente His sonne Lewes, with hoste and power strong, With whom many lordes susteyned his entent, And other some maynteyned kyng Iohn in wrōg: Thus stode this lande, Englande & Wales longe Hole enterdite frō all holy sacramentes, That none was done, without priuelegementes [pryuylagents.] .

¶ Lewes the sonne of kyng Philip of Fraunce, Had castelles, fees [many.] , and citees many one At his good [oune.] rule and full wyse gouernaunce, In Englande then, well mo, then had kyng Iohn, Tyll, on a daye, to lordes he made his moone; By whose coūcel vnto y^e [Romishe bishop] [Pope.] he wrote His letter[s] meke, as best [he could theim] [it couth be.] note.

¶ Besekyng hym of mercy and of grace Of forgeuenesse and absolucion [playne absolucion.] , His defautes all to mend, and his trespasse, And vndirguage [to obeye.] all his punysion For to release thenterdiccion, For whiche the Romishe bishop, as he y^e letters see, Wepte [Weped full.] sore, hauyng full greate pitee.

¶ Thenterdiccion fully he releassed, And to the kyng of Fraunce anone sent [he sent.] To ceasse the warre, the peace to be encreassed Betwene hym and kyng Iohn bayssent [be sent.] , To whiche he would put so all his entent; To Lewes then he sent thesame message, And of Englande to haue his hole costage.

¶ And for Lewes with lordes of Englande Obeyde not the byshops [Popes.] commaundement, He sent Gwalo his legate I vnderstande, To cursse Lewes, and all [of] his assent. Then died kyng Iohn, in Christen hole entent At Croxton abbey, and buried was full fayre At Worcester, with lordes and great repayre.

¶ Some bookes sayen he poysoned was [to dead,] [and died.] Of plummes so syttyng at his meate, In thabbey of Cistews at Swynsheade, With whiche a monke there hym did rehete, Wenyng of God greate thanke to gette, At Newerke died, at Worcester sepultured [buried.] , In chronicles, as is playnly scriptured.

¶ He gate a sōne that Hēry of Wynchester hight, And other after, and Richarde was his name, That erle was of Cornwayle of great might, A worthy knight and of right noble fame: [These sonnes on his wyfe, that noble dame,] [Fol. C.li.] And [gate] Isabell, the wyfe of Frederyk, Emperoure of Rome, [a lorde full] [full wise.] poletyk.

¶ In his tyme[s] were these earles in [of. edit. alt.] Englande, Geffry Maundeuile, earle of Essex than, [Syr Quincy, as I can vnderstande,] Earle of Winchester, that was a manly man, [And the earle of Cornewayle that was than,] Roger of Clare, then earle of Gloucester, That in Englande was none [noone than.] his better.

¶ Roger Bygot, earle of Northfolke then, That marshall was, that tyme, of Englande, Henry Bowne [Boun.] then earle of Herforde, as I can Conceyue, was then constable of the lande, [A ryght worthy knyght of his hande;] And Dauyd then was of Huntyngdon, Willyam Marshall earle of Penbroke full boon.

¶ Randolfe of Chester the earle of good estate, Robert Veer of Oxenforde full wyse, Willyam Groos [of Almaryk generate,] [erle of Almarle generate.] Willyam Lōg[spee earle then, of great enterpryse, In actes marcyall a man knyghtly and wyse,] Of Salysbury, a mighty lorde that daye, Through all Englande [knowen of] [of full.] greate araye.

¶ Willyam, the earle of Arundell that hyght, Awbeny by his surname full well then knowe, At Wimondham [Wyndeham.] , in Northfolke, buryed ryght, Father was of Philyp full yonge vnknowe, [That full curteous was both to hye and lowe,] That after hym was earle of Arundell, As chronycles wryten can [and.] clerely tell.

¶ This kyng Iohn dyed in hole creaunce, The yere of Chryste a. M was then knawe, Two hundreth. xxi. by remembraunce In chronycles, as I haue red [and sawe,] [in rowe.] [And full cumbreous bothe to hye and lawe;] At Worcester buryed in good araye, As [a] prynce royall of reason ought that daye.

The. C.xliii. Chapiter.

¶ Henry the thyrde, kynge of Englande, duke of Normandye and Guyen, and earle of Angeou, that beganne to reygne the yere of Chryste a thousande. CC. xxi, and dyed in the yere a thousande. CC. lxxiii. and of his reygne the. lvi. yere. ¶ In his tyme was a batayl at Lincolne, where earle Randolfe of Chester discomfyted Lewys y^e sonne of kyng Philyppe of Fraunce.

HEnry his sonne then was of. ix. yere age, [Kyng Henry y^e thirde.] At Gloucester crowned with [the] dyademe By the legate Gwalo & the baronage, Stephan of Langton helpyng as did [well] seme, Archbyshop then, as [the byshop coulde] [tho the Pope did.] deme: The [That.] same yere then [so.] the kyng w^t Lewys faught, Besyde Lincolne, where Lewys was nere caught.

¶ Foure. C. knyghtes of Lewis there was slaine, Therle of Perche was slayne on Lewis syde, And many fled with Lewys soth agayne; Therle Randolf, of Chester knowen wyde, The felde there gate y^t daye with mikell [ioie and.] pryde, [Fol. C.lii.] And Lewys then all his ryght relesed, And home he went with mony well appesed.

¶ In the seconde yere he wed[ded] Alyanor, Therls doughter of Prouynce, good and fayre, Whose elder syster kyng Lewys wed afore: This earle was then famed amonge repayre The noblest prynce, without any dispeyre, That tyme alyue through all Chrystente, Of all honoure and great nobilyte.

And Iohn, the sonne of Dauyd [of] Huntingdon, That of Huntyngdon & Chester earle had bene, Without chylde dyed; his erldome to the crowne Then sezed were, to tyme y^t it was [were.] sene Howe his systers myght them departe betwene: The parliament graunte[d], y^e wardes to the kyng, That helde of hym by knyghtes seruyce doyng.

¶ To make statutes at Oxenforde & ordynaūce, By whiche there shulde none alyence [aliens.] enheryte, And put the kyng vnder the [in. edit. alt.] gouernaunce Of certayne lordes, wysest & moste parfyte, Whiche after made amonge them great dispyte, And batayles stronge, & greate contrariaunce, Through all the lande, by longe continuaunce.

The. C.xliiii. Chapiter.

¶ Of the byrthe of Edwarde his eldest sonne and heyre, was in the. xxix. yere of his father, and in the yere of Chryste a thousande. CC. xxxix. Howe Symonde Mountforte earle of Leycester was create.

HIs eldest sonne and heyre, y^t Edward hyght, At Westmynster, of Chrystes incarnacyon, The yere a thousand. CC. ix. and. xxx. ryght, Whome the legate Otho, by informacyon, [Baptyzed in funt saynt Edmondes, confirmacyō] To hym then made, as the churche deuysed, In his baptime holy, then autoryzed.

¶ Symond y^e sōne of earle Symond Moūtfort, Came oute of Fraunce for ferdnesse of y^e quene, To kyng Henry, whome he gaue great comforte; He gaue hym then his man [name. edit. alt.] for ay to bene Of Leycester the earldome fayre and clene, With the stewarde of Englande in herytage, Whiche is an offyce of greate priuelage.

¶ And wed his doughter, dame Elyanore, To Willyam Marshall, earle of Penbroke, After whose deathe she auowed chast[yte for] euermore;

But he her maryed and her betoke, [For all her vowe, as sayeth the booke, To earle Symond Mountfort to be his wyfe, Notwithstandyng y^t she vowed chastyte her lyfe.] [

To erle Symonde, of Britayne, wedded newe, The yere of Criste a thousande wase accounted, Two hundreth moo fourty and oone amounted.

]

¶ [Tho dyed Lewelyn the prynce of Wales then, Betwene his sonnes Gryffyth and Dauid grewe Greate discencyon and stryfe ay, when and when; And dame Beatryce the kynges doughter trewe, To earle Symonde, of Britayne, wedded newe, The yere of Chryste a thousand was accompted, Two hundreth moo fourty and one amounted.]

The C.xlv. Chapiter. [Fol. C.liii.]

¶ The birth of Edmond erle of Lancaster, and of Leicester, long after in the yere of his father one and thirty, and in the yere of Christ. M. iiC. xli.

THe [That.] same yere then Edmond his soōne was bore At Lācastre, y^e yere of Christ thē writē, A thousand whole, twoo. C. and fourty mo [more.] , And one therto, in Flores as is wryten [wetyn.] , And in the yere next after then ouersetten [vnsetyn.] ; The kyng his doughter Margaret [then] maryed, To Alexaunder kyng of Scotland notified,

¶ At Yorke citee, wher he then did homage [Homage of the Scottes.] For Scotland whole and isles apperteinyng. Then dyed themperour full sage, Wherfore the lordes of Almaignie [Almayne.] variyng, Some chose Rychard kyng Henryes brother beyng, And some y^e kyng of Castile would haue algate, But erle Rychard of Menske [Meuske.] had all the state.

¶ Then rose discorde betwene the kyng Henry [Bettaile of Lewes.] And certain lordes of mighty greate power, Symond Mountfort vpon hym toke boldly To bee cheftein, to hold the feld full clere; At Lewis faught, of Christ then was the yere

A thousand twoo hundred [and] sixty accompted, And foure also, so muche more amounted.

¶ This erle Symond had then the kyng Henry And his brother Rychard themperour In his kepyng and ward [wer hold] [holdyn.] strongly; But prince Edward was sette in Herford toure, And erle Henry of [Herford that was] [Cornewaile was the. So MS. Seld.] floure, Themperours soonne at Herford with hym laye, A myle about disport[ed] theim euery daye.

¶ Fro whens at last with horse thei brake awaye, [The battaill of Euesham.] And to Wigmour castell thei came in hie To sir Roger Mortymer, [wher he] [that theryn.] laye, That [Who.] theim receiued then full gladly; And so thei assembled with greate hoste manfully [full manfully.] , And held the feld, the lordes [fast] to theim drewe, And at Euesham thei stroke a battaill newe.

¶ In the yere of Christ a thousand was tho, Twoo hundred mo, sixty also and fiue, When prince Edward faught with [ther with.] his foo Symond Moūtfort, [and raught hym] [wase reste ther.] fro his liue, [The feld discomfited there anone as bliue,] With help of erle Gilbert, then called Clare, And other lordes with hym that were thare.

¶ He slewe many, and some awaye exiled, And some he held in prisone and distres; He toke out then his father, as is compiled, His eme Rychard holden in greate dures, And all his frendes of his hie worthynes, He socoured euer and with his gold supported, And wher it want with his woord theim cōforted.

The. C.xlvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Robert Ferrers erle of Darby was disherite, and many other of their compaignie.

RObert Ferrers, that erle was of Darby, [Fol. C.liiii.] Disherite then for his insurreccion,

With many other at Chesterfeld [in hie,] [foollysshly.] Faught with Edward of [their] presumpcion, And fled awaye with greate confusion Vnto the Isle of Axholme, and fro thens [thyne.] Vnto Lyncolne and spoyled the citezens [cite fyne.] :

¶ Fro thens to Ely thei went anone, Wher prince Edward thisle proudely assailed; Thei fled fro it soone, to Yorkeshire gan gone In freres clothis that were full long tailed, Robbyng their fooes when thei of good failed; And other some to Kilyngworth then fled, To [With.] Henry Hastynges, who then the [that.] castell had.

¶ Wher then y^e kyng great siege laied all about, But nought auailed, so strongly thei defende. And for ther was in euery shire throughout So greate robbery and nothyng amende [wase amende.] , The kyng was fain for lordes then to send, By whose aduise he ordeined for that case, That all disherite and exiled should haue grace:

¶ All disherite should buye their landes again, To paye for theim gold, as thei might accorde With the owners, so that no man should payen More then the land were worth, by greate recorde, In seuen yere whole; and if thei might concorde For lesse money, so it exceade a yere The value of the yerly rent full clere.

¶ Robert Ferrers, erle of Derby then, The soonnes also [als.] of erle Symond exclude, That perpetuall iudgement fully then [han.] , Neuer to redeme their landes, but been exclude, [So that the owners be not with theim delude,] Vnto a daye that fifty thousand pound Be [They.] paide of nobles whole and round.

¶ Edmond, the soonne of the same kyng Henry Was weddid first vnto dame Auelyn,

Erle Willyam his doughter of Almarle womāly, None issue had neither male ne [neither.] feminine; Then was he wed to Blaunche y^e quene [full] fyne Of Nauerne, [and] so of Lancaster create [he wase create.] , With Leicestre also therle denominate.

The. C.xlvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Edward theldest soōne & heire of kyng Henry the third, and his brother erle Edmond of Lancaster and of Leicestre, went to Ierusalē with greate power, whiche twoo princes were coūted the semeliest of all the hoste of Christendome.

HIs brother Edward and he associate To Ierusalem their voiage thē auowed, Two semely princes together adioynate [adunate.] , In all the world was none theim like alowed, So large & faire thei were, eche manne he [theym.] bowed; Edward aboue [abouyn.] his menne was largely seen, By his shulders more hie and made full clene.

¶ Edmond next hym the comeliest prince aliue, Not croke backed ne in no wyse disfigured, As some menne wrote the right lyne to depryue, Through great falsehed made it to [so.] bee scriptured, [Fol. C.lv.] For cause it should alwaye bee refigured, And mencioned well his yssue to preuaile, Vnto the croune by suche a gouernaile.

¶ But prince Edward and he held fourth [so.] their waye To Ierusalem, so did themperour Rychard his eme [uncle.] , and Henry his soonne full gay, To Cisile came by sea through many a shoure; Edward with hym then had his wife that houre, Elianour doughter of [to.] the kyng of Aragon, A princesse faire at his eleccion.

¶ The kyng Lewes also then thither went, And in his waye dyed and [and so.] expired, Sainct Lewes nowe is named by all assent

Of holy churche, as it is well enquired, Approued trewe, as reason well [it.] required: But Edward prince and Edmōd abode two yere, With werres greate and mighty strong power.

¶ For nacions all vnto prince Edward drewe And to Edmond his brother, for [their] semelines And greate māhode, whiche in theim y^t thei knewe. Sir Charles [y^e] brother of [to.] king Lewes doubteles, Kyng of Cisile, of noble worthynes, By the Soudan was chasid without [withoutyn.] beld, Whome prince Edward socoured & had the feld,

¶ And with the Soudan faught in bataill sore, Discomfit hym and putte hym to the flight, Wher Edward then was hurt and woūded thore, Of [With.] woundes fiue, that mortall werre to sight, His brother Edmond also [als.] wounded in that fight: But as Edward in his bedde sicke then laye, A Surasyne came to hym vpon [come on.] a daye,

¶ To leche his hurtes with salues many one; But false he was, for with a knife full sore He strake hym foule, as thei were then alone But yet that prince the knife fro hym gate thore, And slewe hym then with it for euermore. At Acres laye he then with [his.] woundes fele, With medicyns to lech [lechen.] and to hele.

¶ The lech [leche.] so false was by the Soudan sent Hym to haue slain in any maner wyse, For cause he had discomfite hym and shent: And when he was all whole that he might ryse, Message he had fro all the lordes wyse Of England then [of his father] [that his fader wase.] dedde, [That praied] [Prayinge.] hym home to come & been their hede.

¶ Kyng Henry had then made the minster faire Of Westminster, as it is nowe [at] this daye, The remnaunt he left vnto his heire,

To edifie and make in [of.] like araye, Or els a some of money for to paye, The whiche he graunted to the edificacion, At his death then bequeth and assignacion.

¶ Edward then toke a trewce for tenne yere With the Soudan, and to Cisile saylid, And landed at Rome wher thē he had good chere, Bothe of the bishop [pope.] and cardinalles not failed, [That sore had mourned and greately bewailed,] That curssed sore syr Guy Mountforte eche daye, [Fol. C.lvi.] For the slaughter of Henry his cousyn gaye.

¶ The sonne that was of Richarde themperoure, Erle of Cornwayle, whomeat Veterbe [Viterbe.] he slewe, Right in the churche for [of.] olde wrath and rancoure In Englande dooen, his fathers death to renewe, At masse knelyng horrybly hym [all] to hewe, Fro Acres as he came as Goddes knight, Without [Withoutyn.] cause of reason or of right.

¶ But prīce Edward & Edmoūd his brother dere, To Sauoye cā where iustes wer [made & tournamēt] And ther desired thei & their knightes in fere, With the duke of Sauoye and his there presente, To iuste and proue eche other in good entente, Theyr knightes younge to learne as dyd suffice, In marcyall fete knighthode to exercyse.

¶ Wher he foriust [iusted.] the duke full manly, His brother also [als ranne to.] the dukes neuewe, And bare hym downe both horse and man egerly; And euery knight with other euer iusted newe, Daye by daye whyles echeone other knewe, By. xiiii. dayes enduryng and conteyned With feast solempne by the duke susteyned.

¶ An hundreth ladyes of worthy good estate, Were set on hye aboue within a tente, By the duke of Sauoye well ordinate, To geue the gree and thanke by iudgement:

Whiche [Whose.] then awarde playnely, by hole assent, To prince Edwarde & erle Edmound his brother, That had foriust the duke and many other.

¶ The duke hym gaue gyftes of great honoure, And to his brother gyftes of hye pleasaunce, And to his knightes giftes [als giftes.] of great valoure, And conueyed hym into the lande of Fraunce; Where[of] the kyng with worthy [royall.] gouernaunce Receaued [he was] [hym.] as prince full excellente, And homage made [dide.] to hym in good entente,

¶ For his landes lyeng beyonde the sea; The whiche was true, as chronicles witnesse, And home he came with great felicitee; Of whose cōmyng the people had [made.] great gladnesse, Hym to receaue in all [kynde of] [maner.] worthynesse, And of his brother Edmound also in feer, They were full glad at all theyr hole power.

¶ But kyng Henry was gone to God afore, The yere of Christ a thousande hole accompted, Two hundreth hole, syxty and thirtene more, On saynt Edmondes daye, when he amounted, [This worlde leuyng full of trouble accompted,] Vnto the blysse of heauen for euer to reste Emong good soules where Christe so liked best.

The. C.xlviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Edwarde of Englande, the first after the conqueste, called Edwarde with the longe shankes, beganne to reigne on the morowe after saynt Edmondes daye y^e kyng, in the yere a. M. CC. and. lxxiii. & died the yere. M. CCC. and. vii. the eyght daye of Iulye, and the. xxxiiii. yere of his reygne.

EDwarde his sonne & heire first generate, [Fol. C.lvii.] [Kyng Edwarde the fyrst after y^t conquest.] With all honour by all the baronage Crouned was in all royall estate, [The homage of y^e kynge of Scotlande to kyng Edwarde.] And of thestates receyued hole homage. Kyng Alexander for his heritage

Of Scotlande hole and ysles apperteynyng, His homage did right then vnto the kyng;

¶ The duke also of Britayne made [dide.] homage For Britayn hole, and there became his man: Whiche princes two had wed in mariage His susters two, Margarete and Beatrice then, Margarete to Scotland & Beatrice to Britayne, Both two maried and wed in hye estate, By their father full wysely ordinate.

¶ A marchaunt toke the wife of prince Lewlyn, Erle Symonds doughter of Leycester y^t had ben, And to the kyng hir brought full femenyn; Wherfore the prince [by heste] [promytte.] as then was seen, To be his man and homage did full clere, And led his wyfe to Wales in good entent, By the kynges grace and by [be his.] hole assent.

¶ The kyng then did great right [reddoure.] and iustice Vpon clippers and peirers of the coyne, And newe money made that then might suffice, Of syluer plate made out of Boloyne, The grote, half grote, all [in newe coyne,] [siluer plate vnkoyne.] He coyned fast, peny, halfpeny and ferthyng, For [For the.] porayll to bye with theyr leuyng.

¶ That same tyme he made a newe statute That no man should graunt lande ne tenement [A restraint of lādes to be geuen to the clergye.] To the churche, ne geue nor [ne.] constitute No maner grounde [nor no maner] [ne noone annwell.] rente Without licence of the lorde and his assent Of whome it is holden aboue in chiefe, And els y^e church this realme [had put in] [doone foule.] mischiefe.

¶ The prince Lewlyn and of [sir.] Dauid his brother Made warre vpon the kyng in greate araye, The Marche brent [they brent.] and many harmes other In Englande did, wherfore the kyng his waye To Wales held in all the haste he maye;

The lorde Mortimer toke then the prince Lewlyn [Lewellyne.] , And to the kyng hym brought for to enclyne.

¶ The kyng hym headed [bihede.] and to the toure it sent, The Walshemen made Dauid his brother then Prince of Wales by theyr commen assent; Wherfore the kyng to [the.] warre on theim began, [And of the Walshemen slewe full many a man,] And had Dauid vnto his presence brought, Hanged and drawen as then he had it sought.

¶ [Then seazed he] [he seased.] Wales for euer [aie.] into his hande, And ordeyned [that] no prince therin should be, But he or els his heyre I vnderstande: And that no man of Wales hole countre, One night shulde lye in castell nor cytee, But voyde out fro sunne to sunne thē euery night, Thus kept he Wales his tyme by royall might.

The. C.xlix. Chapiter. [Fol. C.lviii.]

¶ Howe Gladowys Dewy, the doughter of Dauyd prynce of Wales, was wedded to syr Raufe Mortymer, of whom came the carles of Marche.

GWenlyan [Wensilian.] y^t doughter was of Lewlyne [Lewellyne.] , Without [Withoutyn.] chylde dyed a vyrgyne aye, In a nonnery of the order [of] Gylbertyne, And Gladowys [Gladouse.] Dewy, Dauyds doughter gaye, [Yonge, freshe, and lusty as the rose in Maye,] To Raufe was wed that was lorde Mortymer, Of whome y^e earles of Marche [become full] [been comyn.] clere.

¶ Then went the kyng and quene to [into.] Gascoyne And Gwyan, to [als to.] set [that lande] [these londes.] in pees, And so forth then he went to Aragon, To sporte them with theyr father there no lees. To Gwyan then agayne, for his encrees, He came anone and set in peace that lande, And so [came agayne to] [ayen come home into.] Englande.

The. C.l. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng dyd atteynt his iustices, and sette enquery of peace breakers, ryouters, oppressours, extorcyoners, and of the vsurye of Iewes.

HIs iustyces [iustise.] all by lawe he dyd attaynt, For wrong domes & false iudgement, For couetyse y^t false were then & faynt To helpe the poore cōmons to theyr entent; He set iustyces [in heyre] [en eire.] by all assent, That called was that tyme Troilebaston, For to enquere of all extorcyon.

¶ Of ryouters, fyghters and baratours, Of market beters that raysed greate debates, Of peace breakers and all the [their.] susteynours, That were with theim of preuy assocyates [associate.] , Of oppressours of all the pore estates [astate.] ; And all that were then founde [foundyn.] culpable, Emprysoned were or by theyr pursse excusable [vexable.] .

¶ Of Iewes within this lande [y^t was] [were.] abidyng, Great plaintes were made [of okoure and] [ocre and fals usure.] vsury, Howe they dyd waste the folke by suche winning, And preuy bondes made without [withoutyn.] measure, In payne of double or elles forfeture; The king thē voided for whiche y^e church [clergie.] a disme Hym graunt[ed,] so dyd the cōmons a quindecyme.

¶ Rys [Ap Madoke] [Amaraduke.] a warre in Wales [gan] take Agayne the kyng, that great warres had sustened, And prynce hym called of Wales without [withoutyn.] make, Who then at Yorke by lawe full wel mainteyned, On galous hye as [to hym well] [well it.] apperteyned, Was draw[en] and hanged, his hed vpon y^e towre Was set anon as rebell and traytoure [high traitoure.] .

The. C.li. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Edmonde, earle of Lancaster and of Leycester, kept Gwyan, and wed quene Blaunche of Nauerne, the kynges syster of Fraunce, and ther∣fore

he bare the labell in his armes for dyfference fro the kynges of En∣glonde euer after.

KYng Edward sent his brother thē ful dere, To kepe Guyā and w^t him strōg chiualry, Who gouerned there y^t land without pere, [Fol. C.lix.] To hye honoure, as made is memorye; In Fraunce sore dred amonge the aduersarye, And other landes lyeng [ionynge.] there all aboute, Aboue all men he was there moste bedoute.

For euer he put them to the worse in [on̄.] felde, In armes ay he had the victorye, And in Parys at [in.] iustes vnder shelde, Far passyng was and dyd ay notably, [That for his manhode and famous chyualrye] In so ferforth [that] all landes hym commende [commended.] , For his manhode whiche so in hym they kende.

¶ He wed dame Blaunche of Nauerne y^t was quene, King Philip sister y^t was ful good & faire, Of whome he gate Thomas [of] Lācaster I wene, And Henry his brother y^t afterwarde was heire, And earles both they were without dispayre, Of Lancaster and also of Leycestre, As Flores hath expressed well by lettre.

¶ For whiche weddyng and noble alyance, He and his heyres bare for a difference Englande armes with labell [labels.] hole of Fraunce, By whiche all men maye haue intellygence, That Edmonde was yonger in existence Then kyng Edward, though some say y^e cōtrary, And from the truth yet haue they [grete.] wyll to vary.

The. C.lii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the fyue portes toke the nauy of Fraunce on the sea in batell.

THe kyng of Fraūce a nauy great then sēt Vpon Englande to warre in great [fell.] aray,

Which y^e. v. portes toke on the sea & shent, And people greate there slewe & dreynt y^t daye; Theyr shyppes [all] by batayl and affraye [werly affraie.] , Were take and brought then [ther.] into Englande, With capitaynes many and lordes of y^t lande.

¶ Kyng Philyp then at Parys, in parlyament, Somonde Edwarde afore hym to appere, Surmittyng hym of robbery felonoment [soulement.] , Vpon his flete so done by tymes sere; For faute of aunswere foreiuged hym there [clere.] , Destroyed his land in eche place where he might: But kyng Edwarde then went to Fraunce ryght,

¶ And gate agayne his landes euerychone, And sought ay where vpon the kyng of Fraūce, But he fled euer and batayle wolde geue none: Sone after so [Philyp by ordynaunce,] [kynge Philippe be gouernaunce.] A trewce toke by good ordynaunce [concordaunce.] , For all his landes beyonde [that were beyonde.] the sea, To set [be.] in peace with all tranquilyte.

The. C.liii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Morgan and Madoke his brother were sette in the towre for rebellyon in Wales, made by comforte of kynge Phylip of Fraunce.

IN Wales Morgan made war & great distaunce, And Madoke also [als.] , his brother ful vntrew, For whiche the kyng w^t all his ordenaūce, To Wales went & faught with them all newe At straytes great, whiche tho traytours knewe, [Fol. C.lx.] Yet were they take and put in sore pryson Within the towre for theyr rebellyon.

¶ The kyng Philyp had sent then [theym.] golde to war On England then, with sir Thomas Turbiruile [Trubuyle.] , Who was espyed by sotell meanes afferre, And heded was anon for all his guyle, His wyt not [nought.] holpe hym then ne yet his wyle:

He dyed with shame, repreef, and vilany, Engendred all of mede [nede.] and surquedrye.

The. C.liiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe earle Edmonde was leuetenaunt of Guyan, and warred vpon the kyng of Fraunce, and defyed hym by letter, for he brake the promyse made to Edwarde his brother, kynge of Englande.

SIr Edmōd erle of Lancaster thē ful trewe, Leuetenaūt then of Guian all throughout, On whom y^e king Philip then rode al new, And brake the trewce w^t hostes great and stout; Wherfore he went to hym without [withoutyn.] doubte, To se howe that it myght be [beene.] well defende, [He bade hym thus set to his knee and amende.] [He ansuerd thus I set to thy kne and mende.]

¶ Wherfore in ire he gaue hym vp homage, The whiche he ought for his [the.] lande that he helde, And aunswered hym agayne of great corage, From hens forwarde I shall you [nowe.] holde the felde, And at my power eche daye vnder shelde [my shelde.] Proue howe ye do vnto my lorde greate wronge, The whiche I shall amende or [or.] it be longe.

And so depart[ed] withoute [withoutyn.] more langage, And into Guyan came with [at.] all his myght, And to his brother wrote & made [dide.] hym knowlage, And bade hym come w^t power for to fyght, With spere and bowe, for other writ of ryght Maye not be got within the courte of Fraunce, For to recouer his hye enherytaunce.

¶ Eche day thēce forth w^t bāners hole displeyed, He helde the felde and [and on.] kyng Philyp warred, And leters sent hym [of.] , defyals and vmbrayde [vnbraied.] , Of hys suraunce and othe that he had erred, And castelles gate full many & not [nought.] differred; Kyng Edward sent his brother then suppowaile, The Frenche partye to warre [warraie.] and assayle.

The. C.lv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe syr Roger Mortymer was made earle of Marche at Kyllyngworthe, and set the rounde table of a thousande knyghtes and as many ladyes.

ANd in the yere a. M. was full then, Two hundreth, [also syxty] [als sexty therto.] and nyntene, When syr Roger Mortymer so began At Kelyngworth the rounde table as was sene, Of a thousande knyghtes, for disciplyne Of yonge men, after he coulde [couthe.] deuyse Of turnementes and iustes to exercyse.

¶ A thousande ladyes excellynge in beaute, He had there also [als.] in tentes hye aboue, The iustes that they myght well & clerely se, Who iusted best there for theyr lady loue; For whose beautie it should the knyghtes moue [Fol. C.lxi.] In armes so etch[one] other to reuie, To geate a fame in playe of chiualrie.

¶ This Mortimer was then lord Mortimer, But in these iustes he held great feast[es] eche daye, By fourty dayes conteined whole and clere, At whiche one part [partie.] of ladyes faire and gaye Gaue hym the [price of fame] [prise and fame.] of all that playe; Wherfore the kyng to encrese his estate, Proclamed hym erle of Marche there create.

The. C.lvj. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Edmond erle of Lancaster and of Leicester faught at Bayon with the power of Fraunce, and was slain there; & sir Wyllyam Valence erle of Pēbroke was dedde ther, and many other lordes, in the yere a thousand twoo hundred four score & sixtene [M. CClxxxvi. edit. alt.] .

BVt erle Edmond the kynges brother dere, With twenty & sixe baners proud & stout,

The fifth daye of Iune was accompted clere, Of Christ [his] date a thousand yere all out, Four score [Two hundreth foure skore, &c.] and sixtene with out doubt, [At Bayon faught with the Frēchemenne certain, Wher he in y^e feld y^t daye like a knight was slaine.] [

At Baion foughte ayenst the Frensh partie, Where he wase slayn and moo of his meynye.

]

¶ Sir Williā Valence, erle of Pēbroke was thē, Sir Iohn Rychmond and many other baron, Sir Iohn Saynct Iohn right a full manly māne, Thenglishe hoste felly ther was bore doune, By a busshement laied by colucion, That brake on theim sore fighting in the feld, Out of a wode, in whiche that daye [they.] were beld [

But these pryncese Edmonde and William Valence, At Westmynstre prynsely beene buried, Beside the high autere with reuerence, Remembred well be writynge notified, And with honoure gretely laudified, For grete manhode approued vnto theire end, The kynges right to maynteyn and defende.

So MS. Seld.

] .

The. C.lvii. Chapiter.

WHen [Wher.] Iohn of Gaunt, y^e sone of king Edwarde, [Howe a chroni∣cle was feygned to make Ed∣mond the elder brother.] For cause his brother y^t duke was of Clarēce None yssue male had then that menne of herd, But female [a female.] by all intelligence, When kyng Rychard, in his greate excellence, None yssue had, he would haue been his heire Apparaunt then, by act in perlyament feire.

¶ The whiche Thomas Wodstok, duke of Gloucester, And all nobles [roials.] of England ther present Proclaymed then, by wrytyng and by letter, Howe that therle of Marche, then in perlyament, Vnto the kyng was then heire apparaunt; Wher duke Iohn in diuers places made Feined chronicles, that shewed were full brade,

¶ Howe this Edmond thelder soonne of kyng Henry, Broke backed and [or els.] bowbacked bore,

Was vnabled [to haue] [wherfore.] the monarche, And [To.] Edward so the younger kyng [was.] therfore. Suche chronicles then he feined full sore, And putte in place of diuers religion, To make his soonne right heire of this region.

¶ But when kyng Henry this chronicle shewed, It was defect and clerely sette at nought, And vnderfoote cast [castyn.] doune and [eke] stroyed [strewed.] ; The contrarie by chronicles truly wrought Was proued trewe, and then his title he sought By resignement [resignynge.] and renunciacion, By depoisale and playne coronacion.

¶ [It is not true that croke backed he hight, For valyaunt he was in all his doynges, And personable with all to euery mannes sight, [Fol. C.lxii.] Although false chronicles haue other saiynges. Kyng Alexnder of Scotland then dyed, That wedded had the kynges suster Margarete, And Alexander his sonne beyng in thesame stede, Who with Margrete his wife on y^e sea perished.] [

Instead of this stanza, the Harleīan and Selden Manuscripts have the two following:

Men may well se that Cronycle is vntrewe, Where he in Walis, and in the Holy Londe, In Guyen, Paitowe, and Naverne as men knewe, In Arragoyne in Spayne I vnderstonde. Be all his life grete manhode toke on honde, In batell dide as welle as any knyght, It is not true that croukebacked shuld he hight.

Kynge Alisaundre of Scotlande than so died, That wedded hade the kynges suster Margrete, That dede wase als as well wase notified, And Alisaunde theire sonne and heire that hete, And Margarete als theire doughter als full suete Of Scotlonde theire died upon the see, Fro Norweie home the quene therof to be.

]

The. C.lviii. Chapiter.

¶ How Florēce, erle of Holād, & his persuers, boūd hym to bide the iudgement of the kyng Edward, if he should be kyng of Scotlād.

FLorence, therle of Holand, & his compeers, That claimed then the croune of Scotlād,

After the death of Margaret as pursuers [copersoners.] , Came to kyng [the kynge.] Edward, then of England, Requeryng hym in God his name all weldand, As he that was of Scotland souereigne lord, To trye the right and sette theim in accorde [concorde.] .

¶ For whiche he sette at Norham a parliament, After Easter then next folowyng, In the kirke of Norham to that entent That all Scottes, and other that were pursuyng, Might ther appere, their titles claymyng; At whiche parliament the pursuantes theim bond, At his decree and iudgement to [for to.] stond.

¶ By one letter with all their seales ensealed, Whiche doublid was, thei gaue vnto the kyng; The other part, for it should not be repeled, Thei kept with [anenst.] theim selfes alwaye [a]bydyng, [This was to Henry the fyfth.] [Which lettre Iohn Hardyng, maker of this boke, To kyng Hēry delyuered, y^t gaue hym, in recōpēce, The manoure of Gedyngtō w^t all y^e appurtenēce.] [

The Harleian and Schlen MSS. read,

Whiche lettre so the forseide Iohn Hardynge, Maker of this symple wretyn boke, To kynge Henry at Bois de Vyncent toke.

For whiche he graunte hym ther be his patent, The maner hoole than of Gedyngton, With thapourtenaunte and right that it appent, For euer to haue and holde for enherisoun, To hym his heirs and assignes, of the croun̄, Be the service of tuclue pens yerly, At the terme of seynt Mighell oonly.

]

¶ For [The.] whiche manoure then the cardinall Of Wynchester vnto the quene disposid In hir dower, and fro hym toke it all, When that the kyng by death was deposid; Hym recompence he promised and composid, But nought he had; but might y^t prīce haue lyued, He durst full eiuill his excellence haue greued.

¶ An other letter, duble [doubled.] in like wyse, The saied heires deliuered to the kyng,

That [The.] other part as shuld of right suffice, Semblably [In like fourme.] with theim was remainyng, By whiche thei bound theim self by their sealyng Hym to delyuer the kyng his castels all, To kepe to tyme his iudgement were byfall [yfall.] .

¶ Of whiche iudgement, without possession Of castell strong throughout ther all the lande, He might not well dooen execucion, Wherfore the heires to hym so their theim bound; Whiche letter also Iohn Hardyng toke on hand, And did deliuer so then at Boys Vincent, For the saied reward together by one entent.

The. C.lix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Edward made sir Iohn Balyoll kyng of Scotland.

ANd in the yere of Christ his incarnacion, A thousād whole two hūdred & four scoure, And therto three, by verye computacion, At the feast of sainct Michael set afore, The kyng Edward to Scotland came therfore, Wher twenty then chosen [were] of England, And other twenty [persones, also] [with theym.] of Scotland.

¶ By whose aduyse all other rightes exclude, [Fol. C.lxiii.] The kyng iudged to Iohn Bailyol [Bailloll.] the croune, That was discent, as clearely was conclude, Of theldest doughter of Dauid [of] Huntyngdon, As [chronicles make therof] [chroniclers maken.] good mencion, Margarete wedded to Aleyne of Galawaye, Whose doughter was kyng Iohns mother y^t day,

¶ That Dernegull hight, and was Iohn Bailiols wyfe, Whose sonne & heire, kyng Iohn, was thē cround, That Bailioll hight, that knowen was full ryfe, In y^e mynster of Skone within [in.] Scotland groūd, Syttyng vpon the regall stone full sound,

As all the kynges there vsed had afore, On saynt Andrewes daye, with all ioye therfore.

¶ At Christmas nexte after the same kyng Iohn, To Newcastell to kyng Edwarde came, [Homage of y^e Scottes.] His homage made, and feautee leege anone, Of his free wyll without [withoutyn.] any blame, And with greate ioye agayn retourned hame; But then y^e Scottes chose theim. xii. lords by assēt, To rule the kynge Iohn by [than by.] their entent.

The. C.lx. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Iohn of Scotlande made confederacye with Fraunce agayn Englande.

WHiche made him then to make confederacy With kyng Philip of Fraunce and aliaūce, Perpetually to be contributorie, Ether with other, by strong & great assuraunce, Englande to warre with al theyr hole puyssaunce; The kyng Edwarde seynge this hye falshede, To Barwike came with hoste and great māhede.

¶ At the nonnes of Barwyke then he laye, And layde a siege about on euery syde, [At after Easter,] [And Ester passed.] but Flemynges then that daye, The Leden hall there [they.] helde full strong that tyde, Which w^t wylde fyre was [were.] brent & might not byde [voyde.] ; That same night then syr Wyllym Duglas [Douglas.] yald [voyde.] Barwyke castell to kyng Edwarde and salde [yolde.] .

The. C.lxi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Iohn of Scotlande surrendred his homage to kyng Edwarde, and disclaymed to holde of hym.

IN this same tyme. vii. erles of [than of.] Scotlande Sieged Carleile, and so to Hexham brent, And home again harmeles out of Englād

They went anone, and none harmes hent, [Worse to haue dooen was there entent.] But then kyng Iohn surrend[red] vp his homage To kyng Edwarde, for hym and his linage,

¶ By letters, whiche the kyng Edward then sent To abbeys great in Englande of recorde, To be remembred of his false entente, [Renoūcyng kyng Edwarde for his souerayn lord.] The seuen erles at Dunbarre, by concorde, Then sieged it, fro whiche earle Patrike went, [And graunted] [To graunte.] to holde of hym at his entent.

The. C.lxii. Chapiter. [Fol. C.lxiiii.] ¶ Of the battayle of Dunbarre, where that kyng Edwarde preuayled.

WHiche castell so then the kyng rescowed, And droaue therles there out of the felde, And much people vnto the deth ther bowed, Without helpe there slayne vnder shelde; To Ronkesburgh [Rokesburgh.] the kyng Edward so held, That sone was yelde to hym without [withoutyn.] stryfe, Their good [goodes.] saufe also and theyr lyfe.

¶ So he forth to Edenburgh went anone, That yelden was on the same condicion, Then was Stryuelyn voyde and lefte alone Without defence or [of.] any garyson, That Edwarde toke in [into.] his possession; [Whiche kyng Edwarde toke into his power, And saued the people both farre and nere.] [And lefte theryn of his men a certayne, It to defende vnder theire chieftayne.]

¶ Then [Ther.] came therle of Vlster with great power Of Iryshemen, and so to saynt Iohns towne The kyng thē went, w^t host through Fyfe ful cher [cler.] , And brent y^t shire throughout both vp[ō] & downe; [Submyssion of y^e Scottish kyng & al his lords vnto kīg Edward the first.] When then kyng Iohn, by good direccion,

To Edwarde sent, and prayed hym then of peace, And to his grace submytte hym or he [would] cease.

¶ Thē kyng Edwarde toke his submyssion At Brighyn then, vpon the water of Taye, And gaue hym there his realme without condiciō, Of Scotlande so to hym and his for ay; The lordes all made hym homage that daye, The. x. daye was of Iuly [Iuyll.] , and in the yere Of kyng Iohn then the. iiii. was counpted clere.

¶ And therupon he sent hym to the toure Of London then, with certeyne rebelles moo; Kyng Iohn he kept in worshyp and honoure, Like his estate, where he would ride or goo, Ten myle about for his disport there [than.] so; Then kyng Edwarde on the mountaynes went, That monthes [montens.] there bee called in theyr entent.

¶ And as he came homewarde by Skone awaye, The regall there of Scotlande then he brought, And sent it forth to Westmynster for ay, To be there in a cheire clenely wrought For a masse preaste [prestes.] to sytte in when he [they.] ought; Whiche [there was] [yet is there stondynge.] standyng besyde the shryne, In a cheire, of olde tyme made full fyne.

¶ Thē made the kyng Iohn Wareyn his regēt, That erle was then of Sussex and Surray, And treasorer he made, at his entent, Hugh Cressyngham, and Wyllyam Ormesby The chiefe iustice, through Scotlande generally. His chaunceler at Skone, and tresorer, Abydyng wer, to rule the land full clere.

¶ Thē went [kyng Iohn] [the kynge.] to Flaūders for socoure Of the dukes of Geldre and Brabant, And also of the noble Emperoure, That hym had hight great helpe & socoure then; But none he had and home agayn he want [wan.] :

For in [y^e] meane tyme whyle he in Flaūders [a]bode, Wyllyam Valoys [Waleys.] all Scotlande ouer rode.

¶ He slewe the iudge [iuges.] and the chaunceler, [Fol. C.lxv.] Thofficers [also] and the chaumberleyn, The capitaynes [capeteyns all.] and the treasorer, And gatte the lande fro Englyshmen agayn, And slewe theim all with cruell death and payn; Wherfore the kyng, vpon the Maudeleyn day, At Fowkirke fought with Scottes in great aray.

¶ Where Scottes fled, and fourty. M. slayn, And into Fiffes [Fife.] he went, and brent it clene, And Andrewstoune he wasted then full playn, And Blakmanshire [Blacke Manan̄ shire.] & Menteth as [men mene,] [was seen̄.] And on [ouer.] the ford of Trippour [Trips.] , with hoste I ween To Bothbile [Bethuyle.] , Glascowe, and to the towne of Are, And so to Lanarke, Loughmaban & Anand thare,

¶ Whiche [Whiche castels.] all he had euer [aie.] wher he came, And then he wed kyng Philippes suster Margarete, A fayre lady, and [full of] [of full.] noble fame, Hir [His.] sonne and heire, Edwarde Carnauan [Carnarvan.] hete, A mayden wed, kyng Philippes doughter swete, Whom his father, then prince of Wales create, Duke of Cornewayle & erle of Chester nominate.

¶ Then went the kyng to Scotlande agayn [so ayen.] , And wan the lande, and had there all obeysaunce, Sauyng Wales that would not hym obeyn, But fled hym euer for drede of mischaunce [all mischaunce] ; He ordeyned then by statute ordinaunce, That none should bee the prince of Wales more, Excepte of the kyng his eldest sonne [first bore.] [euermere.]

The. C.lxiii. Chapiter.

¶ How the byshop of Rome, at the suggestion of the Scottes, wrote to kyng Edwarde under this fourme.

ANd in the yere a thousande. CCC. & one, Bishop [Pope.] Boniface, at y^e Scottes suggestiō, To kyng Edward by lettre wrote anone, Chargyng hym then vpon his beneson [benediccion.] , For to delyuer the Scottes out of pryson, Whiche [Whome.] in Englande he had holden with wrong, And his officers call home [y^t] there had be long.

¶ [Alledged all] [He alleged.] howe Scotlande hole was holde Of Peters churche of Rome, & nought [not.] of hym, But by great wrong and oppression bolde, He theim ouerled with warres sore and brym, And theim compelled, in payn of lyfe and lymme, [To] become his men, [&] the realme of hym to holde, By homage leege, whether they wold or nolde.

¶ And bad hym also [als.] afore hym then appere, At the courte of Rome, his right there for to shewe, And yf it myght be knowe his right were clere, Without delay by iudgement iuste and trewe, He shulde it haue by execucion due, By sensours of the[yr] churche and hole sentence, For to obeye his hie magnificence.

The. C.lxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Edwarde wrote agayn an aunswer of his lettre.

THē kyng Edward wrote [vnto hym] [to the Pope.] agayn [Fol. C.lxvi.] [An aunswere] [Bonyface.] by his letters meke and due, All his tytles and [and his.] duties full playne, Nought in fourme neuer [ne.] in effecte to sue, Nor [ne.] in his courte [no] iudgement to pursue; Remembryng well his [his holy.] fatherhede, Howe Brutus had Albian, and dyd [it] possede

¶ In Hely tyme, whiche to his sonnes he deuyde: Vnto his sonne Locryne, fyrste propogate, He gaue Logres, that hath [Engelonde hote.] this tyde, To Albanacte, the seconde procreate,

He gaue Albanye, Scotlande nowe denomynate, And to Cambre, his yongest sonne, he gaue Cambre, that nowe is Wales, to ioye and haue.

¶ To kyng Locrine, of Logres, and to his heires, The soueraynte and homage ay reserued Of Albanacte and Cambre, [and] all theyrs, Perpetually Troyan lawe obserued, By which lawes Bryton [Britayne.] hath bene conserued, Sith hitherwarde, without interrupcyon, Afore the tyme that Rome had prescrypcion.

¶ Afore the tyme also that Chryste was bore By many yeres, the kynge[s] of Logres had Scotlande by eschete, for faute of heyres thore, And remeued kynges y^t were there knowen bad, And other kynges there made, with hertes glad; Whiche y^e land couth there gouerne mikel [muche.] better, And seruyce dyd to Logres ofte by letter.

¶ Also the same Iohn Baylioll [Baillolle.] I made Kyng of Scotlande, as lawe and reason wolde, Who made homage to me with hert full glad, And afterwarde was false manyfolde: He stroyed my lande, w^t hostes stoute and bolde, Wherfore I made hym warre tyll he were [wase.] fayne To my presence to come, and hym obeyne.

¶ Where then for trespasse and rebellyon, He surrendred to me and to my heyres The realme of Scotlande, & also [thereofe.] the crowne: The lordes of all Scotlande, for them & theyrs, Made me homage for theyr proper landes, By theyr letter wryten, and theyr bandes.

¶ Wherfore then [I than.] , hauyng therof possessyon, [Howe the Scottyshe kynge & all the lordes of Scotlād made homage vnto kyng Edwarde.] The pryde of my subiectes and insolence Where I dyd fynde, theyr false rebellyon, As ryght and lawe wolde be [so be.] my regence, I chastysed ay, at myne intellygence;

Wherfore please it [to youre] [your holy.] fatherhede, Myne aunciente rightes to haue cōmend in dede.

The. C.lxv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the lordes wrote to the byshop of Rome for the same cause [King Edward's letter, the substance of which is given in the preceding Chapter, appears at full length in Latin; at the end of the Lansdowne Manuscript of Hardyng, as well as the letter of the Barons which forms the subject of this Chapter. As the one of these is already printed, with very little variation, in Rymer's Foedera, Vol. II. p. 883, and the other, p. 873, with the names of the Barons inserted who put their seals to it, it was thought unnecessary to print them here. The king's letter occurs at the end of the Selden Manuscript at Oxford.] .

THe date was of this letter, a. M. yere, Thre hundreth also [als.] & one, the. viii daye of Maye, And of his reygne. xxix. clere; With that the lordes in Englande were y^t daye, By theyr letter [lettre wrote.] , and the byshop [pope.] dyd praye The kynges ryght, not [to] put in questyon, Of eldest tyme longyng to his crowne.

¶ For in theyr letter the bishop [pope.] they did remēber, [Fol. C.lxvii.] They wolde not suffer his disherityson, His crowne so foule to hurte and dismembre, His royalty to put in questyon, For desyre of his rebels false suggestyon; The whiche ryghtes for death or lyfe mayntaine, They wer so bound they could [couth.] none other meane.

¶ So seased the byshop [pope.] , and the mater lette, And kyng Edwarde then in to Scotlande went, Through all Catnesse destroyed [it] in greate hete, The monthes [mountes. edit. alt. mounteyns. MS.] hye & oute ysles [strayte] he shent, Tyll they obeyed all hole his regiment; And wyntred then at Dunfermlin abbey, Where saint Margarete is worshipped euer & ay.

The. C.lxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Of the batayle of Argyle, where Vmfreuyle tooke Wyllyam Waleys, and Iohn Waleys.

ANd then therle of Angos Robert Vmfreuile, That regēt was of Scotlād cōstitute, Toke William Wales [Waleys.] , then at Argyle, His brother Iohn also without resute, With rebelles mo, that were all destytute; By batell sore there smyten full cruelly, Where Vmfreuile then had the victorye:

¶ And to London them brought to iudgement, Where they were drawē & hanged on galowe tre, And quartred then, their quarters home were [so.] sēt, At certayne townes hanged vp there to [for to.] be, Theyr traytourhede and falshede for to se; Theyr heddes also [als.] full hye vpon the towre, At London brydge were set to [for.] great terroure.

The. C.lxvii. Chapiter.

¶ How Peirs of Gauerstone, erle of Cornwaile, was exyled.

ANd in the yere a thousand. iii. C. and fyue, He exyled out Peyrs Gauerston [Causton.] of Cornewayle That earle was then, for treason knowen ryue, And in the yere after [without any] [withoutyn.] fayle, Earle Robert Bruis of Carrike ganne assayle Earle Iohn Comen [Comyn.] of Bongham [Bougham.] , at Dunfryse, And slewe hym there, in feueryere whē it [did] fryse:

¶ Bycause he wolde not to hym there assent, To be crowned then kynge of Scotlande, And forthe he fled, [to se] [to witte.] who wolde consent, And many one drewe to hym in that lande, Became his men, and made syker bonde; To whome Walter Wareyne, the yonger sonne, Of therle of Surrey, y^t then dyd wonne,

¶ With the lorde Vesty [Vesey.] , that had his syster wed, That fro her went vnto this Robert Bruys, Eyther of other were fayne, for they were fled

Out of Englande, their liuyng had such guris [use.] [For their ryotous lyuyng, and male auentures; Thus went they aboute, harkening euery where Who were foes, and who their frendes were.] [

Women noone spured they were so lecherouse, Which caused theym to spede as they deserued, The rewarde of synne is shame and sorowe obserued.

]

¶ All Scotland through this Robert wēt about On fote to spye who wolde with hym holde, And who wolde not he warred them all oute, [Fol. C.lxviii.] And kylled [slewe.] them downe in places manifolde, [And muche harme dyd, in chronycle as is tolde;] And with hym [was] alwaye Walter Wareyne, That w^t hym went through mountaynes [woode] and playne.

¶ On nightes they lay in woodes & in moūtaine, At morowe on theyr foes came downe and [to.] kyll On day [daies.] they were thousādes, at euen but twayne; There knewe no moo at euē where they drewe tyl, So were they euer at nyght of lodgyng [longynge.] wyll, For drede of guyle and of greate traytourye, They lodged them on nyghtes full priuely.

¶ But on the feaste of the Annuncyacion Of our lady, saynt Mary the virgyne, Robert Bruys, with greate supportacyon, Was crowned at Skone, as he coulde ymagyne, To whom great folke with good wyl did enclyne, Full glad of his welfare, & [his] coronacyon, With greate hoste came to Perch w^t prosperacion.

The. C.lxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe syr Robert Vmfreuile, earle of Angeou, and syr Aymer Valence earle of Pēbroke discomfyted kyng Robert Bruys, besyde saynte Iohns towne, and put hym vnto the flyghte.

ON [And on.] the morowe [sir Robert erle] [erle Robert.] Vmfreuile, Of Angeous then, y^t regent was by North

The Scottes sea, and Aymer Valence y^e while Erle of Pēbroke, by South y^e water of Forth, [Wardayne was, of Scotlande forsoth, That daye faught with kyng Robert Bruis,] [Wardeyn wase & fought with kynge Robert Brouse.] Beside Iohnstoune, where he fled w^tout rescowes

¶ Vnto [the] Kentir, & many Scottes there slaine, Where then they toke the wyfe of kyng Robert, And his brother Nygell, the sothe to sayne, And the earle of Athels, myght not [a sterte,] [astarte.] And sent them to the kyng w^t full glad hert; Whome the kyng kepte after theyr estate, At London, well together consocyate.

¶ Henry Percy toke the brethren two Of kyng Robert, Alexaunder & Thomas [y^t] hight, To the Iustes them sent y^t hanged [honge.] were tho, His other brother at London hanged ryght; Kyng Roberte then sieged the Percy [full] wyght, But Vmfreuyle hym anon rescowed, And the syege from hym anone remoued [remued.] .

¶ Kyng Robert Bruys faught w^t Aimer Valēce, Earle of Penbroke, and put hym to the flyght At Methfen so, and slewe with violence All Englyshemen in batell there downe ryght, Therle of Gloucester, Gylbert Clare y^t hight, Thre dayes after he syeged hym in Are, But kyng Edward therle [then] rescowed thare.

¶ The king Edwarde w^t hoost hym sought full [aie.] sore, But ay he fled into woodes & strayte forest, And slewe his men at straytes & daungers thore, And at marreys and mires was ay full prest Englysh[men] to kyll without [withoutyn.] any rest; In the mountaynes & cragges he slewe ay where, And in [on.] the nyght his foes he frayde full sere [sore.] .

The king Edward w^t hornes & hoūdes him soght, [Fol. C.lxix.] With mēne on fote, through marris, mosse, & myre,

Through wodes also, & moūtēs [wher thei fought,] [as they thought.] And euer y^e kyng Edward hight men greate hyre, Hym for to take and by might conquere; But thei might hym not gette by force ne by train. He satte by the fyre when thei [they went.] in the rain.

¶ The kyng Edward for anger fell in accesse [axcesse.] , And homeward came full sycke and sore annoyed, And bade his soonne he should, for no distresse, No trewce take w^t Scottes that sore [so.] hym noyed, But werre theim aye to tyme thei were distroyed, For he saied thus, "Thou shalt neuer fynd theim trewe, But whiles thei bee in thy subieccion dewe."

¶ At Burgh vpon the sande he died anone, [The deathe of Edward the first.] And to London caried then daye by daye, At Westminster buried with muche mone, With quene Margarete he had thē soōnes tway Thomas Brotherton erle of Northfolke gay, And marshall of England, the other of Kent Edmond Wodstok was erle in all entent.

¶ This noble kyng died [in Iuly the third daye,] [on seint Thomas daie.] [And toward heauen he then tooke his waye,] [Of Caunterbury called the Translacion.] The yere of Christ a thousand sooth to saie, Three hundred whole, and seuen by calculacion, And of his reigne and coronacion Fiue and thirty, not fully whole [all.] complete, When he so went vnto the blisse so [full.] swete.

The. C.lxix. Chapiter.

¶ Edward the second, kyng of England, began to reigne the yere a thousand three hundred and seuen, the eyght daye of Iuly, and was deposed the yere a thousand thre hundred twenty and sixe, and of his reigne nyntene yere.

EDward his soōne, prince of Wales & lord, [Kyng Edward the second.] At Carnaruan of his mother bore, Was croūed kīg by good & whole cōcord,

Of all the lordes that were assembled thore, At Westminster, as was his father afore; And at the feast of thassumpcion Of our lady, he sent for Peers Gauerston [Causton.] ,

¶ Whom then he made therle of Cornwaile, Again the will of all the baronage, Whom his father exiled, for misgouernaile. The third yere after, for his misused outrage, The lordes rose, of ire and greate courage, And heddid hym as for an hie traytour, That wasted had and spent the kyng his tresour.

¶ And in [y^e] mean while kyng Robert Bruys had get [The battaille of Bānokesburne.] All Scotland nere, wherfore y^e kyng Edward To Scotland went, at Bannokesburne thei met And faught full sore, till slain was the vaward, And discomfited was the midelward; And to the rereward kyng Edward hym drewe For greate socour, wher he had battayl newe:

¶ Whiche kild [slayne.] was doune, sauf [safe. edit. alt.] fewe that led the kyng To Dunbarre then fleand [fleynge.] with hym away, Ther was therle of Gloucester slain fleyng, The lord Clifford, and all the lordes that daye; Therle of Herford to Bothuile fled his waye, [Fol. C.lxx.] Therle Edmond of Arundell, and erle of Valence, Therles of Warwike & Oxenford take [taken.] at defence.

¶ This battaill was the yere of Christ smitten, A thousand whole three hundred and fiftene [fourtene.] , On Midsomer daye, and of his reigne thē written The seuenth yere, by chronicle as is seen: Then was Vmfrey erle of Herford frethed clene, And enterchaungid for kyng Robertes wife, That holden was in England then full ryfe.

The. C.lxx. Chapiter.

¶ Of the relesse that kyng Edward made to Robert Bruys at Dūbarre, whiche relesse Iohn Hardyng deliuered in to the tresorye, in the dayes

of kyng Henry the fifth, at Boys Vincent in Fraunce, with other; for whiche he gaue hym Godyngton, that the quene hathe nowe.

PAtrike Dūbarre erle of Marche, that daye, To kyng Edward was leege mā, lōg afore To his father, and trewe had been alwaye, Sent kyng Edward to Barwik; but, therfore, He toke of hym a relesse for euermore Of his seruice that due was to the [his.] croune, Anentes kyng Bruys to execute [excuse.] his treason.

¶ Whiche relesse the maker of this booke, Iohn Hardyng brought with other euidence, And to the kyng Henry the fifth it toke, With other mo, afore at Boys Vincent, Perteignyng to England royall regiment [regence.] ; And nought he hath vnto his sustenaunce, As oft a fore here in his remembraunce.

The. C.lxxi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Robert Bruis toke all the lordes of England, and sleugh many at Stryuelin bridge, & distroied the Marches, and bete doune castelles therin.

KYng Robert Bruys toke Robert Vmfreuile, Erle of Angeos, Henry then lord Percy, Therle of Marche, and also y^e lord Neuile, Acton and Scropen [Scrope.] and also [als.] the lord Lucy At Stryuelyn bridge, fightyng mightely In the vaward of the forsaid battaill, Taken prisoners, and raunsomed for auaill.

¶ Thē kyng Robert y^e Marchis whole distroied, The castelles wanne and bet theim to the ground, And all Scotland, afore that he had noyed, Obeyed to hym and were his lieges bounde, And maintened well thē furth all Scotlād groūd; The bishoprike of Duresme all throughout Nothumberland he brent with hoste full stout.

¶ Two cardinales y^e [B. of Rome] [Pope.] to Scotlād sent, To treate a trewce, a twene the kynges twoo, And for to stall Lewes Beamount [Beaumonte.] present Bishop of Duresme, that then was sacred so, Whose brother was Henry lord Beaumont tho, Licensed and graunted by the kyng of Fraunce, To bee liege menne to Edwardes whole plesaūce.

¶ But sir Gilbert Midelton theim mette, And sir Walter Selby, misruled knightes, A litell fro Duresme their waye [forsett,] [for to lett.] [Fol. C.lxxi.] [Gilbert Mideltē robbed y^e cardi∣nalles.] And robbed theim openly on the [daie.] lightes, And to Midford castell led theim fourth rightes, And held theim ther in mighty and strong hold To tyme thei had their iewels and their gold.

¶ Whiche knightes twoo robbed the lād about, That castell held by force and rebellion, A quarter of a yere, with rebelles stout; But thei were take within that [their.] garison, And to the kyng sent, by that enchesone, That hanged were, as traytours all should been, On galowes hie, that all might theim seen.

¶ Then after soone, sir Gosselyn Deynuile, His brother Robert, with twoo hundred in habite As thei were friers, went about in exile, Robbyng the land in full greate dispite, The bishopes places of Duresme in circuite, Thei spoiled clene, leuyng nothyng in theim But walles bare whiche thei would not claime.

The. C.lxxii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the lordes of England, with powre royall, durst not ryde into Scotlande passyng fourtene mile, England was so at vnder that tyme.

THerle Edmond then of Arundell, Wardein of the Marches then constitute, Therle Robert of Angeos, Vmfreuile, Of his landes hauyng no refute,

Therle Dauid of Athell destitute Of his erldome, the lord Percy full hardy, The [With the.] lord Neuell, the lord Beaumont manly,

¶ With all the power of the North contree, Distroyed then Scotland [the Scottish londe.] and brent, Vpon the March vnto Lyntell Lee, Whome sir Walter Wareyn, by whole assent Of Iames Douglas, pursued as thei went With great power alwaye [alweie ther.] at their side, That thei were fain again to England ride.

¶ But sir Walter Wareyn and Douglas [Iames Douglas.] , With their power brent all Northumberland, Tyndale became Scottes [Scottish.] , and false then was, And rode with theim, & brent through all the land To Alerton, and so rode home to Scotland Through the West March, & brent it all throughout, And home thei went without [withoutyn.] any doubt.

¶ The castell then of Berwyke and the towne Kyng Robert gatte, after strong & greate defence, By treaty with [peace Spaldyng] [Piers Spaldynge.] and treason, The Wendesdaye before Easters [Pasch.] reuerence; Wher that traitour, without long [longer.] suspence, Betrayed the towne, and into Scotland went, By Scottes slain as to a traytour appent.

The. C.lxxiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Edward laied siege to Barwyke, and forsooke the siege, and went South, for Robert Bruys had destroyed mikell of Yorkshire, & discomfited y^e archebishop of Yorke & his clergy at Milton on Swale.

THe kyng Edward began to siege Berwyk, And wonne it had, but false tales it let, And tidinges newe, y^t nought the kyng did like; [Fol. C.lxxii.] For [That.] Robert Bruys, the kyng of Scotlande, mette With [the bishop] [tharchebishope.] of Yorke, and hym ouersette:

Wherfore he loste [lefte.] the siege, and went awaye, But Bruys had stroyed England in fell araye.

¶ To Borough brydge by East and West he brent, And home agayne with many [a] prysoner, Without harme or lette of his entent, With mykell good, but in Myton medowe, nere To Swale water, laye then with great power Walter Wareyn among the hay kockes bushed, Vpon [the byshop] [tharchebishope.] sodenly with Scottes yssued.

¶ And. xv. hundreth Englyshe there he slewe, And home he went with kyng Edward [Robert.] full glad, With prysoners many, mo then men knewe, The byshop fled fro the felde full woo bestad, With his clerkes that then were [were there.] full mad; For whiche therle Thomas of Lancastre there, And kyng Edward, departed halfe in werre.

The. C.lxxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe at the nexte parliamente after, Thomas of Lancaster and Leycester erle, and certayne lordes, exiled the twoo Spencers out of the land; but then y^e Spencers made great persecucion with the kyng agayn the Iordes, and slewe the erle of Lancaster and the other lordes.

AT [y^e] parliamēt thē at Westminster next hold, Erle Thomas, y^t then was called ful trewe, Therle Vmfrey of Herford that was bold, Therle of Marche full manly as men knewe, The Monbrey [Moubraie.] also, Percy, and Clyfford drewe, All armed came, and two Spencers exiled Out fro Englande, neuer to be reconsyled.

¶ But sone the Spencers came to y^e kyng again, Syr Hugh the lorde [fader.] , and syr Hugh his sonne, And put therle of Marche in great disdayn; Roger his sonne, that with hym did wonne, [Appeched hym then of hye treason,]

Agaynst the kyng, wherfore the kyng hym [theym.] sent Into the toure, tabyde the parliament.

¶ Then went the kyng and Spencers [the Spencers.] both two, With hostes full great, to Burton vpon Trent, Where the lordes laye, and sparled [sparcled. edit. alt.] theim then so, That North they went, [then wayes] [waies divers.] by one assente, To rayse mo men they trust in theyr entent, The Spencers two fully for to destroye, Who all the realme full cruelly did noye.

¶ At Borinbrig [Borowbrig.] , syr Andrewe [Hertlaw met] With [erle] Vmfrey of Herford, and hym slewe, And toke the erle Thomas, without [withoutyn.] let, And to the kyng that then to Pountfret drewe, Where then were sette vpon hym iudges newe, Therle Edmound of Arondell for iustice And syr Robert Mapilthorpe [Mauthorpe.] , his enemyes.

¶ There [Where.] he was headed anone vpon the hyll, And buryed was there in a chapell fayre, Henry his brother stode at [in.] the kynges wyll, Whom the kyng graunted to bee his heyre, That wedded then Alyce without despayre, The doughter and heyre of [th]erle Henry Lacy, Of Lyncolne, so graunted by the kynges mercy. [Fol. C.lxxiii.]

¶ Wyllyā fitz Wareyn, & many [an]other knight, In diuers shyres, some hanged and some head [behede.] , That hold with hym or with his compeers right, Syr Bartholomewe Badelismore, without rede, Drawen and hanged, and put to [unto.] foul dead, Roger Clyfford, and Iohn Monbraye [Moubray.] , barons, Headed then were for theyr rebellions.

¶ Therle of Marche syr Roger Mortymer, His sonne Roger, foriuged were for treason, And by the kyng of death pardoned were, And put were then in perpetuall pryson Into the towre, for that same encheson;

Fro that tyme forth, the Spencers other excede [all excede.] : The quene was but an hand mayden in dede.

¶ To tyme the kyng to her brother hir sent, And also his sonne Edwarde to dooen homage For Guyen, so to haue at his entente, And for they dwelled so long in that viage, The kyng theim had suspecte of theyr message, By councell of the Spencers theim exiled, As in chronicle pleynly is [it is.] compiled.

¶ The kyng then made and playnly did create Andrewe Hertlawe erle then of Carlele, Whiche tyme the kyng Robert full fortunate Rode all the East Marche, full proudly and well, The byshopryke and Yorkeshire euery dele; Andrewe Hertlawe, erle of Carlele absent, To Lancastre hym drewe in false entente.

¶ The [Whiles.] kyng Robert was passed home agayn, With prayes greate, and many prysoners, Fro Humber North the people downe were slayn, Of whiche the kyng, and all his councelers, Blamed therle Andrewe and his compeers, For he had men enough with hym arayed, The Scottes all that might haue slayn & frayed.

¶ He hight the kyng haue brought to hym great powers Into Yorkshyre, & held nothing his hight, Therfore [Wherfore.] the kyng, by counsell of the Spencers, Gaue charge to take hym either by daye or night, Or kyl hym downe, wher they mete w^t hym might: To all shryues was sent this commaundement, Fro Trent northwarde by writtes & maundemēt.

The. C.lxxv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe syr Roger Mortymer the younger wente oute of the toure of London, & went into Fraunce to the quene of Englande, and to the prince Edwarde hir soonne; and also howe the lorde Lucye tooke syr Andrewe Hertlawe erle of Carlele, and headed hym at Carlele for treason.

THen syr Roger, the yongest Mortimer, Made his kepers dronke and went away Out of the toure by night [& other in feer,] [with other infere.] And into Fraunce anone he toke his waye, Vnto the quene Isabell, in poore araye, And bode with her, at [and at.] hyr gouernaunce, All tyme that she was soiournyng in [so in.] Fraunce.

¶ And then Antony Lucye lorde of Cokirmouth, [Fol. C.lxxiiii.] Syr Robert Lowther, with other many [in feere,] [infere.] At Carlele toune, as knowen was full couth, Toke syr Andrewe Hertlawe, with mekill steer: They put on [to.] hym he toke royall power, In truce takyng with therle of Murrey Withouten power, in trayterous araye;

¶ In wrongyng of the kynges hye estate, And of his right full great derogacion, And howe he toke greate golde immoderate Of kyng Edwarde, through cauelacion, To bryng hym power for his supportaciō Agayn the kyng Robert, that then destroyed His lande full foule, and had hym self anoyed;

¶ And howe [he] had the people hole withdrawe With hym westwarde, by false confederacie Betwene hym and therle of Marowe [Murrawe.] , Couened [Conceyued.] fully [before cast] [be forcasten.] traytorie; Wherfore they drewe hym first all openly, And hanged [hanged hym.] after, and to [so to.] London sent Vnto the kynge his head, for great present.

The. C.lxxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the quene Isabell treated mariage of one of the doughters of therle of Henaulde for hir sonne Edwarde to haue to wife by thauice of her brother kyng Charles, & came to Englande with great power, and toke y^e kyng, and slewe his counsell for treason.

THere by aduise [thadvyse.] and good consyderacion Of the kyng of Fraunce, her brother dere, Quene Isabell [accorded, for] [accord with.] supportacion, Hir sonne should wed one of the doughters clere Of therle of Henauld, that fyue then were, Through whose succour she & hir sonne Edward Toke then the sea to Englande warde.

¶ Erle [The erle.] Edmond of Kent then with her came, Kyng Edwardes brother, & syr Aymer Valence Erle of Penbroke, whiche came with hir fro hame, And Mortymer the yonger in hir presence, Henauldes and Frenche, with great sufficience Of people stronge, at Orwell with her lande, Where lordes many her mette I vnderstande.

¶ To London then she & hir sonne tho [so.] wrote The councellours and traitours for to take, That ruled had in [mykell mysryote] [myschiefe and riote.] The kyng Edwarde, her lorde & also [als.] hir make, And in prieson to kepe theim for hir sake; Wherfore they voyded out of the citee then The quenes enemyes echone ay when & when.

¶ The kyng then fled into the West countree, She and the prince full sore hym then pursued, And at Bristowe she headed, as men might see, Syr Hugh Spenser the father that was renewed, And syr Hugh his sonne, that was transumed In hye estate, and erle had be [been.] create Of Wynchester, wher he stode all mate.

¶ Syr Hugh Spēser his sonne, at Herforde take, Was headed then, and vnto London sente, So was Edmond there headed for hyr sake, That was erle [the erle.] of Arondel there present, His hed smote of, for treason so was shent; [Fol. C.lxxv.] Theyr hedes set vp in dyuerse sere place, In recompence of all theyr great trespasse.

¶ And at London [they heded] [the hede of.] the chaunceler, With dyuers other whiche [the whiche.] they founde vntrewe, So dyd they also [als.] the kynges tresourer, And there set they a parlyament all [than all.] newe; But fyrste they put the kyng, as all men knewe, In Killyngworth, there to be holde in warde, To tyme they se howe lordes wolde awarde.

¶ At which parlyamēt. iii. bishoppes & erles thre, Thre barons also, & thre banarettes [banrets.] electe, To Kyllyngworth to ryde [w^t the cominalte,] [in comonte.] All homage leege, by parliament hole directe To surrender vp, without any reiecte; The which they dyd for his mysgouernaunce, With heuy chere and mournyng countenaunce.

¶ The kyng full sad, with wordes well auysed, Thanked them all, knowynge his hye trespasse, And that he was of rule not well prouysed, To the pleasure of God, whiles he had space, Ne cōmon wele to kepe in euery case; Ne to his wyfe had bene a trewe husbande, But falsly had her exyled oute of lande.

¶ Mekely he prayed the lordes at parlyament His sonne to admytte vnto the regyon, Syth he vnable was to the regyment, And foule had ruled the lande withoute reason, He them besought, for gylte of [his] caryon, His sonne were not refused, ne chastyzed, But set in rule, by councell well aduyzed.

¶ These lordes twelue, with heuy countenaunce, Reported vnto the quene, and lordes all, The sorowfull chere, and wordes w^t repentaunce Of kyng Edwarde, as then it was befall, His prayer meke, and his desyre fynall; Of whiche the lordes in y^t same parlyament, Reioysed were of his noble agrement [argument.] .

The. C.lxxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Edwarde the thyrde, kynge of Englande and of Fraunce, beganne to reygne the yere a thousand thre hundreth twentye and syxe, and dyed the yere a thousande thre hundreth thre score and seuentene, and of his reygne one and fyftye yere.

EDward his sonne, y^e prince of Wales was than [Edward y^e thyrde.] In tender age that time of. xiii. yere, Was crowned on saint Brice day [&} begā, The yere of Christ was then accompted clere A thousande hole, thre. C. and syxe and. xx. were, Whose father then had reygned. xix. yere oute, And in his [twenty yere,] [yere tuenty.] withouten doute.

¶ [From the third daye of Iuly by computacyon, Of the yere, vnto sayncte Brycez daye,] [

Fro seynt Thomas daie the translacion Of Caunterbury vnto seynt Brice daie.

] So muche [in his] [ouer.] twenty by relacyon He reygned had, & then put downe for aye; From Kyllingworth to the castell of Berke[ley] By nyght he was caryed and translate, From wyfe and chylde forsake and repudyate,

Where he was slayne with an hote brenning spyt, [Fol. C.lxxvi.] Through his towayle [foundement.] vp to his herte within, In September, his bowelles brent for hete, That deed he was without [withoutyn.] noyse or dyn, On saynt Mathewes daye, so they dyd hym bren, The fyrste yere was [it] then [accompted & wonne,] [accounte and runne.] Of kyng Edward the third that was his sonne.

¶ At Gloucester entombed fayre and buryed, Where some say God shewed [sheweth.] for him [great] grace, Sith that tyme with miracles laudifyed Ofte tymes in dyuerse many [and many.] case, [As is wryten there in that same place;] For whiche kyng Richard, [called] the seconde, To translate hym was purposed hole and sounde [grounde.] .

¶ Sir Iames Douglas, in Englād w^t an hoste, Destroyed the lande, wherfore the kyng Edward, With Frenche, Henauldes, & Englysh for y^e moste, In myghty hoste & great, then came northward, The seconde yere of his reygne, to regarde Whome in Stanhope parke he besieged then That compted were of Scottes, ten. M. menne.

¶ By. xv. dayes that syege there endured; He helde them in they myght not passe [passen.] oute, But through a mosse, y^t all men trowed was sured, So depe of [a.] myre, and brode it was aboute, No siege was layde, for there they had no doute, [By which y^e Scottes cast them what so betyde, To escape awaye in the nyghtes tyde:] [

Ne no mystruste of no maner escape, More like to fooles than to the werly iape.

]

But Iames Douglas their flekes fell [many.] dyd make, Whiche ouer the mosse echeone at others ende He layde anon, with fagottes fell [seer.] ouer the lake, There gate awaye, and passage to pretende, On whiche by nyght they led their horse vnkend, And home they went to Scotlande harmelesse [than harmeles.] , Wherof the kyng was heuy there doutlesse.

¶ When they were ouer y^e quaking mosse & mire, They drewe the flekes ay after as they went, That Englyshe should not them sue ne conquere, This was a poynt of warre, full sapyent, But on our syde there was, by consequent, But [Full.] lytell wytte that lefte the [that.] myre vnwatched, And [For.] by good watch y^e Scottes myght haue be cached.

¶ And in the yere a thousande compted clere, Quene Isabell her doughter maryed, Dame [Iane of y^e towre] [Iohan of Toure.] to Dauid Bruis her pere, Kyng Robertes sonne, and heyre hole notifyed, At Berwyk towne, the seconde daye signifyed Of Iuill, and of kyng Edwarde then was thre, By cause of whiche the kynge in pryuite.

The. C.lxxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Of the relesse that kynge Edwarde made in his tender age to kynge Robert of his seruyce of Scotlande, whiche Iohn Hardinge delyuered to kyng Edwarde the. iiii. at Leycester, with a patent, by which y^e earle of Dunbar bound him and his heyres to holde his landes of y^e kinges of Englande.

BY councel of his mother & [the] Mortymer Relesed there [the hole] [his roiall.] soueraynte, And seruyce dewe that to the [his.] crowne then were, At Berwike then without autorite [Fol. C.lxxvii.] Or [Of.] any parlyament in especialte [specialte.] , In tender age and youthes intelligence, In his third yere so of his hie regence,

¶ He sent furth then to Henauld for a wife A bishop and other lordes temporall, Wher in chaumbre preuy and secretife, At discouerit dischenely [descheuely.] also [als.] in all, As semyng was to estate virginall, Emong theim selfes our lordes for [of.] hie prudence, Of the bishop asked counsaill and sentence,

¶ Whiche doughter of fiue should bee the quene; Who counsailled thus with sad auisement, Wee will haue hir with good [hippis I mene,] For she will bere good soonnes at myne entent; To whiche thei all accorded by one assent, And chase Philip that was full feminine, As the bishop moost wise did determyne.

¶ But then emōg theim selfes thei laugh fast ay, The lordes then saied, the bishop couth Full mekill [muche.] skyll of a woman alwaye, That so couth chese a lady that [it.] was vncouth, [And for y^e mery woordes that came of his mouth,] [Suche lordes the choisse to put upon a bishop mouth.] Thei trowed he had right great experience Of womanes rule and hir [theire.] conuenience.

¶ Kyng Robert Bruys smitten in lepry dyed, To whom his soonne Dauid then did succede, And crouned was for kyng and notified, His wife also was crouned quene in deede, Kyng Edwardes suster she was then, as I rede: Sir Roger then that was lord Mortimer, With Isabell the quene was holden dere.

¶ Through hardinesse of whiche he wasted clene The kyng his tresour, as was notified; For whiche Henry erle of Lancastre, for tene, Rose with greate hoste, as then was fortified [notified. edit. alt.] , To haue withstand and clerely haue replied The wantonnes of Roger Mortymer, That was that tyme the quenes [quene Isabell.] playfeer.

¶ But treat[ed] he was to sitte in rest and peace, Notwithstandyng, at the coronacion Of kyng Edward chose he was, without lees, His custode then for good informacion Of the kyng his persone and preseruacion; But quene Isabell, and the Mortimer, Would not suffre ne [no.] while that so it were.

¶ Edmond Wodstok, that then was erle of Kent, By kyng Edward of Carnaruan create, Whose brother he was by quene Isabelles entēt, And [Mortimer his] [Mortymers.] mighty and greate estate Arested was and stode repudiate, At Winchester foriudged in parliament, And hedid there again the common assent.

¶ A brother he had [hight] Thomas of Brothertō, Erle of Northfolk and marshall of England, That of his death made none [moone of.] execucion; For lordes all, the greatest of the land, Full sory were, but nought thei tooke on hand, Fro noone till euen without the castell gate, [Fol. C.lxxviii.] He stoode condempned as a repudiate.

¶ Whome then at euen a boye of the marshalse Stroke of his hedde, for whome the lordes than And commons all displeased were inwardly. At Notyngham sone after thei [so.] began, Wher Mortimer, therle of Marche then, Arested were [wase.] , and his soonne sir Roger, And to the Toure of London sent thei were.

¶ On sainct Andrewes daye thei wer drawe and hong At London, so by dome of the parlyament, At Westminster holden by processe long; Sir Simond Bedford was of their assent, Drawe and hanged: [therfore thei] [ther afore he.] went, And fro the quene his mother he resumed His landes all, for she had so consumed

¶ His treasour foule and all his greate riches; He putte hir to hir dower and nomore, To liue vpon at the frere minours doubtles, [Wher she had not been brought before, And there she dyed and buryed is therfore,] [Wher she died and buried is right thore.] At London nowe full feire and reuerently, [Wher she had dwelt long] [But there she duelte longe after.] full honourably.

¶ Edward Baylioll to claim Scotland thē went, And with hym went sir Gilbert Vmfreuile, Claimyng to bee erle by his whole entent Of Angeous [Angos.] then, as chroniclers compile; Sir Henry Beaumont also went that while His heritage to gette and to conquere, Therledome of Boughan should bee his clere.

¶ Henry Percy with Edward Bailioll went Galoway [Gallewaie.] to claime as for his heritage; By shippe thei went all whole by one assent At Rauensporne [Ravenser spurne.] , and landed [londe.] with greate corage At Kincorne wel in Fyfe by all knowlage; Dauid Strabolgy erle of Athellis by right With theim thē went for his landes ther to fight.

¶ Thei were accōpt[ed] twoo. M. fightyng menne, And fiue hundred byside the mariners, At their landyng their shipis thei brent right then, And bored some and [whiche] sanke at good leysers; Thei thought theim self of good & strong powers, Thei toke none hede of shippis [shippynge.] home again, But landeway ride [rode.] for all the Scottes dain.

¶ Thei toke none hede nor yet consideracion Of thousandes many, ne of greate multitude, As lordes dooe nowe of commons congregacion, But putte their cause to [God his hie] [Goddes.] excelsitude, And in their owne handes solicitude; At Kincorne then faught with therle of Fyffe, Discomfit hym and [he.] fled awaye with life.

¶ His menne were slain vpon the feld echeone: Thē Robert Bruys y^e bastard soōne their guyde, The lord Seton with power came anone, And newe battaill theim gaue with mekell pryde, That noumbred were ten thousand on their side, Whiche slain were all, for thei would take [taken.] none, Saufe the chiefteynes that fled awaye alone.

¶ The kyng Edward Baylioll with his power, [Fol. C.lxxix.] To Dunfermelyne abbey then furth so went, Wher in Glasmore y^e Scottes then sembled were, Fourty thousand full proud in their intent, And all were slain without suppowelment; Therle of Marre and therle of Murray, Therle of Carryk and Menth [Menteth.] dyed that daye.

¶ And after soone at Deplyng More [Dipplyngmore.] mette Sir Neel Bruys with ten thousand in feer, That slain were there and to therth doune beet, The Englishe had the feld that daye full clere, Their ordinaunce was to take no prisoner; Wherfore thei slewe the Scottes without mercie, Lest newe bataill came on theim in hie.

¶ At these battailles afore that been wrytten, Sixty thousaund Scottes slain and mortefied Were more with prees, as afterward was weten, Then w^t mānes hand thei were so feel [fell. edit. alt. ofte. MS.] multiplied, Echeone [on] other of pride so [then so.] reuied, Without [Withoutyn.] rule of marcill [marciall. edit. alt.] gouernaunce, Thei smored were by their contrariaunce.

¶ And but twoo knightes [&] thirty & thre squiers, Whiche ther were dedde of the Englishe power, In foure battailles faught w^t axe swerd & speris, At Diplyng Moore [Dipplyngmore.] fro tyme the soōne rose clere To three after noon, [as saieth] [after the.] the chronicler; Within seuē dayes thei smote these. iiii. battailies, As chronicles [chroniclers.] make full clere [pleyne.] rehersailes.

¶ Thē wēt thei furth vnto sainct Iohns towne, That was replete and full of all vitaile, And kept the toune with manly direccion. Archebald Douglas and erle Patrik no faile, Of Dunbarre then the toune began tassaile, With thirty thousand, but there thei were well bet, With cast of stones and greate defence ouerset.

¶ The citees then and tounes to [of.] the sea side At their costage to Scotland sent a flete, To helpe our lordes and get theim good [goodes.] that tide, And with the shippis of Scotland for to mete, And so thei did and sore theim all to bete, And brought theim home, and some with wildfyre brēt In Taye water, and some thei sanke & shent.

¶ Wherfore the Scottes the siege then [than so.] forsooke, Thenglish lordes at Skone the kyng did croune, Edward Baliol [the soonne] [that sonne.] was, who will looke, To Iohn Baliol kyng of that region, Whome then afore Henry Beaumount brought [brought doun.] Frome Baliol, wher he was lord in Fraunce, As his aunceters had been of remembraunce.

¶ This kyng Edward Baliol his fooes [foone.] sought, And at Rokisburgh faught w^t therle of Murrey, [Discomfited theim] [Discomfite hym.] in battaill sore ther [they.] fought, And to Duresme sent hym fro thens awaye, Ther to bee kept in siker strong araye; Then sir Archbald Douglas and erle Patrike, Then of Dunbar their kyng thought to [bee swik.] [beseke.]

¶ Thei toke with hym a trewce to Candylmasse From October, in trust of whiche he sent [Fol. C.lxxx.] Thenglishe lordes to England home expresse, Trustyng he had been sure in his entente, All was falshede that [the two] [tho.] erles ment, For they vphelde Dauid in tendre age, Kyng Robartes sonne, to whom they did homage.

¶ Syr Iames Douglas & erle Patrike Dūbare, With all theyr helpe at the Candilmasse, On Edwarde roase, the Bailiol, or he were ware, And slewe all that they found [founde with hym.] doutlesse, That fayn he was to Englande [to] flee helpelesse; At Marche after he entred then Scotlande, With thesame lordes then of the north lande.

¶ On both sydes they rode and fast destroyed, And to Berwike Edwarde Bailol came, And sieged it and felly was annoyed; To whiche Edwarde of Englonde, w^t great fame, Came with his hoost and laye there at thesame. The Douglas then and Dunbare with power Northumberlande all through brent full [then.] clere.

The. C.lxxix. Chapiter.

¶ Of the battayle of Halidon hill, and howe Edwarde Bayliol did homage leege to kyng Edwarde of Englande.

TO Halydon hill they came w^t [with all.] their prayes, Barwike castell and towne so to rescue, Wher to oure hoste ful oft they made frayes [affraies.] ,

Both day & euen and morowes or [er.] day dewe; But then the kyng of Englande to hym [them.] drewe The kyng also of Scotland with his might, Full sore that daye in batayll did they fight:

¶ Where Edwardes two had al the victorye, The royaltes of all Scotlande there wer slayn, Thyrty thousande with theim liggand [liynge.] by, Of men of armes and archers dead certayn: Then in the yere next after soth to sayn, At Newcastell Edwarde, kyng of Scotlande, His homage did to the kyng of Englande. [Homage of y^e Scottes.]

¶ For whiche y^e cōmons of Scotlād on hym rose, And slewe his men that he into [to.] Englande came, And gatte an hoste and rode vpon his fooes, Through Anand, through Kylay, & Conyngham, Carrike, and Glascowe, slewe al [y^t] he foūd at hame: The kyng Edwarde of England with power, Through Lowthian so did to Stryuelyn [Stively.] clere.

¶ And both met [they mett.] there with great [muche.] gladnesse, And home they came destroiyng all the waye: Another yere in Iule, for to redresse Scotlande agayn, with hostes they gan a fraye, At saynt Iohns towne they met in great araye, And ther they made therle of Athelis regent, Whome the commons felly slewe [than slewe.] and shent.

¶ Kyng Edwarde sent after in another yere, In Maye, Henry Lancastre, a noble knight, To Scotlande with an hoste of good power, And afterwarde he came [went.] with mekill might To saynt Iohns towne & [on the monthes] [ouer the mountes.] right, Through Murrey to Elgyne, Giluernes [Envernes.] , & Rosse, Throughout mounteynes, woddes, myre [mires.] , & mosse.

¶ Kyng Edwarde then came home into Englāde, And proclaymed his sonne, Edwarde nominate, [Fol. C.lxxxi.] The prince of Wales thens forth I vnderstande, Henry Lancastre the younger he create

Erle of Derby to beare the hole estate, Wyllyam Mountague erle of Salisbury, Of Northampton; Wyllyam Bowne [Boun.] full manly

¶ Of Gloucester he made Hugh of Awdely, Of Suffolke then he made Robert Hufforth, Of Huntyngdon Wyllyam Clinton gay, Whiche erles the kyng toke with hym forth, [With many a worthy knyght bothe of South and North,] And with the quene so vnto Andwarpe, And there abode [by] all the wynter sharpe,

¶ With great people and worthy chyualrye, Agayn the kyng of Fraunce to clayme his right, And wrote his title vnto y^e [Romishe bishop] [Pope.] on hie; The [duke of Barre and other lordes] [The dukes of Barre and of Gelre.] of might, The quenes frendes then socoure had hym hight, Where then the quene of hyr sonne Lionell Delyuered was, as chronicles do tell.

¶ He cherished then Flaundres that they forsoke Theyr naturall lorde and swore feautee To hym and his theyr power they betoke, To byde and dwell vnder his souerayntee, [Because they sawe in hym suche humanitee,] He chaunged his armes in banners and penons, And in his seale quartred of both regions.

¶ And in the yere then of his reygne thyrtene, His armes chaunged and called kyng of Fraūce, He rode in Fraunce on warre, as then was seen, A thousande tounes he brent by [his] puysaunce; The kyng of Fraunce without [withoutyn.] variaunce, Sent hym worde [full worde.] that he wold with hym fight; But at the poynt he did not as he hight:

¶ For at that tyme in sonder they were a myle, He fled awaye, kyng Edward held the felde; Two dayes after he [sued and Vmfreuile] [he shewed and other while.] Of hym had sight, and then he founde his sheld,

By whiche he knewe his couenaunt he not held; Wherfore the kyng to Brabant went agayn, The dukes three of Barre, Earle [shere.] and Brabayn.

¶ The parliamēt [thē] at Westmynster was hold, Wher they graūt[ed] hym the. ix. lābe flees & shaue Of the commons; but the churche nomore wold Hym graunt, but one dysme of theim to haue; For which he graūted generall perdone and gaue. The. ix. lambe flees & shaue [shere.] graunt was two yere, To helpe the kyng his right to conquere.

The. C.lxxx. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kynge Edwarde smote the battayle on the sea at Sluse besyde Brydges, & howe the kyng firste rode into Fraunce, and quartred his armes with the armes of Fraunce, and sent to kyng Philip to trye the ryght betwene theim two.

ANd in his yere next after then fourtene, At Sluse y^e kīg faught w^t the Frēch nauy, Fro noone to eue & to the morowe [morne.] , as was seen, Where all wer drouned [dreynte.] & slayn myghtely, And kyng Edward to Fraunce went hastely, [Fol. C.lxxxii.] With hoste full great destroied the lande, & brent The cytee of Turnais besieged and shente.

¶ Then wrote he to the kyng Philip of Fraunce, Not namyng hym [kyng of that] [as kyng of that ilke.] lande, But to Philip of Valoys for greuaunce, Willyng alone they two to take on hande To fyght [fyghtyn.] for the cause and for to stande, Who hath the better for euer to holde Fraunce, Withoute [Withoutyn.] warre or any more dystaunce.

¶ Or elles they two eyther w^t an. C. knyghtes, And yf these wayes please hym not to excepte, Come with his hoste & all his strongest wyghtes To the cytee of Tournay, none excepte, [At a certayne daye iustly to be kepte;]

And who the felde maye get brooke well Fraunce, Withoute more stryfe or any varyaunce.

¶ The kyng then wrote vnto kyng Edwarde agayne, That he wolde not for the [tho.] letters fight, Whiche touche [touchen.] not kyng Philyp in certayne, But Philyp Valoys, as sheweth well to syght, To whiche he wolde set neyther daye ne highte [nighte.] ; But when he thought it were for his honoure, He shulde hym chase awaye without socoure

¶ Out of his land, which wrongfully he sheweth [sueth.] Agayne his fayth, feautye made and homage To his auncesters by letter, as it sheweth, Vnder his seale of hole and good knowlage, For Guyan and his other herytage; And fro Turnace into Brabane agayne, The kyng Edwarde in wynter dyd remayne

¶ To byde the byshoppes [popes.] rule and disposicyon Of good accorde [concorde.] , for then two cardynalles [To take] [Had made.] a trewce by good prouisyon, Duryng two [thre.] yere betwene them [generals,] And all theyr frendes that were princypalles: Then came the kyng [to] Edwarde into Englande, His offycers newe made I vnderstande.

¶ To the trewce then taken [at Maltrete,] [so at Meltrete.] The dukes two of Burgoyne and Burbone, In the kynges soule of Fraunce swore and hete [behete.] Truly to kepe for frendes or for foone, And duke Henry of Lancaster sad as stone, Willyam Bowne [Boun.] earle of Northampton, And Willyam Mountague [full hye of] [of high.] renoune,

¶ Earle of Salisbury, in kyng Edwardes soule there, In lyke maner were sworne and biheste The. xix. daye then of Ianyuere, The yere of Christ a. M. then was seste [ceeste.] , Thre hundreth and two and fourty [four.] at leest,

When these trues were taken so and sealed, For afterwarde they shulde not be repeled.

The. C.lxxxi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Henry duke of Lancaster went to Guyan in y^e yere of Christe a thousande thre hundreth. xlv. And of the batayle of Cressy, in the yere of Christe a thousand thre hundreth fourtye and syxe.

ANd then Henry, duke of Lancaster create, [Fol. C.lxxxiii.] Went to Guyen with many bolde baron, Where then he gate the cytees of estate, And castelles fele [many.] & many a walled towne, And made the lande Englyshe both vp & doune, And to [the kyng] Edwarde obeied [obeyinge.] , as they [it.] ought, And great worshyp and ryches there he caught.

¶ And in the yere a thousande [and] CCC. gone, Syxe and fourtye kyng Edwarde at Cressy Met with Philyp of Valoyes there anone, That kyng of Fraunce was by intrusery, At whiche batayle Edwarde had [the] victorye, And with honoure and myght there gate y^e felde, And Philyp fled and caste there doune his shelde.

¶ And his eldest sonne with hym went awaye, With an hundreth banners in [her] company; The kynges of Beme were slayne that daye, And of Maliogres there full manfully, The dukes of Alaunson also [ther.] theim by And of Loreyn slayne were in [in that.] batayle, And earles fyue without [withoutyn.] any fayle.

¶ Of Flaunders, Bloys, Harcourt & Melayne [Miloyne.] , Of gentyls and other without any essayne, And of Guntpre [Grauntpre.] were there in batayle slayne Fyue score thousande, the twenty daye certayne, And syxe also of Auguste accompted playne: The kyng Edwarde had all the victorye, The kyng Philyp had all the vilanye.

¶ [The] king Dauid then of Scotland, w^t power, To Duresme brent, where on saynt Lukes daye, The archbyshop with his clergye clere And syr Gylbert Vmfreuyle in good araye, The lorde Percy the Neuyle [lorde Nouile.] then laye With all the North a [but.] lytell frome Duresme, Wher then they faught & on [y^e] king Dauid came.

¶ And take he was y^e yere of Christe was then A thousande full, thre hundreth fourty and syxe, Full sore wounded full lyke he was a man, [And also of his lordes mo then fyue or syxe,] Brought to Lodo priuely through Essex, For lordes shulde not hym take w^t [be.] greate power, From Iohn [of] Coupland y^t was his taker clere.

¶ And in y^e towre of London [then] kept in warde, To tyme the king were come [comyn.] home out of Fraūce: That then in Fraunce mo castelles to regarde, And townes walled, got[en] by his hye puissaunce, Then had the kyng Philip in gouernaunce, And lyke was then all Fraūce to haue conquerde With his alies, he made that lande afferde.

The. C.lxxxii. Chapiter.

¶ Of the greate pestylence in the yere of Chryste a thousand thre hundreth fortye and nyne, and the yere nexte after the kynge wente vnto Fraunce and the prynce of Wales vnto Guyan.

ANd in the yere of Christ clerly [ac]compted, A thousande hole thre. C. fourty & nyne, The pestilence was in England amoūted, That [The.] kyng Edward newe warre ganne ymagine, [Fol. C.lxxxiiii.] The nexte yere after agayne Fraunce fyne [syne.] ; Thether he went, & prince Edward then went With greate power to Guien as regent.

¶ The kyng then put his sonnes yonge of age, In Fraunce then forth in mighty gouernaunce, Syr Lyonell earle of Vlster in [at.] wage,

Regent of Fraunce hym made by ordynaunce, Syr Iohn of Gaunt to haue hole attendaunce Of all the hoste, as hye and greate constable, To whiche he was accompte y^t tyme full able.

¶ Sir Edmonde Langeley full of gentylnesse, Sir Thomas Woodstok full of corage, To their banners them put for worthynesse, To haue rule in that worthy viage; Whiche prynces fyue approued in yonge age, There was no king Christen had such sonnes fiue, Of lyklynesse [symbilnesse.] and [of.] persones that tyme on lyue.

¶ So hye and large they were of all stature, The leste of them was of persone able To haue foughten with any creature Singler batayle in actes marcyable; The byshops wit me thinketh was cōmendable, So wel coulde [couth.] chese the princesse y^t them bare, For by practyse he knewe it or by lare [lore.] .

The. C.lxxxiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kynge of Fraunce was taken prysoner at the batayle of Poyters the yere of Christe a thousande thre hundreth fyftye and syxe.

IN the yere of Christe a. M. [ac]cōpted right, Thre hundreth and syxe and fyfty mo, The prince Edward at Poyters sore dyd fyght, The. xix. day of September was tho; Where kyng Iohn of Fraunce his sonne also He toke and had the felde with victorye, His eldest sonne [then] fledde fro hym cowardly.

¶ The kyng Dauyd died and lette his hostage For his raunsome lygge ay forth in Englande, The yere a thousande. CCC. by knowlage Eyght and fyftye, as I can vnderstande, And payde not [nought.] yet ne quyt not out his bonde, Ne his hostage he wolde not so displease, To delyuer ne putte theim fro their ease.

¶ The quene Isabell, & the quene of Scotlande, Her doughter was and kyng Dauyds wyfe, Sone after dyed, and buryed I vnderstande At [the] Graye Freres, in lande [London. edit. alt. MS.] knewen [full] ryfe, [The whiche y^e quene Isabell founded in their lyfe, Full fayre entombed & wrought full rychely, Where the two quenes reste full honorably.] [

At Gray Freres in London knowen rife, Withyn Newegate wher for his soule, The friers praie and the bell they toule.

]

The. C.lxxxiiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Of the seconde pestylence and the greate wynde and earthquake, the yere a thousande. CCC. lxi.

ANd in the yere of Christ a. M. wryten, Thre hundreth also syxtye and one, The. ii. [seconde.] pestylence reigned, as was weten, Duke Henry dyed for whome was mekyll [muche.] mone, Dame Blaunche his doughter, full faire of fleshe and bone, [Fol. C.lxxxv.] His heire was then whom Iohn of Gaūt did wed, The duchy [by hir] had, men saied he had well sped.

¶ In that same yere was on sainct Maurys day, The greate winde and earth quake [quave.] meruelous, That greately gan [than.] the people all [did.] affraye, So dredfull was it then and perelous, Specially the wind was so boistous, The stone walles, steples, houses, and trees, Were blow doune in diuerse ferre [sere.] coūtrees.

¶ And in the yere a thousand three hundred also [eke.] [Kyng Iohn of Fraūce.] Sixty and foure, kyng Iohn of Fraunce dyed [In London then, in Sauoy had been sicke,] [At London than in the Savoie he laie seke.] The dukes palice of Lancastre edified Full royally as it is notified; His boweles buryed at Poules [Peroules.] with royaltee, His corps in Fraunce with all solempnitee.

¶ In that same yere sir Iohn Moūtfort of newe Duke of Brytain was by heritage,

As heire male his title was [act trewe.] [attrewe.] At Orrers faught again the Frenche linage Sir Charles de Bloys, that claimed by mariage The duchy whole of Brytain by the might [right.] Of his wife, wher he was slain [than slain.] by might.

¶ Duke Iohn of Gaunt was at that [that same.] battaile, Sir Edmond also [als.] of Langley his brother dere, Sir Iohn Chaundos treated without [withoutyn.] faill All daye, and faught at eue through his aūswere Whiche treaty is yet oft remembred here, For Chaūdos trewce that treted [trete.] all daye to night, And made bothe parties at eue together fight.

¶ At whiche battaill duke Iohn of Gaūt in dede And his brother Edmond then faught full sore, Were neuer twoo better knightes thē thei in dede [nede.] , That better faught vpon a feld afore, It was but grace that thei escaped thore: Thei putte theim selfes so ferfurth ay in prees, That wounded wer thei bothe full sore no lees.

The. C.lxxxv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe prince Edward of Wales wedded dame Iohā, doughter of Edmond Wodstoke erle of Kent, he of y^e third degree, and she of the second.

THese brethrē twoo w^t their Englishe power Set Iohn Moūtfort ī his whole ducherie, With great honour & manhode all [als.] in fere. Erle Iohn of Kent dedde was afore sothely, Erle Edmōdes soōne, to whom dame Iohā truly His sister was heire, whome therle Mountague Of Salisbury had wed of maiden newe,

¶ And hir forsoke after [after and.] repudiate, Whom his styward sir Thomas Holand wed, And gate on hir Thomas erle of Kent late, And Iohn Holand hir other soonne she hed; Thomas their father dyed of sickenes bested [stedde.] .

The prince hir vowid vnto a knight of his, She saied she would none but hym self I wis.

For hir beaute all onely he hir tooke, And wed hir so and to [into.] Guyan went; [Fol. C.lxxxvi.] The yere was then a thousand who so loke, Three hundred also [als.] sixty and fiue extent, Rychard his soonne, whiles he was there regent, In Burdaux borne was thē with great gladnes, Supposyng then of hym greate worthynes.

¶ The kyng Peter of Castell and Lyon [A battaill in Spain.] To Burdeaux came, & ther prince Edward beheld [withelde.] To gette again his worthy region, Fro whiche his brother bastard w^t [full] strong beeld, Had putte hym out, & thought it for to weeld; For whiche the prince with all his hole power Rode into Spain to helpe hym to conquer.

¶ Wher thē he faught against the bastard strōg The third daye of [so of.] Aprill accompted then, In battaill sore ferfoughten ther full long, In whiche were slain full many a Spanish māne. The basterd fled, the prince the feld there wan, And sette the kyng Peter in his region, In peace and rest without rebellion.

The. C.lxxxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the lordes of Italy sent ambassiate to kyng Edward for sir Leonell of Andwarp, to make hym kyng of Italy, who was create erle of Vlster by his wife, doughter & heire to Rychard erle of Vlster, of whom he gate dame Philip, wedded to Edmond Mortimer erle of Marche; whiche erle of Marche gate Roger erle of Marche, and my lady Percy.

THe duke of Milayn [y^e] hight sir Bernabo, The lord Mātowe & the marques Ferrar [Ferrare.] , The lord of Mountpollestrme [Mounte Pellestryne.] then also, The lordes of Iene, of Pyse that then were, The lordes of Venis and [and of.] Florence there, To kyng Edward sent ambassiate, By commen assent of [of the.] papall senate,

¶ For Lionell his soonne with theim to send The duke his doughter of Melayn for to wed, Promisyng [hym] then hym so to recommend That of Itale the rule sholde all be led By hym and his [be his.] frendes of Italye bred, And in short tyme to ioye and bere the croune Of all Italye the royal region.

¶ His wife was dedde, and at Clare was buried, And none heire he had but his doughter faire, Philip that hight as chronicles [the cronycle.] specified, Whom quene Philip christened for his heire, Tharchbishop of Yorke [for his] [was hir.] compeire; Hir godmother also [als.] of Warwyk the countesse A lady was of all greate worthynes.

¶ The kyng his soonne sir Leonell create Duke of Clarence, and to Melayn hym sent With chiualrie of fame well ordinate, And squyers freshe, galaunt, and sufficient, With officers and yomen as [that.] appent, And with hym went that greate ambassiate At his costage to Melayn consociate.

The. C.lxxxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe sir Leonell, when his wife Elionor was dedde, was create duke of Clarence, and weddid the dukes doughter of Melayn in Lumbardy, and dyed ther, & had no childe with her; and some saye he is buried [Fol. C.lxxxvii.] there, and some saye his boones were brought home and buried at Clare in Essex; but in trouth of Clare he had his name and honoure of duke of Clarence, for Clare is called Clarencia in Latyne, and also Clarence in Frenche.

THis duke royall of Clarence excellent At Melayne wedded was thē in royal wise With that lady fayre and beneuolent, Full royally as to suche [a] prince [shuld] suffice, And all [also. edit. alt.] the rule he had by councell wyse, Fro mount Godard vnto the citee [of] Florence, And well beloued was for his sapience.

¶ In citees all he helde [kepte.] well vnitees, Greate iustes ay and ioyus tournementes,

Of lordes & knightes he made great assemblees Through all the [that.] lande by his wyse regimentes, They purposed hole by theyr commen assentes To croune hym kyng of all [great Italie,] [the grete Italie.] Within halfe a yere for his good gouernaly [governaile.] .

¶ In all the world was then no prince hym like Of hie stature and of all semelynesse, Aboue all men within his hole kyngrike; By the shulders he might be seen doutlesse, As a mayde in halle of gentilnesse, And in all other places sonne to rethorike, And in the felde a lyon Marmorike.

¶ In whiche meane tyme his iustes & his excesse, His great riot and wynes delicacie, His ghoste exiled out [of his corps] [fro his corse.] doutlesse, Afore the daye set of his regence [regencie.] , For whom was made great mone through Italie: Some sayen he is buried at Melayn, And other some saye at Clare certayn.

¶ But chyldren had he noone but Philip heire By Elizabeth his first wyfe, whiche [whome.] the kyng Edwarde maryed to Edmond Mortymer Therle of Marche, that was his warde ful ying, Who gate on hir Roger their derelyng [feire derlynge.] , And Elizabeth wed to Henry Percy, Sonne and heyre vnto therle Henry

¶ Of Northumberland, which two, both father & sonne, Wer knightly men in warres ay occupied, Beyonde the sea great worshyp had they wonne; In many a realme full greatly magnified For marcyall actes by theim multiplied; The whiche were long here [herein.] to reporte, For [But.] in theyr tyme they were of noble porte.

¶ But of the prince Edwarde yet wold I saye Howe he fro Spayne departe [departed.] then in dede, The kyng Peter toke hym his doughters tweyn, Thelder hight dame Constaunce as I rede,

To duke Iohn wed[ded] his lyfe with her to lede; The yonger hight dame Isabell by name The duke Edmōd of Yorke wed[ded] of great fame.

¶ And in the yere a thousande fully written, Thre hundreth eke sixty and also [als.] fouretene, The prince Edwarde died, as well was weten, At Kenyngton which was his palice clene, And buryed was at Cauntorbury [as I] [men.] wene, [Fol. C.lxxxviii.] wene, Betooke hym hole to Goddes disposicion After his mercy to suffre his punycion.

¶ And in the yere of Christes incarnacion A thousande hole and three hundreth signified, The prince pereles by all informacion Sixty and seuentene clerely notified, Great syckenesse so had hym victoried, And droue hym out from all his region, That neuer prince might haue dooē by persecuciō.

¶ In Iune the. xxii. daye expresse Was when he died & from this world expired, That [Who.] was the floure of earthly worthynes, That to the height of knighthode had aspired, His [Of his] owne hande pereles as was enquired; At Westmynster buried in royall wyse, As to suche a prince of reason ought suffice:

¶ Who was the first of Englyshe nacion That euer had right vnto the croune of Fraunce By succession of bloode and generacion, Of his mother without [withoutyn.] variaunce, The whiche me thynk[eth] should be of moste substaūce; For Christ was kyng by his mother of Iudee, Whiche syker[er] side is ay as thynketh me.

¶ [And of his pedegre vnto the croune of Fraūce With his bloode wherof he is discent, Within this booke, without any varyaunce, Mencion is made only to this entente That reders by all good auysemente,

The title of his right and heritage May well conceyue and haue therof knowlage.] [

Here the Harleian Manuscript gives the following prose additions. In the Selden Manuscript they are found at the end.

"The Title of Fraunce.

• Sanctus Lodowicus rex Francie verus.
  • Philippus filius suus rex Francie.
    • Carolus comes de Va∣lois non rex Francie.
      • Philippus de Valoys rex Francie usur∣pator, filius suus.
      • Iohannes rex Francie filius suus, usur∣pator.
      • Carolus rex Francie usur∣pator, insanus mentis.
    • Philippus pulcher filius suus rex Francie.
      • Lodowicus rex Francie primus filius Philippi pulchri.
      • Philippus rex Francie secundus filius Philippi pulchri.
      • Karolus rex Francie tercius filius [

        Isti tres fratres, Lodowicus, Philippus, et Karolus, filii Philippi pulchri, reges Francie, qualibet per se divisim post alterum mortui sine exitu de se, vnde Iure divino et humano Corō. Francie successit ad Ed∣wardum regem Anglie tertium, per medium Isabelle matris sue, prout Ihc' xp̄c temporaliter & humaniter successit ad regnum Iudeorum per medium beate Marie matris sue.

        Actus Consilii generalis pro Edwardo tercio rege Anglie de jure suo, rege eciam Francie de jure matris sue.

        Edwardus tercius rex Anglie et Francie transivit cum Philippa regina vxore sua in Brabanc' et in Gellerlond et Henald, et dimisit reginam in Andewarpe civitate Brabanc', ubi ipsa peperit filium Leonellum, et xiij^o. anno regeminis Anglie cepit super ipsum clamare se regem esse Francie, et portare arma Francie quarterata cum armis Anglie, tam in scuto suo quam in sigillo et in scriptis. Et antequam incepit guerram movere super Francos, scripsit Domino Pape per Ambassiatos suos in generali concilio, et omnibus principibus Cristianis titulum et totum jus suum, et declaravit quo modo Carolus Rex Francie filius Philippi pulcri quondam regis Francie, ultimus seisitus de regno Francie, sine prole de se obiit, vnde jus regni et Corone discendebat Isabelle sorori dicti Caroli et proximo heredi suo, et sic per medium ejusdem Isabelle jus discendebat dicto Edwardo filio suo; et Philippus de Valois filius Avunculi sui in linea collaterali usurpavit regnum et Coronam, per vires violenter factus contra jus Francie humanum, et peciit inde Iudicium. Et predictus Philippus per oratores et ambassiatores suos alligavit ibidem quod dicta Isabella fuit femina, que non potuit esse capax corone in capite suo, et quod regnum Francie fuit talliatum here-dibus masculis sancti Lodowici, cui ipse, quamvis dicta Isabella fuisset proxima de sanguine in linea directa, fuit proximus heres ad regnum & coronam per talliam predictam et nullum seriptum aut specialitatem inde monstravit, nec offerebat monstrare, et pecut inde judicium. Vnde concordatum, et ex communi cousensu tocius consilii generalis diffinitum et determinatum fuit, quod predictus Edwardus habuit jus ad coronam et regnum Francie per medium dicte matris sue: sicut per jus divinum Ihesus Christus temporaliter & humaniter pervenit ad coronam regni Judeorum per medium beate Marie matris sue. Et per jus humanum Francie notorie observatum vsitatum semper et approbatum, videlicet, si homo hereditatus mortuus non habeat filium quod ad filiam ejus transibit hereditas: et in libro Numeri sic approbatum, ubi Deus loquens Moisy in monte; sic de filiabus Salphaat hereditatem suam inter cognatos suos; et similiter diffinitum fuit in dicto generali consilio, si omnino oporteret predictum Edwardum jus suum predictum prosequi per guerram, quod ei bene liceat tam per subditos suos quam per alienos et amicos suos id prosequi, melioribus viis & modis quibus melius ei videbitur expediri, non obstantibus alligacionibus quas Iohannes de Valois monstravit per nuncios suos in dicto consilio, omni via bone pacis petita & prosecuta perantea ne effusio sanguinis Christiane fiat in ipsius defectu, & ulterius determinatum fuit in dicto consilio quod quicquid per predictum consilium de Valesio heredes successores sive fautores suos quocunque modo post hec in prejudicium sive contrarium prosecucionis dicti Edwardi, in hac parte actum fit, erit, vel fuerit per usurpacionem, obstinacionem, aut vires violenter factas, seu imposterum faciend' injustum merito dici debeat et pro injusto tencatur.

        ET post consilium predictum scripsit Philippo de Valois pro via bone pacis, et non fuit considerata ex parte Philippi sed denegata, quapropter Edwardus intravit Franciam cum armis Francie & Anglie quarteratis, et combussit civitatem Tornacensem et mille villas in via Tornacensi, per consilium & auxilium ducis Geller, ducis Brabancie, comitis Henaldie, et aliorum amicorum suorum in illis partibus. Et in temporibus istis Philippa regina peperit in Gaunt infra Flandriam Iohannem filium regis postea ducem Lancastrie.

        MEmorandum est quod Edwardus rex Anglie et Francie, tercius post conquestum Anglie, arripuit apud Hegges, juxta Barbeflete in Normannia, vndecimo die Iulii Anno Regni sui Anglie vicesimo, regni sui Francie vij^o. et Anno Domini Millesimo CCC. xlvj^to: et abinde pertransivit versus Cane, in qua via cepit plura castra, civitates, et villas muratas, et per fortissimum insultum et durissimum bellum cepit dictam civitatem de Cane, comitem de Ewe constabularium Francie, viginti milites, trescentos Armigeros suos ibi, et abinde removit.

        ET cepit iter suum versus civitatem de Roone. Rex Philippns Francie fregit pontem, quapropter iter suum cepit versus Liseux civitatem, ubi duo cardinales sibi obviaverunt pro pace tractanda, sed voluit pro eis tardari, dando eis responsum quod quando rex Philippus offerrat ei racionem et jus suum, ipse vellet libenter admittere. Et cepit Liseux forti manu, et fecit custodem et officiarios suos ibi, et abinde removit versus Paris.

        ET cepit viam suam versus civitatem de Paris, et rex Philippus fecit omnes pontes in via sua rumpi, per quod rex Edwardus venit ad Poysy, ubi rex Philippus fecit pontem rumpi, et pontem de Seyntlo, quod non potuit ad Paris vemre, Philippo rege tune existente in Paris, ubi rex Edwardus cum exercitu suo ibidem requievit, et reperavit pontes predictos per tres noctes et tres dies donec illos duos pontes reperaverat, per quod pertransivit aquam de Sayne, ubi forte bellum et magna occisio Gallorum fuerunt deultra aquam de Sayne, et post bellum percussum cum victoria abinde removit cum exercitu suo.

        ET cepit iter suum versus aquam de Sowme, ubi omnes pontes fracti fuerunt, vnde iter suum cepit versus villam de seynt Wallery, ubi aquam de Sowme pertransivit, per grande bellum et occisionem Gallorum, ubi, deultra villam, vidit Philippum regem ex altera parte aque pertransientem usque ad villam de Abvile, propter quod rex Edwardus pertransivit usque ad Cressy.

        ET die Sabbati, vicesimo sexto die Augusti, predicti duo reges apud Cressy bellum percusserunt, anno predicto ante horam vesperam, ubi rex Philippus et primogenitus suus cum centum vexillis fugierunt a campo, ubi nobilis rex de Bayhen̄ & xiiij. M. cccclx. domini, milites, et armati, occisi fuerunt, ultra communes Francorum ad majorem numerum. Et Edwardus rex ibi pernoctavit in Campo ad confortandum homines suos vulneratos et lesos: et abinde removit.

        ET cepit iter suum cum victoria versus villam de Caleis, et venit coram Caleys et obsedit illam quinto die Septembris Anno predicto ex omni parte per mare et per terram, ubi nobilis dux Henricus Lancastrie et Dominus de Percy filius sororis sue, venerunt sibi cum exercitu suo ab Acquitania per totam Franciam absque impedimento Francorum, permanentes cum rege quousque rex habuerat villam et Castrum de Caleis.

        ] Philippi pulchri.
      • Isabella filia Philippi pulchri vxor Edwardi secundi regis Anglie.
        • Edwardus tercius rex Francie ex jure matris, et Anglie ex parte patris.
          • Leonellus dux Clarencie, secundo genitus.
            • Philippa filia sua vxor Edmundi Mortymer comitis Marchie.
            • Rogerus comes Marchie.
            • Anna filia sua vxor Ricardi comitis Cantabr.
          • Edwardus princeps Wallie, primogenitus.
            • Ricardus rex Anglie & Francie sine exitu de se.
          • Iohannes dux Lancastrie, tercio genitus.
            • Henricus quartus rex Anglie & Francie ex facto parliamenti.
            • Henricus sextus rex Anglie & Francie ex facto parliamenti.
            • Henricus sextus rex Anglie & Francie ex facto parliamenti.

]

The. C.lxxxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Richarde the seconde, kyng of Englande and of Fraunce, began to reigne the yere a thousand thre hundreth &. lxxvii. and was deposed by parliamente in the yere a. M. CCC. xcix. and the. xxii. yere of his reygne.

RIchard his heyre, y^e sōne of prīce Edward, [Kyng Richard the seconde] Crowned was then with all solempnitee

By all the lordes and barons hole award, Obeying hole vnto his maiestee, Who that tyme was in tendre iuuensee, Of eleuen yere fully accompted [accounte.] of age When he had so his croune and heritage.

¶ And kyng was called of Englāde & of Fraūce. In Iune the. xxii. daye full clene, Of Christes death, without variaunce, A thousande was thre hundreth sixty to neuen, And. xvii. yere therwith to be[leuen,] When the two realmes fell to hym by discente, As nexte heyre to kyng Edwarde thexellent.

¶ And in the yere a thousande thre hundreth mo, Sixty adioynt and therwith all nynetene, The thyrde pestilence reigned in Englande so So sore that moste parte of the people clene Dyed awaye, as through the realme was sene, And of his reignes of Englande and of Fraunce The thyrde yere was by very remembraunce.

¶ And of his reigne in Iune then the. v. yere, [Fol. C.lxxxix.] And of our Lorde a thousande then accompted

Thre hundreth eke. iii. score and one full clere, The commons rose an hūdreth thousād amoūted [that amounted.] , [Insurrecciō.] Of Kent and Essex, whiche that tyme surmounted The kynges power and all the hie estates, For whiche the lordes fled then as exulates,

¶ And lefte the kyng alone [then] in the toure With tharchbyshop of Cauntorbury there so, And the priour to been his gouernoure Of Clerken well whiche [whom.] the commons heded tho, And brought the kyng forth with theim to [for to.] go: They asked hym all bondmen to bee free, And taxe [taxes.] none euer after payed to bee.

¶ They asked eke [als.] Iake Strawe & Wat Tiler To bee made dukes of Essex and Kente, To rule the kyng thens forth in peace and warre, For they bee wyse of royall regiment. Thus tolde they the [to the.] kyng all theyr entent, The whiche he graunte in all thyng by and by For he durste [no poynt] [not any point.] then theim denye.

¶ Afore Iake Strawe y^e kyng thē stode hodlesse, Of which Walworth, the mayre of Londō trewe, Areasoned hym then of his greate lewdenesse, With a dagger in Smythfelde then then hym slewe, The citezens with hym then strongly drewe And slewe theim downe and put theim to [to the.] flight, And brought the kyng into the [his own.] citee right.

¶ The cōmons brent the Sauoye a place [paleis.] fayre, For eiuill wyll they had vnto duke Iohn; Wherfore he fled northwarde in great dispayre Into Scotlande: for socoure had he none In Englande then, to whō he durste make moone; And there abode tyll commons all were ceased In England hole, and all the lande well peased.

¶ The. xx. daye of Maye nexte folowyng, And one therwith as calculers it knowe,

The date of Christ a thousande then beynge, Thre hundreth also [als.] foure score & two on rowe, Thearth quake was whiche that tyme I sawe, That castelles, walles, toures and steples fyll, Houses and trees and cragges [rockes.] fro the hyll.

¶ And in the yere afore kyng Richarde wed Quene Anne vpon saynt Agnes day that floure, That doughter was, as I haue sene and red, Vnto the kyng of Beeme and emperoure, And suster also [als.] vnto his successoure Themperour of Rome, that Segemond hight, Who to kyng Henry [in Englāde] [the fifte.] came full right.

The. C.lxxxix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Richard wente into Scotlande in the yere a thousande three hundreth and. lxxxvi. and in his reygne the. x. yere; and howe he create two dukes of Yorke and of Gloucestre.

ANd in the yere of Christ a thousande so, Thre hūdreth also [als.] foure score &. vi. ther tyl, And of his reigne the. x. yere and mo, The kyng Richard with hoste went at his wyl [Fol. C.xc.] In to Scotlande his corage to fulfyll, To Edinburgh, and brent the lande also, Without lettyng there of any foo.

¶ At London so then at his parlyament He made therle of Cambrydge, his vncle dere, The duke of Yorke to be incontynent, And so he was proclaymed there full clere, That Edmonde hyght of Langley of good chere, Glad and mery and of his owne ay lyued Without [Withoutyn.] wronge as chronicles [cronyclers.] haue breued.

When all [the] lordes [lordes went.] to councell and parlyament [Went,] he wolde to hunte and also to hawekyng, All gentyll [gentilnes.] disporte [as to a lorde] [that myrth.] appent, He vsed aye and to the pore supportyng, Where euer he was in any place bidyng,

Without suppryse, or any extorcyon Of the porayle, or any oppressyon.

¶ He made also the earle of Bokyngham Thomas Wodstoke that same daye, and create His other vncle duke of Gloucester by name Proclaymed hole, and so denominate With his brother to be consociate; The foxe tayle he bare ay on his spere, Where he so rode in peace or elles in warre.

¶ The kyng then made y^e duke of Yorke by name Maister of the mewhouse & his [of.] haukes fayre, Of his venery and mayster of his game, In what countree he [that he.] dyd repeyre, Which was to hym, without any dispeyre, Well more comforte and great [a greater.] gladnesse Then bene a lorde of worldly greate rychesse.

¶ His vncle Thomas, y^e duke then of Gloucester, And [Had.] wed the doughter then of therle of Herforth, By whiche he had by writyng & by letter The constablery of Englande then ay forth, [Both by South, Est, West and North,] By [Of.] herytage of his wyues lande and ryght, Of auncyent tyme by kynges graunt & hyght.

¶ And in the yere of kyng Richarde elleuen, [The batail of Rotcote bridge.] The duke Thomas that was of Gloucester, Henry the earle of Derby dyd beleuen With hym by worde and also by his letter, The earle Marshall did so then for the better, Therle Beauchampe of Warwyk by his name, Of Arundell the earle dyd [then dide.] the same:

¶ These lordes fyue together boldely sworne Agayne Robert Veer then duke of Irelande, The kinges pleasure & [one] of age both like borne, Whom he loued moste as they could vnderstand, With batayl stronge at Rotcot bryge toke on hād To fyght with hym, where then he fled awaye Ouer Thamis, without retourne for ay.

The. C.xc. Chapiter.

¶ Of the great parlyament where the fyue lordes foriuged y^e duke of Irelande and his compeers.

AT Lenton nexte accompted in the [that.] yere At London then, y^e king set his parliamēt At Westminster to hold it there moste clere, [Fol. C.xci.] Where these fyue lordes came armed by one assēt, Appealed the duke of Irelande of greate entent, The archbyshop [of Yorke] that [that then.] hyght Neuyle, And Michell Poole earle of Suffolke that whyle,

¶ Sir Nichol Brēbyr [Bremble.] of London y^t was mayre, Tresilyan also [als.] and syr Symonde Bourley Whiche they exyled, & some they honge vnfeyre; Some they heded that tyme that was [were.] full gaye, Holt and Belknap exyled were awaye In to Irelande, for hye contryued treasone Agayne the kyng and his royall crowne.

¶ The earle Douglas & the earle of March also, [The batayl of Otturborne.] Northumberlande, by West the Newe Castell, Vnto Morpath norwarde dyd mikyll wo At Otturborne, as chronycles dyd [cronyclers doo.] tell, Henry Percy with small hoste on hym [theym.] fell, And slewe Douglas, & many put to [the] flyght, And gate the felde vpon his enemyes ryght.

¶ He sent the lorde syr Thomas Vmfreuyle, His brother Robert, & also [als.] sir Thomas Grey, And sir Mawe [May.] Redmayn beyond y^e Scottes that whyle, To holde them in y^t they fled not awaye; Wherfore the Scottes releued agayne alway, Throuh which Henry was takē there anone, To Dūbar led, for whom was made great mone.

¶ The felde was his all yf y^t he were take, The Vmfreuyle, Grey, Ogle, and Redmayne Helde the felde hole, y^t myght so for his sake, And knewe nothyng whetherwarde he was gayn.

The earle of Marche with preuy men alane, Full priuely to Dunbarre with hym rode, And kepte hym there, for he was greatly ferde [foode.] .

¶ The Douglas all y^t many were that daye, Laboured full sore with wyles and great wyt Hym to haue slayne for euer and ay, For Douglas death, so sore they rewed it. This batail was on saynt Oswoldes daye cōmyt, The. xii. yere of the kyng, and of Christes date Thirtene. C. foure score and eyght socyate.

The. C.xci. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the quene Anne dyed, and howe kyng Rychard went fyrste to Irelande [Ierusalem. edit. alt.] with his hoste.

ANd in the yere a thousand. iii. C. [and] mo, Foure score & fourtene, quene Anne died, The. xviii. yere was of the kyng then so, And buryed was as well is notifyed: Of all vertue she was well laudefyed, To womanhede that myght in ought appende, At Westminster she is full well commende.

¶ At Michelmasse nexte after folowyng, In that same yere the kyng to Irelande went, With greate power & hoste therin warrynge Vpon Makmur with all his hole entente, And on the greate Aneell [Onele. edit. alt.] by one [all.] ascent Of his lordes, where Makmurre & greate Aneel [Onele. edit. alt.] To him obeyed and made hym homage leel.

¶ The earle of Marche, syr Roger Mortymer, The kynge made then leuetenaūt of Irelande, [Fol. C.xcii.] That yonge was then, and home he came y^t yere, And great hoshoulde helde [as] I [can] vnderstand, Far passyng kynges of any other lande; For whiche the voyce on hym rose [than rose.] and name Through Christendom he bare then furth y^e fame.

¶ And in the yere a thousande as was then, Thre hundreth eke foure score & also [als.] syxtene, Of his reygne the. xviii. yere was then [whan.] . At Alhalowmasse [Hallowtide.] kyng Rychard as was sene At Calys wed dame Isabell the [to.] quene Kīg Charles doughter y^t then was kīg of Fraūce, At Christmasse crowned by gouernaunce.

¶ And in Smithfelde great iustes & tornement [The other edit. has torment, evidently in mistake.] Of all realmes and dyuers nacyon, Of Englyshe, Iryshe [als Irish.] and Walshe present, Of Scottes also [als.] were at the [that.] coronacyon, And iusted there with greate cōmendacyon, By. xiiii. dayes iusted who so [so there.] wolde, [Henry of Derby bare hym]? then full bolde.

Henry Percy and Raufe his brother gaye, Robert Morley and syr Iohn Grene Cornewell, Heer Nichol Hauberke and eke syr Mawburney, Walter Bytterley, syr Thomas Blankeueile, Syr Hugh Spencer, and Iamco [Iamyco.] saunz fayle, Heer Hans, heer Iohn, & the lorde Fitz Walter, Blaket, Dynmoke, and also [als.] the lorde Spencer,

¶ Vmfreuyle and his brother Roberte, Vmfrey Stafforde and syr Rychard Arundell. These. xx. helde the felde within full smert Agayne all other that wolde with iustes mell, Of what nacyon he were that man can [couth.] tell, Of [in any lande the] [many londes.] knyghtes iusted thare, And squyers also [als.] without y^t well them bare.

The. C.xcii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng arest the duke of Gloucester, the earles of Warwyk and Aroundell, and foreiuged them for treason; and made fyue dukes, a marquis, and foure earles; and watched daye and nyghte with Cheshyre men, for drede of insurreccyon.

THe yere of Christe a. M. was so then, Thre. C. eke foure score & also [als.] seuentene,

At Mydsomer the kyng with many a man At Plashe toke Thomas of Wodstoke full kene, Of Gloucester the duke that was full clene, That smyten was in fell and great syknesse, And in the towre hym put in great distresse.

¶ Whome sone he sente to Calyce secretely, And murthered hym [hym ther.] in the prynces inne, By hole aduice of his councell priuely, And in eche shyre of which he did greate synne, His confessyon of treason more and mynne, Of. ix. poyntes fayned, he then proclaymed To staunche the folke y^t for hym cryed & claymed.

¶ He then arest Thomas earle of Warwyke, And earle Rycharde of Arundell no lees, The lorde Cobham full trewe and also [als.] manlyke, Foriuged them by strength of men and prees, The earle of Warwyk his name for to distresse [decrees.] , Vnto thisle of Man in sore prison, [Fol. C.xciii.] Of Arundell therle hedded for treson.

¶ The lord Cobham in [to] prisone perpetuall In the towre to abide for euer more: At Mighelmasse next, so then did bifall, The kyng then held his greate parlyament thore, At Westminster, wher the kyng mustred sore At the Blakeheth an hundred thousand menne, To make the commons for to dred hym then.

¶ At whiche parlyamēt he made therle of Derby Duke of Herford, therle of Rutland also Of Almarle duke, therle of Kent duke of Surry, Therle of Huntyngton duke of Excester tho, Therle marshall he made and no mo Duke of Northfolke; thus were there dukes fiue Of newe create, and none was substantiue.

¶ He made therle of Somerset marques Of Dorset then, sir Iohn Beaufort that hight, Of poore liuelode that was that tyme doubtles,

Foure erles next he made in mantiles [full] right, With swerdes girt, the lord Spencer on hight, That create was then erle of Gloucester, Thomas Percy also erle of Worcester,

¶ The lord Neuell then erle of Westmerland, Wyllyam Scrope erle of Wiltshire create, That chamberleyn was then, I vnderstand, And tresourer of England ordinate. These foure erles were thus consociate; Then all these dukes and erles with many mo Of lordes young he [had aye with hym.] [he helde aie with hym so.]

¶ Bishopes thirtyne he held then furth eche daye, Barons many and many a worthy knight, To greate nombre, and squiers freshe and gaye, And officers well mo then nedid right, In eche office by tenfold mo to sight Then were afore; for then he had, eche daye, Twoo hundred menne of Cheshire wher he laye,

¶ To watche hym aye wher so euer he laye, He dred hym aye so of insurreccion Of the commons and of the people aye, He trusted none of all his region, But Chesshire menne for his proteccion; Wher euer he rode with arowes and bowes bent, Thei were with hym aye redy at his entent.

The. C.xciii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe in the tyme of kyng Rychard reigned ouer passyng pryde, aduoutree and lechery, as well in menne of the spiritualtie, as in other of his hous.

TRuly I herd Robert Ireleffe [Iuelefe.] saye, Clerke of the grenecloth, y^t to the houshold Came euery daye for moost partie alwaye, Ten thousand folke by his messis tould, That folowed the hous aye as thei would, And in the kechin three hundred seruitours, And in eche office many occupiours;

¶ And ladies faire with their gentilwomen, Chamberers also and lauenders [launderers. edit. alt.] , Three hundred [of theim were occupied] [were accounted of theym.] then. Ther was greate pride emong thofficers, [Fol. C.xciiii.] And of all menne farpassyng their compeers, Of riche araye and muche more costious Then was before or sith, and more precious.

¶ Yemenne and gromes in cloth of silke arayed, Sattyn, and damaske, in dublettes and [and in.] gounes, In cloth of grene and scarlet for vnpayed, Cut werke was greate both in court and tounes, Bothe in mēnes hoddis and also in their gounes; Broudur and furres & goldsmith werke aye newe, In many awise eche daye thei did renewe.

¶ In his chapell were bishoppes then of Beame, Some of Ireland, and some also of Fraunce, Some of England, and clerkes of many a realme, That litill connyng had or conisaunce In musike honorably God his seruice to auaunce In the chapell, or in holy scripture On [Any.] mater of Goddis [Gode.] to refigure.

¶ Lewed menne thei were in clerkes clothyng, Disguysed faire in fourme of clerkes wise, Their peryshyns full litill enfourmyng In lawe deuine or els in God [his] seruise; But right practyfe thei were in couetyse, Eche yere to make full greate colleccion, At home in stede of soules correccion.

¶ Greate lechery and fornicacion Was in that house, and also [als.] greate aduoutree, Of paramoures was greate consolacion, Of eche degre well more of prelacie, Then of [the] temporall or of the chiualrie: Greate taxe ay the kyng tooke through all the lād, For whiche commons [the commons. edit. alt.] hym hated [bothe] free & bōd.

The. C.xciiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the duke of Herford and the duke of Northfolke wer exiled out of England.

ANd in the yere. M. and thre hundred clere, Foure score and therwithall eightene, And of his reigne the twenty & twoo yere, The duke Henry of Herford, as was seen, At Couentree in barres armed clene, Again the duke of Northforke for treson, Whiche bothe the kyng exiled fro his region.

¶ The duke Henry exiled was [was also. edit. alt.] for ten yere, The other was also for terme of life, That died duke, at Venys leide on bere, But duke Henry exiled was beliue [full rife.] , [Like as the chronicle can openly discriue,] For ten yere whole for to abide in Fraunce, And to auoyde the realme without [with. edit. alt.] variaunce,

¶ Vpon the pain of decollacion; And hiyng [hedyng.] sone before sainct Edwardes daye, In Octobre, [called] the translacion; Vpon whiche daye he shipid fourth his waye, At Calice londed and so rode on [furth.] [alwaye] Vnto Paris, wher he was faire recepte With lordes many and worship[ful]ly was mette.

¶ In Lenton next, duke Iohn his father dyed, [Fol. C.xcv.] Of Lancaster, of weakenes and of age, Entombed faire at sainct Poules buryed, His heire in Fraunce should haue his heritage: In Maye then next the kyng, with baronage, To Ireland went with hoste and greate power, The wild Irishe to wynne and to conquere.

¶ For then Roger therle of Marche was slain, With wild Irishe in bushment for hym laye, His soonnes then full young [were bothe] [that were but.] twein,

In ward were take vnto the kyng that daye, And then the kyng made full fell araye, In euery shire blanke charters to bee sealid, [Blanche chartres.] For cause his actes should not bee repeiled.

[In] the yere of Christ a. M. was then clere, [Kyng Richard his voiage into Irelād.] Three C. also [als.] foure score and eke ninetene, And of his reigne the twoo [thre.] & twenty yere, Begynnyng at Midsomer, then as I meane, [Whiche afterward turned hym to mikell tene;] He was then landed [londe.] in Ireland with his hoste Of chiualrie and power with the moste.

The. C.xcv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe duke Henry of Herford and of Leicestre landed in Holdernesse in the same yere, and Thomas Arundell archebishop of Cantorbury that before was exiled, and howe duke Henry swore to therle of Northūberland and to sir Henry Percy, wardeyns of the Marches, and to therle of Westmerland, and to other lordes of y^e North.

AT whiche tyme so y^e duke Henry toke land At Reuēsporn ī Yorkeshire, as was knowe, Tharchbishop Thomas, I vnderstand, Of Cauntorbury, Arondell, that was lowe Bothe of ryches and gold as menne sawe, For the kyng had hym out of [the] land exiled Fro Cauntorbury, neuer more to bee reconsiled.

¶ In Holdernesse he landed [londe.] with fourty menne, Wher the lordes of Lyncolneshire hym mette; Bothe Wyloughby Roos and Darcy then, And Beaumoūt also [als.] , w^t penouns proudly bette, By ordinaunce of Henry Percy sette Erle of Northumberland and sir Henry His soonne, wardeyns of the Marche [Marches.] seuerally.

¶ To Dancaster he rode full manfully, Wher bothe the wardeyns of the Marche [Marches.] mette Then with the duke, with hostes great & chiualry, Therle also of Westmerland was sette,

With his power, as then it was his debt; For he had wed the dukes suster dere, A full good lady without [withoutyn.] any were

¶ Ther swore the duke vpon the sacrament, To claime no more but his mothers heritage, His fathers landes, and his wifes in good entent, And to laye downe bothe taxe and tallage, Whiles he might liue but of [if.] the baronage; And all thestates somouned in parlyament, Thought it nedefull, and therto whole assent.

¶ He swore also the kyng in gouernaunce To be put by good and hole prouision, [Fol. C.xcvi.] And Chesshyre men, for theyr misgouernaunce, To voyde out of his house of eiuill condicion, And officers of good disposicion, To rule his house like his estate royall, Thus was his othe there made in speciall.

¶ Then rode they forth to Bristowe were thē lay Scrop and Busshe, and also [als.] syr Henry Grene, And headed theim, but Baget [Bagot.] fled away; And then the kyng at Flynt, as was sene, Great monstres [mustres.] made of people that was [were.] kene, Whiche toke his wage and came [went.] to duke Henry, And rode ay forth with hym full redely.

¶ In this meane whyle therle of Northūberlāde Treated with the kyng that tyme in Conwaye, To mete with duke Henry then in Englande, And brought hym then to hym in meke araye, With litell speche to Chester then the waye, They rode anone and put hym there in warde, And so to London from thens came southwarde.

The. C.xcvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe duke Henry of Lancaster was made kyng by resignacion, renunciacion, and deposayle, and election of the parliamente, and crouned at Westmynster on saynte Edwardes daye in Octobre.

ANd set hym in the toure, where he resigned His right, his realme & his royall croune To duke Hēry, which no mā thē repugned; And there he made a playn renunciacion Of all his righte, for whiche by prouision The parliament then, for his misgouernaunce, Deposed hym so then by greate ordinaunce.

¶ Then went they to a free election, Seyng the youth then of the Mortimer, That erle of [the] Marche by trewe direccion Was then, and heire of England then moste nere To kyng Richarde, as well then did appere, Consydred also [als.] the might of duke Henry, They chose hym kyng, there durst none it [hym.] deny.

¶ Therle of Northumberlande then had sent His power home by councell of duke Henry, So did his sonne Henry that truly ment, Supposyng well the duke wolde not vary From his othe, ne in no wyse contrary, And he and his kepte all theyr power, [Tyll he was crouned] [to he were crounde for.] kyng, as [it] did appere.

¶ Therles two then of Northumberlande, Of Worcester, and syr Henry Percy, And therle also of Westmerlande Councelled hym then fro his oth not to varye; And though at eue he did to theim applie, On the morowe by a pryue counsayl, He would be crouned kyng without fayle [any fall.] [

The Harleian MS. has here the following prose addition: which also occurs at the end of the Selden MS.

"FOR asmuche as many men mervaile gretely why the erle of Northumberlonde and sir Heury Percy his furste gotyn sonne, and sir Thomas Percy erle of Worcestre, were supportours to king Henry the fourth, to have his heritage and to take kynge Richarde to have depose hym be stronge honde, truly I, the maker of this boke, wase brought up fro twelve yere of age in sir Henry Percy house to the bataill of Shrewesbury, wher I wase with hym armed of xxv^ti yere of age, as I had beene afore at Homyldon, Cokelawe, and at divers rodes and feeldes wyth hym and knewe his entent and hade it wretyn. Wherfore I have titled in this booke that for trouth the cause why they rose ayenst him may euermore be knowe. Theire quarell wase so suete, devoute, and be goode aduyse and counseill of maister Richarde Scrope archebishope of Yorke, for whome God Almyghty hath shewed many myracles sith that tyme hedirwarde, and be the counsell of dyvers other holy men, and also be counsell of dyvers other lordes that desceyued hym, and wer bounde to hym be theire lettres and sealles which I sawe and hade in kepynge whiles I wase with hym, and all theire quarell they sent to kynge Henry in the felde, writen̄ vnder the sealles of their thre armes, be Thomas Knayton and Roger Salvayn̄, squyers of sir Henry Percy; whiche quarell nowe followeth nexte after.

"Nos Henricus Percy, Comes Northumbrie, Constabularius Angliae, et Custos Westmarchie Anglie versus Scociam, Henricus Percy, primogenitus noster Custos Estmarchie Anglie versus Scociam, et Thomas Percy Comes Worcestrie, procuratores et protectores rei publice, coram domino nostro Ihesu Christo Judice nostro suppremo, ponimus, dicimus et probare intendimus manibus nostris personaliter, die instante, contra te Henricum ducem Lancastrie, complices tuos et fautores, te injuste presumentem et nominantem regem Anglie, sine titulo juris nisi tamen de dolo tuo et vi fautorum tuorum, Quod quando tu post exilium tuum Angliam intrasti, apud Doncastre tu jurasti nobis supra sacra evangelia corporaliter per te tacta et osculata juxta clamarc regnum, seu regium statum, nisi solummodo hereditatem tuam propriam et hereditatem uxoris tue in Anglia, et quod Ricardus dominus noster rex ad tune regnaret ad terminum vite sue gubernatus per bonum consilium dominorum spiritualium et temporalium. Tu ipsum dominum tuum et regem nostrum imprisonasti infra turrim London quousque resignaverat metu mortis regna Anglie et Francie, et renunciaverat totum jus suum regnis predictis et aliis dominiis suis et terris deultra mare. Colore quarum resignacionis et renunciacionis, tuorum fautorum consilio, ac publica vociferacione, vulgaris populi apud Westmonasterium per te et tuos complices collecti, tu te coronasti in regem regnorum predictorum et seisiri fecisti omnia castra et dominia regalia contra sacramentum tuum; unde perjuratus es, et falsus.

"Item nos ponimus, dicimus, et probare intendimus quod ubi tu jurasti super eadem evangelia eisdem loco et tempore nobis nullas decimas de clero, nec quintodecimas de populo, nec aliqua alia talliagia in regno Anglie levari permitteres ad opus regnum dum viveres nisi per considerationem trium statuum regni in parliamento et hoc non nisi propter maximam indigenciam pro resistencia mimicorum tantummodo et non aliter. Tu contra juramentum tuum sic prestitum levari fecisti quamplures decimas et quinto-decimas ac alias impositiones et talliagia tam cleri quam comunitatis Anglie et Mercatorum, metu majestatis regie tue, unde perjuratus es, et falsus.

"Item nos ponimus, dicimus et probare intendimus quod ubi tu nobis jurasti super eadem evangelia, eisdem tempore et loco, quod dominus noster et tuus rex Ricardus regnaret dum viveret in regalibus prerogativis suis. Tu ipsum dominum nostrum regem et tuum proditorie in castro tuo de Pountefreite sine consensu suo, seu judicio dominorum regni, per quindecim dies et tot noctes, quod horrendum est inter Christianos audiri, fame, scitu, et frigore interfici fecisti et murdro periri, unde perjuratus es et falsus.

"Item ponimus, dicimus et probare intendimus quod tu, tunc temporis quando dominus Ricardus rex noster et tuus fuit sic ex horribili murdro mortuus ut supra, tu extorcisti, usurpasti et deforciasti reg∣num Anglie ac nomen & honorem regni Francie injuste contra juramentum tuum ab Edmundo Mortymere comite Marchie, tunc proximo et directo herede Anglie et Francie, immediate et hereditarie post decessum predicti Ricardi successuro, unde perjuratus et falsus es.

"Item ponimus, dicimus, et probare intendimus ut supra quod ubi jurasti eisdem loco et tempore supportare et manutenere leges regni Anglie et consuetudines bonas, et postea tempore coronacionis tue jurasti easdem custodire et conservare illesas, tu subdole et contra legem Anglie tuis fautoribus scripsisti quamplures in quolibet comitatu Anglie ad eligendos tales milites pro quolibet parliamento qui tibi placuerint sic quod in parliamentis tuis nullam justiciam contra voluntatem tuum in hiis querelis nostris nunc motis non potuimus habere quamvis nos plures tibi secundum consciencias nostras nobis a Deo datas conquerulavimus sine remedio, Deo teste et venerabilibus patribus Thoma Arundell Cantuariensis et Ricardo Scrope Eboracensis archiepiscopis, unde nunc manu forti oportet coram domino nostro Ihesu Christo nos petere remedium.

"Item ponimus, dicimus, & probare intendimus quod ubi Edmundus Mortymere, frater Rogeri Mortymere nuper comitis Marchie et Ultonie, fuit captus per Owinum Glendore in mortali bello campestri, et in prisona ac vinculis ferreis adhuc crudeliter tentus, in causa tua quem tu proclamasti captum ex dolo, et noluisti pati deliberacionem suam per se nec per nos consanguineos suos et amicos quar' modo affident' cum predicto Owino pro financia sua de bonis nostris propriis protractavimus ac pro bono pacis inter te et ipsum Owinum, quapropter considerasti nos tanquam proditores et de cetero mortem et finalem destructionem personarum nostrarum subdole et secrete conjeccisti et imaginasti. Ideo te et complices tuos et fautores mortaliter diffidimus tanquam proditores et rei publice regni destructores, ac veri ac directi heredis Anglie et Francie invasores, oppressores et deforciatores & manibus nostris hic probare intendimus hac die, omnipotente Deo nobis auxiliante.

"For asmuche as many men̄ have been merred and yit stonde in grete erroure and contraversy, holdyng oppynyon frowarde howe that Edmonde erle of Lancastre Leicestre and Derby wase the elder sonne of kynge Henry the thride, croukebacked, vnable to haue been kynge, for the whiche Edward his yonger brother wase made kynge be his assente, as some men haue alleged, be an̄ vntrewe cronycle feyned in the tyme of kynge Richarde the seconde be Iohn of Gaunte duke of Lancastre to make Henry his sonne kynge, whan̄ he sawe he myght not be chose for heyre apparaunt to kynge Richarde.

"For I Iohn Hardynge, the maker of this booke, herde the erle of Northumberlonde that wase slayne at Bramham More in the time of king Henry the Fourth saie, howe the same kyng Henry, vpon saynt Mathee daye afore he wase made kinge, put forth that ilke cronycle claymynge his title to the crown be the seide Edmonde, upon whiche all the Cronycles of Westminstre and of all other notable monasteries were hade in the counsell at Westmynstre, and examyned amonge the lordes, and proued well be all theire cronycles, that the kinge Edwarde wase the older brother, and the seide Edmonde the yonger brother, and not croukebacked nother maymed, but the semeliest person̄ of Engelonde except his brother Edwarde. Wherfore that Chronycle whiche kynge Henry so put furth was adnulled and reproued.

And than I herde the seide erle saie, that the seid kynge Henry made kynge Richarde vnder dures of prison̄ in the Toure of London in fere of his life to make a resignation̄ of his right to hym. And upon that a renunciation of the seide right. And tho two declared in the counsell and in the parlement at Westmynster, on the morowe of seynt Michell than̄ next followynge, what of his myght and his wilfulnes, and what be certeyne lordes and strenght of the com̄ons, he wase crounde ayenst his oth made in the White Ffreres at Doncastre to the seid erle of Northumberlonde and other lordes, ayenst the wille and counsell of the seide erle and of his sonne, and of sir Thomas Percy earl of Worcestri, for which cause they died after, as I knew well, for that tyme I wase in the feelde at Shrewsbury with sir Henry Percy, of the age of xxv^ti yere, armed, and afore brought up in his house of xij yere age.

"Also I herde the seide erle of Northumberlonde saie divers tymes, that he herde duke Iohn of Lan∣castre eastre, amonge the lordes in counsels and in parlementes, and in the com̄on house, amonge the knyghtes chosyn̄ for the comons, aske be bille forto beene admytte heire apparaunte to kyng Richarde, considerynge howe the kynge wase like to haue no issue of his bodie. To the whiche the lordes spirituell and temporell and the com̄ons in the com̄on house, be hoole aduyse, seide, that the erle of Marche, Roger Mortymere, wase his next heire to the croun̄, of full discent of blode, and they wolde have noone other: and axed a question upon it, who durst disable the kynge of issue, he beynge yonge and able to have children; for whiche when the duke of Lancastre wase so putt bie, he and his counsell feyned and forgten the seide Cronycle that Edmonde shuld be the elder brother, to make his son̄ Henry a title to the croun̄, and wold have hade the seide erle of Northumberlonde, and sir Thomas Percy his brother, of counsaile thereof, for cause thei were discent of the seid Edmonde be a suster; but they refused it.

"Whiche Cronycle, so forged, the duke dide put in divers abbaies and in freres, as I herde the seid erle ofte tymes saie and recorde to divers persouns, forto be kepte for the enheritaunce of his sonne to the croun̄, whiche title he put furste furth after he hade kynge Richarde in the Toure, but that title the erle Percy put aside."

]

The. C.xcvii. Chapiter.

¶ Henry the fourth, kyng of Englande and of Fraunce, was electe by y^e hole parliament the morowe after Michelmasse daye, the yere of our Lorde a thousande thre hundreth foure score and nynetene, and reigned. xiiii. yere, & died at Westmynstre the. xix. daye of Marche, in the yere of [Fol. C.xcvii.] Christe a thousande foure hundreth and. xiii., and of his owne reygne the. xiiii. yere.

THis duke Henry, by great loue of the land, [Kyng Henry y^e fourth.] Of many lordes and of the commontee, Tharchebyshop Arondell toke on hande To croune hym then in royall maiestee, On saynt Edwardes day with [great] solempnitee; But kyng he was the morowe [morne.] after Mighelmesse, His reygne begynnyng that day without distresse.

¶ Therle of Warwike and therle of Arondell That exiled were, and the lorde Cobham eke, With all theyr frendes y^t kyng Richard did expell, The dukes frendes of Gloucester nought to seke, Whiche then began for to encrease, and eke Through all the realme with kyng Henry to stād, To croune hym kyng that tyme of all Englande.

¶ An hundreth thousande cryed all [than all.] at ones, At Westmynster to croune hym for [for their.] kyng, So hated they kyng Rychard for the nones, For his mysrule and wrong gouernyng, For taxes and for blanke charters sealyng, For murder of duke Thomas [of] Woodstoke, That loued was well more then all the floke.

¶ The great parliament [then he made] [he made than been.] rehersed, The dukes [dukes thre.] of Almarle, Excestre and Surry, He depryued and the iudgement reuersed That then was made & gaue full wylfully, Agayne Woodstoke and Warwyke for enuie, Arondell and the lorde Cobham full trewe, Whiche was reuersed and reuoked newe.

¶ The duke of Almarle was then erle Rutlande, The duke of Surry erle of Kent was agayn, And eke the duke of Excester, I vnderstande, Of Hungtyngdon therle was to be fayn, The marques eke of Dorset was full bayn Of Somerset erle agayn to bene, He chastised theim no feller as was sene.

¶ Therle of Gloucester was lord Spencer Then set agayn to [unto.] his first estate; The kyng then made his eldest sonne full clere The prince of Wales in parliament hole create, Duke of Cornewayle and erle denominate, Of Chester also [als.] that then was yong of age; But yet he was that tyme of hye courage.

The. C.xcviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng gaue the constablerie and the Marshalsee to therles of Northumberlande and Westmerlande, wyth certayn landes, and how syr Robert Vmfreuile was made knight of the Garter & capitayn of Rokesburgh, & faught on fote on Fulhoplewe and wan the feld with victorie, and was made lorde Vmfreuile.

AT this tyme [parlement.] y^e kyng [graūted by parliamēt,] [graunte be patent.] The constablery certayn [certeynly.] of Englande, In heritage so at his coronoment, To therle then of Northumberlande, Also of Man thisle, I vnderstande, To holde of hym and of his heyres alwaye, By seruyce royall, as wrytten was that daye.

¶ And to therle of Westmerlande, also, The Marshalsee of Englande then he gaue, [Fol. C.xcviii.] All Richemond fee that was in Englande tho, By patent also [als.] for terme of life to haue: The lordes all he pleased, so God me saue, With office ay, orels with lande or [and.] rent, With liberall herte as to a prince appent.

¶ And whyles that parliament so did endure, The Scottes rode by North and sore had stroyed In Cokedale then, where Vmfreuyle had cure, That with theim faught & had theim sore anoyed At Fulhaplowe [Fullhope lawe.] , on fote he theim acloyed; For there he toke syr Richard Rotherforde His sonnes fyue full fell of dede and worde;

¶ Syr Wyllyam Stiwarde also he toke, The lorde of Gordowne he put to flight, And Willibarde [Willy Barde.] the felde there then forsoke, And prisoners brought home well mo at night Then he had men with hym the felde to fight; For whiche the kyng hym had ay after in cherte, Consyderyng well his knightly aperte [juperte.] .

The. C.xcix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng Henry remeued kyng Richard from place to place by night, in preuey wise; in whiche tyme therles of Kent, Salisbury and Huntyngdon, the lorde Spencer, and syr Raulfe Lomley were headed.

THe kyng thē sent kyng Richard to Ledis, There to be kepte surely in preuitee, Fro thēs after to Pykeryng wēt he nedes, And to Knauesburgh after led was he, But to Pountfrete last where he did die. Bothe therles of Kent and Salisbury, Therle of Huntyngdon, and Spēcers [Spencer.] sothelye,

¶ And syr Raulfe Lomley with mo in company, After Christmasse thought to haue slayn the kyng; They were distured and fled awaye in hye, But they were slayn at Circester fleyng By the commons with theim there fyghtyng, Therles of Kent and of Salysbury, And syr Raulfe Lomley in theyr companye:

¶ The lorde Spencer take was vpon the sea, At Bristowe was headed [bihede.] and decollate, Therle also of Huntyngdon did flee, And brought vnto the countesse of estate Of Herforde then, who had hym forth algate To Plasshe, where she made men hym hede, Without counsayll of any lorde or rede:

¶ Syr Thomas Shelly [Shellaie.] , set full hye in [of.] pride, And Mawbleyn [Maudeleyn.] with Ferebye drawe and honge, Syr Barnard Brockeys [Brocas.] was heded theim beside, The byshop also [als.] of Carleile theim among In Westmynster, his life there to prolonge, Perpetually by iudgement was commytte, Among his brethren in order for to sytte.

The. CC.Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Richard was brought deade frō Pountfret to Powles and after buried at Langley, for menne shoulde haue no remembraunce of hym. And howe syr Robert Vmfreuyle faught with y^e Scottes at Redeswere, and [Fol. C.xcix] had the felde and the victorye.

IN March next after kīg Rychard thē was dede, Fro Poumfret brought with great solempnyte, Men sayde forhungered he was & lapped in lede, At Poules his masse was done and diryge, In hers royall semely to royalte, The kyng & lordes clothes of golde there offerde, Some. viii. some. ix. vpon his hers were proferde.

¶ At Westminster then dyd they so the same, When [Men.] truste he shuld [shuld then.] there haue buryed bene In that mynster, lyke to a prynce of name, In his [owne] tombe together with the quene Anne, that afore his fyrste wyfe had [that had.] bene; But then the kyng hym faste to Langley sent, There in the freres to [be buryed] [burie.] secretement.

¶ On Michelmasse day next after his coronaciō, Sir Robert then my mayster Vmfreuyle, At Redeswyres [Redeswire.] withoute excusacyon, With Richarde [sir Richarde.] Rotherforde fought that whyle, And toke [the] stewarde as I can compyle, And Iames Douglas with the lorde Seton [of Seton.] , And prisoners many [for to geue] [then for to.] raunson.

¶ Two hundreth men vpon y^e felde were slayne, Thre hundreth fled, some hole, some maymed sore, That dyed at home with sorowe and w^t payne, Some died homeward y^t home they came nomore: Where so he fought vnto his men right thore, A mery worde he wolde saye or they met, To glad theyr hartes enemyes [their enemyes.] to ouerset.

¶ The. ii. yere of his reygne then he went, [The kynges voiage into Scotlande.] In haruest [tyme so] [the laste.] into Scotlande, And Edenburgh with the countre brente, In whiche tyme the Scottes brent our lande, All Bamburgh shyre in Northumberlande; For both wardeyns with the kyng were gone, No wardeyne there, but husbandes by their owne.

The. CC.i. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Owen of Glendoure rose in Wales againe the king, and made warre on the lorde Gray Ruthin, and toke the lorde Graye and syr Edmonde Mortymer.

THe king came home and to London went At Michelmasse, wher thē he had message, That Owen Glendoure then felly blent [brent. edit. alt. MS.] In Englande sore [so.] , and did full great damage [outrage.] , For cause the lorde Graye helde his herytage; And to the kyng of it full sore had playned, No remedye gate, so was he then demeaned.

¶ The lorde Gray Ruthin [Riffyne.] did hym great wrong, Destroyed his lande, and he did hym the same, So both Marches destroyed were full longe; But Owen wanne him selfe eche day great name Of vasselrie [Walsherye.] , [of gentyls] [for gentilnes.] and [of] fame, That he them did, for whiche to him they drewe, And became his men & to him were full trewe.

¶ So on a daye the lorde Graye and he met With great power vpon eyther syde, [Fol. CC.] Where then they faught in batayle sore [full sore.] bet, And toke hym then his prysoner that tyde, And there the felde he had with mikyll pryde, Greate people toke and slewe, & home he went, The lorde Graye he raunsomed at his entent.

¶ Syr Edmonde then Mortimer warred sore Vpon Owen, and dyd hym mekyll tene,

But at laste [the laste.] Owen laye hym before, Where in batell they faught, as well was sene, Where Owen toke him prisoner [as then] ful kene, With mekell folke on eyther syde slayne, And set Edmonde in prysone and great payne.

¶ He wrote vnto the kyng for great socoure, For he had made with Owen his fynaunce, To whom y^e kyng wolde graunt then no fauoure, Ne nought he wolde thē make him cheuesaunce, For to comforte his foes disobeysaunce; Wherfore he laye in feters and sore prysone, For none payment of [than of.] his greate raunsone.

The. CC.iii. Chapiter.

¶ The earle of Northumberlande & his sonne Henry Percy stroke the batayle of Hamildon with the Scottes, & toke syxe earles, and discomfyte. xl. thousande Scottes.

IN the [his.] . iii. yere therle of Fyffe & Murrey, Of Athell, and Angos, & Douglas also, And of Menteth w^t barons fell [many.] y^t daye, The nomber was. xl. thousande and mo, Had brent the lande by South, Northward tho To Homildon, where on Holy Rode daye, The earle them met in good & stronge araye.

¶ His sonne also, Henry Percy, was there, George of Dunbar was in theyr company, And with the Scottes y^t daye fought full sere, Discomfyted them and had the victorye, Six earles taken [and.] xl. thousande playnly, Some fled, some died, some maimed there for euer, That to Scotlande agayne came [than came.] they neuer.

¶ The kyng Henry thryce to Wales went, [The kynges voyages into Wales.] In the haye tyme and haruest dyuers yere, In euery tyme were mystes and tempestes sent, Of wethers foule that he had neuer power Glendour to noye, but euer his caryage clere

Owen had at certayne straites and passage, And to our hoste dyd [aie dyd.] full greate damage.

¶ The king had neuer but tempest foule & raine, As longe as he was ay in Wales grounde, Rockes & mystes, windes & stormes [euer] certaine, All men trowed [y^t] witches it made that stounde; The cōmens all then of all Englande grounde, Warred [Cursed.] his gate [viage.] to Wales euery yere, For haye and corne were loste both two in fere:

Whiche made greate derth & of catell morayne, And euen [Oweyn.] ay in hylles and in mountaynes Kepte him ful strong, y^e king ay wrought in vaine, The king might not, but euer [more] held y^e pleines, And waste his owne lordshippes & his demaines: And full great parte Owen had and occupyed, By processe so in Wales, and victoryed.

¶ Therle Henry then of Northumberland [Fol. CC.i.] Brought to the kyng his owne prisoner, Therle of Fyffe was then I vnderstand, Heire vnto the duke of Albany clere, Regent that was of Scotland without pere; But sir Henry his soonne then would not bryng His prisoners in no wise to the kyng.

¶ But the kyng he prayed for Mortimer, That raunsomed might [he been] [be.] w^t his frendes so: He saied hym nay, for he was taken prisoner By his consent and treson to his foo, Whom he would not comfort for to ouergoo The prince his landes ne his owne to destroye, For ay he had greate trust [y^t] he should hym noye.

¶ The kyng hym blamed for he toke not Owen, When he came to hym on his assuraunce; And he aunswered then to the kyng again, He might not so kepe [to kepe.] his affiaunce, To shame hym self with suche a variaunce.

The kyng blamed hym for his prisoner Therle Douglas, for cause he was not there,

¶ And saied he should hym fette, but he hym sēde: Sir Henry sawe no grace for Mortimer, His wifes brother, he went awaye vnkende To Berwyk so, and after came [he come.] no fere; Afore thei mette at Shrowesbury in fere; Wher then thei faught for cause of [in.] his entent, He purposed had Mortimer his coronoment.

¶ The lordes all of England had hym hight, And Owayn also [als.] on Seuerne hym to mete, Except therle of Stafford young to fight, By their letters vnder their seales mete; But in [at.] the poinct thei brake all their behete, And he was slain, and all the cause conselid Why he the feld tooke and the kyng appelid.

The. CC.iii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe for therle of Marche his right, sir Henry Percy and sir Thomas Percy his vncle, erle of Worcester, faught with the kyng, and were slain at the battaill of Shrewesbury, wher all y^e lordes deceiued them, the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred and thre, and of his reigne the fourth yere, that were bounde to theim by their seales, except therle of Stafford; whiche letters I sawe in the castell of Werkeworth, when I was constable of it vnder my lord, sir Robert Vmfreuile, who had that castell of kyng Henry his gift, by forfeture of therle of Northumberland.

ON Madleyn euen was [than.] on the Saterdaye, After long trete the prince began to fight, The yere of Christ a thousād was no nay, Foure hundred also and three therto full right, When the [that.] battaill was streken of mikell [great.] might, And of the kyng then was the fourth yere Of his reigne accompted well and clere.

¶ His vncle dere was with hym there dedde, His father came not out of Northumberland,

But failed hym foule without witte or rede; But to the kyng he came I vnderstand, [Holy submittyng hym vnto his royall hand,] [In peaseble wise in truste grace to fonde.] [Fol. CC.ii.] Whom then he putte to hold in sore prisone, With twoo menne of his owne [in Bagyngton.] [at Babyngton.]

¶ His castelles all his mēne held then full strōg, To tyme the kyng had graunt hym plener grace, But the [Than the.] lordes in counsaill then [theym.] emong, Hight hym to help the sixte yere at the Pasche; But none durst come that tyme, so fell the case, But bishop Scrop and therle marshall, The lord Bardolfe, then of our [the.] lordes all.

The. CC.iiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe in y^e [sixte] yere of his reigne, & in y^e yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred and fyue, master Rychard Scrope, archebishop of Yorke, Thomas Mombraye erle marshall, sir Iohn Lamplewe, and sir Wyllyam Plompton, were hedded byside Yorke.

IN Lenton after he came home to his land, By perliamēt whole deliuered and acquit, And twoo yere after in peace I vnderstād, With kyng Henry full peasebly did sitte; Then in the yere, as menne remembre it, Of his reigne the sixte, the bishop Scrop went, Therle marshall with hym, of one entent,

¶ To Yorkes More, and ther assembled power Of their owne and their [of theyr.] frendes also, Of therles menne of Northumberland that were To the nombre of twenty thousand tho, Afore the daye assigned that was so By therle then of Northumberland, That there cheften with theim should haue [ther have.] stād,

¶ With other lordes that were to theim assent; But the bishop and therle marshall Wher slain [afore] the daye of assignement

Betwene theim made afore in speciall. [Hedded were then nere Yorke] [And biheded nygh Yorke.] as then did fall, Sir Iohn Lamplewe and sir Wyllyam Plomtō, With the bishop were hedded there for treson.

The. CC.v. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the lord Hastynges, the lord Fauconbridge, and sir Iohn Coluile of y^e Dale and his make, and sir Iohn Ruthyn, were hedded at Duresme by y^e kyng, for therles of Northumberland; & then he gate therles castelles, and stroke of seuen heddes at Berwyke.

THe lord Hastynges at Duresme was then take, The lord Faucōbrige together in cōpany, Sir Iohn Coluile of y^e Dale & his make, Sir Iohn Ruthyn [Sir Iohn Griffith.] that knightes were full māly To therle of Northumberland openly, Were hedded there all foure vpon a daye. And to Werkworth remeuid in greate araye,

¶ Wher the castell with in aweke was yolde Vnto the kyng after assautes fell and sore; The casteleyns to passe free wher thei would, With horse and harnes without chalenge more. Then to Aluwike [Alnewyke.] the kyng remeued thore, Wher the capitains vnto the kyng then sent, Wyn Berwyke ones he should haue his entent.

¶ So went he then to Berwyke without delaye, With assaut and shotte of gonnis strong [y^t were.] He had it then, and ther hedded on a daye [Fol. CC.iii.] The barons sonne of Graistoke taken there, Sir Henry Bowton [Boynton.] and Blenkensop therfore; And Prendirgest ran [rande.] on the sea also, And Tuwile [Tywyle. edit. alt. Iohn Turnebull. MS.] with other squiers twoo.

¶ To Aluwike [Alnewyke.] then the kyng laied siege again, Without assaute by whole conuencion, Henry Percy of Athel, with hert fain, And Wyllyam Clifford without discencion,

The castell yeld at the kynges entencion; With horse and harnes without enpechement, Or forfeture or els impediment.

¶ Prodhow, Langley, and also Cokirmouth, Aluham [Alneham.] , Newsted, deliuered were anone; [Thei remoued] [The kynge remewed.] then furth in to the South, Therle of Northumberland was [then] gone Afore northward to Scotland with great mone; The lord Bardolf with hym thither went, And there abode with their suppowelment.

¶ The sommer next by sea to Wales thei went Vnto Glendour, and after then [that.] to Brytain, And so by sea to Flaunders or they stent. The other sommer to Scotland came again By thest sea, and ther thei did remain To the winter then of snowe full depe, That thei were slain, for whom y^e folke sore [dyd.] wepe:

¶ The nynth yere was then of the kyng Henry, In Feueryer afore the fastyngange [Lentyn songe.] , Of Christ his date a thousand certainly, Foure hundred and [als and.] eight counted emong, At Bramham more with speres sharp and long; In Yorkshire so the Rokeby with theim mette, Shrief of the shire, with power [that he] [he had.] gette.

The. CC.vi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng his soonne of Scotlād & heire, Iames, was taken on the sea, and brought vnto the kyng, and then dyed Owayn and the kyng of Scotland.

THe same yere also [als.] y^e prince thē of Scotlād, Vpon the sea sailyng then in to Fraunce, Was taken & brought to y^e kyng of Englād, Eleuen yere old was he then by remembraūce, Whom the kyng then putte in gouernaunce, For like a prince as to a kyng appent In all honour as was conuenient.

¶ The tenth yere then of the kyng his date, The kyng of Scotland and Owayn of Glendor His soonne also, the world forsoke [then] algate, And dyed awaye, of theim then was no more; The prince of Scotland then was kyng therfore, And Wales all became the kyng his menne, In rest and peace without rebellion then.

¶ In that same yere Gilbert Vmfreuile Lord was then of Riddisdale in [and of.] Keyme, That passid not seuentene yere that while, And ward was to the kyng that tyme, [But seuentene yere of age was that tyme;] [Of goodely porte full gentill to theym hym byme.] At Arrays then [so than.] faught full worthely, With George Turnuile [Trumvile.] in lyestes syngulerly, [Fol. CC.iiii.]

¶ With axe and sworde, and dagger vpon foote, Twenty strokes with euery wepen smyten, Vndeparted without any mote, And on the morowe there [on horses there.] they syten, Twenty coursses with speres together hitten; A [Oone.] quarter bare vnarmed and vnarayed, Saue there [serkes slewe] [sherte sleve.] with speres vnasayed.

The. CC.vii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Robert Vmfreuile went into Scotlande, and lay in the Scottishe sea. xiiii. dayes, and euery daye faught with y^e Scottes, some daye on the northsyde, and some daye on the southsyde, and gatte. xiiii. greate shippes, & brent there galiot with ordinaunce and sore battayll in the Scottishe sea afore Edynburghe, and at the Blakenesse.

THe yere eleuenth of this same kyng Henry, Syr Robert Vmfreuile toke the see With. x. sayles to kepe it notably, When trewce was taken in specialtee Betwene Scotlande and vs in certentee, To the Scottishe sea both by sea and lande, And to Monshole [Mousehole.] on our syde I vnderstande.

¶ In the Scottishe sea with his shippes he laye, Where. xiiii. shippes he toke with his manhede,

And faught full sore at full sea euery daye, Sometyme vpon the northside so in dede, And some tyme on the southsyde out of drede, With the duke of Albany and [and theym.] of Fyffe, [And his proude Scottes y^t faught then full ryffe:] [And some tyme on the South side als full rife.]

¶ With therle of Douglas and theim of Lothiā, And brought his fiers brennyng vpon the sea In botes and cogges [cockes.] ordened by theim than [one.] , With other botes with mē of armes in propertee, And archers good well pauyshed in specialitee, That brent theyr shippes and theyr galiot, A shyppe of auantage was then God wote.

¶ When he had ben there. xiiii. dayes to thende, With his prises he came to [into.] Englande, Full of cloth, wollen, & lynnen that [the.] land to amend, Pytche and tarre both [ynough hoth.] , for fre and bonde, [For to amende the shepes of our lande:] [And merchaundyse gotyn with stronge honde.] Floure and mele of whete and rye he solde, The market he so mended manyfolde:

¶ And wood he had, and other marchaundise, Woll, and hide, and yron great quantitee, Woll skynnes, cloth of golde, and spyceries, Iewelles in chestes, and stones of precioustee, [And other marchauntes in specioustee], [Of dyvers thynges he ther gote grete plente.] And prisoners also, and mykell [right muche.] flaxe, Wynes swete, and mykell poleyn waxe.

The. CC.viii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe syr Robert Vmfreuile brent Pebles on there market daye, and made his men to mete their clothe with speres & bowes, and after the Scottes called hym Robyne Mendmarket; and his neuewe brente Ied-worth and Teuidale sone after.

AT Pebles long afore that tyme. iiii. yere, He brent the toune vpon their market daye, And met theyr cloth w^t speres & bowes sere [there.] ,

By his biddyng without any naye; [Fol. CC.v.] Wherfore the Scottes, from thence forthward ay, Called hym Robyn Mendmarket in certayn, [Robyn Mēdmarket.] For his measures were so large and playn.

¶ His neuewe Gilbert and he the. xi. yere Of kyng Henry, vpon the water of Calme [Calne.] than, And also [als.] on Roule and Iedworth forest clere, Forrayed full sore with many a manly man, His banner first there was displayed then [whan.] , [When] he was clerely but. xiiii [eightene.] . yere no more, When his vncle [had battled hym so sore.] [anoyseld hade hym thore.]

The. CC.ix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the prince Henry of Wales sent power to the duke of Burgoyn to helpe hym, the two Vmfreuiles, syr Iohn Graye, with other; where Vmfreuile, with the Englyshemen, helde the felde, for he would not kyll the prysoners, as the duke of Burgoyn had ordeyned.

THe prince Henry to duke Philip then sent, That of Burgoyn was so both syr [sire.] & lorde, Syr Gilbert Vmfreuile & his vncle, veramēt, His cousyn also [als.] , syr Ihō Gray, as mē recorde, [With many other worthy, with speare & sweorde,] Willyam Porter, agayn the duke of Orleaunce, And his Armynakes with men of great defence.

¶ At Seyncle [Seyntolo.] then again [y^e] duke of Orleaūce, And the duke of Burbon by all a daye, Thenglyshe faught with great [full grete.] sufficience, And wanne the brydge, with battayll bet awaye Tharmynakes, with many sore affraye; Where Vmfreuile proclaymed was erle of Kyme, Cheiften was of all Englyshe that tyme.

¶ At Durdan also [als.] and at Etham agayn They faught all newe, where then they had y^e feld, And prisoners many they did opteyne; [The which] [Whome.] the duke of Burgoyn wold haue weld,

[Because to hym they were so vnbelde,] Theim to haue slayn, he cōmaund[ed then] eche capitayn His prisoners to kyll then in certeyn.

¶ To whiche Gilbert Vmfreuile, erle of Kyme, Aunswered for all his felowes and there men, They shuld all die together at a [oone.] tyme, Or theyr prisoners so shulde be slayn then; And with that toke the felde as folke did ken, With all theyr men and all [als.] theyr prisoners, To die with theim as worship it requyers:

¶ He said they wer not come thyther as bouchers, To kyll the folke in market or in feire, Ne theim to sell, but as armes requiers Theim to gouerne without any dispeyre, As prysoners owe home agayn repeire [to repeire.] [For fyne] [Fynaunce.] paying as lawe of armes wyll, And not on stockes nor in market theim to sell [kill.] :

¶ With whō syr Iohn Graye as his cousyn dere, And all Englyshe with many other of Fraunce, With their prysoners full familier, Batayled in felde with full strong ordinaunce, More like to fight then to make obeysaunce; And helde therle of Kyme for theyr cheiftayn, To lyue and dye vnder his baner certayne. [Fol. CC.vi.]

¶ The duke Philyppe full of sapyence [sapience sure. edit. alt.] , Sawe his manhode and [his knightly] [knightly high.] courage, Lothe was to lese his noble aduenture [aduertence.] , By treaty and by other tender message, Of prisoners graunt them [to] do auauntage, And hym withhelde with all his feloship, As earle of Kyme proclaymed of great worshyp.

¶ Then after sone oure Englishemen anone Came home agayne w^t great and hye [huge.] rewarde, Whome then the duke by letter cōmende alone, In writyng specifyed with herte inwarde

Vnto the prynce that sent them to hymwarde, And thanked them [hym.] greatly of his [theire manly.] seruyce, In his warres shewed agayne his enemies.

¶ The king discharged y^e prince fro his coūsayle, And set my lorde syr Thomas in his stede, Chief of counsayle for the kynges more auayle; For whiche the prynce of wrath [and wilfull hede] Agayne hym made debate and [of.] frowardhede, With whom the kyng toke parte, & helde the felde, To tyme the prince vnto the king him yelde.

¶ The king then made his sōne duke of Clarēce My lorde Thomas, and sent hym into Fraūce, To helpe the duke Lewys of Orlyaunce [Orlye.] Agayne the duke of Burgoyne at instaunce Of my lorde Thomas againe y^e prince suraunce; Whiche was the [great.] cause also [als.] of theyr heuynesse, So to refuse duke Philyppes loue causeles.

¶ But then the duke of Clarence with power Came to the duke Lowes of Orlyaunce, Kīg Charles brother, who made hym noble chere, And hym receyued with full hye reuerence; They two warryed with mighty suffycience Vpon the duke of Burgoyne, and hym outrayed, That he went into Burgoyne all formayed.

¶ Then rode the duke of Clarence into Guien, Through Fraunce, with hoste then full royall, And kepte that lande w^t helpe of duke Lewis thē: In whiche meane while kyng Henry gan fall In great syknesse that his strength did pall, With contryte herte and humble yelden chere, He sayde, O Lorde, thy mercy I requyre.

The. CC.x. Chapiter.

¶ The wordes that the kynge sayde at hys deathe of hyghe complaynt, but nought of repentaūce of vsurpement of the realme, ne of the restorement of ryght heyres to the crowne.

"O Lorde, he sayde, O God omnipotent, Nowe se I well thy godhede loueth me, That suffred neuer my foes to haue theyr entent Of myne persone in myne aduersite, Ne in myne sycknesse, [ne in myne] [nor.] infyrmyte; But ay haste kepte it fro theyr maleuolence, And chastysed me by thy beneuolence.

¶ Lorde I thanke the with all my herte, With all my soule and my spirytes clere, This wormes mete, this caryon full [foule.] vnquerte, [Fol. CC.vii.] That some tyme thought in worlde it had no pere, This face so foule that leprous doth apere, That here afore I haue had suche a pryde To purtraye ofte in many place full wyde:

¶ Of which ryght nowe y^e porest of this lande, Except only of theyr benignyte, Wolde loth to looke vpon I vnderstande, Of whiche, good Lorde, that thou so visyte me, A thousande tymes the Lorde in Trinyte, With all my herte I thanke the, and cōmende Into thyne handes my soule withouten ende."

¶ And dyed so in fayth and hole creaunce, At Cauntorbury buryed with greate reuerence, As a kyng shulde be w^t all kynde of circumstaūce, According vnto [with.] his hye magnifycence, Besyde the prynce Edward, with great expence, Of Christ was then a. M. yere full oute, Four hundreth eke and thirtene oute of doubte.

¶ O very God, what torment had this kyng, [The conceyte of the maker.] To remember in bryef and shorte entent, Some in his sherte put ofte tyme venemyng, And some in meate and drinke great poysonment; Some in his hose by great ymagenement, Some in bedstraw yrōs sharpe groūd [wel] & whet, Enuenemed sore to slee him [if he had] on them set.

¶ Some made for hym diuers enchauntmentes, To waste hym oute and vtterly destroye,

And some gaue hym batayle full felonement In felde within his realme hym for to noye; And on them selfes the hurte and all [the] anoye, Ay fell at ende that honged were and heded [hede.] As traytours ought to bene in euery stede.

¶ This kyng dyed of his reygne in the yere Fourtene, [accompted of] [accounte in.] Marche y^e. xix. daye, The Sondaye was then by [by the.] kalendre; Of whome the realme great ioye at first had ay, But afterwarde they loued not his araye: At his begynnyng full hye he was cōmende With cōmons then, & also [as.] lytell at the ende.

The. CC.xi. Chapiter.

¶ Henry the fyfth, kyng of Englande and of Fraunce, began to reygne the twenty daye of Marche y^t was saynte Cuthbertes daye, and was crowned the ninth daye of Apryl, the yere of Christe a thousande foure hundreth twenty & two [M.CCCC.xiij.] , after he had reigned. ix. yere and an halfe; and in the houre that he was crowned and anointed he was chaunged from all vyces vnto vertuous lyfe, and lycensed the folke to offer vnto Richarde Scrop, and buryed kyng Rychard at Westmynster, and graunted to Henry Percy his landes.

HEnry his sōne, [y^t] prynce of Wales was thā, On saynt Cuthbertes day in Marche folowynge, Kyng was, so as I remember canne: On Passyon Sondaye after was this kyng Anoynted and crowned without taryeng, The ninth daye it [than t] was of Apryll so With stormes fell and haylestones greate also.

¶ In his fyrste yere the lorde Cobham heretike, Confedered with Lollers insapient [insipient.] , [Fol. CC.viii.] [Lorde Cobham.] Agayne the churche arose, and was full lyke It to haue destroyed by theyr entendment, Had not the kyng then made suppowelment, And put hym fro the felde by good direccyon, That sembled were by greate insurreccyon.

¶ Then fled the lorde Cobham herrorious [erronyouse.] To Wales so with Lollers many one, Musyng in his opinyon venemous, Howe that he myght destroye the churche anone; But God that syt in heuen aboue alone, Knowyng his herte naked of all good entent, Let hym be take to haue his iudgement:

¶ And put he was to prisone in the towre, Of whiche he dyd escape awaye by nyght, And take was agayne within an houre, And after sone dampned by lawe and ryght For heresye by [the clergy in] [by all the clergy.] syght, And brent he was to ashes deed and pale, Through cursed lyfe thus came [he in greate bale.] [into.]

¶ The houre [he was crowned] [this kynge crowned wase and anoynt.] and anoynt, He chaunged was of all his olde condicyon, Full vertuous he was [wexe.] fro poynt to poynt, Grounded all newe in good opinyon, For [Fer.] passyngly without comparyson, Then set vpon all ryght and conscyence A newe man made by [in.] all good regimence.

¶ He gaue leue then of good deuocyon All men to offer to byshop Scrop expresse, Without lettynge or any questyon. He graunted also [als.] , of his hye worthynesse, To laye the kyng Rycharde and [with.] Anne doutlesse His wyfe that was, at Westmynster buryed [than buried.] , As kyng Richard hym selfe had sygnifyed.

¶ And fro the freres of Langley where he laye, He caryed hym to Westmynster anone, And buryed hym of royall greate araye With the quene Anne in tombe of marbel stone, Full royally arayed as royals [by them sone;] [be them oone.] And to Henry Percy [he graūted] [graunte his.] his landes clere, That to the duke of Bedforde then geuen were.

¶ My lorde [of] Clarence, fro Guyā home agayne Came to the kyng, with ioye & greate pleasaunce, The seconde yere of whome the kyng was fayne, At Leycester then, as made is remembraunce, In his parlyament without [withoutyn.] varyaunce, His brother Iohn duke of Bedforde create [he create.] , His brother Vmfrey duke of Gloucester of estate.

¶ Thomas Beauford, y^t was earle of Dorcet, He made duke then of Excester that whyle; He gaue in charge that tyme withouten let Vnto syr Robert there Vmfreuyle, [By his wysdome and manhode that whyle] To treate with the Scottes to get Henry Percy, Layde in hostage by his grauntsirez foly.

The. CC.xii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe sir Robert Vmfreuile faught at Geteryng the third yere with the [Fol. CC.ix.] Scottes, that had but seuen score speres and three hundreth bowes, on Madelyn day, and discomfited of theim. iiii. M. menne, & made chase twelfe mile on theim in to their owne land, and went with the kyng to Harflite to the siege, with whom I went thether.

THen was it warre betwene vs & Scotland, That sir Robert Vmfreuile might it spede, But at Geteryng [Greterig.] w^t Scottes hād for hād He faught on fote on Maudelyn daye in deede, Wher eightene score Scottes were take I rede, Three score slain, a thousand putte to flight, With four. C. mēne discōfited [discomfite.] theim fourth right.

¶ Twelfe mile thē he made [on theim] [vpon theym than.] great chase In to their land, and home he came again To his castell of Rokesburgh in that case, Whiche he had then in kepyng soth to sain, [Of his greate labour in harte beyng full fain,] With prisoners many one hurte full sore, Hym self and his, that then had wounded thore.

¶ At Lammasse next, the kyng then as he laye At Southampton, therle of Cambridge toke, The lord Scrop also, and eke sir Thomas Graye, And hedded theim, the cause was who so looke [Emong theim selfes, for thei this counsaill toke,] And [For they.] purposed therle of Marche to croune Kyng of England by their prouision.

The. CC.xiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng wēt in to Normādy and sieged Hareflete, and gate it with greate peyn and losse of menne; but who maye cast of rennyng hoūdis and many racches, but he must lese some of theim.

THe kyng held furth by sea to Normandy, With all his hoste at Kydcans [Kakance.] landed thē, And laied a siege to Hareflete myghtely, On euery side by land and water wanne, With bulwerkes stoute and bastell he began, In whiche he putte therle of Huntyngton, Therle of Kent also of greate [highe.] renoune.

¶ Whiche erles twoo, w^t other to theim assigned Cornwaile and Gray, Steward also [als.] , and Porter, Full greate assautes made eche daye & repugned, Whiles at last thei bette the towne toures their, And what the kyng with fagottes that there were; And his connyng [connynges.] werching vnder the wall, With his gūnes castyng thei made y^e toure to fall:

¶ And their bulwerke brent with shot of wildfyre, At whiche place then therles [tho erles.] twoo vp sette Their baners bothe without [withoutyn.] any hyre; The kyng ther with his gonnes the walles bette, The duke did so of Clarence without lette, On the ferreside, wher as he then laye, Therle Mountague did well ther alwaye.

¶ The lord Gawcort, that thē was [their capitain] [the chieftayn.] Of Hareflete, tho with other of the toune,

Offred then the toune to [unto.] the kyng full fain, And he with other [to] stand at the kynges direcciō: Then made he there his vncle of greate renoune, Capitain of it, duke of Excester than, [Fol. CC.x.] And homeward went through Fraunce like [full like.] a mā.

The. CC.xiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng came homewarde through Normādy and Picardie, and smote the battaill of Agyncort, wher I was with my maister.

AN hundred mile to Calais had he then At Agyncourt, so homeward in his waye The nobles [roials.] there of Fraūce afore him wē [wan̄.] , Proudly battailled w^t an hūdred thousād in araie, He sawe he must nedes with theim make afraye; He sette on theim, and with theim faught full sore, With nyne thousand, no more [mo were.] with hym thore.

¶ The feld he had and held it all that night, But then came woorde of [hoste and] [newe hooste of.] enemies, For whiche thei slewe all prisoners doune right, Sauf dukes and erles in fell and cruell wise; And then the prees of enimies did supprise Their owne people, y^t mo were dede through pres, Then our menne might haue slain y^t tyme no lese.

¶ On our side was the duke of Yorke ther [than.] slain, Therle also of Suffolke worshipfully [worshiply.] , And knightes twoo with other then soth [the sooth.] to sain, And at the siege therle of Suffolke sothely, The father dyed of the flixe contynually; But mikell folke at that siege yet dyed, Of frute and flixe and colde were mortified.

¶ On y^e Frēch partie y^e dukes of Barre & Lorein, And of Alaunson in battaill ther were dedde, And take [taken.] were of Christeans [chiefteyns.] in certain, The duke Lewes of Orliaunce their hedde, The duke of Burbone [in that] [withyn that same.] stede,

The[rle of] Vendom, and [als.] Arthure also of Brytain, And sir Bursigalde marshall of Fraunce certain.

¶ And therle of Ewe was take[n] ther also, Fyue barons also [als.] that were at their baner, And fiftene hundred knightes and squyers mo Were slain that daye in full knightely maner, With woundes so as then did apere, As werres would vpon Chrispyn daye, And Chrispynian that sainctes in blisse been aye.

The. CC.xv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe themperour and the duke of Holand came to the kyng, the coūte Palatine, the duke of Melayn, the marquys Farrar [Ferrar. edit. alt.] , the lorde Mantowe, and the marques Mount Ferrete, the lorde Moūt Palestrine came with themperour the same tyme, and the duke Bauers and Embeir, and the prince of Orenge also.

ANd in the yere of Christ a thousand clere, Foure hundred also [als.] & therwithall fiftene, When this battaill was smiten as dooth apere, In the third yere of his reigne as was seen, To Caleice so he came and home bee dene, With themperour of Roome, sir Sigemond, Vnto hym came then in to England ground,

¶ With a thousand mēne y^t were full clene araied, [Fol. CC.xi.] The duke of Melayn, the counte Palatyne, The marques Ferrer, y^e lord Mantowe wel apayed, The coūte Carmeler [Carmelio.] , the counte Palestryne, With many lordes of the water of the Ryne, And of the Garter was made the secondarye, And in it stalled, for he would not varye.

¶ The duke of Holand then by sea came With. lx. shippes in Thamis that did aryue, And to the kyng he went vnto lambe, To themperoure after he went belyue, As chronycles then did [it did.] discryue: Then was he made knight of the Garter At his desyre, as sayth the chronicler.

The. CC.xvi. Chapiter.

¶ Of the battayle of Sayne, & of the carykes there taken in the sea afore the mouth of Sayne.

THe kyng sent then y^e duke vnto the sea Of Bedforde, y^t [than.] with four hūdreth sayles To vitayl Hareflete [w^t] therle of Marche no lee, Therle marshall without [withoutyn.] any fayles With therles, armed in plate and mayles, Of Oxenforde, Warrewike, and Huntyngdon, Of Salisbury, Deuonshire, & many [a] baron;

¶ Of Arondell also, these erles all Were in that flote, [vn]to the noumbre of men Twenty thousande Herouldes did theim call; On our Lady daye thassumpcion then [All these lordes with many worthy men,] The fyfth yere of the kynge was then expresse, Whē there enemies theim met at Sayn doutelesse.

¶ They faught ful sore afore the water of Sayn. With carrikes many well stuffed and arayed, And many other shippes great of Hispayne, Barges, balyngers, and galeys vnfrayed [vnaffraied.] , Whiche proudly came vpō our shippes vnprayed; [And by theuen] [be the euyn.] there sayles aualed were set, The[yr] enemyes slayn in battayll, and sore bet.

¶ And many dryent were that daye in the sea, That as our flete rode there then [than stille.] alwaye, Vnto the feast nexte of his [hir.] Natiuitee, The bodies flete amonge our shippes echedaye, Full piteous was, and [and foule.] to see theim ay, That thousādes were. xx. as they then [gan.] tolde, That taken were in that same batayll bolde.

¶ In which meane while, whiles [as.] our ships there laye, It was so [suche.] calme without [withoutyn.] any wynde, We [They.] might not sayle ne fro thens passe awaye,

Wherfore theyr galeys eche day there gā vs [to.] fynd, With ores many about vs dyd they wynde, With wildfyre oft assayled vs [them.] daye and night, To brēne our shippes in that they could or might.

¶ The flete came home [than at] [that.] our Lady day, Frō Sayn, whiche tyme y^e kyng then had cōueied Themperoure then to Caleys on his waye, And home agayn was come right well apayed, Of the welfare of that [worthy] flete assayed [well assaied.] , So well in armes vnto his hie pleasaunce, Vpon his foes, & kepte theim selfe by gouernaūce. [Fol. CC.xii.]

The. CC.xvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng wēt into Fraūce, in the. v. yere of his reigne, the seconde time, and landed at Towke in Constantyne in Normandy.

THe king thē in his. v. yere wēt into Fraūce, And landed at Towke, and gatte the castell than, And so came [to Cane.] with all his ordinaunce, And layde his siege aboute with many a man, Whiche by processe at the last he [so he.] wan; Whiche to Vmfreuile, [that] thē was erle of Kyme, He gaue to kepe for great manhode that tyme.

¶ Bayons, Falace, Cees, and Argenton, Doumfront, Mortyne, and Iuory also, Musterdeuilers, Euerons [Eueros.] , and Alaunson, Caldebeke, and Depe, Arkes, Vnycort tho, With other townes [and castels many] [namyd.] mo, Gurnaye, Newcastell, Gysours, Estoutuile, Roan, Louers, and also Vmfreuile,

¶ Pountlarge, Pountoyes, & also Pount Dorsō, Maunte, Vire Balom, and also Aueraunce, Castell Galiard, with many other toune, Bolham [Belham.] in Perche, saynt Ioilian [Julian.] in Maunce, Merteyn [Mortayne.] in Perche, Chirbroke [Chirbourgh.] and eke Cōstaūce, Vernell in Perche, Seintlowe, and Alauayle, Vernon on Sayn, without any battayle.

¶ All Normandy he gate within two yere, And after then he trauayled in [sore in.] Fraunce, For mariage and conuencion clere, Betwene kyng Charles and hym at instaunce Of duke Philip of Burgoyn of aliaunce; In whiche tyme so they were by appoyntment Accorded well, and clerely condiscent,

¶ That then he wed his doughter Katheryne, And proclaymed was then of Fraunce regent, And heritour of Fraunce by ryght lyne [of lyne.] , Of his owne right fro kyng Edwardes [Edwarde.] discent, And Normandy and Guyan as appent Remayn should to hym and to his heyres, Kynges of Englande euermore, and to theyrs.

¶ Then layde he siege to Melon [Melayne.] anone right, Aboue Paris. xv. legges vpon Sayn, Whiche by processe and laboure of his might, And full sore siege full long with [and.] passyng payne, He had at laste, of whiche he was full fayn, And toke it to Vmfreuile erle of Kyme, To haue for euer ay forwardes fro that tyme.

¶ Sauncer [Saunce.] in Burgoyn then gate he mightely, And Motreux also [als.] where the duke was buried Of Burgoyn then, whom he toke vp in hie, And at Dugyon [Dungyon. edit. alt.] , as it is notified, Hym buried so in Burgoyn vndenyed, With high honour and great solempnitee, As to suche a prince of reason ought to bee:

¶ And Motreux toke he then to syr Iohn Gray, That then was made erle of Tanōiruile [Taunkervile.] , A manly knight in armes proued [approued.] aye, And lorde Powes was by his wyfe that whyle, [Fol. CC.xiii.] And emes [vncle.] sonne vnto therle Vmfreuile; Two better knightes I trowe there were not thā, Of theyr estate sith tyme that they began.

¶ At siege of Meloyn [Melayne.] and [of] all other citees After folowyng the kyng of Scotland lay The prince of Orenge withouten lees, The duke Embarre [Eubavie.] his sonne and heire alway, That suster sonne then was full freshe and gay, To kyng Henry at [but at.] Meloyn [full] well arayed. The kyng of Fraūce, with banner hole displayed,

¶ The siege helde fro Midsomer to Christmasse, When kyng Henry at his palayce royall Of Turneis fayre, besyde the bastell pereles Of saynt Antonye, helde [his hole] [Nowell.] imperiall, Where then he feasted [feaste.] these kynges & princes all, Where then therles of Suffolke and of Kyme, With ten men, helde the iustes by all that tyme.

¶ But whyles the kyng Henry was so in Fraūce, The duke Robert, that was of Albany, Layd about [siege about.] Barwike of great puissaunce; Sixty thousande of Scottes cruelly [that cruelly.] Assayled the towne echedaye by and by: The capitayn was syr Robert Vmfreuyle, A knight of the Garter had ben long whyle.

The. CC.xviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the duke of Albany besieged Barwike, and therle Douglas Rokesburgh in herueste, in the seuenth yere of the kyng; and howe Henry Percy erle of Northumberland, rescowed Barwike and Rokesburgh with. vii. score. M. mē; for trust it true there is no lorde in Englande that may defende you agayn Scotlande so well as he, for they haue the hertes of the people by North, and euer had: and doute it not, the North parte bee your trewe legemen.

THey shot their gonnes, and with their ladders scaled, But nought auailed, thei wer so wel of bet, When they our hoste sawe anone they vnscaled [it unscaled.] , [That stale] [They stolle.] awaye by night without [withoutyn.] let, For feare our hoste vpon theim shulde set [haue set.] , At Baremore then with. vii. score thousande men, For which the Scottes fled fro y^e duke home then

¶ Vpon the night, and let hym there alone With his owne men and no mo of weike power: Yet rode he to Norham nere theim anone, And brent the towne, our hoste and he then wer But two myle of and durst not come no nere: Wherfore he rode home then into Scotlande, Our hoste [more sone] [soner turned.] retourned to England.

¶ Then syr Robert Vmfreuile with [the] garyson Of Barwike with his countremen, Folowed after the Scottes with his penoun, On the hynde[r] ryders, and many of theim then He toke homewarde, and slewe squyers ten Within Scotlande, besyde Cherneside towne, And to Berwike came with his garyson.

¶ Therle Douglas then hight [syr] Archebalde, Whiche his one eye had lost at Hamyldon [Homyldon.] , That semed hym well ay after manyfolde, At Shrowysbury for his correccyon [Fol. CC.xiiii.] He loste one of his stones for his raunson; His [At.] syege then lefte at Rokesburgh where he laye, And with the duke of Albany rode awaye.

¶ The earles two of Douglas and Dunbarre For trewce sent to Roberte Vmfreuyle, Wardeine of the Este marche full wyse and warre, He wolde none take with them [then] for no while, Syth they the trewce had broken and did fyle, He shuld [wolde.] them holde the [pleyn.] warre to they were faine To seke peace [their peas.] then at the kyng agayne.

¶ The kyng was then in Fraunce hole regent, And Parys had and all the lande aboute, Troies in Champaine, & Mews in Bry had hent, With all citees, townes, and castelles stoute, In all that lande and countree there throughout; Of Mewis he made sir Iohn Graye capitayne [than capeteyne.] That was lorde Powes by [••o be.] his wyfe certayne.

¶ That tyme syr Raufe Crōwel [Cromewell.] was gouernour Of kyng Charles and [and of.] Isabell the quene, By kyng Henry ordeyned theyr protectoure, Who kept them at Boys Vincent as was sene, In royall wyse as to them dyd parteigne; The kyng [busy that tyme] [that tyme wase besy.] in his conqueste, For to set rule in Fraunce [coulde haue no reste.] [so to haue reste.]

¶ In this meane whyle sir Robert Vmfreuyle, Wardeine of the March, thought then [full] great shame The king in Fraūce doing so well y^t while, He made the warre on Scottes to haue a name. Two yere complete he wrought thē mekell [grete.] shame; Thest marche hole of [and.] Scotlande then he brent, And market townes echeone or that he stente.

¶ Howyk, Selkirke, Iedworth, & all [als.] Dunbarre, Laudre also [als.] , with all Laudre dale, The forestes also [als.] fro Berwyk that were farre, Of Eteryke, Iedworth, and eke all Teuidale, [And all the villages in them both great & small,] [He stroied and brente, and boldely in bale.] And none helpe had but of his countre men, Of the bishopryke & of Northumberlande then.

[¶ In this mean time y^e Scottes had great paine; Wherfore therles of Douglas and Dunbarre To London came, and toke a trewce full fayne, As Vmfreuyle them hight afore the warre, That to the kyng they shulde it seke of farre, Of whiche he kept his hoste then full two yere, For with his warre he waste the marche full clere.]

The. CC.xix. Chapiter.

Howe the kynge and the quene came into Englande in the eyght yere of his reigne.

THe. viii. yere of his reygne, at Cādelmasse The kinge came home and brought with hym the quene, That [Whome.] he had wed at Troys in Chāpein doutlesse;

[Afore the lordes of Fraunce as then] [At whiche place so than as.] was wel sene, The duke of Clarence, as men well it mene, He made regent of Fraunce in his absence, To occupye ryght as his owne presence.

¶ The earle of Salisbury, the Mountague, He made gouernoure then of Normandaye; [Fol. CC.xx.] Therle of Kyme, a knyght of his full trewe, Marshall of Fraunce he made [full] openly; The [These.] lordes all he ordeyned there to lye, Hym to comforte, and to bene attendaunt To hym in all that myght hym be pleasaunt.

¶ [This prynce of princes in] [These pryncese of.] England thē abode To somer after, eche daye in busynesse, To ordeyne for his passage and his rode To Fraūce agayne, in which tyme then doutlesse I sawe two knightes afore hym then expresse, That none might them accorde [or treate to] [no treate of.] peace, Ne iustyce none of fyghting might them cease.

¶ The lordes then greatly counsayled the kyng To make them fynde suretye to kepe the peace, The kyng answered anon without tarying, I shalbe youre borowe nowe or I cease, For of this thyng I may not longe you prease; But what case fall that slaine is [be.] one of you, That other shall dye to God I make a vowe.

¶ They heryng this, anon they were accorde By frendes [that treated] y^t time betwene them two, And after that they were no more [at] discorde. This was a iustice of peace that could [do] so, His offyce kepte without borowes moo: For when he dyed, iustyce of peace bode none, But baratours theyr office kepte anone [

In this meane the Scottes hade grete peyne, Wherefore the erles of Douglas and Dunbarre To London come, and toke trewes full feyne, As Vmfreuile theym hight afore the werre, That to the kynge they shuld it seche of ferre, Of whiche he kepte his heeste than full two yere, For whiche werre his marche wase than full clere.

]

¶ And at the Easter [Pasch.] then in his xv [nynth.] . yere, The duke of Clarence thenemies had espyed, At Bangy [Baugy.] then for whiche his menne in fere He sembled [sembled faste.] and thyther faste he hyed, On Easter [Pasche.] euen he wolde not bene replyed, With whome were then therle of Huntyngdon, And Somerset [of Somersette.] the earle his wyues sonne.

The. CC.xx. Chapiter.

Howe on Easter euen the duke of Clarence smote y^e batell of Bawgy, in the yere of Christe a thousand. iiii. hundreth & twenty, and in the nynth yere of kyng Henry; for that yere the feaste of the Annuncyacyon of oure Lady fell on Ester Twysdaye, and the date chaunged after that batayle in the Easter weke.

ANd nere at [to.] Bawge came Gylberte Vmfreuyle, Marshal of Fraunce, w^t. v. horse & no mo, And of good wyt counsayled hym that whyle To kepe the churche and Goddes [Gode.] seruyce tho, And after the feaste to seke vpon his foo; And he aunswered hym, "yf thou be aferd, Go home thy waye and kepe the churche yerde.

¶ For thou haste bene with the kyng to longe To make me lese my worshyp and my name, Thou haste ay gote the worshyp euer [aie.] amonge, And I haue none, thus wolde thou lose my fame [name.] ;" With suche wordes chidyng he dyd hym blame, To whome [goo home.] he sayde, "yf that thou be afrayde, And kepe the churche as thou me nowe hast saide."

¶ With y^t he saide, "my lorde ye haue no menne With the enemyes thus hastely to fyght; Youre men wot not of this ne howe, ne whenne, [Fol. CC.xvi.] To semble to you of power ne of myght, For trewly nowe my cousen Graye nowe right And I haue here but ten men and no mo; But [yet] ye shall neuer saye we leaue you so."

¶ So rode they furth ay chidyng by the waye, Tyll they to Bawgy ouer the bridge were gone, Where the enemyes were batayled in araye, Where then they light & faught with them anon; The duke was slayne y^t day there w^t his foone, With hym were slayne then therle Vmfreuyle, And syr Iohn Graye the earle of Tankeruyle.

The lorde Roos, and syr Iohn Lumley [of Lumlay.] , With many other were with hym slayne y^t daye, Whose names I can not wryte nor saye: The earles two [too.] of Huntingdon no naye, Of Somerset also [als.] , were taken there I saye For prysoners, and put to greate raunson, And laye full longe in Fraunce then in pryson.

¶ Thenglishe power came when all was done, And rescowed then the deed men where they laye, And brought y^e lordes home fro thens [thē] ful sone That were [dede were.] there vpon the felde that daye, And buryed them in Englande in good araye, Echeone in his owne abbaye or colage Afore founded within his herytage.

¶ At Cauntorbury the duke was of Clarence, Besyde his father kynge Henry buryed, With suche honoure, costage, and expence, As the duches his wyfe [coulde haue] [than.] signifyed, Whiche neded not to bene modifyed; She was so well within her selfe auysed, Of greate sadnesse and womanhede preuised [preuided.] .

The. CC.xxi. Chapiter.

Howe the kyng wente agayne to Fraunce, & lefte the quene in Englande with chylde, and wanne dyuerse cytees, townes and castelles in somer, in the nyngth yere of his reigne.

THe kyng [then] let y^e quene in Englande byde, In somer then, the. ix. yere of his date, And into Fraunce agayne he went y^t tyde

With heuy harte, to Parys went algate, The castell of Perfount soone [than soone.] he gate, A royall place of all that men haue sene, The [greate cytee of Compyne also] [gretteste in compasse als.] I wene.

¶ The cytees also of Cassons, Bray, and Crayle, Of Owsare also [als.] , with many cytees moo, And to Parys agayne without [withouten.] fayle, In his castell of Lowre [Lovers.] abidynge tho; Tidynges then came to him full glad and mo, That of a prynce delyuered was the quene, Of whiche all men reioysed as was sene.

Saynt Dionis [Denyse.] then, and castell Boys Vynccent, Corbell, Pount Melanke [Melake.] , and full great parte of Fraunce, Burgoyne, Artoys, and Pycardy [to] hym sent To bene his men without contraryaunce, And eche cytee, to hym sworne in substaunce, Walled townes and castelles euery chone, As hye regent of Fraunce [by hym one.] [than be his oone.]

¶ Then rode he furth to Bawgy and Orleaunce, [Fol. CC.xvii.] Wynnyng the tounes and citees in his waye, And castelles all that were of greate defence, Crepy, Lawnesse, and Milly with greate affraye, Nongent le Roy [Nugent le Roy.] he gatte with greate araye, Pount Caranton [Charenton.] with many other obeyed To his highnesse, and were his menne conueghed.

¶ The duke of Brytain then was his manne, [For fee belaste] [For briefte.] without rebellion, The counte sainct Paule his manne was then, The duke of Burgoyn without suspicion, With many other his menne without collucion [abusioun.] , Were sworne thē whole, y^e [coūtrees in y^e] [citese in.] same wise, Castelles, and tounes, eke as he couth deuise.

¶ In August so of his reigne the tenth yere, He toke sickenes, and laye at Boy Vincent, In pain [paines.] strong, as then it did appere,

Full like to passe, wherfore in his entent, The duke of Bedford he made hie regent Of Fraunce, and of his other landes all Beyond the sea as chief in generall.

¶ And of his soonne Henry he made custode, Thomas Beauford, his vncle dere and trewe, Duke of Excester, full of all worthyhode, To tyme his soonne to perfecte age grewe [He to kepe hym, chaungyng for no newe,] With helpe of his other eme [uncle.] then full wise, The bishop of Wynchester of good aduise.

¶ Therle then of Salisbury manly, That Mountague [Mountacute.] then hight by surname, He sette to kepe then all Normandie Vnder the regent, as knight of full greate fame, With other lordes full sage and worthy of name, Therle of Ox[en]ford, and of Suffolke also, Of his counsaill to been with many mo.

The. CC.xxii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng dyed the last daye of August, the yere of Christ a thou∣sand foure hundred two and twenty, and of his reigne the tenth yere, for all his rightwisnes and iustice that he did he had no consciēce of vsurpement of the croune.

THe last daye of August then full clere, Of Christ his date a thousand signified, Foure hundred and twoo and twenty yere, When that this prince of princes so [also.] dyed, At Boys Vincent, with death then victoried [devou.] , That neuer prince in earth might thē haue dooen, But he alone that ruleth sonne and moonne:

¶ With whose bones the quene came to Englād, The kyng of Scottes Iames with hir also, The duke of Excester [Excetre.] , as I can vnderstand, Therle of Marche Edmond Mortimer tho,

Rychard Beauchampe then erle of Warwike, so, Humfrey then erle of Stafford, young of age, And erle Edmond of Morten [Morteyne.] , wise and sage.

¶ O good Lord God, that art omnipotent, Why streched not thy power and thy might, To kepe this prince, that sette was and consent With themperour, to [conuert Surrey] [conquere Cirry.] right, [Fol. CC.xviii.] And with Christen inhabite, it had hight, Why fauoured so thyne high omnipotence Miscreaunce [Miscreauntes.] more then his beneuolence.

¶ Aboue all thyng he keped [kepte.] the lawe and peace, Through all England, that none insurreccion Ne no riotes were then withouten lese, Nor neighbour werre in faute of correccion; But peasebly vnder his proteccion, Compleyntes all, of wronges [wronge.] in generall, Refourmed were well vnder his yerd egall.

The. CC.xxiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe through the lawe and peace conserued was the encrease of his conquest, and els had he been of no power to haue conquered in out landes.

WHen he in Fraunce was dayly cōuersaunt, His shadowe so obumbred all England, That peace and lawe kept [were kepte.] continuaunt In his absence throughout all [in all.] this land, And els, as I [can seyne] [conceyve.] and vnderstand, His power had been lite [litell.] to conquere Fraunce, Nor other realmes [reame.] that well were lesse perchaūce.

¶ The peace at home, and lawe so well conserued, Were croppe and rote of all his hie conquest, Through whiche y^e loue of God he well deserued, And of his people, by North, South, Est, & West,

Who might haue slain y^t prince, or downe [doone.] him kest, That stode so sure in rightfull gouernaunce For common weale, to God his hie plesaunce [

Here the Harleian MS. has the following prose Additions; which also occur at the end of the Selden MS. Serenissimus Princeps Henricus Rex Anglie & France, quintus post conquestum Anglie, die Mercurii, septimo die Augusti, anno Regni su. tercio, a castro suo Porchestre, in una navicula ad mare discendit, ascendens suam navim vocatam le Trynyte, super mare, inter Portesmouth et portum de Southampton, erigens veli virgam in medium mali ut simul promptitudinem velandi ostenderet, ut signum daret navigio spe so per loca maritima ad eum quo cicius poterant festinandi.

Et cum sequenti die Dominica omnes simul convenissent, vento amicabiliter flante, exposuit vela ventis, circiter in mille quingentis navibus; et proximo die Martis, circa horam quintam, post nonam, intravit ostium fluminis de Sayne, ubi finxit anchoras corans villula de Kittecaus, per tria milliaria a villa de Harflete, uoi proposuit terram ascendere.

Et cum die Mercurii proximo sequenti, in vigilia Assumpciouis beate Marie, sol monstrasset pulcram auroram, inter horam sextam et septimam, premisit Iohanuem Holande comitem Huntyngdon, Gilbertum Vmfrevile nominatum comitem de Kyme, Iohannem Cornewaile, Iohannem Gray, Willielmum Porter, Iohannem Stewarde, cum aliis equitibus precursoribus ad explorandum patriam si aliqua hostiliter esset prope villam de Harflete et situm pro requiescione Regis et exercitus sui.

Et cum Rex cognovisset per relacionem predictorum nobilium quod ascensus stetit clare de inimicis in naviculis et . . . terre se appulit et cepit montem proximum versus Harflete inter quendam silvam non de grossis arboribus sed ceduam in declivo vallis versus aquam de Sayne ex una parte, et diversas villulas, pomeria, et clausuras, ex altera parte, quousque totus exercitus, equi et evecciones, ac alie necessarie fuissent de navibus ad terram asportata.

Mons vero et locus ascencionis Regis et exercitus sui erat valde petrosus pro defencione inimicorum, tam saxorum grandium quam minorum lapillorum ad jactum, si Regis ascensui resistere volutssent. Et in primo ascensu Regis, aute se, fiebant magne fosse, profunde, plene aqua, ac muri magni terrei grandis spissitudinis cum turribus armati et propugnaculis, ad modum castri: et inter unamquamque turran et propugnaculum terra dimittebatur integra non fossata ad altitudinem unius cubiti per unius hominis introitu & exitu. Et introitus et exitus predictus cum muris, fossatis, & turribus duravit, a rupibus maris usque ad mariscum versus Harflete per dimidium miliare, quam providerat Gallicana industria. Sed ex eorum vecordia seu pigricia omnino indefensatus erat. Et mariscus predictus tam structus fuit, cum per fovcas aqua plenas, cum per vias obstupatas, quod durum fuit intrare mariscum.

Et cum die Sabbati sequente proxima omnia evecta que itineri erant necessaria de navibus erant asportata, Rex removit se cum exercitu suo monstrando se coram villam de Harflete super litus montis, et ex deliberatione et consilio prehabito misit fratrem suum ducem Clarencie cum competenti parte exercitus sui pro obsidione ponenda ex altera parte ville. Et die Dominica sequente idem dux Clarencie monstravit se ex altera parte ville, cujus via et transitus erat in circuitu circa novem miliaria sole illius diei seronante pulcram auroram.

Et die Lune sequente Rex ordinavit obsidionem ex parte maris per navigium et ex parte vailis in qua villa de Harflete stat, et ex parte dulcis fluminis currentis ad villam in batellis, per servientes suos proprios, et posuit machinas cavellas suas cum porcellis, clapers cum cuniculis, domos cum plovers, et alia abilimenta guerre prope villam bene munitas cum municionibus et tutamentis que Rex fieri fecit ex opere lignario et ferrario ex altis tabellis et spissis ante quamlibet portam ville pro custodia et salvacione dictarum ordinacionum & municionum, ne lederentur ab hostibus.

Eciam Rex fecit fieri fossas ex utraque parte municionum et tutamentorum predictorum altas supra terram cum fasc culis et terra edificatas in modum murorum cum fossatis pro salvacione ordinacionum hominum suorum in eisdem vigilancium et custodiencium dietas ordinaciones tam per diem quam per noetem. Et interim predicti vigilantes effoderunt continue, die ac nocte, terram, lucrantes versus bastellum ville quousque tandem venerunt in oppositum ejus, prope latus ad latus, et tune Rex cum suis cavellis et machinis sic verberavit bastellum ville quod exarmatum fuit et diruptum infra paucos dies, quainvis hostes essent bene de ligneis facuiis, calce viva, aqua bulliente, ollis terreis plenis pulveribus adustivis sulphuris, ac de aliis vastbus plenis oleoruru et pinguium bulliencium et plumbi bullientis que jactaverunt super insultantes.

Eciam Rex parari fecit obpugnacionem per cuniculos in clapers, tam diebus quam noctibus, in viis subterraneis per sues, porceilos, & plovers, necnon per fasciculos ad implendum fossata, ac eciam per bastellos & fortalicios ligneos ad altitudinem murorum ville, ac per scalas, et alia instrumenta, et cum illis obpugnavit villam, ita quod cuniculi et porcelli recuperaverunt fossam exteriorem ville.

Alioque die succedente, non immediate, Galli irrumperunt de bastello super Comites Huntyngdon et de Kyme, Iohannem Cornewaile, Willielmum Boursier, Iohannem Gray, Willielmum Porter, et Iohannem Stewarde, nobiles milites qui cum gente sua Armigera & sagittaria eos obpugnaverunt et duro prelio devicerunt, occiderunt, et fugarunt in bastellum illud recuperandum ubi Penones et Vexilla sua super muros posuerunt.

Unde Rex absque dilacione proclamari fecit communem insultum per tetum exercitum, pre timore cnjus assultus dominus de Gaucourte, Capitaneus ville, cum assensu nobiliorum, ville quid pro timore de penis legis Deutronomii si villa recuperaretur ab eis resistentibus desperantes de re . . . . illa nocte inierunt de tractatum cum rege si obsidio non fuerit remota vi Francorum.

Et die Dominica proxima sequente xxij^o. die Septembris post nonam Rex Francie Dolphinus nec aliquis alius ad solvendum obsidionem se obtulit. Ascendebat Rex solium suum Regale, stratum sub uno Papilione, vestibus aureis & carpasitis in cardine montis coram villa, stipatus viris illustribus, proceribus, & nobilioribus, in multitudine & apparamentis culcioribus, tenta a dextris suis super uno hastili per Gilbertum Vmfrevile, comitem de Kyme, sua coronata galea triumphali. Venit de villa prefatus dominus de Gaucourte comitantibus eum xxxiiij^or. de nobilioribus ville, qui prius secum tractaverunt et se obligaverunt ad tractatum predictum, et Regi reddiderunt claves seipsosque simul & obcessos gracie sue; et tunc Rex fecit poni super portas ville vexilla sua et vexillum sancti Georgii, fecitque inde Capitaneum Thomam Beauforde comitem Dorset et in crastino intravit villam propria persona.

Et die Lune Rex misit haraldum, nomine Guyen̄, cum domino de Gaucourte, ad Dolphinum, ad intimandum sibi quod expectaret apud villam suam de Harflete adhuc per octo dies tunc sequentes, ab eo petens responsum infra illud tempus si vellet venire cum eo ad pacem, et dimitti sibi facere jus suum absque duricia vel effusione sanguinis multitudinis, inter seipsos, persona ad personam per duellum terminarent, et utriusque regis consilio; sed lapsis inde octo diebus sine responso, iter suum arripuit versus villam snam Calesie que distat abinde plus quam centum miliaria Anglicana, precipiens exercitui suo se in victualibus instaurare pro octo dietis.

Et die Martis, primo die Octobris, cum exercitu suo, non excedente nongentas lanceas et quinque milia sagittarios, removit de Harflete dimittendo villam de Mustrede Villers per dimidium miliare a dextris. In tribus bellis et aciebus constans, intrepidus, iter cepit, et sequenti die Veneris venit coram Castro & villa de Arkes super fluvio currente ad Depe, dimittens villam de Depe per tria miliaria a sinistris. Et die Sabbati venit per villam de Ewe, dimittens eam a sinistris per dimidium miliare. Et die Dominica venit prope villam de Abvile ubi non potuit transire aquam de Sowme propter pontes, calceta, & vias diruptas. Et die Lune iter suum cepit versus caput aque de Sowme dimittens civitatem Ambianensem a sinistris, per unam leucam. Et die Martis pertransivit lateraliter juxta aquam de Sowme versus caput aque de Sowme, & nullum transitum aut vadum ultra inveniri poterit. Et die Mercurii simili modo. Et die Iovis venit ad Bowes, et sic ad villam de Corby muratam, dimittendo eam a sinistris in valle ubi Rex indixit et precepit ut quilibet sagittarius faceret sibi palum vel baculum quadratum seu rotundum, sex pedum longitudinis, acutum in utroque fine, ad figendura coram se in terram unum finem et alterum finem in declino versus hostes tempore belli.

Et die Veneris Rex hospitahatur in villulis prope villam de Neell muratam ubi nunciatam fuit Regi de duobus locis ubi potuit pertransire aquam de Sowme qua de causa premisit dominum Gilbertum Vmfrevile comitem de Kyme, Willielmum Porter, Iohannem Cornewaile et Willielmum Bourser, cum penonibus suis, custodire passagium exercitus ultra aquam predictam, qui illud custodierunt a meredie usque ad unam horam infra noctem. Et die Sabbati pertransivit Rex et totus exercitus ad duo loca predicta, ubi magnus mariscus fuit ex utraque parte aque predicte, et ad duo calceta inter mariscos pertransitus totus exercitus, qui quidem custodes passagü illud custodierunt a meredie diei usque ad unam horam noctis.

Et die Dominica sequente Dux de Orliaunce et Dux de Bourbone miserunt tres haraldos Regi quod pugnarent cum eo. Et die Lune Rex venit prope villam de Peron̄ muratam, dimittendo eam a sinistris per unum miliare. Et deinde Rex venit ad aquam de Suerdes et transivit ultra. Et die Martis, ac die Mercurii hospitabatur Rex et exercitus in villulis, ubi habuerunt visum de maximo exercitu Gallicorum. Et die Iovis Rex statim removit exercitum semper equitando arraiati adversum eos, et ad solis occasum Gallici hospitabantur in villulis et ortis prope Regem. Et cum Rex viderat hoc et quod quilibet clamavit et vociferavit pro famulo, amico, et socio, ut moris est, precepit exercitum suum hospita . . . vociferacione sub certa pena in villa de Agencourte prope hostes usque ad mane.

Et die Veneris, in festo sanctorum Crispini et Crispiniani, surgente aurora Gallici se constituerunt in exercitu in aciebus, turmis, et cuneis, coram Rege in dicto campo de Agencourte, in via et transitu suo versus Calisiam. Et interim Rex constituit se in bello ibi prope hostes, ponens Edwardum Ducem Eboraci in acie anteriori, et dominum de Camoys in acie posteriori, pro alis dextra & sinistra. Et Rex appropinquavit versus hostes, et hostes versus eum, et per durum prelium percussum Rex habuit victoriam, ubi occisi erant Dux de Barre, Dux de Braban, Dux de Alaunson, Comites quinque, Barones et vexilla levantes nonaginta, mille quinquaginta milites, et maxima multitudo populi, secundum computacionem haraldorum ad numerum centum milia hominum: et capti fuerant Dux de Orlience Lodowicus, frater Regis Francie, Dux de Burbone, Comes de Vendismo, Arthurus de Britayne comes de Richemonde, et Comes de Ewe, ac dominus Bursigaldus Marescallus Francie, ex parte Francie; et ex parte Anglorum occisi erant Edwardus Dux Eboraci, Michael de la Pole comes Suffolchie, juvenis, duo milites de novo insigniti, et decem alie persone.

Cumque dominus noster Rex, post finitum prelium, ex humanitate et maxima audacia, in villa de Agencourte, et in eodem loco ubi pernoctavit et requievit nocte precedente, pernoctasset. Et die Sabbati iter suum arripuit versus per illum locum ubi bellum fuit percussum, amare lamentando in corde effusionem tantam Christianorum occisorum, qui numerabantur ad centum milia hominum, ubi Rex non habuit ultra ix mɫ. de viris infirmis et sanis pugnantibus. Et di Martis, in crastino sanctorum Simonis et Iude venit Rex cum toto exercitu ad Calisiam cum magno gaudio populi et leticia, ubi laudes soli Deo pro victoria faciens decantari cum maxima devocione, litera F, tunc dies Dominica Anno Domini M^o. CCCC. XV^o.

] .

The. CC.xxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Henry the sixte, kynge of England and of Fraunce, that fled into Scotland without cause, on Palmesondaye the thirty and nyne yere of his reigne, and of Christ a thousand foure hundred three score and one, began to reigne the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred twenty and twoo.

HEnry his soōne, thē not. iii. quarters olde, [King Hēry y^e sixte.] That borne was at. s. Nicholas daie afore, At Windesore, so as y^e [all the.] realme thē would, Vnto the croune succede as he was bore, All [Of.] England hole, by might [of lordes] [and lorde.] thore; The duke of Gloucester then disired To haue the kepyng of the kyng enspired [aspired.]

¶ The bishop of Wynchester it withstode, With all the lordes there hole of his assent, Then would he [haue] been, as for y^e next of bloode, Leuetenaunt then of England and regent, The bishop aye withstode all his entent, That chaūceler was, by [y^e] fifth kyng Henry made, And so furth stode, and in thoffice bade,

¶ For cause he was so noyous with to dele, And office would he haue and gouernaunce, Wherfore thei made hym, for the common wele, Protectour of the realme by ordinaunce, [The duke of Gloucester protectour of Englād.] [To kepe the land, fro mischief and varyaunce:] [And defensoure to avoide all distaunce.]

The kyng of Fraunce, for sorowe then dyed [so died.] , The quene his wife also, as was notified.

¶ The lord Cromwell lost therof nothyng, For he had bothe theim [than.] in his gouernaunce, [Fol. CC.xix.] And home then came, when buryed was the kyng, Charles of Fraunce, with worthy [roiall.] ordenaunce, Quene Isabell also with purueaunce, Accordaunt well to their royall estate, With costage[s] greate, as was preordinate.

¶ The first daye of the moneth [of] Septembre He gan to reigne, then was a thousand yere, Foure hundred, as [als as.] I can remember, Twenty and twoo accompted then full clere, As I finde write in the chronicler; But not crouned for tendernes of age, Nor yet anoynte for dred of youthes outrage.

¶ The duke of Bedford stode so furth ay regent, [The duke of Bedford regēt of Fraūce.] The duke of Gloucester here was so protectour, The bishop of Wynchester, by perlyament, Was chaunceller and hiest gouernour Of the kyng his persone and his greate socour, His godfather and his fatheres eme, And supportour was moost of all this realme.

¶ The regēt then of Fraunce wed Anne his wife, The duke his suster of Burgoyn, good and faire, The duke of Brytain hir suster knowen rife, Had wed afore without any dispeire, [Whiche was lady of greate repeire;] Whiche dukes twoo were sworne and aliede With the regent to stand strongly fortified.

The. CC.xxv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the regent w^t lordes of Englād smote the battaill of Vernoyle in Perche, in y^e third yere of kyng Henry y^e. vi.

¶ Therle of Boughan, and therle Douglas, Therle of Wigton with power of Scotland, And lordes of Fraunce, to gether assembled was, Wher the regent with lordes of England At Vernoyle in Perche, as I can vnderstand, Faught w^t theim sore, & slewe the Scottes cruelly, And bade theim thynke emong on [upon.] Bawgy.

¶ The regent had the felde and victorie With greate honour, and laude full [and.] comfortable, Therles were ther with hym of Salisbury, Of Suffolke also [als.] , that were full honorable, The lord Wiloughby, full fortunable, The lord Scales of greate and hie corage, With many other of the baronage.

[¶ Therle of Ewe, and his brother manly, Faught in that feld, and gate a worthy name, And many mo did tho full doughtely, I dare well saie was none therfore to blame. All other also whiche that were worthy of fame, I would haue wrytē, if I had knowen their mede; But to heraldes I will commit their deede] [This stanza is not in the text of the Manuscript, but forms a rubrick] .

¶ Thei sleugh therles of Boughan & Douglas, And of Wigton, of Scotland that wer there, The lord of Enermeth of Scotland then was, With greate people, that dedde then [there] were. Our Englishmenne, full manly theim bere. The regent was there that daye, a lion, And faught in armes like any champion.

The. CC.xxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Mountague erle of Salisbury layde siege to Orleaunce, and was [Fol. CC.xx.] slayne there.

THerle of Salisbury then, Mountague, With great power [power grete.] layd siege to Orliaūce, Wher slayn he was, for whō men sore gan [dide.] rewe;

So manly was his knightly diligence, He laboured euer in marciall excellence, Vnto the tyme, as would thende of fate, With a quarell was slayne infortunate,

¶ And buried was in Englande that yere, With greate worshippe and hie solempnitee. Richard Neuell had wed his doughter clere, And erle was made, that tyme by her in fee. The regent then, of great nobilitee, By counsell of the duke then of Burgoyn, Kepte Fraunce full well without any essoyn.

¶ Then died his wife, and wed then sone agayn The countee seynt Paules, sister of Fraunce, That leegeman was to kyng Henry certayne, To the regent sworne, as by full greate assuraūce, With true seruice and [all] trewe aliaunce: He kepte bothe Fraunce, and eke all Normandy, In peace and rest, full well and worthely.

¶ Therle Richarde of Warwike kepte the kyng By all this tyme, sith [sith tyme.] the duke was dead Of Excester, that first hym had in kepyng: Therle Richard, in mykell worthyhead, Enfourmed hym, but of his symplehead He coulde [couth.] litle within his brest conceyue, The good from eiuill he could [couth.] vneth perceyue.

The. CC.xxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the kyng was enoynted and crouned in England in the yere of Christe a thousande. CCCC. and. xxix. and of his reigne the. viii. yere: And afterwarde he was crouned in Fraunce the yere a thousand. CCCC. and. xxxi. and of his reigne the. x. yere: in whose presence the regent ceased of his office, for whiche he was wroth with the cardinall his vncle for asmuche as the kynge was there presente; therfore there shulde bee no regente.

THe kyng then in his. viii. yere in Englande, At Westmynster vpō saynt Leonardes daye, The Sondaye then, as I can vnderstande, And of Christ was then a thousande full I saye, Foure hundreth and. xx. and. ix. no naye, He crouned was with all solempnitee, By whole assent of lordes and commontee.

¶ Then of his reigne accompte the [in the.] . x. yere, To Fraunce he went, wher then at Saynt Denys, His fathers eme, the cardinall full clere, Hym crouned fayre, with bishoppes there full wise; The regent was there, with suche seruice As was due of reason [and] to hym appent, The duke of Burgoyne, also obedient.

¶ The duke also was there [there than.] of Britayne, The counte saynt Paule, and the duke Embarre [Enbaire.] , Therle of Foys, with other lordes of Guyan, The prouoste of Parys, with other great repaire [Of lordes, knightes, and many ladyes fayre,] The gouernours of all the great citees, And prelates fele [many.] , and barons for there fees.

The. CC.xxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the lorde Cromwell was chamberleyne in Fraunce at his coronacion, [Fol. CC.xxi.] and discharged at his commyng home in to Englande, and the duke of Bedforde regent of Fraunce died, and then y^e duke of Burgoyne was made regent a yere, and then therle of Warwike was made regent a yere, & died at Roan in the castell.

THe lorde Cromwel was his chamberlayn, Who was so wise, he was [wrote.] of great record, His homagers as to hym did perteyne, In Fraunce that tyme, by good and trewe accorde, For his fees, as [than as.] they and he concorde: Of Christes date, was then a thousande yere, Foure hundreth also [als.] and one and thyrty clere,

¶ The regēt died, for whō was made great mone; Then bothe councels of Englande and of Fraūce, Chose the duke of Burgoyn then anone, [To regent of that lande,] [For regente of Fraunce.] for great affiaunce, That kepte it well a yere in all assuraunce; But sone thereafter with the dolphyn accorde [accorded.] , And was his man, as then was well recorde [recorded.] .

¶ Therle Richard of Warwike then conceyued Of the symplesse and great innocense Of kyng Henry, as he it well perceyued, Desired to be discharged of his diligence About the kyng; and by his sapience, Was sent to Fraunce, and so was regent, And kepte it well in all establishment,

¶ Tyll [To.] that he dyed out of this worlde awaye, For whom great mone was made and lamentaciō, For his wisedome, and for his manhode ay, For his norture and communicacion: He stode in grace of hie commendacion, Emonge all folke vnto the daye he died, Regent of Fraunce, full greately laudified.

The. CC.xxix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyn besieged Calys, and set vp his bastell there, and howe the duke of Gloucester rescowed it.

THe duke of Burgoyn then to Calis came, And set a bastell then afore the toune, The which therle of Morteyn, by his name, Edmond Beaufort, as made is mencion, With soudyours it gatte and bet it downe; The duke wēt home, and left the siege with shame, When he our flete sawe saylyng on thesame.

¶ The protectour with his flete at Calys then Did lande, and rode into Flaunders [a] litle waye, And litle did, to counte [acounte.] a manly man,

But that the siege for hym then fled awaye, The duke distracte, sore sycke was many a daye, For sorowe and shame, he helde hym out of sight, Many a yere he went not out to fight.

The. CC.xxx. Chapiter.

¶ Howe kyng Iames of Scotlande besieged syr Raulfe Gray in Renkesburgh, and howe Henry Percy, erle of Northumberlande, rescowed it with seuen score thousande men.

IN y^t same tyme [also, of Scotlād] [of Scotland als.] kīg Iames [Fol. CC.xxii.] To Rēkesburgh [Rokesbourgh.] cā, & layd his siege about; Syr Raulfe Graye thē kept it frō all shames, Agayn his sautes, y^t then were full stoute: Therle then of Northumberlande throughout, Raysed vp the lande, and when he came it nere, The kyng trumped vp and went awaye full clere.

¶ Who sawe euer afore two hostes royall So easely without stroke discomfite, Of diuers landes, and neither had a fall, [The cōceit of y^e maker touchynge kīg Iames.] [And on no parte, smote no stroke perfite,] But for the shadowes, that were imperfite, Of our hostes so fled and sawe nothynge, But vmbres [shadewes.] two, of our hoste [hoostes.] then commynge.

¶ But thus I deme, tho princes wer forswore, The kyng of Scottes, the duke of Burgoyn eke, That they not [ne.] durst on no grounde [a]bide therfore; Their vntruthe[s] made there hertes feynt & seeke, Truste neuer their manhode after worth a leeke, That vncompelled, forsworne, or [beene.] wilfully, Shall neuer after haue honour ne [or.] victorie.

¶ Take [Taketh.] hede, ye lordes, of these great princes two, What came of theim in shorte tyme after this; The kyng murthered, at home in Scotlande tho, The duke was wod, and frantike for his misse, Thus vengeaunce fell vpon theim bothe I wysse,

Alas a prince shulde haue suche cowardise, To be vntrewe or false in any wise,

¶ Sith he nede nought, so strecheth ay his power, To kepe his trouthe, and make his fo thesame, To kepe to hym with strength fo sworde full clere, Or els destroye his land, and all his fame, And put hym so to foule [a foule.] and open shame; [For periury occupied, and lawe vnpreserued, Caused many a man for to bee ouerterued.] [

To make hym so alweie to kepe his trouth, But cowardise it lett and feerfull slouth.

Than wente the erle thider of Huntyngdoun, That kepte that londe with sade and trewe service, With grete power truly unto the croun̄, Fro all the foone and eke the kynges enemyse, And fewe places loste ne hade no grete supprise; And home he come ayen̄ at two yeres ende, Whan his wages were goone and all hoole spende.

]

The. CC.xxxi. Chapiter.

¶ Howe therle of Stafforde was. ii. yere regent of Normandy, and howe therle of Huntyngdon was other two yere, and howe Richard, duke of Yorke, was regent of Normandy. vii. yere with holden, and afterwarde was made leuetenaunte of Irelande.

BVt after then therle of Stafforde went With power strong, to kepe all Normādy, Two yere with holde, [w^t all lordes] [be lordes all.] assent, Whiche well he keped, and full honorably With litle losse, of places fewe sodenly By enemyes won, that might not longe ben holde, And home he came, when spended was his golde.

¶ [Then went therle thyther of Huntyngdon, That kept that lād, with sad and trewe seruice, With great power truely vnto the croune, For all the foes and eke the kynges enemyes, And fewe places loste, ne had no great supprise; And home he came agayn, at two yeres ende, When his wages were gone and all hole spende.]

And after hym the duke of Yorke full ying Thether was sent, with great power royall, And regent was of all that longed [longeth.] to the kyng, [Fol. CC.xxiii.] And kepte full well Normandye in [e]specyall; But Fraunce was gone afore ingenerall: And home he came at seuen yere ende agayne, With mekell loue of the lande certayne.

¶ The duke of Yorke sent was then to Irelande, Leutenaunt then [ther.] he was there many a daye, And greate thanke there and loue of all the land He had amonge the Iryshe [Englisherie.] alwaye, And [all the Iryshe,] [and of the Irisherie.] beganne him to obey; He [And.] ruled that lande full well and worthely, As dyd afore his noble auncetrye.

The. CC.xxxii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Edmonde, duke of Somerset, was made keper of Normandy.

THe kyng then made y^e marquis of Dorset, Edmōd Beauford, at y^e cardinals request, Without delay, then duke of Somerset, And sent hym fourth anon withoute [withoutyn.] reste, To Normandye, to kepe it for his beste; But in his tyme Fastolfe and Kyriell Discomfyte were, in batayle sore and fell:

¶ Where. vii. M. Englyshe were ouerthrowe, Wherfore the Frenche assembled newe eche daye, And gate the lande ay by and by on rowe, For whiche the duke wrote his letters ay Vnto the kyng and his councell alwaye For more power, & elles he myght not byde, To kepe the lande, y^e French were of suche [suche a.] pryde.

¶ He coulde [couthe.] none get, this land was thē so pylde, Through war of Fraūce, they wolde not hī releue; So was the lande w^t Frenchmen wonne [& welde,] [ad. . . .] With siege eche daye, and sautes fell and breue,

The Frenche nought reste y^t tyme a [oone.] daye to eue, We loste more then certayne within two yere, Then kyng Henry [Henry the fiveth.] gate in seuen clere.

¶ Then was the kyng come [comyn.] vnto mannes age, Wherfore the lordes wolde no protector, Wherfore the duke loste his great auauntage, And was no more [then after] [after than.] defensour; But then he fell [in a greate] [into a foule.] errour, Moued by his wyfe Elianor Cobham; To truste her so, men thought he was to blame.

He waxed [waxe.] then straunge eche day vnto y^e kyng, For cause she was foriudged for sossery, For enchauntmentees, y^t she was in workyng Agayne the churche, and the kyng cursedly, By helpe of one mayster Roger Oonly, And into Wales he went of frowardnesse, And to the kyng had [he had.] greate heuynesse.

¶ Wherfore y^e lordes then of the kinges coūsaile, Made the kyng to set his hye parlyament At Burye then, whether he came without fayle, Where in parlesey he dyed incontynent For heuynesse, and losse of regyment; And ofte afore he was in that sykenesse, In poynt of death, and stode in sore destresse.

¶ When [Than.] of the kyng was. vii. and twenty yere, [Fol. CC.xxiiii.] Then [Whan.] he so dyed in full and hole creaunce, As [a] Christen prince of royall bloude full clere, Contryte in herte with full greate repentaunce, With mouth confessed to Goddes hye pleasaunce, Vnto the earth that is all fleshe his neste, His body went, his soule to heauens [Heven.] reste.

¶ And of the kyng, the. xxix. [the nyne and twenty.] yere, In Maye, the duke of Suffolke toke the sea, On pilgramage to passe, as dyd apere, With brigauntes then with compassed enmyte,

Hym slewe and heded with [full] great cruelte, Agayne assuraunce of the kynges proteccyon, That worthy were the death for insurreccyon.

¶ That [The.] same yere then, at the hye parlyament, Was made a playne and [a] hole resumpcyon Of all the landes by sad and hole aduysement, Whiche the kyng had geuen [yeve.] of his affeccyon, To any wyght by patent or [and.] concessyon; Then taxe ceased and dymes [divers dymes. edit. alt.] eke also, In all Englande then [longe.] raysed were no mo.

The. CC.xxxiii. Chapiter.

¶ The duke of Yorke was made protectour and chyef of councell, the thyrty yere of kyng Henry the sixte, and the earle of Salisbury was chaunceller of Englande.

THe duke of Yorke then made was protectour, And gouerned wel, but. ii. yere not endured, Discharged he was w^t passing great [hy.] murmour Of cōmons hole, amonge them thē ensured, To helpe hym so, with power auentured; For he was set the comon wele to [a]uayle, By his laboure and his hole counsayle.

¶ But ay the better that he to God [goode.] was set, The more were other by [busy in.] worde and dede, The contrarye to laboure and to let, His good purpose to pursue and to spede, So that he had no hap for to procede; For sotell menne [meane.] hym let ay at the ende, The cōmon wele to mayntene and amende.

¶ The earle Richard also [als.] of Salisbury, So was disposed in all thynges to the same, Whiche was the cause of theyr death fynally, For whiche of ryght ne [nedes.] muste folowe blame, Their lyues well [hadde.] kepte had bene without shame;

For tho princes two died in their kynges right, For the publike wele of eche Englishe wight.

¶ The. xxx. yere this was then of the kyng, When they the kyng then had in gouernaunce, And ruled hym well in all maner thyng [of thyng.] , And made good rule and noble ordynaunce, Auoyding all misrule and misusaunce; For worshyp of the kyng and of his realme, Without [Withoutyn.] doubte, or any other probleme.

The. CC.xxxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the earle of Northumberlande, the duke of Somerset, and the lorde Clyfforde, were slayne at saynte Albones, the thyrty and. iiii. yere of his reigne; where y^e duke of Yorke, the earle of Salisbury, and the [Fol. CC.xxv.] earle of Warwike toke the kyng & kept hym in good rule, the twenty & two daye of Maye, that was then the Thursdaye next of [after. edit. alt.] Pentecost, the yere of Christ a thousand foure hūdred & lv.

THei were put by from all their good entent, And straūge were hold after many a daye, To the thirty yere and thre by hole consent, At sainct Albones then vpon the Thursdaye, Accompted then next afore [afore the.] Witsondaye, Thei slewe the duke Edmond [then] of Somerset, For cause he had the realmes wele so lette.

¶ Therle [then] of Northumberland was there, Of sodein chaunce drawen furth with the kyng, And slain vnknowne by any manne ther were; The lord Clifford, ouer busie in werkyng, At the barres theim mette sore fightyng, Was slain that daye vpon his owne assaut, As eche manne saied it was his owne defaute.

¶ Therle of Wiltshire with fiue hundred menne, Fled fro the kyng full fast that tyme a waye, The duke of Buckyngham was hurte there then, The kyng thei tooke and saued in good araye;

To Westminster with hym thei tooke the waye, And ruled hym well in all prerogatife, As kyng of right without [withoutyn.] any strife.

The. CC.xxxv. Chapiter.

¶ Howe y^e lord Audely faught with therle of Salisbury, at Bloreheth, at Mighelmas terme, in the thirty and eight yere of his reigne.

¶ Yet were these lordes voyde fro y^e kyng again, The duke of Yorke [and] therle of Salisbury, Therle also of Warwike nought [not.] to layn Without [withoutyn.] cause, I can not remembre why; But at Bloreheth the lord Audely in hie With therle of Salisbury faught full sore, Therle preuailed, and Audely slain was thore,

¶ The thirty yere and eight [eight than.] of the kyng, And [Than.] so he went to Ludlowe on his waye; The duke of Yorke in Wales had shippyng, To Ireland then he went full well awaye: Therles of March and Salisbury that daye, And of Warwike, as God it had purueighed [previded.] , To Calais went their waye no thyng denied.

The. CC.xxxvi. Chapiter.

¶ Of the battaill of Northampton, wher the earle of March & therle of Warwike preuailed & led the king to Westminster, & kept hym there, the yere of his reigne eight and thirty, and the yere of Christ a thou∣sād foure hundred nyne and fiftie, and slewe the duke of Bokyngham, therle of Shrowisbury tresorer of England, the lord Beaumont, sir Tho∣mas Percy lord Egremond, and led the kyng with theim to London, and gouerned hym full well and worthely, the tenth daye of Iuly.

AT Couentree the king in his parlyament Proclaimed theim all thre for rebellours, But afterward all three of one assent At [To.] Northampton came, as worthy warriours, In somer after to been the kyng his socours;

Wher then the duke of Buckyngham theim met [Fol. CC.xxvi.] With power greate, and trust haue theim [them have.] ouerset.

¶ Therle of Shrewesbury was with hym thore, The lord Beaumount with hym was also, The lord Egremount full stout in feate of warre, Whiche foure were slain with mikell [grete.] people mo, Beside Northampton on the Thursdaye tho [soo.] , [The third daye of the moneth of Iuly, And in the reigne of the kyng eight and thirty.] [Nexte after seynt Thomas daie of Caunterbury, In Iuyll the yere of the kynge eght and thritty.]

¶ Thei saued the kyng & kept hym sauf & sound; With greate honour therle of Marche, Edward, Therle also of Warwike in that stound, And with hym rode so furth to London ward; Full worshipfully [nobely.] thei kept hym [thens forward] [than furthwarde.] In all state royall, as did append, And as his menne vnto hym did attend.

The. CC.xxxvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe the battaill of Wakefeld, wher the North partie preuailed, was the fifth daye of Christmasse, and of the kyng his reigne the nyne and thirty.

THen in the winter afore the Christemas, The duke of Yorke, therle [and the.] of Salisbury, Therle of Rutland, with theim I gesse, With power greate for their aduersarie, To saue theim selfes as then was necessarie, At their owne [weld at Yool, so then had been,] [at Cristemasse wolde have been.] The robberies [robbers.] there to haue staunchid clene;

¶ Wher thē y^e lordes of y^e North were assembled, And faught with theim at Wakefeld thē full sore, And slewe theim downe whiles thei were dissēbled, And gate the feld that daye vpon theim thore; And southward came thei then therfore

To sainct Albones, vpon the fastyngange [fastirne.] eue, Wher then thei slewe the lorde Bonuile I leue;

The. CC.xxxviii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe therle of Northumberland, the lord Neuell, and the North partie, faught at sainct Albones y^e seuētene daye of Feueryere, and slewe the lord Boonuile, & sir Thomas Kiryell, and many other, the thirty and nyne yere of the kyng, and the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred & sixty, and led the king to Yorke.

ANd sir Thomas Kyriell also [als.] of Kent, With [mekell folke] [muche people.] that pitee was to se, And spoyled fast, ay homeward as thei wēt, Without [Withoutyn.] rule into their [theire oun.] countree: Thei sette theim nought on rule and [nor.] equitee, Ne to kepe lawe nor peace in [no kynd wyse,] Howe might thei dure long [ought long.] in suche a guyse.

¶ But then the kyng alone left on the feld, Came to the quene and went [toke.] to Yorke his waye, With the North partie that thē so with hym held, The duke of Excester with hym went a [that.] waye, The duke [of Somerset it is] [also of Somersett.] no naye, Therle also then [Courtenay.] of Deuenshire, And sir Iames Ormond erle of Wiltshire,

¶ The lord Moleyns, the lord Roos also, The chief iudge [iustice.] , and sir Rychard Tunstall, The lord Ryuers, the lord Scales his [soonne also,] [sonne tho.] The lord Welles and Wiloughby with all, [Fol. CC.xxvii.] Sir Wyllyam Tailboys so did befall, And many other went to the North partie, For to maintein [then] the sixte kyng Henry.

The. CC.xxxix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Edward, duke of Yorke and erle of Marche, toke on hym y^e roiall charge for the wele of the realme, the fourth daye of Marche, the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred and sixty; folowed kyng Henry, that

refused tho the rule of the land, and gaue vp Berwike to the Scottes, and fled in to Scotlād, and gaue battaill to the North partie at Feribrig, on Palmesondaye, wher kyng Edward the Fourth preuailed, the yere of Christ a thousand foure hūdred sixty and one, whiche was then the twenty and nyne daye of Marche, foure dayes after our Lady Daye that tyme.

THe duke Edward, of March thē y^e. iiii. day, Of Yorke full young, therle [that erle.] of Marche was then, By counsaill of the lordes by South menne saye, Bothe spirituall and temporall [as mēne saie then,] [as a man.] Vpon hym toke estate royall, and began To reigne as kyng, and with hym reised the land With lordes fele [many.] by South I vnderstand.

¶ At [Towton feld] [Feribrig.] he faught on Palmesondaye, Wher then therle Henry of Northumberland, The lord Neuell, the lord Clifford that daye, The lord Dacres, were dedde I vnderstand; The kyng Henry then out of the land, To Berwike toune y^t stounte [stondyth.] in Scotland groūd, With certain lordes and with the quene y^t stound,

¶ And gaue the toune and castell to the Scottes, By whole assent of his simple counsaill, Whiche might well bee accompted then for sottes, As foules that were then of no gouernaill: In to Scotland with foule misgouernaill, The quene Margarete, and the dukes both twoo Of Excester and Somerset, fled also.

¶ The lord Roos and eke the lord Moleyns, And the chief iudge [iustice.] , that called [was Forscue,] [is Fortescewe.] And Tailboys also [als.] with other eiuill capitains, That after shall [hath.] full sore repent and rewe; If thei [also well,] [aswell.] as I nowe, Scotland knewe, Thei would not so haue hasted thitherward, From the presence and grace of kyng Edward.

¶ Kyng Edward thus had then the victorie, With his lordes and menne that were full [so.] trewe,

That halpe hym so, and were contributorie To wyn his right, whiche then the people knewe: To Yorke he went, and found it not vntrewe, To Duresme also [als.] and [to the] [so to.] Newcastell, That to hym were as trewe as any stele.

¶ At Yorke was hedded that time and decollate, Therle that then was of [Courtenay of.] Deuenshire, And at the Newcastell so destinate, Hedded then was therle of [als of.] Wiltshire; The kyng then sette the [that.] land at his desire, Saue castelles fewe w^t force [strength.] that [then were hold,] By North and West with rebell [rebells.] manyfold.

¶ And South he went for his disporte and plaie, At Leycestre helde he then his great counsayl, [Fol. CC.xxvii.] In the moneth that then was called Maye, And ordeyned there for good [the goode.] gouernayl Of al his realme, that enemies nought it assayle; Then in wynter Margarete that had bene quene, Fro Fraunce so came by shippe, as then was sene,

¶ Into Scotlande with. iiii. thousande Frēchmē Of soudyours, for whiche the kynge anone, With hoste royall to Durisme [Durham.] came he then, And sent therle of Warwike agayn his fooen, Therle of Kent also, with [good menne many one;] [men good woone.] They layde a siege to the castell of Bamburgh, And [to] the castell also [of Dunstanburgh.]

¶ Syr Raulfe Percy, and the duke of Somerset Delyuered theim to the kyng by poyntment; By whiche the kyng without [withoutyn.] any let, Gaue the kepyng of theim incontynent Vnto syr Raulfe Percy of good entent; And Aluewike castell was kepte [holdyn.] many a daye, To rescouse came and fet theim thens awaye.

¶ Whiche stode in stale not ferre from the castell, But. viii. thousande to whom the castelleyns Came anone out, as men were there to [doone.] tell,

With horse & harnes, & home rode through [be.] y^e playnes, Into Scotlande as good & wise chieftayns: I can well thynke it was a manly dede, To noye theyr foes and helpe theimselfes at nede.

¶ My lorde Vmfreuile whom that [some tyme.] I dyd serue, Sayd [to] me it was the best thyng might befall Any chiefteyne to greue his fo [foone.] and ouerterue, And kepe hymselfe harmelesse therwithall [therewith at all.] ; He that maye hurte his fo without [withoutyn.] fall, And passe away to his socoure harmelesse, He is a foole to [a]byde any distresse.

¶ But when that they wer gone so home agayn, And theyr frendes with theim from thens awaye, Two hundreth men of commons came full fayne, Out of Alnewike castell in symple araye, Our men bet theim [in] agayn there alwaye, Tyll [To.] they were glad to yelde theim & haue grace, The whiche they had without longer space.

The quenes power y^t she [so brought fro] [brought oute of.] Fraunce, Was so litle the wardeyns naught it dread, They hight the kyng for all hir ordinaunce, To kepe the lande for any helpe she had; How may she ought of great power be sped? Whē Charles doughter of Fraūce void of dower, Despoyled was of Fraunce, fayled all power. [Kyng Richardes wife sent home again into Fraunce [Omitted. edit. alt.] .]

¶ Quene Isabel that was kyng Rychardes wife, Deposed [Despoiled.] was by kyng Henry [of] Derby, Of her iwels [iewels.] , [as it is knowen full ryfe,] [and thrifte knowen rife.] And home was sent without [withoutyn.] remedye, What auayled hir kynne and progenye? Of nought els but great [of great.] vexacion, That Frenchemen made to theyr owne dampnacion.

The. CC.xl. Chapiter. [Fol. CC.xxix.]

¶ The mocion & conceypte of the maker of this booke, touchynge kyng Henrye the syxte, his wife, and his sonne, to be gotten home and putte

in gouernaunce with all that fled with hym, cōsyderyng their trouth that forsoke their lyuelodes and welfare for his sake, and fro they so gotten home, that after they will be as trewe to you, and els to geue sore iudge∣ment vpon theim.

O Gracious lord kyng Edward fourth accompte, Consydre howe kynge Henrye was admytte Vnto the croune of Englande, that did amounte Not for desert nor yet for any witte, Or might of hym selfe in otherwyse yet, But onely for the castigacion Of kyng Richarde[s] wicked peruersacion.

¶ Of whiche [whome.] the realme then yrked [grutched.] euerychone, And full glad were of [to.] his deposicion, And glad to croune kyng Henry so anone, With all theyr hertes and whole affeccion, For hatred more of kyng Richarde[s] defection Then for the loue of kyng Henry that daye, So chaunged then the people on hym aye.

¶ Yet kept he aye therle of Marche full ying In erles estate, as he that was his warde, And brought hym vp in all maner thyng, As his estate asked and coulde [couthe.] awarde, And cheryshed hym in norture to regarde As his owne sonnes duryng [endurynge.] all his lyfe, To make [cause.] hym loue hym without [withoutyn.] any stryfe.

¶ Thus by wisedome his sonne Henry right so Hym cherished by good and wise counsayl, Whiche he assigned vnto hym tho, Of good rule that would not let hym faile, For cause he should agayn [ayenste.] hym not preuayle, And into Fraunce, in his hole estate, Had hym with his brother associate.

¶ All this he did of full good policie, To wynne his loue and kept hym in direccion From entisement of all eiuill and folie,

To his pleasaunce without all suspection: This was greate witte and circumspeccion, To rule hym thus his heighnes to obaye, Without [Withoutyn.] stryfe to sitte in peace his daye.

¶ O gracious lorde, nowe of your sapience Consydre well this sixtye yere and three, Your kyn and ye by all intelligence Haue been deuorced [deforced.] of all the royaltee, To nowe that God, of his specialitee [especialte.] , Hath graūte[d] you grace your rightes to recouer, [And your enemyes all to rule at ouer.] [And enemyse all furthwardes to rule all over.]

¶ Considre well the benigne innocence Of kyng Henry, that nowe is in [Scotlande,] [youre honde.] By Goddes dome of small intelligence, For your preuayle, as men can vnderstande, Gette hym nowe home agayn into Englande [Fol. CC.xxx.] With all the meanes ye maye of sapyence, His wyfe and sonne with [all] your dilygence.

[¶ For truste it well yf they maye passe to Fraūce, Or power get to theim in any wyse, Eche yere they wyl you trouble and do greuaūce, By Scottes assent and theyr exercyse, To brag and boste as they wolde on you ryse, To make your people and cōmons for to yrke, Iackes and salades ay newe and newe to wirke.]

¶ For truste it well, as God is nowe in heuen, The Scottes wyll ay do you the harme they may, And so they haue full ofte with odde and [or.] euen, Afore that Christe was borne so of a maye, As yet they do at theyr power euery [eche.] daye; Wherfor good lord brīg home these persons thre, With all theyr men & geue them grace all fre:

¶ And loue them better for theyr great lewte, That they forsoke theyr landes and herytage, And fled with hym in [for all.] aduersyte,

To byde [abide.] in payne, sorowe, and [and in.] seruage. Good herte shulde rewe well more theyr trewe corage, Then them y^t wold haue gone and durste nought [it nought.] , Consyder [Considered.] howe thei shewed as they thought.

¶ Yf ye might get them all for any good To be your men, and haue theyr herytage, And [Of.] youre enemies that agaynst [ayenst.] you stode Ye shulde make trewe men to your auauntage, To passe with you in warres [werrys] and hostage As trewe as they haue bene to kyng Henry, And [mekell trewce] [muche trewer.] for your ryght auncetry.

¶ For yf ye myght theim get nowe euerychone, Youre warres were done, thē might you [ye.] syt in rest, Without trouble of any lande alone; For all youre lande throughout thē might ye trest, Yf it were hole that ye nede not [nought.] mistryst: No prynce christen myght do you any dere, But in his lande ye myght make [wele make.] him were.

¶ Graunt Henry grace w^t all his owne liuelode, The duchye hole of Lancaster [that is] his ryght, Not as it is, but of worthyhede; Fyrste duke Henry had the noble knight At his laste daye, that was of mikyll [grete.] might: His wyfe and sonne get home by ordynaunce, And geue them councell for theyr gouernaunce,

¶ Suche as you [muche trewer.] truste wyll rule them worthely, To youre plesaunce in all tranquillyte, In peace and reste with all good polyce: For better were to haue them in suretye, Than lette theim bene with your aduersyte With Scottes or French y^t wold se your destresse, And helpe to it with all theyr busynesse.

¶ And yf ye maye by no meane nor [or.] treate Get them home, ordeine then faste youre flete

On the Easte sea into Scotlande in hye, At Edenburgh, so maye it with you mete With all vitayle and ordynaunce full mete, And set vpon the [what.] castell they bene in [than.] , Escape they maye not but ye shall them wyn.

¶ For I haue sene theyr castelles [stronge echone,] [everichone.] [Fol. CC.xxxi.] That strongest [bene, and worste to get and wyn] Amonge them all, for certayne is there none That may bene holde out longe when ye begyn Saue Dunbretayne, the sea aboute doth ryn [The castel of Dunbretayne.] Eche daye and nyght twyce withouten doubte, Whiche may be wonne by [with.] famyshyng aboute. [The castel of Dunbretayne.]

¶ With shippes by sea, & siege vpon the lande Ye maye not fayle to [but.] haue it at the laste, All other [wyll bene] [wolbe.] yelde [in]to youre hande, So that ye haue by workemen well fore caste Youre ordynaunce and gonnes for to caste, With abylementes of warre suche as ye nede, No castell elles maye [may you.] withstande in dede.

¶ Therfore in what castell that they bene in, [The tyme to beginne warre in Scotlande.] Go to the same withoute impedyment, Not in wynter but in somer ye begyn, When Iuyll moneth or Auguste is present, That forage may begot as doth appent Of corne and grasse for horses sustenaunce, And fayre wether to [for.] mennes hye pleasaunce.

¶ O righteous prince bring home y^e [thy.] scatred men To theyr pasture forsaken and forlore, For of your breste shulde greate foyson [fusyn̄.] ren, To nedy men of grace and helpe euermore, Consyder howe God hath you set therfore, And ouer the flocke to seke the scatered [strayinge.] shepe, And laye [sett.] them in your folde surely to slepe.

¶ Consider nowe, most gracious soueraine lorde, Howe longe nowe that your noble auncetrye

In welth and helth hath reigned of hye recorde, That [Which have.] kepte lawe and peace continually, [And thynke they] [Whiche thynges.] bene of all your monarchye The fayrest floures and highest of enterpryce [emprise.] , And sonest maye youre foreyne foes [foone.] supprice.

¶ Consider also [als.] , in this symple tretyse, Howe kynges kepte neyther lawe ne peace, Went sone awaye in many dyuerse wyse, [Without thanke] [Withoutyn thonke.] of God at theyr decese, And nought were dred w^tin [ne without doutlesse;] [ne oute no lees.] But in defaute of peace and lawe conserued, Destroyed were right as they had deserued.

¶ Consyder also [als.] , moste erthly souerayne lorde, Of French nor [or.] Scottes ye get neuer to your pay Any treaty or [of.] trewce or [and.] good concorde; But yf it be vnder your banner aye, Whiche maye neuer be by reason any waye, But yf youre realme stande well in vnyte, Conserued well in peace and equyte.

¶ Your marchis kepte & also [als.] your sea full clere, To Fraūce or Spaine ye may ride for your right, To Portyngale & [or.] Scotlande w^t your banner, Whils your rerewarde in Englād stādeth wyght, Vnder your banner your enemies well [will. edit. alt. woll. MS.] you hight A better treaty within a lytell date, Then in foure yere to your ambassate [ambashiate.] .

¶ Remembred bene vnto youre excellence, [Fol. CC.xxxii.] The tytles [all that] [beene.] longe to youre regiment, Of Scotlande hole, with all my dilygence, That third parte is of Britayne by extent, And owe [oweth.] to bene at your cōmaundement, And [As] membre of your royall monarchye, As chroniclers haue made therof [in.] memorye.

¶ Englande and Wales as to their soueraygne To you obey, whiche shuld thinke shame of ryght,

To se Scotlande thus proudly disobeyne, Agayne [Ayenst.] them two that [which.] bene of greate [gretter.] myght, It is a shame to euery [euerich.] mannes syght, Sith Iohn Baylioll his ryght of it resygned To kyng Edward, why is it thus repugned [repigned.] ?

¶ Within thre yere theyr greate rebellyon Ye myght represse [oppresse.] and vtterly restrayne, And kepe them euer in youre possessyon: For to obey youre might make them full fayne, As kyng Edward dyd w^t hunger and [with] payne Them conquered hole to his subieccyon, To byde [abide.] euermore vnder his proteccyon.

¶ Wherfore good lorde nowe girde you w^t your swerde, And set vpon the frowarde heretykes, That erren fro [the two partes] [two parties.] of the herde, And strayen oute as they were litargykes, Whiche haue forget their lorde as cronnatykes [cromatikes.] , Hauyng no shame of theyr peruersyte, Nor chaunge [chaungen.] hewe for theyr falsyte.

¶ And truste it well, as God is nowe in heuen, Ye shall neuer fynde the Scottes vnto you trewe, Where they maye with youre enemies ay beleuen, They wyll to you then alwaye be [beene.] vntrewe, [Yet through your manhede it maye them rewe;] For lenger then ye haue them in subieccyon, Truste neuer truth in them ne perfeccyon [

Here the Harleian MS. adds,

And as in case whan pleaseth your highnes To Scotlonde passe I make you a kalende Of all the waie to Edenbourgth expres, And wher youre giste ech nyght may well extende, As kynge Henry fourth rode, as I well kende, That youre highnes may haue thereof knowlage, To comforte with youre noble high corage.

• Ye may entre Scotlonde at Yareforde to Dunsparke, - vii. Mile.
• Or els fro Yareforde to Chirneside, - - - vj. M.
• Fro tho Placese to Coldyngham, - - - vij. M.
• Fro Coldyngham to Pynkerton, - - - - vj. M.
• Fro Pynkerton to Dunbarre a market toun & a castell, - vj. M.
• Fro Dunbarre to Lynton, - - - - vj. M.
• Fro Lynton to Hadyngton, - - - - vj. M.
• Fro Hadyngton to Seton, - - - - iiij M.
• Fro Seton to Abirladie or to Muskilburgh, - - vij. M.
• Fro Muskilburgh or Abi rlad to Edenbourgh, wher the castell stondeth vpon an high roche of stone and a goode merchaunte toun with an abbaie of Haly Rode house, wher your flete may come to lie be you in the Scottish see, that is called the water of Forth, vij. M.
• And if ye thynke this ferr ynough ye may com homewarde fro Edenbourgh to Dal∣keth, a goode castell and a goode market toun, and bete doun Edmoston and Liberton in your waie, - - - - - - - v. M.
• Fro Dalketh to Newbotell, - - - - - - v. M.
• Fro Newbotell to Lawdre and bete it doun, - - - - - v. M.
• Fro Lawdre to Ersildon, - - - - - - - vj. M.
• Fro Ersildon to Driburgh, and bete doun Weteslade, Crosby and Hume, - v. M.
• Fro Driburgh loge upon the water of Teviote, and bete doun Edenham, Kesworth and Carneton, and loge in the medowes of Carneton, - - - vj. M.
• Fro Carneton to Berwike and gete it and amende it, and stuffe it with English men, and whiles ye lie ther and repaire it, ye may sende a power or goo youre selfe to Dun∣glassy at Colbrandspeche Ennerwike, - - - - - - xiiij. M.
• Fro tho places go on and bete doun Langton Cokburn, Blakedre, Swynton, Polworth, and cume to Berwike ayen, and se it put in saufe garde, - - - xij. M.

This rode and iournaye passeth ferre king Richard roode or kynge Henry the Fourth, and more shulde hurte the Scottes than both theire roodes dide, for they gote no place in the londe, but brent Edenburgh and the cuntrey as they come, and so may ye brynne and as ye passe and gete all theire toures & piles.

And if your wille and noble high corage Thynketh this is ouer litill to youre puyssaunce, Whan ye haue brente with all youre baronage Edenbourgh toune, and ther doone youre plesaunce, And haue that castell at youre obeissaunce, And it please you ferther for youre comforte, To youre highnes the waie I woll reporte.

• Fro Edenbourgh so unto Kirkeliston, - - - - - - vj. M.
• Fro Kirkeliston bituene the water of Forth upon your right honde, and Pentlonde hilles on your left honde, to Lithcowe Toun, and euer youre shippes in Forth, - vj. M.
• Fro Lithkowe to Fawkirke upon the water of Forth, - - - - vj. M.
• Fro Fawkirke to Strivelyn on Forth, - - - - - - vj. M.
• Fro Strivelyn to Dunbritayn, - - - - - - xxiiij. M.
• Fro Dunbritayn to Glasgewe, wher seynt Mungewe lieth shryned; a goode toun and the bishopes cee, - - - - - - - - xxiiij. M.
• Fro the toun of Are thurgh Carrik & Galwaie to Dunfres, wher at Kirkebright your flete myght mete you, a plenteous contrey to hostay; it longeth to the erle Douglas, - lx. M.
• Fro Dunfres to Carelell, - - - - - - - xxiiij. M.
• But if it like you to take youre waie fro Dunfres to the castell of Loughmaban, and so to the Armytage a stronge castell, and gete theym ye may, - - - xxiiij. M.

And if it please to youre noble highnes, Whan at Strivelyn ye haue doone your plesaunce, And sett the castell in all sekernes, Ouer the brige ther, withoutyn distaunce, Or at the forde of Trips with youre puissaunce, Thre myle be weste ye may passe ouer Forth Into Menteth, that lieth ther be North.

• Fro Strivelyn so ye shull passe to Doun in Meneth, and gete that castell, - - iij. M.
• Fro Doun Castell to Camskyuale on Forth, - - - - - iiij. M.
• Fro Camskyuall to Alwaie on Forth, - - - - - - x. M.
• Fro Alwaie to Culros in Fife, - - - - - - - vj. M.
• Fro Culros to Dunfermelyn̄, - - - - - - - ij. M.
• Fro Dunfermelen to Ennerkenyn on Forth, - - - - - ij. M.
• Fro Ennerkenyn to Abirdore on Forth, - - - - - - iij. M.
• Fro Abirdore to Kenborne on Forth, - - - - - - iiij. M.
• Fro Kenborne to Disarde in Fife, - - - - - - iij. M.
• Fro Disarde to Coupre in Fife, a merchaunt toun upon the see side, - - viij. M.
• Fro Cowpre in Fife to Faukelande Castell in Fife West, - - - xiiij. M.
• Fro Faukelande Castell to Andreston Est, stondyng upon the Est see side, wher the bishope cee & castel is, - - - - - - - xiiij. M.
• Fro Andreston North by the see side to the mouth of the water of Tay, - - vj. M.
• Fro the mouth of Tay up̄ westwarde on̄ Tay to Balmorynogh a goode abbaie, - vj. M.
• Fro Balmorynogh to Lundores a goode abbaie, - - - - iiij. M.
• Fro Lundores to seynt Iohnestoun on Tay, a goode merchaunte toun, and the water navigall rynneth thedir for vessels of fourty tonne tight, - - - xij. M.
• Fro seynt Iohnstoun westwarde to the oute Iles, is the castell of Ennermeth and other villagese many to forreye whiles ye lie at Ennermeth, - - - viij. M.
• Fro Ennermeth ye shull cume ayen to seynt Iohnston̄, and there ye may passe ouer the brage to the abbaie of Skone, wher they croun̄ theire kynge, - - iiij. M.
• Fro Skone abbaie to Abirnythy, wher the water of Erne rynneth into Tay, - xv. M.
• Fro Abirnythy thurgh the Crasse of Goure in Angos, the beste cuntrey of Scotlonde, to Dunde the best toun̄ of Scotlonde on the Este see side, - - x. M.
• Fro Dunde to Arbroth a merchaunt toun on the see coste, and to Munros a goode merchaunt toun̄ upon the se coste in Angos more North, - - - xxiiij. M.
• Fro Munros withyn Angos a goode merchaunte toun on the Este see side, wher youre shippes may mete you, and a goode cuntrey to hostey at ouer the water of Dye to Abir∣dene a goode merchaunt toun on the Este see side, wher your flete may mete you, - xx. M.
• Fro Abirdene betuene the water of Dye and the water of Dene, ye shull hostaie in the erledome of Marre and gete the castel of Kiddromy and many other castels and places, and all Gariogh, - - - - - - - xx. M.
• Fro the water of Donne to the water of Spay ye may hostay in the erledomes of Bougham and of Atheles, whiche shulde beene the heritage of the lorde Beaumonte and sir Thomas of Borough, and ther may ye gete the castell of Donydoure, the castell of Rithymay, Stranabre and the castell of Strabolgy, and bete the forestes of Boyne & Haynge, with fotemen in tho two erledomes with fleynge stales to releue theym to tho forestes been driven oute, - - - - - - - xxx. M.
• Fro the water of Spay to the water of Stokforde in Roos, thorough the erledomes of Murrefe and of Roos, and ther shull ye haue the castels of Lovet, Castell Vicharde, the abbaie of Dere, the castell of Ternewaie, the borough of Fores, the bourgth of El∣gyue, the burgth of Envernes, the burgth of Tayne, the colage of seynt Duthake in Roos, the castell of Dignevaile, and the burgh of Roos and Marky, and the plaeis of the bishope of Roos, the castell of Spyny, wher the bishope of Murrefe paleis is, the burgth of Marne and the nesse of Habena, a famouse porte upon the Weste see of all Scotlonde, - - - - - - - - - xxx. M.
• Summa. Fro Strivelyn to Catenes, as ye shull hostaie to these places, - cccij. M.

And ye wolde hostaie fro Carelele with an hooste to Dunfres, Galwaie, and be the toune of Are, La∣varke, Glasgewe, Bothvile and to Strivelyn.

And an other hooste fro Werke upon Twede to Pebles and Lauarke, and so mete at Strivelyn with the other hooste, and forraie Pentlande hilles.

And the thrid hooste fro the Yareforde, forreie the Mersh to Dunbarre, Hadyngton, Edenbourgth, and to Lithcowe, Faukirke, and mete at Strivelyn with the other two hoostes all togeder; and so gete all on southalfe the Scottish see, and make theym youre liege men so to Dunbritayne.

And if youre noble corage and discrecion thynke that ye woll doo more; ye may passe ouer at Forde fro Trips thre myle be West Strivelyn, and ouer at Strivelyn brige.

And so, as is wretyn afore, fro Strivelyn North thorough all Scotlonde fro cuntrey to cuntraie. And take Kenettes and Ratches with you, and seche oute all the forestes with houndes and hornes, as kynge Edwarde with the longe shankes dide.

THE MAP which here follows in the Harleian Manuscript is in three pages, but of so rude a kind as to promise nothing for the trouble of engraving. The first page extends from the river Tweed to the "water of Tay," and begins, at the lower part, with "Carelele*, the felles in the Marche, Werktuede*, Norham*, and Berwike*." On the left are "Roxburgh, Iedworth toun, the Ermytage, Iedworth Forest, Ledes Dale, Loughmaban, Anandale, Etrik Forest, Dowglasdale and Tynthowe." Still farther on the left, between "Forlwaie" (the Solway Frith?) and "the water of Clyde," are "Treve, Kirkenbright, Dunfrese, Galwaie, Crawfordemore, Rilay, Conyng∣ham, Karrik, Are, Ruglyn, Ravenser, Irwyn and Pasley." On the right, over Norham and Ber∣wick, we have "Tevidale, Lawedirton, Mewros, Lawedirdale, Tweddale, Edenburgh*, Colbrondespeth, Coldyngham, Dunglassy, the Mersh, Dunbar†, Pynkirton, Lynton, Hadyngton, Seton, Lethe haven, Abirladie and Muskilburgh," to the very bank of the Forth. Nearer the Clyde, and between it and the water of Forth we have "Blountire, Cadioke, Newbotell, Dalketh, Lowthian, Liberton, Corstorfyn, Glas∣gewe†, Lanarke, Pentlande Hills, Bothvile, Strivelyn*, Kirkeliston, Lithkowe, Faukirke;" and at the extremity of the left, "Dunbretayne†." On the Clackmannan side of Forth, "Camskynall*, Alwaie, Culros, Dunfermelyn, Ennerkenyn, Aberdore, Kyncorne, Disarde," and "Coupre in Fife," appear to line the banks. Above is "Faukelonde*." "Menteth and Blackmananshire appear on the left, with the observation that "betuene the Scottish see and the water of Tay," are "many townys." Above are "En∣nermeth†, Seynt Iohnestoun*, Andirstoun*, the Mountz Oighels," the "Abbaie of Lundorres," and the "Abbaie of Balmoryn." In the corner "Leuenax and oute Isles," with "the Mountz Oighels, wilde Scotery." In this page the fortified places, already marked with an asterisk, are represented by rude draw∣ings of castles; those marked with a † by sketches apparently intended for churches.

The second page is divided by lines of very rude drawing into five compartments, the uppermost of which appears to continue the Map.

First Compartment.

"Thabbaie of Skone wher the kynges been crowned.

Stranavire and many other townys and villages.

The Cras of Gower, the rede castell. Dunde on the Est see side. Arbroth and Muros on the same see side, two goode marchaunte townys wher your shippes may mete you. All this cuntrey is goode hostayinge and full of vitaile, corne, and catell, and many goode villages and husbonde townys, and stondeth betuene the water of Tay and the water of Dye.

On the left of the page "Oyghels; Stratherne; and Angus." And within the double line of separation, between this and the next compartment the "Dye" is marked.

Second Compartment.

"The shire of Marre and of Garriogh. All this countrey stondeth betuene Dye and Doun, two waters.	Mountz. Brighen̄.
	"The castell of Mundromy and many goode castels and villages to vitaile, in whiche is corne, cataill and gras grete plente be the Est see. And on̄ the see side a goode merchaunte toun̄ Aberdene, wher your shippes may mete you on̄ the Est see."

On the left "Wilde Scottys of Marre and Garioth."

Third Compartment.

"Boughan̄ and Athels stondeth betuene Done and Speye.

"In these cuntrese been̄ the castels of Strabology, of Rithymay, of Dony Dowre, and many moo, and corne, gras, and all vitaile on̄ the see cooste; the fforestes of Boyne and Hayng."

On the left "Wilde Scottes of Boughan and Athelres."

Fourth Compartment.

"The cuntreie of Murreve.

"In this cuntreie been the castels of Spyney, of Tern∣weie, the burgh of Envernes, the abbaie of Dere, the toun of Elgyne, with the collage, the bourgh of Fores, the castell of Lovet and the castell of Vrcharde, and ther is on the West see a famouse porte called the Nesse, and that cuntrey is plentevouse of vitaile."

On the left "Wilde Scottes of Murreve."

Fifth Compartment.

"Ros.

"In this cuntrey is the burgh of Rossemarky and the Bishope Palais of Ros, with a colage cathedrall of se∣culer chanons; the castell of Dignevale wt the burgh; the burgh of Tarne with the collage of seynt Duthake, wher is plente of corne and catell."

On the left "Wilde Scottes of Ros:" and below the Compartment, "The water of Suther."

At the upper part of the third page "The water of Suthir" is repeated: and in the Compartment im∣mediately below, we have

"Suthirlande and Catenesse.

"The castell of Dunbeke and Darnake, the Palais Ca∣thedrall, the Burgth of Wik, Peightily, Coready, Borworsy, Trefannok, and many goode places and villages, forestes, corne, and catell grete plente, and at the North West ende of all Catenesse, is Kentir and Kentirynough."

On the left of the page, a large space is allotted to the "Retheretz, that some tyme were northern̄ Pightes."

Thus ends the Map of Scotland. The remainder of the page is occupied by a square frame, within which is the representation of a castle. On the sides of the frame are written

• 1. "Ardens guerra inter se. Flegiton Infernall Flode."
• 2. "Odium sine requie. Stix the Infernall Flode."
• 3. "Luctus perpetuus. Cochiton Infernall flode."
• 4. "Dolor & Dolus. Acheron the Infernall flode."

Above the Castle.

Blak been thi bankes and thi ripes also, Thou sorowfull see full of stremys blak, Wher Pluto kinge of Hell reigneth in wo, In his palais of pride with booste and crak, Neigbour to Scottes withoute any lak, With foure flodes furiouse infernall, Ebbynge & flowynge in the see boriall.

On the front of the building.

Odium ardens; luctus perpetuus; Dolor & Dolus.

Stix, Flegiton, Cochiton, and Acheron, Tho been foure flodes withoutyn any rest, Euer flowynge and ebbynge this see upon, With wyndes & wawes of the borials nest, That raise the flodes both be Est & be West, Blowyng mysrule thorowe Scotlond al & sum As scripture seith a borea omne malum.

Betuene the see of the West occion, And the hilles of Scotlonde occident, The wilde Scotrie have their propre mancion, Which dispose theym noone with an other assent, And the wilder thei been withoute regyment The soner muste thei be meked & tamed, Wilde haukes to hande than hennys rather been reclaymed.

Mr. Pinkerton, in his Modern Geography, (edit. 1807. vol. i. p. 149.) speaks of Hardyng's description of Scotland as "tolerably exact."

]

The. CC.xli. Chapiter.

¶ The kynges tytle to all his landes, briefely reported, with a mocyon [monicion. edit. alt.] to vnion Scotlande and Englande.

TO England haue ye right, as ye maye se By Brutus chronycle, Saxōs & Normās, To Wales y^e same, & Scotlād also [als.] perde, Who that the gifte and right well vnderstandes Of Iohn Bayloll, howe he into the handes Of kyng Edwarde it gaue and resygned, Why shulde it nowe be voyde and repygned?

¶ To Fraunce youre title is writen well & know, For saynte Lowis to you by hole discente, And Normandye all hole bothe hye and lowe Fro Willyam Conqueroure by hole entent, Guyen and Poytowe withall to them appent, For Elianour the mother of [to.] kyng Iohn, Doughter and heyre to duke Willyam anon [aloon.] .

¶ To Angeou also [als.] by Geffrey Plantagenet, Father of Henry le Fytz Empryce [de Emperice.] , That of Angeou was earle withouten let, And of Mayne also, a prynce of greate empryce, To Irelande also [als.] by kyng Henry le Fytz, Of Maude doughter of fyrste kyng Henry, That conquered it for theyr greate heresye.

¶ To Casteil and to Lion [Leon̄.] also [als.] ye been [Fol. CC.xxxiii.] [Thenheritour also and verie heire,] [The heritoure and als the verrey heire.] By right of bloodde discended clere and clene, Of Portyngale, wher Lusshborne is full faire, Fro kyng Petro [Petre.] without any dispeir; For tho twoo bee the verie regions [regioun.] , That named bee Castile and Legions [Legioun.] .

¶ Your graunsirez [grauntesire.] mother duchesse Isabell, Full lady like faire and femenine, To kyng Petro [Petre.] as I haue heard tell [well tell.] , Was verie heire of theim by rightfull lyne, To whom ye been heire as menne determyne: By small hackeneys greate coursers men chastice, As Arthure did by Scottes wanne all fraunchese.

¶ Though scripture saieth of North all eiuill is shewed, Me thynketh I can auaūte it as [als.] properly, That thei bee [beene.] as [beene.] manly, learned, and lewed, As any folke, and as muche pain maye dry, Better menne of warre [are not vnder the] [beth noone vnder.] skye; And of lyuyng, Dauid saieth in his boke Of Scotland [the North.] well, who so that will it loke [After this stanza the Harleian MS. has "Transtulit Deus Celum ab Austro & in virtute sua posuit Affricam."] .

¶ If Scotlād were youres to Wales & Englād, Who hath power to make you resistence In any wise, in any vncouth land; Youre rereward then [scant in all] [stondeth in̄.] sufficience, To kepe England surely in your absence, Make theim Albion [all oone.] and passe furth wher ye list To other landes, ye nede none other trist.

The. CC.xlii.

¶ Thexcusacion of the maker touchyng defautes of this booke, and of the simplenes of it.

OF all maters I haue saied myne entent, So as I couth espie & in all wise enquere, Whiche if it maye your highnes well cōtent, My hearte reioyseth to comfort your desire,

And of your grace euer[more] I you require, For to consider my losse [and] my mayme in fere, For Englandes right as well as I couth spere.

¶ Besechyng ay vnto your royaltee, If ought bee saied in this simple treatise, Displeasyng to your hie nobilitee, For to resume it in a better wise, Hauyng my witte excused, that neuer was wise; And thinke I would haue mēt [vn]to your plesaūce, To whiche I lacke nothyng but suffisaunce.

¶ Please it also vnto your royaltee, The quene maye haue a vereie intellecte Of your eldres of greate antiquitee, And of England, of whiche she is electe Soueraigne lady, full worthily protecte Vnder your rule and noble gouernaunce, Which God ay ke[pe without variaunce.]

¶ The whiche should please her good femenite, To reade vpon, for [her] comfort and disporte, To se and knowe the greate nobilite Of your eldres regalie and porte, Whiche maye her glad alwaye and recomforte; And if it maye please her souereingtie, Of my labour I would reioysed bee. [Fol. CC.xxxiiii.]

¶ For women haue femenine condicion, To know all thynges longyng to their housband, His high worship and his disposicion, His hertes counsaill also to [I.] vnderstonde, As at weddyng to her he made his bounde, And moste of all his hertes priuetie, And thestate of his good auncetrie.

¶ O souereigne lorde y^e quene hath all sufficiēce As touchyng you, but of your auncetrie, In this treatise of all their excellence, The quene maie se the worthy regence [regency.]

Of this your realme and noble monarchie, Whiche hath been kept in greate nobilitee, By your eldres of greate antiquitee.

¶ This booke I call after my name Hardyng, Sith God lent me that disposicion, To enforme hym that laboured the wrytyng By plain language of small prouision, Through Godes grace and his supposicion, All destitute of language and science, And desolate of rethoryke eloquence,

¶ Moste cause was why I drew this ilke treatise, To make your father haue had perfecte knowlage, And you also of Scotlande in all wise, That percell was of your eldest heritage, And of all landes moste nere your auauntage, To haue it whole, no more to bee dismembred, Whiche might bee gote, as it is afore remembred.

¶ I had it leuer then Fraunce and Normandy, And all your rightes that are beyonde the sea, For ye maye kepe it euer[more] full sikirly, Within your self and drede none enmytee, And other landes, without gold, menne, and fee, Ye maye not long re[ioyse, as hath been tolde,] For lightter bee [beene.] thei for to wynne, then holde.

¶ Your auncestres haue had, beyonde the see, Diuers landes, and lost theim all again, Sore [sone. edit. alt.] gotten sone lost, what auaileth suche roialte, But labour and cost, greate losse of menne & pain? For ay before, with treason or with train, And want of gold, was lost within a yere, That we had gote in tenne, as dooeth appere.

¶ [How the maker of this booke reporteth the distaunce and miles of the tounes in Scotland, and y^e waye how to conueigh an armie aswell by lande as water, into the chefest partes therof.

NOWE to expresse vnto your noble grace The verie waye bothe by sea & land, With the distaunce of tounes and euery myles space, Through the chefest parte of all Scotland, To conueigh an armie that ye maye take in hand, Herafter shall folowe in as good ordre as I maye, The true discripcion, and distaunce of the waye. [Fol. CC.xxxv.]

¶ From Berwike to Dōbarre twenty miles it is, [Frō Barwyke to Dōbarre. xx. Haddingtoūe xii. Edēburgh xii. Lythko xii. Sterlyng xii. Frō Edēburgh to Leith. i. to Blaknesse. ix. to Sterling. xiiii.] And twelfe [twenty. edit. alt.] miles forward vnto Haddyngtoune, And twelfe miles frō thēse to Edenburgh I wisse, To Lithko twelfe, and so Northwest to Bowne, Twelfe miles it is vnto Sterlyng toune Besouth Foorth, that ryuer principall, Of right faire waye, and plentifull atall,

¶ Wher y^t your nauy at Leith may rest saufly, With all your vitayles, a mile from Edenburgh, And after at the Blaknesse, whiles as ye ly, At Sterlyng toune, whiche is the kynges burgh, And wynne that shire, all whole out through: So shall your nauy, at your necessitee, Bee at your hand still, your army to supplie.

¶ From Sterlyng then ouer the riuer of Foorth, [Frō Sterlyng to y^e doune of Monteth. iiii.] Passe alongest the brydge to Camskinelle, And if it bee broken toward the North, Vnto the foorde of Tirps vnder the fell; Thē spede you westward, thre miles as mēne tell, Wher ye maye passe to the downe of Menteth, Whiche passeth from y^t Foorth thre miles vnneth.

¶ Then frō the downe, a waie ye haue right faire, [Frō Sterlynge to Falklād. xxx.] Through out Monteth, & eke Clakmannam shire, And so through Fiffe to Falke land to repaire, Thirty long miles, without mosse or myre: For so it is compted, with horse and carte to hyre, From Sterlyng eastward, & the highe oyghylles, Whiche some mēne call mōtaignes, & some felles.

¶ From Falkland thā to Disert towne, South East, Twelfe myles it is, of fayre ready waye, And from Falkland to Saynte Andrewes, East, But other. xii. myles, wythouten anye naye, Wher the byshoppes see is, and castell as thei say, And at Kyngorne, and Disert may ye meete, You for to vytayle al youre Englysh fleete.

¶ Than ride Northwest from S. Andrewes towne, Alongest the South syde of the water of Taye, Vp to the burgh of Saynte Ihons towne, Right North from Fyfe, a countree freshe and gay, And from saynt Androws. xxiiii. myles they say, A pleasant grounde and fruitfull countrey Of corne and cattel, with prosperitie.

¶ Which countrey of Fyfe along the Scottish sea, And from saynt Androws, to the oyghles, they say, Is. xliiii. myles longe of good countrey, And somtyme in bredth. vi. myles of fayre way; But from Logh Leuen Eastward, without nay, Of ryght good way, briefly to conclude, Xii. myles conteyne it dothe in latitude.

At Ennerkethen and Saynt Margarete, I hope Your nauy maye receaue vytayle in that countre, A longest the water of Foorth, as I can grope, Wyth hulke, and barge, of no smal quantite, You to supporte in your necessytee, So that ye maye not in those countryes fayle To haue for your armye redye vytayle.

¶ Thē to S. Ihons towne, vpon the water of Tay, [Fol. CC.xxxvi.] Within Strathren, that standeth fayre & stronge, Dytched about, syxtene foote depe, I saye, And. xx. foote on breadthe ouerwhart to fonge, Yt is Northest. xx. myles full longe; And nere to Scone abbay, within myles thre, Wher alwayes thei crowne their kinges maieste.

Whyche water of Tay is so nauygable, From the East sea to Saynt Ihons toune,

For all suche shippes as bee able Fortie tunne of wyne to cary vp and doune, For vitallyng and keping of the toune; Vnto the whych so floweth the water of Taye, That all the dytches it fylleth nighte and daye.

At the whych toune passe ouer the brydge ye shall With al your armye, hostyng through that land; Wher in Angus, that countree pryncypall, The Kerfe of Gowry doth lye I vnderstand, A plentifull countree, I you warrande, Of corne and catell, and all commoditees, You to supporte in your necessytees.

Betwyxt the mounthes and the water of Tay, Whych some do cal mountaynes in our lāguage, Passe eastwarde with your army daye by daye, Frome place to place with small cariage, For your nauy shall you mete in that viage, At Portincragge, shorte waye from Dunde, With vitailes to refreshe your whole armye;

Beside the stuffe and vitaile of that lande, Which ye shall fynde in the countre as ye go, And market made alwayes to your hande, Of all theyr vytayles, althoughe they bee your fo. Now from S. Ihons towne, the soothe to say is so, Xviii. myles it is to the towne of Dundye, The pryncypall burgh, by Northe the Scotyshe see.

¶ Than ryde Northeast all alongest the see, Ryght from Dumber to Arbroith as I mene, Than to Monrosse, and to Baruye, And so through the Meernes to Cowy as I wene, Then. xii. myles of moore passe to Aberdyne, Betwyxt Dee and Donea goodly cytee, A marchaunt towne and vniuersytee.

¶ Of the whych waye. xxx. myles there is, Of good corne lande, and. xx. large extente,

Full of catell and other goodes I wysse, As to moore lande and heth dothe wele appente, From Brichan cytee to the orient, Where doothe stande vpon the see, A goodly porte and hauen for your nauye.

¶ Where that the same may easely you mete, To vitayle your armye, whersoeuer ye go, Ouer all the mountaynes, drye mosses and wete, Wher the wild Scottes do dwel, than passe vnto, That is in Mare and Garioth also, In Athill, Rosse, Sutherland, and Chatnesse, Mureffe, Lenox, and out ysles I gesse.

¶ And when ye haue that lande hole conquered, Returne agayne vnto Striuelyne, And from thence to Glasco homewarde, Twenty and foure myles to S. Mongos shrine, Wherw^t your offeryng ye shall frō thence decline, [Fol. CC.xxxvii.] And passe on forthwarde to Dumbertayne, A castell stronge and harde for to obteine.

¶ In whiche castell S. Patryke was borne, That afterwarde in Irelande dyd wynne, About the whyche floweth, euen and morne, The westerne seas without noyse or dynne, When forth of the same the streames dooe rynne, Twyse in. xxiiii. houres, without any fayle, That no man may that stronge castell assayle.

¶ Vpon a rocke so hye the same dothe stande, That yf the walles were beaten to the roche, Yet were it full harde to clymbe with foot or hand, And so to wynne, yf any to them approche, So strong it is to get without reproche; That without honger and cruell famyshemente, Yt cannot bee taken to my iudgemente.

¶ Than from Glasgo to the towne of Ayre, Are twentie myles and foure wele accompted,

A good countree for your armye euery where, And plenteous also, by many one recounted, For there I was, and at the same I mounted, Towarde Lamarke towne. xxiiii. myles, Homeward trudging for feare of Scottish giles.

¶ From the towne of Ayre in Kyle to Galloway, Through Carryct passe vnto Nithysdayle, Where Dumfryse is a pretye towne alwaye, And plentifull also of all good vytayle For all your army, wythout any fayle; So that kepyng this iourney, by my instruccion, That realme ye shall bring in subieccion.

¶ Then from Domfrise to Carlill, ye shall ride Xxiiii. miles of veray redy waye; So maye ye wynne the lande on euery syde, Within a yere, withouten more delaye: For castelles there is none, y^t withstande you may, Nor abide your seage against your ordinaunce, So simple and weake is their purueiaunce.

¶ And yf ye like, good lorde, at home to abide, With litell cost your wardens ye may sende, Charging theim all, with hostes for to ride, In proper persone, through wynter to thende, With morow forraies they may them sore offend, And burne Iedburgh, Hawike, Melrose, & Lāder, Codingham, Donglasse, & the toune of Dombarre.

¶ Then send an hoste of footemen in At Lammesse next, through all Lawdendayle, And Lāmermore woddes and mossis ouer rynne, And eke therwith the Stowe of Weddale, Melrose lande, Etryke forrest, and Tyuydale, Lyddisdale, Ewysdale, and the Ryngwodfelde, To the Creke Crosse, that ryden is full selde.

¶ The wardens then of bothe the marches twoo, To bee their stayle and eke their castelles strong,

Then to reskewe from enemies wher euer thei go With fleyng stayles, to folowe theim ay emong, Les nor then foes theim suppresse and fong, And euery night to releue to the hoste, [Fol. CC.xxxviii.] And lodge together all vpon a coast.

¶ And also than at the next Myghelmesse, The West warden to Domfryse ryde he maye, Four and twentie myles from Carelyl as I gesse, And than passe forthwarde through Galowaye To Carricke after, into good araye, And then from thence to the towne of Ayre In Kile, that countree, plentifull, and fayre.

¶ Nexte than from Ayre vnto Glasgew go, A goodly cytee and vniuersitee, Where plentifull is the countree also, Replenished well with all commoditee; There maye the warden of the East marche bee, And mete the other twayne as I wene, Within tenne dayes, or at the moost fyftene.

¶ The thyrde army from Barwyke passe it shall Through Dumbarre, Edenburgh, and Lythko, And then to Sterlyng, with their power al, And nexte from that vnto Glasgo Standyng vpon Clyde, and where also Of corne and cattell is aboundaunce, Youre armye to vittayle at al suffysaunce.

¶ Thus these thre armies at Glasgew shal mete, Well arayed in theyr armour clene, Which hōward frō thēce thei shal returne cōplete, Four and twentie myles to Lamarke so shene, To Pebles on Twede, is syxtene myles I wene, To Soltray as muche, thā twētie miles w^t spede, From thence returne they shal to Wark on Twede.

Within a moneth this lande maye bee destroyed, All a South forth if wardens wyll assent,

So that our enemies shal bee sore annoied, And wasted bee, and eke for euer shent: If wardens thus woorke, after mine intent, They maye well quenche the cruell enmitee This daye by South all the Scottishe see.

¶ Now of this matter I haue sayed mine intent, Like as I could espye and diligently inquire, Whiche if it maye your highnesse well content, It is the thing that I hartely desire; And of your grace no more I dooe require, But that your grace will take in good parte, Not only my peines, but also my true harte.] [The whole of this Section from p. 422. is omitted in the Harleian MS.]