grounde And for y t more cruelty or terrour to the people to be shewyd he eryd the stretys of the sayde cytye and sewe theym wythsalte for a sygne and token that he wolde haue that cytye subuertyd for euer The whyche ruyne to thys daye appereth for there where the olde cytye stode is now called y e olde Poytiers and where that other standyth nowe is called the newe cytye of Poytiers The cause of thys destruccion of the citye countre as sayeth mayster Roberte Gagwyne was for that that y e erle of Poytiers rebellyd agayne the kynge Thus this man that whylome was a lambe was now turned to a tygre And ouer hys cruelnesse he was gyuen to all sensuall luste of hys body in so myche that where so he rode he hadde folowynge hym a company of strumpettes besyde suche as he kept in dyuerse places of his realme appareylyd and fed lyke vnto quenes For thys rule other vyces vsyd by the kynge Pepyn then mayster of the paleys was put in great wyte and blame of dyuerse lordes of the lande thynkynge that by hys counsayle and sufferaunce the kyng was so lad and guyded This was y e fyrst Pepyn The seconde was mayster of the placys in that tyme of the seconde reygne of the fyrste Theodoricus and was surnamed Uetulê° and Breuis whyche is to meane old and lytle And y e .iii. Pepyn was son of Carolus Marcellus The fyrste Pepyn was graundefader to the seconde by the moders syde and the seconde was graunsyr to the .iii. by y e mannes syde whyche thyrde Pepyn was by hole assent of Frenchmen ordeyned kyng of FrauÌ„ce as after shall appere was father vnto the kynge named Charlis the great and emperour of Rome All whyche Pepyns descendyd of the blood of Austracye and hadde great possessyons wythin that prouynce when the forenamed Pepyn vnderstode the grudge and murmour of the lordes whyche they bare agayne hym for the kynges demeanour he by theyr aduyces toke vnto hym a nother great lorde named Martyn to be vnto hym assystent and ouer that he caused y e blessyd man Amandus to accompany y e kynge By whose couÌ„sayle the kyng somdeale refrayned hym from vyce but not all as the good byshop hym aduertysed In this tyme Heybart the kynges halfe brother dyed and also hys son shortly after named Chilperych By reason of whose dethes the lordshyp and countrey of Tholouse fell to the possessyon of Dagobert It was not longe after that a people called Asclauons or Sclauons made warre vpon the couÌ„trey of Austracy These also are called Bulgaris and ioyne vppon a parte of Austracy Of these tydynges when Dagobert was lerned he sped hym into Austracy and there assembled a myghtye hoste of knyghtes so sped him tyll he came nere hys enymyes But y e sayd Sclauons hauynge knowlege of the kynges great hoste agreed by oratours to hym sent to contynue the trybute that they before tyme payde y e which was yerely fyue huÌ„dred oxen where thorough y e warre was appesyd for that tyme and newe allyaunce vpon both partyes confermed After the whych peace thus stablysshyd y e kyng made his son Sigebert as kynge ruler of that lordshyp of Austracy assygnynge to hym the bisshop of Colayn named Cunbert and the erle Palatyne named Agasyle to be hys tutours and rulers contynuynge his yeres of youth And that done y e kyng retourned into FrauÌ„ce where soone after he receyued of hys wyfe a sonne named Clodoueus the whych of many wryters is called Lodouicus or Lowes To thys Lowes the father at couenable tyme after gaue the countyes of Burgoyne and Neustria or Normandy Then the kynge graunted to the house of saynte Denys a fayre to be kepte yerely in the moneth of Iune in a felde nere vnto the sayde monasterye and that no marchaunte of Paris nor good towne there about shulde sell any marchaundyse but onely in the fayre wyth many other customes to the great auauncement of that house And after the kynge hadde subdued the Gascoynes and the Brytons of Armorica or lytle Brytayne he then assembled a multytude of bysshoppes for to dedycate and halowe the monasterye of saynte Denys in moste solemne wyse where a great myracle was shewyd of the clensyng of a leper or lazar that durynge the nyght laye wythin the sayde chyrch and there beyng in his deuoute prayers sawe our sauyour Cryste accompanyed wyth Peter and Paule and also the holy martyrs saynte Denys wyth hys two felowes entre the chyrche by one of the wyndowes and after halowed the sayde chyrch whyche after came to the sayd lazar and commaunded hym to shew vnto the byshoppes y t he in proper person hadde halowed the sayd chyrche and for a token and knowlege of y e same he hadde receyued hys helthe And for more recorde of the trouth of this mater our sauyour Cryste as wytnessyth mayster Robert Gagwyn also the frenche cronicle drewe of the skynne of the face of the sayde lazar and threwe yt agayne a stone where yt remayneth at thys daye to be sene The whyche token when Dagobert and his byshoppes vppon the morne after behelde and sawe they beynge greatly ameruaylyd laft of any forther besynesse touchynge the dedyfyenge of the sayde chyrche For thys myracle great concurse of people yerely in the .vi. kalendis of Marche coÌ„myth wyth great deuocyon vnto y e sayd monastery there makyng theyr oblacions fermly beleuyng that the sayde chyrch was halowed with Crystes own hand when Dagobert had this besynesse wyth other ê‘fyted endyd he then called a great counsayll of his lordes spyrytuall and teÌ„porall at hys cytye of Biguage where he beyng set betwene his .ii. sonnes Sigebert Clodoueus he made a long preposycyon oracyon concernynge the allegyaunce whyche he exhorted hys lordes to owe and bere to hym for the terme of his lyfe and after to hys two sonnes there beynge prensent And then he exhorted his .ii. sonnes charitably to loue and that they shulde in moste fraternall wyse contynue theyr lyues The whyche preposycyon fynyshed he there in that presence made his testament that before he hadde causyd to be wryten in iiii sondry skynnes endentyd to be rad and then sealyd wyth certayn of theyr sealys wherof that one he wyllyd to be kept in the treasory of saynt Denys the .ii. in the treasorye of the cytye of Lyons the .iii. in the tresory of Mees in Austracy whyche howe is named Lorayne and the .iiii. in the kynges tresorye And when the kynge had orderyd hys matiers som deale to hys purpose he dyssoluyd thys counsayll and coÌ„maundyd eueryche estate vnto hys owne countre and after was somwhat besyed wyth the rebellyon of the forenamed BrytoÌ„s and Gascoynes such other maters the whyche I passe ouer for length of tyme. Then the kynge lastely was syke of the flyx and was brought by hys desyre vnto the monastery of saynte Denys where after he had commytted hys wyse Nantyld
abode her people the whyche was deuyded and scateryd And in thys whyle she sente vnto Dauyd kynge of Scottes and her vncle for to ayde her the whyche in all haste came vnto her and so yode to wynchester where she layde syege to the byshoppes towre the whyche the kynges brother at that tyme helde wyth strength Then the quene wyth ayde of her frendes of Kentyshemen and other made a stronge hoste wherof was capytayne a knyght named Guyllyam de Pre. wheÌ„ the empresse harde of y e great strength of the quene and saw that her owne mynyshed rather then encreasyd she fled secretely and escaped vnto Glouceter And erle Robert her brother was taken soone after and put in pryson Then Dauyd kynge of Scottes herynge of thys returned into Scotland Then meanes was made vpon eyther syde for deliuery and exchaunge of the prysoners so that fynally yt was agreed that the kynge shulde be delyueryd for erle Robert But or thys agrement were concluded myche sorowe was wroughte wythin thys realme For the empresse pylled and spoyled on hyr partye and the quene by promyses and manaces borowed toke vppoÌ„ y e other syde the soudyours stale and extorcyoned vpoÌ„ both partyes so that riche men were made nedy and the poore were oppressed In thys meane whyle the empresse retourned agayne to Oxynforde vytayled and manned yt in her beste maner Then lastely the kyng was delyuered vpon holy Roode day in haruest and soon after he becleped Oxynford wyth a stronge syege from the tyme of Mychelmasse vnto the season of Crystemas at whyche tyme and season the empresse vsed a new gyle for constraynte and necessyte of vytayle In that tyme was great plente of snow fallen vppon the grounde and the frost was therwyth so great that Thamys wyth other great ryuers were then frosen ouer so that man horse myghte passe y e water vppoÌ„ the yse The empresse then constrayned of nede as before is sayd apparayled her and her companye in whyte clothynge whych a farre of apered lyke the snow and so vpon a plumpe goyng to gyther as nere as they myght escaped the daunger of theyr fone so came to walyngforde And thens in processe of tyme she wyth a small companye departed and retourned fynally into Normandye vnto her husbande So soon as the empresse was thus departed from Oxenforde the town was yelden vnto y e kynge where the kyng had mich of the empresse stuâ—â—e as wel harnes as other stuffe of housholde TheÌ„ he entendyd to haue pursued her But tydyngê° were brought vnto hym y t Ranulfe erle of Chester wyth an hoste of walshmen was commyng towarde hym But by medyacyon of frendes thys Ranulfe in the ende to the kynge was reconcyled and was wyth hym agreed About this tyme and season as yt is testyfyed of dyuerse authours the Iewes vpon Ester euyn crucyfyed a chylde named wyllyam in the cytye of Norwyche And in the tyme of Henry the second about y e .vi. yere of his reygn as sayth Policronicon they crucified an other at Glouceter In the .xxii. yere of his reygn kyng Stephan was agayne crowned at Lyncolne And soon after he toke froÌ„ Ranulphe erle of Chester the castell of Lyncolne Robert erle of Glouceter made also newe warre vppon the kynge had the better of the kynge at wyltone so that the kynge was lyke to haue fallen in Robertys dauÌ„ger But yet the kynge escaped wyth myche payne And there was taken a baron of the kynges named syr willyam Martel for whose delyuery the kynge gaue after to the sayde erle the castell of Shyrbourne And that done y t sayd erle Robert began to fouÌ„de a stronge castell at Faryngdone wherof the kynge beynge enfourmed assembled his knyghtes and sped hym thytherwarde by meane wherof the worke was for that tyme empeached let In the .xv. yere of the reygne of kynge Stephan the ryuer of Thamys was so strongely ouerfrosen that horse and carte passed ouer vppon the yse In the .xvi. yere Ranulphe erle of Chester dyed that was surnamed Gercyous and was the .iiii. erle after the conqueste and his sonne Hughe was erle after hym which was a maÌ„ of great strength and vertue And in the same yere as wytnessyth Guydo and other dyed Geffrey Plantagenet husband of Molde the empresse After whose deth Henry short mantell that was the son of the sayde Geffrey and Molde was made duke of Angeous Normandye The which in few yeres after maryed Elyanour the doughter of the erle of Poytow the whych Elyanour was before maryed vnto Lewys kynge of FrauÌ„ce and from hym deuorced for nerenes of blood when he hadde receyued of her .ii. doughters named Mary and Alys as wytnessyth the frenche cronycle And so this Henry was erle of Angeous by his fader duke of Normandy by his mother erle of Poytowse by his wyfe It was not longe after that Eustace the sonne of kynge Stephan wyth ayde of the Frenche kyng warred vppon Henry duke of Normandye the whyche after some wryters was ymagyned by Stephan his father to the entent to let or stop hym y t he shuld not come into England to clayme his enherytaunce But duke Henry defended hym so knyghtly y t the sayde Eustace wanne therby lytle honour or profyte An old cronycle sheweth that kyng Stephan entended to haue crowned the sayde Eustace his sonne kyng of Englande by his dayes but the bysshoppes of Englande refused y e dede by coÌ„maundement of the pope In the .xxvii. yere the kynge layd syege vnto the castelles of Newebery of walyngforde and of warwyke or warwell the whyche hadde ben kepte by the empresse frendes from the tyme of her departyng vnto that daye and hoped of rescous by Henry duke of Normandy But y e kynge then wan the castellys of Newebery and of warwell and walyngforde defended the holders tyl the coÌ„myng of Henry the duke The whyche in the ende of y e sayde yere wyth a great armye entred Englande and fyrste wanne the castell of Malmysburye And thens he yode to London and wanne the towre as myche by Polycy and by fayre ê“myse as by streÌ„gth And suche stuffe of vytayle and armoure as he fande therin he sent to walyngforde And that done he weÌ„t to the towne of walyngforde wan such holdes as were there about Then kyng Stepan wyth his power drewe towarde the duke and fynally by meane of medyatours as Thybaude archbyshoppe of CauÌ„terbury and other both prynces to comon of peace met nere vnto y e water of Uryn or Urn. But as fast as some laboured to haue peace so fast other laboured to haue warre so that at that communacacyon the peace was not concluded After the kynge and the duke were departed the kynge yode towarde Epyswyche in Suff. And the duke toke the way to Srewesbury where he wan the castell of the sayde town From thens the duke wente to Nothyngham and wan the towne wherfore the soldyours that helde the castell seynge that the
pryson at the kynges commauÌ„dement But after by labour of the blessyd byshop Edmunde of Pountenay he was recoÌ„cylyd to the kynges fauour when he had ben prysoned vppon .iiii. monethes and exyled vppon .xiii. monethis And this yere was done grete harme in London by fyre the whych beganne in an house of a widowe named dame Iane Lambert Anno domini M.CC.xxxii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxiii  Henry Eldementon  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xvi.  Gerarde Batte  IN this .xvi. yere kynge Henry vppon complaynt brought before hym by the frendes of Lewelyn prynce of walys y e willyam le Bruce or Brunze shuld coÌ„spyre agayne the kynge or after some for he kepte vnlawfully the wyfe of the forenamyd Hauylyn he was after longe prysonement hanged And this yere dyed Ranulphe erle of Chester Lyncolne HuÌ„tyngedon And his systers son named IohnÌ„ sonne vnto the erle of Angwyshe as before in y e .vii. yere of this kyng is declared was his heyre and helde that lordshyp after hym This IohnÌ„ of moste wryters is called IohnÌ„ Scot for so myche as his father was a Scotte This foresayd Ranulphe hadde no chylde all be yt he hadde .iiii. systers The eldeste hyght Molde or Mawde and was maryed to Dauid erle of Angwyshe and was moder to y e foresayde IohnÌ„ Scot. The seconde was named Hawys and was maryed vnto the erle of Arundell The thyrd Agnes was ioyned to the erle of Derbye And the fourth named Mabely was maryed vnto the erle of wynchester called Robert Quynacye Thys Ranulphe dyed at walyngforde and was buryed in the chapter house of the munkys at Chester and ordeyned the forenamed IohnÌ„ Scotte to be hys heyre for that he wolde not haue so noble a lordshyppe runne amonge or to be dyuyded betwene so many dystanys And thys yere dyed mayster Rycharde wethyrshed archbyshoppe of Caunterburye whose successour was blessyd Edmunde of Pountenay Anno domini M.CC.xxxiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxiiii  Symonde fyz Marre  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xvii.  Roger Blounte  IN this .xvii. yere of the reygne of kyng Henry the forenamed Edmunde of Pountenay or of Abyndon was sacred archebyshop of CauÌ„terburye He was named of Pountenay for so myche as he was buryed at Pountnay in Burgoyne And he was named Edmunde of Abyndon by reason he was borne iÌ„ Albyndon Thys blessyd man as before in the xv yere is shewyd reconcylyd Hubert of Burgth to the kinges grace and causyd hym to be restored to his former offyce as chefe iustyce of this lande In thys yere also the kyng beganne the foundacyon of the hospytayll of saynte IohnÌ„ wythout the Eestgate of Oxenforde In whyche yere also fyll wonderfull wether as thunder and lyghtenynge vnlyke vnto other And theruppon folowed an erthquake to the great fere of the inhabytauntys of Huntyngdon and nere there aboute Anno domini M.CC.xxxiiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxv  Rafe Aschewy  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xviii.  IohnÌ„ Norman  IN thys .xviii. yere of kynge Henry the Iewys dwellynge at Norwyche were broughte to fore the kyng at westmynster to answere to a complaynte made agayne them by one callyd IohnÌ„ Toly of the sayd towne of Norwyche that they shuld stele a chylde and yt cyrcumcysyd of the age of a yere and after kepte the same chyld secret to the entent to crucyfye yt in despyte of Crystes relygyon But howe the mater was folowed or howe so the Iewys acquytyd theym selfe by theyr answere trouthe yt is that they retourned vnpunyshed And in thys yere Frederyke the second of that name and emperour of Almayne maryed the syster of kynge Henry named Isabell as testyfyeth Policronica Anno domini M.CC.xxxv  Anno domini M.CC.xxxvi  Gerarde Batte  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xix.  Robert Ardell  IN thys .xix yere the morow after saynte Hyllary or the .xiiii. daye of Ianuary Edmunde archbysshoppe of Caunterburye spowsyd the kynge and Eleanoure the doughter of the erle of Prouynce in his cytye of Caunterburye And in the vtas of the sayde Hyllary she was crowned at westmynster as quene of Englande where in the felde by westmynster lyenge at the weste ende of the chyrche was kepte royall solempnite and goodly iustes by the space of .viii. dayes And the same yere the statute of Merton was enacted whych is to meane certayn actes made by acte of parlyament holden by the kynge his lordes coÌ„mons at y e towne of Merton where among other actys was ordeynyd a remedy for wydowes that were defrauded of theyr dowers also how heires with in age shuld be intreated remedies for such as were stolen or with holdeÌ„ coÌ„trary y e gardeyns willis But more certaynly yt was ordeyned at a ê‘lyameÌ„t at Merton foresayd which was holdeÌ„ the .xxx. yere of this kyng in y e morowe folowyng the daye of saynt Martyn or the .xii. day of NoueÌ„ber Anno domini M.CC.xxxvi  Anno domini M.CC.xxxvii  Henry Cobham  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xx.  Iurden Couentre  IN this .xx. yere of kynge Henry IohnÌ„ Scot before named erle of Chester dyed wythoute yssue male whefore the kynge coÌ„syderyng the great prerogatyues belongynge to that erledome gaue vnto his doughters other possessyons toke the erledome into hys own hand Thys IohnÌ„ dyed at Dorondale and was buryed amonge hys antecessours at Chester as affyrmeth Policronycon And also he sayth that he dyed wythout any chylde and that the foresayd exchaunge was made wyth the forenamed systers of Ranulphe before expressyd in y e .xvi. yere of this kyng Anno domini M.CC.xxxvii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxviii  IohnÌ„ Thesalan  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xxi.  Gerarde Cordwaner  IN this .xxi. yere Octoboon a legate of the .ix. Gregory and pope came into Englande and ordeyned many good ordynauncys for the chyrche But not all to the pleasure of the yonge clergy of England wherfore as he one daye passed thorough Oxenford the scolars sought occasyon agayn his seruauntes and fought wyth them slew one of the same and put the legate in suche fere that he for his sauegarde toke y e belfray of Osney and there helde hym tyll the kynges mynysters coÌ„mynge from Abyndon wyth strength medelyd with fayre wordes deliueryd him and conueyed hym after wyth a competente companye vnto walyngford where he accursyd the misdoers and punyshed theym in suche wyse that the regentes maysters of that vnyuersyte were lastely compellyd to go barefote thorough Chepe to Paulys at London and there to aske of hym forgyues and hadde that trespace wyth great dyffyculte forgyuen Anno domini M.CC.xxxviii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxix  IohnÌ„ whylhale  Rycharde Renger  Anno .xxii.  IohnÌ„ Goundresse  IN thys .xxii. yere a false clerke of the foresayde vnyuersyte of Oxenforde whyche feyned hym selfe madde and beforetyme had espyed the secret places of the kinges court came by a wyndowe towarde the kinges
heyres kynges of Englande and that the gates of the cytye were kepte wyth armyd men as before by the kynge of Romaynes was dyuysyd This yere also at a fayre kept at Northampton varyaunce fell betwene the Lōdoners and men of the towne so that betwene the cytesyns and them contynued longe sute and plee for a mā of Northampton that then was slayne to the great vexacyon trouble of both partyes But in the ende the cytye had the better This yere also aboute Eester the Barons of the lande wyth the consente of the Perys dyschargyd syr Hugh le spencer and admyttyd for hym syr Phylyp Basset in his rome of chefe iustyce vnwittyng the kyng For whych cause and other grudge and dyspleasure beganne of newe to kyndle betwene the kynge and hys lordes whyche encreasyd more and more But by polycy of the kynge of Almayne and some prelatys of the land yt was set in quyet for a whyle hardely to the ende of that yere Anno domini M.CC.lx.  Anno domini M.CC.lxi  Iohn̄ Northampton  wyllyam fyz Rycharde  Anno .xlv.  Rycharde Pycarde  IN this .xlv. yere shortely after Alhalowyn daye the Barons admyttyd and made shryues of dyuerse shyres of Englande and dyschargyd suche as the kynge before had admyttyd and named them Gardayns and kepers of the countyes shyres And ouer that the Barons wolde not suffer the iustyce that the kynge hadde admyttyd to kepe the plees lawes callyd Itinerarii but suche as were of theyr admyssyon wherwith the kynge was greuously dyscontented in so mych y e after that season he laboured that he myght do dysanull the former ordynaunces statutes and to cause them to be broken in so myche that vppon the seconde sondaye of lent folowynge the kynge commaundyd to be redde at Paules crosse a bull of the graunte of pope Urban the .iiii. of that name as a confyrmacyō of an other bull before purchased of hys predecessoure Alexander the .iiii for to assoyle the kynge and all other that before had sworne to the mayntenaunce of the foresayde artycles made at Oxenforde and after causyd the sayde absolucyon to be shewyd thorough the realme of Englande walys and Irlande gyuynge streyghte charge to all his subiectys that none be so hardy to wythstāde nor dysobey the sayd absolucyon And yf any were foūden dysobedyent to his commaundemēt that he were streyght put in pryson and not to be raunsomyd nor delyueryd tyll y e kynges pleasure were forther knowen About the feast of saynt Albon in the moneth of Iuny the kynge of Almayne toke shyppyng and sayled into Almayne And the kynge at a folkmoot holden vppon the sonday after saynt Peters daye in y e moneth of Iuly hadde lycence to sayle into Fraunce And the morowe after he departyd from London towarde the sees syde wyth the quene and other lordes hys two sonnes syr Edward and syr Edmunde beynge at that season in Guyan when the kyng hadde ben a season in Fraunce he returnyd vnto Burdeaux where he fell syke by occasyon wherof he taryed in those partyes tyll saynte Nycholas tyde nexte folowynge And in thys yere dyed Rycharde Clare erle of Glowceter and syr Gylbert de Clare hys sonne was erle after hym To whom the father gaue great charge that he shulde vpholde the forenamed ordynaunces Anno domini M.CC.lxi  Anno domini M.CC.lxii  Phylyppe walbroke  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlvi.  Rycharde Tayloure  IN thys .xlvi. yere in the feaste of saynte Martyne or the .xi. day of Nouēber a Iew fell at varyaunce wyth a crysten man in Colchyrch in the warde of Chepe woūdyd the crysten man within the same chyrche wherfore the people of the citye in a fury pursued the sayd Iew to hys house and there slew hym after fell vpon the other Iewes and robbyd and slew many of them And the euen of saynte Thomas the apostle folowynge the kyng landed in Englande at Douer came to Lōdon the wednysdaye before .xii. day This yere y e froste began about saynt Nycholas daye and so contynued by y e space of a moneth more so feruently that Thamys was ouer froren that men passed ouer on horsbacke And in the same wynter y e kynges lytell halle at westmynster with other houses adioynyng to the same were peryshed wyth fyre by the neglygence of a seruaūt of the kynges In this yere also vnkyndnesse beganne to growe betwene the Londoners and the Constable of the towre for that he cōtrary the lybertye of the cytye toke certayne shyppes passyng by the towre wyth whete and other vytayll and toke yt into the sayde towre makynge the price at his pleasure wherfore great harme had ensued had not ben the polycy of wyse men whyche was shewyd vnto the kynges counsayll by whose dyreccy on the matter was cōmytyd vnto syr Phyllyppe Basset then chefe iustyce and other to set an order and rule betwene the sayde partyes Then before hym were brought all euydēces and pryuyleges for the aduauntage of both partyes where fynally after longe plee argument yt was fyrmely demyd and adiudgyd that yf the constable or any other offycer of the towre wold at any tyme take any whete or other vytayll to the vse of the kyng or of y e towre that he shuld come vnto the market holden wyth in the cytye and there to haue yt .ii. d in a quarter wythin y e mayres pryce and other vitayll after the same rate And if he or any of his offycers wold do contrarye to that ordynaūce that then the shryues shulde make report vnto the kynges counsayll and to wythstāde hym in all that he myght so that the kynges peace were kepte In this yere also many murmures and grudgis were tolde in many places of the land supposynge y e warre shulde in shorte processe haue ensued betwene the kyng and his lordes for the bull of dyspensacyon before in that other yere shewyd But by help and mediacyon of good wyse men these murmures grudges were so appeasyd that the kynge agreed agayn to the mayntenaūce of the sayd statutes sent hys wryttes wherin the sayde artycles were comprysed into all shyres of England gyuynge streyght commaūdement to all men to obserue and kepe the same and suche other as were to theym ioyned by the dyscrecyon of the erle marshall the erle of Leyceter syr Phylyp Basset syr Hugh Bygot and other the whyche shortely after was reuoked and denyed wheruppon the archbysshoppe of Caunterbury feryng that after myght ensue made hym an errande to Rome and so by lycence of the kyng and of the lordes departed the lande and so kepte hym out tyll the trouble was appeased and seased Then vppon mydlent sondaye the mayre and the commons beynge present at a folkemote holden at Paulys crosse before syr Philyppe Basset and other of the kynges counsayll the mayre was sworne to be trewe to the kynge and to his heyres kynges And
his enemyes For subdie wherof the cytezyns of London were constrayned to fynde at theyr propre costes an hundred men of armys the whyche contrary theyr lybertyes with a condycyon that after that daye it shulde be no president they sent vnto Portchestre In thys season passe tyme the quene with syr Edwarde hyr son with a small company of Englysshemen and a crewe of Henawders of the whych syr IohnÌ„ of Henawde the erles brother was capytayne toke shyppynge in those partyes had y e wynde so fauorable vnto them that they landed in Englande at a porte called Orwell besyde Harwyche in Suffolke the .xxv. day of SepteÌ„bre without any resistens of meÌ„ of warre agayne hyr made To whome after hyr landyng the people of the couÌ„tre drewe by great companyes so sped hyr towarde London At thys tyme of the quenes thus laÌ„dyng the kyng was at hys cytye of LondoÌ„ But wheÌ„ he harde of the great people y t drewe to hyr out of all countres he fered wherfore in safegardyng of hym self he fled wyth a small companye towarde walys lefte mayster walter StapyltoÌ„ bisshop of Exceter behynd hym to haue the rule of the cytye of London It was nat longe after the kynges departyng that y e quene sent a letter vnto the mayre comynaltie of the cytye requyred of them ayde to subdue the oppressours of y e comoÌ„ weale of the realme But to that letter was made none answere Therefore she wrote the secoÌ„de tyme aduertysyng them of theyr landynge of the entent that she had to refourme y e enormytyes mysgouernauÌ„ce of the lande in admonestyng them of theyr ayde socoure as by the tenure of y e sayd letter more playnly appereth wherof the circumstauÌ„ce I haue left out of thys boke for so moche as I fynde varyaunce in the contentes thereof and also for the copyes there of ben sette oute in the cronycles of Englande and dyuers other bokes Than thys sayde letter was tacked vpon the crosse in Chepe whyche at that daye was called the newe crosse In the nyght before the day of saynt Denys or the .ix. day of October And other copyes of the same were fastened in dyuerse other places of y e cytye wherof one was fastened vpoÌ„ the mayres gate After whyche letter thus publysshed in the cytye the bisshop of Exceter to whome as before is sayd the kyng had commytted the rule of the cytye sent vnto the mayre to haue the keyes of the gates of the cytye by vertue of hys commission By the whych he stode so fermely vsed so sharpe wordes in the kynges name that varyaunce grew betwene hym the cytezyns so ferfourth that the commons of the cytye in theyr rage toke the sayd bysshop the .xiiii. day of Octobre and hym with .ii. of hys housholde esquyers beheded vnreuerently at y e standard in weschep And the same daye was taken for a spye a cytezyn called IohnÌ„ Marshal whych fauoured the Spensers ê‘tye in y e same place also beheded without processe of lawe And then the corps of y e sayde bysshop with hys .ii. seruauÌ„tes were haryed to Thamys syde where the sayd bysshop had begonne to edyfye a toure and there in the rubbusshe and sande of the same they buryed or conueyed these thre bodyes whyche dispyte to hym was done after some auctoures for so moche as he had vsurped of the comoÌ„ grounde of the cytie in settyng of the sayd toure But for what cause was he thus vngoodly vnreuerentely delte with no mencion is made And in thys passe tyme the quene easely a foote space folowed y e kyng which by thys season was coÌ„mâ— to Brystow hauyng with hym the SpeÌ„sers his dyffamed chauÌ„celler mayster Robert Baldocke syr IohnÌ„ erle of Arundell other where by theyr counsayls it was agreed that syr Hugh SpeÌ„ser the father shulde remayne there and haue the rule of the towne castell whyle the kynge with the other toke shyppynge sayled frome thens into walys to rayse the walshemen And so the kyng with syr Hugh Spenser the sonne the other toke shyppyng at Brystowe so sayled into waâ—ys when the certaynte therof came vnto the quene anone she sent to Brystow the erle of Kent the kynges brother syr IohnÌ„ of Henawde wyth dyuerse other for to take syr Hugh Spenser the father The whyche put them in suche deuour that they tooke the sayde syr Hugh and lefte a certayne to holde the towne castell tyll the quene with hyr power came thyther â–ª In the whyche tyme they sped them into walys and in processe tooke y e kynge hys chaunceller the erle of Arundell and syr Hughe Spenser the sonne and broughte them all to the towne of Hereforde And in thys whyle the cytezeyns of London wan the towre of LondoÌ„ and kept it vnto the quenes vse Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxv  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxvi  Gylbert Moordon  Rycharde Betayne  Anno .xix.  IohnÌ„ Cotton  IN thys .xix. yere and begynnynge of thys mayres charge vppon the morowe folowynge the feaste of Symon and Iude the same daye that the mayre rode to westmynster to take hys charge the same day at Brystow was syr Hugh Spenser the father putte to dethe and after buryed at wynchestre And vppon saynte Huys daye folowynge or the .xviii. daye of Nouembre was syr Hugh hys sonne draweÌ„ hanged and quartered at Herforde and hys hed sent to London and set amonge other vpon the brydge The comon fame of hym went that after he was taken he wolde take no maner sustenauÌ„ce wherfore he was the sooner put vnto deth Of this Hugh a versyfyer made these two verses folowynge Punis cum lignis a te miser ensis ignis Hugo securis equus abstulit omne decus whiche verses to them that vnder stande no latyne maye in thys wyse be expowned or englysshed wyth ropes were thou bounde and on the galowe honge And from thy body thyne hed wyth swerde was kytte Thy bowels in the fyre were throwe and burned longe Thy body in foure pecys eke wyth an axe was slytte wyth horse before drawyn fewe men pytyenge it Thus wyth these turmentys for thy synnes sake from y e wretched Hugh all wordly welthe was take In thys meane tyme and season the kynge was conueyed vnto the castell of Kenelworthe and there kepte vnder the garde of syr Henry of Lancaster or brother vnto the erle Thomas of Lancaster that was behedyd at Pounfrette And mayster Robert Baldoke the kynges chauncelloure was sent vnto London and put into the pryson of Newgate where after he dyed myserably The erle IohnÌ„ of Arundell was also put to deth at Herforde wythin foure dayes of syr Hugh the yonger Spenser Then y e quene wyth syr Edwarde hyr sonne and with a goodly company of lordes and gentylmen retourned vnto London and there of the cytesyns wyth greate honoure and ioye was receyued vppon the daye of saynte Barbara or the .iiii.
y t he wyth hys sonnes shuld dyne with hym vpon the morowe folowynge whyche of the kynge was graunted to be vpon the monday folowynge y e xii daye of the moneth At which day kynge Edwarde was fyrst set kept the astate than secundaryly y e freÌ„ch kynge Thyrdly the prynce of walys and fourthly the duke of Lancastre without mo at y e table In the tyme of whych dyner came to y e castell the erle of Flaunders whome the FreÌ„ch kyng welcomed in moste louyng maner And whan the sayde dyner wyth all honour was ended .ii. of y e kynges sonnes of EnglaÌ„de two of y e Frech kynges toke leue of theyr fathers rode towarde BoleynÌ„ where at that tyme the regent of FrauÌ„ce was The whyche mette theym in the myd way betwene Caleys and BoleynÌ„ so coÌ„ueyed them vnto BoleynÌ„ and rested there wyth theym that nyghte vpoÌ„ the morowe lafte theym there and hym selfe came vnto Caleys fyrst to hys father and after hys father and he came bothe to the kynges palays to dyner whyche kynge Edwarde receuyed wyth moche ioye honoure and made vnto theym a sumptuous feaste Uppon the fourthtene daye of Octobre the sayde regente departed frome Caleys and retourned vnto BoleynÌ„ and the two sonnes of kyng Edwarde retourned from Boleyne to Caleys And vppon a saterdaye the .xxiiii. daye of the moneth of Octobre both kyngê beyng in .ii. trauersys in one chapell at Caleys a masse was sayde before them to the offeryng of which masse nother of theym came But whan the pax was borne fyrst to the French kynge and eft to kynge Edwarde eyther refused to kysse it fyrste the Frenche kynge rose vp came towarde kyng Edwarde wherof he beyng ware rose vp and mette wyth hym refused the pax and kyssed eyther other At the whyche masse eyther of them was solemply sworne to maynteyne the articles of the sayd peace And for more assuraunce of y e same many lordes vpon bothe partyes were also sworne to maynteyne the same to theyr powers ye shal also vnderstande that in thys season that the Frenche kynge soâ—ourned thus at Caleys bothe for the paymente of hys raunsome also for the deliuery of certayn holdes and townes which as yet were nat deliuered he putte in such suerties as foloweth The duke of Orliaunce the duke of Burgoyn the duke of Burbone the erles of Angeou of Poyteau of Bloys of Alenson of saynte Poule of Escamps of Ualentynoys of Brame of Ew of Longeuyle of CaÌ„caruyle of Ancerre of Dampmartyne of Uendature of Salysbruge and of Uendosme the vycountes of BaudemouÌ„t of Beawmount of Ancuerre the lordes of Craon of Deruall of Dabyguy of Cousy of Fyers of Preaux of saynt Uenant of Garancyers of Aluerne of Mountmorency and of Angest also the lord or wardeyne of the forestes and kynghtes syr wyllyam de Craon syr Lowys de Harcourt syr IohnÌ„ de Laguy and syr Galtyerde Donehame Of the whyche .xxxviii. persones dyuers of theym as before is touched were takeÌ„ prysoners at y e batayll of Poytyers For the whyche it was agreed that as many as had nat payde theyr fynaunce before the thyrde daye of Maye laste past shuld be acquited by the kynges fynaunce wyth dyuers other condycyoÌ„s which I passe ouer Than vpoÌ„ the morowe folowyng of the takynge of the foresayde othe by the two kynges that is to say son daye the xxv daye of Octobre the Frenche kyng was freely delyuered the which the sayd day before noone departed frome Caleys and rode towarde Boleyn whome kynge Edwarde conueyed a myle vppon hys waye At whyche myles ende they de parted with kyssynge and other louynge maner and prynce Edwarde kept on hys waye with kyng IohnÌ„ so conueyed hym to Boloyn where he taryed that nyghte And vpon the morowe the sayd prynce Edwarde Charles duke of Normandy wyth y e erle of Escamps and other noble meÌ„ there than beynge pÌ„sent were agayn sworne to maynteyne and holde the sayde peace wythout fraude colour or dysceyte And that done the sayde prynce takynge hys leue retourned that nyghte vnto Caleys And so yt now appereth vnto you that kynge IohnÌ„ stode as prysoner by the space of .iii. yeres and asmoche as frome the .xix. day of Septembre vnto .xxv. daye of Octobre And whan kynge Edwarde had sped his nedes at Caleys he after as shal be shewed in the yere folowynge sayled into Englande It is also to be noted y t thys yere whyle the kyng was occupyed in his warres in Fraunce as before is touched the erle of Seynpoule wyth an army of Frenchemen sayled aboute the borders of Kent and Sussex and laÌ„ded in sundry places as Rye wynchelsee and Hastynges and spoyled the townes and slew many of y e men and dyd moche harme to the poore fysshers Anno domini M.CCC.lix  Anno domini M.CCC.lx  IohnÌ„ Denys  IohnÌ„ wroth  Anno .xxxv.  walter Borney  UPon the euyn of saynt Quyn tyne or the .xxx. daye of Nouembre in the ende of the .xxxiiii. yere of kyng Edwarde and begynnynge of thys mayres yere the kynge toke shyppynge at Caleys and sayled towarde Englande bryngynge wyth hym certayne of hys hostages That is to saye Lowys the secoÌ„de sonne of kynge Iohan newely made duke of Aniou of Mayn which before was erle of Angeou IohnÌ„ hys brother newely made duke of Aluerne and of Berry which before was erle of Poytyers whyche erledome nowe belonged to kynge Edwarde by reason of the foresayde treaty He also hadde wyth hym syr Lowys duke of Brabant and the erles of Alenson and of Escampes whyche were nere of the Frenche kynges blode with eyghte other erles and lordes named in the Frenche cronycle with the which the kynge laÌ„ded at Douer shortly after and so came to London the .ix. day of Nouembre And in thys .xxxv. yere men and beastes were perysshed in Englande in dyuers places wyth thoÌ„dre lygh tenynge and the fende was sene in mannes lykenesse spake vnto men as they trauayled by the waye Anno domini M.CCC.lx  Anno domini M.CCC.lx  wyllyam Holbech  IohnÌ„ Pecche  Anno .xxxvi.  Iames Tame  IN thys .xxxvi. yere prynce Edwarde wedded the countesse of Kent whyche before was wyfe vnto syr Thomas Holande before that wyfe vnto the erle of Salesbury and deuorsed froÌ„ hym and maryed vnto the sayde syr Thomas In thys yere also was great mortalitie of men in England duryng the whyche the noble duke Henry of LaÌ„castre dyed Thys of wryters is named the seconde mortalitie For it was y e seconde that fylle in thys kynges dayes whan duke Henry was dede syr Iohan of Gaunt the kynges thyrde sonne whyche had maryed the sayde dukes doughter was made duke of that duchye In thys yere also were sene two castels in the ayre whereof that one appered in the south east and that other in the south west out of y e which at sondry
such maner that he shuld haue occasyoÌ„ to disobey y t areste by reason wherof by chauÌ„ce medley he shuld be there slayn wherunto my couÌ„sayl thaÌ„ was y t the kyng shulde calle hys secrete couÌ„sayll yf they agreed thereunto I for my part wolde agree vnto y e same To which sayeng syr IohnÌ„ Bagot gaue none answere And vpoÌ„ saterday the sayd Bagot Halle were bothe broughte into the parlyament chauÌ„bre there examined and after couÌ„trymaunded to prysone And as soone as they were departed the lorde Fitz water stoode vp and sayde Moste redoughted souerayne lorde where as y e duke of Amnarle hath before tymes and nowe lately excused hym of the deth of the duke of Glouceter I saye and wyll iustyfye it that he was cause of hys deth and that I shall proue vpoÌ„ hys body yf your grace be so contented To the coÌ„trary whereof the duke wyth sharpe wordes answered so that gaugys of batayll were offered of bothe partyes and sealed and delyuered vnto the lorde Marshall Than partyes beganne to be taken amonge the lordes in so moche that the duke of Surrey toke partyâ— with the duke of Amnarle and sayde that all that by hym was done was done by constraynte of Rycharde thanne kynge and he hym selfe and other consented parforce to the same where agayne the sayde lorde Fytz water and other replyed wherfore sylence was commauÌ„ded and forthwyth the fore named Halle for that he hadde confessed before the lordes that he was one of theym that putte to deth the duke of Gloucetyr at Calays he therefore was iuged to be drawen frome the towre of London vnto tybourne and there to be hanged and quartered The whyche execucion was done vppon the mondaye folowynge Thus wyth these causes and many other thys parlyamente contynued tyll a newe mayre named Thomas Knolles grocer was admytted and sworne vppon the daye folowynge the feaste of Symonde and Iude. Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xcix  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC Grocer wyllyam walderne  Thomas Knolles  Anno .i.  wyllyam Hyde  IN this fyrst yere of king Henry the .iiii. yet lastinge the foresayd parlyament vpon the wednysdaye nexte folowyng the feest of Symonde and Iude the lorde Morley appealed the erle of Salesburye of treason caste his hoode for a gage to trye with him by batayle The whiche sayenge he replyed and caste from him his gloues for a gauge to proue his sayeng false and vntrewe whiche were there sealed and delyuered vnto y e lorde Marshall And vpon the monday passed an act that no lorde nor other persone of no degre shulde after that day laye for his excuse any constraynte or coartynge of hys prynce in executynge of any wronge iugemente or other crymynous and vnlefull dedes sayenge y t for feare they durste none otherwyse do for suche excuse after that daye shall stande hym in none effecte And also that all sheryffes may yelde accompte in the escheker vppon theyr othes and that they be chaunged in all shyres yerely And also that no lorde nor other man of myght gyue any gownes or lyuereys to any of theyr tenauntes or other persones excepte onely theyr housholde meynyall seruauÌ„tes And also than was enacted that all repyers and other fysshers from Rye and wynchylsee other coostes of the sees syde shulde sell it them selfe in Cornehyll chepe and other stretes of London to all men that wolde of theym bye it excepte fysshemongers and other that wolde bye the sayde fysshe to make sale of it agayne And vpon the wednysday folowynge was enacted that Rycharde late kynge of Englande shulde for hys mys gouernaunce of the realme be holdyn in suche prysone as the kynge wolde assygne durynge hys naturall lyfe And than the kynge graunted to all persones generall pardones so that they were fette out of the Chauncerye by Alhalownetyde nexte folowynge excepte suche persones as were present at the murder of the duke of Gloucester And in thys whyle was the archebysshop of Caunterbury restored to his churche of Caunterburye and doctour Roger whyche there was sette by kynge Rycharde was remoued and sette in the see of London with the whyche he was ryghte well contented And thanne was the erle of Arundelles sonne restored to all hys fathers laâ—des with dyuers other before by kynge Rycharde dysheryted And shortely after was the said parlyament dyssolued and euerye man had deycence to departe to hys owne And than was Rycharde late kynge had vnto the castell of Ledes in Kente aâ— there kepte And prouisyon was hade at wyndesore for the kynge to â—epe there hys Chrystmas In whiche pastyme the dukes of Amnate of Surrey and of Exetyr witâ— the erles of Salesburye and of Glocester with other of theyr affynyâ— made prouisyon for a dysguysynge or a mummynge to be sheweâ— to the king vpon Twelf the nyghtâ— and the tyme was nere at hande and all thynge redy for the same Upon the sayde .xii. daye came secreteâ—ye vnto the kynge the duke of Amnarle and shewed to hym that he with the other lordes afore named were appoynted to slee hym in the tyme of the foresayd dysguysyng shewynge wherfore he aduysed hym to proâ—yde for hys owne suretye At who'e warnynge the kynge secretelye dâ—parted frome wyndesore and came the same nyghte to London wherof the sayd lordes beynge ware and that theyr counsell was bewrayed fledde in all haste westwarde But the kynge caused hasty pursute to be made after theÌ„ so that shortely after the duke of Surrey the erle of Salysbury were taken at Syrcetyr where they were streyght behedyd and theyr heddes sent at London and sette vpon the brydge And at Oxenforde were taken syr Thomas Blont and sir Benet Sely knyghtes and Thomas wyntercell esquyre the whych were there hedyd and quarteryd and theyr hedes sent to London brydge And at Pytwell in Essex was taken syr IohnÌ„ Holland duke of Exetyr after brought to Plasshy a place faste â—y where he was behedyd and after â—ys hedde was sent to London and lette there wyth the other vppon 〈◊〉 brydge pyght vpon a stake And 〈◊〉 about the same tyme at Bryâ—oâ—e was taken the lorde Spencer than erle of Glouceter and there beâ—â—dyd and hys hede sent vnto London brydge And in the same yere sâ—â— Barnarde Brokeys syr IohnÌ„ Seâ— syr IohnÌ„ Maundeley and syr Iohi Fereby knyghtes and clerkes wee taken as prysoners in the towre of LondoÌ„ and soone after foriudged â—â—nged and 〈◊〉 and theyr heddes â—â—so set vppon London brydge In â—hyche passetyme Rycharde late kyng was remoued frome the castell of Ledys in Kent and sent vnto Pouâ—tfreyt castell In this yere also as before is towched in the .xix. yere of the .vii. Charlys kynge Henry sent vnto Câ—â—eys Isabell late quene of England and wyfe vnto Rycharde lately kynge and wyth hyr greate treasour and many ryce Iewellys as teâ—yfyeth the Englysshe cronycle and there receyued by the Frenchmen undersafe conduyte passynge and by them conueyed vnto hyr father into
FrauÌ„ce and after maryed vnto Charlys son and heyre to the duke of Orleaunce as before I haue shewed in the .xxii. yere of hyr sayde fathers reygne Than it foloweth in the story of kynge Henry whan he hadde fermely consydered the greate conspyracy agayne hym by the forenamed lordes and other persons entendyd and imagyned to hys distruccyon and releuynge of Rycharde late kynge he in auoydynge of lyke daunger prouyded to put the sayde Rycharde out of thys present lyfe and shortely after the opynyon of moste wryters he sente a knyghte named syr Pyers of Exton vnto Pountfreyte castell where he wyth .viii. other in hys companye fell vppon the sayde Rycharde late kynge and hym myserably in hys chaumber slewe but not wythout reuengemente of hys dethe For or he were felled to the grounde he slewe of the sayde .viii. foure men with an axe of theyr own But lastely he was wounded to deth by the hande of the sayde syr Pyers of Exton and so dyed After execucyon of whyche dedely dede the sayde syr Pyers toke great repentaunce in so myche that lamentably he sayde alas what haue we done we haue now put to deth hym that hath ben our souerayne drad lorde by the space of .xxii. yeres by reason wherof I shall be reproched of all honoure where so I after thys daye become and all men shall redounde thys dede to my dyshonour and shame Other opynyons of the dethe of thys noble prynce are lefte by wryters as by waye of famyne and other But thys of moste wryters is testyfyed and alleged whan the deth of this prynce was publyshed abrode he was after opeÌ„ vysaged layed in y e mynster of PouÌ„frayt so y t all men myght know and se that he was dede And the .xii. daye of Marche folowynge he was wyth great solempnyte brought thorough the cytye of London to Paules and there layed open vysaged agayne to the ende that hys deth myght be manyfestly knowen whyche was doutfull to many one specyally to suche as ought to hym fauoure And than after a fewe days the sayd corps was caryed vnto the freers of Langley there entred But after he was remoued by kynge HeÌ„ry the .v. in the fyrst yere of hys reygne wyth great honoure and solempnyte coÌ„ueyed vnto the monasterye of westmynster and there wythin the chapell of saynt Edwarde honourably buryed vppoÌ„ the south syde of saynt Edwardes Shryne wyth hys epytaphy vppon hys toumbe as foloweth Prudens mundus Richardus iure secundus Per fatum victus iacet hic sub marmore pictus Verax sermone fuit plenus ratione Corporae procerus auimo prudens vt omerus Ecclesiam fauit elatos subpeditauit Quemuis prostrauit regalia qui violauit ¶ whyche verses are thus to be vnderstande in our vulgare Englysh tonge as foloweth Parfyght and prudent Rycharde by ryghte the seconde Vaynquysshed by fortune lyeth here nowe grauen in stone Trewe of hys worde therto well resounde Semely of persone lyke to omer as one In wordely prudence euer the churche in câ—ie Vphelde fauoured castyng the proud to grouÌ„d And all that wolde hys royall state confounde But yet alas though that this metyr or ryme Thus doth enbelysshe this noble princes fame And that some clerke whiche fauoured hym some tyme Lyst by hys connynge thus to enhauÌ„ce his name â–ª Yet by his story apereth in hym some blame wherfore to princes is surest memory Theyr lyues to exercyse in vertuous constancy whanne thys mortall prynce was thus dede grauen kyng HeÌ„ry was inquyet possessyon of the realme and fande great rychesse y t before tyme to kynge Rycharde belonged For as wytnesseth Polycronycon he fande in kyng Rychardes tresoury .iii. hundreth thousande li. of redy coyne besyde iewelles and other ryche vessels whyche were as moche in value or more And ouer that he espyed in the kepyng of the tresourers haÌ„des an C. and .l. M. nobles and iewels and other stuffe that cuÌ„teruayled the sayd value And so it shulde seme y e kynge Rycharde was ryche whan hys money iewelles amuÌ„ted to .vii. C.M. li. And in the moneth of Octobre and ende of thys mayers yere was brent in smythfelde of LondoÌ„ a preest named syr wyllyam Sawtry for certayne poyntts of heresy Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.i Goldsmyth IohnÌ„ wakele  IohnÌ„ Fraunces  Anno .ii.  wyllyam Ebot  IN thys seconde yere of kynge Henry and moneth of Frebruary were drawen and hanged for treason a knyghte named syr Roger Claryngeton at tybourne wyth two of hys seruauntes the pryour of LaÌ„de and eyghte freres mynours of gray freres of the whyche some were bachelers of dyuynyte And in thys yere began a greate dyscencion in walys betwene y e lorde Gray Ryffyn a welsheman named Howen of Glendore whyche Howen gathered to hym greate strenghte of welshemen and dyd moche harme to that couÌ„trey nat sparynge the kynges lordshyppes nor hys people and lastlye toke the sayd lorde Gray prysoner helde hym prysoner tyll contrarye hys wyll he hadde maryed the sayde HoweÌ„s doughter After which matrymony fynysshed he helde the sayde lorde styl in walys tyll he died to the kynges great dyspleasure wherfore the kynge wyth a stroÌ„ge army spedde hym into walys for to subdue the sayde HowenÌ„ hys adherentes But whan the kyng wyth his power was entred y e couÌ„tre he with hys fawtours fledde in to the mountaynes helde hym there so that the kyng myght nat wynne to hym with out dystruccion of hys hoste wherefore fynally by the aduyce of hys lordes he retourned into Englande for that season In thys yere also whete other graynes beganne to fayle so that a quarter of whete was solde at London for .xvi. s derer shuld haue beÌ„ had nat ben the prouysyon of marchauÌ„tes that brought rye rye floure out of Spruce wherwyth thys laÌ„de was greatly susteyned and eased Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.i  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ii  wyllyam Uenour  IohnÌ„ Shadworth  Anno .iii.  IohnÌ„ FremynghmÌ„  IN thys yere the coÌ„duyte standyng vpon cornhylle in London was begon to be made And in the somer folowynge syr Thomas Percy erle of worceter and syr HeÌ„ry Percy sonne heyre vnto the erle of Northumberlande gadered a greate power and vppoÌ„ the daye of saynte Praxede the vyrgyne or the .xxi. daye of Iuly mette wyth the kynge nere vnto Shrowysbury and there gaue vnto hiÌ„ a cruell batayll but to theyr owne confusion For in that fyght y e sayd syr Thomas Percy was taken and hys neuew the foresayde syr Henry wyth many a stronge man vppon theyr partye was there slayne And vpoÌ„ y e kynges partie the prynce was wouÌ„ded in the hed the erle of Stafforde wyth many other slayne And the .xxv. daye of Iuly folowynge at Shrowysbury the sayd syr Thomas Percy was beheded and after hys hed caried to London there set vpoÌ„ the brydge In thys
And fynally by the prouydent counsayle of the lorde regent al the sayd artycles and matiers of varyaunce atwene the sayd two lordes hangynge were put to the examynacyon and iudgmente with the assystence of y e lordes of the parliamēt of Henry the archebysshop of Caunterbury of Thomas duke of Exceter of Iohn̄ duke of Northfolk Thomas bysshop of Durhm̄ of Phylype bysshop of worceter or Iohn̄ bysshop of Bathe of Humfrey thā erle of Stafforde of Rauffe lorde Cornewell of mayster wyllyam Alnewyke than keper of the preuy seale The whych lordes wyth assystence of the other lordes of the parlyament made a decre and a warde so that eyther party toke other by the hande wyth frēdly louyng wordes none hauyng amēdes of other except the bysshope had wordes of submyssyō vnto the duke in requyryng hym of hys fauoure good lordshyp And y e accorde thus fynysshed the parlyament was adiourned tyll after Easter Uppon whytsondaye folowynge was a solempne feest holden at Leyceter forsayde where the regente dubbyd kynge Henry knyghte And than forthwyth the kynge dubbyd Rycharde duke of yorke that after was father to kynge Edwarde Also he dubbyd knyghtes the sonne and heyre of the duke Iohan duke of Northfolke and the erles of Oxenforde and westmerlande wyth other lordes and gentylmen to the noumbre of .xxxiiii. And after that feeste wyth all honour was endyd the kynge wyth the regente and other of hys lordes drew towarde London And so the regente contynued wyth the kynge in Englande by the full terme of thys mayres yere Anno. dn̄i M.iiii C.vi  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.vii.  Iohn̄ Arnolde  Iohn̄ Raywell Fysshmonger  Anno .v.  Iohn̄ Hyghthm̄  IN thys .v. yere and moneth of February the regent with hys wyfe housholde meyny passed the see vnto Calays and so thorugh Pycardy into Fraunce But or he departed thens that is to meane vpon the daye of annuncyacion of our Lady the bysshop of wynchester within the churche of our Lady of Calays was created cardynall by auctoryte of y e bulles of pope Martyne the .v. of y e name And after that solēpnyte don the regente toke hym on hys ryghte hande so conueyed hym vnto hys lodgynge Thys yere was vnresonable of wederyng for it reyned moste part contynually frome Easter to Myghelmasse where thorugh hay and corne was greatly hyndered And in thys yere the duke of Alēson that before was taken prysoner at the batayll of Uernell in Perche was delyuered for a raunson of .ii. C M. scutes of golde as testyfyeth Gaguinus whyche is fyfty M. marke sterlyng money In thys yere also the erle of Salysbury whych of dyuers wryters is named the good erle accompanyed wyth the erle of Suffolke the lorde Talbot and other layde a stronge syege vnto the cytye of Orleaunce helde the cytezyns very streyght and maugre the duke of Orleaunce and the Marshal of Fraunce thanne named Boussaak the Englysshemen wanne from theym dyuers stronge holdes adioynynge to the cytye and forced them to brenne a greate parte of the subbarbes of the cytye But sorowe it is to tell and doolfull to wryte whyle one day the sayd good erle syr Thomas Mountagu rested hym at a bay wyndow and be helde the compas of the cytie and talked with his familiers a gonne was leueyled out of the cytie from a place vnknowen whiche brake the tymbre or stone of the wyndowe with suche vyolence that the pecys therof all to quasshed the face of the noble erle in suche wyse that he dyed within thre dayes folowyng Upon whose soule all crysten Ihesu haue mercy Amē This after dyuers wryters was initium malorum For after this myshappe the Englysshmen loste rather ther than wanne so that lytell and lytell they loste all theyr possessyon in Fraūce And all be it that somewhat they gate after yet for one that they wanne they loste thre as after shall appere Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xxvii  Anno dn̄i M. iiii.xxviii  Henry Frowyk  Iohan Gedney draper  Anno .vi.  Robert Otley  IN this .vi. yere begynnynge of the same the kyng helde his parlyament at westmynster By auctoryte wherof was graunted to hym a subsydye in maner as foloweth Fyrst of euery tonne of wyne y t came into this lande from y e feest of saynt Ambrose or the fourth day of Apryll tyll the ende of that yere the kynge shulde haue .iii. s. belongynge to a denyzyn or the kynges lyege man Also of all marchaundyse passynge or cōmynge into this lāde shypped by denyzon the kynge to haue of euery xx s. .xii. d. excepte woll fell clothe Also to hym was graunted that of all parysshens thorughout his realme beynge the benefyce of the valewe of .x. marke that .x. of the sayde parysshons shulde paye of theyr mouables syxe shyllynges eyght pēs after y e rate of eyght pens euery mā And of all benefyces that were of .x. li. x parysshons to paye .xiii. s. and iiii d. all cytyes and borowes to be excepted And so rate rate lyke from the lowest benefyce to the hyghest And for the inhabytauntes of cyties boroughes it was enacted that eueman beynge it valewe of .xx. s. aboue his stuffe of houshold his apparayl and his wyfes shulne paye iiii.d so after the rate vnto the rychest In this yere also and day of saynt Gyles or the fyrste day of Septēbre the cardynall of wynchester was met by the mayre and his bretherne and certayne cytezyns on horse backe without the cytie and so broughte vnto his palays in southwerke Aboute the same tyme a Bryton that a good wydow and honeste woman hadde cherysshed and brought vp of almes dwellynge in whyte chapell paresshe without Algate murdred the sayde woman in a nyght slepynge in her bedde and after conueyed suche iewelles and stuffe as he myght carye But he was so pursued vpon y e for fere he toke a churche in Estsex there forsware y e kynges lande And y e constables caused hym be brought to London and so entended to haue cōueyed hym westward But so soone as he was commen in to the parysshe where before he had commytted the murther the wyfes caste vpon hym so moche fylthe and ordure of the strete not withstandynge the resystence made by the cōstables they slewe hym there out of hande Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xxviii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xxix  Thomas Dushous  Henry Barton skynner  Anno .vii.  Raffe Holande  THis yere vpon the .viii. daye of Nouembre the duke of Norffolke accompanyed with many gentylmen toke his barge at saynt mary Ouereys entendynge to haue passed thoroughe the brydge and so vnto Grenewytche But by the mysgydynge of the sterysman he was set vpon the pyles of the brydge and y e barge whelmed so y t all were drowned excepte the duke and a fewe persones that lepte vpon the pyles whiche after were drawen vp with ropes and so
Of whych meruayle all the housholde was greatly astonyed and yeldyd thankynge vnto almyghty god and to that holy byshoppe Uppon the morowe this holy bysshoppe toke wyth hym the herdman yode vnto the presence of y e kynge axed of hym in sharpe wyse why that ouer nyght he hadde denyed to hym lodgynge wherwyth the kyng was so abasâ—hed that he hadde no power to gyue vnto the holy man answere Then saynt Germayne sayde to hym I charge the in the name of my lorde god that thou and thyne departe from this paleys and resygne yt the rule of thy lande to hym that is more worthy this rome then thou arte The whyche all thyng by power diuyne was obserued done and the sayde herdman by the holy byshoppes authoryte was sette into y e same dygnyte Of whom after descendyd all the kynges of Brytayne THE LXXXIIII CHAPITER THys story is also confermed of Antoninê° archebysshoppe of Florence and at lengthe by hym shewyd in the .xvii. chapyter and .ix. day of the seconde part of hys worke called SomÌ„ Antonini But by whoÌ„ so euer thys story was fyrste wryten I thynke he was none that discended of the walshmen nor yet of theyr blode For they come all of Pryamys blode and not of an herdman excepte that they fetche theyr lyne from Dauyd the holy kynge prophete Thys storye semeth to be of more fame then of credence For other wryters tell thys story to be done in the region of Powys by Buly theyr kynge And also for so mych as the foresayd authour maketh no mencyon of the more Brytayne nor of the lesse it is doutefull whyther thys happe fyll in that one regyon or in that other All be yt in the lyfe of saynte Germayne it ys redde that the sayde saynte Germayne deposyd Uortiger enhaunced the herdman as before is declared as affermeth Polycronica Then it foloweth in y e story when saynte Germayne hadde restoryd some parte of Brytayne to the trewe fayth he retourned into Fraunce fro whens he was before comen But in thys sayde sayenge shuld appere dyscorde in Cronycles For as at this day was not the fayth of Cryste receyued in Fraunce as after more clerely shall appere wherfore no bysshoppe of Crystes fayth myghte then kepe any see in Fraunce And also as affermeth Iacobus Phylyppus and other holy Remigius was the fyrst y t tourned FrauÌ„ce to Crystes relygyon and that after moste concorde of wryters to be in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred lxxx and .xix. and the .xv. yere of the reygne of Clodoueus Lewys fyrste Crysten kyng of y e realme of FrauÌ„ce Then to furnysshe or perfourme the story of Uortiger nedefull it is or necessary to retourne to the mater where we before lefte And to shewe that for so moche as the Brytons wythdrewe them from Uortyger he was therfore constrayned to holde wyth hym the Saxons By whose counsayle he after sent for Octa the sonne of Hengyst y e whych brought wyth hym an other company of Saxons when the lordes of Britayne sawe and consyderyd the greate multytude of Saxons and theyr dayly repayre into thys lande they assembled them togyder and shewed to the kyng the inconuenience and ieopardy that myght ensue to hym and hys lande by reason of the greate power of these straungers and aduertysed hym in aduoydyng of greter daunger to expelle and put them out of hys realme or the more parte of them But all was in vayne for Uortyger bare suche a mynde to the Saxons by reason of hys wyfe that he preferred the loue of them before the loue of hys owne naturall kynnesmen and frendes wherfore the Brytons of one wyll and mynde crowned for theyr kynge Uortimerus the eldest sonne of Uortyger and depryued hym of all kyngly dygnyte wheÌ„ he hadde reygned after moste concorde of hystoryes .xvi. yeres THE LXXXV CHAPITER MEroneus next of allie vnto Clodio last kyng of FrauÌ„ce for so mych as of Clodeo remayned none issue was made kyng of FrauÌ„ce in y e yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred and .l and the seconde yere yere of Uortiger than kynge of Brytayne The whyche was stronge and marcyall in all hys dedes and there vnto ryght profytable for the realme And amonge other notable dedes by hym done he slewe in one day of Hunes the whyche by the commaundement of Attiâ—a inuadyd dystroyed dyuers countres as Italy Germany and other an hundreth and lxxx thousande as is wytnessyd of mayster Robert Gagwine compyler and gaderer of the actes and dedes of Frenshmen Thys forenamed Attila was kynge of Hunes and led in one hoost .ii. hundred thousand men of warre as testyfyeth Policronica And after dyuers baytayles by hym wonne he came into y e feldes called Catulyntes the whyche conteyned an hundred legys in length and .lxx. in brede wherof euery lege conteyneth .iii. Englysshe myles In the whyche feldes or playnes he was encountred wyth the power of the Romaynes in whose ayde was y e kyng of Fraunce Meroneus the kynge or duke of Burgoyne and other where after a longe fyghte was slayne on bothe sydes the foresayde hundred and .lxxx. thousand Of the whyche nomber the sayde kynge or duke of Burgoyne was one as is more playnly shewed in the .xxxiii. chapiter in the .iiii. boke of the sayd Polycronicon wyth other wonders whyche I ouerpasse Of thys Meroneus dyscendyd all the kynges of Frensshemen tyll the tyme of Pepyn the whyche was father vnto Charles the greate or emperour And fynally dyed thys Meroneus when he had reygned after moste wryters .x. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne named Chylderych or Hylderych THE LXXXVI CHAPITER CHyldericus or Hildericus the sonne of Meroneus was ordeyned kyng of Fraunce in the yere of oure lorde god .iiii. hundred .lx the .xii. yere of Uortiger than kyng of Brytayne The whiche ensued no thynge the warres of hys father but allyed hym wyth all vyce and cruelnesse in suche exterme wyse that he became odyble vnto hys subiectes wherfore the said Childerich perceyuyng the murmur grudge among the people and ferynge hys sodayne distruccyon couÌ„sayled wyth a frend and lorde of hys named Guynomadus or Guynemeus by whose counsayle in auoydynge greater paryll he auoyded secretely hys lande and yode vnto the kynge of Thurynges named Besygne of whom he was ioyously receyued But the at departynge of the kynge from y e sayd Guynemeus he toke a pece of golde and brake it in two peces wherof y e one pece he delyuered vnto the kynge that other pece he kepte to hym self sayenge to the kynge that whan so euer that he receyued from hym that pece of golde that he shulde be sure to be restored agayne to hys regally and dygnyte After the kynge was departed his lande the Frenshmen of one assent chase for theyr gouernour and hed a Romayne named Gylf whyche at that daye hadde a parte of Gallia or Fraunce in hys rule to the behofe of the Romaynes whyche parte
saynt Martyn where wyth due deuocyon she made her specyall prayers besechynge god and that blessyd saynt to sende by heuenly power some let or impedyment y t the sayd hostes shuld not ioyne in batayll By meane of whyche prayer when the sayde two hostes were in preparyng for to haue ronne to gyther sodeynly fyll suche a tempeste of wynde and hayll wyth thunder and lyghtnynge that bothe hostes were so greuously beten with the sayde tempeste and wederynge that eyther of them had most mynde how they myght defende them selfe from daunger of the said wederyng And ouer that as testyfyeth y e aboue named Authour eyther of the hostes thought in theyr myndes that they were chased of theyr enimies in such wyse that eyther of them fledde from other by a longe space After this eyther of them sent meanes of treatyse eyther to other and at length confermed a peace betwene them The whyche peace surely on both partyes assured Childebert excytyd his brother to warre vppon a people or countre called Terra ConensÌ„ in the prouynce of Spayn and besegyd the cytye of Saragounce otherwise called Augusta fynally kept the cytesyns so shorte that they to appeace theyr enimyes caused the byshoppe of the cytye to open the sepulchre of saynt Uyncent and gyue to Lotharius a parte of y â— holy martyrs bodye But yet that notwythstandynge though the syege were wythdrawen and the cytye sparyd yet the countre there aboute they pylled and wasted wythoute pyte And after wyth great rychesse of praye retourned in to Fraunce where at Paris by Childebert soone after was builded a monastery in the worshyppe of god and of saynt Uincent where the foresayd relyke was sette and reuereÌ„tly kepte whych monastery at this daye is called saynt Germayns de Pree In thys whyle I can not saye by what happe these two brethern newly malygned agayne theyr neuewe Theodobert the son of theyr brother Theodorich And entendyd by theyâ— malyce to byreue hym of the lordeshyppe of Austracy And to that entent gatheryd theyr people to warre vpon the sayde Theodobert wherof when y e sayd Theodobert was ware consyderynge he coude not so shortely assemble his people to wythstande the malyce of his sayd vncles â–ª he â—â—lowly and good maner rode agayne them in a peasyble wise And to them behaued hym so well in worde and dede that they alonely forgaue noâ— hys trespasse but also sente hym â—â—gayne with great rychesse of gyftes Soone after thys tyme dyed Cloâ—tilde the wife of Clodoueus y â— which with great pompe of her two sonnes was buryed by her sayde husbande â–ª And shortly after dyed Theodobert aforenamed leuynge after hym â— sonne named Theobalde In thys passe tyme Lotherius of hys wyfe râ—ceyued .vii. sonnes two doughters Of the whyche Cramyris the eldest sonne he sente into Guyan to haue the rule therof vnder his father But he contrary to hys fathers mynde oppressyd the inhabytauntes therof wyth greuous exaccyons and tribute wherfore hys father beynge dyscontent called hym thens Cramyris wyth this beynge sore amoued in great angre departed his fathers courte yode vnto Childebert hys vncle excytynge hym to make warre vppon hys father imagynynge fals occasyons to bryng the two brethern at dystaunce and made a solemne othe to his vncle that durynge hys lyfe he shuld streÌ„gth his party agayn his owne father whyche assuraunce thus made Chyldebert preparyd hys hoste to warre agayne his brother Lothariê° But y e sayd Lothariê° of this beynge warned for such lette as he then haddde sent agayne hys enymyes two sonnes of hys named Gunthranus and Aribertê° whyle these two fonnes made toward Childebert he in that whyle made great waste in the countre of Champayne and takynge great pryses returned into hys owne countre of myddell Fraunce wherof herynge the forenamed Guntranus and hys brother and also that in Guyan was moued warre by CramyrÌ„ spedde them thyder wyth all theyr people But they dydde nothynge worthye memorye or laude In thys season dyed the forsayde Chyldeberte brother of Lotharius wythout heyre when he hadde ruled myddell Fraunce xivii yeres as sayeth the Frenche cronycle and was enterred in y e monastery of saint Uyncent otherwyse called saynte Germayne de Pree THE CIII CHAPITER AFter the deth of Childebert for so myche as he dyed without heyre Lotharius forenamed seasyd all myddell Fraunce into his possessyon And after he hadde somdele sette yt in order not forgetynge the innaturall rebellyon of hys son Cramyris chase vnto hym a puryd company of knyghtes and of competent nomber in all haste made toward Guyan where y e sayd CramyrÌ„ was then abydynge But when he harde of the coÌ„mynge of his father agayn hym with his chosyn armye he withdrewe hym to the vttermost partyes of Fraunce and requyryd ayde of a kynge or duke to that partye adioynynge named Gonobalde the which to hym promised ayde to his power Lotharius of this affinyte beyng warned pursued the sayde Gonobalde so sharpely that he constrayned hym at length to take the chyrch of saynte Martyne and to holde yt for his sauegarde But when Lotharius had assayd by dyuerse meanes as well by fayre promyse as wordes of Manasses and myght not get the sayde Gonobalde oute of that holy place he set the chyrche on fyre and brent the duke in the same the which shortely after he reedifyed and made in more better maner then yt before hadde ben when Cramyris was thus dispoynted of y e ayde of Gonobalde he then fledde into lyttell Brytayne and requyred ayde of the erle therof named Cenabutus where by comforte of y t sayde erle he assembled a great hoste to wythstand his father wherof the father beynge asserteyned drewe towarde hym And when both hostes were nere they sent messagers to y e father to entreate a peace But Lotharius included so many harde condycyons wythin the sayde peace or as some writersmeane Cramyris desyred such vnlefull desyres of his father that the sayd treaty myght take none effecte And for truste that he had in the Brytons and his strength he was vtterly bent to trye his cause by dynt of swerde Lotharius hauynge experieÌ„ce that fortune of batayl is in victory doutfull vncertayne he therfore made hys prayer to god besechynge hym of ayde agayne the innaturall and obstynate rebellyon of his sonne After whych prayer endyd he commaunded in the name of god to sette vppon his enymyes whyche mette with so grete ire that shortly y e grene feld was dyed into a perfyght redde and many knyghtes vpon both partyes laye slayne and gruntynge vppon the erthe The father comfortynge and callynge vpon his knyghtes vppon the one parte and the son vpon his knyghtes vpon that other parte eyther of them entendynge y e deth and vtter destruccyon of eche other thus this batayll hangynge in suspence to whether of them the vyctorye shuld turne sodeynly the Britons gaue backe and gaue place to the Frenchemen wyth the which the French partye beyng
empyre and sette suche a man of myghte in the rome therof Thys Charlis had dyuers wyues But of the seconde named Eldegard he receyued .iii. sonnes that is to say Lewys Pepyn Charlis y e whyche Pepyn he made kynge of Longobardes or Italy as before is shewyd Of thys great conqueroure what shulde I holde lenger processe For lyke as I before shewyd of his notable dedys myght I make a great volume yf I shuld of them shew the clerenesse and the circuÌ„staunce of euery coÌ„quest that he in his tyme acheuyd But deth that is to all ê‘sones egall lastly toke him in his dymme dauÌ„ce when he had ben kynge of Fraunce with his brother alone .xlvii. yeres Of the whyche he ruled the empyre as before is shewyth .xiiii. yeres in y e yere of his age as sayen the frenche cronycles .lxxii and was buryed at Aquisgrany wyth great pompe in y e yere of our lordes incarnacyon .viii. hundred and .xv. wyth this superscripcyon vppon his toumbe Caroli Magne christianissimi imperatoris RomanoruÌ„ corpus sub hoc sepulchro condituÌ„ est which may be englished as folowith Of Charlis the great and emperour moste crysten Of Rome the bodye is hyd thys toumbe wythin Of the forenamed sonnes of Charlys suruyued y e eldest Lewys by name and the other two Pepin Charlys dyed before theyr father Anglia THE CLVII CHAPITER BRigthricus of the blood of Cerdicê° fyrst kyng of westsaxons desceÌ„dyd beganne hys reygne ouer the sayd Saxons in yere of oure lorde .vii. hundred and .lxxviii and the .x. yere of Charlis the great then kynge of Fraunce This before tyme hadde maryed one of the doughters of Offa kynge of Mercia as before is touchyd by whose ayde and power he put out of hys rule Egbert the sonne of Alcumundus the whyche Egbert at that daye was an vnder kynge or ruler in the lordshyppe of westsaxon whyche Egbert was descendyd of y e blood of the holy Genulphus of whome som parte of the storye ys declared in the .xxv. chapyter of the .v. boke of Policronica And after he was thus of Brigthricus expulsyd he saylyd into Fraunce and there exercysyd hymselfe in featys of warre wyth the knyghtes of Charlys courte durynge the lyfe of the sayde Brigthricus About the .ii. yere of thys Brigthricus was sene in great Brytayne a wonder syghte For sodeynly as men walked in y e strete crossys lyke vnto blood fell vppon theyr clothes and blood fell from heuen lyke droppes of rayne This after some exposytours betokened the commynge of the Danes into this lande the whyche entryd shortely after For as wytnessyth Polycronica aboute the .ix. yere of Brigthricus the Danys fyrste entryd this lande In defence wherof thys sayde kynge sent forth hys stewarde of housholde wyth a smalle company whych shortly was slayn But by the strength of Brygthricus and the other kynges of Saxons they were coÌ„pellyd to voyde the land for that tyme and season Brigthricus thus well knyghtly rulynge his land his wyfe named Ethelburga not wyth hym coÌ„tentyd as she oughte to be soughte dyuerse wayes and meanes how she myghte brynge her lorde oute of lyfe so that fynally she poysoned hym wyth many other of hys housholde meyny wherfore she ferynge punyshement fledde into Fraunce and by suche freÌ„dshyppe as she there hadde was well cheryshed in Charlis courte surnamed the great Of her yt is told that whan he had hadde some informacyon of the vnstablenes of this womans condycyons he at that season beynge a wydowar vppon a season in passynge of the tyme wyth her sayde nowe I put to youre choyse whyther ye wyll haue me vnto your wedded lorde or ellys my sonne staÌ„dyng here in your presence And hym that you chose hym shall you haue and enioye for your husbande But she chase y e son and lefte the father Then sayde the kynge yf thou haddest chosen me thou shuldest haue hadde my sonne But for thou haste forsaken me thou shalt haue nother of vs. And after he closyd her in an abbey where in processe a lewde man kept with her such company that she was voydyd that place and after demeaned her so vycyously that in processe of tynie she fell in such pouerte that she dyed in great penurye and myserye For the whyche mysse demeanure of this woman that she had innaturally slayne her lorde and husbande the kyng of Anglis and specially of westsaxons wolde not suffer the wyues to be callyd Sueuys nor yet suffer them to sette by them in places of great honour or kyngely sete by a long tyme after Thus as before is shewyd by the impoysonynge of his own wyfe dyed y e kynge Brigthricus when he had ruled y e westsaxoÌ„s after most concorde of writers by the terme of .xvii. yeres THE CLVIII CHAPITER EGbertus the sonne of AlcumuÌ„dê° as before is shewyd began hys reygne ouer the westsaxons in y e yere of grace .vii. hundred .lxxx. and xv and y e .xxvii. yere of Charlis the great then kynge of Fraunce Thys as before is sayde was dryuen oute of the lande of Britayne by y e streÌ„gth of Brigthricus But he hauynge knowlege of hys deth spedde out of Fraunce and in so knyghtely wyse hym demeaned that he obteyned the regiment and gouernaunce of the aboue sayde kynge Bernulphus kynge of Mercia had this Egbert in derysyon and made therof dyuerse scoffys iapynge rymes y t which he susteyned for a time But when he was somdeale stablysshed and hadde prouyd the myndes and hartis of his subiectes he lastly assembled his knyghtes and gaue to hym a batayll in a place called Elyndome in the prouynce of Hampton And all be yt that in that fyght was great dyuersyte of nomber as .vi. or viii agayne one yet Egbert had the victory For his knyghtes were lene megre pale and longe brethed so that they myghte endure to fyghte But Bernulphus knyghtes were fatte corpulent shorte brethed so that they were soone ouercome with swet and shorte labour Here is to be noted that after the deth of Offa kyng of Mercia or middell Englande of whome somwhat is touched in the story of Kenulphê° reygned his son Egfertê° after Egfertê° reygned Kenulfus or KeÌ„wolfus y e which Kenwolphus was father to y e holy martyr Kenelme to .ii. fayre vyrgyns Ouindred and Burgenulda or Ermenilda And after Kenwolfus succedyd the foresayd Kenelme and after Kenelme reygned Colwolphus and after hym succedyd Bernulphus before named Then to retourne agayne to Egbert the whych when he had as before is sayd ouercome Bernulphus he seasyd that lordshyppe into hys hande And that done he made war vppon the Kentyshe Saxons and at leÌ„gth in lyke wyse of them obteyned vyctorye And as wytnessyth Polycronica he also subdued the Northumbrys and caused the kynges of these thre kyngdomes to lyue vnder hym as trybutaryes or ioyned them to hys kyngedome as testyfyeth the authour of the Floure of hystories Thys Egbert also wanne from y e
to the emperoure that hys sonne Lothayre had greued y e chyrch of Rome and takyn from it certeyne possessyons wherewyth Lewys beynge before amoued sent vnto hys sonne cōmaundynge hym in sharpe wordes y t he shulde haue in mynde the othe before by hym made that he shulde in exchewynge his dyspleasure make restytucyō of all thynges that he before hadde taken from the chyrch the whyche cōmaundement Lothayre promysed to obey in all wyse And where Lewys was determyned to haue gone vnto Rome to haue sene y e sayd promesse fulfylled also to haue spoken wyth the pope for dyuers maters nedefull for the chyrche he was lette by occasyon of Danes or Normannes y t than had newly inuaded the lōdes of Fraūce the whyche he shortly after expellyd and droue out of hys londys And that done the emperour yode vnto Aquysgrany where by the frendes of Indith other of the nobles of Fraunce the emperour gaue vnto hys yongest sonne Charlis a porcyō of y e empyre whyche after shall more clerely appere And soone after at a counsayle holdyn at Cirycyake before namyd in the presence of his son Lewys he gaue to hym the order of knyghthode adournyd hym wyth kynges clothynge And ouer all thys in the presence of many lordes of Fraunce he gaue to the sayde Charlys the hole countrey of Neustria that now is named Normandye Of whyche honoure and gyftes though hys moder were ioyous and gladde yet hys brother Lewys was therewyth nothynge contentyd whyche of Indith and of hyr frendes was well apperceyuyd and knowen wherefore as she before tyme had done than of newe she made request vnto hyr lorde and husband that he wolde of hys moste especyall grace graunte vnto hyr that Lothayre myghte haue the gouernaunce of hyr sonne Charlys the whych of hym was the seconde tyme graunted Uppon whyche graunte thus to her made the emperour sent vnto hys son Lothayre pleasaūt letters wyllyng hym in all goodly hast to resorte vnto hys court The which obeyenge hys fathers commaundement retourned into Fraunce shortly after the receyte of the said letters and came vnto his father to the citye of Uernayse of whome he was ioyously receyued And after he hadde a season dwellyd with the emperour he gaue vnto hym the coūtrey of Austracy the whyche countrey as shall after be shewyd in thys Lotharius story was after his name named Lorayne But a parte of the sayde prouynce or countrey that stretchyd towarde Hungrye the sayde Lowys gaue vnto his yongest son Charlys And immedyatly after thys gyftes before many lordes confermyd the emperoure in presence of the sayd lordes toke Charlys by the hande and delyueryd hym vnto his brother Lothayre wyllynge and straytly chargynge hym that he shulde take hym vnto his cure and be to hym as curyouse as he wolde be vnto hys own chyld and to guyde hym and his possessyons as the father shulde guyde the chylde And to Charlys he commaunded that he shulde take obey hym as his father and loue and worshyppe hym as his brother y e whych vppon eyther partye was promysyd to be obseruyd And shortly after the sayd Lothayr with his brother Charlys toke congy of father and mother and returned agayn into Italy About this tyme dyed Pepyn the seconde sonne of Lewys and duke of Guyan the whych yf all shuld be expressyd putte his father to great trouble and vexacyon wherfore for hym was made the lesse mournynge This left after hym a son named Pepyn of whome somwhat the storye spekyth after But now I wyll retourne to Lewys the thyrde sonne of the emperoure THE CLXI CHAPITER TRouth yt is that whē the yonger brother Lewys sawe the bountye of his father so largely extende towarde his two brethern and to hym nothynge he was therwyth in his mynde greatly dyscontent all be yt that for the tyme he kepte yt secrete to hym selfe But when he was departyd from hys father and returnyd to his owne lordshyppe he gaderyd a myghty power and began to make warre vpon the dwellers nere about the Ryne wherfore the emperour wyth a conuenyent power approchyd vnto the citye of Dodayng and sent from thens vnto hys sayde sonne wordes of reconcylyacyon by meane wherof the sayde Lowes put hym holy in the grace of hys father and was to hym reconcyled without shedynge of mannys blood But whyle the emperour was besyde at the citye of Cleremoūt in the countye of Auerne to set a dyreccion amonge the Gascoynes for opynyons that were reryd amonge theym for the sonne of Pepyn there lately kynge or duke dyscessyd whyche son as aboue is sayde was also named Pepyn and there about had taken great payne and labour thyther to hym tydynges were newly brought that hys sayde sonne Lewys hadde wyth y e Saxons or Soysons with the Thorynges made alliaunce and was entryd into Germany and therin made warre in moste cruell wyse wyth whyche tydynges Lowis was so greuously passyoned that to hys great age was by meane of thys vnkynde anger fyxyd a sykenes that lefte hym not whyle he lyued After yet thys not wythstandyng he lyke a strong hartyd knyght shewyd forth a good and comfortable coūtenaunce And after he hadde in knyghtly wyse preparyd all thynge necessarye to the warre he spedde hym towarde Almayne and contynued hys iourney tyll he came vnto Thorynge where a season he restyd hym and his people tyll he myght be better assuryd where his sonne Lewys restyd hym But the sonne hauynge knowlege of the great power of hys father and also beynge in despayre of purchasynge of mercy consyderyng his many offences fled by the coūtrey of Sclauony and so by that costes retourned into Bayon or Bauery and so escapyd the daunger of hys father Then the emperoure beyng surely enformyd of the scape of hys sonne helde on his iourney tyll he came to Magoūce And after came vnto the cytye of Uermayse where he called a counsayle of his lordes spyrytuall and temporall and ordeyned there dyuerse thynges for the state of the empyre And more entendyd to haue done but sykenesse increasyd so sore in hym that by the space of .xl. days he toke no temporall sustenaunce But in that tyme he vsyd often to take the blessed sacrament the which as he often sayde strengthyd bothe the soule and the bodye Then he sent for Lothayre to come vnto hym the whyche wythoute taryenge obeyed his commaundemēt and abode styll wyth hym Of this Lewys Policronicon maketh a shorte rehersall and sayth y ◠by his fyrste wyfe named Hermyngarde he had .iii. sonnes Lothayre Pepyn and Lewys The fyrst beyng felowe with his father of the empyre was crowned of pope Pascall vpon an Ester daye and he was also kyng of Italy And Pepyn he made duke of Gascoyne and Guyan And Lewys was made ruler of Bauary And by his second wife named Indyth and doughter of y e duke of Bayon he hadde Charlis the Ballyd to whome he gaue the countrey of Burgoyn as the
sayd Policronica sayth And for this Lewys was mylde he was often troubled of hys own men and of other tyll he delte wyth them more sharpely and wysely and ruled the people more straytly It is there also shewyd that when this Lewys had promotyd a yonge man named Frederyke to the see of Utryke and to hym hadde gyuen sadde and good exhortacyon that he shuld folowe the stablenes of hys antecessours and that he shulde purpose the sothe and trouth wythoute excepcyon of persones and punyshe mysdoers as well the ryche as the poore the sayde byshoppe shulde answere to hym and saye I beseche thy magestye syr emperour to take in pacyence that I maye dysclose to the that thynge that hath long walowed turned in my mynde Say thy plesure sayd the emperour I praye thy syr emperour shewe me thy mynde whyther is more accordynge to attame thys fyshe here presente fyrste at the hedde or at the tayle The emperour answered shortely and sayd at the hedde the fyshe shall be fyrste attamyd So yt is lorde emperoure sayd the byshoppe that crysten fayth maye cause the to cease of thyne erroure that thy subiectes be not boldyd to folowe thy mysdoynge wherfore fyrste forsake thou thy vnlawefull wedloke that thou haste made wyth Indyth thy nere kynnes woman By meane of those wordes the kyng was reconcylyd and lefte the company of his wyfe tyll he hadde purchasyd a lycence of the pope And the emperour forgaue the sayde byshop all trespassys but the woman hyred two knyghtes that slewe hym in his vestymentes when he hadde ended hys masse After thys the empresse was falsely accused of wronge cryme and made a menchon But the same yere the emperoure delyueryd her from that habyte when he hadde suffycyently prouyd the sayde cryme to be false Then to retorne where I lefte whā this Lewys had longe lyen in thys agonyous sykenes and knewe well that he amendyd nothynge but feblyd more and more he commaundyd his iewellys to be broughte before hym wherof by hys owne hand he haue a parte vnto the chyrche of Rome and to Lotharius his sonne there presente he gaue his crowne his sworde commaundynge hym straytly vppon his blessynge that he shuld haue in honour hys moder Indith that to Charlis his brother he shulde owe true loue amyte that he shuld hym his lādes deffende to the vttermoste of his power Then the lordes spirituall and temporall and specyally the archebysshoppe of Meaws made a lamentable requeste to the emperoure for his sonne Lewys that he wolde accepte hym to his grace and mercye and to forgyue hym hys insolente and wanton wylde dedys wherof when the emperour harde he fell in suche wepynge that he myghte not speke of a good whyle after And when he hadde refrayned hym therof he remembryd to y e lordes the many and great benefytes y t he had done to hym and the innaturall vnkyndnes that the sayd Lewys had agayn shewyd vnto hym how often tymes he had perdoned his vnkynd sonnes trespasse And finally all this not wythstandyng he was at y e oure in perfyte charite wyth hym and forgaue hym as he trusted to be forgyuen prayenge the lordes there present and specyally chargynge y e sayd byshop that he wold shew vnto hys sayd son that great daunger that he was in agaynst god for the dyspleasures done to him and specially that he was a cause of the abrygement or shortynge of hys dayes Then to brynge this story to effect wherof yf I shuld declare the special tyes therof wolde aske a longe tyme for ye shall vnderstand that these .ii. storyes of the great Charlis and of this Lewys occupye in Frenche of leuys of great scantelyn ouer .lxiiii wherfore I conclude y t he dyed lyke a good crysten prynce when he had ben emperour of Rome and kynge of Fraunce by the terme of .xxvi. yeres and was buryed wyth great solemnyte at Meaws or at Mettis by hys mother Hyldegarde as sayth mayster Robert Gaguyne in the yere of hys age .lxiiii leuynge after hym the foresayde thre sonnes Lothayre Lewys and Charlys the Ballyd Anglia THE CLXII CHAPITER ADeulpus or Ethelwolphus the son of Egbertus beganne hys reygne ouer the westesaxons or Anglys in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon .viii. hundred and .xxxii and the xvii yere of Lewys the mylde then kynge of Fraunce Thys in his youth was wyllynge to be a preste and was enteryd the order of subdeacon But there after by dyspensacyon of Pascall the fyrst of that name pope he was maryed to Osburga a woman of lowe byrthe By whome he hadde foure sonnes that is to meane Ethelwalde Ethelbert Etheldrede and Alurede the whyche after theyr father reygned as kynges of Englād that one after that other as after shall appere This Adeulphus after he hadde a certayne tyme ben kyng he went to Rome and toke wyth hym his yongest sonne Alurede or Alphrede and taryed there by the space of a yere In the whyche season he repayred the Saxon scole the whyche before tyme was there founden by Offa kynge of Mercia as Guydo sayeth and other but more veryly of Iue kynge of westsaxons as sayth the authoure of the Floure of historyes And for that he graunted of euery house of his kyngdome a peny as in his storye is before shewyd But thys scole was sore decayed and the house therof lately brent the whyche thys Adeulphus newely repayred and sette yt in better order then yt before was vsyd Thys kynge also to refourme the greuouse correccyons that he sawe there executyd to Englyshe men for spyrytuall offensys as in werynge of irons and guyues he graunted of euery fyre house of hys lande .i. d as Iue foresayde hadde done By the whyche sayenge yt shulde seme that by these two kynges shuld be grauntyd vnto Rome .ii. d. of euery fyre house thorough theyr lande But that maye not be so vnderstande for thys Rome scot ys gaderyd of euery house a peny wythout more wherfore yt muste folowe that yt is mysse taken of wryters that allege this dede to that one kynge for that other How be yt yt maye stande by reason that Iue made the fyrste graunte and this kynge after confermyd the same But the authoure of Cronica cronycarum sayth that thys Adeulphus graunted to saynte Peter these sayde Peter pens and spekyth no word of Iue nor of none other It is also shewyd of this kynge by Policronica that he shulde for the acquytynge of the chyrches of Englād of all maner of kynges trybute payed yerely to Rome thre hundred markes That ys to meane to saynte Peters chyrche a hundred markes to the lyghte of saynt Paule a hundred marke and to the popys treasorye a hundred marke And ouer all thys of hys pure deuocyon he offred to god to saynte Peter the .x. parte of hys moueable goodes And also one cronycler sayth that thys kynge founded fyrste the vnyuersytye of Oxynforde whyche was lykely to be
this day in the vtter most border of Fraūce after to Uyenne To y e which citye of Uyen shortly after came vnto hym hys brother Lewys where they two assembled a newe hoste In the whych passetyme as Charlis was comynge towarde hys bretherne messyngers mette with hym sent from his bretherne to comon of a peace So that fynally he was accordyd that the realme of Fraunce shulde be dyuyded in .iii as the father had before dysposyd yt That is to meane Lothayr shuld enioy ouer the landes belongyng to the empyre the countrey of Austracy the whych in processe of tyme was called Lothayre or Lotharingia whyche is to meane Lorayne after his name And to Lewys shulde remayne the prouynce of Germany wyth the coūtrey of Buyan or Benery And to Charlys shulde remayne the countrey called myddell or chefe Fraunce wyth the prouynces of Normandy Burgoyne whyche sayde myddle Fraūce is reportyd to be in space from y e Occean of Brytayne to the ryuer of Mawze The whyche concorde thus fermely stablyshed and fynyshed eyther of other toke theyr departynge and resorted vnto theyr owne lordshyppes But Lothayre dyed shortely after leuynge after hym thre sonnes named Lewys Lothayre and Charlis But this deth of Lothayre is not taken for temporall deth for yt is sayd y t he forsoke the trauayle of y e world and became a munke at the abbaye of Pruny and lyued there a solytary lyfe many yeres after THE CLXIIII CHAPITER CHarlis y e Ballyd thus beyng in peaseble possessyon of the chefe parte of the realme of Fraunce and guydynge yt wyth all sobernes and indifferēt iustyce was well drad and also beloued of his subiectes In processe of tyme as vpon .viii. yeres after that Lothayr abouesayd renouncyd the pompe of the worlde dyed fyrste Charlys the yongest son of the thre of the foresayd Lothayre And after dyed Lothayre the second sonne so that the sayde Lewys onely suruyued whych was after his father enoynted emperour when Charlis kynge of Fraunce knewe certaynely of the deth of these two forsayde brethern and that with out yssu anon he assembled his power and entred the prouynce of Austracy or Lorayne the which his brother Lothayre hadde gyuen to Lothayre his sonne And in shorte whyle after crowned hym kynge of that prouynce wythin the chyrche of saynte Stephan of the cytye of Meaws chefe cyty of that lordshyppe kyngdome wyth the whyche dede Lewys his brother and kynge of Germany and Bayon was dyscontentyd thynkyng hym selfe more ryghtfull enheritour then Charlis for so myche as he was y e elder brother and also brother to the fyrste Lothayre of father of mother where as Charlis was but halfe brother and by the fathers syde onely For this y e sayd Lewys sent to Charlys the Ballyd certayn messyngers gyuynge to hym monycyon that he shulde call to memory the couenauntes betwene theym before tyme stablyshed and that he shulde not meddell hym nor haue to do wythin the landes of his cosyn lately deed vnto such tyme as yt were determyned by theyr bothe counsayles whyther of theym hadde the better ryght this to be obseruyd vppon payne of excōmunycacyon or cursyng But for to Lewys was well sene that his brother Charlis nothyng absteyned hym from the occupyenge of the forenamed countrey he therfore gaderyd an armye to warre vppon his sayde brother In the whych passe tyme Charlys toke to his second wyfe a woman namyd Rychent or Ricent the whyche he before tyme hadde vsyd as his cōcubyne or paramoure And soone after the Danys or Normans inuadyd the landes of Charlys the whych for that tyme he was fayne to appease please wyth ryche gyftes and other pleasures Then Charlys receyued from his brother a seconde ambassade or message the whyche shewyd vnto hym excepte he wold voyde his knyghtes and strengthes that he had sette and put in dyuerse places of the lande of Austracy he shuld be sure to haue of his sayd brother an enymy and that in all haste he wolde entre his lande wyth great force and warre wheruppon was suche answere sente that by both theyr agrementes the mater was hadde in suche cōmunycacyon that fynally yt was agreed that the sayde landes shulde egally be departyd betwene them whyche conclusyon perfyted Lewys wyth his people retournyd into Germany But yt was not longe after that Lewys repented hym of hys agrement so that newe legacyons were made vppon both partyes and lastely wyth myche payne newly agreed After whyche agrement and accorde fynyshed Lewys the emperour and sonne of the fyrste Lothayre sente an ambassade to both the fornamed bretherne admonestynge and warnyng them that nother the one nor y e other shulde intermyt wyth the foresayde landes for so myche as the ryghte therof belonged to him as next heyre to his brother and not to them that were a degre forther The answere of this was deferryd by Charlys how be it his brother Lewis as sayth myne authour gaue ouer his parte shortly after to Lewys y e emperour In this passe tyme Charlys the sonne of Charlis the Ballyd by hys fyrste wyfe whome the father had made ruler of a countrey called Belge hadde rulyd hym insolently and done in that countrey dyuerse outragiouse dedes For the whyche he beyng cōplayned of was brought vnto his father and so by hym commaundyd to pryson But shortely after he was deliueryd at y e requeste of some nobles of Fraūce kept after in his fathers courte where he contynued but a shorte whyle For wythin a lytle season after his father beynge at Lyons he departyd from y e sayde courte and gaderyd to hym a wylde company of euyll dysposyd persons and went agayne into the sayd countrey of Belge and dyd more harme then he had done before season and so contynuyd a long whyle But lastly he was taken and caste agayne in pryson where after longe punyshement he was reued of his syght and then sent vnto the monastery of Corbenyke there safely to be kepte But at length by the entycemēt of his vncle Lewys kynge of Germany and the treason of two mūkes of y e place he scapyd thens and fledde vnto the sayd Lewys his vncle In the which tyme Charlys his father was occupyed in the defence of the Danys or Normannys that then by strength had wonne the citye of Angyers and done therein myche harme whome the kynge closyd wythin the sayd cytye wyth a stronge syege and fynally compellyd theym to seke meanys of peace at the kynges pleasure After whych peace cōcludyd and the sayd Danys auoydyd the kynge repossessyd the sayde cytye It was not longe after that tydynges were brought vnto Charlis of the deth of Lewys the emperoure After knowlege wherof the kynge sent hys other sonne named Lewys into Austracy to haue the rule and y e guydynge of y e countrey And after other thynges ordered for y e weale of hys realme he wyth a stronge company of men of armys passyd y e moūtaynes and
so into Italy towarde Rome But Lewys hys brother and kynge of Germanye beynge therof warnyd sent in all haste hys sonne Lewys wyth a stronge hoste to lette hys passage But how it was for fere or other meane the sayd Lewys yeldyd hym to hys vncle Charlys the Ballyd wherewith the father beyng greuously dyspleasyd sent hys seconde sonne namyd Charlō to withstande the passage of the sayd Charlys But thys for fere or other cause that he sawe that he myghte not preuayle agayne hys vncle retornyd hym agayne to hys father After whose retorne he for so mych as the sayd Lewys kyng of Germany well perceyued that hys brother Charlys was paste his daunger he than with a more nomber ioyned vnto his sonnes hoste entryd y e londe of Fraūce in domagynge it to the vttermoste of hys power In whyche season Charlys the Ballyd kepte on his iourney toward Rome wherof heryng the .viii. Iohn̄ than pope sent agayne hym certayn persones of honoure and welcomyd hym as Augustus or emperour And after hys comynge thyther the sayde pope receyued hym wyth greate reuerence and crowned hym wyth the imperyall dyademe and denouncyd hym as emperoure THE CLXV CHAPITER CHarlys y e Ballyd thus beyng authorysed for emperour exersyd hym for a tyme for the nedys of the chyrche of Rome after toke hys leue of the pope retorned vnto Papye a cytye of Italy where he callynge a generall counceyle of the lordes of the empire other he by theyr aduyses prouyded and ordered dyuerse thynges for the weale of y e sayd empyre And ouer that by theyr agrementes he ordeyned for hys lyeu tenaunt or debyte of the sayde empyre in hys absence a noble man brother to hys wyfe recent named Besonne or Beson and assygned to hym such people as was thought necessarye and conuenyent whan Charlys had sped hys nedys in Papye he hyed hym into Fraunce But or he came wythin the terrytory therof word was brought to hym that hys brother Lewys was retorned into hys owne countreye wythout greate domage done to the realme of Fraunce In processe the emperoure came to Parys where he was receyued of the cytesens wyth moste tryumphe ioye and kepte hys Eester tyde at saynte Denys It was not longe after that Charlys was thus returnyd into Fraūce but that he receyued messengers frō hys brother kynge of Germany the which in his name claymed his part of the empyre as hys ryghte and enherytaunce whiche answere for that tyme was deferryd with pleasaunte wordes so that at the nexte worde y t he hadde from his sayd brother was that he was dede and buryed in the chyrche of saynte Nazer in Frankeborught wherof whā Charlys was ascerteyned anone he yode vnto Foūtenays and sent hys messengers to the lordes of the countrey commaūdynge them that they shulde meete hym at the cytye of Mettes Thys foresayd Lewys lefte after hym two sonnes named Lewys and Charlon as before is towched the whych deuyded bytwene them theyr fathers patrymony so that Lewys had Germany and Charlon hadde Bayon Thys Lewys ferynge hys vncle Charlys gaderyd to hym a stronge power of Saxons and of Thorynges And in the tyme of theyr assemble he sent an ambassade of certeyne byshhoppes temporall lordes vnto hys vncle Charlys prayeng hym of hys loue and fauour wyth other requestes to hym made of the whyche they myghte purchase no graunte wherof whan they were retornyd he hauynge by them knowlege y e sayde Lewys incontinently wyth his hoste drewe nere vnto the Ryne But thys Lewys was not so couert ī his work and assemblynge of hys people but that hys vncle had therof wyttynge and purueyed hys people as faste vppon that other syde so that he wyth an hoste was redy to fyghte with the sayd Lewys whan Lewys was ware of y e great power that the emperour hadde assembled he made no haste to passe y e water but houed and caused his people to falle vnto prayer And Charlys also ferynge hys neuewe vnder a colour sent alegacyon of entreaty Durynge the whyche entreaty the emperour contrary to hys honoure led his peple by a secrete waye thynkyng to haue fallen vpon his neuew sodeynly and by that meane to haue dystressyd hym But Lewys beynge ware of hys vncles treason prouyded so for hys peple kepte them in suche araye that they receyued theyr foo men vpon theyr speres poyntes to theyr great damage For where the greate rayne and tedyousnesse of the harde and strayte wayes whych they hadde passyd hadde sore tyred and weryed them than the fresshe fyersnesse of theyr enemyes whyche they thoughte they shulde haue takē slepynge and vnpurueyed abasshed thē in such wyse that they were soone ouercomen and fled from the felde as shepe fle frō the wolfe By meane of the whych flyght great slaughter of them was made many nobles greate estates of Fraūce both slayne and taken prysoners and the emperoure hym selfe scapyd wyth greate daunger And of the prysoners that were takē they were so nere spoyled y t they were fayne to take vyne leues to couer wyth theyr secrete mēbres ye shall vnderstand y ◠thys warre bytwene the emperoure Charlys the Ballyd and hys brothers sonne Lewys was for the prouynce of Austracy or Lorayne the whyche somtyme belonged to the emperoure Lothayr and halfe brother to Charlys The whych countreye after thys batayle was by medyatours set in an order Than the emperoure wyth great trauayle came to a town called Tyguy And Lewys kepte hys waye to Dandonyquyke and from thens to Ayes the chapell In this whyle the Danes or Normans knowynge that Charlys was occupyed in the warre agayne hys neuewe apparayled them a stronge hoste and entred ofte the landes of Fraunce But for Charlys was at y e tyme letted wyth chargeable busynesse he therfore sent a noble man agayne them called Comarde vnto the ryuer of Sayne to wythstande the sayde enemyes And also to hym was gyuen counceyle to haue wyth them cōmunicacyon to make a peace yf he myghte And to thys trouble immedyatly was ioyned another For ī this tyme and season a cytye belongyng to the chyrch of Rome rebellyd wherfore to wythstand theyr malyce the pope than beynge Iohn̄ the .viii. of that name sent messengers to Charlys for the defence of the sayd lōdes and other And soone after the pope for to haste the sayd emperoure or ellys to quyckē his deputye before named to assemble the Italyans and other people there adioynaūt came downe to the cytye of Papye taryed there the emperours comynge Charlys thā beset with trowbles assembled hys knyghtes sped hym towarde Italy And whan he was passyd the mountaynes worde was brought to hym of the popes beynge in Papy wherfore he sped hym thyder with all dylygence In thys tyme season Charlone the brother of Lewys and sonne of Lewys kynge of Germany whyche Charlone as before is shewyd was duke of Bayon or Bayory gaderyd a stronge hoste and
that done y e kyng sped hym toward hys enmyes and pursued them so sharpely that in y e ende he droue them out of Eest Anglia The whyche than landed in Kent whyther the kynge wyth hys people spedde hym and in lyke maner draue the Danes from thens How be it of any specyall fyghte or batayle authours therof leue no memory After thys agayne the Danes toke shyppynge sayled into North wales and there robbed and spoyled the BritoÌ„s and from thens retorned by the see into the Eest Anglia and there rested them for so mych as the kynge than was gone westwarde In thys whyle some of the foresayd Danys had wonne the towne of Chester But for the countrees adioynauÌ„t presed so sore vppon them the sayd Danys were compelled to kepe them wythin the sayd towne or cytye and to defende theym by that maner But that holdyng of y e towne lasted so longe that the Danys were compellyd to eate theyr horses for hunger But by apoyntement they lastely gaue ouer the towne went thens into Northumberland And in the whyle that the kynge with his hoste spedde hym thyderwarde they leuynge the stronge holdes and castels garnysshed wyth men and vytayle toke agayne shyppynge fet theyr course in suche wyse that they landed in Sussex and so came vnto the towne of Lewes and from thens toward London buylded a towre or castell nere vnto the ryuer of Lewes But the Londoners heryng of theyr doynges maÌ„ned out a certayn nomber of men of armes the whiche wyth assystens of the men of y e countree put the Danys from that towre and after bete it downe to the grouÌ„d Soone after y e kyng came downe thyder and for he thoughte that ryuer shulde be a meane to brynge enemyes efte soones into that countre therfore he coÌ„maunded y e streme to be deuyded into diuers stremes so y t by reasoÌ„ therof there a shyp myght sayle in tyme afore passed thaÌ„ a lytell bote myghte scantly rowe Than by presence of the kynge the Danes were forsed to fle that countre and from thens toke agayne waye toward walys and kept a parte of the ryuer of Seuerne vppon the border therof buylded them a castell nere vnto walys so rested them there for a tyme. So that .iii. yeres after thys lande was vexed wyth thre maner of sorowes wyth warre of the Danes pestylence of men moreyne of bestes whyche troubles aduersytees not wythstandynge the kyng knyghtly and manfully resysted the malyce of his enmyes and thanked god alway what trouble so euer fyll to hym or to hys realme and susteyned it with greate humylyte and pacyence It is tolde of hym y t he deuyded y e daye and nyght in thre partyes yf he were not let by warre or other greate besynes wherof .viii. houres he speÌ„t in study and lernyng of scyence and other .viii. he spente in preayer and almes dedes wyth other charytable dedes other .viii. houres he spent in his natural reste sustinauÌ„ce of his body the nedes of the realme The whych order he kept duely by waxen tapers kepte by certayne persons Thus thys marcyall knyght contynuyng in all prowesse and vertue lastly dyed whan he hadde reygned ouer the more parte of thys lande by the terme of .xxviii. yeres full And was fyrst buryed at wyltoÌ„ and after certayne yeres remoued and caryed vnto wynchester leuynge after hym a sonne named Edwarde surnamed Edwarde the elder For the other bâ—other called Egelwarde dyed before hys father Francia THE CLXXIIII CHAPITER LEwys the second of that name and sonne of Charlis y e Balled began hys reygne ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of our lorde .viii. huÌ„dred lxxviii and the .vi. yere of Aluredus than kynge of the more parte of Englande Thys was named Lodowicus Balbus whych is to meane Lewys the stamerer for so mych as he had an impedyment in hys tunge ye haue before in y e story of Charlys the Balled herde How Charlon the neuew of Charlys foresayd with hys hoste had entred Italy and entended towarde Rome The whyche after the deth of his sayd vncle Charlys kepte on hys waye lastly came vnto Rome But for the pope than beynge IohnÌ„ the .viii. of that name fauoured the aboue named Lewys Balbus and entended to make hym emperoure therfore he refrayned y t enoyntyng of the sayd Charlon For the whyche dede he fynally was compelled to auoyde the towne couÌ„tre fled into FrauÌ„ce where he beynge honourably of Lewys receyued declared and admytted hym for emperoure as sheweth the Cronycles of Rome But after two yeres of hys reygne or short tyme of thys admyssyon to that dygnyte thys Lewys dyed wherfore the sayde pope to enioye hys papasy in reste retorned to Rome and anoynted the forenamed Charlon and crowned hym with the imperyall dyademe the whyche in y e RomanÌ„ cronycle is named Carolus tertius the thyrde emperour that is to meane of that name But of all thys speketh nothyng the Frenche Cronycle excepte that it is there testyfyed that he was of the sayd pope admytted for emperour Polycronycon sheweth that the seconde Lewys kynge of Fraunce was accursed of the pope Nicolas y e fyrste of that name for so myche as he refused hys lawfull wyfe toke to him his concubine named waldrada But that is vnderstande by Lewys the second emperour of that name whyche was sonne of Lothayre whyche Lothayre was eldest sonne of Lewys the mylde as in the story of Charlys the Ballyd appereth And for the genelogy of Charlis the conqueroure or of hys ofspyng may the clerelyer appere and also that y e reder may haue the more certeyne of the names whych were emperours whych kynges of Fraunce whych were kynges of Germany I shall in the story of Lewys the .v. in whome for a tyme surseasyd y e blode make a remembraunce of euery emperour kynges of Fraunce Germany that reygned from y e sayd Charlis y e grete or conquerour tyll Hugh Capet the whyche Hugh vsurped the crowne of Fraunce as after shall appere Than it foloweth in the story that for partycyon of the lande of Austracy or Lorayn grudge and varyauÌ„ce contynued alwaye bytwene the kynges of FrauÌ„ce Germany whyche bothe kynges at thys daye were named Lewys albeit that the kyng of Fraunce was surnamed Balbus as before is shewed For the whych varyaunce by laboure of frendes these two kynges mette at y e cytye or place called Gundeuyle where after longe coÌ„munycacyoÌ„ it was fynally agreed that the sayde prouynce of Austracy shulde than be deuyded as it somtyme had ben parted bytwene Charlys the Balled and Lewys kynge of Germany theyr bothe fathers After whych peas thus coÌ„cluded eyther parted from other in frendely wyse And Lewys Balbê° yode vnto ArdernÌ„ where he halowed the feste of Crystmas And froÌ„ thens he yode vnto Compeyne where he herde of the rebellyon of a marques of hys realme called Barnarde or more verely after the Romayn
story a marques of Italy For thys Barnarde wyth one Helberde had before tyme taken from the chyrche of Rome certeyne possessyons whyche by meane of thys Lewys the sentence of the chyrche denounced agayne them by the foresayd pope IohnÌ„ were agayn restored and the partyes also reconcyled But now of newe thys Barnarde rebelled agayne wherfore the pope as to Lewys for the defensour of the chyrch of Rome sent for ayde for as before I haue shewed you thys Lewys of the sayde pope IohnÌ„ was authorysed for emperoure But for he was not crowned at Rome wyth the imperyall dyademe he is not accoÌ„pted amonge y e emperours For thys newe rebellyon of Barnarde Lewys assembled hys armye at CoÌ„payne foresayd and froÌ„ thens rode to y e cytye of Troyes in UinceÌ„t where he was taken wyth sodayne malady of y e whyche he dyed shortly after and not wythout suspeccyon of venym whan he had ben kynge of Fraunce fully two yeres leuyng after hym two sonnes that is to saye Lewys and Charlys or after some wryters Charlemayne THE CLXXV CHAPITER LEwys and Charlys the sonnes of Lewys Balbus or Lewys y e stamerer began theyr reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of oure lordes incarnacion .viii. C.lxxx and the .viii. yere of y e reygne of Alurede than kynge of Englande The whyche for they were yonge of age were put vnder tuyssyoÌ„ and gydyng of Barnarde the erle of Auuergii to whom the father by hys lyfe had theÌ„ commytted wherfore the sayd Barnarde wyth other of hys affynyte assembled shortly after at Meaux in Lorayne thyder called vnto them the lordes of the lande to treate maters for the comon weale of y e same In those dayes was a man of grete myght in FrauÌ„ce named GosseleynÌ„ the whyche enuyed the foresayd erle Barnarde other for certayne harmes to hym by them done in tyme be fore passed In auengynge wherof the sayd GosseleynÌ„ intended to putte hym and other from the rule of the land whych he knew well they shuld occupye whyle the sayd two childern had rule of the same And thys euyll purpose to brynge to effecte he went vnto Conrade erle of Parys and shewed to hym moche of his wyll And amonge other thynges lette hym wytte that yf Lewys kynge of Germany myght with hys helpe be made kynge of FrauÌ„ce that he shulde by hym be greatly auaunced By whych meanes he caused the sayde Conrade to take hys parte so that he other of hys affynyte whan they came vnto the foresayde counsayle at Meaux sayde that Lewys kynge of Germany was more apte to rule the lande of FrauÌ„ce than any other was And also after some wryters these Lewis and Charlys afore sayde were not the legyttymate sonnes of the forenamed Lewis Balbê° but gotten in baste of a concubyne of the sayd Lewys Thys mater thus debated and argued amonges the couÌ„sayle lastly by moste in nomber it was agreed that Lewys kynge of Germanye shulde be by ambassade requyred to come and take vppon hym the rule of the lande of myddell Fraunce The whych wyth small request was agreable and in shorte tyme after came vnto the sayd cytye of Meaux and after to Uerdune But as soone as the knowlege was come to Barnarde and other of hys affynyte by counceyle of Hughe and Terry two nobles of Fraunce the bysshop of Orlyaunce with an erle and other were sent to Uerdune vnto the sayd kynge of Germany wyth thys message That yf he were contente to take vnto hym all suche parte of the prouynce of Lorayne as Charlys the Balled kepte from hys fader Lewys wythout more clayme of the lande or realme of Fraunce he shuld gladly haue it And yf nat he shulde abyde the iugement of Mars and hys batayle wyth whyche offer Lewys was well contented and beyng of it in a suertye departed agayne into Germanye Thorough that doynge the forenamed Gosselyne and Conrade with other of theyr freÌ„dê were with yt sore dyscoÌ„tentyd of the departure of Lewys forsayde But the sayd Bernarde with other of his syde in goodly hast after coÌ„ueyed the sayd two chyldren vnto the citye of Ferrer there crowned and proclaymed theym for kynges as wytnessyth mayster Robert Gaguyne But the forenamed Gosselyne and Conrade not leuynge so the mater sente messengers vnto y e quene of Germanye coÌ„playnynge theym vnto her of the vnstablenesse and tymerousnesse of her lorde wherby he had not alonely loste the possessyon of the realme of Fraunce but also he hadde put them and all theyr frendes in great fere and daunger wherof herynge the quene in her mynde was sore dyscontentyd wyth her lorde and husbande and as she durste shewyd yt to hym as his reproche and dyshonour And fynally to satysfye the myndes of the sayde GosselynÌ„ and Conrade she sent into Guyan her brother named Boso by whose aydes and assystence he was of that prouynce proclaymed kynge Endurynge whyche trouble 's the Danys entred the lande and came vnto the ryuer of Lyger and robbed and spoyled the countrey wythoute mercy wherfore the kynges assembled theyr people and gaue to them batayll nere vnto the ryuer of Uyen where they dystressyd the sayde Danys and slewe of them .ix. thousand and drowned of theÌ„ ouer that a grete multytude in the sayde ryuer After whyche vyctory by the kynges obteyned a new vexacyon trouble was to them ascertayned y t Lewys kyng of Germany with a great puysaunce was comen vnto a place called Ducy and to hym was gone the forenamed GosselynÌ„ and Conrade with all the power that they myghte make by theyr ledynge was from thens coÌ„ueyed vnto Rybemaunt But howe so yt was for lacke of performaunce of promyse made by the sayde two erles vnto the kyng of Germany not obserued he herynge of the kynges of Fraunce drawynge towarde hym wyth stronge hoste coÌ„cluded a peas and retourned into Germany And the two bretherne rode to gyder vnto the citye of Damens or Demeus where they deuyded the lande of Fraunce betwene theym So that Lewes held to hym the couÌ„trey nere about Parys with the prouince of Neustria or Normandye and Charles had vnto his part Burgoyn and Guyan with promyse made assured on eyther partye that eyther of them shulde ayde and assyste other THE CLXXVI CHAPITER AFter this partycyon betwene the two bretherne thus made by the meanes of Lewys kynge of Germany the foresayde erles GosselynÌ„ Conrade were vnto the sayde bretherne recouncyled and agreed And for to theym redy worde was brought y â— Bose before named kyng of Guyan hadde wonne the cytye of Uyen therin lefte his wyfe whyle that he occupyed y e hylles and mountaynes beynge there aboute they ioyntly assembled theyr knyghtes sped theÌ„ thyther layde theyr seage aboute the cytye But durynge this syege the Danis often wasted y e land of Fraunce wherfore Lewys the elder brother departed froÌ„ that syege leuynge there his brother Charlys But or the sayde Lewis myght wyn to
But to folowe myne authour I shall procede as foloweth THE CLXXVII CHAPITER LEwys the fourth af that name and sonne of Charlis as before is sayde beganne his reygne ouer y e Frenchmen in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxxx. .vi and the .xiiii. yere of Aluredus then kyng of Englande Of thys Lewys yt ys testyfyed of dyuers wryters that he shulde enamoure hym selfe vppon a menchon of the monastery of Chyell and her drawe oute by force and marye her vnto his wyfe For the which dede and other he purchasyd the aboue said name was called Lewis nought doynge In thys tyme the Danys contrary to theyr ê“myse before made made new warre wythin the land of FrauÌ„ce wherfore the Frenchmen hauyng lytell hope in theyr kynge sente vnto Charlon or Charlys y e emperour sonne of Lewys kynge of Germany as before is shewyd requyryng him in all humble wyse to vysyte y e realm of Fraunce and to defende yt from the persecucyon of the Danys In these dayes also was lyuynge in Fraunce the forenamed Hugh whych as ye before haue herd maynteyned the quarell of Lewys Charlys last kynges agayn Lewys kyng of Germanye The whyche Hugh of some writers is called Hue le grauÌ„d that is Hugh the great Thys man gaderyd an hoste of Frenchmen and gaue batayll vnto the Danys and slewe of them a great nomber It shulde seme by the wryters of the frenche storye that these noble men of Fraunce as thys Hugh and other shulde haue the rule of the spyrytuall possessyons of abbayes and other houses of relygyon For of myne Authour mayster Gagwyne they are in laten named abbates and in the Frenche boke abbis whych is to meane abbottes And also yt is testyfyed of the sayd writers that this Hugh and Robert erle of Parys were the fyrst that left the dystrybucyon of those spyrytuall goodes vnto theyr knightes gaue ouer that name of abbotte the whyche in some other estates contynued tyll the dayes of Roberte kynge of Fraunce Then yt folowyth accordynge to the request made vnto the emperour as aboue is shewyd he gatheryd a stronge hoste of Italyons and parced the lande of Fraunce and bare hym so vyctoryously agayne the Danys that he forced theym to obey to all theyr former promyse condycyons But Eusebiê° and other y t wrote the actes of the emperours sayen y t this Charlis whyche they name the thyrd of y â— name and also Grossus y t is great subdued the Danys of Fraunce compellyd theyr leder or prynce named there Rodefredus to take the habyte of Crystes relygyon and receyued hym at the coulde wa ter In whyche tyme or soone after wherof y e tyme is not duely ascertayned dyed the forenamed kynge Lewys surnamed nought doynge when he hadde reygned after most wryters viii yeres leuyng after hym a sonne named Charlis y t whyche after was surnamed symple But for he was to yonge to take vpon hym such a charge the lordes put hym vnder good conuenyent guydynge and chase an other as foloweth to guyde y e lande tyll he were come to hys laufull age whyche was named Eudo. THE CLXXVIII CHAPITER EUdo the sonne of Robert erle of Angeowe beganne his reygne ouer the French men in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxxx. .xv and the .xxiii. yere of Alurede then kynge of Englande ye shall vnderstand that the aboue named Robert erle of Angeow was as tutor and guyder vnto the forenamed kynges of Fraunce Lewys and Charlys and lastely was slayne of the Danys The whyche Robert left after hym .ii. sonnes Eudo and Robert whych Eudo for the great fame that he was of and also for y e great trouth that in hym was prouyd and knowen y e lordes of one assent chose hym to be kynge of the lande for the terme of his lyfe And as affermeth the french boke other he was crowned of walter then archebyshoppe of Senys Howe be yt this is somdele doutfull to be gyuen credence vnto for dyuers reasons that therunto myghte be made Mayster Gagwyne sayth that he hath sene some authoures that testyfye this forenamed Charlis the symple to be the lawfull son of Lewys Balbus and the foresayde Lewys and Charlis late kynges of Fraunce to be the bastarde sonnes of the sayde Lewys Balbus Then to folowe the mater thys Eudo in coÌ„syderacyon that the sayd Charlis the symple was insuffycyeÌ„t to guyde the lande he was putte vnder the guydyng of this sayd Eudo and he was made kynge in his stede The whyche myghtly defendyd the lande from all daunger of enymyes And ouer y t he caused the sayde Charlys the symple to be noryshed and broughte vp wyth moste dylygence so that he was informed exercysed wyth all vertues doctrine and other thynges necessarye vnto a prynces son And finally when this noble and vertuous knyghte Eudo knew y t he shulde dye he called before hym the lordes nobles of Fraunce y t whych he charched by solemne othe that after his deth they immedyatly shulde crowne Charlis for theyr kyng and dyed soone after when he hadde reygned as affermeth authours by the terme of .ix. yeres Anglia THE CLXXIX CHAPITER EDwarde surnamed the elder and son of Aluredus began his reygne ouer y e more part of England in y e yere of our lord .ix hundred one the .vii. yere of Eudo then kynge of Fraunce This was lower then hys father in letter and connynge but he was hygher in honoure worshyp By his fyrst wife he had a son named Ethelstane the whych was kynge after hym By his seconde wyfe he had two sonnes Edredus Edwynus vii doughters And of y e thyrd wyfe he receyued two sonnes Edmunde Edrede and two doughters Edburga and Edgina The fyrste of these .iii. wyfes hyght Edwyna the second hyght Edgina the thyrde was named Ethleeswyda Of y e forenamed .vii. doughters which he had by his second wife one named Alunda or Almyda was maryed to the fyrst Otto the emperour And a nother named Algina was maryed to Charlis the symple kyng of west FrauÌ„ce And the yoÌ„gest of his doughters as sayth Policronica he wedded vnto Lewys kyng of Guyan But therof speketh nothyng the frenche cronicle He set his sonnes to scole and his doughters he sette to woll worke takyng exemple of Charlis the conquestour By authoryte of Formosus the pope he made .vii. byshoppes in Enlande wherof he ordeyned .v. in west Saxon one in southe Saxon one in Mercia at Dorchester He also for that the munkes of wynchester sayd that his father Alurede walkyd caused hym to be remoued vnto the new abbay About the .v. yere of his reygne Clyto Ethelwaldus a nere kynnesman of his rebellyd agayn hym and occupyed y e towne of wymborne besydes Bathe toke thens by force nunne went thens vnto the Danys dwellyng in NorthuÌ„berlande excyted them to ryse agayn kyng Edwarde But the kynge pursued hym
thy reward and guardon After whyche sentence thus gyuen by the kynge the sayde Hebert was by the executers ladde vnto an hylle wythout the citye of Laon̄ and there most shamefully hanged whych hyll for that cause was named Hebertes hyll longe tyme after About thys tyme the seconde duke of Normandy named wyllyam longa Spata y e son of Rollo or Robert fyrste duke of Normandy was slayne by treason of one Arnolde erle of Flaūdres for encheson that the sayd wyllyam ayded a noble man of Pycardy named Herloyn̄ agayne the sayde Arnolde This wyllyam left after hym a son named Richarde whych at the tyme of his fathers deth was not of suffycient age to rule so gret a dukedome wherfore Lewys kynge of Fraunce desyrous of that prouynce whyche of late dayes belonged to his antecessours and progenitours sought besyly the wayes and meanes to haue this chylde Rycharde vnder his tuycyon gydynge And this to brynge to effecte spedde hym vnto Roan̄ callynge there before hym the lordes and rulers of the countrey hauynge vnto them many plesaunt and fayre wordes in promysyng to them ayde and assystence to reuenge the deth of theyr lorde and duke and in the conclusyon desyred of them y t he myght haue the noryshynge and bryngyng vp of the chylde tyll he came to hys lawfull age whyche thynge thus by the kynge desyred the lordes anon coniectured in theyr myndes y t he desyred the kepyng of theyr yonge lord to y e ende y t he myghte y e more easely obteyne the possession of that dukedome For the whych the lordes and other of the cytye were in great rumour and grudge agayne the kynge wherof he beynge monyshed to appeace the multytude the kynge toke the chylde in his armes and so bare hym into the place of the assemble of the people there shewyd vnto theym wyth affyrmaunce of great othes that hys entent was onely for y e we le of the child and for defence of hys countrey and not to clayme any ryghte or tytle of the duchy excepte onely the homage therof whyche belongeth to hym by iuste tytle By meane of whyche fayre speche the kynge obteyned his purpose and caried the chyld with hym into Fraūce not forgetynge the vnkynde dealynge of the Normans when Arnolde erle of Flaūdres vnderstode that to the kynge of Fraūce the guydynge of y e yonge chyld was commytted ferynge y t he wyth power of the Normans wolde ronne vppon hym reuengynge of the chyldes fathers deth sent vnto the kyng x. pounde weyghte of golde wherof euery pounde cōteyneth .xii. ounces and euery oūce in value of fyne gold xl s so that after this rate his presente shulde be in value to y e summe of .ii. hundred .xl. pounde All be yt mayster Gagwyne sayth he sent vnto hym but .xl. marke besechyng him to be his good and gracyous lorde and not to gyue to hasty credence to hys accusours For he in suche wyse wolde declare hym selfe and delyuer vnto the kynge the murderers of duke wyllyam he meane wherof he shulde certaynly know that he was innocēte of the sayd dukes deth And ouer this he made a frende about the kynge whyche spake good wordes for hym put in the kynges mynde the great hurtes iniuryes that he and his progenytours hadde susteyned of the Danys or Normans By meane whereof this murdour was forgoten more and more the kyng malygned agayne the Normans and to the chylde he bare not so good mynde as some men thoughte that he wolde do Uppon a daye when the kyng was retourned from hys dysporte of huntynge a lyght cōplaynt was brouht to hym of the chylde Rycharde of an offence that he had commytted For the which he rebuked him otherwyse then was syttyng to his honour and called hym opprobryously and thretened hym greuously and after that caused hym to be kept more straytly then he before hadde vsed to be To this chylde Rycharde was assygned a mayster or teacher named Osmunde whyche Osmunde hadde a famylyer named Iuon̄ These two apperceyuynge the kynges indygnacyon that he bare towarde the chyld studyed for his enlargynge and lastly coūsaylyd hym that he shuld fayne hym self syke The whych was done in suche wyse that all suche as awayted vppon hym supposed hym to be very syke by reason wherof his kepers toke the lesse cure of hym wherof Osmunde beynge ware and also beynge sure of the kynge made a great trusse of herbes or grasse wherin he wrapped the chyld and so conueyed hym oute of the cytye of Laon̄ and there receyued hym an horse redy for the iourney so sped hym vnto Cosuy and delyueryd the chylde to the captayne of that town And from thēs he rode all nyght tyll he came vnto Senlys there shewed all hys doynge vnto y e erle of that coūtrey named Bernard which was nere kynnesman vnto y e yonge duke THE CLXXXVII CHAPITER BErnarde hauynge knowlege of the escape of his kynnesmā Rycharde sente in all haste vnto Hugh le graunde erle of Parys for to haue his ayde and assystence The whych without taryeng assēbled his knyghtes and conueyed the chylde from Cousy to Senlys or Saynlys to his neuewe Bernarde where he was receyued wyth mych ioye and honoure when Lewys was ascertayned of the scape of Rycharde and howe he was in the guydynge of Hughe the great or graunde anon he sent vnto hym gyuynge hym in commaundement that he shulde restore the chyld to hym The whyche excused hym and sayde that the chylde was in the kepynge of erle Bernarde and not in hys The kynge seynge how he was deluded sente for Arnolde or Arnulfe erle of Flaundres whyche at his cōmaundement counsayled the kynge to wynne Hugh le graūde with riche behestes or gyftes After whose counsayll worchynge kynge Lewys wylled the sayd Hugh to mete with hym at the crosse of Compeyn̄ where the sayd Hugh shortly after met with the kynge To whome the kynge promysed great parte of the duchy of Normandy wyth that that he wolde refuse the partye of the Normans and take his parte agayne them By meane of which promises this erle Hugh was ouercomē and agreed with the kynge to warre vppon one parte of the countrey whyle he warred vpon that other And forthwyth receyuyd an armye of the kynge and spedde hym to Bayon̄ made cruell warre vppon that countrey And kynge Lewys entryd vppon the prouynce of Caux and wasted and spoyled that Coste in all that he myghte whan Barnarde the Dane and also Barnarde erle of Senlys conceyued y e vntrouth of Hugh le graūt and also the greate hostes that they were beset wyth by theyr counsayles and other they sent vnto the kynge certayne messengers gyuynge them in commaundement to saye that in vayne the kynge hadde entred that countre with his armye for the citye of Roan and all the prouince was at hys commaundement Besechynge hym not to waste nor spoyle the coūtre but to ayde and helpe defende it agayne
peas contynued durynge theyr lyues THE CXCI. CHAPITER LOthayre thus beyng in loue and amytye wyth the Normans caste in his mynde howe he myght wynne from his neuewe Otthon kynge of Germany y e prouynce of Austracy or Lorayn y t in tyme passed was belongynge to his progeny tours And this to brynge to effecte he gaderyd in right secret wyse a chosen host of Frenchemen with them passed the countrey in such wise that he was entred the cytye of Aquisgrani or any great fame or noyse were therof made wherwith Ottho beyng dysmade fledde for that season suffred the sayde Lothayr for that tyme to execute his pleasure so y t the sayd Lothayre spoyled the kynges paleys and other places to the great enrychinge of hym his hoste And when he hadde taryed there a certayne of tyme he retourned wythout batayll wyth great pompe into Fraunce It is shewyd before in the begynnyng of the story of Ethelstane kyng of England that Henry duke of Saxony the whyche is ment for Germany sent vnto the sayde Ethilstane to haue his suster Alunda to mary vnto his sonne Ottho or Otthon ye shall vnderstande this Henry is of some wryters admytted for emperour But his sonne Ottho forenamed was emperour in dede whose sonne this Ottho was abouenamed and called the seconde of that name and emperour after hys father and son of the forenamed Alunda suster to Ethilstane Then this second Ottho emperour kyng of Germany beyng thus as ye haue hard surprised of his neuew Lothayre kyng of west Fraunce gaderyd a stronge hoste and entred the realm of FrauÌ„ce And as wytnessyth Gerardus wryter of hystoryes destroyed the couÌ„trey of Soysons and lastly came vnto Paris and brent y e suburbes of that cytye and hadde a great parte of his wyll of the sayde Lothayre But the frenche cronycle varyeth from this saynge and sayth that Lothayr by the helpe of the duke of burgoyne and of Hugh Capet erle of Paris after y e sayd OtthoÌ„ had fyred the suburbes of the citye of Parys issued out of the towne faught wyth the emperoure and compelled him to gyue backe and fle whom the kynge pursued tyll he came to the ryuer of Isayr or Sue where eyther hoste encouÌ„tred wyth other faught cruelly But at length the emperour was forced to forsake y e feld mych of his people slayn and droned with in the said ryuer And so grete a nomber as affermeth the frenche storye that the course of the water was stopped and ouerflowed the feldes nere vnto the sayde ryuer But this victory not wythstaÌ„dyng as wytnessyth mayster Gagwyn the kynge coÌ„trary the mynde of the duke of Burgoyne and also of Hugh Capet releasyd vnto the emperour the tytle and ryghte of Lorayne The whyche was cause of couetynge of the realme by the sayde Hugh and vsurpynge of the same as affermeth the sayde authoure whyche agrement betwene the two princes stablisshed and ended eyther retourned into his own countrey After the which season no notable dede is put in memory of the sayde Lothayre so that he fynally sykened and dyed in the yere of our lorde .ix hundred .lxxx. vi when he had ruled his pryncypat vygurously by the full terme of .xxx. wynter and was buried in the mynster of saynte Remigius in the cytye of Raynes leuynge after hym a son named Lewys Anglia THE CXCII CHAPITER Edredus or Edwyne the eldeste son of Edmund brother of Ethil stane began his reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lord .ix. hundred .lvi and the second yere of Lothayre then kynge of Fraunce This Edwyne was crowned kynge at Kyngistone or Kyngestowne besyde London of the archbyshoppe of Caunterbury The whych selfe daye of his ê“fessyon or coronacion broke sodeynly from his lordes entred a secrete chaÌ„ber there occupyed him selfe synfully wyth a nother mannes wyfe wherof saynt DuÌ„stane hauyng knowlege rebuked and blamed hym greuously caused the woman to be voyded from his bed and company whose husband as one authour testyfyeth he slew for to haue y e vnlawful vse of her beaute not coÌ„sideryng y e allyauÌ„ce of affynyte of kynred betwene them affermeth y e sayde authour Guydo writer of storyes sayth that Edwyn coÌ„trary y e lawes of y e chyrch held a woman as his coÌ„cubyne wherfore holy DuÌ„stane accused him vnto Oddo archbishop of CauÌ„terbury by whose power the kynge was causyd to refuse forsake the coÌ„pany of that woman For the which dede Edwyn bare great malice vnto the holy man Dunstane at length by his extorte power banyshed hym his lande and forced hym for a season to holde hym in Flaunders And for the malyce y e he bare towarde hym he dyd myche dyspleasure to all blacke munkes of Englande in so myche that at Malmysbury he put oute the moÌ„kes and set in seculer prestes in theyr stede It is rad of hym that he also toke from the chyrch what he myght and specyally from the blacke monkes In so myche that such precyouse iewellys as Ethylstane hadde before receyued from OthonÌ„ the emperour gyueÌ„ vnto wynchester and Malmysbury he toke theym thens and gaue theym vnto alyauntes and straungers And thus was not onely vnkynde to god but also he vsyd suche tyranny and other vnlefull meanes to hys subiectes that lastely they rebelled agayn hym and specyally the inhabytauÌ„tes of the countre of Mercia or myddell Englande and also of Northumbers and put hym clerely from all kyngely honour and dygnytye when he had reygned after most wryters the full terme of .iiii. yeres and was buryed after in y e cathedrall chyrche of wynchester leuynge none heyre of his body wherfore the rule of the lande fyll vnto Edgar his yonger brother Antoninus archebyshop of FloreÌ„ce in this worke often before mynded amonges many myracles and vertues actes which he in y e .vi. chapiter of y e .xvi. title of his boke called SmÌ„ Antonini reherseth of this holy man DunstanÌ„ sayth that when he had vnderstandynge of the deth of thys EdwynÌ„ by reuelacyon or otherwyse he made hys specyall prayer to god to know what state the soule of EdwynÌ„ was in To whome after thys prayer made apperyd to the sayde DuÌ„stane a great company of feÌ„des turmentynge the soule of the sayde Edwyn and ledynge yt vnto the places of peyne The whyche when this holy man hadde sene he fell to great wepynge and sorowe besechynge god with most deuocyon to haue pytye and compassyon of that soule And whyle he was occupied in his prayer the sayde coÌ„pany of fendes returned wyth yellynge and cryenge shewynge to hym that thorough hys prayer the angelles of god had byrafte from them the soule of Edwyn THE CXCIII CHAPITER EDgar the seconde sonne of Edmunde and brother of Edwyn laste kynge began hys reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lx and the .v. yere of Lotharius then kynge of Fraunce The whyche of dyuers wryters is wytnessed to be
But how it beganne myne authour myndeth not But ye shall vnderstand that at this daye the cytye of London had moste housynge and buyldynge from Ludgate towarde westmester and lytell or none where y e chefe or herte of the cytye is nowe excepte in dyuers places was housing but they stode with oute order So that many townes and cytyes as Caunterbury yorke and other dyuers in Englande passed London in buyldynge at those days as I haue sene or knoweÌ„ by an olde boke somtyme in the Guyldehal of London named Domys day But after the coÌ„quest yt encreaced shortly after passed excelled all y e other About the .viii. yere of this kynges reygne the kynge maryed erle Egbertus doughter named Ethelgina or Elgina Of the whyche in processe of time he receyued a son named Edmunde whyche after was surnamed Ironsyde and .ii. other sonnes named Edwyn and Ethylstane and a doughter named Edgina In this pastyme dyed saynt Ethilwalde byshop of wynchester He was borne in wynchester and noryshed vnder holy Dunstane at Glastenbury and there shorne monke and after was chosen abbot of Abyndon in the tyme of the reygne of kynge Edredus And in the tyme of Edgar he was sacryd byshoppe of wynchester where he made an abbay of nunnes and translated saynt Swythynes body out of the erth After whyche sayde Ethelwalde holy Alphegus abbot then of Bathe was sacred byshoppe of wynchester the whyche after was archebishoppe of Caunterbury and martyred hastely of the cruell Danys as after shall be shewed About the .ix. yere of Egelredus for stryfe y t was betwene the byshop of Rochester and hym he wyth his knyghtes beseged the sayde cytye wherof holy DuÌ„stane sent to y e kyng amonyssynge hym that he shulde refrayne hym of that cruelty suffre y e byshop and his citye in peace oneles that he offended saynte Andrewe patrone of that citye But this message mylded nothyng y e kynges courage Then thys blessed man sent to hym a hundred pounde in gold wyllyng hym to refrayne of that outrage the whyche he receyued and brake the syege Then blessyd Dunstane sente this message to the kyng For thou haste preferred golde before god and syluer before the apostle and couetyse before me right so euyll happes shall come vnto the but not whyle I am in lyfe But the kynge toke lytell regarde to those wordes but contynued in his insolent cursed dedes About the .xi. yere of his reygne dyed that blessed archbyshoppe saynte Dunstane Of whom Ranulff in the xiii chapyter of his .vi. boke of Policronycon maketh rehersall of dyuers of his vertues and myracles the whyche I passe ouer and the rather bycause his legeÌ„de or lyfe is manyfest Siricus was archbyshop after hym after hym wulricus And after wulricus blessed Elphegê° was archbyshop of that see It was not longe after the deth of holy Dunstane but that the Danys perced England in many and sondry places of the lande in suche wyse that the kynge was to seke to which coste he shuld go fyrst to wythstande his enymyes And in conclusyon in auoydynge of more harme he was compellyd to appeace theym wyth great summes of money But when y e money was spent they fyll to new robbynge of the people Then the kynge graunted more money But for all that the Danys robbed and spoyled y e couÌ„trey of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„d and besyeged London at the laste And for augmentacyon of the kynges sorowe Elfricus that then was mayster or admyrall of the kynges nauy fled as a false traytour And after that recoÌ„cyled fled the second tyme to the Danys wherfore y e kyng in wreche of the father commauÌ„ded the eyen of his sonne Algarus to be plucked or done out of his hedde But whyle this persecucion thus contynued by meanes of the holy byshoppe of wynchester Elphegus a peace was concluded for a tyme betwene the kyng and the Danys And the prynce or chefe captayne of them named Aulaff was so exorted by the said holy byshop y t he became a cristeÌ„ man to whome the kynge was godfather so that after the sayde Aulaff retorned to his owne without doyng of more harme so that for a whyle the warre of Danys seased But whyle that rested the blody flyx wyth a brennynge feuer vexed the people thorough the lande that myche folke therof dyed Contynuynge whyche mysery the Danys agayne assayled the lande dyd in dyuers places great harme so that for lacke of a good hed or gouernour many thynges in the land peryshed For the lordes were at such dyssencyon that one with that other that when they were assembled to speke or treate of peace betwene that one lorde and that other and yf any good thynge were dyuysed for the hurte of theyr enymyes anone the Danys were warned therof by some of the same counsayll wherof were suspected Elfricus and Edricus And to this sorowe was ioyned hunger and penury amonges the commons that eueryche of theym was constrayned to plucke and stele from other so that what by the pyllage of the Danys and inwarde theuys and brybours this lande was broughte in great mysery and myschefe THE CXCVIII. CHAPITER EGelredus then wrapped in misery lefte not to gader of hys subiectes what he myght as well by vnlaufull meanes as otherwyse For as sayth Ranulfe myne authour he wold for fayned or small causes dysheryte meÌ„ of theyr possessyoÌ„s after cause men to redeme theyr owne for great summes of money And ouer that he walowed in lechery gyuyng hym to all vycyous and incontynent lyfe of his body By whych vngracyous meanes he brought this land in such ruyne that what he myght not helpe by streÌ„gth he warred wyth money So y t from the fyrst entre of the Danys as testyfyeth Policronica in the .xviii. chapyter of his .vi. boke also Guydo wyth other authours that from the fyrst trybute of .x. thou sande pounde he broughte yt at the laste in processe of .v. or .vi. yeres to xl thousande pounde The whyche yerely durynge his lyfe and after to the commynge of saynte Edwarde was leuyed of his subiectes and named for the contynuance therof Dane gelt whyche is or was to meane money payde to the Danys or shortly Dane money In this tyme as yt were about the xv yere of his reygne dyed saynt Oswalde the archbyshoppe of Caunterbury And soone after dyed Ethelgina the quene And the body of saynte Cuthbert was translated from holy ylande to Durham in the whyche yle he helde anankers lyfe as yt is before shewyd in the storye of Cadwalader Thus contynuynge this lande vnder the greuous tribute of the Danys and also by susteynynge of many villanyes and iniuryes by the Englyshe men of the sayde Danys as after somdele shall appere this Egelredus by counsayll of his famylyers about the .xxi. yere of hys reygn maryed Emma y e doughter of Rychard duke of Normandy before mynded in the storye of Lewys the .v. and Lothayre hys sonne kynges of FrauÌ„ce The
subtyle meanes to be agreable vnto theyr vntrouth whyche erle had to name walref But at length when thys erle walref hadde knowen the fyne of theyr entent he went vnto Lamfranke and shewed to hym the hole mater By whose counsayll he shortely after sayled vnto the kyng then beynge in Normandye and dysclosed the mater to hym and putte hym holy in hys grace and mercye when the kynge had harde of these tydynges he made good semblaunt vnto this erle walref and sped hym the faster into Englande But howe so yt was the forenamed two erles were warned of dysclosynge of this mater in such wyse y t they gaderyd to theym suche strength that y e kyng coude not haue them at his pleasure but as he was fayne by stronge haÌ„de to chase and outlawe theym And for he fayled of his purpose of them he emprysoned erle walref at wynchester and lastely caused hym to be hedded more of tyranny then of iustyce as affermeth myne authoure whose corps was buryed at the abbay of Crowlande In the .xi. yere was holden a great counsayll or synode of the clergye of the lande in saynt Paules chyrche of London where amoÌ„ges many thynges ordeyned for the rule of y e chyrch of England dyuers byshoppes sees were transported from one place to another as Selwey to Chychester KyrtonÌ„ to Exeter welles to Bathe Shyrbourne to Salysbury Dorchester to Lyncolne and the see of Lychefelde to Chester whyche thynges thus ordered wyth many other for the chyrche the sayde counsayll was dyssolued In the .xiii. yere of hys reygne after the deth of Herman byshoppe of Salysbury succeded OsmuÌ„de y e kynges chaunceller The whyche buylded there a new chyrch and brought thyther clerkes that were garnyshed wyth vertue and connynge And he hym self wrote bounde bokes that were occupyed in the dyuyne seruyce of the chyrche as the ordynall or consuetudynary the whyche at this daye is occupyed in the more partye of Englande wyth walys and Irlande and is nowe named Salysbury vse or the ordynary after Salysbury vse In the .xv. yere of his reygne Robert the eldest sonne of kynge wyllyam the whyche was surnamed Curthose or Shorthose and shorte bote also for he myght not haue the duchy of Normandy whych his father hadde somtyme assygned and gyuen vnto hym and after for hys wyldenesse hadde agayne resumed yt he wyth fauoure and ayde of y e French kynge Phylyppe and of Lewys hys sonne toke prays in that duchy and put hys father to myche trouble in so myche that at length the father the sonne met in playne felde with .ii. great hostes and eyther wyth other faught a cruell batayll It is radde that durynge thys batayll wyllyam was throweÌ„ from his horse and in great ieopardy of hys lyfe wherof hys sonne Robert beyng ware was so moued wyth pytye y t he rescowed his father and delyuered hym free from all daunger of his enymyes But howe so yt betyde of the kynge trouth yt is that many of his men were slayn his second son wyllyam the rede sore hurte so that in the ende kynge wylliam was fayn to refuse the felde and gatte at that tyme none aduauntage of his sayde sonne For the whiche dede and rebellyon thus made by the sonne y e fader accursed hym after the opynyon of some wryters whyle kyng wyllyam was thus occupyed in Normandy the Northumbers waxte sterne rebell and slewe in theyr rage walkerus the bishop of Durham but for what cause myne authour expressyth not Aboute thys tyme warynge erle of Shrewesbury made two abbayes in the worshyp of god and saynte Mylborgh wherof one was set in the suburbes of Shrewesbury and y e other at wenioke In the .xvii. yere of kyng wyllyam a cursed stryfe was arered betwene Thurstone abbot of Glastenbury a Norman and his munkes wherof a part of the cause was that the abbot despysed wold haue set a part such songe and offices as by pope Gregory and Augustyn his dyscyple of old tyme to them was assygned wolde haue compelled them to haue folowed the vse of one wyllyaÌ„ of FescampÌ„ And ouer that this Thurstone wasted and speÌ„ded the goodes of y e place inordynatly in lechery and by other insolent meanes and wythdrew froÌ„ the munkes theyr olde accustomed dyet For the whyche causes fyrst beganne great wordes wyth chydyng and after strokes and fyghtes so y t the abbot gat vnto hym armed men and fyll vppon hys munkes slewe two of them at y e hygh alter and wouÌ„ded of theym .xviii. And the munkes wyth fourmes and candelstyckes defended theym in suche wyse that they hurte many of the armed men Then the complaynte was brought before the kyng by whose iudgemeÌ„t Thurstone was agayne returned vnto Cadony froÌ„ wheÌ„s he was brought and the muÌ„kes were spredde abrode into dyuers houses thorough Englande But yt is sayde that in the tyme of wyllyaÌ„ the Rede this ThurstonÌ„ obteyned the rule of that abbay agayne for the pryce of .v. hundred pounde In the .xix. yere of his reygne kyng willyam then raysed a new maner of trybute For he caused to be gadered thorough England of euery hyde of lande .vi. sÌ„ An hyde of lande conteyneth .v. yerdes and euery yerde conteyneth foure acres And so an hyde of lande conteyneth .xx. acres an acre conteyneth .xl. perches in length and .iiii. in brede .iiii. acres make a yerde and .v. yerdes make an hyde and .viii. hydes make a knightes fee. By the whyche reason a knyghtes fee shuld welde a hundred .lx. acres and that is demed for a plough tyll a yere And not longe after he caused to be serchyd howe myche lande eche of hys barons helde how many knyghtes fees how many townes what nombre of men and of bestes were wyth in this lande wherof he commaunded a boke to be made whyche all was done For the whyche dede this lande was after greued wyth many sondry plages as after shall appere In the .xx. yere of the reygne of kynge wyllyam Canutus kynge of Denmarke wyth helpe of the Flemmynges to whome he was called wyth a great armye came towarde Englande But by the prouysyon of the kynge they were so fered that they were let of theyr iourney Then kyng wyllyam gaue vnto .iii. of his champyons .iii. byshopryches To Moryce he gaue London to willyam he gaue Thetforde and to Robert he gaue Chester whych Robert was after remoued to Couentre Of this Robert reporteth Ranulfe that he scraped froÌ„ one beme of his chirch in Couentre .v. huÌ„dred marke to fyll wyth y e hande of kyng wyllyam For erle Leofricus y t was duke of Mercia in the tyme of Edwarde the coÌ„fâ—ssour had adourned that chyrch with great ryches of golde syluer other precyous iewelles In thys yere Edgare Ethelynge whych was reconcyled vnto the kynges fauoure by lycence of the kynge sayled into Apulia Then beganne the forsayde plages to sprynge For greate morayne fell vppon the brute bestes and brennyng
eche of them of other of one wyll and mynde toke shyppyng and sayled to Douer and in all haste spedde theym vnto Caunterburye where the .v. daye of Cristmasse they executed theyr tyrannye and martyred that blessyd archebysshoppe at that aulter of sayne Benet wythin hys owne chyrche in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousande a hundred and .lxx as yt ys wytnessyd by these versys folowyng Anno milleno centeno septuageno Anglorum primas corruit ense Thomas The whych is to vnderstande in our vulgare as thus ¶ The yere to reken from Crystes incarnacyon A thousande an hundred and seuentye therunto The prymate of Englande wyth great abomynacyon was slayne wyth sworde Thomas that wolde not do The kynges hest whyche erred the ryghte fro Of the chyrche and lybertyes of the same wherby of honoure he wanne perpetuall fame After this cruell dede thus by the foure knyghtes done wherwyth the kynge after some wryters was not contented the kynges fortune beganne to decreace and fall so that he hadde after thys many aduersyteys where before he knewe not of lyke trouble In the .xvii. yere of his reygne the kynge made a iourney into Irland where wyth great trauayle he subdued the Iryshe And after wyth helpe of the prymate and byshoppe of Arnache he refourmed the maner of the dwellers and people of that countrey and that in thre thynges specyally Fyrste in rulynge and orderynge of the chyrche by the curates how they shuld order theyr dy uyne seruyce and mynyster the sacramente of matrymonye as yt was in Englande and other crysten regyons The seconde was how that the laye people shuld behaue theym to theyr curates and what wyse they shulde paye and offer to god theyr tythes The thyrde was for makyng of theyr testamentes Thys was ordeyned that euery man shulde make hys laste wyll in p̄sence of his neyghbours or at leste cause yt to be rede in theyr presence And fyrste he shuld reken what he ought and to sette so myche of hys goodes And yf he had a wyfe and chyldren then the resydue of hys goodes hys dettys beyng payde to be deuyded in thre partes one to the wyfe the seconde for the chyldren and the thyrde to be spente for the weale of the soule And yf he hadde no chyldren then the halfe to hys soule and that other halfe to his wyfe And yf he hadde no wyfe nor chyldren then to dyspose hys goodes at hys pleasure In the returne of the kynge oute of Irlande was a wonder thynge shewed vnto hym vppon whytesondaye whyche in the calender is called dominica in Albys whē the kyng shuld take his horse sodeynly appered vnto hym a man of pale wanne colour barefote and in a whyte kyrtell the whyche bodely spake vnto the kynge in the langage of duche and sayde syr kynge Criste greetyth the we le and hys mylde moder mary with also Iohn̄ Baptyst and Peter and commaunde the streyghtly that no Markettes nor seruyle workes be holden vppon the sondaye in the landes of thy lordeshyppe oute take that longeth to dressynge of mete And yf thou do after thys byddynge I assure the that all thynge that thou begynnest to good entent or of good purpose thou shalt bryng yt to good ende The kynge lyked nothynge thys speche and sayd to the knyghte that helde hys brydell Aske of thys chorle whether he haue dremed all thys that he telleth wherunto thys man answered whyther I haue mette thys tale in my dreme or not take thou hede well of my saynge For and thou do not as I haue aduertysed the amende thy lyfe thou shalte shortely here suche thynges that thou shalte be heuy fore to thy lyues ende The kyng toke all in game and the man vanyshed sodeynly that the kyng his knyghtes wonderyd of hys departynge wherof when the kynge was warned both of hys fyrste sodeynly apperynge and of hys departynge the kynge sette yt nere hys mynde and entendyd to do some thynges after that mannys counsayll But how yt was yt had no forwarde After that the blessed man Thomas was martyred the munkes by assent of the kynge chase Rycharde pryour of Douer the whyche was a man of euyll lyuynge and wasted the goodes of y e chyrch inordynatly THE CCXXXVIII CHAPITER ABoute the .xx. yere of the kynges reygne he purchased a dyspensacyon for the vyage that before he hadde solempnely auowed before .ii. cardynallys to go into the holy lande and to ieoperde hys proper persone agaynst Crystes enymyes The whyche dyspensacyon was grauntyd vppon one condycyon that he shulde buylde thre abbays in Englande In fulfyllynge wherof the kynge put oute of the howse of waltham seculer chanons and set there in theyr stede chanons reguler And for the seconde he auoyded the munkes oute of the house of Aumbrysbury and sette there menchons that he hadde brought from beyonde the see And for the thyrde he renewed coursely the charter house of wytham besyde Salysburye By whyche thre dedes he thought hym selfe excused of hys former promyse Then beganne his sonnes to make warre vppon hym the whyche were ayded by the Scottyshe kynge and the two erles of Chester and of Lyncolne The cause of whyche warre was after the declaracyon of some wryters for so myche as the kynge hadde emprysoned Elyanoure hys wyfe and kepte that wenche Rosamounde agayne all good order But other say yt was for certayne landes in Normandye whyche by ayde of the Frenche kynge Rycharde the .iii. sonne of byrthe and seconde then lyuynge wolde haue taken from hys father Of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle Then as testyfyeth Ranulfe this innaturall warre endured by the terme of two yeres to the great dysturbaunce of the kynge and of hys realme tyll the kynge wyth great deuocyon vysyted the graue of the holy martyr saynte Thomas After whyche pylgrymage was by hym fynysshed in shorte processe after wyllyam kynge of Scottes and the two forenamed erlys of Chester and Lyncolne were taken at the castell of Anwyke But yet he lefte not the company of the forenamed Rosamunde to the whych wenche he hadde made an house of wonder workyng so that no creature man or woman myghte wynne to her but yf he were instructe by the kynge or suche as were ryght secrete with hym touchynge that mater Thys house after some wryters was named Labyrinthus or Dedalus worke or house whyche ys to meane after moste exposytours an howse wroughte lyke vnto a knot in a garden called a mase But the common fame telleth that lastely the quene wan to her by a clew of threde or sylke and delte wyth her in suche maner that she lyued not longe after Of the maner of her deth spekyth nothynge myne authoure but when she was dede she was buryed at the howse or monasterye of Goddestow besyde Oxenforde with these versys vppon her toumbe Hic iacet in tūba Rosa mūdi sed nō rosa mūda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere
land of Barry wyth great strength and wasted the countrey of Guyan wythout mercy wherof kynge Henry beynge warned in all haste assembled hys people then beynge in Normandye and dâ—ew hym towarde the Frenche kynge whyche then hadde layde syege vnto the castell called in frenche Raoull or the castell of Roaull when both hostes were nere and lykely to haue ioyned medyatours were sente vppon bothe partyes to treate a peace By meane wherof in processe a trewce was taken for a certayne terme so that eyther hoste departed wythoute strykynge of stroke at that season About thys tyme dyed Rycharde archebyshoppe of Caunterbury Of hym yt is redde that a voyce or vysyon was shewed to hym saynge to hym in the mouthe of Cryste For thou haste wasted the goodes of my chyrch I shal rote the out of y e erthe with which wordes he was so frayd that he dyed shortly after Then was Baldewyn byshoppe of worceter admytted to that see though the munkys of Caunterburye wythsayde yt wyth all theyr power In the .xxx. yere of the kynge Heraclius patryarke of Hierusalem came in to England to haue ayde agayne the Sarazyns that had wonne great parte of the landes that Cristen men had in the holy lande and for to defende the holy cytye whyche by Saladyne prynce of Surey was wonne shortely after For by the reporte of Peter Dysroy whyche made a boke in frenche of the wynnynge and losynge of the sayde cytye yt appereth that yt was woÌ„ne by Godfrey de Bulyon in the yere of Crystes incarnacyon a thousande .lxxx. and .xix and so coÌ„tynued vnder the rule of .ix. crysten kynges tyll the laste kynge named Guyde Lesyngham or Lesynguam loste yt wyth the holy crosse in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred lxxx and .ix. whych maketh the yere of the reygn of thys kyng Henry the xxxiiii Then yt foloweth in the story this Heraclius made besy request vnto the kynge for ayde and profered to hym the keys of the cytye and of our lordes graue and letters of Luciê° y e thyrd of y t name then pope chargyng him that he shuld take vppon hym y e iourney to haue mynde of the othe y t he before time had made The kyng deferred this answere and Baldwyne the archbyshop preached exhorted men to take y e crosse by whose meanes many there were y e auowed that iourney Lastely the kynge gaue answere and sayde that he myghte not leue hys lande wythoute kepynge nor yet leue yt to the praye and robbory of Frenchemen But he wolde gyue largely of hys owne to suche as wolde take vppon theym that vyage wyth thys answere the patryarke was dyscontent and sayde we seke a man and not money welnere euery crysten regyon sendyth vnto vs money but no lande sendyth to vs a prynce Therfore we aske a prynce that nedeth money and not money that nedeth a prynce But the kynge layde for hym suche excuses that the patryarke departed from hym dyscontentyd and comfortelesse wherof the kynge beynge aduertysed entendynge somwhat to recomforte hym wyth pleasaunte wordes folowed hym vnto the see syde But the more the kynge thought to satysfye hym wyth hys fayre speche the more the patryarke was dyscontented in so myche that at the laste he sayde vnto hym Hytherto thou haste reygned gloryously But here after thou shalt be forsaken of him y t thou at thys tyme forsakeste Thynke on hym what he hath gyuen to the and what thou haste yelden to hym agayne Howe fyrste thou were false vnto the kyng of Fraunce and after slewe that holy man Thomas of Caunterburye and lastely thou forsakeste the proteccyon of Crystes fayth The kyng was amoued wyth these wordes sayde vnto the patriarke Though all the men of my lande were one bodye and spake wyth one mouth they durste not speke to me such wordys No wonder sayde the patryarke for they loue thyne and not the. That ys to meane they loue thy goodes temporall and fere the for losse of promocyon but they loue not thy soule And when he hadde so sayde he offeryd hys hedde to the kynge sayenge Do by me ryghte as thou dyddest by that blessyd man Thomas of Caunterburye For I hadde leuer to be slayne of the then of y e Sarasyns For thou arte worse then any Sarasyn and thy people folowyth praye and not a man But the kynge kepte hys pacyence and sayde I maye not wende oute of my lande for myne owne sonnes wyll arryse agayne me when I were absent No wonder sayde the patryarke For of the deuyll they coÌ„me and to the deuyll they shall and so departyd from the kynge in great ire After the patryarke was thus departyd the kynge sente JohnÌ„ his seconde sonne into Irlande In the whyche vyage he spente the kynge great goodys and dyd lytle profyte or none In the .xxxi. yere of kynge Henry the Iewes crucyfyed a chylde in the towne of Burye in Suff. named Robert for whome god shewyd after many myracles And the .xxxii. yere the kynge made a vyage into Irlande to redresse thynges there oute of order But fortune was to hym so contrarye that he loste hys trauayle lyke as the yere before hys sonne IohnÌ„ had done In the .xxxiii. yere of thys kynge Henry at Dunstable in the ayre was sene a crucyfyxe and Cryste nayled theron whyche apperyd vysybly to many a mannys syghte And in thys yere the kynge loste the countrey of Aluerne when he hadde spente great goodes aboute the defence of the same Howe be yt of this warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle THE CCXI. CHAPITER IN the .xxxiiii. yere of the kynge Rycharde the erle of Poytowe arrered warre agayn king Henry hys father toke party with the Frenche kynge By meane of the whyche warre all suche summys of money as were before gatheryd by dymys and otherwyse for the helpynge of the croysye to be made into the holy lande by the sayde Rycharde and by many other nobles of the lande were spente in the same innaturall warre wherfore the kynge sayled into Normandy with a stroÌ„ge armye But or the kynge were there landed the sayde Rycharde by helpe of the Frenchemen hadde wonne the cytyes of Towres of Meaus and also the castellys of Raoull and Gysours wyth other At the laste the Frenche kyng Phylyppe the second wyth the sayde Rycharde came vnto the cytye of Cenomanna entendyng to laye syege vnto the same wherof kynge Henry beynge warned sette the suburbes on fyre bycause hys enmyes shuld in theÌ„ haue no socour But the flame of the fyre was by the wynde dryuen into the cytye so sharpely that the kyng was compelled to forsake yt wherwyth y e kynge was so amoued that in hys departynge from the cytye he sayde these wordes For thou haste taken from me thys daye the cytye that I moste loued in the worlde I shall acquyte the for after thys tyme I shall bynome the that thynge y t shuld most haue pleased the in me whych ys myne
see vnto the porte of Damas where vnder coloure of a fayned trewce they were taken and caste the moste parte of theym in pryson And when kynge Phylyppe hadde thus delyuered the patryarke he then gatheryd hys knyghtes and made an armye agayne Hugh duke of Burgoyne the whyche at that season and tyme hadde beclypped the castell of Uergye wyth a stronge syege and hadde promysed not to departe thens tyll such tyme as he had wonne that holde by appoytement or otherwyse And for the defence of rescouse that myghte be made for the same he hadde maÌ„ned foure castellys or towres there vnto adioynaunte wyth great strength of men of armys But after the kynge was thyder comen wyth hys hoste the sayde towrs were sone ouertourned and y e kynge wyth a certayne of hys people of Guy capytayne of the sayde castell of Uergy was ioyously into the same receyued and rendred to hym the castell and became hys lege man where wyth the sayde Hugh beynge â—ore amoued and dyscontented seynge there he was dyspoynted of his purpose departed thens wyth hys ordynaunce and people and robbed and spoyled the couÌ„tre there aboute sparynge nother chyrche nor howse of relygyoÌ„ in so cruell and greuous maner that the bysshoppes and abbottes of that partye of Burgoyne made pyteous request vnto the sayd Phylyp that he of his specyall grace wolde ayde and socoure them and theyr chyrches agayne the tyranny of the sayde duke Hugh The kynge beynge moued wyth thys pyteous requeste made sharpe warre vppon the sayde Hugh and at length wan from hym a stronge castell named Chastelone where wyth all the duke was put to suche a studyall and fere that he was forsed to seche meanes of treaty and of peace wherof the coÌ„clusyon was that he shulde paye vnto the chyrches before by hym hurted harmed .xxx. thousande pownd whyche conclusyon taken and surelye sette for the same the kynge retorned vnto Parys where the kyng so restynge hym a certeyne of tyme and hauynge experyence of the intollerable and foule stenches that dayly grewe by the fylthe of the erthe and myre in the stretes made prouysyon dylygently wyth ayde and helpe of the cytesens whyche as than hadde londe wythin the cytye that the stretes were shortely paued after And at thys tyme whanne the cytye was thus paued as affermen many authours the name of it was chaunged from Lutesse or Lewcesse vnto Parysse THE CCXLII. CHAPITER IN the .vii. yere of thys kynge Phylyp as sayth the FreÌ„che boke Margarete syster vnto thys Phylyp late wyfe vnto Henry late deceased and eldeste sonne of Henry the seconde kynge at this day of Englande was maryed vnto Belas kynge of Hungry In the .x. yere of thys kyng Phylyp the cytye of Hierusalem was taken of Saladyne prynce of Egypte and Guy de Lesyngnan laste crysten kynge of that cytye wyth the holy crosse was taken in the felde whych after that daye came neuer into crysten mennes possessyon Of thys sorowe heuynesse worde was broughte vnto kynge Phylyp wyth requeste of ayde to reskue certeyne cytyes as yet rested vnder the domynyon of the crysten as Tyre Tryple and Antioch wyth other small holdes For sauegarde wherof many nobles of Fraunce toke vpon them the crosse as the duke of Burgoyn the erle of Flaunders Theobalde erle of Bloyes the erle of Rochfoâ—d the erle of Champayne wyth many other noble knyghtes whyche for lengthe I passe ouer and also the reporte of theyr dedys for so myche as it coÌ„cernyth nothyng the mater that I haue promysed to speke of In this iourney also kynge Phylyppe enteÌ„ded to haue gone and for the same great taskes dymys were leuyed through oute his realme the whyche to this daye are called Saladynes dymes But the lette of this iourney as sayth the french cronycle was Rycharde duke of Guyan and after his father Henry the seconde that made warre vppon the Frenche kynge as before is touched in the storye of the sayd Henry Duryng whyche warre the sayde Henry dyed in the .xi yere of thys sayde Phylyppe About thys season and tyme the Iewes whych by meane of great gyftes had agayn purchased theyr dwellynge wythin the couÌ„trey of FrauÌ„ce wherof a wedowe was lady and mastresse called Branous in absence of the kynge toke a Crysten man surmysed agayne hym felonye and murder For the whyche by fauoure of the sayde lady the sayde Iewes set a crowne of thorne vppon the sayd crysten mannys hedde and after scourged hym and lastely in derysyon of Crystes relygyon and despyte of the same crucyfyed the same persone wherof when the kynge was enfourmed in all haste he sent into the sayd couÌ„trey or castell of Brayon and surprysed the sayde Iewys so sodaynly that none escaped and brent there of them to the nomber of .lxxx. for theyr malycyouse and abhomynable dede In the .xi yere of the reygne of thys Phylyppe dyed Isabell the quene of FrauÌ„ce his wyfe a womaÌ„ of good fame and of great vertue In the .xii. yere of his reygne as sayth the frenche boke thys Phylyp toke vppon hym the crosse hauynge promyse of kyng Rychard then newly crowned kyng of EnglaÌ„d to kepe company wyth hym in that iourney But he kept not promyse wherwith thys Phylyppe beynge dysconteÌ„ted sayled before and layde syege vnto the cytye of Acon or Acre From this sayenge varyeth Policronica and also Peter Desroy For Polycronycon sayth that after the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce hadde made suerty betwen them for performauÌ„ce of this iourney they both to gyther taryed at Turon in Fraunce for to abyde the somer tyde And at spryngynge of the yere they of one wyll purpose toke theyr vyage towarde the holy lande that ys to wytte that one by water and that other by land and mette agayne in Cecilia where the FreÌ„che kynge deê‘ted from hym and so sayled to the sayde cytye of Acone or Acre and layde hys syege there vnto In whych pastyme kyng Rycharde warred vppon the kynge of Sypres hym wyth his land subdued after came vnto AconÌ„ where the Frenche kyng had longe lyen at syege without gettynge of any great auauntage of his enymyes saynge vnto kynge Rycharde that he hadde spared the wynnynge of the towne tyll hys commynge to the ende that he at his commyng myght be parteyner as well of the honoure as of the wynnynge But how it was such vnkyndenesse fell betwene theym there after they hadde woonne the sayde towne as after in story of kynge Rycharde shal be shewed that this kyng Phylyppe retourned into Fraunce shortely after In the whych returne the sayde Phylyppe sykened and the duke of Burgoyne dyed And when kyng Phylyppe a season had soiourned in FrauÌ„ce he maryed Iugebert the doughter of the kynge of Denmarke The whyche maryage as sayth Ranulfe was desyred of the Frenche kynge to haue wyth her graunted the tytle whyche the Danes had vnto the crown of England wyth also .x. thousand markes of syluer for to wynne wyth y
hys reygne ouer England the xvii daye of Nouembre the morowe after saynt Edmond the archbisshop in the yere of our lorde M.CC lxxii the .ii. yere of the .iii. Phylype than kynge of Fraunce reygned nobly yeres .xxxiiii. fo lv Elyanoure mother to kyng Richard was enlarged fo iiii Edmounde Crouchbak was maried to the doughter of y e erle of Amnarle as apereth in fo xliiii EdmouÌ„d wodstocke wroughte treason fo lxxxviii Edward the sonne of Henry foresayd distressed the barons as it is shewed folio xxxix Edwarde forsayd dystressed the Barons the seconde tyme as is shewed folio xxxix Edwarde the holy kyng and confessour was translated as it shewed in folio xliiii Edwarde was crossed into the holy lande and of hys feates there done folio xlv Edwarde of Carnaruan as apereth folio lviii Edward the second called Edwarde Carnaruan the sonne of the fyrst Edwarde began hys domynyon ouer Englande in the moneth of Iuly and yere of our lorde god M.iii. C. vii and the .xxi. yere of the .iiii. Phylyppe or Philip the fayre than kynge of Fraunce and reygned yeres full xix fo lxxiiii Edwarde the fyrst maryed to hys .ii. wyfe the Frenche kynges syster folio lxv Edwarde the .iii. of that name sonÌ„ of Edwarde the secoÌ„de and of dame Isabell the doughter of Philippe le Beawe or the .iiii. Phylyp late kyng of Fraunce whych Edwarde aboute the age of .xv. yeres began hys reygn ouer the realme of England the .xxv. daye of Ianuary in the yere of grace M.iii. C. .xxvi and the .iiii. yere of Charles the fayre thaÌ„ king of FrauÌ„ce the whyche reygned yeres .li. folio lxxxvi Edwarde Carnaruan was myserably slayne as is shewed fo lxxxvii Edwarde Bayloll was made kynge of Scottes fo lxxxviii Edwarde the .iii. sayled into Braban wyth hys wyfe loke in fo xci Edward the .iii. chaleÌ„ged y e hole kingdome of Fraunce fo xciii Edward the eldest sonÌ„ of the duke of yorke was electe for king of EnglaÌ„d loke in fo cc.vi. Edwarde the .iiii. of that name and eldest sone of Rychard duke of yorke whych was proclaymed heyre paraÌ„t to the crowne began hys domynyon ouer the realme of Englande in the iiii day of Marche in y e yere of grace M.iiii C.lx the .ii. yere of the .xi. Lowys than kyng of FrauÌ„ce reygned at that tyme .viii. monethes yeres viii fo cc.xiiii Edwarde the .iiii. beforenamed wan the felde of Barnet vpon Ester daye agayne kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. in the yere of grace M.iiii C.lxxi yere of Lowys the French kyng aforesayd and reygned after that day .x. monethes and yeres .xii. So that fyrste laste he reygned ouer .vii. monethes assygned to Henry the .vi. dayes .xxxvi. monethes yeres .xxi. or wyth the sayde monethes of Henry the .vi. set to Edwardes reygne make .xxii. yeres and odde dayes fo cc.xx. Edwarde the .v. of that name sonne of Edward the .iiii. of the age of .xiiii. yeres and lasse began to reygne as kyng of EnglaÌ„d the .x. daye of Apryll yere of our lord M. iiii.lxxxiii the xxxv yere of the .xi. Lowys thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce and reygned tyll the .xx. day of Iuly next folowyng in which season passed dayes .lxxii. folio cc.xxiiii Elizabeth the holy womaÌ„ doughter of the kyng of Hungery fo xxi Eleanoure quene of her progenye loke in fo lxi Emperoure of Almayne came into England fo c.lxvii Emperour forsayd came agayn into thys lande fo c.lxxii Enuye of Frenchmen fo v Enguerram was put to deth folio lxxxiii Epytaphye of Rychard the fyrste as apereth in fo x Epytaphye of Frederyke the emperour fo xxv Epytaphye of Edward the fyrst loke in fo lxviii Epytaphye of Edward the .iii. folio cxvi Epytaphye of kyng Rycharde the .ii. loke in fo clxvi Erthquake fell in EnglaÌ„d fo xxv Erle of Penbroke was ouerset with Frenchmen other fo cxiii ExpressemeÌ„t of the grudges atwene kyng Rychard the fyrst the FreÌ„che kynge fo iiii Eugeny pope and of hys actes folio clxxxvii FAlse Cryst was crucyfyed as is shewed in fo xix False clerke of Oxenforde whych fayned hym selfe madde came to wodstocke enteÌ„dyng to haue slayne king Henry the .iii. fo xxii Faytes or actes of warre done at DoÌ„stable fo xcvi Fysshes wonderfull takeÌ„ in the .xxxv yere of kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. fo cci FlorenÌ„ of golde was made by kynge Edward the .iii. fo xcvii Fryers mynors came fyrst into Englande loke in fo xix Fryers Augustynes in the .xxxv. yere of kynge HeÌ„ry the .iii. buylded theyr house in a place in walys called wodhous as is shewed fo xxvi Fryers were put to deth loke in folio clix Frenche kyng sent for hys doughter that was kynge Rychardes wyfe folio clix FreÌ„ch nauy dyscoÌ„fyted fo clxxiiii Froste excedyng loke in fo clxviii GAscoynes make warre agaiÌ„st FrenchmeÌ„ borderers in kyng Charles the .v. days as is shewed in folio lxxxvi Gabell or taxe reysed vppon salte in Fraunce loke in fo cxix Guynes castell was yoldeÌ„ to Englishmen loke in fo ci Grudge betwene Baldwyn and his monkes fo vii Grudge arose betwene kyng IohnÌ„ hys lordes fo xvi Grudge and dyspleasure betwene y e bysshop of wynchester and the duke of Glouceter it is shewed in folio clxxxi Grudge and murmure toke place amonge the nobles of Fraunce as appereth fo cc.xxviii HArme done by thonder as appereth in fo cvii Hawâ—e wythout reuerence of the sacrament was slayne in the churche folio cxli Hastynges lord Chamberleyne was sodeynly put to deth fo ccxxiiii Henry the thyrd of that name sonnÌ„ of king IohnÌ„ a chyld of .x. yeres began to reygne ouer EnglaÌ„de in the moneth of Octobre and yere of oure lorde M.CC. .xvii and the .xxxvii. yere of Phylype thaÌ„ kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .lvi fo xviii Henry Bolyng broke y e .iiii. of y e name and sonne heyre of IohnÌ„ of Gaunt duke of LaÌ„castre the whyche IohnÌ„ was secoÌ„d sonne of Edwarde the .iii. lyuyng after theyr father or the .iii. sonne to rekyn prynce Edward this Henry after the deposicioÌ„ of Rychard in the ende of the moneth of SepteÌ„bre begaÌ„ to reygne ouer EnglaÌ„de in the yere of our lorde M.iii. C.lxxx xix and the .xix. yere of Charles y e .vii than kyng of Fraunce and reygned yeres .xiii. fo clxiii Henry the .vi. of that name sonnÌ„ of Henry the .v. of y e name sonne of HeÌ„ry the .iiii. began hys reygne ouer the realme of EnglaÌ„d vppon the morne after saynt Cuthbertys day or y e â—xi day of Marche in the ende of y e yere of grace M.iiii C. .xiii and y e â—xxii yere of Charles the .vii. than kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .ix. fo .clxx HeÌ„ry the .v. dame Kateryne doughter of Charles the .vi. or .vii. a chylde of halfe yere of age begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer EnglaÌ„d FrauÌ„ce in the ende of the moneth of Iuly and yere
Punysshement for murdre as appereth folio lviii Parlyament holden at westmynster folio lix Parlyament holden at London as apereth folio lxxv Peace concluded betwene Fraunce Flaundres fo lxxiii Parlyament holden at London as apereth fo lxxxviii Parlyament holden at westmynster as is shewed in fo xci Parlyament holden at NorthamptoÌ„ as is shewed folio xli Parlyament holdeÌ„ at yorke fo lxxix Parlyament holden at Northampton as appereth in fo lxxxvii Parlyament holden at Salysbury as appereth in folio lxxxvii Parlyament holden at Burye as is shewed folio cxciiii Parlyament holden at Couentre beholde in folio cciiii Parlyament holden at Leyceter as is shewed folio clxxi Parlyament holden at Leyceter called Battys as is shewed fo clxxxii Paulys steple sette on fyre fo cxciii Pagentes and other ordenaunces made by LoÌ„doners for the receyuyng of the kynge fo clxxxv Parys was loste by treason as it is shewed fo clxii Peace concluded betwene the regent and the kyng of Nauerne fo cxxxv Peter kynge of Castyle was beheded as is shewed in fo cxi Peryn was draweÌ„ out of the church and hanged as is shewed fo cxxix Plees put in exercyse for the countre of Arthoys folio cxvii Plees remoued frome London to yorke as is shewed in fo cxlvi Pryde of the Frenche kynge as it is shewed in fo lxxiii Prynce Edwarde maryed the erle of Henawdes doughter fo lxxxi QUene hythe was fyrste let to ferme to the cytesyns of London as appereth fo xxvi Quest passed betwene the abbot of westmynster and the cytye of LondoÌ„ as is shewed in fo xxxv Quene of Englande sayled into Fraunce for cause fo lxxxi Quene of Englande was proclaymed enemye fo lxxxi Quene foresayd landed in England by strength fo lxxxi Quene Anne was speciall good lady to the cytye of London fo cxlvi Quene Anne dyed fo cxlvii Quene Margarete was receyued of the Londoners fo cxciii Quene Margarete made a voyage into Englande fo ccxv Quene Margaret was taken as is shewed in fo ccxx RIcharde the fyrst of that name and sonne of HeÌ„ry the second began to reygne in Englande in the yere of our lorde M.C.xci the .xi. yere of the second Phylyp reygned yeres wyth odde monethes .x. In the fyrste yere of thys kynge the cytye of London was commytted to the rule of two baylyfes whyche so coÌ„tynued tyll the .x. yere of kyng IohnÌ„ as it is shewed in fo iii Rycharde the .ii. of that name sonnÌ„ of prynce Edwarde sonnÌ„ of Edward the .iii began hys reygne ouer Englande the .xii. daye of Iuny in y e yere of our lord M.iii. C.lxxvii the .xiii yere of the .v. Charles than kynge of Fraunce and reygned yeres .xxii. folio cxlii Rycharde the .iii. of that name brother vnto Edwarde the .iiii. beynge duke of Glouceter and protectour of England began to vsurpe the .xxvi. daye of Iuny in the yere of our lord M.iiii C.lxxxiii yere of Lowis thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce and so contynued yeres .ii. full as moche as from the xx day of Iuny to the .xxii. day of August by dayes .lvii. fo ccxxv Ranulphe erle of Chester and of hys doughters fo xxi Rayne excedyng fo lxxvii Resygnacyon of the duchye of Normandy folio xxxii Resygnacyon of kynge Rycharde folio clii Resygnacyon shewed in the parlyament folio cliii Robert Knollys knyghte and of hys feates folio ciiii Robert Knollys toke saynt Omiers and other holdes fo cxi SAuoye a place of honoure in London was brent by the coÌ„mons folio cxlii Saynt mary Oueryes in Southwerke was fyrste bylded fo xv SaiÌ„t Stephyns chapell of westmynster begonne fo cix Syege layde to saynte Omyers folio xciiii Syege layde to AmyaÌ„s fo cxxxiiii Scottysshe kynge dyd homage to kyng IohnÌ„ fo xi Scottes brekyng theyr othe fo lxiii Scottes were subdued fo lxiii Scottes had peace to theyr aduauntage fo lxxxvii Scottes were agayne ouerturned folio lxxxviii Scotisshe kynge taken prysoner folio cii Spensers were banysshed fo lxxviii Spensers bothe the father and the some were put to deth fo lxxxii SoÌ„ne was turned to the coloure of blode folio lxxx TAnner a vyllayne surmysed hym heyre to the crowne of Englande fo lxxvi Table of syluer was gyuen to kyng Rychard fo cxlvii Templers knyghtes of religyoÌ„ were dystroyed fo lxxâ—ii The sentence agayne kynge Iohan was denounced fo xiii The wardys of London were cessed folio xcii Thre fyftenes were graunted at one tyme. folio cxi Tytle or ryghte whyche the kyng of Englande hath vnto ScotlaÌ„de se in folio lxii Tytle of Edwarde the thyrde whych he hadde to the crowne of Fraunce folio cxvi Tytle of the duke of Glouceter had to the crowne was shewed at Paules crosse fo ccxxiiii WArdes and churches wythin LoÌ„don fo ii Uaryaunce began betwene the pope and kyng IohnÌ„ fo xii Uaryaunce betwene LondoÌ„ North ampton fo xxxiii warre betwene the kynge of EnglaÌ„d and of Fraunce fo xiii warre was concluded betwene the sayd landes fo cxxxiiii warre betwene kynge IohnÌ„ and hys lordes fo xvii warre was made in Normandy as appereth fo lxii warre made in Guyan wyth fortune therof fo lxxx warre betwene the Frenche kynge the kynge of Nauerne fo cxxiii warde and maryage of heyres was graunted to the kynge fo xx wyllyam walworthe slewe Iacke Strawe folio cxlii Usurers were punysshed as it appereth folio cxxi ☞ Here endeth the seconde Table THE PROLOGE NOw for as mych as we be comen to the tyme that officers were chosen and chargyd wyth the rule of the cytye of London yt is necessary that here we do shewe what offycers they were of the name that to them was admitted ad gyuen Then ye shall vnderstand that at the commynge of wyllyam coÌ„querour into thys lande as euydently apperyth by the charter of hym to the cytezens of London graunted that before those dayes and then the rulers of the sayde cytezens were named Port greuys whyche worde ys diriuate or made of .ii. saxon wordes as port and greue Port is to meane a town and greue is ment for a gardyen or ruler as who wolde meane gardeyn ruler or keper of the town These of olde tyme wyth the lawes and customys then vsyd within thys cytye were regystred in a boke called the Domysday in Saxon tunge then vsed But in later dayes when the sayde lawes and customes alteryd and chaunged and for consyderacyon also that the sayde boke was of small hande and sore defacyd yt was the lesse set by so that yt was enbefelyd or loste so that the remembraunce of suche rulers as were before the dayes of thys Rycharde the fyrst whose story shall next ensue are loste and forgoten wherfore nowe I shall begynne at the fyrste yere of the sayde fyrste Rycharde the whyche of some wryters is surnamed Cure de Lyon and so contynew the names of all offycers as well baylyuys mayres and shryues tyll the laste yeres of Rycharde the thyrde
Saynte Mychaell there Crepelgate warde xxv Saynte Mary magdaleyn in mylke strete Saynt Mary in Aldermanbury Saynt Mychaell in Hogynlane Saynt Albons in woodstrete Saynt Alphy by Crepulgate Saynt Olaff in Syluer strete Saynt Gylys wythout the gate The summe of the paryshe chyrches wythin London C.xiii. HEre after ensue the howsys of relygyon monasteryes colleges chapellys and other beynge no paryshe chyrches wythin the cytye The cathedrall chyrch of saynt Poule in the ende of Chepe The pryory of saynte Barthelmewe in Smythfelde The hospytall or spytyll a cell of the sayde pryory The charter house standyng wythin the warde of Crepulgate Elsynge spytall wythin the sayde warde The chapell of our Lady of Bedlem in Byshoppes gate warde The house of saynt Elyne in y e same warde of nunnys The pryory of Crystes chyrche with in Algate Saynte Anne abbaye wythin Portsokyn warde of whyte munkys The howse of y e Meneressys of close nunnys wythin the same warde The chapel of our lady of Barkyng in the towre warde An howse of crossed frerys in the same warde A colege of saynt Antony in y e warde of Bredstrete A colege of saynte Thomas called Acrys standynge in Chepe An house of frere Augustynes in Brode strete warde An house of gray frerys standyng in the warde Faryngedon wythin An house of blacke freres standynge by Ludgate within y e foresaid warde An house of whyte freres standynge in Flete strete A chyrche or college called the Temple standynge at Temple barre A chapel standyng in pardon chyrch yarde wythin Poulys A chapell standyng in y e chirch yarde at Poulys ouer the charnell house A chapell standynge wythin Crepell gate saynt Iamys in the wall A chapell called Pappey staÌ„dyng besyde Bishoppes gate founded by the prestes of that fraternyte A chapel of corpê° Cristi in y e Pultry A chapell of saynt Thomas of CauÌ„terbury staÌ„dyng vpon LoÌ„donbridge A chapell standynge in yelde Hall yarde of our Lady A colege of prestes standynge by Poulys called saynte Martyne le graunde The summe of housys of relygyon chapellys and other .xxvii. westmynster The abbbaye of westmynster The kynges newe chapell Saynte Stephans chapell Saynt Margaretes chyrche A chapell at Totehyll A chapell of saynt Anne in Totehyll strete Saynte Iamys in the felde A chapell at Rauncyuale A paryshe chyrche therby of saynte Martyne A chapell of our lady of Pewe Chyrches monasteryes chapellys and other housys wherin god is dayly seruyd standynge in the cyrcuyte of the cytye wythoute the wallys and fyrste wythoute Algate A paryshe chyrche of our ladye standynge wythoute the barrys called whyte chapell A colege of saynte Katheryne standynge on the eest ende of the towre of London A paryshe chyrch or chapell wythin the sayde towre of saynte Peter Southwarke The monastery of Bermundsey A paryshe chyrch of Mary Magdaleyne standynge faste by A paryshe chyrche of saynt George A paryshe chyrch of saynt Magaret An hospitall or college of saynt Thomas A paryshe chyrche of saynte Olas A monastery of chanoÌ„s callyd saynt Mary Ouereys and with a paryshe chyrche of saynt Mary Magdaleyn standynge faste thereby wythout the Temple barre A paryshe chyrch of saynte Clement A chapell of saynte Spyryte Saynte Ursula at strande wythoute Smythfelde The pryorye of saynte IohnÌ„ in Hierusalem A house of nuÌ„nys named ClerkeÌ„wel A a chapell in pardon chyrche yarde wythout Byshoppes gate Shordyche paryshe chyrche Saynte Mary spytell A house of nunnys callyd Halywell And of the dyuyne houses without the cytye .xxviii. The summe of all the dyuyne houses wythin the cytye and wythoute is a hundred and .lxviii. RIcharde the fyrst of that name and seconde sonne of Henry the second beganne hys reygne ouer EnglaÌ„d in the moneth of Iuly and yere of our lorde .x. hundred .lxxx. and .x and the .xi. yere of the seconde Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce Thys Rycharde prouyded besely to sette good rule in NormaÌ„dy when he hadde harde of hys fathers deth and after spedde him into England where he was ioyously receyued in the moneth of September folowynge and thyrde daye he was crowned at westmynster of Baldwyn archbyshoppe of Caunterburye Uppon the whyche daye the Iewys of Englande and specyally suche as dwellyd within London and nere about assembled of them a certayn nomber and presumyd farther then requyred for theyr authoryte For whyche presumpcyon they were fyrste rebuked after one of theÌ„ strykeÌ„ which thyng sene of the coÌ„mon people supposyd that to be done by the kynges commaundement wherfore in a fury as those that they hated as the deuyll for theyr vsury other vnhappy condycyons they fell vppon theym and chased them to theyr houses them robbed and spoyled wythout pytye and brent some of theyr housis wher of the rumour ranne to westmynster to y e kynges audyeÌ„ce wherfore in all haste he sent downe gyuyng strayte coÌ„maundement that they shuld cease of that ryot But the people were in suche ire and wodenesse that they refrayned not for all the kinges sonde tyll they hadde executed the fyne of theyr malyce And all be yt that thys ryot was after greuously shewyd agayne the commons of the cytye yet yt passed vnpunyshed for the great nomber of the transgressours And the sayde daye of coronacyon all prysoners that lay in any pryson aboute London at the kynges sute or for other small or fayned accyons were frely delyueryd Soone after the kynge gaue many dygnytyes and to hys brother IohnÌ„ he gaue the prouynces of Notyngham Deuonshyre and Cornewall and creatyd hym erle of Lancaster And then the kynge ordeyned the cytye of London to be ruled by two baylyues whose names were as foloweth Anno domini M.C.xc.  Anno domini M.C.xci.  Henry of Cornehyll  Balliui  Anno primo  Rycharde fyz Ryuer  IT was not longe after that y e the kynge hadde thus exalted hys brother IohnÌ„ as before is shewwyd but that he also preferryd hym to the maryage of the erle of Glouceters doughter by reason wherof he was lorde of that erledome These great auauÌ„cementis made him after vnkynde to his broder and by pryde therof to coueyt afterwarde the hole kyngdome Thys yere kynge Rycharde was assoyled of the offence that he had vsyd in rebellyon agayne hys father In recompeÌ„sacyon wherof as testyfyeth the authour Guydo he voluntaryly toke vppon hym and promysed to warre vppon Crystes enymyes All be yt that other wryters shewe that yt was for that that hys father had so wylled hym by hys lyfe But for what cause so yt was preparacyon and prouysyon for that iourney was made from that daye forthwarde Thys yere also the kynge enlarged Elyanoure hys moder whyche long before at the commaundement of his father her husbande was as a prysoner kepte in secrete kepynge After whych enlargyng y e land was mych guydyd by her counsayll And thys yere as sayth Ranulfe kynge Rycharde gaue ouer the castellis of Barwyke and Rochysburghe to y e Scottyshe kyng for the summe
that done he caused to be caste vnto the erthe .iii. C. of y e fayrest houses of the cytye And after certayne suÌ„mes of money by hym receyued towarde hys charge he departed thens towarde Tholowse there by aduyce of hys barony for so moche as wynter was towarde he retourned into Fraunce so sped hym on hys iourney that vppoÌ„ the euyn of all Saintes he came to a place called MouÌ„te Pauncer in the prouynce of Aluerne where he was takeÌ„ with stronge sykenesse and dyed within .iiii. dayes after whose corps with grete honour was conueyed vnto saynt Denys there buryed by hys father when he had reygned .iii. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne the whych is nowe named saint Lowys and was than of y e age of .xii. yeres or nere thereaboute LOwys the .x. of that name surnamed saint Lowys and son of the .ix. Lowys laste kynge began hys reygne ouer the lande of FrauÌ„ce in the moneth of Nouember and yere of grace .xii. C. .xxvi. and y e .x. yere of Henry the .iii. then kynge of Englande The whyche for hys tendernesse of youthe was thought insufficyent to take so greate a charge and specyally of y e duke of Brytayne thaÌ„ named Peter Mancler the whyche encensed and styred many noble men agayne the sayde Lowys But at length by prouysyon of quene Blanche hys mother and other lordes he subdued hys enemyes at Raynes was crowned in the moneth of DeceÌ„ber folowyng of the bysshop of Soy sons for so moche as at that tyme y e see of Raynes was voyde The .iiii. yere of hys reygne and of hys age .xvii. he buylded the house of relygyon called Royan mount settherin monkes of Cysteauxe ordre whyte monkes and endewed theym with ryche possessyons It was nat longe after that great varyaunce fyll betwene the vnyuersytye or studientes of Parys and the cytezeyns of the same in suche wyse that the studyentes were in purpose to haue lafte y e cytye to haue kepte theyr study ellys where Of y e whych stryfe the frenche boke expresseth nat the cause but saythe that the kynge made good spede to agree theym for so moche as kyng HeÌ„ry of Englande had made laboure to the sayde studyentes to come into hys countre to enhabyte theym there with many great pryueleges But in coÌ„clusion y e frenche kynge so entreated theÌ„ that they agreed to reste there styll And that of a congrueÌ„ce for they myghte dwell in no lande where they shulde more surely be defended For y e kyng of Fraunce bereth the floure de Lyce for one of that causes that is to saye for to defende the clergy And the fayth of Chryste betokeneth the myddle leef And the thyrde betokeneth Chyualry So that by the chyualry the clergy is defended whych mayâ—teyne the faythe of the holy chyrche Aboute thys season kynge Lowys maryed to hys fere Margarete the doughter of the erle of Prouynce Soone after y e matrymony was solepnysed Frederyk the secoÌ„de before in y e story of HeÌ„ry the .iii. mynded Emperour of Almayne set vnto Lowis requyrynge hi y e he wolde mete hym at a place called Ualcolour to y e ende that he myght commoÌ„ with hym whyche request kynge Lowys accepted with a goodly company kepte there hys daye of metynge But whan the Emperour was ware that he was commen thyder wyth suche a company he fayned hym syke and broke hys appoyntement wherfore the frenshmen construyed that yf the kynge had comen thyder with a small or weke company he wolde haue conueyed hym into hyghe Almayn and there to haue kepte hym tyll he had of hym hys pleasure concernynge the warre betwene kynge Henry and hym or in other thynges But when kynge Lowys espyed the delucyon of the Emperour he then retourned into Fraunce It was nat longe after that y e kynge was enfourmed of the obstynacy of the Albygensis the whyche of longe tyme had beÌ„ effected with dyuers poyntes of herysy and many tymes recoÌ„cyled by the kynges of Fraunce and other yet fallen agayne to the sayde errour wherfore the kynge sent vnto syr Iohan Beawmount the whych ioyned vnto theym chargynge hym to enuade that countre and to waste and distroy it tyll he had forced theym to restore to the chyrch suche goodes as they before had taken frome it and ouer that to cause theym to make amendes to the good chrysten people whyche they had harmed by meanes of theyr rapynes and exorcyoÌ„s UpoÌ„ whyche commaundement thus froÌ„ y e kynge receyued the sayde Iohan with a competent nombre of knyghtes entred the sayd couÌ„tre and layde syege to a stroÌ„g castell named MouÌ„t Royall And after many forte assautes wanne the sayd castell manned it with Frenchemen And than yode to an other stronge holde than named Saygos and there lykewyse ordered the same And after wastyng the countre wanÌ„e from theym many townes holdes so that in the ende he forced the chyefrules of that prouynce to obey theym to all hys hestê and delyuered to hym suertyes or hostagys for the perfourmaunce of the same So y t he retourned into FraÌ„ce with greate pompe and honour and receyued of the kyng at hys home coÌ„mynge great thanke with many ryche gyftes Aboute the .xv. yere of kynge Lowys the warre was quyckened betwene thys Lowys HeÌ„ry the .iii. than kynge of Englande for causes before shewed in the .xxvi. yere of the sayde Henry And after that warre as there is shewed ended the kynge whyche was towarde the cytye of Lyon to haue vysyted the pope Innocent the .iiii. whyche thyder was fled for fere of Frederik the fore named Emperour was taken with a sykenesse named dyssenterya of the flux wherwith he was so greuously vexed that he laye longe at a towne called Poyntoyse and was in great ieopardy of lyfe where lastly after many pylgrymages for hym done with prayers and other obseruaunces longe to accompt lastly it came to hys mynde that yf it pleased god to restore hym to hys helth he wolde make a vyage into the holy lande there warre vpon Chrystes enemyes After whyche promyse solemply auowed he mended dayly and was sone after restored vnto hys helthe whan the kynge was recouered and retorned vnto Parys he called a couÌ„sayll of spyrytuall and temporall there shewed vnto theym of the promesse whyche he had made requyryng theÌ„ of theyr assystence and ayde wherin he fonde hys lordes were agreable And in the tyme and season y t prouysyon was made for that iourney the kynge wyth a goodly company rode vnto the abbey of Cluny to vysyte the foresayd pope and he taryed with hym .xv. dayes And after hys matter with hym sped wyth playne remyssyon to hym graunted and all other that kept with hym that vyage he retourned into Fraunce And vpoÌ„ wytsondaye folowynge he kepte a great courte of hys landes at MeleoÌ„ where in presence of them he called before hym Beatryce doughter vnto the erle of Prouince and syster to
of theyr pryncys y t is to mene the corps of Lewys and theyr naturall prynce Phylyppe hys son and of the obseruaunces done and great assembles of the lordes spirytuall and temporall to welcome theyr prynce and doynge of theyr duties euery man according to honour But after al these ceremonies in due order fynyshed prouysyon was made for the coronacyon of the kynge The whyche was crowned at the cytye of Raynes vppon the daye of the assumpcyon of our lady in the yere of grace .xii. hundred .lxxi. SHortely after that the solempnyte of this coronacyon was passed kynge Phylyppe for his recreacyon rode into the countrey of Uermendoyse where after he had derestyd hym a season Robert erle of Artoys requyred hym to vysyte hys countrey where he was receyuyd of the burgeysys of Artoys wyth great honour and gladnes and there was feastyd with all disport and gladnes by a certayne of tyme after The whiche expyryd he returned into FrauÌ„ce About the thryde yere of his reygne the erle of Foys contrary y e kynges pleasure toke partye agayn Getarde a knyght lorde of the castell of Casseboun or Tasseboun y e which before had slayn y e brother of the erle of Armenac specyall freÌ„d of the sayd erle of Foyz whyche sayde two erles to reuenge the deth of theyr sayd brother pursued the sayde Gerarde so narrowly that for his sauegarde he refused his owne castell and fled vnto a castell of the kynges and there helde hym wyth his wyfe chyldren and substauÌ„ce But when the two erles were ware therof they sped them thyder wyth theyr powers and layd syege to the castell and in the ende threwe it downe to the grounde and slewe all the souldyours that they there founde as well the kynges seruauntes as other hopynge to haue founde theyr enymye Gerarde the whyche was escapyd thens secretly when the rumour of this dede came vnto the kynge he dysdayned sore that dede and toke yt ryght grevously In so myche that he called hys lordes and by theyr counsayll assembled hys knyghtes and entred wyth force the prouince of the erle of Foyz The whyche herynge of the kynges great dyspleasure fortyfyed hys castell and there helde hym The which was so besette wyth rokkes of stone that the kynge myght not wynne to yt wyth ease wherfore the kynge coÌ„maunded the rokkes to be cutte with masons and other worke men made a solempne othe that he wold not depart thens or he hadde the erle and his castell at his pleasure when the erle hadde beholden the great power of his enymyes and the prouysyon of the kyng to wynne his castell wyth other ieopardyes he made meanes to the kynge for grace and fynally putte hym and his into his mercy Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be bounde and so to be conueyed to the casrell of Beauquesu where he was imprysoned by an hole yere after And the kyngâ—â—eased all hys landes and set a certayne of hys knyghtes to kepe hys castell and caryed hys wyfe and chyldren wyth hym into Fraunce But after a yere runne the kynge was so laboured to by the frendes of the sayd erle that he was eularged from pryson and vppon suertye suffred to serue in the kynges courte where he bare hym so well y t fynally the kyng made hym knyght restored hym to all his laÌ„des But what fyll of y e erle of Armenac the story sheweth not Aboute the .vi. yere of his reygne kynge Phylyppe maryed Mary the doughter of the erle of Burbon or after some the doughter of Iohan the duke of Braban the whych he loued entyerly wherof Peter de Broshe then beynge lorde chamberlayne hauynge enuy and disdayn sought the wayes and meanes to mynyshe the great loue betwene her lord and her and fonde by his meane that a sonne of y e kynges named Lewys was prysoned the whyche dede he by subtyle secrete meanes as though yt had nothyng comen of hym layde yt to y e charge of the quene For this y e kyng made many maner of inquysycyons as well by sorcery as other But in al his workes he found his quene gyltlesse wherfore he sufferyd the mater to passe tyll he myght haue more assured profe in that mater Aboute thys season Ferdinandus kynge of Castyle that before tyme hadde maryed Blanche doughter of saynt Lewis dyed leuyng after hym two sonnes borne of y e sayd Blanch named Ferdinande and Alphons whych by couenaunt at the mariage made shulde be heyres vnto the kyngdome of Spayne and Castyle But the father of this Ferdinande so beynge dede contrary hys honour and promise wrote vnto the lordes of Castyle amonestynge theym that they shulde admytte for theyr kynge hys seconde son named SaÌ„xyon or Sanxio and swere to hym both feautye homage The whyche was all done accordyng to hys commaundement so that Blanche was dyspoynted of her dower and her chyldern of theyr ryght and enherytauÌ„ce For y e which kyng Phylyppe her brother was greuously dysconteÌ„tyd and for reforma cyon therof sente vnto the kynge of Spayn his chefe boteler wyth other desyryng hym to perfourme all such couenauÌ„tes as betwene hym and his fader were coÌ„cluded at the maryage of his syster Blanche or at the laste yf that he refusyd y t to do y t he wold sende hys sayde syster wyth her two chyldern sauely into Fraunce In coÌ„clusyon y e mother wyth her two chyldern were brought by the sayde boteler vnto the kynge wythoute other pleasure other in worde or in dede For the whyche he the yere folokyng gaderyd a stronge hoste and passed wyth theym by Poyteau and Gascoyne tyll he came vnto a towne ioynynge to the border of Spayne named Sainterre where the kyng met another party of his hoste There by counsayll of some of his lordes the kynge concluded to retourne into Fraunce for daunger of wynter that was coÌ„mynge and other hyd causes But the rumour in the hoste went y t some of the kynges counsayll hadde receyued rewardes of the kynge of Spayn By meane wherof the kyng loste that iourney and returned into Fraunce to his great dyshonour and damage In tyme of kynge Phylyppes returne into Fraunce tydynges were broughte to hym that Eustace de Beau Marche whom the kyng had appointed to haue the gydyng of the countrey or kyngdome of Nauarye was besyeged in the citye of Pampulyne wherfore y e kyng coÌ„maunded y e erle of Artoys to spede hym thyder to rescowe the sayde Eustace The whyche behauyd hym so manfully that he rescowed the sayde Eustace and chasyd Garsymerans chefe styrrer of that rebellion and brought the people of that countrey agayne to due subieccyon whyle the erle of Artoys was thus occcupyed in the sayd countrey messangers came to hym from the kynge of Spayne requyrynge hym sene that he was so nere that he was so nere y t he wold come disport him there for a season wher of y e erle of Artoys sent kyng Philip worde hauyng of hym
payd in one yere but by deuided porcions in .iii. yeres ensuyng And of the lay fee or temporall men of EnglaÌ„de he had grauÌ„ted to hym the .x. peny of theyr mouables the which was payd in .ii. yeres next ensuyng And thys yere in y e moneth of Marche was drawen hanged at London for treason done in Fraunce a knyghte called syr Thomas Turbeuyle And aboute y e tyme of Easter whan Charlys de Ualoys as ye before in that other yere haue harde had lyen longe at the castell of Ryon myght nothyng wynne vpoÌ„ the Englyshmen but dayly loste of the best of hys knyghtes he sent for more ayde and socoure At whyche tyme came vnto hym syr Rauffe Nele constable of Fraunce with a fressh company and thaÌ„ assawted it of new But whan they had lyen there a season sawe they preuayled nothynge agayn theyr enemys they yode vnto an holde there by named Poudency and it assauted for so moche as the more nombre of the sowdyours there were Normans and after .viii. days by appoyntemente or otherwyse gat the sayd holde so that all the Englisshemen had theyr lybertye goodes and the Normans taken as prysoners the whyche they brought after vnto the castell of Ryon and there in syghte of the sowdyours hanged al or the more partye of the sayde Normans whan the Gascoynes beynge wythin the towne and castell of Ryons sawe then theyr cosyns and couÌ„trey men hanged before theyr eyen they caste in theyr myndes that yt was done by treason of the Englysshmen and that they wolde at length deale wyth them in lyke maner By reason wherof stryfe and varyauÌ„ce arose betwene the EnglysshemeÌ„ and the Gascoygnes so that eyther of theym feryd the treason of the other For the whyche cause syr Iohan Seyn Iohan syr IohnÌ„ de Britayn syr Robert Typtoft syr Rauffe TaÌ„ny syr Hugh Bardolfe syr Adam Cretynge with dyuers other fledde by see and in that maner saued them selfe and soone after the sayd towne and castell of Ryons was wonne by the Frenchemen and the inhabytauÌ„tes of the same sworne vnto the freÌ„ch kynge ye haue harde before in the .xxii. yere of thys kynge howe after the dethe of Alexander kyng of Scottes many questyons fyll amonge y â— sayd scottes who by ryght of enherytauÌ„ce shulde be kynge of that lande consyderynge that the sayde Alexander had lefte after hym thre doughters the whyche lyuyng theyr father were maryed The fyrste to syr Iohan Bayloll the seconde to Roberte le Bruze and the thyrde to one named Hastynges Many of the lordes of Scotlande wolde haue crowned syr Iohan Bayloll by reason that he maryed the eldest of the doughters But the frendes of Robert le Bruze withstode it with all theyr power And other there were that heâ—de with Hastynges so that after greate stryfe and longe varyaunce the matter was broughte before kynge Edwarde as chyef lord and soueraygne of that lande promysinge to hym to abyde all suche determynacyon and iugemente as he shulde sette therin Than kynge Edwarde to the ende that the scottes shulde knowe perfytely that the kyng of EnglaÌ„de ought of ryghte to be there chyefe hede and soueraygne shewed vnto theym suche olde wrytynges as he lyttell tofore had caused to be serched and founde in the whyche it was conteyned by the auctorytye of olde cronycles and wryters as Maryanus y e scotte wyllyam of Malmesbury Roger of Huntyngdon and other that in the yere of our lorde .ix. C.xx kynge Edwarde the elder made subget vnto hym the kynges of Cumbrys and scottes Also in the yere of grace .ix. C. and xxi the foresayd scottes Cumbrys chase the sayd Edwarde the elder to be theyr chyefe lord and patron And in y e yere of our lord .ix. C.xxvi Ethelstane than kynge of Englande subdued constantyne than kyng of scottes and after admytted the sayd Constantyne to reygne as kynge vnder him by othe of obeysauÌ„s with feaute and homage Also Edredus brother to the sayde Ethelstane subdued of newe the scottes with the Northumbrys and receyued of them agayne othe and homage And ouer that it is founde in the sayd cronycles that Edgar ouercame Alphunius the son of Kynadus kynge of Scottes and receyued of hym feawty homage and helde hym vnder hys obeysauÌ„ce as he had done hys father Kynadus before tyme. Moreouer it is there wytnessed that Canutus in the .xvi. yere of hys reygne subdued Malcolyne than kyng of scottes and receyued of hym feawty and homage Furthermore wyllyam Conquerour in the .vi. yere of his reygne subdued Malcolyne kyng of Scotlande the whyche before tymes had receyued the sayde kyngdome of the gyfte of Edwarde kynge and confessoure And wyllyam the rede dyd in lykewyse vnto the sayde Malcolyne and vnto hys two sonnes that reygned in Scotlande the one after the other Also Dauyd kynge of scottes dyd homage vnto Stephane than kyng of Englande And wyllyam kynge of scottes dyd homage vnto Henry the thyrde at the tyme of hys coronacyon and after came vnto hys father Henry the seconde whan the forenamed HeÌ„ry was deed in Normandy made hys homage to hym agayne Thys Henry that was sonne vnto Henry the seconde is of many wryters named Henry the thyrd for so moche as he was the .iii. kyng that was crowned of that name But for he dyed before hys father hys dedes ben lytell spoken of so that of some wryters he is nothyng mynded And it foloweth in the story howe that AlexaÌ„dre kyng of Scottes in y t .xxxv. yere of HeÌ„ry the thyrd or son of kyng IohnÌ„ maryed at yorke Margarete doughter of the sayd Henry and dyd vnto hym homage for the realme of Scotlande and bouÌ„de hym and hys heyres kynges of Scotlande by hys letters patentes to be trewe vnto the sayd HeÌ„ry vnto his heyres kynges of Englande lyke as before tyme wyllyam kyng of Scottes had oblyged hym vnto the seconde Henry as before in the .xxii. yere of hys reygne is more manyfestly shewed And more to them was shewed y â— popes bulles the whych were sent before tymes into Scotlande by auctoryte wherof the kynges of ScotlaÌ„de were accursed for they wolde nat be obedyent to theyr lordes kynges of Englande WHan all these presedentes were sene by y e Scottes a day was assygned of metyng at NorhmÌ„ in the marches betwene Englande and Scotlande whyther vnto the kyng came the chief rulers of the Scottes where they excused them to be bouÌ„de vnto the kyng for the obseruynge of the kynges ordenaunce for so moche as they lacked a kynge an hede by whome all suche ordenaunces shuld be maynteyned and holdeÌ„ But after by aduyce of bothe parties agremeÌ„t was made by the scottes that they shuld be bounde to obey the kynges iugement wheruppon bondes were made vpon bothe partyes that is to meane the kyng was bounde to theÌ„ in an hondreth thousande pounde y t within .ii. monethes after he had receyued the possessyon of the lande he shulde gyue it vnto
that conclusyon so there taken by the sayde counseyle the kynge sent his letters vnto the sayde barones commaundynge theym to come vnto the sayde parlyament The whiche at the day aboue sayde with a great hoste of men of armes came to London in a sute of iakettes of cotes of demy partye of yelowe and grene with a baÌ„de of whyte cast ouerthwarte For this skyll that parlyamente loÌ„ge after of the comune people was called the parlyament of whyte bandes Than for to se the kynges pease were substancyally kepte within the cytye of London the mayre caused dayly a thousande men well harnessed to watche in dyuers wardes and at dyuerse gates of y e cytye y e whiche began at foure of the clocke in the mornynge and so contynued tyll .vi. at nyghte At whiche season as many were ordeyned too take thanne the charge of the nyght watche and so to contynue tyll the houre of .v. in the mornynge And for thys nyghte watche shuld be surely kept two aldremeÌ„ nyghtly were assygned to ryde about the cytie with certayne officers of the towne to see the watchemen we le and dyscretly guyded And the gates were shyt at .ix. of the clocke opened agayne at .vii. on the morow euery cytezyn warned to haue hys harneys by hym that he myghte be redy with shorte warnynge when so euer he were called Thus in y e cytye the sayd watche coÌ„tynuyng the foresayde parlyamente was holden at westmynster where amonge other thynges for the weale of the lande as that counceyll than coulde thynke determyned one was that syr Hugh Spenser the father syr Hughe the sonne shuld be banysshed out of y t realme of England for terme of lyfe And soone after that banysshement was put in execucion so that they bothe were broughte vnto Douer there to take shyppynge where syr Hugh the father made woÌ„derfull great moone when he shulde take hys shyp and cursed hys sonne in presence of suche as had the Guydynge of theÌ„ sayng that by hys meanes he was banysshed from the flour of all landes cristened Than y e kyng dyssolued the parlyament and euery man retourned to hys owne But yt was nat longe after that worde was broughte vnto the kyng y t syr Hugh Spenser the sonne houyd vpon the cooste of Englande and toke prayes of all marchauÌ„tes that passed by hys course But the kyng let as he had knoweÌ„ of no suche thyng and suffered that wyth many mo euyl dedes to go vnpunysshed the whyche at lengthe he repented full soore and toke thereof great remors in conscyence as it appereth in the ende of hys reygne Anno domini M.CCC.xix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xx  Symon Abyngdon  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xiii.  IohnÌ„ Preston  IN thys .xiii. yere the kynge reuoked the actes or withstoode them whyche were made at London in the laste parliament and called agayne into Englande the Spensers bothe the father sonne contrary the wyll of the barons and set theym in lyke auctoryte as they before had beÌ„ to the great dystourbaunce of all the realme And soon after vnder colour of a tytle made by the quene vnto the castell of Ledys in Kent whych than belonged vnto syr Barthen de Bladysmore knyght than beynge on the baronys partye the kynge besyeged the sayd castel and by helpe of the cytezyns of London lastly wanne it by strength and spoyled the mouables therof whych was to a greate value after the sayeng of some wryters In thys passetyme that the kyng hadde thus called agayne the Spensers ruled many thynges after hys sensuall apetyte and pleasure nothyng regardynge the comon weale of the realme the barons coÌ„syderyng well that the Spencers shuld in processe bryng the lande in great ruyne the kyng to great dyshonoure enteÌ„dyng to refourme the myschyef that therof myght ensu gadered vnto theÌ„ great power And whyle syr Thomas erle of Lancastre was gatheryng of hys people y e .ii. Mortymers y t is to say syr Roger Mortymer of werke syr Roger of wigmoore with other yode into the marche of walys toke by strengthe certayne cytyes townes belongynge to the Spencers pursuyd also some of the kynges seruauÌ„tes wherfore the kyng herynge of y t rebellyon of hys lordes made hasty spede and with a greate hoste came about by Shroysbury and was nere vnto them or they were ware so that for fere the sayd Mortymers yelded them vnto the kynges grace mercy the whiche forthwith were conueyed as prysoners vnto the towre of LoÌ„don Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xx  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxi  Reynolde at Conduyt  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xiiii.  wyllyam Prodham  IN thys .xiiii. yere whaÌ„ y e kyng had ordered the countre of the marchys foresayd after hys mynde had to hym gathered more strength about saynt Chaddys day or begynnynge of Marche the kyng with hys people came downe to Glowceter where with hym mette the SpeÌ„sers with theyr people And from thense he yode vnto Lychefeelde at whyche season the erles of Lancaster and of Herforde were at and the remenaunt of theyr hoste at BurtoÌ„ vppon Trent fortyfyed the brydge y t the kyng myght nat wynne ouer the sayde ryuer Than the kynge was brought vnto a foorde beganne to set ouer his knyghtes wherof heâ—â—ng the sayde erles forsooke the sayde towne of and yode toward the towne or cytye of But or they myght passe farre vppon theyr iournay they were encouÌ„tred of syr Aymer de Ualance erle of Penbroke with the Spensers and other of the kynges hoste vppon the .xii. daye of Marche and of them ouerset and coÌ„strayned to fle and so yode in proces of tyme to PouÌ„tfret In thys meane season the erle Thomas had sente a knyght of hys named Robert HolaÌ„d into Lancasshyre for to arere hys tenauntes But when the sayde syr Robert herde of that skyrmysshe and howe hys mayster was fled he than drewe hym to the kynge and presented hym with suche companye as he had thaÌ„ gathered And thus y e kyngê power dayly encreased and y e batons dyscreased ThaÌ„ the baronys heryng of the goyng of syr Robert Holande vnto the kynges pattye were with it sumdeale abasshed and tooke theyr counsayll in the freers of Pountfreâ— where after many opynyons reasons amonge them debated argued yt was fynally by them concluded y t they shuld goo vnto the castel of DuÌ„stanborough there to holde theÌ„ tyll they myght purchase the kynges grace And so spedyng theyr iournay thy derwarde with suche people as they than had they came in processe of tyme to a towne called Burgh brydge where they were encountred of syr Andrewe of Harkeley knyght wyth other that were come out of y e North with a stronge company The which there nere vnto the sayde towne sette vppon the barones and in the ende sconfited theÌ„ and chased theyr peple In the whyche fyght was slayne the erle of Herforde syr Roger Benefeld and syr wyllyam SullaÌ„de and
y e secōde Edwarde yet kynge of Englande was crowned at Raynes the .xii. day of February nexte ensuynge After whiche solempnyte fynysshed ended he in short proces of tyme after sent vnto the .xxii. Iohan than pope assertayned hym of y e gossyprede y t was atwene hym and Blanche his wyfe wherof the examynacyon by y e sayd pope was commytted vnto the bisshoppes of Paris of Beauuais mayster Godfrey de Blessys prothonotayr of the countre of Rome The whiche after due and perfyte examinacyon in that mater made they founde that Mawde countesse of Artoys and mother to the fore named quene Blanche was godmother vnto kynge Charles her husbande Of the whiche whan they had made reporte vnto the pope he gaue sentēce that the sayd matrymony was not legyttymat and cōmaunded a deuorce and a separacyon to be made atwene those .ii. persones The whiche was shortly after executed In the seconde yere of this Charles dyed Robert erle of Flaūdres without yssue wherfore the sayd erledam fell into y e Frenche kynges handes so that of it he was in processe by thagrement of the lordes of the same put in peasyble possessyon all be it the erle of Neuers made therunto a pretēce tytle And in this yere kynge Charles about the feest of saynt Mathewe in Septēbre maryed his seconde wyfe named Mary the syster of the kynge of Bohemy or Beme and doughter of Henry erle of Lucenbourgh and late emperoure of Almayne named in the lyne of the emperours Henry the .viii or after some wryters y e .vii. Also in y ◠sayd yere one named Iourdan of the I le a Gascoyne borne a man of noble lynage but lowe vyle of condycyons to whom the foresaid pope Iohn̄ in maryage hadde gyuen hys nyese for reuerence of his byrth thys season by the meane of his vyle condycyons and suche dyshoneste cōpanye as he drewe vntyll hym he fell into many sclaūderous vyces so that lastly he was accused of rape murder and of felony Of the whych he was at length in .xviii. artycles by due profe made cōuycte by the lawe and iudged to be hanged But the kynge at the request of the pope and for the honoure of hys blode graunted to hym a charter and pardoned hym of all former transgressyons But that not wythstandynge he in processe of tyme fell or retourned vnto hys olde accustomyd condicyons And among other greate crymes by hym executed he slewe a sergeaunt of armys belongynge to the kynge that to hym was sent in message For whyche murder and other detestable dedys he was newely accused and vppon that somonyd to apere at Parys before the kynge and hys counsayle At whych day of apparence he came to the sayde cytye wyth a great companye and some noble men whiche were to hym nere of kynne and excused him to the vttermost of theyr powers But agayne hym and to accuse hym came many other lordes barons Of the whyche the marques of Ampton or Dampton wyth hys sonne were chyefe that put causes of complaynt agayne hym The which made suche prouys and declaracyōs agayne the sayde Iourdan that he was cōmytted vnto the chastelet of Parys there to remayne as a prysoner And in processe of tyme suche maters and trespaces were prouyd vpon hym that he by authoryte of a parlyament holden at Compeyng was lastly iudged to dye And soone after that is to meane the .vii. day of Maye he was drawyn to the gybbet of Parys and there hanged In the thyrde yere of his reygne thys Charlys gaue vnto the erle of Neuers y t before tyme hadde made clayme to the erledome of Flaunders y ◠sayde erledom the whyche of the Flemynges and inhabytauntes of that coūtrey was wel and ioyously receyued Than he in shorte whyle after gaue vnto the townes of Gaunt Brugys Ipre and other dyuers pryuyleges and grauntes to theyr great auauntage profyte But it was not longe after that he wanne of them as mych grudge and hatred as he to fore had loue good wyll And all for a taxe y t he set vpon the dwellers of Brugys and the coūtrey nere there vnto and specyally of them that dwelled in the countrey For they thought y t theyr charge exceded farre the charge of y e dwellers within the towne wherfore by secrete meanys they appoynted a daye of assemble amonge them selfe and sodeynly well armed entred the towne of Brugys and slewe therin dyuers of the erles seruauntes and some of the borough maysters of the sayde towne suche as they suspected to be of counseyle of the leuyenge of the sayd taske In the .iiii. yere of his reygne thys Charlys after the dethe of Mary hys seconde wyfe by dyspensacion of the pope the .xxii. Iohn̄ he maryed Iane his cosyn Germayn the doughter of Lewys erle of Euroux and vncle vnto thys kynge Charlys or brother to hys father Phylyppe le Beawe IN this abouesayd .iiii. yere the quene of Englande and syster vnto thys kyng Charlys of Fraūce to treate an vnite and peace bytwene hyr lorde and hyr brother for the warre made in Gascoyne as before is towched in the .xv. yere of Edward the seconde hyr lorde and husbande and there taryed and retourned as aboue in the sayde yere is expressed In thys yere also the erle of Flaūders fore named for suspeccyon that he hadde to Robert of Flaūders hys vncle leste he for hys synguler auaūtage wold supplant hym of that erle dome he made letters vnto the gouernours of the towne where y e sayd Robert was resyaunt and abydyng that they shulde put hym to dethe But by the warnyng of his olde and trusty frende the erlys chaūcellour he was warned and so auoyded that towne For thys greate malyce and rancoure arose bytwene this Robert and the erle whyche was not shortly pacyfyed But it was not longe after that a nother taske or imposycyon was leuyed of the townes of Gaunt Brugys Ipre and other townys of Flaunders The whyche taske was leuyed in recompensemēt of suche warres made vpon Flaunders by Phylyp le Beawe or more dyrectely for paymēt of twelue thousand pownde awardyd by Ioselyn the cardynall as before is shewed in the seconde yere of the .v. Phylyppe that the Flemynges shulde paye to the French kyng for byenge of theyr peace Of thys taske to be leuyers or gaderers was assygned the pryncypall men of the sayde townes y t whiche by theyr demeanure in the leuyenge therof demeaned them in suche wyse that they ranne in great hatred of the comon people In so myche that they accusyd theym and sayde that they hadde leuyed or gatheryd moche more than the sayde taske amounted wherfore they desyred of the erlys counsayle that the sayde persons myghte be called to accoūpt But thys requeste myght not be opteyned whyche caused the comons to runne in further grudge and murmure An other thynge also caused suspeccyon for the erlys counsayle and the sayde collectours hadde so
cytye And in the same moneth syr Godfrey de Harcourte whych as before is sayde alyed hym with kynge Edwarde and wolde nat apere after certayne sommons was now opeÌ„ly banysshed as traytour enemy to y e crowne of Fraunce And in the same moneth was syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tforte delyuered out of pryson vppon such condicions as before is rehersed in y e xiii yere of this kyng And soon after were put vnto deth at Parys syr Iohan de Malestreet syr Godfrey de Malestreet the father the sonne syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„talbone syr wyllyam de Bruys syr IohnÌ„ de Cablat syr IohnÌ„ de Plessys knyghtes esquyres IohnÌ„ de Malestrete neuew to y e forsayd knyghtê GuyllmÌ„ de Bruze Robert de Bruys IohnÌ„ de Senne and Dauy de Senne And shortely after at Parys were put in execucion thre Norman knyghtes for affynyte or fauour whych they had borne towarde syr Godfrey de Harecourt and theyr heddes sent vnto saynte Loup in Constantyne a cytye of NormaÌ„dy whych sayd knyghtes were called sir wyllyam Bacon syr Roulande de la Roche tessone and syr Rycharde de Percy IN the .xvii. yere of thys Philip one mayster Henry de Malestrete clerke deakeÌ„ brother to the aboue named syr Godfrey before put in execucion whych sayd mayster HeÌ„ry was mayster of the requestes with kyng Philip for so moch as he after y e deth of hys sayd brother yode vnto kyng Edward and couÌ„sayled hym agayne kyng Philip after by assygnemeÌ„t of kynge Edwarde was set in great auctorite wythin the towne of Uannys in Brytayne whych towne was after goten by the FrenchmeÌ„ he therin as one of the chefe capytaynes of the same taken was imprysoned within the castell of Parys Out of the whyche at thys season he was taken thens and set in a tumbrell thereunto fastened wyth chaynes of yren and so coÌ„ueyed bareheded with dynne and crye thorugh y e hygh stretes of Parys tyll he came vnto y e bysshoppes palays of Parys and there deliuered vnto the bisshop And soon after by vertue of a commissyoÌ„ purchased by kynge Philip of the pope to haue the sayd mayster Henry dysgraded he was depryued of all degrees and ordres of the churche and thaÌ„ deliuered vnto the execucioners The whyche by .iii. days coÌ„tynuall a certayn season of y e day set hym vpoÌ„ a ladder in y e syght of all people to y e enteÌ„t that euery man chyld might throwe at hym all fylth ordour of y e strete the whiche was done without all compassion and pyte in so cruell wyse that by the thyrd dayes ende he was dede and after buryed vnreuerently In the sayde .xvii. yere of kynge Philippe also as before is shewed in the .xix. yere of kynge Edwarde the thyrde Iaques de Artyuele whych was especiall promoter of the sayde kyng Edwardes causes came vnto y e towne of Gaunt and shewed vnto theym dyuers apoyntmentes to be holde betwene theym and other townes of FlauÌ„dres where vpon the .xv. day of Iuly by diuers coÌ„spiratours of the sayd towne of Gaunte he was pursued from one house to an other and lastly slayne murdred by them to the kynges of Englande great displeasure hurt wherefore the sayde kyng Edwarde was fayne to retourne into Englande wythoute spede of hys purpose lyke as before in y e sayd xix yere of his reygne is declared In thys yere also and the moneth of Decembre dyed syr IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tfort which as before is sayd claymed the duchy of Brytayn and lefte after hym a sonne named also syr IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tfort the whyche in lykewyse claymed the sayd duchy of Brytayn maynteyned the warre agayn syr Charles de Bloys as hys father before had done In the .xviii. yere of kyng Phylyp fyrste daye of Iuly at Parys was than putte to deth by cruel execucioÌ„ a cytezyn of CompeynÌ„ named Symonde Poylet a man of greate ryches The whych for he had sayd in open audience that the ryght of the crowne of Fraunce belonged more ryghtfully vnto kyng Edward than to kynge Philip he was fyrste hanged vpon a tree lyke as an oxe is haÌ„ged in the bochery there dismembred as fyrst the armys and after y e legges cut from hys body and lastly hys hede stryken of and the trunke of hys body hanged by chaynes vpoÌ„ the commoÌ„ gybet of Parys And vppon a saterdaye beynge the .xxvi. day of August in the foresayde .xviii. yere of kynge Philippe was foughten at Cressy the batayll before expressed in the .xxi. yere of kynge Edwarde the thyrd where the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce was slayne taken prysoners Than soone after kyng Philippe for the defence of the charge of hys warres asked a subsidie of the monkes of saynt Denys And amoÌ„g certayne iewelles of that place to be had he demauÌ„ded the greate crucyfyx of golde standynge ouer y e hyghe aulter of that monastery wherunto the monkes answered y t they mighte nat departe with that crucifyxe for Eugenius the thyrde of that name pope accursed al them that layd any hande vpon that crucifyxe to the entent to remoue it from that place as it appereth by wrytynge set vnder y e fote of the sayd crosse by whyche answere the kyng was pacifyed And in the moneth of DeceÌ„bre syr Godfrey de Harecourte wyth a towell double folden about hys necke came vnto y e presence of kyng Philip and yelded hym holy to hys mercy and grace the whyche graunted vnto hym hys pardon And in shorte whyle after all the Lumbardes vsurers wythin y e realm of Fraunce were taken and sente to dyuers prysons And all suche persones as stode bouÌ„den vnto them for any bargeyn or lone of money by way of vsury it was ordeyned that y e sayd persones beyng dettours to the sayd vsurers shulde paye the pryncypall dette vnto the kynge at theyr dayes of payment the resydue whyche remayneth to the vsurer for hys lucre of gayne for the lone of hys money shulde be pardoned to the dettour And after the sayd Lumbardes vsurers were delyuered from pryson by payenge of greate and greuous fynaunce In the .xix. yere of thys Philippe for so moche as wytnesseth the FreÌ„ch cronycle that y e Flemynges by great manacis and perforce had constrayned theyr erle to be assured by bonde of assuraunce vnto the doughter of kyng Edward contrary hys voluÌ„te and wyll the sayde erle nat wyllyng to accomplysshe that maryage in the Easter weke by a cautele deê‘ted out of FlauÌ„dres and came to y e Frenche kyng to Parys of whome he was honourably and ioyously receyued And in the same yere one named Gawyn de Belemount an aduocate of the spirituall lawe entendynge to betray y e cytye of LaonÌ„ acqueynted hym with a poore maÌ„ than dwellyng in that citie of Meaus named Colyn Tomelyn y e whych before tyme was fled the cytye of Laon was thaÌ„ for lacke of substauÌ„ce comyn to Meaus there mayntened
to the value of a M. marke sterlynge Upon a tuysdaye beyng the fyrste day of Iuly was foughten a batayll at Parys betwene two knyghtes wherof the appellaunte was named syr Foukes Dorciat and the defendauÌ„t syr Maugot Mawbert whych appellauÌ„t was sore vexed with a feuer quarteyne by reason wherof and of the great hete that y e day appered after longe fyght the sayd appellauÌ„t lyght from hys horse for hys refresshemeÌ„t wherfore hys frendes of hym were in great doute But his enemye was also so sore trauayled y t what for hete laboure he was also ouercome was lykely to haue fallen froÌ„ hys horse and or he myght be taken downe he swowned dyed whan syr Fowkes was ware of y e feblenesse of hys enemye anon as he might he dressed hym on fote toward hys aduersary fande hym starke dede whyche by lyceÌ„ce of the kynge was after had out of the feelde and secretlo buryed the sayde syr Fowkes for feblenesse was by hys freÌ„des ladde vnto hys lodgyng In the .xii. yere of kynge IohnÌ„ xxi day of Nouembre Phylyp duke of Burgoyn erle of Artoys of Aluerne and of Boloyngn a chylde of the age of .xiiii. yeres or lesse dyed at a town nere vnto Rome called GuyoÌ„ By reason of whose deth kyng IohnÌ„ as nexte heyre had after possession of al the sayd laÌ„des toke possioÌ„ therof shortly after In the .xiiii. yere of the reygne of kyng IohnÌ„ thyrd day of Ianuary he for specyall causes hym mouyng as for the enlargyng of his sonne the duke of Orleaunce other yet pledges for hys rauÌ„some toke shyppyng at Boloyne so sayled into EnglaÌ„d and arryued at Douer the .vi day of the sayde moneth and after yode to Eltham and from theÌ„s was coÌ„ueyed vnto LoÌ„don as before is shewed in the .xxxvii. yere of kyng Edward In tyme of whose there beyng syr BarthraÌ„ de Glaycon made warre vpoÌ„ the kynge of Nauerne wan from hym the towne of Maunt in Normandy And by the duke of NormaÌ„dy soone after was wonne from the sayd kyng the towne of MeÌ„leÌ„ce within y e which were taken dyuers Parysyens that shortly after for theyr infidelite were put in execucioÌ„ at Parys And thus the warre betwene the kynges of FrauÌ„ce Nauerne was newly begoÌ„ Than kynge IohnÌ„ beyng as before is sayde in Englande a greuous malady toke hym in the begynnynge of Marche of the whyche he dyed at London vpoÌ„ the .viii. daye of Apryll folowynge so wyth great honoure and solempnyte coÌ„ueyed to the sees syde and there shypped thaÌ„ in processe caryed into Fraunce where vpon the .vii. day of May and yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxiiii he was solempnely enterred in the monastery of saynt Denys whaÌ„ he had reygned .xiii. yeres .vii. monethes and odde dayes leuynge after hym thre sonnes that is to say Charles whych was kyng after hym Lewys and Phylyp CArolus or Charles y e .vi. of that name or .v. after som writers y e eldest sonne of kyng IohnÌ„ beganne hys reygne ouer the realme of FrauÌ„ce the .ix. day of Apryll in the begynnynge of the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxiiii and the .xxviii. yere of Edwarde the the .iii. than kynge of Englande and was crowned with dame Iane hys wyfe at Raynes the .xix. day of May folowynge In thys fyrste yere syr Barthran de Glaycon lyeutenaunt of the sayde Charles in NormaÌ„dy fought with a capytayne of the kynge of Nauerne named le Captall de Bueffe nere vnto a place called Cocherell nere vnto the crosse of saynte Lyeffroy in whiche fyght the sayd Captall was scomfited and great noumbre of his people taken and slayne hym selfe chased taken for whome the frenche kynge gaue after vnto the sayde syr BarthraÌ„ the Erledam of Longeuyle And whaÌ„ he had receyued him he sent him vnto a stroÌ„ge pryson called the Merchy in Meaux At Myghelmas folowynge the duke of Brytayne syr Charlys de Bloyes and syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort sonne and heyre to the fore named sir IohnÌ„ Mountforde before dede whiche by a longe season bothe father the sonne had holden warre with the sayd syr Charles met in playne batayle in y â— which as before is shewed in the .xxxviii. yere of king Edwarde the sayde syr Charles was slayne dyuers noble men of Fraunce with him In the moneth of Iuny and seconde yere of this Charlys an other accorde was yet concluded atwene this Charles and the kynge of Nauerne By reason of whiche accorde the Captall of Bueffe was clerely delyuered and Maunt and Menlene agayne also to the kynge restored And ouer that to the kynge of Nauerne was geuyn for a recompensement the Erledome of Longeuyle whiche as aboue is sayd the frenche kyng had gyuen vnto syr Barthran de Glaycon for to haue the Captall to his prisoner And also to the sayde kynge of Nauerne was gyuen the lordshyppe of Mountpyller And in the moneth of February began the warre in Spayne where prince Edwarde ayded Peter kyng of y e lande as before is shewed iÌ„ the .xl. and .xlii. yeres of kynge Edwarde In the .iiii. yere the peace atwene the kynges of Englande of FrauÌ„ce began to breke by meanes of the erle of Armenake other as in the .xlii. yere of kynge Edwarde is before shewed And in the moneth of Decembre and the sayd yere the quene was lyghted of a man Chylde in the Hostell of saynt Paule the whiche was after christened with excedynge solempnyte ouer other before passed in the churche of saint Paule in Parys the .vi. day of Decembre of the cardinal of Parys To whome were godfathers the erles of Mountmerency and of Dampmartyn godmother Iane quene of Euroux and bare the name of Charlys after the erle of Mountmerency In the .v. yere of this Charlys he called his counsell of parlyament at Parys Durynge the whiche the appellacyons of the erle of armenake and other purposed ageyne prynce Edwarde were publysshed and radde the answeres of the said prince vpon the sayd appellacyons made whiche I ouerpasse for length of the mater But the conclusyon was that the prince had broken the peas and couenauntes of the same as they there demyd wherfore all suche townes holdes as the frenche kyng had gotten he shulde them retayne make warre vpon the kynge of Englande for the recouery of the other where vpon kynge Charles in the moneth of Iuly folowyng rode vnto Roan and there rygged his nauye entendynge as sayth the frenche historye to haue made warre vpon EnglaÌ„d and to haue sent thyther his yongest brother Philippe than duke of Burgoyne with a stronge armye But whyle he was there besyed about his purpose the duke of Lancastre arryued with a strong power at Caleys and so passed to Tyrwyn so vnto Ayr. wherfore kynge Charlys then chaunged his purpose and sent his sayde brother into those ê‘ties Then by that season that y e sayd duke was prepared with hys people the englysshemen were
comyn vnto Arde. And the frenche men spedde them in suche wyse that they logged theÌ„ the xxiiii day of Auguste vpon the mouÌ„tayne of Tournehawe nere vnto Arde so that both hoostes were lodgyd within an englysshe myle Atwene whom were dayly bekeringes and small skyrmysshes All whyche season the Frenche kyng taryed styll aboute Rowan Than the king of Nauerne whiche by a longe season had dwellyd in Nauerne came by shyppe into Constantyne and sent vnto kynge Charlys y t if he were so pleased he wolde gladly come vnto hym for to shewe to him his mynde wherfore the king sent vnto hym as hostagys the erle of Salebruge the deane of Parys with .ii. other noble men the whyche the kynge of Nauerne wolde nat accepte In the moneth of Septembre and vpon the .xii. day when the duke of Burgoyne had lyen as before is sayd nere vnto the englysshe hooste he that day remoued his people and so went vnto Hesden And the Englisshe hoost remoued to Caux other places as before I haue shewed to you in the .xliii. yere of kynge Edwarde with other thynges apperteyninge vnto the same mater And in the sayd moneth of Septembre kynge Charles manned and vitayled certayne galeys other shyppes and sent them into walys and so to haue entred into EnglaÌ„de But they retourned with lytle worshippe natwithstandynge that he had .ii. noble men of walys named Owan and Iames wynne whiche made to him faste promesse of great thynges by reason that they were enemyes vnto the kyng of Englande For this and for other charges the kynge called a conuocacyon of the temporalte and spiritualte at Parys where to mayntayne hys warres was graunted to hym of all thynge bought soâ—de excepte vitayle the .iiii. peny so that all thynge that was solde by retayle the seller shuld pay the exaccion and that whyche was solde by greate the byer shulde paye the sayd exaccion And the spiritualte graunted a dyme to be payed in .ii. halfe yeres And the lordes and gentylmen were stynted at a certaintye after the value of theyr landes In the moneth of February the kyng sent vnto the kynge of Nauerne than beynge at Chierbourgth certayne messyngers to perfyght an amyte atwene them leste he toke party agayne hym with the Englysshemen But thys treatye contynued a longe season so that iÌ„ the .vi. yere moneth of Iune the kynge of Nauerne hauyng sufficient hostages came to the frenche kynge to Uernon where in conclusion the kynge of Nauerne made his homage vnto the frenche kyng and became there his feodary wherof the Frenchemen made moche ioye After whiche accorde the sayde kynge of Nauerne the thirde day folowing toke his leaue of the kynge and so rode vnto Eureux All which season y e warre was coÌ„tynued by Englisshemen within the realme of Fraunce prouince of Brytayne as before is expressed in the xliiii.xlv.xlvi yeres of kynge Edwarde In the .vii. yere and moneth of Auguste the duke of Braban with many nobles of Fraunce mette in playne batayll with y e duke of Iuillers the duke of Guellre In which batayll after cruell fyght the duke of Braban was chased and vpoÌ„ his syde slayne the erle of saynt Poule with many other noble men whiche the story nameth nat And vpon the other syde was also slayne the duke of Guellre with many other vpon that partye IN the .xi. yere of kyng Charles moneth of Maye he assembled his great couÌ„sell of parlyament at Parys where amonge many actes made for y e weale of his realme he with assente of his lordes and coÌ„mons there assembled enacted for a lawe after that day to be contynued that al heyres to y e crowne of FrauÌ„ce theyr fathers beynge dede may be crowned as kynges of Fraunce so soone as they attayned vnto the age of .xiiii. yeres And in this yere was the treatye of peace laboured by the two cardynalles sent from the pope as before is shewed in the .xlix. yere of kynge Edwarde After whyche treatye nat concluded the kynge of Englande loste dayly of hys landes in Fraunce For in the moneth of August folowyng y e duke of Berry the duke of Angeo and many other lordes to them assygned in dyuers places as in Guyan Angeo and Mayne gate and wanne from the Englysshemen many couÌ„treys townes and castels as Pierregort Rouerge Caoursyn Bigorre Basyndas Berregart Daimet with many other townes and holdes whyche wolde aske a loÌ„ge leysour to reherce to the noumbre of .vi. score and .xiiii. what of townes castelles and other holdes whiche in shorte whyle were wonne frome the Englysshemen in the parties of Fraunce and Brytayne In the .xiii. yere of this Charles the Emperour of Rome Almayne named Charles the .iiii. of that name came into FrauÌ„ce by Cambray to do certayne pylgrymages at saint Denys and elles where and so was conueyed with honorable men as the lorde of Cousy and other vnto saynt Quintyne where he taryed Chrystmas daye And after he was conueyed to a towne called Eâ— of Ewe and from theÌ„ce to Noyen and than to Compeygne where he was mette with the duke of Burbon and other nobles Than he rode to Senlys where he was mette with the dukes of Berry and of Burgoyne bretherne of the Frenche kynge and many other as bisshoppes and other lordes And ye shall vnderstande that all suche as rode in the companyes of these forsayde dukes except bysshops and preestes rode in theyr lyuereys As the companye fyrste of the duke of Burbon brother vnto the quene to the noumbre of CCC men were all cladde in whyte and blewe The company of the .ii. other dukes the noumbre of .v. C. men in blacke and russet that is to meane the erles and other lordes in clothe of golde the knyghtes in veluet the gentylmen in damaske and sattyn and the yemen in clothe Thanne from Senlys he was brought vnto Louuris where mette with hym the duke of Barre with a companye of CC. horse and his company cladde in grene and redde And from thens he was had to saynte Denys vpon the thyrde day of Ianuary whither the king sent to him a chayre rychely garnysshed for so moche as he was vexed with the goute And the quene sente to hym an horse lytter with .ii. whyte palfreys where he was also mette with a great companye of bysshoppes and other spirituall men as abbottes priours and other and taryed there .ii. dayes Upon the .v. day of Ianuary beynge monday he rode towarde Parys But or he were halfe a myle froÌ„ saynte Denys he was mette with the prouoste of the marchauntes with a coÌ„pany of .xv. C. horse y t cytezens being cladde in whyte and violette and so rodde before hym tyll he came to Parys whan the kynge was warned that he was nere the citye he lepte vpon a whyte palfrey and accompanied with many lordes and other to the noumbre of a M. men all his housholde seruauntes beyng cladde iÌ„ one liuerey of browne blewe and darke
tawny and the seruauntes of the dolphyn of Uyen in blewe and cremesyne euery man after his degree and so the kyng with his company mette with the emperour at the mylle without the towne called the wynde mylle where after due salutes made eyther vnto other the Frenche king put the Emperour vpon his ryght hande and toke the kynge of Romaynes sonne vnto the emperour vpon his lyfte hande And so the Frenche kynge rydinge in the myddes passed thoroughe the hygh stretes of Paris tyll they came to the kingê palays where he was lodged with all honoure after fested with the kinge and the quene by the space of .xvi. dayes whiche terme endyd like as with all honoure he was conueyed into the lande so with great honour and ryche gyftes he was agayne conueyed out of the lande In the moneth of Februarye folowynge and the .vi. daye dyed the quene of Fraunce in the hostell of saynt Poule in Parys and after buryed with great solempnyte and honoure in the monastery of saynt Denys In the moneth of Marche the kynge receyued letters from certeyn lordes of hys lande in the whyche was conteygned that the kynge of Nauerne had imagened and conspired with one Iaquet de rue his chaÌ„berlayne for to poyson hym the whiche Iaquet was than comyn into Fraunce to execute his cursed purpose wherfore the Frenche kynge layed suche wayte for hym that he was taken and founden vpon hym a byll of certayne instruccions howe he shulde behaue hym selfe in accomplysshyng his euyll purpose Than he was brought vnto the kinges presence to whome he confessed the circumstaunce of all his treason to be done at the commaundement counsell of the kyng of Nauerne Soone after the eldest sonne of the kynge of Nauerne whiche was newely commyn into Normandy sent vnto king Charles shewynge to hym that if it were his pleasure he wolde gladlye come vnto hys presence for to speke with hym with that he myght haue a sure safeconduyt for hym and all suche as he shulde brynge with him The whiche to hym was graunted and vpoÌ„ the same came vnto Selys where the kynge than was And after he had comoned a season with y e kynge he made to hym requeste for the delyuere of the foresaid Iaket de Rue layenge for hym sondrye excuses But whanne the kynge hadde caused the sayd Iaket to be brought forthe before the sayde sonne of the kynge of Nauerne named syr Charlys he auouched suche thynges before hym that he coude nat denaye but that his father had commytted many and sondry treasons as well agayne kynge IohnÌ„ as nowe agayne kyng Charles hys sonne wherfore after diuers assembles and counsels hadde vpon this matter the kynge and the said sir Charles agreed that all suche townes and holdes as the sayd kynge of Nauerne had within Normandy shulde be delyuered vnto y e duke of Burgoyne to the Frenche kynges vse And for that ê“messe shulde be truely parfourmed y e king firste sware the said syr Charles and after many of the capitaynes whiche had the rule of the sayd townes and castelles And for so moche as the sayd syr Charles had there presence with hym a capitayne named sir Fernande de Oyens in whose guyding many of the sayde holdes than were and suspected him that he wolde nat perfourme the sayd promesse therfore he caused hym to be arested and to be had vnto prison tyll the holdes beynge vnder hys guydynge were clerely deliuered Upon which agrement thus concluded and sworne y e duke of Burgoyne with the sayd sir Charles and the sayd syr Fernande as a prisoner was sent into Normandye with a conuenyent army where wyth awe and fauoure the duke in processe of tyme had to hym delyuered all suche townes and holdes as the kynge of Nauerne there had excepte the towne and castell of Chirebourgth â–ª In whiche passe tyme and season was also taken in a towne called Bretnell a secretary to the kyng of Nauerne with certayne wrytynges beynge in a coffer within the chambre By reason of whiche wrytynges and also by the confessyon of the partye many mo thynges concernyng the confessyon of Iaket de Rue was than manifested and approued which secretary was named maister Peter de Tertre a frenchman borne But he had serued the kynge of Nauerne by the more terme of hys lyfe Upon this confessyon made and wryten by the sayde secretary the kinge called his court of parlyament Durynge whiche bothe the said maister Peter and also the sayd Iaket were brought before the lordes and commons where theyr confessyons were redde they examyned vpon euery artycle of the same and affyrmed all theyr former sayenges wherefore shortely after by auctoryte of that court they were demed to dye for theyr treasons and so were hangyd and hedyd and theyr .viii. quarters hangyd at sondry gates and places of Parys And whan the kyng had receyued into his possession the foresayde holdes belongynge vnto the kynge of Nauerne the whiche so often had rebelled agayne his father hym he was couÌ„selled by his lordes that he shulde throwe to grounde diuers of the sayd castelles lest y e king of Nauerne them recouered agayne and by meane of theyr forces worke vnto hym and his realme newe dyspleasures By reason of which counsell the kynge made euen with the grounde these fortresses folowynge Fyrst the castell of Bretnell of Dorlet of BeaumouÌ„t le Roger of Pacy Damyet and cloysters of the same the towre castell of Nogent le roy the castell of Euroux the castell of Pount Andemer the castell of Mortaygne and of Ganraux or Ganray with other in the countrey of Constantyne But the towne of Chirebourgth remayned styll in the poscessyon of the Nauaroys the whiche with ayde of Englysshe men was kept from the Frenche kynge And the forenamed syr Farnande was contyrmauÌ„ded to prison for so moch as he was captaine of y e same towne thinkynge in hym defaute that the sayd towne was nat delyuered with the other IN the .xiiii. yere of this Charles and moneth of August tythinges came vnto him of the scisme whiche was begonne in the churche of Rome For after the dethe of the xi Gregory whiche dyed in the moneth of Apryll fore passed by meane of the Frenche cardynalles whyche were .xi. in noumbre after the other Italyen cardynalles wyth other of theyr affinite had elected and chosen a Napolytane and archebysshoppe of Barre the frenche cardynalles with the election nat beynge contented wyth such as fauoured theyr partye denounced and publysshed one named Robert cardynall of Basyle and named hym ClemeÌ„t y e .vii where the fyrst was named Urban y e .vi. Of the maner of thys scysme some what I haue shewed to you in the .lii. yere of Edwarde the .iii. But to expresse y e certaynty of thys scysme trouth it is that after y e deth of the forenamed .xi. Gregory the cardynalles beyng in y e coÌ„clauâ— or couÌ„sayll chaumbre where the pope is accustomed to
admytted it were nedefull vnto the realme in auoydyng of all suspeccyon and surmyses of ylle dysposed persones to haue in wrytynge and regestred the manyfolde crymes and â—efautes before done by the sayd Rycharde late kynge of Englande to the ende that they myghte fyrste be openly shewed vnto the people and after to remayne of recorde amonge the kynges recordes The whyche were drawen and compyled as before is sayde in .xxxviii. artycles and there shewed redy to be radde But for other causes than more nedefull to be preferred the redynge of the said artycles at that season were diffâ—ered and put of whyche artycles for that that they wolde aske longe tyme to wryte also wolde to some reders â—e but small pleasure to rede I haue therfore lefte theym out here of thys worke which at lengthe are sette ouâ— in the boke of the Mayres and yere of Drewe Barentyne than mayre of London Than for so moche as the lordes of the parlyament hadde well consydered this voluntary renouncement of kynge Rycharde and that it was behouefull necessary for the weale of the realme to procede vnto the sentence of his deposayll they there appoynted by auctorytie of the states of the sayde parlyament the bisshop of saynte Asse the abbotte of Glastenburye the erle of Gloucester the lorde of Barkeley wyllyam Thyrnynge iustyce Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Graye knightes that they shulde gyue and â—ere open sentence to the kynges deposicyon whervpon the sayde commyssyoners leynge there their hedes together by good delyberacion good couÌ„sell and auysement and of one assent agreed amonge them that the bishop of saint Asse shulde publisshe the sentence for theym and in their names as foloweth In the name of god Amen we IohnÌ„ bysshope of saynt Asse or Assenence IohnÌ„ abbot of Glastynbury Rycharde the erle of Glocester Thomas lorde of Berkeley wyllyam Thyrnynge Iustyce Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Graye knyghtes chosen and deputed specyall commyssaryes by the thre estates of thys present parlyament representynge the hole bodye of the realme for all suche maters by the sayd astates to vs committed we vnderstandynge and considerynge the manyfolde crymes hurtes and harmes done by Rycharde king of EnglaÌ„de and mysgouernaunce of the same by a longe tyme to the great decaye of the sayde lande and vtter ruyne of the same shortly to haue ben ne had the especiall grace of our lorde god therevnto put y e soner remedy also furthermore auertysinge y t the sayde kinge Rycharde knowyng his owne insufficiencie hath of his owne mere volunte and fre wyll renounced and gyuen vp the rule and gouernaunce of this lande with all ryghtes and honoures vnto y e same belongynge and vtterly for his merytes hath iuged hym selfe nat vnworthy to be deposed of all kyngely mageste astate royall we the premysses well consyderynge by good and dilygente delyberacyon by the power name and auctoryte to vs as aboue is sayd coÌ„mytted pronounce discerne and declare the same kynge Rycharde before thys to haue be to be vnprofytable vnable vnsufficyent and vnworthy to the rule and gouernauÌ„ce of the foresayde realmes and lordeshyppes all other thappurtenaunces to the same belongynge And for the same causes we pryue him of all kyngely dygnyte and worshyppe of any kynglye worshyppe in him lefte And we depose him by our sentence â—ifynityfe forbyddynge expressely to all archebysshoppes bysshoppes all other prelates dukes marqueses erles barons and knyghtes to all other men of the foresayd kyngdome and lordeshyppes or of other places belongynge to the same realmes and lordeshippes subiectes and lyeges what so euer they be y t none of them from this tyme forthwarde to the foresaid Rycharde as kynge lorde of y e foresayde realmes lordeshyppes be neyther obedyeÌ„te nor attendaunt After whiche sentence thus openlye declared the said astates admytted forthwith the same persones for theyr procuratours to resygne and yelde vp vnto kynge Rycharde all theyr homage fealtie whyche they had made oughte vnto hym before tymes and for to shewe vnto hym if nede were all thynges before done that concernyd his deposynge The whych resygnacyon at that tyme was spared and put in respite tyll the morowe nexte folowynge And anone as thys sentence was in thys wyse passyd and that by reason therof the realme stode voyde without hede or gouernoure for the tyme the said duke of Lancaster rysing froÌ„ y e place where he before sate standing where all myght beholde hym he mekely makynge the sygne of the crosse vppon his forhede and vpon hys breste after sylence by an officer was commaunded sayd vnto the people there beyng these wordes folowyng In the name of the father sonne and holy ghoste I Henry of Lancastre clayme the realme of Englande and the crowne with all the appurtenaunces as I that am dyscended by ryght lyne of the bloode commynge from that good lorde kynge Henry the thyrde through y e ryght that god of hys grace hath sente to me wyth helpe of my kynne of my frendes to recouer the same y t which was in point to be vndone for defaut of good gouernaunce due iustyce After whyche wordes thus by hym vttered he retourned set him down in the place where he before had sytten Than the lordes apperceyuynge and herynge thys clayme thus made by thys noble man eyther of theym frayned of other what he thoughte And after a dystaunce or pauâ—e of tyme the archebysshope of Cauntorbury hauyng notycyon of the lordes myndes stode vp asked of the commons yf they wolde assente to the lordes whych in theyr myndes thoughte the clayme by the duke made to he ryghtefull and necessary for the welthe of the realme of them all wherunto with one voyce they cried ye ye ye After whyche answere the sayde archebysshop goynge vnto the duke settynge hym vpon hys kne had vnto hym a fewe wordes The whyche ended he rose takynge the duke by the ryght hande â–ª ladde hym vnto the kynges sete wyth greate reuerence sette hym therein after a certayne knelynge and orison made by the sayde duke or he were therein sette And whan the kynge was thus set in hys trone to the greate reioysynge of the people the archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury beganne there an oracion or colacyon in maner as after foloweth Uâ—â— dominabitur in populo primo ReguÌ„ capitulo .ix. These ben the wordes of the hygh and mooste myghty kynge spekynge to Samuel hys prophete techyng hym how he shuld chose and ordeyne a gouernoure of hys people of Israel whan the sayde people asked of hym a kynge to rule theym And nat wythout cause maye these wordes be sayde here of oure lorde the kynge that is For yf they be inwardely conceyued they shall gyue to vs mater of consolacion and comforte whan it is sayde that a maÌ„ shall haue lordeshyp and rule of the people nat a chylde For god threteneth nat vs as he sometyme thret the people by I saye sayenge
waters whyche they myghte sonest attayne â—nto and so wyth greate dyffyculte saued theym selfe In meane tyme whereof the chauÌ„ber beynge wyth the same tyred grewe in so greate a flame that in shorte whyle the more parte of that lodgynge was consumed to y e great fere of y e kynge and other astates thaÌ„ there beynge presente and augmentynge agayne of his former sykenes so that certayne appoyntementes to be holdeÌ„ betwene hym and Rychard kynge of Englande were for that tyme put of IN the .xvi. yere of thys Charles the maryage of peace betwene bothe realmes was concluded and fynysshed at Calays as before I haue shewed to you in the .xix. yere of kyng Rycharde And that triumphe fynysshed Charles at the coÌ„templacyon and prayer of the kynge of Hungry sent vnto hym Phylyp erle of Arroys wyth dyuers other knyghtes in good noumber to ayde y e sayd kynge agayne the Turkys The whyche after that they hadde there a season warred the capytaynes the more party of the Frenchemen of the Turkys were dystressed slayne many taken prisoners to theyr great charge Thys Charles thus contynuyng hys lykenesse two freres of saynte Augustynes order beynge desyrous of money toke vppon theym to cure the kyng And after they had shauen hys hede and mynistred to hym medicyns the kynge dayly febled in suche wyse y t he was nye dede For whiche coÌ„syderacyon they examyned by phylosophers and doctours of physyke founden vncunnynge were degraded of theyr presthode after behedded To thys folye were these fretes broughte by the excytynge of the duke of Burgoyne as the common fame went In the .xix. yere of thys Charles the lande of Fraunce was greuously vexed wyth the plage of ipydymye of whyche sykenesse a greate multytude of people dyed And that yere was there also sene a blasynge starre of wonderfull bygnes wyth stremes apperynge to meÌ„nes syghte of moste feruent brennynge In thys yere also Charles herynge of y e subduyng of kynge Rycharde sente into Englande two of hys housholde knyghtes requyrynge kynge Henry the fourth than newelye made kynge to sende home hys doughter Isabell latelye maryed vnto kyng Rychard wyth suche do war as wyth hyr was promysed In doynge of whyche message kynge Henry toke such dyspleasure that as sayeth Gagwinus myne auctour he threwe the sayde twoo knightes in prysone where through one of theym named Blanchet dyed in Englande and that other called Henry after greate sykenesse retourned into Fraunce And shortely after kynge Henry sente the sayde dame Isabell vnto Calays where she was ioyously receyued of the Frenchemen and so conueyed vnto hyr sayde father whyche as yet was nat of hys sykenesse cured By reason whereof among the lordes of FrauÌ„ce eueryche of them coueytyng to haue rule great dyssencion malyce begaÌ„ to kendle and specyallye betwene the dukes of Orleaunce of Burgoyne and of Berry Than the duke of Orleaunce enteÌ„dyng to promote hys cause vnknowyng the other lordes allyed hym wyth y e duke of Geldre streÌ„ghthed hym wyth .v. C. men of hys so entred the feeldes of Parys And in lyke maner y e duke of Burgoyne wyth a stronge coÌ„pany kept an other cooste of y e countrey Natwythstandyng by meanes of other lordes these two dukes were kept a sunder at lenghte y t duke of Orleyaunce by the kynges comaundement that somewhat was than amended was ordayned regente of the realme The whiche anone as he was sette in auctoryte fell to all rauyne and oppressed the people with cotydyan taskes and tallages and y e spirituall men with dymes other exaccyons wherfore by reason of the studyentes of Parys he was at lengthe discharged of that dignyte and the duke of Burgoyne for hym put in auctoryte Than the duke of Orleyaunce beynge discontented yode vnto LuceÌ„bourgth a towne in highe Almayne sought agayne ayde of the duke of Geldre foresayd But by his frendes he was so aduertysed y t with his owne folkes he returned into Fraunce But yet the malyce and stryfe a twene hym and the duke of Burgoyne seased nat About this season or soone after dyed the duke of Brytayne And as affermeth the auctour afore named kyng Henry y e .iiii. maryed his wyfe wherof hering y e duke of Burgoyne with a company of .vi. M. knyghtes entred Brytayne there by strength toke from her her .iii. sonnes named IohnÌ„ Richard Arthure presented them vnto kynge Charles In y e xxii yere of this Charles was borne of Isabell hys wyfe a man chylde which also was named Charles the which after the deth of his father vnto y e great aduersyte of all the realme of FrauÌ„ce was king of that realme contrary the appointment taken a twene Henry the .v. after kynge of Englande and thys Charles the father nowe of Fraunce kynge as after shall more appere in the story of the sayde kynge Henry the fyfte In this yere also was dame Isabell somtyme wyfe of Rycharde latelye kynge of Englande maryed vnto Charles eldeste sonne of the duke of Orleyaunce And IohnÌ„ the eldyste of the .iii. forenamed sonnes of the duke of Brytayne lately dede toke to wyfe Margarete y e doughter of kynge Charles And Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne dyed soone after leauynge an heyre after hym named IohnÌ„ The whyche after he was gyrde with the swerde of the duchye of Burgoyne he anone by euyll entysynge and counsell areryd warre agayne the duke of Orleyaunce to the great dysturbaunce of all the realme For the sayde duke of Orleyaunce was a prynce of a wonderfull hyghe courage and desyrous of great honoure and after the sayenge of Gagwynus coueyted to be kynge of Fraunce The whyche went to Auyngnyon where as than sate the .xiii. Benet thaÌ„ pope duryng the scisme and admytted by some of the Cardynalles after the dethe of Clement y e .vi. To whiche Benet the said duke made great labour to depryue the Uniuersite of Parys from y e great auctoryte y t it at those dayes stode in whiche was of merueylous auctoryte than as sayeth the forenamed auctour In thys whyle thus endurynge the lande full of myseryes aduersites the quene which y t moche fauoured the dukes partie accompanyed with the sayd duke rode to take her dysporte of huntynge in to the countrey of Meldon To whiche place she sente letters vnto the Dolphyn by y e duke of Bauary her brother that he with hys wyfe whiche was doughter vnto the duke of Burgoyne shulde come for to dysporte theym whereof IohnÌ„ thanne duke of Burgoyne beynge warned suspected the quene that she wyth ayde of the duke wolde conueye the Dolphyn into Germanye and there to holde hym at theyr pleasures And to eâ—peche that purpose he iÌ„ all haâ—e sped him towarde y e Dolphyn and contrary the mynde of the duke of Bauarye whiche than was vpon his waye with the sayd Doulphyne towarde the quene retourned hym and lodged him in a stronge castell called Lupar whereof herynge the duke
batayl was many a noble man slayne vpoÌ„ eyther partye And it was the more to be noted vengeable for there the father was slayn of the sonne the son of the father and brother of brother neuewe of neuewe And in the moneth of August folowynge the duchesse of Brytayne landed at Fulmouth in the prouince of Cornwayll from theÌ„s was conueyed to wynchester where in shorte tyme after kyng HeÌ„ry maryed her in the cathedrall churche of the sayde cytye And soone vpoÌ„ was the eldest doughter of kyng HeÌ„ry named dame BlaÌ„che maryed at Coleyn to the dukes sonne of Bayer Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.iii  Rycharde Merlewe  IohnÌ„ walcot Draper  Anno .iii.  Robert Chichele  IN this yere and .xiiii. day of the moneth of Septembre was y e foresayd duchesse of Brytayne and wyfe of y e kyng receyued wyth great honour into the cytye of London so by the mayre and the cytezyns conueyed vnto westmynster where vpoÌ„ the morowe folowyng she was crowned quene of Englande wyth greate honoure and solempnite the cyrcumstaunce wherof I passe ouer In this yere also Rupertus which after the deposynge of wessenselans was by the electours of the empyre and by auctoryte of Bonyface theâ—â—r â–ª than pope admytted for Emperoure of Rome and came into Englande wyth a goodly companye onely to se the countre and commodytyes of the same The whyche of the kynge was honourably receyued and fested and lastely conueyed by the kynge towarde the see syde where eyther departed from other wyth exchaunge of ryche and precious gyft For thys Rurpartus was named of wryters a man of excellente bounte and largesse And he gaue more lyberally for so moche as all the tyme of hys beynge in EnglaÌ„de he laye here at the kynges costes And whyle he was at LondoÌ„ he was lodged at the house of saynte Iohannâ—s in smythfelde Thys yere also vpoÌ„ saiÌ„t LaureÌ„ce euyn or the .ix. day of August a lorde of Brytayne named the lorde of Castyle in Frenche laÌ„ded within a myle of Plymmouth wyth a great coÌ„pany of NormaÌ„s and Brytons and came vnto the sayd town and lodged there all night and spoyled and robbed the sayd towne And vpon the day folowynge whan they had done what they wolde they retourned agayne to theyr shyppes with plente of pyllage and prysoners suche as they fande Anno domini M. CCCC.iii  Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Thomas Fawconer  wyllyam Askam  Anno .v.  Thomas Pooll  IN thys yere soone after CaÌ„delmasse the foresayd lorde of Castyle trustynge to wynne a lâ—ke enterpryse as in the yere passed he hadde done he beynge accompanyed wyth a stronge nauy of FreÌ„che men Brytons was encountred wyth the Englyshe floot within .ii. myles of Deermouth at a place called Blakâ—pooll â–ª where after loÌ„ge and cruell fyghte y e sayd lord was slayne wyth the more partye of the people and dyuers of hys shyppes takeÌ„ as wytnesseth the Englysshe cronycle wyth dyuers other Englysshe auctours But the FreÌ„che boke excuseth thys scomfyture of FreÌ„chmen and sayeth that by treason oâ— a Gascoyne named Peâ—yâ— or Perot de Languyle whyche shewed vnto the sayd lorde Castyle that he had espyed certayne Englysshe shyppes in a Greke lyghtly wythout resystence to be takeÌ„ caused the sayd lorde to make sayle towarde the sayd towne of Dartmouthe where after he had contynued a certayne tyme hys course he espyed the hotefloâ—e of Englyshe men whyche made toward hym and so at the sayde Blake pool encountâ—â—d and faughte and lastely escaped the daunger of hys enemyes as testyfyeth the sayde French cronycle â–ª but â—atte unhurt for he was so wouÌ„ded in that fyght that he dyed shortly after And the moneth of Apryll folowynge the duke of Clarence wyth the erle of KeÌ„t many other lordes toke shyppynge at Meregate so sayled vnto Scluce in FlauÌ„ders And after the sayde duke had there refresshed hym hys company he toke shyppynge agayne and holdynge hys course towarde SwynÌ„e he was encouÌ„tred wyth .iii. greate carykes of Ieane the whyche he assayled and after longe bekerynge them toke beynge laden wyth marchauÌ„dyse so wyth that pray retourned to Cambre before wynchelsee in the whyche hauen the sayd goodes were caÌ„ted and shared But how it was by varyauÌ„ce amonge them selfe or otherwyse one of the sayde carykes was sodeynly fyred so coÌ„sumed For restytucyon of whyche goodes shyppes y e marchauÌ„tes IanueÌ„ce made after great longe sute to the kyng his couÌ„sayl in whyche passetyme they borowed cloth wolle other marchaundyses amountyng vnto great and notable sommes of dyuers marchauntes of Englande And whanne they sawe that they myghte haue none hope of recouery of theyr loste they sodeynly auoyded the laÌ„de and lafte y e foresayde notable summes vnpayde to the great hynderaunce and vtter vndoynge of many Englysshe marchauntes In thys yere a yoman named wyllyam Serle somtyme yomaÌ„ of kyng Rychardes Robys was takeÌ„ in the marches of ScotlaÌ„de and broughte vnto LondoÌ„ there in the guildhall areygned for the murder of the duke of Glouceter at Calays UpoÌ„ which murder he was attaynt conuyct vppoÌ„ the .xx. daye of Octobre he was draweÌ„ from the towre vnto tyborne and there haÌ„ged and quartred hys hed was after set vpoÌ„ LondoÌ„ brydg hys .iiii. quarters were sent to .iiii. sondry good townes Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Anno domini M. CCCC.v  wyllyam Lowfte  IohnÌ„ Hyende Draper  Anno .vi.  Stephen Spylman  IN thys yere and moneth of Ianuary were certayne courses of warre ron in smythfelde betwene syr EdmuÌ„de erle of Kent the lorde Moryfa BaroÌ„ of ScotlaÌ„de vppoÌ„ y e chaleÌ„ge of the sayd scottysshe lorde But the erle of KeÌ„t bare hym so valy auntly that to hym was gyueÌ„ y e price of that iourney to hys great honour And in the same yere syr Rycharde Scrope than archebisshop of yorke and y e lorde Moubraye thaÌ„ marshal of EnglaÌ„d with other to them allied for grudge that they bare agayn the kynge gadered vnto theym greate streÌ„gth enteÌ„dyng to haue put downe the kynge as the â—ame than wente wherof the kyng beyng enfourmed in all haste sped towarde theym and met wyth them on thys syde yorke where after askyrmysshe by the sayd lordes made they were thaÌ„ takeÌ„ and after presented vnto y e king at yorke where they were bothe demed to suffre deth for theyr rebellyoÌ„ Than whan the bysshoppe came vnto the place of execucion he prayed y e bowcher to gyue to hym .v. strokes in the worshyp of christes fyue woundes for hys more penauÌ„ce At eueryche of whyche .v. strokes kynge Henry beynge in hys lodgyng had a stroke in hys necke in so moch that he demed that some persone there beynge with hym present hadde stryken him And forthwyth he was stryken wyth the plage of lepyr so that than he knewe it was the hande of god and
CCCC.xxvi  wyllyam Mylrede  IohnÌ„ Couentre Mercer  Anno .iiii.  IohnÌ„ Brokle  IN thys yere the .xxix. daye of Octobre and selfe same daye that the mayre for the yere folowyng yerely at westmynster taketh hys charge at suche tyme as he was holdynge hys great dyner he was by y e lorde protectour sent for in spedy maner And whan he was comyn to hys presence he gaue to hym a streyghte commaundemente that he shulde se that the cytye were suerly watched in that nyght folowyng and so it was Than vpon the morowe folowynge about .ix. of the clok certayne seruauÌ„tes of the forenamed bysshope wolde haue entred by the brydge gate But the rulers therof wolde nat suffre theÌ„ in so great nombre but kepte theym out by force lyke as before they were commaunded wherwyth they beyng greuously dyscontented gaderyd to them a more nombre of archers and men of armys and assauted the gate wyth shot other meanes of warre In so moche that the commoÌ„s of the cytye herynge thereof shytte in theyr shoppes sped them thyder in great nombre And lykely it was to haue ensued great effusyoÌ„ of blode shortly therupon ne had ben the dyscrescion of y e mayre and hys brethern that exorted y e people by all polytyke meane to kepe the kynges peas And in this passe tyme the archebysshop of CauÌ„torbury wyth the prynce of Portyngale and other toke greate laboure vpon them to pacyfye thys varyauÌ„ce betwene the lord protectour and the bysshope in so moche that they rode betwene theym .viii. tymes or they might brynge them to any resonable conformyte Than lastly they agreed to staÌ„de to the rule of the regeÌ„t or of suche as he wolde assygne wherupoÌ„ y e cytye was set in a more quiete ThaÌ„ the bisshop of wynchester wrote a letter vnto y e duke of Bedforde or lord regeÌ„t wherof y e tenure ensueth RIght hyghe and myghty price ryght noble and after one leuest erthly lord I recommaunde me vnto your grace wyth all myne hert And as ye desyre the welfare of the kyng our soueraygne lorde of hys realmes of Englande of Fraunce your owne weale wyth all yours haste you hyder for by my trouthe ye tary longe we shall put thys laÌ„de in ieopardy wyth a felde such a brother ye haue here god make hym a good man For your wysdome knoweth well that the profyte of FrauÌ„ce standeth in the welfare of England Ryght hygh myghty prynce I beseche you holde mayster Iohan Estcourt your couÌ„cellour excused of hys taryeng for it is moche agayne hys wyll But the counsayll here hath made hym do coÌ„trary hys mynde And that it may lyke you to gyue credeÌ„ce vnto your chamberlayne syr Robert Boteler And the blessed Trinite kepe you wryten in great haste at LoÌ„don the laste day of Octobre UpoÌ„ the .x. day of Ianuary nexte ensuynge y e sayde duke of Bedforde wyth hys wyfe came vnto London And with theÌ„ came also the sayd bysshop of wynchester And the mayre the cytezyns receyued hym at Merton coÌ„ueyed hym thorugh y e cytye vnto westmynster where he was lodged in y e kyngê palays the bysshop of wynchester was lodged wythin y e abbottes lodgynge Than vpoÌ„ the morow folowynge or y e .xi. day of Ianuary y â— mayre presented the regeÌ„t wyth a payere of basyns of syluer ouer gylte in them a M. marke of golde But the bisshop had so incenced hym agayn the cytye that they receyued but a small thaÌ„ke for all theyr labour and coste Upon y e .xxi. day of February thaÌ„ began a great couÌ„sayl at saiÌ„t Albonys and after it was adiourned vnto Northampton But for due conclusyons myghte nat be dryuen by the sayde counsayll therfore vppon the xxv daye of Marche ensuynge was called a parlyament at Leyceter the whyche endured tyll the xv daye of Iuny folowynge Thys was cleped of the comon people the parlyament of battes The cause was for proclamacyons were made that men shuld leue theyr swerdes other wepyns in theyr innys the people toke great battes stauys in theyr neckes and so folowed theyr lordes maysters vnto the parlyament And whan y e wepyn was inhybyted them thanne they toke stones pluÌ„mettes of lede and trussed them secretly in theyr sleuys bosomys Durynge the parliament amoÌ„ge other notable thynges for the weale of the realme the varyaunce that was betwene the forsayd lordes was herin debated argued In so moche that the duke of Glouceter put in a byll of coÌ„playnt agayn the bysshop conteynyng .vi. artycles wherof the fyrst was that where the lorde protectour wolde haue had his lodgynge wythin the towre of London he was by the comforte ayde defended let of the bysshop and of Richard wydeuile esquyer thaÌ„ being Lyeutenaunt of the same The secoÌ„d was for that that the bysshop wolde haue remoued y e kyng from ElthmÌ„ haue sette hym at hys gouernauÌ„ce without the aduyce and counsayle of the lorde protectour The thyrde was that whan the duke was enformed of the bysshoppes entent and he entendynge accordynge to his offyce and duetie in peasyble wyse to haue rydeÌ„ to y e kyng to haue gyueÌ„ vpoÌ„ him attendaunce y e bysshop enteÌ„dynge y e distruccioÌ„ of y e duke asseÌ„bled a great multytude of men of armes and archers in Southwarke ther drewe the cheyne at the brydge fote and set vp pypes other engynes to stoppe the kynges hye way ordeyned meÌ„ to stande in chambres and solers to throwe stones and by theyr ordenauÌ„ces and pollycy to haue destroyed y e duke and his company The .iiii. artycle was that kynge Henry the fyft shulde by his lyfe tyme shewe vnto y e sayde duke that by the openynge of a spaynell a man was taken behynd a tapet in one of the kynges chaÌ„bres The whiche man after examyned by the erle of Arundel confessed that he was sent thyther by y e sayde bysshop to the ende to murther kynge Henry the forth After whiche coÌ„fessyon the sayd erle let sakke that man and so cast hym into the Thamys The fyft was that the sayd Henry the fyft beynge prynce and heyre parant to the crowne the sayd bysshop shuld come vnto hym and say that for somoche as his father was vexed with greuous sekenes was not apte to come in conuersacion of the people nor myght not conueniently gyde the realme that he therfore shulde take vp on hym the rule and gouernaunce of the same and put his father from all kyngly power The .vi. and last artycle was that sediciously the sayd bysshop hadde by his letters sent lately vnto the duke of Bedforde wrongfully accused hym in that he shulde areyse the kynges people and iuparde this lande by a felde contrary to the kynges peas and comon wele of this lande All which articles were by y e bysshop wele and suffycyently answered and replyed so y t he layde from hym the blame
greate daunger toke hys barge so in all haste rowed to London nat wythout great maymys hurtys receyued by many of hys seruauntes For thys the old raÌ„cour malyce whyche neuer was clerely cured anon begaÌ„ to breke oute in so moche that the quenes couÌ„sayll wolde haue had the sayd erle arested and committed vnto the towre wherfore he shortly after departed toward warwyke and by polycy purchased soone after a commyssioÌ„ of the kyng and so yode or sayled vnto Calays Thanne encreased thys olde malyce more more in so moche that where the quene and hyr couÌ„sayll sawe that they myght nat be auenged vppoÌ„ the erle that so vnto Calays was departed than they malygned agayne hys father the erle of Salysbury imagened how he myght be brought out of lyfe And in processe of tyme after as he was rydynge towarde Salysbury or after som from hys lodgyng towarde London the lorde Audeley wyth a stroÌ„g company was assygned to mete wyth hym as prysoner to bryng hym vnto LondoÌ„ whereof the sayde erle beynge warned gathered vnto hym the mo men kepyng hys iourney mette wyth the sayd lord Audeley at a place called Bloreheth where both companyes ran together had there a stroÌ„ge by keryng wherof in the ende the erle was vyctoure and slewe there the lorde Audeley many of hys retynew At thys skyrmys she were the .ii. sonnes of the sayd erle sore wouÌ„ded named sir Thomas and syr IohnÌ„ the whyche shortly after as they were goynge homeward were by some of the quenys party taken as prysoners sente vnto Chestry whan thys was knowen vnto y e duke of yorke and to the other lordes of hys party they knewe understode that yf they ê“uyded nat shortly for remedy for them selfe they shulde all be destroyed And for that they by one assent gathered to them a stroÌ„ge hoste of men as of Marche men and other in the moneth of Octobre y t was in the begynnyng of the .xxxviii yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the later ende of thys mayres yere they drewe them towarde the kynge to the entent to remoue froÌ„ hym such persones as they thought were enemyes vnto the commoÌ„ weale of Englande But the quene and hyr counsayll heryng of the entent strength of these lordes caused the kyng in all haste to sende forthe coÌ„myssyons to gather the people so that in shorte whyle the kyng was strongely accoÌ„panyed so spedde hym vppon hys iourney to warde the duke of yorke hys company wherof heryng y e sayd duke thaÌ„ beyng wyth hys peple nere vnto the towne of Ludlowe pyghte there a sure stroÌ„ge feelde that none of hys foes myght vppon any parte entre where he so lyeng came to him frome Calays the erle of warwyke wyth a stronge bande of meÌ„ amonge the whyche was Andrewe Trollop and many other of y e best souldiours of Calays The duke thus kepynge hys feelde vpon that one party and the kyng wyth hys people vpon that other vpon the nyght precedyng the daye that bothe hostes shulde haue met the forenamed Andrewe Trolloppe wyth all the chefe soudyours of Calays secretly departed frome y e dukes hoste and wente vnto the kynges where they were ioyously receyued whaÌ„ thys thynge to the duke and the other lordes was asserteyned they were therewhyth sore dysmayed and specyally for the sayd lordes had to the sayd Andrew shewed the hoole of theyr ententes whych thanne they knewe well shuld be clerelye dyscouered vnto theyr enemyes wherfore after couÌ„sayll for a remedye taken they concluded to flee to leue the feelde standyng as they had ben presente and styll abydyng And so incontynently the sayd duke wyth hys twoo sonnes a few other persones fledde towarde walys and from thens passed sauely into Irelande And the erles of Salysbury of Marche of warwyke and other wyth a secrete company also departed and toke the waye into Deuonshyre where a squyer named Iohan Dynham whyche after was a lorde and hyghe tresourer of Englande so lastlye in Henry the .vii. dayes and xvi yere of hys reygne dyed bought a shyp for a C. .x. markes or a leuen score nobles and in the same shyppe the sayd lordes went so sayled into Gerneley And whaÌ„ they had a seasoÌ„ there soiourned and refresshed them selfe they departed thens as in the begynnyng of the nexte mayres yere shal be clerely shewed Uppon the morowe whan all thys couyne was knowen to the kynge and the lordes vpon hys party there was sendynge and ruÌ„nynge wyth all spede towarde euery cooste to take these lordes but none myght be fouÌ„de And forthwith the kyng rode vnto Ludlowe dyspoyled the towne and castell sente the duchesse of yorke wyth hyr chyldren vnto the duchesse of BuckynghaÌ„ hyr syster where she rested loÌ„ge after Anno. dnÌ„i M. CCCC.lix  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.lx Fysshemonger HohnÌ„ Plummer  wyllyam Hulyn  Anno .xxxviii.  IohnÌ„ Stocker  THys yere that is to meane vppon the fryday next ensuyng Alhalowen day after the sayde erles of Salysbury of Marche of warwyke had as before is said refresshed them in the I le of Gernesey they vpoÌ„ the fryday foresayd laÌ„ded at Calays and there were at a posterne by theyr freÌ„des ioyously receyued ThaÌ„ anon vpon this these foresayd lordes were proclaymed rebellys traytours the yonge duke of Somerset was made capitayne of Calays wherfore in all haste he made purueyaunce saylyd thyther to take possessyon of y e town But he fayled of hys purpose for the foresayde erles there beynge kept so y e towne that there he myght haue no rule natwythstandyng that he shewed the kynges letter pateÌ„tys wyth many other strayght commauÌ„dementes of the kynge For whyche cause the sayd duke yode vnto Guynys and there helde hym for a seasoÌ„ And anone as the sayd duke was laÌ„ded some of the shypmen which had brought hym thyther for good wyll that they owed vnto the erle of warwyke coÌ„ueyed theyr shippes streyght into Calays hauen brought wyth them certayne persones named Genyn Fenbyll IohnÌ„ Felowe Kayles and Purser whyche were enemyes vnto the sayde erle of warwyke the whyche were presented vnto the lordes and soone after wythin the sayd towne of Calays they were beheded Thys rumoure thus contynuynge dayly came vnto these lordes greate socoure out of EnglaÌ„de And vppon that other partye the duke as before is sayd lyeng in the castel of Guynes gate vnto hym ayde and strengthe of souldyours made out and skyrmysshed wyth them of Calays many and sundry tymes In whych assautes many meÌ„ were slayen hurte vppon both partyes but moste wekyd the dukes partye For all be that the lordes lost many men yet they dayly came so thycke to them out of dyuers partyes of EnglaÌ„de that theyr losse was nat espyed so that they wantyd no meÌ„ but money to maynteynÌ„ theyr dayly charge with For remedy wher of they shyfted wyth the staple of
them was fynally coÌ„cluded he y e sayd Lewys all suche as wyth hym were reteyned or allied were for thys offeÌ„ce by y e sayd Charles clerely pardoned one persone all only excepted named Iaket or Iakis by whose treason the castell of Maxente was loste and taken for whyche offence he was after drawen hanged also quartered ThaÌ„ in processe of tyme folowyng the flemynges of GauÌ„te rebelled agayne theyr duke or erle named Philyp The cause of whyche rebellyon was for that he areryd a greuouse taske vpoÌ„ salte put the people ther by to greuouse charge wherevppon dedely warre betwene the duke and hys subiectys arose to the dystruccioÌ„ of moche people vpoÌ„ bothe partyes wherof the cyrcumstauÌ„ce were loÌ„g to wryte Howe be it in the ende y e duke or erle by ayde of the FreÌ„che kynge was vyctour helde them of GauÌ„te so streyghte that they were compelled by force to bye theyr peace wyth great summes of money to theyr other many folde domages About the .xxxi. yere of thys sayde Charles came vnto hym from pope Nycholas the .v. of that name an ambassade for to requyre ayde agayne the Turkys for the defeÌ„ce of CoÌ„stantyne the noble whyche the Turkys purposed shortly after to assayle To whyche ambassade by the sayd Charlys it was answeryd that to hym it was right greuouse to here of the intollerable persecucyoÌ„ whych y e cristeÌ„ dayly susteyned of the Turkys But he was of y e Englysh nacyoÌ„ so vexed and warred that he myghte nat leue hys laÌ„de wythout an hedde to the coÌ„forte of other to lose hys owne But to the entent that he before tymes myght haue warred vppon the sayd Turkys he for that cause onely had offered vnto the kynge of Englande many reasonable offers And if of the Englysshe party any lyke offers myghte be to hym profered he wolde gladly theym accepte turne hys spere incoÌ„tyneÌ„tly agayn the fore named Turkes And ouer that he wolde for the furtherauÌ„ce of the matter sende wyth them vnto the kynge of EnglaÌ„de certayne ambassadours to se yf that as yet any reasonable peace myght be betwene them coÌ„cluded For accomplisshemeÌ„t wherof as testyfyeth myne auctour Gaguynus he sente the archebysshop of Raynes wyth other honorable persones The whych whan they to kyng Henry and hys counsayll hadde shewyd theyr legacyoÌ„ it was to them shortly answered that at suche season as the EnglysshemeÌ„ hadde wonne agayne so moche laÌ„de as the Frenchemen by cawtelys had woÌ„ne from theym thaÌ„ were it good tyme season to treate of accorde nat before By reason of whiche answere the popes ambassade retourned to Rome wythoute ayde or comforte And thus y e FreÌ„che wryters lay euer the charge froÌ„ theyr prynce put it vnto other But of thys ambassade or answere fynde I no memory of any Englysshe wryters Aboute the .xxxiiii. yere of y e reygn of thys Charlys Lewys hys sonne before named beynge a maÌ„ of greate lyberalitye and largesse thought his father departed nat wyth hym of his mouables possessyoÌ„s as he hadde cause to do For the whych by coÌ„fort of yoÌ„ge persones as he had aboute hym he rebelled thys seconde tyme agayne hys sayde father by reason of hys largesse lyberalyte drewe vnto hym moche waÌ„ton wylde people wyth theyr assystence warred vppoÌ„ hys fathers freÌ„des entendyd to depryue hys father of all gouernauÌ„ce of the realme wherof herynge hys father in all possyble haste gathered to hym greate strengthe and spedde hym towarde hys sayd sonnÌ„ But whaÌ„ Lewys was warned of the coÌ„myng of hys father wyth so great an hoste consydered hys quarell wekenesse he wyth a fewe persones fledde towarde Burgoyne whereof herynge the father sente in all â—haste people to kepe the passages and dyd that he myghte to haue stopped hym of hys waye But that prouysyon notwythstandynge the sayd Lewys escaped and came sauely vnto the presence of Phylyppe then duke of Burgoyne the whyche hym receyued wyth gladde chere and entreatyd hym accordyng to his estate and so kepte hym durynge his fathers lyfe Nowbeit he made for hym great sute and labour to wynne him to his fathers grace But all was in vayne For what by obstynacy of the same y t he wolde not submytte hym to his father and comme vnto hys presence when he was sente for for the great stomacke of the father that he wold not be condycyoned with of the son thys varyaunce contynued bytwene them as aboue is sayd y e terme of his fathers lyfe In the whyche passe tyme thys Charlys concluded a maryage bytwene hys doughter called Magdaleyne and Ladyslaus kyng of Beme Hungary and of Polayne But whyle the bryde wyth great apparayle and pompe was conueyed towarde her husbande to be maryed her sayde husbande was taken sodenly with sykenesse and dyed with in .xxiiii. houres after that he fyrste coÌ„playned hym whych was by force of poysone as most wryters agreen Of whych tydynges when Charlys was asserteyned he therwyth toke such a peÌ„syffenesse that he dyed shortely after whan he had ruled a parte and the hole realme to reken from y e deth of hys father .xxxvi. yeres How be it of Frenche wryters no certeyne terme of hys reygne to hym is assygned for so myche as kyng Henry the vi longe after the deth of hys father was alowyd in Parys and many other Cytyes of FrauÌ„ce for souerayne and kynge of that regyon Thys Charlys thus beynge dede lefte after hym two sonnes that is to saye Lewys that after hym was kynge and a yonger named Charlys wyth y e forenamed doughter named Magdaleyne or after some Margarete And after wyth greate pompe hys corps was conueyed vnto saynt Denys and there buryed Francia Lewys the .xi. LEwys the .xi. of y â— name after the accompte of thys boke and .x. after the Frenche accompte whereof y e cause is before shewed sonne to Charles last dede beganne his dominyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the moneth of October in the yere of grace M.iiii hundreth and .lviii. and the .xxxvi. yere of Henry the .vi. than kynge of Englande This of Gaguinus is called the sturdy or fel Lewys The whiche at the tyme of his fathers deth beyng as aboue is sayd vnrecouÌ„syled in the prouynce of Burgoyne herynge of the deth of his father wyth ayde of the foresayd duke Phylyp shortly entred y e realm of Fraunce toke vpon hym y e rule in euery good cytie town as he passyd as kyng of y e same so y t many lordes hed offycers drewe vnto hym By meane wherof he was stronge put such vnto sylence as after y e wyll purpose of his father wolde haue preferred his yoÌ„ger son named Charlys Than this Lewys by strengthe of his frendes was shortely after at Raynes crowned kynge of Fraunce After whyche solempnyte fynysshed he repayred vnto Parys and there by consent of hys counceyll made a law y t no man of what degre
of Brye the cytyes of Melde Monstruell and Meldune therof to be excepted And vnto Charlys sonne of the duke of Burgoyne he was contented to gyue so myche money as he hadde spent in that iournay But all was refused And fynally for obstynacy of bothe partyes the daye of expyracyon of the trewe approchyd wythout hope of accord coÌ„cludyng wherfore prouysyon for warre vpon bothe partyes was deuysed Than begaÌ„ grudge and murmure bytwen the cytesyns and the kynges sowdyours wherthorough many of the comons hertes turned to the lordes so that for fere the surer and stronger watches were kepte to the kynges great charge Shortely after tydynges were brought vnto the kynge y t the castell of Gysons was of the lordes vesyeged and that also the prefecte of the kynges paleys in Roan was taken of the cytesyns and holden in prysone And the daye folowynge came an other messengare shewynge vnto the kynge that the duke of Burbone was by the posterne receyued into the castell of Roan and was lykely to haue shortely the rule of the cytye whyche came to effecte in shorte whyle after whan the lordes hadde gotten the castell and cyty of Roan whyche is hed cytye of Normandy as Parys is hed of Fraunce than in maner of derysyon they sent vnto y e kynge sayenge that nother with Champayne nor with Bry hys brother Charlys wold be contented but scantely wyth the hole duchy of Normandy Than kynge Lewys coÌ„syderyng the great auauÌ„tage which y e lordes had of him both by strength and fauour of hys comons whyche dayly drewe vnto them by sondry coÌ„panyes in auoydyng of more daunger concludyd a peas For perfourmauÌ„ce wherof he grauÌ„ted vnto Charlys his brother y e hole duchy of Normandy takyng to hym in exchauÌ„ge the county of Berry And to Charlis sonne to the duke of Burgoyne PeronÌ„ Roya a cytye or towne called in latyne MondideriuÌ„ and therwith he ioyned Gwynary and y e erledome of Boloyne which lordshyps y e sayd kynge Lewys hadde before tymes bought of duke Phylyp his father To IohnÌ„ of Calabre he grauÌ„ted all such suÌ„mes of money as he demaundyd to wage with soudiours to ayde his father agayne Fardynande then kyng of Aragon And to IohnÌ„ duke of Burbon y t which as before is said had maryed his syster he grauÌ„ted all such dowar as to hym was ê“mysed at y e tyme of maryage all such pencyon as he was wont yerely to take of the graunte of Charlys last kyng within the realme of FrauÌ„ce To the duke of Brytayne was restoryd the erledome of MouÌ„tferard with great suÌ„mes of money which the kyng had receyued of the sayd county And to y e erle of Dampmartyne was restored all suche landes as before by acte of parlyameÌ„t were forfayted to y e kyng To the erle of saynt Poule was restored the offyce of the constablerye of FrauÌ„ce to other meÌ„ of name other notable thynges which I passe ouer All whyche grauntes fermely and fastely assuryd proclamacyons were made of thys pease thoroughe the realme of Fraunce And after thys pease was thus concluded the kyng and hys lordes mette To whome he shewed greate semblaunt of kyndnesse and specyally vnto hys brother wherin appered great dyssymulacyon as here after shall appere For thys Lewys was of suche condycion that what he myght not ouer come wyth strength he wold wynne wyth dyssymulacyon and trechety After whyche peace thus concluded and the lordes departed the kynge festyd the rulers and consuls of the cytye of Parys and gaue vnto them due thankes for the greate trouth fydelyte whyche they bare towarde hym duryng that troubelous season and graunted vnto them suche thynges as then they wolde aske for the weale of that cytye IT was not longe after that dyssymulacyon fell bytwene Charlys duke of Normandye and IohnÌ„ foresayde sonne vnto the duke of Calabre and the erle of Dampmartyne wherof a parte of the cause was that the sayde Charlys after theyr thynkyng hadde not so bounteously rewarded them as they had deserued Of whyche dyscorde kyng Lewys was fayne and in spedy maner rode vnto a towne called Argentyne and there wyth the sayd IohnÌ„ than beynge duke of Calabre by reason of hys fathers deth helde wyth hym longe and great counsayll to y e entent to dyspossesse hys brother of the duchy of Normandye By reason of whych dyscorde bytwene the sayd two dukes kynge Lewys as ayder of the duke of Calabre made warre in the partyes of Normandye and in processe wanne therin dyuers castels and other stronge holdes and compelled hys brother to holde the cytye of Roan for hys refuge where he so beynge the kyng wanne dayly vppon hym in so myche that dyuers townes and stronge holdes submytted them to his grace wherof hering the cytesyns of Roan made an ambassade vnto the kynge for purchace of grace for theyr duke and for them selfe The whych when the duke vnderstode ferynge leste his owne cytesyns wolde betraye hym fled thens and so yode to Humflewe and from thens to Cadomy In whyche passe tyme y e kynge was wyth due honour receyued into y e cytie of Roan where he remoued many from theyr offices and of his seruauntes or such as lyked hym put in theyr places moch of the ordynaunce and of abylymentes of warre belongynge to y e towne he sent vnto Parys and the prouost of Roan named Gauyne Manuell he put to deth after hys body was cast into the ryuer and his hed sette vppon a pole dyuers of the colege wyth the deane of y e same place were put vnto deth And all whych tyrannye by the kynge executyd and the towne put in suertye by strength of soudyours he after spedde hym vnto Orleaunce where as sayth myne authour he puruayed an honorable ambassade and sent it vnto Edward the .iiii. then kynge of Englande In the .ix. yere of y e reygne of thys Lewys was so greate a mortalyte of men in Fraunce that in Parys dyed that yere ouer .xl. M. people And in thys yere began a grudge to growe bytwene this Lewys and Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne But it was kept vnkyndely duryng y e lyfe of y e duke which dyed shortely after To whom succedyd Charlys his sonne before named which in processe of tyme maryed dame Margarete syster vnto kynge Edward y e .iiii. as after shal be shewyd It was not longe after that thys Lewys assembled a great hoste of people to make warre vpon Charlys duke of Burgoyne Of whyche people he had coÌ„mytted the rule and charge vnto IohnÌ„ Balna whych at that daye was preste and cardynall and he as a teÌ„porall capytayne toke of them the mustyrs other orders where at the teÌ„porall lordes dysdaynynge the erle of DaÌ„pmartyne sayd in the names of them vnto the kyng Moste redouted souerayne lorde it hath pleased your hyghnesse to commytte vnto a spyrytuall maÌ„ y e charge of your puyssaunt hoste he not ferynge god hath taken vpon hym the cure
is named Corynbratus or Corynbatus The whych for so myche as the trybute before grauÌ„ted by Guilthdak kyng of DeÌ„mark vnto the kynges of Brytayne for a perpetuyty was denayed he arrayed his army and nauye and sayled into Denmarke and there wasted and harmed the countre wyth iron and fyre in such wyse that at length the kynge of Denmarke wyth the assent of his Baronage graunted to paye and contynue the foresayde tribute yerely of a thousande pouÌ„de After whyche vyctorye thus hadde of the Danys he wyth great tryumphe retourned towarde Britayn And in kepynge of hys course he encountred wyth a nauye of .xxx. sayle besyde the yle of Orchades full of men and women of whyche flote the chyefe captayne was called after moste wryters Bartholomew The whyche when he was brought vnto the kynges presence shewyd that he wyth his people were putte or exyled out of the countre of Spayne and were named Balenses and had sayled longe tyme vppon the see to the ende to fynde some prynce that wold gyue to them a dwellynge place and they to become his subiectys holde theyr lande of hym besechynge the kynge to haue compassyon of them and to graunt to them some place to enhabyte them in that they shulde no lenger dwell in theyr shyppes coÌ„syderyng theyr vytayle was spent by reason of theyr long lyeng vpon y e see After whych request thus made by theyr captayne the kyng with the aduyse of his barons graunted vnto them a voyde and waste countre whyche was and is the farthest ile of all the iles towarde the weste the whych yle as sayth the Englyshe cronycle was then named Irelande after the name of theyr captayn called in the Englyshe cronycle Irlamal But who so wyll knowe the fyrste cause of the namynge of this yle Irlande lette hym rede the .xxxii. and xxxiii chapytres of the fyrste boke of Policronica and there he shall fynd y e more certaynly of y e fyrst namynge therof with many other thynges touchynge y e sayd yle the whych I ouerpasse for length of y e mater For there he shall be suffyciently enfourmed of that and also of other thynges Then yt foloweth in the story after this Gurguintus was retourned into his lande of Britayne he ordeyned to be stablyshed kepte y e lawes made by his forefaders exersysyd iustyce to his subiectes and guyded his lande well and nobly by the terme after moste wryters of .xix. yeres and then dyed and was buryed at newe Troye or London or at Caerleon leuynge after hym a sonne named after myne authoure Guynthelinus but after some he is named Guyntellius THE XXXIII CHAPITER GUinthelinê° or Guintellius y e sonne of Gurguintus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the world .iiii. thousande .viii. hundred and .liii. This is named in the englyshe cronycle Gwentolyne the whyche guyded his lande and Brytons with great mekenesse and sobernesse He hadde also a noble wyfe called Marcia instructe and lerned in many scyeÌ„ces the whych amonge other noble dedys by her done studyed and broughte forth a certayne good and conuenyent lawe amonge the Brytons the whyche was named longe after the Marcyan lawe This lawe for that yt was thought both good and necessary Aluredus whyche longe after was kynge of Englande translated oute of Bretyshe into Saxon speche and then was yt called after that translacyon in the Saxon tonge Marthehelage whych is to meane the lawe of Marcia To this womaÌ„ for her wysdome was committed all the gouernaunce of the lande in so myche as wytnessyth myne authoure Gaufryde and other she reygned as quene of Brytayne a certayne tyme after her husbande was dede But the yeres of her reygne be accompted with the yeres of her husbande or wyth the yeres of her sonne Sisillius so that no tyme asserteyned is to her deputed or sette Then yt foloweth wheÌ„ this Guinhelinus hadde reygned well and mekely by the terme of .xxvi. yeres he dyed and was buryed at newe Troy or London leuyng after hym a son named Sisillius or Cecilius THE XXXIIII CHAPITER SIsillius or Ceciliê° the sonne of Guynthelinus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the world .iiii. thousande .viii. hundred lxxix This in the Englysh cronycle is named Seyzyl Of whych no mencion nor worthy memory is made Al be yt that Gaufryde meaneth y t this Sisillius was but .vii. yeres of age when his father dyed wherfore the charge of the realme was committed vnto Marcia his moder the which guyded yt well and suffycyently tyll her sayde sonne came to his lawfull age and then resygnyd to hym all y e rule whyche so contynued but how longe he reygned Gaufryde expressyth not wherfore I now folowe the sayenge of the forenamed authoure called the Floure of historyes which affermeth hym to reygne onely .vii. yeres all be yt the Englyshe boke sayeth he reygned .xv. yeres whyche agreeth not so well wyth the concordaunce of other historyes tymes This Sisillius as Gaufryde wytnessyth left after him a sonne named Kymarus whome the englysh boke nameth Kymor THE XXXV CHAPITER RImarus the sonne of Sisillius was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .viii. hundred .lxxx. vi This in the englyshe boke is called Kymor of y t whych is made no mencyon nother of hys tyme of reygne nor of his dedes For the more partye of wryters reherse in moste breuest shorteste maner y t after Kimarê° reygned Elaniê° After Elaniê° Morindus But y e old cronycle whych I haue before tyme spoken of sayth that this Kymarus which he nameth Kymarchê° Elaniê° â–ª was a wylde yonge man and lyued after hys pleasure wherfore as he was in his dysporte of huntynge he was by his euyll willers slayne wheÌ„ he hadde ruled skarsly .iii. yeres THE XXXVI CHAPITER ELanius the sonne of Kymarê° as wytnessyth the foresayde Floure of cronycles but the broder of Kimarus as sayth Gaufride was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousand .viii. hundred .lxxx. and .ix. the whyche in the englyshe boke is named Howan Of this also is no meÌ„cyon made nor memory nother of acte nor of reygn but as the forenamed olde cronycle sayth that Kymarus and Elanius was one persone and reygned as before is sayde but the abouesayd writer called Floure of hystoryes sayth he reygned fully two yeres THE XXXVII CHAPITER MOrindus the bastarde sonne of Elanius as sayth Gaufryde and other was made kynge of Brytayne in y e yere of y e world foure thousande .viii. hundred .lxxx. and .xi. the whych in the englyshe cronicle is called Morwith This as witnesseth Gaufryde was goten vppon the concubyne of Elanius named Tanguestela and was a man of worthy fame in dedys of chyualry but he was so ouercome with wrath cruelnesse y t lyghtly he slew all men that hym tened or angred He was also beauteouse of persone and lyberall of gyftes and wyth that he was of a
vnto a dragoÌ„ vnder a sterre apperynge in the firmament wherof there is made a long processe and by Gaufryde in his Brytyshe boke also affermed the whych to me semeth of lytell credeÌ„ce But trought it is that after Uter was as before is sayde made kynge he was enamowryd vppon the dukes wyfe of Cornewayll named Igwarne or Igorne for to optayn his vnlefull lust sought many dyuers meanes So y e lastly he made warre vpoÌ„ her husbaÌ„de named Garolê° or Gorleis at leÌ„gth slew y e sayde duke at his castell called Tyntagell standynge in Cornewayle after maryed his wyfe and receyued of her the noble knyght Arthur and a doughter named Amye as sayth the englyshe cronycle More is not lefte of any wryter of authoryte in remembraunce of thys Uter all be it that some testifye that he by the helpe of Merlyne shulde fetche Coria gigantum otherwyse called the stone henge out of IrlaÌ„d as before I haue shewed in the story of Aurelius And of Gaufryde ys shewed that Uter also shulde wynne the forsayde ladye by the enchauntement of Merlyn whych is not comely to any chrysten relygyon to gyue to any suche fantastycall illusyons any mynde or credence wherfore I passe ouer leuynge all the other mater whych also ys there rehersyd of the warre betwene Uter and Osca sonne of Hengyste for so mych as it is dyscordaunt vnto other wryters and fynally conclude that thys Uter Pendragon dyed by force of venym when he hadde ruled thys yle of Brytayne by the full terme of .xvi yeres and after was buryed by his brother Aurely in Coria gigantum or stone henge leuynge after hym the forenamed sonne the puyssaunt Arthur Francia THE CI. CHAPITER LOtharius or Clotharius the yongest sonne of Clodoueê° was made kynge of a parte of Fraunce called Soisons in y e yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xiiii and the .xiiii. yere of Uter then kynge of myche Brytayne ye shall vnderstande that after the deth of Clodoueus laste kyng of Fraunce the lande by hym was dyuyded to hys foure sonnes That is to say to the eldest sonne Clodomirus was appoynted the lordshyppe of Orlyaunce to Theodoricus the seconde sonne Austracye to Childebertus y e thyrd son myddell FrauÌ„ce or the countre lyenge about Paris and to this Lothayr the aboue sayd lordshyppe of Soisons Of whyche sayd lordshyppes eyther of them possessyd they were of theyr subiettes called kynges and so contynued in good reste a certayne of tyme. In the whyche season Clotyld theyr moder berynge in mynde the vnnaturall deth of her parentes wylled her sonnes to venge theyr deth whych deth as testyfyeth Uincent historyall and also Antoninus was in this forme folowynge Gundenchus the grauÌ„d father of Clotildis had .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Cundebaldus Gondigisillus Hilpericus and Godomarus To these .iiii. sonnes Gundenchus besette the lande of Burgoyne Gondigisillê° and Godomarê° dyed wherfore the land of Burgoyne fyll to Cundebaldus and Hilpericus Then Cundebaldus for couetyse of the hole lordeshyp slew his brother Hilpericus fastened a great stone to the necke of his wyfe and cast her into a depe water And of hys .ii. doughters wherof the eldest hyght Trona he exyled in poore wede or clothynge And the yonger he kepte in seruage wythin his owne courte The whyche after as before is shewed was maryed agayne hys wyll vnto Clodoueê° fader to this Lothariê° Then yt foloweth this Lotharius sonne of Clotild made sharpe warre vpon Sigismonde sonne of Cundebaldus whyche then was dede In the whyche warre the eldest sonne Clodomyrus was slayne leuyng after hym .iii. sonnes named Theobaldus Guntherus or Guntharre and Clodoaldus whych .iii. sonnes toke to her tuycyon and guydynge But the other brother maynteyned the warre agayn y t BurgoynioÌ„s in such wyse y e finally they obteyned y e ryght porcyon of theyr moder Clotilde After thys warre was fynyshed in Burgoyne Childebertus the thyrd sonne herynge that Almarcus kyng of Spayne mysse entreated his suster made warre vppon hym lastly hym subdued and sette his suster in her former estate But whyle the said Childebert was thus in Spayne occupyed Theodorus his brother toke from hym a cytye to hym belongyng called MouÌ„tclere and slewe the knyghtes which Childebertus had lefte there to kepe the sayd cytye For this myscheuous dede arose gret debate betwene these two bretherne but by medyacyon of frendes they were at leÌ„gth accordyd Then Theodorus sought new meanes of dyspleasure agayne his sayde brother as well treason as other wyse the whyche Childebert by his polycye and wysedome wyth good fortune escapyd Childebertus than castynge in his mynde how he myght wynne to hym the patrymony or the lordeshyp that lately beloÌ„ged vnto his eldest broder Clodomyrus toke counsayle of his brother Clotharius In such wyse y t they to gyder or of one assent sent vnto theyr moder Clotyld for theyr neuewes childern of theyr brother And she nothynge mystrustynge theym sent the sayde childern vnto the sayd ii brethern But wythin shorte tyme of theyr commyng vnto theyr sayde vncles as testifyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and also the freÌ„che cronicle Lotharius tyraÌ„nously wyth his sworde slew two of y e sayde childern And then the thyrde fledde for his sauegarde vnto suche as hym fauouryd He was after agayne taken and compelled to make a solemne othe y t he shulde become a relygyous man neuer clayme any part of his ryght or enherytaunce By which vnlefull meane the .ii. brothern obteyned the hole lordshyppe of Orleaunce and partyd the reuennues thereof betwene them but that enduryd but a whyle And here I passe ouer the sorowe that Clotylde made for the childern of her sonne Clodomyrus and also the orderyng of the yongest son called Clodoaldus whyche escaped the daunger of his vncles as before is shewed the whyche wolde aske a longe season THE CII CHAPITER IT was not long after but that the seconde brother kynge or duke of Austracy dyed of goddes visytacyon leuynge after hym a sonne named Theodobertus The whyche of his two foresayde vncles was greuously warred by loÌ„ge tract of tyme the whyche he defendyd thorough his marciall knighthode And when he by dyuers meanes hadde sought peace and myght not purchase it he then founde suche meanes by ryche gyftes and otherwyse that he waÌ„ne the fauoure of his vncle Childebert and cherysshyd hym as his frende Then fyll vnkyndnes betwene Childebert and Lotharius in so myche that eyther of theÌ„ assembled a great hoste to subdue that one the other But the forenamed Theodobertus made all y e power he myght to ayde and assyste Chyldebert So that vppon bothe partyes was a great multytude of knyghtes armed redy to fyght Clotilde then herynge of this mortall warre betwene her two sonnes and also consyderynge the lykelyhode of the great effusyon of mannes blood that myghte ensue by the reason of the ioynynge of these foresayd two hostes in all hast yode vnto the sepulture or shryne of
coÌ„forted enforced y t Britons wyth so sharpe fyght that they were compelled to forsake the felde and toke theym to flyght whom the Frenchemen chasyd and slewe wythout mercy In the whyche chase Cramyris wyth hys wyfe and chyldern were taken and presentyd vnto Lotharius The whyche shortly after settynge a parte all faderly loue compassion and pytye causyd a great fyre to be made into the whyche he commaunded to be caste the sayde Cramyris with also hys wyfe and chyldern Or as wytnessyth the frenche cronycle they were all enclosyd in a house and the house and they to gether consumyd wyth fyre Thus the moste cruell father without pyte chastysyd y e inobedyent son to the example and lernyng of other to bere dewe obedyeÌ„ce vnto theyr parentes After this vyctory and cruell chastysement executed by Lothariê° he retourned into Fraunce And so to the sepulcre or shryne of saynte Martyne yeldynge to god and hym thankes of thys vyctorye and offeryd there many ryche gyftes And after spedde hym to Soisons where he as kynge of all Fraunce excepte the lordshyppe of Austracy whyche Theobald sonne of his brother sons Theodorich then helde The father of this Theobald was Theodobert Then Lotharius seynge hys lande in reste and quyetnesse gaue hym to huntynge and chace of wylde bestes a game of great vse amoÌ„g all FreÌ„che prynces In whyche dysporte he beyng one daye greatly trauayled caught some surfet of the whyche ensued a mortall sykenes so that he dyed shortely after when he hadde reygned as before is specifyed ouer the lordshyppe of Soysons and other by the terme of .l. wynter full And was after buryed at Soisons with great pompe leuynge after hym foure sonnes GuÌ„thranus Aribertus Chilpericus Sigebertus It is testyfyed of mayster Robert Gagwyne that saynte Radegunde borne of the countre of Thurynge of a pagan father named Bernigarius was wyfe to this LotharÌ„ whose vertuous lyfe Antoninê° in his boke called SmÌ„ Antonini in the .viii. chapyter .xii. tytle of the seconde parte of his worke shewyth coÌ„peÌ„dyously Anglia THE CIIII. CHAPITER ARthurê° the sonne of Uter Pendragon a strepelynge of .xv. yeres of age beganne his reygne as kynge of Brytayne in the yere of oure lorde v. hundred and .xvii and the thyrde yere of Lotharius then kynge of Fraunce or of a parte therof as before is declared Of this Arthure is by Gaufryde recyted a longe storye and alowed by the englysh cronycle the whyche from other wryters ys greatly dyscordaunte But yet all authours agreen that he was noble an victoryous in all his dedys Fayne I wolde declare the fame of this noble prynce to the comforte of other to folowe his marcyall dedis so that I myght somwhat iustly fye my reporte by some authoure of authoryte But the more I am in doute bycause of the sayenge of Ranulphe monke of Chestre whyche vouchyth yt vppon wyllyam wryter of hystoryes of kynges as ys rehersed at length in the .vi. chapyter of the .v. boke of PolicronicoÌ„ which is there open to euery man that ys desyrous to knowe the sayde reporte or opynyon the whyche for the leÌ„gth therof I ouerpasse And somwhat to the honour of so great a champyon as was thys Arthur I shall lay vnto the reder that he may wyth authoryte shewe vnto the herers and ther wyth gladde the welsheman that he shuld desceÌ„de of so noble a vyctour whych so many dedys of honour executed in his dayes Then as testyfyeth Polycronycon and other Arthur faught .xii. no table batayllis agayne the Saxons and of them all was victour wherfore the fyrste was vpon the ryuer of Cleuy and .iiii. the nexte were foughten vpon the ryuer Douglys which rynneth vnder the town of wygan vpon ten myles from the ryuer of Merse in Lancashyre The .vi. batayll was vppon the ryuer called Bassa The .vii. besyde LyncolnÌ„ in a wood called CelidonÌ„ The .viii. and the .ix. were foughten about yorke The .x. was about Nycolf towne whyche is named warwyk as after some wryters The .xi. was at Bathe where he longe besegyd Cerdicus kynge of westsaxons The .xii. and last was at a place called Badon or Babowe hyll in which he slewe many Saxons But that notwythstandynge he myght not clerely voyde them his lande but that they kepte theyr couÌ„tes which they were before possessyd of as Kente Southerey and Norff all be it that some authours testyfy that they held these countres as trybutaryes vnto Arthure Thys noble warryour as wytnessyth holy Gildas slew with his own hande in one daye by y e helpe of our ladye saynte Marye whose picture he bare peynted in his shelde a hundred and .xl. Saxons whyche shelde he called PrydwenÌ„ his swerd was called Caliboure and his spere was called RonÌ„ after the brytyshe tunge or speche The thyrde or fourth THE CV CHAPITER ABout the .v. yere of this Arthur after the agrement of moste wryters beganne the lord shyppe of westsaxoÌ„s vnder y e Saxon called Cerdicus Kenricus hys sonne For Denys and other wytnesse that this lordshyppe or kyngdome shulde haue his begynnynge the .lxxi. yere after the fyrste commynge of Hengiste or the yere of oure lorde fyue hundred .xxii. which agreeth wyth the .v. yere of Arthure aforesayde Thys lordshyppe conteyned the weste countre of Englande as wylt wyltshyre Somersetshyre Berkê Dors. and other as Deuonshyre and Cornewayll and hadde in the Eest syde Southampton in y e north Thamys the famouse ryuer in the south and weste the see Occean This foresayde Cerdicus whyche of some authours is named Childricus laÌ„ded fyrst at Cerdyshore which nowe is called yermouth an hauen towne in the countre of Norff. And by helpe of other Saxons then inhabyted in that countre then called eest Anglys the sayd Cerdicus at leÌ„gth obteyned the foresayde countre and named yt westsaxon or westsaxonia and reygned therin as lorde or kyng a certayne of yeres and Kenricê° his sonne after hym The fyrste chrysten kynge of this prouynce was named Kyngilsus and coÌ„uertyd by meanes of that blessed man Berinus byshoppe of Dorchester To whom Quichelinus brother of the foresayd Kyngilsus gaue the sayd cytye to make there hys see after he also had receyued baptyme of the sayde Berinus And as Guydo wytnessyth the sayde Quichelinus gaue after to the byshoppe of wynchester .vii. myles compasse of lande to buylde there a byshoppes see the whyche was accomplyshed and finyshed by Kenwalcus his son Thys kyngdome enduryd longeste of all the other whyche were .vii. in nomber or .vi. besyde thys Some wryters accompte the terme of the duraunce of thys kyngdome from Cerdicus to Egbert and some to the laste yere of Aluredus But Guydo accomptyth the enduraunce of thys kyngdome from the fyrste yere of Cerdicus vnto the laste yere of Edwarde the coÌ„fessour By reason wherof yt shuld endure fyue hundred and .liiii. yeres But moste accordyngly yt shulde be rekened from the fyrst yere of Cerdicus to the laste yere of Aluredus For he
made one monarchye of all .vii. kyngdomes in which tyme dyd flowe or passe thre huÌ„dred lxxviii yeres THE CVI. CHAPITER NOwe then I wyl returne vnto Arthur the whych by a longe tyme dwelled in warre and mortall batayll wyth y e SaxoÌ„s by meane of theyr dayly repayre into this lande The whyche also alyed them with Pictes and other nacyons and made theyr partye the strenger by y e meane But yet Arthur by his marciall knyghthod brought theym in suche frame that he was accoÌ„pted for chyef lord of Brytayne Fynally when he hadde by a longe tyme maynteyned hys warres agayne the Saxons and specyally agayne Cerdicus or Childricus kyng of westesaxons he for a fynall concorde gaue vnto the sayde Cerdicus as testyfyeth Policronica in the .vi. chapyter of his .v. boke the two couÌ„tres of Hampshyre and Somerset And when he hadde sette hys lande in some quietnesse he betoke the rule therof vnto hys neuewe Mordred and wyth a chosyn armye sayled as sayth Gaufryde and other vnto FrauÌ„ce where by the reporte of Gaufryde he wrought wonders But the wryters of Frenche cronycles touche nothynge of suche notable dedes nor yet the wryters of Romaynes mynde nothynge of suche actes done agayne theyr consull or emperoure called by Gaufryde Lucius Hybertê° Therfore I wyll spare all that longe mater remyttyng the welshemen as touchynge y e processe vnto the sayd Gaufride And here I wyll folowe Policronicon where he sayth that for as mych as the forenamed Mordred was desyrous to be kynge feryd some dele the myght of Cerdicus kyng of westsaxons he therfore drewe to hym the sayde Cerdicus by great gyftes as of townes and castelles other meanes where thorough the sayd Cerdicus to hym assented so that Mordred was at London crowned kyng of Brytayn and Cerdicus after the vse of pagaÌ„s was at wynchester then called Kaerguent crowned kyng of westsaxons when relacyoÌ„ came to Arthur of all this treason wrought by his neuewe Mordred he in all haste made towarde Brytayn as yt is redde in the englyshe cronycle laÌ„ded at Sandwyche where he was mette of Mordred and hys people whych gaue vnto hym strong batayll in tyme of his landyng and loste there many of his knyghtes as the famouse knyghte Gawyne and other But yet this not withstandyng Arthur at leÌ„gth waÌ„ne the lande and chasyd his enymyes and after the enterynge of his cosyn Gawyn and other of his knyghtes there slayne he sette forwarde his hoste to pursue his enymyes Mordred thus beynge ouersette of his vncle at the see syde withdrewe hym to wynchester where he beynge furnysshed of newe soudyours gaue vnto Arthur as sayth Gaufryde y e secoÌ„de fyghte wherin also Mordred was put to the worse and constrayned to flee Thyrdely and lastely the sayde Mordred faught wyth his vncle Arthur besydes Glastynbury where after a longe and daungerouse fyght Mordred was slayn y e victorious Arthur wounded vnto the deth and after buryed in the vale of Aualon besyde Glastynbury beforesayde Of this laste ende and buryenge of Arthur in the brytyshe bokes are tolde many fables But to oppresse y e errours of Brytons y e thynke or byleue y t Arthur yet lyueth Policroniconshe with in his forenamed chapyter of his .v. boke y t in the secoÌ„de Henryes tyme kynge of Englande the bonys of the sayd Arthur and Gwaynour his wyfe were fouÌ„den and traÌ„slated into the forsayde chyrch of Glastynbury and there newe buryed in the yere of our lord .xi. hundred .lxxx. And more specially yt is noted in the xxiii chapyter of the .vii. boke of Policronicon aboue sayde wherfore to be at coÌ„clusyon of a fyne of this noble warryour he was as before is shewed slayne or wounded to deth when he hadde reygned ouer the Britons by y e terme of .xxvi. yeres wyllynge before his deth that Constantyne the son of Cador duke of Cornewayle for so mych as of his bodye remayned none heyre that he shulde be his heyre and enheryte the land of mych Britayn after his deth Anglia THE CVII CHAPITER CONstantinus the son of Cador duke of Cornewayle by assent of the Brytons was of them crowned kynge of myche Brytayne in the yere of Crystes incarnacyon fyue huÌ„dred .xliii and the .xix. yere of Lotharius then kynge of Fraunce This was nere kynnesman vnto Arthur and was by the two sonnes of Mordred greuously vexed for so myche as they claymed the lande by the ryghte or tytle of theyr father So y t betwene hym and them were foughten many and sondry bataylles wherof nother of place nor of tyme is left any conuenyent memorye nor yet of the names of the sayde two sonnes But as dyuerse authours agreen after these forsayde batayllys thus foughten fynylly the two sonnes of Mordred were constrayned of pure force to seche strong holdes for theyr refuge â–ª wherfore that one toke London and that other wynchester wherof Constantyne beynge warned lefte not tyll he had slayne that one wythin the monastery of saynte Amphiabilâ— at wynchester and that other wythin a temple or chyrche of London whych temple is named of Gaufryde an hous of freres But y e sayeng is doutefull for at that days yt is to be supposed that there was none hous of freres within London nor by a longe tyme after when Constantine hadde thus subdued his enymyes and thought hymselfe in a maner of suertye of his regyon then fortune as she hadde enuyed his glory arreryd agayne hym his owne kynnesman named Aurelius Conanus the whych agayn hym made mortall batayll and finally or at the last slewe hym in y e felde when he hadde reygned after most accorde of wryters .iii. yeres the whych was then huryed at Stone hyenge by the sepulture of Uter PeÌ„dragon wyth great solemnytye THE CVIII CHAPITER AUrelius Conanus the cosyn of Constantync last named was crowned kyng Brytayne in the yere of our lord .v. hundred .xlvi the .xxxii. yere of Lothariê° before named then kynge of Fraunce This was noble and lyberall But he was a man that cherysshed suche as loued stryfe and dyscencyon wyth in his lande and gaue lyghte credence to them y t accused other were yt ryght or wronge And as testyfyeth Gaufryde and other he toke by strength his vncle whyche of ryght shulde haue ben kyng and caste hym in a strong pryson and after sâ—ew tyrannously the .ii. sonnes of his sayd vncle But he reioysed his reygne but shorte whyle For as wytnessyth the sayde Gaufryde when he hadde reygned two yeres he dyed were yt of the sonde of god or otherwyse leuynge after him a sonne named Uortiporius as hath the authoure of the boke named Floure of hystoryes Of this Uortiporius speketh nothynge the englyshe cronycle but telleth of two kynges that shulde reygne nexte after Constantyne both at ones wherof that one he nameth Adelbryght and that other Edyll. wherunto none other writer agreeth except that he nameth them for some of the kynges of the Saxons For aboute
of hys treasoure went vnto y e cyty of Tourney enteÌ„dyng to kepe that for theyr and hys sauegarde But when Sygebert knew therof he was nothyng in the pursuynge of hym fouÌ„de slow but foloweth streyght after and closyd hym wythin the sayde cytye with a stronge syege where Chilpericus was in a maner dyspayred of y e welfare of hym hys Fredegunde But she that was replenyshed of all iniquyte called to her two wycked persones and promysed vnto theym great gyftes yf they wolde by venym or otherwyse slee her brother Sigebert The whyche two felowes dysceyued wyth the fayre speche and great gyftes of the sayde Fredegunda toke vppon theym that vnlefull charge and by theyr subtell false imagynacyon brought theyr cursed purpose to an ende but to theyr owne confusyon For after they had wounded the kynge Sygebert to deth and wolde then haue escapyd the kynges knyghtes espyeng theyr treason fell soone vppon them and all to hewed them And when y e deth of the kynge was knowen a great noyse and crye was areryd in the hoste By meane wherof the kynges deth was blowen in to the cytye and after to the ceres of Chilpericus wherof he was not a lytell ameruayled nor wolde to yt geue ferme credence tyll he was enfourmed of hys wyfe Fredegunde of all hyr subtyle workynge It was not longe after or the knyghtes or some of the captaynes of the hoste of Sygebert presentyd theÌ„ vnto Chylpericus besegynge hym of hys grace and pardon the whych he gladly accepted And when he hadde sette hys charges in order he then commaunded prouysyon to be made for the beryenge of hys sayd brother wythin the monasterye of saynte Medarde of Soysons And when all that besynesse after a kyngely maner where fynyshed and endyd he then exylyd Brunechyeldys and Childebert the wyfe and sonne of hys brother Sygebert vnto the cytye of Roane takynge from theym great treasour that they were possessyd of But shortly after the sonne of Sygebert by helpe of Gun debolde or Gundealde duke of Poy towe here before named was delyueryd from the daunger of the sayde Chilperycus and sent into his owne lordeshyppe of Austracye whych his father Sygebert was lorde of In thys passetyme he hadde sent hys sonne Meroneus into a couÌ„trey called Buturynges to appeace certayne rebellyons there areysyd But when he hard of the deth of his vncle Sygebert and of the beynge of hys wyfe Bruncchyelde at the cytye of Roane he sette a parte all the charge of his father and sped hym streyght thyder kepynge companye wyth her In whome he toke suche consolacoin and pleasure that lastely he maryed her and kepte her as hys wyfe And when hys father was therof warned he feryd leste by the counsayle of hys sayde wyfe he wolde arryse agayne hym wherfore he in all haste assembled hys people and spedde hym towarde Roane when tydynges came to Meroneus of the conunynge of hys father wyth so great araye and he as then vupurucyed of strength of knightes to resyste hys father for hys moste suertye fled wyth hys vnlefull wyfe to the temple or chyrche of saynte Martyne takynge the pryuylege therof for theyr defence And when Chilpericus hadde temptyd by many sondry meanes to haue them out of the sayde pryuylege and myghte not wythout brekynge of the same he to brynge aboute hys cautelouse purpose made to theym assuryd promyse that yf they wyllfully wolde renounce the sayde place and putte theym in hys grace he wolde vtterlye pardon theyr trespace and suffer theym from that tyme for to contynue theyr lyfe to gether as man and wyfe Uppon whyche promyse the sayd Meroneê wyth his wyfe renouÌ„ced the sayde pryuylege and putte theym hole in the kynges mercy the whyche them receyuyd wyth all contenaunce of loue and fauoure and theym festyd and cherysshyd louyngly by the space of two dayes onely But the thyrde daye the feaste was fynyshed for then he sent his sonne vnto Parys vnder sure guydes and there causyd hym to be professyd in a house of relygyon But by the meanes of hys vncle Gunthranus he was after taken thens and so restoryd to hys former knyghthode For the whych his father hym newly pursued and coÌ„strayned hym to take for hys sauegarde y e chyrche of saynt Martyne in Turon And when he was warned that his fader perforce wold take hym thens he then fledde vnto a cytye of Champayne accompanyed wyth .vi. seruauntes onely where he was in so great fere to be taken and in suche despayre to obteyne grace of hys father that he causyd one of the sayde vi persones to slee hym wyth hys sworde the foresayd Bruncchyeldis hys wyfe put in sure kepynge THE CXV CHAPITER CHilpericê° then beynge asserteyned of the doth of hys sonne Meroneus the sure kepyng of Brunechieldis he thoughte hymselfe somdele assuryd for y e mystruste y t he had in them many tymes inquieted hym But yet he was not iÌ„ quiete or reste For shortly after y e peple of Turon rebellyd agayne him Agayn whom he sent his son Clodoueus a noble man of his courte named Desideriê° y e which he sent as a gyde a counsayloure of his sayd son And vpon the party of his enymyes was a captayne of the kynge Gunthranus for so mych as the said Gunthranus claymed parte of those landes about Turon This captayne named Momelues heryng of the coÌ„mynge of the foresayd hoste wyth a chosen coÌ„pany made taward them and gaue vnto Clodoueus a great sharpe fyght and not without great losse of his men wanne of hym the felde and compellyd hym to forsake that countre Thus Chilperyche was wrapped in warre and troubles of the worlde sometyme wyth ryght some whyle wyth wronge so that he some tyme wanne worshyppe and other whyle he loste wherof to tell all the cyrcumstaunce I thynke yt shulde be tedyouse bothe to the reders and also to y e herers wherfore I passe ouer in abrydgynge and shortynge somedele of this storye Then foloweth within y e storye after Chylpericus had by intycemeÌ„t of Fredegunde wrongfully tormentyd the archebyshoppe of Roan named Breteste hym after the sufferaunce of many vylanyes exyled for the whych and other god sent vnto hym some correccyom in takynge awaye by sodeyne deth the chyldern that he had by Fredegunde he then began to knowe god and toke great repentaunce in promysynge to god amendement of his lyfe And to th entent that he might haue the more prayers of the comyn people to stand in state of grace he fyrst releasyd a greuous trybute or imposicyon that he hadde lately sette vpon all vynes thorough his regyon And that done he reedyfyed olde chyrches and some he made newe and endowed them with great possessyons And ouer thys he releuyd greatly y e poore people by enlargynge of his lyberall almes and became very humble and meke where before tyme he was ryght sterne and cruell But lyke as ofteÌ„ it happeneth that
entende in the declarynge of thys story of Clothayre to expresse the remanaunte in as shorte wyse as I goodly may And fyrst ye shall vnderstaÌ„d that after thys fredegunde had as before is shewed causyd her lorde to be slayne she ferynge that at length her vntrouth shulde be dyscoueryd wyth all her goodes in shorte tyme after yode vnto Paris and there in the monasterye or house of our ladye held her And for she wold be in more suerty and also her son the sayd Clotharius shuld be the streÌ„ger in his domynyon and kingdome therfore she sent messengers vnto Gunthranus kynge of Orleaunce brother to her lorde Chilperich requyryng hym of fauoure and ayde that he wolde of his goodnesse be tutour defendour of her yonge sonne Clotharius The whych not denyenge the requeste of Fredegunde spedde towarde Paris in all haste where wyth the assent of other nobles of the realme he toke the gydynge of the yonge kynge By whose aduyse and coÌ„maundement the sayde Clotharius was conueyd shewyd thorough many of the chefe cytyes of his lande But in lykewyse as Gunthranus wyth other bysyed theym selfe to strength Lotharius in hys ryghte euen so were other of the nobles of FrauÌ„ce by the meanes of Brunechyeldis wyfe some tyme of Sygebert yongest sonne of Lothayre the fyrst the whyche Sygebert receyued of hys sayde wyfe two sonnes named Chilperich and Chyldebert of the whych two Chilperich suruyued the other that dyd all theyr entent to promote Chyldebert to the porcyon of hys father that Chilpericus father of Lotharius occupyed after the deth of Sigebert forenamed Here dyscordeth the frenche cronycle froÌ„ myne authour Gagwyne For there yt is sayd y e Brunechield with the other of her assent wold then by theyr meanes haue pÌ„ferred a bastard son of the forenamed Sygebert called Theodoricê° to the kyngdome of FrauÌ„ce An other authour sayth that this Theodorich was the son of Childericê° afore named whyche was the sonne of Sygebert But to folowe mayster Gagwyne This Childebert whych by y e former sayeng rehersyd in y t C. and .xiiii. chapiter of this treatyse was delyueryd from y e handes of Chilperich his vncle by meanes of the erle of Poytow named GuÌ„debald this with a small coÌ„pany came vnto Paris where of y e cyteseÌ„s he was kept out For y e which soon after he sent a noble man of his named Gillon with other as ambassadours vnto GuÌ„thranê° And where among other thynges of hym requyred they axed of him FredeguÌ„d to suffer deth for y â— she had by her subtylty caused to be murdred bothe Sygebert father to theyr kynge and also Chilpericus her owne husbande yt was of him vtterly denyed Wherfore this sayd Gyllon sayd vnto GuÌ„thranus syr kynge knowe thou for certayne synnes thou haste refused this peace to the offeryd of thy neuewe that the deth of thy brother shall cleuâ— to thy hedde wyth these wordes the kynge beynge greatly amoued commaunded the ambassadours to be putte oute of his court and when they were in the strete all fylthe and ordoure to be caste vppon theym as enymytyes And varyaunces thus kyndelyng betwene these two kinges Gunthranus soone after sent Fredegunde into Neustria or Normandy caused her there to be kepte not farre from y e citye of Roan whyther to her came many noble men of FrauÌ„ce in coÌ„fortynge her and also mouynge her for the trouble she was in promysynge to her ayde to the vttermoste of theyr power But when that Fredegunde apperceyuyd the great fauoure that Brunechyelde stode in of the nobles of Orleaunce or Fraunce she enuyenge her welth and honoure called to her an homycyde a felon called Holderyche to whom the sayde FredeguÌ„de pmysyd great treasour yf he coude by venyme or otherwyse brynge to deth the sayde Brunechieldis By meane of whych promyse he grauÌ„ted to brynge her entent about shortely after drewe vnto the court of the sayde Brunechyeldis where he fyll in suche famylyaryte wyth dyuerse of her courte that he came many seasons to the pÌ„sence of y e quene But by what happe I can not saye lastely he was taken in suspeccyon and so tormentyd pyned that he coÌ„fessyd y e cause of his thyder coÌ„myng and by whom he was sent with all y e other cyrcuÌ„staunce of the matter After whych coÌ„fessyon so made he was to betyn arrayed in moste vyle maner and so sent agayn to FredeguÌ„d And when he was comen to her presence and shewed what tourment he had suffred for her cause she incontyneÌ„t in fulfyllyng of her malycyous purpose commaunded that his handes and fete shulde be stryken of and so lette go to the ende that yt shulde be thought that she had not desyred hym to that besynesse Aboute thys tyme season arose a yonge maÌ„ in a corner of Fraunce the whych by his subtyle wytte named hym selfe to be the sonne of the fyrst Lotharius and brother vnto Gunthranê° The which by synystre meanes and crafty gatte the fauoure of the lordes of Guyan and by theyr assystence held and occupyed a great parte therof And after somdele of hys counsay les to Gunthranus by hys espyes disclosyd this sayde yonge man beyng named GuÌ„doaldus sent vnto Gunthranus an ambassade and requyryd hym to be restoryd to a porcyon of hys faders goodes Addyng therto that yf he denyed the sayde Gundoaldus wolde wyth a strong armye repayre out of Gwyan and get hys ryght wyth strength that to bryng about he shulde also haue great ayde of Chyldebert his neuewe aboue named whan kynge Gunthranus had at leyser herde the message he in dysdaynyng the same coÌ„maunded them to be sette vppon horse backes theyr facys towarde the tayle and so with betynge and vylanye to be dryuen thorough the town It was not long after that a daye was appoyntyd betwene Gunthranus and Childebert at whych day both prynces met with great companyes lordes And wheÌ„ they were sette in theyr counsayll Gunthranê° coÌ„maunded the foresayd messyngers of Gundoaldus to be brought to fore them there agayne to recyte theyr foresayde message whych done he shewyd furthermore that the sayd Gundoalde had before tyme dispoyled the doughter of I hil peryche named Rygonde of all such rychesse as she wyth her conueyed when she went towarde Spayne to be maryed of the whyche some lordes of Childebert were of counsayll whyche vnto the sayde two prynces was thought trewe for so myche as the sayde lordes then accusyd were absent from that great counsayll THE CXXIII CHAPITER AFter many and great actes concludyd by thys counsayll betwene these two foresayd prynces Gunthranus in open audyence admytted hys neuewe Chyldebert for his heyre for so mych as he had none heyre of hys bodye commyttynge the rule therof to hym before all that were there And after toke hym aê‘te and shewyd to hym whych of his nobles he shulde take to counsayll and whyche he shuld refuse And specyally he warnyd hym to be well ware
from thens to Uerdune or Uerdoune Theodoberte hauynge knowlege of hys malycyouse brothers purpose gaderyd in Austracy a greate hoste and so sped hym tyll he came to the cytye of Toull where bothe hostes shortely after met and in the feldes or playnes nere to the cytye foughte a stronge batayle In the which was slayne greate people vppon bothe sydes but the more parte vppon the syde of Theodobert wherfore he fynally was compelled to forsake the felde and fled vnto Coleyne where he gaderyng a newe powar fought agayne wyth hys brother In the whyche fyght he had lyke fortune was agayn chasyd to hys grete shame and losse whom Theodoricus as hys mortall enemye folowed fyrynge and wastynge the countreys as he went in so myche that the inhabytauntes of the couÌ„treys fell before hym besechynge his grace that for the offence of one man he wolde not destroye so many innocentes assurynge hym forthermore that they wolde become hys lyegemen and holde theyr lande of hym for euer At whyche request he sayde gladly he wolde to them graunte theyr petycyon yf that they wolde presente to hym the hedde of hys brother After the whych answere by them of Theodorych receyued they amonge them selfe appoynted out a certayne of persones moste apte to theyr purpose and wyllyd theym to go vnto Theodobert to execute theyr entent The whyche sped theyr iourney tyll they came to the presence of Theodobert shewyd vnto hym that yf he wolde be agreable to departe wyth suche stuffe and iewellys as he had of hys faders so that Theodoryche myghte be partener therof he shulde haue perfyght amyte and rest wyth hym To the whyche wordes he gyuynge confydence and truste called wyth hym the sayde persones and brought them into y e howses where the sayd stuffe and iewellys lay And whyle he was busyed to deuyde out and appoynte y e porcyon of hys one of the sayde persons slewe hym sodeynly and after of one agrement strake of hys hed and in secrete wyse caused yt to be conueyed vnto hys brother whan Theodoryche hadde receyued the hed of hys brother he sped hym to Coleyne where this treason was wrought and receyued the cytye into hys possessyon wyth all y e kyngdome of Austracy to hys brother belongynge And when he had there ordred hys nedes after hys mynde wyth two sonnes and an excedynge fayre doughter of Theodobert he spedde hym vnto Mees the chefe cytye of Austracy where wyth hym met hys graundmoder Brunechyelde The whyche perseuerynge in all malyce and myschefe caused y e sayd two sonnes to be shortly slayn Theodorych then restoryd or delyuered vnto Clothayre all such laÌ„des as to hym he had before promysed Theodoryche thus endynge hys warre the whyche by a longe season spent hys tyme in kepynge of concubynes was nowe rauyshed wyth the beaute of his brothers doughter the whyche he hadde brought from Coleyne But that doyng Brunechyeld wythstode wyth all her power because the mayde was so â—eâ—e of hys kynne For the whych he beyng with herfore dyscoÌ„tent sayde o thou most wycked false woman dyd not thou make me to beleue that Theodobert was not the sonne of my father but that he was the sonne of a gardyner For what cause hast thou caused me to ê‘secute my brother and lastely to â—lee hym After the whyche wordes he wolde haue slayne her yf he of his lordes hadde not ben letted whyche dede not forgotten of this vngoodly woman euer after imagyned howe she myght brynge Theodoryche out of lyfe And lastely she hyryd such as were about hym to consent to her iniquyte so that vpon a season when he came out of his stew or bayn he axyd drynke by y e force wherof he was poysoned â—yed soone after wheÌ„ he had reygned .xviii. yeres Howe be yt Antoninus in the .vi. chapyter .xii. tytle of the seconde parte of hys worke sayth that he was brent wyth fyre by the dyuyne power THE CXXVI CHAPITER NOw that I haue shewed vnto you the fyne ende of these two bretherne by reason of whose deth the hole pryncypate of Fraunce fell vnto the abouenamed Clothayr I shall now expresse vnto you the dedys by hym done after he hadde all the rule onely So yt was that y e forenamed Brunechyelde malygned euer agayn Lothayr And to the fortherauÌ„ce of her malyce â–ª she behauyd her in such wise wyth some of the rulers lordes of Austracy that she caused them to admytte owne named Sygebert to be ryghtfull enherytoure of that lande â–ª But for that some of them had good experyence of theyll dysposycyon of this woman they therfore sent two noblemen of that lande name Pepyn and Arnold vnto Clothayre willynge hym to sende hastely into that prouynce After the whyche message by these two lordes reported Clotharius shortely after spedde hym into Austracy and at a castell called Cathomat he lodgyd hym with hys people whereof herynge Brunechielde sent vnto hym gaue vnto hym monicyon that he shuld voyde the land for so myche as Sygebert the eldest sonne of Theodoryche was therof ryghtefull enherytour ye haue harde before that Theodoryche vsyd lemmans of the whyche he receyued foure sonnes y t is to say Sygebert Corbe Chyldebert and Merone wherfore y e foresayde Brunechyelde entendynge to dystourbe Lothayre and all the lande fortyfyed the sayd Sygebert to clayme the lande of Austracye And when Clothayre hadde receyued knowlege of this maundemeÌ„t from Brunechielde or Bruncheuste he sent to her answere that he wolde assemble the lordes of Austracy and be demed by theym whyther thys land belonged to hym or Sygebert And she ferynge that sentence excyted people of the prouynce of Germanye to strength her partye wyth all the people that she myght make of the sayde countre of Austracy And that to bryng about she sente one Garnery an other Albon Of this Garnery she hadde suspeccyon that he shuld fauour y e partye of Lothayre wherfore to Albone hys felowe she sente letters that he shulde put the sayde Garnery away wheÌ„ Albone had ouer rad the letter he brake yt in peces threwe theym from hym And afterwarde a frende of Garneryes gaderyd the peces and so ioyned theym that he conceyuyd the sentence of the letter and forthwyth shewyd yt vnto Garnery when Garnery perceyued the malycyous entent of Brunechielde he kepte yt secrete to hym selfe all be it that he by his secrete meanes caused the Germanyes that they shuld take no partye wyth Brunechyelde And that done he retourned into Burgoyne where wyth her and in her coÌ„panye he solycyted so the lordes of Burgoyne that some of them abhorred the crudelite of that woman And when Garnery hadde in thys wyse compassed hys maters he sent vnto Lothayr shewyd that yf he myght haue hys grace and safecondute he wolde come to hym and shew to hym thynges concernynge hys aduauntage All the whyche was graunted Then Clothayre by counsayle of y e sayd Garnery assembled his power shortly sente a
the place certayne of hys knyghtes to pull or take hym thens per force And when they came wythin a myle of y e sayde chapell they were so astonyed that they myghte not go one fote forwarde to do the beste they coude when they hadde long stryueÌ„ with oute preuaylynge they retournyd to the kynge and shewed to hym y e trouthe in all thynge as they had done The kynge beynge dyscontent wyth theyr reporte blamed theym and sayde that they feryd hys sonne for the whyche cause they hadde fayned that excuse And incontynently he sente forth an other company the which were delte wyth in lyke maner as y e other were Lothariê° somdele troubled wyth the reporte of his seruauntes consyderyd the chapell to be nere vnto Paris where he then lay coÌ„maundyd his horse to be brought for he wolde proue the mater hym selfe But lyke as his seruauntes were seruyd euen so became of hym so that he myghte go or ryde frowarde or sydewarde but towarde the chapell myght he in no wyse atteyne when this was knowen to y e kyng he coÌ„sydered well yt was the handy-worke of god wherfore by fayre and easy meanes he called home his son and recouncylyd hym and forgaue all trespace To this accordyth the legende of the lyfe of saynte Denys wyth more that shall after folowe in the storye of this Dagobert After thys reconcylyacyon Lotharius ordeyned vnder hym hys sonne Dagobert to be ruler of the sygnory of Austracye But whyther yt were by the elacyon of hys owne mynde or by badde counsayll he shortely after rebellyd agayne hys father and wolde haue reteyned that prouynce to his owne vse For thys were chosen .xii. noble men of FrauÌ„ce to arbytre and deme betwene the father and the son The whyche Lordes after they had longe debated this mater by fayre entreatyse contentyd so the father that he gaue vnto the sonne the sayde lordshyppe of Austracy Soone after thys accorde Clothayre made warre vppon the Gothis or Saxons and them at length subdued For yt is to be knoweÌ„ that lyke as the sayde Saxons inuadyd myche Brytayne or Englande in lykewyse warryd they in Fraunce and lastely subdued the prouynce of Neustria and named yt after theym Normandye as after in the storye of Charlis the symple shall more euydently appere Of thys vyctorye of Saxons ys made a longe rehersayll and howe lastly when Clothayre hadde slayne the kynge or ruler of theym named Berthrande he after yode into the countrey of Germanye and slewe man and chylde that passyd y e length of hys swerde Of this and other dedes by this Lothayre done I myght make a longe worke but I passe ouer Then yt foloweth when Lothayre hadde set his countrey in some reste he assembled hys lordes at a cytye or towne called Traacas or Trecas And after dyuers maters dyscussyd and endyd he axed of theym perfyte allegeaunce and fydelite to hym and hys heyres to be kepte The wyche by the sayde lordes fyrmely promysed and assuryd he commaundyd eueryche of theym to repayre to theyr owne countreys And soone after he made an assemble of hys byshoppes and spyrytuall men at the cytye or towne of Troys by whose counsayllys he orderyd thynges and maters concernynge the we le of the chyrche And shortly after he was vexyd with greuous sekenes wherof he fynally dyed when he hadde reygned after moste wryters .xliii. yeres leuynge for heyre the forenamed Dagobert the whyche enterryd hys fader wyth great poÌ„pe at the abbey of saynt Uincent wythoute the wallys of Paris the whiche abbey is at thys daye called saynte Germaynes The foresayde yeres accomptyd for the reygne of Lothayre be accomptyd from the fyrste daye that he was ordeyned kynge of Soysons vnto the daye of hys deth wherof he reygnyd after some wryters ouer a parte .xxvii. yeres ouerall FrauÌ„ce xvi yeres whyche make the full of xliii yeres Anglia THE CXXVIII CHAPITER CAdwanus or Cadwan the whyche of Guydo ys named duke of Uenedoyce or of Northwalys was by one assente of the BritoÌ„s lastly made theyr souerayne or gouernour in the yere of our lorde .vi. hundred and xiii and the .xxv. yere of the seconde Clothayre kynge of Fraunce and also the fyrst yere of Colwolphus then kynge of westsoxons accomptynge for the reygne of Ceawlmus kynge of the sayde westsaxons .xxxi. yeres And for Colricus nexte succedynge hym .v. yeres ye haue before hard what dyscorde and trouble was amonge the Brytons in the tyme of Careticus laste kynge longe after by reason wher of the SaxoÌ„s wanne the more land and as before is rehersyd in the C. and .xx. chapyter howe Ethelfryde kynge of Northumberlande ouer set the Brytons at the cytye of Chestre forcyd theÌ„ to take ouer Seuarne and so into walys where they then chase thys Eadwane to theyr duke and leder The whyche after he was putte in authoryte assembled hys Brytons and came agayne into Britayne and gaue batayll vnto the sayde Ethelfryde In the whych they spedde dyuersly so that some season the Saxons wanne and some while the Brytons But the Brytons held Chestre other good townes whych they hadde recoueryd sene theyr last commynge It shulde seme by the meanynge of Policronica that thys Cadwan or Cedwall shulde at length slee the sayde Ethelfryde and Osricus bothe kynges of Brennicia and Deyra But Guydo and also Gaufryde wytnessen that after thys Cadwan had the better of Ethelfryde by medyatours yt was agreed that Ethelfryd shulde enioye all the lande ouer and beyonde Humber vnto Scotlande and Cadwan shulde haue the lande from Humber towarde the sowthe To the whyche sayenge agreeth the englyshe cronycle affermynge also that he shulde be the sonne of Brucyuall kynge of Leyceter the whych of other wryters is not testyfyed It is also there shewed that after y e sayde accorde betwene Ethelfryde Cadwan confyrmed that they contynued durynge the lyfe of Cadwan as two especiall louers and frendes and durynge the reygne of this Cadwan the two sonnes of Colricê° Kyngilsus and Quichillynus after the deth of theyr fathers brother Colwolphus ruled ioyntly the pryncypate of westsaxons The whyche in theyr begynnynge faught agayn the Brytons at Ampton besyde Oxynford wanne of them the towne other holdes whyche the Brytons in y t couÌ„tre occupyed But by agrement of wryters this Cadwan was not at this coÌ„flycte nor yet medlyd hym so farre within y e land But as yt shuld seme by Guydo these Brytons shulde be some coÌ„pany that shulde lyue vnder trybute of the Saxons y e whych for the manhode y t they hard reported of Cadwan rebelled agayn y e Saxons Then it foloweth wheÌ„ this Cadwan had thus contynued his amite wyth Ethelfryde a chaunge fell that this Ethelfryde for hatered or otherwise put froÌ„ hym hys wyfe beynge great wyth chylde toke to hym an other wherfore thys woman beynge reedlesse callyng to mynde y e great loue that was betwene her husbande and Cadwan she went vnto
all pompe and pryde of thys worlde accompanyed hym in the felowshyp of poore men and yode vnto Rome in pylgrymage wyth great deuocyon when he hadde ben kynge of the westsaxons as before is sayde xxxvii yeres After whose departyng the foresayde Etheldreda hys wyfe went vnto barkynge .vii. mylys froÌ„ London where in the abbay before of Erkenwalde foundyd she contynued and ended an holy lyfe wheÌ„ she hadde ben abbesse of the same place a certayn of tyme. It is sayd testifyed of wyllyam wryter of kynges that this Iue was the fyrste kynge that grauntyd a peny of euery fyre house thorow this realm to be payed to the courte of Rome whych at this daye is called Rome stote or Peter pens and yet is payed in many places of Englande But why yt was graunted the cause is not here shewed how be it yt shall be shewyd after Francia THE CXLII CHAPITER CLodoueus y e thyrd of y e name son of the secoÌ„d Theodoricus beganne his domynyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of grace .vi. hondred .lxxx. and .x and the thyrd yere of Iue then kyng of westsaxons Of this Clodoueus is of wryters lefte no maner of memorye soundynge to good or euyll but Pepyn before named contynued as master of the paleys by all the tyme of the reygne of y e sayd Clodoueus The whych after that he hadde borne the name by the space of .iii. yeres he dyed wythoute yssue and was buryed by his father By reason of whose deth the sayde kyngedome fell by successyon vnto hys brother Childebert THE CXLIII CHAPITER CHildebertus the second sonne to Theodoryche and brother of Clodoueus foresayde began his domynyon ouer y e realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xiii and the .vi. yere of Iue then kynge of westsaxons In tyme of whose reygne also the foresayde Pepyn contynued as chefe ruler of the kynges house all be yt y e he for such other charge as he had of ouerseyng of the realme set in hys place a substâ—tute or depute as his sonne Grimonart and other Thys Pepyn contrary to the lawe of the chyrche helde besyde hys lawfull wyfe called Pleâ—trude a womaÌ„ named Alpayd For the whyche the holy bysshop of Treet named Lamberte blamynge and rebukynge the sayde Pepyn of the brother of the forenamed Alpayde whyche is called Dodon or Dodoin was slayne martyred in the yere of our lorde .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xii as testyfyeth Antoninus in the .vi. chapyter of the â—iii tytle of the seconde parte of hys worke called summa Antonini And as affermeth the sayde Antoninus also the Frenche cronycle the sayde Pepyn receyued of the sayd Alpayde a sonne whom he named Charlys whyche Charlys was after surnamed Marcellus was ryghte profytable to the realme of Fraunce as after shall appere Of the foresayd kyng Chyldebert is nothynge lefte in wrytyng worthy memory excepte that he receyued of hys wyfe a sonne named Dagobert and kepte the name of a kynge by y e terme of .xvii. yeres as sayth the cronycle in French and than dyed and was buryed in the abbey of Caus in y e chyrch or chapell of saiÌ„t Stephan THE CXLIIII CHAPITER DAgobertê° the seconde of that name and sonne of Chyldebert before named began his reygne ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and .x the .xxiii. of Iue than kynge of westsaxons The whyche was vnder the rule of Plectrude the wyfe of Pepyn than dede and of Theodowald than mayster of the paleys Thys Plectrude as before is shewed was stepmother to Charlys sonne of Pepyn and of Alpayde wherfore she berynge malyce to the sayd Charlys caused hym to be holden as prysoner wythin Coleyne where he so as prysoner remaynynge the foresayd Theoldowalde exercysed suche tyrannys and putte vpon the people suche exaccyons y e dyscensyon grewe bytwene hym and the lordes of FrauÌ„ce so that dyuers coÌ„flyctes and skyrmysshes were had amonge the nobles of Fraunce for partyes were taken vpon eyther sydes whereby the kynges partye at length was wekyd And fynally the sayd Theoldowalde was depryued of hys rome and one Rangafredus was made mayster of y e paleys The whyche beynge Accompanyed with conuenyent strength toke with hym the kynge and coÌ„ueyed hym thorow the forest of CharboÌ„nur tyll he came vnto y e ryuer of Mense In y e which passetyme the forenamed Charlys beynge as aboue is sayde prysoner by fauoure of hys kepars or otherwyse brake pryson and escapyd And shortly after dyed the kynge whan he hadde reygned or borne the name of a kynge as other of hys progenytours hadde done by y e terme of .xi. yeres leuyng after hym nother chylde as than knowynge nor nere of a lye whyche was cause of mysorder of the tytle of Fraunce as afterwarde shall appere THE CXLV CHAPITER DAnyell that of y e Frenchmen was after named Chilperich was by assente of them made kynge in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and xxi and the .xxxiiii. yere of Iue than kynge of westsaxons Thus as testyfyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and also the Frenche cronycle was a preste or clerke and for his wysedome was cherysshed before tyme in the kynges paleys in y e whyche tyme and season he sufferyd hys crowne to be ouer growen Or ellys after Antoninus this Danyell after y e deth of Dagobert for so mych as he lefte after hym none of y e royall blode the Frenchemen supposynge hym to be apte for y e rule of the lond for suche experyence as before tyme in hym had be proued kepte hym secrete a certeyne of tyme tyll his heyre was fully growen and than declared hym to be the brother of Dagobert and chaungyd hys name and called hym Chylperych so by one assente admytted hym for kynge of Fraunce Charles before spoken of sonne of Pepyn beynge escapyd the daunger of prysonement sought and compassyd by all maner of wayes how he myghte obteyne the rome that sometyme hys fader occupyed And thys to brynge to effecte he purchasyd to hym a yonglynge of fayre goodly maners stature named Clothayre and sayd that he was descendyd of y e royall blode of Fraunce by meane wherof in shorte tyme he gaderyd to hym greate strength wherof heryng Chylperych commaunded Rangafrede to assemble hys knyghtes to wythstoÌ„de the purpose of Charlys And soone after bothe hostes mette nere vnto the forenamed ryuer of Mense where was foughte a strong and cruell batayle of y e whych Rangafrede was vyctor and compellyd Charles to forsake the felde But he shortly afterward assemblyd and gaderyd agayne togyder all suche as before were dysperklyd and fought efte wyth the sayde Rangafrede at a Place called Ablane Of the whyche batayle wyth great dyffyculte Charlys was lastly wyctour and chasyd Rangafrede and hys hoste greatly demynysshed lassyd Than thyrdly these two hostes met in a felde called the wyne felde where also was present the sayd Danyell or Chilperych hauynge in
from the sayde pope that he was well satysfyed and pleasyd And for at those days in Fraūce was vsyd of prestes and men of the chyrche precyouse and shewynge vesture and golden and riche starynge gyrdelles with rynges and other ornamentes of gold the sayde Lowys purchasyd of the pope a correccyon for all suche as vsyd suche dysordynate apparell and causyd theym to vse and were browne sad colours accordynge to theyr honoures and sadnes This Lowys hadde thre sonnes that is to saye Lothayre whome he made felowe of the empyre Pepyn the seconde whome he made duke of Guyan and Lowys the thyrde to whom he betoke the rule of Bayton To this yongeste sonne worde was broughte that Bernarde a ruler in Italy had assembled a great power wyth y e aydes of two other captaynes named Iylys and Reyner the whyche Charlis the great by his lyfe greatly fauouryd occupyed y e strēgthys of the mountaynes and entendyd to kepe the countrey of Italye from the subieccyon of his father the emperoure wherof he gyuynge his father knowlege strong power was gaderyd as well by the father as by Lothayre his sonne and sped theym towarde the mountayns But when the sayde Bernarde was ware of the emperours commyng wyth so great a strength and consyderyd his lacke of power to mayntayn his purpose wyth also the great mercy and pytye that he knew to be in the emperour he submytted hym holy to hys grace and mercy and dyscoueryd to hym the authours of that rebellyon the whyche thys Lowys causyd vnder safe kepynge to be hadde vnto the cytye of Aquisgrany The whyche rebellys were the byshop of Mylayne the byshop of Cremoun and the bysshoppe of Orleaunce The kynge passed all the wynter folowyng at the foresayde cytye and lastely caused to be broughte before hym the foresayde transgressours examyned the cyrcumstaunce of the foresayd treason and after remytted them to the rygour of Lowes where by processe they were condemnyd to deth as many of them as were temporall men Then the emperour hauynge compassion of the forenamed Bernarde for so myche as he was the sonne of Pepyn laste kynge of Italy and his nere kynnesman transmutyd the sentence of deth vnto perpetuyte of pryson and losynge of hys syghte But for the sayde Bernarde Reyner and other chase rather to dye thē to lyue in pryson wyth that deformyte they passyd by dinte of the sworde were beheddyd within or nere to the sayd cytye of Aquisgrani And the sayde bysshoppes were depryued of theyr dygnyteys put into pryuate houses of relygyon And whyle thys Lewys was occupyed in lytell Brytayne in subduynge of that countrey Lothayre the eldest sonne of thys Lewys was sent to rule the lōdes of y e empyre where he bare hym ryght nobly and executed dyuers actes for the weale of the empyre But in thys season .ii. frendes of hys father and hys were for certeyne crymes to them put moste cruelly condēpned to vyle deth with in the cytye of Rome wherof heryng Lothayre than beyng at the cytye of Papy sent worde therof to hys father in all hasty wyse the which was lyke to haue turnyd y e pope to greate trowble yf he by polytyke and wyse meanes had not shortly pacifyed the mater That one of the foresayd two persones so condempned was scrybe to the pope and that other was Donar ye shall vnderstande that thys Lewys hadde two wyues by the fyrste he had the forenamed thre sonnes and of the seconde he receyued a son and named hym Charlys the which whan he came to mannes stature was surnamed Charlys y e bolde He loued entyerly thys Charlys wold often kysse hym in the presence of his brethern For the whych they enuyed theyr sayd brother and also dysdayned theyr father as here after shall appere Thus in processe of tyme Lewys gaue vnto thys Charlys the coūtrey of Neustria or Normādy the which causyd greate dyscencyon amonge the bretherne and also for thys and other causes Lotharius toke partye agayne hys father THE CLX CHAPITER THys seconde wyfe of Lewys was named Indith y e which was accusyd to the pope to be within suche degre of allyaunce to hyr husbonde that she myghte not lawfully contynewe hys wyfe wherfore contrary to the wyll of Leuys by the laboure of some bysshoppes other lordes of Fraūce she was deuorcyd from hym and put into a house of nonnys and there straytly kepte But Lewys for a tyme susteyned thys iniuryes to y e ende y t he myght know whyther his sonnes fauoured the cause or not But in processe of tyme whan he hadde experyence of hys frendes and of hys sonnes he thā assembled to hym a strong hoste and recoueryd hys wyfe malgre to all hys enmyes For the whych dede Lothayre wyth dyuers of the Barons of Fraunce assemblyd theyr people and entendyd to depryue Lewys from all imperyall and kyngly dygnyte wherfore Lewys ferynge hys sonne and hys assystens also for the entent that he myghte assemble the strength of y e empyre he yode vnto Magunce And after he hadde purueyed and garnysshed hys retynewe he retornyd toward Fraunce and met wyth some of hys enemyes and them subdued and so kepte on hys iourney tyll he came to Aquysgrany where he restyd hym and hys people Thus contynuynge thys dyssencyon the sonnes sent wrytyng to the pope than beynge named Gregory y e fourth requyrynge hym of ayde and counceyle to deuyse a concorde and peace bytwene theyr fader and them At whose request and for to cause a naturall charyte to be quyckenyd bytwene the father hys .iii. sonnes he came in hys proper persone into Fraunce and endeuoryd hym to the vttermoste of hys wyttes to agree to the sayd parties In the tyme of this entreaty made by the pope I can not saye for what cause many of the lordes on the partye of Lowys forsooke hym and fled to the sōnys partye so that the emperoure was in great feere of hym selfe of hys parson whan Lewys had seen his frendes thus in tyme of hys nede refuse flee frome hym and lefte hym in great feere and daūger of straūgers he than thoughte better for hym to put hym selfe vnder the Rule and tuycion of hys owne chyldren than to abyde the doute of the sayde straūgers wherfore he sent vnto his sayd sonnes requyrynge theym to prouyde for his safegarde and assurynge of his person and that he were not there oppressyd or murdryd And within shorte space after this message sent to theym withoute answere of them agayne receyuyd he rode towarde theym smally accompanyed where of than Lothayre and hys brother hauynge warnynge in all homble wyse encountred hym and receyued hym vppon theyr knees and so cōueyed hym wyth all reuerēce vnto theyr pauylyon or tent And after for a begynnyng of a peace to be stablysshed bytwene hym and them he to satysfye theyr myndes refused the forenamed Indith and closyd her in a place of relygyon called Torton as
testyfyeth myne authour mayster Robert Gagwyne But the Frenche boke sayth that thys dede was done by Frederyke bysshoppe or Utryke where fore he was after pyteously slayne by such as fauoured y e quene and not all wythout her concent as wytnessyth the sayd cronycle And whan Lewys had in thys other thynges agreed vnto hys sonnes and thought hym self to be in surete of theyr amyte and fauours sodeynly he was coÌ„ueyed vnto the monastery of saynt Medrid or as sayth the Frenche boke he was conueyed to a towne called in Frenche Melanguy wyth hys yonge sonne Charlys And that done the sayd thre sonnes deuyded theyr fathers possessyons amonge theym thre That is to saye Lothayre the eldeste had to his porcyon the londes of the empyre Pepyn the countrey of Guyan and to Lewys the yongest fell the countrey of Bayon whyche mysery of the emperour whan the pope had beholden seen he wyth greate mornynge retorned into Iuly so vnto Rome In which tyme of prysonemeÌ„t of the emperour the sayd Lewys made dyteys pystelles of greate sorowe and lamentacyon to the ensample of all erthlye prynces and to the entent that hys sonnes shulde of hym haue the more compassyon and pytye The whyche I ouer passe for length of tyme and the rather for in tyme of prysonemeÌ„t of Edwarde the seconde callyd Carnaruan was by hym made a lyke coÌ„playnt where of when tyme place comyth I entende to expresse some parte therof whan Lewys had thus a season remayned in pryson for so myche as the comons shulde not thynke that thys shuld be done by the authoryte of y e thre sonnes onely therfore they causyd a couÌ„sayle to be callyd at the cytye of Compeyne there by theyr meanes and labours causyd theyr father by authoryte of spyrytuall temporall lordys to be discharged of all rule and domynyon as well of the empyre as of the realme of FrauÌ„ce by authoryte of the sayd couÌ„sayle or parliament and after caused hym to renouÌ„ce all hys temporall habyte and to become a munke in the monastery of saynt Matke where he was lefte of his sonne Lothayre not with out sure watche and kepynge But full often it is seen that whaÌ„ the erthlye power of man faylyth or wekyth god of hys greate mercy the repentaunt synner to grace callyth hym by hys dyuyne power aydeth and strengtheth and so he dyd thys Lewys For after thys mysery and trybulacyon thus to hym fallen the peple in dyuerse placys of this londe murmured and grudgyd very sore agayne the innaturall dealynge of the sonnes agayne theyr father In these dayes was a greate ruler in Fraunce named Guyllyam stuarde or constable of that lande y e which wyth one Egebard or Edgare a man of greate byrth and alyaunce couÌ„sayled togyder for the enlargyng of y e emperour And lastly wyth ayde of theyr frendes assembled a greate peple And than drewe vnto them .ii. noble men of Burgoyne called Barnarde and Gueryn the whyche sometyme had ben well cherysshed wyth the emperoure Lewys All thys season Lothayre had restyd hym for y e more partye at Aquysgrany But whan he harde of the assemblynge of these foresayd lordes he sped hym towarde Parys And whan he was thyther comen the foresayd lordes sent vnto hym two noble men Rowlande and Gantelyne the whych made request vnto Lothayre in the name of the other lordes that it wolde lyke hym to restore hys father vnto hys former dygnyte wyth other thynges concernynge theyr legacyon To the whyche two lordes Lothayre gaue answere that of hys fathers restorynge to hys fyrste or former dygnyte no man lyuynge wolde be therof more fayne than he wolde But y e deposyng of hym was done by the hole authoryte of y e land wherfore yf he shulde be agayne restoryd it must be by the same authoryte and not by hym onely All be yt that they myghte knowe of hys benyuoleÌ„ce and fauour that he bare towarde hys father he wylled them to stonde a parte whyle he had some coÌ„munycacyon of his lordes for y e same mater By reason wherof were it for fere or for fauour the emperour was shortly after put at hys lybertye and restoryd to all hys fyrst honoure and dygnyte than with great honoure conueyed to a cytye or towne called Ciriciake where met wyth hym hys other two soÌ„nes Pepyn and Lewys and there restyd hym certayne dayes in makyng all feest and ioye and after rode vnto Aquysgrany and there restyd an other season In whych tyme of hys there beyng was brought vnto hym from y e place where she had ben prisoner his wyfe Indyth But whan Lothariê° knewe that hys father had hyr agayne receyued contrary to hys mynde and pleasure he in wrath dyspleasure entryd the countrey of Burgoyne made in it sharpe and cruell warre executed therin many spoylynges and other inordynate dedys The whyche cruelty to wythstande let hys father wyth hys sonne Pepyn wyth a greate hoste sped hym thyder warde But anone as he had knowlege therof mystrustyng his streÌ„gth he yelded hym vnto his faders grace and mercy whom the meke fader receyued and forgaue to hym hys trespasse And after that of hym and dyuerse of hys lordes he had taken assuryd othes and other suretyes he thaÌ„ sent the sayd Lothayre into Italy with a certayne nomber of knyghtes to defende the countrey from daunger of enemyes and strengthynge of the straytes and mountaynes And that wyth other thynges orderyd and done for the weale of hys realme Lewys than toke vpon hym to ryde about hys lande to th entent that he myghte be somwhat enformed of the rule of hys offycers and how the countreys were ruled by the rulers of them And where he found any mysgouernaunce he punysshed the executers therof as well y e bysshoppes as other as farre as his authoryte in that behalfe stretchyd Than Indith consyderynge the emperoure fell into greate age and hyr sonne and his Charlis by name had as yet no suffycyent landes nor possessyons to maynteyne any estate wyth she compassed many wayes in hyr mynde how she myghte acheue hyr entent and to brynge it to good purpose where fynally by counceyll of hyr frendes to y e ende to purchase the loue and fauour of Lothayre she axed of hyr lorde and husbonde that the sayd Lothayre myghte be tutour and gyder of hys yonge sonne Charles Of this request y e emperour was very glad and graunted hyr hyr peticion And so it fell soone after certayne messengers came to the emperoure from Lothayre hys sonne To the whych whan Lewys had gyuen answere to such maters as they were sent fore and gyueÌ„ vnto them other instruccyons he sent them forthe agayne and with them certeyne other to wylle his sayd sonne to come vnto hym in as goodly wyse as he myght But at that season he excusyd hym by sykenesse and whan he was recouered he fayned an other excuse In thys meane tyme worde was brougth
reygne the Sarasyns entred the lande of Burgoyne wyth a grete armye and dyd mych harme in that duchy wherfore the kynge gaderynge his hoste met wyth them at a place called in latyne Carrolas and in French Callo the lasse where the Frenchmen were vyctours but nat wythout greate losse of theyr people Than it foloweth whanne thys Rauff had ruled the lande of FrauÌ„ce by y e space of .xii. yeres he dyed with out issue male And was buryed in the chyrche of saynte Calumb in the prouynce of Senys Anglia THE CLXXXIIII CHAPITER EThelstanÌ„ y e son of Edwarde the elder began hys reygne ouer the more part of Englande in y e yere of our lorde .ix. hundred .xxv and the thyrde yere of Rauff than kynge of Fraunce In the fyrst yere of the reygne of EthelstanÌ„ the holy chyld Dunstane was borne in the couÌ„tre of Glastenbury whose lyfe shone after wyth many myracles This was somtyme abbot of GlasteÌ„bury lastly archbyshop of Caunterbury whose holynes ê“phecyes are shewed at length in the .vi. chapyter of the .xvi. tytle of the worke called SinÌ„ Antonini and in the legende of the chyrche also In the seconde yere of the reygne of Ethelstane for an vnytye and a peace to be hadde betwene the kyng and the Danis of Northumberland he maryed to Sithyricê° theyr kyng his suster But after .v. yeres this Sithyricus dyed After whose deth he seasyd the countrey into hys owne hande and put oute the sonne of the foresayd Sythyricus And when he hadde thus accorded wyth the Danys of Northumberlande he shortly after made subiect to him CoÌ„stantyn kynge of Scottes But the sayd CoÌ„stantyne meked hym so lowely to the kynge that he restoryd hym to hys former dygnytye wherfore the sayd Constantyne sayde in prayse of the kynge that yt was more honour to make a kynge then to be a kynge whyche acte was done by the affyrmaunce of Polycronycon in the yere of grace .ix. hundred .xxvi which then after that saynge shuld be the seconde yere of the reygn of this Ethelstane It is testyfyed of Policronica that thys Ethelstane shuld marye one of his susters named Editha or Edyth vnto Otto the fyrst of that name emperour of Almayne and receyued from hym many precyous iewellys and relyques But of this speketh nothyng the cronicle of Romaynes Howe be yt yt is shewyd there that the foresayd Ottho or Otto had a wyfe named Alunda whych as before is sayde in the storye of Edward the elder myght be the doughter of the sayd Edward and of Edgina his seconde wyfe But Uincentius historialis sayth that Henry duke of Saxony whyche was father vnto the fyrste Otto sent vnto Ethelstane requyrynge of hym hys suster to mary vnto his sonne Otto By whych reason I maye folowe that this Ottho maryed the suster of Ethelstane but not Edythe Of these foresayde iewelles sent by Otto one was a precyouse vessell of stone called Onechynus whych was of suche clerenesse also so subtily craftely wrought that yt apperyd to mannes syght as grene corne hadde growen wythin yt and moued and waued as corne doth standyng in the felde More ouer in yt apperyd vynes burgenyng and berynge fruyte and men also to syght mouynge and styrynge He also receyued the great Constantynes sworde wherin was grauen wyth great letters of golde the name of the owner And the hyltes therof were coueryd wyth great plates of golde And one of the nayles was fastenyd to the crosse of the sayd sworde that Criste suffred with his passyon But in thys reporte or saynge Polycronycon varyeth from his former sayng were he reporteth two of the sayd nayles to be spent vppon the brydell of the sayde Constantyne and the thyrde nayle to be caste into a dauÌ„gerous swalowe of the see as before is rehersed in the .lxix. chapiter of thys worke He also receyued the spere of Charlys the gret whych after the opynyon of some wryters was the spere that Longeus opened wyth Crystes syde And the baner of saynte Morys a relyque of greate pryce wyth a part of the holy crosse and a parte of the crown of thorne of our sauyoure Of the whych iewellys kyng Ethelstane gaue a parte vnto saynte Swithunys of wynchester and some he gaue vnto y e abbay of Malmesbury I haue sene a cronycle of EnglaÌ„d which testyfyeth that this EthilstanÌ„ was y e fyrst kynge that euer was enoynted in this land All be yt I fynd therof lytell authorytye excepte that Guydo and other testyfyen that he was crowned at the kynges towne nowe called Kyngestone x. myles from London of Athelyne their archbyshoppe of Caunterbury But that proueth not or argueth hym to be the fyrste for that reason For ryghte so was his fader Edwarde crowned of Plemounde archbyshoppe of the sayde see But Guydo aforesayd affyrmeth that Alurede graund fader to thys Ethylstane was enoyntyd kyng by authoryte of Leo y e .v. then pope wherfore it agreeth better that he shulde be the fyrste Then yt foloweth in the story that aboute the .viii. yere of the reygne of thys Ethilstane dyed Frystane byshoppe of wynchester and Brystane was byshoppe after hym Of whom yt is radde that he sange euery daye masse for all Crysten soules And as the byshoppe Brystane went vppon a nyght about a chirch yerde and sayde hys deuocyons for all crysten soules and lastly sayde requiescant in pace he harde a voyce as yt hadde ben a great hoste of people saynge Amen Soone after Constantyne kynge of Scottes brake couenaunt wyth kynge Ethylstane wherfore he assembled his knyghtes and made towarde Scotlande And in hys way he tourned to saynte IohnÌ„ of Beuerley and offeryd there hys knyfe vppon the aulter sayenge that yf he retourned wyth vyctorye he shulde redeme hys knyfe wyth a noble pryce and that done proceded vppon hys iourney and in coÌ„clusyon scomfyted the Scottes and broughte theym agayne vnto dewe subieccyon And after accordynge to the promyse before made he retourned to yorke and so to the chyrche where the corps of saynt IohnÌ„ of Beuerley laye redemynge his knyfe worthely as he before hadde promysed In the .vi. chapyter of the .vi. boke of Polycronycon yt is remembred that kynge Ethilstane after this subduynge of the Scottes beyng wyth hys lordes and famylyers nere vnto the castell of Dunbar prayed to god and saynte IohnÌ„ yf Beuerley that in that countrey he myght leue some remembraunce or token that those that then were lyuynge and also suche as shulde come after myghte knowe that the Scottes by ryghte shulde be subiectes to Englyshmen And soone after wyth hys sworde he smote vppon a great stone standyng nere vnto the sayd castell with whyche stroke the stone was ryuen to an elle in length that in the tyme of Edwarde the thyrde was there remaynyng to be sene And whyther at this daye yt is so that I am in doute ye haue harde before that kynge Ethilstane after the deth of Sythericus kynge of Northumberlande seasyd
kynge after hym To the whyche questyon was answered by Peter the kyngedome of Englyshemen is the kyngedome of god wherfore the kynges therof shall stande at goddes puruyaunce And also a nother doctour called Henry of Huntyngdon shewyd that an holy man warned Englyshe men y â— a lorde whyche they thought nothynge vppon shulde come out of Fraunce brynge them ryght lowe In the tyme also of thys Canutê° by agrement of many wryters fyll one thynge worthy mynde and memory In a town of Saxony named Calbis in y e dyocesys of Magburgh and parysshe of saynt Magii xviii men and .xv. women vppon the euen of the Natyuyte of our lorde began a daunce about the chyrche yarde of saynt Magu afore sayd the person or other prestes beyng than at masse wythin y e same chyrche which beyng troubled wyth the noyse of the mynstrellys also the dynne of the sayde men and women sent vnto them in monysshynge them to seace of that doynge But all was in vayne for they wolde not seace of theyr dysport for any commauÌ„dement y t to theÌ„ was gyuen wherwyth the preste beynge dyscontented that they none other wyse reuerenced y e sacrament noryed that solempne season besought god and saynte Magii that they shulde contynue theyr daunce by the space of an hole yere The whyche prayer was harde in suche wyse that they contynued the same songe daunce tyll that daye twelue monethes and neuer eate nor dranke nor rested theÌ„ in all y e season And moreouer dewe nor rayne fyll vppon them in all that yere nor garment nor no thyng that was about them was impayred shoo nor other At the yeres ende Horobertus archbysshop of that dyocesys came vnto y e sayde place and lowsed them of that bonde whych the preste had bounde them in and before the awlter of the chyrche them reconsyled Of the whyche a prestes doughter and two other dyed forth wyth and the remenaunt yode to reste and slepte by the space of .iii. dayes and iii. nyghtes folowynge where after some of them dyed and suche as lyued fell lame of theyr lymmes And one of the same .xviii. men beyng named Ubertus or Hupertus wrote thys wonder wyth hys owne hande for a more recorde of the trowth Then let vs retorne to Canutus of whom it is redde that after hys coÌ„myng from Rome he beganne somdele to presume in pryde set more by hym selfe than good wysdome wolde In tyme of whyche exaltacyoÌ„ of hys mynde he went vnto the Tamys syde and behelde howe the water swelled or flowed And so standynge nere the water the water touched hys fete Than he charged the water that he shuld flowe no hygher and that in no wyse he shulde to wche hys lordes clothes But the water kepte his course and wette at length the kynges thyes wherewyth y e kyng abasshed sterte backe and sayde all erthly kynges may know that theyr powers be vayne and that none is worthy to haue the name of a kynge but he that hath all thynges subiecte to hys hestes as here is shewed by worchynge of hys treature by thys water And for thys as wytnesseth Polycronycon and other he offered hys crowne to y e rode of wynchester and neuer bare it vpon his hed after It is also wytnessed of the sayde authour that Canutus maryed hys doughter hadde by hys laste wyfe vnto Henry sonne of Conradus the emperour the seconde of that name as also it is testyfyed of the authour of Cronica cronicarum And he repayred many monasteryes and specyally suche as before tyme were hurte or throwne downe in the tyme of hys fathers persecucyon And began and ended the monastery of saynt Edmundes Bury endowed it wyth ryche possessyons as before is towched And dyed fynally at Shaftesbury and was buryed at wynchester whan he hadde reygned .xix. yeres leuyng after hym two sonnes of hys wyues the eldest was named Harolde and the yonger Hardykynytus the whyche lyuyng hys fader was made kynge of Denmarke Francia THE CCVII. CHAPITER HEnry the sonne of Robert begaÌ„ hys domynyon ouer the French men in the yere of our lord M.xxix and the .x. yere of Canutus than kynge of Englande To the whyche Henry CoÌ„stantyne the moder was so vnkynde that she by her meanes wolde haue preferred her yonger sonne Roberte duke of Burgoyne to the rule of the lande before thys Henry so that by her meanes bothe cytyes and castels were wyth holden from hym and was by her suche other as toke her parte so ouer lad that he was forced to resorte to Robert than duke of Normandy for to aske helpe of hym to wythstande hys enemyes ye shall vnderstande that this Robert was the .vi. duke of Normandy and sonne of Richarde the seconde and also father vnto wyllyaÌ„ bastard that conquered Englande Thys Roberte was lyberall and noble of condycyon but defamed of y e deth of hys elder brother Rychard the thyrde For the whyche murder as wytnessyth dyuers authours the vii yere of hys dowchery he went to Iherusalem and dyd in that pylgre mage many honourable and liberall actes the whyche in good order ben remembred in the .xix. chapyter of the vi boke of Polycronicon This Robert receyued kyng Henry wyth all honour and gaue vnto hym greate and ryche gyftes sent for hys frendes and knyghtes so y e the kynge had by hys ayde a greate myghty hoste And retorned agayn into Fraunce and in short whyle after recouered from hys sayde moder bothe cytyes townes and castelles that she and her fautours from hym wythhelde And fynally agreed so wyth her that he and she contynued frendes theyr lyfe tymes enduryng After whyche accorde about the .v. yere of hys reygne he made warre vppon Eudo erle of Champayne vppon Baldewine erle of FlauÌ„ders and in processe of tyme wan froÌ„ them certayne cytyes and castelles the whyche Constance his moder hadde before tymes gyuen to them in tyme of dyscencyon In thys warre was slayne Eudo erle of Champayne wherfore hys .ii. sonnes Stephen Thybaud maynteyned the warre agayne the kynge but to theyr bothe harmes in y e ende For Stephen loste therby the cytyes of Chartres and towers and Thybaude y e cytyes of Troyes Maulx wyth other whan Henry hadde ended thys warre set hys lande in some quyetnesse he thaÌ„ buylded a monastery of saynt Martyne called Des ChaÌ„ps besyde Parys and set therin seculer prestes In thys passetyme Robert duke of Normandy moued in conscyence to vysyte the holy sepulture of oure lorde called before hym hys lordes of hys lande wyllynge and coÌ„maundynge them to owe theyr trewe allegaunce vnto hys yonger sonne wyllyam and to take hym for theyr lord and duke yf he retorne not agayne And to thys he caused to swere Robert than archbysshop of Roan with the other of hys lordes and after departed vppon the sayd iourney and dyed in the cytye of Bethenia as he was coÌ„mynge homewarde wherof y e lordes of Normandy beynge assertayned
monethes and odde dayes and was buryed at the monasterye of the holy crosse of waltham whyche he before hadde founded and set therin chanons and gaue vnto theym fayre possessyons And here endeth for a time y â— blood of Saxons the whych contynued to reken from Hengestus fyrste reygne by the space or tyme of .v. hundred and lxxxxi yeres And yf yt be rekened from the begynnyng of the west SaxoÌ„s then yt endureth by y e terme of .v. hundred .lxv. yeres whych coÌ„tynued as rulers kinges of this land all the sayd tyme onely except y â— that passed betwene the fyrst yeres Canutus and the laste yere of Hardekynitus In the whyche season passed or flowed vpon .xxiiii. yeres All be yt y t the persecucyon of the Danys lasted mych lenger as to fore I have shewed in y e story of y e forenamed Kynitê° THE CCXVIII CHAPITER THen for as myche that god of his vnknowen iudgementes to man and by his hygh hyd counsayll wolde suffer this duke to conquere so noble a lande and to be lord and souerayne ouer so many noble enherytours as were now be with in the same I thynke yt coÌ„uenyent to shew here the dyscent of the sayde duke and how nere of blood he was vnto the blessed kynge Edwarde the confessour wherfore as before to you I haue shewed in the storye of Charlys the Symple somtyme kynge of FrauÌ„ce a myscreaunt or a pagan named Rollo ê‘secuted sore the realm of FrauÌ„ce lastely wan by strength the citye of Roan the hed or chefe cytye of Normandy And in conclusyon for a fynall peace betwene the sayde kynge and Rollo to be had the sayde Rollo was crystened named Robert and maryed Silla the doughter of y e said Charlys To whom y e kyng gaue in waye of Dower y e hole duchy of Normandy The whych Robert after he was crystened ruled that dukedome as a good crysten man by the terme of .xiiii. yeres and receyued of y e sayd Silla a son and named hym wyllyam the whyche after was surnamed Longa spata as who wold saye wyllyam wyth a longe sworde This wyllyam was duke after his fader .xxv. yeres and lefte after hym a sonne named Rycharde whych as before is shewed in the storye of Lew es y e .vi. was named Richard y e hardy Then Rycharde the hardy was the thyrde duke and reygned .lii. yeres had by hys wyfe a son named Rycharde the good and Emma that was wyfe to Egelredus and mother to saynte Edwarde the confessoure After hym the Good Rycharde was duke and reygned .xxviii. yeres and lefte after hym two sonnes that is to say Rycharde and Robert The fyrste after two yeres was slayne by treason of hys brother Robert so that Robert was then duke and reygned .ix. yeres The whyche Robert as yt is before shewed in the storye of Henry kyng of Fraunce was father vnto this duke wyllyam And thys wyllyam was the .vii. duke of Normandye and ruled yt or he conquered Englande after moste wryters .xxx. yeres whereby yt appereth that Emma was aunte to duke Robert father of wyllyam Conquerour And saynte Edwarde and this duke wyllyam were by y e fathers syde cosyn â—armay nes remoued as sheweth by thys draught folowynge Th fyrste duke Rollo or Robert the fyrste duke The seconde duke Wyllyam longa â—pata sonne of Robert and the second duke The thyrde duke Rycharde the hardy the son of Wyllyam and .iii. duke Rycharde the â—ood and sonne of Rychard the fyrst Emma moder of Edward confes sour doughter of the sayd Richard The .iiii. duke Rycharde the .ii surnamed y e good a son of Rychard the fyrst .iiii. duke The fyft duke Rychard y e thyrd son of Richard .ii. and .v. duke Brethern The syxte duke Robertus the son of Rycharde ii and Brother of Rycharde .iii. vi duke Brethern Wyllyam the sonne of Robert the .vii. duke and noble conquerour ANd thus here an ende of the .vi. part of thys worke for so myche as the lande was here conquered and put vnder the rule of an other nacyon wherfore as before I haue vsed and done to gyue thankes vnto that moste blessyd vyrgyn our lady saynt Mary as furtherer and conductryce of thys worke so here agayn I salute and hayle her wyth the .vi. ioye of the fornamed vii ioyes thus begynnynge Gaude virgo mater Christi tu quae sola c. All hayle and be gladde moste noble and moder dere Of Iesu Chryste vyrgyne moste pure and clene Deseruynge onely by grace and lyuynge moste clere To be of that dygnyte thou celestyall quene To perce the heuens that beeth so serene And nexte to the trone of the hygh Trynyte Thou arte admytted for to holde thy see THys .vi. parte to be accompted from the fyrste yere of Iue vnto the laste daye of the reygne of Harolde or begynnynge of wyllyam Conqueroure includeth of yeres .iii. hundred and .lxxx. yeres and one ANd so thys lande was conquered after the fyrst commynge of Brute to folowe thaccoÌ„pte of thys worke by the force of thys duke wyllyam hys Normans ii thousande .ii. hundred and two yeres ¶ Thus endeth the syxt parte THE VII PARTE NOw shaketh my haÌ„de my pen waxeth dulle Forweried tyred seyng this worke so loÌ„g The authours so rawe so farre to culle Dymme derke straunge to vnderstond And farre out of tune to make trew songe The storyes and yeres to make accordaunte That yt to the reder myght shew trewe and plesaunt But vnder correccyon all thynge may be borne And so I remytte yt to suche as ben experte Prayenge to theym as I haue done beforne To fauour and correcte so that vnder couerte Of theyr proteccyon this may shewe a parte Holsome and playne fruytefull and profytable And to the reders and herers ioyous and delectable For were not that I dueste not farther wade The streme is so depe and therto so daungerous But one thynge there is that somwhat doth me glade The great daunger and storyes doughtous Ben ouer passed so that more bounteous The authours ben and more manyfestly The storyes folowynge they done certyfye wherfore as before to you I dyd promyse Thys .vii. parte nowe I wolde take in hande Besechynge alwayes in moste humble wyse The welle of bountye that flowre moste adorande By whose humylyte man fyrste comforte fande And was redemed from hys captyuyte This parte to fynyshe she wyll myne helper be And brynge to ende thys worke that I haue take On hande to wryte onely of entent To brynge to lyght and for yt shulde not shake The olde honoure that to Englande was ment Of famous wryters whyche haue theyr duytes sent Unto theyr folowers all vyces to subdue Honoure to maynteyne and to exalte vertue Here after folowyth the storye of duke wyllyam Conqueroure THE CCXIX. CHAPITER WIllyaÌ„ duke of Normandye surnamed Conquerour baste sonne of Robert y e vi duke of that said dukedome and
solet The whythe versys to our vnderstandynge may thus as folowyth be englyshed and expowned The Rose of the worlde but not the clene floure Is here now grauen to whom bewtye was lent In thys graue full darke nowe ys her bowre That by her lyfe was swete and redolent But now y t she is frō this lyfeblente Though she were swete nowe fowly doth she stynke A myrrour good for all that on her thynke Longe tyme after the deth of the sayde Rosamounde in the sayde abbaye was shewed a cofer of the sayd wenches of the length of two fote in whych apperyd fyghtynge geaūtes stertlynge of bestes swymmynge of fyshes and flyenge of fowlys In the forsayde .xx. yere after the opynyon of Guydo the kynge had the seconde monicyon of mendynge of hys lyfe by an Iryshe man y t told vnto hym many secret tokens whyche the kynge supposyd no man had knowen but hym selfe But yet the kynge toke lytell hede therunto In the .xxii. yere of his reygne after the forsayde takynge of y e Scottyshe kynge and .ii. erlys the .xi. day before Septēber wyllyam kynge of Scottys by assent of the lordes spyrytuall and temporall dyd homage to kyng Henry at hys cytye of yorke where the sayde wyllyam graunted by hys letters patentys that he and his successours kynges of Scotland shuld make theyr homage and fydelyte vnto the kynges of Englande as often as they shal be necessaryly requyred And in sygne and token of that subieccyon the kyng of Scottes offered hys hatte his sadell vppon the aulter of saint Peter in y e chyrch of york whyche for a remembraunce of that dede the sayd hat sadell were there kepte many yeres after And ouer y t the lordes of Scotland swore that if theyr kynge at any tyme wold wythdrawe hym from allegeaunce they wold all aryse agayn hym and be to hym as enymyes tyll he were returned to his fayth kepyng of his promyse And for the more strēgth of the sayd cōposycyon the kynge of Scottis came after to y e kyng Henries parlyament holden at Northāpton and a nother season into Normandye Ranulfe munke of Chester sayth that Lewys the .viii. of that name kynge of Fraunce delyueryd vnto kynge Henry a doughter of hys to haue in guydynge and to haue ben maryed vnto Rycharde hys son the whyche after the deth of Rosamoūde he defloured of her vyrgynyte After whyche dede as affermyth the sayde authoure the kynge was in wyll to haue wedded that damoysell For expedicyon wherof he made great meanes ta Hugūcia a cardynall then beynge in his land that he wold make a dyuorce betwene hym and Elyanoure the quene And thys he dyd to the ende to haue the more fauoure of the Frenchemen that by theyr ayde he myghte the better dysheryte hys sonnes But he fayled of his purpose and also yt turned to hys owne harme For by this means he caused the sayde Rycharde hys sonne to shewe all hys demeanour vnto the Frenche kynge so that by hys informacyon vnkyndnesse kyndled betwene them two therof ensued mortall warre as sayth the englyshe cronycle and also Polycronycon But of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle nor of none other durynge the lyfe of the sayd Lewys after this daye which dyed in the .xxiiii. yere of thys Henry But the warre that was betwen the two kynges of England and of Fraunce was betwene thys Henry and Phylyppe sonne of thys Lewys as after shal be shewed About the .xxiiii. yere of thys kyng as wytnessen dyuerse wryters fell wonderfull wederynge and tempest of thunder in myddewynter tyme in Hampshyre and other places by violence wherof a preste amonges other was slayn And in the somer folowynge about Mary Magdalene tyde fell hayle of suche bygnesse y t yt slew both men and bestes And about this tyme were the bonys of kynge Arture and his wyfe Gueynour founde in the vale of Aualon whose here of the hed of the sayde Gweynour was then hole and of freshe coloure but so soone as yt was touched yt fell in powder whyche bonys were translated and buryed wythin the chyrche of Glastenburye and were founden by a synger of gestis vnder an holow oke .xv. fote wythin the grounde whyche fyndynge and translatynge is an obiecte to y e fantastycall sayeng of the walshemen that afferme hys commynge agayne to reygne as he before dyd Then hadde kynge Henry the seconde monycyon by a knyghte called syr wyllyam Chesterby or Lyndesey the whyche warned hym specyally for the reformacyon of .vii. artycles The fyrste was that he shuld sette better dylygence to the defence of holy chyrche and maynteynynge of the same The seconde that he shulde se hys lawes executed wyth better iustice then at those days was vsed The thyrd was that he shuld surmyse no mater agayn ryche men and by that mean plucke from them theyr landes goodes The fourth that he shulde restore all suche landes and goodes gotten by suche vnlawfull meanes or by any other The fyfte that he shuld for no medetarye ryghtfull sentence but suffer the ryght to haue hys processe The vi that he shulde se to the payment of hys subiectes for suche stuffe as was dayly taken to his vse also to the payment of hys seruauntes and souldyours wages whych dayly fell to robbynge for defaute The .vii. and the laste was that he shulde in all haste voyde the Iewys of hys lande whyche dayly wrought great sorowe to his commons and to leue theym somwhat to spende in theyr iourney But as he toke the other monycyons so he toke thys and cōtynued hys lyfe as he before hadde done THE CCXXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxviii. yere of his reygn after moste writers dyed Henry his eldeste sonne then lyuynge y e whych as before is sayde was crowned to the derogacyon of the martyr saynte Thomas And in thys yere whyche shulde be the .iiii. yere of Phylyppe the seconde or of Phylyppe surnamed Gyuen of god the warre beganne betwene kynge Henry and hym wherof was occasyon as testyfyeth the sayd Frenche cronycle the denyenge of the deferrynge of homage that shuld be done to the sayde Phylyppe of Rycharde then eldest sonne of kyng Henry for the lādes of Poytow An other cause also was that where certayne couenauntes were stablyshed and enrolled betwene kynge Henry and Lewys father of thys Phylyp at the maryage of Henry his sonne and Margarete syster of Phylyppe for certayne holdes and castellys wherof y e castell of Gysours was one whych were delyueryd in dower wyth the sayde Margarete vppon condycyon that yf the sayde Henry hadde yssue by y e sayde Margarete then the sayde castellys to remayne to the sayde heyres and yf the sayde yonge Henry dyed without yssue of y e sayde Margarete that then the sayde castellys and holdes to be reuerted vnto the crowne of Fraunce and for that kynge Henry denyed or deferred these two poyntes and wold not answere when he was called the Frenche kynge therfore entred the
harte After thys he loste more dayly so that hys enymyes preuayled strongely agayne hym It is rede of hym that he shulde be at so great an after deale in thys warre that hastely he shuld put hym in the kynge of Fraunces mercy his honoure and hys crowne reserued But this is doutefull of credeÌ„ce For sure I am yf the Frenche kyng had suche auauntage of hym yt shulde not haue fallen throughe the boke but haue ben regystred in the moste auauntynge maner where as in the frenche cronycle is touched no word of lyke mater But trowth yt ys that fortune was to him contrary in such wyse that wyth or for anger and impacyence he fell into a feuer wherof he lastely dyed in the castell of Conomeus or of Chynon in Normandye in the moneth of Iuly when he had reygned .xxxiiii. yeres and .viii. monethes wyth oddes dayes and was buryed at Fount Ebrade wyth thys epytaphy vppon his tombe Sufficit hic tumulus cui non sufficerat orbis Res breuis est ampla cui fuit ampla breuis Rex Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo duxque comesque sui Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climita terrae modo sufficit octo pedunâ— Qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis in me Humanae speculum conditionis habe Quod petis instante operare bonum quia mundus Transit incaâ—tos mors inopina rapit The whyche versys are thus myche to meane in sentence ¶ Suffysyth nowe this graue to whom all erthly thynge Syffysyd not my mynde so hyghe was sette Tyme that was shorte my name wyde dyd sprynge whyche fame by deth is into shortenesse fette Kynge Henry was I called no man I thought my bette whose mynde sometyme all erth not suffysed viii fote of ground now hath my bodye comprysed Thou that thys redest the parell of deth and in me Thou mayste beholde the course of euery wyght That erthely is wherfore prouyde and se That thou well maye do shortely do yt and tyght Defer not the tyme for I ascertayne the ryght The world is transytory and vnwarely men taketh Cruell deth from whome non estate escapeth Gerardus CambrensÌ„ whyche in hys boke of dystynccyons sette oute the lyfe of thys Henry sayth dredefull yt is to allege agayne hym that maye putte a man oute of lande and to descrybe hym wyth many wordes that may exyle a man wyth one worde wherfore yt were a notable dede to tell the sothe of a prynces dedys and offende the prynce in no meane But yet when the prynce ys passed and gone then men wyll talke without fere that before tyme they spared for fere Then to folow the sooth this kyng Henry noryshed stryfe amonge hys chyldern wyth all dylygeÌ„ce hopyng therby to lyue hym selfe in the more reste when men wolde aske of hym when he wolde leue his great dedes he vsed to answere that the worlde shulde fayle or a courageouse harte shulde sease of great dedes He was pereles in chyualry in warre and in lecherye He wedded Elyanoure wyfe of Lewys kynge of Fraunce contrary to the commaundement of hys father For he hadde shewed to hym that he hadde lyen by her when he was the sayde kynges stewarde He reygned .xxvi. yeres somdeale to hys wordely blysse and foure yeres somwhat to hys payne but the laste fyue yeres to hys great troweble and sorow Farthermore the sayd Gerarde descryueth the progenye of thys Henry whyche I ouer passe because yt is so common Rycharde hys sonne wolde often tell that wonder and vsed to saye no meruayle though they greued the peple that were comon of such kynd For of y e deuyll they came and to the dyuyll they shall It ys also redde of thys Henry that in a chaumber at wyndesore he caused to be paynted an egle wyth foure byrdes wherof thre of theym all rased the bodye of the olde egle and the fourth was cratchynge at the olde eglys eyen when the questyon was asked of hym what thyng that pycture shuld sygnyfye yt was answered by hym thys olde egle sayde he is my selfe and these .iiii. eglys betoken my foure sonnes the whyche sease not to pursue my deth And specyally my yongeste sonne IohnÌ„ whyche nowe I loue moste shall most specyally awayte and imagen my deth Francia THE CCXLI. CHAPITER PHylyp the seconde of that name surnamed Dyeu done or gyueÌ„ of god and sonne vnto y e viii Lewys beganne to reygne ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred and .lxxix and the .xxiii. yere of Henry the seconde than kynge of Englonde whyche sayde Phylyppe reygned somwhat of tyme by the lyfe of hys father which tyme is accompted vnto the reygne of hys father Thys in the fyrst yere of hys reygne for the great enormytyes that the Iewes vsed wythin the realme of Fraunce as crucyfyenge of chyldren and exercysynge of theyr detestable vsery he after due profe made put the malefactours to dethe and the other in auoydynge more daunger he exyled and put clere out of hys realme This Phylyp also as before in the story of Henry the seconde is towched excyted the sonnes of the sayde Henry to make warre vppon theyr father by whyche meane thys Phylyppe gate many holdes and townes from the sayde Henry wythin hys duchy of Guyon But after the deth of Henry thys Phylyppe gaue ouer all the sayde holdes and townes vnto Rycharde the eldeste sonne of the sayde Henry and receyued of hym homage for the same And as wytnessyth the French cronycle the sayd Rychard in token of obedyence was present at the coronacion of the sayd Phylyppe But ye shall vnderstande that than he was not kynge of Englande .x. yeres after But yf yt so were that he were present at the sayd coronacyon yet was he duke of Guyon onely Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne Eraclius patryarke of Hierusalem came into Fraunce and requyred ayde of thys kynge Phylyppe to wythstande the furye and persecucyon whyche Saladyne prynce of Turkes hadde excuted and dayly contynued in the countrey of Palestina agayne the Cristen to the great destruccyon of theym and vndoyng of the countrey and great ieoperdye of the losynge of the holy cytye of Hierusalem For thys the kynge assembled a great counsayll at hys cytye of Parys where the sayde Eraclius made requeste to the kynge as before he hadde done to Henry the seconde For he was in Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. and two and in Englande he was in the yere of grace .xi. hundred .lxxx. and .vii. After whyche counsayll there so holden yt was agreed that the kynge wyth ayde of the byshoppes and other of the spyrytualtye shulde ayde the sayde patryarke the whyche where sette forthe in all possyble haste But after the reporte of Peter Dysroye whyche made a recule or lytle boke of the wynnynge and losyng of Hierusalem they with mo crysten prynces were dryuen by tempeste of the
theyr weyghtes founde and proued false And ouer y t all suche wares as they shuld have weyed at the kynges beame they weyed moche therof in theyr sayd houses to the hynderaunce of y e kynges custome For whyche offeÌ„ces agayne theym proued to the nombre of .xx. of the sayd straungers were arrested and sent vnto the toure of LoÌ„don and theyr weyghtes brent consumed in westchepe of London the thursdaye before the feast of Symon and Iude. And fynally the sayd marchauntes were delyuered by fyne makynge to the kyng of a thousande .li when they had suffered by a season harde vyle prysonement Anno domini M.CC.lxxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.lxxxvii  Thomas Crosse.  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xv.  wyllyam Hawteyn  IN thys .xv. yere the Iewes of Englande were sessed at great summes of money whych they payd vnto the kyng But of one other auctour it is sayd that the commons of Englande graunted to the kyng the v. parte of theyr mouables for to haue the Iewes banysshe out the laÌ„de For whiche cause the sayd Iewes to put the commons from theyr purpose gaue of theyr free wylles great summes of money to y e kyng whych sayeng appereth to be trewe for the sayd Iewes were exyled within few yeres after Thys yere about the begynnynge of May the kynge sayled to Burdeux and frome thens he rode into Fraunce where as witnesseth y e freÌ„sh boke he was honourably receyued of Phylyp le Beau or Philyp the fayre than kynge of Fraunce and after receyued homage of the sayd Edward for the duchy of Guyan And when kynge Edwarde had taryed a season in Fraunce he retourned vnto Burdeux whyther came vnto hym a certayne ambassadours from the kyng of Spayne with the whych he helde longe dalyaunce wherfore of y e freÌ„sh kyng he was suspected that he shuld allye hym with the kyng of Spayne agayne the Frenche kynge And thys yere as testyfyeth Policronycon the somer was so excedyng vote that men dyed for hete And thys yere whete was so plentuous that it was solde at London for xl.vi a quarter Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxvii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxviii  wyllyam Herforde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvi.  Thomas Stanys  IN thys vvi yere of kynge Edwarde saynt Thomas of Herforde was translated And thys yere fyll dystauÌ„ce betwene syr Payne Tip toft wardeyn of certayn castels in walys a walsh knyght called syr Ries ap Mordek So y t sundry skyrmysshes were foughten betwene them many men slayne vpon bothe sydes to the great dystourbaunce of all y e countre Thys yere vpon saynt Margaretes euyn or the .xix. daye of Iulii fyll wonderfull great hayle that the lyke therof was nat of men than lyuynge seen And after that ensued coÌ„tynuell rayne whyche dysteÌ„peryd the grouÌ„d in such wyse that the yere folowyng whete was sold for .xviii. d. a busshel and thys yere for .xiiii. d. And so encreased yerely after duryng y e reygne of the kynge and after in hys soÌ„nes days tyll it was lastly solde for .xl. s. a quarter and aboue Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxviii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxix  wyllyam Betayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvii.  IohnÌ„ of Caunterbury  IN thys .xvii. yere the warre before in the yere laste paste betwene syr Payn Typtoft syr Ryes contynuynge to the entente that the sayd Ryes myght reuenge hys cause agayne the sayd syr Payne he arrecyd a greate multytude of walshemeÌ„ and brent and wasted dyuers fownes in walys so that the kynge then beynge in Normandy sente 〈◊〉 the â—tle of Cornewayll then beynge the kynges lyeu tenaunte in Englande that he shuld sende thyder an army of knyghtes to withstande the malyce of the walshmen The whych preparyd shortly an army yode with them into the borders of Northewalys where he with hys coÌ„pany bare hym so knyghtly that in the ende the sayd Ryes was takeÌ„ brought vnto porke where he was after drawen hanged and quartered Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xc  Full 〈◊〉 saynt Edmunde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xviii.  Salaman Langforde  IN thys .xviii. yere vppon once Lady cuyn Assumpcion kyng Edwarde was honorably receyued of the cytezeyns of London and so conueyed vnto westmynster where shortely after were broughte before hym many greuous complayntes of dyuers of hys iustyces as syr Thomas weylande Adam Stretton and other The whych the kynge caused streyghtly to be examyned and lastly were founde gylty of such trespasses and causes as they were accused of wherfore some of theym were outlawed and loste suche goodes as they hadde and the other punysshed by longe enprysonemente and lastely delyuered by payenge of greate fynes Anno domini M. CC.lxc  Anno domini M. CC.lxci  Thomas Romayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xix.  wyllyam de Lyre  IN thys .xix. yere the kynge ordeyned y t all woll whych shuld be sold vnto straungers shulde be brought vnto Sandewyche where the staple therof longe after was as it is now at y e towne of Caleys And thys yere were the Iewes banysshed the lande for the whych cause the coÌ„mons gaue vnto the kyng a quindecym or fyftene Thys yere also syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter maryed dame Iane doughter of kyng Edwarde Thys was called Iohanne of Acrys for she was born at Acrys wheÌ„ kyng Edwarde was there vpon hys great iourney And soone there after in the same yere the duke of Brabannys sonne wedded Margarete the syster of the sayd Iohanne Anno domini .xii. C. lxci  Anno domini M. CC.lxcii  Rauffe Blount  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xx.  Hamonde Boxe  IN thys .xx. yere begynnynge of the maryes yere and also of the kynges .xx. yere that is to meane vpon the euyn of saynt Andrewe or the .xxix. day of NoueÌ„bre dyed quene Elyanore the kynges wyfe and was buryed at westmynster in the chapel of saynt Edwarde at the fete of HeÌ„ry the thyrde where she hath .ii. were tapers brennyng vpon her tumbe both daye and nyght whyche so hath contynued syne the day of her buryenge to thys present daye Thys gentyll woman as before is towched in the xxxviii yere of kyng Henry the third was syster vnto the kyng of Spayn By whome kyng Edwarde had .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Iohn Henry Alphons and Edwarde whych Edwarde succeded his father by reason that the other .iii. died before theyr father Also he had by her .v. doughters The fyrste Elyanore was maryed vnto wyllyam erle of Barre the seconde Iohan of Acrys was maryed as before is sayde vnto the erle of Glouceter the thyrde Margarete was maryed to the dukes sonne of BrabaÌ„t the .iiii. Mary by name was made a menchon at Ambrysbury the .v. named Elyzabeth was maried vnto the erle of Holande and after hys deth she was maryed vnto Humfreye Boherum erle of Hereforde And
god as he before had vsed hym ī ledyng of an ankers lyfe thoughte howe he myght bryng hym in mynde to resigne hys hyghe office to him And it to bring about he fyrst made hym frendes secretely after hyred one of the cubyclers of y e pope that he in the dede nyght shuld speke in a rede and saye Celestyne yf thou wylt be sauyd be partyner of blysse renounce thys pōpe of the worlde serue me as thou before dyd Or after the latyn storye yf Celestynus wyl be sauyd let hym clerely the papall dygnyte resygne whych voyce this ghostly mā sundry tymes heryng thought veryly it had ben a deuyne mocyon wherfore in all that he myghte he laboured to be dyscharged so that at y e ende of .v. monethes he resigned And shortly after was the foresayd Bonyface admytted The whyche nat beynge contented with hys synystre opteynyng of thys hygh dygnyte but y e he for fere lest y e sayd Celestyne shuld repent hym of hys insolent dede and by strengthe of some prynces be restored agayne to hys former dygnite he therfore wolde nat suffre the sayd Celestine to retourne to wildernes there to contynewe hys olde accustomed lyfe but helde hym in a castell as prysoner where for sorowe and euyll kepynge he dyed shortly after For the whyche thys Bonyface was nat vnpunysshed For over the sorow trouble that he durynge the terme of hys papacy suffred whyche was nat a lytell in the ende of .viii. yeres he was taken by strēgth and put in pryson where so miserably cruelly he was entreated that or he dyed what for madnesse or for hunger he ete hys owne handes so in mysery ended hys lyfe within .xxiiii. dayes of hys inprysonement Than to retourne where I laft to shewe you ferther of the warre atwene Fraūce Flaundres trouth it is that the Frēche men with y e ayde of the Henaudours made sondry many tymes assautes vpon the Flemynges In the whiche dyuers chaūces of y e warre fyll so that yf that one had the better at one tyme that other had as moche aduauntage the nexte tyme. For reformacyon of whiche warre syr Guy with his son̄e before-named erle of Flaundres that by all this season had cōtynued in y e Frēche kynges pryson were suffred to go in to Flaunders vpon condycyon that yf they myght pacyfye the countre to the kynges pleasure that then they shulde styll enioye theyr lyberte and go at large or els to retourne againe as prysoners The whiche erle with his sayd sonne dyd what they cowde to reconcyle the sayde Flemynges But al theyr trauayle was in vayne so that by y ◠day to them appoynted they retourned to theyr former pryson wherfore the kynge in the .xviii. yere of his reygne assembled a mesurable hoste of people In the whiche were accompted for noble capytaynes vnder the kynge syr Charles de Ualoys brother to the kyng Lewys erle of Euroux that othe brother to y e kyng Guy erle of saint Paule Iohn̄ erle of Dampmartyn whiche noble men with many other mette with the kyng at a towne called Mount And whē they had a season rested there by meane of messangers goyng atwene kynge Phylyp and the Flemynges a day of batayll was atwene theym appoynted to be foughten vppon the .xvi. daye of Auguste in y e aboue sayd .xviii. yere At whiche day y e Flemynges of Brugys and y e other townes set forthe theyr ordenaunce and made them a stronge felde and enbatayled them in suche wyse that the Frenchemen made daūgerous to set vpon them Then meanes of treatye were offered so that the daye passed without stroke strykynge But in the euenynge the Flemynges thynkynge to take auauntage vpon theyr enemyes came so sodenly vpon the Frenchmen that hardly the kynge myght be armed or they had slayne two men within his tent wherfore hasty spede was made so that the kynge was goten to horsbacke and forthwith by his marcyall power made waye thorough his enemyes and slewe theym without mercy And by the knyghtly example of hym the remenaunt of his lordes quytte theym so honorably that the poore Flemynges were layde in the feld bathynge in theyr owne blode to a great nombre and lastly cōstrayned to flee shamefully and to leue theyr ordenaūce behynde them And yf nyght hadde nat fallen on it is to deme that many mo of theym shulde haue ben slayne consyderynge the great fyersnesse of theyr enemyes and the excedyng rancour of malyce that the Frenchmen to theym bare But yet the Frenchemen escaped not without losse of some noble men For in that batayll was slayne the erle of Ancerre and dyuers other knyghtes and men of fame After whiche scomfyture and chasynge of the Flemynges the kynge for darknesse was set vnto his tentes with torche lyghte where after he hadde buried the dede bodyes slayne in that felde and also garnysshedde some stronge castelles with his knyghtes to the ende that the Flemynges shulde nat breke toferre abrode knowynge that with his enemyes he shulde that yere haue no mo playne batayles he retourned agayne into Fraunce IN y e .xix. yere of kyng Phylyp by meanes of Enguerrā a mā in especyall fauoure with the kynge a peas betwene Fraunce and Flaundres was concluded the whych as ye shal after here dured but short whyle Nat withstandynge by the reason of thys peas Robert de Bethune and wyllyam hys brother whyche by all thys seasō with theyr father syr Guy erle of Flaundres had contynued in pleasaunt or esy pryson were now delyuered But the father was dede in the moneth of February before the cōclusyon of thys peas passed by licēce of the French kyng caryed to Marquet a town in Flaundres and there buryed In the .xx. yere of thys kyng Phillip a great dyssencyon stryfe fylle betwene the ryche mē or gouernours of Parys y e comynaltie of the same for heythyng of y e rent of dyuers houses aparteynyg to y e sayd cominaltie wherfore the sayd comons secretely accōpanyed them in greate nombre and yode vnto the house of Stephan Barbet that was accused to be occasyoner of that dede spoyled it And after that they yode to a maner of his in the counntre named Courtile Barbet and it in lykemaner spoyled and that done set it in fyre and brent it And the orcharde of the same whych was passynge commodious and pleasaunt they defaced and vtterly dystroyed And nat yet with thys beyng content they retourned agayne vnto the house of the sayde Stephan and all such wynes as were within hys sellers dranke of them tyll they were wood drunkē And what they myght nat in that wyse deuoure they bette out the heddes and let the wyne rōne in the strete And all formys stolys other vtensillis in the house by them foundyn all to brake in peces and of federbeddes rypped y e tykys helde theym in the wynde that the fethers myght be blowyn a way and
meÌ„ by goddes haÌ„de and punysshment so that what with warre of the Scottes and for hungre and deth by mortalite and syckenesse the people of y e lande was wonderslye wasted and perysshed But al those monycyons amended not the kynge of his inordynate lyuynge Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xviii  Iohan Pryoure  Iohan wentgraue  Anno .xi.  wyllyam Furneux  IN this .xi. yere y e kynge assembled a newe host and went into NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de to resyste the malyce of the Scottes whiche dayly made assawtes vpon the bordours and entred ferre within the lande wherfore for great dystresse nede of fyghting men the kynge had moch people out of y e southe and east partyes of Englande Amonge the whiche contrary to theyr lybertye the cyte of London was constrayned to fynde at theyr costes and charge CC. men and so sent theym to yorke whan the kynge at yorke hadde receyued his people frome sundry countrees and good townes of Englande he with a conuenyent noumbre rode towarde Berwyke so sped his iournayes that at lengthe he came nere vnto Berwyke and layde his syege aboute y e fame But whyle the kynge was besyed in assawtynge of the towne the Scottes brake ouer the water of Swale in great noumbre leuynge the cooste where the kynges people laye in secrete wyse came downe into the marchis of yorke shyre and there slewe the people and robbed them in moost cruell wyse wherefore y e arche bisshop of yorke constrayned of pure necessyte to defende that countre gathered vnto hym an vnredy dispurueyed hoost for y e warre as pryours clerkes chanons and other spyrituel men of the churche wyth husbande men and other vnapte people and so with great nombre of men and fewe warly or discrete cheuetaynes yode agayne y e Scottes and them encouÌ„tred at a place called Mitton vppon Swale the .xii. day of the moneth of Octobre and gaue vnto theÌ„ batayle But for lacke of wyse and warely prouysyon the EnglysshemeÌ„ were beset of theyr enemyes vpon euery side so that of them was slayne a great multytude the remenaunt shamefullye put to flyghte by reason wherof the sayde archebisshop with the abbot of Selby and other were preseruyd And for so many spyrytuell meÌ„ were slayne in thys batayl therfore it was after named of many wrytters the whyte batayll whan the kynge was enfourmed of this ouerthrowe of the Northyrne men and for it drewe towarde wynter he therfore brake vp hys siege and retourued vnto yorke and soone after forther into EnglaÌ„d Than was nothyng done without y e aduyces and couÌ„ceylys of syr Hughe the speÌ„cers the father and the sonne By whose entysemeÌ„t many thynges were done in Englande to the great grudge as well of the noble men of the realme as of the commons of the same so y t they were had in as greate hatred and indygnacyon as before tymes was Pyers of Gaâ—eston And many euyll reportes and great extorcyoÌ„s were of theÌ„ reported as lightly men shall do that ben oute of the fauoure of the common people Anno domini M.CCC.xviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xix  IohnÌ„ Pontenay  IohnÌ„ wengraue  Anno .xii.  IohnÌ„ Dallynge  IN this .xii. yere the kyng helde hys greate counceyll at yorke where coÌ„trary the mynde of y e lordes syr Hughe Spencer the sonne was made hyghe chaumberlayne of EnglaÌ„de By reason wherof he bare hym so hawtely and so prowde that no lorde of thys lande myght gaynsaye hym in any thynge that he thoughte good wherof grewe the occasyon of the barons warre as after foloweth In thys passetyme for asmoche as y e foresayd cardinalles might nothyng do concernyng the peace betwene Englande and Scotlande the kynge purchased a curse of the .xxii. Iohan then pope to accurse Robert le Bruze and all suche as wyth hym helde or maynteyned and it to stande so in strenght tyll the sayd Robert had recompensed kynge Edwarde for all suche harmys as hys lande had by hym receyued also tyl he had reedifyed the monasteryes and churches by hym and hys caste downe in Englande and restored to them suche spirytuell goodes as the Scottes had reued and taken from them But all thys auayled nothyng but putte the kyng and the realme to great coste charge so that y e comons were vexed and trowbled many maner of ways and theyr possessyons and moueable goodes taken from them vpon surmysed feyned causes so that many were vtterly vndoon and a fewe synguler mysguyded persones auauÌ„ced whan the more partye of the barones of Englande behelde this mysery of the people how they were punyshed by the hande of god and also by the ygnoraunce of the kynge they in secrete maner assembled them togyder at a towne called ShyrbornÌ„ in 〈◊〉 and there condisceÌ„ded for a reformacyon of this myschefe to remoue from the kynge the sayd SpeÌ„sers bothe the father and the sonne And this to brynge aboute syr Thomas erle of Lancastre syr Humfrey Bohum erle of Hereforde syr Iohan Moubray baroÌ„ syr Roger Clyfforde baroÌ„ syr Goselyn Danyell baroÌ„ syr Roger Toket Roger Benefeelde syr Roger Mortymer Syr whyllyaÌ„ SullaÌ„de syr wyllyam Elmynbrydge syr Iohan Gyfforde and syr Iohan Tyers barons and knyghtes with dyuers other sware eche of theÌ„ to staÌ„de by other tyll they had amended the state of the realme And soone after by theyr aduyce and agrement syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Clyfforde and syr Goselyn Danyel with a stronge company entred vpon the manours and castelles of the sayde Spensers standynge in the marche of wales and them spoyled and destroyed Of the whiche ryot the SpeÌ„sers complayned them to the kynge In punysshent wherof the kynge callynge to hym dyuerse of his couÌ„ceyll at wyndsore there determyned that the sayde syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Clyfforde syr Goselyn Danyell with other theyr assystentes shulde appere before the kynges counsayle shortly after and there to make answere vpon that ryot And yf they refused that to do that than they shulde auoyde the lande shortly after as banysshed men But no day of apparence by theym was kepte wherfore proclamacyons were made in dyuers placys of the realme and at London the .xvi. daye of Marche that the sayde syr Iohan Moubray syr Roger Clyfforde and other shuld auoyde the lande within .x. dayes folowynge vpon payne of dethe wherof herynge y e lordes and barones before named assembled theym a more strenger power and vpon that sent a messynger vnto y e kynge besechynge hym humbly to remoue frome his persone and couÌ„seyle the Spensers y e which dayly dyd vnto hym great dyshonour and to the comune weale of the realme great hynderauÌ„ce The kynge herynge this humble request nothynge with it beynge contente but ferynge greatly the destruccyon of his owne persone assembled his couÌ„feyle for reformacyon of this mater where it was concluded that the kynge shulde call a parlyamente at London there to be holden in the 〈◊〉 folowynge And
other and there was taken the erle of Lancastre syr Roger Clyfforde syr Iohan Moubraye syr Roger Tuckettes syr wyllyam Fyzwyllyam with dyuerse other ladde vnto porke And thys feelde was foughten as wytnesseth Polycronycon the .xv. daye of Marche in the ende of y t yere of oure lorde a thousande thre hundreth twenty It was nat longe after that syr Hugh Daniell and syr Barthew de Bladysmoore were taken And syr Thomas erle of Lancastre was brought agayn to his owne towne of Pountfret where he was broughte in iugement before syr Aymer de Ualaunce erle of Penbroke syr Iohan Brytayne erle of Rychemounde syr Edmunde of woodstoke erle of Kent syr Hughe Spenser the father â–ª and syr Roberte Malmestorp iustyce wyth other and before them fynally adiuged to haue hys hedde stryken of whereof execucyon was done the twelef daye of Aprell in the begynnyng of the yere of grace after the rekenynge of the chyrche of EnglaÌ„de M.CCC.xxi Of this erle Thomas are dyuerse opynyons For some wryters shew of hym to be a seynt But PolicronicoÌ„ in y e .xlii. chapytre of hys .vii. boke sheweth otherwyse But what so euer erthlye men in such thynges deme it is farre frome the secrete iugemente of god so that to hym and hys sentence such thynges are to be referred From thys tyme forthwarde by y e terme of .v. yeres ensuyng y t fortune of the Spensers hugely encreased And as faste the quenes dyscreased tyll she was releued by the kynge of of Fraunce than Charles the .v. of y e name and brother vnto hyr as after shal be shewed Than to retourne vnto oure former mater vpon the foresayde daye that erle Thomas was thus put in execucyon syr Roger Tutkettes syr wyllyam FizwyllyaÌ„ syr waren of Iselde or Isell syr Henry of Bradborne syr willyaÌ„ Cheyny Barones knyghtes were drawen hanged theyr hedes smytren of and sent vnto London whyche all were putte to deth at PouÌ„tfrete foresayd with an esquyre called Iohan Page And at yorke soone after was drawen heded syr Roger Clyfford syr IohnÌ„ Moubray syr Goselyne Danyell Barons And at Brystowe syr HeÌ„ry womyngton syr Henry Monforde Banerettes at Glowceter syr IohnÌ„ Giffard syr wyllyaÌ„ Elmyngbrydge knyghtes and at London syr IohnÌ„ Tiers or Tryers baron and at wynchelsâ—e syr Thomas Culpepyr knyght and at wyndesore syr Fraunceys walden ham baron and at Caunterbury syr Barthew de Bladismoore syr Bartholl de Asbornham baronys And at Cardeeffe in walys was putte to lyke execucyon syr wyllyaÌ„ Flemyng knyght vpon whose soules and all crysten Iesus haue mercy whan the kyng had thus subdued his barons he soone after aboute the feast of the assencyon of oure Lorde kepte hys parlyamente at yorke Durynge whyche parlyament syr Hugh Spenser the father was made erle of wynchester and syr Andrew of Harkeley erle of Carleyle or after some wryters Cardoyll and dysheryted all suche as before hadde holden wyth the erles of Lancastre and of Hereforde except syr Hugh Dandell and fewe other the whych syr Hugh was receyued to grace by reason that he had maryed a kynneswoman of the kynges There was also ordeyned or soone after that mayster Roberte Baldok a man of euyll fame shuld be chauÌ„celer of EnglaÌ„de Than forfaytes tynes were gathered into the kynges treasoury without sparyng of pryui leged places or other so that what myght be fouÌ„de all was seased for y e kyng By reason wherof moche treasoure was brought vnto the kynges coffers besyde great thynges y t were brybed and spoyled by the officers of dyuers shyres Anno domini M.CCC.xxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxii  Rycharde Constantyne  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xv.  Rychard Hakeney  IN thys .xv. yere the kyng gadered the .vi. peny of temporall mennes goodes through Englande Irelande walys that to hym was graunted at the foresayd parlyameÌ„t for the defence of the Scottes which was payed wyth great murmoure grudge consyderyng the manyfolde myseryes that the common people at those dayes were wrapped in This yere also the sone appered to mannes syght as blode and so continued by the space of .vi. houres that is to meane in the moneth of Octobre and laste daye of the sayde moneth from vii of the clocke in the mornyng tyll one of the same day After some wryters about thys tyme y e Scottes entendyng to wynne an enterpryse in Irelande and for to wynne that contrey to theyr obeysaunce entered it with a stronge hoste vnder theyr capytayne Edwarde le Bruze brother to the Scottisshe kyng But howe it was by ayde of Englysshe men or of them selfe the Irysshe quyt them so well and bare theÌ„ so manfully that they vaynquysshed the Scottes and chased theÌ„ out of that countrey In y e whych chase fyght y t sayd Edward le Bruze many of the noble men of Scotlande were slayne Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxii.  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxiii  IohnÌ„ Grantham  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xvi.  Rycharde of Ely  IN this .xvi. yere y e kyng made greate prouysyon for to make a voyage into Scotland so y t about the begynnyng of August he entred that countrey But the Scottes consyderyng the great multytude of his hoste drewe them into the mountaynes other places where as the Englysshemen myght nat wynne to theÌ„ and all to the entent for to wery and tyre the kynges great hoste Than diâ—erse maladyes fell amonge the Englysshmen so that many of theÌ„ dyed and were loste in that iournay aswel for lacke of vytayl as by infyrmyte sykenesse so that the kyng for theyse causes other was constrayned to retourne into Englande about y e natyuyte of our Lady where of the scottes beynge enfourmed syr Iamys Dowglas with other capytayns of y e Scottes wyth a stronge hooste folowed or costed y e kyng in suche wyse that about the feest of saynte Luke they had almooste taken the kynge at dyner at an abbey called Bella Launde or Beyghlande Thant he kynge of pure constraynte defended hym and withstoode the Scottes as he myghte But after shorte and weke fyghte the kynge was compelled to flee by that meane to saue hym selfe In thys skyrmysshe was taken syr Iohan Brytayne erle of RychemoÌ„de and the kynges treasoure was there spoyled and borne away and the ordenaunce belongynge to the hoste great parte of it was by the Scottes conueyed into Scotlande Than the Scottes in theyr retournyng homewarde wan the castell of Norham robbed the towne of Northallerton and other Of thys losse and harmes way syr Andrewe of Harkeley put in wyte by mysledynge of the kynges hoste as in the nexte yere shal be shewed Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxiiii  Adam Salesbury  Symon Franceys  Anno .xvii.  IohnÌ„ of Oxynforde  IN thys .xvii. yere the kyng beynge enfourmed that he hys people were so put vnto dyshonoure as in the precedyng yere is touched
Anno domini M.CCC.xlv  Edmunde Hempnale  Rychard Lacer  Anno .xx.  Iohn̄ Glouceter  IN thys .xx. yere or later ende of the .xix. yere y t is to wyt aboute saynt Nycholas tyde in the begynnynge of thys mayers yere the foresayd erles of Derby Northampton had won the towne castel of Bergarat in Gascoyne slewe there the erle of Ualētynoys chefe capytayne therof toke there a noble man called y e erle of the Ilys wyth many other ryche prysoners And about Apryll y e sayd erles wanne a strōge towne called the Ryall wherof heryng Philip de Ualoys in all haste sent hys sonn̄ Iohn̄ duke of Normandy to wythstande to gyue batayll vnto y e sayd erles But whan the sayd duke was nere vnto the Englysshemen he had suche tydinges of theyr strength that he retourned vnto hys father agayn For the whych dede hys father wyth hym was greuously discontented in so moche y t by y e occasiō to auoyd his fathers displeasure he retourned īto Gascoyne layed siege vnto y e castel of Aguyllon there remayned tyll y e moneth of August folowing without gettynge of it any aduauntage at whych season he retourned agayn to his father After whose departure the erle of Northāpton with hys cōpany gatte a strōge towne called in french la Roche Darien which is to meane the Roche or Rocke of Aryen In the tyme of whyche warre thus cōtinued in Brytayne Guyan the Frenche kyng made purueyaunce to defende hys lande agayne kyng Edward for whome he awayted dayly And kyng Edwarde as faste gathered money made hys dayly purueyaunce to prepare hym thyderwarde Anno dn̄i xiii C.xlv  Anno dn̄i xiii C.xlvi  Iohn̄ Croydon  Geffrey wychyngham  Anno .xxi.  wyllyam Clopton  IN this .xxi. yere kyng Edward helde hys parlyament at westmynster about the tyme of lent And in the moneth of Iuly folowynge he toke shyppynge and sayled into Normandy landed as wytnesseth the Frēche cronicle at a place in that prouynce named in Frenche la Hougne sent Uast with .xi. C. sayles greate small y e .xii. day of y e foresayd moneth of Iuly And anone as he was lāded he cōmaunded hys people to waste y e countrey before them And by the ledyng of a knyght called syr Godfrey Harcourte he was broughte vnto a towne called Melly and from thens vnto Mountboure where the kynge wythe all hys people rested hym a season In the whyche tyme the sayde syr Godfrey brent spoyled the coūtrey of Cōstantyne there nere adioynyng Than kyng Edward departed frō y e foresayd towne went vnto a strōge towne called Karenten or Karenton the whyche he gate wyth the castell to the same belongynge And so continued his iourney y t vpō the .xx. day of y e sayde moneth of Iule he layed hys syege before the cytye or towne of Caen. wherin were at y e daye chyef capytaynes the bysshop of Bayen y e erle of Ewe the lorde of Turnebu wyth other dyuerse knyghtes men of name Than kyng Edwarde commaunded that the sayd towne shulde be assayled y e whych was done with so great force specyally with suche stronge and cōtynuall shot that the Frenchmē forsoke the wallys drew them towarde the castell And in processe after longe cruell fyght y e Englysshemen entred the towne there toke prysoners Amonge the whyche there was taken y e cōstable of Fraūce the kynges chaūberleyne Than the Englysshemen spoyled and pylled the towne of Caen and bare the pyllage vnto theyr shyppes whyche after was conueyed by them into Englande whan kynge Edwarde had thus spoyled and brent a parte of the towne of Caen forced the bysshope of Bayen the other capytaynes to take the castell for theyr refuge considerynge the strength of the same he departed thens and so sped hym towarde the cytye of Roan chefe princypall cytye of Normandye But the Frenche kynge with a greate power was in thys whyle comē vnto Roan̄ had broken the brydges and stopped the passages in suche wyse that kynge Edwarde was fayne to leue y e way so that he costed toward Parys and came to a stronge towne called Uernon from thens to a towne named Amyrlene at whych townes he was resysted loste some of hys soudyours And the .xii. daye of Auguste he came to a towne named Poysy taryed there .vi. dayes and from thēs yode vnto saynt Germayn And euer syr Godfrey de Harcourt byeng in y e vawarde brent the townes spoyled the coūtrey as he went And lyke as kyng Edwarde with hys hoste thus passed the coūtrey towarde Parys so in lyke maner the Frenche kynge with hys power passed or helde hys way towarde y e sayd cytye beynge so nere sundry tymes that eyther hoste had syght of other But the ryuer of Seyne was euer betwene them so that for it they myght nat ioyne in batayll whan kyng Edwarde was comyn to a towne called saynt Clowe he set fyre therin which was sene vnto Parys whyche put y e cytezeyns in great fere in so moch as wytnesseth the Frēch cronycle that if the Frēch kyng had nat ben there present the cytye shulde haue be yelden vnto kyng Edwarde Thā kyng Edward seynge he myght nat passe the ryuer of Seyn towarde y e citie of Parys occupyed all y e chefe palaysys royall Manours where the Frenche kynges were accustomed for to soiourne and lye at dranke the wyne occupyed suche stuffe necessaryes as he there fande And at hys departyng set fyre vpō them cōsumed the more parte of them As at poyzy one at saynt Germayne an other and at Mount Ioy the thyrde brente the towne of Poyzy reseruyng an house of nunnes whyche was founded by Phylyp le Beawe father vnto kyng Edwardes wyfe Here ye shal vnder stāde that the auctours or wryters fauoureth theyr owne nacyon For the Englysshe wryters say that y e Frēch kyng fledde brake the brydges as he went to the ende that the Englysh hoste shuld nat wynne to the French men to gyue vnto thē batayll And y e Frenche boke sayeth that kynge Edwarde fled wolde nat abyde batayl with the Frenche men wherefore the Frēch kyng brake the brydges to the entent that y e Englyssh mē shuld nat escape hys daūger But howe it was as sayth an other wryter called Iohn̄ Froysarde the commons of Fraūce thought it a greate dyshonoure vnto all the lande that the Englyssh hoste shuld so passe thorough the harte or myddell of Fraunce and to occupye the kynges chief lodgynges nat to be foughten with of all that season whych myght nat be after the opiniō of the sayd common people wythout great treason of suche as were nere about the kyng Thā kyng Edward was so closed by reason of brekynge of brydges y t he was forced to drawe backe and to reedyfye the brydge of Poyzy The
Flemynges helde on theyr waye tyll they came nere vnto the kynges tent which thaÌ„ was also vnarmed But by the noyse crye he beynge warned â–ª in all haste armed hym In the whyche season as god wolde for the Frenche hoste certayne Marshallys of the Frenche hoste wyth a stronge company retorned from y e assaute of an holde therby and encountred the Flemynges and helde wyth them batayll whyle the kynge and his lordes made them redy So that in processe the Flemynges were closed wyth theyr enemyes and had a sharpe and cruell fyghte wherin they defended theym vygorously But in the ende the losse of y â— felde iourned vpon the Flemynges so y t the capytayne named 〈◊〉 was slayne wyth many other to the nombre of .xviii. M. aboue as wytnesseth the Frenche boke ouer many whyche were there taken prysoners of poore men and artyfycers for the multitude of the gentylmeÌ„ were vpoÌ„ the erles partye After whyche victorye thus opteyned by the kynge anone he caused y e sayde towne of Cassell to be set vpon a fyre after yode vnto Bruges and had it yolden vnto hym And in lyke wyse was Ipre Poperynge Fournays Tournaye Terrouer many other good townes yoldeÌ„ vnto hym Amonge the whyche GauÌ„t is nat named wherfore it is to deme that it was none of those townes y t at thys season rebelled ThaÌ„ in short proces folowynge the kyng had the rule of the hole erledome of Flaunders and delyuered the possessyon therof vnto Lowys the foresayde erle of that couÌ„tre and after retourned into FrauÌ„ce wyth pompe leuynge the erle in hys countye of Flaundres TheÌ„ whyche dyd after so cruell iustyce vppon hys subiectes that he put to deth by dyuerse tourmentes as rakkynge heddynge hangynge in sondry townes places of hys lordshyppes vpoÌ„ the noÌ„bre of .x. M ouer aboue many dyuers whych were banysshed som for fewe yeres some for many som for euermore IN the secoÌ„de yere of thys kyng Phylyp lyke as before is shewed in the thyrde yere of kynge Edwarde the sayd Edwarde made hys homage vnto the sayde Phylyp in y e towne of Amyas for the duchy of Guyon countye of Poytyers And soone after thys Phylype sente into Flaundres dyuers bysshoppes and other noble men by whose meanes y e gates of Brugê of Ipre of Courtray and of other townes were abated throwen downe for fere lest the sayde townes wolde oft rebell agayne hym or theyr erle In thys yere also syr Roberte de Artoys began hys plee in parlyameÌ„t agayne Iohan countesse of Artoys for that erledome in claymynge the ryght therof by certayne endentures of couenauÌ„tes of maryage betwene syr Phylype de Artoys hys father dame BlauÌ„che of Brytayne hys mother whyche wrytynges had ben by longe tyme kept from hym and now newly founden And for to haue the better expedicion in hys matter he brought vnto the kynge the erle of Alenson the duke of Brytayne with dyuers nobles the whyche made request for hym to the kyng y t he might haue iustyce And with the countesse came the duke of Burgoyne Lowys erle of Flaundres and dyuers other noble men makynge lyke request for her and for her ryght Than syr Robert shewed forth a wrytynge sealed wyth the seale of armys of the erle of Artoys conteynynge that whan the maryage was soleÌ„pnysed of syr Phylyp de Artoys father to the sayd Robert of dame Blaunche doughter vnto the duke of Brytayne and mother vnto the sayd Robert it was accorded that the sayd syr Phylyp hys father gaue vnto y e sayd dame BlauÌ„che and to her heyres the erledome of Artoys whiche wrytynges at the instaunce prayer of the countesse of Artoys were than delyuered into y e court to be kept sayeng that the sayd wrytynges were vntrewe couÌ„terfeted Upon the whych the sayde countesse brought suffycient prouffe that the sayd wrytynges were falsely made sealed by a gentylwomaÌ„ doughter vnto the lorde of Dygnon of the castell of Bethune y t whyche was so lerned in Astronomy y t she toke vpon her to shew thynges to come wherin somtyme she happed vpon the soth but more oftener she fayled By meanes of whyche womaÌ„ an olde chartre sealed wyth the seale of the forenamed syr Phylip was fouÌ„d the whych she craftely toke of set it vpon a new writyng made to y e auauÌ„tage of the sayd syr Robert of Artoys after presented them vnto the sayd syr Robert sayenge y t she had founde theÌ„ in the town of Acras The which he ioyfully receyued and made hys tytle and clayme vpoÌ„ the same This matter thus haÌ„gyng before the kyng and hys lordes in the .iii. yere of hys reygne in y e cytye of Parys after due prouffe made vpon the same the sentence was gyuen agayne syr Robert of Artoys to hys great dyspleasure In so moche that he sayd openly by me he was made a kynge and by me he shal be dysmyssed yf I maye And for he fered to be caste in pryson by y e French kyng he therefore conueyed hys horse and goodes secretely vnto Burdeaux vpon GerouÌ„de and there toke shyppyng and so passed into Englande hys sayd horses and treasour hym selfe yode vnto hys cosyne the duke of BrabaÌ„t with whome he bode a certayne of tyme after passed into EnglaÌ„de and excyted kyng Edward hougely for to make warre vpon the Frenche kynge In the .iiii. yere of y e reygne of this Phylip the sayd syr Robert was proclaymed open enemy to the crown of Fraunce and hys landes seased into the Frenche kynges handes and he banysshed the lande for euer excepte that he within a moneth after Easter next ensuyng wolde come into y e kynges court submyt hym hooly vnto the kynges grace whyche senteÌ„ce passed agayne hym for so moche as he apered nat In y e .vi. yere of the reygne of this Philip the wyfe of syr Robert of Artoys y t whych was syster vnto kyng Philip was accused to be a great occasioner of the offence of her husbaÌ„d For y e which she with her childer was sent into Gastenoys there holden in strayte pryson In y e .viii. yere of hys reygne kyng Philip vysyted diuers parties of his realme in y e doynge vysyted many places of pylgrymages which before he had promysed to seche for the restitucioÌ„ of helth to his eldest sonnÌ„ IohnÌ„ thaÌ„ duke of NormaÌ„dy whych y e yere before my meane of sekenes was in great ieopardy of lyfe coÌ„tynuynge the sayd iourney rode vnto AuygnoÌ„ and vysyted there y e pope than beyng Benet the .xii. of y e name And whaÌ„ he had sped hys nedes wyth hym he yode into the prouynce of Mercyle for to se there his nauy and after retourned by Burgoyne where of the duke he was royally receyued and feested In which season of his there tarieng a coÌ„playnt was brought before hym by y e sayd duke agayne syr IohnÌ„ de Chalon for clayme of
But after they and also y e aduocate mayster Reynolde Dacy were buryed secretelye Uppon the morne folowynge the prouost assembled at the frere Augustynes a great company of the cytye wyth all suche as then were there of the good townes by reason of y e foresayde couÌ„sayll To whych assemble by the mouth of mayster Roberte de Corby a maÌ„ of the cytye was shewed a protestacioÌ„ of all the cyrcumstauÌ„ce of the foresayd mater and howe that by the dukes couÌ„sâ—â—l also by y e thre astates many good â—â—ynges were coÌ„cluded for the deliuery of the kynge shulde or that tyme haue comyn to good effecte ne had ben the enpechement of .iiii. persons the whyche at y t season were nat named Thys busynesse thus coÌ„tynuyng the kyng of Nauarne came vnto Parys the .xxvi. daye of February wyth a good company of armed men and was coÌ„ueyed by the cytezeyns vnto a place of the dukes called the Neell there lodged To whome the prouost with his coÌ„plyces made request that he wolde make allyauÌ„ce with theym and to supporte theym in that y e they hadde done the whyche by hym was grauÌ„ted Than the quene hys syster and other made instante laboure to agree hym and the duke whych in coÌ„clusyon toke such effect y t the kynge shulde haue in recompeÌ„cement of his wroÌ„ges the erledom of Bygorre and the vynery of Ramer with y e erledoÌ„ of Maston and other landes to y e extente of .x. M. li. of Parys money by yere And ouer that hys syster called quene BlaÌ„che shuld haue y e lordshyp of Morette for her Dowry After whyche accorde thus concluded the kynge and the duke kepte together very freÌ„dely and louyng familyarite dyned and souped eyther with other by many and sundry tymes eyther vnto other gaue ryche gyftes AmoÌ„g the whyche one was that the duke gaue vnto the kyng the sayd place of Neell whych he than lodged in Upon the .xii. daye of Marche the duke of Normandye was proclamed regent of Fraunce thorough y e cytye of Parys and after thorough all Fraunce And soone after he departed from Parys and rode into y e countre of Champayne where he taryed a season And the kynge of Nauerne retourned to Maunt in Normandye Than the regent drewe vnto hym the nobles of Champayne of Prouynce and began to manace the prouost and other of Parys that before had put hym to dyshonoure and slayne so vylaynously hys trewe counceyllours And after promesse taken of the erle of Brene and other nobles of that countrey y t they shuld ayde hym agayne hys fathers rebelles and hys enemyes he than rode vnto the abbey of Ponley in Monstruell and after yode vnto a castell whych belonged vnto quene Blanche syster vnto y e kynge of Nauerne and wyllyd the Capytayne named Tanpyne to delyuer to hym that castell The whyche after dyuers denayes opened the gates and receyued in the regente and lodged hym therin that nyght Upon the whyche the regent caused the sayd Tanpyne to swere vnto hym y t he shulde kepe that castell to his vse and after made hym styll wardeyne of the same and so departed thens rode to Meaux where hys wyfe laye In thys tyme and season the prouoste of the marchauntes of Parys herynge of the regentes doynge â–ª and of the affynyte that he made with theÌ„ of Champayne fered the sequell therof wherfore by the aduyse of such as fauoured hys cause he yode into the castell of Louure and there toke out artylery gunnys and other abylymeÌ„tes of warre and put them in y e store house of the cytye to be redy whan tyme requered The regent spedyng hys iournay returned agayne to CoÌ„peygn And where as before was appoynted that the .iii. astates shulde y e fyrste daye of May assemble at Parys the regent thaÌ„ sent out hys commyssioÌ„s and charged y e sayd .iii. astates to assemble the thyrde daye of the sayd moneth of May at Compeyngne aforesayde wherewith the sayde cytezyns of Parys were greatly amoued At thys assemble was graunted vnto the regent a subsydy bothe of y e Clergy and also of the laye fee so y t the regent waxed dayly stroÌ„ger and stronger wherof heryng the kyng of Nauerne remoued from a towne called Merlo and with a stronge company came vnto a place or towne named Domage purposely for to treate wyth the regent for the cytezeyns of Parys where in the begynnynge of May y t sayd two prynces met eyther hauynge greate strengthe of men of armys WHan the kynge of Nauerne had by .ii. dayes contynuall made requeste vnto the regent for the cytezyns of Parys and myghte natte spede of his requeste he departed the thyrde daye and rode vnto Parys where he was honorably receyued fested by the space of .x. or .xii. dayes In whyche season he warned theym of the great dyspleasure that y e regeÌ„t bare towarde the cytye and aduysed them to make theym as stronge as they myght In thys passe tyme the bysshop of Laon beynge with the regent at CoÌ„peyne was lyke to haue ben vylonyed by some of the regeÌ„tes counsayll wherefore in secrete wyse he departed vnto saynt Denyse and from theÌ„s he was fette by the kyngê seruauÌ„tes of Nauerne vnto Parys in whome was put great faute of all thys trouble About the myddell of Maye one named Guyllyam Callâ—y gathered vnto hym a company in the prouince of Beauaysyn as of the townes of Cerreux Norecell Cramoysye and other there about The which beyng euyll dysposed slewe dyuers knyghtes and esquyers of that couÌ„trey and theyr wyues and seruauÌ„tes and pylled and spoyled the countrey as they went and threwe downe certayn pyles and other streÌ„gthes and a parte of the castell of BeawmouÌ„t and forced the duchesse of Orleaunce to forsake that castell that than was there lodged and for her saufegarde to go vnto Parys Uppon the .xxx. daye of May the prouost and other gouernours of y e cytye of Parys caused IohnÌ„ Paret mayster of the brydge of Parys and the mayster carpenter of the kynges werkes to be drawen hanged heded and quartered For it was put vpon them that they shuld haue broughte into the cytye a certayne noumbre of of the regentes sowdiours and so to haue betrayed the cytye And the fore sayde people of Beauuaysyne gathered vnto theym dayly more peple as labourers and vylaynes y â— which came into the countrey of Mountmerencie slewe and robbed there y e geÌ„tylmen of that countrey as they had done of other and so passed the countrey without resystence And y e regeÌ„t in thys whyle came to the cytye of Sens in Languedocke where he was honorably receyued all be it y t the comons of that cytye gentyles of that couÌ„trey were greatly lenyng vnto the cytezyns of Parys there taryed a season to expresse to theÌ„ hys mynde In whyche meane tyme a spycer or grocer namer Gylle of Parys wyth one IohnÌ„ Uayllaunt prouoste of y e kynges money
about Dunkyrke they gaue vnto hym suche assaute that he was constrayned to gyue backe And for the said shippes and goodes shulde nat come vnto the possessyon of his enemyes he sette them on fyre within the hauen and so was wasted bothe shyppes and goodes And all be it that after this mysse happe he recouered his strengthe layed syege vnto y e towne of Ipre and wrought the flemynges moche care and trouble shortely after suche syckenesses fell amonge his people as the flyre and other that his souldyours dyed of them great noumbre for the whiche he was compelled to leaue hys iourney and to retourne into EnglaÌ„de In this yere also was a batayle or feates of armes done in the kynges palays of westmynster atwene one called Garton Appellaunt and syr IohnÌ„ Ansley knyght defendauÌ„t of whiche fyght at length the knight was vyctor and caused his enemye to yelde hym For the whiche the sayd Garton was from that place drawen vnto Tyburne and there hanged for his false accusacyon and surmyse Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiiii Grocer Symonde wynchecombe  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. vii  IohnÌ„ more   Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxv  Nycholas Exton  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. viii  IohnÌ„ Frenshe  THis yere king Rycharde holdynge his Christmas at Eltham thyther came vnto hym the kynge of Ermony whiche was chased out of his lande by the Infydels and Turkes and required ayde of y e kynge to be restored vnto his dominyon The kynge fested and comforted him according to his honour after couÌ„sell taken with hys lordes concerninge that mater he gaue vnto him great sommes of money and other ryche gyftes with the whiche after he had taryed in Englande vpoÌ„ ii monethes he departed with glad countenaunce And soone after Ester the kynge with a greate armye yode towarde ScotlaÌ„de But whan he drewe nere vnto the borders such meanes were sought by the Scottes that a peace was concluded atwene bothe realmes for a certayne tyme. After whiche conclusion so taken the kynge returned vnto yorke and there restyd hym a season In which tyme varyaunce fell atwene IohnÌ„ HolaÌ„de brother to the erle of Kent and the erles sonne of Stafforde by reason of whiche varyaunce in conclusion y e sayd sonne of the erle was slayne of the hande of the same syr IohnÌ„ HolÌ„ade for the whiche dede the kynge was greuously amoued departed shortely after with his company toward London Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxv  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxvi Grocer IohnÌ„ Organ  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. ix  IohnÌ„ Chyrcheman  THis yere kynge Rycharde assembled at westmynster hys highe court of parliameÌ„t Durynge the whiche amonge other many actes in the same counsell concluded he created .ii. dukes a marques and .v. erles Of the whiche firste syr Edmonde of Langley the kynges vncle and erle of Cambrydge was created duke of yorke syr Thomas of woodstoke his other vncle erle of Buckyngham was create duke of Gloucester syr Lyonell Uere y t was erle of Oxenforde was made marques of Deuelyn sir Henry Bolingbrooke sonne and heyre of IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t duke of Lancastre was made erle of Derby syr Edwarde sonne heyre vnto the duke of yorke was made erle of Rutlande syr IohnÌ„ Holande brother to the erle of Kent was made erle of Huntyngdone syr Thomas Monbraye was made erle of Notyngham and Marshall of Englande and syr Mychaell de la Poole was made erle of Suffolke ChauÌ„celler of EnglaÌ„de And by auctoryte of the same parlyamente syr Roger Mortymer erle of the Marche and sonne and heyre vnto syr Edmonde Mortymer and of dame Philyppe eldest doughter and heyre vnto syr Lyonell y e seconde sonne of Edward the thyrde was soone after proclaymed heyre paraunt vnto the crowne of Englande The whiche sir Roger shortely after sayled into Irelande there to pacifye hys lordeshyppe of wulster whiche he was lorde of by his foresayde mother But whyle he was there occupyed aboute the same the wylde Irysshe came vpon hym in noumbre and slewe him and moche of his company This sir Roger hadde Issue Edmonde and Roger Anne Alys and Elynoure that was made a nunne The .ii. foresaid sonnes died without issue and Anne eldest doughter was maryed to Rycharde erle of Cambrydge whiche Rycharde was sonne vnto syr Edmonde of Langley before named The which Rycharde hadde issue by the sayde Anne Isabell ladye Bouchier Rycharde that after was duke of yorke father to kynge Edwarde the .iiii. whiche sayd Richarde erle of Cambridge was put to deth by Henry the .v. as after shall appere In this yere also syr HeÌ„ry Bolingbroke erle of Derby maryed the Countesse doughter of Herforde by whome he was lorde of that countrey And by her he had issue Henry that after him was kynge Blaunche duches of Barre and Philippe that was wedded to the kynge of Denmarke Also Thomas duke of Clarence IohnÌ„ duke of Bedforde Humfrey duke of Gloucester Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvi  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvii Goldesmythe wyllyam Stondon  Nycholas Exton  Anno. x.  wyllyam More  IN this .x. yere the erle of Arundell was sent into the duchye of Guyan for to strengthe suche soudyours as the king at that tyme had in those parties or after some wryters to scoure the see of rouers enemyes The whiche erle in kepynge his course or passage encountred a myghtye flote of Flemynges laden with Rochel wyne set vpon them and distressed them theyr shyppes and so broughte them vnto dyuers portes of EnglaÌ„de By reason wherof the sayde wyne was so plenteous in Englande that a tonne thereof was solde for a marke and .xx. s. the choyse And amonge other in that flote was taken the Admyralle of Flaunders whyche remayned here longe after as prysoner Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxviii Goldesmythe wyllyam Uenour  Nycholas Exton  Anno. xi  Hughe Fostalfe  THis .xi. yere of kyng Rycharde syr Thomas of woodstocke duke of Gloucester the erle of Arundell with the erles of warwyke of Derby and of Notyngham consyderynge howe the king and hys lande was mysse ladde by a fewe persones aboute the kynge entendyng reformacion of the same assembled them to haue a counsell at Radecoke brydge and after arrered great people so with a stronge power came to London there caused y e king to call a ê‘liament wherof herynge maister Alexander Neuyle than archebysshop of yorke sir Lyonell Uere marques of Deuelyn and syr Mychaell de la Poole Chaunceller and erle of Suffolke fearyng punisshement fledde the lande and so died in straunge countreys Than the kynge by counsell of the other aboue named lordes durynge the parlyament caused to be taken syr Roberte Treuylian chefe Iustyce of Englande syr Nycholas Brembre late mayre of the cytie of London sir IohnÌ„ Salysbury knyghte of housholde sâ—r IohnÌ„ BeauchaÌ„p stewarde also of the kynges house
y e kyng in mynde to clayme his right in Fraunce And for the exployte thereof they offcede vnto hym great and notable summes By reason whereof the sayde byll was agayne put by and the kynge set hys mynde for the recouery of the same so that soone after he sente hys letters vnto the Frenche kynge concernyng that mater and receyued frome hym answere of dirision as affermeth the Englysshe boke And Gaguynus sayeth in hys Frenche cronycle that kynge Henry sente hys oratours vnto Charles the vii thanne kynge of Fraunce for to haue dame Katheryne hys doughter in mariage with other requestes touchynge hys ryght and enherytaunce whereunto it was answered by the counsayll of Fraunce that the kyng hadde no leyser to entende suche idelnesse wherupon kynge Henry made quycke prouision for to warre vpon the Frenche kynge as after appereth In thys yere also by procuremeÌ„t of Sigismunde thanne Emperour a greate counsayll or synod of bysshoppes were assembled at a cytye in hygh Almayne called constaunce for the vnion of the churche And for to auoyde the Scisme whyche began in the .xiiii. yere of Charles the .vi as before in the sayde .xiiii. yere is touched In the sayd synode or generall counsayll was the .xxiii. IohnÌ„ than pope put downe or resygned by hys volunte And by auctoryte of y e same couÌ„sayll the opynyons and heresy of wyklyf were vtterly anulled dampned and two of hys disciples there presente named IohnÌ„ Hus or Husse and Ierom the herytyke were there brente And many notable actes for the we le of y e church there were enacted And fynally whan the sayde couÌ„sayl had endured nere vpon the terme of iiii yeres they there by an hole asset chase a newe pope and named hym the .v. Martyne whyche occupyed Peters chayre .xiiii. yeres and odde monethes as indubitat pope and so other after hym Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xv  IohnÌ„ Mychell  Thomas Fawcomer Mercer  Anno .iii.  Thomas Aleyn  IN thys yere after the kynge had made suffycient prouision for all thynges coÌ„cernyng his warre to be made vpon the Frenche kyng he wyth hys lordes honourably accoÌ„panyed rode thorugh London vpon the .xviii. daye of Iuny towarde the porte of SouthamtonÌ„ where he had appoynted hys hoste to mete wyth hym And whyle the kyng there was shyppynge of hys people dyuers of hys lordes that is to say syr Richard erle of Cambrydge and brother vnto y e duke of yorke whyche syr Rychard beryng the name of Langley hadde wedded dame Anne the doughter of syr Roger Mortymer erle of March and wolster by whome he had yssue Isabell whyche after was maryed vnto the lorde Boucher erle of Essex Rycharde whyche after was duke of yorke father to kynge Edward y e iiii To whome also wasasseÌ„tyng syr Rycharde Scrop than treasourer of Englande and syr Thomas Graye knyght were there arrestyd for treason and areygned and so examyned vppon the same that the .xxix. day of Iuly folowynge they were all thre behedyd After whyche execucyon so done the kynge vpon the morowe or shortely after wyth hys lordes toke shyppynge there landed at a place called Kydcaus in Normandy And the .xvi. daye of Auguste he sayde syege vnto the towne of Harflew assayled them by land and by water and contynued so hys syege vnto the xxii daye of September At whyche daye as sayth the French Gaguinê° it was delyuered by Albert thaÌ„ there capytayne vppon condycyon that kynge Henry myghte sauely wynne or passe to Calayes and so he beyng there the towne to be yolden vnto hym But the Frenche wryter Gaguinus vpholdeth the honour of the Frenchemen in all that he maye and boroweth of hys conscyence for sparynge the trouth in reporte of many thynges For after moste wryters y e sayde towne after sondry appoyntementes of rescouse was delyuered vnto the kynge wythout any condycyon the daye aboue sayde where after the kynge had ordeyned syr Thomas Beauforde hys vncle and erle of Dorser capytayne of that towne he spedde hym towarde Calays Than the dolphyn with other lordes of Fraunce whyche at that tyme hadde the realme of Fraunce in gouernaunce for so moche as the Frenche kynge was vysyted wyth suche malady as before I haue shewed brake the brydge to let y e kynge of his passage ouer y e water of Sum. wherfore he was coÌ„strayned to draw towarde Pycardy so passe by y e ryuer of PeronÌ„ wherfore the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ beynge ware assembled and lodged theÌ„ at certayne townes named Agyncourt Rolandcourt and Blangy wyth all the power of Fraunce And whan kyng Henry sawe that he was so besette wyth hys enemies he in the name of god saynt George pyght hys felde in a playne betwene the sayd townes of Agyncourte and BlaÌ„gy hauyng in hys companye of hoole men that myght fyght nat passyng the nombre of .vii. M. But at those dayes the yomen hadde theyr Lymmes at lybertye for theyr hosyn were than fastened wyth one poynt and theyr iackes were loÌ„ge easy to shote in so that they myghte drawe bowes of great strength shote arowes of a yerde longe besyde the hedde Than the kyng consyderynge the great nombre of hys enemyes that the acte of FrenchmeÌ„ standeth moch in ouer rydyng of theyr aduersaryes by force of speremeÌ„ he therfore charged euery boweman to ordeyne hym a sharpe stake to pytche it a slope before hym and whaÌ„ y e sperys came somdeale to drawe bak so to shote at the horsemen And at the proper requeste of the duke of yorke he ordeyned hym to haue y e vawewarde of y e felde And whaÌ„ kyng HeÌ„ry had thus prouydently ordered for hys batayll ouer night vpon the morowe beyng the .xxv. daye of Octobre and y e daye of the holy martyrs Cryspyne Cryspinian the kyng caused dyuers masses to be songen And where that nyghte before the Englysshe hoste was occupyed in prayer and confessyon he thanne caused the bysshoppes and other spyrytuall men to gyue vnto theym generall absolucyon And that done wyth a comfortable chere ordered hys people as they shuld fyght hauyng vnto theÌ„ good comfortable wordes so abode y e commynge of theyr enemyes whych of dyuers wryters were and are remembred to be about .xl. thousande fyghtynge men The whyche aboute .ix. of y e cloke in the mornynge wyth greate pryde set vppon the Englysshe hoste thynkynge to haue ouer ryden them shortely But the archers lyke as before they were taught pyght theyr sharpe stakes before them And whan they sawe the French galantes approche they a lytell yode backe receyued them as here after ensueth The batayll of Agyncourt THat is to meane they shotte at theym so feruently y t what wyth the shotte and goryng of theyr horses wyth the sharpe stakes they tumbeled one vpon an other so that he or they which ranne formest were the confusyon of hym or them that folowed so y t in a shorte
Bathe of Salysbury of Norwyche of Ely of Rochestre the whiche so conueyed hym into the churche and there made his oblacyons And that done he toke agayne his stede at the west dore of Paules and so rode forth vnto westmynker where agayne he was of the abbot couent receyued with procession and by them coÌ„ueyed vnto saynt Edwardes shryne and there taryed a whyle Te deum was songe in the Quyer And that finysshed he was of his lordes conueyed vnto his palays And than the mayre with his cytezyns returned ioyusly to London Than vpon the saterday folowynge beynge the .xxiii. day of Februarii the mayre and aldermen yode vnto the kyng and presented hym with an hamper of golde therin a thousande pouÌ„de of fayre nobles for the whiche the kynge yelded vnto them louynge thankes This yere also by reason of y e sowdyours of Calays a restraynte was made there of the wolles for they were not coÌ„teÌ„t of theyr wages wherfore the regent of FrauÌ„ce beynge thaÌ„ Capytayne of Calays came downe thyder in the easter weke At whiche tyme beynge the wednesdaye in the sayde weke many sowdyoures were arested and put in warde And whan he had so done he rode to Tyrewyn there by the meanes of the bysshop of Tyrewyn he maried y e erle of saint Paules doughter and shortly after returned to Calays and caused the sayde sowdyours to be enquyred of and fynally .iiii. of them were demed to dye whiche .iiii. y t is to say Iohan Maddely Iohan Lundaye Thomas Palmer and Thomas Talbot were beheded at Calays the .xi. day of Iuny And an hundreth and .x. sowdyours were banysshed the towne ouer syr score banysshed before that tyme. And vpon mydsomer euen folowynge the sayd lorde regent with his newe spouse came vnto London and so taryed in Englande tyll the later ende of August Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxiii  Iohan Olney  Iohan Parneys Fysshmonger  Anno .xi.  Iohan Paâ—dystey  IN this .xi. yere after some wryters was by the auctoryte of pope MartynÌ„ the .v. of that name y e couÌ„sayl of Basyle gadered Duryng the whiche the heretykes of Prage otherwyse called of Bohemy or Beme were somoned thyder The whiche vnder a suertye or saufe coÌ„duyte sent thyder for theÌ„ with other an Englysshe Clerke named mayster Peter a renegate The whiche defended so styfly theyr erronyous opynyons that they returned without reconsylyacyon Thus haÌ„gynge this couÌ„sayll pope Martyn dyed for hym wâ—schosen Eugeny the fourth The whiche beyng admytted demeaned hym so nycely in the begynnynge that he was put out of Rome dyuers prynces toke partye agayne hym in suche wyse that he was lykely to be deposed But after he bare hym so sadly y t he recouered such as he had loste contynued the see by the space of .xvi. yeres and ruled so that of some wryters he is called Eugeniê° gloriosus And that is of relygyous men for vnto theym he hadde a specyall zele and fauoure And vpon the eyhgte day of Iuly kynge Henry this yere beganne his parlyamet at westmynster and so contynued it tyll it was Lammas and than it was aiourned vnto saynt Edwardes daye And this yere in the southe weste appered a sterre whiche was lyke to a blasynge sterre and of some it is so named The erle of HuntyngdonÌ„ also this yere was sente into Fraunce with a warly company and dyd ther great feates as saythe the Englyssh cronycle But of y t is nothynge towched in the Frenche boke Anno dnÌ„i M.iii. C.xxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iii. C.xxxiiii  Thomas ChaltonÌ„  Iohan Brokley draper  Anno .xii.  Iohan Lynge  IN this .xii. yere and .ix. daye of Nouembre the terment of the erle of saynt Pawle father vnto the duchesse of Bedforde was solemply holdeÌ„ in Pawles churche of LondoÌ„ where the more partye of astates of this realme were present And the .ix. day of Marche folowynge the lorde Talbot with a goodly company passed thoroughe the cytye of London towarde the see into Fraunce where he wrought moche wo vnto y e FreÌ„ch men wherof the partyculers be not towched Contynuynge the foresayd warre in FrauÌ„ce the towne of saynt Denys which is within .ii. Englyssh myles of Parys was goten by treason or practyse of one named Iohan Notyce a knyght of OrleauÌ„ce from Mathew Gougth and Thomas Kyryell capytayns and slewe there many Englysshemen and many they toke prysoners But soone after the sayde capytaynes with strengthe taken to theym of the Parysyens and other layde suche a stronge syege rounde aboute the sayde towne of saynt Denys that fynally they agreed to redelyuer y e towne yf they were not rescowed of the Frenche kynge within fyftene dayes so that y e sayde dayes expyred it was retourned to the EnglysshemeÌ„ But this not with standynge the Frenchemen wanne dayly vpon the Englysshe men both in those partyes and also in NormaÌ„dy AmoÌ„g whiche gaynes y e FreÌ„che Gaguyne bryngeth in a matyer of game as he reherseth to y e mockage of Englysshemen and saythe that in this yere and feest of Myghelmas at a place called Fewgeri in Guyan a stronge fyghte was foughten bytwene the Englysshmen and the FreÌ„chemen Durynge the whiche one named Boosaprest a FreÌ„ch Knyght for fere fledde frome that fyghte and hydde hym in a couerte of busshes and there stoode styll tyll the fyghte was ended and the Englysshemen scomfyted and scared Of the whiche two of aduenture to sauegarde them selfe fledde to the sayd thycke busshe where the cowarde Frenche knyghte stode The whiche whan he hadde espyed and lerned of theym that the Frenche partye hadde wonne the felde he became so coragyous that he forced the sayde two Englysshemen to become his prysoners and so with theym entredde the hoste of the FrenchemeÌ„ and bare a countenauÌ„ce as he hadde wonne theym in the foresayd fyght But at lengthe whan all his demeanoure was knowen he was for his feate hadde in great derysyon and by his chefe capytayne named GuyllaÌ„ de saynt Albyne pryued of his prysones And in this season also the erle of Arundell whiche in Normandy had manly borne hym herynge that one Hyrus a Frenche capytayne hadde fortyfyed a stroÌ„ge castell named Gerborym before distroyed of Englysshe men toke with hym a certayn of sow dyoures and gyrde the castell with a stronge syege and assawted it by sondry tymes maÌ„fully as sayth the FreÌ„che cronycle But Gagwyne in his cronycle sayth that or the syege were fully layde or the castell were fully repayred the sayd Hyrus with his company yssued out of the castell gaue vnto y e sayd erle a cruell skyrmysshe in the whiche the sayde erle receyued a deedly wounde and dyed shortly after And that vyctory so by y e FreÌ„che men optayned that castell was to y e hurte of the Englysshemen reedyfyed and a place called DyeppÌ„ with other also wonne from them Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.
retourne to thys Charlys lykely it is that he was nat y e naturall sonne of the forenamed Charlys for as moche as hys sayd father ordeyned and wylled the realme of FrauÌ„ce vnto Katheryne hys doughter and wyfe vnto kynge HeÌ„ry the .v and agreed wyth the consente of the more parte of y e lordes of hys realme bothe spyrituall temporall that duryng hys lyfe the sayd kynge Henry shuld be regeÌ„t of FrauÌ„ce after hys deth to be kyng of the sayd regâ—oÌ„ as more at lengthe before I haue shewed vnto you in the .vii. yere of the sayd Henry the .v. But whether he be hys legyttymat sonne or nat where uppoÌ„ I purpose no leÌ„ger to stande trouth it is that he was by his father admitted made dolphyne of Uyen by reason wherof he was in a greate auctoryte wan to hym fauoure of som lordes of FrauÌ„ce whych stroÌ„gly maynteyned hys partye durynge the lyfe of kyng HeÌ„ry the .v after all y t season whyle the duke of Bedforde occupyed there as regent of that regyoÌ„ was of some parties of FrauÌ„ce reputed for kyng Howe be it he was neuer crowned so loÌ„ge as the sayde duke of Bedforde lyued Neuerthelesse he by meane of polycy hys freÌ„des so defended hym selfe that lytle by the EnglyshemeÌ„ was wonne vpoÌ„ hym of suche laÌ„des as he fyrste was in possessyon of But polytykely he defended theym lytle and lytle so preuayled agayne them that in the ende he all onely wanne nat to hym the possessioÌ„ of that prouince y t which is named FrauÌ„ce but also he wanne to hym in the ende the kynge of Englandes olde enherytaunce that is Normandy wyth all domynyons to the same apperteynynge The maner of wynnynge of them I woll nat in thys story speke of for so moche as in the former yeres of kynge Henry the .vi. I haue there expressed the maner of somme parte therof But that I shall speke of theÌ„ shal be of thynges done betwene hym other prynces And for that I before in the .viii. yere of HeÌ„ry the vi promysed in the .vi. yere of thys Charles to shewe vnto you som what of the maydeÌ„ or pucel which y e FreÌ„ch men named la pucelle de dieu her for a messenger from god to be sente reputed I shall here folow y e saying of Gaguyne whyche sayeth as foloweth In the .vi. yere or there aboute to rekyn from the deth of thys Charles father a weÌ„che or mayden beyng bred in a strete or vyllage called in latyne Ualli color in thys tyme beynge sproÌ„ge to the age of .xx. yeres or there about hauing to father a poore man named Iakes Delarch and hyr mother Isabell she also berynge the name of Iane or Iohan required by dyuers sundry tymes an vncle of hyrs beyng prefecte of the foresayde vyllage that he wolde presente hyr vnto the FreÌ„che kynge for thynges coÌ„cernyng greatly the weale of hym of hys realme whyche sayd prefect after many delayes for so moche as in hyr wordes he had lytle truste yet at leÌ„gthe hyr sayd vncle beynge named Robert Baudryncourt sent hyr wyth a coÌ„uenyent company vnto the kyng wyth letters certyfyenge hym of all the maner of thys mayde wherof the sayd Charles beynge asserteyned thought he wold vse som meane to knowe the vertue of thys wenche And for he had perfyghte experyence that before tymes thys woman had neuer sene hys persone he thoughte he wolde chaunge hys rome and habyte to se whether she by hyr vertue coulde knowe hym frome other and that done he standynge amonge other of his familiers as one of them she was called into the chaumber demaunded yf euer before tyme she had sene the kynge And after she hadde answered nay she was byddeÌ„ to espye oute the kynge whych there stode amonge that companye The whyche anone wythout dyfficulte him fande and saluted as king And all be it that he refused hyr reuereÌ„ce sayd y t she erred in hyr choyse yet she parseuered kneling at his fete and sayde that by goddes purueyauÌ„ce she was taught that he was hyr very soueraygn prince none other wherfore the kynge all hys lordes had in hyr the more affyauÌ„ce that by hyr the laÌ„de shulde be releuyd whych at that daye was in passyng mysery Than after dyuers questyoÌ„s to hyr made what was the cause of hyr thyther commynge she answered sayd that she was sent frome god to stablisshe the kynge in hys realme and that by hyr she beynge leder capytayne of hys people by dyuine grace onely the kynge shulde shortely subdue hys enemyes By reasoÌ„ of which wordes the kyng wyth hys lordes were somedeale comforted Upon thys armour sword was sought for this maydeÌ„ the whych as sayeth my sayd auctour was fouÌ„den myraculously wherof the processe to me appereth so darke faÌ„tastycall y t therewith me list nat to blot my boke but suffre it to passe by Than thys weÌ„che being purueyed of all thinges necessary to the warre a company of knyghtes soudyours to hyr by the kynge was assygned And so she rydynge as a man in maÌ„nes habyte contynued by the space of .ii. yeres more and dyd many wonderful feates and gat from the Englysshemen many stroÌ„ge townes and holdes wherefore amonge Frenchemen she was wordshypped for an auÌ„gell or a messynger sent frome god to releue theyr great myserye And as affermeth the sayd auctour she by hyr prouydence caused the sayd Charles as kynge of Fraunce to be crowned at Raynes in the yere of oure lord M. foure hundreth and .xxix. All be it nouther the Frenche cronycle nor other whyche I haue sene testyfyeth that but affermyn that he was nat crowned duryng the lyfe of the duke of Bedforde But almyghty god whyche for a season suffereth suche sorcery and deuelyssh ways to prospere reygne to the correccyon of synners lastely to shewe hys power and that good men shuld nat fall into any erroure he sheweth the clerenesse of suche mystycall thynges and so he dyd in thys For lastely she by a knyghte Burgonyon was taken after sent to Roan and there breÌ„t for her demerytes as in the .viii yere of Henry the .vi. is more at leÌ„gth shewed ThaÌ„ the tyme forth passyng and coÌ„tynuall warre betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce contynuyng among many trybulacions by thys Charles susteyned one that was hys owne sonnÌ„ named Lewys comforted and assysted by the dukes of BurboÌ„ and AleÌ„son wyth other meÌ„ of name rebelled agayne hys father and warred vppon hym and by strengthe wan frome hym certeyne townes strong holdes For remedy whereof the sayde Charles made warre vppon the forenamed duke of Burbon and wasted wyth iron and fyre the countreyes of the sayde duke of Burbon By meane whereof after thys vnkyndely warre hadde duryd by the space of syxe monethes or more a peace and vnyte betwene the father sonne was treated by meanes of the erle of Ewe a coÌ„corde vnite betwene