Cronycles of the londe of Englōd
Here begȳneth the table of thys boke / that men kalled Cronycles of the lōde of Englond
- FIrst in the prologue is cō teyned. how Albyne wy t hir sustres ētrid into this Ile. & named it Albyon
- ¶The begynnȳg of the book cō teyneth how brute was engēdred of them of Troye. & how he slew his fadre & modre Cap. j
- How Brute was dryuen oute of his lande: & how he helde hym in grece / ād delyuered the Troyans there out of bondage Ca. ij
- How Coryn becam brutes man & how kȳg Goffar was discōfited & of the foundacyon of Tours in Torayne capit. iij /
- How brute arryued atte Tottenesse in the Ile of Albyō. & of the bataill bitwen̄ Coryn & Gogmagog / capitu. iiij
- How Brute made Londō: & named this lōde britaigne. & scotlād albanye: & Walys Cambre. & of the deuysiō of the lōde to his thresones Capit. v.
- How kyng Madan regned in pees. & of the deth of his sones / & how that one slow that othir / ād how after the wulfes slewe hym that had slayne his brother. ca. vj
- How kȳg Ebrak cōquered fraū ce: & begate xx sones & xxiij doughters Capitulo / vij
- Of kȳg brute Grenesheld the first sone of kyng Ebrack capi. viij
- Of kyng Leyl brute grenesheldis sone Capitulo ix
- Of kyng Lud ludibras that was kyng Leyles sone Capit x
- Of kȳg Bladud that was sone of king Lud ludibras capit. xi
- Of king Leir & of hys iij. doughters: & how the yōgest was maried to the kyng of Fraūce cap. xij
- How king Leir was dryuē oute of his lōde bi his folie (punctel) & how cordeill hys yōgest doughter helped him in his nede Capit. xiij
- How Morgā & Codenage which̄ were nevews to cordeyll werryd on hir & had hir in prysō Ca. xiiij.
- How Reynold that was Conedages sone regned after his fadre And in hys tyme it Rayned blode thre dayes Capit. xv
- How Gorbodiā regned after reinold his fadre Capi / xvi
- How the two sones of gorbodiā fought for y e heritage: & how they bothe were slayne capit / xvij
- How iiij kȳges helde all Britaigne: And what their names were capitulo xviiij
- Of kȳg Donebāt that was cleteꝰ sone: & how he wā y e land ca. xix.
- Howe Donebant was the fyrste kyng that euer wered crowne of gold in britaigne cap. xx
- How Brenne & Belyn departed bitwene hē the lōde after the deth of Donebāt hir fadre. ād of their werre capitulo xxi /
- How belyn drofe out of thys lād [Page] Guthlagh of Dēmarke & samye cap. xxij
- How accord was made bitwen̄ Brēne & Belȳ by y e moyen of Cornewan hir moder capit. xxiij
- How kȳg cormbatrus slow the king of Dēmarke by cause he wold nat pay him his truage Capi. xxiiji
- How kȳg Gwenthelō regned ād gouerned the lōd ca. xxv
- How kyng Seysell regned after guenthelon cap: xxvi
- How Kymor reigned after seysell. & owayne reigned aftyr hym capit. xxvij
- How kȳg Morwith deide through deuourȳg of a best capit. xxviij
- Of Grabodyā that was the sone of morwith which̄ made y e toune of cambryge capi. xxix
- Of Artogaill that was grādobodyās sone how he was made kīg & after deposed for his wikkednesse capitulo xxx
- How hesidur was made kȳg after y e deth of Artogai [...]l bi his brother capitulo xxxi
- How the britons token hesidur out of pryson & made hȳ kȳg the thridde tyme cap. xxxij
- How xxxiij kīges regned in pees eche after othir after y e deth of hesidur capit / xxxiij
- How lud was made kȳg after y e deth of his fadre cap. xxxiiij
- How y e britōs graūted cassibalā which̄ was luddes brother the reaulme: in whos time julius cesar came twyes to ꝯquere the londe: cap. xxxv
- Of the debate y t was bitwen̄ cassybalā & y e erle of Lōdō & of the truage that was paid to Rome. cap xxxvi
- How y e lordes of the lād after the deth of cassibalam bicause he had non̄ heir made Andragē kȳg ca. xxxvij
- Of kȳbalm which̄ was Andragenes sone. in whos tyme was Ihū borne of the blessyd virgine seint marie cap. xxxviij
- Of king Guynder kymbalȳs sone which̄ refused to pay Tribute to Rome: & how he was slayn̄ capi. xxxix
- Of kyng armager in whos tyme y e apostles preched cap / xl
- How king Westmer yaf to Beringer an Ilād: & made the towne of Berewyke cap / xli
- How kȳg westmer dide do arere a stone in thenthrȳg of westmerlād. wher he slewe roderyk. ca. xlij
- Of kyng Coyll y t was Westmers sone cap. xliij
- How kīg lucie regned after coyll And was the first cristē kȳg that euer was in this land capitulo .xliiij.
- How this lād was long withoute a king. ād at the last the britōs chosen Astlepades whyche after was slayne by Coeyll capitulo xlv
- How Cōstaunce a Romaȳ was chosen kyng / by cause he wedded Eleyne king Coeyls doughter capitulo xlvi
- [Page]How Cōstantine sone of coūstā ce of seint Eleyne ruled the lōde / & after was made emperour of rome Capitulo xlvij
- How Maximian that was the emperours cosyn of Rome wedded octauyans doughter ād was made kyng capit / xlviij
- How Maximian cōquered the londe of Amorican & yaf it to conan meriedoke ca / xlix.
- How seint vrsula with xi / m virgyns in hir cōpanye were martred at coleyne capit· l
- Howe king Gowan came for to destroye this lande. & how Gracian defended it capi. lj
- How gracyā made hȳ selfe kyng whan M [...]ximian was slayn̄. ād afterward the britons slew hym capitulo lij
- How constātyne that was y e kȳ ges brother of littel britaign̄ was crowned kyng of moche britaigne capitulo liij
- Of Constaūce that was coūstā tynes sone a mōke at Wȳchestre was takē oute by vortiger & made kȳg after his fadres deth whō vortiger let sle to make hȳ self kīg capitulo liiij
- How the wardeȳs that had tho two childrē to kepe whyche were constātynes sones sedde them to littell bretaigne for the treson ād falsenesse of Vortiger ca / lv
- How Engist with xi M men came into this lōde to whō vortiger yaf the place that is called thōgcastell capitulo / lvi
- Of Rowē ēgistes doughter whō kyng vortiger wedded for her beaute capitulo lvii.
- How Vortimer that was vortigers sone was made kȳg: & how Engist was dryuē oute. and how vortymer was slayn̄ bi Ronewē capitulo lviij
- How the britōs chosen vortyger ayen̄ to be kȳg / & how Engist retourned & how they foughten to gedre capit. lix
- How vortiger began a castell that wold not stā de: wherfor coūseyll was yeuē hȳ to tēpre the morter w t blode. ca lx
- How merlȳ was sought in Walys for to come & speke w t the king capitulo lxi.
- Of the answere of Merlȳ to the king why the castell might not stonde cap. lxij
- Of the significaciō of y e two dragōs that fought to gedre ca / lxiij.
- Of king Aurilābros how he pursued vortiger & engist (punctel) & how thei dyden capitulo lxiiij
- How aurilābros redressed y e land of britaign̄ (punctel) which̄ was destroied by the saxons capitulo: lxv
- How y e Britons wēt to se [...]h̄ grete stones in Irlād cap. lxvi
- How Passent Vortygers sone & kȳg Guillomer camen into this lāde / & how coppa a traitour enpoysened the king Aurilambros cap / lxvij
- Whā Aurilābros was dede a sterre was seen in y e mornyng [Page] wy t a clere light & at the bought of y e beme was seen the hede of an horryble dragon / cap / lxviij /
- Of y e betokenȳg of y e sterre / ca. lxix
- Of Vter pendragon / which̄ was kȳg after his brother. & of the loue that he had to Igerne the erles wyfe of Cornewaille capi. lxx
- How vter begate on jgerne coū tesse of cornewaill Arthur the kīg Capitulo lxxi
- How king Vter ordeyned aloth to rule the londes whiles that he was seke capit. lxxij
- How Arthur sone of Vter was kȳg after his fadre / & how he drofe Colegryne / the saxons & Cheldryke of Almaign̄ out of this lād capitulo lxxiij
- How Arthur fought with y e saxones whan they came ayen̄ & besieged the toune of Bathe & hē ouercame capitulo lxxiiij
- How Arthour axed of Merlȳ of vi. the last kȳges that were to regne in this lād (punctel) & of Merlȳs prophecie / capi. lxxv
- How Arthur ouercame Guillomer kȳg of Irlād & the scottes becamen his men cap. lxxvi
- How the noble kȳg arthur wedded Gūnore cosyn to therle of cornewaill. & after how he cōquered all Irland capitulo lxxvij
- How Arthur cōquered Fraūce. & slew Frollo cap / lxxviij
- How Arthur avaūced his men that had trauailled in his seruice ād how he was crouned kyng of Glomergan capi. lxxix
- Of the lrē that was sente fro Rome to kyng Arthur capi / lxxx
- Of the manly answer that king Arthur sent to the emperour. ād to the romayns cap. lxxxi
- Of the reuerēce that kȳg arthur dide to the messagiers of the Emperour capit / lxxxij
- Of the kȳges & lordes that camē to serue & ayde kȳg arthur ayenst the emperour capi. lxxxiij
- How king arthur faught & slew a geant kalled Dynabꝰ that had slayn̄ heleyne kyng hoelles cosyn of littel britaigne cap. lxxxiiij
- How king arthur yaf bataill to the emperour / in which̄ bataill y e emperour was slayn̄ ca / lxxxv /
- How kīg arthur buried y e bodies of his knightes y t were slayn̄ in y e bataill. & how he sent y e emꝑours bodi to rome for tribute / c / lxxxvj
- How mordred to whō he had gyuē the gouernaūce of his reaume in his absēce rebelled ayēst hī. ca. lxxxvij
- How Arthur enchased mordred the traitour: ād how he was slayn̄: & kyng arthur wounded to the deth ca / lxxxviij.
- How king arthur deliured the reaume to constātȳ the sone of cader hys nevew cap: lxxxix
- Of the werre y t was made ayēst cōstātine bi the ij sones of mordred. cap / xc
- Of kȳg adelbright & Edell· ca. xci:
- How kīg Edel maried y e damisell adelbrights dought vnto a knaue. c / xcij
- Of kȳg Conan (punctel) c. xciij
- [Page]Of kyng Cortyf & of Gurmonde that came bi helpe of the paynȳs into britaigne cap. xciij
- How kyng Gurmōd drofe kyng Cortyf to chychestre / & slew y e bretons & gate the towne. ca / xcv
- How this lōde was named Englond after the name of Engyst: & how many kinges were made after in dyuerse partyes of the lō de cap. cxvi
- How seint Austyn came first in to Englōd & baptysed & cōuerted kȳg Adelbright. & of two bisshoppes y t were his felawes. ca xcvij
- How seint Austȳ went into walys. & the bretons ther wolde not obeye tharchebysshop of caūterbury. capitulo xcviij
- How king Adelbright & kȳg Olfryde slew Brecynale king of bretons that helde the contre of Leicestre capit. xcix
- How king cadewā of leycestre: & Elfryde kyng of Northūberland were frendes: & of the debate that was bitwen̄ Edwȳ & Walȳ / whiche that were bothe hir sones capitulo centesimo
- How kȳg oswold was slayne by king cadwalȳ & Peanda· & how Oswy seint oswaldes brother regned after him & slew Peanda. & how kyng cadewaldre that was cadewalynes sone / regned after his fadre (punctel) & was laste king of the britons cap. cj
- How cadwaldre forsoke this lād & wente into littel bretaign̄ / ca. cij
- How kȳg offa was soueraine aboue all the kynges in Englond that there were / & how Osoryght enforced the wyfe of Buerne bocarde / wherof fyll moch sorwe capitulo ciij
- How y e danes toke yorke & slewe the king of bright & Elle. cap. ciiij
- How seint Edmōd the kȳg was martred capitul. cv
- How hubba & hūgar toke y e toune of Redyng cāp. cvi
- Of kȳg Alured & how y e danoys in his time requyred hȳ to suffre thē to departe out of this lād. ca. cvij
- How Hubba & hūgar were slayne at cipenham & how the danes brought hir king to kyng Alured capitulo cviij
- How the danes that wente in to fraūce w t Gurmōd came agayne into englōd & of the deth of kyng Alured capitulo c / ix
- Of kȳg Edward that was king Aluredes sone capit. cx
- Of kȳg adesstō & of Edmōd Eldrede / ād of Edwyne his brother cap / cxi /
- Of kȳg Edgar how he regned ouer all the kynges of scotlād & walys. & how he was deceyued ī takȳg of his wife (punctel) ca / cxij
- How kȳg Ebrak wedded estrilde after y e deth of Edelwold. ca / cxiij
- How seȳt edward y e martir was slayn̄ bi hys stepmoder Estrylde: for to make Eldred hir sone king. capitulo c / xiiij
- [Page]Of king Eldred & how kȳg Swyne of Denmarcke helde englond. ād how Eldrede seint Edwardes brother was nat beloued. Wherfore he fledde into normandie capitulo cxv
- How kyng Eldrede came agayn from Normādie / & how Knoght the Dane regned· ād of the werre bytwene him & Edmond Irēside capitulo cxvi
- Of king Knoght capit: cxvij
- How king Edmōd Irēside was slayn̄ bi a traitour named edrith of stratton cap. cxviij
- How king knoght sente kȳg Edmondes sones into Denmarke / for to slee / & how thei were sauyd / capitulo cxix
- How kȳg knoght cōquered norwey. & how after hys pryde became meke & milde cap / cxx
- Of kȳg harolde that leuer had to go on fote than to ryde cap. cxxi.
- Of kyng hardeknoght haroldes brother capitulo cxxij
- Of the vylanye that the danoys diden to englisshmē: wherfore afterward was no dane made kȳg of Englond cap. cxxiij
- How Godewyn toke Alured on gildesdoune whā he cam oute of normandye for to be kȳg: & how he was martred in the Ile of ely. capitulo cxxiiij
- How seīt Edward aluredis brother was made kyng of englond capitulo cxxv
- Of the fyrst miracle that god shewed for seint Edward. cap. cxxvi
- How erle Godewine retorned in to Englond & how seynt edward wedded his doughter c / cxxvij
- How seint Edward sawe swyne drowned in the see as he stode ād herde his masse capit: cxxviij
- How the rȳge that seȳt Edward had gyuē to seint Iohā ewāgelist was sēte to hȳ agaȳ cap / cxxix.
- How saint Edwarde deide. & is buried at westmȳstre capi. cxxx.
- How Harold Godewynes sone was made kīg / & how he escaped fro y e duke of Normādie. ca cxxxi
- How William bastard duke of normādie cōquered Englōd and slew king Harold cap: cxxxij
- How kȳg williā gouerned hym well. & of the werre bitwen̄ him & the king of Fraūce cap / cxxxiij
- Of king William rous William bastardes sone: y t destroyed townes & houses of religion to make a forest cap: cxxxiiij
- How king Hēry beauclerk william Rous brother was kyng / & of the debate bitwen̄ hȳ & robert Curthose his brother ca. cxxxv:
- Of the debate that was bitwene kyng Loys of Fraūce & kȳg hērj of englond. & how his two sones were drowned in y e see / cap: cxxxvi
- How Maude the empresse came ayen̄ into englōd. & how she was wedded after to Geffrey Erle of Angeoye cap: cxxxvij
- [Page]How Stephen kȳg Hēries suster sone was made kīg of englōd capitulo cxxxviij
- How Maude thēpresse had moche trouble & disease. & how she escaped fro oxūford to walingford capitulo cxxxix
- How Geffrey Erle of Angeoye yaf vnto hēry thēpresses sone all normandie cap. cxl
- Of king henri the second thēpresses sone in whos tyme seȳt Thomas of caunterbury was made chauncheler cap: cxli
- Of king henri that was sone of king benry thempresses sone / ād of debate of hȳ & of his fadre capitulo cxlij
- How the crystē men lost the holi londe in this tyme thurgh a fals cristē men that renyed his fayth / & became a sarasin cap. cxliij:
- Of king Richard cuer de lyon. ād of his conqueste in the holy lōde. capitulo cxliiij
- How king Richard retorned fro the holy lande (punctel) & how he auēged hȳ on his enemies capi. cxlv
- How johā his brother was made king: & the first yere of his regne he lost all normādie ca / cxlvi
- How king johā wolde nat obeie the popes ꝯmaūdemēt: wherfore all Englōd was enterdyted capitulo cxlvij
- How stephen of Lāgeton came into englōd bi the popes ꝯmaū dement. & how he retorned agaȳ capitulo cxlviij
- How king Iohā destroyed thordre of Cisteaus capi cxlix
- How Pandolf delyured a clerke that had falshed & counterfeyted the kinges money in y e kinges p̄ sence capitulo cl
- Of the letter obligatorie that kīg Iohan made vnto the courte of Rome: wherfore petre pens ben paied capitulo cli
- Howe y e clerkes that were owtlawed cam̄ agaȳ & how kȳg johan was assoylled cap clij
- How the enterdiction cessid & of the debate bitwene king Iohā & the barons of englōd ca / cliij
- How Lowys the kinges sone of fraunce came into englōd wyth a stronge power for to be kyng. capitulo cliiij
- how the pope sente Swalo a [...]egate in to englond ād of the deth of king Iohan capitulo clv
- How king hēry the thridde was crowned at Gloucestre capitulo clvi
- how lowys retorned into Fraū ce. & of the confirmacyon of king Iohannes chartre cap. clvij
- Of y e quinzieme of goodes graū ted for the newe chartres & of the purveaūce of oxēford ca / cxlviij
- Of y e siege of kemlworth (punctel) & how gentill men were disherited by y e counseill of the lordes: & how thei had hir londes ayen̄ cap. clix
- [Page]The prophecye of merlȳ of kyng henry that was king johānes sone capitulo clx
- Of king edward king Hēries sone capitulo clxj
- How ydeyne doughter of Lewelyn prīce of walys: & Aymer brother of therle of moūfort were take on the see capitulo clxij
- How lewelyn by encoragyng of dauid his brother made werre ayenst kȳg edward cap: clxiij
- How dauid lewelȳs brother prī ce of Walys was put to deth ca. clxiiij
- How king Edward redressid his justices & clerkes: and how the jewes were put oute of englond cap. clxv
- How king edward was seised in all the land of scotland bi cōsente of all the lordes of the same. capitulo clxvi
- How sir Iohan bailoll withsaid hys homage for scotlād: & sir thomas Turbeluille capitulo / clxvij /
- Of the cōquest of berewyke in scotlād. ca / clxviij
- How kȳg Edward delyured the scottes oute of pryson & how thei drew hē to the frensshmē by coū seill of Williā walys ca: clxix:
- How Williā waleys lete slee syr Hugh̄ of cressynghē & of the bataille of foukyrke capi / clxx
- Of the last mariage of king Edward / & how he wēte the thridde tyme into scotland cap: clxxi.
- How y e castell of Estreuelin was [...]eseged cap: clxxiij
- How Troylebastone was fyrst ordeyned cap. clxxiij
- Of the deth of william waleys y e fals traitour capit / clxxiiij
- How the scottes came to kyng edward for tamende their offencis that they had trespaced ayēst him capit / clxxv
- How Robert the brus chalēged scotland cap. clxxvi
- How sir Iohan of comyn gaynsayde the crounȳg of sir Robert the brus capitulo clxxvij
- How sir Iohan of comyn was pytously slayne cap / clxxviij
- How sir Robert the Brus was crouned capitulo clxxix
- Howe king edward doubbyd at westmȳstre fourten score knightes capit. c.lxxx
- how robert the Brus was discō fyted in bataill: & how sir simōd frysell was slayne ca. clxxxi
- How johan erle of atheles was take & put to deth cap / clxxxij
- how Iohā williā waleys brother was put to deth ca· clxxxiij
- How robert the Brus fledde fro scotlād to Norwey ca. clxxxiiij
- How the noble kȳg edward deide capit / clxxxv
- Of merlȳs ꝓphecie declared on kȳg edward ca / clxxxvi
- Of kȳg edward of caernarvan: which̄ was kȳg Edwardes sone (punctel) capit. clxxxvij
- how Robert y e brus came agayn into scotlād. & assembled a grete power to werre vpō kȳg edward capitulo clxxxviij
- [Page]How the toune of barewyk was taken bi tresō. & how two cardynallys were robbed in Englond capitulo: clxxxix
- How the scottes robbed Northū berland / capitulo c.xc /
- How Scotland wold not amende their trespaces / Wherfore the land was enterdid cap. cxci
- How sir hugh̄ the spencers sone was made the kinges Chaūberlayn & of the bataill of mytone capitulo cxcij
- How king Edward was all ruled by the Spencers cap / cxciij
- How sir hugh̄ spencer & his fadre were exiled out of ēglōd. ca. cxciiij
- How the kȳg exiled Thomas erle of Lācastre & all thē that helde with him: & how mortimer cam̄ & yelded hȳ to the kȳg ca / cxcv
- Of the siege of tickhille ād of the erle of Lācastre cap: cxcvi
- Of the discōfiture of burghbrige capitulo cxcvij
- How Thomas of Lācastre was biheded at pountfrete & v. barōs hanged & drawen ca. cxcviij
- How king Edward wente into scotland with an hōdred M. men of werre & might not spede / capi. c / xcix
- How sir Andrew of herkela was takē & put to deth: whiche was erle of cardoill cap. cc
- Of the myracles y t god wrought for seynt Thomas of Lancastre: wherfor the dores of y e priore were closed by cause none shold come & offre at his sepulture. ca / cci
- How quene Isabell wente in to fraūce for to trete for pees bitwene both kinges of englōd and of fraunce capitl’. ccij
- How king Edward sēte edward his sone the prynce into fraunce capitulo / cciij
- How kīg edward exiled the quene his wife: & Edward his oldest sone capitulo cciiij
- How king Edward by the coū seyll of the spencers sente to the yn peres of Fraūce to helpe exile quene Isabell & hyr sone sir Edward oute of Fraūce ca: ccv
- How kyng Edward let kepe the costes of the see & tried out the beste men of werre in englond capitulo ccvi
- How quene jsabell & edward hir sone duke of Gu [...]hēne londed at herwich / & how they didē. ca. ccvij
- How maister Valtier Stapletō bisshopp of Excestre the tresorer was beheded at londō ca / cc:viij
- How kȳg edward / sir hugh̄ spē cher & therle of Arundel were taken capitulo ccix
- How kȳg Edward was deposed and his dignite takē from hym capitulo ccx
- The prophecie of Merlyn declared vpon king Edward of Caernarvan· sone of kȳg edward capitulo ccxi
- Of king Edward the thridde after the conquest capi. ccxij
- [Page]How kīg Edward wēte to Stā hope for to mete y e scottes. ca: ccxiij
- How the englisshmen stopped y e scottes in the parke of Stāhope. & how they torned ayen̄ into scotland / capitulo. ccxiiij
- Of the deth of king Edward of caernarvan Somtyme kyng of Englond cap / ccxv
- How kȳg Edward spoused phelipp therles doughter of henaude at yorke capi. ccxvi
- How the pees was made bitwene Englisshmen & Scotes: & of y e iustifiyng of troylebastone. capi / ccxvij
- Of the debate that was bitwene quene Isabell & syr henry Erle of Lancastre And of the rydȳg to bedford ca / ccxviij
- How king Edward wente ouer see to do his homage vnto y e kȳg of Fraūce for Guyan ca / ccxix /
- How sir Rogier mortimer bare hȳ proudely & hye capit / ccxx
- How Edmōd of wodestoke Erle of Kēte & brother to kīg Edward of caernarvan was beheded at wynchestre capitu. ccxxi
- Of the deth of sir Roger mortymer erle of the marche ca: ccxxij.
- How king Edward gate ayen̄ y e homages ād feautes of scotland which̄ he had lost by his moder & sir Rogier mortymer Newe made erle of y e marche cap. ccxxiij.
- Thys was the arraye of the scottes that came in bataill agayn̄ y e two kinges of Englōd & Scotlād in the avautward fyrst were these lordes cap. ccxxiiij
- How king Edward made a duchye of the Erledomme of cornewaille / ād of othir vj. newe erles that he made & of the first chalē ge & title of the Reaulme of fraū ce capitulo: ccxxv
- How king Edward fought in y e hauen of skluys ayēst the power of Fraūce: wherof he had the victorie capitulo: ccxxvi
- How king Edward sailled in to normādye & arryued at Hogges with a grete hoost cap. ccxxvij
- How king Edward besieged caleys & how he gate it: cap. ccxxviij
- How kyng Edward had a grete bataille on the see by Wynchelse with spainardes ca. ccxxix
- How kīg Edward was crouned king of scotlād & how prince Edward toke the kīg of Fraūce & sir phelip his yonger sone at the bataille of peyters ca. ccxxx
- How the grete cōpanie aroos in Fraūce: and of an othre cōpanie that roos in Lūbardie: & of othir mervaillys capi. ccxxxi
- Of the grete wynde & how prince Edward toke the lordshipp of gwyan of his fadre & wente thidder capitulo ccxxxij /
- Of the bataille of spaigne bi nazers bitwen̄ prince edward & syr hēry bastart of spayne. c. ccxxxiij.
- How sir robert knolles wy t othir lordes wente ouer see into fraūce [Page] & of their gouernaūce ca. cxxxiiij
- Of the siege of Rochell. & how y e Erle of Penbroke & hys cōpanye were take with spaynardes capitulo ccxxxv
- How the duke of Lācastre wyth a grete hoost wēte into Flaūdres & passed bi Paris thurgh fraūce. till he cam̄ to burdeux: ca / ccxxxvi
- Of the deth of prince edward: ād of the lord Latymer & dame alice piers bi mayntenaūce of whom the Reaulme was lōged mysgouerned capit. ccxxxvij
- Of the deth of king edward. and how sir Iohā mōsterworth knyght was drawe & hanged capitulo ccxxxviij
- How king Rychard prynce Edwardes sone was made kȳg / and of Iake straw / & how he wedded quene Anne / and of many othir thinges cap. ccxxxix. & ccxl
- How v / lordes rysen at Rafordt brigge capi / ccxli
- How king Rychard wedded Isabell y e kinges doughter of fraū ce in caleys: & of her coronaciō at westmynstre capitulo ccxlij
- Howe kyng Henry the fourthe after the conqueste Regned after kyng Rychard: whom he deposed. and of the bataille of shrewysbury and of all his regne capitulo ccxliij
- How kyng henry the fifthe hys sone was kyng / and of hys reignyng in the begynnyng. and of the siege of harflette bataille of Angecourt / ād werre in Normā dye capit. ccxliiij
- How kyng henry was made heretier and regent of Fraunce ād how he made quene katerine capitulo ccxlv
- Of the lawde of kyng henry the fifthe and what he ordeyned for kȳg Richard and for hym self after his deth Capitulo ccxlvi
- how kyng henry the Sixthe regned after his fadre Beȳg not full a yere of age: and of the bataylle of verneyll in perche capitulo cc.xlvij
- How ther was lyke to haue ben grete affraye bitwene the Cardinall and the duke of Glowcestre and of the coronacyon of kyng henry the sixthe bothe in Englōd and in fraunce capitulo ccxvliij
- Of the heresye of Praghe and of the counseill of Aras. where the duke of bourgoyn̄ became frēsh Capitulo cc.xlix
- How caleys and Guyhenes were besieged by the duke of Bourgoygne: & how the duke of Gloucestre Rescued them ca. ccl
- How Owayn a squier of walys that had wedded quene Katheryn was arested & put in pryson: ād of the sysme bitwen̄ Engenye and Felix cap / ccli
- [Page]How the Ducesse of Glowcestre was arrested for treson & cōmytted to perpetuell pryson in the Ile of mā And of the deth of maister Rogier Bolȳbroke ca. cclij
- How kyng Henry wedded quene Margarete & of hir coronaciō capitulo cc.lij.
- How the duke of Gloucestre hū frey the kȳges vncle was arested at the parlamēt of Bury & of his deth / and how Angeo in mayne was deliuered capitulo ccliij.
- How sir Frāchois Aragonoys toke Fogier in Normādye / And of the losse of Constantynople bi the Turke capi. ccliiij
- Of thinsurreryon in Kēte of the cōmunes. of whom an jrysshmā kalled Iohan cade was capitaȳ / Capitulo cclv
- How the duke toke a felde in kē te at Blackheth: and of the burth of prynce Edward: & of the fyrst felde of seint Albions. where the duke of Somersete was slayne & othir grete lordes capit. cclvi
- How the lorde Egremond was taken by therle of Salysburyes sones (punctel) ād of the robbing of sandwych Capit. cclvij
- How thei of the kȳges houshold made affraye ayēst therle of warrewyke at Westmynstre / And of the iourney of Bloreheth Capitulo. cc / lviij.
- How the duke of yorke therles of warrewyke & of Salisburj toke a felde in the west cōtre & how Andrew Trollopp and the soudyours of Caleys forsoke them capitulo cc.lix
- How the Erles of marche Warrewyk and Salysbury entred into caleys: ād how the erle of warrewyke wēte into Irland. ca / cclx
- How the Erles of marche warrewyke and of Salisbury entred into Englōd / And of the felde of Northamptō: where dyuerse lordes were slayne capit: cclxi
- How the noble Duke of yorke was slayne at wakfelde / And of the secōd journey at seint Albiōs by the quene and the prynce capitulo cc.lxij
- Of the deposicyon of kyng Henry the sixte: ād how kȳg Edward the fourth̄ toke the poscessyon of the Reaulme. and of the bataille on Palmesonday: And how he was crowned Cap / cclxiij
¶How the lāde of Englōde was fyrst named Albion / ād by what encheson it was so named
THer was in the noble lāde of Surre a noble myghti kīg & a mā of grete renome that men called Dioclisian: that well & worthely hym gouerned and ruled thurgh his noble chiualrie. So that he conquered all the landes about hym: so that almost all the kynges of the world to him were entēdant Hit befell thus that thys Dyoclesian spoused a gentill damysell that was wōder fair. and was his Emes doughter. ād men called hyr labana. And she loued hȳ as resō wolde. so that he gate vpon her .xxxiij. doughtres / of the whiche the eldest men called Albine. and thees damiselles whā they comē vnto age: they bicomen so fayre / that it was wōder: Wherfor that this Dyoclisian anon̄ let make a somaunce / & commaūded by his lrēs that alle the kinges that helden of hȳ shold come at a certaȳ day as in hyr lrēs were cōteyned to make a ryall feste / At whyche day thider they comē & brought wy t hem amyrallis princes & dukes ād noble chyualrye. The fest was rially arayed / & ther they lyued en ioye and myrthe ynough that it was wōder to wit. And it befell thus that thys Dyoclisian thought to marie his doughtres amōg all the kinges that tho were at that solēpnite (punctel) & so they spaken ād ded that albyne his eldest doughter & all hir sustres richely were maried vnto .xxxiij. kinges that were lordes of grete honour & of power at this solēpnite And whan the solempnyte was done: every king toke his wyf ād lad hē in to her owne contre and ther made hē quenes. And it befell thus afterward that this dame albyne bycome so stoute & so sterne that she tolde lytel prys of her lorde. & of hym had scorne ād despit & wolde not done his wyll but she wolde haue hyr owne wil in diuerse maters. & all hyr other sustres euerichone bere hē so euel ayēst hyr lordes that it was wō der to wyt / and for asmoch̄ as hē thought that hyr husbondes were nought of so hye ꝑage comen: as hyr fadre But the kinges that were hyr lordes wolde haue castised him with fayr speche & behestes / and also by yeftes / & warned hem in fayr maner vpon all loue & frēdship that they sholde amē de her lyther condycyons / but all [Page] was for nought. for they dydden hyr owne will in alle thyng that hem lyked & had of power / Wherfor the xxxiij. kynges vpō a tyme and often tymes beten hyr wifes for they wēd that they wolde haue amēded her tacches & hir wikked thewes / but of suche condicions they were. that for fair spech̄ and warnyng they dydden alle the wers / and for betynges eftsones mochel wers / Wherfore the kyng y t had wedded albyne wrote the tacches and condicions of hys wyfe albyne. & sent the letter to dioclisian hyr fadre / And whā the other kinges herde that albynes lord had sent a letter to Dyoclisiā. anone they sent lettres ensealed with hyr seales the condycyons & the tacches of hyr wyfes also. Whan the noble kȳg dyoclisian saw and herd so many complayntes of hys doughtres: he was sore ashamed & became wō der angrye & wroth toward hys doughtres. ād thought both night & day how that he might amē de it that they so mysded. And anone sent he his lrēs vnto y e xxxiij kȳges that they shold come to hȳ & bringe with hem hir wifes euerichone at certaȳ day. for he wolde ther castyse them of their wikkednesse / yf he might in any maner or wyse: So that the kīges camen alle at that day & tyme that tho was sette bytwene hȳ / & the kyng Dioclisian vnderfeng hem all with moche honour & made a solempne feest to alle that were vnder his lordship / And the thridde day after that solempnite the noble kyng Dioclisian sent after hys .xxxiij. doughtres that they shold come ād speke wyth him in his chābre / and whan they were come to hir fadre. he spake vnto hem of hyr wikkednesse ād of hir crueltie. and dispytously hem reproued & vndernam (punctel) and to hem he said that yf they wold not be chastysed they shulde his loue lese for euermore And when the ladyes herdē all thys / they becamē moch̄ abasshed & gretly ashamyd & to her fadre they sayd / that they wold make alle amēdes & so they departed owt from hyr fadres chambre: And dame albyne that was the eldest suster lad hem alle to hyr chābre and to made voyde alle that were therȳne so that no lyue was amōge hē. but she & hyr sustres. Tho sayd this albine. my fayr sustres well we knowē that the kȳg our fadre vs hath reproued shamed & despysed for enchesō to make vs obediēt vnto oure housbōdes: but certes that shal j neuer whiles y t j lyue. syth that I am come of a more hyer kynges blode thā mȳ husbōde is / & whā she had thꝰ sayd: all hir sustrē said y e same / & tho sayd albyne. j wote wel fayre sustres y t our husbōdes [Page] haue playned vnto our fadre vpō vs / wherfor he hath vs thus foule reproued & despysed. wherfore sustres my counseyll is that thys night whan our husbondes ben̄ a bedde all we wyth owne assent cuttē hir throtes: & than we may bene in pees of hem. ād better we mowe doo this thȳge vnder our fadres power than elles where. And anone all the ladyes consented & graunted to this counseyll / And whan nyght was comē the lordes & ladyes went to bedde / ād anone as hir lordes were a slepe: they cutte all hir husbōdes throtes. and so they slowen hem all. Whenne that Dioclisian the kȳg her fadre herd of this thȳg / he become hugely wroth ayēst his doughtres & anon̄ wold hem all haue brent· But alle the barons ād lordes of Surre counceylled not so for to do suche sternesse to hys ownes doughtres. but only sholde voide the lād of hem for euermore: so that they neuer shold come ayen̄. and so he dyde. And Dioclisiā that was her fadre anoue commaunded hem to gone in to a ship / and delyuered to hem vytailles for half a yere. And whan this was done all the sustren wēt in to the ship & sayled forth in the see. and bytoke alle hyr frēdes to appolyn that was hir god. And so lōge they saylled in the see tyll at the last they came ād arryued in an yle that was all wildernesse And whan dame albyne was come to that londe and all hir sustres: this albyne went forth owt of the ship and sayd to hyr othyr sustres For asmoche sayd she as I am the oldest suster of all thys companye & fyrst this land haue taken. ād for as moch̄ as my name is albyne: I wyll that this lō de be called albyon after mȳ owne name / ād anon̄ hir sustrē graū ted it to hyr wy t a good wyl. Tho went alle the sustres owt of the shippe and tokē the land Albyō as hyr suster called it. And ther they wente vp ād downe & fonde nether man ne woman ne child but wilde bestes of diuerse kȳdes. And when̄ hir vytailles were dispended & hem faylled: they fedde hem wy t herbes and frutes in seson of the yere / and so they leued as they best myght. ād after that they token flessh̄ of dyuerses bestes and bicame wonder fat ād so they desired mannys companye & mannys kynde that hem failled: and for hete they woxen wō der coragious of kynde: so that they desyred more mannis cōpanie than ony othir solace or mirthe· Whan the deuel that perceyued he went by dyuerse cōtreyes and nomme body of the eyr and likynge natures shad of men / ād come in to the lande of Albyon. and lay by the wymen and shad [Page] the natures vpon hem and they ꝯceyued: and after they brought forth Geants / of the whych̄ men kalled Gogmagog & an other lā gherigan. and so they were nēpned by dyuerse names: ād in this maner they came forth: ād were borne horryble geants in Albyō. and they dwelled in caues and in hulles at hyr will. and had the lō de of Albion as hem lyked / vnto the tyme that Brute arryued ād came to Totnesse that was ī the yle of albyon. And ther this brute conquered and sconfyted the geants aboue sayd
Capitulo primo
[Page] THer was in the noble cyte of grete Troye a noble king ād a man of grete power that was kalled Eneas / & whan the cyte of Troye was lost ād destroyed thurgh heem of grece. this Eneas wy t all hys meyne fledde thēs & come in to lumbardie / there that tho was lorde & gouernour of that lōde a king that was called Latyne. And an othir kyng there was that was kalled Turocelyne. that strongely werred vpon this king Latyne. that often tymes dyd hym moch̄ harme: And whē this kīg herde that Eneas was comē. he vnderfeng hȳ wyth mochel honour / & hym with helde for as moch̄ as he had herde of hȳ: and wist well that he was a noble kinght ād a worthy of his body ād of his dedes This Eneas helpe king Latyne in his werre. & shortly for to telle / so well & worthely he dyd: that he slowe Turocelyne and discomfyted hȳ and all his peple. And whan all thys was done: kyng latyne yaf all that londe that was Turocelynis to Eneas in mariage with Lauyne his doughter. the moost fayre creature that any mā wist: and so they lyued to gedre in ioye & myrthe all hir lyfes tyme. And after he wedded a wyfe / and vpō hir begate a sone that was called Silueyne: & thys Sylueyne whā he coude some reson of man. vnwytyng his fadre and ayenst his will. acqueynted with a damisell that was cosȳ to leuine that was kȳg Latynes doughter the quene that was Eneas wyfe: & brought the damisell with childe. ād whan Ascamus his fadre it wist anone let enquere of the wysest maistres & of the gretest clerkes what child y e damisell shold bring forth / and they answerd and seyd that she shold bryng forth a sone that sholde quelle bothe fadre ād moder. ād so he dyd For his moder deyed in berȳg of hȳ. Ad whā this child was borne his fadre let calle hȳ Brute. And the maistres sayd that he shold do moche harme & sorwe in many diuerse places / ād after he shold come to grete honour & worship This kyng Ascamꝰ deyde whā god wolde & silueyne his sone receyued y e land & made hȳ wonderlich̄ wel beloued amōge his peple. And when brute y t was silueynus sone was xv. yere olde. he went vpō a daye wy t his fadre for to pley & solace: & as this brute shold shete vnto an hert / his arwe myshapped & glaced: & so there brute quelled his fadre.
How Brute was dryuen owt of the land / and how he helde hȳ in grece Capitulo secundo
ANd when this myschance befalle was: the peple of the lāde made sorwe ynough And were sore an ā gred / ād for encheson therof they dryuen Brute oute of the lande & wolde not suffre him amōges hē & he saugh that he must not abide. and went fro thens in to grece ād ther fonde he vij.M. men that were of the lygnage and kynryd of Troye that were comē of grete blode as the storie telleth. as of men and wymen ād chyldrē whiche were all holden in throldome and bondage of the kȳg Pādras of grece / for the deth of Achylles. that was bitraied and slayne at troye / This brute was a wonder fayr man and a stronge ād hughe of hys age & of glad chere and sē blant / & also worthy of body / ād was wel beloued amonge his peple. This king Pādras herde speke of hys goodnesse & his cōdicyons: and anone made hȳ dwelle wyth him. so that Brute bicome wonder pryue & moch̄ beloued w t the king: so that longe tyme brute dwelled wyth the kyng. So at y e last they of Troye & Brute spaken to gydre of kynred & of lygnage and of acqueyntaūce. ād ther pleyned hem vnto Brute of hyr sorwe and of hyr boundage / and of many other shames that the kyng Pandras had hem done: & to Brute they saidē vpon a time Ye be a lord of owr lygnage ād a strōg man & a myghty: be ye our capiteyn & lorde / and we wyll bycome yowr men & your cōmaū dements done. in alle maner thȳ ges: ād bringe ye vs oute of this wrecchednesse & bondage. & fight we with the kyng: for thurgh the grace of the grete god we shal hȳ ouercome and we shal make you kyng of the lande & to yow done homage / & of yow we shull holde euermore. Brut had tho grete pite of hyr bondage that they were brought in. and preuely he went hȳ from the kīges court. & all tho that were of Troye went ād put hē in to the wodes & in to mōtaignes. & hem helde & sent vnto the kȳg Pandras that he sholde yeue hē leue sauelych̄ for to wēte owt of the lāde: for they wold no lēger dwelle in hys bōdage. The kyng Pādras wax tho sore annoied: & swore that he wolde slee hē euerichone: ād ordeyned a gret power & went towardes hem all for to fyght· But brute & his men māly hem defended & fiersly foughten & quelled all y e kȳges mē that none of hē escaped. & tokē the kȳg & hȳ helde in prysō / & ordeyned coū seyl bitwene hē what they might [Page] done Somme sayd that he shold be put to deth. and somme sayd. that he shold be exiled oute of the lande. and somme sayd that he shold be brent. And tho spake a wyse knight that was called Mē prys: and sayd to Brute ād to all the of Troye / yf kyng Pandras wolde yelde him & haue hys lyfe. I coūseyll that he yeue vnto brute that is our duke and our souerayngne his doughter Gennogē to his wyfe and in mariage with hyr an hōderd shippes wel arayed: and all his tresour of gold ād syluer / of corne and wyne: and as moch̄ as nedeth to haue of o thīg and other / and than go owte of his land (punctel) and ordeyne we vs lande elles / wer fore we ne none of owr kynred that comen after vs shall neuer haue pees in this lād amonges hē of Grece / for we haue slayne many of hyr knightes and of her other frēdes / that euer more werre ād cōtake sholde ben̄ amonges vs. Brute tho and alle his folke cōsented well to that cō seyll. and thys thyng they tolden to kyng Pandras: and therfor to haue hys lyfe he graūted as moche as they axed. and anone yaf vnto Brute Gennogē hys doughter to wyfe / & the .C shippes wy t as moche as hē nedeth of alle vytailles. as before was ordeyned. Brute tho toke hys wyfe & all his men that forsoke the lād of grece / & wentē hem vnto the [...] / & haddē wynde & weder at will / & camē the thridde day in to an Ile that was called Lorgers / Brute anon̄ sente of his men a lande for to aspie the maner of the cōtre. & they fondē an olde Cyte all vasted ād forlet / & was therinne nether mā ne woman ne no thyng dwellȳg ād in the middel of this cyte they fondē an olde tēple of a fayre lady that was called Dyane y e goddesse And they camen ayen̄ vnto brute & tolde him what they had seyn & fondē / & counceilled hȳ to gone & to done sacrefice vnto dame Dyane / For she was wont to yeue answer of what thyng that euer man praied hyr / ād namely vnto them that her honoured w t sacrefice. Brute wēt to that jmage & sayd. Dyane noble goddesse lady / that all thing hast in might & in thy power: wyndes / waters. wodes / feldes / & alle thynges of y e world. & alle maner of bestes that ther in ben̄: To yow I make my prayer that ye me counceylle and telle where ād in what place that I shall maye haue ād fynde a couenable dwellyng for me ād for for my peple. ād whan I shal haue fonden thys by your coūceill: there shall I make in the honour of yow a well fayre temple and a noble. wherȳne that ye shal euermore [Page] ben honowred: Whan he had done hys prayer: the goddesse Dyane answerde to hȳ in this maner. Brute sayd she. go euen forth thy wey ouer y e see īto fraū ce toward the west / & ther ye shall fȳde an Ile that is kalled Albyō / & that yle is bycompasset all wy t the see (punctel) & no man may come ther in but it ben̄ by shippes: And in that lāde were wont to be geāts / but nowo it is not so: but all wyldernesse (punctel) and that forsayde land is destynyed ād ordeyned for you and for your peple
¶How that the vaillaūt knight Coryn became Brutes men. and how that the kyng Goffars was discomfyted Capitulo iij
WHan Brute herde thys āswere of Diane the goddesse. anone let he the ancres wynde vp & sayled in to the hygh̄ see / ād whan he & hys men had saylled .xx. dayes & moo: they fonden fast beside a cost of the see a thousād men of the lygnage ād kynred of Troye / and hyr soueraigne ād hyr maistre of all was kalled Coryn. And whan Brute wiste whennes they were / he tho vnderfeng hem wyth moch̄ joye. in to his shyppes. ād lad hē forth wyth hym / Thys Coryn tho become Brutes men̄ / and to him he dyd feaulte and homage. And so so longe they saylled forth in the see tyll they camen in to Gasconye· and anone they arryued in the hauē of Lyrgers. ād ther they dwelled .viij. dayes hē for to restē and hyr saylles for to amēde ther that it was nede.. Thyse tydȳges sone camen to the kyng Goffar (punctel) that was lord of that lande / how that mochel folke of strange lande weren arryued in hys land. in the hauen of Lirgers: Wherfore he was sore angred and anoyed / that they camen and arryued in his lande wythoute leue: and anone he ordeyned hȳ a grete power for to dryuen owte. ād to destroye brute wyth his peple / But kyng Goffar was discomfyted and alle hys folke. and hym self fledde in to fraunce to seke helpe ād socour. And in that tyme regned in Fraunce .xij / kynges: and the .xj. kynges assembled a grete power for to helpe Goffar for to fyght ayenst brute: Goffar dwelled with hem of Fraunce halfe a yere and more / And brute in the mene tyme and hys companye destroyed alle the lād of gasconie and let take alle the tresour that the Goffar hath: and let bringe it in to his shippes: And this brute fonde in that land a fayre place and moche couenable. and there made he a fayre ād a stronge castel.
[Page]Whan alle this thing was doū. Kyng goffar came fro Fraunce & xj. kynges wyth hym. & broughtē xx.M / men for to fyght ayēst Brut and his companye / & brute had but vij.M / and / ccc / men: neuertheles when the two hostes metē to gedre / brutes folk thurgh helpe of him self & of Turyn his cosyn / and of Coryn that wel ād manly hym deffended & foughtē so that ī lytel time they had quelled of the frenshmē two thousād and moo / and the other that tho were a lyue fledde a way / And in this bataill Turȳ that was brutes cosyn was slayn / ād Brut let burye him worthely whā he had space & leyser in the castell that he had made / and tho let he calle the castell Tours for y e name of Turyne that there was buryed / ād yet in to thys day ther is a noble cyte that is called Tours:
Whan kyng Goffar wyste that Turyn was dede: he came ayen with hys men: & after yaf a strō ge bataill vnto Brute: but brute & his men were so wery of fyghtyng that they myght no lenger endure: but māgre him & all hise. Brute went into his castell wyth alle his men / ād made the yates fast for to saue hym selfe. and for to take counseyll amonges hem what were best for to do / Brute & Coryn toke counceill and ordeyned that Coryn preueli sholde go owte & hyde hym in a wode that ther bi was: tyl a morne / So that in the mornyng whan kȳg Brute sholde fyght wy t hys enemyes Coryn shold come with his folke in that owne syde. and slee and doo all the harme that he might: And on the mornyng in the dawenyng Brute went owte of the castell and faught vaylliauntly with hys enemyes: ād they fiersly defended hem. But wythyn a lytel tyme Brute & his folke slew viij.C of kyng goffars men: tho came Coryn fro the busshement and smote to grounde he ād hys companye all that wolde stonde or abyde. so that the Kyng goffart and his folke were discomfited / and begonne fast to flee. and Brute and Coryn with hyr companye fersely hem pursued and quelyd mo of them in theyr fleddyng than they dyden in the bataille.
And in that maner the vaillaūt kyng Brute had the victorye of hys ennemyes / But neuertheles he made moch̄ sorowe for his cosyn Thurȳ that there was slayn̄ and for the othir also of hys men that he had lost in the bataille / & ther were slayn of hys men vij c. and xv / the whyche he let nobely burye in y e castell of Tours / ther that he had buryed Turyn hys cosyn
¶How king Brute arryued at [Page] Tottenesse in the Ile of Albyon. and of the bataille that was bytwene Coryn and Gogmagog Capitulo quarto
WHen alle thys thing was done Brute wolde no lenger ther dwelle for to fyghte / ne moo lese of hys peple For kynghts Goffarus peple myght euery day encresse moo and moo And brutes peple lassen: ād therfore he toke alle hys men ād wēt vnto the see. ād had wynd ād weder at wylle / And the fyfthe daye afterward they arryued ī an hauen at Tottenesse: and camen in to the jle of Albyon. And ther fō de thei nethir man nethir womā / as the storye telleth / but y e Geāts and they that were there dwelled in hylles ād in caues. Brute sawe that the lōde was fayre ād at his lyking / & good also for him ād for hys folke. as the goddesse Dyane had hym behyght. Tho was kīg Brute wonder glad ād ryght wel content / ād he lete assemble vpō a day alle hys folcke for to make a solempne sacrefyce and a grete fest in honowr and reuerence of Dyane y e goddesse: thurgh whos counseyll that he was comen in to that good and fayre lād. And whan they had hyr solempnyte made: vpon a day as they sate at mete / ther camen vpon hem sodenly xxx. geants. and quelled of Brutes men xxx. Brute and hys men anone sturtē vp and foughten wyth the geants and quelled hē euerychō: But one geant that was the maistre of alle the other and was called Gogmagog. He was stronger and hyer than any of the other geāts. ād Brute kept him and saued hys lyf / for encheson that he shold wrestell wy t Coryn. for Coryn was greter & hyer than any of brutes men. frō the gerdelstede vpward. Gogmagog and Corȳ vndertoke for to wrastlyn ynfere▪ and so to gedre they wrastled longe tyme. But at the last Gogmagog the geant held Coryn so faste that he brack two rybbes of hys syde. Wherfore the vaylliaūt knight Coryn was sore angry: & toke tho Gogmagog the geant bytwene hys armes & kast him downe vpon a roche so that gogmagog brak all to peces & so deyed he an euyll deth: & therfore y e place is called yet vnto this day the saulte of gogmagog / ād tho yaf Brute alle that contre to Coryn: and Coryn it kalled after hys name Cornewaille: and hys men he kalled Cornewailles: ād so shull the men of that cōtre ben̄ called for euermore: And in that contre dwelled Coryn and all his men / and made there townes ād howses. and inhabyted the land at hyr wylle.
How that Brute made london: and kalled thys lande bretaigne / and scotland Albyne and walys Cambir. Capitulo quinto
BRute and his men wentē forth: and sawen aboute ī diuerse places wher they might fynde a good place & couenable: that thei might make a cite for him & for his folke: So at y e last they camen by a fayr Ryuer that is kalled the Thamys. & there brute begā to make a fair cyte / & let calle it newe Troye. in mynde & remēbraūce of y e grete Troye from which̄ place all hir lygnage was comē And this brute let fall a downe wodes / and let crye and sowe lādes / ād done mowe mede for sustenaūce of him & of his peple (punctel) & he departed the lād to hem. so that euerychon of them had a certaȳ place for to dwelle vpō. ād brute let calle all thys lande Bretaigne after his owne name. and his folk he let calle Bretons. And this brute had goten on his wyfe Geunogen thre soens / that were worthy of deedes / The fyrst was kalled Lotrȳ. the secōd Albanak / & the thred Cāber. And brute bare corone in y e cite of newe Troye xx. yere / after the time that the cite was made. and ther he made the lawes that the Bretōs holdē / And thys noble kyng brute was wonderly well beloued among alle men and peple. and Brutes sones also loued wonderly well to gedre. And whē this king brute had sought alle y e londe in lēgthe and in brede / he fonde a lande that joyned to Bretaign̄ in the north / ād that land yaf Brute to Albanack his sone: and let kalle it Albanye after hys name: that now is kalled Scotlād. And brute fond an othre contree toward the west. and that he yaf to Camber hys other sone. and he let calle it Camber after his name: ād nowe it is kalled wales▪
And whā Brute had regned .xx. yere as before is sayd: he deyed in the cyte of newe Troye and there hys sone hym entryd wy t mochel honour. And Lotryn brutes sone was crownyd king wy t mochel solempnite of alle the lande of Bretaigne. And after whā he was crownyd: albanack & Camber his two bretheren went ayen in to hyr owne contre. and lyued with mykel honour. And lotryn her brother regned and was kȳg and gouerned the land wel and wysely / for he was a good man & wonder well beloued of alle hys land.
And it befell so that Albanack Lotryns brother dwelled in hys owne lande wy t mochel honour and worshyp and gouerned hys lād wysely / and thenne cam the [Page] kyng Humbar of hunlād wy t a grete power & arriued ī Albayne & wolde haue cōquered the land: & began to werre vpō Albanack. & hȳ quelled in bataille / Whā albanak was slayne: the folck of y e land fled vnto Lotryn & told him for he was kīg of Bretaigne how that his brother was slayne and prayed hȳ of helpe. for to auenge his brothers deth. Lotrine anon̄ let assemble alle the bretōs of kēt of douer in to derewent of north folk & southfolck of keftefen & of lyndessey / and when they were assembled they sped fast to ward their ennemies for to yeue hē bataille: Lotryne had sent to Cāber his brother that he shold come al so to hȳ with alle the power that he might make [...] hȳ for to helpe. & so he dyd with good will: And so they comē all to gedres & to toke her wey preuelich for to sech̄ Hū bar wher they might hym fynde And so it betell that this Hūbar was besides a water that was a grete ryuer wy t his folk hȳ for to dispotre. And tho came Lotryne & Cāber his brother with all hyr folk sodēly er that ony of that other wist / And whan hūbar saw hȳ come he was sore adrad. for as moche as his men wist it not. ād also they were vnarmed. ād anone Hūbar for drede lept in to the water & drēched hȳ selfe & so died he / and his men were alle slayne so that none of them escaped· ād therfore is that water called Hū bar / and euermore shall it be called thus. for encheson that kyng Humbar was therinne drēched And after that Lotryne wente to hys shippes and toke there all their goold and syluer / as moche as he fand vnto hym selfe: ād all that othir pilfre he yaf vnto othir folke of the hoost. and they founden in one of the shippes a fayre damysell that was kyng Humbars doughter. and was kalled Estilde. And whan kyng Lotryne sawe hyr / he toke hyr with hȳ for hyr fayrnesse. and for her he was ouertaken wy t loue & wolde haue wedded hyr / This tydȳges came to Coryn. & anone he thought to auenge him vpon Lotrin / for as moch̄ as lotryne had made couenāt for to spouse Corines doughter that was kalled Guē tolen / and Coryn in haste wente to him vnto the newe Troye / ād thus sayd he to the kyng lotryne. Nowe certes sayd he ye rewarde me full euell for alle the paynes that I suffred and haue had many tymes for Kyng Brute your fadre: and therfore I wyll nowe auenge me vpon yow. ād drewe owt his swerd an hyghe & wolde haue slayne the kyng Lotryne. but the damisell wente bytwēne hem and made hem accorded in this maner that kyng Lotryne [Page] sholde spouse Guentolen. whiche that was Corynes doughter / ād so Lotryne dyde: And neuertheles that he had spoused Guentolen Corines doughtyr. preuelych̄ he came to Estrilde and brought hyr with chylde / and gate on hyr a fayre doughter which̄ was called Abrā. Hit befell anone after that Corine deyed: and anone as he was ded / kyng lotryne forsake Guentolen hys owne wyfe / and made Estrilde quene of hys royaulme And guētolen wente thēs all in to Cornewaille & seysed a [...]le the londe in hyr handes (punctel) for as moch̄ as she was hir faders heir. ād vnderfong feaultres & homages of all the men of the land. ād after assembled a grete hoost and a grete power for to ben vpon lotryne auenged that was hyr lord. & came to hym & yaf him a strōg bataylle / And ther was Lotryn slayne and his men discomfited / the xv. yere of his regne. Guentolen let take Estrild and Abrā hyr doughter ād lete bynde bothe hā des & fete ād cast hem in to a water. & so they were drenched: wher fore that water was euermore called after Abram· after the name of y e damisel that was Estrildis doughter / And the Englisshmen calleth that water seuerne / and walshmen calle it abram in to this day / And when this was don: Gwentelon let crowne hyr quene of that londe. ād gouerned the land full well and wysely vnto the tyme that Madan hyr sone that lotryne had beget vpon hir was of .xx. winter age that he myght be king. so that the quene regnyd xv. yere: ād tho let she hir sone crowne And he regned and gouerned the land well ād honorabely / and she went into Cornuwaille: ād ther she dwelled all hyr lyfes tyme
¶Of kyng Madan how he regned in pees all hys lyfes tyme· ād of Menpris & of Maulyn his sones. & how Menpris slewe maulyn his brother: ād how the wulfes drow hym all to peces / Capitulo sexto
WHan the vaylliaunt kȳg Madan had regned .xxx. yere· he deyed / And lyeth in the newe Cyte of Troye (punctel) and he had two sones / of whyche the owne was called Menprys and that other men kalled Maulyn / And thyse two brethren after hir fadres deth stryuen fast for the lande And Mēprys for encheson that he was the eldest sone wolde gladli haue had all that lāde (punctel) but Maulyn wolde not graunte ne suffre hym / so that they token a a day of loue and accorde: And [Page] at this day Mēpris let quelle his brother thurgh treson. and hym self afterward helde the londe ād anone let crowne hym kȳg and regned / ād after bicame so lither a man that he destroied in a while alle the men of hys londe And at the last he became so wikked & so lecherous that he forsoke hys owne wyf. and vsed the synne of sodome Wherfore almighty god was wroth & vpon hȳ toke vengeaunce. For on a day as he wēt in a wode an hountyng / he loste his folke: and went allone vp ād downe crieng after hys men. ād ther came wulfes & all to drowe him in to peces / when he had regned xxiiij. yere: And whā hys peple wist that he was dede (punctel) they made ioye ynough: And anone made Ebrac his son kyng / ād he regned with moche honour.
¶Of Kyng Ebrack how he conquered fraūce & bygate xx. sones and xxiij. doughtres: Cap. vij
THis Ebrac regned lx. yere: & he was a strōge man & a myghty. And this Ebrac thurgh hys myght and the grete helpe of hys brytons conquerd all Fraunce / ād wan ther so moche gold & syluer: that whā he came ayen in to his lande He made a noble cyte / and after hys name let calle it ebrac / that is called euery wik / And this kȳg made y e castel of maidenes that now is called Edenburgh: This king had xx. sones ād .xxiij. doughtres by dyuerse wymen goten: ād the sones were called as ye shal here Brute grenesheld / Margāt Seysel Morgh wyth Flenghan Bladud Iakȳ Kȳbar Rocelm Spadogh Gother Kaier & Assaruth / And the doughters hyghten as ye shal here after Elegyne ymofen Oghdas Chel Medhan. mailour Omdur Cambredan Ragā Rēthely Neest Chegā Skalduld Gladus Heberhym Abalaghe & Blandan / ād thees were the xxiij doughters: and the bretherē bycame good knightes & worthy in many contrees
¶Of the kyng brute grenesheld the fyrst sone of Ebrack the king / Capitulo octauo
AFter the deth of kyng Ebrac regned Brute grenesheld his sone xxx. yere: that was Ebrakes first sone whiche that wel and nobely regned (punctel) And whan tyme came: he deyed and lyeth at york:
Of kyng Leyl Capitulo ix
And whā Brute grenesheld was dede (punctel) regned hys sone leyl xx / yere: ād he made a fayr towne & let kalle it karlyle after his name / & was a worthy [Page] man / and moche beloued of his peple. And whan he had regned xxij. yere: he deyed ād lyeth at Carlille. And in this time regned kyng Salomon in Iherusalem: and made the noble temple / and to hym came Sybelle quene of Saba / for to here and see yf it were soth that men spake of the grete and noble wit ād wysedom of king Salomon: and she fonde it soth that men had hir tolde
¶Of kyng Lud ludibras that was kyng Leyles sone Capitulo x.
ANd after this kȳg leyl regned his sone Lud Ludybras: that made the Cyte of Canterbury and of wyncestre And he regned xiij. yere: ād deyed and lyeth at wynchestre
¶Of king Bladud that was Ludibras sone How that he regned and was a good man / and a nygromancer Capitulo xi.
ANd after this Lud Ludibras regned Bladud his sone: and he was a grete nygromancer / and thurgh hys craft of nygromancye: he made the meruailloꝰ hothe bathes as the gest tellyth̄ / and he regned xxi yere & he lyeth at the newe troye.
¶Of kyng Leyr and of the answere of his iōgest doughter that gracyously was maryed to the kyng of Fraunce Capitulo xij
AFter this kyng Bladud regned Leir his sone / and thys Leyr made the towne of lycestre. and let calle the Towne after his name and he gouerned the towne wel and nobely / Thys kyng leyr had .iij. doughteres / The fyrst was called Gonorill. the second Rygan: and the thridde doughter was called Cordeill. ād the iongest doughter was fairest ād best of condicyōs. The kyng hyr fadre became to an olde man and wold that hys doughtres were maryed er that he deyde: but fyrst he thought to assaye whiche of hem loued hym most ād best: for she whiche that loued hȳ best shold best ben̄ maryed. And he axed of the fyrste how moche she hym loued / and she answerd & said. better thā hyr owne lyfe. Nowe certes sayd the fadre that is a grete loue Tho axed he of the secōd doughter / how moche that she hym loued. and she sayd. more ād passȳg alle creatures of y e worlde / bi my trouth sayd y e fadre: I may no more axe [Page] And tho axed he of y e thridde doughter how moche she him loued / Certes fadre sayd she / my susters haue tolde yow glosing wordes / but forsothe I shall telle trouth / for j loue you as moch̄ as j ought to loue my fadre / ād for to bryng yow more in certayn how I loue yow: I shal yow telle / as ye bene worth ye be loued. The kyng hyr fadre wende that she had scorned him & become wonder wroth ād swore by heuen & erthe she sholde neuer haue good of him. but his doughters that loued hȳ so moch̄: sholde ben̄ wel auaūced & maried And y e fyrst doughter he maried to Managles kīg of scotlād And the second he maried to hanemos erle of cornualle. & so they ordeyned & spake bitwene hē that they sholde departe the reaulme bytwene hem two after the deth of kȳg Leyr hyr fadre / so that cordeyl his yongest doughter shold no thyng haue of his land· But this Cordeyll was wonder fayre & of so good condicyōs & maners that the kyng of Fraūce Agāpe herde of hyr speke / ād sente to the kȳg Leir hyr fadre for to haue hir vnto his wyfe & praied hȳ therof And kyng Leir hir fadre sent hȳ word that he had departed the lō de vnto his ij. doughtres ād said he had no more lande wherwyth hir to marie And whan agāpe herde this answer: he sente anon̄ to Leir and said / that he axed nothȳg with hyr: but onely hir clothyng & hyr. And anone kȳg leir sent hyr ouer the see to the kyng of Fraunce. and he receyued hyr with moche worship. & wy t moch̄ solempnite spoused he hir / & made hyr quene of Fraunce
¶How the kyng Leir was driuē owte of hys land thurgh hys folye / and how Cordeill hys yōgest doughter helpe hym in hys nede Capitulo .xiij.
THꝰ it fel afterward that the two eldelst doughtres wolde not abyde tyll leir hyr fadre was dede: but werred vpon hym whiles that he lyued / & moche sorwe & shame hȳd dyd. wherfore they benōmen hȳ holy the royaulme / and bitwene hem had ordeined that one of hē shold haue kyng Leir to soiorne all his lyfe tyme / with .xl. knyghtes and squyers that he might worshuply go & ride whidder that he wolde / in to what cōtre that hē lyked to pley &. to solace: So that Managles kyng of Scotlād had kīg Leir with hym in the maner as is aboue sayd / and or other half yere wer passed / corneil that was his eldelst doughter ād quene of Scotland was so anuoyet of hȳ & of his peple. that anone she ād hir lorde spake to gedre. wherfore his knyghtes half & hys squyers [Page] from hȳ were gone. & no mo left but only xxx / And whā this was don̄ Leir began for to make moche sorwe for encheson that his estate was empeired And mē had of hȳ more scorne & despyte / than euer they had befor. wherfore he wist not what for to do: & at y e last he thought that he wold go in to Cornewaille to Rygan his othir doughter. And whan he was comen the erle & his wyf that was Leires doughter welcomed hym and wyth moche ioye dwelled he there wy t xxx. knyghtes & squiers And he had not dwelled ther scarsely xij monthes but that his doughter of hȳ was wery ād of his companye. & hir lorde & she of hȳ had scorne and despite: so that frō xxx· knyghtes they broughtē vnto x / and afterward v. and so ther left with him no moo: Tho made he sorowe ynough ād said sore wepyng. Allas that he euer cam̄ into that londe. and sayd yet had ben better to haue dwelled w t my fyrst doughter: And anon̄ he wēt thēnes to his fyrst doughter: but anone as she hym saw come: she swore by alle the goddes ād bi as moch̄ as she might / y t he shold haue no mo w t hī but one knyght· if he wolde ther abide / Tho begā Leir ayen̄ to wepe & made moch̄ sorowe / & sayd tho / alas now haue I to longelyued that this sorwe & this meschyef to me now is falle. For now am I poure / that som time was riche / but now haue I no frende ne kyn y t me woll do any good: But whā I was riche all men me honoured & worshipped: & now euery man hath of me scorne & despyte. And now I wote wel that Cordeil my yongeste doughter said to me trouth whan she sayd as moch as j had so moche shold I ben̄ beloued. ād alle the while that j had good tho was I beloued ād honoured for my richesse / but my two doughters glosed me tho / & nowe of me they sette lytell prys / & soth tolde me Cordeill: but I wolde not byleue it ne vnderstande / & therfor j let hyr go fro me as a thing that I sette lyttell prys of / And now j wote neuer what for to do syth y t my two doughters me thus haue disceyued that j somoch̄ loued And nowe must I nedes sech̄ hir that is in an othir lād that lightly I let gone fro me wy toute any rewarde or yeftes: & she sayd that she loued me as moch̄ as she ought to loue hir fadre by alle maner of reson. & tho I sholde haue axed of hyr no more / ād so by the fayre beheftes & thurgh the fals speche of my ij. eldest doughters I am disceyued. In thys maner Leir lōg time began to make his mone. and at the last he shope hȳ to the see & passed ouer into fraū ce / and asked ād aspied wher the [Page] quene might be fondē / & mē told hȳ wher she was. ād whā he cam̄ to the cyte ther she was in / preuely he sēt his squyer vnto y e quene for to telle hir that hir fader was comen to hyr for gret nedes And whā the squyer came to the quen̄ he tolde hyr euery dele of hyr susters from the beghȳnyng vnto y e ende / Cordeill the quene anon̄ toke gold & syluer plente & toke it to y e squyer in coūseille that he shold gon̄ & bere it vnto hir fadre & that he shold go in a certaȳ Cite & him araye & wasshe / & thā come ayen̄ to hir and bringe with hȳ an honest cōpanye of knightes x [...] / atte lest w t her meyne / & then̄ he shold sende to hyr lord the king & saye y t he were comen for to speke w t his doughtir & him for to seen. & so he dyd. And whan the king & y e quene herde that they camen: w t mochel honour they him receyued. & the kyng of Fraūce tho let sende thurgh all his royaume & ꝯmaū ded that alle men sholde to hȳ be entendaund to kȳg Leir the quenes fadre in alle maner of thyng as if it were to him self. Whā kȳg Leyr had dwelled ther a moneth & more. he tolde to the king & to y e quene his doughtyr / how hys .ij. eldest doughtres had him serued / Agāpe anone let ordeyne a grete hoost & send in to Bretaygne w t Leir the quenes fader for to conquere his land ayen̄ & his kȳgdō. And Cordeyll also came wy t hyr fadre into bretaigne for to haue y e royaume after hyr fadres deth: & they went to ship & passed the see & came in to bretaigne & foughtē with the felons & hē scōfyted and quelled / And tho had he his land ayen̄ / and after lyued thre yere / & helde his Royaume in pees. & afterward he deyed: & Cordeill hys doughter hȳ let ēburye with mikel honour at lycestre.
¶Howe Morgan & Conedage that were neveus to cordeyl werred vpon hir & put hir in to prysō Cap / xiiij
WHan that king Leir was dede· cordeil his yōgest doughter helde and had the land v / yere. and in the mene time deyed hir lord Agampe that was kyng of Fraunce / ād after his deth she left vydue And tho came Morgā and Conedage that were cordeyl sustre sones and to hyr had enymite for as moche as there aunte sholde haue the lande. So that bytwene hē they ordeyned a grete power & vpon hir werred gretly: ād neuer they rest tyl they had hir taken and put hir vn to deth▪ And tho Morgā & conedage seysed alle the land and departed it bytwene hem And they helden it xij yere. & whā y e xij yere were gon̄ ther began bitwene hym a grete debate: so y t they werred strōgli togedre: & eueri of hȳ dyd othir moche [Page] disese. For Morgan wold haue had all that lande fro beyonde hūbar that Conedage helde: but he came ayēst hȳ wy t a strōge power so y t Morgā durst not abyde but fled away into wales & conedage pursued hī & toke hī & queld him: Tho came Conedage ayen & seysed all the lāde in to his hāde & helde it: and regned after xxxiij yere / & tho deyed he & lyeth at newe Troye
¶How Reygnold that was Conedages sone regned aftir his fadre / & in his time it rayned blood. thre dayes. in tokenyng of grete deth Capitulo xv
ANd after this Conedage regned Reygnold hys sone a wise knight & an herdy & curtois that wel & nobeli gouerned the lād. & wōder well made hym beloued of alle maner of folcke: & ī his tyme it rayned blode that lasted thre dayes as god wold / & sone after ther came grete deth of peple / for it deyde without nōbre. wherfore no man might skape tyll that almighty god therof toke mercy & pite / & tho began it cese & this reignold regned xxij yere. & dyed & lyeth at york
¶How Gorbodyan regned in pees that was reygnoldes sone: Capitulo xvi
After this reygnold regned Gorbodiā his sone / xv / yere: ād after he dyed & lyeth at york
How Gorbodyan had .ij. sones: & how that one slowe that other. for to haue the herytage: ād how ydoine hir moder quelled that other / wherfor his lād was destroyed Cap. xvij
WHen this Gorbodyā was dede. hys ij. sones that he had becamen stoute & prowde▪ & euer warred to gedre for y e lād. the one was called Ferre & that othir Porres: And this ferres wold haue all the lād / but that othir wold not suffre hȳ / Ferres had a felōs hert: & thought thurgh treson to slee his brother / But preuely he wēt in to fraūce. & ther abode he w t the king Syward: tyl vpō a time when he came ayen̄ & fought wy t his brother ferres. but it happed to hȳ euell· for he was slayne fyrst / Whā ydome hir moder wist that porres was dede she made a grete sorow for encheson that she loued hȳ more thā that other. ād thought hȳ for to quelle preuely. & preuely she came to hyr sone vpō a night wy t two knyues & ther with cutte she his throte. & the body also ī to smale peces: who herd euer of such̄ a kursed moder that quelled wy t hyr owne hādes hyr owne sone / & lōge time after cam the reproue & shame to the moder that for encheson that owne sone murdrid that othir· so she lost hē both
How iiij. kinges courtoisly helde all Bretaigne & what ben̄ hir names Cap / xviij
WHan the two bretheren were so dede they lefte behynd hē nethir sone ne doughter ne none other of the kynred that might haue the heritage / & for as moch̄ as the strēgest men dryuē & scōfyted y e feblest & tokē all hyr lā des: so that in euery contrey they had grete werre and stryfe vnder thaȳ. but amōg alle othir thȳges ther were amōges hē in the cōtre that ouercame all the othir / and through strēgth̄ & might they token alle the lādes. & euery of thaȳ toke a certaȳ contre. & in his ꝯtre let kalle hȳ king: & one of hē was called Scater / ād he was kyng of scotland. ād that othir was called Dawailliere. & he was kȳg of loegers & of alle the lād that was lotrinꝰ that was brutes sone. The thridde was called rudac and he was kīg of walys: And y t iiij was called Cloten (punctel) ād he was kyng of cornewaille / But this clotē shold haue had all the lande by resō. for ther was no man that wist non̄ so rightfull heyr as he was / But they that were strēghest set lytell bi hē that were of lesse estate: and therfor this clotē had nomore lād among hē than cornewaylle
¶Of kȳg Donebāt that was clotes sone: & how he had wōne the lād: Capitulo xix
THis clotē had a sone that was called Donebāt that after the deth of his fadre became an herdy man & a fayr & curtois. so that he passed all y e kȳ ges of britaigne of fraūce in mā hede & worthynesse And anon̄ as he was a knight he wist wel whā that his fader lyued he was most rightfull heyr of alle the lād. and shold haue had it by reson / but other kīges y t were of more strēgth̄ than he was / benōme hȳ his lād. And afterward this Donebant ordeyned him power / & fyrst conquered he all y e lande of Loegiers & after he wolde haue ꝯquered all Scotland & walys: & Scater cam̄ with his men & yaf hȳ bataill. ād Rudac cam̄ ayē with his walshmen for to helpe him. but it befell so that Rudak was queled & scater also in plaȳ bataill. & so donebant had the victorye & cōquered all the lāde: & wel maintened it in pees & in quiete / that neuer before it was so wel maintened.
How Donebant was fyrst kyng that euer wered crowne of golde in Bretaigne Capitulo xx
THys donebant let make hȳ a croune of golde and wered y e crowne vpō hys hede as neuer kyng dyd before: & he ordeyned a statut / that had a [Page] man done neuer so moch̄ harme yf he might come in to y t tēple no mā shold hȳ misdo / but gon̄ therin sauf & in pees / ād after go in to what ꝯtrey hȳ lyked / & if any mā set any hōde vpō hȳ / he thā shold lese his lyfe And this Donebant made the towne of Malmesbury & the towne of y e vyse: ād whā he had regned wel & wortheli xl. yere he deyed & lyeth at newe Troye
¶How Brenne & Belȳ departed bitwene thaȳ y e lād after the deth of donebāt hir fadre & of the werre Capitulo xxi
ANd after that this Doneband was dede / his sones that he had departed the land bitwene hē as hir fader had ordeyned. so that Belȳ hys eldest sone had all the lāde on thys half humbar. & his brother Brēne had all the lād frō humbar vnto scotland / but for as moch̄ that belyn had the best part / Brēne therfore was wroth & wolde had more of the lād: & Belyn his brother wold graūte hī no more. wherfor cōtak & werre arose bytwene hē .ij. but Brēne the yonger brother had no might ne strengthe ayēs belȳ / ād therfor brēne thurgh cōseyl of his folck went fro thēs in to norwey to y e kyng Olsinges & praied hȳ of helpe & socour for to conquer all y e lād vpon Belyn hys brother vpō that couenant that he wolde haue his doughter to wyfe / & the kīg Olsinges hym graunted. Belyn anone as his brother was to norwey: he seised in to hys hāde all y e lande of Northūberland / ād toke alle the castelles / & let hem araye ād kepe the costes of the see that brenne shold not arryue in no syde but that he were take The kīg Olsinges lete assēble a grete host & delyuerd his doughtyr to brēne & all that to hȳ was necessarie. & thys damisell Samye had longe tyme loued a kīg that was called gutlagh· & to hȳ she tolde all hyr coūsell / how that brēne shold haue hir: & hir lede w t hȳ for euermore: & so he shold lese hir w toute she might forsake & be delyuered frō Brēne. ād whā gutlagh had herd thys tidȳg he lay for to aspye brē ne w t as many shippes as he might haue: so that y e ij. fletes mettē to gedre & fougtē lōg time / so that Brēne & his shippes turned ayen̄ & were discōfyted / & kȳg gutlagh toke samie & put hir ī to his shippe: & Brēne shamefulli fled then̄s as a mā discōfyted / And gutlagh wolde haue gon īto his owne cō tre: but there cam vpō hȳ a grete tēpest that v. dayes lastyd. so that through that tēpest he was driuē into Bretaigne wy t iv / shippes ād no mo / & tho that kept the costes of y e see token Gutlagh & famye & all his folke. & hē presented to belyn. & belyn put hē in to pryson
¶How belyn drofe oute of hys [Page] lande kyng Gutlagh of Dēmarke and Samye Ca / xxij
HIt was not longe after y e Brēne came ayen̄ with a grete nauye & sēte to hys brother Belȳ / that he shold yelde ayen̄ hys land. his wyf. his folke. & his castelles. or elles he wold destroye his lāde / Belȳ drade no thīg his menace & wold no thing don after that his desyre. Wherfor brē ne came wyth his folk ād fought with belyn / Brenne was discōfyted and his folke slayne: & hȳ self fledde with xij / men into fraunce And this Belyn that was Brennes brother went to yorke & toke coūseyl what he might don with king Gutlagh. For kȳg gutlagh profred to become hys man and to holde hys lāde of hȳ yeldȳg by yere a thousand pounde of siluer for euer more / ād for sikernesse of this couenaunts to behold Gutlagh shold brȳg him good hostages & to him shold done homage & all his folke / & yet he shold swere vpon a boke y t these couenāts shold neuer ben̄ broke ne falsed / Belyn tho by counseyl of his lordes & of his folke graūted hȳ his axyng / And so Gutlagh became his man / ād belyn vnderfeng of hȳ his homage by othe & by writyng the same couenāts. And vpō these couenāts king Gutlagh nōme samye & his folke. ād went thēs & turned ayen to denmarck / Euermore after. were the couenants holden & the truage paied tyll the tyme that Honelos was king of Denmark / & also of thys lāde thurgh his wyf Gildeburgh that he had spoused· for she was the right heir of this lande (punctel) This Belȳ dwelled in pees & worshipfully him helde amōg his barōs. & he made iiij real weyes one frō the Est in to the west: & that was kalled watlyngstrete: & an other / frō the north vnto the south. that was called jkelmestrete / & ij. othir weyes he made ī bossȳge thurgh oute the lāde. that on is called tosse / & that othir fossedike. & he maī tened wel y e good lawes that Donebant hys fadre had made & ordeyned ī his time. as before is said
Howe accord was made bitwene Brēne & Belȳ thurgh Cornewen hir moder Ca / xxiij
BRēne that was Belynus brother had lōg time dwelled in traūce: & ther had he cōquered a grete lordship through mariage / For he was duke of Bourgoyn̄ / thurgh the doughter of the duke Fewȳ that he had spoused. that was right heyr of the lande And this Brēne ordeyned a grete power of hys folk / & also of fraū ce. And he came in to thys lande for to fyght wyth kyng Belȳ hys brother: and Belyn came also ayenst hym with a grete power of [Page] bretons / & wolde haue yeuen hȳ batayll / but theyr moder Cornewenne that tho lyued had herd y t one brother wolde haue destroied that other: ād went bytwene hyr sones & hem made accorded with moche payne. so that at the last y e two bretheren with michell blys went to gedre in to grete Troye / that nowe is called Londō / and ther they dwelled a yere. ād after they toke theyre coūseil for to gone conquere all fraunce / & so thei dydē: & brent townes & destroyed the land both in length̄ & brede. & the kyng of fraūce yaf hȳ batayll with his power. but he was ouer comen: & yaf truage vnto Belyn & to his brother. And after that: they wenten forth to Rome and cōquered Rome & all Lūbardye / & Germanye / & toke homage ād feaulte of Erles Barons & of all othir. And after thei camen in to this lande of Bretaigne ād dwelled with Bretons here in ioye ād rest: And tho made Brēne y e towne of Bristowe / and syth he went ouer to his owne Lordship & ther dwelled he all hys lyfe. ād Belyn dwelled at newe Troye / & ther he made a fayre gate that is kalled belyngesgate after his owne name. And whan thys Belyn had regned nobely xj. yere he dyed ād lyeth at newe Troye
How kyng Cormbatrꝰ quelled the kyng of Dēmarc for enchesō that he wold not paye hī his truage Capitulo xxiiij
And after thys belȳ regned his sone Cormbatrus a good man & worthy. ād y e king o [...] dēmarke wolde not paye hȳ hys truage: that is to say M. pounde as he had sworne by oth for to pay it [...] & also by writyng recorded to belȳ his fadre [...] Wherfore he was euell payed For thys kyng Cormbatrꝰ assēbled a grete hoost of Brytons & went in to Dēmarke & slow the kȳg gut [...]ath & brought the lād in subiectyō all newe. & toke of the folke feaultes & homages. & after he went ayen̄ in to his lād. ād as he came forth by Orkeney: he fōde xxx. shippes full of men & women besides the kost of the see. & y e king axed what thei were / An erle that was maistyr of hem all courtoysly āswerd vnto y e kȳg & sayd that they were exiled oute of spaigne & so that thei had trauailled half a yere ād more in the see. for to wytē yf thei might fynde any king in any lō de that of hē wolde haue pyte or mercy to yeue hē any lāde in any contre / wher in they might dwelle & haue rest ād become his liege men & to hȳ wolde don̄ homage & feaulte whiles that he lyued ād to his heyres after hȳ / & of hȳ ād hys heires holden that lande / ād whan the kȳg thys herde. he had [Page] pyte of hē & yafe hē an Ile al wildernesse ther y t nomā was dwellyng saufe onely wilde bestes / ād the erle thanked moch̄ the kȳg. & became his man. & dyd hī homage & feaulte: & toke all his folk ād went in to the same jle. & the erle was called Irlamall· & therfor he let calle that land jrlāde after his owne name: The kȳg Cormbatrus came ayen̄ in to his lād / ād regned xxv. yere / & after he deyd & lyeth at newe Troye
¶How the kyng Gwētholē regned in goodnesse And wel gouerned y e lād al his lyfes time / C. xxv
ANd whan Cormbatrus was dede: regned Gwētolen his sone a mā of good condicyōs & wel beloued And he gouerned the lād wel & wysely: & he regned xxvi. yere / & after he deyed & lyeth at newe Troye
¶How kyng Seysel regned and wel gouerned the lāde after gwē tholen▪ Capit. xxvi
ANd after this gwētholen regned his sone seysel wel ād worthely: & gouerned wel the lād as his fader had done before hī & he regned xv yere / and deyed & lyeth at newe Troye
¶How Kymor regned after his fadre Seysell. ād he begate how ā that regned after Ca. xxvij
ANd after seisell regned his sone Kimor wel & nobely xix. yere in pees / And howan his sone x yere / ād deyed ād lyeth at Ikaldowne
¶How kyng Morwith deyed a myschevous deth thurgh a best for his wildernesse Ca xxviij
AFter this Howā regned morwith / & became wicked & so sterne: tyll at the last grete vengeaūce came to hȳ For as he went vpon a tyme by the see syde: he mete a grete best y t was black & horryble ād hydous / & he wēd that it had ben̄ a whale of the see / and bēt an alabastre & wold h [...]ue slayn that best wy t a quarell. but he might not smyte hȳ And whē he had shot all hys quarelles the beste anon̄ came to hȳ in a grete hast & hȳ deuoured a lyfe / ād so he deyed for his wikkednesse thurgh vēgaūce▪ of god / after that he had regned ix. yere
Of Grādobodiā that was morwiths sone that made the towne of Cambrigge: Capitulo xxix
AFter that this Morwith was dede y e bretōs crowned Grandobodiā his sone. and this Grādobodyan long tyme regned in goodnesse & made temples ād townes: And this Grandobodian made the towne [Page] of Cambrigge. and the towne of Grauntham / & was wel beloued of ryche ād poure: for he honoured the riche and halpe the poure This grandobodyan had iiij / sones / arthogaill / hesydur / hyganꝰ ād Petitur: and whā he had regned xj yere: he dyed & lyeth at newe Troye
Of Artogaill that was Grandobodianus sone / how he was made kyng: & syth put a downe for his wikkednesse Capitulo xxx
AFter Grandobodian regned his sone Arthogaille v / yere. and he became so wikked ād so sterne that the bretons wold not suffre hȳ to be kȳg but hȳ down ād made Hesydur his brother kyng. ād he became so good ād merciable that mē hē kalled kyng of pyte / And whā he had regned v / yere he had so grete pyte of hys brother artogaylle. y t was kyng before him that anon̄ he forsoke his dignyte & toke hys brother the crowne ayen̄ & made him kyng / ayenst the bretōs wyll And afterward artogaille became so good of condicions that he was wel beloued of all the lande. for he became so debonair & fre & did reight & reson to all maner of men (punctel) & he regned vi. yere: & deyed & lyeth at granthan
How Hesidur was made kīg after y e deth of Artogaill his brother Capi. xxxi
AFter y e deth of artogail y e bretōs crouned an other time Hesidur. but his ij. bretherē Hyganꝰ & petytur haddē of hȳ grete despyte: & eke scorne & ordeyned thaym helpe for to werre vpō y e king theyre brother / so they tokē hȳ & put hī in to pryson the seconde yere of his reigne & they departed all bretaigne bytwene hem both: But hyganus lyued but vij. yere / & tho had Petituralle the land. & he made the towne of Pykeryng
How the Bretons nōmen hessydur owt of pryson and made hȳ king the thridde tyme Ca xxxij
ANd whan thys Petytur was dede y e bretōs nōme anon̄ Hesidur & made hī king the thridde tyme: & tho regned he ī pees xiiij yere: & after he deyed & lyeth at karlille
How xxxiij kȳges regned ī pees eche after other after the deth of Hesidur cap. xxxiij
After y e deth of hesidur regned xxxiij kynges ech̄ aft other in pees. & w toute any lōg taryēg j shal telle hȳ all. ād how lōge ech̄ of hē regned as the storie telleth. The fyrst kyng was called Gerbodia. & he regned xij. yere: And after hȳ regned Morgan two yere And after hȳ regned kyng Cyghnus vj yere / and [Page] after hȳ regned Idwalan viij. yere / & after him regned Rohugo xj yere. And aftyr hȳ regned Voghē xiij. yere. And aftyr hȳ regned catyll xv. yere (punctel) And aftyr hȳ regned polrex ij. yere. aftir hȳ regned cheryn xij yere And aftyr hȳ regned Sulgenus xiij yere: And aftir hȳ regned Esdad xx yere: And aftyr hȳ regned Andragie xviij yere / ād after hym regned Vrian v. yere / & after hym regned Eliud ij. yere. & aftyr hym regned Eldagan xv. yere / & after hȳ regned Claten xij. yere. And aftyr hȳ regned Quyrgunde viij yere And aftyr hȳ regned Mortā vi. yere / And after hȳ regned Bledagh iij. yere / And aftyr hym regned Caph j yere And aftyr him regned Gen ij. yere: ād after hym regned Seysel & kyng Bled xxij yere: And kīg Tabred xj yere: & Archinal xiiij yere: & Groll xxx yere / & Rodingu xxxij yere: ād Hertyr v. yere And Hampyr vj yere / & Carpour vij yere: ād Digneil iij yere: & Samuel xxiiij yere. & Rede ij yere And Ely vij monthes. ād this Elyud had iij sones▪ Lud cassibalam & enemyon
How Lud was made king after the deth of Ely his fadre Capitulo xxxiiij
AFter the deth of Ely regned Lud his sone & gouerned wel the lāde. & moche honoured good folk & tempred & amendet wicked folke: This lud loued more to dwelle at troye thā in any other place of y e lād wherfore y e name of newe Troye was lefte and tho was the cyte kalled ludstone But the name is chāged through variance of lrēs & now is kalled London And this king made in the cyce a fair gate & kalled it ludgate after his name / & y e folke of the cyte hete it Londres: & whā he had regned xj yere. he deide & lyeth at Londō And he had two yonge sones Andraghē and Tormace / but they coude nether speke ne go for yonthe. ād therfor y e bretōs crowned a strōgh knight that was called Lud: & was Cassibalamꝰ brother & made hȳ kȳg of Bretaigne
¶How the bretons graunted to cassibalam that was Ludes brother the land In whos tyme Iulius cesar came twyes for to conquere the land Capitulo xxxv
AFter the deth of kȳg Lud regned his brother cassybalam ād bicame a good man and moche beloued of hys bretons. so that for his goodnesse ād curtosie they graunted hȳ the royaulme for euermore to him & to his heyres And the kȳg of hys goodnesse let norisshe worthelych̄ both̄ sones that were lud his brothers sones And after made he y e [Page] eldest sone Erle of Cornewaille. & that other erle of London / And whyle the kȳg Cassibalaȳ regned: came julyus cesar that was emperour of Rome in to thys land with a power of Romayns / and wolde haue had thys lād thurgh strengthe / but Cassybalaȳ ouercame him in bataill thurgh help of the Bretons & drofe hym owte of this lāde. & he went ayen̄ to rome & assembled a grete power an other tyme: & come ayen̄ in thys land for to yeue bataille to Cassibalan. but he was discomfyted through strength̄ of the bretōs. & thurgh helpe of the erle of Cornewaille & the erle of londō his brother. ād thurgh helpe of Gudyan kyng of Scotlād / & corband king of northwalys. & of Brytail king of southwalys: & in this batayll was slayn oon that was cassibalans brother / wherfore he made moche sorwe. ād so went Iuliꝰ cesar out of this lād with a fewe of romayns that were left a lyue / & tho went cassibalā ayen̄ to Lōdō & made a fest vnto all his folke y t tho had hȳ holpe. And whā that feste was done: eche man wēt into hys owne contre
¶Of the debate that was bitwene Cassybalā & the erle of Londō / and of the truage that was payed to Rome Cap / xxxvi
ANd after it befel thꝰ vpon a day that the gentil men of y e kȳges houshold & gē till men of the Erles houshold of lōdō after mete went togyder for to playe. ād through debate that arose amōg hē Euelyn that was the erles cosyn of Londō queld jrenglas that was the kynges cosyn. wherfor the kyng swore that Euelyn shold be hanged: but the Erle of London that was Euelinus lord wold not suffre it / wherfore the king was wroth toward the Erle & thought hȳ to destroye. And preuel [...] the Erle sent [...]rēs to Iulius cesar. that he sholde come in to his lāde for to helpe hȳ: & hȳ auenge vpon the kȳg: & he wolde helpe hȳ with. all his might. And whan the emꝑour herde this tydȳg: he was full glad & ordeyned a strong power & came ayen̄ the thridde tyme in to thys lād. & the Erle of Londō halp him wy t .vij.M. men. And at the thridde time was cassibalā ouercomē & discō fyted & made pees to the Emperour / for thre thousād poūd of siluer: yeldȳg by yere for truage for this lāde for euermore: And half a yere passed the Emperour wēt to Rome: and the Erle of london with him: for he durst not abyde in thys land. And after cassybalam regned xvij yere in pees: ād tho deyed he the / xvij. yere of hys regne: and lyeth at york
Howe the lordes of the lande after the deth of cassibalam for encheson that he had non̄ heir made Andragen kȳg Cap. xxxvij
[Page] AFter the deth of Cassibalā for as moch̄ as he had non heyr of hys body: the lordes of the lād by cōmune assēt crowned Andragen erle of cornewaille & made hȳ kyng. & he regned wel & worthely. & was a good man. & wel gouerned the lād / ād whan he had regned viij yere. he deyed and lyeth at london
Of kymbalaȳ that was Andragenes sone a good man. & wel gouerned the lande. Capitulo xxxviij
AFter the deth of Andragē regned kȳbalaym his sone that was a good man & well gouerned the lāde in moch̄ prosperite & pees all hys lyfes tyme. & in his tyme was borne jhū crist our sauyour of y t swete vyrgine Marye. This kȳg kaȳbalaȳ had two sones Gwider & Armoger good knightes & worthy. and whan this kyng had regned xxij yere. he deyed & lyeth at london
Of king Gynder that was kymbalaynꝰ sone that wolde not pay the truage to Rome for the lande that Cassybalā had graūted. and howe he was slayne of y e romaȳs Capitulo xxxix
ANd aftyr the deth of thys kymbalaȳ regned Gȳder his sone a good man & a worthy: & he was of so hygh̄ hert that he wolde not paye to Rome that truage that kȳg Cassibalaȳ had graūted vnto Iulius Cesar / wherfor the Emperour that tho was that was called Claudiꝰ cesar / was sore annoyed & ordeined a grete power of romayns. & camen in to this lāde for to cōquere the truage thurgh strēgthe ād haue it of the kyng / but the kyng Gynder & Armager hys brother gadred a grete hoost to gydre of bretons & yafe the bataylle to the Emperour Claudiꝰ. & quelled of the Romayns grete plente: The emꝑour had a knight that was kalled Hamō / that sawe that his peple were fast slayn̄ / preuelich̄ he kast a way his owne armes. & toke the armes of a dede breton ād armed hym wy t his armure: & came in to the bataill to the kyng & sayd in this maner / Syr be ye of good hert for goddis loue: for the romaȳs that ben̄ your enemyes anone shal be slayne & discōfyted euerychon And y e kīg yaf no kepe ne reward to his spech̄ for encheson of the armes that he had vpō him & wende it had ben a breton But the traytour euer helde him next the kyng. & preuely vnder y e shuldres of his armes he smote y e king that he was dede ād fell doū to the erthe. Whā armager sawe his brother dede (punctel) he caste away his armes & toke to him his brothers armes & came ī to y e bataill [Page] amonge the Bretons / & bad hem hertely for to fyght. and fastely a downe the romayns: and for the armes thei wendē it had ben the king Gynder that erst was slayn̄ that they wist not. Then̄ gon the Bretons hertely fight & quelled y e romains / so that at the last y e emperour forsake the felde & fledde as faste as he might with his folke in to the cyte of Wynchestre. & the fals traytour hamō that had queld the kyng began anon̄ faste for to fle with all the hast that he might / And Armager the kȳges brother pursued him full ferseiy with a ferse herte▪ & drofe hȳ vnto a water: & ther he toke him. and anone smote of both̄ hādes hede & feet & hewe the bodi all to peces and cast hȳ in to the water / wherfore the water was called hamonus hauē. & afterward ther was made a fayre towne that yet stā deth & is kalled soupthanptō. ād afterward Armager wēt to wȳ chestre for to seke Claudius cesar the Emperour. & ther Armager him toke. & Claudiꝰ y e Emperour through coūseyll of his romains that with hȳ were left a lyue made pees wy t Armager / in this maner as ye shal here. that is to saye / how that Claudiꝰ the Emꝑour shold yeue to Armager Gennen his fayr doughter for to haue to wyfe: so that this lād fro that tyme afterward shold be in the emperours power of rome: vpō suche couenaūt y t neuer afterward none Emperour of rome shold take non̄ othir truage of this lād but only feaulte (punctel) and so they were accorded. And vpon this couenant Claudiꝰ cesar sent to rome for his doughter Gennen / & whā she was comen claudiꝰ cesar yaf hyr to Armager for to be his wyf And armager spoused hyr at lō don with moche solempnite and mirthe / & tho was armager crouned & made king of Bretaigne
¶Of kyng Armager in whos time saint petre preched in Anthiochie with the othir apostoles in diuerse contreyes Ca. xl
And this kīg Armager regned well & worthely & the lāde gouerned And claudius cesar in remembraunce of this accord & for the reuerence ād honour of his doughter made in this lande a fayre towne & a fayre castel. & let calle the toune after his name claucestren that nowe is kalled Gloucestre: And whan this was all don̄: the emperowr toke his leue / and he went ayen̄ to rome. And armager was tho king and gouerned the land wel and nobely all his lyfes tyme / ād this Armager gote a sone on his wyfe / that was kalled westmer / And whyles that thys king Armager [Page] regned / saȳt petre preched in Anthyoche. ād ther he made a noble chyrch̄ / in which̄ he sate first and there he dwelled vij. yere / ād after he wēt to rome / & was made pope tyll that Nero the emperour let hym martre: ād tho preched opēly alle the apostles in diuerse lādes the ryght fayth. And whā Armager had regned xxiiij yere / he deyed & lyeth at londō
Howe the kyng Westmer yaf to Berynger an Iland forlet / & ther this Berynger made the towne of Berewyke Capitulo xli.
ANd after thys Armager regned his sone westmer a good man & worthly. & well gouerned the lande Hit befell so that tydynge came to him on a day. that the kyng Rodryck of Gasconye was comē in to his land wy t a grete nōbre of peple. & was dwelyng in stainesmore / ād whan kyng westmer herde thyse tydynges: he let assemble an grete hoost of Bretōs. & came to the kyng rodryck & yaf hȳ bataill / ād kyng westmer queld rodryck wy t his owne hādes in plaine bataill And whan kyng rodrykes men sawe that hir lord was dede. they yolden hym all vnto y e kȳg westmer. & bicamē hys men for euermore. and he yaf hȳ a contre that was forletē / wheryn they myght dwelle: And thydder they went & dwelled there all hyr lyfes tyme / & ixC / men there were of hem / & no mo lefte at that bataille Hyr gouerneur ād prince was kalled Berynger: and anon̄ he began a towne to make: that they might therȳne dwelle & haue restorte (punctel) & let kalle the towne Berewik vpō twede: & there they dwelled & bycame riche. but they had no women amōges hem: & the Bretōs wold not yeue hyr doughtres to the strangers. wherfore they wēt ouer the see in to the Irland and brought with hȳ women & spoused thaȳ. but the men koude not vnderstande that lāgages ne the speche of the women: ād therfore they spaken to gedre as scottes: & afterward thurgh changyng of hir langages in alle fraunce they were called the scottes / & so shullē that folke of that contre ben̄ kalled for euermore
How kyng Westmer let arere a stone in the entryng of westmerland / ther that he had slayn king Roderyck· and ther he begā fyrst howsing Capitulo xlij
ANd after this bataill that is aboue said when roderyk was dede / kyng westmer in remēbraūce of hys victorie lete arere ther besides the wey a grete stone / & yet hit stant and euermore shall it stande. and let [Page] graue in the stone lrēs that thus sayd. The kyng westmer of Bretaigne quelde in this place Roderyk his enemye. And this Wastmer was the fyrst man that made townes & hous in englōd. & at that stone begȳneth westmerlād that westmer let calle aft his owne name And whā westmer had so don̄: he dwelled all his lyfes time in that contre of westmerlād For he beloued that contre more than ony othir contre And whā he had regned xxv. yere: he dyed & lyeth at karlille
Of kȳg Coil that was westmers sone that helde his lāde in pees al hys lyfes tyme Cap. xliij
After this kȳg westmer regned his sone coyl a good mā & a worthy & of good condicyons & well gouerned his lande: & of alle men he had loue & pees. & in hys lyfe was neuer cō tak debate ne werre in bretaigne & he regned & was a king in pees all his lyfes tyme. ād whā he had ben̄ kyng xi. yere / he dyed & lyeth at yorke.
How kȳg lucie regned after coill his fadre that was a good man & after he becam cristen Ca xliiij
After kȳg coil regned lucye his sone y t was a good mā to god & to all y e peple: He sēt to rome to that apostle Eulē tre that tho was pope & sayd / he wolde become a crystē man & receyue baptisme in y e name of god & torne to the right beleue: Eulē tre sēt two legatys that were called Pagan & elybayne in to thys land & baptysed the king & all his mayne. & after wēt they fro toune to towne & baptysed the peple till all the lande was baptysed: & this was in the Clvj yere after y e incarnacion of our lord [...]hū crist. & this king made tho. ij erche bisshoppes / on at cāterburye an other at york / and othir many bisshoppes that yet ben ī this lād. & whā thees ij legatys had baptysed all y e land: they ordeyned prestes for to baptise children & for to make the sacramēt / ād after they went ayen̄ to rome. & y e kȳg dwelled in his lāde & regned w t mochel honour xij yere: & after dyed & lyeth at gloucestre
¶How this lād was lōg w tout a kīg & how y e bretōs chosē a kȳg C. xlv
THis kȳg Lucie had none heir of his bodi bygotē y t was atterward grete harme & sorowe to y e lād For after this kȳg Lucies deth none of the grete of the lād wold suffre an othir to be kȳg / but liued in werre & in debate amōges hem l. yere w tout kȳg But it befel afterward that a grete prince came fro rome into this land that men called seuerie. nought for to werre: but for to saue y e right of rome / but natheles he had not dwelled half a yere ī this lād y t y e bretōs ne quelled hē. whā they of rome wyst that Seuerye [Page] was so slayne. they sent an other grete lord into this land that mē kalled Allec that was a strōg mā & a myghty of body· & dwelled in this land long tyme / & dyd moch̄ sorwe to the Bretōs. so that aftyr for pure malice they chosen hem a kyng amonges hem that men kalled astlepades. ād assembled a grete hoost of bretons & went to Londō to sech̄ allec: there they fō den him and queld hym and alle hys felaws: & one that mē kalled walon defended hȳ fersely & fought longe with the bretons: But at the last he was discomfyted & the bretons nomme hī & boundē handes & feet & kast hȳ into a water. wherfore that water was called afterward walbroke / Tho regned Astlepades in quyete tyl one of his Erles that men kalled Coill. made a fayr town ayens y e kynges wyll & let kalle the town Colchestre after his name / wherfore the kyng was full wroth ād thought to destroye the Erle / ād began to werre vpon him. & brought grete power & yaf batail to the erle: and the erle defended hȳ fersely with his power ād slowe the king hym self in that bataille & tho was Coill crowned & made kyng of this land: This Coil regned and gouerned the royaulme wel and nobely: for he was a noble man & wel beloued amōg the Bretōs: Whā they of Rome herden that Astlepades was slayne: they were wonder glad. & sent an other grete prynce of Romayns / whiche was kalled Constaūce. & he came to the kyng Coyll for to chalēge y e truage that was wont to be payed to rome. And the kīg āswerde wel & wysely: & sayd that he wold paye to rome all that reson wolde with good wyll: And so they accorded & wythoute any contak both thei dwelled to gedre in loue / The kyng Coill yaf hys doughter Eleyne to Constāce for to haue hir to his spouse. whyche that was both fayr wyse & good & wel lettred. And this Constāce spoused hyr there with moch̄ honour. ād it befell sone afterward that this King coyll deyed in the yere of hys regne xiij / ād lyeth at Colchestre entiered
Of king Constance that was an Romaȳ: whiche was chosen kīg after the deth of Coyll. for as moche y t he had spoused Eleyn whyche that was kȳg Coyles doughter Capitulo xlvi
AFter this kyng Coyl Cō stance was made kyng. & crowned for as moche as that he had spoused king Coyles doughter whiche was heir of the lande. The whiche Constāce regned well & wortheli gouerned the lande. and he begate on his wyf [Page] Eleyn a sone that was called Cō stantyne. & this kyng bare trewe fayth & truely dyd to hem of Rome all his lyfe / And whan he had regned xv. yere: he dyed & lyeth at york.
¶How Constantyne that was king Constances sone & the sone of saint Eleyn / gouerned & ruled the lande. & was an Emꝑour of Rome Capitulo xlvij /
AFter kȳg Cōstāce regned Constantine his sone ād the sone of seint Eleyne y t fonde the holy crosse in the holy lande / & how Constantyne became Emperour of Rome / Hit befell so in that tyme Ther was an emperour at Rome a sarazyne a Tyrant that was called Maxencyus / whiche that put to deth all that beleued in god ād destroyed the holy chirch̄ by all hys power: & slew all the crysten men that he might fȳde. And amōg all other he let martre saint Kateryne / ād many othir cristen peple that for drede of deth they fleddē & camen in to this lande to the king Constantine and tolde him of the sorwe that Maxence dyd to cristiēte Wherfore Constātyne had grete pyte & made moch̄ sorowe. & assē bled a grete host & a grete power / & went ouer to rome & toke y e cyte & quelled all that ther in were of mysbeleue that he might finde. & tho was he made Emperour: ād was a good man. & gouerned hȳ so wel that alle lādes to hym were attēdaūt for to ben vnd (er) his gouernaill / And this deuel Tyrant Maxence that tyme was in y e lā de of Grece & herde thys tydynge / then̄ he became wode. & sodenly he dyed / and so he ended hys lyfe: Whan Cōstantine went fro this land to Rome he toke with hym his moder Eleyne. for the mochel wysedome that she coude. & othir grete lordes y t he most loued· that one was called Hoell. & the other was called taberne. & the thridde Morhin. ād toke alle his lande to kepe vnto the erle of Cornewaille that was called Octauiā: & anon̄ as this octauyan wist that hys lord was dwellȳg at rome. he seised alle the land in to hys hand. & therwith dyd all his wyl. among high̄ & lowe. & they helde hym for kyng. Whan this tydinge came to Constātyne the emperour: he was wonder wroth toward y e erle Octauyan / & sente Taberne w t xij.M. men for to destroye the erle for his falsenesse. ād he arryued at Portesmouth / And whan Octauyan wiste that: he assembled a grete power of Bretons & discō fyted Taberne / & Taberne fledde thens in to Scotland / & ordeyned there a grete power. & came ayen̄ in to this land an othir tyme for to yeue bataille to Octauiā / Whē [Page] Octauyā herde telle that. he assē bled a grete power & cam̄ towardes Taberne as moche as he might: so that the two hostes mettē vpon steinesmore & strōgeli smoten to gydre. And tho was Octauyan discōfited & fledde thens in to Norwey. and Taberne seysed alle the land in to his hādes. townes castelles asmoch̄ as thei ther had And sith this Octauiā came ayen̄ fro Norwey wy t a grete power & seysed ayen̄ all the lande in to his hande. ād drofe owt all the Romains. & was tho made king and regned
How Maruniā that was y e emperours Cosyn of rome spoused Octauians doughter & was made kyng. Capitulo xlviij
THis kyng Octauyan gouerned the land wel & nobely: but he had non̄ heir sauf a doughtyr that was a yōge child that he loued asmoch̄ as his lyfe / ād for as moche that he was seke & was in point of deth & myght no lenger regne: he wold haue made one of his neveus to haue ben̄ kȳg / the which̄ was a noble knyght & a strōg man whiche was called Conan meriedok. ād he shold haue kept the kīges doughtyr & haue maried hir whā tyme had ben̄. But the lordes of the lande wolde not suffre it: but yaf hir coūseill to be maried to sōme hygh̄ mā of honour. & thā might she haue all hir lust & take coūseil of y e emꝑour Constātine hir lord. And at this coūseill thei accorded & chose tho Cador of Cornewaill for to wēte to y e emꝑour for to do thys message. & he toke the wey & went to Rome & tolde to y e emperour this tyding well & wysely / & the Emꝑour sent into this lande with hī his owne cosyn that was his vncles sone a noble knight & a stronge that was called Maxymian: & he spoused Octauianus doughtyr / & was crowned kȳg of this lande
How Maximian that was the emꝑours cosyn cōquered Almorican. & yaf it to Conāmeriedok. Cap. xlix
THis king Maxymiā bicame so ryall that he thought to cō quere the land of Amorycan for grete rychesse that he herde telle y t ther was in that lande: so that he ne lefte man that was of worthinesse knight squier ne none othir man / that he ne toke wy t him to grete domage of all the land For he left at home behynd hī no mā for to kepe the lande / but he toke hem with hym fro this land .xxx. thousād knyghtes that were doubthy mennys bodyes: and wēt ouer in the lande of Amorican: & ther slewe he the king the whiche was called Imball: and conquered alle the lāde And whā he had [Page] so done he kalled Conā & said· for as moch̄ as kȳg Octauyan haue made you king of Bretaigne and thurgh me ye were lette & destrobled that ye were not kȳg I yeue you all this land of Amorican / & make you therof kȳg And for as moche as ye ben a breton & your men also and become fro bretaigne I will that this lād haue the same name ād nomore be kalled Amoricā / but it shal be called lyttel Bretaigne: & the lād fro whēs ye ben comen shall be called mochel bretaigne: ād so shal mē knowe that one Bretaign̄ fro that other / Conan moriedok thāked hī frendeli. & so was he made kȳg of littel bretaigne. And whā al this was don Maximian went thēs to rome / & was tho made Emperour after Constantyne / Conan meriedok dwelled in littel bretaigne with mochel honour & let ordeyne ij.M. plougmē of the lāde: for to erye the land to harwe it ād sawe / & fessed hē richely after that they were: & for as moche as kȳg Conan ne none of hys knyghtes or of his peple wolde no take wifes of the nacyon of fraūce. he sēt tho in to grete Bretaigne to y e erle of Cornewaille that men called Dyonothe. that he shold chese thurgh owt alle the lande xj.M / of maydens that is to saye. viij / M / for the mene peple & thre thousād for the gretest lordes that sholde hem spouse: And whē Dionothe vnderfounge this cōmaūdemēt he let seche thurgh all y e grete bretaygne as many as the nombre came to: for no man durst withstonde his commaūdements for as moche as alle the lād was taken to hymward & to kepe to done all thing that hem good lyked And whan alle the maydēs were assembled he let hem come before hym to londō: and let ordeyne for hē shippes hastely asmoch̄ as hē nedeth to y e vyage & toke his owne doughtere that was called Vrsula: that was the fairest creature that any man wist / ād wold haue sent hyr to kȳg Conan that shold haue spoused hir & made hir quene of the land / but she anone made preuely to god a vowe of chastite that hyr fadre wiste not ne no man elles that was lyuing vpon the erthe.
How vrsula & xi.m. maidēs that were in his cōpanye wēt toward lyttell Bretaigne: & were all martred at Coleyne Cap. l.
THis Vrsula chese on hyr companie xi m. maidēs. that of all other she was ladye ād maistresse: & alle they wente into the ship at one tyme. in y e water y t was called the Tamyse & ꝯmaū ded hyr kyn & alle hyr frendes to almyghty god: ād sailled toward lyttell Bretaigne. But when they [Page] were comē into y e hygh̄ see / a strō ge tēpeste arose as it was goddis wille. And vrsula wy t hyr shippes & hyr ꝯpanye were dryuē toward hundlād thurgh tempest & arryued in the hauē of the cyte of Coleyne. The kȳg of y e lād that was called Gowan was tho in y e Cite / & whā he wist the tyding that so many fayr maidēs were ther arryued. he toke Elga his brother & other of his houshold with hym: & went to the shyppes to seē that fayre companye / & whan he saw hem so fayre: he & his companye wold haue ouer fayne hē & betake fro hem hyr maydēhode. But vrsula that good mayd coūseilled / prayed / warned & thought hem that were hir felawes that they shold defende hē with all hir myght. & rather suffre the deth than suffre hir body to be defowled / so that alle the maydens became so stedfast in god that thei hē defended through his grace so that none of hem had power to done hē any shame wherfore the kīg Gowan was sore anoyed: that he for wroth let slee hem euerychone. ād so were alle the maydenes martred for the loue of god / and lyen at Coleyne
¶How kȳg Gowan came for to destroye this lād. And how a mā of grete power that was kalled Gracyan deffended this land Capitulo lj.
WHā all this was don. kīg Gowā that was a sarezȳ called his brother Elga. & sayd to hȳ that he shold go to cō quere y e lād that all the fayr maydēs were in borne. And he ordeyned tho a grete power of pechitet / of Denmark. of orkoney / and of norwey / And thei came into this lande & brēt townes & slewe folck & cast a downe chyrches & houses & religiō / & robbed the lād in lēght & brede / & put to deth alle the that wolde not forsake the right beleue & cristēdome: & for as moch̄ as ther was no soueraigne that might hē helpe. For the kȳg Maxymian had takē wy t hȳ alle y e worthy men: & was goon to cōquere littel bretaign̄· & in the same time that ye here now telle. was seynt Albone martred thurgh y e wode tyrant Dyoclisiā in the same place where is now an abbye made of seint Albone whyles y t he was a paynyme. but he cōuerted hī to god thurgh the predicacyon of a clerk & a wyse man that was called Antybell / that was herburghed a night in his howse. & thys was after the incarnacyon of jesu crist / cc.xxvi. yere. And mē shal vnderstāde that saȳt Albone suffred his martyrdome before that seynt Edmond was martred. ād therfore is seȳt Albone called the fyrst Martyr of Englond / Thys Gowannes brother and his folk [Page] that were sarasynes wēt thurgh oute the land: & destroyed all thīg that they fonden. & no thing they ne spared. Whan this tydȳg cam̄ to rome. how that kyng Gowan had bigonne for to destroye thys land / the Emperour of Rome sēt a strong man ād of grete power that was called Graciā wy t xxiiij M. men wel fyghtyng for to cast owt Sarasenes owt of this land And alle they arryued at portes mouthe / Maximian might not come hym selfe for as moch̄ as he was chosen Emperour after the deth of Constātinꝰ that was saīt Elynes sone / Whan this gracyā was arryued with his host / he let aspie preuely wher the kīg Gowā might be fondē: ād he came vpō hem sodēly as they lay in hir beddes & discomfited him & slew hem in hyr beddes euery chō that non̄ of hem escaped sauf Gowan that fled with moche sorowe into hys contre / Sone aftir this Maximian was slayne at Rome thurgh treson. And whan Gracyan wist that tydyng he let crowne hȳ self kyng of this lande.
¶Howe Gracyan made him self kyng whan Maximiā was slaȳ And afterward y e Bretons queld him for his wikkednesse. C. lij /
THis Gracyā whā he began to regne / he became so wikked & sterne / and so moch̄ dyd he to y e bretōs that thei slowe hȳ amōges hē. Tho y e kȳg Gowan had vnderstōd that Gracyā was slayne & downe to deth he assēbled a grete power & came ayen̄ into this lād. & if he had ers [...] don̄ harme: tho dyd he moch̄ more. for tho destroyed he alle thys lāde & the cristē peple that was in moche Bretaign̄ / so that no man was so herdie for to nempne god & he that so dyd anon̄ he was put to strōge deth: But the bisshop of londō that was tho that was called Gosseleȳ / escaped & wēte thēs to thē of Rome to seche socour to helpe to destroye the sarrazenes y t had destroyed this land. And the romaȳs saydē that thei had be so ofte anoyed for hir sending after folke in to bretaigne all for to helpe y e bretōs & they wolde not more so done. And so y e bisshop Gosseleyne went thēs withoute any socour or helpe: And tho went he to the kȳg of lytell bretaigne that was kalled Aldroye / ād this was the thridde king after Gowā meriedoke as before is sayd / The bisshop prayed thys kyng Aldroye of helpe and socour: The kīg had grete pyte in hys herte whan he had herde how the Bisshop fledde: and how the Cristen men weren slayne in grete Bretaigne thurgh paynyms & sarazenes / He graunted hym Constantyne his brother for to helpe hȳ wy t power of folke: and hym dyd araye hors [Page] armure & shippes & alle thīg that hem nedeth to that vyage: And whan all thyng was redy he called the bisshop & to hȳ said (punctel) I take you here to helpe & socour Cō stātyn̄ my brother vpon thys couenant that if god yeue him grace the paynymes & the sarazenes to shende & to discōfyte that than ye make hȳ kȳg. And the bisshop graunted it hȳ with a good wille. Constantyne & the bisshop toke leue of the king Aldroye / & betok hem to god / ād delyuerd thaym xij M men / & wēte to hyr shippes & sailled toward grete bretaigne / & arryued at Totenesse. Whā the bretons herde the tydynges that to hē came socour / they were strō gely holpen & ordeyned hē an hughe nombre of peple. & cam̄ to hē with moch̄ honour. Gowā anon̄ as he wist of his tydynges he assembled all the sarazenes & came ayenst hem & yafe hem bataille. & Constantyne slow him with his owne handes. And alle the other sarazenes were discomfyted and slayne that non̄ escaped but they that were conuerted vnto god
How Cōstantyne that was the kynges brother of lytel Bretaign̄ was crowned kȳg of mochel bretaigne for his worthynesse Capitulo liij
ANnone after the bataylle they went to lōdō & crouned ther Constātyne / & made hȳ king of this lande: ād the bisshop Gosselyne sette the croune on his hede & anoyted him as falleth to a king for to ben̄ / and tho began cristēdome: This king Cōstātine whan he was crowned anone after he spoused hys wyfe thurgh y e counseyll of the Bretons. & he begate thre sones on hir: The fyrste was called Constance· that othir Aurelambros / & the thridde Vter / Constāce the eldest brother whā he came to age he made hī a mō ke at Wyncestre. Constātyne hyr fadre was slayne thurgh treson: for it befell on a tyme that Pehite came to hȳ vpon a day in message as it were & said that he wolde speke preuely with the kyng in counseyl. The king let voyde his chābre of y e men y t were wythȳne / & ther abode no mo but the king & the Pehyte. & mad [...] a cōtenaū ce as though he wolde haue spoke with the king in his ere. & ther he queld hȳ with a longe knyfe. & after went he secretly oute of the chābre in to an othir chābre so at the last no mā wist where he was become. whā y e kīges meyne wist that hir lord was so ded they made so moche sorwe y t they wist not what to doo: for hys two sones Anrilābros ād Vter werē so yō ge y t none of hē might be kȳg· & y e thridde brother was mōke at wī cestre / as is sayd. But Vortyger [Page] that was Erle of westsexe thought preuely in his herte through queyntyse to be kyng (punctel) & went to winchestre / ther that Constance was monke & to him said Cōstā ce your fader is dede. & yowr two bretheren that ben̄ wy t Gosseleyne the bisshop of Lōdō for to norysshe ben so yonge that none of hem may be king: wherfor ·j coū seyll you that ye forsake your habyt & come with me / & I shal don so with the Bretons that ye shall be made kyng
¶Of Constance that was kyng Cōstantynꝰ sone that was mōk at Wynchestre / and how he was made king after hys faders deth through counseyll of Vortyger y t was Erle of Westsexe / for as moche as Aurylambros & Vter hys two brethren were but yonge of age / And Vortyger let slee hȳ for to be kyng hym selfe Ca / liiij
THys Vortyger coūceylled thys Constāce so moche tyll he forsoke his habyte & went with hȳ: And anone afterward he was crowned and made kȳg by assent of the bretōs. This kyng Constaūce whan he was crowned & made kīg he wist not ne knewe but lytel of y e world ne cowde no thȳg that aparteigned to a kyng / but he made Vortyger his chief maistre and counseillier / ād yaf him alle his power for to ordeyne and to do asmoche as to the royaulme aparteigned So that him selfe no thing entermedled / but onely bare the name of Kyng. Whan Vortyger sawe that he had all y e land in his ward & gouernaille at his owne wyl he thought a pryue treson ād to slee Constaunce the king that he might him selfe ben̄ crowned & made king and regne. And let sende after an C / knyghtes of Pehites the worthiest of alle the land. and helde thaym for to dwelle wy t hȳ: as to be kepars of his bodi. as he wold wente thurgh the lād to ordeyne thynges that aparteigned to a kȳg. And this Vortyger honoured so moche the hōdred knightes / & so moche yafe thaym of gold & syluer ād so ryche iewelles robes hors & of othir thȳges plē te / wherfore they helde him moch̄ more lord than they dydē the kȳg And Vortyger tolde hē yf he might be kȳg [...] ye: as it were thurgh treson: he wolde make him the richest of all the lande. So at y e last thurgh grete yeftes that he had yeue largely / they cryed thurgh y e contre that Vortiger were better worthy to be kyng than Cōstaū ce: Wherfore vortyger made semblaūt as he had ben̄ wroth: & departed thens fro the court: & said he must gon̄ elles whidder for thī ges that he had to done: ād so the [Page] traitour sayd for encheson y t they shold slee him that is to say Constance / Whan this vortiger was gone it befel sone after that y e hō dred knightes of Pehites broken the dores of the kinges chābre ād ther they him slowē & smoten of his heed & bare it to vortiger ther that he dwelled And when vortiger saw that heed he wepte ful tē derly wyth hys eye / & notheles he was full glad of his deth And anone let take the hondred knightes of Pehites & bynde hir hādes behynde him & lede him to londō ād there they were dāpned to the deth as fals traitours And anone after alle the Bretons of y e lāde by cōmune assent crouned vortiger & made hȳ king of the lande
¶How that the wardeyns that had the two children to kepe that were Cōstātynes sones ladde hem to lytel Bretaygne for the treson & falsenesse of vortyger. Capitulo lv /
THis kyng vortyger whā he was crouned thei that had the two childrē in keping Aurylābros & vter / thurgh ordināce of Gosseleyne that was bisshop of lōdō. at hys deth durst not dwelle in the lāde with y e children: but lad hē to the kȳg of litell Bretaigne. for asmoche as he tho wist y e treson of vortiger that tho was made king / thurgh whō cō stance hir brother was slaȳ. wherfore the hondred knightes of Pehytes were put to deth. and bare all y e blame as that vortyger had not wist therof: ne nothir ther to consented. And so the kepars of the two children dred lest vortiger wold put hē to deth thurgh hys treson & falsenesse as he had don hyr brother beforne / and therfore they were lad ouer in to littel bretaigne / and the kīg thaym receyued with mochel honour and lete hem to norysshe. and ther they dwelled tyll they becamen fayre knightes and stronge and fers: & thought to be auenged vpon the deth of Cōstāce hyr brother whā they sawe hir time: ād so they dyd as ye shall here telle afterward Hit was not longe after that the tydinges ne came ouer see to the kynred of the hondred knyghtes of Pehites that were dampned & put to deth through vortiger in this lāde. therfore they were wō derly wroth and sworē that they wolde ben̄ auēged of hir kynnes deth. and camen in thys land wy t a grete power. ād robbed in many places and queld and dyd alle the sorwe that they myght. Whā vortyger it wist: he made moche sorwe and was sore anoyed And in an other place tydynges came to him that Aurilābros and vter his brother ordeyned ād assēbled a grete host for to come in to mochel bretaign̄. that is to saye in to [Page] this lāde for to ben̄ auenged vpō Constance hir brothers deth So that in one halfe ād in that othir he was brought ī to so moch̄ sorwe that he ne wist whidder to gon̄
How Engist & xj thousand men came in to this lāde / to whō vortyger yafe a place that kalled is thong castell Capitulo lvi
ANd sone after this sorwe tydynge came to vortiger that a grete nauye of strā giers were arryued in the contre of kēt But he wist not whēs thei were. ne wherfore thei were comē into this lād / The kȳg sente anone a messagier thidder / that sōme of hē sholde come & speke wy t hȳ: for to wyt what folke they were: and what they axed & into what contre they wolde gon Ther were two bretherē maistres & prīces of that strong cōpanye / that one was kalled Engist ād that othyr horsse· Engist went to the king & tolde him the encheson: wherfore that they were arryued in his lād And said: Syr we bene of contre that called is Saxonie that is the lande of Ermanie: wher yn is so moche sorwe that the peple be so moche that the lāde may not hē susteyne The maistres & princes that haue the lande to gouerne & rule. maken to comen before hem men and women: that bolde ben amonge hem for to fyght. & that best may trauaille in to dyuerse landes. and so they shall hem yeue hors and harnaye Armure & alle thyng that hem nedeth and after they shall saye to hem that they go in to an othir cōtre / wher that they mowe lyue as hir auncestres dyd beforne hē: And therfore Syre king yf ye haue ought to do with our companye. we be come into your lande and wyth good well: wyll we you serue and your lande helpe kepe and defende from your enemyes: yf ye [...]aue nede / Whā vortiger herde this tydinge he sayd he wolde glad [...]y hem withold vpon couenant [...] they might delyuere hys land of his enemyes / he wolde yeue hem resonable lōdes wher they sho [...]d dwelle for euermore: Engist thā ked him goodly. and in this maner he and his companye xj.M. shold dwelle with the king vortiger. ād so moche they dyd thurgh his boldenesse that they delyured the land clene of hys ennemyes / Tho prayed Engyst the kyng of so moche lād that he myght make to hym a cyte. for hym and for his meyne. The kyng answerde / that it was not to done without the coūseyll of hys Bretōs / Thē ne Engyst prayed hym estsones for as moche lande or place as he myght compose wyth a thonge [Page] of a skynne. and wervpon he might make hī a maner for to dwelle on / And the kyng graunted it hym freely. Tho nomme engyst a bullys skynne & cut it as smale as he might all in to a thwōge all a roūde. & ther with compased he as moche lande as that he made vpon a fayr castell And whē this castell was made. he let kalle it y e Thwoncastell / For as moche as the place was marked with the thonge
¶Of Romewen that was Engistes doughtyr. & how the kīg Vortyger spoused hir for hir beaute Capitulo lvij
WHā this castell was mad & full well arayed Engyst sent by letter in to the cō tre that he came of / after an hondred shippes fylled wyth stronge man. that were bolde for to fyghtyng in all batailles. ād that they shold bryng with hem Romewē hys doughter that was y e fayrest creature that a man might see: & whan the peple was comen that he had sente after. he toke hem in to the castell with moche ioye. ād him selfe vpon a day wente vnto the king & prayed hym ther worthely that he wolde come & se his newe maner that he had made ī the place that he had compassed with a thonge of the skynne The kyng anone graūted it him freely & with hym wente thydder / ād was wel a payed with the castell & with the fayr werke. ād to gedre ther they eten & dronken wy t mochel ioye. And whan night came that the king Vortyger shold gon̄ in to his chambre for to take ther his nyghtes reste Romewē that was Engistes doughter came w t a coupe of gold in hyr handes ād kneled before the king & said to hī waissaille. & y e kīg wist not what it was to mene: ne what he shold āswere. For as moche as hym selfe ne none of hys Bretons yet coude none Englysh spekē ne vnderstond it [...] but spoken tho the same langages that bretons yet done Neuertheles a latiner tolde y e kīg the fulle vnderstanding ther of waissaille ād that other shold āswere drȳke haille: And that was the first tyme that wassaille and drinkhaille came vp in this land. and from that tyme vnto this time it is wel vsed in this lāde / The king Vortyger sawe the fairnesse of romewen & his armes layd aboute hir necke / and swetely kyssed hir: And anone right he was anamered vpon hir that he desyred to haue hir to wyfe / ād asked of Engist hir fadre: And Engyst graunted him vpō thys couenāt that the king shold yeue him alle the contre of kent that he might dwelle theryn ād his peple. The [Page] kyng him graunted preuely & wy t good will / & anone after he spoused the damysell. which̄ that was moche cōfusion to him selfe And therfore alle the bretons became so wroth for enchesō that he had spoused a woman of mysheleue. wherfor they went all frō him & no thing to him toke kepe ne helpe him in thīg that he had to don̄
¶How vortymer that was vortigers sone was made kȳg & Engist dryuē owte & how Vortimer was slayne Cap / lviij
THis Engist wēt into kēt & seised all the lād ī to hys hād for him & for his men ād bicame in a lyttell whill of so grete poer & so moch̄ peple had y t men wist not in lyttel tyme whiche were the kinges men & which̄ were Engist men / wherfor all bretaigne had of him drede & said amōg hē that if they ne toke othir counseill betwene hē. all the land shold be betraied thurgh Engyst & his peple / Vortiger y e king had bigotē on his first wife iij sones: the first was called vortimer / y e ij. catagrē & the thridde passēt. The bretons alle bi one assent chosen vortimer to be hir lord & soueraine & hir coūcellier in euery bataille & crowned hȳ & made hȳ king / & wolde suffre vortiger no lenger to regne. for encheson of the aliā ce bitwene Engist & hȳ / The bretons ordeyned a grete host to driue oute Engist ād his cōpanie of the lande. & yafe him thre batailles / that first was in kent ther he was lorde / The secōd was at tetforde / & the thridde was in a shire and is kalled Nycoll in a more & in this bataille hem met Catagrē & Horsse engistes brother so that eche of hem slewe that other. but for as moche as the contre was yeuē lōg before to horne thurgh vortyger tho he had spoused hys cosin ther he had made a fair castell that men called horne castell: after his owne name. And vortimer was so anoyed for his brothers deth Catagrē that he was dede in suche a maner: wherfore anone he let felle y e castel to groū [...]de. and after that he ne lest night ne day tyll he had dryuē owt engist & all his peple of the lande ād whan Engist was driuen away Romewen his doughtyr made sorwe ynowe: & queyntely spake to hē that were next the king vortymer & pryuyest with hym / & so moche she yaf him of yestes that he was enpoisened & deyed at lō don: the iiij. yere of hys regne. ād ther he lyeth
How the bretons chosē an othir tyme vortiger to be theyre kyng / and engyst came ayen̄ in to thys lande / & they foughten to gedre Capitulo lix.
[Page] AFter Vortemers deth the Bretons bi hir ꝯmune assent estsones made vortiger hir king. vpon this couenant y t he shold neuer after suffre Engist ne none of his estsones to comen in to this land / And whā all this was done / Romewen y e quene preuely sēte by letter to Engist that she had ēpoisened vortymer & that vortyger hir lord ayen̄ bare the crowne & regned. & that he shold come into this land well arayed with moche peple for to auenge him vpon the bretons & to wynne this lād ayene: And whā Engist herde this tidinge he made grete ioye: & apparailled hym hastely with xv. thousand men y t were doubgthy in euery batayll & came into thys land: And whā Vortiger herd telle that Engyst ayen̄ was comē with a grete power into this land: he assembled his Bretons & wente ayenst Engist for to haue yeuen him bataill ād his folke. But Engist drad hȳ sore of the bretons / For they had discōfyted him beforne. & had driuen him owte w t strengthe / wherfore Engist prayed a loue day / ād said he was not comen into this lande for to fight: but for to haue his lāde ayen̄ if he might accorde with the Bretons and of hem haue grace. The kȳg Vortiger thurgh coūceyll of hys bretōs graū ted a loue day: ād thus it was ordeyned thurgh the Bretons that the same loue day shold ben̄ holde fast besyde Salysbury vpō an hyll. And Engist shold come thidder wy t iiij.C / knightes withoute moo. & the king with as many of y e wysest of his lande And at that day the kyng came with his coū seyll as it was ordeyned But engist had warned his knightes preuely & hem cōmaūded that euery of hem shold put a longe knyf in his hose. And whan he said. fayre syres nowe is tyme to speke of loue & pees / euery man anon̄ shold drewe out his knyfe & slee a bretō and so they quelled a thousand & lxi. of knyghtes / and with moche sorowe many of hem escaped. ād y e king vortiger him selfe tho was taken and lad to Thongcastell & put into pryson. And sōme of engystes men wolde that the kyng had ben brent all quyke. ād Vortiger for to haue his lyfe graūted hem asmoche as they wolde axe & yaue vp alle the landes townes castelles Cytees & burghes to engyst and to hys folke. ād alle the Brytons fledde thens into wales & there they helde him stille And engyst wente thurgh the lande & seised alle in to his hāde wy t fraū chises and in euery place let kast a downe chyrches and howses of Relygyone: and destroyed cristē dome thurgh the lande: & let chā ge the name of the land / that noman [Page] of his were so hardy after y • tyme to calle this lande Bretaign̄ but calle it Engistesland. & he departed all that land to his men: & made ther vij. kȳges for to strēghte the land: that the bretōs shold neuer come after therȳ / The first kingdome was kēt ther that Engist him selfe regned & was lord & maistre ouer alle the othir. And othir kȳg had southsexe. that nowe is called Chichesstre / The .iij. king had westsex / The iiij / kyng hadde Eestsexe / The v. kyng had Estāgyll that now is called nortfolk Southfok Merchemerich̄ y t is to saye the Erldome of Nychol: The vj / had leicestreshire Northm̄ptonshire Hertford & huntȳgdone. The vij / had Oxūford Gloustre Winchestre Warrewyk ād Derbyshyre /
How Vortiger wēt into wales: and begā there a castell that wolde not stande wy tout mortier tē pred with blode C lx
WHā Engist had departed all the lāde in this maner bitwene his men. he delyuered Vortiger out of pryson / ād suffred him freely to gone whidder that he wolde. & he nōme hys wey & went in to wales ther that hys bretons dwelled: for as moche as that lād was strōg & wykked to winne: And Engist neuer came ther ne knewe it neuer before that land. Vortiger helde hȳ ther with his bretons & ared coū ceyl what him was best all for to done / And they yaf him coūceyll to make a stronge castell that he might him self therynne kepe ād defende if it were nede: the werkmen anone begannen to werke that castell vpō y e hylle of breigh but certes thus it befel all y e werke that the masons made a day: it fell downe on the night & wyst not what it myght ben̄: & therof the king was sore anoyed of that chaūce. & wist not what to done wherfore he sent after the wylest clerkes and also for alle lerned men that were thurgh oute wales that might be fondē For they sholde telle wherfore the foundament so failled vnder the werke: And they sholde hym telle what thyng that was best for to done (punctel) And whan thiese clerkes ād wyse maistres longe tyme had studied. they sayden to the king that he shulde done seke a chylde borne of a woman that neuer had with man to done and that childe he sholde slee and tempre with hys blode the mortier of the werke. and so sholde the werke euer endure withoute ende
Howe the kyng lete seche merlȳ thurgh alle wales for to speke wy t hym Capitulo lxi
[Page] WHan the king herde this: he cōmaūded hys messagiers anone to wēte thurgh oute alle wales to seke y e childe yf they might hym fynde: and that they shold bringe hym forth with hē vnto him· & in recorded & witnesse of thys thynge. he delyuered hē his lrēs that thei ne were destroubled of no man ne lette / & tho the messagiers wente thēs and spedde so fast that they came in to a towne y t was kalled Karmardyne: ād as thei passed forth hir waye / they fonden two chyldrē of xiiij yere age. chydȳg to gydre w t hasty wordes & one of hem said to that othir / Done bat sayd he. ye done all wronge to chydde or stryfe with me For ye haue ne wit ne reson as I haue / Certes Merlȳ said y e other child: of your wit ne of yowr reson I make no force. for men telle cōmuneli· that ye haue no thing of god almighty / syth ye had neuer fadre. but euery man knoweth well who is your moder. The messagyers of the king Vortyger whā they herdē the stryfe bytwene y e two chyldren. they axed of hem that stōdē besydes hem. whēs this Merlyn was borne & also who him norisshed: And the folke hē tolde that a grete gentyll woman him bare in Karmardyne that was called Adhan: But neuer man might wite who that might be the chyldes fadre. Whan the kynges messagiers herdē this tydīg they wē ten anone to him that was wardeyne of the towne & tolde hȳ the kynges wyll· & his lrē shewed hȳ wherfor they were comē thydder Merlyn & his moder anon̄ were sēt to fore y e wardeyne of the towne: & he commaunded hem that they sholde gon̄ to the kyng as it was ordeyned by his messagiers. Merlyn and his moder wente thens and camen to fore the kȳg And there they were vnderfonge wy t mochel honour. And the kȳg axed of that lady yf y e childe were hyr sone: & who him begate / The lady answerde full tēderli wepȳg ād said. she had neuer companye of man wordely. But syre kyng quod she. as I was a yōge mayden in my fadres chābre & other of grete lygnage were ī my companye that oftē tymes were wōt to playe and to solace. I beleft allone in my chambre & wold not gon owte for brennyng of the sō ne: and vpon a time ther came a fayre bacheler & entred in to my chambre ther that I was allone / but how he came in to me & where I wiste it neuer / ne yet wote j it not. for the dores were fast barred & wy t me he dyd game of loue. for I ne had might ne power him to deffende fro me. & ofte he cam to me in that forsaid maner / so that he begate thys chylde. but neuer [Page] might I wyt what he was
¶Of the answere of Merlȳ wher for the king axed why hys werke might not stande that he had begonne ner proue Cap / lxij
WHā Merlȳ had herde all that his moder had sayd / he spak to the kȳg in thys maner. Syre how I was begotē axe ye no more / for it fallyth nought to you ne to non̄ othir to wyte. but telle me the enchesō wherfor I am to you brought: & wherfore ye haue sent after me. Certes said the king. My wyse counceilliers haue don̄ me to vnderstōde that y e mortier of the werke that j haue begōne / behoued to be tempred with your blode / or the foū dament shall faill euermore: Syr sayd Merlyn wyll ye slee me for my blood for to tempre therwith your mortier / Ye sayde the kyng: or elles neuer shall my castell stade: as my counceilliers done me to vnderstōde Tho āswerde merlyn to the kȳg & said. Syr let hem come byfore me the wyse coūceilliers. & I wyll proue that they say not wel ne trewly. And when the wise maistres were comen Merlyn axed of hē / if is blode were the encheson for to make the werke stand & endure. All the wyse were abasshed and coude not answere / Merlyn tho said to the kȳg Syr I shal telle yow thēcheson wherfore your werke thus failleth ād may not stande / Ther is vnder y e montaigne ther that ye haue begonne your towre a grete ponde of water / & in the bothome of the water ther ben two dragōs: that one is white: that other reed / that fyghten to gydre ayēst your were Do ye dygge so depe tyll your mē comen to the ponde: ād do yowr men take away the water all oute: & than ye shall se the dragons as I haue you tolde that to gedre fyght ayēst your werk And this is the encheson certes wherfore y • foundament failleth The kȳg anone let dygge vnder tyll thei camē to that pōde & let done away all that water. & ther they fonden two dragons as Merlyn had tolde: which̄ egrely foughten to gydre. The whyte dragon egrely assailled the rede & layd on hym so strōgely that he might not endure / but withdrewe him & rested in the same caue. And when he had a whyle rested / he went before ād assailled the reed dragon angrely & helde him so sore that he myght not ayēst hym endure / but withdrowe him ād rest / And after came ayen̄ the whyte dragō & strō geli fought with the reed dragon and bote hym euell and hȳ ouercam̄ that he fleigh thēs & nomore came ayene
Of the sygnyfycacion of the two [Page] dragōs that were in the bottom of the ponde / that foughtē to gedre Capitulo lxiij
THis king Vortiger and his men that sawe thys bataill had grete meruaille & praied Merlyn to telle hym what it might betokē. Syre sayd merlyn. I shall telle yow / The rede dragon that betokeneth yowr self. and the whyte betokeneth y e folk of Saxone: that fyrst ye toke & helde in this lande that now fyghten ayēst yow: & yow haue driuen & enchased: But y e bretons of your lygnage ouercamē hem ād drouē hem away. & sythen at the comyng ayen of the Saxōs they recoured this lād & held it for euer more: & dryuen owt the bretons & dyd w t this lād hir wyll / & destroyed cristēdome thurgh out this lā de. ye had first ioye wy t hir comȳg: but now it is turned to you grete domage & sorwe. For the ij. bretheren of Constāce that was kīg the whiche ye let slee (punctel) shulle come beforn̄ a moneth passed wy t a grete power from lytell bretaigne: & shull auenge the deth of hyr brother & they shull brenne yow first with sorwe / ād after they shul slee a grete partie of Saxons: & shull owt dryue the remanaūt of y e lād And therfore abide ye here no lē ger to make castell ne none other werke: but anone goo elles where / yowr lyfe for to saue / to god I you bitake. for trouth j haue said to yow of thyng that shall befall And vnderstōdeth well that Aurylābros shal be king: but he shal be enpoyesēd & lyttel tyme regne
¶Of kyng Aurilambros howe he pursued Vortyger & Engist: & howe they dydden Capitulo lxiiij
MErlyn and his moder departed fro the king & turned ayen to Karmardyne. And so after tyding came to y e bretons that Aurylambros and Vter his brother were arriued at Tottenesse with a grete hoost. & the bretons anone assembled hē. & went & receyued Aurilābros & vter wit grete nobylesse: and lad hem to london (punctel) ād crowned ther Aurilambros: ād made him kȳg and dyden to him homage / And he axed wher vortyger the kyng might be fonden for he wold ben auenged of his brothers deth / ād after he wolde werre vpon paynyms And thei told hȳ that vortyger was in whales / ād so they ladde him thydderward Vortyger wyst well that the bretheren came for to cōquere hȳ: & he flew thens into a castelll y t was kalled Gerneth / that stode vpon a hygh̄ montaigne & ther helde he hym / Aurilambros & Vter his brother [Page] and hir folk had besieged the castell full longe tyme: for the castell was stronge & wel arayed So at the last they cast therin wylde fire and brent hows & men ād all hir araye & as moche as was withȳ y e castel. so that Vortiger was brēt amonge alle other / & so deyed he with moch̄ sorwe / Tho was Engyst in kent & regned ther & herde this tyding and anone fledde ād wold haue gone in to Scotland / for to haue had socour. but Aurilambros & his men met with hȳ into northcontre & yafe hym bataille: and Engist & his men hem defended whiles that they might but he & his folke were disconfyted and slayne: And Otta his sone fley to yorke / and Aurilābros hym folowed egrely. Otta a littel whyle ayēst him stode· but afterward he putte him to his mercy / & Aurilambros vnderfenge him & to him & to his men he yafe the contre of Galewey in Scotland. & ther they dwelled. The kȳg aurilābros went thurgh owt y e lāde & put away the name of Engistes land / that Engist after his name had called it before / Tho let he calle it ayen̄ grete Bretaigne. and let make ayen̄ chyrches / howses of relygion / castelles. cytees ād burges and townes: whych̄ that the saxons had destroyed. & came to londō / ād let make the walles of the cyte: whiche engist & his folk had cast a downe The bretōs led hym to the monthe of Anbrian: wher some tyme was an hows of relygyō that tho was destroyed thurgh paynymes: wher of a knight that was called Anbri sō me tyme was founder of y e hous and therfore the hyll was called y e mont of Briā: & after was called Ambresbury & shal for euermore
¶How aurylābros dyd redresse the land of grete Bretaygne that was destroyed thurgh the saxōs. Capitulo lxv
THe king aurylābros let amēd & redresse the hous of Amlesbury. & therȳ he put mokes. but now ther be nō nes. a lyttell frō y e place that was called Salisbury. ther tho the saxons kyllyd the bretōs. where engist & he sholde haue made a loue day / in which̄ time ther were slaine a M [...] lxi. knightes thurgh treson of engist. The kīg therof had grete pyte [...] & thought to make in minde of hem a monument of a stone that might ēdure to y e worldes ende And of thys thyng they toke hir coūseil what therof was best for to done / Tho spake to the king the bisshop of London that was called Ternekȳ. that he sholde enquyre after Merlyn. for he cowde beste telle how this thyng myght best be made. And merlȳ [Page] after was sought and fondē: and he came to the kyng. And the kīg tolde him hys will of the monument y t he wold haue made: Tho answerde Merlyn to the kyng & saide There ben grete stones in jrland & lōge / vpon the hyll of kyliā that men kalled Geants karoll: & yf they were in this place as they ben̄ there. here they shold endure euer more. in remēbraunce of the knightes that here ben entered. By my throuth̄ sayd the king. as hard stones be in my lād as in jrland. Soth said merlȳ [...] But in all your landes bene not suche. For the geants set hem for grete good of hem selfe / for at eueri time that they were woūded or in any maner hurte▪ they wesshē the stones with hote water / ād than wesshe they hem self ther with / and anone they were hole.
How the Bretons wentē for to seche the grete stones in Irland Capitulo lxvi.
WHan the Bretōs had herde of thys thing / they wēt ād swore among hē that they wolde gone seche the stones & nomme with hem Vter the kȳ ges brother to ben hir cheueteyne & xv.M. men / & Merlyn coūceylled hem for to gon̄ in to Irlād. ād so they dydē: And whan the kȳg of Irlād that was called Gwillomer herd tell that straūgiers were arryued in his lāde: he assēbled a grete power & fought ayenst hē but he & his folk was discōfyted / The bretōs wente forth tyll they camē to y e monte of Kylian & clemed vnto y e mōte But whā they saugh̄ the stones & y e maner how thei stodē: thei had grete mervaille & sayd bytwene hē that no mā sholde remene for no strength̄ ne engyne. so hughe they were ād so lōge. but merlȳ thurgh his craft & queȳtise remened hē & brought hē in hir shippes. & came ayen̄ in to this land. And merlȳ sette the stones there y t the kȳg wold haue hē. & set hē in y e same maner that they stodē in Irlād And whā the kȳg saugh y t it was made he thā ked merlȳ. & rychely hȳ rewarded at his owne wille / & that place is kalled stōheuge for euermore
How passēt that was Vortigers sone & y e kȳg Guillomer cam̄ into this lād / and how a traitour that was called Coppa ēpoisened the king Aurilābros Ca. lxvij
ANd men shall vnderstōde that passāt that was vortyger sone liued in y e same tyme & came into thys lāde wyth a grete power ād arryued in the north contre: & wolde ben̄ auēged of his fadres deth Vortyger. And strongely trusted he vpon the cō panye that he had brought with hȳ owt of the lande of Germayne / and he had conquered alle the [Page] north contre vnto york And whē king Aurylābros herd this: he assembled a grete hoost of brytons & went for to fyght with hȳ / And he and his peple were discōfyted / but passent eskaped thens wyth some of his folke & fled thēs in to Irland / ād came to the kȳg Guillomer & prayed him of helpe & socour: The kyng graunted hȳ wy t good wyll ād saide. he wold helpe him. vpō that couenāt that I my selfe must gone with you▪ alle my power in to bretaigne & I wolde me auenge vpō the bretōs. rather than they in to my lande camē & token the stones with strēth̄ that called is Geants karoll / The kȳg Guillomer let ordeyne hys shyppes and wente to the see with xv. thowsand men & arryued in wales & begōne to robbe & moch̄ sorwe done: Hit befell so that Kȳg Aurilambros lay seke at wȳchestre & might not helpe him self So that he sent in his name Vter his brother with a grete power for to helpe wales / ād thydderward he wente as moch̄ as he might The king of Irlād & Passent had herd telle that Aurylābros was seke: & to hē both̄ came a sarazen which̄ was called Coppa and said: Sire dwelle ye here all in pees wy t your hoost & I behote yow thurgh my queyntyse that I shal slee the kȳg Aurylābros that is seke / If ye do so said Passēt / I shal yow rycheli auaūce This traitour coppa put vpon him an habyt of relygyon / & let shaue him a brode crowne. & came to the kȳges court ād sayde that he wolde hele the kȳg of his maladie Tho said y e traitour to y e king Syr ben of good confort for I shal yeue you suche a medicine that ye shall swete anone right & lustē to slepe & haue good rest ād the traytour yaf hȳ suche a poyson that he slept anone ryght ād deyed in his slepȳg And the traitour said that he wold gone owte in to the felde tyl he wer awaked & so escaped he away For no mā had to him suspectyon for encheson of his habbyt that he was in clothed: & also for his brode croune. But whā the kinges men wisten that he was dede. they were moche sorwefully / & soughtē fast the traitour / but they might not fynde hȳ: for coppa turned ayene to y e hoost fro whēs that he was comen
How y t whā Aurilābros was dede: in y e mornȳg a sterne was seyne w t a clere light: & at the bought of the beme was seyn̄ thē hede of an orryble dragon Cap. lxviij
WHā kīg Aurilābros was thus dede at winchestre. a morne after that he was dede / aboute y e time of prime ther was seyne a grete sterre & clere / & y e beme of y e sterre was brighter thā [Page] the sonne: & at y e bought of y e beē: appered a dragōs hede [...] & oute of his mouth came ij. grete lightes / that were as bryght as any fyre brēnȳg. & y t one beme saw toward fraūce & straught ouer y e see thidderward And owt of that beem came vij bemes full clere & longe as it were the light of fyre / Thys sterre was seyn̄ of many a man. but none of hē wist what it betokened. Vter y t was the kȳges brother that was ī walys w t his host of bretōs sawe that sterre. & y e grete light that it yaf. he wōdred ther of gretly what it might betokē: & let calle Merlȳ & praied hȳ for to telle what it might betokē
¶Of y e betokenȳg of y e sterre Cap. lxix
Merlyn saw y e sterre & behelde hȳ lōge time & fithenes he quoke ād wept tenderly ād sayd / Allas allas that so noble kȳg & worthy is dede. And j do you to vnderstāde that Aurilābros your brother is ēpoisoned [...] & that j see wel in this sterre. & your self betokeneth by y e heed of y e dragō that is seyne at y e bought of y e beē that is your self y t shal be kȳg & regne. And bi y e beē that stond towardes y e Est: is vnderstōdē that ye shal gete a sone y t shal conquere all Fraūce. all the lādes that bē longȳg to y e croune of fraūce: that shal be a worthier kȳg & of more honour than euer was of his aūcestres. And by the beē that stryght toward Irland: is betokened: that ye shall getē a doughtir that shal be quene of jrland: & the vij bemes betokened (punctel) that ye shal haue vij sones. & euery of hē shall be a kȳg & regne wy t mochel honour: & abyde ye no lē ger here: but goo & yeue bataill to your enemyes & fight wy t hē boldely for ye shal ouercome hē & haue the victorie / Vter thāked hertely Merlȳ & toke hys men & went toward hys enemyes / And they foughten to gedre dedely: & so he discōfyted his ennemies all & destroyed: & hym self quelled Passēt that was vortigers sone And his bretons queld Gwillomer y t was king of Irlād & all his men / And Vter anon̄ aftir that bataill toke his way toward wȳchestre for to done enburye Aurylābros king y t was hys brother / But tho was the body brought to stōhēge wy t mochel honour that he had don made in remēbraūce of y e bretōs that there were slayn̄ thurgh treson of Engist that same day that they shold haue beū accorded / ād in the same place they beryed aurylābros the secōde yere of his regne. wy t all the worship that myght belōgē to such̄ a kȳg: of whos sowle god haue mercy
¶Of Vter pendragon / and wher for he was kalled so after ye shall here / & how he was ouertakē wy t y e grete loue of jgerne / that was y e erles of Cornewaill wyfe C. lxx
[Page] AFter the deth of Aurylā bros vter his brother was crowned & regned well & worthely. & in remēbraūce of the dragon that he was lyked to: He let make ij. dragons thurgh coū seill of his bretons that one to be bore beforne hȳ whēne he wēt in to bataille: & that other to abyde at wynchestre in the bysshoppes chyrche And for that encheson he was called euer & after Vter. Pē dagron & Otta that was Engystes sone commended but lyttell Vter that was made newe kyng & ayēst hȳ began to meve werre & ordeyned a grete cōpanye of hys frēdes & of his kȳne & of Offa his brother: y t had take all the lād frō hūber vnto york: but thei of york helde strongely ayenst hē / & wold not suffre hem to come in to the towne nothir to yelde the cyte to hem· And he besieged the towne anone right & yafe ther to a strō ge assaulte / but they of the Cyte hē kepte well & strōgly: And whā Vter herde therof / he came thydder with a grete power for to helpe & reseue the toune: & put awey the siege & yafe a strōge bataill. ād Otta & his cōpanye hē deffended as well as they might But at the last they were discōfyted & y e most part of hē queld: & otta & offa were takē & put in to pryson at lōdō And Vter hȳ self dwelled a while at yorke: ād after he went to lō don. and at the Ester after suyng he wolde be crowned and holde a solempne fest / and let sompne all hys erles and barōs that thei shold come to that fest / ād all thei that had wyfes shold bringe hem also to that fest. & thei camē all at the kynges commaūdement as they were commaūded The fest was rychely holden and all worthely settē to mete after that they werē of estate: so that the erle Gorloys of Cornewaille & jgerne his wyfe seten alther next the king. & the kīg sawe the fairnesse of that ladi that she had. & was rauisshed of hir beaulte: ād ofte he made to hir nyce semblaūt in lokyng and lawghyng so that at the last the Erle perceyued the pryue lokyng & lawghyng & the loue bytwene hem. & aroos vp frō the table all in wroth̄. & toke his wyfe & called to him his knightes & went thēs all in wrath withoute takȳg leue of the king / The king anone sent after him that he shold come ayē & go no thēs in despyte of hȳ & y e erle wold not come ayē in no maner wyse. wherfore the king was full wroth. & in wrath̄ him deffied as his dedely enemye And the erle went thens in to Cornewaylle with his wyf in to the castel of tȳ tagell. and the kyng let ordeyne a grete hoost ād came in to Cornewaille for to destroye the erle if he myght: But he had put hym in [Page] suche a castell that was stronge & wel arayed of Tyntagell & wold not yelde hȳ to the king The kȳg anone besieged the castel. & there dwelled he xv / dayes that neuer he might spede / & euer thought he vpon jgerne. & vpon hir laid he so moche bone that he nyst what to doū So at the last he called to hȳ a knight that was called Vlfyn / which̄ was pryue with hȳ. & told hȳ all his coūseyll. & axed of hym what was best for to done. Syre sayd he. dothe send after Merlyn for he kan telle yow the best coū seyl of any man lyuing / Merlyn anone was sent after & came to y e king. & the king told hym all hys wyll. Syr said merlȳ. I shal done so moch̄ thurgh craft that j can y t I shall make yow come this nyght in to the castell of Tyntagel & ye shal haue all your will of that lady:
¶How Vter bigate on Igerne y t was the erles wyf of Cornewaill kyng Arthour Capi. lxxi
MErlyn thurgh crafte that he cowde changed the kȳ ges figure in to the lykenesse of the Erle: & Vlfen garlois his chambirlayne vnto the figure of Iurdan: that was the erles chābyrlayne / so that eche of hem was trāsfigured to othir lykenesse: And whā Merlyn had so done he sayd to the kȳg: Syr now mowe ye goo sodenly to the castel of Tyntagel & axe entrie there & haue your wyll: The king toke preuely all the hoost to gouerne & lede to a knight that he moch̄ loued ād toke his way toward y e castel / & with him vlfyn his chāberlayne and Merlyn / & whan they came thydder / the portier wēd that it had ben his owne lord. & whan tyme cam̄ for to go to bedde The king went to bedde with Igerne the Erles wyf and dyd wy t hir all his wille. and bygate vpon hir a sone that was called Arthur. Vpō the morne the noble myghty king toke his leue of the lady ād went ayen̄ to hys hoost: & in y e same night that the kīg lay bi jgerne in bedde wy t the erles wyf / the kinges knightes & men yauen a stronge assault to the castel / & the erle and his men manly hē deffē ded: but at the last it befell so that at the same assaulte the Erle him self was slayne & the castel taken / And the kyng anone turned ayē to Tyntagel and spoused Igerne wyth mochel honour / and made hyr quene. And sone after. the tyme came that she shold be deliuered and bere a chylde a sone. whiche was kalled Arthour. and after he gate on hir a doughtir whiche was kalled Amya. and whā she came to age: she wa [...] nobely maryed to a noble Baron which̄ was kalled Aloth: that was lord [Page] of leons / Whan vter longe tyme had regned / ther came vpon him a grete sekenesse as it were a sorwe And in y e mene time thei that had to kepe Otta that was engistes sone & Offa hys brother that tho were in pryson: let hem gone owt for grete yeftes that they hē yaf. & wente with hem And whā the two bretherē were escaped ād came ayen̄ in to hir owne contre / they ordeyned hem a grete hoost / and a grete power / & begonne to werre vpon the king
How Kyng Vter chose Alot to kepe the land of Bretaigne whyles that he was seke. for as moche as he might not helpe hȳ self for his sekenesse Capitulo lxxij
ANd for asmoche as kȳg vter was seke and myght not helpe hȳ self / he ordeined Alot sone of eleyꝑ y t tho was chosen to be wardeyne ād chiueteyne of all his folke: & he anon̄ & hys bretons assēbled a grete host & yafe bataille to Otta ād to hys folke: but Otta at the last was discōfyted / Hit befell thꝰ afterward that this Bretōs had indignacyon of Aloth: & wolde not to hym ben̄ attendaunt: wherfor the kīg was anoyed wonder sore: & let hī putte in an horse or litter ȳ y e host amonges the folke: & they lad hȳ to veroloyne that tho was a fayre cyte ther that seȳt Albone was martred / & after was that cite destroyed with paynims / and thydder they had sente Otta & offa ād hyr peple. & they dwelled into the towne & let make fast the yates & ther they helde hem / And the kīg came & besieged hē & made a strō ge assaulte: but they y t were therȳ manly hem defended. The kyng let ordeyne his gonnes & hys engynes for to breke the walles. ād they were so stronge that no thīg myght hem mysdoo. Otta & hys peple had grete despite that a kīg lyggyng in a lyttier had hem besieged / and they tokē counseyll amonges hem for to ryse vp in the morwe ād come owte & yeue bataille vnto the king / & so they dyden. and in that bataill were bothe Otta & Offa slayne. and al [...]e y e other that escaped fled into scotland: & made Colegryne hir chyuetayne. & the Saxons that were alyue and escaped fro the bataill broughten ayen̄ a grete strength̄ & amonges hem they saidē: that if kyng vter were dede thei shold wel conquere the land. & amōges hem they thoughtē to enpoisen̄ y e king. & ordeyned men for to done this dede: & yaf hē of yeftes grete plente for to don̄ this thing: And they ordeyned hem thidderward ther that the kyng was dwellȳg. & clothed hē in poure habites the better all for to spedde hyr lyther [Page] purpose. but neuertheles for alle his falsenesse & queȳtyse they might neuer come so nygh̄ the kȳg: but so at the last they aspied that the king drāke none other licour but onely water of a clere welle / that ther was nyghe besydes: ād thees fals traytour vpon a daye preuely wente to the welle & put therin poyson: so that all the water was enpoysened / and anone after as the king had dronke of y e water he begā to swelle & sone after he deyed. & as many as drōkē of that water deydē also. And anone as this falsenesse was aspied. the folke of the towne let stoppe y e welle for euermore And whē the king was dede hys folke bere him to Stonhēge wyth grete solempnite of bysshops of barōs y t were there: and enburyed hȳ beside Aurylambros his brother. & after they turned ayen̄ euerychō & let sendē aftyr Arthour hys sone: & they made him king of y e lād with moche reuerēce aftir his faders deth / y e xvij / yere of his regne
¶How Arthour that was sone of Vter was crowned after hys faders deth / & how he drofe Colegryne & the Saxons & Cheldryck of almaygne owt of thys lād / C. lxxiij
WHan Arthur was made king of y e lād (punctel) he was but yonge of age of xv. yere / but he was faire & bolde & doubty of body / and to meke folke he was good & courtoys ād large of spēdyng: & made hȳ well beloued among alle men ther it was nede / And whan he begā to regne: he swore that the saxōs neuer sholden haue pees ne rest tyll that he had dryuen thaȳ owte of his lād / & he assēbled a grete hoost & fought with Colegrine. whom after the tyme that Otta was dede / the saxons mayntened / And this Colegryne was discōfyted & fledde vnto yorke. & toke the toune / & ther helde he hī And the kȳg besieged the towne / but he might not spede. for the towne was so stronge. & they withynne kepte y e towne wel & orpedly / & in the mene tyme Colegrine let the towne to Bladulf / & fled hī selfe to Cheldryke that was king of Almaigne for to haue of him socour / and the king assembled a grete power & came & arryued in scotland wy t v.C. shippes· And when arthour wist of thys tydyng that he had not power ne strēgth̄ ynough for to fight ayēs Childrike / he let ben the siege & wente to Londō & sente anone his lrēs to y e kȳg of littel bretaignn̄ that was called Hoell his neveu his sustres sone that he shold come to hī wy t all the power that he might: & he assēbled a grete hoost & arryued at southm̄ptō Whā artur y t wiste: he was glad & wēt ayēst hȳ & receiued hȳ with moch̄ honour. so that y e ij. hostes hē assēbled & tokē hir way to Nycol [Page] y t Cheldryck had besieged: but not yet takē: They camē vpō childrik & vpō his peple er thei jt wist ther that they were. & hē egrely assailled The king cheldryk ād his meyny defended hē māly by hyr power. But kȳg Arthur & his mē queld so many saxōs that neuer er was sayne suche slaughter. ād cheldryk & his men that were left a lyue fledden awaye / & Arthour hē pursued & drofe hē in to a wode / that they might no ferthir passe / Cheldryk ād his men sawe wel that thei were brought in to moche dysese / & yoldē hem to arthur in this maner that he shold take hir hors & hir armures & all that they had. & suffre thaȳ to go a fote in to hir shippes / & so they sholde gon̄ ī to her owne lāde & neuer come agayn into this land: And vpon assuraūce of this thȳg they yauē hȳ good hostages / & arthur bi coūseyll of hys men graunted this thȳg & receiued the hostages & her vpō y e other wēt to hir shippes. & whan they were in y e see. hir mynde chaunged as the deuell it wolde. & they retourned hyr nauye & came ayen̄ in to this land & arryued at Tottenesse / & wēt out of hir shippes & toke y e lād & clene robbed it. & slewē moch̄ peple & token all the armure that they might fynde. & so they wēt forth tyll they camē to Bathe. but the men of the towne shittē fast hir yates & wolde not suffre hē come wyth in the towne & they deffended hē wel & orpedly ayens hē
Howe Arthour yafe bataill to the saxons whan they camē ayē & besieged the towne of bathe ād hem ouercame Cap. lxxiiij
WHan arthour herde thys tydinge / he let hāge anon̄ the hostages / & lefte Hoel of Bretaigne his neveu for to kepe the marche toward Scotland with half his peple: & hȳ selfe wē te to helpe reskew y e towne of bathe. and whan he came thydder (punctel) he yaf a strōge bataill of cheldrik & killyd all most the peple that he had. for no man might him with stond ne endure vnder the stroke of his swerd: ād ther bothe were slayne Colegryne ād Bladulf his brother. & Cheldrik fledde thēs & wolde haue gone to hys shippes But when arthur it wist. he toke x.m. knightes to Cador that was erle of Cornewaill for to lete and stoppe his comȳg / & him self wē te toward the marche of scotlād: for messagiers told hī that y e scottes had besieged Hoell of bretaigne ther that he lay seke / & therfore hasted thydder ward. & Cador pursued after Cheldryk & toke hī er he might come to his shippes / and queld Cheldryke and all hys peple: And whan Cador had done thys voyage: he hasted hym ayen̄ as faste as he might towardes [Page] Artur. & fonde him in scotlād ther that he had reseued Hoell of bretaigne / but the scottes were al ferre with in Moūref (punctel) And ther they held hem a while. but Artur hem pursued: & they fled thens in to limoigne. that were in that cō tre .lx. jles / & grete plēte of briddes & grete plente of egles / that were wont to crye & fyght to gedres. ād make grete noyse whā that any folk come to robbe that land and werren as moche as thei myght. & so they dyden. for y e Scottes were grete rauennours so that they token all that they myght fynde in the lād of Lymoigne without any sparȳg. & ther with thei charged ayen̄ the folke in to Scotlād for to wente
How King Artur axed of Merlyn the auentures of .vj. the laste kynges that weren to regne in Englond. & howe the land shold ende Capitulo lxxv
SIre sayd Merlyn. In the yere of Incarnacyō of jesu criste M.cc.xv. shall come a lambe owte of Winchestre that shal haue a whyte thonge. & trewe lippes: & he shall haue writē in his herte holynesse: This lā be shal make many goddes houses. & he shall haue pees the most part of all hys lyfe. And he shall make one of the fairest places of the world that in hys tyme shall not fully be made an ende. & in y e ēde of his lyfe a wolf of a straūg land shall do him moche harme. and sorwe thurgh werre / but at y e ende y e lābe shal be maister thurgh helpe of a rede fox that shal come out of the nortwest & hȳ shall ouercome the wulf. and the wolf shal deye in a water· ād aftir that tyme the lābe shal lyue no while that he ne shal deye / His sede thā shal be in straunge land: & y e land shal be withoute gouerneur a litell whyle
And after his tyme shal come a dragon melled with mercy & Eke wyth wodenesse: that shall haue a berd as a goot. that shall yeue ī Englond sadewe: and shall kepe the land from colde and hete: ād his owne feet shal be sette in wyke & y e other in londō. & he shal enbrace inhabitacyons / ād he shall open his mouth toward walys· & the tremblyng of the hydour of his mouthe. Hys eres shal strech̄ toward many inhabitacions ād contreys / & his breth shall be full swete in straunge lande. And in his time shal the ryuers renne w t blode and with rayne: ād he shal make in places of his lād walles that shulle don̄ moche harme vnto his seed after his tyme. Then̄e shal ther come a peple owt of the northwest during his regne. that shal be lad thurgh owt a wikked [Page] hare that y e dragō shal don̄ crowne kyng. whyche that afterward shal flee ouer the see wythout comyng ayen for drede of the dragō And in that tyme the sonne shal be as rede as bloode. as men thā shal see thurgh al the world: whiche that shal betoken grete pestilence / & deth of folk thurgh dent of swerde. And that peple shal bē fadreles tyl the time that the dragō shal deye thurgh an hare that shal mewe ayenst him werre vnto the end of his lyfe. which̄ y t shal not fully ben ended in hys time: This dragon shall be hold in his tyme for the best body of alle the world: & he shall deye besydes the marches of a straunge lande. ād the land shal dwelle fadreles without a good gouernour: & men shal wepe for his deth: from the Ile of scheppey vnto the hauē of Marcyll / Wherfor Allas shall be the commune songe of fadreles folke that shull ouerlyuen in hys land destroyed.
And after thys dragon shall come a goot owt of kar: the which̄ shall haue hornes and a berde of syluer. and ther shall come out of his nostrell a domp: that shal betoken hunger and sorwe ād grete deth of the peple (punctel) and moche of his lāde in the begynnyng of his regne shall be wasted / This goot shal go to Fraunce & shall opene the flour of hys lyfe and of his deth / ¶In his time ther shal aryse an egle ī Cornewaille that shal haue tethres of golde: that of pride shal be wythout pere of the lā de / & he shal despyse lordes o [...] blode. ād after he shal flee shamefully by a bere at Gauersech / And after shull be made brigges of men vpon the costes of the see. ād stones shull fall fro Castelles / & many other townes shull be made playne: In his tyme shal seme that the bere shal brenne. ād a bataill shal be don̄ vpon y e armes of y e see / in a feld ordeyned as a sheld. ād at that bataill shal deye many white hedes / wherfor this batayll shall be called the white bataill: And the forsayd bere shall done this goot moche harme ād it shal come out of the southwest and of his blood. Than shall the goot lese moche of hys lande tyll at the tyme that shendshyp shal hym ouercome: and than shal he clothe him in a lyon skynne [...] and than shal he vailliauntly wynne that he hast lost and more therto For a peple shall come owt of the Northwest. which̄ shal make the goot sore a drad. and thā shal he auenge hym of hys ennemyes. thurgh the counseyll of twoo owles / whyche fyrst shull ben̄ in paryll for to bene vn done / But the olde owle shall wēte a certayne tyme. and therafter he shall [Page] come ayene in to this land. Thise two owles shall do grete harm̄ to many on: ād so they shal coū seylle the goot that he shall arere werre ayēst the forsayd bere· & at the last the goot & the owles shall come at Burton vp on trēt / and shull wente ouer / ād for drede the bere shall flee. & a swan with him fro his companye to Burton toward the north / ād ther thei shull ben̄ in an hard shour / & than the swan shall be slayne with sorwe / and the bere taken and beheded. alther next his nest that shal stō de vpon a brokē brygge. on whō the sonne shall cast hir bemes. ād many shall hȳ seke for vertu that fro hī shal come / jn the same shal deye for sorwe ād care a peple of his lād: so that many lādes shull ben̄ on hȳ the more bolder afterward. & the two owles shulle doo moch̄ harme to the forsaid flour delyse & shull hyr lede in distresse. so y t she shall passe ouer into fraū ce for to make pees bytwene the goot & the flour delyse. & ther she shall dwelle tyll a tyme that hyr seed shal come & seche hir ād they shull hem clothe with grace / and they shull seche the two owles ād shull put hem to despytous deth. & after shall this goot ben̄ brought to dysese & grete anguysshe ād in sorwe he shall lyue alle hys lyfes tyme
After thys goot shall come oute of vyndesore a bore that shall haue an hede of white. a lyons herte / ād a pytous lokyng. his vysage shal be reste to seke men: his brest shall be stanchyng of therst to hē that ben̄ a therst His worde shal be gospel: his beryng shal be meke as a lambe. ¶In the first yere of his regne he shal haue grete payne to iustifye hem that ben̄ vntrewe / And in his tyme shall his lād be multiplyed w t aliens: & this bere thurgh fiersnesse of herte that he shall haue. shall make wolfes become lambes: & he shal be called thurgh owt the world the boor of holynesse / fersenesse & nobylesse ād mekenesse. & he shall done mesurably all that he shall haue to don̄ vnto the burgh̄ of jerusalē. & he shall whette hys teth vnto the yates of Parys & vpon fowre lādes Spaigne shal tremble for drede Gascoyne shal swete In fraunce he shal put his wynge. Hys grete taille shall reste in Englond softely. Almaigne shal quake for drede of hȳ / This boor shal yeue two mātelles to ij. tounes of Englond. & shal made the ryuer renne with blood ād with brayne / and he shall made many medewes red. ād h̄e shall gete as moche as his Auncestres dyden. ād er that he shal be dede: he shal bere thre crownes / & he shall put a land in grete subiectyon. & after it shall be releued. but not in hys [Page] tyme. Thys boor after that he is dede for his doughtynesse shal be entered at Coloigne. & his land shal be thā fullfylled of alle good
After the boor shall come a lābe that shal haue feet of leed: an hede of bras. an hert of a loppe: a swynes skyn ād an harde / And in hys tyme his lād shall be in pees The fyrst yere of his regne he shal do make a cyte that y e world shall speke therof. This lambe shal lese in his tyme a grete part of hys lāde thurgh an hydous wolf. but he shal recoure it. and yeue a lord ship to an Egle of his landes / ād this Egle shal well gouerne it. tyl the tyme that pryde shall hym ouergone. Allas what sorowe / for he shal deye of his brothers fuered And after shal the lāde fall to the forsaid lābe: whiche that shal gouerne the land in pees all hys lyfes tyme (punctel) and after he shal deye & the lāde be ful fylled of all maner good /
After this lābe shal come a molde warpe kursed of goddes mouthe: a caytyfe / a coward an hare / He shall haue an Elderly skyne as a gote: And vengeaunce shall fall vpon hym for synne. In the fyrst yere of his regne he shal haue of alle good grete plente in his lande & toward him also. & in his land he shal haue grete preysing / tyll the tyme that he shall suffre his peple lyue in to moche pride / withoute chastisȳg. wher for god wyll be wroth. Than shall aryse vp a dragon of the north whiche that shall be fulfers: ād shall mewe werre ayenst the forsaid molde warpe. & shall yeue hȳ bataill vpon a stone: This dragon shall gadre ayene in to hys companye a wolfe / that shal com̄ owt of the west to begynne werre ayēst the forsaid Molde warpe in hys syde And so shall the dragon and he bynde hyr taylles to gedre. Than shal come a lyon owte of Irland whiche also shall falle in companye with hem: and than shal trē ble the land that thā shall be called Englond / as an aspen leef ¶And in that tyme shullē castelles be felled a downe vpon Thamyse. and it shal seme that she neuer shal flothe for all the bodyes that shull falle dede theryn: The fowre chyef flodes in Englond shull renne in bloode: and grete drede shull be and anguysshe that shal arrysen / and ther after the molde warpe shal flee. ād the dragō. the Lyon and the wolfe shull hē dryue away: and the lande shall be withoute hem / & the molde warpe shal haue no maner ne power sauf onely a shippe wher to that he shall mowe flee and wente. ād after that he shall gon̄ to lande. whan the see is withdrawe And [Page] after that he shal yeue the thridde part of his lande for to haue the fourth̄ part in pees & rest. & after he shal lyue in sorwe all his lyfes tyme / And in hys tyme the hote bathes shullē becomen colde. ād after that shall the molde warpe deye auētoursly. Allas what sorowe. for he shal be draȳt in a flode of the see His seed shal become fadreles in straunge lād. for euermore: And than shal the land be departed in thre partyes. that is to saye to the wolfe / to the dragō. & to the lyon. & so shall it be for euermore And than shal this lād be kalled the land of conqueste. & so shullē the righful heires of englond ende
How Arthour ouercame Gwillomere that was king of Irland and how the Scotes becamē his men Capitulo lxxv
WHā Guillomer that was king of Irland had tydȳ ge that kyng arthur was entred at glastenbury: he ordeyned a grete power of Ires men & came to the see with Ires peple / & so came they in to scotland ouer the see and arryued faste by ther that kȳg Arthour was with his hoost: & anone as he wiste therof he wente towardes hem / ād yafe hē bataill / & ouercame hē anone right. & Gwillomer fledde wy t his men ayen̄ in to Irlād / & whā this disconfyture was done: arthour turned hym ayene ther y t he was into the place ther that he had lefte the scottes / and wolde haue hē all slayne / but the bisshoppes abbotes and othir folke of the contre and ladyes wyth opēhede came before the kȳg Arthour / and creyd him mercy. and saidē. Gentyll king & mighty haue mercy & pyte of vs. and as your selfe ben of the right lawe to hold & mayntē cristēdom̄. full grete dishonour it sholde be to kylle hem that byleue in almyghty god as ye don̄. & for goddes loue haue mercy ād pyte of vs and suffre vs for to lyue / for we haue had moche sorwe & payne / for the Saxōs haue many tyme thurgh our lāde passed / but that is not ynowe to you. for often tymes they haue done vs sorwe and dysese. For our castelles they haue taken and our bestes slayne and eten & moche harme they haue vs don̄. & if ye wolde now vs quelle / it were non̄ honour to a kȳg to quelle hem that cryen him mercy: For now ye haue vs ynowgh̄ ouercome. ād for the loue of god suffre vs for to lyue and haue mercy of crysten peple that byleuen in crist as ye do. Whan king Arthour herde this sorwe. he had pyte of hem. ād yaf hem hyr lyfe: and they fyll done to his feet & becamē his liegemē. [Page] ād he toke of hē homages: & aftyr that / kyng Arthour turned ayen̄ wyth hys hoost and came to yorke. & there abode he duryng that vyage. And tho yaf he all loegers to Aloth that had spoused hys suster. and othir yeftes grete plē te. and tho was Gawen his cosin but of yonge age: and to alle hys other men that hym had serued in hys werke he yaf ryche yeftes and he thāked hem moche of hyr good seruyce:
¶How Kyng arthour spoused Gūnore that was Gūnores cosȳ erle of Cornewaille. & after he cō querede of Gwillomer all Irland Capitulo lxxvij
WHā Arthur had brought his land in pees & rest ād in goode state / & that rest was in euery cōtre: tho toke he & wedded a wyf whiche was called Gunnor. and made hir quene / ād was a fayre lady & a gentyll. that Cador the erle of Cornewaill had longe tyme norysshed in his chā bre that was his owne cosyn. but neuer they had childe to gedre / ād neuertheles kyng Arthur loued hir wonder well & derely / And anone as wȳter was passed / he let assemble a grete hoost & alle hys barons & sayd that he wolde wē te in to Irlād for to cōquere y e lād. & he taryed not longe that he ne passed ouer in to Irlāde / & Gwillomer the king let assemble a grete host & yaf bataill to kȳg arthur But Gwillomer was discōfyted / & yolde hȳ to the kȳg arthur / & bicame his man: & to hȳ dyd feaulte & homage. & of hȳ helde all that land fro that tyme forward / & after passed kīg arthur furthermore & cōquered Gutland & Island: & toke homages of folke & of the lōde: & ther dwelled xij. yere ī pees and regned with ioye & myrthe & werred no maner man ne no mā vpō hym And he bicame so courtoys & large & so honorable: that the emperours court of rome ne none thurgh out all y e world was not accompted to king arthour that any mā wist ne non̄ so well preised And therfore the best knightes of alle maner lōdes came to hī for to dwelle. ād he receiued hē all with a good wyll & reuerē ce· ād the knightes were so good that no mā knewe the werst ād therfore kȳg arthur made a roū de table. that whā thei sholde sytten to the mete all shull be alyche hir & euen lyk serued at the table / that none might make awaunt. that one wer hyer thā othir: ād king arthur had at the table Bretons: frēssh men / Normans Flemȳges Bourgouners Mausers Lotherms: and of alle the landes a this halfe the monthe of gorye And also of hys lande of Bretaigne. and of the grete lāde of Cornewayille [Page] of walys. & of Irland & of scotland: and shorteli to telle of alle the landes that wolden worship and chyualrye seche (punctel) camen to king arthoures court /
¶How king arthour came in to fraunce and conquerd that land of Froll that was a Romayne. & hym queld Capi. lxxvij
HIt befell that kȳg arthur thurgh counseyll of hys barōs & lordes wold gon̄ to conquere all Fraūce that tho was cleped Galle thurgh romaīs that helde that lāde in hir power and in hyr lordship. & the romaȳs had take that lād to a noble knyght ād worthy of body that was kalled Frolle & whā he wist that arthur came: he ordeined an host & a grete power & fought wy t the king and he & his folke were discomfyted. & thennes they fled vnto Parys / & entred the towne ād closed fast the yates. and whā arthour wyst that Froll was gone to Paris· he pursued after & cam̄ thydder & hȳ besieged. but the cyte was so strōge and well arayed and thei that were withyn defended hem wel ād manly / King arthour dwelled there more than a moneth / & ther was so moch̄ peple in the cyte that vytailles faylled: & so grete hūger bicame amō ges hem. that they deyden wonder thykke in the cyte for hunger and camen to Frolle & praied hȳ to ben̄ accorded with kȳg arthur for to haue pees. and they wolde yelde them to hym ād the towne also: Froll saw that no lenger he ne might holde the towne ayenst hir wylle. & trust gretly vpon hys owne strength̄ / and sent to kyng arthour that he shold come fight wyth hym body for body: and so shold they departe fraūce bitwene hem two. Kyng arthour anone graūted it: ād wolde not that non̄ of his peple shold vndertoke it for hym. And vpon the morwe they bothe camen well armed aboute the cyte of paris in a grene felde ther that they shold fyght: & anone they smytten to gedres so fyersly / & so well they foughtē in bothe sydes that no man cowde deme the better of hem. And so it befell that Frolle yaf Arthur suche a stroke that he kneled to the grownde. wolde he / nolde he: and as Frolle withdrowe his swerde. he wounded king arthour in the forhede that the blood fell a downe by his eyē on his face. Arthur anone sterte vp hertely whan he felte hym hurt: as a man that semed almost wode. & he toke Tabourne his goode swerd & drewe it vpon hygh̄. & yafe Frolle suche a stroke that therwith he clafe his heed downe to the sholdres: so y t his helme might not be his warrant [Page] / & so he fyll anon̄ dede in the place. & they of the cyte made grete sorowe for Frolle / neuertheles they anon̄ yolde hē to kȳg arthur & y e towne also / & becamē his men & dydē to hȳ homage & feaulte: & he vnderfēge hē & toke of hē good hostages. And king arthur after that went forth wyth his hoost & cōquered Angiē & Angiers Gascoigne Pehyto / Nauerne / Bourgoigne Barry Lotherne Turȳ & Puthiers and all the othir lād of Fraūce he conquered holych̄ / ād whan he had all conquered & takē by hōmages & feaultes he turned ayen̄ to paris / & ther he dwelled lōg tyme / & ordeyned pees lōg tyme ouer all the cōtrey & thurgh out alle Fraūce. And whā pees was made ouer all thurgh hys noble knighthood that he had / & also for hys owne worthynesse / & no man was so grete a lord that durst meve werre ayēst hȳ. nothir to aryse for to make The land of Fraūce was all in quyte & pees: & he dwelled there ix yere· ād dyde there many grete wondres. and reproued many proude man ād lyther tyraunt. & hē chastysed after hyr deseruyng
How kyng Arthur auaūced all his men that had trauailled ī his seruyce Capitulo lxxix
ANd afterward it befel thꝰ at Estrē. ther that he helde a fest at Paris. rychely he began to auaūce his knightes for hir seruyce that they had him holpen in his conquest. He yafe to his Styward that was called Kay Angyē & angiers. & to Beddeler his brother he yaf Normandye / that tho was called Nēstrie. And to Holdyne his chābirlayn̄ he yaf Flaūdree & Māce. & to Dorell his cosyn he yaf Boloigne ād to Richard his nevew he yaf Pō tyf / & to all othir he yaf large landes & fees aftyr y t they were of estate / & whā Arthour had thꝰ hys knightes feffed at auerill next after sewȳg / he came ayen̄ in to britaigne his owne lād And aftir at whytsontyde next sewȳg bi coū seil of his barōs he wold be crouned king of Glomergō. & helde a solēpne fest: & let sompne kynges Erles & barons that they sholde come thidder euerichone (punctel) There was scater kȳg of Scotlād. Cadwre king of southwales. Gwillomer king of northwales Maded king of Irland: Malgamꝰ king of Gutland / Achilles king of Iseland: Aloth kyng of Denmarck / Gone was king of Norwey: and Hell hys cosyn kȳg of Dorkeney Cador king of lyttell Bretaigne Norwyth erle of Cornewaill / Maurā erle of gloucestre: Gwerdon erle of Wynchestre. Boellerle of Hertford / Vrtegy erle of oxūford. Cursall erle of Bathe. Ionas erle of Chestre: Enerall erle [Page] of Dorchestre. Kymare erle of salisbury / Waloth erle of Cāterbury / Iugerne erle of Chichestre. Arall erle of Leicestre: ād the erle of warwyke & many othir rych̄ lordes Bretons / also ther cam mo. y t is to say dippon Donan Gēnes & many othir that be not here nēpned weren at that feste. & many a fair fest kȳg Arthur had hold beforne / but neuer none suche ne so solempne & that lastid xv· dayes. with mochel honour & myrthe /
¶Of the letter that was sent frō the cyte of Rome for pryde to kīg Arthour Ca. lxxx.
THe iij. day as kīg arthur sate at his mete amōges his kīges & amōg hē that setten at the fest· a forne hē came in xij. eldren men of age richely arayed / & courtously salued the kīg & said. they camen frō Rome sent as messagiers fro the Emperour & toke to hȳ a lettre that thꝰ moche was to vnderstōde. Gretly vs mervaylleth Arthure that thow art ones so hardy with yen in thi hede to make open werre & cōtake ayens vs of Rome. that owen all the worlde to deme. for thow hast neuer yet beforne this tyme proued ne assayed the strēgth̄ of y e romains: & therfore thou it shalt in a lyttell tyme. For Iuliꝰ Cesar conquerd all the lād of Bretaign̄ and toke ther of truage and oure folk haue it longe had / and now thurgh thy pride thou witholdest it. wherfore we commaunde the that thou it yelde ayen̄. & yet hast thou more foly done: that thou hast slayne Frolle that was our baron of Fraunce all with wrō ge / & therfore alle the communes of Rome warnen and commaū de the vpon lyue and lyme that thou in hast be at Rome amēdes to make of thy mysdedes that thou hast done / ād if yt so be that thou come nought. we shull passe the hylle of ioye with strengthe / and we shull the seke wher euer thou may be fonden. & thou shalt not haue a fote of lād of thȳ owne that we ne shall destroye. & afterward wyth thy body we shull don̄ our wille / Whā this lrē was rad. & all men it herd they were ā noyed alle they that were at that solempnite / And the bretōs wolde haue slain̄ the messagiers / but the kȳg wolde not suffre hem ād sayd that y e messagiers sholde haue none harme & mowe by reson none deserue. but commaunded hem to be worshipfully serued. & after mete he toke coūseyll of his kinges Erles and Barons what answere he might best yeue ayen̄ to the messagiers. And they coū ceylled him at onys that he shold assēble a grete hoost ād power of [Page] all the lādes of which̄ he had lordship / & manly auenge hȳ vpō the Emperour of the despyte that he had sent him suche a letter / & thei sworē bi god & bi his names that they shold hym purswe & brenne as moche as they might. & saydē that they nold neuer faill kȳg arthour / & rather to be dede / & they let wryte a lettre for to sende to y e Emꝑour bi the same messagiers in this maner
Of the bolde answere that king Arthour send to the Emperoure of Rome & to y e Romaīs Ca. lxxxi
VNderstondeth amonges yow of Rome that I am kyng Arthour of Bretaigne & freely it hold & shal hold: ād at Rome hasteli I will be / not for to yeue you truage: but for to axen truage. for Constātyne which̄ was Eleynes sone that was emperour of Rome ād of all the honour that ther to be longed / And Maxymian kyng conquered all Fraūce & Almaigne: and passed mounth yoye & conquered all lū bardye / ād thyse two were myne auncestres. and that they helden & had / j shal haue thurgh goddes wylle
Of y e reuerence that Arthur dyd to the Emperours messagiers of Rome Capit. lxxxij
WHan this lrē was made / & ensealed: kȳg arthur to the messagiers yafe a grete yeftes / ād after that the messagiers toke hyr leue & went thēs & came to the court of Rome ayeū & tolde the Emperour how worthely they were vnderfongē: and whyche a ryalle cōpanye he had for to serue hī: & how he was more rialli seruid thā y e ēꝑour or any kyng lyuing in the worlde / And whan the Emperour had seyne the lettre & herde what was therȳ / and saw that Arthur wolde not be ruled aftyr hym: he let assēble & ordeyne an hugh̄ host for to destroye kyng arthur if that he myght. And kȳg arthur as touchȳg his power & partye ordeyned his power & knightes of the rownde table
¶Of the kynges & lordes that camē to helpe kyng Arthur ayēst the emꝑour. Ca. lxxxiij
THe king of Scotlād & of Irlād & of Gutlād of Dē marke & of almaign̄ euery of hē had M. men: The duc of Normādye Gascoyne Flaūdres. Pehyto & Boloygne had iiij / M Gerȳ of Chartres had .x M. Hoell of bretaign̄. had xij M▪ & hym self of hys owne lād xij M. And of alebrestriers & of archiers & of othir folk on foot that no mā hē cowde nōbre / & whē they alle were redy for to wente: Then̄e kyng arthour toke hys lād & Gunnore his wyf to kepe to one of hys neuews: that was a wys knyght & an hardy that was kalled Mordred. [Page] but he was not all trewe as ye shal here afterward / Kȳg Arthur toke all his reaulme to this Mordred sauf onely y e croune. ād after that kȳg arthur nōme hys hoost & wēt to southamptō there that the shippes were brought & the folk assembled. & they dydē hē to the see / & had good wynd & wether at wille / ād also sone as they myght they arriued at Harfleet. & went out of hir shippes & spradden all the contre
How kȳg Arthour fought wy t a Geaūte in spaigne that was called Dynabus / that queld Eleyne that was kyng Hoelles cosyn of lyttel Bretaigne Cap· lxxxiiij
Kȳg Arthur had not dwelled in the contre but a littel while that men ne tolde hym that there was comen a grete geaūt in to Spaigne: & had rauisshed y e fair Eleyne that was cosin to Hoell of bretaigne: & had brought hir vpon an hyll / that is kalled the moūte of seȳt bernard & ther was no man in that cōtre so bolde ne so hardy that durst w t him fight / ner come nere the place there that the geaunt dwelled / & he was called Dinabꝰ that moche sorwe dyd in the contre: Whā king Arthour herde this tyding: he kalled key & Bedewere & commaūded hem to go preuely ād espie wher the geant might be fonden. And they camen to the riuage ther that men sholde gon̄ to y e mounte that was all enclosed aboute with water: & yet is. & euer shall be / And they saw brēnȳg fire vpon the hylle / & ther was also an othir hille nye that: & thervpō was an othir fire brēning· Key & Bedewere camen to the next hille & fondē a widewe opēhede sittȳg besides a tōbe sore wepȳg & grete sorwe made / & ofte she said Eleyne eleyne. And Key & Bedewere a [...]ed what hir was & wherfor she made so moche sorwe / & who lay in y e tōbe / O said she. What sorwe & misauēture faire lordes seke ye here / for if the Geant may yowe here finde: ye worth anone dede / Bene stille good wyfe sayd they. Therof dysmay ye not / but telle vs the soth why thou makest so moch̄ sorwe & wepȳg: Syres said she: for a damisell y t I norisshed w t my brest which̄ mē called eleyne. y t was nece to hoell kȳg of bretaigne: & here lyeth y e bodi in this tō be y t to me was betakē to norissh̄ So ther came a deuel a geāt & rauisshed hir & me also. & lad vs both̄ a way. & he wolde haue forlain̄ that maide y t was so yōge & tēdre of age: but she might it not suffre so grete & so hugh̄ as y e geāt was (punctel) And if he now come as he is woned to do. certis he wil you quelle both̄ to. & therfore fast wēt ye hē nes. & wherfor said they go ye not hēnes / Certis sires said she. when that Eleyne was dede / the geant made me to abide to don̄ & haūte [Page] his will. & me must nedes it suffre & god it wote I do it not with my good will / for me leuer were to be dede / than with hȳ to dele. so moche payne haue I whā he me forlyeth. Whan key & Bedewere had herde al that this womā had tolde / they turned ayen̄ and came to kȳg arthour & tolde hym all that they had seyne & herde. Arthour anone toke with hē Loth / & wēte preuely bi night that none of his hoost it wist. & came on the morū erly to the Geant & faught wy t hȳ strōgely / & at the laste he slowe hȳ & Arthur bad Bedewere to smyte of hys heed. & brȳg it to y e hoost to shewe hem for a wonder / for it was so grete & so hugh̄ whā they camen ayen̄ to y e hoost they toldē wherfor they had ben̄ owte. and shewed to hem the heed ād euery man was glad ād joyefull of the worthy dede y e kyng Arthur had done which̄ that was hir lord. ād Hoell was full sorwefull for hys nece that was so loste / & aft whā he had space: he let make a fayre chapelle of our lady ouer Eleyns tombe
¶How kyng Arthour yafe bataille to the Emperour· in which̄ bataill the Emperour was slayne Capit. lxxxv
ARthour ād his peple had tydȳg that the emperour had assembled a grete power / as wel of sarazīs as of paynyms & crysten men: wher of the nombre was lxxx M / hors men & fote men. Arthour & his peple ordeyned fast forth in hyr way toward y e Emperour & passed normādye & Fraūce vnto Bourgoigne. and wold euen haue gon̄ to the hoost For men tolde hȳ that the Emperours host wold come to Lucie. The Emperour ād his hoost in the begȳnȳg of August remeved fro Rome & cam forth y e right way to ward y e hoost of kīg Arthur. And his espyes were comen & saydē. that yf Arthur wolde: he shold fynde ther fast by the Emperour / but thei said that the emperour had so grete power w t hȳ of kynges of the lāde & o [...] paynyms ynfere ād also cristē peple that it nere but grete folye to kīg Arthur to mete wy t hȳ. for the Espies tolde that the Emꝑour had v. men or vi. ayens owne of hyse / King Arthour was bolde & hardy & for no thyng hym dismayed ād sayd: Gowe boldely in goddes name ayēs the Romaȳs that w t hȳ lede sarasins & paynyms that no maner trust they haue to god but oneli vpon hyr strēgth̄ Gowe now & sech̄ hem sharpely in y e name of Almyghty god & slewe the paynyms & crystē men that ben with hē for to destroye cristē men and god shal vs helpe. for we haue the right / ād therfore haue we trust in god. & do we so that y e enemyes [Page] that be to cristendome & to god / mowe be dede & destroied. ād that men mowe recorde the worthynesse of knygthode. Whā kȳg Arthour had thꝰ said. they cryed all with an hygh̄ voys: God fader almighty wurshipped be thy name withouten end / amē. & graū te vs grace well to don̄ and to destroye our enemies that ben̄ ayēst crystendome In the name of the fadre of the sone & of the holy gost amen. & god yeue hȳ neuer grace ne worship in the world ne mercy of him to haue that this day shal feynte wel for to smyte & egrely: & so they roden softely. & ordeyned his wȳges wel & wisely. The emperour herd telle that kīg Arthur ād his folke were redy arayed for to fight wy t hȳ. & thydder they came: & he ordeyned hys wȳges in the best maner that he might / ād more trust vpō his strengthe thā in god almyghty: & that was seȳ afterward / For whā y e two hoostes mettē to gedre: the emperour lost so moch̄ of his folk. & also dyd kīg arthur / & so many were slayn̄ as well in that one side as in that othir. that it was grete pyte to se & to wit / jn this bataill were slayne thurgh king Arthur v. kȳges of paynȳs & of othir wōder moche peple. And kīg arthures men foughtē so wel / that the Romaīs ād paynyms had no more strēgthe to withstonde: thā xx / shepes ayēs v / wolfes And it befell that in this batayll that was wonder hard & longe durȳg in that owne syde & in that other / y e Emperour amonge hē there was slaine. but no mā wist for soth who hȳ slowe
How kyng Arthour let enburie his knyghtes that he had there lost in that bataill. ād how he sēt the Emperours body to Rome: that there was slayne in bataille Capitulo lxxxvi.
WHan the Romaȳs wist y t the emperour was dede / thei forsoke the felde & the paynȳs also / And kȳg arthur after hē chaced till it was night: ād so many of hē queld that it was wonder to telie. & tho turned kȳg arthour ayē tho it was night / ād thāked god of his victorye: & in y e morne he let loke & see all the felde for his knightes that he had loste that is to say / Burel erle of maūt Bedewere & kay / & Ligiers erle of Boloign̄ / Vrtegj erle of baar. Aloth erle of wȳchestre Cursale erle of chestre: & after Holdē erle of Flaūdres. Thees were y e grete lordes that king arthour had lost in that bataille amonge other grete knyghtes / ād some he let entier in abbeyes bi the contre: somme he let be borne in to hyr owne cō tre / ād the emptrours body he let take and put vpon a beer ād sent it to Rome. & sēt to saye to the romains [Page] / that for bretaigne & fraū ce whiche that he helde othir truage wold he non̄ pay· & if they axed hȳ any othir truage / right suche truage he wold hē paye. The king let bere key to kenē his owne castel. & there he was entered. & Ligier was borne to Boloigne: ther he was lord. ād Holden was borne to flaundres & ther he was entered: & alle the other he let entiere with mochel honour in abbeyes / in howses of Religyō in y e contre ther they were dede. And arthour him selfe soiourned that same yere in Bourgoigne wy t his hoost: ād thought the same yere folewyng to passe y e mounthe of ioye / & haue gone to Rome. all for to take the cyte / and haue put the romayns in subiectyon / but the wykked tyraunt mordred hȳ lete as ye shall after here
¶How mordred the traytour to whom kyng Arthour toke hys land to kepe & hys castelles. ād he helde it ayenst hym Capitulo lxxxvij
WHan King Arthour had taken to mordred his Reaulme to kepe & was gon̄ ayens the emperour of rome: ād was passed the see / Mordred anone toke homages & feautes of all hem that were in this lāde. & wolde haue had the lāde to his owne vse. & toke castelles aboute. ād let hē araye: and after this falsenesse he dyd an other grete wrōge for ayens the lawe of cristēdom. He toke hys owne Emes wyfe / as a traitour shold. & ordeyned hym a grete hoost ayēst Arthurs comīg for to holde the lāde ayenst hȳ w t strēgth̄ for euermore. & to slee kȳg Arthur yf he might. & send by see & land: & lette assemble painyms & crysten peple / and he send to the saxones & to Danoys for to helpe hym / & also Mordred sēt to Cheldryck to done men for to come to hȳ owte of Saxoyne that was a worthy duke. & promysed to hym if that he brought with hȳ moch̄ peple: he wold graūte him in bretaigne for euermore all y e lād frō beyōde Humber vn to Scotlād: & all the lande that Engist had of Vortigers yift / whē that he spoused hys doughtyr. And Cheldryk came with grete strēgth̄ & power of peple / And mordred had assē bled also ī his halfe that they had xl.M. of stronge knightes when they had nede
¶How Arthour enchased mordred the traitour. ād how he was slayne / and also kyng Arthour wounded to deth. Capitulo lxxxviij
WHan thys tydynge came to Kȳg Arthur ther that he was in Burgoyne / He was full sore anoyed / ād toke alle Fraūce to Hoell / for to kepe wy t [Page] halnēdel of his men / & prayed hȳ that he wolde it kepe. tyl he came ayen: for him selfe wolde went in to Bretaigne. and auenge him vpon Mordred that was his traitour. & forth went he hys way ād came to wytsand. and made hys men gone in the shippes & hȳ self wolde haue arryued at sādewith & brought with hȳ a host of fraū ce also with his owne lāde: but er that he might come to lande. hys peple that were comē oute of his shippes. mordred was comen wy t alle his power & yafe a strōge bataille. so that kȳg arthur lost many a man er that he might comē to londe. for there was Gawē his nevew slayne / & Anguysshel that helde Scotland and many other: Wherof kyng Arthour was full sory but after that they were comen to land: Mordred might not ayēst hem endure. but anon̄ was discōfyted & fledde thēs the same nyght with hys men. & vpon the morne he cam̄ to londō. but they of the cyte wold not suffre hȳ for to come in: And frō thens he fled to wynchestre: and ther he helde hym with his peple that with hȳ came / Kyng Arthour let take the body of Gawen his cosyn / ād the body of Anguissell: and let hē be borne in to scotlāt into hyr owne contre / & there they were entered & after anon̄ kȳg arthur toke his wey to destroie mordred. & he fled fro thēs īto cornewaill / The quene Gūmore y t was kȳg arthours wyf that tho soiourned at yorke (punctel) & herd y t mordred was fled thēs & that he might not endure ayens kȳg Arthur / She was sore adrad & had grete doubte. and wist not what was best all for to done. for she wist wel that hir lord kȳg arthur wold neuer of hir haue mercy. for the grete shame that she to him had don̄. & toke hir way preuely with iiij / men withoute mo. & came to katlione / and there she dwelled all hir lyfe. that she neuer was seyne amonge folke hyr lyfe durȳg / Arthur wist that mordred was fledde in to Cornewaill & let sent after his men into Scotlād / & Northūberlād vn to Hūbar. & let assēble folk withoute nōbre. & camen fro thēs into Cornewaill. to seche & purswe after mordred: And mordred had assēbled to hȳ alle the folk of Cornewaille & had peple without nōbre & wyst that arthur was comȳg. ād had leuer to deye & take his chaūse thā ferther to flee. & abode & yaf an hard bataille to king Arthour & to his peple: so that so moch̄ peple was slayne what of that on half ād in that othir / that no mā wiste who had the better partie But so it befell at the last that morded was slayne & all his folke / ād the good cheualrie that king arthour had gadred & norysshed of dyuerse lā des [Page] / and also the noble knyghtes of the roūde table that so moche was preysed thurgh owt alle the world were there slayne: and arthour him selfe was wounded to the deth / but he let hȳ be borne in a lytier to a surgyē for to be heled of his woundes: & yet the bretōs supposē that he lyued in an othir lād: & that he shall come yet & conquere all bretaign̄ / but certes this is the proposicye of Merlyn: He sayd that his deth shall be doubtous: & sayd soth· for men ther of yet haue doubte. & shullē for euer more as men saith For men wyt not whether that he lyueth or is dede. Arthur was borne to Auyone the xxij / yere. of his regne: after the Incarnacyon of owr lord Ihesu crist: V.C / and xlvi. yere
How King Arthour delyuered the Royaulme to Constantyn y e sone of Cador his Nephew. Capitulo lxxxix
WHan kyng arthour wyst that he myght no lenger regne he let come beforne hȳ Constātyne that was cadors sone Erle of Cornewaill his cosȳ & to hȳ he betoke all his reaulme & to him said & bad him therof to be kȳg tyll that he came ayen̄. for asmoch̄ as he had non̄ heir of his body begoten. & grete harm̄ was it that so noble a king & so doubty had no child of his bodi begotē: but alle thȳg that god wyl haue don̄ must be don̄. whos name be blesshed withoute ende Amē
How kȳg Constātyne was werred of Mordredes two sones Capitulo xc /
THys Constātyne was a noble knight & a worthy of body & y e ij sones that Mordred had begoten had grete enuye to Cōstātine that tho was crowned king / & so they begonne to mene werre ayens hȳ (punctel) & assē bled a grete hoost of hē that were be fore with mordred & had bene dryuen away & that dyde moche sorwe thurgh all that land. That one brother ordeyned him to Lō don for take the cyte & that other to winchestre / but Cōstātyne came to london & slew hȳ that was there. and after he wēt to wȳchestre. & slow hȳ that there was also that both his ēnemies were dede & whā Cōstātine had regned iiij yere / he deyed & lyeth at lōdō
Of the kȳges Adelbright ād of Edelf Ca xcj
Affter kȳg Cōstātines deth ther were ij / kȳges in bretaigne that one was called Adelbright that was a Danoys & helde the cōtre of Northfolk & south fol: That othir hight Edel & was a bretō (punctel) & helde Nychol Lȳdesey & all y e land vnto Hūbar / Thise ij. kȳges fast werred to gydre / But after they were accorded / and loued [Page] to gedre as they had be borne of owne body. The kīg Edel had a sustre that was kalled Orewē ne & he yafe hir thurgh grete frēdshyp to king Adelbright to wyfe And he begate on hir a doughter that was kalled Argentyll. & in y e thridde yere after came vpō hym a stronge sekenesse. that nedes he must deye / & he sent to kyng edelf his brother in lawe that he shold come & speke with hym. & he cam̄ to him wy t a good will: Tho prayed the king ād coniured also in the name of god▪ that after when he were dede / he shold take Argē tyl his doughtyr & the lāde. & that he kept hyr well & norisshe hyr in hys chambre / And whā she were of age she shold be maryed to the strōgiest & worthiest man that he might fynde: & than he shold yelde vp hyr sād ayene / Edel it graū ted· and by othe confermed hys prayer: And whan Adelbryght was dede and entered Edell toke the damysell argentil & norisshed hir in his chambre / and she became the fayrest creature that myght lyue / or any man fynde.
How kyng Edel maried the Damysell to a knaue of his kychene Capitulo xcij
THis kīg Edell that was vncle to the damysel Argentill: bethought howe that he might falsely haue y e land from his nece for euermore. & falsely ayēst his othe thought to deceyue the damisell. and to marye hyr to a knaue of hys kychē that was kalled Curan. & he bicame y e worthiest & strengist man of bodi that any man wyst in any lande that tho lyued / & to hym he thought hyr shenfully haue maryed: for to haue had hir lād afterward But he was clene deceyuyd. For this Curā that was Hauelockes sone· which̄ was king of Kyrkelane in Denmarke. & this Curan conquered his wyfes lād & slewe kīg Edelf that was his wifes vncle / and had all hyr land as in an othir place is telled more openly: & he regned but thre yere For the Saxons and Danoys hȳ kylled and that was grete harme to all Bretaigne: and the Bretons bare him to stonhenge. and there they hȳ enburyed w t mochel honour
¶Of kyng Conam Ca. xciij
AFter thys Curan regned Conam that was his cosyn. which̄ was a wonder prowde knight & regned / & coude haue no maner loue / but euer he was medelȳg with his peple. ād toke his vncle w t werre. & quelled his ij. children The saxones werred ayenst him ofte times / but he hē ouercame at the last / and so he was in pees all his lyfes tyme: & he regned xiiij yere: And after he [Page] deyed and lyeth at london /
¶Of kyng Cortyfād of Gurmō de that camē thurgh the paynȳs in to bretaigne Cap. xciiij
AFter this Conam regned his cosȳ Cortyf that was byhated of all his peple: & of no man he was beloued This Cortyf lost all bretaigne thurgh werre / And in his tyme felle that grete myschief in bretaigne that cristēdome was destroyed: & alle the Bretons were dryuē owte / ād the lāde he lost wythoute any recouerȳg: but afterward left y e lād to the saxōs as ye afterward shal here / For in that tyme there was a paynym̄ y t was called Gurmōd that was y e kȳges sone Dauffrykes of the paynȳs folke that had the reaulme after his fadre / and was kȳg / sauf he bequath & yave it to his brother. & said that he neuer sholde be kīg / but if he might gete ād conquere a reaulme in a straūge cōtre / For he was bold & right strōge of bodi▪ & of hȳ profecyed Merlyn & said that he shold be a wolfe of the see. & he let assē ble paynyms withoute nōbre ād let appareill shippes ād went by many londes & toke homages ād feautes of many. and so he went by the see / & conbuered many dyuerse lādes. so that he came in to jrlād: and cōquered that lād that oftentymes werryd vpō bretōs / & bretons vpō hem. & ofte wōnē: & ofte losten / ād yaue hostages to Bretōs. And so thei sente to Gurmonde ther that he was in Irlād that he shold come into Bretaign̄ & helpe he ayēst y e Bretōs: to helpe hem delyuer that land of hē. and they wolde him gladly holde for hir lord: for he was a paynyme & they were also paynyms: & y e bretōs were cristē. Wel ought he thē for to helpe so as they were of one lawe / Whā gurmōd herd this prayer: he hasted hȳ as moche as he might / & arryued in Scotland & came in to Northūberlād there that the saxons were dwel [...]ȳg. ād they cōfermed the couenaūts bitwene hem that were made bi othes & by hostages for to bere hȳ trewe fayth: & holde hȳ for lorde & paye to him truage by yere Tho began the saxons & the Affrycās to destroye robbe & brēne townes & destroye all thing in asmoch̄ as they myght. & they spared nethir man / woman / ne childe. lered ne lewde. that alle they quelled. and cast a downe townes castelles ād chirches / & so put they all y e lād in grete destructyon: & alle thei that might fleen (punctel) fledde thens as well pore as ryche: bisshoppes: abbotes: chanons. & alle other grete & smale. Sōme in to littel Bretaigne: ād somme in to Cornewaille. alle they that shippes might haue.
How kyng Gurmond drofe the kyng Cortyfe to Chichestre. and queld the bretōs & through queȳ tise gete the towne Cap. xcv
COrtife the kȳg fley thens in to Chychestre that tho was a goode cyte ād well stronge / & ther helde hȳ xx. dayes. And thys Gurmond besieged it. but the cyte was so stronge: that he might not gete that cite by no maner engyn that he might don̄: Tho bethought they vpō a grete queȳtise for to brenne the toune: they made engȳs with glewe of nettes & tokē peces of tunder & of fire: & boūde it to the sparwers fete & afterward let hem flee (punctel) and they anone right fley & logged hē in the towne ther that hir nestes were / and instakkes & in euissing of houses. & the fire began to tēde & brent all the towne / And whan the bretons saw that in euery syde they hyed hem owte & faught But anone they were slayne and discōfyted. ād whiles the bataill dured the kyng preuely hyd hȳ & stale awaye in to walles: ād men wyst neuer wher he became: & so was the towne of Chichestre taken & destroyed And after went Gurmond & destroyed Cytees & townes y t neuer were afterward made ayen as it is seȳ yet in many places
How thys land was cleped England for the name of Engist. ād how many kȳges were made after in y e land Capitulo xcvi
WHan Gurmond had destroyed alle the lād thurgh oute. he yafe y e lōde to the Saxos. Anone they toke it wyth a good wille. For the saxons lōg tyme had desyred it / for as moche as they were of Engystes kȳrede that first had alle the land of bretaigne: and tho let hem be kalled Englishmē. for encheson of Engistes name. And the lād they let kalle it England in hir lāgage / & the folke ben kalled Englisshmē / for as moche as ī his time it was called Engistes land: whā he had cōquered it of Vortyger that had espoused his doughter: but from the tyme that brute came fyrst in Englād. this lād was called bretaigne· ād the folke bretons: but syth the tyme that this Gurmōd eftsones conquered it & yaf it vnto the saxons / and they anone right chaūged the name as before is sayd / And whan this was don Gurmōd passed ouer in to fraū ce & conquered many landes ād destroyed all crysten peple / there that he came. And y e saxōs dwelled in this land ād begonne fast it to inhabite at hir owne wylle: & they wold haue made new kȳ ges & lordes. but they myght neuer assenten to haue onely a kȳg [Page] for to be to hem entendaūt & ther fore they made many kynges in dyuerse shyres / as it was in Engistes time / The first kyngdome was kent & that other southsexe: & the thridde westsexe / & the iiij estsexe / & the v / northūberland. & the vj estangle· that is to saye northfolk & southfolk. & the vij merchenorth: & that is the erldom of Nichol: hūtyngdone. herford: gloucestre / wynchestre. warrewyk ād derby / and so departed y e englissh all englond in vij. parties And after that it befell that the kynges werred ofte tyme to gedre / & euer he that was strengest benōme hī that was feblest. & so it was long tyme that they nad no kȳg crouned amonges hem. ne no crysten man was tho amonges hem / ne cristēdome nothir. but were paynyms: Tyll that saint Gregorye was pope of rome that had seyn children of the nacion of Englād in y e cyte of Rome. that were wō der fayre creatures / ād had grete will & desyre hem to beholde. and axed of the marchauntz whēnes they were & of what nacion. & mē told hȳ that they were of englōd / ād englisshe they were called. but they and all the peple of Englōd were paynȳs & beleued not vpon god. Allas said seȳt Gregorie wel mowe they be called englisshe for they haue y e vysages of Angeles. ād therfore wel ought they to be cristē. And for thys encheson seȳt Gregorie sent seȳt Augustin into Englād & xl. good men with him that were of good lyfe & holi men to preche & teche & to conuert the Englyssh peple & hē turne to god. and that was in the vi. yere that seint gregorie had bene pope that is to saye. after the incarnacyō of our lord jesu crist: V Clxxxvij yere: as the cronicles telleth
How seynt Augustyn baptysed & cōuerted king Adelbright and how he made y e bisshoppes of his felawes Capit / xcvij.
WHan seint augustin first came in to Englād he arryued in the Ile of Tenet & so passed he forth ād came in to Caūterbury: & ther soiourned he And kȳg adelbright of kent that was of the lignage of Engist: vnderfeng seint Augustin & hys felawes wyth moche honour: & he yaf hȳ all that hē neded: & ferther more he yaf hȳ a faire place that nowe is called the abbey of seint augustȳs. in which̄ place he lyeth hē self shrined / This king adelbright was a good mā & w t good wil herd seint augustīs p̄dicaciōs. ād yafe hē leue to preche thurgh all his lād of kent. to torne & cōuerte to hī alle the peple that he might / ād it befell so afterward thurgh goddes grace that in a littell tyme y e king adelbright hē self was [Page] conuerted to god ād all his peple of his land was baptised And in the mene time while the peple hē turned to god: seint Augustin came to Rouchestre & there preched he goddes word: The paynyms therfore him skorned & cast on hȳ reight tailles / so that al his mantell was honged ful of reigh tailles / and for more despyte thei cast on hym the gutes of reighes and of fysshe (punctel) wherfor the good man seint augustyn was sore anoyed & greued. & prayed to god that all the childrē that shold be borne afterward ī that cite of Rouchestre most haue tailles / & whan y e king it wyst and herde of this vēgeaū ce that was fall thurgh seins augustyns prayer / He let make an hous ī honour of almyghty god wheryn women shold be deliuered of hyr chyldren at the brugges ende (punctel) in which̄ hous yet womē of y e cyte ben̄ delyuered of childrē. Whā seȳt Gregorie had herde telle how the englisshmen were turned to god ād conuerted / he sente to seint augustyn his palione by a bisshop that was called Paulyn: & made him prymat ād Erchebisshop of Englād / & yaf hī his power for to make & ordeyne bisshoppes in the land: ād anone as Augustyn had the pallione of the dignite of the Erchibisshoppe he made ij. bisshoppes of hys felaws that came with hȳ fro Rome. that one was called Mellyt / & he dwelled at Londō. and that other was called Iustyn that held the dignyte of Rouchestre: & this bisshop Mellit tho wēt for to preche into Estexe and baptysed the kyng of the contre / that was kalled Sicwith that was king Adelbrightes cosyn his sustres sone: ād Iustin wēt to preche in southsexe & turned moche of the peple to god. and seynt augustin went him self prechȳg thurgh out England
¶How seint augustyn went in to wales there that the Bretons were. and how they nold nat be obedyent to the Erchebisshop of Canterbury Capit. xcviij
WHā all englād was baptysed & turned to god: seȳt augustyn went into that land there that the Bretons were for to kepe hē fro the englisshmē: that is to seyne jn to wales. and there he fonde mōkes & abbeyes & vij bisshoppes For the bretons desyred allway the crysten peple that seint Augustyn had cōuerted / & said to the bisshoppes that he was a legat of Rome & pmat of all England. & that they shold by alle reson to him be obedyent. but for that he was wy t the Englysshemen. they saidē that they noldē: but to the erchibysshop of Carlyon. ād said they nold neuer [Page] for no maner thyng ben obedyēt to the Englisshmē / for y e englisshmen they sayd ben our aduersaires & our enemyes. & haue dryuē vs owt of our owne contre. & we ben cristen men & euer haue ben̄: & the englisshmen haue euer ben paynȳs: but nowe late that they ben conuerted. Seint Augustyn might of hē none answere haue otherwyse. but saydē aꝑtely that they nold neuer hem obeye to hȳ ne to the pope of Rome: And seīt augustyn turned ayen to y e kyng Adelbright that was king of kēt & told hȳ that thys folk wold not be to no man obedyēt: but to the Erchebisshop of Karlyon. And whan the kīg herde this / he was sore annoyed & said that he wold hē destroye / & sent to Olfride kȳg of Northūberland that was hys frend: that he shold come to hym wy t alle the power that he might: and that he shold mete hȳ at Leicestre (punctel) ād from thēs he wold gon̄ into wales & destroye the Erchebisshop of Carlyon. and all them that had refused seynt Augustin
How kyng Adelbright & the kȳg olfride queld Brecmale that was a kyng of Bretons that helde the contre of Leicestre Capi. xcix.
HIt befel so that ther was a king a Breton. that helde the contre of Leicestre and all the contre aboute named Brecmale: and this breton herde telle that the two englysshe kynges wold mete ther at leicestre for to wente in to Walys / He let ordeyne all the power that he had for to fight with thees two kȳges But lyttell it avaylled him: for all his folk that he had were slayne: and him self fled and lost his landes for euermore / And these two kynges Adelbright and Olfryd dwelled a whyle at Leicestre and departed the landes amōges hē / and token homages and feautes of folk of the contre / And ther after they wentē to ward wales / & they of Wales had herd telle of y e discomfyture that Brecmale had hath at Leicestre. & were wonder [...]ore adrad of the two kynges: ād anone chose amonges hem good men and holy of heremytes mō kes and prestres. ād of othir folk grete plente / that wenten baarfoot & wollwerd for to haue mercy of the two kynges / But the kȳ ges were so sterne and so wikked that they [...]old neuer speke wyth hem: But queld hem all euerichō Allas what sorowe: For they ne spared hē nomore than the wolf doth the shepes (punctel) But they smotē of the hedes of euerychon / And so they were alle martred that to hem camen. that is to vnderstō de. V hōdred & xl. and afterward the two kynges went fro thēs to Bangore. for to quelle alle them [Page] that they might there fynde of y e Bretons: & whan the bretōs that herdē. they assembled & ordeyned all hir power for to fight wy t hem Tho was there a barō in wales that was called Bledrik of cornewaill. that som tyme was lord of denoushyre / but y e kȳg adelbright had driuen him to Wales & yeue him bataille. & at that bataill kȳg Aldelbright was slayne & Eldryf wounded sore / & forsoke the felde. & the most part of his peple slayn & Eldrif fled into Northūberland that was his owne land / And afterward y e peple of Leycestre shire made with strēgthe Cadewan that was Brecynalis sone kyng of Leicestre. and he after regned nobely & with grete honour
¶How Cadewan Kyng of Leicestre and Elfryd king of Nortū berland were frendes. & of the debate that afterward was bitwene Edwyn & Cadwalȳ that were bothe hyr sones Capit. C
And after that this bataill was don̄. the bretons assembled hem & went & camen vnto Leicestre & made Cadwā that was Brecinalis sone. kīg of Leicestre & of all the contre / ād he toke homages and feautes of all the folk of that contre: & after that he assembled a grete hoost & said. he wolde gone in to northū berland for to destroye kyng Elfrid & slee him yf he might / & whā he was comen thydder: frendes went so bitwene hem & made hē accorded in this manere that Elfryd shold hold alle the londe frō Hūbar vnto Scotland. Cadewā shold haue alle the land a this syde Hūber vnto the south: & after that (punctel) they became good frendes / all hys lyfes duryng ād loued to gedre as they had be two brethrē And this Elfride had a sone that was kalled Edwyn that had ād held all the lād of Northūberlād after his fadres deth· as his fader had holde all hys lyfes time / and Cadewā had an other sone that was called Cadwalyn that helde his fadres lād. as he it helde whyles he was a lyfe. ād they loued to gedre as they had be bretheren. & the loue last bitwene hē but onely two yere: And after began debate bitwen̄ hē through a lyther enuyous cosin of Cadwalyne y t was called Bryeny: so that thei assembled a grete host in both̄ partyes / & at y e last it befell that Cadwalyn was discomfited & Edwȳ him pursued & drofe him fro place to place: so at the last he fley in to Irlād. And this other destroyed his land / & kast a downe castelles & brēt his maners / & departed all Cadwalyns land amōge hys frendes: & long tyme after came Cadwalyn ayen̄ from Irland w t [Page] a strōg power: & in plaine bataill quelled Edwyne and all his frēdshippes. and nameli thaym that witheld his lādes thurgh Edwynes yefte
¶How king Oswald was queld thurgh kȳg Cadwalyn & Peanda. and how Oswy that was seīt Oswaldes brother regned after him / & queld Peanda Capitulo Cj
WHan that Edwyne was slaine Offris his sone vndertoke the werre ayenst Cadwalyn his Eme. so that this offrys deyde duryng the werre: And after the deth of offrys. tho regned a gentill cristen man that moche loued god almighty / that had all the land of Northūberlād by herytage / that was called Oswold. and he was kȳg of all that lād. But for as moche as he was frend to Edwyne: & helde a grete part of the land of Cadwalȳ. the same Cadwalȳ werred vpon hȳ / & drofe hȳ toward Scotland. and whē cadwalȳ sawe that / he wold no ferther hym purswe. but toke somme of his folke to Peāda his brother in lawe ād praied him to purswe oswald tyll that he were take and slayne / & Cadwalȳ turned home ayene / Whan Oswald herd the tydyng that Cadwalyn turned hom ayen. he wold no lē ger flee: but abode Peāda: & yafe him bataille. and Peāda was discomfyted & fled: ād came ayen̄ to Cadwalȳ & said. that he wold neuer holde ony foot of lond of hȳ: but if it were so that he wold auē ge him of Oswold / Cadwalyn let assemble a grete hoost for to fight with oswold / so that he & Peada came vnto northūberlād & yaue bataill vnto Oswold / & in the same bataille was oswold slayne. & his hede smyte of. & after he was ētered at the abbey of Bardeney. in whyche place god hath wrought many a fayr myracle both ther and elles where. And anone Oswy his brother seised into hys hād all the lād [...] that was Oswaldes / and the folck of Northūberland loued him wonder wel. and helde him for hyr lord. but he had men of hys kyn worthy ynough that wold haue departed the lōd. & they werred to gedre [...] ād for as moche as they were nat strōg ynough / they camē to Peāda and prayed him of helpe & socour. ād promysed him of that lōd largely vpon couenant that he wolde him gyde & help & counceill Peā da herd hyre prayer and so spake he with the king Cadwalyn that he shold ordeyne a grete hoost· ād fast ordeyn̄ him in to northūberland for to fighte with Oswy. ād Oswy was a meke man & moche loued pees & charyte. and prayed [Page] Peanda of loue & pees. & proferd him of gold & of syluer grete pleī te / And this Peāda was so proud that he nolde graunte hym pees for no maner thīg. but for all thīg he wold wy t hȳ fighte / so at y e laste ther was set a day of bataill / and Oswyne had trust vpon god. and Peanda trustyd vpon his pryd & vpon his hoost that he had / And to gedre they smoten egrely / But Peanda anone was discomfited & slayne And this was after y e jncarnacyon of our lord Ihesu crist Vj.C & lv. yere: & this oswyn regned tho xxviij yere. ād a king that was called Oswyn that was Peanda his cosyn werred vpō kyng Oswy & foughten to gedre. but oswy had the victorie: & Oswȳ was discomfyted & slaine. and lyeth at tēnemouth
How kyng Cadewaldre y t was Cadewaleynes sone regned aftir his fadre / and was the laste kyng of Bretons Capitulo Cij
AFter the deth of Cadwaleȳ regned hys sone Cadwaladre well and nobely And his moder was the suster of kyng Peanda. and whan he had regned xij. yere. he fell in to a grete sekenesse: & then̄e was there so grete discord bytwene y e lordes of the land / that euery on weried vpon othir / & yet in that tyme ther fell so grete derth & scarcite of corne and of other vytailles in thys [...]nd. that a man might goo thre days or iiij. fro towne to towne y t he shold nat fynde to bye for gold ne for syluer brede wyne ne none othir vytaille wher with a man myght lyue: But onely the peple lyued bi rotes of herbes: for othir lyuyng had they none / so moche was it failled / aboute fisshes wilde bestes & alle other thȳg. so that yet to thys mysauenture ther fell so grete mortalite and pestilence amonge the peple by the corrupcyon of the eir. that the lyuȳg peple ne suffysed not to burye y e dede bodies: for they deydē so sodēli both grete and smale / lord ād seruaunt / etyng / goyng / spekyng. so that neuer was herd of more sodeyne deth among the peple. For he which̄ that wende to goū and to burie the dede body: wy t the same dede body was buried. they y t might flee fleddē & forsoke hir lō des & houses / as wel for the grete hūger & scarcite of corn̄ & other vitailles / as for y e horrible mortalite & pestilēce in the lād / & wentē into othir lādes for to saue hir liues: & left y e lād all desert & wast. so y t ther was not any man to trauaille & tille y e lōd ne ere ne sowe. so that y e land was bareyne of cornes & all othir fruites for defaulte of tiliers. and thys mysauenture dured xj yere & moo that no man myght ere ne sowe.
¶How Cadwaldre went owt of this land in littel bretaigne
CAdwaladre saw the grete hunger mortalite & pestilence / & the lond all poure & faylling cornes & othir vitailles & his folke perisshed / and saw also the moost partie of hys lād all wasted and voide of peple: he appareilled hem and his folke that were left on lyue / & passed ouer in to lyttel Bretaigne wy t a littel nauye vnto the kīg Alayne that he moche loued that was his cosyn and that his fadre had moche loued in his time. and as they sailled in the see. he made grete lamē tacyō / & so dydē they all that were with him. & saydē ‘Dedisti nos dn̄e tan (quam) oues escarum / & in gētibꝰ dispersisti nos’
And than began Cadwaldre to cōpleyne him to his folke pytously & said. Allas said he to vs wrecches & caytyfs (punctel) For why for owr grete sȳnes of the which̄ we wolde not amende vs / whyle we had space of repētaunce / is comē vpō vs this mysauenture / which̄ chaceth vs oute of our owne reaulm̄ and propre soyle / fro and owt of whiche somtime Romains / scottes Saxons ne Danes might not exilen vs: But what avaylleth it nowe to vs that before tyme oft fithes haue gotē many othir lā des / sith it is not the wylle of god that we abyde and dwelle in owr owne lande: God that is werray jugge that alle thȳg knoweth before they be done or made / he sech̄ that we wolde not cese of owr sȳ nes. ād that our enemies ne myght not vs ne our lignage exylen fro & out of our reaulme. he wolde that we amend vs of our folyes. ād that we sene our propr [...] defaultes / & therfore had he shewed to vs his wrath & wull chastise vs of our mysdedes / Sith that he vs doth without bataill or strength of our enemyes bi grete cōpanyes wrecchedly to leue owre owne reaulme & propre land. Turne agayn ye Romains. turne agayn ye scottes. turne agayn ye sa [...]ōs: turne agayn̄ ye fraunsoys. now sheweth to you bretaygne all desert / the whiche your power myght neuer make desert. ne yet yowre power hath not now put vs in exill. but onely the power of y e king almyghty / whom we haue ofte offended bi our folyes whyche we wolde not leue vnto y e tyme tyll that he chastised vs bi his dyuȳ power / Amōge the wordes & lamētacion that the kyng Cadwaladre made to his folk. thei arryued in littell bretaigne & came to y e king Alayne before said: and the king receyued him wy t ioye. & made hī to be serued wondre nobely. and there he dwelled longe [Page] time after The ēglissh peple that were lefte on lyue & were escaped the grete hūger & mortalite lyued in the best wyse that they might: & moche peple spronge & came of hem. And they sent into Saxoyn̄ where they were borne to hir frē des for men. women. & childrē to restore y e cytees with peple & othir tounes that were all voide of peple: and for to trauailie & tellē the erthe / Whan the Saxons herden this tyding: thei camen in to this land wondre thikke in grete companye and logged ād herberwed hem self in y e cōtre all about where they wolden: for they fonde no man hem to lette ne withstonde / And so they woxen & multiplied gretly. & vsed the customes of the contrees wher of thei were comē and the lawes and the langages of hir owne land And they changed the names of cytees townes castelles and burghes & yaf hem names & called hem as thei now be kalled. and they helden the cō trees. the baronages lordshippes & trees in maner as the bretons before tyme had compassed hem And among othir cōpanies that came fro Germayne ī to this lād came the noble Quene that was kalled Sexburga wy t men & women withoute nombre and arriued in the cōtre of Northumberland: and toke the land from Albyone in to Cornewaylle for hyr and for hyr folke / For there was none that might letten hem. For all was desolat and voide of peple / but it were a fewe poure Bretons that were lefthe in moūtaignes and wodes vn tyll that tyme. And fro that tyme forth loste the bretons thys Reaulme for all dayes: and the Englissh peple begā to regne. And departed the land bitwene hem / ād thei made many kynges aboute by diuerse partyes of the lōd. as here ben̄ deuised The fyrst of westsex / The seconde Merchenrich̄ / The thridde Estangle. The fourth̄ Kent / The fyfthe southsex. Alle thees regned in this land after that Cadwaladre was passed owte of this land & dwelled in lyttell Bretaigne wy t kyng Aleyne hys cosyn ād trewe frēde (punctel) And whā he had lōge dwelled there / and had knowing that the mortalite and pestilence was ouer passed / & that the lōde was replenisshed with aliene peple / he thought to turne ayene in to his owne lande & praied kȳg Aleyne hys cosyn of socour ād helpe that he myght be restored to hys propre Reaulme & fyrst dignyte / and kyng Aleyne graunted him hys prayer wy t a good will. Than dyd he apparailen hȳ for to take hys way and viage into this lande: & prayed god almyghty deuoutly / that he wolde make to hȳ the demonstracyon / yf y t hys prayer in [Page] to this land were to him plesaūce or none / for agayn the wyl of god almyghty he wolde no thȳg don̄ Whā he had thus deuoutly made his prayer / a voys fro heuē to him said / & bad hȳ leue that iourney & way into Englond ād that he shold go to the pope of Rome / for it was so the wylle of almighty god: that the Bretons shulde nomore regne in Bretaigne / ne neuer recoure the land vnto y e tyme that the prophecye that merlyn had sayd before be fullylled: & that sholde neuer ben̄ / vnto y e tyme were comen that the reliques of his body shull ben̄ brought fro Rome & translated in bretaygne And whan the relyques of othir saintes that haue ben̄ hyd for the persecucyon of the paynyme folke. shull be fondē & opēly shewed than shall they recoure hyr land ayene / whiche they haue so longe tyme lost thurgh hyr grete sȳnes Whā Cadwaldre had herde thys answere / he mervailleth gretly [...] tolde it to king Aleyne: Thā kȳg Aleyne dyd sent for the clergye of his londe / & made hem to brynge the stories & profecyes that Merlyn and Sybille hadde said in hir prophecyes. And whā he knewe that the prophecye that Festome had prophecyed of the regle. ād other ꝓphecies accorded to the dyuyne answere that Cadwaladre had herd / he counseylled hym for to leue his peple & his navie / & submitte hȳ to y e disposicyō of god. & done all that the āgele hȳ had cō maūded. Then̄ Cadwaladre called Inor his sone & Yuory his cosyn that was his sustres sone. ād sayd to hē. take said he my folck & my nauye that is here all redy & passe in to Wales ād be ye lordes of the bretons. that no dishonour come to hem by inter [...]upcion̄ of the paynym̄ folke for defaulte of lordes. And he hȳ self left hys Reaulme of Bretaign̄. & his fo [...]ck for euermore· & toke hy [...] way to Rome to the pope Sergiꝰ the which worshipped hȳ moche: and so he was cōfessyd & toke penaūce for his synnes. but he had not longe dwelled there but that he deyed y • xij. kalēd of may: the yere of grace v / Clxxix.
How kyng Offa was souera [...] aboue alle the kinges of Englōd & how euery king werred vpon y • othir Capitu. Cij.
IT befel so that all y e kīges in that tyme that were in y e lōd. as thei of westsexe Merchē riche / estāgle of kēt: & of southsexe & of othir costes. ech̄ werred vpon other: & he y t was most mighti benōme y e lōd of hȳ that was most feble But ther was a kȳg amonges hē that was called Offa▪ that was seīt oswaldes brother [...] This offa cōquered alle the kynges of the lande / & regned aboue hē alle / & so grete was the werre [...] euery [Page] contre bytwene kynges / that no mā might wyt how the lāde wēt But Abbotes Pryours & men of relygyon wrytten the lyves & the dedes of kynges: & how long euery had regned / and in whos cōtre & in what maner eueri kīg deyed. and of bisshoppes also: & ther of made they grete bokes / & let calle hem cronicles. and the good kȳg Alured had y • boke in his warde. and let brynge it at wȳchestre ād let yt fast be takked vnto a piller / that mē might it not remeve / ne bere it thens / so that euery man might it see & thervpon loke For ther in ben the lyues of all the kȳ ges that euer were in Englōd
How the kyng of Northūberlād Osbryght forlay y e wyfe of Buerne bocard thurgh strēgth. & aftyr this Buerne conquered the king with power & strength̄. Capitulo .Ciij.
ANd thus it befel in the same tyme that ther was a kyng in Northūberland. that was called Osbright and soiourned in yorke. And this kyng wēt vpon a daye into a wode hȳ for to refresshe ād disporte: & whē he came ayene he went preueli in to a good mannes houses which̄ was called Buerne / and the good man of that place was gon̄ that tyme to the see / for often times he was woned there aspie & awaite theues & robbours that often tymes were woned to come in to y e land to robbe brenne ād slee / The lady that was this buernes wife was a wonder fayre woman ād welcomed the kyng with mochel honour. & worthely hȳ serued in all thing. Whan the king had etē he toke the lady bi the hand & lad hyr in to a chābre ād said: that he wolde speke wy t hyr a coūceil. and all the folke frō the chābre he made avoide / sauf onely the ladi & he But the lady wist not wherfor he it dyd. tyll that he had done w t hir his wille / And whan he had don̄ this dede. he turned ayen̄ to york: & the lady he left there wōder sore wepȳg for the dede that he had done / And whā hir lord was comen home & sawe hyr wepe & suche sorwe make. he axed of hyr what she had don̄ & why she made such̄ sorwe / Syr said she / queȳ tely & falsely the kīg Osbright me had done shame & vylayne ayēst my will. & tolde hȳ trouthe how y e king had hir forlayne wy t strēgth̄ wher fore she said: she had leuer to deye thā lyue / Fair [...]eef be styll sayd he / for ayenst strength̄ feblenesse is littell worth. and therfore of me shalt thou neuer the lasse be loued: & namely for that thow hast told me trewthe / ād if almyghty god graunte me lyfe: I shal yow well auenge / Thys Buerne [Page] was a grete man and a myghty lord & was beloued and had grete frendes. and let sende for y e gretest lordes of the lande. and to hē he made his cōplaint of y e despyte that the king to him had done / & said that he wold bē auēged how so that euer it were: and alle hys frendes counceilled & graūted hȳ therto. & they went to ward york ther that the king was And Buerne toke his meyne & came to y e king. and when the king hȳ sawe he kalled hȳ curtously Buerne bi his name. & Buerne answerde to him & sayd. Syr I yow deffye: ād yelde vp feautes homages & londes: & as moch̄ as I haue holde of yow / & so fro this tyme foreward I wyl neuer of you no thȳg hold And so departed he from the kȳg withoute more speche or any abiding. & toke leue of his frendes. & went to Denmarke. & cōplayned to the Gordryne / and tolde hym of the grete despyte that the forsayde king Osbright to hym had done of his wyfe & prayed him of socour & of helpe hym to auenge. Whan king Godryne of Dēmarke and the Danois had herde the pleȳte of this buerne & of the prayer that he had made: they were wonder glad in hert: for asmoche that they might fynd cause for to gone in to Englond for to werre vpon the Englisshmen / and also for to auēge Buerne of the despite that the kyng had done to hys wyfe: and for asmoch̄ as Buerne was sibbe to the king of Dēmarke. Anone they let ordeyne a grete hoost of men: and let prepare shippes & asmoche as was nede to that viage And whan alle the hoost was redy y e kȳg made his ij bretheren cheuytains that were noble knightes and bolde. That one was called Hungar. ād that othir Hubba /
How the Danoys toke yorke ād quelled the king Osbright and afterward king Elle Capitulo C.iiij
WHan all thing was redy. the two bretheren toke leue of the king Gordryn: & went toward y e see for to wente in to Englond as faste as they myght spede: Now is Buerne so wel conforted & fast hyed him with y e Danoys / that they ben̄ arryued in to northcōtre / & comen thurgh oute holdernesse / & destroied all y e contre and brent tounes ād robbed folke ād quelled all that they myght taken / tyll they camen to york / And whan king Osbryght saw hem come he toke hys peple that he had and came owt of the cyte: & faught wyth hem. but no foyson he had ayens hem: & moche was the peple that there was slayne in bothe parties And kȳg Osbright hȳ selfe ther was slayn̄. and the cyte anone was take: ād [Page] the Danois wentē theryn / & ther was also an othir king in Northumberland that Buernes frēdes had chosen / & helde him for kyng. & he was called Elle: for as moch̄ as they wold not to kȳg osbright bene entendaunt for the despyte that he had done to Buerne hyr cosyn. Hit befell thꝰ that the kȳg Elle was gon̄ to wode him for to disporte. and of venyson somdell he had take. & as he sate in y e wode at mete. to a knight he said / we haue well y sped and moch̄ venison takē. And w t that worde ther came in a man & to him said / jf ye moche of venyson haue wonnen. an hondred tymes so moch̄ more ther ayens ye haue lost For all this contre the danoys haue getē and take the cite of yorke (punctel) & ayēs yowe shull it hold. that neuer ye shull come theryn / & for soth they haue slayne the king Osbright. & whā king Elle these wordes herde. he let assemble all the folk of y e cōtre: And ordeyned all y e power that he might haue· & wold haue gete the towne of york wy t strēgthe / but the danoys camen owte anone ād yafe him bataille. and queld the king & the moost partie of his men that he had brought with hȳ: and the same place ther that they were slayne / shall euer be kalled Ellecrost. & that place is littel from yorke. And tho abode the Danoys neuer tyll they had conquered all Northumberland / & in that contre they made wardeyns. and went ferther in to the land & token nothyngam: & ther they dwelled all the wynter. and dyden the sorwe that they might And after whā somer tyme cam̄ they remeued from nothyngam and camen in to nychol: & to Lȳ desey: and to Holād / For no mā myght hem withstōde / so moche power & strength̄ they had.
¶How seynt Edmond the king was martred Cap. Cv /
And so ferre had the danois passed from contre vn to contre: & euer more brennyng and robbȳg: & destroied all that they might / tyll they camen vn to Thetford: & in that contre they foundē a crysten kyng. that moche loued god ād his werkes. & he was kalled Edmōd. And he was kīg of northfolk & southfolk This seynt Edmond king ordeined as moche folk as he might & fought with the Danoys / but he and his folk were discomfyted / & the king him selfe dryuen vnto y e castell of Framelyngham And the Danoys hym pursued & camē vnto y e same castel: & whā kīg Edmōd sawe that y e castel might not hē witstond / he came ayēs hē. with whō y e Danoys first spekē: & anon̄ they axed of hȳ wher kīg Edmōd was nowe. for soth sayd he: whan I was in the castel ther [Page] was the king / & whā I went out of the castel he went oute also / ād whethir he shall escape or deye: at goddes wyll must it be Whā seȳt Edmōd had nēpned god. bi that they wistē well all that it was he him self / And anone Hubba and Hūbar tokē him ād said that he sholde god forsake and all cristen lawe as many other had don hȳ beforne. And seint Edmond said that he nold neuer. but rather he wolde suffre y e deth for goddes loue & his lawes to kepe. Tho toke they the king Edmōd & boūde hī vnto a tree / ād made hir archiers to hȳ shete with his arewes tyll y t his bodi stikked as ful of arowes as an vrchone is full of prikkes: but for all the paynes y t he had he wold neuer god forsake. & in y e same payne & turment he deyeth: & betoke hys sowle to god / ād whā they sawen that he was dede thei smyten of his hede. And in this maner was seint Edmond martred
¶How Hubba & Hū gar tokē the toune of Redyng -ca. cvj
WHā seȳt Edmōd was martred Hūgar ād Hubba went thēs wy t all hir Danoys vnto Redȳge: ād as they went thidderward: they brē de townes & Citees: & quelled all crysten peple that wold not god forsake / & cast a downe chyrches / & camen to Redȳge / & toke y e toune. and ther helde they hem tyll y t the kyng Edelf of Westsex came thidder w t all his power for to take y e towne Tho camē oute y e danois for to yeue bataill to kȳg Edelf. ād at that bataill was queld an erle of y e danoys that was called Cydrake. Vpō the morwe came y e kȳg Elred & his brother Alured w t a strōge power & a grete hoost / & the kȳg Edelf came ayen̄ that had foughtē the daye before to that bataill / & y e Danoys camē tho oute for to fight w t hem. & the bataille was wonder stronge. for many a man was ther slayn̄: & y e danoys that day had y e victorye & the king Eldred & hys brother Alured that day were discomfyted But the fourth̄ day afterward y e Danoys & the ēglisshmē foughtē to gedre an othir tyme vpō Ekeldēne: & ther was slayn̄ a kyng of Dēmarke y t was called Rafȳg. & iiij erles of grete power: and that day had y e danoys shame for thei were driuen vnto Englisfelde. ād the xv. day after: the danoys & the englisshmē foughtē an othir tyme at Rafȳg & there were the englisshmen discōfyted· And from thens a Danoys that was called Roynt. wēt to redȳg w t his hoost & destroyed all that he myght take And king Eldred fought with hym. But he was sore wounded / werfore that he deyed ād he had not regned but v. yere and lyeth at Wonburne
¶Of king Alured. and how the Danoys in his tyme praied him of mercy that they must goū out of the land Capitulo Cvij
AFter the deth of this Eldred regned his brother alured that Dolfynes was kalled. Tho wentē the Danoys & a [...]embled hem & wente for to seche Alured that tho was y e newe king of Southsex and there they foundē him at wiltone with a littel peple. and notheles he faught with hem. but at the last he fledde thens from the felde and went into westsex. ād ordeyned so moche peple of hys owne reaulme & also of othir· so tyll that he had a stronge hoost: so that the danois had no power ayens hym to stō de. And he came to london with his hoost & ther were the Danois soiourned / and ther wolde he [...] haue foughten with hem: but y e danoys durst not with him fyghte / but praird him of pees / and that they must gon̄ ayen̄ vnto hir owne contre: & neuermore in to England for to come ayen any harme to done. And vpon this couenant they shold yeue hȳ to plegge good hostages. and suche as y e Englisshmen wold axen
How Hubba and Hungar were quelled at Chipenham. and the danoys brought hyr kyng to our king Capitu. Cviij.
ANd the same day that the danoys departed frō Lō don so fast they rodē both̄ nyght and daye: & neuer toke rest of goyng: tyll that they camē vnto Excestre. and token to the toune. & there they helde hem Whan king Alured herd the tydīg. anon̄ he let take the hostages: and wēt from thens to Excestre with alle the power that he had: And whē y e danoys herd telle of his comīg. they wenten fro thens in to westsexe and camen to Chippenham and ther they didē moche harme in the contre: thei robbed folke & brought hem in pryson / The kȳg Alured hem pursued & came vpō hem and fersely hem assailled / ād there were slayne both Hubba & Hungar his brother: ād Buerne Bocard / and in thys bataill was moche folk slayne / as wel in that one side as in that other. but the gree of the felde lest with the Danoys. For as moche as the kyng came with littell company. The king hasted hym as moche as he might for to wende ayene: And whan the Danoys foundē Hubba his dody dede they entered it. and made vpon it a grete logge & let kalle it Hubbes [...]owe: and so it is called in to this day / And that place is kalled denēshire. The barons somerset wyllstshire & dorset herd tell how that hir kīg was [Page] discomfyted· ād ordeyned alle the power that they myghten haue: & camen to the kyng ther he was. and thanked god that they had him fonden a leyue / for they had wend that the Danoys had hym slayne / Tho toke they a counseill the king and his Barōs that thei wolde gon̄ and seche the danoys with hem all for to fyghten: ād so they riddē all that nyght hem all for to seche. and camē in the morwe aboute pryme to Abyngdon. ther that the Danoys were: The king tho Alured and his Barons assembled ād there they assailled the danoys egrely. & there yaf hē a strong bataill: and the danoys nobely put hem of lōge time that no man wist in whethir partye y t was the moost peple slayne / But thus it befell as god wolde that y e kȳg Alured had the victore with mochel honour / for the Danoys weren so driuen that they ne wist whyther for to torne / and xv. dayes the king hem purswed at his wille. that glad ād fayne thei were for to speken of pees and of accord. and token good hostages. ād said that they nold neuer more vp on hym werre ne no debate arere. ād more ouer they behyght to the kȳg Alured that they wolde gon̄ and bring hyr owne king vnto him / and that hir kyng and they all shold be baptised: & vpon this condycion the noble & vaylliaūt kȳg Alured graunted hem lyfe and lymme / and said to hem that they shold gone hir king for to fetche: And at a certayn daye to comen ayen̄ that to hem was sette / And so wente thei fast forth and camen ayen̄ at hyr day that was assigned. ād alle the danoys brought hir king with thaȳ The kyng Alured anone let hem ben̄ baptysed and hir names chāged So that the king of the Danoys was kalled Athelston and xxx of his felawes names were chāged also: and the othir were baptised to the ryght beleue (punctel) and all thys was done at Westmynstre
And after that tyme: the kyng Alured helde with him kyng Athelstone. and alle his danoys xij dayes at soioure with mochel solempnyte: ād yafe hem grete yeftes after that they were baptised and so they departed.
And whan all this was don̄ tho was the good Kyng Alured all at ese ād for y t he had all hys enemyes ouercomen and that they were turned to the ryght beleue of almyghty god.
How the Danois that were gon̄ wyth Gurmond in to Fraunce: camen ayen̄ in to Englond / And of the deth of kyng alured Capitulo Cix
[Page] And thꝰ it befell afterward that the Danoys of northūberlād that were paynyms: camē with a grete strēgth̄ & an huge hoost of fraunce: that is to vnderstode. wy t hē that wēt in to fraunce wyth Gurmond of Auffryke whan he had cōquered Englōd / & it yafe vnto the saxons and tho they that camē fro fraū ce arryued in kēt & sēt in to northūberland that they shold comē to hem: and whan the two hoostes were comē & assembled. anon̄ they went to destroye the crysten peple of Englōd fro place to place & dyden moch̄ sorwe: Hit befel thus as the almyghty god wold an hard chaūce in Englond· For the good kyng Alured that was woned to abate the Danois: deide in the mene tyme. This kīg Alured had regned xxx. yere: and a good kīg had ben̄. ād coude well chastyse his enemies / for he was a good clere: & let make many bokes. And a boke of Englissh̄ of auentures. of kynges of batailles / that had ben done in the lond / ād manj othir bokes of gestes. he let hem wryte that were of gret wysedome & of good lernȳg / thurgh which̄ boke many a man may hī amend that wyll hem rede & vpō loke: vpon whos soule almighty god haue mercy / And this kyng Alured lyeth at Wynchestre▪
¶Of kȳg Edward that was kȳg Alured sone Capit. Cx
ANd after this Alured regned Edward his sone the which̄ was a good man: and a wyse: and was wōder curtois: The danois dyd moche sorwe in the lond. and hir power encresced and began for to wexe frō day to day For the danoys camē ofte with theyr companyes in to this land / and whā the king saw that he might no better done: he nōme trewes wyth hem & graū ted hem his pees And notheles the truwes dured nat longe that the Danois ne begonne strongely to werre vpō the Englysshmē. & dyd hem moch̄ sorwe Wherfore kīg Edward dyd assemble a grete hoost for to fyght with hem. ād tho deyed this kīg Edward whā god wolde. Thys kyng Edward regned xxiiij yere / & lyeth at wȳ chestre besides his fadre
Of kyng Adelston & of Edmonde / & of Eldred ād of Edwyne his brother Capitulo Cxi
After this Edward regned Adelston his sone: & whā he had regned iiij. yere: he helde bataille ayenst the Danoys & drofe kyng Gaufride that was kȳg of Danois / and all hys hoost vnto the see. ād rested by Scotlād and avoyed strongeli the contre all a yere / & after that / thei of Cū berlād [Page] & the scottes of Westmerland begonne to werre vpō king Athelston: & he yaf hem so stronge bataille that he quelled so many of hem that no man coude telle the nombre of hē. ād after that he ne regned but thre yere: and he regned in all xxv / yere· and lyeth at Malmesbury. And after thys adelston regned hys brother Edmond / for asmoche as king adelston had no sone: & this Edmond was a worthy knight & a doughty man of body. & a noble knight And ī the thridde yere after that he was king he wēt ouer Hūbar in whiche place he fonde ij. kȳges of Danoys. That one was called Enelaf: & that othir Regnaut / ād this king Edmond drofe hē both̄ from the land / and after went ād toke a grete prey in Cumberland / This Edmōd ne regned but vij. yere / and lyeth at Glastenbury. & after this edmond regned Eldrede his brother / that avenged Edward his fadre of hys ennemyes that hȳ quelled / ād after he seysed Northumberland in to his hand and made the scottes abowe and meke vnto his will And the secō de yere that he had regned / came Arnalaf gwyrā that was kȳg of Denmarke & seised all northumberland. & helde that lōde two yere. & after that came kyng Eldred & drofe hym out of this land: ād this kȳg Eldred was a noble mā & a good. of whos goodnesse seȳt Dunstō preched. And this kyng Eldred regned xi. yere / ād lyeth at wȳchestre / And after this Eldred Edwyne sone of Edmōd his brother regned. ād was a lyther mā toward the god ād the peple. for he hated folk of his owne land. & loued ād honoured straūge men & sette littel by the holy chirch̄. ād he toke of the holy chyrch̄ all the tresour that he mighte haue that was grete shame and vylanie to him selfe and peryll to his sowle and therfore god wolde nat that he shold regne no lenger than iiij yere. & deyed & lyeth at Wȳchestre
Of kȳg Edgar that regned aboue the kinges of Scotland ād of Wales / ād how he was begylled thurgh taking of his wyfe Capitulo Cxij
ANd after thys kyng Edwyne regned Edgare his brother a man that moch̄ loued god and pees and the holy chyrch̄ also / And was a worthy lord bolde stronge and mighty. & mayntened ryght well this land in pees. And thys kyng Edgar was lord and kyng aboue all the kynges of Scotland and of Walys / from the tyme that Arthour was a gone. and neuer was sithē kyng of hys power. And this noble kīg edgar was seȳt edwardes [Page] fadre. & whā Edgares wyfe was dede y t was seint Edwardes moder & ētered / he herde speke of the fairnesse of Estrilde that was orga [...]us doughtir a baron of denē shire / that was so faire a woman that all men spekē therof He called on of his knyghtes y t he moch̄ loued & trusted vpon & told hym Go said he to the noble barō Orgar of Denēshire & see if hys doughter be so fair as men speken of & if it be sothes: I will haue hir to my wyfe. This knight y t was called Edelwold wēt forth his waye & came there that the ladi was. & whan he saw hir so fayr he thought to haue hir him selfe to wyfe. & ther of spake to Orgar hir fadre And Orgar was an olde man & had no moo childrē but onely hir: & saw that edelwold was a faire yonge knight & worthy & ryche. & was wel with the kȳg. & thought his doughter shold wel be maryed / & wel beset vpon hȳ & graūted hȳ his doughter yf the good lord the kȳg wold ꝯsente ther to. This edelwold came ayen̄ to the king. & told hȳ that she was fair ynowe vpon to see. but she was wō der lothly Tho answered the kīg & said that he toke but littel charge: Syre said Edelwold tho / She is hir fadres heir & I am nat rych̄ of landes / & if ye wold consente & graūte that I must hir haue / thā shold j be rych̄ ynowe / In goddes name sayd the king I cōsent ther to. Edelwold thanked tho moch̄ the king & went ayen̄ into Denē shire & spoused y e damisell in that contre. & dwelled there / And thꝰ it befel vpon a tyme that he tolde his counseyll & all this thing vnto his wyfe. howe & in what maner he had begylled his lord y e kīg that wolde haue had hir to wyfe / ād anone as she it wist she loued hȳ neuer more afterward as she had don̄ beforne. This lady conceyued by him a sone: and whan tyme was that the child shold be borne: edelwold came to the king and prayed him to haue a sone of his at fouston. The kīg hȳ graū ted and let calle hym Edgar aftir his owne name. And whan this was don̄. he thought y t he was sure ynowe of y e king: that he shuld not take his wyfe: for asmoch̄ as his lord was a Ioly man and an amerous
¶How that the kyng Edgar wedded the fayre Estrylde after the deth of Edelwold: and how y t this Edelwold deyed Capitulo centesimo xiij
THꝰ it befell after that alle men in kyng Edgarys court tho speken and saiden that thys knyght Edelwold was rychely auawnced thurgh [Page] the mariage of his wyf / & yet thei said that he was avaūced an hō derfeld more / for he had spoused the fayrest womā that euer was seyne. And the kyng herde speke somoch̄ of hir beaute: he thought that Edelwold / had hȳ deceyued and begylled. & thought preuely ī his hert that he wold gone in to Denēshire. as if it were for to hū te for the hert & for the hynde ād othir wilde bestes. & than he sholde se there the lady er he departed thēnes: And this lady was dwellȳg at a maner besides the forest / there that the king wold hunte. & at y e maner he was herburwed al y e night And whā tyme came the king shold sope / he axed after his Gossyp and after his Godsone: & Edelwold made hyr to come before the kȳg / & notheles if it other had myght haue bene / she sholde not haue comen in hys sighte by his wyll: The lady welcomed the king & swetely him kissed & he toke hir by the hande / & tho next by hȳ he sette her: & so soped they to gedre / And tho was a custome & an vsage in thys land that whan a man dronke vnto an othir (punctel) the drynker shold sey Wassaill / & that othir shold answere drynkehaille / and thus dyd the kȳg & the lady many tymes. & also kyst they ech̄ othir. And after sope whā tyme was gone to bedde. the kȳg wēte vnto his bed hertely thȳkȳg vpō that ladies fairnesse: & tho was he ouercomen of hir loue that him thought that he shold deye / but if he had not his wyll of hyr. Vpon the morne the kyng aroos & wēt into the forest him there for to disporte with hertes & hyndes & alle other wilde bestes / & of the hertes grete plente to that ladi he sent. & ofte he wente to solacen & speken with that ladj whiles he dwelled ī that cōtre / And after that y e kȳg remeved thēnes: & thought how he myght best delyuer Edelwold from his wyfe as he had hȳ fyrst deceyued / And the king anone after viij. dayes let ordeine a parlament at Salesbury of all hys baronage counceill to haue & for to ordeyne / how the contree of Northūberland might best ben̄ kept that the Danoys camen not ther for to destroye the land / And this Edelwold came also vnto the kȳ ges parlamēt. And the king sent hī to yorke for to be keper of that cōtre. And thus it befel that men that knewe hym not slowe hȳ by the wey / and anone as the kyng herde that he was dede / he let sende after the lady Estryld: that she shold come to the cyte of Londō: and there ben wedded to the kȳg with grete solempnite and worship. and he held a solempne fest. and he weryd a crowne of golde. ād the quene weryd also an othir And seint Dunston a morwe came [Page] vnto the king in to the chambre and fonde the kyng a bedde: ād the quene also ynfere And seīt dunston axed. who she was / The king answerde / this is the quene Estrilde. And the Erchebisshop seint Dunstō said that he did grete wrong & ayenst goddes wylle. to take a woman to wyfe. whos child he had take at the foustoun̄ And the quene for that word neuer after loued seynt Dunston / & notheles the good man warned thaim of that foly to lete / but his warnȳg availled littell for y e loue bitwene hem was so moch̄ / The king begate vpon this woman a sone that was kalled Eldred. and tho this chylde was vi / yere olde: the kyng hys fadre deyed. and about y e time he had regned .xvij. yere / and lyeth at Glastenbury
Of seynt Edward the martyr how Estrild hys Stepmoder lete hym quelle / for to make Eldred hyr owne sone kyng Capitulo Centesimo xiiij
ANd after this edgard regned edward his sone that he had begotē on his first wyfe that wel and nobely gouerned the lande / For he was full of alle maner of goodnesse and lad full holy lyfe / and aboue alle thīg he loued good & the holy chyrche / And the quene Estrild hys stepmoder let hym slee for enchesō to make hir owne sone Eldred king and thus was he slayne as afterward ye shull here Hit befell thꝰ on a daye that the kyng Edward went in to a wode for to playe in the south contre besides a towne that is kalled Warham. in which̄ forest was grete plente of hertes and of hȳdes. And as he had ben̄ a while there hym for to pleye. he thought vpon his brother Eldred whiche that was with his moder the quene. for his place was nigh̄ the forest: & he thought for to gon̄ thydder and visite ād see his brother / and toke with hȳ but a lyttel meyne. & went hȳ tho toward his stepmoders house: that ī that time soiourned in y e castel of Corfe. ād as he rode in the thikkenesse of the wode to aspie hys game jt befell so that he went amys ād lost his meyne that with him came / and at the last he came owte of the wode / And then̄e as he loked aboute: he sawe ther fast besides the maner that his Stepmoder dwelled in. ād thyddderward he went allon̄. And anon̄ it was told y e Quene. how that Edward the kyng was comen allone wythoute any companye. and therfor she made yoye ynowe / and thought in hys mynde how that she might don̄ that he were slain̄ as preuely as she myght And anone [Page] preuelich̄ she called to hir one of his knightes to whō she had told moche of hir coūseill bitwen̄ hem: & both they camen to y e kīg. ād courtously hē receyued: & the king told that he was comen hir to visite & also for to speke wy t Eldred his brother / The quene many tymes him thanked & hȳ prayed that he wold there abyde wy t hir all the night / The kyng saide. that he myght not: but ayene he wolde wente vnto his his folke if he might hem fynde. And whan the quene sawe that he wold nat abyde: she praied hȳ that he wold ones drinke. & he graunted hir. & anon̄ as the drinke came the quene dranke vnto the kȳg / & the kīg toke y e cuppe & set it to his mouth And in the mene tyme whiles y t he dranke the knight that was w t the quene with a knife smote euē the king vnto the herte / & there he fyll a downe dede of hys palfray vnto the erthe The quene for this dede yaf to the knight gold & syluer grete plente & of othir richesse ynowe. And the knight anon̄ as thys was don̄. he wente hȳ ouer the see / & so escaped he oute of this land. Whan this kyng Edward thus was martred / hit was in y e yere of jncarnacyō after our lord Iesu crist / ix C.lxxx yere / & he had regned xij yere & an halfe. & lyeth at Glastenbury
Of king Eldred / & how y e kīg Swyne of Denmarke helde Englond. and how Eldred that was seint edwardes brother was nat beloued in his Reaulme / And therfore he fledde into Normādie Capitulo Centesiō xv
AFter this king Edward regned Eldred his brother and seynt Dunston crouned hym king: and seynt Dunstō dyed sone afterward that he had foryeue the quene hir trespace Estrild for ēchesō that she was cause of king Edwards deth: ād seȳt Dunston had hir assoyled ād penaunce hir enioyned and she [...]yued after a chaste lyf and a clene This kȳg Eldred wedded an englissh woman ād on hir he begate Edmond Irenside: ād an othir sone that was called Edwyne: & after deyed the quene hir modre. And in that tyme came in to englād Swyn that was king of Dē marke for to chalenge and conquer all that hys auncestres had before that tyme. and so he conquered and had it all at his a [...]ȳg For the good erle Cutbert of lyndes [...]y and all the peple of northū berland / ād all moost all the grete lordes of england helde wyth Swyne that was Kyng of Denmark / for as moch̄ as they loued not kȳg Eldred for encheson that [Page] hys good brother Edward was slayne falsely for encheson of hȳ / & therfore no man sette but littel by him / Wherfore kyng Swyne had all his wille and toke alle the land & Eldred the king fledde tho into normandie. & so spake to the duke Rychard that the duke him yaf his suster emma to wyfe vpō the whyche he begate two sones: that one was called alured & that othir Edward: And whā Swyn had conquered all the lād. he regned nobely / and lyued but xv. yere. & deyed & lyeth at yorke
¶How king Eldred came ayene from Normādye: & how knoght the Danoys regned: & of the werre bitwene him & Edmond Irē side Capitu / cxvi.
AFter the deth of Swyne y t was a danoys Knoght his sone dwelled ī englōd and wolde haue be kȳg / & tho came ayen̄ Eldred oute of normandye with moche peple & w t a strō ge meyne that knoght durst not abyde but fley thens into dēmarke. The kȳg Eldred had ayen̄ his reaulme & helde so grete lordship that he began to destroye all thaī that had helpen Swyn that was a danoys ayenst him And afterward came ayen̄ this knoght frō Dēmarke with a grete power so that king Eldred durst not wyth him fight. but fledde fro thens in to london (punctel) & ther helde him Tho came Knoght & him besieged so long tyll king eldred deyed in y e cyte of london / & lyeth at seȳt Paulus. & he regned ix. iere
Of kyng Knoght cap. cxvij.
AFter the deth of thys Eldred Knoght that was a danoys began tho for to regne· but Edmond jrenside that was kīg eldredis sone by his first wife. ordeyned a grete hoost & began to werre vpon king knoght: and so he dyd many tymes & ofte / & the werre was so stronge ād so hard that wōder it was to wyte: And the quene ēme that dwelled tho at Westmynstre had grete drede of hir two sones of y e werre alured & edward lest thei shold be defoilled and misdone thurgh this werre / wher fore she sente hē ouer see in to Normādye to y e duke Rychard hir vncle / & ther they dwelled in saufte & pees longe time: Thys edmond jrenside and knoght werred strōgely to gedre. but at the last thei were accorded in this maner that thei shold depart the reaulme bitwen̄ hē: and so they dydē / & after they becamē good frendes & so wel loued that they becamē sworne bretherē: ād so wel loued to gedre as they had be bretheren geten of o body & of one modery borne
How king Edmōd jrenside traitoursly [Page] was slayn̄ thurgh a traitour. that was called Edrick of stratton Capit / Cxviij.
ANd after / tho regned kȳg Edmōd Irenside & Knoght the danoys / but thꝰ it befel afterward that in the same yere that they were accorded ād so moche loued to gedre: wherfor a false thef traitour had ēuye vnto the loue that was bytwene hē & frendship / whos name was Eldryk of straton· that was a grete lord & was Edmond jrēsides mā & of him helde he all the lāde that he had / & notheles he thought to betraie his lord: ād make knoght king of the land. in intent richely to ben̄ avaūced & with hȳ be wel beloued. Wherfore he prayed hys lord Edmond jrenside vpō a day with him for to eten & to dwelle. & the kȳg courtously him graūted. & to him came at hys prayer. & at mete the king was serued ryally with dyuerse metes & drinkes. ād whā night came that he shold go to bedde. the king toke his owne meyne & wente in to chābre: & as he loked aboute: he saw a wōder fayr jmage & wel made & in semblant as it were an archier wyth a bowe bent in his hond: & in the bowe a fyne arwe / Kȳg Edmōd went tho nerre to beholde it better what it might ben̄ & anon̄ the arwe him smote thurgh the bodi and ther was the king slowē For that Engyn was made to quelle his owne lord traitoursly / & whā king Edmond thus was dede & slain̄: he had not regned but x / yere. & his peple for him made grete sorwe: and his bodi they bere vnto Glastēbury: and there they hȳ ētered. And this fals traitour Edrik anone went to y e quene that was king edmondes wyfe y e wist of hir lordes deth. anone he nōme from hir. hir two sones that were fayre & yonge that hir lord had vpon hir gote / that owne was called Edward & that other edwyne & lad hem bothe with hȳ at lōdō. & toke hem to the kyng knoght y • he shold do wy t hē what his wille were. & tolde him how que [...]tely he had quelled king Edmond for encheson & loue of hȳ so that kȳg Knoght all Englond in hys power holy might haue. ¶O thow fals traitour hast thou my trew brother slayn̄ for encheson of me for he was a man that I most loued in the world / Now by mȳ hede I shal for thy trauaille you to rewarde well as thow hast deserued. & anon̄ let hȳ take & bȳd hō de & feet in maner of a traitour / & let cast hī in to Thamyse: and in this maner the false traitour ended his lyfe: The kyng nomme y e two children & toke hē to the Abbot of Westmynster / to warde & to kepe till he wist what was best with hem to done
How Kyng Knoght sent kyng Edmondes sones bothe in Denmarke for to flee / & how they were saued Capitulo / cxix /
HIt bebell sone afterward that kȳg Knoght had al the lande in his hande / & spoused the quene emme thurgh consent of his Baronage: for she was a fayre woman. y t was Eldredis wyfe: & the dukes suster of Normandie. & they leued to gedre with moche loue as reson wolde / The king axed vpon a day coū seyll of the quene. what was best for to done wy t the sones that were Edmōd Irēsides / Syr said she they be the right heires of the lād & if they lyuen they wyl you doo moche sorwe with werre. ād therfore let sent hem in to a straunge land a ferre to somme man that may hem defoille & destroie: The kīg anone let calle a danoys that was called Walgar & commaū ded him that he shold lede the ij. children in to Denmarke / & so do & ordeyn̄ for hem that neuer they herde moo tydinges of hem, Syr said walgar: gladly your cōmaū dement shall be done: & toke the two children & led hem in to Den / marke: ād for as moch̄ as he saw that the two chyldren were wonder faire & also meke. he had of hē grete pyte & routh. & wold not hē slee. but led hē to the kyng of Hū gerj for to noryce / for this walgar was wel be knowen with the kīg ād wel beloued▪ Anone the kyng axed whens the chyldren weren: & Walgare told him ād said they were the right heires of Englōd / & ther men wold hem destroye / & therfore syr to you they becomen mercy and helpe for to seche. and for soth if they mowe lyuen your men they shull becomen. and of yow they shull holde all hir land The kyng of Hungery hem vnderfenge with mochel honour: & lete hē worthely to be kepte / And thus it befell afterward that Edwyne the yonge brother deyed. & Edward the elder drother liued a fair man & a stronge & a large of body & gētyl & curtoys of ꝯdiciōs So that all men hȳ loued & thys edward in the cronycles is called amonges englisshmen Edward the oute lawe And when he was made knight the kinges doughter of Hungery so moche hȳ loued for his goodnesse ād his fairnesse that she made & called hym hyr derling: The kyng that was hir fadre perceyued wel the loue / that was bitwene hē two: & had none heir but that doughter / ād the kyng vouched hys doughter to no man as wel as he dyd to hī that she loued & he hir. and he yaf hir vnto hy [...] [...]ith good will And Edward hir spoused with moch̄ honour / The king of Hongerye [Page] sent after all his baronage & made a solempne fest & a ryche weddyng / ād made all men to vnderstonde that he shold be king whā he were dede / and therfor all they maden grete ioye & of that tidinge they were full glad: Thys Edward begate vpon this lady a sone y t was called Edgar belyng: ād afterward a doughtere that was called Margarete / that aft (er)ward was quene of Scotland. & by the king of Scotlād that was called Mancholyn: she had a doughter that was called maude / that quene was of Englond thurgh kȳg Henry that was the first sone of the conquerour that hir wedded. ād he begate on hir a doughtir y t was called maude. that aft was Empresse of Almaigne: & of this Maude came the kȳg of Englōd that vnto this day is kalled Hē ry the Empresses sone: & yet had this Edward an other doughter bi his wife that was kalled Cristian & she was a nonne
How kyng Knoght that was a proude man conquered norwey: & how he became afterward meke and milde Capitulo C.xx
NOw haue ye herde of Edmondes sones with Irē side that kīg Knoght wē de that had bene dede as he had commaunded walgare before (punctel) & this knoght had in hys hand all Englond and Denmarke. & after that he went to Norwey that lād to conquere / but the kyng of the lande that was called Elaf came with his peple & wende his lande well haue kept & defended ād so there he faught with him. tyll at the last he was slayne in that bataille / and tho this knoght nōme all that land in hys hande. And whan he had cōquered Norwey / & takē feautes ād homages ther. he came after ayen̄ into Englōd and helde him selfe so grete a lord that hȳ thought in all the world hys pere no man was. & became so proude & hauten that it was a grete wonder And so it befel vpō a day as he had herd messe at wesmynstre: & wolde haue gone into his palays / the wawes of y e Thamyse so swyftely ayēst him camē that all moost they touched hys fette. Tho said the kȳg w t a proude hert. I commaūde the water to turne ayen̄ or elles I shal make you turne. The wawes for his commaundemēt wold not spare But flowed ouer in hye more ād more / The kīg was so proude of hert that he wold not flee the water: but abode stille in the water. and bete the water with a smale yerde: that he helde in his honde. & commaunded the water that it sholde wēte no ferther. but al for his commaundement the water [Page] wolde not cese but euer wax more and more an hyghe so that the king was all vete & stode in y e water. & whan he saw that he had abyde ther to lōg / & the water wolde no thing don̄ his commaūdement: tho sone he withdrowe hȳ & tho stode he vpon a stone & helde his hondes an high̄ & said this wordes in heryng all peple This god that maketh the see thꝰ aryse an hygh̄. he is king of all kinges. & of mightes most: & I am a caytyf & a man dedely / & he may neuer deye· & alle thing doth his cō maūdement & to him is obediēt: To y e god I praye that he be my warrant / For I knowelech̄ me a caityf feble & of no poer. & therfore I wyll go to Rome wythoute any lettyng my wykkednesse to punysshe & me to amende For of that god j clayme my land for to hold and of non̄ othir And anon̄ made redy his heir / & him selfe to Rome withoute any lettyng. ād bi the waye dyd he many almesse dedes. & when he came to Rome also And whā he had ben there & for his synnes don̄ penaunce / he came ayen̄ into Englōd: & becam̄ a good man & an holy: & lefte alle maner pride & stoutenesse & liued an holy lyfe all his lyfe after: and made two abbeys of seȳt Benet. owne in Englōd: & that other in Norwey: for asmoch̄ as he loued specyaly seint Benet before all other seintes. & moche he loued also seint Edmond the kyng & ofte he yaf grete yeftes to the hows. wherfor it was made rych̄: & whē he had regned xx yere. he deyed & lyeth at wynchestre
¶Of kyng Harold that leuer had gone ī fote thā ryde an hors Capitulo Cxxi
THis Knoght of whō we haue spoke before: had ij. sones bi his wife Emme / y e one was kalled Hardeknoght: and that othir Harold: & he was so lyght of fote that mē kalled hȳ communely Harolde harefoot / And this Harlod had no thyng the condicions & maner of kyng Knoght his fadre. for he sette but littel prys of cheualrye ne of curtoisye nothir of worship. but only bi his owne wyll And he became so wykked that he exyled his moder Emme / & she wente oute of the lād in to Flaūdres. & there she dwelled with the Erle / wherfore after that tyme was neuer good loue bitwen̄ him & his brother / for hys brother hȳ hated dedely / And whan he had regned ij yere and a lyttel more / he deyed & & lyeth at westmynstre
Of kyng Hardeknoght that was haroldes brother Capitulo cxxij
[Page] After this Harlot harefoot regned his brother Hardeknoght a noble knight and stronge ād a worthy (punctel) & moche loued cheualrie ād all maner goodnesse / And whan this Hardeknoght had regned a littel while. he let vncouer his brother Harold & smite of his hede that was his brother at westmynster / & let cast y e hede in to a gonge & y e body in to Thamise. ād after came fisshers and toke the body with hyr nettes bi nyght: & bere hȳ to seȳt clementes chirch̄ and ther hȳ beried. And in thys maner auēged him hardeknoght of his brother for ī none othir maner he might be auenged / Thys kyng Hardeknoght was so large yeuer of mete & drīke that his tables were sette euery day thre times full with ryall metes and drynkes for hys owne meyne & for all that camen vnto his court to be rychely serued of ryall metes / And this kȳg Hardeknoght sent after ēme his moder: & made hir come ayen̄ into englōd / for she was driuē oute of ēglōd whiles that Harlod harefoot regned thurgh coūseyll of the erle Godewyne that tho was the gretest lord of englōd next the king. & most myght doo what he wold thurgh all englond thurgh his commaūdemēt: For as moche as he had spoused the doughter of the good king knoght that was a danoys. whiche doughter he had bi his first wyfe. And whē this quene was driuen out of englond and came to y e erle of flaū dres that was kalled Baldwyne his cosyn / he sonde hyr there alle thyng that hyr nedeth vnto y e tyme that she went ayen̄ in to England that y e king Hardeknoght had sent for hir that was hir sone and made hir come ayen̄ wy t mochel honour. This kyng Hardeknoght whā he had regned v. yere: he deyed and lyeth at westmȳ stre
Of the bilonye that y e danoys dyden to the englysshmen wherfor frō that tyme after was no Danoys made king of englōd Capitulo Cxxiiij
AFter the deth of this kȳg hardeknoght for as moche as he had no thȳg begoten of his body. the erles & barons assembled & made counceill & neuer more after to nomā that was a Danoys though he were neuer so grete a man amōges hē shold neuer be king of Englond for y e despite y t y e danoys had don̄ to Englisshmē. for euer more beforne hand if it were so y e Englisshmen & danoys hapetē to mete vpō a brygge / y e englisshmē shold n [...]t be so hardy to mene ne stere a foot: but stand still till y e danois were passed forth And more ouer if the gentyll englisshmē had not bowyd doune hir hedes for to do [Page] reuerence vnto the Danoys they shold haue bene bet ād defouled / ād suche maner despytes & vilainye dyden the danoys to our englisshmē / wherfore they were driuen oute of the land after the tyme that kȳg Hardeknoght was dede. for they had no lord that hē might maynten
¶In this maner voyded the Danoys englōd that neuer they came ayen̄. The erles and the Barons by hir commune assent ād counseill senten vnto Normādye for to seche the two bretherē Alured ād edward that were dwellȳg with the duke Rychard that was his eme [...] in entēt for to crowne alured the elder Brother and hym make kīg of ēglōd / & of this thīg to make an ende The erles & the barons made hir oth̄. but the erle Godeweyne of Westsex falsely & traitoursly thought to slee the two bretherē anon̄ as they shold come into englond / in intēt for to make his sone Harold kyng. the whiche sone he had begotē vpon his wyfe that was kīg knoghtes doughter that was a danoys: ād this Godewyne preuely wēt him self in to southamptō for to mette there y e two bretherē whā that they shold come to lōd. & thꝰ it befell that the messagiers that wēt into Normādie fonde not but oneli Alured y t was y e elder brother for edward his brother was gon̄ to Hungerye for to speke w t hys cosyn edward the oute lawe that was edmondes sone with the Irenside: The messagiers told and said to Alured how the erles and the barōs of englōd sent after hȳ that he boldely shold come in to englond and vnderfenge the Reaulme (punctel) for kīg hardeknoght was dede (punctel) & alle the danoys were dryuen owt of the land
How Godewyne the fals traytour toke Alured vpō G [...]desdoune whan he came fro Normādie for to ben̄ king of englond. & dyd hym be martred in the Ile of ely. Capit. Cxxiiij
WHan Alured herde thys tydinge· he thanked god: & went in to a shyp wy t all the hast that he might & passed y e see / and arryued at sowthāpton. ther that Godeweyne y e traitour was: And tho this traitour saw that he was comē. he welcomed hym ād vnderfeng hȳ wyth mochel ioye. and said that he wold lede hym to London there that all the barons of Englōd him abode. for to make him king / and so they went in hir wey toward lō don. And whan they camen vpō Gyldesdoune: tho said y e traitour Godeweyne to alured: take kepe aboute yow both on the lyfte side [Page] & on y e right side & of all ye shul be kȳg [...] of such̄ an hondred more Now for soth said Alured j behote you & if j be king I shal ordeyn̄ & make such̄ lawes wher of god & all folk shall theȳ hold wel payed / Nowe had the traitour cōmaū ded all hys men that were wy t hȳ that whan they were comen vpō Gildesdone that thei shold slee all that were in Alureds companie that came with hȳ from normā dye. & after that take Alured and lede hȳ in to the Ile of Ely. & ther put oute both̄ his eyen of his hede. and afterward bring him vnto the deth. And they dydē so: for they quelled all the cōpanie that xij. were in nombre of gentil men that were comen wy t Alured frō normandye. And after tokē they Alured & lad hȳ into the Ile of ely & put his eyen owte of his hede: & kutte vp hys wombe & tokē vp y e chief of his boels / & put a stake in to the grounde: ād an ende of the boels ther to fastned / & with nedles of jren prikked the good child & so made him go aboute the stake: till that all hys bowelles were drawē all owte / and so deyed ther Alured thurgh treson of the Erle Godewyne: Whan the lordes of englōd had herd & wist how Alured that shold haue ben̄ her king was put vn to y e deth thurgh the fals traitour Godwine. they were all wōder wroth. & swore amō ges thaȳ bi god & bi hys holy names y t he shold deye a more werse deth than dyd Edryk of stratton̄ that had betraied his lord edmōd jrenside. & they wold haue put hȳ to y e deth / but the thef & traytour fley thēnes into Dēmarke & ther he helde him iiij yere & more / and lost all his land in englōd /
¶Of seint Edward the cōfessour that was Aluredes brother how he was king of englōd Ca. cxxv /
Ad when this was done all the barōs of englōd senten an othir tyme in to normādie for that Edward shold comen in to england wy t mochel honour / And this edward in his chyldehode loued almyghty god & him drad. & in honeste & clennesse lad his lyfe and hated y e synnes as y e deth. And whā he was crouned & anoynted w t a ryall power he foryate not his good maners & cōdicions that he fyrst vsed. ād foryate not all good customs for no maner honour: ne for non̄ rychesse. ne for no maner hygh̄nesse But euer more & more yafe he hȳ to goodnesse & wel loued god & al mekenesse: & loued god & the holy chirch̄ passyng all maner thyng: and poure men also / & hem loued & helde as thei had ben̄ his owne bretherē / & to hem ofte he yaf grete almesse with a good wylle
¶Of the first specialte that god shewed for seint Edwardes loue. by his lyfe Capit / cxxvi.
It befel on a day as he wēt from the chyrche of Westmynstre & had herde messe of seynt Iohan euāgelist / for as moche as he loued more specialy seint Iohan euangelist after god & our lady. than he dyd any othir seynt: and so there cam to hym a pylgrym & prayed him for the loue of god & of seynt Iohan euangelist some good him for to yeue / And the kȳg preuely toke his rȳ ge of his fynger that no mā perceyued it & yafe it vnto the pilgrȳ / & he vnderfenge it & went thēnes Thys kȳg Edward made all the good lawes of Englond that yet ben̄ moost holden: & was so merciable & so full of pyte that nomā might be more
How the Erle Godewyne came ayen̄ into Englond & had ayene all his land. and afterward seint Edward wedded his doughter Capitulo Cxxvij /
WHan the erle Godewyne that was dwellyng in dē marke had mochel herde of the goodnesse of kyng edward and that he was full of mercy ād of pyte. ād thought that he wold go ayen̄ into Englōd. for to seche & to haue grace of hym. & that he might haue his lād ayen in pees. & arayed him as moch̄ as he myght & put him toward the see ād came into Englōd to Lōdō there that the kyng was at that tyme / & alle the lordes of englond & helde a parlament / Godewyne sent to hem that were his frendes: ād were the moost grettest lordes of the land & prayed hē to be sech̄ the kynges grace for him. ād that he wold his pees & his land graunte him Hys enemies ladden hȳ before the king to seche grace. And anone as the king hȳ saw: he appelled him of treson. & of the deth of Alured his brother. and these wordes vnto hȳ said. O traitour Godwyne I y t appelle that thow hast betraied & slayn̄ my brother Alured: Certes sir said Godwyne saue your grace & your pees and your lordship j neuer hȳ betraied ne slew him: & therfore I put me in reward of the court / Now fair lordes sayd the king ye that bien my lieges Erles & Barons of the land that here ben all assembled. full well ye haue herd mȳ appelle & the āswere also of Godwyne: & therfore j wyll that ye award & do right The erles and the barōs tho drowē hem all to gedre for to done this award bi hem selfe. ād so thei spekē dyuersely amonges hem For somme said / there was neuer alience bi homage / sermēt. seruyce / ne by lordshyp bytwene [Page] Godwyne and Alured / for whyche thing they might him drawe & at the last they devised & demed that he shold put him in the kynges mercj all to gedres. Tho spake the erle Leuerich of Couētre a good man to god & to all y e world / and told his resō in this maner: & sayd / the erle Godewyne is the best frended man of englōd after the king & well might it not bene gain said / that withoute coūceill of Godewyne Alured was neuer put to the deth. wherfor I award as touching my part that hȳ self & his sone / & euery of vs xij / erles that ben̄ his frendes wente before the king charged with as moche gold and syluer as we mowe bere bytwene our handes & praye the kīg to foryeue his euell will to the erle Godewyne ād receyue his homage & his lād yelde ayen̄ And alle they accorded vnto that award: & camē in this maner as is aboue said: euery of hem with gold ād syluer as moche as they might bere bitwene hyr handes before the king / and they saydē y e forme & the maner of hyr accord. and of hir award. The king wolde nat hem gayn saye / but for as moche as they ordeined he graū ted & confermed. And so was the Erle Godewyne accorded wy t the king· and had ayene all his land. And afterward he bere hȳ so wel and so wisely that the king loued him wonder moch̄ and wyth hȳ was full pryue And within a littel tyme the kȳg loued hȳ somoche that he spoused Edwyne hys doughter & made hir quene. And notheles for all that the king had a wife he lyued euer more in chastite & in clēnesse of body withouthe any flesshli dede doȳg wy t his wyfe. ād the q̄ne also in hir halfe lad an holy lyfe ij yere ād deyed: And afterward the kȳg lyued all his lyfe withoute any wyfe. The king yafe the erledome of Oxenford to Harold that was edwynes sone and made him erle: and so well they were beloued bothe fader & he / & so pryue wy t the kȳg both the fadre and the sone: that they might done what thȳg they wold by right For ayēst right he wold no thingh done for no maner man: so good & trewe he was of conscience. & therfore our lord Ihesu cryst grete specyall loue to him shewed.
How kyng Edward saw Swyne kyng of Denmarke drenched in the see / in the sacrament as he stode and herd his masse Capitulo Cxxviij
IT befell vpō wythsōday as kīg Edward herde his masse in the grete chirche of Westmȳster right at the leuacion of Ihesu cristes body: ād as [Page] all mē were gadred in to the chirche ād camē nere the auter the sacrȳge for to see: The king his hō des lyft vpō hyghe / & a grete laughter toke vp (punctel) wherfore alle that aboute hȳ stode gretely wōdred. And after masse they axed why the kynges laughter was / Fayre lordes sayd he. the kȳg Wyne the yonger / that was kyng of Denmarke came into the see with all hys power for to haue comen in to Englōd vpon vs to haue werred / & I sawe hym ād alle his folk drenched in the high̄ see. & all this saw I in the eleuacyō of Iesu cristes body bytwene the prestes hō des / ād I had therof so moch̄ ioye that I myghte nat my laughter witholde. And the Erle Leuerich which̄ besydes hym stod at the leuacyon / openly sawe the fourme of brede turne into a lykenesse of a childe yōge: & toke vp his ryght honde / & fyrst blessed the king / ād afterward the Erle. and the erle anon̄ turned hym toward y e kȳg to make him see that holy sighte: Tho said the kȳg / Syr erle quod he I see well that ye see. thanked be god that j haue honoured my god my sauuour vysibly Ihesu cryst in fourme of mā. whos name be blisshed in all worldes. am̄
¶How the rynge that seint Edward had yeue to a poure pilgrȳ for the loue of god & of seint Iohā Euangelist. came ayen̄ vnto kȳg Edward Cap. Cxxix
THis noble man seint edward regned viij yere / ād thus it befell vpō a tyme beforne er he deyed that two mē of englōd were gon in to the holi land. ād hadden done hir pilgremage and were goȳg ayen̄ to hyr owne contre / And as they went in the wey they mette a pilgrime that courtoisly hem sa [...]ued. & axed of hem in what land & in what contre they were borne: and thei sayden in Englond. Tho axed he who was the kȳg of englond. ād they answered ād said: the good kīg edward / Fair frēdes tho said the pylgrim: when that ye come ayene in to your contre / I praye yow that ye wyll goo vnto y e kīg edward and ofte tymes him grete in myn name / and ofte tymes thanke him of his grete curtosye that he to me hath don̄ / & nameli for the rynge that he yaf me whē he had herd messe at westmȳster / for seynt johannes loue euāgelist: and delyueryd tho the rȳg vnto the two pilgrymes: & said j praye you for to gone & bere this ring / & take it to the king Edward ād telle him that I sent it hym. and a full rycher yefte I wol hȳ yeue For vpon the xij daye he shal come to me: and euer more dwelle in blisse withoute ende: Syr sayd [Page] the pylgrimes. what man ben ye and in what place is yowr dwellyng. Fair frendes sayd he: I am Iohan the Euangelist: and am dwellyng wyth almyghty god: & your kyng Edward is my frēde / and j loue him speciali. for encheson that he hath euer liued in clē nesse / and is a clene mayd And I praye yow my message all for to done as I to you haue said. Whā seint Iohan Euangelist had thꝰ hem charged sodenly he voyded owte of hyr sight
¶The pylgrimes tho thanked almighty god. and went forth in hyr way. And whā they had gon̄ two or thre myles: they begonne to wex wery. ād sate a downe hē for to rest. and so they fyll a slepe. And whā they had slept well. the one of hem awoke and lyfte vp his hede: and loked aboute & said vnto hys felawe. aryse vp and lete vs go in our waye / What sayd the one felawe to that othir: wher be we now / certes said that other It semeth me that this is not the same cōtre that we laid vs in for to reste & slepe For we were from jherusalem but thre miles. They nommen vp hir hondes & blissed hem and went forth in hyr waye. ād as they went in hyr way / thei sawe shepeherdes goȳg with hyr shep. that spaken none othir langage but Englissh / Leue frendes said one of the pylgrimes. What contre is this. ād who is lord therof / And one of the shepeherdes āswered. This is the contre of Kēt in Englond / ād of the whych̄ the good kyng Edward is lord / The pylgrimes thāked god almyghti and seint Iohan euangelist. and went forth in hyr waye ād came to Canterbury / and fro thens in to London. and there they founden the kyng Edward. and tolde hym all fro the begynnyng vnto the ende: as moche as seint Iohā had hem charged: and of alle thī [...]ges how they spedde by the way▪ and toke the ryng to y e kyng Edward / and he vnderferdeng it ād thanked god almighty and seint Iohan euangelist. And tho made he hym redy from day to day: for to wente owte of his lyfe whē god wold for hym sende
¶How seint Edward deyed on the xij. daye Capitulo Cxxx
ANd after if befell thus in cristesmasse. eue as the holy man Edward was at goddes seruyce matynes for to here of that hygh̄ feste (punctel) he becam̄ ful seke. & in the morwe endured with moche payne the masse for to here / and after let hym be lad into hys chambre: ther for to reste hym. but in to his halle amonges [Page] his barons ād his knightes might he not come hem for to cō fort & solace as he was wonet for to done at that worthy fest. wher for all hir myrth & comfort amō ges hem all that were in the hall. was turned into care & sorwe: for encheson that they dred for to lese hir good lord the kȳg: And vpō seint johannes day ewāgelist tho that came next / y e king vnderfēge his ryghtes of the holy chirch̄ / as falleth to euery cristen man. and abode the mercy & the will of god: & tho he let the two pilgrimes before him come & yaf hem rich̄ yeftes & betoke hem vnto god / And also the abbot of westmynster he let before hȳ come / & toke hȳ that rȳge in honour of god & seȳt marie & of seint Iohā euāgelist: And the abbot toke & put it among other reliques: so that it is at westmynstre (punctel) & euer more shal be: and so lay the king sike till the xij euē / & tho deyed y e good king Edward at westmynstre / ād ther he lyeth: for whos loue god hath shewed many fair myracles. And thys was in the yere of Incarnaciō of our lord Ihesu crist Mlxv yere: & after he was translated & put into the shryne thrugh y e noble martyr seint Thomas of Cāterbury.
How Harolde that was Godewynes sone was made king / ād how he scaped fro the duke of bretaigne Capi. cxxxi
WHan seint Edward was gone oute of this world & was gone to god ād worthe [...] entered as it aperteigned to suche a lord for to be. the barōs of the lād wold haue had Edward Helingꝰ sone to Edward the oute lawe that was Edmōdes Irē sides sone to be king: for asmoche as he was most kyndest kynges blode of the reaulme / But haroldes sone thurgh the erle Godewine & the strength of his fader Godewyne / & thurgh othir grete lordes of the Reaulme that were of his kyn & vnto hȳ sybbe seised all Englond to his hande. and anone let croune this forsaid Harold king after the enterement of seȳt edward / This king Harold that was Godewynes sone the seconde yere after that seynt Edward was dede. wolde haue gone in to Flaundres. but he was dryuen thurgh tēpest of the see in the cō tre of Pountyfe / and there was he taken and brought to the duke wiyllyam of Normādye. And this Harold wende tho that the duke william wolde haue ben̄ auenged vpon hym: for encheson that the erle Godewyne whyche was Haroldꝰ fadre had let quelle Alured that was seint Edwardes brother. and prȳcipaly for encheson that y e forsaid alured was [Page] quene emmes sone that was rychardys moder duk of Normandye / that was ayell to y e duk William. And notheles whan y e duk william had Harold in pryson & vnder his power / for as moch̄ as this Harold was a noble knight wyse & worthy of body: & that his fadre were accorded with y e good king Edward. & therfore he wolde not misdone hym. but all maner thinges that bitwene hē were spokē and ordeyned / Harolde bi his good wille swore vpō a boke & vpon the holy saȳtes that he sholde spouse & wedde duke wylliams doughter after the deth of seint Edward: & that he shold besyly done his dever for to kepe ād saue the Reaulme of Englōd / to the profyte & avauntage of duck wylliam: And whā Harold had thus made his oth̄ vnto duk william / he let him go and yafe hym many riche yeftes / ād he tho wēt thēnes & came in to ēglōd: & anone dyd in thys maner whā seynt Edward was dede. & as a mā falsely forswore he let croune hȳ kīg of englōd / & falsely brak the couenant that he had made before w t duke william / wherfore the duke was with him wonder wroth. ād swore that he wolde vpō him ben̄ auēged what euer to him might come therof. And anon̄ duk william let assēble a grete hoost & came in to Englōd for to auēge hȳ vpon Harold & to conquere y e lād if that he might. And in the same yere that Harold was crouned: harolde harestrēge kyng of Denmarke arryued in to scotlād / and thought to haue ben̄ king of Englōd. & he came tho in englōd and & quelled & robbed & destroyed all that he might tyll that he cam to yorke & ther he quelled many mē of armes· a thousand & an C prestes. Whā this tidȳge came to the king / he assembled a strōg power & went for to fight wy t Harold of Dēmarke. & wy t his owne hōd hȳ quelled. & the Danoys were discō fyted: ād tho they that were left a lyue with moch̄ sorwe fleddē thēs to hir shippes. & thus kȳg harold of englōd quelled kyng harold of Dēmarke.
¶How Williā bastard duke of normādye came into englōd. & quelled kȳg Harold: Capitulo Cxxxij
And whā this bataill was done: Harold became so proud & wold no thing ꝑt w t his peple of thyng that he had goten. but held it all toward him self / wherfore the moost partie of his peple were wroth & frō hȳ departed. so y t only w t hȳ left no mo but his soudyours / And vpon a day as he sate at mete: a messagier came to hȳ ād sayd that william bastard duke of Normādye was arryued in Englond with a [Page] grete hoost & had taken al the lād aboute Hastynge. & also myned the castell: Whā the kīg had herd this tydinge / he went thidder wy t a lyttell peple w t all the hast that he might / for a littel peple was w t him left And whan he cam̄ thidder he ordeyned his mē for to yeue bataille to the duke William / but the duk axed him of these iij / thinges / if that he wold haue his doughter to wyfe as he had made and swore his othe ād behight / or that he wold holde the land of hȳ in truage· or that he wold determine this thīg thurgh bataill This Harold was a proude mā and a stoute. ād trustyd wonder moche vpon hys strength̄ & faught with the duke and with hys peple but Harold & his men were discomfyted in this bataill: ād him self was ther slayne. ād thys bataille was ended at tonbrigge in the seconde yere of hys regne. vpon seint Calixtes day / And he lyeth at Walthā
Of kyng william bastard. & how he gouerned him well & wysely: & of the werre bitwene him ād the king of Fraūce Ca. cxxxiij
WHā william bastard duke of Normandye had cō quered all the land· vpon Cristmasse day tho next swynge / he let croune hī king at Westmȳ ster: and was a worthy king. and yaf to Englisshmen largeli lōdes and to his knightes. And afterward he went ouer the see & cam̄ into Normādie and ther dwelled he a whyle. & in the secōde yere of his regne he came ayen̄ into Englond: & brought wy t him Maude his wyfe / ād let croune hir quene of Englond on withsonday And tho anone after y e kīg of Scotlād that was called Mancolȳ began to strife & werre wy t the duke william / & king Williā ordeyned hȳ toward Scotland with his men bothe bi land and by the see for to destroye the kyng Mancolȳ. but they were accorded: And the kȳg of scotland became his man and helde all his lād of him And kȳg william receyued of him his homage & came ayen̄ in to Englōd. And whan king william had be king xvij yere. maude the quene deyed. on whō king william had begoten many fair children / that is for to seyne Robert Curthuse. Willyam le Rous. Rychard also the whiche that deyde / Hēry beauclerk. ād Maude also the whiche that was y e erles wyfe of Boleynes / and othir foure doughteres And after his wyfes deth began ther grete debate bytwen̄ hȳ and the kyng of Fraūce Philippe: but at the last thei were accorded And tho dwelled the kyng of Englōd in the lād of normādye & [Page] no man him werred. and he also vpon no man longe tyme / And the king of Fraunce said vpon a day in skorne of kyng Wylliam: that king wylliam had longe tyme lyued in chilhed and longe time had rested hȳ / And thys worde came to the kyng of Englond ther that he lay in Normādye at Rouen. ād for this word was he euyll payd and ryght wroth toward the kinge of Fraunce: and swore by god that whan he were aryse of his gysin he wold lyghte a thowsand candeles to the kȳg of Fraunce. And anone he let assemble a grete hoost of normandye and also of Englysshmen / ād in the begynnyng of Heruest he came in to Fraūce and brend all the townes ther that he came by thurgh all the cōtre: and robbed ād dyd all the euell that he might thurghoute all Fraunce: and at the laste he brēde the cyte of Mā dos· and commaunded his peple for to bere strawe. and as moche as they might to brenne / and hȳ self helpe therto all that he might wy t a good wylle. And there was grete hete of the fyre whiche was so grete. ād of y e sunne y t tho was wonder hoot: that all stuffed hȳ selfe became and felle in to a grete sekenesse: And whan he sawe that he was so stronge seke / he ordeyned and assygned all normā dye vnto Robert Curthous hys sone. and all englond to William the Rous: and bequath to Henry beauclerk all his tresour. And tho he thus had done: he vnderfenge all the sacramēts of the holy chyrche. ād deyde in the xxij yere of hys regne. ād lyeth at Caan in normandye
¶Of kyng Wylliam Rous / that was wylliā Bastardes sone that destroyed townes and houses of Religyon / for to make the newe forest. Capitulo Cxxxiiij.
ANd after this Williā bastard regned his sone wil [...]iam the Rows. and this william was a wōder contraryous man to god and to the holy chyrche: ād let amende and make the towne of Cardeys. that the paynyms had destroyed. Thys king williā destroyed y e holy chirche: & all his poscessions in what part he might hē fynde And ther for there was so grete debate bytwene hȳ & the Erchebysshop of Canterbury Ancelme: for encheson that he vndernāme hym of hys wykkednesse that he destroied the holy chyrch̄ / And for encheson ther of: the king Wylliam to him bare grete wrath. ād for that cause he exylled hym owte of the lande. & the erchebisshop tho wēt to the courte of Rome and there dwelled he with the [...]ope [Page] And this Kyng made the newe forest and cast and destroyed xxvi tounes ād lxxx houses of religyō. all for to make his forest lenger & bredder / & became wonder glad & proude of his wode ād of his forest and of the wilde bestys y t were therȳ that is was mervaill for to wyt. so that men kalled hȳ keper of wodes & of pastures: ād the lēger that he lyued the more wikked that he became / both̄ to god / and to the holy chirche and to all his men And this king let make the grete hall at westmynster. so vpon a day of witsonday he helde therin his first feste ād he loked aboute & said. that the halle was to littel by the haluendel. And at the last he became so cōtrarious that all thing that plesed god displesed hym / & alle thyng that god loued he hated dedely. ād so it befell that he dremed and met vpō a night a lyttel er y t he deyed. that he was let blode: and bled a grete quantyte of blode: and a streme of blode lept an hygh̄ toward heuen more than an C vethemen / & the clernesse of the day was tourned all in to a derkenesse / and the firmament also And whan he awoke he had grete drede / so that he ne wist what to done / and tolde hys dreme to all the meyny of his counseill / ād said that he had grete drede. & supposed that hym was some myschaunce to come. And in the seconde nyght before a monke dremed of the houshold that the kyng went into a chyrch̄ with moche peple / and he was so proude that he despised all the peple that was wyth him. ād he toke the ymage of the crucifixe. and shamefully bote he it wy t his teth / and the Crucifixe mekely suffrid all that he dyd. but the kyng as a wode man rent of the armes of the Crucifixe ād cast it vnder hys fete / and defowled it. and threwe it all a brode / And a grete flamme of fyre came out of the crucifixes mouth: of which̄ dreme many man had grete mervaille / ¶The good man that had dremed thys dreme / had told it to a knyght that tho was moost pryue with the king of alle men: and this forsayde knyght was kalled Hamundes sone / ād he tolde the dreme to the kyng / and sayd that it shold betoken other thyng thā good. Neuertheles when the kȳg this herd: he laughed ād sette lyttel therof: & thought that he wold gone hūte & pleye in the forest. ād his men hym counseilled that he shold nat that day ne for no maner thing come in y e wode. so that he bode at home before mete: but anon̄ as he had eten: no mā myght hym lette that he nolde gone to y e wode for to haue his disporte And so it befell that one of hys knightes the whyche was kalled [Page] Walter tyrell / wolde haue shot to an hert ād his arwe glanced vpō a braunce & trough misauenture smote the king to the hert / & so he fell downe dede to y e grounde withoute any worde spekȳg & so ended he his lyfe / ād it was no grete wonder for the day that he deyde he had let to ferme y e erchebisshop rich̄ of Canterburj. & xij. abbeyes also. ād euer more dyd grete destructyon to y e holy chirch̄ thurgh wrong full takyng & axinges / for no man durst with say y t he wolde haue don̄. & of hys lythernesse he wolde neuer withdrawe nothyr to amēde his lyfe / & therfore god wolde suffre him no lēger to regne in hys wykkednesse / & he had ben̄ king xiij yere & vj. wekes. ād lyeth at westmynstre
Of kȳg Henry Beauclerke. that was williā rous brother / & of the debate bitwene him ād Robbert Curthouse his brother Capitulo centesimo xxxv
ANd whā this williā rous was dede henri beauclerke his brother was made kīg for encheson that williā rous had no child begoten of his body and this Henry beauclerke was crouned king at London the iiij. daye after that hys brother was dede that is to saye the .v. day of August: And anone as Ancelmꝰ that was Erchebysshop of Canterbury that was at the court of Rome herd that wylliam Rous was dede: he came ayen̄ in to englond: & the kyng beauclerk welcomed him with mochel honour And the first yere that king Hē ri was crouned he spoused Maude that was margaretes doughter the quene of Scotlād. & y e Erchebysshop Ancelme of Canterbury wedded hē / And this kyng begate vpon his wyfe ij sones: & a doughter that is to saye Williā Richard & Maude: ād this maude was after the Empresse of Almaigne / and in the seconde yere of his regne hys brother Robert Curthouse that was duke of normandye came wy t an hugh̄ meyne into Englond for to chalēge y e lāde / but thurgh coūseill of y e wyse men of the lande they were accorded in this maner. that y e king sholde yeue the duke his brother a thousand pounde euery yere: & which̄ of hem lengest lyued sholde ben̄ others heir. and so bitwen̄ hem shold be no debate ne strife: And whan they were thus accorded / the duke went home ayen̄ in to Normandie: And when y e kȳg had regned iiij / yere: ther arroos a grete debate bitwene hym and the Erchebisshop of Canterbury ancelme: for cause that the erchebisshop wolde not graunte hī for to take taliage of chirches at hys [Page] wille: and therfore eftsones y e Erchebisshop wēt ouer the see to the court of Rome & ther dwelled he with the pope. And in the same yere the duke of Normādie came in to Englond for to speke w t hys brother: And amonge othir thȳ ges the duke of normādye foryafe to the king hys brother the forsaid thousand poūde bi yere that he sholde pay hī / And with good loue the duke wēt tho ayen̄ in to Normādye: And whan the ij yere were a gon̄ thurgh Enticemēt of the deuell and of lyther men a grete debate arose bitwen̄ the kīg & the duke / so that the kīg thurgh counseyll went ouer the see in to Normādye And whan the kyng of Englōd was comē in to Normādye / alle y e grete lordes of normandye turned to the kyng of englōd and held [...]n ayens the duke hyr owne lord and hym forsoke ād to the kyng hem yelded / ād alle the good castelles ād tounes of normādye / ād sone after was the duke taken and lad wyth the kȳg in to englond. ād the king let put the duke in to pryson. ād this was the vēgeaūce of god. for whē the duke was in the holy lād / god yafe him suche might & honowr ther / wherfore he was chosen for to ben̄ kȳg of Iherusalem. ād he wolde nat be it / but forsoke it / ād therfor he sent hym that shame & despyte for to be put ī to hys brothers pryson.
Tho seysed king Henry all normandye in to his hande ād helde it all hys lyfes tyme: And in the same yere came the bisshop Auncelme from the court of Rome in to Englōd ayen̄ / And the kyng & he were accorded.
And in the yere next comyng after. ther began a grete debate bytwene kyng Philip of Fraūce: & kyng Hēry of Englōd. Wher fore kyng Hēry wēt in to Normā dye: & the werre was ryght stronge bytwene hē two And tho deyed the kȳg of Fraūce. ād Lowys hys sone was made kyng anone after his faders deth ād tho wēt kyng Hēry ayen̄ into Englōd (punctel) & maried Maude hys doughter to Hēry the Emperour of Almaigne
Of the debate that was bitwene Kyng Lowys of Fraunce & kȳg Henry of Englōd. and how kȳg Henryes two sones were lost in the hygh see. Capitulo Cxxxvj
WHenne kyng Henry had ben̄ kȳg xvij yere / a grete debate arroos bytwene kyng Lowys of Fraunce ād kȳg Henry of Englōd. for encheson that the kyng had sent into Normādye to hys mē that they sholde ben̄ helpȳg to y e Erle of bloyes. [Page] as mochel as they might in werre ayēst the kyng of Fraūce· and that they were as redy vnto him as they wold ben vnto hyr owne lord. for ēcheson that the erle had spoused hys sustre dame Maude / for whiche encheson the kȳg Lowys kyng of Fraūce dyd moche sorwe to normādye: Wherfor the kyng of Englond was wonder wrothe. and with grete haste wēt he ouer the see wy t a grete power / and came into Normādye for to defende that land / And the werre bytwene hem lasted two yere / tyll at the last they two foughten to gedre. & y e kīg Lowys was discō fyted and vneth scaped a way w t moche peyne: ād the moste part of hys men were taken: & the kīg dyd wyth hem what hem lyked. ād somme of hem let he go freely ād somme let he put to the deth: But afterward the two kynges were accorded: And whan kyng Hēry had holy all the lād of normandye & scōfyted hys enemyes of Fraunce: he turned ayen̄ into Englōd with mochel honowr: & hys two sones William ād Rychard wolde come after hyr fadre / & went to the see with a grete cō panye of peple but er thei might come to lōde: the ship come ayēs a Roche & brake all in to pecys. & they were all drownyd that were theryn / sauf o man that was in y e same shippe the which̄ that eskaped And this was on seȳt Katerynes daye / and thees were y e names of hem that were drownyd / that is to saye Wylliam the kynges sone Rychard hys brother. the erle of Chestre. Octonell hys brother. Geiffrey Rydell / Walter emucry: Godfrey erchedeken. the kynges doughter the Countesse of Perses / The kynges Nece the countesse of Chestre: ād many other / Whan kyng Henry ād the othir lordes were arryued in Englond and herde thise tydynges: they made sorwe ynowe and all hyr myrthe and ioye was turned into mornȳg & sorwe
How Maude the Empresse came ayen̄ into Englond: ād how she was wedded to Geyffroy the erle of Angeoy Capitulo Cxxxvij
ANd whan that two yere were a gone that the erle had dwelled with the kīg The erle went tho from the kȳg. and began to werre vpon hym / & dyd moche harme in the land of Normandye (punctel) and toke there wy t strength̄ a strōge castell. and ther he dwelled all that yere. And tho came to hym tydyng that Henry the emperour of Almaigne. y t whiche had spoused Maude his doughter was dede. and that she dwelled no lēger in almaigne. & y e [Page] she wolde come ayene in to Normandye to hir fadre. And whan she was come to hȳ he nōme hyr tho to him / & came ayen̄ in to englond· & made the englisshmē to make othe & feaute vnto the Empresse. ād the fyrst man that made the othe was William the Erchebisshop of Canterbury. & that othir king Dauid of Scotland / & after hym all the erles & barōs of Englōd. Also after the noble mā y e erle of Angoy a worthy knight sent to the king of Englond that he wolde graunte hym for to haue his doughter to spouse Maude the Emperesse. & for encheson that hir fadre wist that he was a noble man / the kȳg graunted hȳ & consented therto. And tho toke he his doughter & ladde hyr in to Normandye. ād came to the noble knight Erle Gaufryde ād he spoused the forsaid Maude with mochel honour. & the erle begate vpon hyr a sone / that was called Henry the empresses sone. And after whan all this was don̄ / the king Henry dwelled all that yere in Normandye / ād after that lō ge time a grevons sekenesse toke him: wher thurgh he deyed.
And this kyng Henry had regned xxxv. yere / & iiij. monthes: ād after he deyed as before is said in normandye. ād his hert was entered in the grete chyrche of owr lady in Rouen. ād his body was brought with mochel honour in to Englond: & entered at Redȳg. in the abbey. of the which̄ abbey he was begynner and foundour
How Stephane kynge Henry sustres sone: was made kyng of England Capitulo Cxxxviij
AFter this kȳg Henry the first. was made king his nepheu his sustres sone Stephē erle of Boloigne. For anone as he herde the tidȳg of his vncles deth: He passed the see ād came into englond / thurgh coū seyll ād strength̄ & helpe of many grete lordes in englond ayēs hyr othe. that they had made Maude the empresse: & tokē the Reaulme and let crowne stephen kyng of the land: ād the Erchebysshop william of Canterburj that first made y e oth of feaute vnto maude the ēpresse: set the croune vpō king stephenes hede and hȳ anoynted / and bisshoppe Rogier of Salysbury mayntened the kynges partye in as moch̄ as he myght: The first yere that king stephē began to regne he assembled a grete hoost: & went hȳ toward scotland for to haue werre vpō y e king of scotlād: but he came ayēs him in pees & in good maner ād to him trustyd: but he made to hī none homage for as moch̄ as he had made homage vnto the emperesse [Page] Maude. And the iiij. yere of his regne Maude the Empresse came in to englōd. And tho began the debate bitwene kȳg Stephen and Maude the empresse. & this Maude wente vnto the cyte of Nichol. and the king hir besieged longe tyme / & might not spede so well the cyte was kepte and defended / ād they that were with in y e cyte queyntely escaped away withoute any maner harme· ād tho toke the king the cyte & dwelled theryn tyll candellmesse And tho came the barōs that helde w t the Empresse / that is for to saye: the erle Randulfe of Chestre / the erle Robert of Gloucestre: Hugh̄ bygot: Robert of morley. & brought with hem a stronge power / & faughtē with the king: and yafe him a grete bataill / in which̄ bataille kyng Stephen was taken / and sette in prison in the castel of Bristowe
How Maude the Emperesse went fro Wynchestre vnto Oxē ford / ād after she escaped to wallynford. and what sorwe and disese that she had Capitulo Cxxxix
WHēne the kyng was takē and brought in to warde in the Castell of Bristowe This Maude the empresse anon̄ was made lady of Englond: and alle men helde hyr for lady of the lande: but they of Kent helde w t the king Stephenes wyfe / ād also William of pree ād his reteune helpe hem & helde werre ayēst Maude the Empresse and anon̄ after the king of Scotland came to hem with an hugh̄ nombre of peple. and tho went they ynfere vnto Wynchestre / there that the empresse was (punctel) ād wolde haue taken hir / but the Erle of Gloucestre came with his power ād foughte with hem. and the emperesse in the mene while that the bataille dured escaped fro thens ād wente vnto Oxenford and there she helde hir. & ī the same bataille was the Erle of Glowcestre discomfyted and taken and wy t hȳ also many other grete lordes. And for his delyuerance so was king Stephen delyuered oute of pryson. And whan he was delyuered oute of the pryson he went thēs to Oxenford and besieged the Empresse: the which̄ that tho was at Oxēford. & the siege endured fro Mychelmasse vnto seynt andrewes ryde. & the empresse let tho cloth hir all in white lynnen cloth / for encheson that she wold nat be knowē. for in the same tyme was moche snowe / & so she escaped by the thamyse from hem away that were hyr ennemyes / And fro thēs she went to wallīgford [Page] / and ther she helde hir: ād the king wold haue besieged hir (punctel) but he had so moche to don̄ with the Erle Randolfe of Chestre. & with Hugh bigot that strongely werred vpon him in euery place that he ne wist whyther for to turne. and the erle of Glowcestre halpe hem with his power
How Gaufryde the Erle of Angeoy yafe vp vnto Henry y e Empresses sone all normandye Capitulo Cxl.
ANd after this the kȳg wēt vnto Wylton / and wolde haue made a castel there: but tho cam̄ to hī y e erle of gloucestre with a stronge power. ād almost had takē the king / but y e kīg escaped with moch̄ peyne. & William martel there was take / and for whos delyuerāce he yafe vnto the Erle of Gloucestre y e good castell of shirborne that he had take. And whan this was don̄: the erle Robert and all the kinges enemyes wente to Faringdone / ād begonne ther for to make a stronge castell / but the king came thidder with a stronge power / & drofe hem thēs / In that same yere. the erle Randolfe of Chestre was accorded wy t the king: & came to his court at his commaūdemēt: and the erle wende saufely to come / & the kȳg anone let take him & put him into prison. and must neuer for no thīg come oute: till that he he had yelde vnto the king y e castell of nychol: the whyche he had toke from the king with strēgth̄ / in the xv / yere of his regne. And Gaufryde the erle of angeoy yafe vp vnto Henry his sone all Normandye. ād in the yere that next sued deyde the erle Gaufryde. ād Henrj his sone tho anon̄ turned ayen̄ to angeoy: ād there was he made Erle with mochel honour of his men of the land. & to hȳ diden feaute and homage the most partie of his land. And tho was this Hēry the empresses sone erle of angoye. and duke of normā die / In the same yere was made diuorce bitwene y e king of Fraū ce. and the quene his wyfe y t was right heir of Gascoygne. for ēcheson that it was knowē & proued / that they were sybbe & nyghe of blode. and tho spoused hir Henri the empresses sone of angeoy ād duk of normandye / and duke of Gascoygn̄ The xviij yere of thys king Stephen. This Hēry came into Englond with a stronge power and began for to werre vpō king Stephen & toke the castel of Malmesbury & dyd moch̄ harm̄ / ād the king Stephen had so moche werre that he ne wist whither for to wente / but at the last they were accorded / thurgh y e Erchebisshop Theobald & thurgh othir [Page] worthy lordes of Englond / vpon this condicion that thei shold depart the Reaulme of Englōd bitwene hē. So that Henry the empresses sone sholde haue halfe all the land of Englōd And thꝰ they were accorded. & pees cried thurgh oute all englōd. And whā the accorde was made bitwene the ij lordes. kyng Stephen became so sory for cause he had lost halfe englond and fell in to a such̄ maladye / and deyed in the xix yere / viij wekes & v / dayes of his regne: all in werre and cōtak / and he lyeth in the abbey of Feneresham / the whiche he let make in the vij yere of his regne
Of kyng Hēry the seconde that was the empresses sone. in whos tyme seint Thomas of Canterbury was chaūceler Cap / Cxli
ANd after this king stephē regned Henry the emperesses sone: ād was crouned of y e erchebisshop Theobald / the xvij day before cristmasse. ād in the same yere Thomas beket of London Erchebisshop of canterbury was made y e kīges chaū celer of englond / The seconde yere that he was crouned he let cast a downe all y e newe castelles that were longyng to the crowne: the which̄ king Stephen had yeuen vnto dyuerse men (punctel) & hē had made erles and Barons for to holde with him and to helpe him ayēst Henry the empresses sone
And the iiij yere of his regne he put vnto his owne lordship y e kīg of Walys / And in the same yere whan the kyng of Scotland had in his owne hōde: that is to seyn the cyte of Carlylle the castell of Banburgh (punctel) the newe castell vpō tyne. & the Erldomme of Lācastre. The same yere the kȳg with a grete power went into walys. and let caste a doune wodes and make weyes and made stronge the castel of Rutlād basȳg werke / ād amōge the castelles he made an hous of the tēple And in the same yere was Rychard his sone borne that afterward was Erle of Ox [...]ford and in the fourth̄ yere of his regne he made Gaufride erle of Bretaigne: and in that yere he chaunged his money▪ & the vi. yere of his regne he had an highe hoost vnto tolouse. and conquered it And the vij yere of his regne deyde Theobald the erchebisshop of canterbury. And tho alle y e cite of Canterbury allmost thurgh meschief was brent The ix. yere of his regne thoās Beker his chaūceler was chosen to ben̄ erchebisshop of cāterbury & vpō seīt bernardis day he was sacred & in y t yere was borne Alienore y e kinges doughter. And the x yere of hys regne / seynt Edward the kīg was translated with mochel [Page] honour / And the xi yere of his regne he helde his parlamēt at northampton. & from thēs fled seint thomas Erchebisshop of Cāterbury: for y e grete debate that was bitwene the king & hym / for yf he had ben̄ fonden / in the morne he had be slayn̄ / & therfore he fledde thens with thre felawes on fote: that no man wist wher he was. & wente ouer the see to the pope of Rome. And this was the princypal encheson. for as moch̄ as the king wolde haue put clerkes to y e deth: that were atteint of felonie withoute any priuelege of y e holy chyrch̄. And the xij. yere of his regne was Iohan his sone borne. & y e xiij yere of his regne deide maude the empresse that was his moder / & in that same yere was johā his doughter borne the xiiij. yere of his regne: that the duke Hēry of Saxone spoused Maude hys doughter: ād begate on hir iij sones. that is to saye: Hēry Othus & William. And in the xv. yere of his regne deide the good erle Robert of gloucestre / the which̄ that had fownded the abbeye of nonnes Eton / And in that same yere [...]arike king of Iherusalem conquered Babiloigne / The xvi. yere of his regne he let crowne his sone Henry kyng at westmȳster. & him crownyd Rogier Erchebysshop of york in harmyng of thomas erchebisshop of Cāterbury. wherfor the same Rogier was acursed of the pope
Of Kyng Henry that was sone of king Henrj the Empresses sone: ād of the debate that was bitwene hȳ & hys fadre / while that he was in Normandye Capitulo Cxlij
AFter y e coronacyon of kīg henry / sone of king Hēry the Empresses sone went ouer in normādie (punctel) ād there he let marye Eleniore the doughter of the Dolphyne that was king of Almaigne. And in y e vij yere that the Erchebisshop seint Thomas had ben̄ outelawed / the kyng of Fraunce made the kyng & seynt Thomas accorded / And tho came Thomas the erchebisshop to Canterbury ayene to hys owne chyrch̄. & this accorde was made in the begynnyng of Aduent: ād afterward he was quelled & martred the v. day of Cristmasse that tho next came: For kyng Henry thought vpon seynt thomas the erchebisshop vpō Cristmasse day as he sate at mete (punctel) and said thise wordes: that if he had any good knight with hȳ: he had be many day passed auenged vpon y e Erchebisshop Thomas. And anon̄ Syr williā bretō. Syr hugh̄ morvile. Syr williā cracy / ād sir Reynout fitz vrse beres sone ī ēglissh [Page] preuely went vnto the see & camē into Englond to the chyrch̄ of cā terbury: and him ther they martred at seȳt Benettes auter in the modre chyrche. & that was in the yere of Incarnacion of our lord Ihesu crist M.Clxxij yere / And anone after Henry the newe kīg began for to make werre vpō Hē ry his fadre / & vpon hys bretherē also. And so vpon a day the king of Fraunce & all the kȳges sones & the king of Scotland & the gretest lordes of englond were arisen ayenst the king henry the fadre. & at the last as god wold he cōquered all his enemies. And the kȳg of Fraūce & he were accorded / ād tho sent Henry the fadre specialy vnto the king of Fraūce & praied hym hertely for hys loue that he wold send to hȳ bi lettres the names of hē that begonnē the werre vpō him And the kȳg of fraū ce sent ayen̄ to him bi a letter the names of hem that begōnen the werre. The first was Iohan hys sone. & Rychard his brother / and Henry his sone the newe kyng· Tho was hēry the kyng wonder wroth & cursed the time that euer he hē begate / And while the werre dured Hēry his sone deyed sore repētȳg his misdede / & most sorwe made of onj man: for cause of seȳt Thomas deth of Canterbury / & praied his fadre with moche sorwe of hert mercy for hys trespas: & his fadre foryafe it him: ād had of him grete pyte. and after he deyed the xxxvi yere of his regne· and lyeth at Redyng
How the cristen lost the holy lād in the forsaid kȳges time thurgh a fals cristen man that became a sarazene Cap / Cxliij
ANd whiles that kȳg hēry the empresses sone lyued & regned the grete bataill was in the holy lād bytwene the crystē men & the sarazenes. but y e crystē mē were ther quelled thurgh grete treson of the erle Tyrp [...] that wolde haue had to wife the quene of Iherusalem. that some tyme was baldewines wife but she forsoke him & toke to hyr lord a knight a worthi man that was kalled sir Emꝑches / wherfore the erle tyrpe was wroth & wēt anone right to y e Soladyne that was soudan of Babiloigne / & became sarazene and his man▪ ād forsoke his cristendomme & all cristen lawe / & the cristē men wist nat of this dedes. but wende for to haue had grete helpe of hȳ as they were wonet to haue before: & whan they camē in to the bataille / this fals cristē man turned vnto y e sarasēs: & forsoke his owne naciōs. & so were y e cristen men ther quelled with the sarazens. And thus were the crysten men slayne ād put to horrible deth: and the Cite [Page] of Iherusalem destroyed and the holy crosse borne a way· The kȳg of Fraunce let hē crosse for to go into the holy land: And amōges hem wente Rychard king Henries sone after the king of Fraū ce that toke the crosse of the erche bisshop of tours / but he toke nat the vyage at that time / for encheson that he was let by othyr maner wayes & nedes to be done. ād whan kyng Henry his fadre had regned xxxv. yere & v. monthes & iiij dayes he deyed & lyeth at foū tenerard.
Of Kyng Rychard that conquered all the holy lande that the cristen men had lost Capitulo Cxliiij
ANd after this king Henry regned Rychard his sone a strōge man & a worthy / and also a bolde. and he was crouned at Westmynster of y e erchebisshop Baldewyne of Caunterbury the iiij day of Septēbre. & the secōde yere of his regne kȳg Rychard him selfe & Baldewyne the erchebisshop of Canterbury. & Hubert bisshop of Salisbury / & Randulphe erle of Gloucestre. & othyr many lordes of Englond: went into the holy land: & in that vyage deyde the Erchebisshop of canterbury / And king Rychard wente forth / & rested nat till that he came in his way vnto Cipers / & toke cypres wyth grete force / & sythen kyng Rychard wēte forth toward the holy land / & gate there as moch̄ as the cristē men hadden lost before & conquered y e lād ayen̄ thurgh grete might sauf onely the holy crosse And whā kīg Richard came to the toune of Acres for to gete the cite: a grete debate arose bitwene him & y e king of Fraunce. so that y e kȳg of fraū ce went ayen̄ in to fraūce / & was wroth toward the king Rychard But er king Richard went ayen̄ he toke y e cyte of acres: And whā he had taken it. he dwelled in the cyte a whyle: but to him came tidynges that y e Erle johan of Oxūford his brother wolde haue seised all englōd & Normandye also & wolde croune him king of y e lād And whan king Rychard herde thys tiding / he wēt ayen̄ toward englōd with all the spede that he might: But the duke of Ostriche met with him & toke him & brought him to the Emperour of Almaign̄ / & the emperour brought him into his pryson: & afterward he was deliured for an hugh̄ raū son̄: that is for to saye an hounderd thousand poūd. & for which̄ raunsone to be payed eche othir chalise of englond was molte ād made into money: & alle the mō kes of the ordre of cisteaulx yauē all hir bokes to don̄ hem to selle:
[Page] And at the last the pope sēt by his auctoryte & enioȳ ed to the bisshoppes of englond that if the kyng wolde not vnderfonge the Pryour of Caū terbury ād hys mōkes. that they shold don̄ generall enterdytynge thurgh all the land of Englond / and graūted full power to fowre bisshoppes to pronounce the enterdytȳg if it were nede The first was bisshop Wylliam of Londō. & that othir bisshop Eustace of Ely. and the thridde was bisshop Walter of wynchestre / ād the iiij. was bisshop Giles of Herford: & these fowre bysshoppes prayed y e kyng knelȳg on hir knees ād sore wepyng that he wolde done the popes commaūdemāt & shewed hym the billes of the enterdytȳg. but for no prayer that thei might praye he wolde not consente therto. And whā these fowre bisshoppes sawe this: they wēt from the kȳg with moch̄ sorowe And in y e morne after the ānuncyacion of owr lady they pronoūced the generall enterdytyng thurgh owte all Englōd / so that the chyrch̄ dores were shit with keys ād with othir fastenȳg ād with walles: ād whan the enterdytyng was pronoūced. than the kyng began for to wex all oute of mesure. ād nō me vnto his honde: all the poscessions of the fowre bisshoppes ād of all the clergye thurgh oute all the lande: ād ordeyned mē for to kepe it: that y e clerkis myght not haue hir lyuing / wherfore the bisshoppes cursed all hem that put or shold medle with holy chyrche goodes ayens the wyll of hē that hem owed / And whā the kīg wolde nat cese of his malyce for no maner thyng. the foure bisshoppes a fore said went ouer see and wēt to the bisshop of Caūterburj & told hym alle thȳg And the Ecchebisshop to hem said that they shold gon̄ ayen̄ to Caūterbury & he wold come thidder to hem: or elles he wold sent thydder certaȳ persones in hys stede. that shold done as moche as if him self were there. & whā y e bisshoppes herde this: they turned ayen̄ into englōd & camē vnto Cāterbury the tydȳge came to y e kȳg that the bisshoppes were comē ayen̄ to caū terbury: & hȳ selfe myght nat comē thidder at y e tyme. but he sent thidder bisshoppes erles & abbotes for to trete wy t hē that the kȳg shold vnderfōge the erchebisshop Stephē & y e pryour. & all y e mōkes of caūterbury. & that he shold neuer after y e time no thȳg take of y e holy chyrch̄ ayēs y e will of hē that owed y e goodes / & that y e kīg shold make full amēdes to hē / of whō he had any goodes takē. & that y e holi chirch̄ shold haue all fraūchises as ferforth as they had in seīt Edwardes tyme the cōfessour
How Stephen of Langeton came into Englond thurgh the popes cōmaūdement / & he went agayn Cap. Cxlviij
WHā the fourme of accord thꝰ was ordeyned. it was in apair of endētures. ād they put her seales vnto that one part: & they that camē in the kȳ ges name / put her seales to that othir part of endētures. & the iiij. bishoppes aboue said toke that o part of endētures to hem / & that othir part of the endentures thei bare with hem to shewe the king Whan the king sawe the fourme & vnderstōde he held him full wel paied of all maner thing as they had ordeyned / sauȳg as touchȳg restitucyō of y e goodes for to make ayene. to that thyng he wolde nat accorde / & so he sent word axē to y e iiij. bisshoppes that thei shold don̄ owte ād put away that one point of restitucion / and they āswered y t they nold don̄ ony word owt Tho sent the king to the Erbishop bi the iiij bisshoppes that he shold come to Canterbury for to speke with hȳ there / & sent vnto hȳ saufcōduyt vnder plegges: that is to seyne his justices Gillebert peyntewyne Willyam de la Brener & Iohā lefirz Hugh̄. that in hir cōduyt saufely he shold come & gone ayen̄ And in this maner the Erchebisshopp Stephen came to canterbury: And whan the erchebisshop was comen: the king came to Chilham ād wolde come no nerrer cāterburj at that time. but he sent by his tresorer y e bisshop of wȳchestre that he sholde done owt of the endētures the clause of restituciō for to make of y e goodes. And the Erchebisshop made his oth that he wold neuer don̄ out anj word therof. ne chaū ge of that the bisshoppes had spoken and ordeined / And tho went the erchebisshop ayene to Rome withoute any more doyng: Kȳg Iohan was tho wrother than he euer was before / & let make a cō mune crie thurghoute all englōd that all they that had holy chyrch̄ rentes ād went ouer the see that thei shold come ayen̄ into englōd at a certaȳ day: or elles thei shold lese hyr rentes for euermore: and that he cōmaunded to eueri shirrefe thurgh oute all englād· that thei shold enquyre if any bisshop abbot pryour or any other p̄lats of holy chyrch fro that day afterward receyued any maundemēt that come fro the pope that they shold take the body & brȳge it before him / & that thei shold take in to the kinges hōde / all hir landes of holy chyrch̄ whiche that were yeuen to any man bi the Erchebisshop Stephen or bi the priour of Caunterbury from the tyme of the electyon of the Erchebysshop (punctel) [Page] & commaūded that all the wodes that were y e erchebisshoppes shold be cast a downe vnto y e grounde & all solde
How king Iohan destroyed the ordre of Cisteaux Capi. cxlix
ANd in the same tyme the Irysshmē begōne to werre vpon kyng Iohan / and king johā ordeyned hȳ for to wē te into Irlād an hugh̄ taxe thurgh oute all Englōd / that is to say xxxv.M / mark / And sent thurgh all Englōd to the monkes of the ordre of Cisteaux that they shold helpe him of vi / M. marck of syluer / & they answered ād said that they durst nothing do wythoute hyr abbot of Cisteaux. Wherfore kyng johan when he came from Irland he dyd hem so moch̄ sorwe & care that thei nyst where to abyde: for he toke so moch̄ raūsone of euerj house of hem that the somme of an mounted to ix / M:ccc. mark. so that they were clene lost & destroyed· & voided hir houses ād hir landes / thurgh oute all englond / & the abbot of Wauerley drad so moch̄ his menace that he forsoke alle the Abbey & went thēs. & preuely ordeyned hȳ ouer see to the hous of Cisteaux. Whā the tyding came to the pope that the king had don̄ so moch̄ malice. tho was he to the king ward ful wroth / & sent two legatz vnto the king. that owne was caled Pandolfe & that othir durāt / that thei shold warne the kīg in the popes name that he shold cese of his persecuciō that he dyd vnto the holy chyrch̄ / & amende the wrōge & the trespasse that he had done to the Erchebisshop of Canterbury / ād to the pryour & vnto the monkes of canterbury & to all the clergye of Englōd. & that he shold restore the goodes ayen̄ that he had takē of hem ayens hir will. & elles thei shold kurse the kȳg bi name. & to do this thyng & to conferme: the pope toke hē his lrēs in billis patentz. ¶These two legatz camen into englōd & wentē to the kyng at Northamptō ther that he helde his parlamēt. ād full curtously they hym salued & saiden. Syr we ben come fro the pope of Rome the pees of holy chyrch̄ (punctel) & of y e land to amend / and we amoneste yow first in y e popis halfe that ye make ful restituciō of the goodes that ye haue rauisshed of the holy chyrche & of the land / & that ye vnderfenge stephen the Erchebisshop of cāterbury in to his dignite▪ and the pryour of Canterbury & his monkes. & that ye yelde ayen̄ vnto the erchebisshop all hys landes & rentes withoute any with holdȳg / & yet more ouer. that ye such̄ restituciō him make as holy chirch̄ shall holde hir paī ed. [Page] Tho āswered the king as touchyng the pryour & his mōkes of Cāterbury all that ye haue sayd / I wil gladly do & all thȳg that ye wyll ordeine But as touchȳg the erchebisshop I shall telle yow in myn hert as hit lithe: that the erchebisshop leve his bisshoprich̄ / & that the pope thā for hī wol pray & than vpon auenture me sholde lyke some othir bisshoprye for to yeue him in englōd / & vpō this cō dicyon I wol hym receyue & vnderfōge. And notheles in englōd as Erchebysshop yf he abyde: he shal neuer haue so good saufconduyt / but he shall be taken. Tho said Pandolfe vnto the king / the holy chirche neuer was wonet to discharge an Erchebisshop withoute cause resonable / but euer she had be wonet to chastise prȳces y t to god & the holy chirch̄ were inobediant. What how now quod y e king Manace ye me / Nay sayde Pandolf. but ye now opēly haue tolde as it standeth in your herte: and to yow we will telle what is the popes wille. & thus it stand. y t he hath you holy interdited & accursed for the wrōges that ye haue done to the holy chirch̄ ād to y e clergye. ād for asmoch̄ as ye dwelle & beth in wille to abyde in malyce ād wille not come to none amādement. ye shall vnderstonde that fro this time afterward / the sentence is vpon yow yeuē & holdeth stede & strength̄. and vpō all thaȳ that with yow haue cōmuned before this time whethir thei ben̄ erles barons or knightes. or any othir what so euer they ben̄: we hem assoille saufly vnto thys day & fro this time afterward of what cōdicion euer that they be: we hem accurse that wy t yow comen· & so do we sentēce vpon hē openly & specialy / And we assoill quytly Erles barons knightes & all othir maner men of hir seruices homages & feautes that thei shold vnto yow don̄ And this tidinge to cōferme we yeue pleyne power to the bisshop of wynchestre / to the bisshop of Northewhiche: And the same power we yeue in Scotland to the bisshoppes of Rouchestre & of Salisbury: ād in wailis we yeue y e same power to the bisshoppes of seint dauid: & of Landalf & of seint asse. & more ouer we sende thurgh all crystendome that all the bisshoppes beyonde the see that thei shal done accurse alle thaȳ that helpeth yow or any coūceill yeueth yow in any maner nede that ye haue to don̄ in any partie of the world And we assoille hem aso all by y e auctoryte of the pope. & cōmaū de hē also with yow for to werre: as with hȳ that is enemye to all the holy chirch̄: Tho āswerde the kīg / what mowe ye done me more Tho answered Pandolfe / We [Page] seyne to yow in verbo dei / that ye ne none heire that ye haue neuer after this daye may be crowned Tho said the king. bi him that is almighty god. & j had wist of this thȳg er that ye came into mi lād that ye had me brought suche tiding I shold haue made yow ryde all an holy yere / Tho āswerde Pandolfe full well / wende we at our first comȳg that ye wold haue ben̄ obedyent to god & to holy chirch. & haue fulfilled the popes commaūdement / & now we haue shewed to you & pronoūced y e popes wille as we were charged therwyth: & as now ye haue said that if ye had wist y e cause of our comyng that ye wolde haue made vs ryde all an holy yere (punctel) ād as well ye might haue sayd that ye wold haue take an holy yere of respyte bi the popes leue. but for to suffre what deth ye cowde ordeyne we shul nat spare for to telle yow holy all the popes message & his wille that we were charged with
How Pādolfe delyuered a clerk that had falsed & coūterfeted the kȳges money before the kȳg him selfe Capi. Cl.
ANd anone tho commaū ded the kȳg the sherews & & bailifs of Northāpton / that were in y e kinges p̄sence that thei shold bringe forth all y e prisō ners that they might ben̄ don̄ vnto the deth before Pādolf: for encheson the king wende that they wold haue gayne sayd hir dedes. for cause of deth all thynge that he had spoken afore Whā the prisōners were comē before the kȳg The kyng cōmaūded some to be hanged & some to ben̄ drawe: ād some to drawe out hir eyen oute of hir hede And amōge all other there was a clerk & had falsed the kinges money / & the king cōmaū ded that he shold be hāged. & whē pādolfe herde this cōmaūdemēt of the king: he stert hȳ vp smertly & anon̄ axed a boke & cādell ād wold haue cursed alle hē that set vpō the clerk ony hōde & pādolfe hī self went for to seche a crosse: & the kȳg folowed him & delyuered him the clerk by the hōde that he shold don̄ wy t hȳ what that euer he wold: & thꝰ was the clerk delyuered & went thēs And pādolf & his felawe Durant wēt fro y e kȳg Iohan / & came ayen̄ to the pope of Rome. & told hȳ that kȳg johā wolde nat amēde but euer abide so accursed And notheles y e pope graūted y e yere thurgh oute ēglōd that mē might sing masses in couenable chirches & make goddes body & yeue it to sike mē that passe shold oute of this world & also that men myght christē children ouer all And whā the pope wist & sawe that the kyng wolde nat bē vnder y e rule or gouernaūce of [Page] holy chyrche for no maner thing / the pope sēt to the king of Fraū ce in remissyō of his synnes that he sholde take wyth hym alle the power that he might & wente into Englond for to destroye kyng Iohan. Whan this tyding came to kȳg Iohā / tho was he sore annoyed & sore drad lest that he sho [...] de lese his Reaulme & him self be don̄ to deth / Tho sent he to y e pope messagiers & said that he wold ben̄ iustifyed & come to a maundemēt in all thīges: & wolde mak satisfactyon to all maner men after the popes ordenaūce / Tho sēt the pope ayen̄ in to englond Pā dolf. & othir messagiers camen to Canterbury ther the king abode And the xiij day of may the kȳg made an oth for to stand to y e popes ordenance before Pādolf the Legat. ī all maner thīges in which̄ he was accused. & that he shold make full restitucion to alle men of the holy chyrch̄ & of religyon / & of the goodes that he had takē of hem ayens hir will: ād alle y e grete lordes of englōd swore vpō the boke ād by the holydome that yf the king wolde nat holde his oth they saydē that they wolde make him holde it by strēgth̄ / Tho put the kȳg him to the court of rome & to the pope· and tho yaf vp the Reaulme of Englond & of Irlād for him: and also for hys heires for euermore that shold come after him: so that king Iohan & his heires sholde take two reaulmes of the popes hand· & shold holde tho two royaumes of y e pope / as to ferme payng euery yere vnto y e court of rome a thousād mark of siluer. and tho toke the kȳg the crowne of his hede ād set him on his knees / & thes wordes he sayd / in herȳg of all the grete lordes of Englond. Here I resegne vp the crowne & the Reaulme of englōd into the popes hond Innocēt the iij / and put me holy in his mercy & in his ordenaūce Tho vnderfē ge Pandolfe the croune of kyng Iohan ād kept it v dayes as for seysin takȳg of two reaulmes of englond and of Irland and confermed all maner thynges bi his chartre that foloweth after
Of the letter obligatorie that kīg Iohan made vn to the court of rome wherfor the petres pēs bene gadred thurgh oute alle Englād. Ca Cli
TO all crystē peple thurgh oute all the worlde dwellyng Iohan by the grate of god Kyng of Englond gretȳg to your vniuersite & knowyng it be: that for asmoche as we haue greued ād offended god and owr moder chyrch̄ of rome for asmoche as we haue nede to the merci of our lord Ihesu christ And we [Page] may nothyng so worthy offre as competant satisfactyon to make to god and to the holy chirch̄. but if it were our owne body. as with our reaulmes of Englōd & of Irland. than by the grace of god we desyre to mek vs for the loue of hī that meked hȳ to the deth of the crosse: thurgh counseil of the noble erles & barons we offren and freely graunte to god and to the apostles seynt petre & seint paule and to our modre chirch̄ of rome ād to owr holy fadre the pope jnnocent the thridde: and to all the popes that cometh after hym all the reaulme and patronages of chyrches of Englond and of Irland with hir appertenaūces for remissyon of our synnes. & helpe and helthe of our kyn sowles ād of all cristen sowles. so that from this tyme afterward we woll receyue & holde of our modre chyrche of Rome as fee ferme doyng feaulte to our holy fadre the pope Innocent the thridde / and to all the popes that comen after hī in the maner aboue said And in presence of y e wyse mā Pandolfe the popes subdekene we maken liege homage as it were ī the popes presence / & before hym were / and we shull don̄ all maner thȳ ges aboue said. and therto we bȳ den vs & alle that comen after vs and our heires for euermore withoute any gayne seyeng: to the pope ād eke the ward of chyrches vacaunt / and in tokē of this thȳ ge euer for to last we wyll ꝯferme & ordeyne that our specialle rētes of the forsaid reaulme sauȳg seīt petres pens in all thing to y e moder chyrche of Rome payeng by yere a thousand mark of Syluer at ij. termes of y e yere: for all maner customes that we shold done for the forsaid reaulmes. that is to seyne at Mychalmasse and at Estren. that is to seyn̄ vij C marc for englōd and .ccc. mark for Irland: sauyng to vs & to our heyres or Iustices ād our othir fraū chises & othir realtes that apperteygneth to the crowne. And all these thȳges that before ben̄ said we wylle that it be ferme & stable withouten ende / and to that oblygacyō we & our successours ād our heires ī this maner bē boūd that if we or any of owre heyres thurgh any presumpcyō falle in any point ayēst any of these thȳ ges aboue said. & he be warned & wull he nat amende him: he shal than lese the forsayd reaulme for euermore: and that thys chartre of oblygacyō and owr warrant for euermore be ferme and stable withoute gayn sayeng. we shull fro this daye afterward be trewe to god and the moder chyrche of Rome and to the pope Innocēt the thridde. and to alle thaȳ that cometh after hym: ād the reaulmes [Page] of Englōd ād of Irland we shull maynten̄ trewly in all maner points ayēs all maner mē bi owr power thurgh goddes helpe
How the clerkes that were outelawed owt of Englōd came ayen̄ & how kȳg Iohā was assoilled Capitulo Clij
WHāne thys chartre was made & ensealed. the kȳg vnderfēge ayen̄ his croune of Pandolfes hande: ād sent anon̄ vnto the erchebisshop Stephen and to all hys othir clerkys and lewd men that he had exilled oute of his land that they sholde come ayen̄ into englōd. ād haue ayen̄ hir landes and hir rentes: & that he wold make restitucyon of the goodes that he had taken of hem ayens hir will: The king him selfe tho and Pādolfe & erles & barons went tho vnto Wȳcestre ayēs the erchebisshop Stephē And whā he was come the kyng went ayēs hym & fell a downe to hys fete & sayd to him. fair sire ye be wellcome & I crye yow mercy for encheson that I haue trespassed ayens you: The erchebisshop toke hȳ vp tho in his armes & kyssed hȳ courtously oftetymes / and after lad him to the dore of seynt Swytynes chyrch̄ by the hōde / & assoilled hym of the sentēce / and hym reconceilled to god ād to the holy chyrche / ād that was on seȳt margaretes day. And the erchebilshop anon̄ wēt for to sing masse (punctel) and the king offred at the masse a mark of gold. & whā the masse was done all they went to vnderfonge alle hir lādes withoute any maner gayne sayeng. & that daye they made all myrthe & ioye ynowe: but yet was not the ēterdytyng relesed for encheson y e pope had set that the ēterditȳg not shold ben̄ vndoune tyll the kyng had made full restitucyon of the goodes that he had take of y e holi chyrch̄. & also that hym self shold done homage to y e pope by a certayne legat that he shold sende in to englōd. Tho toke Pādolfe his leue of the king & of the bisshop & went ayen̄ to Rome. And the erchebisshop anon̄ let come before him prelates of the holy chirch̄ at Redȳg for to trete & coūseill how moch̄ & what they shold axe of y e king for to make restituciō of the goodes that he had takē of hem. and they ordeyned & said that the king shold yeue to y e erchebisshop iij.M. mark / for the wronge that the king had don̄ vnto him. And also to the othir clerkes bi porciōs xv. thowsand Mark / And in the same tyme Nycholas bysshopp of Tuscan Cardynall an [...] penytauncer of Rome came into Englond thurgh the Popes comme [Page] tho & beseged Rouchestre the castell & toke it wyth strength̄ ād the thursaid in whitson weke let honge all y e aliens that were ther in: & the tursday tho next sweng / he came to londō. & there he was vndyrfonge wy t mochel honour of the lordes that abyden hȳ ther / and alle to him made homage. & aftyrward in the tewysday next after the trinite sonday / he toke y e castell of Reigate. ād in the morwe aftyr the castell of Gilford. ād the friday next aftyr the castell of Farneham. ād the monday next aftyr the cite of wynchestre to hȳ was yolde / and in the morwe aftyr seint Iohānes day the maner of wolnesy· and the tewisday aftyr the wtas of seint petre & seint paule thei toke the castell of Odiham: and the monday next aftir seīt Margarete day he ordeyned him toward beaumer for to besege the castell / and there he dwelled xv / dayes. & myght not gete y e castell. & than went he thens / and came to londō. and the tour to hī was yolde
How in the same time the pope sēt into Englōd a legat that was called Swalo: and of king Iohā nes deth Capit. Clv.
ANd in the same tyme the [...]pe sent into Englōd a legat y t was kalled Swalo. and he was prest cardynall of rome for to maynten̄ kȳg Iohā nes cause ayens y e barōs of Englond / but the barōs hath so huge part & helpe thurgh Lowys y e kinges sone of Fraūce / that kȳg Iohan wist nat whydder for to turne or gone And so it fell that he wolde haue gon̄ to Nycholl & as he went thidderward: he cam̄ by the abbey of swyneshede▪ and there he abode twoo dayes. And as he sat at y e mete [...] he axed a mōk of the howse how moche a lofe was worth that was sete before hym vpon the table: & the mōke said that the lofe was worth but an halpeny. O sayd tho the king here is grete chepe of brede. nowe quod the kyng And I may lyue suc [...] a lofe shalbe worthy &c. shillyng or halfe a yere be gon̄ And whan he said this word moch̄ he thought and ofte he syghed and toke & ete the brede & said. by god the worde that I haue spoken it shall bene soth: The monke that stode before y e kyng was for thys worde full sory in hert. & thought rather he wolde hȳ selfe suffre pitouse deth [...] & rather ordeyne therfore some maner remedie [...] & anone the monke went to his abbot & was shryuē of hym & tolde the abbot all that the kȳg hath sayd & prayed his abbot for to assoille hȳ. for he wolde yeue the kīg such̄ a vassaille that all Englōd shold be glad therof & ioyeful Tho wēt [Page] the monke into a gardeyne and fonde a grete tode theryn. & toke hir vp and put hir in a cuppe ād prykked the tode thurgh wyth a broche many tymes tyll that the venime came oute in euery sides into y e cuppe. & tho toke he y e cuppe & fylled it wyth good alle and brought it before the kyng & knelyng sayd Syr quod he Vassaille. for nevyr dayes of youre lyfe ne dronke ye of such̄ a cuppe / Begȳ ne monke quod the kȳg / and the monke drāke a grete draught / ād toke the kȳg the cuppe & the kȳg also dranke a grete draught: and sette downe the cuppe. The mō ke anone ryght went into y e fermorie & ther deyed forthwyth̄ / on whos sowle god haue mercy. am̄ & v. mōkes sing for his sowle specyaly: & shulen whyles the abbey stād. The kȳg aros vp anone full euyll at ease / and cōmaunded to remeue the table. & axed aftyr the monke / and men told hȳ that he was dede / for his wōbe was broken in sunder. When the kȳg herde thys / he commaūded to trusse / but all it was for nought. for his bely begā so to swelle for the drȳ ke y t he drāke that he deyed withȳ two dayes the morwe aftyr seint Lucas day / And this kȳg Iohan had fayr childrē of his bodi begoten / that is to seye Henry his sone whych̄ was kyng aftyr his fadre. and Rychard that was Erle of Cornewaill. and Isabell that was emperesse of Rome / & Elyonore that was quene of scotlād. And this king Iohā whā he had regned xvij yere .v. monthes & v. daies / he deide in the castell of newerke. ād hys body was buryed at wȳchestre
¶Of kyng Henry the thrydde that was crownyd at Gloucestre Capitulo C / lvi.
ANd aftyr thys king Iohā regned Henry his sone & was crowned at Gloucestre / whan he was ix. yere olde on seynt Symondes day & Iude / of Swalo the legat of rome thurgh coūceille of all y e grete lordes that helde with kyng Iohā hys fadre. that is to seye The Erle Randulphe of Chestre / Wyllyam Erle marchall· Wyllyam the erle of Penbroke: Wylliam the Brener erle of Feriers: Serle the Maule baron And all othyr grete lordes of the reaulme of Englond helde wyth Lowys the kynges sone of Fraunce. And anon̄ aftyr when kyng Hēry was crowned Swalo the legat helde hys counceylle at Brystowe at seynt Martynes fest. and there were .xj / bysshoppes of Englond and of Walys. and of othyr prelats of the holy chyrch̄ a grete nombre / and the Erles and Borons: and many [Page] knightes of Englond ād all they which̄ were at that counceill swore feaulte vnto Hēry y e king that was king johānes sone. & anone after the legate enterdited walys for enchesō that they helde w t the barons of Englōd. also all thaȳ that holpē or yafe coūceill to meue werre ayens the newe kȳg hē ry he kursyd hem / & in the begynnyng he put in the sentēce the kī ges sone of Fraūce Lowys / and notheles the same Lowys wolde nat spare for to werre for all that / But wēt anone & toke the castel of Berkāsted & the castell of Herford / and frō that day aftyrward the barons dyd so moche harme thurghoute all Englōd. & principaly the frēshmen that were comen wy t king Lowys: Wherfore the grete lordes and all the common peple of Englōd let hē croice for to dryue lowys and hys cō panye oute of Englōd / But somme of the barons & also the frēsh men were gone vnto y e cite of nychole. & token the cyte ād helde it to kȳg Lowys profyt: But thydder came king Henryes men wy t a grete power. that is to seye. the erle Randolfe of Chestre. & williā Erle marchall: & Williā the Brener erle of Feriers & many other lordes with hem. & yafen bataill vnto Lowys men: ād there was slayne y e erle of perches: ād lowys men were there foulle discōfyted. And there was taken Serle erle of Wȳchestre & Hūfrey de bowne erle of Herford. ād Robert the sone of walter / and many other that begonne werre ayens y e kīg they were taken ād lad vnto kīg Hēry king Iohānes sone: Wha the tydyng of this scōfiture came vnto Lowys the kynges sone of Fraūce. he removed thens & wēt vnto London / & let shit the yates fast of the cyte: And anone aftyr the kȳg sent to the burgeis of lō don that they shold yelde hē vnto him and the cite also & he wolde hem graūte all the fraūchises that euer they were wont for to haue: and wolde conferme hem by hys grete newe chartre vndyr his grete seall / and in the same time a grete lord which̄ was called Eustace the monke came oute of Fraūce with a grete companye of lordes: and wolde haue comen into Englond for to haue holpē lowys the kinges sone of Fraū ce: but Hubert of borugh ād the v. portes w t viij shippes tho mette with hem in the hygh̄ see ād assaylled hem egrely ād ouercame hem with strengthe and smoten of Eustache the monkes heed. ād tokē also x. grete lordes of Fraū ce / and put hem into pryson and quelled almost all the men that camē with hem ād anone drenched the shippes in the see
¶How Lowys turned ayen̄ into Fraūce and of the cōfirmacyō of kyng Iohannes chartre Capitulo Clvij
WHen Lowys herde thys tydyng / he drad sore to be dede & loste / & let ordeyne and speke bitwen̄ the kyng and Lowys by the legat Swalo and thurgh the Erchebysshop of Cā terbury and thurgh othyr grete lordes that all the prysonners on that one halfe: & that othir shold be delyuered ād gon̄ quyte / And Lowys hīselfe shold haue for his costages a thowsand pounde of syluer and shold gon̄ oute of Englond ād come nevyr therȳ ayen̄ And in thys maner was the accord made bytwene kȳg Henry ād lowys: And tho was Lowys assoilled of the popes legat: that was called Swalo of the sentēce that he was in / and the barōs of Englōd also: and aftyr thys kȳg Henry and swalo the legat and Lowys went vnto Merton and there was the pees cōfermed ād bytwene hem ordeyned / And aftyrward Lowys went fro thens vnto londō and toke his leue. ād was brought wy t mochel honour to the see with the Erchebysshop of Caūterbury & with othir bysshoppes / and also with erles and barons: And so went Lowys into Fraūce ¶And aftyrward the kyng and the erchebysshop & the erles ād barons assembled hem at london at Mychelmasse that next came to sewyng / and helde there a parlament. and there were tho renewed all the fraunchyses that kyng Iohan had graunted at Romnemede▪ And kynge Henry the same confermed by hys chartre / the whyche yet ben̄ holden throughowte all Englōd And in that tyme the kyng toke of euery plough two shyllyng / & Huberth of Burgh was made tho chyef justyce of all Englond / And thys was the fowrthe yere of kyng Henryes regne: And in the same yere was seȳt Thomas of Caunterbury translatyd / the .l. yere aftyr hys Martyrdome And aftyr it was ordeyned by all the grete lordes of Englond / y t all alyens sholde gon̄ owt of the Reaulme of Englond and come no more theryn / And kyng Hē ry toke tho all the castelles into hys honde: whyche that king johan hys fadre had yeven and taken vnto alyens for to kepe that helde wyth hym / But the prowde Faukes of Brend rychely let araye hys castell of Bedfort. whiche he had of the kynges yefte johan. and he helde that castell ayens kyng Henryes wylle wyth myght and strength̄ / wherfore y e kyng Henry came thydder with a stronge power ād besieged the castell anon̄ / ād the erchebisshop [Page] maister stephen of Langeton wy t a faire ꝯpanye of knightes came to the kyng him for to helpe / & frō the ascension vnto the assumpcion of our lady last the siege: and tho was the castell wonne & take And the king let honge alle thaȳ that were theryn wyth hyr good wille for to holde the castell / that is for to seyne lxxx. men / And tho afterwardes foukes hȳ self was fonde in a chyrche at Couentre. & ther forswore he all englond with moche shame: & went tho ayene into his owne contre / And whiles that kyng Henry regned Edmond of abyngdō that was tresorere of Salysbury was ꝯsacred Erchebisshop of caūterbury / ād this king henry sent ouer see vnto the Erle Prouȳce that he shold sende him his doughter into Englond that was kalled Elienore: & he wolde wedde her: & so she came into Englond after cristmasse / & in the morwe after seint Hilairie: the erchebisshop Edmond spoused hem to gedre at caunterbury. & at the viij day of seȳt Hylarie she was crouned at westmī ster with moche solempnite / and there was a swete syghte bitwen̄ hē / that is to seyne Edward that was next kīg after his fadre flour of courtesly & of largesse. & Margarete that was after Quene of Scotland. ād Baatrice that was afterward coūtesse of Bretaigne And katheryne that deyed maid in relygion
Of the quinzeme of goodes that were graunted for the new chartres. & of the purveaūce of Drū ford Capitulo Clviij
ANd thus it befell that the lordes of Englond wolde haue sōme addicions mo in the chartre of Fraūchises that they had of the kȳg. & spekē thus bitwen̄ hem / & the kīg graūted hē all her axȳg· & made to hē ij chartres / That one is kalled the grete chartre of fraūchises. & that othir is kalled the chartre of forest: and for y e graūte of these two chartres prelats Erles & barōs & all the cō munes of Englōd yaf to y e kyng a M. mak of syluer: Whan kyng Hēry had ben̄ kyng xliij yer̄ the same yere he & his lordes Erles & barons of the reaulme wente to Oxunford / and ordeyned a lawe in amendemēt of the royaulme: And first swore the kȳg him selfe and after alle the lordes of the reaulme that they wolde hold that statute for euer more: And who that hem brake shold be dede. but the seconde yere after that ordenaunce / the kyng thurgh counceille of Syr Edward his fair sone [Page] & of Richard his brother: that was erle of Cornewaille & also repented hym of that othe that he had made for to hold that lawe & ordenaūce And sent to the court of Rome to bene assoilled of that othe / And in the yere next comȳg afterward was the grete derth of corne in englōd. for a quartier of whete was worth xxiiij scellȳges And the poure peple ete netheles & othir wodes for hunger / & deide many a thowsand for defaute of mete.
And in the xlviij yere of kȳg Hē ries regne began werre & debate bitwene hym & his lordes: for encheson that he had broken the couenaūts that were made bitwene hem at Oxēford: & in the same yere was the towne of Northāptō take / & the folke slayn̄ that were with hē. for encheson that they had ordeyned wildefyre for to haue brend the cyte of Londō / & in y e moneth of may that cam next after vpō seynt Pātecras day was y e bataille of lewes. that is to seye the wonesday before seynt Dunstones day: & ther was take kyng Henry hȳ selfe. & sir Edward hys sone and Richard his brother erle of Cornewaill. ād many othir lordes. And in the same yere next sewȳg sir Edward the kȳges sone brake owte of the warde of sir symond of moūtfort the erle of leycestre at Herfort / ād went to the barons of the marche. & they vnderfonge hī with mochel honour And in the same tyme Gyllebert of Clarēce erle of Gloucestre that was in y e ward also of the forsayd Simond thurgh the cōmaundement of kyng Henri that wente from him with grete hert for encheson that he said that gyllebert was a foole in his coūceill: wherfore he ordeined hȳ after so & held hym with kȳg henrj. And the saterdaye next after the myddes of August syr Edward the kynges sone discomfyted sir Symond demoūfort at kenilword. but y e grete lordes there with him were takē / that is to seye Baldewyn̄ wake William of Mounchensie: ād many othir grete lordes / & the tewisday next after was y e bataille don̄ at Euesham / And ther was quelled sir symond de mounfort / Hugh̄ the spencer & Mounfort y t was Rafe basettz fadre of draytō & othir many grete lordes / And whā this bataill was don̄ all the gentilles that had bene with the Erle symon were disherited. and they ordeyned to gedre and dydē moche harme to all the land. for they destroyed hir enemyes in all that they myght
Of the siege of kenilworth & how the gentill men were disheryted: thurgh counseyll of the lordes of the royaulme of englond / & how [Page] they came ayen̄ / and had hir landes Capitulo Clix
And in the yere next comīg in May: the ferst day beforne the fest seynt Dūstā was the bataille & scomfiture at Chesterfelde of hem that were disherited & ther many of hem were quelled / ād robert Erle of feriers there was taken and also Baldewyne wake: & Iohan de la hay w t moche sorwe eskaped thens / & in seint Iohannes eue the baptiste / tho next sewing: began the siege of the castel of Kenilworth & the siege last till seint thomas euē the apostle / in which̄ daye sir Heuch had the castell for to kepe which̄ y t yeldyd vp the castell vnto the kīg in this maner that him self & alle the othir that were within the castell shold haue hir lyfe ād lymme and asmoche thyng as they had theryn both hors and harnays / & iiij. dayes of respyte for to delyuer clenly the castell of hem selfe. and of all other maner thīg that they had within the castell▪ and so they went from the castell. ād sir Symōd the mountfort the yō ger & the coūtesse his moder fledde ouer see into Fraunce & there helde hem as peple that were exiled owte of Englond for euermore. And sone after it was ordeyned bi the legat Octobone and bi othir grete lordes the wysest of all Englond that alle they that had ben̄ ayenst the kyng & were disherited shold haue ayen̄ hir landes by greuous raunsone after that it was ordeyned And thus they were accorded with the king: tho was the pees cryed thurgh owte all englōd / & thus the werre was ended / And whan this was don̄ / the legat toke his leue of the quene & of all the grete lordes of Englond: and wēt tho to Rome the lv. yere of kyng henryes regne / & Edward king Iohannes sone of Bretaigne Iohā vessy / Thomas of clare. Rogier of clifford Othes of Grauntson / Robbert le buns Iohan of verdon ād many othir lordes of England. & of by yonde the see token hir way toward the holy land: & the king Hēry deyed in the mene tyme at westmȳster / whan he had ben̄ king lv yere / & xix wokes in seint edmōdes day. the erchebisshop of Canterbury / And he was entered at westmȳster on seynt Edmondes day the king In the yere of Incarnacyō of our lord Ihesu crist Mcclxxij /
Profecie of Merlyn the kyng hē ry the fyrst expouned· that was kyng Iohannes sone Capitulo C.lx
ANd of this Hēry profecyed merlyn ād said: that a lambe shold come out of [Page] Wynchestre in the yere of Incarnacion of our lord MCC & xvi / with trewe lyppes / & holynesse in his hert / & he said soth: for y e good king Henry was borne in wynchestre / & he spake good wordes & swete: & was an holj man and of good cōscience / And merlȳ sayde. that this Henry shold make the fairest place of all the world. that in his tyme shold nat be full ended: & he said soth: for he made the newe werke of the abbey of seint petres chyrch̄ at westmȳster that is fairer of sighte thā any other chirche that men knowt thurgh all cristendome: but king Henry deied / er that werke was full made: & that was grete harme: And yet said merlȳ. that this lābe sholde haue pees the moost tyme of his regne. ād he said full soth: for he was neuer annoyed thurgh werre ne disesed in no maner wise tyll a littel before his deth And yet said Merlȳ in his prophecye more: that in the regne & ende of y e forsaid lābe a wolfe of a straunge londe shold don̄ him grete harme thurgh hys werre / ād that he shold at y e last ben̄ maister thurgh helpe of a reed foxe that shold come out of the northwest ād shold him ouercome. ād that he sholde dryue him vnto the water: & that prophecye full well was knowe / for withinne a lyttell tyme er the king deyed Simond of Moūfort erle of Leicestre that was borne ī Fraūce began ayenst hȳ strōgeli to werre. thurgh which̄ doȳg many a good bachylere was shent & dede and disheryted / And whan king Hēry had the victorie at Euesham / ād sir Symond the erle was slayn̄ thurgh helpe & might of Gilbert of clare erle of Gloucestre that was in kepyng & warde of the forsaid simonde thurgh ordenaūce of king Henry that wēt ayen̄ to the kȳg with mochel· power / wherfore the forsaid simond was shent. & that was grete harme to the communes of englond that so good a man was shēt for trouthe & deyed in charite. ād for the cōmune proffyte of the same folk. and therfore almyghty god for hȳ hath sithenes shewed many a faire miracle to diuerse men & woman of the sikenesse & disese that thei haue had for the loue of him ¶And Merlyn also told ād said in his profecie that after that tyme the lāde shold lyue no whyle: and then̄ his seed sholde ben̄ in straunge lande withoute pasture And he said sothe For kīg Hē rȳ lyued no while after when Simond mounford was dede that king henry ne deyde anon̄ after hȳ / And in the mene tyme sir edward hys sone that was the best knight of y e world of honour / was tho in the holy londe ād gete there Acres And in that cōtre he begate [Page] on dame Alienore his wyfe Iohan of Acres / his doughtyr y t aftyrward was coūtesse of Gloucestre (punctel) And he made in the holy londe suche a vyage that all the world spake of hys knyghthode and euery man drad hȳ hygh̄ ād lowe thurghoute all crystendom as the storie of hym tellyth as aftyrward ye shull here more opēly And from the time that kȳg hē ry deide till that sir Edward was crowned kȳg. all the grete lordes of Englōd were as fadreles children wythowte any socour that thaym might maynten̄ and gouerne and defende ayens hyr dedely ennemyes
¶Of kyng Edward that was kyng Henryes sone Capitulo Clxj
ANd aftyr this kyng Hēry regned his sone Edward the worthest knight of all the world of honour (punctel) for goddes grace was in hym. for he had the victorye of hys enemyes: Assone as he herd of the deth of hys fadre he came to Londō wy t a sayre companye of prelatz & erles & barons. & all maner men dyd hym moch̄ honour For in euery place that sir Edward rode in Londō / the stretes were coured ouer hys h̄ede w t rych̄ clothes of silke. of tapytes & wy t ryche couerynge. and for ioye of hys comȳg / the noble Burgeys of the cyte cast owte at hyr wyndowes golde & siluer hō des full in tokenyng of loue and of worshipp / seruyse & reuerence. And owte of y e conduyt of chepe ran white wyne and rede as stremes doth of the watyr. ād euery man therof myght drȳke at hyr owne wyll ād this kȳg Edward was crownyd & annoȳtyd as right heire of Englond wy t mochel honour And aftyr masse y e kyng wēte into his paleys for to holde a ryall feste amōges hē that him dyd honour And whē he was set vnto hys mete y e kȳg Al [...]ēdre of Scotland came for to don̄ hȳ honour & reuerēce wy t a queȳtyse. & an hondred knightes wy t hȳ well horsed & arayed. ād whē they were light a doune of hyr fredes the [...] let hē gon̄ whither that thei wolde / & who that might take hē ▪ toke at hyr owne wyll wy toute any chalēge And aftyrward came sir Edmōd kȳg Edwardes brother a curtoys knight ād a gentyll of renōme. And the Erle of Cornewaille. & the Erle of Gloucestre: & aftyr hē came the Erle of Pābroke & the erle of Garenne. & ech̄ of hem by hē self lad in hyr hōde an hondred knightes gaylly disgised in hir armes And whā they were lyght of hyr horses thei let hem gone whyther that hem lyked: & who that cowde myght hē take to haue hem stylle withoute any lete: And whā all thys was don̄ / [Page] ¶Kyng Edward dyd his diligē ce and his myght for to amende the Reame and redresse the wrō ges ī y e best maner that he might to the honour of god & holy chirche / and to maȳtene his honour & to amende the anoyaūce of the commune peple
How ydeyne that was Lewelynes doughter prince of walys: & Aymer that was therles brother of Moūford were takē in the see Capitulo Clxij
THe fyrst yere afterward that kyng Edward was crownyd: Lewelyne prȳ ce of Walys sent into fraunce to the erle of moūtford that thurgh coūceill of his frendes y e erle sholde wedde his doughtyr / ād the erle tho avysed hȳ vpon this thing & sent ayene to Lewelyne ād said that he wold sende after h̄is doughtyr. And so he sent Aymer his brother aftyr the damysell: & Lewelȳ arrayed shippes for his doughtyr and for sir Aymer ād for thayre companye that shold goo with hyr ¶And this Lewelȳ dyd grete wrōge: for it was couenaūt that he shold yeve hys doughtyr to no maner man withoute coū ceill and consent of kȳg Edward And so it befell that a burgeis of Brystrowe came in the see wyth wyne lade / & hem toke wy t might and power. And anone the burgeis sent hem to the kyng / And whan Lewelyn herde this tydȳg he was wonder wroth & eke sorwefull / and began to werre vpō king Edward. ād dyd moch̄ harme vnto the Englysshmen / and bete a downe the kynges castelles. ād began fast to destroie kȳg Edwardes londes▪ And whā tydyng came vnto kȳg Edward of this thing / he went vnto Walys and so moch̄ he dyd thurgh goddes grace & his grete power that he drofe Lewelȳ vnto moch̄ meschief that he fled all maner strēgthe / and came and yelde hym to kyng Edward. and yaf hȳ .l.M marc of siluer for to haue pees. & toke the damysell and all his heritage / and made an obligacyon to kyng Edward / to come to his parlament ij. tymes of the yere. And in the secōde yere after that king Edward was crownyd (punctel) he helde a generall parlament at westmynster / and ther he made y e statutes for defaut of lawe by cō mune assent of all his baronage & that Estre next sewȳge the kȳg sent bi his letter to Lewelȳ prynce of walys that he shold come to his parlement for his lande. and for his holdyng in walles as the strength̄ of the letter obligatorye witnessed. Tho lewelyn had scorne and despite of the kynges cō maundement / & for pure wrath begā ayene for to werre vpō kȳg [Page] Edward and destroied his lādes And tho kȳg edward herde thys tydyng / he wex wōder wroth vnto Lewelyn / ād in hast assembled his peple / and went hym toward walys & werred so vpon Lewelȳ the prȳce. tyll that he brought hȳ in moche sorwe and disese. And Lewelȳ saw that his defence might nat auaille: and cam̄ ayene & yelde hym to the kynges grace & cryed hym mercy ād longe tyme knelyd before y e kynges fete The kyng had of hym pyte & cōmaū ded hȳ for to aryse: & for hys mekenesse foryafe him hys wrath & to him said / that if he tresspaced ayēst him an othir tyme he wolde destroye hȳ for euer more. Dauyd that was Lewelines brother that same time dwelled with the kyng Edward / ād was a fell mā / & a [...]otill & ēvyous / & ferre castȳg: ād moch̄ treson thought. & euyrmore helde hȳ stylle for to wyt ād aspye the kȳges will / ād euemore made good semblan̄t & semed so trewe that no man myght ꝑceyue his falsenesse
How Lewelyne thurgh engyne of Dauid his brother werryd ayene vpon kyng edward. ca. clxiij
Hjt was not lōge aftir that tyme that king Edward ne yafe to Dauyd lewelines brothyr the lordshyp of Frodesham and made hȳ a knyght. & so mochel honour dyd he nevyr aftyr to no mā of Walys. for encheson of him kȳg edward helde his ꝑlamēt at londō. whē he had don̄ in walys all that he wolde / & chaunged his money y t tho was full cute & ended: wherfore the cō mune peple pleined hē wōder sore: so y t the kȳg let enquere of hē y t such̄ trespaces didē & .ccc. were atteynt of suche maner falsenesse. wherfore some were hōged & some drawen & aftyrward honged. The kȳg ordeyned that y e sterlȳg halpeny & ferthing shold gon̄ thurgh out his lād. & ꝯmaūded that no man fro y t day aftyrward yaf ne feffed hous of religyō wy t lāde tenemēt w toute specyall leue of y e kȳg: & he that dyd it shold be punyssed at the kynges will & y e yift shold be for nought. And it was not lōge aftir y t Lewelȳ prynce of walys thurgh ticemēt of Dauyd his brother & by both̄ hir consent thei thought to disheryte kȳg edward in as moch̄ as they might· so y t thurgh hē both̄ y e kīges pees was brokē· ād whā kȳg edward herde this / anon̄ he sente his barons into Northūberlād & to the surreis also y t they shold gon̄ & take hyr vyage vpon the traitours Lewelȳ & Dauyd: & wōder hard was for to werre tho. For hit is wȳter in walys whē in othir cō trees is somer And lewelȳ let ordeyn̄ & welaraye w t vytailles his castell of Swādon: & was theryn [Page] wyth an hugh̄ nombre of peple / & plente of vytailles so that king Edward wist nat wher for to entre / And whan the kȳges men it perceyued: & also the strength of walys / they let come by y e see barges & botes and grete plākes as many as they might ordeyne ād for to haue gon̄ to the forsaid castell of Swandone wyth men on fote & eke on hors But the walsh men had so moche peple. & were so stronge that thei dryuen y e Englysshmē ayen̄. so that ther was so moch̄ prees of peple at the turnyng ayen̄ that the charge & the berthen of hem made the barges and bottes sinke. & ther was drē ched full many a good knyght y t is to seye Syr Rogier of Gilford: Syr Williā of Lȳdesey: that was sir Iohannes sone sir Robert ād sir Rychard Tanny / & an hughe nōbre of othir. ād all was thurgh hyr owne folye. for yf they hath had good espies thei had nat ben̄ harmed. Whā kȳg Edward herd telle that hys peple was so drenched he made sorwe ynowe. but tho came sir Iohā of veyssye frō the kyng of Aragon & brought w t him moch̄ folk of Bachiloers ād of Gascoynes. & were sowdiours and dwellyng wyth the forsayde sir Iohan of veyssye. & vnderfōge of him wages & wyth hym were withholde ād noble men it were for to fyght / ād brent many townes / and quelled moche peple of walsshmē all that thei might taken And they all wyth myght & strength̄ made strōge assaulte to the castell of Swādon & gete the castell / And whā Dauyd the prȳ ces brother herd this tydynge. he ordeyned him to flyght / and Lewelȳ the prȳce saw that hys brother was slowen & was sore abasshed. for he had no power hys werre for to mayntene / ād so Iewelyn began for to flee ād wende well for to haue eskaped· But on a morwe sir Rogyer Mortiemer met with hym onely with x knyghtes / and set hym roūde aboute and to him went ād smote of his hede and presented him vnto the kyng Edward: ād in this maner the prynce of Walys was taken and his hede smyten of / and alle his heyres disherited for euermore thrugh right full dome of alle the landes of the Reaulme
How Dauyd that was Lewelynes brother prȳce of walys was put to the deth Capitulo Clxiiij
DAuyd that was the princes brother of walys thurgh pride wente for to haue ben̄ prynce of walys aftyr hys brothers deth. and vpon that sēt he aftyr walsshmen to his parlement at dinbygh̄ ād folych̄ made walys aryse ayens the kyng. & began to meue werre ayens the [Page] & began to meve werre ayēs the king & dyd all the sorwe & disese y t he might by his power. Whē kīg Edward herd of this thȳge he ordeyned men to purswe vpō hym. and Dauyd fersely him defēded tyll that he came to the towne of seint morice. and ther was dauid take as he fledde and lad to y e kȳg And the kyng commaūded that he shold be hōged & drawe & smiten of his hede. And quartryd hȳ & sende his hede to Londō. ād the fowre quartyers sende to the iiij. townes chief of Walys / for they sholde take example and therof ben̄ ware: And aftyrward kyng Edward let crie his pees through out all walys / & saised all the lāde into his hande· & all the grete lordes that were left a lyue came to done feaute & homage to the kȳg edward as to hir kȳde lord / And tho let kyng edward amende the lawes of walys that were defectife And aftyr he sēt to the lordes of walys by his letter patēt that they shold come all to hys parlament / And whā they were comē. the kyng said to hem full curtoisly Lordynges ye be well come ād me behoueth your coūceil & your helpe for to wente in to Gascoyn̄ for to amende the trespaces y t me was don̄ when I was there. and for to entrete of pees bytwen̄ the kyng of Aragon ād the prince of Morey: And all the kynges liege men Erles and barons consēted ād graūted therto And tho made him kyng Edward redy & wēt into Gascoyn̄ & let amēde all the trespaces that hym was done in Gascoyne / & of y e debate that was bytwen̄ the kyng of Aragon ād the prynce of Morey / he cesed and made hem accorded. And whylle the good kȳg Edward & the quene Elianore his wyfe were ī gascoyne: the good erle of cornewaill was made wardeyn̄ of englond. tyll that edward came ayene And tho enquered he of his traitours that cōgeted falsenesse ayens him. ād ech̄ of hem all vndyrfēge her dome aftyr that thei had deserued: But in the mene tyme whiles that y e good kyng edward was beyonde the see to don̄ hem for to make amēdes [...] that ayens him had trespaced. There was a fals thefe traitour that was kalled Rys ap meriedoke & begā for to make werre ayens kyng Edward / and that was for encheson of sir Spayne tiptot wrongfully greved & disesed that forsayd rys ap Meriedok And whē kȳg Edward herd all this he send by hys letter to Ris ap meriedok that he shold begȳne for to make no werre / but that he shold be ī pees for his loue: and when that he came ayene into Englond: he wold vndertake the querell ād don̄ amēd all that was mysdon̄ The forsaid [Page] Ris ap meriedoke despysed y e kȳ ges cōmaundement / and spared not for to done all the sorwe that he myght to the kynges men of Englōd. but anone aftyr, he was taken ād lad to york / & there was he drawen & hanged for hys felonye.
¶Of the redressyng that kȳg Edward made of his iustyces ād of hys clerkes that thei had don̄ for hyr falsenesse. & how he drofe the yewes owte of Englond for her vsery & mysbeleue Capitulo Clxv
WHan kyng Edward h̄ad dwellyd thre yere in Gascoyne / wille came to hym for to turne ayene into Englond And tho he was come ayene (punctel) he fonde so many plaȳtes made to him of his iustyces ād of his clerkes that had done so many wrō ges and falsenesse that wondyr it was to here. And for whiche falsenesse Syr thomas weilond the kynges justyce forswore Englōd at the towre of London for falsenesse that mē put vpon hȳ wherof he was atteynt ād proued fals And anone aftyr when the kyng had don̄ hys wyll of the iustyces: tho let he enquyre ād aspye how the jewes desceyued ād begylled hys peple thurgh her sȳne of falsenesse & of vserye / ād let ordeyne a pryve parlament amonge hys lordes / & they ordeyned amōges hem that all the iewes shold voide Englond for mysbeleue & also for hir fals vserye that they dydē vnto the cristen men And for to spede & to make an ende of thys thyng all the communite of Englond yafe vnto the kyng the xv / peny of all hyr goodes menable / And so werē the iewes dryvē oute of Englond. And tho went the iewes into fraunce and dwellyd there thurgh leue of kyng Phelyp that tho was kȳg of Fraūce.
¶How kyng edward was seysed in all the lōde of Scotlād thurgh consent & graunt of all the lordes of scotland Cap / C.lxvi
HIt was nat longe aftyr: that Alysander kyng of Scotland was dede. and Dauid erle of Huntȳgdone that was the kynges brother of Scotland axed and claymed the kȳgdome of Scotland: for encheson that he was rightful heyre of the lande of scotland: but many grete lordes of Scotland sayden nay Wherfore grete debate arose bytwene hem and hyr frendes / for as moch̄ that they wolde nat cō sente to his coronacyon / and in y e mene tyme y e forsayd dauid deyde / And so it befell that the same Dauyd had thre doughtyrs. the whiche that were worthely maryed [Page] / the fyrst doughtyr was maried to Bailloll / the secōde to Brus / The thridde to Hastȳges / And y e forsaid Bailloll & Brus chalēged the land of Scotland / & grete debate & stryfe aroos bytwen̄ hem for encheson that eche of hē wold haue be kyng And when the lordes of scotlād saw the debate bytwene hem / they came to kȳg edward of Englōd & seysed hȳ all y e land of scotland as hir chief lord. And whan the king was seised of the lordes of Scoltlād: the forsaid Bailloll brus Hastynges camen to the kynges court & axed of the kyng whiche of hem shold be kīg of Scotland / And kȳg edward y t was full gentyll and trewe let enquere by the cronycles of scotlād & by the grete lordes of scotland / which̄ of hē was of the eldest blode / & it was founde that Bailloll was eldest: & that the king of scotland shold hold of the king of englōd: & don̄ him feaute ād homage. And aftyr as this was done: bailloll went into scotlād. & there was he crownyd kȳg of scotland. And in the same tyme was vpō the see stronge werre bytwen̄ the englisshmē & y e Normās: but vpō a tyme the normans arryued all at Douer. ād there they martred an holy mā that was called thomas of Douer / ād aftyrward were the Normās quelled that ther scaped of hem not on. And sone aftyr Kyng Edward shold lese y e duchye of Gascoyne thurgh kȳg Phelip of fraūce thurgh fals castyng of the dousepieres of y e land Wherfore sir Edmond that was king Edwardes brother yafe vp his homage vnto y e king of fraū ce: And in that tyme the clerkes of Englond graūted to kyng edward halfendelle of holy chyrche goodes in helping for to recoure his land ayen̄ in Gascoyne & the kyng sent thyder a noble companie of Bacheliers And hym selfe anon̄ wolde haue wēte to portesmonth. but he was let thurgh one maddoke of walys that had seysed the castell of Swādone into his hand / & for that encheson y e kyng turned ayene vnto Walys at Crystmasse. And for encheson that the noble lordes of Englond that were sent into Gascoyne had no comfort of hyr lord of the kȳg. they were taken of sir Charles of Fraunce / that is to saye (punctel) sir johā of Britaigne. sir Robert tipttot sir Rauf Tanny. sir Hugh̄ Bardolf / & sir Adam of Cretynges & yet at the ascencion was Madok take in walys. and an othir that was kalled Morgan· & they were sent to the tour of London & ther they were beheded
How sir Iohan Bailloll king of scotland withsaid his homage. & of sir Thomas turbeluille Capitulo Clxvij
[Page] ANd when sir johā bailloll kyng of scotlād vndyrstode that kȳg edward was werred in Gascoyne / to whō the reaume of scotlād was deliuered falsely tho ayēs his oth withsaid hys homage thurgh procurryng of his folk / & sent to the courte of Rome thurgh a fals suggestyon to be assoilled of that oth̄ that he swore vnto the kyng of Englond & so he was bi letter ēbuled / Tho chosen they of scotland dousepieres for to benymme edward hys right (punctel) And in that time came .ij. cardinalls from the court of Rome from the pope Celestine for to trete of accord bitwen̄ the kȳg of Fraūce & the kȳg of englōd / And as the two cardinals spakē of accord. thomas turbeluille was taken at Lyons / & made feaute and homage to the wardeyne of Pa / rys: & to him put his two sones ī hostage / for that he thought gon̄ into Englōd for to aspye the contre. & telle hem when he came īto Englond that he had brokē y e kȳ ges pryson of Fraūce by myght. & said that he wold done that all Englysshmē & walishmen shold abowe to the king of Fraūce. ād this thynge for to brȳge to an ende he swore. & vpon this couenāt dedes were made bitwene hem & that he shold haue by yere a thousand poūdes worth of lād to brīg this thing to an ende / Thys fals traitour tok his leue & went thē nes & came into englōd vnto the kyng and said that he was brokē oute of pryson. and that he hath put him in such̄ peryll for hys loue / wherfore the king cowde him moch̄ thāk & full glad was of his comyng / & the fals thefe traitour fro that day aspied all the doyng of the king & also his coūceill / for the king loued him wel / & was w t him full pryue: but a clerk of Englōd that was in the kȳges house of fraūce herd of this treson. & of the falsenesse: & wrote to an othir clerk that was dwellyng wy t the king of englōd / all how Thomas turbeluille had don̄ his false coniectyng / & all the coūceill of englond was wryten for to haue sent vnto the king of Fraūce: ād thurgh the forsaid letter that the clerk had sent fro fraūce: hit was fonde vpō him / wherfore he was lad to London and drawen / and honged there for his treson / & his ij. sones that he had put in fraū ce for hostages were tho beheded
¶Of the cōquest of Berewyk Capitulo Clxviij
WHen y e ij / cardinals were wēte ayen̄ into fraūce for to trete of y e pees at cābry / the kȳg sent thidder of his erles & barōs that is to saye· sir edmond his brother. erle of lācastre & of leycestre / sir hēry lacy erle of nichol. & [Page] william Vesy a baron / & of other barons aboute xiiij: of the best & wysest of englōd / And in the sam̄ tyme the kyng Edward toke his vyage to Scotland: for to werre vpon Iohan Bailloll kȳg of scotlād / & sir Robert roos of berewik fled fro the Englysshmen & went to the scottes / & kȳg Edward wēt him toward berewik & besieged y e toune. & tho that were withȳ mā ly hem defēded & set a fire & brēde two of kyng Edwardys shippes & said in despyte & reproue of him Wende kyng Edward wy t his lō ge shankes to haue gete Berewik all our vnthankes gas pykes hȳ When king Edward herde thys scorne anon̄ thurgh his myghtynesse he passed ouer the dikes ād assailled the towne & came to the yates & gate & conquered y e toune / ād thurgh his gracyous power quelled xxv thousād & vij C scottes. & kyng Edward lost no man of renōme sauf sir Robert of cornewaill / & him quelled a fleming oute of the rede halle with a quarell: as the forsaid Richard did of his helme. & cōmaunded hem for to yelde hem & put hem to y e kynges grace. and the scottes wolde nat / wherfore that halle was brēt & cast a downe: & all tho that were withyn were brent. & kyng edward lost no mo men at that vyage of simple estate / but xxviij englysshmen And the wardeyns of the castel yafe vp the keyes w toute any assaute: And there was takē william Douglas & sir simōd Frisell / and the erle Panryk yeld hem to the pees. But Ingham of Humsrenille & Robert the brus that were with the kȳg Edward forsoke kyng Edward & helde w t the scottes / & aftyrward they were take & put into pryson. And afterward the king foryaf hem hyr trespace and delyured hem owte of pryson. And tho let kyng Edward closen Berewyke with wallys and with dyches And aftyrward Robert Rous wēt to Tȳ dalle ād sette nyewebrugge a fyre and Exham. and Lamerstoke: & quelled and robed the folk of the contre. and aftyrward he wēt fro thens vnto Dunbare: & the fyrst wedenesday of March̄ the kyng sent the Erle of Garenne sir Hugh̄ party: & sir Hugh spencer wy t a fayre companye for to besiege y e castell (punctel) But one that was kalled sir Rychard syward a traitour a fals men ymagined for to begyll the Englysshmē. & sent to the englysshmē hē for to deceyue & said that he wold yelde to hē y e castell. yf they wold graūte hē viij dayes of respite that he might sēd & tell to sir Iohan Bailloll kȳg of scotlād how his men ferde that were withyn the castell / & sent hȳ worde if that he nold remeue the siege of the Englysshmen: that thei [Page] wolde yelde y e castell to ēglysshmē The messagier came tho to sir johan Bailloll kyng of scotlād ther that he was with his hoost & hys message told him: & sir Iohā toke tho his hoost & came in the morwe erly to the castell: & sir rychard siward sawe him come that was maister of the castell. & said vnto the englysshmē. O god quod he I see now of folk a fair ꝯpanye wel apparayled I wyll go ayēs him & with hē to mete & hem assaille / And sir Hugh̄ the spencer saw y e falsenesse of him & the treson: ād said to him O traitour tak & proued yowre falsenesse shall nat auaylle yow / And Hugh̄ the spencer commaūded anon̄ for to bīde him. & in all hast went to hir enemyes & quelled of the scottes xxij.M. for the scottes had that tyme no man with hē of honour / sauf sir Patrik Graham that manly faught & lōge / & at the last he was quelled And tho sayd the ēglyssh men in reproue of the scottes: the se scater and scottes hold I for sotes of wrences vnwarre erly in a mornȳg in an euyll tymyng wēt ye fro Dunbare
¶When they that were in the castell sawe the scomfyture they yolden the castell vnto the Englyssh men / and vnto the king Edward. And ther were in the castell thre erles & vij barons & xxviij knightes and xi / clerkes & vij pycardes / and they all were presented vnto kyng Edward. & he sent hem to y e towre of Lōdō to ben̄ kept there:
¶How king Edward of his grete grace delyured ayen̄ the scottes owte of pryson that were cheuytaynes of the land: & they drowē hem to the Frensshmen thurgh coūceyll of William waleys Capitulo Clxix
WHen kyng Edward had made tho an [...] of the werre & takē the cheuytaines of Scotland / tho came sir johan Bailloll & yelde hym to king Edward & put him in his grace / & he was lad to Londō. And whē kȳg Edward was come thydder they were brought before hȳ. ād the kyng axed of hem how they wolde make amēdes of that trespas & losse that they had don̄ hȳ. & they put hem in his mercj Lordynges quod the kȳg I wyll nat your lādes ne non̄ of youre goodes / but j will that ye make to me an othe vpō goddes body to ben trewe to me: & nevyr aftyr this time ayēs me bere armes: & thei all cōsented to the kīges will & sworē vpō goddes body That is to seye sir Iohan of Comyn / & the erle of the strathorne: the erle of Carryk & also foure bisshoppes vndertok for all the clergie▪ and also the kīg delyured hē & yaf hē saufcōduyt. to wente into hyr owne lande / and it was nat longe aftyrward [Page] that they ne arysen ayens kyng Edward / for encheson that they wist that kyng Edwardys folke was take in Gascoyne as before is said / But sir Iohā Baillol kȳg of Scotlād wist well that this lād shold haue sorwe & shame for hyr falsenesse. & in hast went hȳ ouer the see to his owne landes & ther helde he him. & came ne vyr more ayen̄. Wherfore the scottes chosē to hyr kīg williā waleis a ribaud & an harlot come vp of nought. & moch̄ harme dyd to y e Englyssh men. And kȳg Edward thought how he might haue delyuerance of his peple that were takē in gascoyne. & in hast went ouer the see into Flaūdres for to werre vpon the kyng of Fraūce / And the erle of Flaūdres vndyrfong him wy t mochel honour & graūted hȳ all his landes at his owne will And whē the kyng of Fraūce herd telle that the kyng of Englōd was arryued in Flaūdres & came wy t an hugh̄ power hȳ for to destroie: he praied hȳ of trews for two yeres / so that englyssh̄ marchants & also frenssh̄ myght saufely gon̄ & come in bothe sydes. The kīg edward graūted it so that he must haue his men owte of prysō that were in Gascoyne. & the kyng of fraūce graūted anon̄: ād so they were delyvred / And in y e same tyme the Scottes sēt by the bisshop of seynt Andrewes into Fraūce to the kyng / & to sir Charlys hys brother. that sir Charlys shold come wy t his power: & they of scotland wold come with hir power / & so they shold gon̄ into Englōd that lād for to destroye frō Scotland tyll that they came to kent / and the scottes trust moch̄ vpon the Frensshmen. But of y t thyng they had no maner graūte. And notheles y e scottes begone to robbe & quelle in Northūberland ād dyd moch̄ harme
¶How williā Waleis let slee syr Hugh̄ of Cressyngham: & of the bataill of Fonkyrke Cap clxx
WHen this tyding was come to kyng Edward that wylliā Waleys had orde [...]ned such̄ a stronge power & that all scotlād to hym was attēdaūt & redy to quelle Englysshmen ād to destroye the lande / he was sore annoyed: ād sent anone by lettyr to the Erle of Garen. & to sir Hē ry percy (punctel) and to sir Wylliā L [...]tomer and to sir Hugh̄ of Cressyngham his tresorer. that thei shold take power ād gon̄ into Northū berland and so forth into scotlād for to kepe the cōtrees: And whā williā waleis herde of hir comȳg he began for to flee / and the Englysshmen hym folowed & drofe him tyll he came to stryuelyn ād ther he helde him in the castell: ād the walsshmē euery day hē escried & menaced: & dyd all the despite [Page] that they might / so that the englysshmen vpon a time in a mornyng wēt oute frō the castell the moūtaūce of x myle. & passyd ouer a brygge / And wylliā waleys came with a strōge power & drofe hem a bake / for the englisshmē had ayēs him tho no might / but fled / & thei that might take y e brigge askaped / but sir Hugh̄ the kȳ ges tresorer there was slayne: ād many othir also / wherfore was made moch̄ sorwe / tho had kyng Edward sped all his nedes ī flaū dres. & was ayen̄ comen into Englond / & in haste toke his way toward Scotlād: & came thydder at ascension tyde And all that he fō de he sette a fyre & brend / But the poure peple of scotlād came to hī wonder thykke & praied him for goddes loue that he wolde haue on thē mercy & pyte. wherfor the kyng tho cōmaūded no mā sholde done harme to hem that were yolden to him ne to no mā of ordre ne to hous of relygyon ne no maner chirch̄: but let aspie where that he myght fynde any of hys enemyes / Tho came aspye to the king & tolde hȳ where the scottes were assembled for to abyde bataille▪ And on seint Marie magdalene day the kȳg came to Fonkyrke: and yaf bataill to the scottes. and at that bataill were quelled xxxiij thousand. and of Englyssh men but xxviij & no mo / of y e whiche was a worthy knight slayne. that was a knyght hospyteler ād was kalled Frere bryā: For whē William waleys fled from y e bataille / that same Frere bryā hym purswyd fersely. and as his hors ran it stert into a mere of mareis vnto the bely And williā Waleis turned tho ayen̄ and there quelled the forsaid Briam. & that was moch̄ harme / ād that whyle kȳg Edward wente thurgh scotland for to enquere yf he myght fynde any of his enemyes And in that land he dwelled as longe as him lyked. & there was none enemye that durst him abyde / And sone aftyrward kȳg Edward went to Southampton for he wolde not abyde in Scotlād in wȳter. And whan he came to London. he let amēde many misdedes that were don̄ ayens his pees and his lawe: whiles that he was in Flaū dres
Of y e last mariage of kȳg edward. & how he wēt y e iij. time in scotland: Cap. Clxxi
ANd aftyrward it was ordeyned thurgh the court of rome that kȳg edward shold wedde dame Margarete / kyng Phelippes suster of Fraū ce. & y e erchebisshop robert of wȳ chestre spoused hē togedre. thurgh which̄ mariage there was made pees bitwen̄ kȳg edward of Englōd & kyng Phelippe of fraūce / Kȳg edward wēt tho the iij time [Page] into scotland / & tho within y e first yere he had enfamined the londe so that ther left not on that ne came to hys mercy: sauf thaȳ that were in the castell of Estrenelyne that was well vytailled & astored for vij / yere
¶How the castell of Estreneline was besieged Capi. Clxxij
Kyng Edward came wyth an huge power to the castell of Estrenelyn & besieged the castell: but it littell availled. for he might doo the Scottes non̄ harme: for the castell was so stronge & well kept / and kȳg Edward saw that / & thought hī vpō a queȳtyze. & let make anon̄ there two peyre of hygh̄ galowes before the towr of the castell. & made hys oth̄ that as many as were in the castell. were he erle or barō & he were take with strength̄. but if he wold the rather hym yelde / he shold ben̄ honged vpō the galowes And whan they that were in the castell herd thys: they cam̄ and yelde hem all to the kynges grace & mercy. & the kyng foryafe hem all his maltalent / & ther were all the grete lordes of Scotlād & swore to kīg Edward that they shold come to Londō to euery ꝑlament: & sholde stonde to his ordenaūce
¶How Troylebaston was fyrst ordeyned Capitulo / C.lxxiij
THe kȳg edward wēt thēs to London: & wēde haue rest ād pees of hys werre wy t which̄ werre he was occuped xx. yere / that is to seye: In walys In Gascoyne & in Scotlād: And thought how he myght recouer his tresour that he hath spended aboute hys werre [...] ād let enquyre thurgh the reaulme of all mystakȳges & wronges don̄ thurgh mysdores in Englōd of all y • time that he hath ben̄ owte o [...] his [...]eaulme / that men kalled Tro [...]ebaston: and ordeyned ther to [...]tyces: and in this maner he rec [...] ured tresour wythoute nombre And hys enchesō was for he had thought for to haue gon into t [...]e holy lād for to werre vpō goddes ennemyes For enche [...]on that he was crossyd longe tyme before. & notheles that lawe y t he had ordeyned dede moche good thurgh all Englōd to hem that were [...]bode: for they that trespaced were well chastyzed & aftyrward the meker ād the bettyr. & the poure cōmunes were in rest & in pees. & that same tyme kīg Edward enprysōned his owne sone Edward for encheson that walter of Langetō bisshop of Chestre that was the kynges tresorer had made vpon him complaynt. & sayd that the forsaid Edward thurgh coū ceill & procurement of one p [...]ers of ganastone a squyer of Gascoine [Page] had broke y e parkes of the forsaid bisshop / ād the forsaid piers coūceilled & lad the sam̄ Edward / and for this cause king Edward exilled his sone owt of Englond for evyrmore.
¶Of the deth of William waleis the fals traytour Cap. Clxxiiij
ANd whē this kȳg edward had his enemies ouercome jn walys / in gascoyne & in scotlād: & destroied hys traytours but only y t rybaulde williā waleys / that nevyr to the kȳg hȳ wolde yelde: & at the last in y e ton̄e of seȳt domenic in the yere of kīg edwards regne xxxiij y e fals traytour was tak & presēted to y e kȳg / sauf the king wold nat se hȳ. but sent hȳ to lōdō to vndyrfōge hys iugemēt. & on seint bartholomewes euē he was honged & drawe & his hede smitē of: & his boweles take oute of his body & brāde: ād his body quartred / & sent to iiij. y e beste townes of scotlād / & his hede sette vpō a spere & sette vpō lō don brugge / in example that the scottes sholde haue in mynde for to bere hem amis ayēs hyr liege lord eftsones
¶How the Scottes came to kȳg Edward for to amēde hir trespace that they had don̄ ayēs hym Capitulo Clxxv
ANd at Mychelmasse tho next comȳg kȳg edward helde hys parlament at westmynster & thydder came the scottes that is to seye / the bisshop of seȳt Andrew. Robert the brus Erle of Carryk: Symōd the frysell. Iohan the Erle of Athell / ād they were accorded with the kȳg ād boundē. & by oth̄ sworne that aftyrward if any of hem mysbere hem ayens king Edward that thei shold ben̄ disheryted for euyr more. And whē hir pees was thꝰ made. they toke hyr leue preuely: & went home to hyr contre·
How Robert the brus chalēged scotland Capit. Clxxvi
ANd aftyr this Robert the Brus erle of Carryk sente by hys letter to the erles & barōs of Scotlād that they shold come to him to scone in the morwe aftyr the conceptyō of our lady for hygh̄ nedes of the land / ād the lordes came at the day assygned And at the same day sir Robert y e brus said. Fair lordes full well ye knowe that in my persone dwelleth the right of the reaume of Scotlād. & as ye wyte well I am right full heyr▪ seth that sir Iohan Bailoll that was our kīg vs hath forsake & lefte hys lande: & though it so be that kyng Edward of Englōd wy t wronge full power hath made me to hȳ assē te ayens my wyll yf that ye wyll graūte that I be kynge of Scotland I shall kepe yowe ayēs kȳg [Page] Edward. & ayens all maner men And with that worde the abbot of Skone arose / and before hem all sayde: that it was reson for to helpe him: and the lande to kepe & defende. and tho sayd he in presence of hem all that he wolde hȳ yeue a thousād poūde for to maȳ ten̄ that lād: & all the othyr graū ted the lād to him: & with hyr power him for to helpe / ād defyend king Edward of Englōd: & sayd that robert the brus shold be kīg of scotland
¶How sir Iohā of Comyn gaȳ sayd the crownyng of sir Robert the Brus Cap. Clxxvij
LOrdynges sayd sir Iohan of Comyn thenketh vpō the truth̄ & the oth̄ that ye made vnto kyng Edward of englond. & thouchyng my self j will not breke myne othe for no man And so he went fro that cōpanie at that time. wherfore robert the brus & all that to hȳ cōsented were wonder wroth & thei menaced sir Iohā of Comȳ. Tho ordeyned they an othyr coūceill at Dōfrys to the which̄ came the forsayd sir johā comyn / he dwelled but two myle from donfrys there that he was wōt for to soiourne & abide
How sir Iohan was traitoursly quelled Ca. Clxxviij
WHē Robert the brus wist that all the grete lordes of scotlād were come to scone sauf sir Iohan comyn that soiourned tho nygh̄ Scone: he sent aftyr hī specially y t sir johā comȳ shold come & speke w t hī / & vpon y t he sent aftir hī johā comyns brother & praied hī for to come & speke w t him at y e gray frerys / & that was y e thursday after cādelmasse: & sir Iohā graūted hī for to wēte w t hȳ. And whē he had herd masse he toke a soppe & drāk & afterward he bestrode his palfray ād rode his way. & so came to dofris. ād robert y e brus saw hī come at a wȳdowe as he was in his chā bre. & made tho ioye ynowe. & came ayēs him & co [...]ied him about y e neck & made w t hȳ good sēblāt. And whā all y e erles & barons of scotlād were p̄sent. robert y e brus spake ād said Lordes quod he ye wite well the encheson of this comyng / & wherfore it is: yf ye wyll graunte that I be kȳg of scotlād as ryght heir of the lande. & alle y e lordes that were there sayd with one voys that he sholde be crounyd kyng of scotland and that they wold hym helpe ād mayntene ayens all maner men on liue / and for hym yeve it yf were nede. and deye also / The gentyll knyght tho Iohan of Comyne answeryd and sayde / Certes nevyr for me / ner for to haue of me as moche helpe as the value a boutouue / for that oth̄ whych̄ I haue made to the noble kynge [Page] Edward of Englōd I shall holde whiles my lyfe lastyth / & wy t that worde he went fro the cōpanye & wold haue lept vpon his palfray And robert the brus purswyd hī with a drawe swerde & bare him thurgh the body: & syr Iohan comȳ fylle downe to the Erthe. but whan rogyer that was sir Iohā comyns brother saw the falsenesse. he stert to sir Robert the Brus and smote hym wy t a knyfe: but the fals traitour was armed vndyr so that the stroke might do hī no harme. ād so moch̄ helpe cam̄ aboute sir Robert the Brus. so y t rogyer comyn was there quelled and all to hewe into smalle peces And robert y e brus turned ayen̄ ther that sir Iohan Comyn the noble baron lay wounded & pyned toward his deth besydes the hyghe Auter in the chyrch̄ of the gray frerys: & sayd vnto syr Iohā comȳ. O traitour thow shalt be dede & nevyrmore aftir let myne avaūcemēt. & toke his swerde at the hygh̄ auter & smote hȳ on the hede that y e brayne fyll a doune vpon the groūde / & the blode stert an hygh̄ vpon the wallys: & yet vnto thys daye that blode is sene there. that no watyr may wasshe it away / ād so deyed that noble knight in the holy chyrche And whan the traitour Robert the Brus sawe that no man tho wold let hys coronacion he commaūded all them which̄ were of grete power to come to his crounyng to seynt Iohannes towne in Scotlād. And so it befell that in owr lady day of Annūcyacyō the bisshop of Glastone and the bisshop of seynt Andrewe crowned for hyr kȳg Robert the brus in seint Iohannes towne & made hym kyng. And anone drofe owte all the Englysshmē owt of scotland / and they fled and came and playned vnto kȳg Edward: how robert the Brus had dryuē hem owte of the land and disherited hem
¶How kyng Edward dubbed at westmȳster xxiiij. score knightes Capitulo / Clxxx
ANd whan kyng edward herde of this meschyef he swore that he wolde therof ben̄ auenged / ād sayd that all the traytours of scotland sholde ben̄ honged and drawē / ād that they shold nevyr ben̄ raunsoned And kȳg Edward thought vpō his falsenesse that y e scottes hath don̄: and sent aftyr all the bachelerye of Englond that thei shold come to London at witsontyde. and he dubbed at westmynster xxiiij score knyghtes. Tho ordeined hym the noble kȳg Edward for to wente into Scotlād for to werre vpō that robbert the brus and sent before hym into scotlād sir Aymer y e vaillaūt erle of panbroke [Page] / & sir Hēry percy baron wy t a fayre cōpanye that purswyd y e scottes & brent the townes & castelles. and aftyrward came y e kīg him self with erles and barons a fayre companye
¶How Robert the brus was scō fyted in bataille· & how symond Frysell was slayne Ca / clxxxj
THe Fryday next before y e assumpcyon of our lady kyng Edward mette Robert the Brus besyde seint Iohā nes towne in scotlād & with hys companye. of whych̄ companye kīg Edward quelled vij.M. whē Robert y e brus saw this meschief he began to flee ād hyd him that no man might him finde But sir simond Frysell pursued him sore so that he turned ayene ād abode bataill / for he was a worthy knight and a bolde of body: and the Englysshmen pursued euer sore in euery syde And queld the stede that sir simond Frisell rode vpō / and they toke him & lad hȳ vnto the host And sir simond begā for to flater & speke fayre & said / Lordes I shall yeve yowe iiij marke of syluer & myn horse. myne harneys and all myn armure ād become a begger Tho āsweryd theanbode of peuenes that was the kynges archier: nowe god me so helpe / it is for nought that thow spekest / for all the gold in englōd I wolde the nat let gon̄ withoute cōmaūdement of kyng Edward And tho was he lad to kyng Edward. and the king wolde not see him but cōmaūded to lede hym a way to haue his dome at lōdō. And on our ladyes euen natiuite he was honged and drawen. & his heed smyten of: and honged ayen̄ with cheynes of yren vpon the galowes / And hys hede was sette vpon london brugge vpō a spere: and ayens Crystmasse the body was brēd for encheson that the men that kepte the body by night they saw so many deueles raumped with grete jren crokes rennyng vpō the galowes ād horrybyly turmende the body & many that hem saw anon̄ aftyr thei deyed for drede. & some worē wode or sore sikkenesse they had ād in that bataill was take the bysshop of Glaston̄. y e bisshop of seȳt Andrewes. ād the Abbot of scone all armed with jren as mē of armes as fals traitours ād fals prelats ayens hyr othe. and they were brought to the kyng: and the kyng sent hem to the pope of Rome that he shold doo with hē what his will were
¶How Iohan Erle of Atheles was take and put to the deth Capitulo C.lxxxij
[Page] ANd at that bataill fled sir Iohan Erle of atheles ād went into a chirche & ther hyd he hym for drede: but he myght there haue no refute for ēcheson that the chyrch̄ was enterdyted thurgh a generall sentēce / ād in the same chyrche he was take. And this sir Iohā wende well to haue scapyd from the deth. for encheson that he claymed kynred of kyng Edward. And the kyng nold no lēger be taried of his traitours / but sent hȳ to lōdō in hast: & there he was hōged & hys hede smytē of / and his body brēt all to asshys But at the prayer of y e quene Margarete for encheson that he claymed of kȳg Edward kynred his drawyng was foryeve hȳ
¶How Iohan that was willyā waleys brothyr was put to deth. Capitulo Clxxxiij
WHen the gretest maistres of scotlād were thus don̄ to euyll deth & shēded for hyr falsenesse johā that was william waleys brother was take & done to deth as sir Iohan erle of Atheles was
¶How Robert the brus fled frō scotlāt to Norwey Ca / clxxxiiij
ANd at that tyme was robert the Brus moch̄ hated amōge the peple of scotland. so he wist nat what was for to done: and for to hydde hym he went to norwey to the kyng that had spoused his suster: & ther helde he hȳ socour for to haue. And whā Robert the brus might nat be foundē in scotland: kyng Edward tho let crye his pees thurgh oute all the land / & his lawes were vsed And his ministres serued thurgh oute all the land
¶How kyng Edward deyed Capitulo C.lxxxv
WHen kyng Edward had abated hys enemyes (punctel) he turned ayen̄ southward. & a maladye toke him at Burgh vp sand in the marche of scotlād: & he wist well that hys deth was full nygh̄. & kallyd to him sir Hē ry y e Lacy Erle of nychol / sir Guy erle of warrewyk· sir Aymer valaunce Erle of Panbroke. and sir Robert of Gylford barō / & praied hem vpō the fayth that they him owed / that they shold make Edward of Canervan kyng of Englond hys sone as rathe as they might / ād that they shold nat suffre Piers of Ganestō come ayen̄ into Englond for to make his sone to vse ryotte. & they graunted hȳ with good wyll. And the king toke the sacramēt of holy chyrch̄ as a good crysten man shold. ād deyde in veray repentaūce. And whan he had be kyng xxxv. yere / he deyed: ād was buryed at westmynster with mochel solempnite / vpon whos sowle god haue mercy. Amen
¶Of Merlyns prophecyes that were declared of kyng Edward (punctel) that was kyng henryes sone Capitulo c.lxxxvi
ANd of this kyng Edward ꝓphecied Merlyn & called hȳ a dragō / the secōd king of the vj last kinges that shold be for to regne in englōd / & said that he shold be medled wy t mercy / ād also w t strength̄ & sternesse. y t shold kepe englōd for colde & here / and that he shold open̄ hys mouth toward walys. & that he shold sette his ony foot in wyke. and that he shold close wy t walles that sholde do moch̄ harme to his seed / ād he sayd soth: for y e good kȳg edward was medled with mercy & w t fersenesse / with mercy ayēs hys ennemyes of walys. & aftyr of Scotland with fersenesse when he put hem to deth for hyr falsenesse as they had deseruyd it. ād wel kept he Englōd from colde & hete. sith he kepte it from all maner ennemyes that came vpō him to don̄ him any wrōge And well he openyd his mouth toward walys / & made it quake thurgh y e hydour of his mouth when he cōquered it thurgh dynt of swerd: for y e prī ce Lewelyne & Dauid his brothir Ris: and Morgan were put vnto the deth / for their falsenesse ād hyr folye / And he sette his o foot into wyke ād cōquered Berewyk / at the which̄ cōquest were slayn̄ xxv / thousand· & vij hōdred owte take hem that were brend in the reed halle And the walles that he let make / shall be noyoꝰ vnto his seed (punctel) as men shall here aftyr se in the lyfe of sir Edward of Carnaruan his sone. And yet merlȳ said that he shold make ryuiers renne in blode and with brayne and that semed well ī his werrys there that he had the maistrie And yet Merlyn said that there shold come a peple owte of the North west duryng the regne of the forsaid dragon that shold be lad by an ylle greyhownde that shold y e dragon crowne kyng that aftyrward shold flee ouer y e see for drede of the dragon withoute comīg ayen̄ [...] and that was proued bi sir Iohan bailloll. that kȳg edward made to ben̄ king of scotlād that falsely arose ayēs him. & aftyr he fledde vnto hys owne landes of fraūce ād nevyr come ayen̄ into scotlād for drede of kyng edward And yet said merlȳ. that peple y t shold lede the forsayd Greyhoūd. shold be fadreles vn tyll a certaȳ tyme / and he said soth. for the peple of scotland gretely were disesed aftyr that sir Iohan Bailloll hyr kyng fledde from scotland And yet said Merlyn that y e sunne shold become in hys tyme as rede as blode in tokenȳg of grete [Page] Mortalite of peple. and that was well knowē whē the scottes were slayne / & syth said Merlyn that y e same dragon shold noryssh a fox that shold meove grete werre ayenst hym that shold nat in his time bene endyd▪ And that semed well by Robert y e Brus that king Edward norysshed in his chābre that sythenes stale away & meouyd grete werre ayēs him which̄ werre was not endyd in his time And aftyrward Merlȳ told that this dragō shold be hold the best body of all y e world. & he said soth. for the good kyng Edward was y e worthyest knight of all y e world in his tyme. And yet said merlyn that the dragon shold deye in the marche of an othyr land / ād that his lād shold be longe withoute any good keper. & that mē shold wepe for his deth from the Ile of shepey vnto the Ile of marchyll / Wherfore allas shold be hir commune songe amonge peple fadreles in the land / ād that prophecie was knowē ouerall full well: for the good king Edward deyed at Burgh vp sādes / that is vpō the the marche of Scotlād. wherfore the Englysshmen were discōfited & sorowed in Northūberland: for encheson that king edwardes sone sette by the scottes no force for y e ryot of piers of Ganastō: wherfor allas was y e songe thurghout all englōd. for defaute of a good wardeyn from the jle of sheppey vnto the Ile of marcyll. the peple made moche sorwe for kyng Edwardes deth. for they wende that the good kyng Edward shold haue gon̄ into the holy lāde for that was holli his purpose / vpō whos sowle god for his hyghe grace haue mercy
¶Of kȳg Edward that was kȳg edwardes sone. Cap. clxxxvij.
ANd aftyr this kīg edward regned edward his sone y t was bore in Caernarvā. & this Edward went into fraūce & spoused Isabell the kynges doughtyr of Fraūce the xxv / day of janyuer / at the chyrch̄ of our lady at Boloigne / In the yere of owre lord Ihesu Crist a M / ccc / vij and the xx day of Feuerer the next yere that came aftyr he was crowned solemply at westmynster: of the erchebysshop Robert of wȳ chestre: ād of the erchebysshop of Caūterbury (punctel) & there was so grete prece of peple y t sir Iohan Bacwell was dede ād murdred / And anone as the good kyng edward was dede / Sir edward hys sone kyng of englōd sente aftyr Piers of Ganaston̄ into Gascoyne: ād so moch̄ loued he him that he called hym hys brother. And anon̄ aftyr he yafe hym the lordshyp of Wallyngford. and it was not lō ge [Page] aftyr that he ne yafe hym the Erledome of Cornewaille ayens alle the lordes wille of the Reaulme / And tho brought he sir Walter of Langeton bysshop of Chestre into pryson into the towre of London with two knaves allon̄ hym to serue (punctel) For the kyng was wroth with hym for cause that sir Walter made compleynt vpō hȳ to his fadre: wherfore he was put into pryson in the tyme of troyllebastone ¶And the forsayd Piers of Ganaston̄ made so grete maistries that he wente in to the kynges tresorye in the Abbeye of westmynstre and tok the table of goold with the tresselles of the same / and many othyr ryche iewelles / that some tyme were the noble and good kyng Arthures: and toke hem to a marchaunt that was kalled Aymery of Friscombande. For he sholde bere hem ouer the see in to Gascoyne / and so he wente thens. ād the iewelles came nevyr ayen̄ aftyr. wherfore it was grete losse vnto thys lād / And whē this Piers was so rychely avaūced he became so prowde and so stoute that it was a wondyr: wherof all the grete lordes of the Reaulme had hȳ in despyte for his grete berȳg. wherfore sir Henry the lacy Erle of Nycholl & sir Guy Erle of warrewyke. and them whyche good kyng Edward had yeven y e charge that Piers of Ganaston̄ shold nat come into Englōd for to brī ge his sone Edward into Riot And all the lordes of Englōd assembled hem at a certayn daye: at the freres prechours at Londō and spokē of the dishonour that kyng Edward dyd vnto hys Reaume and to his crowne. and so thei aygred that the forsaid piers of Ganastone sholde ben̄ exilled oute of Englond for evyrmore & it was done. for he forswore Englond / and wente into Irland: & the kyng made hym chiuetayne and gouernour of the lād bi his ꝯmyssyon / And there this piers was chyuetayne of all the lande: and dyd there all that hym lyked. and had power what he wolde / And at that tyme were the templers exilled thurgh all crystiente. for enchesō that men put vpō hem that thei shold done somme thyng ayens the ryght fayth ād good beleue ¶Kyng Edward loued the forsayd Piers of Ganastone so moche that he might not forlet his companye: and so moch̄ the kyng yafe and behyght to the peple of Englond that the e [...] illyng of the forsaid Piers sholde bene reuoked at Stawnforde thurgh hem that hym had exylled: Wherfore the forsayd Pyers of Ganaston̄ cam̄ ayen̄ into englōd [Page] And whan he was come ayen̄ in to this land [...] he despysed the grettest lordes of this lād. & kalled sir Robert of Clare erle of Gloucestre bore sone / & the erle of Nichol sir Hēry the Lacy Brostebely: ād sir Guy erle of Warrewyk y e blake hounde of Arderne / ād also he called the noble erle & gētyll Thomas of Lācastre Chorle: & many other scornes and shame hē said. and by many other grete lordes of Englond. wherfore they were towardys hym full angry & sore annoyed: and in the same tyme deyed the erle of Nychol. but he charged or he was dede Thomas of Lācastre Erle that was his sone in lawe that he shold mayten̄ his querell ayens the same Piers of Ganaston̄ vpon his beueson And so it was ordeyned thurgh helpe of the erle of Lancastre ād of the erle of warrewyk / that the forsayd Syr Piers was beheded at Gauesich besides warrewyk y e xix day of Iuyn̄. in y e yere of grace a Mccc. & xij / wherfore the kȳg was sore annoyed & praied god y t he might se that day to ben̄ avē ged vpon the deth of the forsayd Piers / & so it befell aftyrward as ye shall here / Allas the tyme. for the forsaid Erle of Lancastre ād many othir grete barons were▪ put to pitous deth / & martred for ēcheson of y e forsaid querell. The kyng was tho at Londō: & helde a parlamēt: & ordeined the lawes of sir Symond monfort. wherfor the erle of Lancastre & the Erlys and all the clergye of englōd made an oth̄ thurgh coūseill of Robert of wynchestre for to maȳten̄ the ordenaūces for evyrmore
How Robert y e brus came ayen̄ into scotlād. & gadred a grete power of men for to werre vpō kȳg Edward Capitulo Clxxxviij
ANd whan sir Robert the brus that made him kȳg of scotland that was fled īto Norwey for drede of the good kyng Edward: and herde of the debate that was ī englōd bitwen̄ the king ād his lordes / He ordeyned an hoost & came into englōd into Northūberland & clenely destroyed the contre. And when kīg Edward herde thys tydynge: he let assemble his hoost (punctel) and mette the scottes at Estreuelyne in the day of natiuite of seȳt johā baptyst in the vij yere of his regne. & in the yere of our lord Ihesu crist a M / ccc. and xiiij. Allas the sorwe and losse that there was don̄. for there was slayne the noble Erle Gillebert of Clare. sir Robert of Gliford baron and many other. and of other peple that no man cowde nombre / and there kyng Edward was scōfyted. & sir Edmond of Maule the kynges styward [Page] for drede went and drēched hym selfe in a fresh ryuer that is kalled Bannokesborne: wherfor the scottes said in reproue & despite of kyng Edward: for as moch̄ as he loued to gon̄ by water and also for he was discōfyted at Bā nokesborne / therfor maydēs made a songe therof in that cōtre of kyng Edward of englond. And in thys maner they songē Maydens of englōd sare may ye morne for ryght haue ye lost your lā mans at Bānokesborne with heualogh / what wende the kyng of Englond to haue gete Scotland with rumbylowe
When kyng Edward was discō fyted he was wonder sory: & fast fledde wy t hys folke that was left on lyue and went to Berewyke / and ther helde he hym / and aftyr he toke hostages that is to wytē. .vij. chyldren of the rychest of the towne / & the kyng wente to Lōdō & toke coūceyll of thȳges that were nede full vnto the reaulme of Englond And in the same tyme it befell that tho was in englond a rybaulde that was called Iohā Tanner & he went & said that he was the good kyng Edwardes sone. & let hym be called Edward of Carnarvan. & therfor he was take at Oxenford· & there he chalenged the freres Carmes chyrch̄ that kyng Edward had yeuē hē / the which̄ chyrch̄ some tyme was the kynges halle And aftyrward was this Iohan lad to Northāpton and drawe / & there hōged for his falsenesse. & er that he was dede he confessyd & said before all y e peple that there was. that y e deuel behight him that he shold be kīg of Englond. & y t he had serued the deuyll thre yere
How y e towne of Berewyk was take thurgh treson: & how ij. cardinalls were robbed in englond: .C. clxxxix
ANd ī mydlētē sōday in y e yere of our lord Ihū crist Mccc.xvi. Berewyk was lost thurgh fals treson of one Piers of Spaldīg the which̄ piers y e kȳg had put ther for to kepe y e same toune w t many burgeis of the towne wherfor y e childrē that were put ī hostage thurgh the burgeis of Berewyk folewed the kynges marchalsie many dayes fetered in strōge yrnes And aftyr that time ther camen cardinalles into englōd as y e [...]ope had hem sent for to make pees bitwene scotland & Englōd And as they wente toward Duresme. for to haue sacred maistir lowys of Beaumōt bisshop of Durehā / & as they went they were takē ād robbed vpō y e more of wīglesdoune. of which̄ robbery sir guillebert of middeltō was attaȳt & take: & hōged. & drawē at lōdon· and his heed smitten of: and sette vpon a spere and vpon newe gate And [Page] the iiij quarters sēt to for cites of englond And that same time befell many myschefes in ēglōd: for the poure peple deyde in englōd for hūger. & so moch̄ & so fast deid that vnnethe men might hē bury. for a quartyr of whete was worth xl shyllȳges. & ij yere & an half a q̄rter of whete was worth x marc: and oftetymes the poure peple stale childrē & ete hem. & also all the hoūdes that thei might take. and eke hors and cattes / ād aftyr ther fyll a grete moreyne amōges bestes in dyuerse cōtrees of Englond durȳg kyng edwardes lyfe
¶How the scottes robbed Northumberland Capitulo Cxc
ANd in the same tyme came the Scottes ayen̄ into Englōd and destroyed Northumberland and brēd that lād and robbed it. & quelled men women & chyldren that lyenth in cradellys / ād brent also holy chyrche & destroied cristendome & toke & bare englysshmennys gooddes as they had ben̄ sarazenes or paynyms. ād of the wykkednesse that they dyden / all the world spake therof thurgh alle crystendome
¶How the Scottes wolde not amende hir trespace. and therfor scotland was enterdyted Capitulo Cxci
AN when pope Iohan the xxij / aftyr seynt petre herde of the grete sorwe and meschief that y e scottes wrought. he was wonder sory that cristendome was so destroied thurgh y e scottes And namely thei destroied so holy chyrch̄ / wherfore the pope sent a generall sentence vndyr his bulles of lede vnto the Archibisshop of Caunterbury / & to the erchbisshop of york / that if robert the brus of scotlād wolde not be iustifyed & make amendes vnto the kyng of englōd Edward hyr lord / & make amendes of his losse and his harmes that they had don̄ in Englond: ād also to restore the goodes that they had takē of holy chyrche that the sentence sholde be pronūced thurgh all englond And when the scottes herde this thei wolde not let hir malyce for the [...]opes cōmaūdement Wherfor robert brꝰ Iames douglas ād Thomas Raudulph erle of Moiref· all tho that with him communed or hem helpe in worde or in dede were accursed in euery chyrch̄ thurgh all englōd eueri day at masse iij tymes: & no masse sholde be songe in holy chyrche thurgh oute all scotland / but yf y e scottes wolde make restytucyon of the harmes that thei had made vnto holy chyrch̄: wherfor many [Page] a good prest & holy men therfore were slayn̄ thurgh the reaume of scotland / for encheson that they wold sing no masse ayens y e [...]opes commaūdement & ayens his will: & to done and fullfyll the tyraunts wille
¶How sir Hugh̄ the spēcers sone was made the kynges chamberlayne & of y e bataill o Mytone Capitulo Cxcij
ANd it was not lōge aftyrward that the king ordeined a parlament at york and there was sir Hugh̄ the spē cers sone made chamburlayne / & in the mene tyme whyle the werre last: the king went ayene into scotland that it was wonder for to wyt. & besieged y e towne of Berewyke. but scottes wēt ouer the watyr of solewath that was thre myle from the kynges hoste / and pryuely they stelle away bi night and camē into Englōd & robbed & destroied all that they might & spared no maner thyng tyll that they camē vnto york. And when the Englysshmen that were lefte at home herde this thȳg / all they that might trauaille as well mō kes & prestes & frerys & chanons· and seculers came & mete with y e scottes a my [...]one vp Swale: The xij day of octobre Allas what sorwe. the Englyssh housbondmen that cowde nothing of the werre that there were quelled & drēched in an arme of the see And hir chiviteyns Sir william of Melton / Erchebisshop of york & the abbot of Selby with her stedes fledde & camen vnto york: & that was hir owne foly that they had that mischaūce for they passed the watyr of Swalle: and the scottes sette a fyre the stakkes of hey & the smoke therof was hugh̄. that the Englysshmen might not see the scottes / And whē y e Englysmen were gone ouer the watyr [...] tho camen the scottes wy t hir wynge in maner of a shelde and camē toward the englysshmen in aray: and the Englysshmē fled. for vnneth thei had any mē of armes. for the k [...]g had hem almost loste at the siege of Berewyk / & the scottish hobylers went bytwene the brugge & the englysshmen And whan the grete host hem met· the englyssh men fledde bytwene the hob [...]ers & the grete host and the Englysshmen almost were there quelled & he that might wende ouer y e watyr was saued / but many were draint. Allas for ther was slayne many men of relygion and seculiers and eke prestes and clerk [...]s. and wyth moch̄ sorwe the erchebysshop ascapyd. and therfor called y e scottes that bataill the white bataill
How kyng Edward dyd all maner thyng that sir Hugh̄ the spē cer wolde. Cap. Cxciij
[Page] ANd whan king Edward herde this tydinge: he remeued his siege from berewyk and came ayene into Englond / But sir Hugh̄ the spencer the kynges sone that was the kȳ ges chambyrlayne kept so y e kinges chambre that no man must speke wyth the kyng but he that yaue him a brybe for to don̄ hys nede / and that ouer mesure. And this Hugh̄ bere hȳ so stoute that all man had of hȳ scorne & despyte (punctel) & the kȳg hȳ self wold not ben̄ gouernyd ne rulyd by no maner man but only bi his fadre & bi hī / & if any knight of Englond had woddes maners or lordshyppes that they wolde coueyt. anon̄ the kyng must yeve it hem. or elles y e man that ought it shold be falsely endyted of forest or of felonye: And thurgh such̄ doyng thei disheryted many a good bachelier & so moche land they geten that it was wondyr· & when the lordes of Englōd sawe the grete couetise and the falsenesse of sir Hughe the spencer the fadre & of sir hugh̄ the sone / they camē to the gentyll erle of Lancastre & axed him coū ceyll of the disese that was in the Reaulme thurgh sir Hugh y e spē cer the fadre. & of sir Hugh̄ the sone / and in haste by owne assente they made a pryue assēble at shirborne in Elmede / & all they made there an othe for to breke ād destrouble the doyng bitwene y e kīg & sir Hugh the spencer & his sone vpō hir power / And they wente into y e marche of walys & destroied the lād of y e forsaid sir hughes
How sir Hugh̄ the spencer & his fadre were exilled owt of Englōd Capi. Cxciiij
WHen king edward sawe y e grete harme and destruc / tiō that y e barōs of ēglōd didē to sir Hugh̄ the spēcers [...]āde & to his sones in euery place that they camen vpō. & the kīg tho thurgh his coūceyl exilled sir Iohā Monbray: sir Rogier of Gliford: & sir Goselyne Dauill. & many other lordes that were to hē cōsēt / Wherfore the barōs dyd tho more harme than they didē before. & when the kyng sawe that the barons wold not cese of hir cruelte / the kyng was sore adrad lest they wolde destroye him ād his reaume for his mayntenaunce / but if that he assēted to hem. And so he sent for hem by lettres that they shold come to lōdō to his ꝑlemēt at a certaȳ day as in his lrēs was ꝯteyned And they camē wy t thre batailles well armed at all poīts & eueri bataill had cote armures of grene cloth / & therof y e right q̄rt was yelwe w t whit bendes. wherfor y t parlamēt was called y e parlamēt of the whitbende And in y e cōpanye was sir Vmfrey de Bohene / erle of Herford and sir Rogier [Page] of Clyfford: sir Iohan Monbray / sir Gecelyn dauyl / sir rogier mortymer vncle of sir rogier mortymer of wygmore: sir Henry of trais (punctel) sir Iohan Giffard. & sir bartholomewe of badelesmore: that was the kynges stiward: that the king had sent to shirborne in Elmede to the erle of Lācastre ād to all that with him were for to trete of accorde that him allied to y e barons. & with that cōpanye / ād sir Rogier Dāmorie / & sir Hugh̄ Dandale: that had spoused kīges neces suster. & sir Gillebert of Clare of Glowcestre that was queld in scotland as before is said And the two lordes had tho ij. parties of the erldome of gloucestre. and sir Hugh̄ the spēcer the sone had the thridde part in his wyfes halfe. the thridde sustyr & the ij. lordes went to the barons wyth all power ayens sir Hugh̄ hir brother: in lawe / And so ther came wy t hē sir Rogier of Clyfford: sir Iohan Mōbray / sir Gosselme dauyll. sir rogier Mortymer of werke sipe / Rogier mortymer of Wygmore his nepheu / sir Hēry trais. sir johan giffard (punctel) sire Bartholomewe of badelesmore with all hir companye / & many othir that to hem were consent / All these grete Lordes camen to westmynstre to the kynges parlemēt: & so they spokē and did that bothe sir Hugh spē cer the fadre. ād sir hugh̄ the sone were owtelawed of Englond for euermore / And sir Hugh the fadre went to Douer & made moch̄ sorwe / and felle downe vpon the groūde by the see banke acros w t his armes & sore wepīg said / now fayre Englond and good englōd to almighty god I the betake / ād thries cust the groūde & wēde neuer to haue comen ayen̄: ād wepyng full sore kursed the tyme y t euyr he begate sir hugh̄ his sone: & said for hym he had lost all Englong / And in presence of hē that were aboute him / he yafe hȳ hys curse: ād went ouer the see to his landes / but sir hugh̄ the sone wolde not gone out of Englond. but helde him in the see. and he & hys companye robbed two dromondes besyde sādewych & toke & bere away all the good that was in thaym to y e value of xl.M poūde
How the kyng exilled Erle Thomas of Lancastre & all that helde with hym / and how the Mortymer came & yelde him to the kȳg & of the lordes Cap. Cxcv
IT was not longe aftyr y t the kyng ne made sir hughe spencer the fadre and sir Hughe the spēcer the sone come ayene into Englond ayēs the lordes wyll of the reaulme: and sone aftyr the kyng with a stronge power came and besieged the [Page] castell of ledes & in the castel was the lady of Badelesmere / for ēcheson that she wolde not graunte y e castell to quene Isabell kyng Edwardes wyfe: but the pryncipall cause was for encheson y t sir Bartholomewe badelesmere was ayens the kyng. ād helde with y e lordes of Englōd: & notheles y e kȳg by helpe & socour of men of lōdō. & also of helpe of southerne men the kyng gate the castell mangre hē all that were theryn / & toke w t hym all that he might fynde: and whan the barons of englōd herd of this thyng. sir Rogier mortymer & othir many lordes toke the towne of brugeforth wy t strēgthe Wherfore the king was wonder wroth & let outelawe thomas of Lācastre & Vmfrey de bahoune erle of herford / & all tho that were assentant to the same quarel / ād the king assembled an huge host. & came ayēst the lordes of englōd. wherfore the mortymers put hē to the kynges mercy & his grace / ād anon̄ they were sent to y e tour of London & there kept in pryson / & when the barons herd of thys thyng they camen to Pounfret / there the erle thomas soiourned / and told hī how that Mortimers both had yelde hem to the kyng and put hem in his grace
Of the siege of Tykhill Capi. Cxcvi
WHen sir Thomas erle of Lancastre herde this thei were wonder wroth. and all that were of his companye. & gretly they were discomfyted. ād ordeyned hir power to gedre / and besieged the castell of Tykhyll. but they that were withynne. so manly defēded hem self that the barons might not gete the castel And when the kyng herde that his castell was besieged: he swore by god and by hys holy names / that the siege sholde be remeved / and assembled an hughe power of peple / and went thydderward to reskewe the castell / and his power encresed from day to day. ¶Whenne the noble and gentyl Erle of Lancastre ād the Erle of Herford. and the barons of hyr companie herd of this thȳg they assembled all hir power and wēt hem to Burton vp Trent ād kepte the brygge that the kyng shold nat passe ouer But it befell so on y e / x / day of the moneth of march̄ In y e yere of grace thowsand thre hondred and xxi / the kyng ād the spencer sir Aymer Valaunce erle of Penbroke. and sir Iohan erle of Arundell / ād hyr power wē ten ouer the watyr and discomfited the Erle Thomas and his cō panye. and they fledden vnto the castell of Tutbery: and fro thennes they wenten to pounfret / ād [Page] in that vyage deyed sir rogier dā morie in the Abbey of Tutbery / & in that same tyme the Erle thomas had a traitour with hȳ that was kalled Robert of Holand a knight that the erle had brought vp of nought: & had norysshed hȳ in his botelerie / & had yeven him a thowsand mark of land by yere And so moche he loued hym that he myght don̄ in the Erles court all thing that him lyked bothe amonge hye and lowe / & so quētely y t thefe bare hȳ ayēs his lord / y t he trustyd more vpō hym thā vpon any man a lyve. and the erle had ordeyned by his lettres for to wēte into y e Erldome of Lancastre for to make mē aryse to helpe him in that vyage· that is to seye .v.C / men of Armes: but the fals traitour came no ther no maner men for to warne ne to make arise for to helpe hys lorde And whā the traytour herde telle that hys lorde was discōfyted at Burtone as a fals thefe traitour he stalle away / ād robbed in Rauenesdale his lordes men that came fro the scomfyture. & toke of hem hors & harneis / & all that they had: and quelled of hem all that he myght take And tho came & yelde hȳ vnto the king. When the good Erle Thomas wist that he was so betraied he was sore abasshed and said to him selfe O almighty god quod he how might robert holād fynde in hys hert me to betraye: sithen̄es that I haue loued hȳ so moch̄. o god wele may now a mā see by hym that no man may deceyue an othir rather thā he that he trust moost vpon: he hath full euyl yelde my godnesse & the worship that I to hȳ haue done: and thurgh my kēdenesse haue j him avaūced & made hī high̄ frō lowe / ād he maketh me go from hygh̄ vnto lowe. but yet shall he deye in euyll deth
¶Of the scomfyture of Burbruge / Capitulo / c.xcvij
THe good erle thomas of Lancastre. Humfrey de Bohōne Erle of Herford and the barons that wy t hem were. toke coūceill bytwene hem at frere prechours at Poūfret. Tho thought Thomas vpon the traitrie of Robert Holād: & said in reproue Allas holand hath me betraied. Ay is in the reed some euel shrede / ād by cōmune assent they shold all wente to y e castell of Dū stāburgh. the whiche parteyneth to the Erledome of Lancastre. ād that they shold abyde there tyll y t the kyng had foryeue hē hyr maletalent. But when the good Erle Thomas this herde / he answered in this maner and saide Lordes quod he: If we gon̄ toward y e North the Northren men wyll [Page] seyne that we go toward the scottes / and so we shuld be hold traitours: for cause of distaunce that is bitwene kyng Edward ād Robert the brus that made him kȳg of scotlād. & therfore I say as touching my self that I wyll goo no ferther into the north thā to mȳ owne castell of Pownfrete. And whē sir Rogier clyford herde this he aroos vp anone in wrath and drowe his swerde. and swore by almyghty god ād by his holy names. but if that he wolde gone w t hem he sholde be dede: ād that he wolde slee him there / The noble & gentyll erle Thomas of Lācastre was sore a drad & said: fair sires I wyll gon̄ with yow whyder so euer ye me lede Tho went they to gedres into the North and wy t hē they had vij.C men of armes ād camen to Burbrygge: And whā sir Andrew of Herkela that was in the north contre thurgh ordenaūce of the kyng for to kepe the contre of scotland / herde tell how that thomas of Lācastre was discomfited & his companie at burton vpon Trent: he ordeyned hȳ a stronge power: ād sir Symond ward also that was tho sherewe of york. & camē & mette y e barons at Burbrygge. & anon̄ they breke the brigge that was made of tree And when sir Thomas of Lancastre herde that sir Andrewe of Herkela had brought with hym such̄ power he was sore adrad: ād sent for sir Andrew of Herkela & with him spake & saide to hym in thys maner. Sir Andrewe quod he / ye mowe wel vndyrstōde how that our lord the kynge is lad ād mysgouerned by moch̄ fals coū ceille thurgh sir Hugh the spēcer the fadre / & sir Hugh̄ his sone / ād sir Iohan Erle of Arundell. and thurgh maister Robert baldolke a fals pylled clerke that nowe is in the kȳges court dwellȳg / wherfor I praye yow that ye wolde come wy t vs wy t all the power that ye haue ordeyned ād helpe to destroye the venȳ of Englond / & the traitours that ben therinne / and we wyll yeve vnto yow the beste part of v / Erledomes· that we haue ād holde / & we wyll make vnto yow an othe: that we wyll neuer done thyng withoute yowre coūceill & so ye shalbe efte as well w t vs as euer was Robert of Holand / Tho answeryd sir Andrew of Herkela / ād said. Syr thomas that wold I not don̄ ne consente ther to: For no maner thyng ye myght me yeue (punctel) withoute y e wille and commaundement of owr lord the kynge: for than sholde I ben̄ holde a traytour for evyrmore. And whan the forsaid noble Erle Thomas of Lancastre sawe that he nold not yeue consent vnto hym for no maner thyng. Syr Andrewe sayd he / Wyll ye nowe [Page] nat consent to destroye the venȳ of the Reame as we be consent / at one word sir Andrew j telle the that or thys yere be gone that ye shull ben̄ take & holde for a traytour & more thā ye hold vs nowe ād in wers deth ye shall deye thā euyr deyed any knight of englōd And vnderstondeth well that ye dede nevyr thyng that sorer shall yowe repent: and nowe goth ād dothe that yow good lyketh. and I wull put me vnto the mercy & the grace of god / And so wēt the fals traitour sir Andrewe of herkela ī his way as a fals traitour tyraunt & as a fals forsworne mā for thurgh the noble Erle of Lancastre / he vnderfeng the armes of cheualerie / & thurgh hym he was made knight. Tho might mē seē archyers drawe hem in that one syde and in that othir ād knyghtes also: and fowghten to gedre wonder sore / & also among othir sir Humfrey de boughon erle of herford a worthy knyght of [...]nō me thurgh all cristendome stode and faught with hys enemies vpō the brygge / a thief a Rybaude skulked vnder the brigge And fersely with a spere smote the noble knight into the fowndement. so that his bowelles camē oute there· allas the sorwe / for there was slayne the flour of solace. and of comfort. and also of curtesye And sir Rogier of Clyford a noble knyght stode euyr ād fought and well and nobely hym defended as a worthy barō But at the last he was sore wownded in his hede. ād sir willyam of Sullayād Syr Rogier of Bernefeled were slayne at that bataille.
Whan sir Andrewe of Herkela sawe that sir Thomas men of lā castre lassed and slaked anone he and his companye camen to the gentyll knyght sir Thomas of Lancastre and seyd / yeld the trai / tour yeld the. The gentyll Erle āswered tho and sayd / Nay lordes. traitours be we none and to you wyll we nevyr vs yelde whyles y t owr lyfes lasten. but leuer we haue to be slayne ī our trouthe thā yelde vs to yow / And sir Andrew ayene grad vpō sir Thomas cō panye yollyng as a wode wolfe / and said: yelde yow traitours taken yeld yow / and with an hygh̄ voys saide. bethe ware syres that none of yow be hardy vpon lyfe and vpon lymme. for to misdone Thomas body of Lancastre ād wyth that worde the good Erle Thomas went into the chapell / and sayd knelyng vpō his knees and turned hys visage towardes the crosse and sayd. O almyghty god to the I me yelde and holy put me into thy mercy And wy t that the vyleyns Rybaudes [...]ept aboute hym in euery syde as tyraunts and wode turmentours [Page] and dispoilled hym of hys armure. and clothed hym in a robbe of ray that was of his squyers lyuere: and forth lad hym vnto yorke by water / Tho myght men seen moche sorwe and care / for the gē tyll knightes fledden in euery syde. and the rybaudes and the vyleyns egrely hem discryed & grad an highe yelde yow traytours. yelde yow / And when they were yolden / they were robbed & boū den as thevys. Allas the shame / and despyte that the gentill ordre of knyghthode there had at that bataylle. and the lande tho was wy toute lawe. for holy chyrch̄ tho had no more reuerence thā it had bene a bordelhows (punctel) and in that bataille was the fadre ayens the sone· and the vncle ayens hys nephew: for somoche vnkendenesse was neuer seyn before in englōd. as was that tyme amonge folk of one nacyō / For o kynrede had no more pyte of that othyr· than an hungrie wolfe hath of a shepe. and it was no wonder / For the grete lordes of Englōd were nat all of o nacyon. but were medled with othir nacions / that is for to seyne / somme Bretōs. sōme Saxons: somme danoys. some Pehites / somme Frenshmen: somme Normans: somme Spaynardes: somme Romayns / somme Henaudes. somme Flemmynges / & of othir dyuerse nacyōs / the whiche nacyons not accorded to the kynde blode of Englond / And if so grete lordes had ben̄ only wedded to Englyssh peple / than shold pees haue ben̄ and reste amōges hem withoute any envye
And at that bataill was sir Rogier Cliford tak / Sir Iohan Mō bray. sir William tuchet. Sir william fits William. and many othir worthy knightes there were taken at that bataille: And sir hughe Dandell the next daye after was taken and put into pryson. and shold haue bene don̄ to deth / yf he had not spoused the kynges nece that was Erle Gyllebertes suster of Gloucestre. And anon̄ after was sir Bartholomewe of badelesmere taken at stowe park a maner of the bisshoppes of Lyncolne that was his nephew: and many other barons ād baneretz wherfore was made moch̄ sorwe
How Thomas of Lācastre was beheded at Poūfrete: & v. barons honged and drawen there Capitulo Cxcviij.
ANd nowe shall I telle you of the noble erle Thomas of Lancastre whē he was taken and brought to york: many of the cyte were full glad (punctel) and vpon hym cryed wyth an hyghe voys O sir traitour ye arne wellcome / blessed be god for now shal [Page] ye haue the reward that longe time ye haue deserued / ād kast vpō him many snowe balles & many othyr reproues dyd they hȳ· but the gentyll erle all suffryd & sayd nothir oon ne othir / and in the same tyme the kȳg herd of this same sconfiture and was full glad. and in hast came to Pounfret ād sir hughe the spencer and sir Hughe hys sone (punctel) and sir Iohan Erle of Arundell / and sir Edmond of wodestoke the kinges brother erle of Kent: and sir Aymer of valaunce Erle of Panbroke / & maister Robert Baldock a fals pyled clerck / that was pryue and dwelled in the kynges court▪ ād all came thyder with the kȳg. And the kyng entred into the castell: And sir Andrewe of Herkela a fals tiraunt thurgh the kynges commaundement toke with him the gentyll Erle Thomas to Pounfrete. and there he was prysoned ī hys owne castell that he had newe made· that stode ayens the abbey of kyng Edward· And sir hughe the fadre ād his sone cast and thought how ād in what maner the good Erle thomas of Lancastre sholde be dede wythoute any iugement of his perys / wherfore it was ordeyned thurgh the kinges iustices that the kyng sholde put vpon him poyntes of treson And so it befell that he was to y e barre before the kynges iustyces bare hede as a thief in a fair halle withyn his owne castel that he made therȳ many fest both to riche and eke to poure. ād these were his iustyces Syr Hugh̄ the spē cer of fadre / Aymer of valaunce erle of Pēbrok. sir edmond of wodestok erle of Kent: sir Iohan of bretaigne erle of Richemond / ād sir Robert of Nalemethorpe iustyce / and sir robert him acoulped in thys maner. Thomas at the fyrst owr lord the kyng and thys court excludeth you of all maner answere. Thomas our lord y e kyng put vpō you that ye haue in his lāde ridē wy t baner displaied ayēst his pees as a traitour. & with / that worde the gentyll erle thoās wy t an hygh̄ vois said. nay lordes for soth & bi seȳt Thomas I was neuer a traitour. the iustice said ayen̄ the thomas / our lord the kīg put vpō you that ye haue robbed his folk & mordred his peple as a thefe. Thomas the king also put vpō yow that he discomfited you & your peple w t his folk in his owne reaume. wherfore ye went & fled to y e wode as an outelawe / & also ye were taken as an outelawe / And thomas as a traitour ye shul be hōged by resō but y e kīg had foryeve you that iewes for loue of quene Isabel. & thoās reson wolde also that ye shold be hōged: but the kȳg hath foryeve yow y t for cause of your lygnage [Page] But Thomas for asmoche as ye were take fleyng And as an owtelawe the kyng wyll that youre hede shalbe smytten of / as ye haue well deserued / anone doth hȳ owte of presence / and anone brȳg hym to hys jugemēt: Whan the gētyl knyght Thomas had herd all these wordes. wyth an hyghe voys he cryed sore wepyng & said Allas seynt Thomas fayr fadre allas shall I be deed thus. Graū te me nowe blyssefull god āswere but all avaylled hym no thyng / for the kursed gascoynes put hȳ hydder and thydder and on hym cryed with an hygh̄ voys. O god most dredfull wel knowē is now thyn open traitrye. an euyll deth shalt thow deye as thou hast wel deservyd / Tho sette they vpō hys hede in scorne an olde chappelet all to rent and to torne that was nat worth an halpeny And after they sette him vpon a leue white palfrey full vnsemelich ād eke all bare and with an olde bryddell. & with an horryble noyse they drouen him owte of y e castell toward his deth / and cast vpon hym many balles of snowe. And as the turmentours lad hym oute of y e Castell: Tho said he this pytouse wordes: And his handes helde vpon hyghe towardes hevē (punctel) Now the kyng of heuen yeve vs mercy for the erthely kyng hath vs forsake. and a frere prechour wente with hym oute of the castell: tyll that he came to the place that he ended his lyfe: vnto whō he shrofe him all his lyfe: And the gētyl erle helde the frere wonder fast bi the clothes. and said fayr fadre abyde wyth vs tyll that I be ded / for my flesh quaketh for drede of deth. And soth for to seye / the gē till Erle sette him vpon his knees and turned him toward the Est: but a Rybaulde that was kalled Hygone of Mostone set hāde vpon the gentyll Erle and sayd in despyte of him: Syr traitour turne the toward the scottes thy foule deth to vnderfong. and turned him to ward the north: The noble and gentill erle Thomas answeryd tho with a mylde voys ād sayd. now fayrlordes I shall don̄ all your wille: and with that worde the frere went fro him sore wepyng. and anone a ribaulde wēt to him and smote of his hede the xi. kal of apryll in the yere of grace M / ccc.xxi. Allas that euer suche a gētyll blode shuld ben̄ done to deth withoute cause & reson. & traytoursly was the kȳg coūceilled / whē he thurgh the fals counceill of y e spēcers suffred sir thoās his vncles sone be put to suche a deth. and so ben beheded ayens all maner of reson: and grete pyte it was also that suche a noble kyng shold ben̄ deceyued ād mysgouerned thurgh the ryght false [Page] counceill of the false spencers the whiche he mayntened thurgh los lerie ayens his honour & eke profyte (punctel) For aftyrward ther fyll grete vengeaunce in Englōd. for enchesō of the forsaid thomas deth / ¶When the gentyll erle of hys life was passed the pryour and the monkes of Pounfrete geten the body of sir Thomas of the kyng. and they buryed it before the hyghe auter on the ryght syde That same day that this gentyll lord was dede there were honged ād drawe for the same quarell at Pounfret / Sir william tuchet / sir william fitz willyā: Syr warreyne of ysille: sir Henry of Bradborne / and sir willyam chenie barōs all / and Iohan page squyer. And sone aftyr at york were drawē ād honged sir Rogier Cliford / Sir johan of Monbray barons. and sir Gosselm Dauyll knight. And at Bristowe were drawe ād honged sir Henry of wymyngton. ād sir Henry Mounfort barons: And at Gloucestre were drawe & honged. Sir Iohan Giffard. and sir william of Emelbrugge barons And at London were honged ād drawe sir Henry Ties baron And at wynchelsee sir Thomas Colepepir knight. And at wȳdesore sir Fraūceis of waldenham baron: And at Caūterbury was drawe & honged sir Bartholomewe of Badelesmere. And sir Bartholomewe of asshebourneham barōs: And at Kerdyfe in walys sir williā flemmȳg baron
How kyng Edward went into Scotland with an hoūdred thousand men of armes & might nat spede Capi. Cxcix
ANd whan kyng Edward of Englond had brought y e floure of cheualerye vnto hir deth thurgh counceyl of sir hugh̄ spencer the fadre. and sir hughe the sone / he became as wode as any lyōne / And what so euer the spencers wolden haue it was done / And so well y e kȳg loued hē that they might don̄ wy t hym all thynge that they wolde. wherfor the king yafe vnto sir hugh̄ spencer the fadre the erledome of wȳ chestre: & to sir andrewe of Herkela the erledome of Cardoill in p̄ iudice & in harmyng of his croune / And kīg Edward tho th [...]gh coūseille of the spēcers disherited all hē that had ben̄ ayens him in any querell w t thomas of lācastre & many othir were disherited also. for enchesō y t the spēcer coueited for to haue hir lādes. & so thei had all that they wolde desire w t wrō ge and ayēs all reson Tho made the kȳg Robert of baldok a fals piled clerke chaūceler of englond thurgh counceyll of the forsayd spencers / & he was a fals ribaud· and a coueytous: And so they counceylled the kyng moch that [Page] the kyng let taken tho hys owne ward all the goodes of the lordes that wrongfully were put to the deth into his owne hande / And as well they token y e goodes that were in holy chyrche as the goodes that were withoute / and let hē be put into his tresorye in the cyte of London. and therof let hem be kalled his forfayts / and bi hyr coūceill the kyng wrought for evyrmore / he disheryted hem that the goodes oughten / And thurgh hir counceyll lete arere a talliage of all the goodes of Englōd / wherfore he was the richest kyng that euer was in England aftyr wylliam Bastard of Normandye that conquered englōd: And yet thurgh counceyl of hem hym semed that he had not ynowe / but made yet euery towne of Englond fynde a man of armes vpō hir owne costages for to gone and werre vpon the Scottes that were his enemyes wherfore the kyng wente into scotland wy t an houndred thousād men of armes at witsontyde in the yere of owr lord Ihesu crist M.CCC ād xxij But the scottes went ād hyd hem in mountaynes and in wodes / and caried the Englysshmen fro day to day that the kyng might for no maner thyng hem fȳ de in playne felde / wherfor many englysshmen that fewe vitailles hadden / for hunger they deyden wonder fast sodenly in goynge & in comynge: ād namely tho that had ben̄ ayens Thomas of Lancastre and robed hys men vpon hys landes / Whenne kyng Edward sawe that vitaylles failled hym: he was tho wonder sore discomforted for encheson also that his men deyed / and for that he nought might spede of his ennemies / so at the last he came ayene into Englond: And anone after came Iames Douglas and also Thomas Randulph with an huge host into Englond into Northumberland. and with hem the Englysshmen that were dryuen owte of englond. and camen and robbed the contre ād quelled the peple: & also brent the towne that was called Nortallertone ād many othir townes vnto york. And when the king herde this tidȳge / he let sompne all maner mē that myghten trauaille. ād so the englysshmen met the scottes at the abbey of Beigheland the xv. day after Mychelmasse in the same yere aboue said. and the englysshmen were there discomfyted. ād at that scomfyture was take sir johan of Britaigne erle of Richemond that helde the contre and Erledome of Lancastre. And after he paied an huge raunsone & was let gone. And after that he went into fraunce: & came nevyr aftyrwdrd ayene
How sir Andrewe of Herkkela was taken ād put vnto the deth / that was erle of Cardoille Capitulo ducentesimo
ANd at that tyme sir Andrewe of Herkela that newe was made Erle of cardoille / for cause that he had takē the good Erle Thomas of Lācastre. he had ordeyned thurgh y e kȳ ges commaūdement of Englōd for to bryng hym all the power y t he might: for to helpe hym ayens the scottes at y e Abbey of Beigheland / And whā the fals traitour had gadred all the peple that he myght / & shold haue comē to the kyng vnto the abbey of Beighelād: the fals traitour lad hem by an othir contre thurgh Copelād & thurgh the erldome of Lācastre & went thurgh the cōtre & robed & queld folk all that he might / ād ferthermore y e fals traytour had takē a grete some of gold and siluer of sir Iames Dowglas for to be ayens the kyng of Englond: & to be helpyng & holdyng wyth the scottes. through whos treson the kyng of Englond was scomfyted at Beiheland er that he came thydder: wherfor the king toward him was wonder wroth & let pryuely enquere by the contre aboute how that it was. & so mē enquered & aspied that at the last trewth̄ was founde & sought / ād he atteynt & taken as a fals traitour as the noble erle Thomas of lancastre him tolde. er that he were don̄ vnto the deth at his takyng at burbrygge. & to hȳ saide: or that yere were don̄ he shold be take & holde a traitour And so it was as the holy man said. wherfore the kyng sent pryuely to Syr anthoyn̄ of Lucy a knight of the cōtrey of Cardoille that he sholde take sir Andrewe of Herckela ād put hȳ vnto the deth. & to brynge this thȳg vnto the ende the kyng sent his cōmission so that the same Andrewe was taken at Cardoill / & led vnto the barre in y e maner of an erle worthely arayed & with a swerd gurt aboute hȳ ād hosed & spored: Tho spake sir anthoyne in this maner. sir Andrewe quod he the kȳg put vpon the for asmoch̄ as thow hast bene orped in thy dedes: he ded vnto the mochel honour & made the Erle of Cardoill: ād thow as traitour vnto thy lord the kȳg laddest hys peple of this cōtre that shold haue holpe hȳ at the bataill of Beyghelād. & thow laddest thē away by the cōtre of Copelād & thurgh the erledome of Lancastre wherfore our lord the kyng was scomfyted there of the scottes thurgh thy treson & falsenesse ād yf thou haddest com̄ be times. he had had the maistiry / & all thurgh treson thow dydest it for the grete some of goold and siluer that thou vnderfēg of Iames douglas a scote [Page] the kynges enemye / & our lord y e kynges wille is that the ordre of knyghthode by the whiche thow vndyrfeng all thin honour & worship vpō thy body be all brought to nought. & thy estate vndone y t othir knightes of lowe degre mowe after the beware / the whyche lorde hath the avaunced hugely ī diuerse contrees in Englōd. and that all mowe take example by the hir lord aftyrward trewly for to serue / Tho commaūded he a knave anone to haue of hys spores on his helys / and aftyr he let breke y e swerde ouer his hede. the whiche the kyng him yafe to kepe and defēde his lande therwith when he made hī erle of Cardoil / and aftyr he let hym vnclothe of his furred tabart & of his hode & of his furred cotes & of his gurdel And when this was don̄ sir Anthoyne said vnto him. Andrewe quod he: now art thou no knight but a knaue / and for thy treson y e kyng wille that thou shalt be hō ged & drawe. and thy boweles taken owte of thy body & brent before the / and thy body quartred & thyn hede smyten of. & sent vnto Londō / & ther it shall stonde vpō Londō brugge. & thy fowre quarters shull be sēt to fowre townes of Englond that all other mowe be chastysed by the. And as Antoyne said so it was done all maner thynge in the last day of Octobre in the yere of grace M.ccc. & xxij yere And the sonne tho turned ī to blode. as the peple it saw And that dured fro the morne til it was xi of the clokke of the day.
¶Of y e miracles y t god wrought for seynt Thomas loue of Lācastre. wherfore the king let close the chyrche dores of the Pryowre of pounfret. for y t no man sholde come therȳ to the body for to offrē / Capitulo / CCj.
ANd sone aftyr that the erle Thomas of Lancastre was martred a prest that longe tyme had bene blynde dremed in hys slepyng that he shold gone vnto the hylle ther that the good Erle thomas of Lancastre was don̄ vnto the deth. & he sholde haue his syght ayen̄ & so he dremed iij nightes sewȳg: & y e preste let tho lede him to the same hylle And when he came to that place that he was martred / on deuoutely he made ther his prayers & praied god & seȳt Thoās that he must haue his sight ayene. & whē he was in hys prayers he laid his right honde vpon the same place that the good man was martred on. & a drope of drye blode & smale sand cleued on his honde and therwith stryked his eyen & anone thurgh myght of god and of seȳt Thomas of Lācastre he had [Page] his sight ayen̄: and thanked tho almyghty god ād seint Thomas / And whē this miracle was knowen amonge men. the peple came thydder in euery syde ād kneled ād made hir praiers at his tō be that is in the pryorie of Pounfrete and praied the holy martyr of socour and of helpe: and god herde hir prayer /
Also ther was a yōge chylde drē chyd in a welle: in the towne of Pounfrete. ād was dede thre dayes and thre nightes: ād men camen ād laid the dede childe vpon seynt Thomas tombe the holy martyr. and the child arose there from deth to life as many a man it sawe: ād also moch̄ peple were owte of hir mynde & god hath hē sent hyr mynde ayene through vertu of that holy martyr. and also god hath yeuen therto creples hyr goyng / and to croked hir hō des and hir feet: and to blynde also hir sighte / ād to many sike folke hyr hele of dyuerse maladyes / for the loue of thys good martir Also there was a ryche man in Coundom in Gascoyne / and suche a maladie he had / that all his right syde roted and fyll a way from hym that mē myght se his lyuer and also his hert. and so he stanke that vnneth men myght come nye hym. wherfore his frē des were for him wōdre sory. but at the last as the almyghty god wolde. they praied to seynt Thomas of Lancastre that he wolde praye to almyghty god for that prysoner. & behit to gon̄ to Poū frete for to don̄ hir pylgrymage / And in vysion the next aftyr the martyr seint thomas came vnto hȳ & annoynted ouer all hys sike bodj. & therwith y e good mā awoke & was all hole / & his flesh was restored ayen̄ that before was roted & falle away: for which myracle y e good man & his frēdes loued god & seȳt thomas euyr more aftyr. And this good mā came into englōd & toke w t hȳ iiij felawes & came to Pounfrete vnto that holy martyr ād did hir pilgrimage. but y e good man y t was sike came thyder all nakyd sauf his brech̄. & whē they had done they turned home ayen̄ into hyr cōtre & tolde of y e myracle wher so euer thei came. And also ij mē haue be helyd there of y e mormall thurgh helpe of y t holy martyr though y t euyll be holyd īcurable Whē y e spēcers herd that god dyd such myracles for this holy martyr / & they wolde beleve it ī no maner wyse. but said opēly y t it was grete heresye such̄ vertu of hȳ to beleue. & whā sir hugh̄ the spēcer the sone sawe all this doynge: anon̄ he sent his messagier frō poūfrete ther that he dwelled to king Edward that tho was in Crauene at Skyptō. for cause that the kyng shold vndon̄ that pylgrimage. & as the ribaude [Page] y e messagier wēte toward the kyng for to don̄ his message: he came by the hylle on the whyche the good martyr was done to deth / & in the same place he made hys ordure: & whā he had don̄ / he went toward the kyng. a stronge flix him came vpon that er he came to york / & shedde all his bowles at his fondemēt. And whan sir Hugh̄ the spencer herde thys tydyng some deel he was a drad. & thought for to vndone the pylgrimage if he might by any maner way / & to the kyng wente ād saide that they sholde be in grete sklaūdre thurgh oute all cristendome for the deth of Thomas of Lancastre yf that he suffred y e peple don̄ hir pylgrymage at Poū frete. & so he counceilled the kyng that he commaūded to closse the church dores of Poūfrete. in the which̄ chyrch̄ y e holy martyr seint thomas was entered / & thus thei dyden ayens all fraunchyses of y e holy chyrch̄ / so that fowr yere aftyr might no pylgrime come vnto that holy body: & for encheson that the monkes suffred men come & honoure that holy body of seint thomas the martyr thurgh counceill of sir Hugh̄ spencer the sone: and thurgh coūceill also of maistir Robert of baldok the false pylled clerk that was the kynges chaūceler / the kyng cōsentyd that thei shold be sette to hir wages (punctel) And let make there wardeins ouer hir owne good longe tyme· & thurgh commaūdement of the forsaid sir Hugh̄ the spencer xiiij Gascoynes well armed kepte the hylle there that y e good man seint thomas was do [...] vnto hys deth: so that no Pilgryme might come bi y t way: Full well wende he to haue be take crystes might and his power / and y e grete loos of myracles that he shewed for hys martyr seȳt thomas through all crystendome. ād that same tyme the king made robert of baldolke the pyled clerke fals thurgh praier of sir hugh̄ the spē cer the sone chaūcelere of Englōd. And in the same tyme was y e castell of Walyngford yolden ayēs the kyng thurgh the prisoners y t were withinne the castell for seȳt thoās quarell of Lācastre. wherfore the peple of the contre came and tokē the castell vpon the forsayd prysonners. Wherfore sir johan of Golyngton knyght / and sir Edmond of the beche prisonners & a squyer that was kalled Rogier of Walton were take ād sent to the kyng to Poūfrete / ād there they were done in pryson / & the forsaid Rogier was sent vnto york (punctel) and there he was drawe ād hanged: And anone after sir Ro / gier Mortymer of wigmore bra / ke owte of the toure of Londō in this manere. The forsaid sir Ro / gier herd that he shold be drawe [Page] & honged at london / in the morne after seint Laurence day. & on the day before he helde a faire fest in y e toure of Lōdō / & there was sir stephen segraue constable of y e toure & many grete men wy t him & whē they shold sope / the forsayd stephē sent for all the officiers of the toure / & they came & soped with hym And whē they shold take hir leue of hȳ / a squier that was called stephē that was full pryue wyth the forsaid Rogier thurgh his coūceil yafe hem all such̄ dranke that the leste of hem all slepē two dayes & ij. nightes: & in the mene tyme he scaped away by watyr / that is to saye by the Tamyse / & went ouer the see & helde him in fraūce: wherfore the kyng was sore annoyed & tho put the same stephē out of his constablery
¶How the quene Isabel went into fraūce for to trete of pees bitwene hir lord the king of Englōd & the king of Fraūce hir brother Capitulo CC.ij
THe king wēt tho vnto lō don: & ther thurgh coūceil of sir hugh̄ the spēcer y e fadre ād of his sone: & of maistir Robert baldok a fals pyled clerk hys chaunceler let seise tho all the quenes lōdes into his owne honde / & also all the landes that were sir edwardis hys sone / & were so put to hir wages ayens all maner reson / & that was thurgh the falsenesse of the spēcers And whē the kyng of Fraūce that was quene jsabelles brother herde of this falsenesse he was sore annoyed ayēs the kīg of Englōd & his fals counceillers: wherfore he sent a letter vnto kīg Edward vnder his seal: y t he shold come into fraūce at a certaȳ day / for to don̄ his homage / & therto he somened hȳ. & elles he shold lese all gascoign̄. And so it was ordeyned in Englōd thurgh y e kȳg & his coū ceill that quene Isabel shold wēde into fraūce for to trete of pees bitwene hir lord & hyr brother. And that Oliuer ynghā shold wēde in to Gascoigne & haue w t hȳ vij.M. men & moo of armes to ben̄ sene shall & wardeyne of gascoign̄ & so it was ordeyned that Quene Isabell wēt tho ouer see / & came into fraūce / & with hyr went sir aymer of valaūce Erle of pēbroke y t was ther mordred sodēly in priue sege: but that was thurgh goddes vengeaūce / for he was one of the iustices that consented to seȳt thomas deth of Lācastre: & wolde neuer after repēte hȳ of that wykked dede: And at that time sir Oliuer of ynghā wēt ouer into gascoign̄ & dyd moch̄ harme to the kȳg of fraūce: & gate ayen̄ that kȳg edward had loste▪ & moch̄ more therto
¶How king Edward sent sir Edward hys sone the eldest into fraunce Capi. CC / iij
[Page] THe quene Isabel not but a quarter of a yer̄ dwelled in Fraunce. Sir Edward hyr eldest sone ne axed leue for to wente into Fraūce for to speke w t his modre Isabell the quene. And the kyng his fadre graūted hȳ wy t a good will & sayd to hym Go my fayr sone in goodis blissyng & myne. ād thenke for to come ayen̄ as hastly as thou might. And he wēt ouer see & came into Fraūce. & the kȳg of Fraūce his vncle vnderfēg hym with mochel honour. & sayd vnto him. faire sone ye be welcom. ād for cause that your fadre come not for to do his homage for y e duchye of Guyhēne as his aūcestres were went for to do. I yeue yow y t lordshipp to holde it of me in heritage as all your auncestres haue don̄ tofore yow: wherfore he was called duke of Gwyhenne
¶How the kyng exilled his quene Isabell & Edward his eldest sone / Capitu. CCiiij
WHenne kyng Edward of Englond herde telle howe the kyng of Fraūce had yeuen the duchye of Gwyhēne vnto sir Edward his sone withoute cō sent & wille of him. & that his sone had vnderfonge the duchye. he became wonder wroth & sente to his sone by his lettre & to his wyfe also that they shold come ayen̄ into Englond in all the haste that they myght: The quene Isabell and sir Edward hir sone were woder sore adrad of the kynges menace and of hys wrathe. & pryncipaly of the falsenesse of the spencers both̄ of y e fadre and of the sone / & at his commaūdement they wold not come. wherfore kyng Edward was sore annoyed & let make a crye at Lō don / that yf quene ysabell and edward hir eldest sone Came not in to Englond. that they shold bene holden as enemyes to the Reame of Englōd. and for that they wold not obeye ād come by the kynges cōmaūdement into englond. they bothe were exilled the modre & hir sone. When the quene Isabel herde thees tydynges she was sore adrad to be shēt thurgh the fals cō getyng of the spēcers: And wēt w t y e knyghtes that were exilled oute of Englond for seynt Thoās cause of Lācastre: that is to seye sir rogier of wygmore / sir williā trussell / sir Iohan of cromwell. ād many othir good knightes. wherfor thei tokē hir coūceill: & ordeyned amō ges hē for to make a mariage bytwene the duke of Gwyhēne y e kȳ ges sone of Englōd & the erles doughter of Henaude. y t was a noble knight of name ād a doughty in his tyme. & yf that thȳg myght be brought aboute. thā stode thei trouwȳg with the helpe of god to recouer hir herytage in Englond. wherof they were put out thurgh the fals congettȳges of y e spēcers.
How kyng Edward thurgh coū ceill of the spēcers sent to the douseperes of Fraūce that they shold helpe that the quene Isabel & hyr sone sir Edward weren exilled oute of fraunce Capitulo. CCv
WHan kyng Edward & the spēcers herde howe quene jsabell & sir Edward hir sone had alied hem to the erle of henaud & to them that were oute exilled of englōd for encheson of thomas of Lācastre. they were so sory that they wiste not what to done / Wherfore sir Hugh̄ the spēcer the sone said vnto sir Hugh̄ his fadre in this maner wyse· Fadre accursed be the tyme & the coūceill that euer ye consented that quene Isabell shold gon̄ vnto fraunce for to trete of accord bytwene the kyng of englōd & hir brother the kȳg of Fraūce for that was youre counceyll. for at that time for soth your wit failled. For j drede me sore lest thurgh hyr & hyr sone we shull be shēt / but yf we take the better coū ceill / Now fayre Sires vnderstondeth how mervaillous felonye ād falshede the spēcers ymagined ād cast. for priuely they let fylle .v. bales wy t siluer. the somme amounted .v. thousend pounde / & thei sēt the barelles ouer see preueli by an alyen that was kalled Arnold of spaigne that was a brecour of lō dō / that he shold gon̄ to y e douseperes of fraūce. that they shold procure & speke to the kȳg of fraunce that quene Isabell & hir sone Edward were dryuen ād exilled oute of Fraūce / And amonge all othir thȳges that they were brought to the deth as preuely as thei might be / But almyghty god wolde not so / for when this arnold was in y e hye see he was takē with zelāders that met hym in the see & toke hȳ: & lad hȳ to hyr lord Erle of henaude. and moch̄ ioye was made for y t takyng. ād at the last this Arnold preuely stale hȳ self away fro thēs and came to london: And of thys takȳg & of othir thȳges the erle of Henaude said to y e quene Isabell Dame maketh yow mery & bene of good chere. for ye be rycher thā ye wend haue ben̄ ▪ & take ye these .v. barelles full of siluer that were sent to the douzeperes of Fraūce. for to quelle yow & your sone Edward & thēketh hastely for to wēte in englōd & taketh ye with you sir Iohan of Henaude my brother. & v.C. mē of armes: for many of hē of fraūce in whō ye haue had grete truste / had grete deinte yow for to scorne. ād almyghty god graū te yow grace your ennemies to ouercome. The quene Isabell sent tho thurgh Henaud & Flaūdres for hir sowdyours. & ordeyned hyr euery day for to wēte into Englōd ayene / & so she had in hir cōpanye Sir Edmond of Wodestoke that [Page] was Erle of Kēt that was sir edwardes brother of Englond
How kyng Edward let kepe the costes of the see / & tried out the beste men of werre in Englond Capitulo CCvi.
WHenne kȳg Edward herde telle that quene Isabell & Edward hir sone wolde come into Englond wyth many aliens & with hem that were oute lawed oute of Englond for hir rebelnesse: he was sore adrad to be put a downe & lese his kyngdome Wherfor he ordeyned to kepe hys castelles in walys as wel as in englond with vitailles ād hyr apparaille. & let kepe his Riuer & also y e see costes. wherof the v. portes token to kepe hem and also the see. And at the feest of decollacyon of seynt Iohan baptist (punctel) the citezeins of London sent to the kȳg to Porchestre an hondert men of armes And he commaūded ferthermore by his lrēs and ordeyned that euery hōdred men shold taken wapē of englōd to triours as wel of mē of armes as of men a foot. & that thei shold ben̄ put in xx. some / & in an C. some / & cōmaunded that all the men were a redy whā any outehese or crie were made for to purswe and take the aliēs that camē into englond for to benymme hȳ the londe. & for to put him oute of hys kyngdome. And more ouer he let crye thurgh hys patent lrēs in euery place & in euery market of Englōd that the quene Isabell and sir Edward his eldest sone ād the erle of Kent that they were taken and saufli kept withoute any maner harme vnto hem doyng: & alle othir maner peple that came with hem anone smyte of hyr hedes withoute any maner raūsone And what man that myght brȳg sir Rogier heed mortymer of wȳg more shold haue an C. pounde for his trauaille. And furthermore he ordeyned by his patent lrēs & cō maūded to make a fyre vpō eueri hye hille besides the riuers / and in lowe contrees for to make hye bekenes of tymbre that yf it so were that the aliens came vnto the lād by nyght / that men sholde tēde y e bekenes that the contre might be warned & come and mette hir ennemyes: And in y e same tyme deied Sir rogier mortimer hys vncle in the toure of London.
¶How the quene Isabel & sir Edward duke of Gwihenne hir sone came to londe at Herewych / and how they dydē. Capitulo CCvij
THe quene Isabell & sir edward hir sone duke of guihēne: sir Edward of wodeboke erle of kent & sir johā therles brother of henaud & hir men drad [Page] not the menace of the kyng ne of his traytours. for they trust all in goddys grace. ād camē vnto herewich in southfolk the xxiiij day of of Septēbre: & in the yere of grace .M.ccc.xxvi. And the quene ād sir Edward hir sone sēt lrēs to y e maire & comminalte of Londō requyryng hē that thei shold ben̄ helpīg in the quarel & cause that thei had begōne. that is to seye: to destroye the traitours of y e reame / But none āswere was sent agayne. wherfor the quene & sir Edward hir sone senten an othir patēt letter vnder hyr seales. the tenour of which̄ lettre here folowed in this maner Izabell by the grace of god quene of Englōd / lady of Irlād. & coūtesse of pountyf. & we Edward the eldest sone of the kȳg of englōd / duke of Gwihenne. erle of chestre ād of Poūtyf: & of Monstroille to the maire & to all the ꝯminalte of the cyte of London sendeth gretȳg for as moche as we haue before y e tyme sēt to yow by our lettres how we become into thys lād w t good aray & in good maner for the honour and profyte of holy chirch & of our right dere lord the kyng ād all the Reame with all our might & power to kepe and maynten̄ as we & alle the good folke of the forsayd reame are holdē to don̄. And vpon that we prayen yow that ye wolde ben̄ helpȳg to vs in as moche as ye may in this quarel. that is for the commune profyte of all the Reaume. & we haue had none āswere of y e forsaid lettres ne knowe not yowr wille in that partye / wherfore we sent to yow agayne and pray and charge yow that ye bere yow so ayens vs that we haue no cause to greue you: but that ye ben̄ to vs in helpyng by all the mayes that ye may. For ye may well openly knowen that we and alle they that ben̄ comen wyth vs into thys Reame thenken not to done thā alle thȳg if it lyked good and shal be for the commune proffyte of alle the Reame: and onely to destroye Hugh the spencer our enemye & also enemye to alle the Reame of Englond. as ye well opēly knoweth. Wherfor we praye yow & charge yow in y e sayth that ye owe to owre lord the kyng and to vs. that yf the said Hugh spēcer our enemye come withinne your power that ye don̄ him hastely to ben̄ takē & saufly kept▪ vnto y e tyme tyll we haue ordeyned of hym owr wille: and that ye leue it not▪ in no maner wyse as ye desire honour and profite of vs alle and of alle the Reame. Vnderstondyng well that yf ye don̄ owr prayer ād maundement. we shall the more be holden vnto yow and also ye shull gete for yowr self wurshypp and profyte yf ye sende vs hastely answere of all yowr wille. ¶Yeuē at Baldok the vj. day of Octobre / [Page] Which̄ lettre erly in the dawenȳg of the day of seynt Denys was taken vpon the newe crosse in shepe And many copies of the same lrē were takked vpon wyndowes ād dores: & vpon othir places in y e cite that all men passyng by the way might seē & rede / And in the same tyme kyng Edward was at lōdō in the towre at hys mete / & a messagier came into the hasle & sayd that the quene Isabell was come to londe at Herewych: & had brought in hyr companye sir Iohan of Henaud & with hym mē of armes wythoute nombre: And wy t that word Syr Hughe the spēcer the fadre spake & sayd thus to the kyng. My most wurshypfull lord and kyng of Englond. Now mowe ye make good chere for certeȳ ly they ben̄ all owres The kȳg sawe thys word confortable / notheles he was sorefull and pensyf in his herte / And the kyng had not yet fulfylleth hys mete: ther came in the halle an othir messagier ād sayd that the Quene Isabell was arryued at Herewych besyde yepswych in southfolk. Syr hugh the Spencer the fadre spake and sayd to the messauger in this maner / Telle me that ye haue seyne / my fayr frēde is she come with a strē ghte: Certys sire soth for to saye / she ne had in hyr companye but vij. hōdred men of armes (punctel) & wyth that worde sir Hughe the spencer the fadre cryed with an hygh̄ vois & sayd: Allas allas we bene all betraied: for certys with so lyttel power she had neuer come to londe: but folk of thys londe were to hyr consent And therfor after the mete they toke hyr counceill ād went toward walys for to arere y e walsshmen ayens quene Isabell & edward hyr sone all for to fyght / and so they were in purpose euerichō /
How maistir Waltier stapilton bysshop of Excestre that was the kynges Tresorer was beheded at London Capitulo / CCviij
ANd in the same tyme kȳg Edward was sore adrad / lest men of londō wold yelde hem vnto the quene Isabell ād to hir sone Edward: wherfore he sent Maistir Waltier Stapylton hys tresorer for to be wardeyne & keper of the cyte of London wyth the mayre / And so he came to the Gylldehall of London / And axed the keyes of the yates of the Cyte thurgh vertu and strength of hys commyssyon / ād wolde haue had the kepyng of the cyte / But the cō munes answeryd and sayd that they wolde kepe the cyte to the honour of kyng Edward ād of Isabell the quene / and of the duke the [Page] kynges sone withoute any more: The bisshop was tho sore ānoyed & swore othe that they all shold abye it anone as kȳg Edward were comen owte of walys / and the communes all anon̄ of the cite token the bisshopp & lad hym amydes chepe / & there they smoten of hys hede / and set his heed into his right hond. And after they beheded two of his squyers that helde wyth the bisshopp / And one of hē was kalled Wylliā of walle / that was the bisshoppes nevew That othir was called Iohan of padȳgton / And also they tokē a burgys of London that was kalled Iohā marchall / that was sir Hugh̄ the spencers Spye the fadre: & smyten of hys hede also: And ī that same tyme that same bisshop had in lō don a fayr towr in makȳg in hys closse vpon the Ryuer of the Tamyse· that was withoute temple bare: & hym faylled stone to make therof an ende / wherfore he commaūded his men to gon̄ to y e chirche of freres carmes. & there they token stone to make therwith the towre / & moche sand & morter ād olde robous that was left / ād for the despyte that the bisshopp had done vnto holy chyrch̄: he and his two squyers were buryed in that sand / as though thei had ben̄ hoū des: & ther they leyen xi. wekes tyll that the quene Isabel sent hir lettres / to the communes ād prayed hem that thei wold suffre & graū te that the bisshop myght be takē owte of that place & bene buryed at Excestre at hys owne chyrche / & so he and hys two squyers were buryed at seynt Clemens chyrch / wy toute temple bare / And it was no wonder though y e bisshop deyed an euell deth / For he was a coueytous man. & had wyth hȳ no mercy. and euell coūceilled y e king And sone after was Arnold of Spaigne taken he that was assē tent to haue lad the v.M. pounde of siluer ī v. barelles ferryetes vnto the douseperes of fraūce for to helpe & hast the quene Isabell to hyr deth and Edward hyr sone also: And thys Arnold was put to deth withoute the cyte of Londō:
How kyng Edward & sir Hugh̄ the spencer & the erle of Arundell were taken Capitulo CCix
WHen kyng Edward had sent maistir walter stapilton his tresorer into lōdō (punctel) for to kepe the cyte on them ayēs the quene Isabel his wyfe & ayēs Edward hyr sone Anone hȳ selfe toke with hym sir Hugh spencer the sone: and sir Iohan Erle of Arundell. and maistir Robert Baldock hys Chaunceler a fals pyled prest: and token hyr way toward bristowe. & ther the kȳg abode a littel terme. & made sir hugh the spē cer [Page] the fadre as conestable & keper of the castell. And the kyng & that othir spencer went into the shipp & sailled toward walys: & toke no leue of the stiward ne of none in y e kynges houshold And went ouer into walys for to arere the walssh men ayens dame Isabell the quene & the duke hyr sone ād the Erle of kente & sir Iohan of Henaude / & they went & purswed after hem / & hyr power ēcresed euery day / so at the last the kyng was takē vpō an hylle in walys. & sir Hugh̄ the spencer the sone in that othir syde of the same hylle / And the fals piled clerk Maister Robert baldock there fast besides hem / & were brought ayen̄ into englōd as almyghty god wold. & the kyng hym self was in sauf kepyng in the Castell of Kenilworth. & hȳ kept sir Hēri that was sir Thomas brother of Lācastre. And sir hugh̄ spēcer the fadre came & put hȳ in the quenes grace & sir Edward hyr sone duke of Gwihenne: But sir Hugh̄ spē cer y e sone after the tyme y t he was take wolde ete no maner mete no thir drȳke / for he wist to haue non̄ mercy sauf onely to be dede: And the quene & hir counceyll tho had ordeyned that he shold haue bene don̄ to deth at londō. But he was so feble for hys moch̄ fastyng that he was dede almost: And therfore it was ordeyned that he shold haue his iugement at herfort. and at a place of the toure his hood was take from his heed. and also from Robert of Baldoke that was a piled clerk & fals / & the kinges chaū celere. & mē set vpō hir hedes chappelets of sharpe netlys. & ij. squyers blewe in her eres ij. with grete bugles hornes vpon the two prysonners that mē myght here ther blowyng owte w t hornes mo thā a myle: & one simōd of redȳg y e kȳ ges marhall before hem bare hyr armes vpō a spere reuersed: in token that they sholde be vndon̄ for euermore: And vpon the morwe was sir hugh spēcer the sone dāpned to the deth. & was drawe honged beheded: & his bowelles taken owte of hys body & brent / & after he was quartred. ād his iiij quartiers were sēt to iiij. townes of englond & his hede sent to lōdō brigge. And this Symond for enchesō that he despysed quene Isabell / he was drawe and honged in a stage made amydes the forsaid sir Hughes galewes: And the same day a lyttell fro thens was sir Iohan of arūdel beheded. for he was of sir hugh̄ spēcers coūceillers / & anon̄ after was sir Hugh̄ spēcer the fadre drawe hōged & beheded at Bristowe: & after hōged ayen̄ by y e armes w t ij. strōge repes: & y e iiij. day after he was hewē all to peces: ād howndes etē hȳ: & for y e encheson y t the kȳg had yeuē hȳ the erledome of wynchestre· hys hede was lad [Page] thidder and put vpon a spere. and ther the fals baldoke was sent to london. & ther he deyde in pryson amonges thefes For men dyd hē no more reuerēce than they wold done vnto an hoūde / And so deyden the traitours of Englōd blyssed be almyghty god / And it was no wonder / for thurgh theyr coū ceill the good erle Thomas of lā castre was don̄ vnto deth̄. and alle that helden with Thomas of Lā castre thurgh the traytours were vndon̄ / & all hyr heyres d [...]sherited
How kyng Edward was put a downe / & his dignyte benomme Capitulo CC.x.
ANd anon̄ after as all this was don̄ / the quene jsabel and Edward hir sone and alle the grete lordes of Englōd at one assent sentē to kyng Edward to the castell of kenillworth ther y t he was in kepyng vndyr the warde of sir Iohan Hachȳ that was the bysshop of Ely. & sir Iohan of percy the barō / for encheson that he shold ordeyne hys parlemēt at a certeȳ place in englond for to redresse & amend the state of the Reame. And kyng edward hem answeryd & sayd / Lordes quod he / ye se full well how it is / loo take here my seall I yeue yow all myne power to ordeyne a parlement wher that ye wyll. and they toke hyr leue of hym and camen ayen̄ to the barons of Englond. & whan they had the kynges patēt of this thȳg they shewed it to the lordes▪ And tho was ordeyned that the parlement shold bene at westmynster. at the vtas of seynt Hilarie. And all the grete lordes of Englond [...]et ordeyne for hem ther ayens y • time that the parlemēt shold ben̄ And at which̄ day that y t ꝑlement was ordeyned the kȳg wold nat come therfor no maner thȳg. as he h [...]d sette hȳ self & assygned and notheles the barōs sent to hym o tyme ād othir: And he swore by goddes sowle that he wold not come [...] o foot.. wherfore it was ordeyned by all the grete lordes of Englond that he shold no lenger ben̄ kyng but ben̄ deposed: & sayd that they wold croune kȳg Edward [...] the elder that was duke or guy hēne / & sent so tydyng vnto y e kȳg there that he was in ward vndyr sir Iohā erle of garēne. & sir Iohā of Hachym that was bysshop of Ely. & sir Iohan percy a Baron. & sir William trussell a knight that was with the erle sir Thomas of Lancastre / for to yelde vp hyr homages vnto hym for alle them of Englond.
¶And sir willyam Trussell sayd these wordes / Syr Edward for enchesō that ye haue traied yowr peple of englond ād haue vndon̄ many grete lordes of y e Reame of [Page] Englōd withoute any cause / But nowe ye bē withstond. thāked be god. And also for enchesō that ye wold not come to the ꝑlement as ye ordeyned at westmynster as in your owne letter patēt is ꝯteined for to trete wy t yowr liege men as a king sholde. & therfor thurgh all the ꝯmune assent of all the lordes of englond I telle vnto yow these wordes. ye shull vnderstonde sir y t the barons of englōd at one assēt wyll that ye be no more kyng of Englōd. but vtterli haue put you owte of your realte for euermore / And the bisshop of Ely said tho to y e kȳg sir Edward here I yelde vp feaute & homage for all the erchebisshoppes & bisshoppes of ēglōd & for all the clergye. Tho said Syr Iohan of garenne. sir Edward I yelde vp here vnto you feaute and homage for me & for all the Erles of Englond. & sir Hēry percy yafe vp also ther hys homage for hȳ & for all the barons of englōd / And tho said sir williā Trussell I yelde vp now vnto you sir myn homage for me. & also for all y e knyghtes of Englōd. & for all them that holden by seriaūrrye or by any othir maner thyng of yow / so that fro this day afterward ye shul not be claymed kyng. nothir for king be holde: but frō this time afterward ye shull be holde for a singuler mā of all the peple / And so they wēte thennes vnto londō ther that the lordes of Englond hem abode. ād sir Edward abode ī pryson ī good kepyng / & that was the day of cō uersion of seynt paule In the .xx. yere of his regne
¶Prophecye of Merlyn declared of kyng edward the sone of kyng Edward Cap / CCxi
OF this king Edward prophecied Merlȳ & said that ther shold come a goot oute of Care that shold haue hornes of siluer / and a berde as withe as snowe / & a doppe shold come owt of his nosethirles that shold betoken moche harme hunger / & deth of the peple: & grete losse of his lād & that in the begynnȳg of his regne shold be haunted moche lecherye. He said soth. allas y e tyme / for kyng Edward that was kȳg Edwardes sone was borne at canaruan in Walys / for soth he had hornes of siluer ād a berde as snowe. whan he was made prince of walys / so moche he yafe hȳ to riote & felonye / And soth said Merlyn in his prophecye / that there shold come oute of his nose a doppe for in his time was grete hūger amōge y e poure peple: & strōge deth̄ amonge the ryche that deyde in straūge land with mochel sorwe. & in werre in Scotlād / & afterward he loste scotland ād gascoigne: And whilles that hym selfe was kyng. ther was moche lecherye haūted And also merlȳ told and said that this [Page] goot shold seche y e flour of lyfe & of deth. & he said sothe / for he spoused Isabel the kȳges doughter of fraunce / And in his time Merlȳ said that there shold be made brugges of folke vpō dyches of y e see: & that was wel seen at bannokkesborne in scotlād whā he was discōfyted ther of the scottes And merlȳ told also that stones sholde fall frō castelles and many townes shold be made pleȳ / & he sayd soth̄: for whā kȳg Edward was discomfited in Scotlād. & came tho southward. y e scottes besieged the castelles & dyd hem moch̄ harme & brent townes vnto the hard erth̄. And aft (er)ward Merlȳ sayd that an egle shold come out of Cornewaille that shold haue fetheres of gold / that of pryde shold haue no piere: & he shold despyse lordes of blood: and after deye thurgh a bere at Gauersise. & that prophecye was ful well knowe ād fonde sothe. For bi the egle is vnderstōde sir Piers of Ganastone. that tho was erle of Cornewaille· that was a wonder prowde man that despised the baronage of englōd▪ but aft (er)ward he was beheded at gauersichet through y e erle of Lācastre & through the erle of warrewyk. And merlyn tolde that in hys tyme yet shold seme y t the bere shold brēne. & that bataill shold be vpō an arme of the see in a felde araied lyke a shelde / where sholde deye many whyte hedes. & he said sothe / for by the brennyng of the bere is betokened grete drede thurgh cuttȳg of swerd at that bataill ordeyned ī a felde as a shelde vpon an arme of y e see. is betokened the bata [...]lle of mytone For ther camē the scottes in maner of a shelde in maner of a wynge and slew vpon swalle men of relygyō [...] prestes ād seculers wherfor y e scottes kalled that bataille in despyte of englysshmē the white bataille: And after Merlȳ said that y e forsayd bere shold done the goot moche harme· & that sholde be vpon the southwest also vpō his blode & said also that the goot sholde lese moch̄ dele of his lande / tyll y e tyme that shame sholde hȳ ouercome. & thā he sholde clothe him wy t a lyōs skȳne & sholde wȳne ayen̄ that he had loste. and moche more thurgh peple that shold come oute of the northwest. that shold make hȳ bene adrad. & him avenge of hys enemyes thurgh coūceil of ij. owles that fyrst sholde be in peril to be vndone / And that ij. owles sholde wende ouer y e see into straū ge lād / & ther they shold dwelle tyll a certeȳ tyme: & after they sholde come into englond ayene And the .ij. owles sholde do moch̄ harme vnto many one / and that thei sholde cownceylle the gote for to meve werre ayens the forsayd bere: and that the goot and the owles sholde come vnto an arme of [Page] the see at Burton vp trent & shold wēde ouer: & that for drede the bere sholde flee with a swan in his companye vnto bury toward y e north thurgh an vnkynde owtputter / & that the swan thā sholde be slaine with sorwe: and the bere sholde be slayn̄ full nygh̄ his owne nest that sholde stōde vpon Poūfrete· vpon whom the sōne shall shede his bemes / & many folke him shall seche for the mochel vertue / And he said full sothe (punctel) for the good Erle thoās of Lācastre was borne in y e northwest & cosyn to the kyng & sone of his vncle▪ And by lawe he made y e king lese moche lād. the which̄ had purch̄ased wylfully· till at the last the king therof toke shame & him self fylled with cruelte▪ And after he gate ayene that he had loste ād moche more therto / thurgh folke that he let assēble oute of y e northwest that made him to ben̄ adrad & auēged hȳ of hys barōs thurgh coūceill of sir hughe the spēcer the fadre ād of sir Hugh̄ the sone that beforne were outelawed of ēglōd for hir wykkednesse But aft (er)ward came ayene into Englōd sir hugh̄ the spencer the fadre oute of fraū ce / & so moch̄ counceilled the kyng that he shold werre vpon Thoās of Lācastre / so that the kyng & the spēcers & the erle of arūdell ād hyr power met with Thomas of Lā castre at burton vp trente & hym there discōfited. & sir Humfrey erle of Hereford was in his cōpanie / & after fleddē the forsayd Thoās & Hūfrey with hir ꝯpanie at burbrugge with sir Andrewe of Herkela that is kalled the vnkȳde outeputter / And also sir symōd warde erle of yorke they came ād met w t Thomas of lācastre wy t an huge companye: & hem ther discomfited / & in that scomfiture the erle of Hereford was slayne vpon the brugge cowardely with a spere in the foundemēt: And the good erle Thomas was take and lad vnto pounfrete And tho he was beheded besyde his owne castell: but afterward many men hȳ sought for myracles that god dyd for hȳ: And in that tyme Merlyn sayd for sorwe and harme shold deye a peple of hys land / wherfor many landes shold be vpō hem the boldre / and he said sothe: for by encheson of his barons that were done to deth for seynt Thomas quarell of Lancastre. peple of many londes became the bolder for to meue werre vpon the kyng / for hyr blode was turned to many ād diuerse nacyons.
And afterward Merlyn tolde ād said that the forsayd owles sholde done moche harme vnto the flour of lyfe ād of dethe: And they shold brynge hyr vnto moche disease / so that she shold goo and wēde oueruer [Page] the see into fraūce for to make pees to the flourdelyse & there sholde abyde tyll on a tyme that hyr seed shold come ād seche hyr / & tho they shold abyde both̄ tyll a tyme that they shold clothen hē with grace: ād the two owles she shold seke and put hem vnto spitouse deth And y t prophecye was well knowen and was full sothe: for sir Hugh̄ spencer the fadre & sir Hugh̄ the sone dyd moch̄ sorwe and persecucyon vnto quene Isabell thurgh hyr procurement to hir lord the kīg. So they ordeyned amonges hem that she was put vnto hir wages that is to sey xx. shillyng in the day. wherfore y e kyng of Fraūce hir brother was wonder sore ānoyed. & sente into Englond by his [...]rēs vnto kȳg edward that he sholde come to hys parlement to Paris into Fraūce: but kīg Edward was sore adrad to come there. for he wende haue bene arested till that he had made amendes for the trespace that sir Hugh spencer the fadre ād the sone had done / and for the harme that they had done to quen̄ Isabell his suster. Wherfore thurgh hir ordenaūce and consent of the spencers the quene Isabell went ouer see into fraunce for to make accord bitwen̄ kyng edward and the kyng of Fraūce hyr brother. and there dwelled she in fraunce till Edward hyr eldest sone came hir to seche & so they dwelled ther bothe till that aliaunce was made bitwen̄ hem & the gentill Erle of Henaude that yf they wy t her helpe might destroie and ouercome the venyn ād the falsenesse of y e spencers that sir Edward shold spouse dame Phelip the wurshipfull lady ād the erles doughtyr of Henaude. wherfore the quen̄ jsabell & sir Edward hir sone & sir edmond of Wodestoke the kynges brother of Englond & sir Iohan of Henaude & sir Rogier mortymer of wȳgmore: & sir Thomas Rocelyn & sir Iohā of Cromwell & sir williā Trussel. & many othir of y e aliaunce of the gētil erle thomas of lācastre that were [...]illed owt of englōd for his quarell ād were disherited of hir lādes: ordeined hē a grete power ād arriued at Herwych in southfolk & sone aftyr they pursweden the spēcers till that they were takē & put vnto spytouse deth as before is sayd & hir ꝯpanye. ād also for the grete falsenesse that they did to the kȳg Edward & to his peple: & Merlȳ said also more that the gote shold be put into grete disese & in grete anguissh̄ & in grete sorwe he shold lede his lyfe / & he said soth: for after the tyme that kyng Edward was take he was put into warde tyll that y e spēcers were put vnto the deth / And also for encheson y t he nold nat come vnto his owne [Page] parlement at londō as he had ordeyned & assigned him selfe ād to his baronage: ād also wolde not gouerne ād rule his peple ne hys Reaulme as a kyng sholde done Somme of the barōs of Englōd camē & yeldē vp hir homages vnto him for hem. and for all the othir of the reaume in the daye of Conuersion of seynt paule / ād in the yere of his regn̄ xx: & they put him out of his ryalte for euermore: & euer he lyued hys lyfe afterward in moch̄ sorwe & anguissh̄
Of kynd Edward the thridde after the conquest Capitulo CCxij
And after this kīg Edward of Carnarvan regned sir Edward of wȳdesore hys sone. the which̄ was crowned kīg and annoynted at westmynster / thurgh consent ād will of all the grete lordes of the Reaume y e sonday in Cādelmasse eue: in the yere of grace / M.ccc.xxvi / that was of age at that tyme but .xv. yere: & for enchesō that hys fadre was ī ward in y e castell of Kenilworth & eke was put downe of hys royalte / the reame of englōd was withoute kyng fro the feste of seynt Katheryne in y e yere aboue sayd vnto the feste of Candelmasse. & tho were all maner plees of y e kȳ ges benche asten· And tho was cōmaūded to all the sherewes of englond thurgh wryte to warne the parties to defandauntz thurgh̄ somnyng ayene. and also ferthermore that all prysoners that were in the kȳges gaylles y t were attached thurgh sherewes shold be lete gone quyte. The kȳg Edward aftyr hys coronacyon at y e prayer & besechīg of his liege mē of the reaulme graunted hem a chartre of stedfast pees to alle hē that wolde it axe. and sir Iohā of Henaude & his companie token hir leue of the king & of the lordes of the reaume & turned home to hir owne contre ayene / ād eche of hem had full riche yeftes euerych̄ man as he was of value & of estate / And tho was englōd in pees & in reste / & grete loue bitwen̄ the kyng & his lordes. and cōmuneli Englysshmen said amōges hem that the deuell was dede. but the tresour of the kȳg his fadre & the tresour of the spēcers both of the fadre & of the son̄ / & the tresour of the erle of Arundell: & of maistir Robert Baldoke that was y e kinges Chaūceler was deꝑted after the quene Isabellys ordenaūce. & sir Rogier mortymer of wȳgmore so that the kyng had no thyng therof but at hir wille & hir delyuerāce nought of hyr londes as afterward ye shall here
How kyng Edward went to stā hope for to mete the scottes Capitulo CCxiij
[Page] ANd yet in the same tyme was king Edward in the castell of Kēlworth vnder the keping of sir henry y t was erle Thoās brothir of Lācastre y t thomas erle of Leycestre / & the kyng graunted him the erledom of Lā castre that the king his fadre had seised into his hond and put oute Thomas of Lācastre his brother & so was he Erle of Lācastre & of leicestre & eke styward of Englōd as his brother was in hys tyme: but sir Edward that was kīg edwardes fadre made sorwe wy tout ende: for cause that he might not speke with his wyfe ne with hys sone / wherfore he was in moche meschyef / for though it were so y t he was lad & ruled by fals counceill: yit he was kyng Edwardes sone / kalled Edward w t lōg shankes & comē of the worthiest blode of the world / & thoos to whom he was wonet to yeve grete yeftes and large / were moost pryue wy t the kīg his owne sone & they were his enemyes both̄ bi nyght ād by daye. & procured for to make debate & contek bytwen̄ hȳ & his sone and Isabell his wife: but the frere preschours to hȳ were good frendes euermore / & cast & ordeyned both̄ by night & bi day howe they myght brynge hym owte of pryson / And amōge hir cōpanye y t the freres had pryuely brought there was a frere that was called Dunbenet: & he had ordeyned ād gadred a grete companye of folk to helpe at that nede: but the frere was take & put in the castel of Ponnfrete. & there he deide in pryson: And sir Hēry erle of Lancastre that had the kynges fadre in kepyng thurgh cōmaūdemēt of the kyng deliured Edward y e kȳ ges fadre by endenture vnto syr Thomas of Berewyk. & so sir johan Mautrevers & they lad him from the castell of Kemlworth vnto the castel of Berewyke and kept him ther saufly. And at E [...] tren next aftyr hys coronaciō the kyng ordeyned an huge hoste for to fyght ayens the scottes. & sir johan the erles brother of Henaude fro beyonde the see came for to helpe kyng Edward ād brought wy t him seven hoūdred men of armes & arryued at Dover: & they were cōmaūded to go forth tyll that thei camē to yorke ther that the kȳg abode hem: And the scottes came thyder to the kȳg for to make pees and accord / but the accordement bitwen̄ hem last but a littel tyme: & at that tyme the englysshmē were clothed all in cotes & hodes peynted with lettres and with flours full semely with longe berdes: and therfor the scottes made a bylle that was fastened vpon the chyrch̄ dores of seȳt petre toward Stangate ād thus said the scripture in despite of englysshmen
ANd the Trinite day next after began the contake in the cite of york bitwen̄ the Englisshmen & y e henaudiers And in that debate were quelled of the Erledome of Nycholl and mordred lxxx / & aftir they were buried vndyr a stone in seȳt clemēts chyrch̄ hawe in fossegate And for encheson that the Henaudes came to helpe y e kyng / hir pees was cried on paine of lyfe and lymme / & in that other halfe it was fonde by an Enquest of the cyte that the Englysshmen begōne the debate.
How the Englysshmen stoped y e Scottes in the park of Stanhope: & how they turned ayen̄ into scotland Capi. CCxiiij
ANd at that tyme the scottes had assembled all hyr power & camen into Englond & quelled & robbed all that they might take / & also brenten & destroied all the north contre thurgh oute tyll that they camē to the parke of Stanhope in wiredale and there the scottes helden hem ī a buschemēt: but whē the kyng had herde thurgh certeyne aspies where the scottes were. anone right wy t his hoste besieged hem withyn the forsaid parke so that the scottes wiste nevyr wherto gon̄ out: but only vnto hir harmes / and they abydē in the parke xv. dayes. & vitaylles hem failled in euery syde: so that they weren gretly epired of her bodies / And sith y t Brute came fyrst into Brytaign̄ vnto this tyme was neuer seyne so fayre an host: what of englysshmen & of aliens ād of men of foot. the which̄ ordeyned hem for to fyght w t the scottes thurgh engyn of sir Henry Erle of Lancastre. & of sir Iohan Henaude: y t wolde haue gone ouer the water of withe for to haue fought with the scottes. But sir Rogier mortimer consented nat therto / for he had preuely taken mede of y e scottes hem for to helpe that thei might wente ayene vnto hyr owne contre / and the same Mortymer coūceilled so moch̄ thoās of Brotherton̄ the Erle marchall y t was kyng Edwardes vncle. that the forsaid Thomas shold not assemble at that tyme vnto the scottes & he assented / but he wist not the doȳg bitwen̄ the scottes & the forsaid mortymer / & for enchesō y t he was marchall of Englōd & to hȳ parteyned euer the vauntwarde he sent hastely to the erle of Lancastre. & to sir Iohā of henaude y t they shold not fight vpō y e scottes in preiudice & harmȳg of hȳ & his fee. & if thei did that thei shold stō de to hir owne peryll. & the forsaid [Page] hys bataille. at the rere doos of y e erle of Lācastre for to haue fought with hym & with his folk if he had meved for to fyght with the scottes / ād in this maner he was deceyued & wist nothyng of thys treson: and thus was the kȳg prī cipaly deceyued / ād when it was night Mortymer that had wach̄ for to kepe of the hoste that night destourbled y e wach̄ that no thȳg must be don̄ / & in the mene whyle y e scottes stele bi nyght toward hir owne contre as faste as they might / and so was the kyng falsely betraied that wēde that all the Traytours of his lande had ben brought to an ēde as it was sayd before. Nowe here ye lordes how traitoursly the kyng was deceyued & how mervously ād boldely y e scottes dyd of werre. for Iames douglas with CC / hondred men of armes ryden thurghowte the hoste of kyng Edward: And in the same nyght the Scottes skaped frō hir place toward hir own̄ contre as is aboue sayd. tyll that they c [...]men to the kīges pawillō & quelled there many men in hyr beddes and cryed some tyme naward Naward. And an othir tyme a dōglas a donglas. wherfor the king that was in his pauillō and moch̄ othir folke were wonder sore affraied / But blysshed be almighty god the kyng was not taken: ād in grete peryll was tho the reaume of Englond: ād that night the mone shone full clere & bryght & for all the kynges men the scottes escaped harmeles / ād in the morwe when the kȳg wyst that the scottes were ascaped into hyr contre / he was wonder sory & full hertely wept. ād yet wyst he not who hȳ had done that treson: but that fals treson was full well y knowe a good whyle after as the storie telleth: The kyng edward came ayen tho to york sorwefull: & his hoste departed and euery man went into hys owne contre with ful hevy chere & mornyng semblant. & the Henaudes toke hyr leue and went vnto hyr owne contre: and the kȳg for hyr trauaille hugely hem rewarded and for encheson of that vyage y • kyng dispēdyd moche of hys tresour & wasted. And in that tyme were seyne two mones in the firmament that one was clere and that othir was derke as mē myght tho see thurghoute the world ad a grete debate was that same tyme ayens the pope Iohan the xxij aftyr seynt Petre. ād the emperour of almaigne tho made hī emperour ayens the popes wyll that tho helde his see at Auymō wherfor that ēperour made hys crye at rome & ordeyned an othir pope that hyght Nycholas / that was a frere menour / & that was ayēs y e right of holy chyrch̄ wherfor he was kursed: and the power [Page] of that othir pope sone was leid & for encheson that such̄ mervailles were seyne Men said that the world was nygh̄ at an ende
¶Of the deth of king Edward of Carnarvan Cap: ccxv
And nowe turne we ayene to sir Edward of Carnarvan / that was king sometyme of Englond. ād was put a down̄ of his dignite Allas for his tribulacion & sorw that hȳ befell thurgh fals coūceill that he leued & trusted vpō to moch̄ that afterward were destroied thurgh hyr falsenesse as god wolde. And this Edward of Carnarvan was in y e castell of Berkley vnder the keping of sir morys of berkeley / ād sir Iohan of Mautrevers & to hē he made his cōplaȳt of his sorwe & of his disese (punctel) & oftetymes he axed of his wardeyns what he had trespaced ayēs dame Isabell his wife ād sir Edward his sone that was made newe kynge that thei wolde nought visite him / Tho āsweryd one of his wardeyns / my worthy lord displese you nat that I shall telle yow. the encheson is for it is done hem to vnderstōde that if my lady your wif came any thyng nye yow that ye wolde hir strangle and quelle and also that ye wolde do to my lord your sone that same. Tho answeryd he with simple chere: allas allas am I not in pryson / & all at your owne wille: nowe god almyghty it wote I thought it nevyr. And nowe I wolde that I were dede / so wolde god that I were. for thā were all my sorwe passed
¶Hit was not longe after that the king thurgh coūseyll of mortimer graunted the warde ād kepyng of sir Edward hys fadre to sir Thomas to iorney and to the forsayd sir Iohan Mautrevers thurgh the kynges lettre. ād put owte holy the forsaid sir Moryce: of the warde of the kyng. ād they toke and lad the kyng vnto the castell of Corfe / the whiche castell the forsayd kyng Edward hated as any deth / and they kept hym there saufly tyll it came vnto seīt mathewes day in Septembre in the yere of grace thowsand thre hondred xxvij / that the forsaid sir Rogier Mortymer sent the maner of the deth how and in what wyse Edward of carnarvā shold be done to dethe / And anone as the forsaid Thomas and Iohan had seyne the lettre ād commaū dement / they made kȳg Edward of carnarvan good chere & good solas as thei might. at that soper and no thyng the kyng wyste of these traitrie And whan y e tyme was for to goo to bedde / the king wente vnto hys bedde / and laye [Page] and slept fast. and as the kȳg lay & slept / the traitours fals forsworne ayens hir homage & hir feaute [...]mē pryuely into the kynges chambre & hir companye wy t hē / and leyden an hughe table vpon his wombe & wyth men pressedē & helden fast a downe iiij corners of the table vpon his body / wherwith the good mā awoke & was wonder sore adrad to be dede there and slayne: & turned hys body vp sodowne. Tho token the fals traitours & as wode tyraūts an horn̄ & put it into his foūdement as depe as they might / & token a spite of coper brēnyng and put it thurgh the horne into hys body: & oftetymes rolled therwith hys boweles / and so they quelled hyr lord that no thȳg was perceyued & aftyr he was entered at gloucestre.
How kyng Edward spowsed Phelip the Erlis doughtyr of henawde at york Cap. cc.xvij
ANd aftyr Cristmasse tho next swyng sir Iohan of Henaude brought wyth him Phelipp his brothers doughtyr that was erle of Henawde his nece into Englōd / and kyng Edward spowsed hyr at york wy t mochel honour: ād sir Iohan of Bothum bisshop of Ely & sir william of Melton Erchebisshop of yorke songen the masse that sonday in the euen of Conuersion of seynt Paule. In the yere of grace a M.CCCxxvij / but for enchesō that the king was but yong and tendre of age when he was crouned full many wronges were done whyle his fadre lyued / for ēcheson that he trowed y e coūceilliers that were fals aboute hym that coūceilled him to don̄ othir wise than reson wolde wherfor grete harme was done vnto the reaume and to the kyng. & all men directed it the hynges dede: and it was nat so almyghty god wo [...]e wherfore it was ordeyned at the kynges crownyng that the king for his tendre age shold be gouerned by xij grete lordes of Englōd withoute which̄ no thyng sholde be don̄: that is for to seye. The erchebisshop of Caunterbury▪ the erchebisshop of yorke: the bisshop of wynchestre and the bisshop of Hereford. The erle of Lancastre The erle Marchall (punctel) and the erle of Kent. that were the kȳges vncles: and the erle of Garenne / Sir Thomas wake: Sir Hēry of percy. Syr Oliuer wyngham ād [...]ohā of Roos barōs / All these were sworne trewly for to coūceill y e kīg And they shold āswere euery yere in the parlement of that / that shold be done in the tyme of that gouernaille / but that ordenaūce was sone vndon̄ / & that was moche losse and harme to all englōd for that kyng & all the lordes that [Page] shold gouerne hȳ were gouerned & ruled aftyr the kȳges modyr dame Isabell: & bi sir Rogier mortimer. & as thei wolde all thīg was don̄ both amōge high̄ & lowe / ād they tokē vnto hem castelles tounes lādes & rētes in grete harme & losse to the croune & of y e kinges state owt of mesure
¶How y e pees was made bitwene the Englysshmen & the scottes and also of iustyfyēg of Troillebastone Capitulo CCxvii
THe kȳg Edward at witsontyde. the secōd yere of his regne thurgh coūceill of his modyr: & of sir Rogier mortimer ordeyned a parlament at Northampton. at the which̄ parlement the kȳg thurgh ther coū ceill & non̄ othir of the lād withȳ age graūted to bene accorded wy t the scottes in this maner that all y e feautes & homages that y e scottes shold do vnto y e crowne of englond foryafe hē vnto the scottes for euyrmore by his chartre ensealed / And ferthermore an endenture was made of the scottes vnto kyng Edward that was kyng Hēryes sone. which̄ ēdēture they called it Rageman / in the whiche were conteyned all the homages & feautes / Fyrst of y e kȳg of Scotland & of all the prelats Erles ād barons of the Reaulme of Scotland with hir seales set ther on. & othir chartres & remembraūces that kyng Edward & his barons had of her ryght ī y e reame of scotland. it was foryeve hem ayene. holy chyrch: ād also with y e blake crosse of scotland. the whyche the good kyng edward conquered in scotland / & brought it oute of the abbey of Scone: that is a full precious Relique▪ And also ferther more he relesed ād foryafe alle the landes that the barōs of englōd had in scotland by olde conquest. And this pees for to be holde ād last the scottes were bounde vnto the king in xxx / thousād pownde of siluer to be paid withȳ thre yere / that is to seye euery yere x.M. pownde by evyn porcyons / & ferthermore aboue all this thei spake bitwen̄ the parties aboue said that Dauid Driton̄tier that was robert the brus is sone the fals tiraunt & traytour & fals forswore ayens his othe that arose ayens his liege lord y e noble kȳg edward & falsely made hȳ kyng of scotlād that was of age of v / yere And so thurgh his kursed coūseill dauyd spoused at berewyke dame Iohā of y e tour that was kyng edwardes suster as y e geest tellyth vpon Mary magdalene day In y e yere of grace a MCCC. & xxviij to y e grete harme & empeirīg of all the kȳges blod wherof y t gentyll lady was come. Allas the tyme (punctel) For wonder moch̄ was that faire damysel disparged sith that she was [Page] maried ayēs all the cōmune assē te of Englōd: & fro the tyme that Brute had conquered Albyon & nempned the lōde aftyr hys owne name Britaigne that nowe is kalled Englōd after the name of Engyst. And so was the reaume of Scotland holden of the reaulme of englond & of the crowne bi feaute ād by homage: For brute conquered that land ād yafe it to Albanak his second sone: and he kalled the lande Albayne aftyr his owne name. so that the heyres that camen after hȳ heldē of Brute & of his heires the kīges of Bretaigne by feaute ād homage & from that tyme vnto thys kȳg edward / y e reame of scotland was holden of the reame of Englond by feautes & seruyces aboue said / as the cronycles of Englōd and of scotland beren witnesse more plenarly And accursed be y e tyme that this parlemēt was ordeined at Northamptō / for thurgh fals coūceyll there was falsely disherited & yet he was withyn age. ād yet whan kȳg Edward was put a downe of his Royalte of ēglōd yet men put hȳ not oute of the feautes & seruyces of the reaulme of scotland ne of the fraunchises disherited him for euermore And notheles the grete lordes of englōd & were ayēs to conferme the pees & the tremes aboue said. sauf only quene isabell that was the kynges modyr Edward & the bisshop of Ely ād lord mortimer. but reson & lawe wolde not that a fynall pees sholde be made bytwene hē wy toute the cōmune assent of Englōd
Of the debate that was bitwene quen̄ Isabell & sir Hēry erle of lā castre & of Leicestre & of the ridȳg to Beford Capi. CCxvij
WHē the forsaid dauid had spoused dame Iohane of the tour in y e toune of Berewyke as before is said / the scottes in despyte of y e englysshmē called dame johā the coūtesse make pees for y e corwardyse pees that was ordeyned: but y e kynges ꝑsone bare the wyte & blame w t wrō ge of the makȳg of y e accorde. and all was don̄ thurgh the quene ād Rogier mortymer / ād it was nat lōge aftyr that y e quene Isabell ne toke into hir owne hāde all y e lordship of Poūfrete almost / & all the lādes that were of value that apperteyned to the croune of ēglōd so y t the kīg had not for to dispēde but of his vses ād of his escheker / For the quen̄ jsabell & mortymer had a grete meyn̄ of hir retenaū ce. that folowed euermore the kȳ ges courte· and wente and toke at y e kȳges pryse for hir peny worthes at good shepe. wherfor y e cō tre that they camē ynne were ful sore adrad & almost destroied Tho [Page] begone the commynalte of Englond for to hate Isabell the quene that so moch̄ loued hyr when she came ayene for to purswe the fals traitours the spencers from fraūce. And that same tyme the fals traitour Robert of Holand that betraied his lorde sir Thoās of Lancastre / was tho delyured owte of pryson▪ ād was wonder pryue with the quene Isabell / ād also with Rogier the Mortimer. but that availled hym but littell for he was take at Michelmasse. that tho came next sewyng after / as he rode toward the quene jsabell to Lōdō: & sir Thoās wither smote of his hede besides the toune of seynt Albones: and this sir Thomas dwelled tho wy t sir Hē ry erle of Lancastre. & he put him in hydyng for drede of the quene For she loued him wonder moch̄ and praied vnto the kyng for hȳ that the same thomas must ben̄ ex [...]ed oute of englōd. and the noble erle sir Henry of lācastre had ofte tymes herd the cōmune clamour of the englysshmen: of the diseses that were done in Englōd. & also for dyuerse wronges that were done amonge the commune peple. of the which̄ the kȳg bare the blame with wronge. for he nas but full yonge & tēdre of age And thought as a good man for to don̄ away & slake the sklaūdre of the kynges persone if that he migh̄t in any maner wyse So as the kyng was therof nothȳg gylty. wherfor he was in peril of [...]th and lymme And so he assembled all his retenaūces and went and spake vnto thē of the kynges honour and also for to amēd his estate: And sir thomas brotherton erle Marchall. and sir Edmōd of wodestoke that were the kynges vncles. and also men of London made hir othe him for to maȳten ī that same querell And hir cause was thys / that the kyng shold holde his housold ād hys meyny as a kyng ought for to done and haue also his ryalte: and that the quene Isabell shold delyuer oute of hir honde into the kynges hō de all maner lordshyppes rentes townes and castelles that apperteyned to the crowne of englond as othir quenes had done before hyr: and medle wyth none other thynge / And also that sir Rogier mortimer shold dwelle vpon his owne landes: for the whych̄ londes he had holpe disherite moche peple / so that cōmune peple were nat destroied thurgh hir wrongefull takyng / And also to enquere how ād by whom the kyng was betraied and falsely deceyued at Stanhope. ād thurgh whos coū ceyll that the scottes went away by night from the kyng. And also how & thurgh whos counceill the ordenaūce that was made at [Page] the kynges coronacion was put a downe. that is to seyne that the king for amendement & helping of the reaume & in honour of hȳ sholde be gouernyd & ruled by xij the gretest & wysest lordes of all y e reaume: & withoute hem sholde nothing be graunted ne done ne sayd. for the whiche couenaunts malycyously were put a downe fro the kynge: wherfor many harmes shames & reproues haue falle vnto the kyng & his reaume / & that is vndyrstōd for asmoche as Edward somtyme kyng of Englond was ordeyned by the assēt of the comynaulte in playne parlement for to be vndyr the warde & gouernaunce of Henry erle of Lancastre his cosyn for savacion of his body. he was take owte of the castell of Kenilworth there y t he was in warde: & thurgh counseill of quene Isabell & of the mortymer withoute consente of any parlament they toke and lad hȳ there that nevyr after non̄ of his kynred myght wy t hym speke ne see / ād after him traitoursly mordred. for whos deth a foul slaundre arose thurghoute all crystendome when it was done / And also the tresour that sir Edward of carnarvan had left in many places in englond ād in Walys were wasted ād born̄ away withou / te the will of kyng edward his sone in destructyon of hym & of all his folk Also through whos coū seil that the kyng yafe vp the kīgdome of scotland: for the whyche reame the kinges aūcestres had full sore y trauailled: & so dyd many a noble man for her right and was deliured vnto Dauid y t was robert the Brus son̄ all the right that no right had to the reaume as all the world it wist. And also by whom the chartres & remembraūces that they had of y e ryght of scotland. were take oute of the tresorie & take vnto the scottes y e kynges enemyes in disherithing of him & of his successours. ād to grete harme vnto his lieges and grete reproue vnto all ēglysshmē for evyrmore / Also wherfor dam̄ Iohan̄ of the tour the kinges suster edward was disparged & maried vnto dauid that was robert y e Brus sone. that was a traitour and enemye vnto englond: and thurgh whos coūceill she was take into our enemyes hōdes oute of englōd. And in the mene tyme while y e good erle Hēry of Lācastre & his ꝯpanie tokē coūceil how these poyntes aboue said myght ben̄ amended vnto y e worship of the king & to his profyte: and to the proffyte also of his lieges· the quene Isabell thurgh coniectȳg & soutilte: and also of the Mortimere let ordeyne a parlement at Salisbury. ād at y e sam̄ parlemēt the Mortimer was made erle of [Page] the Marche ayens all the barōs will of Englōd in preiudice of the kyng & of his crowne. & sir Iohā of Eltham y e kȳges brother was gurt with a swerd of Cornewaill: and tho was kalled Erle of Cornewaille. and evyrmore quene Isabell so moch̄ procured ayēs hyr sone the king that she had y e warde of the forsaid sir Edward ād of hys lādes: And at that parlemēt the Erle of Lācastre wold not come. but ordeyned alle hys power ayens the quene Isabell and the Mortymer. and men of London ordeyned hem wy t v.C. men of armes. When quene jsabell wist of this doyng: she swore bi god and bi his names full angreli: that in euyll tyme he thought vpon tho poyntes. Tho sent the quene Isabell ād the mortimer after hir retenue. and after the kynges retenue so y t they had ordeyned amō ge hem an huge hoste: And they coūceilled the kyng so that vpon a night they roden xxiiij myle toward bedford / ther that the Erle of Lancastre was with his companye and thought to haue him destroyed / and that night she rode besydes the kyng hyr sone as a knight armed for drede of deth / And it was done the kȳg to vnderstonde that the erle Henry of Lācastre and his companye wolde haue destroyed the kyng & his counceill for evyrmore / wherfore the kȳg was somdelle towardes him hevy and annoyed (punctel) Whan the Erle Marchall ād the Erle of kente the kynges brother herden of this tydyng: they rydden so in message bitwene hem that y e kȳg graunted his pees to the erle Hē ry of Lancastre for a certaȳ raū sone for xi / M / pownde. but that was neuer paied aftirward And these were the lordes that helden wyth sir Henry of Lancastre: sir Henry Beaumount / Sir Fouke fitzwaren: sir Thomas Rocelyn. sir wylliā Trussell. syr Thomas wither / and aboute an hoūdred knightes moo that were to hym consentȳg. & all they were exilled thurgh coūceill of quene Isabell & of the mortymer. for the Mortymer weited for to haue hir landes yf that he might thurgh any maner coniectyng. for he was sore couetous & had tho moch̄ hys wylle. and that was grete pyte
How kyng Edward went ouer the see for to do his homage vnto the kyng of Fraunce for the Duchye of Gwyhenne Capitulo CC / xix
IT was not longe after y t the kīg of Fraūce thurgh coūceil of his douseperes [...]ent to kyng Edward of englōd that he shold come to Parys and done his homage as reson it wolde for the Duchye of Gwyhenne [Page] & so thurgh coūceyll of the lordes kyng Edward went ouer the see & at ascencion tyde he came vnto Parys the thridde yere of his regne for to do his homage vnto the kyng of Fraūce. who vnderfeng his homage: & made of him moche ioye & wurship / but whā kȳg Edward had made hys homage / hastely he was sent fore into Englond thurgh the quene Isabell his modre / & anon̄ he came ayene into Englond vpon witsonday / withoute any takyng leue of the kȳg of Fraūce. wherfore he was wonder wroth
How sir Rogier Mortimer bare him prowdely & so hye Capi. CCxx
ANd nowe shull ye here of sir Rogier Mortymer of wingmore that desired & coueyted to be at an hygh̄ astate. so that the kyng graūted hym to be called Erle of the march̄ thurgh oute all hys lordshyp. And he becam̄ so prowde and so hauteyne that he wolde lese & forsake the name that his auncestres had euer befor. ād for that encheson he let hem kalle Erle of the marche. & non̄ of the cōmunes of Englōd durst calle him by none othir name for he was called so thurgh y e kinges crye that men shold kalle him erle of the marche: And the mortymer bare hym tho so hanteyne & so proude that wonder it was for to wit. & also disgysed hȳ with wondre riche clothes out of all maner reson. both of shaping and of weryng: wherof the Englysshmē had grete wōdyr how & in what maner he might cōtryue or fynde such̄ maner pryde: ād they said amonges hem all ꝯmunely that his pryde shold not longe endure. And the same time sir Geffrey mortimer the yōg y t was the mortimers sone let him kalle kȳg of folye / and so it befell aftyrward in dede: for he was so full of pryde & of wrecchednesse y t he helde a rounde table in walys to all men that thyder wold come. and coūtrefeted the maner & the doȳg of kȳg arthures table but opēly he failled. for the noble kȳg artur was the moost worthy lord of renōme that was in all the worlde in his time: & yet came neuer none such̄ aftyr. for all the noble knightes in cristēdome of dede of armes a losed (punctel) dwelled wy t kȳg Arthure. & helde hȳ w t theire lord / & y t was well sene / for he cōquered in bataille a romayne y t was kalled Frolle / & gete of hȳ the reame of Fraūce & quelled hȳ w t his hōdes. & also he faught w t a geaūt that was called Dynabus ād quelled him that had rauisshed the fayre Eleyne y t was kyng Hoeles nece of littel britaigne / & aftirward he quelled in bataill the emꝑour of Rome y t was called Lucye / that [Page] had assembled ayēs kȳg Arthur. for to fight with him so moch̄ peple of Romains. & Phehis / ād of sarasyus that no man cowde hē nombre. & he discōfyted hem all: as the story of hȳ telleth / & in that same tyme cōmune loos sprong in englōd thurgh coniectȳg & ordenaūce of the freres prechours that sir Edward of Carnarvan that was kyng edwardes fadre. of whom the geest telleth / sayden that he was a lyue in the castel of Corfe wh̄erfor all y e cōmunes all most of Englond were in sorwe & in drede whethyr that it were so or not for they wystē not how traitoursly the Mortimer had hī don̄ mordred
How Edmond of Wodestoke that was erle of Kent & the kynges brother Edward of Ca [...]a [...] uan / was beheded at wȳchestre Capitulo CCxxi
ANd vpon a tyme it befell so that sir Edmōd of wodestoke erle of Kent spake vnto the pope Iohan the xxij. at avyuion̄ and said that almighty god had oftetymes don̄ for Thomas loue of Lācastre many grete miracles to many men & women that weren thurgh dyuerse maladies vndone as vnto the world / and thurgh his praier thei were brought vnto hir helthe. ād so sir Edmōd praied the pope hertely. that he wolde graūte hī grace that the forsaid Thomas myght be translatyd. but the [...]ope said nay. that he shold not be trāslated vnto the time that he were bettyr certefyed of the clergye of Englond. & sent by hir obedience what thyng god had don̄ for the loue of Thomas of lācastre aftir the suggestyon that the forsayd Erle of Kent had vnto hȳ made. & when this edmōd sawe that he might not spede of hys purpose. as touchyng the translacyon / he praied him of his coūceill as touchyng sir Edward of Carnarvā his brother· & said that not longe a gone he was king of Englond. what thyng myght best be done as touching his delyurance syth that a commune fame is thurgh englond that he is a lyfe & hole & sauf. When the pope herde hym telle that sir edward was a lyve / he commaūded the erle vpon his benyson that he shold helpe with all the power that he might him to be deliured owte of pryson: ād saue hys body in all maner that he might / And for to breng thys thyng to an ende he assoilled hȳ and his companye a pena & culpa & all tho that helpe to hys deliurance / Tho toke Edmōd of wodestoke his leue of the pope & came ayen into Englond / & whan sir Edmond was comen. somme of the freres preschours came ād [Page] said that sir edward hys brother yet was a liue in the castel of corf vndyr the kepyng of sir thomas gurnay. Tho sped hȳ the forsayd edmond as fast as he might till y t he came vnto y e castell of Corfe: & spake so faire wy t Iohan dauerill that was conestable of the same castell. & yafe hȳ rich̄ yeftes for to haue acquytaūce of hȳ & to knowe of hys coūceill. & thus it befell that the forsaid sir Edmond prayed spicially to telle hȳ preuely of hys lord hys brother sir Edward yf that he lyued or were dede / & if he were a lyue he prayed of hym ones to haue a sight And this sir Iohā Dauerill was an hygh̄ herted man & full of corage. & answeryd shortely vnto sir Edmond▪ & said. that sir edward hys brother was in hele & vnder his kepyng: & durst shewe him vnto no man. syth yt was defended hȳ in y e kinges halfe Edward that was Edwardes sone of Carnarvā. & also thurgh cōmaūdemēt of quen̄ Isabell the kȳges modyr / & of sir rogier the Mortymer that he shold shewe hys body vnto no maner man of y e world sauf onely vnto thaȳ vpon peine of lyfe & lymme & to disherityng of his heyres for euermore. But the fals traytour falsely lyed. for he was not in hys warde. but he was take thens & lad vnto y e castell of Berkelee thurgh Thomas garnay bi ꝯmaū dement of the Mortimer till that he was dede as before is said / but sir Edmond of Wodestoke wyst no thȳg that edward his brother was dede: whervpō he toke a lettre vnto the forsaid sir Iohā and praied him hertely that he wolde take it vnto kȳg edward his brother as to his worthi lord / & he vnderfeng the lrē of hȳ: & behight hī for to do his message w toute any maner faill & w t that sir Edmōd toke of him his leue thēs of y e forsaid Iohan & wēt tho in his own̄ cōtre & lorshypp in Kent that he had there▪ & anone as this johan wist that sir edmō was gon̄ into kent his owne lordshyp. anon̄ he wēt in all the hast that he might fro the castell of Corfe & came vnto sir rogier the mortimer & toke hȳ the lettre y t sir edmōd of wodestoke erle of Kent had take hym closed & ensealed w t his owne seal. & whan sir rogier had vnderfēg the lettre. he vnclosed y e lrē & sawe what was cōteyned theryn & began it for to rede. wherof y e begȳ nȳg was this. wurshippes & reuerēces wy t brothers legaūce & subiectione Sir knight wurshipfull ād dere brother yf it yow plese I praye you hertely y t ye be of good confort / for I shall so ordeyne for yow that sone ye shull come oute of prysō & be delyured of y t disese y t ye ben in. and your great lorship shall vndrestande that I haue to me cōsentȳg almost all the grete [Page] lordes of Englond wy t all hyr apparaille that is to saye w t armure with tresour withoute nombre / for to maynten̄ & helpe your quarell ferforth that ye shull be kyng ayene as ye were before: ād that they all haue sworn̄ to me vpō a boke: as well prelates as erles ād barons / Whē sir Rogier the mortymer saw & vnderstode y e might & the strength̄ of the letter (punctel) anone for wrath his hert gan to swelle / ād euyll hert bare toward sir Edmond that was erle of Kent / ād so wy t all the haste that he myght he wente vnto dame Isabell the quen̄ that was the kȳges modre. & shewed hir Sir edwardes lrē & hys will and his purpose / & how he had coniectyd ād ordeyned to put a downe kīg Edward of wȳ desore hir sone of the ryalte ād of his kīgdome / Nowe certes sir rogier quod the quene hath sir Edmond done so / by my fadre soule quod she / I wull be therof auenged yf that god graunte me lyfe / and that in a short tyme / And anone with that the quene Isabel wente vnto kyng edward hir sone there that he was at the parlemēt at wȳchestre for to haue amē ded the wronges & trespaces that were done amonge the peple in his reaume And tho toke she ād shewed him the lettre that sir edmond of Wodestoke erle of Kēt had made & ensealed w t his owne seal. & bad vpon hir benyson that she shold be auenged vpon hym: as vpon his dedely enemye Tho was the quene so wroth toward sir edmond erle of Kent / ād cesyd never to praye vnto hyr sone tyll that he had sent in all hast aftyr him: And vpon that the kȳg sent by his lettres after sir edmond of wodestoke that he shold come ād speke with hym at wȳchestre all maner thing left / And whan syr edmond sawe that the kyng sent after hȳ with his lettres ensealed / he hasted hȳ in all that he might tyll that he came to wynchestre: but tho the quene wist that Syr edmond was come vnto wȳchestre. anon̄ she praied & so fast wēte vnto kyng edward hyr sone that Syr edmond the good Erle was arestyd anone. ād led vnto barre before Robert of Henaude that was coroner of the kynges houshold: & he associated vnto hȳ sir Rogier the Mortimer: & tho speke the forsaid robert ād said Syr edmond erle of Kente ye shal vnderstonde that it is to don̄ vs to wyte. and principaly vnto owr liege lord sir edward kyng of Englond that almighty god saue ād kepe that ye be hys dedely ennemye & a traitour / & also a cōmune enemye vnto the reaume. and that ye haue bene aboute many a day for to make preuy delyuerāce of sir edward som tyme kȳg [Page] of Englōd your brother the whiche was put a downe of his rialte by cōmune assent of all the lordes of englond / in pesing of owr lord the kȳges astate: & also of his reaulme / Tho āsweryd the good man & said for soth sir vnderstonderstondeth well that I was neuer traytour to my kyng ne to y e reame. and that I do me on god ād on all the world: And ferthermore by the kynges leue I shal it preue & defende as a man owght to do. Tho sayd Mortimer / sir edmond it is so fer forth y knowe y t it may nat well be gaynesaid. ād that in p̄sence of all that here ben̄ it shalbe well prouyd. Now hath this fals mortimer the sam̄ lettre that sir Edmond had take to syr Iohan Daueryll in the castell of Corff. for to toke vnto kyng Edward his brother / that sir edmōd wist not of ne supposed no thing that sir Iohan Daueryll had ben̄ so fals to delyure hys lrē in suche wyse to the Mortimer & thought no maner thing of that lettre. ād said to sir Edmond & shewed a letter sealyd & axed him if he knewe that lettre & the seal / This sir Edmond loked theron & avysed him longe on the printe of the seal. for he might not see the lettre withȳ forth what was therȳ / & wist wel that it was his seall. & thought y t it had be some letter that had bore no grete charge: & thought no thing of that other lettre / ād said openly in herȳg of hem all. ye forsoth this is my seall / I will it nat forsake / Loo quod the mortimer. Sires ye heren all what he hath said & that he knowelecheth that this is his lettre & his seal / & now ye shul here all what is cōteyned theryn / & than this mortimere opened the lettre that he had foldē a fore to gedre. & red it opȳli word by word in heryng of hē all· And whan the letter was red he sayd· [...]o sires ye haue herde all what is here wryten. & that he had knowlegyd that this is hys letter and his seal. & may not go ther from And than they all cryed and yafe dome that he shold be honged ād drawe / & his heed smyt of in maner of a traytour & he & hys heyres disherited for euermore: ād so he was lad forth & put into prisō And when thys was done & the quen̄ wist that he was dampned by wey of lawe. both of lyfe ād of lymme / & his heires disherited for euermore / thrugh open knowlegyng in pleyne court: wherfor hē thought that were good that the forsaid sir edmōd were hastly put to deth withoute wityng of y e kīg / or elles the kyng lyghtely wolde foryeue hym his deth: & thā that shold turne hē to moche sorwe so as he was empeched (punctel) and anone the quene thurgh coūceyll of the mortymer / & withoute any othir [Page] coūceil sent in hast to the baillyfs of wȳchestre / that they shold smite of sir Edmondes hede of wodestoke erle of Kent withoute any maner abidȳg or respite vp payne of lyfe and lymme / ād that he shold haue none othir execucion be cause of tarieng natwithstandyng the iugemēt: Tho tokē the baillifs sir Edmond oute of pryson / & lad hȳ besides the castell of wynchestre: & there they made a gonge fermer smyte of hys hede. for none othir man durst it done. and so deyed he ther. allas the tyme: that is to seye / the x. day of octobre / the thridde yere of kȳg edwardes regne. & whan the kyng wist therof he was wonder sory / for he louyd hī wel / and let entier him at the frere minours at wȳ chestre /
¶Of the deth of sir Rogier mortimer erle of the marche Capitulo CCxxij
ANd so it befell at that tyme sir Rogier Mortimer Erle of the march̄ was so prowde and so hauteyne that he helde no lord of the reame his pere ād tho became he so couetous that he folowed dame Isabel the quenes court that was kyng Edwardes modyr / & besete his peny worthes wy t the officiers of y e quenes houshold in the same maner that the kȳges officiers did. ād so he made his takȳg as touchȳg vitailles. & also of cariages: & all he dyd for cause of spēces: & for to gadre tresour / & so he dyd wythoute nombre in al that he might / Tho made he hī wōdre secret w t y e quen̄ jsabel: & so moch̄ lorship & retinue had that all the grete lordes of englōd of hȳ were adrad. whefore y e kyng & hys coūceill toward hym were angry & ordeined amōge hē to vndon̄ hym thurgh pure resō. & lawe for cause that kȳg edward that was the kynges fadre traytoursly thurgh hē was mordred / in the castel of Berkelee as before is said more plenarli in y e CCxvij chapitre of this boke / & some that were of the kīges coūceill loued y e mortimer / & told hym in pryuete how y t the kȳg & his coūceill were aboute frō day to day hym for to shēd & vndon̄: wherfor the mortimer was sore ānoyed & āgry as y e deuel ayēs hē that were of the kȳ ges counceil: & said y t he wold ben̄ auēged how so euer he toke on. yt was not lōge afterward y t kȳg edward & dame Phelip hys wyfe & dame jsabel the kynges modre / & sir rogier the Mortimer ne went vnto Nothȳgham ther for to soiourne / & so it befell that the quen̄ jsabell through coūceill of y e mortimer toke to hir the keyes of the yates of the castell of Nothinghā so y t no man myght come nethyr in ne oute by night: but through the commaūdemēt of the mortimer. [Page] neyther the kyng / ne non̄ of his coūceill. & at y t tyme it fell so y t the Mortimer for malyce that he had towardes the kinges men / & pryncipally ayens hem that had hym accused to the king of y e deth of sir Edward hys fadre / preuely a coūceill was take bitwen̄ quen̄ Isabell & the Mortymer. & y e Bisshop of Lincoln / & sir Symōd of Bereford. & sir Hugh̄ of Ttrūpiton: & othyr pryue of his coūseill. for to vndon̄ hem all that had accused the mortymer vnto the kīg of his fadres dethe / of treson & of felonye. wherfore all tho that were of the kȳges coūceill whā they wist of the Mortymers castyng / preuely came to kȳg Edward ād seydē / that the Mortymer wolde hē destroye for cause that thei had accused him of kyng Edwardes deth hys fadre. & praied hym that he wold maynten hē in hir ryght And these were the lordes to purswe this quarell: sir wylliā moū tagu / Sir Hūfrey de bogun. Sir Willyā his brother. Sir Rouf of stafford: Sir Robert of Herford: Sir wylliā of Clinton / Syr Iohā neuyll of horueby / & many othyr of hir consent: & alle these sworne vpō a boke to maynten̄ the quarell in as moch̄ as they myght / & it befell so aftyr that sir Wylliam Montagu ne none of the kȳges frēdes must not ben̄ herburghed ī the castel for the Mortimer: but went and token hyr herburghes in dyuerse places in the towne of Nothyngham. ād tho were they sore adrad / lefte that the Mortymer shold hem destroye / And in hast ther came vnto kīg Edward Syr wylliam Mowntagu there that he was in the castel. and preuely told hym that he ne none of hys companye sholde [...] taken the Mortymer wythowte cownceyl and helpe of Wyllyam of Eland Conestable of the same castell: Nowe certes quod the kyng I loue yow well. and therfore I cownceyll yow that ye goo vnto the forsayd conestable and commaunde hym in my name that he be yowr frend and your helpe for to take the mortymer all thȳg left. vpon peryll of lyfe and lymme: Tho sayd willyam Mountagu / sir mi lord graūte mercy Tho went the forsayd Mountagu ād came to the conestable of the castel. and told hym the kynges will And the Conestable answeryd & said that the kynges wille sholde be don̄ and fulfylled in as moch̄ as he myght / and that he wolde nat spare for no maner dethe. ād so he swore ād made his oth̄ Tho sayd the forsayd sir Willyā moū tagu to the Conestable in herȳg of all hem that were helpyng vnto the quarell / Nowe certes dere [Page] frende: vs behoueth for to werke & do bi your cownseyl for to take the Mortymer. syth that ye be keper of the castell ād haue also the keyes in your warde. Syr quod the conestable wyll ye vnderstōd that the yates of the castell bē loked with the lokkes that dame jsabell send hydder / And by night she had the keyes therof / And lyeth hē vndyr the bolstyr of y e bedde vnto the morwe / ād so ye may not comen into the castell by the yates in no maner wyse / But I knowe an vowte that streccheth owte of the park vndre the erthe into the forsayd castell that goth into the weste. whych̄ aley dame Isabell the quene ne none of hyr men ne the mortimer ne none of his cōpanye knoweth not. And so j shal lede you thurgh that aley that ye shull come into the castel withoute aspies of any mē that ben your enemies / And the same night sir william Moūtagu and all the lordes of his quarell & the same conestable also wēt hem to hors and maden semblant as it were for to wēde oute of the mortymer sight / But anon̄ as y e mortimer herde this tyding he wend that they wold haue gone ouer y e see for drede of hym: & anone he & his companye tokē coūceyl amō ges hem for to let hir passage: ād sent letters anon̄ to the portes so that none of the grete lordes sholde passe / but if they were arestyd and take / And among othir thȳ ges williā Eland conestable of y e forsaid castell preuely lad sir wylliam Moūtagu and his companie by the forsayd wey vndyr the erthe. so tyll they camen into the castel (punctel) and went vp into the towre there that the Mortimer was in / But sir Hugh̄ of Trumpȳgton hem af [...]ried hydously & sayd. A traitours it is all for nought that ye ben comen into this castell: ye shull deye an euell deth euerychone. And anone one of hem that was in Mowntagu is companie vp with a mace and smote the same Hugh vpon y e hede that the brayne brest owte And fel on the grownde. and so was he dede an euell deth· Tho toke they y e Mortymer as he armed hym at the towres dores whan he herde the noyse of hem for drede / & whā the quen̄ Isabell sawe that y e mortymer was taken: she made moche sorwe in hert / and the wordes vnto him said. Nowe fayre syres I praie yow that ye don̄ non̄ harme vnto his body for he is a worthy knight our welbelouyd frende and our dere cosyn. Tho went they thennes & camen & brought the Mortimer and presented hȳ vnto the kyng Edward / and he commaunded to brynge hym in sauf warde: but anone ryght as [Page] they that were cōsent vnto y e mortymers doyng herd telle that he was take: they went & hyd hem priuely & by night went oute of y e towne eche in his syde with heuy hert: & lyued vpon hyr londes as well as they myght: And so that same yere that y e mortymer was take. he had at his retenue ix / score knightes wythoute squyers & seriaūtes of armes and footmē / And tho was the Mortymer lad to londō & sir Symōd of bereford was lad with hȳ / & was take to y e Conestable of the toure to kepe: But afterward was the Mortymers lyfe examyned at westmȳ ster before the kyng: & before all y e grete lordes of Englōd for peryll that might falle to the reaume / & to enquere also which̄ were assē tyng to sir Edwardes deth y e kinges fadre. & also thurgh whō the scottes askaped from Stāhope / into scotland withoute the wyll of kyng Edward / And also how the chartre Rageman was delyured vnto the scottes: wherȳ the homages & feautes of Scotland were conteyned that the scottes sholde don̄ euermore vnto the kī ges of englond for the reaume of scotland. wherfore in his absence he was dampned to be drawe ād honged for his treson: And thys meschyef came vnto hȳ seȳt Andrewes euen. in the yere of Incarnacyon of our lord Ihesu Crist a .M.CCC. and xxx
How kyng Edward gete ayene vnto hym gracyously the homages and feautes of Scotlād wher of he was put owte thurgh fals coūseyll of Isabell his modre / ād sir Rogier mortymer y t was newe made erle of the marche Capit / CCxxiij
NOw ye haue herde lordes how sir Iohan of bailloll in tyme of pees was chosen to be king of scotland for encheson that he came of the eldest doughtyr of the erle dauid of Hō tȳgton that was kȳg Alysādres brother of Scotlād that deide withoute heire of his body begoten & how this Iohan made feaute & homage to king Edward hēryes son̄ the iij. for his lādes of scotlād And how he aftyrward withsaid hys homage thurgh coūceill of y e scottes in the yere of our lord .M.CC.lxxij. and sent vnto the pope thurgh a fals suggestion that he made hys othe vnto the forsayd king Edward ouer his astate ād his will / of which̄ oth the pope hī assoilled thurgh by hys bylles to hȳ sent / & anone as king edward wist therof. he ordeined anon̄ his barons & came vnto Berewyke / & cōquered the towne: at whyche cōquest ther were slayn̄ xxv / M & vij.C / & y e bailloll that was kīg of scotlād came & yelde hȳ vnto kȳg edward: & the kȳg afterward deliuered [Page] him oute of the towre of London / & all the grete lordes of Scotland with him that were take at Berewyke & yaf hem saufcō duit to go into scotland / & the scottes sith thurgh hir falsenesse werred vpon kyng Edward. & when sir Iohan bailloll king of scotlād saw all thys he went & put hym ouer the see vnto Dūpier & lyued ther vpon his owne lōdes as wel as he might. tyll that the scottes wolde amende hem of hir mysdedes & trespace / & lad with hym sir Edward his sone. wherfore y e scottes in despyte of hym called hym Iohā turnelabard for cause that he wolde not offende ne trespace ayens kȳg Edward of Englond & so he forsoke his reame of Scotland & sette therof but littel prys: & this sir Iohan lōge tyme dwelled in Fraunce tyll that he deyed there / And sir Edward his sone vnderfeng hys heritage And did homage vnto the kyng of Fraū ce for his landes of Dunpied and so it fell afterward that Edward that was johā baillols sone had with him a squyer of Englond y t was bore in yorke shyre that was kalled Iohan of Barnaby. & this Edward baillol loued him moch̄ & was ny him & ful pryue And so this Iohan barnaby was at debate with a Frenshman in y e toune of Dunpier. & so he quelled hȳ / & went his way in all that he might / into the castell for to haue socour & helpe of his lorde: & anone came the officiers of the town̄ to take Iohan of Barnaby as a felō & sir edward his lord halpe hym: & rescued him / ād by nigh̄t made him wende owte of the castel (punctel) ād so he went hys way ād came into Englond wythoute any harme / And when the kyng of Fraūce. saw that sir Edward had rescued his felō he became wōder wroth ayens sir Edward. & anon̄ let hȳ be arestyd. & toke into his hande all his londe. Tho dwelled sir Edward in pryson vnto the tyme y t sir Hēry of Beaumoūt came into Fraūce / the whych̄ Henry sō tyme was erle of Angos in Scotland thurgh his wyfe & was put oute of the forsaid Erledom̄ whē y e accord was made bytwen̄ Englond & scotlād thurgh y e quen̄ jsabell and sir Rogier the mortymer and hir companye / for the mariage that she made bitwen̄ Dauid that was Robert the brus sone & dame Iohan of y e tour kyng Edwardes sustyr of Englōd / & well vnderstode thys that at the ende he shold nevyr come to his right / But if it were thurgh the h̄elpe of sir Edward Bailloll. the whyche that was right heyr of the reaume of Scotland. And the king of the reaume of fraūce which̄ was called Lowys loued moch̄ this sir Hēry / & he was wy t him full pryue [Page] and thought for to make a deliurāee of sir Edward baillols body if he might in any maner wise / Tho praied he the kȳg that he wolde graunte hem of his grace sir Edward baillols body vnto y e next parlement that he might liue wy t his owne rētes in the men̄ tyme. & that he must stande to be iuged bi hys perys at y e parlemēt The kȳg graūted him his praier & made the forsaid Edward be delyured owte of pryson in the maner aboue said: And anon̄ as he was oute of pryson: sir Hēry toke hym forth wyth hȳ and lad hȳ into Englond & made hȳ dwelle prevely at the maner of sandē vp onse in yorkeshire w t y e lady vescy & so he ordeyned hī there an great retinue of peple of Englysshmen ād also of aliens for to conquere ayene his heritage / And so he yafe moch̄ siluer vnto sowdeours & to aliens for to helpe hī / And thei promysed to helpe hȳ in all that they might / but they failled hȳ at his most nede / And at that tyme Donald erle of Morrif herd telle how that sir Edward was preuely come. & went to him & made w t hȳ grete ioye of his comȳg ayene & said to him & behight him that all the grete lordes of Skotlande shold be to hȳ entēdaūt / & sholde hȳ holde for kȳg as right heyre of scotland. ād so moch̄ they wolde done that he sholde be crowned kyng of that lande. & dyden to hȳ homage & feaute / Tho came Sir Henry of Beaumont to kȳg Edward of englond & praied him in wey of charite that he wold graunte of his grace vnto sir edward bailloll that he must saufely goo by lād frō sand hall vnto scotlād / for to cōquere hys right heritage in scotland / The kyng answeryd & said vnto him. yf that I suffre y e bailloll wente thurgh my lād into scotland than the peple wolde say there I shold be assentyng to the companie: Nowe sir I praye yow that ye wold graūte hȳ leue to take vnto him Sowdeours of englisshmē that they might saufely lede hȳ thurgh your land vnto scotland / & sir vpon thys couenaunt that if it so befell that god it forbede that he be discōfyted in bataille thurgh the scottes that j & also all the lordes that holdē w t bailloll ben̄ for euermore tint oute of owr rentes that we haue in englond. And the kyng vpō thys couenaūt graunted hyr bone as touchyng him. & tho that weren of the same quarell y t which̄ claymed for to haue londes or rentes in the reaulme of Scotland
And these were the names of y e lordes that purswedē this mater that is to saye. sir Edward y e bailloill that chalenged the reame of Scotland. sir Henry Beaumoūt erle of Angos. sir Dauid of stroboly [Page] erle of Athelees / sir Geffroy of monbray: Waltier Comyne & many othir that were put owte of hir heritage in scotland. whan the pees was made bitwen̄ Englond & scotland as before is said And ye shull vnderstōde that the lordes toke wyth hem v. hondred men of armes & two thousād archiers & of footmen / and tho wē te into shippe at Rauenespore. & sailled by the see till that they camen to londe at Kynkehorne xij myle from seint Iohānes toune. & anone sent oute hir shippes ayene for they shold nat be hurte ne ēpired nethir that no man shold gon̄ into the shipp ayen̄ though thei had nede· but abide at all perilles & not flee▪ but stonde / & rather suffre dethe than flee for to maynten hir trewe quarell. whā the Erle of fiffe a fers man and a storne herd that the Bailloll was comen for to take the lāde of scotland: he came in haste to kȳg horne with x. thousand scottes for to distrouble him that he shold nat come to londe. But sir Edward bailloll and his companye there him discōfyted at the which̄ discō fiture sir Alizaūdre of Fetō was there quelled & many othir. The Erle of fiffe was tho sory and ful ylle a shamed that so littell a companye had him discomfyted and shamefully put hȳ & all his cōpanye that were a lyve for to flee Tho came sir Edward Bailloll & toke the contre all aboute hym / tyll he came vnto y e abbey of Dū sermelyne & there he fownde vytailles for hym and for hys folke and amonge all othir thȳges he fonde in a chaūbre aboute v honderd of grete staues of fyne oke with longe pykes of yren and of stelle. he toke hē & delyured hē to y e most strengest men of his ꝯpanie And anone after he wēt fro thēs and loged hym in a felde ij. myle from seint Iohānes towne / And when y e burgeys of the toun̄ herd how the erle of Fiffe was discō fyted thurgh y e Bailloll / they were sore adrad & brak their brygges that they had made ouer the water of erne: so that Bailloll might not gon̄ ouer / wherfor he logged hȳ there all that night / but littell hede he tok of rest & said vnto his peple. Nowe fayre lordes ye knowe full well that we ben̄ nowe y logged bitwen̄ our enemies: & yf they mowe vs hampre ther is no bote but deth̄. wherfor yf we abyde here all this nyght styll / I thȳ ke that it shall turne vs to moche sorwe and harme For the power of the scottes may euery day wex ād encresse & we may not so don̄ / And we bene but littell peple / as ayens hem. wherfore I pray you for the loue of almyghty god make we vs bolde and hardy. & that we may myghtely take the scottes [Page] this nyght and boldely werre vpon hem ād let vs purswe hem this night. & if they be trauailled thurgh vs ād they see our hardynesse. so that othir scottes that comen & mete hem & see hem so trauailled & wery / the sorer wull thei be a drad with vs for to fyght. ād fersly than we shull fyght wy t hē. & vpon hem purswe. so that thurgh the grace of god almighty all the world shall speke of y e doughtynesse of our cheualrye. And syres vnderstōdeth wel that all the cōpanye comē wyth sir Erward Bailloll graunted well vnto that coūceil & were therof glad & anone purswed vpō the scottes that they becomen wōder wery And the bailloll and his cōpanye sore folowed hem & dyd hē moch̄ sorwe thurgh hir assaulte: so y t they might not for feble hem helpe ād for littell peple But tho said y e scottes amonges hem / what is now befall that so littell a peple as the Bailloll hath in wynge don̄ vs so moch̄ trauaille and sorwe. Now certes it semeth vs that he wreccheth by grace / for he is wōder ḡ cyous in his quarell: & all we certes shul ben̄ dede er that we may come to hym vs for to yelde sith that his fadre sette of vs no prys And amonge all othir thinges y e bailloll passed the watyr of Erne so that sir Rogier of Swynerton̄ the sone was fers and angrj and wente forth. and there they sawe peple of armes full well arayed. and forth they wente vnto hem / and wyth hem fowghten & quelled as many as wold abyde or toke. And notheles at that same assaulte the Baillols men wende it had bene the moost grete hooste of Skotlande. And whan it came to the morne. they gadred hē to gedre and rrsted hem a whyle But the whyle that the Englysshmen rested hem: the noble baron Thomas of wesy: and also y e noble and gentyll baron of stafford pryked hyr horses vp & doune by the hylles for to kepe the of Estres of the contre And as they pryked vp and downe they saw a grete hoost of good aray ordeyned in thre wynges with helmes and sheldes shynyng comyng vpon hem. And when the two for sayd lordes sawe that / they camē ayene vnto Baillols folk w t grete hast and sayd. Nowe for the loue of god almyghty ben̄ of good cō fort: for ye shall haue bataill anone ryght. And tho spake sir Fouke the sone of Gareyne a worthy baron / of grete renomme / and of dede of armes: Syres lordynges vnderstondeth well that I wull saye vnto yow. I haue seyn̄ many dyuerse wynges as well amō ge sarazens and jewes as amonge the scottes / And yet saw I neuer in any tyme the ferthe part [Page] of the wynge fyght. and therfore yf we wyll abyde our ennemyes / we ben ynowe for to fight ayens hē· But yf we be not of good hert and of good wille for to fight wy t hem: for certes we bene full fewe ayens this companye: And ther for the loue of god take vnto vs good herte And let vs ben̄ bold & thenke we nether on oure wyfes ne on our children: but only to cō quere hem in bataille / ād thurgh the helpe of our lord god our enemyes we shull ouercome and wy t that came the hoste of the scottes toward hem full fersly / and ayēs sir Edward the bailloll in iij. batailles well araied in armure. ād wōder fersly they camen toward the Baillolls men. But when sir Donald Erle of Marchille sawe all this. he said to Robert Brus y e sone of Robert y e brus these wordes. Syr Robert quod he full sore me fortinketh at myne hert y t thees folke that the bailloll hath brought with him shold deye wy t dynt of scottessh swerd syth that they ben crysten men as well as we ben: and therfore me thȳketh that it were grete charite to send vnto hem for to yelde hem vnto our mercy & grace. & raūsone hē thurgh grevous raunsone for asmoch̄ as they haue takē our lād. and done ylle / Nowe certes quod sir Robert the Brus I haue well perceyued that thou art on ennemye and a traitour vnto scotlād syth that thow wilt consente to saue our dedely enemyes that haue don̄ vs moche sorwe & shame: & nowe it semeth wel that ye ben of hyr assēt. Certes Robert quod sir Donald falsely ye lye / j am not of hir companye ne of hir cōsent / and that hastely ye shul see. for I will fyght with hem rather than any of this companye: And certes sir Robert said he j shal maugre thin heed assaille hē er thow / And with that they prykedē hyr stedes fersly vpon Caskemore / & wynges hem folewed on a rēche And tho came they ād mete the bailloll and his companye at an hongyng bought of the more in a streit passage. & so fast thei hasted hem vnto the Englysshmen. so that thousendes fell to y e groū de the one vp y t othir into a hepe bothe hors ād man. The bailloll tho and his men mygthely stode ayens hem & fast quelled the scottes vnto the grounde & many sore they wounded so longe tyll y t they stoden vpon hem & foyned hem with hyr swerdes ād speres thurgh her bodies / ād so sore trauaylled vpon hem till that they becamen full wery and wist nat what for to done / and the scottes that were left a lyve fleddē away for to saue hī selfe in the best maner as they might. And tho purswed hē sir Edward bailloll & his [Page] men & quelled of hē tyll that was nyght / & fro thens they went vnto seint Iohannes towne. & toke it & helde hem there. & vitailled hē selfe at hir owne wyll: for they fō den ynowe wherwith to make hē mery. Tho made the bailloll hys men that were wounded gon̄ to shipp for to wende into Englond for to hele hyr wowndes / And in that tyme ther was a flemmyng in the see a stronge thefe & robber that was called Crabe. And this flemmȳg was driuen out of flaū dres for his wykkednesse. ād therfore he came into scotland to holde with the scottes & did as moch̄ harme vnto Englysshmen as he might. And this crabbe met in y e see y e baillols men that were woū ded ī bataille that were sent ayen̄ into Englōd for to hele hyr woū des / & this Crabbe yafe vnto hem a grete assaute & wold haue quelled hē euerichon̄ / but the englisshmen defended hem wel & manly / and discomfyted crabbe & his cō panye. & tho begonne he flee into scotland / and as he came toward seint Iohannes towne (punctel) he fonde a grete companie of scottes that were come ayene to geddre after the discomfyture of Gaskemore: the which̄ besieged baillol & hys men in the same toune of seȳt johan. and anone tolde the scottes how that he was discomfyted of the englysshmen that were woū ded at Gaskemore that went toward Englōd for to hele her wō des & said to the scottes that they shold haue no might ne grace ayens Edward bailloll / for enche [...]ō that he scōfyted & empeired all y e cheualrye of scotlād with an honde full of men as to accompte as ayens the scottes that were slayne: wherfor he coūceilled for to remeue the siege from seynt Iohā nes towne & kepe hem in the best maner that they cowde & myght. The scottes vnderstode that the Crabbe said soth & forsoke the liege and went thens by night. ād halpe hem selfe in the best maner that they might / When this thī ge was knowen thurgh scotland how that the lordes ād knightes were scomfyted at Gaskemore of Scotlād thurgh sir Edward the bailloil ye shul vnderstōde that y e lordes & ladies & the gētyls of scotlād camē wōder fast to seint johā nes town̄: & yeldē hē to y e baillol / & to hȳ dyden homage & feaute for hir lādes & yeldē hē to his pees. & he receyued hē frely And fro thēs he went to the abbey of Scone. & there he was crownyd kyng of y e reaume of Scotlād. And after he let crye his pees thurgh owte all the land: And at that tyme it be fell that kyng Edward Bay [...]o [...]l helde his parlement amōge hys lieges at the newe Castell vp tyne for to amende alle the trespaces [Page] and the wronges that had be done in his lād (punctel) And sir Edward the bailloll kyng of scotlād came to him thyder and dyd to hȳ feaute and homage for the reaume of scotland: And in this maner kīg Edward of Englōd gadred ayen̄ the homages and feautes of scotlād / wherof he was put oute thurgh coūceyll & assente of dame Isabell his modre ād of sir Rogier the mortimer erle of the marche / Tho toke Bailloll kyng of Scotland his leue of kyng edward of englōd: & went thēs into his owne lande of scotlād. & sette but littel by hem that had coūceylled hī and holpen hym in hys quarell: wherfore they went fro him and lyued by hyr londes ād rentes in scotlād. And so it befell after not longe that the king of Scotland ne remeued and came to the toune of Anaude / and there toke his dwellyng and thyder came to hȳ a companye of knightes stronge men and worthy / & yelde hē vnto the kyng and bere hem so faire in dede and in continaūce / So that he trust moch̄ hem And anon̄ as the traytours sawe that he trust moch̄ vpon hem: they ordeyned amonges hem fyfty in a companie ād wold haue quelled hir kīg but thurgh the grace of almighty god he brake thurgh a wall an hole in his chābre: & as god wold he ascaped her trecherie & alle his men were quelled. & he escapyd w t moch̄ drede vnto y e towne of cardoill / & ther helde he him sore annoyed: & this befell in our ladyes eue the conceptyō / Tho sent kȳg edward the Bailloll to kyng Edward of Englond how falsely & how traitoursly he was in littell tyme put to shame & sorwe. thurgh hys liegmen: vpon whom he trusted wonder moch̄. ād prayed him for the loue of god y t he wold maynten̄ hym & helpe hȳ ayens his ennemyes / The kyng of Englond had of him tho grete pyte. & behight him helpe and socour / ād sente him worde that he shold holde hȳ in pees stille in y e forsaid cite of Cardoylle till that he had gadred his power: Tho ordeyned kyng Edward of Englond a coū ceill at london. & let gadre his mē in dyuerse shires of Englōd. and when he all was redy he wēte toward the towne of Berewyke vp twede: & thyder came to him kȳg Edward Baillol of scotland with his power and besieged the towne. & made withowte the towne a fayre towne of pauillons / and dyked hē all aboute / so that they had no drede of the scottes: & made many assaute with gonnes & with other engynes to the toune wherwith they destroyed many fayre howses and chyrches. also were bete downe vnto the erthe with grete stones that spitousely [Page] came oute of gonnes ād of othir engynes· And notheles the scottes kepte well the towne that the two kȳges might not come therin lōge time. & notheles the kȳges abyde ther so longe till thaȳ that were in the town̄ failled vitailles ād also they were so wery of wakyng that they wisten nat what for to don̄. And ye shul vndyrstō de that the scottes that were in y e towne of Berewyke thurgh commune coūceill and hir assente let crye vpon the walles of the toun̄ that they might haue pees of the Englysshmen. & therof they prai den the king of his grace & mercy & praied hȳ of trewes for viij daies vpon thys couenaunt that yf they were not rescued in that side of y e town̄ toward scotlād of the scottes withī viij. dayes that thei wold yelde hem vnto the kȳg ād the town̄ also. & to holde thys couenaūt they profred to the kyng xij. hostages out of the towne of berewyke. Whē the hostages were delyured vnto the king: anone they of the town̄ sent vnto y e scottes and told hem of hyr sorwe ād meschief. And the scottes camen tho preueli ouer y e watyr of Twede to the bought of the abbey. ād sir williā Dyket that tho was stiward of Skotland & many othir that camen with him put hē there in grete peryll at that tyme of hir lyfe: for thei camē ouer a brigge that was to brokē & y e stones a way. & many of hir cōpanie were there drenched. but y e forsaid wylliā went ouer & othir of his cōpanye & came by the shippes of Englond & quelled in a barge of hull xvi. men / And aftyr they wēt īto the towne of Berewyke by y e watyr side / wherfore the scottes helde tho the towne reskued and asked hyr hostages ayen̄ of the kȳg of Englōd. & the king sent worde ayen̄ that they axed the hostages w t wrōge sith that they camē into the town̄ of Englōdes side: for y e couenaūt was bitwen̄ him that the towne shold be reskued by y e halfe of scotland. And anon̄ kȳg Edward tho cōmaūded to yelde the town̄ or he wolde hange y e hostages. And the scottes said that y e towne was reskued ynowe and ther to they wold holde hē. Whā kyng Edward sawe y t the scottes breke hir couenaūt that thei made / he was wōder wroth. & anone let take sir Thomas fitz willyā & sir Alexandre of setō wardeyne of Berewyk. the which̄ Thomas was person of dūbare: & led theȳ before alle the othir hostages for enchesō that sir Alixaūdres fadre was keper of the towne And cō maūded euery day that ij. hostages of the towne shulde be hanged tyll that were all done vnto the deth. but yf they wolde yelde the towne / and so he shold teche hem to breke hys couenauntes / And whā they of y e towne herde [Page] thees tydinges / they becamē wō der sory and sentē to the kyng of englond (punctel) that he wolde graūte hē other viij dayes of respite. so that bitwen̄ two hoūdred men of armes ād xx. men of armes myght be strength̄ gon̄ bitwene hem to the towne of Berewyke hem for to vytaille that the town̄ must be holde for rescued: And if so were that xxi or xxij or more were slayne of the two hoūdred before said that the toune shold not be holde for rescued: and this couenaūt to be holden they sent to hym other xij of y e town̄ in hostage: The kīg of Englōd graunted hē her prayer / ād toke the hostages on seynt Margaretes euen / in the yere of grace a M.ccc. & xxxij. The scottes came fersely in iiij wēges wel araied in armes for to mete kȳg Edward of englōd: & edward the king of scotland w t hir power / ād came fast ād sharpely ayens euē sōge tyme: & the same tyme was flode at Berewyke in the watyr of Twede: that no man myght wēte ouer on hir hors nor on foot / and the watyr was bytwen̄ the two kynges & the reaume of Englond / & that tyme abyden y e scottes in that othir side / for encheson that the Englysshmen shold haue ben̄ drownyd or slayne
This was the aray of the scottes how that they camen in bataylles ayens the two kynges of englond & scotlād / in the vaūtward of scotland were these lordes Capieulo CCxxiiij
THe erle of Moryf. james frisel: Symōd frisel / waltier styward / Reygnold theyne. Patrik of grahā / Iohan le graūt Iames of Cardoil / Patrike parkes. Robert Caldecotes. Phelipp of Melledrum. Thoās gyllebert. Raufe wyse man. Adā Gurdone. Iohānes gramat / Robert boyde. Hugh̄ parke with xl. knyghtes newe dubbed / ād vj.C. men of armes / and iij / M. of communes. ¶In the fyrst partie of y e halfe bataille weren these lordes. the Styward of scotland. The erle of Mouref: Iames hys vncle (punctel) willyam Douglas: Dauid of kȳsdesay· Mancolyn flemmȳg: william of the Dunkau: Kamboke wy t xxx bachelers / newe dubbed In the second part of the bataill / were these lordes Iames stiward of Cloden. Aleyn styward / williā Abbrehyn. Williā moryce. Iohā fitz williā / Adam leinose / Walter fitz Gillebert. Iohan of cerlton: Robert walleham / with vij.c. mē of armes ād xvij.M. of communes / ¶In the thrydde part of the bataille of scotlād were these lordes: The erle of marre / the erle of Roffe· the erle of straherne: The erle of sotherl / and williā of kyrkely [Page] Iohan cambrō: Gillebert of hay / willyā of Rāsey: williā prendegest: Kyrstȳ harde / williā Gurdon / Arnold garde. Thomas dolphȳ / with xl. knightes newe dubbed. ixC men of armes. & xv:M. of cōmunes / ¶In the iiij. warde of the bataill of scotlād were these lordes: Archehald Dōglas: the erle of leneuay: Alixaūdre le brus The erle of Fif: Iohā cambel erle of atheles / Robert lawecher / william of Lonstone / Iohā de labels· Groos de sherenlawe. Iohan de lȳdesey Alixaūdre de gray. Ingrā de vmfreville / Patryke de pollesworth: Dauid y e wymes: Michel Scott: williā Lādy. Thomas de boys: Rogier de mortimer wy t xx Bachelers newe dubbed. ixC mē of armes / xviij.M. & iiij.C of cō munes / the erle of Dūbare keper of the castell of Berewyke helped the scottes with l. men of armes / & sir Alixaūdre of seton keper of the forsaid town̄ of berewyke wy t an hōdred men of armes. & the cō munes of the toune wyth iiij hō dred men of armes. & w t hē viijC of footmē / The sōme of the erles & lordes aboue sayd ammoūteth lxvi / The somme of the bachelers newe dubbed ammoūteth to an hoūdred & xl. The somme of men of armes ammoūteth MMM.C / The somme of the cōmunes ammoūteth liijMCC. The sō me totall of the peple aboue said ammounted lvi.M.vij.C xlv. ād these lxv. grete lordes laddē all the othir grete lordes aboue sayd in fowre batailles as it is said before: And kȳg Edward of Englōd & Edward kyng of Skotlād had well apparailled her folk in foure bataylles for to fighte on foot ayens hir enemies: And the Englysh̄ minystrelles blewe her trū pes and her pypes / ād hydously ascryed the scottes. And tho had euery englyssh bataille two wȳ ges of prys archiers / the whyche at that batalll shoten arewes so fast and so sore. that the Scottes myght nat helpe hem selfe. and they shoten the scottes thowsandes to grounde. and they gon for to flee fro the Englyssh men for to saue hir lyfe. ¶And whan the Englissh̄ pages sawe the scomfiture: ād the scottes fall fast to the groūde / they priked hir maystres hors wy t the spores for to kepe hē fro peryl / And set hir maistres at no force. And when the Englissh men sawe that they leptē on hyr hors and fast pursued the scottes & all that they abyden they quelled doune right. There might mē see the doughtynesse of the noble kyng Edward & of his men how manly they pursued the scottes / th̄at fledden for drede / and there myght men see many a scottissh man cast down̄ on the grownde dede· And hyr baners displayed [Page] hakked into pecys: and many a good haberione of stelle ī hir blode bathe. & many a tyme the scottes were gadred into companies but euermore they were discomfyted / and so it befell that as god almyghty wolde that the scottes had that daye no more foyson ne myght ayens the Englysshmen: than xx. shepe sholde haue ayens v. wolfes. and so were the scottes discomfyted: & yet the scottes had wele v. men ayens one englysshman / And that bataille was done on halydonnehille besides the towne of Berewyke: at the whyche bataille were slayne of y e scottes xxxv.M.vij.C and xij / Of englysshmen but onely xiiij / & that were footmen And this victorye befel to the Englisshmen on seȳt margaretes eue In the yere of y e Incarnacyon of our lord Ihesu crist MCCCxxxij And while y t this doyng laste the englyssh pages toke the pilfre of the scottes that were quelled euery mā that he might take withoute any chalengyng of any men: And so after this gracious victorye the kīg turned him ayene vnto the same siege of Berewyke: & whan they besieged saw and herd how king Edward had sped they yolden to hym the towne wyth the castell on the morwe after that the bataille was don̄. that is for to seye: on seynt Margaretes day: And than the kyng ordeyned Sir Edward baillol with othir noble ād worthy men to be kepers ād gouernours of scotland in his absē ce / & hȳ selfe turned ayen̄ & came into Englond after this victory / with moch̄ ioye and wurship. ād in the yere next sewȳg that is for to saye the yere of Incarnacion of our lord Ihesu crist a MCCCxxxiij / and of kyng Edward vij / he went ayen̄ into scotlād in the wynter tyme. at which̄ viage the castell of Kylbrigge in scotland. for him & for his men that wy t hȳ came he recoured / and had ayēs all the scottes wille at his one luste. And in that same yere sir Edward baillol kyng of scotlād helde his parlement in scotland wy t many noble lordes of englond y t were at that same parlement for encheson of hir londes & lordshippes that they had in the reaulme of scotland: & heldē all of the sam̄ Bailloll / And in the viij. yere of his regne. abowte the fest of seȳt Iohan baptist sir Edward baillol the veray and trewe kyng of scotland as by herytage ād right lyne made hys homage & feaute vnto kyng Edward of Englond for the reame of scotlād at the newe castell vpō tyne in the presence of many worthy lordes and also of cōmunes bothe of the reaume of Englond & also of scotlād. And anon̄ aftyr in the same yere [Page] kyng Edward of Englond receyued of the duke of Bretaigne hys homage / for the Erledōme & lordship of Richemond. And so folowyng in their yere of hys regne / after Mychelmasse kīg Edward rood into scotland: & ther was he fast by seint Iohānes towne allmost all the wynter tyme / and he helde his crystmasse at the castell of Rokesburgh. And in the same yere thurgh oute all Englond aboute seynt Clementys tyde in y e winter ther arroos such̄ a spryngyng & wellyng vp of waters ād flodes both̄ of the see and also of fressh̄ ryuers and sprynges that the see brynkes walkes ād costes were breken vp / that men bestes & howses ī many places & namely in lowe contrees wiolently ād sodēly were dreynt. & dryuē awey & fruytes of the erthe thurgh cō tinuance & habundaunce of waters of y e see euermore aftyrward were turned into more saltnesse / and sorwenesse of Sauor / The x. yere of kȳg Edwardes regne kȳg Edward entred the Scottyssh see aftyr mydsomer / and to many of the scottes he yafe bataill & ouercame hem / And many he treted ād bowed vnto hys pees thurgh his doughtynesse. And after mychelmasse thā next folowȳg was the Erle of Morryf take at Edenburgh & brought into Englōd / & put into pryson / And in the moneth of Iuyn̄ & Iuyll thā next folowyng in the xi. yere of hys regne & appyred in the firmament a bemed sterre / y e which̄ the clerkes kalled stella Comata. & that sterre was seyne in dyuerse partyes of y e firmamēt where after anon̄ there folowed in Englond good shepe and wonder grete plente of all chafre vitaille & marchādyse & ther ayēs hōger scarcite meschief & nede of money in somoch̄ that a quarter of whete at londō was sold for two shillyng. & a good fat ox at a noble: & v. good peious for a peny: in which̄ yere deyed sir johan of Elthā erle of Cornewaille kyng Edwardes brother & lyeth at westmynster.
¶How kyng edward made a duchye of the Erledome of Cornewaill / & also of vj. othir erles that were newe made. & of y e fyrst chalengȳg of the kȳgdome of Fraū ce Capit. CC.xxv
IN the yere of our lord MCCC & xxxvij: and of kīg Edward xij / in y e moneth of Marche duryng the parlemēt at westmynstre in Lent tyme kīg edward made of the erledome of Cornewaill a Duchye: & let it calle the Duchye of Cornewaill the which̄ duchie he yaf vnto edward his fyrst sone wyth the erledome of Chestre / And also kȳg edward made at that same tyme vj. othir erles that is for to seye: sir Henri [Page] erle of Lancastres sone erle of leycestre. william of Boghune Erle of Northamptō / williā of Mon̄ tagu erle of Salysbury / Hugh̄ of Awdele Erle of Glowcestre. Robert of Vford erle of Sowthfolke And williā of Clyton̄ erle of Hū tyngdone / And in that same yere it was ordeyned in y e same parlement / that no man shold were no cloth that was wrought oute of Englond as cloth of gold of silke / velvet or Damaske / latyn: bā dekyn ne none such̄ other / ne none wilde ware ne furre of beyonde the see: but such̄ as might spēd an C. pownde of rent a yere. but thys ordenaūce & statute was of of lyttel effect. for it was no thȳg holde ¶In the xiij yere of his regne kyng Edward wente ouer see into Braban wyth quen̄ Philipp his wyfe there beryng chyld at Andewarpe / there he dwelled more than a yere to trete wy t the duke of Brabā / & eche to othre allyed for chalengyng of the kyngdome of Fraūce to kȳg Edward of Englond bi right & that by inheritaunce aftyr the deth of Karoll the grete kȳg of Fraūce brother germayne of quene Isabell kyng Edwardes modyr apperteigned. the which̄ was holden & occupyed vnrightfully by phelip of Valoys y e Emes sone of kyng karoll / the which̄ duke ād all hys in the forsaid thȳges & in all othir therto belongyng wy t all his mē ād goodes. kyng Edward fonde redy vnto hȳ & maden & promysed bitwene thaȳ seurte by good fayth & trust / & aftyr that the kīg hasted him into englond ayen̄: & left there the quen̄ stille behynde him in brakan. Than in the xiiij yere of hys regne whan all y e lordes of his reame & othir that fallen to be at his parlement weren kalled & assembled to gedre in the same parlement holden at London. after the fest of seint Hilarie: the kinges nedes were put forth & promoted as touchȳg the kȳgdome of Fraunce. For which̄ nedes to be sped the king axed y e fifthe part of alle the mevable goodes of Englōd: & the wulles & the ix shefe of euery corne. And y e fordes of euery toun̄ / wher such̄ thīg shold be taxed and gadred. shold answere to the kyng therof: & he had it & helde it at his one lust ād will / wherfor yf I shall knowlech̄ the veray trewth̄. the ynner loue of the peple was turned into hate. ād the commune praiers into kursyng for cause that the cōmune peple were so strongely greued Also the forsayd Phelipp valoys of Fraūce had gadred vnto him a grete hoste. and destroyed there in hys partyes ād kȳgdome many of the kynges frendes of Englond with townes & castelles of many othir of hyr lorshippes. ād [Page] mani harmes shames & despites dydē vnto the quen̄ / wherfor kȳg Edward whē he herde this tidȳ ges was strongely meved & therwith an angred: & sēte diuerse lettres ouer see to y e quen̄ & to other that were his frendes glading hē and certefyēg hē that he wolde be there hȳ selfe in all the haste that he might. And anon̄ aftyr Estre when he had sped of all thīg that hym neded / he went ouer the see ayen̄ / of whos comȳg the quen̄ & all his frendes were wondre glad & made moche ioye. And all that were his enemies & ayēs hȳ heldē maden as moch̄ sorwe. ¶In y e same tyme the kȳg thurgh coūceyl of his trew lieges and coūceil of hys lordes that ther were present with him tokē the kyng of Fraū ces name. & toke & medled the kȳ ges armes of Fraūce quartred with the armes of Englōd & cō maunded forth with hys coygne of gold vndyr descriptiō & wrytȳg of y e name of Englōd & of Fraū ce to be made best that myght be. that is for to seye. the floryn̄ that was called y e noble prys of vj shillyng viij. pens of sterlinges. & the halfe noble of the value of iij. shillynghes / iiij pens. & the ferthyng of value / xx. pens
How kyng Edward came to the Sclus & discōfyted all the power of Fraūce in the hauen Capitulo CCxvi
ANd in the next yere after that is for to say / y e xv / yere of his regne. he commaū ded and let wryte in his chartres writtes and othir letters the date of the regne of Fraūce fyrst. And while that he was thus doyng & trauaillyng in Fraunce thurgh his con̄ceill he wrote to all the prelates dukes Erles & barons and the noble lordes of the contre. ād also to diuerse of the cōmune peple diuerse lettres. and maundemēts berȳgh date at Gandaune the viij day of februarye. And anone after with in a littell tyme he came ayene into Englond wy t the quen̄ & her chyldren. And in y e same yere on mydsomer eue he [...] began to saille toward Fraunce ayene: & manly & styfly fille vpon Phelip of Vajoys the which̄ longe tyme lay and had gadred to hī a full grete meyne of dyuerse nacyons in the hauen of Sclus. ād there they fowghten to gedre the kȳg of Fraūce & he with her hostes fro mydday vnto the thridde hour in the morne / in which̄ bataill were slayne xxx.M. men of the kinges companye of Fraūce and many shippes & kogges were takē. ād so thurgh goddes helpe he had there y e victorie. ād bere thēs a glorious chiualrie And in the same yere aboute seȳt james tide wy tout y e yates of seīt Omers Robert of Autheis w t men of englond [Page] & flaūdres bitterly faught ayens the duke of Burgoygne & the frensshmrn: at which̄ bataill there were slayne & take of y e frēsshmen xv. barons / lxxx knightes & shippes & barges were takē vnto the nōbre of CC. & xxx: The same yere the kyng makyng & abydyng vpon the siege of Turney / the erle of Henaude wy t Englissh archiers madē assaute to y e town̄ of seint Amēd: where they slowe l. knightes & many othir / ād also destroied the town̄ / And in y e xvj / yere of his regn̄ folowyng in the wynter tyme the same kȳg dwelled still vpon the forsaid siege: ād sent ofte in Englōd to hys tresorier & othir purneiours for gold & money that shold be sent to hym ther in his nede / but his procuratours and messagiers cursedly & full flowly serued hȳ at his nede / & hȳ deceyued: on whos defaute & laches the king toke trewes bitwen̄ hym and the kȳg of Fraū ce. And the kyng full of wo sorwe ād shame in his hert with drowe him fro the siege & came into Britaigne· & ther was so grete stryfe for vitaill that he lost manj of his peple. And whē he had don̄ there that he cam̄ for / he dressed hī ouer see into englond ward / And as he saylled toward Englōd in y e high̄ see / y e moste myshappes stormes & tēpestes / thūdring & lightnȳges fyll to hȳ in y e see / the whiche was sayd that it was don̄ and areised thurgh euyll spirites made bi sorcery & nygromācy of hē of fraū ce. wherfor the kynges hert was full of sorwe and anguyssh weylyng & sighing & said vnto our lady in thys wyse / O blessyd lady seīt marie. what is the cause that euermore goyng into fraūce alle thȳges & wethers fallē to me ioyefull & lykyng / & as I wolde haue hē: but allewey turnyng into englond ward / all thinges fallē vnprofytable ād harmefull. Neuyrthelater he skapyng alle perilles of the see as god wold came bi night to the tour of Londō: & the same yere the kīg held his crystmasse at Meners. ād sent word to the Scottes by hys messagiers that he was redy & wold fight w t hem: but the scottes wold not abyde y t but fledden ouer the scottissh see / ād hyd hē as well as they might / And in the xvij yere of hys regne abowte the feste of Cōuersion of seint Paule kyng Edward when he had be in scotland & sawe that the Skottes were fledde he came ayen̄ into englōd. And a littel befor Lent was the the turnement at Dunstaple· to the which̄ turnement came all the yonge Bachelerie & Cheualrie of Englond wy t many other Erles and lordes / at the whych̄ turnement kyng Edward him selfe was there presēt / And the next yere folowyng / in [Page] the xviij yere of hys regne at hys parlement holden at Westmynster the quynzeme of pashe / king Edward y e thridde made Edward hys fyrst begoten sone prynce of walys. And in the xix. yere of his regne anone aftyr in Ianiuer be foresayd the same kyng Edward let make full noble ioustes & grete festes in the place of his byrthe at wyndesore. that there were neuer none such̄ seen ther before. at which̄ fest and ryalte were ij. kinges / two quenes. y e prynce of walys: the Duke of Cornewaill / x. erles / ix. cowntesses. barons & many burgeys / the whych̄ mighten not lightely be nombred: & of dyuerse landes beyonde the see werē many straūgiers. And at y e same tyme whan the ioustes were don̄: kyng Edward made a grete souper. in the which̄ he ordeyned fyrst & began his rownde table & ordeined & stefasted the day of the forsaid rownde table to be holdē there at wyndesore in the wytson wyke euermore yerly. And ī this tyme englysshmen so moch̄ han̄ ted & cleued to the wodnesse & foly of the strangers that from the tyme of comyng of the Henawdres xviij yere passed they ordeyned & chawnged hem euery yere by diuerse shappes & disguysyng of clothyng of lōge large & wyde clothes destitut and desert frō all olde honeste ād good vsage. And an othir time short clothes & streite wastyd bagged & kyt. & on euery side slatered and botened with sleues & tapites of surcotes: & hodes ouer lōg & ouermoch̄ hāgȳg that if that I the sothe shall saye. they were more lich to tormauntours & deueles in hir clothȳg ād shoyng & othir aray thā to men / And the women more nyfely yet passed the men in aray & coriouslaker. For they were so streyt clothed that they let hange for tailles sowed bineth wythin hyr clothes for to hele & hidde hir arses: y e which̄ disguysinges & pryde pa [...] aduēture aft (er)ward brought forth & caused many mysshappes and meschief in the reame of Englōd / The xx. yere of kyng edward he wēt ouer īto Britaign̄. & Gascoigne. in whos cōpanie wēt the erle of warrewyke. y e erle of southfolk / the Erle of Hūtȳgton. & y e erle of Arūdell. & many othir lordes. ād ꝯmune peple in a grete multitude / with a grete nauye of CC. & xj shippes anone aftyr mydsomer: for to auēge him of many wronges & harmes to hȳ don̄ by Phelipp of Valoys king of fraūce ayēst the trewes before hād graū ted· the which̄ trewes he falsely & vntrewly by cauellaciōs losed ād disquate
¶How king Edward sailed into Normādye & arriued at Hogges with a grete host Ca / cc / xxvij
[Page] IN the xxi yere of his regn̄ kȳg Edward thurgh coū ceill of all the grete lordes of the reame of Englōd called ād gadred to gedre in his parlement at westmȳster before estrē ordeyned hī for to passe ouer y e see ayen̄ for to disese & destrouble the rebelles of Fraūce: & when his nauye was come to gedre & made redy / he wēt w t an hugh̄ host / y e xij day of Iuyll & sailled into normādye / & arryued at Hogges. And whā he had rested hym there vj dayes for by cause of trauaillyng of the see / & for to haue oute all his men wy t all hir necessaries oute of hyr shippes. he wēt toward Cadoun̄ brēnyng vastyng & destroyng all the tounes y t he fonde in his way And the xxvi day of Iuyll. at the brigge of Cadony māly & orpedli strengthyd & defēded w t normās he had there a strōge bataille: & a longe during thurgh which̄ a grete multitude of peple were slayn̄ And ther were take prysoners. y e erle of ewe. the lord of tākerwille / & an C knightes & men of armes & vj.C footmē nombred. & y e towne and the subarbes vnto y e bare walles of all thing that might be bore and caried owt was robbed & despoilled. Afterward the king passyng forth by the cōtre aboute the coūtre aboute the brode of xx mile / he vasted all maner thīg that he fōde / Whē Phelip of Valoys ꝑceyued all this: all though he were fast by w t a stronge hoste he wolde not come no nerre. but breke alle y e brigges beyōde y e watyr of seyne fro Rone vnto paris wy t all y e hast y t he might / For soth the noble kȳg edward whē he came to Paris brigge & fonde it broken withȳ ij. dayes: he let make it ayen / & in the morwe after the assumptiō of our lady. kȳg edward passed ouer y e watyr of seyn̄ goȳg toward Crescy. & destroyed by the way tounes w t the peple dwellȳg theryn. And in the fest of seȳt bartolomewe he passed ouer y e water of Somme vnhurt w t all his host there as neuer before hand was any maner way ne passage wher ij / M. were slayn̄ of hē that letted hir passage ouer: Therfore y e xxvj day of August king edward in a feeld fast by Cresey hauȳg iij batailles of Englisshmē coūtred ād met w t Philip of Valoys hauyng wy t hȳ iiij batailles. of whych̄ the leest passed gretli the nōbre of the englyssh peple / And whē thees ij hostes mettē to gedre / ther̄ fyll vpō hȳ the king of Beme: the duke of Loreyne / & erles also of Flaū dres Dalunson. bloys / harecourt. anmarle & nevers. & many other Erles: barons / lordes / knightes (punctel) & men of armes y e nōbre of a M.v.C / xlij. w toute footmen & othyr men wel armed / y t were nothyng rekened And for all this. the vnvnglorious [Page] philippe withdrowe him with the residue of his peple wherfore it was sayd in cōmune amōg his owne peple / nostre beal soy retreyt: That is for to seye. our fayr withdrawith him. Thā king Edward & our Englisshmē thanked god almighty for such̄ a victorie / after hir grete labour taken to hem all thyng nedefull to hir sustynaūce & sauyng of hir lyfe for drede of hyr enemyes rested hem there: & full erly in the mornyng after the frensshmē wy t an hughe hoost came ayen̄ for to yeue bataille & fyght wy t y e englysshmen. with whō mettē & coūtredē erles of Warrewyke: northāptō & northfolk wy t hir cōpanye & slowen two thousand & tokē many prysoners of the gentills of hem. And the remanaunt of the same host fledde iij myle thēs. & y e thridde day after the bataill the kyng wēte to Caleys ward. destroyng all the countre as he rode thyderward. & whā that he was come. y t is for to say the thridde day of septēbre: he began to besege the toune wy t the castel: & ꝯtinued his siege fro y e forsaid thridde day of septēbre vnto the thridde day of August the next yere after / And in y e same yere during the siege of Caleys: the kyng of Skotland wy t a full grete multitude of scottes came into englōd to Nevilles crosse aboute seȳt Lucas day euāgelist hopȳg & trustyng to haue fondē all the londe destytute & voyde of peple. For asmoch̄ as the kȳg of Englōd was beyōde the see saufe only prestes & men of holy chyrch̄ & wymen & childrē & plowghmē: ād such̄ othir laborers / And there they robbedē & dydē moch̄ sorwe. but yet fondē they ynow that hē withstodē by y e grace of almighti god. And so a day of bataill was assigned bitwene hē & certaȳ lordes & men of holy chyrch̄ that were of y e coūtre with othir cōmune peple fast by the cite of Duresme at which̄ day thurgh the grace of almighty god the scottes were ouercomen / & yet were they iij fold so many of hē as of Englysshmē. & ther was slayn̄ all the cheualrie & knighthode of y e reame of scotlād: And there were take as they wold haue fledde thēs Dauid the kyng of Scotlād him selfe. the erle of Mentife. sir williā Douglas & many other grete men And aftyr that our Englysshmē whan thei had rested hem a fewe dayes & had ordeyned the kepers of the northcontre / they camē vnto Lō don & broughten wy t hem Dauid king of Scotlād / & alle these othir lordes that were takē prysoners / vnto the towr of Londō with all y e hast that they might: And ther they left hem in sauf kepyng vnto the kinges comyng / and wenten home ayē vnto hyr owne cō tre: [Page] And afterward was the kinges raūsone of Scotlād taxed vnto an C / M. mark of syluer to be paied in x. yere that is for to seyne euery yere x / M. mark.
How gȳg Edward besieged Caleys. & how it was wōne & yoldē vnto him Cap. CCxxviij /
IN the xxij yere of kȳg edwardes regne he went ouer the see in the wȳter time / & lay all the winter time at y e siege of Caleys. y e whiche yere the while the siege lasted Philp y e kȳg of Fraūce cast and purposed trechouresly & with fraude to put away the siege & came y e xxvij day of Iuyll in the same yere w t a grete host & strōge power & neyg [...]ed vnto the siege of Caleys: the whiche Phelipp the last day of Iuyll sent to kȳg Edward word that he wold yeve hȳ pleme bataill the iij day next after that about euesōg tyme: yf he durst come fro y e siege y abyde it: And whē kīg Edward herd that. withoute any long tarieng er long avysemēt he accepted gladly the day & howre of bataill that Philip had assigned. ād whē the kȳg of Fraūce herd that the next night aftir he sette his tē tes a fyre. & remeved & wēt away thens cowardly Then̄ they y t were in the towne & in the castell besieged. seȳg all this how that thei had non̄ othir helpe ne socour of the kȳg of Fraūce ne of his men and also that hir vitailles withī ne hem were spended & vasted. ād for defaute of vitailles & of refresshing they eten hors hoūdes cattes & mys for to kepe hyr throuth̄ as lōge as they might. And whā they saw & was fondē amōge hē at the last that they had no thing amōge hem for to ete ne lyue by (punctel) ne no socour ne rescuynge of the Frēsshmē of that othir side. they wist well y t they must nedes deye for defaulte. or elles yelde the toune. and anone they wenten & token downe the baners ād the armes of fraūce on euery syde that were honged owte / & wenten on the walles of the towne on diuerse places as naked as they were borne saue onely shyrtes and her breches / & helden hir swerdes naked. & the poynt donward in hyr hondes & puttē roppes & balters aboute hir nekkes & yeldē vp the keyes of the towne & of the castell to kyng Edward of Englōd wy t grete fere and drede of hert / And when kyng Edward saw this as a mercyable king & lord receyued alle thaȳ to grace. & a fewe of the gretest personers of state & of gouernaūce of the towne he sent in to Englōd ther to abyde hir raū sone· And the kynges grace suffred all the cōminalte of the toune to go whidder they wolde in pees / And withoute any harme let hem bere wy t hem all hyr thȳ ges [Page] that they might bere and carie away kepyng the towne and y e castell to him selfe: Thā thurgh mediacion of cardinals that were sēt fro the pope trews was take ther bitwene fraūce & Englōd for ix / monthes thā next folewȳg. & aboute Mychelmasse king edward came ayen̄ into Englond: with a glorious victorie. And in the xxiiij yere of his regne / in the eest parties of the world ther arose & began a pestylence ād deth of sarazens & paynyms that so grete a deth was neuer herde of afore / ād that wasted away so the peple that vnethes the tenth persone was left a lyue. And in the same yere about the southcoūtrees and also in the west coūtres: ther fyll so moch̄ rayne ād so grete watres that from Crystmasse vnto midsomer ther was vnethes day ne night (punctel) but that it rayned somwhat / thurgh whych̄ watres the pestilence was so enfected & so abundaūt in all coūtrees & namely aboute the court of Rome and other places bi the see costes that vnethes ther were left lyuȳg folke to bery hem that were dede honestly / but maden grete dyches & pittes that were wonder brode & depe. & theryn buried hem & maden a renge of dede bodyes & casten a littel erthe to hele hem aboue: and than caste in an othir rē ge of dede bodyes. ād an other rē ge of erthe aboue hem. And thus weren they buried & none othyr wyse: But if it were y e fewer that werē grete men of estate were buried as honestely as they might: And after all this in the xxiiij yere of kīg Edwardes regne. it was hȳ don̄ to wyte & vnderstōde of a tresō that was begōne at Caleys & ordeyned for to seell y e towne for a grete somme of florȳs vnto kīg Phelipp of Fraūce: thurgh y e falsenesse & ordinaūce of a knyght y t was kalled sir Geffrey of Cha [...]ney that was wōder pryue w t kīg Philip of Fraūce / And whē kȳg Edward h̄erde this he toke w t hȳ the nobles & gentils lordes & many other worthy & orped men of armes that were there p̄sent wy t hȳ for the solēpnite of that hyghe fest: & well & wysely in all the hast that he might ād also as preuely as he might he wēt ouer see And that same yere the good kȳg Edward helde his Cristmasse at hauerȳg: And the morwe after Neweyeres day the kȳg was in the castell of Caleys w t his men of armes that none of the aliens wyst therof / And that fals ꝯspi [...]atour & traitour Geffrey of charney sawe that he might not openly haue hys purpose of the castell: preuely ād stelyngly he came in and helde the toune with a grete hoste / and when he wy t his men was comen in: he payed the forsaid sō me [Page] of Florȳs as couenaūt was bitwen̄ hem to a Genevey in the towne that was keper of the castell. & cōsentyng to the same Geffrey in all this falsenesse & trecherie. & boūdē the ēglyssh ministres & seruauntes that were in the castell that they myght not helpe hē selfe. ne let hem of hyr purpose: & thā wenȳg that they had be sure ynow: thei spakē all hir wykkednesse & falsenesse opynli an hyghe y t all men might here And nowe shull ye here howe they were disceyued for they camē in by a pryue posterne ouer a lyttell brygge of tree: & when they were comen yn. softely and pryuely y e brygge was drawen vp & kept. that non̄ of hem that camē yn myght gon̄ oute. ne no mo come vnto hē. ād anon̄ our Englysshmen wenten oute at pryue holes & wȳdowes / & ouer the walles of the towne & of the castell / & wentē & foughten manly with the frensshmen that were withoute. ād had the better of hem: the which̄ wh̄en they weren occupyed by hem selfe on hyr side / the king was withȳ the toune hauȳg with hym scarcely but xxx mē of armes / drewe owte his swerd / & with a lowde voys cryed an hygh̄ / a seynt Edward / a seynt George / And whē the folke herde that / they camen rennȳg vnto hī ād yauen ther to hyr enemyes so grete assaulte that ther were mo than two hoūdred men of armes and many othir slayne and many fledden away: & so by the grace of god almighty y e victorie fyll to the Englysshmē: Thā the kȳg toke w t hȳ this Geffrey that was fynder of this trecherie. And also many othir frenssh prisoners / ād withȳ a while after he came ayē into Englond / And in this same yere & in the yere a fore & also in y e yere next after was so grete pestilaūce of men fro the eest into the west. and namely thurgh boches that tho y t siked on this day deyed on the thridde day / the which̄ mē that so deydē ī this pestilēce hadden but littell respite of lyggyng: The pope clementz of his goodnesse & grace yafe hē ful remissyō & foryevenesse of all synnes that they were shriven of / and this pestilēce lasted in Londō fro Michel masse vnto august next folowȳg almost an hole yere. And in these dayes was dethe wy toute sorowe· weddȳges w toute frēdship. wyllfull penaūce & derth̄ wy toute scarcite. ād fleyng withoute refute or socour: for many fleddē fro place to place. because of the pestylē ce (punctel) but they were enfecte & might nat askape the deth (punctel) After that the Prophete Isaye sayth. Who that fleeth fro' the face of drede / he shall falle into the dyche. and he that wēdeth hym owte of the dyche / he shall be hold and teyde [Page] with a grēne / but whē this pestilence was rested as god wold vnnethes the .x / part of y e peple was left a lyfe: And in y e same yere began a wonder thing that all that evyr were borne after y e pestilence haddē ij. chektethe in hir hede lesse than they had a fore
How kyng edward had a grete bataylle wy t Spāyardes vpō the see fast by wynchelsee Capitulo CC.xxix
ANd in the xxv yere of hys regne aboute seint Iohā nes day in Heruest in the see fast bi wȳchelsee kȳg Edward had a grete bataille wyth men of Spaigne where that hir shippes & nauye lay clained to gedyr that ether they must fight or drēche / & so when all our worthy mē of armes & the see costes fast by wynchelsee & Romeny were gadred to gedre. & our nauye ād shippes all redy to the werre: the englisshmē metten manly & styfly w t hir enemies comȳg fersely ayēs hē And whē the spanysh vesselles & nauie were closed in all aboute ther mē might se a stronge bataille there were but fewe that foughtē / but that thei were spitousely hurt ād foule / And after the bataille ther were xxiij shippes of the spāyardes take: And so the englysshmē had the better. And ī the next yere folowyng of his regne that is to say y e xxvj yere the kȳg thurgh his counceyll let ordeyne & make hys newe money / that is to seye the peny the grete of value of iiij. pēs (punctel) And the halfe grote of value of ij pēs▪ but it was of lese weighte than the olde sterlȳg was by v. shillyng in the poūde / And in the vij yere of his regne was the grete derthe of vitailles. the whyche was kalled the dere somer ¶ And in the xxviij yere of his regn̄ in the parlemēt holdē at westmȳ ster aftyr Estren sir Hēry erle of lācastre was made duke of Lancastre: & in this same yere was so grete drowghte y t fro the moneth of Iuyll ther fyll no rayne on the erthe / wherfore alle frutes sedes & herbes for the moost partie were lost in defaute. wherfor there came so grete disese of men & bestes & derthe of vitailles in Englond. so that thys lād y t euer a fore had be plenteuous had nede that tyme to seke his vitailles & refreshīg of othir owte yles & cōtrees And in the xix yere of kyng edward it was accorded graūted & sworne bytwen̄ the king of Fraūce and kyng Edward of Englond that he shold haue ayen all his lādes & lordshippes that apperteygned to the Duchye of Gwyhēne of olde tyme / the which̄ had ben̄ withdrawe and wrongfully occupyed by diuerse kynges of Fraūce before hāde to haue and to hold to the kyng Edward & to his heires & successours for euermore freely [Page] pesibeli & in good quete. vpō this couenaūt that the kȳg of englōd shold leue of & relese all his right & clayme that he had & claymed of the kīgdome of fraūce / & of y e ritle that he toke therof / vpon whiche speche & couenaūt made: it was sent to the court of Rome on bothe sides of the kinges that y e forsaid couenaūts shold be enbulled / But god ordeyned better for the kynges wurship of Englōd / For what thurgh fraude & disceyt of the Frensshmen: & what thurgh letthȳg of the pope & of the court of Rome the forsaid couenauntz were disquat & left of: And in the same yere the kȳg reuoked bi his wyse & discrete coūceill the staple of wulles oute of Flaūdres into Englōd wy t all the libertees fraū chyses & fre customes that longē therto. & ordeyned in englōd in diuerse places. that is for to seye at westmȳstre. caūterbury Chichestre. Bristow Lyncolne Hull with all the forsaid thinges that lōgen therto And that this thyng that shold thus be don̄ the king swore him selfe therto / and prynce Edward hys sone wyth othir many grete witnesses that there were p̄ sent: ¶And in the xxx yere of hys regne anon̄ aftyr wytsonday in the parlemēt ordeyned at Westmynster it was tolde and certefied to y e kyng that Phelip that tho helde the kingdome of Frawnce was dede / & that Iohan his sone was crowned king / & y t this johā had yeue karol his sone y e duchie of Gwihenne. of the which̄ kīg edward whē he wiste therof / he had grete indignacyō vnto hȳ & was wōder wroth & strōgely meved. & therfor afore all y e worthy lordes that were assembled ther at that parlement / he called edward hys sone vnto him to whō the duchie of Gwihenne by ryght herytage shold longe to & yafe it him there chargȳg & cōmaūdȳg hȳ that he shold ordeyne hȳ to defēde & auē ge him vpō his enemies & saue & maynten̄ his ryght. & afterward king Edward hym selfe & hys eldest sone edward wente to diuerse places & seyntes in Englōd on pilgrimage for to haue y e more helpe & grace of god & of his seintes. And the ij. kal of Iuyll whē alle thīg was redi to y e viage & bataill & his retynue & power assēbled & his nauye also redy / he toke w t hī the erle of warrewyk: The erle of southfolk. the erle of Salysbury / & the erle of Oxūford. & a M. mē of armes & as many archiers / & in the natyuite of owr lady toke hyr shippes at Plymmownth / & begonne to sayle: And when he came ād was aryued in Gwyhē ne he was ther wurshipfully take and receyued of the moste no / ble men and lordes of that countre. And anone after kīg edward [Page] toke with hȳ his two sones: that is for to seye. Sir Leonell Erle of Vlton / & sir Iohā hys brother erle of Rychemond / & sir Henri duke of Lancastre with many erles & lordes and men of armes. ād ij.M. archiers: and saylled toward Fraūce. & rested hym a whyle at Caleys. & afterward the kȳg wēt with his folk a forsaid & wy t other Sowdeours of beyonde the see y t ther aboden the kynges comyng the secōde day of Nouēbre / & toke his iournay toward kȳg Iohan of fraūce ther as he trowed to haue fondē hym fast by Odomarū / as his lrēs & couenaūt made mē cyō that he wold abyde him ther with his host. And whē kyng johan of fraūce herd of the kynges coming of Englōd: he wēt away with his men & cariage cowardli & shamefully fleyng & vastȳg alle vitailles ouer all that the englisshmen shold not haue therof And whē kȳg Edward herd telle that he fledde. he purswed hym wy t all his host tyll Hedene. and thā he beholdȳg the vantyng & the scarcite of vitaylles. & also the cowardyse of the king of fraūce. he turned ayen̄ vastyng all the contrey. And while all these thinges were a doyng. the scottes preuely ād bi night tokē the town̄ of Berewyk sleyng hem that withstodē hem / & no man elles / but blessed be god the castell nevyrthelater was saued & kepet by englysshmen that were theryn. Thā the kyng perceyued all this & turned ayen̄ into Englōd as wroth as he might be: wherfor in parlemēt at Westmynster was graūted to the kȳg of euery sake of wolle / l. shillyng / during the terme of vj. yere that he myght the myght liker fyghte and defende the reame ayens the scottes & othir mysdores: And so when all thynges were redy. the kyng hasted hȳ to the siege ward
How kyng Edward was crowned kyng of Scotlād: & how prȳ [...]ce Edward toke the kȳg of fraū ce: & sir Philip hys yōger sone at the bataill of Peyters Capitulo. CCxxx
ANd in the xxxi. yere of [...] regne the xiij. day of [...] the king beyng in the castell of Berewyke wyth a few men. but hauyng ther faste by a grete host. the toune was yolden to him w toute any maner defēce: or difficulte: Thā the kȳg of scotlād: y t is for to seye sir johā ba [...]llol ꝯsyderyng how y t god dyd many mervailles & gracious thȳges for king edward at his own̄ will fro day to day. he toke & yafe vp the reame of scotlād & the croune also at Rokesburgh into the kȳges hādes of englōd vnder his patēt lrēs ther made. & anon̄ after kȳg edward in presence of all the p̄ [...]ates ād othre worthy men & lordes that there were / let crowne hym kȳg ther of the reame of Scotlād [Page] And when all thynges were don̄ and ordeyned in that cōtre at his lust & plesure. he turned ayen̄ into Englond with an hughe worship: And while this viage was a doyng in skotland / sir Edward prynce of Walys as man enspyred in god was in Gwyhenne in the cite of Burdeux tretyng & spekyng of the chalangyng & of the kynges right of Englond that he had of the reame of Fraūce / and that he wold auēged be w t strōge hōde / & the p̄lates peres & mighti men of that contre cōsented well to hym. Than sir Edward y e prī ce with a grete hoste gadred to hȳ the sixte day of Iuyll / & wente frō Burdeux goyng & trauaillȳg by many dyuerse contreyes & he toke many prisoners moo than vj.M / men of armes by the contre as he soiourneid and toke y e towne of Remorantyn in Saloigne: And besieged the castell vi. dayes and at the vj / dayes ende they yolden the castell vnto hȳ / And ther were take the lord of crowne & sir Bursingād & many othir knightes and men of armes moo thā lxxx. And than he went thens by Torene: ād fast by chyneney his noble men that weren with him hadden a stronge batayll wy t the Frensshmē: & an hoūdred of hyr men of armes were slaine And y e erle of Daūce and the Styward of Fraūce were take with an C men of armes. In the which̄ yere the xix day of Septembre faste by Peighters the same prynce wy t a M· & ix / houndred men of armes and archers ordeyned a bataille to kyng Iohan of Fraūce comīg to the prynce ward / wyth vij.M chosen mē of armes & othir moche peple in an hugh̄ passyng nō bre: of the which̄ ther was slayne the duke of Burbon: And the duke of Athenes. & many othir noble men. ād of the prynce men of armes a▪ M / & of othir after y e trewe accompte and rekenyng viij. houndred: And the kȳg of fraūce was ther take: & sir Phelip his yō ge sone & many dukes and noble men & worthy knightes: ād men of armes aboute ij M. & so y e victorye fyll there to the prynce & to the peple of Englōd by y e grace of god. And many that were taken prysoners were set at hir raūsone & vpon hir trouth̄ ād knighthode were charged ād had leue to go / but the prynce toke w t hȳ tho the kyng of Fraūce & Phelip his sone w t all y e reuerēce that he might And went ayene to Burdeux wy t a gloriouse victorye: The somme of the men y t were tak prisoners / & of the men that were slayn̄ the day of bataill was iiijM / iiijC· & xl ¶And in the xxxij / yere of kīg Edwardes regne y e v. day of may prynce Edward with king Iohā of Fraunce and Phelip his sone [Page] many othir worthy prisoners arriued gracyously in the hauen of Plymmounth / and the xxiiij day of the same moneth aboute iij. aftyr none they camen to londō by london brigge. & so wenten forth to the kynges paleys of westmȳ ster. & ther fyll so grete a multitude ād prees of peple aboute hem. to behold and se that wondyr ād that ryall sight that vnnethes fro mydday till night they might come to Westmynster / And the kȳ ges raūsone of fraūce was tared & set to thre millions of scutes. of whō ij shold be worth a noble. ād ye shull vnderstōde that a mylliō is a MM. & after some men hys raūsone was sette a iij.M florȳs / & all is one in effect: And this same yere were made solēpne ioustes in Smethseld beyng ther presente the kyng of Englōd / the kīg of fraūce & the kyng of Scotland & many othir worthy & noble lordes: ¶The xxxiij yere of hys regne the same king Edward at wȳ desore as well for loue of knighthode as for his owne wurship / & at the reuerence of y e king of fraū ce & of other lordes that were there at that tyme / he held a wonder ryalle & costelewe fest of seynt George passyng any that euer was holden fore· Wherfore the kȳg of frawnce in scornyng said that he sawe ne neuer herd suche solēpne festes ne rialtes holdē ne done w t tailles w toute payeng of gold or siluer. And in y e xxxiiij. yere of his regne the xiiij Kal of Iuyll sir johan of Richemōd kȳg edwardes sone wedded dame Blaūce duke Hēries doughter of Lācastre cosin to y e same Iohan by dispēsacion of the pope / & in y e mene tyme were ordeyned Ioustes at Lōdō / in the Rogaciō dayes (punctel) that is for to seye The meire of Lōdō wy t his xxiiij aldermen ayens all y t wold come· in whos name & stede y e kīg preuely w t his iiij sones Edward Leonell Iohā & Edmōd / & other xi [...] grete lordes helden y e feld with wurship (punctel) ād this same yere as it was told & said of hē that sawe it ther come owte blode of Thoās somme time erle of Lancastre as fressh as y t day y t he was done to deth: And in y e same yere kȳg Edward chese his sepulture & his liggyng at westmynster fast by the shrine of seȳt edward▪ And anon̄ after xxviij day of octobre he wēt ouer see to Caleys makȳg ꝓtestaciō that he wold neuer come ayen̄ into englōd till he had full ended the werre bitwen̄ fraūce & hȳ. & so in the xxxvi yere of his regne in y e wynter tyme kȳg Edward was & trauaylled in the Ryue costes: & aboute seȳt hilarie tide he departed his hoste & wēte toward burgoygne / with whom thā met pesibely the Duke of Burgoygne / behotyng hym lxx. thowsandes [Page] florȳs that he shold spare his mē & his peple / & the king gran̄ted at his requeste / & dwelled there vnto the xvij day of Marche: the whiche tyme came to kīg Edwardes ere that straūge theues on y e see vnder the erle of seynt Poule the xv / day of marche lyggng awayte vpon the tounes of hastȳg Rie & othir places ād villages. on the see coste haddē entred as enemyes into the toune of Wȳchelsee. & slowen all that evyr withstodē hē & withsaid her comyng. wherfor the kȳg was gretly meved & wrathed. & he turned ayene to Paris ward. & commaūded his host to destroye and slee w t dynt & strēgth̄ of swerde hem that he had before hād spared / & the xij day of apryll the kyng came to Paris & ther he departed his hoost in diuerse batailles with iiijC. knightes newe dubbed on that one side of hym. & sir Hēry duke of Lancastre vnder pees & trewes wēte to the yates of the cyte profring to hē that he wold abide bataill in the felde vndyr such̄ condycyon that if the kyng of Englōd were ouercome there as god forbede it. that than he shold neuer chalenge the kȳgdome of Fraunce. And when he had of hem but a short & a scorneful answere / he tolde it to the kȳg and his lordes what he had herde & what they said. And than forth the newe knyghtes wy t many other makyng assaute to the cyte / tho thei destroyeden hongely the subberbes of the cyte: And while all thees thynges were a doȳg / y e englysshmē made hem a redy to be auenged vpon the shame & despyte that was done that yere at wynchelsee ād ordeyned a nauye of lxxx shippes of men of Londō & of othir marchaunts. & xiiijM of men of armes & archiers. and wente and sherched & saymmed the see and manly token & helden the jle of Cauxe. wherfor the frēsshmē that is for to sey. the abbot of Cluyne / the erle of Thākeruille and bursydand that than was Stiward of Fraūce with many othir men of the same contre by cōmune assente of the lord Charlys that tho was regent of Fraū ce / they hasted hem & went to the kȳg of englōd assekȳg & besechȳg him stedfast pese and euer lastȳg vpon certeyn cōdicions that there were shewed writen. the which̄ when the kyng had seen it plesed hȳ neuer a dele: but sythen it wolde be non̄ othir in tyme of bettyr accorded & deliberacion the frēsshmen besyly ād with grete instaū ce asked trewes. for her costes ād the kyng graūted hē / And in the morwe after the vtas of pa [...]she y e king turned hȳ with his hoste toward Orliaunce destroieng and wastȳg all the contre by the wey And as they wentē thyderward [Page] ther fyll vpon hem such̄ a storme and tempest that none of our nacyon herd ne sawe neuer none suche / thurgh the which̄ thowsādes of our men ād of hir horses in her iourneyeng as it were thurgh vē geaūce sodenly were slayne & perisshed: the whych̄ tempestes full moch yet fered not the kyng ne moche of hys peple that they ne wenten forth in hyr vyage that they had begonne. wherfor aboute the fest of holy rood day ī may fast by incarnacyon the forsayd lordes of Fraūce methyng there wyth the kyng of Englōd a pesible accord and a fynall vpon certeyne condycyōs and graūtes articulerly gadred ād wryten to gedre euermore for to last ful discretly was made: and to bothe kynges profytable ād to her Reames both̄ with one assent of Charlys the regent and gouernour of fraunce: ād of the Perys of the same Reame wryten and made vnder date of Carnocum the xv. day of May they offred and profred to the kyng of Englond requyryng hys grace in alle thȳges wryten / that he wald benȳgly amytte hē and holde hem ferme and stable to hem and to hir heyres for euer more thens forth / The which̄ thȳ ges and articles whan kyng Edward had seyne hem: he graūted hem so that bothe parties sholde be sworne on godes bodi & on the holy euangelys that the forsayd couenaūt sholde be stablisshed: & so they accorded graciously Therfor there were ordeyned & dressed on euery side two barons: ij. bā cretz & two knyghtes to admitte & receyue y e othes of the lord charlys regēt of Fraūce ād of sir Edward of Englond / And the x day of may / ther was songē a solempne masse at Paris. & after y e thridde Agnus dei seyd w t dona no [...]is pacē. in presence of the forsaid mē that were ordeyned to admytte & receyue the othes and of all othir y t ther might be The same cha [...]s leide his right hond on the pa [...]en with goddes body / & his left hōde on the missale & seid: we N. swe [...]ē on goddes bodi & the holy gospelles that we shull trewly & stedfastly hold toward vs the pees and y e accord made bytwene the two kynges (punctel) & in no maner do the cō trarie. & ther amōg all his lordes for the more loue & strēgth̄ of witnesse deled & deꝑted the relyques of the croune of the criste to y e knightes of Englond / and they curtosely tokē hir leue. and in the friday next / the same maner othe in presence of the forsaid knightes & of othir worthy men prynce Edward made at louers afterward bothe kynges & hyr sones ād the most noble men of both̄ reames wythyn the same yere made the same othe. ād for to strength alle [Page] thees thynges forsaid. the king of Englōd axked the gretest men of Fraūce: & he had hys axing / that is for to seye .vj dukes / viij erles / & xij lordes. that is to saye barons & worthy knightes / & when y e place & y e tyme was assigned. in whiche bothe kȳges wy t hyr counceill shold come to gedre alle y e forsayd thynges bytwen̄ hem spoken for to ratefye & make ferme & stable / The kȳg of Englōd anon̄ wēt toward the see: & at hoūflette begā to saille leuȳg to his hoostes y t were left behȳde him by cause of his absēce moch̄ hevynesse / & at Estre the xix day of May he came into Englōd & went to hys paleys at westmȳster on seīt dūstones day. & the iij. day after he visited Iohā kȳg of fraūce that was in y e towr of London & deliured him freely frō all maner prysō sauf first thei were accorded of iij milliōs of florȳs for his raūsone. & the kȳg cō forted hȳ & chered hȳ in all places w t all solas & myrthes that lōgen to a kyng in his goȳg hom̄ward And the ix. day of Iuyll in the same yere the same Iohan kyng of fraūce that afore hand lay here ī hostage wēt home ayen into hys owne land to trete of the thinges & of othir that lōgeden & fylle in y e gouernaūce of his reame. & afterward metten & camē to gedre at caleys bothe the ij kȳges w t both̄ hir coūceil: aboute all halewē tyde: & ther were shewed the cōdicions & the points of the pees & of the accord of bothe sides wryten / & ther wythoute any withsayng of both̄ sides graciously they were accorded. & ther was done & sō ge a solēpne masse. and after the thridde Agnꝰ dei vpō goddes body & also vpō the masse boke bothe kynges & hir sones & the grettest lordes of bothe reames ād of hir coūceill that ther were thā p̄ sēt & had not swore before the forsayd othe that they had made. ād was titled bitwene hem: they behighten ther to kepe & all othir ꝯuenaūts that were bytwene hē ordeyned. & in this same yere mē nes bestes trees & howsing with soden tēpest & stronge lyghtenȳg were perisshed: & the deuel apꝑed bodely in mānys likenesse to moche peple / as they went in diuerse places in the cōtre & spokē to hē
¶How the grete cōpanye aroos in Fraūce. ād the white cōpanye in Lūbardye: and of many other mervaille Capit / cc.xxxi
Kyng Edward in the xxxvj yere of his regne anon̄ after Cristmasse in the feste of cōuersiō of seīt Poull held hys ꝑlemēt at westmȳster. in the whiche was put forth & shewed y e accord & the tretys y t was stablisshed & made bitwen̄ the ij. kinges. the whiche accord plesyd to moch̄ peple / & therfor bi the kȳges ꝯmaū demēt [Page] ther were gadred ād came to gedre in westmȳster chyrch the fyrst sonday of Lēt / that is to say the ij. kal of Feurer y e forsaid Englysshmen & Frensshmen / wher was songe a masse of the Trinite (punctel) of the Erchebisshop of Caunterbury mayster Symōd Islepe. And whā Agnꝰ dei was don̄ the king beyng ther wy t his sones ād also wy t the kynges sones of fraū ce & othir grete lordes wy t candels light ād crosses brought forth all that were called therto. that were not swore a fore / sworne that same othe that was wryten vpon goddes body / & on the masse boke in thys wyse / we N. & N. swerē vpō holy goddes body ād on the gospelles stedvast to hold & kepe toward vs the pees ād the accord made bytwene the ij. kȳges & neuer for to do the cōtrarie. & when they had thus sworne they token hyr scrowes that hyr othes were cōprehēded into the notaires / ād this same yere in y e ascēcyō eue aboute mydday was seyn̄ y e eclips of the sonne / & ther foloweth such̄ a drought. that for defaute of reyne ther was grete barinesse of corne fruyt & hey. & ī y e same moneth the vj Kal of Iuyn̄ ther fyll a sā gweyne rayne almost like blode. at Burgoyne / & a sangwyne crosse fro morne vnto prime was seyne & appeired at Boloigne in the eyre / the which̄ many a mā sawe & after it meved & fyll in y e midde see. & in the same time in fraūce & in englōd & in othir many lādes as they that were ī pleyne ꝯtrees & desert barē witnesse / sodēly ther aꝑed ij. castelles: of the which wē te owt ij / hostes of armed mē: ād that one hoost was clothed ī white / & that othir in blake. & whē bataill bitwen̄ hē was holdē y e white ouercame the blake. & anon̄ after the blake toke hert vnto hē ād ouercame the white & after y t thei wēte ayen into hir castelles. & all y e hostes vanisshed away. & ī thys same yere was a grete & an hugh pestilēce of peple & namely of m [...] / whos wifes as wȳmē owt of gouernaūce tokē hous [...]ōdes as wel strāgiers as othir lewde & simple peple. y e which foryetenȳg hir owne honour & wurship & berthe coupled & maried hē w t hē y t were of lowe degre & littel reputaciō And in this same yere deyed Hēri duke of Lācastre. & also in thys ye [...]e Edward prȳce of Walys wedded y e coūtesse of Kēt. y t was sir Thomas wyfe of Holād the whiche was deꝑted some tyme & deuroced fro y e erle of Salisbury fro cause of the same knyght: ād aboute this time begā & arose a grete cō panie of diuerse naciōs gadred to gedre / of whō hir leders ād gouernours were englissh peple / & they were clepid a peple w toute an hede. y e which dyd moch̄ harme in y e [Page] partie of Fraūce / & not longe after ther aroos an othir cōpanye the which̄ in the ꝑties & cōtres of Lūbardie did moche sorwe. This same yere sir Iohā of gaūte the sone of kīg Edward y e iij. was made duke of Lācastre by reson & cause of his wyfe that was the doughter & heyre of Henry some tyme duke of Lācastre.
Of the grete wȳde & how prince Edward toke y e lordship of Gwihenne of his fadre & went thyder Capit. CCxxxij
ANd in y e xxxvij yere of kīg edward the xv▪ day of Ianiuer that is to sey on seīt Maries day aboute euēsong tyme ther aroos & came such̄ a wȳ de oute of y e south w t such̄ a fersenesse & strēgth that it brast & blewe doune to groūde high̄ houses & strōge byldynges towres churches & steples and all othir strōge werkes that stodē stylle werē shake / therwith that they ben̄ yet ād shull be euermore the febeler and weyker whyle they stonde / & this wynde lasted wy toute any cessȳg vij dayes cōtinnell And anon̄ after ther folewed suche waters in hey tyme & in heruest tyme that alle felde werkes were strongely letted & left vndone: And in y e same yere prynce Edward toke the lordship of Gwihēne & dyd to kīg edward his fadre feaute & homage therfor: ād went ouer see into Gascoigne with his wyfe & with his children. & anon̄ after kȳg Edward made sir Leonell hys sone duke of Clarēce. & edmond his other sone Erle of Cābrigge / And ī y e xxxviij yere of his regne it was ordeyned in the ꝑlemēt that men of lawe bothe of the temperol ād of holy chyrche lawe fro that tyme forth shold plete in hyr moder tunge / And in y e same yere camē into Englōd the kȳges that is for to seyne ȳ kȳg of Fraūce· the kȳg of Cypers / & the kȳg of Skotlad / by cause to visite & speke w t y e kȳg of englōd: of whō they were wonder welcome ād moche wurshipped. & after that they had be here lōge tyme: ij. of hē went ayen̄ home into hir owne coūtres & kȳgdomes. but the kyng of Fraūce thurgh grete sikenesse & maladie that he had left still in englōd / ād in the xxxix yere of his regne was a stronge & an hughe frost / & that lasted longe: that is for to seye fro seȳt Andrewes tyde vnto the xiiij kal of Apryl. that the tylthe & sowyng of the erthe & other such̄ felde werkes & hādwerkes were moche letted & left vndon̄ for cold ād hardnesse of the erthe / And at orrey ī bretaigne y t time was ordeyned a grete dedeli bataill bitwene sir johā of moūtford duke of britaigne & sir Charles of bloys. but y e victorie fyll to sir Iohā thurgh helpe of y e Englisshmē: & ther wer̄ [Page] take many knightes & squyers & othir men that were vnnombred In the which̄ bataille was slayne Charles him selfe wy t all that stode aboute him: & of the Englyssh men were slayne but vij. And in this yere deyde at Sauoy Iohā y e kyng of Fraūce: whos seruyce & exequies kȳg Edward let ordeyn̄ & dyd in dyuerse places wurshipfully to be done: and at Douer of wurshipful men he ordeyned hȳ wurthely to be ledde wy t his own̄ costes & expens: and from chens he was fette into Fraūce & buried at seȳt Denys In the xl. yere of kyng Edward. & the vij kal of Feuerer was borne prīce edwardes sone / the which̄ when he was vij. yere olde. he deide / And in the same yere it was ordeyned that seīt Peters pens fro that tyme forth shold nat be payed / the which̄ kīg Iohā some tyme kȳg of Englōd of the contre of west Saxōs that began to regne in the yere of our lord CC lxxix fyrst graūted to rome for the scole of Englōd therto be contynued / And in this same yere ther fill so moch̄ rayne in hey tyme. that it vasted ād destroyed bothe corne and hey / ād ther was such̄ debate & fyghtyng of sparewes by dyuerse places ī these dayes that men fōdē innumerable multytude of hem dede in feldes as they wentē. & ther fill also such̄ a pestilence that neuer such̄ was sene in no mannys tyme. that time a lyue. for many mē anon̄ as they were go to bedde hole and in good point sodēly they deidē / also that tyme a sikenesse that mē called the pokkes slow bothe men & womē thurgh hir enfectȳg: And In the xli. yere kȳg Edward was bore at Burdeux Rychard the second sone of prȳce edward of englond. the whych̄ Rychard kyng Rychard of Amoricam heued at Fonstone / after whō he was called Rychard. And this same Rychard whan his fadre was dede: & kȳg Edward was dede also. he was crowned kȳg of englōd. the xi yere of his age. thurgh right liue & heritage & also bi cōmune assent & desire of the cōminalte of y e reame Aboute this tyme at kȳg Edwardes cōmaūdemēt of Englond when all the castelles and tounes were yold to him that lō ge weren hold in fraūce. by a grete companye assēbled to gedre sir Bartram Cleykyn knight an orped man & a good werriour wēt & purposed him to put oute Piers kȳg of Spaygne owte of his kȳgdome wy t helpe of the moste partie of the forsaid grete companye trustyng also vpō helpe & fauour of the pope for asmoch̄ as it cam̄ to hys eres that the same Piers shold lede & vse the most werst ād sinfullest lyfe / owt y e whych̄ piers smyten with drede of this tyding [Page] fled into Gascoigne to prynce edward to haue helpe ād socour of him / And whē he was fledde out of Spaigne. henry hys brother y t was a bastard by assēt of y e most partie of Spaygne & thurgh helpe of that frefull companye that I speke of erste was made & crowned king of Spaigne. & the nombre of that same cōpanie was rekened & sette at the nombre of lx / M fyghtyng men. This same yere in the moneth of Iuyn̄ ther came a grete cōpanye ād nauye of Danes / & gadred hē to gedre in y e North see purposyng hē to come into Englond to renne & to robbe and also to slee with whō they countred ād met in the see mariners & othir orped fyghtȳg men of the coūtre· & disparkled hem. & they asshamed went home ayen into hir owne coūtre / But amōg all other ther was a boystons ād a stronge vessel of hir nauye that was ouersailled by the Englisshmen / & was perisshed & dreynt / in the which̄ y e styward & othir worthy & grete men of Dēmark were take prysoners. ād by the kyng of Englōd & his counceill prysoned / the which̄ lordes the danes afterward came & soughten all aboute for to haue had with her gooddes that they had lost / & they not wele a payed ne plesyd of the answere that they had herē turned homewardes ayen̄ / leuȳg behȳde hem in her ynnes prevely wrytē. in scrowes & on wales / yet shulld danes wast the wanes / Thā happed ther an englyssh wryter and wrote ayēs the Dane in this maner wyse. Her shul danes fet herbanes: And in this same time piers kyng of Spaigne with other kynges / that is to saye. the kyng of Naverne and the kyng of malogre beyng menes wētē & praied coūceill & helpe of sir Edward the prince. thurgh whos coūceil whē he had vnderstond hir articles ād desire that he was required of the kynges lothe he was & ashamed to say nay & contrarie hē. but notheles he was a gast lest it shold be any preiudyce ayens the pope. & lōge time taried hem or that he wold graūte or consent therto till that he had bettyr coūceill & avysement with good deliberaciō of kyng edward his getter and hys fadre / ¶But when he was euery day with continuell besechinges of many noble men requyred ād spoken to. and wyth many prayers sent and made bytwene hem than prynce Edward sent to hys fadre bothe by pleynynge letters and also confortable conteinyng alle hyr suggestions and causes with alle that othir kynges Epesteles and letters for to haue confort and helpe of the wrōges not onely vnto the kyng of Spaigne [Page] but also for such̄ thȳges as might falle to y e othir kynges Also yf it were not the sonner holpen and amended thurgh the dome and helpe of knyghthode to hem that it asked ād desyred: the which̄ lettre whan the kyng and hys wyse counceyll had seyne and vnderstonde / he had grete compassyon and hevynesse of suche a kynges spoylyng and robbing with moche mervaille And sente ayen cō fortable lettres to prȳce Edward hys sone ād to that other forsaid kynges and warned hem for to arme hem and ordeyn̄ hem ayēs that mysdoer: and to withstonde hem by the helpe of god that weren suche enemyes to the kinges Whan thys noble prynce had receyued these letters hym selfe wy t that othir kȳges before sayd / alle hyr coūceill called to gedre or that he wolde vndertake the quarell: he bownde and knet sore the kȳg that was deposed with a grete othe: that is for to say▪ that he sholde euer after maynteyne the ryght beleue and feyth of holy chyrche ād holy chyrche also wyth all hyr mynystres ryght and lybertees to defende from all hir ennemyes and euelles: And all that were ther ayens bitterly to punisshe and destrouble: and all the rightes lybertees priueleges of holy chyrche encrese and mayntene and amende and all thȳges that were wrōgfully betakē withdrawe & bore away by him or by any other bycause of hym hastely to restore ayene ād to dryue and put oute sarazens & all othyr mysbeleued peple oute of his kȳgdome with all his strength̄ & power (punctel) ād suffre ne admyte none suche for no maner thing ne cause to dwelle theryn / And that when he had takē a cristen womē: he sholde neuer come in none othir womannys bedde ne none othir mānys wife to defowle And these forsaid thynges trewly for to kepe continwe & fullfyll as all his lyfe time was boūde by othe afore notayres in presence & witnesse of y e kȳ ges with other prynces And thā that gracyous prynce: prynce Edward vndertoke the cause ād the quarell of the kyng that was deposed and behight hym with the grace of god to restore hym ayen to hys kyngdome & let ordeyne & gadre to gedre forth withyn alle hast his navye wy t men of armes for to werre & fight in this forsaid cause And in this same time vpō the sonde of the scot [...]issh see that many a man it sawe iij dayes: to gedre ther were sein ij egles of the which̄ that one came oute of the Sowth. & y t other owte of y e north And cruelly and strongely they fowghten ād wrastled to gedre. & [Page] the south Egle ouercame y e north egle / & all to rente & tare him with his byll & his clawes that he shold not rest ne take no brethe. & after the south Egle flygh hom̄ to hys owne costes And anon̄ after ther folewed & was seyne in the morne afore the sonne rysing: & after in y e last day of Octobre saue own̄ day many sterres gadred to gedre on an hepe fyll downe to the erth̄ leuyng behynde hem fery bemes in maner of lyghtnȳg. whos flā mes brend & cōsumed mēnes clothes & mennes heres walkȳg on the erthe as it was seen & knowē of many a men. And wyth that northren winde that is euer redy & destinat to all euyll. fro seȳt katheryne euen thre dayes after lost good wythoute nombre vnrecouerable / And in the same dayes ther fyll & camen also such̄ lyghtnynges thundre snow and haille that it vasted and destroyed men bestes howses and trees
¶Of the bataill of Spaygne besides y e watyr of Nazers / that was bytwene the prynce Edward / ād sir Henry bastard of Spaygne· Capit. CCxxxiij
IN the yere of our lord M.CCC / lxvij. and of kyng Edward xlij. the iij day of Apryll: ther was a stronge bataille and a grete in a large felde kalled Priazers fast by the watyr of Nazers in Spaygne bitwene syr Edward the prynce. & Henry the Bastard of Spaygne / but the victorie fell to prynce edward by the grace of god. And this same prȳ ce Edward had with hym sir Iohan duke of Lācastre his brother and othir worthy men of armes aboute the nombre of xxx / M / ād the kyng of Spaigne had on hys side men of diuerse nacyons: to y e nombre of an CM. And passing wherfor the sharpnesse & tersenesse of his aduersayre with his full boistous and grete strength̄ maden & driuen the rightfull partye a bak a grete way: but thurgh y e grace of almyghty god passyng any mannys strength̄ that hugh̄ host was distroubled mightfu [...] by the noble duke of Lancastre & his host er that the prȳce edward came nygh hym / And when Hē ry y e bastard sawe that. he turned with his men in so grete haste ād strength to flee: that an hugh̄ cō panye of hem in the forsaid flode & of the brigge therof fyllen downe and perisshed / And also there were take the Erle of Dene. ād sir bartram Cleykyn that was chefe maker & cause of the werre & also cheuytayne of the vaūtwarde of the bataille / with many other grete lordes & knightes to the nō bre of two thowsād / of whō two houndred were of Fraūce & many also of Skotland / & there were felled in y e feld on owr enemies [Page] side of lordes & knyghtes with other mene peple to the nombre of vj. thousand & moo: & of englyssh men but a fewe. And after thys / the noble prȳce edward restored y e same Piers īto his kȳgdome ayē. The which̄ Piers afterward thurgh trecherye & falsenesse of the forsaid bastard of Spaigne as he sette at his met was strāgled and deyde / But after this victorie many noble & hardy men of englōd in Spaigne thurgh the flixe and othir diuerse sekenesse token hyr deth: And in the same yere in the marche was seyne stella Comata bitwene the northcostes & y e west / Whos bemes strecched toward fraūce / And in y e yere next sewȳg of kyng Edwardes regne xliij in Apryll. sir Leonell kȳg edwardes sone that was duke of Clarence wente toward myleyne w t a chose meyne of the gentils of englōd for to wedde Caleys doughter ād haue hyr to wyfe. by whome he sholde haue halfe the lordshyp of Myleine: but after that they were solēpnely wedded. & aboute the natiuite of our lady the same duke of Myleyne deyde / And in the same yere the Frensshmē breken y e pees and the trewes / Rydȳg on the kynges grownde and lorship of Englond in the shire and coū tre of Pountife / And token & helde castelles ād townes. & bere the Englysshmen on honde falsely & sotely that they were cause of brekyng of the trewes
And in this same yere deyde the duchesse of Lancastre. and is buried wurshipfully in seynt Paules church̄
¶The xliiij yere of kyng Edwardes regne was the grete pestilēce of men and of grete bestes ād by the grete fallyng of watres that fyll at that tyme. There fyll grete hynderyng & destroyeng of corne in so moche that the next yere after a busshelle of whete was solde for xl. pens· And in the same yere aboute the laste ende of may k [...]g Edward helde tho hys parlemēt at Westmynster. In the whyche parlement was tretyd and spoken of the othe and trewes that was broke bytwene him and the king of Fraunce. ād how he myght vpon hys wronge be auēged ¶In this same yere in the assūpcyone of owr Lady deyed Quen̄ Phelipp of Englond a full noble and good woman / and at Westmynster full wurshipfully is buried and entered. ād aboute mydsomer the noble duke of Lancastre and the erle of Herford wyth a grete companye of knightes & men of armes wenten into fraū ce / wher they gete hem but littell wurshyp ād nauye / for ther was an huge oost of Frensshmen vpō chalkhull brigge. ād an othir hoste also of englysshmē faste by the [Page] same brygge that lōge tyme had leyne there: & many worthy men and grete of the englysshmen ordeyned & yafe coūceill for to fight ād yeve bataille to the Frēsshmē: But the forsayd lordes wolde nothing consent therto ne assent for no maner thynge. Ther anon̄ after it happed that the erle of warrewyk came thidderward for to werre / And whā the Frensshmē herd of his coming. er that he came fully to lande. they left hir tē tes and pauillons with all hir vitailles. & fledden and went away preuely / And whan the erle was comen to land with hys men / he went in all hast toward Normā dye & destroyed the Ile of Caws: thurgh dynt of swerd ād thurgh fyre / but allas in his retournyng to Englond ward home ayen̄ at Caleys / he was take wy t sikenesse of Pestilēce & deied / not leuȳg behȳde hym aftyr hys dayes so noble a knight & orped of armes In whiche tyme regned ād werred y e orped knight sir Iohā hawkewode that was an Englysshmē borne hauȳg wyth him at his gouernaūce that whit companye that is a fore nempned· the whiche some tyme ayens holy chyrche & some tyme ayens lordes werred ād ordeyned grete batailles. & therin that cōtre he dyd many mervaillous thynges. And aboute y e conuersion of seynt Paule the kyng whā he had ended & done the enthering & the axequyes wy t grete costes & rialtes aboute the sepulture & berieng of quene Phelypp his wyfe: he helde his parlement at Westmynster / in whiche parlement was axed of the clergie thre dismes: that is for to saye a grete disme to be paied thre yere durȳg And the clergie put it of ād wold not graunte vnto Estre next comyng / & than they graūted wele that ī thre yere bi certeyn termes that disme shold be paied / and also of y e lay fee was a iij.xv iiies graunted to the king to be payed in thre yeres
¶How sir Robert knolles wyth other certeyne lordes of the reaume went ouer the see into fraunce & of hir gouernaūce Capitulo CCxxxiiij.
ANd in the xlv. yere of king Edward in the begynnȳg kyng Edward wy t vnwyse counceyll And vndiscrete borewed a grete somme of gold of the prelatz lordes marchaūts & othir riche men of hys reaume seyng y t it shold be dispended in defendȳg of holy chirche and of hys reaume neuerthelater it ꝓfyted nought. wherfore aboute mydsomer aftir he made a grete hoost of the worthiest men of his reame amō ges whō were some lordes. that is for to saye the lord fitz water: & the lord graunson and othir worthy [Page] knightes: of which̄ knightes the kīg ordeyned sir Robert knolles a proued knight & a wel assaied in dede of armes for to be gouernour / & that through his coū ceill ād gouernaūce all thīg shold be gouerned & dressed. & whē they camē into fraūce as lōge as they dwelled ād helde hem hool to gedre the Frēsshmen durst not fall vpō hē And at the last aboute the begynnyng of wynter for enuye ād couetyse that was amōges hē & also discorde they sondred & parted hē into diuerse cōpanyes vnwysely ād folely. But sir Robert knolles & his men wentē & keptē hē saufwithȳ a castell in britaigne. And when the frēsshmē sawe that our men were deuyded into dyuerse companies & places nat holdyng ne strēgthyng hē to gedres as they ought for to do / fyllē fersely on our men. & for the moste partye tokē hē or slowē hē: and tho that they toke. led w t hē prisoners. And in the same yere Pope Vrban came fro Rome to Auion̄ for encheson & cause y t he shold accord & make pees bitwen̄ the kīg of Fraūce & the kȳg of Englond for euermore: but allas or he begā hys tretes / he deyed w t sikenes the xxi. day of Decēbre: And was buried as for the time ī the cathedrall church̄ of Auion̄ fast by the hygh̄ auter· & the next yere after / whan he had leyne so / hys bones were takē owt the erth̄ & buryed newe in the abbey of seīt victour fast by Marcill. of which̄ abbeye he was some time abbot hȳ selfe And in both̄ places y t he was buried in. ther be many grete myracles done ād wrought thurgh the ḡce of god almyghty. & after whō folewed next ād was made pope Gregoire Cardinal Dekē: y t before was called piers rogier. In the same yere the cite of rimoge rebelled & faught ayēs the prȳce as othir cites in Guyhēne dyd for grete taxes costages & raūsones that they were put & set to by prȳce edward / which̄ charges weren importable & to chargeable. wherfore they turned fro hȳ & fyllen to the kȳg of Fraūce. And whē prȳ ce Edward sawe this: he was sore chafed & greued ād in turnyng hom̄ward ayen̄ into Englōd wy t sore scarmysshes ād fightȳg & grete assautes fought w t hē ād toke y e forsaid cyte ād destroied it almost to the groūde ād slowe all y t were foūde in the cite / ād thā for diuerse sikenesse and maladies that he had / ād also for defaute of money that he not myght wythstōde ne tarie on his enemyes: he hyed hȳ ayene into Englond / wyth hys wyfe and hys meyne / leuyng behynde hym in gascoygne the duke of Lancastre and sir Edmond Erle of Cambrygge wyth other many worthy & orped men of armes: [Page] In the xlvi. yere of kyng Edward at the ordenaūce ād sendȳg of kyng Edward the kȳg of Nauerne came to hȳ to Clarȳgdon / to trete with him of certeyne thȳ ges touchyng hys werre in Normandye. where kȳg edward had left certayne seges in his stede till he came home ayene. But kyng Edward might not spede of that that he asked of hym. And so the kyng of Nauerne wy t grete wurship and grete yeftes toke hys leue & wēt home ayen And aboute the begynnyng of Marche whā the parlemēt at westmȳster was begonne. the kyng axked of the clergye a subsidie of .l.M. pownde. the which̄ bi a good auysemēt and by a generall cōuocacyon of the clergye it was graūted ād ordeined that it shold be payed and reysed of the lay fee. And in thys parlement at the request and askyng of the lordes in haterede of men of holy church the chaunceler and the tresorer that were bysshoppes / & the clerke of the pryve seall were remeued and put owt of offyce: and in hyr stede were seculer men put in And while this parlemēt lasted there came solēpne embassatours sent fro y e pope to trete with the kyng of pees ād sayden: that the pope desired to fulfyll his p̄decessours wille / but for all hyr comyng they sped not of hir purpose.
¶Of the besegyng of Rochel▪ and how the erle of Penbroke ād hys companye was there take in the hauen with Spaynardes. ād all his vesselles brent Capit / CCxxxv
THe ix. day of Iuyne kȳg Edward in the xlvij yere of his regne helde his parlemēt at wȳchestre. & it lasted but vij dayes / to the parlement were sompned by wryte of men of holy chyrche iiij bysshoppes / ād iiij abbotes wy toute any mo. Thys parlement was holden for marchaūts of Londō: of Norwych & of other diuerse places for diuerse thynges and pointes of treson that thei were difamed of. that is for to saye that they were rebelle & wolde ryse ayens the kȳg.
This same yere the duke of Lancastre & the erle of Cambryge hys brother camē owte of Gascoigne into Englond. & tokē ād wedded to theyre wifes petres doughters sometime kyng of Spaygne / Of whiche two doughters the duke had the elder / and the erle the yō ger: and that same tyme ther were sent two cardinals fro the pope. that is to say. an Englyssh cardinall & a Cardynall of Paris to trete of pees bytwene the ij reaumes: the whych̄ whē they had bē both longe eche in his prouȳces / and in places & in contres fast by [Page] tretyng of the forsaid pees / at the last they toke wyth hem her lrēs of procuracie. & went ayen to the court of Rome ward / withowte any effect of hir purpose. In this same yere also there was a stronge bataill on the see bytwen̄ Englysshmē & Flēmȳges (punctel) & the Englisshmen had the victorie & tokē xxv. shippes charged wy t salt. sleyeng & drenchȳg all the men that were theryn / vnwytȳg hem that they were of that cōtre: And redly moch̄ harme had falle bycause therof / ne had pees & accord y e sonner bytwene hē be made: And in thys same yere the Frēsshmē besieged the town̄ of Rochell: wherfore the erle of Pēbroke was sent into Gascoigne with a grete companie of men of armes for to destroye the siege The whych̄ passed the see & came sauf to the Hauen of Rochell / & whē they were there at the hauen mouth or that they might entre / sodēly came vpō hē a stronge nauye of Spaigne / the which̄ ouercame tho y e Englysshmen in moch̄ blemysshyng hurtyng & sleyng of many persones / for as moche as the Englysshmē were not than redy for to fyghte ne ware of hē. & in the comīg vpō of the Spaignardes alle the Englysshmē othir they were take or slayne. & .x. of hem were woūded to the deth· & all hyr shippes brēt / & there they toke y e erle wy t an huge tresoure of y e reame of englōd / & many othir noble men also on mydsomer euen the which̄ is seīt Etheldredes day. & ledden hem w t hem into Spaigne / And of thys meschief was no grete wōder for this erle was a full euyll lyuer as on opē lechour. & also in a certeyne parlemēt he stode & was ayēs the ryghtes & fraūchyses of holy church̄. And also he counceylled y e king & his coūceill that he shold axke more of men of holy church thā of othir ꝑsones of the lay fee / And for that the kyng & othir of his coūceil accepted & tokē rather euyll opynyōs & causes ayēs mē of holy chyrch / than he dyd for to defende & maynten̄ the ryght of holy church: it was sene many times after for lake of fortune and grace / they had not ne bere awey so grete victorie ne power ayens hir ennemyes / as they dyd a fore. This same yere the kyng with a grete host entred the see to remeue the sege of Rochell. but y e wȳde was euen contrarie vnto hȳ and suffred him not longe time to go ferre fro the land. wherfor he abode a certeyn tyme vpō the see costes abydyng after a good wynde for hem / & yet came it not so at y e last he came thens with his men to lond ward ayen̄ / & anon̄ as he was a londe. the wynde begā to turne & was in an othir coste thā he was in a fore
How the duke of Lācastre wy t a grete host went into Flaūdres. & passed bi Paris thurgh burgoigne / & thurgh all Fraūce till he came to Burdeux Cap. cc.xxxvi.
SOne after in the xlviij yere of the regne of kȳg Edward the duke of Lācastre with a grete hoost wēt into flaū dres and passed by Paris thurgh Burgoigne & thurgh all Fraūce tyll he came to Burdeux wy toute any maner withstōdȳg of y e frēshmen / & he dyd hem but littell harme saue he toke & raūsoned many places & tounes & many men & let hem after gon̄ freely / The same yere the kȳg sēt certeȳ embassatours to the pope prayng hym that he shold leue of & medle nat in his court of the kepinges & reseruacyōs of benefyces in ēglōd / & that they that were chosē to bisshoppes sees & dignites frely and with full right might ioye & haue & be confermed to the same of hir metropolytanes & erhebysshoppes as they were wont to be of olde tyme. Of thees poyntes & of othir towchyng y e kȳg & his reame whan they had hir āswere of the pope / the pope enioyned hē that they shold certefye him ayene by hir lrēs of the kȳges wyll & of his reame or they determined ought of the forsaid articles. In the sam̄ yere deyde Iohā the erchebisshop of york. Iohā bisshop of Ely / williā bisshop of wurcestre: jn whos stedes folowed & were made bysshoppes by auctorite of the pope Maister alixādre neuill to y e erchebisshoprich̄ of york. Thoās of Arūdel to y e bisshoprych̄ of Ely. & sir Hēry wakefeld to y e bisshopryche of wurchestre / In y e which̄ time it was ordeyned in y e ꝑlemēt y t all cathydrall chyrches shold ioye & haue hyr electyons hool: & y t the kȳg afterward shold not write ayens hē y t were chosē. but rather helpe hē by his lrēs to hyr ꝯfirmacyon And this statute was kept & dyd moch̄ profyt & good. And in thys parlemēt was graūted to y e kīg a disme of y e clergie: & xv of y e lay fee The next yere aftir of kīg edward y e xlix / the xv / day of Iuyne deyde maistyr williā witlesey erchebysshop of caūterbury / wherfore the mōkes of the same church̄ asked & desired a cardinall of Englond to be erchebisshop / & therfor y e kīg was agreued & had mēt & purposed to haue exilled y e mōkes of the same hous / & so thei spēded moch̄ good or they might haue y e kȳges ḡce ayē & his loue (punctel) but yet wolde the kīg not cōsēt ne graūte to hyr electyō of the cardinall / ne y e pope also ne his cardinals / & about the begȳnȳg of August it was treted & spokē at brugges of certeȳ poītz & articles beuȳg bitwene the pope & y e kīg of Englōd. & this tretis last almoost ij. yere: At the last it [Page] was accorded bytwene hem that the pope fro that time forth shold not vse ne dele with the reseruacions of benefyces ī englōd. & that the kȳg shold not grāte ne let no bn̄fyces by hys wryte. that is called quare īpedit. but as touchȳg the electyōs aboue said: ther was no thȳg touched ne do: ād y t was wyted & put vpō certeyne clerkes the which̄ rather supposed & hoped to be auaūced & promoted to bisshopriches / which̄ they desired & coueyted by y e courte of Rome rather thā by any electyōs This sam̄ yere aboute cādelmasse ther mete to gedres at Burges many noble & worthy men of both reames to trete of pees bytwene the two kȳgdomes: And this tretys lasted two yere wyth grete costes & houge expēses of both̄ parties. And at the last they wēt & departed thēs wythoute any accord or effect / The next yere after the l. yere of kyng Edward iiij. non as of May beyng voyde and vacaūt y e Erchebisshopryche of Caūterbury Maister Symōd sudbery bysshop of Londō was made Erchebisshop. & maistir Willyā Curteney that was bisshop of Herford was than made bisshop of Lōdō / and the bisshop of bangore was made bisshopp of Herford / And this same tyme in a certeyne tretys & speking of pees: trews was take bytwene Fraūce & Englōd fro mydsomer to mydsomer come ayen̄ all an hole yere. & aboute the begynnȳg of Aprill the duke of Brytaigne with many erles barōs & othir worthy men of englond wēt ouer see into Britaigne where they had all theyre lust desire & purpose / ne had y e forsayd trews be so sone take. the whiche letted hem moche this same time: The Ile Constātyne where that y t castell of seint sauour is in that longe tyme was fowghten & beseged of the Frensshmē was thā yolden to the Frensshmen wyth all the apportenaūces into grete harme & hyndryng of the reame of Englond / And thys same yere there were so grete & passyng hetes that therwyth all a grete pestylence in Englond & in othir diuerse parties of the world: that it destroied & slow vyolently & strō ghly bothe men & womā wy toute nōbre / Thys same yere deyed sir Edward the lorde spencer a worthy knyght and a bolde. ād in the mȳster of Tewkesbury wurshipfully is buryed. and lastyng thys pestilence the pope at the instaū ce & prayer of an Englyssh Cardinall grawnted to alle peple that deyde in Englond that were sory and repentaūt for hyr synnes ād also shryuen full remyssyon by .ij bulles vnder leed .vj mōthes thā next to last. ¶In this same yere the Erle of Penbroke was taken [Page] & rawnsoned by Bartrā cleykyn bytwene Parys ād Caleys as he came toward Englōd vpō seynt Etheldredes day. the which̄ seint as it was said the same erle oftetymes had offended. & withyn a while after he deide. & in nouēbre next after there mette at Bryges the duke of Lancastre & the duke of Angeoy wy t many othir lordes & prelats of bothe reames for to trete of pees
¶Of the deth of Prince Edward & of the lord Latimer & Dame Alyce peres (punctel) thurgh whom ād hyr maȳtenours the Reame many a day was mysruled Ca cc.xxxvij
NOt lōge aftir the lj. yere of kyng Edwardes regne he let ordeyne & holde at west mynstre the grettest ꝑlemēt that was sene many a yere afor [...]: in y e which̄ ꝑlement he axed of the cō munalte of the reame as he had done before a grete subsidie to be graūted to him for defendyng of hym & of his reame. but the communes āsweryd that they were so ofte day by day greued & charged with so many tailliages and subsidies that they might no lenger suffre non̄ such̄ charges: and that they knewe & wiste wel that the kyng had ynow for sauȳg of hym & of his reame. yf the reame were well and truwely gouerned· but that it had be so longe euyll gouernyd by euell offyciers that the reame myght nether be plenteuous of chaffare & marchaūdise ne of rychesse: And these thynges they profred hem self. if y e kȳg wold certeynly to preue and stōd by / And if it were fonde & preued after that. that the kyng had nede. they wolde than gladly euery men aftyr his power ād state hȳ helpe & lene / And after thys ther were publysshed and shewed in y e parlement many pleyntes & defautes of diuerse offyciers of the reame. & namely of the lord Latimer the kynges Chamburleyne bothe to the kyng & eke to the reame / And also at the last ther was spokē & treted of Dame Alice peres for the grete wronges & euyll gouernaunce that was done by her & by hyr coūceill in the reame: the which̄ dame Alyce peres the kȳg had holde longe tyme to hys lemmen. wherfor it was the lesse wonder though thurgh y e freelte of the womānys excitȳg & sterȳg he consented to hyr lewdnesse ād euell coūceill. y e which̄ dame alice & also y e lord latymer & othir such̄ that stered y e kyng to euell gouernaūce ayēs his ꝓfyte & y e reames also / alle the comminalte axed ād desired that they shold be meved and put away: And in hyr stedes wyse men and worthy that weren trewe and well assayed & proued & of good gouernaūce shold be put in hir stedes / So amōg all [Page] other: there was one amōge the cōmunes that was a wise knight & a trewe & an eloquēt mā whos nam̄ was piers de lamare: & this same Piers was chosen to be speker for the cōmunes in the parlemēt And for this same piers told & plublisshed the trouthe & rehersed the wronges ayēs the forsayd dame alyce & other certeȳ ꝑsones & the kynges coūceyll as he was desyred by the cōmunes And also trustȳg moch̄ for to be supported & maȳtened in this mater by helpe and fauour of the prȳce: Anone as the prȳce was dede at y e instaūce ād request of the forsayd dame Alyce this Piers de lamare was iugged to ꝑpetual pryson in the castell of Nothyngam: in y e which̄ he was two yere: & in y e vj. kal of Iuyll lastȳg that same parlement deyed prȳce Edward kȳg edwardes fyrst sone that is to sey on the trinite sonday in the wurship: of whych̄ fest he was wōt euery yere: wher that euer he were in the world to make ād hold the most solempnyte that he myght. whos name & fortune of knighthode / but yf it had be of an other Ectour all men bothe crysten ād hethen whyle he lyued ād was in good pointe wondred moch̄ and drad him wonder sore (punctel) whos body is wurshipfully buried in the chyrche at Caunterbuey. And in this same yere: the men & the Erles tenaūtes of warrewyk arysē malicyously ayēs y e abbot & y e couent of Ensham & hir tenaūtz. & destroyed fiersly y e abbot & y e towne & woūded & bet hir mē & slowē of hē many one / & wētē to hir maners & places. & dyd moch̄ harme & brekē downe her parkes ād hyr closes & brentē & slowē hyr wylde bestes & chached hē brekyng hyr fisshpondes hedes ād lete the water of hir pōdes stews & ryuers rē ne out & tokē the fyssh & bere it w t hē & dyd hē all y e harme that they myght in so ferforth that forsoth they had destroyed ꝑpetuely that abbey w t all hir mēbres & appertenaūces. but if the kȳg the sōner had holpen it & take hede therto. & therfor the kyng sent his lrēs to y e Erle of Warrewyk chargȳg hȳ & ꝯn [...]ūdȳg that he shold redresse & amēd tho euell doers & brekers of hys pees: & so by many lordes ād other frēdes of both̄ sides pees ād good accord & loue was made bitwen̄ hem. & for this hurlȳg as it was said / y e kȳg wolde nat be gouerned at y t tyme by hys lordes y t ther were in y e ꝑlemēt. but he toke & made his sone the duke of Lancastre his gouernour of y e reaum̄ / the which̄ stode so still as gouernour till y e tyme y t he deyde. The same yere anon̄ after cādelmasse or y e ꝑlemēt was don̄ y e kīg asked a subsidie of the clergie & of y e lay fee / & it was graūted hym / that is [Page] for to say that he shold haue of euery ꝑsone of the lay fee bothe of man ād woman that passed xiiij yere age iiij. pens: owtake poure beggers. that were knowe opēly for nedy poure beggers: & that he shold haue of euery man of holy chyrch̄ that was benefyced or promoted xij pēs· & of other that were not ꝓmoted iiij. pens / owtake the iiij ordes of the freris beggers This same yere after michelmasse Rychard prynce Edwardes sone was made prȳce of Walys / to whō the kȳg yafe also the duchie of Cornewaill wy t the Erledome of Chestre: And aboute thys tyme the Cardinall of Englōd / the iiij. day before Marie magdalene day after mete sodēly was smytē & take wy t a palasye & lost his speche. & on marie madalene day he deyde
¶Of the deth of kyng Edward & sir johā mōsterworth knight was drawe & honged for his falsenesse Capitulo CCxxxviij
RIght anone after in y e .lij. yere of king Edward in y e begȳnȳg of octobre pope Gregorie the xj. brought & remeued his court with hȳ frō Auyon̄ to rome: And the xij day of apryl Iohā mōsterworth knight at lō don was drawe honged & thā beheded / & after his body quartred / ād sent to iiij. chief townes of englond: & his hede sette vpon lōdō brygge: for this same johan was full vntrewe to the kȳg & to y e reame. & full couetous & vnstable for he toke oftetymes grete sommes of money of the kȳg & his coūceil for men of armes wages that he shold haue payed hē: & toke it to his owne vse: & he dredȳg that at the fast he shold be shēd & accused for y e same cause fledde puely to y e kīg of fraūce & was swore to him & became hys man. & behight hȳ a grete nauye oute of spaygne in to confusion & destroyeng of Englōd / but rightfull god to whom no pryuete is vnknowen suffred hȳ fyrst to be shēd & spylt▪ or that he so traytoursly & falsely his liege lord the kȳg of Englond & his peple & his reaume. in the whych̄ groūde the same Iohā was bore / wykkedly thurgh bataill to destroye or brȳg his kursyd purpose aboute. ¶In the fest of seynt gregorie tho next after / kȳg Edward yafe to Rychard of Burdeux: his heire / that was prȳce Edwardes sone at wȳdesore the ordre of knighthode & made him knight / the whych̄ kȳg Edward whā he had regned lj yere & more. the xj kal of Iuyne he deyde at shene / & is buried worshipfully at westmȳstre on whos sowle god haue mercy· amē. And this kȳg edward was for soth̄ of a passȳg goodnesse ād ful gracyous amōg all y e worthy men of y e world / for he passed and [Page] shone by vertu of grace yone to him fro god aboue all hys predecessours that were noble men ād worthy· & he was a well ād a hardy herted man. for he drede neuer of no myshapes ne harmes ne euell fortune that might fall a noble werriour & a fortunat for bothe on lōd & on see & in alle batailles and assembles with a passȳg glorie & ioye he had euer the victorie / he was meke & beningne: homel / sobre & softe to all maner of men / as wel to straungiers as to his owne subgettes / and to other that were vnder his gouernaūce he was deuote & holy both̄ to god & to holy chyrche / for he wurshipped / halpe & maȳtened holy chirche & hir ministres wyth all maner reuerence. he was tretable ād wel auysed in temporall & wordly nedes wyse coūceyl. & discrete softe ād meke. & good to speke wyth / in hys dedes & maners full gentyll / & well taught hauȳg pyte of hem that were in disese. plentous in yeuȳg bn̄faytes & almasse. besy & curiouse ī byldȳg (punctel) & ful lightly he bare and suffred wrōges ād harmes: & when he was yeue to any occupacyon. he left all other thyng forth: mene tyme tendyd ād ther to semely of body & amene stature hauȳg allwey to hygh̄ and to lowe a good chere. ād ther sprāge & shone somoche grace of him that what maner man had behold his face or had dremed of hym / he hoped that day that alle thyng shold happe to hȳ ioyefull & lykyng. & he gouerned gloriousely his kingdome vnto his age / he was large in yevȳg & wyse in spē ces / he was fulfyld with all honeste of good maners & vertues vndyr whom to lyue it was as for to reigne: wherfore his fame hys loose sprange so ferre that it came īto hethenesse & barbarie shewȳg & tellyng hys worthynesse & mā hood in all landes: & that no lāde vnder hevē had brought forth so noble a kyng so gentyll & so blesshed or myght reise such̄ an othyr yf he were dede. nevyrthelater lecherye and mevyng of his flesshe haunted him in hys age. wherfore the rather as it is to suppose for vnmesurable fullfyllyng of hys lust his lyfe shorted the sonner: & here of take good hede like as his dedes before bere witnesse for as in hys begȳnyng all thynges were ioyefull & lykyng to hym / & to alle peple. And in his mydde age he passed alle peple in hygh̄ ioye. wurshipp & blessednesse: right so when he drewe into age drawȳg doūward thurgh lecherie & othir sinnes littell & littel alle tho ioyefull and blesshed thynges & prosperite decreced and misshaped ād infortunat thynges & vnprofitable harmes wy t many euelles begā for to sprāge & to more harme [Page] it continued lōge time after
¶How that after kyng Edward the thridde that was bore in wȳ desore regned Richard of Burdeux: that was prynce Edwardes sone of Walys / which̄ prince Edward was the sone of kyng Edward Capit. CCxl.
ANd aftir the good kȳg edward the iij. that was bore at wȳdesore regned Rychard the ij. that was the good sir Edwardes sone prȳce of Walys. which̄ kyng Richard was borne in y e cyte of Burdeux in Gascoigne & was crouned at westmȳster in the xi. yere of his age. ād in the secōde yere of hys regne for debate that was bytwene the lord Latimer & sir Rauf feriers knight: y t weren ayens hawell and shakell squyers: for y e prysoner that was take in the bataill of Spaygn̄ by these ij squyers. ād the which̄ the lord Latimer ād sir Rauf feriers wold haue had / the which̄ prysoner was the Erle of Dene y t they toke in y e bataill of spaygn̄. wherfore these two lordes camen into the chyrch̄ at Westmynstre & foū den this one Squyer heryng hys masse beside seȳt Edwardes shrine / & there they slow hȳ. the whyche was called Hawell / & shakell was arested & put in the toure of London / & there he was lōge tyme for he wold not delyuer the erle of Dene his prisoner vnto thees twoo lordes. by sir Aleyn buxhill constable of the tour / And by syr Rauf feriers one of his aduersairas tyll the kyng graūted hȳ grace / In the thridde yere of kyng Richard came the galeys of Fraū ce into englond vnto diuerse portes brent & robbed & slowe moch̄ peple of Englōd. that is to say / at wȳchelsee. Rye. ād Hastyng / portesmouthe. Hāpton. stormore ād grauesende / & dydē moch̄ harme. ād went home ayen̄: And in this same yere was a parlemēt holdē at westmynster: & at that ꝑlemēt was ordeined that euery mā / woman & child that werē at the age of xiiij. yere & aboue: thurghoute all the reame pore folke ād othir shold paye to the tallage iiij pens / wherfore came & befell aft (er)ward grete meschief & moch disese to all the cōminalte of the reame. And in the iiij. yere of kyng rychardes regne the communes risen vp in diuerse parties of the reame. and dydē moch̄ harme / the which̄ thei kalled the hurlyng tyme (punctel) ād they of Kent & of Estsex made hem in cheuytaynes to rule & gouerne y e cōpanye of Kēt & of Estsex / that one was kalled jake straw & that other was tiler: & they camē & assembled hē vpon the blake heth ī kent on the corpꝰ (xp̄i) christi day. & after they camē downe in sowthwerk ād brekē vp the pryson hous that is to saye the kynges bēche. & the [Page] marchalsie & deliured oute all the prysoners. And so the same daye they camē into Lōdō / & ther they robbedē the peple & slowe all alyents that they might finde in the cyte & aboute the cite: & despoilled all hir gooddes ād made hauoke / And on y e fryday next after that was on the morne they camē thā to the tour of Londō / and the kīg beyng theryn they fet oute of the tour the erchebisshop of Caūterbury / sir Edmond sudbery ād sir Robert haleys hospitaler priour ād maister of seint Iohānes house (punctel) & a white frere that was cōfessour to king Rychard / & brought hem vnto the towre. & there they smyten of hir hedes & came ayen̄ to London: & slow moo peple mē of laws. & othir worthy men in diuerse parties of the cite / And thā they wēte vnto the dukes places of Lancastre beyond seȳt marye strōde that was called the sauoy. & ther thei deuored & destroied all the gooddes that they might finde there & bare hē away / & brendē vp the place And than after they went to seynt johānes withoute smythfeld & destroyed the gooddes there / & brent vp that hous & wēte to Westmȳster & seint martins graunt and made hem gone oute of the seītwarie all that were withȳ. for any maner of gryth And than came vnto the temple & to all othir ynnes of men of lawe. & despoilled hē & robbed hē of hyr goodes. & also tare hir bokes of lawe. & thā they camē to Lōdō & brak vp the pryson newgate ād drofe oute all the prysoners felōs & othir & of bothe countours. ād all the peple that were withyn hē & destroied all the bokes of bothe coūters / And thus they cōtinued bothe satyrday and sonday vnto the mōday next after in hyr malyce & wikkednesse. & than on the monday kyng Rychard with his lordes that were with hȳ that tyme & wy t the mayre of Lōdō William walworth that was y e tyme comen w t the aldermē & the communes of y e cyte / & came in southwerke to here & to knowe the intēcyon of these rebelles & mysgouerned peple: & this Iake strawe thā made an oye in the feld that all the peple of accord shold come nere & here his proclamacyō his crye & his will / And the lordes ād the mayre & y e aldermē wy t the cō minalte hauīg indignaciō of his couetyse & falsenesse & hys fowle p̄sūpcyon. And anon̄ williā walworth y e time beyng mayr drowe owt his knyf & slowe Iak strawe: ād anon̄ right ther dyd of smyte his hede: and sette it vpō a spere shafte. and so it was bere thurgh lōdō ād set an hygh̄ vpō lōdō brigge. Anon̄ as thees rysers ād mysgouerned mē were voide ād clene vanisshed as it had nought be [Page] they / than y e kīg of his grete goodnesse & by praier of his lordes made there vj. knightes of good and worthy men of the cyte of londō that is to saye. Williā walworth that that tyme was mayre & slowe Iak straw: The seconde was Nycholas brēbre. & the thridde johan philiptot: & the iiij. nycholas Twiford / and the v. Robert laū des / the vj. Robert Gayton. And than the kyng with his lordes ād his knightes retourned ayen̄ vnto the tour of Londō / & ther he rested him tyll the peple were better seted and sette in reste & pees / and than by processe of tyme as they myght gete ād take thes rebelles and rysers they henge hem vpon the nex galewes in euery lorshyp thurghoute the reame of englōd by xl. & by xxx / by x. ād by xij / euer as they might be geten and takē in any parties / And in the v. yere of kyng Rychardes regne was y e grete erthe quak▪ & was generally through oute the world / y e wonesday after witsonday in the yere of our lord M.ccc.lxxxxi / wherof all maner peple wer̄ sore agast & dred full longe tyme for drede of vengeaūce that our lord shewed & dyd / & in the vj yere of the regne of kȳg Richard sir Hēry spencer bisshop of Norwiche went wyth a croiserie ouer the see into y e coū tre of Flaūdres. & there they gate the towne of grauenyng & y e toune of broburgh / dunkerk & newport. ād ther they laded & fraught . [...]j. shippes with pelage for to haue come into Englond with these shippes & gooddes / And y e bysshop of Norwych and his coūceil let brenne thees shippes wy t all y e pelage in the same hauen all into hard asshes: and at Dunkerke was done a grete bataille bytwene the Flēmȳges & the Englysshmē / & at that bataille was slayne a grete multitude of the Flēmȳ ges & an huge nōbre. & than wēt the bisshop with his retenwe vnto ypre / & beseged it a longe tyme. but it might not be goten. & so he lefte that siege / & came ayen̄ into Englōd: for our Englysshmē were foull destroyed. & many deyed on the flixe And in this same yere came quene Anne into englōd for to be spoused vnto kyng Rychard: & hir fadre was Emperour of Almaigne & kyng of Beme. ād with her came the duke of Tassy her vncle / & many other worthy lordes and knightes of hyr cōtre of Beme and of other duche toū ges to do hir reuerēce & wurship And sir simōd Beuerle a worthy knight of the garter. & othir knightes and squyers that werē the kynges Embassatours brought hyre in Englond. & so forth to Lō dō. And the peple of the cyte that is to seye the Mayre and y e aldermen ād the cōmunes riddē ayēs [Page] hyr to welcome hyr. & euery man in good aray & euery crafte with his mynstralsie in the best maner mete with hir on the blakheth in kent. & so brought hir vnto Lōdō thurgh the cyte / ād so forth vnto westmynstre vnto the kȳges paleys / & ther she was spoused vnto kyng Rychard wel & worthely in the abbey of westmynstre. & ther she was crowned quen̄ of englōd And all hir frendes that camen with hir haddē grete yeftes & werē well chered & refresshed as longe tyme as they abydē here. And in thys same yere was a bataille done in the kīges paleys at westmynstre for certeyn poȳtes of treson bytwene sir Iohā ansley knight defendant ād Carton squier appelaūt. but this sir Iohā of āsley ouercame this Carton & made him to yelde him withyn y e lystes (punctel) & anon̄ was this Carton despoilled of his harneys & drawen oute of the lystes / & so forth to Tiborne: & there he was honged for his falsenesse / And in y e viij yere of the regne of kyng Rychard sir Edmōd of Lāgely erle of Cābrigge the kȳges vncle wēte into portyngale wy t a fayre meyne mē of armes & archiers in strēgthyng & helpyng of the kȳg of Portyngale ayens the kyng of Spaygne & his power: And ther the kyng of Portȳgale had the victorie of his enemies thurgh helpe & cōfort of our Englysshmē / And whē that iourney was done the erle of Cā brygge came home ayē with his peple into englōd in haste blessed be god & hys gracyous yifte. am̄ And this same yere kyng richard helde his Crystmasse in the marche of Eltham. And the same tyme the kyng of Ermonye fledde owte of hys owne land ād came into Englond for to haue socour and helpe of our kyng ayens hys enemyes that had dryuen hȳ oute of hys Reame And so h̄e was brought vnto the kyng to Elthā there as the kyng helde hys ryall fest of Cristmasse: and there owr kyng welcomed him ād dyd him moch̄ reuerence and wurshipp. & cōmaunded all his lordes to make hȳ all the chere that they cowde / And than he besought y e king of grace and of helpe and of hys comfort in his nede And that he myght be brought ayene to hys kyngdome and lōde: for the Turkes had deuoured & destroied the moste part of his lōde: & for thys cause he fledde & came thyder for socour & helpe / And the kȳg then̄ hauyng pyte & cōpassyon of hys grete meschief ād grevous disese anone he toke his counceyll and asked what was best to don̄ And they answeryd & said. yf it lyked him to yeue him any good· it were well y don̄: and as towchyng hys peple to trauaylle so ferre in [Page] to oute landes it were a grete jupardie / & so the kyng yafe hȳ gold & siluer and many rychesses yeftes & iewelles and betaught him to god. & so he passed ayene oute of englōd: And in this same yere kyng Rychard wy t a ryall power went into Skotland for to werre vpon the scottes for the falsenesse & destructiō that the Scottes had don̄ vnto the Englysshmē in the marches. And thā the scottes came vnto the kīg for to entrete wy t him and his lordes for trewes as for certeyne yeres. And so our kīg & his coūceyll graūted hē trewes certeyne yeres vnto her askyng / & our kyng turned hī home ayen̄ into Englōd: And whan he was come vnto york (punctel) ther he abode & rested hym / And there sir Iohan holād erle of Kētes brother slow the Erles sone of Stafford & hys heir wyth a Dagar in th̄e cyte of york. wherfor the kīg was sore ameued & greued / & remeued thēs and came to Lōdō. And the mayre with the alder men & the communes with all the solempnite y t myght be done ryden ayēs y e kīg / & brought him ryally thurgh the cyte & so forth vnto westmynster. vnto his owne paleys: And in y e ix. yere of kȳg Rychardes regne / he helde a ꝑlement at westmȳster & ther he made two dukes and a marqueyes & v. erles / The fyrst y t was made duke was the kinges vncle. sir Edmond of Langlee erle of Cambrigge: and hȳ he made duke of york / ¶And his other vncle sir Thomas of wodestoke that was erle of Bukkyngham / hym he made duke of Gloucestre And sir Lyonevere that was erle of Oxūford hym he made markeys of Dyueleyne. And Henry of Bolyngbroke / the dukes sone of Lancastre / hȳ he made Erle of Derby / And sir Edward the sone of yorke / hī he made Erle of Rutcelōd: Sir Iohā Holād that was the erles brother of Kent him he made Erle of Hūtȳgdō. Sir thomas monbray erle of Nothȳghā & Erle marchall of Englōd. And sir Mychell de la pole knyght. hȳ he made Erle of Sowthfolk and chaunceler of Englond. And the erle of Marche at that same parlement holden at Westmȳster in playne ꝑlement among all other lordes & cōmunes was ꝓclamed erle of the Marche heire apꝑant to the crowne of Englond after kyng Rychard / the which̄ erle of the Marche wēt ouer see into Irland vnto his lordshippes & londes: for the Erle of the marche is Erle of Vlster in Irland by right lyne and herytage / & ther at y e castell of hys he lay that tyme And ther came vpon him a grete multitude in busshemētys of wild Irisshmen hȳ for to take & destroye / and he came owte fersely of hys [Page] his castell with hys peple ād mā ly faught wy t hem. & ther he was take & hewe all to peces. & ther he deyde / On whos sowle god haue mercy. Amen And in the x. yere of kyng Rychardes regne the erle ot Arundell went vnto the see / wy t a grete Nauye of shippes enarmed with mē of armes & good archiers: And when they camen into the brode see they mette wy t the hole flete that camen wy t wyne laden from Rochel. the which̄ wyne were enemyes goodes· ād ther our nauye set vpon hem ād toke hem all & browght hem vnto dyuerse portes ād hauenes of Englond: & some to londō / & ther ye might haue had a tonne of rochel wyne of the best for xx. shillīg sterlynges. & so we had grete chepe of wyne thurghoute the reaume at that tyme. thanked be god almyghty
How the v. lordes arysen at rattecoste brigge Capit. CC.xli
ANd in the Regne of kyng rychard the xi. yere / v. lordes arysē at rattecort brigge in the destructyon of rebelles that weren that tyme in all y e reame. The first of the v. lordes was Syr Thomas of Wodestoke the kȳges vncle & duke of Gloucestre. And the secōd was sir Rychard erle of Arundell / & the iij. was sir Rychard erle of warrewyk. y e iiij was sir Hēry bolȳgbroke erle of Derby / the v. was sir thoās Mō bray Erle of nothȳghā / And these v. lordes saw the meschyef and mysgouernaūce ād the falsenesse of the kȳges counceyll / wherfore they that weren that tyme chyef of y e kynges coūceyll fleddē owte of this lād ouer the see. that is to saye. sir Alisaūdre neuill y e Erthebisshop of york and sir Robert leveer markeys of Deuelyn & Erle of Orēford: & sir Mychel de la po [...] le Erle of Sowthfolk & chaūcheler of englōd: And these iij lordes wentē ouer the see & came neuer ayen̄ for they deyde. And thā these .v lordes aboue sayd maden a ꝑlemēt at westmȳstre: & ther thei toke sir Robert trefiliam chef justyce. & sir Nycholl brēbre knyght. & cytezeyne of Lōdō / & sir Iohan salibury knyght of y e kīges howshold & vske / sergeaūt of armes ād many mo of othir peple werē take & iugged vnto y e deth by y e coū ceyll of these v. lordes in hyr parlemēt at westmȳstre / for tresō that they put vpō hē to be drawen frō y e tour of london thurghoute the cyte / & so forth vnto Tyburne. ād there they shold be hōged / & there her trothetes to be kut. and thus they were serued and deyd / And after that in this same parlemēt at Westmynstre was sir Symōd of Beuerlee / that was a worthy [Page] knight of the garter (punctel) & sir Iohan beauchamp knight that was stiward of the kynges howshold / & sir james berners were iuged vnto the deth / & than they were lad on fote to the toure hyll / ād there werē hyr hedes smyten of / & many othir mo by these v. lordes In this same ꝑlement & in the xij yere of kyng rychardys regne he let crye & ordeyne a generall Ioustes that is kalled a turnemēt of lordes knightes and Squyers: And this joustes and turnemēt was holdē at London in smythfeld of all maner of straūgiers of what lōde or coūtre that euer they were: & thydder they were right welcome. ād to hem and to all othir was holdē open houshold & grete festes. & also grete yeftes weren yeuen to all maner of straūgiers And of the kynges syde werē all of sute hir cotes hir armures sheldes hors trappure & all was white hertes wy t crownes aboute hir nekkes & chaynes of gold hauȳg thervpon / & the crowne hauyng low before the hertes body. The whiche herte was the kynges lyuery that he yafe to lordes & ladies / knyghtes and squyers / for to knowe hys houshold from othir peple. And in this fest comyng to her joustes xxiiij ladyes: lad these xxiiij. lordes of gartes wyth cheynes of gold / and all the same sute of hertes as is afore said from the tour an horsebak thurgh the cite of London into smythfeld ther y t y e ioustes shold be holde And this festes & ioustes was hold general & to all thaym that wold come of what land and nacyon that euer they were / And this was hold duryng .xxiiij. dayes of the kynges cost / & thees xxiiij lordes to āswere all maner peple that wold come thyder: And thyder came the Erle of seynt Poule of Frawnce & many othir worthy knyghtes / wyth hȳ of dyuerse partyes full well araied / & oute of Holand ād Henaud came y e lord Ostreuaūt / that was the dukes sone of Holand: & many othir worthy knyghtes with hym of Holand full well arayed: And when this feste & ioustes was ended. the kīg thā ked these straūgiers and yafe hȳ many grete yeftes. And thā they token hir leue of the kyng and of othir lordes and ladyes and wē tē home ayene into hir owne cō tre with grete loue ād moch̄ thāk. And in the xiij yere of kyng Rychardes regne ther was a bataill done in the kȳges paleys at westmynstre / bytwene a Squyer of Nauerne. that was with kȳg rychard. and an othir Squyer that was kalled Iohan Walsshe: for poyntes of treson that thys Nauerous put vpon this walsshmā But this Nauerous was ouercome and yelde him creaunt to his [Page] aduersayre And anon̄ he was despoiled of his armure & drawe oute of the paleys to Tibourne and ther he was honged for hys falsenesse And the xiiij yere of kīg Rychardes regne sir Iohā of gaūte duke of lācastre wēt ouer the see into Spaigne for to chalenge his right that he had by his wyfes title vnto the croune of spaign̄ wy t a grete host of peple / of mē of armes & archiers / & he had wy t hym the duchesse his wyfe & his iij doughters ouer the see into spaign̄ / And there they were a grete while: And at the last the kīg of Spaigne began to trete w t the duke of lācastre. ād they were accorded to gedre thurgh her bothe counceill / in this maner y t the kȳg of spaign̄ shold wedde the dukes doughter of lācastre that was the right heire of Spaigne / & he shold yeve vnto the duke of lācastre goold & siluer that was cast into grete wegges & many othir iewelles as many as viij chariettes might carie: & euery yere after during the lyfe of the duke of lācastre & of the duchesse his wife x.M. mark of gold of which̄ gold y e auenture & charges they of spaign̄ shold auēture & brȳg yerely vnto bayone to the Dukes assignes by surete made / Also the duke of lācastre maried an othir of his doughters vnto y e kyng of Portingale the same tyme: & whē he had don̄ thus he came home ayē in ēglōd: & the good lady hys wyfe also: But many a worthy mā vpō the flix in y t viage deyed And in the xv. yere of king rychardes regn̄. he helde his cristmasse in the march̄ of wodestoke And there the erle of Pēbroke a yōg lord & tēdre of age wold lerne to iouste w t a knight y t was called sir iohā seȳt johā & ridē to gedre in the parke of wodestoke. ād there this worthy erle of pēbroke was slayne w t that othir knightes speres as he kest it frō hȳ / whā they had cōpled. & thus this good erle made there his ende & therfor the kȳg & the quen̄ made moch̄ sorwe for his deth: & ī the xvj yere of kīg rychardes regn̄. johā hēde beyng y t time mayre of lōdō (punctel) & Iohā walworth & hēry vāner beyng sherewes of lōdō y t same time a bakers mā bare a basket of horsbrede into fleetstrete toward an hostre. & ther came a yomā of the bisshoppes of salisbury y t was called Romaȳ / & he toke an horselofe owte of the basket of the baker / & he asked hȳ why he dyd so· & this Romaȳ turned ayen̄ & brake the bakers hede: & neyghbours cam̄ oute & wolde haue arested thys Romaȳ. & he brake frō hē & fledde vnto the lordes place: & the cōstable wold haue hȳ out. but y e bisshoppes mē shet fast the yates & kept the place y t no mā might entre: & thā moch̄ more peple gadred thyder. [Page] & said that he wold haue him oute: or elles they wolde brēne vp the place & all that were withyn / And than came the mayre & sherewes wyth othir moche peple & cessed the malyce of y e cōmunes. & made euery man to go home to hir howses & kepet the pees And this Romayns lord y e bysshop of Salisbury maistir johā Walthā y t tyme was tresorer of Englond & went to sir Thomas Arundell erchebisshop of york & also chaū cheler of Englōd / & ther y e bisshop made his cōplaynt vnto y e chaū cheler vpon the peple of the cyte of Lōdō. And thā these ij bisshoppes of grete malice & venyaūce came vnto the kyng to wyndesore / & made a grete compleynt vpō y e mayre and sherewes And anon̄ all the cyte afterward were befor the kyng & his coūceyll / and they cast vnto the cyte a grevous hert & wōder grete malyce And anon̄ sodenly the kȳg sent after y e mayre of London & for the two sherewes ād came vnto hym vnto the castell of wyndesore: & the kȳg rebuked the mayre & sherewes full foully for the offēce that thei had done ayēs him and his officiers: in his chambre at London: wherfore he deposed and put owte the mayre. & both̄ shrewes: And thys was doū xiiij. dayes afore the feste of seȳt Iohā Baptist. And thā the kyng kalled to hȳ a knyght y t was called sir Edward delingryge & made hȳ wardeyne & gouernour of the cyte & chambre of lō don & ouer all his peple theryn. & so he kept that offyce but iiij wekes: be cause that he was so gentyll & tendre to the cytezeins of lō don. wherfor the king deposed hī & made sir Baudewyne Radȳgtō knight that was cōtroller of the kynges houshold wardeyne & gouernour of his chambre & of his peple therin: & chose vnto hȳ two worthy men of the cyte to be sherewes with hym for to gouerne & kepe the kynges lawe in the cite. The one was kalled Gillebert mawefeld. & that othir Thomas Newenton sherewes: And than the mayre & the ij. sherewes & alle the aldremen wy t all worthy craftes of Londō wente on foot vnto the toure / ād there came oute the constable of the towre & yafe the mayre & the sherewes hyr othe & charge as thei shold haue take in the Escheker of Westmynstre in the kynges court of hys iustyces and barons of the Escheker. and than went they home ayen̄ And than the kȳg & his coūceil for the grete malyce & despyte that they had to the cyte of londō remeued all his courtes from westmȳstre vnto the cyte of yorke / that is for to saye / the chaūcelerie: the Escheker: the kynges bēches & the commune place / ād ther they held all [Page] these courtes of lawe fro mydsomer that is to seye· the fest of seȳt johan baptist vnto the fest of cristmasse next sewyng. & than the king & his coūceil saw it not profitable there as it was at Lōdon / Than anon̄ he remeued it ayene vnto Londō: & so to westmynstre for grete ese of his officyers ād avauntage to the king & all the cō munes of the reame· And whan the peple of Londō saw & knewe that thees courtes were come ayene / & y e kȳg & his peple also. then̄ the mayre & the aldermen wy t the chief communes of the cite let gadre a grete somme of gold of all y e cōmunes of the cyte. And ordeyned & made grete ryalte ayēs his comȳg to London. & for to haue his grace & good lordship ād also hir libertees & fraunchises graū ted vnto hem ayen̄ as they a fore tyme hadde And thā by grete instaūce & praier of the quen̄ Anne & othyr lordes & Ladies: the kyng graūted hem grace / ād this was done at shene in futhereie. & than the kyng withȳ two dayes aftyr came to londō And the mayre of londō sherews aldermē / & all the worthy mē of the cyte afterward ridden ayens the king in good aray vnto the heth on this side the maner of shene submyttȳg hem hūbely & mekely wyth all maner obeissaūce vnto hym as thei ought to don̄. And thus they brought the kyng & the quene to lōdō / ¶And when the kyng came as is forsayd to the yate of the brugge of London. there they presented with hym a mylk white stede sadled & brydled & trapped w t clothe of gold & rede parted to gedre. & the quene a palfrey all white: & in y e same araye trapped w t white & reed / & all the condytes of London ronnē wy t white wyne both̄ white & rede / for alle maner peple to drynke of: And bitwene seynt poweles & the crosse in cheep there was made a stage a ryall standing vpon hygh̄. & therynne were many angels wy t dyuerse melodies & songe. And than an angle came downe frō y e stage an hygh̄ by a vyse & sette a crowne of gold pight with rych̄ perle ād precious stones vpon the kynges hede ād an othyr vpon the Quenes hede: & so the cytezeyns brought y e king and the quen̄ vnto Westmynstre into hyr paleys. And thā on the morne after the Mayre & the sherewes & the aldermen of Londō. camē vnto the kyng into his paleys at westmynster: & presented hȳ w t ij. basȳs of siluer & ouer gilt full of coyned gold (punctel) the somme of xx / C. pownde prayeng hȳ of hys hygh̄ mercy & lordshyp & spicyall grace that they myght haue hys good loue w t y e libertees & fraūchises. lyke as they haue had before tymes. & by his lrēs patētz & hys [Page] chartre confermed / & the quen̄ ād othir worthy lordes ād ladies fell on knees: & besought y e kȳg of ḡce to cōferme this thȳg: Thā y e king toke vp the quene & graūted hyr all hyr askyng. & thā they thāked the kyng & the quene & wentē home ayen̄. ¶And in the xvi. yere of kyng Rychardes regne / certeyne lordes of Skotlād came into Englond to gete wurshyp as be feet of armes: These were y e persones the erle of Marre / & he chalenged the Erle marchall of Englond to iouste with him certeyne pointes on horsebake with sharpe speres: & they ryddē to gedre as two worthy knyghtes ād lordes certeyne courses. but not the full chalenge that the Scottyssh erle made / for he was cast both̄ hors & man / ād two of his rybbes broke wy t that fall. & so he was borne home oute of Smythfeld into hys yn / And withȳ a littell tyme after he was caryed hom̄ward in a lytier: & at yorke ther he deyde. And sir Willyam Darell knyght Banerer of scotlād made an othir chalēge w t sir Piers courteyne knyght & the kynges banerer of Englōd of certeyne courses on horsbake in the same felde. & whē he had riddē certeȳ courses & he saw he might not haue y e bettyr / he yafe it ouer and wold no more of his chalēge & turned hys hors & rode home to hys own̄ loggȳg. And one cokkeborn̄ a squier of scotlād chalēged sir nychol haworke knight of certeī courses w t sharp speres on horsbake & ryddē v. courses to gedre / & at euery course y e scotte was cast a downe both̄ hors & mā / & thꝰ our englissh lordes thāked be god haddē the felde / And in y e xvij yere of kīg richardes regne deide y e good gracious quen̄ Anne y t was wyfe to kȳg Rychard in y e maner of sheū ī the shire of furre vpō witsōday / & thā was she brought to lōdō / & so to westmȳstre. & there was she beryed & worthely entered beside seint Edwardes shryne. on whos sowle god haue mercy / amē
¶How kīg Richard spoused dame Isabel the kȳges doughter of fraūce in y e toune of Caleys & brought hir into Englōd. & let hir be crouned quen̄ in y e abbey of seint Peters of westmȳstre. Ca. cc.xlij
In y e xx. yere of kīg Richardes regne he wēte hī ouer the see vnto Caleys w t dukes Erles lordes & barōs & many othir worthi squiers w t grete araye & ꝯmune peple of the reame in good araye as than appertyned to such̄ a worthi kīg & prīce of his nobley & of his own̄ ꝑsone to don̄ hȳ reuerēce & obseruaūce as ouzt to be don̄ vnto hir liege lord as a mighty kȳg & emꝑour ī his owene to abyde ād receyue there that worthy and gracyous lady that shold ben̄ hys wyfe. a yonge creature [Page] of xix yere of age Dame Isabell the kȳges doughter of Fraū ce & many othir worthy lordes of grete name bothe barons & knyghtes wy t moch̄ othir peple that camen vnto the towne of Grauenyng / & ij. dukes of Fraūce: that one was the duke of Burgoigne. & that other the duke of Barry: y t wold no ferther lasse thā thei had plegges for hē. And thā the kyng Rychard delyured two plegges for hem to go sauf ād come sauf his two worthy vncles the Duke of Gloucestre & the duke of yorke And they two wentē ouer y e watyr of Grauenȳg & abydē ther as for plegges vnto y e tyme that the mariage & the feste was don̄ and that thees ij. dukes of fraūce were come ayen̄ vnto the greuenȳg watyr And than thees two worty dukes came ouer the water at Grauenȳg & so to Caleys w t hys wurshipfull lady dame Isabell y t was the kīges doughter of fraū ce / ād with hir came many a worthi lord & ladi / knightes & squyers in the best araye that might be. & there they metten with our meyne at Caleys / y e whych̄ welcomed hyr & hir meyne with the best honour & reuerēce that might be / ād so brought her in the towne of caleys. & there she was receyued wy t all the solēpnyte ād wurship that might be done vnto suche a lady. and than they brought hyr vnto the kyng: and the kyng toke hyr and welcomed hyr ād all hir fayre meyne. and made there all the solempnyte that myght be done. And than the king & his coūceill asked of y e Frēssh lordes whethyr all the couenaūtes & forewardes wy t the compassyon that were ordeyned & made on bothe parties shold be trewly kepte & holde bytwene hem / And they said ye ād there they sworne & toke hir charge vpon a boke & made hyr othe well and trewely it to hold in all maner pointes & couenaūts withowte contrdaictyō or delaye in any maner wyse (punctel) And than was she brought vnto seint Nycholas chyrche in caleys. & there she was worthely wedded w t moste solēpnyte that any kyng or quen̄ myght be with the erchebisshop and bisshoppes and all mynystres of holy chyrch / & than werē brought home vnto the castell & set to mete. And there were serued with all maner of delicasie of all ryall metys & drinkes plenteuoisely to all maner of strāgiers / and all othir and no creature warned y t feste: But all were welcome / For there weren grete halles & tentes sette vpon the grene withowte the castell to receyue all maner of peple and euery offyce redy to serue hē all / And thus this worthy mariage was solempnely done and endeth with all ryalte· Than these [Page] two dukes of Fraunce wyth hir peple token hyr leue of the kyng / and the quene & wenten ayen̄ to Grauenyng water / And there the Frenssh lordes. that is to seye The two dukes & all hyr mesone were comen ouer y e watyr to Greuenyng / and there they metten. & euery toke leue of othyr. & so they departed / and owr lordes camen ayen to Caleys / and the Frenssh lordes wente ouer the watyr and so home into Fraunce ayene.
And anon̄ aftyr the kyng made hym redy with the quene and all hys lordes and ladyes and all hir peple with hem and camen ouer the see into Englond. and so to lō don. And the mayre and the shereues wyth all the aldermen and worthy communes ryddē ayens hem vnto the blake heth in Ket: & there they metten wyth y e king and the quen̄ / ād welcomed hem & that in good aray / & euery man in the clothyng of his crafte / and her mynystrelles to fore hem. ād so they brought hem vnto seīt georges barre in sowthwerke: and there they toke hyr leue (punctel) and the kyng & the Quene rydden to Kenygton / and than the peple of lō don turned home ayen̄. & in turnyng ayene to Lōdō brygge / there was somoch̄ presse of peple bothe an hors ād on foot / that there were dede on the brygge xj. persones of men. of womē & of chyldrē On whos sowles almyghty god haue pyte and mercy / amen
And than aftyrward the quene was browght vnto the towre of Londō: and there she was all nyght. And on the morwe she was brought thurgh the cyre of Lōdō all ouer. & so forth vnto Westmȳ stre. and there she was crowned quene of Englond: and than she was brought ayene to the kȳges paleys. and there was holde and open and a ryalle fest at hyr coronacyō of all maner of peple that thyder came: And this was don̄ the sonday next aftyr the feste of seynt Clement: In the xx. yere of kȳg Rychardes regne ¶And thā the xxv. day of August next after by euell excitacion & fals coūceill and for grete wrath and malyce / that the kȳg had of olde time vnto hys vncle y e good duke of gloucestre. & to the Erle of Arundell & to the Erle of Warrewyke. And anon̄ the kyng by his euell excytacyon and his euyll counceyll & malyce late in the euenȳg on the same day aboue sayd made hym redy with his strength. and rode into essex vnto the toune of Chelmesford / & so came to the place sodenly there where that the good sir Thomas of wodestoke. the gē till duke of Glowcestre lay in his place / And than̄e the good Duke [Page] came to welcome the kȳg anon̄ And the kyng arested the good duke him selfe hys owne body / and so he was lad downe to y e watyr & anon̄ put into a shyp: & anon̄ lad vnto Caleys ād browght into the Capyteynes warde to be kept in holde by the kynges cōmaūdemēt of Englond. And that tyme y e erle Marchall was Capyteyne of Caleys: and anone aftyr by the commaūdemēt of the kīg & by his fals coūceill commaunded the capiteȳ to put hȳ to dethe. ād anon̄ certeyne yomen that had te good Duke in kepyng / toke hyr counceyl how that they wold put hym vnto the deth: ād this was hir appoȳtemēt that they shold come vpō hȳ whā he were in hys bedde ād a slepe on a fethyr bedde / ād anon̄ they boū de hym foot ād honde. ād charged hym to lye styll / ād when they had don̄ thus / they tokē two smale towailles & made on hī two rid knottes & cast the towailles aboute the Dukes nekke / ād thā they tokē the fethir bedde that lay vndyr hym & cast it aboue him / and thā they drowen hyr towailles eche weyes and some lay vpon the fether bed vpō hym. vnto the tyme that he were dede. by cause that he shold make no noyse / ād thꝰ they strēgled this worthy Duke vnto the deth / On whos sowle god for hys hygh̄ pyte haue mercy / amen
And whan the kyng had arested this worthy duke and hys vncle & sent hym to Caleys: he came ayen̄ to Londō in all hast wy t a wonder grete peple. & as sone as he was come he sent for the Erle of Arūdell. and for the good erle of warrewyk & anon̄ as they came: he arestyd hē hym self / And sir Iohā Cobhā & sir Iohā cheyne knyghtes he arested hē hym selfe in y e same maner. tyll he made his parlemēt▪ And anon̄ they were put into hold / but y e erle of Arūdell went at large vnto the parlemēt tyme / for he foūde sufrysant surete to abyde the lauwe & to āswere all maner poȳtes that the kyng & hys con̄ceyll wold put vpō hȳ / & in the xxi yere of kȳg Rychardes regne. he ordeyned a parlemet at westmynster / the whyche was kalled the grete parlement. & thys parlement was made for to iugge thys iij worthy lordes & othir mo. as hē list at this tyme. and for that iuggemēt the kyng let make in all hast a longe & a large hows of tymbre / the which̄ was kalled an halle & couered wy t tyles ouer / ād it was opē all aboute on bothe sides. and at the endes / that all maner of mē might see thurghout: ād there the dome was holden vpon these forsayd lordes ād iuggement yafe at thys forsayd parlement. And for to come vnto thys parlement the kyng sente hys wryttes vnto euery lord baron knyght and squyer in euery shire throughoute all englond [Page] that euery lord gadre / and brynge hys retenue with hym in as short tyme & in the best araye that they might gete in mayntenyng & in strenghtȳg of the king ayens hē that were his ennemyes / & that this were don̄ ī all ha [...]t & they to come to him in paine of dethe. And the king hȳ selue sent into Cheshire vnto the cheuitais of that contre & they gadred and brought a grete & an hugh̄ multitude of peple bothe of knightes & of squyers & principally of yomē of Chestreshire / the which̄ yomē and archiers the kȳg toke to hys owne court / & yafe hem bouge of court & good wages to be kepers of his owne body both̄ by night & by day aboue all othir ꝑsones / & most loued & bed trust. the whiche sone afterward turned y e kȳg to grete losse / shame: hynderȳg & hys vttyr vndoyng & destruction as ye shall here sone aftyr. And y t tyme came sir Hēry Erle of derby with a grete meyne of men of armes & archiers / and the erle of Ruttelād came with a strōge power of peple / bothe of men of armes and archiers. And y e Erle of Kent browght a grete power of men of armes & archiers / The erle marchall came in the sam̄ maner. The lord Spencer in y e same maner: The Erle of Northūberland. & sir Hēry percy his sone / & sir Thomas percy hys brother / & all these worthy lordes broughtē a fayre meyne & a stronge power & eche man in his best aray And the duke of Lācastre and te duke of yorke camen in the same maner wyth men of armes and archiers folowyng the kyng. And sir Wylliam strope tresorer of englond came in the same maner / and thus in thys aray camē all the worthy men of thys land vnto our king. and all this peple came to Londō in one day / in somoche that euery strete and lane in subarbes weren full of hem logged. & x. of xij. myle aboute londō euery wey / And thees peple brought the kyng at westmynstre. & wenten home ayen̄ to hyr loggynyng: bothe hors and man. And than on the mōday the xvij day of Septēbre the ꝑlement begā at westmynstre / the which̄ was kalled the grete ꝑlemēt. And on the fryday nex after the erle of Arū dell was brought into the parlemest amōg all the lordes: & that was on seynt Mathews day the apostell ād Euangelist / there hewes iugget vnto the deth in this halle that was made in y e paleys at Westmynstre: And this was his iugement that he shold gon̄ on foot wyth hys hondes bownde behynde hym. from the place that he was iuged in. ād so forth throughout y e cyte of Lōdō vnto y e toure hille & ther his hede to be [Page] smyten of. & so it was don̄ in dede in the same place: And vi. of y e grete lordes that sate on hys iuggement riddē wy t him vnto the place ther he was don̄ vnto the deth / & so to see that the execucion were done after hir dome ād by the kynges cōmaūdemēt wyth hem wenten on foot of men of armes ād archiers a grete multitude: of chestre shire men in strengthyng of the lordes that brought this erle vnto his deth / for they drad lest the erle shold haue be rescued ād take from hem whan they came into Lōdō: Thus he passed forth thurgh the cyte vnto hys deth. ād ther he toke it full pacientely: on whos sowle god haue mercy. am̄ ¶And than came the freres Austyns & toke vp the body and the hede of this good Erle ād bare it home vnto hir hous. & buried hȳ in hyr quere: And in the morwe after was sir rychard erle of warrewyk brought into the ꝑlement there as the erle of Arundel was iuged. & they yafe the erle of warrewyke the same iugemēt that y e forsaid erle had / but y e lordes had compassyon of hym / be cause he was of more age & relesed him to perpetuall pryson. ād put him in the Ile of Man. And thā the mō day next aftyr the lord Cobham of Kent: & sir Iohan cheyne knight weren brought into the parlemēt into the same halle & there they were iuged to be hanged ād drawe. but through the prayer & grete instaunce of all the lordes (punctel) that iugement was foryeve hē & relesed to perpetuall pryson And in this same tyme was Rychard whittyngdone mayre of Londō / & Iohan Wodestoke & Wylliam vskem shereues of London. And they ordeyned at euery yate of lō don duryng thys same ꝑlement stronge wathe of men of armes & archiers ād thurghowte euery ward also. And the king made v. dukes / a Duchesse / & a markeys. & foure Erles. And the fyrst of hē was the erle of Derby. ād he was made duke of Hereford / & the seconde was the erle of Rutteland & he was made duke of a wemarle: and the thridde was the erle of kēt & he was made duke of Furre / & the fourthe was the Erle of Huntyngdone ād he was made duke of Excestre. & the v. was the erle of Notynghā. & he was made duke of northfolk & the erle of Somersete he was made y e markeys of Dorset. And the lord spencer was made erle of Glowcestre / ād the lord Neuill of Raby was made erle of westmerland: ād sir Thomas percy was made Erle of wurcestre: And sir williā scroppe that was tresorer of Englond he was made erle of wylyshire. & sir Iohan montagu Erle of Salysbury / And whan the kȳg had [Page] thus don̄ (punctel) he helde parlemēt and ryall fest vnto all hys lordes & to all maner of peple y t thyder came And this same yere deied sir johā of Gaūt the kynges vncle & duke of Lācastre in the bisshoppes ynnem holborn. & was brought frō thēs to seȳt Poules. & ther y e king made ād helde his entremēt well & worthely w t all his lordes in the chyrch̄ of seȳt Poules in lōdō and there he was buried beside dame blaūce his wyfe that was doughter & heyre to the good Henry y t was duke of Lācastre / And in the same yere there fyll a discencyon & debate bytwene the duke of hereford & the duke of northfolk. in so moch̄ y t they waged bataille ād kast downe hir gloues / & thā thei were take vp & enseled / & y e bataill ioyned & the day set & the place assigned where & whā this shold be at couētre. & thyder came the kȳg w t all his lordes at y t day: ād was sette ī the feld & thā thees worthy lordes camē into the feld clene armed & well arayed w t all / & weren redy to don̄ hir bataill in the place for to fyght at vtteraunce. But the kīg bad hē cese & toke the quarell into his hond: And forth wy t ryght there p̄sent exilled the duke of Hereford for the terme of x. yere: & the duke of Northfolke for euermore: And sir Thomas Arū dell erchebisshop of Caūterbury was exilled the sam̄ time for euer & deposed oute of his see for malyce of the kȳg / And anon̄ these iij. worthy lordes werē commaūded & defended the kynges reame / ād anon̄ they gate hē shippes at dyuerse hauenes & wētē ouer the see into diuerse lōdes ech̄ hys wey. & the duke of northfolk wēt to Venyce ād there he deyed: on whos sowle god haue mercy / amē And thā king Rychard made a clerke of his sir Rogier waldē erchebisshop of Caūterbury. And in the xxij yere of kȳg Richardes regne by fals coūceill & ymaginacyō of couetous men y t werē aboute hȳ were made & ordeyne blāke chartres. & made hē to be ēseled of all maner ryche mē thurghoute the reame / in so moch̄ that they compelled diuerse peple to sette her seal therto: & this was done for grete couetyse: wherfor all good hertes of the reaume werē clene tur / ned away frō hȳ. that was kyng euer after. And that was an vttyr destructyō & ende to hȳ y t was so hygh̄ & excellēt prȳce & king / ād thurgh couetyse & fals coūceil falseli betraied: allas for pite that suche a kyng myght not see. & than kȳg Richard sette his kȳgdome & his ryall lōde of Englōd to ferme vnto iiij persones / the which̄ were these / sir Williā stroppe erle of wylteshire & tresorer of Englōd. & sir Iohā bussh & Hēri greue. & sir Iohan bagot knyghtes. whyche [Page] that turned hem to meschief and deth̄ withī a littell tyme as ye after shull fynde wrytē. And than kyng Rychard made grete ordenaūce & wēte him ouer the see into Irland & many grete lordes w t him w t grete hostes for to strēgth̄ hyr king with men of armes archiers & moch̄ grete stuffe & right good ordenaūce as lōgeth to werre / & or he passed the see. he ordeyned & made sir Edmōd of Lāgely his vncle the duke of york his lieutenaūt of Englōd in his absēce w t the gouernaūce & coūceill of these four knightes that haddē takē Englōd to ferme of the king. and than he passed the see & came into Irlād. & there he was well & worthely receyued. & the rebelles that ben̄ kalled wilde Irisshmē. Anon̄ hir cheuitains & hir gouernours & hir leders came doune vnto the king & yeldē hē vnto hȳ both body & goodes all at his own̄ wylle. & swore to be his liege men: & ther to him dydē homaae & feaute ād good seruyce: ād thꝰ he cōquered the moste partye of Irland in a littel tyme / And while y t king Richard was thus in Irlād sir Hē ry of Bolynbroke Erle of Derby that the kȳg had made before duke of Hereford. the whyche duke the kyng had exilled oute of thys land / and was comen ayen̄ into Englond for to chalenge the Dukedome of Lancastre as for hys right and trewe heritage And he came downe owte of Fraūce by londe vnto caleys: And ther mete him sir Thomas Arūdel that was Erchebisshop of Caūterbury y t was exilled oute of Englond ād with him came the Erle of Arundel his sone & heire. the which̄ was in warde & kepyng of sir Iohā ād sheley knight somme tyme with the erle of Hūtyngdone ād with the duke of Excestre. which̄ was in the Castell of Reigate in southsexe / & ther he stale hȳ away ād came to Caleys & ther he was kepte well ād worthely: tyll these othir two lordes were comē vnto Caleys And thā this worthy duke and the Erchebisshop of Caū terbury Arōdell shiped in the hauen of Caleys ād drowe hir course northward and aryued in yorke shire at Rauenesporte faste by wydelyngtō. ād there he came ād entred the londe / ād these two lordes w t him and hir meyne And thā moch̄ peple of the reame that herd of hys comyng ād knowen wher he was anon̄ thei drewe vnto him / welcomed these lordes ād so coraged hē in alle maner thing and passed forth into the lande & gadred moche peple
And whē kyng Rychard herd & wist that these two forsaid lordes were come ayene into Englond / and that they were lōded. thā the [Page] kyng left his ordenaūce in Irlād & came into Englōd ward in alle the hast that he might & came vnto the castell of Flynt: & there he abode for to take hys cownceill / what myght best be done. but to hȳ came none And than sir Thomas Percy erle of Wurchestre y t was the kynges styward wyst & knewe this anone he came into the halle among all the peple. ād ther he brake y e ryall kīges howshold. ād anone they were disperkled & euery man went his way / and forsoke hir maister ād soueraigne lord and left hym allone: And thus was kyng Rychard brought a downe & destroyed ād stode allone withoute comfort or socour or any good coūceyll of any man allas for pite of this ryall kyng And anone came tydȳ ges that sir Hēry of Holȳgbroke was vp with a wonder stronge power of peple. & that all sherewes of Englōd reysed vp the shires in strengthyng of hym ayēs the kyng rychard [...] & thus sone he was come oute of the northcōtre to Brystowe / and there he mette with sir willyā scrope erle of wildeshire tresorer of Englōd and w t sir Iohan bussh & sir Henry grene: and Iohan bagot: but he skaped from hem & wēt ouer the see into Irland. & these iij knyghtes were taken & hyr hedes smytē of. And thus they deyed for hir fals couetyse. & thā was kyng richard take & brought vnto the duke: ād anone the Duke put hym in fast ward and strōge hold / vnto hys comȳg to london / and than was ther a romer in Londō & a stronge noyse that kyng Rychard came to westmynstre (punctel) ād the peple of Londō ranne thyder and wolde haue don̄ moch̄ harme & skate in hyr woodnesse: but the mayre and the aldermen & othir worthy men seced hem wy t fayre wordes / and turned hem home ayene to London: And ther was sir Iohā slake dekē of the kynges chappell of Westmynstre take ād brought to London and put in pryson in Ludgate. and Bagot was take ī Irland & brought to londō & put in pryson in Newgate ther to be kepte and to abyde his answere / And son̄ after the duke brought kyng rychard priuely vnto Lōdō and put him in the towre vndyr sure kepyng as a prysoner. & thā came the lordes of the reame wy t all her coūceyll vnto the toure to kyng rychard and saidē to hȳ of his misgouernaūce and extorciō that he had done made ād ordeyned to oppresse all the commune peple & also all the reame. Wherfore all the cōmune peple of hys Reame wold haue hȳ deposed of hys kyngdome / ād so he was deposed at that tyme in the towre of London by all his lordes coū ceyll [Page] and commune assent of all y e reame. & there he was put frō the toure vnto the castell of ledes in kēt / & ther he was kepte a while And than was he lad vnto the castel of Poūfrete in the north cō tre to be kepte in pryson / & son̄ afterward right there he made his ende And than whē kīg rychard was deposed & had resygned his croune and hys kȳgdome & was kept fast in hald than all the lordes of the reame with the cōmunes assent & bi accord chosen this worthy lord sir Hēry of Bolyngbroke Erle of Derby / duke of Hereford & duke of Lācastre by ryght line & heritage / & for his rightfull manhode that the peple fonde in hȳ before all othir they chosen hym & made him kȳg of Englond amonges hem.
¶Of sir Hēry of Bolȳgbroke erle of Derby. that regned after kīg Rychard: which̄ was the fourth̄ Hēry aftyr the conquest Capitulo CCxliij
aNd after that kȳg rychard the xj. was deposed ād put owte of hys kȳgdome. the lordes & the cōmunes all w t own̄ assent / and all othir worthy of y e reame chosen sir Hēry of Bolȳgbroke erle of Derby sone & heyre of Iohan y e duke of Lācastre for his worthy māhode / that ofte tyme had be foūde ī hȳ. & in dede p̄ ued / vpō seynt Edwardes day y e cōfessour / he was crowned king of Englond at westmȳstre by all the Reames assent next after the deposyng of kyng Rychard / thā he made henry his eldest sone ād heyre prince of Walys & duke of Cornewaill & erle of Chestre. & he made sir Thomas of arūdell erchebisshop of Caūterbury ayen̄ as he was before & sir rogier walden that king Richard had made erchebysshop of Canterbury he made hȳ bishop of Lōdō. for that tyme it stode voyde And he made the erles sone of Arundell that came with him ouer the see from Caleys into Englond erle of Arūdell as his fadre had ben̄ & put him in poscessiō of all his lodes. & there he made feaute & homage vnto his liege lord y e kīg as all othir lordes had do [...] [...] no tha anon̄ deyed kȳg Richard in y e castell of Poūfrete in y e northcotre for ther he was ēfamined vnto y e deth bi his keper: for he was kepte there iiij. or v. dayes frō mete & drīke: & so he made his ende ī this world: yet moch̄ peple in Englōd & ī othir lādes sayd that he was a lyue many yere after his deth. but whetyr he were a lyue orde: de forth: they helde hyr fals opynyons and beleue that men had den in moche peple whiche c [...]m̄ to grete meschief ād fowle deth: as ye shall here afterward. [Page] ¶And when kyng Henry wiste & knewe verrailly that he was dede / he let sere him in the best maner / and closed it in a fayre cheste with dyuerse speceries & baumes & closed hem in a synnē clothe all saufe hys visage. ād that was lefte open that men myght see hys persone frō all othir men And so he was brought to london w t torche lyght brēnyng vnto seȳt Poules. & there he had his masse & his dirige: wy t moch̄ reuerēce & solēpnite of seruyce. And whā all this don̄: he was browght from seint poules into the abbeye of westmynstre / and there he had all his hole seruyce ayen̄ / & frō westmȳ stre he was brought to Langely / & there he was buryed / on whos sowle god haue mercy amē ¶And in the fyrst yere of kȳg Hē ryes regne: he helde hys cristmasse in the castell of wȳdesore And on the xij. euen came the duke of a wemarle vnto the kīg & told hī that he & the duke of Surre & the duke of Excestre & the erle of Salysbury & the erle of Gloucestre: & othir mo of hir affinite were accorded to make a mōmyng vnto the kyng on the xij day at night and there they castē to slee y e kȳg in here reuelȳg and thꝰ the duke of a wemarle warned the kyng And than the kyng came the same nyght to London pryuely in all the hast that he myght to gete hȳ socour & cōfort & coūceill / & anone these other that wolde haue don̄ the kynge to dethe. fleddē in all the hast that thei might for they knewen well that hir cownceyll was bewreyed
¶And thā fledde the duke of surre and the erle of Salysburye wy t all hyr meyne vnto the towne of Cissestre. & there the peple of the towne wold haue arested hem / & wold not stode to hyr arreste. but stode at defence & fawght manly But at the last they were ouercome and take / & there they smotē of the dukes hede of Surre. ād y e erles heed of Salisbury / & many other moo / & there they put quartres into sakkes ād hyr hedes on poles borne on high̄ & so they were brought thurgh the cyte of Lō don vnto Londō brygge / & there hyr hedes were sette vpō hygh̄. & hyr quartres werē sente to othir good tounes & cites & sette vpon trees / At oxēford were take Bloute knyght & benet cely knyght / ād Thomas wynterfell Squyer: ād these were beheded ād quarterd: & the knyghtes hedes were sette on Poles & brought to Londō ād sette on te brygge. ād y e quarters sent forth to othir good townes: And in the same yere at Prittellwell in a myle in Estsexe there sir Iohā holand: the duke of Excestre was take wyth the cōmunes of the contre: ād they brought hȳ [Page] from the mylle vnto plasshe. and to the same place that kyng Rychard had arested sir Thomas of wodestoke the duke of Glowcestre / And ryght there in the same place they smyten of the duke of Excestre his hede / and brought it to london vpō a pole. and it was sette on londō brygge. And in the same yere at Brystowe was take the lorde Spencer that kyng Rychard had made erle of Glowcestre: & the cōmunes of the town̄ of Bristowe toke him & brought hȳ into the market place of the toune / & there they smyten of his hede and sente it vnto Lōdō. & there it was sette on lōdon brygge ¶And in thys same yere was sir Barnard brokeys knyght take & arested and put into the towre of london. and sir Iohā shelley knight. & sir Iohā maudelȳ & sir william Fereby Chapelayns of kȳg Rychardes / & they werē arested & put into the toure of Londō. and thyder came the kȳges iustyces & sate vpon hē [...] the toure of lōdō and there the [...] [...]ere dāpned alle fowre vnto the [...]th. ād the dome was yeve vnto sir Barnard brokeys that he shold gone on foot from the toure thurgh lōdon vnto Tyborne. & there to be honged & after hys hede smyten of / ād sir Iohan shelley knight / & sir Iohā Mawdelyn. ād sir williā Fereby persones were drawe thurghoute London to Tiborne / and there hanged and hyr hedes smyten of and sette on Londō brygge. ¶And in this same yere kȳg Hē ry the iiij sente quene Isabell home ayen̄ into Frawnce. the whiche was kyng Rychardes wedded wyfe / and yafe hir goold and siluer ynow: and many othir ryche Iewelles and so she was discharged of all hir dower and sente owte of Englond
¶And in the second yere of the regne of Kyng Henry the fourthe: was sir Rogier of Claryngdone knyght: ād two of his men and the Pryour of Launde: and .viij. frere menours. and somme maistres of Dyuinyte and othyr for treson that they wrought ayenst the kyng were drawen and hanged at Tyborne all xij persones / and ther began a grete discē sion & debate in the contre of walys bytwen̄ the lord grey Ruthyn̄ and owen of Glendere squyer of walys / & this owē arered a grete nombre of walshmē & kepte alle that contre aboute right stronge & did moch̄ harme & destroied the kȳges townes & lorshippes thurghoute walys / & robbed & slowe the kynges peple bothe Englyssh and walyssh: and in thys maner he endured a xij. yere large And he toke y e forsaid lord greyruthyn̄ [Page] prysoner and kept hȳ fast in hold tyl he was raūsoned of prisoners of the marche / & kepte him longe time in hold. & at the last he made hȳ wedde one of hys doughters: & kepte him ther styll wy t his wyfe▪ & sone after he deyed. And thā the king Hēry knowȳg this meschief destruction and treson that this owen hadde wrought then̄e anone he ordeyned a stronge power of mē of armes & of archiers & moche othir stuffe that longed to werre for to abate ād destroye the malice of this fals walsshmā & thā the king came vnto walys wy t his power for to destroie thys owen & othir rebelles false walssh men / And anon̄ thei fledden into the moūtayns & ther myght the king done hem non̄ harme in no maner wyse for the moūtaignes / & so the king came into englond ayene forlesyng of mo of hys peple & thus he sped nought there. In this same yere was grete scarcyte of whete in Englond. for a quarter of whete was at xv shyllyng / And there was marchandyse of Englōd sente in pruys for whete / & anon̄ they had lade and fregzt shippes ynowe / & came home in saufte / blesshed be god of alle his yiftes And in the iiij yere of kyng Hēries reigne there was a sterre seyne in the firmamēt that shewed him selfe thurgh alle the world for diuerse tokenes y t shold befalle sone after. the which̄ sterre was named ād called by clergye stella Comata / & on seint Marye magdalene day next folewing in the same yere was the bataille of shrowesbury. and thider came sir Henry Percy the Erles sone of northumberland w t a grete multitude of mē of armes & archiers & yafe a bataille to kyng Henry the iiij: thurgh the fals counceyll and wykked rede of sir Thomas percy his vncle Erle of wurchestre: and there was sir Henry percy slaine. and the moost partie of his meyne in the feld. ād sir Thomas percy take and kepte fast in holde two dayes tyll the kȳg had sette reste amonge hys peple on bothe sydes And than sir Thoās percy anone was iuged to be dede / drawe / hōged. & hys hede smyten of. for his fals treson at shrowesbury. ād his hede brought to London & sette on londō brygge / and the othir peple that ther were slayn̄ on bothe parties the kīg let burye: and ther was slaine on the kinges side in that bataill the erle of stafford ād sir walter bloū te in the kynges cote armure vnder the kinges baner & many mo worthy men. on whos sowle god haue mercy / Amen. And in the iiij. yere of kyng Henryes regne: came the Emperour of Cōstātynoble with many grete lordes ād knightes and moche othir peple [Page] of his cōtre into Englōd to kyng Henri w t hȳ to speke / & to disporte & to see the good gouernaūce & cō dicions of our peple & to knowe y e cōmodytees of Englōd. & our kīg with all his lordes goodly & wurshipfully hȳ receiued & welcomed hȳ & all his meyne that camē wy t hym (punctel) & dyd hȳ all the reuerēce ād wurship that thei coude & might And anon̄ the kȳg ꝯmaūded all maner offyciers that he shold be serued as worthely & ryally as it lōged vnto such̄ a worthy lord ād Emperour on his owne coste as lōge as the emꝑour was in ēglōd & all his men that camen wy t hȳ / And in the same yere came dame Iane the duchesse of Britaigne in to Englōd / & londed at fallemouthe in Cornewaill. and frō thens she was brought to y e cyte of wȳ chestre. & ther she was wedded vnto kȳg Hēry the iiij in the abbey of seȳt swithynes of wȳchestre w t all the solēnite that might be don̄ & made / And sone after· she was brought frō thēs to Lōdon: & the mayre & the aldermē & the cōmunes of y e cite of Londō ryddē ayēs hyr & hir welcomed & brought hir thurgh the cyte of Londō to westmȳster / & there she was crowned quene of englōd. And there y e kȳg made a ryall and a solēpne feste for her and for all maner of men that thydder wold come / And in this same yere dame Blaūche the eldest dowghter of kyng Henry the iiij was sent ouer the see with the Erle of Somersete hyr vncle / and with maistir Richard Clyfford than bisshop of wurchestre / & with many othir worthi lordes knightes & ladies: & worthy squiers as longed to suche a worthy kynges doughter / & camen vnto Coleyn. And thyder came the dukes sone of barre wy t a faire meyne / & receyued thys worthy lady & there y e bisshop of wurcestre wedded & sacred hem to gedre as holy chyrch̄ wold. And there was made a ryall feste & a grete Iustes in the reuerence & wurship of hem & of alle peple that thyder came. ād when this mariage and fest was done. the erle and the bisshop and all hyr meyne token hir leue of y e lord and the lady. and came hom̄ ayene into Englōd in saufte: thā ked be god▪ ¶And in the v. yere of kȳg hēryes regne the lord Thoās his sone wente ouer see. ād the erle of Kent & many othir lordes & knightes wy t men of armes and archiers a grete nōbre to chastyze the rebelles that a forne had don̄ moch̄ harm̄ to oure Englysshmē & marchaūts & to many townes & portes in englōd on y e see costes And the lorde Thomas the kynges sone came into Flaūdres to fore a towne: that is kalled the Skluse amonges all the shippes of dyuerse nacyōs that werē there. [Page] & after ther they ryddē wy t hyr shippes amēnge hem. & wentē a londe / & sported hem there ij / dayes / & camen ayene to hyr shippes & token the brode see / & there they metten wyth iij. Carikkes of Iene that weren lade with dyuerse marchaūdyse & well manned / ād ther they foughtē to gedre longe tyme. but the englysshmen had y e victorye. and broughten the Carrykkes into the cābre before wȳ chelsee: & there they canted thees goodes ād one of this Carrikkes was sodenly there brent And the lordes & hyr peple turned hē hom̄ ayen̄ & went no ferther at y t time: And in the same tyme Serle yoman of kyng Rychard Robbes came into Englond oute of scotland. & told to dyuerse peple that kȳg Rychard was a lyue in scotland. & so moch̄ peple beleued in hys wordes: wherfor grete parte of the peple of the reame werē in grete errour. ād gru [...]chyng ayēs the kyng thurgh informacion of lies ād fals lesing that this Serle had made. For moch̄ peple trusted & beleued in his seyng / But at the last he was takē in the North cōtre & by lawe iugged to ben̄ drawe thurgh euery cyte & good burgh townes in Englōd: and so he was serued / ād at the last he was brought to london vnto the Gildhalle before the iustyce. & there he was iuged for to be brought to y e toure of Londō to Tyborne / ād there honged (punctel) & than quartred / & hys hede smyten of & sette on Lō don brygge. & hys quartres to be sente to foure good tounes of englōd (punctel) & there sette vp. ād thus endeth he his fals treson ād disceyt. ¶And in the vj / yere of king Hē ryes regne y e iiij. the Erle of marre of Scotlād by saufconduyt came into englōd to chalēge sir Edmond the Erle of Kēt of certayne courses of werre on horsebak. and so this chalēge was accepted and graūted and the place taken in smytfeld at London: And this erle of marre y e Scote came proudely into the feld as his chalenge asked / and anon̄ came in also the Erle of Kente and rode vnto the Scote: and manfully rode to gedre wy t sharp speres diuerse courses / But the erle of Kent had the feld & gate hym moche wurshyp & thanke of all maner of men for hys manfull dedes / ¶And in the vij. yere of kyng Hēryes regne y e iiij. Syr Rychard stroppe Erchebisshop of yorke / ād the lord Erle Marchall of Englond gadred vnto hē a stronge power ayens kȳg Henry. And the kȳg herȳg therof in all hast that he myght came with his power Northward and mette with hē at york / And there were thees two lordes take & brought to the king / And anone the iuges were sette. & thees ij. lordes [Page] brought forth: ād there they were dāpned vnto the deth / & both̄ hyr hedes smiten of: & there they made hir ende / on whos sowles god for his pyte haue mercy / amen. And whē this was done the kȳg came to Londō ayene & there he rested hī / Anon̄ god for his grete goodnesse wrought & shewed many grete myracles for this worthi clerck Erchebisshop of york y t thꝰ was don̄ vnto the deth And in y e vij. yere of kȳg Hēryes regne / dame Luce the dukes suster of Mylane came into Englōd. & so at lō don: & ther was she wedded to sir Edmōd Holād erle of Kēt in the priorye of seint Marie ouereis in southwerk w t moch̄ solēpnite ād grete wurship: the kīg was there him selfe & yafe hir at the church̄ dore: & whē they were wedded ād masse don̄: the kȳg his owne persone brought & lad this worthi lady into y e bisshoppes place of wȳ chestre: & there was a wōder grete fest holdē to all maner of peple ¶In y e same yere sir Robert knolles knight a worthi werrour deied at hys maner in northfolk. ād frō thēs he was brought to Lōdō vpō an hors bare w t moch̄ torche lyght: & so was he brought vnto y e white freres in fleetstrete· & there was done & made for hī a solēpne feste & a ryall enteremēt / for thaȳ that thyder wolde come both̄ pore & ryche. & there he lyeth beryed by dame Constaūce hys wyfe in the myddel of the body of y e chyrche: On whos sowle god for hys pyte haue mercy Amē. And thꝰ in this same yere sir Thoās rāpston knyght Cōstable of the toure of Lōdon was dreynt at Lōdō brygge as he came from westmȳ stre towardes the towre in a barge / & all thurgh lewdenesse And the same yere dame Phelip the yonger doughter of king Hē ry was lad ouer the see wy t sir Rychard the dukes brother of yorke & sir Edmond courteney bisshop of Norwych / & many othir lordes knightes & squiers ladyes & gentyll womē that apperteygned to suche a worthy kynges doughter / and camen into Dēmarke with his lordes. And the kīg receyued this worthy lady for his wyfe ād welcomed thees worthy lordes & dyd hē moche reuerēce and grete wurshypp / & they were brought vnto a town̄ that was kalled Lō dō in Dēmarke & there was this worthy lady wedded & sacred to y e kyng of Denmarke wyth moche solēpnyte / & there she was crowned quene of Dēmarke Norway & Swytē. & there was made a ryall feste: And whē this feste & mariage was done and ended. these lordes and ladies token hyr leue of the kȳg & of the quene. & camē home ayen̄ into Englond in hast thanked be god almyghty
[Page]And in the viij. yere of kȳg Henries regne there was a man that was kalled the walssh clerke / and he appeled a knight that was called sir Percheual sowdone of treson· ād there they were joyned to fyght vnto vtteraūce withȳne listes: & the day and place & tyme assigned / & lemyted to be don̄ & ended ī smythfeld: at the which̄ day the persones camē into the felde / & foughten sore & mightely to gedres / but at y e last the knight ouer came the clerke ād made hȳ yelde hȳ creaunt of his fals empeschement that he said on hȳ. And thā was he despoilled of his armure: & drawe owte of y e felde to Tiborne: & there was he hōged. & y e knyght take to grace ād was a good man And in this same yere the Erle of Northūberlād ād the lord Bardolfe came owte of Scotlād / in preiudyce & destructyō of king Hēry. wherfor they of the North contre arysen vpō hē & fought w t hem & scōfy [...]ed hē & tokē hē & smiten of hyr hedes. ād quartred hyr bodies / & sente the heed of y e Erle: & quarter of the lord Hardolfe to london: and there they were sette vpō the brigge for fals treson y t they had purposed ayēs the kȳg: And in the ix. yere of kyng Henryes regne. was sir Edmōd holād erle of Kente made Admyrall of Englōd for to kepe the see: and he wente to the see with many ryall shippes that weren full wel arayed & empareled & enarmed with many a good men of armes and archiers & of good defence of werre in the kȳges name of Englōd / & so he londed at the last in y e cost of Britaigne in the Ile of Bryak. with all hys peple. ād he besieged the castell and sauted it / and they withstode hym with grete defence and strengthe. And anone he leyed hys ordenaūce. & in y e leyēg of a gonne· came a quarell & smote the good erle Edmōd in the hede / & there he caught dethes woū de / but yet they left nought tyll y t they had gete the castell / and alle that were therynne. ād there this good lord deyed / On whos sowle god haue mercy. amen: And thā thys meyne came home ayen̄ in to Englōd with the erles body / & was beryed amonges his aūcestres ryght worthely: And in the same yere was a grete frost in englond. that dured xv. wekes
¶And in the x. yere of the noble kyng Henry the fowrthe: came the Senechall of Henaude with othyr meyne to seke Auntres ād to gete him wurshippes in dedes of armes bothe on horsbake and on foot at all maner of poyntes of werre / And the seneschall chalēged the erle of Somersete: & the Erle delyured hym manfully of alle hys chalenges ād put his aduersarie [Page] to the wers in all poītes and wanne him there grete wurshyp & the gre of the felde / And y e next day after came into the felde an othir man of armes of y e Senechallis partie And ayēs hȳ came sir Rychard of arūdel knight & the Henaude had the bettyr of hym on fote in one pointe for he brought hȳ on hys knee And the thrydde day came an othir mā of armes into the feld: & ayens him came sir johā of Cornewaill knight / & manly & knightly quyte hī in all maner poȳtes ayēs his aduersarie. & had the better ī y e felde / And on y e iiij. day came an other man of armes of Henaude into the felde: & ayens hȳ came sir Iohan cheynys sone / & manly quyte hym ayens hys aduersarie. for he caste hors & man into the feld / & the kȳg for his māhode at that tyme dubbed him knight And y e v. day there came an othir mā of armes of Henaudes partye into the feld: & to hȳ came in sir Iohan styward knight. & māfully quyte him there in all maner of poȳtes & had the better / And the vj. day came an othir Henaude / & to hȳ came Willyā porter squyer & mā fully quyte hym. & had the better in the felde / & the kyng dubbed hī knyght the same tyme: And the vij. day came an othir Henaude into the felde: & to hym came Iohan kandysh squyer. & manfully he quyte hȳ on his aduersarye / & had the better in the felde. & there the kyng dubbed him knight the same day. And on the same day came an othir Henaude & to him came a squyer of Gascoygne and proudely & māly he quite him on hys aduersarye & had the better / & anon̄ the kȳg dubbed hī knight And on the viij. day came into y e felde ij. men of armes of Henaude / & to hem cam̄ ij. soudyours of Caleys that were bretheren that were kalled Burghes· & well and māly quyte hem on hyr aduersaries / & had the better in the felde & thus ended the chalenges with moch̄ wurshippes: And the king at the reuerēce of the straungiers made a grete feste & yafe hem ryche yiftes· & they tokē hir leue ād went home to hyr owne contre▪ And in the xi. yere of kyng Henries regne the iiij. there was a grete bataille done in smythfelde bitwene two squiers that one was kalled gloucestre that was appellaūt Arthur was the defendaūt and well & manfully fowghtē to gedre longe tyme: ād the kyng for manfullnesse & of hys grace toke hyr quarell into hys honde & made hem to go owte of the felde at ones: ād so they were deuyded of hir batailles ād the kyng yafe hē grace. ¶And the .xij. yere of kyng Henries regne the fourthe Rys dye a squier of walys y t was [Page] a rebell aryser & supporter to owē of glēdore that dyd moch̄ destructiō to the peple of Walys / was taken & brought to Lōdō / & there he came a fore the iustices & was dā pned for his treson. than he was leid on an hurdel & so drawe forth vnto Tyborne thurgh the cyte. & there he was hanged & let downe ayene / & his hede smytē of ād hys body quartred & sente to iiij. tounes / ād his hede sette on London brygge. And in the xiij yere of kyng Hēryes regne tho deyde sir Iohā beauford the erle of somersette that was Capitayne of Caleys: & was beried at the abbey of tourehyll: on whos sowle god haue mercy amen / And in the same yere the lord Thomas kȳg Hen / ries sone wedded the countesse of Somersette. And in this same yere came the ēbassotours of fraū ce into Englōd from the duke of Burgoygn̄ vnto the prȳce of Englōd kȳg Hēries sone & heyre for helpe & socour of men of armes & archiers ayēs y e duke of Orliaūce / and tho wēte ouer the see the erle of Arūdell. sir Guillebert vmfreuille Erle of kente. & the lord Cobham sir Iohā olde castell / & many othir good knightes and worthy squiers & men of armes ād good archiers into Fraunce & came to Paris to the duke of Burgoigne / & there he receyued & wellcomed thees Englysshmen / the lordes. & all othir meyne. & thā it was don̄ him to wyt that the duke of Orliaunce was comen to semtclowe fast by Paris wyth a grete nombre of men of armes ād arbalastriers / and thyder wēte oure Englysmē & foughten wyth hē & gate the brigge of semtclowe. & there they slowe moch̄ peple of Frēsshmen & Armynakes / & the remanaūt fledde & wold no lēger abyde / And thā our Englysshmē came ayen̄ to paris. & there they token hyr leue of the duke & camen home ayen̄ into Englōd in saufte & the duke yafe hem grete yiftes / Anone folewȳg the duke of Orliaūce sent enbassatours into Englōd to kyng Henry the fowrthe besechyng hym of hys helpe & socour ayens hys dedely enemye y e Duke of Burgoygne / And than the kyng made Thomas his sone duke of Clarēce & his othir sone Iohan Duke of bedford. and his other sone Humfrey duke of Glowcestre. & sir Thomas beauford Erle of Dorset. and the duke of a Wamarle he made Duke of yorke / And than the kyng ordeyned his sone sir Thomas duke of Clarence. sir Thomas beauford. erle of Dorset. & sir Iohan Cornewaylle wyth many othir Lordes knyghtes and Squyers / men of armes and archiers to gon̄ ouer y e see into Fraūce in helpȳg & strē gthyng of the duke of Orliaunce. [Page] And these worthy lordes w t hir retinue shipped at Hamptō & sailled ouer into Normādie & londed at Hogges / and there mette with hem the lord Hambe at hyr londyng wy t vij / M. men of armes of Frēsshmē / & iij. sergeaunts of armes with hem / ād all were put to flyght. & tokē of hē vij.C. men of armes· & CCCC. hors withoute thaȳ that were slayne in the felde. And so they ryddē forth thurghoute Fraūce & tokē castelles and townes & slowen moche peple of frēsshmen that withstodē hē and tokē many prysoners as they riddē. & so they passed forth tyll they camē to Burdeux. & there thei rested hem a while & sette the contre in pees / & rested tyll the wyntage were redy to saille· And thā y e duke w t hys meyne came home into Englōd in saufte: thāked be god / And in the same yere was the kī ges coyne chāged thurghoute englōd by y e kyng & his coūceill: that is to seye / y e noble / halfe / & ferthȳg of gold. And in y e xiiij. yere of kȳg Hēries regne the iiij. he let make galeys of werre. for he had hoped to haue passed the grete see / ād so forth to Iherusalē. & there to haue ended hys lyfe / but god visited hȳ so sone after wy t infirmites ād grete sikenesse that he might not well endure no while so feruētly / he was take & brought in bed at westmȳstre in a fayre chambre: & as he lay in hys bed / he asked hys chamberlayne what they kalled that chamber that he lay ynne. & he āsweryd & sayd jherusalē / And thā he said that y e prophecye said that he shold make an ende & deie in jherusalē. & thā he made hȳ redy vnto god & disposed all his will & sone after he deied & was caried by watyr from westmynster in a barge vnto Feuershā ▪ & frō thēs vnto Caūterbury by lande wyth moche torche light brēnyng into the abbey of Crichurche: & there he was entered ād buryed beside seȳt Thoās of Caūterbury shryne / & thus ended the worthy king Hēry aboute mydlēten sonday in y e yere of our lord a M.cccc.xiij on whos sowle god haue mercy. Amē.
¶Of kyng Hēry the v. that was kȳg Hēryes sone Capitulo CCxliiij
ANd after the deth of king Hēry the iiij. regned king Hēry hys sone that was borne at Monmouth in Walys: that was a worthy kīg & a gracious man & a grete cōquerour: ād in y e fyrst yere of his regne for grete loue & goodnesse he sente to the freres of Lāgely there as hys fadre had don̄ ē burye kȳg Richard the secōd / & let take his body oute of the erthe ayen̄ / & dyd bring it to westmȳster in a ryall chare couered wyth blak veluet and baners [Page] of dyuerse armes aboute / & alle y e hors that drowen the chare were trapped in blake / & betē w t diuerse armes / & many a torche brēnyng by all the wey till he came to westmȳstre / & there he let make for hȳ a ryall & a solēpne enteremēt. ād beryed hym by Quene anne hys wyfe as hys owne desire was on the ferther side of seīt Edwardes shryne in y e abbey of seint Peters of westmynster: On whos sowle god haue mercy / amē And ī this same yere were a certayne of lollardes takē / & fals heretikes that had purposed thurgh fals treson to haue slayne our kyng. & for to haue destroied all the clergye of y e Reame yf they myght haue had hir fals purpose. but our lord god wold not suffre it. for in hast our kȳg had warȳg therof & of all hir fals ordinaūce: & came sodēly wy t his power to seint Iohānes w toute smythfeld / & anone they tokē a certaine of the lollardes & fals heretikes / & brought hē vnto the kī ges presence ād there told alle hir fals purpose and ordinaūce how they wold haue don̄ & wrought if they myght haue regned ād had hyr wille. & there they told whych̄ were hir capitaȳs & gouernours And thā the kȳg ꝯmaūded hē to be lad to y e toure of Lōdō. & thā toke moo of hē bothe withȳ y e cyte / & withoute. & sent hē to Newgate & to bothe cōtrees. & thā they were brought in examinaciō before the clergie & the kīges iustices / ād there they were cōvicted before y e clergye for hyr fals heresie & dāpned before the iustice for hyr fals tresō. And this was hir iugemēt that they shold be drawe frō the towre of Lōdō vnto seynt Gilles feld. & there to be hōged & brēt on the galewes. And also there was takē sir Rogier acton knyght for heresie & eke for treson ayēs y e kȳg & the Reame. & he came a fore the clergye & he was cōuicted for hys heresie to be brēd & dāpned before the iustyces to be drawen frō the towre of lōdō thurgh the cyte to seint Gilles felde & to be honged & brēt. And in the secōd yere of kȳg Hēries regne the v. he helde a coūceill of all the lordes of the Reame at westmȳster. & there he put hȳ this demāde & praied ād besought hē of hyr goodnesse & of hyr good coūceill & good wyll to shewe him as touchȳg the title & the right y t he had to Normādie / Gascoygne. & Guihēne: the which̄ the kȳg of fraūce wy t helde wrōgfulli & vnryghtfully / the which̄ his aū cestres before hȳ had be trewe tytle of cōqueste & right herytage: y e whych̄ Normādie Gascoign̄ and Guyhēne the good kȳg Edward of wȳdesore & his aūcestres before hȳ haddē hold all hir lifes time And hys lordes yafe hȳ coūceyll to send ēbassatours vnto the kȳg [Page] of Fraūce & his coūceill / & that he shold yeue vnto hȳ his ryght herytage. that is to saye Normādye Gascoygne: & Gwyhēne: the whiche his predecessours haddē hold a fore him: or elles he wold it wȳ ne with dynt of swerd in short tyme wyth the helpe of Almyghty god / And than the Dolphyne of Fraūce answered to our embassatours & said ī this maner / that the kyng was ouer yong & to tendre of age to make any werre as ayens hym. & was not lyke to be no good werriour to do & to make such̄ a conquest thervpon him & somwhat in scorne & despyte he sent to him a tonne full of tenys balles. because he sholde haue sō what for to playe wyth all for hȳ & for his lordes / & that became hȳ better thā to maynten any werre And than anon̄ our lordes that weren Embassatours tokē leue / and camē into Englōd ayene. ād told the kȳg & his coūceil of y e vngoodly answere that they had of the Dolphyne / & of the presente y e which̄ he had sente vnto the king And whē the king had herde hir wordes & the answere of the Dolphyn: he was wonder sore agreued & right euell payed toward y e Frēsshmen & toward the kȳg ād the Dolphyn. & thought to auenge him vpon hem as sone as god wold send him grace & myght / ād anon̄ let make tenys balles for y e dolphȳ in all y e hast y t they might be made / & they were grete gōne stone for the dolphyne to play w t all / And than anon̄ the kȳg sent for all hys lordes ād helde a grete coūceille at westmynstre. ād told vnto hem the answere that they had of the dolphyne & of his worthy presente that he sente to hym & to his lordes to pley with all: ād there the kyng & hys lordes werē accorded that they shold be redy ī armes wyth hyr power in y e best araye that might be done: & gete mē of armes & archiers y t might be goten / & all othir stuffe that lō ged to werre & to be redy with all hir retenue to mete at Sowthāpton be lammasse next sewȳg withoute any delay. wherfore y e kȳg ordeyned his nauye of shippes w t all maner of stuffe & vitaille y t lō ged to such̄ a werrour of all maner ordinaūce in y e hauē of southampton into the nōbre of CCC / xx. sailles / ¶And than fyll there a grete disese & a fowle meschyef. for ther were thre lordes whych̄ y t the king trust most moch̄ on. ād thurgh fals couetise thei had purposed & ymagined the kīges deth & thought to haue slayne hym & all hys Brotheren or he had take the see The whyche were named thus sir Rychard erle of Cābrygge brothyr to y e duke of york. The seconde was the lord scroppe tresorer of Englond. & y e thridde was [Page] sir Thoās gray knight of Northcōtre: & these lordes a fore sayd for lucre of money had made promisse to the frēsshmen for haue slayne kyng Henry and all hys worthy bretheren bi a fals trayne sodenly or they had be ware But al mighty god of his grete grace helde hys holy hōde ouer he & saued hē from his peryllous meyne ād for to haue done thys they receyued of the Frensshmen a million of gold: & that was there opynly preued. And for thys fals treson thei were all there iuged vnto the deth̄ / And thys was the iugemet that they shold be ladden thurgh Hampton & withoute Northgate there to be beheded / And thus they ended hir lyfe for hir fals couetyse and treson.
Anone as this was don̄ the kīg & all his meyne made hem redy & wenten to shippe & tokē & sailled forth with xv.C. shippes and arryued withyn seyne at kyde cause vpon our ladyes euen in the assumptyon jn Normandye wyth all his ordenaūce and so went hī forth to Hareflete: & besieged the towne all aboute by lond & eke bi watyr And sent to the capiteyne of the towne & charged him for to delyuer the towne And the capyteyne sayd that he none delyured him & none he wold yelde to hym but bad hȳ don̄ his best. And thā our kyng laid his ordynaūce vnto y e towne that is for to saye / gō nes Engynes & trypgetes & shetē and cast to the walles and eke vnto the toune / and kast downe bothe toures & toune / & layd hē vnto the grownde / ād there he played at the tenys with his harde gō ne stone / And they that were withyn the towne when they shold playe their songe was wel away ād allas that euer such̄ tenys balles were made. and cursed all thē that werre begā / & the tyme that euer they were borne And on the morwe the kyng dyd crye at euery Gate of the towne that euery man shold be redy on the morwe erly to make assaute vnto y e towne And willyam Bouchier & Iohan graūt with xij. othir worthy burgeys camē to the kyng ād besought him of his ryall pryncehode and power to withdrawe hys malyce & destructyon that he did vnto hem / and besought hī of viij dayes of respyte & trewes yf any reskue myght come vnto hē / & elles to yelde vp the towne vnto hē with all hir goodes. And thā the kyng sente for the capyteyne and kept the remenaūt still wy t hym. And the lord Gaucorte that was Capiteyne of y e towne wēte forth to Rone in all hast vnto the Dolphyne for helpe and socour. But there was non̄ ne no man of reskue. for y e dolphȳ wold not abyde And thus this Capiteyne came [Page] ayene vnto the kyng ād yolde vp the towne and delyuered him the keyes: & than he kalled hys vncle the Erle of Dorset: and made hȳ capiteyne of the town̄ of Harflete / and delyuered him the keyes & bad hym gone to put oute all the frenssh peple bothe men women and children and stuffed this toune of Harflete with Englysshmē And than the kyng sente in Englond ād dyd crye in euery good towne of Englōd that what crafty man wolde come thyder & inhabyte him there in that towne: he sholde haue hows and howshold to hȳ & to his heires for euer more And so thyder wente mani diuerse marchaūts & crafty men & enhabyted hē there to strēgth̄ y e toune and werē welcome: & whē the kȳg saw that this town̄ was wele stufed bothe of vitaille ād of men This worthy prȳce toke his leue and wente to caleys ward bi londe. ād the frensshmen herde of his comȳg / they thought to stoppe him his way that he shold not passe that way and in all y e haste that they might brekē all the brigges ther ani passage was for hors and man in so moche that there might no man passe ouer the riuers nothyr on hors ne on foot / but yf he shold be drowned: And therfor our kyng with all his peple wente and sought hys waye ferre vp to Paris ward. and ther was all the ryall power of Fraū ce assembled and redy to yeue hȳ bataille and for to destroye al his peple But almighti god was his gydde and saued him of his enemies power and purpose thāked be god that saued so his own̄ knight And kȳg in hys rightfull titell And than our king beholdȳg and seyng the multitude & nōbre of his enemies to whiche were in his wey to yeue hym bataill. thā the king wyth a meke herte ād a good spirit left vp his handes to almyghty god & besought hȳ of his helpe and socour: & that daye to saue hys trewe seruaunts: ad than owr kyng gadred all his lordes and othyr peple aboute / and bad hem all be of a good cher̄. for thei shold haue a faire day and a gracyous victorie and the better of all hyr enemyes: & praid hē all to make hem redy vnto y e bataill for he wold rather to be dede that day in the felde than to be taken of hys enemyes: for he wolde neuer put the noble Reame of Englond to Rawnsone for hys persone. And the worthy duke of yorke fell on hys knees & besought y e kyng of aboue that he wold graunte hym that day the avauntward in hys bataille· and the noble kyng graūted hym his askȳg & sayd graūte mercy cosin of yorke [Page] & praied him to make him redj And thā he bad euery man to ordeyne a stake of tree & sharp both̄ endes / that the stake might be pight in the erthe a sloppe: that hyr enemyes shold not ouer come hē on horsebake▪ For that was hyr false purpose. & araied hē all ther for to ouer ryde our meyne sodē ly at the fyrst comyng on of he [...]/ at the fyrst brownt And all night before the bataylle the frēshmen maden many grete fyres & moch̄ reuell with howtyng & showting and pleyde our kȳge & his lordes at the dise / ād an archier for a blā ke of hyr money / for they wenden alle had bene heires. The morne arose / the day began to spryng: ¶ And the kyng by good auyse let araye his bataille & his wynges. and charged euery man to kepe hem hole to gedres & prayed hem all to be of good chere. And whā they were redy he asked what tyme of the day it was. ād thei said Pryme / than sayd our king: now is good time. for all englōd praied forvs / & therfore be of good chere & let vs go to oure iourney. & thā he said with an high̄ voys In the name of almyghty god & of seint George avaūt baner & seint george this day thyne helpe / And thā the Frensshmen came prykyng doūe as they wold haue ouer ryden all oure meyne. but good ād oure archiers made hem sone to stomble: for our archiers shet neuer arowe amys. but it perisshed & brought to groūde man or hors For they shotē that day for a wager And oure stakes made toppe ouer terne eche on othir that thei lay on hepes two spere lēgthe of heyghte. And our king with hys meyne & with his men of armes & archiers that tokked on hem so thikke wy t arewes & leyde on tho stakes & our kyng with his owne handes faught manly. And thꝰ almyghty god & seȳt George brought our enemyes to groūde ād yafe vs that day the victorie. and there were slayne of Frensshmē that day in the feld of Agyncourt moo than̄ xi.M. with prysoners: that weren taken / & ther were nō bred that day of Frēsshmē in the felde moo than six socore thousād: & of Englysshmē nat vij.M: but god that day fought for vs: And after came there tydinges to our kyng that there was a newe bataille of Frensshmē ordeyned redy to stelle on him & camē towardes hym Anone oure kȳg let crie that euery man shold slee hys prisoner that he had take. ād anone arayed his bataylle ayen̄ redy to fyght with the frensshmen: And when they sawe that our mē kylled doūe hir prysoners: than̄e thei withdrowe hē & brake hir bataill and alle hir aray / And thus owr kȳg as a worthy cōquerour had [Page] that day the victorie in the feld of agyncourt in Pycardie. And thā our kyng retourned ayen̄ there y t the bataill was to see what peple were dede of englysshmē & if any were hurt y t myght be holpē. and ther were dede in the felde the duke of Barry. the duke of Alaūsoū / the Duke of Borban / the Erle of Nauerne. the chief Conestable of Fraūce. & viij. othir Erles: ād the erchebisshop of Saūce. & of good barōs an hondred & moo. And of worthy knightes of grete aliaūce of cotes armures a thowsād & v. hōdred. And of Englisshmē was dede y t day the good duke of york / & the Erle of Southfolk / & of alle othir of our Englisshmē ther were nat dede passyng .xxvi. bodyes thāked be god / & this bataill was don̄ on a fryday which̄ was Crispynie & Crispynianes day in the moneth of Octobre: ād anon̄ the kȳg ꝯmaūded to bery hem: & the duke of yorke to be caryed forth / with him & the erle of southfolk: And there were prisoners the duke of Orlyaūce / the duke of Burbone. the erle of Vēdome: the Erle of Ewe. the Erle of Richemōd. & sir Bursigaūt marchaūt of fraūce / & many othir worthy lordes werē there taken in this bataille of Agȳcourt / & were brought vnto the towne of Caleys: & so ouer the see wy t the kyng into Englōd. & londed at Douer in Kent with all hys prysoners in saufte: thanked be god almyghty. ād so came to Caūterbury ād offred at seynt Thomas shrine / And so forth he rode thurgh Kēte the next way to Eltham. & there he rested tyll y t he wold come to Londō. And thā the mayre of London and the aldermē sherews wyth all the worthy communers and craftes camen to blakhethe well and worthely arayed and welcomed owr kyng wyth dyuerse melodies. ād thāked almyghty god of hys gracious victorie that he had shewed for hym / And so the kyng ād hys prisoners passed forth by hem til he came to seynt Thomas wateryng / and there mette with hym all the Relygyous with processiō and welcomed hym. And so the kyng came rydyng with hys prisoners thurgh the cyte of Londō where that ther was shewed many a faire sight at all the conduytes. ād at the crosse in chepe as in heuenly array of Angeles archā geles▪ patriarches prophetes ād virgines with dyuerse melodies / sensyng ād syngyng to welcome our kyng. And alle the cōduytes rennyng wyth wyne:
¶And the kyng passed forth vnto seynt Powles. and there mette wyth hym .xiiij. bisshoppes reuessed and mytered with sensers to welcome our kyng▪ and songē for hys hyghe & gracious victorie [Page] Te deum laudamus. And there the kȳg offred & toke leue & rode to westmȳster. And thā y e mayre toke his leue of the kȳg: and rode home ayen̄. And in y e thridde yere of kȳg Hēryes regne the v. came the emperour of Almaygne kȳg of Rome & of Hūgarye into Englond: & so to the cyte of London And the mayre and the aldermā wy t the sherews & worthy craftys of Londō by the kynges cōmaū demēt mette with hȳ on the blake hethe in the best aray that thei cowde on horsebak. ād there they welcomed hȳ & brought hȳ to lō don wyth moch̄ honour ād grete reuerence. And at seȳt Thomas wateryng there mette wy t hȳ the kyng wyth all his lordes in good aray & there was a worthy mettyng bytwene the Emperour ād the kȳg: & there they kyssed to gedres & enbrached eche othir: & thā the kyng toke the Emꝑour bi the honde. and so they camē rydyng thurgh the cyte of London vnto seȳt Powles. & there they offred. and all the bisshoppes stoden reuessed wyth sencers in her hōdes sensing. And than̄ they tokē hyr hors & rydden vnto Westmȳstre· and there the kȳg logged the emperour in hys owne paleys / and there he rested hym a grete while & all at the kinges coste. And sone after came the duke of Holand into Englond to come & see there the Emperour: & to speke wy t hȳ / and with kyng Hēry of Englōd. & he was worthely receyued and logged in the bisshoppes ynne of Ely: & all at the kȳges coste. And whē the Emperour had well rested hym & seyn the lōd in dyuerse partyes & knewe the cōmodytes than by processe of tyme he toke hys leue of the kīg / but or he yede he was made knyght of the Gartier / & receyued and wered the lyuery. & than he thāked the kyng & all hys worthy lordes. And the kyng & he went ouer the see vnto Caleys: & abydē ther longe tyme to haue an āswere of the Frēssh̄ kyng. & at the last it came & plesed hȳ right nought. & the emperour toke hys leue of the kȳg. & passed forth in goddes name / & our kȳg came ouer ayen̄ into englond in all y e hast that he myght / & y t was on seynt Lukes eue that he came to Lambythe / And on y e mōday next after he came into the parlement at westmynster▪ ād in thys same yere was a grete derthe of corne in Englōd: but thanked be god it lasted not longe. And in y e fowrthe yere of kȳg Hēryes regne the v. he helde hys parlement at westmȳster / in the begynnyng of y e moneth of Octobre. & lasted vnto the Puryfycacyō of our lady than next after: ād there was graūted vnto the kȳg to maȳten̄ hys werre bothe of spyrytualte & [Page] temperalte an hole taxe and a disme / And thā anone the kȳg praied all hys lordes to make hem redy to strength̄ hym in hys ryght: and anon̄ he let make a newe retenue and charged alle men to be redy at Hamptō in withson weke than next after withoute any delay. and there the kyng made y e Duke of Bedeford protectour ād defendour of hys Reame of Englond in hys absence: ād charged hym to kepe hys lawes & maynten bothe spyrytualte and tēperalte.
And when the kyng had thꝰ done and sette alle thyng in hys kȳ de on seīt Markes day that was that tyme hokketuys [...]ay. he toke hys hors at westmynstre. and came rydyng to seint Powles. and there he offred and toke hys leue And so he rode forth thurgh the cyte taking hys leue of all maner of peple. as wel of poure as of rich̄e / prayeng hem all in generall to praye for hym. And so he rode forth to Hāpton (punctel) and there abode tyll hys retenue were redy: ād camē forth. there was all his nauye of shippes with his ordinaū ce gadred and well stuffed as belonged to suche a ryall and noble king with all maner of vytailles for suche a ryall peple: as well for hors as for man / as longed to suche a werriour (punctel) that is for to say armure. gōues: tripgetes. ēgynes sowes / bastilles / brigges of lether Scalyng. ladders / malles: spades shouelles. pykes. paueys / bowes and arewes. bowe strynges. tonnes. chestes: and pypes full of arewes. as neded to such̄ a worthy werrour. that no thyng was to seche whan tyme came / and thyder came to him his shippes lade with gonnes and gonnepowdre And when all thys was redy ād hys retenue came / the kyng and hys lordes with all hys ryall hoste went to shyppe. and token the see and saylden into Normandie and londed at Towke vpon the Lamasse day than next. and there he made xlviij. knightes at his londyng.
And than the king herȳg of many enemyes vpon the see: that is to saie .ix. grete Carikkes / hulkes galeyes and shippes that weren comen to destroye hys nauye: ād anon̄ he commaunded the Erle of the marche for to be chyef chyuetaine and many othir worthy lordes with hym wyth mē of armes ād archiers to go to the see (punctel) that none Enemies defowled ne destroubled his nauye / ne entred his lōd in no partye for to let his vyage ne his iourney: And anone the forsaid Erle toke hys meyne and went to shypp: and skymmed the see: and kepte the see costes that no maner of Enemyes durst rowte vpon the see. ¶And [Page] anoū the kȳg sent hys heraudes vnto the capytayne of Towke / & charged him to delyuer him hys castell & his town̄ / & elles he shold neythir leue man ne child a lyue. And anon̄ the capytayne ād iiij. othir burgeys of the towne brought the keyes to the kyng: & besought hym of grace. & the kyng delyuered the keyes to sir Iohan kykely. & made him capytayne: & commaūded hym to put owt all Frensshmen bothe of the towne & of the castell. ¶And ther beside was the castell of Louers / & thyder the kyng sent y e Erle marchal with a fayre meyne. & sauted the towne anone it was yolde to the Erle / & brought hym the keyes / & he brought the keyes to the kyng & the kyng toke him the keyes ād made him capitayne of the castel of Louers: & of all that lōged therto (punctel) and charged hī to delyuer out all the Frensshmen. And thā the kyng held forth hys wey to Cane that was a stronge toune a faire & a ryall castell therȳ: And anon̄ he sent hys Heraudes to the Capitaine & charged him to delyuer the towne & his castell (punctel) or elles he wolde hem gete with strength̄ of honde: And they answeryd and sayd that he toke hē none. ne none he wold delyuer vnto hym / ād than anon̄ he layde hys siege vnto the towne: & laid gonnes on euery side / ād bette a downe bothe walles and towres ād slowe also moch̄ peple in hir houses & eke in stretes / & the good duke of Clarē ce laid a downe the walles on his side vnto the grounde. & so withȳ a while the kyng by hys coūceyll sawted the towne all abowte: ad anone the Duke of Clarence had entred into the towne and slowe downe right tyll he came to y e kȳg and spared nothyr man ne child & euer they cryed a Clarence and seynt George. & ther was dede on y e walles on the kȳges side a worthy man that was kalled Springes· the which̄ the king cōmaunded to be beryed in the abbeye of Cane fast by wylliā conquerour: on whos sowle god haue mercy amen / And than the kyng came into the towne w t his brother the duke of Clarēce and many othir worthy lordes wyth moch̄ solēpnyte & myrthe. & thā the kyng comaūded the capytayn to delyuer him hys castell. & he besought the kyng to yeve hym .xiiij. dayes of respyte yf any rescue wold come. & yf none came to delyuer him y e keyes and the castell at hys commaūdement / & vndyr thys cōposicyō was the towne & the castell of Baious wy t othir townes fortresses & villages īto the nōbre of xiiij. yolde Vpō y e hyll before y e castell of Cane owr kyng pyght alle hys tētes that semed a towne as moch̄ as Cane / And bi that came [Page] tidynges that no rescue wold come there / And so at the xiiij. daye at Ende the capytayne came oute of the castell & delyuered the keyes & the castell to owr kyng & barons. & othir xiiij. townes weren delyuered vnto hī also. And anone the kīg delyuered the keyes to the duke of Clarēce: & made hym capytayne bothe of the toun̄ and of the castell: & made hȳ capitayn̄ of Baious & of all the other townes also. & so entred he the castell / and the towne also. & there he helde seint Georges feste / And there he made xv / knightes of the bath. ther was sir Loys Robersart salȳ Chaynye Mougomery & many othir worthy men. And y e kȳg commaūded hem for to put oute all the Frēsshmē & women & no mā so hardy to defoule no womā ne take no maner good away frō hē but lete thaȳ passe in pees vpō payne of deth̄. ¶And there passed oute of the towne in one day mo thā xv. hōdred wymmē: And thā our kyng let stuffe y e towne & castell wy t Englysshmen: & ordeyned there two capitaynes one for the towne. & an othir for the castel ād charged hē vpō hyr lyfe for to kepe wel y e towne ād the castell: & or our kyng went thēs / he gate Valeis newlyne & leid a siege to Chirburgh / & that siege leyd the Duke of Gloucestre wy t a strōge power: and mighty / & by processe of time gate it & made ther a capitayn̄ of the same town̄. And the same tyme y e erle of warrewyk leyd a siege to Doūfraūte & gate it ād put therȳ a capitayne / And for to speke more of the erle of y e marche y t the kyng ordeyned to skym y e see: & to kepe the costes of Englōd for all maner enemyes: the wȳde arrose vpō hem that they wēde all to haue be loste But throughout y e grace of god almyghty & good gouernaūce thei ryddē a fore wygte all that stoune And ther were lost ij carrikkes ād two ba [...]yngers with marchaūdises & ethyr goodes / & all the peple that were wirhynne (punctel) & an othyr Carik droue before Hamptō & threwe hys mast ouer the towne walles: and this was on seīt Bartholomews day: ād whan all this storme was sesed / this worthy erle of Marche toke his shippes wy t his meyne & wente to the see. & londed in normandye at Hogges / & so rydden forth toward the kyng. & euer as he came the Frensshmen fledde: ¶And there came to hem an anthony pigge and folowed te host alle that way tyll they camen to a grete water. and there thei drad to haue bene dede. the watyr closed hem so that they myght no se where to come owte. But at the last god almyghty and thys forsayd Pyge brought hem oute all saufe. ād there they caught a gyde [Page] that knewe all the cōtre aboute / & he brought hē thurgh a quyke sand / & so into an Ile / ād there they toke many prysoners in hyr way toward the kȳg in hyr iourney: & so they camen vnto Cane (punctel) & there the kyng welcomed hym. and toke hys iourney at Argentone. & anon̄ it was yold vnto the kyng: & they had hyr lyues & wēt hyr way / And than our king remeued to a stronge toune that was kalled Cese. and there was a faire mynster. and they yelded it anone vnto the kyng / And than the kyng wēt frō thens to Alaū sone & wan the toune ād the brigge: & the kȳg sente the erle of warwyke to a toune that was called Blesme with an huge & a stronge power And anon̄ they yelde hē & put hē in the kȳges grace & in his mercy / & so dyd many moo strō ge townes & castelles that weren in their parties
And frō thēs they wente to Vernill in Perche. and anone it was yolde vnto the king bothe towne & castell bodyes and goodes at y e kynges grace. And so the kīg gate and conquered all the townes and castelles Pyles strēgthes ād abbeyes vnto Pountlarge / and from thēs vnto the cyte of Rone ¶And in the v. yere of kyng Henryes regne the v. Sir Iohā Oldecastell that was the lord Cobhā. was arested for heresie & brought vnto the towre of Londō / & anon̄ after he brake owte of the towre & went into Walys. & there kepte he him lōge tyme. And at the last the lord Powys mette w t him ād toke him. but he stode at grete defence lōge tyme: & was sore woū ded or he wold be takē / & so y e lord Powys men brought him owte of Walys to Londō in a wherlecole: & so he was brought to westmynstre· & there he was examyned of certeyne poyntes that were put vpon hī / & he sayd not nay: & so he was convycte of the clergye for his heresie. and dampned before the iustyces vnto the deth: for tresō / & so he was lad vnto the towre ayen̄. & there he was layd on an hurdel & drawe thurgh the cyte to seynt Giles feld: and there was made a newe paire of galewes: & a stronge cheyne and a coler of yren for hym / & ther he was honged and brēt on the Galewes and all for hys lewdenesse ād hys fals opynyons
¶And in the vj. yere of kyng Hē ryes regne the v. he sent hys vncle sir Thomas Beaufort duke of Excestre w t a fayre meyne of mē of armes and archers tho for the cyte of Rone. and there displaied he hys baner / and sent heraudes vnto the towne. & bad hem yelde that cyte vnto owr kyng hyr siege lord. And they sayd he toke hē none to kepe ne non̄ he shold haue [Page] there. but yf it were right dere bought and wonnē with hir hō des / for othir answere wolde they none yeue but gonnes / And there the duke toke good auysement of the grownde all aboute / And anon̄ there yssued of y e cyte a grete meyne of mē of armes both̄ on horsebake & on foot· & anon̄ owr meyne met wyth hē & ouertrewe an hepe of hem / & there were slaine ād take xxx. persones of ryght good mennys bodies. & the remenaūt fledde ayen̄ into the towne / And the duke wēt vnto poūtlarge vnto the kīg & tolde hȳ all how he had spede & how him lyked the grownde. And anone as he was go / they cast downe all hir subarbes aboute the cite vnto the hard grownde / for the kȳg there no refressing shold haue at his comȳg: And the friday before lammasse day thā next folewyng our kyng with his hoste came before Rone / & anon̄ he sette his siege rownde aboute that cyte / ād anone let ley his ordinaūce vnto the toune: ād the kȳg & hys lordes werē logged in the charterhous & grete strēgthe aboute hem. & that was ī the Este partye of the cyte / And y e duke of clarēce logged hē at the west ende in a wast abbey before y e porte chaux. & the duke of Excestre in the northside before the porte Beauuesin· & bitwen̄ the duke of clarēce & the duke of Excestre was y e erle Marchall logged with a strō ge power before the castell gate. And thā was the Erle of Ormōd the lord Haryngtō & the lord talbote with hyr retenue next hym / And than sir Iohan Cornewaill ād many othir noble knightes of name with hyr retenue lay wyth the duke of clarēce: ād frō the duke of Excestre toward the kyng were logged the lord Roos y e lord of willuby: the lord phehewe & sir willyā knight porter with hir retenue before the porte of seȳt Hilarie / And than was the Erle of mortayne with hys retenue logged in the abbey of seynt Katherines. And the erle of Salisbury wy t his retenue lay on that other side of seint Katherynes. & sir johan grey knight was logged at y e abbey that is kalled moūt seynt Mychell. ād sir Phelipp leche the kīges treso [...]er was logged bitwene y e watyr of Seyne & the abbey & kepte the warde vnder the hyll / & the baron of Carowe was logged vndyr the watyr side to kepe the passage. And jenico the squier lay next to him on the water side / & they thre squiers kepte manly the watyr of Seyne & fought wy t hir enemyes ofte tymes And on that othir side of seyne lay the erle of Huntyngdone. and maistir Reuill the erles sone of westmerland / And sir Gillebert vnifreuill erle of keme (punctel) & sir Rychard of arū dell: [Page] & the lord feriers with hir retenue before porte du pounte. ād eche of thees lordes had strōge ordinaūce: And the king dyd make at pountlarge ouer the watyr of seyne a stronge & a myghty cheyuen of Iren. & put it thurgh grete piles fast pight in the grownde & that wente ouer the Ryuer of seyne that no vessell myght passe in no kynde: & aboute that cheyne y e kyng let make a brygge ouer the watyr of Seyne that man & hors & all othir cariage myght go to / & fro all tymes whan nede were: & than came the erle of warrewyke & had gote Dounfront vnto the kyng Henry of Englond ¶And anone the kyng sente the Erle of warrewyke to Cawdebeke to besiege it / And whan he came before the towne he sente hys heraudes vnto the capytayne ād bad hȳ yelde the towne vpō peyne of deth̄. And anone he leyd his siege And the Capitayne besought the Erle that he myght come to his presence and speke wyth hī: And so the good Erle graunted him and than he came oute and fowre othir burgeys wyth hym / & entreted so wyth this Erle that this same toune was vndyr compositiō to done as the cyte of Rone dyd: and the erle grawnted ād consented ther to vpon this condicion that the kynges nauye w t his ordinaūce myght passe vp by hem in saufte withoute any maner lette or desturbawnce. and to this cōposicion they sette to their scales. and the shippes passed vp by hem in saufte & came before y e cyte of Rone into an hōdred shippes. ād there they cast her ankers / And thenne thys cyte was besieged both by lond & by water. and whan all thys was done ād shippes camen vp. than̄ came the Erle of Warrewyke ayen̄ to the kīg and logged hym bytwen̄ the Abbey of seynt Katherines and the kyng tyll that the Abbeye entreted and was yold vnto the kyng: And than he remeued him & logged hȳ before porte martenuylle and tho was the Erle of Salisbury commaunded by the kyng to make hym redy to ride. but there came hastly tydyng and made hī to abyde And so he retourned ayene and logged hym beside the erle of Huntȳgdon. tyll the siege was ended: And thā came the duke of gloucestre the kīges brother from the siege of Chirbourgh the which̄ he had wonnen and geten and stuffed ayen̄ to the kȳges behoue and profyt vnto the croune of Englōd. And whā he was come to y e kyng before Rone: anon̄ he logged wy t grete ordinaūce before port seȳt Hilarie more nerer y t toune & his enemies thā any othir lay by xl. roddes of lēghte wy t in a shot of quarell / & wy t him lay [Page] the Erle of sowthfolk. ād the lord of Bergeueney wy t all hir retenue & stronge ordinaūce / & manly ād proudely fought euery day wyth hir enemyes. euer whē they yssued oute of the cyte / And than came y e pryour of Kylmayne of Irland ouer the see vnto the kȳg wy t a fayre meyne of mē of armes of hyr owne contre gyse: the somme o [...] xv.C. good mennys bodyes / & the king welcomed hē & made hē ryght good chire And than came tydynges vnto the king that the kȳg of Fraūce & the Dolphyne & y e Duke of Burgoygne wolde come a downe to rescue the Cyte of Rone wyth a strōge power of all maner of nacions & breke the siege / and he casted hym to entre on the Northside of the hoste / because that there was the beste entre / & moost pleyne grownde. ād therfor the kyng assygned the pryour of Kylmayne with his power. & logged him on the Northside of y e hoste to stoppe her passage / & was by the forest of Lyons And of thys ordinawnce they were full glad: & so they went forth in haste & kepte the grownde ād the place that the kyng had assygned hem And they quitte hē as good werriours vnto hir kȳge. Now will I tell yow which̄ were y e chief Capytayns & gouernours of y e cyte of Rone. Mon sir Gwy Boltlire was chief capytayne both̄ of the cyte & of the castell: & mō sir Termegan he was capytayne of porte Decaux. mon sir de la roche he was capytaȳ of the Disnerf. Mō sir Anthoyne he was lieutenaūt to mon sir Gwy botyller. Henry chātfien he was capitayne of the porte de la poūte. Iohā mantreuas he was capitayne of the porte de la chastell. Mō sir de Preaur he was capitayne of the porte of seint hilaire: The bastard of Tyne he was capitayne of the porte martennille / And graūte Iakes a worthy werriour he was capytayne of all men of werre. and [...]e was gouernour outeward both̄ on horsebake & a foot of all men of armes / whan they yssued oute of the cyte of all the portes he hē araied as they shold contre wyth our meyne: And eche of these capitayns lad v.M. men of armes. and somme moo. & at the fyrst comyng of oure kȳg there were nō bred by heraudes withyn y e towne .ccc.M. men & womē & chyldrē what yonge & olde. & amonge all thees was many a man full mā of hys hōdes. & so they preued hē whā they yssued of the cyte bothe on horsebake ād on foot: for they came neuer at one gate owte alle one: but at thre or fowre yates / & at euery yate two or thre thousād of good mennes bodyes well armed / & manfully contred wy t our Englisshmen / & moch̄ peple were [Page] slayne diuerse tymes with gōnes quarelles & othir ordinaūce / And this siege dured xx. wekes. & eueri they of the town̄ hopped to haue be rescued / but ther came none / so at the last they kepte so longe the town̄ y t ther deyde many a thousandes withȳ the toun̄ for defaute of met. of men & wymmē ād of children / for they had etē hir hors dogges & cattes that werē in the towne: And ofte times the mē of armes drofe oute the poure peple oute of the gattes of the town̄ for spēdyng of vitaill And anon̄ our Englisshmē drofe hē into y e town̄ ayen̄ So at the last the capitaine of the town̄ sawe the meschief as that they were nat rescued & also the scarcite of vitayll: & that y e peple so deyde for defaute of mete euery day many thousandes And also sawe yonge childrē lye & souke hir modres pappes that werē dede: Than anon̄ they sent vnto the kȳg besechyng hȳ of grace ād mercy / & brought the keyes of the town̄ vnto the kyng & delyuered y e toune to hȳ: & all the soudiours voided the towne wy t hyr hors ād harneys. & the cōmunes of y e toune for to abyde styll in the towne yerly to pay to him & to his successours for all maner customes ād fee fermes & katherines And thā the kyng entred into y e town̄ & rested hȳ in the castell tyll the towne was sette ī rewle & ī gouernaūce /
¶How the kyng of Englōd was made heritier & regēt of Fraūce. & how he wedded quen̄ Katherine Cap. cc.xlv
And anon̄ after that Rone was goten Depe and many othir townes in baas Normādye yaf thē ouer withoute stroke or siege whā they vndyrstode that the kȳg had gotē Rone Also thys same yere had bene a pees made & sworne bitwene the duke of Burgoygn̄ & y e Dolphyne which̄ were sworne vpon our lordes body that they shold assiste eche othir ayenst their enemyes. & after thys contrayt to thys othe: y e Duke Iohā of Burgoign̄ was slayne & pitously murthred in the presence of the Dolphyn. wherfore the Frēsshmen were gretly deuided & of veray necessyte labouryd to haue a traittie wyth y e kȳg of Englōd. For the kyng of Englond man dayely of thē townes castelles and fortresses. Also thys same yere was Quene Iane arested & brought to the castell of Ledis in Kente. & one frere Raudolfe a doctor of diuinite her ꝯfessour which̄ afterward was slayne by the keper of the towre fallyng at wordes ād debate. And after the quene Iane was delyuered ¶In the .vij. yere / bothe kynges of Frawnce and also of Englond were accorded: And kyng Henry was made heyre and renent [Page] of Fraūce / & wedded dame katheryne the kynges doughter of Fraūce at Troyes in Champaigne on Trinite sonday / And this was made bi y e mene of phelyp newly made duke of Burgoigne / which̄ was sworne to king Hēry for tauēge his fadres deth. & was become englyssh. And thā the kȳg with his newe wyfe wēt to Paris / where he was well & rially receyued. & from thēs he w t hys lordes & y e duke of Burgoign̄ & many othir lordes of frawnce leid siege to diuerse townes & castelles that helde of the Dolphins partie. & wā hē / but the towne of Melun held longe. for theryn were good defendours In the viij. yere the king & the quene camen ouer see & lōded on candelmasse day in the morwe at Douer. And the xiiij day of Feuerer the king came to Londō / And the xxj day of the same moneth the quen̄ came: & the xxiiij day of the sam̄ she was crowned at westmȳster. Also the same yere anon̄ after Estre the kȳg helde a parlemēt at west mynster / at which̄ ꝑlemēt it was ordeyned that y e gold ī Englyssh coyne shold be weyed / & none receyued but bi weyght / & anon̄ after at witsontide the king sailled to Caleys ād passed so forth into Fraūce / And in Marche the xxij day before y t the king came ouer the duke of Clarence was slaine in Fraūce / & diuerse lordes takē prysoners: as the erle of Hūtyngdon. the erle of Somersette with diuerse othir lordes. & all was be cause thei wold not take wy t hem archers: but thought to haue dō with the Frēsshmen thē selfe withowte hē. And yet whā he was slayn̄ the archers came & reskued the body of the duke / whyche they wold haue caryed with hē / god haue mercy on his sowle [...] he was a vaillaūt man / and the same yere bytwene Cristmas & cā delmas the towne of Melū was yolden to the kȳg In the ix. yere on seynt Nycolas day in decembre was borne Hēry the kynges fyrst begoten sone at wynde [...]ore whos godfadres at fōtston̄ was Henry bisshop of wȳchestre ād Iohan duke of Bedford & the duchesse of Holād was godmoder: & Hēry chicheley Erchebisshop of Caūterbury was godfadre at y e cōfermȳg / And in the x. yere y e cyte of Mewes in brye was gotē which̄ had ben̄ longe beseged ¶And this same yere the quene shypped at Hamptō and sailled ouer to the kyng into Fraunce / where she was wurshipfully receyued of the king ād also of the kyng of Fraunce hyr fadre ād of hyr modre. And thus kȳg Hēry wan fast in Fraūce & helde grete astate & sate at dyuer at grette fest in parys crouned / ād y e quen̄ [Page] also / which̄ had not ben̄ seē to fore / ād all peple resorted vnto his court / but as to the kȳg of fraū ce he helde non̄ astate ne rule but was left almost allon̄. Also this yere the wether coke was sette vpō poulus steple at Lōdon. And this yere ī the moneth of August the king were sike at boys de vȳ cēt / & whē he saw y t he shold deye he made his testamēt & ordeined many thȳges nobly for his soule & deuoutly receyued all the ryghtes of holy chyrchh̄ in so ferforth y t whē he was enoȳted he sayd y e seruyce w t the preste [...] & at the vers of the psalme miserere meidens that was Benigne fac dūe in bona volūtate tua syō vt edificētur mur [...]hrlm̄. he had tarie there [...] & sayd thꝰ O good lord thou knouwest that myne entēt had ben̄ & yet is if I might lyue to reedifie the walles of Ihrlm̄ / & then̄e the preest proceded forth / & made an ende: And anon̄ after the moost noble prynce ād victorious king flour in his time of cristē chiualrye whō all y e world doubtet yaf his sowle into the hōdes of god / & deide & made an ende of his naturell lyfe / at the said bois d e vincent beside Paris / the xxxi. yere of his age / on whos sowle haue mercy / am̄ Then̄ was y e body enbawmed & chered & leyd in a ryall chare. & an ymage lyk vnto hī was leide vpō y e corps opē w t dyuerse baners. & horse couered rychely w t armes of Englōd & fraū ce & also y e olde armes of seȳt Edwardes seȳt Edmōd & othir / & w t grete mltitude of torchis w t whō wēte the kȳg of Scotlād & many othir lordes. which̄ accōpanyd y e body till it came vnto westmȳst by lōdō in Englōd / and in euery town̄ by y e way he had solēpnely hys dirige / On theuē & masse on y e morne / & moch̄ almesse was yeuen to poure peple bi the way / & the vij. day of Nouēbre after the corps was brought thurgh lōdō wy t grete reuerēce & solempnite / to westmȳster where he now lyeth. it was wurshipfully buried / & after was leyd on his tōbe a riall ymage lyke to him selfe of syluer & gylt / which was made atte cost of quen̄ Katherine. and thꝰ ended & thꝰ was ētered & buried y e noble kȳg hēry the v. on whos sowle & all cristē sowles god haue mercy. amen
¶Of y e lawde of kȳg Hēry y e v. & what he ordeyēd for kȳg rychard & for hȳ selfe after his deth Cap. cc.xlvi
hEre is to be noted y t thys kȳg Hēry the fyffte was a noble prȳce. after he was kīg & crowned. how be it to fore in his yongthe he had ben̄ wylde recheles & spared no thyng of his lustes ne desires but accomplisshed them aftyr thys likynge But as [Page] sone as he was crouned enoȳted & sacred. anon̄ sodēli he was chaūged into a newe mā: & sette all his intent to lyue vertuously in maȳtenȳg of holy chyrch̄ destroyng of heretikes / kepȳg iustice & defendȳg of his Reame & subgettys / & for asmoch̄ as his fadre had d eposed by his labour y e good kīg richard & pitously made him to deye / & for thefēce don̄ to hī ayēst his ligeaūce. he had sent to Rom̄ to be assoilled therof. for whiche offēce y e pope our holy fadre enioned hȳ to make hȳ be prayed fore ꝑpetuelly. ād lyke as he had don̄ to be takē frō hī his naturel lyfe therfore he shold be foūde iiij tapers to brēne ꝑpetuelly about his body. y t for y e extīctōn of hys bodely life. his soule may ever be remēbred & lyue in heuē in spirituel lyfe: ād also y t he shold euery weke on y e day as it comith aboute of his deth haue a solēpne masse of Requiē on the euē to fore a dirige w t ix lesōs & a dole to poure alway on y e day of xi shīllīges viij pēs to be delyd peny mele & on̄s in the yere at his āniuersarie his teremēt to be holdē in y e most honeste wise: & to be deled y t day xx. poūde in pēs to poure peple. ād euery mōke to haue xx. shillȳges which̄ all these thȳges ꝑformed this noble kȳg for hys fadre for kȳg hēry y e iiij. for he ꝑformed it not durȳg hys lyfe. whō as it is sayd god touchyd & was a lepre. or he deyde Also then̄ this noble prȳce lete do kalle all y e abbotys & priours of seȳt benettey ordre ī Englōd: & bad thē in y e chapytre hous of westmȳster for the reformaciō of the ordre wherȳ he had comynycacyō. and also of y e bisshoppes & mē of the spiritualte. in so ferforth y t they doubted sore to he wold haue had the teporal tees oute of their hōdes: wherfore by thauys labour & procurȳg of the spiritualte encoraged the kȳg to chalēge Normādie & his right in Fraūce. to thēde to set [...]e hȳ a werke ther y t he shold not seke occasiōs to ētre into such̄ maters: & all his lyfe aftyr he laboured in y e werrys in cōquerȳg grete parte of y e Reame of france: y t by the a gremēt of the kȳg charles had at the gouernaūce of the reame of fraūce & was ꝓclamed regēt ād heir of Fraūce And so not wythstādyng all thys grete werre that he had yet he remembred his soule / & also that he was mortall & must deye: for which̄ he ordeyned bi hys lyfe the place of his sepulture: where he is nowe buryed: and euery day thre masses perpetuelly to be songen in a fayre chapell ouer his sepulture of whiche the mydylmasse & the fyrst & laste masse shalbe as is assigned by hym as it apperyth bi thyse versys folowyng
And yet the noble kyng Hēry y e .v. fownded two howses of Relygyō vne kalled Syō besyde braȳ ford of the ordre of seynt Brigitte bothe of men and women And on that othir syde of y e Ryuer of Thamyse an hows of mōkes of Chartrehous. in which̄ two places he his continuelly prayd for nyght ād day for euer whā they of Syō rested they of the Chartrehous don̄ theyr seruyce And in lyke wyse whā thei of y e chartrehous reste the othir goon / ād by the ryngȳg of the bellys of either place / eche knoweth whan they haue endyth theyr seruyce / which̄ be nobly ēdouwed / & doō dayly ther grete almesse dedes as in y e chartrehows certayne chyldren ben fownde to scole / & at syon certayne almesse gyuē dayly ¶And yet besyde all this. he had founde a recluse / which̄ shalbe alway a preest to praye for hȳ by y e sayd chartrehous / whyche preest is well and suffyciētly endowed for hym and a seruaūt
Lo here may all princes takē an exāple by this noble prynce that regnyng so lyttel tyme not fully .x. yere: dyd so many noble actes as well for his sowle to be perpetuelly remēbred & prayed for as ī his wordly conquestis / & he beȳg in his moost lusty age despysed & eschewyd synne & was vertuous & a grete iustiser / in somoch̄ that all the prȳces of crystēdome drad him / ād also of Hethenes / & had [Page] determined in hȳ self if god wold haue spared him that he wold haue werred agayn the sarazyns: & for to knowe the ayde of othir pnces & all the passa [...]es in y t iourney he sente a knight of Henaude named sir Hugh̄ de lanoye vnto Ierusalē / but er he retorned he deide at boys du vyncēt in the xxxvi. yere of his age. on whos sowle god haue mercy /
¶ ¶How kyng Hēry the vi. regned beyng a Childe not one yere of age· & of the bataille of vernoil in Perche Cap. cc.xlvij
AFter kȳg Hēry the v. regned Hēry hys sone: but a child & not fully a yere olde / whos regne began y e fyrst day of Septēbre: the yere of owr lord M.cccc.xxij. This kyng beyng in cradel was moch̄ doubted & drad by cause of the grete conquest of his fadre. & also the wysedō & guydyng of his vncles y e duke of bedford & y e duke of gloucestre. Thys yere the xxi. day of Octobre deide Charles kȳg of fraūce & lieth buryed at seȳt Denis: & thā was the duke of Bedford made regent of frawnce· & the duke of gloucestre was made ꝓtectour & defendour of ēglōd. & y e first day of march̄ afterward was sir Willyā taillour preest degrated of his preestde / ād on the morne aft he was brent in smythfeld for heresie. This yer̄ sir Iaēs kīg of scotlād maried dame jane the dukes dought (er) of clarēce of hir first husbōde the erle of Somersete at seȳt mary ouereys / also this yer̄ the xvij / day of august was the bataill of vernayll ī ꝑche bytwen̄ the duke of bedford regēt of Fraūce & the duke of alaūson̄ which̄ was a grete bataill the duke of bedford had on hys side wy t hȳ the erle of salisbury montagu & the lord talbote & all the power that they coude make in normā dye the garnisōs kepte / And also many capitaines wy t moch̄ peple of the duke of Burgoign̄: And on that othir side was the duke of alaūsone the duke of tonrō y t was therle donglas / y e erle of boughan w t many lordes of Fraūce & grete cōpanie of scottes & arminakes: And then̄ the erle dōglas called y e duke of bedford Iohā w t the leden swerd: & he sente hȳ worde agayn̄ y t he shold finde that day that his swerd was of steell. & so y e bataille ioyned on both̄ sides & fought lō ge y t ther wyste no mā who shold haue the better a grete while but at the last as god wolde the victorie fyll vnto the Englyssh partie· for ther were slayne the erle donglas. whyche a lyttell before was made duke of Turone The Erle of Bowhayne. the erle of Almarre. the Erle of Townar / the Erle of Vaundore / and the sixthe coū te of Nerborne / the whyche was one of them that slowe the noble [Page] Duke Iohan of Burgoygn̄ knelyng to fore the Dolphyne & many moo vnto the nombre of x.M & moo / Ther was takē prisoner y e Duke of Alaūson / & many other lordes & gentylls of Fraūce / but Scottes y t day were slayne down̄ right the substaūce of them all. ¶In the thridde yere of kyng Hē ry the vj. the Duke of Glowcestre maried the duchesse of Holand: & wente ouer see with hir into Henaude for to take poscessiō of his wife encheritaūce / where he was honourabely receyued & takē for lord of the londe / but sone after he was faȳ to retourne home ayen̄ and lefte hys wyfe & hys tresowr that he brought with in a towne is called Mounse in Henaude· y e whych̄ promysed for to be trewe / to hym. notwithstādyng they delyured the lady to y e duke of Burgoygne which̄ sent hyr to Gaūt (punctel) And from thens she escaped in a mannes araye & came into zelād to a towne of his owne called zierirce And fro thens she wente to a towne in holād called the Ghowde / & there she was strōge ynough. & withstode the sayd duke of Burgoygne / And sone after the duke of Glowcestre sente ouer in to zeland the lord fytzwater with certayne mē of werre. & archiers for to helpe ād socour the forsayd duchesse of Holand. which̄ lōded at a place in zelād called Brewers hauen / where the lordes of the cō tre came downe & fowght w t him: & in conclusion he was fayn to withdrawe hym & hys meyne to the see agayne / But yet he slewe & hurte dyuerse lordes & moch̄ peple of that same cōtre. And so retourned he home ayen̄ wyth hys meyne & preuailled no thyng
Also this same yere y e Erle of salysbury. the Erle of southfolk: the lord Wylby and the lord Scalys wy t their retenue leyd siege to the cyte of Mowns / the whyche cyte was yolden to them in a short tyme▪ with many othir strōge townes ād castelles to the nombre of xxxvi. Thys tyme all Normādye & a grete part of Fraūce vnto Orlyaūce was vndyr thobeyssaunce of the kȳg of Englōd. & all the remenaūt of Fraūce was in grete tribulacyon & meschief
¶How ther was a grete affraye lyke to haue ben̄ bytwene the cardinall ād the duke of Glowcestre. & of the coronacyō of King Hē ry the sixthe (punctel) bothe in Englōd ād in Fraunce Capitulo / CCxlviij.
IN the iiij. yere y e same nyght that the mayre of Lō don Iohan Couētre had takē his charge: was a grete wacche in London: for affray y t was bitwen̄ the bysshop of wȳchestre & the duke of Glowcestre protectour [Page] &c. For the mayre w t the peple of the cyte wold abyde by the duke of Gloucestre as protectour of the Reame. but by laboure of lordes that wente bitwene & in esspeciall by the labour of the prȳce of Portingale ther was apointement takē that ther was no harme done: and after the batayll of Verneill in perche: y e duke of bedford came ouer into englōd And on witsonday this same yere at leycestre he dubbed kyng Henry knight. And forth wyth the sayd kyng Hēry dubbed all these knightes whos name folowe. That is to wete Richard duke of yorke Also the sone and heire of the duke of Northfolk. The Erle of Oxenford / the Erle of westmerland. the sone and heire of y e erle of northumberland / The sone and heire of the Erle of Vrmond: the lord Roos sir Iames botellier / the lord Natrauas Sir hēry gray of tankeruille (punctel) Sir william Neuill lord fawconbrygge: sir George neuyll lord Latymer / the lord wellys / the lord berkely. The sone ād heire of the lord Talbot. sir Rauf gray of werk: sir Robert ver / sir Rychard gray / sir Edmond Hōgerford / sir robert Wynkfeld / sir Iohan botteller Syr raynold Cobham / Sir Iohā passheley / sir Thomas tunstall. sir Iohan chidyoke. sir Rauf Langeford / sir william Drury▪ sir william ap thomas / sir Rychard Carbonell / sir rychard wydeuille Sir Iohan sehirdelowe. Sir Nycholl blouket. sir Rauf ratteclyfe: sir Edmōd trafford: sir William cheyne: sir williā babyngton (punctel) sir Iohan Iune. sir Gillebert beauchamp
¶Item in the v. yere the duke of bedford with the duchesse his wife went ouer see to Caleys & a littel to fore wēt ouer harry bisshop of wynchestre. and on our ladies day annūciacyō in our lady chirche at Caleys y e bisshoppe of wȳ chestre whan he had songe masse was made cardinall [...] & he kne [...]ȳg to fore the hye aulter the Duke of bedford sette the hat on his hede. And there were his bulles red as well of his charge as y e reidyssȳg of his benefices spirituell and tē porel. ¶And this same yere was grete abundaunce of rayne that the substaūce of heye ād of corne was destroied / For it rayned all most euery othir day / This same yere the good Erle of Salisbury / sir Thomas moūtagu leyd siege vnto Orliaūce / at whiche siege he was slayne w t a gonne which̄ came oute of y e toune. on whos soule god haue mercy / amē. for sith y t he was slayne Englisshmē neuer gate ne preuailled in Fraūce (punctel) but euer after began to lese littel & littell till all was loste Also this sam̄ yere a bretō murthred a wedowe in her bedde w toute algate which̄ [Page] wedowe fownde him for almesse & he bare away all that she had. & after this he toke gryth of y e holy chyrch at seint Georges in sowthwerke. & there toke he the crosse & forswore this lōd. And as he wēt it happened that he came by the place wher he dyd this cursed dede in the subarbes of Londō: and the womē of the same parissh came owte with stones Canell dū ge & slowe and made an ende of hym: notwithstādyng the Cōstable and many othir men beȳg p̄ sent to kepe him. For there were many women & had no pyte
Also this same yere the Duke of Northfolk wyth many gētilmen & yoman toke his barge the .viij. day of Nouembre at seynt Mary onerays. for to haue goo thurgh Londō brygge. & thurgh mysguydȳg of the barge it ouer trewe on the pyles. & many men drowned: but the Duke hym selfe wy t two or thre lepe vpon the pyles. ād so were saued with helpe of mē that were aboue the brigge / which̄ caste downe roopes: by whych̄ they saued hem selfe. Thys same yere on seynt Lenardes day kyng Hē ry beȳg vij. yere of age was crouned at westmynstre at whos coronacyon were made xxxvi. knyghtes / Thys yere on seynt Georges daye he passed ouer the see to Caleys toward Fraūce. Aboute this tyme & a fore y e Reame beȳg in grete myserie & tribulaciō: the Dolphyn with hys partie began to make werre & gete certayn̄ places / & made great destructōn vpō Englisshmē. by y e mene of his capitaȳs: that is to wete la heer / ād potō de saȳtralles. and especial a mayde which̄ they named la pucelle de dieu / This mayd rood lyke a mā & was a vaillaūt capitaī amōge thē / & toke vpō hyr many grete enterprises. in so moch̄ that they had a beleuee to haue recoured all their losses bi hir: Notw t stādȳg at the last aftyr many grete feates by the helpe ād prowesse of sir Iohā Luxemburgh / which̄ was a noble capytayne of the dukes of Burgoign̄: & many Englisshmē pycardes & Burgoygnous which̄ were of our partie before y e towne of Cōpyne the xxiij day of May y e forsaid pucelle was takē. in y e felde armed lyke a mā: & many othir capitaynes w t her / & were all brought to Roan. & ther she was put in prison: & ther she was iuged bi y e lawe to be brēt. & then̄e she sayd y t she was w t childe. wherby she was respited a while: but ī ꝯclusiō it was fōde that she was not with childe. & thenne she was brent in Roan· and the othir Capitayns were put to rawnsone & entreated as men of werre ben̄ a customed &c
¶Thys same yere aboute Candelmasse Richard hunder a wollepacker [Page] was dampned for an he [...]e [...]ike / & brēte at the tour hille· ād aboute midlēte Sir Thoās baggely preest ād vicarie of mauē in in Estsexe beside walden was disgrated and dampned for an heretike and brent in smythfeld. And also in this same yere whiles the kȳg was in fraūce ther were many heretikes & lollars y t had purposed to haue made a rising & caste bylles in many places. but blessed be god almighty the capitayn̄ of hē was takē / whos name was William maundeuille a weve of Abyngdone & bayly of the same towne / which̄ named hȳ selfe jak sharpp of wygmoresland in walys / & afterward he was beheded at Abȳgdone in the witsonweke on the wysday: This same yere y e vj. day of Decēbre kyng Hēry the vj. was crouned kyng of Fraūce at Paris in y e chirche of our lady with grete solēpnite / there beyng present the cardynall of Englōd / y e duke of Bedford: & many othir lordes of Fraūce & of Englōd. ād after this coronacyō & grete feste holdē at Paris. the kȳg retorned frō thēs to Roan / & so toward caleys. And y e ix. day of Feuerer londed at Douer. whō all the comȳs of Kēte met at berādoun bitwene caūterbury & douer all in rede hodes & so came forth till he came to the Black hethe where he was mette w t y e maire Iohā wellys wy t all the craftis of Londō clad all in white / & so they brought hȳ to Lō dō the xxi. day of y e same moneth ¶This same yere was a restraȳt of the wollis of Caleys made by y e soudiours by cause thei were not payd of their wages wherfor the duke of Bedford regent of Fraū ce beyng then̄ Capitayn came to Caleys the tewysday in the esterweke / And on y e morne after many soudiours of the towne were arested & put ī warde: And in the same weke he rood to Terewyne: & by the mene of the bysshopp of terewyne he wedded the erles doughter of seȳt Poull & came ayen̄ to Caleys / And on the xi. daye of juyne on seȳt Bernabes day. there were four soudiours of caleys that were chyef causers of the restreȳt beheded. that is to wete johan Maddeley. Iohan lundaye Thomas palmer / & Thomas talbot / & an. c.x. banisshed out y e toune that same tyme & before were banisshed C & xx. soudiours And on mydsomer euē after came the lord regent & his wyfe to Londō /
Of y e heresie of Praghe. & of y e coūcelll of aras. where the Duke of Burgoygn̄ became Frenssh Capitulo CC.xlix
Aboute this time pope martyn deyde. And after him Eugenye y e iiij. was pope This was pesibly chosē in Rome by the cardinals / & was very and [Page] & indubytate pope / but shorthely after he was put & expulsed owte of Rome ī such̄ wyse that he was fayne to flee naked In this same tyme was the coūceyl of basill to which̄ coūceyl he was cited to come but he rought not nesette not therby / but gate the cite of Rome & abode still pope xvij. yere / This yere aboute witsontyde the heretikes of Praghe were destroyed▪ for at two iourneys were destroyed of them mo thā xxij. thousād. with hir capitaȳs. that is to wete procapȳs. saplico & lupus presbit (er) Also there was takē a Lyue / maistir piers clerke an Englysshmā / and heretike Also this same yere was a grete frost & a stronge duryng xi. wekes: for it begā on seȳt katherines euē & lasted vnto seȳt scolasticais day in feurer. in whych̄ tyme the vȳtage that came frō Burdeur came ouer shoters hille This yere was y e coūceil of Aras & a grete traitye bitwen̄ the kyng of Englōd & the kyng of Fraūce where was assembled many grete lordes of bothe parties: at whiche coūceyl was offred to the kȳg of Englōd many grete thȳges bi the moyen of a legate that came fro Rome / whych̄ was cardinall of seint crosse: whych̄ offres were refused bi the cardinall of englōd & othir lordes that were there for the king (punctel) wherfore y e duke of burgoygne whiche had ben̄ lōge englyssh sworne / forsoke our partye & retourned frēssh by mene of the said legate & made a pees w t y e frēsshe kȳg receyuȳg of y e kyng for recōpēsing of his fadres deth y e coū te of Pontien· y e lorship of macon with moche othir as is specyfied in the said trayttie / & so oure ēbassatours came hom̄ ayen̄ in werse caas thā they wēte: for thei lostē there y e duke of burgoign̄ whiche had ben̄ w t hys burgoignons & picardes a singuler helpe in all the cōquest of Normādye and of fraūce / This sam̄ yere was a grete batayll on y e see bytwen̄ the Ieneweys & the king of Aragon. of which̄ bataill the Ieneweys had y e victorie: for they toke y e kȳg of aragon / the kȳg of Nauerne: & the grete maister of seȳt james in galise: wy t iij.C. knightes & squiers. & moche othir peple. & this was on seȳt Dominikes day. This same yere were seē iij. sōnes attones. & anon̄ folowed the threfold gouernaūce in the chirch̄ / that is to wete of Eugenye / & of the coūceyll / & of y e neutralite. Also this sam̄ yere M.cccc.xxxiiij was a passȳg grete wȳde: bi which̄ steples houses & trees were ouerthrowen Aboute this time was in holāde an holy mayd called Lydwyth. y e which̄ lyued onely bi myracle not etyng ony mete. Thys same yere the duke of Burgoign̄ began his ordre at Lyle of the golden Flyes and ordeyned certeyne knyghtes [Page] of the ordre and made statutes / & ordinaūces moch̄ accordȳg vnto the ordre of the Garter. Also thys same yere the Frēsshmen had enterprysed to haue stolē Caleys in the fissyng time. for many bootis of Fraūce had saufcoūduytis to come to Caleys for to take herȳg And the soudeours of the towne had a custome to come to chyrch̄ / & leue their stauis stādyng at the chyrche dore: The Frēsshmē whiche were araied lyke fysshers had purposed to haue taken so theyr wepen ād wonne the towne. but one of them lay w t a comȳ womā y e nyght to fore & tolde to hir their coūceill. & she on the morne told y e lieutenaūt: which̄ forthwith commaūded that euery mā shold kepe his wepē in his honde sakrȳg tyme & othir: And whā they apꝑceyued this y t they were myspoȳ ted. they sailled strayt to depe and stale ād toke that towne And on newyers euē after thei tokē harflete / & thus the Englisshmen began to losse a littell and a littell in Normandye
How Caleys & Gwyhenes were beseged by the duke of Burgoign̄ ād how they were rescued by the duke of Gloucestre Capitulo CC.l
THis yere was gret noyse thurgh Englōd howe the duke of Burgoigne wold come and besiege Caleys (punctel) wherfore the Erle of mortayne wy t his armeye y t he had for to haue goō with into Fraūce was ꝯtremaū ded & charged that he shold go to Caleys which̄ was at that tyme well vitailled & māned. for sir Iohā raclife was lyeutenaūt vndyr the king in that town̄ And y e baron of duddeley lieutenaūt of the castell. And the ix. day of juyll the duke of Burgoign̄ with all y e power of Flaūdres & moch̄ othir peple came before caleys & sette hys siege aboute the towne ād euery towne of Flaūdres had their tentes by hē selfe: ād this siege endured thre wekes. In the mene while the Duke of Glowcestre beyng protectour of Englōd & wente ouer the see to Caleys. for to rescue the town̄ or to fight with the duke & hys hoost. if they wold haue byden / This tyme london & euery good towne of Englond sente ouer see to this rescouse certaȳ peple well araied of the best & chosē men for the werre / And the ij day of August the said duke of Gloucestre arriued at Caleys w t all his armye & v. hōdred shippes & moo: & the duke & all hys oost that lay in the siege as sone as they espied the sailles in the see before thei approched Caleys hauē sodēly in a mornȳg departed fro the siege leuyng behynde thē moch̄ stuffe & vitaille and fledde into Flaūdres and pycardie ād in lyke wyse dyde [Page] to the siege that lay tofore guynes / where as thei of Gwynes toke the grete gonnes of brasse kalled Dygeon ād many othir grete gonnes & serpētynes: And then̄e whā the duke of Glowcestre was arryued with alle his oost he wē te in Flaūdres. & was therinne xj dayes / & dyd but lyttell harme except he brente two fayr vyllages / poperyng & Belle & othir howses whiche were of no strenghthe. ād so he retorned home agayn̄. Also thys same yere the king of Skotland beseged noresburgh w t moch̄ peple. But sir Rauf gray departed fro the castell ād ordeyned for rescouse. But assone as the kyng vndyrstode his departȳg he sodē ly brake hys siege and wente hys way & leuȳg moch̄ ordinaūce behȳde him. where he gate no wurship This same yere the ij. day of Ianiuer quene katheryne which̄ was the kinges moder & wyfe to kyng Hēry the fi [...] he deyde. & departed oute of thys world: & was brought rially thurgh Lōdō / & so to westmynster / & there she lyeth wurshipfully buryed in our lady chappell / And also this same yere the xiiij. day of Ianiuer fyll doune the gate with the towre on lō don brygge toward southwerke. with two archiers & all that stode therō. This same yere was a grete trayttie holden bitwen̄ Grauenyng and Caleys bitwen̄ y e kyng & the duke of burgoigū. wherefor the king was the cardinal of Englond the duke of Northfolk and many othir lordes. & for the duke was y e ducesse hauyng full power of hir lord as regent & lady of his londes. where was takē by thaduyse of bothe parties an abstinē ce of werre for a certayne tyme in the name of the duchesse / & not of the duke· because he had goō frō his othe & liegeaunce that he had made to kīg Henry therfor / The kyng neuer wolde wryte ne apoī te ne haue to do w t hī aftir / but al in the duchesses name Also this same yere deyed quen̄ jane the ij. day of Iuyll whych̄ had ben kȳg Hēry the fourthis wyfe. ād was karyed fro bermondsey vnto caunterbury: where she lyeth buried by kyng Hēry the fourthe hyr howshold. This same yere deyed all the lyons into the towre of lō don: the whyche had not be seyn many yeres before oute of mȳde
¶How owaȳ a squyer of Walys that had wedded Quene Katheryne was arested. & of the scisme of Eugenye & Felix Capitulo CC.li.
IN the xvi. yere of kyng hē ry deyde Sygismōde emperour of Almaygne. ād knyght of the garter / whos entierement the kyng kepte at seynt Powles in Lōdon ryally: where [Page] was made a ryall herfe / & the kīg in hys astate clad in blew was at euen at Dirige / & on the morne at masse. &c And after hȳ was elect & chosen Albert Duke of Ostrich̄. which̄ had wedded Sigismondis doughter for to be emꝑour This was takē ād receyued to be kyng of Beme & Hungarie / because of his wife that was Sigysmōdus doughter: whych̄ lefte after hym non̄ othir heir. This Albert was emꝑour but one yere: for he was empoysoned· & so deide he: & somme saidē y t he deyed of a flixe: but he was a vertuouse mā & pyteful so moch̄ that all y e peple that knewe hȳ said· that y e world was not worthy to haue his p̄sence / Thys same yere one Owayn a squier of Walys a man of lowe birth whiche had many a day tofore secretly wedded quen̄ katheryne & had by her iij. sones: & a doughter / ād he was taken & cōmaūded to newgate to prysō bi my lord of gloucestre protectour of the reame / ād this yere he brake pryson by y e mene of a prest that was his chappelayne. ād after he was takē agaȳ by my lord hemond & brought agaȳ to newgate / which̄ afterward was delyuered at large ād one of his sones aft (er)ward was made erle of Richemōd: & an othir erle of Pēbroke. & the iij. a monk of westmynster / which̄ monke deide son̄ after / This same yere also on newyereisday at baynarde castel fill down̄ a stak of wode sodēli at afternone & slow iij. mē mescieuously & foule hurt othir / also at Bedford on a Shere day were viij. mē murthred wy toute strok by fallȳg a downe of a steirr̄ / as they came oute of theyr comȳ halle & many foule hurt. In the xviij yere sir rychard beauchāp the good Erle of warrewyk deyde at Rowā he beyng that time lieutenāt of y e king in Normādie: & frō thēs his body was brought to warrewyk where he lyeth wurshipfully in a new chappell on y e southside of y e quire Also this yere was a grete derthe of corne in all ēglōd / for a busshell of whete was worth xl. pēs in many places of englōd. and yet men might not haue ynowgh wherfore stephē Brown y t tyme maire of London sent in to Pruse and brought to lōdō certaine shippes laden with rye / which̄ eased & dyd moch̄ good to the peple. for corne was so skare in Englōd that ī some places of englōd poure peple made hē brede of fern rotes This yere the generall coūceill of basille deposed pope Eugenie. ād they chosen Felix which̄ was duke of Sauoye. & thā begā y e scisme whiche endured vnto the yere of our lord Iesu crist M·cccc.xlviij. This felix was a deuote prȳce & sawe y e sones of his sones. & after lyued a holy & deuoute lyfe ād was chosē [Page] pope by the coūceill of basile Eugenie deposed. & so the scisme was longe tyme. And thys Felix had no moch̄ obediēce by cause of the neutralite. for the moste part ād well nygh̄ all cristēdome obedied & reputed Eugenye for very pope: god knoweth who was y e very pope of them both̄ / for both̄ occuped duryng y e lyfe of Eugenye / This sam̄ yere sir Rychard whiche was vicarye of Hermettesworth was degrated of his presthede at Poulys: & brēte at tour hyll as for an heretyke on seȳt Botulphus day: how wel at his deth he deyde a good cristē man. wherfore after his deth moch̄ peple cam̄ to the place where he had be brēt▪ & offred & made a heepe of stones & sette vp a crosse of tree & helde hī for a saynt till the mayre & sherewes by the cōmaūdemēt of y e kȳg & of bisshoppes destroied it: & made there a doughille: Also this same yere the sherews of londō fette oute of seynt Martins y e graūt the seintwarye fyue ꝑsones whyche aft (er)ward were restored agayn̄ to the saȳtwarie by the kȳges iustyces. After Alberte y e iij. Frederike was chosen emꝑour / This frederyke Duke of Osterike was lō ge emꝑour. & desired to be crowned at Rome by cause of y e scisme / but after that vnyō was had / he was crowned with imperiall dy [...]deme wy t grete glorie & triūphe / of pope Nycholas the fowrthe. Thys was a man pesible quyete & of singuler paciēce: not hatyng the chyrche / he wedded the kȳg of portȳgales doughter &c
¶How the duchesse of gloucestre was arested for treson & commyted to perpetuall pryson in the [...]ie of Man. ād of the deth of maistir Rogier Bolyngbroke Capitulo cclij.
IN this yere Elianore cobham duchesse of Gloucestre was arested for certaȳ pointys of treson leyd ayens hyr wher vpon she was examined in seynt stephens chappell at Westmynster before the Erchebisshop of Caūterbury. ād there she was enyoned to opyn penaūce for to go thurgh chepe beryng a taper in her hond. & after to perpetuall prison in the Ile of Man vndyr y e kepȳg of sir Thomas stāley: also that sam̄ tyme was arestyd maister Thomas southwel a chanon of westmȳster maistir johā hune a chappelaȳ of the said lady / maistir Roger bolȳgbroke a clerk vsing nygromācie: & one margery jurdeman called the which̄ of eye beside westmynster (punctel) Thise were arested as for beyng of coūceill w t the said duchesse of Glowcestre / & as for maistir Thomas soutwell he deyde in the tour the night before he shold haue be reyned on y e [Page] morne for so he said hȳ self that he shold deye in his bedde / ād not by iustise. And in the xx. yere maistir Iohan Hune ād maistir Rogier bolȳgbroke were browght to the guyldhalle in londō: & ther before the maire the lordes & chief Iustice of Englōd were rayned & dāpned both̄ to be drawen hanged & quartred: but maistir Iohā hune had his chartre & was pardoned by the kynge. but maistir Rogier was drawen to Tiborne: Where he cōfessyd that he neuer had trespaced: & in that he deyde fore / not withstādyng h̄e was hāged beheded ād quartred / on whos sowle god haue mercy / & Margery jurdemayn was brent in smythfeld / Also this yere was a grete affraye in Fletstret by nyghtes tyme / bytwen̄ men of court ād men of londō & dyuerse men slayne & sō me hurte / and one herbotell was chief cause of the misgouernaūce and affraye / Also thys yere at y e chesing of the mayre of London the ꝯmunes named Robert clapton▪ & Rawlyn holand. Taylor y e aldremen toke Robert claptō ād brought him atte right honde of the mayre as the custome is And then̄e certeyn tayllours ād othir hond crafty men cryed Nay. nat this man. but Rawlyn holande. wherfore the maire that was padysly sēte to thaȳ that so cryed to newgate where they abode a grete whyle and were punisshed: In thys sam̄ yere were diuerse enbassatours sente into Gwyan for a mariage for the kȳg / for the erles doughter of Armynake. whyche was concluded / but by the mene of the Erle of Sutfolk it was lette ād put a parte And after this the said Erle of suthfolk wēt ouer the see into fraūce: & there he trated the mariage bytwen̄ the kȳg of Englōd & the kȳges doughter of Secyle & of Iherusalē
And the next yere it was conclucluded fully y e mariage▪ by which̄ mariage the kyng shold delyuere to hir fadre the duchie of Angeoy & the Erledome of mayne· which̄ was the keye of Normādie then̄ departed the erle of sutfolk with his wyfe & diuerse lordes & knightes in the moste ryall astate that myght be oute of Englond with newe chares and palfrayes whiche wente thurgh chepe & so wēte ouer y e see & receyued hir & sith brought her in the lēte after to hāpton where she lāded & was rially receyued / & on cādelmasse euē before by a grete tēpest of thonder & lightnȳg at afternone paulꝰ steple was set a fyre on the myddes of shafte in the Tymbre / whiche was quenched by forse of labour / and spicially bi the labour of the morow masse preest of the bowe in chepe: which̄ was thought impossible sauf onely y e grace of god [Page] This yere was the erle of staford made & create duke of bolȳgham y e erle of warrewyk duke of warrewyke. the erle of dorset makeys of dorset. & therle of soutfolk was made marquys of Suffolk
¶How kȳg Hēry wedded Quen̄ margarete & of hyr coronacyon Cap. ducentesimo lij
IN this yere kyng Henry maryed at soutwerk que margrete & she came to lō don the xviij day of maye And bi the way all the lordes of englond receyued hir wurshipfully in dyuerse places: & in especiall the Duke of gloucestre. & on y e blake heth the mayre [...] aldremen ād all y e craftes in blewe gōnes browdred wy t the deuyse of hys crafte that they myght be therby knowen mette wy t hir with reed hoodes: & brought hir to london. where were diuerse pagentis ād continuāce of diuerse histories shewde in diuerse places of the cyte rially & costeli And the forsaid quen̄ was crouned at westmynster / & there was joustes thre dayes duryng withȳ the santuarye to fore the abbeye. This yere the pryour of Kylmyan appeled the erle of Vrmond of treson: which̄ had a day assygned to them for to fyght in smythfeld And the lystes were made & feeld dressid: but it came to point. The kȳg commaūded that they shold not fyght. but toke the quarellys into his owne hond / ād this was don̄ at the instaūce and labowre of certain̄ prechours & doctours of Lōdō as maistir gillebert worthyngton parson of seint Andrewes in holborne and othir. Also this same yere cam̄ a grete enbassade into Englōd owte of Fraū ce for to haue ꝯcluded a perpetuell pees but in conclusiō it torned vnto a triewes of a yere: Aboute thys tyme deyde seynt Barnardine a gray frere. whiche began the new reformacion of that ordre in many places / ī so moche y t they y t were reformed bene called obseruaūtes. whiche obseruaūtes ben̄ encrecid gretly in Italye & in Almaigne: this Bernardyn was canonysed by pope Nicholas the v. In the yere M.cccc.l. Iohānes de capestrano was his disciple: whiche profyted moch̄ to the reformacion of that ordre / for whō god shewyd many a fayre myracle: Also here is to be noted that from this tyme forthward kȳg hēry neuer profyted ne went forthward. but fortune began to tourne frō him on all sides as well in fraūce Normandye Guyan as in Englond. Somme men holde opynyone y t kyng Henry yaf commyssyō plenerly to sir Edward hulle sir Robert roos dene of seynt Seuerȳs & othir to conclude a mariage for hym. with y e Erle of Arminakes suster which̄ was promysed as it [Page] was sayd and concluded: but afterward it was broken: & he wedded quene Margrete as a fore is sayd: which̄ was a dere maryage for the Reame of Englōd: for it is knowen veryly / that for to haue her / was delyuered the duchye of Angeoy & the Erledōme of mayne▪ which̄ was the keye of Normā die for the Frensshmen tentre / & aboue this the said marqueys of suthfolcke axid in plaȳ ꝑlement a fyftenth ād an halfe for to fecce her oute of Fraūce / Lo what mariage was this as to the comparison of that othir mariage of armynyke: for ther shold haue ben̄ delyuered so many castelles & tounes in Gwihēne: & so moch̄ good shold haue ben yeuen with her. y t alle Englond shold haue ther by enryched / but contrarie wise fylle Wherfore euery grete prynce owght to kepe his ꝓmyse / for because of brekyng of his promyse / and for mariage of y e Quen̄ margret / what losse had the reame of Englond by lossyng of Normādye & Gwyan by diuision in the reame the rebelling of communes ayēst theire prynce & lordes / what deuision amonge y e lordes. what murdre and sleyng of them. what feldes fowghten & made in cōclusiō so many that many a man hath lost his lyfe / & in conclusiō the kīg deposed. & the quen̄ with hir sone fayne to flee into scotlād. & from thens īnto Fraūce. & so to Loraine that she came fyrst fro. many men deme y t y e brekīg of y e kynges ꝓmysse to the suster of therles of Armynak was cause of this grete losse and aduersite
¶How the good duke of gloucestre Humfrey y e kȳges vncle was arested at the parlement of bury and of his deth. & how Angeoy in mayne was delyured Capitulo CCliij.
IN the yere xxv. of kȳg hē ry was a parlemēt at bury kalled seynt Edmōdes burie aboute: which̄ was cōmaunded all the ꝯmunes of the contre to be there in their moste defē sable araye for to awayte vpō the hyng. To which̄ parlemēt came the duke of Gloucestre hūfrey the kīges vncle / which̄ had ben̄ protectour of Englōd all the none age of the kȳg· And anon̄ after as he was in hys loggȳge he was arested by the viscoūte bemond y e conestable of englōd accōpanied w t the duke of Bokyngham & mani othir lordes: And forth with alle his seruaūtes were ꝯmaūded for to departe frō hym & xxxij of the chief of them were also arested ād sente to dyuerse prysons. And anone after this said areste the for sayd duke was on the morne dede. on whos soule god haue mercy Amen / But how he deyde & in [Page] what maner the certainte is not to me knowen / some saide he deide for sorwe: somme saide he was murthred bitwen̄ two fetherbeddes / othir said y t on hote spite was put in at his foūdemēt: but how he deyde god knoweth / to whō is no thing hid. & then̄ whā he was so dede he was leid open that alle mē might see hȳ. And so both̄ lordes & knyghtes of the shires with burgeises came & saw hȳ lye dede but wōde ne tokē coude they perceyue how he deyde. ¶Here may mē mark what the world is / this Duke was a noble man & a grete clerke & had wurshypfully ruled this reame to the kȳges behoue: & neuer coude be founde faute to hȳ. but enuye of thē that were gouernours & had promysed y e Duchie of Angeoy & the erledome of mayne caused the destructyon of this noble man. for they drad hȳ that he wold haue enpesshed that that delyuerāce / & after thei sente his body to seint Albōs w t certeȳ lightes for to be buried And so sir geruays of clifton had thā y e charge to conueye y e corps: & so it was buried at seint Albōs in y e abbey: & v. persones of his houshold were sente to Lōdō: & there were rained & iugged to be drawen hōged & quartred / of whom the names were sir Rogier chāburlayne knyght / on middeltō a squier (punctel) Herbard a squier▪ Arthur a squier ād Richard nedhā / whiche v. ꝑsones were drawē frō the tour of Lōdō. thurgh chepe vnto Tiborne / and there hōged & late down̄ quyke. & then̄ strypt for to haue ben̄ beheded & quartred / And then̄ y e [...]arquys of sutfolke shewed there for the the kȳges ꝑdon vndyr his grete seall / & lo they were ꝑdoned of the remenaūt of the execucyō / ād had their lyues And so they were brought agayne to Lōdō. & aftyr freely deliured / Thꝰ begā y e troble in y e Reame of Englōd: for y e deth of this noble duke of Gloucestre / All the cōmunes of y e Reame began for to murmure for it. & were not cō [...]ent. after that pope Eugenye was dede / Nycholas y e fifthe was electe pope. Thys nycholas was chosen for Eugenye yet hā gyng the cisme not withstādyng he gate y e obediāce of all crystē reames / for after he was electe & sacred pope: certayne lordes of fraunce & of Englōd were sente into sauoye to pope Felix: for to entrete him to cesse of the papocie / and by the spiciall labour of y e bisshop of Norwych̄: & the lord of seȳt Iohānes. he cessed the secōd yere aft that pope Nycholas was sacred / And y e said Felix was made legate of fraūce & cardinall of sauoye / & resigned y e hole papocie to Nycholas. & after lyued an holy lyfe. & deide an holy mā. & as it is said almyghty god shewed myracles [Page] for hȳ / Thys was the xxiij scisme bytwen̄ Eugenye & felix. & dured xvj yere / y e cause was this: the general counceill of Basille deposed Eugenye / which̄ was onely pope and indubitate / for asmoch̄ as he obserued not & kepte the decrees & statutes of y e coūceill of Cōstaū ce as it is a fore said: nethir he rought not to gyue obediēce to that general coūceill in no maner wise / wherof arose a grete alteracyō amōg writars of this maters ꝓ et contra / whiche can not accorde vnto this day. One partie sayth. that the coūceyll is aboue the pope: that othir partie said: nay. but the pope is aboue the cownceyll. God blessid aboue all thȳges gyue & graūte his pees in holy chirche spouse of Crist. amen ¶Thys Nycholas was of Iene comen of lowe byrthe a doctour of diuinite an attyf man: he reedified many places that were brokē & ruynous: & dide do make a grete walle aboute the palays & made the walle newe aboute Rome for drede of the turkes. And y e peple wō dred of the eresing & resingyng of Felix to hī cōsidered that he was a man of so humble burth̄ / & that othir was of affynyte to all the most part of cristen prȳces. wher of there was a verse publyssed in this maner Lux fulsit mundo ces sit Felix Nycholao
¶How sir Franceys araganoys toke Fogiers in normandye / ād of the losse of Constantinoble by the turke Capi. CCliiij.
IN the yere of kȳg Henry xxvij / beȳg trewes bitwene fraūce & Englōd a knight of y e Englyssh partie. named Fogiers ayēst the trewes made / of which̄ takȳg begā moch̄ sorwe & losse / For this was the occasion by which̄ the Frēsshmen ga [...]e all normādye &c. Aboute this tyme the cyte of Constantinoble whyche was Imperiall cite in all grece was takē bi y e Turkes [...]nfidels which̄ was betraied as sōme holde opynyon: & the Emperour takē & slayne. And that riall chyrch̄ of sācta sophia robbed & despoil [...]led: & the relyques & ymages and the rode drawē aboute the strete. which̄ was don̄ in despyte of cristen feyth And sone after all cristē fayth in Grece perisshed and cessid / Ther were many crysten mē slaine and innumerable sold and put in captiuite by the takyng of thys towne· where thurgh y e turke is gretely enhaunsed in pryde [...] and it is a grete losse vnto all cristendomme
¶In the yere xxviij. was a grete parlement holden at Westmȳ ster. And from thens by the commaundement of the king it was adiourned to the Blake freris at London / And after Cristmas to [Page] westmynster agayn: And this same yere Robert of cane a man of the west cōtre wy t a fewe shyppes toke a grete floote of shyppes comyng oute of the baye ladē with salt: which̄ shippes were of pruis Flaūdres. holād & zeland: & brought hem to Hamptō. wherfore y e marchādys of Englōd beyng in Flaundres were arested in Brugges Ippre & othir places. & might not be delyuered ne theyr dettys descharged tyll they had made apoyntemēt for to paye for thamē des & hurtes of the shippes whyche was paied by the marchauntes & goodes beyng in Dāske were also arested & made grete amē des: This same yere the frēsshmē in a mornyng toke by a trayne y e toune of pount larche: & theryn y e lord faconbrygge was take prisoner. And after that ī decēbre Roan was taken & loste. beyng therī the duke of Somersette. Edmōd the erle of shrewsbury: whiche by apoȳtement left plegges ād loste all Normādie & came home. And duryng the sayd ꝑlemēt the duke of Sutfolk was arested & sente into the toure. & ther he was a moneth· & after the kyng dyd do fecche hym oute. for which̄ cause all the communes of Englōd were in a grete Rumour. what for the delyueraūce of Angeoy & mayn / & after losing of all Normādye· & in espicial for the deth̄ of the good duke of Gloucestre. In so moch̄ y t in some places men gadred to gedres & made hem capitaynes as bleweberd & othir: which̄ were afterward resisted & taken and had justyce & deide. And then̄ the said ꝑlement was adiourned to leycestre / & thyder the king brought w t him the duke of Suthfolk / & whē the ꝯmune hous vnderstode y t he was oute of the toure / camē thyder & they desired to haue execucyon on them that were cause of the delyuerāce of Normādie. and had bē cause of the deth of the duke of Glowcestre. & had sold Gascoygne & Gwyan. of whiche they named to be gylty the duke of sutfolk as chief. the lord saye. the bisshop of salysbury: Daniell & many moo And for to pease the cō mons the duke of suthfolke was exylled oute of Englōd v. yere: ād so duryng the parlement / he wē te into Northfolke / ād there toke he his shyppyng for to goo owte of the reame of Englōd into fraunce And this yere as he saylled on the see a shipp of werre kalled the Nycholas of tour mette with shippe & foūde hȳ therynne / whō they toke out & brought hym into their shippe tofore the maistir & capytayns. & there he was examined and atte last iugged to the deth / And so they put hȳ in a Cabon & his chapelayne for to shryue him. & that don̄ they browght [Page] hȳ into Doner rode ād there sette hī into the boot & there smoten of his hede & brought the body a lō de vpō the sondes & sette the hede therby. And this was don̄ y e fyrst day of Maye: Lo what auaylled hym nowe all his delyuerance of Normandie &c. And here ye may here howe he was rewarded for y e deth of y e duke of Gloucestre / Thꝰ began sorow vpō sorow ād deth / for deth: &c
¶How this yere was thinsurrexion in Kente of the cōmunes of whom Iake kade an Irissh man was capytayne Ca cc.lv
THis yere of owre lord Mcccc.l. was the grete grace of Iubilee at Rome: where was grete pardon. in so moche that from all places in cristendome grete multitude of peple resorted thyder: Thys yere was a grete assemble & gadryng to gedre of the cōmuns of Kēte in grete nō bre & made an insurrexiō & rebelled ayens the king & his lawes / & ordeyned hȳ a capitaȳ called Iohan kade an Irisshman / whyche named hym selfe mortymer cosȳ to the duke of yorke And this capitaȳ helde these men to gedre: ād made ordenaūces among thē ād browght hē to blakeheth: where he made a bill of peticions to the kīg & his coūceyll / & shewed what iniuries & opp̄ssyōs the poure cō mȳs suffred / ād all vndyr colour for to come to his aboue & he had a grete multitude of peple And y e xvij day of Iuyn̄ the kȳg w t mani lordes capitayns & men of werre wēte toward hȳ to the blakeheth And whē the capitaȳ of kēte vnderstode the comȳg of y e kȳg w t so grete puissaūce withdrewe hȳ wy t his peple to seuenoke a littel village: & the xxviij day of Iuyn̄ he beyng withdrawē & goon / y e kȳg came wy t his armie sette in ordre ād enbatailled to the blakheth And by aduis of his cownceyll sent sir v [...]nfrey stafford knight & Willyā stafford squier two valyaūt capitaȳs w t certaȳ peple to fyght w t y e capitaȳ & to take hȳ & bryng him & his accessaries to the kȳg. which̄ wente to seuenoke & there y e capitaȳs mette w t hē & fought ayenst hem & in cōclusiō slewe thē both̄. & as many as abode & wold not yelde hȳ ner flee. durȳg this skarmussh fyll a grete variaūce amō ges the lordes men & comȳ peple beyng on y e blakeheth ayēst theyr lordes & capytayns sayng plaȳly that they wold go to the capitaȳ of Kente to assiste & helpe hī· but yf they might haue execucyō on y e traitours beyng aboute the kȳg wherto y e kȳg said nay / And they said playnly that the lord saye tresorer of Englōd· the bisshop of salisbury the baron of duddely / the abbot of Gloucetua: daniel & treuilliā & many mo were traitours [Page] ād worthy to be ded herfor / for to plese the lordes meine & also some of y e kȳges hous the lord saie was arested & sente to the tour of lōdō / & then̄e the kyng herȳg tidinges of the deth & ouerthrowȳg of the staffordes witdrewe hȳ to lōdō. & fro thēs to kyllȳgworth: for y e kȳg ne the lordes durst not trust their owne howshold meyne &c Then̄ after y t the capitayne had the victorie vpō these staffordes anon̄ he toke sir Vmfreys salade & his brigātins smitē full of gylt nailles & also his gylt spores & araied hȳ like a lord & a capitaȳ & resorted wy t all his meyne & also moo than he had to the blakheth agaȳ: to whō came the erchebisshop of caūterbury & the duke of bokȳghā to y e blakheth & spake w t hym / & as it was said thei fownde hȳ witty in his talking & requeste. & so they departed / & the thridde day of Iuyll he came & entred into lōdō wy t all his peple / & there dyde make cryes in the kȳges name & in his name: that no man sholde robbe ne take no mānes good but if he payed for it. & came ridyng thurgh y e cite in grete pride & smote his sweerd vpon lōdō stone in cāwykestrete / And he beȳg in the cite sente to y e towre for to haue the lord saye. & so they fete hȳ & brought hī to the Guyld hall before the maire & the aldremē where he was examined & he said he wold & owght to ben̄ iuged bi his peres: & the cō munes of kēte toke hym by force from the mayre & officiers y t kepte hym ād toke him to a preste for to shriue him / & er he might halfe ben̄ shryuē. thei brought hȳ to the Standard in chepe / & there smote of hys hede / on whos soule almighty god haue pyte & mercy / amē And thus deyde y e lorde saye tresorer of Englond / After this they set his hede on a spere & bare it aboute in y e cyte. And the sam̄ day aboute the myle ende crowemer was beheded. And the day before afternone the capytaine wy t certayne of his meyne wēte to Phelipp malpas hous & robbed him & toke a way moch̄ good And fro thēs he wēt to seȳt Margrete patyns to one gherstys hous & robbed hȳ & toke away moche good also. at whych̄ robbȳg diuerse mē of Lōdō of their neighbours were & toke part w t thē / for thys robbyng the peples hertes fyll from hym. & euery thrysty man was a ferd for to be serued in lyke wyse / for ther was many a man in london that awayted & wolde fayne haue seē a cōmune robberie which̄ almyghty god forbede / for it is to suppose yf he had not robbed: he might haue goon fer er he had be withstonde / For the kȳg & alle the lordes of y e Reame of Englōd were departed. except y e lord Scales that kepte y e towre of Lōdō. & [Page] the fifte day of Iuyll he dyde don̄ smite of a mānys hede ī soutwerke / & the night aft y e maire of lōdō the aldremē & the ꝯmunes of y e cite cōcluded to driue away y e capitaȳ & his hoost / & sente to the lord scales to the tour. ād to Mathew gogh a capitaȳ of Normādie that thei wold y t night assaille the capitaȳ wy t thē of Kēte. & so they dyd / & camē to lōdon brygge in southwerke er y e capytaȳ had any knowlege therof / & there they fought w t thē that kepte y e brygge & y e kē tisshmen wēte to harnoys & cam̄ to the brygge & shot & fowght wy t hē & gate the brygge ād made thē of Londō to flee & slow many of hē / & this endured all the night to & fro tyll ix. of the clocke on y e morne / & atte last thei brēte the drawe brugge where many of thē of Lō dō were drowned. in which̄ night Suttō an alderman was slayne Rogier heysant & mathew gohe: & many othir / And after this the chaūceler of Englōd sēt to the capitaȳ a pardone generall for hī. & an othir for all his meyne: & then̄ they deꝑted frō southwerke eueri mā hom̄ to his hows / & whē thei were all deꝑted & goon. ther were ꝓclamaciōs made in Kēte soutsex & ī othir places that what mā cowde take the capitaȳ quyke or dede shulde haue a M. mark. and after this. one Alysawnder Iden squier of Kente toke hȳ in gardȳ in southsex: ād in the takyng the capytayn Iohan cade was slain̄. and after beheded ād his heed set on london brygge: And anon̄ after then̄e the kyng came into kē te & dyd his iustices sitte at caunterbury / & enquered who were accessarees & chyef cause of thys insurrexiō / And there were viij. mē iugged to deth in one day. & in othir places moo / and fro thēs the king went into soutsex & into the westcontre / where a lyttell before was slayne the bisshop of Salysbury / & this same yer̄ were so many iugged to deth that xxiij hedes stode on london brigge attones
¶Of the felde that y e duke of york toke at brentheth in Kente. And of the byrthe of prynce Edward: & of the fyrst bataill at seȳt Albōs where the duk of somersette was slayne Capi. CC.lvi
IN the yere xxx. The duke of yorke came oute of the marche of Walys wy t the Erle of denenshire & the lord Cobham & grete puissaunce for reformaciō of certaȳ jniuries & wronges / & also to haue justyce on certayn lordes beyng aboute y e king ād toke a feld at brentheth beside derthford in kente / whych̄ was a stronge feld / For which̄ cause the kyng with all the lordes of y e lōde went vnto the blakeheth wyth a grete & strōge multitude of peple armed and ordeyned for the werre [Page] in the best wyse And whā they had musteried on the blakeheth / Certayne lordes were sente to hȳ for to trete & make apoȳtemēt w t hȳ. which̄ were the bisshop of ely. & the bisshop of wynchestre: & the erles of salisbury & of warrewyke And they cōcluded that the duke of somersette shold be had to warde & to āswere to such̄ articles as the duke of yorke shold put on hȳ & thā the duke of yorke shold breke his feld & come to the kȳg / whiche was ꝓmysed bi the kȳg: And so the kīg cōmaūded that the duke of Somersette shold be had in ward. & then̄ the duke of york brake vp his feld & came to the kȳg: & whē he was come cōtrary to y e ꝓmyse a fore made / the duke of somersete was p̄sent in the felde awaytȳg & chief aboute the kyng / & made the duke of yorke ryde to fore as a prisoner thurgh lōdon & aft thei wold haue put hī in hold But a noyse arose that the erle of marche his sone was comȳg wy t x.M. men to lōdon ward: wherof the kȳg & his coūceille fered / And then̄ they cōcluded that the Duke of york shold departe at his will / Aboute this tyme begā grete deuysion in sornisse bitwen̄ the grete maistir & y e knightes of the duche ordre / whiche were lordes of y t cōtre· For the cōmunes & tounes rebelled ayēst the lordes / ād made so grete werre that at the last thei kalled the kȳg of Pole to be their lord. the which̄ kȳg came ād was wurshipfully receyued & layde siege to the castell of Marienburgh which̄ was the chief castell & strē gest of all the lond and wan it / ād drofe owte the maistir of Danske & of alle othir places of that land / And also they that had bene lordes many yeres / loste all their lorshyppes and poscessions
And the yere of the Incarnacyō of owre. lord M.cccc.liij. on seynt Edwardes day the quene Margrete was delyuered of a fayr prī ce whiche was named Edward / That same day Iohan Norman was chosen for to bene mayre of londō: And the day that he shold take his othe at Westmynster. he wente thyder by water / wyth all the craftes: where a fore tyme the mayre / aldremen. and all the craftes roode a horsebake whych̄ was neuer vsed after / For syn that tyme they haue goon euer by water in barges
¶Ye haue well vnderstōde tofore how that cōtrarye to the promy-of the kyng and also the conclusions taken bytwene the kyng ād the noble duke of yorke at brentheth: the Duke of Somersete wē te nat to warde: but abode aboute the kyng and had grete rewle. And anone after he was made capytayn of the towne of Caleys and rewled the kyng & his reame [Page] as he wolde: wherfore y e grete lordes of the Reame & also the communes were not plesyd / for whyche cause the Duke of yorke: y e Erles of Warrewyk & of Salisbury wy t many knightes & squyers ād moch̄ peple came for to remeue y e sayd Duke of Somersette & othir fro the kyng / & the kȳg heryng of their comȳg thought by his coū ceyll for to haue goon westward. & not for to mete with hē. & had w t hē the duke of Somersette. the duke of Bokynghā. the erle of Stafford the Erle of Northūberland / lord Clyfford & many othir. And what tyme that the duke of york / & his felawshyp vnderstode y t the kyng was departed w t these sayd lordes frō Londō. anon̄ he chaū ged his way & costed the cōtre ād came to seȳt Albōs the xxiij. day of May & there mette with y e kȳg To whō the kȳg sente certaȳ lordes & desired hē to kepe the pees & departed. but in conclusiō whiles they treated on that one side: the Erle of warrewyk wy t the march̄ men & othir entrid the towne on that othir. & fowght ayēs y e kyng & his partie And so began the bataille & fyghtȳg / which̄ endured a good while: but in conclusion the Duke of yorke obteyned ād had y e victorie of that iourney In whyche bataill was slayn̄ the duke of somersete / the Erle of Northūberland. the lord clifford & many knightes & squyers and many moo hurt / ād on the morne after they brought the kyng in grete astate to Londō: whiche was logged in the bisshoppes paleys of Londō. And anon̄ after was a grete parlement holdē: in which̄ parlemēt the duke of yorke was made protectour of Englond. & the Erle of warrewyk capitaȳ of Caleys ād the erle of Salisbury chaūceler of Englōd: & all such̄ ꝑsones as had the rewle to fore aboute the kyng were set a part & might not rewle as they dyd to fore. In this same yere deyed pope Nycholas y e fifte & after hȳ was calixte y e iij. Thys Calixte was a Catalane & an olde mā whā he was chosen & cōtynuelly seke: wherfore y t he myght not parforme hys zele and desire that he had ayēst the turke cōceiued. & the cause of lettyng therof. was his age and sekenes. Thys Calixte institued & ordeyned y e feste of the transfiguracyon of owr lord to be halowed on seint sixtes day in August / because of y e grete victorie that thei of Hūgary had ayenst the turkes. y t same day he was chosen pope in y e yere of our lord M.cccc.lv / & deied the yer̄ M.cccc.lviij / that sam̄ day that he ordeined the feste of the trāsfiguracyon to be halowed: In this sam̄ yere fyll affraye in Londō ayens the Lumbardes. The cause begā that a yongeman toke a dogger [Page] from a lūbard & brake it / wherfor the yongman on the morne was sēte fore to come before the maire & aldremē / & therefor the offence he was cōmytted to warde / And then̄e the mayre deꝑted from the guyldhall for to goo home to hys diner. but in the chepe the yōgmē of the mercerye for the most part prētises helde y e mayre & sherews still in chepe: & wold not suffre hȳ to deꝑte vnto the time that theyr felawe which̄ was commyted to warde were delyuered / & so bi force they rescued their felaw frō prison (punctel) & that doū the mayre & shereues deꝑted. & the prysoner deliuered which̄ yf he had be put to prison had be in ieoꝑdye of his lyfe & began a rumour in the cyte ayēst the Lūbardes / & the same euenȳg the hād crafty peple of the towne arose & run to the lūbardes howses & despoylled & robbed dyuerse of hē: wherfore the mayre & aldremen came with the honeste peple of the towne & drofe thē thens ād sente some of thē that had stolen to newgate / & the yōgman y t was rescued bi his felawes sawe thys grete rumour afraye & robery ensiwed of his first me [...]ȳg to y e lumbard: deꝑted & wēte to westmȳster to saintuarie / or elles it had costed hȳ his lyfe (punctel) for anone after came downe an oeyr determyne for to do iustyce on all thē that so rebelle [...] in the cite ayens the lūbardes on whiche sate wy t the maire that tyme willyā marowe th̄e duke of bokȳgham & many othir lordes / for to see excecucyon doū but the comyns of the cite secretly made thē redy & dide arme thē in theyr howses & were in purpose for to haue rongē the comȳ belle whyche is named bowe belle: but thei were lette by sad men which̄ cam̄ to the knowlech̄ of the duke of bokynghā & othir lordes & incōtinēt they aroos for thei durst no lēger abyde / for they dowbted that the hole cite shold haue arisen ayenst thē. but yet neuertheles ij. or iij. of y e cite were iuged to deth for thys robbery & were hāged at Tiborn̄ / Anone after the king the quene & othir lordes rode to couētre and withdrewe hē frō lōdon for thise cause: & a littell tofore the duke of yorke was sēte fore to grenewich ād there he was discharged of the ꝓtectourship. And my lord of salisbury of his chaūcelership And after this they were sent fore by preuy seall for to come to couētre where thei were almost deceyued / & y e erle of warrewyk also & shold haue ben̄ destroied if thei had not seen well to
How the lord Egremōd was taken by therle of Salisburyes sones. and of the robbyng of sandwhych. Capitu. CClvij
[Page] THis yere were taken iiij. grete fisshes bitwen̄ Eerethe & Lōdō that one was kalled mors marine. the secōd aswerd fisshe. & y e othir tweyne wer̄ wales. In thys same yere for certayne affraye don̄ in y e northcōtre bitwen̄ the lord Egremōd & y e erle of salisbury sones. the said lord Egremōd whō they had takē was cōdāpned in a grete some of money to the said Erle of salisbury & therfor cōmysed to prysō in newgate in lōdō. wher whā he had be a certaȳ space he brak the prysō & iij. prisoners w t hȳ & escaped & wēt his way / Also this yere the erle of warrewyk & his wyfe wēte to caleys wy t a fayre felawshyp & toke poscession of hys office. Aboute this time was a grete reformacion of many monasteries of religion in diuerse parties of the world which̄ were reformed after y e first institucion & continued in many places. Also aboute this time the crafte of enprȳtȳg was first fōde in Magūte in Almaygne / which̄ craft is (mltiplied) multiplied thurgh y e world in many places: & bokes ben̄ had grete chepe & in grete nombre by cause of y e same craft This sam̄ yere was a grete bataill in the marches bitwen̄ hūgerie & turkye / at a place kalled septedrawe: where innumerable turkes were slayn̄. more by myracle than by mānes hōde For onely the honde of god smote thē: seȳt johā of capestrane was there p̄sent & prouoked y e cristen peple beyng then̄ aferd afterward to pursiewe y e turkes / where infinite multitude were slayn̄ ād destroied: the turkes said y t a grete nōbre of armed mē folowed thē y t they were aferd to turne agayn̄. they were holy angelis. This same yere the prisoners of newgate in lōdō brake their prysons & wē te vpō y e leedes & fought ayēs thē of the cite. & kepte the gate a lōge while / but at the last the toun̄ gate the pryson on thē. & thā thei were put in feteris & yrōs & were sore punisshed in ensāple of othir. In this yere also was a grete Erthequake in Napels. ī somoch̄ y t ther ꝑissed xl.M. peple y t sāke there īto y e erthe Itē in the yere xxxvi. seint Osmōd some time bisshop of salisbury was canonised at Rome bi pope calixte. & y e xvj day of Iuylle he was trāslated at salisbury bi y e erchebisshop of Caūterbury and many othir bisshoppes: And aft in August sir Piers de brezey Seneshall of Normādie w t the capitaȳ of Depe. & many othir Capytaȳs & men of werre wente to the see wy t a grete nauye & came into the downes bi night: & on y e morne erly before day they lōded & came to sandwych both̄ by lād & bi watyr & toke the to [...]ne & ryfled & despoilled it / ād tok [...] many prysoners. and left the toune all bare / [Page] which̄ was a riche place & moche good theryn & lad w t hem many riche prysoners. In this same yer̄ in many places of fraūce Almaigne / flaūdres / holād: & zelād childrē gadred thē bi grete cōpanyes / for to go on pylgrymage to seynt Mycheles moūt in Normandie / which̄ came fro fer cōtres. wherof the peple mervailled: ād many supposed that some wyked spiryte meved thē to so doo▪ but it ēdured not lōge. because of the longe way ād also for lake of vitayll as they wēte. In this yere Raynold pecok bisshopp of chichestre was foundē an heretike. & the iij. daye of Decēbre was abiured at lābhyte in the presēce of y e erchebisshop of caunterbury & many bisshoppes & doctours & lordes tēꝑall ād his bokes brēt at poulis crosse. ye haue herd tofore how certaȳ lordes were slayne at seint Albons. wherfore was allway a grucche & wrath had bi theires of thē that were so slayne ayens the duke of yorke the Erles of warrewyke ād of Salisbury / wherfore the kyng by thauys of his coūceill sente for thē to london: to whych̄ place the duke of yorke came the xxvi. daye of Ianiuer wy t iiij.C. men ād logged at baynards castell in his owne place / And the xv. day of Ianiuer came the erle of salisbury wy t v.C. mē / & was logged in therber his owne place / And then̄e came the duke of Excestre & of Somersete wy t viij.C. men & lay wythoute temple bare: & the erle of Northūberlād. the lord Egremōd: the lord Clifford wy t xv.C. men & logged withoute town̄. & the mayre that time Geffray boleyne kepte grete wacche wy t the cōmūs of y e cyte: & rode aboute the cyte bi holborne & flete strete wy t a v.M / mē well armed & araied for to kepe y e pees / And the xiiij. day of feuerer the Erle of Warrewyke came to londō frō caleys well be seen and wurshipfully wy t vj.C. men in rede Iaquettes browdred w t a ragged staf behynde & afore. And he was logged at the gray freres. ād the xvij. day of Marche the kyng came to Lōdō & the quene. & there was a ꝯcorde & pees made amōg these lordes: ād they were sette in pees: And on our lady day the xv day of marche M.cccc / lviij y e kȳg Quene & all these lordes wēte on processyon at polus in lōdon / ād anon̄ after the kyng & lordes deꝑted: In thys yere was a grete affraye in fletestrete bytwene men of court & men of the same strete in whiche affraye the quenes attorney was slayne
¶How the kȳges howshold made affraye ayēst the erle of warrewyke / & of the iourney at the bloreheth Capi. cc.lxviij
ALso this same yere as the erle of warrewyk was at [Page] coūceill at Westmynster. alle the kynges houshold meyne gadred them to gedre for to haue slayne the said Erle / but by the helpe of god & his frēdys: he recoured his barge & escaped theyr euell enterpryse. how well the cooques cam̄ rennȳg oute wy t spittes & pestels ayens hym. And the same day he rode toward Warrewyke / & sone after he gate him a cōmission ād wēte ouer see to Caleys. Sone after thys the erle of Salisbury comyng to Lōdon was encōtrid at bloreheth with the lord awdely & moch̄ othir peple ordeyned for to haue distressyd hȳ. but he hauȳg knowleche that he shold be mete was accōpanied wy t his ij. sones: Sir Thomas & sir Iohā neuyll & a grete felawship of good men: & so they mete ād fought to gedres / wher therle of salisbury wan the felde. & the lord Awdely was slain̄ and many gentillmen of chesshire & moch̄ peple hurt. & therles .ij. sones were hurt / ād goyng homward afterward they were takē (punctel) & lad to Chestre by y e quenes meyne / After Calixte Pius was pope: & was chosē this yere M.cccc.lviij / And he was called tofore Eneas an eloquent man & a poete laureate· he was enbassatour of the Emperour afore tyme ād he wrote in the connceill of Basille a noble traittye for the auctorite of the same also he canonised seynt katherine of senys This pope ordeyned grete indulgēces & pardō to them that wold go werre ayēst the turke And wrote an epistle to the grete Turke exortyng him to become cristen: & in the ende he ordeyned a passage ayēst the Turke at Ankone / to which̄ moche peple drewe oute of all parties of cristē dome: of which̄ peple he sēte many home ayen̄ / because they suffysed not. and anon̄ aftir he deide at the sayd place of Ankone the yere of our lord M.cccc.lxiiij the xiiij. day of August
¶How Andrewe Trollop & the sowdyours of Caleys forsoke the duke of yorke & their maistir therle of warrewyke. in the westcōtre Capit. CC.lix
THe duke of yorke the Erles of warrewyk & of Salisbury sawe y e gouernaū ce of the Reame stāde most bi the quene and hir coūceill & how the grete prynces of the londe were not called to counceill / but sette a parte / & not onely so. but that hit was sayd thurgh the reame that the said lordes shold be destroyed vtterly as it opēly was shewed atte Bloreheth by them that wold haue slayne the Erle of Salisbury: Then̄ they for sauaciō of theyr lyues ād also for the cōmyn wele of y e ream̄ thought for to remedie [Page] thise thȳges assēbled thē to gedyr w t moch̄ peple / & tok a felde in the westcōtre / to which̄ y e erle of warrewyke came frō taleys w t many of the holde soudiours. as ādrew trollop & othir: ī whos wisedome as for the werre he moch̄ trusted. And whā they were thꝰ assēbled· & made theyr felde: The kȳg sent oute his cōmissiōs & preuy sealys vnto alle the lordes of hys reame to come ād awayte on hȳ in their moost defensable wyse. & so euery men came in such̄ wyse y t the kȳg was strōger & had moch̄ more peple thā the duke of york & the Erles of warrewyk & salisbury: for it is here to be noted that eueri lord [...] so deceyued toke a coūcell shortely in y e same night & deꝑted frō the felde leuȳg behynd▪ thē the moost part of their peple to kepe the feld tyll on the morne. Then̄e the duke of york w t his secōd sone deꝑted thurgh walys toward Irlād / leuyng his oldest sone the erle of the marche w t the Erles of warrewyk ād Salisbury / which̄ to geder w t thre or iiij. ꝑsones rood strayt into Denēshire: & there bi hulpe & ayde of denham a squyer which̄ gate for thē a shipp. which̄ cost CC / xx. noblis. & w t the same shyp sailled fro thēs into Garnesey. & there refresshyd thē. & frō thēs sailled to Caleys / where thei [...] in to the castel by the [...] [...]er thei [...] of it. And the [...] in wa [...] [...] beȳg wy • [...] in the felde: not [...] of thys [...]odē departȳg on the morne fonde non̄ [...] of the said lordes / wher for he sente oure in all haste men to folowe & purswe after to take hē / but they mette not wy t thē as god wolde / & then̄e the king wēte to ludlowe & despoilled the castell and the towne. & sent the duches [Page] of yorke wy t hir childrē to my ladi of bokȳghā hyr suster. where she was kepte longe after / & fortwith the kyng ordeyned the duke of somersette capytaȳ of caleys & these othir lordes so departed as a fore is said were proclamed rebellis & grete traitours / Then̄e the duke of somersette toke to hȳ all y e sowdiours that deꝑted from the felde & made him redy in all hast to go to caleys & toke possession of hys offyce. & whā he came he fownde therle of warrewyk therin as capitayn & therles of marche & salisbury also. & then̄e he lōded by scales & wēte to Gwysnes. & there he was receyued / & it fortuned y t some of the shippes y t camē ouer w t him camē into Caleys hauen by their fre wyll. for the shipmē owght more fauour to y e erle of warrewyke thā to the duke somersete jn which̄ shippes were takē diuerse men as Ienyn finkhill. Iohan felaw kailles / & purser / which̄ were beheded son̄ aft in caleys / & aft thys dayly came men ouer see to thise lordes to Caleys & began to wexe strēger. & thei borowed moche good of the staple. & on y t othir side the duke of somersette beyng in Gwysnes gate peple to hī whiche came oute & scarmusshed wy t thē of caleys & thei of caleys w t hē. which endured many daies / Duryng thꝰ this same scarmusshȳg moche peple dayly came ouer vnto these lordes / Then̄e on a tyme by thauys of counseill / the lordes at caleys sente ouer maistir dēhā w t a grete felawship to sādwhich: & toke the towne & therin the lord Riuers & the lord Scaleys his sone: & toke many shippes ī the hauen / & browght hē all to Caleys. with which̄ shippes many marō ners of their fre will came to Caleys to serue y e Erle of warrewyke· & after this the erle of warrewyke by thauys of the lordes toke all his shippes & māned thē well & sailled him self into Irlād for to speke w t the duke of yorke. & to take his auys how thei shold entre into englōd agayn̄. & whē he had ben̄ there & done hys eraudes he retorned agayn̄ toward caleys & brought with him his moder the cowntesse of salisbury: & as he came in the westcontre vpō the see▪ the duke of Excestre admyrall of Englōd beȳg in the grace of d [...]e [...] accōpanied wy t many shippes of werre mette with therle of warrewyke & his flete. but they fought not. for the substaūce of the peple beȳg w t the duke of Excestre ou [...] better will & more fauour to therle of warrewyk thā to him & thei deꝑted & came to caleys in saufte blessyd be god. Thā y e kȳges coū ceill seȳg y t these lordes had gotē y e shyppes frō sādwhich & takē the lord Riuers & his sone. ordeyned a garnysō at sādwhych to kepe y e [Page] towne & made one moūtfort Capitayn of the town̄. & that no mā ne vitaill ne marchaūt that shold goo into Flaūdres shold not goo into Caleys. Then̄e they of Caleys seyng this / made oute maister Denham & many othir to go to sandwhich̄: & so they dyd & assailled the towne by water ād by lōd & gate it & brought moūtfort their capitaȳ ouer see to Rysebā ke & there they smote of his hede / & dayely men came ouer to them oute of all parties of Englōd
¶How the Erles of Marche: of warrewyke▪ & of salisbury entred into Englōd. And of the felde of Northamptō. where dyuerse lordes were slayne Capitulo CClxi.
And after this y e said Erles of Marche / warrewyke & of salisbury came ouer to to Douer w t moch peple ād there lōded: to whō all the cōtrey drewe & came to londō armed: ād for to late the lordes of the kynges coū ceyl knowe their trouth̄ and also theyr entēt assembled thē & tolde thē that thei entended no harme to the kynges persone sauf y t they wold put fro hȳ suche ꝑsones as were aboute hȳ: & so they deꝑted from London with a grete puyssaūce toward northamptō: where the kyng was accōpanyed wy t many lordes & had made a stronge felde withoute y e toune & there bothe ꝑties mete & was fowghtē a grete bataille. in which̄ batayll were slayne y e duke of Bokȳghā. the erle of shrowesburi: the vicōte beaumōd. the lord egremōd· and many knightes & squiers & oth̄ir also. & the kȳg hȳ selfe takē in the feld & afterward brought to lōdō. & anon̄ afterward was a ꝑlemēt at westmīster durȳg which̄ parlemēt the duke of yorke came oute of Irlād w t the erle of Rutelād ridȳg w t a grete felawship into the paleys at westmȳster & toke y e kī ges paleys & came into ꝑlement chābre & there toke the kȳges place & claimed y e croune as his ꝓpre enheritaūce & right & cast forth in wrytyng his title: & also y t he was rightfull heyr. wherfore was moche to do. but in ꝯclusiō it was appoynted & cōcluded y t kȳg Henry shold regne & be kȳg durīg his natural life for asmoch̄ as he had bē so lōg kȳg & was pocessyd. & after his deth̄ the duke of york shold be kȳg & his heires kȳges after hȳ / & forthwith shold be ꝓclaimed heir apꝑaūt. & shold also be ꝓtectour of Englōd durȳg y e kȳges lyfe. w t many othir thīges ordeyned in y e sam̄ parlemēt. & if kīg hēry durīg his lyfe wēte frō this apoȳtemēt or any article ꝯcluded in the said ꝑlement. he shold be deposed & the duke shold take y e crown̄ & be kīg. all which̄ thȳges wer̄ enacted bi the auctorite of the said ꝑlemēt: at [Page] whyche parlement the cōmunes of the reame beȳg assēbled in the comō hous comonȳg & treatyng vpō the title of y e said duke of york sodēly fyll down̄ the croune whiche henge then̄e in the myddes of the said hous. whiche is the fraytour of the abbey of westmȳster: which̄ was taken for a prodige or tokē that the regne of king Hēry was ended / & also the croune whiche stode on the highest toure of y e steple in the castell of Douer fylle downe this same yere
¶How the noble duke of yorke was slayn̄ & of the felde of wakelfeld / & of the secōd iourney at seȳt Albōs by the quene & prynce / Ca. cclxij
THen̄e for asmoch̄ as the quene w t the prince was in the north & absented her frō the kyng & wold not obeye such̄ thȳges as was cō cluded ī the ꝑlemēt: it wss ordeyned that the duke of york as ꝓtectour shold goo northward / for to bring in the quen̄ & subdue suche as wold not obeye wy t whō wēte the erle of salisburj. sir Thoās neuyll his sone. w t moche peple / & at wakefeld in Cristmas weke they were all ouerthrowē & slayne by the lordes of the quenes ꝑtie that is to wete. the duke of yorke was slayn̄ ▪ the erle of Rutlād. sir Thomas neuill. & many moo / the erle of salisbuey was takē a lyue and othir / as johā harow of Lōdō capitaȳ of y e footmē / & hāson of hule which̄ were brought to poūfrete. & ther after beheded & their hedes sēte to yorke & sette vpō the yates / & thꝰ was that noble prȳce slain̄ the duke of york / on whos soule & all cristē sowles god haue mercy. And thys tyme therle of marche beyng in shrewesbury hering the deth of his fadre desired assistence & ayde of the town for tauēge his fadres deth And frō thēs wēte to walys [...] where at cādelmasse after he had a bataylle at Mortimes crosse ayēst therles of pēbroke. ād of wilshire. where therle of Marche had the victorie Then̄ y e quen̄ with the lordes of the north after they had distressed & slayn y e duke of yorke & his felawship came southward w t a grete multytude & puissaūce of peple for to come to the kȳg & defete such̄ cōclusiōs as had ben̄ takē before bi y e ꝑlement ayēs whos comȳg y e duke of nortfolk therle of warrewyk w t moch peple & ordinaūce wēte vnto seȳt Albōs & lad kīg hēry w t hē & there encōtred to gedre jn such̄ wise y t y e duke of northfolk and the erle of warrewyke wyth othir of theyr partye fledde and lost that iourney where kyng Henry was taken and wente wyth the quene & prynce hys sone▪ whiche tho had goten that felde: Thēne the quen̄ & hyr partie beȳg at their aboue / sente anon̄ to londō. whych̄ was on asshwednesday the fyrste day of Lente for vytaylle. whyche the [Page] mayre ordeyned by thauys of the aldremē y t certayne cartres laden w t vitaill shold be sente to seȳt Albons to thē. & whā the cartres camen to crepelgate / the cōmunes of the cite that kepte that gate toke the vitailles frō the cartres ād wold not suffre it to passe: Then̄ were there certaine aldremē & cō munes appoīted to go to Barnet for to speke w t the quenes coūceil for to entrete that the Northeryn mē shold be sēte home into theyr contrey ayen̄: for the cite of Lōdō dredde sore to be robbed & despoilled if they had come / And thus durȳg this traittie tydynges came that y e erle of warrewyke had mette with the erle of marche on Cotteswold comyng oute of walys with a grete meyne of walsshmē (punctel) & that they both̄ were comȳg to Londō ward / Anone as these tydynges were knowē the trayttye was brokē. for the kȳg. quene: prynce / & all othir lordes were wy t them departed from seynt Albōs northward wy t all their peple. yet or they departed from thēs / they beheded the lord bonuille. and sir Thomas kriell which̄ were takē in the iourney don̄ on shrotewisday / thenne the duchesse of yorke beyng at Londō & herȳg of y e losse of the felde at seynt Albiōs sente ouer see her ij. yōge sones George & rychard which̄ wēte to Vtrecht & Phelipp malpas a ryche marchaūt of London / Thoās vaghā squyer: maistir willyā hatteclyf. & many othir ferȳg of the comȳg of the quene to Lōdō toke a shyp of Andwarp for to haue goō into zelād / & on that othir cost were takē of one colūpne a Frēsshmā a shipp of werre. & he toke hē prysoners & brought hē into fraūce. where they payed grete good for theyr raūsone. & ther was moche good & rychesse in that shipp.
¶Of the deposicyon of kȳg Hēry the sixthe / & how kȳg Edward y e fourthe toke poscession / ād of the bataille on Palmesonday. & how he was crowned Capi. CC▪lxiij
THenne whan the erle of the Marche & the Erle of warrewyck had mette to gedre on cotiswold / incōtinēt thei cōcluded to goon to Londō / & sēt word anon̄ to the mayre & to the cyte that they shold come / anone the cyte was glad of their comȳg hopyng to be relieued by them: & so they came to Londō / And whē they were comen & had spokē wy t the lordes and estates then̄e beȳg there / cōcluded for asmoch̄ as kīg Hēry was goon with thē northward y t he had forfaited his croune & ought for to be deposed accordyng vnto the actes maad & passed in the last parlement / ād so by thaduyse of the lordes spirituell & temporell then̄e beȳg at lōdō the [Page] Erle of the marche Edward by y e ḡce of god oldest sone of Richard duke of york as rightfull heyre. & next enheriteur to his fadre y e iiij day of Marche y e yere of our lord M.cccc.lix [...]oke poscessiō of the reame of Englōd at westmȳstre in the grete halle: & after in the chirche of the abbey: & offred as king beryng the septre riall. to whō all the lordes bothe spirituell & tēporell dide homage & obeisaunce as to their soueraȳ liege ād lawefull lord & king. & forthwith it was ꝓclamed thurgh the cite. kīg Edward the fourth̄ of that name And anon̄ after the kȳg rode in his riall astate northward w t all his lordes for to subdue his subgettes y t tyme beȳg in the north. & tauēge his fadres deth And on palmesō day after he had a grete bataill in the northcontre at a place kalled towton not ferre fro york. where wy t the helpe of god he gate the felde & had the victorye. where were slayne of his aduersaries xxx.M men & moo as it was said by mē that were there / jn which̄ batayll was slayne the erle of Northūberland: the lord clifford (punctel) sir Iohā neuill / the erle of Westmerlādis brother· Andrew trollop ād many othir knightes & squiers / Thenne kȳg hēry y t had be king beyng wy t the quen̄ & prince at yorke hering the losse of y t felde & so moch̄ peple slayn & ouerthrowē / anon̄ forthwith departed all thre w t the duke of somersete. the lord roos & othir toward scotlād / & the next day kīg Edward wy t all hys armye ētred into yorke & was ther proclamed king & obeyed as he owght to be. & the mayre & aldremē & cōmyns sworn̄ to be his liegemē. & whē he had taried a while in the north & y t all the cōtre there had turned to hȳ. he retorned southward leuȳg the erle of warrewyke in tho parties for to kepe & gouerne that cō tre. & aboute midsomer aft the yere of our lord M.cccc.lx. & the first yere of his regne he was crouned at westmȳster & enoȳted kyng of englōd hauyng the hole poscessiō of all the hole reame whō I pray god saue & kepe sēde hī & accōplissement of the remenaūt of his rightful enheritaūce beyōde the see & that he may regne in thē to the plesir of almighty god helthe of his sowle honour & wurshipp in this present lyfe & well & prouffyt of all his subgets: & that ther then̄ may be a veray fynall pees in all cristen reames / that the infidels & miseraūts may be withstādē & destroied / & our faith enchaunced which̄ ī thise dayes is sore minusshed bi the puissaunce of the turkes & hethē men & that after this present & short lyfe we may comē to the euerlasting lyfe in the blisse of heuen / Amen
[Page]¶Here ben endyd the Cronycles of the Reame of Englond with their apperteignaunces. Enprētyd In the Duchye of Braband. in the towne of Andewarpe In the yere of owr lord .M.cccc.xciij. By maistir Gerard de leew. a man of grete wysedom in all maner of kūnyng: whych̄ nowe is come from lyfe vnto the deth / which̄ is grete harme for many a poure man. On whos sowle god almyghty for hys hygh̄ grace hau [...] mercy AMEN