Tabula

¶The names of this Ylonde. ca. j.

EIrste as Galfrydus say∣th this londe was called Albyon after the name of Albyne the oldeste dou¦ghter of Dyoclesyan and had .xxxii.systers. & theye were fyrste that enhabytede this londe / And bycause she was the oldest syster she named his londe albyon after hir owne name as the Cronycle reherseth: Othere saye that this londe was named Albyon as it were the whyte londe of whyte roc∣kes aboute the clyues of the see that we∣re seen fro ferre. Afterwarde Brute con¦quered this londe & called it Brytayne after his owne name. And thenne Sax∣ons or Englysshmen conquered this lon¦de and called it Anglia that is Englond Or it is called Anglia of a quene that owed this londe / that was named angela and was a noble bukes doughter of the Saxons. Or as Ysyd sayth Ethi .xv. an¦glia hath that name as it were an angle and a corner of the worlde. Or els as Be da sayth li. i: Saynt Gregory sawe En¦lysshe

chyldren to sell at Rome & he ac∣corded to the name of the londe. and sayd they ben sothely angles / for hir face shy∣ned as angels / for the noblyte of the lond shone in y^• chyldren faces. ¶Alfre. The Bryttysshe Anglia is called y^• other worl¦de /and for greate plente of all good the grete Charles called it his owne cham∣bre. ¶Solin{us} The edge of the frensshee clyf sholde be the ende of the worlde / yf the Ylonde of Britayn ne were not / whi¦che is worthy to haue the name of an o∣ther worlde. ¶Alfry this Ylonde is cal∣led insula for it is in salo / that is the se / & is beten of with dyuerse cours of waters with stremes and with wawes of the se.

¶Of the settynge boūdynge lenthe and brede of this londe.

THis Britayne is acoūted a noble londe bothe in our storyes and al¦so in the storyes of Grekes. & is set ayen¦ste Germania. Gallia. Fraunce & Spa¦yne bytwene the north and the west & the se bytwene. This londe is fyfty myle frō the clyf of the men that be called mormi gessorico. ¶Beda li .i. And for this ylond lyeth vnder the north hede of the worlde. & it hath lyght and bryght nyghtes in y^• somer tyme. So that oftentyme at myd¦nyght men haue questyons & doubte whe¦ther it be euyntyde or dawynge / y^• is for the tyme of the yere y^• the sonne goeth not ferre vnder the erth by nyght but passeth by the north syde & cometh soono in to y^• eest agayne. And therfore in the somer bē theyr dayes full longe df .xviii. houres & the nyghtes of .vi. houres. And after in y^e wynter ben longe nyghtes of .xviii.hou∣res and shorte dayes of .vi. houres. Also in Armenia. Macedonia. Italya and in other londes of the same lyne the lengest daye and lengest nyght also is of .xv. hou¦res. and the shortest day or nyght is of ix houres. ¶Plinius in meroe. That ylond is chyef of blackemen / ther is the lengest daye .xii. houres. In Alexandre in Egypt of xiii. houres In ytalya of xv. houres. In Brytayne of.xviii. houres. In the ylonde named Tyle all the .vi. somer monethes is daye & all the vi. wynter monethes in nyghte. ¶Isyd li .xiii. Brytayne is sette within Occean as it were w^tout the worl¦de /and is sette ayenst Fraunce & Spayn ¶Giraldus. Brytayn is endlonge and larger in the myddell than in the endes. ¶Drosius. Brytayne stretcheth in le•• be out of the south into the north / and in the southest it hath Fraūce in y^• south Sp•••• in the north / Norwaye / & in the west H•• berma / that is Irlond. whan shyppemen passen the next clyf of that londe the•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a cyte that heet Rupty mouth. ¶〈◊〉〈◊〉 .li. i. That cyte is nowe called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Englysshmen Reptacestre ¶So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Brytayne is viii. houndreth myle of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the and it be moton from the clyt of ••••¦tenesse to theangle of Calydon. ¶〈◊〉〈◊〉 That is from pen with strete .xv. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yonde Mychels slowe in 〈…〉〈…〉 to Catenesse that is beyonde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Brytayne is more than two honded myle brode from Menema y^• is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 /place in wales vnto yarmoth thfolke. ¶Beda Oonly out take 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gest out shetynge of dyuerse forlendes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the whiche Brytayne is all about. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sythe .lxx. thousande paas.

¶Of the worthynesse and peroga••¦nes. ca .iii.

AS Fraunce passeth Brytayne so Brytayne passethe Irlonde in fayre weder and noblyte but not in bel / the. ¶Beda li .i. For this ylonde is beste. to brynge forth trees and fruyce. Ruther ne and beestes. And wyne groweth therin in some place. The londe hath plente of fowles and of beestes of dyuerse manere of kynde. The londe is plenteuous and the see also. The londe is noble copyous

and ryche of noble welles and Ryuers w^t plente of fysshe. There is grete plente of small fysshe of samon & of celes. ¶wil∣hel. de. pon .li.iii. So that the people in so me place fede theyr swyne w^t fysshe. Be∣da .li.i. There ben oftentymes taken dol¦phyns. See calues / & Balayne grete fys∣shes as whales kynde. and dyuerse mane reshelfysshe / amonge the whiche shelfys she ben muskles that within them haue Margery peerles of all maner of coulour and hewe of rody & rede purpure and of blewe / and specyally and moost of whyte There is also plente of thelfysshe y^• men dyen therwith fyne rede / the redenes ther of is wonder fayre and stable / & stayneth neuer with colde ne with hete. with wete ne with drye. but euer the older the colour is the fayrer. There ben also saltewelles & hoote welles / therof rennynge stremes of hote bathes departed into dyuerse pla¦ces accordynge. For man & woman of al manere age olde or yonge. ¶Basilius sayth. That the water the renneth and passeth by vaynes of certayne metall ta¦keth in his course grete hete. This ylond is plenteuous of vaynes of metalles. bras of yron of leede of tyn / & of syluer alsoo ¶Plinius li.vi.ca.vi. In this ylonde vn¦der the turfe of the londe is founde good merle. the thryfty of the fatnes dryeth hȳ selfe therin / So that euer the thycker the felde is merled the better corne it wyll bere There is also a nother maner whyte mer le / that the londe is the better foure score yere that therwith is merled. ¶Solinus In this ylonde groweth a stone y^• is cal∣led Gagates / yf ye wyll knowe his fayr nesse / it is blacke as gēmes ben / yf ye wyl knowe his kynde / It brenneth in water and quencheth in oyle and as to his my ght / yf the stone befroted and chaffed It holdeth what hym neygheth as Succūs a stone that is so named. ¶Ysydorus .li.xv. There ben shepe that beren gode wul There ben many hertes & wylde beestes and fewe wulues / therfore shepe ben the surer withoute kepynge lefte in the felde ¶R. In this ylonde also ben many cyte¦es and townes fayre & noble & ryche / ma¦ny grete Ryuers and stremes with grete plente of fysshe / many fayre woodes and grete / with ryght many beestes tame and wylde / The erthe of that londe is copy∣ous of metall oor / and of salte welles / of quareyes of marbyll of dyuerse manere stones / of reed of whyte of softe & of har¦de / of chalke & of whyte lyme. There is also whyte claye & rede for to make pot∣tes / crockes / stenes / & other vessell & brent tyle to couer y^• houses & chirches as it we¦re in y^• other samia / that is named samos also. ¶Flaūdres loueth well the wull of this londe. And Holand the skynnes and felles of all maner of beestes Guyan y^e yron & the leed. Irlonde the oor & y^• salte All Europa loueth & desyreth the whyte metall of this londe ¶Alfredus. Bryta yn hath ynough of mater that there ne∣deth to bye and sell / or is nedefull to mā¦nes vse / there lacketh neyther salte ne yrō Therfore a versefyour in his metre pray¦seth this londe in to this manere. Englō¦de is a good londe fruytfull of wull / but it is a corner. Englonde is full of playe free men well worthy to playe / fre men / free tonges / free hertes / and free ben all theyr thynges. theyr honde is more free / and better than theyr tonge. Also Englō¦de is beauteuous of londe floure of lond∣des all aboute / that londe is full payede with fruyte and good of hys owne / that londe reueleth straunge men that hathe nede therto. And whan hunger greuethe other londes that Londe fedethe theym / That londe bereth fruyte and corne gre¦ate plente ynough. That londe is welle at ease as longe as men lyue in peas. eest and weste in eche londe been knowen wel the Hauenes of Englonge: Her shyppes Foundes and ofte helpeth many londes Theyre mete and money men haue there

more comyn alway. And for to lerne mē gladly yeue gyftes. In londe and stronde wyde speke men of Englonde. Londe ho¦ny mylke chese this Ylonde therof shall bere the pryce. This ylonde hath no nede of othe•• londes. all londes muste seke hel¦pe at this alone. Of the lykynge of theyr woun / myght wonder kynge Salomon The ryches that there is an / wolde desyre octauyan.

¶Of the meruayles & wondres. ca iiii.

IN Brytayne been hote welles wel arayed and a dressed to the vse of manhode / maystres of thylke welles is the grete spyryte minerua. In hir hous y^• fyre endureth alway that neuer chaun∣geth into asshes / but there the fyre slake∣th / it chaungeth into stone clottes. ¶Al∣fre. In Brytayn ben many wondres / ne¦uertheles four ben moost wonderfull the fyrste is at Pecton there bloweth so stron¦ge wynde out of the chynes of the erth y^• it casteth vp agayn clothes that men cas¦te in. The seconde is at Stonhenge besy¦des Salesbury there ben grete stoones & wonder huge. and been rered on hygh as it were yates sette vpon other yates: Ne∣uertheles it is not knowen clerely ne aper¦ceyued how and wherfore they ben so are red & soo wonderfull honged. The thyr∣de is at Cherdhoke there is a greate ho∣lownes vnder the erthe / often many men haue walked therin. and haue seen / Ry∣uers and stremes but no where can theye fynde none ende. The fourth is that ra∣yn is seen reysed vpon hylles and none••y spronge aboute in the feldes. Also ther is a greate ponde that conteyneth .lx. ylon∣des couenable for men to dwelle in / that ponde is beclypped aboute with syx score roches / & vpon euery roche an egles neste and thre score Ryuers rennen into y^• pon¦de / and none of theym all renne into the see but one. There is a ponde closed a∣boute with wall of tyle and of stone. In that ponde men wasshe and bathe ryght ofte / and euery man feleth the water ho∣te or colde ryght as he wyll hymself. The¦re been salte welles ferre frome the see & been salte all the weke longe vnto sater∣daye at noone / And fresshe fro saterdaye at noone vntoo mondaye. The water of these welles whan it is soden torneth in∣to smalle salte fayre and whyte. Also the¦re is a ponde / the water therof hath won¦der werkynge / For though all an hooste stode by the ponde and torned theyr face thyderwarde the water wolde drawe hym vyolently towarde the ponde and wete al theyre clothes / so sholde hors be drawen in the same wyse. And yf the face be to••¦ned away fro the water the water 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the not. There is a well that no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 neth fro ne neyther therto and yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 maner of fysshe be taken therin se at wel le is but .xx. foote longe and xx. foote 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de / and not depe but to the knee. and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sethe with hyghe bankes on euery syde. In the countree aboute wynchestre is a denne or a caue / oute of that caue blo••••••eth alwaye a stronge wynde soo that no man maye endure to stonde tofore 〈…〉〈…〉 denne or caue. There also a ponde that torneth tree into yron yf it be therin a ye∣re. And so trees ben shapen into whesto¦nes. Also there is in the toppe of an hylle buryels euery man that cometh and me¦teth that buryel / he shall fynde it euen of his owne lenth and mesure. And yf a pyl¦gryme knele therto anone he shall be all fresshe & fele no gryef of wetynes. ¶Gir in. top. Faste by the mynstre of Wynbin¦ney that is not ferre fro bathe is a wood that bereth moche fruyte yf the trees of that woode fall into water or grounde y^• is nyghe and lye there all a yere. the trees tornen into stones. ¶Gir in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vn∣der the Cyte of Chestre renneth y^• Ryuer 〈2+ pages missing〉〈2+ pages missing〉

〈2+ pages missing〉〈2+ pages missing〉 nemons wormes that were broughte thy∣der lyued there / It was Iuged that the••y londe of man sholde longe to Brytayne ¶R. In that ylonde is sortylege and wit checrafte vsed. For women there selle to shypmen wynde as it were closed vnder thre knottes of threde. so that the moore wynde he wyll haue / the moo knottes he muste vndo There often by day tyme mē of that londe seen men that ben deed to fore honde byheded or hoole and what de the they deyed. Alyens sette theyr fete v¦pon feet of the men of that londe for too see suche syghtes as the men of that lond done. ¶Beda li.ii. Scottes dwelled fyr¦ste in this Ylonde. ¶Thanatos that is Tenet and is an ylonde besydes Kente o and hath that name Thanatos of dethe of serpentes for there ben none. And the erthe therof sleeth serpentes yborn in o∣ther sondes. There is noble corne londe and fruytfull. It is supposed that this Ylonde was halowed & blessed of saynt Austen the fyrste doctour of Englysshe∣men for there he arryued fyrste.

¶Of the kynges hye wayes and stretes Capitulo .viii.

MOlyuncyus kynge of Brytons. was the xiii. of them and y^e fyrst that gaf theym law. He ordeyned y^t plow men folowes / goddes temples and hygh wayes that leden men to Cytees & tow∣nes sholde haue the fredom of coloure so that euery man that wente to ony of the yen for socour or for trespaas that he hath do sholde be saufe for poursute of all his enemyes. But afterwarde for the wayes were vncertayne & stryf was had. Ther∣fore Belinus y^• kynge y^• was the forsayd Moliuncius sone for to put away al stry fe & doute / made foure hygh kynges wa¦yes preuyleged with all preuylege and fre¦dom. And the wayes stretche thrugh the ylonde. The fyrste & gretest of the foure wayes is called Fosse & stretcheth oute of the south into the northe and begynneth from the corner of Cornewale and pas∣seth forth by Deuenshyre by Somersete and forth besydes Tetbury vpon Cottes wolde besyde Couentre vnto Leycestre / & so forth by wylde playnes towarde New warke and endeth at Lyncoln. The secō¦de chyef kynges hygh way is named wat lyngstrete and stretchethe thwarte ouere Fosse out of the southeest into the norwest and begynneth at Douer and passeth by the myddell of Kente ouer Temse besyde London by westmestre and so forth by sa¦ynt Albon in the weste syde by donstaple by Scratforde by Towcetre by wedō by south Lylleborn by Atheryston vnto gyl¦bertes hylle that nowe is called wrekene and forth by Seuarne and passeth besy∣des wrokcestre and thenne forth to strat¦ton and so forth by the myddell of wales vnto Cardykan and endeth atte Irysshe see. The thyrde waye is called Erynnu∣gestrete and streccheth oute of the weste norweste into the eest southeest / & begyn∣neth in Meneuia that is saynt Dauyds londe in weste Wales and stretcheth for∣th vnto Southamton: The fourth is cal¦led. Rykenyldestr••te and stretcheth forth by Worchestre by Wycombe and by Bir¦myngeham by Lechefelde by Derby by Chestre felde by Yorke and forth vnto Tynmouthe.

¶Of the famous Ryuers and stremes Capitulo .viii.

THere ben thre famous Ryuers rē∣nȳge through Brytayn by y^• whi¦che

thre Ryuers marchaūtes of beyonde the see comen in shyppes in to Brytayn well nygh out of all manere of nacyons and londes. These thre Ryuers ben tem se. Seuarne and Humbre. The see ebbe∣th and floweth at these thre Ryuers and departeth the thre prouynces of the Ylō∣de as it were the thre kyndoms asondre. The thre partyes ben Loegria. Cambri a / and Northumbria. That ben myddel Englonde: wales. and Northumbrelond ¶R. These name Temse semeth made one name of two names of two Ryuers that ben Tame & Yse for the Ryuer of Tame renneth besydes Dorchestre and falleth in yse / therfore all the Ryuer fro¦the fyrst hede vnto the eest see is named Tamyse or Temse. Temse begynneth besydes Tetbury that is thre myle by nor¦th Malmesbury. There the Temse sprȳ¦geth of a well that renneth eestwarde & passeth the Fosse and departeth Gloces∣tre shyre and wylshyre / and draweth w^t hym many other welles and stremes and wexeth grete at grecestre and passeth for the than towarde Hampton & so forth by Oxenforde by wallynforde by Redynge and by London. ¶wilhelm{us} de pon. ca. ii. Atte hauen of Sandwhiche it fallethe in to the cest see / and holdeth his name xl myle beyonde London: and departeth in some place Kente and Essex westsex and Mercia / that is as it were a grete dele of myddell Englonde. ¶R Seuarne is A Ryuer of Brytayn and is called Habern in Brytons / & hath that name Habern of Habern that was Estryldes doughter Guendolon the quene drenched this Ha¦bern therin / therfore the Brytons called the Ryuer Habern after y^• woman y^• was drowned therin / but by corrupte latyn it is called Sabrina Seuarne in Englys∣she. Seuarne kegynneth in the myddell of wales and passeth fyrste towarde the eest vnto Shrowesbury / and thenne tor¦ned southward vnto Bryggenorth wyr¦cestre & gloucestre & falleth into y^• west se besydes Brystow and departeth in some place Englonde and wales. ¶wilhel de pon .li.iii. Seuarne is swyfte of sheme / fysshe crafte is therin / wodenes of y^•s wo lowynge and of the whyrlynge water cas¦teth vp and gadre to hepe grete hepes of grauell. Seuarne ofte aryseth and ouer∣floweth the bankes: ¶R▪ Humbre hathe that name of Humbre kynge of. Hunes. for he was drowned therin. And renneth fyrste a croke out of the southsyde of yor¦ke and thenne it departed the prouynce of Lyndeseye that longed somtyme to the Merces from the other contre Northum∣berlonde Trente and Ous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into Humbre and maken the Ryuer 〈…〉〈…〉 ¶Treuysa. The merces were men as it were of myddell Englonde as it shall be sayd here after.

¶OF aūcyent cytees & townes. 〈◊〉〈◊〉

THe kyndome of 〈…〉〈…〉 somtyme made farre 〈…〉〈…〉 noble cytees without ryghte many 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that were walled with toures with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & with barres strongly buylded. ¶〈◊〉〈◊〉 These were the names of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ca¦erlud that is London. Caerbran•••• that is Yorke. Caerkent that is 〈…〉〈…〉 Caergoraukon that is worcethe. Caer••••¦rion that is Leycestre. Caerdon that is. Gloucestre Caercolden that is Col••••stre Carrey chat is Chichestre. Sarons cal¦led it somtyme Cyssoncestre: Ca••••ry y^• is Cyrcestre. Caerguent that is 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Caergraunte that is Cambrigge. Ca¦erleyll that is Lugubalia and Karlylle. Caerpous that is Porchestre. Caerdrom that is Dorchestre. Caerlud•••••• that is Lyncoln and Lynderolyn. Caer marthyn y^• is Merlyns Cyte Caersegēt y^• is S••e••¦tre & is vpon Temse not fer frō redyng leon that is Caerlegyon also & byghtfyr ste Legecestre and now is named Chestre Caerbathon that is bathe and hyght sō¦tyme Athamannus Cyte Caerpaladour

that is Septon that now hyght Shaftes bury. ¶R. Other cytees ben foūde in cro¦nycles for vnderstondynge of storyes / of whom it shall folowe. ¶wil de pon. Lon¦don is a ryall and a ryche cyte vpon. ta∣myse. of burgeysses of ryches of marchaū¦tes of chaffare & of marchaūdyse. Ther¦fore it is that somtyme whan derth of vy¦tayls is in all Englonde comnly at Lon¦don it is beste chepe bycause of the byers and sellers that ben at London. ¶Gau fre. Brute the fyrste kynge of Brytons buylded & edyfied this cyte of London y^• fyrst cyte in remembraunce of the cyte of Troye y^• was dystroyed & called it Tro ye neweth and Trinouantū that is new Troye Afterwarde kynge Lud called it Caerlud after his owne name. therfor y^e Brytons had indygnacion as Gyldas / telleth. Afterwarde Englysshmen called the cyte London / & yet after y^• Normans called it londres. & is named in latyn lon¦doma. Rudhudibras kynge Leyles sone. was the viii. kynge of Brytons / he buyl∣ded Caunterbury the chyef cyte of Kent & called it Caerkent. Afterwarde En∣glysshmen called it Doroberma / but y^• is not Douer y^• stondeth vpon the clyf of y^• Frensshe se & is frō this Douer .xii. En∣glysshe myle. Afterwarde this Dorober∣ma was & is called Caūterbury. The sa¦me kynge. Rudhudibris buyldede wyn∣chestre. & called it Caerguent & after En¦glysshmen called it went & wynchestre af¦ter the name of one wyne an Englysshe man that was bysshop there All westsax on was subgette to hym / the same kynge buylded Pasadour y^• is Septon that now is called Shaftesburye Brytons tellen y^• an Egle prophecyed there sōtyme. Bla∣dud. Leyles sone a Nygromancer was y^• ix. kynge of Brytons / he buylded Bathe and called it Caerbathon. Englysshmen called it after Athamannus cyte. But at¦te the laste men called it Bathonia that is Bathe. ¶Wylhel. depon .li.ii. In this cyte welleth vp and spryngeth hoote ba∣thes and men wene that Iulyus Cezar made there suche bathes. ¶R. But Gau¦fre. monemutensis in his brytons boke / sayth that Bladud made thylke bathes bycause wyllyam hath not seen that bry¦tysshe boke wrote so by telly••ge of other men / or by his owne gessynge as he wro¦te other thynges not best auysedly. Ther¦fore it semeth more sothely that Bladud made not the hoote bathes / ne Iulyus ce¦zar dyd suche a dede though Bladud buil¦ded and made the Cyte. but it accordethe better to kyndely reason that the water renneth in the erthe by vaynes of brym∣stone and sulphur and so it is kyndly ma¦de hoot in that course & spryngeth vp in dyuerse places of the cyte. And so ther bē hoote bathes that wassheth of tetres soo¦res skabbes / ¶Treuisa. Though men myght by craft make hote bathes for to endure longe inough / this accordeth wel to reason and to phylosophy that treate¦th of hote welles and bathes that ben in dyuerse londes though the water of this bathe be more trobly & sourer of sauour and of smell than other hote bathes bene that I haue seen at Akon in Almayne. And eyges in Sauoye / whiche been fayr and clere as ony well streme I haue ben bathed therin & assayed them. ¶R Clau¦dius Cezar maryed his doughter to Arui ragus kynge of Brytons. This Claudi¦us cezar buylded Gloucestre in the wed∣dynge of his doughter. Brytons called this cyte fyrste after Claudius name but afterwarde it was called Glocestre after one Glora whiche was duke of that con¦tree and stondeth vpon Seuarne in the marche of Englonde and wales•• Shrow¦esbury is a cyte vpon Seuarne in the mar¦che of Englonge and Wales is sette vp ponne the toppe of an hylle / And it is called / Shrowesburye of shrobbes and fruyte that grewe there somtym on that hylle Brytons called it somtyme Pen∣gwerne y^• is y^• hede of a fayr tre. Shrow¦esbury was somtyme the hede of powesye

that stretcheth forth thwart ouer y^• myd¦dell of wales vnto the Irysshe see Notyn∣gham stondeth vpon Trente and somti¦me heet Notyngham y^• is the wonnyng of dennes / for y^• Danes dwelled there sō¦tyme & dygged dennes & caues vnder har¦de stones and rockes and dwelled there. ¶R. Lyncoln is chyef of the prouynce of Lyndeseye & was called somtyme Caer ludcoit & afterwarde Lyndecoln. It is vn¦certayne who buylded fyrste this cyte but yt it were kynge Lud / & so it semethe by menynge of the name / for Caer is bry∣tysshe & is to saye a cyte & coit is a wood and so it semethe that Caerludcoit is to saye Luddes wode towne Kyng Leyr was Bladuddes sone & buylded Leycestre / as it were in the myddell of Englonde vpō the Ryuer Sos & vpon Fosse the kynges hye waye.

¶Wylhel. ce pon .li.iii.

YOrke is a grete cyte in eyther sy¦de of the water, of Ouse that se∣med as fayre as Rome vnto the tyme y^• the kynge wyllyam had with brennynge and fyre defouled it and the countre a / boute. So that a pylgryme wolde nowe wepe and he sawe it / yf he had knowen it tofore. ¶Gaufre. Ebrancus the .v kyn¦ge of Brytons buylded Yorke and cal∣led it after his owne name Caerbranck he buylded also two othe cytees one ī scot∣lōd & is called Edenburgh / & an other to¦ward Scotlond in thend of Englond & is called Alcliud. ¶R. Edenburgh is a Cyte in the londe of Pictes bytwene the Ryuer of Twede and the Scottesshe see & heet somtyme y^• castell of Maydens & was called afterward Edenburgh of E¦dan kyng of pictes y^• regned ther in egfri¦dus tyme kynge of Northūbrelond. Alcli¦ud was sōtyme a noble cyte / & is now wel nygh vnknowe to all Englysshmen. for vnder the Brytons and Pyctes and en∣glysshmē it was a noble cite to y^• comȳg of the Danes. But afterwarde abowtee y^• yere of oure lorde .viii.C.lxx. it was des¦stroyed whan y^• Daues distroyed y^• coun¦trees of Northumbrelonde. But in what place of Brytayne that cyte. Alcliud was buylded. Auctours tellē dyuersesy. ¶Be∣da .li.i. sayth that it was buylded by west y^• arme of the see that departed bytwene the Brytons and y^• Pyctes somtyme the¦re Seuerns famous wall endeth weste∣warde / & so it semeth by hym y^• it is not ferre from Caerleyll for that cyte is set at the ende of that wall. Othere wyters of storyes wryten that the cyte of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is that cyte y^t now is called Aldburgh y^• is to say an olde towne / & standeth vpon the Ryuer Ous not ferre fro Burgh••••••¦dge / that is .xv. myle westwarde oute of Yorke / & it semeth that he preueth that by Gaufride in his bake of dedes of ••••••••tons / he wryteth that Elidurus kyng of Brytons was lodged at the cyte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by cause of solace & huntynge & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his broder Argalon maskynge in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de nygh there besyde y^• hyghe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but that wood Calatery which is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Englysshe recheth almost to Yorke & stretcheth towarde y^• north by Aldburgh in length by space of .xx ••nyle the moost dele of that wode is now drawen dow••e and the londe ytylled Other men wo••de suppose y^• Alcliud was that cyte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called Burgham in the north conty•••• of westmerlonde faste by Comberlond and standeth vpon the Ryuer Eden the cyte is ther wonderlyseen. Demeye now whe¦re it is buylded. ¶Treuyla. It is not bar de to assoyle yf men take hede / that ma∣ny townes bere one name as Cartage in Affryca & Cartag in Spayne. New porte in Wales and Newparte in the pa¦rysshe of Barkeleye Wottonne vnder egge and wotton passeth Wykwar wyl: payne. and wyk in the parysshe of Bar keleye. And twoo shyre towne eythere is called Hampton / is Southamptonne and Northampton so it semeth by the sto¦ryes

that one Alcliud was in yorkshyre / an other in westmerlonde / & one faste by the ryght syde of the west arme of the se that departeth Englonde & Scotlonde / But y^• Alcliud was a ryght stronge cyte as Beda sayth. And y^• cyte standeth fast by a Ryuer y^• is called Cliud. And there is no suche Ryuer in yorkshyre neythere in westmerlonde as men of the contre tell me. Some men say that the Ryuer Cli∣ud is now named Sulwach. Sulwatche is but fyue myle fro Caerleyll whiche is a cyte in the contre of north Englonde / toward the northwest & hath another na¦me whiche is Luguball Leyll the .vii. kȳ¦ge of Brytons buylded Caerleyll. ¶R. In this cyte is somwhat of that famous walle y^• passeth Northumberlonde. ¶wil hel. de pon In this cyte is yet a thre cham¦bred hous made of vawte stones that ne¦uer myght be dystroyede withe tempeste. of weder ne with brennynge of fyre also in the contree fast by in westmerlonde in the fronte of a thre chambre place is wri¦ten in this manere. Marn .v. ctori. What this writynge is to say I doute somwhat but yf it were so y^• some of the Combres laye there some tyme whan the counsell. Marius had put hym outof ytalye / But it semeth better that it is wryten in myn∣de of Marius kynge of Britons y^t was. Aruiragus sone. This Marius ouercom in y^t place Rodryke kynge of Pictes So sayth Gaufre in his brytysshe boke. wil¦liam malmesburi sawe neuer that boke At Hagulstaldes chirche is a place .lxxx. myle out of yorke norwestwarde y^• place is as it were dystroyed / so sayth wylhel .li.iii. de pon. That place longed somtym to y^• bysshopryche of yorke / there were sō¦tyme houses with vyce arches & voutes in the manere of Rome. Nowe that place is called. Hestoldesham and Heglesham al so. ¶Beda .li.iii. ca .i. saythe. That that place is faste by the longe walle of the / werke of Rome in the north halfe. ¶R. Ther is dyfferēce bytwene the prouynce of Lyndeffar & the chirche Lyndefarne / For the prouynce of Lyndeffar & Lynde∣seye is all one / & lyethe by cest Lyncolne and Lyncoln is the hede therof / of y^• whi¦che saythe Beda .li.iiii.ca.xi. that Sex∣wulfus was fyrste bysshop there. but Be¦da .li.iiii.ca.xxiii. sayth. That Lyndeffar chirche is an ylond that is called holy y∣londe in the Ryuer of Twede next Bar¦wyk. And so it is gadred of Bedaes saw¦es that, Twede renneth into the famous arme of the see that nowe departeth En∣glysshmen and Scottes in the eest halfe and in that arme ben thre ylondes, that one is Maylros that nowe is called men¦ros. Thenne aboue towarde the west is Lyndeffarn chyrche that is called holy y¦londe: Thenne y^• thirde is aboue vpwar¦de and is the ylonde Farn / and is called also ferny ylonde. Thenne vpward abo¦ue that two myle is a ryall cyte vpon y^e brynke of Twede / that somtyme hyght. Bebanburgh that is Bobbes cyte / and now is called Bamburgh and hath ary¦ght stronge castell. ¶Gir. initenere. two cytees ther ben eyther is called Caerlegy on and Caerleon also. one is Demycya in southwales that is named Caeruske also there the Ryuer of Vskefal••eth into Seuarne fast by Glamorgan. Bellinus kynge of Brytons somtyme buylded y^• cyte and was somtyme the chyef cyte of Demecia in sough wales. Afterward in Claudius cezars tyme it was called the. cyte Legyons whan atte prayer of Geni¦ust he quene Vespacyanus and Aruira∣gus were accorded and Legyons of Ro∣me were sent into Irlonde / tho was Ca¦erleon a noble cyte and of greate aucto∣ryte / & by the Romayns ryally buylded and walled aboute with walles of brent tyle. Grete nobley that was there in olde tyme is there yet in many places seen as the grete palayses gyauntes toures noble bathes / releef of the temples places of the atrees / that were places hyghe and ryall to stande and syte in. & to behold aboute

The places were ryally closed with ryal walles that yet somdele stondeth ryght nyghe cloos. And within the walles and withoute is greate buyldynge vnder er∣the / water conduytes and wayes vnder erthe and stewes / also thou shalt see won¦derly made / with strayte syde wayes of brethynge that wonderly caste vp heete. In this Cyte were somtyme thre noble chirches / one was of saynt Iuliust y^• mar¦tyr and therin a grete companye of vyr∣gynes. That other was of saynt Aaron that was of the ordre of blacke Chanon that chirche was ryght nobly adourned. The thyrde chirche was the chyef moder chirche of all wales & the chyef see. But afterwarde y^• chyef se was torned out of y^• cyte īto meneuia y^t is saynt dauyds lōde in west wales. In this Caerleon was am¦phibalus born that taught saynt Albon There the messagers of Rome come too greate Arthurs court / yf it is leeff ••ll too trowe Treuisa. yf / Giraldus was in do¦ubte whether it were leeffull for to trow or not / it were a wonder shewenge as mē wolde wene for to haue euermore in myn¦de / and euer bee in doubte yf all his boo∣kes were suche what lore were therin and namely whyle he maketh none euydence for in neyther syde he telleth what meue the hym so to saye. ¶R. There is an o∣ther Cyte of Legyons. there his Crony∣cles were bytrauaylled as it is clerely kno¦wen by the fyrste chapytre of this booke ¶Treuysa. That is to vnderstondynge in the latyn wrytynge For he that made it in latyn torned it not into Englysshe ne it was torned into Englysshe in the fa¦me place that it was fyrste in latyn. The vnderstondynge of hym that made thys Cronycles is thus writen in latyn in the begynnynge of this booke. ¶Presentem cronicam compilauit frater Ranulphus Cestrensis monachus. That is to say in Englysshe. Broder Ranulph monke of Chestre compiled and made thys booke of the Cronycles. ¶R. The Cyte of Le¦gyons y^• is Chestre stondeth in the Mar¦che of Englonde towarde wales bytwe∣ne two armes of the se that ben named de and Mersee. This Cyte in tyme of Bry¦tons was heed and chyef cyte of all Ve∣nedocia / that is Northwales. The foun∣der of this cyte is vnknown For who y^• seeth the foundementes of the grete stones wolde rather wene that it were Roma∣yns werke or werke of Gyauntes than it were sette by werkynge of Brytayns. This Cyte somtyme in Brytysshe spe∣che heet. Caerthleon Legecestre in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Chestre in Englysshe and the cyte of Legyons also. For there laye a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 legyons of knyghtes that Iulius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sente for to wynne Irlonde. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Claudius cezar sente Legyons out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cyte for to wynne the ylonde that be ••••••led Orcades / what euer wyllyam ••••••mesbury by tellynge of other men mente of this cyte. This cyte hath plente of ••••••••uelode of corn of flesshe of fysshe and ••••••cyally of pryce of samon this ••rte ••••••••ueth grete marchaundyse and send 〈◊〉〈◊〉 oute also. Also nyght this cyte ben 〈◊〉〈◊〉 welles / metall and oor Northumbres ••••••••troyed this cyte somtyme. But after 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de Elfleda lady of Mer••a buylded 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••gayne and made it moche more. In 〈◊〉〈◊〉 same cyce ben wayes vnder the c••th w••th vowtes and stone werke wonderly ••••••••ought / thre chambre werkes grete stones ygrauen with olde mennes names therin There is also Iulius cezar name won∣derly in stones ygraue and other nooble mennes also with the wrytynge aboute. This is the cyte that Ethelfride kynge of Northumberlonde▪ distroyed and sle∣we there faste by nyght twoo thousande monkes of the mynster of Bangor This is the cyte that kynge Edgar come the••••der somtyme with vn. kynges that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 subget to hym. Amesrer brekethe oute in this manere in praysynge thys cyte. Ches¦tre castell towne as it were name taketh of a castell. It is vnknowen what man

buylded this cyte nowe. Tho Legecestria chees heet now towne of legyones Nowe Walsshe and Englysshe holde this cytee of grete pryce. Stones on walle / semeth werke Hercules all. There longe w^t my∣ght / to dure that hepe is a hyght / Saxon small stones set vpon grete ben attones Ther vnder groūde / lotynge double vou¦te is founde / That helpeth with sondes / many men of western londes / Fysshe fles¦she and come lowe this cyte towne hath ynowe / Shyppes and chaffare / se water bryngeth ynowe thare / Godestall therlis that was Emperour or this / And forthe Henry kynge / erthe is there ryght dwel∣lynge / Of kynge Haralde / poudre is ther yet I halde / Bachus and Marcuryous / Mars and Venus. also Lauerna / Prothe¦us and Pluta / regnen there in the towne ¶Treuysa. God wote what this is too mene / but poetes in theyr manere speche faynen as though euery kynde craft and lyuynge had a dyuerse god eueryche frō other. And so they feyned a god of bata¦yll and of fyghtynge called hym Mars. and a god of couetyse and rychesse and marchaundyse and called hym Mercuri¦us. And so Bachus is called god of wyne Venus goddesse of loue and beaute / La∣uerna god of theeft and of robbery. Pro∣theus god of falshede and of gyse &. Plu¦to god of helle. And so it semeth that the¦se verses wold meane / that these forsayd goddes regne and ben serued in Chestre Mars with fyghtynge & cokkynge. Mar¦curius with couetyse & rychesse. Bachus with grete drynkynge. Venus with loue lewdly. Lauerna with theeft and robbery Protheus with falshede and gyle. Then is Pluto not vnserued that is god of hel ¶R▪ Ther babylon lore more myght ha∣the trouth the more.

¶Of prouynces and shyres. ca .x.

TAke hede that Englonde contey∣neth xxxii. shyres and prouynces that nowe ben called Erldoms reserued Cornewale and the ylonde. ¶Alfre The se ben the names of the Erldoms & shy¦res. Kente Sousex Sothery Hampshyre Barokshyre that hath his name of a ba¦re oke that is in y^• foreste of wyndesore for at that bare oke men of that shyre were wonte to come togyder and make theyr treatys / and there take counseyll and ad¦uyse. Also wyldshyre that heet somtymee y^• prouynce of Semeran Somersete Dor¦sete Deuenshyre that now is called deuo¦nia in latyn. These .ix. South shyres the Tamyse departed from the other deale of Englonde whiche were somtyme go∣uerned and ruled by the westsaxons law Eestsex Myddelsex Southfolke Northe¦folke Herdeforth shyre Huntyngdon shy¦re Northampton shyre Cambridgeshyre Beddeforth shyre Buykyngham shyre. Leycestre shyre Derby shyre Notyngham shyre Lyncolnshyre Yorkeshyre Durhā¦shyre Northumberlonde Caerleyllshyre with Cumberlonde Appelby shyre with Westmerlonde Lancastre shyre that con¦teyneth fyue lytell shyres. These fyftene North and Eest shyres were•• somtyme go¦uerned and ruled by the lawe called Mer¦cia in latyn and marchene lawe in En∣glysshe It is to wyte y^• Yorkeshyre stret∣cheth from the Ryuer of Humbre vntoo the Ryuer of Teyse / And yet in Yorke∣shyre ben .xxii. hondredys: hondred & can¦dredes is all one. Candrede is one worde made of walshe and Irysshe / and is too menynge a countree that conteyneth an hondred townes / and is also in Englys∣she called Wepentak / for somtyme in the comynge of a newe lorde tenauntes were wonte to yelde vppe theyr wepen in ste∣de of homage. Duramshyre stretcheth frome the Rynere of Teyse vnto the Ry¦uere of Tyne. And for to spke propr ely

of Northumberlonde it stretcheth froo y^• Ryuer of Tyne vnto y^• Ryuer of Twe∣de That is in the begynnynge of Scot¦londe. Then yf the countre of Northum berlonde that was somtyme frome Hū∣bre vnto Twede be nowe a counted for one shyre & one Erledom as it was som¦tyme. Then ben in Englonde but .xxxii shyres. but yf the countree of Northum∣berlond be departed into .vi. shyres that ben Euerwykshyre Duramshire North¦umberlonde Caerleylshyre Appelbyshy¦re Lancastre shyre. then ben in Englon¦de .xxxvi. shyres withoute Cornewale & also without the ylondes. Kynge wylly¦am made all these prouynces and shyres to be descryued and moten. Then were founden .xxxvi shyres and halfe ashyre Townes two and fyfty thousande and foure score Parysshe chirches .xlv. thou∣sande and two Knyghtes fees .lxxv. thou¦sande / wherof men of relygyon haue .xx.vii. thousande & .xv. knyghtes fees. But nowe the woodes ben hewen downe and the londe newe tylled and made moche more than was at that tyme and many townes and vyllages buylded & so ther ben many mo vyllages & townes nowe than were in that tyme. And were as a fore is writen that Cornewale is not set amonge the shyres of Englonde it may stonde amonge them well ynough for it is neyther in wales ne in Scotlond but it is in Englonde and it Ioyneth vntoo Deuenshyre / & so may ther ben atcomp∣ted in Englonde .xxxvii. shyres and an halfe with the other shyres.

¶De legibus legū{que} vocabulis.

OVnwallo that hyght Moliunci¦us also made fyrste lawes in bri¦tayne the whiche lawes were called Mo¦liuncius lawes / and were solempnely ob¦serued vnto wyllyam Conquerours ty¦me. Moliuncyus ordeyned amonge hys lawes that Cytees Temples & wayes that leden men therto / and plowe men solowes sholde haue preuylege and fre∣dome for to saue all men that wolde fle¦therto for socour and refuge. Then af∣terwarde Mercia quene of Britons that was Gwytelinus wyfe of her the pro∣uynce had the name of Mercia as som¦man suppose. She made a lawe full of wytte and of reason / & was called Mer¦chene lawe. ¶Gildas that wrote y^• Cro¦nicles and hystories of the Brytons tor¦ned these two lawes oute of Bryton spe¦che into latyn. And afterwarde kynge Aluredus torned all out of latyn in too Saxons speche / and was called marche¦ne lawe. Also the same kynge Aluredus wrote in Englysshe and put to an other lawe that hyght westsaxon lawe Then afterwarde Danes were lordes in thys londe / and so came forth the thyrde law that heet Dane lawe. Of these thre law¦es saynt Edwarde the thyrde made one commune lawe that yet is called saynt Edwardes lawe. I holde it welle done to wryte here & expowne. many termes of these lawes Myndebruch hurtyng of honoure and worshyppe. In frenche bles¦chur dhōnour. Burbruck in Frenche bles¦chur de court on de cloys Grithbruche brekynge of peas / Myskennynge chaū∣gynge of speche in court. Shewynge set tynge forth of marchaundyse. Hamsok∣ne or Hamfare a rere made in hous. for∣stallynge wronge or bette downe in the kynges hyghe waye Frithsoken surete in defence. Sak Forsfayte Soka sute of co¦urte and therof comethe soken. Theam Sute of bondemen fyghtynge wytte A mersemente for fyghtynge. Blode wytte A Mersemente forshedynge of bloode. Flytwytte a mendes for chydynge of blo¦de Leyrwytte Amendes for lyenge by a bounde woman Gulewytte A mendes For trespas. Scot A gadrynge to werke

of bayllyes. Hydage tayllage for hydes of londe. Daneghelde tayllage gyuen to the Danes that was of euery bona tater¦re / That is euery oxe londe thre pens A wepyntak and an hondred is all one for the countre of townes were wonte to gy¦ue vp wepyn in the comynge of a lorde Lestage custome chalenged in chepyn∣ges fares and stallage / custome for stan¦dynge in stretes in fayre tyme.

¶Of kyngdoms of boundes and mar¦kes bytwene them. ca .xii.

THe kyngdome of Brytayne sto∣de withoute departynge hole and all one kyngdome to the Brytons from the fyrste Brute vnto Iulius Cezars ty¦me / and fro Iulius Cezars tyme vnto se¦uerus tyme this londe was vnder trybu¦te to the Romayns. Neuerthelesse kyn∣ges they hadde of the same londe from Seuerus vnto the laste prynce Gracyā successours of Brytayne fayled and Ro¦mayns regned in Brytayn Afterwarde the Romayns lefte of theyr regnynge in Brytayne by cause it was ferre frome Rome / and for grete besynesse that they hadde in other syde / Thenne Scottes and Pyctes by mysledynge of Maxim{us} the tyraūt pursewed Brytayn and war¦red ther with grete strength of mē of ar¦mes longe tyme vnto the tyme that the Saxons come at the prayenge of the bri¦tons agaynste the Pyctes / and put oute Gurmonde she Iryss he kynge with his Pyctes and the Brytons also with her kynge that heet Careticus & drofe hem oute of Englonde into wales / and soo y^• Saxons were vyctours and euery pro∣uynce after his strengthe made hȳ a kȳ ge. And so departed Englonde into se∣uen kyngedomes. Netheles afterwarde these seuen kyngedomes euerychone af∣ter other came all in to one kyngedome•• All hole vnder the prynce Adelstone Ne¦theles the Danes pursewed this londe fro Adelwolfys tyme that was Alure∣des fader vnto the thyrde saynt. Edwar¦des tyme aboute a hondred .lxx. yere that regned contynuelly therin .xxiii. yere and a lytell more. & after hym Haralde hel∣de the kyngdome .ix. mouethes. And af∣ter hym Normās haue regned vnto this tyme. But howe longe they shall regne he wote to whome no thynge is vnknow¦en. ¶R. Of the forsayd seuen kyngdo∣mes and her markes mares and boun∣des whan they beganne and how longe they endurede here shall I som what shor¦tely tely. ¶Alfre. The fyrste kyngdome was the kyngdome of Kente. that shet∣cheth fro the cest Occyan vnto the Ry∣uere of Tamyle. There regned the fyr¦ste Hengistis / and began to regne by the acomptynge of Dyonise the yere of our lorde a hondred .lv. that kyngdome du∣red thre hondred and: lviii. yere .xo. kyn∣ges vnto the tyme that Baldrede was put oute and Egbert kynge weste saxon Ioyned that kyngdome to his owne the seconde kyngdome was at southesaxon that had in the eest syde Rente. in y^• sou∣th the see and the yle of wyght / in y^• we∣st hampshyre / and in the north sothery there Ella regned / fyrste with his three sones / and began to regne the yere after the comynge of y^• Angles euen .xxx. but that kyngdome within shorte tyme pas∣sed into the other kyngdomes / The thir¦de kyngdom was of eestsaxon / and had in the eest syde the see / in the coū¦tre of London / in the south Temse and in the north southfolke. The kynges of this countre of westsaxon fro the fyrste. Sebertes tyme vnto the tyme of the da¦nes were .x. kynges the whiche were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gect somdele to other kynges. Neuerthe∣les ofteste and lengeste they were vnder the kynges of Mercta and vnto that ty¦me that Egbert the kynge of westsaxon Ioyned that kyngedome to hys owne

The fourth kyngdome was of eest An¦gles and conteyneth Northfolke & south¦folke / and had in the eest syde / and in y^• north syde the see / and in the north west Lambrigeshyre / in the west saȳt Edmō¦des dyche and Herfordshyre / and in the south Estsex / And this kyngdom dured vnder twelue kynges vnto the tyme that kynge Edmonde was slayne. And then the Danes toke wronfully both the kyn¦gedoms of eest Angles and of estsaxon Afterwarde the Danes were put out & dryuen awaye or made subgette. And then the elder kynge Edwarde Ioyned both the kyngdomes too his owne. The fyfte kyngdom was of westsaxon and dured lengeste of al these kyngdōs / and hadde in the eest syde southsaxon / in the north Tamyse / in the south and in the west the see Dccean. In that kyngdom regned Serdryk with his sone Kenryk. and began to regne the yere of oure lor¦de fyue hondred and: xix. and thenne af¦ter the comynge of Angles .lxxi. so sayth Denys the other kyngdoms passed into this kyngdom: The syxt kyngdom was of Mercia and was grettest of all. The markes and the meres therof were in y^• west syde of the Ryuer Dee fast by Ches¦tre and Scuarne faste by shrowesbury / vnto Brystowe / in the eest the eest see / in the south Tamyse vnto London / in the north the Ryuer of Humber. and so west¦warde and downwarde vnto the Ryuer Merse vnto y^• corner of Wythall / there Humbre falleth into the west se. Penda Wybbes sone regned fyrste in this kyn¦gedom in the yere of our lord Ihesu cris te .vi. hondred .xxvi. so sayth Denys and fro the comynge of Angles an hondred lxxv. yere. This kyngdom dured vnder xvii. kynges aboute two hondred .lxiii. yere vnto the laste Colwulf the Danes betoke that kyngdom to kepe whan bur¦dred the kynge was put oute / but the el∣der Edwarde the kynge put oute the da¦nes and Ioyned the kyngdome of Mer¦cia to his owne kyngdome. Netheles at the begynnynge this kyngdome of mer¦cia was departed into thre / in west mer¦cia / in myddell Mercia / & reste / Mercia The .vii. kyngedome Was Northam∣hymbro{rum} that is y^• kyngdome of North¦humberlonde / the meres and Markes therof were by west and by eest the se of Dccean / by southe the Ryuere of Hum¦bre and so downwarde to warde the wes¦te by thende of the shyres of Notynghā and of Derby vnto the Ryuer of Merse and by north the Scottes see that heet forthe in Scottes / Weres in Brytysshe. the Scottesshe see in Englysshe / Thys kyngedome of Northumberlonde was fyrste dealed in two prouynces That o¦ne was the south syde and heet / Deyra and that other was the north syde & heet Brenicia / as it were two kyngedomes / and the Ryuer departed these two kyng¦domes that tyme / for the kyngdome of Deyra was from the Ryuere of Hum∣bre vnto the Ryuer of Tyne. The kyn¦gedome of Brenicia was fro Tyme to the Scottysshe see / And whanne Py•••••• dwelled there as Beda sayth .li.iii. ca .ii That Ninian that holy man conuer∣ted men of the south syde. Ida the kyn¦ge regned there fyrste and began to reg¦ne the yere of oure lorde fyue hondrede xlvii. soo sayth Dyonyse. In Deyra regned kynge Elle the yere of oure lorde fyue hondred / xlix. Thyse two kyngdo¦mes were otherwhyle as it is sayde de∣parted bytwene two kynges and somty me all hole vnder one kynge / and dured as it were .xx. Englysshe kynges. CCC. xxi. yere Atte laste Dsbartus and Elle∣were slayne in the .ix. yere of her kynge¦dom the Danes slewe theym / and Nor¦thumberlonde was voyd without kyng viii. yere. Then afterwarde the Danes regned in Northumberlonde .xxxvi. yere vnto the oonynge of the kyngdom Adel¦stone / he made subgect the kynges Da¦nes Scott••sshe and walshe and regned

fyrste allone in Englonde & helde y^• kȳ¦gedome of Englonde all hole & all one kyngdom y^t was the yere of oure lorde. viii. C .xxviii That Ryuer of merse was somtyme y^• marke & mere bytweene the kyngdom of Mercia & the kyngdom of Northūberlond / y^t may be shewed in two maners fyrst by this properte of this mer¦see / y^t is as moche to saye as a see y^• is a boūde & a mere for it departed one kyng¦dome from an other. Also it is writen in Cionides of Henry & Alfrede y^• kynged warde y^• elder fastned a castell at Mam¦cestre in Northūberlonde / but y^• cyte Mā¦cestre is fro the Ryuer of Mersee scarse¦ly thre myle.

¶Of bysshopriches & theyr sees ca .xiii

LVcius was y^• fyrste kynge cryste¦ned of the Brytons / in his tyme were thre Archcbysshops sees in Bryta¦yn / one was at London / an other at yor¦ke / & the thyrde Caerusk y^• cyte of Le¦gyons in Glamorgan / that cyte is now called Cacrleō. To these. Archebysshop¦pes sees were subgecte .xxviii. bysshops & were called flammes. To the Arche¦bysshops sec of Londō was subgett Cor¦ne wayle & all myddell Englonde vnto humbre. To Yorke all Northumberlō∣de frō y^• bowe of Hūbre with all Scotlō¦de. To Caerleon all wales ther were in wales .vii. bysshops / & now ben but four Tho Seuarne departed Englonde & wales. ¶wilhel. de pon .liii. But in the Saxons tyme thoughe saynt Gregori. had graunted London the preuylege of tharchebysshops see. Netheles saynt aus ten y^• was sente into Englonde by saynt Gregory torned that charchebysshop see out of London into Caūterbury. After saȳe Gregories dayes at y^• prayer of kynge Ethelbryght & Cytezeyns & burgeyses of Caūterbury / ther that hebysshops se hath dured vnto nowe saue y^• in y^• mene tyme Off a kynge of Mercya was w••••∣the with men of Caūterbury / & benam thē y^• worshyp / & worshypped Adulphe bysshop of Lychfeld w^t y^• archebysshops palle by assent of Adryan y^• pope vpon caas by yeftes sente. Netheles vnder Ke nulph y^• kynge it was restored to Caun∣terbury agayne. The worshyp of y^• see of Yorke hath dured there alwaye & yet dureth though Scotlonde be withdraw fro his subieccyon by passynge of tyme ¶Gir initenere .li.i. The archebysshop pes see was torned out of Caerleon into Meneuia y^• is in the west syde of Demi ca vpon y^• Irysshe se in saynt Dauyds tyme vnder kynge Arthur from saynt Dauyds tyme vnto Sampsōs tyme we re in Meneuia .xxiii. Archebysshops. Af terwarde fylle a pestilence in all Wales of y^• yelowe euyll / y^• is called the Iaūdis And then Sampson the Archebysshop toke with hym the palle and wente into Brytayne Armonica the lasse Brytayn and was there bysshop of Dolensis. fro me that tyme vnto the fyrste Henryes ty me kynge of Englonde were at Mene∣uia whiche is called saynt Dauyds .xxi bysshops all withoute palle / whether it were for vnconnynge or for pouerte. Ne uertheles alwaye fro that tyme the bys∣shops of wales were sacrid of y^• bysshop of Mencuia of saynt Dauyds / and the bysshop of Mencuia was sacredr of the bysshops of wales as of his suffrigans and made no professyon ne subiection to none other chirche. Other bysshops that come afterwarde were sacredr at Caun terbury by compellynge and heest of the kynge / in token of that sacrynge & sub∣ieccyon. Boneface archebysshop of Caū terbury that was Legate of the Crosse songe in euery Cathedrall chirche of wa les solempnely. Amas he was the fyrst archebysshop of Caūterbury that so dyd in wales / & that was done in the secon∣de Henryes tyme. ¶R. But nowe bene but two primates in all Englōde of caū¦terbury and of Yorke. To y^• prymate of

Caunterbury vert subgettr .xiii. bysshops in Englonde & .iiij. in wales. The pry∣mate of yorke hath but two suffeygans in Englonde y^t ben the bysshop of Caer¦leyll & of Durham: Of all these sees & chaungynge of her places I shall shew you here folowynge. Take hede in the beynnynge of holy chirche in Englon¦de bysshops ordeyned theyr sees in lowe places & symple y^• were couenable for cō¦tēplacōn for prayers & deuocion. But in wyllyam conquerours tyme by done of lawe: Canon it was ordeyned y^t bysshop¦pes sholde come out of small townes in to greate cytees. Therfore was the se of Dorchestre chaūged to Lyncoln: Lyche∣felde to Chestre. Tetforde to Norwyche Shyrborn to Salesbury. welles to Ba∣the. Cornewayle to Exestre / & Seleseye to Chichestre. The bysshop of Rochestre hath no parysshe but he is the archebys¦shops chapelayn of Caūterbury. Syth y^• see of Caūterbury was fyrst ordeyned by saynt Austē / it chaūged yet neuer his place. Chichestre hath vnder hym oonly Southsex & y^• yle of wyght / & had his se fyrste in Seleseye in y^• tyme of y^• arche∣bysshop Theodore / & y^• see dured there. CCC .xxxiii. yere vnder .xx. bysshops fro y^t fyrst wilfrede vnto y^• laste Stygand at y^• cōmaundement of kynge wyllyam conquerour chaūged y^• set fro Seleseye to Chichestre.

¶De episcopis occidētali{bus} wilhelmus

HAue mynde y^t all the prouynce of westsaxon hadde alwaye one bys¦shop fro y^• begynnynge vnto Theodo∣rustyme / but graūte of kynge Islo kyng of westsaxon y^• fyrst Birinus ordeyned a see at Dorchestre y^• is a symple towne by south Oxenforde besyde walyngford bytwene y^• metynge togyder of Temse & Tame whan Birinus was dede. Ken¦walcus y^• kynge ordeyned a sceat Wyn¦chestre as his fader had purposed / there agsbert a frensshmā was fyrst bysshop of all y^• prouynce of westsaxon. fro that tyme y^• cyte & the see of Dorchestre per∣teyned & longed to y^• prouynce of Merci¦a / that cyte standeth within Temse. & y^• Temse departed bytwene Mercia & westsaxon. After that Agtbert was put out of wynchestre that tho hyght wyn∣tō thē was there an Englysshe bysshop that was called wyne. Some men sup∣pose that this cyte hath y^• name of thys wyne / & is called Wynchestre as it were wyne cyte. At y^• laste he was put out / & after hym come Leutherius the forsayd Agelbertes neuew. After Leutheri{us} hed∣da a while was bysshop there. whan he was dede. Theodoius the archebysshop ordeyned two bysshops to the prouynce of westsaxon. Danyell at wynchestre to hym were subgette two countres: Sothe¦ry and Southampshyre / & to hym were subget syx countrees. Barkshyre Wylt¦shyre Somersete Dorset••eshyre Deu••••¦shyre and Cornewayle. ¶Treuysa / I••¦semethe by this that westsaxon contry∣ned. sothery Southampshyre Dorsete¦shyre Deuenshyre Cornewayle. ¶wil∣hel. Afterward in elder Edwardes tyme to these two sees were ordeyned by com maundement of formosus the pope thre other sees. At welles for Somersete. At Kyrton for Deuernshyre. and. At saynt Germayn for Comewayle. Notte lon∣ge afterwarde the syxte see was sette At Rammebury for wiltshyre. At the last by commaundement of kyng wyllyam conqueroure all these sees saue wynches¦tre were torned and chaunged ooute of smalle Townes in to greate Cyrees for Shyrborn and Rummesbury were tor∣ned in to Salesbury. Now to that see is subgette Barbsbyre wylesbyre & Dor∣sete. The see of Welles was torned too Bathe / thereto is now subge tall Somer¦sete. The sees of Ryrton and of Cor∣newale were chaūged to Erestre therto is subgert Deuenshyre & Comewayle.

¶De orientalibus episcopis.

IT is knowen that the est saxons alway fro the begynnynge to no¦we were subgecte to the bysshop of Lon∣don But the prouynce of eest Angles y^t conteyneth Norffolke and Suffolk had one bysshop at Donwyk / the bysshoppe heet felyx and was Bourgon & was bysshop .xvii. yere / after hym Thomas was bysshoppe .v. yere / After hym boni∣face. xvii. yere. Thenne Bysy after war¦de was ordeyned by Theodorus and ru¦led the prouynce whyle he myght endure by hymselfe allone / After hym vnto Eg¦bertes tyme kynge of westsaxon an hon¦dred .xliii. two bysshops ruled that pro∣uynce one at donwik and an other atte Elyngham. Neuertheles after Ludecās tyme kynge of Mercia lefte and was on¦ly one see atte Elyngham vntoo the .v•• yere of wyllyam conqueroure / whanne Herfastus the .xxiii. bysshop of the estre∣ne chaunged his see to Tetforde / & his successour Herbertus chaunged the se fro Tetforde to Norwhiche by leue of kyn∣ge wyllyam the reed. The see of Ely y^• is nyghe therto the fyrst kynge Henry ordeyned the .ix. yere of his regne / & ma¦de subgect therto Cambrygges hyre that was tofore aparte of the bysshopryche of Lyncoln / & for quytynge therof / he gaaf to the bysshop of Lyncoln a goode tow∣ne called Spaldynge.

¶De episcopis Merciorum. wilhelmus

DEre take hede that as the kyng∣dom of Mercia was alwaye gret test for the tyme / so it was dealed in mo¦bysshopryches & specally by grete herte by kynge Offa. whiche was .xl. yere kyn¦ge of Mercia / he chaunged the archcbys¦shops see fro Caunterbury to Lychfeld by assent of Adryan the pope. Thenne the prouynce of Mercia and of Lynde••••∣far in the fyrste begynnynge of her crys¦tendom in kynge wulfrans tyme hadde one bysshop at Lychfelde / the fyrste bys¦shop that was there heet Dwyna. the se conde heet Celath and were both Scot tes / after them the thyrde Trumphere / the fourth Iarmuanus / the fyft Chedde But in Edelfredes tyme that was wul∣frans broder whan Chedde was deede / Theodorus tharchebysshoppe ordeyned there Wynfrede Cheddes deken. Nethe¦les apud Hyndon after that for he was vnbuxome in some poynte / he ordeyned there Sexwulf abbot of Medamstede y^• is named burgh. But after Sexwulfus fourth yere Theodorus tharchebysshop ordeyned fyue bysshops in the prouynce of Mercia. And so he ordeyned Bosel at wyrcestre / Cudwyn at Lychfelde / the for sayd Sexwulf at Chestre. Edelwyn at Lyndeseye atte cyte Sidenia / and he to¦ke Eata monke of the abbaye of Hylde at whythy & made hym bysshop of Dor¦chestre besyde Oxenforde. Tho this dor¦chestre heet Dorkynge / & so the see of y^• longed to westsaxon in saynt Bytynes tyme longed to Mercia from Theodo∣rus tharchebysshops tyme Ethelred kyn¦ge of Mercia had destroyed Kente / thys bysshop Sexwulf toke Pyctas bysshop of Rochestre that come out of Kente & made hym first bysshop of Herdforde at last whā Sexwulf was dede Hedda was bysshop of Lychfelde after hym & wil∣fred flemed out of Northūberlonde was bysshop of Chestre. uetheles after two ye¦re alfrede kynge of Northūberlōd deyed & wilfred torned agayne to his owne se hagulstaldē / & so Hedda held both y^• bys¦shopriches of Lichfeld & of Chestre. aft bȳ come albyn y^• heet wor also / & alt bȳ come thre bysshops. torta at chestre witta at Lychefelde / And Eata was yet atte Dorchestre. After hys dethe bysshops of Lyndesey helde his see .iii. hondred .liiii. yere vnto Remigius chaunged the se to

Lyncoln by leue of y^• fyrste kynge wyl∣lyam But in Edgars tyme bysshop Le of winus Ioyned both bysshopryches to gyder of Chestre & Lyndeffar whyle his lyfe endured.

¶De episcopis Northumbran Wilhel. de pon .li. ca: xi.

AT Yorke was one see for all y^• prouynce of Northūberlōde pau¦linus helde fyrst y^e se & was ordeyned of y^t bysshop of Caūterbury / & helde y^• see of Yorke .vii. yere Afterwarde whanne kynge Edwyn was slayne & thynges we re dystroubled. Paulinus went thens by water awaye into Kent from whens he come fyrste and toke with hym the pall ¶Wilhel .li.iii. And soo y^• bysshopryche of Yorke ceased .xxx. yere / & y^• vse of the palle ceased there an hondred .xxv. yere vnto y^• Egbart y^• bysshop y^t was y^• kyn∣ges broder of y^• lōde recouered it by auc¦torite of the pope. ¶R. whan saynt Os∣wolde regned Aydanus a Scot was bys shop in Brenicia y^• is the north syde of Northumberlonde / after hym finian{us} after hym Salman{us} ¶wilhel: vby ••. At last he wente in to Scotlonde w^t greate iudygnacion / for wylfre vndertoke hym for he helde vnlawfully Eesterdaye .xxx yere after y^• Paulin{us} was gone frō thēs Wilfred was made bysshop of Yorke. ¶Beda li .iiii. But while he dwelled lō¦ge in fraūce aboute his sacrynge at ex∣cytynge of quartadecimano{rum} / that were they y^• helde Eesterdaye y^• .xiiii. daye of y^• mone. Chedde was ytake oute of hys abbaye of Lystynge & wrongfully putte oute into y^• se of Yorke by assente of kȳ¦ge Dswy. But thre yere afterwarde. the odorus tharchebysshop dyd hym awaye & assygned hym to the prouynce of Mer¦cia / & restored wilfrede to the see of yor∣ke. But after by cause of wrache y^t was bytwene hym & the kynge Egfryde was put out of the see by Theodorus helpe. tharchebysshop that was corrupt wishe some manere mede this was done after that Wilfred had ben bysshop of Yor∣ke / & Cumbert at Hagustalde chirche / & Eata at Lyndeffar chirche that now is called holy ylonde in the Ryuert of Tw••¦de. Aydanus founde fyrste the see. And Theodorus made Eadhedus bysshopp of Repoune y^t was comen agayne out of Lyndeseye. Wilfred had be abbot of Re¦poune. Theodorus sente Trunwynus to y^• londe of Pyctes in thendes of En∣glonde faste by Scotlonde in a place y^• heet Candida casa. & whiterne also. the¦re saynt Ninian a Bryton was fyrst fo¦under & doctour. But all these sees our∣take yorke fayled lytyll & lytell for the see of Candida casa y^t is Gallewaye y^• tho longed to Englonde & dured many yeres vnder .x. bysshops vnto y^• it had no power by destroyenge of y^• Pectes. The sees of Hagustalde & of Eyndeffa•• was sōtyme all one vnder .lx. bysshops about four score yere & ten & dured vnto y^• co∣mynge of y^• Danes. In that tyme vnder Hyngar & Hubba arduf y^• bysshop rede longe about w^t saynt Cuberts body vn¦to kynge Aluredes tyme kynge of we••l¦saxon / & y^• se of Lyndeffar was sette at Kunegestre y^• is salled Runyngysburgh also / y^• place is called now Vbbesford v¦pon Twede. At y^• laste the: xvii. yere of kynge Egbert kynge Edgars sone y^• se was chaūged to Durbam & saynt Cut¦berts body was brought thyder by y^• do∣ynge of Edmonde y^• bysshop / & fro y^• ty∣me forwarde y^• se of Hagustalde & of lȳ deffar fayled vetterly. The fyrste kynge Henry in y^• .ix. yere of his regne made the newe see at Cacerleyl. The archebysshop of Caunterbury hathe vnder hym .xiii. bysshops in Englonde. & nu in wales he bathe Rochestre vnder hym / and that se hath vnder hym a parte in Kente alone London hath vnder hym Estsex Myd∣delsex & half herdforth shyre. Chyrhes∣de hathe vnder hym Southsex and the

Yle of Wyght. Wynchestre hath vnder hym Hampshyre and Southrey. Sales¦bury hath vnder hym Barksyre wyld shyre Dorsete. Exetre hath vnder hym Deuenshyre and Cornewayle. Bathe. hath vnder hym Somersetteshyre alo∣ne / Wyrcestre hath vnder hym Glouces¦tre shyre Wyrcestre shyre and half war¦wykshyre: Herdforde hathe vnder hym Herfordshyre and some of Shropshyre Chestre is bysshop of Couentree and of Lychfelde and hath vnder hym Chestre shyre Staffordshyre Derbyshyre halfe Warwykshyre and som of Shropshyre and some of Lancastre shyre fro the Ry¦uer of Mersee vnto the Ryuer Rypylle. Lyncoln hath vnder hym the prouynces that ben bytwene Temse and Humbree that ben the shyres of Lyncoln of Leces¦tre of Northampton of Huntyngdon of Bedford of Bokyngham of Oxenfor de and halfe Herdfordshyre. Ely hathe vnder hym Cambrygeshyre out ake mer londe. Norwyche hath vnder hym Mer∣londe Norffolk and Suffolk. Also thar chbysshop of Caunterbury hath foure suffrygans in Wales that ben Landaf saynt Dauyes Bangor & saynt assaph The archebysshop of Yorke hath nowe but two bysshops vnder hym that bene Durham and Carcleyll. ¶R. And soo ben but two prymates in Englōd what of hem shall doo to the other & in what manere poynt he shall be obedyent and vnder hym. It is fully cōteyned within aboute the yere of our lorde Ihesu cryste a thousande: lxxii. tofore the fyrste kyn∣ge wyllyam & the bysshops of Englond by commandement of the pope. the cau¦se was handled and treated bytwene y^• forsayd prymates and ordeyned and de¦med that the prymate of Yorke shall be subgette to the prymate of Caunterbury in thynges that longen to the worshypp of god and to the byleue of holy chirche so that in what place euer it be in Englō¦de the the prymate of Caūterbury wyt hote and constreyne togader a counseyl of clergy the prymate of yorke is holden with his suffrygans for to be there and for to be obedyent to the ordynaūce that there shall be lawfully ordeyned Whan the primate of Caunterbury is dedeche primate of yorke shall come to Caunter¦bury and with other bysshops he shal sa¦cre hym that is chosen / & so with othere bysshops he shall sacre his owne pryma¦te / yf the primate of Yorke be dede / hys successour shall come vntoo the bysshop of Caunterbury and he shall take his or denaunce of hym and take his othe with prosessyon and lawfull obedyence. After aboute the yere of our lorde .xi.C.lxxxxv in the tyme of kynge Rycharde ben re∣sons sette for the ryght partye for eyther prymate and what one prymate dyde to y^• other in tyme of Thurstinus of Tho¦mas and of other bysshops of yorke fro∣me the conqueste vnto kynge Henryes ty¦me the thyrde. Also there it is sayd howe eche of them start frō other. This place is but a forspekynge and not a full trea¦tys therof / Therfore it were noyfull to charge this place w^t all thylke reasons

¶Of howe many manere people haue dwelled therin. ca .xiiii.

BRytons dwelled fyrste in this y∣lond y^• .xviii. yere of Hely y^• pro∣phete / y^• .xi. yere of Solmus postum{us} kȳ¦ge of Latyns .xliii. after the takynge of Troye / tofore the buyldynge of Rome CCCC .xxxii. yere. ¶Beda .li. j•• They come hyder & toke her cours from armo¦nyk y^t now is y^• other Britayn they held longe tyme y^• south coūtres of y^• yloude It befell afterward in Despasian{us} tym duke of Rome / that the Pyctes shypped oute of Scycya in to Dccean / and we∣re dryuen abowte wiche the wynde and encred in to the Norche costes of Irlon¦de and foūde there Scottes and prayed to haue a place to dwell I••ne & myght

none gete. for Irlonde as Scottes sayd myght not sustayne both people Scottes sente the Pyctes to the north syde of en∣glonde and behyght them helpe ayenste the Brytons that were theyr enemyes if they wolde aryse / and toke them wyues of theyr doughters / vpon suche condici¦on yf doubte fylle / who sholde haue ryg ht to be kȳge they sholde rather these hē of y^• moder syde thā of y^• fad{er} syde of the womēkȳ rather thā of y^• mē kȳ ¶Gau¦fre. In Vespasyan the Emperous tyme whan Marius Armragus sone was kȳ¦ge of Brytons One Rodryk kynge of Pyctes cam out of Scicia and ganne to destroyed Scotlonde / Martus the kyng slewe this Rodryk & gaue the north par¦tye of Scotlond that heet Cathenesia to the men that were came with Rodryke and were ouercome by hym / for to dwel inne / But thesemen hadde no wyues ne none myght haue of the nacion of Bry¦tons / therfore they saylled into Irlonde & toke to theyr wyues Irysshmens dou∣ghters by that couenaūte that y^• moder blood sholde be put tofore in successyon of herytage. Girca .xvii. Netheles Siri¦nus super Vyrgilium sayth that Pictes agatyrses that had some dwellynge pla¦ce aboute the waters of Scicia / and they ben called Pyctes of Peyntynge & smy∣tynge of woundes / therfore they are cal¦led pyctes as paynted men. These men and these gorhes ben all one people for whan Maximus the tyraunt was wen¦te out of Brytayne into Fraunce for to occupye thempyre. Then Gratianus & Valentinianus that were brethern and felowes of thempyre brought these go∣thes out of Scicia with grete gyftes w^t flaterynge and fayre behestes intoo the north countre of Brytayne. for they we¦re stalworth and stronge men of armes and so these theues & brybones were ma¦de men of londe & of coūtree & dwelled in the northe countres And helde there Cytees and townes. ¶Gaufre. Caran¦cius the tyraunt slewe Bassianus / and gaf the Pyctes a dwellynge place in. Al bania that is Scotlond / there they dwel led longe tyme afterwarde and medled with Britons. ¶R. Thensyth y^t P••••tes occupyed fyrste the north syde of Scot∣londe. It semeth that the dwellynge pla¦ce that this Carancius gaf them is the south syde of Scotlonde that stretchethe from the thwarte ouer walle of Roma∣yns werke to the Scottesshe see: and con teyneth Galleway and Lodouia that is Lodewaye. ¶Therfore Bedeli .iii. ca. ij. speketh in this manere. Nirua•• the ho¦ly man conuerted the southe P••tes. Af¦terwarde the Saxons come and made y^• countree longe too Brencia the northe partiee of Northumberlonde vnto the ty¦me that Kynadius Alpinus sone kynge of Scotlonde put out y^• Pyctes & made that countie that lyeth bytwene Twed and the Scottesshe see longe to his kyng¦dom. ¶Beda .li.i ca .i. Afterwarde lō¦ge tyme the Scottes were ledde b••du•••• Renda and came out of Irlonde that is propre countree of Scottes and with lo¦ue or with strenth made hem place fast by the pyctes in the north syde of that ar¦me of the see / that breketh into the lo••d in the weste syde that departed in olde tyme bytwene Britons and Partes. Of this duke Renda the Scottes badde the name and were called Darlendinus as it were Rendaes parte for in ber spe••h a parte is called dal. ¶G••p. The ••••••tes myghte haue no wyues of Brytons but they toke hem wyues of Irysshe scot¦tes and promysed bem fayre for to dwel with them and graunted hym a londe by the see syde there the see is narowe That londe is called nowe. Galleway Martanus Irysshe Scottesshe londed at Argall y^• is scotten clyf for Scottes lon¦ded therfor to do harme to y^• Brytons or for y^• place it next to Irlonde for to co¦me a londe in Brytayne: ¶Beda And

so the Scottes after the Brytons & Pic∣tes made the thyrde people dwellynge in Brytayne ¶R. Thenne after that come the Saxons atte prayenge of y^• Britons to helpe them ayenst the Scottes & Pyc∣tes. And the Brytons were sone put out into wales. And Saxons ocupyed the lō¦de lytell and lytell. and efte more too the Scottysshe see. And so Saxons made the fourthe manere of men in the ylonde of Brytayne. ¶Beda li. v. ca .ix. for Sax∣ons and Angles came out of Germani a / yet some Brytons that dwell nygh cal¦len hem shortly Germayns. ¶R. Nethe¦les aboute the yere of oure lorde .viii. hon¦dred Egbartus kynge of westsaxon com¦maunded and bad all men calle the men of y^• londe Englysshmen. ¶Alfre Then after that the Danes pursued the londe. abowte a twoo hondred yere / that is for to saye fro the forsayde Egbartus tyme vnto saynt Edwardes tyme / and made the fyfte manere of people in the ylonde But they fayled afterwarde. Atter laste come Normans vnto duke wyllyam and subdued Englysshmen / & yet kepe theye the londe and they made the syxth peple in the Ylonde. But in the fyrste Kynge Henryes tyme come many flemynges & receyued a dwellynge place for a tyme be¦syde Maylros in the west syde of Englō¦de / and made the seuenth people in the y¦londe. Netheles by commaūdement of y^• same kynge they were put thens and dry¦uen to Hauerfordes syde in the west syde of wales. ¶R. And so nowe in Brytayn Danes and Pyctes fayllen all oute / and fyue nacyons dwellen therin that beene Scottes in Albania / that is Scotlonde. Brytayne in Chambria that is Wales: but that flemynges dwelle in y^t is weste wales. And Normans and Englysshmē ben medled in all the ylond / for it is now doubte in storyes how and in what mane¦re they were putte awaye and dystroyed out of Brytayne. Nowe it is too declare how the Pyctes were dystroyed & fayled ¶Gir p̄. ca: vii. Brytayne was somty∣me occupyed with Saxons / & peas was made and stablysshed with the Pyctes / thenne the Scottes that came with the Pyctes sawe that the Pyctes were nobler of dedes and better men of armes though they were lasse in nombre than the Scot¦tes Thenne the Scottes hauynge therof enuye torned to theyr naturall treason y^• they haue ofte vsed for in treason they passe other men and ben traytours as it were by kynde. for they prayed all y^• Pyc¦tes and specyally the grete of them to a feest. and wayted her tyme whan the Pyc¦tes were mery and had well dronke they drewe vp nayles that helde vp holowe bē¦ches vnder the Pyctes and the Pyctes vn¦ware sodaynly fyll in ouer the hammes into a wonderfull pytfalle. Thenne the Scottes fell on the Pyctes and slew thē and lefte none alyue. And so of two ma∣nere people the better warryours were ho¦ly destroyed. But the other that been the Scottes which ben traytours all vnlyke to the Pyctes toke prouffyte by that fals treason / for they toke all that londe and holde it yet vnto thys tyme and calle it. Scotlonde after hir owne name / In kȳg Edgarus tyme Rynadius Alpinus sone was duke and leder of the Scottes and warred in Pycte londe and destroyed the Pyctes. he warred syx sythes in Saxon & toke all the londe that is bytwene Twe¦de and the Scottysshe see withe wronge and with strengthe.

¶Of the langages of maners and vsa∣ge of the people of that londe. ca .xv.

AS it is knowen how many ma∣ner of people ben in this Ylonde there ben also so many langages and ton¦ges. Netheles walsshe and Scottes that ben not medled with other nacyons kepe yet theyr langage & speche but yet y^• scot¦tes y^• were sōtyme confederate & dwelled w^t pyctes draw sōwhat after ther speche

But the flemynges that dwell in y^• west syde of wales haue lefte her straunge spe¦che and speken lyke to Saxons / also En¦glysshmen though they had fro y^• begyn¦nynge thre maner of speches. sontherne Northern & myddell speche in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the londe as they come of thee manner of people. Germania. Ne••eles by com∣mixion and medlynge fyrst with Danes and afterwarde with Normans in ma∣ny thynges the countre langage in appa¦red / for some vse straung wlaff 〈…〉〈…〉 terynge harrynge garrynge & gry••••ytyn¦ge This apparinge of y^• langage cometh of two thynges / one bycause y^• chylorene that gone to scole lerne to speke fyrst En¦glysshe / and than ben compelled to con∣strewe her lessons in Frensshe & that ha¦ue ben vsed syn the Normans come into Englonde: Also gentylmens chyldren be lerned and taught from theyr youth too speke frensshe / and vp londesshmen wyll counterfete and lyken hymselfe to gentyl men and are besy to speke frensshe for to be more sette by / wherfore it is sayd by a comyn prouerbe. Iack wolde be a gentyl man yf he coude speke frensshe ¶Treui¦sa. This was moche vsed to for the grete deth. but syth it is somdele chaunged / for syr Ioan Corne wayle a mayster of gra∣mer chaungede the techynge of gramer scole and construccion of frensshe in too Englysshe. And other scole maysters vse the same waye now in the yere of our lor¦de. a .M.CCC.lxxxv. the ix. yere of kyng Rycharde the seconde / & leue all frenssh in scoles & vse all constructyon in englys¦she wherin they haue auaūtage one way that is that they lerne the soner theyr gra¦mer / and in another dysauauntage. for nowe theyl erne no frensshe nor can no ne / whiche is hurt for them that shal pas¦se the see. And also gentylmen haue mo∣che lefte to teche theyre chyldren to speke frensshe. ¶R. It semeth a grete wonder y^• Englysshmen haue so grete dyuersyte in theyr owne langage in sown & in spe∣kynge of it whiche is all in one ylonde. And the langage of Normandye is comē out of an other londe and hath one ma∣nere sowne amonge all them that speke it in Englonde / for a man of ••ence sou¦thern western & Northern mē speken fren¦she all syke in sowne and speche but they can not speke theyr Englysshe so. ¶Tre¦uisa. Netheles ther ben as many dyuerse maner of frensshe in the reame of fraū¦••e / as dyuerse Englysshe in the reame of Englonde. ¶R. Also of the forsayd tou∣ge whiche is departed in thre is grete wō¦der / formen of y^• eest with men of y^• ••est accorde better in sownynge of the•••• spe∣che / than men of y^• north w^t men of y^e sou¦th Therfore it is y^• men of mer•••• y^• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of myddell Englōde as it were part••••ers w^t y^• endes vnderstond better y^• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••gages northern & southern thā northern & southern vnderstōde eyther other 〈…〉〈…〉 helde pō .li.iii. All y^• lāgage of y^• North••••bres & specyall at york•• is so sharpe shyt¦tynge frottynge and vnshappe that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 southern men may vnneth vnderstonde that langage. I suppose the cause but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they be nyghe to the alyens that speke straungely. And also by cause the kynges of Englonde abyde and dwellt more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the south countre than in the north 〈…〉〈…〉 tree. The cause why they abide more in the south countree than in the north 〈…〉〈…〉 tree / is by cause that there is better 〈◊〉〈◊〉 londe more people 〈◊〉〈◊〉 noble 〈…〉〈…〉 profytable hauens in the south 〈◊〉〈◊〉 than in the north countree:

¶De gentis huius mo••••••bus. Gir. in. itinere.

FOr the maners & doynge of wals¦shmen and of Scottes ben tofore somwhat declared. Nowe I purpose to tel¦le and declare the condycions of the med¦led people of Englonde. But y^e flemyn¦ges that been in the weste syde of Wales bē now all torned as they were Englyshe

men by cause they companye with En¦glysshmen. And they be myghty and strō¦ge to fyght / and ben the moost enemyes that walsshmen haue / and vse marchaū¦dyse and clothynge and ben full redy too putte themself in auentures and to peryl in thesee & londe bycause of grete wyn∣nynge & ben redy somtyme to the plowe and somtyme to dedes of armes whanne tyme and place axeth. It semeth of these men a grete wonder that in a boon of a wethers ryght sholder whan the flessheis soden awaye and not rosted they knowe what haue be done / is done / & shall be do¦ne as it were by spyryte of prophecye and a wonderfull crafte. They telle what is done in ferre coūties / tokenes of peas or of warre / y^• state of y^• royame / sleynge of men & spousebreche suche thynges theye declare certayne of tokenes and sygnes y^• is in suche a sholder bone. ¶. R. But the Englysshmen that dwelle in Englonde ben medled in the ylonde & ben ferre fro the places that they spronge of fyrste tor¦nenne to the contrarye dedes lyghtelye withoute entysynge of ony other men by hyr own assente: And vnesy also vnpacy cut of peas / enemyes of besynes / and full of slouthe. ¶Wilhel. de pon .li.iij. sayth. That whan they haue dystroyed theyr en¦emyes all to the grounde / thenne they fy∣ghten with theyme selfe and sleeth eche other / as voyd and an empti stomak wer¦keth in it selfe. ¶R. Netheles men of the south ben esyer and more mylde than mē of the north. For they be more vnstable & more cruell and more vnesy. The myd∣dell men ben parteners with both. Also they vse them to glotony more than other men and ben more costlewe in mete and clothynge. Men suppose that they tooke that vyce of kynge Herdeknot that was a Dane. For he heet lette forth twyes dou¦ble messe at Dyner and at souper alsoo These men ben spedefull on hors and a fote. Able and redy to all maner dedys of armes / aud ben wonte to haue vyctorye and maystrye in euery fyght where noo treasonis walkynge / and ben curyous & can well tell dedys and wondres that they haue seen. Also they gone in dyuerse lon des vnneth ben ony men ryche in her ow ne londe or more gracious in ferre and in straunge londe / they can better wynne & gete newe than kepe hir owne herytage / Therfore it is that they be sprad so wy∣de and wente that euery londe be theyr ow¦ne. The men be able to all manere sley∣ght and wytte / but tofore the dede blon∣derynge and hasty: And more wyse after the dede than tofore. and leuen of lygh∣tly what they haue begonne. ¶Solinus li.vi. Therfore Eugeni{us} the pope sayde that Englysshmen were able to do what euer they wold / and to be sette and put tofore all other / ne were that lyght wyt letteth. And as Hanyball sayde that the Romayns myghte not be ouercome but in ther owne countre soo. Englysshmen may not be ouercome in straunge londes but in her owne countre they be lyghtly ouercome. ¶R. These men despysen her owne and prayse other mennes. And vn∣nethe be pleased nor apayd with theyr ow¦ne estate what befalleth and becomethe other men / they wyll gladly take to thē / self. Therfore it is that a yeman arayeth hym as a squyer / a squyere as a knyght a knyght as a duke / a duke as a kynge / Yet some go a boute and wyll be lyke to all manere state and ben in no state. For they take euery degre that be of no degre for in berynge outward they be myntrals and herowdes. in talkynge grete spekers In etynge and drynkynge glotons / In gaderynge of catell hucksters and tauer¦ners. In araye tormentours. In wynnyn¦ges argi. In trauayle tantaly. In takyn∣ge hede dedaly. In beddes sardanapaly / In chyrches mawmetes. In courtes thon¦dre only in preuylege of clergi & in preben des they knowleche hēself clerkes. ¶Tre¦uysa As touchynge the termes of latyn as argi / tantali / dedali / serdanapaly / ye

muste vnderstonde them as y^• poetes fey¦ned of them. Argus was an herde & kep¦te bestes he had an hondred een: and Ar¦gus was also a shyp / a shypman and a chapman / and so Argus myght se befo∣re and behynde and on euery syde. Ther¦fore he that is wyse and ware and can se that he be not deceyued may be called ar¦gus. And so the Cronycle sayth in plu∣rell nombre y^• Englysshmen ben argy. y^• is to saye they se about where as wyn∣nynge is / That other worde tantaly / y^• poete feyneth that Tantalus slewe his owne sone wherfor he is dampned to per¦petuall penaūce / and he standeth alway in water vp to the neyther lyppe & hath alwaye rype apples & noble fruyte han¦gynge downe too the ouerlyppe / but the fruyte ne the water may not come with in his mouthe. he is soo holde and stan∣deth bytwene mete and drynke & maye neyther ete ne drynke / and is euer an hō¦gred and a thyrste that wo is hym alyue by this manere lykenesse of Tantalus they that do ryghte noughte there as is moche is to doo in euery syde ben called tāta••y. It semeth that it is to saye in tra uayll they be tantaly / for they do ryght nought therto. The thyrde worde is de∣dale / take hede that Dedalus was a sub¦tyll and a slyeman. And therfore by ly∣kenes they that ben subtyll & slye theye be called dedaly. And the fourth worde is sardanapaly / ye shall vnderstonde y^• Sardanapalus was kynge of Assyryēs and was full vnchast / and vsed hym for to lye softe. And by a maner of lykenes of hym they that lyue vnchastly ben cal¦led sardanapaly. ¶R. But amonge all Englysshmen medled togyders is so gre¦te a chaungynge and dyuersyte of clo∣thynge and of araye and so many ma∣ners & dyuerse shappes that well nyghe is ther ony man knowen by his clothyn¦ge and his araye of what some euer de∣gre that he be Therof prophecied an ho¦ly Anker in kynge Egelfredes tyme in this manere. Henry ii.vi. Englysshmen for as moche as they vse them to dron•• lewnes / to treason and to rechelesnes of goddes hous / fyrste by Danes and then by Normans / and at the thyrde tyme bi the Scottes that theye holde the mooste wretches and lest worth of all other they shall be ouercome. Thenne the worlde shall be so vnstable and so dyuerse and varyable that the vnstablenes of though¦tes shall be bytokened by many manere dyuersytees of clothynge.

¶Here foloweth the des∣crypcyon of the londe of Wales. ¶Of the londe of wales. ca. xvi

NOwe this boke taketh on honde Wales after Englonde. So take I my tales. And wende into wales. To that noble blood. Of Pryamus blood. Knowleche for to wynne. Of greate Iupyters kynne. For to haue in mynde Dardanus kynde. In these four tytles I fonde To tell thestate of that londe Cause of the man I shall telle And then prayse the londe and welle. Thenne I shall weyte with my penne. All the maners of the men Thenne I shall fonde. To telle meruaylles of the londe.

¶Of the name and wherfore it is na∣med wales. ca .xvij.

WAles nowe is called wallia. And somtyme it heet Cambri•• For Camber Brutes sone Was prynce and there dyde wone.

Thenne wallia was to mene For Gwalaes the quene Kynge Ebrancus chylde Was wedded theder mylde And of that lorde & walon Withdraweth of the soun And put to l.i. a. And thou shalte fynde wallia And though this londe Be moche lesse than Englonde As good glebe is one as other In the doughter as in the moder

¶Of the commodytees of the londe of Wales. ca .xviii.

THough that londe be luyt It is full of corn and of fruyte. And hath grete plentey wys Of flesshe and eke of fysshe Of beestes tame and wylde Of hors sheep oxen mylde Good londe for all sedes For corn gras and herbes that spredes. Ther ben woodes and medes Herbes and floures there spredes Ther ben Ryuers and welles Valeyes and also hylles Valeyes brynge forth flood And hylles metals good Cooll groweth vnder londe And gras aboue at bonde There lyme is copyous And slates for hous Hony and mylke whyte There is deynte and not lyte Of braket meete and ale Is grete plente in that vale And all that nedeth to the lyue That londe bryngeth forth ryue But of grete ryches to be drawe. And close many in shorte sawe It is a corner small. As though god fyrste of all. Made that londe so fele To be selere of all hele Wales is deled by. A water that heet Twy. North wales from the south. Twy deleth in places full couth. The south heet Demicia And the other Venedocia. The fyrste shoteth and arowes beres That other deleth all with speres. In wales how it be Were somtyme courtes thre. At Carmerthyn was that one And that other was in Mone The thyrde was in Powysy In Pegwern y^t nowe is Shrowesbury. There were bysshops seuen And nowe ben foure euen Vnder Saxons all atte honde Somtyme vnder prynces of that londe

¶Of the maners and rytes of the was¦shemen. cn .xix.

THe maner lyuynge of that londe Is well dyuerse from Englōde In mete and drynke and clothynge. And many other doynge They be clothed wonder well In a shyrte and in a mantell A cryspe breche well fayne Bothe in wynde and in rayne In this clothynge they be bolde Though the weder be ryght colde Withoute shetes alway. Euermore in this araye They go fyght playe and lepe Stande sytte lye and slepe Without surcot gowne cote and kyrtyll Without iopen tabarde clok or bell Without lace & chaplet that her lappes Without hode harte or cappes Thus arayd gone the segges And alwaye with bare legges They kepe none other goynge Though they mete with the kynge With arowes and short speres They fyght with them that them dert•• They fyght be••ter yf they neden Whan they go than whan they ryden In stede of castell and toure

They take 〈…〉〈…〉 Whan they seen it is to do. In fyghtynge they 〈…〉〈…〉 Gyldas sayth they ben 〈◊〉〈◊〉 In peas and not stable. Yf men axe why it be It is no vonder for to se Though men put out of londe To put out other wolde fonde But all for nought at this stonde For all many woodes ben at gronde And put the see amonge Ben castels buylded stronge The men may dure longe vn ete And loue well conume mete They can ete and ben mury Without grete cury They ete brede colde and hote Of barly and of ote Brode cakes rounde and thynne As well semeth so grete kynne Selde they ete brede of whete And selde they done ones ete They haue gruell to potage And lekes kynde to companage Also butter mylke and chese Yshape endlonge and corner wese Suche messes they ete snell. And that maketh hem drynke well Meete and ale that hath myght Theron they spende daye and nyght Euer the redder is the wyne. They holde it the more fyne Whan they drynke atte ale They tell many a lewde tale For whan drynke is in handlynge They ben full of Ianglynge Atte meete and after eke. Her solace is salte and leke The husbonde in his wyse Telleth that a grete pryce To gyue a gaudron with growele To hem that sytt•••••• on his mele He deleth his meete at meele And gyueth euery man his del•• And all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pluse He kepeth to his owne vse Therfore they ha•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And myshappes als•• They ete•• hote sam•••• alway All though physyk say may. Her houles bes lowe with all And made of yerdes small Not as in cytees nyghe But ferre a sonder and not to hygh Whan all is eten at home Thē to theyr neyghbou••s wyl they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And ete what they may fynde and se And then torne home aye The lyte is ydle that they ledes In brennynge slepynge & suche dedes. Walsshmen vse with her myght To wesshe theyr ghestes fete a nyght Yf he wesshe her fete all and somme. Then they know y^• they be welcome They lyue so esely in a route That selde they bere purs aboute. At her breche oute and home They honge theyr money and combe. It is wonder they be so hende And hate crak at nether ende And withoute ony core Make theyr wardrope atte dore. They haue in grete mange••y Harpe tabour & pyp for mynstralsy They bere corps with sorowes gre••••e And blowe loude hornes of ghert. They prayse fast Troyan blood. For therof come all her brode. Nygh kyn they wyll be Though they passe an hondred deg••••e. Aboue other men they wyll hem dyght. And worshyp prestes with her myght As angels of heuen ryght They worshyp seruaūtes of god almy¦ght Oft gyled was this brode And yerned batayll all for woode For Merlyns prophecye And ofte for sortelegye Beste in maners of Brytons For company of Saxons. Ben torned to better ryght That is knowen as clere as lyght They tyllen gardy•••• ••••lde & 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

And drawe hem to goode townes They ryde armed as w••ll god And go y hosed and y shoode. And sytten fayre at her mele And slepe in beddes fayre and fele So they seme nowe in mynde More Englysshmen than walssh kynde Yf men are why they now do so More than they wonte to do They lyuen in more pees Bycause of theyr ryches For theyr catell sholde slake Yf they vsed ofte wrake Drede of losse of her good Make them nowe styll of mode All in one it is brought Haue nothynge and drede nought The poete sayth a sawe of preef. The foot man syngeth tofore the theef And is bolder on the waye Than the hors man ryche and gaye

¶Of y^e meruayls & wondres of wales ca .xx.

THere is a pole at Brechnok Therin of fyssh is many aflok Oft he chaungeth his hewe on cop And bereth aboue a gardyn crop Oft tyme howe it be Shape of hous there shalt thou se Whan the pole is frore it is wonder Of the noyse that is ther vnder Yf the prynce of the londe hote Byrdes synge well mery note As merily as they can And syngyn for none other man Besydes Caerleon Two myle fro the town Is a roche well bryght of leem Ryght ayenst the sonne beem Goldclyf that roche hyght For it shyneth as god full bryght Suche a flour in stoon is nought Without fruyt yf it were sought If men coude by craft vndo The vaynes of therth and come therto Many benytece of kynde Ben nowe hyd fro man••••es ••••ynde And ben vnknowe yet. For defaute of mannes wytte Grete tresour is hyd in grounde And after this it shall be founde By grete studye and besynes Of hem that comen after vs That olde men had by gr••te nede We haue by besy dede ¶Treuisa. In bokes ye may rede That kynde fayleth not at nede Whan noman had crafte in mynde Then of craft halpe god and kynde. Whan no techer was in londe Men of craft by goddes honde They that had craft so thenne Taught forth craft to other men Some craft that yet come not in place. Some man shall haue by gods grace ¶R. An ylonde is with noyse & stryfe. In west wales at Kerdyf Faste by Seuarne stronde Barry hyght that ylonde In that hyther syde in a chen•• Shalt thou here wonder dene And dyuerse noys also Yf thou put thyn cere to Noys of leues and of wynde Noys of metals thou shalt fynde Frotynge of yren & westones y^• shalt here Hetynge of ouens then with fyre All this may well be By wawes of the see That breketh in thare With suche noys and fare At Pendrok in a stede Feudes do oft quede And throweth foule thynge inne And despyseth also synne Neyther craft ne bedes may Do thens that sorow away Whan if greueth soo To the men it bodeth woo At crucynar in west wales Is a wonder butyals Euery man that cometh it tose Semeth it euen as moche as he

Hoole wepen there a nyght Shall be broken er daye lyght At nemyn in north wales Alytell ylonde there is That is called bardysay Monkes dwell there alway Men lyue so longe in that hurst That the oldest deyeth fyrste Men saye that Merlyn there buryed is. That hyght also syluestris There were Merlyns tweyns And prophecyed beyne One heet Ambrose an Merlyn And was y goten by gobelyn In demicia at carmerthyn Vnder kynge Vortygeryn He tolde his prophecye Euen in snowdonye. Atte heed of the water of coneway In the syde of mount eryry Dynas embreys in walsshe. Ambrose hylle in Englysshe Kynge Vortygere sate on The watersyde and was fulle of wone. Then Ambrose Merlyn prophecyed. Tofore hym ryght the ¶Treuisa What wytte wolde wene That a fende myght gete a chylde Some men wolde mene That he may no suche werke welde That fende that goth a nyght Wymmen full ofte to gyle Incubus is named by ryght And gyleth men otherwhyle Succubus is that wyght God graunt vs none suche vyle Who that cometh in hyr gyle Wonder hap shall he smyle With wonder dede Bothe men and wymmen sede Fendes woll kepe With craft and brynge an hepe. So fendes wylde May make wymmen bere chylde Yet neuer in mynde Was chylde of fendes kynde For withoute eye Ther myght no suche chylde deye. Clergy maketh mynde Dethe sleeth no fendes kynde But deth slewe Merlyn Merlyn was ergo no gobelyn An other Merlyn of Albyn londe That nowe is named Scotdonde also And he has nemes two Siluestris and Calidonius also Of that woode Calidonie For there he tolde his prophecye And heet Syluestris as well For whan he was in batell And sawe aboue a grysly kynde. And fyll anone out of his mynde And made no more abood But ran anone vnto the wood ¶Treuisa. Siluestris is woode Other wylde of mode. Other elles That atte wood he dwelles ¶R. Siluestris Merlyn. Tolde prophecye well and fyn And prophecyed well sure Vnder kynge Arthure Openly and not so dose As Merlyn Ambrose There ben hylles in snowdonye That ben wonderly hye With hyght as grete a waye As a man may go adaye And heet eryry in walsshe Snowy hylles in Englysshe. In these hylles ther is Leese inough for all berstes of walys These hylles on top berrs Two grete fysshe weares Conteyned in that one ponde. Meueth with the wynde an ylonde. As though it dyd swymme. And neyheth to the krymme. So that herdes haue grete wonder. And wene y^• the worlde meueth vnder In that other is perche and fysshe Euery one eyed is So fareth all well In Albania the mylwell

In Rutlonde by Tetynwell Ther is a lytyll well That floweth not alwaye As the see twyes a daye But somtyme it is drye And somtyme full by the eye Ther is in North wallia In Mon that heet Anglesia A stone accordynge well nyght As it were a mannes thyghe Howe ferre euer that stone Be born of ony mon. On nyght it goth home his waye That he founde by assaye Hughe therto of Shrowesbury In tyme of the fyrste Harry For he wolde the sothe fynde That stone to an other he gan bynde. Wyth grete cheynes of yre•••• And threwe all I feren Ybounde at one hepe Into a water depe Yet amorowe that stone Was seen erly in Mon. A chorle helde hymselfe full slyghe. And bounde this stone to his thyghe. His thygh was roten or daye And the stone wente awaye. Yf men done lechery. Nyghe that stone by Swote cometh of that stone. But chylde cometh there none. There is a roche ryght wonderly. The rocht of herynge by contrey Though ther crye ony man born And blowe also with an horne Noyse there though thou abyde Thou shalte here none in this syde Ther is an other ylonde Fast by mon at honde Hermytes there ben ryue Yf ony of them done st••yue All the myse that may be gete Come and ete all theyr mete Thenne cesseth neuer that w•••• Tyll the stryfe cesse also As men in this londe Ben angry as in Irlonde So sayntes of this contreye Ben also wretchefull alwaye Also in this londe In Irlonde and in Scotlonde. Ven belles and staues That in worshyp men haues And ben worshyped so then Of clerkes and of lewde men. That dreden also To sweren on ony of tho. Staffe eyther belle As it were the gospelle At Basyng werke is a welle That Sacer heet as men telle. It sprengeth so sore as men may see What is caste in it throweth aye. Therof sprengeth a grete stronde It were inough for all that londe Seke at that place Haue both hele and grace In the welmes ofter shan ones Ben founde reed spercled stones In token of the blood reed That the mayd Wenefrede Shad at that pytte Whan hir throte was kytte He that dyd that dede Hath sorow on his sede His chyldren at all stoundes Berken as whelpes and houndes For to they praye that mayd grace Ryght at that welle place Eyther in Shrowesbnry strete There that mayd rested swete

¶Of the descrypcyon of Scotlonde somtyme named Albania. ca .xxi.

IT is a comynsaw y^t y^e coūte whi¦che is now named Scotlōde is ā outstretchȳge of y^• north syde of Beitayn & is de{per}ted in y^• south syde frō Breitayn w^t armes of y^• se / & in y^• other syde it is be clypped wyth the see. This londe heet so metyme Albania and had y^• name of Al banactus y^• was kynge Beutes sone for Albanactus welled fyrste therin / or of

the prouynce Albania y^• is a countre of Scicia & nygh to amazona therfor scot¦tes ben called as it were scyttes for theye come out of Scicia. After warde y^• londe heet Pictauya for y^• Pyctes regned ther∣in a .M.CCC.lx. yere. And at last heet. Hibernia as Irlonde hyght. ¶Gir••i top For many skylles / one is for affinite & alye that was bytwene them & Irysshme for they toke theyr wyues of Irlonde & y^• is openly seen in her byleue / in clothyn¦ge / in langage & in speche / in wepyn & in maners. An other skyll is for Iryssh men dwelled there sōtyme ¶Beda .li.j. Out of Irlonde that is y^• propre coūtre of Scottes come Irysshmen w^t her duke that was called Renda. And w^t loue and w^t strenthe made hem thyef sees and cy¦tees besydes the Pyctes in the northsyde ¶Gir. Nowe y^e londe is shortlye called Scotlonde of Scottes y^• come out of Ir¦londe & regned therin. CCC.xv. yere vn¦to reed Wyllyams tyme that was Mal¦colins broder. ¶. R. Many euydene{is} we haue of this Scotlonde that it is oft cal¦led & hyght Hibernia as Irlonde dothe. ¶Therfore Beda .li.ii. ca .xi. sayth that Laurence archebysshop of Dunbar was archebysshop of Scottes that dwelled in an ylonde that heet Hibernia & is nexte to Brytayn Beda .li.iii. ca .xxvii. sayth Pestilence of moreyn bare downe Hiber nia Also li iii. ca .ii. sayth y^t the Scottes y^• dwelled in the south syde of Hibernia Also: li iiii. ca. iii. he sayth y^t Cladde was a yonglynge and lerned the rule of mon¦kes in Hibernia. Also li.iiii. ca .xxii. Eg∣fridus kynge of Northūberlonde destro¦yed Hibernia. Also .li.iiii. ca .xv. the mo∣ste dele of Scottes in Hibernia & in the same chapitre he called Hibernia propre¦ly named / y^• west ylondr is an hondred myle from eueryche / Britayn & depar∣ted w^t the see bytwene & called Hibernia that countre that nowe is called Scot∣londe / there he telleth that Adamuā ab¦bot of this ylond sayled to Hybernia for to teche Irysshmen y^• lawfull esterdaye And at last come ayen into Scotlonde. ¶Ysy. ethi .li .xiiii. Men of this Scotlon¦de ben named Scottes in theyr owne lā¦gage & Pyctes also. for sōtyme her body was peynted in this mancre / they wold sōtyme w^t a sharpe egged tole prycke & kerue her owne bodyes & make theron dyuerse fygures & shappes & peynt hem with ynke or with other peynture or co∣lour / & bycause they were so peȳced they were called picti / that is to saye peynted ¶Erodotus Scottes ben lyght of herte straūge & wylde inough but by medlȳg of Englysshmen they ben moche amen ded / they ben cruell vpon theyt enemyes & hateth bondage moost of ony s••ynge and holde for a foule slouth yf a man de¦ye in his bedde / & grete worshyp yf be de¦ye in y^• felde. They ben lytyll of mete •• mowe faste longe / & eten selde whan the sonne is vp / & eten flessh fyssh mylk•• & fruyt more than brede and though the•• be fayr of chappe they ben defouled and made vnsemely ynough w^t theyr owne. clothynge. They prayse faste y^• vsages of theyr owne forfaders & despyse other mēnes doȳge / her lōde is fruytfull ynou gh in pasture gardyns & feldes. ¶Gir de. p̄. ca: xviii. The prynces of Scottes. as y^e kynges of Spayn ben not wone to be enoynted ne crowned. In this Scotlō¦de is solempne & grete mȳde of say•••• an¦drew thapostle: For saynt Andrewe had y^• north partyes of y^• world Scitts and Pyctes to his lot for to preche & cōuert y^• people to crystes byleue{is} & at last be was martred in Achaia in gre••a in a cyte y^• was named Patras & his bones were kep¦te .CC.lxii. yere vnto Constātin{us} thēpe••¦rours tyme. & thē they were translated•• to Cōstātinople & kept ther .C.x. yere vn¦to Theodosyus themperours ryme and thenne Vngus kynge of Pycte••in Scot¦londe destroyed a greate parte in Bry∣tayne & was besette w^t a grete hooste of Brytons in a felde called Marke. & he

herde saynt Andrewe speke too hym in this manere. Vngus vngus here thou me crystes apostle I promyse the helpe and socour whan thou hast ouer comen thyn enemyes by my helpe / thou shalt gyue y^• thyrde dele of thyn herytage in almesse to god almyghty / and in the worshyp of saynt Andrew / and in the sygne of the cros se wente tofore his hoost & the thyrde da¦ye he had vyctory and so torned home a yene and desed his herytage as he was boden. And for he was vncertayne what cyte he sholde deale for saynt Andrewe he fasted thre dayes / he and his men pra¦yed saynt Andrewe that he wolde shew hym what place he shold chese. And one of the wardeyns that kepte the body of saynt Andrewe in Constantynople was warned in his slepe that he sholde go in¦to a place whyder an angell wolde lede hym and so he come into Scotlonde w^t vij. felowes to the toppe of an hylle na∣med Ragmōde. The same hour lyghte of heuen beshone and beclypped y^• kyng of Pyctes that was comynge with hys hoost to a place called Carceuan. Ther anone were heled many seke men. The¦re met with the kynge Regulus the mō¦ke of Constantynople with the relyques of saynt Andrewe. There is founded a chirche in worship of saynt Andrewe y^• is heed of all the chirches in the londe of Pyctes. To this chirche comen pylgry∣mes once of all londes. There was Re∣gulus fyrste abbot and gadred monkes And so all the tyenthe londe y^• the kyng had assygned hym he departed it in dy¦uerse places amonge abbayes.

¶Of the descrypcyon of Irlond. ca xxii

HIbernia that is Irlonde. and was of olde tyme Incorporate into y^• lordshyp of Brytayne so sayth Gir. in sua pop̄. where he descryueth it at fulle. Yet it is worthy & sernely to prayse y^• lon¦de w^t large praysynge / for to come to de¦re & full knowlege of y^• lōde these tytles that folowe open the waye Therfore I shall tell of the place & stede of that lon¦de how grete and what manere londe it is / wherof that londe hath plente & wher¦of it hath defaute / also of what men ha¦ue dwelled therin fyrste. Of maners of men of that londe. Of the wonders of that londe / and of worthynes of halow¦es and sayntes of that londe.

¶Of the boundynge of Irlonde ca .xxiii

IRlonde is the laste of all the west ylondes and hyght Hibernia of o¦ne Hiberus of Spayn that was Hermo¦nius broder / for these two bretherne ga¦te and wanne y^t londe by conquest. Or it is called Hibernia of y^t Ryuer Hiber{us} y^t is in the west ende of Spayn / & y^t londe hyght Scotlond also / for Scottes dwel¦led there sōtyme er they came into y^t othe¦re Scotlond y^t longed to Brytayn / ther¦fore it is writen in the Martyloge. Su∣che a day in Scotlōd saynt Bryde was born / & y^t was in Irlond. this lōde hath in y^• southest syde spayn thre dayes sayllȳge thēs a syde half / & hath in y^e eest sy¦de y^• more Britayn thēs a dayes sayllȳ¦ge / in the west syde y^• endles Occean & in y^• north syde. yselōde thre dayes sayllȳg thēs. ¶Solin{us}. But y^• see y^t is bytwene brytaȳe & Irlōde is al y^• yere ful of grete wawes & vnesy y^• mē may selde sayle se¦kerly bytwene y^• se is .C.xx. myle brode.

Of y^e gretnes & qualyte of y^t lōde ca .xxiiii.

IRlōde is an ylōde grettest aft bri¦tayn / & stretcheth north warde frō Brendas hylles vnto y^• lōde Colūbina & cōteyeth .viij. dayes iourney euery iour¦ney .xl. myle & frō Deuell to Patriks hil¦les & to y^t se in y^• syde in brede .iiij. iourne ys / and Irlonde is narower in the myd¦dell thanne in the endes / all otherwyse than Brytayn is / as Irlonde is shorter

northwarde than Brytayne / soo is it len¦ger south warde the londe is not playne but full of mountayns of hylles of woo¦des of marayes and of mores / the londe is softe rayny wynde and low by the see syde and within hylly and sondy. ¶So linus. There is grete plente of noble pas¦ture and of leese / therfore the bestes must be oft dryuen out of theyr pasture lest they ete ouermoche for they sholde shend hym selfe yf theye myghte ete at theyre wyll. ¶Gir. Men of that londe haue commu¦nely theyr helth / and straungers haue of te a perylous flux bycause of the moystu¦re of the mete. The flesshe of kyen is the¦re holsome / and swynes flesshe vnholso∣me. Men of that londe haue no feuer but only the feuer ague and that ryght seld Therfore the holsomnes of that londe & the clennes out of venyme is worth all y^• bost and rychesse of trees of herbes of sp•• cery of ryche clothes and of precyous sto∣nes of y^• eest londes: The cause of the hel¦th and holsomnes of that londe is theat temperate hete and colde that is therin In quibus re{bus} sufficit. In this londe bē moo kye•• than oxen / more pasture than corn / more gras than seed / there is plente of samon / of lamprays / of eeles and of other see fysshe. Of Egles / of cranes / of pecockes of / curlewes / of sparouhaukes of goshaukes / and of gentyll fawcons / Of wulues and ryght shrewed myse ther ben attercoppes / bloode soukers ceftes y^t done none harme / ther ben fayres lytel of body & full hardy & stronge / ther ben bar¦nacles foules lyke to wylde ghees which growen wonderly vpon trees / as ••it were nature wrought agaynste kynde. Men of religion etethe bernacles vpon fastynda¦yes bycause they ben not engendred with flesshe / wherin as me thynketh they erre for reason is ayenste that. For yf a man had eten of Adams legge he had eten fles¦she / & yet Adam was not engendred of fader nor moder / But that flesshe come ••onderly of the tree. In this londe is plē of hony and of mylke of vyne and of vy¦neyerdes. ¶Solinus and Ysid. wetten y^• Irlonde hath noo bees Netheles it were better wryten that Irlonde had bees and no vyne yerdes. ¶Beda sayth that there is grete huntynge to roobuckes / and it is knowe that there ben none. It is no won¦der of Beda for he sawe neuer that lond but some man tolde hym suche tales. Al∣so ther groweth that stone Saragonus. and is called Iris also as it were the ra∣yn bowe yf that stone be holde agaynst y^• sonne anone it shall shape a raynbowe / ther is also founden a stone that is called Gagates and white margery perles:

¶Of the defautes of the londe ca. xxv.

w Hete cornes ben there full sma••••e vnneth yclenced with mann•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de / reserued men / all bestes been small•••• there than in other londes. They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 well nygh all maner fysshe 〈…〉〈…〉 that is not gendred in the see the•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnkynde faucons gerfaucons 〈…〉〈…〉 fesaunte / nyghtyngales and p••••s that lacken also Roo and bucke and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 les wontes and other venemous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Therfore some men feynen and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ourably y^• saynt Patry•••••• 〈…〉〈…〉 londe of wormes and of venemous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but it is more probable and more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that this londe was from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ge alway without suche women for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nemous beestes and womes deyen there anone yf men brynge them thether oute of other londes. And also 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and po¦yson brought thether oute of other londes lesen theyr malice as sone as it passeth y^• myddell of y^• se. also poudre & erth of y^• londe cast & sowen in other lōden d••yuen away wormes so ferforth •• yf a turf of y^• lōde be put about a worme it sleeth bȳ or maketh hȳ thryl y^• erth for tes••••pe away In y^• londe cocken crow but lytyll ••ofore day / so y^• the fyrste crowyng of cockes in y^• londe & y^• thyrde in other lōdes bē lyke

ferre totore the daye.

¶Of them that fyrste enhabyted Irlon∣de. ca .xxvi.

GIraldus sayth y^t Casera Noes ne¦re drad the flode & fled with thre men & fyfty wymmen into that ylonde and dwelled therm fyrst y^• laste rere tofor Noes flode. But afterwarde Barthola∣nus Seres sone that come of Iaphet No¦es sone come thether w^t his thre sones by happe or by craft .CCC. yere after Noes flood & dwelled there & encreaced to the nombir of .ix.M. men & afterwarde for stenche of kareyns of gyaūtes y^• they had kylde they deyeden all saue one Ruanus y^• lyued a M.v.c. yere vnto saynt patryks tyme & enformed the holy man of y^• for forsayd mea and of all the doynges and drd••••▪ When the thyrd tyme come thyder Norwich once of S••••••ia w^t his .iiii. sones & dwelled there .CC.xvi.yere. And at las¦te of his or ••••••ynge by dyuerse myshap∣pes of warres and of moreyne they were clene destrored and the londe lefte voyde .CC. yere after. The fourth tyme fyue du¦kes y^• were brethern Gan•••••• Genandus Sagan••••us Rutheragus Sla••••{us} of the sayd Nymesaes successours come oute of Grece g••••••h••red y^• tonde & deled 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fy¦ir parties genery partye cōteyneth .xxii. candredes. A Candr de is a coūtrie that conteyneth a townes .〈◊〉〈◊〉. and they sette a stone in y^• mydd els of y^• londe as it were in y^• naneii & begynnynge of fyue kynk¦domes. Alte the laste Slautus was made kynge of all the londe. The fyfth tyme whan this nacion was ixx. yere togyder they were feble four noble men that we¦re Millesins y^• kynges sones come out of Spayne w^t many other in a nauye of .xl shyppes & two of y^• worthyest of these iui brethern y^• heet Hyberus & Hermon deled y^• londe bytwene hem tweyn / but After∣warde couenaunte was broken bytwene hem bothe & Hiberus was slayne Then Hermon was kynge of all y^• londe. And from his fyme to the fyrste Patryks tym were kynges of y^• nacion: C.xxxi. And so fro the comynge of Hibernensis vnto the fyrste Patryk were .M.viii.c. yere. They had y^• name Hibernensis & Nybernia of y^• forsayd Hiberus / or els of Hiberus a ry¦uer of Spayn. They were called also ga¦tels & Scotts of one Gaytelus that was Phenis neuewe. This Gaytelus coudce speke many langages / after y^• langages that were made at Nemproths tour And wedded one Scotta Pharoes doughter Of these dukes come y^• Hibernensis Mē saye y^• this Gaytelus made y^• Irysshe lan¦gage and called it Gaytelaf as it were a langage gadred of all laugages & ton∣ges. Atte y^• laste Belmus kynge of Bry¦taynr had a sone & hyght Gurguncius come oute of Donnemarke atte ylondes Orcades / he foūde men that were called Basclensis / and were come theder out of Spayne / these men prayed & besought to haue a place to dwelle in. And the kyng sente them to Irlonde that was tho voyd & waste. & ordeyned and sente with them dukes and captayns of his owne / and so it semeth y^• Irlonde sholde longe to Bri¦tayne by ryght of olde tyme. From y^• fyr¦ste saynt Patyrk vnto Fedliundius y^• kȳ∣ges tyme .CCCC. yere regned .xxxiii. kȳ¦ges eueriche after other in Irlonde. In this Fedliundius tyme Turgesins duke & captayne of Norwayes brought theder men of Norwaye & occupyed y^• lond and made in many places depe deches & cas∣tels sengle double & tryble & many war∣des strongly walled & many therof ston¦de yet all hole / but Irysshmen retche not of castels / for they take wodes for castels & marayes and moores for castell dyches but at laste Turgesius deyed by gyleful¦les of women / & Englysshmen saye that Gurmundus wanne Irlonde and made thylke dyches / & made no mencion of ••••¦gesi{us} / and Irysshmen speke of Turgi{us} and knowe not of Gurmūdus. Therfor

it is to were that Gurm••dus had won¦ne Britayne & dwelled therin / & sente Turgesius w^t grete strenth into Irlōde for to wynne that londe / & bycause tur∣gesius was captayne & leder of that vy••¦ge and Iourney and seen amonge them therfore Irysshmen speke moche of hym as a noble man that was seen in y^t lon∣de and knowen. At laste whan Gurmū¦dus was slayn in Fraūce Turgesi{us} lo∣ued the kynges doughter of Irlonde and her fader behyght Turgesius y^• he wol∣de sende her hym to the lowe larherin w^t xv. maydens. and Turgesius promysed to mete there with xv. of the noblest mē that he had / & helde couenaūt & thought no gyle / but there come .xv. yonge berdeles men clothed lyke wymmen w^t short swerdes vnder hyr clothes / & fyll on tur¦gesius & slewe hym ryght there / & soo he was traytrously slayne after he had reg¦ned .xxx. yere Not longe after thre brethe¦ren Amelanus Siracus & Iuorus come into Irlonde with her men out of Nor∣waye as it had ben for loue of peas and afmarchaundyse and dwelled by the see sydes by assente of Irysshmen that were alwaye ydle as Poules knyghtes / & the Nor wayes buylded thre cytees Deuelyn Waterforde and Lymeryche and encrea¦ced and after were rehell ayenste men of y^• lende & brought fyrste sparthes in to Irlonde So fro Turgesi{us} tyme vnto ro¦deryks tyme kynge of Connacia that was the laste that was kynge of all the londe were .xvii. kynges in Irlonde and so y^• kynges that regned in Irlonde frō y^• Hermons tyme vnto the laste Rode∣ryks tyme were in all .C.lxxxi. kynges y^• were not crowned neyther enoynted ne by lawe of herytage / but by myght may strye & strength of armes. The seconde Henry kynge of Englonde made this Roderyk subget the yere of kynge Hen¦tyes age .xl. and of his regne .xviii. y^• yere of our lorde .xi. hondred .lxxii.

Of the condidions and maners of Ir∣londe. ca .xxvii.

SOlinus sayth that men of this lō¦de ben straunge of nacon house∣les and grete fyghters / and acoūt tyght and wronge all one thynge / & ben syn∣gle of clothynge / scarse of mete / cruell of herte / angry of speche / & drynketh fyrst blood of dede men that ben slayne and then wesshen theyr vysages therwith & holde them payd with flesshe and fruyt in stede of mete & with mylke in stede of drynke & vsen moche playen & yolenes and huntynge & trauayll but lytell. In theyr chyldhode they ben harde nourys¦shed and harde fed and they be vnseme¦ly of maners & of clothynge & haue bre¦che and hosen allone of wolle and stray¦te hodes that stretcheth a cubyte ouer y^• sholders behynde & foldynges in stede of mantels and of clokes. Also they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no sadels bootes ne spores whan they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de. but they dryue theyr horses with a ••••••¦bred yerde in y^• ouer ende. In stede of by∣tes with trenches and of brydels of re∣est / they vse brydeis that letce not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hors to etc theyr mete / they fyght ona••∣med naked in body / netheles with twoo dartes & speres / & with brode sparthes they fyght with one honde. These men forsaken tyllynge of ldde & keyen pastu¦re for bestes. They vse longe berdes and longe lockes hangynge downe behynde her h••des / they vse no crafte of flaxe of wolle / of metall / ne of marchaūdyse but gyue hem to ydelnes and to slouth and reken rest for lykynge and for fredome for kyches / And thoughe Scotlonde the doughter of Irlonde vse harpe tymbire and tabour. Netheles Irysshmen be con¦nynge in two manere Instrumentes of musyke / in harpe and tymber that is ar¦med with wyre and strenges of bias In whiche Instrumentes though they play hastely and swyfeely they make tygher merye armonye & weladye with thyche

tewnes werbles and notes and begynne from bemoll and playen secretly vnder dyme sowne in the greate strenges / and torne ayen vnto the same / so that the gree¦test partye of the crafte hydeth the craft as it wolde seme as though the crafte so hydde sholde be ashamed yf it were ta∣ke. These men ben of euyll maners in her lyuynge they paye no tythynges they wedde lawfully / they spare not theyr a∣lyes / but the brother wedde the brothers wyfe / they ben besye to betray her neygh¦bours & other they bere sperthes in their hondes in stede of staues & fyght ayenst them y^• truste moost to them / these men ben varyable and vnstedfaste trechours and gylefull who that dealeth with thē nedethe more to be ware of gyle than of crafte of peas than of brennynge bron∣des / of hony thā of galle / of malyce thā of kuyghthode / they haue suche maners that they ben not stronge in warre and in batayle ne trewe in peas / they become gossybs to them that they wyll falsly be traye in the gossybrede and holy kynred Eueryche drynketh others bloode whā it is shedde / they loue somdele hir nou∣ryce and her playfers whiche that souke the same mylke that they souked whyle they were chyldren. And they purse wher brethern / theyr cosyns and theyr othere kyn / & despysen theyr kyn whyles they lyue / and auenge theyr deth whan they ben slayne. Soo longe hath the vsage of euyll custome endured amonge them y^• it hath goten the maystrye ouer them & torneth treason into kynde so ferforthe that they ben traytours by nature. And alyens and men of straunge londes that dwelle amonge them foloynge theyr ma¦ners that vnneth there is none but he is besmetted with theyr treason also. Amō¦ge them many••men pyssen syttynge and wymmen standynge. There ben many men in that lōde foule shapen in lȳmes & in body / for in theyr lymmes they lac∣ke the benefyce of kynde Soo that noo where ben none better shapen than they that ben there well shapen & none worse shapen than they that ben euyll shapen And skylfully nature hurte and defou∣led by wyckednes of lyuynge bryngethe suche foule gromes and euyll shapen of hem that with vnlawfull delynge with foule maners and euyll lyuynge so wyc¦kedly defouled kynde & nature. In thys londe and in wales olde wyues and wȳ¦men were wonte and ben yet as men sa¦ye ofte for to scape themselfe in lykenes of hares for to mylke theyr neyghbours kyne and stele her mylke and ofte grey houndes rennen after them and pursew¦en them and wenen that they be hares. Also some by craft of Nygromācye ma¦ken fatte swyne for to be reed of colour and selle them in markettes and fayres But as sone as these swyne passe onye water they torne into theyr owne kynde whether it be strawe heye gras of turues But these swyne maye not be kepte by no craft for tendure in lykenes of swy∣ne ouer thre dayes: Amonge these won∣dres and other take hede that in the vt∣termest ende of the worlde falleth newe meruaylles and wondres: As though kȳ¦de playde with large loue secretlye and ferre in thendes / than openly and nygh in the myddell. therfore in this ylonde bē many gryselye wondres & meruaylles.

¶Of the meruaylles and wondres of Irlonde. ca .xxviii.

MAny men tellen that in y^• north syde of Irlonde is the londe of ly¦fe. In that ylond noman may deye but whan they ben olde and vexed with gre∣te fekenes / they ben born out into y^• nex¦te lond and deye ther. There is an other ylonde in Irlōde that no woman therin may bere a chylde / but yet she may con¦ceyue. Also ther is an ylonde in whiche no dede body maye roten. In vltonia y^• is Vlster is an ylonde in a lake wonderly

departed in tweyne In that one parte is grete dysturbaunce and dyscomforth of fendes and in that other partye gretely kynge & comforth of holy angels Ther is also saynt patryks purgatory y^t was shewed at his prayer to cōferme his pre¦chynge and his lore whan he preched to mysbyleued men of sorowe and payne that euyll men sholde suffre for her euyl werkes And of Ioy & of blysse that go∣de men shall resceyue for her holy dedes he telleth that who that suffreth the pay¦nes of purgatory / yf it be enioyned hym for penaūce he shall neuer suffre the pay¦nes of hell / but he deye fynally without repentaunce of synne / as the ensample. is sette more full at this chapytre ende. ¶Treuisa. But truly noman maye be saued but yf he be very repentaūt what someuer penaunce he do / and euery mā that is very repentaunt at his lyues ende shall be sekerly saued / though he ueuer here of saynt Patryks purgatorye. The¦re is an ylonde in cōnacte Sale / that is in the se of Conaccia halowed by saynt Brandon that hath no myse / there dede bodyes ben not buryed but ben kept out of the erthe and roten not. In Mamoni¦a is a well / who that wassheth hym w^t that water of that welle he shall waxe / hore on his heed. There is an other wel in Vltonia who sōeuer is wasshen ther∣in he shall neuer wexe hore afterwarde / There is a welle in Mounstre or Ma∣monia / yf ony man touche that welle a none shall falle grete rayne in all y^• pro∣uynce / and that rayne shall neuer cesse∣tyll a preste that is a clene mayden syn∣ge a masse in a chapelle that is faste by and blesse the water / and with mylke of a cowe that is of one heer bespryngr the welle / and so reconcyle the welle in this straūge manere. At Glyndalcan about thee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of saynt Keyyn wythes be∣tyth apples as it were apple trees & ben more belsome than sa••••••ry. That holy / saynt ••ough forth these apples by pia yers for to hele his chylde that was seke There is a lake in Vlster & moche fyssh therin / whiche is .xxx. myle in lengthe & xv. in brede. The Ryuer Ban tennethe out of that lake into the north Occean and men saye that this lake beganne in this maner. There were men in that coū¦tree that were of euyll lyuynge / coeūtes cū brutis. And there was a well in that londe in grete reuerence of olde tyme / & alway couered / yf it were lefte vncoue∣red the welle wolde ryse and drowne all the londe. And so it happed that a wo∣man wente to that well for to fetche wa¦ter and hyed her fast to her chylde that wepte in the cradell / and left the well vn¦couered / thenne the well sprange so fa•••• that it drowned the woman & her chyld and made all the countre a lake and a fysshe ponde. For to preue that this is to the it is a grete argument / that whanne the weder is clere / fysshers of that water se in the grounde vnder the water roūde toures and hygh shapen as steples and chirches of that londe. In the north syde of Irlonde in the countre of Ossyryens euery .vii. yere at the prayer of an holy Abbot / tweyne that ben wedded a man and a woman muste nedes be eryled and forshapen into lyknes of wolues & aby∣de out .vii. yere. And at ende of .vii yere. yf they lyue they come home a gayne and take agayne theyr owne shappe / & then shall other tweyne go forth in theyr ste∣de and so forshapen for other .vii. yere. Ther is a lake in this londe yf a poole of tree pyght and stycked therin y^• parte of the shafte or poole that is in the erthe shall torne into yron and that parte y^• a bydeth in the water shall come into sto∣ne / and the parte y^• abydeth aboue shall be tree in his owne kynde. Also ther is a lake y^• tornethe basell into asshe & asshe into hasell yf it be done therein. Also in Ikonde been thre samon lrpes there as samons lepe ayemst a tothe a longe spe∣res lenthe. Also in Leginia is a pounde

there be seen colmans byrdes / the herdes ben called certelles and come homely to mannes honde but yf men do hem wrō¦ge or harme. they gone away and come notte agayne / & the water there shall be bytter and stynke / and he that dydde the wronge shall not after without wretche & myschyef but yf he do amendes ¶R. As touchynge Patryks purgatorye. Ye shall vnderstonde that the seconde saynt Patryk that was abbot & not bysshoppe whyle he prechyd in Irlonde laboured & studyed for to torne thylke wycked men that lyued as bestes out of her euyll lyfe for drede of paynes of helle / and for too conferme hem to good lyfe / & they sayd they wolde not ••orne but some of theym myght know somwhat of the grete pay¦nes and also of y^• blysse that he spake of Thenne saynt Patryk prayed to god al myghty therfore / & our lorde Ihesu crist appyered to saynt Patryk and toke hȳ a staffe and ladde hym into a wylde pla¦ce and shewed hym there a rounde pytte that was derke within and sayd / that yf a man were very repentaunt and stable in byleue and wente into this pytte and walkede therin a daye and a nyght / he sholde se the sorowes and the paynes of euyll men / and the Ioy and blysse of go¦od men. Thenne cryste vanysshed oute of patryks syght / and saynt Patryk are red and buylded there a chirche and put therin chanons reguler & closed the pyt about with a walle / and is nowe in the chirche yerde atte the eest ende of y^• chyr¦che and faste shytte with a stronge doore for no man sholde nycely go in without leue of the bysshoppe. or of the pryour of the place. Many men went in and com out agayne in Patryks tyme and tolde of paynes and Ioy that they had seen / and the meruaylles that they sawe been there yette wryten / and by cause therof many men torned and were conuerted to ryght by leue. Also many men wente in and come neuer agayne. In kynge ste¦pneus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kynge of Englande a kny¦ght 〈…〉〈…〉 Swayne went into saye 〈…〉〈…〉 and come agayne & swelled euer after durynge his lyfe in p¦••des of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Ludensis that is of ch••••dre of chyste 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & tolde many won¦ders that he hadde seen in Patryks per gatorye. That place is called Patryks. purgatorye & the chyrche is named Re∣glis. Noman is enioyned for to go into that purgatorye / but coūseylled that he shold not come therin but take vpon hȳ other penaūce. And yf a mā haue au••••¦rd and be stale & wyll nedes go therin, he shall fyrste go to the bysshopp & then he shall be sente wich letters to the pry∣our of the place and they both shall coūtseyll hym to leue & yf he wyll nedes goo therto he shall be in prayers & in fastyn¦ge .xv. dayes and after .xv. dayes he shal be houseld and ladde to the dore of the purgatorye with process you and ••et••ay and yet he shall be coūscylled to le•••• it / & yf he be stedefaste and wyll entre / the dore shall be opened and he blessed & go in on goddes name / and holde forth his waye / & the dore shall be faste shette tyll the nexte daye / and whan the tyme is y^• pryour shall come and opene the dore & yf the man be comen he ledeth hym into the chirche with processyon / and there he shall be .xv. dayes in prayers & fastynge.

¶Of the meruaylles of sayntes of Ir∣londe. ca .xxix.

NEre Giraldus maketh mynde y^• as men of this nacyon ben more angry than other men & more hasty for to take wretche whyles they ben alyue / so sayntes & halowes of this londe ben more wretchefull than sayntes of othere londes. Clerkes of this londe ben chaste and sayen many prayers & done greate abstynence a daye / & drynketh all nyght so is aco••••ed for a myracle / that lechery regneth not there as wyne regneth / and

ben chosen out of abbayes into the cler∣gye / and doone as monkes sholde / what they that ben euyll of them ben worsto f¦all other. So good men amonge theym choughe they ben but fewe been good at the best / prelates of that countre ben full slowe in correccyon of trespas / and besy in contemplacyon and not in prechynge of goddes worde. Therfore it is that all y^• sayntes of that londe ben confessours and no martyrs amonge them / and no wonder / for all the prelates of this londe clerkes and prelates sholde do is to them vnknowen Therfore whan it was put ayenst the bysshop of Cassyll how it my¦ght be that so many sayntes ben in Isiō¦de and neuer a martyr amonge them all sythen y^• the men ben so shrewed & so an¦gry / & the prelates sorycheles & slowe in correccōns of trespas. The bysshop an∣swered frowardly ynoughe & sayd oure men benshrewed and angry inought to themselfe / but to goddes seruaūtes they leye neuer honde but do hem greate reue∣rence & worshyp / but Englysshmen co∣me into this londe y^• can make martyrs & were wonte to vse y^• craft. ¶R. The bysshop sayd so bycause that kynge Hen¦ry the leconde was tho newe comen into Irlonde fresshly after the martyrdome of saȳt Thomas of Caunterbury. Gir In this londe in wales & in Scotlonde. ben belles and staues with croked hedes & other suche thynges for relyques in gre¦te reuerence and worshyp / soo that men of this londe dreden more for to swere vp on one of thylpe belles and golde staues than vpon y^• gospell. y^e chyef of all suche relyques is holden Thūs staffe that is at Deuelyn / with the whiche staff they sa∣ye that the fyrste saynt Patryk drofe y^• wormes out of Irlonde. Aug{us} de ci. dei. ca .vii. Yf menlaxe howe it may be that dyuerse maner of beestes and of dyuerse kynde y^• be kyndly goten bytwene mayl and female come and ben in ylondes af¦ter Nots flode. Men supposen that such bestes swamme into ylondes about and fyrste to the nexte & so forth into othere Or els men sayllynge into ylondes brou¦ght with hem suche bestes for loue of hū¦tynge / or angels at god almyghtyes cō∣maundement brought suche beestes into ylondes about or the erthe brought them forth fyrste and fulfylled tho goddes cō¦maundement / that commaunded the er¦the to brynge forth gras and quyche bes¦tes.