Peter was Pope of rome is shewed by ordre the names of all the popes emperours of Rome afore after with certeynt of theyr actes breuyatly many other dyuers thynges merueyles in those mennes dayes fallynge And it is shewed euery thynge in his place howe many yere it fell after the begynnyng of the worlde how longe afore that Cryste was borne And whan that I come to Cryst was borne then it is wryten how longe ony thynge fell after the Natyuyte of Cryst And this is the ordre of this boke the thynges that ben spoken of ANd as to mennes desyrynge to haue a very knowledge of these cronycles or of ony other it is necessary to knowe .vi. thinges ¶ The fyrst is the states of thynges and those ben two One is fro the begynnynge of the worlde vnto Cryst the whiche is called the state of Diuiacion The secunde is frome Cryste to the ende of the worlde the whiche is called the state of Reconsiliacion ¶ The seconde thynge is the diuisyon of tymes those ben thre One is afore the lawe of moyses an other is vnder the lawe of Moyses an other is vnder the lawe of grace after cryst dyed ¶ The thyrde is the gouernynge of kyngdomes And as for that ye must know that al though there were foure pryncypall kyngdomes that is to say Of Babylon of Persces of Grekis and Romayns neuertheles as to the cours of the worlde the ordre of holy scrypture the fyrst gouernyng was vnder faders from Adam vnto moyses The seconde vnder Iuges from Moyses vnto Saul The thyrde vnder kynges froÌ„ Saul vnto zorobabel The fourthe vnder bysshops from zorobabel vnto Cryst ¶ The fourth is the dyuersyte of lawes those were fyue The fyrst was the lawe of nature and that was comen of all men The seconde is the lawe or the custome of gentyles whan that vnder kynge Nyon the peple began to worshyp fals goddes The thyrde is vnder the lawe wryten rose the lawe of Iewes whaÌ„ the CircuÌ„cisyon deuyded the Iewes from other peple The fourth is vnder Cryst rose the lawe of cristen men whan faythe and grace of the sacramentes enformed the lyf of men The fyfth vnder Machomete rose the lawe of Sarrasyns Turkes ¶ The fyfthe is the noblenesse or vnnoblenesse in dedes ¶ And as to these it is to knowe that .vii. persons ben redde of whome the dedes many tymes are had in mynde in hystoryes That is to wyte of a prynce in his reame of a knyght in batayll of a Iuge in his place of a bysshop in the clergy of a polytyk man in the peple of an husbonde man in the hous of an abbot iÌ„ his chirche And of these are wryten many tymes the laudes of good men the punysshemeÌ„tes of the cursyd men ¶ The sixthe is the true couÌ„tynge of the yeres and as to that it is to be knowe that there were .viii. maner of nombryng or couÌ„tynge of the yeres Thre after the Hebrewes Thre after the Grekis One after the Ramayns· And one nowe after the crysten men The Hebrewes thre maner of wyse begynÌ„eth theyr yere After the Hebrewes there is the yere vsuall begynnynge at Ianuary the whiche they vse iÌ„ couenauÌ„tes bargeÌ„s makyng And the yere leyfull begynnyng at Marche the whiche they vse in theyr cerymonyes And the yere Emergens from May begynnynge whan they went from Egypt they vse in theyr cronycles calculacions ¶ The Grekis nombreth theyr yere thre manere of wyse Fyrst to the glory Ioye of theyr victory couÌ„teth theyr yeres from the destruccyon of Troy The fyrst the seconde the thyrde the fourth c. ¶ Thenne after the chyualry beganne at the hylle of Olympus they notefyed the yeres after the same OlympyaduÌ„ And what Olympyades is ye shall knowe after in the boke The thyrde whaÌ„ they begaÌ„ to haue lordshyp of all the world they notefyed theyr yeres these maner of wyse In the yere of the regne of Grekys the .iiii. the .x. the xv c. As it is open in the boke of Machabeorum ¶ ThenÌ„e after the Romayns gouernynge the worlde counted nombred theyr yeres ab vr be condita ¶ The last of all Cristen men couÌ„teth theyr yeres from the Incarnacyon of cryst And bycause we ben Crysten men we vse moste to nombre from the begynnynge of the worlde vnto cryst was borne And fro Cryste was borne vnto our tyme. And this ordre is obserued and kepte in all the booke of euery thyng in his place as it is sayd before ¶ Explicit Prologus ¶ Hic incipit Fructus temporum BYcause of this bokes made to tel what tyme of ony thynge notable was Therfore the begynnyge of all tymes shortely shall be touched For the whiche after doctours it is to be knowen that .iiii. thynges were made fyrste in one tyme of one aege That is to wyte the heuen Imperyall auÌ„gels nature the matere of the foure elemeÌ„tes tyme. And that doctours calle the werke of the creacyon the whiche was made afore ony daye or nyght of the myghty power of god And was made of nothynge ¶ Thenne after foloweth the werke of the dyuysyon the whiche was made in thre of the fyrst dayes in whiche is shewed the hyghe wysdome of the maker ¶ Thenne after foloweth the arayenge of this werke in the whiche is shewed the goodnes of the creature the whiche was made .iii. of the nexte dayes folowynge Vt patêª clare in teâ—â—u genÌ„ primo ¶ The fyrst day god made deuyded the lyght from the darkenesse ¶ The seconde daye god made ordeyned the fyrmament deuyded the water from the water ¶ The thyrde daye god made in theâ— whiche he gadered the waters in to one place 〈◊〉 erthe then appered ¶ The fourth daye god made in the whiche he ordeyned the sonne the mone the sterres put them in the fyrmament ¶ The fyfth daye god made in the whiche he ordeyned fysshes and foules and grete whales in the water ¶ The sixte daye god ordeyned in the whiche he made beest and man ¶ The seuenth daye god made and in that daye he rested of al werkes that he hadde ordeyned not as in werkynge beynge wery But he â—eased to make mo newe creatures Vide plura genÌ„ .i. BE it knoweÌ„ that Adam the fyrst man of whom it is wryten iÌ„ this fyrst age next lowynge lyued .ix. C. yere .xxx. And he gate .xxxii. sonÌ„es as many doughters ¶ Anno mundi .i. Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitatem v. M. C.lxxxxix· ¶ Here begynneth the fyrste aege durynge vnto the floode of Noy Adam Eua IN the fyrst yere of the worlde the syxte day god made Adam in the felde Damascâ—nÌ„ eua of one of his rybbes puttyng theÌ„ in paradyse And bad them to kepe his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t that they sholde not ete of the fruyte of lyfe vnder the payne of deth And the same day that they had synned anone
departeth Englonde Scotlonde but the Alcliud was a right stroÌ„ge cyte as Beda sayth the cyte standeth fast by a Ryuer that is called Cliud there is no suche Ryuer iÌ„ yorkshyre in westmer lond as of the couÌ„tre tell me Some men say that the Ryuer Cliud is now named sulwach Sulwaâ—che is but .v. myle fro Caerleyl whiche is a cyte in the couÌ„tre of norâ—h Enlonde toward the north west hath an other name whiche is Luguball Leyil the .vii. kynge of brytoÌ„s buylded caerleyll ¶ R. In this cyte ys soÌ„what of the famous wall that passeth northuÌ„berloÌ„de ¶ wilhel de pon in this cyte is yet a theâ— chambred hous made of vawt stones that neuer myght bee destroyed wyth tempeste of weder ne with brennynge of fyre also in the countree fast by westmerloÌ„de in the fronte of a thre chanbre place is writteÌ„ in this manere Marii victory what this writtinge is to say I doute somwhat but yf it were some of the Combres laye here some tyme whan the counseyll Mariê° had put hym out of ytalye But it semeth better that it is wrytten in mynde of Marius kyng of brytons that was Aruiragus sone This marius ouercome in that place Roderyke kynge of pyctes So sayth Gaufre in his brytysshe booke Wyllyam malmesbury sawe neuer that booke Att Hagustaldes chyrche is a place .lxxx. myle out of yorke Nor westewarde the place is as were dystroyed so sayth wylhel li.iii. de pony That place longed somtyme to the bysshopryche of yorke there were somtyme houses wyth vyce arches and voutes in the manere of Rome Nowe that place is called Hestoldeshame and heglesham also ¶ Beda li.iii ca. i. sayth Than that place is faste by the longe walle of the werke of Rome in the north halfe ¶ R There is dyfference bytwene the pryuynce of Lyndeffare and the chyrche Lyndefarne For the prouynce of Lyndeffare Lyndeseye is alle one and lyethe by eest lyncolne and lyncolne is the hede therof of the whiche saythe Beda li.iiii ca. xi that Sex wulfus was fyrste bysshop there but Beda li.iiii ca. xiii sayth That lyndeffar chyrche is an ylonde that is called holy ylonde in the ryuer of Twede next Barwyke And so it is gadred of Bedaes sawes that twede renneth in to the famous arme of the see that nowe departed EnglysshmeÌ„ and Scottes in the eest half and in that arme beÌ„ thre ylondes that one is Maylros that nowe is called menros ThenÌ„e about towarde the west is Lyndeffarn chyrche that is called holy ylonde Thenne the chyrche is aboue vpwarde his the Ilondefarn and is called also ferny ylonde Thenne vp warde aboute that two myle is a ryall Cyte vppon the brynke of twede that somtyme hyght Bebanburgh that is Bobbes cyte and nowe is called Bamburgh and hath a ryght stronge castell ¶ Gir. initenere twoo cytees ther ben eyther is called Charlegyon and caerleon also one ys Demycia in south wales that is named caeruske also there the Ryuer of Vske falyeth into Seuerne faste by glamorgan Bellynus kynge of Brytons somtyme buyled the cytye and was somtyme the chyef cyte of Demecya in south wales Afterwarde in Claudiê° cezarâ— tyme it was called the cyte Legyons whan at prayer of Genius the quene Vespiciauus and Aruiragus were accorded and legyons of Rome were sente in to Irlonde tho was Caerleon a noble cyte and a grete auctoryte by the Romayns ryally buylded and walled about wyth walles of brent tyle Greate 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 hyghe and ryall to stande and syte in and to beholde aboute the places were ryally closed with ryall walles that yet somdele stondeth ryght nyghe cloos And within the walles and wythoute is grete buyldynge vnder erthe water conduytes and wayes vnder erthe and stewes ¶ Also thou shalt see wonderly made wyth strayte syde wayes of brethynge that wonderly caste vp heete In this Cytie were somtyme thre noble chyrches one was of saynt Iulius the martyr therin a greate companye of vyrgynes that other was of saynt Aaron that was of the ordre of blacke Chanon that chyrche was ryght nobly adourned The thyrde chyrche was the chyf moder chyrche of all wales and the chyef se But afterwarde the chyef see was tourned out of the cyte into meneuya that is saynt Dauyds londe in west wales In this Caerleon was amphybalus born thaught saynt Albon There the messagers of Rome come to greate Arthurs courte yf it is leefull to trowe Treuisa yf Giraldus was in doubte whether it wâ—re leefull for to trowe or not â— yt were a wonder shewynge as men wolde went for too haue euermore in mynde euer bee in doubte yf alle his bokes were suche what lorde were therin namely whyle he maketh none euydence for in neyther syde he telleth what meueth hym soo to ¶ R. There is another cyte of Legyons there his Cronycles were by trauaylled as it is clerly knowen by the fyrste chapytre of thys booke ¶ Treuysa That is to vnderstondynge in the latyn wryttynge For he that made it in latyn torned it not into Englysshe ne it was torned into Englisshe in the same place that it was fyrste in latyn· The vnderstondynge of hym that made this Cronycles is thus the begnnyng of this booke ¶ Presentem cronicam compliauit frater Ranulphus CestreÌ„sis monachus That is to saye in Englysshe Broder Ranuiphe monke of Chestre conpyled and made this Booke of the Cronycles ¶ R. The of Legyons that is chestre stondeth in the marche of Englonde towarde wales bytwene two armes of the see that been namedde and Mersee \ This Cytie in tyme of Brytons was heed and cheyf cyte of all Venedocia that is North wales The fouÌ„der of this cyte is vnknowen· For who that seeth the fouÌ„dementes of the grete stones wolde rather wene that it were Romayns werke or wercke off Gyauntes than it were sette by werkynge of Brytons This cyte somtyme in brytysshe speche heet Caerthleon Legecestria in latin And Chestre in Englisshe and the cite of Legyons also ¶ Forther delaye a wynter the legyons of knyghten that Iulius Cezar sente for to wynne Irlonde And after Claudius cezar sente legyons out of that cyte for to wynne the ylonde that be called Orcades what euer wyllyam Malmeshury by tellynge of other men mente of this cyte This cyte hathe plente of lyuelode of corn of flesshe of fysshe and specially of pryce of samon This cytie receyueth moche marchaundyse and sendeth oute also Also nyghe this cyte ben salte welles metell and oor Nor thumbres dystroyed thys cyte somtyme But after warde Elfleda lady of Marcia buylded it agayne and made it moche more ¶ In this same cyte ben wayes vnder the erth wyth vowtes and stone werke wonderly ywrought ther chabre werkes grete stones ygrauen wyth olde mennys names ther in There is
Englonde and also of Scotlonde· ¶ And anone after in the same yere kynge Edwarde of Englonde receyued of the duke of Brytayne hys homage for the erldom and lordshyp of Rychmonde And so folowynge in the .ix. yere of hys regne after Myghelmas rode into Scotlond And there was faste by saynt IohaÌ„nes towne almoost all the wynter tyme And soo he helde his Crystemas at the castell of Rokersbourgh ¶ And in the same yere trughout all Englonde abowte saynt Clementys tyde in wynter ¶ Chere arose suche a sprengynge and wellynge vp of waters and also flodes bothe of the see and also of the fresshe ryuers and sprenges that the see bankes walles and costes brake vp that mennys bestes and housys in many places namely in lowe countrees vyolently and sodaynly were drowned and fruyte dryuen awaye of the erthe thrugh contynaunce and abundaunce of waters of the see ouer more afterwarde were torned into more saltnesse and sourenesse or sauoure ¶ The .x. yere of kynge Edwardes regne kynge Edwarde entred the Scottes see after Mydsomer And to many of the Scottes he haue bataylle and ouercame theym and many he treatyd and bowed vnto hys peas thrughe hys doughtynesse and hardynesse ¶ And after the feest of saynt Myghell thenne nexte folowynge was the erle of Moryf hadde and taken at Edenbrugh brought into Englonde and put into pryson ¶ And in the monethes of Iune and Iulii thaÌ„ next folowynge in the xi yere of his regne was seen and apperyed in the fyrmament a beme sterre the whiche clarkes calle stella Cometa that sterre was seen in dyuers partes of the fyrmament ¶ Where after anone there folowed in Englonde goode chepe and wonder greate plente of chaffare vytaylles marchandyse there ayenst honger scarsyte myscheyf and nede of monye ¶ In so moche that a quartre of whete at London was solde for two shellynge and a good fatte oxe att a noble and fyue good douues byrdes for a peny In whiche yere deped syr IohnÌ„ of â—lâ—am erle of Cornewaylle that was kynge Edwardes brother and lyeth atte westmestre ¶ How kynge Edwarde made a duchye of the Erldome of Cornewayle and also of syxe other Erles that were newe made and of the fyrste chaleÌ„ge of the kyngdodome of Fraunce IN the yere of our lorde a M. CCC.xxx.vii and of kynge edwarde .xii. in the moneth of marche durynge the parlement at westmestre in lente tyme kynge Edwarde made of the erldome of Cornewayle a duchye and lete it calle the duchye of Cornewayle the whiche ducye he gaaf vnto Edwarde hys fyrste sone with the erldom of Chestre And also kyng Edwarde made att that same tyme syxe other erles That is for to saye Syr Henry the erle of Lancastres sone erle of Leycetre Wyllyam of BughuÌ„ erle of NorthamptoÌ„ wyllyam of Mountagu erle of Salysbury Hughe of Awdell erle of Gloucestre Roberte of Vâ—orde erle of Southfolke And wyllyam of Clyton Erle of Huntyngeton ¶ And in that same yere it was ordeyned in the same parlemente that no man sholde were noo clothe that was wrought out of Englond as clothe of golde ne of sylke or veluet or damaske or satyne baudkyn ne none suche other ne none wylde ware ne furres of bynde that see But suche as myght spende an hundred pouÌ„de of rente by yere but this ordynauÌ„ce statute was but of lytyl effect For yt was no thynge holden ¶ In the .xiii. yere of his regne kynge Edwarde went ouer see into Braban with quene Phylyp his wyf there beryng a chylde at And warpe there he dwellyd more than a yere for to treate wyth the duke of Braban and other alyed vnto hym of the chalengynge of the kyngdome of Fraunce to kynge Edwarde of Englond by ryght and by herytage after the deth of Karoll the grete kynge of Fraunce brother Gerymayne of quene Isabell kynge Edwardes moder the whyche was holden and occupyed vnryghtfull by Phylyp of Valoys the eÌ„mys of kynge Karoll the wheche duke and all his in the forsayd thynges all other longynge there to with alle hys men and goodes kynge Edwarde founde redy vnto hym and made behyght hym suerte by good fayth truste and after that the kyng hath hym ayen into Englonde lelft there the quene styll be hynde hym in Braban Than in the .xiiii. yere of his regne whan all the lordes of his reame other that oughten to be at his parlement were called assembled togyder in the same parlemeÌ„t holden at London after the feest of saynt Hylarye The kynges nedes were put forth promothed as touchinge the kyngdom of Fraunce For whiche nedes to be spedde the kynge axed the fyfte parte of alle the meuable goodes of Englonde the wulles the .ix. sheep of euery corne And alle the lordes of euery towne where suche thynges sholde be taxed gadryd sholde answere to the kynge therof had it and helde it at his owne lust wyl wherfore yf I shold knowleche the very trouth the ynner loue of the people was torned in to hate And the comyn prayers in to cursinge for cause that the comune people were soo strongely greued ¶ Also the for sayd Phylyp Valoys of Fraunce had gadred vnto hym a grete hoste destroyed in hys partyes kyngdome many of the kynges frendes of Englonde wyth townes castels many other of theyr lordhypoes and many harmes shamys dystytes dyd vnto the quene wher fore kyng Edwarde whan he herde thys tydynges strongely meued therwythe and red and sente dyuers letters ouer see to the quene to other that were his frendes Glagynge them certefyenge them that he wolde be there hymself in all the haste that he mygh ¶ And anone after Ester whan he had sped of all thinges that hym neded to haue he went ouer see ayen Of whose cominge the quene all hys frendes were wonder glad made moche Ioy And all that were his enmyes and held ayenst hym made as moche sorow ¶ In the same tyme the kynge thrughe counseyll of hys trewe lyeges and counsell of hys lordes that there we represent wyth hym wryte the kynhe of FrauÌ„ces name and toke and medled the kynges armes of Fraunce quartred with tharmes of Englond and commaunded forth with hys coyen of golde vnder dyserypcyon and wrytynge of the name of englonde and of Fraunce be made beste that myght bee and that is to saye the floreyne that was callyd the noble pryce of .vi shellynge .viii pens sterlynge and the half nobell the value iii· shellynge and .iiii. pens and the far thynges the value of .xx. pens ¶ How kynge Edwarde came vnto the scuys and dyscomfyted alle the power of Fraunce in the hauen ANd in the next yere after that is to say the .xv. yere of his regne he coÌ„mauÌ„ded and lete wryte in his chartres wryttes other letters the date of the regne of fraunce the fyrst And whyle that he was thus doynge and trauayllynge in
baners and the armes of frauÌ„ce on euery syde that were hangeÌ„ out wente on the walles of the forsayd towne on dyuerse places as naked as euer they were borne sauf only theyr shertes and theyr pryue clothes helde their swerdes naked the poynt donward in theyr hondes and putteÌ„ ropes halters about theyr neckes yelded vp the keys of the towne of the castell to kynge Edward of Englond with grete fere drede of theyr liues and goodes and drede of herte And kynge Edwarde sawe alle thys as a mercyable kynge and lord receyyed them to grace fewe of the grettest prysoners of estate and gouernaunce of the towne he sent into Englonde there for to abyde theyr raunson and the kynges grace And al the comynallte of the towne the kynge lette goo weder they wolde in peas and wyth out ony harme lete them bere with theÌ„ all theyr thynges that they myghte bere carye away kepynge the twone the castell to hymself· Thenne thrugh meditacyon of Cardynales that were sente from the pope trewes was take there by twene Fraunce englond for .ix. monethes than next folowynge And aboute Myghelmas kynge Edwarde come ayen into Enlond with a gloryous vyctory ¶ And in the .xxiii. yere of his regne in the Eest partyes of the worlde there arose and began a pestylence deth of Sarasyns and Paynyms that so grete a deth was neuer herde of a fore that wasted away the people so that vnneth the tenth person was left alyue ¶ And the same yere aboute the suche countrees and also in the west countrees there fell so moche rayne so grete waters that from Crystmas to myd somer there was vnnethes no daye ne nyght but that it rayned some what thrugh whyche waters the pestylence was so enfected so habuÌ„daunte in al countres namely aboute the courte of Rome other places and see costes that there were left lyuynge folke for too bury theyÌ„ that were dede honestly But made greate dyches pyttê that were woÌ„der brode depe therin buryed them made a renge of dede bodyes caste a lytell erthe to fele them aboue than caste in a nother renge of dede bodyes an other renge aboue theym and thus were they buryed none other wyse but yf it were so that they were men of greate estate so that they were buryed as honestly as they myghte And after all this in the .xxiiii. yere of kyng Edwardes regne it was done hym to wete vnderstaÌ„de of a treason that was begon at Calays ordeyned for to sell that towne for a greate soÌ„me of Florens vnto kynge Phylyp of Fraunce thrughe the falsnesse or dynauÌ„ce of a knyght that was called syre Geffrey of Cherney was wonder preny wyth kynge Phylyp of FrauÌ„ce And whan kynge Edwarde herde this he toke with hym the noblest and gentyllest lordê and many other worythy men of armes that were there presente with hym for the solempnyte of that hygh feest And well wysely in al the hast that he myghe and as pryuely as he myght he wente ouer see to warde Calays And that same yere the gode kyng edwarde helde his crystmas at Hauerynge And the morne after new yers daye the kynge was in the castell of Calays with his men of armes that none of the alyens wyst ther of And that fais conspiratour and traytour Geffrey of Cherney syth that he myght not openly haue his purpose of the castell pryuely and stelyngly he come in helde the towne with a grete host And whaÌ„ he wyth hys men were comen in he payed the for sayd somme of floreyns as couenaunte was to a Geneweye in the towne that was keper of the castel and consentinge to the same Geffrey in all his falsnesse and trechorye bounden the Englysshe mynstrels and seruauÌ„tes that were in the castell that they myght not helep themself ne lette them of theyr purpos And than wenyng that they had ben sure ynough then they spaken al their wickydnesse falnesse openly on hygh that all men myght here now shall ye here howe they were deceyued for they came in by a preuy posterne ouer a lytyll brydge of tree whaÌ„ they were comen in subtyly pryuely the brydge was drawen vp and kept that noÌ„e of them that came in myght go out ne no moo myghte come to them anone our Englysshmen wente out at preuy holes and wyndowes ouer the walles of the towne and of the castell went faught manly with the frensshmen that were withoute had the better of them the whyche whan they were occupyed by them self on theyr syde the kynge that was within the towne hauynge scarsely but .xxx. men of armes drew out his swerde with a loude voys he creyed on hygh Osaynt Edwarde Osaynt George And whan the peple herde that they come rennynge to hym gaaf there to theyr enmyes so greate assawte that there were moo than two hondred men of armes many mo other slayne and many fled a waye And soo by grace of god almyghty the vyctory felle vnto the Englysshmen Thenne the kynge toke with hym this Geffrey that was fynder of this trechory And also many other Frenssh prysoners and thenne within a whyle after he come agayne in to Englonde And in thys same yere and in the yere afore and also in the yere next folowynge was soo greate a pestylence of men frome the eest in to the west namely through botches that tho that sykened as on thys daye deyed on the thyrde daye after to the whyche men that soo deyed in this pestylence had but lytell respyte of lyssynge ¶ The pope Clemente of his goodnesse and grace gaf theym full remyssyon and forgyuenesse of all theyr synnes that they were shryuen of and this pestyleÌ„ce lasted in London fro Myghelmas vnto August next folowynge almoost an hole yere ¶ And these dayes was deth wythout sorowe weddynges wythout frendshyp wylfull penaunce derth without scarsyte And fleynge without refute or socour for many fled from place to place by cause of pestylence But they were enfected myght not escape the dethe after that the prophete Isay syth who that fleeth fro the face of drede he shalle falle into the dyche And he that wyndeth hym out of the dyche he shall be hold and eyed wyth a grenne but whan thys pestyleÌ„ce was cessyd as god wold vnnethes the tenth parte of the peple was left on lyue And in the same yere began a wonder thynge that all that euer were borne after that pestylence had twoo cheketh in theyr heed lasse than they had afore ¶ How kyng Edward had a grete batayll with Spanyardes in the see fast by wynchelse ANd in the .xxv. yere of hys regne about saynt Iohans daye in haruest in the see fast by wynchelse kynge Edwarde had a grete batayll with men of Spayne where that theyr shyppes and nauye laye chayned togyder
he caste them out of paradyse in to the londe of cursydnes that they sholde lyue there with swetynge sorowe tyl they dyed Vide plura genÌ„ .i. ¶ This Adam was an holy maÌ„ all the dayes of his lyfe grete penauÌ„ce dayly he dyd And he coÌ„mauÌ„ded his chyldren to lyue ryghtwysly And namely that they shold auoyde in all wyse from the company of Cayn and his chyldren Nor that they sholde not marye with none of theÌ„ ¶ This maÌ„ AdaÌ„ was oure fyrst fader And for one synÌ„e he put vs oute of paradys But thrugh his holy coÌ„uersacyon penauÌ„ce he gaue vs ensample to come to the kyngdome of heuen And he that wyl not folowe his holy coÌ„uersacyoÌ„ exaÌ„ple for one synÌ„e ryghtwysly he can not coÌ„playne on hym as we do many ¶ Seth sone to Adam was borne after the begynnynge of the worlde C. .xxx. yeres lyued .ix. C. .xii. But Moyses ouerskypped an hundreth of those in the whiche Abell wept in the vale of Ploracyon nyghe EbroÌ„ Thys Seth for the oyle of mercy to be goâ—en weÌ„te to paradys Delbora was syster to Abell Abell was slayn of cayn his brod This Abell the fyrst martyr began the chyrche of god This man after Austyn made the cytee of god he was the fyrst cytezyn of that cyte And bycause that he was ryghtwyse our lorde receyued his offeryng ¶ Calmana was syster wyf to Cayn This Cayn was a cursed man he made the fyrst erthely cyte that euer iÌ„ this world was in the whiche he put his people for drede in so moche as he vsyd caryn vyoleÌ„ce For he trusteth suche thyng to be done to hym as he dyd to other therfore he put hym hys iÌ„ to a syker place Thys man slewe his brother Abell for enuye he was punysshed of god and wandred aboute in a dyspayre And after was slayne of Lamath a blynde man ¶ Anno mundi .iiii. C.xxxv. Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .iiii. M.ix C.lxxiiii ENos of the lyne of cryst lyued .ix. C. yere .v. This Enos began to call the name of our lorde It myght happe be fouÌ„de some wordes of prayer or made some ymages for god to be worshypped as now is in the chyrche ¶ Chanam lyued after .ix. C. yere and .x. ¶ Anno mundi .vii. C. lxxxxv Et ante natiuitatem .iiii. M.iiii C.iiii. MAlaleel of the lyne of cryste lyued .viii. C. lxxxxv yere ¶ â—areth of the same lyne lyued .ix. C.lxii. ¶ Enoch of the same lyne lyued .iiii. C. yere .lxv. This Enoch was a ryghtwys man pleased god And for his grete holynesse our lorde translated hym in to paradyse where he lyueth with Hely in grete reste of body and soule tyll the comynge of Antecryst Then they shall go forthe for the comfortacyon of good men And they shall be crowned with the crowne of martyrdome MAtusaleÌ„ of Crystys lyne lyued .ix. C. lxix yeres This matusale was the oldest maÌ„ that euer ony scrypturs hath mynde of For whaÌ„ he had lyued nyghe fyue hondred yere our lord sayd to hym Buylde the an hous thou wyle for yet thou shalt lyue .v. hondred yere And he answered sayd For so lytel a tyme as .v. hondred yere I wyll buylde no hous But rested vnder trees and hegges and there slept as he was wonte to do for a tyme. ¶ Anno mundi M.iiii C.liiii Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .iii. M.vii C.xlv LAmeth was of aege vii hoÌ„dred .lxxvii. This Lameth the fyrst agaynst nature good maneres ordeyned that a maÌ„ myghte haue two wyues in doyng his auowtry And he was sore punysshed of them for they gaue hym many a grype For it is so that bi what thiÌ„ge a man senÌ„eth by the same he is punysshed This Lameth slewe Cayn wylfully not But whan he was olde blynde he was ladde of a childe the whiche trowed that he had seeÌ„ a wylde beste sayd to his mayster that he sholde shote so he slewe Cayn wherfore he bete the childe so sore that the childe also was deed ¶ And it is to be knoweÌ„ that al craftes or scyeÌ„ces lyberal or hande craftes or of physyke seruyng to the curyosyte of man are redde that they were fostden of the childern of Lameth and for they dradde the perylle to come of the flood of the fyre therfore Tuball graued the same craftes iÌ„ two pylers The one was of Marbyll the other of â—yle or brycke ¶ Tuball fouÌ„de fyrst the crafte to werke golde syluer yren And was the fyrste grauer that euer was ¶ Iabe fouÌ„de first TeÌ„â—oria for shepherdes and pauelyons for other men ¶ Iuball founde fyrste the crafte to playe vpon an harpe and organs and other musycall Instrumentes he vsid ¶ Nocma founde fyrst the crafte for to weue lynnen wollen clothe and to drawathredes of wulle and flexe And afore that tyme the people vsed the skynnes of bestes for ther clothes ¶ Anno mundi M.vi C.xlii. Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .iii. M.v. C.lvii THe shyppe of Noe hadde in length .iii. hondred cubytes in brede .l. in altytueâ— Vide plura genesis .vi. ¶ Knowe ye after â—uctours that a coÌ„uenyent payne this tyme was ordeyned to the worlde For thenne lechery habuÌ„ded the whyche defouled mannes body And there by water the erth was wasshed cleÌ„sed in sygne of the promyse that god made to maÌ„ that there sholde neuer be suche a flood agayne ¶ And the Raynebowe hath two pryncypall coloures the whiche represente the two Iugementê The water colour represeÌ„teth the flood that is passyd the fyre colour betokeneth the Iugement to come fyre by that whyche we certeÌ„ly abyâ—e iÌ„ the ende of thê world by cause couetyse shal habouÌ„de by fyre it shal be brente Golde syluer by the fyre is wonte to be cleÌ„syd ¶ Here begynneth the seconde aege of the worlde durynge to Abram THis Noe was a ryghtwys maÌ„ fouÌ„de grace ayeÌ„st god whaÌ„ Noe was fyue hoÌ„dred yere of aege he had goteÌ„ ChaÌ„ Sem. Iapheth that tyme bi the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of god he began to make a shyppe he made it parfyte in an C. yere And the C. yere complete our lord god appered agayne to hym coÌ„mauÌ„ded him that he with his wyf his childern the wyues of them shold entre the shyppe with all maner of bestes all maner of foules also cÌ„ ¶ And anone the flood came stode aboue all hylles xv cubyte Vide plura genÌ„ .vii o ¶ After the flood a greate dronkenesse betyde vnto Noe. through occasyoÌ„ of that droÌ„kesse he blessyd his two sones Sem Iaphet for the faders honour that they had to hym for the honest shame that they couered mekely ther fader membres whan he was slepynge his sone Cham for his scornynge his vnreuerence he cursyd ¶ And here after saynt Austyn is made the fyrste mencyon of bouÌ„dage of noblynesse contrary to it· For Noe sayd that
they tolde to kyng PaÌ„dras And he for to haue his lyf grauÌ„ted as moche as they axed and anone gaf vnto Brute Gennogen his doughter to wyfe an hondred shyppes with asmoche as them neded of all vytaylles as afore was ordeyned Brute tho toke his wyfe and all his men that forsoke the londe of Grece and went them vnto the see and had wynde weder at theyr wyll and came the thyrde daye in to an I le that was called Lorgers Thys Brute anone sente of his men a londe for to espye the maner of the countree And they founde an olde cyte all wasted and forlet that was ther in nother maÌ„ ne woman ne no thynge dwellynge and in the mydeell of this cyte they founde an olde temple of a fayre lady that was called Dyana the goddesse And they came ayen vnto Brute tolde hym what they had seen and fouÌ„de And they counselled hym to goo and doo sacrefyce vnto dame Dyana for she was woÌ„te to yeue answere of what euer men prayed her and namely vnto them that her honoured with sacrefyce Brute wente vnto that yamge and sayd Dyana noble goddesse that all thynge haste in thy myght and power wyndes waters woodes felde and all thynge of the world and all manere of beestes that theryn ben To you I make my prayer that ye me counseyll and telle where and in what place I shall haue a couenable dwellynge for me and for my people and there I shal make in honour of you a well fayre temple and a noble wherin ye shall alwaye be honoured whaÌ„ he had done his prayer Dyana answerd in this maner Brute sayde she go euen forth thy waye ouer the see in io Frauce to warde the west and there ye shall fynde an yle that is called Albyon that yle is be compassed all wyth the see and noo man maye come ther in but it be by shyppes and in that londe were wonte to dwelle gyauntes but now it is not soo but all wyldernes And that londe is destenyed and ordeyned for you and for your people ¶ How Corin became Brutes man and how kynge Goffar was dyscomfyted THenne whan Brute had this answere of Dyana the goddes Anone he lete the ancres wynde vp sayled in to the hyghe see And whan he his men had saylled .xx. dayes and moo they fouÌ„de fast besyed a cost of the see a thousande men of the lygnage kynred of Troy And ther souerayne ther mayster of all was called Corin· And whan Brute wyste whens they were he tho toke them wyth moche Ioye in to hys shyppes and ladde theym forth wiht hym Thê Corin there be came brutes man to hym dyde homage And so longe they saylled forth in the see tyll they cam vnto Gascoyne And anone they arryued in the hauen of Lyegers there they dwlled .viii. dayes them for to rest ther saylles to ameÌ„de there that it was nede Tydynges soone came to kynge Goffar that was lorde of that loÌ„de howe that moche people of strauÌ„ge londe were arryued in to his loÌ„de in the hauen of Lyegres wherfore he was sore angreged anoyed that they came and arryued in his londe wythout his lycence and his leue And anone ordened hym a gret power for to dryue out brute to destroye hym all his people But it was so that kyng Goffar was dyscomfyted all his peple And hym self fledde in to FrauÌ„ce there for helpe socour And in that tyme regned in Fraunce ·xii kynges an .xi. of them assembled a grete power for to helpe Goffar for to fight ayest Brute This Goffar dwelled with theÌ„ of frauÌ„ce halfe a yere more And in the meane tyme whan Goffar was in FrauÌ„ce Brute and his company destroyed all the londe of Gascoyne and lete take all the tresour that kyng Goffar had there lete brynge it all in to his shyppes And this Brute founde in that londe a fayry place and couenable there brute made a fayre castel and a stronge ¶ whan that this was done kyng Goffar came from Fraunce and .xi. kynges with hym and brought wyth hym .xx. M. men for to fyghte with Brute and his company and Brute had but .vii. M. CCC men And neuertheles whanne the two hostes mette togyder Brute folke thorugh helpe of hymself of Turin his cosen and of Corin the well and manly hym defended and fought so tyll that in lytell tyme they hadde slayne of the Frensshemen two thousande mo Anone all that were alyue fledde awaye And in this bataylle Turin Brutes cosyn was slayne And Brute lete entere hym worthely whan he had space leyser in the castell that he had made tho lete calle that same castell Toures For by cause of the name of Turin that there was entred And yet vnto this day there is a noble cyte that is called Toures And kynge Goffar wyste that Turin was deed he came agayne with his men after yaue a stronge bataylle vnto Brute But brute his men were so wery for fyghtynge that they myght noo lenger endure but to megre hym all his And then Brute yede in to his castell with his men and made the gates faste for to saue them and for to take counsell amoage them what were best for to do Brute and Corin gaaf counsell and ordeyned pryuely that Corin sholde go oute busshe him iÌ„ a wood tyll on the morne soo that in the mornynge whan that Brute sholde fyghte with his enemyes thenne Corin shold come with his folke in the one syde and slee and do all the harme that he myght And in a mornynge in the dawnynge of the daye Brute weÌ„te out of the castell and fyersely faughte with his enmyes and they manly deffended them But within a lytell tyme Brute and his folke slewe .viii. hondred of kynge Goffars men Thenne came Corin with the busshement and smote to grounde he his companye all those that wolde stonde or abyde So that the kyng Goffar his coÌ„pany were dyscoÌ„fyted faste they began to flee And brute Corin with ther coÌ„pany fyersely them pursewed slewe mo of them in the fleynge than they dyd in the batayll And iÌ„ this maner Brute had the victory and neuertheles brute made moche sorowe for his cosyn TuriÌ„ that there was slayne other also that he haded lost of his men That is to saye vii· hondred and .xv. The whiche nobly he entered in the same castell of Toures there where he had entered Turin his cosyn ¶ How Brute arryued at Totnesse in the yle thenne called Albyon and of the bataylle that was betwixt Corin and Gogmagog SO whan all this was done Brute wolde no lenger there dwell for to fyghte nor for to lese no moo of his people For kynge Goffars people myghte euery daye encreace mo and moo And Brutes lossened And therfore he toke all his men and wente vnto the see and had wende and
kyng of Cecyle fro his kyngdome And after he had done many bataylles ayenst men of mysbyleue many trybulacoÌ„ns suffred he decessyd dyd many miracles ¶ Nycholaê° delira a noble douctour of dyuyte was thys tyme at Parys this man was a Iewe of nacyon he was coÌ„uerted myghtely profyted in the ordre of frere Mynours he wrote ouer all the Byble Grelles he was in the yere of our lord M·CCC xxx some man say he was a Braban that his fader his moder were crystne but for pouerte he vysyted the scole of the Iewes so he lerned the Iewes langage or elles thys Nycholaê° was informed of the Iewes in hys yonge aege ¶ Honorius the fourth was pope after Martynê° two yere lytell of hym ys wryten but that he was a temperat man a dyscerte ¶ Nicholaus the fourth was pope after hym foure yere this man was a frere Mynor although he was a good man in himself yet many vnhappy thynges fell in his tyme to the chirche For many a batayll was in the cyte thrugh his occasyon for he drewe to moche to the one parte And after hym thre was no pope two yere and .vi. monethes ¶ How kynge Edwarde that was kynge Henryes sone ANd after this kyng Henry regned Edwarde hys sone the worthyes knyght of the worlde in honour for goddes grace was in hym for he had the vyctorye of hys enmyes as soone as hys fader was deed he came to London with a noble company of prelates erles and barons and all meÌ„ dyd hym moche honour For in euery place the syr Edwarde rode in London the stretes were couered ouer hys heed with sylke of tapiscery and other riche couerynges And for Ioye of his comynge the burgeys of the Cyte caste out at theyr wyndowes golde and syluer hondes full in tokenynge of loue and worshyp seruyce and reuerence And out of condyte of Chepe ranne whyte wyne and reed as stremes both of the water and euery man dranke therof the wolde at theyr owne wyll this kyng Edwarde was crowned and enoynted as ryght heyer of Englonde with moche honour And after masse the kynge wente in to his place to holde a ryall feest amoÌ„ge them that dyde hym honour And whan he was sette to meete The kynge Alexander of Scotlonde came to do hym honour and reuerence with a qâ—eyntesye an hondred knyghtes with hym well horsyd arayde And whan they were alyght of theyr stedes they lete theym go whether they wolde who that myght take them tooke at theyr owne wyll wythout ony chalenge·r And after came syre Edmonde kynge Edwardes brother a curteys knyght a gentyll of renowne the erle of Corne wayllle and the erle of Glocestre And after thenne came the erle of Penbroke the erle of Garenne And eche of them by themself ladde in theyr honde an hondred knyghtes gayly dysgysed in theyr armes And whan they were alyghted of theyr horses they lete them go whether that they welde who that myght them catche them to haue styll without ony chalenge And whan all this was done kyng Edwarde dyde his dylygence his myghte for to amende and dresse the wronges in the beste manere that he myght to the honour of god holy chyrche to mayntene his honoure and to amende the noyannce of the comyn people ¶ How ydeyne that was Lewelyns doughter of walys prynce Aymer that was the erles brother of MouÌ„forde were taken in the see THe fyrste afterwarde the kynge Edwarde was crowned Lewelyn prynce of wales sent in to Faraunce to the erle MouÌ„forde that thorough couÌ„seyl of his frendes the erle sholde wedde his doughter And the erle tho auysed hym vpoÌ„ this thynge and sent vnto Lewelyn and sayd that he wolde sende after hys doughter so he sent Aymer his broder after the damoysell Lewelyn arayed shyphes for his doughter and for Syre Aymer and for her faare company that sholde goo with her And this Lewelyn dyd grete wronge for it was couenauÌ„ted that he sholde yeue hys doughter to no manere man without counsell consente of kyng Edwarde And so it befell that a Burgeys of Brystow came in the see with wyne laden and mette them toke them with myght and power And anone the Burgeys sent theym to the kyng And whan Lewely herde this tydynges he was very wroth and also sorowfull· and gan to warre vpon kynge Edwarde and dyde moche harme vnto Englysshmen and bete downe the kynges castels and began for to destroye kynge Edwardes londe And whaÌ„ tydynges cam vnto the kyng of this thyng he wente in to walys and so moche he dyde thorough goddes grace and his grete power that he drofe Lewelyn vnto grete myschyef that he fledde all maner of strength came yelded hym vnto kyng Edwarde yaue hym .l. marke of syluer to haue peas And toke the damoysell all his herytage made an oblygacoÌ„n to kynge Edwarde to come to his parlyamente two tymes of the yere And in the seconde yere after that kynge Edwarde was crowned he helde a generall parleamente att westmestre there he made the statutes for defaute of lawe by the comune assent of all his baronage and at Ester nexte sewenge the kynge sente by his letter vnto Lewelyn prynce of wales that he sholde come to his parlemeÌ„t for his londe and for hys holdynge in wales as the strenthe of his letter oblygatory wytnessyd Tho Lewelyn had scorne and dyspyte of the kynges commaundement And for pure wrache ayen began warre vpon kyng Edwarde and destroyed his londe And tho whan kynge Edwarde herd of these tydynges he wexed wonder wrothe vnto Lewelyn in hast assembled his people went hym to warde wales And warred so vpon Lewelyn the prynce tyll that he broughte hym in moche sorowe dysease And Lewelyn sawe that is defence myghte hym not auaylle and came ayen and yelded hym to the kynges grace cryed hym mercye and longe tyme kneled before the kynges fote The kynge had of hym pyte coÌ„maunded hym for to aryse And for his mekenes foryaue hym hys wrathe and to hym sayd that yf he trespassed to hym a nother tyme that he wolde dystroye hym for euermore ¶ Dauid that was Lewelyns brother that same tyme dwelled with kynge Edwarde and was a felle man and a subtyll and enuyous and also ferre castynge and moche treason thoughte· and euermore made good semblame and semyd soo true that noo man myght perceyue his falsnes ¶ How Lewelyn thrugh eggynge of his brother Dauyd werryd agayn vpoÌ„ kyÌ„g Edward IT was not longe after that tyme the kynge Edwarde yaaf to Dauyd Lewelyns broder the lordshyppe of Frodesham made hym a knyght and so moche honour dyde he neuer after to maÌ„ of walys by cause of hym kynge Edwarde helde his parlemente at London whan he hadde do in walys that he wolde and chaunged his moneye that was
the laste the towne gate the pryson be theym And thenÌ„e they were sore punysshed in ensample of other ¶ In this yere also there was a grete erthquake in Naples in so moche that there perysshed .xl. thousande people that sanke there in to the erthe ¶ Also in the .xxxvi. yere saynt Osmonde soÌ„tyme bysshop of Salysbury was canonysed att Rome by pope Calyst the .x daye of Iuly he was translated at Salysbury by the bisshop of CauÌ„terbury many other bysshoppes ¶ And in August after syr Pers de brasay seneschal of normaÌ„dye with the Capytayne of Depe many other Capytayns and meÌ„ of werre went to thee see with a greate Nauy and into the downes by nyght And on the more erly before day they londed at Sandwytche bothe bi loÌ„de and water and toke the towne and ryfled dispoyled it And toke many prysoners and lefte the towne all bare whyche was a ryche place and moche good therin And ladde wyth them many ryche prysoners In this same yere in many places of Fraunce Almayne Flaunders Holonde and zeelonde chyldren gadred theym togyder by greate companyes For to goo on pylgrymage to saynt Myghels mouÌ„te in NormaÌ„dye whiche came fro ferre couÌ„trees wherof the people merueyled And many supposed that some wyckyd spyryte meued them to doo so but it dured not longe by cause of the longe waye and also for lac of vytaylle as they wente ¶ In this yere Reynolde Pecok bysshop of Chestre was founde an herytyke and the thyrde day of Decembre was enduâ—ed at Lambeth in presence of the Archebysshop of Caunterbury and many other bysshoppes doctours lordes temporall and hâ—s bokes brent att Poules crosse ¶ And ye haue herde before how certayne lordes were slayne atte Saynt Albons wherfore was alwaye a grutchynge wrath hadde by the heyres of them that soo were slayne ayenst the duke of yorke the Erles of waâ—wyk and of Salysbury wherfore the kyng by the aduys of his counseyll sente for theym vnto London to whyche place the duke of yorke came the .xxvi. daye of Ianueri with four honderd men and lodged hym atte Baynerdes castell in hys owne place ¶ And the .iv. daye of Ianuer came the erle of Salysbury with fyue hundred men and was lodged in therber of his owne place ¶ And thenÌ„e came the duke of Excetre and of Somerset with .viii. C. men and laye withoute temple barre ¶ And the erle of Northumberlonde and the lorde Egremonde the lorde Clyfforde wyth .xv. hundred men lodged without the towne ¶ And the Mayer that tyme Geffraye Boloyne kept grete watche with the comyns of the cyte rode about the cytee by Holborne and Fletestrete with a .v. thousand men well arayed and armyd for to kepe the peas ¶ And the .xiiii. daye of Feuerer the erle of warwyke came to London fro Calays well beseen and worshypfully with .v hundred men In red Iakettes broudred wyth a ragged staffe behynde before and was lodged at the graye freres ¶ And the .xv. daye of Marche the kynge came to London and the quene And ther was accorded and peas made amonge the lordes and they were sette in peas And on our lady daye the xxv daye of Marche in the yere of oure lorde M. CCCC.lviii· the kynge the quene all the lordes went on processyon at Poules in London anone after the kyng the lordes departed in this yere was a grete fraye in Fletstrete bytwene meÌ„ of courte men of the same strete In whyche fayre the quenes Attourney was slayne ¶ Howe the kynges housholde made a fraye ayenste the Erle of warwyke and of the Iourneye at bloreheth ALso this same yere as the Erle of warwyk was at counseyll at westmynster alle the kynges housholde meny gadred them togyder for to haue slayne the sayde erle But by the helpe of god his frendes he recouered his barge and escapyd theyr euyll enterpryse how well the cokes came rennynge oute wyth spytes and pestels ayneh hym And the same daye he rode to wardes werwyk and soone after he gate hym a commyssyon and went ouer the see to warde Calays ¶ Soone after thys therle of Salysbury comynge to LoÌ„don was encouÌ„tred at Bloreheth which the lord Audley And moche other people ordeyned to dystroy hym But he hauynge knowlege that he shold be met wyth was accoÌ„panyed with hys two sones syr Thomas syr IohnÌ„ Neuell a grete felyshyp of goodmen And so they faught togyder where the erle of Salysbury wanne the felde And the lorde Audley was slayne many gentylmen of Chesshyre moche people hurt And the erles two sones were hurte goynge homewarde afterwarde they were taken and hadde to Chestre by the quenes menye ¶ After Calixt Pius was pope was chase this yere M. CCCC.lvlii· he was callyd before Eneas an eloqueÌ„te man a poete laureate He was embassatour of the Emperours before tyme. And he wrote in the couÌ„seyl of Basyle a noble treatyse for thactoryte of the same Also he canonysed saynte Katheryne of Senys Thys pope ordeyned grete IndulgeÌ„ce pardonne to theym that wolde go werre ayeÌ„st the Turke wrote a pystle to the greate Turke exhortynge hym to become Crysten And in th end he ordeyned a passage ayeÌ„st the Turke at Ankon to whiche moche people drewe out all partyes of cristeÌ„dome of the whiche people he sente many home ayen by cause they suffyced not anone after he dyed at the sayd AnkoÌ„ the yere of our lord M. CCCC.lxiii the .xiiii. daye of August ¶ How Andrewe Trollop the souldyours of Calays forsoke the duke of yorke theyr mayster therle of warwyk in the weste countre THe duke of yorke the erles of warwyk and of Salysbury sawe the gouernauÌ„ce of the reame stode moost by the quene hyr counseyll how the grete prynces of the londe were not callyd to counseyl but set a parte and not only soo but it was sayd thrugh the reame tho sayd lordes sholde be dystroyed as it openly was shewed at Blorehethe by them that wolde haue slayne the erle of Salysbury Thenne for sauacyon of theyr lyues also for the comynwele of the reame thought for to remedy thyse thynges assembled them togyder with moche people and toke a felde in the west countre to whiche the erle of warwyk came fro Calays with many of the olde Souldeyours as AndreÌ„we Trollop and other in whose wysdome as for the werre he trustyd moche vpon And whan they were thus assembled and made theyr felde the kynge sente out commyssyons preuy seales vnto all the lordes of his reame to come and wayte on hym in theyr moost beste defensable araye And so euery man came in suche wyse that the kynge was stronger and hadde more â–ª peple than the duke of yorke and therles of warwyk of Salysbury for it is here to be notyd that euery lorde in Englonde at this tyme durst not dysobeye the quene so she
his owne name Therfore the Brytons had indygnacyon as Gyldas telleth Afterwarde Englysshemen called the cyte London yet after the Normans called it Londers â—nd is named in latyn loÌ„donia Rudhudybras kynge leyles sone was the .viii. kyng of Brytons he buylded CauÌ„terbury the chyefeyte of Kent called it Caerkent Afterwarde Englysshemen called it Dorobernia but that is not Douer that stondeth vpon the clyf of the Frensshe see from shis douer .xxii. Englysshe myle After warde this Dorobernia was is called Caunterbury The same kynge Rudhudibrys buylded wynchestre and called it CaergueÌ„t after EnglysshmeÌ„ called it went and wynchestre after the name of one an Englysshe man that was bysshop there All westsaxoÌ„ was subget to hym the same kyng buylded paladour that is SeptoÌ„ that now is called Shaftesbury Brytons telleÌ„ that an Egle prophecyed there soÌ„tyme Bladud Leyles sone a Nygramancer was the .ix. kyÌ„ge of BrytoÌ„s he buylded Bathe and called it Caerbathon Englyssmen called it after Athamannus cyte But at the laste men called it Bathonia that is Bath ¶ Wilhell depon li.ii in this cyte welleth vp spryngeth hote Bathes meÌ„ wene that Iulius Cezar made there suche bathes ¶ R. But Gaufre â— monuteÌ„sis iÌ„ his Brytons boke saythe that Bladud made thylke bathes bycause wyllyam hath not seen that brytysshe boke wrote so by telliÌ„ge of other meÌ„ or by his owne gessynge as he wrote other thynges not best auysedly Therfore it semeth more sothely that Bladud made not the hote bathes Ne Iulius Cezar dyd suche a dede though bladud buylded made the Cyte but it accordeth better to kyndely reason that the water reÌ„ne the in the erth by vaynes of brymstone sulphur so it is kyndely made hoot in that course and spryngeth vp in dyuerse places of the cyte And so there beÌ„ hoote bathes that wassheth of â—eâ—es soores skabbes ¶ Treuisa Though men myghte by crafte make hoote bathe for to endure longe ynough thys accordeth well to reason to phylosophy that treateth of hote welles and bathes that beÌ„ in diuerse loÌ„des though the water of this bathe be more trobly soruer of sauour of smell thaÌ„ other hote bathes been that I haue seen at Akon in Almayne And eyges in Sauoye whiche ben fayr clere as ony welle streme I haue beÌ„ bathed therin and assayed them ¶ R. Claudius cezar maryed hys doughter to Aruiragus kynge of Brytons This Claudyus Cezar buylded Gloucestre in the weddynge of his doughter· Brytons called this cyte frist after Claudius name but afterwarde it was called Gloucestre after one gloria whiche was duke of the countre stondeth vpon Seuarne in the marche of Englond wales Shrowesbury a cyte vpon Sauarne in the marche of Englonde wales set vpon the top of an hylle it is called Shrowesburye of shrobbes fruyte that grewe there somtyme on the hylle Brytons called it somtyme Pengre wene that is the hede of a fayr tre Shrowesbury was somtyme the hede of powesye â— stretcheth forth thwarde ouer the mydell of wales vnto the Irysshe see Notyngam stondeth vpon Trence soÌ„tyme heet Notyngham that is the wonÌ„ynge of denÌ„es for the Danes dwelled there soÌ„tyme dygged dennes caues vnder harde stones rokes dwelled there ¶ R. Lyncolyn is cheyf of the prouynce of Lyndeseye was called somtyme Caerlud coit and after warde Lyndecoln It is vncertayne who buylded fyrst thys cyte but yf yt were kyng Lud so it semeth by menynge of the name for the Caer is brytysshe is to say a cyte a coit ys a woode so it semeth the Caerlud coit is to saye Luddes wode towne Kyng leyrâ— was Bladuddes son buylded Leybestre as it were in the myddell of Englond vpon the Ryuer Sos vpon Fosse the kynges bye wyye ¶ wylhel de pon li.iii YOrke is a strete cyte in eyther syde of the water of Ouse that semed as fayr as Rome vnto the tgme that the kyng wyâ—liam had with breÌ„nynge fyre defoulde it the cooÌ„tre about So that a pylgryme wolde now wepe hâ— sawe it yf he had knowen it tofore ¶ Gaufre Ebraneus the .v. kyng of brytons buylded yorke called it after his owne name Caerbranck he baylded also two other cytees one in scotlond is called Edenburgh an other towarde Scotlond in th end of Englond called Edenburgh an other toward Scotlond in th end of Englonde is called Alcliud ¶ R. Edenburth is a cytee in the londe of Pictes bytwene the Ryuer of Twede the scottesshe see heeâ— soÌ„tyme the castell of Maydens was called afterward Edenburgh of Edan kyng of Pictes the regned there in egâ—ridê° tyme kyng of NorthuÌ„berâ—ond Alcliud was soÌ„tyme a noble cyte ys now well nygh vnknowe to all Englysshmen for vnder the Brytons pyctes Englysshmen it was a noble cyte to the comynge of the Danes But after ward about the yere of oure lorde ·viii c.lxx it was destroyed whan the danes destryed the couÌ„trees of NorthuÌ„berloÌ„d but iÌ„ what place of Brytayn the cyte Alcliud was buylded Ductours telleÌ„ dyuersely ¶ Beda li.i sayth that it was buylded by west the arme of the see that departed bytwene the BrytoÌ„s the Pyctes soÌ„tyme there Souerê° â—amoê° wall endeth westward so it semeth by hym that it is not fer froÌ„ Caerleyl for the cyte is set at the ende of that wall Other wryters of storyes wryten that the cyte of Alcliud is the cyte that now is caled AloÌ„burgh that is to say an olde towne standeth vpoÌ„ the Ryuer Ous not fer fro barghbrydge that is .xv. myle westward out of yorke it semeth that he preueth that by Gaufride in his boke of dedes of Brytons he wryteth that Elidurê° kyng of brytoÌ„s was lodged at the cyte Alcliud bycause of solace huÌ„tynge founde his brodeâ— Argalon maskynge in a wode nygh ther besyde that hyght Calatery but that wood Calatery whyche is caltres iÌ„ englysshe recheth almost to yorke stretcheth towarde the north by Aldburgh in length by space of .xx. myle the moost dele of that wode is now drawen downe the loÌ„de ytylled other meÌ„ wolde suppose that Alcliud was the cyte that now is called Burgham in the north couÌ„tre of westmerlonde fast by Comberlond stadeth vpon the Ryuer Eden the cyte is ther wonderly seen Deme ye nowe where it is buylded ¶ Treuysa It is not harde to assoyle yf men take hede the many townes bere one name as Cartage in Affrica Cartago in spayn new porte in wales Newporte in the parysshe of Barkeleye wottonne vnder egge and wotton passeth wyk warwyk payne wyk in the parysshe of Barkelye And two shyre towne eythere is called Hampton as Southampton NorthehamptoÌ„ so it semeth by the storyes the one Alcliud was in yorkshyre an other iÌ„ westmerlonde one fast by the right syde of the west arme of the see that
Thenne the worlde shall be so vnstable and so dyuerse and varyable that the vnstablenes of thoughtes shall be bytokeneth by many manere dyuersytees of clothynge ¶ Here foloweth the dyscrecyon of the londe of wales ca. xvi NOwe this boke taketh on honde Wales after Englonde So take I my tales And wende into wales To that noble blood Of Pryamus blood Knowleche for to wynne Of greate Iupyters kynne For to haue in mynde ✚ Dardanus kynde In these foure tytles I fonde To tell the state of that londe â— Cause of the man I shall telle And thenne prayse the londe and well †Thenne I shall wryte with my pen. All the maners of the men Thenne I shall fonde â— To telle meruaylles of the londe ¶ Of the name and wherfore is named wales ca. xvii WAles nowe is called wallia And somtyme it heet Cambria For Camber Brutes sone Was prynce there dyde wone Thenne wallia was to mene For Gwalaes the quene Kynge Ebrancus chylde Was wedded theder mylde And of that lorde Gwalon With draweth of the sonnâ— And put to l.i a. â— And thou shalte fynde wallia ✚ And though this londe Be moche lesse than Englonde As good glebe is one as other In the doughter in the moder ¶ Of the coÌ„modytes of the londe of wales Capitulo xviii THough that londe be luyâ— It is full of corne and of fruyte And hath grete plente ywys Of flesshe and eke of fysshe Of beestes tame and wylde Of hors sheepâ— oxen mylde Good londe for all sedes For corne gras and herbes that spredes There ben woodes and medes Herbes and floures there spredes There ben Ryuers and welles Valeyes and also hylles Valeyes brynge forth flood And hylles metals good Cooll groweth vnder londe And gras aboue at honde There lyme is copyous And slates for hous Hony and mylke whyte There is deynte and not lyte Of braket meete and ale ✚ Is grete plente in that vale And all that endeth to the lyue That londe bryngeth forth ryue But of grete ryches to be drawe And close many in shorte sawe It is a corner small As though god fyrste of all Made that londe so fele To be selere of all hele Wales is deled by A water that heet Twy North wales from the south Twy deleth in places full couch The south heet Demicia And the other Venedocia The fyrste shoteth and arowes deres That other deleth all with spere In wales how it be Were somtyme courtes thre At Carmerthyn was that one And that other was in Mone The thyrde was in Powysy In Pegwern that nowe is Shrowesbury There were bysshops seuen And nowe ben foure euen Vnder Saxons all at home Somtyme vnder prynces of that londe ¶ Of the maners and rytes of the walsshmen ca. xix THe maner lyuynge of that londe Is well dyuerse frome Englonde In mete and drynke and clothynge And many other doynge They be clothed wonder well In a shyrte and in a mantell A cryspe brethe well saynâ— Dothe in wynde and in rayne In this clothynge they by bolde Though the weder be ryght colde without shetes alway Euermore in this araye They go fyght plye and lepe Stande sytte lye and slepe without surtoâ— gowne cote and kyrtyll without â—open tabarde clok or bell without lace and chaplet that her lappes without hode hatte or cappes Thus arayd gone the segges And alwaye with base legges They kepe none other goynge ⸫ Though they mete with the kynge with arowes and shorte speres They fyght with them that them deres They fyght better yf they neden Whan they go than whan they â—yden In stede of castell and coure They take woode and mareys for socour whan thâ—y seen it is to do In fyghtynge they wolde be a go Gyldas sayth they ben varyable In peas and not stable yf men aâ—e why it be It is no wonder for to se Though men put out of londe To put out other wolde fonde But all for nought at thys stonde For all many woodes ben at gronde And put the see amonge â—en castels buylded stronge The men may dure longe vnete And loue well conume mete They can ete and ben mury without greate cury They ete brede colde and hote Of â—arly and of ote Brode cakes rounde and thynne As well semeth so grete kynne Selde they ete brede of whete And selde they done one ete They haue gruell to pâ—tage And lekes kynde to com panage Also butter mylke and chese y shapeend londe and corner wyse Suche messes they ete snell And that maketh hem drynke well Meâ—e â—d ale that hath myght Theron they spende daye and nyght Euer the redder is the wyne They holde it the more fyne Whan they drynke atte ale They tyll many lewde tale For whan drynke is in handlynge They ben full of Ianglynge Atte meete and after eke Her solace is salte and leke The husbonde in his wyse Telleth that a grete pryce To gyue a gaudron with growele To hem that sytten on his mele He deleth his meete at meele And gyueth euery man his dele And all the ouer pluse He kepeth to his owne vse Therfore they haue woo And myshappes also They eten hote samon alwayâ— All though physyk say nay Her houses ben lowe with all And made of yerdes small Not as in cytees nyghe But fâ—rre a sonder and not to hyghâ— Whan all his eten at home Then to theyr neyghbours wyll they ronne And ete what they maye fynde and se And then torne home ayen The lyf is ydele that they ledes In brennynge slepynge and suche dedes Wallshmen vse with her myght To wesshe theyr ghestes fete a nyght yf he wesshe her fete all and somme Then they knowe that they be welcome They lyue so esely in a route That felde they bere purs aboute At her breche out and home They honge theyr money and combe It is wonder they beso hende And hate crak at nether ende And without ony core Make theyr wardrope at the dore They haue in grete mangery Harpe tabour and pype for mynstralsy They bere corps with sorywes grete And blowe londe hoenes of gheet· They prayse faste Troyau blood For ther of come all her brode ⸫ Nygh kyn they wyll be Though they passe a hondred degree Aboue other men they wyll hym dyght And worshyp preste with her myght As angels of heuen ryght They worshyp seruauntes of god almyght Ofte gyled was this brode And yerned batayll all for woode For Merlyns prophecye And ofte for sortelegye Beste in maners of Brytons For company of Saxons Ben torned to better ryght That is knowen as clere as lyght They tyllen gardyns felde and downes And drawe hym to good townes They ryde armed as woll god And go yhosed and yshoode And sytten fayre at her mele And slepe in beddes fayre and in fele So they seme nowe in mynde More Englysshmen than walsshe kynde yf men axe why they now do so More than they wonte to do They lyuen in more
more to be ware of gyle thanne of crafte of peas than of brennynge brondes of hony than of kynghthode they haue suche maneres that they ben not stronge in warre and in bataylle ne trewe in peas they become gossyps to them that they wyll falsly betraye in the gossybrede and hooly kynred Eueryche drynketh others bloode whanne it is shedde they loue somdâ—lâ— hyr nouryce and her playfers whiche that souke the same mylke that they souked whyle they were chyldreÌ„ And they pursewe ther brethern theyr cosyns and theyr other kyne and despysen theyr kyne whyles they lyue and auenge they re dethe whanne they ben slayne Soo longe hath the vsage of euyll custome endured amonge them that it hathe gotenne the maystrye ouer them and torneth treason in to kynde so ferforthe that they ben traytours by nature ¶ And alyens and men of straunge londes that dwelle amonge them folowynge theyr maners that vaunteh there is none but he is be smetted wyth theyr treason aslo AmoÌ„ge them manye men pyssen syttyge and wymmen standynge ¶ There ben many men in that londe foule shapen in lymmes and in body For in theyr lymmes they lacke the benefyce of kynde Soo that no where ben better shapen thanne they that ben there well shapen none worse shapeÌ„ than they that ben euyll shapen And skylfully nature hurte and defouled by wyckednes of lyuynge brynge the suche gromes and euylle â—penne of hem that wyth vnlawfulle delynâ—â—yth foule manere and euyll lyuynge soo wyckedly defouled kynde and nature In thys lond wales olde wyues wymmeÌ„ were woÌ„re been yet as meÌ„ saye ofte to scape theÌ„sâ—â—â— in lykees of hates for to mylke ther neyghbâ—rs â—ine stole her mylke ofte grâ—y houÌ„des renâ— after theÌ„ pursewen theÌ„ weuen that they be hares Also some by crafte of NygramaÌ„cye 〈◊〉 â—â—tte swyne for to be reed of colour and selfe theÌ„ in markettes fayres But as soone as these swyne passe ony water they torne into theire owne kynde whether it be strawe hey gras of â—ues But these swyne maye not be kept by no craft for teÌ„dure in lykenes of swynes ouer thre daies AmoÌ„ge these wonders other take hede that in the vttermest ende of the worlde falleth newe meruaylles woÌ„ders As thoughe kynde played with large loue secretly and ferre in thendes than openly nygh in the myddeell therfore in this yloÌ„de beÌ„ many gresely woÌ„ders meruaylles ¶ Of the meruaylles and woÌ„ders of Irlonde ca. xxviii MAny men tellen that in the northe syde of Irlonde is the londe of lyfe In that ylonde no man maye deye but whan they ben olde and vexed wyth greate sykenes they ben borne out in to the nexte londe and deye there There is an other ylonde in Irlonde that noo womman ther in may bere a childe but yet she may conceyue Also there is an ylonde in whyche no dede body maye roten In vltonia that is Vlstre is an ylonde in a lake woÌ„derly departed in twene In that one parte is grete dysturbaunce and dyscomforth of frendes in that other partye grete lykyng and comforth of holy angels There is also saynt Patryks purgatory that was shewed at hys prayer to conferme hys prechynge hys lore whan he preched to mysbyleued men of sorowe and payne that euyll meÌ„ shoâ— suffre for ther euyll werkes And of Ioye and of blysse the gode men shall receyue for ther holy dedes he telleth that who that suffreth the paynes of purgatory yf it be enioyned hym for penaunce he shall neuer suffre the paynes of hell but he deye fynally withon repentaunce of synne as the ensample is sette more full at this chapytre ende ¶ Treuisa But truly noman maye be saued but yf he be very repentaunce what someuer penaunce he do and euery man that is very repentaunt as hys lyues ende shall be sekerly saued thoughâ— he neuer here of saynt Patryks purgatorye There is an ylond in conaâ—te Sale that is in the see of Conaccia halowed by saynt Brandon that hath no myse there dede bodyes ben not buryed but beÌ„ kept out of the erth roten not In Mamonia is a wel who that wassheth hym with that water of the welle he shall waxe hore on his heed There is an other wel in Vltonia who someuer is wassheÌ„ therin he shall neuer wexe hore after warde There is a welle in Mounstre or Mamonia \ yf ony maÌ„ touche that welle anone shal falle grete rayne in alle the prouyÌ„ce that rayne shalle neuer cesse tyll a preste that is a clene mayden synge a masse in a chapell that is faste by blesse the water wyth mylke of a cowe that is of one her besprynge the welle so reconcyle the welle in this staunge manere At Glyndal can aboute the oratory of Saynt Keywyn wyches beryth apples as it were apple trees and ben moore holsome than sauery That holy saynt brought forthe these apples by prayers for to hele his shylde that was seke There is a lake in Vlstre and moche fysshe therin whyche is .xxx. myle in lengthe and. in brede The Ryuer Ban renneth out of that lake into the northe Occean and meÌ„ saye that thys lake beganÌ„e in this manere There were men in that countree that were of euyll lyuynge coeuntes cuÌ„brutis And there was a well in that londe in grete reuerence of olde tyme And all waye couered yf it were lefte vncouered the welle wolde ryse and drowned all the londe And soo it happed that a wooman wente to that welle for to fetche water hyed her fast to her chyld that wept in the cradell left the welle vncouered then the welle sprange soo faste that is drowned the woman and her chylde made all the countree a lake and a fysshe ponde for to preue that thys is soo there it is greate argument that whan the weder is clere fysshers of that water see in the rounde vnder the water rounde toures and hyghe shapen as steples and chyrches of that londe In the north syde of Irlonde in the countre of Ossyyryens euery .vii. yere at the prayer of an hooly Abbot tweyne that ben wedded a man and a woman muste nedes be exyled and forshapen in to lyknes of wolues abyde out .vii. yere And atte ende of .vii. yere yf they lyue they come home agayne And take agayne theyr owne shappe And than shall other tweyne goo forthe in theyr stede and soo forshapen for other .vii. yere There is a lake in thys londe yf a poole of tree pyghte and stycked therin that parte of the shafte or poole That is in the erth shall torne in to yron And that parâ—e that abydeth in the water shalle torne into stone And the parte that abydeth aboue shall be tree in his owne kynde Also there is a lake that tornethe hasell in to asshe and asshe in to hasell yf it be done therin Also in Irlonde ben thre Samon lepes there as samons lepe