IN the noble lande of Surrye ther was a noble kyng and myghty, & a man of grete renoun, þat me called Dyoclician, þat wel and worthily hym gouernede, & rewlede thurgh his noble chiualrye, so þat he conquered alle þe landes abowte hym, so that almoste all þe kynges of þe world to hym were entendaunt. ¶ Hyt befell thus, þat this Dioclician spousede a gentyl damysele þat was wondyr fayr, þat was hys Eemys doughter, Labana; & sche loued hym as reson wolde, so þat he gate vpon here xxxiij doughtres, of þe which þe eldest me called Albyne. And þese Damysels, whan þey comyn in-to Age, bycomen so fayre þat it was wondyr. ¶ Wherfore this Dioclician anon lete make A sompnyng, & comaundid by his lettres þat Alle þe kyngys þat heldyn of hym schulde come at A certayn day, as in his lettres was conteyned, to make A ryal feste. At which day, þedir þey comyn, & brought with hem Amyralles, Prynces & Dukes, & noble Chiualrye. þe feste was ryally Arayd; & þere þey lyved in ioy and merthe y-now, that it was wonder to wete.

¶ And hit befelle þus, þat þis Dioclician þoughte maryen his Doughtres among all þo knyghtys þat tho were at that solempnite; and so they speken & dede, that Albyne, his eldest doughter, & alle here sustres, richely were maryed vnto xxxiij kynges that wer lordes of gret honour, & Also power, at þis solempnite. And whanne þe solempnite was done, euery kyng nome his wyf, & lad hem into here owne cuntre, and there maad hem quene. ¶ And hit byfelle þus aftyrward, þat þis dame Albyne bycome so stoute & so sterne, þat sche told litel prys of her lord, And of hym hadde scorne and dyspite, and wolde not done his wylle, but wolde haue here owne wyll in diuerses maners. And all her other sustres, eche on bere hem so euel a-yens here lordes, þat it was wonder to wete. ¶ And for-as-mych as hem thought þat here housebondes were not of so hye parage comen as here fadyr. ¶ But tho kynges þat were her lordes, wolde haue chastysed with fayr speche & byhestes, & also for ȝiftes, and warnyd hem in fayr maner vpon all loue and frenschipe þat þei scholde Amende hir lithir condicions; but al it was for nouȝt, for they deden her owne wil in all þyng þat hem lykede & hadde of power. wherfore þo xxxiij kynges, vpon A tyme, and oftyn-tymes, beten here wyfes, for þey wende that þei wolde haue Amended here tacches and here wykkyd thewes; but of such condicions þei were þat, for fayr speche & warnyng, þei deden the wors, & for betynges eft-sone mych wors. Wherfore þe kyng þat hadde wedded Albyne, wrote þe tacches & þe condicions of his wyf Albyne, & þe lettre sent to Dioclician, her fader. ¶ And whenne þe other kynges herde that Albynes lord had sent lettre to Dioclician, anon þey sente lettres enseled with here seeles [of] þe condicions and þe tacches of here wyfes. ¶ Whanne þe Kyng Dioclician saw & herde so many pleyntes of his doughters, he was sore a-schamed, & bycome wonder Angry & wroth to-ward his doughters, & þought boþe nyght & day how he þo myghte amende hit þat þey so mysdede. ¶ And anon sente his lettres vnto þo xxxiij kynges, þat þey schulde come to hym, & brynge with hem here wyfes, euerychon at a certayn day, for he wolde þere chastise hem of here wikkydnes, if he myghte in eny maner wyse. So þat þe kynges comen All at þe day & tyme þat þo was sette bytwen hem; & þe Kyng Dioclician hem vndir-fenge with mychel honour, & made A solempne feste to all þat were vndir his lordschipe. And þe thrid day of þat solempnyte, þe kyng Dioclician sente for his xxxiij doughtres, þat þei schulde come & speke with hym in his chambre. & whenne þey were comen, he spak vn-to hem of here wikkydnes & of here cruelte, & dispitously hem reproued And vndirnam, & to hem he sayde þat, ȝif þei wolde not be chastised, þei schulde his loue lese for euermore. ¶ And whanne þe ladyes herd al this, þei becomen abasshed & gretly a-schamed; & to here fadir þey seyd þat þei wolde make al amendes; & so þey departed out from here fadres chambre. and Dame Albyne, þat was þe eldest suster, lad hem all into her chambre, & þo made voide al þat were þerin, so þat no lyf was among hem but sche & here sustres y-fere. þo saide þis Albyne ¶ "My fair sustres, ful weel ȝe knowiþ þat þe kyng oure fadir, vs hath reprouyd, schamed & dispised, for encheson to make vs obedient vn-to oure housbandes; but certes þat schal y neuere, whiles þat I lyve, seth þat I am come of a more hyere kynges blod þan my housband is." & whan sche had so seyd, all here sustres seyd þe same. ¶ And þo seyd Albyne: "ful wel y wot, fayr sustres, þat oure housbandes haue playned vnto owre fadir vpon vs, wherfore he hath þus vs foul reproued & dispised. wherfore, sustres, my counseil is þat, þis nyght, when owre housbandes ben abed, all we with on assent cutten here throtes, & þan we mow be in pees of hem, & better we mowe do þis þing vndir our fadres power þan elles-where." & anon All þe ladyes consentid and graunted vnto þis counceil. ¶ And whan nyght was comyn, þe lordes & ladies wente to bedde, & anon as here lordes were in slepe, þei cutte all here housbandes throtes, & so they slowen hem all.

¶ whan þat Dioclician her fader herd of þis þing, he by-come hugely wroth A-ȝens his Doughtres, & anon wolde hem all haue brent; but Alle þe barouns & lordes of Sirrye conceilyd hym not so for-to don suche sternys to his owne doughtres, but onlych schulde voide þe land of hem for euermore, so þat þei neuere schulde come aȝen; & so he dede. ¶ And anon Dioclician, þat was here fadir, commaundid hem to gon in-to schipe, & deliueryd to hem vitailles for half a ȝeer. and when þis was don, all þe sustryn went in-to Shipe, & saylled forth in þe See, & be-toke alle her frendes to Appolyn, þat was her god. And so long þey sailled in þe See, til at þe laste þei come & aryued in an yle þat was all wyldernes. ¶ And when dame Albyne was come to þat land, & all her sustres, þis Albyne went ferst owt of þe shipe, & sayde to here oþer sustres: "for-as-mich," quod sche, "as I am þe eldest suster of all þis cumpanye, & ferst þis land haue takyn, & for-as-meche as myn name is Albyne, y wil þat þis land be called Albyon, after myn owne name;" & anon all here Sustren her graunted with a good wylle.

¶ Tho wenten owt all þe Sustres of þe Shippe, & tokyn þe lond Alybyon, as here Suster called hit; & þere þei wente vp and doun, and founde neiþer man ne woman ne child, but wylde bestes of diuers kyndes. ¶ And whan here vitaill were dispendid, & hem faylled, þei fedde hem with erbes & frutes in seson of þe ȝeer, & so þey lyued as þei beste myght. And after þat, þei tokyn flessh of diuers beestys, and bycomen wondir fatte, and so þei desirid mannes cumpanye and mannys kynde þat hem faylled; and for hete they woxen wondir coraious of kynde þat hem faylled, so þat þey desirid more mannys cumpanye þan eny other solas or merthe.

¶ Whanne þe Deuyll that perceyued and wente by diuers contres, & nome bodyes of þe eyre & likyng natures shad of men, & come in-to þe land of Albyon and lay by þe wymmen, and schad tho natures vpon hem, & they conceiued, and after þei broughten forth Geauntes, of þe which on me called Gogmagog, and anoþer Laugherigan, & so þei were nompned by diuers names; & in þis manere they comen forth, and weren boren horrible Geauntes in Albion; & þey dwellyd in Cauys & in hulles at here will, & had þe lond of Albyon as hem liked, vn-to þe tyme þat Brut Arryved & come to Tottenesse, þat was in þe Ile of Albyon. and þere þis Brut conqueryd & scomfyted these geaunteȝ aboueseyd.

And whan this myschaunce byfalle was, þe people of þe land made sorowe ynow, & were an-Angryd; & for encheson þerof þei dreven Brut out of þe land, & wolde not suffre hym among hem. and he Saw þat he moste not Abyde, & went fro thens in-to þe Greek; & þer he fonde vijMl men þat were of þe lynage & kynrede of Troy, þat weren come of gret blod, as þe story telleth as of men and wommen & childryn, þe wheche weren all holden in thraldom and bondage [by] ¶ the Kyng Pandras of Greek, for the deth of Achilles, þat was betrayed and slayn at Troye.

This Brut was a wondir fair man, & a strong, & A huge of his Age, & of glad chere semblaunt, and also worthy of body, & was wel beloued among his puple. This Kyng Pandras herde speke of his goodnesse & his condicions, & anon made hym dwell with hym, so þat Brut be-come wondir þryve & mych belouyd with þe kyng, so þat longtyme Brut dwellyd with þe kyng. ¶ So at last þei of Troy & Brut spoken to-gedre of kynrede & of lynage & of Aqueyntaunce, & þer pleyned hem vnto Brut of her sorowe & her bondeage, & of meny other schames þat þe [Kyng] Pandras hem don. & to Brut þei seyde vpon A tyme: "ȝe ben A lord of oure lynage, & A strang man & a myghty. be ȝe oure Avowe & oure lord, & we wyl become ȝoure men, & ȝoure comandementes done in alle maner thyng; and brynge ȝe vs out of this wrechidnes & bondage, & fyght we with þe kyng; for thurgh þe grace of þe grete god we schul hym ouercome; & we schul make ȝou kyng of þe land, & to ȝow done homage, & of ȝow we schullen holde euer-more."

Brut hadde þo gret pyte of hir bondage þat þei were brought Inne, And pryvyly went hym from þe kynges Court; & all þo þat were of Troy went & put hem in-to wodes and Into Mounteynes, and hem helde, & sent to Kyng Pandras þat he schulde ȝeue hem leue safely for-to wende out of þe londe, for þei nolde no lenger dwelle in his bondage. ¶ The Kyng Pandras wax so sore anoyed, & þo swore that he wolde sle hem echon, & ordeyned a gret power, & wente towardes hem all for-to fight. but Brut & his men anon manly hem defended, & fersly foghten & quelled all þe kynges men, þat non of hem, Ascaped, & took þe kyng, & hym helden in pryson, & ordeyned counceyl betwen hem what þei myght do. Sum seyd þat he schuld be put to deth, & summe seyd þat he schulde be exyled out of þe land, & summe seyd þat he schulde be brent. ¶ And þo spak a wyse knyght þat me cleped Menprys, & seyd to Brut & to all þo of Troy: "yf Kyng Pandras wold ȝelde hym, & haue his lyf, y counceyl þat he ȝeue vnto Brut, þat is our Duke & oure souerayn, his doughter Gennogen to wyf, & in Mariage with here an hundrid Shippes wel arayed, & al his tresour of gold & of syluer, of corn, of wyn, & as myche as vs nedith for to haue of o thing & of oþer; & þan go we out of þis land, & ordeine we vs land elles-wher; for we, ne non of our kynrede þat comen after vs, schuld neuer haue pees in þis land amonges hem of Grek; for we haue sleyn so meny of her knyghtes & of oþer frendes, þat euermor werre & contect schuld be Amonges vs." ¶ Brut þo, & his folk, consentyd wel to þis counceyl; & þis þing þei tolden to Kyng Pandras. ¶ And þe kyng, for-to haue his lyf, graunted as meche as þei axed, & anon ȝaf vn-to Brut, Gennogen his Doughter, to wyf, & þe hundred sheppes, with as myche as hem neded of all vitalles, as byfore was ordeyned.

Brut þo toke his wyf, & all his men þat forsoke þe lond of Greek, & wenten hem vnto þe see & hadden wedir at wyll & comen þe þrid day in-to An Ile þat me calleþ Loegers. ¶ Brut anon sent of his men a land, for-to aspye þe maner of þe Cuntre. & þey founden an olde Cyte al wasted & forlete, þat nas þer-in nor man ne woman, ne no thing dwellynge; & In þe Myddyl of þis Cytee þey founden an olde Temple of a fayr lady þat me called Diane þe Goddesse. and þei comen aȝen vnto Brut, & told hym what þei had seyn & founden, & counceyled hym to go & do sacrifice to Dame Diane, for she was wont to ȝeue answere of what þing þat euere men prayed here, & namely vn-to hem þat her honoured with sacrifice. ¶ Brut went to þat ymage, & seyd: "Dyane, noble goddes, lady þat al þing hast in myght & in þy power, wyndes, watres, wodes, feldes, & al thinges of þe world, & al maner bestes þat þer-In ben! to ȝow y make my prayer, þat ȝe me counceyle & telle where & in what place y schal haue a conuenable dwellynge for me & for my peple; & þer y schal make, in honour of ȝow, a wel fayr temple, & a noble, wheryn ȝe schul euermore be honoured." ¶ When he had don his prayer, Dyane Answerid in this manere: "Brut," quod sche, "go euenforth þy wey ouer þe see in-to Fraunce, toward þe west, & þer ȝe schul fynde an Ile þat is called Albyon; and þat Ile is bycompassed al with þe see, & no man may come þer-In but it be by schippes; and in þat lond were wont to be Geauntȝ but it is not so, but al wyldirnesse; and þat lande to ȝou is destynyed, & ordeigned for ȝow & for ȝoure peple."

Whan Brut herde þis Answere of Dyane þe Goddes, anon he lete þe Ancres wynd vp, & sayled in-to þe hye see. & whan he & his men had sayled xx dayes & more, þei founden fast bysyde a coste of þe see thre hundred men of þe lynage & kynrede of Troy, & her souerayn & her mayster of all, men Called Coryn. ¶ And when Brut wyste whens þei were, he þo vndirfong hem with mychel ioy in-to his Shepys, & hem lad forth with hym. This Coryn þo bycome Brutes man, & to hym dede fewte & homage. & so long þei sayled forth þan in þe See tul they come to Gascoign; & anon þei arryued in þe hauene of Liegers, & þer þei dwellidde viij dayes, hem for-to rest, & her sayles to Amend, þer as nede was.

Tydyng sone come to Kyng Goffar, þat was lord of þe land, how þat myche folk of straunge land weren Arryued in his land in þe hauene of Liegiers; wher-fore he was sore Angred & anoyed þat þey comen & aryued in his land withoute leue. and anon he ordeigned power hem to dryven owt, & to shende; but Kyng Goffar was discomfyted, & al his folk, & hym-self fledde in-to ffraunce to seche help & socour. ¶ And in þat tyme regned in Fraunce xij kynges; & þe elleueneth assembled a gret power for-to helpe Goffar for-to fight aȝens Brut. Goffar dwelled with hem of Fraunce half a ȝere & more. And Brut in þe mene-tyme, & his cumpanye, destroyed al þe land of Gascoigne, & lete take al þe tresour þat Kyng Goffar hadde, & lete brynge it in-to his Shippes. And þis Brut fonde in þat lond a fayr place & a couenable; & þer Brut made a fayr Castell & a strong. whan þat was don, Kyng Goffar come fro Fraunce, & xj kynges with hym, & broughten xx Ml men for-to fight with Brut & his cumpanye. And Brut hadde but vij Ml men & thre hundred. Netheles, whan þe to ostes metten to-gider, Brutes folk—thurgh help of hym-self, & of Turyn his Cosyn, & of Coryn þat wel & manly hym defended & fought; so þat in litil tyme þei hadde quelled of þe Frenssh-men to Ml & mo; & þo þat were lyue fledden away. ¶ And in this batayle Turyn, þat was Brutes Cosyn, was sleyn, & Brut lete hym entere worthyly, whan he had space & leyser, in þe Castell þat he had made, & þo lete [calle hit] Castel Tours after his owne name þat þere was entered. & ȝit in-to þis day þer is a noble Cytee þat is called Tours.

Whan Kyng Goffar wiste þat Turyn was ded, he come aȝen with his men, & after ȝaf a strong battaylle vn-to Brut; but Brut & his men were so wery of fyghtynge þat þey myghte no lengere endure; but maugre hym & al his, Brut & his men went in-to his Castell with all his men, and made þe ȝates fast for-to saue hem-self, & for-to take counceill amonges hem what were best to done. ¶ Brut & Coryn nome counceill, & ordeigned þat Coryn pryuyly shuld gon out at a Posterne of þe Castell, with half his men, & schuld go & bussh hem in A wode til amorowe, so þat in þe mornyng, whan Brut schuld fyght with his enemyes, Coryn schulde come with hes folk in þat o syde, & sle and do all þe harme þat he myght. And amorow in þe dawnenge, Brut went out of þe Castell, & faught with his enemyes, & þey hem fersly defendid. but with-Inne a litil tyme Brut & his folk hadden slayn viij C of Goffars men; And þo come Coryn fro þe busshement, & smote to grounde, he & his Cumpanye, al þat wold stande or Abyde, so þat Kyng Goffar & his folk were discomfited, & faste they gunne to fle. ¶ And Brut & Coryn, with here companye, fresshly hem pursued, & quelled of hem mo in fleyng þan þei dede in batayll. And in þat manere Brut hadde þe victorye. And neþeles Brut made myche sorowe for his Cosyn Turyn, þat þer was slayn, & for oþer also þat he had lost of his men, þat is to seyne, vij C and xv, þe which [he] noblich lete entere in þe Castell of Tours, þer þat he had entered Turyn his Cosyn.

Whan al þis was done, Brut wolde no lengere þer dwelle for to fight, ne mo lese of his peple, for Kyng Goffarys peple myght euery day encrece mo & mo, & Brutes lassen; & therefore he nome all his men, & went vnto þe See, & hadde wynd & wedir at wille. and þe v day afterward they aryued in an hauene of Totnesse, & comen in-to þe Ile of Albion; & þer þey founde neiþer man ne woman, as þe story telleþ, but Geauntz; & þey woned in hulles and in Caues. Brut saw þe land was fayr, & at his likynge, & good also for hym & for his folk, as Dyane þe goddes had hym behyght. þo was Brut wonder glad, & lete assemble vpon a day al his folk, to make a solempne sacrifice & a gret feste in honour & reuerence of Dyane, þurght whas counceill he was come in-to þat land.

And whan they had her solempnyte maad, as þey vpon a day were at mete, þer come yn vpon hem sodenly xxx Geauntȝ, & quellyd of Brutes men xxx. Brut & his men anon stertyn vp, & his men foughten with þe Geauntȝ, & quellyd hem euerychon but o Geaunt, þat was Mayster of hem all, þat me called Gogmagog, þat was strenger & heyer þan eny of þe other Geauntȝ; & Brut kepte hym, & sauyd his lyf, for encheson þat he schulde wrastle with Coryn, for Coryn was grettere & hugere þan eny of Brutes men fro þe gerdel stede vpward. ¶ Gogmagog & Coryn vndirtook to wrastelyn y-fere; & so to-gider þey wrasteled long tyme, but at þe last Gogmagog helde Coryn so fast þat he brak ij rybbys of his syde, wherfore Coryn was sore agreuyd, & nome þo Gogmagog betwene his Armes, & cast hym doun vpon a roche, so þat Gogmagog brak al to peces, & so he dyde in evill deth; & þerfore þe place is called ȝit in-to þis day 'þe sawte of Gogmagog.'

& þo ȝaf Brute al þat Cuntre to Coryn; & Coryn called [hit] after his name 'Cornewayle'; & his men he called 'Cornewayles' & [so] schul men of þat Cuntre be called for euermore. And in þat Cuntre dwellyd Coryn & his men, & made Tounes & houses, & enhabited þe land at her wylle.

BRut and his men wenten forth & sought aboute in diuers places wher they myghte fynde a good place & a couenable þat þey myghte [make] in a Cytee for hym and for his folk, so at þe laste þey come by a fayr Ryuer þat is called þe Tamyse; & þer Brut be-gan a fayre Cyte for hym & for his folk, & lete calle it 'þe new Troye,' in mynde & remembraunce of þe gret Troye, for which place all her lynage was comen. ¶ And þis Brut lete felle adoun wodes, & lete erye & sowe londes, & done mow medes for sustinaunce of hym & of his peple. & he departed þe land to hem, so þat eche of hem had a certayn place for to dwelle vpon. And Brut lete Calle al þis land Britaigne, after his owne name, & his folk he lete calle Britouns. ¶ And þis Brut had geten on his wyf Gennogen iij sones þat were worthy of dedes: þe firste me callyd Lotryn, þe secounde Albanac, & þe thryd kambyr. ¶ And Brut bare Crowne in þe Cyte of newe Troye xx ȝeer after tyme the Cyte was made; & ther he made þe lawes þat þe Britouns holdeþ: & þis Brut was wondirly weel byloued among all men; & Brutes Sones also loueden wonderly wel to-gydere.

¶ And whan Brut had sowte all þe lond in lengthe & brede, he fonde A land þat ioyned to Brytaigne in þe north; and þat land Brut ȝaf to Albanac his sone, and he lete calle yt Albanye after his name, þat now is called Scotland. ¶ And Brut fonde anothir Cuntre toward þe west; & þat he ȝaf to Cambre his other sone, & he lete calle yt Cambre aftyr his name, & now is called Walys. And whan Brut had regnyd xx ȝeer, as byfore is sayd, he dyde in þe Cytee of newe Troy, & þere his Sones hym entered with mychil honour. And Lotryn, Brutes sone, was Crowned kyng with myche solempnyte of all þe land of Brytaigne. And after, whan he was Crouned, Albanak & Camber, his too brethryn, went aȝen in-to here owne Cuntre, & leuedyn with myche honour, & Lotryn here brother regned & was kyng and gouerned þe land wel & wysely, for he was a good man, & wondir wel belouyd of all his land.

¶ And it befel so þat Albanac dwelde in his owne land with myche honour & worschepe.

And so come Kyng Humbar of Hunland with a gret power & strengthe, & Arryved in Albanye, & wolde haue conqueryd þe land, & bygan to werre vpon Albanak, & hym quelled in bataylle. Whan Albanac was slayn, þe folk of þe land flye vn-to Lotryn, & told hym, for he was Kyng of Brytaigne, how þat his brother was slayn, & prayed hym of help for-to Auenge his brotherys deth. Lotryn anon lete asemble all þe Brytouns of Kent, of Douorre, vn-to Derewent, of Northfolk & Southfolc, of Kestefen & of Lyndeseye; & whan they were all Assembled, þei spedde faste toward her enemyes for to ȝeue hem bataylle. ¶ Lotryn had sent to Camber, his Brother, þat he schuld come also to hym with all þe power that he myght, hym for-to helpe; & so he dede, with good will. So þei comen all to-gedres, & nome her wey priuyly for to seche Humbar wher þey myghte hym fynde. ¶ And so it byfel þat þis Humbar was besides a water þat was a gret Ryuer, with his folk, hym for to dysport; and þo come Lotryn & Camber his brother, with all his folk sodeynly, or þat eny of þat oþer it wyste.

¶ And whan Humbar saw hem come, he was sore adrad, forasmyche as his men wist it not, & also þey were vnarrayed. And anon Humbar for drede, lept in-to þe water & drenchyd hymself, & so deide: he & his men weren all y-slayn, þat non of hem ascaped. And þerfore is þat water called Humbar, & euermore schalbe, for encheson þat Kyng Humbar was þer-In drenched.

¶ And after þat, Lotryn wente to here shippes, & toke þer gold & siluer, and as myche as he fand vn-to hym-self; & all þat other pylfre he ȝaf vn-to other folk of þe ost. & þei founden in oon of þo shippes A fayr Damysell þat was Kyng Humbarys doughter, & me called her Estrilde. ¶ And whan Lotryn saw here, he took here with hym for here fayrnesse, and for here, was on taken for loue, & wolde haue weddid here. Þis tydynges come to Coryn: anon he thought to Auenge hym vpon Lotryn, for-as-meche as Lotryn had made couenaunt for-to spowsen Corynys doughter, þat me called Guentolen. ¶ And Coryn in haste wente to hym, vn-to þe Newe Troye, & þus sayd to Lotryn: "¶ Now certes," quod he, "ȝe rewarden me ful euel for all þe paynes þat I suffryd & hadde many tymes for Brut, ȝoure fader; & therfore I wyl now Auenge me vpon ȝow;" & drow his fauchon an hye, and wold haue slayn Lotryn, but þe Damysell went be-twen hem, & made hem acorded in þis manere, þat Lotryn schuld spouse Guentolen, þat was Corynys doughter; and so Lotryn dede, and neþeles, þei he had spoused Corynys doughter pryuylich, he come to Estrilde, & brought here with childe, & gate on here A doughter þat me called Abraham. ¶ hyt byfel anon after, þat Coryn dide; & anon as he was ded, Lotryn forsook Guentolen his wyf, & made Estrylde quene. And Guentolen went þens al in wrathe in-to Cornewaylle, & seised all þe land in-to her hand, for-as-myche as sche was here Fadrys eyr, & vndirfonge feautes & homages of all þe men of þe land, and after Assembled a gret oste & a gret power, for-to be vpon Lotryn auenged, þat was her lord, and to hym come, & ȝaf hym A Strong bataill. & þer was Lotryn slayn, & his men descomfited, þe v ȝeer of his Reigne. ¶ Guentolen lete take Estrilde, and Abraham here dougter, and bynde boþe hondes and fete, & caste hem in-to a water; & so þey were drenchyd; wherfore þat water was euermore called after, 'Abraham,' after þe name of þe damysell þat was Estrildes doughter; & englissh-men called þat water Seuerne, & Walsshmen called þat water Abraham, into þis day. ¶ And whan þis was don, Guentolen lete Crowne her quene of þat land, & gouerned þe land ful well & wysely vnto þe tyme þat Madhon her Sone, þat Lotryn had begete vpon here, wer of xx ȝer Age, þat he myght be kyng; so þat þe qwen regned xv ȝeer; & þo lete she crowne here sone; & he regned & gouerned þe land wel & honourably; & sche wente in-to Cornewaill, & þer sche dwellid al her lyves tyme.

THis Ebrac regnede .lx. ȝer, and stronge man was, & miȝty, and þis Ebrac, þrouȝ his miȝt, and helpe of his Britons, conquerede al ffraunce, and wan þere so miche golde and siluer þat, when he come aȝeyne into þis lande, he made a noble citee, and after his name lete calle it Ebrac, after his name, þat now is callede Euerwik. and þis king Ebrac made þe castel of Maydenes þat now is clepede Edenburght. This kyng hade xx sones and xxiij douȝtres, be diuerse wymmen geten; and þe sones were callede as ȝe shul hure; Brut Greneshal, Margand, Seisel, Morghwith Flenghan, Bladud, Iakyn, Kymbar, Rocelyn, Spadogh, Godeherl, Thormnan, Eldaugh, Iorkanghut, Haybor, Ketyn, Rother, Kaier, & Assaruth. ¶ And þe doughtres highten as ȝe shul hur after: Elegyne, Ymmogen, Oghdas, Guenbran, Guardiche, Angarel, Guentolde, Tangustel, Gorghon, Michel, Medham, Mailour, Ondur, Cambredan, Rogan, Reuthely, Neest, Cheghem, Scadud, Gladus, Heberhyn, Abalaghe, and Blandan: and þise were þo xxiij douȝtres; and þe breþerne bicome gode knyȝtes and worþi in meny contres.

After þe deth of Kyng Ebrac, regnede Brut Greneshel, his sone xxx ȝer, þat was Ebrakes ferst sone, þat wel and noblye regnede. and when tyme come, he deide, and ¶ liþ at Ȝork.

ANd when Brut Greneshal was dede, regnede his sone Leil xxij ȝere; and he made a faire toune, and lete calle it Karleil after his name, and was a worþi man, and miche bilouede of his people, and when he hade regnede xxij [years] he deide, and liþ at Karleil. ¶ And in his tyme renede Kyng Salamon in Jerusalem, þat made þe noble temple; and to him come to Ierusalem, Sibille, Quene of Saba, for-to hure and see if it were soþe þat men spoken of þe grete noblee and wisdome, and of witte of Kyng Salamon: and she founde it soth þat men hade here tolde.

ANd after þis Kyng Leil, regnede his sone Lud Ludybras, þat made þe citee of Kaunterbery and of Wynchestre; and he regnede xiij ȝere, and deide, and lith at Wynchestre.

ANd after þis Lud Ludebras, regnede Bladud his sone, a grete nigromancer; and þrouȝ his crafte of nigromancie he made þe meruailous hote bathe, as þe gest telleþ, & he regnede xxj ȝere, and he lith at þe newe Troye.

After þis Kyng Bladud, regnede Leir his sone; and þis Leir made þe toune of Leycestre, and lete calle þe toune after his name; and he gouernede þe lande wel and [nobly]. ¶ þis kyng Leir hade iij doughtres: þe ferst highte Gonorille, þe secunde Rigan, and þe þridde Cordeile; and þe ȝongest doughter was fairest and best of condiciouns. ¶ þe king here fader bicome an olde man, and wolde þat his doughtres were mariede or þat he deide. but ferst he þougt assaye whiche of ham louede him most and best; for she þat louede him best shulde best bene mariede. and he axede of þe ferst dought[er] how miche she louede him; and she ansuerede and saide, 'bettre þan here owen lif.' "Now certes," quod þe fader, "þat is a grete loue." ¶ Þo axede he of þe secunde doughter, how miche she him louede; and she saide, 'more, and passing al þe creatures leuyng of þe worlde.' "ma foy," quod þe fader, "y may no more axen." ¶ And þo axede he of þe þridde doughter, how miche she him louede. "certes, fader," quod she, "my sustres haue tolde ȝow glosyng wordes; but for-soþe y shal tel ȝow treuþ: for y loue ȝow as miche as me oweþ to loue my fader; and forto bryng ȝow more in certeyne how loue goþ, I shal ȝow telle, for-as-miche as ȝe bene worþe, as muche shal ȝe bene louede." ¶ The kyng here fader wende þat she hade scornede him, and bicome wonder wroth, and swore by heuen and erþe þat she shulde neuer haue goode of him; but his douȝtres þat louede him so miche shulde be wel auauncede and mariede. and þe ferste dougter he mariede to Mangles, King of Scotlande; And þe secunde he mariede to Hanemos, Erl of Cornewaile; and so þai ordeynede and speke bituene ham þat þai shulde departe þe reaune bituene ham too, after þe deþ of Leir her fader, ¶ So þat Cordeil his ȝongest doughter shulde noþing haue of his lande. but þis Cordeil was wonder faire, and of so goode condicions and maners, þat þe Kyng of Fraunce, Agampe, herde of here speke, and sent to þe Kyng Leir, he[r] fader, for to haue her vnto wif, and prayede him þerof. And Kyng Leir here fader sent him worde þat he hade departede the lande to his ij oþere douȝtres, and saide he nade no more lande wherwiþ her forto marie. ¶ And when Agampe herde þis ansuere, he sent anone aȝeyne to Leir, and saide þat he axede noþing wiþ here, but oneliche heir cloþing and oneliche heir body; and anone Kyng Leire here fader sent here ouer þe see to þe Kyng of France; and he resceyuede here wiþ michel worship and wiþ michel solempnite, & made here Quene of Fraunce.

ANd after þis Conenedag, regnede Rynallo his sone, an Wise knyȝt, and an hardy and curteise, þat wel and nobly gouernede þe lande, and wonder wel made him bilouede of al maner folc. and in his tyme it raynede bloode þat lastede iij dayes, as God wolde; and sone after þere come a gret deth of peple, for hostes with-out noumbre of peple fouȝten til þat þai were dede, Wherof no man myȝt ham lette til þat almiȝty God þerof tok mercy and pitee; and tho gan it cesse. and þis Raynolde regnede xxij ȝere, & deide, & ¶ liþ at Ȝork.

After þis Ryuallo, regnede Gorbodyan his sone xv ȝere, and deide and lith at Ȝork.

WHen þise ij breþerne were so dede, þai nade Lefte bihynde ham noo sone ne doughter, ne none oþere of þe kynrede þat might haue þe heritage. & for-asmiche as þe strongest men dryuen and descomfitede þe feblest, and token al here landes, so þat in euery contre þai hade grete werre and stryfe. ¶ But amonge alle oþere þinges, þere were amonges ham in þe contre þat ouercome alle þe oþere; and þrouȝ heir strengþ and myȝt þai nomen and token al þe landes; and eueryche of ham tok a certeyne contre; and in his contre lete calle him kyng. ¶ And on of ham, men callede Stater; and he was Kyng of Scotland; and þat oþere me callede Dunwal, and he was Kyng of Loegers, and of alle þe landes þat was Lotrynes, Brutes sone. ¶ þe þridde, men callede Rudak, and he was Kyng of Walys; and þe iiijte me callede Cloten, and he was Kyng of Cornewaile. ¶ But þis Cloten shulde haue hade al þe lande, be resoun for þere was no man þat wist none so ryȝthful heire as he was; but þo þat were strongest sette litel by ham þat were of lasse estate, and þerfor þis Cloten hade no more lande amonges ham þan onliche ¶ Cornewaile.

THis Cloten hade a sone þat me clepede Donewal, þat, after þe deth of his fader, bicome an hardy man, and a faire and a curteise, so þat he passede alle þe kynges of Britaigne of fairenesse and of worþinesse. ¶ And as he was knyght, he Wiste wel when his fader leuede he was moste ryghtful heire of al þe lande, and shulde haue hade it by resoun; but oþere kynges þat were of more strengþ þan he, binome him his lande. ¶ And afterwarde þis Donebande ordeynede him powere, and ferst conquerede al þe lande of Loegers; and after he wolde haue conquerede al Scotland and Walys; and Stater wiþ his men come, and ȝaf him bataile; and Rudak come aȝeyne wiþ his Walshemen forto helpe him; But so it bifel þat Rudak was slayn, and Skater also, in pleyn bataile; and so Donewal hade þe victorye, and conquerede al þe lande, and wel mayntenede it in pees and quyete, þat neuer bifore it was so wel mayntenede.

THis Donewal lete make him a crone of golde, and werede þe croune oppon his heuede, as neuer kyng dede bifore; and he ordeynede a statute þat, hade a man done neuer so miche harme, and he might come into þe temple, þere shulde no man him misdo, but gone þerin sauf and in pees, and aftre gone into what contre þat he wolde, withouten eny harme; and if eny man sette hande oppon him, he þan shulde lese his lif. ¶ And þis Donewal made þe toune of Malmesbury, and þe toune of þe Vise; & when he hade regnede wel and nobly .xl. ȝere, he deide, & liþ at newe Troye.

ANd after þat þis Donewal was [dede], his sones þat he hade, departede þe lande bituene ham as her fader hade ordeynede; so þat Belyn, his eldest sone, hade al the lande a þis halfe Humber, and his broþer Brenne hade al þe lande fram Humber vnto Scotland; but for-asmich as Belyn hade þe better parte, Brenne þerfor wax wroþ, and wolde haue hade more of þe lande; and Belyn his broþer wolde graunt him nomore; Wherfor contak and werre aroos bituene ham ij. But Brenne þe ȝonger broþer hade no myȝte ne strengþ aȝeynȝ Belyn; and þerfor Brenne, þrouȝ conseil of his folc, went fram þens into Norway, to þe Kyng Elsinges, and prayede him of helpe and of socoure forto conquere al þe lande of Britayn vppon Belyn his broþer, oppon þat couenaunt, þat he wolde haue his douȝter to wyf; and þe Kyng Elsinges him grauntede. ¶ Belyn, anone as his broþer was gone to Norway, he seisede into his hande al þe lande of Northumberland, and toke al þe castelles, and lete ham arraie, and also kepe þe costes of þe see, þat Brenne shulde nouȝt arryue in no side but þat he were take. ¶ The Kyng Elsinges lete assemble a grete hoste, and delyuerede his doughter to Brenne, and alle þe peple þat he hade ordeynede. And þis damisel, Samye, hade longe tyme louede a kyng þat me callede Gutlagh; and to him she tolde al here counseil, how þat Brenne shulde here haue, and here lede wiþ him for euermore, and so he shulde her lese, but if þat she myȝt forsake Brenne. ¶ And when Gutlagh herde þise tydynges, he lay forto aspie Brenne, wiþ alse meny shippes as he myȝt haue, so þat þo ij fletes metten to-gederes, and longe tyme foughten, so þat Brenne and his shippes turnede aȝeyne, and were descomfitede; and Kyng Gutlagh toke Samye, and put here into shippe, and Brenne shamefully fleye þens as a man descomfitede. ¶ And Gutlagh wolde haue went into his countree; but þere come oppon him a stronge tempest, þat .v. dayes Laste, so þat þrouȝ þat tempest he was dryuen into Britaigne with iij shippes, and wiþ no mo. and þo þat kepte þe costes of þe see token Gutlagh and Samye, and alle his folc, and ham presentede vnto Belyn, and he put ham into prisoun.

HIt was nouȝt longe after, þat Brenne ne come aȝeyne with a stronge meny, and sent to his broþer Belyn, þat he shulde ȝelde aȝeyne his lande to his wif and to his folc, & his castelles also, or elles he wolde destroye his lande. Belyn drade no þing his manace, and wolde no þing done after þat he saide. Wherfore Brenne come with his folc, and fauȝt with him; and Brenne was descomfitede, and his folc slayne, and him-self fleede wiþ xij men into Fraunce. ¶ And þis Belyn, þat was Brennes broþere, went þen vnto Ȝork, and toke counseil what he myȝt done, wiþ Kyng Gutlagh; for Kyng Gutlagh proferede to bicome his man, and to holde his lande of him, ȝeldyng by ȝere Ml li of siluer for euer-more; and for sikernesse of þis couenaunt to bene holde, Gutlaghe shulde bryng him gode hostages, and to him shulde done homage, and al his folc, and ȝitte he shulde suere oppon the book þat þise couenauntes shulde nouȝt bene broken ne falsede. ¶ Belyn þo, by counseil of his folc, grantede him his axing; and so Gutlagh bicome his man; and Belyn vnderfonge of him his homage by othe, and by wrytyng þe same couenauntȝ ¶ And oppon þis Couenant King Gutlagh tok Samye and his folc, and went þennes, and turnede aȝeyn to Dennemarc. ¶ Euermore after were the couenauntes Halden, and þe truage paiede, til þe tyme þat Hauelok was Kyng of Denmarc, and also of þis lande, þrouȝ his wif Gildeburghe, þat he hade spousede, for she was þe ryȝt heire of þis lande. ¶ þis Belyn duellede þo in pees, and worshepliche him helde amonges his barons; and he made iiij real waies, one fram þe Est into West, and þat was callede Watlyngstrete; and anoþere fram þe North into þe South, þat was callede Ikenyle strete; and ij oþere waies he made in bossinge þrouȝ-oute the lande: þat one is callede Fosse, and þat oþere Fossedik; and he mayntenede wel þe gode Lawes þat Doneband his fader hade made and ordeynede in his tyme, as bifore is saide.

BRenne, that was Belynes broþer, hade longe tyme duellede in Fraunce, and þere hade conquerede a grete lordeship þrouȝ mariage, for he was Duc of Burgoyne þrouȝ þe douȝter of þe duc Fewyn þat he hade spousede, þat was right heire of þe lande. and þis Brenne ordeynede a grete power of his folc and also of Fraunce, and come into þis lande forto feight with Belyn his broþer. and Belyn come aȝeynes him with a stronge powere of Britons, and þo wolde haue ȝeue him bataile; but heir moder Cornewenne, þat tho Leuede, herde þat þe o broþer wolde haue destroyede þat oþere, and went bituene here sones, and ham made accordede wiþ miche peyne; so þat at þe laste, þo ij breþerne, with miche blisse, went to-geder into newe Troye, þat now is callede London, and þere þai duellede al a ȝere; and after, þai toke Heire conseile forto go conquere al Fraunce; and so thai deden, & brent tounes, and destroyede all þe lande boþe in lengþ and in Brede. and þe Kyng of Fraunce ȝaf ham bataile wiþ his powere; but he was ouercomen, and ȝaf truage vnto Belyn and to his broþer. ¶ And after þat, þai went forþe to Rome, and conquerede Rome, and al Lumbardy and Germayne, and toke homages and feautees of þe folc of þe Erles, barons, and alle oþere; and after, þai comen into þis lande of Britaigne, and duellede with here Britounes in ioye and reste. and þo made Brenne þe toune of Bristow; and siþ he went ouer þe see into his owen lordeshippe, and þere duellede al his lif. and Belyn duellede atte Newe Troye; and þere he made a faire gate þat is clepede Billyngesgate, after his owen name. and when þis Belyn hade regnede noble xj ȝere, he deide, & ¶ liþ at newe Troye.

ANd after þis Belyn, regnede his sone Corinbatrus, a gode man and a worþi. and þe Kyng of Denmarc wolde nouȝt paye him his truage, þat is to seyn, Ml li, as he hade sworne by oth forto paye hit, and also be writyng of recorde, Belyn his fader. wherfore he was euel paiede and wroþ and assemblede a grete hoste of Britons, and went into Dennemarc and slough þe Kyng Gitclagh, and brouȝt þe lande in subieccioun al new, and toke of folc feautes and homages, and after went aȝeyne into his lande. ¶ And as he come forthe bi Orkeneye, he fonde xxx shippes ful of men and of wymmen, bisides þe coste of þe see, and þe kyng axede what þai were. an Erl, that was maistre of ham alle, curteisely ansuerede vnto the kyng, and saide þat þai were exilede oute of Spaygne, and so þai hade trauailede half ȝere and more in þe see, to weten if þai myȝt fynde eny kyng, or eny lorde, þat of ham wolde haue pitee or mercy, to ȝeue ham eny lande in eny contre wherin þai might duelle and haue reste, and bicome his liege men, and to him wolde done homage and feautes whiles þat he leuede, and to his heires after him, and of him and of his heires holde þat londe for euermore. ¶ And when þe kyng þis herde, he hade pite of ham, and ȝaf ham an Ile al wildernesse, þere þat noman was duellyng, saf oneliche wilde bestes. and þe Erl þankede miche þe kyng, and bicome his man, and dede him feaute and homage, and tok alle his folc, and went into þe same Ile. and þe Erl me callede Irlanyal; and þerfore he lete calle þe lande Irlande, after his owen name. ¶ The kyng þo, Corinbatrus, come aȝeyne into þis Lande, and regnede xxv ȝere; & after, he deide, and liþ at newe ¶ Troye.

ANd when Corinbatrus was dede, regnede Guentolen his sone, a man of goode condiciouns, and well bilouede; and he gouernede þe lande wel and wiseliche, and he regnede xxvj ȝere, and after, deide, and lith at newe Troye.

ANd after þis Guentolen, regnede his sone Seisel wel and worþely, and wel gouernede þe lande as his fader hade done biforne him; and regnede xv ȝere, and after, deide, and lith at newe Troye.

ANd after þis Howan, regnede Morwith; and he bicome wickede, and so sterne, til at þe laste, grete vengeaunce come to him; for as he went on a tyme bi þe seeside, he mette a grete beste, þat was blac, and horrible and hidouse; and he wende þat it had bene a whale of þe see, and bent an Arweblast, and wolde haue slayne þat best wiþ a quarell; but he miȝt nouȝt smyte hit. and when he hade shotte alle his quarelles, þe beste anone come to him in grete haste, and him deuourede alif; and so he deide for his wickednesse, þrouȝ vengeance of Gode, after þat he hade regnede ix ȝere.

After þis Morwith was dede, þe Britouns cronede Grandobodian his sone; and þis Grandobodian longe tyme regnede in godenesse, and made temples and tounes; and þis Grandobodian made þe toune of Cambrugge and þe toune of Grantham, and was wel bilouede of ryche and of pore, for he honourede þe riche and halpe þe poer. ¶ This Grandobodian hade iiij sones, Artogaile, Hesider, Higamus, and Petiter, and when he hade regnede xj ȝere, he deide, & liþ at newe Troye.

After Grandobodian, regnede his sone Artogaile v ȝere; and he bicome so wickede and so sterne, þat þe Britons wolde nouȝt suffre him to bene kyng, but put him adoune, and made Hesider his broþer kyng and he bicome so gode and mercyable þat men him callede 'kyng of pitee.' and when he hade regnede v ȝere, he hade so [miche] pitee of his broþer Artogaile, þat was kyng bifore; and anone he forsoke his dignite, and toke his broþer þe crone aȝeyne, and made him kyng aȝeynes al þe barons wille of Britaigne. and afterwarde, þis Artogaile bicome so gode of condiciouns þat he was wel bilouede of al þe lande; for he bicome so debonoure and free, and dede right and resoun to alle maner man; and he regnede vj ȝere, and deide, and lith at Grauntham.

ANd when þis Petitur was dede, the Britons toke anone right Hesider, and made him kyng þe þridde tyme, and þo regnede he in pees xiiij ȝere, & after deide, and liþ at Karleil.

After þe deþ of Ely, regnede Lud his sone, and gouernede wel þe lande, and miche honourrede gode folc, and temprede and amendit wickede folc. ¶ This Lud louede more to duelle at Troye þan at eny oþere place of þe lande; Wherfore þe name of Troye was lafte, and þo was callede þe citee of Ludstan; but now þat name is chaungede þrouȝ variance of lettres, and now is callede London. ¶ and þis kyng made in the citee a faire gate, and callede it Ludgate, after his name; and þe folc of þe citee lete hight Loundres, and when he hade regnede xj ȝere, he deide, and liþ at London. and he hade ij ȝonge sones, Andraghen and Gormace; but þai couþ neiþere speke ne go, for ȝeugeþ; & þerfore þe Britons crounede a stronge knyȝt þat me called Lud, þat was Cassibalamus broþer, and made him kyng of Britagne.

After þe deþ of Kyng Lud, regnede his broþer Cassibalam, and bicome a goode man, and miche bilouede of his Britons, so þat, for his godenesse and curtesye, þai grantede him þe reaume foreuermore, to him and to his heires. ¶ And the kyng, of his godenesse, lete norisshe worþiliche boþe his broþeres sones, þe childerne of Lud; And after, made þe eldeste sone Erl of Cornwaile, and þat oþere Erl of London. ¶ And while þis kyng Cassibalam regnede, come Iulius Cesar, þat was Emperoure of Rome into þis lande, with a power of Romayns, and wolde haue hade þis lande þrouȝ strengþ; but Cassibalam him ouercome in bataile, þrouȝ helpe of þe Britons, and drof him oute of þis Lande; and went aȝeyne to Rome, and assemblede grete power anoþer tyme, and come aȝeyne into þis lande forto ȝeue bataile to Cassibalam; but he was descomfitede þrouȝ strengþ of þe Britons, and þrouȝ helpe of þe erle of Cornwaile, and þe Erl of london, his broþer, and þrouȝ helpe of Gudian, Kyng of Scotland, and of Corbande, Kyng of north Wales, and of Bretaile, Kyng of Southwalys. and in þis bataile was slayne Nemion, þat was Cassibalamus broþer, wherfore he made miche sorwe; and so went Iulius Cesar oute of þis lande with a fewe of Romayns þat were lefte a-lif; And þo Cassibalam went aȝeyne to London, and made a fest vnto alle his folc þat þo hade him holpen; and when þe fest was done, eche man went into here owen contree.

ANd after, hit bifelle þus oppon a day, þat þe gentil-men of þe kynges householde and þe gentelmen of þe Erles householde of London, after mete went in-fere forto playe; and þrouȝ debate þat arose amonges ham, Enelyn, þat was þe erles broþer of London, quellede Irenglas þat was þe kynges cosyn; wherfore þe kyng swore þat Enelyn shulde bene honget; but þe Erle of London, þat was Enelynes lorde, wolde nouȝt suffren hit; wherfore þe kyng was wroth towarde þe Erl, and þouȝt him destroye. and priuely þe Erl sent lettres to Iulius Cesar þat he shulde come into þis lande forto helpe him, and helpe avenge him oppon þe Kyng, and he wolde helpe him with al his myȝte. ¶ And when þe Emperoure herde þis tydynges, he was ful glade, and ordeynede a stronge power, and come aȝeyne þe þridde tyme into þis land; and þe Erl of Londone halpe him wiþ vij Ml men. and at þe þridde tyme was Cassibalam ouercomen and descomfitede, and made pees to þe Emperoure for iij Mlli of siluer, ȝeldynge by ȝere for truage for þis lande for euermore. and after half ȝere passede, the Emperoure went to Rome, and þe Erl of London wiþ him, for he derste nouȝt abide in þis lande. and after, Cassibalam regnede xvij ȝere in pees, and þo deide, þe xxvij ȝere of his regne, and lithe atte Ȝork.

After þe deth of Cassibalam, for-asmiche as he hade none heire of his body, þe lordes of þe lande, by commune assent, cronede Androgen, Erl of Cornewaile, and made him kyng; and he regnede wel worthely, and was a gode man, and wel gouernede þe lande. and when he hade regnede viij ȝere, he deide, & liþ at London.

After þe deth of Andragen, regnede Kembelyn his sone, þat was a gode man, and wel gouernede þe lande in miche prosperite and in pees al his lifes tyme. ¶ And in his tyme was born Ihesus Crist oure saueoure, of þat swete virgine Marie. ¶ þis Kyng Kembelyn hade ij sones, Ginder and Armoger, gode knyȝtes and worthi. And when þis Kyng Kembelyn hade regnede xxij ȝere, he deide, and liþ at London.

ANd after þe deþ of þis Kembalyn, regnede Ginder his sone, a gode man and a worþi; and he was of so hie hert þat he wolde nouȝt paye to Rome þat truage þat Kyng Cassibalam hade grantede vnto Iulius Cesar; wherfore þe Emperoure þat was þo, þat me callede Claudius Cesar, was sore annoyede, and ordeynede a grete power of Romay[n]s, and come into þis lande forto conquere þe truage þrouȝ strengþ, and haue it of þe kyng; but þe kyng Gynder, and Armoger his broþer, gadrede a grete hoste ifere of Britouns, and ȝaf bataile to þe Emperour Claudius, and quellede of Romains grete plente. ¶ The Emperour hade a Stiwarde þat me clepede Hamon, þat saw þat her peple was faste slayne: priuely he caste awai his owen armes, and toke the Armes of a dede Briton, and armede him wiþ his armure, and come into þe bataile to þe kyng, and saide in þis maner: "Sire, beth of gode hert, for Godes loue, for þe Romayns þat beþe ȝour enemys anone shullen bene slayn and descomfitede euerychon." ¶ and þe kyng ȝaf no kepe ne rewarde to his speche, for encheson of þe armes þat he hade oppon him, and wende it hade bene a Britoune; but þe traitoure euer helde him nexte þe kyng, and priueliche, vnder þe shulders of his armure, he smote þe kyng Wherfore he was dede anone, and fel doune vnto þe erþe.

When Armoger saw his broþer dede, he caste away his Armeȝ, and toke to him his broþeres Armes, and come into þe bataile amonge þe Britons, and bade hertly forto fyght, and faste laide adoune þe Romaignes. and for þe armes, þai wende it hade bene Kyng Gynder, þat arst was slayne, þat þai wist nouȝt, and þo gonne þe Britons hertly feiȝten, and quellede þe Romayns; so at þe last þe Emperour forsoke þe felde, and fley as faste as þai miȝt into þe citee of Wynchestre. and þe false traitour Hamonde, þat hade quellede þe kyng, faste anone gane forto flee in al þe haste þat he miȝt; and Armoger, þe kynges broþer, pursuede him ful fersly wiþ a ferse herte, and drof him vnto þe water, and þere he toke him, and anone smote of boþe heuede, hendes, and feete, and hewe þe body halto pecis, and þo caste it into þe water; Wherfore þat water was callede Hamondeshauen; and after, þere was made a faire toune þat ȝitte [standeth] þat is callede Southampton. ¶ And afterwarde, Armoger went to Wynchestre forto seche Claudius Cesar þe Emperour; and þere Armoger him toke.

¶ And Claudius þe Emperour; þrouȝ conseil of his Romayns þat with him were lefte alyf, made pees wiþ Armoger in þis maner as ȝe shulleþ hure, þat is to seyne, how þat Claudius þe emperour shulde ȝeue to Armoger, Gennen his douȝter, forto haue to wif, so þat þis lande fro þat tyme afterwarde shulde be in þe Emperoureȝ power of Rome, oppon suche couenant, þat none Emperour of Rome shulde take none oþere truage of þis lande, but oneliche feaute; and so þai were accordede. ¶ And oppon þis couenant, Claudius Cesar sent to Rome for his douȝter Gennen; and when she was comen, Claudius Cesar ȝaf her to Armoger to Wif; and Armoger spoused here at London with michel solempnite and merþe; and þo was Armoger cronede, and made Kyng of Britaigne.

THis Kyng Armoger regnede wel, and worthely þe lande gouernede, and Claudis Cesar, in remembrance of þis accorde, and for reuerence and honour of his doughter, made in þis lande a fare toune and a faire castel, and lete calle þe toune after his owen name 'Claucestre,' þat now is callede Gloucestr. and when þis was al.done, þe Emperoure toke his leue, and went aȝeyne to Rome; and Armoger was þo kyng, and gouernede þe lande wel and nobli al his lif tyme. ¶ and this Armager gete a sone on his wif, þat was callede Westmere. and whiles þat þis Armoger regnede, seynt Peter prechede in Antioche; and þere he hade made a noble cherche, in þe whiche he satte ferste in his chier, and þere he duellede vij ȝere. after, he went to Rome, and was made Pope, til þat Nero þe Emperour lete him martre. & þo prechede openly al þe Apostlis, in diuerses landes, þe ryȝt fay. ¶ And when Armoger hade regnede xxiiij ȝere, he deyde, and lith at London.

ANd after þis Amoger, regnede his sone Westmer, a gode man, and a worþi of body, and wel gouernede þe lande. ¶ Hit bifelle so þat tydynges come to him oppon a day, þat þe Kyng Rodrik of Gascoigne was comen into þis lande wiþ an huge noumbre of peple, and was duellyng in Steynesmore. and when Kyng Westmer herde þo tydyngus, he lete assemble a grete host of Britons, and come to þe Kyng Rodrik, and ȝaf him bataile. and Kynge Westmer quellede Rodrik wiþ his owen hondes in pleyne bataile; and when þat kyng Rodrikes men saw þat here Lorde was dede, þai ȝolden ham alle to þe Kyng Westmer, and bicome his men for euermore; and he ȝaf ham a contre þat was forlete, wher-in þai myȝt duelle; and þider þai went, and duellede þere al here lifes tyme; and ix C men þere were of ham, and nomo lefte alif at ȝat bataile. Here gouernour and her prince, me callede Berynger; and anone he biganne a toune, þat þai myȝt þerein duelle and haue resceyt, and lete calle þe toune Berwik vp Twede; and þere þai duellede, and bicome riche. but þai nade no wymmen amonges ham, and þe Britons wolde nouȝt ȝeue here douȝtres to þo Straungers; Wherfore þai went ouere þe see into Irland, and brouȝt with ham Wymmen, and ham þo spousede; but þe men couþe nouȝt vnderstonde þe langage ne þe speche of þe wymmen, neyþer þe wymmen of þe men, and þerefore þai speken to-gederes as scottes; and aftirwarde, þrouȝ chaungeyng of her langages, in al Fraunce þei were callede þo Scottes: and so þai shal be callede for euermore.

ANd after this bataile þat is aboue-saide, when Rodrik Was dede, Kyng Westmer, in remembraunce of his Victorie, lete arere þere, bisides þe way, a grete stone in hye,—& ȝitte it standeþ, and euermore shal stande,—and Lete graue in þe stone lettres þat þus saide: 'The Kyng Westmere of Britaigne quellede in þis place Rodrik his enemy.' ¶ And þis Westmere was þe ferst man þat made tounes and hous in Engeland. and at þat stone bigynneth Westmerland, þat Westmer lete calle after his owen name. and when Westmer hade so done, he duellede al his Lif tyme in þat contre of Westmerland, for he louede þat contre more; and when he hade regnede xxv ȝere, he deide. & liþ at ¶ Karleile.

After þis Kyng Westmer, regnede his sone Coil, a goode man and a worþi, and of gode condicions, and wel gouernede his lande, and of alle men he hade loue and pees; and in his tyme was neuer contak, debate, ne werre in Britayn; and he regnede and was kyng in pees al his lif-tyme. & When he hade bene kyng xj ȝere, he deide, and liþ at Ȝork.

After Kyng Coel, regnede Lucie his sone, þat was a gode man to God and to al þe peple. he sent to Rome, to Apostle Eulenchie, þat þo was, and seide þat he wolde bicome a cristen man, and resceyue baptisme in þe name of God, and turne to þe ryȝt bileue. ¶ Eulenchie sent ij legates, þat me callede Pagan and Elibrayne, into þis lande, and baptisede þe kyng and alle his menye, and after went fro toune to toune, and baptisede þe peple til al þat Lande was baptisede, and þis was in þe c. lvj ȝere after þe Incarnacion of Ihesu Crist. and þis kyng Lucye made þo in þis lande ij erchebisshoppes, on at Kaunterbery and anoþere at Ȝork, and oþere meny bisshopes þat ȝit bene in þis lande. ¶ And when þise ij legates hade baptisede al þe lande, þai ordeynede prestes forto baptisen childern and forto make þe Sacrament; and after, þai went aȝeyne to Rome, and þe kyng duellede in his lande, and regnede with michel honour xiij ȝere, and after deide, and liþ at Gloucestre.

This kyng Lucie hade none heire of his body bigeten, þat was afterwarde grete harme and sorwe to þe lande; ffor, after þis kyng Lucies deth, none of þe grete lordes of þe lande wolde suffren an-oþere to bene kyng, but leuede in werre and debate amonges ham l. ȝere wiþoute kyng. but þo it bifel aftirwarde þat a grete Prince come fro Rome into þis lande þat me callede Seuerey; nouȝt forto werr, but forto saue þe ryght of Rome. ¶ But noþeles, he nade nouȝt duellede half ȝere in þis lande, þat þe Britons ne quellede him. when þo of Rome wiste þat Seuerey was so slayn, þai sent anoþere grete lorde into þis lande, þat me callede Allec, þat was a stronge man, and a myȝty of body, and duellede in þis lande Longe tyme, and dede miche sorwe to þe Britons, so þat after, for pure malice, þai chosen ham a kyng amonges ham, þat me callede Astlepades, and assemblede a grete host of þe Britouns, and went to London to seche Allec; and þere þai founde him, and quellede him and alle his felawes þat were wiþ him, but one of his felawes, þat me clepede Waloun, defendet him fersly, and fauȝt longe with þe Britouns, but at þe laste he was descomfitede; and þe Britons token him, and bounde him Hondes and feete, and caste him into a water; wher-fore þat water afterwarde was clepede euermore Walbroke. ¶ Þo regnede þis Astlepades in quiete, til one of his erles þat me callede Coel, made a faire toune aȝeynes þe kynges wille, and lete calle þe toune Colchestre after his name, wherfore þe kyng was ful wroth, and þouȝt destroie þe erle, and bigan to werre vppon him, and brouȝt grete power, and ȝaf bataile to þe erl. and þe erl defendede him fersly with his power, and slough þe kyng him-self in þat bataile; and þo was Coel cronede, and made kyng of þis land. ¶ þis Coel regnede and gouernede þe lande wel and nobly, for he was a noble man, and wel bilouede amonges þe Britons. ¶ When þo of Rome herde þat Astlepades was slayne, þai were wonder glade, and sent anoþere grete prince of Romayns, þat me callede Constance; and he come to þe Kyng Coil forto chalange þe truage þat was wont to bene paiede to Rome; and þe kyng ansuerede wel and worþely, and saide þat he wolde paye to Rome al þat ryȝt and resoun wolde, wiþ godewil; and so þai accordede þo wiþ goode wil, and wiþouten eny contak; and boþe þai duellede togeder in loue. ¶ The Kyng Coel ȝaf his douȝter Elyne to Constance, forto haue here for his spouse, þat was boþe faire, wise, and gode, and wel lettrede: and þis Constance spousede here þere with michel honour. and it bifelle sone afterwarde, þat þis kyng Coel deide in the ȝere of his regne xiij, & Lith at Colchestre enterede.

After þis Kyng Coel, Constance was made kyng, and cronede, for-asmiche as he hade spousede Kyng Coeleȝ douȝter, þat was heire of þe lande. þe whiche Constance regnede and worþely gouernede þe lande; and he bigate on his wif Elyn, a sone þat me callede Constantyn. and þis kyng bare trew fay, and trewly dede to ham of Rome al his lif. & when he hade regnede xv ȝere, he deide, and liþ atte Ȝork.

After Kyng Con[s]tanceȝ deth, Constantyne, his sone of seynt Elyne, þat founde þat croice in þe holy londe, and how Constantyne bicome Emperoure of Rome. ¶ Hit bifel so in þat tyme þere was an Emperour atte Rome, a sarasyne, a tyraunt, þat me callede Maxence, þat put to þe deth alle þat bileuede in God, and destroide holy cherche by alle his power, and slought Cristen men þat he myȝt fynde; and amonge alle oþere, he lete martre Seynt Kateryne, and meny oþere cristen peple þat hade drede of deth, þai fledden and comen into þis lande to Kyng Constantyne, and tolde him of þe sorwe þat Maxence dede to al cristiente. Wherof Constantyn hade pite, and grete sorwe made, and assemblede a grete hoste and grete power, and went ouere see to Rome, and toke þe citee, and quellede al þat þerin were mescreaunt, þat he myȝt fynde. ¶ And þo was he made Emperoure, And was a gode man, and gouernede him so wel, þat al þe Landes to him were entendaunt forto be vnder his gouernaile. ¶ And þis deuel tyraunt Maxence, þat þo was in þe lande of Greke, when he herde þis tydynges, he bicome wode, and sodeynely deide, and so he endede his lif.

When Constantyne went fro þis land to Rome, he toke wiþ him his moder Elyn, for þe michel wisedome þat she couþe, and þre oþere grete lordes þat he moste louede: þat one me callede Hoel, anoþere me callede Taberne, and þe þridde Morhyn; and toke al his lande to kepe vnto þe Erl of Cornwaile, þat men callede Octouyan. ¶ anone as þis Octouian wiste þat his lorde was duellyng at Rome, he seisede al þe lande into his honde, and þerwiþ dede al his wil amonges heye and law, & þo helde him for kyng. ¶ when þis tydyng come to Constantyne þe Emperoure, he woxe wonder wroþe towarde þe Erl Octouyan, and sent Taberne with xij ml men forto destroye the erl for his falsenesse, and arryuede at Portesmouthe. ¶ And when Octouyan wiste þat, he assemblede a grete power of Britons, and descomfitede Taberne. ¶ And Taberne fledde þens into Scotlande, and ordeynede þere a grete power, and come aȝeyne into þis lande forto ȝeue bataile anoþere tyme to Octouyan. ¶ When Octouyan herde telle þat, he assemblede a grete power, and come towarde Taberne as miche as he myȝt, so þat þo ij hostes metten oppon Staynesmore, and strongely smyten to-gederes. and þo was Octouyan descomfitede, and fledde þens into Norwaye; and Taberne seisede al þe lande into his hande, Tounes, castelles, and as mich as þai þere hade. ¶ And siþenes Octouyan come aȝeyne fro Norway wiþ a grete power, & slough Taberne, & seisede al þe lande aȝeyne into his honde, & drof oute alle þe Romayns, and was þo made Kyng, and regnede.

THis Kyng Octouian gouernede þis lande wel and nobly; but he nad none heire, saf a douȝter þat was a ȝonge childe, þat he louede as miche as his lif. and forasmiche þat he wax sike, and was in poynt of deþ, and myȝt no lenger regne, he wolde haue made one of his Neveus to haue bene kyng, þe whiche was a noble knyȝt and stronge man, þat me callede Conan Merchedok, and he shulde haue kepte þe kynges douȝter, & haue mariede her when tyme hade bene; but þe lordes of þe lande wolde nouȝt suffre hit, but ȝaf here conseile to bene mariede to some hye man of great honour, and þan myȝt she haue al her wille at þe conseile of þe Emperoure Constantyne, here Lorde. and at þis conseile, þai accordede and chose þo Cador, Erl of Cornewail, forto wende to þe Emperour to done þis message. and he toke þe way, and went to Rome, and tolde þe Emperour þis tydynges wel and wiselich. and þe Emperoure sent þo into þis lande with him his owen cosyn, þat was his Vncles sone, a noble knyȝt and stronge, þat me callede Maximian; and he spousede Octouyanus douȝter, and was cronede kyng of þis lande.

THis Kyng Maximian bicome so real, þat he þouȝt conquere þe lande of Amorican for þe grete richesse þat he harde telle þat was in þat lande; so þat he ne lefte man þat was of worþinesse—knyȝt, squyer, ne none oþere man—þat he ne toke ham with him, to grete damage and harme to al þe lande, but nome ham with him fram þis lande, xxx Ml knyȝtes þat were doughty mennes bodyes, and went ouer into þe lande of Amorican, and þere slough þe kyng þat me callede Imbal, and conquerede al þe lande. ¶ And when he hade so done, he callede Conan, and saide: "For-asmiche as þe Kyng Octouyan wolde haue made ȝow kyng of Britaigne, and þrouȝ me ȝe were lette and destourblede, þat ȝe were nouȝt kyng, I ȝeue ȝow al þis lande of Amorican, and ȝow þerof make kyng. ¶ And for-asmiche as ȝe beth a Britoun, and ȝoure men also, and bene comen fram Britaigne, I wille þat þis lande haue þe same name, and nomore bene callede Amorican, but bene callede 'litel Britaigne'; and þe lande fro whens ȝe beþe comen shal bene callede 'michel Britaigne'; and so shul men know þat one Britaigne fram þat oþere." Conan Meriedok þankede him hendeliche; and so was he made kyng of litel Britaigne. and when al þis was done, Maxence went þens to Rome, and þere was made Emperour after Constantyne. ¶ Conan Meriedok duellede in litel Britaigne with michel honour, and lete ordeyne ij Ml ploughmen of þe lande forto erie þe lande, to harwe it and sowe, and feffede ham alle rychely, after þat þai were. ¶ and for-asmiche þat Kyng Conan, ne none of his knyȝtes, ne none of his oþere peple, wolde nouȝt take wifes of þe nacion of Fraunce, he þo sent into grete Britaig[n]e, to þe Erl of Cornewaile þat me callede Dionotho, þat chees þrouȝ-oute alle þe lande xj Ml of maydenes, þat is to seyne, viij Ml for the mene peple, and iij Ml for þe grettest lordes þat schulde ham spouse. ¶ And when Dionotho hade tak þis commandement, he lete þo seche þrouȝ-out al grete Britaigne as meny as þe nombre come to, for noman derst wiþstande his commandement, for-asmichel as al þe lande was taken him to warde and kepe, to do al þing þat him þo likede. ¶ And when alle þe maydenes were assemblede, he lete ham comme bifore him to London, and lete ordeyne for ham shippes hastely, as miche as ham nedet to þat viage, and toke his owen doughter þat me callede Vrsula, þat was þe faireste creature þat eny man wist, and wolde haue sent her to Kyng Conan, þat shulde haue spousede here, and made here quene of litel Britaigne; but she hade made priuely to God a vow of chastite, þat here fader wiste it nouȝt, ne noman elles þat was leuyng oppon erþe.

THis Vrsula chees into her company xj Ml maydenes þat of al oþere she was lady and maistres; and alle þai went into þe shippis at on tyme, in þe water þat me calleþ Tamise; and commandede her kyn and alle her frendes to almyȝty God, and sailede forþ towarde litel Britaigne. But when þai were comen in þe hye see, a stronge tempest arose, as it was Goddes wil; and Vrsula, wiþ her shippis and here company, was dryuen, and þo xj Ml maidenes, toward Hundelande, þrouȝ tempest, and arryuede in þe hauen of þe citee of Coloigne. ¶ The kyng of þe lande, þat me callede Gowan, was þo in þe citee; and when he wist þo tydynges, þat so meny faire maydenes were þere arryuede, he tok Elga his broþer, and oþere of his householde, wiþ him, and went to þe shippes to see þat fair company. and when he sawe ham so faire, he and his company wolde haue ham ouerlayne, and bynome here maydenhode. ¶ but Vrsula, þat gode mayde, conseilede, prayede, warnede, and tauȝte ham þat were here felowes, þat þai shulde defende ham wiþ al her myȝt, and raþer suffre deth þan suffre here bodyes bene defoulede. ¶ So þat alle þe maydenes bicome so stedefast in God, þat þai defendede ham þrouȝ his grace, so þat none of ham hade power to done ham eny shame; wherfore þe kyng was so sore annoiede, þat he, for wraþ, lete slee ham euerychon anone ryght; and so were alle þe maidenes martrede for þe loue of God, and ligget at Coloyn.

WHen al þis was done, Kyng Gowan, þat was a sarasyn, callede his broþer Elga, and saide to him þat he shulde gone to conquere þe lande þat alle þo faire maydenes were borne in. and he ordeynede þo a grete power of Peihtes, of Denmarc, of Orkeneye, and of Norwaye, and þai comen into þis lande, and brent tounes, and slough folc, and caste adone cherches and houses of religioun, and robbede the lande in lengh and in brede, and put to deth alle þo þat wolde noght forsake þe ryght bileue and cristendome, for-asmiche as þere was none souerayne in the lande þat myȝt ham helpe or defende. ¶ For þe Kyng Maximian hade taken wiþ him alle þe worþi men, when he went to conquere litil Britaigne. and in þe same tyme þat ȝe hure now telle, was Seynt Albone martrede þrouȝ þe wode tyraunt Diodician in þe same place, wherin is now an Abbay made of Seynt Albone, whiles þat he was a paynyme. ¶ But he conuertede him towarde God, þrouȝ þe predicacioun of a grete clerc and a wyse, þat me callede Ancibell, þat was herburghede a nyght in his house; and þis was after þe Incarnacion of Ihesu Crist .ij C. iiijxx. vj ȝere. and men shullen vnder stonde þat Seynt Albone soffrede his martredome bifore þat Seynt Edmunde was martrede; and þerfore is seynt Albone callede þe ferst martre of Engelande. ¶ This Gowanus broþer, & his folk, þat were Sarasynes, went þrouȝ-oute þe Lande, and destroyede al þing þat þai fonde; and no þing þai ne sparede. ¶ When þis tydyng come to Rome, how þat Kyng Gowan hade bigonne forto destroye þis lande, þe Emperour and þo of Rome sent a stronge man, and of grete power, þat me callede Gracian, w[ith] xxiiij Ml men wel feightyng, forto caste oute Sarasynes of þis lande, and alle þai arryuede at Portesmouthe. Maximian myȝt nouȝt come him-self, for-asmiche as he was chosen Emperoure after þe deþ of Constantyn, þat was Seynt Elynes sone. ¶ When þis Gracian was arryuede wiþ his host, he lete aspie priuely wher þe Kyng Gowan myȝt bene founden; and he come vppon him sodeynly, as þai Lay in her beddes, and descomfitede ham, and slougheecheon, þat non of hem Ascaped saf Gowan, þat fledde with mych sorowe in-to his cuntre. Sone aftir yt byfel þat Maximian was slayn at Rome, þurgh treson; And when Gracian wyst þe tydynge, he let Croune hym kyng of þis land.

This Gracian, when he gan forto regne, he bycome so wykked & so sterne, & so mych sorow wrought to þe Britouns, þat þey slow hym amonges hem. ¶ Tho Kyng Gowan had vndirstande þat Gracian was do to deth, he Assembled a gret power, & come aȝen in-to þis land; & yf he had arst don a grete harme, þo dede he mych more; for þo distroyed he al this land, & al Crysten peple þat was in Myche Brytaigne, so þat no man was so hardy for-to nempne God; & ho þat dede, anon he was put to strong deth. ¶ But þe bysshop of London þat was þo, þat me called Gosselyn, scaped, & went þens to hem of Rome, to seche socour for-to helpe dystroye þe Saraȝins þat had dystroyed þis land. ¶ And þe Romayns seyde þat þey hadde be so ofte anoyed for her sendyng after folk in-to Brytaigne, al for-to helpe þe Britouns, & þey wold no more so do. And so þe Bysshop Gosselyn went þens with-oute ony Socour or helpe; & þo went he to þe Kyng of litil Brytaigne, þat me called Aldroye, & þis was þe iij kyng after Gowan Meridiok, as bifore is sayd. The bysshop prayed this Kyng Aldroye of socour & of helpe. the kyng hadde herd how þe bysshop fledde, & how þat þe Crystene men were slayn in gret Brytaigne þurgh Paynyms & Saraȝins, & he graunted hym Constantyn his broþer, hym for-to helpe, with Poer of folk, & hem dede arraye hors armure, & schippes, & al thing þat hem neded to þat viage. and when al thing was redy, he called þe bysshop, & to hym seyd: "I take ȝou here to helpe & socour Constantyn my broþer, vpon this couenaunt, þat ȝif God ȝife hym grace, þe Paynems & Saraȝins to schende & discomfite, þat þanne ȝe make hym kyng of þe land": & þe bysshop yt graunted with good wyll. ¶ Constantyn & þe bysshop nome leue þo of þe Kyng Aldroye, & by-took hym to God, & nome her men xij Ml, & went in-to her schippes, & sayled toward þe gret Brytaigne, & Arryued in Tottenesse. whan þe Britouns herd þe tydyng þat to hem come socour, þey were stronglich holpyn, & ordeigned hem an huge nombre of peple, & come to hem, & hem vndirfongen with mychel honour. ¶ Gowan, anon as he wyste of this þyng, he Assemblyd all þe Saraȝins, & come aȝens hym, & ȝaf batayll. And Constantyn slow hym with his owne hand; & all þe othere Saraȝins were discomfited & slayn, þat non aschaped but þo þat were conuerted vnto God.

Anon, aftir þe batayll, alle þey went to London, & crowned þere Constantyn, & made hym kyng of þis lond. And þe bysshop Gosselyn sette þe Croune vpon his hed, & anoynted hym, as falleth to A kyng for-to be; & þo bygan Crystendom. This Constantyn, whan he was Crouned, anon aftir he spoused his wyf þurgh counceil of þe Britouns; & he begate iij Sones on her: þe ferst me called Constaunce, þat other Aurylambros, & þe iij Vter. ¶ Constance, þe eldest brother, when he come to Age, made hym a monke at Wynchestre. Constantyn here fadir was slayn þurgh treson; for it byfell vpon a tyme þat a Pohete come to hym vpon a day, in Message as yt were, & seyd þat he wolde speke with þe kyng pryuyly in Counceyl. The kyng lete voyde his Chambre of þo men þat were with-Inne; & þo Abide þere nomo but þe kyng & þe Pohete, & made a Contenaunce as þey wolde speke to-gidere in his ere; & þere he qwelled hym with a long knyf; & after, went qweyntly out of þe Chambre in-to anoþer Chambre; so at þe laste no man wyst wher he was bycome. ¶ When þe kynges men it wyste, þat here lord was so ded, þei made so mych sorowe þey nyst all what for-to done, for-as-mych as his ij sones, Aurylambros & Vter, weren so yenge þat non of hem myght be kyng; & þe iij broþer was monke at Wynchestre, as I sayd before. ¶ But Vortiger, þat was Erl of Westsex, þought pryuyly in his herte, thurgh queyntise, to be kyng; & went to Wynchestre þer þat Constaunce was monk, & to hym seyde: "Constaunce," quod he, "ȝoure fadir is ded, & ȝour ij breþerin þat ben with Gosselyn, þe bysshop of London, to noryssh, beth so yeng, þat non of hem may be kyng; wherfore y counseyle þat ȝe forsake ȝoure Abyte, & come with me, & I schal do so to þe Brytouns þat ȝe schul be made kyng."

This Vortiger counceyled þis Constaunce so mych tyl he forsook his Abyte, & went with hym. & anon aftir, he was Crouned and made kyng by Assent of þe Brytouns. This kyng Constance, whan he was crouned & made kyng, he wyst ne knew but litil of þe world, ne cowde no thing as knyghthood axed, he made Vortiger his maister & his chef Counceillour, & yaf hym all his power, for-to ordeigne & do as myche as to þe reaume perteyned, so þat hym-self no þing entrauelled, but only bare þe name of kyng ¶ Whan Vortiger saw þat he had al þe land in his warde & gouernayle, at his owne wyll, he þought A pryue Treson, & þought to sle Constance þe kyng, þat he myght hym-self be Crouned & made kyng & regne, & lete sende after a C knyghttes of Pehetes, þe worthiest of þe land, & hem helde with hym, to duelle wiþ him, and to bene Kepers of his body, as he wolde wende þrouȝ þe lande to ordeyne þinges þat perteynede to a Kyng. ¶ And þis Vortiger honourede so miche þo C knyȝtes, and so miche ȝaf ham of golde and siluer, & so ryche rewell, robes, hors, and oþere noble plente, wherfore þai helde him more lorde þan þai deden þe kyng. ¶ And Vortyger tolde ham, if þat he moste bene kyng, he, as it were þrouȝ tresoun, he wolde make ham richest of þe lande. so at the laste, þrouȝ grete ȝiftes þat he hade ȝeue largely, þai crieden þrouȝ þe court þat Vortiger were better worþi ben kyng þan Constance; wherfore Vortiger made semblant as þauȝ he hade bene wroþ, and departede þens fro þe court, and saide he most gone elles-where for þing þat he hade to done; and so þe traitoure ȝede for enchesoun þat þai shulde slee him, þat is to seyne, Constance. ¶ When þis Vortiger was gone, hit bifelle sone after þat þo C knyȝtȝ of Peightes breken þe dores of þe kynges chambre, and þere þai him slough and smoten of his heuede, and bare it to Vortiger þere þat he duellede. and when Vortyger saw þat heuede, he wepte ful tenderly wiþ his eye; and noþelese he was some dele glade of his deth, and anone lete take þo C knyȝtes of Peightes, & bonde here hondes bihynde ham, and lade ham to London; & þere þai were dampnede to deth as false traitoures. ¶ and anone after, al þe britons of þe lande, by commune assent, cronede þere Vortiger, & made him kyng of þe lande.

ANd sone after þis sorw, tidynges come to Vortiger, þat a grete nauye of straungers were arryuede in Kent; but þai wist nouȝt whens þai were, ne wherfore þai were comen. ¶ The Kyng sent anone messagers þider, þat somme of ham shulde come and speke wiþ him, forto wete what folc þai werne, and what þai axede, and into what contre þai wolde gone. ¶ þere were ij breþerne, Prynces and maistres of þat straunge company: þat on me callede Engist, and þat oþere Horn. Engist went þo to þe kyng, & tolde to him encheson wher-fore þai were þere arryuede in his lande, and saide: "sire! we beth of a contre þat is callede Saxoyne, þat is, þe Lande of Germayn, wherin is so miche sorw, þat þe peple is so myche þat þe lande may nouȝt ham sustene ne suffice. ¶ The maystres & Prynces þat haueþ þe lande to gouerne and rewele, shul done come bifore ham men and wymmen, þe boldest þat bene amonges ham and best mowen trauaile into diuerseȝ londes; and so þaishal ham ȝeue Horse and harneyse, armure, and al þing þat ham nedeþ; and after þai say to ham þat þai go into anoþer contre, wher þat þai mowen leue, as here auncestres deden biforne ham. and þerfore, sire kyng, if ȝe haue ouȝt to done wiþ oure company, we bene comen into ȝoure lande; and wiþ gode wille ȝow wil serue, and ȝour lande helpe, kepe, & defende fram ȝoure enemys, if þat ȝow nedeþ." ¶ when Vortiger herde þis tydynges, he saide he wolde gladeliche wiþhalde ham, oppon soche couenant, if þai myȝt delyuer his lande of his enemys, he wolde ȝeue ham resonable landes, wher þai shulde duelle for euermore. ¶ Engist þankede him godeliche; and in þis maner he and his company, ¶ xj. Ml men, shulde duelle wiþ þe Kyng Vortiger; and so miche þai deden þrouȝ here boldenesse, þat þai delyuerede þe lande clene of here enemys. ¶ þo praiede Engist þe Kyng, of so miche lande þat he myȝt make to him a citee, for him and for his menye. ¶ The kyng ansuerede & saide, 'it was nouȝt forto done wiþouten conseile of his Britons.' ¶ Engist prayede him eftesones of as miche place as he myȝt compasse wiþ a twonge of a skyn, wher-oppon he myȝt make him a maner, and for his to duelle in; and þe kyng grantede it frely. ¶ þo tok Engist a bole skyn, and cotte it as smale as he myȝt, al into a twonge al rounde, & þer-wiþ compassede as miche lande as he compassede; wher-oppon he made a faire castel. and when þis castel was ymade, he lete calle it Twongecastel, for-asmiche as þe place was merkede wiþ a twonge.

THis Engist went into Kent, and seisede al þe lande into his hande, for him and for al his men; and bicome in a litel while of so grete power, & so miche peple hade, þat men wist nouȝt in litel tyme, whiche were þe kynges men, & whiche were Engistes men. wherfore al Britaigne hade of ham drede, and saide amonges ham þat, if þai ne toke oþere counseil bituene ham, al þe lande shulde be bitrayede þrouȝ Engist and his peple. ¶ Vortyger þe kyng hade bigeten on his ferst wif iij sones: þe ferst me callede Vortymer; þe secunde, Catagren; and þe þridde, Passent. þe Britons, euerychon by one assent, chosen Vortymer forto bene here lorde, & here souerayne, and hir conseiler in euery bataile, and cronede him, and made-him Kyng, and Wolde soffre Vortiger no longer to regne, for enchesoun of þe alliance bituene Engist and him. ¶ þe Britons ordeynede a grete host to drif out Engist and his company of þe lande, and ȝaf him iij batailles: þe ferst was in Kent, þere þat he was lorde; þe secunde was att Tetteford; and þe þridde was in a shire a þis half Cool, in a more. & in þis batail ham mette Cattegren and Horn, Engistes broþer, so þat eueryche of ham slouȝ oþer; but for-asmiche as þe contre was ȝeuen longe bifore to Horn, þrouȝ Vortyger, þo he hade spousede his cosyn; þere he hade made a faire castel þat me callede Horncastel, after his owen name. ¶ And Vortymere was so annoiede for his broþeres deþ, Cattegren, þat he was dede in soche a maner; wherfore anone he lete felle þe castel to þe grounde, and after þat, he ne lefte nyȝt ne day til he hade dryuen out Engist and all his peple of þe lande. ¶ And when Engist was dryuen away, Ronewenne his douȝter made sorwe ynow, and queyntly spake to ham þat were nexte þe kyng Vortymere, and priueest wiþ him. and so miche she ȝaf ham of ȝiftes, þat he was apoysenede, & deide at London þe iiij ȝere of his regne; & þere he lith.

After Vortymeres deþ, þe Britons, by here commune assent, Eftesones made Vortyger here kyng, vppon þis couenaunt, þat he shulde neuer after soffren Engist, ne none of his, eftesones shulde come into þis lande. ¶ And when al þis was done, Ronewenne þe Quene sent priuely by lettre to Engist, that she hade enpoisenede Vortymer, and þat Vortyger her lorde aȝeyne bare þe croune and regnede, and þat he shulde come aȝeyne into þat lande, wel arraiede wiþ miche peple, forto avenge him vppon þe Britons, and to wynne his lande aȝeyne. ¶ of þis tydyng Engist made grete ioye, and apparailede him hastely wiþ xv Ml men þat were douȝty en euery batail. And when Vortyger herde telle þat Engist was comen aȝeyne wiþ a grete power into þis lande, he assemblede his Britons, and þo went aȝeyns Engist forto haue ȝeue him bataile, and his folc; but Engist drade him sore of þe Britons, for þai hade descomfitede him biforn-hand, and dryuen him out by strengþ; wherfore Engist prayede him of a loue-day, and saide he was nouȝt comen forto fiȝt, but forto haue his lande aȝeyne of Kent, if he might accorde wiþ þe Britons, and of ham haue grace. ¶ The Kyng Vortiger, þrouȝ conseile of his Britons, grauntede a loue-day; and þus it was ordeynede þrouȝ þe Britons, þat þilk loue-day shulde ben holden faste bisides Salesbury, vppon an hull; and Engist shulde come þider wiþ iiijc knyȝtes, wiþouten mo, and þe kyng wiþ as meny of þe wisest of þis lande. ¶ And at þat day þe kyng come wiþ his conseil, as it was ordeynede; but Engist hade warnede his knyȝtes priueliche, and ham commandede þat eueryche of ham shulde put a Longe Knyf in his hose; and when he saide, "faire sires! now is tyme forto speke of loue and pees," eueryche anone, eueryche shulde draw his knyf & slee a Britoun. & so þai quellede xxx Ml & lxj of knyȝtes; and wiþ miche sorwe meny of ham ascapede; and Vortyger him-self was taken and Lade to Twongecastell, and put into prisoun; and somme of Engistes men wolde þat þe kyng hade bene brent al quyk. ¶ And Vortiger þo, to haue his lif, grauntede ham as miche as þai wolde axen, and ȝaf vp all þe lande, tounes and castelles, citees and Burghes, to Engist and to his folc. and alle þe Britons fledde þenns into Walys, and þere helde ham stille. and Engist went þrouȝ þe lande, and seisede alle þe lande with ffraunchises; and in euery place lete caste adoune chercheȝ and houses of religioun, and destroyed Cristendome þrouȝ þe lande, and lete chaunge þe name of þe lande, þat no man of his were so hardy after þat tyme to calle þis lande Britaigne, but calle it Engistes lande; and he departede alle þat lande to his men, and þere made vij kynges forto strengþ þe lande, þat þe Britons shulde neuer after come þerin. ¶ The ferst kyngdome was Kent, þere þat Engist him-self regnede, and was lorde & maystre ouer al þe oþere; ¶ Anoþere kyng hade Southsex, where now is Chichestre; ¶ The þridde kyng hade Westsex; The ferþe kyng hade Essex; ¶ The v kyng hade Estangle, þat now is callede Northfolc, Southfolc, Merchemeriche, þat is to seynt, þe Erldome of Nichol; ¶ þe sixte hade Leycestreshire, Northamptonshire, Hereford and Huntyngdoune; ¶ The vij hade Oxenford, Gloucestr, Wynchestre, Warwik and Darby-shire.

WHen Engist hade departede al þe lande in this maner bituene his men, he delyuerede Vortiger out of prison, and soffrede hym frely to gone whider þat he wolde. and he toke his way, and went into Walys, þere þat his Britons duellede, for-asmiche as þat lande was strong and wikkede to wynne. and Engist neuer come þere, ne knew neuer bifore þat Lande. ¶ Vortiger helde him þere wiþ his Britons, and axede conseil what him was best al forto done; and þai ȝaf him conseil to make a stronge castel þat he myȝt him-self þerin kepe and defende if it nede were. Masounes in hast þere were fette, and bigonne þe werk oppon þe hull of Breigh; but certes þus it bi-felle, þat al the werk þat þe masounes made aday, adoune it felle anyȝt; and þat ferede so iij tymes or iiij, wherof þai hadden grete wonder what it myȝt bene; & þerof þe kyng was sore annoiede of þat chaunce, and wist nouȝt what to done; wherfore he lete sende after þe wisest clerkes, and also lewede men þat weren þrouȝ-out Walys, þat myght bene fonde, for þai shulde telle wherfore þe foundement so failede vnde[r] þe werk, and þat þai shulde him telle what was best to done. and when þe wisest men longe tyme hade studiet, þai saide to þe kyng þat 'he shulden done sike a childe borne of a woman þat neuer hade wiþ man to done, & þat childe he shulde sleen, & temper wiþ his blode þe morter of þe werk, & so shulle þe werke endure euermore wiþouten ende.'

WHen þe kyng herde þis, he commandede his messagers anone to wende þrouȝ-out al Walys, to seche þat childe if þai myght him fynde, and þat þai shulde brynge him forthwiþ ham vnto him. and in recorde and witnesse of þis þing, he toke ham his lettres, þat þai ne were destourblede of no man, ne lette. ¶ And so faste spede ham the messagers, þat þai come vnto a toune þat me callede Kermerdyn; and as þai passede fourth in here way, þai fonden ij childerne of xiiij ȝere age chiddyng togeder wiþ hastif wordes; and one of ham saide to þat oþer "Donebat," quod he, "ȝe done al wronge to chide or strif wiþ me, for ȝe haue no witte ne resoun as I haue." ¶ "Certes, Merlyn," quod þat oþere, "of ȝoure witte and of ȝour resoun y make no forse, for men telleþ communeliche þat ȝe haue no þing of god, siþ ȝe hade neuer fader, but alle men weten wel ho is ȝoure moder. ¶ The kynges messagers, when þai herde þis strif bituene þo ij gromes, þai axede of men þat stoden bituene ham, whens þat Merlyn was born, & who him norisshede; and þe folc ham tolde þat a grete gentilwoman him bare in Kermerdyne, þat me callede Adhan, but neuere myȝt men wete who was þe childes fader. ¶ When þe messagers herde þis tydynges, þai went anone to him þat was wardeyne of þe toune, and tolde him þe kynges wille and his lettres, wherfore þai were comen þider. ¶ Merlyn and his moder anone were sent bifore þe wardeyne of þe toune, and he commandede ham þat þai shulde gone to þe kyng, as hit was ordeynede by his messagers. ¶ Merlyn and his moder come vnto þe kyng, and were vnderfonge wiþ michel honour; and þe kyng axede of þat lady 'if þat childe were her sone, and who him bigate.' ¶ The lady ansuerede, ful tender wepyng, and saide she hade neuer company of manworldely'; "but, sire," quod shee, "as y was a ȝonge maiden in my faderes chambre, and oþere of grete lynage were in my company, þat ofte were wont to playe and to solacen, I belefte allone in my chaumbre of my fader, & wolde nouȝt gon out, for brennyng of þe sone. ¶ And oppon a tyme þere come a faire bachiler, and entrede into my chaumbre þere þat I was allone; but how he come into me, & wher, I wiste neuer, ne ȝitte wote, for þe dores were fast barrede; and wiþ me he dede game of loue, for I nade noþer myȝt ne power him to defende fro me; and ofte he come to me in the forsaide maner, so þat he bigate one me þis same childe; but neuer; myȝt y wete of him what he was, ne whens he come, ne what was his name."

When Merlyn hade herde al þat his moder hade saide, he spake to þe kyng in this maner: "sire, how y was bigeten, axe ȝe no more, for hit falleþ nouȝt to ȝow ne to none oþere forto wete; but telle me þe enchesone wherefore I ame to ȝow brouȝt, and wherfore ȝe haue sent after me." ¶ "Certes," quod þe kyng, "my wise concelers hauen done me to vnderstonde þat þe morter of a werk þat I haue done bigonne biheueþ, ben temperede wiþ ȝour blode, or þe fundement shal faile for euermore." ¶ "Sire," quod Merlyn, "wille ȝe slee me for my blode forto temper wiþ ȝoure morter?" "Ȝe," quod þe kyng, "or elles shal neuer my castel stonde, as my conselers done me to vnderstonde." ¶ Þo ansurede Merlyn to þe kyng: "sire," he saide, "late ham come bifore me, þo wise conselers, and I wil proue þat þai say nouȝt wel ne trewely. and when þe wise were comen, Merlyn axede if his blode were þe enchesoun to make þe werke stande to endure. Alle þise wise were abasshede, and couþ nouȝt ansuere. ¶ Merlyn þo saide to þe kyng: "sire, I shall telle ȝow þe encheson wherfore ȝour werk þus faileþ and may nouȝt stande. þere is vnder þe mountaigne þere þat ȝe haue bigonne ȝour tour a grete ponde of water; and in þe botume of þe ponde, vnder þe water, þere beþ ij dragons,—þat one is white, and þat oþere rede,—þat feiȝten to-geder ageyne ȝoure werk. Doþ myne depe til ȝour men come to the ponde, and doth ȝour men take away þe water al out, and þan ȝe shul see þe dragons, as I haue ȝow tolde, þo togederes feiȝten ageyne ȝour werk; and þis is þe encheson, certes, wherfore ȝour fundement faileþ." ¶ the kyng anone lete degge vnder, til þat men come to þe ponde, & lete do away al þe water; and þere þai fonde ij dragons, as Merlyn hade tolde, þat egrely fouȝten togederes; þe white dragoun egrely assailede þe rede, and laide on him so strong þat he myȝt nouȝt endure, but wiþdrowe him, & hidde him in the same Cafe, and restede. ¶ And when he hade awhile restede, he went bifore, and assailede þe rede dragoun angrely, and assailede him so sore þat he myȝt nouȝt aȝeynes him endure, but with-drow him and restede. And after come aȝeyne þe white dragoun, and strongely fouȝt wiþ þe reede dragoune, and bote him euel, & him ouer-come, þat he fley þens, and nomore come aȝeyne.

MErlyn and his moder departede fro þe kyng, and turnede aȝeyne to Kermerdyn. and so after tydynges come to þe Britons þat Aurilambros and Vter his broþer were arryuede at Tottenesse wiþ a grete host, and þe Britouns anone assemblede ham, & went to vnderfong Aurilambros and Vter wiþ grete nobleye, & ladde ham to London, and cronede þere Aurylambros, and made him kyng, and deden to him homage. and he axede wher Vortiger þat was kyng myght bene founden, for he wolde bene avengede of his broþereȝ deþ, and after he wolde werre oppon paynymes: and þai tolde him þat Vortiger was in Walis; and so þai ladde him þiderward. ¶ Vortiger wist wel þat þo ij breþerne come him to conquere, & fleye þens into a castel þat me callede Generth, þat stode vppon an hye mounteyne, & þere him helde. ¶ Aurylambros, and Vter his broþer, and hire folc, hade bisegede þe castel longe tyme, for þe castel was stronge and wel arraiede; so at þe laste þai cast wilde fire, and brent hous and men, and al here arraye, & as miche as was wiþin þe castel, so þat Vortiger was brent amonge alle oþere; and so deide he with michel sorwe. ¶ þo was Engist in Kent, and regnede þere, and herde þis tydynges and anone fledde, and wolde haue wende into Scotland forto haue hade socour, but Aurilambros and his men mette wiþ him in the North contre, and ȝaf him bataile, & Engist and his men ham defendede whiles þai myght, but he and his folc were descomfitede and slayn, and Otta his sone fley vnto Ȝork, & Aurilambros him folwede egrely. Otta, a litel while aȝeynes him stode, but afterwarde he put him to his mercy, and Aurilambros vnderfonge him; & to him and to his men he ȝaf þe contre of Galway in Scotland, and þere þai duellede. ¶ The Kyng Aurylambros went þo þrouȝ þe lande, and put awaye þe name of Engistes lande, þat E[n]gist, after his owen name hade callede bifore, þo lete he it calle aȝeyne Grete Britaigne, and lete make aȝeyne cherches, houses of religioun, castelles, citees, and burghes and tounes þat þe Saxoynes hade destroiede, and come to London, and lete make aȝeyne the Wallis of þe citee, whiche Engist & his folc hade caste adoune. ¶ þe Britons ladde him to þe mount of Anbrian, wher some tyme was an house of religioun þat þo was destriede þrouȝ paynemys, whe[re]of a knyght þat me callede Anbry, þat some tyme was foundour of þe hous, and þerfor þe hulle was callede þe mount of Bryan, and after was callede Ambresbery, and shal for eueremore.

THe Kyng Aurilambros lete amende and redresse þe hous of Ambresbery, and þerin put monkes, but now þere beth nonnes; a litil fram þe place þat me calleþ Salesbury, þere þat þe Britouns were quellede in þat place þat Vortiger & Engist shulde haue made a loueday, in whiche place þere were slayne xxx Ml knyȝtes þrouȝ tresoun of Engist. ¶ þe kyng þerof hade grete pitee, & þouȝt to make, in mynde of ham, a monument of stone þat myȝt endure to þe worldes ende. and of þis þing þai tok here conseile what þerof was best to done. ¶ Þo spake to þe kyng þe bishop of London þat me called Ternekyn, þat he shulde enquere after Merlyn, for he couþe best telle how þis þing miȝt bene made. and merlyn after was souȝt and founde, & come to þe kyng; and þe kyng tolde him his wille of þe monument þat he wolde haue made. ¶ þo ansuerede Merlyn to þe kyng, and saide: "þere beþ grete stones in Irlande, and longe vppon the hulle of Kyan þat men calleþ þe geant caroll; and if þai were put in þis place as þai beþ þere, here þai wolde endure euermore, in remembraunce of þo knyghtes þat here beþ enterede." "Par ma foy," quod þe kyng, "as herde stones beth in my londe as beth in Irland" "soþ," quod Merlyn, "but in all ȝour lande beth non soche, for Geaunteȝ sette ham for grete gode of hamself, ffor atte euery tyme þat þai were wonded, or in eny maner hurt, þai wasshen þe stones wiþ hote water, & þan wosshen ham þerwiþ, and anone þai were hole."

WHen þe Britons hade herde of þis þing, þai went and sworen ifere amonges ham, þat þai wolde gone to seche þe stones; and toke wiþ ham Vter, þe kynges broþer, to bene here cheueteyne, & xv Ml men; and Merlyn conseilede ham forto gone into Irlande, and so þai deden. ¶ And when þe Kyng of Irland, þat me callede Guillomer, herde telle þat straungers were arryuede in his lande, he assemblede a grete power, and fouȝt aȝeyns ham; but he & his folc were descomfitede. the Britons went fourþ til þai come to þe mount of Kylyan, and clymede vnto þe mount; but when þai saw þe stones, and þe maner how þai stoden, þai hadden grete mervail, and saide bituene ham þat 'noman shulde ham remeve, for no strenghe ne engyne, so huge þai weren, and so long.' But Merlyn, þrouȝ his crafte and queyntise, remevede ham, and brouȝt ham into hire shippis, and come aȝeyn into þis lande. and Merlyn sette þe stones þere þat þe Kyng wolde haue ham, and sette ham in þe same maner as þai stoden in Irland. and when þe kyng saw þat it was made, he þankede Merlyn, and rychely him rewardede at his owen wille; & þat place he lete calle Stonhynges for euermore.

ANd men shul vnderstonde þat Passent, þat was Vortigers sone, leuede in þe same tyme, and come into þis lande wiþ a grete power, and arryuede in þe Northcontre, & wolde bene avengede of his fadereȝ deþ Vortiger, and stronglich trust vppon þe company þat he hade brouȝt wiþ him oute of þe lande of Germayne, and hade conquerede al þe Northcontre vnto Ȝork. ¶ And when Kyng Aurilambros herde þis, he assemblede a grete power of Britons, and went forto feiȝt wiþ him; and Passent and his peple were descomfitede. But Passent ascapede þens, wiþ some of his folc, and fledde þennes into Irland, and come to Kyng Guillomer, and praede him of helpe and socoure. ¶ The kyng grantede him wiþ gode wil, and saide: "I wolde helpe ȝow oppon þat couenaunt, þat I my-self moste gon wiþ ȝow wiþ al my power into Britaigne, and I wolde me avenge vppon þe Britons, for þai comen into my londe. and token þe stones wiþ strengþ þat is callede Geant Caroil." þe Kyng Guillomere lete ordeyne his shippis, and went to þe see wiþ xv Ml men, and arryuede in Walis, and bigonne to robbe and miche sorwe to done. hit bifelle so þat Kyng Aurilambros lay sike at Wynchestre, and myght nouȝt helpe himself, so þat he sent in his name Vter his broþere, with a grete power, forto help Walys; and þiderwarde he went as miche as he myȝt. ¶ þe Kyng of Irland, and Passent, herde telle þat Aurylambros was sik; and to ham come a sarasine þat me clepede Coppa, and saide: "sireȝ, duelle ȝe here al in pees wiþ ȝoure hoste, and y bihote ȝow, þrouȝ my queyntise, þat I shal slee þe Kyng Aurylambros þat liþ sike." "If ȝe do," quod Passent, "y shal ȝow richely auaunce." ¶ This traitoure Coppa put oppon him an habite of religioun, and lete shaue him a brode crone, and come to þe kynges court, and saide þat he was a gode ffisician, and saide þat he wolde hele þe kyng of his malady. ¶ Tho saide þe traitour Coppa vnto þe kyng: "sire, beþ of gode comfort, for y shal ȝeue ȝow soche a medecyne þat ȝe shulle swete anone ryȝt, and softe slepe, and haue gode reste." & þe traitour ȝaf him soche a poysoun þat he slepte anone ryght, and deide in his slepyng. and þe traitoure saide þat he wolde gone oute into þe felde til þe kyng were awakede; and so scapede he away, for noman to him hade suspesion, for enchesoun of his habit þat he was in cloþede, and also for his brode crone. ¶ But when þe kynges meny wist þat he was dede, þai bicome wonder sory, and fast souȝt þe traitour; but þai miȝt nouȝt hem fynde, for Coppa turnede aȝeyne to þe host fro whens that he come.

WHen the Kyng Aurilambros was þus dede & enpysenede at Wynchestre, a morn, after þat he was dede, aboute þe tyme of prime, þere was seyn a sterr grete and clere; and þe beeme of þe sterr was brighter þan þe sone; and at þe bouȝt of þe beeme apperede a dragounes heuede, and oute of his mouþ comen ij huge liȝteȝ þat were as liȝt as eny fire brynnyng. ¶ And þat o beeme went towarde Fraunce, and strauȝt ouere þe see þiderward; and out of þat beem comen vij beemes ful clere and longe, as it were þe liȝt of fire. ¶ þis sterre was seyne of meny man; but none of ham wist what it bitokenede. ¶ Vter, þat was þe kyngus broþer, þat was in Walys wiþ his hoste of Britouns, saw þat sterre, and þe grete liȝt þat it ȝaf. he wondrede þeron gretly, what it myȝt bitoken; he lete calle Merlyn, & praiede him forto telle what it myȝt bitokene.

MErlyn saw þat sterre, and bihelde hit longe tyme, and siþenes he quok and wepte tenderly; & saide: "allas, allas! þat so noble kyng and worþi is dede. and I do ȝow to vnderstonde þat Aurilambros, ȝour broþer, is enpoysenede, and þat I se wel in þis sterre. and ȝoure-self bitokeneþ bi þe heuede of þe dragoun þat is seyne at þe bouȝt of þe beeme: þat is ȝoureself, þat shal bene kyng, and regne. and by þe beem þat stode towarde þe Est, is vnderstonde þat ȝe shal geten a sone þat shal conquere al Fraunce and alle þe landes þat beþ longeyng to þe Kyng of Fraunce, þat shal bene a worþier Kyng, and more of honoure þan euer was eny of his ancestres. ¶ And by þe beem þat stracchet towarde Irland, is bitokenede þat ȝe shul bigete a douȝter þat shal be quene of Irland; and þe vij beemes bitokenes þat ȝe shul haue vij sones; and eueryche of ham shal bene kyng, and regne wiþ michel honououre. and abide ȝe no longer here, but go and ȝif batail to ȝoure enemys, and feiȝt wiþ ham boldely, for ȝe shul ouercome ham and haue þe victorie." Vter þankede hertly Merlyn, and tok his men, and went towarde his enemys; and þai fouȝten togeder mortaily; and so þai descomfitede his enemys alle, & destroiede ham; & him-self quellede Passent, þat was Vortigerȝ sone; and his Britons quellede Guillomer, þat was Kyng of Irland, and alle his men. and Vter anone after þat bataile tok his way toward Wynchestre fort[o] done entier Aurilambros kyng, þat was his broþer; but þo was þe body born to Stonhynge wiþ michel honoure, þat he hade done made in remembrance of þe Britons þat þere were slayn þrouȝ tresoune of Engist, þat same day þat þai shulde haue bene accordede; & in the same place þai enterede Aurilambros, þe secunde ȝere of his regne, wiþ al þe worship þat myght bene longyng to soche a kyng, of whos soule God haue mercy!

After þe deth of Aurylambros, Vter his broþer was cronede, and regnede wel and worþily; and in remembraunce of þe dragons þat he was likenede to, he lete make ij dragounes þrouȝ conseile of his Britouns: þat one to bene borne bifore him when he went into bataile, & þat oþere to abide at Wynchestre in the bisshoppes cherche; And for þat enchesoun he was callede euermore after, Vter Pendragoun. ¶ And Octa, þat was Engistes sone, commendet litil Vter þat was made newe kyng, and aȝeynes him biganne forto meve werr, and ordeynede a grete company of his frendes & of his kynne, and of Ossa his broþer, and hade take al þe lande fro Humber vnto Ȝork; but þo of Ȝork helde strongely agayne ham, and nolde soffre ham come into þe toune, neyþer to ȝelde þe citee to ham; and he bisegede þe toune anone ryȝt, and ȝaf þerto a stronge assaut, but tho of þe citee ham keped wel and strongely. ¶ And when Vter herde þerof, he come þider wiþ a stronge power forto helpe and rescue þe toune, and put away þe sege, & ȝaf a stronge bataile; and Octa & his company ham defendede as wel as þai myȝt, but at þe last þai were descomfitede, and þe moste part of ham quellede; and Octa & Ossa were taken, and put into prisoun at London. ¶ And Vter him-self duellede awhile at Ȝork, and after, he went to London. and at Ester after sewyng, he wolde bere crone, and helde a solempne feste, and lete sompne alle þe Erles and barons, þat þai shulde come to þat feste; and alle þai comen at þe kynges commandement, as þai were commandede. ¶ The feste was richely holden, and alle worþely sette to þe mette after þat þai were of state, so þat þe Erl of Cornewaile & Igerne his wif setten alþer next þe kyng. and þe kyng saw þe fairenesse of þat lady þat she hade, and was rauisshede for here beaute; and after, he made towarde here nyce semblant in lokyng and leiȝhyng. so at þe laste þe Erl perseuede þe priue lokyng and Laughing, and þe loue bituene ham, and arose vp fram þe table al in wraþ, and tok his wif, and callede to him his knyȝtes, and went þens al in wraþ, wiþouten takyng Leue of þe Kyng. þe kyng anone sent after him þat he shulde come aȝeyne, & go nouȝt þens in despite of him; and þe Erl wolde nouȝt come aȝeyne in no maner wise. ¶ Wherfor þe kyng was ful wroþ, & in wraþ him defiede as his dedelich enemy. and þe Erl went þens into Cornewaile wiþ his wif, into þe castel of Tyntagell. and þe kyng lete ordeyne a grete host, & come into Cornewaile forto destroie þe erl, if he myȝt; but he hade put him in soche a castel þat was stronge and wel arraiede, of Tyntagell, and wolde nouȝt ȝelde him to the Kyng. ¶ The kyng anone bisegede þe castel, & þere duellede xv daies, þat neuer myȝt spede, and euer þouȝt so miche of Igerne, and oppon her laide so miche loue, þat he nyst what to done. ¶ So at þe laste he callede to him a knyȝt þat me callede Vlfyne, þat was priue wiþ him, and tolde him al hes conseile, and axede of him what was best to done. ¶ "Sire," quod he, "doþ sende after Merlyn, for he can telle ȝow þe best consel of eny man leuyng." Merlyn anone was sent after, and come to þe kyng, and þe kyng tolde him al his wille. "Sire," quod Merlyn, "I shal do so miche þrouȝ crafte þat I can, þat I shal make ȝow come þis nyȝt into þe castel of Tyntagell, & shal haue al ȝoure wille of þat Lady."

MErlyn, þrouȝ crafte þat he couþe, chaungede þe kyngusfigure into þe likenesse of Vlfyne his chaumberleyn, and to þe figure of Iordan þat was þe erleȝ chaumberleyn, so þat eche of ham was transfigurede into oþere likenesse. and when Merlyn hade so done, he saide to þe kyng: "sire, now may ȝe gone sodeynely to þe castel of Tyntagel, and axen entre þere, and haue ȝoure wille." the kyng tok priuelich, al þe host to gouerne & lede, to a knyȝt þat he miche louede, and toke his way toward þe castel; and wiþ him went Vlfyne and Merlyn. and when þat he come þider, þe Porter wende þat it hade bene his owen lorde. and when tyme come forto gone to bedde, the kyng went to bedde wiþ Igerne, þe Erleȝ wif, and dede wiþ her al his wille, and þo bigate on here a sone þat me clepede Arthure. ¶ Oppon þe morwe þe noble myȝty kyng toke his leue of þe lady, and went aȝeyn to his hoste. and þe same nyȝt þat þe kyng lay by Igerne in bedde ifere wiþ þe erleȝ wif, þe kynges men ȝaf a strong assaute to þe castel. and þe Erl and his men manliche ham defendede; but at þe laste hit bifelle so þat at þat assaut þe erl him-self was slayn, and þe castel was taken. and þe kyng anone turnede aȝeyne to Tyntagell, and spousede Igerne wiþ michel honoure, & made hir Quene. & sone after, tyme come þat she shulde bene delyuerede, and bare a sone þat was callede Arthure. and after he gate on here a douȝter þat me clepede Amya; and when she come to age, she was nobly mariede to a noble Baroun þat me callede Aloth, þat was lorde of Leones.

¶ When Vter longe tyme hade regnede, þere come vppon him a grete sikenesse, as it were a sorwe. & in þe mene tyme þo þat haden to kepe Octa, þat was Engistes sone, and Ossa his broþer, þat þo were in prisoun, men lete ham gone for grete ȝiftes þat þai ham ȝaf, and went wiþ ham. ¶ And when þo ij breþerne were ascaped, and comen aȝeyne into hier owen contre, þai ordeynede ham a grete host & a grete power, & bigon to werre eftesones vppon þe kyng.

WHen Arthure was made kyng of þe lande, he was but ȝonge, of xv ȝere age, but he was faire, and bolde, & douȝti of body, & to meke folc he was gode & curteise, & to prout folc he was stout & sterne; & also he was gentil and curteise, and large of spendyng, & made him wel bilouede of al men þere þat it was nede. And when he biganne to regne, he swore þat Saxones neuer shulde haue pees ne reste til þat he hade drif ham out of his lande. & he lete assemble a grete host, & fauȝt wiþ Colegrin, þat, after tyme þat Octa was dede, þe Saxones mayntenede. And þis Colegryne was descomfitede, & fley to Ȝork, & tok þe tone, & þere helde him. And þe Kyng bisegede þe tone; but he miȝt noþing spede, for þe toune was so strong, & þai wiþin kepte þe toune wel & horpedly. ¶ And in þe mene tyme Colegryne lete þe toune to Bladulf, & fley him-self to Cheldrik, þat was Kyng of Almaigne, forto haue of him socour. and þe Kyng assemblede a grete power, and come & arryuede in Scotland wiþ v. C.. shippis. & when Arthure wist of þis tydyngus, þat he hade nouȝt power ne strengþ ynow to feiȝt aȝeyne Sheldrik, he lete bene þe sege, and went to London, and sent anone his lettres to þe Kyng of Litil Britaigne, þat me callede Hoel, his neveu, his sustres sone, þat he shulde come to him wiþ al þe power þat he myȝt. And he assemblede a grete hoste, & arryuede at Southampton. ¶ And when Kyng Ar[t]hure hit wiste, he was glade ynow, & went aȝeynes ham, & ham resceyuede wiþ michel honour, so þat þo ij hostes ham assemblede, and toke her way euen to Nichole, þat Cheldrik hade bisegede but nouȝt ȝitte taken. And þai comen vppon Cheldrik & vppon his peple or þai hit wiste, þere þat þai werre, and ham egrely assailede. Þe Kyng Cheldrik and his meny defendede ham manly by here power, but Kyng Arthure and his men quellede so meny Saxones, þat neuer er was seyne soche a slauȝter; and his men þat were lefte alif, fledden away, and Arthure ham pursuede, and drof ham into a wode þat þai miȝt no ferþer passe. ¶ Cheldrik and his men saw wel þat þai were brouȝt into miche disesse, & ham ȝolden to Arthure in þis maner wise, þat he shulde take here horse and Here armure, & al þat þai hadde, þat þai most oneliche gone on fote to here shippes, and so þai wolde gone into here owen lande, & neuer come aȝeyne into þis lande. And vppon assuraunce of þis þing, þai ȝeuen him gode hostages; and Arthure, þrouȝ conseile of his men, grauntede þis þing, and resceyuede þe hostages. & oppon þis, þise oþer went vnto here shippes: and when þai werne in þe hye see, hir wille chaungede, as þe deuel it wolde, & þai retournede hire nauye, & come aȝeyne into þis land, & arryuede at Tottenesse, & went out of here shippis, & toke þe lande, & clene robbede hit, & michel peple slouȝ, & token al þe Armure þat þai myȝt fynde; & so þai wenten forthe til þai comen to Bathe; but þe men of þe toune shitten faste here ȝates, and wolde nouȝt suffren ham come þer in þe toune, and þai defendede ham wel and horpedly aȝeynȝ ham.

WHen Arthure herde þis tydynges, he lete honge anone þe hostages, & lefte Hoel of Britaigne, his nevew, forto kepe þe Marche toward Scotland wiþ half his peple, and him-self went helpe rescue þe toune of Bathe. And when he come þider, he ȝaf a strong batail to Cheldrik, and quelde almost al þe peple þat he hade; for no man myȝt him wiþstande, ne endure vnder þe stroke of his swerde; and þere boþe were slayn, Colegrin and Bladud his broþer. ¶ And Cheldrik fledde þens, and wolde haue gone to his shippis; but when Arthure hit wist, he tok xv Ml knyȝtes to Cador, þat was erl of Cornewaile, forto lette and stoppe his commyng; and Arthure him-self went aȝeyne towarde þe Marche of Scotland, ffor messagers tolde him þat þe Scottes hade bisegede Hoel of Britaign þere þat he lay sike; and þerfore he hastede þiderward; & Cador pursuede after Cheldrik, & toke him or þat he myȝt come to his shippis, & quellede Cheldrik & his peple. And when Cador hade done þis viage, he hastede him aȝeyne, as faste as he myȝt, towardes Arthure, and founde him in Scotland þere þat he hade rescuede Hoel of Britaigne. But þe Scottes were al feire wiþin Mounref, and þere þai helde ham awhile; but Arthure ham pursuede, and þai fledde þens fourþ into Lymoigne, þat were in þat contre lx Iles, & grete plente of briddes, & grete plente of Egles, þat were wont to crie and feiȝten to-gederes, and make grete noise when folc come to robbe þat lande, and weren as miche as þai miȝt; and so þai deden, for þe Scottes were so grete rauenours þat þai token al þat þai myȝt fynde in þe lande of Lymoigne wiþ-outen eny sparyng; and þerwiþ þai chargede aȝeyne ȝe folc, into Scotland forto wende.

WHen Arthure hade brouȝt his lande in pees and reste, & in gode state, & reste was in euery contre, þo toke he and wedede a wif þat me callede Gunnore, & made here quene, a faire lady and a gentil, þat Cador þe erle of Cornewail hade longe tyme norisshede in his chaumbre, þat was his owen cosyn; but neuer þai haden childe to-gedres, and noþelesse Kyng Arthure louede her wonder wel and derlich. ¶ And anone as wynter was passede, he lete assemble a grete hoste, & alle his barons, and saide þat he wolde wende into Irland forto conquere the Lande; and he tarede nouȝt ful longe þat he ne passede ouer into Irland. ¶ And Guillomer, þe Kyng of Scotland, lete assemble a grete hoste, and ȝaf batail to Kyng Arthur; but Guillomer was descomfitede, & ȝelde him to þe Kyng Arthure, and bicome his man, and to him dede feaute & homage, and of him helde al þat lande fro þat tyme forward. and after passede Kyng Arthur ferþer, and conquerede Gutland and Irland, and toke homages of folc of þe lande, and þere duellede xij ȝer in pees, & regnede wiþ ioye and merþe, & werrede vppon no maner man, ne no man vppon him. ¶ And he bicome so curteys and large, and so honourable, þat þe Emperoureȝ court of Rome, ne none þrouȝ-out al þe worlde, was none acountede to Kyng Arthures, þat eny man wist, ne none so preisede; and þerefore þe beste knyȝtes of al maner landes comen to him forto duelle, & ham resceyuede wiþ gode wille and reuerence; and alle þe knyȝtes weren so gode þat no man knew þe werst; and þerefore Kyng Arthure made þe rounde table, þat when þai shulde sitte to þe mete, alle shulde bene aliche hye, and euenlich seruede at þe table, þat none myȝt maken auant þat none were hyer þan oþere. and Kyng Arthure hade at þat table ¶ Britons, Fraunchemen, Normannes, Flemynges, Burgoyners, Mansers, Loherinȝ, and of alle þe landes a þis half þe mount of Gorie, and of his lande of Britaigne, and of þe grete Cornwaile, of Walys, & of Irland, & of Scotland; and shortely to telle, of alle þe landes þat wolde worshipe and chyualry seche, comen to Kyng Arthurus court.

THe þridde day, as kyng Arthure satte at his mete amonges his kynges, & amonges ham þat seten at þe fest biforne ham, come in xij elderne men of age, rychely arraiede, and curteisly saluede þe kyng, and saide þat þai come fro Rome, sent messagers fram þe Emperour, and tok to him a lettre þat þus miche was to vnderstounde: ¶ "Gretely vs mervailes, Arthure, þat þow art on so hardy, wiþ eyen in þi heuede, to maken oppen werr and contak aȝeyns vs of Rome, þat owen al þe worlde to deme; for þow haste neuer ȝitte bifore þis tyme prouede ne assaiede þe strengþ of þe Romayns, and þerfor, þow it shalt in litil tyme. For Iulius Cesar conquerede al þe lande of Britaigne, and tok þerof truage, and oure folc longe tyme haue it hade; and now, þrouȝ þi pryde, þow hit witholdes; wherfore we commande þe þat þow ȝelde aȝeyne. ¶ and ȝitte haste þow more folye done, þat þow hast slayn Froll, þat was oure baron of Fraunce, al wiþ wrong, and þerfore alle þe communes of Rome warnen and commanden þe, oppon lif and Lyme, þat þow in haste bene at Rome, amendes to make of þe misdedeȝ that þow haste done; and if hit so be þat þow come nouȝt, we shul passe þe hull of Ioye wiþ strengþ, and we shul þe seke wher-euer þow may ben founde, and þow shalt nouȝt haue a foote of lande of þyn owen þat we ne shal destroy; and aftirward wiþ þi body we shal done oure wille." ¶ When þis lettre was rade, & alle men hit herde, þai were annoyede, alle þat were at þe solempnite; and þe Britons wolde haue slayne þe messagers, but Arthure wolde nouȝt soffre hit, and saide þat þe messagers shulde haue none harme, and mow by resoun none deserue; but he commanded hem to bene worþely seruede. and after mete he toke conseil of kyngus, Erles and Barons, what ansuere me myȝt ȝeue to þe messagers; and þai conseilede at ones þat he shulde assemble a grete power of alle þe landes of þe whiche he hade lordeshipe, & manliche avenge him oppon þe Emperour, of þe despite þat he hade sent to him soche a lettre; and þai suoren bi God and by his names þat þai wolde him pursue & brenne in-alsemiche as þai myȝt, & saide þat þai wolde neuer faile Kyng Arture, and raþere to bene dede: and þai lete writen a lettre to sende to þe Emperour by þe same messagers in þis maner:

"UV[n]derstondes amonges ȝow of Rome, þat I am kyng Arthure of Britaigne, and frely hit holde, and shal holde; and at Rome hastely y shal be, nouȝt to ȝeue ȝow truage, but forto axen truage; ffor Constantyne, þat was Elynus sone, þat was Emperour of Rome and of al þe honour þat þereto bilongede; ffor Maxinian conquerede al Fraunce and Almaigne, & mount Ioye passede, & conquerede al Lumbardye; and þise ij were myn ancestres; and þat þai hade and helde, I shulde haue, þrouȝ ¶ Godes wille."

THe kynges of Scotland, & of Irland & of Gutland, of Denmarc and of Almaigne, eueryche of ham hade x Ml of men. ¶ Thei of Normandye, Gascoigne & Spaigne, Flaundres & Pehito, & of Boloigne, hade iiijxx Ml. Geryn of Chartres hade x Ml; Hoel of Britaigne hade xij Ml, and him-self [Arthur] hade of his owen Londe xij Ml, & of Arblasters and of Archires, & of oþere folc on foote, þat noman couþe ham nombre. and when þai weren al redy forto wende, Kyng Arthur, his lande & Gunore his wif, he bitoke to one of his Nevewes þat was a wise knyȝt, & an herdy, þat me callede Mordrede; but he was nouȝt al trewe, as ȝe shul here afterwarde. Kyng Arthure toke al his reame to þis Mordrede, saue oneliche þe crone. ¶ And after þat, kyng Arthure tok his host and went to Southampton, þere þat þe shippes were brouȝt. and þe folc assemblede, and þai deden ham to þe see, and hade gode wynde & weder at wille. and as sone as þai myȝten, þai arryuede at Berflete, & wenten oute of here shippis, and spraden al þe contreye.

KYng Arthure hade duellede in þe contre but a litil while, þat men ne tolde him þat þer was comen a grete Geaunt into Spayne, and hade rauesshede faire Elyne, þat was cosyn to Hoel of Britaigne, & hade brouȝt here vppon an hull þat is clepede þe Mount of seynt Barnard; & þere was noman in þat contre so bolde, ne so hardy, þat derst wiþ him to feiȝt, ne come neyȝ þe place þere þe Geaunt duellede; and men callede him Dynabȝ, þat miche sorwe dede in þe contre. ¶ When Kyng Arthure herde þis tydynges, he callede Kay & Bedewer, & commaundede ham þat þai shulde gon pryuely, and aspie Where þe Geaunt myȝt bene founde. and þai come to þe Ryuage þere þat men shulde gon to þe mount, þat was al enclosede about wiþ water, and ȝit is and euer shal be; and þai saw a brynnyng fire oppon þe Hull; and þere was also anoþer hull neyȝ, þat þere was oppon anoþere fire brynnyng. ¶ Kay and Bedewer comen to þe nexte hull, and founden a widowe openheuede, sittyng bisides a tounbe, sore wepyng, & grete sorwe made; and ofte she saide "Elyn! Elyn!" and Kay & Bedwere axede what her ailede, & wherfore she made so miche sorwe, & who lay in þat tombe. ¶ "O," quod she, "what sorwe and what mysauenture, faire lordes, make ȝe here? for if þe Geant may ȝow here fynde, ȝe worþ dede anone." "ben stille, gode wif," quod þai, "þerof dismai þe nouȝt, but tel vs þe soþe whi þow makes so myche sorwe & wepyng." ¶ "Sires," quod she, "for a damiselle þat I norisshede wiþ my brest, þat me callede Elyne,—þat was nece to Hoel, Kyng of litel Britaigne, and here liþ þe bodye in þis tombe,—þat to me was bitaken to norisshe. so þere come a deuel, a Geaunt, & rauasshede here, & me Also, & lade vs boþe away; and he wolde haue forleyn þis maide þat was so ȝonge & tendre of age, but she myȝt hit nouȝt soffren, so grete and so huge þe Geant is. and if he now come as he was wont to done, certes he wille ȝow quelle, boþe ij; and þerfore faste wende ȝe hens." "and wherfore," saide þai, "go ȝe nouȝt hens?" ¶ "Certes, Sires," quod she, "When þat Elyne was dede, þe Geaunt made me to abide, to done and haunt his wille, and me most nedes it soffren. and God hit wote, I do hit nouȝt wiþ my gode wille, for leuer me were to bene dede þan wiþ him to dele, so miche payne I haue when he me forleiȝ." ¶ When Kay and Bedwere hade herde al þat þis woman hade tolde, þa turnede aȝeyne, and comen to Kyng Arthure, & tolde him al þat þai hade seyne & harde. ¶ Arthure anone toke ham boþe with him, and went priuely by nyȝt, þat none of his hoste it wiste, and come on þe morne to þe Geaunt, and fauȝt wiþ him strongely, and at þe laste him slouȝ. and Arthure bede Bedwere smyte of hes heuede, and bryng it to þe hoste to shewe ham for a wonder, for it was so grete & so huge. ¶ When þai comen aȝeyne to þe hoste, þai tolde wherfore þai hade bene out, and shewede to ham þe heuede; & euery man was glade & ioyful of þe worþi dede þat Kyng Arthure hade done, her lorde. ¶ And Hoel was ful sorweful for his nece þat was so loste; and after, when he hade space, he lete make a faire chapel of oure Lady ouer Elyneȝ Tumbe.

ARthure and his peple hade tydynges þat þe Emperour hade assemblede grete power, as wel of Sarasynes and of paynemys as of Cristen men, Wherof þe noumbre was iiijxx Ml of horsemen and of fote men. Arthure and his peple ordeynede ham fast forþ in here Way towarde þe Emperour, and passede Normandy & Fraunce vnto Burgoyne, and wolde euen haue gone to þe host, for men tolde him þat þe Emperoureȝ host was comen to Lucye. ¶ The Emperour and his host, in þe byginning of August, remevede fram Rome, and come fourth ryȝt þe way toward þe host. ¶ tho comen Kyng Arthures aspieȝ, and saide, if þat Arthure wolde, he shulde fynde þere faste bisides, þe Emperour; but þai saiden þat þe Emperoure hade so grete power wiþ him of kynges of þe lande, & of Paynemys yfere, & also cristen peple, þat it were but grete folie to Kyng Arthure forto mete wiþ him, for þe espies tolde þat þe Emperour hade v men or vj aȝeynes one of his. ¶ Kyng Arthure was bolde and hardy, and for noþing him dismaiede, & saide: "go we forþ in Goddes name aȝeynes þe Romayns, þat wiþ ham ledeþ Sarasines & Paynemes þat no maner truste þai hauen to God, but oneliche oppon here strengþ! Go we now, and seche ham sharpely in þe name of almyȝty God, and slee we þe paynemys and Cristen men þat bene enemys wiþ ham forto destroe Cristen men; and God shal vs helpe, for we haueþ the ryȝt, & þerfore haue we gode trust in God; & done we so þat þe enemys þat bene to Cristendome & to Gode mow bene dede & destroiede, & þat men mow recorde þe worþinesse of knyȝthode!" ¶ When Kyng Arthure hade þus saide, þai criden al wiþ an hye voice, "God, fader almiȝty, Worsheppede be þine name Wiþouten ende, Amen! and grant vs grace wel to done, and to destrie oure enemys þat beþ aȝeynes Cristendome! In þe name of þe fader & of þe sone and of þe holy gost, Amen! And God ȝeue ham neuer grace ne worshipp in the worlde, ne mercy of him to haue, þat þis day shal feynten wel forto smyte, and egrely!" and so þai riden softly, and ordeynede her wenges wel and wisely.

¶ The Emperoure herde telle þat Kyng Arthure & his folc were redy arraiede forto feiȝt wiþ him; and þider þai comen, wher he ordeynede his wenges in þe best manere þat he myȝt, and more trust oppon his strengþ þan in God almyȝty. and þat was seyn afterward, ffor when þo ij hostes metten, the Emperour loste soche foure of his folc as dede Kyng Arthur; and so meny were slayne, what in o side and in þat oþere, þat hit was grete pite to wete and to seen. ¶ In þis bataile were slayn þrouȝ Kyng Arthure, v kyngȝ of paynemys, & of oþere, Wonder miche peple. ¶ And Kyng Arthures men fouȝten so wel, þat þe Romaines and paynemys hade no more power ne strengþ to wiþstande ham, þan xx shepe aȝeynes v. wolfes. ¶ And so hit bifelle þat in þis bataile, in a shoure þat was wonder herde and longe duryng, in þat o side and in þat oþere, þe Emperour, amonges ham þere was slayn; but noman wist forsoþ who him slouȝ.

WHen Kyng Arthure hade taken to Mordrede his reaume to kepe, and was gone aȝeynes þe Emperoure of Rome, & was passede þe see, Mordrede anone toke homages and feautes of al ham þat were in þis lande, and wolde haue hade þe lande to his owen vse, and toke castelles about, and lete ham arraie; and after his falsenesse he dede anoþere grete wrong, ffor, aȝeynes þe law of Cristiente, he toke his owen Emes wif, as a traitour shulde, and ordeynede him a grete hoste aȝeynes Arthures comyng, to halde the lande aȝeyns him wiþ strengþ for euermore, and to slee Kyng Arthure yf he myȝt; and lete sende by þe Cee and lande, and lete assemble Paynymes and cristen peple; and he sent to Saxones and to Danoys forto help him. and also Mordrede sende to Cheldrik, to done men come to him out of Saxoyne, þat was a worþi Duc, and bihiȝt him, if þat he brouȝt wiþ him peple, he wolde graunt him al þe lande fram biȝonde Humber vnto Scotland, and al þe lande þat Engist hade of Vortigers ȝifte, When þat he hade spousede his douȝter. And Cheldrik come wiþ grete strengþ and power of Peple: and Mordrede him assemblede also in his half, þat þai hade xl Ml of stronge knyȝtes when þat þai hade nede.

WHenne Kyng Arthure wist þat he miȝt no longer regne, he lete come bifore him Constantyne, þat was Cadoreȝ sone, erl of Cornwail, his cosyn, and to him bitoke al his reaume, and to him saide, & bade him þerof to bene Kyng til þat he come aȝeyne, for-asmiche as he hade none heire of his body bigeten: and grete harme was hit þat soche a noble Kyng, and so doughty, hade none childe of his body bigeten; but al þing þat God wil haue done, moste bene done, Whos name ben blessede wiþouten ende! Amen.

THis Constance was a noble knyght and a worþi of body; and þo ij sones þat Mordrede hade bigeten, hade grete en[u]y to Constantyne, þat þo was cronede kyng; and so þat þai bigonne to meve werr aȝeynes him, and assemblede a grete hoste of ham þat were to-fore wiþ Mordrede, and hade bene dryuen away. þai deden miche sorwe þrouȝ al þat lande: þat o broþer ordeynede him to London forto take þe citee, and þat oþere to Wynchestre; but Constantyn come to London and slough him þat was þere; and after, he went to Wynchestre, and slough him þat þere was also, so þat boþe his enemys were dede. and when Constantyn had regnede worþely iiij ȝer, he deide, & liþ at London.

After Kyng Constantynus deth þere were ij kynges in Britaigne: þat on me callede Adelbright, þat was a Danoys, þat helde þe contre of Northfolc and Southfolc; þat oþere hiȝt Edelf, and was a Britoun, þat helde Nichole, Lyndeseye, and al þe lande vnto Humber. ¶ þise ij kynges faste werrede to-gederes, but afterwarde þai were accorded, and louede to-geder as þai haden bene borne of o body. ¶ The Kyng Edelf hade a sustre þat me callede Orewenne, and he ȝaf here þrouȝ grete frendeship to Kyng Adelbright to wif, and he bigate on here a doughter þat me callede Argentill. and in þe þridde ȝere after, him come vppon a strongesikenesse, þat nedes he moste dye; and he sent to Kyng Edelf his brother-in-lawe, that he shulde come and speke with him; & he come to him with gode wille. ¶ Tho praiede he the [king], and coniurede also in the name of God, þat after when he were dede, he shulde tak Argentill his douȝter, & þe lande, & þat he kepte here wel, and norisshede in his Chaumbre, and when she were of age he shulde done here bene marede to þe strongest and worþieste man þat he myȝt fynde, and þan he shulde ȝelde vp her lande aȝeyne. Edelf hit grauntede, and by oth hit confermede at his power. ¶ And when Adelbright was dede and enterede, Edelfe toke þe damisel Argentil, and norisshede her in his chaumbre, and she bicome þe faireste creature þat eny man myȝt fynde.

THis Kyng Edelf, þat was Vncle to the Damisel Argentil, biþouȝt how þat he myght falseliche haue þe lande fram his nece for euermore; & falsely, aȝeynes his oth, þouȝt to desceyu þe damisell, and mariede here to a knaf of his kechyne þat me callede Curan; and he bicome þe worþiest man & strongest of body þat eny man wiste in eny lande þat þo leuede; and to him he þouȝt here shendefully haue mariede forto haue hade hir lande afterward; but he was clene desceyuede. ¶ ffor þis Curan was Hauelockes sone, þat was Kyng of Kirkelane in Denmark; and þis Curan conquerede his wifes landes, and slough Kyng Edelf þat was his wifes Vncle, & hade al here lande as in anoþer stede hit telleþ more oppenly; and he ne regnede but iij ȝere, for Saxoynes and Danoys him quellede; and þat was grete harme to al Britaigne; and Britons bere him to Stonehynge, and þere þai him enterede wiþ michel honoure and solempnite.

After þis Curan, regnede Conan, þat was his cosyn, þat was a wonder proude knyȝt and regnede. he couþe haue no maner loue, but euer he was medlyng wiþ his owen peple, and toke his Vncle wiþ werre, and helde his ij childerne. ¶ The Saxoynes werrede aȝeynes him oftetymes, but he ham ouercome at þe laste; & so he was in pees al his lifes tyme; and he regnede xiiij ȝere, and after, he deide, and ¶ liþ at London.

After þis Conan, regnede his cosyn Certif, þat was bihatede of all his peple, and noþing bilouede. and þis Certif loste al Britaigne þrouȝ werre. And in his tyme felle þat grete meschief in Britaigne, þat Cristendome was destroede, and alle þe Britons were dryuen oute, & þe lande loste wiþouten eny recoueryng; but afterwarde lefte þe lande to Saxoynes, as ȝe shul afterwarde hure. ¶ For in þat tyme þere was a paynyme þat me callede Gurmonde, þat was þe Kynges sone Daufrik, of þe Paynymes folc, þat hade þe reaume after his fader, and was kyng, saf he biquaþ & ȝaf hit to his broþer, and saide þat he wolde neuer bene kyng but if he might conquere and gete a reaume in a straunge contrey; for he was bolde, and ek stronge of body. & of himprophecied Merlyn, and saide þat 'he shulde bene a wolf of þe see'; and lete assemble paynymes wiþout nombre, and lete apparaile shippis, and went by meny londes, and toke homages and feautes of meny. and so he went by þe see fram lande to lande, & conquerede diuerses landes, so þat he come to Irland, and conquered þat lande, þat ofte-tymes werrede vppon Britaigne, and Britons vppon ham; and often wonnen, & ofte losten, and ȝeuen hostages to Britons. and so þai senten to Gurmond, þere þat he was in Irland, þat he shulde come into Britaigne, and helpe ham aȝeynes þe Britons, to helpe ham deliuere þat lande of ham; and þai wolde him holde gladly for her lorde; for he was a paynyme, and þai were paynemes, and þe Britons were cristen: wel auȝt him þan ham forto helpe, so as þai weren of on law. ¶ When Gurmond herde þis praier, he hastede him as miche as he miȝt, and arryuede in Scotland, and come into Northumberlond þere þat þe Saxones were duellyng; & þai confermede þe couenaunteȝ bituene ham, þat were made by oþes and by hostages, forto beren him trew fay, & halde him for lorde, and paye to him truage by ȝere. ¶ Tho bigonne þe Saxoynes & þe Aufricans to destroye, robbe and brenne tounes, and destroye al þing, as michel as þai myȝt, and sparede neiþere man, woman, ne childe, Lewede ne lernede, þan alle þai quellede, & caste adoun tounus, & castelle, & cherches, & so put þai al þe lande to grete destruccioun. And as sone as the Britons myȝt flee, þai fledde þens, as wel poer as ryche, Bisshoppis, Abbotes, Chanons, & alle oþere, grete and smale; somme into litel Britaign, & some into Cornwail; alle þo þat shippis miȝt haue.

SErtif þe kyng, fleye þens into Chichestre, þat þo was a gode cite and a strong, and þere helde him xx daies. and þis Gurmonde hit bisegede; but þe citee was so strong þat he miȝt nouȝt hit gete be no maner engyne þat he myȝt done. þo biþouȝt þai oppon a grete queyntise forto brenne the toune: þai maden engynes of glew and of nettes, and token peces of tunder & fire, and bonde to sparwe feet, & afterward lete ham flee; and þai fley anon ryȝt, and loggede ham in þe toune þere þat her nestes were, and in stackes & in euesynges of house; & þe fire biganne anone to tende and brenne al þe toune. and whenne þe Britons saw þe toune brenne on euery side, þai hiede ham out, and fauȝt; but anone þai were slayn & descomfitede. and whiles þe bataile durede, þe kyng priuely hud him, & stale away into Walys, & men wiste neuer where he bicome; & so was þe toun of Chichestre taken & destroiede. and after, went Gurmonde, & destroiede citees & tounes þat neuer were afterward made aȝeyne, as it is seen ȝitte in meny stedes.

WHen Seynt Austyne come ferst into Engeland, he arryuede in þe Ile of Tenet, and so passede fourth, & come vnto Kaunterbery, and þere soiournede. And Kyng Adelbright of Kent, þat was of þe lynage of Engist, faire vnderfong seynt Austyn & his felowes wiþ michel honour, & ham fonde al þat ham nedede; & ferþermore he ȝaf ham a faire place þat now is callede þe Abbay of seynt Austynus, in whiche place he liþ him-self shrinede. ¶ This Kyng Adelbright was a gode man, and wiþ godewel herde seynt Austynus predicaciouns, and ȝaf him leue to preche þrouȝ al his lande of Kent, to tourne & to conuerte to him al þe peple þat he miȝt. ¶ Hit bifelle so afterwarde, þrouȝ Goddes grace, þat in litel tyme þe kyng him-self was conuertede to Gode, and all his peple of his lande was baptisede. And in the mene-while þat þe peple turnede ham to God, seynt Austyn come to Rochestre, and þere prechede Goddes worde. þe paynemys þerfor him scornede, and caste on him righe tailes, so þat al his mantel was hongede ful of righe tailes; and for more despite þai caste oppon him þe guttes of ryghe & of ffisshe; wherfore þe gode man seynt Austyn was sore agreuede, and prayede to God þat alle þe childerne þat shulde bene borne afterwarde in þat citee of Rouchestre moste haue tailes. ¶ And when þe Kyng herde and wist of þis vengeance þat was falle þrouȝ seynt Austynus praier, he lete make an house in þe honoure of God, wher-in wymmen shulde haue childerne at þe bruges ende, in whiche hous wymmen ȝit beþ delyuere of childe. ¶ When seynt Gregory hade herde tel þat þe Englisshe-men were turnede to Gode, and conuertede, He sent to seynt Austyn his Pallyoun, by a bisshop þat me callede Paulyn, and made him primate & Erchebisshop of al Engeland, And sent him worde þan þat he shulde make bisshopis in þe land. And anone as seynt Austyn hade þe Pallioun of þe dignite of þe erchebisshop, he made ij bisshoppes of his felawes þat come wiþ him fram Rome: on þat me callede Mellite, & he duellede at London, And þat oþere me callede Iustyn, þat helde þe dignite of Rouchestre. ¶ And þis bisshop Mellyt went to preche into Essex, & baptisede þe kyng of þe contre, þat me callede Sicwith, þat was Kyng Adelbrightȝ cosyn, his sustres sone. ¶ This Iustyne went to preche in Southsex, & turnede miche of þe peple to god; and seynt Austyne went him-self prechyng þrouȝ-oute þe lande.

ANd after þat þis bataile was done, þe Britons assemblede ham, and went þens, and come vnto Leicestre, & made Cadwaladre, þat was Brecyuales sone, kyng of Leicestr and of all þe contre. and he toke homages & feautes of þe folc of þat contre; and after þat, he assembled a grete hoste, and saide 'he wolde go into Northumberland forto destroi Kyng Elfride, & slee him, if þat he myght.' and when he was comen þider, frendes went so bituene ham, & made ham accordede in þis maner, þat Elfride shulde holde al þe lande fram Humber vnto Scotlande, and Cadwalader shulde halde al þe lande aþis half Humber vnto þe South; and after þat þai bicome gode frendes al here lif duryng, & louede to-gedre as [they] hade bene ij breþerne. ¶ And þis Elfride hade a sone þat me callede Edwynne, þat hade and helde al þe lande of Northumbreland after his fadres deth, as his fader hade holde al his lif-tyme. ¶ And Cadwaladre hade anoþere sone þat me callede Cadwalayn, þat helde his fadres lande as he it helde while he was alif; and þai louede to-gedre as þai hade bene breþern. and þe loue laste bituene ham but onely ij ȝere, and after biganne debate bituene ham þrouȝ a luþer eneuious cosyne of Cadwalayn, þat men callede Briens, so þat þai assemblede a grete hoste in boþe parties; & at þe laste hit bifelle þat Cadewalayn was descomfitede, & Edwyne him pursuede, and drof fram place to place. so at þe laste he fleye into Irlande; and þis oþere destroiede his lande, & caste adoune his castelles, and brennede his maneres, and departede al Cadwalaynes lande amonge his frendes. ¶ And longe tyme after come Cadwalayn aȝeyne fram Irlande, with a stronge power, and in pleyn batailequellede Edwynne and alle his frendeshippes, & namely þo þat wiþhelde his landes þrouȝ Edwynes ȝifte.

WHen þat Edwynne was slayn, Offris his sone vnderfonge þe werr aȝeyns Cadwaleyn his Eme, so þat þis Offris deide duryng þe werre. and after þe deþ of Offris, þo regned a gentile Cristen man þat miche louede God,—þat hade all þe lande of Northumberland by herytage,—þat me [called] Oswolde, and he was kyng of al þat lande. but for-asmiche as he was frende to Edwyne, and helde a grete parte of þe lande of Cadwalyn, þe same Cadewalyn werred oppon him, and drof him toward Scotland. and when Cadwalyn saw þat he wolde nouȝt abide, Cadwalyn wolde no longer him pursue, but toke some of his folc to Peanda, his broþer-in-law, & praiede Peanda to pursue Oswolde til þat he were take and slayne; and Cadwalyn turnede þo home aȝeyn. ¶ When Oswolde herde þe tidynges þat Cadwaleyn turnede home aȝeyne, he wolde no longer flee, but abode Peanda, & ȝaf him betaile; & Peanda was descomfitede and fley, and come aȝeyne to Cadwaleyn, & saide þat 'he wolde neuere holde a foote of lande of him but if it were so þat he wolde avenge him oppon Oswolde.' Cadwaleyne lete assemble a grete host forto fiȝt wiþ Oswolde; so þat he and Peanda come into Northumberland, and ȝeuen bataile vnto Oswolde; and in þat same bataile was Oswolde slayn, & his heuede smyten of; & after he was enterede at þe Abbay of Berdeneye, in whiche place God haþ wrouȝt for him meny a faire miracle, boþe þere and elles-where.

¶ And anone Oswy his broþer seisede into his hande al þe lande þat was Oswoldes; & þe folc of Northumberlande louede him wonder wel, and helde him for here lorde; but he hade men of his kyn worþi ynow þat wolde haue departede þe lande; & þai werrede to-gedre. & for-asmiche as þai were nouȝt stronge ynow, þai come to Peanda, & praiede him of helpe and socour, & bihight him of þat lande largely, oppon þat couenant þat he wolde ham ghye, helpe, & conseile. ¶ Peanda herde her praier, & so spake wiþ þe Kyng Cadwalyn þat he shulde ordeyne a grete hoste, and faste ordeyne him into Northumberland forto fiȝt wiþ Oswy. and Oswy was a meke man, & miche louede pees and charite, & prayede Peanda of loue and pees, & proferede him of golde & siluer grete plente. ¶ And þis Peanda was so proude þat he wolde graunt him no pees for no maner þing, but for al þing h[e] wolde wiþ him feiȝt. so at þe laste þere was sette a day of ba[ta]ille; and Oswy euere hade truste oppon Gode, & þis Peanda triste to miche oppon his pride & oppon his host þat he hade. and to-gedre þai smyten egrely; but Peanda anone was descomfitede & slayn. And þat was after þe Incarnacioun of oure lorde Ihesu Criste V. C. & lv. ¶ And þis Oswy þo regnede xxviij ȝere. And a kyng þat me callede Oswyn, þat was Peandaeȝ cosyn, werrede oppon Kyng Oswy, and to-gedre fouȝten; but Oswy hade þe victorie; and Oswyne was descomfitede & slayn, and lith at Tynnemouthe.

HIt bifelle so þat alle þe kynges in þat tyme þat were in þe londe, as þo of Westsex, Mercheneriche, Est Angle, of Kent, & of Southsex & of oþere costes, eueryche werrede oppon oþere; and þai þat were moste myȝtiest toke þe lande of ham þat were moste feblest. ¶ But þere was a kyng amonges ham þat me callede Ossa, þat was seynt Oswoldes broþer. þis Ossa conquerede alle þe kynges of þe lande, & regned aboue ham alle. ¶ And so grete was þe werr in euery contre bituene kyngus, þat no man myȝt wete how þe lande went. But Abbotes, prioures, & men of religioun, writen þe lifes and dedes of kynges, & how longe eueryche hade regnede, & in what contre; & in what maner eueryche kyng deide, and of bisshoppis also, and þerof made grete bokes, & lete calle ham þe Cronicles: and þe goode Kyng Alurede hade þat boke in his warde, and lete brynge hit to Wynchestre, & lete hit faste bene tackede to a piler, þat men myȝt hit nouȝt remeve ne bere þenns, so þat euery man miȝt hit see and þereoppon loke, for þerin beþ þe lifes of alle þe Kynges þat euer wer in Engeland.

ANd þus hit bifelle in the same tyme, þat þere was a kyng inNorthumberlond þat me callede Ossebright, & soiournede in Ȝork, and þis kyng wente him oppon a day into a wode, him forto desporte; and when he come aȝeyne, he went priuely into a gode manus house þat me callede Buerne Bocard. & þe gode man of þat place was gone þat tyme to þe see, for ofte-tymes he was wonede þere aspie þeues & robboures, þat ofte-tymes were wont to come into þe londe to robbe & brenne and slee. ¶ þe lady þat was þis Buernes wif, was a wonder faire woman, and welcomede þe Kyng wiþ michel honour, and worþely him seruede in al þing. ¶ When þe Kyng hade eten, he toke þe lady by þe hande, and lad her into chaumbre, & saide þat he wolde speke wiþ here a counsele. and al þe folc fram þe chaumbre he made voyede, saf onely þe lady and he. but þe Lady wiste nouȝt wherfore he it dede, til þat he hade done wiþ here his wille. and when he hade done þis dede, he turnede aȝeyne to Ȝork, & þe lady he lefte þere wonder sore wepyng for þe dede þat he hade ydone. ¶ And when here lorde was come home, & saw here wepe, and soche mornyng make, he axede of here what she hade done, & whi she made soche sorwe. ¶ "Sire," quod she, "queyntly and falsely þe Kyng Osbright me haþ done shame and vilonye, aȝeynes my wille"; and tolde him treuþe, How the kyng hade her forleyn wiþ strengþ; wherfore she saide she hade leuer to dye þan leue. ¶ "Faire leef, bistille," quod he, "for aȝeynes strengþ [febleness] is litel worþ; & þerfore of me shal yow neuer þe lesse bene Louede, and namely for yow haste tolde me treuþe. and if Almyghty God grant me lif, y shal þe wel avenge."

¶ This Buerne was a gret man and a miȝty lorde, and was wel bilouede, & grete frendes hade, and lete sende for þe greteste lordes of þe lande, & to ham made his compleynt of þe despite þat þe kyng to him hade done, & saide þat he wolde bene avengede how þat euer it were. and alle his frendes conseilede and grantede to wende towarde Ȝork, þere þat þe kyng was. & Buerne toke his menye, & come to þe kyng. and when þe kyng him saw, he callede him curtesly Buerne by name; and Buerne him ansuerede & saide: "Sire, y ȝow defye, & ȝelde op feautes, homages, and londes, and as miche as y haue holde of ȝow; and so, fro þis tyme afterwarde, y wil no þing of þe holde." & so he departede fram þe kyng with-outen more speche or eny abidyng, & toke leue of his frendes, and went to Denmarc, and pleynede to þe Kyng Godryn, & tolde him of þe dispite þat Kyng Osbright to him hade done of his wif, & praiede him of socoure & of helpe, him to avenge. ¶ When Kyng Godrin of Denmarc & þe Danoys, when þai hade herde þe pleynt of þis Buerne & of þe praer þat he bade, þai were wonder glade in hert, for-asmiche as þai myȝt fynde cause forto gone into Engeland forto werr oppon þe Englisshe-men, & also forto avenge Buerne of þe despite þat þe kyng hade done to his wif, & forasmiche as Buerne was sib to þe Kyng of Denmarc. ¶ Anone þai lete ordeyne a grete hoste of men, & lete ordeyne shippis, and as miche as was nede to þat Viage. and when alle þe hoste was redy, þe kyng made his ij breþerne cheuetyns, þat Were noble Knyȝtes and bolde: þat one me callede Humger, & þat oþere Hubba.

WHen al þing was aredy, þo ij breþerne tok leue of þe Kyng Godrin, and went towarde þe see, forto wende into Engelande as faste as þai myȝt spede. ¶ Now is Buerne so wel comfortede, & faste hiede him wiþ þe Danoys; and þai arryue in þe Northcontre, & come þrouȝ-out Holdernesse, & destroiede al þe contre, and brent tounes and robbede folc, & quellede al þat þai myȝt take, til þat þai come to Ȝorke. ¶ And when Kyng Osbright saw ham come, he toke þe peple þat he hade, and come out of þe citee, & with ham fauȝte; but no foysoun he nade aȝeynes ham; & miche was þe peple þat þere was slayn in boþe parties; and Kyng Osbright himself þere was slayn, and þe citee anone was take, & þe Danoys wenten in. ¶ And þere was also anoþere kyng in Northumberlond þat Buernes frendes hade chosen; & helde him for kyng, a man þat me clepede Elle, for-asmiche as þai nolde nouȝt to Kyng Osbright bene entendant, for þe despite þe he hade done to Buerne here cosyn. ¶ Hit bifelle þus, þat þe Kyng Elle was gon to þe wode him forto desporte: and of venysoun somdele he hade tak. and as he satte in the wode at mete, to a knyght he saide: "we haue wel yspedde, & michel venysoun taken." and wiþ þat worde þere come in a man, & to him saide: "Sire, if ȝe so miche of venysoun haue y-wonne, an C. tymes so miche þere aȝeyns ȝe hauen loste; for al þis contre þe Danois hauen gete, & take þe cite of Ȝork; & aȝeynes ȝow shal it holde, þat neuer ȝe shul come þerin; & forsothe þai haue slayn Kyng Osbright." ¶ And when Kyng Elle þise wordes herde, he lete assemble al þe folc of þe cuntre, & ordeynede al þe power þat he miȝt haue, and wold haue gete þe toune of Ȝork wiþ strengþ. but þe Danois comen out anon & ȝaf ham bataile, & quellede þe kyng & þe moste part of his men þat he hade brouȝt wiþ him: and þe same place þere þat þai were slayne shal euer bene callede Ellecrofte; and þat place is a litel fram Ȝork and þo abode þe Danois neuer, til þai hade conquerede al Northumberland. and in þat contre þai made Werdeynes, & went ferþer into þe lande, and token Notyngham. and þere þai abiden al þe wynter, and deden al þe sorwe þat þai myght. and after, when somer tyme come, þai remeved fram Notyngham, & come vnto Nichole, & to Lyndessey, & to Holand, for no man miȝt ham withstande, so miche power & strengþ þai hade.

ANd so ferre hade þe Danois passede fram contre vnto contre, & euermore brennyng & robbyng, & destroiede al þat þai miȝt, til þat þai come vnto Tetteford. & in þat contre þai fonden a Cristen Kyng þat miche louede God and his Werkes, þat me callede Edmunde; & he was Kyng of Northfolc and Southfolc. ¶ þis Seynt Edmunde þe kyng ordeynede as miche folc as he myȝt, & fauȝt wiþ þe Danois; but he and his folc were scomfitede, & þe kyng him-self dryuen vnto a castel of Framelyngham. & þe Danois him pursuede, & comen vnto þe same castel. and when Kyng Edmunde saw þat þe castel myst nouȝt ham wiþstonde, he comen aȝeynes ham. with whame þe Danois ferst speken; and anone þai axede of him where Kyng Edmunde was. "now forsoth," quod he, "when y was in þe castell, y was kyng; & when y went oute of þe castel, he went out also; and wheþer þat he shal ascape or dye, at Godes wil most hit be." ¶ When Seynt Edmunde hade nempnede God, by þat worde þai wist alle þat it was he him-self. and anone Hubba & Hungar tok him, & saide þat he shulde God forsake, & al cristen law, as alle oþere hade done þrouȝ ham biforn. and Seynt Edmunde saide þat 'he wolde neuer, but raþer he wolde suffre deth for Godes sone, and his law to kepe.' ¶ þo tok þai Kyng Edmunde, & bounde him vnto a tree, and made Archires to him shote with Arwes, til þat his body stickede alse ful of Arwes as an hirchone is ful of prickes; but for alle þe payne þat he hade, he wolde neuer God forsake. & in þe same pyne he deide wiþ þat turmentyng, & bitoke his soule to almyȝty God. & when þai saw þat he was dede, þai smyten of his heuede; & in þis maner was Seynt Edmunde martrede.

After þe deth of þis Eldrede, regnede his broþer Alurede, þat Dolfynes was callede. þo went þe Danois, & assemblede ham, and went forto seche Alurede, þat þo was þe new kyng of Southsex. and þere þai fonde him at Wilton, wiþ a litel peple; & noþeles he fauȝt with ham; but at the laste he fledde þens fram þe felde, and went vnto Westsex, and ordeynede so miche peple of his owen reaume & also of oþere, so til þat he hade a stronge host, so þat þe Danois hade non power aȝeynes him to stande. and he come to London wiþ his host, þere as þe Danois soiournede; and þere wolde he haue fouȝten wiþ ham, but þe Danois derste nouȝt wiþ him feiȝt, but praiede him of pees, & þat þai most gone aȝeyne into her owen contre, & neuermore into Engeland forto come aȝeyne, eny harme forto done, and oppon þis couenant þai shulde ȝeue him to plegge, gode hostages, & soche as þe Englisshe men wolde axen.

ANd þus hit bifelle afterwarde, þat þe Danoys of Northumberland, þat were paynemys, comen with a grete host of Fraunce, þat is to vnderstonde, with ham þat went into Fraunce with Gurmonde of Aufrik, when he hade conquerede Engeland, & it ȝaf vnto Saxonus. and þo þat come fro Fraunce arryuede in Kent, and sent into Northumberlande þat þai shulde come to ham. and whan þo ij hostes were comen & assemblede, anone þai went to destroie þe Cristen peple of Engeland fram place vnto place, and deden miche sorwe. ¶ Hit bifelle þus, as almiȝty God hit wolde, an harde chaunce in Engeland; ffor þe gode Kyng Alurede, þat was wont to abate þe Danois, deide in þe mene-tyme. þis Alured regnede xxxti ȝere, and a gode kyng hade bene, and wel couþe chastice his enemys; And was a gode clerc, and lete mak menye bokes. & on boke he made of Englisshe, of Auentures of kynges and of batailes þat hade bene done in þe lande; and meny oþere bokes of gestes, he lete ham write, þat were of grete wisdome and of gode lernyng, þrouȝ whiche bokes meny man may him amende þat wille ham rede and oppon lok; oppon whos soule almighty God haue mercy! & þis Kyng Alurede liþ at Wynchestr.

ANd after þis Alurede, regnede Edward his sone, þat was a gode man & a wise, þat men callede [Edward], þat was wonder curteise. ¶ The Danois deden miche sorwe in þe lande, and her power encresede, and biganne forto wexe fram day to day, for þe Danois comen ofte wiþ here companies into þis lande. and when þe kyng saw þat he miȝt no bettre done, he tok trewes with ham, and granted ham his pees. ¶ And noþelesse þe trewes durede nouȝt longe, þat þe Danois ne bigonne strongliche forto were oppon þe Englisshe-men, & dede ham miche sorwe. Wherfore Kyng Edwarde dede assemble a grete hoste forto fiȝt with ham; and þo þis Kyng Edwarde deide when God wolde. This Kyng Edward regnede xxiiij ȝere, & liþ at Wynchestre bisides his fader.

After þis Edward, regnede Athelston his sone; & when he hade regnede iiij ȝere, he helde bataile aȝeynes þe Danois, and drof Kyng Gaufride, þat was kyng of þe Danois, and al his hoste vnto þe see, & restede by Scotland, & nomen strongliche þe contrey al a ȝere. ¶ And after þat, þo of Cumberland, & þe Scottes of Westmerlande, bigonne to werre oppon Kyng Athelston; and he ham ȝaf so strong bataile þat he quellede so meny of ham þat no man couþe telle þe nombre of ham. and after þat he ne regnede but iij ȝere; & he regnede in al xxv ȝere and liþ at Malmesbery.

¶ And after þis Athelston, regnede Edmund his broþer, for-asmiche as Kyng Athelston hade none sone. and þis Edmu[n]de was a worþi knyȝt, and a douȝty man of body, and a noble knyght. and þe þridde ȝere after þat he was kyng, he went ouer Humber, in whiche place he hade ij Kynges of Danois: þat one me callede Enelaf, and þat oþer Renaud. ¶ This Kyng Edmund drof ham boþe fram þe lande, and after went and tok grete preye in Comberland. ¶ This Edmund ne regnede but vij ȝer, and liþ at Glastynbery.

¶ And after þis Edmunde, regnede Eldrede his broþer, þat vengede Edwarde his fadre of his enemys þat him quelde; and aftirwarde he seisede Northumberland into his hand, and made þe Scottes abowe and meke vnto his Wille. ¶ And þe secunde ȝere þat he hade regned [come] Arnalaf Quyran, þat was kyng of Denmarc, and seisede al Northumberland, and helde þat lande ij ȝere. and after þat come Kyng Eldrede wiþ a grete power, and drof him oute of þis lande. ¶ And þis Kyng Eldrede was a noble man and a goode, of whos godenesse seynt Dunston prechede. & þis Kyng Eldrede regnede xj ȝere, & liþ at Wynchestr.

¶ And after þis Eldrede, Edwynne his broþer regnede, & was a luþer man towarde God and to þe peple; for he hatede folc of his owen land, and louede & honourede strange men, & sette litel by holy cherche, and bynom of holy cherche all þe tresoure þat he myȝt haue: þat was grete shame and velonye to himself, and perile of his soule, & perfore God wolde nouȝt þat he shulde regne no longer than iiij ȝer, and after deide, and Lith at Wynchestre.

ANd after þis Edwynne, regnede Edgare his sone, a man þat miche louede God, and pees, & holy cherche also, and was a worþi lorde, bolde and myghty, & mayntenede wel þis land in pees. ¶ And þis Edgare was Kyng and lorde aboue alle þe kynges of Scotland and of Walys: fram þe tyme þat Arthure was gone, neuer was siþen kyng of his power. ¶ And þis Edgare was seynt Edwardes fader. And when Edgarus wif was dede, þat was seynt Edwardes moder, & enterede, he herde speke of þe fairenesse of Estrilde, þat was Orgarus douȝter, a baroun of Deuenshire, þat was so faire a woman þat alle men spake þerof. He callede one of his knyȝtes þat he miche louede & trust oppon, and tolde him: "Go," quod he, "to þe noble Baron Orgar of Deuenshire, and se if his douȝter be so faire as men speke of; & if it be soþ, y wil haue here vnto my wif." ¶ þis knyȝt, þat me callede Edelwolde, went forþ þere þat þe lady þo was; & when he saw her so faire, he þouȝt haue her himself to wif, and þerfore spake to Orgar here fader. and Orgar was an olde man, & hade no mo childerne but here on; and saw þat Edelwolde was a faire ȝonge knyȝt, and worþi and riche, & was wel with þe kyng. & þouȝt his douȝter shulde wel bene mariede, & wel bisette oppon him, and grauntede him his douȝter, if þe gode lorde þe Kyng wolde assent þerto. ¶ þis Edelwolde come aȝeyn to þe Kyng, and saide 'she was faire ynow oppon to see, but of body she was wonder loþly.' ¶ þo ansuerede þe Kyng, and saide þat he toke of her litel charge. ¶ "Sire," quod Edelwolde þo, "she is her faderes heire, and y am nouȝt riche of londes, and if ȝe wolde consent and grant þat y most her haue, þan shulde y be riche ynow." "In Godes name," quod þe Kyng, "I assent þerto." ¶ Edelwolde þankede þo michel þe Kyng, and went aȝeyne into Deuenshire, & spousede þe damisel, and in þat contre duellede. ¶ And þus hit bifel oppon a tyme, þat he tolde his conseil & al þis þing vnto his wif, how & in what maner he hade bigilede his lorde þe Kyng, þat wolde haue hade her to wif. and anone as she it wist, she louede him neuermore afterwarde as she hade done bifore. ¶ þis lady conseyuede by him a sone; and when tyme was þat þis childe shulde ben born, Eldelwolde come to þe Kyng, & praede him to heue a sone of his at þe fountston. þe Kyng him grantede, and lete calle him Edgare, after his owen name. ¶ And when þis was ydon, he þouȝt þat he was siker ynow of þe Kyng, for bifore þat tyme þis Edelwolde him drede lest Kyng Edgare wolde haue taken his wif, forasmiche as his lorde was a Ioly man and an Amerus.

THus hit bifelle, þat al men in Kyng Edgares court þo speken, and saide þat 'Edelwolde was richely auansede þrouȝ þe mariage þat he hade by his wif'; 'and ȝit,' þai saide, 'he was auauncede an hundred-folde more, for he hade spousede þe fairest woman þat euer was seyn.' and when þe Kyng herde speke so miche of here beaute, he þouȝt þo þat Edelwolde hade him desseyuede & bigilede, & þouȝt priuely in his hert þat he wolde gone into Deuenesshire, as it were forto hunt for hert and hynde and oþere wilde bestes, and þan he shulde see þere þe lady or he departede þens. ¶ And þis lady was duellyng at a manere bisides þe forest þere þat þe Kyng wolde hunte, and at þat maner was herburghede al nyght. and when tyme come þat þe Kyng shulde sope, and þe sonne shoone, þe Kyng axede after his Gossib and after his godsone, and Edelwolde made here come bifore þe Kyng; and noþeles, and it oþer myȝt haue bene, she shulde nouȝt haue comen in his sight bi his wille. ¶ þe lady welcomede þe Kyng, and suetely him kissede; and he toke her by þe hande, & þo nexte him her sette, and so soppede þai togeder. ¶ And þo was a custume and an vsage þat, when a man drank vnto anoþer, þe drynker shulde say 'Wassaile,' and þat oþere shulde ansure 'drynkhaile': and þus dede þe Kyng & þe lady meny tymes, & also kiste. ¶ And after soper, when tyme was to gone to bede, þe Kyn[g] went vnto his bed, hertly þenkyng oppon þe ladies fairenesse; and þo was ouercomen for here loue, þat him þouȝt he wolde dye, but of here his wille he hade. ¶ Oppon þe morwe þe Kyng aroos, and into þe fforeste went, him þere to desporte & salace wiþ hertes and hyndes, and alle oþer wilde bestes; & of þe hertes grete plente, to þe lady he sent; and þrise he went to salace and speke wiþ þat lady whiles he duellede in þat contre. ¶ And after þat, þe Kyng remevede þens, and þouȝt how he myghte best delyuer Edelwolde f[r]am his wif, as he hade him ferste desceyuede. and þe Kyng anone, after viij dayes, lete ordeyne a parlement at Salesbury of al his baronage, conseile to haue, & forto ordeyn how þe contre of Northumberland miȝt beste bene kepte, þat þe Danoys come nouȝt þere, the londe forto destroye. ¶ And þis Edelwolde come also to þe Kynges Parlement; and þe Kyng sent him to Ȝork forto bene keper of þat contre. ¶ And þus hit fel, þat men þat knew him nouȝt, slow him by þe waye. ¶ And anone as þe Kyng herde þat he was dede, he lete sende after þe lady Estrilde, þat she shulde come to þe citee of London, and þere bene weded to þe Kyng wiþ grete solempnite & worshipe; and helde a solempne fest; and he werede a crone of [gold], and þe Quene anoþer. ¶ And seynt Dunston on þe morwe come vnto þe Kyng into þe Kyngus chaumbre, and fonde þe Kyng abed, & þe quene also in fere; and seynt Dunston axede who þat she was. ¶ þe Kyng ansuerede, "þis is þe Quene Estrilde." and þe Erchebisshop seynt Dunstan saide þat 'he dede grete wrong, and aȝeyns Godes wille to tak a woman to wif, whos childe he haþ take at þe funtston'; and þe Quene for þat worde neuer after louede seynt Dunston; and noþeles þe gode man warnede ham ofte-tymes þat folie to lete; but his warnyng availede litel, for þe loue bituene ham was so miche. ¶ þe Kyng bigate oppon her a sone þat me callede Eldred; and when þis childe was vj ȝer olde, þe Kyng his fader deide; & aboute þat tyme he hade regnede xvij ȝer, and lith at Glastynbery.

ANd after þis Edgare, regnede Edward his sone, þat he bigate in his ferst wif, þat wel and noble gouernede þe lande; for he was ful of al maner godenesse, and lad ful holy lif; & aboue al þing he louede God & holy cherche. & þe quene Estrilde, his stepmoder, lete him slee, for enchesoun to make her owen sone Eldred kyng; and þus was he slayn, as afterward ȝe shul her. ¶ Hit bifelle þus oppon a day, þat þis Kyng Edwarde went him into a wode forto play in þe Southcontre, bisides a toune þat is callede Warham; in þe whiche forest was grete plente of Hertes & of hyndes. and as he hade bene awhile þere him forto playe, he þouȝt him oppon his broþer Eldred, þat Was wiþ his moder þe quene, for her place was neyȝ þe forest; & þouȝte forto go visite & see his broþer; and tok wiþ him but a litel meny, and went him þo toward his Stepmoders house, þat in þat tyme soiournede in þe castel of Corf. and as he rode in þe þickenesse of þe wode, to aspie his game, hit bifelle þat he went amys, & loste his meny þat were wiþ him. & at þe last he come out of þe wode; & as he lokede about, he saw þere faste bisides him þe maner þat his Stepmoder duelled in; & þiderward he went allon. and anone hit was tolde þe Quene how þat þe Kyng was comen allone wiþout company; and þerfore she made ioye ynow, & þouȝt how she myȝt do þat he were slayn as priuely as she myȝt. ¶ And anone priuely she called to her on of here knyȝtes, to whom she hade tolde miche of here consel bituene ham. and boþe þai come to þe Kyng, and curtesly him resceyuede; & þe Kyng tolde þat he was com her to Visite, & also forto speke wiþ Eldrede his broþer. ¶ þe Quene meny tymes him þankede, and him praiede to aliȝt and herburgh wiþ her forto haue al þat nyght. þe Kyng saide þat he myght nouȝt, but aȝeyne he wolde wende vnto his folc, if he myght ham fynde. ¶ And when þe Quene saw þat he wolde nouȝt abide, she praiede him þat he wolde ones drynk; & he grauntede her. and anone as þe drynk come, þe Quene drank to þe Kyng, & þe Kyng toke þe coppe & sette hit to his mouþ. & in þe mene-tyme whiles þat he drank, þe knyȝt þat was wiþ þe Quene, wiþ a knyf smote euen þe Kyng to þe hert, & þere he felle adoune dede of his palfray vnto þe erþe. ¶ the Quene, for þis dede, ȝaf to þe Knyȝt golde & siluer grete plente, and of oþer richesse ynow. and þe knyȝt, anone as þis was do, went him overe þe see; & so ascapede he oute of þis lande. ¶ When þis Kyng Edward þus was martrede, Hit was in þe ȝere after þe Incarnacion of oure Lorde Ihesu Crist, ix C. & iiijxx ȝer, and he hade regnede xij ȝere & an half, & lith at Glastenbery.

After þis Kyng Edward, regnede Eldrede his broþer; and seynt Dunstan cronede him. & þis seynt Dunstan deide sone after þat he hade forȝeue þe Quene her trespasse, Estrild, for encheson þat she was cause of Kyng Edwardes deth. and seynt Dunstan hade her assoilede, and penaunce her enioynede; and she leuede after, chaste lif & clene. ¶ þis Kyng Eldrede wedede an Englisshe-woman; & on here he bigate Edmunde Irenside, and anoþer sone þat me callede Edwynne; and after, deide þe Quene his moder. ¶ And in þat tyme come into Engeland Swyn, þat was Kyng of Denmarc, forto chalange and conquere al þat his Ancestres hade bifore þat tyme. & so he conquerede, & hade it al at his axing; ffor þe gode Erle Cuthbert of Lyndeseye, and al þe peple of Northumberlond, & almost al þe grete of Engeland, helde with Swyne þat was Kyng of Dennemarc, for-asmiche as þai louede nouȝt Kyng Eldrede, ffor cause þat his gode broþer Edward was slayn falsely for enchesoun of him; and þerfore no man sette but litil bi hym; Wherfore Kyng Swyn hade al his wille, and toke al þe lande. ¶ And Eldrede þe Kyng þo fledde into Normandye, and so spak to þe Duk, þat þe Duc ȝaf him his sustre to wif; oppon þe whiche he bigate ij sones: þat on me callede Alrud, & þat oþere Edward. And when Swyn hade conquerede al þe lande, he regnede nobli, & leuede but xv ȝer, & deide, and liþ at Ȝork.

After þe deþ of Swyne, þat was a Danois, Knoght, his sone, duellede in Engeland, and wolde haue bene kyng. and þo come aȝeyn Eldrede out of Normandy, with miche peple & wiþ stronge meny, þat Knoght derst nouȝt abide, but fley þens into Denmarc. ¶ þe Kyng Eldrede hade aȝeyn his reaume, & helde so grete lordeship þat he bigan to destroi al þat hade holpen Swyn, þat was a Danois, aȝeynes him. ¶ And afterwarde come aȝeyn þis Knoght fram Denmarc, with a grete power, so þat Kyng Eldre[de] derst nouȝt wiþ him fiȝt, but fley fro þens vnto London, & þere helde him. ¶ þo come Knoght, and him bisegede so longe til Kyng Eldrede diede in þe cite of London, and liþ at seynt Paules; & he regnede ix ȝere.

ANd after, þo regnede Kyng Edmunde Irenside and Knoght þe Danois. but þus it fel aftirward, and in þe same ȝere þat þai were accorded, and somiche loueden togeder, wherof a false þef traitoure hade enuy vnto þe loue þat was bituene ham, and frendeship, whos name was Edrith of Stratton, þat was a grete lorde, þat was Edmunde Irensides man, & of him helde all þe londe þat he hade. ¶ And noþeles he þouȝt his lorde to bitraie, & make Knoght kyng of þe lande, to þat entent richely to ben auauncede, & wiþ him bene wel bilouede. ¶ Wherfore he praiede his lorde, Edmunde Irenside, oppon a day wiþ him forto eten, and wiþ him duelle. and þe kyng curteisly him grantede, & to him come at his praier; and at þe mete þe kyng richely was seruede with diuerse metis & drynkes. ¶ And when nyght come þat he shulde gone to bede, þe kyng tok his owen meny, & went into chambre. & as he lokede aboute, he saw a wonder faire ymage, & wel made, & in semblant as it were an Archire, wiþ a bowe bent in his honde, & in þe bowe a fyne Arwe. ¶ Kyng Edmunde went þo neir, to biholde hit bettr, what it miȝte bene; and anone as his honde tochede þe Arwe, anone þe arwe him smote þrouȝ þe body, & þere slough þe kyng; for þat engyne was made to quelle his lorde traiterousely. ¶ And when þe Kyn[g] Edmund þus was dede & slayn, he nad regnede but x ȝere. his peple for him made miche sorw, and his body þai bare to Glastenbury and þere þai him enterede. ¶ And þus traitour Edrik anone went to þe Quene, þat was Kyng Edmundes wif, þat wiste of here lordes deþ. anone he toke fram her hir ij sones, þat were faire and ȝong, þat her lorde hade oppon hier geten,—& þat on me callede ¶ Edward, & þat oþer Edwyn,—& lade ham wiþ him to London, and toke ham vnto Kyng Knoght, þat he shulde done with ham what his willes were; & tolde him how queyntly he hade quellede Kyng Edmunde, for enchesoun & loue of him, so þat Kyng Knoght all Engeland in his power holly miȝt haue. ¶ "O þow false traitoure! haste þow my trewe wedbroþer slayn for cause of me? a man þat y moste Louede in þe Worlde. now, be myn heuede, I shal for þi trauail þe wel reward as þow hast deseruede!" and anone lete him take and bynde, hondes & feete in maner of a traitour, & lete caste him into Thamise; and in þis maner þe false traitour endede his lif. ¶ þe Kyng tok þo ij childerne to þe Abbot of Westmynstr, to warde and to kepe til he wiste what was beste wiþ ham to done.

HIt bifelle sone after þat Kyng Knoght hade al þe lande into his hande and spousede þe Quene Emme þrouȝ consent of his baronage, for she was a faire womman, & was Eldredes wif, and þe dukes suster of Normandye: & þai leueden to-geder with miche loue, as resoun wolde. ¶ þe Kyng axede oppon a day conseile of þe Quene, what was beste forto done wiþ the sones þat wer Edmundes Irenside. ¶ "Sire," quod she; "þai beþ þe right heirs of þe londe; & if þai leuen, þai wille do ȝow miche sorwe with werr; and þerfor lete sende ham into a strange lande aferr, to some man þat may ham defoule & destroie." ¶ The Kyng anone lete calle a Danois þat me callede Walgar, and commandede him þat he shulde lede þo ij childerne into Denmarc, and so do for ham þat neuer þai herde more tydyngus of ham. "Sir," saide þis Walger, "gladely ȝoure commandement shal bene done," ¶ And tok þo ij childerne, & lad ham into Denmarc. & for-asmiche as he saw þat þe childern were wonder fair, and also meke, he had of ham grete pitee and reuthe, & wolde nouȝt ham slee, but lade ham to þe Kyng of Hungrie forto norisshe: For this Walgar was wel knowen wiþ þe Kyng, and wel bilouede. ¶ Anone þe Kyng axede whens þe childern were. ¶ And Walger tolde him, & saide þat 'þai were þe right heirs of Engeland, & þerfor men wolde ham destroye'; "and þerfore, sire, to ȝow þai beþ comen, mercy & helpe to biseche; & forsoþ if þai mowen leue, ȝour men þai shullen becomen, and of ȝow þai shal holde al hire land. ¶ The Kyng of Hungrie ham vnderfonge with michel honour, and lete ham worthely to bene kepte.

¶ And þus hit bifelle afterwarde, þat Edwyne, þe ȝonger broþer, deide, and Edward þe elder broþer leuede, a fair man, a stronge, & a large of body, and gentil and curteise of condicions, so þat alle men him louede. ¶ And þis Edward, in þe cronicles is callede amonges Englisshemen, 'Edward þe outelaghe.' And when he was made knyght, þe Kyngus doughter of Hungary so miche him louede, for his godenesse and his fairenesse, þat she made & callede him her derlyng. ¶ The Kyng þat was her fader, perceyuede wel þe loue þat was bituene ham too, And hade non heir but þat doughter. And þe Kyng fouchede his douȝter to no man so wel as he dede vnto him þat her louede, & she him; & he ȝaf here to him wiþ gode wille; and Edward her spousede wiþ michel honour. ¶ The Kyng of Hungrie sent after al his baronage, & made a solempne fest and ryche weddyng, and made al men to vnderstonde þat he shulde ben Kyng when he were dede; and þerof þai maden al gret ioye; and of þat tydyng þai wer ful glade. ¶ þis Edwarde bigate oppon þis lady a sone þat me callede Edgar Helyng, and afterward, a doughter þat me callede Margarete, þat afti[r]ward was Quene of Scotland; and, by þe Kyng of Scotland þat me callede Maucolom, she hade a douȝter þat was callede Maude, þat afterwarde was Quene of Engeland þrouȝ Kyng Henry, þat was þe ferst sone of þe Conqueroure, þat her weded; & he bigate on her a douȝter þat me callede Maude, þat afterward was Emperesse of Almaign; and of þis Maude come Henry þe Kyng of Engeland, þat into þis day is callede 'Henry, þe Emperesse sone.' ¶ And ȝit hade þis Edward anoþer douȝter by his wif, þat me called Cristian, and she was a none.

THis Knoght, of wham y haue spoken bifor, hade ij sones by his wif; & þat on me callede Herdiknoght, & þat oþere Harolde; and he was so liþ of fote þat men callede him þerfore Harolde Harefote. & þis Harolde hade noþing þe condicions ne maners of Kyng Knoght þat was his fader, for he sette but litil pris of chyualry ne of curtesye, neyþer of worship, but onely by his owen wille; & he bicome so wickede þat he exilede his moder. & þo she went out of þe land into Flaundres, & þere she duellede wiþ þe Erl; wherfor after þere was neuer gode loue bituene him & his broþer, for his broþer him hatede dedely; and when he hade regnede ij [yere] & a litil more, he deide, & liþ at Westmynstre.

After þe deth of þis Kyng Hardeknoght, forasmiche as he nad non heire of his body bigeten, þe Erles and barons assembled and maden a counseil; and neuer-more after þat tyme no man þat was a Danois, þouȝ he were ner so grete a man amonges ham, he shulde neuer bene Kyng of Engeland, for þe despite þat þe Danois hade done to þe Englisshemen. ¶ For euermore biforne-honde, if it were so þat Englisshe-men & Danois hapden to mete oppon a bruge, þe Englisshe-men shulde nouȝt bene so herdy to meve ne stere on foot, but stande still, til þat þe Danois were passede forth. ¶ And more-ouer, if þe Englisshemen hade nouȝt bowede adoun here heuedes, to done reuerence vnto þe Danois, þai shulde haue bene bete & defoulede; & soche maner despites and Vilonyes deden þe Danois to oure Englisshemen; Wherfore þai were dryuen out of þe lande after þe tyme þat Kyng Herdeknoght was dede, for þai had non lord þat ham myght mayntene. In þis maner voided þe Danois Engeland, þat neuer þai comen aȝeyne. ¶ þe Erles and barouns, by here commune assent & conseile, senten into Normandy forto seche þo ij breþern Alurede & Edward, þat were duellyng wiþ þe duk Richard þat was here eme, to þat intent forto crone Alurede þe elder broþer, & him make Kyng of Engeland, and of þis þing to make an ende, þe erles & barons made heroth; But þe Erl Godwyne of Westsex falsely þouȝt to slee þo ij breþerne anone as þai shulde come into Engelonde, to þat entente forto make his sone Harolde Kyng, þe whiche sone he hade bigete oppon his wif, þat was Kyng Knoghtes doughter, þat was a Danoys. ¶ And þis Godwyn pryueliche went him to Southampton, forto mete þere þo ij breþern when þat þai shulde come to lande. ¶ And þus hit bifelle, þat þe messagers þat wenten into Normandye, fonden nouȝt but onely Alurede, þat was þe eldest broþer; for Edward, his ȝonger broþer, was gone to Hungrie forto speke wiþp his cosyn Edward þe outelaw, þat was Edmondes sone wiþ þe Irenside. ¶ þe messagers tolde & saide to Alurede, how þat þe Erles & barons of Engeland senten after him, and þat he boldeliche shulde come into Engeland and vnderfonge þe reaume; for Kyng Herdeknoght was dede, & alle þe Danois were dryuen out of þe lande.

WHen Alurede herde þis tydynges, he þankede God, & into shipp went, wiþ al þe hast þat he myght, and passede þe see, & arryuede at Southampton, þere þe Godewyne þe traitour was. And when þis tr[a]itoure saw þat he was comen, he welcomede him & vnderfonge him wiþ michel ioye, and saide þat he wolde lede him to London, þere þat al þe lordes & barons of Engeland him abode, forto maken him kyng. and so þai wenten in her way toward London. & when þai comen oppon Gildesdoune, þo saide þe traitoure Godwyne to Alurede, "takeþ kepe," quod he, "aboute ȝow, boþ on þe lefte side & in þe ryght side; and of all ȝe shul bene kyng, & of suche an hundrede more." ¶ "Now forsoþe," quod Alurede, "I behote, & if y be kyng, I shal ordeyn & make soche lawes wherof God & all folc shullen holden ham wel paied." ¶ Now hade þe traitoure comaunded alle his men þat were wiþ him, þat when þai were comen oppon Gildesdoun þat þai shulde slee alle þo þat were in Aluredes company þat comen wiþ him fram Normandye, and after þat, taken Alurede, & lede him into þe Ile of Ely, & þere put out boþe his eyne of his heued, and afterward bryng him vnto þe deth. & so þai deden, ffor þai quellede al his company þat xij [hundred] were in nombre, of gentil-men þat were comen wiþ Alurede fram Normandye; And after token Alurede, & lade him into þe Ile of Ely, & put out his eyen of his heuede, & rent his wombe, & token þe chief of his bowailes, & put a stake into þe gronde, & an ende of his bowailes þerto fastenede, & wiþ nedels of Iren pricked þe body of þe gode childe, and so made him gone aboute þe stake til þat his bowales were alle drawen out: & so deide þere Alurede, þrouȝ treson of þe Erl Godwyne. ¶ When þe lordes of Engelandhade herde & wist how Alured, þat shulde have ben her kyng, was put to deþ þrouȝ þe false traitoure, þe Erl Godwynne, þai weren al wonder wroth, & swore bituene ham, by God & by his names, þat he shulde die in mor worse deth þan dede Edrik of Stratton, þat hade bitraiede his Lord E[d]munde Irenside. and þai wolde haue taken him, & put him vnto þe deþ, but þe þef traitoure fley þens into Denmarc, & þere helde him iiij ȝere & more, & loste all his londes in Engeland.

ANd when þis was done, alle þe Barons of Enge[land] senten anoþer tyme into Normandye, for þat Edward shulde come into Engeland with michel honour. And þis Edward in his childehode louede al-myghty God, & him drade, & in honeste and clennesse leued his lif, and hatede synne as deþ. ¶ And when he was cronede and annoyntede wiþ real power, he forȝate nouȝt his gode maners & condicions & custumes þat he ferst vsede, for no maner honour, ne for no richesse, ne for no maner hyenesse, but euer more & more ȝaf him to godenesse, and wel louede God & al mekenesse, & louede God & holy cherche passyng al maner þing, & pore men also, & ham helde as þai hade bene his owen breþerne, & to ham ofte ȝaf grete almesse wiþ gode wille.

HIt bifelle oppon a day as he went fram þe che[rch] of Westmynstre, & hade herde masse of seynt Iohan Euaungelist, for-asmiche as he louede seynt Iohan Euaungelist most specialy after God and oure lady, þan he dede eny oþer seynt. ¶ And so þere come to him a pilgrime, & praede him, for þe loue of God & of seynt Iohan Euaungelist, some god him forto ȝeue. And þe Kyng priuely toke þe ryng of his fenger, priuely þat no man perceyuede hit, & ȝaf it þe pilgrime; & he it vnderfonge, & went þens. þis goode Kyng Edward made alle þe gode lawes of Engeland þat ȝitte beþ most holden, & was so mercyable & ful of pite þat no man myȝt bene more.

WHen þe Erl Godwyn, þat was in Denmarc duellyng, hade michel herd of þe godenesse of Edward, & þat he was ful of mercy & of pitee, & þouȝt þat he wolde gon aȝeyn into Engeland forto seche and to haue grace of him, & þat he myght haue þe lande aȝeyn in pees, & arraiede him as miche as he might, & put him toward þe see, & come into Engeland, to London, þere þat þe Kyng was þat tyme, & al þe lordes of Engeland, & helde parlement. ¶ Godewyn sent to ham þat were his frendes, & were þe moste gretteste lordes of þe londe, & praiede ham to biseche þe Kynges grace for him, and þat he wolde his pees & his londes graunt him. his frendes Lade him bifore þe Kyng forto biseche grace. ¶ And anone as þe Kyng him saw, he appelede him of tresoun, & of þe deþ of Alurede his broþer, and þise wordes vnto him saide: ¶ "Traitour Godwyn!" quod þe Kyng, "I þe appele, þat þow haste bitraede & slayne my broþer Alurede." ¶ "Certes, sire," quod Godwyn, "saf ȝour grace, ȝour pees & ȝoure lorde-shippe, y neuer him bitraede ne sloughe; and þerof y put me [in] rewarde of ȝour cou[r]t." ¶ "Now, faire lordes, ȝe þat beþ my lieges, erles & barons of þe lande, þat here bene alle assemblede,—wel ȝe hauen herde myn appele, and þe ansure of Godwyn; & þerfore y wil þat ȝe award and do ryght." ¶ þe erles and barons þo drowen ham al to-geder, forto done þis award by ham-self. and so þai spoken diuerseliche amonges ham; for somme sayde þat þere was neuer allyaunce by homage, serment, seruise, ne by lordeship, bituene Godwyn & Alurede, for which þing þai might him draw. ¶ And at þe laste þai demede þat he shulde put him into þe Kynges mercy altogeders. ¶ þo spake þe Erl Leueryche of Couentre, a gode man to God & to alle þe worlde, & tolde his resoun in þis maner, & saide: "þe Erl Godwyne is þe best frendede man of Engeland after þe kyng; and wel myȝt it nouȝt bene gaynsaide þat, wiþout consel of Godwyn, Alurede was neuer put vnto deþ; Wherefore y awarde, as tochyng my part, þat him-self and his sone, and eueryche of vs xij Erles þat beþ his frendes, wende bifore þe Kyng chargede wiþ alse miche golde and siluer as we mowe bere bytuene oure hondes, & prayng þe Kyng forȝeue his euel wille to þe Erle Godwyn, and resceyue his homage, & his landes ȝelde aȝeyn." & alle þai accordede vnto þat awarde, and comen in þis maner as is aboue-saide, eueryche of ham wiþ golde & siluer, as miche as þai myght bere bituenes here hondes, bifore þe Kyngg; and þai saiden þe fou[r]me and þe maner of her accord and of her awarde. ¶ The Kyng wolde nouȝt ham gayne-saie; but alse miche as þai wolde ordeyne, he grauntede & confermede; And so was þe Erl Godwyn accordede wiþ þe Kyng, & hade aȝeyne al his lande; and aftirward he bar him so wel & so wiseliche þat þe Kyng louede him wonder myche, & with him was ful priue. And wiþin a litel tyme þe Kyng louede him so miche þat he spousede Godwynus doughter, and made her Quene; and neuerþeles, for al þat, þouȝ þe Kyng hade a wif, he leuede euermore in chastite & in clennes of body, wiþouten eny flesshely dede doyng with his wif; & þe Quene also, in her Halfe, lade holy lif ij ȝere, and deide; & afterward þe Kyng leuede al his lif wiþouten eny wif. ¶ The Kyng ȝaf þe Erldome of Oxenford to Harolde, þat was Godwynes sone, & made him Erle; and so wel þai were bilouede, boþe þe fader and þe sone, & so pryue wiþ þe Kyng, þat þai myght do what þing þai wolde by righte, for aȝeynes ryght he wolde nouȝt done for no maner man, so gode and trew he was of consciens; and þerfore our Lorde Ihesu Crist, grete special loue to him shewed.

HIt bifelle oppon Whitsonday, as Kyng Edward herde his masse in þe grete cherch of Westmynstre, ryght at þe leuacioun of Ihesu Cristes body, and as al men were gaderede into þe cherche, & comen neyerþe auter, sacring forto see, ¶ The Kyng his hondes lifte vp an hye, and a grete laughter toke op; wherfore all þat aboute him stode, gretly gon wonder; & after masse þai axede whi þe kyngus laughter was. ¶ "Faire lordes," quod þe Kyng, "Swyn þe ȝonger, þat was Kyng of Denmarc, come into þe see wiþ al his power forto haue comen into Engeland, oppon vs forto haue werrede; and y saw him and all his folc drenche in þe hye see: & al þis saw y in þe eleuacioun of Ihesu Cristes body bytuene þe prestes hondes; & y hade þerof so miche ioye, þat y myght nought my laughter wiþholde." ¶ And þe Erl Leueriche bisides him stode at þe leuacioun, & openlich he saw þe fourme of brede turne into þe lickenesse of a knaf childe ȝong, and toke of his right hande, & ferst blessede þe Kyng, and afterward þe Erle. And þe Erle turnede him anone toward þe Kyng, to make him see þat holy sight. ¶ And þo saide þe Kyng: "sir Erle," quod he, "I see wel þat ȝe seeþ, þankede be God þat y haue honourrede my God, my saueoure, Visibili Ihesu Crist in fourme of man, whos name bene blessede in al worldes! Amen!"

THis noble man Seynt Edwarde regnede xiij ȝere. & þus hit bifelle oppon a tyme biforne er he deide, þat ij men of Engeland were went to þe Holy Lande, & haden done her pilgrimage, & wer goyng aȝeyne toward her owen contre. ¶ And as þai went in þe way, þai mette a pilgrime þat curtesly hamSaluede, and axede of ham in wh[a]t lande & in What contre þai were born; & þai saide "in Engeland." ¶ þo axede he who was Kyng of Engeland; and þai ansuerede & saide "þe goode Kyng Edward." "Faire frendes," þo saide þe pilgrime, "when þat ȝe come into ȝour contre aȝeyne, y praye ȝow þat ȝe wolde gone vnto Kyng Edward, and ofte-tymes him grete in my name, & ofte-tymes þank him of his grete curtesye þat he to me haþ done, A[nd] nameliche for þe ryng þat he ȝaf me when he hade herde masse at Westmynstre, for seynt Iohnes loue Euaungelist," and toke þo þe Ryng to þe pilgrimes, and saide, "y pray ȝow forto gon & bere þis ryng, & take hit to Kyng Edward, & telle him þat y sende hit him; and a ful ryche ȝift y wil him ȝeue; for oppon þe tuelfeþ day he shal come to me, & euermore duelle in blisse wiþouten ende." ¶ "Sir," saide þe pilgrimes, "what man beþ ȝe, & in what place is ȝour duellyng?" ¶ "Faire frendes," quod he, "I ame Iohan Euaungelist & am duellyng wiþ Almyghty God; & ȝour Kyng Edward is my frende, & y loue him specialy for encheson þat he haþ euer Leuede in clennesse, and is clene maide; and y pray ȝow my message al forto done as y haue to ȝow saide." ¶ When seynt Iohan Euaungelist hade þus ham chargede, sodeynly he voidede out of her sight.

þe pilgrimes þo þankede Almyghty Gode, & went forþ in her way. ¶ & when þai hade gon ij or iij myle, þai bigon to waxen wery, & sette adoune ham forto reste; & so þai felle and slepte. ¶ And when þai hade slepte wel, one of ham awoke, & lifte vp his heuede & lokede aboute & saide vnto his felaw, "arise op, and wende we in oure way." "What," saide þat on felaw to þat oþer, "where be we nowe?" ¶ "Certis," saide þat oþere felawe, "it semeþ me þat it is nouþt þe same contreye þat we laide vs in forto reste & slep, for we were þo fro Ierusalem but iij mile." ¶ þai tok op her hondes, and blessede ham, & went forþ in her waye. & as þai went in here way þai saw sheperdes goyng wiþ her shepe, þat spoken none oþere langage but Englisshe. ¶ "Leue frendes," quod on of þe pilgrimes, "what contre is þis, & who is lorde þerof?" and one of þe sheperdes ansurede: "þis is þe cuntre of Kent, in Engeland, of þe whiche þe gode Kyng Edward is lorde." ¶ þe pilgrimes þankede þo Almyghty God & seynt Iohan euaungelist, & went forþ in her way, & come to Kaunterbery, & fro þens vnto London; and þere þai fonden þe Kyng, & tolde him fro þe bigynny[n]g vnto þe ende as miche as seynt Iohan hade ham chargede, & of al þingus how þai spedden by þe way, & toke þe ryng to Kyng Edward; & he vnderfonge hit, & þankede Almyghty God & seynt Iohan Euaungelist, & þo made him aredy euery day, fram day to day, forto wende out of þis lif when God wolde for him sende.

ANd after hit bifelle þus in Cristenmasse eve: as þe holy man Edward was at Godes seruice, matynes forto hure of þat holy fest, he bicome ful sik, and in þe morwe endurede wiþ michel payn masse forto here, & after lete him bene lade into his chaumbre, þere forto resten him; but into his halle amonges his barons and his knyghtes myght he nouȝt come, ham forto comfort and solace, as he was wonte forto done at þat worþi feste; Wherfore al his merþ & comfort amongus alle þat were in þe halle was turnede into care and sorwe, for enchesoun þat þai drade forto lese her gode Lorde þe Kyng. ¶ And oppon seynt Iohnes day Euaungelist þat þo come next, þe Kyng vnderfonge his rightes of holy cherche, as falliþ to euery Cristen man, & abode þe mercy & wille of God. ¶ And þo ij pilgrimes he lete bifore him come, and ȝaf ham riche ȝiftes, & bitoke ham vnto God. And also þe Abbot of Westmynstre he lete bifore him come, & toke him þat ryng in honour of Gode & of Seynt Iohan Euaungelist. And þe Abbot toke hit & put hit amonge oþere reliqes, so þat it is at Westmynstre, & euer shal be. and so lay þe Kyng sike to þe xij eve; & þo deide þe gode Kyng Edward at Westmynstre; & þere he liþ, for whos loue God haþ done meny miracles. And þis was in þe ȝere of Incarnacioun of oure Lorde Ihesu Crist, Ml .lxv. ȝere; & after he was translatede, & put into þe shryne, þrouȝ þe noble Martir Seint ¶ Thomas of Kaunterbery.

WHen Seynt Edward was gone oute of þis worlde, & was gone to God, & worþely enterede, as perteynede to soche a lorde forto bene, þe barons of þe Land Wolde haue hade Edward Helyngus, sone to Edward þe Outlaghe, þat was Edmundus sone Irensyde, to bene Kyng, for-asmiche as he was moste kyndest kynges blode of þe reaume. ¶ But Harold, sone þrouȝ þe Erle Godwyn, & þe strengþ of his fader Godwyn, & þrouȝ oþere grete lordes of þe reaume þat were of here Kyn & vnto him sib, seisede al Engeland into his Honde, & anone lete crone him Kyng, after þe enterement of Seynt Edward. ¶ This Harolde, þat was Godwynus sone, þe secunde ȝere after þat Seynt Edward was dede, Wolde haue gone into Flaundres, but he was dryuen þrouȝ tempest into þe contre of Pountif, & þere he was take & brouȝt vnto Duc William. ¶ And þis Harolde wende þo þat þe Duc William wolde haue bene avenged oppon him, for encheson þat þe Erl Godwyn, þat was Haroldes fader, hade done quelle Alurede, þat was Seynt Edwardus broþer, and principaly for Alurede, Quene Emmes sone, þat was Richardes moder, Duk of Normandye, þat was Aile to þe Duc William. ¶ And noþeles, when þe Duc William hade Harolde in prisoun & vnder his power, for-alse-miche as þis Harold was a noble knyght, wise, & worþi of Body, & þat his fader & he were accordede wiþ þe gode Kyng Edward, & þerfore wolde nouȝt mysdone him, but al maner þingus þat bituene ham were spoken & ordeynede, Harolde by his gode Wille suore oppon a boke & oppon Holy seyntȝ, þat he shulde spouse and wedde Duc Williamus douȝter after þe deþ of Seynt Edward, and þat he shulde besely done His deuer forto Kepe & saue þe reaume of Engeland, to þe profite & auauntage of Duc William. ¶ And when Harolde hade þus made his oth vnto Duc William, he lete him gone, & ȝaf him riche ȝiftes; And he þo went þens, & come into Engeland, & anone dede in þis maner when Seint Edward was dede; and as man falsely forsuore, he lete crone him Kyng of Engeland, & falsely brac þe couenauntȝ þat he hade made bifore wiþ Duc William; wherfore he was wiþ him wonder wroþe, & swore þat he wolde oppon him bene avengede, whateuer so him bifelle. ¶ And anone William lete assemble a grete hoste, and come into Engeland, to avenge him oppon Harolde, & to conquere þe lande if þat he myght. ¶ And in þe same ȝere þat Harold was cronede, Harold Hare-strenge, Kyng of Denmarc, arryuede in Scotland, and þouȝ[t] haue be kyng of Engeland. & he come into Engeland, & quellede & robbede, & destroiede al þat he might, til þat he come to Ȝorke; & þere he quellede meny men of Armys Ml, & an C prestes. ¶ When þis tyding come to þe Kyng, he assemblede a strong power, and went forto feiȝt wiþ Harold of Denmarc, & wiþ his owen honde him quellede, and þe Danois were descomfitede; & þo þat lafte alyue, wiþ myche sorwe went to her shippes; and þus Kyng Harolde of Engeland quellede Kyng Harold of Denmarc.

ANd when þis bataile was done, Harolde bicome so prout, and wolde nouȝt departe with his peple of þing þat he hade gete, but helde it al towardes him-self; Wherfore þe most part of his men were wroþ, and fram him departede, so þat oneliche wiþ him lefte no mo but his soudeours. ¶ And oppon a day, as he sate at þe mete, messagers comme to him, & saide þat William Bastard, Duc of Normandye, was Arryuede in Engeland wiþ a grete host, and hade taken al þe lande aboute Hastynge, & hade also mynede þe castell. ¶ When þe Kyng hade herde þis tydynges, he went þider wiþ a litil peple in al þe hast þat he myght, for a litel peple was wiþ him lefte. ¶ And when he was comen þider, he ordeynede forto ȝeue bataile to þe Duc William; but þe Duc axede him of þise iij þingus: if þat he wolde haue his doughter to wif, as he hade made & swore his othe & bihight; or þat he wolde halde þe lande of him in truage; or þat he wolde determine þis þing bi bataile. ¶ þis Harold was a prout man & a stout, and truste wonder miche oppon his owen strengþ, & fauȝt wiþ the duc & wiþ his peple; but Harold & his men were descomfitede, & himself was þere slayn. & þis bataile was endede at Tonbrigge, in þe secunde ȝere of his regne, oppon seynt Kalixtes day; and he liþ at Waltham.

WHen William Bastard, Duc of Normandye, hade conquerede al þe land, oppon Cri[s]tenmasse day þo next sewyng he lete crone him kyng at Westmynstre, & was a worþi kyng, & ȝaf to Englisshemen largly landes, & to his knyghtes. ¶ And afterward he went ouer þe see, & come into Normandye, & þere duellede a while; & in þe secunde ȝere of his regne he come aȝeyne vnto Engeland, and brouȝt wiþ him Maude his wif, and lete crone here quene of Engeland, on Whitsonday. ¶ And þo anone after, þe Kyng of Scotland þat me callede Mancolum, bigon to werr and stryue wiþ Duc William; and he ordeynede him þo toward Scotland wiþ his men, boþe by lande and by see, forto destroy þe Kyng Mancolum. but þai were accordede, & þe Kyng of Scotland, Mancolum, bicome his man, and helde al his lande of him; and Kyng William resceyuede of him his Homage, and come aȝeyne into Engeland. ¶ And when Kyng William hade bene Kyng xvij ȝere, Maude þe Quene deide, on whom Kyng William hade geten meny faire cheldern, þat is forto seyne, Robert Curthose, William le Rous, Richar also þat deide, Henry Beauclerc, & Maude also, þat was þe Erles wif of Bleyns, and oþere iiij doughtre. ¶ And after his wifes deth, grete debate bigan bituene him & þe Kyng of Fraunce, Philippe; but atte þe laste þai were accordede; and þo duellede þe Kyng of Engeland in Normandye, and no man him werrede, ne he no man, longe tyme. and þe Kyng of Fraunce saide oppon a day in scorne of Kyng William, & saide þat 'Kyng William hade longe leyen a childe bed, & longe tyme haþ restede him.' ¶ And þis worde come to þe Kyng of Engeland þere þat he laye in Normandy, atte Roen; and for þis word was þo euel paiede for þat worde, & ek wonder wrothe toward þe Kyng of Fraunce, and swore þo by God þat, when he were arise of his gisyne, he wolde liȝt a þousand candelles to þe Kyng of Fraunce. ¶ And anone lete assemble a grete hoste of Normandye and of Engelisshe-men; and in þe bigynnyng of Heruest he come into Fraunce, & brent alle þe tounes þat he come by, þrouȝ alle þe contre, & robbed, & dede al þe euel þat he might þrouȝ-out al Fraunce. & at þe laste he brent þe toun of Mandes, & commandede his peple forto bere wode, & as miche as myght brenne; & him-self halpe þerto, al þat he myghte, wiþ gode wille. ¶ And þere was grete hete, what of fyre þat was so grete, & of þe sone þat þo was wonder hote, þat al stuffled him-self was, & felle into a grete sikenesse. and when he saw þat he was so stronge sike, he ordeynede and assignede al Normandy vnto Robert Curthese, his sone, and al Engeland to William þe Rous, & biquaþ to Henry Beauclerc al his tresoure. ¶ And when he hade þus done, he vnderfonge alle his sacramentȝ of holy cherche, & deide, þe xxij ȝere of his regne, & liþ at Caam in Normandye.

ANd after þis William Bastard, regnede his sone William Rous, & was a wonder contrarious man to God and to holy cherche, & lete amende & make þe toune of Cardeys þat þe paynemys hade destroied. ¶ This Kyng William destroiede holy cherche and alle here possessions, in what partye he miȝt ham fynde; and þerfore þere was so miche debate bituene him & þe Erchebisshope of Kaunterbery, Ancelyn, for enchesoun þat he vnderfonge him of his Wickednesse, þat he destroiede Holy cherche; & for encheson þerof, þe Kyng to him bare grete wraþ; & for þat cause he exilede him out of þe lande; & þe erchebisshop þo Went to þe courte of Rome, and þere du[e]llede wiþ þe Pope. ¶ & þis Kyng made þe new Forest, and caste doun & destroiede xxvj tounes & iiijxx house of religion, al forto make his foreste longer & broder, & bicome wonder glade & prout of his wode & of his Forest, and of þe wilde bestes þat wer þerin, þat it was mervailous forto wete, so þat men callede him 'keper of wodes & of pastures.' & þe lenger þat he leuede, þe more Wikkede he bicome, boþe to God & to holy cherche, & to alle his men. & þis kyng lete make þe grete halle of Westmynstre; and so oppon a Whitsonday he helde þerin his ferste feste, he lokede aboute him, & saide þat þe halle was to litel by haluendele. ¶ And at þe laste he bicome so contrarious, þat al þing þat plesede God, displesede him; and al þing þat gode men louede, he hatede dedly. ¶ And so hit befel þat he dremede & mette oppon a nyȝt, bifore a litil or þat he deide, þat he was bloode, & bledde a grete quantite of bloode, and a streme of blode lepte an hye toward Heuen more þan an hundred Venithe; and þe clerenesse of þe day was turnede al to derkenesse, and þe firmament also. ¶ And when he awoke, he hade grete drede, so þat he nyste what to done; & tolde his dreme to meny of his conseile, & saide þat he hade grete drede, & supposede þat him was some meschaunce to come. ¶ And þe secunde nyght bifore, a monke dremed of þe househald, þat þe kyng went into a cherche wiþ miche peple; and he was so prout þat he despisede al þe peple þat was wiþ him; & so he toke þe ymage of þe crucifixe, & shamefully bote hit with his teiþ; and þe crucifix mekely soffrede al þat he dede; but þe kyng, as a wode man, rent of þe Armys of þe crucifixe and caste it vnder his feete, & defoulede it and þrewe it al brode; and a grete flame of fire come out of þe crucifixeȝ mouthe; of þe whiche dreem, meny a man hade grete wonder. ¶ The gode man þat dremede þis dreem tolde it to a knyght þat þo was moste priue wiþ þe Kyng of al men; & þe knyght me callede Hamundus sone; & þe monke and he tolde þe dreem to [the] Kyng, & saide þat it shulde bitoken oþere þing þan gode; and noþelesse þe Kyng lauȝhede þerat ij or iij, & litil sette þerof ¶ And þouȝt þat he wolde gone Hunte & pleye in þe forest. and his men conseiled him þat he shulde nouȝt þat day, for no maner þing, come in þe wode, so þat he abode at home bifore mete. ¶ But anone as he hade eten, noþing might him lette but he wolde go to þe wode forto haue his disporte. ¶ And so hit bifelle þat one of his knyghtes þat hight Walter Tyrel, wolde haue shotte to an herte; & his Arwe glasede oppon a braunche, & þrouȝ misauenture smote þe Kyng to þe hert; & so he felle doune dede to þe grounde, wiþouten eny worde spekyng, & so he endede his lif. ¶ And it was non grete wonder, for þat day þat he dede, he hade late to ferme þe Erchebisshoppriche of Kaunterbery, and xij Abbays also, & euermore dede grete destruccioun to holy cherche þrouȝ wrongeful takynges and askyngus; for no man derst wiþsayen þat he wolde haue done; & of his luþernesse he wolde neuer wiþdrawe neyþer, to amende his lif; and þerfore God wolde suffre him no longer regne in his wickednesse. & he hade bene kyng xiij ȝere and vj wokes, & liþ at Wynchestre.

WHen Kyng Henry had bene Kyng xvij ȝere, a grete debate aroos bitue[n] him & Kyng Lowys of Fraunce, for enchesoun þat þe Kyng hade sent into Normandy to his men, for þai shulde bene helpyng to þe Erle of Bleynes as miche as þai myght, in werre aȝeynes þe Kyng of Fraunce, and þat þai were as redy vnto him as þai wolde bene vnto here owen lord, for enchesoun þat þe Erle hade spousede his sustre, Dame Maude; for whiche enchesoun þe Kyng of Fraunce dede miche harme & sorwe to Normandye. wherfore þe Kyng of Engeland was wonder wroþ, & in hast went ouer þe see into Normandye wiþ a grete power, forto defende þat londe; & þe werre bituene ham laste ij ȝere, til at þe laste þai ij fouȝten to-geder, & þe Kyng of France was descomfitede, & vnneþe scapede away wiþ miche peyn; and þe moste part of his men were taken, & dede wiþ ham what him liked; and some of ham he lete gon freliche, & some he lete put to deþ; but afterward þo ij kyngus were accordede. ¶ And when Kyng Henry hade holiche al þe landof No[r]mandye, and scomfitede his enemys of Fraunce, he turned aȝeyne into Engeland wiþ michel honour. and his ij sones, William and Richard, wolde come after her fader, and went to þe se wiþ a grete company of peple; but er þat þai might come to lond, þe shipp come aȝeyn a grete roche, and brake al into pices; and alle were drenched þat were þerin, saf one man þat was in þe same shipp þat ascaped; and þis was on seynt Katerynes day. ¶ And þise were þe names of ham þat were drenchede, þat is to seyn: William, þe Kynges sone, Richarde his broþer, þe Erl of Chestre, Octouyle his broþer, Geffray Ridel, Walter Emurcy, Gedfreye Erchedeken, þe Kynges doughter, þe Countesse of Perches, þe Kyngus nece, þe Countesse of Chestre, and meny oþer. ¶ When Kyng Henry and oþere lordes arryued were in Engeland, and harde þise tidyngus, þai made sorwe ynowȝ; & al her merþe & ioye was turnede þo into sorwe & care.

ANd when þat ij ȝere were gone, þat þe Erl hade duellede wiþ þe Kyng, þe Erl went þo fro þe Kyng, and biganne to werre oppon him, & dede miche harme in þe lande of Normandye. Wherfore Kyng Henry was sore annoiede when he herde þe tydynges. wiþ al þe haste þat he myght, he passede þe see, and come into Normandye, and toke þere a stronge castel, & þere helde him al þat ȝere. And þo come to him tydynges þat Henry, þe Emperour of Almaigne, þat hade spousede Maud his douȝter, was dede, and þat she duellede no longer in Almaigne, and þat she wolde come aȝeyne into Normandy to her fader. ¶ And when she was comen to him, he toke her þo wiþ him, and come aȝeyne into Engeland, & made þe Englisshemen to done oth & feaute vnto þe Emperesse. ¶ And þe ferst man þat made þe oth was William þe Erchebisshop of Kaunterbury, and þat oþere Kyng Dauid of Scotland & after him, al þe Erles & barons of Engeland. ¶ And after þat, þe noble man, þe Erl of Angoy, a worþi knyȝt, sent to þe Kyng of Engeland þat he wolde grant him forto haue his doughter to spouse, Maude þe Emperesse. ¶ And for enchesoun þat her fader wist þat he was a noble man, þe Kyng grauntede him, & consentede þerto, and þo tok his doughter, and ladde her into Normandye, & come to þe noble knyȝt þe Erl Gaufrid; & he spousede þe forsaide Maude wiþ michel honoure; & þe Erl bigate oppon her a sone þat men callede 'Henry, þe Emperesse sone.' ¶ And after, when al þis was done, Kyng Henry duellede al þat ȝere in Normandy. and after þat, longe tyme, a grevous sikenesse toke him, wherfore he deide. & þis Kyng Henry regnede xxxv ȝere & iiij mounþes; & after he deide, as bifore is saide, in Normandy; & his hert was enterede in þe grete cherche of oure Lady of Roen, & his body was brouȝt wiþ michel honour into Engeland, & enterede at Redyng in þe Abbay; & of þe which Abbay he was bigynner & Foundoure.

WHen þe Kyng was taken & brouȝt into warde in þe Castel of Bristow, þis Maude þe Emperesse anone was lady of Engeland, & alle men helde her for lady of þe lande. ¶ But þo of Kent helde wiþ Kyng Stephenes wif; and also William of Pree & his retenue halpe ham, and helde werre aȝeynes Maude þe Emperesse. & anone after, þe Kyng of Scotland come to ham wiþ a grete nombre of peple; and þo went þai in fere vnto Wynchestre, þere þat þe Emperesse was, & wolde haue take here; but þe Erl of Gloucestre come wiþ his power, & fouȝt wiþ ham; & þe Emperesse, in þe menewhile þat þe bataile durede, scapede fro þens, & went vnto Oxenford, & þere her helde. & in þat batail was þe Erl of Gloucestre descomfitede & taken, & wiþ him meny oþere lordes. ¶ And for his delyueraunce was Kyng Stephen delyuerede out of prisoun. ¶ And when he was delyuerede out of prisoun, he went þens to Oxenford, & bisegede þe Emperesse þat was þo at Oxenford; & þe sege endurede fro Michelmasse vnto Seynt Andrewus tyde. ¶ And þe Emperesse lete þo cloþe her al in white lynen cloþ, for enchesoun þat she wolde nouȝt bene knowe, for in þe same tyme þere was michel of snowe; and so she scapede by þe Tamyse fram ham awaye þat were her enemys; & fro þens she went to Wallyngford, & þere here helde. ¶ And þe Kyng wolde haue bisegede her but he hade so miche to done wiþ þe Erl Randulf of Chestre, & wiþ Hugh Bigot, þat strongelich werrede oppon him in euery place, þat he ne wist whider to turne; and þe Erl of Gloucestre halpe ham wiþ his power.

ANd after þis, þe Kyng went vnto Wilton, & wolde haue made a castel þere; but þo come to him þe Erl of Gloucestre wiþ a stronge power, & almost hade take þe Kyng; but ȝit þe Kyng ascapede wiþ miche payn; & William Marcil þere was take, & for whos delyuerance þe Kyng ȝaf to þe Erl of Gloucestre þe gode castel of Shirburn þat he hade tak. ¶ And when þis was done, þe Erl Robert, & alle þe Kynges enemys, went to Faryndon, & bigonne forto make þere a stronge castel; but þe Kyng, wiþ a stronge power drof ham þens.

In þat same ȝere ¶ The Erl Randulf of Chestre was accorded wiþ þe Kyng, and come to his court at his commandement; and þe Erl went haue safliche comen; & þe Kyng anone lete take him, and put him into prisoun, & most neuer for noþing come out þerof til þat he hade ȝelde op to þe Kyng þe castel of Nichole, þe whiche he hade tak fro þe Kyng wiþ strengþ in þe xv ȝere of þe regne of Kyng Stephene. ¶ Gaufride, þe Erl of Angoy, ȝaf vp to Henry al Normandy. In þe ȝere þat next sewede, deide þe Erl Gaufrid and Henry þo anon turnede aȝyn to Angoy, & þere was made Erl wiþ michel ioye & honour of his men of þe lande; & to him deden feaute & homage þe most parte of his land. ¶ And þo was þis Henry, þe Emperesse sone, Erl of Angoy & Duc of Normandye.

¶ And in þe same ȝere Was made deuorse bituene þe Kyng of Fraunce & þe quene his wif, þat was ryght heir of Gascoigne, for encheson þat it was knowe & prouede þat þai wer sib & ney of blode; & þo spousede her, Henry þe Emperesse sone; & þo was he Erl of Angoy, Duc of Normandy, & Duc of Gascoigne. ¶ þe xviij ȝere of þe regne of Kyng Stephen, þis Henry come into Engeland wiþ a stronge power, and bigan forto werre oppon Kyng Stephen, & toke þe castel of Malmesbery, & dede miche harme. And þe Kyng Stephen hade so miche werre þat he wist nouȝt whider to wende; but at þe laste þai wer accorded, þrouȝ þe Erchebisshope Theobalde and þrouȝ oþer worþi lordes of Engeland, oppon þis condicioun, þat þai shulde departe þe reaume of Engeland bituene ham, so þat Henry, þe Emperesse sone, shulde haue holliche halfe þe reaume, and when Kyng Stephen were dede, he shulde haue al þe lande of Engeland; & þus þai were accordede, & pees criede þrouȝ-out al Engeland. ¶ And when þe accord was made bituene þo ij lordes, Kyng Stephen bicome so sori, for cause þat he hade loste half Engeland, & felle into soche a malaldy, & deide in þe xix ȝer, viij wokes & v dayes of his regne, al in werr & in contak; & he liþ in þe Abbay of Feuersham, þe whiche he lete make, þe vj ȝere of his regne.

ANd after þis Kyng Stephen, regnede Henry þe Emperesse sone, þat Was cronede of þe Erchebisshop Theobalde þe xvij day bifore Cri[s]tesmas. And in þe same ȝere Thomas Beket of London, Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery, was made þe Kyngus Chanceller of Engeland. ¶ þe secunde ȝere þat he was cronede, he lete caste doun alle þe newe castelles þat were longyng vnto þe crone, þe whiche Kyng Stephen hade ȝeue vnto diuerse men, & ham hade made erles & barons forto holde wiþ him, & him helpe aȝeyns Henry, þe Emperesse sone. ¶ And þe iiij ȝere of his regne he put vnder his lordeship þe Kyng of Walys. And in þe same ȝer, when þe Kyng of Scotland had in his owen hande, þat is to seyne, þe citee of Kerlil, þe castel of Bamburghe, þe newe castel op Tyne, and þe Erldome of Lancastre, þe same ȝere þe Kyng, wiþ gret power, went into Walys, & lete caste adoun wodes, & make waies, and made stronge þe castel of Rutland & Basyngewerc; and amonge þe castelles he made an house of þe temple. ¶ And in þe same ȝere was Richard his sone born, þat afterward was Erl of Oxenford.

¶ And þe iiij ȝere of hes regne, he made Gaufride, Erl of Britaigne; & in þat ȝere he chaungede his mone. And þe vj ȝere of his regne he lade an huge host vnto Tolouse, & conquerede hit. And þe vij ȝer of his regne, deide Theobalde, þe Erchebissho[p] of Kanterbery; and þo al þe citee of Kaunterbery, þrouȝ meschief, almost was brent.

[Thomas a Becket is made Archbishop of Canterbury, and quarrels with the King.]

Þe ix ȝer of his regne, Thomas Beket, his Chaunceller, was chosen to ben Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery; and oppon seynt Bernardes day he was sacrede. ¶ And in þat ȝere, born was Alienore, þe Kynges douȝter. ¶ And þ x ȝere of his regne, seynt Edmund þe Kyng was translatede wiþ miche honour. ¶ And þe xj ȝere of his regne he helde his parlement at Northampton; & fro þens fled Seynt Thomas, Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery, for þe grete debate þat was bituen þe Kyng and him; for if he hade bene fonde on þe morwe, he hade bene slayn; & þerfore he fledde þens wiþ iij felawes, in fote oneliche, þat no man wist wher he was, and went ouer þe see to þe Pope of Rome. ¶ And þis was þe principal enchesoun, forasmiche as þe Kyng wolde haue put clerkes to deth þat were atteint of felonye, wiþouten eny pryuelege of holy cherche. ¶ And þe xij ȝere of his regne, was Iohn, his sone, bore. And þe xiij ȝere of his regne deide Maude þe Emperesse, þat was his moder; And in þat same ȝere was Iohane his doughter born. ¶ þe xiiij ȝere of his regne, þe Duc Henry of Saxoyne spousede Maude, his doughter; & he bigate on here iij sones, Henry, Othus, & William. ¶ And in þe xv ȝere of his regne, deide þe gode Erle Robert of Gloucestre, þat foundede þe Abbay of Nonnes of Eton. ¶ And in þe same ȝere, Marik, Kyng of Ierusalem, conquerede Babilon. ¶ þe xvj ȝ ere of his regne, he lete crone his sone Henry at Westmynstre; & him cronede, Roger, þe Erchebisshop of Ȝork, in harmyng of Thomas þe Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery; wherfore þe same Roger was acursede of þe Pope.

And while þat Kyng Henry, þe Emperesse sone, leuede & regnede, þe grete batail was in þe Holy Land bituene þe Cristen men & þe Sarasynus; but þe Cristen men were þere quellede þoruȝ grete tresoun of þe Erl of Trype, þat wolde haue hade to wyf þe Quene of Ierusalem, þat somme tyme was Baldewynus wif; but she forsoke him, & toke to her lorde a Knyȝt, a worþi man þat me called Sire Gy Percheȝ. Wherfore þe Erle of Trip was wroþ, and went anone ryght to Saladyn, þat was Soudan of Babilon, & bicome Saresyn, & his man, & forsoke Cristendome and all Cristen law; and þe Cristen men wiste nouȝt of þis dede, but wende forto haue hade grete helpe of him, as þai were wont to haue bifore. And when þai comen to þe batail, þis false Cristen man turnede vnto þe Sarasynes, and forsoke his owen naciounes; & so were þe Cristen men þere quellede wiþ þe Sarasynus; and þus wer þe Cristen men slayne & put to horrible deþ, and þe citee of Ierusalem destroiede, & þe holy croice born away. ¶ þe Kyng of Fraunce & al þe grete Lordes of þe land lete ham croice forto go into the Holy Lande; and among ham went Richard, Kyng Henries sone, ferst after the Kyng of France þat tok the crois of þe Erchebisshop of Toures; but he toke nouȝ[t] þe viage at þat tyme, for enchesoun þat he was lette by oþere maner waies þat nede moste bene done. ¶ And when Kyng Henry þe fader hade regnede xxxvti ȝere & v mounþes and iiij dayes, he deide, & liþ [at] Founteuerard.

And after þis Kyng Henry, regned Richard his sone, a stronge man & a worþi, & also bolde; & he was cronede at Wynchestre of þe Erchebisshop Baldewynne, Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery, the þrid day of Septembre; and the secunde ȝar of his regne Kyng Richard him-self and Baldewyne the Erchebisshop of Caunterbury, & Huber[t], Bisshop of Salesbery, & Randulf, Erl of Gloucestre, & oþere meny lordes of Engeland, went into þe Holy Land. And in þat viage deide þe Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery; and Kyng Richard went bifore into þe Holy Lond, & reste nouȝt til þat he come forþe in his way vnto Cypres, and toke Cipres wiþ grete force. & siþen he went fourþ toward þe Holy Land, & gete aȝeyn as miche as þe Cristen men haden loste bifore, Kyng Richard conquerede & gete hit aȝeyn, saf onely þe Holy Croice. ¶ And when Kyng Richard come to þe toune of Acres, forto gete þe citee, a grete debate aroos bituene him and þe Kyng of Fraunce, so þat Kyng Richard went aȝeyne into France, & was wroþ toward þe Kyng of Fraunce; but er þat Kyng Richard went aȝeyne, he toke þe Citee of Acres. ¶ And when he hade taken þe citee, he duellede þerin awhile; but to him come tydynges þat þe Erl Iohn of Oxenford, his broþer, wolde haue seisede al Engeland into his honde, & Normandy also, and wolde crone him Kyng of þe lande. ¶ And when Kyng Richard herde þis tydynges, he went aȝeyn toward Engeland wiþ al þe spede þat he myght; but þe Duc of Estriche mette wiþ him & tok him, & brouȝt him to þe Emperoure of Almaign; & þe Emperour brouȝt him into his prisoun. And afterward he was delyuerede for an huge Raunsoun, þat is, for to paien an .CM. li. ¶ And for whiche ransoun to bene payede, eche oþere chalice of Engeland was molten & made into monye. An alle þe monkes of þe ordre of Cisteaux ȝeuen alle her bokes þrouȝ Engeland, to done ham forto selle, and to þat ranson forto paye.

WHiles þis Kyng Richard was in prisoun, þe Kyng of Fraunce werrede oppon him strongeliche in Normandye, and Iohn his broþer werrede oppon him in Engeland; but þe bisshoppis & þe barons of Engeland wiþstode ham wiþ al þe power þat þai hade & myght geten, & helde þe castel of Wyndesore and alle oþere castelles. ¶ And þe forsaide Iohn saw þat he hade no might ne power aȝeynes þe barons of Engeland forto feiȝt; but anone him went ouer þe see to þe Kyng of Fraunce. ¶ And when Kyng Richard come out of prisoun, and was delyuerede, and come into Engeland, anone after Candelmasse, in grete haste he went vnto Notyngham, and þe castel of Notyngham to him was ȝolden; and þo disheritede he Iohn, his broþer, and alle þat wiþ him helde; and after, he went vnto þe citee of Wynchestre, and þere he lete him crone Kyng eftesones; and after, he went into Normandy forto werr oppon þe Kyng of Fraunce. ¶ And þe Kyng of France come wiþ vj C. knyȝtes toward Gisers; and Kyng Richard mette him, & þo wolde haue ȝeue him bataile, but þe Kyng of Fraunce fledde; & an C. knyȝtes of his were take, & ij C. stedes were trappede wiþ yren. ¶ And anone after, went Kyng Richard forto bisege þe castel of Gaillard. ¶ And as he rode oppon a day by þe castel, forto take avisement of þe castel, an Arweblaster smote him wiþ a quarel þat was e[n]venymede; and þe Kyng drow out þe shafte of þe quarel, but þe quarelle hede abode stille in his heuede, & hit bigan forto rancle, þat he might nouȝt helpe him-self ne meve his Armes. ¶ And þo he wist þat he hade dethe Wounde, þat he might nouȝt bene hole for no maner þing. He commandede anone alle his men sharply forto assaile þe castel, so þat þe castel was taken or þat he deide. And so manliche his men deden, þat þe peple þat were in þe castel were al taken; and þe Kyng dede wiþ ham what þat he wolde, & commandede his men þat þai shulde bryng tofore him þe man þat him so hade hurte & so hade wondede. ¶ And when he come bifore þe Kyng, þe Kyng axed what was his name; & he saide "Sire, my name is Bertram Gurdon." "Wherfore," saide þe Kyng, "hast þow me slayn, siþ þat y dede þe neuer none harme?" ¶ "Sire," said he, "þuoȝ ȝe dede me neuer harme, ȝe haue done to my frendes miche harme; For ȝour-self, wiþ ȝour owen honde, quellede my fader & my broþer; and þerfor now y han ȝow quytte ȝoure trauaile." ¶ þo saide Kyng Richard: "He þat deide oppon þe croice to bryng mannus soule fram þe pyne of helle, forȝeue ȝow my deþ! and y also forȝeue hit þe." Þo commandede þe Kyng þat no man shulde him misdone; but for al þe kyngus defendyng, ¶ Somme of his men him folwed, & priuely him quellede. And þe vj day after, þe Kyng deide shryuen, and sore repentance hauyng of his misdedes, & was houselede & annoyntede. And þis kyng ne regned but ix ȝere & xxxix wokes, & deide, & liþ bisides his fader at Founteuerard.

WHen Kyng Richard was dede, for enchesoun þat he hade none heir, noþere sone ne doughter, his broþer Iohan was made Kyng, an[d] cronede at Westmynstre of Hubert, þat was þo Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery. ¶ And when he biganne forto regne, he bicome so mervaillous a man, and went ouer into Normandye, & werrede oppon þe Kyng of France. And so longe þai werrede to-gedre, til att þe laste Kyng Iohn loste Normandye & Angoy; wherfor he was sore annoiede, & was none mervaile. ¶ þo lete he assemble byfore him at London, Erchebisshoppis, bisshoppus, Abbotes & Pryours, Erles & barons, and helde þere a grete Parlement, & axede þere of þe clergye þe tenþe of euery cherche of Engeland, forto conquere & gete aȝeyne Normandy & Angoy þat he hade loste. and þai wolde nouȝt graunt þat þing; wherfore he was wonder wroþ. ¶ And in þe same tyme deide þe Erchebisshop Hubert. And þe Priour & þe Couent of Kaunterbery chosen, aȝeynes þe Kyngus wille, to bene Erchebisshop, Maistre Stephen of Langeton, a goode clerc þat wonede at þe court of Rome, & sende to þe Pope here elleccioun; & þe Pope confermede hit, and sacred hit at Viterbe. ¶ When þe Kyng wiste þis tydyngus, he was wonder wroþ, & drof þe Priour & þe couent fro Kanterbery, & exilede ham out of Engeland, & commandede þat no maner lettre þat come fro þe court of Rome, ne no comandement, shulde be vnderfong ne pledede in Engelond. ¶ When þise tydyngus come to þe Pope, he sent vnto Kyng Iohn by his lettre, & prayede him wiþ gode wille & gode hert þat he wolde vnderfonge Stephen, Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery, vnto His cherche, & soffre þe Priour & his monkes to come aȝeyn to her owen duellyng; but þe Kyng wolde nouȝt grant hit for noþing.

ANd at þe laste, þe Pope sent by his autorite, and ennioynede to bisshoppis of Engeland þat, if þe Kyng wolde nouȝt vnderfonge þe Prioure of Kaunterbery and his monkes, þat þai shulde do general enterdityng þrouȝ-oute al Engeland; & grantede ful power to iiij bisshopis to pronounce þe enterdityng, if it were nede: ¶ þe ferst was Bisshop William of London, & þat oþer Eustace, Bisshop of Ely; þe þridde was Walter, þe Bisshop of Wynchestre; And þe ferþ was Giles, þe Bisshop of Herford. ¶ And þise iiij bisshoppis praiede þe Kyng, knelyng on here knees & sore wepyng, þat he wolde do þe Popis commandement, and shewede him þe bullis of the enterdityng; but, for no prayer þat þai myght praye, he wolde nouȝt consent þerto. And when þe bisshopes saw þis, þai went fro þe Kyng; ¶ And in þe morwe after þe Annunsiacion of oure Lady, þai pronouncede þe general enterdytyng þrouȝ-oute al Engeland, so þat þe cherchedores were shitte wiþ Keyes & wiþ oþer fastnyng, and wiþ wallys. ¶ And when þe enterdyting was pronuncede, þan þe Kyng bigan forto wax al out of mesure, and toke into his honde alle þe possessions of þo iiij bisshopis, and of al þe clergye þrouȝ-out al þe lande, and ordeynede men forto kepe ham, þat þe clerkes might nouȝt haue here leuyng. Wherfore þe biss[hopis curs]ede ham all þat put, or shulde medle wiþ, chercheȝ godes, aȝeins the Wille of ham þat ham owede.

¶ And Whe[n] þe Kyng Wolde nouȝt cesse of his malice for no maner þing, þe iiij bisshoppis aboue-saide went ouer þe see, and went to þe Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery, and tolde him al þe tidyngus. ¶ And þe Erchebisshop to ham saide, þat þai shulde go aȝeyn to Kanterbery, and he wolde come þider to ham, or elles he wolde sende þider certeyn persones in his stede, þat shulde done as miche as him-self were þere. ¶ And when þe bisshopis herde þis, þai turnede aȝeyne vnto Engeland, & come vnto K[a]unterbery. ¶ the tydynges comen to the kyng þat þe bisshoppes wer come aȝeyne to Kanterbery, and [as] him-self might nouȝt come þider þat tyme, he sent þider bisshopes, Erles, Abbotes, forto trete wiþ ham, þat þe Kyng shulde vnderfonge þe Erchebisshop Stephen, & þe priour and alle þe monkes of Kaunterbery, and þat he shulde neuer after þat tyme noþing take of Holy Cherche aȝeynes þe wille of ham þat owede þe godes; and þat þe Kyng shulde make ful amendes to ham whame he hade eny godes taken, & þat holy cherche shulde haue alle here Fraunchises as ferforþ as she hade in Seynt Edwardus tyme þe Confessoure.

WHen þe fourme of accorde þus was ordeynede, hit was in a peire of endentures; & þai put her selx to þat o party, and þai þat comen in þe Kyngus name put her selx to þat oþere parte of þe endentures. And þe iiij bisshoppus aboue-saide toke þat o parte of þe endentures wiþ ham; And þe oþer parte of þe endenture þai bare wiþ ham forto shew þe Kyng. ¶ When þe Kyng saw þe fourme, and hit vnderstode, he helde him ful wel paiede of al maner þing þat þai hade ordeynede, saf as tochyng þe restitucion of þe godes forto make aȝeyne; to þat þing he wolde nouȝt accorde; and so he sent worde aȝeyne to þe forsaide iiij bisshoppis, þat þai shulde done out and put awey þat o pynt of restitucion; and þai ansuerede þat þai nolde nouȝt done out a word. ¶ þo sent þe Kyng to þe Erchebisshop by þo iiij bisshopes, þat he shulde come to Kaunterbery forto speke wiþ him þere, and sent vnto him saf condit, vnder plegges, þat is to seyn, his Iusticeȝ, Gilbert Peytevyn, William de la Breuer, & Iohn le fi[t]z Hugh, þat in here condit safly he shulde come, & gon aȝeyn at his wille; & in þis maner þe Erchebisshop Stephen come vnto Kaunterbery. ¶ And when the Erchebisshop was [come], þe Kyng come to Chilham, for he wolde come no nyer Kaunterbery at þat tyme; but he sent by his tresorer, þe bisshope of Wynchestre, þat he shulde done out of þe endentures þe clause of restitucioun forto make of þe godes. ¶ And þe Erchebisshop made his oth þer, þat he wolde neuer do oute a worde þerof, ne chaunge of þat þe bisshopes hade spoken & ordeynede. & so þe Erchebisshope went aȝeyn to Rome, wiþ-outen eny more doyng. ¶ Kyng [Iohn] was þo miche wroþer þan euer he was bifore, and lete make a comen crie þrouȝ-out al Engeland, þat al þo þat haden holy cherche rentes, and wenten ouer þe see, þat þai shulde come aȝeyn into Engeland at a certeyn day, and elleȝ þai shulde lese her rentes for euermore; and þat he commandede to euery shirryf þrouȝout Engeland, þat þai shulde enquer if eny bisshop, Abbot, Pryoure, or eny oþer prelate of Holy cherche, fro þat day afterward resceyuede eny mandement þat come fro þe Pope, þat þai shulde tak þe body, & brynge hit bifore him; & þat þai shulde take into þe Kynges hande al her londes of holy cherche þat were ȝeuen to eny man þrouȝ þe Erchebisshop Stephen or by þe Pryour of Kaunterbery, fram þe tyme of þe eleccioun of þe erchebisshope; ¶ And commandede þat alle þe wodes þat were þe erchebisshopus shulde bene cast adoun to þe grounde, and all solde.

ANd in þe same tyme þe Irisshe-men bigon to werr oppon Kyng Iohn; and kyng Iohn ordeynede him forto wende into Yrland, and lete arere an huge tax þrouȝ-out al Engeland, þat is to seyn, xxxv Ml marȝ; & sent þrouȝ-out al Engeland to þe monkes of þe ordre of Cisteaux, þat þai shulde helpe him of vj Ml marc of Siluer; and þai ansuerede & saide þat þai derst noþing done wiþouten her chief Abbot of Cisteaux. Wherfore Kyng Iohn, when he come aȝeyne fram Irland, he dede ham so miche sorwe & care, þat þai nist wher forto abide; for he toke so miche ransoun of euery hous of ham, þe somme amountede ix Ml & iij C marȝ, so þat þai were clene loste and destroyede, & voidede her hous & her landes þrouȝ-out al Engeland. ¶ And the Abbot of Wauersey drade so miche his manace, þat he forsoke al his Abbay, & went þens, and pryuely ordeynede him ouer þe see to þe hous of Cisteaux. ¶ When þe tydynges come to þe Pope, þat þe Kyng had done so miche malice, þo was he toward þe Kyng ful wroþ, and sent ij legates to þe Kyng,—þat on me callede Pandolf, & þat oþere Duraunt,—þat þai shulde warne þe Kyng, in þe Popis name, þat he shulde cesse of his persecucion þat he dede vnto holy cherche, & amende þe wrong and trespasse þat he hade done to þe Erchebisshope of Kanterbery, & vnto þe monkes of Kaunterbery, & to al þe clergye of Engeland, and þat he shulde restore þe godes aȝeyn þat he hade taken of ham aȝeyns her wille, & elles þai shulde curse the Kyng by name; and to done þis þing, & to conferme, þe Pope toke ham his lettres in bulles patent. ¶ þise ij legates comen into Engeland, and comen to þe Kyng to Northampton, þere þat he helde his parlement; & ful curteisely þai him salued, and saide: "Sire, we beþe comen fro þe Pope of Rome, þe pees of holy cherche & þe lande forto amend; and we monest ȝow ferste in þe Popis half, þat ȝe make ful restitucioun of þe godes þat haue rauisshede of holy cherche & of þe land, & þat ȝe vnderfonge Stephen, Erchebisshop of Kanterbery, into his dignite, and þe Priour of Kaunterbery & his monkes, & þat ȝe ȝelde aȝeyn to þe Erchebisshope alle his landes & rentes, wiþout eny wiþholdyng. ¶ And Sire, more-ouer, þat ȝe soche restitucioun ham make, as holy cherche shal holde her paiede."

¶ þo ansuerede þe Kyng; "as tochyng þe Priour & his monkes of Kaunterbery, al þat ȝe haue saide, y wille gladelyche do, & al þing þat ȝe wille ordeyne. ¶ But as tochyng þe Erchebisshop, y shal telle ȝow in myn hert as it liþ, þat þe Erchebisshop lete his bisshopriche, & þat þe Pope þan for him wolde praye, & þan oppon aventure me shulde like some oþere bisshopriche forto ȝeue him in Engeland; and oppon þis condicioun y wil him resceyue and vnderfonge. ¶ And noþeles in Engeland, as Erchebisshop yf he abide, he shal neuer haue so gode saf condit þat he ne shal ben tak." ¶ þo saide Pandolf vnto þe Kyng: "holy cherche was neuer wont to disgrade Erchebisshop wiþouten cause resonable; but euer she was wont to chastice Pry[n]ces þat to God & holy cherche were in-obedient." ¶ "What! how now?" qoud þe kyng, "manace ȝe me?" ¶ "Nay," saide Pandolf, "but ȝe now openly haue tolde as it stondeþ in ȝour hert; & to ȝow we wil tel what is þe Popis wille; & þus it stant: þat he haþ ȝow holiche enterditede & accursede for þe wronges þat ȝe haue done to holy cherche & to þe clergye. & for-as-miche as ȝe duelliþ & beþ in wil to abide in ȝour malice, and wil nouȝt come to none emendement, ȝe shal vnderstond þat fro þis tyme afterward þe centence is oppon ȝow ȝeuen, & halde stede & strengþ; and all þo þat wiþ ȝow haþ communede or þis tyme, Wheþer þat þai beþ Erles or barons, knyghtes or eny oþer, what-so-euer þat þai bene, we ham assoile safly vnto þis day. And fro þis tyme afterward, of what condicion so-euer he be, we ham acurse þat wiþ ȝow communen, and do we sentence oppon ham openly & specialy. ¶ And we assoile quyte Erles & barons, knyȝtȝ, & al oþer maner men, of her homages, seruices & feauteȝ, þat þai shulde vnto ȝow done. ¶ And þis þing to conferme, We ȝeue pleyn power to þe Bisshop of Wynchestre & to þe Bisshop of Norwich; ¶ And þe same power we ȝeue into Scotland to þe Bisshop of Rouchestre & of Salesbery; & in Walys we ȝeue þe same power to þe Bisshop of seynt Dauid, of Landa & of Assa. ¶ And more-ouer we sende þrouȝ al Cristendome, þat al þe bisshopis biȝend þe see, þat þai acurse alle þo þat helpeþ ȝow, or in eny conseile ȝeue in eny maner nede þat ȝe haue forto done in eny party of the world; and we assaile al ham þat aȝeynes ȝow meueþ eny maner werre. ¶ And we assoile ham al also, by þe autorite of þe Pope, & commanden ham also wiþ ȝow forto werr, as wiþ him þat is enemy to al holy cherche." ¶ þo ansuered þe Kyng, "what mow ȝe done more?" ¶ þo saide Pandolf: "we seyn to ȝow 'in verbo Dei,' þat ȝe, ne none heir þat ȝe haue, neuer after þis day may be cronede." ¶ Tho saide þe Kyng: "by Him þat is Almyghty God, & y hade wist of þis þing er þat ȝe come into my land, þat ȝe me hade brouȝt soche tidynges, y shulde haue made ȝow ride al an hool ȝere." ¶ þo ansuerede Pandolf: "ful wel wende we, at oure ferst comyng, þat ȝe wolde haue ben obedient to God and to holy cherche, & haue fulfillede þe Popys commandement; and nowe we haue shewede & pronuncede vnto ȝow þe Popis wille, as we were chargede þerwiþ. ¶ And as now ȝe haue saide þat, if ȝe hade wist þe cause of oure commyng, þat ȝe wolde haue made vs ryde al an hool ȝere, and as wel ȝe myght haue saide þat ȝe wolde haue take an hool ȝere of respite by þe Popys leue. ¶ But forto suffre what deþ þat ȝe couþe ordeyne, we shulle nouȝt spare forto tel ȝow holliche al þe Popis message, & his wille þat we wer chargede with."

"TO alle Cristen peple þrouȝ-out the worlde duellyng, Iohn, by þe grace of God, Kyng of Engeland, gretyng to ȝour vniuersite! and knowen þing it be þat for-asmiche as we haue greuede & offendede God & our moder cherche of Rome, and forasmiche as we haue nede to þe mercy of oure lord Ihesu Crist, and we may noþing so worþi offre competent satisfaccioun to make to God & to holy cherche, but if it were our owen body, as wiþ oure reaumes of Engeland and of Irland, Thanne, by þe grace of God, we desiren forto meken vs for þe loue of Him þat meked Him to þe deþ of þe Croice, þrouȝ conseil of þe noble erles & barons, we soffren and frely granten to God, and to þe Apostoilȝ seynt Petre & seynt Paule, & to oure moder cherche of Rome, & to our Holy fader þe Pope, Innocent þe þridde, & alle þe Popis þat comeþ after him, al þe reaume & patronages of cherches of Engeland and of Irland, wiþ alle þe appurtenances, for remissioun of oure synnes, and helpe & helþ of oure Kyn soules, and of all Cristen soules, so þat fro þis tyme afterward, we wille resceyue & holde of oure moder che[r]che of Rome, as fee ferme, doyng feaute to our holy fader þe Pope, Innocent þe þridde, and to alle þe Popes þat comeþ after him, in maner abouesaide. ¶ And in presence of þe wise man Pandolf, þe Popis Suthdekne, we makeþ liege homage, as it were in þe Popes presence, & bifore him were; and we shul do al maner þinges aboue-saide; and þerfore we byndeþ vs, and al þat comen after vs, & oure heirs for-euermore, wiþouten eny gaynsaying, to þe Pope, & eke þe ward of chercheȝ vacauntȝ. and in token of þis þing euer forto last, we wille, conferme & ordeyn, þat our special rentȝ of þe forsaide Reaumes, sauyng seynt Petrus pens, in al þing to þe moder cherche of Rome, paying by ȝer Ml marȝ of siluer at ij termes of þe ȝere, for al maner custumes þat we shulde do to þe forsaide Reaumes, þat is to seyn, at Mighelmesse & at Ester, þat is to seyn, vij C marȝ for Engeland, & iij C marȝ for Irland, sauyng to vs and to oure heires, oure Iusticeȝ and oure oþer ffraunchisis, and oþer realtes þat appertyneþ to þe crone. And alle þise þinges þat bifore ben saide, we wille þat hit be ferme & stable wiþouten ende; and to þat obligacion we, an alle our successoures & oure heires, in þis maner beþ bonde, þat if we, or eny of our heires, prouȝ presumpcion falle in eny poynt aȝne þise þingus abouesaide, & he bene warnede, & wille nouȝ riȝt amende him, he shal þan lese þe forsaide reaumes for euermore. and þat þis chartre of obligacion, & oure warant, for euermore be ferme and Stable wiþouten gaynsaying, we shul fro þis day afterward be trewe to God & to þe moder cherche of Rome, and to þe Pope Innocent þe þrid, and to al þat comeþ after him; and þe reaumes of Engeland & of Irland we shul mayntene trewely in al maner poyntȝ aȝynȝ al maner men by oure power, þrouȝ þe grace of God."

WHen þis chartre was made and enselede, þe Kyng Vnderfonge aȝeyn his crone of Pandolfes hondes, and sent anone vnto þe Erchebisshop Stephen, and to al his oþer clerkes and lewed men þat he hade exilede out of his lande, þat þai shulde come aȝene into Engeland, & haue aȝen her londes & heir rentes, & þat he wolde make restitucioun of þe godes þat he hade take of heres, aȝeyns her wille. ¶ þe Kyng himself þo, and Pandolf, & Erles & barons, went þo vnto Wynchestre aȝeinȝ þe Erchebisshop Stephen. & when he was comen, þe Kyng went aȝeynes him, & felle adoun vnto his feet, & saide vnto him: "faire sir, ȝe beþ welcomen; and y crie ȝow mercy, for encheson þat y haue trespassede aȝenȝ ȝow." ¶ Erchebisshop toke him vp þo in his Armes, & cussede him curteisely ofte-tymes, and after lad him to þe dore of Seynt Swythynus cherche by þe honde, & assoilede him of þe centence, and him reconselede to God and to holy cherche; and þat was on seyn[t] Margarites day; and þe Erchebisshop anone went forto synge þe masse, and þe Kyng offred at þe masse a mark of golde. ¶ And when þe masse was done, alle þai went forto vnderfonge her londes, wiþouten eny maner gaynesaying; and þat day þai made al merþe and ioye ynow; but ȝitte was nouȝt þe enterdit relessede, for enchesoun þai hade sent þat þe enterditying shulde nouþt bene vndone til þe Kyng hade made ful restitucioun of þe godes that he hade take of Holy cherche, and also þat him-self shulde done homage to þe Pope by a certeyne ligat þat he shulde sende into Engeland.

¶ þo toke Pandolf his leue of þe Kyng and of þe Erchebisshop, and went aȝeyne vnto Rome. And þe Erchebisshop anone lete come bifore him prelates of holy cherche at Redyng, forto trete and conseil how miche and what þai shulde axe of þe Kyng forto make restitucion of þe godes þat he hade take of ham. ¶ And þai ordeynede and saide, þat þe Kyng shulde ȝeue to þe Erchebisshope iij Ml marȝ for þe wronge þat þle Kyng hade done to him, and also to oþer clerkes xv Ml marc, by porcyons. and in þe same tyme Nicholas, bishop of Tuscan, Cardynal Penitauncer of Rome, come into Engeland þrouȝ þe Popis commandement, þe v kalend of Ottobre, and come to London þe v None of Octobre, for enchesoun þat Kyng Iohn and alle þe kynges þat comen after him, shulde euermore halde þe reaumes of Engeland and of Irland of God & of þe Pope, paing to þe Pope by ȝer as is aboue saide.

ANd after þis Kyng Iohn, regnede Henry his sone, & was cronede at Gloucestre when he was ix ȝere olde, on seynt Symondus day & Iude, of Swalo þe legat, þrouȝ conseile of alle þe grete lordes of Engeland þat helde wiþ Kyng Iohn, his fader, þat is to saien, þe Erl Randolf of Chestre, William, Erl Marchal, William Erl of Penbrok, & William Breuere, Erl of Ferers, Serl de Maule, baron; & alle oþere grete lordes of Engeland helde with Lowys, þe Kynges sone of Fraunce. & anone after, when Kyng Henry was cronede, Swalo the legat helde his conseil at Bristow, at Seynt Martynes fest; & þere wer xj bisshopis of Engeland & of Walys, & of oþer prelates of holy cherche a grete nombre, & Erles & barons, & meny knyȝtes of Engeland; and alle þo þat were at þat conseil swore feaute vnto Henry þe Kyng, þat was Kyng Iohnes sone.

¶ And anone after, þe ligate enterditede Walis, for enchesoun þat þai helde with þe barons of Engeland; and also alle þo þat holpen or ȝaf conseil to meve werr aȝeynȝ þe new Kyng Henry, he acursede ham; And in the bigynnyng he put in þe sentence þe Kyngus sone of Fraunce Lowys. ¶ And noþeles þe same Lowys wolde nouȝt spare forto werr for al þat, but went anone, & tok þe castel of Berkhamstede, & eke þe castel of Hertford. ¶ And fram þat day aftirward, þe barons dede miche harme þrouȝ al Engeland, and principaly þe Frenche-men þat wer comen wiþ Lowys; wherfore þe grete lordes of Engeland, & alle þe commune peple, lete ham croice forto dryue out Lowys & his company out of Engeland. ¶ But somme of þe barons, & ek of þe Frenchemen, were gone to þe cite of Nichole, & tok þe Cite, & helde hit to Kyng Lowys profite. But þider come Kyng Henryes men wiþ a grete power, þat is to seyne, þe Erl Randolf of Chestre, and William Erl Marchal, & William de la Bruer, Erl of Ferers, & meny oþer lordes wiþ ham, & ȝaf Bataile vnto Lowyse men. ¶ And þere was slayn þe Erl of Perches; and Lowys men were þere foule descomfitede; and þere was taken Serl, Erl of Wynchestre, & Humfray de Boun, Erl of Herford, & Robert, þe sone of Walter; & meny oþer þat hade bigonne werr aȝeynȝ þe Kyng þere were taken, and lad to Kyng Henry þat was Kyng Iohnes [son]. ¶ When þe tydyng of þis scomfiture come vnto Lowys, he remevede þens, & went vnto London, and lete shette þe ȝates fast of þe citee. ¶ And anone after, þe Kyng sent to þe burgeys of London, þat þai shulde ȝelde ham vnto him, & þe citee also, and he wolde ham graunt alle þe Fraunchises þat þai were wont forto haue, & wolde conferme ham by his new chartr vnder his grete sele. ¶ And in the same tyme a gret Lorde, þat me callede Eustace þe monk, come out of Fraunce wiþ a grete company of Lordes, & wolde haue come into Engeland forto haue holp Lowys, þe Kyngus sone of Fraunce. ¶ But Hubert of Burgh and þe v portes, wiþ viij shippi, & no mo, mette wiþ ham in þe hye see, and assailede ham egrely, & ouercome ham þrouȝ strengþ, and smyten of Eustace-þe-monkes heuede, & token also x grete Lordes of Fraunce, and put ham into prisoun, & quellede almost alle þe men þat comen wiþ ham; and anone drenchede þe shippis in þe see.

When Lowys herd þis tydynges, he drade sore to ben dede and loste, and lete ordeyne, & spok bituene þe Kyng and Lowys by þe legat Swalo, and þoruȝ þe Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery, and þrouȝ oþere grete lordes, þat alle the prisoners of þatone halfe and of þat oþer shulde bene delyuerede, & gone quit, and Lowys him-self shulde haue for his costages a Ml li of siluer, & shulde gone out of Engeland, and come neuer þerin aȝeyne. and in þis maner was þe accord made bituene Kyng Henry & Lewys. And þo was Lowys assoilede of þe Popis legat þat me callede Swalo, of þe sentence þat he was in, and þe barouns of Engeland also. ¶ And after þis, Kyng Henry & Swalo þe legat, & Lowys, went vnto Merton; and þere was þe pees confermede, & bituen ham ordeynede. and afterward Lowys went fro þens vnto London, & tok his leue, & was brouȝt wiþ miche honoure at þe see wiþ Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery & wiþ oþer bisshoppis, and also wiþ erles and barons; and so went Lowys into Fraunce. ¶ And aftirward þe kyng & þe Erchebisshope, & Erles & barons, assembled ham at London, at Michelmasse þat next þo sewede, & helde þere parlement. & þere were þo renewede alle þe Fraunchises þat Kyng Iohn hade grauntede at Romemede; and Kyng Henry þo confermede ham by his chartre, þe which ȝitte beþ holden þrouȝ-out Engeland. ¶ And in þat tyme þe Kyng toke of euery ploughe of londe ij s; and Hubert of Burgh was made þo chief Iustice of Engeland. ¶ And þis was in þe iiij ȝere of Kyng Henryes regne; & in þe same ȝere was seynt Thomas of Kanterbery translatede þe l ȝere after his martredome. ¶ And after, it was ordeynede by alle þe Lordes of Engeland, þat alle Aliens shulde gone out of Engeland, & come nomore þerin. And þe Kyng þo toke alle þe castelles into his honde, þatKyng Iohn his fader hade ȝeue & taken vnto Aliens forto kepe, þat helde wiþ him. ¶ But þe prout Frankes of Brent, Richely lete arraie his castel of Bedford, whiche he had of þe Kyngus ȝifte Iohn; & he helde þat castel aȝeyns Kyng Henries wille wiþ might and strengþ. ¶ And the Kyng come þider wiþ a streng power, & biseged þe castel. And þe Erchebisshop Stephen of Langeton come to þe Kyng wiþ a faire company of knyȝtȝ, him forto helpe; and fra þe Ascencioun vnto þe Assumpcion of our Lady, laste þe sege: & þo was þe castel wonne & tak, and þe Kyng lete honge all þo þat were wiþin þe castel, þat wiþ her gode wille helde þe castel aȝeynȝ þe Kyng, þat is forto seyn, foure score men. ¶ And þo afterward Fra[n]kes himself was fonde in a cherche of Couentre; and þere he forsoure al Engeland wiþ miche shame, and went þo aȝeyn into his owen contre.

¶ And whiles þat Kyng Henry regned, Edmund of Abyndon, þat was tresorer of Salesbury, was consacrede Erchebisshop of Kanterbery. And þis Kyng Henry sent ouer see vnto þe Erle of Prouince, þat he shulde sende him his douȝter into Engeland, þat me called Alienore, & he wolde wedde her. And so she come into Engeland after Cristes-masse, and in þe morwe after seynt Hillary, þe Erchebisshop Edmunde spousede ham to-gedre att Kaunterbery; and at þe viij of seynt Hillary she was crounede at Westmynstre wiþ miche solempnite; & þere was a swete sight bituene ham, þat is to seyn, Edmund, þat was next Kyng after him, his broþer, folour of curtessi and of Larges, and Margaret, þat was afterward Quene of Scotland, & Beatrice, þat was afterward Countesse of Britaign, & Katerine, þat deide maide in religioun.

ANd þus hit bifelle þat þe lordes of Engeland wolde haue somme addicions mo in the Chartre of Fraunchises þat þai hade of þe Kyng, & spoken þus bituene ham, & þe Kyng grauntede ham alle her axing, and made to ham ij Chartres: þat on is callede 'þe grete Chartre of Fraunchises' & þat oþer is callede 'þe Chartre of þe Forest' and for þe grante of þise chartres, prelates, Erles and barons, & alle þe communes of Engeland, ȝaf to þe Kyng Ml marȝ of siluer.

¶ When Kyng Henry hade bene Kyng xliij ȝere, þat same ȝere he and his lordes, Erles, and barouns of þe reaume, went to Oxenford, & ordeynede a lawe in emendement of þe reaume, and suore þe Kyng him-self, & after, alle þe lordes of þe reaume, þat þai wolde holde þat statute euermore; and who þat it brak shulde bene dede. ¶ But þe secunde þer after þat ordenance, þe Kyng þrouȝ conseile of Sire Edward his sone, & of Richard his broþer, þat was Erl of Cornwail, & also of oþere, repentede him of þat oþe þat he hade made forto holde þat lawe & ordynance, and sent to þe court of Rome to bene assoilede of þat oth þat he hade made. ¶ And in þat ȝere next comen after, was grete derþ of corne in Engeland, for a quarter of whete was worþ xxiiij s, & þe pore peple ete netles for hunger, and oþere wedes; & deide meny Ml for defaute of mete.

¶ And in þe xlviij ȝere of Kyng Henries regne, biganne werr and debate bituene him and his lordes, fo[r] enchesoun þat he hade broken þe couenaunteȝ þat were made bituene ham at Oxenford. ¶ And in þat same ȝer, in Lent, was þe castel of Notyngham tak, and þe folc slayne þat were þerin, for enchesoun þat þai hade ordeyned wilde fire forto haue brente þe citte of London.

¶ And in the morwe of May þat come next after, oppon seynt Pancras day, was the batail at Lewes, þat is to seyne, þe Wednesday bifore seynt Dunstanus day; and þere was tak, Kyng Henry him-self, & Sire Edward his sone, & Sire Richard, Erl of Cornwail, & meny oȝere lordes. ¶ And in þat same ȝere next sewyng, Sire Edward, þe Kynges sone, brak out of þe ward of Sire Symond of Mountford, Erl of Leicestre, at Hereford, and went to þe barouns of þe Marche; and vnderfong him wiþ michel honouþ. ¶ And in þe same tyme Gilbert of Clare, Erl of Gloucestre, þat was in þe ward also of þe forsaide Symond, þrouȝ þe commandement of Kyng Henry, þat went fram him in grete wraþ, for enchesoun þat he saide þat þe forsaide Gilbert was a fool in his conseile, wherfore he ordeyned him so, & helde wiþ Kyng Henry. ¶ And þe Saturesday next after þe middes of August, Sir Edward, þe Kyngus sone, descomfitede Sire Symond de Mountford at Kemworþ; but þe grete lordes þat were þere wiþ him wer taken, þat is to seyn, Baldewyne Wake, William of Mounchesye, and meny oþer grete lordes: and þe Tywesday next after, was þe bataile done at Euesham; & þere was quellede Sire Symond de Mountford, Hughe þe Spenser, and Mountford, þat was Rauf Bassetȝ fader of Dratton, & oȝer meny grete Lordes. ¶ And when þis batail was don, alle þe gentiles þat had be wiþ þe Erl Symond were disheritede; & þai ordeyned ham togedres, and dede miche harme to al þe land, for þai destroiede her enemys in al þat þai might.

ANd in þe ȝer next sewyng, in May, ferst day bifore þe fest of Seynt Dunstan, was bataile and scomfiture at Chesterfeld of ham þat were disheritede; & þere meny of ham were quellede; and Robert, Erl of Ferers, þere was take, and also Baldewyne Wake; & Iohn de la Haye, wiþ miche sorwe scaped þens. and in Seynt Iohanes Eve þo next sewyng bigan þe sege of þe castel of Kemworth; and þe sege laste to Seint Thomas Eve þe Postoil, in whiche day Sir Hughe Hastyngus had þe castel forto kep, þat ȝelde vp þe castel vnto Kyng in þis maner, þat him-self and alle oþere þat were wiþin þe castel shulde haue her lif and lyme, and as miche þing as þai hade þerin, boþe hors & herneys, and foure dayes of respite forto delyuer clene þe castel of ham-selfþ, & of al maner þing þat þai hade wiþin þe castel; so þai went fram þe castel, and þe kyng & his men went þo into castel. ¶ and Sir Symond þe Mounford þe ȝonge, and þe Countesse his moder. were fledde ouer þe see into Fraunce, and þere helde ham as peple þat were exilede out of Engeland for euermore. ¶ And sone after hit was ordeyned by the Legat Octobon, & by oþere grete lordes of Engeland, þe wisest of þe land þat alle þo þat hade bene aȝeyns þe Kyng & were disheritede, shulde haue aȝeyn her londes, and by greuos ransoun, after þat it was ordeyned; and þus þai were accorded wiþ þe Kyng, þ was pees criede þrouȝ al Engeland; and þus þe werr was endede.

And when þis was done, þe legat toke his leue at þe Kyng, & of the Quene, & of the alle þe grete lordes of Engeland, & went þo to Rome, þe lv ȝere of Kyng Henryes regne. ¶ And Edward, Kyng Iohnes sone of Britaigne, Iohn Vessy, Thomas of Clare, Roger of Clifford, Othus Grauntson, Robert le Brus, Iohan of Verdon, & meny oþer lordes of Engeland & of byȝende þe see, token her way toward þe Holy Lond; and þei Kyng Henry deide in þe mene-tyme at Westminster, when he hade ben Kyng lv ȝer & ix wokes, on seynt Edmundus day, þe Erchebisshop of Kaunterbery; and he was enterede at Westminster on seynt Edmundes day, þe Kyng, ¶ In the ȝer of Incarnacioun of oure Lord Ihesu Crisat Ml CC lxxij.

ANd of þis Kyng Henry, propheceide Merlyn, & said þat 'a lombre shulde come out of Wynchestre in þe ȝere of Incarnacion of our Lord Ml CC & xvj, wiþ trew lippis, and holynesse wryten in his hert.' And he saide soþ, for þe gode Henry þe Kyng was born in Wynchestre in þe ȝere abouesaide, and he spake gode wordes & swet, and was an holy man, and of god conscience. ¶ And Merlin said þat 'þis Henry shulde make þe fairest place of [the] world, þe whiche in his tyme shulde nouȝt fulliche bene endede'; and he saide soþ, for he made þe newe cherche of þe Abbay of seynt Petre of Westminster, þat is fairer of sight þan eny cherch þat men knoweþ þrouȝ al Cristendome; but Kyng Henry deide er þat werc were ful made, & þat was grete harme. ¶ And ȝitte saide Merlyn, þat 'þis Lambe shulde haue pees þees þe most tyme his regne'; and he saide ful soþ, for he was ne[uer] annoiede þrouȝ werr, ne disesede in no maner wise, til a litel bifore his deþ. ¶ And ȝitte saide Merlin more in his prophecie, þat 'in þe regne & ende of þe forsaide lambe, a wolf of a straunge land shulde do him grete harme þrouȝ his werr; and þat he shulde at þe last be maistre þrouȝ helpe of a reede ffox, þat shulde come oute of þe Northwest, and shulde him ouercome; & þat he shulde dryue him vnto þe water': and þat prophecie ful wel was knowe, for wiþin a litel tyme or þe Kyng deide, Symond of Mountford, Erl of Leicestre, þat was bore in Fraunce, bigonne aȝeynȝ him stronge werre; þrouȝ doyng, meny a gode bachiler was shent and dede and disheritede. ¶ And when Kyng Henry hade þe vittori at Euesham, & Symond þe Erl was slayn þrouȝ helpe & myght of Gilbert of Clare, Erl of Gloucestre, þat Was in Kepyng and ward of þe forsaide Symund þrouȝ ordenance of Kyng Henry, þat went aȝeyn to þe Kyng wiþ miche power, wherfore þe forsaide Symund was shent; and þat was grete harme to þe communes of Engeland þat so gode a man was shent for truþ, & deide in charite, and for þe commune profite of þe same folc; and þerfor Almighty God, for him haþ siþennus shewede meny faire miracle to diuerse men and wymmen, of þe sikenesse and disesse þat þai haue had, for þe loue of him.

¶ And Merlin also tolde & saide in his prophesie, þat 'after þat tyme þe lambe shulde leue no while; and þan his sede shulde be in straunge land wiþ-out pasture'; and he said soþ, for Kyng Henry Leuede no while after þat Symund Mountford was ded, þat Kyng Henry ne deide anone after him. ¶ And in þe menetyme, Sir Edward his sone, þat was þe best knyȝt of þe world of honour, þo in the Holy Land, and gete þere Acres. ¶ And in [that] contre he bigate in Dame Alianore his wif, Iohne of Acres his doughter, þat aftirward was countesse of Gloucestre. And he made in þe Holy Land soche a viage, þat alle þe world spok of his knyghthode, & euery man drade him, hye and lowe, þrouȝ-out al Cristendome, as þe s[t]ory of him telleþ, as afterward ȝe shul here more openly. ¶ And fram the tyme þat Kyng Henry deide, til þat Sire Edward was croned kyng, alle þe gret Lordes of Engeland were as faderles children, wiþout eny socour þat ham might mayntene and gouerne, and defende aȝeynȝ her dedeliche enemys.

The ferst ȝere after þat Kyng Edward was cronede, Lewelyn, Prince of Walys, sent into Fraunce to þe Erl Mountford þat, þrouȝ conseile of his frendes, þe Erl wedde shulde his douȝter. And þe Erl þo avisede him of þis þing, and sent aȝein to Lewelyn, & saide þat he wolde send after his douȝter. And so he sent Aymer, his broþer, after þe damisel. And Lewelyn arraiede shippis for his doughter and for Sir Aymer, & for her faire company þat shulde wende wiþ her. And þis Lewelyn dede grete wronge. for hit was couenant þat he shulde ȝeue his doughter to no maner man wiþouten consel and consent of Kyng Edward. ¶ And so hit bifelle, þat a burgeys of Bristow come in þe see wiþ wyn lade, and mette ham, & ham toke wiþ might & power; and anone þe bu[r]geys sent ham to þe Kyng. ¶ And when Lewelyn herde thistydynges, he Was Wonder Wroþ & eke sorweful, and bigon þo forto werre oppon Kyng Edward. & dede miche harme vnto Englisshe-men, and bete adoune þe Kyngus castelles, & biganne fast to destroi Kyng Edwardes lande. ¶ And when tydyngus come to Kyng Edward of þis þing, he went into Walys; and so miche he dede, by Godes grace & his grete power, þat he drof Lewelyn vnto miche meschif, þat he fleye al maner strengþ, and come & ȝelde him to Kyng Edward, and ȝaf him l Ml marȝ of siluer forto haue pees, and toke þe damisel & al his heritage, and made an obligacion vnto Kyng Edward, and come to his pa[r]lament ij tymes of þe ȝere.

¶ And þe secunde ȝere after þat Kyng Edward was cronede, he helde a general parlament at Westminster, and þere he made þe statutes for defaut of lawe, by commune assent of al his baronage. And at Ester nexte sewyng, þe Kyng sent by his lettre to Lewelyn, Prince of Walis, þat he shulde come to parlement for his londes and for his holdyng in Walys, as þe strengþ of þe lettre obligatorie witnessede. ¶ þo Lewelyn hade scorn and despite of þe Kynges commandement; & for pur wraþ biganne aȝeyn forto werr opon Kyng Edward, & destroied [his lands]. ¶ And when Kyng Edward herd þis tydynges, he was wonder wroþ toward Lewelyn, & in haste assembled his peple, and went him toward Walys, and werred so oppon Lewelyn þe prince, til þat he hade brouȝt him in miche sorw and disese; ¶ And Lewelyn saw that his defence myght nouȝt availe, and come aȝeyne, & ȝelde him to þe Kyngus grace, and criede him mercy, and Longe tyme knelede bifore þe Kynges feete. ¶ The Kyng had pite, and commaundede him forto arise; and for his mekenesse forȝat him his wraþ, and to him saide, that 'if he toke on amys aȝeyns him anoþer tyme, þat he wolde destroie him for euer-more.' ¶ Dauid, þat was Lewelynus broþer, duellede þat same tyme wiþ Kyng Edward, & was a felle man & a sotil, & enuyous, & ferre castyng, and miche tresoun þouȝt, and euermore helde him stille for[to] wete & aspie þe Kynges wille, and euermore made god semblaunt, and semede so trew þat no man myght perceyue his falsenesse.

HIt was nought longe after þat tyme, þat Kyng Edward ne ȝaf vnto Dauid, þat was Lewelynus broþer, þe lordeship of Frodesham, and made him a knyght; and so miche honour dede he neuer to no man of Walys after, for encheson of him.

¶ Kyng Edward helde his parlament at London, when he hade done in Walys all þat he wolde, and chaungede his mony, þat þo was foule cotte & rounded; wherfore þe commune peple pleynede ham wonder sore, so þat þe Kyng lete enquere of ham þat soche trespasse deden; and iij C were atteynt of soche maner falsenes; wherfore somme were honged, and some draw, and afterward hongede. ¶ And afterward, the Kyng ordeynede þat þe sterlinge halfpeny and ferthinge shulde go þrouȝ-out his lande, and commandede þat no man, fro þat day afterward, ȝaf ne feffede hous of Religioun with lande and tenementȝ wiþouten special leue of þe Kyng; and he þat dede hit, shulde ben punisshede att þe Kynges wille, and the ȝifte shulde be for nouȝt.

¶ And hit was nouȝt longe after, þat Lewelyn, Prince of Walys, þrouȝ ticement of Dauid his broþer, and by boþe here consent, þai þouȝt disherite Kyng Edward in-asmiche as þai might, so þat þrouȝ ham boþe þe Kynges pees was broken. ¶ And when Kyng Edward herde þis, anone he sent his barons into Northumberland, and þe Shirreyues also, þat þai shulde gone & take her Viage oppon þe traitoures Lewelyn and Dauid. ¶ And wonder herde was forto werr þo, for it [is] wynter in Walis when in oþer cuntres it is somer. And Lewelyn lete ordeyn and wel arraie his gode castel of Swandon, and was þerin an huge nombre of peple & plentee of vitailes, so þat Kyng Edward wist nouȝt wher forto entre. ¶ And wen þe Kynges men hit perceyuede, and also þe strengþ of Walys, þai lete come in þe see, barges and botes, and grete plankes, as meny as þai might ordeyn and haue, forto gone to the forsaide castell of Swayndon wiþ men on foot and eke on hors. But þe Walshemen hade so miche peple, and were so strong, þat þai dryuen þe Englisshe-men aȝein, so þat þere was so miche presse of peple at the turnyng aȝeyne, þat þe charge & þe berdeyn of ham made þe barges and botes synk; and þere was drenchede ful meny a gode Knyght, þat is to seyn: Sir Roger of Clifford, Sir William of Lyndesey, þat was Sire Iohnes sone Fitȝ Robert, and Sire Richard Tauny, and an huge nombre of oþere folc; and al wasþouȝ her owen folye; for yf þai had hed gode espies, þai had nouȝt bene harmed.

¶ When Kyng Edward harde tel þat his peple were so ydrenchede, he made sorwe ynow, ¶ But þo come Sir Iohn of Vessy fram þe Kyng of Aragoun and brouȝt with him miche folc of bachilers & of Gascoignes, and wer soudioures, and duellede wiþ þe Kyng, and tok of him wages, & wiþ him were wiþholde, & noble-men; hit were forto fiȝte, & brenne meny tounes, & quelle miche peple of Walshemen, al þat þai myght take. ¶ And alle þo, wiþ pure strengþ & might, maden assaute to þe castel of Swandon, & gete the castel.

¶ And when Dauid, þe Prynce broþer, herde þo tidinges, he ordeined him to flight. ¶ And Lewelyn þe Prynce saw þat Dauid his broþer was flowen, [and] sore he was abasshed, for he had none power þo, his werr forto mayntene. ¶ And so Lewelyn gan forto flee, and wend wel forto haue scaped; but on a morwe Sir Roger þe Mortymer mette wiþ him oneliche wiþ x knyȝtes, and sette him rounde aboute, and to him went, and smote of his heuede, & presentede him vnto Kyng Edward: & in þis maner þe Prince of Walys was taken, and his heued smyten of, and alle his heires disherited for euermore, þrouȝ right dome of þe lordes of þe reaume.

DAuid, þat was Lewelynus broþer, þrouȝ pride wende forto haue bene Prince of Walis after his broþeres deth; and oppon þat, he sent after Walshemen to his parlement at Denbegge, and fulliche made Walys arise aȝeynes the Kyng, and biganne to meve Werr aȝeyns þe Kyng, and dede al þe sorwe and dissese þat he myght by his power.

¶ When Kyng Edward harde of þis þing, he ordeyned men to pursue oppon him; and Dauid ferseliche him defended til þat he come to þe toun of Seynt Morice; and þere was Dauid take as he fley, and lad to þe Kyng; & þe Kyng commanded þat he shulde ben hongede & ydraw, & smyten of his heuede, & quarter him, & sende his heuede to London, and þe iiij quarters sende to the iiij chief tounes of Walys, for þai shulde take ensample, & þerof be-war.

¶ And afterward Kyng Edward lete crie his pees þrouȝ Walys, & seisede al the londe into his honde; and alle þe grete lordes of Walys þat were lefte alif, come þo to done feaute and homage vnto þe Kyng as to her Kynde Lord; and þo lete Kyng Edward amende þe lawes of Walys þat were defectif. ¶ And after, he sent to alle þe lordes of Walys, by his lettre patent, þat þai shulde comme alle to his parlement. And when þai were comen, þe Kyng saide to ham ful curtesly: "Lordyng, ȝe beþ welcomen; and me bihoueth ȝour conseile and ȝour helpe forto wende into Gascoigne, forto amende þe trespasse þat to me was þere done when þat y was þere, and forto entrete of Pees bituene þe Kyng of Aragon & þe Prynce of Morrey." ¶ And alle þe Kynges lege-men, Erles & barons, consentede and granted þereto. And þo went þe Kyng into Gascoign, and lete amende þe trespasse þat him was þere don and of þe debat þat was bituene þe Kyng of Arragon & the Prynce of Morrey, he cessede, & made ham accordede.

¶ And while the Gode Kyng Edward and Alianore his Quene was in Gascoigne, þe gode Erl of Cornwaile was made Wardeyn of Engeland til þat Kyng Edward come aȝeyn. And þo enquerede he of his traitoures þat coniectede falsenesse aȝeynȝ him; and eche of ham alle vnderfonge his dome, after þat þai hade deserued. ¶ But in the mene-tyme, while Kyng Edward was biȝonde þe see, to done ham forto make amendes þat aȝeyns him hade trespassede, a false þef traitour þat me callede 'Rys ap Meriedok,' bigan forto make werr aȝeyns the Kyng Edward; and þat was for enchesoun þat Sire Payn Tiptott wrongefully greuede & disesede þe forsaid Rys ap Meriedok. ¶ and when Kyng Edward herd al þis, he sent by his lettres to Rys ap Meriedok, þat he shulde bigin to make non werr, but þat he shulde be in pees, for his loue; and when þat he come aȝeyn into Engeland, he wold vndertake þe querel, and wolde done amende al þat was misdone. ¶ The forsaide Rys ap Meriedok dispisede the Kynges commandement, and sparede nouȝt forto done alle þe sorwe þat he might to þe Kyngus men of Engeland; but anone after he was taken, and lad to Ȝorke, and þere he was drawe and hongede for his folye.

WHen Kyng Edward had duellede iij ȝer in Gascoigne, ful wel hit bicome vnto him forto Wende aȝeyn into Engeland. And when he was comen aȝeyne, he toke so meny pleyntes made to him of his Iusticeȝ and of his clerkes, þat had don so meny wronges & falsenesseȝ þat wonder hit was forto wete; ¶ and for whiche falsenesse, Sir Thomas of Weylond, þe Kyngus Iustice, forsuore Engeland at the Toure of London, for falsenesse þat men put oppon [him]; wherfore he was teint, & prouede false. ¶ And anone after, when þe Kyng had don his wil of þe Iusticeȝ, þo lete he enquere & aspie how þe Gewys desceyuede & bigilede his peple, þrouȝ here synne & falsenesse of Vsurie; and lete ordeyn a priue parlement amonges his lordes; and þai ordeynede amongus ham þat 'alle þe Gewes shulde voide Engeland, for here misbileue, & also for her false Vsurye þat þai deden vnto Cristen men.' ¶ And forto spede and make an ende of þis þing, al þe communite of Engeland ȝeue to þe Kyng þe l. peny of alle here Godes moeble: and so were þe Gewis dryuen out ot Engeland; and þo went þe Gewis into Fraunce, [and there dwelled], þrouȝ þe leue of Kyng Philip þat þo was Kyng of Fraunce.

ANd when sir Iohn Bailol, Kyng of Scotland vnderstode þat Kyng Edward was werrede in Gascoign, to whom þe reaume of Scotland was delyuerede, falseliche þo aȝeynȝ his oth, wit[h]saide homage, þrouȝ procuryng of his folc, and sent to the court of Rome, þrouȝ a false suggescioun, to bene assoiled of þat oth þat he swore vnto the Kyng of Engeland; and so he was, by lettres enbullede. ¶ þo chose þai of Scotland Dossepers forto bynime Edward his right.

& in þat tyme com ij Cardinalles fro þe court of Rome, fram þe Pope Celestyne, forto trete of accorde bituene þe Kyng of Fraunce þe Kyng of Engeland. ¶ And as þo ij Cardinalles speken of accord, Thomas Tourbeluile, þat was take at Ryouns, made feaute and homage to the Wardeyn of Parys, and to him put his ij sones in hostage, for þat he þouȝt gon into Engeland forto aspie the contre, and telle ham when he come into Engeland, þat he hade broken þe Kynges prisoun of Fraunce by nyght, and saide þat he wolde done, þat alle Englisshe-men and Walshe-men shulde abowe to þe Kyng of Fraunce: and þis þing forto brynge to þe ende, he swore; and oppon þis couenaunt, dedes wer made bituene ham, and þat he shulde haue by ȝere an hundrede poundes worþ of land, to bryng þis þinge to þe ende. ¶ This false traitour toke his leue, and went þens and come into Engeland vnto þe Kyng, & saide þat he was broken out of prisoun, and þat he had put him in soche perile for his loue. Wherfore þe Kyng couþ him miche þank, & ful glade was his comyng. ¶ And þe false þef traitoure fro þat day aspiede al the Doyng of þe Kyng and also his Conseile, for þe Kyng louede him ful wel, & was wiþ him ful priuee. ¶ But a clerk of Engeland þat was in the Kynges hous of France, herde of þis tresoun & of the falsenesse, and wrote to anoþere clerk þat. Was duellyng wiþ þe Kyng of Engeland, al how Thomas Tourbeluile hade done his false coniettyng. And al þe Conseil of Engeland was writen forto haue sent vnto þe Kyng of Fraunce; and þrouȝ þe forsaide lettre þat þe clerc hade sent fro Fraunce, hit was founden oppon him; wherfor he was lade to London, & drawen & honged þere for his tresoun; and his ij sones, þat he hade put in Fraunce for hostages, were þo biheuedede.

WHen þo ij Cardinales wer gone aȝeyn into France, forto trete of pees at Cambrey, þe Kyng sent þider of his Erles and barons, þat is to seyn, Sire Edmund his broþer, Erl of Lancastre & of Leycestre, Sir Henr Lacy, Erl of Nichole, and William Vessy, a baron; & of oþere baronettes, aboute xiiij of þe best and wisest of Engeland.

And in þe same tyme Kyng Edward tok his viage in Scotland, forto werr oppon Iohn Bailol, Kyng of Scotland. ¶ And Sir Robert Roos at Berwik fley fro þe Englisshe-men, & went to þe Scottes. ¶ And Kyng Edward went him toward Berwik, and bisegede þe toun; and þo þat were wiþin manliche ham defendede, and sette afire and brent ij of Kyng Edwardes shippis, and saide, in despite and in reprofe of him: "¶ Wenes Kyng Edward, wiþ his longe shankes, forto wyn Berwik, al our vnþankes? gas pikes him! and when he haþ hit, gas diche him!" ¶ When Kyng Edward herd þis scorn, anone þrouȝ his mightynesse he passede ouere þe diches, and assailede þe toun, &come to þe ȝates, and gete and conquered þe toune, and, þrouȝ his gracious power, quellede xxv Ml & vij C of Scottes. & Kyng Edward loste of his men, no man of renoun saue Sir Richard of Cornwaile; and him quellede a Flemyng out of the Reede Halle wiþ a quarel, as þe forsaid Richard dede of his helme; and commandede ham forto ȝelde ham, and put ham into the Kyngus grace; and þe Scottes wolde nouȝt; wherfor þat halle was brent, and cast adoune, and alle þo þat were within were brent. And Kyng Edward loste no man at þat viage, of simple State, but xxviij Englisshe-men; and þe wardeyn of þe castel ȝaf vp þe keyes wiþouten eny assaut. And þere was take, William Douglas, and Sir Symond Frisel; and þe Erl Patrik ȝelde him to þe pees; but Ingham of Hunfreuil and Robert of Brus, þat were wiþ þe Kyng Edward, forsoke Kyng Edward, & helde wiþ þe Scottes: and afterward þai were tak, and put into pryson; & afterward þe Kyng forȝaf ham her trespasse, & deliuered ham out of prisoun; and þo lete Kyng Edward close in Berwik wiþ wallis and wiþ diches. ¶ And aftirward, Robert Brus went to Tyndale, and sette Woxebryge afire, and Excelham and Lamerstok, and quellede & robbit þe folc of þe contrey; and aftirward he went fro þens vnto Dunbarr.

¶ And þe ferst Wedenesday of Marche, þe Kyng sent þe Erl of Garreine, Sir Hughe Percy and Sir Hught Spenser, wiþ a faire company, forto bisege þe castel. But on þat me called Sir Richard Siward, a traitour, a false man, ymagynede forto bigile þe Englisshe-men, & sent to the Englisshemen, ham forto desceyue, and saide þat he wold ȝelde to ham þe castel if þai wolde graunt him viij dayes of respite, þat he might sende & telle to Sir Iohn Bailol, Kyng of Scotland, how þe Englisshe-men ferde, as þai werr in þe castell, and sende him word if þat he nolde remeve þe sege of þe Englisshe-men, þat þai wolde þe castel ȝelde to þe Englisshemen.' ¶ The messanger þo come to Iohn Bailol, Kyng of Scotland, þere þat he was wiþ his host; and þe messager tolde him. ¶ And Sir Iohn tok þo his host, and come in þe morwe erly toward þe castel. & Sir Richard Syward saw him come, þat was maistre of þe Conseile and keper of þe castel, and saide vnto þe Englisshemen: "O God!" quod he, "now y se of folc a fair company, and wel apparailed, y wil go aȝeynes ham, & wit[h] ham to mete and ham assaile." ¶ And Sir Hugh þe Spenser saw the falsenesse of him & þe tresoun, and saide to him: "O traitour, tak and prouede, ȝour falsenesse shal nouȝt ȝow availe." ¶ And Hugh the Spenser commandede anon forto bynde him, and in al haste went aȝeins her enemys, & quelled of þe Scottes xxij Ml; for þe Scottes had wiþ ham þat tyme no man of honour, saf Sir Patrik Graham, þat manliche fauȝt, and Longe tyme, and at þe last he was quelled. & þo saide þe Englisshe-men in reprof of þe Scottis:

¶ þo þat wer in the castell saw þe scomfiture, and ȝelde þe castel to þe Englisshemen, and bonden her bodyes, londes & castelles to Kyng Edward: and so þere wer take in þe castel,iij Erles, and vij barons, & xxviijti Knyghtes, & xj clerkes, and xij Picardes; and alle were presentede vnto Kyng Edward, and he sent ham to þe Toure of London to ben Kepte þere.

WHen Kyng Edward hade made þo an ende of the werre, and taken the chyueteyns of Scotland, þo come Sir Iohn Bailol, and ȝelde him vnto Kyng Edward, and put ham in his grace; and he was lad to London. And when Kyng Edward was comen þider, þai were brouȝt bifore him; and þe Kyng axede of ham how þai wolde make amendes of þat trespasse and losse þat þai hade done him; and þai put ham in his mercy.

¶ "Lordynges," quod þe kyng, "y wille nouȝt ȝour landes, ne none of ȝour godes, but y wille þat ȝe make to me an oth, oppon Godes body, forto bene trewe to me, and neuer after þis tyme aȝens me bere Armes." And alle þai consentede to þe Kynges wille, and swore oppon Godes body, ¶ þat is to seyn, Sir Iohn of Comyn and þe Erl of Stratthorn, þe Erl of Carryk; and also iiij bisshopus vndertoke for alle þe clergye; & so þe Kyng delyuerede ham, and ȝaf ham saf condit to wende into her owen Land. ¶ And hit was nouȝt longe after, þat þai ne risen aȝeyns Kyng Edward, for enchesoun þat þai wist þat Kyng Edwardus folc were take in Gascoigne, as bifore is saide; but Sir Iohn Bailloil, Kyng of Scotland, wiste wel þat his lande shulde haue sorwe and shame for her falsenesse, and in haste went him ouer þe see vnto his owen londes, and þere helde him, and come neuer aȝeyne. Wherfore þe Scottes chosen to bene her kyng, William Walis, a rybaude, an harlot, comen vp of nouȝt, and miche harme dede to þe Englisshemen.

¶ And Kyng Edward þouȝt how he myght haue deliuerance of his peple þat were tak in Gascoigne, and in hast went ouer þe see into Flaundres, forto werr oppon þe Kyng of Fraunce. And þe Erl of Flaundres vnderfonge him wiþ michel honour, and grauntede him alle his landes at his owen wille. ¶ And when þe Kyng of Fraunce herde telle þat þe Kyng of Engeland was arryuede in Flaundres, and come wiþ an huge power, him forto destroye, he prayede him of trewes for ij ȝere, so þat Englisshe marchauntȝ, and also Frenche, myȝt safliche gon in boþe sides. ¶ The Kyng Edward grantede hit, so þat he miȝt haue his men out of prisoun þat were take in Gascoigne; and þe Kyng of Fraunce grauntede anone; and so þai wer Delyuerede.

¶ And in the same tyme þe Scottes sent by þe Bisshop of seynt Andrewes into Fraunce, to þe Kyng, and to Sir Charles, his broþer, þat Sir Charles shulde come wiþ his power, & þai of Scotland wolde come wiþ heir, and so þai shulde gone into Engeland, þat lande forto destroye, fram Scotland, til þat þai come into Kent. And þe Scottes truste ful miche oppon þe Frensshe-men; but of þat þing þai hade no maner graunt. andnoþeles þe Scottes bigon to robbe and quelle in Northumberlond, and dede miche harme.

WHen þis tydyng was comen to Kyng Edward, þat William Walis hade ordeynede soche a stronge power, and þat al Scotland to him was entendant, and redy to quelle Englisshemen & destroye his lande, he was sore annoied, and sent anone by his lettres to þe Erl of Gerrein, and to Sir Henry Percy and to Sir William Latomer, and to Sir Hugh of Cressingham his Tresorer, þat þai shulde take power, and wende into Northumberlond, & so forþ into Scotland, forto kepe þe contres. ¶ And when William Waleys herde of her comyng, he gan forto flee; & Englisshe-men him folwede, and drof him til þat he come to Streuelyn; & þere he helde him in þe castell; and þe Walshemen euery day ham ascriede & manacede, & dede al þe despite þat þai myght. ¶ So þat þe Englisshe-men oppon a tyme in a morwenyng, went out fram þe castel þe mountance of x mile, and passede ouer a bruge; and William Walys come wiþ a stronge power, and drof ham abak, for þe Englisshe-men hade aȝeynes him þo no myght, but fledde; and þo þat might take þe brugge scapede. ¶ But Sir Hughe, þe Kyngus Tresorer, þere was slayn, and meny oþere also; wherfore was made miche sorwe.

Þo hade Kyng Edward spedde alle his nedes in Flaundres, ¶ and was comyng aȝeyn into Engeland, and in haste toke his Way toward Scotland, and come þider at þe Ascencioun; and al þat he founde, he sette on fire & brent. But þe pore peple of Scotland come to him wonder þik, and prayed him, for Godes loue, þat he wolde haue on ham mercy and pitee; wherfore þe Kyng þo commandet þat no man shulde done harme to ham þat were ȝolden to ham, ne to no man of ordre, ne to no hous of religion, ne no maner cherche; ¶ But lete aspie al þat he myght, where þat he myght fynde eny of his enemys. Þo come an espie to þe Kyng, and tolde wher þe Scottes were assembled forto abide bataile.

And on seynt Marie Magdaleynus day, þe Kyng come to Foukirk, and ȝaf bataile to þe Scottes; and at þat bataill þere wer quellede of Scottes xxxiij Ml, and of Englisshemen but xxviij and no mo; of þe whiche was a worþi Knyght slayn, þat was a knyght of the Hospitall, þat me called Frere Brian Iay; for, when William Waleys fley fram þe bataile, þat same Frere Brian him pursuede fersly; and as his hors ran, hit sterte into a mere of marreys vp to þe bely; and William Waleys turnede þo aȝeyn, and þere quellede þe forsaide Brian; and þat was miche harme. ¶ And while Kyng Edward went þrouȝ Scotland forto enquere if he might fynde eny of his enemys; and in þat lande he duellede as longe as him likede, and þere was none enemy þat derst him abide.

¶ And so aftirward Kyng Edward went to Southampton, for he wolde nouȝt abide in Scotland in wynter seson, for esement of his peple. ¶ And when he come to London, he lete amende meny misdedes þat were done aȝeynes his pees Whiles þat He Was in Flaundres.

ANd after, hit was ordeynede þrouȝ þe court of Rome, þat Kyng Edward shulde wedde Dame Margarete, Kyng Philippus suster of France; and þe Erchebisshop Robert of Wynchelse spousede ham togedre; þrouȝ whiche mariage pees was made bituene Kyng Edward of Engeland and Kyng Philippe of Fraunce. ¶ Kyng Edward went þo þe þridde tyme into Scotland; and þo, with-inne þe ferst ȝere, he had enfamenede þe land so þat þere ne lefte nouȝt on but þai come to his mercy, saf þo þat were in þe castel of Estreuelyn, þat was vitailede & storede for vij ȝere.

THis Kyng Edward went þens to London, and wende haue hade rest and pees of his werr, wiþ whiche werre he was ocupiede xxti ȝer, þat is to seyn, in Walys, in Gascoign, and in Scotland, and þouȝt how he myght recouere his tresoure þat he hade spendede about his werre, and lete enquere þrouȝ þe reaume of alle þe mistakyngus and wrongus done þrouȝ misdoers in Engeland, of alle þe tyme þat he hade bene out of his realme, þat me callede 'Troylebaston'; and ordeynede þerto Iustices. And in þis maner þe Kyng recouered tresoure wiþout noumbre. ¶ And his encheson was, for he hade þouȝt forto haue went into þe Holy Land forto haue werrede oppon Godes enemys, for enchesoun þat he was croisede longe tyme bifore; and noþeles, þat law þat he had ordeynede dede miche gode þrouȝ al Engeland, to ham þat were mysbode; for þo þat trespassede were wel chastisede, and afterward þe meker and þe bettre; and þe pore comunes were in þe more reste and in pees.

¶ And þe same tyme Kyng Edward enprisonede his owen sone Edward, for encheson þat Walter of Langeton, Bisshop of Chestre, þat was þe Kyngus tresorer, hade made oppon him compleynt, and saide þat þe forsaide Edward, þrouȝ conseil and procurment of on, Piers of Gauaston, a squyer of Gascoigne, had broke þe parkeȝ of þe forsaide bisshope, and þe forsaide Piers conseilede and ladde þe same Edward, þe kynges sone; and for þis cause Kyng Edward exilede him out of Engeland for euermore.

ANd when þis god Kyng Edward hade his enemys ouercome in Walis, Gascoign, & in Scotland, and destroyede his traitoures, but oneliche þat rybaude William Waleys, þat neuer to þe Kyng wolde him ȝelde. and at þe laste, in þe toune of Seynt Dominic, in þe ȝer of Kyng Edwardus regne xxxiij ȝer, þat false traitoure was take, and presentede to þe Kyng; saf þe Kyng wolde nouȝt seen him, but sent him to London to vnderfonge his iuge[ment]. And on Seynt Bartholomeus Eve he was honget and drawe, and his heuede smyten of, & his bowailes take out of his body, and brent, and his body quartarede & sent to iij þe best tounes of Scotland, and his heued sette oppon a spere, and sette oppon London Brugge, in sample þat þe Scottes shulde haue in mynde forto bere ham amys aȝeynȝ her lorde eftesones.

ANd at Michelmasse þo next coming, Kyng Edward helde his parlement atte Westmynstre; and þider come þe Scottes, þat is to seyn, þe Bisshop of Seynt Andrewus, Robert þe Brus, Erl of Carrik, Symond Frisell, Iohn, Erl of Athell; and þai were accordede with þe kyng, and bonden by her oth sworn, þat after, if eny of ham misbare ham aȝeyns Kyng Edward, þat þai shulde bene disheritede for euermore. And when here pees was þus made, þai toke her leue priueliche, and went Home into Here owen contree.

ANd after, Robert þe Brus, Erl of Karrik, sent by his lettre to þe Erles and barons of Scotland, þat þai shulde come to him to Scone, in the morwen aftir þe concepcioun of oure Lady, for hye nedes of þe land; and þe lordes come at þe day assignede. ¶ And at þe same day, Sir Robert þe Brus saide: "Faire lordes! ful wel ȝe wete þat in my persone du[e]lleþ þe ryght of þe reaume of Scotland; and as ȝe weteþ wel, as ryȝtful heir, siþ þat Sir Iohn Bailoil, þat was our Kyng, haþ vs forsak, & also lefte his lande. ¶ And þouȝ it so be þat Kyng Edward of Engeland, wiþ wrongeful power haþ made me to him assent aȝeyns my wille,—yf þat ȝe wil grant þat y be Kyng of Scotland, y shal kepe ȝow aȝeyns Kyng Edward & aȝeyns alle maner men." And wiþ þat worde, þe Abbot of Scone aros, and bifore ham alle saide, þat hit was resoun forto helpe him, and þe lande to kepe and defende; and þo saide, in presence of ham alle, þat he wolde ȝeue him a þousand pound forto mayntene þat land. and alle þe oþere grantede þe lande to him, and wiþ hir power him forto helpe, and defiede Kyng Edward of Engeland, and saide þat Robert þe Brus shulde bene Kyng of Scotland.

"LOrdynges," saide Sir Iohn of Comyn, "þenketh oppon þe treuthe and þe oth þat ȝe made vnto Kyng Edward of Engeland! and as tochyng myself, y Wil nouȝt breke myn oth for no man." And so he went fram þat company at þat tyme; wherfore Robert þe Brus, and alle þat to him consentede, were wonder wroþe, & þo manacede Sir Iohn of Comyn. ¶ þo ordeynede þai anoþer conseil at Dumfrys, to þe whiche come þe forsaide Sir Iohn Comyn, and duellede but ij mile fram Dunfris, þere þat he was wont to soiourne and abide.

WHen Robert þe Brus wiste þat al þe grete of Scotland were comen to Scone, saf Sir Iohn Comyn, þat soiourned þo neyȝ Scone, he sent after him specialiche, þat Sir Iohn Comen shulde com & speke wiþ him; and oppon þat he sent after him Sir Iohn Comynus ij breþerne, and praiede him forto come and speke wiþ him atte þe Gray Freres at Donfris; and þat was þe Thoresday after Candelmasse; & Sir Iohn grauntede ham forto wende wiþ ham. And when he had herde masse, he toke a sop and drank, & afterwarde he bistrode his palfray and rode his way, and so come to Dunfris. & Robert Bruys sawe him comme atte a wyndow, as he was in his chaumbre, and þo made ioye ynow, & come aȝeyn him, and halsed him aboute þe nek, & made wiþ him gode semblaunt. And when alle þe Erles & barons of Scotland were present, Robert þe Brus spake and saide: "Sires," quod he, "ȝe weten wel the enchesoun of þis comyng, & wherfore hit is: if þat ȝe wil Graunt þat Y mote be Kyng of Scotland,as ryght heire of the londe." And al þe lordes þat were þere, saide wiþ on voys þat he shulde bene crouned Kyng of Scotland, and þat þai wolde him help and mayntene aȝeyns al maner men on lif; and for him, if it wer nede, dye. ¶ þe Gentil knyȝt þo, Sir Iohn of Comyn, ansuerede & saide: "certes, neuer for me, ne forto haue of me as miche helpe as þe value of a botoun; for, þat oth þat y haue made to Kyng Edward of Engeland, y shal holde þe while my lif laste." And with þat worde he went fro þe company, and wolde haue went oppon his palfray. And Robert the Brus pursuede him wiþ a drawen sworde, and bare him þrouȝ the body, and Sir Iohn Comyn felle adoune vnto the Erþe. ¶ But when Roger, þat was Sir Iohn Comines broþer, saw þe falsenesse, he stert vp to Sir Robert the Brus, and smote him wiþ a knyf; but þe false traitoure was armed vnder, so þat þe stroke myght done him none harme; and so miche helpe come aboute Sir Robert the Brus, so þat Roger Comyn was þere quellede and alto-hewe into smale pices. ¶ And Robert þe Brus turnede aȝeyn þere þat Sir Iohn Comyn þe noble Baron lay woundede and pynede towardes his deþ, bisides þe hye auter in the cherche of þe Gray Freres, and saide vnto Sir Iohn Comyn: "O traitour! þow shalt be dede, & neuer after lette myn avauncement"; and shooke his suorde at þe hye auter, and smote him on the heuede, þat þe brayn felle adoune oppon þe Gronde, and þe blode stert vnto the wallis; and ȝitte into þis Day that blode is seyne þere, and no Water may wasshe it away; and so deide þat noble knyȝt in holy cherche.

ANd when þe intrusour Robert þe Brus saw þat no man þo wolde lete his coronacioun, he commandede alle ham þat were of power shulde come to his crounyng, to Seynt Iohnes toun in Scotland. ¶ & so hit bifelle þat on oure Lady Day, þe Anunciacioun, þe Bisshop of Glascowe and þe Bisshop of Seynt Andrewus crounede for her Kyng, Robert the Brus, in Seynt Iohnes toune, & made him Kyng. And anone after he drof out al þe Englisshe-men out of Scotland; & þai fledde, and come & pleynede vnto Kyng Edward, how Robert þe Brus hadde dryuen ham out of the lande, & disherite ham.

ANd when Kyng Edward herde of þis meschief, he suore þat he wolde þerof bene avenged, and saide þat 'alle þe traitours of Scotland shulde bene hongede and draw, and þat þai shulde neuer bene raunsonede.' ¶ And Kyng Edward þouȝt oppon þis falsenesse þat þe Scottes hade done, and sende after alle þe bachilers of Engeland, þat þai shulde come to London at Whitsontyde; and he dobbit at Westminster iiijxx knyȝtes.

¶ þo ordeynede him þe noble Kyng Edward forto wende into Scotland, to werr oppon Robert þe Brus; and sent bifore him into Scotland Sir Aymer of Valance, Erl of Penbrok, & Sir Henry Percy, wiþ a fair company, þat pursewede þe Scottes and brenede tounes & castilles; & afterwarde come the Kyng himself, wiþ Erles and barons a fair companye.

THe Fryday next bifore þe Assumpcicion of our Lady, Kyng Edward mette Robert the Brus bisides Seynt Iohnes toun in Scotland, & with his company; of þe whiche company Kyng Edward quelled vij Ml. ¶ When Robert þe Brus saw þis meschief he gan to flee, and hudde him þat men myght nouȝt him fynde; but Sir Symond Frisell pursuede him so sore, so þat he turnede & abode bataile, for he was a worþi knyȝt and a bolde of body; and þe Englisshe-men pursuede him sore on euery side, and quellede þe stede þat Sir Symond Frisell roode oppon; and þai toke him and lade him into þe hoste. ¶ And Sir Symond bigan forto flater and speke faire, and saide: "lordes, y shal ȝeue ȝow iiij Ml marȝ of Siluer, and myn horse and myn herneys, and all myn armure, and bicome a begger." þo ansuerede Theobalde of Peuenes, þat was þe Kyngus Archir, "Now God me so helpe, hit is for nouȝt þat þow spexte; for alle þe golde of Engeland y wolde nouȝt lete þe gone with-out commaundement of Kyng Edward." And þo was he lade to þe Kyng; but þe Kyng wolde nouȝt see him, but commaundede him to ben ledde away to haue his dome at London. In oure Ladies Eve, þe Natiuitie, he was hongede and drawe, & his heuede smyten of, and hongede aȝein wiþ cheynes of yren oppon þe Galwes; & his heuede was sette oppon London Brugge vppon a spere; and aȝeyns Cristenmasse þe body was brent, for enchesoun þat þe men þat kepte þe body by nyght, saw meny deueles raumpande wiþ yren crokes rynnyng oppon þe galwes, and horribliche turmentede þe body; and meny þat ham sawe, anone after þai deide for drede, or woxen made, or sore sikenesse þai had. ¶ And in þat bataile was taken þe Bisshop of Glascowe, þe Bisshope of Seynt Andrewes, þe Abbot of Scone, all armede wiþ yren as men of Armes, & false traitoures and false prelatis aȝeyns her oth; and þai were brouȝt to þe Kyng, and þe Kyng sent ham to þe Pope of Rome, þat he shulde done wiþ ham what his wille were.

ANd at þat bataile fledde Sire Iohn Erl of Ateles, and went into a cherche, & þere hudde him for drede. But he miȝt haue þere no refute, for enchesoun þat þe cherche was enterditede þrouȝ a general sentence; and in þe same cherche he was take. ¶ And þis Sir Iohn wende wel haue scapede fram þe deth, for enchesoun þat he cleymede kynrede of Kyng Edward. And Kyng Edward wolde no longer bene taried of his traitoures, and sent him to London in haste; & þere he was Hongede, and his Heuede smyten of, and his body brent al into smal asshes. ¶ But at þe prayer of þe Quene Margarete, for enchesoun þat he cleymede of Kyng Edward kynrede, his drawyng was forȝeuen him.

WHen þe gretteste maistres of Scotland were þus done to euel deþe, & shent for her falsenesse, Iohn, þat was William Waleys broþer, was tak as Sir Iohn, Erl of Atheles, was.

ANd at þat same tyme, was Robert þe Brus miche hatede amonges þe peple of Scotland; so he wist nouȝt what to don; and forto hide him, he went into Norway, to þe Kyng þat had spousede his sustre, and þere helde him, socour forto haue. ¶ And when Robert þe Brus might nouȝt bene founde in Scotland, Kyng Edward þo lette crye his pees þrouȝ al þe land, & his were vsede, and his ministres seruede þrouȝ-out al þe land.

WHen Kyng Edward hade abatede his enemys, he turnede aȝeyn Southward, and a maladye toke him at Burgh op Sande, in þe Marche of Scotland. And he wiste wel þat his deþ was ful neyȝ, and callede to him Sir Henry þe Lacy, Erl of Lyncoln, Sir Gy, Erl of Warruyk, Sir Aymer Valence, Erl of Penbrok, and Sir Robert of Clifford, baroun, and prayede ham, oppon þe faiþe þat þai to him owede, þat þai shulde make Edward of Carnaryuan, Kyng of Engeland, his sone, as raþe as þai myght; ¶ and þat þai shulde nought suffre Piers of Gauaston come aȝeyn into Engeland forto make his sone vse ryaute. And þai grantede him wiþ god wille; and þe Kyng toke his sacramentȝ of holy cherche, as a gode Cristen man shulde, and deide in Verray repentaunce. ¶ & when he hade bene Kyng lv ȝer, he deide, & was buried at Westminster wiþ miche solempnite: oppon whos soule, God haue mercy!

ANd of þis Kyng Edward, propheciede Merlyn, and callede him a dragon, þe secunde kyng of þe vj laste kynges þat shulde bene forto regne in Engeland; and saide þat 'he shulde ben mellede wiþ mercy & also wiþ sternesse, þat shulde kepe Engeland fram colde and fram hete; and þat he shulde oppen his mouþe toward Walys, and þat he shulde sette his on foot in Wyk, and þat he shulde closen wiþ Wallis, þat shulde do miche harme to his seed'; and he saide soþ, for þe gode Kyng Edward was medled wiþ mercy & with fersnesse; wiþ mercy aȝeyns his enemys of Walis, & after of Scotland; wiþ fersenesse, when he put ham to the deth for her falsenesse & traiteri, as þai had diserued hit; And wel kepte he Engeland fram colde and fram hete, siþ he kepte hit fram alle maner enemys þat ronne oppon him to done him eny harme or wronge. ¶ And wel openede he his mouþ toward Walys, and made hit quake þrouȝ þe hidour of his mouthe, When he conquerede hit þrouȝ dent of suerd; for þe Prynce Lewelyn, and his broþer Dauid Rys and Morgan, wer put vnto deþ for her falsenesse and her folie. ¶ And he sette his one foot in Wik, and conquered Berwik; at þe whiche conquest was slayn xxv Ml and vij C, out-take ham þat wer brent in þe Rede Halle; and þe wallis þat he lete make shulde ben noious to his seede, as men shal hure after in þe lif of Sire Edward his sone.

¶ And ȝitte saide Merlyn, þat 'he shulde make Ryuer rynne in bloode and wiþ brayn': and þat semede wel in his werres, þere þat he hade þe maistry. ¶ And ȝitte saide Merlyn: þat 'þere shulde come a peple out of þe northwest, duryng þe regne of þe forsaide dragoun, þat shulde bene lad be an euel grehounde, þat shulde þe dragoun croune Kyng, þat aftirward shulde flee ouer þe see wiþout comyng aȝeyn, for drede of þe dragoun' and þat was prouede by Sir Iohn Baloil, þat Kyng Edward made forto bene Kyng of Scotland, þat falsely aroos aȝeynnes him; and after, he fledde to his owen landes in Fraunce, and neuer come aȝeyne into Scotland for drede of King Edward. ¶ And ȝitte said Merlyn, 'þat þe peple þat shulde lede þe forsaide grewhonde shulde bene faderles vnto a certein tyme': & he saide soth, ffor þe peple of Scotland gretliche wer disessede sith þat sir Iohn Baloil, her Kyng, fley fro Scotland.

¶ And ȝitte saide Meryln, 'þat þe sone shulde bicome in his tyme as rede as eny blode, in tokening of grete mortalite of deþ of peple': and þat was wel knowen when þe Scottes was slayne. ¶ And siþ saide Merlyn, 'þat þilk dragoun shulde norisshe a fox þat shulde meve werr aȝeynes him, þat in his tyme shulde nouȝt bene endede': and þat semede wel by Robert þe Brus, þat Kyng Edward norisshe in his chambre, þat siþennes stale away, and mevede grete wer aȝeynes him; whiche wer was nouȝt endede in his tyme. ¶ And afterward, Merlyn tolde þat 'þis dragoun shulde ben holde þe best body of al þe world: and he saide soþ, ffor þe gode Kyng Edward was þe worthiest knyght of al þe worlde in his tyme.

¶ And ȝit saide Merlyn þat 'þe dragoun shulde dye in þe marche of anoþer land, and þat his londe shulde be longe wiþouten a gode keper, and þat men shulde wepe for his deth, fram þe yle of Sheepe vnto þe Ile of Marcylle, wher (allas!) shal be her commune songe amonge peple faderles, in þe lande wastede': and þat prophecie was know oueral ful wel; ffor þe goode Kyng Edward deide at Burgh op Sandes, þat is oppon þe marche of Scotland; wherfore þe Englisshe-men gretlich were descomfitede & gouernede in Northumberlond ffor enchesoun þat Kyng Edwardes sone sette by þe Scottes non force, for þe ryaute of Piers of Gauastn wherfore (allas!) was þe songe þrouȝ-oute Engeland for defaute of a gode warde; fram þe Ile of Sheepey vnto þe yle of Marcile, þe peple made miche sorw for gode Kyng Edwardes deth; ffor þai wende þat gode Kyng Edward shulde haue gon into þe Holy Land; for þat was holliche his purpos: oppon whos soule, God of his blisse haue mercy!

ANd after þis Kyng Edward, regnede Edward his sone, þat was born in Carnaryvan, and went into Fraunce, and spousede Isabell, þe Kyngus douȝter of Fraunce, þe xxv day of Ianuer at þe cherche of our Lady of Boloign, in þe ȝer of our Lorde Ml CCC vij. ¶ & þe xx day of Februer, þe nexte ȝer þat come after, he was cronede solempliche at Westminster of þe Erchebisshope Robert of Wynchelse, of Kanterbery; and þere was so grete prees of peple þat Sir Iohn Bakwelle was dede and mordrede. ¶ And anone as þe gode Kyng Edward was dede, Sir Edward his sone, Kyng of Engeland, sent after Piers of Gauaston into Gascoigne; and so miche louede him þat he callede him his 'broþer'; and anone after he ȝaf him þe lordeshipp of Wallyngford; and hit was nouȝt longe after þat he ne ȝaf him þe Erldome of Cornwaile, aȝeynes alle þe lordes wille of þe reaume. ¶ And þo brought he Sir Walter of Langeton, Bisshop of Chestre, into prisoun, into the Toure of London, with ij knafes allone him to serue, for enchesoun þat þe Kyng was wroþ with him, for cause þat Sir Wa[l]ter made pleint vppon him to his fader; wherfore he was put into prisoun in þe tyme of trailbaston.

¶ And þis Piers of Gauaston made so grete maistries, þat he went into þe Kyngus tresorie in þe Abbay of Westminster, and toke þe table of golde, wiþ þe tresteles of þe same, and meny oþere riche gewelles þat some tyme wer þe noble Kyng Arthures, and toke ham to a marchant þat me clepede Aymery of Friscombande, for he shulde bere ham ouer þe see into Gascoigne: and þai come neuer aȝeyne after; wherfore hit was grete losse vnto þis land.

¶ And when þis Piers was so rychely auauncede, he bicome so proude and so stout, wherof alle þe grete lordes of þe reaume had him in despite for his grete beryng. Wherfore Sir Henry þe Lacy, Erl of Lyncoln, and Sir Guy Erl of Warrwyk (þe whiche gode lordes þe gode Kyng Edward chargede, þat Piers of Gauaston shulde nouȝt come into Engeland forto brynge his sone into ryot), ¶ And alle þe lordes of Engeland, assemblede ham at a certeyn day at þe Frere Prichoures of London, and speken of þe dishonour þat þe Kyng dede to his reaume and to his crone. and so þai assemblede alle, boþe Erles, barons and communes, þat þe forsaide Piers of Gauaston shulde ben exilede out of Engeland. And so hit was done; for he forsuore Engeland, and went into Irland; and þere þe Kyng made him chiefteyn and Gouernour of þe lande by his commissioun; and þere þis Piers was chefteyn of al þe land, and dede þere all þat him liked, and had þere al what he wolde. ¶ And þat tyme were þe templeres exilede þrouȝ al cristendome, ffor enchesoun þat men put oppon ham þat þai shulde done þing þat was aȝeynes þe faiþ and gode bileue. ¶ Kyng Edward louede Piers of Gauaston so miche þat he might nouȝt forlete his company; and so miche þe Kyng ȝaf and bihight to þe peple of Engeland, þat þe exiling of þe forsaide Piers shulde bene reuokede at Staunford, þrouȝ ham þat him hade exilede. ¶ Wherfore Piers of Gauaston come aȝeyne into Engeland; and when he was comen aȝeyn into þis lande, he despisede þe grettest lordes of þis lande, and callede Sir Robert Clare Erl of Gloucestre, 'Horessone,' and þe Erl of Lyncoln, Sir Henry þe Lacy, 'Broste bely,' and Sir Guy Erl of Warrwyk, 'blanke hounde of Arderne.' And also he callede þe noble Erl and gentil, Thomas of Lancastre, 'Cherl,' and meny othere shames and scorn ham saide, & by meny oþere grete lordes of Engeland, wherfore þai were towardes him ful angri and sore annoiede.

¶ And in þe same tyme deide þe Erl of Lyncoln; but he charged, or he was dede, Thomas of Lancastre, erl, þat was his sone-in-lawe, þat he shulde mayntene his querell aȝeyns þe same Piers of Gauaston, oppon his benison. ¶ And so hit was ordeynede, þrouȝ helpe of þe Erle of Lancastr and of þe Erl of Warrwyk, þat þe forsaide Piers was biheuedede at Gauersiche bisides Warwik, þe xix day of Iun, in þe ȝere of grace Ml CCC & xij; wherfore þe Kyng was sore annoiede, and prayede God þat he might see þat day to bene avengede of þe deþ of þe forsaide Piers. ¶ And so hit bifelle aftirward, as ȝe shul hure,—allas þe tyme!—ffor þe forsaide Erl of Lancastre & meny oþere grete baroun, wer put to pitouse deþ, and martrede, for enchesoun of þe forsaide querell.

¶ The Kyng was þo at London, and helde a parlement, and ordeynede þe lawes of Sir Symond Mountford; wherfor the Erl of Lancastre, and alle þe Erles & all þe clergye of Engeland, maden an oth, þrouȝ conseile of Robert of Wynchelse, forto maintene þe ordenaunces for euermore.

ANd when Sir Robert þe Brus, þat made him Kyng of Scotland, þat was fledde into Normandy for drede of deþ of þe goode Kyng Edward, and herd of þe debate þat was in Engeland bituene þe Kyng and his lordes, he ordeynede an hoste, and come into Engelond, into Northumberland, and clenly destroiede þe contreye. ¶ And when Kyng Edward herde þis tidynges, he lete assemble his host, and mette þe Scottis at Streuelyn, in þe day of þe Natiuite of Seint Iohn þe Baptiste, in þe vij ȝer of his regne, and in þe ȝere of our Lorde Ihesu Crist, Ml CCC & xiiij. Allas þe sorw and losse þat þere was done! for þere was slayn, þe noble Erl Gilbert of Clare, Sire Robert of Clifford, a baroun, and meny oþere; & of oþere peple þat no man couþ nombre; and þere Kyng Edward was scomfitede. And Sir Edmund of Maule, þe kynges stiward, for drede went and drenchede him-self in a fresshe ryuer þat is callede Bannokesbourn; þerefore þe Scottes saide, in reprofe and despite of Kyng Edward, foralsemiche as he louede forto go by watere, and also for he was descomfitede at Bannokesbour[n]e, þerfore maidenes made a songe þerof, in þat contre, of Kyng Edward of Engeland and in þis maner þai songe:—

When Kyng Edward was descomfitede, he was wonder sory, and faste fledde wiþ his folc þat was lafte alif, and went to Berwik, and þere helde him. ¶ And after, he toke hostages, þat is to seyne, vij childerne, of þe rychest of þe toun; and þe Kyng went to London, and toke conseile of þinges þat were nedeful vnto þe reaume of Engeland.

¶ And in þe same tyme hit bifelle þat þere was in Engeland a rybaude þat men callede Iohn Tanner; and he went and saide þat he was þe goode Kyng Edwardus sone, and lete him calle 'Edward of Carnaruan'; and þerfore he was take at Oxenford, and þere chalangede þe frere Carmes chirche þat Kyng Edward hade ȝeue ham, þe whiche cherch some tyme was þe Kyngus Halle. ¶ And afterwarde was þis Iohn ladde to Northampton, and draw, and þere hongede for his falsenesse. and er þat he was dede, he confessede, and saide bifore al þe folc, þat 'þe deuel bihighte him þat he shulde be Kyng of Engeland'; and þat 'he hade seruede þe deuel iij ȝere.'

ANd in myd Lenton Sonday in þe ȝere of our Lord Ihesu Crist Ml CCC xvj, Berwik was loste, þrouȝ false tresoun of on, Piers of Spaldyng; þe whiche Piers, þe Kyng had put þere forto kepe þe same toune wiþ meny burgeys of þe toun. ¶ Wherfore þe childerne þat were put in hostages þrouȝ þe burgeys of Berwik, folwede þe Kyngus Marchalcie meny daye, fetrede in stronge yrenes.

¶ And after þat tyme þere come ij Cardinales into Engeland, as þe Pope hade ham sende forto mak pees bituene Scotland and Engeland. and as þai went toward Duresme forto haue sacrede maistre Lowys of Beaumond, Bisshop of Duresme; and as þai went, þai were taken and robbit oppon þe more of Wigelesdon; of whiche robrye, Sir Gilbert of Midelton was atteint, and take, and hongede & drawe at London, and his heuede smyten of, and his bowales taken out of his body, and brent, & his body quartarede, and his heuede smyten of, and sette oppon a spere, and sette oppon Newegate; and þe iiij quarters sent to iiij citees of Engeland.

¶ And þat same tyme bifelle meny meschyues in Engeland; for þe pore peple deide in Engeland for hunger; and so miche and so faste folc deiden, þat vnneþes men m[i]ght ham bury; for a quarter of whete was worþe xls., and ij ȝere and an halfe a quarter of whete was worþe ij marȝ; and ofte-tymes þe pore peple stale childern and ete ham, and ete also alle þe houndes þat þai might take, and ek Horse & cattes; and after, þere felle a grete pestilence amonges bestes in diuerse contrees of Engeland duryng Kyng Edwardes lif.

ANd in þe same tyme come þe Scottes aȝeyne into Engeland, and destroiede Northumberlond, and brent þat lande, & robbet hit, and quellede men and wymmen, & childern þat laye in cradell, and brent also holy cherche, and destroiede Cristendome, and toke & bare awaye Englisshe-mennes godes, as þai hade bene Sarasins or paynemes. and of þe wickednesse þat þai deden, all þe worlde spake þerof, þrouȝ al Cristendome.

ANd when Pope Iohn, þe xxij after seynt Petre, herde of þe grete sorwe and meschief þat þe Scottes wrought, he was wonder sory þat Cristendome was so destroiede þrouȝ þe Scottes, and nameliche for þai destroiede so holy cherche; Wherfore þe Pope sent a general sentence, vnder his bullis of leade, vnto þe Erchebisshope of Kaunterbery, and to þe Erchebisshope of Ȝork, þat 'if Robert þe Brus of Scotland wolde nouȝt be iustifiede, and make amendes vnto kyng Edward of Engeland, his lorde, & make amendes of his losse, and his harmes þat þai hade done in Engeland, and also to restore þe godes þat þai hade take out of holy cherch, þat þe sentence shulde be pronouncede þrouȝ all Engeland. ¶ And when þe Scottes herde þis, þai wolde nouȝtcesse of her malice for þe Popes commaundement; Wherfor Robert þe Brus, Iamys Douglas, and Thomas Randolf Erl of Morref, and alle þo þat wiþ ham communede, or ham halp in worde or in dede, were accursed þrouȝ euery cherche þrouȝ Engeland, euery [day] at masse iij tymes; and no masse shulde be songen in holy cherche þrouȝ-out al Scotland, but if þe Scottis wolde make restitucion of þe harmes þat þai hade made vnto holy cherche. Wherfore meny a gode preste and holy man, þerfore were slayn þrouȝ al þe reme of Scotland, for enchesoun þat þai wolde singe no masse aȝeynes þe Popes commaundement and aȝeynes his wille, and to done and fulfille þe tirauntȝ wille.

ANd hit was nouȝt longe afterward, þat þe Kyng ne ordeynede a parlement at Ȝork; and þere was Sir Hugh, þe Spensereȝ sone, made Chamberlein. And in þe mene-tyme, while þe werr last, the Kyng went aȝeyne into Scotland, þat hit was wonder forto wete, and bisegede þe toun of Berwik; but þe Scottes went ouer þe water of Solewath, þat was iij mile fram þe Kyngus host, and priuely þai stele awaye by nyght, and comen into Engeland, and robbede and destroiede al þat þai myght, and sparede no maner þing til þat þai comen to Ȝork. And when þe Englisshemen þat were lafte at home Wist of þis þing, alle þo þat might trauaile—as wel monkes and prestes and ffreres & Chanouns and seculers,—and come and mette wiþ þe Scottes at Miton op Swale, þe xij day of Ottobre. Allas! what sorwe for þe Englisshe hosbonde-men þat couþe noþing in werr, þere were quellede and drenchede in þe Ryuer of Swale. And her chyueteynes, Sir William of Melton, Erchebisshop of Ȝork, & þe Abbot of Selby with her stedes, fledde, & come vnto Ȝork. And þat was her owen folie þat þai had þat meschaunce, for þai passede þe water of Swale; and þe Sccottes sette in fire iij stackes of hey; and þe smoke þerof was so huge þat Englisshe-men myght nought see þe Scottes. ¶ And when þe Englisshe-men were gon ouer þe water, þo come þe Scottes wiþ her wenge, in maner of a shelde, and come toward þe Englisshe-men in a rawe; and þe Englisshe-men fledde, for vnneþes þai hade eny men of Armes; for þe Kyng hade ham alle almost loste atte þe sege of Berwik; and þe Scottes hobilers went bituix þe brigge & þe Englisshe-men. ¶ And when þe grete host had þaim mette, þe Englisshe-men fledde bituene þe hobilers and þe grete host; and þe Englisshe-men almost alle were þere slayn. And he þat might wende ouer þe water was sauede; but meny were drenchede, Allas, for sorwe! for þere was slayne meny men of Religioun, and seculers, and ek prestes and clerkes; and wiþ miche sorw the Erchebisshop scapede; and þerfore þe Scottes callede hit 'the White Bataile.'

HIt was nought longe after, þat þe Kyng ne made Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe fader, and Sir Hugh þe sonne, come aȝein into Engeland, aȝeyns þe lordes wille of þe reaume. ¶ And sone after, þe Kyng, wiþ strong Power, come and bisegede þe castel of Leedes: and in þat castel was þe Lady of Badelesmore, for enchesoun þat she wolde nouȝt grant þe castel to þe Quene Isabell, Kyng Edwardes wif. ¶ But þe principal cause was, for encheson þat Sir Bartholomev Badelesmere was aȝeins þe Kyng, & helde with the lordes of Engeland. And noþeles, þe Kyng, by helpe and socoure of men of London, and also þrouȝ helpe of Southern men, þe Kyng gate þe castel, maugre ham alle þat wer wiþin, and tok wiþ him al þat he might fynde. ¶ And when þe barons of Engeland herd of þis þing, Sir Roger Mortymer & oþere meny lordes toke þe toune of Brugeworth with strengh; Wherfore þe Kyng was wonder wroþ, and lete outelawe Thomas of Lancastre & Hounfray de Bohoun,Erl of Hereford, and alle þat Were assent to þe same querell. ¶ And þe Kyng Assemblede an host, & come aȝeynes þe lordes of Engeland; wherfor þe Mortymers put ham to þe Kynges mercy & his grace; and anone þai wer sent to þe Toure of London, and þere kepte in prisoun. ¶ And when þe barons herd of þis þing, þai comen to Pontfret, þere þat þe Erl Thomas soiornede, and tolde him how þe Mortymers had ȝelde ham boþe vnto þe Kyng, & put ham in his grace.

WHen Thomas, Erl of Lancastre, herde þis, þai were wonder wroþ, & alle þat were of his company, and gretly þai were descomfortede, & ordeinede her power togeder, and bisegede þe castell of Tykhull. But þo þat were wiþin, so manliche defendede ham, þat þe barons might nouȝt gete þe castell. ¶ And when þe Kyng herde telle þat his castell was bisegede, he suore, by God and by his crowne, þat þe sege shulde be remevede, and assemblede an huge power of peple, and went þiderward forto rescue þe castell; and his power encressede fram day to day. ¶ When þe Erle of Lancastr and þe Erl of Hereford, and þe barons and her company, herde of þis þing, þai assemblede al her power, and went ham to Burton op Trent, and kepte þe bruge, þat þe Kyng shulde nouȝt come ouer. ¶ But hit bifell so, þat on þe x day of Marche, in þe ȝere of grace Ml CCC xxj þe Kyng and þe Spensers, Sir Aymer Valaunce, Erl of Penbrok, & Iohn, Erl of Arundel, and her power, went ouer þe Watere, and descomfitede þe Erl Thomas & his company; and þai fledde to þe castell of Tuttebery; and fro þenns þai went to Pountfret. And in þat Viage deide Sir Roger Dammory, in þe Abbay of Tuttebery.

¶ And in þat same tyme, þe Erl Thomas hade a traitour with him þat men callede Robert of Holonde, a Knyght þat þe Erl hade brouȝt vp of nouȝt, and hade norisshede him in his botelerie, and had ȝeuen him ij Ml marȝ of rent by ȝere. And so miche þe Erl louede him, þat he might doo in þe Erles court what him likede, boþe amonges hye & law; and so queyntely euer he bare him aȝeynes his lord, þat he truste more oppon him þan oppon eny man alyue. ¶ And þe Erl hade ordeynede him by lettre forto wende into þe Erldome of Lancastr, forto make a rise to helpe him þat viage, þat is to seyn, vc men of Armes. But þe said Holand come nouȝt þere, no maner men forto warne, ne to make a rise to helpe his lord. ¶ And when Holand herde telle þat his lord was scomfitede at Burton, as an vntrew man he stale away, and robbede in Rauenesdale his lordes men þat come fra þe scomfiture, & tok of ham horse and harneys, and al þat þai hade, & quellede of ham alle þat he myght tak, and þo come and ȝelde him vnto þe Kyng. ¶ When þe gode Erl Thomas wist þat he was so bitraiede, he was sore abasshede, and saide to him-self, "O almyghty god!" quod he, "how might Robert Holonde fynde in his hert me to bitraye, siþens þat y haue Louede him so miche? O God, wel may now a man see by him þat no man may desceyue anoþer, raþere þan he þat he most trust oppon. He haþ ful euel ȝeldede me my godenesse, and þe worship þat y to him haue done, and þrouȝ my kyndenesse haue him avauncede, and made him hie fram lowe; & he makeþ me go fram he into lowe; but ȝitte shal he dye in euel deþ."

THe gode Erl Thomas of Lancastre, Hunfray de Bohon, Erl of Herford, and þe barouns þat wiþ ham wer, toke a conseile bituene ham at þe Frere Prechoures at Pountfrett. þo þouȝt Thomas vppon þe traitour Robert Holond, and saide in reprofe, "Allas! Holonde me haþ bitraiede! Ay is in þe rede of somme euel shrede." ¶ And by commune assent þai shulde alle gone to þe castel of Dunstanburghe, the whiche perteynede to þe Erldome of Lancastre, and þat þai shulde abide þere til þe Kyng hade forȝeue ham his male-talent. but when þe gode Erl Thomas þis herde, he ansuerede in þis maner, and saide: "Lordes," quod he, "if we gone toward þe north, men wil seyn þat we gon toward þe Scottes; and so we shul be holde traitoures, for cause of distaunce þat is bituene Kyng Edward and Robert þe Brus, þat made him Kyng of Scotland. And þerfore y say, as tochyng myself, þat y wil go no ferþer into þe North þan to myn owen castel of Pountfrett." ¶ And when Sire Roger Clifford herde þis, he aros vp anone in wraþ, and drow his suorde, & swore by Almygty God and by his holy names, but if þat he wolde go wiþ ham, he shulde be dede, and þat he wolde slee him þere. ¶ Þe noble Erl Thomas of Lancastre was sore adrade, and saide: "faire sires, y wil go wiþ þow whider-so-euer ȝe me lede." Þo went þai togederes into þe North; and wiþ ham þai hade vijc men of Armes, and come to Burbrig.

¶ And when Sire Andrew of Herkela—þat was in þe Northcontre þrouȝ ordenance of þe Kyng, forto kepe þe cuntre of Scotland —herde telle how þat Thomas of Lancastre was descomfitede, and his company were descomfitede at Burton vp Trent, he ordeynede him a stronge power, and Sir Symond Ward also, þat þo was shirryf of Ȝork, & come & mette þe barons at Burbrig; & anone þai breken þe brige, þat was made of tre. ¶ And when Sir Thomas of Lancastre herde þat Sire Andrew of Herkela hade brouȝt wiþ him soche a power, he was sore adrade, & sent for Sir Andrew of Herkela, & wiþ him spake, and saide to him in þis maner; "Sire Andrew," quod he, "ȝe mow wel vnderstonde how þat our Lord þe Kyng is ladde and misgouernede by miche false conseil, þrouȝ Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe fader, & Sir Hugh þe sone, & Sir Iohn Erl of Arundel, and þrouȝ Maistre Robert Baldok, a false pilede clerc, þat is in þe Kyngus court duellyng; wherfore y praye ȝow þat ȝe wil come wiþ vs, wiþ al þe power þat ȝe haue ordeynede, and helpe to destroie þe venyme of Engeland, and þe traitoures þat bene þerin, and we wil ȝif vnto ȝow þe best partof v Erldomes þar We haueþ & holdeþ; and We wil make vnto ȝow an oth þat we wil neuer do þing wiþout ȝour consel, and so ȝe shul bene as wele at ese wiþ vs as euer was Robert Holande." ¶ Þo ansuerede Sir Andrew of Herkela, and saide: "Sir Thomas! þat wolde y nouȝt do, ne consent þerto, for no maner þing þat yhe might me ȝeue, wiþouten þe wil and commaundement of our lord þe Kyng; for þan shulde y be holde a traitoure for euermore." ¶ And when þe noble Erl Thomas of Lancastre saw þat he nolde consent to him for no maner þing, "Sir Andrew," he saide, "wil ȝe nouȝt consent to destroye þe venyme of þe reaume, as we bene consented? At on worde, Sir Andrew, y telle þe, þat or þis ȝer be gon, þat ȝe shal be take and holde for a traitoure, and more þan ȝe holde vs nowe; and in worse deth ȝe shul die, þan euer dede Knyght of Engeland; and vnderstonde wel þat neuer ȝe dede þing þat sorer ȝow shal repent. And now goþ and do what ȝow gode likes; and y wil put me to þe mercy and grace of God." And so went þe false traitoure, Sir Andrew of Herkela, in his way as a false traitour, a tiraunt, & forsoure man. for þrouȝ þe noble Erl Thomas of Lancastre he vnderfonge þe armes of chiualry, and þrouȝ him he was made knyght.

¶ Thoo might men seen Archieres drawen ham in þat on side and in þat oþere; and Knyȝtes also fouȝten togeder wonder sore; and amonge oþere, Sir Hunfray de Bohoun, Erl of Herford, a worþi knyght of renoune þrouȝout al Cristendome, stode & fauȝt with his enemys apon þe brigge. And as the noble lorde stode and fauȝt oppon þe brugge, a þef, a ribaude, scolkede vnder þe brigge, and fersly wiþ a spere smote the noble knyght into þe fondement, so þat his bowailles comen out þere. Allas þe sorwe! for þere was slayn þe floure of solace and of comfort, & also of curtesye. and Sire Roger of Clifford, a noble knyght, stode euer, and faught, & wel and nobly him defendede as a worþi baron; but at þe laste he was sore wounded in þe heuede, & Sire William of Sulley & Sir Roger of Bernesfelde were slayn in þat bataile. ¶ And Sir Andrew of Herkela saw Sir Thomas men of Lancastre laske and slake. Anone he & his company comen to the Gentil Knyght, Thomas of Lancastre, & saiden "ȝelde þe, traitour! ȝelde þe!" ¶ The gentil Erl ansuerede þo, and saide: "nay, lordes! traitour be we none, and to ȝow wille we neuer vs ȝelde while þat our lifes lasten; but leuer we hauen to be slayn in oure treuþ, þan ȝelde vs to ȝow." And Sir Andrew aȝein criede oppon Sir Thomas company, ȝellynge as a wolfe, and saide: "ȝelde ȝow, traitour taken! ȝelde ȝow!" and wiþ an hye voice saide: "beþ ware, sires, þat no man of ȝow be so hardy, oppon lif and lyme, to mysdo Thomas body of Lancastre." ¶ And wiþ þat worde, þe gode Erl Thomas went into a chapel, and saide, knelyng doun oppon his knees, and turnede his visage toward þe crois, and saide: "almyghti God! to þe y me ȝelde, and holliche put me into þi mercy." ¶ And wiþ þat, þe vileins ribaudes lepten about him, on euery side þat Gentil Erl, as tirauntȝ and Woode turmentures, and despoilede him of his Armure, & cloþede him in a robbe of Ray, þat was his sq[u]yers liueray, and fourþ lade him vnto York by water. þere might men see miche sorwe and care, for þe gentil knyghtes fledden on euery side, and þe ribaudes and vileins egrely ham descriede, and criede in hye, "ȝelde ȝow, traitoures! ȝelde ȝow!"

¶ And when þai were ȝolden þai wer robbed, and bonde as þeues. Allas þe shame & despite, þat þe gentil ordre of Knyghthode þere hade at þat bataile! And þe land þo was wiþouten Law, for holy cherche þo hade nomore reuerence þan hit hade bene a bordel hous. And in þat bataile was þe fader aȝeins þe sone, and þe vncle aȝeins his nevew; for so miche vnkyndenesse was neuer seyne bifore in Engeland amonges folc of on nacioun; for o kynrede had no more pite of þat oþer, þan an hundred wolfes haueþ on o shepe; and hit was no wonder, for þe grete lordes of Engeland were nouȝt alle of o nacioun, but were mellede wiþ oþere nacions, þat is forto seyn, somme Britons, somme Saxones, somme Danois, somme Peghtes, somme Frenchemen, somme Normans, somme Spaignardes, somme Romayns, some Henaudes, some Flemyngus, and of oþere diuerse naciouns, þe whiche nacions acorded nouȝt to þe kynde bloode of Engeland. ¶ And if þe grete Lordes of Engeland hade bene onelich wedded to Englisshe peple, þan shulde pees haue bene, and reste amongus ham, wiþouten eny envy. And at þat bataile was Sir Roger Clifford tak Sire Iohn Mounbray, Sire William Tuchet, Sir William Fitȝ- William, and meny oþer worþi Knyghtes; and Sir Hugh Dauill þe next day after was taken and put into prisoun, & shulde haue ben done to þe deþ if he hade nouȝ spousede þe Kynges nece, þat was þe Erl Gilbertus sustre of Gloucestre. And anone after, was Sir Bartholomev of Bedelesmer taken att Stawe Park, a maner of þe Bisshoppes of Lincoln, þat was his nevew, and meny oþer barons and baronettes; Wherfore was made miche sorwe.

ANd now y shal telle ȝow of þe noble Erl Thomas of Lancastre. When he was taken & brouȝt to Ȝork, meny of þe citee were ful glade, and oppon him criede wiþ hye voice, "A, sire traitoure! ȝe arne welcome, blessed be God! for now shal ȝe haue þe reward þat longetyme ȝe haue diserued!" and caste oppon him meny snoweballes, and meny oþer reproues dede him. But þe gentil Erl þat soffrede, and saide neþer on ne oþere.

¶ And in þat same tyme þe Kyng herde of þat scomfiture, and was ful glade, and in haste come to Pountfrett; and Sir Hugh þe Spenser, and Sir Hugh his sone, and Sir Iohn, Erl of Arundel, and Sir Edmund of Wodestok, þe Kyngus broþer, Erl of Kent, and Sir Aymer of Valance, Erl of Penbrok, & maistre Robert of Baldok, a false pilede clerc, þat was priue & duellyng in þe Kynges court; and alle þai come þider wiþ þe Kyng. ¶ And Sir Rauf of Beeston ȝaf vp the castel to the Kyng; and þe Kyng entrede into þe castel; & Sir Andrev of Herkela, þe false tiraunt, þrouȝ þe Kynges commandement tok with him þe gentil Erl Thomas to Pountfret; and þere he was prisonede in his owen castel þat he hade new made, þat stode aȝeins þe Abbay of Kyng Edward.

And Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe fader, and Sir Hugh his sone, caste and þouȝt how and in what maner þe God Erl Thomas of Lancastre shulde bene dede, wiþouten iugement of his peris; wherfore hit was ordeinede þrouȝ þe Kynges Iusticeȝ, þat þe Kyng shulde put oppon him poyntes of traitery. ¶ And so hit bifelle þat he was ladde to þe barr bifore þe Kynges Iusticeȝ, bare-heuede as a þef, in a faire halle wiþin his owen castel, þat he hade made þerin meny a faire fest, boþ to riche and eke to pore. ¶ And þise were his Iusticeȝ: Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe fader, Sir Aymer of Valance, Erl of Penbrok, Sire Edmund of Wodestok, Erl of Kent, Sire Iohn of Britaign, Erl of Richemond, & Sir Robert of Malemeþrop, iustice; and Sir Robert him acoupede in þis maner: ¶ "Thomas! atte þe ferst, oure lord þe Kyng & þis court excludeþ ȝow of al maner ansuere. ¶ Thomas! oure lorde þe Kyng put oppon ȝow þat ȝe haue in his lande riden wiþ baner displaiede, aȝeynes his pees, as a traitour." ¶ And wiþ þat worde, þe gentil Erl Thomas, wiþ an hie voice saide, "Nay, Lordes! forsoþ, and by Seint Thomas, y was neuer traitoure." ¶ The iustice saide aȝein þo: "Thomas! our Lord þe Kyng put oppon þe þat ȝe hauen robbede his folc, and mordred his folc, as a þef. ¶ Thomas! þe Kyng also put oppon you þat he descomfitede ȝow and ȝour peple wiþ his folc in his owen reaume; Wherfore ȝe went and fley to þe wode as an outlawe, and also ȝe were taken as an outlaw. ¶ & Thomas, as a traitoure ȝe shull be hongede by resoun, but þe Kyng haþ forȝeue ȝow þat gewys for þe loue of Quene Isabell. ¶ And, Thomas, resoun wolde also þat ȝe shulde ben hongede; but þe Kyng haþ forȝeue þat gewys for cause and loue of ȝour lynage. ¶ But, Thomas, for-asmiche as ȝe were tak fleyng, & as an outlaw, þe Kyng wil þat ȝour heued be smyten of, as ȝe haue wel deseruede. Anone doth him out of pres, and bringe him to his iugement!" ¶ þe gentil knyght, when he hade herde alle þise wordes, wiþ an hye voice he criede, sore weping, and saide: "Allas, Seint Thomas, faire fader! Allas! shal y be dede þus? graunt me now, blisseful God, ansuere!" but al it availede him noþing; for þe cursede Gascoignes put him hider and þider, and on him criede wiþ an hye voice, "O Kyng Arthur, most dredeful! wel knowen now is þin open traitery! in euel deþ shalt þow dye, as þow hast wel diseruede." ¶ þo sette þai oppon his heuede in scorn an olde chapelet, al-to rent & torn, þat was nouȝt worþ an halpeny; & after þai sette him oppon a lene white palfray, ful vnsemeliche, and ek al bare, wiþ an olde bridel; and wiþ an horrible noyse þai drow him out of þe castel toward his deþ, and caste on him meny balles of snowe. ¶ And as þe turmentoures lade him out of þe castel, þo saide he þise pitouse wordes, and his Handes helde vp in hye toward heuen: "Now, þe Kyng of Heuen ȝeue vs mercy, for þe erþely Kyng haþ vs forsak!" And a frere prechoure went wiþ him oute of þe castel, til þat he come to þe place þat he endede-in his lif; vnto whom he shroue him al his lif. ¶ And þe gentil Erl helde þe frere wonder faste by þe cloþes, and saide: "fair fader, abide wiþ vs til þat y be dede; for my flesshe quakeþ for drede of deþ." And soþ forto saie, þe gentil Erl sette him oppon his Knees, & turned him toward þe East; but a Ribaude þat men callede Hugon of Moston, sette hande oppon þe gentil Erl, and said in despite of him: "Sir traitoure, turne þe toward þe Scottes, þin foule deth to vnderfonge"; and turnede þe Erl toward þe North. ¶ The noble Erl Thomas ansuered þo wiþ a milde voice, and saide: "Now, fair Lordes, y shal do al ȝour owen wille." And wiþ þat worde þe frere went fram him ful sore; and anone a ribaude went to him, and smote of his heuede, þe xj Kalendus of April, in þe ȝer of grace Ml CCC xxj. Allas þat euer soche a gentil blode shulde ben don to deþ with-outen cause and resoun! ¶ And traiterousely was þe Kyng conseilede when he, þrouȝ false conseil of þe false Spensers, soffrede Sir Thomas, his vncles sone, bene put to soche a deþ, & so ben-heuedede aȝeyns al maner resoun. And grete pitee hit was also, þat soche a noble Kyng shulde ben desceyuede and mysgouernede þrouȝ false Spensers, þe whiche he mayntenede þrouȝ loselry aȝeins his honour and ek profit; for afterward þere felle grete vengeaunce inEngeland for enchesoun of þe forsaide Thomas deþ. ¶ When þe gentil Erl of þis lif was passede, þe Prioure and þe monkes of Pounfrett geten Sir Thomas body of þe Kyng, and þai buriede hit bifore þe hye auter in the right side.

¶ And þat same day þat þe gentil lord was dede, þere wer honged and draw for þe same querel at Pountfrett, Sir William Tuchet, Sir William Fitȝ-William, Sire Warein of Ysillee, Sire Henry of Bradboure, Sir William Cheyne, barons alle, & Iohn Page, Squyer. ¶ And sone after at Ȝork, wer draw and Honget, Sire Roger of Clifford, Sir Iohn of Mounbray, barons, & Sire Gosselyn Dauil, Knyght. ¶ And at Bristow were draw and honged, Sire Henry of Wynington, and Sire Henry of Mounford, barons. ¶ And at Gloucestre wer draw and hongede, Sire Iohn Giffard & Sire William of Elmebruge, barons. ¶ And at London wer Honget & draw, Sir Henry Tyeys, baron; & at Winchelse, Sir Thomas Culpeper, knyght; & at Wyndesore, Sir Fraunceys of Waldenham, baron; & at Kaunterbury was draw and honged, Sire Bartholomew of Badelesmer & Sir Bartholomev of Assheburnham, barons; And at Kerdif in Walys, Sir William Flemynge, baron.

ANd when Kyng Edward of Engeland hade brouȝt þe flour of chiualry vnto þis deþ, þrouȝ conseil of Sir Hughe þe Spensers þe fader, & Sir Hugh his sone, he bicome as wood as a lyoun; and what-so-euer the Spensers wolde haue done, it was don. And so wel the Kyng louede ham, þat þai might do wiþ him al þat þai wolde; wherfore the King ȝaf vnto Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe fader, þe Erldome of Wynchestre, and to Sir Androv of Herkela þe Erldome of Carlele, in preiudice and harmyng of his croune. ¶ And Kyng Edward þo, þrouȝ conseil of þe Spensers, disheritede alle ham þat hade bene aȝeins him in eny querell wiþ Thomas of Lancastre; and meny oþere wer disherited also, for encheson þat þe Spensers coueitede forto haue her londes; and so þai hade al þat þai wolde desire, wiþ wronge, and aȝeyns al resoun.

¶ þo made þe Kyng, Robert of Baldok, a false pilede clerc, Chaunceller of Engeland, þrouȝ conseil of þe forsaide Spensers; and he was a false rybaude and a couetous; and so þai conselede þe Kyng so miche, þat þe Kyng lete take to his owen ward alle þe godes of þe lordes þat wrongefully were put vnto þe deþ, into his owen honde; and aswel þai token þe godes þat were in holy cherche, as þe godes þat were wiþout, and lete ham ben put into his tresorie a[t] London, and lete ham calle his forfaitȝ; and by her conseile þe Kyng wrought, and disheritede al ham þat þe gode oweden; and þrouȝ her conseil lete arere a talliage of alle þe godes of Engeland; wherfore he was þe richest Kyng þat euer was in Engeland, after William Bastard of Normandy, þat conquerede Engeland. ¶ And ȝitte, þrouȝ consell of ham, him semede þat he hade nouȝt ynouȝ, but made ȝitte euery toun of Engeland fynde a man of Armes oppon her owen costages, forto gon and werr oppon the Scottes þat Wer his enemys.

Wherfore þe Kyng went into Scotland wiþ an hundred þousande men of Armes at Whitsontide, in the ȝere of our Lord God Ml CCC & xxij. But þe Scottes went and hud ham in Mounteyns and in Wodes, and tariede þe Englisshe-men fro day to day, þat þe Kyng myght for no maner þing ham fynde in pleyn felde; wherfore meny Englisshe-men, þat few vitailes hade, for hunger þere deiden wonder faste, and sodeynly, for hunger in goyng and in comyng, and nameliche þo þat hade bene aȝeyns Thomas of Lancastre, and hade robbet his men oppon his landes. ¶ When Kyng Edward saw þat vitailes failede him, he was þo wonder sore discomfortede, for enchesoun also þat his men so deide, and also for he might nouȝt spede of his enemys; so at þe last he come aȝeyne into Engeland. And anone after come Iames Douglas and Thomas Randolf wiþ an huge ost into Engeland, into Northumberland, and wiþ ham þe Englisshe-men þat wer dryuen out of Engeland, & come and robbet the contre, and quellede þe peple, and also brent þe toun þat was callede Northallertoun, and meny oþer tounes vnto Ȝork. ¶ And when þe Kyng herd þis þing, he lete [sompne] alle maner men þat might trauaile. And so þe Englisshemen mette þe Scottes atte þe Abbay of Beiheland, þe xv day after Michelmasse in þe same ȝer abouesaide; And þe Englisshe-men wer þere descomfited; & at þat scomfiture was tak Sir Iohn of Britaygn, Erl of Richemonde, þat helde þe contre and the Erldome of Lancastre; and after, he paiede an huge raunsoun, and was lete gone; and after þat he went into Fraunce and come neuer after aȝeyn.

ANd at þat tyme Sir Andrew of Herkela, þat newe was made Erl of Cardoile, for cause þat he hade taken þe goode Erl of Lancastre, he hade ordeyned, þrouȝ þe Kyngus commandement of Engeland, forto bryng him all þe power þat he might, forto helpe him aȝeyns þe Scottes atte þe Abbay of Behigland. ¶ And when þe false traitoure hade gadrede all þe peple þat he might, and shulde haue comen to þe Kyng to þe Abbay of Biegland, þe false traitoure lad ham by anoþer contre þrouȝ Copeland, and þrouȝ þe Erldome of Lancastr, and went þrouȝ þe contre, and robbit and quellede folc, al þat he might. ¶ And ferþermore þe false traitour hade take a gret some of golde of Sir Iamys Douglas, forto bene aȝeyns þe Kyng of Engeland, and to bene helpyng and holdyng wiþ þe Scottes; þrouȝ whos tresoun þe Kyng of Engeland was scomfitede at Biheland er þat he come þider; wherfore þe Kyng was toward him ful wroþ, and lete priuely enquere in þe contre about, how hit was. and so men enquerede and aspiede, so þat at the laste treuþ was founde, and sought, and he atteint and taken as a false traitour,—as þe noble Erl Thomas of Lancastre him tolde, er þat he were don to dede at his takyng att Burbrig, and to him saide, þat 'or þat ȝere wer Don, he shulde ben take and holde a traitour': and so hit was, as þe holy man saide. Wherfore þe Kyng sent priuely to Sire Antoyn of Lucye, a knyȝt of þe contre of Cardoile, þat he shulde tak Sir Andrew of Herkela, and put him vnto þe deþ. And to bryng þis þing to þe ende, þe Kyng sent his commission, so þat þe same Andrew was take at Carleel, & ledde vnto þe barr in maner of an Erl, worthely arraied, and with a suorde gert aboute him, and hosede and spored. ¶ þo spak Sir Antoyn in þis maner, "Sir Andrew," quod he, "þe Kyng put oppon þe þat, for-asmiche as ȝe haue bene orpede in ȝour dedes, he dede vnto ȝow michel honour, and made ȝow Erle of Carlele; and þow, as traitoure vnto þi lord þe Kyng, laddest his peple of þis contrey, þat shulde haue holpe him at þe bataile of Bihiland; and þow laddest ham away by þe contre of Copeland, and þrouȝ þe Erldome of Lancastr, wherfor our lord þe Kyng was scomfitede in bataile þere of the Scottes, þrouȝ þi tresoun and falsenesse. And if þow hadest come betyme, he hade yhade þe maistre; and al þat tresoun þow dedest, for þe grete somme of golde and siluer þat þow vnderfong of Iames Douglas, a Scott, þe Kynges enemy. ¶ And our Lorde þe Kyngus wille is, þat ȝe, þe ordre of Knyghthode,—by þe whiche þow vnderfonge al þin honour and worship oppon þi body,—be al brouȝt to nouȝt, and þi state vndone, þat oþere knyghtes of lawer Degre mowe after þe be-ware; þe whiche lorde haþ þe auancede hugely in diuerses contrees of Engeland; and þat alle may take ensample by þe, her lord aftirward trewely forto serue."

¶ þo commanded he a knaf anone to hew of his spores of his heles; & after he lete breke þe suerde ouer his heuede, þe whiche þe Kyng him ȝaf to kepe and defende his lande þerwiþ, when he made him Erl of Cardoile; and after he lete him vncloþe of his furrede mantel and of his hood, and of his furrede Cotes and of his gerdell. And when þis was don, Sire Antoyne saide vnto him: "Andrew," quod he, "now art þow no knyȝt, but a knaue; and for þi treson þe Kyng wille þat þow bene honged & drawe, and þin heuede smyten of, and þi bowelles taken out of þi body, and þi bowelles brent, and þi body quarterede, and þin heuede smyten of, and sent vnto London; and þere hit shal be sette oppon London Brigge; and þi iiij quarters shal be sent to iiij tounes of Engeland, þat alle oþere mowe be-ware and chastisede by þe." And as Antoyne saide, so hit was done, al maner þing, on þe last day of Ottobre, in þe ȝer of grace Ml CCC xxij ȝere; and þe sonne þo turnede into blode, as þe peple it saw. ¶ and þat durede fro þe morne, til hit was xj of þe Clokke of þe day.

ANd sone after the Gode Erl Thomas of Lancastr was martrede, a preste, þat Longe tyme hade ben blynde, dremede in his slepyng þat he shulde gone vnto þe hull þere þat þe gode Erl Thomas of Lancastre was don vnto deþ, and he shulde haue his sight aȝein: and so he dremede iij nyghtes sewyng. And þe prest þo lete lede him to þe same hull. ¶ And when he come to þat place þat he was martred on, deuoutely he made þere his prayer, and prayede God and Seynt Thomas þat he might haue his sight aȝeyne. And as he was in his prayers, he laide his right hand oppon þe same place þere þe Gode man was martred on; and a drope of dry bloode and smal sande cleued on his honde, and þerwiþ he striked his eyne, and anone, þrouȝ þe might of God and of Seynt Thomas of Lancastre, he hade his sight aȝeyn, and þankede þo Almighty God and Seynt Thomas. ¶ And when þis miracle was cud amonges men, þe peple come þider on euery side, and knelede, and made her praiers at his tombe þat is in the Priori of Pountfrett, and praiede þat holy martr, of Socour and of helpe, and God herd her prayer. ¶ Also þere was a ȝonge childe drenchede in a welle in þe toun of Pountfrett, and was dede iij daies and iij nyghtes; and men come and laide þe dede childe oppon seint Thomas tombe, þe holy martr; and þe childe aros þere fram þe deþ vnto lif, as meny a man hit saw; & also miche peple wer out of here mynde, & God haþ sent ham her mynde aȝeyn þrouȝ vertu of þat holy martr. ¶ And also God haþ ȝeuen to creples hir goyng, and to crokede her hondes and her feet, and to blinde also her sight, and to meny sike folc her hele, þat hadde diuerse maladyes, for the loue of his gode martre. ¶ Also þer was a riche man in Coundon in Gascoigne; and soche a maladie he had, þat al his right side rotede, and felle awaie fram him; and men might se his Lyuer and also his hert; and so he stank, þat vnneþ men might come neiȝ him; Wherfore his frendes for him were ful sory. ¶ But at þe last, as God wolde, þai prayede to Seint Thomas of Lancastre, þat he wolde praye to Almighty God for þat prisoun, and bihight to gon to Pountfrett forto done her pilgrimage. And þe goode man sone after slepte ful softe, and dremed þat þe martre Seynt Thomas come vnto him, and enoynted oueral his sike side. And þerwiþ þe gode man awoke, and was al hole; and his flesshe was restorede aȝein, þat bifore was rotede and felle away; for whiche miracle þe good man & his frendes louede God and Seint Thomas euermore after. ¶ And þis gode man come into Engeland, and toke with him iiij felawes, and come to Pountfrett, & come to þat holy martr, and dede her pilgrimage; but þe gode man þat was sik come þider al naked, saf his breche; and when þai hade done, þai turnede home aȝeyne into her contre, and tolde of þe miracle wher-so þat þai come. ¶ And also ij men haue bene helede þere of þe morimal, þrouȝ helpe of þat holy martre, þouȝ þat euel be holde incurable.

¶ When þe Spensers herde þat God wrouȝt soche miracles for his holy martre, and þai wolde nouȝt bileue hit in no maner wise, but saide openly þat hit was grete heresie, soche vertu of him to bileue. ¶ And when Sir Hugh þe Spenser, þe sone, saw al þis doyng, anone he sent his messagers fram Pountfret þer þat he duellede þo, to þe Kyng Edward, þat þo was at Grauene atte Skipton, for cause þat þe Kyng shulde vndo his pilgrimage. ¶ And as þe rybaude þat was messager come to þe Kyng forto don his message, he come by þe hull þere þe gode man was done vnto deth; and in þe same place he made his ordur; and when he hade ydon, he went toward þe Kyng; and a stronge flux him come oppon er he come to Ȝork, and shedde all his bowailles at his fundement.

¶ And when Sir Hugh þe Spenser herde þis tydyngus, somdel he was adrad, and þouȝt forto vndo þe pilgrimage, if he might by eny maner way; And to þe Kyng went, and saide þat þai shulde be in grete sclaundre þrouȝ-out al Cristendome for the deþ of Thomas of Lancastre, if þat he soffrede þe peple done her pilgrimage at Pountfrett. And so he conseilede þe Kyng, þat he comandede to close þe cherche dores of Pountfrett, in þe whiche cherch þe holy martre Seynt Thomas was enterede; and þus þai deden, aȝeyns al fraunchise of holy cherche, so þat iiij ȝer after myght no pilgrime come vnto þat holy body. ¶ And for enchesoun þat monkes soffred men come & honour þat holy body of Seynt Thomas þe martre, þrouȝ conseile of Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe Sone, and þrouȝ conseile also of Maistre Robert Baldok, a false piled clerk þat was þe Kynges Chanceller, þe Kyng consented that þai shulde be sette to her wages, and Lete make Wardeynes ouer her, owen Godes longe tyme. ¶ And þrouȝ þe commandement of þe forsaide Sir Hugh þe Sepenser, xiiij Gascoignes wel armed kepte þe hull þer þat þe gode Seint Thomas was don vnto his deþ and biheuedede, so þat no pilgrime might come. By þat way ful wel wende he forto haue binome Cristus might and his power, and þe grete loos of miracles þat he shewede for his martre Thomas þouȝ-out al Cristendome.

¶ And þat same tyme þe Kyng made Robert of Baldok, a pilede clerc and a false, þrouȝ conseile & praier of Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe sone, Chanceller of Engeland. And in þe same tyme was þe castel of Wallingford holden aȝeynes þe Kyng, þrouȝ þe prisoners þat were wiþin þe castel, for Seint Thomas querell of Lancastre. Wherfore þe pep[l]e of þe contre come & tok the castel oppon þe prisoners; wherfore Sire Iohn of Goleinton, knyȝt, and Sir Edmunde of Bech, parson, and a squyer þat me callede Roger of Walton, wer taken and sent to the Kyng to Pounfrett; and þere þai wer done into prison; and þe forsaide Roger was sent vnto Ȝork, and þere he was draw and honged.

¶ And aftirward, Sir Roger Mortymer of Wygemore brak out of þe Toure of London in þis maner: þe forsaide Sir Roger herde þat he shulde bene draw and hongede at London, in þe morne after Seint Laurence day; and on þe dai bifore, he helde a fair fest in þe Tour of London, and þo was Sir Stephen Segraue, Conestable of London, and meny grete men wiþ him. ¶ And when þai shulde sopen, þe forsaide Stephen sent for alle þe officers of the Tourre; and þai come and soppede wiþ him; and when þai shulde take her leue of him, a squyer þat me callede Stephen, þat was ful priue wiþ þe forsaide Roger, þrouȝ heir conseile ȝaf ham alle soche a drynk, þat þe lest of ham alle slepte ij dayes & ij nightes; and in þe mene-tyme he scapede away by water, þat is to seyn, by þe Tamise, and went ouer þe see, and helde him in Fraunce; wherfore þe Kyng was sore annoied, and þo put þe same Stephen out of his Conestablery.

THe Kyng went þo vnto London, and þere, þrouȝ counseil of Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe fader, and of his sone, and of maistre Robert of Baldok, a false pilede clerc, his Chanceller, lete seise þo alle þe Quenes landes into his owen honde, and also alle þe landes þat were Sir Edward his sones, and were þo put to her wages, aȝeins al maner reson; and þat was þrouȝ þe falsenesse of þe Spensers. ¶ And when þe Kyng of Fraunce, þat was þe Quene Isabelles broþer, herde of þis falsenesse, he was sore annoyed aȝeyns þe Kyng of Engeland and his false conseilers; wherfore he sent a lettre vnto Kyng Edward, vnder his seal, þat he shulde come into Fraunce att a certeyn day forto done His homag; and þerto he sompnede him; and elles he shulde lese al Gascoigne. ¶ And so Hit was ordeynede in Engeland, þrouȝ þe Kyng and his Counseil, þat Quene Isabell shulde wende into Fraunce, forto trete of pees bituene her lord and her broþer; and þat Olyuer of Yngham shulde wende into Gascoigne, and shulde haue wiþ him vij Ml men and mo of Armes, to bene Senescal and wardein of Gascoign. And so hit was ordeynede þat Quene Isabel went þo ouer þe see, and come into Fraunce, and wiþ her went Sir Aymer of Valence, Erl of Penbrok, þat was þer mordrede sodeynly on a priue sege: but þat was þrouȝ Godes vengeaunce, for he was on of þe Iusticeȝ þat consentede to Seint Thomas deþ of Lancastre, & wolde neuer afterward repente him of þat wicked dede. ¶ And at þat tyme Sir Olyuer of Yngham went ouer into Gascoigne, and dede miche harme to þe Kyng of Fraunce, and þo gete aȝein þat Kyng Edward hade loste, & more þerto.

THe Quene Isabel nad nouȝt bene but a quarter of a ȝer in Fraunce duellyng, þat Sir Edward, his eldest sone, ne axede Leue forto wende into Fraunce forto spek wiþ his moder, Isabel þe quene. And þe Kyng his fader grantede him with gode wille, and saide to him, "go, my fair sone, in Godes blessing and myn; and þenk forto come aȝein as hasteli as þow maiste." and he come ouer the see into Fraunce; and þe Kyng of Fraunce, his Vncle, vnderfonge Him wiþ michel honour, and saide to him, "faire sone, ȝe ben welcomen; and for cause þat ȝour fader comeþ nouȝt forto done his homage for þe Duchee of Ghyen, as his auncestres were wont forto done, y ȝeue ȝow þat lordeship, to holde hit of me in heritage as ȝoure auncestre deden bifore ȝow." Wherfore he was callede Duk of Gyene.

WHen Kyng Edward of Engeland herde telle how the Kyng of France hade ȝeue þe duche of Giene vnto Sire Edward his sone, wiþouten consent and wille of him, and þat his sone hade vnderfonge þe Duchie of him, he bicome wonder wroþ, and sent to his sone bi his lettre, & to his wif also, þat þai shulde come into Engeland wiþ al þe haste þat þai might. ¶ The Quene Isabell, & Sire Edward her sone, were wonder sory and drade of the Kyngus manace and of his wraþ, and principally of the false traitoures þe Spensers, boþe of þe fader and of the sone, & at his commandement þai wolde nouȝt come. Wherfore Kyng Edward was ful sore annoiede, and lete make a crie at London þat, if Quene Isabell and Edward her sone come nouȝt into Engeland, þat þai shulde bene holden as enemys, boþe to þe reaume & to þe croune; and for þat þai wolde nouȝt come into Engeland, but boþ were exilede, þe moder and her sone. ¶ Whe[n] Quene Isabell herd þis tidingus, she was sore adrad to bene shente þrouȝ þe false coniettyng of þe Spensers, and went wiþ þe knyghtes þat wer exilede out of Engeland for Seint Thomas querell of Lancastre, þat is to seine, Sire Roger Mortymore, Sire William Trussell, Sire Iohn of Cromwell, & meny oþer grete kniȝtes. ¶ Wherfore þai tok her conseill, & ordeined amonges ham forto make a mariage bituene þe Duc of Gyene, þe Kyngus sone of Engeland, and the Erles douȝter of Henaud, þat was a noble knyȝt of name, and a douȝty in his tyme. And if þat þing might be brouȝt about and stand, þai trowede, wiþ þe helpe of God, and wiþ his helpe, to recouere heir heritage in Engeland, wherof þai were put out þrouȝ the coniettyng of þe false Spensers.

WHen Kyng Edward and þe Spensers herde how Quene Isabel, and Sir Edward her sone, hade Aliede ham to þe Erle of Henaud, and to ham þat were exilede out of Engeland for encheson of Thomas of Lancastre, þey were so sory þat þai nist what to done. Wherfore Sir Hugh þe Spenser, þe sone, saide vnto Sir Hugh his fader, in þis maner wise, and saide: "Fader, accursede be þe tyme & þe conseil þat euer ȝe consentede þat Quene Isabel shulde gone into Fraunce forto treten of accorde bituene þe Kyng of Engeland & her broþer þe Kyng of Fraunce, for þat was ȝour conseile, for at þat tyme for-soþe ȝour witte faillede; for Y drede me sore lest, þrouȝ her & her sone, We shul be shent, but if we take þe better consel."

¶ Now, fair sires, vnderstondeþ how mervaillous folie and falsehede þe Spensers ymagynede & caste; for priuely þai lete fille v barelles ferers wiþ siluer,—þe somme amontede v Ml li,—and þai sent þo barelle oue[r] þe se priuely by an Alien þat me callede Arnolde of Spaign, þat was a brocour of London, þat he shulde go to þe Duȝsipiers of France, þat þai shulde procuren and speken to þe Kyng of Fraunce, þat Quene Isabel and Edward her sone were dryue and exilede out of Fraunce, and, amonge al oþer þingus, þat þai were brouȝ to þe deþ as priuely as þai might. But Almighty God wolde nouȝt so; ¶ ffor when þis Arnolde was in þe hye see, he was taken wiþ Selanders þat mette him in þe see, and toke him, & lad him to her Lord, þe Erl of Henaud; & miche ioye was made for þat takyng. ¶ And at þe laste, þis Arnolde priuely stale away fro þens, and come to London. And of þis takyng, and of oþer þinges, þe Erl of Henaude saide to þe Quene Isabel: "dame, make ȝow mery and beþ of gode chier, for ȝe beþ more riche þan ȝe wende forto haue bene; & tak ȝe þise v barelles of Siluer þat were sent to þe Duȝsepiers of Fraunce forto quelle ȝow & ȝour sone Edward; and þenkeþ hastely forto wende into Engeland; and tak ȝe wiþ þow Sir Iohn of Henaude, my broþer, and v C men of Armes; for meny of ham of Fraunce, in whom ȝe haue hade grete truste, hade grete deintee þow forto scorne: and Almighty God grant ȝow grace, ȝour enemys forto ouercome." ¶ þe Quene Isabel sent þo þrouȝ Henaud and Flaundres for her sodioures, and ordeinede her euery day forto wende into Engeland aȝeine; and so she had in her company Sire Edmund of Wodestoke, þat was Erl of Kent, þat was Kyng Edwardes broþer of Engeland.

WHen Kyng Edward herde telle þat þe Quene Isabel and Edward hir sone wolde come into Engeland wiþ meny Alienus, and wiþ ham þat were outlawede out of Engeland for her rebelnesse, he was sore adrade to bene put adoune and lese his kyngdome. Wherfore he ordeynede forto kepe his castelles, in Walis as wel as in Engeland, wiþ vitailles and her apparale, and lete kepe his ryuers, and also þe see costes, wherof þe v Portes token to kepe ham, & also þe see. ¶ And also he commandede ferþermore, & by his lettres ordeynede, þat euery hundred & wapentache of Engeland, ij triors, as wel of men of Armes as of men of foote, and þat þai shulde bene put in tuentysome and in hundredesome; and commandet þat al þo men wer aredy, when eny outesse and crie wer made, forto pursue and tak þe Aliens þat comen into Engeland forto binime him þe land, and forto put him out of his kyngdome. ¶ And more-ouer he lete crie, þrouȝ his patent, in euery faire and in euery marcat of Engeland, þat þe Quene Ysabell, and Sir Edward his eldest sone, and þe Erl of Kent, þat þai were take, and safly kepte, wiþout eny maner of harme vnto ham doyng; and alle oþer peple þat come wiþ ham, anone smyte of her heuedes, wiþout eny maner raunson. ¶ And what man þat might bryng Rogeres heede, þe Mortymer, of Wigemore, shulde haue a C li of monee for his trauaile. And ferþermore he ordeynede by his patent, & commande, to mak a fire on euery hye hull bisides þe ryuers and in low contres, forto make hye bikenes of tymbre, þat if it so were þat þe Aliens come to þe lande by nyght, þat men shulde tende þe bikenes, þat þe contre miȝt ben warnede, and come and mete her enemys. And in þe same tyme deide Sir Roger Mortymer, his Vncle, in þe Toure of London.

THe Quene Isabell and Sir Edward hir sone, Duc of Gyene, Sir Edmunde of Wodestok, Erl of Kent, and Sir Iohn þe Erles broþer of Henaud, and her company, drade nouȝt þe manace of þe Kyng ne of his traitoures, for þai truste al in Godes grace, & come vnto Herwiche in Southfolc, þe x day in þe mounthe of Ottobr, And in þe ȝere of grace Ml CCC xxvj. ¶ And at þe same tyme, at London, þere was Kyng Edward in the Toure at his metee; and a messenger come into þe hall,and saide þat Que[en] Isabell was comen to lande at Herewiche, and hade brouȝt in her company Sire Iohn of Henaude, and wiþ him men of armes wiþoute nombre. And wiþ þat worde, Sir Hugh þe Spenser; þe fader, spake & þus to þe Kyng saide: "my most worshipful Lorde, Kyng of Engeland, now mow ȝe make gode chere, for certeinly þai ben al oures." ¶ The Kyng saw þis worde comfortable; ȝitte he was ful sorweful & pensif in hert. And þe Kyng hade nouȝt ȝitte fulliche eten, þat þere ne come into þe halle anoþer messager, and saide þat þe Quene Isabel was arryuede at Herewich, bisides Skipwich in Southfolc. Sir Hugh þe Spenser, þe fader, spake to þe messager, and saide: "telle þe soþ in goode fay," quod he to þe messager, "my faire frende, is she comen wiþ a grete strengþ?" ¶ "Certis, sir, soþ forto say, she haþ in her company but vij C men of Armes." And wiþ þat worde, Sire Hughe þe Spenser, þe fader, criede wiþ an hye voice, and saide: "Allas, Allas! we beþ alle bitraiede; for certes wiþ so litil power she nad neuer comen to londe, but folc of þis lande were to her consentede." And þerfore, after mete þai toke her conseile, and went toward Walys, forto arere þe Walshemen aȝeins Quene Isabell and Edwarde her sone, al forto fight; and so þai were in purpos, euerycheon.

ANd in þe same tyme, Kyng Edward was sore adrade leste men of London wolde ȝelde ham vnto þe Quene Isabel and to Sir Edward her sone. Wherfore he sent maistre Walter of Stapleton, his Tresorer, forto bene wardein and keper of þe citee of London wiþ þe Mair. and so he come to þe Gildehall of London, and axede þe keies of þe ȝates of þe citee, þrouȝ vertue and strengh of his commission, and wolde haue hade þe Kepyng of þe citee. ¶ And þe communes ansurede and saide, þat 'þai wolde kepe þe citee to þe honour of Kyng Edward, and of Isabel þe Quene, and of þe Duc, þe Kyngus sone, wiþouten eny mo.' ¶ þe Bisshop was þo sore annoiede, and suore his oth þat þai alle shulde abie, anone as þe Kyng were come out of Walys; and þe communers anon, alle of þe citee, toke þe Bisshope, and lade him amid Chepe; and þere þai smyten of his heuede, & sette his heede in his right hand; and after, þai biheuedede ij of his Squyers þat helde wiþ þe Bisshope; and one of ham me callede William of Walle, þat was þe Bisshoppes Nevew; & þat oþer me callede Iohn of Padyngton. and also þai toke a burgeis of London, þat me callede Iohn Marchal, þat was Sir Hugh þe Spensers aspie, þe fader, and smyten of his heede also.

¶ And in þat same tyme þat same Bisshop hade in London a fair Toure in making, in his cloos oppon þe ryuer of Tamise, þat was wiþout þe Temple-Barr, and him failede stone forto make þerof an ende; wherfore he commandede his men forto gone to þe cherche of þe Frere Carmes; and þere þai toke stone, and made þerwiþ þe tour; and miche sande and morter, and olde robons þer was lefte. ¶ And for þe despite þat þe Bisshop Hade done to holy cherche, he and his ij squyers were buriede in þat sande, as þauȝ þai hade bene hondes; and þere þai leyen xj wokes til þat þe Quene Isabel sent her lettres to þe communers, and praiede ham þat þai wolde soffre and grant þat þe Bisshop moste bene take out of þat place, & buriede at Excestr, at his owen cherche; and so he was; and his ij squyers were buriede at seynt Clementis cherche wiþout Temple-Barr.

¶ And Hit was nouȝt ful grete wonder þauȝ þat Bisshop deide in euel deþ, for he was a couetouse man, and hade wiþ him no mercy, and euel conseilede þe Kyng. And sone þereafter was Arnold of Spaigne taken, he þat was assentant to haue ladde þo v Ml li of Siluer in v barelles ferers vnto þe Dussipiers of Fraunce, forto helpe and haste the Quene Isabel to hir deþ, & Edward her sone also: and þis Arnolde was done vnto þe deþ wiþout þe citee of London.

ANon after þis was done, þe Quene Isabel, and Edward hir sone, and alle þe grete lordes of Engeland, at on assent sent to Kyng Edward to þe castel of Kenylworþ, þere þat þe kyng was in kepyng vnder þe warde of Sir Iohn Hothum, þat was þe bisshop of Ely, & of Sir Iohn of Parcy, a baron, for enchesoun þat he shulde ordein his parlement att a certein place in Engeland, forto redresse [and] amende þe state of þe ream. And Kyng Edward ham ansuerede and saide: "Lordes," quod he, "ȝe see ful wel how hit is. Lo! haueþ her my seal. y ȝeue ȝow my power to ordeine a parlement wher ȝe wille." And þai toke herleue of him, and come aȝeyne to þe barons of Engeland, and when þai hade þe Kyngus patent of þis þing, and þai shewede hit to þe lordes, and þo was ordeynede þat þe parlement shulde be at Westmynstre, at þe Vtas of Seint Hillari. And alle þe grete lordes of Engeland lete ordein for ham þere aȝeins þat tyme þat þe parlement shulde bene. ¶ And at þe whiche day þat þe parlement was assignede, þe Kyng wolde nouȝt come þere, as he hade sette himself and assignede. And noþelesse þe barons sent to him, on tyme and oþer, and he suore by Godes soule, þat he nolde come þere on foote. Wherfore hit was ordeynede by al þe grete lordes of Engeland, þat he Shulde no Longer bene Kyng, but bene deposede; and saide þat 'þai wolde crone Edward his sone Kyng, þe eldeste, þat was Duk of Gyene'; and sent so tydynges to þe Kyng þere þat he was in ward vnder Sir Iohn, Erl of Gerrein, and Sire Iohn of Bothun, þat was Bisshop of Ely, and Sir Henry Percy, baroun, and Sire William Trussell, a knyȝt, þat was wiþ þe Erle Sir Thomas of Lancastr, forto ȝelde vp her homages vnto him for all ham of Engeland. ¶ And Sire William Trussel saide þise wordes: "Sir Edward! for encheson þat ȝe haue traiede ȝour peple of Engeland, and haue vndone meny grete Lordes of Engeland wiþouten eny cause, but now ȝe beþ wiþstand,— þankede be God!—and also for ȝe wolde nouȝt come to þe parlement as ȝe ordeynede at Westmynstre, as in ȝour owen Lettre patent is conteinede, forto trete wiþ ȝour lige men as a Kyng shulde; and þerfore, þrouȝ all þe commune assent of alle þe lordes of Engeland, y telle vnto ȝow þise wordes: ¶ Ȝe shul vnderstonde, Sir, þat þe barons of Engeland atte on assent wille þat ȝe bene nomore Kyng of Engeland, but vtterly haueþ put ȝow out of ȝour realte for euermore." ¶ And þe bisshop of Ely saide þo to þe Kyng, "Sir Edwarde! here y ȝelde vp feautes & homage for alle þe Erchebisshoppes and Bisshopes of Engeland, and for al þe clergye." ¶ þo saide Sir Iohn, Erl of Garrein, "Sir Edward! y ȝelde vp her vnto ȝow feaute and homage, for me, and for al þe Erles of Engeland." ¶ And Sir Henry þe Percy ȝaf vp also þere his homag, for him and for alle þe barons of Engeland. ¶ And þo saide Sir William Trussel: "y ȝelde vp, Sir, now vnto ȝow my homage, fo[r] me & also for alle þe knyȝtes of Engeland, and for ham alle þat holden by seriauntrye or by eny oþer maner þing of ȝow, so þat fro þis day afterwad ȝe shulle nouȝt be cleymede Kyng, neiþer for Kyng bene holde; but fram þis tyme afterward ȝe shul bene holde a singuler man of all þe peple." And so þai went þens vnto London, þere þat þe lordes of Engeland ham abode; and sir Edward abode in prysoun vnder gode keping; and þat was þe day of þe Conuersion of seynt Poule in þe xx ȝere of his regne.

Of þis Kyng Edward, propheciede Merlyn, and saide þat þere shulde come a gote out of a car, þat shulde haue hornes of siluer and a berde as white as snowe; and a drop shulde come out at his noseþrelles þat shulde bitokne miche harme, hungre, and deþ of þe peple, and gret losse of his lande; and þat in þe bigynnyng of his regne shulde ben hauntede michel lecherie; and saide soiþ, allas þe tyme! ffor Kyng Edward, þat was Kyng Edwardus sone, þat was born in Carnariuan in Walys, for soþ he hade Hornes as siluer, and a berd as snowe, when he was made Prynce of Walys, & to miche he ȝaf him vnto realte and folie. And soþ saide Merlyn in his prophecie þat þere shulde come out of His nose a drop; ffor in his tyme was grete hunger amonges þe pore men, and stronge deþ amonge þe ryche, þat deiden in strange lande wiþ miche sorw, and in Scotland; and afterwarde he loste Scotland and Gascoigne; and whiles þat him-self was Kyng, þer was miche lecherie hauntede. and also Merlyn tolde and saide þat þis goote shulde seche þe floure of lif & of deþ; and he saide soþ, for he spousede Isabel, þe Kyngus douȝter of Fraunce.

¶ & in his tyme Merlyn saide þat þere shulde be made briges of folc oppon diches of þe see; and þat was ful wel sein at Bannokes-born in Scotland, when he was descomfitede þere of þe Scottes. ¶ And Merlyn tolde also þat stones shulde falle fram castelles, and meny tounes shulde be made playn; and he saide soþ, ffor when Kyng Edward was scomfitede in Scotland, and come þo Southward, þe Scottes bisegede castelles, and dede ham miche ha[r]me, and brent tounes vnto þe herde erþe. ¶ And aftirward Merlyn saide and tolde þat an Egle shulde come out of Cornwaile, þat shulde haue feþeres of golde, þat of pride shulde haue non pier, and shulde despice Lordes of bloode, and after he shulde dye þrouȝ a beer at Gauersiche: and þat prophecie was ful wel knowe, ffor by þe Egle is vnderstonde Sir Piers of Gauaston, þat was Erl of Cornewaile, þat was a wonder prout man þat dispisede þe baronage of Engeland; but aftirward he was biheuede at Gauersiche, þrouȝ þe Erl of Lancastr and þe Erl of Warwik. ¶ And Merlyn tolde þat in his tyme it shulde seme þat þe bere shulde brenne, & þat a bataile shulde be done oppon an Arme of þe See in felde arraiede like a shilde, wher shulde dye meny white heuedes: & he saide soþ; for, by þe brynnyng of þe bere is bitokenede grete drede þrouȝ cotting of suorde. at þat bataile, ordeynede in a felde as a shelde oppon an Arme of þe see, is bitokenede þe bataile of Mitone. ffor þere come þe Scottes in maner of a shelde, in maner of a wynge, and quellede oppon Swale, men of Religioun, prestes & seculers; wherfor þe Scottes callede þat bataile, in despite of Englisshe-men, 'þe white bataile.'

¶ And after, Merlyn saide þat þe forsaide Beer shulde do þe forsaide goot miche harme, and þat shulde be oppon þe Southwest, and also oppon his bloode; and saide also þat þe goot shulde lese miche of his lande, til þe time þat shame shulde him ouercome; And þan he shulde cloþe him in a lyons skyn, and shulde wynne aȝeyne þat he hade loste, and miche more, þrouȝ a peple þat shulde come out of þe Northwest, þat shulde make him bene drade, and him avenge of his enemys, þrouȝ conseile of ij Oweles, þat ferst shulde be in peril to bene vndone; and þat þo ij oweles shulde wende ouer þe see into a straunge lande, and þere þai shulde duelle til a certein time; and after þai shulde come into Engeland aȝeyne, and þo ij oweles shulde done miche harme vnto meny on, and þat þai shulde conseile þe goot to meve werr aȝeynes [þe] Bere, and þat goot shulde come, and þe Oweles, vnto an Arme of þe Se at Burton op Trent, and shulde wende ouer, and þat for drede þe bere shulde flee, wiþ a swyne in his company, vnto Bur, toward þe North, þrouȝ an vnkynde out-puter; and þat þe Swyn þan shulde be slay with sorwe; and þe bere shulde be slayn ful neiȝ his owen nest, þat shal stonde oppon Pountfrett, vppon wham þe sone shal shede his beemes, & meny folc him shal seche for þe miche vertue. and he saide ful soþ; ffor þe gode Erl Thomas of Lancastr was born in þe Northwest, and cosyn to þe Kyng, sone of his vncle; and by lawe he made þe Kyng lese miche lande þe whiche he hade purchasede wel foliche, til at þe laste þe Kyng þerof tok shame, and him-self fillede wiþ cruelte; and after he gate aȝeyne þat he hadde lost, and miche more, þrouȝ folc þat he lete assemble out of þe Northwest, þat made him to bene adrade, and avengede him of his barons, þrou conseile of Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe fader, and of Sir Hugh his sone, þat biforne were outlawede out of Engeland for her wickidnesse. ¶ But afterward come aȝeyne into Engeland Sir Hughe þe Spenser the fader, out of Fraunce, and so miche conseilede the Kyng þat He Shulde Werr oppon Thomas, erl of Lancastr, so þat þe Kyng and þe Spensers, and þe Erl of Arundel and her power, mete wiþ Thomas of Lancastr atte Burton op Trent, and him þere descomfitede; and Hunfrai, erl of Hereford, was in her company. and after, fledde þe forsaide Thomas and Hunfray, wiþ her company at Burbrig, wiþ sir Andrew of Herkela, þat is callede þe vnkynde out-putter, and also sir Symond Warde, Shirref of Ȝork: þai come and mette wiþ Thomas of Lancastre wiþ an huge company, and ham þere descomfitede. and in þat Scomfiture þe Erl of Hereford was slayn oppon þe brige, cowardly, wiþ a spere, in the fundement; and þe Erl Thomas was taken & ladde vnto Pountfrett; and þer he was biheuedede bisides his owen castel. But aftirward, many a man him souȝt, for miracles þat God dede for him.

¶ And in þat tyme Merlyn saide for sorwe and harme [shuld die] a peple of his land, wherfore meny landes shulde bene on him þe bolder: and he saide soþ, ffor by enchesoun of his barouns þat were done vnto þe deþ for Seint Thomas loue of Lancastre, peple of meny londes bicome þe bolder forto meve werr aȝeyns þe Kyng, for her bloode was turnede into meny naciouns.

¶ And afterward Merlyn tolde and saide þat þe forsaide Oweles shulde done miche harme vnto þe flour of lif & of deþ, & þai shulde bring Her vnto miche disese, so þat she shulde wende ouer þe see into Fraunce for to make pees to þe flour de lice, and þere she shulde abide til a tyme þat her seede shulde come & seche her and þere þai shulde abide til a tyme þat þai shulde cloþen ham wiþ grace; and þo ij Oweles she shulde seche, and put ham vnto Spitouse deþ. and þat prophecie was wel knowen and was ful soþ; for, Sir Hugh þe Spenser þe fader, and sir Hugh þe sone, dede miche sorwe and persecucion vnto þe Quene Isabel, þrouȝ her procurment, to her Lorde þe Kyng. ¶ and so þai ordeinede amonges ham þat she was put vnto hir wages, þat is to seyn, xx s. on þe day. Wherfore þe Kyng of Fraunce, her broþer, was wonder sore annoiede, and sent into Engeland by his lettres vnto Kyng Edward, þat he shulde come to his parlement to Parys in Fraunce; but Kyng Edward was sore adrade forto come þere, for he wende to bene arest til þat he hade made Gode for þe trespasse þat þe Spensers hade done, and also grete harme þat þai hade done vnto þe Quene Isabel, his sostre: Wherfore, þrouȝ here ordenance & her consent of þe Spensers, the Quene Isabel went ouer þe see into Fraunce, forto make accorde bituene Kyng Edward and þe Kyng of Fraunce, hir broþer. ¶ And þere duellede she in Fraunce til Edward, her Eldeste sone, come her to seche; and so þai duelled þere boþe til þat Aliaunce was made bituene Ham and þe gentil Erl of Henaud, þat if þai wiþ his helpe mygh[t] destroi and ouercome þe venyme and the falsenesse of þe Spensers, þat Sir Edward shulde spouse Dame Philipp, þe worshipful lady, þe Erles Doughter of Henaud. ¶ wherfore þe Quene Isabel, and Sir Edward her [son], and Sir Edmund of Wodestok, þe Kynges broþer of Engeland, and Sir Iohn of Henaud, and Sir Roger Mortymer of Wygemore, and Sir Thomas Rocelyn, and sir Iohn of Cromwel, and Sire William Trussell, and meny oþere of þe Aliaunce of þe gentil Erle Thomas of Lancastre, þat wer exilede out of Engeland for his querelle, and wer disheritede of her londes, ordeynede ham a grete power, and arryuede at Herewiche in Southfolc. and sone after þai pursuede þe Spensers til þat þai wer take and put vnto spitouse deþ, as bifore is saide, and her company, and also for þe grete falsenesse þat þai deden vnto Kyng Edward & to his peple.

¶ And Merlyn saide also more, þat þe goote shulde bene put into grete disese; & in grete anguisshe & in grete sorwe he shulde lede his lif. and he saide soþ: for after þe tyme þat Kyng Edward was tak, he was put into warde til þat þe Spensers were put vnto deþ. ¶ and also, for encheson þat he wolde nouȝt come vnto his owen parlement at London, as he had ordeyned and assignede him-self, and to his Baronage, and also wolde nouȝt gouerne ne reule his peple ne his reaume as a kyng shulde done, somme of þe barons of Engeland come & ȝelden vp her homage vnto him, for ham and for alle þe oþer of þe reaume, in þe day of þe Conuersioun of Seint Poule, and in þe ȝer of his regne xx; and þai put him out of his realte for euermore; & euer he leuede his lif aftirward in miche sorw and anguisse.

ANd after þis Kyng Edward of Carnariuan, regnede Sire Edward of Wyndesore his sone, þe whiche was cronede Kyng, and annoyntede, at Westminster, þrouȝ consent and wille of alle þe grete Lordes of þe reaume, þe Sonday in Candelmasse eve of oure Lady, In þe ȝer of grace Ml CCC xxvi, þat was þat tyme of age but xv ȝer. and for enchesoun þat his fader was in warde in þe castel of Kenylworþ, and eke was put doun of his realte, þe reaume of Engeland was as wiþout Kyng, fro þe feste of Seynt Kateryne in þe ȝer aboue-saide, vnto þe fest of Candelmasse; and þo were al maner pleeȝ of þe Kyngus Benche astent. ¶ And þo was commandede to alle þe shirreffes of Engeland þoruȝ write to warne þe partieȝ defendandȝ þrouȝ somp[n]ing aȝein, and also ferþermore þat alle þe prisoners þat were in þe Kyngus Gayole þat were atachede þrouȝ shirrefs shulde be Late go quiet. ¶ The Kyng Edward, after His coronacioun, at þe prier and biseching of his lieges of þe reaume, grauntede a chartre of stedefast pees to alle ham þat wolde it axe. ¶ And Sire Iohn of Henaude and his company toke his leue of þe Kyng and of þe lordes of his reaume, & turnede home to her owen contre aȝeyn; and eueryche of ham hade ful riche ȝiftes, euery man as he was of value and of State. ¶ And þo was Engeland in pees and in rest, & grete loue bituene þe Kyng and his lordes; and communeliche Englisshemen saide amongus ham þat þe deuel was dede. ¶ But þe tresour of þe Kyng his fader, and of the Spensers, boþ of þe fader and of þe sone, and þe tresour of þe Erl of Arundel, and of Maistre Robert Baldok þat was þe Kyngus chaunceller, was departede after þe Quene Isabels ordenaunce, and Sir Roger Mortymer of Wigemore, so þat þe Kyng hade noþing þerof but at her wille and her deliueraunce, neiþer of hir landes, as afterward ȝe shul here more openly.

And ȝitte in þe same tyme was Kyng Edward in þe castel of Kenylworth, vnder þe kepyng of Sir Henry þat was Erl Thomas broþer of Lancastr, þat þo was Erl of [Leycestre; and þe Kyng grantede him the erldome of] Lancastre þat þe Kyng hade seisede into his hande, and put out Thomas of Lancastre his broþer, and þo was he Erl of Lancastre & of Leicestre, and eke Stiward of Engeland, as his broþer was in his tyme. ¶ but Sir Edward, þat was Kyng Edwardes fader, made sorw wiþouten ende, for cause þat he might nouȝt speke wiþ his wif ne wiþ his Sone; wherfor hit was miche meschief; ffor þauȝ hit were so þat he were ladde & reulede þrouȝ false conseile, ȝitte he was Kyng Edwardus sone, & come of þe worþiest bloode of al þe worlde; and þilk to whom he was wonede forto ȝeue grete ȝiftes and large, were most pryue wiþ þe Kyng, his owen sone; and þai were his enemys boþe by nyght and by day, and procurede forto make debate and contak bituene him and his sone, and Isabel his wif. but þe ffter Prechoures to him were gode frendes euermore, and caste and ordeynede, boþe nyght and day, how þai might bryng him out of prison. ¶ And amonge her company þat þe ffreres priueliche hade brouȝt, þere was a ffrere þat me callede Dunheuede; and he hade ordeynede an[d] gaderede a grete company of folc forto helpe at þat nede; but þe ffrere was take a[nd] put into þe castel of Pountfrett, and þer he deide in prisone. ¶ And Sir Henry, Erl of Lancastr, þat hade þe Kyngus fader in kepyng, þrouȝ commandement of þe Kyng, delyuerede Edward, þe Kingus fader, by endentur vnto Sire Thomas of Berkelee, and to Sir Iohn Mautrauers; & þai lad him fram þe castell of Kenylworth vnto þe castell of Berkelee, and kepte him þere safly. ¶ And at Este[r] nexte after his coronacioun, þe Kyng ordeynede an huge host forto feiȝt aȝeins þe Scottes; and Sir Iohn, þe Erles broþer of Henaud, from byȝonde þe see, come forto helpe Kyng Edward, and brouȝt wiþ him v C men of Armes, and arryuede at Douer; and þai hade leue forto gone forth til þat þai come vnto Ȝork, þere þat þe Kyng abode ham. ¶ and þe Scottes comen þider vnto þe Kyng forto make pees and accorde, but þe accordement bituene ham laste but a litel while. and at þat tyme þe Englisshe-men were cloþe alle in cotes & hodes, peyntede wiþ lettres & wiþ floures ful sembli, wiþ longe berdes; and þerfore þe Scotes made a bille þat was fastenede oppon þe cherche dores of Seint Peres toward Stangate. & þus saide þe Scripture in despite of the Englisshe-men ¶ Longe berde hertles, peyntede Hode witles, Gay cote graceles, makeþ Engl[i]ssheman þriftles.

¶ And on þe Trinite day next comyng, biganne þe contak in þe citee of Ȝork bytuene þe Englisshemen and þe Henaudres. and in þat debate were quellede of þe Erldom of Nichole and Mordrede, iiijxx and after, þai wer buriede vnder a stone in Seynt Clementis cherche haw in Fossegate. And for enchesoun þat þe Henaudres come forto helpe þe Kyng, hir pees was criede, oppon payne of lif and lime. and in þat oþere Half, it was fonden by enquest of þe citee, þat þe Englisshe-men biganne þe debate.

And at þat tyme þe Scottes hade assemblede al her power, and come into Engeland, and quellede & robbede alle þat þai might tak, and brent and destroiede al þe North contre þrouȝ-out, til þai come to þe Parke of Stanhope in Wyredale: and þer þe Scottes helde ham in a busshement. ¶ But whe[n] þe Kyng hade herde þrouȝ certeyne aspieȝ wher þe Scottes were, anone right wiþ his host he bisegede þe forsaide park, so þat þe Scottes wiste neuer wher forto gon out, but onliche vnto her armes, and þai abiden in þe parke xv daies; and vitailes ham failede on euery side, so þat þai wer gretly empeyrede of her bodyes. ¶ And siþ þat Brut come ferst into Britaigne, vnto þis tyme, was neuer seyne seþenes so fair an host, what of Englisshemen and of Aliens, and of men on foot, whiche ordeyned ham forto feiȝt wiþ þe Scottes, þrouȝ egging of Sire Henry, Erl of Lancastr, and of Sir Iohn of Henaude, þat wolde haue gone ouer þe water of Wythe forto haue fouȝt wiþ þe Scottes; but Sir Roger of Mortymer consentede nouȝt þerto, for he hade priueliche tak mede of þe Scottes, ham forto helpe, þat þai myght wende aȝeyne into hir owen contre. ¶ And þe same Mortymer counseilede miche Thomas of Broþerton, þat þe Erl Marchal, þat was Kyng Edwardes vncle, þat the forsaide Thomas shulde nouȝt assemble at þat tyme vnto þe Scottes; and he assentede; but he wiste nouȝt þe doyng bituene þe Scottes and þe forsaide Mortymer. and for enchesoun þat he was Marchal of Engeland, and to him perteynede euer þe vauntward, he sent hastely to þe Erl of Lancastre and to Sire Iohn of Henaude, þat þai shulde nouȝt feiȝt oppon þe Scottes, in preiudice and in harmyng of him and his fee, and if þai dede, þat þai shulde stande to her owen peril. and þe forsaide Erl Marchal was al aredy wiþ his bataile at þe redose of þe Erl of Lancastre forto haue fouȝten wiþ him and wiþ his folc, if he hade meuede forto feiȝt wiþ þe Scottes. and in þis maner he was desceyuede, and wiste no maner þinge of þis tresoun and þus was þe Kyng Principaly desceyuede.

¶ And when it was nyȝt Mortymer, þat hade þe wacche forto kepe of þe host, þat nyght destourblede þe wacche þat noþing most be done. and in þe meny-while þe Scottes stele by nyȝt toward her owen contre, as fast as þai myght; and so was þe Kyng falsely desceyuede & bitraiede, þat wende þat alle þe traitoures of his land had bene brouȝt vnto and ende, as it was saide bifore. ¶ Now here, ȝe lordes, how traterousely Kyng Edward was desceyuede, and how mervailously and boldely þe Scottes dede of werr; ffor þe same nygh[t] Iames Douglas, wiþ CC men of Armes, ryden þrouȝ-out þe host of Kyng Edward, þe same nyght þat þe Scottes were scapede toward her owen contre, as is a aboue [said], til þat þai comen to þe Kyngus Pauylon, and quellede þere men in her beddes; and criede somme "Noward, Noward!" and anoþere tyme, "A Douglas, A Douglas!" wherfore the Kyng, þat was in his pauyloun, and miche oþer folc, were wonder sore afraiede; but, —blessede be Almyghty God!—þe Kyng was nouȝt taken; and in grete perile was þo þe reaume of Engeland. ¶ And þat nyght the mone shone ful clere and briȝt; and for al þe Kyngus men, þe Scottes ascapede harmeles. and in þe morwe, when þe Kyng wist þat þe Scottes were ascapede, he was wonder sory, and ful hertly wepte wiþ his ȝonge eyne; and ȝitt wist he nouȝt who had done him þat tresoun; but þat tresoun was wel knowe a gode while after, as þe story telleþ. ¶ The Kyng Edward come þo aȝeyne vnto Ȝork, ful sorweful, and his hoste departede, and euery man went into his owen contre wiþ ful heuy and mornyng semblant. and þe Henaude toke her leue, and went into her owen contre; and þe Kyng, for her trauaile, hugely ham rewarded, and for enchesoun of þat viage, þe Kyng had despended miche of his tresour, and wastede.

¶ And in þat tyme wer seyne ij mones in þe firmament: þat on was clere, and þat oþer was derc, þat men myȝt hit þo see þ[r]ouȝout al þe worlde. and Grete debate was þat same tyme aȝeynþe Pope Iohn þe xxij after þat Seynt Petre was Pope, and þe Emperoure of Almaigne, þat made him Emperour aȝeins þe Popes wille, þat þo helde his see at Avy[n]oun; wherfore þe Emperour made his crie at Rome, and ordeynede anoþer Pope þat hight Nicholas, þat was a ffrer menour; and þat was aȝeynes þe right of holy cherch, wherfore he was cursede; and þe power of þat oþer Pope sone was laide; and for encheson þat soche mervailes were seyne, men saide þat þe wor[l]de was neiȝ at an ende.

ANd now [go] we aȝeyne vnto Sir Edward of Carnaruan, þat was some-tyme Kyng of Engeland, and was put adoune of his dignite, allas for his tribulacioun! and sorwe him bifelle þrouȝ false consel þat he leuede, & truste oppon ham to miche, þat afterward was destroyede þrouȝ her falsenesse, as God wolde. ¶ And þis Edward of Carnaryuan was in þe castel of Berkele, vnder þe kepyng of Sir Morice of Berkeley and of Sire Iohn of Mautrauers and to ham he made his compleynt of his sorwe and of his disese; and oftetymes he axede of his wardeyns what he hade tressepassede aȝeins Dame Isabel his wif, and Sir Edward his sone, þat was new made Kyng, þat þai wolde nouȝt visite him. ¶ [þo ansuerede one of his wardenes] ¶ "My worþi lord, displese ȝow nouȝt þat y shal ȝow telle; þe enchesoun is, for it is done ham to vnderstonde þat, if my Lady ȝour wif come eny þing neiȝ ȝow, þat þe wolde her strangle and quelle, and al so þat ȝe Wolde do to my Lord ȝor Sone." ¶ þo ansuerede he wiþ simple chere, and saide: "allas, allas! am y nouȝt in prisoun, and all at ȝour owen wille? Now God it wote, y þouȝt it neuer; and now y wolde þat y were dede! so wolde God þat y were! for þan were al my sorwe passede." ¶ Hit was nouȝt longe after þat þe Kyng, þrouȝ conseil of þe Mortymer, grantede þe ward and þe kepyng of Sire Edward his fader, to Sire Thomas Toiourneye and to þe forsaide Sir Iohn Mautrauers, þrouȝ þe Kyngus lettre, and put out holliche þe forsaide Sir Morice, of þe warde of þe Kyng. and þai tok and lad him to þe castel of Corf, þe whiche castel þe Kyng hatede as eny deþ and þai kepte him þere safly til þat it come to Seint Matheus day in Septembre, in þe ȝere of Grace Ml CCC xxvij, þat þe forsaide Sir Roger Mortymer sent þe maner of þe deþ, how and in what maner he shulde be done to deþ. ¶ And anone as þe forsaide Thomas and Iohn Hade seyne þe lettre and þe commandement, þai maden Kyng Edward of Carnaruan gode chere and gode solace, as þai myght atte þat soper; and noþing þe Kyng wiste of her traitoureȝ. ¶ And when tyme was forto gone to bed, þe Kyng went vnto his bed, and laye, and slepte faste. And as þe Kyng lay and slepte, þe traitoures, false forsuorne aȝeins her homage and her feaute, come priueliche into þe Kyngus chaumbre, and her company wiþ Ham, and Laiden an Huge table oppon his Wombe, and wiþ men pressede and helde fast adoune þe iiij corners of þe table oppon his body: wherwiþ þe gode man awoke, and was wonder sore adrade to bene dede þere, and slayn, and turnede his body opsadoun. ¶ þe tok þe false tirauntȝ, and as wode traitoures, an horne, and put hit into his fundement as depe as þai might, and toke a spete of Copur brennyng, & put hit & þrouȝ þe horne into his body, and ofte tymes rollede þerwiþ his bowailes; and so þai quellede here Lorde, þat noþing was perceyuede; and after, he was enterede at Gloucestr.

HIt was nouȝt longe after, þat þe Kyng of France, þrouȝ conseile of his Dusȝepirs, sent to Kyng Edward of Engeland, þat he shulde come to Parys, and do his homage, as resoun hit wolde, for þe Duchee of Gyene. ¶ And so, þrouȝ consent of þe lordes of Engeland, Kyng Edward went ouer þe see; [and] at Ascencioun he come vnto Parys þe iij ȝere of his regne, forto done his homage [vnto þe Kyng of Fraunce. and þe Kyng vnderfonge his homage] and made michel ioye and worship. But or Kyng Edward hade made his homage vnto þe Kyng of France, hastely he was sent aȝeyne into Engeland þrouȝ þe Quene Isabel his moder; and anone hastely he come aȝeyne into Engeland oppon Whitsonday, wiþout eny takyng leue of þe Kyng of Fraunce; wherfore he was wonder worþ[=wroth].