his owne meyne wente vnto the chambre there that he sholde take his nyghtes reste And as he loked hym about he sawe a fayre ymage well made and in semblaunt as it were an Archer with a boowe in the boowe a fyne arowe ¶ Kynge Edmonde wente tho nere for to beholde it better what it myght be And anone yâ— arowe smote hym thrugh the body there slewe the kynge For that engyne was made for to slee his owne lorde traytoursly ¶ And so whan kynge Edmonde was thus deed slayne he had regned but .x. yere And his people for hym made moche sorowe And his body they bare vnto Glastenbury there they hym entyred ¶ And this fals traytour Edrith anone wente vnto the quene that was kynge Edmondes wyfe that wyst not of her lordes deth Anone he toke from her two sones that were fayre yonge that her lorde had vpon her goten that one was called Edwarde that other Edwyne ladde theym with hym to London toke them vnto kynge Knoght that he sholde do wish them what his wyll were And tolde hym how subtylly he had slayne kynge Edmonde for by cause loue of hym so that kynge knoght all Englonde in his power hooly myght haue ¶ O thou fals traytour hast thou my true brother that was soo true thus slayne for me the man I moost loued in the worlde Now by my heed I shall for thy trauell the well rewarde as thou hast deserued anone lete hym be take bounde honde foot in manere of a traytour lete cast hym there in to Tamyse in this maner the fals traytour ended his lyf The kynge toke the two childern put them vnto the abbot of Westmestre to warde to kepe tyll that he wyst what was best with them to do ¶ How kynge knoght sente kynge Edmondes sones both in to Denmarke to be slayne how they were saued SO it befell soone after that kynge knoght had all the londe in his honde spowsed the quene Emme thorugh consente of his baronage For she was a fayre woman the whiche was Eldredes wyf and the dukes syster of Normandy they lyued togyder with moche loue as reason wolde The kynge axed vpon a daye counseyll of the quene what was best to do with the sones that were Edmonde Irensydes Syr sayd she they ben the ryght heyres of the londe yf they lyue they wyll do moche sorowe with warre therfore lete sende them in to a strange londe a ferre to some man that may them defoyle destroy The kyng anone lete call a dane that was called Walgar coÌ„mauÌ„ded hyÌ„ that he sholde lede tho two childern in Denmark so to do ordeyne for them yâ— he sholde neuer here more of theym Syr sayd this Walgar gladly your coÌ„mauÌ„dement shall be done anone tho two childern he toke lad them in to Denmark And for as moche as he sawe that the childern were wond fayre also meke he had of them grete pyte ruche wolde them not slee but lad them to the kyng of Hungry for to nourysshe for this Walgar was well beknowen with the kynge well beloued Anone the kyng axed whens the childn were Walgar tolde hym sayd that they were the ryght heyres of Englond therfore men wolde destroye theym And therfore syr vnto you they be come mercy helpe for to seke And forsothe yf they may lyue your men they shall become and of you they shall holde all theyr londe The kynge of Hungry receyued them with moche honour lete them worthely be kepte ¶ And thus it befell afterwarde that Edwyne the yonger brother deyed Edwarde the elder brother lyued a fayre man a stronge a large of body gentyll and curters of condycyons so that all men hym loued And this Edwarde in the Cronycles is called amonge the Englysshmen Edwarde the outlawe ¶ And whan as he was made knyght the kynges doughter of Hungry hym moche loued for his goodnes and his fayrnes that she hym called her derlynge The kyng that was her fader perceyued well the loue that was betwixt them two and had no heyre but only that doughter and the kynge vowchesauf his doughter to no man so well as he dyde to hym that she loued so well he her and yaue her vnto hym with a good wyll Edwarde her spowsed with moche honour The kynge of Hungry sente after all his baronage and made a solempne feest a ryche weddynge And made all men to vnderstande that this Edwarde sholde be kynge of that londe after the decesse of hym And of that tydyngê they were all full gladde This Edwarde begate vppon his lady a sone that was called Edgar Helynge afterwarde a doughter that was called Margarete that afterwarde was quene of Scotlonde And by the kyng of Scotlond that was called Mancolin she had a doughter that was called Maud that was quene afterwarde of Englond thrugh kynge Henry that was the fyrst sone of the conquerour that her wedded And he begate on her a doughter that was called Maude that afterwarde was Empresse of Almayn And of this Maude came the kynge of Englonde that vnto this daye is called Henry yâ— Empresse sone And yet had this Edwarde an other doughter by his wyf that was called Crystyan she was a Nonne ¶ How kynge Knoght that was a proude man conquered Noâ—â—andy how he became afterwarde meke mylde NOw haue ye herde of Edmonde Irensydes sones that kyng Knoght wend they had ben slayne as he had coÌ„mauÌ„ded Walgar before And this kyng Knoght had in his honde all the reame of Englonde Denmarke And after that they wente vnto Norwaye that londo for to conquere But the kynge of the londe that was called Elaf came with his people wende his londe to haue well kepte defended so there he faught with hym tyll at the last he was slayne in that batayll And tho this Knoght toke all the londe in to his honde And whan he had conquered Norwaye taken feaute homages there he came ayen in to Englonde helde hymself so grete a lorde that hym thoughte in all the worlde his pere noo man was And he came so proude and hauteyne that it was grete wonder ¶ And so it befell vpon a daye as he had herde masse at Westmestre wolde haue gone in to his palays the wawes of the Tamyse so swyftely ayenst hym came that almoost they touched his feet Tho sayd the kyng with a proude herte I coÌ„maunde the water to torne ayen or elles I shall make the The wawes for his coÌ„mauÌ„dement wolde not spare but flowed euer in heyght more more The kyng was so proude of hert that he wolde not flee the water bete it with a rodde that he had in his honde coÌ„maunded the water that it sholde go no ferder But for all his coÌ„mauÌ„dement
hym Pâ—â—mate and Archebysshop of Englonde And sente worde that he sholde ordeyne make bysshops in the londe And anone Austyn had the pallyon of the dygnyte of the Archebysshop He made two bysshops of his felowes that came with hym fro Rome one was called Mellite he dwelled at London that other was called Iustin that helde the dygnyte at Rochestre And this bysshop Mellite tho wente to preche in to Esâ—sex crystened the kyng of the couÌ„tre that was called Sicwith that was kynge Adelbryghtes cosyn his systers sone This Iustin wente to preche in Southsex and torned moche of the people to god And saynt Austyn hymselfe preched thorugh out Englonde ¶ How saynt Austyn wente in to Wales there the Brytons were how they wolde not be obedyent to the Archebysshop of Caunterbury SO whan all Englonde was crystened torned to god saynt Austyn went in to that londe there that the Brytons were for to kepe them froÌ„ Englysshmen that is to saye in to Walys And there he fonde monkes abbayes .vij. bysshops For the Brytons alwaye destroyed the crysten people yâ— saynt Austyn had conuerted And he sayd to the bysshops that he was a Legate of Rome Prymate of all Englonde that they sholde by all reason to hym be obedyent they sayd they nolde but to the Archebysshop of Carlyon they wolde They wolde neuer for no maner thynge be obedyent to the Englysshmen For yâ— Englysshmen they sayd ben our aduersaryes our enmyes haue dryuen vs out of our countree we ben crysten men euer haue be And the Englysshmen haue euer be paynems but now of late that they ben conuerted ¶ Saynt Austyn of them myght haue none answere other wyse but sayd pertly that they wolde neuer them meke to hym ne to the pope of Rome And saynt Austyn torned ayen tho to kynge Adelbryght that was kynge of Kente tolde hym that his folke wolde not be to no man obedyent but to yâ— Archebysshop op Carlyon And whan the kynge herde this he was sore anoyd sayd that he wolde them destroye and sente to Elfryde kynge of Northumberlonde that was his frende that he sholde come to hym with all the power that he myght that he wolde mete hyÌ„ at Leycette and fro thens they wolde go in to Walys there destroye the Archebysshop of Carlyon and all tho that had refused saynt Austyn ¶ How kynge Adelbryght the kynge Elfryde slewe Brecinall that was a kyng of Brytons that helde the couÌ„tree of Leycetre IT befelle so that there was a kynge of Brytons that helde the couÌ„tree of Leycetre all the couÌ„tree about his name was Brecinall And this Bryton herde telle that tho two Englysshe kyngê wolde mete there at Leycetre for to go in to Walys He lete ordeyne all the power that he had for to go fyght with these two kynges but lytell it auayled hyÌ„ for his folke that he had were slayne hyÌ„self fledde loste his londes for euer more ¶ And thele two kynges Adelbryght Elfryde dwelled a whyle at Leycetre departed the londe amonge them toke homagê feautees of the folke of the countree And after they wente towarde Walys tho of Walys herde telle of the scomfyture that Brecinall had at Leycetre were wonder sore adrad of tho two kyngê toke chose amonges them good men and holy of heremytes monkes prâ—estes of other people grete plente that wente bare foot wulwarde for to haue mercy of these two kynges But tho kyngê were so sterne so wycked that they wolde neuer speke to them but them slewe euerychone Alas for sorowe for they ne spared them no more than the wulf doth yâ— shepe but smote of theyr heedes euerychone so they were all martred that tho them came that is to vnderstande .v. C. .xl. After they went fro thens to Bangor for to slee al those that they myght there fynde of yâ— Brytons And whan yâ— Brytons herde that they assembled ordeyned all ther power for to fyght with them Tho was there a baron in Walys that was called Bledrik of Cornewale that somtyme was lorde of Deuenshyre but the kynge Adelbright had dryuen hym out in to Walys after there he yaue them batayll And at that batayll was kynge Adelbright slayne Elfryde sore wouÌ„ded forsoke the felde the moost partye of his people slayne And Elfryde fledde in to Northumberlonde that was his owne londe ¶ And after the people of Leycetre shyre made with strength Cadewan that was Brecinals sone kynge of Leycetre he after regned nobly with grete honour ¶ How Cadewan kynge of Leycetre Elfryde kyng of Northumberlonde were frendes of the debate that after was bytwene Edwyn Cadwalyn that were bothe theyr sones ANd after that this batayll was done that Brytons assembled them wente thens came to Leycetre made there Cadewan that was Brecinals sone kynge of Leycetre of all the couÌ„tree And he toke homages feauters of all the folke of the couÌ„tree And after that he assembled a grete hoste sayd he wolde go in to Northumberlonde to destroy kynge Elfryde slee hym yf he myght And whan he was come thyther frendes wente so bytwene them that they accorded them in this manerr that Elfryde sholde holde all the londe fro NorthuÌ„berlonde to Scotlondeâ— Cadewan sholde haue all yâ— londe a this syde Humbre to yâ— South after they were good trendes all theyr lyf loued as they had ben brethern ¶ And this Elfryde had a sone called Edwyn that helde all the londe of Northumberlonde after his faders deth as his fader had holde all his lyf tyme. ¶ And Cadewan had an other sone called Cadwalin that helde his faders londe as â—e it helde whyle he was a lyueâ— and these loued as brethern And the loue lasted betwixt them but oonly two yere after began debate betwixt them thrugh a symple enuyoâ—â—s cosyn of Cadwalins called Bryens so that they assembled a grete hoste in bothe partyes And at the last it befell that Cadwalin was dyscomfyted Edwyn hym pursued droue hyÌ„ fro place to place so at the last he fledde in to Irlond And the other destroyed pylled his londe cast downe castels brente his maners departed all Cadwalins londe amonge his frendes And longe tyme after came Cadwalin ayen fro Irlonde with a stronge power in playne batayll slewe Edwyn all his frendes namely tho that withhelde his londes by Edwyns yeâ—te ¶ How kyng Os walde was slayne thorugh kyng Cadwalin Peanda how Oswy that was saynt Oswaldes broder regned after hym slewe Peanda AS Edwyn was slayne Offris his sone vndertoke the warre ayenst Cadwalin his came so that this Offris deyed durynge yâ— warre And after yâ— deth of this Offris tho regned a gentyl crysten man yâ— moche loued
recouered For he fought with Hanyball manly disâ—omfâ—ted hym All Spayne he ouercame Aâ—l Affrica he subdued grete Antiochus he brought to be his seruaunt All 〈◊〉 made trybutary to the Romaynsthis man so noble so victoryous by his owne vnkynde couÌ„tree was outlawed and there he deyed ¶ Philoâ—etoâ— the sone Epiphanes of Cleopatra regned in Egypte .xxxv. yere This kynge yet a 〈◊〉 noble Antiochus gretly oppressed with many dysceytes but the Romayns â—ent Legates the whiche comaunded Antiochus that he sholde cesse of his tyranny ayenst hym And Marcus Publius made a cercle to Antiochus thus lâ—ynge The Senatours of Rome the people 〈◊〉 deâ—the yâ— yâ— go not out of this 〈◊〉 tyll yâ— haue answered to this mater This Antiochus seynge that he myght not contynue his tyranny sayd Yf it be thus coÌ„maunded me of the Senatours Romayns people I must nedes towne ayen so wood angry he was that he lost the sege of Alexander tourned to the poore releues of the Iewas vengynge hym vpon them by cause he myght not venge hym on a more myghtyer people vt pêª in li o Machabeorum .ij. MAthathias an holy man and of all louynge moost worthy bated in his herte the conuersacyon of all synners alonly trustynge in our lorde god of Israell vt pêª primo macha .ij. And this man had .v. sones of the same loue vnto god This man was not bysshop in Israel but his thre sones were ¶ Iudas Machabeus was bysshop .iij. yere he was sone to Mathathias This Machabeus was the moost named man that euer was in Israel the whiche had neuer none lyke hym afore ne after He was in batayll a myghty man offred hym to deye a martyr for the lawes of god ¶ Ionathas his brother succeded hym .xix. yere The whiche grewe in vertue and gouerned stode stedfaste in the lawes of god after falsely was slayne of Cryphone two of his sones Plura vide Iuda et freÌ„m eius li. macha Antiochus Epiphanes sone to Antiochê° the myghty this tyme was kynge of Syrry This man from the heed vnto the feet within without all was cursyd And therfore he was fygured to Antecryst Many martyrs cruelly he made falsely he dysposed hym to entre in to Egypte as his fader dyde but he opteyned not for the Romayns letted hym His moost vnhappy werke how he was in hostage at Rome and how the prophecy of Danyell was completed in hym ye may see in the boke of Machabeorum ¶ Quintus Flaminius Marchus Cato Thiberius Gracius were Senatours of Rome This tyme was so contynuall and so moche batayll that lerned men of Gentyles and of the true fayth bothe were wery for to wryte the actes or to haue them in mynde In the whiche bataylles men meruaylled gretly on the stedfastnesse of the Romayns that no trybulacyon no drede no hardynesse myght not fere them but euer contynued in batayll And certaynly these Romayns after the worldes honeste they were the moost wysest men that were And therfore the Machabees desyred ther company ¶ Circa annuÌ„ mundi .v. M.lix Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ C.xl. MAthon sone to Sadoch of the lyne of cryst gate Iacob vt pêª Mathei .i. ¶ Symon sone to Mathathias was bysshop .viij. yere This Symon was a very wyse man from his youth vntyll his aege was euer of good conuersacyon euer more vertuous And at the last he was slayne of his brother Elay vt pêª .i. macha ¶ IohaÌ„nes Hircanus sone to Symon was after his fader .xxix. yere a noble man as all the kynrede was before hym This man after his decesse left his wyf a very wyse woman his fyue sones to gouerne the Iury of the eldest was called Aristobolus an vnpacyent man an vnhappy His owne moder with thre of his yonger brethern he prysoned slewe them thrugh hungre so alone he lyued kyng bysshop one yere vide plura li. Machabeorum ¶ Publius Lucimius Lucius Emilius Lucius Lucinius Lucius Consorinus were Consules at Rome In whoo 's tyme the Cartagynes and the Romayns warred strongely But the Romayns subdued them entendynge to haue destroyed the Cartagynes vtterly But amonge the Romayns ther was a notable wyse maÌ„ called Scipio Nauta And amonge many notable counseyllers two he gaaf specyally to be had in mynde The fyrste that Cartago sholde not be destroyed that thorugh the occasyon of forand bataylles a Inwarde concorde sholde abyde amonge the Romayns and a perpetuell strength for contynuell excercyse of batayll The seconde That in no wyse the other sholde be buylded in Rome For he sayd that was the moost enmye that myght be to the people that vsed warre For that place nourysshed slouth and prouoked leâ—hery ¶ And how wysely this notable man 〈◊〉 counseyll the tymes folowynge declareth vide plura in Aug. de ciuitate dei libro .iiij. ¶ Yet for all this counseyll that noble cyte of Cartago was destroyed of Cipio the Senatours And it brente .xvij. dayes coÌ„tynuelly Many men there were solde many men ranne in to the fyre wylfully ¶ Corinthê° his same yere was destory de of the Romayns the whiche was the rychest countree of the worlde ¶ Ptholomeus this tyme regned in Egypte and was famylyer with the Romayns And soo longe he his predecessours regned as they kepte fydelyte to the Romayns And knowe euery man that there was none other cause that the power of the Romayns encreased so strongely aboue other people but vertue the whiche habundantly regned in them and namely ryghtwysnesse whiche aboue all thynge they vsed And as longe as they kepte mesures loued ryghtwysnesse so longe they were neuer ouercome And as soone as they were corrupted it is radde they were euercomen ¶ It is had in a certayne reuelacoÌ„n of god shewed to saynt Brygyte that our lorde god bereth wytnesse to these olde Romayns That none in this naturell lyf lyued more ryghtwysly And what lyghtes of fayth they shewed in the tyme of Crysten religyon shall be shewed afterwarde ¶ Regnum Iudeorum restituitur ARistobolus was the fyrst kynge and preest in the Iury this man regned one yere alone and toke to hym the Dyademe of the kyngdome And he helde hym not contente with that yâ— his fader gaf hym in his testament But he put his moder in pryson his brethern And therfore he perysshed wretchydly with his brother Antigonus the whiche was of his counseyll and helped hym Vide magistruÌ„ in histoâ—â—◠¶ Anntigonus brother vnto the kynge was slayne thrugh the enuytâ—e of the quene ¶ Alexander was bysshop after Aristobolus he stode .xxvij. yere And he was all a syraunt all though he appered sobre in the begynnynge But he made it knowen what he was in his stomacke for he slewe his owne brother And in .xij. yere he slewe .l. thousande of the olde sage faders of grete vertue by cause they tolde hym his mysgydynge Thenne whan he sholde deye he lefte
your self that shall be kynge regne And by the beeme that stondeth towarde the Eest is vnderstonde that ye shall gete a sone that shall conquere all Fraunce all the londes that belongeth to the crowne of FrauÌ„ce that shall be a worthyer kynge of more hononr than euer were ony of his auncetours ¶ And by the beeme yâ— stretched towarde Irlonde is betokened that ye shal gete a doughter that shal be quene of Irlonde ¶ And the .vij. beemes betoken that ye shall haue .vij. sones And euery one of them shall be kynge regne with moche honour And abyde ye no lenger here but go yeue batayll to your enmyes and fyght with them boldely for ye shall ouercome them haue the victory ¶ Vter thanked hertely Merlyn and toke his men wente towarde his enmyes they fought togyder mortally so he dyscomfyted his enmyes them destroyed And hymself slewe Passent that was Vortigers sone And his Brytons slewe Guillomer that was kyng of Irlonde all his men ¶ And Vter anone after that batayll toke his waye towarde Wynchestre for to do entyere Aurilambros kynge that was his brother But tho was the body borâ— vnto Stonhenge with moche houour that he had done make in remembrauÌ„ce of the Brytons that there were slayne thrugh treason of Engist that same daye that they sholde haue ben accorded And in the same place they entyered Aurilambros the seconde yere of his regne with all the worshyp that myght belonge to suche a kynge On whoo 's soule god haue mercy Amen ¶ Of Vter Pendragon and wherfore he was called so ye shall here And how he was ouertake with the loue of Igrey ne that was the Erle of Cornewaylles wyf AFter the dethe of Aurilambros Vter his brother was crowned and regned well worthely And in remembraunce of the dragon that he was lykened to he lete make two dragons thrugh counseyll of his Brytons And made that one for to be borne before hyÌ„ whan he wente in to batayll and that other for to abyde at Wynchestre in the bysshops chirche And for that cause he was called euer after Vter Pendragon ¶ And Octa that was Engistes sone coÌ„mended Vter but lytell that was made newe kynge And ayenst hym began to meue warre And ordeyned a grete power of his frendes of his kynne and of Ossa his brother and had taken all the londe from Humbre vnto Yorke But those of Yorke helde strongely agaynst them and wolde not suffre them to come in to the cyte neyther to yelde the cyte to them And he besyeged yâ— towne anone ryght yaue therto a stronge assawee But they of the cyte them kepte well strongely ¶ And whan Vter herde therof he came thyther with a grete stronge power for to helpe rescowe the towne put awaye the syege and yaue a stronge batayll And Octa and his company them defended as well as they myght But at the laste they were dâ—scomfyted and the moost partye of them slayne And Octa and Ossa were taken put in pryson at London ¶ And Vter hymself dwelled a whyle at Yorke and after he wente to London And 〈◊〉 the Eester after he wolde bere crowne and holde a solempne feest And lete somone all his Erles Barons that they sholde come to that feest And all those that had wyues sholde brynge them also to that feest And all the seygnoury came at the kynges commaundement as they were coÌ„maunded ¶ The feest was rychely arayed holden And all worthely sette to meete after yâ— they were of astate Soo that the Erle Gorloys of Cornewaylle and Igreyne his wyf sate next vnto the kynge And whan the kynge sawe the faytnesse of that lady the beaute that she had He was anone rauysshed for her beaute and often he made to her nyce countenaunce in lokynge and laughynge So at the laste the Erle perceyued the preuy lokynge laughynge and the loue bytwene them And rose vp froÌ„ the table in wrathe toke his wyf and called to hym his knyghtes and wente thens in wrath without takynge leue of the kynge ¶ The kynge anone sent after hym that he sholde come agayne go not thens in dyspyte of hym And the erle wolde not come agayne in no maner of wyse ¶ Wherfore the kynge was wroth and in wrath hym defyed as his deedly enmye And the erle wente thens in to Cornewaylle with his wyf in the castall of Tyntagyll ¶ And the kynge lete ordeyne a grete hoste and came in to Cornewaylle for to destroye the erle yf that he myght But he had put hym in suche a castell that was stronge well arayed called Tyntagyll wolde not yelde hym to the kynge ¶ And the kynge anone besyeged the castell and there dwelled .xv. dayes that neuer myght spede â—uer he thought vppon Igreyne vpon her layde so moche loue that he wyst not what to do ¶ So at the laste he called to hym a knyght that was called Vlfin that was preuy with hym and tolde hym all his couÌ„seyll axed of hyÌ„ what was best for to done ¶ Syr sayd he sende after Merlyn anone for he can telle you the best counseyll of ony man lyuynge Merlyn anone was sente after came to the kynge And the kynge tolde hym all his couÌ„seyll his wyll Syr sayd Merlyn I shal do so moche thrugh crafte that I can that I shall make you come to nyght in the castell of Tyntagyll shall haue all your wyll of that lady ¶ How Vter begate on Igreyne that was the Erles wyf of Cornewaylle Arthur kynge MErlyn thrugh craft that he coude chaunged the kynges fygure in to the lykenes of the erle and Vlfin Garlois his Chambrelayne in to the fygure of Iordan that was the erles cham brelayne so that eche of them was transfygured in to others lykenes And whan Merlyn had so done he sayd to the kynge Syr sayd he now ye may go sodeynly to the castell of Tyntagyll axe entree there haue your wyll The kyng toke prpuely all the hoste to gouerne and lede to a knyght that he moche loued toke his waye towarde the castell and with hym toke Vlfin his chambrelayne and Merlyn whan they came thyder the porter demid it had ben his owne lorde And whan tyme came for to god to bedde the kynge wente to bedde with Igreyne the erles wyf dyde with her all his wyll And begate vpon her a sone that was called Arthur And vppon the morowe the kynge toke his leue of the lady wente ayen to his hoste And the same nyght that the kynge laye by Igreâ—ne in bedde that was yâ— erles wyf the kynges men gaaf a grete assawie vnto the castell And the erle his men manly them defended But at the laste it befell so that in the same assawie the erle hymself was slayne the castell taken ¶ And the kynge anone torned agayne to Tyntagyll
man was taught in armes and made many bookes and elles lytell of hym is wryten ¶ Gregorius the .v. was pope after this man almoost thre yere And this Gregorius was made pope att the Instaunce of the Emperour Otto the thyrde for he was his cosyn And whan he had be a lytell whyle pope and the Emperour receded from the cyte of Rome Placentinus was put in by Crecensius a Counsull for moneye And thenÌ„ was stryf a fewe dayes But the Emperour came soone after toke Crecensius the Consull and stroke of his heed and putte out the eyen of this man Placencius pope the whiche putte out his cosyn of the dygnyte of the pope And maymed hym on other membres his knyghtes ne his dukes halpe hym no thynge For he dyde that thynge that he sholde not haue done And he suffred that that he deserued ¶ Nota. ¶ This Gregorius with the Emperour Otto ordeyned the chesers of the Empyre the whiche from thens forth hath abode vnto this day For the Frensshmenne none other myght not breke that ordynaunce And those chesers of the Empyre by the pope and Otto were not made for ony blame of the Saxons but to eschewe the euylles to come And theyr names ben wryten for lerned men in latyn in these verses Maguntinensis Tâ—euerensis Coloniensis Quilibet imperij fit cancellarius horum Et Palatinus datifer Dux Portitorensis Marchio prepositus camere Pincerna Bohemus Hij statuunt duÌ„m cuntis per secula summuÌ„ Palatinus est comes reni Marchio est Brandeburgensis Dux saxorum et rex Bohemorum veruÌ„ vt quidaÌ„ dicunt ¶ Thrugh this occasyon the Egle hath loste many a feder And in the ende he shall be made naked ¶ Otto the thyrde was Emperour .xviij. yere This man was a worthy man all the dayes of his Empyre And after the wysdome of his fader he was a very faythfull man to the chirche And in many batayls he prosperyd by cause he was deuoute vnto almyghty god and his sayntes And yaue myghty worshyppynge to the relykes of sayntes And oftentymes he vyspted holy places This man was crowned by Gregorius his cosyn And at the last he decessyd at Rome ¶ Anno dmÌ„ M.iiij SIluester the seconde was pope after Gregorius foure yere And he was made pope by the helpe of the deuyll to whome he dyde homage for he sholde yeue hym all thynge that he desyred And he was called Hylbert And his enmye gate hym the grace of the kynge of Fraunce and he made hym the bysshop of Remensis but anone he was deposyd And after he gate the grace of the Emperour and was made the bysshop of Rauennie and after the pope But he had an ende anone and so haue all that put theyr hope in fals deuylles ¶ Yet men truste in his saluacyon for certayne demonstracyon of his sepulcre and for the grete penaunce that he dyde in his laste ende For he made his honde and his legges to be cutte of and dysmembred in all his body and to be caste out at the dore to foules thenne his body to be drawen with wysde beestâ— and there to be buryed where some euer they rested as an honde And they stode styll at saynt Iohan lateranensis and there he was buryed And that was sygne of his saluacyon ¶ Iohannes the xviij was pope fyue monethes ¶ Iohannes the .xix. was pope after hym fyue yere And these two dyde lytell thynges ¶ Henricus the fyrst was Emperour in Almayne .xx. yere this Henricus was duke of Barry and all accordinge he was chosen for his blessed fame and good name the whiche he hadde ¶ And it is redde that many of these dukes of Barry were holy men not all oonly in absteynge of flesshely desyres but also in vertuous lyuynge And this man had a syster that was an holy as he the whome he yaue to wyfe vnto the kynge of Hungry And she brouht all Hungry vnto the ryght byleue the crysten fayth And his wyues name was sancta Konnogundis with whome he lyued a virgyn all his lyues dayes And also he dyde many a bataylle as well in Ytaly as in Almayne ayenst the rebellyous and prosperyd ryghtwysly At the laste with a blessyd ende he decessyd And in the lyfe of saynt Laurence he and his wyfe be put for ensample◠¶ Benedictus was pope after Iohanes .xi. yere This man had grete stryfe in his dayes for he was put out and a nother put in And this Benedictus after that he was deed was seen of an holy man bysshop in a wretchyd fygure he had grete payne And this fygure sayd He trusted noo thynge in the mercy of god And no thynge profyted hym that was done for hymâ—for it was goten with extorcyon vniustely Thenne this bysshop lefte his bysshopryche for drede of this syght wente in to a monasterye lyued vertuously all his dayes ¶ IohaÌ„nes the .x. was pope after hym .xi. yere and lytell profyted ¶ Of Kynge Knoght that was a Dane ANd after the dethe of Eldred Knoght that was a Dane began to regne But Edmonde Irensyde that was kynge Eldredes sone by his fyrste wyf ordeyned a grete power of men began for to warre on kynge Knoght And soo he dyde many tymes often And the warre was so stronge harde that wonder it was to wyte ¶ And the quene Emme that dwelled tho at Westmestre had grete drede of her two sones of the warre Alured and Edwarde lest they sholde be defoyled mysdone thorugh this warre Wherfore she sente theym ouer the see in to Normandy to the duke Richarde theyr vncle And there they dwelled in saufte peas longe tyme. ¶ This Edmonde Irensyde and Knoght the Dane warred strongely togydeâ— But at the laste they were accorded in this manere that they sholde departe the reame betwixt them both and so they dyde after they became good frendes And soo well loued togyder as they had ben brethern goten of one fader of one moder borne ¶ How kyng Edmonde Irensyde traytoursly was slayne thorugh a traytour that was called Edrith of Stratton ANd after tho regned kyng Irensyde Knoght the Dane But thus it befell afterwarde that in the same yere that they were accorded so moche loued togyder Wherfore a fals traytoure had enuytee to the loue that was betwix them and frendshyp whoo 's name was Edrith of Stratton that was a grete lorde that was Edmondes Irensydes man of hym helde all the londe that he had And neuertheles he thought his lorde to betraye make Knoght kynge of the londe to the entente rychely to be auaunced with hym be well beloued Wherfore he prayed his lorde Edmond Irensyde vppon a daye with hym for to etâ— And the kynge hym curteysly grauÌ„ted to hym came at his prayer And at the meete the kynge ryally was serued with dyuers meetê drynkes And whan the nyght came that he sholde goo vnto bedde The kynge toke
Mercurius And so Bachus is called god of wyne Venus goddesse of loue and beaute Lauerna god of theeft and of robbery Protheus god of falshede and of gyse Pluto god of helle And so it semeth that these verses wold meane that these forsayd goddes regne and ben serued in Chestre Mars with fyghtynge cokkynge Marcurius with couetyse rychesse Bachus with grete drynkynge Venus with loue lewdly Lauerna with theeft and robbery Protheus with falshede and gyle Then is Pluto not vnserued that is god of hel ¶ R â–ª Ther babylon lore more myght hathe trouth the more ¶ Of prouynces and shyres ca .x. TAke hede that Englonde conteyneth xxxii shyres and prouynces that nowe ben called Erldoms reserued Cornewale and the ylonde ¶ Alfre The se ben the names of the Erldoms shyres Kente Sousex Sothery Hampshyre Barokshyre that hath his name of a bare oke that is in yâ— foreste of wyndesore for at that bare oke men of that shyre were wonte to come togyder and make theyr treatys and there take counseyll and aduyse Also wyldshyre that heet somtymee yâ— prouynce of Semeran Somersete Dorsete Deuenshyre that now is called deuonia in latyn These .ix. South shyres the Tamyse departed from the other deale of Englonde whiche were somtyme gouerned and ruled by the westsaxons law Eestsex Myddelsex Southfolke Northefolke Herdeforth shyre Huntyngdon shyre Northampton shyre Cambridgeshyre Beddeforth shyre Buykyngham shyre Leycestre shyre Derby shyre Notyngham shyre Lyncolnshyre Yorkeshyre DurhaÌ„shyre Northumberlonde Caerleyllshyre with Cumberlonde Appelby shyre with Westmerlonde Lancastre shyre that conteyneth fyue lytell shyres These fyftene North and Eest shyres wereâ— somtyme gouerned and ruled by the lawe called Mercia in latyn and marchene lawe in Englysshe It is to wyte yâ— Yorkeshyre stretcheth from the Ryuer of Humbre vntoo the Ryuer of Teyse And yet in Yorkeshyre ben .xxii. hondredys hondred candredes is all one Candrede is one worde made of walshe and Irysshe and is too menynge a countree that conteyneth an hondred townes and is also in Englysshe called Wepentak for somtyme in the comynge of a newe lorde tenauntes were wonte to yelde vppe theyr wepen in stede of homage Duramshyre stretcheth frome the Rynere of Teyse vnto the Ryuere of Tyne And for to spke propr ely of Northumberlonde it stretcheth froo yâ— Ryuer of Tyne vnto yâ— Ryuer of Twede That is in the begynnynge of Scotlonde Then yf the countre of Northum berlonde that was somtyme frome HuÌ„bre vnto Twede be nowe a counted for one shyre one Erledom as it was somtyme Then ben in Englonde but .xxxii shyres but yf the countree of Northumberlond be departed into .vi. shyres that ben Euerwykshyre Duramshire Northumberlonde Caerleylshyre Appelbyshyre Lancastre shyre then ben in Englonde .xxxvi. shyres withoute Cornewale also without the ylondes Kynge wyllyam made all these prouynces and shyres to be descryued and moten Then were founden .xxxvi shyres and halfe ashyre Townes two and fyfty thousande and foure score Parysshe chirches .xlv. thousande and two Knyghtes fees .lxxv. thousande wherof men of relygyon haue xx.vii thousande .xv. knyghtes fees But nowe the woodes ben hewen downe and the londe newe tylled and made moche more than was at that tyme and many townes and vyllages buylded so ther ben many mo vyllages townes nowe than were in that tyme. And were as a fore is writen that Cornewale is not set amonge the shyres of Englonde it may stonde amonge them well ynough for it is neyther in wales ne in Scotlond but it is in Englonde and it Ioyneth vntoo Deuenshyre so may ther ben atcompted in Englonde .xxxvii. shyres and an halfe with the other shyres ¶ De legibus leguÌ„que vocabulis OVnwallo that hyght Moliuncius also made fyrste lawes in britayne the whiche lawes were called Moliuncius lawes and were solempnely obserued vnto wyllyam Conquerours tyme Moliuncyus ordeyned amonge hys lawes that Cytees Temples wayes that leden men therto and plowe men solowes sholde haue preuylege and fredome for to saue all men that wolde fletherto for socour and refuge Then afterwarde Mercia quene of Britons that was Gwytelinus wyfe of her the prouynce had the name of Mercia as somman suppose She made a lawe full of wytte and of reason was called Merchene lawe ¶ Gildas that wrote yâ— Cronicles and hystories of the Brytons torned these two lawes oute of Bryton speche into latyn And afterwarde kynge Aluredus torned all out of latyn in too Saxons speche and was called marchene lawe Also the same kynge Aluredus wrote in Englysshe and put to an other lawe that hyght westsaxon lawe Then afterwarde Danes were lordes in thys londe and so came forth the thyrde law that heet Dane lawe Of these thre lawes saynt Edwarde the thyrde made one commune lawe that yet is called saynt Edwardes lawe I holde it welle done to wryte here expowne many termes of these lawes Myndebruch hurtyng of honoure and worshyppe In frenche bleschur dhoÌ„nour Burbruck in Frenche bleschur de court on de cloys Grithbruche brekynge of peas Myskennynge chauÌ„gynge of speche in court Shewynge set tynge forth of marchaundyse Hamsokne or Hamfare a rere made in hous forstallynge wronge or bette downe in the kynges hyghe waye Frithsoken surete in defence Sak Forsfayte Soka sute of courte and therof comethe soken Theam Sute of bondemen fyghtynge wytte A mersemente for fyghtynge Blode wytte A Mersemente forshedynge of bloode Flytwytte a mendes for chydynge of blode Leyrwytte Amendes for lyenge by a bounde woman Gulewytte A mendes For trespas Scot A gadrynge to werke of bayllyes Hydage tayllage for hydes of londe Daneghelde tayllage gyuen to the Danes that was of euery bona taterre That is euery oxe londe thre pens A wepyntak and an hondred is all one for the countre of townes were wonte to gyue vp wepyn in the comynge of a lorde Lestage custome chalenged in chepynges fares and stallage custome for standynge in stretes in fayre tyme. ¶ Of kyngdoms of boundes and markes bytwene them ca .xii. THe kyngdome of Brytayne stode withoute departynge hole and all one kyngdome to the Brytons from the fyrste Brute vnto Iulius Cezars tyme and fro Iulius Cezars tyme vnto seuerus tyme this londe was vnder trybute to the Romayns Neuerthelesse kynges they hadde of the same londe from Seuerus vnto the laste prynce GracyaÌ„ successours of Brytayne fayled and Romayns regned in Brytayn Afterwarde the Romayns lefte of theyr regnynge in Brytayne by cause it was ferre frome Rome and for grete besynesse that they hadde in other syde Thenne Scottes and Pyctes by mysledynge of Maximê° the tyrauÌ„t pursewed Brytayn and warred ther with grete strength of meÌ„ of armes longe tyme vnto the tyme that the Saxons come at the prayenge of the britons agaynste the Pyctes and put oute Gurmonde she Iryss he kynge with his Pyctes and the Brytons also with her kynge that heet Careticus drofe hem oute of Englonde into wales and soo yâ— Saxons were
countre of Scicia nygh to amazona therfor scottes ben called as it were scyttes for theye come out of Scicia After warde yâ— londe heet Pictauya for yâ— Pyctes regned therin a M.CCC.lx yere And at last heet Hibernia as Irlonde hyght ¶ Girâ—i top For many skylles one is for affinite alye that was bytwene them Irysshme for they toke theyr wyues of Irlonde yâ— is openly seen in her byleue in clothynge in langage in speche in wepyn in maners An other skyll is for Iryssh men dwelled there soÌ„tyme ¶ Beda li.j Out of Irlonde that is yâ— propre couÌ„tre of Scottes come Irysshmen with her duke that was called Renda And with loue and with strenthe made hem thyef sees and cytees besydes the Pyctes in the northsyde ¶ Gir. Nowe the londe is shortlye called Scotlonde of Scottes yâ— come out of Irlonde regned therin CCC.xv. yere vnto reed Wyllyams tyme that was Malcolins broder ¶ R. Many euydeneê we haue of this Scotlonde that it is oft called hyght Hibernia as Irlonde dothe ¶ Therfore Beda li.ii ca .xi. sayth that Laurence archebysshop of Dunbar was archebysshop of Scottes that dwelled in an ylonde that heet Hibernia is nexte to Brytayn Beda li.iii ca .xxvii. sayth Pestilence of moreyn bare downe Hiber nia Also li iii. ca .ii. sayth that the Scottes yâ— dwelled in the south syde of Hibernia Also li iiii ca. iii. he sayth that Cladde was a yonglynge and lerned the rule of monkes in Hibernia Also li. iiii ca .xxii. Egfridus kynge of NorthuÌ„berlonde destroyed Hibernia Also li.iiii ca .xv. the moste dele of Scottes in Hibernia in the same chapitre he called Hibernia proprely named yâ— west ylondr is an hondred myle from eueryche Britayn departed with the see bytwene called Hibernia that countre that nowe is called Scotlonde there he telleth that AdamuaÌ„ abbot of this ylond sayled to Hybernia for to teche Irysshmen yâ— lawfull esterdaye And at last come ayen into Scotlonde ¶ Ysy. ethi .li .xiiii. Men of this Scotlonde ben named Scottes in theyr owne laÌ„gage Pyctes also for soÌ„tyme her body was peynted in this mancre they wold soÌ„tyme with a sharpe egged tole prycke kerue her owne bodyes make theron dyuerse fygures shappes peynt hem with ynke or with other peynture or colour bycause they were so peyÌ„ced they were called picti that is to saye peynted ¶ Erodotus Scottes ben lyght of herte strauÌ„ge wylde inough but by medlyÌ„g of Englysshmen they ben moche amen ded they ben cruell vpon theyt enemyes hateth bondage moost of ony sâ—ynge and holde for a foule slouth yf a man deye in his bedde grete worshyp yf be deye in yâ— felde They ben lytyll of mete â— mowe faste longe eten selde whan the sonne is vp eten flessh fyssh mylkâ— fruyt more than brede and though theâ— be fayr of chappe they ben defouled and made vnsemely ynough with theyr owne clothynge They prayse faste yâ— vsages of theyr owne forfaders despyse other meÌ„nes doyÌ„ge her loÌ„de is fruytfull ynou gh in pasture gardyns feldes ¶ Gir de pÌ„ ca xviii The prynces of Scottes as the kynges of Spayn ben not wone to be enoynted ne crowned In this ScotloÌ„de is solempne grete myÌ„de of sayâ—â— andrew thapostle For saynt Andrewe had yâ— north partyes of yâ— world Scitts and Pyctes to his lot for to preche coÌ„uert yâ— people to crystes byleueê at last be was martred in Achaia in greâ—a in a cyte yâ— was named Patras his bones were kepte CC.lxii yere vnto ConstaÌ„tinê° theÌ„peâ—rours tyme. theÌ„ they were translatedâ— to CoÌ„staÌ„tinople kept ther C.x. yere vnto Theodosyus themperours ryme and thenne Vngus kynge of Pycteâ—in Scotlonde destroyed a greate parte in Brytayne was besette with a grete hooste of Brytons in a felde called Marke he herde saynt Andrewe speke too hym in this manere Vngus vngus here thou me crystes apostle I promyse the helpe and socour whan thou hast ouer comen thyn enemyes by my helpe thou shalt gyue yâ— thyrde dele of thyn herytage in almesse to god almyghty and in the worshyp of saynt Andrew and in the sygne of the cros se wente tofore his hoost the thyrde daye he had vyctory and so torned home a yene and desed his herytage as he was boden And for he was vncertayne what cyte he sholde deale for saynt Andrewe he fasted thre dayes he and his men prayed saynt Andrewe that he wolde shew hym what place he shold chese And one of the wardeyns that kepte the body of saynt Andrewe in Constantynople was warned in his slepe that he sholde go into a place whyder an angell wolde lede hym and so he come into Scotlonde with vij felowes to the toppe of an hylle named RagmoÌ„de The same hour lyghte of heuen beshone and beclypped yâ— kyng of Pyctes that was comynge with hys hoost to a place called Carceuan Ther anone were heled many seke men There met with the kynge Regulus the moÌ„ke of Constantynople with the relyques of saynt Andrewe There is founded a chirche in worship of saynt Andrewe yâ— is heed of all the chirches in the londe of Pyctes To this chirche comen pylgrymes once of all londes There was Regulus fyrste abbot and gadred monkes And so all the tyenthe londe yâ— the kyng had assygned hym he departed it in dyuerse places amonge abbayes ¶ Of the descrypcyon of Irlond ca xxii HIbernia that is Irlonde and was of olde tyme Incorporate into yâ— lordshyp of Brytayne so sayth Gir. in sua popÌ„ where he descryueth it at fulle Yet it is worthy sernely to prayse yâ— londe with large praysynge for to come to dere full knowlege of yâ— loÌ„de these tytles that folowe open the waye Therfore I shall tell of the place stede of that londe how grete and what manere londe it is wherof that londe hath plente wherof it hath defaute also of what men haue dwelled therin fyrste Of maners of men of that londe Of the wonders of that londe and of worthynes of halowes and sayntes of that londe ¶ Of the boundynge of Irlonde ca .xxiii IRlonde is the laste of all the west ylondes and hyght Hibernia of one Hiberus of Spayn that was Hermonius broder for these two bretherne gate and wanne that londe by conquest Or it is called Hibernia of that Ryuer Hiberê° that is in the west ende of Spayn that londe hyght Scotlond also for Scottes dwelled there soÌ„tyme er they came into that othere Scotlond that longed to Brytayn therfore it is writen in the Martyloge Suche a day in ScotloÌ„d saynt Bryde was born that was in Irlond this loÌ„de hath in yâ— southest syde spayn thre dayes sayllyÌ„ge theÌ„s a syde half hath in the eest syde yâ— more Britayn theÌ„s a dayes sayllyÌ„ge in the west syde yâ— endles Occean in yâ— north syde yseloÌ„de thre dayes
had sayd He spake to the kynge in this 〈◊〉 ¶ 〈◊〉 how I was begoten axe ye no more For it falleth not to you ne to none other to wyte But telle me the cause wherfore I am to you brought and wherfore ye haue sente after me ¶ Truely sayd yâ— kynge my wyse counseyllers haue done me to vnderstonde that the morter of a werke that I haue begonne behoueth to be tempred with your blood or the fundament shall fayle for euer more ¶ Syre sayd Merlyn Wyll ye slee me for my blood to tempre with your mortere Ye sayd the kynge or elles my castell shall neuer stande as my counseyllers doo me to vnderstonde Tho answered Merlyn to the kynge Syr he sayd lete them come before me those wyse counseyllers I woll preue that they sayen not well ne truly And whan the wyse men were comen Merlyn axed yf his blood were the cause to make this werke to stonde and endure All tho wyse men were abasshed coude not answere Merlyn tho sayd to the kynge Syr I shall tell you the cause wherfore your werke thus fayleth and may not stande There is vnder the mountayne there that ye haue buylded your toure a grete ponde of water and in the botome of the ponde vnder the water there ben two dragons that one is whyte and that other reede that fyght togyder ayenst your werke Do ye myne depe tyll your men come to the ponde and cause your men to take awaye the water all out and thenne ye shall see the dragons as I haue you tollde that togyder fyght ayenst your werke and this is the cause wherfore your fundament fayleth The kynge anone lete dygge vnder tyll that men came to the ponde and lete do awaye the water and there they founde two dragons as Merlyn had tolde them yâ— egerly fought togyder The whyte dragon egerly assayled the reede and layde on hym soo strongely that he myght not endure but withdrewe hym and rested in the same caâ—e And whan he had a whyle rested hym he wente before and assayled the reede dragon angrely and helde hym so sore that he myght not ayenst hym endure but withdrewe hym and rested And after came ayen the whyte dragon and strongely fought with the reede dragon and bote hym euyll and hym ouercame that he fledde from thens and nomore came agayne ¶ Of the sygnyfycacyon of those two dragons that were in the botome of the ponde that fought togyder THis kyng Vortiger and his men that sawe this batayll had grete meruayle and prayed Merlyn to tell hym what it myght betoken Syr quod Merlyn I shall telle you The reede dragon betokeneth yourself and the whyte betokeneth the folke of Saxon that fyrste ye toke and helde in your londe that fyght ayenst you and you haue dryuen and enchaced ¶ But Brytons of your lygnage ouercame them droue them awaye And sythen at the comynge ayen of the Saxons they recouered this londe and helde it for euer more And droue out the Brytons and dyde with this londe all theyr wyll and destroyed crystendome thrugh out this londe Ye had fyrste grete Ioye with theyr comynge but now it is corned to you grete damage sorowe For tho two brethern of Constance that was kynge the whiche ye lete slee shall come before a quinzeme passed with a grete power from lytell Brytayne shall auenge the deth of theyr brother And they shall brenne you fyrst with sorowe and after they shall slee a grete parte of Saxons and shall dryue out all the remenaunt of the londe And therfore abyde ye here no lenger to make castell nor other werke But anone go elles where your lyues all for to saue To god I you betake trouthe I haue sayd to you of thynges that shall befall ¶ And vnderstande ye well that Aurilambros shall be kynge But he shall be enpoysoned lytell tyme shall he regne ¶ Of kynge Aurilambros how that he pursewed Vortiger Engist and how they deyed MErlyn and his moder departed from the kynge and torned agayne to Carmardyn And soone after tydynges came to the Brytons that Aurilambros and Vter his brother were arryued at Totuesse with a greate hoste And anone yâ— Brytons assembled them and wente to receyue Aurilambros and Vter with grete noblesse And had them vnto London and crowned Aurilambros and made hym kynge and dyde vnto hym homage And anone he axed where Vortiger that was kynge myght be founde for he wolde be auenged on his brothers dethe and after he wolde warre vppon paynems And they tolde hym that Vortiger was in Walys and so they ladde hym thytherwarde ¶ Vortiger wyst well that tho brethern came hym to conquere and fledde thens in to a castell that was called Gerneth that stode vppon an hyghe mountayrie and there hym helde Aurilambros and Vter his brother and theyr folke had besyeged the castell full longe tyme for the castell was stronge and well arrayed ¶ So at the laste they casted wylde fyre and brent houses and men and all theyr araye and as moche as was within the castell So that Vortiger was brente amonge all other and soo he deyed with moche sorowe ¶ Tho was Engist in Kente and regned there and herde this tydynges and anone fledde and wolde haue gone in to Scotlonde for to haue had socoure But Aurilambros and his men mette with hym in the north countree and yaue hym batayll And Engist and his men defended whyles that they myght But he and his folke were dyscomfyted and slayne And Octa his sone fledde vnto Yorke And Aurilambros hym folowed egrely And Octa a lytell whyle withstode hym But afterwarde he put hym to his mercy And Aurilambros receyued hym and to hym and to his men gaaf the countree of Galeway in Scotlonde and there they dwelled ¶ The kynge Aurilambros wente thorugh out the londe and put awaye the name of Engistlonde that Engist after his name had called it before Tho lete he it calle agayne grete Brytayne and lete make ayen chirches houses of relygyon castelles cytees and borughs â–ª and townes that the Saxons hadde destroyed And came to London and lete make the walles of the cyte whiche Engist and his folke hadde caste downe ¶ The Brytons ladde hym vnto the mount of Ambriam that somtyme was an hous of relygyon that tho was destroyed thrugh the paynems ¶ Wherof a knyght that was called Ambri some tyme was founder of that house And therfore the same hylle was called the mounte of Ambrian And after it was called Ambresbury And shall be so for euer more ¶ How Aurilambros dyde redresse the londe of greate Brytayne that whiche was dstroyed thorugh the Saxons before sayd HOw the kynge Aurilambros lete amende and redresse the house of Ambresbury and there in put monkes But now there ben Nonnes a lytell fro the place that was called Salysbury are that the Saxons slewe the Brytons where Engist and they sholde haue made a
loue daye In the whiche tyme were slayne a thousande knyghtes .lxi. thrugh treason of Engist The kynge therof had grete pyte thought to make in mynde of them a monumēt of stone y◠myght endure to the worldes ende And of this thynge they toke ther coūseyll what therof was best for to do ¶ Tho spake to the kynge the bysshop of London y◠was called Ternekyn y◠he sholde requyre after Merlyn For he coude best tell how this thynge myght best be made And Merlyn after was sought and foūde came to y◠kynge And the kynge tolde hym his wyll of the monument that he wolde haue made Merlyn answered to the kynge sayd There ben grete stones in Irlonde longe vpon the hylle of Kyan y◠men called Gyauntes karoll And yf they were in this place as they ben there they wolde endure for euer more in remēbraūce of those knyghtes that here be entyred ¶ Per may foy sayd the kyng As harde stone ben in my londe as in Irlonde ¶ Soth sayd Merlyn but in all your londe ben none suche For gyauntes sette them for grete good of themself For at euery tyme that they were woūde or in ony maner hurte they wysshe the stones with hote water and thenne they wysshe them therwith anone they were hoole ¶ How the Brytons wente for to seke the grete stones in Irlonde ASsoone as the Brytons had herde of this thynge they yede and swore amonge them they wolde go seke those stones And toke with them Vter the kynges broder to be chyef capitayne .v. thousande men Merlyn coūselled thē for to go vnto Iolonde so they dyde And whan the kynge of Irlonde y◠was called Guillomer herde telle that straūgers were arryued in his londe he assembled a grete power fought ayenst them But he his folke were dyscomfyted ¶ The Brytons wente before tyll they came to the mount of Kyan clȳmed vp vnto the mount But whan they sawe the stones the maner how they stode they had grete meruaylle sayd bytwene themselfe that noo man sholde them remeue for no strength ne engyne so grete they were so longr But Merlyn thrugh his crafte he remeued them brought them in to theyr shyppes and came ayen in to this londe And Merlyn sette the stones there that the kyng wolde haue them And sette them in the same maner that they stode in Irlonde And whan the kynge sawe that it was made he thanked Merlyn and rychely hym rewarded at his owne wyll And that place lete calle it Stonhenge for euer more ¶ How Passent that was Vortigers sone and the kynge Guillomer came in to this londe and how a traytour that was called Cappa enpoyseneu the kynge Aurilambros ANd men shall vnderstande that Passent that was Vortigers sone lyued the same tyme and came in to this londe with a grete power arryued in the north coūtree wolde be auenged of his faders deth Vortiger strongely trusted vppon the company that he had brought with hym out of y◠londe of Germayne had conquered all the North coūtree vnto Yorke ¶ And whan kyng Aurilambros herde this he assembled a grete power of Brytons wente for to fyght with Passent he dyscomfyted Passent all his people But Passent escaped thens with some of his men fledde thens in to Irlonde and came to kynge Guillomer prayed hym of helpe socour The kynge graunted hym with good wyll sayd that he wolde helpe hym vpon that couenaūt that I my selfe muste go with you with all my power in to Brytayne And I wolde 〈◊〉 aduenge vpon the Brytons the rather for they came in to my londe toke the stones with strength y◠is called Gyaūtes karoll ¶ The kynge Guillomer le te ordeyne his shyppes wente to the see with .xv. thousande men arryued in Walys began to robbe moche sorowe he dyde ¶ It befell so that kynge Aurilambros laye syke at Wynchestre myght not helpe hymself So that he sente in his name Vter his brother with a power to helpe Walys And thytherwarde he wente as moche as he myght ¶ The kynge of Irlonde and Passent herde telle that Aurilambros was syke to hym there came a Sarrasyn that was called Cappa sayd Syre dwelle ye here all in peas with your hoste I behyght you thorugh my quayntesye y◠I shall slee the kynge Aurilambros that is syke Thenne sayd Passent yf ye do so I shall you rychely auaūce The traytour Cappa put vpon hym an habyte of religyon lete shaue hym a brode crowne came vnto the kynges courte and sayd that he wolde helpe the kynge of his malady Tho sayd the traytour Cappa vnto the kynge Syr be of good comforte For I shall yeue you suche a medycyne that ye shall swete anone ryght lyste to slepe haue good reste And the traytour yaaf hym suche poyson to slepe anone ryght and deyed in his slepynge And the traytour sayd that he wolde go out in to the felde tyll he were awaked so escaped he awaye For no man had to hym suspeccyon for by cause of his habyte that he was clothed in and also for his brode shauen crowne But whan the kynges men wyst that he was deed they became wonder sory and fast soughte the traytour but they myghte not fynde hym For that Cappa torned ayen vnto the hoste from whens that he came ¶ Whan Aurilambros deyed a sterre in the morne was seen with a clere lyght at the bought of the beeme was seen she heed of an horryble dragon SO whan the kyng Aurilambros was deed enpoysoned at Wynchestre On the morne after he was deed about the tyme of Pryme there was sene a sterre grete clere the beeme of that sterre was bryghter than the sonne And at the bought of the beeme apperid a dragons heed out of his mouth came two huge lyghtes that were as bryght as ony fyre brennynge that one beeme towarde Fraunce and streyght ouer the see thytherwarde And out of that beeme came .vij. beemes full clere longe as it were the lyght fyre ¶ This sterre was seen of many a man but none of them wyste what it betokened ¶ Vter that was the kynges brother that was in Walys with his hoste of Brytons sawe that sterre the grete lyght that it yaue they wondred therof gretly what it myght betoken And lete calle Merlyn and prayed hym for to telle what that it myght betoken ¶ Of the betokenynge of the sterre MErlyn sawe that sterre behelde it longe tyme. And sythen he quoke wept tenderly And sayd Alas alas that so noble a kyng worthy is deed And I do you to vnderstande that Aurilambros your brother is poysoned y◠I see well in this sterre And yourself is betokened the heed of the dragon y◠is seen at the bought of the beeme that is
voutes in the manere of Rome Nowe that place is called Hestoldesham and Heglesham al so ¶ Beda li.iii ca .i. saythe That that place is faste by the longe walle of the werke of Rome in the north halfe ¶ R. Ther is dyffereÌ„ce bytwene the prouynce of Lyndeffar the chirche Lyndefarne For the prouynce of Lyndeffar Lyndeseye is all one lyethe by cest Lyncolne and Lyncoln is the hede therof of yâ— whiche saythe Beda li.iiii.ca.xi that Sexwulfus was fyrste bysshop there but Beda li.iiii.ca.xxiii sayth That Lyndeffar chirche is an ylond that is called holy ylonde in the Ryuer of Twede next Barwyk And so it is gadred of Bedaes sawes that Twede renneth into the famous arme of the see that nowe departeth Englysshmen and Scottes in the eest halfe and in that arme ben thre ylondes that one is Maylros that nowe is called menros Thenne aboue towarde the west is Lyndeffarn chyrche that is called holy ylonde Thenne yâ— thirde is aboue vpwarde and is the ylonde Farn and is called also ferny ylonde Thenne vpward aboue that two myle is a ryall cyte vpon the brynke of Twede that somtyme hyght Bebanburgh that is Bobbes cyte and now is called Bamburgh and hath aryght stronge castell ¶ Gir. initenere two cytees ther ben eyther is called Caerlegy on and Caerleon also one is Demycya in southwales that is named Caeruske also there the Ryuer of Vskefalâ—eth into Seuarne fast by Glamorgan Bellinus kynge of Brytons somtyme buylded yâ— cyte and was somtyme the chyef cyte of Demecia in sough wales Afterward in Claudius cezars tyme it was called the. cyte Legyons whan atte prayer of Geniust he quene Vespacyanus and Aruiragus were accorded and Legyons of Rome were sent into Irlonde tho was Caerleon a noble cyte and of greate auctoryte by the Romayns ryally buylded and walled aboute with walles of brent tyle Grete nobley that was there in olde tyme is there yet in many places seen as the grete palayses gyauntes toures noble bathes releef of the temples places of the atrees that were places hyghe and ryall to stande and syte in to behold aboute The places were ryally closed with ryal walles that yet somdele stondeth ryght nyghe cloos And within the walles and withoute is greate buyldynge vnder erthe water conduytes and wayes vnder erthe and stewes also thou shalt see wonderly made with strayte syde wayes of brethynge that wonderly caste vp heete In this Cyte were somtyme thre noble chirches one was of saynt Iuliust yâ— martyr and therin a grete companye of vyrgynes That other was of saynt Aaron that was of the ordre of blacke Chanon that chirche was ryght nobly adourned The thyrde chirche was the chyef moder chirche of all wales the chyef see But afterwarde yâ— chyef se was torned out of yâ— cyte iÌ„to meneuia that is saynt dauyds loÌ„de in west wales In this Caerleon was amphibalus born that taught saynt Albon There the messagers of Rome come too greate Arthurs court yf it is leeff â—ll too trowe Treuisa yf Giraldus was in doubte whether it were leeffull for to trow or not it were a wonder shewenge as meÌ„ wolde wene for to haue euermore in mynde and euer bee in doubte yf all his bookes were suche what lore were therin and namely whyle he maketh none euydence for in neyther syde he telleth what meue the hym so to saye ¶ R. There is an other Cyte of Legyons there his Cronycles were bytrauaylled as it is clerely knowen by the fyrste chapytre of this booke ¶ Treuysa That is to vnderstondynge in the latyn wrytynge For he that made it in latyn torned it not into Englysshe ne it was torned into Englysshe in the fame place that it was fyrste in latyn The vnderstondynge of hym that made thys Cronycles is thus writen in latyn in the begynnynge of this booke ¶ Presentem cronicam compilauit frater Ranulphus Cestrensis monachus That is to say in Englysshe Broder Ranulph monke of Chestre compiled and made thys booke of the Cronycles ¶ R. The Cyte of Legyons yâ— is Chestre stondeth in the Marche of Englonde towarde wales bytwene two armes of the se that ben named de and Mersee This Cyte in tyme of Brytons was heed and chyef cyte of all Venedocia that is Northwales The founder of this cyte is vnknown For who yâ— seeth the foundementes of the grete stones wolde rather wene that it were Romayns werke or werke of Gyauntes than it were sette by werkynge of Brytayns This Cyte somtyme in Brytysshe speche heet Caerthleon Legecestre in 〈◊〉 and Chestre in Englysshe and the cyte of Legyons also For there laye a 〈◊〉 legyons of knyghtes that Iulius 〈◊〉 sente for to wynne Irlonde And 〈◊〉 Claudius cezar sente Legyons out of 〈◊〉 cyte for to wynne the ylonde that be â—â—â—led Orcades what euer wyllyam â—â—â—mesbury by tellynge of other men mente of this cyte This cyte hath plente of â—â—â—â—uelode of corn of flesshe of fysshe and â—â—â—cyally of pryce of samon this â—rte â—â—â—â—ueth grete marchaundyse and send 〈◊〉 oute also Also nyght this cyte ben 〈◊〉 welles metall and oor Northumbres â—â—â—â—troyed this cyte somtyme But after 〈◊〉 de Elfleda lady of Merâ—a buylded 〈◊〉 â—â—gayne and made it moche more In 〈◊〉 same cyce ben wayes vnder the câ—th wâ—th vowtes and stone werke wonderly â—â—â—â—ought thre chambre werkes grete stones ygrauen with olde mennes names therin There is also Iulius cezar name wonderly in stones ygraue and other nooble mennes also with the wrytynge aboute This is the cyte that Ethelfride kynge of Northumberlonde â–ª distroyed and slewe there faste by nyght twoo thousande monkes of the mynster of Bangor This is the cyte that kynge Edgar come theâ—â—der somtyme with vn kynges that 〈◊〉 subget to hym Amesrer brekethe oute in this manere in praysynge thys cyte Chestre castell towne as it were name taketh of a castell It is vnknowen what man buylded this cyte nowe Tho Legecestria chees heet now towne of legyones Nowe Walsshe and Englysshe holde this cytee of grete pryce Stones on walle semeth werke Hercules all There longe with myght to dure that hepe is a hyght Saxon small stones set vpon grete ben attones Ther vnder grouÌ„de lotynge double voute is founde That helpeth with sondes many men of western londes Fysshe flesshe and come lowe this cyte towne hath ynowe Shyppes and chaffare se water bryngeth ynowe thare Godestall therlis that was Emperour or this And forthe Henry kynge erthe is there ryght dwellynge Of kynge Haralde poudre is ther yet I halde Bachus and Marcuryous Mars and Venus also Lauerna Protheus and Pluta regnen there in the towne ¶ Treuysa God wote what this is too mene but poetes in theyr manere speche faynen as though euery kynde craft and lyuynge had a dyuerse god eueryche froÌ„ other And so they feyned a god of batayll and of fyghtynge called hym Mars and a god of couetyse and rychesse and marchaundyse and called hym