Here begynneth a shorte and abreue table on the Cronycles ...

¶Circa annū dm̄ .CCCC.xlix.
¶How the wardeyns that had those chyl∣dern to kepe that were Constanstynes / lad∣de theym to lytell Brytayne / for the trea∣son and the falsenesse of vortiger. Hyre begynneth the fyfth parte durynge to the comyn∣ge of the Danes.

[ Engist.]

[illustration]

THys tyme ca∣me y^e. Saxons that were pagans fyr∣ste in to Brytane now called. Englonde vn∣der vortiger the why∣che was crowned kin∣ge of this londe. This tyme those y^t had these two childern in kepin∣ge y^e whyche were Cō∣stantynes sons. That is to saye Aurilambros and vter / thrugh ordynance of Gosselin that was bysshop of. London after the faders deth that is to saye. Constantyne durst not dwelle in this londe with those childern / but conuey∣ed them vnto the kynge of lytell Brytayne. For as moche as he tho wist the treason of vor¦tiger that tho was made kynge. Thorugh who me. Constance the elder brother was slayne / wherfore the hondred knyght{is} of Pehites we∣re put to dethe and bore all the blame as that vortiger hadde not wyst ther of ne consented. And so the kepers of those two chyldern drad¦de lest vortiger sholde put them to deth thrugh his treason and falsenesse / As he had done the brother before. And therfore they were ladde ouer in to lytell. Brytayn / and the kyng them receyued with moche honour and lete them to nourysshe. And there they dwelled tyll they be¦came fayre knyght{is} & stronge and fyers. And thourght to be auenged vpon Constaunce the¦yr brother whan they sawe theyr tyme and so they dyde as ye shalle here telle after warde. ¶It was not longe after warde that y^e tydyn¦ges came ouersee to y^e kynred of the hondred knyght{is} of Pehites that were dampned & put

to deth thrugh Vortiger in thys londe / therfo∣re they were wonderly wrothe and swore that they wolde be auenged of theyr kynnes mens deth. And came in to this londe with a greate power / and robbed in many places / & slewe & dyde all y^e sorowe that they myght. whan Vor¦tiger it wyst / he made moche sorowe and was sore anoyed / And in an other place also tydyn¦ges came to hym that Aurilambros and Vter his brother assembled a grete hoste to came in to moche Brytayne / that is to saye in to thys londe / for to be auenged vpon Constance the¦yr brothers deth. Soo in that one half and in that other / he was brougho in to so moche so∣rowe that he ne wyst whether to go.

¶How Engist and an .xi. thousande mē ca¦me in to this londe / to whom vortiger yaue a place that is callde Thongcastell.

[illustration]

ANd soone after this sorowe / tydinges came to vortyger that a grete nauy of straūgers were arryued in y^e coūtree of Cent / he wyst not whēs they were ne wherfore they were come in to this londe. ¶The kynge sent anone a messager thyder / that some of sholde come and speke wyth hym / for to wyte what folke they wert and what they axed / and in to what coūtree they wolde. ¶There were two brethern maysters and prynces of that stron∣ge company / that one was called Engist and that other Horne. Engist wente to the kynge and tolde hym the cause wherfore / they were come in to this londe and sayde. Syrewe ben of a countree that is called Saxonne / that is y^e londe of Germayne / wheryn ys so moche soro¦we / That of the people ben soo many that the londe maye not them susteynes. And the may∣sters and prynces that haue y^e londe to gouer∣ne and rule. They made to come before them men and wymmen that boldest ben amonge theym for to fyghte / and that beste maye tra∣uayll in to dyuerse londes. And soo they sholde them yeue horse and harnes / armour / and all thynge that they nedeth. And after they shall saye to them / that they go in to an other coun¦tree where that they mowelyue / as theyr And cetrees dyde them before. ¶And therfore syr kynge / yf ye haue ought to doo wyth our com∣pany: we ben comen in to youre londe: And wyth good wylle you wolde serue your londe kepe helpe and defende from your enmyes yf that ye nede. ¶whan vortyger herde these ty∣dynges: he sayde gladly he wolde theym wyth holde: vppon suche couenanuce: yf they my∣ghte delyuer hys londe of hys enmyes: he wol∣de yeue theym resonable lōdes where they shol¦de dwelle for euer more. ¶Engyst thanked hym goodly: and in thys maner he and his cō∣pany a .xi. thousande sholde dwelle wyth the kynge vortiger. And moche they dyde thrugh theyr boldenesse: they delyuered hys londe of his enmyes clene. ¶Tho prayed Engyst the kynge of so moche londe that he myghte ma∣ke to hym a Cyte and for hys meyne. ¶The kynge answered / it was not to doo wythoute the coancell of Brytons. ¶Engist prayed hym eftsones of as moche plyce as he myghte compace with a thonge of a skyn̄e wherupon he myghte make a. Mancer for hym to dwelle in. And the kynge hym graunted freely.

¶Tho toke Engist a bulles skynne / and kyt¦te it as sma••e as he myghte all in to oo thonge all a roūde. And ther with compaced he as mo¦che londe as he myght then̄e make vpon a fay¦re castell. And so whan this castell was made / he lett calle it Thongcastell for as moche as y^e place was marked with a thonge.

¶Of Ronowen that was Engistes douhter / and how the kynge Vorei¦ger spowsed her for her beaute.

SO whan this castell was made / & full well arayed. Engist pryuely dyd sende by letter ī to y^e coūtree where he cam fro / after an .C. shyppes fylled with men y^e were strong & also well fyghtynge in all bataylles / & y^e they

sholde also brynge wyth them. Ronowen hys doughter that the fayrest creture that a man myghte see. ¶And whan those people were. come that he hadde sente after / he tooke them in to the castell wyth moche. Ioye. And hym∣self vpon a daye went vnto the kynge / & pray¦ed hym there worthely that he wolde come and see hys newe maneer that he had made in the place y^t he had compassed wyth the thonge of the skynne. The kynge anone graunted hym frely. And with hym went thyder / & was well apayed wyth the castell & wyth the fayr werke and togyder they ete and dranke wyth moche Ioye. And whan nyght came that the kyng- Vortiger sholde go in to hys chambre to take there hys nyghtes reste. Ronowen y^t was En∣gistes doughter came wyth cuppe of golde in her honde / and kneled before the kynge & sayd to hym (wassaylle) And the kynge knewe not what it was for to meane ne what he shold an¦swere there vpon / for as moche as hymself / ne none of all his Brytons coude noo Englysshe spese ne vnderstonde it / but he spake in the sa∣me langage that. Brytons done yet. Neuer∣theles a latiner tolde it to the kynge the full vn¦derstandynge therof (wassayll) and that other sholde drynke (hayll) And that was the fyrste tyme that (wasshayll) and (drynkhall) came vp in this londe. And frome y^e tyme vnto thys tyme / it is well vsed in this londe. ¶The kyn¦ge Vortiger sawe the fayrnesse of Ronowen / & his armes layde about her necke / & thryes swe¦tely kyssed her / & anone ryght he was enamou∣red vpon her y^t he desyred to haue her to wyf & asked of Engist her fader. And Engist graun∣ted hym vpon this couenaūt / y^t the kyng shol∣de yeue him all the coūtree of kent / that he the∣re myghte dwelle in and hys people. The kyn¦ge hym graunted pryuely wyth a good wylle. And anone he spowsed y^e damoysell / and that was moche confusyon to hymselfe. And ther¦fore alle the. Brytons became soo wrothe / for by cause he spowsed a woman of mysbyleue. wherfore they wente all frome hym / and noo thynge to hym tooke / ne halpe hym in thynge that he had to done.

¶How Vortimer that was Vortigers so∣ne was made kynge / & Engist dryuen out. And how Vortimer was slayne.

THis Engist wente in to Kente and sea∣sed all y^e londe in to his honde for hym and for his men / & bycame with a lytyll why¦le of soo grete power and so moche people had¦de / that men wyste not lytell tyme whyche we∣re the kyng{is} men and whyche were Engistes men. wherfore all the Brytons hadde of hym dredde / and sayd amōges theym. But yf that they ne toke other counseyll bytwene them all the londe sholde be bytrayed thrugh Engist & his people. ¶Vortiger the kyng had begoten on his fyrst wyf thre sones. The fyrst was cal∣led vortimer. The seconde Catagien / and the thyrde Passent. ¶The Brytons euerychont by one assent chose vortimer to be theyr lod & souerayne / and counseyler in euery batayll / & crowned hym and made hym kynge / & wolde not suffre vortiger no lenger to regne / for cau∣se of the alyaunce betwixt Engist and hym. ¶The Brytons ordeyned a grete host to dry∣ue out Engist and his company of the londe / and yaue hym thre bataylles. The fyrste was in Kente there he was lorde / the seconde was at. Tetforde / and the thyrde in a shyre a thys half Colchestre in a more. And in this batayll theym mette. Catagien and. Horne. Engistes brother / so that eche of thym slewe other· but for as moche as the countree was yeuen lon∣ge befor to horne thrugh vortiger tho ••e spow¦sed his cosyn / there he made a fayr castell that is called Horne castell after his owne name. And vortiger was so anoyed for his brothers dethe / that anone he lete fell downe the castell to the grounde. And after he ne lefte nyght ne daye tyll he had dryuen out. Engist & his peo∣ple of the londe. And then̄e Ronowen his dou∣ghter made sorow ynogh. And quen••ely spa∣ke to them that were nexte the kyng vortimer and pryuyest with hym. And so moche she ga∣ue hym of gyftes / that he was enpoysoned & deyed at London the fourth yere of hys regne and there he lyeth

¶How the. Brytons chose an other tyme Vortiger to be theyr kynge / &. Engist came in to this londe / and how they fought togyders.

AFter vortimers dethe: the Brytons by theyr comyn assēt eft sones made vor∣tiger theyr kynge vpon this couenaunt: that he sholde neuer after suffre. Engist ne none of his eft sones to come ī to this londe And whā all this was done. Ronowen the quene pryue∣ly sente by letter to. Engist that she hadde en. poysoned vortimer: and that vortiger her lor¦de

bare ayen y^e crowne and regned. And that he sholde come ayen in to this londe well aray¦ed wyth moche people for to auenge hym vp∣pon the Brytons and for to wynne this londe ayen. ¶And whan Engist herde these tydyn∣ges / he made grete Ioy. And appareylled hym hastely with .xv. thousande men / y^t were deu∣ghty in euery batayll / & came in to this londe And whan vortyger herde telle that. Engyst was come ayen wyth a grete power in to thys londe / he assembled hys. Brytons / & tho went ayenst Engyst for to yeue hym Batayll & hys folke. But Engist dradde hym sore of the Bry¦tons for they had dryuen hym before & discom¦fyted hym with strēgth. wherfore this Engist prayed hym for a loue daye / & sayd he was not comen in to this londe for to fyght / but for to haue hys lond ayen yf he myght accorde with the. Brytons / & of them to haue loue and grace The kynge Vortiger thrugh counseyll of hys Brytons graūted hym a loue daye. And thus it was ordeyned thrugh the Brytons / y^t the sa¦me daye sholde be holden fast besyde Salysbu¦ry vpon a hylle. And Engyst sholde come thy∣der with four hordred kdnghtes without moo And the kyng with as many of the wysest men of hys londe· And at that daye the kynge came with his coūseyll as it was ordeyned / but En¦gist had warned hys knyghtes pryuely / & then conmaunded that euery one of them shold put a longe knyf in hys hose. And whan he sayde Fayre syres now ys tyme to speke of loue & pe∣as euery man Anone shold drawe out hys kyn¦ue & slee a Bryton. And so they slewe. a M.lxi. knyghtes / & wyth moche sorowe many of them escaped. And the kyng vortyger there hymself tho was taken / & ladde to Thongcastell & put in pryson. And some of Engystes men wolde that the kynge had be brente alle quycke And vortiger tho for to haue hys lyf / graūted them as moche as they wolde are / & yaue vp all the londe townes / castelles / cytees / & borughs to Engist and to his folke. And all the Brytons fledde thes in to waiys / and there they helde them styll. And Engyst wente thorugh the lon¦de and seased all the londe / wyth fraunchyles And in euery place lete cast a downe chyrches and houses of Relygyon / And wasted and de∣stroyed crystendome thrughout all thys londe And lete ••aunge y^e nam of thys lond called bry¦tayne: that noo man of hys were soo hardy af∣ter that tyme to calle this lōde Brytayne: but calle Engist londe. And then ne he departed all the londe to hys men: and there made .vii. kynges for to strength the londe that the Bry¦tons sholde neuer after come therem. ¶The fyrst kyngdome was Kent: there that Engist hymself regned: and was lorde & mayster ouer al y^e other. ¶The other kyng had Southsex y^t now is called chychestre ¶The thyrdet kyng had westsex. ¶The fourth had Eestsex. The fyfth had Estangill: y^t now is called Northfol¦ke Southfolke. Merchemeryk: that ys to saye therldome of Nycholl. ¶The sixth had Ley∣cheter shyre. Northampton shyre. Herforde: and Huntyngdon. ¶The seuenth hadde Ox enforde. Glouchestre. wynchestre. wer wyke∣and Derbyshyre.

¶How that Vortyger wente in to walys & beganne there castell y^t wolde not stande wyth out morter tempred wyth blood.

AS Engist had departed all the lond in thys maner bytwene hys men: and in lyuerde vortyger out of pryson & suffred hym freely to go whyther that he wolde. And he to∣ke his waye and wente in to walys there that his Brytons dwelled: for as moche as y^e londe was stronge & wycked to wynne. And Engyst ••neuer came therene neuer knew it before that londe. ¶Vortiger helde hym there wyth hys Bratons / and axed counseyll what hym was best to do. And they yaue hym counseyll to ma¦ke a stronge castell that hym myghte hymself there in kepe and defende yf nede were. Ma••e sons in haste tho were fette / & began to werke vpon y^e hylle of Breigh / but certes thus it be∣fell that all the werke that the masons made a daye downe it felle the nyght / and they wyste not what it myght be. Ther of the kynge was sore anoyed of that chaunce & wyste not what to do. werfore he lette sende after the wysest clerkes & also lerned men than were thorugh out walys that myght be foude / for they shol∣de tell wherfore y^e foūdament so fayled vnder the werke / and they sholde hym tell what was best for to doo. And whan these wyse men lon∣ge tyme had studyed they sayde to the kynge / that he sholde doo seke a chylde borne of a wo∣man that neuer had with man to do And that chylde sholde be slayne / and tempred with his blood the morter of the werke. And soo sholde the werke euer endure withouten ende.

¶How the kynge lette seke. Merlyn thorugh out all walys / for to speke wyth hym.

AS the kynge herde this he commaun∣ded his messagers anone to go thrugh out walys to seke that chylde yf they myghte hym fynde / and that they sholde hym brynge forthe with them vnto hym. And in recorde & in wytnesse of thys kynge he hadde take them his letters that they ne were distroubled of no▪ man ne lette. And tho the messengers wente thens / and spedde soo faste that they came in to a towne that was called Carmardyne / and as they passed for the theyr waye they founde two chyldern of .xxiiii· yere of aege thydynge togyder with hasty wordes. And one of them sayde to that other Donebat sayde he ye do all wronge to chyde or stryue with me for ye haue no wytte ne no reason as I haue. Certes mer∣lyn sayde he / of your wytte ne youre reson. I make no force. For men telle comynly that ye haue no thynge of god all myghty syth ye had neuer fader / But euery man knoweth who was youre moder. ¶The messengers of the kynge vortiger whan they herde the stryue be∣twixt the two gromes they axed of them that stode besyde them whens that· Marlyn was borne / and also whom hym nourysshed. And the folke them tolde / that a greate gentyll wo∣man hym bare in. Carmadyne that was cal∣led Adhanr But neuer myght noth man wyte who was his fader. ¶whan the kynges mes∣sengers herde these tydynges they wente ano∣ne to hym that was wardeyne of the towne & tolde hym the kyng{is} wyll and shewed hym his leter wherfore they were come thyder.

¶Merlyn and his moder were fetched be∣fore the wardeyne of the towne. And he com∣maunded them that they sholde go to the kyn∣ge as it was ordeyned by his messagers. Mer∣lyn and his moder wente thens and came vn∣to y^e kynge and there they were receyued with moche honour. And the kynge axed of that la∣dy yf y^e chylde were her sone & whome hym be gate. The lady answered full tenderly wepyn¦ge and sayde. She neuer hadde company of worldly man. But syr sayde she As I was a yonge mayden in my faders chambre / and o∣ther of greate lygnage were in my company / that oftentymes wente to place and solace. I belefte alone in my chambre / wolde not goo ••orthe for bernnynge of the sonne. And on•• tyme there came a fayre bacheler and entred in my chambre there that I was alone. But how he came in to me / and where. I wyst it ne¦uer \ ne yet knowe I not. For the doores were fast barred and with me he dyde game of loue For I ne had myght ne power / hym to defen- from me. And often he came vnto me in y^e for∣sayd maner / so that he begate this childe. But neuer myght I wyte what he was.

¶Of the answere of Merlyn wherfore the kynge axed why his castel myght not stonde that he had begonne ne proue.

SO whan Merlyn hadde herde all that his moder hadde sayd. He spake to the kynge in this maner. ¶Syre how I was begoten axe ye no more For it be falleth not to you ne to none other to wyte. But telle me the cause wherfore I am to you brought & wher∣fore ye haue sente after me. ¶Truely sayd the kyng / my wyse couseyllers haue done me to vnderstode / y^t y^e morter of a werke that I haue begonne / behouety to be thempred with your blood / or the foundament shall fayle for euer more. ¶Syr sayd Merlyn. wyll ye slee me for my blood to tempre with your morter. ye sayd the kyng / or elles my castell shall neuer stande as my coūseyllers do me to vnderstonde Tho- answerd Merlyn to the kyng. Syr he sayd he sayd / lete them come before me those wyse coū¦seylles & I woll preu they saye not well ne tru∣ly. And whan y^e wyse men were comen. Mer∣lyn axed yf his blod were y^e cause to make this werke to stōde & endure. All tho wyse men we∣re abasshed & coude not answere. Merlyn tho sayd to the kynge. Syr I shall tell you y^e cause wherfore your werke thus fayleth & may no•• stande. There is vnder the moūtayne there y^t ye haue buylded youre toure a grete ponde of water & ī y^e botome of y^e ponde vnder y^e water there ben two dragons / & y^e one is whyte & y^e o¦ther reede / y^e fyght togyd ayēst your werke do ye myne depe eyll your men come to y^e pond / & cause your men to take a way y^e water all out / & thenne ye shall see y^e dragans as I haue you tolde y^e togyder fyght ayēst your werke & this is the cause wherfor your foūdament fayleth The kynge anone lete dygge vnder that men came to the ponde / And lette doo a waye the water / and there they founde two dragons as Merlyn had tolde that egerly fought togyder The whyte dragon egerly assayled the reede

and lyadde on hym so strongely that he myght not endure / but withdrewe hym and rested in the same caue. And whā he had a whyle rested hym / he wente before & assayled the reede dra∣gon angerly / & helde hym soo sore y^t he myght not ayenste hym endure / but withdrewe hym & rested And after came ayen y^e whyte dragon and strongly fought wyth the reede dragon. & bote hym euyl & ouercame. that he fledde from thens and nomore came agayne.

¶Of the sygnycacyon of those two dragons that were in the botome of the ponde that fought togyder

THis kynge vortyger and hys men that sawe thys batayll had grete meruaysle and prayed Merlyn to tell him what it myght betoken. Syr quod Merlyn I shall telle you. The reede dragon betokeneth yourselfe / and the whyte betokeneth the folke of Saxon that fyrste ye toke & helde in your londe that fyght ayenst you / and you haue dryuen & enchaced. ¶But Brytons of ynure lygnage ouercame them and droue them a waye And sythen at y^e comynge ayen of the Saxons they recouered this londe and helde it for euer more. And dro¦ue out the Brytons and dyde wyth this londe all they wyll / and destroyed crystēdom thrugh out thys londe. ye had fyrste grete Ioye wyth theyr comynge / But now yt ys torned to you grete damage and sorowe. For tho brethern of Constance that was kynge the whiche ye le¦te slee shal come before a quīzeme passed with a grete power from lytell Brytayne / & shall a¦uenge the deth of theyr brother. And they shal brenne you fyrst wyth sorowe / and after they shall slee a grete parte of Saxons / & shall dry∣ue out all the remenaūt of the londe. And ther¦fore abyde ye here noo lenger to make castell nor other werke. But anone goo elles where youre lyues alle for to saue. To god I you betake / trouthe I haue sayde to you of thyn∣ges that shalle befalle. ¶And vnderstande ye welle that Aurilambros shalle be kynge But he shalle be enpoysoned / and lytell tyme shall he regne

¶Of kynge Aurilambros how that he pursued vortiger and Engist and how they deyed.

MErlyn and hys moder departed frome the kynge / and torned agayne to Car∣mardyn. And soone after tydynges came to y^e Brytons that Aurilambros and vter his bro¦ther were arryued at Totnesse wyth a greate hoste / And anone the Brytons assembled thē and wente to receyue Aurylambros and Vter wyth grete noblesse. And had them vnto Lon¦don / and crowned Aurylambros & made hym kynge / and dyde vnto hym homage. And ano¦ne he axed where. Vortyger that was kynge myght be founde / for he wolde be auenged on his brothers dethe / and after he wolde warre vpon paynems. And they tolde hym that Vor¦tyger was in walys / & soo they ladde hym thy¦ther warde. ¶Vortiger wyste welle that tho brethern came hym to conquere / And fledde thens in to a castell that was called. Gerneth that stode vppon an hyght mountayne / and there hym helde. Aurilambros and Vter hys brother and theyr folke had besyeged the ca∣stell full long tyme / for the cagell was stron∣ge and well arrayed. ¶So at the laste they ca¦sted wylde fyre and brente howses and men & all theyr araye: and as moche as was wythin the castell. Soo that Vortiger was brente a∣monge all other: and soo he deyde wyth moche sorowe. ¶Tho was Engist in Kente and reg¦ned there: ane herde thys tydynges: and ano∣ne fledde and wolde haue gone in to Scotlon¦de for to haue had socoure. But Aurilambros and his men mette with hym in the north coū¦tre and yane hym batayl. And Engist and his men defended whyles that they myghte. But he and his folke were discomfyted and slayne And Octa his sone fledde vnto yorke. And Au¦rilambros hym folowed egerly. And. Octa a lytell whyle withstode hym: But after warde he put hym to his mercy. And aurilambros re¦ceyued hym: and to hym and to hys men gaaf∣the countree of Galewaye in. Scotlonde: and there they dwelled. ¶The kyng aurilambros wente thorugh out the londe: and put awaye the name of. Englonde: that. Engist after hys name had called it befoere. Tho lete he it calle agayne grete. Brytayne: and lete make ayen cherches: houses of religyon: castelles: cytees and broughs. And towones that the. Saxons hadde destroyed. And came to London: and le¦te make the walles of the cyte: whyche Engist and his folke hadde castedowne. ¶The Bry¦tons ladde hym vnto the mount of. Ambrian that somtyme was an hous of relygyon: that tho was destroyed thrughe the paynems:

¶wherof a knyght that was called Ambri sometyme was founder of that house. And ther¦fore the same hylle was called the mount of. Ambrian. And after it was called. Ambresbu∣ry. And shall be so for euermore••.

¶How Aurilambros dyde redresse the londe of greate Brytayne / that whyche was destroyed thorugh the Saxons before sayde.

HOw the kynge Aurilambros lete amen¦de and redresse the house of Ambresbu∣ry / and there in put monkes. But now there ben Nonnes a lytell fro the place that was cal¦led Salysbury / are that the Saxons slewe the Brytons / where Engist and they shold haue made a laue daye. In the whyche tyme were slayne a thousande knyghtes .lxi. thrugh trea∣son of Engist· The kynge therof had grete py¦te and thoughte to make in mynde of them a monument of stone that myght endure to the worldes ende. And of thys thynge they tooke ther counseyll what therof was best for to do. ¶Tho spake to the kynge the bysshop of Lon¦don that was called Ternekyn that he sholde requyre after. Merlyn. For he coude best telle how this thyng myght best be made. And mer¦lyn after was sought and founde and came to the kyng. And the kynge tolde hym hys wyll of the monumente that he wolde haue made. Merlyn answered to the kynge & sayd. There ben grete stones in Irlonde and longe vpon the hylle of Kyan that men called. Gyauntes karoll. And yf they were in this place as they ben there / they wolde endure for eurer more in remembraunce of those knyghtes that here be entyred. ¶Per may foy sayd the kynge as har¦de stone ben in my londe as in Irlonde.

¶Soth sayde Merlyn. But in all your londe ben none suche. For gaūtes sette them for gre∣te good of themself. For atte euery tyme that they were woūde or in ony maner hurte / they wysshe the stones with hote water / And then∣ne they wysshe them ther with and anone they were hoole.

¶How the Brytons wente for to seke the grete stones in Irlonde.

AS soone as the. Brytons had herde of this thynge / they yede and swore amō¦ge them they wolde go seke those stones. And toke with them. Vter the kynges broder to be thyef capytayne and .v. thousande men / and Merlyn counselled them for to go vnto Irlon¦de and soo thye dyde / And whan the kynge of Irlonde that was culled Guillomer herde tell straungers were arryued in his londe / he assē¦bled a grete power & fought ayenst them But he & his folke were dyscomfyted. ¶The Bry∣tons went before tyll they came to the mount of Kyan / and clymmed vp vnto the mounte. But whan they sawe the stones & the maner how they stode / they had grete meruaylle and sayde bytwene themself / that noo man sholde them remeue for noo strengthe ne engyne soo grete they were and soo longe. But. Merlyn thrugh his crafte he remeued them and brou∣ghte them in to theyr shyppes and came ayen in to thys londe. And Merlyn sette the stones there that the kyng wolde haue them. And set∣te them in the same manner that they stode in Irlonde / and whan y^e kynge sawe that it was made he thanked Merlyn / And rychely hym rewarded at his owne wyll. And that place le¦te calle Stonhenge for euer more.

¶How Passent that was Vortigers sone and the kynge Guillomer came in to thys londe / and how a traytour that was called Cappa enpoysoned y^e kynge Aurilambros.

ANd men shall vnderstonde that Pas∣sent that was Vortigers sone lyued y^e same tyme / and came in to thys londe wyth a grete power / and arryued in the north coūtre & wolde be auēged of his faders deth Vortiger and strongely trusted vpon the company that he had brought wyth hym out of the londe of Germayne / and had conquered all the North countree vnto yorke. ¶And whan kynge Au∣rilambros herde this he assemled a grete pow¦er of Brytons & went for to fyght with passēt & he dyscomfyted Passent & all his peple. but Passent escaped thens with some of his men / & fledde thens in to Irlonde & come to kynge Guillomer & prayed hym of helpe and socour. The kynge graūted hym with good wyll and sayde / that he wolde helpe hym / vppon that couenaunt that I my selfe muste go with you with all my power in to brytayne. And I wol∣de me aduenge vpon the Broytons the rather for they came in to my londe & toke the stones with strength that is called Gyauntes karoll ¶The kyng Guillomer lete ordeyne his ship¦pes & went to the see with .xv. thousāde men

and arryued in walys & began to robbe / & mo¦che sorowe he dyde. ¶It befell so that kynge Aurilambros laye syke at wynchestre / & my∣ghte not helpe hym self. So that he sente in his name Vter his brother with a power to helpe walys. And thyther warde he went as moche as he myght. ¶The kynge of Irlonde & Pas∣sente herde telle that Aurilambros was syke / & to hym there came a Sarrasyn that was cal∣led Cappa & sayde. Syre dwelle ye here all in peas with your host & I behyght you thorugh my quayntesye y^e I shall slee the kynge Auri¦lambros that is syke. Thenne sayd Passent / yf ye doo so I shall you rychely auaunce. The traytour Cappa put vpon hym an habyte of relygyon / & lete shaue hym a brode crowne & came vnto the kynges courte / and sayde that he wolde help•• the kynge of his malady. Tho sayd the traytour Cappa vnto the kyng. Syr be of good comforte. For I shall yeue you su∣che a medicyne that ye shalle swete anōe ryght & lyste to slepe & haue good reste. And the tray∣tour yaaf hym suche poyson to slepe anone ry¦ghte / & deyed in hys slepynge. And y^e traytour sayd y^t he wolde go out to the felde tyll he were awaked / & so escaped he awaye. For no man had to hym suspeccyon / for by cause of his ha∣byte that he was clothed ī / & also for hys brode shauen crowne. But whan the kynges men wyste that he was deed / they became wonder sory / and faste soughte the traytoure / but they myghte not fynde hym· For y^e Cappa torned ayen vnto the hoste frem whes y^t he came.

¶whan Aurilambbros deyed a sterre in the morne was seen wyth a clere lyght / & at the bought of the beeme was sene the heed of an horryble dragō

SO whan the kyng Aurilambros was deed & enpoysoned at winchestre. On the morne after he was dede aboute the tyme of Pryme there was sene a sterre grete & clere & the beeme of that sterre was brygheter thā y^e sonne. And at the bought of y^e beeme apperyd a dragons heed / & out of hys mouth came two huge lyghtes / that were as bryght as ony fyre brennynge. & that one beeme to warde Fraun∣ce and streyght ouer the see thyther warde. And out of that beeme came .vii. beemes full clere and longe as it were the lyghte fyre. ¶This ••••erre was seen of many a man / But none of them wyste what it be tokened. ¶Vter that was the kynges brother / that was in walys wyth hys hoste of Brytons / sawe that sterre & the grete lyght that it yaue / they wondred ther of gretly what it myghte betoken. And lete cal¦le Merlyn and prayed hym for to telle what y^t it myhght betoken.

¶Of the betokenynge of the sterre.

[illustration]

MErlyn sawe y^e sterre / and be∣helde yt a longe tyme. And sythen he quoke and wepte tenderly. And sayde· Alas alas that soo noble a kyng & worthy ys deed And I do iou to vnderstān∣de that Aurilambros your brotherds poyso¦ned / & that I see well in thys sterre. And your∣selfe ys betokened the heed of the dragon that is seen at the bought of the beeme that ys your self that shall be kynge and regne. And by the beeme that stondeth to warde the Eest ys vn∣derstonde that ye shall gete a sone that shall con¦quere all Fraunce / and all the londes that be∣longeth to the crowne of Fraunce / that shalle be a wrothyer kynge & of more honoure than euer were ony of his auncetours. ¶And by the beeme that stretched towarde Irlonde is betokened that ye shalle gete a doughter that shalle be quene of Irlonde. ¶And the seuen beemes betoken that ye shall haue .vii. sones. And euery one of them shall be kyng / and reg∣ne wyth moche honoure. And abyde ye no len∣ger here / but goo and yeue batayll to your en∣myes / and fyghte wyth them booldely for ye shalle ouercome them and haue the victory. ¶Vter thanked hertely Merlyn and toke his men and wente to warde hys enmyes / & they fought togyder mortally / and soo he dyscom∣fyted his enmyes & them destroyed. And hym self slewe Passēt that was vortigers sone And his Brytons slewe Guillomer that was kyng of Irlonde and all his men. ¶And Vter ano∣ne after that batayll toke hys waye to warde wynchestre / for to doo entyere Aurilambros kynge that was his brother. But tho was the body borne vnto. Stonhenge with moche ho∣nour / that he had done make in remembraū∣ce of the Brytons that there were slayne thrugh treason of Engist / that same day that

they sholde haue ben accorded. And in the sa∣me place they entyered. Aurelambros the se∣conde yere of hys regne wyth all y^e worshyp y^e myght belonge to suche a kynge. On whoos soule god haue mercy. Amen.

¶Of Vter Pendragon / and therfore he was called so ye shall here. And how he was ouertake with the loue of Igreyne that was the Erle of Cornewaylles wyf.

AFter the dethe of. Aurilambros. Vter his brother was crowned and regned well & worthely. And in remembraunce of the dragon that he was lykened to / He lete make two dragons thrugh coūseyll of his. Brytons And made that one for to be borne before hym whā he wēte in to batayll / and y^e other for to a¦byde att wynchestre in the bysshop chyrche. And for that cause he was called euer after v∣ter Pendragon. ¶And Octa that was Engis¦tes sone cōmended vter but lytell y^t was made newe kynge. And ayenste hym began to meue warre. And ordeyned a grete power of his frē¦des & of hys kynne / and of. Ossa hys brother \ and had taken all the londe from Humbre vn∣to yorke / But those of yorke helde strongely a¦gaynst them / and wolde not suffre them to co∣me in to the cytee / neyther to yelde the cytee to them. And he besyeged the towne anone ryght and yaue therto a stronge assawte. But they of the cyte them kept well & strongely. ¶And whan vter herd therof / he came thyther wyth a grete stronge power for to helpe & rescowe y^e towne & put a way the syege / & yaue a stronge batayll. And Octa & his company them defen¦ded as well as they myght. But at y^e laste they were dyscōfyted & the most partye of thē slay∣ne. And. Octa and. Ossa were taken & put in pryson at London. ¶And vter hymfelf dwel¦led a whyle atte yorke / and after he wente to London. And at the Eester after he wold vere crowne & holde a solempne feest. And lette so∣mone all his Erle and Barons / that they shol¦de come to that feest. And all those that hadde wyues sholde brynge them also to that feest. And all the seygnoury came at the kynges cō∣maundemente as they were commaunded. ¶The feest was rychely arayed and holden. And all worthely sette to meete after that they were of astate. Soo that the· Erle Gorloys of Cornewaylle and. Igreyne his wyf sate nexte vnto the kynge. And whan the kyng sawe the fayrnesse of that lady and the beaute that she had. He was anone rauysshed for her beaute and often he made to her nyce countenaunce in lokynge and laughynge. So at the laste the Erle perceyued the preuy lokynge and laug∣hynge and the loue bytwene them. And roso vp from the table in wrathe / and toke his wyf ••nd called to hym hys knyghtes and wente thens wrath / wythout takynge leue of y^e kyn∣ge. ¶The kynge anone sente after hym that he sholde come agayne and goo not thens in dyspyte of hym. And the erle wolde not come agayne in no maner of wyse. ¶wherfore the kynge was wrothe / and in wrathe hym defy∣ed as his deedly enmye. ¶And the erle wente thens in to Cornewaylle with his wyfe in the castell of Tyntagyll. ¶And the kynge lete or∣deyne a grete host and came in to Cornewayl¦le / for to destroye the erle yf that he myghte. But he hadde put hym in suche a castell that was stronge and welle arayed called. Tynta∣gyll / and wollde not yelde hym to the kynge. ¶And the kynge anone besyeged the called / & there dwelled .xv. dayes that neuer myghte spede / and euer he thought vppon Igreyne / & vpon her layde so moche loue / That he wyste not what to doo. ¶So at the laste he called to hym a knyght that was called vlfin that was preuy wyth hym and tolde hym all hys coun∣seyll / and axed hym wha•• was best for to done ¶Syr sayde he / sende after Merlyn anone / for he came telle you the beste counseyll of ony man lyuynge Merlyn anone was sente after & came to the kynge. And the kynge tolde hym all his counseyll and his wyll. Syr sayd Mer∣lyn. I shall doo so moche thrugh crafte that I can / that I shalle make you come to nyght 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the castell of. Tyntagyll / & shall haue all yo•• wyll of that lady.

How vter begate on Igreyne / that ••as the Erles wyf of Cornewaylle Arthur.

MErlyn thrugh craft y^t he co•• 〈…〉〈…〉 the kynges fygure in•• 〈…〉〈…〉 of the Erle / and Vlfin Garlois 〈…〉〈…〉 in to the fygure of Iorda•• 〈…〉〈…〉 erles chambrelayne / so that ec•• 〈…〉〈…〉 transfygured in to others lyke•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Merlyn had soo done / he sayde 〈…〉〈…〉 Syr sayd he / now ye may goo•• 〈…〉〈…〉 castell of Tyntagyll & axe ene•• 〈…〉〈…〉 your wyll. The kynge toke pry•• 〈…〉〈…〉

to gouerne and lede to a knyght that he moche loued / & tooke his waye towarde the castell / & with hym toke Vlfin his Chambrelayne and Merlyn / & whan they came thyder the porter demyd it had ben hys owne lorde. And whan tyme came for to go to bedde / the kynge went to bedde with Igreyne the erles wyf and dyde with her alle his wyll. And begate vpon her a sone that was called Arthur. And vppon the more we the kynge tooke his leue of the lady & wente ayen to hys hoste. And the same nyghte that the kynge laye by Igreyne in bedde that was the erles wyf the kynges men gaaf a gre∣te assawte vnto the castell. And the erle & hys men manly them defended. But at the laste it befell so / that in the same assawte the erle hym self was slayne & the castell taken. ¶And the kynge anone torned againe to Tyntagill and spowsed I greyne with moche honour & made her quene ¶And soone after tyme came that she sholde be lyuered & bare a chylde a sonne y^t was called Arthur. & after gate on her a dou∣ghter that was called Amya▪ / And whan she came to aege / a noble. Baron that was lorde of Lyons weded her. ¶whan Vter longe ty∣me had regned / ther came vpon hym a grete sykenesse as it were a sorowe. ¶And in y^e me∣ane tyme those that had to kepe Octa y^t was Engistes sone & Ossa his brother / that then̄e were in pryson / they lete them go for grete yef∣tes that they them yaue & went wyth thē. And whan tho two brethern were escaped & were in to theyr owne countree agayne / Thenne they ordeynede them a gret power of folke and began for to warre ayen vpon the kynge.

¶How kyng Vter those A loth to kepe the londe of. Brytayne / whyle that he was seke / for as moche as he might not for his syknesse.

ANd for as moche as kynge Vter was syke & myght not helpe hym self / he or∣•• Aloth sone of Eleyne that tho was cho¦•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be wardeyne and chyeftayne of alle 〈…〉〈…〉. And soo he anone and all hys Bry∣•• ••mbled a grete hoste & yaue bataylle to 〈…〉〈…〉 his folke / but Octa at the last was 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ¶It befell thus after warde / 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••ytons had dedignacion of Aloth 〈…〉〈…〉 ••othe to hym attendaūt. wherfore 〈…〉〈…〉 ••as anoyed wonder sore & lete put 〈…〉〈…〉 in the hoste amonges his folke 〈…〉〈…〉 ••de hym to. Vereloyne y^t tho was a fayre cyte / there that saynt. Albon was mar∣tred. And after was the cytee destroyed wyth paynems thrugh warre· & thyther they hadde sente. Octauian and. Ossa & ther people. And entered in to the towne / and lete make sure y^e yates / & there they helde them. And the kynge came & them besyeged / & made a strōge assaw∣te / but the that were within manly theym def∣fended / ¶The kyng lete ordeyne his gunnes and his engynes for to breke the walles / & the walles were soo stronge that no man myghte them mysdo. ¶Octa & his people had grete despyte / that a kynge lyenge in a letere had the ym besyeged. And they toke counseyll among them for to stande vp in the morowe erly and come out and yeue batayll to the kynge / & soo they dyde. And in that batayle were both Oc∣ta and Ossa slayne / & all the other y^e escaped a lyue fledde in to Scotlonde / & made Colegyn theyr chyeftayne. & the Saxons y^t were a lyue & escaped fro the batayll / brougth ayen a grete strēgth & amōge thē they sayd that if kyng Vt were deed they sholde well conquere the londe and thought to enpoysen the kynge / & ordey∣ned men for to do this dede / & yaue them of yef tis grete plente this thynge to do. And they or¦deyned them thyderwarde there that y^e kynge was dwellyng / and clothed them in poore we∣de the better all for to spede theyr fals purpose But neuertheles all theyr falsenes & subtylte they myght neuer come to nygh y^e kyng. But so at the last they aspyed that the kynge dran∣ke noo other lycoure but only water of a clere wel tha•• was nyghe besyde & y^e fals traytours vpon a daye preuely wente to the welle & put therin poyson / soo that all the water was en∣poysoned. And anone after as the kynge had dronke of that water / he began to swelle / and soone after he deyed: and as many as dranke of that water deyed also. And anone as thys was aspyed folke of the towne lette stoppe the welle of euermore. ¶whan y^e kynge was deed his folke bare hym to Stonhenge wyth grete solempnyte of bysshops and barons that we∣re there hym to burye besyde Aurilambros hys bro••her. And after torned ayen tho euerycho∣ne and sent after his sone: and they made him kyng of the londe with moche reuerence after his faders deth: the .xvii. yere of his regne.

¶How kynge Arthur that was the sone of Vter was crowned after his faders deth: and

how he droue Colegryn and the Saxons and Cheldri•• of A••mayne out of this londe

[illustration]

As Arthur was made kyng of the londe / he was but yonge of aege of .xv. yere / but he was fayr and bolde and dough∣ty of body. And to me∣ke folke he was good and curteys / and lar∣ge of spendinge / & ma¦de hym welle beloued amonge them there that yt was nede / & whan he began to regne heswore truely that y^e. Sax¦ons neuer shold haue reste ne peas tyll that he hadde dryuen them out of ••he londe. And assē∣bled a greate hoste and fought wyth Colegryn the whyche after y^e tyme that Octa was deed the Saxons mayntened. And thys Colegryn was dyscomfyted & fledde vnto yorke & tooke the towne / & there hym helde. And the kyng be¦syeged hym there but he myght no thynge spe∣de for the cyte was so strong. And they wythin the towne kept the cyte well & orpedly. ¶And in the mene tyme Colegryn lette the towne to Bladulf & f••ledde hymselfe to Cheldryk y^t was kynge of almayne / for to haue of hym socour. And the kynge assembled a grette power & ca∣me & arryued in Scotlonde with .xv. hondred shyppes. And whā Arthur wyst of these tydyn¦ges that he had not power & strength ynough to fyght ayenst. Cheldrik / he lete be the syege & went to London / & sent anone his letters to y^e kynge of lytell Brytayne that wys called Ho∣well hys neuewe hys systers sone / that he shol∣de come to hym with all the power that he my¦ghte. And he assembled a grete hoste and arry∣ued at Southampton. And whan kynge Ar∣thur it wyst he was gladde ynough & wente a¦yenste them / & them receyued wyth moche ho∣nour. Soo that those two host{is} mette & assem¦bled them / & tooke theyr waye euen vnto. Ny∣choll that Cheldryk had besyeged / But it was not taken. And they came vpon cheldrik & his people or they wyst where that they were / and them egerly assaylled. ¶The kynge Cheldrik and his men defended hym manly by theyr po¦wer. But kyng Arthur & hys men slewe so ma∣ny Saxons / hat neuer was seen suche slaugh¦ter / & Cheldrik & hys men that were left alyue fledde a waye. And kynge Arthur them purse∣wed and droue them out in to a wood tha they myghte no ferder passe. ¶Cheldrik & hys mē sawe well that they were brought in to mo¦che dysease / & them yelded to kynge Arthur in thys manner wys. That he sholde take theyr horses theyr armour / & all that they had / and they must only go on foot in to theyr shyppes. And so they wolde goo home in to theyr owne londe / and neuer come ayen in to this londe. ¶And vpon assuraunce of thys thynge they yaue hym good hostages. ¶And Arthur by counseyll of his men graunted this thynge: & receyued y^e hostages: & therupon y^t other wen∣te to theyr shyppes. And whan they were in y^e hyghe see the wynnde chaunged as the deuyll it wolde: & they torned theyr nauy & cam ayen in to this londe & arryued at Totnesse: & wen¦te out of the shyppes and tooke the londe: and clene robbed it: and moche people slewe: and tooke all the armour that they myghte fynde. And soo they wente foorth tyll they came vnto Bathe. But the men of the towne shytte faste theyr yates / and wolde not suffre theym to co∣me wy thinthe towne· And they deffended thē well and orpedly ayenst them

¶How Arthur yaue bataylle vnto the Saxons whan they came agayne in to this londe: & had besyeged the towne of Bathe and them ouercame.

[illustration]

ANone as. Artur herde thys tydynges he lete hange y^e hostages / & le••t Howell of Brytayne his neuewe / for to kepe the mar∣che to warde Scotlonde with halfe his people and hymself wente to helpe & rescowe the tow¦ne

of. Bathe. whan he ••••me thyther he yaue a strong batayll to Cheldrik and slewe almoost all the people that he had· For no man myght hym wythstonde ne endure vnder y^e stroke of his swerde. And there bothe were slayne Cole¦gryn and Bladulf hys brother / and Cheldryk fledde thens & wold haue gone to hys shyppes ¶But whan Arthur it wyst / he toke .x. thou∣sande knyghtes to Cador y^t was erle of Corne waylle for to lette & stoppe hys comynge. And Arthur hymself wente towarde the marche of Scotlonde. For messengers tolde hym that y^e Scottes had besyeged Howell of. Brytoyne there that laye syke / & therfore he hasted hym thyther warde. ¶And Cador purse wed after Cheldryk / & toke hym er he myght come to his shyppes & slewe Cheldrik and his people. And whan Cador had done thys vyage / he hasted hym ayen to warde. Arthur as faste as he my∣ghte / & founde hym in Scotlonde there that he had rescowed Howel of Brytayn but y^e Scot¦tes were ferre wythyn Nounref / & there they helde them a whyle. But Arthur them purse∣wed. And they fledde thens in to Limoigne / y^t were in that countre .xl. Iles & grete plente of byrdes / and grete plente of Egles that were wonte to crye and fyght togyders / and make greate noyse whan folke came to robbe that londe / and warne as moche as they myght / & so they dyde. For the Scottes were to grete ra∣uenours / that they tooke all that they myghte fynde in the londe of Lymoygne wythout ony sparynge / and there with charged ayen the fol¦ke in to Scotlonde for to wende.

¶How kynge Arthur axed of Merlyn y^e ad∣uentures of .vi. of the last kynges that were to regne in Englonde / & how y^e londe shold ende

Syr sayd Merlyn. In the yere of the In¦carnacyon Ihesu Cryste .M·CC.xv. shall come a lambe out of wynchestre / shall ha¦ue a whyte tonge and true lyppes / and he shal haue wryten in his herte holynes. This lam∣be shall make many goddes houses / & he shall haue peas the moost parte of his lyfe. And he shall make one of the fayrest places of y^e wor••∣de / that in his tyme shall not fully ••e made an ende of. ¶And in the ende of his lyf wulf of a straunge londe shall doo hym moche harme and sorowe thrugh warre. But at the ende the lambe shall be mayster thrugh helpe of a reede foxe / that shall come out of the North west / & hym shall ouercome / and the wulf shall dey•• in water. And after that tyme the lambe shall lyue noo whyle / but he shall deye. ¶His heed shall be in a straūge londe. And the londe shall be wythout a gouernour a lytell tyme

ANd after this shall come a dragō med¦led with mercy & also with woodnesse And that shall haue aberde as a gote that shal gyue in Englonde a shade we / and shall kept the londe fro colde & hete / and hys owne foo•• shall be sette in wyke & that other in London. And he shall enbrace Inhabitaunces. And he shall open his mouth to warde walys. And the tremblynge of the hydour of his mouthe / hys ••eres shall stretche to warde many habytacy∣ons and countrees. And his breth shall be full swete in straūge londe. And in his tyme shall the ryuers renne blood and with brayne. And he shall make ī places of his londe walles that shall do moche harme vnto hys seed after hys tyme. ¶And thenne shall there come a people out of the North west durynge his regne that shall be ladde thrughout a wycked hare / that the dragon shall do crowne kynge / that after∣warde shall flee ouer the see wyth out comyn¦ge ayen for drede of the dragon. ¶And in that tyme the sonne shall be as reed as an blood that see thorughout all the worlde / that shall beto∣ken grete pestylence & dethe of folke / thorugh dynt of swerde. And that people shall be fader¦les / tyll the tyme that the dragon deye thrugh an hare: that shal meue ayenst hym warre vn¦to the ende of his lyf: that shall not fully be en¦ded in his tyme ¶This dragon shall be holde in his tyme the best body of the worlde. and he shall deye besyde the marches of a straūge lon∣de: and the londe shall dwel faderles wythout a good gouernour: and men shall wepe for his dethe: from the yle of. Shepey to the hauen of Marcyll. ¶wherfore Alas alas shall be theyr songe of faderles folke: that shall ouer lyue in his londe destroyed.

ANd after this dragon shall come a go∣te out of. Kar that shall haue hornes & a berde of syluer / and there shall come out of his nosethryll a dompe that shall betoken hun¦gre and sorowe and grete dethe of the people. And moche of his londe in the begynnynge of hys regne shall be wasted. ¶Thys gote shall go ouer vnto Fraūce: and shall open the flou∣re of his lyf and deth. ¶In his tyme there shal

aryse an E••••e in Corne way••e that shall haue fethers of go••e / that of pryde ••ha•• be without pere of the londe. And he shall despy••e lordes of blood. And a••••er he shall flee shamefully by a beer at G••uer••e••h / and after shall be made brydges of men vpon the costes of the ••ee and stones shall falle from castelles / & many other townes shall be made playne. ¶In his tyme shall seme that the beer shall brenne / and a ba∣tayll shall be done vpon the armes of the see in a felde ordeyned as a sheld And at that batayl shall deye many whyte heedes / wherfore thys batayll shall be called the whyte batayll. And the forsayd beer shall do thys gote moche har∣me / & it shall come out of the South west & of his blood. Thenne shall the go••e lese moche / & of hys londe / tyll that the tyme that frenshyp shall hym ouercome. And thenne shall he close hym in a lyons skynne / & thenne shall he wyn¦ne that he had before lost & more therto. For a people shall come out of the North west y^t shall make the gote so sore aferde thet he shall be in grete perplexite. And he shal aduenge hym on his enmyes thrugh coūseyll of two owles that fyrste shall be in peryll for to be vndone. But the olde owle shall wende away a certayne ty∣me / & after he shal come ayen in to this londe. These two owles shall do grete harme to ma¦ny one / and soo they shall counseyll the gote to arere warre ayenst the forsayd beer. And at y^e last the go••e and the owles shall come at Bur∣ton vppon Trent / and shall go ouer / and for drede the beer shall ••••ee & a swanne wyth hym fro his company to Burton warde the north and there they shall be with an harde shoure. And thenne shall the swanne be take & slayne wi••h sorowe and the beer taken heeded al ther next his ••est / that shall stande vpon broken brydge / on whom the sonne shall cast hys bee∣mes. And many shall hym seke for vertue that from hym shall come. ¶In y^e same shall deye for sorowe •• ••are ap••ple of his londe / soo that londes shall be vpon hym y^e more bo••der after warde. And those two owles shall doo moche sorowe to the foresayd floure of lyf / & her shall lede in to dystrestre / so that shall passe ouer the see into Fraunce / for to make peas bytwene the gote and y^e flouredelyse / and there she shall dwelle tyll a tyme that her sede shall come and set••e her: •• they shall be styll tyll a tyme: that they shalle them clothe wyth grache. And they shall fethe the owles and shall put them to dy∣spytous deth. And after shall this gote be brou¦ghte to dysease and great Anguysshe: and in sorowe he shall lyue all his lyf

AFter thys gote shall come out of wyn∣desore a boore: that shall haue an heed o•• a whyte lynons herte: and pyteous lokynge ¶His vysage shalle be reste to lyke men. Hys breeste shall be staunchynge of thyrste to tho that be thrysty: His worde shall be gospell. hys herynge shall be meke as a lambe· In the fyr∣ste yere of his regne he shall haue grete payne to Iustefye thē that ben vntrue. ¶And in his tyme shall hys londe be multeplyed wyth aly∣auntes. And this boore thorugh fyresnesse of hys herte that he shal haue: shal make wulues to become lambes. & he shall be called thorugh out of y^e worlde Boore of holynesse / fyers••esse of noblynesse and of mekenesse. And he shall mesurably al that he shall do vnto the brough of Ierusalem. ¶And he shall whette his teeth vpon the yates of Pards: and vpon foure lon¦des. Spayne shall tremble for drede. Gascoy∣ne shall swete. In Fraūce he shal put his wyn¦ge. His grete tayle shall reste in Englonde soft¦ly. Almayne shalle quake for drede of hym. ¶This boore shal yeue bantelles to two tow¦nes of Englonde: and shall make the Ryuer renne wyth blood & brayne. And he shall ma∣ke many medowes reede: and he shall gette as moche as his auncetours dyd. And er that he dyed / he shall bere thre crownes / and he shall put a londe in greate subiecyon / And after it shall be releued / but not in his tyme. ¶This boore after he is deed for hys doughtynesse / shall be entyred at Coleyne. And his lōde shall be fulfylled of all good.

AFter this boore shall come a lambe: y^t shalle haue f••et of leed: and an heed of brasse: and herte of loppe a swynes skynne. And an harde. And in hys tyme hys londe shal be in peas: the fyrste yere of his regne he shall do make a cytee that all the worlde shall speke there of. ¶This lambe shall lese in his tyme a grete parte of his londe thrugh an hydeous wulfe: but he shall recouer it: and yeue a lord∣shyp to an Egle of his londe and this egle shal welle gouerne it tyll the tyme that pryde shall hym ouercome. Alas the sorwe: For he shalle deye of hys brothers swerde. And after shall the londe falle to the forsayd lambe: that shall

gouerne the londe in peas all hys lyues tyme. And after he shall deye / and the londe be ful∣fylled of all maner of good.

AFter this lambe shal come a mold war¦pe / cursyd of goddes mouth / a caytyf / a cowarde / an haare / He shall haue an elderly skynne as a gote / & vengeaunce shall falle vp¦on hym for syn̄e. ¶In the fyrst yere of his reg¦ne he shall haue of all good gret plente in hys londe and to warde hym also / And in hys lon¦de he shall haue grete praysyge / tyll the tyme that he shal surffre his people lyue in to moche pryde without chastysynge / wherfor god wyl be wrothe· ¶Thenne shall aryse vp a dragon of the North / that shall be full fyerse / and shal meue warre ayenst the forsayd mold warpe / & shal yeue hym batayle vpon a stone. This dra¦gon shall gadre ayen in to his company a wul¦fe / that shall rome out of the west to meue war¦re ayenst the forsayd mold warpe in hys syde / so shall the dragon / and bynde theyr tayles to gyders ¶Then̄e shall come a lyon out of Ir∣londe / that shall falle in company wyth them. And thenne shall tremble the londe that shall becalled Englonde as an aspen leyf / And in that tyme shal castelles be felled downe vpon Tamyse. And ye shall seme that Seuerne shal be drye / for the bodyes that shall falle deed the¦re in / The foure chyef floodes in Englonde shall renne in blood. And grete drede shall he / & anguysshe that shall aryse. ¶After the mold warpe shall flee and y^e dragon. The lyon and the wulf shall them dryue a waye / and the lon shall be wythout them. And the mold warpe shall haue no maner of power sauf only a shyp¦pe wherto he maye wynder ¶And after that he shall goo to londe where the see is wythdra∣we. And after that he shall yeue the thyrde par¦te of hys londe / for to haue the fourth parte in peas and in reste. And after he shall lyue in so¦rowe all his lyftyme· ¶And in his tyme the h••••r bathes shal become colde. And after that shall the mold warpe deye auenturously and sodenly. Alas for sorowe / for he shall be drow∣ned in a flood of the see His seed shall be come faderles in straunge loude for euer more. And then shall the londe be departed in to thre par∣tes / that is to saye / to the wulf / to the dragan / and to the lyon. And soo shall it be for euermo∣re· And thenne shalle thys londe be called the ••de of Conquest. And so shall the ryghe hey¦res of Englonde ende

¶How Arthur ouercame Guillomer that was kynge of Irlonde. And how the Scottes became his men

THen̄e whan Guillomer that was kyn∣ge of Irlonde herde tydyges y^e kynge Arthur was entred at Glastenbury: he ordey¦ned agrete pewer of Irysshmen and came to the see wyth his Irysshe people; & soo came in to Scotlonde ouer the see & arryued fast there by that kynge. Arthur was with his hoste: & a none as he wyst therof: he went to warde hym and yaue hym bataylle & ouercame hym ano∣ne ryght. And Guillomer fledde wyth hys mē agayne in to Irlond. And whan thys was do¦ne and dyscomfyted hym Arthur torned hym ayen there that he was: in to the place there that he had lefte the Scottes and wolde haue them all slayne. But the bysshopes: abbottes and other folke of y^e countree and ladyes open heeded came before kynge. Arthur and cryed hym mercy and sayde. Syre gentyll kynge & myghty: haue mercy and pyte vpon vs. And as yourself be of the ryght lawe to holde and mayntene Crystendome. For full grete dysho¦udur yt shold be to slee hym that byleueth in al¦myghty god as ye do. And for goddes loue ha∣ue mercy and pyte on vs & suffre vs. For we haue hadde moche sorowe and payne. For the Saxons haue many tymes passed thrugh our londe. But that is not ynough to you: for of∣ten tymes they haue done vs sorowe & dysease For our castelles they haue taken and our bee¦stes slayne & eten: and moche harme they haue vs done And yf ye wolde vs now slee: it were none honour to a kynge to slee them that crye hym mercy. For ynough ye haue done to vs & haue vs ouercome. And for y^e loue of god y^t ye wyll suffre vs for to lyue: & haue mercy on cry∣sten people y^t byleue in Cryst as ye do. ¶whā kynge. Arthur herde this sorowe: he had pyte of them & yaue them lyf & lymme without ony more harme. And they fell downe to his feet & thanked hym and became his lyege men: and he toke of them homage. ¶And after y^e kynge Arthur torned ayen wyth hys hoste the came vnto yorke: and made there hys bydynge du∣rynge that vyage. And tho gaue he al Logrys to Aloth that had spowsed his syster and other gyftes grete plente· And tho was Gawen his cosyn but of youge ••ege. And to all hys other

men that hym had serued in hys warre / he ga∣ue ryche gyftes / and thanked them moche of all theyr good seruyce

¶How kynge Arthur spowsed Gūnor that was Gūnors cosyn Erle of Corne wayle / and after he conquered of Guillomer all Irlonde.

[illustration]

ANd whan Arthur hadde broughth ys lond in peas and rest and in good sta∣te / and all was well in euery countre. Tho to¦ke and wedded a wyf that was called Gūnor and made her quene / a fayre lady and a gen∣tyll that Cador the Erle of Corne wayle hadde nourysshed ī his chambre that was his cosyn. But neuer they had childern togyder. And ne¦uertheles kyng Arthur loued her wonder well & deyrly And anone as wynter was passed / he lete assemble a grete host / and all his Barons and sayd that he wolde goo in to. Irlonde for to conquere the londe. And he trayed not lon∣ge that he passed ouer in to Irlone. ¶And Guillomer the kynge lete assemble a grete ho∣ste & yaue bataylle to kynge Arthur / but Guyl¦lomer was dyscomfyted and yelded hym ot y^e kynge and became his man / and to hym dyde fewte and homage and of hym helde alle that lond fro that tyme for warde. And after peas∣kynge. Arthur ferthermore & conquered But londe and Islonde / and toke homage of the fol¦ke and of the londe / and there dwelled .xii. ye∣re in peas & regned wyth Ioye & myrthe. And there warred no man ne woman vpon hym. And he became so curtys and large & honora¦ble / that the Emperours courte of Rome / ne none other thrugh out all the worlde was not accoūted to kyng Arthurs / that ony mā wyst of / ne none soo well praysed· And therfore the beste knyght{is} of all maner a londes came vnto hym there for to dwelle. And he theym recey∣ued with good wyll and reuerence. ¶And all the knygehtes were so good that noo man kne¦we the werste. And therfore kyng Arthur ma¦de a rounde table that whan they sholde sytte at ther meete / all sholde be ylyke hyghe and e∣uenly serued at the table that nōe of them shol¦de make auaūt that one of them were hygher thanne an other. And kynge Arthur hadde at that table Brytons & Frenshmen. Normans and Flemynges. Burgoyns Mausers & Lo∣therins / and of all the londes a thys halfe the mount Goryt: and of hys londe of Brytayne and of the grete Corne wayle: of walys and of Irlonde: and of Scotlonde And shortly to tell of all the londes that woldes worshyp chyual¦ry: suche came to kynge Arthurs courte.

¶How kynge Arthur yede into Fraunce and conquered that londe of. Froll y^t was a Romayne: and how he slewe hym.

[illustration]

Syth it befell that thrugh counsell of hys barons and lordes: kynge Arthur wol¦de conquere alle Fraunce that tho was called Galle thrugh Romaynes that tho helde y^e lon∣de in theyr power & in theyr gouernnūce. And the Romayns had taken that londe to a noble knyʒt and a worthy of body: that was called Froll. And whan he wyst that Arthur came: he ordeoned an host of a grete power & fought with the kynge. And he & his folke were dys∣comfyted and fledde vnto Parys & entred the cyte: and closed the yates & there helde them. ¶whan Arthur wyst that Froll was gone to

Parys he pursued after & came thyder: & hym besyeged. But the cyte was so stronge & well arayed / & tho that were therin deffended the∣ym well and manly. ¶Kynge Arthur dwelled there more than amonethe. And there was so moche people in the cyte that they dyspended all theyr vytayle that they had wythin. and so grete hungre became amonge them / that they deyed wenderly thycke within the cyte for hō¦gre. And came vnto Froll & prayed hym to be accorded with kynge. Arthur for to haue peas & they wolde yelde theym vnto hym & the cyte also. ¶Froll sawe y^t he myght no lenger holde the towne ayenst theyr wyll \ & trusted gretely vppon his owe strenth / and sent to y^e kynge Ar¦thur that he shold come fyght with hym body for body / & so sholde they departe Fraunce by∣twene them two. ¶Kynge Arthur anōe graū¦ted yt. And wolde not that none of hys people vndertoke the batayle for hym. ¶And vpon the morne both came wel arayed without Pa¦rys there that they sholde fyght. & anone they smote togyders so fyersly & so wel they fough on both sydes that no man demed the better of them / and soo it befell y^e Froll yaue Arthur suche a stroke y^t he kneled to the grounde wol∣de he nolde he / And as Froll wounded kynge Arthur in the forhede y^t the blode felle downe by his eyen & his face. Arthur anone sterre vp hertely whan he felte hym hurte as a man y^t se¦med almoost wood. And he toke taburne hys good swerde / & drewe it vpon hyghe and yaaf Froll suche astroke that thyr with he claue his hede downe to the sholders so that his helme myght not be his warraunt / & so he fel downe deed in the place. And thenne tho of the cytye made grete sorowe for Froll. And euerychone yelded them to kynge. Arthur and the towne also & became hys men / & dyd to hym homage and feaute. And he receyued them & tooke of them goodly hostages. And kynge Arthur af∣ter that wente forthe with his hoste & conque∣red Augien & Angyers. Gascoyne. Pehito. Na¦uerne and Burgoyne. Berry. Lotherne Tu∣ryn and Peythers / and all the other londes of Fraunce he conquered all hooly. whan he had conquered & taken by homages and feautes / he torned ayen to Parys and there he dwelled longe tyme / & ordeyned peas longe tyme ouer all y^e coūtree / & thrugh al Fraūce. ¶And whā peas was made ouer all thrugh hys noble kny¦ghthode that he hadde / and also for hys owne worthynes. And no man were he neuer so gre¦te a lorde durste not meue warre ayenst hym nother to aryse for to make the londe of Fraū∣ce inquyete. And in peas he dwelled there .ix. yere / and dyde many greate wonders / and re¦preued many proude men and euyll tyraūtes theym chastysed after theyr demerytes

¶How kynge Arthur auaunced all his men that had trauaylled in his seruyce.

ANd after warde yt befel thus at Ester there that he helde a feest at. Paras / & rychely he gan auaūce his knyghtes for y^e ser∣uyce that they had hym holpen in hys cōquest. He yaue to hys stewarde that was called. Kay Augien & Angoers. And he yaue to Bed were his. Butler. Normandye / that tho was called Neustrye And to Holdē in hys chambrelayn he yaue Flaunders & Mance And to Dorell hys cosyn he yaue Bolayne. And to Rycharde hys enewe he yaue Pountyf / and to all other he yaue large londes and fees after they were of estate / And whan Arthur had thus his knygh¦tes feoffed / at Aperyll next after suynge he ca∣me ayen in to Brytayne hys owne londe. And after at wytsontyde sewynge by counseyll of his Barons / he wolde be crowned kynge of Glomergon / and helde a solempne feest. And lete somone barons erls and knyghtes / y^t they shold come thyder euery chone. and there was Scater kynge of Scotlande. Cad were kynge of South waylys. Guiliomer kyng of North walys. Maded kyng of Irlonde. Malgamus kynge of Gutlonde. Achelles kynge of Islon∣de. Aloth kyng of Denmarke. Gone was kyn¦ge of Norwaye / and Hell hys cosyn kynge of Dorkeney. Cador kynge of lytell Brytayne. Mor with Erle of Cornewaylle. Mauran er∣le of Gloucetre. Guerdon erle of wynchestre. Boell erle of Hartforde. Vrtegi erle of Oxfor¦de. Cuisall erle of Bathe. Ionas Erle of Che∣stre. Enerall erle of Dorchestre. Kymare Erle of Salysbury. waloth erle of Caunterbury. Iugerne erle of Chechestre. Arall erle of Ley∣ceter / and the erle of wer wyke / & many other moo ryche lordes. Brytons there came moo / that is to saye. Dippon Donande. Gennes / & many other that be not named here were atte the feest. And many a fayre feest kynge arthur hadde holde before / but neuer none suche / ne soo solempne / and that lasted .xv. dayes wyth moche honoure and myrthe. ¶Of the letter y^t was sēt fro Rome to pryde to kynge Arthur

THe thyrde daye as kynge Arthur satte at his meet amonge his knyghtes and amonge them that satte at the feste / before thē cam in ·xii. men of age rychely arayed / and cur¦teusly they salewed the kynge / and sayde they came fro Rome sente as massengers fro the Emperoure. And toke hym a letter that thus moche was to vnderstād· ¶Gretely vs mar∣uaylleth arthur / that thou art ones so hardy with thyn eyen in thy heed to make open war∣re or contake ayenst vs of rome / that owne all the worlde to redeme / For thou haste neuer yet before thys tyme proued ne assayed the streng∣the of the Romās / and therfore though it shall in a lytell tyme. For Iulyus Cezar conquered all the londe of Brytayne / ayd toke therof tru¦age / and our folke haue it longe I had / & nowe throughe thy pryde thou with holde it. where¦fore we of Rome commaunde the that thou yt yelde ayen / and yet haste thou more foly done that thou haste slayne Froll that was our ba∣ron of Fraunce with wrōge. And therfore all the comens of Rome warneth the & cōmaūde the vpon lyfe & lymme that thou in haste be at Rome amendes for to make of thy mysdedes that thou haste done. And it so be that thou co∣me not we shall passe the hyll of Ioye with strē¦gthe / and we shall the seke where euer thowe may be founde / & thou shalt not haue a foot of londe of thyn owne / y^t we ne shall dystroye it / & afterwarde with thy body we shall do al our wyll. whan this letter was redde & all men it herde they were anoyed all y^t were at y^e solemp¦ne feste. And the Brytons wolde haue slayne y^e messengers / but the kynge wolde not suffre them & sayde / that y^e messengers sholde haue no harme / & may by reason none deserue But commaūded them to be worshypfully serued And after meet he toke coūseyll of kynges / er∣les & barons / what answere he myght geue a¦yen to the messengers and they coūseylled him atones / that he shulde assemble a grete power of al y^e lōdes of whiche he had lordeshyp & mā¦ly auenge hym vpon the Emperour of the de∣spyte that he had sēde hym suche a letter & they swore by god & by all his holy name that they sholde hym pursewe & bren̄e as moche as they myght And sayde that they wolde neuer fayle kynge Arthur / & rather to be deed. And they le∣te wryte a letter to sende to the Emperour by the same messengers in this manere of wyse· Of the bolde answere that kynge Arthur sēte to the Emperour of Rome & to the Romans

VNderstondeth amonge you of Rome that I am kynge Arthur of Brytayne and freely it holde and shall holde. And at Ro∣me hastely I wyll be / not to geue you truage / but for to axe truage. For Constantyne that was Eleyns sone that was Emperour of Ro∣me & of all the honour that ther to belongeth. And Maximian kynge conquered all Fraun∣ce and Almayne / and mount Ioye passed and conquered all Lombardy. And these two we∣re myn auncetours / and that they helde and had. I shall haue thorught goddes wyll.

¶Of the reuerence that kynge Arthur dyde to the Emperours messengers.

ANd whan this letter was made & ense∣aled / kynge Arthur to these messēgers & gaue grette yeftes / and after that the messen¦gers toke theyr leue and wente thens / and ca∣me to the courte of Rome agayne. And tolde the Emperour how worthely they were recey∣ued And also of suche a ryall company that he hadde hym for to serue / and howe he was mo¦re ryally serued than the Emperour of Rome or ony other kynge lyuynge in all the worlde. ¶And whan the Emperour had ouersene the letter / and hadde harde what was therin and sawe y^t Arthur wolde not be ruled after hym. He lete assemble and ordeyne a grete hoste for to destroye kynge Arthur yf that he myghte. ¶And kyng Arthur as touchynge hys pow∣er and partye / ordeyned hys power or knygh∣tes of the table rounde.

How kyng arthur faught with a gyaūt ī spay¦ne y^t was called Dinabus y^t slewe Eleyne that was kynge Howels cosyn of lytell Brytayne.

Kynge Arthur hadde not dwelled in that coūtree but a lytel tyme / y^t men hym tol¦de that there was come a greate gyaunt in to Spayne / & had rauysshed fayre. Eleyne that was cosyn vnto. Howell of lytell Brytayne. And hadde brought her vpon an hylle that ys called the mount of saynt Bernarde. And the¦re was no man in that countree soo bolde ne so hardy that durste fyght with hym / ne come nye the place there y^t the gyaunt dwelled tha•• was called Dinabus. And moche sorowe he dyde in the countree. ¶whan kynge Arthur heede this tydynges / he called to him Kay and Bedwere & cōmaunded them to go pryuely & espye where the gyaunt myght be foūde. And they came to the ryuage there that men sholde

go to the mount / that was all enclosed a boute with water & yet is / & euer shall be. And they sawe a brennyge fyre vpon the hylle. And the∣re was also an other hylle nye that / and there was vpon that an other fyre brynnyge. Kay & Bed were came to the next hylle / & foūde a wy¦dowe open heeded syttynge besydes a tombe sore wepynge / & grete sorowe made. & ofte she sayd Eleyne eleyne. And Kay & Bed were axed what she was / & wherfore she made so moche sorowe and who laye in that tombe. ¶O syy∣de she what sorowe & mysauenture fayre lor∣seke ye here. For yf the. Gyaunt may you here fynde he wyl you slee anone. ¶Bestylle good wyf sayd they therof dysmaye you not but tell vs the south why that thou makest so moche sorowe & wepynge. ¶Syrs sayd she For a da¦mosel that I nourysshed with my breest y^t was called Eleyne / y^t was nece to. Howell of Bry∣tayne. And here lyeth the body in thys tombe that to me was taken to nourysshe. And soo there came a deuyll a Gyaunt & rauysshed her and me also / & ladde vs both with hym a way he wolde haue for layne that mayde that was yonge and tendre of aege but she myght it not suffre soo grete & so huge as the. Gyaunt was. And for certayne yf he come now as he is wō∣te to doo / he wyll you both now slee & therfore go ye hens. Thenne bespake these two messen¦gers & sayd to her / wherfore goo ye not frome hens. ¶Certes sayde she whan that Eleyne deed the. Gyaunt made me to abyde and haūt his wyll / & I must nedes it suffre. And god it wote I do it not with my wyll / for I had leuer to be deed than with hym to deale / soo moche payne & sorowe I haue whan he me ••oclyeth. ¶whan Kay and. Bed were had all that thys woman thē tolde / they torned ayen & came to kynge Arthur and tolde hym all that they had seen and herde. ¶Arthur anone toke them bo¦the wit hym and wente pryuely by nyght that none of his hoste wyste and came on the moro¦we erly to the. Gyaunt and faught wyth hym strongely / and at the laste hym slewe And Ar∣thur badde. Bed were smyte of hys heed / and brynge it to the host to shewe it for a wonder / for it was soo grete and huge. ¶whan they ca¦me ayen to the hoste / they tolde wherfore they hadde ben out / and shewed to them the heed / and euery man was gladde and. Ioyefull of the worthy dede that kynge. Arthur had done that was theyr lorde. And Howell was full so¦rowfull for his nece y^t was so loste. And after warde whan he had space / he lete make a fay∣re chapell of our lady ouer Eleyns tomebe.

¶How kynge. Arthur yaue bataylle to the Emperperour / in the whyche bataylle the Emperour hymself was slayne

[illustration]

ARthur and his people herde tydynges that the. Emperour had assembled a greate power / as well of sarasyns as of pay∣nyms and crysten men. wherof the nombre was .lxxx. thousande hors men with foot mē. ¶Arthur and his people ordeyned faste forth theyr waye towarde the. Emperour and pas∣sed. Normandy and. Fraunce vnto. Burgoy∣ne / and wolde haue gone vnto the hoste. For men tolde hym that the. Emperours host wol∣de come to Lucie. ¶The Emperour and hys hoste in the begynnynge of. August remeued from Rome / and came forthe ryght the waye ••o warde the hoste ¶Tho came kyng Arthur spyes and sayde / yf that. Arthur wolde he shol¦de fynde the Emperour there faste by put they sayd. y^t the Em{per}our had so grete power wyth hym of kinges of y^e lōde of Paynems & also cri¦sten peple y^t it were but folyt to kyng Arthur to mete with thē For y^e spyes tolde / y^t the em{per}our had fyue or six men ayenst one of his. ¶Kyng Arthur was blody & hardy / and for noo thyn∣ge hym nysmayed and sayede. Goo we boldely in goddes name ayenste the. Romayns / that wyth them lede. Sarrasyns and. Paynems / that noo maner truste they haue in god / But only vpon theyr strengh. Go we now and se∣ke them sharply in the name of almyghty god

& slee we the▪ Paynems and crysten men that ben ayenst vs with thē for to destroye. Crystē men. And god shall vs helpe thē to ouercome For we haue the ryght ••penyon / and therfore haue we truste in god. And we so that the en∣myes that be to crystendome and to god may be destroyed and ouercome / & that men maye recorde y^e worthynesse of knyght hode. whan kynge Arthur hadde thus sayd / they cryed all wyth an hyghe voys. ¶God that is fader al∣myghty worshypped be thy name without en∣de. Amen. And graunt vs grace well for to do and to destroye oure enmyes that ben ayenst crystendome. In the name of the fader / the so∣ne / and holy ghost. Amen. And god yeue hym neuer grace ne worshyp in the worlde / ne mer¦cy of hym to haue / that thys daye shall faynte well for to smyte and egerly. And so they rode softly / & ordeyned his wynges well & wysely. ¶The Emperour herde telle that kynge. Ar∣thur & his folke were redy appaerylled for to fyght with hym and how they were comynge He lete ordeyne h{is} wynges ī the best wyse that he cowde And more trusted vpon his strenght than in god almyghty / & that was seen after∣warde· For whan the two hostes mette / the. Emperour lost four of hys folke ayenst one of Arthur. And so many were slayne \ what on y^e one party & on that other / that it was grete py¦te to wyte & to be beholde. ¶In thys batayll were slayne thrugh kynge. Arthurs fyue kyn∣ges of the Paynems and of other wonder mo∣che people / and kyng. Arthurs men fought so well / that the Romayns and paynems hadde nomore strengthe to wythstonde them / than .xx. shepe ayenst fyue wulues. ¶And so it befel¦le that in thys batayll in the shoure / that was wonder harde & longe durynge in that one sy∣de and in that other / the. Emperour amonge them there was slayne / but ther was no man that wyste for very so the who hym slewe.

¶How kynge Arthur lete entyere his kny∣ghtes that he had lost there in batayll / and how he sente the. Emperours body to. Ro∣me that there was slayne in batayll

SO whan the. Romayns wyst that the Emperour was deed / they forsoke the felde & the paynens also. And kynge. Arthur after them chaced tyll it was nyght / & soo ma∣ny of them slewe y^t it was wonder to tell. And the torned kynge Arthur ayen whan it was nyght & thanked god of hys victorye. And on the morowe he lete loke and serche all the felde for his knyghtes that he there lost. That is to saye. Borell Erle of Maunt. Bed were / and Kay / and. Lyegiers Erle of. Boleyne. Vorti∣ger Erle of Baac. Aloth Erle of wynchestre. Cuisall Erle of Chestre / and after Holden Er∣le of. Flaandres. These were the grete lordes that kynge. Arthur loste in that batayll / wyth other worthy knyghtes them amonge. And so¦me he lete entere in abbayes by the countree / some he lete to be borne in to theyr owne coū∣tree. ¶And the Emperours body he lete take & put vpon a beyr & sente it to Rome. And say∣de to y^e Romayns / that for Brytayne & Fraū∣ce whiche he helde: other truage wolde hen o∣ne paye. ¶And yf they axe•• hym ony other truages: ryght suche truage he wolde theym payne. ¶The kynge lete bere Kay to Kenen his owne castel & there hym entered. And Ley¦gier was borne to. Boleyne there he was lor∣de. And Holden was borne to Flaunders: the¦re he was entered: And all the other he lete en∣tere wyth moche honour in abbayes & in hou¦ses of relyon in the coūtre that they were slay∣ne. ¶And Arthur hymself soiourned that sa∣me yere in. Bourgoyne with his hoste & thou∣ghte the same yere folowynge to passe the mo∣unt. Ioye: & haue gone to. Rome also to haue taken the Cyte and haue put the Romoyns in subiecyon: but the wycked tyraunt. Mordred hym lette: as afterye shall here

¶How the traytour. Mordred: to whome kynge. Arthur tooke hys londe to kepe and his castelles: helde them ayenst hym▪

AS Arthur had taken to. Mordred hys reame to kepe: & gone ayenst y^e Empe∣rour of rome: & was passed y^e see. Mordred a∣nōe toke homages & feates of all theym y^t we∣re ī this londe: & wolde haue had this londe to his owne vse: & toke castelles about: & lete thē be arayed. & after thys falsenesse he dyde an o∣ther grete wronge: for ayenst y^e lawe of crystē te he tooke hys owne emys wyf as a traytour shold: ordeyned him a grete host ayēst arthurs comyng: to hold y^e londe ayenst hym with strē¦gthe for euer more: & to slee kyng Arthur yf he myght & sent by y^e see & by londe: & lete assēble paynems & crysten peple. And he sent to Sax∣ons & to Danys for to helpe hym. & also. Mor∣dred sent to Cheldrik to sende men to hy mour

of. Saxon y^t was a worthy duke / & promysed hym yf that he brought wyth hym moche peo∣ple he wylde graunte hym. Inherytaunce for euer / all the londe fro Humbre to Scotlonde / and all the londe that Engist hadde of. Vorti∣gers ye••re / whan that he spowsed hys dough∣ter. ¶And cheldrik came with a grete streng∣the and power of people / and. Mordred had∣de assembled also on his half / that they hadde .xl. thousande of stronge knyghtes whan that they hadde nede.

¶How Arthur enchanced Mordred the tray¦tour and how he was slayne / and also kynge Arthur wounded to the deth.

AS thys tydynges came to kynge. Ar∣thur there that he was in Bourgoyne he was full sore anoyed / and toke all Fraunce to Howell for to kepe with the half deale of his men. And prayed hym that he wold it kepe tyll he came ayen. For hymselfe wolde passe in to Brytayne / and auenge hym vpon. Mordred that was his traytour. And forth with Arthur wente his waye & came to wytsande / and ma∣de his men to go in to shyppe and wolde haue arryued at Sandwyche / & brought with hym a grace host of Frēshemen also with his owne londe men / But or that he myght come to lon¦de wyth his people that were come out of hys shyppes. Mordred was come wyth all his po∣wer / and yaue a stronge batayll / soo that kyn∣ge Arthur lost many a man are that he myght come to londe. For there was. Gawayne hys neuewe slayne / & Anguysshell that helde Scot¦londe / and many other wherof kynge. Arthur was ful sory. But after they were come to lon¦de. Mordred myghte not ayenst them endure. But anone was dyscomfyted & flydde thens the same nyght with his men / & vpon the mor¦ne came to· London. But tho of the cyte wol∣de not suffre hym to come in. And from thens he fledde to wynchestre / and there he hym hel∣de with his people y^t came with him. ¶Kynge Arthur lete take the body of. Gawyne his co∣fyn / & the body of. Anguysshell / and lete y^e one be borne in to Scotlonde / and the other to Do¦uer & buryed Anone after kynge. Arthur toke his waye for to destroye mordred / & he fledde thens in to Cornewayle. ¶And y^e quen Gun∣••or y^t was kyng Arthurs wyf y^t thosoiourned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yorke / herde y^e Mordred was fledde thens & that he might not endure ayenst kyng Arthur she was fore aferde & had grete doubte / & wyst not what was beste of all for to done. For she vnderstode well that her lorde kynge. Arthur wolde neuer of her for to haue marcy for y^e gre¦te shame that she had done vnto hym / And to¦ke her a waye pryuely with four men without moo / and came to. Karlyon / & there she dwel∣led all there lyue / and neuer after was seen a∣monges the folke her lyf duryng. ¶Kynge Ar¦thur wyst that Mordred was fledde in to Cor∣newayle / & lete sende after his men in to. Scot¦londe and Northomberlonde vnto Humbre / and lete assemble folke without nombre / and came fro thens in to. Cornewayle to seke and pursewe after Mordred. ¶And Mordred had assembled to hym all the folke of. Cornewayle and had people without nombre 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wyst that Arthur was comynge / and had leuer to deye and take his chaūce / than longer flee & abode and yaue an harde batayll to kynge. Arthur & to his people so that moche people was slayne what of one syde & what of that other / that no∣man wyst who had the better party. But so it befell at the last that Mordred was slayne & al his folke / & the good chyualry that kynge. Ar∣thur had gadred & nourysshed of dyuer londes and also the noble knyghtes of the rounde ta∣ble / that so moche were praysed thorugh oute all the worlde were there slayne / & kynge Ar∣thur hymself was wounded vnto dethe. But he lete hym to be borne to Auioun to be heeled of his woundes. And yet the. Brytons suppo∣sed that he lyued in an other lond / and that he shall come yet and conquere alle Brytayne. ¶But certes this is y^e prophecye of Merlyn. He sayde that his deth shall be doubtous / and sayde sothe. For therof yet men haue doubte / and shall haue for euer more as men saye. For mē wote not wyther that he is on lyue or deed. ¶Arthur was borne at Auioun the .xxii. yere of his regne after the. Incarnacyon of our lor¦de Ihesu Cryste .v.C.xlvi. yere.

How kynge Arthur delyuered the reame vnto Constantyne the sone of Cador his neuewe

AS kynge Arthur wyste that he myght noo lenger regne / he lette come before hym Constantyne y^t was Cadors sone Erle of Cornewayle his cosyn & to hym betoke all his reame & toke him sayd / & bad hym therof to be kynge tyll that he came ayen / for as moche as

he had none heeyre of hys body begoten. And grete damage was it / that soo noble a kynge and soo doughty as he was / hadde noo chylde of his body begoten. But all thynge that god woll haue done must be done / whose name be blessyd wythout ende

¶How kynge Constantyne was vexed of Mordred two sones.

THis Constantyne was a noble knyght and a worthy of body. And tho two so∣nes that. Mordred had begoten had grete en∣uy of Constātyne that tho was crowned kyn∣ge. And so it befell y^t they meued warre ayenst hym. And assembled a grete host of them that were before with Mordred / & had ben dryuen a waye / & that dyd moche sarowe & anguysshe thrughout all that londe. That one brother or∣deyned / & purposed hym towarde the auncy∣ent Cyte of London for to take y^e cyte And that other went to wynchestre. But Constantyne came to Lōdon & slewe hym y^t was there. And after he went to wȳchestre & slewe hym y^t was there also. So y^t bothe his enmyes were deed. ¶And whan Constantyne had regned well & worthely four yere / he deyed & lyeth at Lōdon.

¶Of the kynges Adelbryght & of Edell.

AFter kynge Constantynes dethe there were two kynges in Brytayne / y^e one was called. Adelbryght y^t was a danoys. And he helde the coūtree of. Norfolke &. Southfol∣ke. That other hyght Edell & was a. Bryton \ and helde Nicholl. Lendeser / and all the londe vnto. Humbre. These two kynges faste war∣red togyder / but after accorded they were and loued togyder / as they had ben borne of oo bo¦dy. ¶The kynge Edell had a suster that was called Orewenne. And he gaf her thrught gre∣te freodshyp to kyng. Adelbryght to wyf. And he begate vpon her a doughter that was cal∣led. Argentyll. And in the thyrde yere after ca∣me vpon hym a strange sykenesse that nedes he must deye. And he sente to kynge. Edell hys broder in lawe that he sholde come and speke wyth hym / and he came to hym wyth a good wyll. ¶Tho prayed he the kynge and coniu∣red hym also in the name of god / That after whan he were deed / he sholde take hys dough∣ter Argentyll and the londe / and that he kepte her welle / and nourysshe her in hys chambre. And whan she were of aege / she sholde be ma∣ryed to the strongest and worthyest man that he myghte fynde / and thenne he sholde yelde vp her londe ayen. ¶Edell it graunted and by othe confermed hys prayer. ¶And whan Adelbryght was deed and enteryd / Edell too∣ke the damoysell. Argentyll / and nourrsshed her in hys chambre: and she became as fayre as ony myghte be.

¶How kynge Edell maryed that da∣moysell to a knaue of his kechyne.

THis kyng Edell that was vncle to Ar∣gentyll: be thought how that he myght falsely haue the londe fro his nyce for euer mo¦re: and falsely aynst hys othe thought to dys∣ceyue y^e damoysell: and to marye her to a kna∣ue of his kechyne that was called Curan: and he became y^e worthyest and strongest man of body that ony man wyst in ony londe that tho lyued: and to hym he thought her shamfully haue maryed for to haue had her londe after∣warde / but he was clene dysceyued. For thys Curan was Hauelockis sone that was kynge of. Kyrkelane in. Denmarke: and this. Curan conquered hys wyues londe after warde and slewe kyng Edel that was h•• wyues vncle and had al her londe / as in an other place it telleth more openly: & he regned but .iii. yere for Sax∣ons &. Danes hī slewe & that was grete harme to all Brytayn & Srytons bare hym to. Sto••¦henge and entyred hym honourably.

¶Of kyng Conan that was Curans cosyn.

AFter this Curan regned his cosyn Co∣nan that was a wonder proude kny∣ghte. And regned and coude haue noo maner of loue / but euer he was medlynge wyth hys people. And tooke his vncle with warre and slewe his two chyldern. ¶The Saxons war∣red ayenst hym oftentymes: but he them ouer came: and soo he was in peas all his lyf tyme· And he regned .xiiii. yere: And after he deyed and lyeth at London.

¶Of kynge Cortyf & of Gurmonde that ca∣me thorugh the paynems in to Brytayne.

AFter this Conan regned his cosyn cor¦tyf that was behated of all his peple & no thynge beloued. & this. Cortyf lost all Bry∣tayne thrugh warre. And ī his tyme fell y^e gre∣te myscheyf in Brytayn y^e crystendom was de¦stroyed & all y^e Brytons were dryuē out of the londe and the londe lost with out ony recouer. But after warde left the londe to the Saxons as ye afterwarde shall here. For in that tyme

there was a paynem that was called Gormō∣de / that was the kynges sone Daufrices of the panems folke that hadde the reame after hys fader / & was kynge / sauf he bequaue & yaue it to his broder. And sayd that he wolde neuer be kynge / but yf that he myght gete and conque∣re a reame in a straunge countree. For he was bolde & stronge of body. And of hym prophecy¦ed Merlyn & sayde / that hesholde be a wulf of the see. And he lette assemble paynems wyth∣out nombre / & lete appareylle shyppes / & wen∣te by many londes / & toke homages & feautees of many. And so he wente by the see & conque∣red many dyuerse londes. So that he came in to Irlonde / & conquered that lond / that often tymes warred vpon. Brytons / and Brytons vpon them & oft wonne & oft lost & yaue hosta∣ges to Brytons. And so they sent to Gurmon∣de there that he was in Irlonde / that he shold come in to Brytayne and helpe them ayenst y^e Brytons / to helpe them to delyuer that londe of them / & they wolde hym holde gladly for the¦yr lord. For he was a paynem / and they were paynems & the Brytons were crystened. well ought he them for to helpe / so as they were all of one lawe. whā Gurmonde herde this pray∣er he hasted him as moche as he myght & arry∣ued in Scotlonde / & came in to Northomber∣londe there that the Saxons were dwellynge and they confermed the couenaūtes bytwene them that were made by othes & by hostages / for to bere hym true fay / & holde hym for lorde and paye to hym truage by the yere ¶Tho be¦gan the. Saxons and y^e. Affricans to destroye robbe and brenne townes / & destroye all then∣g•• in asmoche as they myght & spared neyther man woman ne chylde lerned ne lewde / But all they slewe / & caste downe townes castels & chirches / & so put they all the londe in grete de¦struccyon. And as soone as they myghte flee / they fledde thens as well poore as ryche / bys∣shops / abbottes / chanons / & all other grete & smal / some in to lytell Brytayne / & some in to Cornewayle / all tho y^e shyppes myghht haue.

¶How the kynge. Gurmonde droue kyng Cortyf to Chechestre / & slewe the Brytons / & thrugh crafte & engyne gate the same towne.

COrtyf the kyng fledde thens in to Che∣chestre that tho was stronge / and there helde hym .xx. dayes / & this Gurmonde came and it besyeged. But the cytee was so stronge that he myght not gete it by no maner of wy∣se with engyne that they myght doo. Tho be∣thought they vpon a subtylte for to brenne the towne. They made engynes wyth glewe of nettes / & toke pecys of thunder & of fyre & bon∣de it to sparowes feet & than lete them flee and they anōe flewe & lodged thē in y^e towne ther y^t theyr nestis were / & in stackes & euesynges of houses / & y^e fyre began to kyndle & brente all y^e towne / And whan the. Brytons sawe that in euery syde they hyed them out & fought / but a¦none they were slayne and dyscomfyted / And whyle batayll dured the kynge pryuely hydde hym and stale awaye in to walys / & men wyst neuer where he became / and soo was the tow∣ne of Chechestre taken and destroyed. And af∣ter. Gurmonde wente and destroyed townes and cytees that neuer were after made ayen / as it is seen yet in many places of thys londe.

¶How thys londe was called Englonde for the name of Engyst / & how many kynges were made after in thys londe.

SO whan. Gurmonde had destroyed al the londe thrugh out: he yaue the londe to the Saxons: & anone they toke it with good wyll / for the Saxons longe tyme had desyred it. For asmoche as they wereof. Engist{is} kyn∣red that fyrst had all the londe of. Brytayne & lete them be called. Englyssmen: for by cause of Engistes name: & the lond they lete call En¦glonde in theyr langage: & the folke ben called Englyshmen: for asmoche as in thys tyme it was called Engist{is} londe whan he had cōque∣red it of. Vortiger: that spoused hys doughter But fro the tyme y^t Brute came fyrst in to En¦glonde: thys londe was called. Brytane: and the folke Brytons. But syth the tyme y^t thys Gurmonde conquered it eftsones and yaue it vnto the. Saxons: they anone ryght chaūged the name as before is sayde. And whan thys was done. Gurmonde passed ouer in to Fraū∣ce: & there conquered many londes: & destroy∣ed all cristen peple there that he came. And the Saxons dwelled in this londe and began fast to enhabyte it at ther owne wyll. And they wol¦de haue made newe kyngis & lordes: but they myght neuer assent to haue only oo kynge for to be to them attendaunt / & therfore they ma∣de many kynges in dyuerse shyres: as it was in Engistes tyme. The fyrste kyngdome was Kente: & that othe. Southsexe: and the thyrde

westsex / the fourth Eestsex / & the fyfth Nothū¦berlonde / and y^e sixth Estangle that is to saye Northfolke / and Southfolke and the seuenth Mercheryche / and that is the Erldoste of Ny∣choll. Hūtyngdon. Herforde. Gloucetre. wynl¦chestre. wer wyke & Derby / and so departed all Englond in to .vii. partyes. ¶And after that it befell that tho kyng{is} warred oft tymes togy¦der. And euer he that was strongest toke hym that was feblest / and soo it was longe tyme y^t they had noo kynge crowned amonge theym / ne no crysten man was tho amonge them / ne crystendome nather. But were paynems tyll that saynt Gregory was pope of: Rome / that had seen childern of the nacyon of Englonde in the cyte of Rome / that were wonder fayre creatures / & had grete wyll and desyre theym to beholde. And axed of y^e marchaūtes whens they were / and of what nacyon. And men tol∣de hym that they were of Englonde / and In∣glysshe they were called / but they & all the peo¦ple of Englonde were paynems: and byleued not vpon god. ¶Alas sayde saynt Gregory: well maye they be called Englysshe: for they haue the vysages of angels and therfore well ought they to be crystened. And for this cause saynt Gregory theresente saynt. Austyn in to Englōde & .xl. good mē with hym that were of good lyf & holy men to preche & teche & to com∣uetre the Englysshe people & them to torne to god: & that was in the .vi. yere that saynt Gre∣gory had be pope of Rome / that is to saye / of∣ter thyn carnacyon of our lorde Ihesu Cryste .v.C.lxxxv. yeres as the Cronycle telleth.

¶How saynt Austyn baptysed and con∣uerted kynge Adelbryght and the bysshop¦pes that he made his felowes.

AS saynt Austyn came fyrste in to. En∣glonde / he arryuen in the yle of Tenet and so passed forth & came vnto Caunterbury and there soyourned. And kynge Adelbryght of Kent that was the lygnage of Engist good∣ly receyued saynt Austyn & hys felowes wyth moche honour / and them foūde all that them neded. And more ouer he yaue theym a fayre place / that now is called the abbay of. Shynt Austyn / in whiche place he lyth hym self shry∣ned. ¶This kynge Adelbryght was a good man & wyth good wylle herde saynt Austyns predycacyons / and yaue hym leue to preche thrughout all hys londe before sayd of Kente / to torne and conuerte to hym all y^e people that he myght. ¶It befelle soo after thorugh god∣des grace / that in lytell tyme the kynge hym∣self was conuerted to god / and all hys peop of his londe were baptysed. And in the meane whyle the peple torned them to god. ¶Saynt Austyn came to. Rochestre / & there he preched the worde of god. And the paynems therfore hym scorned / and caste vpon hym reygh tayl∣les / so that all his mantell was hanged full of these reygh tayles / and for more dyspyte / they caste vpon hym the guttes of reyghes & other fysshe. wherfore the good man Saynt Austyn was sore anoyed and greued. And prayed to god that all tho chyldern of that cyte that shol¦de be borne after warde / that is for to saye in the of Rochestre / myght haue taylles and soo they hadde And whan the kynger herde of this vengeaunce that was falle thrugh saynt Au∣styns prayer. He lete make an house in the ho∣nour of almyghty god / wherin wymmen shol¦de be delyuered of theyr childern at the bryges ende / In the whiche hous yet wymmen of the cyte ben delyuerde of chylde. ¶whan that sa∣ynt Gregory hadde hrede tell how the Englys¦she people were torned to god & comuerted he sente vnto saynt. Austyn his pallyon by a b••s∣shop / that was called Paulin and made hym Prymate & Archebysshop of Englonde And sente worde that he sholde ordeyne & make dys¦posynge the londe. And anone Austyn had the pallyon of the dygnyte of the Archebysshyp. He made two bysshops of his felowes that ca∣me with hym fro Rome & one was called Mel∣lite & he dwelled at London & that other was called Iustin that helde the dygnyte at. Roche¦stre. And this bysshop Mellite tho went to pre¦che in to Estsex and erystened the kynge of the countree that was called Sicwith that was kynge Adlebrytes cosyn hys systers sone. ¶Thys Iustyn wente to preche in Southse•• and torned moche of the people to god. And Saynt Austyn hymselfe preched thorugh out Englonde.

¶How saynt Austyn wente in to waels there the Brytons were / & how they wolde not beo¦bedyent tothe. Archebysshop of Caūterbury.

SO whan all Englonde was crystened and torned to god / saynt Astuyn went in to that londe there that the Brytons were for to kepe them frome Englysshmen / that is▪

to saye in to ways. And there he founde mon∣kes & abbayes and .vii. bysshops. For y^e Bry∣tons alwaye destroyed the crysten people that saynt Austyn had conuerted. And he sayde to the bysshops that he was a Legate of Rome & Prymate of all. Englonde / & that they sholde by all reason to hym be obedyenc & they sayde they nolde / but to the. Archebysshop of Carly∣on they wolde. They wolde neuer for noo ma¦ner thynge be obedyent to the Englysshe men For the Englysshemen they sayde ben our ad∣uersaryes & our enmyes & haue dryuen vs out of our countree / & weben crysten men & euer haue be. And the Englysshemen haue euer be paynems / but now of late that they ben con∣uerted. ¶Saynt Austyn of them myght haue none answere otherwyse / but sayd pertly that they wolde neuer them meke to hym / ne to the pope of Rome. And saynt Austyn torned ayen tho to kynge Adelbryght y^t was kynge of Kent and tolde hym that hys folke wolde not be to no man obedyent / but to the. Archebysshop of Carlyon. And whan the kynge herde thys / he was sore anoyed & sayd that he wolde them de¦stroye / and sent to Elfryde kynge of Northun∣berlonde that was hys frende / that he sholde come to hym with al the power that he myght and that he wolde mete hym at Leycetre / and fro thens they wolde go in to walys / and the∣re destroye the Archebysshop of Carlyon / and all tho that had refused saynt Austyn

¶How kynge Adelbryght and the kynge Elfryde slewe Brecinall that was a kynge of Brytons that helde the countree of Leycetre.

IT be tell soo that there was a kynge of Brytons that helde the countree of Ley¦cetre and alle the countree aboute / hys name was Brecinall. And this Bryton herde telle that tho two Englysshe kynges wolde mete there at Leycetre for to goo in to walys. He le∣te ordeyne all the power that he had for to goo fyght with these two kynges / but lytel it auay¦led hym / for his folke that he had were slayne and hymself fledde / & loste his londes for euer more. ¶And these two kynges Adelbryght & Elfryde dwelled a whyle at Leycetre / and de∣parted the londe amonge them / and tooke ho∣mag{is} and feautees of the folke of the countree And after they wente to warde walys and thot of walys herd telle of thes comfyture that Bre¦ic••all had at Leycetre / and were wonder for adrad of tho two kynge{is}. And tooke and those amonge them good men and hooly of hemytes monkes and preestes / & of other people grete plentye that wente bare foote and wulwarde for ta haue mercy of thes two kynges / but tho kynges were so sterne & so wyked y^t they wold neuer speke to thē but them slewe euerychone Alas for sorowe / for they ne spared them noo∣more than the wulfe dothe the shepe / but smot of theyr heedes euerychone / & so they were all martrd that to them came / that is to vnder∣stande .v.C. & .xl. After they wente fro thens to Bangor for to slee all those that ther myghte there fynde of the Brytons. And whan y^e Bry¦touns herde that / they assembled and ordened all ther power for to fyght with thyem. Two was there a baron in walys that was called. Bledrik of Cornewayle that some tyme was lorde of Deuenshyre but the kynge. ¶Adel∣bright had dreuen hym out in to walys and af¦ter there he yaue them batayll. And at that ba¦tayll was kynge Adelbright slayne and Efry∣desore woūded & forsoke the felde / & the moost partye of his people slayne. And Elfryde flede in to Northumberlonde that was his owne lō¦de· ¶And after that the people of Leycetre shy¦re made with strenght Cadewan y^t was Bry∣cinals sone kynge of Leceytre / And he after∣regned nobly and with grete honour.

¶How Cade wan kynge of Leycetre & El∣fryde kynge of Northumberlonde were fren∣des / & of the debate y^t after was bytwene Ed∣wyn & Cad walyn that were both theyr sones

ANd after that thys bataylle was done y^t Brytons assembled them and wente thens and came to Leycetre / and made there Caudewan that was Brecinals sone kynge of Leycetre and of all the countree. Aed he toke homages & feautes of all the folke of the coun∣tree. And after that he assembled a grete hoste and sayde he wolde goo in to Northumberlon∣de / to destroy kynge Elfryde and sle hym yf he myght. And whan he was come thether / fren∣des wente so bytwene them that they accorde them in this manere / that Elfryde sholde hol∣de all the londe fro Northumberlonde to Scot¦londe. And Cadewan sholde haue all the lon∣de a thys syde Humbre to the Southe / and af∣ter they were good frendes all theyr lyf / and lo¦ued as they had ben brethern. ¶And thys El¦ryde had a sone called Edwyn that helde all••

the londe of Northūberlonde after his fathers dethe as his fader hadde holde all his lyf tyme ¶And Cadewā had another sone called Cad¦walyn that helde his faders londe as he it hel∣de whyle he was alyue / and these loued as bre∣theren. And y^e loue lasted betwyxt them but on¦ly two yere / & after began debat betwyxt them throughe a synple enuyous cosyn of Cadwa∣lins. called Bryens / so y^t they assembled a gre∣te hoste in bothe partyes. And at the laste it be fell y^e Cadwalin was dyscūforted / & Edwen hym pursued & droue hym fro place to place so at the last he fledde in to Irelonde. And y^e other destroyd & pylled his londe / and cast downe ca¦stels & brente his maners / & departed all Cad∣walins londe amonge his frendes. And longe tyme after came Cadwalen ayen fro Irlonde with a stronge pour / and in playne batayll sle∣we Edwyn & all his frendes / & namely tho y^t with helde his londes by Edwyns yefte.

¶How kynge Oswallde was slayne thoughe kynge Cadwalin and Peanda / and howe Os¦wy that was saynte Oswaldes broder regned after hym and slewe Peanda.

AS Edwyn was slayne. Offris his so∣ne vndertoke that warre ayenste Cad∣walin his came / so y^t this Offris deyed duryn∣ge y^e warre. And after y^e dethe of this Offris tho regned a gentyl crysten man that moche loued god almyghty y^t had all the londe of Northum¦brelonde by herytage / y^t was called Oswalde & he was kynge of all the londe. But for as mo¦che as he was frende to Edwyn / and helde a grete parte of the londe of Cadwalin. This sa¦me cadwalyn warred vpon hym & droue hym to warde Scotlond. And whan Cadwalin sa¦we that he wolde not abyde. Cadwalin wolde no lenger hym pursue / but toke some of his fol¦ke to Peanda his broder in lawe & prayed hym to pursue after Oswalde / tyl that he were takē & slayne / and Cadwalin toruned home ayen. ¶whan Oswalde herde these tydynges that Cadwalin tourned home ayen / he wolde no lē¦ger flee / but abode Peanda & yaue hym bata∣yll / and Peanda was dyscomfort••e & fledde & came ayen to Cadwalyn & sayde that he wolde neuer holde one fote of londe of hym / but yf so were that he wolde auenge hym of Oswalde. ¶Cadwalin lete assemble a grete hoste for to fyght with Oswalde soo that he and Peanda came to Northumberlonde & yaue batayll vn∣to Oswalde And in the same batayll was Os∣walde slayne & his heed smyten of / & after he was entered at the abbay of Berdenay in whi¦che place god hadde wrought for hym many a fayre myracle / bothe there and elles where. ¶And anone Oswy his brother seased all the londe in to his honde that was this Oswaldis And the folke of Northumberlonde loued him wonderly well / and helde hym for theyr lorde. But he had men of his kynne worthy ynough that wolde haue departed the londe / and they warred togyed well. And for asmoche as they were not stronge ynoughe / they came to Pean¦da and prayed hym of helpe & socour. And be∣hyght hym of y^e lōde largely vpō this couenāt that he wold them gouerne & helpe / & counseyl ¶Peanda herde theyr prayer & so spake with Cadwalyn / that he sholde ordayne a grete host and faste ordeyned hym in to Northumberlon¦de for teyght with Oswy. And Oswy was a meke man / & moche loued peas & charyte and prayed Peanda of loue & peas and profe••ede hym of golde and syluer grete plentye. ¶And this Peanda was so proude y^t he nolde graunt hym peas fo no maner thynge but for all thyn¦ge he wolde with hym fyght. S••o at the laste there was sette a daye of batayll. And Oswy e¦uer trusted vpon god and Peanda trusted to∣moche vpon pryde and vpon his hoste that he had. And to gyder they smote egerly but Pean¦da was anone dyscomforted and slayne. And this was After the Incarnacyon of oure lorde Ihesu Cryste .v.C.lv. yere And this Oswy reg¦ned .xxviii. yere And a kynge that was called Oswyne / that was Peandaes cosyn warred vpon hym and togyder fought / But Oswy hadde the victory of Oswyne. And Oswyn was dyscomforted and slalyne / and lyeth at Tynnemouth.

¶How kynge Cadwaldre that was Cad∣walins sone regned after his fader / and was the laste kynge of Brytons.

AFter the deth of Cadwelin regned hys sone Cudwaldre well and nobly. And his moder was y^e syster of Peanda. And whan he had regned .xii. yere / he felle in to a grete sy∣kenesse / & thenne was there a greate dyscorde bytwene the lordes of the londe / that euery of them warred vpon other. And yet in that ty∣me there fell so grete derth & scarsyte of corn & other viteylles in this londe / that a man my∣ghte

go .iii. or iiii. dayes fro towne to towne y^t he sholde not fynde to bye for golde ne syluer brede / wyne ne none other vitayle where wich a man myght lyue. But onely the people lyued by rotis of herbes / for other lyuynge had they none / so moche was it faylled all aboute / Fys∣shes / wylde bestes / & all other thynge soo that yet to this mysauenture / there felle soo greate mortalyte and pestelens amonge the people by the corrupcyon of the ayre that y^e lyuynge peo¦ple suffysed not to burye the deed bodyes. For they deyed soo sodenly / bothe grete and smalle lorde & seruaunt / in etynge goynge & spekynge they fell downe and deyed / so that neuer was herde of more sodeyne deth amonge the people For he that wente for to burye the deed body / with the same deed body was buryed. And soo they that myght flee fledde & forsoke theyr lon∣des and houhes / as welle for the grete hungre derth & scarsyte of corne & other vitayll / as for the grete mortalyte & pestylence in the londe / & wente into other londes for to saue theyr lyues and lefte the londe all deserte & wast / so y^t there was noman for to trauayle & tylthe the londe So that the londe was barayne of corne & all other fruytes for defawte of tyllyers / and this mysauenture dured .xi. yere and more that no∣man myght ere ne sowe

¶How Cadwaldre wente out of this londe in to lytell Brytayne.

CAdwaldre sawe grete hungre mortaly∣te & pestylence / and the londe all poore / & faylynge cornes ād other vytaylles / and his folke perysshed / & sawe also the mooste partye of his londe all wasted & voyde of people. He apparelled hym and his folke that were lefte alyue / and passede ouer in to lytell Brytayne with a lytell nauy vnto kynge Alayne that he moche loued / that was his cosyn and that his fader hadde moche loued in his tyme. And as they sayled in the see / he made moche lamen∣tacyon / and so dyde alle tho that were with hym and sayde. (Dedisti nos domine tanquan•• oues escarū. et in gentibus dispersisti nos)

ANd thenne began Cadwaldre to com¦playne hym to his folke pyteously and sayd· Alas sayd he / to vs wretches & caytyues is sorowe for our grete synnys / the whiche we wolde not amende vs whyle we had space / & now repentaunce is comen vpon vs throughe my sauenture / whiche chaced vs out of oure reame and propre soyle. And out of the whiche somtyme Romayns. Becottes. Saxons / ney∣ther Danys myght not exyle vs. ¶But what auaylleth it now to vs that before tyme / oft ty¦mes haue goten many other londes / syth it ys not the wyll of god that we abyde and dwelle in our owne londe. God that is very Iuge yat all thynges knoweth before they ben done or made / he seeth that we wolde not cesse of oure synnes / and that our enmyes myghte not vs ne our lygnage exyle fro / and out of our reame He wolde that we amende vs of oure folyes and that we see our propre defautes.

And therfore hath shewed to vs wrathe / and woll chastyse vs of our mysdedes. Syche that he doth vs with out batayll / or strength of our enmyes / by grace companyes / wretcchedly to leue our reame & propre londe. ¶Torne ayen ne ye Romanys / torne agayne ye Scottes tor∣ne agayne ye Saxxons / torne agayne ye Fraū¦soys. Now seweth to you Brytayne all deserte the whiche your power myght neuer make de∣serte / ne yet oure power hathe not put vs now in exyle But onely the power of the kynge all∣myghty whom we haue often offended by our folyes / the whiche we wolde not leue vntyll he chastyced vs by dyuyne power ¶Amonge the worldes & lamentacyon that the kynge Cad∣whldre made to his folke / they arryued ī lytell Brytayne / and came to kynge Alayne before sayd ¶And the kynge receyued hym with gre¦te Ioye / and made hym to be seruede wonder nobly. And there abode they longe tyme after ¶The Englesshe people that were left a lyue and were escaped the grete hungre and morta¦lyte / lyued in the best wyse that they myght. And moche people sprange and came of them ¶And they sente in to Saxonye where that they were borne to ther frendes for men / wye∣men / and chyldren / to restore the cytees with people and the townes that were all voyde of people / and for to laboure / traueyll and tylthe the erthe. ¶whan the Saxons herde these ty∣dynges / they came in to y^e londe wonder thye∣ke in grete companyes / and herborowed ther∣selfe in the countree all aboute where that they wolde / for they founde no man them for to let∣e ne withstonde. And so they waxed & multe∣plyed gretely. And vsed the maners and custo¦mes of the countree wherof they were come. And they vsed also the lawes and the langa∣ges

and speche of theyr owne londe that they came fro. And also they chaunged all the na∣mes of Cytyes / twones / castelles / & brought / & yaue them names and called as they nowe ben called And they helde the Counrees. Barona∣ges & lordeshyps in manere as the Brytons be¦fore tyme had compassed them / And amonge other grete companyes that came frome Ger∣mayne in to this londe / came the noble quene that was called Se••burga with men & wym∣men without nombre· And arrayed in the coū¦tree of Northumberlonde / and tooke the londe frome Ilbion vnto Cornewaylle for her & for her folke. For there was none that myght thē lette / for alle was desolace & voyde of people / but it were a fewe poore Brytons that were lefte on mountayns & woddes vntyll that ty∣me. ¶And fro that tyme forthe loste the Bry¦tons this reame for all theyr dayes. And the Englysshe people begane to regne / and depar∣ted the lōde bytwene them. And they made ma¦ny kynges aboute by dyuerse partyes of the londe as here ben dyuyded. The fyrst of weste¦sexe / The second•• Merchenriche / The thyrde Estangle / the fourthe Kente / the fyfth South∣sex. All those regned in this londe after y^e Cad∣waldre was passed out of this londe / & dwelled in lytell Bryten with kynge Alayne his cosyn and true frende. And whan he had longe dwel¦lede there / and had knowynge that the morta∣lyte and pestelence was ouerpassed / & that the londe was replenysshed / ayen wyth people / he thought to torne ayen in to his londe And pray¦ed kynge Alayne his cosyn of socour & helpe y^t he myghte be restored ayen to his owoe propre reame and fyrste dygnyte / And kynge Aleyne graunted hym his askynge. ¶Thenne dyde he appareylle hym to take his wayt and vya∣ge in to this londe. And prayed god allmyghty deuoutly that he wolde make to hym demon∣stracyon / yf his prayer to this londe were too hyme plesaunt or none / for ayenste the wyll of god allmyghty he wolde no thynge do. ¶whā he had thus deuoutly made his prayer / avoys fro heuen to hym sayd. And hadde hym leue y^e Iurney a waye in to Englonde / and that he sholde goo to the pope of Rome for it was not the wyll of almyghty god y^t the Brytons shol∣de regne more in Brytane / ne neuer recouered it vnto the tyme of the prophecye that Marlyn sayd before he fu••fylled. And that sholde neuer be vnto y^e tyme were come / that the relyques of his body shall be broughte fro Rome & trans¦lated in to Brytayne / And whan the ralykes of other sayntes that haue ben hedde for y^e per∣secucyon of the paynem folke shall be founde & openly shewed / thenn shalle they recouer theyr londe agayne / the whyche they haue soo longe tyme loste throughe theyr desertes. ¶whane Cadwaldre hadde herde this answere / he mar¦uayled gretely and tolde it to the kynge Aleyne ¶Thene kynge Aleyne dyde sende for the cler¦gye of his londe / and made them to brynge the storyes and prophecyes that Merlyn and Sy¦byll had sayd in theyr prophcyes. And whan he knewe that the prophycye that Festom had prophecyed of the Egle. And other prophecyes accorded to the dyuyne aunswere that Cadde∣walldre had herde. He counselled hym & ryght faythfully desyred hym to leue his people and his nauy / & submytte hym to the dyspocysyon of god / and do all that the aungell had cōmaū¦ded hym. ¶Thenye Cadwaldre called y••or his sone and ymori his cosyn that was his sys∣ters sone / & sayd to them. Taketh sayde he my folke & my nauy that is here all redy / & passe into walys and be ye lordees of Brytons that no dyshonoure come to them by interrupcyon of the Paynem folke for defaute of lordes. ¶And thene hymselfe lefte his reame of Bry¦tayne and his folke for euer more / and tooke his waye vnto the pope of Rome Sergius the whyche worshypede hym moche / and so he w¦as confessed / and toke penaunce for hys syn∣nes. And he had not longe dwelled there that he ne deyed / the .xii. Kalendis in Maye •• the yere of grace .v.C.lxxii.

¶How kynge Offa was souerayne aboue all the kynges of Englonde / and how euery kyn∣ge warred vpon other.

IT befell so that all the kynges in that ty∣me that were in y^u londe. as they of west¦sex. Marchenryche. Estangle / of kente / and of Southsex and of other costes eche warred vpon other And he that moste myght toke the londe of hym that was mooste feblest. ¶But there was a kynge amonge them that was cal¦led Offa / that was saynte Oswaldes brother. This Offa conquered all the kynges of y^e lon∣de / and regned all aboue them all. ¶And s•••• gret was the y^t warre in euery there bytwene

grekes / that no mā myght wyte how the lond wente. But abbottos pryours / & men of Rely¦gyon wrote y^t lyues & dedes of kynges / & how longe euery of theym regned & in what coūtre & in what manere euery kynge deyed / & of bys¦shops also. And therof made grete bokys and lete calle them Cronycles. And the good kyng Alured had that booke in his warde. And lette brynge it vnto wynchestre / and lete it be faste tacked to a pylar that men sholde it not reme∣ue / ne bere it thens / so that euery man sholde it see & therupon loke For therin ben the lyues of all the kynges that euer were in Englonde.

¶How the kynge of Northumberlon∣de Osbryght forlaye the wyf of Buer¦ne Bocarde thrugh strength / and after this Buerne conquered the kyng with power and strength.

ANd thus it befell in y^e same tyme / that there was a kyng in Northumberlond ••e that was called Osbryght / and soyourned atte yorke. ¶And this kynge wente hym vp∣pon a daye in to a wood hym for to / dysporte. And as he came ayen / he wente pryuely in to a good mannes house / that was called Buer∣ne / and the good man of that place was gone that tyme to the see. ¶For oftentymes there he was wonte to spye theues and robbers that oftentymes were wonte to come in to the lon¦de / to robbe / brenne / and slee. The lady that was Buernes wyfe was a wonder fayre wo∣man. ¶And the kynge came vnto her whan that herhusbode was absente / and she trusted none harme vnto the kynge / and welcomed hym with moche honour / and worthely hym serued in all thynge. ¶whan the kynge hadde eten / he tooke the lady by the honde and ••adde her in to a chambre and sayde. He wolde speke with her a counseyll. And all the folke he made voyde fro the chambre / saue only the lady and he. But the lady wyst not wherfore he it dyde / tyll that he had done alle hys wyll. And whan he hadde done this dede / He torned agayne to yorke. And the lady he lefte there sore wepyn∣ge for the dede that the kynge to her had done. ¶And whan he•• lorde was came home and sawe her wepe and suche sorowe and mornyn¦ge make / he axed of her what she hadde done / and why she made suche sorowe. ¶Syre she sayde / subtylly and falsely the kynge Osbry∣ght•• hathe doo me shame and vylanye ayeast my wyll. And tolde hym all the truthe how the kynge had ••orlayne her with strengthe / wher∣fore she sayde she hadde leuer to be deed than tolyue. ¶Fayre loue be stylle sayde he / for a∣yenst strengthe feblenesse is yltell worthe / and therfore of me shalte thou neuerthelesse belo∣ued and namely for thou hast tolde me the treu¦the. And yf almyghty god graūt to me my lyf I shall the aueng. ¶This Buerne was a gre¦te man and a myghty lorde / and was well be∣loued and grete frendes hadde. And lete sende for the grettest lordes of the londe / and to them made hes complaynte of the despyte / that the kynge to hym hadde done and sayde / he wolde be auenged how euer yt were. And all hys fren¦des counseylled hym that he sholde goo vnto yorke there that the kynge was hym to defye. And Buerne toke his mayne and came to the kynge. whan the kynge hym sawe / he called hym curtously Buerne by name. And Buer∣ne hym answerred to hym sayde. Syre I you defye / and yelde vp feautes homages and lon¦des / and as moche as I haue holden of you / & fro this tyme for warde I wyll neuer of the no¦thynge holde. And soo he departed fro the kyn¦ge without more speche or ony abydynge and tooke leue of his frendes and went in to Den∣marke / and playned to the kynge Godern / & tolde hym of the despyte of that the kynge Os∣bryght to hym hadde donne of his wyfe. And prayed hym of socour / and helpe hym for to a∣uenge. ¶whan kynge Godern of Denmarke and the danys hadde herde the complaynt of thys Buerne / and the prayer that he badde / they were ryght wonder glasde in theyr her∣tes / for as moche as they myght fynde a cause for to goo in to Englonde for to warree vpon Englesshe men / and for to aenge Buerne of the despyte that the kyng Osbryght hadde do¦ne vnto hys wyf. And for as moche as Buer∣ne was sybbe v••to the kynge of Denmarke / anone they lette ordeyne a greate hoste of men and lete ordeyne theym shyppes / and as mo∣che as theym nede for to haue to that vyage. And whan all the host was redy / the kyng ma¦de his two brethern chyef capytayns / that we¦re noble knyghtes of body & also bolde. That one was called Hunga / & that other Hubba.

¶How the Danys tooke yorke / and slewe the kynge Osbrygt / and soone after slewe kynge Eelle.

[illustration]

Sall was redy y^t two bre¦thern toke leue ofthe kyn¦ge Godren. and wente to∣warde the see for to passe•• o¦uer in to Inglonde as fast as they myght spede Now is Buerne so welle comfor∣ted and faste hyed hym wyth the Danys that they ben arryued in the North coūtre & comen thrugh out Holdernes / and destroyed all the countree and brenned townes / & robbed folke / and sle∣we all that they myght take tyll that they came vnto yorke. And whan kyng Osbryght sawe them come / He tooke alle hys people that he had with hym & came out of the cytee & faught with them / but noo foyson he ne hadde ayenst them / and moche of the people that there was were slayne on bothe partyas. And kynge Os¦bryght hym self there was slayne / and the cyte anene was take and the Danys wente in. ¶And there was also an other kynge in Nor∣thumberlonde / that Buernes frendes hadde those & helde hym for kynge / a man that was called Elle / for as moche as they wolde not to kynge Osbryght be attendan̄t / for the despyte that he had done vnto Buerne theyr cosyn. ¶It befell thus that the kyng Elle was gone in to the wood hym for to dyosporte & of the ve¦nyson some he had taken. And as he sate in the wood at meete / to a knyght he sayde. we ha•• wel spedde and moche venyson taken. ¶And with that worde came in a man & to hym sayd yf yeso moche of venyson haue wonne / an ho¦dred tymes so moche more ther ayenst haue ye loste. For all thys coūtree the Danys haue go∣ten / and taken the Cytee of yorke / and ayenst you shall it holde / that neuer ye shalcome ther¦in / and for soo moche they haue slayne kynge Osbryght. whan kynge Elle herde these wor¦des / he lete assemble all the folke of he coūtree and ordeyned all the power that he myght ha∣ue and wolde haue goten the towne of yorke with strength. But the Danys came out ano∣ne & yaue hym a strōge batayll. And selwe the kyng Elle & the moost parte of y^e peple y^t he had brought with hym. ¶And the same place the∣re they were slayne / shalle euer more be called Elle crofte / and that place is a lytell from yor¦ke. ¶And the rested the Danys neuer tyl that they hadde conquered all Northumberlonde. And in that countree they made wardeynes / and wente further in to the londe / and tooke Notyngham. And there they abode all y^e wyn¦ter / and dyed all the sorowe that they myght ¶And after whan Somer tyme came they re¦meued frome Notyngham and came in to Ni¦choll and Lyndesey / and to Holonde. For noo man myght them wythstande / soo moche po∣wer and strengthe they had

How saynt Edmōde the kynge was Martyred

[illustration]

ANd soo ferre hadde the Danys passed frome / countree to countree. and euer more brynnynge and robbyn∣ge and destroyenge al that they myght tylle they came vnto / Tetstforede. ¶••nd in that coū¦tree they founde a Crysten kyn¦ge / that moche loued god and hys werkes that was called Edmonde. And he was a kynge of Norfolke and Southfolke ¶Thys saynt Edmonde kynge ordeyned as moche folke as he myghte / and foughte wyth the Danys / but he and his folke were dyscom¦fyted / And the kynge hymselfe dryuen vnto the castell of F••amelynham. And the Danys hym purshewed / & came vnto y^e same castell / ¶And whan kynge Edmonde sawe that the castell myghte not them withstande he came ayenste theym / wyth whome the Danys fyr∣ste dyde speke. And anone they a••ed of hym where kynge Edmonde was.

¶How forsothe sayde he whan I was in the castell / there was the hyng / and whan I wen¦te out of the castell he went out also / and whe∣ther he shalle escape or deye / atte goddes wyll muste it all be. ¶whan saynt Edmonde had∣de named god / by that worde wyste they well that it was hym self· And anone Hubba & Hū∣gar toke hym & sayd / that he sholde god forsa∣ke & all crysten lawes / as many other had do∣ne hym before· ¶And saynt Edmonde sayde that he wolde neuer / but rather he wolde suf∣fre dethe for goddes loue and his lawes to.

¶Tho toke they kynge Edmonde and bonde hym vnto a tree / & made theyr archers to sho∣te at hym with arowes / tyll that his body sty••¦ked as fulle of arowes as an orchen is fulle of pryckes. But for all the payne that they hym dyde he wolde neuer god for sake. And in the same payne / and torment he deydd / and beto∣ke

his soule vnto almyghty god. ¶And whan they sawe that he was dede / they smote of his heed. ¶And of this manere as ye haue herde was saynt Edmonde martred.

¶How Hubba and Hungar toke the towne of Redynge

SO whan Saynt Edmonde was mar¦tred. Hungar and Hubba yede thens wyth all the Danys vnto Redynge. & as they wente thyderwarde they brente townes and tyees / & slewe all crysten pele y^t woldē opnote forsake hod / & caste downe chyrche & came to Redynge & toke the towne & there helde them tyll that the kynge Edelf of westsex came thy∣ther with all his power for to take the townes Tho came out the Danys for to yeue batayll to Edelf / & at that batayll was slayne an erle of the Danys that was called Sidrak. Vpon the morowe came kynge Eldred and hys bro∣ther Alured wyth a stronge power and a grete hoste. And the kynge Edelf came agayne that had foughten the daye before to that bataylle And the Danys tho cam out for to fyght wyth theym / and the bataylle was wonder stronge For many a man was there slayne & the Da∣nys that daye had the vyctorye / & the kyng El¦dred & hys brother Alared that daye were dys∣comfyted. ¶But the fourth daye after warde the Danys & the Englysshe fought tohyder an other tyme vpon Elkedene / & there was slayne a kynge of Denmarke that was called Rafin and foure erles of grete power. And that daye had the Danys shame / for they were dryuen vnto Engilfelde. ¶And the .xv. day after the Danys & the Englysshe men fought an ather tyme at Rafynge & there were the Englysshe∣men dyscomfyted / & from thens a dane y^t was called Roynt wente to redynge with his hoste and destroyed all that he myght take. And kin¦ge Eldred faught wyth hym / but he was woū¦ded sore wherfore he deyed / and he regned but .v. yere / and lyeth at womborn.

¶Circa annū dm̄ .iii.C.xlix.

LEo the fyrst was Emperour after Marcianus .xvii. yere. In hys tyme were the Raga∣cyon dayes ordeyned afore y^e Ascensyon of saynt Marmer bysshop of Vyenne. ¶The pope of Rome at that tyme hyght Leo a noble clerke / & with hym had many clerkes. ¶Hel∣lar us was pope after Leo .vii. yere This mā ordeyned y^t no bysshop sholde ordeyne hys suc¦cessary) vt pʐ .viii.ix.i. ¶Simplici{us} was po∣pe after hym / whyche ordeyned that noo cler∣ke sholde take noo garment to be clothed in af¦ter the seculer maner of a laye man / by the re∣ason of his offyce or of his benefyce. ¶zeno was Emperour after. Leo .xv. yere / and thys man was an heretyke and cruell ayenst cristē men. And in this mānes dayes the bodyes of saynt Mathewe the Euangelyst & saynt Bar¦naby were foūde / & with them the gospell that saynt Mathewe wrote. ¶Aboute this tyme there was a certayne comyn womā bare .vii: chyldern at on byrth / of the whyche one was made after kynge of Lombardye. ¶Felix the thyrde was pope after Symplicius thre yere and .viii. monethes. This man ordeyned that respyte sholde be yeuen to a man that was ac∣cused that he myght auyse hym how heshlode answere And that the Iuges and the accusers sholde be suche / and that they sholde take alle suspeccyon and spytte. ¶Gelasius a Romay¦ne was pope after Felix .v. yere Thys man or¦deyned the Canon of the masse. with the Pre∣face / ympnes / tractes / orysons / as saynt Am¦brose made them / and that ordres sholde be ye¦uen foure tymes in the yere. ¶Anastasi{us} was Emperour after zeno .xxvii. yere / & he was a cursed man & an heretyke / and hateful to god and man. And he was slayne with lyghtuyn∣ge•• And in hys tyme deyed saynt Patryke the fyrste bysshop of· Irlonde / in the .C.xxii. yere of his aege. And his felowe was y^e abbot of Co¦lumba and saynt Brygyda whom saynt Pa∣tryk made a Nonne And they were buryed in one tombe / and att dyuers tymes and thys ys the Epitaphi (Hii tres ī gelido: cumulo tumu∣lantur in vno. Brigida patricius: at{que} colum¦ba pius) ¶Anastasius a Romayne was pope after Gelasyus two yere and thre monethes. The whyche ordeyned that no prest for wrath ne hate sholde leue of to saye his dyuyne seruy¦ce in the chyrche / excepte the masse. ¶And he cursyd themperour Anastasius for he was an heretyke / and yt ys wryten of hym / that after∣warde he torned for drede to the opynyon of the emperour. And he is called y^e seconde euyll famed pope y^t is in (Catholico pontificū) And afore hym was Liberius famed in heresye.

¶Anno dm̄ .iiii.C.lxxxiiii.

SIinachus was pope after hym .xv. ye∣re / and with hym was ordeyned an o∣ther pope that was called Laurencius / and be¦twext them was a grete dyscencyon. And they bothe put them to the Iugemente of Theodo∣ria the kynge and he Iuged that he that was fyrste ordened and that moost men of the chyr¦che helde with sholde be pope. And Symach{us} preualid the whiche loned the chyrche and po∣re men and for Paschalius the deaken Cardy∣nal helde ayenst Symachus with the parte of Laurence to his dethe Therfore he was put to the paynes of purgatori / to kepe the batthes af¦ter his dethe / as Gregory sayth in his boke of Dyalogis. This man ordeyned that) Gloria in excelsis) sholde be sayd euery Sondaye and feestes of martyrs.

¶Nota. ¶That Englonde was lon∣ge tyme Crystened afore Fraunce.

CLodianus the fyrste Crysten kynge of Fraunce / was thys same thyme bapty¦sed of saynt Remigio / & he hadde a crystyn wo¦man to his wyf / and she meued hym many ty∣mes to the fayth & sayd. He sholde be fortuna∣ble & victoryous yf he wold torne / & so he was and neuer afore. ¶Hornusda was pope after Synachus .ix. yere. This man was of grete mercy and almesse to poore men / & ornamen∣tis he gaue many to chyrches. And here consy∣led y^e Grekes / y^t whiche were cursed for theyr heresye. ¶Iustinus was emperour after A∣nastasasius· And he regned ix. yere & was a ve¦ry crysten man / & all that euer themperour A¦nastasius had done ayeust the chyrche / he reuo¦ked / and obeyed the pope Hornusda / & called ayen the bysshops that were exyled be his pre∣de cessours. ¶Priscan{us} gramatic{us} was this tyme. And this yere the whiche is the .lxxi. fro the comynge of the Saxons / began the kyng∣dom of west Saxon / and Cerdico was kyng ¶Iohānes was pope after Hornusda thre ye¦re & .ix. montches. & Theodocius the kyng of ytaly an heretyke toke the pope with other Se¦natours & sente them to the Emperour Iusti∣nus / determynynge y^t & he wolde not lette the heretykes be in peas he sholde slete all crysten folke in ytaly. And after he toke pope Iohn̄ & Simachū patriciū & Boyclū the Senatours & slewe them in pryson. But Boys defended hym by y^e reason of thauctoryte of the Sena∣tours / & he sent hym to y^e cyte of Papy for per∣petuell exyle / where he made the boke De con∣solatiōe philosophie And at the last the coūtrie of Mediolanen̄ he caused Boys throte to be cutte / and so he deyed. ¶Felix pope succedded Iohn̄ foure yere. This man cōmaunde y^t syke men sholde be aneled for the deth / but cryst or¦deyned y^e fyrst. ¶Iustinian{us} was Emperour xxxviii. yere / this man drewe the lawe of the Romayns out of almoost .ii.M. bookes. & .iii.C. verses ouer longe & accordynge in to oo vo¦lumen of .xii. bookes & called it Iustinian. He made also the Digestes & deuyded thē in to .iii. bokys. ¶Bonifaci{us} the seconde was pope af¦ter Felix two yere / and lytel of hym is wryten. ¶Iohānes the seconde was pope after Boni∣faci{us} / & this man had a grete stryf with Iusti∣nian{us} themperour / whether y^e cryst was of .ii. natures or one. The pope sayd he had two na∣tures. One of god & an other of man. T••e em¦perour sayd / other cōsente to vs / or thou ••hat go in to perpetuell exyle. The pope answered I desyre to come to Iustilianus the moost c••i∣sten Emperour / but as me semeth I haue foū¦de Dyoclesyan the persecutour of crysten man But certaynly I drede not thy malyce / Ne I fere not thy threthynges. Thenne the Empe∣rour meked hymslef & felle downe to the groū¦de / and asked mercy and absolucyon.

¶Anno dm̄ .v.C.xxxiiii.

AGapitus a confessour was pope after Iohn̄ two yere / this Agapitus torned Iustimanus fro the errour fully of the herety¦kes. This man ordeyned that processyōs shol¦de be done the Sondayes and thenne he dyed arte Constantynoble. & Siluerius a martyr was pope after this man thre yere. He was ex¦yled fro crysten fayth / and slayne by the proc∣tour of Theodory. For he wolde not restore y^e bysshop of Athenes an heretyke to his benefy¦te ayē. ¶Virgili{us} was pope after hym .xviii. yere. And he entred euyll to his benefyte / but he gouerned hym well. And he suffred his per∣secucyon pacyently. ¶And he was exyled fro Rome. And at the laste after grete passyōs of Theodory in Constantynople deyed. ¶Synodus quatra constantinopolitana cō¦tra theodorū & o••••s hereticos alios fuic isto tē∣pore. Ista synod{us} dampnauit heresim theodo∣ri •• Qui dixit alium esse deū verū. & aliū cristū. Et qd beata virgo non sit dei genitrix. sed ho∣minis tantū ¶Pelagius was pope after Vi∣gilius

foure yere and .x. monethes: This man ordeyned that heretykes Scismatykes & Ren∣negates / sholde be punysshed by the seculer po¦wer. ¶Iohannes the thyrde was pope after this man .xiii. yere. Of thys man lytell is wry¦ten / but that he restored the chyrcheyerde of y^e appostles Philyp and Iacob. ¶Iustinus the seconde after Iustinian was Emperour .xi. yere. This man dyspysed poore men He rob∣bed y^e Senatours. He was yeuen to all couey¦tousnesse / so that he made chestes of yron / for to kepe his moyneye in. Thenne anone he fel∣le in heresye / & wexed out of his mynde. ¶And thenne was chose Tyberyus a good man for to gouerne the comyn people. ¶Tyberius y^e seconde was Emperour aftest Iustinus .vii. yere. Thys man was a vertuous man. He ya∣ue Innumerable good to poore men In so mo¦che many tymes y^t hys wyf chydde wyth hym and sayd that he cast awaye the goodes of the Empyre as stones. And he answered ayen & sayde. I truste in god that our chestes shall ne¦uer lacke of moneye / and we put tresour in to heuen. ¶And vpon a certayne daye whan he went by his palys at Constantynople / he saw in the mar••yll pament a crosse grauen / And thought ye sholde not be troden vppon & com∣maūded that stone to be left vp. For the crosse ought to be put in the hertes of faythfull men and there he founde Inestymable tresoure of golde. This man subdued Herses / and deyed blyssydly. ¶Benedictus was pope after Io∣hanes foure yere: This man suffred grete per¦secucyon of hungre pestelence and enmyes. Thys man brought many a thousande quar∣ter whete from Egypte / whan Rome was be¦syeged by kynge Albanack / and almoost loste for vytayll. wherfore they wrote on his graue this Epitaphi. ¶Magna tuis monimenta pater benedycte re iquis: virtutum tītulus et decus at{que} dolor ¶Pelagius was Emperour after Benedictus .v. yere. In his tyme Rome was besyged by the Lombardes / and lytell he dyde in his dayes. ¶Mauricius was Empe∣rour after Tybery{us} .xxi. yere. Thys man was a very crysten man and subdued Persas and Armenyas / and in the later ende of hys dayes he dyscorded with saynt Gregory and enten∣ded to haue slayne hym. And then̄e appered a man in Rome clothed a in relygyous habyte / holdynge a naked swerde in hys honde / and cryed aboute the Cyte in this wyse. The Em¦perour shall be destroyed. The whiche the em¦perour herde / and he corrected hym self of hys trespaas and prayed to god to withdrawe hys sentence. To whom our lorde apperyd in hys slepe & sayde. wyll thou that I spare the now or ī tyme to come. And he was a louer of wret¦ches / and sayde / yeue me here my rewarde. Then̄e was he Emperour after many a deye And whan he sholde haue corrected hys knyʒ∣tes for the extorcyon that they dyd / they asked hym why y^t he wolde not paye them theyr wa¦ges. And so they fell at varyaunce / and chose Foka for to be Emperour and slewe him and his thre sones. ¶This tyme saynt Austyn ca¦me in to Englonde and ordeyned two Arche∣bysshops that is to saye of London / & of yorke by the commaundement of saynt Gregory. ¶And remembre that many tymes is made mēcyon of dyuers regyons & coūtrees / that of tyme they haue be torned to y^e fayth For alway the fayth abode not in them for dyuers causes Soo it is of Englonde. Fraunce. Persia. Ie∣wery. And in this thynge Rome was pryuele¦ged / for the fayth of Peter neuer fayled. ¶Fo¦cas was Emperoor after Maurici hys may∣ster / whome he and other slewe. And by cause he began euyl he ended nought. For in his day¦es the Romayns faught strongely ayenst the Persees / and the Romayns were dyscōfyted and loste many a prouynce. And at the last he was ouercome & slayne of Heraclius. For as he dyde vnto other men / so he was done vnto.

¶Anno dm̄ .v.C.lxxxiiii.

GRegory the fyrste a Romayne & amon∣ke was pope after Pelagyus .xiii. yere. Thys man was called Gregory{us} magnus for many thyng{is} y^t he exceded in: He passed other men in power / in ryches / in vertue / in nobly¦nesse / in wysdome / in holynesse / in fame / & in experyence. & vnder this man the euyl thyng{is} of cursydnesse passyd were sessed. & many a no¦bled boke he worte to the Incomparaple profy¦te of all holy chyrche / He was one of the pryn¦cypall doctours of all the foure doctours of y^e chirche / This man forsoth alone with saynt Fabyan after saynt Peter / was chosen of god in all the ordres of the popes of Rome / Many thynges he ordeyned in the chirche / as is she∣wed in hys regystre (Deus in adyutoryū) for to be afore the begynnygge of y^e houres he cō∣maunded

to be sayd. He renewed & made all y^e offycers of the churche in a fayre & a more com¦pendyous manere / the whiche abydeth yet vn∣to this daye / & is called Gregorianū. & shortly for to conclude on this holy man / mānes ton∣ge cannot expresse lyghtly y^e louynges of this man what in wrytynges / & also in example of vertuous dedes. & Saninianus was pope af¦ter Gregory one yere & .v monethes This mā ordeyned tyngynge of belles at the houres of the daye / but this man bachyted saynt Grego¦ry for hys lyberalyte that he had to poore men & thought he spe saynt Gregory rebuked hym thryes for it. And the four the tyme he laye in his bedde / and thought saynt Gregory smote hym on the heed / & he waked and deyed anoe This was the thyrde pope amonge the popes the whyche is noted to deye a dredefull dethe ¶B••••facyus the thyrde was pope after Sa∣niniam{us} .viii. monethes. He ordeyned y^t none but whyte clothes sholde be put vpon the aw∣ter· ¶Bonifacius the fourth was pope foure yere and ·viii. monethes / this man purchased of the Emperour Focas the chyrche of saynte Peter of Rome sholde be the heed of al the chir¦che in the worlde. For afore Constantynople was the heed chirche. Also he gate lycēce y^t the chyrche called Panton the whyche was dedy∣••ate to the honoure of Neptun{us} and other fals goddes / where crysten men many tymes were slayne of deuylles / myght be dedicate to y^e wor¦shyp of all sayntes in heuen. This man ordey¦ned that monkes myghte vse the offyce of pre∣thynge / crystenynge / and confessynge.

¶Heracli{us} was Emperour after Focas .xiii. yere. And in the thyrde yere of his regne. Cos∣dras the kynge of Perse brente Iherusalem & other worshypfull places. zachary the patry∣arke with other moche people he toke in capty∣uyte The parte of the hooly crosse / the whiche Eleyne lefte there he toke with hym in to his countree. But the .xii. yere of Heraclius. Cos∣dras was slayne of Heraclyus and the crosse was brought ayen / the people were delyuered. And whan Heraclius wold haue entred the cy¦tee proudely / the yates of the cyte by power of god shytte therself / and the Emperour meked hym to god aboue & the yates opened. And thē∣ne was the feste of the exaltacyon of the crosse made. ¶Deus dedit was pope after Bonifa∣cius thre yere / this was an hooly man. For on a certayne daye whan he kyssed a lyppre / ano∣ne the leppre was hole. ¶This tyme a Cytey∣zin of London thrugh y^e mocyon of Ethelbry∣ghte buylded a chyrche of saynte Peter in the west parte of London / in a place that was cal¦led Thorneye.

¶Circa annū dn̄i .vi.C.xliiii.

BOnyfacyus the fyfthe was pope after Deus dedit fyue yere. The whiche orde¦ned that noman sholde be taken out of the chic¦cheyarde. And lytell elles of hym is wryteu.

¶Nota Machomitum.

¶Machomite the duke of Sarrasyns and Turkes was this tyme. And he was y^e dyssey∣uer of all the worlde / a faulse profete / y^e messen¦ger of the deuyll. The forgooer of antecryst y^e fulfyller of herecye / & of all fals men the mer∣uayllest· Of whome the dominacyon thus be∣gan· ¶There was a certayne famous clerke at Rome and / coude not spede in his maters y^t desyred to haue spede in. Thene he recedde frō Rome ouer the see and procured many a man to haue gone with hym. Amonge whome was this Machomyte a grete man of wytte. And this clerke promysed hym to make hym duke of the coūtree yf he wolde be gyded after hym ¶There he nouryssed a douue / and put alle the corne that y^e douue ete in Machom•• ee••e and so this douue had neuer noo meete but in his eere The foresayd clerke on a daye called the people & meued thē to these suche a p••••nce as the holy gost wold shewe to them in lykenes¦se of a douue. And anone this clerke secretely lete flee this douue / the whiche after his olde custome that he wonte to / fell anone to y^e shol∣dyr of Machomyte & put his bylle in his eere. And the people sawe this / anone he was chosē duke of that people of Corosame / he sayd that he was the very prophete of god ¶Thenne he made a boke of his lawe that was called Alka¦ron. But he dyde it by Informacyon of thre of his maysters. To whome the deuyl minystred the autoryte and the connynge. ¶The fyrste mayster was a Iewe a grete Astronomyer & a Nygramancer. The seconde was Iohn̄ de An¦thiochia. The thurde was Sergius an heryty¦ke. And these thre made an vngracyous lawe and an vnhappy. ¶And what someuer was harde of beleue and noyous to doo / they lefte that out of the lawe / and they put that thynge in the lawe / the whiche the worldly men were

proue and redy to do. That ys to saye. Gloto∣ny / Lethery / repyne / and suche other. And al¦so thys Machomyte ordeyned that a man shol¦de haue as many wyues as he myght occupye and fynde / and refuse them twyes or thryes / or foure tymes / and take them agayye / & ma∣ny meruayllous & fals thinges ht made in hys lawe / the whiche were to longe to reherce here But they be playne in his booke of. Alkaron· And euer he wrote in hys boke / that our lorde spake to. Machomyte hys prophete / sayenge on this wyse / or on this. ¶Thus by hys false meanes he dysceyued the people. And whan his maysters & he had made this that was soo delectable. He wrote it in a boke with letters of golde· And also he nourysshed a myghty ca∣mell secretly in a pryue place / & alonly wyth y^e hondes of. Machomyte was alwaye fedde / & there pryuely he tyed this boke of the law that he had made about the camels necke \ and put this camel forth on a tyme in to the felde afore daye. And thys camell Ioyed in hys lyberte for he was neuer lose afore. And he wolde suf∣fre noo man to come and touche hym. And so there was a grete fame of suche a camell / and the people ranne to see hym. Amonge whome was this Machomyte. But whan the camell sawe hym that had fedde hym al waye. Anone he ranne vnto hym. And he had taught this ca¦mell afore tyme to falle downe on his knees & lycke his hondes. And so he dyd afore all that people. The people thenne cryed & sayde / that there was a very ensample y^t he was the true prophete of god. ¶Thenne they prayed Ma∣chomyte to open that holy boke with hys holy hondes / the whiche was sent from heuen euer more to be kepte. In y^e whiche boke is shewed how the peple shail worshyp god. ¶And Ma¦chomyte sayd / this boke was wryten wyth aū¦gels honde / Soo by these fals meanes / he tor∣ned to his lawe all the londe of. Perse / and all the Eest Imperyall agaynste. Heraclium the Emperour· And he occupyed vnto the ende of Ale••dndre and Egypt. Libya. Arabya and Si¦ria. Thenne after he enfected alle Affrycam. And but the grace of god wythstode hym / He had enfected all Spayne and Fraunce. And many other thynges he dyde whyche were to moche to wryte in this boke.

COnstantyne the thyrde / the sone of He¦raclii was Empour .xxvii. yere. Thys Constantyne was a grete tyraunt & a cursyd man / and an heretyke. Fals / subtyll / and ody¦ous to crysten men. Ne he gaaf no place to po∣pe. Mertyne / & he reysed a grete hoste agaynst the Lombardes. And there he loste the felde / & fledde vnto Rome. And honourably was re∣ceyued of the pope Viteliianus / & other of the the cyte. And he rewarded not them lyke after theyr merytes as a prynce sholde haue done. But vsed forth tyrannye and heresye. wherfo¦re at the last he was slayne of his owne knygh¦tes in a bath / the whyche wolde no lenger suf∣fre his tyraunye. And so he wretchedly lyued / and deyed vnhappely. ¶Martinus the fyrst was pope after Theodorum .vi. yere. Thys Martynus was a very holy man / & ••rongely stroue for the fayth of god And wh••n ••e ••ge masse oon a certayne daye a•• the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 / there pursewed hym to slee▪ him a man y^t was called Spataryus of Olymphe. And whan he wolde haue smyten hym / he was blynde sodaynly. This same man called a Synody in the Cyte of Rome: and dampned Syrum. Alexandrun Sergium. Pyrum: and Paulum heretykes. wherfore. Constantyne the Emperour exyled hym: and he deyed a saynt. ¶Eugem{us} a Ro∣mayne was pope after Martyne almoost thre yere: and was an holy man: but of hym lytell actes is wryten. ¶Vitellianus was pope af∣ter hym .xiiii. yere. Thys man made the songe that the. Romayns vse: And accorded it also with the orgayns. And he also had the grace of the emperour: the whiche was worth wyth his predecessours. Neuerthelesse after warde he stode not ī his concorde. Ne hetherto I cou∣de not fynde that euer the chyrche of Rome. hadde fully after the dethe of. Constantyne the myghty lordshyp of the cyte and of other the whiche he yaue to the chyrche.

¶Anno dm̄ .vi.C.xliiii.

ADeodatus a. Romayne was pope af∣ter Vitellianus foure yere / and in his dayes was translated the body of saynt Bene¦dictus / with the body of saynt Scolastica his syster fro the hylle of Cassyn vnto y^e monuste∣rye of Floriecens nyghe Aurelian. ¶Constā∣tyne the fourthe was Emperour after hys fa∣der Constantyne the cursyd man. Thys Con∣stantyne was a good mā and hated heretyk •• ouer all thynge. The chirche he repeyred / and grace he recounsyled agayne to the chyrche ••

come & he with y^e pope gadred togyder the .vi. generall Synodus in y^e whiche was graūted to prestes of Grece / for to vse theyr leyfull wy¦ues / & to the preestes of y^e Eest for cause of gre∣te he••e / but not to those of the west party by no meanes For they 〈…〉〈…〉ytted chastyte in y^e tyme of saynt Gregory. And euery man may auer∣tyse and prondre how moche the goodnes of a prynce is wrothe / to the quyete state of y^e chyr∣che / & to the promocyon of the fayth / and also the contrary / how moche the malyce of a prin¦ce hurteth that thynge. These two Constan∣yns the fader and the sone shewed openly. For in the faders dayes the chirche neuer had rest and in y^e sones tyme it was quyete. yet neuer∣theles our lord suffred the Sarrasyns and the Bulgars to entre in thys londe / that he them myght not wyth stande / but that he made hys peas with them / & payed to them yerely a tru∣age / so nyghtely preuaylled that cursyd secte of Machomyte / and after he deyed blessydly. ¶Nota. ¶That there were .vi. generall Synodus / & moost pryncypall of the whyche the auctoryte is equall to y^e gospell for y^e truth of the gospell is declared by them ayenst the .vi. pryncypall heresyes the whyche strongely trowbled the chirche for the subtyltee of these heretykes to dysceyue symple men. ¶Thys tyme deyed Saynt Cedde of Lytchefelde / the thyrde yere of his bysshopryche. ¶Demus a Romayne was pope after Adeodatus thre ye¦re. Of this man lytell is wryten. ¶Bonyfacy¦us was pope after hym / & lytell of hym is wry¦ten / but that he lyued ly••e a preest. ¶Agatho was pope after hym / and he was a very holy man. For on a daye whan he kyssed a lepre / the lepre anone was made hoole. ¶Iste et de con∣sensu princypys iussit celebrari sextū sinodum apud {con}stantinopolin .CC.lxxx. ep̄o{rum}. in qua as¦seret duas naturas et duas voluntates esse in xp̄o. ¶Leo the seconde was pope after Aga∣tho thre yere / this Leo was an holy man & suf∣fycyently taught in latyn & greke / this man or¦deyned that the pax sholde be yeuen after ag∣nus dei / and dyed a blessyd man. ¶Benedic¦tus the seconde pope after Leo almoste thre ye¦re. This man aboue all thyng was vertous and his name accorded with his dedys. And in his tyme was a grete pestylence. ¶Iustini∣anus the seconde was Emperour this tyme / & he was a very good man / a prudent & a lar∣ge / & he encreaced y^e Empyre of Rome mygh∣tely / But he charged the offyce of the chyrche ouer moche. Many lawes he made / and after was not good he intended to haue lette the dy∣crees of the .vi. Synodus / wherfore the .x. yere of hys. Empyre he was taken of Leo the prynce of patrici•• and Tyberio / & they cutte of hys nose & hys tonge & exyled hym to Cryso∣nā. There was then turbacyon in the chirche for stryue & heretykes. ¶And knowe all men whan varyaunce falleth betwixt grete lordes Thenne errours ben multeplyed / for there is no man corrected them / therfore that ys often tyme preued in the cyirche. Thenne after felle a varyaunce betwixt Leo and Tyberio. And Tybereo preuaylled / and he exyled Leo / & cut¦te of his nose the thyrde yere of his regne / and regned for hym· Iustinian{us} fledde to the Sar¦rasyns and the Bulgars / the whyche restored hym ayen to his Empre / and slewe Leo and Tyberio / y^e whiche fauoured heretykes. Then¦ne this same Iustinianus reformed hymselfe to the chyrche of god / and had grete repentaū∣ce But he venged hym to cruelly on his aduer¦saryes / so that he wolde haue slayne the ••r In¦nocent childern Therfore he was slayne wyth his sone / of Phylyp whom he exyled.

¶Anno dm̄ .vi.C.lxxxiiii.

IOhannes the fyfth was pope after Be¦nedyctus too yere / he was a good man / but he decessyd aone. ¶zeno was pope after hym. And he was a very holy man / for he wol¦de not medle with seculer maters. And ī beau∣te he was an angell / quyete in vertues / & me∣ke in soule and very demure in langage of hys relygyous lyf / this man was chosen at the last wyth one accorde of the chirche and laye men. But there was a grete distruccyon / for y^e cler∣gy entended to haue chose Perys y^e Archebys∣shop. And the host of laye men wolde haue had Theodorum a preest. But at the laste the holy gooste tourned the wyll of all this people in to this holy man. ¶Sergius was pope .ix. yere. This man was vertuous & comendable ī hys lyf. And in his eleccyon a grete dyscorde was / for one partye of the clergye chose Theodorū / and an other partye Paschalem. But as oure lorde wolde at the last they tourned all to thys man. Thys man translated the body of saynt Leo. He also founde a grete parte of the holy

crosse by myracle. And he crystened Cad wal∣dre the last kynge of Brytayne. He cōmaūded (Agnus dei) to be sayd or songe thryes at mas∣se. And decessyd blessydly. ¶Nota. ¶Saynt Beda the worshypfull preeste was thys tyme a grete man of fame in Englonde / the whyche was take the .vii. yere of hys aege to Benedycte the abbot Gyrwyen̄ monastery to be taught. And thenne after to Colfrido the abbot after the deth of benedict. And atte the .xix. yere of his aege he was made Deaken of y^e bysshop of yorke. And at .xxx. yere he was ma∣de preest / in the whiche yere he began to wryte So he contynued al the tyme of his lyf in that monastry / in gyuynge his labours to wrytyn∣ge and scrypture to be expowned. He made .lxxviii· bokes / the whiche he nombreth in the ende of his Edglysshe booke. Thys man was euer in labour other in prayer or in syngynge dayly in the chyrche / or to lerne teche or wry∣te. For whiche thynge men maye Iuge by rea∣son that he was neuer at Rome / all though so¦me saye he wente to Rome that he myght see y^t his bokes accordeth with the doctryne of y^e ho∣ly chyrche. But it was certayne that he was blynde / and wente to preche / & had a seruaun∣te that was not good / and made him to preche to a myghty multytude of stones and sayde / that they were men. ¶And whan all hys ser∣mon was done / the stones answered and sayd Amē. But that he wente to Rome thryes / and founde wryten thre arres / thre effes / and ex∣powned them / it was neuer founde in no bo∣ke of auctoryte. There was after the talkyng of the people suche a wrytynge on the yates of Rome (RRR. FFF) And suche an exposycy¦on (Regna Rome Ruent. Ferro Flama Fa∣me) But it is certayne that Beda was desy∣red to come to Rome by the wrytynge of ser∣gius the pope to Colfrido his abbot. And thys Beda translated the gospell of saynt Iohan in to Englysshe tonge / and dyssessyd blessydly. The fame sayth that now he lyeth at Deuelyn with Saynt Curberte / & there is buryed with hym the knowlege of the dedes of Englonde almoost to y^e conquest. ¶Leo the seconde was Emperour / and lytell of hym is wryten. ¶Liberi{us} was Emperour after hym .vii. ye∣re / he rose ayenst Leo & entred his kyngdom / and kept hym in pryson as longe as he regned In this tyme Iustinianus the seconde whiche in olde tyme was exyled to Crysonam openly sayd / he wolde recouer his Empyre agayne. wherfore the people of that countree / for the loue of Liberius / were aboute to slee that Iu∣stinianus. wherfore he fledde to the prynce of Thurcorum and wedded hys syster. And tho∣rugh helpe of his brother and the Bulgars he recouered his Empyre and slewe Liberius & Leo the vsuper of his reame And as many ty¦mes almoost as he wyped ony drope from his nose / the whiche they kytte of / so many tymes he made one of his enmyes to be slayne ¶Leo the thyrde was pope after Sergius two yere. This mā was made pope by the power of the Romayns and was not put in the nombre of popes / for the euyll entred / but he dyde none e∣uyll. ¶Iohannes the .vi. was pope after hym a Greke. And he was a martyr / but of whome and wherfore the cause is not founde in hysto∣ryes. It is sayd / y^t it was of the dukes of Lam∣bardy for they were enmyes to the chyrche my¦ghtely. ¶Iohannes the .vii. a Romayne was pope after hym thre yere / but no thyng of hym is wryten. ¶Iustinianas was Emperour a∣yen with his sone Tyberi{us} .vi. yeres. And this was he the whyche was reued the Empyre a∣fore by Leo / And whan this mā was restored ayen he toke hym to the ryght fayth / and wor∣shypped the pope Constantyne. And certayn¦ly he destroyed Creson the place where he was exyled unto / and all that dwelled in it / except the chyldern he slewe them / And he came ayen an other tyme to haue slayne the Innocentes. And the men of that countree made them a ca¦pytayne / a certayne man that was called Phi¦lyp an outlawe / y^t whiche anone went to hym in batayll / and slewe hym for his outragyous cruelnesse ayenst those chyldern. ¶Sysinni∣us was pope twenty dayes / and thenne was grete stryfe / and he decessyd \ but lytell of hym is wryten. ¶Cōstantine was pope after hym vii. yere. This man was a very meke man & so blessyd / that of all men he was beloued. He wente ouer the see to Iustinianus the Empe∣rour / and was receyued with grete honour / & deyed a blessyd man. ¶Philyp y^e seconde was Emperour one yere / the whyche fledde in to Scicilis for the hoste of the Romayns And he was an heretyke / and cōmaunded all pyctu∣res of sayntes for to be bestroyed. wherfore the Romayns cast a way his coyne / ne wolde not

receyue noo moneye that hys name or ymage were wryten vpon ¶Anastasius thseconde after he had slayne Philyp was Emperoure thre yere. This man was a crysten man / and helyued well. But by cause he put out phylipis eyen / and slewe hym after warde. And therfo¦re Theodosius faustht ayenst hym and ouerca¦me hym / And thenne he was made a preest / & lyued soo quyetly.

¶Anno dm̄ .vii.C.xiiii.

GRegoryus the seconde was pope after Constantyne .xvii. yere / this Gregory{us} was a chaste man & a noble man in scrypture And about this tyme the popes began to deale more temporally wyth the Emperours than they were wonte for theyr falsnesse & theyr he resye. And also for to remeue thempyre fro oo people to an other as the tyme requyred / thys man cursyd Leo y^e Emprrour by cause he brē¦te the ymages of sayntes. This same Leo cō∣maunded / Gregorius the pope y^t he shold bren¦ne chirches & destroye them. And he sette noo thynge of hys sayenge / but cōmaūded the coū¦trary manly. And so it ys openly shewed / y^t the destruccyon of the Empyre of Rome / was the cause of heresy. For certaynely faythfull peo∣ple wyth the prelates wyth one wyll / drewe to the pope & constrayned the Emperours for to leue theyr tyrannye and theyr heresye. ¶And thys tyme in the eest parte of y^e worlde strong∣ly faylled the very fayth / for that cursyd lawe of the fals Machomete· ¶Theodosius was Emperour & regned but one yere And he was a very crysten man / & euen as he dyde so was he done vnto. For Leo deposyd hym & made hym a preest. ¶Leo y^e thyrde with Constanty¦ne his sone was Emperour .xxv. yere this Leo whan he was myghty he deposyd Theodosy{us} & regned for hym / & was desceyned by a certay¦ne Apostata / the whiche badde hym y^t he shol∣de take and brenne all the ymages of sayntes. wherfore he was punysshed both in batayll & in pestylence / & with other Infortunes. And by cause he was accursyd of Gregoryus / & bo¦de ther in thre dayes / therfore the pope wyth y^e comyn peple toke for hym the best parte of hys Empyre / cōmaūdynge y^t no man shold obeye hym ne socour hym / by cause he lyued lyke an heretyke. ¶Holy men sayde ayenst hym. And many by hym were marted & exyled. And at y^e last in his misbyleue he deyed wretchedly. and in this manes dayes / but that Karolus Mar¦cellus holpe the Crysten fayth / & faught man∣ly nyenst the Sarrasyns / & draue them backe∣warde in Spayne the whyche they had subdu¦ed els they had entred in to Fraunce. And Ka∣rolus slewe thre hondred thousāde Sarasyns & moo· And of his people were slayne but .xv. thousande. ¶Nota. ¶This man for the contynuall batayll toke to laye men the tresou¦re of the chirche. wherfore Saynt Eucharius the bysshop of Aurelian / as he was in his pray¦ers / sawe that same Karolus in soule and bo∣dy payned in helle. And the aungell that she∣wed the bysshop this man sayde. That y^t was the Iugement of all those that toke a waye the goodes of the chirche / or of poore men. And to fortifye that / that the bysshop sayd and ••∣ue it / the abbote of saynt Deuys wente to the sepulcre there that Karolus was burye•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 opened the cheste that he laye in And there th•••• see a grete dragon go out but he had no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ¶Gregorius the thyrde a Romayne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 po∣pe after Gregoryus the seconde. The 〈…〉〈…〉 confermed the woorshyppes of the 〈…〉〈…〉 sayntes / with y^e coūseyll almooste of a thou••••••¦de bysshops. And he cursyd horrybly all the de∣spyers of these ymages. As the Emperour ••nd other that were of y^e condycyon. ¶Constan••∣nus the fyfth was Emperour a••te: his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Leo .xxxv. yere He was a cursed man & a p••••e heretyke / to y^t he dyde sacrefyse to the deuylles He pursued the chyrche. And 〈…〉〈…〉 is good of hym is wryten. And so by y^e ••∣ce of god the chyrche was trowbled longe t••∣me. About this tyme were many maruayl••es & there were merueyllous erth quakys. And cer¦tayne cytees that were sette on mountayns they were remeued & borne awaye with y^e hyl∣les in to the feldes .vi. myle thens as they stode and the cytees were not broken ne hurte In the londe of Mesopotanian the erthe was broken by the space of two myle / And also there was a mule that spake in a mannes voys. Asshes fell fro heuen And in the see of Poncico there was yse for grete froste that was .xxx. cubytes of thykenesse. And the sterres fell fro heuen soo myghtely that men trowed that y^e ende of the worlde had be comen. All these betokened mer¦uaylus thynges for to come.

¶Anno dm̄ .vii.C.xliiii.

Acharias was pope after Gregorius.

x. yere. This zacharis was a noble mā & arayed wyth all vertue / wyth all men he was loued for his mekeneste. And he depo∣syd the kynge of Fraunce Hydery / and put in hys place Puppynus / for he was more profy∣table. ¶Here may ye see what power the thyr¦che had y^t tyme / the whiche translated that fa∣mous kyngdom fro y^e very heyres / to y^e kyng¦dome of Pippinus / for a leyfull cause (Vtha∣b••t .xv. q. v. alius) ¶Stephanus the seconde a Romayne was pope after zacharyas .v. ye∣re. Thys man in all thyng was profytable vn¦to the chirche / as wel in worde as in doctryne And he gouerned the spyrytualtee & the tempo¦raltee noble. He was the louer & the defender of poore men. Thys man anoynted Pyppyn{us} the kynge of Fraunce / & sente hym ayenst the Lombardes / that he sholde compell them to re¦store the chirche of suche goodes as they had with holde from theym longe tyme vnryght∣wys••y the whyche he dyde. He also translated the Empyre of the Grekes to y^e Frensshemen. ¶Paal{us} a Romayne was pope after hym .x. yere. Thys was a very holy man / for he dyde grete almesse to fadlesse chyldern & prysoners wydowes / & other poore men / y^t he myght be a folower of saynt Poule ¶Constantyne a Ro¦mayne the seconde was pope after Poul two yere. Thys Constantyne was a lay man & so∣deynly was made a preest / as a tyraunt / & toke on hym the dygnytee of the pope. And with a grete slaūdre to the chyrche was pope a lytell tyme. But the faythful men put hym out / and put out his eyen. And this was the fyfth Infa¦med pope / amonge so many herde tofore. So the holy ghost y^e holy apostels sete kepyin al ho¦nour & holynesse ¶Infynyte martyrs were made this tyme by Constantyne y^e emperour for he was suche an heretyke. And men trowe that there was neuer Emperour ne no pagon that slewe so many martyrs· And in his tyme the chirche was trowbled full sore / & very pre¦cyously bought the worshyppynge of the yma¦ges of the holy sayntes / for the grete shedynge of blood of martyrs. And certaynly y^e cursyd Emperour was not vnpunysshed. For whan that he deyed he cryed with an horryble voys & sayd. I am taken to a fyre / y^t is vnable for to be destroyed. And so he yelded vp the ghost to euerlastynge payne. ¶The Empyre of rome was deuyded about this tyme For Stephan{us} the pope translated ytaly & other vnto Karo∣lus a yonge man. And Constantyne helde the londe of Grece with other londes ouer the see with a grete labour and many rebellynge. ¶This tyme Karolus magnus was a noble yonge man. And he began for to regne vpon Fraunce / & was the sone of Pippinus / & hys moder was called Berta· ¶Stephanus the thyrde was pope after Paulus thre yere. And he amended all the errours of Constantyne. And he degarded all those the whiche Cōstan∣tyne ordeyned in a generall Synodus.

¶Anno dm̄ .vii.C.lxxxiiii.

ADrianus a Romayne was pope after Stephanus .xxiiii. yere. Thys man was myghtely worshypped of the people / noo man greter afore hym in honour / ryches / and buyldyng. This man sette two solempne Sy∣no••is. The fyrste of the thre hondred and fyf∣ty faders The seconde in Rome with an hon∣dred and fyfty faders beynge present Charles the kynge of Fraunce / to whom it was graun∣ted the lyberte of eleccyon of the popes and to ordeyne the appostles sete. ¶Leo the fourthe regned Emperour with the Grekes fyue yere This Leo was a cursyd man / but not so mo∣che as his fader was. And he was a couetous man / and he toke a way a certayne crowne of a chyrche and put it vpon his heed. And ano∣n•• he was corrupted with an axes and sore de∣seased. And he had a cursed wyf / y^t whiche reg∣ned after hym with her sone. ¶Constantyne was Emperoure after Leo / & he was a meke man / and put a waye his moder fro the kyng∣dom / that she myght take hede vnto her wym¦mens werke. But she with a fayned rancour put out his eyen after warde and his childern also / and regned agayne thre yere. And at y^e last she was about for to haue be wedded And whan the Grekes perceyued that she wold be wedded to grete Karolus / they toke her & shyt∣te her vp in a monastery / and toke Nychofe{rum} to be theyr Emperour. ¶The .v. vnyuershall study the whiche in olde tyme was translated from Anthenes vnto Rome / aboute this tyme was translated to Parys / by Karolus kynge of Fraunce. ¶Nychoferus was Emperour after Constantyne. He was a very nygon / and was exalted to his Empyre by the Grekys But he profyted not / for ī his tyme all y^e E••st Imperyall was brought to noughte. For the

Romayns put them vnder Karolus magnus ¶Ierusalem about this tyme was recouered by Karolus / with all the hooly londe. And the secte of the Sarrasyns was destroyed strong¦ly· For the struccyon of wretches came then̄e ¶Michael was Emperour two yere / and he was a very crysten man / and he was well be¦loued / and also he was connyge in alle scyen∣ces. And tho that Nychaferus had hurte and drestressyd of theyr goodes by hys coueytous∣nesse / this Mychaell restored them and made them ryche ayen. ¶Nota. ¶Karolus. magnus the fyrst saynt was Emperour after Michaell. And he was crowned Emperoure by Leo the pope / frome the whyche tyme the Empyre was translated frome the Grekes to Fraunce and Germane. And for the transla∣cyon of that Empyre / the Grekes alwaye we∣re defectyue vnto the Romayns And the Gre¦kes stroue euer more with them. But it was more wyth venomous wordes thanne wyth strenghthe / and more with crafte thanne with batayyll. ¶For they hadde soo grete enuye at the Romayns / that they wolde not obeye y^e chyrche of Rome. For certaynly whan that the popes wold wryte vnto them / for to obeye the chyrche of Rome / they wrote agayne & say¦de. ye haue taken from oure kynrede the Em∣pyre / and therfore we wolde not obeye / And we vs take from you / And for this noble Em¦perour Rarolus it is to be vnderstande / thys man whan he was a yonge man / he was ano¦ynted kynge of Fraunce by Stephanus y^e po∣pe. In the yere of our lorde Ihesu Cryste .vii. hondred .liiii. whan his fader Pippin{us} lyued. Vnder whome / and wyth whome he regned ·xv. yere vnto the dethe of his fader. ¶Then¦ne after hys fader vnder the yere our lord god vii. hondred .xlviii. This Karolus with hys brother Karolomannus regned two yere. And thenne his brother deseased in the seconde ye∣re. And this Karolus there helde alle the hoole kyngdome .xiiii. yere / to the yere of our lorde .vii. hondred .lxxxiiii. In y^e whiche yere he wen¦te to Rome / that he myght be crowned Empe∣rour of the pope Adrianus. And he regned em¦perour .xvi. yere / to the yere of our lorde .viii.C. whan pope▪ Leo confermed hym ayen the Emperour. And after that he was Emperour xiiii. yere. And he dysseased in the yere of hys aege .lxxii. The whiche was the yere of oure lorde .viii.C. and .xiiii. ¶yf ye wyll see more of Karolus / goo to the boke of Turpinus and Libraminus his mayster / for they wrote hys noble actes. ¶Leo the fourth was pope after Adrianus .xx. yere / thys man whan he wente on a certayne daye with the Lentany to saynt Peters chyrche on Saynt Markes daye / he was taken with cursyd people / and bothe hys eyen put out & his tonge cutte of But our lor∣de merueylously restored hym ayen hys syght and his speche / soo that he spake without ton∣ge and sawe by myracle. Afterwarde he wen¦te with Karol{us} in Fraunce. And he came with hym vnto Rome / and venged the pope on his enmye. And thenne he crowned Karolus. And he late afore crowned / confermed hym agay∣ne. ¶Lodouicus the meke the fyrste begoten sone of Karolus was Emperour after his fa∣der .xxvi. yere / in whose tyme was put a waye that clerkes sholde vse no gyrdes wyth precy∣ous stones / ne straunge arayment. This Lu¦douicus of his fyrste wyf gate two childern & both had an euyll ende. In all thynge that wē∣te ayenst hym he was pacyent / & in the last en¦de he euer ouer cāe. For ayenst god he abode deuoute. And his childern folowed hym in cō¦dycyons / he dyssessyd a blessyd man. ¶Ste¦phanus the fourth was pope after Leo thre ye¦re. This Stephanus redemed many captyue men / & crowned Lodouic{us} y^e Emperour. And then̄e he dyssessyd & was buryed at Rome. Pas¦chall was pope after Stephanus. This Pas¦chall was a grete dylygence to relyques of Sa¦yntes. And he tooke vp Innumerable bodyes of sayntes / & buryed them worshypfully as in the vysyon of saynt Cecile he was cōmaūded. ¶Eugenius the fourthe was pope after Pas¦chall / and he was a very hooly man. And alle those thynges that were for cryst he toke hede to. This man was crowned a martyr / and by the laye men of Rome he was buryed in saynt Peters chyrcheyerde.

¶Circa annū on̄i .viii.C.xliiii.

VAlentinus was pope after Eugenius xl. dayes / and lytell of hym is wryten. ¶Gregorius the fourth was pope after hym xii. yere / this Gregorius sawe many heuy ty∣mes / for the plages amonge the comyn people And at this mannes petycyon. Lodouicus the Emperour / & Marcio the prynce of Lombar∣dy exyled al y^e Sarrasyns fro ytaly. And at the

laste he dyssessed after Innumerable good de∣des & werkes y^t he had done at saynt Peters. ¶Lotherius the first sone of Ludouicus was Emperour .xv. yere in ytaly & Rome & the par¦tyes of Germayne next to the hylles of. Alpy. This Lotherius rose ayenst his broder Ludo¦uicus &. Karolus for the kyngdom of Duche∣londe / the whyche some tyme Pyppynus theyr broder helde. And they fought at a place called Fomanecū / where Lotherius was dyscomfy∣ted. And there was suche slaughter made oon both the sydes / that they had no men for to re∣syste theyr aduersaryes. Thys vnderstode a fals crysten man / & sent vnto Soudan of the Sarrasyns y^t he sholde come anone. And he to¦ke Rome / & saynt Peters chirche was made a stable for theyr horses. But Ludouycus wyth the Frenshemen & Lombardes all y^e Infynyte nombred destroyed / & that with grete shedyn∣ge of cristen blode. ¶Sergius y^e seconde was pope after Gregori{us} two yere. This man was called fyrste. (os porci) in Englysshe / hogges∣mouth. where fore y^t mā & all the popes names are chaunged whan they are chosen And y^t for thre causes. The fyrst for Cryste chaunged the names of those men y^t whiche he made popes. The seconde / for as moche as they are chaun∣ged in the name / sholde they be chaūged in per¦fectyon of lyfe / The thyrde leest he whiche is chosen to an excedynge degree sholde he hurte in name. ¶Leo was pope after Sergius. viii yere. This Leo was an holy man / and also he was in prudence as sharpe as a serpente / & in his dedes as meke as a douue. ¶And he was brought forth vertuously in a monastery And whan that he was made pope / he laboured to repeyre his chirches agayne / the whiche false Sarrasyns one after an other had destroyed. This man was a myghty wryter & a grete pre¦cher / & myghtely laboured in watche & prayer and so deyed / & was buryed and lyeth at saynt Peters. ¶Benedictus a Romayne was pope after Leo two yere. This Benedictus had the name of y^e thynge. For in all thyng he was bles¦syd. This man ordeyned y^e clerkes shold go or∣dynatly and honesty. ¶Ludouicus the sone of Lotherius was Emperour thys tyme / & ano¦ynted of Sergius the pope / & a whyle regned with his fader / & after regned .xxi. yere alone. This man had a sone y^e hyghe Karolus / in to whom the deuyll entred & vexed him a fore his fader. And then̄e he conspyred his faders deth And in his tyme many a meruaylle felle. ¶Nota. ¶Iohannes Anglicus of the na∣cyon of Maguncin about thys tyme was po∣pe / & she was a woman arayed in mānes gar∣mentes. But she profyted so in holy scrypture that there was foūde none lyke her Then̄e she was chosē pope / but after ward she was with childe. And whan she shold haue gone openly in processyon / she trauelled and decessyd. And this is the sixte pope / the whyche to this tyme had the name of holynesse / and were vycyous And this persone as other popes were was pu¦nyssed of god / ne she was not nombred in the boke of popes. ¶Nicholaus a Romayne was pope after this woman .ix. yere. This Nicho∣laus was of grete holynes / that there was no man comparable to hym after •• Gregory y^e po∣pe. And whan he was made. Ludouicus the Emperour was presente. And after he deces∣syd a very good man & was buryed in saynte· Peters chyrcheyerde. ¶Adrianus a Romay•• was pope after Nicholaus. This Adrianus cursed Lotherius broder to themperour y^e kyn¦ge of Lotharynge for his aduoutry. But whā he came to Rome to excuse hym of his aduou∣try / he sayde that he was cursyd wrongfully. And he brought with hym al the noble men of his regyon / and all were deed within one yere and the kynge deyed in the waye whan he ca∣me to the ••yte of Placenciam.