¶ Prohemye

GRete thankynges lawde & honoure we merytoryous­ly ben bounde to yelde and offre vnto wryters of hys­toryes / whiche gretely haue prouffyted oure mortal lyf / that shewe vnto the reders and herers by the ensamples of thynges passyd / what thynge is to be desyred / And what is to be eschewed / For those thynges whiche oure progenytours by the taste of bytternes and experyment of grete Ieopardyes haue enseygned / admonested and enformed vs exclu­ded fro suche peryllys / to knowe what is prouffytable to oure lyf / and acceptable / and what is vnprouffytable and to be refu­sed / He is / and euer hath ben reputed the wysest / whiche by the experyence of aduerse fortune hath byholden and seen the noble Cytees / maners / and variaūt condycions of the people of many dyuerse Regyons / For in hym is presupposed the lore of wyse­dome and polycye / by the experyment of Ieopardyes and pe­ryllys whiche haue growen of folye in dyuerse partyes and con­trayes / yet he is more fortunat / and may be reputed as wyse / yf he gyue attendaunce withoute tastynge of the stormes of aduersyte that may by the redyng of historyes conteynyng dyuerse custo­mes Condycyons / lawes & / Actes of sondry nacions come vnto the knowleche of and vnderstandynge of the same wysedom and polycye / In whiche hystoryes so wreton in large and aour­ned volumes / he syttynge in his chambre or studye / maye rede / knowe and vnderstande the polytyke and noble actes of alle the worlde as of one Cyte / And the conflyctes / errours. Troubles / & vexacions done in the sayd vnyuersal worlde / In suche wyse as he had ben and seen them. in the propre places where as they were done / For certayne it is a greete beneurte vnto a man that can be reformed by other and straunge mennes hurtes and sca­thes / And by the same to knowe / what is requysyte and prouf­fytable for his lyf / And eschewe suche errours and Inconuenytys / by whiche other men haue ben hurte and lost theyr felycyte / Therfore the coūseylles of Auncyent and whyte heeryd men / in whome olde age hath engendryd wysedome / ben gretely preysed of yonger men / And yet hystoryes soo moche more excelle them / As the dyuturnyte or length of tyme Includeth moo ensamples of thynges and laudable actes. than thage of one man may suffyse to see / ¶Historyes ought not only to be Iuged moost pro­ffytable to yonge men / whiche by the lecture / redyng & vnderstandyng make them semblable & equale to men of greter age / and [Page] to old men / to whome longe lyf hath mynystred experymentes of dyuerse thynges / but also thystoryes able & make ryght pry­uate men digne & worthy to haue the gouernaūce of Em [...]yte [...] [...] noble Royammes / historyes moeue and withdrawe Emperours and kynges fro vycious tyrannye / Fro vecordyous slouthe / vnto tryumphe and vyctorye in puyssaunt bataylles / Historyes also haue moeued ryght noble knyghtes to deserue eternal laude whiche foloweth them for their vyctoryous merytes / And cause them more valyantly to entre in Ieopardyes of batayles for the defence and tuicion of their countrey / and publyke wele / hystorye also affrayeth cruel tyrauntys for drede of Infamye and shame Infynyte / by cause of the detestable actes of suche cruel personnes ben oftymes plantyd and regystred in Cronykes vnto theyr perpetuel obprobrye and dyuulgacion of theyr Infamye / As thactes of new and suche other / Truly many of hye and couragy­ous men of grete empryse / desyryng theyr fame to be perpetuelly conseruyd by lyberal monumentis / whiche ben the permanente re­cordes of euery vyrtuouse and noble Acte / haue buylded and e­defyed ryall and noble Cytees / And for the conseruacion of the wele publycke haue mynystred and establysshed dyscrete and prouffytable lawes / And thus the pryncipal laude / and cause of delectable and amyable thynges / in whiche mannes felycyte stondeth and resteth ought and maye wel be attributed to hysto­ryes / whiche worde historye may be descryued thus / Historye is a perpetuel conseruatryce of thoos thynges / that haue be doone before this presente tyme / and also a cotydyan wytnesse of bien­fayttes of malefaytes / grete Actes / and tryumphal vyctoryes of all maner peple. And also yf the terryble feyned Fables of Poetes haue moche styred and moeued men to pyte / and con­seruynge of Iustyce / How moche more is to be supposed / that Historye assertryce of veryte / and as moder of alle philosophye / moeuynge our maners to vertue / reformeth and reconcyleth ner hande alle thoos men / whiche thurgh the Infyrmyte of oure mortal nature hath ledde the mooste parte of theyr lyf in Ocyo­syte and myspended theyr tyme passed ryght soone oute of Re­membraunce / Of whiche lyf and deth is egal oblyuyon /

The fruytes of vertue ben Inmortall / Specyally wh [...]nne they ben wrapped in the benefyce of hystoryes /

Thenne it muste folowe / that it is mooste fayre to men Mortalle to suffre labours and payne / for glorye and fame Inmortalle / [Page] Hercules whan he lyued suffryd greete laboures and peryllys wylfully puttyng hym self in many terryble and ferdful ieop [...]rdyes to obteyne of all peple the benefaytes of Inmortal laude & renommee / ¶ We rede of other noble men / somme lordes & somme other of lower astates reputed as goddes in dyuerse re­gyons / the whos famous actes / and excellent vertues only hys­torye hath preseruyd fro perysshyng in eternal memorye / Other monymentes distributed in dyuerse chaunges / enduren but for a short tyme or season / But the vertu of historye dyffused & spr [...]dd by the vnyuersal worlde hath tyme / whiche consumeth all oth [...]r thynges as conseruatryce and kepar of her werke /

Ferthermore eloquence is soo precious and noble / that al mooste noo thyng can be founden more precious than it / By Eloquence the grekes ben preferryd in contynu [...]l honour to fore the rude barbares / Oratours and lerned clerkes in like wise excelle vnl [...]rn [...]d and brutyssh peple / Syth this eloquence is suche that causeth men emonge them self somme texcelle other / after the qualyte of t [...]e vertue and eloquence by seyn to be of val [...]w / For somme we Iu­ge to be good men digne of laude / whiche shewe to vs the waye of vertue / and other haue taken another waye for tenflamm [...] more the courages of men by fables of poesye / than to prouffy [...]e And by the lawes and Institutes more to punysshe than to teche Soo that of thyse thynges the vtylyte is myxt with harme / For somme sothly techyth to lye / But historye representynge the thynges lyke vnto the wordes / enbraceth al vtylyte & prouff [...] It sheweth honeste / and maketh vyces detestable / It enhaunce [...]h noble men and depresseth wicked men and fooles / Also thynges that historye deseryueth by experyence / moche prouffyten vnto a ryghtful lif / Thenne syth historye is so precious & also prouffytable / I haue delybered to wryte twoo bookes notable / retenyng in them many noble historyes / as the lyues / myracles / passyons and deth of dyuerse hooly sayntes whiche shal be comprysed by thayde and suffraunce of almyghty god in one of them / whiche is named legenda aurea / that is the golden legende / And that other book is named polycronycon / in whiche book ben comprised briefly many wonderful historyees / Fyrst the descripcion of the vniuersal world / as w [...]l in lengthe as in brede with the diuisiōs of coūtrees royāmes & empyres / the noble cytees / hye moūtayns famous ryuers / merueylles & wondres / & also the historial [...]c­tes & wōderful dedes syth the fyrst makyng of heuen & erth vnto [Page] the begynnyng of the regne of kyng edward the fourth / & vnto the yere of our lord M / CCCClx. As by thayde of almyghty god shal folowe al a longe / after the composynge & gaderynge of dan Ranulph monke of chestre fyrste auctour of this book / and afterward englisshed by one Treuisa vycarye of barkley / which atte request of one Sir thomas lord barkley translated this sa­yd book / the byble & bartylmew de proprietatibus rerū out of latyn in to englyssh / And now at this tyme symply emprynted & sette in forme by me William Caxton and a lytel embelysshed fro tholde makyng / and also haue added suche storyes as I coude fynde fro thende that the said Ranulph fynysshed his book which was the yere of our lord .M.CCClvij vnto the yere of the sa­me MCCCClx / whiche ben an honderd & thre yere / whiche werke I haue finysshed vnder the noble protection of my most dr [...]d naturel and souerayne lord and moost cristen kynge / kyng Edward the fourth / humbly besechyng his moost noble grace to pardone me yf ony thynge be sayd therynne of Ignoraūce / or other wyse than it ought to be· And also requyryng al other to amen­de wher as ther is defaute / Wherin he or they may deserue thank & meryte / And I shal praye for them that soo doo / For I knowleche myn Ignoraunce and also symplenes / And yf ther be thyng that may plese or prouffite ony man / I am glad that I haue a­chieued it / And folowynge this my prohemye I shal set a table shortly towchyd of the moost parte of this book / And where the sayd Auctor hath alle his werke in seuen bookes / I haue sette that whiche I haue added to a [...]ter a parte. and haue marked it the laste booke / and haue made chapytres acordyng to the other werke / Of whiche accomplysshyng / I thanke Almyghty God To whome be gyuen Honour / laude / and glorye / in secula seculo­rum Amen /

¶ Deo gracias

¶ The Table

 bo / ch·
Abraham210
Abdon duk of Israel225
Abessa duc of Israel224
Abbay of abendon517
Abbo of floryansy / 610
Abymalech duke / 221
Abias kyng / 230
Archadenna a toune223
Achas kynge / 233
Achaia a contre / 122
Achylles knyght / 224
Adam the fyrst man24
Adrian pope the iiij722
Adrian emperour414
Adelyng what it is618
Accius knyght / 433
Of his deth / 52
Affrica / 167
Affrycan historian420
Item de Affrica.119
Agar211
Agarenis / 115
Agenor / 215
Agamenon224
Agatho Abbott429
Agrimund kynge fyndynge seuen Children / 53
Agelbert bisshop5 15 / 17
Ago [...]ond sarasyn526
Aydan bisshop5 12 / 15
Aioth Iuge / 217
Aylon Iuge / 225
Albanya a prouynce117
Albanye scotland / 143
Albanye faylled235
Albane a saynt424
Seynt albons chirche / 527
Alcimund kyng528
Alania a prouynce / 112
Albuinus kyng567
Albyn or Alcuyn mayster / of kyng charles / 528
Acliut the toune148
Acliut destroyed / 522
Aldelm a saynt / 522
Aldrede Bisshop627
Albesten a stone / 122
Alexander al̄ paris224
Alexander the grete327
Alurede kyng530
Item of alurede61
Alarik king of gothis432
Aletto kynge419
Alexander pope413
Alexander Iamueo338
Alchimus Impius / 336
Ambrose a saynt429
Ambrisburgh monaster / 612
Amazone the lond / 118
Amazones221
Amon kynge / 225
Aneus marcius / 235
Antecriste33
Anastasius Emperour54
Anastasius the monke5 [...]
Anlaf kyng of danes / 6 [...]
Anselme Bisshop / 7 18.19
Angeo1 28 / 13 /14
Anglesye Ilond144
Seynt Andrews comynge in to Scoland130
What ryght Englonde hath in Scotlande7 / 23 29
Item of the same7 23 / 29 /
The threfold ryng212
Of moyses ryng / 213
Anthenor of troye / 224
Anne the moder of marie / 3 / 44
Antonye emperour3 43 / 44
Antiochus magnus334 /
[Page]Antiochus epiphane335
Antiochus Eupator336
Antiochus cribus337
Anacletus pope412
Antomꝰ piꝰ emperour·425
Of iij appariciōs of crist45
Appollinare a seynt410
Appostlis bodyes stolen / 4.21
Apuleā a prouynce123
Apis kynge211
A [...]polyn2 16 / 18
Apius claudius3.15
Aquy [...]ayn or guyan128
Arthur kyng56
[...]em of Arthur723
[...]ator subdeken56
Arnulph kyng of Fraunce [...]osumed with lyfe63
Arnulph bisshop / 521
The Arbres or trees of the sonne and mone / 111
[...]em of the same330
Arabye a countre113
[...]rmenye a countre117
Archadia a countre122
Aradya an Ilonde130
Archa noe215
Archa testamenti3·1 / 10
Arke of heuē or raynbow·2·6
Argus kynge212
Argonantis223
Archadyens tourned in to wolues225
Arbaces of mede235
Arte [...]erses longunanꝰ3 /15
Art [...]xersesassuerus318
Aristotyles philosopher324
Archilaus kyng42
Arsenius monk429
A [...]uiragus kyng48
Arrius an heretyke.427
Archadius & honorius431
Assiria113
Of the kynges of assirie / /28
Assideris44
Asceriscus & obello2 3·32
Asclepio doto  
Asia maior1 / 67 / 11
Asia the lasse118
Ascanes Eneas sone / 226
Asa kyng of Iurye230
Astiages kyng of mede334
Athenis122
Athlant astronomer212
Athila kyng of hunes432
Athanasius persecucion427
Audoene kyng of lomb56
Audoene bisshop519
Audomare a saynt125
Austyn sente to Englond59
Austyn doctour433
Austyns relyquyes523
Augustus cesar / 343
Item of hym43
Aurelius emperour424
Orleaunce424
Aureliꝰ alexāder ēperour /420
Aurelie Ambrose53
Appolyn delphicꝰ tēple /122
Acliut & hagustal chirch̄·1.48
Adam gate Caym and his suster24
Aaron deyde in oreb214
Appolyn y borne216
Appollo fonde phisick / and ma­de harpe /218
Appolyn delphicꝰ ansuerith / 2 / 2
Achilles cā to hector minde2 / 29
Amazones wymmen assayllen  
Asie228
[Page]Appolins tēple spoylled·318
Appolyn begyleth pyre / 331
Adder with a woman in her graue344
Appostles departen / 4.8
Appolyn hath̄ leue of Gregory423
Augustus gretter than Cesar / 425
Ault that seint sōg on /4 / 26
Augustꝰ hōged him self /4 / 31
Alleluya sayd52
Amazones warne passage5 / 2
Antipope laurence / 54
Alholowen Chirche at Rome510
Agnus dei at masse520
Arme restored by oure ladye / 522
Abbaye of Glastenbury appeyreth523
At Asshedoun Dānes fyghten /523
Antipope Benet68
Alsowlen day615
Almes of euyl getyng is nought / 618
Alfwold last Bisshop of Shirburne / 627
Antipope candulus627
Antipope Clement73
Abbot and monkes of Glas­bury stryuen and ben atte debate73
Abbay of chestre byld77
Anselm stryueth with the kyng / 713
Antipopes foure723
Almes dyssh ordeyned /723
Abbayes serched for moneye /339
Acorde bitwene kingesvl̄1
Ancerrevl̄1
Amblanullersvl̄1
Adam stable mayer of london dysharged by a letter / vl̄ /4
Assemble of certayne lordes to destroye rebellys / vl̄6
A recapitulacion of the actes of kyng harry the fifthvl̄16
Affraye bytwene the biss [...]p of wynchestre and Duck of Gloucetre /vl̄18
Affraye in fletestret [...]vl̄ /22
Affraye vppon lombardes in London / vl̄27

Babylone1 [...]
Babel the toure / 1 [...]
Babel the tour [...] [...]
Baleares Ilondes [...] [...]
Basyle the grete / [...] [...]
Bathes of beroncye / 3 [...]
Bactria the londe / [...] [...]
Bauarye the Countre / 1 [...]
Braband / 1 [...]
Bathe the toune [...] [...]
Bathon the toune [...] [...]
Braas of seynt george / [...] /8
Bladud kynge / [...]30
Balthazar kyng33
Bragmans / 3 [...]9
Bassian kyng4 181 [...]
Baldwin archebisshop.4 / 24 19
Basyngwerk722
Beda the preest / 524
Batayl ydolo29
Batayll of troye224
[Page]Batayl punyk / jo. /323
Batayll punyk / ij / 333
Batayll punyk / iij / 336
Batayl macedon334
Batail of metrodat / 3 / 39 / 40
Batayll gladiatorum / 3 / 40
Batayll of pirates340
Bataylle social338
Batayl ciuile339
Bataylle Cyuyle bytwene / pompee and cesar341
Bellyn & brenius3 / 17 / 19
Bren ouercomyng the Romayns / 318
Benet and his rewle / 514
Benets body trāslated /5 / 17
that this bodye myghte not be take awey / 525
Benedicte pope 12 /744
Benedict bisshop / 5 16 / 17
Bataylle of Barons attlews737
Batayll of barons737
Bertyn thabbot / 515
Berengarye / 627
Bernard the saynt719
Brendane of Irlond / 56
Bokes & bybles335
Brytayne the lasse128
Bretayne the more129
Meruaylles of brytayn / 1 / 42
Bryghtwold resyng fro deth tellyng wondres / 521
Bryghtricus kyng527
Brystan bisshop66
Bithinia a lond / 118
Byryne bisshop5 13 / 15
Boneface pope / 8 /7 40
Boecia a prouynce / 122
Boeciꝰ & elphe his wif / 55
Botulph the saynt516
Botulphus fayr738
Brute kyng of britons227
Burgoyn a lond128
Busire the tyraunt / 217
Boundes meres & hous haue no cyt [...]es117
Brydlyng of hors122
Brennyng hylle ethna130
Bryddys growen oute of trees / 132
Blacks tweyne in one eye / 2 / 1
Bookes wreton and lettr [...] 24
Boūdes & meres ordeyned /2 / 5
Bole cometh oute of nyle / 2 / 12
Bithinia buyld216
Byrdes spryngen water2 / 25
Bruyt grenesheld / 230
Byldyng of the temple35
Brasse yoten in to a braasen bole / 35
Bostynge of men and of Shippis314
Byllyngesgate / 319
Berde brent with a cole / 321
Bothe mote come sayde the woman / 322
Bones sette to fore the childe334
Brydge of shippes337
Byers blamen chaffare / 338
Brother sleeth brother338
Bataylle Cyuyle ageynste Iulius cesar / 341 /
Bryddes speke43
Boke of loue44 /
Brytons demaunde Crysten­dome416
Brytons and Romaynes stryuen / 418
[Page]Bodyes of the Appostles stolen421
Bones of Andrewe and luke426
Byble translated in to latyn429
Brytons of lytel brytayne430
Buryenge vnder water / 432
Brytons axe helpe of Ro­maynes432
Bataylle grete433
Barnabees body founden / 5 / 3
Boyees maken bokes / 55
Brytons chaced56
Brytons lesen Cytees and Townes /58
Blasyng sterres tweyne424
Brydge vppon Rone broken528
Balled charles and his bre­theren529
Baner of our lady smock6 / 1
Bisshops seuen ordeyned6 / 4
Bonde wenche made lady6 / 11
Byrdes fyghten714
Byrdes bere brennyng coles in theyr bylles73 /
Black monkes gadred at oxenford734
Batayle of euesham737
Blakamour the kynge nyghe taken742
Bisshop of excetre byheded7.43
Batayl in the see744
Berwyk taken and delyu [...]rd744
Brygytte had many reuela­cions /vl̄1
Basyll fyl downevl̄ / 1
Bataylle of nazers in spaynevl̄2
Bertram Claykyn takenvl̄2
Bastard of spayne slewe the kyng of spaynvl̄2
Busshel of whete worth xl pensvl̄2
Bisshop spencer gate townes in Flaundresvl5
Blanke chartres / vl̄8
Bussh / bagot & grenevl̄8
Brydge of Rochester madevl̄10
Batayll of Agyncourt / vl̄13
Batayl of vernayl in Perche / vl̄17
Bisshop of wynchestre made cardynalvl̄18
Bernadyn canonysed / vl̄23
Blewe berdvl̄25
Bataylle of seynt al­bonsvl̄27
Bataylle of Septegrade ageynst the turkysvl̄28
Bloreheth a scarmuche / vl̄·29

Canutus kyng6 17 / 18 / 20
Capitoylof Rome39
Caldea a londe113
Canaan a londe / 115
Cancasus a hylle117
Capadoce a lond118
Cartage a cyte1 20 / 26 / 29
Cartage destroyed136
Cartage reedyfyed337
Campania a londe123
[Page]Caerlyl a Cyte148
Clarygacion125
Cantredo what it is / 1 44 / 32
Cassis or shippis of Rome1 / 25
Caryatharbe2 410
Caym a cursed25
Cadinus225
Carmentis a nymphe222
Captyuyte of x tribꝰ2 / 23 / 34
Captyuyte of Iewys / 226
Cambises kyng38
Canullus furius / 319
Catilina conspyryng340
Cassibelanus kyng340
Crassus president34
Caton thre341
Claudius cezar48
Caransius tyraunt419
Cass [...]odore·433
Item Cassiodore56
Cas [...]el of Coryge51
Cacanus kyng·511
Charterous ordre74
Cadwallo or cedwalla5 / 19 / 20
Cedmon syngar519
Clement the saynt49
Translacion of his body·4 / 27
Clement the fourth pope / 737
Clement the fyfth741
Chestre the Cyte148
Chestre agayn64
Cedar a l̄onde115
Centauris122
Cetura alias agar211
Creta an Ilond130
Cresus a kyng35
Cleopatre quene.341
Cletus pope49
Celestinus pope432
Cerdicus duk56
Cesara baptysed515
Chedde bissh [...]p a seynt.5 / 17 / 18
Ced broder of chad515
Ceruelyensis a cenobye / 522
Chymera218
Circumsicion210
Ciclades Ilondes·130
Cipres an Ilond130
Cytees of englond147
Circes a sorceres225
Cirus kyng3 / 3 / 4·5
Cirus ded37
Cinegirus of Athenes313
Cithero tullius3 38 / 43
Ciprianus422
Coreis or daunces618
Chore gigantum54
Chorus54
Closseus124
Cordeylla231
Counseyl of lugdnum737
Columpnys·225
Corsica an ylond130
Codrus kyng of athene / 228
Consuls of Rome330
Coyllꝰ kyng of brytons / 4 / 12
Coelus fader of helene420
Colrede kyng of merces / 5 / 22
Corminus marcus322
Conanus armoricus430
Clodonen s conuerted53
Columba abbot54
Columbanus abbot59
Colfryde abbot522
Colwolf kyng524
Constant fader of con­stantyn /424
Constantinus magnus426
Constancius his sone427
Constantinus tercins / 5 / 15 / 17
[Page]Constantynopl [...]122
Cunedagius kyng231
Cubyte double / 25
Clunyacence abbay64
Cumbremere717
Cunebert519
Cuthbert a saynt519
Of the same·62
Of the body of cutbert713
Crosse of cryst taken and brought ageyne511
Of the parte of the crosse sente ouer see626
Of the sygne of the Crosse apperyng725
Children sold at Rome / 139
Chyef partyes of brytayne thre134
Chestre men maners148
Conceyuing of children21
Changyng of shappes22
Calf of gol̄d bleteth230
Cyte wonne by curtosye319
Caspy hylles closed328
Childes wytte assayed334
Consuls and senatours slayn339
Cesar first Emperour341
Cryst conceyued and born4 / 1
Cryste laye fourty houres in erthe41
Child among doctours22
Cytees cesaryes bilded43
Cryste precheth and doth myracles·45
Crystes passion & deth46
Crystes name wreten413
Chirche of Rome hath pos­sessions420
Crysme halowed420
Cesar augustus. and Em­perours dyuerse422
Clothes of gold424
Cardynals xv / 425
Cryst nayled with four nayles426
Crosse in clothes and in bo­wellys420
Eredo in vnum deum made430
Childe with two bodyes / 431
Culuer bryngeth crisme / 5 / 3
Children seuen founden / 53
Cl̄erkes and lewdmen de­parted56
Children to selle at Rome / 5 / 6
Cryst helpe for fnesyng / 5 / 9
Child with four feet59
Cuppes hanged by wellys512
Cuthberd deed in fraūce /5 / 20
Charles in helle523
Charlemon shorne monke525
Charles and his dedes5 / 26
Clynt in cowbache / 529
Cuthberd comforted Alurede62
Charles children faylle / 66
Childres mayster sleeth the sewer66
Clowde wonderful in En­glond613
Chesers of the Empe­rour613
Conqueror borne / Robert goth to Iheru­salem /619
Clerke and menchon / 612
Conquerour crowned71
[Page]Caerlyl a Cyte148
Clarygacion125
Cantredo what it is / 1 / 44 / 32
Cassis or shippis of Rome1 / 25
Caryatharbe2 410
Caym a cursed25
Cadinus215
Carmentis a nymphe222
Captyuyte of x tribꝰ2 / 23 / 34
Captyuyte of Iewys / 226
Cambises kyng38
Canullus furius / 319
Catilina conspyryng340
Cassi [...]elanus kyng340
Crassus president34
Caton thre341
Claudius cezar48
Caransius tyraunt419
Cass [...]odore·433
Item Cassiodore56
Cas [...]el of Coryge51
Cacanus kyng·511
Charterous ordre74
Cadwallo or cedwalla5 / 19 / 20
Cedmon syngar519
Clement the saynt49
Translacion of his body·4 / 27
Clement the fourth pope / 737
Clement the fyfth741
Chestre the Cyte148
Chestre agayn64
Cedar a londe115
Centauris122
Cetura alias agar211
Creta an Ilond130
Cresu s a kyng35
Cleopatre quene.341
Cletus pope49
Celestinus pope432
Cerdicus duk56
Cesara baptysed515
Chedde bissh [...]p a seynt.5 / 17 / 18
Ced broder of chad515
Ceruelyensis a cenobye / 522
Chymera218
Circumsicion210
Ciclades Ilondes·130
Cipres an Ilond130
Cyt [...]es of englond147
Circes a sorceres225
Cirus kyng3 / 3 / 4·5
Cirus ded37
Cinegirus of Athenes313
Cithero tullius3 38 / 43
Ciprianus422
Coreis or daunces618
Chore gigantum54
Chorus54
Closseus124
Cordeylla231
Counseyl of lugdnum737
Columpnys·225
Corsica an ylond130
Codrus kyng of athene / 228
Consuls of Rome330
Coyllꝰ kyng of brytons / 472
Coelus fader of helene420
Colrede kyng of merces / 5 / 22
Corminus marcus322
Conanus armoricus430
Clodonen s conuerted53
Columba abbot54
Columbanus abbot59
Colfryde abbot522
Colwolf kyng524
Constant fader of con­stantyn /424
Constantinus magnus426
Constancius his sone427
Constantinus tercius / 5 / 15 / 17
[Page]Constantynople122
Cunedagius kyng231
Cubyte double / 25
Clunyacence abbay64
Cumbremere717
Cunebert519
Cuthbert a saynt519
Of the same·62
Of the body of cutbert713
Crosse of cryst taken and brought ageyne511
Of the parte of the crosse sente ouer see626
Of the sygne of the Crosse apperyng725
Children sold at Rome /139
Chyef partyes of brytayne thre134
Chestre men maners148
Conceyuing of children21
Changyng of shappes22
Calf of gold bleteth230
Cyte wonne by curtosye319
Caspy hylles closed328
Childes wytte assayed334
Consuls and senatours slayn339
Cesar first Emperour341
Cryst conceyued and born4 / 1
Cryste laye fourty houres in erthe41
Child among doctours22
Cytees cesaryes bilded43
Cryste precheth and doth myracles·45
Crystes passion & deth46
Crystes name wreten413
Chirche of Rome hath pos­sessions420
Crysme halowed420
Cesar augustus· and Em­perours dyuerse422
Clothes of gold424
Cardynals xv / 425
Cryst nayled with four nayles426
Crosse in clothes and in bo­wellys420
Eredo in vnum deum made430
Childe with two bodyes / 431
Culuer bryngeth crisme / 5 / 3
Children seuen founden / 53
Clerkes and lewdmen de­parted56
Children to selle at Rome / 5 / 6
Cryst helpe for fnesyng / 5 / 9
Child with four feet59
Cuppes hanged by wellys512
Cuthberd deed in fraūce /5 / 20
Charles in helle523
Charlemon shorne monke525
Charles and his dedes5 / 26
Clynt in cowbache / 529
Cuthberd comforted Alurede62
Charles children faylle / 66
Childres mayster sleeth the sewer66
Clowde wonderful in En­glond613
Chesers of the Empe­rour613
Conqueror borne / Robert goth to Iheru­salem /619
Clerke and menchon / 612
Conquerour crowned71
[Page]Conspyracy cometh oute73
Chirche of lyncolne byld.77
Croos sette in the stone78
Chirche dores stopped / 79
Cardynals taken with sophyms /713
Cyte remeued with erthe sha­kyng715
Camels taylle in stede of brydle716
Cardynal taken with a strompette716
Cristen men dyen at acon /7 / 20
Countesse fleeth oute of wyndowe / 721
Crosse in the mone722
Child don on the Crosse at gloucetre722
Catel deled in thre atte last ende722
Cathedral chirches in wales724
Counseyl in Fraūce agaynste kyng rychard727
Castel of Rouchestre taken733
Cardynal in the belle hous of oseney / 735
Carmes chaungen theyr copes738
Corne and Wyn ben deere739
Clerkes put oute of pro­tection /740
Calays besyeged744
Chalkhyll a grete hoost.vl̄3
Courtes withdrawen fro lon­don to yorkvl̄7
Courses of warre in Smythfeldvl̄7
Coūseyl at Constance /vl̄13
Conclusion to make warre in Frauncevl̄13
Cane wonnevl̄14
Charles kynge of Fraunce is deedvl̄17
Counseyll of Arasvl̄19
Calays besyeged by the duc of burgoynevl̄20
Calays rescowed by the duke of gloucetrevl̄20
Chalons dyde Armes in Frauncevl̄25
Capitayne of kente Iackkadevl̄26
Constantynople lostvl27
Children wente to saynt mychels mountvl̄28
Columpne toke a ryche shippe with prysonersvl̄32
Coronacion of kynge Edward the fourthvl̄33

Dalmacia a londe / 122
Denmark a londe / 118
Dauid kyng229
Danaus & egistus214
Danyel the prophete236
Item of danyel323
Darius sone of astrages / 3 / 34
Darius sone of ytapsis / 310
Darius ouercome / 313
Damarachus / 314
Darius sone of arsanij / 327
Damasus pope429
Dauyd a saynt / 710
[Page]Dauyd kyng of scottys /718
Danes comyng527
Batail of danes / 6 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Danes taught Englyssh men to drynke / 69
Delon an ylond129
Deucalyon kyng122
Dee riuer of chestre142
Dedalus a subtyl man / 220
Delbora a prophetesse / 219
Consuls in her place ten men / 315
Democritus philosopher / 318
Demostenes oratour322
Dmetrius sother336
Demetrius sonne of De­metree /336
Decius cesar4 21· 22
Dymes were gyuen in the begynnyng210
How god is knowen312
Of Cybele and boncincia / 3 / 33
Of the goddys of the peple29
Of the day naturel41
Dyonyse the lytel55
Didimus alexandrinus / 4 / 24
Dyoclosian cesar45
Dindymus kyng of Bragmans / 319
Dyonyse the tyraunt321
Dyogenes a philosopher / 330
Dyomedes temple225
Decius Cesar4 21 / 22
Dyomedes dyspayryng / 2·25
Dyonyse alias liber pater / 217
Of the same219
Dayes of the egypciens / 214
Dyluuye of no [...] /26
Dyluuye of achaye211
Dyluuye of deucalyon / 213
Dydo quene120
Domician cesar412
Seuen slepars4 22 / 33
Dorchestre a toune513
Dunstan a saynt6 10 / 12
Of the myracles of saynt dunstan613
Dunwallo moliuncio kyng of Brytons315
Item of other slepers120
Danes brought grete dryn­kyng in to englond131
Double body in one man22
Denys bachus is liber pater216
Doughter rydeth ouer her fader31
Drynk ynowgh of mannes blode37
Dyonydes the see theef / 327
Dedes of Alysander / 320
Dredeful wondres329
Dekenes seuen4 [...]0
Donatus the gramaryen / 4 / 27
Dragon slayn with spyttle431
Deuyl in lykenes of moyses433
Drope of a nose is a mannes deth / 521
Dragon in charles graue523
Deuyls and angels stryuen531
Danes eten hors63
Deed pope throwen in to Tybre / 63
[Page]Dredeful prophecye613
Deuyl holden by the nose / 613
Danes in al the hauenes of englond613
Duke Roberts mānhode / and his courtosye /619
Deth of godewyn625
Duke william arayeth for the conquest / 626
Deth of kyng william74
Dunstan connseylleth Lanfrank76
Deuyl speketh with men711
Drownyng of gentilmē /7 / 16
Deth of kyng henry717
Dyscryuynge of enemyes / 718
Deth of lordes in englond722
Dunstaple / Cryst seen on the Crosse / 724
Duk of Osteryche baner is doune / 727
Deth of kyng richard / 731
Deth of kynge Iohn733
Decretals and bookes made734
Derth and honger in Englond736
Dauyd le bruys taken / 744
Deposicion of kynge Rychardvl̄8
Deth of kynge Ry­chardvl9
Duke of Orleaunce chalen­gyd kyng harryvl̄18
Duke of Orleaunce mur­thred at parysvl̄11
Duke of holond cam in to Englond /vl̄14
Duk of Bedford fought on the see / /vl14
Duck of gloncetre maryed the Duchesse of Holondvl17
Depe takenvl19

Eboracus alias yorke.140
Ebrancus kynge229
Ebdomades lxx33 / 16
Edmond kynge67
Edmundus martir / 616
Of the same532
Edmond bisshop7 34 / 35
Edwulf his broder / 532
Edward the older / 64
Edward martir / 612
Edward confessour.6 28 / 29
Edward pꝰ after Conquest738
Edward seconde7 41 / 44
Edward thyrde744
Edmond yrensyde6 17 / 18
Edmond of duuelyn /6 /18
Edgar kyng6 19.10·11
Edwyus peruersus / 68
Edrede kyng68
Edgar adelyng71.4
Of the same Edgar / 6 17 / 18
Edricus prodytor6 17 / 18
Edbaldus kynge of Can­terbury5 1115
Edwyn kyng5 11 / 12
Edburga a saynt / 64
Edytha a saynt64
[Page]Egbert a monk5 16.20
Egipte a prouynce / 116
Egression of egipt214
Egelnothus that brought Saynt Austyns Arme / 618
Egesyppus historian416
Egwyn Bisshop a saynt523
Egfryde kynge of northumberlond· / 5 18 / 19
Egbert of york that recouerd the palle525
Egbert kyng528
Egidius abbot528
Egelrede kynge613
Elladia a lond122
Ellesponte217
Elyssa alias dydo226
Elydurus kynge331
Elfricus consumed with lyse616
Elphegus bisshop of wynchestre66
Elphegus of Caunterbury / 616
Elfrytha612
Emeryta mylicia115
Empedocles Philo­sopher315
Emilius paulus335
Emma6 15.23
Enos24
Enoch24
Eneas knyght2 24 / 26
Eneas siluius228
Ennins poeta3 33 / 35
Eolꝰ god of wynde130
Eola an ylonde130
Episcopatus Anglie and wallie125
Epyphanye / 45
E [...]ctonius /515
Eroobertus kyng of Cantuare515
Erkenwald bisshop518
Ermenylda quene518
Esdras scribe315
Estsaxons515
Etheldreda a saint5 16 / 18
Ethiopia a londe119
Ethyopyssa Moyses wyf213
Ethelbert kyng56
Ethelbert kynge merciorum4 18 / 19 / 21
Ethelnulphus or Athulphus529
Ethelyngeseye / 62
Ethelstan kynge / 66
Eages seuen of the worlde / 14
Etas sexta seculi41
Europa a Royamme / 1 7 / 12
Europa a woman215
Euander kyng226
Euylmerodac kynge / 32
Eufrates dyuyded33
Euariscus pope4 13·14
Eugenya a vyrgyne417
Eustachius Abbot / 723
Endoxia emperesse gate the gyues of saynt Peter / 433
Espyes xij / 214
Ezechias kyng234
Ezechyel prophete362
Erthe is deled in thre16
Erynge with plough130
Englysshmen callyd /135
[Page]Epirus is tracia28
Eryng and mesure of whete212
Emperour pleteth atte barre43
Emperours sonnes and doughters43
Enemye of mankynde417
Enleuen thousande vyrgyns420
Empyre departed425
Empyre forsake425
Emperour bereth Erthe426
Emperour made ageynst hys wylle / 428
Erthe shakyng429
Eest saxons receyue fayth5·5
Erle acursyd515
Etynge of flessh / 529
Edwardes doughters spynne / 64
Englysshmen slee Danes65
Eyght kynges rowen the bote610
Englonde deled on foure618
Erle of normandy cometh in to Englond624
Englond wonne by Conquest629
Englyssh men bonde in Scotland71
Englond destroyed74
Erthe shakynge at shrewsbury / 714
Erth quaue durynge fourty dayes715
Emperour goth pryuely aweye / 716
Egle peynted with foure heedes721
Emperours crowne smeton of his heede726
Englond enterdyted733
Edmund of abendon734
Erle of arondele taken734
Edward prynce born at wodestoke744
Erldome of Cornewayl y made a ducherye744
Erle of Cambrydge went in to portyngalevl̄6
Erle of marche proclamed heyr apparaunt /vl̄6
Erle of Arondel Iuged to deth / vl̄8
Exylynge of the duke of herford and duke of norfolke / vl̄8
Erle of derby made kynge / vl̄9
Ewayn of glyndor of walysvl̄10
Emperour of Constantinople cam in to englondvl̄10
Erle of morryf Instyd ageynst therle of kentvl̄10
Edmond holōd erle of kēt wedded the dukes suster of melanvl̄10
Erle of Cambrydge and lord scrope byhededvl̄13
Erle of salysbury slayn at Orl [...]auncevl̄18
Elyanor▪ Cobhamvl̄22
Edwarde erle of marche made kyngevl̄33
[Page]Franconia126
Fraunce / 127
Frensshe kynges / 127
Flaundres a lond /128
Item of Flaundres62
Flemynges160
Flemynges cam in to Englond714
Face of a man21
Pharao kyng213
Faunus kyng221
Fables founden218
Fable of pheton213
Fable of wolues322
Fabricius duke331
Fames or honger48
Faustina tempted415
Fabian pope420
Fedus or bargayne215
Fenicia or fenices1 15 / 20
Frederyk the fyrst / 729
Frederyk second732
Fryxus and elles217
Fredeswyde a saynt524
Frigia a lond118
Fryse a londe126
Fynosomye of man21
Fontayn of Iobyn / 115
Fontayne by Acon / 115
Fontaynes of affryk119
Fontayne of Trace / 122
Fontayns of thessalye122
Fontaynes of boecye122
Fontaynes of ytalye123
Fontayne of lasse Brytayne / 127
Fontayns of Sardine1 /29
Fontayns of Scicil [...]130
Fontayns of Irlond124
Fontayn boyllyng blood / 79
Fossa of kyng offa143
Foroneus kynge211
Fossa of Seuerus kynge / 418
Fortunatus poeta57
Focas emperour510
Formosus pope / 63
Furseus and his vysyon513
Furnus Camyllus3 17 / 19
Fysshes fyghte717
Fosse and other hye wayes145
Fables foūden in Grece218
Felawes trysty and trewe / 321
F / and / R / thre524
Fontstone defouled /613
Falshed of danes / 613
Frensshe men and n [...]e­mans fyghten /623
Forbedyng of wyues to clerkes / 73
Flemyngys dwelle in Englonde713
Floure medlyd with lyme /719
Frensshe men take Constantinople723
Fraunce ys begynneth the ordre of Frere Mynours734
Frere mynours come in to Englond734
Freres and Armacan stryue744
Four & twēty ladyes ladde xxiiij▪ knightes to Iuste /vl̄ / 6
Fraūchyse of london lostvl / 7
firmigny an enil iourneyvl27
[Page]Felde at brenkheth /vl̄27

Gallia and galyardes Ilondes127
Gactely·132
Gagates a stone141
Gallacia a lond118
Galline or hennes chaungyng theyr kynde / 21
Gayus Cesar47
Galba Cesar44
Galyeen415
Gracianus funorius Gracian emperour / 430
Glastenbury and his relyquyes523
Gladius athelstani / 66
Glaston abbot73
Germanye and his nature126
Item of germanye51
Getulia a lond / 119
Grecia a prouynce / 122
Getro Socrus moysy213
Gemini217
Gedeon duk220
Guendolena227
Gerion geaunt218
George a saynt425
Gregorius nazausenꝰ428
Gregorius magnus / 59
His heede sente to fraunce5 / 33
Gregorius the syxth622
Gregorius the nynth734
Gregorius the tenthe and his counseylle737
Germayn comyng in to englond / 512
Germayn bisshop of parys5 / 7
Gengulfus and his wyf fartynge525
Gerebertꝰ matematicus / 6·14
Guerra baronum737
Guerra lewelini738
Guerra madoci / 739
Gignosophystis111
Geantes25
Gisericus and kynges of the wandales in affryca / 433
Gisericus kyng25
Gilomaurus kyng433
Ginderiꝰ kynge of britōs4 / 8
Grimbaldus a saynt61
Giraldus bisshop of york7 / 12
Gothia a prouynce117
Gloucetre a toune147
Gorgones a strompet218
Item of gloncetre48
Gothes slayn in tuscye / 432
Gloria in excelsis deo54
Godwyn therle6 24 / 25
Grimald kyng of longobardes516
Guthlacus confessour521
Girmund kyng133
Gurguncius bartruk321
Guntrumius kyng seynge wonder in his slepe59
Guttrun kyng of danes / 62
Gold is in offir111
Goddesse mynerua211
Grece bath corne & seed /  12
God Neptunus is wroth122
Gorgon the strompette slayne217
[Page]Goddesses whiche of them is the fayrest /214
Gog and magog beyonde ca­spy hilles234
Grete gaderynge of men and shippis314
Gardyn of lykyng318
Goo not oute of the circle3 / 35
Gleman profereth yeftes43
Glasyer byheded / 44
Gloucetre caerclon48
Gnattes / & flyes in eres / 4 / 27
Grysly wondres / 428
Gloria patri429
Grayel and offretory432
Gronyng of brytons433
Grete moreyn of men of Brytayne / 51
Grysely wondres and sekenesses57
Galpynge and other sekenesses59
Gregorye is deed510
God haue mercy on sowles512
Grekes forsake latyns / 5 / 28
Gryffyn kyng of wales / 6 / 23
Gyglo [...]es serue monkes at mete /711
Gregory maketh a grete counseylle / 737
Ganeston forswereth englond740
Grete strengthe goth in to Fraunce744
Galeys brente grauysendvl̄5
Grete mayster of rhodes / vl / 5
Grete fisshes takē in tēsevl28
Hagustaldensis chirche / 1 /48
Hanibals vyctorye333
Hanybals deth334
Harald har [...]fote /620
Harald erle6 25.27
Item of the same / 6 / 28 / 29
Heber and his langage.26
Hebron / 246
Hardekuute kyng62 [...]
Hercules2 14 / 17
Hercules pilers / 130
Hector of Troye· / 224
Hely preeste227
Herodes ascolonita343
Herodes threfold / 42
Helene quene48
Helyseus the prophete / 230
Helene moder of Constantyn /426
Helenes body translated / 531
Herodes agryppa / 48
Heresye of manyche424
Heresys arriana / 425
Heresys acephalorum / 52
Heretyks of prescillys and maced433
Hengistus & horseus / 5 / 1 / 2 / 9
Heraclius emperour / 5 11 / 13
Heroclonas his sone / 515
Henry .ij. emperour / [...]21
Henry thyrde emperour / 6 / 2 [...]
Hēry .iiij· emperour7 10 / 14
Of the same henry / 7 23 / 24
Henry the fyrst after conquest / 7 5 / 12 / 17
Henry the second kyng7 / 21 / 22
Of the same harry723
Henry the third734
Hibena a lond / 117
Hircania a lond17
[Page]Hippia a tyraunt31 [...]
Hircanus Industrye334
Hillary of pyctauensis / 427
Hiltebrand pope73
Hilda abesse519
Herman bisshop626
Hereberte bisshop79
Herlewyn abbot623
Hermofridus21
Honorius augustus434
Homerus226
Men monstruous111
Item of the same / 22
Item of monstruous610
Of the mutacion of men in to beestes135
Of the same22
Of the myserye of man / 23
Of man of his properte21
Humbre the ryuer146
Hunericus the kyng53
Hugh capet the kyngis broder615
Hugo de sancto vyctore / 7 / 19
Hugo nouant bisshop of Chestre725
Seynt huge of lyncoln / 732
Hilles of caspye / 19
Half yer nyght in tile113
Hen becometh a cok21
Hool bones in stede of ryb­bes and teeth21
Harpyng smyting and weuyng founden15
Hond wryteth on a wal / 33
Heyfur eweth a lambe / 410
Hogges mouth was pope5 / 31
Harpe in kynges hond66
Hare hert for childes hert6 / 18
Hūdryd poūd offrid619
Holy londe wonne77
Honger trybute and deth in Englond7 [...]
Heuen brenneth / and a welle welleth blode / 79
Holy chirche made fre712
Hede of bras speketh729
Hogas the kyng londeth / 7 / 44
Heresye of admytarum bygannevl̄7
Henry bolyngbroke erle of derby landed in the north / vl / 8
Harflete besyeged and wonnevl̄31
Harry the syxth was bornevl̄15
Hunfray duc of gloucetre dyed / vl̄24
Hunfray stafford and wyll­iam stafford slaynevl̄26

Iacob the patriark / 211
Iamus the lasse / 344
Iamus the more / 46 / 9
Iayr duc of Israel / 222
Iason knyght223
Idols and ydolatrye29
Idra the serpent / 218
Ierusalem the cyte114
Ierusalem subuerted44
Ierl̄m taken of persis510
Persecucion of Ierl̄m77 / 8
Of the same7 19 / 24
Ieroboas kyng230
Iehu kyng230
Ieremye prophete225
[Page]Of his deth & prophecye /31
Ihus sone of sirac335
Ieconias kynge236
Ieroms lawdes / 335
Ieroms deth433
Ignius pope / 414
Ignacius bisshop413
Imperij translacio / 528
De Imperij officialibus / 613
De modo coronandi726
Imperatorem  
Imperatryx matyld713
Iudea & his meruelys111
Ilōdes of the grete see /130
Ilondes fortunate131
Ilonde meroe140
Insula vecta / 144
Ilond Anglesye144
Ile of man144
Ilond of thenet144
Inachus Isyde & Io211
Item de Isyde & Io214
Insula vulcani / 334
Interpretes of Scripture / 332
Innocentes42
Ingrynaria pestys59
Iuo kyng5 20 / 24
Innocēt thyrdde pope731
Innocent fourth736
Interdiction of englōd /7/ 33
Ioachym kyng32
Ioachym abbot722
Ioseph solde211
Iosue duke214
Iupiter the grete.215
Iouithꝰ sone of noe26
Iosephs sepulture210
Iosias kyng of Iuda / 235
Iosephus exactor334
Ionathus machab336
Iohannes hircanus337
Iohan baptist conceyued·3·44
Iohans deth45
Ioninian emperour428
Iohes elemosinariꝰ510
Iohan damascene522
Iohn of beuerley523
Iohan scot at malmesbury531
Iohn pope that was a woman532
Iohes de temporibus718
Iohan kynge of englond7 32.33
Ipocras medycus316
Ismael210
Islond an ylond113
Isaac patriarke211
Isidorus Ispalensis / 515
Isaye prophete235
Indya a lond114
Iubylee the yere210
Iulo sone of eneas226
Iulius cesar / 3 40 / 42
Iulius corrected the kalender314
Iuge flayn38
Iudas machabeus3 35 / 36
Iulianus bisshop / 411
Iuliān apostata /428
Iustinus tholder55
Iustinus second / 57
Iustinianus primus56
Iustinianus sꝰ5 20 / 21 / 22
Iuo a saynt / 59
Item of the same625
Images meuyd by craft / 212
Iupiter chaūged to a bole /2 / 15
Iohan the euangelyste borne / 4 [...]
[Page]Ihesus cometh oute of egypte42
Iohan precheth and cristneth45
Iudas scaryoth46
Iohan & girald sente in to Englond724
Iewes haue sorowe in Englond725
Iewe in a gonge736
Iewes dryuen awey738
Iohan bayllol aryseth ageynst edward740
Iohan with the Cat at Oxenford742
Irlond yeuen to the fyrst Edward736
Iohan kyng of Fraunce deyde at sauoye / vl̄2
Iak strawevl̄5
Iohan of gauut duk of lancastre wente to Spaynevl7
Iames styward kynge of scottis maryedvl̄17
Iohan with the leden swerdvl̄17
Iane weyes toke the kyng of Aragonvl̄19

Kalendes125
Kalender correct / 314
Karolus marcellus523
Karolus magnus526
Kenwalcus kyng515
Kenulphus kyng528
Kenelme kyng529
Kymbelyn kyng344
Kynrycus kynge56
Kynegylsus kyng511
Kyng latyn222
Kynges fayle in athene / 2 / 28
Knyghtes thre ageynste thre / 225
Kyng withoute eyen39
Kyng of Englond yeueth yrlond321
K / put to lettres of latyn343
Kynge of cornewayl430
Kyssyng at masse431
Kyng and Bisshop precheth512
Kynge monke is slayne513
Kynges doughter spynneth526
Kyngdome of Englond is goddes owne618
Kyng edward lawheth at masse / 623
Kyng of Scottys doth homa­ge to kyng of englōd /7 / 2 / 23
Kyng william taketh trybute73
Kynge of Ierusalem come in to englonde / 743
Kyng of Fraunce taken7 / 44
Kateryn of Senysvl2
Kyng Rychard born at Bourdeuxvl̄2
Kynge edward the thyrde deydevl̄4
Kyng of Ermony cam in to Englondevl̄6
Kyng rychard made twoo dukes / fyue erlys / and [Page] one marquys /vl̄6
Kyng rychard maryed quene Isabelvl̄8
Kyng rychard wente in to Irlondvl̄8
Kyng harry the fourth deydevl̄12
Kyng harry the fyfth crownedvl̄13
Kyng rychard the seconde taken fro langley and buryed ageyne at westmynstrevl13
Kynge harry fyfth wedded quene katherynvl̄15
Item he was made herytyer of Fraunce and Regentvl̄15
Kyng harry v. is deedvl15
Kynge harry made knygthvl̄18
Kyng harry crowned at london and at parysvl18
Kynge of scottys murthredvl21
Kynge harry wedded quene margaretevl̄23
Kynge harry taken at saynt Albonsvl32
[...] [...]arry deposedvl33

Lamissio kyng of longobardes53
Lacedomonia a londe / 122
Lameth with his wyues /  21
Laborintus dedali220
Latyn kyng / 221
Latyn tong foure folde / 222
Lauyna eneas wyf226
Lazarus48
Laurence a saynt423
Laurence Bysshop scorgyd511
Lanfricus archebisshop / 7 1.2.6
Leycetre127
Legyon a toune148
Lawes of Englond150
Leyr kyng230
Lawes of lygurge231
Lawes of salamon316
Auctours of lawes316
Leonyda of Athenes314
Leon the pope433
Leon pope the fourth528
Lestyngay515
Leofricus Erle620
Leon Emperour52
Letanyes ordeyned53
Leodegarius a saynt517
Lyncoln a toune547
Lygurge of lacedomone / 231
Libia aprouynce119
Liler patea / 214
Lettres of grue216
Lisimachꝰ sleyng a lyon / 3 / 38
Liberus a pope427
London / 147
Longobardes123
Locustis a multitude1.37·7 / 15
Longobardys come in to Italye57
Loth210
Locryne kyng of britons / 2 / 27
Longnius a knyght49
Lowys the meke719
[Page]Lucrecia the chaste36
Lucius papirius / 325
Lucrecius poeta / 338
Lucanus poete49
Lud kynge of bryton / 340
Lucius kyng of briton / 416
Lucius comodus Emperour / 417
The kyngdome of Lygdys fayled35
Lampes y lyght with fyre that cam fro heuen114
Langages and tonges in Brytayne /159
Lambe speketh / 231
Leche bytraid his lord331
Ludgate / 340
Lente ordeyned to fore Eester414
Laudamus te / bene­dicimus te /429
Lente holden in kent / 515
Last kyng of britons520
Lore for lordes / 61
Luyses ete elfryk / 612
London brente / 613
London yeueth pledges / 6 /16
Long man pallas621
L [...]ye my bodye at chirche dores /622
Lordes gadred at gloucetre /624
Lowys kyng of Fraunce / 719
Lordes take the crosse to the hooly londe724
Lordship of Tartares / 732
Londoners acursyd.737
Lewelyn stryueth and is deed738
Lady saynt mary quoth the kyng744
Leonel made duke of Clarencevl̄1
Lywyth the maydevl19
London brydge fylle / vl̄20

Macedonia a lond / 122
Mauritana a lond120
Maddan kynge of brytons228
Manasses kyng225
Marcus cursius322
Marcia quene / 325
Marcus regulus / 332
Mathathyas and his sones335
Marius consul3 38 / 39
Marius kyng of britons.4 / 9
Maria moder of crist344
Of the same / 48
Maryes smok61
Marcus euangelyst48
Marcus Antonius / 416
Marcus aurelius / 419
Marcellinus pope425
Martyn a saynt4 26 / 29
Myracles of martyn / 63
Macharijs tweyne / 429
Maximus a tyraunt430
Marcianus Emperour51
Machomet and his lawe / 5·14
Mauryce emperour59
Marcianus a Scott / 614
Of the same / 72
Malcolyn kyng of scottys.7 / 7
[Page]Maude his doughter716
Maude themperyce / 718
Magyke illusions / 729
Myraclys fantastyk725
Media a londe /713
Mesopotania a lond / 2 21 / 23
Mero a toune213
Melchisedech210
Mercurius2 14 / 18
Mempricius kyng / 229
Medecyn founden316
Men of mercia be baptysed510
Medhampstede518
Mynotaurus / 220
Mydas ryche kyng228
Metridate / 3 39 / 40
Mychel reuelacion54
Moruidus cruel / 331
Moyses and his deth214
Monastery of benet / 59
Modwenna a saynt.530
Mount synay / 113
Mount libane / 113
Mount Syon114
Mount olyuete114
Mount of Caluary114
Mount of Cancase117
Mount ararath117
Moūt Athlant120
Mounte Olympe / 122
Mons pernasus122
Mount Ethna130
Item of Ethna337
Mountayns of caspe328
Musyk founden311
Marius vyctorye148
Mare whelpeth a Foxe22
Making of man24
Mametry fyrst by nynꝰ / 29
Man bicometh an hors / 225
Mametes fallen / 31
Marcia yeueth lawes325
Maryes344
Maria with elyzabeth / and maumetes falle /41
Man lyke themperour43
Mary rosteth her childe / 410
Masse sayd eestward / 56
Mares can kyke56
Manslaughter by danes / 5 / 4
Manual made61
Malmesbury yeuen68
Maydens shorne as clerkes624
Men slayn with myse / 73
Met and mesur of therthe / 1.5
Men clothed lyke wymmē /1 / 33
Men wonderly shapen / 22
Medea goth fro her husbond221
Men bicome birdes225
Men bycome wolues225
Mynstral bycometh an asse225
Mesures and weyghtes founden231
Metebord of gold / 233
Monethes of the yere234
Moneye / 234
Moliuncius kyng315
Morayn at Rome / 322
Moder sleeth her fyue sonnes334
Messalina the strompet48
Monke made emperour / 426
Men solde as beestes432
Mychel in the mounte gargan54
Merlyn the prophete / 54
[Page]Mermyns seen /59
Monkes haue leue to preche / 510
Mynstrals put out of contray621
Melan destroyed /720
Men eten theyr childeren / 7 /35
Men deyen for hete738
Many scottys slayn744

Nabugodonosor236
his body yeuen to vulturis32
Nabugodonosors dreme / 31
Nabuzardan236
Nartisus bisshop418
Narsus patricius57
Nemproth a gyant26
Nepthololmus / 224
Neemia reedyfyed /316
Nectanabus exyled / 327
Nero Cesar / 412
Nylus a ryuer1 10.16
Nynus a kyng / 29
Nychanorre336
Nycholas a deken / 46
Nycholas a saynt / 427
Translacion of hym / 75
Nycena synode426
Noe / 25
Normandye / 128
Norweye a lond131
Notyngham a toune147
Names Imposed27
Nouaria a strompette125
Numidia / 120
Numa pompilius / 234
Nayles four of crist426
None yrysshman shal aby­de antecrist54
Nolles tweyne in one child59
Noo man spareth ne woman512
Nose and tong kytte of / 515
Nayl of Cryst / 526
Normans and danes in Fraunce63
Northumberlond67
Normans t [...]chyth twyes /6 / 21
Nauey gadred ageynst Norganes623
Norgan kepyth the brydge628
Normandy leyd to wedde.79
None loueth other of hen­ryes sones721
Newe erle of an olde bisshop725
No thyng myght quenche the fuyre / 726
Northern wynde breketh hows and trees734
Nory fyghtyth for his ladye / 621
Nycholas of tour a Shippe / vl̄25

Occean the see19
Ocillus ludus220
Otho kynge of Perses / 322
Octauianus augustꝰ343
[Page]Octauius king430
Odo archebisshop610
Odo bayocensis75
Offir an ylond111
Offa kyng of mercia525
Olympyades232
Olyuer monk of Malmesbury628
Mesure of the world115
Oreb a lytil hylle214
Orygenes doctour418
Orosius preest / 422
Ordre of Chartrehous / 74
Ordrer of Cystews / 710
Ordre of premostranēce /7 /16
Orde of templers716
Ordre of prechours733
Oswald kynge5 12 / 15
Translacion of his bones / 64
Oswald bisshop a saynt / 6 /10
Oswius kyng / 5 15 / 16
Oswynus kynge515
Osmunde bisshop73
Othonyell duke216
Otho Cesar / 410
Otho Emperour66
Otho myrabylys613
Otho legatus735
Ouidyus poeta44
Octobonus legatus737
Owayn and his purgatory / 720
Oxenford scoles61
One man lowhe in his byrthe day21
Olyfauutes clawed in the forhede / 331
Olyfaunt y throwe / 334
Orcades ylondes wonne / 48
Obley ordeyned litel413
Oyle for seke men431
Offyce of the masse / 432
Offedyche525
Olyuer and Row­lond deed526
Obedyence axyd and warned71
Ordynal y made / 73
One with Crystes woundes / 734
Occasion of the Barons warre736
Oost lyeth at stafford / 737
Ordre of Templers dampned740
One wylle wynne Irlond741
Ordenaunce of Hebru / grue / and latyn /742
Oldcastel knyght lord Cobham brente / vl̄14
Owayn that wedded quene katherynvl̄21
Oyer determyne at london.vl̄27
Osmunde a saynt canonysedvl̄28

Paradyse110
Flodes of paradyse110
Palestyna a lond / 115
Parthya & parthys / 111
Pamphilia / 118
Pannonia a lond121
Pallantes and pallas211
Palumbus a preest / 626
[Page]Pallas a gyant621
Plaghys of egipte / 214
Plato the philosopher323
Pharyseys and her sectes / 44
Paschal tyme4 15 / 7
Paschalis pope710
Patryk of Irlond / 429
Patryks tweyne / 54
Purgatorye of patrik / 135
Paladium / 432
Panlinus volanus52
Paulinus archebisshop5 / 11.12
Paule deken of Rome / 528
Paule primus Heremyta423
Paule thappostle / 46
Paulus chirche in london510
Peter apostle46 / 3
Perseus kynge217
Pegasus / 217
Pelops217
Perdycus dedalus neuewe / 220
Pelias kynge / 223
Pentasibea / 224
Persius poete / 49
Pelagyus heretyk431
Prescianus gramaryen / 56
Plegmundus Arche­bisshop634
Petrus comestor722
Petrus de ponte fracto / 733
Peter ganaston / 741
Permendes a philosopher / 3.15
Pygmeys litel men111
Philystea [...]a londe115
Pycardye128
Pyctes / 158
Priam kyng224
Pisistraces of Athene / 33
Pypyn kynge520
Pirrus kynge / 331
Pilates begynnyng / 44
Pilates deth47
Philip apostle / /48
Plinius secundus413
Philip emperour / 421
Pyctagoras philosopher / 3/ 11
Philosophrys312
Poetes49
Polemius conuerted / 323
Promotheus astrologꝰ / 212
Proserpina / 217
Porrus kyng of Indes328
Pompeius magnus3 / 34 / 40
Prodygyes in ytalye339
Porcia Catons doughter / 343
Polcarpus a saynt415
Putyfar211
Prayers foūd by enos24
Prophecye of the batayl of Troye·224
pope outlawed / 56
Prosessions on sonday / 56
Peter betyth the Bisshop511
Peters pens524
Pope a lewd man525
Popes thre at debate610
Prestes wyues forbode713
Piers of pontfret / 733
Pope sette on a wylde hors / 740
Piers of ganeston741
Pluralyte dampned742
[Page]Plente of al thynge sauf of money744
Phelyp kyng of Fraunce breketh brydges744
Peter pens forboden / vl̄2
Prynce Edward deyde.vl̄ / 4
Petrus de luna and scysmevl̄5
Pryour of kylmayn / vl̄23
Parlament at leycetre.vl̄25
Prentyses of london withstode the mayer / vl̄27

Quynchelinus kynge of westsaxons / 511
Question of shippmen / 323
Quyk thynge may not synke in the see / 114
Quene of wymmen wryteth to alysaunder the kyng / 118
Quenes of wymmen221
Quene of Saba cometh to Salamon229
Qui pridie and water in chalys413
Quene purgyth the kynge / 515
Quene purgyth her self623
Quene and her sonne outlawed / 742
Question of caerneruan7 / 44
Quene Anne maryed / vl5
Quene Isabel sente hoome in to Frauncevl9
Quene Katheryn is deedevl20
Quene Iane deyde / vl20
Ryuers of paradyse / 110
Rome y buyld124
Ryuers of englonde140
Rayn and Raynbowe26
Rynges dyuerse212
Rede see openeth214
Ruthudybras / 230
Remus and romulus231
Rome y byld233
Remus lepyth ouer the wal233
Romayns named latyns / 2 / 3
Romaynes besyeg [...]d /313
Rome taken317
Renon pekketh a mannes eyen322
Romayns deceyued in bataylle325
Romaynes slee galles / 333
Rode peynted by miracle4 / 26
Rewle of monkes made / 4 / 29
Rome taken / 432
Rome a swerd drawe59
Rayn and serpentes at Rome / 59
Ryngyng to the houres / 510
Rome bitrayed530
Ryuer deled a thre63
Requiescant in pace6 [...]
Rychard without drede / 67
Rode spekyth out of the walle / 612
Robert yaf yeftes619
Rode hath the croune620
Rynge on the ymage fynger626
Robert Courthose73
Robert short botes712
Rysyng ayenst the kyng / 7 / 13
Ryuers and welles drenyn [Page] in Fraunce /717
Rome enterdyted / 722
Rosamund and her bowr / 722
Rychard kynge helpyth the erle / 726
Rese prynce of Wales731
Rycharde emperour736
Robert grosthede736
Rayn and hard weder740
Robert bruys / 740
Rayn and. moreyn of men744
Robauus doctour530
Ranulphus Bisshop of Duuelyn / 78
Randolph Bisshop of Caunterbury / 715
Remygius53 / 4
Remygius lyncoln̄77
Roboas kyng / 230
Rhodes ylonde / 229
Rowen heugestys doughter / 51
Rollo duk of normandy6 / 1 / 2
Robert kyng of Fraunce6 / 15
Robert duk of normandy6 / 19
Robertus bisshop of Herford72
Robert bisshop of Chestre / 7 / 4
Robert Conthecse73 / 5 / 12
Rycold baptysed524
Rycharde duke of Normandy67
Rychard fyrst kyng of englond /7 25 / 27
Rychardes deth731
Robert knollys made knyghtvl / 1
Rayn lyke blood / vl1
Rychard made prynce of walesvl4
Robert hawle slayne in westmynstre chirche / vl5
Roan besyeged and takenvl14
Rychard wyche preeste brentvl21
Rogger bolyngbroke Nygromancervl22
Robert of Cane toke Shippisvl25
Raynold pecok abiured / vl / 28

Set of myddel erthe / 18
See of Occean / 19
Swolowes of the see19
Seuen men sleepe / 126
Spataria in spayn129
Sonne goth not doune / 131
Scotlond callyd Irlond /1 /37
Shires of engl̄ond149
Sleyng with syght21
Seuen children attones / 21
Spredynge of men in to dyuerse londes / 27
Sownyng of wordes / 27
Ship peynted with a dragon / 212
Saturne fleeth Iupyter / 215
Slaughter of vj.C / 217
Seuenty bretheren slayn / 2 / 21
Sybelles ten223
Sampson Ruleth Isrl̄ /226
Salon made lawes / 228
Salamon regned and buylded the temple229
[Page]Sardanapalus231
Siracusana234
Sonne goth back234
Sybyle the wyse234
Salon yeueth newe lawes / 236
Spyrytes legyle men35
Stryf at Rome310
Socrates thre318
Socrates wyues / 318
Senatours supposed goddes319
Staf by dyogenes320
Swerd aboue a mans heede / 321
Strompette in a philoso­phres bedde /323
Stone lyke alysaundre / 330
Serpentes in stones334
Sheld of gold sente to Rome337
Syx Cyuyle batails339
Sybile prophecyeth43
Sectes thre among Iewes44
Salutem et apostolicam4 / 9
Symon magus / 49
Symon leprosus / 411
Seynt mary the rounde412
Sanctus at masse413
Seuen slepers / 422
See of Rome is voyd425
Story tripertyte is wreton426
Stryf for to le pope427
See passeth the clyues428
Sonne astynteth / 429
Sulpicius wil not speke4 / 31
Slepers awake433
Saxons come in brytayne / 51
Stynkynge prysonne53
Stonhenge brought oute of Irlond54
Seke men eueled55
Stacions at Rome59
Sarasyns slayn523
Sonne is derk528
Sone ageynst the fader / 5 /30
Stryf for martyns bodye / 6 / 3
Senatours of en­glond /612
See chaungeth to derham / 614
Sancti spiritus assit nobis gracia615
See obeyeth not the kynge620
Syward armeth hym to deye625
Slepers torne hem628
Shepster sleeth the Bisshop72
Sterres falle and fyghte78
See of Tedford chaungith79
Seculer clerkes at Caunterbury / 724
Sowdan and kyng Rychard taken triews728
Sarasyns doo maystries733
Statutes ageynst mort mayn728
Syxty thousande scottys slayn / 740
Spencer / Mortemer and barkley742
[Page]Stryf bytwene kynges of englond and of fraūce /7 /44
Syege of b [...]rwyck744
Samaria a lond115
Samaria & samaryt [...] /234
Saxonia a prouynce / 126
Sclauia a prouince121
Sardyn an ylond130
Shrewsbury ā toune /147
Seuarn a Ryuer146
Samuel a prophete / 227
Saul kynge228
Saluste historian334
S [...]lande /126
S [...]rris cometis5 19 / 24
Sergius pope / 531
Steuen kynge718
Steuen of caūterbury /7 / 33.34
Syria a prouynce113
Sydonia a lond210
Sychem or sichynnia115
Scycilia1 18 / 19
Scylla and Carybdis129
Syrenes or mermayd218
Siringa cadmus wyf / 218
Scipio Cornelius333
Scipio Affrycan / 334
Scipio nasica / 334
Scipio minor / 337
Symon machabeus.337
Symon mountfort737
Sylla Consul339
Syxtus pope413
Siluester pope426
Symachus pope54
Synode of nycene426
Synode of Constan­tinople430
Synode of Constāt5 18 / 27
Synode of ephesym433
Synode of calced433
Stygandus Archebisshop7 / 1
Symonyaks73
Sophocles / 314
So [...]ne y derked528
Sortylegye at barkley / 6 /25
Susis a Cyte317
Susak kynge of egypt / 230
Sua a kyng6 15·16
Syxty perlys valewyd at x M motonsvl̄1
Scoler slepte seuen yere.vl / 2
Seneschal of henaud dyde armes / vl̄11
Sigismunde emperour chosenvl̄11
Sygismund emperour cam in to englondvl̄14
Sygismunde emperour deyde / vl21
Syre fraunceys aragonoysvl25
Spruys lost by deuisionvl / 27
Sandwyche dispoylled by Frensshmen / vl̄28

Tracia a londe.122
Tha [...]yse a Ryuer146
Troye hath name of Tros / 118
Trees of the sonne and mone111
Tabour in batayl112
Tethynges yeuen210
Trompe y founde211
Temples y founde211
[Page]Tokenes reysed215
Tyrus y buylded / 220
Totres made220
Troye bytrayd224
Troye taken225
Temple of Salamon225
Tree of the crosse / 229
Tales of the wyse man / 233
Ten lygnages taken234
Temple of pees in Rome235
Tokenes in Ioachyms body236
Transmygracyon / 236
Tormentes36
Trybunes at Rome / 313
Trees of sonne and mone spake to alysaunder /330
Translacion of hooly wrytte / 332
Temple Cleopoleos / 335
Tullyus tonge kytte of / 334
Twellyfth daye / 45
Titus and vaspasianꝰ / 4 / 10
Titus ful of promysses411
Traianus the beste Emperour / 413
Towelles of the auter413
Thoycanata426
Theofle doth hommage to the fende56
Tresour vnder the Crosse / 58
Twellyf honderd monkes510
Traianus delyuerauce / 522
Tiber encresyth523
Translacion and makynge of bokes61
Two Emperours / 65
Trybute of wolues / 69
Temple couerd with bedes / 610
Traytours byheded611
Townes destroyed.613
Traytour edryk615
Trybute releced in englonde /624
Tresour sought in Abbayes / 73
Tresour y founde / 626
Trybute in englonde / 71
Trees of wulstan78
Townes drowned711
Tokenes in Englond714
Templers and her ordre / 716
Thomas of Caun­terbury.722
Tryewes bytwene kynges732
Todes bycome houndes and asses732
Townes take and besyeged / 733
Tethynges take to the pope734
Taxyng of chirches738
Trailbaston740
Thomas of lancastre742
Toune of london and Castel of Brystowe743
Tempest of weder besyde paris & tretees of acord / 7.44
Tarquinus priscus / 225
Tarquinus superbus36
Thalestrys quene327
[Page]Thare fader of abraham /24
Taurus eneus / 35
Tartars7 25 / 32
Transformates225
Thessalia / 122
Theseus duke220
Theatre of Rome.334
Tiberius Cesar44
Tiberius Constantinus5 / 8
Tripolis a londe119
Tyle an ylond131
Titus liuius340
Titus emperour411
Thotylas kyng / 56
Thobias234
Tholomeus xj dyuerse3 / 31 / 32 / 33 / 34 / 35 / 37 / 38 / 40 /
Tholomeus matematicus4 /15
Trogus pompeus / 415
Thomas erle of lancastre / 7 / 14
Thurstyn bisshop of yorke7 15 / 18
Thurstyn abbot of glastenbury73
Turgesius kynge of Irlond133
Thuryngya a lond126
Tubal cam25
Toure of babel26
Turnus knyght216
Tullius hostilius / 235
Thre partyes of erth16 / 7
Thre stronge / whiche is strengest310
Thre masses on Crystemasse nyght414
Thorney is westmynstre / 5 /11
Theef cam to slee the kynge512
Thre fuyres in thayer / 513
Thre yere fastyng530
Thre kynges yelde hem / 65
Thre dropes of oure lady mylke612
Thou hast spoused me626
Thre causes why william chalengyd englond / 629
Thre vysyons of the kynge717
Thre kynges brought to Coleyn722
Thre abbayes byld723
Thondrynge and lyghtnynge /723
Thre sones ageynste kynge henry722
Thre shellynges of a plowe l [...]nd732
Thonder and grym weder732
Thou shalt ende the vers / 7 / 33
The thyrdde kynge henry crowned / 734
Theues brenne marchaūtes738
The syxthe booke and the seuenthe of decretals.7 / 40
The thyrdde edward crowned744
Thynges ben dere744
Twoo kynges mette at Calaysvl̄1
Twoo egles fought in thayervl̄2
The duk of Suffolk arrestydvl25
The duk of Suffolk byhededvl̄25
The duk of Somersete slaynvl̄27
[Page]The erle of warwyk assaylled at westmestrevl̄29
The duck forsoke the felde and went to irlondvl29
The erles of marche warwyck and Salysbury wente to Calays / vl29
The duc of Somersete wente to guisnesvl̄30
The duk of york slayn at wakefelde /vl̄32
The lorde boneuyl and Syre Thomas kryel byheded /vl̄32
Towton felde by yorkvl̄ / 33

Varro marcus.337
Valerianus emperour / 423
Valentynyanus tholder / 4.29
Valentinianus the yonger52
Vecta an ylond144
Venym of Alysaundre / 330
Vaspasianus emperour4 / 10
Vysyons of danyel / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3
Vyrgyl maronen̄344
Vitellus Cesar410
Vitalianus pope / 516
Vlyxes knyght / 225
Vortigerus kyng.433
Item of hym51
Vortimerius his sone / 51
Vterpendragon / 54
Volumes and bookes / 335
Venym myghte not slee metrydas339
Venym y shadde in hooly chirche461
Vowe reuoked / 57
Vnyuersyte at oxenford / 61
Vessel of quichinus66

Wondres of Inde114
Welle is non in Iherusalem310
Welle that chaungeth Colour four sythes a yere / 115
Welle that chaūgeth / metal in to glas [...]15
With whippes chorles ben chaced117
Wymmen bonde118
Welle that maketh clere voys119
Welle cold by nyght and hote by daye / 119
Wymmen putte oute of counseylle122
Welles of mynde and of forgetynge122
Welle that cureth eyeen123
Welle that dryeth in / wynter123
Wumles be lombardes / 123
Wyf shal not be forsake though she be barayn.125
Welle that spryngeth ageynst men clothed in rede110
Welle that maketh barayn & another go with child130
Welle that torneth tree [Page] in to stone131
Wymmen bycome hares /  34
Wondres of Irlond235
Wales and the maners of it138
Wondres of brytayne142
Wymmen selle / wynd144
Wondres of blewe men / 119
Wymmen bycome men21
Wretches in egypt214
Wether bereth fryxius and elles217
Wymmen with men in bataylle / 219
Wytches brought to dome25
Wyues bytwene sh [...]ltrons233
Wyll ye be bore agayne / 34
Woryers begyled37
Wenche buryed quyck / 313
Wrytyng vnder wax / 314
Wayes haue fredome315
Wolues acorde with sheepherdes322
Wyues wode for loue325
Wenche sleeth her self333
Wondres of Iulius deth342
Wondres in Crystes birth4 / 2
Woman yeueth good counseylle43
Wondres that fyll / 46
Wenche that tumbled47
Wyf wasshe in bloode415
Woman made abbott417
Walle of turues in brytayne418
Wall made in brytayne / 432
Wicked wrenche of a woman57
Wonder metynge of a sweuene59
Woman pyght on a pole511
Womans nether. ende syngeth / 525
Wenche cheseth the kynges sonne527
Woman with two bodyes6 / 19
Wyght destroyed with danes615
Wytche at barkley625
Whan I goo to chirche of child74
Whyrlewynde beteth doune howses77
Walsshe men warre78
Westmynstre halle / 79
Walsshmen in cheschyre / 719
Women slytte718
William with the longe berde / 730
Wardes graunted to kyng henry /734
Wolle and felle arestid739
William waleys deed at london740
Wynchelse brente744
Walys and his rytes138
Wa [...]lyngstrete /145
Wandalys persecucion / 433
Wandragesylus abbot / 516
Walter bisshop of herford /7 / 2
Walter bisshop of duuel /7 / 11
Westfalya a lond / 126
Werwel a monaster / 612
Westmynstre511
wereburga a saint518
Translacion of her to Chestre6 / 1 / 5 / 18
[Page]Whitlandia an ylonde131
Wynchestre a cyte / 147
Wyne bisshop / 147
Whitby an abbay516
Wylfrida a saynt / 69
Whitburgh a saynt528
Wylfryde bisshop5 17.18
I [...]em of the same5 19 / 20
William louga spata65.7
William Conquerour619
Item of his Conquest / 629
Item of hym and of his deth71 / 4
Wyllyam Rous his sone / 7 5 / 8 / 9
Item of the same7 11 / 14
William kyng henryes sonne drowned716
Williā bisshop of ely /7 / 25 / 27
William aluernensis734
Wulferus kynge of mercia5 16 / 18
Wulstan a saynt78
Whyte Companyevl1
Wakefeld an euyl iourneyvl̄32
Xerses kyng of perces / 3 /14
Xenocrates philosopher / 323
Xpūs concepcion41
Xpūs natyuyte41
Xpūs age and werkys /45
Xpūs passion4 [...]

Zorastes fyndar of wytchecraft29
Zorobabel the duke35
Zorobabel solatyels sonne310
Zeno the emperour / 53

York y buylded229
Yeres dyuersly accompted4 / [...]
Yate closed ageynst the kynge511
Yef [...]es yeuen to the danes [...]1 [...]
York y brente71
Yeftes made of wales / 7 [...]8

SYth the tyme that the grete and high tour of babilone was bylded [...]en haue spoken with dyuerse tonges / In such wise that dyuerse men be strange [...] other and vnderstōde not others speche / Speche is not knowen but yf it be lerned comyn lernyng of speche is by hering· & so alway he that is deef is alway dombe for he may not here speche for to / lerne / So men of fer countrees and londes that haue dyuerse speches / yef neyther of hem haue lerned others langage / nether of hem wote what other meneth / though they mete and haue gret nede of informacion and of loor of talkyng and of speche be the nede neuer so grete neyther of hem vnderstondeth others speche no more than / gaglinge of gees For Iangle that one neuer so fast that other is neuer the wyser though he shrewe hym in stede of good morow· ¶ This is a grete meschyef. that folo [...]eth now mankynde / But god of his mercy and grace hath ordeyned double remedye / One is that somme mā lerneth and knoweth many dyuerse speches / ¶And so bytwene strange men of the whiche neyther vnderstandeth others speche· ¶ Suche a man may be mene an [...] telle eyther what other wole mene· That ot [...]er remedye is that one langage is lerned. vsed. and knowen in many nacions and londes. And so latyn is ler­ned knowen and vsed specially on this half grece in alle the nacions and londes of Europe / Therfor clerkes of her godnes and curtosye make and wryten their bokes in latyn· For her wryting and bookes sholde be vnderstande in dyuerse nacions and londes ¶ And so Ranulphus monke of C [...]estre wrote in latyn his bookes. of Cronykes that descryueth the world aboute in leng­the and in bre [...]de / And maketh mencion and mynde of doynges and dedes of meruaylles & of wondres· and rekeneth the yeres to his last dayes / fro the first makyng of heuen and of erthe And so therinne is grete and noble Informacion and loore to hem that can therinne rede and vnderstande ¶Therfor I wolde haue the­se bookes of Cronykes / translated out of Latyn in to Englysshe for the moo men shold hem vnderstande and haue therof con̄yng Informacion and loore The Clerke These bookes of Cronykes ben wryten in latyn / And latyn is vsed and vnderstanden on this half grece in alle the nacions and londes of Europa ¶And comynly Englysshe. is not so wyde vnderstonde vsed ne knowen And thenglysshe transl [...]cion shold noman vnderstande but En­glyssh men allone / Thenne how shold the moo men vnderstonde the Cronykes though they were translated out [...]f latyn that [Page] is so / wyde vsed and knowen / in to Englysshe that is not [...] & knowen but of englyssh men allone The lord ¶This question and doubte is easy to assaylle ¶ For yf these cronykes were translated out of latyn in to Englyssh / thenne by that so many the moo men shold vnderstande hem / as vnderstonde Englysshe and no latyn The clerk Ye cunne speke rede and vnderstan­de latyn. thenne it nedeth not to haue suche an englyssh transla­cion The lord. ¶I denye this argument For though I can speke rede and vnderstande latyn· ther is moche latyn in these bookes of Cronykes that I can not vnderstonde / nether thou without studyeng auisement and lokyng of other bookes. Also though it were not nedeful for me / it is nedeful for other men that vnderstonde no latyn The clerke Men that vnder­stonde no latyn may lerne and vnderstande ¶ The lord ¶ Not alle For somme may not for other manere besynesse / Somme for elde Somme for defaute of wytte Somme for defaute of ca­tell other of frendes to fynde hem to scole / And somme for other dyuerse defautes and lettes ¶The Clerke Hit nedeth not that alle suche knowe the Cronykes / ¶The lord ¶Speke not to straytly of thynge that nedeth For straytly to speke of thynge that nedeth / only thynge that is and may not faylle nedeth to be. And so it nedeth that God be / for god is and maye not faylle / And so for to speke noman nedeth for to knowe the cronykes / ffor it myght and may be that noman hem knoweth· Otherwise to speke of thynge that nedeth· somwhat nedeth for to susteyne or to haue other thynges therby / And so mete and drynke ne­deth for kepyng and susteynaunce of lyf. And so for to speke no man nedeth for to knowe the cronykes· But in the thyrdd ma­ner to speke of thynge that nedeth / alle that is prouffytable ne­deth / and so for to speke alle men nede to knowe the Cronykes ¶ Tle clerke Thenne they that vnderstande no latyn may axe and be enformed and y taught of hem that vnderstande latyn ¶The lord· Thou spekest wonderly for the lewde man wote not what he shold axe / and namely of loore of dedes that come neuer in his mynde ner wote of whom comynly he shold axe / Also not all men that vnderstāde latyn haue such bokes tēforme leude men also som connen not & somme may not haue while / & so it nedeth to haue an englysshe translacion ¶The clerke ¶The latyn is both good and fayr / therfor it nedeth not to haue an englyssh translacion ¶The lord This reson is worthy to be plunged in [Page ij] a pludde and lede in powder of lewdnes and of shame / ¶It myght wel be that thou makest only in myrthe and in game. The Clerke ¶The reason muste stande but it be assoylled· ¶The lord ¶A bleere eyed man but he were al blynde of wytt myght see the Solucion of this reason / And though he were blynde he myght grope the solucion / But yf his feelyng hym faylled· For yf this reason were ought worth / by suche manere arguyng me myght preue that the thre score and ten Interpretours and aquila Symachus Theodocion and Origenes were lewdly occupy­ed whan they translated holy wrytte oute of hebrewe in to grue & also that saynt Iherome was lewdly occupyed whan he translated holy wrytte oute of hebrewe in to latyn / For the Ebrewe is bothe good. and fayr and y wrytte by Inspyracion of the holy gost And alle these for her translacions ben hyely preysed of al holy chirche ¶Thenne the forsayde lewde reason is worthy to be powdred· leyed a water and y soused Also holy wrytte in latyn is boothe good and fayr / And yet for to make a sermone of holy wrytte al in latyn to men that can Englysshe and no latyn / it were a lewd dede / for they be neuer the wyser / For the latyn but it be told hem in Englysshe what it is to mene / ¶And it maye not be· told in englyssh what the latyn is to mene without translacion out of latyn in to Englysshe / Thenne it nedeth to haue an englysshe translacion / and for to kepe it in mynde that it be not foryeten it▪ is better that suche a translacion be made and wryten. than sayd and not wryten / and so this forsayd lewd reason shold meue no [...]an that hath ony wytte to leue the makynge of En­glysshe translacion ¶The Clerke ¶A greeet dele of these bookes stondeth moche by holy wrytte. by holy doctours and by philoso­phye· thenne these bookes shold not be translated in to Englysshe ¶The lord ¶ It is wonder that thou makest so febel argumentes and hast goon so longe to scole / Aristotles bookes and other bookes also of logyk and of philosophye were translated oute of grue in to latyn / ¶Also atte prayeng of kynge Charles Iohan Scot translated denys bookes out of grue in to latyn. and then̄e out of latyn in to ffrensshe. thenne what hath Englysshe trespa­ced that it myght not be translated in to Englysshe ¶Also kynge Alurede that founded the vnyuersyte of Oxenford transla­ted the best lawes in to Englysshe tonge / And a greet dele of the Sawter out of latyn in to Englysshe / And caused wyrefrith bisshop of wyrcetre to trāslate seynt gregoryes bookes. the dialogues [Page] out of latyn in to Saxons Also Cedmon of whythy was enspyred of the holy goste and made wonder Poysyes in englisshe nyghe of alle the storyes of holy wrytte ¶ Also the holy man be­da translated seynt Iohns gospel out of latyn in to Englisshe Also thou wotest where the Apocalips is wryten in the walles and roof of a chappel bothe in latyn and in Frensshe Also the gospel and prophecye and the right feyth of holy chirche must be taught and prechd to Englisshe men that conne no latyn Thenne the gospel & prophecye & the right feyth of holy Chirche must be told hem in englysshe / & that is not don but by Englissh trālsacōn for such englissh prechyng is very trāslacōn / & such englisshe prechyng is good & nedefull. thēne englissh trāslacion is good and nedefull. The clerke / yf a translacion were made that myght be amended in ony poynt / Somme men it wold blame The lord / Yf men blame that is not worthy to be blamed / thenne they ben to blame / Clerkes knowe wel ynowgh that no synfull man doth so well that it ne myght doo better. ne make so good a translacion that he ne myght be better· Therfore Origenes made two translacions / And Ierome translated thryes the sawter / I desire not translacion of these the best that myght be for that were an ydle desire for ony man that is nowe alyue / But I wold haue a skylfull translacion that myght be knowe and vnderstonden The Clerk ¶Whether is you leuer haue a translacion of these Cro [...]ykrs in Ryme or in prose ¶ The lord ¶ In prose For communly prose is moore cleere than ryme. more easy and more playne to knowe and vnderstande ¶The Clerke ¶Thenne god gran̄ce vs grace grathly to gynne / witte & wysedome wysely to worche Myghte and mynde of ryght menynge to make. translacion trusty and trewe. Plesyng to the Trynyte thre persones and one god in mageste· that euer was and euer shall be and made heuen and erthe and light for to shyne / And departed light and derknes. And callid light daye and derknes nyght / and so was made euetyde and morow tyde one day / that had no mo­rowtyde ¶ The seconde day he made the firmament bytwene waters And departed waters that were vnder the firmamente· fro the wat [...]s that were aboue the firmamente: And called the firmament heuen / the thyrd day he gadred watres that ben vnder the firmamente in to one pl̄ace and made the erthe vnheled· and named the gadryng of waters Sees and drye erthe londe / And made trees & gras The fourthe daye he made sonne and Mone [Page iij] and st [...]rres / and sette hem in the firmament of heuene there for to shyne and to be tokenes and signes to departe times and yeres nyght and daye The fyfthe day he· made fowles and birdes in thayer and fysshes in the Water The sixth day he made beestes of the londe and man of the erthe and put hem in paradys for he shulde wyrche and wonne therinne / But man brake goddes heste and fylle in to synne and was put out of paradys in to wo & sorow worthy to be dampned to the peyne of helle without ony ende / But the holy Trynyte had mercy of man / And the fader sente the sone / And the holy gost a light on a mayde. And the so­ne toke fflesshe and blood of that blysful mayde and deyde on the Rode to saue mankynde / and aroos the thyrd day gloryous and blysful. and taught his disciplis / and ascended in to heuen whan it was tyme / And shal come atte day of dome and deme quycke and dede / Thenne alle tho that ben writon in the book of lyf shall wende with hym in to the blysse of heuen. and ben there in bodye and sowle / and see and knowe his godhede and manhede in Ioye without ony ende·

¶ Thus endeth the dyalogue

¶ The Epystle of sir Iohan Treuisa chapelayn vnto lord Tho­mas of Barkley vpon the translacion of Polycronycon in to our Englysshe tongue

WElthe and worship to my worthy and worshipful lord sir Thomas lord of Barkley· I Iohan Treuisa youre preest and ledeman obedyent and [...]nxom to werke your wylle. holde in herte / thenke in thought and meen in mynde youre nedefful me­nyng and speche that ye spak and sayde that ye wold haue en­glysshe translacion of Ranulphus of chestres bookes of crony­kes / Therfor I wole fonde to take that trauayll and make En­glysshe translacion of the same bookes as god graunteth me grace / For blame of [...] I not blynue· For enuye of enemyes [...] of euyl spekers wol [...] I not leue to doo this [...] For trauayll wil I not spare / Comforte I haue in medeful makyng and plesyng to god and in knowyng [Page] that I wote that it is your will· For to make this translacion clere and playn to be knowen and vnderstonden. In somme place I shall sette word for worde and actyf for actyf & passyf for passif arowe right as it stondeth withoute chaungynge of the ordre of wordes / But in somme place I muste chaunge the ordre of wor­des and sette actyf for passyf and ayenward / And in somme place I muste sette a reson for a worde. and telle what it meneth / But for al suche chaungyng the menyng shal stande and not be chaunged. But somme wordes and names of countreyes of londes / of cytees of waters of Ryuers of montaynes and hilles / of persons and of places muste be sette and stonde for hem self in her owne kyndr / as Asia Europa Affryca and Syrya Mount Athlas Syna and Oreb Marach Iordan and arnon· Bethleem· Nazareth Iherusalem and damascus· Hanybal Rasyn. assuerus and cyrus and many suche wordes / And names. yf ony man make of these bookes of Cronykes a better Englissh translacion and moore prouffytable god do hym mede / And by cause ye ma­ke me doo this medeful dede / he that quiteth alle good dedes quyte youre mede in the blysse of heuen in welthe and lykyng with alle the holy saintes of mankynde & the nyne ordres of Angelis As angels Archangels. Pryncipates. potestates virtutes. dominaciones / Trones cherubyn and seraphyn to see god in his blys­ful face in Ioye without ony ende Amen

¶ Thus endeth he his Epistle

¶ Prolicionycion ¶ Prefacio prima ad historiam ¶ Capitulum primum /

AFter solempne and wyse wryters of Arte and of scyence that had swetenes and ly­kyng al her lif tyme to studye & ro trauaille aboute connyng and knowleche of kyndly thynges and about sobrenes and redynes of thewes / they ben worthy to ben hyely prey sed / as though it were puttynge and me­dlyng to gyder prouffyt and swetenes· For they wrote and lefte to vs wryten meruaylles and wondres. grete berynge oute and dedes of oure forn faders / of stalworth / wight wyse. and worthy and of dyuerse maner men that were in old tyme ¶For in the makynge of bookes of storyes that ben to vs sente and byquethen by grete besynesse of the wryters of Cronykes blasen and shynen clerly the ryght rewle of thewes. Ensample of lyuynge / knowyng of goodnes. the metyng of the thre wa­yes of the vertues of dyuynyte / & the metynge of the four wa­yes of the four pryncipal vertues of thewes of Ryal clothyng

¶ Of the whiche thynges our lytil cunnyng myght not take knowleche ne folowe the fourth / but besynes of wryters to oure vncunnynge hadde shadde and stremed mynde of Auncyent and olde dedes ¶ For why short lyf dul wytte slowe vnder­standyng & ydle occupacions lete vs to knowe many thynges foryetyngnes alway kythyng the craft of a stepdame is enemye of mynde· ¶ Also nowe in oure tyme Arte Science and lawe were loste Ensample of noble dedes were not knowen / Nobylyte and fayre manere of spekyng were alle loste / But the mercy of God almyghty hadde ordeyned lettres and wry­tynge in remedye of the vnperfyghtnesse of mankynde·

¶I praye yow / who shold knowe Emperours wonders of the Philosophers or ellys folowe thappostles· But theyr noble de­des and theyr wonder werkes were not wreton in hystoryes and so kepte in mynde / who sholde knowe lucillum but Seneca in· his Epistles hadde wryten his dedes / wrytynge of Poetes is more worth to praysyng of Emperours than alle the welthe of this world and Rychesses that they welded whyle they were a lyue / For storye is wytnesse of tyme / Mynde of lyf Messa­gyer of oldenesse / storye weldeth passyng doynges / story putteth [Page] forth her professoures· Dedes that wolde be loste story rene­weth / Dedes that wold flee oute of mynde· Storye callith a­gayne / Dedes that wolde deye storye kepeth hem for euermore Wherfore amonge other noble trauayllours of the thre pathes arne mooste worthy to ben praysed fayre flourysshers and embelysshers of wordes and of metre. that haue of theyr trauaylle goten grete prys and lawde / We maye not [...] pray­se hem that in Historyes meten and descryuen alle the worlde wyde / ¶ But withoute ony drede they shall resseyue theyr mede of hym that rewardeth· and quyteth alle them that wel werke. ¶ By the worthynes and ensample of noble wryters that herto fore haue wreton not boostynge of myne owne dedes ner scornynge / ne blamynge other mennys dedes I haue caste and ordeyned as I maye to make / and to wryte a treatys that I haue gadred oute of dyuerce bookes of the estate of the Ilonde of Brytayne. otherwyse callyd Englond vnto the knowleche of hem that shal come after vs / Thenne specyall lordes that knewe myne entente / And had desyre to knowe greete mennes dedes prayd me bysyly / that I shold also wryte the famous hystoryes· and acounte the yeres from the begynnynge of the worlde vnto oure tyme / ¶ Tho toke I heede that this matier as Labo [...]ntus Dedalus howse hath many halkes and hurues wonderfull wayes wyndynge and wrynklynges that wylle not lyghtly be opened and she­wed / Me shamed and drede to take on me to graunte so ferd­ful aboone / For ydlenes and slowthe lette greete werkes that men wolde wyrche / ¶ My wytte is full lytil to▪ vnwyn­de· the wrappynges of so wonderful werkes / The matiere is large / Wryters therinne ben many and greete / ¶ For the fulnesse therof men ben al sadde and take the lasse heede and lyghtly wolde fynde fawte on this symple werke· And as enemyes whette theyr tonges and bende theyr browes / Of suche men speketh Gregorius Nazauzenus that wole lyghtly blame defawtes of other men / And not folowe so lyghtly goodnes. Alle this I hadde in mynde And also I knewe myn owne pouerte and shamed and dredde after so noble spekars that sowned as trompes to put forth my barayne speche hoose and snochyng as who recheth vp mulberyes and serueth lychorous men that lyueth in lykynge with soure grap [...]s / ¶ For yf [Page vj] after the laboure of Hercules and after the firste tourneyes stryfe and Ioustes of Olympye a Pygmeye busketh hym to bataylle and arayeth hym to fyghte. Who myght thenne leue to lawhe / ¶ Also who wolde shonte to scorne yf I pipe with an ooten reed / and vnhighte so noble a / matier with mowyng gruntynge and whystlynge after so noble spekars that sow­ned atte beste And of hem fayre facounde and renable spe­che flowed and stremed alle her lyf tyme· ¶ But I haue wel in mynde what Booz seyde to Ruth that was shamefast / and leese vp the eres after his Ryp men / He sayde noman shal wrathe the· [...] And to his rypmen he sayde / Yf she wylle with you Rype / forbede you her not / And her for to leese or gleyne noman shal lette. ¶ The Poete also Mantuanus Marro Virgilius sayth eth libro decimo / And Oracins as sayth Hugucio Pisanus in dininaciouibus suis Capitulo peruiso ¶ Whan Enemyes despysed Oracius and bare hym on honde that he hadde taken somme of Homeres versis· and medled amonge his and called hym a gader [...] of olde wrytynges [...] He answerde and sayde it were right greete strength [...] to wres­te a maas oute of Hercules honde / ¶ Therfore I praye that noman blame me / though I fare as sonde and asshes. For though they be dym and foule hem self. they clense other thynges and make shyne ful bryght. And many other thynges that haue not in hem self / yet yeuen to other. ¶ So seyth the Poete Satiricus I fare as a whestone that maketh yron shar­pe and kene. ¶ Item Gregorius in suo Pastorali sayth / I haue peynted a well fayre man / And am my self a foul [...] peyntoure. Therfore I truste on that Charyte that Gregory speketh of in his Omelye / that wytte vertues and strengthe / that vncunnyng de nyeth / And auntre me in to Repyng that is fulle of trauaylle and wakynge in caas despysed of enuy­ous men and proude. And yet I hope it shal be prouffytable to good studyers and meke· ¶ [...] shall entre in to the feldes of oure fornfaders / And folowe the Rypmen / yf I maye in ony wyse leese and gadre somwhat of the crommes that fal­len from Lordes bordes that somtyme were fulfylled and lefte theyr releef to her childeren ¶ And also yf I myghte ga­dre ony scrappes of the releef of the .xij kipes or lepes· And som what putto & encre [...]e wrytyng of Auctours as a dwerf sitting [Page] on a geants neck wherthurgh yonglynges mowe be brought to loore / ¶ And gretter men to vse and besynes sette / mowe be enformed and taught by this shorte treatys. that haue not seen the grete volumes and large that ben of storyes [...]reton / Not subtylte of sentence / ne fayr flourysshynge of wordes. But sw [...] tenes of deuocion of the maters that Regne in this booke ¶ In the whiche booke and tretyse wele nyghe alle the Problemes and questions of the wysest men ben planted ¶ Also many thynges that ben not wreton in other bookes / I haue gadred of the comyne as though it were of a storye and wreton in th [...] treatys / by cause men sholde knowe hem after oure tyme· For somdele by malyce of enemyes. somdele by the slouthe of wry­tars knowleche by grete dedes is so nyghe loste and foryeten that scarsely bare names of places we haue not in mynde / Though feynyng and sawes of mysbyleuyd and lawles men And wondres and meruaylles of dyuerse countreyes and l [...] ­des ben planted in this booke. suche seruen and is good to [...] knowen of Crysten men ¶ Virgyle sought gold of wytte an [...] wysedome in the fenne of Ennij the Poete ¶ And the children of Israel in her goynge unto the londe of Biheste spoylled the Egypcyans that is in other bookes wreton wele wyde and par celmele planted / Here it is put to geder myrthe to sadnes / and hethen to Cristen people eueryche amonge other that straunge storyes ben so a [...]egged / shorted and lengthed / that the historye is hoole and sothnes not chaunged / ¶ Neuerthelesse more certayne somme is holden than other / ¶For Augustinus de Ciuitate dei sayth we sholde trowe and worshippe the myra­clee of god· And not hem dispreue by disputicion· Wondres ben not alle to be vntro wed / ¶For somme telle many· wondres whiche thou shalt fynde that thou woldest not bileue ¶ And yet they ben ful sothe / kynde maye not doo ayenste god lord of kynde Also of many thynges that semen ful sothe / Netheles skylfully it is to be doubted ¶Y [...]dorus eth̄ quintodecimo seyth Yf reson is vncertayne of the buyldynge of Rome. what won­der though men be vncerteyne of the buyldyng of other Cytees and townes / wherfore we shal not blame makers and wryters of historyes that dyuersly spe [...]en and wryten. For longe pas­syng of tyme and elde of dedes make hem vnknowen & writers to erre / Therfor Iherome sayth it is semely to byleue theyr sawes that gaynsaye not our bileue ne sothnes that is knowē· wherfor [Page vij] in the wrytyng of this historye I take not vpon me to afferme for trouthe alle that I wryte. but suche as I haue seen & re [...]de in dyuerse bookes I gadre and wryte without enuye & comyn to other men For thappostel sayth not al that is wryten is soth But he sayth alle that is wreton is wreton for oure doctryne & loore. And though I take it of other mennes / I calle this story myn / And for that I wryte other whyles myn owne wordes & sētence of old men / the Auctours that I in the first begynnyng of this booke take for shelde· and defence me for to saue and kepe ayenst enemyes that me wold despyse strangely and blame / first for my self and for myn owne / name I write this lettre ¶R Here I wryte and reherce the names of the Auctours of which this Cronyke is special gadred & drawen / ¶ Iosephus Iude­orum historicus in signis qui ab inicio seculi vs (que) ad ·xiiij [...] domiciani libros antiquitatum viginti nec non et de subuerstone ciuitatis Iherosolime gentis (que) sue captiuitate septem conscrip­sit Egesippus de excidio vrbis quem transtulit Ambrosius Plinius in / xxxvij· libris de naturali historia· Trogus pompeius in .xliiij / libris de cuuetis pene orbis historijs quem abreu [...]auit discipulis suis Iustinus Eusebius in historia ecclesiastica cuius v [...]decim sunt libri / Historia Ecclesiastica triꝑtita / cuius tres sunt Auctores Eusebius Ieronimus et Theodorus Episcopus / Au­gustinus de ciuitate dei potissime / xvij / & xviij / orosius Hispanus terraconensis presbiter in libro de ormesta mundi· ysidorus hispa­lensis in libro ethimologie / Solinus de mirabilibus mundi· hen­ricus hontyndon Archidya [...]onus Eutropius in historia romana Walterus Oxomensis archidyaconus / Paulus dyaconus in historia longobardorum / Alfridus beuerlacensis thesaurarius· Cassi odorus de gestis imperatorum et pontificum· Galfridus monamutensis in historia B [...]itonum· Metodius martir et episcopus cui in carcerato reuelauit Angelus de mundi statu principio et fine Willelmus Ryuallensis· Giraldus Cambrensis qui descripsit topographiam hibernie itinerarium wallie et vitam regis henrici secundi sub triplici distinctione. Succonius de gestis romanorum Valerius maximus de gestis memorie. Macrobius in saturnalibus / Iohannes Salesburyensis in suo policraton quem intitu­lauit de nugis cur [...]l [...]m et philosophorum. Prescianus gramati­cus in cosmag [...]phia / Petrus comestor in historia scolastica / Hu­gucio pisanus Episcopus in magnis diuinacionibus suis / Gre­gorius de mirabilibus Rome / Vincencius belnacensis in speculo [Page] historiali ¶Beda de gestis anglorum / Iuo carnotensis Episcopꝰ Beda de naturis rerum. Historia ffrancorum / Beda de tempori­bus Titus liuius de gestis Romanorum Gildas de gestis brito­num· Martinus penitenciarius domini pape in Cronicis suis de imperatoribus et pontificibus / Marianus Scotus. Willelmus malmesburyensis monachus de gestis Regum Anglie et ponti­ficum / Florencius wigorn̄ Monachus quem in annorum sup­putacione vna cum mariano potissime sum secutus

¶ Prefacio secunda ad historiam

ANd for as moche as this Cronyke conteyneth berynges and dedes of many tymes / therfor I clepe it Policroni­con that is the Cronyke of many tymes / In the which [...] werk by the ensample of the first wercher that wrought alle his werkes in six dayes and / rested in the seuenth. For his doynge is oure doctryne. This werke I departe and dele in seuen bookes / The firste booke descryueth places contreyes and londes and alle the wyde world ¶ The other six bookes by the nombre of the sixe ages that conteyneth beryng and dedes from the begynnyng of the world vnto our tyme ¶Netheles in the firste book of this werke as who descryueth general comyn and special / mappa mū ­di is portrayed and peynted therinne· whiche is the cloth that the shappe of the wyde world is paynted Inne ¶ Thenne in his chyef partyes the world is deledAnd for this story is tra­uaylled by cause of brytayne euery prouynce and londe is descryued vntil we come to brytayne laste of alle as moost speciall And therin ben conteyned fyften chapytres nedeful to the knou­leche of the Ilonde of Brytayne as though it were an In­bryngynge to gretter knowleche in other bookes that foloweth / that who that may not come to fulle knowleche of the ful storye maye by suche forledynge haue lykynge to leue shrewdnes and synne ¶ The second booke auentureth for to telle beryng and dedes with destripcion of the lasse worldAnd for the ages of the world be not al euene and of beryng and of dedes and eueery book is euen and conteynth lyke ¶ Therfore the second booke conteyneth the berynge and dedes of the foure [Page viij] ages fro the makyng of oure formest fader to thebrennyng of the temple of the Iewes. The thyrdde book from the transmygraci­on of the pepole to the comyng of Criste / The fourthe fro Criste to the comyng of the saxones / The fyfthe from the Saxones to the danes / The sixth from the danes to the Normans / The seuenth from the Normans to our tyme that is vnder the regne of kynge Edward the thyrdde after the conquest / And so by the prophecie of ysaye thys grete story is departed in seuen stremes so that bothe hosed and shooed goddes peple may passe therby

¶Prefacio tercia ad historiam ¶ Capitulum· Tercium

TO hem that wole haue ful knowleche of historyes· it ne­deth eygthe thynges to knowe descrypcions of places / states of thynges / distynction of tymes after folowyng of kyngdomes / dyuersyte of lyuyng / passyng of ages / Maner of doyng & in alle these very acountyng of yeres. The fyrste of these shal be remembryd in the fyrst book· And the other in the other bookes shal be openly wreton / Touchyng the seconde take hede of two estates / One fro the begynnyng of the world to Criste· and that is called the state of mysgoyng. The second state fro Criste to the worldes ende. And that is named the state of grace and of mercy / For the thyrdde take hede of thre tymes / One to fore the lawe wreton· the second in the tyme of lawe wreton· And the thyrdde vnder the newe lawe of Criste of whiche lawe is vnder grace and mercy / ffor the fourthe take hede that somtyme ther were four pryncipal Kyngdomes / that is to wete of the assyry­ens / Perces / Grekes and Romayns / Netheles touchyng the cours of the world and the processe of holy wrytte the fyrste Kyngdom was vnder oure forfaders fro Adam to Moyses. The second fro moyses to saul. The thyrdde vnder kynges fro Sa­ul to Zorobabel / The fourthe vnder Bisshoppes fro Zorobabel to Criste / For the fyfthe take hede of fyue maners of lyuyng / The fyrst was in the fyrst age vnder the lawe of kynde comyn to alle men. the seconde in the seconde age was the lyuyng of mysbyleuyd men / whan mawmetrye began in Nynus tyme kyng of Nynyue. the thyrdde in the thyrdde age vnder the lawe wreton / whan circūsicōn & lawe departed the children of israel fro [Page] lawes and mysbyleued men / The fourth lyuyng of Cristen men bigan vnder Criste. whan bileue and grace of Sacrament halo­wed her self. The fyfte lyuyng of Sarasyns began vnder macho mete as it shal be sayd in the fyfte book / and after the tyme of heraclius themperour openly shewed / ffor the sixthe take hede of sex ages / One is fro Adam to Noe. The second fro Noe to Abraham / The thyrdde fro Abrahain to Dauid / The fourth fro dauid to the transmygracion that was whan Israhel was brought in to thraldom of Babilone / The fyfthe fro the transmygracion to Crist. The sixthe fro Crist to the worldes ende / And here ta­ke hede that ages of the world ben not delid by euennesse of ye­res / but by merueylles that byfelle in her begynnyng / as the first age began fro the begynnyng of the worlde / The seconde from Noes flood / The thyrdde fro the Circumsicion. The fourth fro the begynnyng of kynges / the fyfte from the transmygracion· The sixthe fro thyncarnacion of Crist / For the seuenth take hede of se­uen persones· whos dedes ben wreton in storyes· that is to were Kynge in his Royamme / Knyght in bataylle / Iuge in plee. bis­shop in Clergye lauful men in the peple / Husbonde in hows. Re­lygyous man in the chirche. Of the whiche spryngeth out seuen famous doynges. Buyldyng of Cytees· Vyctorye of enemyes Makyng of lawes· Correction ef trespas / helpe of the comyn prouffyt· Gouernyng of meyne and of houshold / Getyng of blifful mede· In the whiche blaseth and shyneth rewardyng of good men and punysshyng of euyl men / For the eyghte / take hede of echt dyuerse manere of acountyng of yeres / Thre the Iewes vse. thre the Grekes / One the Romayns / And the Cristen men oue / ffor the Iewes in tretys· and couenauntes haue a yere vsual· And begynneth in Ianyuer· In deuocion and sa­cryfyce they haue a yere lawful and begynneth in marche / Also they haue a yere of apperyng that they vse in Calculyng and in Cronyke / And begynneth in Maye whan they passed oute of E­gypte. Also the grekes in thre maner wyse acount [...]n theyr yeres Fyrste for Ioye of the vyctorye they acounte her yeres fro the takyng of Troye. Afterward they acounte her by olympiades that ben the tymes of theyr Ioustes and tournementes / But after that they regned they acounted theyr yere [...] by her regnyng in this manere Anno Regni Grecorum quinto vel ter­cio tali vel tali sicut patet in libro Machabeorum / whan the Romayns waxed in her flowres they acounted her yeres fro the [Page ix] buyldyng of the Cyte ab vrbe condita· But Cristen men fro the Incarnacion of Criste acoūten her yeres / But whan me cometh to that place men muste take hede / that the Calculyng of denys that englond and F [...]aunce folowen hath lasse by xxij yere than the calculyng of Iherome that foloweth the Gospel / willelmus Malmesburyensis bbro .4· de pont sayth that marianus scotus. and the monke prysoned in maguncia a toun of almayn aboute the yere of grace a / M / thre score / & / xvj. loked bysyly in bookes & acounted and fonde that dyonisyus exiguus acordeth not with the gospel in acountyng of yeres· ffor this Scot marianus acoū ­ted alle the yeres from the begynnynge of the world and put to xxii yere that lacked of denys acountes. And wrote a grete cro­nyke and an huge / the whiche book Robert bisshop of herforde de­flored. and that for it is that the comyn Cronikes that foloweden denys faylled al daye· ffor I [...]erome in translatyng the cronyke of Eusebij say [...]h that yeres lacke bytwene Cristes passion and vaspasianus tyme· And also .xij. yeres lacke about decius cezars tyme as it is shewed in the / vj· age / This errour bifalleth for da­yes and monethes were vnrekened that kynges regned ouer ful yeres. Also dayes and monethes that voyded bytwene two kyn­ges were forgoten. wherfore in this booke I shal marke as I maye how and what yeres suche defawtes fylle / So that I shal hyghte the margyns by the hedes of the historyes somme wych double and somme with treble rowes of yeres. ffrom Abraham to the cyte y buyld· I sette to geders the yere of the age of the world and of the ledare. ffro the Cyte y buyld to Criste I sette to gyder the yere of the age of the cyte and of the ledare. And fro Crist [...] forthward I wryte to geder the yere of grace / and of the pryn­ce that regned

¶ Cronica Ranulphi Cistrensis Monachi De orbis dimensione prescianus in Cosmagraphia ¶ Capitulum quintum

IVlius Cezar by counseyl of the Senatours / And Aldermen of Rome sought and serched historyes and bokes of his yeres of doyng and dedes. And ordeyned wysemen and redy to me­sure and descryue alle the world aboute. Thenne fro Iulius tyme to Saturmus tyme xxxij yere. Messagers wyse men and wel y taught in the practy­ke of Geometrye cunnyng and prouffytable to mesure and g [...]s­se hygnes and lownes· lengthe and brede and depnes also were redyly sente to euery londe aboute to Iugges and Capytayns / to Gouernours of londes / ffor they shold mesure and descryue Londe and water / woodes and laundes valeys and playnes / Montaynes and downes. And the see stronde and euery place where ony man myght goo or ryde. or shippe sayle· And wryte and certefye the senatours where and what wondres were foun­den / R. This witnesseth Iherome in translatyng the hystorye of Eusebi libro secundo / cao. secundo / there he sayth that pylate Iuge of the Iurye certefyed. Tiberyus cezar of merueylles & wonders that Criste wrought in the Iewrye / & Tiberius certefyed the Se­natours· but the Senatours byleued not· ffor they had not herd a fore so wonder werkes / prescianus & so by warnyng and certe­fyeng of Capytayns of londes it was founden and knowen that alle the world aboute hath sees of dyuerse names ·xxx· I­londes / lxxij. Famous montaynes / xl / Prouynces / lxxviij / No­ble cytees / iij.C / lxx Grete Ryuers / lvij· Dyuerse nacions an. C and fyfe and twenty / ¶The roundenes of the world aboute is thre honderd sythes / and fyften sythes an honderd thousand paas The lengthe of the erthe that men dwelle Inne fro the eeste to the weste / that is fro Inde to the pylers of hercules in the See Ga­dytan is iiij score sythes. & / v / sythes. an· C / lxxviij myle / but the waye from that one ende to that other is moche lasse by water­than by londe. The brede of the erthe fro the southe to the north that is from the clyf of Occean in Ethyopia the londe of blak men to the mouthe of the Ryuer of Thany is wel nyghe haluen dele lasse than the lengthe. and conteyneth / liiij.C / and / lxij myle also it is fonde that the deppest place of the See of myddel erthe conteyneth doun right fyften furlonge depe. R / Tholomeus sayth [Page] that the Roundenes of a Cercle about conteyneth thryes so moch as the brede and the seuendele of the brede / So that the propor­cion of two and twenty to seuen· So that is acounted that the roundenes of the erthe aboute conteyneth twenty thousand and fourty myle / yf we departe that somme a thre and the seuenth part of the thyrde. the thycknes of the erthe thurghout is almost sex thousand and fyue honderd. four score and enleuen myle / Thenne half the thyknes of the erthe inward / and doun right / is thre thousand two C· fyue & fourty myle· and somwhat ouer as it were half a myle / So yf helle is in the myddel of the erthe doun right it may be knowen how many myle it is to helle.

¶ De orbis diuisione / Augustinus de cinitate dei libro sexto ca­pitulo / Octauo ¶ Capitulum Sextum

THe departyng of the world take hede that the grete See of Occean beclyppeth alle the erthe aboute / And the Erthe is departed in thre grete partyes. Asia that is one parte· Europa that other / And Affryca the thyrdde / But the thre partyes ben not alle euen lyke moche / ffor Asia one of the thre conteyneth half the erthe / And stretcheth fro the southe by the eeste vnto the north / And is closed aboute with the see of Occean / But it endeth wes [...]ward atte grete See / Beda de na­turis. his endes ben the mouthe of the Ryuer Nylus in the south and of the Ryuer thanays in the northe. Ysidorus libro quarto / decimo / capitulo quarto / That other parte europa stretcheth doun­ward fro the Ryuer thanays by the northe / Occean to the costes of Spayne and ioyneth to the grete See by Eeste and by southe And endeth in the Ilonde Gades. ¶ Item / Ysidorus / capitulo quinto / Affryca the thyrdde parte stretcheth fro the west to the southe vnto the Coost of Egypte / And these two partyes Affry­ca and Europa ben departed a sounder by an Arme of the See Plenius libro 3o. co. po. The mouthes of that Arme conteynen ffyften thousand paas in lengthe / and fyue thousand paas in breed. And of thylke mouthes the See of myddel erthe be­gynneth / And by dyuerse armes spredeth and wexeth inward the londes

De parcium orbis descripcione· plenius liliro sexto· prescianus in Cosmagraphia ¶ Capitulum septimum

ASia is mooste in quantite / Europa is lasse / And lyke in nombre of peple / But Affrica is lest of alle the iij partyes bothe in place & in nombre of people· And therfore somme men that knewe men and londes acounted but two partyes of therthe only· Asia and Europa. And they acounted that Affryca is na­rowe in brede and euyl doers / Croupt ayer· wylde beestes / And venemoꝰ dwellen therin / Therfore they that acounte Affryca the thyrde part acounte not by space and mesure of lengthe and bre­de / But by dyuerse disposicions better and worse and departe Affryca fro Europa and Asya as a sore membre that is not fro membrys that ben hoole and sounde and in good poynt at the beste Also Affryca in his kynde hath lasse space. And for the sturenes of heuen it hath the more wyldernes / And though Affryca be lytil. it hath more wyldernes and waste londe. ffor grete brennyng of hete of the sonne / Thenne Europa for al the chele and grete colde that is therinne / ffor why alle that lyueth & groweth maye better endure with cold than with hete· But me­sure ruleth bothe / Plenius libro sexto / Therfore it is that Europa nouryssheth and bryngeth forth fayr men larger and gretter of body myghtyer of strengthe· hardyer and bolder of herte and fay­rer of shappe than Affryca. ffor the sonne beme alwaye abydeth vpon the men of Affryca / And draweth oute the humours and maketh hem short of bodyes· black of Skyn / Crypse of beer / And by drawyng oute of spyrytes maketh hem coward of herte / The con [...]rye is of northeren men In the cold without stoppeth smal [...] hooles and porus. and holdeth the hete withinne· And so ma­keth hem fatter gretter and whyter withinne. and so hardyer and bolder of herte

¶ De mari magno medio siue mediterraneo Plenius libro 3o. capitulo primo· ¶ Capitulum octauuin

THenne the grete see of myddel erthe begynneth in the wes­te at hercules pylers / there the see Occean of Athlant bre­keth out & maketh the see gadytan· The lengthe of that see is .xv M· paas / & the brede .v / m. paas / & hath in the right side affrica & in the lyft syde europa. & therof spryngen the Inner sees / the endes [Page] therof is the water thanayan the northsyde. & nylus in the south side / ysid / libo. 14 / The [...] see flowynge oute of the Occean tur­neth in to the southe. and thenne in to the north / Balearis is the fyrst grete hauene and passage of the see / and shedeth in to sp [...] ­ne· Thenne the other mouthe gallycus passeth by the prouynce of Narbon. thenne lygustyus by Ianua a cyte / Thenne tyrenus to ytalye archeth / Thenne the hauen of Scicilia passeth to creta then­ne the passage of creta stretcheth in to pamphilia and Egypte and fro thens the streme of the grete hauen and mouthe Elespontus breketh oute a brode in grete wawes and stremes· And torneth northward But besydes grece at Boforn it wexeth narow and streyght. as narow as the space of vij furlonges· And there ex­erses the kynge made ouer a brydge of shippes for to passe in to grece and warre therin· Plenius libro sexto / There the see is so narowe bytwene Europa and Asia that men may here in eyther syde out of other houndes berke / and fowles synge / but yf weder and wynde lette· Giraldus de po. co. xo. / that narow place is na­med seynt georges arme. And stretcheth forth by constantynople and bytwene Europa and asia· And in that see is the Ilond abydes / ysid. libro nono / Thenne the see shede [...]h northward and maketh the see propontydes. thenne it naroweth to the narownes of vj.C / paas / & is the see trach̄ / Thenne the see ponticus that passeth by north / by trasia and Misia stretcheth to the waters and mareys of meotydes. and receyueth there the ryuer thanays / thenne it stretcheth estward and passeth by the lasse Asia vnto the endes of yberya and armeny. and that see is named Eusinum / Ysid libo. nono. And that see is swetter shorter and more mysty For ffresshe Ryuers al aboute renne and fallen therto. ¶ In that grete mouthe and baye ben ylondes as chachos / Pathmos and other. Plenius libo. / 6o. / And the see ponticus floweth not ne torneth agayn. but euer renneth in to the see propontydem and Ebespontum / R. The cause therof is myght and strengthe of Ry­uers & bakwaters that rennen therto / dryue forth the see eusinum alway in one cours / & the strength & the flood of the see elespon­ticus that is fer fro occ [...]n may not withstōde the cours / & strēgth of the strong stremes that renne that cours. ysid libo. nono / as the erthe that is one hath dyuerse names bycause of dyuerse pla [...] so this grete see by cause of dyuerse Kyngdomes / Ilondes peple / Cytees & townes that it passeth by / & happes that falle therin is dyuersly named and hath dyuerse names

¶ De Occeano / ysidorus libro 13o. ¶ Capituluin nouum

THe see of Occean byclyppeth alle therthe aboute as a gar­lond. and by tymes cometh and goth / ebbyng & flowyng and floweth in sees and casteth hem vp / And wyndes blowen therin. Plenius libro secundo / / capitulo 99 / The hyghe flood of Occean aryseth vpon the costes of brytayn four score Cubites high And that rysynge and depnes is better knowen by the clyues than in the hyghe see / ffor betynge of veynes is better knowen in the vtter partyes of the body than in ward in the myddel within Eueryche flood aryseth more in occean than in the grete see that is for the hoole to gyder is myghtyer and stronger than ony party by hym self / Or for the hool Occean is grete and large and re­ceyueth. more workyng of the mone than ony partye by hym self that is smaller and lasse· Therfore lakes / Ryuers / Pondes and other ffresshe wuters ne ebbe ne flowe as Occean doth / Plenius libro secundo· capitulo 7. Occean spredeth and shedeth in to dyueerse mowthes and costes toward the londe / And in many places wel nyghe toucheth the Inner sees. so neyghe that the mouthe that is called· Arabicus / and is the mouth and the coste of the reede see is fro the see of egypte. but fyfty thousand paas also the mouth and see that is called caspius is but thre honderd / lxxv / myle fro the grete see that is called Eusinus / Beda de naturis. Amonge alle the mowthes and sees that cometh toward the lond and out of the Occean thre ben holden mooste famous. The mouth and see hath two names and is called gadytanus and athlantycus also The second is called caspius / and entreth out of nor [...]heest and de­parteth bitwene the northsyde of Inde and Sicia that lond An [...] that stretcheth toward the grete mouthe and see that is named Eusmus / The thyrdde mouthe and see is the reed see and cometh out of the northeest. and departeth the south syde of ynde fro ethi­opia and egypte / ffro thylke two londes thenne the reed see stret­cheth forth and departeth in ij mouthes and sees. that one is na­med persicus & stretcheth northward / that other is named. Arabi­cus and stretcheth westward and toward the grete see. This rede see is not reed of kynde / but it flassheth and wasseth on the reede cleues and stones and so is y dyhed reed as a roose / therfor of the clyues and stronde of the reede see is gadred vermylon and rede precious stones-Solmus. by the see that is called caspius ben [Page] hylles that ben called [...] hilles of caspij and haue in length [...] [...] / thousand paas / and in brede vn [...]ethe the space of a cartwaye / In the sydes of the hylles of caspij salt veynes melte and wose [...] humours and moysture y dreyed and clongen by heete of [...] ne. ioyneth and cleueth to gyder / as yse or glas / And so men [...] not clymme on the hylles the weye is so slyther. Also euery draught is ful drawe in the space of xxviij / thousand paas· the londe is drye withoute socoure· and addres and serpentes fallen therto· so that but it be wynter ther maye no man come therinne· .R / Marcianus sayth that the yates of Caspij ben faste shette wi [...]h yron barris and in spryngyng tyme faste barred for ser­pentes and adders / And the mayster of historyes sayth that atte prayers of kyng Alexander the hilles of caspij were closed and ioyned to gyders / Paulus in historia long. lio. po. / Ther ben many swole wyngys and whirlyngys of waters by the see brynkes tweyne ben in the see of myddel erthe bytwene Italye and the Ilonde Scicilia / thylke two swolowes ben called scylla and ca­rybdys of the whiche speketh vyrgyle / and seyth Scilla is peril­lous in the rightsyde / and carybdys in the lyft syde / Other swo­lewys and perylles of water ben in Occean / One is in the west [...] clyue of brytayn and is called the nauel of the see / the other is bytwene brytayn and gallycia· and it is seyd that these swo­lewes twyes in the nyght and daye swole wyth in stremes and flodes and caste hem vp agayn· Also it draweth in shippes and casted hem agayn as swyftly as an arowe to a mans sight.

¶ De prouyncijs orbis / Et primo de Paradiso. ¶ Capitulum decimum

FOr the knowleche of erthly paradyse / thre poyntes muste be knowen / wherfor thre questions must be axed· the fyrst question axeth yf ony suche place is on erthe / The seconde axeth whytherward· and where is paradyse in erthe. the thyrde axeth what countrey and place is paradyse in erthe· ffor the fyrst four maner witnessis we haue that paradyse is in erthe / ffyrst storyes that lykened Sodome er it were ouertourned to paradyse· The se­conde witnes is of hem that assayed· wrote and sayde that they had seen that place / The thyrdde wytnes / ben the foure Ryuers that rennen out of paradise. ffor the heed of thylke ryuers ben not founden in see ne in ffresshe water ner in londe that men dwelle [Page xiij] Inne though Kynges of Egypte and many other trauaylled wel ofte and sought ther after. Therfor Ysid ·xiij. eth· sayth that Iherom toke hede that other vnderstondyng byhoueth of the Ry­uers of paradyse than Auctours wryten. Also Basilius in ex­am [...]ron / ysid eth̄ libro xiiij. and Iosephus libro primo sayen that waters fallyng of the hyghest hylle of paradyse maken a grete ponde / and out of that ponde / as it were a welle the four Ryuers spryngen / Petrus capitulo 14 / Of the whiche four Ryuers the fyrst is physon / And is to menyng ful wexynge of plente / That Ryuer physon passeth in to Inde and draweth with hym golden grauel· Phison hath another name· and is called ganges of a Kynge of Inde. whiche was named Gangarius. But Ganges is to saye. Felawship and Companye. For it receyueth t [...]n grete Ryuers that rennen therto / The seconde is called / Gyon and Nylus also. And goth aboute Ethiopia and Egypte The thyrdde is Tygris / And as Iosephus sayth dyglath also that is to saye sharpe. ffor it is swyfte as Tygris whiche is a ryght swyft beeste. And Tygris passeth toward Assyria that londe / Ysidorus libro tercis decimo· The mooste certayne Auctour Salustius sayth that ther cometh a welle oute of Cerannes the hilles of Armenye and spryngeth oute of the foote of the hylle that is called Cancasus. And that welle is the heed of tweyne Ryuers· of Tygris & of Eufrates. the whiche two Ryuers som­tyme ben· departed a sonder and somtyme medlid to gyders. and of [...]e tyme they ben swolowed in to the erthe / And after spryn­gen vp agayn. And longe after goon aboute. Mesopotonya that londe / and dounward in to the reed Se [...]e. R. And though men rede in bokes that Nylus cometh oute of Paradyse / Yet somme men affermen and saye that Nylus spryngeth in the weste side of the londe of Ethiopia not fe [...] fro the hylle that is na­med Athlas / And gooth aboute Ethiopia and dounward by Egypte / Seche the proprete of Nylus in the Chapytre Egiptus· ¶ The fourth witnes and proof that suche a place is in Erthe that is called Paradyse· is old Fame and longe durynge· ffor men shal bileue olde fame that is not withseyde· But Fame of Paradyse hath endured withoute gaynsayeng sixe thousand yere and more. For fro the begynnynge of the world vnto oure dayes it hath endured. And Fame that is fals endu­reth not so longe. ffor it falleth oute of mynde or is dispreuyd by Sothnes knowen / ¶ Of the seconde question that Axeth in [Page] whiche syde of the world and in what place paradyse shold be· Though that shorte wytted men and lytil of assaye saye that pa­radyse is longe sayllyng out of the erthe that men dwelle Inn [...]· And also departed from the erthe. and is as hyghe as the mone / it is not to be bileued· ffor nature and reason bothe withsaye it / ffor yf paradys were departed atwynne fro the erthe that men dwelle Inne· ne water ne eyer myght bere such a burthen / also the fuyer occupyeth alle the myddel space bytwene thayer & the mo­ne / thenne paradyse is not there· ffor thenne nothyng myght lyue therinne / also yf paradyse were so hyghe· somtyme it shold take a waye the lyght and make eclypse of the mone. but of suche an eclypse herde we neuer Also yf paradyse were so hygh & departed a sonder from euery londe & erthe. how shulde the four Ryuers that spryngen oute of paradyse passe by the ayer and the wyde see and come in to londes that men dwelle Inne / And yf men saye that paradyse is so hyghe that in one place it contynueth to the erthe that men dwelle Iune / Thenne the erthe is enlong & not round al about as wyse men descryuen hit· but that may not ston­de· For it is knowe by experyence and assaye that in euery eclypse of the mone the erthe maketh a round shelde / Therfor the erthe with alle his partyes muste nedes be rounde· And so wyse men conclude that paradyse is in the vttermest endes of the eest. and that it is a grete contrey of the erthe no lasse than Inde or Egypte / and a large place and couenable for al mankynde to dwelle Inne· yf mankynde had not synned. Of the thyrdde that axeth of paradyse what maner place it shold be. ysid sayth / libro 14 / ca / 3o. / that this name paradis y tourned oute of grue in to latyn is as moch to say as an orchard but paradise in ebrew is called edē that is to saye lykynge· The whiche tweyne y put to gyder maketh an Orchard of lykyng .R. no wonder· ffor in that place is all thyng that acordeth to lyf· Ysid libro quarto decimo / There is helthe for the eyer is attemperat neyther to hote ne to colde so that nothyng that lyueth maye deye therinne. that withnessith Enok and hely that yet ben there a lyue· Iohannes damascenus that place hath fayr weder and myrthe / ffor it was the celer and place of alle fairenes. no maner tree leseth there his leues. ne flowres ther fade Ther i [...] myrthe and swetenes of fruyt and trees that growe the­re / Genesis secundo capitulo / It is wryton euery tree therinne is swete to ete and fayr to sight / Therinne is sykernes and sewrte. for the place is hyghe / R / petrus / ca· 13o. sayth that the water of the [Page xiiij] grete flood cometh not in paradyse Though somme men saye that paradyse is hyghe as the mone / that is not soth in wordes and in dede but that speche is saued by an excusacion of spekyng that is called yperbolyca / So that they that speken wolde mene that paradyse in heyght passeth alle other londes / Treuisa / So we prayse an erthly man Iordan or Iohan· and saye that he was the best man that euer was. and yet he was neuer so good as cri­ste· So in wordes that / subtil men wel dyuyne the menyng is trewe & good / but alas as ysidorus sayth libro nono. capitulo primo Oure waye to paradyse is faste stopped by cause of the synne of our forn fader / hit is closed al about with a brennyng wal so that the brennyng therof arecheth to heuen. as somme men wolde wene paradyse is closed with that wal to holde out mankynde / angels stonden / on that wal to kepe wel paradys that none euil goostes mowe come therin.

¶ De Asia & prouincijs eius. Ysidorus libo. / 14 ¶ Capitulum vndecimum

YSydorus sayth that asia hath the name and is called after a woman that dwellyd therinne / whiche was named Asia In Asia ben many prouynces and londes the whiche I shal de­scryue & rekene al along. & begynne with ynde. ynde hath in the est syde the sonne rysyng / In the south the see Occean / In the weste the Ryuer of ynde. In the north the hylle that is called Canca­sus. And so ynde is ende. In ynde ben men of coloure and hewe dyed / In ynde is a byrd that is named phytacus. elephantis pe­per· and a tre that is called hebanus / yuory and precious stones beryls / Crisopassis / Carbunclis· adamantis. and golden hylles. to the whiche it is ful harde for to come / For dragons and grypes & for dyuerse maner men grysly and wonderly shapen· Amonge alle the londes of this world / ynde is grettest and mooste ryche strengest and mooste ful of peple / In wonder and meruaylles moost wonderful. In Inde a croppe of a fyghe tree is so grete and so wyde sprad· that many companyes of men may sytte atte mete wel ynough there vnder / That causeth the goodnes of the londe / temperure of weder and plente of water· Plenius libro sex­to / capitulo / 19 / In ynde ben many kynges and peoples / Somme of hem tylleth the londe / Somme vseth chaffare & marchandyse Somme knygthode and chyualrye. And somme ben grete clerkes [Page] ¶ In ynde ben treees that haue toppes as hyghe as men shal shote with an arowe. Also of a gobet bytwene tweyne knottes of a reed in ynde men make a boot that bereth thre men attones ouer a depe water / In ynde ben men of fyue Cubyte longe that wexe not seke n [...]r yelde vp the breth. Also ther ben satiri and other dy­uerse men grysly and wonderly shapen. Ther Inne ben men of a Cubyte long / and ben named pygmey. These pygmey geten childeren. and engenderen in the fourth yere· and wexe hore in the ·v· They gadre a grete hoost / and ryden vpon weders and Rammes to fyghte with Cranes / and destroyen theyr nestes and her egges For the Cranes that ben theyr enemyes shold not encrece and wexe to many / There ben bis [...] phylosophers that biholde on the sonne al the day long / Also somme haue heedes as it were houndes. And the voys that they make / is lyker to berkynge of houndes than to mannes voys They ben clothed in wylde beestes Skynnys / And Armed with her owen teth and nayles and lyuen by huntyng and hawkyng. Other ther ben that haue no mouth and lyuen by odour & smellis / & ben clothed in mosse & heery toftes that growe out of trees / Other wexe hoer in yongthe and wexen black in el­de / In some hylles of ynde ben men that haue the sooles of their feet ouertorned and .viij. fyngers in one hand. Tull de tust / 9o. / In one contrey of ynde euery man hath many wyues. but whan the husbonde is deede. the wyues shal goo to gyders and loke whiche of hem was best byloued of the husbonde / and she shal be buryed with hym and put in the erthe quyck and a lyue / And in that countrey that is the fayrest happe and fortune acounted and also worship that ony wyf myght haue / Petrus / 19 / 6· In ynde hen trees that ben called trees of the sonne and of the mone. Prestes that ete of the Apples of thylke trees lyuen v / C / yere / they were called the trees of the sonne ffor eueryche of them quaked / and shook as sone as the sonne beme touched his toppe / and answerd men that stode about. The same doyng was of the trees of the mone· By these trees. the grete kyng Alysaundre was for­boden that he shold neuer come in babylone / Ysydorus libro / 15 / Offyr is an Ilond of Inde ther Inne is grete plente of gold / And the passage therto out of grece is by the reed see

¶ Capitulum duodecimum ¶ De parchia Ysid libro. 14

[Page xv]YSydorus sheweth that parchia that kyngdom for mygh [...] [...] strengthe of men of that londe that her name spradd [...] the londes of Assiria and media and was woonte to cont [...] [...] the londe of four contreyes· of Assiria· Media Persida and of [...] mania / the whiche londe· perchia stretcheth in lengthe fro the Se [...] that is called caspius vnto the Reede See / And in brede from the Ryuer of Inde / to the Ryuer that is called Tigris / That is the bygynnyng of the londe / that is named. Mesopotonya / Tro­gus libro decimo capitulo / quynto. Perchij the men of Perchia in the langage of the countrey of Scicia were outlawes· and whan the kyngdom was taken from the men of Media to the men of Persidia / thenne were the perchi as it were praye to the vyctours and were as it were vnknowen emonge men of the eeste l [...]ndes vnto the tyme that men of macedonia bycam kynges and lordes of londes. Thenne afterward they serued the Macedoyns whan the macedoyns were vyctours in the eeste londes / But atte laste they were parteners with the Romayns and deled / lordship with hem· These perchij vseden the maners of men of Scicia▪ that put hem out somtyme. therfor her armes & wepen ben fethery. swellyng wyttes. gyleful espyes ¶Men they acounte violente· and wynmen mylde. and euer they ben vnesy to her owen neyghbours or to straunge men / They ben comynly stylle and lytil of speche / more redy to doo than for to speke· therfore they holden pryue good happes / and bonchyef. as wel as euyl happes and meschyef They ben obedyent to theyr lordes for drede and not for shame / They ben alle disposed to lecherye with theyr owne wyues / eue­ryche of them hath many wyues / No trespaas amonge them is punysshed so greuously as aduoultrye by her lawe. therfore they forbeden theyr wyues open sight. festes & companye of other men· They lyuen scarcely & by lytil mete· & ete no fflessh but veneson. Giraldus .17. Thylke men after they lefte kyng S [...]lencus dwelleden vnder the kyng Arsaces· And therfor they were called Ar­sacide / That kynge Arsaces taught hem fyrst lawes. he gadred knyghtes and buylded castellys / Cytees and stronge walled townes. And atte laste Arsaces the kyng ioyned the kyngdom of hircania to his Empyre / And so men of hircania longed to his empyre. Emonge the whiche afterward among other kynges come Metridates. Metridates soone after the deth of Crassus consul of. Rome / Regned and helde the kyngdom .xliij yere· In the whiche tyme he dyde many viages and had many fair vyctoryes [Page] as it is declared within forth in his place / Trogus libro .14 / parchij the men of Parchia ben in the myddel bytwene Scitas men of Scicia and medes men of media that londe / And Parchij ha­ue many bondmen emonge them. For they ben neuer made free. theyr fre men ryden alway on horsbak· And theyr bondmen goon a foote· And in batayll they fyghten on hors / they goo [...] to pryue offyce / and to comyn festes· but they teche bysyly theyr childeren to ryde and to shote. And eueryche of hem by his rychesse and po­wer fynde to theyr kynde horsmen in bataylle for to fygthe· they conne not fyght in comyn maner. ner they conne not bisege cas­tels nor stronge walled townes / they fygthe on hors rennyng in ful cours and tornyng agayn / And ofte in strengest and har­dyest fight / they feyne for to flee and sodenly torne / and fyght a­agayn that they mowe the slylyer wynne and slee theyr enemy­es / In batayll they vse tabours and no trompe. and they mowe not endure longe for to fyghte / No men shold hem awelde and withstonde yf they were as stronge and stalworth to endure· as they ben angry and hasty to fighte· their buryeng is wonderful ffor beestes teeren· eten and al to halen theyr flessh. And they burye only but the bones

¶De assiri [...]s ysid libro .14 ¶ Capitulum / 13 /

Take hede that Assiria hath the name of Assur· Sēmes sone for he was. the fyrst that dwellyd therinne after noes flode this londe Assiria hath in the eest side Inde. In the south media / In the weste the Riuer tigris and in the north the hylle that is called cancasus / there ben the yates of caspye· there the hilles ben longe and narowe / trogus libro / 42 / Egeus was kyng of Athe­nes / Medus was Egeus sone and folowed the dedes of Iason that was his owne stepfader· and buylt the cyte of media and called the cyte Media also / In worship of his moder that was named Medea / that londe medea hath in the north side the see / In the eest Inde· In the west Caldea / and in the south persida Ysid libro .14· Persida is y named and hath the name of Per­seus that conquered that londe· and made hit a worthy lande that was to fore vnworthy· Persida hath in the est Inde. In the west the reed See In the north media / and in the south / Carmania. In that persida began first wicchecraft in nembroth the geants tyme that after the spredyng of many langages & tonges wente [Page xvj] in to Persida / and taught men of that londe to worshippe th [...] [...] ­re and the sonne that is called in her langage el. the Ch [...]ef [...] of that londe was named Elam after Elam Semmes sone. That Cyte was called afterward Elamayda / And is now cal­lyd persipolis of that Cyte speketh holy wryt in libro macha [...]o­rum. And of that Cyte they had the name they were [...] callyd [...]lamyte in Actibus Apostol [...]rum / Mesopotanea [...] bytwene Tigris in the eest syde. And Eufrates in the weste [...] And begynneth out of the north bitwene the two hylles [...] and cancasus and hath Babylone in the south syde / ¶ ysido [...] libro quinto decimo· Though baby [...]nia were afterward y called a partye of Caldea / it was fyrst so solempne that it conteyneth as­siria / caldea & Mesopotanea thre londes· The chyef cyte of babylo­lonia was babylon the Cyte that Nemproth the Grant buylded· And Semeramis the quene afterward made that Cyte more Petrus Capitulo 37 / The Cyte is called babylon and the londe babilonia though that one be wel ofte take for that other / but the tour is called and named babel / Ocac̄ / libro secunde. Babylon was buylded as a ca [...]tel / And walled with four walles square al aboute / Euery walle was fyfty cubytes in brede and four ty­me so moche in heygthe· ¶ The leng [...]he of euery walle from one corner to another was sixtene myle· the walles were al aboute foure honderd and four score forlonge that is foure and fourty myles / the walles were made of brende tile. And of glue in stede of morter so that nether water ne fuyre myghte hem shyfte ne depar te. ¶ In this Cyte were an Honderd yates and a diche withoute that was seen· ¶ The Ryuer Eufrates ranne by the myddel. of the Cyte thurghoute / Netheles Cyrus Kynge of Persida toke that Cyte afterward and destroyed it / as it is afterward w [...]eton. ¶ Iherome sayth that of the Releef of this cyte were buylded two g [...]ete Cytees in Persy­da / And the place of Babilone is nowe wyldernes and fulle of wylde beestes· Caldea as Cassydea hath the name of Casseth Nachors sone· Nachor was abrahams brother / caldea is a gre [...]e kyngdom besides Eufrates in Semaar a felde of that kyngdom the toure babel was y buyld / Iosephus libro p / That tour babel was buylded two honderd .lxxij / paas highe. the lengthe somde­le lasse to hem that b [...]helde hit neyghe / For the brede was so moche. ¶ R· Somme men saye that the tour was thre myle highe / ¶But Iuo Carnotensis seyth in his Cronyke that this [Page] towr was fyue myle and almoost two honderd paas high and four myle broode / Arabia is sette by south Caldea / And hath in the eest syde Persida and in the west the Reed See / In arabia is stoor myrre / and canel / and a byrde that is called pheny [...] The northeest porcion of Arabia is named Saba and is called Saba after saba Chus sone. this Saba is byclypped i [...] [...]hre sy­des with the Reed See / ¶Iosephus libro primo. In this Ara­bia in the contrey of Madyan is· the mount of Syna / the mount Oreb is a partye of the mount of syna / and is highe / and hath grete plente of gras and of leese / But it is harde to come therto / for high Rokkes and scarres ¶Moyses was the fyrst man that ladde thyder beestes· hit is named also the mount of Couenaunt and of drede· For god almygthy therupon made thondryng and lyghtnyng and gaf the lawe to the folke of Israel that were at the hille foote / so that noman durste approche to it but he were puryfyed and made clene ¶ Treuisa / Fenyx is a wonder birde For of alle that kynde is but one a lyue ¶ / R / In the con­tre of Arabie toward Circyus. is the hylle that is called mons [...]bani· that hille departeth thre londes a sonder· Arabia· Iude & Fenys / that hille is ful high / so that snowe lyeth alway in som­me side of that hylle / And it is a certeyn marke and token to ship men that sayllen in the grete see and ledeth hem to dyuerse mow­thes and hauens / hit is an hille of helthe and plente. For Cypresse Cedre trees & herbes growen theron that droppen gōme & smelle swete. by the whiche trees gomme and swetnes seke men ben he led· and venym destroyed· Siria hath the name of Cyrus A­brahams neuew and lyeth bytwene the water Eufrates in the eest syde. And the grete See in the weste syde. And hath in the north syde Armenia and capadocia / And in the southe syde the see that is named Arabicus. & conteyneth many prouynces that ben Comagena / Palestina. Fenys / Canaan / Idumea and Iudea· that is the Iurye. Damascus was somtyme the chyef Cyte of that prouynce· Eleaser Abrahams seruaunt buylded and made that Cyte damascus· Raysyn kynge of Damaske helpe awaye the ten· lygnages of Israel ayenst the kynges of Iuda / Damascus is as moche to saye as shedyng of blood. For there Caym slo­we Abel and hydde hym in the sonde

¶De Regione Iudee [Page xvij] ¶ Capitulum / 14

IVdea is a kyngdom of Siria / a partye of palestina and hath the name of Iudas Iacobs sone. & was somtyme called cananea of cham Noes sone / eyther of the ten maner of peple that the Iewes put out of that londe· Petrus / Iudea is taken in many manere / otherwhile for the londe of biheste / And thenne it hath the name of the Iewes and of Iudas. And so it ts taken in this speche / The grete Pompeus made Iudea trybutaryes / And otherwhyle it is taken for the Royamme of Iuda· And so it is wreton of Ioseph. that whan he herde that Archelaus regned in Iudea· he drad for to goo thyder. And somtyme it is taken only for the lotte of the lygnage of Iudas· And so speketh holy wrytte / and sayth· Iudea and Iherusalem drede ye not. ¶ Gir· d tercia / In this Iudea the lond of bihest the lengthe therof is fro dan. to Bersabee· And Iherome sayth in Epistola ad dardanum. that it is scarcely an hunderd and sixty myle in lengthe· And the brede is fro Ioppen to Bethlehem scarcely six and fourty myle of that londe / ¶ But secundum librum numerorum. Iudea is byclypped in this manere aboute And hath in the southe the dede see ¶And thenne it stretchith forth by Sina and Cades berne vnto the streme of Egypte that renneth westward in to the grete See· And in the northsyde the hille that is named / moūt Taurus. And in the est the hille moūt Libani / And the begynnyng of the See Tyberyadis and of the streme Iordan that spryngen atte foote of mount Libany bothe Tiberyadis and Iordan Thenne Iordan renneth in to the dede see. and departeth Iudea and Arabie. ¶This londe Iudea was byhoote to our forn faders· but not alle had / As Paule sayth ad hebreos ¶ Alle they ben dede and receyueden not the bihestes / ¶And so it muste be. that ther ben two londes of biheeste erthly and goostly: In that one is heuenly Iherusalem· and in that o­ther erthely Iherusalem· by the whiche erthly Iherusalem· the heuenly Iherusalem is bitokened / ¶This londe Iudea is ryche and fruyteful. And hath plente of wyn and of spycerye / Of ce­dres / Of Cypresse / Of Bame Of Olyues / Of pomegarnet· Of Palmes of Fygges. Of Mylke▪ and of hony / ¶ And bath in the myddel as it were in the Nauel of the erthe the Cyte Ihe­rusalem ¶ Ysydorus libro quinto Capitulo primo / The Iewes seyn that Sem Noes sone that is named Melchisedech [Page] also made and buylded the Cyte Iherusalem after Noes flood and called it Salem / But afterward a people that were called Iebusey dwellyd therinne and named it Iebus / So of thylke two names Iebus and Salem is made one name Iherusalem Afterward Salamon called that cyte Iherosolyma / and poetes that speken shortly callen the Cyte Solyma in her short [...]peche / And after that helyus Adryan the Emperour callyd that Cyte Helya / and walled it and made it more aboute so that oure lordes Sepulcre that was somtyme withoute the Cyte is nowe closed withynne· R / ¶ Netheles it semeth that Iheronimus in episto­la ad euangelistā presbitum. wole saye that Salem Saliin that Mechisedech made and dwellyd Inne / was another Cyte than Iherusalem. there he sayth that Salem is a toun besyde Sicolim that yet is called Salem / And the [...] in is seen the palays of Mel­chisedech· And therof speketh holy wrytte· Genesis. And sayth that Iacob wente in to Salem the Cyte of Sychem / that is in the [...]onde of Canaan Will de / re libro primo / No welle is within Iherusalem but waters ben gadred and kepte in Cisternes / ffor the Cyte is so sette that it hath in the north syde the mount of Syon. And is disposed that the water that falleth dounward and southward with the dependaunt toward Iherusalem taketh no fylthe but is clene ynowgh and renneth in to the Cyte and. maketh no fylthe but renneth in to the cysternes as though it we­re lakes and welle stremes / And somme therof renneth in to the brook that is called torrens Cedron· And maketh the brook torrentem Cedron wexe and be wel the more ¶ In the toppe or sommet of the mount Syon was a Ryal tour made for fayrenes and defence / ¶ In the· syde of mount Syon was the Temple as it were in the myddel bytwene the tour and the Cyte / The Cyte was lower than the tour· And therfore ofte holy wrytte clepeth Ihrlm the doughter of syon For as a dougther is mayntened and defended by the Moder and subgette to the Moder. So the Cyte was lower and subgette to the temple and the towre also / ¶The grete Constantynus are [...]ed there somtyme the Chirche of the holy Sepulcre. Mysbyleued men mysdyde neuer that Chirche / ¶And that is as men suppose· For euery yere on Eester euen· cometh fyre fro heuene & tendeth & lighteth the lampes therin / but whan that myracle began first it is vncerteyn & vnknowen / salamō the kyng walled this cyte somtyme with thre walles al aboute / netheles not only for strengthe / but for [Page xviij] distinction of dyuerce maner men that dwellden therin The Prestes and clerkes that serued in the temple· ¶ And also the kyn ge and his meyne dwelleden within the fyrste walle by the mount of Syon· with in the seconde walle dwellden Prophetes and myghty men and stalworth / so speketh holy wrytte that Ol­da the prophetisse dwellyd in Iherusalem in the second distincti­on. within the thyrd dwellyd the comyn peple and men of crafte· .R. Fast by Iherusalem in the north side of the temple is the moūt of olyuere for plente of olyues· Seynt Augustin super Iohan­nem calleth it the hylle of crisme and of vnction. the lyght and of fatnes the hille of medecyn and of fedyng For the fruyt of olyue is ful of lyght lykyng and vnctuous. And it was specially the hylle and the mount of lyght for it was bischyne with lyght of the sonne alday / And with lyght of the temple al nyght· In that hylle Salomon whan he wexr mad and al by shrewd for loue of women he buylde temples and highe places for maumetrye so seyth holy wrytte / Romanos / 2o..1o.. capitulo / Oute of that mount ascended Criste in to heuen / And in that mount he shal deme the world atte laste / Atte foote of that mount spryn­geth the brook torrens cedron and renneth in to the valeyr of Iosaphat bytwene the brynk of torrens cedron. and the mount was the orchard that Criste wente in ofte for to bydde and praye· In that Orchard Criste was taken by whiche was a Thorpe that heet Gethsamany / In that mount was the lytil street of prees­tes that heyght bethphage. ¶ In the syde ofthe hylle was the towne of lazar Martha and Marie Mawdeleyn· that town was named Bethania / Hug ¶In the north syde of the mount syon is the mount of Caluarye. there Criste deyde on the Rode / And is called Golgatha in the langage of Siria. Golgatha is as moche to saye as a bare sculle / For whan theuys and mysdo­ers were byheded / the heedes were lefte there. And so atte laste the skulles wexen al bare / ¶Other wonders of the temple loke in libro Regum. Ysidorus lio. decimo quinto / capitulo primo Also in the Royamme of Iuda is the See of wyldernes that is the dede See / and from Iherusalem two Honderd furlonges that make fyue and twenty myle and departeth Iudeam / Palestinam and Arabiam / Ysidorus eth̄ libro terc [...]odecimo That lake stret­cheth from the ende of Iudea not fer fro Ierico vnto Zores of Arabia seuen Honderd forlonges and foure score the whiche maken foure score and fourten myle / that lake is in brede [Page] [...] [Page xviij] [...] [Page] an honderd and fyfthy furlonges· and stretcheth nygh to the con­tre of Sodoma that lake is called lacus salinarum / for salte is made there· Also ther is moche glu [...] in that countrey / & therfore it moeueth notwith wyndes for the glue withstondeth alway for water that hath glue stondeth stylle / and that lake susteyneth no shippe ne none other mater but it be glewed ¶ Petrus capitulo quinto. Nothyng may vndo the glue of that place but only the blood that is called sanguis menstruus / Ysidorus libro. terciodecimo / Hit is also cleped the deed see· For that see bryngeth forth nothyng that is quyck and a lyue. so that it receyueth neyther water fowles ne ffysshes so that what quyck thyng that dippeth therin· anon it leepeth vp agayn and alle deede thynges it swo­loweth so fer forth that a lantern with light fletyth and swym­meth· And if the lyght be queynt / it dippeth doun and deenchith Iosephus libro primo that was assayed and y knowen in that grete prynces tyme vaspasianus by two men that londen her hondes byhynde and were caste in there / but anon they were caste vp agayn· Ysidorus libro nono cao. tercio / That Royame is called pentapolis / Also for fyue wycked cytees that there were a dr [...]int and y brent to asshes that were somtyme more ryche & more plenteous than Iherusalem. ffor saphirs and many other precious stones & gold also were fonde emonge the claye of that londe. As Iob wytnesseth. visesimo quarto capitulo. ¶ But now ther semeth somer shadowe and lykenes of fyre both in herbis and in trees for appels that there growen semen so fayr and so ripe / that who that hem seeth wylleth hem for to eten / but thylke Appels fallen anon to asshes· as they ben handled and smoken as they were a fyre· R. ¶ But there is another pentapolis in Affryca

¶ Capitulum / 15.

CAnaan is a Royamme of Siria and is named canaan for canaans childeren were the fyrste that dwellyd the­rinne / after Noes flood / and conteyned / b [...] nacions alle acursyd as it were by herytage of cham noes sone / Treuisa / Cham was Noes sone and had his faders Eurs· for he lowhe his fader to scorn whan he sawe his pryue membrys albare & vnheled whyle he laye a sleep. R / palestina is a prouynce of Syria / and that hight somtyme Philistea· The chyef Cyte therof hight [Page xix] philistini· And nowe is named Ascalon. and after the Cyte is the prouynce called palestina or philistea· And men of that contrey ben called palestini & phylystei also / For in the speche of he­brew is no· p· but in stede of / p / they vse / ph / therfor philistei & pa­lestini ben al one· And be also called Allofily / that is to saye a­lyens and straunge men· ffor they were alway alyens & straūge to the folke of Israel / that prouynce hath in the southe syde E­gypte / In the west Tirus / In the north Iudea / and in the e [...]ste ydumea / ydumea hath the name of Edom· Edom and Ezau is alle one Iacobs broder / that ydumea is a strong londe hylly and hote and stretcheth to the reed see· ysidorus libro nono. In this y­dumea is Iacobs welle· that welle chaungeth hewe and colour four sythes a yere / And is thre monethes pale as asshes / other thre monethes reede as blood. the thrid thre monethes grene as gras· the fourth thre monethes clere as water / Palestina was to con­teyne Samaria / the chyef cyte of that londe was somtyme called Samaria. now it is called and named Sebaste / Samaria hath the name of the hylle that is called· Somer / And Samaria lieth bytwene Iudea and Galilea / men that dwellyd in Samaria were dryuen oute and Assirij were brought Inne / Assirij holden moyses lawe / But in somme thynges they discorde fro the Ie­wes / and also they ben called Samaryte· that is to saye kepers / ffor whan men of the londe were taken. they were ordeyned war­deyns of hem / Sychem that hyght sichima also is a lytil lond in Samaria. and hath the name of sichem Emors sone that fyrste dwellyd therinne. Also there is a Cyte that hight Sychem and now is called neopolis. that Cyte Iacob bought somtyme with moneye and grete trauayll· and yaf it to Ioseph his sone aboue his lotte so seyth Iherome / Genesis octo decimo capitulo / And this was a Cyte of refuge and of socoure. so it is wreton. Io­sue visesimo capitulo For that londe. was de tribu and of the lygnage of Ephraym· And th [...]re were Iosephs bones buryed after they were y brought oute of egypte wytnes of holy wrty [...] / Iosue vltimo capitulo In that place Iosephs bretheren fedden and kepte droues and flockes of bestes / But afterward abyme­lech̄ Ierobabels sone destroyed that place / and slowe the men that dwelled therinne. and sewe salt therinne / for the londe shold nomore bere fruyte and corn wittnes· Iosue capitulo nono / And there is Iacobs welle where criste rested by whan he was wery of weye & of goyng. galylea is a lond bitwene Iudea· & palestina [Page] and is double / the ouer galylea / and the nether galylea / and Ioynen to gyders. And also to Siria and to Fenicia. In eyther galylea is good lond and grete plente of corn and of fruyt / grete lakes and huge prouffytable and helthful. And somme lake is so grete and so ful of ffysshe that men chepe it a see / so the lake of Tiberiadis is called the See of Tiberiadis / And genosar that lake is called also· Also in the weste syde of the nether galilea to­ward the grete see faste by the cyte ptholomayda that is called Acres Also is a welle that torneth in to glas alle metal that is caste therinne· Cedar is a londe in the ouer syde of palestina and hath the name of Cedar that dwellyd therin / that Cedar was Ismael oldest sone· The ofspryng of Cedar and of Ismael were afterward named Ismaelyte / And also agreani more rightfully than Saraceni. For they come of Agar that was Ismaels moder and serued Sara· But afterward for pryde they toke wrong­fully the name of Sara and called hem self Saraceni / Methodius These men haue none hows but walke in wyldernes & dwelle in tabernacles & in tentes· and lyue by praye & by veneson. these men shal somtyme gader to gyders and goo out of wyldernes & occupye the londes aboute eygthe wykes of yeres / that is eygthe sithes seuen yere. And they shal ouertorne cytees and townes & slee preestes and defowle clerkes and holy places and teye her beestes to tombes of holy sayntes that shal bifall for wyckednes of euyl lyuyng of Cristen men / R this doyng semeth fulfylled in the last tyme of Eraclius themperour. whan that false prophete machometus occupyed Persida· and made Egypt and affryca subgette· and wrote and brought in the fals lawe and secte of Sarasyns / as it is Innermore playn wreton after heraclius tyme Fenicia is a londe in the whiche is conteyned two londis tirus & si­don & hath in the est syde / arabia· In the south syde the Reed See In the north the mount libani / and in the west the grete see· Ysid libro. 2 ca· 5. Phenyx· Agenoris sone bitoke reede lettres to the phenyces that ben men of fenicia and therfor that colour was called phenyceus· And afterward the lettre chaunged / and that was called punyceus that is reed / huḡ C / fenix / ffor phenyces were fyrst fynders of lettres. yet▪ we wryte capitael lettres with reed colour in token and mynde that phenyces were fyrste fynders of lettres

¶ Capitulum / 16 /

EGipte hath the name of egypte danays broder / and highte somtyme Aeria and hath in the eest. syde the reed se [...]· in the [Page xx] south the Ryuer Nylus. and blac men. In the north the grete see and the ouer partye of Siria / and in the west libia / Egypte is zelde beraynd. and hath water and moysture only of the Ryuer nylus / and is ryche of corn of fruyt and of Marchandyse· Petrꝰ capitulo· 94¶ Egypte ayenst kynde of other londes whan it hath plente of corn. it is bareyn of pasture· And grasse groweth afterward in tyme. There ben Cocodrylly and ypotamy also that ben water horses. Egipt hath in the ceste side a grete wyldernesse and dyuerce maner beestes wonderly shape· and in the west canopea / the whiche Ilond is the ende of egipt / and begynnyng of libia. ther is the mouth of Nylus. ffor there Nylus falleth in to the grete see. R· Though men rede in bookes that Nylus that is named gyon renneth out of Paradyse / Yet it is sayd that Nylus spryn­geth vp in the west ende of Ethiopia not fer from the hylle that is named Mons. Athlas / And thenne nylus goth for [...]h aboute Ethiopia and doun in to Egypte and ouerfloweth the playn countrees of Egypt. and by cause of slyme that renneth therwi [...]h it maketh the londe fatte and good to here corn and fruyt. so seyth Ierome vpon the prophete Amos by goddes owen ordenaunce· Nylus ouerfloweth and watreth alle the londe of Egypte / For heepes of grauel stoppe his cours that it may not lyg [...]tly falle in to the grete see· But after that it hath so biflowe & watred the londe the heepes of grauel departe and falle / And thenne the water falleth in to the chanel agayn and renneth in to the grete see. Ne­theles. Ysid seyth libro 13 / that nylus is dryuen agayn and let [...]e of his cours with the northeren wynde· And so the water swel­leth floweth and wexeth grete· But beda in libro de naturis seyth that the Northeren wynde blowith in maye and stopped the cours of the water of Nylus with heepes of grauel and so the water a­ryseth and ouerfloweth the londe / But whan the wynde ceseth the grauel to shedeth and the water falleth in to the chanel and so renneth dounward in to the grete see

¶ Capitulum. 17 /

TEre take hede of two londes that eche of hem is named Scicia / the ouer is in Asia / and the nether is in Europa. The ouer Scicia is a grete londe in the north / and hath moche wildernes by cause of grete colde and chele and stretcheth [Page] somtyme estward vnto Inde / northward toward oecean / And southward to the hylle caucasus And westward vnto Germania but now it is made lasse and endeth in the west syde to hircania / in the whiche londe ben the hilles Iperborey. grete gripes· gold & smaragdes. and other precious stones· Trogus libro secundo Thylke men destyngeth not nether marke her feldes by boundes / ne by dyches they haue none hows for to dwelle in· their wyues and her childeren they lede in cartes· and they ben clothed in wyld beestes skynnes. wollen clothes vse they none· they lyue by mylk and by hony. they recche not of gold ne of Syluer they make no­thynge that they drede to leese / they accompte no trespaas gretter than Robbery / their men of warre and vyctours desire nothyng but worship· they were neuer subget yet to ony man. They ouercame vesor the kyng of Egypte in warre and bataylle / they chaced and fered darius the kynge of Perce / and made hym flee / They sloughe Cyrus the kynge also / they destroyed Zephirona and his ryches / Zephirona was the grete Alysaunders Capytayn. thryes they cōquerd asia· and asia was afterward to hem a thousand & fyue honderd yere / the men of this peple be by hem self / And the wymmen by them self· Also they made kyngdoms of dyuerce londes. the men made of perchia and bactria· And the wymmen of Amasonia kyngdoms myghty and strong / And so it is emonge hem vncerteyn and vnknowe whether is more worthy and more noble in nature and kynde· men or wymmen. In the first iourney in asia after that they had dryuen chaced and poursewed vasor the kynge of Egypt. In the tornyng agayn they abode / xv. yere for to make pees in asia. But wyues made grete pleyntes and sorow that her husbondes were so long from home / and so the men were sente fore and torned home / and dwellyd with theyr wyues. In the second Iourney the men were by treson y slayn / & the wyues toke grete wreche of the enemyes / In the thyrde iourney the men were oute and absent four yeres to geder. And the wyues wed­ded her owne seruauntes and bonde men that were lefte at home for kepyng of beestes But whan her lordes and husbondes had the vyctorye / and torned home agayn / the wyues & the newe husbondes gadred hem to geders and arrayed hem in a grete bataylle to fyghte agayn their old lordes and husbondes that were coming homeward / and whan they mette to gyders Fortune was vnstable and vnstedfaste ones with that one syde and efte with that other that the lordes bithought hem and concluded to fyghte other [Page xxj] wyse with theyr owne londe men than with theyr enemyes of straunge londes / And caste away her owen Armour and wepen of knygthes. and bare whippes in her hondes. And so feered the chorles and the fals wyues that had broken theyr wedlock that they had shameful deth. ffor somme were slayn with yron and somme were hanged ful highe / After this iourney was peas in Scicia vnto the tyme of darius kyng of Persida / thenne darius was ouercome of the Scytes men of Scicia· And in the tornyng homeward he ouercome macedones that ben men of macedonia of that lond. And warred vpon Athenienses men of Athenes / Bactria is a lond that cham Noes sone dwellyd first in / And stretcheth fro the See Caspius vnto the Ryuer of Inde· And hath in the west side the mount cancasus and in the south perchia This hille cancasus is lengest of alle the eest hilles and mooste famous / and stretcheth fro the endes of Inde vnto the hille that is named mount Taurus / So that mount Taurus and cancasus is conteyned al one hylle. but somme men saye that the weste syde of cancasus that is toward Armenia / is. and heyte mount Tau­rus / That mount cancasus hath in the north syde the see that is named caspius and hircania that lond. And in the south syde perchi­a and assiria and babilon / That hille by cause it stretcheth to dy­uerse contreys & londes hath many and dyuerse names· that hylle is highest on the eest syde / And for whytnes of snowe that lyeth alway theron· it is called mons cancasus. that is to saye the why­te hille. ¶ Albertus sayth that hille is so highe that men that dwelle therby seen the sonne beme in the weste syde thre houres within nyght And so many houres to fore the day in the eest sy­de of the hille· Hircania that lond hath in the eest syde the See caspius. In the south Armenia / In the north Albania / And in the west Iberia that lond· And lyeth by the syde of the moūt cancasus / and hath the name of that woode that is called hircania. In that lond ben dyuerse wyld beestes and fowles. Tigris that beeste and pantera also / That londe is wyde and large / and hath .xliiij. maner men / Somme tyllen londe. And somme lyuen by huntyng· And somme eten mans flesshe· there ben birdes that ben called hircane: her fethers shynen by nyght· ¶Iberia that lond lyeth vnder moūt Taurus / and lyeth westward fast by pontus / & ioyneth to armenie / albania that lond hath in the est syde the see caspius and stretcheth dounward by the mouthes of the north Occean vnto the waters that ben named meotydes / And the men [Page] of that londe ben born with whyte heer and with yelowe eyen y peynted / And seen better by nyght than by daye. The houndes of that londe ben so grete so grym and so stronge that they throwe doun bulles & sleen lyons One of thylke houndes was sent to kynge Alysaunder and faught with in lystes with· a lyon and an Olyphaunt and with a wylde boor. and had the maystrye Gotha is the nether partye of Scicia toward Circiū· to that lon­de Gotha lyeth that Ilonde Goclandia that Ilond hath plente of alle maner marchandise / And hath in the north syde dacia / and in the southe syde / Occean And is cleped gothia of gos Iaphets sone the men of that countrey ben redylyer called gothy than go­gy / And ben right stronge men grete grym. and sturne & of hem come the dacies in Europa Setuly in Affryca Amazones in a­sya / Armenia that is called also Ararath / Ararath hath the name of Armenyus Iasons knyght / the whiche Armenius whan he had y lost Iason his kynge of thessalia / he gadred knygthes that royled aboute / and toke Armenia / and dwellyd therin· that londe stretcheth to the mount Taurus / And Cancasus from the See caspius vnto Capadocia and hath in lengthe .xj· C / thousand paas And in brede. vij / C· Myle. ther is that hille mount Ararath / the­re noes shippe abode after noes floode / And ther be two Armeny­es the more. and the lasse. the ouerer and the nether / And so ben two panonyes also /

¶ Capitulum· 18 /

CApadocia that londe nouryssheth and fedeth many horses. & hath in the eest syde Armenya / In the west Asia the lasse In the north Amazonya / And in the south mount Taurus. ther by lyeth Scicilia and Isauria vnto the see Sylycus that stret­cheth toward the Ilond of Cyprus / The lasse Asia ioyneth to ca­padocia in the eest syde / And is byclypped and closed in the other sydes with the grete See· For it hath in the north syde that mouth and see that is called Ensinus / In the west the mouthe and See propontydes. & in the southe the see of Egypte· This lasse Asia conteyneth many prouynces and londes / For fyrste in the northe side it conteyneth bythinia in the begynnyng vpon the See ayenst Tracia / and is named also the more ffrigia· The chyef cyte of by­thinia is named Nychomedia. Thenne is galathia and hath the name of men that were Gally that come atte prayer of the kyng [Page xxij] of Bithinia to helpe hym in his warris and dwellyd in that londe galathia· but tho that londe was called gallogrecia / ¶ And the men of that londe gallogreci as men y medlyd of gallys and of grecis. But now they ben called galathe. and to hem Poule wryteth his epystle ad Galathas· ¶ The thyrdde is the lasse ffrigia· And hath the name of frigia Europaes dougther / Age­nors dougther / & that frigia was named dardania also of darda­niꝰ Iupyters sone in that londe is the cyte of troye that is named Ilium also Troye is named after troos erictonius sone that was dardanius sone that was Iupyters sone ¶ That londe hath in the eest syde lidia / and in the west the mowth and the See Elespontus The fourthe is lidia / and is in the eest syde of the eeste ffrigia / ¶ In that lidia regned somtyme the ryche kyng Cresus. But whan that londe was to lytil for two bretheren that were kynges that highte lyddus and Tirenus. hit happened by lotte that Tirenus wente oute with many men and gate hym a lond in the ouer partye of Galya / and called his londe Tirea / It semeth that the See Tyrenus hath the name of this kyng Tirenus as the lond lidia hath the name of his broder liddus. The chyef Cyte of lidia is callyd smyrma to that cyte seynt Iohan euange­lyst wryteth in thapocalipsis / the chyef Ryuer of lidia is named pactolus and bryngeth forth golden grauel as poetes tellen / The fythe prouynce of the lasse Asia is called pamphilia and Isauri­a also· the chyef cyte of that londe is namod Selencia. that cyte selencus. Anthyochus buylded and arered· Thenne is Scilicia· and conteyneth licia / and that is called licaonia therin were noble cy­tres lystris and derben as it is wreton in Actibus apostolorum By thylke Cytees men saylle out of Siria to Italya / But the chyef cyte of alle these was Tharsis dounward toward the See Amasonia that lond is somme in Asia. And somme in Eur [...]pa and is neygh to Albania· The fyrst Amazones were the wyues of gothes that toke wrecche of her husbondes deth that were traytourly slayne. For they toke prayes and slowe men and saued wymmen. and lyued long without husbondes· And afterward made hem two quenes / that one lad the Ooste and mayntened the warre· And warred faste▪ That other quene was at home and reuled the londe and gouerned the peple at home. And these wymmen helde vnder hand a grete dele of Asia about an honderd yere / And atte laste these wymmen wold haue childeren· And toke husbondes of the nexte contreys aboute· And certayn tymes lete [Page] theyr husbondes lye by them· and certayn tymes absteyned them

¶ But they slewe alle the men childeren / And saued the mayde childeren / And taught hem for to shote· And to do dedes of Armes & of chyualrye. And for grete brestes shold not lette hem to shote / of euery mayde of seuen yere old they brente of the right breste. And therfor they were called vrimamme. that is to saye brente brestes / And they were named Amazones that is to saye withoute breste. Hercules was the fyrste that chastysed the ylle disposicion of these wommen / And thenne Achilles / And atte laste the grete Alysaunder / And though ysid eth· 14. seyth that the grete Alysander destroyed Amazones / netheles the storye of ¶ Alysaundre sayth that whan kyng Alysaunder axed of hem trybute. Thalestrys the quene of Amasones wrote to kyng alysander in this maner· ¶ Of thi wytte is wonder that thou desy­rest to fygthe with wymmen. For yf fortune fauoure vs / And thou be ouercome it shal be grete shame and vylonye whan thou art ouercome of wymmen / and yf our goddes be wroth with vs and thou ouercome vs for to wynne the maystrye of wymmen / thou getest but lytil worship / ¶Kyng Alysander was plesyd with this and graunted hem fredom / and sayd wymmen muste be ouercome with fayrenes / and loue and not with steornes and drede / ¶Trogus bbro / 2 / This quene Thalestrys after that she had ben kyng Alysaunders lemman fourty dayes she torned agayn in to her owen londe / And afterward in short tyme fyl in wyth her owen peple

¶De Affryca et eius prouyncijs ysid libro 14 Capitulum / 19

Alle Auctores of. historyes witnesse that affryca hath the na­me of affer Madians sone abrahams sone that was goten on Cethura. Affryca stretcheth forth from the endes of Egypt by the south by the nether Ethiopia vnto the hylle of Athlas / And is closed in with the grete see bothe in the eeste syde & in the north side also / & hath in the west syde the weste Occean / R. Iosephus libro primo capitulo octauo· And Ysidorus libro nono / sayn that this Affer lad his ooste toward libia· and ouercome his enemyes by the helpe of the more hercules and named the men and the lond after his owne name Affryca. hercules wedded ethea affers doughter and gate on her dederym. Of dederym cam pharon· [Page xxiij] This Affryca conteyneth many prouynces and londes / Fyrst it conteneth the west dele of Ethiopia· thenne libia. tripolis getu­la· numidia. and two maritania / Of alle these nowe by ordre is our speche. Ethiopia hath thre partyes the fyrst is hylly and mō tuous. and stretcheth fro the mount Athlas vnto / Egypte / The myddel partye is ful of grauel. The thyrdde that is the eest par­tye is almoost al wyldernes that partye is bytwene the south occean and the Ryuer Nylus And hath the Reed see in the eest syde / And heyte Ethiopia of the colour & hewe of the men of the lond that len blac men. & is for the grete brennynng & heet of the sonne. whiche is to hem ful nygh / In Ethiopia ben many dy­uerse peple wonderly and grysly y shapen / some ar named goro­mantes and somme trogodyte whiche ben swyftyer than hertes / And somme curse the soune for his grete heete. Somme ete serpentes and addres / somme hunte lyons and panters. Somme dygge caues and dennes and dwelle vnder erthe and make her noyse with gruntyng and chirkyng of teth· more than with voys of the throte ¶ Somme goo naked and doo no werke / Somme withoute heedes and haue mouth and eyen in the breest / Among somme of hem ben foure footed beestes without eeres / And Oly­fantes also. Somme of hem haue on hound for her kyng and dy­uyneth by meuyng and styryng of hym· somme lyue only by honysoukles y dreyd with smoke or with the sonne· Ther ben also cameleons and basylyscus· vnycornes camels· pardes and dra­gons that haue in her brayn and heedes many precious stones / Camelion is a flekked beste in colour lyke to a lupaerd. and so is pardus and panthera also & somdele of the kynde But pantera is frende to alle maner beestes sauf to the dragon alone. For hym be hateth as deth· ¶ Basylyscus is kyng of serpentes that with smel and sight sleeth beestes and fowles· ysid libro terciodecimo In Affryca among the peple that ben called trogodyte is a welle that maketh hem that drynke therof to haue good voys shry [...] and clere. Also emong the other peple garamantes is a welle al the day so cold that noman may drynke therof· And al the night it is so hote that noman may touche. ¶ Libia Cirenensis that londe hath in the eeste syde Egypte· In the south Ethiopia / In the west the perylloꝰ place of the see that is call [...]d the more Cir­tes and tragoditas also / And in the north the grete see [...] libro quinto seyth that libia hath the name of that [...] named lib [...]s and is the wynde that bloweth out of Affryca [...] [Page] libia hath the name of libia Epaphies doughter. that Epaphye was Iupytres sone. ¶ That woman libia regned in that londe libia. And the peple of that londe heyghte phutey of phut chames sone / Tripolitana that regyon hath in the eest syde aras philenorn the antres and wyndes of that peple that ben sette bytwene the peple trogodyte and the more Syrtes. Syrthes maiores ben pe­rylous places fast by the grauelly see that is named mare Are­nosum ¶ And Tripolitana hath in the southe syde getulos and garamantes that stretcheth vnto the Occean of Egypt. and hath in the west syde bisancium vnto the lake that is called lacus sal­marum / And in the north side he hath the see of myddel erthe· and the peryllous place that is called sirtes minores / the lasse sirtes· Getula is the myddel londe of Affryca and hath the name of gethes that folke of the gothes· And in an Omely seynt Gregory seyth that thylke men haue no ffysshers

¶ Capitulum 20·

NVmidia hath in the eeste syde Sirtes minores the lasse Sirtes a peryllous place in the see. In the south Ethi­opia: In the weste mauritania· And in the north the see Siculus In that is Ruscida and Cartago the grete Cyte that was in this maner arered and buyld as Auctours tellen ysido­rus libro quinto decimo / capitulo tercio decimo / Fenyces men of fenycia that londe wente fro the reed see and buylded these cytees first in Siria they buyld Sydon· and Tirus In affryca vtyca· In boecia thebe· and in the mouth of the west occean gades / ffor in olde tyme the Fenyces were greet marcha [...]ntes and passed in to dyuerse londes with marchaundyse that they brought and resseyued therfor lond and place to buylde on cytees and townes ¶ Trogus libro octo decimo / Dido whiche was named elissa al so wente out of Fenycea wtth a grete companye of yonglynges chosen / And sayled fyrste in to Cipris / And there this womman Dido toke with her four [...]re maydens for to brynge forth chil­deren / And come in to Affryca / And there for ese and reste of her men that were wery of sayllyng she bought as moche londe as she myght beclyppe with an Oxes hyde· And kytte the hyde vnto a [...] was ful longe and smal. And beelypte ther with [...] / And cleped it birsa that is a thwonge ¶Ysidorus [Page xxiiij] libro quintodecimo. ¶ Or cartada that was a newe toun / After the name was chaunged and the place callid cartago. And thus Cartago was y buyld .lxxij yere to fore the cyte of Rome ¶ R Papias seyth the same / And historyes telle that Rome was buyld the fourth yere of Achas kynge of Iuda / thenne if we acounte redyly and put to gyder four yere of Achas / xvj ye­re of Ionathas and lij yere of Ozias that / Regned to fore A­chas it foleweth that Cartago was founded about the fyrse yere of Ozias the kyng / Netheles ysid li / 5 eth· & magister in historia scolastica sayen as it semeth that Cartago was founded aboute the xxxiiij yere of kyng dauid / Marianus sayth that Cartago was buyld about the iiij yer of amazias kyng of Iuda / thenne it may not stonde that virgilius and frigius dares in his histori of the bataylle. of Troye seyn that eneas sawe that woman dido For eneas was deede thre honderd yere & more er cartago was founded that dido founded or ther was another dido and older than she / or Cartago was rather y buylde / Therfor seynt austyn libro ·p· confessionū sayth that wyse men denyen that eneas sawe cartago / or dido that womman / Therfore Orosius li / quarto. sayth that Cartago is al aboute / xxij / M. paas [...] and euery walle is .xl· cubites highe / and / xxx / foote broode / and the Cyte is byclypped with the see wel nyghe al aboute oute take faucibus that iij·M were opend. Mauritana is the name of two londes / the fyrste ce­zarencis that hath in the est side numidia In the south the grauel of the Occean· In the west the Ryuer malua. & in the north the gewys of the grete See / Tyngytina is the laste prouynce of af­fryca / and hath in the eeste syde the Ryuer malua / In the northe the see gadytanus / In the west the hylle Athlas & the see occean Mauritania· hath the name of mauron that is blac as it were the countrey of blak men / In this affryca is the hylle Athlas in the west syde and ende not fer from occean. And Athlas is so highe ouer other hilles that lewde men wenen that it retcheth to the mone. ther is ofte by nyght y seen / fyre fami and Saturi whiche ben spyrytes of thaye [...] dyuersly shewed Also ther is ofte herd tymbres pipes and trompes / Augustinus de ciuitate dei / l [...] / 18 Athlas was an astronomyen promotheus broder / therfore some feynen that Athlas bereth heuen. And of this man Athlas the hille hath his name and is called athlas also· And it is so highe that lewed men wene that it bereth heuen ¶ Take hede that pumpe ni punici & punyces also bē called ffenices affri & cartaginēses [Page] as they were men of Fenycea of Affryca or of Cartago /

For that woman dido that founded Cartago was a comelyng and come fro Fenycea

¶De Europa et eius partibus ¶ Capitulum 21

YSidorus libro quarto seyth that Europa hath the name of Europa Agenors doughter kynge of libia and Iupiter kyng of Creta rauesshed Europa Agenors doughter. But this Europa is the thyrdde dele of this wyde world / And begynneth fro the Ryuer thanay. and the water meotydes and stretcheth dounward by the north Occean vnto the endes of spayne atte ylond Gades. & is byclypped by eest & also by south with the grete see. In Europa ben many prouynces and Ilondes the which now shal be descryued / But first take hede that in the north side of the world / the water meotydes and the Ryuer thanays departe a sonder the more Asia and europa / the ryuer thanays hath the name of thanas the first kynge of Scicia / that Ryuer thana­ys begynneth fro the hylles ripheis and goth doun in to the see of myddelerthe / ysidorus libro quartodecimo. the lower scicia / that londe is ful of cold· and begynneth from the Ryuer thanays and stretcheth bytwene the Ryuer danubius and the northe Occean vnto the germania that coūtre. Alama is a partye of the lower Scicia And stretcheth somdele fro the waters meotydes toward dacian / misia that londe is closed in the northeest with the mouth of danubius and ioyneth in the southeest to Tracia / And in the southe to macedonia / In the weste to histria. and in the southe weste to dalmacia / Misia is a good lond of corne and of whete / therfor the old cereris called it a berne· Sclauia is a partye of Misia. ¶ ther ben also two londes eyther is named Sclauia· the more is named properlych Sclauonia and conteyneth som­me ofDalmacia / and Sarmatas and hath wylde men. And See theues / ¶ The lasse Sclauia stretcheth fro wandalia and bohemia vnto Saxone / And therinne ben more myld men and people Pannonia hath the name of penninis Alpibus / that ben hilles that ar called Alpes. And thylke hilles departe pannonia & ytalia / ther is another pannonia beyonde the waters meotydes in the yonder scicia out of the more pānonia hinny wēt [Page xxv] an hontyng and passed long by marreys and waters & folowed the trace of hertes as Erodotus seyth / and so atte laste they fon­de the lasse pannonia and torned home agayn / and toke with· hem grete strengthe and cam agayn in to the lasse pannonia and putte oute the men that were therinne / And called the londe hongaria But a partye therof is named bulgaria / And hath in the eest si­de Misia / In the Southe eeste histria. In the weste Alpes the hilles that so be named ¶ In the weste gallia belgyca that is Fraunce / And in the northe that Ryuer Danubius and Ger­mania that londe This londe Bulgaria hath vaynes of gold and hilles in the whiche men dygge marble and salt good atte beste /

¶ Degrecia et eius prouincijs. ¶ Capitulum 22

AVctours tellen that Grece with the prouynces therof is lady of kyngdomes noryce of knyghthode and of chyualrye / Moder of philosophie fyndar and mayster of Arte. and of science And hath the name of one grecus that regned there somtyme / Netheles that londe is called comynly Ilyricus / ¶ The men therof ben called greci / Graij· Achei. Achim / Argini·. Acciti. Ioues Ionij and Ellenes ¶ But whan the grete con­stantin made constātinopolim the chyef cyte of thempyre of rome Thenne were the Grekes called Romanij / as it were men of ne­we Rome so seyth Rabanus ¶ And vnto this [...]aye the Gre­kes be but Romayses. And were somtyme stalworth. orped / and best men of Armes and natheles subget to lawes ¶ Ysi­dorus / d. Capitulo / 17 ¶ In this londe was somtyme the studye / and the Scole of Pallas and minerua· of grettese Arte and seyence of knyghthode and of Chyualrye ¶ And the Clergye and the chyualrye helde so to geders that in the comyn prouffyte was alwaye good [...]peed / ¶ And the old Graij auentured and gate many thynges by Clergye and dedes of Armes / But that vertue keled and withdrowhe in hem that cam after­ward and passed from the Grekes to the Latyns. So that to fore where welles / were ben now but lakes. or more veryly drye chanels without water For now they holde synonys feynyng v­lyxes gyle / atrenis cruelnes and fyghte with sleyghte and with [Page] [...] [Page xxvi] [...] [Page] cawtelis and not with Armure and wepen / This londe Grecia is fast by the grete see· & conteyneth many prouynces that ben Tracia / lacedimonia / Macedonia. Achaia Archadia· Thessalia. elladia and boecia / tracia is called epyrus also for epyrote dwel lyd therin and hath in the south syde the see Egyus / In the west Macedonia / In Macedonia dwellyd somtyme dyuerse men that hyghte massagete sarinate and gothy. ysid libo. / 15 / In this londe is a welle that quenchyth brennyng brondes· & tendeth brondes that be acquenchyd. The chyef cyte of this londe is constantinopolis in the est syde openly y seen bytwene the two sees ponti­cus & propontydes / and openly y seen out of water and of londe And was somtyme the chyef Cyte of the eeste / right as Rome was of the weste / and higthe somtyme Bisanciū / of this Cyt [...] W / libro quarto Regum speketh in this maner The grete con­stantinus bylded and made this Cyte euen and pere to Rome / and demed that the emperour shold not be the chyef the apostlis were chyef and namely y crowned / / And he brought also ma­ny relyquyes of holy seyntes that myght helpe ayenst theyr e­nemyes / ymages of false goddes and tripodes delphycos that were Appollynes ymages he brought to be scorned and spyght to them that behelde hem and sawe. So this Emperour vouched sauf to bylde· the Chyef Cyte of thempyre in good corne coun­tree· where there is good temprure of heuen and of weder beside the londe Misia that hath grete plente of corn and fruyte That Cyte is y seen and shewed to alle shipmen that sayllen thy­derward oute of what londe that they come of Asia and of Eu­ropa· And is wel nygh byclypped al aboute with the grete see and is cornerd within the clyppyng of the wallys fast by the see sydr. And is byclypped with a walle of twenty thousand paas. therwith heepes and huppels of stones and of grauel caste in to the see besydes the cyte / the londe is eched and made more· Also the Ryuer danubius that is callid hister also is y lete and y lad in to dyuerce places of the Cyte by goters vndrr erthe ¶ In this maner whan the water shal renne in to the cyte men take oute a barre that the water is stopped with. and lete the water renne / and stoppen whan hem lyken / And so Danubius fyndeth water ynough to an hunderd stretes· In this cyte con­stantinus arered & bylded two famous chirches but Iustinianꝰ the emperour buylded afterward the thyrd chirche in worship of Diuina Sophia that is oure lord Criste that Agia calleth [Page xxvj] diuina sophya· in Englysshe the wysedom of god. And men telle that the werke passeth al the buyldyng of the world. And is more noble than men can telle· ¶ Thyder brought seynt helene the holy crosse that our lord Criste deyde on. There resten thappostles Andrewe and Iames that was called frater domini / In En­glysshe oure lordes broder / there resteth Mathias and Prophetes also. Helyseus samuel. and Daniel. and also luke the euangelist and marters ful many / also confessours Iohan with the golden mowth / vasyleus and gregorius Nasasenus and vyrgyns Agatha and Lucia / Lacedomonia that heyghte spartanya / also· is a prouynce of grecia fast besides Tracia / Men of that prouynce ben called lacedomones of lacedomon Semelis sone / and ben callyd spartani also· Trogus libro 3 ¶ These men somtyme beseged the Cyte Mesena ten yere to gyder / And were wery and agreued of pleyntes and of grucchyng of her wyues / And dradd also that longe abydyng from home in warre and in bataylle shuld make hem Childeren at home / And ordeyned therfor that maydens of her londe shold take yonglynges eueryche after other· For they hoped to haue the serenger Childeren yf euery womman assayed many men / ¶ But for the shameful doyng of the moders the childeren that were goten and brought forth in that maner we­re called spartani· And whan they were .xxx· yere old they dred de sore of nede and of meschyef· For none of them wyst who was his owne fader therfore they take hem a leder and a Capytayne one phalantis Aracius sone / And toke no leue of her Mode [...]s· but. wente forth and were cast [...] hether and theder by dyuerse for­tunes / And atte laste cam in to ytalya. and droof oute the men that dwellyd there / And made the chyef Cyte Artarentum. ma­cedonia hath the name of macedo deucalyons neuew. And was called somtyme Emathya of Emathyus the kynge / that hath in the ees [...] side the see egeus / In the south achaia / In the west dal­macia / and in the north misia / In this prouynce is the hylle mons olimpus & departeth two londes Tracia· and Macedonia. Petrus ca / 3· The hille passeth the cloudes in the vpprist of that hylle come no clowdes reine ne wynde / vpon that hille lettres that were wreton in powdrr were founden withoute hurtynge or wemme atte yeris ende so fowles maye not lyue there For the ayer is to clere ¶ And philosophers maye not dwelle there to lerne the cours of the sterres withoute sponges watred and holden at her nose thirles to make thycker the Ayer. that they drawe to cole wyth [Page] her herte· ¶ There is also mons athos that retcheth to the cloude [...] the shadowe of that hylle arecheth to the Ilond lempnum. That Ilond is from that hylle / lxx myle· ¶ Dalmacia that lond hath in the eest syde Macedonia. In the west histria. In the north Misia. And in the south the See Adryaticus / Achia hath the na­me of Acheus the kynge. And is wel neyghe an ylond closed in the see· For it hath in the eeste syde the see Tirenus· And in the north the see Creticus / In the southe the see Ionius And only in the [...] west it ioyneth to Macedonia and to Attica· The chyef cyte of that londe is named Corinthus / there kynge Alysaunder gadred his hoost for to wynne al the world. thyder paule wrote his pistel ad corintheos / archadia that heygte Scicionia also & hath the name of Archas Iupiters sone / and is an angle or a corner of A­chaia & lyeth bttwene the two sees Ionius and egens and is shapen as a playn leef· there in is albeston that [...] wole neuer quenche be it ones sette a fyre· there ben also whyte Ousels though Ou­sels be black emonge vs ther ben whyte ¶ Thessalia ioyneth in the southsyde to Macedonia / And was somtyme Achylles coun­trey. And there began laphyte / thylke men chastysed and tamed horses firste with brydles / and satte on her backes / therfore the lewde pepple supposed that it had. be al one body man and horse that they satte vpon / ¶ And therfore an hunderd horsemen of thessalia were called Centauri· that name is gadred of tweyne of Centum that is an honderd and aura that is the wynde· And so that name was to hem gyuen Centauri / as it were an honderd wynde waggers / for they wagged the wynde faste in her redyng ¶ Trogus / li. 14 ¶ In this prouynce is the hille pernasus Poe­tes acounte that hille noble and famous and hangeth with two copped stones / In the toppe therof is the temple of Delphicus appollyn. & in the wendyng of the myddel playn is a pytte / oute of that pytte philosophers were euspired / And dyuerse answers / were yeuen oute of that pytte. Therfor yf noyse of men or of trompes sownen in a valeye / the stones answere eueryche other. ¶ And diuerse ecco sowned / ¶ Ecco is reboundyng of noyse Ysido­rus libro tercio decimo In this prouynce ben two ryuers. sheep that drynke of that one shal wexe blac / and sheep that drynke of that other shal wexe whyte / And yf they drynke of bothe they shal wexe splekked of dyuerse colour / Also in this prouynce ben thylk likyng places to walke in that philosophres & poetes callē tempore florida· that is lykyng place with floures / Of this place [Page xxvij] wryten theodolus and ouidius / ¶ Also in this prouynce was the thyrdd particuler flood and fylle in deucalyons tyme pryn­ce of that londe / that Prynce saued men that fledde to hym in shippes and bootes / Therfore poetes feyned that he and his wyf pirra caste stones and made men / ¶ Elladia that londe hath the name ellena the kyng that was / deuo [...]lyons sone and pirras also

Of this Ellena the grekes were called ellenes· This londe is named Attyca also of Athys that was grauius dougther· and lyeth bytwene Macedonia and Achaya / and ioyneth in the northe side to Archadia· This londe is very grecia / and hath two partyes Boecia ys that one. And peloponensis is that other / The Chyef Cyte of this londe is called Athenes / there was somtyme a grete studye of lecture and of Clergye / And men of alle nacions and londes come theder for to lerne Athenes that Cyte was buyld in this maner. Aug / de / ci / li / 18 ¶ That tyme that Egypte was sme [...]on with god almyghtyes wretthe vnder moyses hande somme Egypciens dradde beste Egypte shold be loste / And fledde out of Egypte to other londes / And so Cicrops fledde oute of Egypte in to Grecia / And there he buylded the Cyte of Attenes that was called afterward Athenes· In this maner as barr [...] seyth· An Olyu [...] was sodenly seen in that Cyte Attenes· And a water braake oute sodenly in an another place / ¶Thenne Cycrops axed counseyl of Appolyn· delphycus a maumete in the mount pernasus / and axed what these shold be to mene / And be answerd & sayde that the Olyue bitokened the goddesse min [...]rua And the water betokened Neptunus / And sayde that it was in power and choyse of cyteseyns after whether of the ·ij. goddes the Cyte shold be named / therfor the Cytezeyns both men & wommen gadred hem to gyders as it was the manere that tyme· that bothe men and wymmen shold come to comyn counseil / Thenne in that counseyl men yaf the dome for neptunus and wymmen for minerua / And for ther was one womman moo than men / My­nerua had the. maistrye. And the Cyte was called by her name Athene. ffor mynerua in the speche of grue is called Athena Then̄e was Neptunus wroth wode & made the flode [...] of the see tarise & ouerflowe & hele the londes of them of athenes as d [...]uels maye lyghtly doo suche chekkes. Thenne for to plese [...] for to abate his wrath & his anger wymmen were punysshed b [...] double payne / that one was that no woman shold afterward come in comyn counseyl ¶That other payne was that no childe [Page] shold afterward bere his mod [...]es name· ¶ To that prouynce Ellaida lyeth Ele [...]pontus the grete mouth· of the grete see and hath the name· of elle ffryxus suster that fledde the malyce and the pursiewte of her stepdame and was drowned in that mouth and see· And for that happe / [...]hat see and the londe aboute is na­med after elle Elespontus ¶Varro. seyth that fast besides that place ben men that hele smytyng of serpentes with touche and with spotyl. Trogus libro secundo ¶Athemensis men of athenes vsed fyrst crafte of wolle of wyne and of oyle / and taught to eere and sowe / and to ete acornes / they florysshed fyrst in lore of clergye and of lawe / ¶ The fyrste kynge of that londe hight Cy­crops / after hym come granus that hight Granans also· Thenne his sone Athys yaf his name to that londe and cleped it after hym self Atheniensis / ¶Thenne after Athys regned Amphy­gyonydes In his tyme wa [...] the grete flood in thessalia / Thenne afterward the kyngdom descended to Erictonius· After hym regned egeus. & after hym his sone theseus / The theseus sone of de­mophon / he helpe the grekes ayenst the troyans Boecia ¶Oxe lond that name of bos / that is an oxe· whan Cadmꝰ Agenores sone at his faders heste sought his suster Europa that Iupiter had rauesshed & myght not fynde her he dradde his faders wratthe And he coude none other rede but fledde· as an outlawe / It hap­ned that he folowed the foote of an oxe. and fonde the place that the oxe laye in. and called it Boecia / And buylded there the cyte thebe· In that Cyte bella Ciuilia debanuerunt / and there was appollo born and hercules in thylk more thebanus also / ¶In that londe is a lake wonderful and wode· For who that drynketh ther of shal· brenne in wodenes of lecherye· ther ben also two wellys in that londe. who that drynketh of that one he shal be foryetful. And who that drynketh of that other· he shal haue good mynde / ¶ Petrus· take hede that men of thebe in egypte ar called thebei / And men of thebe that is in grecia ar called thebani / and the men of thebe in Iudea ben called thebyt [...]

¶ Capitalum / 23 /

YSydorus libro quartodecimo. we rede in storyes that gre­kes dwellyd somtyme in Italia / and called that londe the grete grecia that londe hight somtyme hesperya of hespera the sterre that ladde the grekes whan they saylled theder and was her [Page xxviij] lodesterre· hespera that is venus. Afterward that londe hight sa­turnia of saturnus that dwellyd there / For saturnus hydde hym self there in that londe for drede of his owne sone Iupiter. And called that londe lacium / that is saturnus hydles· After that that londe hyghte ¶Eusonia of eusonius vlixes sone· But ate laste that londe was called ytalya of Italus rege siculorum kynge of Scicilia. And is the noblest prouynce of al Europa. And is clo­sed in the north side with the mouth and see Tirenus· And in the west with the sydes of the hylles that hight Alpes. Out of thylke hylles spryngen thre the noblest Ryuers of al Europa / that ben called the Ryuer danubius· and rone· ysid libro tercio decimo ¶In this Italia is Cetheroes welle that heleth sore eyen. ther is also the lake clitorius who that drynketh of that lake no wyn shal hym greue / ¶Plenius libro secundo capitulo o [...]todecimo. ¶ Faste by the hilles that ben called Alpes Apennini is that welle Nouacius that welleth and spryngeth in the hoote somer and drye / and fordryeth in cold wynter and wete ¶ Treuisa Alpes Appennini that ben penitus hilles / Hanibal was a grete duke & heygthe penitus also & wente by Alpes to Rome. therfor of the two names Alpes & penitus is that one name shortly made appennini. And so ben many lettres lefte of the two / ¶Paulus libro secundo In this Italia ben many prouynces and londes that ben called Calabria Apulia Campania / Beneuentana / Tuscia / Emilia liguria lumbardia / calabria / Apulia is a parte of Italia· And lyeth estward vpon the see. And is departed from the Ilond Scicilia with an arme of the see· Grekes were the first that buylded therinne. the chyef therof is brondus [...]um / and hath the name of that worde of grue brunca / that is an hertes heede. For the Cyte is shapen as an hertes hede / fro thens men saylle to the holy londe· ¶ In this londe Apulia ben hote wellys & holsom· The more com [...]ania is a lond in the myddel bytwene the demaynes of Rome and Apulia. the chyef cyte therof is Capna and hath that name of Capacitas. that is ablenes to receyue and to take / For that cyte receyueth and taketh ynough of alle plen­te· and is counted the thyrdde cyte after the moost famous cytes Rome and Cartago. In that londe ben famous Cytees No­thelis and puteolis. ther ben vyrgyls bathes that were somtyme in grete worship / But there is another lasse campania in gallia senosenci / that is ffruūce· The chyef cyte of that campania is called Trecas and Trecensis also. that is Troys in Champayn / R [Page] In this Italia were somtyme dyuerse lordes eueryche after other that were grekes / Ianus Saturnus / Italus. Eneas and his ofsprynge and afterward gally senosences that ben ffrensshe men vnder duke Brenius Thenne afterward aboute the yere of Grace four honderd Gothy hynny wandaly atte last vnder the yere of grace / fyue honderd / . echt and fourty. ¶ In the prynce tyme Iustinus Narcencartularius prayde longobardy for to co­me in to Italia & of the longobardy yet to this daye to hyther side of ytalia from Alpes wel nyghe to Rome beyghte lombardia How longobardy cam to that name. Paulus / Romanus dyaconus in primo libro historye longobard / seyth in this maner wy­nnyli that highte longobardi also and. haue the name of her longe berdes wente with two dukes Ibor and Ayon and her moder Gambara that was ful redy and wyse oute of scandinauia an Ilond of Germania in the northsyde. ¶this scandinania is y called an ylond not for it is in the see / But for in the playn of the· brynkes. it is alway wasshen with wawes / Oute therof wente winnily and werryd in scormyga & ouercome the wandales Thenne deyed Ibor ond Aion & they made hem a kyng agel­mundus Aions sone the whiche regned ouer hem / xxxiij yere▪In his tyme· a comyn woman had seuen childeren at one burthen as it shal be after more clerely shewed / One of hem that was named lauissius was the second kyng of longobardys / and regned after Agelmundus. ¶ whan Agelmundus the kyng was to bolde vpon his owen truste / the bulgaris cam vpon hym in a nyght / & slowe hym standyng / After hym / lethen regned & was the. thyrdde kyng of the longebard. And Regned fourty yere After hym hyldecoc ¶After hym the fyfthe gudehoc regned in Odocaes tyme that was Italycus and ladde his men to the lond of Rugorum. After hym the sixthe Claffo. ¶ After hym the seuenth Cato that waccho slough Cato and outlawed his sone for euermore· waccho was Cato broders sone. & so whan waccho was deed his sone waltarycus was the eygthe kynge of longo­bardys and regned seuen yere after hym· The / ix· Audoenus that ladde first the longobardes in to Pannonia. After hym his sone Albuynus was the .x. kynge of the longobardes / Narses patricius prayde this kyng Albuinus to come with his men: and take ytalia. That was in Iustinus thēperours tyme. the yere of oure lord / v / Clxviij / and that was after that longobardes had dwellyd in pannonia .xlij. yere / Of this Albuins conqueste and· of [Page xxix] his wonderful ende· / Seche within forth in his place aboute the yere of our lord· v / C· lxx

¶De vrbe Romana ¶ Capitulum. xxiiij

AVctours wryten and tellen that the Cyte of Rome is y buylded in Tuscia that is a partye of Italya / Of the fondacion therof and Gouernynge. Auctours wryte many dyuerse doynges and specially. Martinus de condicione eius / Magister vero gregorius. of the wōdres of the cyte wryteth shortly many thynges that ben worthy to be kept in mynde ¶ Martinus it is wryte that many Kynges regned aboute the place of Rome / For Eustodius sayth that after that toure babel was y buylt and men bigonne to speke dyuerse tonges and langages. ¶ Noe with certayn men toke a ship and sayl­led in to Italia / And buylded a Cyte of his name and ended there his lyf ¶Thenne Ianus Iaphets sone that was Noes so­ne buylded Ianiculum by yonde the Ryuer Tiberis There is nowe a Chirche of seynt Iohan that heyght seynt Iohans chirche ad Ianiculum. About that tyme Nemproth that hight Saturnus also whiche was gelded of his owne sone Iupyter come to the for­seyd Ianus kyngdom / And buylded a Cyte there as the Capi­tol is now. ¶Also Italus that tyme the kyng with Sciculis men of Scicil [...]a come to Ianus & to Saturnus and buylt a cyte fast by the Ryuer Albula / That Ryuer is now called Tyb [...]r & is a Ryuer of Rome ¶ Also hercules Italus sone buylded a cyte named galeria bynethe the Capytol· ¶ After that Tiberis the kynge come oute of the este· And euander the kyng out of Archadia and buylded Cytees / Vyrgylius acordeth herto and seyth / thē ne the fader euander at Rome was maker of towres / Thenne af­terward come Romulus and closed within one walle alle thylke cytees aboute and made one grete cyte of alle closed in one / And brought gentilmen and noble oute of ytalia with theyr wyues for to dwelle therinne / ¶Titus ¶whyle that Cyte was poure. was no place more holy· ne rycher of good ensample. But after­ward ryches gadred and encreaced And syn they haue ben coueytous and lecherous· ¶Marcus ¶Two bretheren that were born at one burthon / Remus and Romulus buylden Rome in the hille palatinus And was buyld the / xj Kalendes of Maye· Tho [Page] bigan the vij Olimpus that was the fyrste yere of Achaz kynge of Iuda. and four honderd / liiij yere after the takyng of troye ¶R / But more veryly as Solynus seyth· four honderd and xxxiiij / after the takyng of troye. Marc̄ / The whiche Cyte of Rome was afterward / wonderly y highte with walles. with toures with yates. with tēples· with palays· & dyuse & wōderful werkes / & had on the walles thre honderd / lxj towres and contey­neth about two and twenty myle without that is by yonde tiber and the Cyte leonina / But as men seyn it conteyneth al aboute two and fourty myle and had in alle ·xvj pryncipal yates / ten a thishalf tybre that were named port capu [...]na· port apia· port latina: port Asmaria / port matronij / port leuycana port numentana / port salaria. port princiana and port colina / Also by yonde tybre ben thre yates· And thre in the cyte leonina Gregorius emong the wonders of this cyte that yet ben seen / seyth if is a grete wō ­dre of so many defensable towres of so many buyldynges of pa­layces whether. it were by wycchecraft or by mannes dede. R / So that now ben veryfyed the versis that hildebertus episcopus cenonean made. & willelmus malmēsb putteth hem in his book of kynges as here foloweth / Rome nothyng is pere to the / though thou neygh al fallyng be▪ On alle thou shewest thy bounde· how grete thou were whan thou were sounde

¶De palacijs Rome

THere were many palayces ryal and noble y buylde in Rome in worship of Emperours and of other noble men also Among the whiche the grettest and moost palays of alle was in the myddel of the cyte in tokē of one principalite of all the world wyde / Also the palays of pees· therin Romulus dyde do sette his owne ymage of gold and sayde / hit shal neuer falle til a mayde bere a child / And that ymage fylle whan Criste was born / Dioclisians palays hath pylers as highe an a stone caste / and so grete about that an c men al a yere worchyng shold vnneth hewe one of thylk pylers. Also there was a palays of sixty emperours· & yet stondeth a part therof. that al Rome may not destroye / De templis There as pantheon the temple of all mawmetrye was is now a chirche of alle halowen And by cause our lady is after Criste is chyef and holyest of alle mankynde / that chirche hath the name of our lady. and is called sancta maria rotunda that is the round chirche of our lady. And hath in brede the space of / ij / [Page xxx] C·lx· foote / Faste by that temple is an Arche of Marble. And that is the Arche of Augustus Cesars victoryes and grete de­des / In that Arche ben alle his grete Actes descryued Ther is also Scipions Arche· he ouercome hauibal. Atte seynt steuen in piscina was the temple olouitreum that was made of cristal & of gold. there was Astronomye y grauen and y peynted with sterres and signes of heuene seynt sebastian destroyed that temple· Also the capitol was arayed with glas and with gold as it were the myrour of alle the world aboute / There the consuls & senatours gouerned and rewlid alle the world as moche as was in her power / And there was Iupyters temple. And in that temple was Iupyters ymage of fyn gold syttyng in a trone. R Here takehedr that only thre temples were in Rome that had flamynes. that were bisshops to serue / fals goddes and mametrye and highte flamynes as it were filamynes of filo that is a threde that they bonde aboute her heede. whan they myght not in the holy day suffre on her pylyons and her cappes for hete / In Iupyters temple serued fflamen dialis that is the day bisshop· For Iupyter was cleped diespyter / that is the fader of the day. Also in Mars temple was flamen Marcialis / that is mars bisshop ¶And in Romulus temple was Flamen quyrinalis that is quirinus bisshop· For Romulus was called quyrinus also ¶De domibus ¶In rome was an hows y made wel nyghe al of gold & lefette [...] with precious stones / ¶ Men sayde that / that hows was worth wel nygh the thyrdde part of of al the world / In that hows euery lond and prouynce had an ymage y sette by Nigromancie. Eueryche of thylke ymages bare his owne londes name wreton an on his breste. And a cokerbelle of syluer honged aboute his neck. So that yf ony lond rebelled or aroose ayenst Rome / Anon the Image of that londe torned his bak toward the ymage of Rome and the belle about his necke shold rynge / And the preestes that kepte that hows / eueryche by his cours. warned the prynces of that doynge / ther was also an horsman of bras on highe on the coppe of that hous and meued also with a spere in his hond· and tourned the poynt of his spere towarde that lond that wold so arryse· ¶ And so the Romayns myght lightly come vpon theyr enemyes vnware In that hows also was a fyre that no man myght quenche. And men axed of the craftes man that made it· how longe it shold endure· And he answerd and fayde hit shold endure for [Page] euermore vnto. that a mayde had born a child / & the same nyght that Criste was born that· hows fylle down. and the fyre was quenchyd that same nyght and tyme Also beaneus appollo that man closed a confeccion of brymstōn and of blak salt in a vessel of brasse. and sette it a fyre with a candel that he had halewed in his manere· and made there a bath with bathyng places that al way were hoote / There was also in an hows an ymage of yron. and was named Bellefrontes ymage / whiche weyed fyftene M pound with his hors that he sat on And henge in the ayer with no poste ne piler bynethe vnder sette / ne holde with cheyne aboue but adamante stones that were in the vawte and in· the Arches aboute drowhe euen the yron eueryche to his syde so that the yron ymage myght not dounward ne vpward ne toward neyther side but henge alway euen a mydde / ¶De Artificijs. There is a· place in Rome in Eraclea and is called theatrum· that is a place to stonde or sytte Inne / for to loke wel aboute / the­re in is wonderly grauen cabans and dennes. dyuerse outgoyn­ges benches and seges al aboute· and is hoole and sound al on marbel stone· & this werk is sette vppn vj crabbes y hewē of hard marbelst one In that place may noman so pryuely speke. ne to hym self ne to another man / But alle that he sayth be herde al aboute / ¶ Fast by Augustus Cezars palays is awalle ma­de of brente tile / And stretcheth dounward out of the hyghe hil­les by the yate porte asmaria. that wall is made vpon grete Ar­ches and huge that wal stretcheth a dayes Iourney from Rome in a grete conduyte vpan that walle the watres and stremes of the welles of the montaynes rennen in to Rome· And thenne it is departed in dyuse conduytes & pipes of bras. & so ran somty­me in to euery palays of Rome / For the water of tiber is hool­som and good for hors / And vnhelsome and euyl for men / ther­for the old Romayns made fresshe water come out of foure partes of the cyte by weyes craftely made / & therof men myght take al that they wold whyle the comins of rome were in her floures. By that wal is the bath. that bianeus made of the whiche bath was spoken to fore. In Albisterio a place that hight mu­tatorium Cezaris were made whyte stoles for emperours / Also ther was a candelstyk made of a stone that higthe Albeston. whan it was ones yteyned and sette a fyre and y sette without ther coude noman quenche it with no crafte that men coude de­uyse / R ¶ In this maner it myght be that the geant pallas [Page xxxj] aboute the yere of oure lord a thousand and fourty· that yer was founde in Rome a geants body buryed hool and sound / the space of his woūde was four foote longe and an half· The lengthe of his bodye passed the heygthe of the walles. at hys heede was y founde a lanterne brennyng alwaye that noman coude quenche with blast ne with water ne with other crafte / vnto the tyme that there was made a lytil hoole vnder the lighte / bynethe that the ayer myght entre. Men seyen that Turnus slowghe this ge­ant Pallas whan eneas fought for lauina that was Eneas wyf. This / geantes epytaphium is this the wrytyng of myn­de of hym that laye there was thys Pallas euanders sone ly­eth here· hym turnus the knyght with his spere slowhe in his manere ¶ De statuis et signis ¶ There was at Rome a bulle· of bras in the shap of Iupiter ouercast and shape to men that loked theron. That bulle semed lowhyng and startelyng· Ther was also the ymage of venns al naked in the same maner as venus shewde her self to that man Paris somtyme of troye / and was so craftely made that in the mouth and lippes that were as whyte as ony snowe semed fresshe blood and newe. ther is also at Ro­me a wonder copped pyler and is Romulus Piler. that pyler pylgryms and palmers that fast can· lye calle hit seynt Peters corn hupple and sayen that whan nero themperour had rauisshed it hit torned in to an hylle of stone. as grete as it was byfore of corne / Emonge alle pilers Iulius cezars pyler is moost won­derful / and hath in heyghte two honderd and fyfty foot. In the coppe therof in a round thyng of bras ben Iulius cezars bones and asshes / Of that pyler and arche ben verses y. made that ben thus to menynge and namely of the ouermest stone / yf the stone is one. telle what craft brought hym vpon. And yf they be ma­ny stones. telle where they ioynen at ones· This arche and pyler is y founded and sette vpon four lyons / pylgryms ful of lesyn­ges / calle this arche and pyler seynt Peters nelde and lye and saye that thylk man is clene of synne that may crepe vnder that stone· ¶ ther ben also in Rome two grete horses of marbel sto­ne / For in Tiberius tyme two yonge philosophers praxitellus & Fibia / come to Rome and yeden al naked. And whan thempe­rour axed hym why and wherfor they wente so naked / they answerd. and sayde. For we haue forsaken al thynge. And for al thyng is to vs naked and bare and openly knowen. ye sir Em­perour and alle that thou spekest in counseyl and pryuete we [Page] know atte beste / ¶Treuisa the first poynt of this doyng and answere techeth that who that forsaketh / al thynge forsaketh his clothes· And so it foloweth that they that ben wel clothed and goth aboute and beggeth and gadreth money & corn and catel of other men forsaketh not al thyng R Themperour assayde and fonde soth al that they sayde. and at her owen prayer / made in mynde of hem two grete horses of marbel· there is another signe and token byfore the popes palays an horse of bras and a man sittyng theron And holdeth this righthonde as though he spake to the peple and holdeth his brydle in his lyft honde and hath a cucko bytwene his hors heeres. And a seke dwerf vnder his feete Pylgrymes clepen that man. Theodoricus And the comyns calle hym Constantinus / But Clerkes of· the courte calle hym Mar­cus and quintus cursius also· this signe stoode somtyme to fore in piters awlter· In the Capitoyl vpon the four pilers of bras / but seynt gregory threwe doun hors & man & sette hym to fore the popes palays / They that call hym marcus tell this reson & skylle There was a dwarf of the kynred of mesenis his craft was Ny­gromancie whan he had subdewed kynges that dwellyd nygh hym and made hym subgette to hym. Thenne he wente to Rome to warre with the Romaynes / And with his crafte· he bynam the romayns power▪ & myght for to smyte. & biseged hem long tyme y closed within the cyte / This dwerf wente euery daye tofore the soune rysyng in to the felde for to doo his crafte: whan the romayns had espyed that maner doyng of the dwarf they spak to marcus a noble knyght & bihighte hym lordship of the Cyte. & a Memorial in mynde for euermore yf be wolde deffende· hem & saue the Cyte / then̄e Marcus made an hool thurgh the wall longer it were daye for to abyde his craft to cache this dwerf· And whan it was tyme the cucko sange and warned hym / of the daye Thenne marcus reysed to. & by cause he myghtnot hitte the dwerf with wepen he caught hym with his honde / and bare hym in to the cyte / And for drede leste he sholde helpe hym self with his crafte yf he myght speke. he threwe hym vnder the hors feet / And the hors alto trade hym / And herfore that / ymage was made in remembraunce of this dede / They that calle that ymage and sig­ne quintus cursius telle this skylle and reson / ther was somtyme in the myddel of Rome a grete clyfte or hoole in the erthe oute of that hool come smook & brymstone & slewe many men· thenne Quintus cursius toke counseyl of phebus and armed hym· and [Page xxxij] entred in to the hool· thenne anon fleygh a cuckou oute of the hool· & thenne the erthe closed to gyder and so the hool was stop­ped. Another signe is colloseus ymage that is called also the y­mage of the sonne or of Rome / There is grete wonder how it myght be yoten or arered / the ymage is so grete the lengthe therof is six score foot and six. this ymage was somtyme in the ybond herodius fyften foot heygher than the heyghest place in rome. this ymage bare in his right honde a spere al round y shape as the world· And in his lyft hond a swerd that bytokeneth myght of batayll· in token that it is lasse maystrye to wynne & to conquere than it is to kepe and to saue that / that is conquerd and wonne. this ymage was of bras but it was so ryally ouergylt that it shone in derknes and yaf grete bemes of light· Also it meued a­boute with the sonne in suche a maner that alwaye his face was toward the sonne. Alle the Romayns that come therby worship­ped that ymage in token of subiection & of thraldome ¶Seynt gregory destroyed that ymage with fyre ffor he myght not destroye it with strengthe / ¶Of that ymage is only y left the heede and the right hond holdyng the spere / that is the Roundenes & the likenes of the worlde. For of al that ymage lefte nomore vnbrente that heed and that honde ben nowe to fore the popes palays vpon / ij / pylers of marble· & wōderly by craft of milting that bras was y yoten / that the heere semeth softe to a mannes sight. and the mouth as though it were spekyng ¶ Polier / [...] ­bro secundo / ¶For to highte the noblete of this Cyte the Ro­mayns made a womans ymage in bras· [...]hat ymage h [...]ld in [...] honde a spere the shape of the wyde worlde / ¶And whan t [...]e ymage was ful made hym semed that the legges were to feble for to bere suche an ymage. hit was so grete and so huge. But the craftes man that hit made answerd and sayde / the legges shal dure alway and [...]ere the ymage at the beste and neuer fayll vnto a mayde bere a child / but the legges faylled and the ymage fylle doun whan Criste was born / Faste by vaspasianus palais is a stone that is called parius. in that stone is y coruen a whyte sowe with xxx / pigges that giue water to hem that will wesshe there. there is also a tabel of bras that forbedeth synne / therin ben wreton the chyef poyntes of the lawe· ther ben wreton as it were reules in metre· the menyng therof is vnderstādē in this writing neext folowyng· Euery nyght where a cocke waketh som man er it dawe / Al his songe in a flocke· maye lyke noman by the lawe· [Page] whan somer is hote· the throstle syngeth with mery note whan the daye goth away / the birde is stylle and leueth his laye· In towne as it longes / The osul twiterith mery songes / ¶ At nyght for drede / truly no songe doth he grede / whan floure spryn­geth on rote· the nyghtyngale in his note / Twiterith wel faw­nyng with swete songe in the dawnyng· Thral maketh his fare / with mouth / thenne chiterith the stare / Of morow songe kynde· they haue at euen no mynde

¶ De quibusdam Romanorum institutis et obseruancijs ysidorus eth libro octodecimo. capitulo de triumphis et hug capitulo tris. ¶ Capitulum / 25

WHan Duc / kynge. consul / or Emperour hadde don ony grete voyage and vyctorye and come in to Rome / At his comyng he sholde be receyued with thre manere worship / Alle the people sholde come ayenst hym with al the solempnyte myrth comforte and ioye that they couthe make / Alle the prysonners shold folo­we his chare with her hondes y bounden byhynde her backes· This vyctour shold hem self were on Iupiters cote / And sitte on a chare that four whyte horses shuld drawe vnto the capitoyl ¶Therof speketh ouidius with four horses al snow whyte / thou shalt syre emperour wende / yet amonge al this worship· For he sholde not foryete hym self / this one Anoye he hadde / A Chorle was with hym in his chare. and smote hym alwaye in the nekke and that for two skylles / That one was / For he sholde not be to proude of that grete worship· ¶ That other skylle was for euery man shold hope to come to that worship. if he made hym self worthy by his dedes / ¶ Whyle the chorl smote the vyctour. he shold ofte saye to hym / in this maner notho solitos that is to saye knowe thy self / as who seyth be not to proud of this worship / And also that daye euery man had leue to saye to the vyctour. what someuer he wolde· and no blame sholde be take therfore And so were many dispyteous wordes saide to Iulius Cezar. And he toke therof no maner wreeche· One sayde to Iulius at siche a tyme salue Calue that is hayl balard· And another sayde hayle kyng and quene· R. Loke within in Iulius cezar. In vita Iohis Elemosinarij / whan themperours of Rome were crowned sholde come to hym craftes men that make tombes and axe of hem of what maner stone or metal they shuld make theyr tom­bes as who seyth thou shalt deye / Gouerne. myldely the people [Page xxxiij] ¶Hug capitulo Clarus Whan the Romayns wold warre in ony londe / one sholde goo to thendes of that lond and clerely de­clare and shewe the mater· and cause of the warre / and that declaracion was called clarigacion / thenne a spere y pyght in the londe warned that the Romayns wold warre ¶ Ysidorus libro .19. capitulo / visesimo secundo. whyle consuls rewled Rome· the knyghtes of Rome sholde were reed clothes the daye to fore that they sholde fyghte / That was don for they shold not knowe & be abasshed whan they sawe the reed blood renne on her clothes and suche knyghtes were named Rosati / as it were y clothed in Rooses R Take hede what papie seyth Virgyle calleth the Romayns togati. that ben men clothed in gownes / thre maner gow­nes they vsed and were called pretaaxta palmata & candidata / the first maner gowne pretaxata gentilmēs childeren vsed for to were of xiiij· yere old / the second maner palmata vsed vyctours for her noble dedes / the third maner goun candidata vsed· lordes & maystres rulers of the lawe. Hug / ca. fastus / the dayes that the Romayns wel spedde were named fasti that is leueful. For it was leeful to hem thylk dayes to vse dyuerse doyng & dedes / the dayes that the romayns myspedde were called nephasty as it were not leeful· and they heelde thylk dayes & wrought not. but for no loue ne deuocions but for drede of euyl happes / Hug / ca / 5 / the feste of thylk dayes is called quinquatria that is the fyue black dayes for the sorow and bytternes that the romayns had whan the Frensshemen and hanybal beseged them al aboute / For then̄e no romain durst ones goo out of the toun·· Hug / c. classis. whan romulus had ordeyned for the comyn prouffit [...]e departed a sondre the grete & the mene / & cleped either partye classis / In worship of hem he ordeygned a moneth and called it Mayus. that is the mo­neth of the grete· men· The mene men were called the second Clas­sis. And in worship of hem he ordeygned a moneth and called it Iunius that is the moneth of yonger men ¶ Afterward the Romayns were departed in four partyes. In the fyrste partye were consuls and doctours· In the second classis were tribuni and men of· lasse dignite / In the third were for men· & in the fourth were bondmen. tribunꝰ is he that receyueth tribute and paieth knyghtes & a leder or· capitain of thousand knyghtes hight Tribunus ¶Hug. c / calon / The Romayns vsed / somtyme in euery monethe to make a fayre and the fayr began the fyrste daye of the nonas and dured to the fyrst day of Idus Idus is as moche to saye as [Page] delyng and departyng for thenne the fayr was departed / Also for the begynnyng was oftyme vnknowe to Marchauntes and to chapmen / therfor the first day of the moneth hight kalende of calo calas that is calle and crrye· A cryour shold stonde vpon a tour· And as many dayes as were from that day to the begyn­nyng of the fayre he shodd crye calo. Therfore it is that in somme moneth in the kalender hath but foure nonas / and somme hath sixe / And that don for theues that were hidde in wodes for to aspye chapmen shold not knowe whan the fayr shold bygynne / Hug / ca / mereor. Somtyme knyghtes after that they were· lx / yere old were not compellyd for to doo dedes of Armes· But men yaf hem feldes or townes. or somwhat ellys of the comyn tresorye wherby they shold lyue / And thenne suche a knyght was cleped Emeritus or emerite milicie as it were a knyght sette oute of the nedeful dedes of Chyualrye / ¶ R Therfor Anatarn that is by yonde Tiber heyght Emerytor [...]a / For suche knyghtes spente there what they had to fore goten and ywonne / ¶ Hug· ca / lita It was vsage in Rome that the cytezeyns shold doo not ellis to fore none but dispute of the comyn prouffyt· therfor comin wymmen of rome were cleped nonarye / for they shold not to fore none goon oute to her comyn place / leste they shulde lette yonge men from the comyn prouffyt Hug. ca. nepa ¶Somtyme in Rome fader and moder shold not norysshe and teche her owne childer [...]n / For it was supposed that they wold be to tendre and not chasty­se and bete hem. Neyther maystres· that were al straunge & oute of the kynne shold teche childeren of Rome. lest they wold recche to lytil of the childeren & bete hem to sore / therfor maystres shold teche the childeren of Rome that were not to neygh ne to ferre of her owne kynne Hug. capitulo· proles¶ There were somtyme in Rome that serueth of nought elles but for to gete childeren / & dwellyd alway in the cyte / and were / not compelled to dedes of Armes. And suche men were cleped proletarij that is to saye ge­ters of childeren R Netheles in hanybals tyme they were constreyned sor to goo out for scarsenes of knyghtes / Vale / libro 2

¶ An honderd yere & lx after that the cyte was y buyld / was no deuorse made bytwene a man and his wyf / Netheles Carbili­us a bastart was the first that lefte his wif only / for the womā was bareyn though he semed y meued of Reason. yet he was not al blamels for he. put couetise of children to foxe the feyth of wedlok ¶ysidorus li 6 Though the grekes wryte first in waxe [Page xxxiiij] with poyntels of yron / the Romayns ordeyned. that noman shold wryte with poyntels of yron but with poyntels of boone ¶ Poli libro secundo ¶ Who that wyl loke bookes of story­es Amonge alle men that were syth Rome was fyrste made. he shal fynde that the Romayns were moost couetous & proud / he shal finde also that the maystrie that they had in the world about they gate hit by punysshyng of peple by false wyles & by gyle so ferfoth that vnnethe ony of her prynces lyued his lyf kynde­ly to his ende· therfor euery Romayn that ouercometh other is ouercome with flateryng and with fayr wordes / And yf wordes faylle. yeftes shal hym a welde / yf yeftes faylle. worship maketh hym prysoner / Pol· libro septimo decimo / capitulo / 11 / whyle the Cytees. of ytalia loued pees and worshipped right wysenes and leued false othes / thenne they had lykyng and welthe in her owen londe· But whan they yeue hem to falsehed and to strif Anon the pryde of the Romayns. & the wodenes of duche men or somme other wrecbe of god Almyghty falleth vpon hem. vnto the tyme they amende by penaunce and contrition. For tre­spaas of that peple putteth away al pryncipalyte or maketh her prynce more mylde

¶ De Germania / et eius prouyncijs / ysid / ech̄ / 14 ¶ ca / 26.

YSidorus sayth that very germania hath in the eest syde the mouth of the Ryuer danubius in the south the Ryn that ryuer / and in the north and in the west the see of occean· ther ben two londes / eyther is called germania· the ouer Germania stret­chith besides Alpes to that mouth· and cost of the grete see. that is called adriaticus· there the see is as it were lakes in the contre­ys of aqu [...]lia. the other germania is lower toward the weste a­boute the Ryne· and is comynly called Almania / or trutonia· In eyther Germania ben many prouynces and londes· that ben boe­mia westfalia / bauaria / thuringia. Sueuia / Saxonia· Franconia lothangia / frisia / and selandia ¶Paulus libro p. the north contre is fer from the sonne and holsome for men to dwelle in and able to brynge forth childeren / therfore it is that there is more multi­pli [...]acion and encreace of men and childeren in the north contre than in the south that is ful nygh the son̄e &· vnholsō & seke [...]ew for men to dwelle in / And so though euery londe and. contre haue his owne proper name. ¶Netheles alle the countrey and londe [Page] from the Ryuer thanays vnto the west is called germania. For hit gendreth and bryngeth sorth mo men and childeren than it maye wel sustene· Therfore it is that so ofte goon dyuerse men out of that syde of the world in to other londes / by lotte or ayenst her wille or by her good wille for to gete other londes / so dide go­thi wandali / saxones· wynnily and longobardi Boemia is the firste prouynce of the eeste germania / And hath in the eest syde Misia and Alania. In the southe the Ryuer Danubius and Pannonia In the west bauaria and turingia / And in the north and northweste Saxonia. and is closed almost about with hil­les & wodes & hath grete plente of leese & grasse that smelleth ful swete and of dyuerse wylde beestes· Emong / the whiche is one beeste and is called booz in the langage of boemia· But he deffē deth not hym self with his hornes but he hath a large Ryuel as it were a bagge vnder his chynne / therinne he gadreth water & heteth it in his rennyng skaldyng hoote & throweth it vpon hun­ters and houndes that poursiewe hym and skaldeth of the heere of hem and brenneth hem ful sore / ¶ Thuringia hath in the eeste boemia / In the / weste Franconia / In the northe westfalia And in the southe the Ryuer Danubius. ¶ Franconia is as it were the myddel prouynce of Germania. and hath in the eeste thuringia / In the west sueuia. In the north a partye of westfalia / and in the south bauaria and the Ryuer Danubius Bauaria hath in the eest the Ryuer Danubius and Retica / westfalia hath in the est side saxonia in the west Frisia / in the north Occeā In the south a partye of Fraūce & of sueuia· Sueuia hath in the eeste Bauaria / In the weste the Ryuer that is called the Ryne In the north a partye of Franconia· and in the southe Rethica & Alpes / Saxonia hath in the eeste Alania in the west westfalia / In the north Occean· And men of that countre ben more lighter and strenger on the see than other scommers or theuys of the see and pourfiewe here enemies ful hard and bothe by water and by lond and ben called Saxones of Saxum that is a stone For they ben hard as stones and vnesy to fare with. In the hyl­les of Saxonia is wel nygh al maner of metals founden refer­ued tyn ¶ In Germania ben saltwelles. Of the whiche wel­les is salte made as whyte as ony snowe / ¶ Faste by that hylle that copper is digged in / is a grete hylle of whiche hylle the stones smelle as sweete as violet / ¶ Also faste by the monasterye of seynt Michel is marble founden the fayrest that [Page xxxv] may be· Beda / c. visesimo quinto / the old saxones haue no kyng but many knyghtes· of her owne rule· ¶But in tyme of ba­tayll they cast lott which of her knyghtes shal be leder & capitain And they folowe hym that is so chosen by lott. as chyef lord and mayster duryng the bataylle But whan the batayll is don thē ­ne shal he be as he was byfore· that is to wete he and other alle lyche grete of power and of myght / Pleuius libro quinto Frisia is a lond vpon the coste of the west Occean. And begyn­neth in the south syde fro the Ryne and endeth atte see of Den­marke· ¶ Men of Frisia ben highe shauen aboute / And euer the more gentilman and noble the higher he is shorn The men ben fayre of bodye Cruel and bolde of herte And vse speres in stede of Arowes / and loue fredom moost of ony thynge / Therfor they suffre noman to be a kynght that wold be her lord. Netheles they ben· gouerned and ruled by domes men and Iuges / And euery yere they chese of hem self her owne Iuges they loue wel chastyte and kepe besily her childeren and suffre hem not to marie til they be foure and twenty yere old / Therfor they haue stronge and stalworth childeren / they haue no wodes / therfor they make hem fyre of turues / ¶ S [...]landia is a lytil londe vpon the see / whiche renneth thurgh the londe and causeth xvij Ilondes and about eueryche a shippe may saylle / And hath in the est holandia In the north Frisia in the west Occean / and in the south Flan­dria / And is enuironed with water and highe bankes to bolde oute the rysynge of the see and floodes. there is good cornlond and scarsete of trees for the Rotes may not take depenes ne far­nes for saltnes of the erthe ¶The men ben grete of bodye and mylde of herte / ¶Paulus libro primo· In the west syde of Germania is a people called scribonius that hath snowe al the somer tyme / and eteth rawe flesshe & ben clothed in ghoot buk skynnes. In her countrey whan the nyght is short. men may see alle the nyght the sonne bemes / And after· in the wynter whan the daye is shorte though men see / the light of the sonne / yet the sonne is not seen / Item fast beside that peple scribonius vnder the clyf of Occean is a denne vnder on highe stone· therinne slepen seuen men and haue longe slept and ben hool and sound in body & clothyng & al withouten wēme ffor which cause the comyn peple haue hem in grete worship & reuence. they ar supposed romains by her clothing ther was a mā somtime that for couetise wold stripe one of hem· and haue his clothyng / but forwith his arme waxed [Page] al dreye It may be that god list to kepe hem so hool and sound for mysbyleued men in tyme to comyng shuld thurgh hem be cō uerted and torned to good byleue

¶ De Gallia et / Francia R / ¶ Capitulum. 27

[...]It is wreton in storyes that gallia which is ffrancia hath that name gallia of whytenes of peple / ¶ Gala is a w [...]de in grewe and is lac in Latyn. and mylke in Englysshe T [...]rfor Sibilla called hem gallos that is whyte And sayth that the mylky neckes ben wesshen with gold / ¶Hug· capitulo gala By the dyuersite of heuen is diuersite of [...]lours of face of quantite and gretenes of bodye of maners and of wytte· therfore in Rome ben heuy men· In grece light· In Affryca gyleful. In gallya wytty men and wyse R¶ Here take hede as Augustinus de Ciuitate dei libro secundo capitulo quinto toucheth that Gally in one maner speche were the preestes. that were in the temple of that goddesse that hight Cibeles· And haue that name not of that londe gallia / but of that Ryuer gallus that is in Frigia. Alle they that dranke of that Ryuer shold wexe wood and were alle gelded in their mynde of that child Athis that thylk goddesse Cibelis loued with al her myght· / That child waxe wood & gelded hym self for fraude & gyle that he had don to that god­desse Cibeles so sayth Ouidius de fastis / But of galli that ben Franci & frensshe men / Entropius libro 2 / seyth gally ben wel hasty and her bodyes passen the comyn stature of other men But it is foūden by assaye that as the gally ben more hasty than stronge in the fyrste refe or bront / so afterward in fyghtyng they ben more feble than wymmen. For as they ben like alpes in gretenes of body so they be somwhat like to the snowe that lyeth vpon the Alpes that breketh oute in swote and melteth with heete of fyghtyng as snowe doth with hete of the sonne Git / capitulo. septimo decimo / thenne gallea with his partyes al hoole hath in the northe side Germania / In the eest the Ryne. In the southest the Alpes. In the west the see Occean that is called bothe britā ­nycus and gallycus that is englysshe and Frensshe / For it departeth englond and Fraunce· In the south the see of myddel erthe that wessheth aboute· by the prounce of Narbon / ¶ In Iulius cezars tyme Gallia was departed on thre / ¶ But for dyuerse [Page xxxvj] happes that bifelle afterward in that lond the countrey and lond that stretcheth from the Ryne to seyne from that one Ryuer to that other is now called gallia belgyca that is very Fraunce / & that countreye that stretcheth from thens to the Ryuer of leyr is called· gallia lugdunensis· ¶ the ouer partye therof heyghte burgundia / And the nether partye is called Neustria· And the Countreye that stretcheth from the Ryuer of leyr to the water of geronde is called gallia acquytanyca / that is guyan. And. stret­cheth out of the eeste fro the Ryuer of Roen vnto the west Occe­an. the ouer partye therof heyght Celyca that is heuenly and hye by cause that hye montaynes ben therinne / Fro the Ryuer of Gerond to the see of myddel erthe and to the montaynes that be cal­led montes Pyrenij / Grete hilles of spayne is cleped gallia narbonenses· And now somme therof is called gothia / And somme vasconya that is gascoyn· And so gallya al hoole [...] closed about with thre noble waters with the Ryne in the north [...]yde with Ro­ne in the est / and with the bruttyssh occean in the weste side / In Gallea ben many quareys & noble for to digge in stones And beside Paris is grete plente of a manere stone that is called gipsus / and is called whyte plastre. also ¶ whan that stone is brente and tempred with water and torned in to plastre. thenne men make therof ymages walles chambres· paments / and dyuerse manere werkes that dure longe ynowgh / Ther is that fayre floure the cyte of Paris which is noryce of thewes· Boteler of lettres shinyng in Europa as Athenes dyde somtyme in gre­cia ¶ Giraldus / d p. The Frensshe men that ben callyd Franci also and many other men the strengest of europa / come of the tro­ians. For after that Troye was taken· Antenor with his men fled away by waters that hight paludes meotydes and by the Ryuer Thanays and dwellyd in pannonia / And bulde there a Cyte and callyd it Sicambria / Of that Cyte he and alle his were afterward called Sicambri· After anthenors deth they ordeyned hem two leders and capytains Trogotus and Franco / And of thylke Franco they were afterward called Franci / Tur­pinus de gestis karo [...] seith that whan kyng Charles had made spayne subgette and was come home to paris agayne· he made all the bonde men of gallia free in worship of seint Iames & of seint denys / But they shuld euery yere offre foure pens to the Chirche werke of seint denys / And so they were called Franci sancti dionifij / that is to saye seint denys free men· And so it cam aboute / [Page] that Gallia was called Francia by cause of that fredom. Other men tellen that valentilianus themperour called hem francos as it were ferancos that is sterne and wyther in the langage of attica. that is grecia· For sicambri that ben frensshe men were tributary to Rome longe tyme to fore valentinianus tyme also / But whan Alani men of allania were enemyes to Rome· Sicambri had her tribute foryeuen / for ten yere for to warre ayenst the men of Allania. and whan the ten yere were don and Alani ouercomen the Romayns axed their tribute. And Sicambri warned it and wold none paye. therfor valentinianus the emperour war­red vpon hem with a grete hooste / and had the vyctorye / thenne for that myshappe Sicambri were sore wroth and warred in the londes of Rome / and also on the londes that were. subgett to rome also / therfor Sicambri were afterward called Franci as it were feranci / that is wyther and sterne / And of that duc Franco they were called Franci as it were Francoes men· also of her fredom that kyng charles yaf them they ben named Franci / that is free mē for to mene Treuisa but how that euer they come to that name Franci ben frensshe men and hight both Sicambri· and gally / and so it is al one peple Sicambri / gally Franci and ffrensshe men. ¶R Franci made hem a kyng that was called Ferramundus Marconurus sone / and made al the lond subget fro sicambria vnto the Ryne ¶Willellmus de / r· libro primo Whan Ferramundus was deed they made his sone kynge that had thre names and heyght Clodion· Clodyus and Crinicus / And of hym kyn­ges of Fraunce were called Crinici / After Clodyus they made his sone kyng· that highte meroneus· And after hym kynges of France were called Meronyngy vnto pypyns tyme / ¶ In the same maner kynges sones of Englond had names after the na­mes of theyr fader / as. Edgars sone was called Edgaryngus & Edmondue sone was named Edmondignus. Comynly he that cometh of the kynges blood is called adelingus· Gir. de / p. After meroneus regned his sone childericus / hym cristned Remigius This childericus atte prayer of the Romayns put that peple Go­thi arriani out of guyan. whan he was dede his sone Childeber­tus helde the kyngdom with his thre bretheren / Theodericus Clo­donurus and Clotarius this was in the tyme of the grete pope Gregory / After this childebertus regned his broder Clotarius / he wedded seynt Radegunde· And after hym regned his sone Chil­dericus with his thre bretheren Carbertus gundianꝰ & sigesbertꝰ [Page xxxvij] After Childericus regned his sone Clotarius / he bigate dagober­tus and his suster Batildys / vnder this dagobertus Pipinus was the grettest man of the kynges hows / And that was in the tyme of Eraclius themperour. after dagobertus regned his sone Clodonius / in his tyme seynt Benets body was translated and born out of the prouynce beneuentana in to Fraunce / After clodoneus regned his sone Clotarius / And after hym his broder the odericus In his tyme ebronius that was the grettest of the kynges hous poursiewed seynt leodegarius· and dide hym moch woo and tene. and martred hym atte laste / After theodericus regned Clodoneus / And after hym his yonger broder childebertus· after hym his yong sone dagobertus / And after hym the kynges lig­nage faylled / ¶For after hym regned his broder Daniel that was a Clerk / But franci chaunged danielis name and called hym childericus / After hym regned one of his kyn that was cal­led theodoricus / And after hym his broder hildericus / he was put doun for grete Nycete and made a clerk / and lyued as a monk in an abbaye / And thenne faylled the lygnage in men of Ferra­mūdꝰ blood but yet it lasted & dured in a woman that was Batildis / dagobertus suster / In this maner batildis was wedded vnto ausebertus and had by hym a sone that hight arnold. thēne this Arnoldes sone hight arnulphus / that Arnulphus wedded duc pipins doughter / Pipinus was the grettest of the kyng da­gobertus hows. kynge dagobertus was batildis broder· Th [...]s Arnulphus was afterward made bisshop mentensis Thenne his sone Ansegilius gate pupinus that had two other names / vetulus and breuis· willelmus de / r· libro primo This pipi­nus gate Charles that heyght tutidis and marcellus also / And had that name tutidis of tudere that is beten and bounsed For he bete oute of Fraunce alle tyrantes and sarasyns that warred therin / And destroubled the londe & peple / This charles folowed the sentence of his forfaders & helde the kynges of Fraūce in his retenue.. And he hym self was called an Erle and helde hym paid and content with that name· Giraldus this charles gate the second pupinus and charles the grete· that was afterward a monke· This. second. pupinꝰ was of kynges kynde. For he cam of batildis that we spak of bifore and therfor he was made kynge of Fraunce by assente of alle the Chiualrye & by auctorite of pope steuen. that was pope neyt after zacharye / This pupinus gate charles the grete· This Charles was made kynge after [Page] his faders deth the yere of our lord .vij C.lxix· For his noble de­des the Romayns chose hym afterward for to be seynt Peters aduocate / Afterward Patricius and thenne emperour and augus­tus. And fro that tyme thempyre of constantinople torned fro the Romayns to the Frensshe men For they wold not helpe the chirche of Rome ayenst the longobardes that warred agaynst the romayns. this charles gate lowys that was afterward emperour. this lowys gate the ballid charles that was emperour also· the balled charles gate lowys. lowys gate lotharius· lotharius gate lowys the last kyng of this lignage. whan this lowys was dede Franci toke hugh duk of bergoyn and made hym her kynge / this Hugh gate Robert· Robert gate harry / harry gate philip / philip gate lowys. lowys regned in harry clerkes tyme the conquerours sone / the grete charles ofspryng regned in Fraūce vnto hughis tyme that was called capet by his surname· Of hym come other kynges of Fraunce / as it is within in his place openly declared kynges of his ofspryng regned in ytalia and Almania vnto the yere of our lord .ix / C / xij / whan Conradus kynge of duche men toke thempyre to hym self / R. ¶ longe afterward as the comyn fame / A woman that was quene of Fraunce by heritage wedded a bocher for his fayrenes / therrfor in reproof of that dede Frensshe men ordeyned euonge hem self / that no woman shold af afterward be heyre of the royame of Fraūce / Gir / The Romayns were somtyme vyctours of alle the world· but stalworth men & wight that dwelletd in Fraūce ouercome hem in many batayls

But atte laste in Gayus Iulius cezars tyme gallia that is Fraunce was made subget· and so occupyed by Romayns about a four honderd yere vnto the last tyme of valentinianus themperour / whan dyuerse men of straunge londes werred in gallia· For firste wandaly and hinni / thenne sueui and burgondi that ben of sueuia a lond of Almania that is Almain· thenne gothi and sicambri. thenne norways and danes made hem self cytees in gallia / In gallia that is Fraunce ben many prouynces and lon­des that ben / Braban / Flaundres Pycardye· Normandye: The lasse brytain. ¶ Peyto· Guyan Angeoy· Gascoigu. Bur­goyn. Salina prouyncia / Campania the lasse that is champayn And aluerne also is in Fraunce Flaundria that is fflaundris a prouynce of Gallia belgyca. andis vpon the coste of the see Occean and in the north Frisia / In the eest germania / In the south Pycardia· And in the west occean. and inthe north a partye of [Page xxxviij] Englond· and though fflaundres be a lytil lond hit is ful plen­teuous of many prouffytable thynges of ryches / of pasture / of beestes of marchandyse / of Ryuers of hauens of the see and of good townes / The men of fflaundres hen fayr stronge and ryche and brynge forth many childeren & ben pesible to her neyghbours and trewe to straūgers· noble crafty men & grete makers of cloth / whiche is sente aboute wel nyghe in al Europe / ¶The londe is pleyn and skarse of wode / therfore in stede of wode they brenne turnes that smelleth worse than woode· & maketh fowler asshes Braban is bysouth eest fflaundres and is plentiuous of mar­chandyse and makyng of cloth / For of the wulle that they haue out of englond they make cloth of dyuerse colours. And sende it in to other prouynces and londes as fflaundres doth / For though Englond haue wolle atte beste / it hath not so grete plente of good water for dyuerse celours and hewes as fflaundres hath & braban· Netheles at london is one well that helpeth wel to make good scarlett / and so is at lyncoln one certayn place in the brook that passeth by the toun / ¶ Pycardya is a prouynce of gallia and hath that name after the toun that hete ponticus / that nowe is called phyten so seyth Erodotus / Pycardya hath many noble castels and townes as Amyens. belgys or belnacus / Tournay and many other· And lyeth bytwene Flaundres in the north [...]ide and normandye in the south syde / & ha [...]h in the weste side the se [...]. & the south syde of Englond / Ther ben two pycardyes that one is ner Fraunce / And eyther ioyneth to thendes of Flaunders and of braban. the men therof ben boystous men of dedes and ha­ue gretter speche than other men of Fraunce / ¶ Normandye that heet neustria also and hath that name of Norwayes that sailled oute of norway and out of denmarke / and gate a countreye vpon the cleues of Occean· in gallea / And called it Normandye The chyef cyte therof is Roan vpon the mouth of the Ryuer of Seyne / there Seyne renueth in to the see of Occean / ¶Norman­dye hath in the south the lasse brytayn in the weste the Frensshe Occean / & in the northwest the south syde of Englonde· The lasse brytayne hath the name of bretons that twyes occupyed that lond Fyrste by brenius that was kynge bellinus broder / and eftso­nes by bretons that were poursiewed and greued by the saxones in vortigers tyme kyng of Britons· as is wreton and contey­ned in the story of brytons ¶This prouynce hath in the eest. syde Andegauia. that is Andegoy. In the north normandye. In the [Page] south guyan. In the weste Occean acquytanicus / that is the see that is by the side of guyan ¶. Giraldus in toppicis ¶In this britayne is a welle yf the water of that welle be ta­ke in a bugles horn and poured vpon a stone next to the welle. be the weder neuer so fayre ne drye anon it shal reyne / And in Fraūce is a welle faste by the castel of pascense the water therof is right good for men and nought for wymmen. Noman can hete that water of that welle with fyre ne with ony crafte that ony can deuyse Pyctauia that is peytow. is a prouynce of gallia Narbonenses / Englysshe men. Scottes and pyctes seylled and dwelled there / and cleped the countrey pictauia / And the chyef Cyte pyctauus that is peyters so seyth Erodotus / this prouynce scretcheth ferre vpon the Occean / And in the eest syde turonia / therby passeth the Ryuer of leyr / In the southe syde spayne / In the north the lasse brytayn and the see of guyan· and in the west the see of Occean / the men of that londe ben of the condicions of Frensshe men by cause they medle with them and of the countrey that is so neyghe to them· So that they be now stronge. of bodye fayr of face hardy of hert / and fel of wytte

¶ De Aquitania / Capitulum. 28

AQuitania that is guyan· And hath that name Aquitonia of aquis that ben waters For the water of the ryuer of le­yer goth about a grete dele of that lōd. many a perticuler prouince is comprehended vnder the name of that lond. Plenius sayth that it· hath in the north and eeste gallia lugdunensis· In the southe and eeste it stretcheth to the prouynce of Narbon / Audegauia that is angeoy a prouynce of gallia. and as it were in the myddel by­twene gyan and lytil brytayn· ¶Vasconia that is gascoyn & was somtyme conteyned vnder guyan And hath in the est side the hilles pirenij· In the west th [...] west Occean· In the sou [...]h est the playn of the prouynce of tholous. And in that other [...]yde it neygheth to peytow / ¶In that londe ben many woodes hylles & wynes / And the Ryuer garonna departeth bytwene that londe & the prouynce of tholouse. & entreth in to the see of Occean faste by bourdeux / whiche is chyef cyte of that londe· the men of that lond ben called vascones / as it were wacones ¶The grete pompeus put hem doun of moūt pireneus and gadred hem all in to a toun [Page xxxix] whan spayne was ouercome so sayth Erodotus the wryter of histroyes / The men of that londe ben called nowe basclenses and ben swyft and hardy and vse balles and arblestres and gladly do robbe and reue· and so they be stronge theues / they ben clothed is slight clothes and fowle Burgundia is a partye of gallia Senosenses and stretcheth vnto Alpes pirenei / and hath that name burgundya of borugh townes that Austrogoti bylded therin whan they purposed to destroye ytalia. this londe is ful cold to­ward Alpes pirenei· Men that dwellen toward that side of bur­goyne haue botches vnder the chynne y swollen and bagged as though they were double chynned / that is by cause of grete cold of waters of snowe that melteth emong hem alway

¶De Hispania / Trogus libro vltimo and ysidorus libro auin­to decimo / ¶ Capitulum / 29

TRogus sayth that Trigonia is spayne al hool· and the hilles pirenei ioynen spayne in the north side to gallia Narbonenses and is closed in the other sides al about with the see of oc­cean and with the see Tirenus / And so spayne is wel nyghe al an ylond / ¶ For it is byclypped with the see wel nygh al about But ther ben two spaines the hyther begynneth fro the playnes & valeys of pyreneis. & stretcheth by cantabria & endeth at cartago spataria / the yonder spayne conteyneth the west party vnto the see gadytanus. where as hercules sette his pylers beside the moūt Athlas / This spayne is a playn lond. and hath grete p [...]ence of castels of horses of metal and of hony. And heete somtyme hisperia of hespera the eue sterre that lad the grekes thyder & was her lodesterre / A fterward hit was called hiberia· of the Ryuer hibe­rus but atte laste it hete hispania of the ryuer hispalus / or of hispanus that hercules ordeyned gouernour and kyng there· In hispania ben sex prouynces as terraconensis / lusitania· galicia bethica tingitina Astruria / and arogonia / ysidorus libro quinto decimo capitulo secundo / This Cartago of spayne is called spataria· For to haue difference bitwene this cartago and the grete Cartago of Affryca. that Scipio consul of Rome destroyed / Affri men of affryca made this cartago spataria / And atte last gothy destroyed it / For gothy were lordes of spayne longe tyme and specially in honorius themperours tyme· But afterward the sarasyns were ouercome of charles the grete· and loste the west londes of / spayn [Page] gallicia and luscitania / and helde only the este londes and coun­treyes of spayne

¶De Insulis maris. magni ¶ Capitulum. 30

GAdes is co [...]nably fyrst sette amonge the Ilondes of the grete see and stondeth in the west ende of spayne in a mouth of the west Occean / there the grete see Occean breketh in to the Inner londes and departeth a sonder Affryca and Europa· Tiries cam seylyng out of the reed see and occupyed that ylond & called it gades in his langage / And gades is to saye byclypped / For it is byclypped al about with the see. And is from the lond an honderd paas and ten there. as hercules sette his pilers whiche ben right wonderful as it were in the vttermest ende of the world· And tho pylers ben called after the name of the Ilond· Gades also· ¶Hug / capitulo gade And to gyue knowleche that there is no place ne lond ferther westward that stronge man hercules sette tho pylers there by gades· thenne estward from these pylers and from the Ilond gades ben the Ilondes baleares that ben called maiorica and minorica / thenne is there the Ilond Sardina ¶And hath in the south syde Affryca and in the north Scicilia / and hath nether addres ne venym but ther groweth an herbe that is called apium whiche maketh men lawgh hem self to deth· this ylond hath hoote welles and holsom which water maketh theuys and men that forswere hem self blynde yf theyr eyen touche the water of thylke welles / The Ilond Corsica is cornerd with many forlondes stretchyng in to the see / therinne is noble leese and pasture for beestes. therinne is a stone that is named aconites / Corsica hath in the est side the see Tirenus. In the south the ylond Sardima / xxx / myle thens. In the west the ylondes baleares. & in the north the see ligusticus. and liguria a prouynce of ytalia / & is eyht score myle in lengthe and .xxvj in brede And hath that name Corsica of a woman that heyght Corsa / This Corsa had a bole that ofte left company of other beestes and swam in to that Ilond and cam home in moche better poynt than he wente out Corsa sawe that and wayted her tyme and toke a boote and folo­wed after the bole in to that ylond / ¶ And sawe that ther was· londe for to bere corne and grasse / and brought theder first men that were called ligures / aradia that is called aradium also is an ylond that is al one cyt [...]· not fer from the cyte tirus and [Page xl] hath many shipmen that ben ful stronge in fyghtynge / Ciclades ben / liij / ylondes to gydre & ar named of Cyclon in grewe whiche is a cercle in englysshe. For they ben set al round as it were a cer­cle aboute the ylond that highte delon / Netheles som men seyn that they be so called by cause of highe rockes that ben al about them The first of them is rodes toward the eest / And these ylondes en­de toward the north in the clyf of the lasse asia / & hath out of the south in to the north fyfty myle / and out of the eest in to the west two honderd myle / the myddel ylond of them is named delon that is to saye y shewed / For it was somtyme byschyne with the son­ne to fore other londes after no [...]s flood / the same delon is called Ortigia. For ortigie ben called conturnices curlewes. whiche ben there grete plente. ¶ And in that place lacona bare Appolyn delphycus. Samos otherwyse called Samia is an Ilond. in whiche pyctagoras Iuno and sibilla were born. In that londe is whyce cleye and reed· Of whiche cleye men make erthen vessel at beste / Cyprus that lond heyght paphon and cichym also / And is beclypped in the south with the see of phenicia / in the west with the see pamphilicus / and in the northwest with scicilia· & is .viij. score mile in lengthe / & / vj / score & / v. in brede / In that yle bras and craft of brasse was first y foūden / the wynes of that lond is strē ­gest of all wynes / Creta hath that name of one cretus that dwellyd therin· that ylonde heyght centapolis also. that is a londe that hath an .C· cytees· for therin were somtyme an / C· cytees somtyme & there was saturnus & Iupiter born· & were first kynges there & of right it longeth to grecia of old tyme / and hath in the. south side the see libicus / And in the north the see of grecia & stretcheth oute in to the eest and in to the west / and was the first londe that was parfyght and noble in crafte of rowyng with oores / Armes & shotyng with arowes. and yaf lawe wreton. and taught men ride on horsbak And ther was the craft of musike and syngynge of ydeis dactilis founde / ¶ They of Creta made it more and yaf it in knowleche to other londes aboute / ¶That londe is now called Candia / In that ylond ben many sheep and g [...]eet / & fewe roes & hertes· therin be no foxes ne wolues ne addres ne such venemoꝰ beestes / And that lond hateth so venym that yf men brynge ony venemous beestes or wormes of other londes they deyen anone· & though ther be no grete venemoꝰ beestes in that lond yet ben ther Attercops venemous that ben called Spalangya in· that londe Oroꝰ seith that this ylōd is viij score & vij mile in lēgthe / & an / C [Page] myle in brede / In this Ilonde is one of the foure laborintus as it shal be sayd afterward / Treuisa / For to late men haue knowleche what laborintꝰ is· it is an bous wōderly buylded & wrought with halkes & huyrenes tornynges & windynges so diuersly by wōderful wayes & wrynclis that who that gooth in to that hows & wold come out / agayn though he retorne hytherward & thyder ward ceste west north or southward whyther euer he drawe & for alle the wayes he can chese / though he trauaylle neu (er) so sore / he shal be so mased that out can he not goo / but yf he haue the craft that serueth therfore. Scicilia. that Ilond was somtyme called trinatria as it were thre square by cause of thre hilles that ben therin / The hilles ben called pelorū pachinū / libeū· & afterward was called scicilia of sciculus that was ytalus brother· & that londe hight somtyme scicania of scicanus the kyng / & hath in the northsyde apu­lia a partye of ytalie & is departed fro that part with grete waters of an arme of the see· or clouen by erthskakyng thus seyth salustius / & the see bytwene secilia & ytalye is now thre myle brode· & is called regium that is to saye broken of In that see ben two grete perylls wonderful & wyde y knowe / that one is scilla / that other is caribdis· men of that lond calle scillā a grete stone that is seen aboue the water shapen as· a mā byclypped about with hoū ­des heedes & feynen & saye that it semeth. that the wawes berketh that beteth therupon / caribdis is a perilloꝰ whirlyng see that cas­teth vp water & wawes & swoloweth hem in agayn thryes in a day / ysid / li / 14. In this ylond men ered first with plowe for to so­we in corne and other seedes. & ther was comedia / songe of gestes first foūden / Beda de naturis· The londe of scicilia is holowe & ful. of caues· & moch sulphur or brymstone. & glue. so that the a­yer & fire hath way ynowgh therto / & fire closed in the caues & in the chinnes within the erthe. stryueth with the ayer & other thynges that ben contrarye to fyre / And that causeth ofte smoke and brennyng leyte to breke out in many places ¶ And somtyme the strengthe of the wynde that is within maketh to breke oute heepes of grauel and of stones / For suche doynge it is that the brennynge of the hille that is called the mount Ethna dureth so longe / ysid li· 14 / That hille mount ethna toward the south­eest hath many chynnes and holowe dennes or caues within the erthe ful of brymstone that resseyueth moche wynde and engen­dryth fyre and smoke / R. In that place ben seen dyuerse figures and shappes and herde ruful voys and gronyng. ¶ Therfore [Page xlj] somme men wenen that sowles ben there in payne / as it semeth that seynt gregory maketh mynde in his dyaloge· Gir· in to / there is a welle in scicilia yf aman cometh therto clothed in red. anone the water of that welle spryngeth vp as high as that mannes hede ¶ And for ony other colour or hewe the water meueth not. There ben also [...] Cicades birdes that syngen wel in the best wys [...] and they haue a pype open vnder the throote / And syngen better whan the heed is of than whan it is on. And better whan they ben dede than whyle they ben a lyue· Therfor herdes of that londe bihede them for to haue the swetter songe / ¶ And in that londe is a Cyte called Palarna that yeldeth euery yere more of certayn rente than the kyng of Englond. hath of siker rente of Englond ¶ Ysidorus libro 13 / In Scicilia ben two welles that one of hem maketh a barayn woman to bere childeren / And that other maketh a childyng woman barayn· In Scicilia is salt agrigentinus wonderful and contrarye to other salt ffor it melteth in fy­re and lepeth and sperclyth in water· byside Scisilia is an Ilond that is called Eola· and hath that name of Eolus· Poetes fey­nen and saye that Eolus is god of wyndes· For whyle he was Ruler of the ix Ilondes eueryche of hem heyght / Eola. By ry­synge of moysture of myste and of smoke he wolde telle whan it shold rayne / And therfore symple men supposed that he had the wynde in his power and myghte / ¶ The same nyne Ilon [...]es hight wl [...]ane that is fyry. for fyre brenneth there alwaye· There ben other Ilondes in the see Eusinus / That see Eusinus is a grete partye of the see of myddel erthe / Amonge the whiche ylondes the ylond of Colchos is famous. there as Iason fette the golden fflyes as it shal be. declared after about the bataylle of troye ¶And pathmos is an Ilond in the same see / there as seynt Io­han the euāgelyst was whan he was exyled sute of other londes

¶De Iusulis Occeani / Ysidorus libro quinto ¶Capo. 31

INsule fortunate that ben the gracious Ilondes and ben of good temprure of wynde and. of weder y sette in the west Occean / And of some men named paradyse by cause of goodnes of the londe and of temperate weder ¶ There ben gracious tymes· The hylles ben couerd with Corne ¶ And herbes growe as it were grasse. ¶Therfore by cause of plente of Corne and of Fruyte they ben called Fortunate that is gracious / ¶For there ben trees of seuen score foote highe ¶ There is the Ilonde Capria that is the Ilonde of Gheet. ¶ For there [Page] ben many gheet· and weders also / there is the Ilond Canaria. that is the Ilond of houndes / ¶ Dacia that is denmarke is an Ilond that ioyneth to the northsyde of germania / Men of that Denmarke were somtyme ful sterne and good men of Armes. Therfore they occupyed somtyme grete countrees in brytayne & in Fraunce / & ben called daci as it were dagy· For they come of the gothes ther ben many men in dacia and ben fayr of stature & semely of face and of heer. And though they ben sterne ayenste theyr enemyes / they ben esy and mylde to good men and trewe But it may not be forgoten that they brought grete drynkyng in to Englond. ¶ Wyntlandia that Ilond is by west denmarke· and is a bareyn lond. and men oute of byleue they selle wynde to the shipmen that come to theyr portes and hauenes as it were clo­sed vnder knottes of threde / And as the knottes be vnknytte the wynde wexed at theyr wille / Iselond that Ilond hath in the este side Norwaye / In the north the froren see / that is mare congelatū The men of· that lond ben short of speche and trewe of theyr wor­des and clothed in wylde beeste skynnes. and ben Fysshers and haue one man bothe kynge and preest. Ther ben gerfawcons and gentil haukes. and there ben whyte beers that breken the yse for to drawe out Fysshe. there ben no sheep in that lond ne corne but ootes and that is for grete cold. That Ilond is from Irlond & from brytayn thre dayes sayllyng Solinu [...] de mirabilibus Tyle is the vttermest Ilond of Occean / bytwene the northe and the west coost by yonde brytayn. And fewe men knowe that lond ¶ Plenius libro secundo· ¶ Tyle hath the name of the sonne for from spryngyng tyme whan the day & nyght be euē vnto heruest tyme it is alway byschyne with the son̄e / & efte from that tyme to spryngyng tyme agayne / whan the day & nyght be. euē about septēber it hath no light of the sōne / but alway derk nyght & no day & therfor the lōde is not couenable for mē to dwelle in. In somer for heete. & in wynter for colde / & derknes. & by cause therof there may no corne growe / also the see is there hard y frore / Bitwene that Ilōd & britain ben the ylōdes that hight· scādia lingos & vergyon / Netheles tile is vj dayes saylling out of brytain / R / gir in top / ffor seint augustyn / d· ci / de / speketh of tile· & saith that it is an ylōd of ynde & that the trees of tile leese neuer their leues. but be ware· that thou be not begyled by lykenes of names ¶ For that ylond of ynde is called Tilis in the nominatif· caas· And the ylond of Occean is named Tile in the nominatif caas / and [Page xlij] ben lyche in other· As yf thou canst declyne thylke two names and speke latyn so seyth ysidore eth libro quinto decimo Norwaye stretcheth somdele eest toward denmarke and gothia· And hath in the southsyde scotland and in the northsyde Iselond / the Ilond is brood byclypped aboute with the see and is ful sharp and cold and hath many hilles and wodes· wilde beestes whyte beres bawsons and brockes and scarcete of corne / Men of that londe lyue more by fisshyng and huntyng than by brede and corn. In the northsyde of that londe many nyghtes in the somer tyme a­boute the stintyng of the sonne / the sonne goth. not doun but shy­neth al nyghte / And efte as many dayes in the winter aboute the stintynge of the sonne / the sonne aryseth not to yeue hem light· therfore al that tyme they muste werke by candel light / what werke that hem nedeth. In that londe is a welle that tour­neth tree and lether in to stone· and it abyde therinne a yeer hool [...] The men of that londe ben shipmen and theuys of the see / Tre­uisa ¶ For to knowe what the stintyng of the sonne is to m [...]nyng take heede· that the sonne styntith twyes a yere / ones atte somer whan it goth none higher ¶· And eftsones at winter whan it gooth no lower / And so in eyther tyme is the stinting of the sonne

¶ De hybernia [...] [...] ¶ Capitulum 32

HYbernia that is Irlond. And was of old tyme incorperate in to the lordship of britain so seith Giraldus in sua topo­graphia where he descriueth it at fulle yet it is worthy and semely to praise that lond with larger praysing. For to come to clere and ful knowleche of that lōd· these tytles that folowe opene the way Therfor I shal telle of the stede and place of that lond how grete and what manere londe it is / Wherof that londe hath plente. and wherof it hath defawte· ¶Also of what men that dwellid therinne firste. Of men Of maners of that lond of the wondris of that lond of and worthynes of halowes and saintes of that lond. ¶De situ hibernie locali. / ¶Irlonde is the laste of alle the weste ylondes and height hibernia of one hiberus of spayn that was hermonius broder For these two bretheren gate and wan that lond by conqueste / ¶ Or it is called hibernia of that Riuer hiberus that is in the weste ende of spayne And that lond [Page] heyghte Scotland also / For scottes dwellyd there somtyme er they cam in to that other Scotland that longed to brytayne Therfor it is wreten in the martiloge· Suche a day in Scotland seynt bryde was bore / and that was in Irlond / this londe hath in the southest side spayne thre dayes sayllyng thennes a sydehalf And hath in the eest syde the more brytayn· thennes a dayes sayllyng In the weste syde it hath the endels occean. and in the northsyde Iselond thre dayes sayllyng thens Solinus but the See that is bytwene Britain and Irlond is al the yere ful of grete wawes and vnesy· So that men maye selde saylle sikerly bytwene / that see is six score myle brood / ¶ De eius quan­to et quali / Irlond is an Ilond grettest after brytayn and stret­cheth northward from brendans hilles vnto the londe Columbina and conteyneth. viij / dayes iourneyes Euery iourney of .xl / myle And from deuelyn to patriks hilles· and to the see in that syde in brede is four iourneyes And Irlond is narower in the myddel than in thendes al otherwyse than brytayn is· as Irlond is shorter northward than brytayn / so it is lenger southward / the lond is not pleyn but ful of montaynes· of hilles / of wodes of ma­reys and of mores. the londe is soft rayny· wyndy· and lowe by the see side and withyn hilly and sondy. Solynus / there is grete plente of noble pasture and of leese / therfor the beestes must be ofte dryue oute of theyr pasture leeste they ete ouermoche for they shold shende hein self yf they myght ete at theyr wylle· Gir· Men of that lond haue comunely theyr helth / and straungers haue ofte a peryllous flux by cause of the moysture of the mete / the flessh of kyen is there holsome and swynes flesshe vnholsome· Men of that londe haue no feuer but onely the feuer ague. and that right selde / therfor the holsomnes and helthe of that londe and the clennes oute of venyme. is worth al the boost and rychesse of trees of herbes of spycerye / of ryche clothes and of precious stones of the eeste londes / ¶The cause of the helthe and holsomnes of that londe is the attemperat hete and colde that is therinne / ¶ In quibus rebus sufficit In this londe ben moo kyne than Oxen / more pasture than corne. more gras than seed / ¶ There is grete plente of samon of lamprayes of Eelis and of other see fysshe Of Egles / of Cranes of pecokes / of Curlewes of sperhaukes / of goshaukes and of gentil faucons. Of wolues / and right shrewd myse / there ben attercoppes blood soukere and eeftes that doon none harme / Ther ben feyres lytil of body and ful hardy and [Page xliij] stronge / There ben bernacles fowles like to wylde ghees / whiche growen wonderly vpon trees as it were nature wrought agayn kynde / Men of Religyon ete bernacles on fastyng dayes by [...]au­se they ben not engendryd of fflesshe wherin as me thynketh they erre· For reson is ayenst that· Fro yf a man. had eten of Adams legge· he had eten flesshe· And yet Adam was not engendred of fader and moder· but that fflesshe cam wonderly of therthe & so this fflesshe cometh wonderly of the tree / In this londe is plente of hony and of mykle of wyn and not of vyne yerdes / Solinus and ysidorus wryten that Irlond hath no bees Netheles it were better wryten that Irlond hath bees and no vyneyerdes Also Beda sayth that ther is grete huntynge to robuckes / And it is y knowe that ther ben none. It is no wonder of beda for he sawe neuer that lond but somme men had told hym suche tales / Also ther groweth that stone saxogonus and is called Iris also / as it were the rayne bowe / yf that stone be holde agaynste t [...]e sonne anon it shal shape a reynbowe· there is also founden a stone that is called gagates and whyte margery perlis In auibus rebus deficit· whete cornes ben there ful smale vnnethe y clen­sed with mannes hond Reserued men· alle beestes ben smaller there than in other londes. there lacked wel nygh alle / maner ffysshe of Fresshe water that is not gendred in the see· ther lacken vnkynde fawcons gerfawcons. partrychis Fesaunte Nyghtyngale and pyrs / ther lacken: also Roo and bucke and ylespyles won­tes and other venemous beestes therfore somme men [...]ynen and that fauorably that seynt patrik clensed that lond of wormes & of venemous beestes· But it is more probable and more skylful that this londe was from the begynnynge alway without suche wormes· For venemous beestes and wormes dyen there anone if men brynge hem theder oute of other londes / And also venyme & poyson brought theder oute of other londes / lesen theyr malyce as sone as it passeth themyddel of the See / ¶Also powdre and er­the of that londe caste and sowen in other londes dryuen awaye wormes so ferforth that yf a turf of that londe be putte aboute a worme it sleeth hym or maketh hym thrille the erthe for tescape awaye / In that londe cockes crowe but lytil to fore day· so that the first crowyng of cockes in that lond and the thyrdde in other londes ben like ferre to fore the day

¶ De Incolis prioribus ¶ Capitulum 33

GYraldus sayth that Casera Noes nece drad the flood and fledde with thre men and fyfty wymmen in to that Ilond and dwellyd therin first the last yere to fore noes floode / But afterward bartholanus Seres sone that come of Iaphet noes sone come theder with his .iij. sones by happe or by craft thre hon­derd yere after noes flood and dwellid there and encreced to the nōbre of ix / M / men / And afterward for stenche of kareyns of geants that they had kyld / they deyden al saue one ruanus that lyued a thousand and fyue honderd yere vnto seynt patriks tyme / And enformed the holy man of the forsayd men / and of al their doingisand dedes / thenne the thyrdde tyme come thyder Nymeth out of Sichia with his four sones and dwellyd there ij honderd yere and sixtene. and atte last of his ofsprynge by dy­use mishappes of warres and of moreyn they were clene destro­yed and the lond lefte voyde .ij / C yere after· the fourth tyme fyue dukes that were bretheren gādius / genandus Sagandius / Ru­theragus sclauius of the forsayd nimethis successours come out of grece & occuppyed that londe & deled it in fyue partyes. And euery partye conteyned / xxij / candredes ¶ A candrede is a countraye that conteyneth an honderd townes / & they sette a stone in the myddel of the londe as it were in the nauel & begynnynge of / v / kyngdomes / Atte laste slaniꝰ was made kynge of al the londe· the fyfte tyme whan this nacion was .xxx. yere to gyder they wexe feble. four noble men that were myllesiꝰ the kyngis sones come out of spayne with many other in a Nauye of / lx / shippis / and two of the worthiest of these foure bretheren that hite hiberus and hermon deled the londe bitwene hem tweyn But afterward couenaūt was broken bytwene hem both and hiberꝰ was slayn thēne hermon was kynge of all that londe / & from his tyme to the first patriks tyme were kynges of that nacion sex score & euleuen. & so fro the comynge of the hyber­mensis vnto the fyrst patrik were a thousand yere and viij·C / They had that name hibermenses & hibernici of the forsayd hibe­rus. or ellys of hiberos a Ryuer of spayne· they were called also Gaytels and scottes of one / gaytelus that was phenius ne­uew / this gaytelus coude speke many langages after the lan­gages that were made at nemproths tour / And wedded one scota pharoes doughter / ¶ Of these dukes come the hibermenses [Page xliiij] ¶ Men saye that these gaytelus made the yryshe langage and called it gaytelaf. as it were a langage gadred / of alle langa­ges and tonges Atte laste Belinus kyng of bretayn had a sone that hight gurguncius· As this gurguncius come oute of den­marke atte Irlondes Orcades he fonde men that were called basclenses and were come thyder oute of spayne. these men prayde & besoughte for to haue place to dwelle Inne· And the kyng sente hem to Irlond that was tho voyde and waste. and ordeyned and sente with hem dukes and capitayns of his owne / And so it se­meth that Irlond shold longe to. brytayn by right of old tyme ffrom the first seynt patrik vnto Fedlinudius the kyngis tyme four honderd yere regned xxxiij. kynegs eueryche after other in Irlond In this Fedlinudius tyme Turgesius duke and capytayn of Norweyes brought thyder men of Norweye and occupy­ed that londe and made in many places depe dyches and castels sengle double and treble and many wardes strongly walled / & many therof stonde yet alhoole / But Irysshe men retche not of castels· For they take wodes for castels and mareys and mores for castel dyches ¶But atte laste Turgesius deyde by gyleful wyles of wymmen / And Englysshe men seyn that gurmundus wan Irlond and made thylke dyches / and make no mencion of Turgesius / And yrysshe men speke of Turgesius / And knowe not of gurmundus. therfor is to wete that gurmundus had wō ­ne brytayn and dwellyd therinne / And sente Turgesius with grete strengthe in to yrlond for to wynne that lond / and by cause Turgesius was Capytayn and leder of that viage and iourney and seen emonge them therfor yrysshe men speke moche of hym as a noble man that was seen in that lond and knowen. Atte laste whan gurmundus was slayn in Fraunce· Turgesius / loued the kynges doughter of meth in Irlond. And her fader behyghte Turgesius that he wolde sende her hym to the lowe lacherin with xv. maydens. And Turgesius promysed to mete hem there with .xv· of the noblest men that he had / And helde couenaunt and thought no gyle. but there come / xv / yōg berdles men clothed like wymmen with short swordes vnder her clothes / and fylle on tur­gesius and slewe hym right there and so he was traitoursly slain after he had regned / xxx / yere· Not long after thre bretheren amelanus Syracus and iourus come in to Irlond with her men out of Norwaye as it had ben for lone of pees and of marchandyse and dwellyd by the see sides by assente of Irysshe men / that [Page] were alway ydel as paules knyghtes / And the norwayes byl­ded thre cytees· deuelyn waterford and lymeryche. and encreced and after wexe rebelle ayenst men of that londe and brought first sparthes in to Irlond / So fro Turgesius tyme vnto Rotheriks tyme kyng of cannaccia that was the laste that was kynge of al the londe were xvij kynges in Irlond And so the kynges that regned in Irlond from the first hermons tyme vnto the last Rotheriks time were in al an honderd four score and one knygis that were not crowned nether enoynted ne by lawe of herita­ge. but by myght maystrye & by strengthe of Armes· The second harry kyng of Englond made this Rotherick subgette the yere of kynge harryes age fourty. and of his regne xvij· the yere of our lord .xj.C lxxij

¶ De Incolarum moribus Solynus· ¶ Capitulum / 34

SOlinus sayth that men of this lond ben straunge of nacion houseles and grete fyghters / and acounte right and wrong al for one thyng and ben syngel of clothyng scarce of mete cruel of herte and angry of speche. and drynketh first blood of dede mē that ben slayn and thenne wesshen theyr vysages ther with / and holde hem paid with fflesshe and fruyt in stede of mete and with mylke· in stede of drynke / & vse moche pleyng Idlenes & hūtyng & trauaylle ful lytil / In theyr childhode they ben hard norys­shed & hard fedd & they be vnsemely of maners & of clothyng and haue breche and hosen alle one of wolle and strayt hodes that scretcheth a cubyte ouer the sholders behynde and foldynges in stede of mantels and of clokes / Also they vse no sadles / bootes ne spores whan they Ryde. But they dryue theyr horses with a Chambred yerd in the ouer ende· in stede of byttes with trenches and of brydles of Reest they vse brydles that lette not theyr horse to ete theyr mete / they fyghte vnarmed naked in bodye netheles with two dartes and speres· and with brood sparthes they fight with one hande / these men forsake tylyeng of lond and ke­pen pasture for beestes / they vse long berdes & lōg lockes hanging doun behynde her heedes· they vse no crafte of flaxe of wolle of metal ne of marchaundyse but yeue hem to ydlenes and to slouthe and rekene reste for likyng and fredom for Rychesse / And though Scotland the doughter of Irlond vse harpe tymbre and [Page xlv] tabour. Netheles Irysshe men be connyng in two manere Instru­mentis of musike in harpe & tymbre that is armed with wyre & strenges of brasse. In whiche Instrumentes though they playe hastely and swyftly / they make right mery Armonye and melo­dye with thyck tewnes werbles and notes. And begynne from bemol [...]and playe secretely vnder dymme sowne in the grete strenges and torne agayn vnto the same. So that the grettest party [...] of the craft hideth the craft / as it wold seme as though the cra [...] so hydde shold be ashamed / yf it were take / these m [...]n ben of [...] maner in her lyuyng they paye no tythes· they wedde lawful [...] they spare not theyr alyes but the broder weddeth the brode [...] wif they ben besy for to betraye theyr neyghbours & other. they [...] sparthes in their hondes in stede of staues and fyghte ayens [...] them that truste moost to them· these men ben variable and vnst [...]faste trechours and gyleful· who that deleth with them [...] more to be ware of gyle than of crafte of pees than of brennyn [...] brondes / of hony than of galle· of malyce than of knyghthode [...] They haue suche maners that they ben not stronge in warres in batayll ne· trewe in pers. they become gossibs to them that they wil falsely bitraye in the gossibrede & holy kynrede / eueryche drynketh others blood whan it is shed. they loue somdele her no [...]ice [...] her pleyfers whiche that souke the same mylke that they souked while they were childeren And they poursiewe their bretheren their cosins and their other kyn· And despisen their kyn while [...] they lyue / And auenge their deth whan they be slayn / So long [...] hath the vsage of euille cu [...]tomme endured emonge them that [...] hath goten the maistrye ouer them and torned treson in to kynde so ferforth that they ben traitours by nature / and alyens and m [...]n of straunge londes that dwelle amonge them folowen their ma­ners that vnnethe ther is none but he is besmitted with their tre­son also / Amonge them many men pissen syttyng and wymmen standyng. ther ben many men in that londe fowle shapen in lym­mes and in bodye / For in their lymmes they lacke the benefi [...]e· of kynde / So that nowher ben none better shapen than they that be there wel shapen & none worse shapen than they that be euil shapen And skylfully nature hurt and defowled by w [...]ckednes of ly­uyng bryngeth forth suche foule gromes and euyl shapen of hem that with vnlawful delyng with fowl maners and euyl ly­uyng so wyckedly defowleth kynde. and nature / In this londe and in wales olde wyues and wymmen were woonte and ben [Page] yet as men seyne ofte for to shape them self in likenes of hares for to mylke their neyghbours kyne and stele her mylk / And ofte gerhoundes rennen after hem and poursiewe them and wenen that they be hares / Also somme by crafte of nygromancye make fat swyne for to be reed of colour and selle them in markettis and feyres· But assone as the swyne passe ony water they tourne in to their owne kynde / whether it be strawe / heye gras or turues / But these swyne may not be kept by no craft for tendure in likenes of swyne ouer thre dayes / Among these wonders and other take hede that in the vttermost ende of the world falled ofte new merueylles and wondres. As though kynde playde with larger loue secretely and fer in thendes than openly and neygh the myd­del / therfore in this Ilonde ben many grysly wonders and mer­uaylles

¶ De locorum prodigijs· Giraldusꝰ Merueylles of Irlond / ¶ Capitulum / 35

MAny men tellen that in the northside of. Irlond is the lond of lyf. In that Ilond noman may deye but whan they ben old and be vexed with grete s [...]kenes· they ben born oute in to the next londe and deye there / ¶ Ther is another ylond in Irlond that no woman therin may bere a childe· but yet she may conceyue Also ther is an Ilond in whiche no dede body may roten In vltonia that is vlster is an Ilond in a lake wonderly departed in tweyne / In that one partye is grete disturbaunce and discomfort of Fendes / And in that other partye grete lykyng and comforte of holy Angels· there is also seynt patriks purgatorye that was shewd at his prayers to conferme his prechyng and his lore· whan he prechyd to mysbyleued of sorow and of payne that euyl men sholde suffre for her wicked werkes / And of ioye & blysse that good men shal resseyue for her holy dedes. He telleth that who that suffreth the paynes of that purgatorye· yf it be en­ioyed hym for penaunce. he shal neuer suffre the paynes of helle-but he dye fynally without repentaunce of synne / as the ensam­ple is sette more fulle at this chapytres ende ¶ Treuisa / But truly noman maye be saued. but yf he be very repentaunt what sommeuer penaunce he doo / And euery man that is very repen­taunt at his lyues ende / shal be sikerly saued / though he neuer [Page xlvj] here of seynt patriks purgatorye / There is an Ilond in Cannacte Salo that is in the see of Conaccia halewed by seynt Brandan / that hath no myse. there dede bodyes ben not buryed but ben kept oute of therthe and roten not / In mamonia is a welle / who that wassheth hym with the water of that welle he shal wexe hore on his heede / ther is another welle in vltonia. who someuer is wes­shen therin he shal neuer wexe hore afterward / Ther is a welle in mownstre or momonia / yf. ony man touche that welle anone shal falle grete rayne in al the prouynce / ¶ And that ray­ne shal neuer cesse / til a preest that is a clene mayde singe a masse in a chappel fast by and blesse the water and with mylke of a Cowe that is of one heer besprynge the welle / And so recon­cyle the welle in this straunge maner At glyndalcan aboute the Oratorye of seynt keywyn withges berith apples as it were ap­ple trees & ben more holsom than sauery / that holy seynt brought forth these apples by prayers for to heele his child that was seek Ther is a lake in vlster and moche fyssh therin whiche is .xxx myle in lengthe and xv in brede· the Ryuer ban renneth oute of that lake in to the north Occean And men saye that this lake began in this maner / there were men in that countrey that were. of euyl lyuynge / coeuntes cum brutis / And there was a welle in that londe in grete reuerence of old. tyme and alway couerd· and yf it were lefte vncouerd the welle wold ryse and drowne al the londe: & so it happed that a woman wente to that welle for to fetche water And hied her fast to her childe that wepte in the crad­be and lefte the welle vncouerd / than the welle sprang so fast that it drowned the woman and her childe and made al the countre a lake & ffyssheponde· for to preue that this is soth it is a grete argument that whan the weder is cleer / Fysshers of that water see in the ground vnder the water Roūd towris and hyghe shapen as steples and chirches of that lond / In the northsyde of Irlond in the countrey of Ossiriens. euery seuen yere atte prayer of an holy abbot. tweyne that ben wedded a man and a woman must nedes be exyled and forshappen in to lykenes of wolues and a­byde oute seuen yere / And at thende of seuen yere / yf they lyue they come home agayn and take agayn theyr owne shappe / And then shal other tweyne goo forth in theyr stede and so forshapen for other seuen yere / there is a lake in this lond yf a pool of tree be pyght and stycked therin that part of the shaft or pool that is in therthe shal torne in to yron / And that part that abydeth in [Page] the water shal torne in to stone· And the part that abydeth aboue shal be tre in his owen kynde. Also ther is a lake that torneth hasell in to asshe and asshe in to hasell yf it be don therin / ¶ Also in Irlond ben thre samon leepes· there as samons lepee ayenste a roche a longe speres lengthe / Also in lagenia is a ponde / ther be seen colmans birdes / the birdes ben cleped certelles & come homly to mannes honde. but yf men do hem wrong or harme· they gon a way and come not agayne / & the water there shal wexe bytter & stynke / And he that dyde the wronge shal not asterte withoute wreche and meschyef but yf be doo amendes / ¶ R As tou­ching patriks purgatorye· ye shal vnderstande that the second s [...]int patrike that was abbot and not bisshop whyle he prechyd in Ir­londe laboured and studyed for to torne thylke wycked men that lyued as beestes out of her euyl lyf for drede of paynes of helle· And for to conferme hem in good lyf / And they sayde they wold not torne but somme of them myght knowe somwhat of the grete paynes / and also of blysse that he spak of ¶ Thenne seynt Patrik prayd to god almyghty therfore / And our lord ihesu crist appierid to seynt patrik and toke hym a staf / and ladde hym in to a wylde place and shewed hym there a Round pytte that was derke within and sayde / that yf a man were very repentaunt and stable of bileue and wente in to this pytte and walked therinne a day and a nyght he sholde see the sorowes and the paynes of euyl men and the ioye and blysse of good men / ¶ Thenne crist vanyssyhed out of patriks sight / And seynt patrik arered & bylded there a chirche· and put therin chanons Reguler· and closed the pytte about with a walle· and is now in the chirche yerd atte est ende of the chirche / and fast shytte with a stronge dore / for noman shold goo in nycely with oute leue of the bisshop or of the Priour of the place ¶ Many men went in and cam out agayn in patriks tyme· And told of paynes and ioye that they had seen· and the merueylles· that they sawe ben there yet wreton. And by couse therof many men torned & were cōuerted to right bileue· also many men went in and cam neuer agayn ¶In kynge steuēs tyme kyng of Englond a knyght that hight oweyn wente in to seynt patriks purgatorye / & cam agayn & dwellyd euer after du­ryng his lyf in the nedes of thabbay of ludensis that is of thor­dre of cistews & he tolde many wōders that he had seen in patriks purgatorye. the place is called patriks purgatorye· & the chirch is named / Reglis / ¶ No man is enioyned for to goo in to that [Page xlvij] purgatorye but counseylled that he sholde not come therinne But take vpon hym other penaūce / and yf / a man haue auowed and be stable and wole nede goo therinne he shal first goo to the bis­shop / And than he shal be sent with lettres to the prioure of the place / and they bothe shal counseylle hym to leue. and yf he will nedes goo therto / he shal be in prayers and in fastyng / xv. dayes. And after .xv. dayes he shal be houseld and lad to the dore of the purgatorye with procession and letanye. and yet he shal be coun­ceylled to leue it And yf he be stedfast and will entre the dore shal be opened: And he y blyssyd and goo on goddes name and holde forth his waye / And the dore shall be faste shette til the next daye And whan the tyme is the priour shal come and opene the dore / ¶ And yf the man be comen he ledeth hym in to the chirche with procession. And there he shal be xv / dayes in prayers and in fas­tyng

¶De preconijs sanctorum / ¶ Capitulum 36

HCre Graldus maketh mynde that as men of this nacion ben more angry than other men and more hasty for to take wreche whyles they ben alyue. So seyntes and halowes of this londe ben more wrecheful than sayn [...]es of other londes / Clerkes of this lande ben chaste and sayen many prayers and don grete abstynence a day and drynketh al nyght. So that it is acounted for a myracle / that lecherye regneth not there as wyne regneth· And they that ben euyl of them ben worst of all other / so good men amonge them though they be but fewe ben good atte beste / Prelates of that coūtrey ben ful slowe in correction of trespaas and besym contemplacion and not in prechyng of goddes worde· Therfore it is that alle the sayntes of that lond. ben confessours & no martir emonge them and no wonder. For alle the prelates of this londe ben chosen oute of abbayes in to the clerg [...]e / ¶ And don as monkes sholde· what Clerkes and prelates shulde doo is to them vnknowen· therfor whan it was put ayenste the bisshop of Cassil how it myght be that so many sayntes ben in Irlond & neuer a martir amonge hem alle syth that the men ben so shreud and so angry / and the prelates so recheles and slowe in correction of trespaas / the bisshop answerd frowardly ynowgh and sayde our men ben shrewd and angry ynowgh to hem self. but to goddes seruaūtes they [...]eye neuer honde / but do to hem grete reuerence [Page] and worship· But Englysshe men come in to this londe that can make martres and were wont to vse that craft / ¶R The bisshop sayd so by cause that kyng harry the second was tho newe comen in to Irlond fresshly after the marterdom of seynt thomas of Counterbury / ¶Gir· in this lond in wales and in scotland ben belles and staues with croked heedes and other such thynges for relyquyes in grete reuerence & worship / So that men of this londe dreden more for to swere vpon ony of thylke belles & gold staues than vpon the gospel· The chyef of all suche relyquyes is y holde Ihesus staf· that is at deuelyn / with the which staf· they saye that the first seynt patrik droo [...] the wormes oute of Irlond ¶Augustinus de ciuitate d [...]i / Capitulo septimo. yf men axe how it maye be that dyuerse maner beestes and of dyuerce kynde that ben kyndly goten bitwene male und female come and ben in I­londes after noes flood / Men supposen that suche beestes swam in to Ilondes aboute· And first to the nexte and so forth in to other Or els men seylly [...] in to ylondes brought with hem such beestes f [...]r loue of huntynge or angels at god almyghtyes commaun­dement brought suche beestes in to Ilondes aboute. or the erthe brought hem forth firste and fulfylled tho goddes commaunde­ment that commanded the erthe to brynge forth gras and quyck beestes

¶ De Scocia ¶ Capitulum / 37

HYt is a comyn sawe that the Countrey whiche nowe is na­med Scotland is an out stretchyng of the north partye of britayn· & is departed in the southside· from britain with armes of the see / And in the other sides al about byclypped with the see This londe heet somtyme Albania· and hath that name of Albanactus that was kynge brutus sone / For Albanactus dwellyd first the [...]nne / Or of the prouynce Albania. that is a countrey of Scicia and nygh to amasona· therfor Scottes ben called as it we­re scites· For they cam oute of Scicia / Afterward that londe heet pyctauia. For the pyctes regned therinne a thousand yere / and .lxx / Or somme men telle a thousand thre honderd .lx· yere And atte last heet hibernia as Irlond heygthe / Gir in top For ma­ny skylles one skyl is for affynyte and alye that was bitwene them and yrysshe men / For they toke wyues of yrlond and that is o [...]enly seen in her bileue· in clothyng in langage and in speche [Page xlviij] in wepen and in maners ¶ Another skylle is for Irysshe men dwellyd ther somtyme / Beda / libro primo Out of yrlond that is the propre countraye of the scottes come yrysshe men with her duke that was called renda· And with loue & with strengthe made hem chyef sees and cytees beside the pyctes in the northsyde Gir / Now the londe is shortly called scotland of scottes that come out of yrlōd & regned therinne ·iij / C / xv / yere vnto the rede williams tyme that was malcolyns broder· R. many euydencis we haue of this scotland that it is ofte called and heyte hibernia as yrlond doth / therfor beda libro 2. c· p / seyth that laurence archibisshop of dunbar was archibisshop of scottes that dwellyd in an ylond that heet hibernia & is next to brytayne. Also beda li / 3· c / 27. seyth Pestelence of moreyn bare donn hibernia / Also. libro tercio· capi­tulo secundo seyth that the scottes that dwellyd in the south side of hibernia / also libro 4· capitulo tercio / he sayth that chadde was a yonglyng and lerned the rewle of monkes in hibernia / Also libro quarto capitulo visesimo secundo / Egfridus kyng of northū ­berland destroyed hibernia. Also libro· 4 ca. 15. The moost dele of scottes in hibernia / And in the same chapytre he clepeth hibernia proprely named / That west ylonde is an honderd myle from eue­ryche brytayne and departed with the see bitwene / And called hibernia that countray that now is callid scotland / there he telleth that adanman abbote of this ylond seyled to hibernia for to teche yryshmen the lawful ester daye And atte laste cam agayne in to scotlōd· Ysi / ethli 14. Mē ofthis scotlād / ben named scottes in their own lāgage & pyctes also· for sōtymeher body was peinted in this man. they wold sōtyme with a sharp egged tole prycke & kerue her own bodyes· & make theron dyuse figures & shappes / & peynte hem with Inke or with other peynture / or colour· And by cause they were so peynted they were called picti / that is to saye peynted ¶Erodotus Scottes ben light of herte. straunge and wylde ynowgh / but by. medlynge of Englysshe men they ben moche a­mended / they ben cruel vpon theyr enemyes And hateth bondage most of ony thyng / And holde for a foule slouthe yf a man deye in his bed ¶ And grete worship yf he deye in the felde. They ben lytil of mete and mowe faste longe / And eten selde whan the sonne is vp / ¶ And ete flesshe fysshe mylke and fruyte more than breed. And though they ben fayre of shappe They ben defowled and made vnsemely ynowgh with theyr owne clothyng. they preyse faste the vsage of theyr owne forfaders· And [Page] despysen other mennes doynge / her [...]onde is fruytful ynowgh in pasture gardyns and feeldes / Gir / de / p / capitulo / 18 / The prynces of Scottes as the kynges of spayn ben not wonte to ben enioynted ne crowned. In this Scotland is solempne and grete mynde of seynt andrew thappostel. For seynt Andrew had the north contreys of the world scytes and pyctes to his lotte for to preche and conuerte the peple to Cristes bileue / And was atte laste martred in achaia in Grecia in a cyte that was named patras / And his bones were kept two honderd ·lxxij / yere vnto constantinus themperours tyme / And thenne they were translated in to Constanti­noble & kepte there an .C / & ten yere vnto theodosius themperours tyme· Thenne vngust kyng of pyctes in Scotland destroyed a grete partye of brytayn and was bisette with a grete hoost of britons in a felde called merk / And he herd seynt Andrew speke to hym in this maner / vngus / vngus / here thou me cristes apostle / I promyse the helpe and socour / whan thou hast ouercomen thyn ene­myes by myn helpe. thou shalt yeue the third dele of thyn heritage in almes to god almyghty and in worship of seynt Andrew· & the signe of the crosse wente to fore his hooste. And the thyrdde day he had vyctorye and so torned home agayn / and deled his he­ritage as he was boden. And for he was vncertayn what cyte he sholde dele for seynt andrew / he fasted thre dayes / he & his men prayd seynt andrew that he wold shewe hym what place he wold chese / And one of the wardeyns that kept the body of seynt andrew in Constantynoble was warned in his sweuene that he shold go in to a place whyder an angle wolde lede hym. And so he cam in to Scotland with seuen felaws to the toppe of an hille named Ragmund / The same hour lighte of heuen bishone and byclypped the kynge of pyctes that was comyng with his hooste to a place called carceuan / There anon were heled many seke men / there met with the kynge Regulus the monke of constantynoble with the relyques of seynt Andrew ¶ There is founded a chirche in worship of seynt Andrew That is hede of alle the chirches in the londe of pyctes that is scotland / To this chirche comen pylgryms out of all londes / there was regulus first abbot and gadred monkes· And so alle the tienthe lond that the kyng had assigned hym he departed it in dyuerse places amonge ab [...]yes /

¶ De wallia

Now this book taketh on honde
Wales to fore englond
So take I my tales /
And wende in to wales /
To that noble blood
Of priamus blood
Knowleche for to wynne.
Of grete Iupiters kynne
For to haue in mynde
Dardanus kynde
In thyse four titles I fonde
To telle thestate of that londe
Cause of the man I shal telle
And then preyse the lond & welle
Then I shal wryte with my pēne
Alle the maners of the menne
Thenne I shal fonde
To telle merueilles of the londe
Of the name how it is named wales
Wales now is called wallia
And somtyme it heet cambria
For camber brutes sone
Was prynce & there dide wone
Thenne wallia was to mene /
For gwalaes the quene
Kyng ebrancus child
was wedded thyder myld
And of that lord gwalon
withdraweth of the soun
And put to / l· i· a
And thou shalt finde wallia /
And though this londe
Be moche lesse than englond
As good glebe is one as other
In the doughter as in the moder
Of the commodytees of the lond of wales
Though that lond be luyte.
It is ful of corn & of fruyte
And hath grete plente ywys
Of flesshe & eke of fysshe
Of beestes tame & wild
Of horse sheep oxen mylde
Good londe for alle seedes /
For corn gras & herbes yt spredes
Ther ben wodes & medes /
Herbes & floures there spredes
Ther ben riuers & welles
Valeys & also hilles
Valeys brynge forth flood
And hilles metals good
Cool groweth vnder londe
And gras aboue atte honde
There lyme is copious
And slattes for hows.
Hony & mylke whyte /
There is deynte & not lyte
Of braket methe and ale
Is grete plente in that vale
And all that nedeth to the lyue
That londe bryngeth forth ryue.
But of grete ryches to be drawe
And close many in short sawe
Hit is a corner smal
As though god first of al
made that londe so fele
To be selere of al hele
Wales is deled by /
A water that heet twy /
Northwales from the southe /
Twy delith in places ful couth.
The southe heet demecia
And the other venedocia /
The first shoteth & arowes beres.
that other deleth al with speres.
In wales how it be
Were somtyme courtes thre
At carmarthyn was that one
And that othir was in mone
[Page]The thirde was in powysy
In pengwern yt now is shrous­bury
Ther were bisshops seuen
And now ben four euen·
Vnder saxons al atte honde
Somtyme vnder pinces of yt lād
¶ Of maner & rites of the walssmen
The maner lyuyng of yt londe·
Is wel dyuerse from englond
In mete & drynk & clothyng
And many other doyng /
They be clothed wonder wel
In a shirt & in a mantel
A crisp breche wel fayn
Bothe in wynde & in rayne.
In this clothyng they be bolde
Though the weder be right colde
Without shetes alway
Euermore in this aray
They goo fighte pleye & lepe
Stonde sitte lye & slepe
Without surcot goun cote & kir­tell.
Without iopē tabard cloc or bel /
without lace & chaplet yt her lappes
Without hode hatte or cappes·
Thus araid goon ye segges
And alway with bare legges
They kepe none other goyng /
Though they mete with ye kyng
With arowes & short speres
They fight with them yt hē deres
They fight better if they neden
Whan they go thā whā they ridē
In stede of castel & tour
They take wode & mareis for so /
Whan they see it is to doo cour /
In fyghtyng they wol be a go·
Gildas seyth they ben varyable
In pees & not stable
Yf men axe why it be
It is wonder for to see
Though men put oute of londe
To put out othir wold fonde
But al for nouȝt at this stonde
For al many wodes bē at grōde
And vpon the see amonge
Ben castels buylded stronge
The men maye dure longe vn ete
And loue wel comune mete
They can ete & ben mury /
Withoute grete cury.
They ete breed cold & hoot
Of barly & of ote
Brode cakes round & thynne
As wel semeth so grete kynne
Selde they ete breed of wheet
And selde they done ones ete
They haue gruel to potage
And lekes kynde to companage /
Also butter mylke & chese
Y shape enlong & corner wese
Suche messes they ete snel
And that maketh hē drynk wel
Methe & ale that hath myght
Theron they spende day & nyght
Euer the redder is the wyn.
They holde it the more fyn
Whan they drynke atte ale
They telle many a lewd tale
or whan drink is an hōdling
They ben ful of Iangling /
Atte mete and after eke
Her solace is salt and leke
The husbond in his wise
Telleth that a grete prise /
to yeue a caudron with gruele
To hem that sitten on his mele
He deleth his mete at mele
And yeueth euery man his dele.
[Page L]And alle the ouerpluse
He kepeth to his owne vse /
Therfor they haue woo
And mishappes also
They ete hoote samon alway /
All though phisik say nay
Her howses ben lowe with al
And made of yerdes smal
Not as in citres nyhe /
But fer a sonder & not to hihe
Whan al is eten at home /
Then to hir neyghbours wil they
& ete what they may finde & see /
And then torne home a ye. rome
The lyf is ydle that they ledes
In brēning sleping & such dedes
Walsshmen vse with her myght·
to wesshe their ghestes fret a nyȝt
Yf he wessh her feet al & somme·
Then they knowe yt they be wel
They lyue so esily in a rowte
That selde they bere purs about
At her breche out & home come
They hong their money & combe /
It is wonder they be so hende
And hate crak atte nether ende·
And without ony core·
Make their wardroppe atte dore
They haue in grete mangery /
harp tabour and pipe for mīstralcie
They bere corps with sorow gret·
and blowe lowde hornes of gheet
They prayse fast troyan blode
For therof come al her brode /
Neyh kyn they wyl be
Though they passen an ·C / degre /
aboue other mē they wil hē diȝt
& worship prestes with her myȝt
As angels of heuen right
they worshipe seruaūtes of god.
Oft giled was thys brood
And yerned batayl al for wode
For merlins ꝓphecie almyȝt
And oft for sortelegye.
Best in maners of britons.
For companye of saxons
Ben torned to better right
That is knowen as clere as light
they tillē gardins felde & dounes
And drawe hem to god tounes
They ride armed as wole god
And goo y hosed & y shood
And sitten fayr at hir mele
And slepe in beddes fair & fele·
So they seme now in mynde
More englissh than walssh kinde
Yf men axe why they now doo so
More than they woonte to doo /
They lyuen in more pees
Bycause of theyr ryches
For their catel shold slake
Yf they vsed ofte wrake
Drede of losse of her good
Make them nowe stylle of mode
Al in one it is brought
Haue nothyng & drede nought /
The poet seyth a sawe of preef /
the fotemā singeth to fore ye thef /
And is bolder on the way /
than the horsmen riche and gaye
Of the marueylles & wonders of wales
THer is a pool at brechnok
therin of fish is many a flok
oft he changeth his hewe on cop
And bereth· aboue a gardin crop
Ofte tyme how it be
Shape of hous ther shal thou see
Whan ye pole is frore it is wōder
[Page]Of the noyse that is ther vnder
Yf the prynce of the londe hoote /
Briddes singe wel mery noot /
As merily as they can
And singe for none other man /
Besides carlion
Two myle fro the toun
Is a roche wel bright of leem
Ryght ayenst the sonne beme /
Goldelyf that roche heyghte
For it shyneth as gold ful briȝt
Such a flour in stone is nought
withowt fruyt yf it were souȝt /
If men coude by craft vndo
ye veynes of therthe. & com therto
Many benefyce of kynde
Ben now hid fro mānes minde
And ben vnknowe· yet /
For defawte of mannes wytte
Grete tresour is hid in grounde
And after this it shal be founde
By grete studye & besynes
Of hem that come after vs /
that old men had by grete nede
We haue by besy dede / Treuisa
In bokes ye may rede
that kynde failleth not at nede /
Whan nomā had craft in mynde
then of craft halp god & kynde
Whan no techer was in londe
Men had craft by goddes honde
they that had craft so thenne /
taught forth craft to other mēne
som craft yt yet come not in place
som mā shal haue by gods grace
R· an ylond is with nois & strif
In west walis at kerdyf
Fast by seuarn stronde
Barry hiht that ylond
In that hither side in a chene /
Shal thou here wonder dene
And dyuerse noys also
If thou put thyn ere to.
Noys of leues & of wynde
Noys of metal thou shalt fynde
Froting of yrē & whestones thou
Hetyng of ouens then with fire
all this may wel be shalt here /
By wawes of the see
that breketh in thare
With suche noys and fare /
At penbrook in a stede.
Fendes doo ofte quede
And throweth foul thyng in
And despyseth also synne.
Neyther craft ne bedes may /
Doo thens that sorow awaye
whan it greueth soo
To the men it bodeth woo·
At crucinar in west wales
Is a wonder burials
Euery man that cometh it to see
Semeth it euen as moche as [...]
Hool wepen there a nyght
Shal be broken er day light·
At nemyn in northwalis.
A litil ylond there is
That is called bardysey
Monkes dwelle there alway
Men lyue so long in that hurst /
That the oldest deyed first /
Mē saye yt merlin ther buryed is
That highte also siluestris
There were merlyns tweyne
And prophecied beyne
One hite ambrose & merlyn
And was y goten by gobelyn.
In demecia at carmerthyn.
Vnder kyng vortigerin
He tolde his prophecie
[Page Lj]Euen in snowdonye·
Atte hede of the wat of coneway
In the side of mount eriri
Dynas embreys in walsshe
Ambrose hille in englysshe /
Kyng vortigere sate on /
The wat (er) side & was ful of wone
Then ambrose merlin ꝓphecied
to fore hym right tho. Treuisa
What witte wold wene.
Thate a fend myght gete a child
Somme men wold mene
that he may no such werk welde
That fende that goth a nyght /
wymmen ful ofte to gile
Iucubus is named by right.
And gyleth men otherwhyle
Succubus is that wight
God graūte vs none suche vyle.
Who that cometh in hir gyle
Wonder happe shal he smyle
With wonder dede
Bothe men & wymmen seed
Fendes wole kepe·
With craft & bringe an heepe
So fendes wylde
May make wymmen bere child /
Yet neuer in mynde /
Was child of fendes kynde
For withouten eye
Ther myght no suche child deye
Clergye maketh mynde
Deth sleeth no fendes f [...]nde
But deth slowe merlin
Merlin was ergo no gobeblin /
Another merlin of albin lond /
That now is named scotland·
And he had names two
Siluestris and calidonius also
Of that wode calidoni
For there he tolde his prephecie /
And heet siluestris as well
For whan he was in batel
And sawe aboue a grisly kynde
And fyll anon out of his minde
And made nomore abood
But ran anon vnto the wood·
Treuisa Siluestris is wood /
Other wilde of mode
Other ellis /
That atte wode he duelles
R. Siluestris merlyn
Tolde prophecie wel & fyn
And prophecied wel sure
Vnder kyng Arthure /
Openly & not so cloos
As merlyn ambros
Ther ben hilles in snowdonye
That ben wonderly hye
With heyght as grete a waye.
As a man may goo a day
And heet eriri on walsshe.
Snowy hilles in englysshe
In these hilles ther is
Leese ynowe for al beestes of walis
These hilles on coppe beres
Two grete fysshe weres /
Conteyned in that one ponde /
Meueth with ye wynde an ylōd
As though it dyde swymme
And neyheth to the brymme
So ye heerdes haue grete wonder
And wene yt the world meueth
In that other is perche & fysshe vnder /
Euery one eyed is
So fareth al· wel
In albania the mylwel /
In rutlond by tetingel
Ther is a lytil welle
That floweth not alway /
[Page]As the see twyes a day
But somtyme it is dreye
And somtyme ful by the eye·
Ther is in norwallia
In mon that heet anglesia
A stone accordyng wel neyhe
As it were a mannes thyhe /
How ferre euer that stone /
Be borne of ony mon
On nyght it goth home his way
That he fonde by assaye
Hughe therle of shrewsbury·
In tyme of the first harry /
For he wolde the soth finde
That stone to anothir he gā bīde
With grete cheynes of yron /
And threwe al y feren.
Y bounden at one heepe
In to a water depe
Yet a morow that stone /
Was seene erly in mon /
A cherle helde him self ful sligh
And bonde this stone to his thye
His thygh was roten or day /
And the stone wente away
Yf men don lecherye
Neyhe that stone by
Swote cometh of that stone
But childe cometh ther none
Ther is a roche right wonderly.
Th [...] roche of heryng by countrey /
Though ther crye ony man born
And blowe also with an horn
Noyse ther made though yu abide
Thou shalt here none in this side
Ther is another ylonde
Fast by mon at honde
Hermytes ther ben ryue
Yf ony of hem don stryue
Alle the myse that may be gete
Come & ete al their mete
Thenne seceth neuer that woo
Tyll the strife sece also
As men in this lond /
Ben angry as in yrlond
So seyntes of this contrey /
Ben also wrecheful alway.
Also in this lond
In yrlond & in scotland /
Ben belles & staues
That in worship men haues /
And ben worshiped so thēne /
Of clerkes & of lewed men
That dreden also /
To sweren on ony of tho
Staf eyther belle
As it were the gospelle
At basyngwerke is a welle
That sacer hete as men telle·
hit sprīgeth so sore as mē may see
What is cast in it throweth a ye
Therof springeth a grete stronde
It were ynowgh for al ye lond
Seke at that place
Haue bothe hele & grace
In the welmes after than ones
Ben founde reed sperclid stones
In token of the blood reed
That the mayde wenefrede
Shad at that pytte
whan her throte was kytte
He that dyde that dede
Hath sorow on his seede
His children at al stoundes
Berken as welpes & houndes
For to they pray yt mayde grace
Ryght at that welle place
Eyther in shrowsbury strete
There that mayde resteth swete

¶De britannia ¶ Capitulum 39

AFter the Ilond of Occean now brytayn shal be descryued By cause of britayn al the trauayll of this storye was by­gōne. The first poynt that shal be told shal be of the names of the ylōd / thenne of the stede & place of lengthe and brede / the thyrdd of the worthynes of the londe· the fourth of merueylles and wonders that ben therinne / the fyfthe of the chyef partye of the londe· the sixth of ylondes that ben bisides that londe· the seuenth of the kynges heyhe wayes· the viij of famous ryuers and stremes· the ·ix· of olde cytees and townes· the tenthe of prouynces and shi­res / the .xj / of lawes and of names of lawes / the ·xij of kynge­doms of boundes and of merkes bytwene kyngdoms / the / xiij / of bysshopriches & of bisshops sees / the .xiiij how many maner mē haue dwelled in that ylond / the fyftenth of langage of maners & of vsage of men of that londe

¶ De varia insule nuncupacione

FYrst this londe heyte albyon / as it were the whyte lande of whyte rokkes about the clyues of the see that were seen fro ferre. Afterward bruyte conquerd this londe / And called it bry­tain after his owne name. thenne saxons or englysshe men con­querd this londe and called it anglia that is englond or it is cal­led anglia of a quene that owed this lond that was named angela / and was a noble dukes doughter of the saxons· or as ysid seyth eth / 15 / Anglia hath that name as it were an angle and a corner of the world / or ellys as beda sayth libro primo· Seynt gregory sawe englysshe children to selle at Rome. And he acorded to the name of the londe and sayde they ben sothly anglis. For her face shyneth as angels / For the noblete of the londe shone in the children faces. Alfred ¶ The brytysshe Anglia is cleped the other world and for grete plente of al good the grete charles called hit his owne chambre / Solynus / The edge of the frēsshe clyf sholde be the ende of the worlde yf the ylonde of brytayn ne were not· whiche is worthy to haue the name of another world / ¶Al [...]o This Ilond is called Insula· For it is in sa [...] that is the see and is beten of with dyuerse cours of waters with stre­mes and with wawes of the see

¶ De situ eius et dimensione. plenius libro secundo capitulo. 77 ¶ Capitulum 40

THis britayn is acounted a noble londe. bothe in our storye [...] and also in the storyes of grekes / and is sette agaynst Ge [...]man [...]a gallia Fraunce and spayne bytwene the northe and the west and the see bytwene· this londe is fyfty myle from the clyf of the men that be called morini gessorico Beda libro primo And for this ylond lyeth vnder the north hede of the world· Hit hath light & bright nyghtes in the somer tyme / So that oftyme at mydnyght men haue questions and doubte whether it be euen ty­de or dawynge / that is for the tyme of the yere· that the sonne goth not fer vnder the erthe by nyght / But passeth by the north side and cometh sone in to the eest agayn. And therfore in the so­mer ben ther dayes ful long of xviij houres. And the nyghtes of six houres / And after in the wynter ben longe nyghtes of / xviij: houres and short dayes of vj Also in Armenia / Macedonia / Ita­lia and in other londes of the same lyne the lengest daye and len­gest nyght also is of xv houres / And the shortest daye or nyght is of / ix / houres / Plenius in meroe / that ylond is chyef of black men / ther is the lengest daye ·xij houres. In allexandria in egypte of xiij houres· In ytalia of xv houres. In Brytayn of xviij houres / In the ylonde named tile in alle the six somer monethes is day· And all the six wynter monethes is nyght / ysidorus libro 14 Brytain is sette within occean as it were withoute the world And is sette agaynst Fraunce and spayne Giraldus ¶Bri­tayne is endlonge and larger. in the myddel than in thendes / Oroꝰ· Britain stretcheth in length out of the south in to the north And in the south eest side. hit hath Fraunce· in the south spayn. In the north norway / and in the west hiber [...]ia that is Irlond Whan shipmen passen the next clyf of that londe they see a Cyte that heet rutpimouthe. Beda li primo. That Cyte is now called shortly of englysshe men reptacestre / Solynus / britain is / viij.C myle in lengthe· And it be moten from the clyf of totenesse to the angle of calydon. Alfr̄· That is from penwithstrete / xv. myle byyonde mychels stowe in Cornewayll vnto catenesse that is beyonde scotland. And britain is more than two / C· myle brood from meneuia that is the vttemest place in wales vnto yarmouthe in norf [...]lke / beda only [...]outake the lēgest out shetyng of dyuerse for lōdes with the which britain is al about ·xlviij / sith ·lxx.m / paas

¶ De prerogatiuis huius insule attollendis / gir in top / ¶ Capitulum 41 /

AS ffraunce passeth britayn so Brytayn passeth Irlond in fayre weder and noblete / but not in helthe / ¶ Beda libro primo For this ylond is best to brynge forth trees and fruyte Ruthern and beestes / And wyn groweth therinne in somme place / ¶ The londe hath plente of fowles and of beestes of dyuerse maner kynde· The londe is plentiuous and the see also. The londe is noble copious and ryche of noble welles and Ryuers with plente of Fysshe· Ther is grete plente of smal fysshe of samō & of eels / W / de pō li. 3o. So that the peple in somme place fedeth their swyne with ffyssh ¶Beda libro primo Ther ben oftymes taken dolphins· See calues and balaynes grete ffysshes as whales kynde / And dyuerse maner shelfysshe ¶ Amonge whiche shelfysshe ben muscles that haue within hem margery perles of alle maner of colour and hewe· of rody and reed purpure and of ble­we and sp [...]cially and mooste of whyte / ¶Ther is also plente of shellefysshe that men dyen ther with fyn reed. the redenes therof is wonder fayr and stable. and steyneth neuer with cold ne with heete with weet ne with drye· but euer the older the colour is the fayrer· Ther ben also saltwelles & hote welles. therof rennen stre­m [...]s of hoote bathes departed in to dyuerse places acordyng for man and woman of alle maner age old or yonge ¶ Basilius seyth that the water that renneth and passeth by vaynes of cer­tayn metalle taketh in his cours grete hete / This ylond is plenti­uous of veynes of metals / of bras of yron of lede of tyn· and of syluer also. Plenius libro 16 / capitulo sexto / ¶In this y­londe vnder the turf of· the londe is good marle founden / the thryfte of the fatnes dryeth hem self therinne. So that euer the thykker the felde is marled / the better corne it wole bere / Ther is also another maner whyte marle / that the londe is better foure score yere that therwith is marled ¶Solynus ¶In this ylond groweth a stone that is called gagates / yf ye wil knowe his fayrenes / it ts blac as gemmes ben. yf ye wil knowe his kynde / [...] brenneth in water and quencheth in oyle. and as to his myght / yf the stone be froted & chauffed hit holdeth what hym neygheth as succuns a stone that is so named. ysidorus libro 15· ther ben [...] that berin good wulle / ther ben many hertes and wylde beestes and fewe wolues / therfore sheep ben the surer withoute kepynge [Page] lefte in the folde. R / In this ylond also ben many cytees and townes fayr and noble and ryche many grete Ryuers and stremes with grete plente of ffysshe· many fayre woodes and grete with right many bestes tame and wilde / The erthe of that londe is [...] of metal oor. and of salt welles. of quareis of marbl [...] of dyuerse maner stones· of rede. of whyte of softe and of hard / of chalke and of whyte lyme· there is also whyte clay & rede for to make pottes crokkes stenes and other vessel and brent tile to co­uere with howses and chirches as it were in the other Samia / that is named samos also. Flaundres loueth wel the wulle of this lond. And holand the skynnes and felles / Guyan the yron and the lede / Irlond the oor and the salt / Alle Europa loueth and desireth the whyte metal of this londe / Alf [...] / Brytayn hath ynow of mater that ther nedeth to bye and selle: or is nedeful to mannes vse / ther lacketh neyther salt ne yron· therfor a vercifi­our in his metre preys [...]h this londe in this maner / Englond is a good lond fruytfulle of wolle / but it is a corner / Englond is ful of pleye / Fre men wel worthy to pleye / Fre men / Fre tonges fre herte & fre ben alle theyr thynges / theyr honde is more fre and better than their tonge / ¶Also englond is beauteuous of lond Floure of londes al aboute that londe is ful payd with fruyte & good of his owne. that londe releueth straunge men that hath ne­de therto / ¶ And whan honger greueth other londes. than londe fedeth hem / that lond bereth fruyt and corne good ynowgh. that londe is we [...] at eese as long as men lyue in pees. Eeste & weste in eche lond ben knowen wel the hauenes of englond· her shippis fondes and ofte helpeth many londes· theyr mete and moneye· men haue there more comyn alway And for to lerne men gladly yeue yeftes. In lo [...]de and stronde / wyde speke men of englond / londe hony mylke cheese / this ylond therof shal bere the prise. this ylond hath no nede to other londes. Alle londes muste seche helpe at this allone / Of the lykyng of theyr won. myght wondre kynge Salamon the rychesse that ther is an / wolde desire octauian

¶De mirabilibus in ea stupendis Solynus· Capitulum. 42

IN brytayn ben hoote welles. wel arayed and adressyd to the vse of mankynde. maystresse of thylk welles is the grete spyrite of minerua· In here hows the fyre endureth alwaye [Page liiij] that neuer chaungeth in to asshes· But there the fire slaketh· hit changeth in to stony clottes ¶Alf [...] ¶ In Britayne ben many wonders. Netheles four ben moost wonderful / The first is at pecton ther bloweth so stronge a wynde out of the chynes of the er­the that it casteth vp agayn clothes that men caste in / The se­conde is at stonhenge besides salesbury· there ben grete stones and wonder huge and ben rered an heygh as it were yates· So that ther semen yates sette vpon other yates / Netheles it is not kno­wen clerly ne apperceyued how and wherfor they ben so arrered and so wonderfully honged / the thyrdde ts atte cherdhoke / there is a grete holownes vnder erthe. ofte many men haue walked therin and haue seen Ryuers and stremes / But nowher can they fynde none ende· the fourth is that rayne is seen reysed vpon hilles and a none y spronge aboute in the feldes· Also ther is a grete ponde that conteyneth / lx· ylondes couenable for men to dwelle in / that ponde is byclypped about with / vj / score roches / & vpon eueri roche an egles nest / And .lx. Ryuers rennen in to that ponde / and none of hem alle rennen in to the see but one / ther is a ponde closed a­bout with a wal of tile and of stone / In that ponde men wasshe and bathe wel ofte· & euery man feleth the water hoote or cold right as he will hym self / ther ben salt welles f [...]r from the see. & ben salt al the weke longe vnto saterday none / And fresshe fro sa­terday none vnto monday / the water of these welles whan it is soden torneth in to smal salt fayr and whyte / Also ther is a pon­de the water therof hath wonder wirchyng / For though al an hooste stode by the ponde and torned theyr face thyderward / the water wold drawe hem violently toward the ponde and wete al theyr clothes so shold horse be drawen in the same wyse. And yf the face be torned away fro the water / the water noyeth not Ther is a welle that no streme renneth fro neyther therto / And yet four maner ffysshes be taken therin. that welle is but .xx / foote longe and / xx / foote brode / And not depe but to the kne. and closed with high bankes on euery side / In the countray about wynchestre is a den or a caue out of that caue bloweth alway a strong wynde· so that noman may endure to stond to fore that denne or caue / ther is also a pond that torneth tre in to yron yf it be therin a yere / And so trees ben shapen in to whestones. also ther is in the toppe of an hill a buryels euery man that cometh and meteth that buryel· he shal fynde it euen of his owne lengthe and mesure· And yf a pylgrym knele therto / anon he shal be al [Page] fresshe and fele no grief of werynes Gir in top ¶ Faste by the mynster of wynburney that is not fer fro bathe is a wode that bereth moche fruyte / yf the trees of that wode falle in to water or ground that is neyh and lye there al a yere / the trees tornen in to stones / Gir in itinere Vnder the cyte of chestre renneth that ry­uer dee that now departeth englond and wales / that Ryuer chaū geth euery moneth his fordes as men of the countray tellen· and leueth ofte the chanel. But whether the wat [...]r drawe more to­ward englond or toward wales / to what syde that it be. that yere men of that side haue the werse ende and be ouersette. And men of that otherside shal haue better ende & be at theyr aboue / whan the water so changeth his cours hit bodeth suche happes / this Ryuer d [...]e renneth & cometh out of a lake that heet pymblemere / In that Ryuer is grete plente of Samon. netheles in the lake is neuer Samon founden· W / de· r / libro secundo ¶ Take hede how grete light and brightnes of goddis myldenes hath be shewed vpon englysshe men. sith they torned first to right bileue. So that of no men in one prouynce ben founden so many hoole bodyes of men after her deth in lykenes of euerlastyngnes that shal be after the day of dome as it wel semeth in these holy saintes / Etheldrede. edmonde / the kynge elphege / Edgar / Cutberd and seynt Edward and many other / I· trowe that it be do by special grace of god almyghty for the nacion that is sette as it were without the world shold take hede to duryng of bodyes without corupcion & roting and be the more bold and stedfaste for to truste on the fynal ary: syng of dede bodyes for to laste euermore after the daye of dome.

¶De partibus brytannye principalibus ¶ Capitulum 34

AFter the firste brutes tyme thr Ilonde of brytayn bygan for· to haue the principal partyes· that ben beogria· Cambria that is wales / And albania that is now scotland· Loegria had that name of locrinus that was brutes oldest sone / and heet Lo­egria as it were locrinus londe / but now loegria is called Englond / the boundes & merkes were therof somtyme the frenssh see bothe by est and by southe / Beda libro primo capitulo visesimo And by north two armes of the see that breketh fer in to the londe eyther ayenst other. but they reche not to gyders· the est arme of [Page lv] thylk tweyn begynneth about a two lytil mile fro the mynstre / of ebburcuring. in the west side of penultō in that arme is a toun that is called guydy. the weste arme of thylk tweyne hath in the rightside a strōg cyte that heet alcliud which in her langage is called clintstone / & standeth vpon a ryuer that is called Clynt also. ¶R Somme men wold mene that loegria endeth at humber / and stretcheth no ferther northward. the second partye of brytayn is called Albania that is scotland· and hath that name of alba­nactus bruytes sone and stretcheth fro the forseyd two armes of the see northward vnto the see of norwaye. Netheles the south partye of albania where as pyctes dwellyd somtyme lyeth from the water of twede vnto the scottysshe see / Al that longed somtyme to the kyngdom of Northumberland. brenycorn / the northside of northumberland fro the first tyme of englysshe kynges to that tyme whan kynadyus kyng of scotland that was alpinꝰ sone did away the pyctes and so ioyned that contray to the kyngdom of scotland / the thyrdde partye of brytayn is wales. wallia. that heet Cambria also. And hath that name cambria of camber brutes sone / For he was prynce of wales· In the est s [...]de seuarn departed somtyme bytwene englond and wales / But now in the northside the Ryuer dee at chestre and in the south the ryuer that is named vaga at the castel of strygelyn departeth englond. and wales· Also kyng Offa for to haue a distinction for euermore bytwene the kynges of Englond and of wales made a longe dyche that stretcheth forth out of the southside by briston vnder the hilles of wales / northward and passeth the Ryuers Seuarn and dee almost to the heedes and vnto the mouth of the Ryuer dee by yonde chestre fast by the castel it renneth bytwene cobehill and the myn­stre of basyngwerke in to the see· This dyche is yet in many places seen In seynt edwards tyme walsh men shold not passe that dyche with wepen vpon a greet payne. and that was at erle beraldes procuryng as it shal be sayd here after / but now in eyther si­des bothe ayond half and a this half the dyche & specially in the shyres of chestre of shrousbury and of herford· in many places ben englysshe men & walsshmen medled to gyders

¶ De Insulis britannye adiacentibus ¶ Capitulum 44

BRytayn hath thre ylondes that ben neygh and longen therto al withoute the ylondes orcades / as it were answeryng to [Page] the thre chyef partyes of brytayn. for the yle of wight [...]ongeth & lieth to loegria that is englond / The Ilond mon that is called anglesia also longeth to wales· And the ylond eubonia that hath two other names and is called menauia and man also· which longeth to Scotland· And alle these thre ylondes wight mon and man ben almoste yliche moche And of the lyke quantite of the whiche / thre al arewe nowe foloweth oure speche. ¶ Beda libro primo capitulo tercio Claudyus sente vaspasianus and vaspasianus wan wight And wight stretcheth oute of the est in to the west / xxx. myle long. And out of the south in to the north .xij myle ¶ / And is in the est side six myle fro the south clyf of bry­tayn· and thre myle in the weste side / Beda libro quarto capitulo quinto / the mesure of this ylond as englysshe men gesse is a thousand howsholdes and two honderd ¶ Gir in itinere· Mon that is called anglesia also is departed from northwales by a short arme of the see as it were two myle brood· In mon ben thre honderd townes .lxiij. And ben acompted for candredes / that ben thre hondredes / the Ilond is as it were .xxx myle long and / xij / myle / cantredus is so moche londe as conteyned an honderd townes. that name cantedrus is made one of two langages of brytysshe and of yryssh. In praysyng of this ylond walsshe men ben wonte to saye a prouerbe and an old sawe· Mon main kembry / that is to saye in englyssh mon moder of wales / For whan othir londes lacken mete. that londe is so good that it semeth that it wold finde corne ynough̄ for alle the men of wales. therfor vyrgyls verses maye be acordyng therto· as moche as guawes· beestes longe In­neth dawes So moche efte / bryngeth cold dewe in a nyyhte. In that arme of the see that departeth this londe and northwales is a swolow that draweth shippes to it that saylleth by and swolo­weth hem in right as doth cilla and caribdis that ben two peryl­lous places in / the see of mydde [...]erthe / therfor men may not saylle by this swolow but slyly atte ful see· R ¶ Of the marueylles and wonders of the ylond mon thou shalt finde tofore in the chapytre of wales. Gir in itinere. The thyrd ylond that is called bothe eubonia and menauia that is man stondeth in the myddel bytwene the yrysshe vlster and the scotyssh Gallewaye as it were in the nauel of the see Beda libro secundo capitulo nono This ylond man conteyneth as it were two Ilondes / The first is southward the more countrey and the better corne londe / and con­teyneth ix.C and lx husholdes· ¶ The second conteyneth the [Page lvj] space of thre honderd and moo as englisshe men gesse Gir in top / Somtyme was stryf whether this ylond man sholde longe to Brytayn or to yrlonde / And for as moche as venemous wormes that were brought thyder lyued there It was Iugged that the ylond man shold longe to brytayn. R. In that Ilond is sortilege & wyccecraft vsed. For women there selle to shipmen wynde as it were closed vnder thre knottes of threde / So that the more wynde he wold haue / the mo knottes he must vndo. there ofte by day ty­me men of that lond seen men that ben deed to fore hond· byheded or hoole & what deth they deide alyens setten their feet vpō feet of the men of that lond for to see such sightes as the men of that don ¶ Beda li / 1 Scottes dwellid first in this ylond / Thanatos that is tenet· and is an ylond besides kente and hath that name thanatos of deth of serpentes. for there ben none / And the er­the therof sleeth serpentes y born in to other londes / Ther is a no­ble cornlond & fruytful / hit is supposed that this ylond was halewed and blessyd of seynt anstyn the first doctour of englyssh men For there he arryued first

¶ De platris regalibus Ganfe ¶ Capitulum. 45

MOliuncius kynge of Brytons was the ·xxiij· of hem and the first that yaf hem lawe. he ordeyned that plowmen solowes goddes temples and high weyes that leden men to Cy­tes & townes sholde haue the fredom of socour / so that euery man that wente to ony of the thre for socour or for trespas that he had do shold be sauf for poursuete of alle his enemyes but afterward for the weyes were vncertayn and strif was had. therfor Be­linus the kyng that was the forsaid molyuncius sone for to put away all doubte & stryf made four highe kynges w [...]yes priueleged with alle priuelegys & fredō / & the wayes stretche thurgh the ylōd The fyrst & grettest of the four wayes is called Fosse / and stretcheth out of the south in to the north and begynneth from the corner of corne wayle and passeth forth by deuenshyre by somersete / & forth besides tetbury vpon cotteswold beside couentre vnto leycetre & so forth by wylde pleynes toward newerk & endeth at lyncoln. the second chyef kyn [...]tes high way is· named wat [...]ingstrete & stretcheth thwert ouer fosse out of the southest in to the north west· & begyneth at douer / & passeth by ye middel of kēt ouer temse biside lōdō by west westmestre· & so forth by seint albō in the [Page] west side by donstable by stratford by toucetre by wedō by south lylleborn by atheriston vnto gilbertus hille that now is called wrekene· And forth by seuarn & passeth besides wrokcetre / & thē ne forth to stratton and so forth by the myddel of wales vnto cardykan and endeth atte yrysshe see the thyrdde way is called Erimyngestrete and stretcheth out of the west northwest in to eeste southeeste and begynneth in meneuia that is in seynt dauid londe in west wales and stretcheth forth vnto southampton· The fourth is called Rykenyldestrete and stretcheth forth by worce­tre by wycombe by birmyngham by lychefeld by derby by ches­trefeld by york and forth vnto tynmouthe

¶ De famosis fluminibus Alfr ¶ Capitulum 46 /

THre famous Ryuers rennen thurgh brytayn by the which thre riuers marchaūtes of by yonde the see comē in shippes in to brytayn wel nygh out of al maner nacions & londes These thre riuers ben temse seuarn & humbre / the see ebbeth & flo­weth atte mouthes of the thre riuers & departeth the thre prouinces of the ylond as it were the thre kyngdoms a sondre· the thre partyes ben loegria Cambria & northumbria· that ben myddel en­glond wales & northumberland. R / these name temse semeth made one name of two names of two riu (er)s that ben tame & yse. for the riu (er) tame renneth besides dorchestre & falleth in yse. therfor al the riuer fro the first hede vnto the eest see is named tamyse or temse Tamise begynneth besides tetbury that is thre myle by north malmesbury / there temse springeth of a welle that renneth estward & passeth the fosse & departeth gloucetre shyre and wylshyre & draweth with hym many other welles & stremes and wexth grete at grecestre & passeth forth than toward hampton & so forth by oxenford by wallynford by redyng & by london W d. po / c. & atte hauen of sandwych it falleth in to the est see· and holdeth his name ·xl. mile beyonde london / & departed in som place kente & esex westsex & mercia that is as it were a grete dele of myddel englond. R / Seuarn is a / riuer of britain & is called habern in britons / & hath that name habren of habren that was estrildes doughter Guedelon the quene drenchid this habren therin therfore the Britons called the Ryuer Habren after the woman that was drowned thrinne. ¶ But by corrupte latyn it is called Sabrina Se­uarn in englysshe Seuarn begynneth in the myddel of wales [Page lvij] And passith first toward the eest vnto shrowesbury / And then̄e torneth southward vnto brigge northe wyrcetre and Gloncetre & falleth in to the weste see besides bristow and departeth in somme pla [...]e Englond and wales· W / de pon / li· 4 / Seuarn is swyfte of streme· Fysshe craft is therin / wodenes of the swolewyng and of whyrlyng water casteth vp & gadrith to heepe grete hepes of grauel / Seuarn ofte aryseth and ouerfloweth the bankes / R· Hum­bre hath that name of humber kyng of hunes ffor he was drow­ned therin· and renneth first a crookout of the southside of yorke ¶And thenne it departeth the prouynce of lyndeseye that longed somtyme to the merces from the other contrey northumberland / Trente and Ouse rennen in to humber and maken the Riuer ful grete Treuisa ¶ The merces were men as it were of myddel englond as it shal be sayd here after

¶ De Antiquis vrbibus beda libro primo capitulo primo. ¶ Capitulum .47

THe kyngdō of britayn was sōtyme made fair with ·xxviij noble cytees without right many castels that were walled with toures with yates & with barres strongly buylded Alf [...] These were the names of the cytees caerlud that is london. caer­branc that is york / caerkēt that is caūterbury. caergorāgō that is wircetre. caerliriō that is leiceter caerclō that is gloucetre· carcoldē that is colchestre / carrey that is chicestre· Saxons called it somty­me cissancestre· caercery. that is circetre· caerguent that is winchestre Ca [...]graunt that is cambrygge· caerleyl that is lug [...]balia & karlyl / caerperis that is porchestre / caerdrō that is dorcestre· caer­ludcoit that is lyncoln & lindecolyn. caermerthyn that is merlius cyte / caersegent that is sisecetre & is vpon temse not f [...]r from re­dyng / caerthleon that is caerlegyon also & hight first ligecetre & now is named chestre caerbathon that is bath & hight somtyme athamānꝰ cyte. ca [...]rpaladour that is septon that now highte s [...]aftesbury· ¶R Other Cytees ben founden in Cronycks for vnderstondyng of storyes of whom it shal folowe W / de pon̄ London is a rial and a ryche cyte vpon Tamyse of burgeyses of rychesses of marchaūtes of chaffare and of marchandyse: therfor it is that somtyme whan derth of vytaylles is in al englond co­mynly at london it is best cheep by cause of the byars and sellars that ben at London ¶Ganf [...] Bruyt the first kyng of briton̄s buylded and edefyed this cyte of London the firste cyte of Bry­tayn in remembraunce of the Cyte of Troye that was destroyed [Page] And calleth it troyeneweth and trinouantum that is new troye Afterward kynge lud called it caerlud after his owne name· therfor brytons had grete indygnation as gyldas telleth· Afterward Englysshmen called the Cyte London. and yet after that Normans called it Loūdres and is named in latyn Londonia / Rudhudibras kyng leyles sone was the viij kyng of brytons He bylded Caunterbury the chyef cyte of kente. And called i [...] caerkent. Afterward englysshmen called it Dorobernia but that is not douer that stondeth vpon the clyf of the frensshe see. And is from this douer / vij englyssh myle / Afterward this dorober­nia was and is called caunterbury· The same kyng Rudhudibras bylded wynchestre and called it caerguent· And after Englyssmen called it wente and wynchestre after the name of one wyne an englyssman that was bisshop there / all westsaxon was subgette to hym the same kynge buylded palodour that is Sep­ton that is now called Shaftesbury· Brytons tellen that an egle prophecyed there somtyme / Bladud leyles sone a nygromancer was the ix kyng of brytons / he bylded bathe and called it caerbadum / Englyssmen called it after Athamannes cyte / But atte laste men called it bathonia that is bathe W· de pon / libro secundo ¶In this cyte welleth vp and spryngeth hote bathes. And men wene that Iulius cezar made there suche bathes R But ganf [...] monemutensis in his britons book seith that bladud made thylke bathes· By cause that wiliam had not seen that Britons booke wrote so by tellyng of other men or by his owne ghessyng as he wrote other thynges not best aduysedly / Therfore it semeth more sothly that bladud made not the hote ba­thes ne Iulius cezar dyde suche. a dede / though Bladud bilded and made the Cyte ¶ But it acordeth better to kendly re­son that the water renneth in the erthe by veynes of brymstone / and sulphure· ¶ And so is kendely made hoote in that cours / and spryngeth vp in diuerse pla [...]es of the Cyte ¶ And so ther ben hoote bathes that wasshe [...]h of tetres soores and skab­bis ¶ Treuisa ¶ Though men myght by crafte make hoote bathes for to dure longe ynowgh / this acordeth wel to reason and to philosophye that treteth of hoote welles and bathes. that ben in diuerse londes though the water of this bathe be mo­re troubly and henyer of sauoure and of smelle than other ho­te bathes ben that I haue seen at Akon in Almayne ¶ And at Egges in Sauoye. whiche ben as fayre and clere as ony [Page lviij] cold welle streme I haue ben bathed therinne & essayed them / R Claudius cezar maried his doughter to arruiragus kyng of britons / this claudiꝰ cezar bylded gloucestre in the weddyng of his doughter / britons called this cyte first after claudiꝰ name / but af­terward it was called gloucestre after one glora. which was duk of that contrey / & stondeth vpon seuarn in the marche of englond & wales. shrowesbury is a cyte vpon seuarn in the marche of englond & wales y sette vpon the toppe of an hille / & it is called shrowesbury of shrobbes and fruyte that grewe there somtyme on that hille / britons cleped it somtyme pengwern that is the hede of a fair tree / shrowesbury was somtyme the hede of powesye. that strethecth forth thwert ouer the myddel of wales vnto the yryssh see / notyngham stondeth vpon trente / & somtyme heet snotyngham that is the wonnyng of dennes· For the danes dwellyd ther somtyme / & digged dennes & caues vnder hard stones & rokkes and dwellyd there / R / Lyncoln is chyef of the [...]rouynce of lyndesaye. & was somtyme callid caerludcoyt & afterward lyndecolyn· It is vncerteyn who bylded firste this cyte / but yf it were kyng lud / & so it semeth by menyng of the name· For caer is bry [...]ysshe & is to saye a cyte and coyt is a wode· & so it semeth that caerludcoit is to saye luddes wode toun· Kyng leyr was bladuddis sone & bylded leycetre as it were in the myddel of englond vpon the ryuer sos & vpon fosse the kynges hye waye

¶Willelmus de pon / libro tercio. ¶ Capitulum .48

YOrke is a grete Cyte in eyther side of the water of Owse. that semed as fayr as Rome vnto the tyme that the kynge William Conquerour had with brennyng and fuyre defowled it and the countrey aboute / so that a pylgrym wold now wepe & he sawe it. yf he had knowen it to fore· Gauf [...] / Ebrancus the fyfth kyng of britons bylded yorke and called it after his owne name Caerbranck· ¶ He bylded also two other noble Cytees one in Scotland and is called edenburgh. And another toward scot­land in thendes of englond and is called alcliud· R. Edenburgh is a Cyte in the londe of pyctes bytwene the riuer of twede and the scotysshe see· And [...]eete somtyme the castel of maydens· And was called afterward Edenburgh of Edan kynge of Pyct [...]s / that regned there in Egfridus tyme kynge of Northumberlond [Page] alcliud was somtyme a noble cyte and is now wel nygh vnknowe to alle englysshemen / For vnder the brytons & pyctes and englyssmen it was a noble Cyte vnto the comyng of the danes but afterward about the yere of our lord / viij.C·lxx. hit was destro­yed whan the danes destroyed the countreyes of northumberl [...]nd But in what place of brytayn that cyte alcliud was bilded. auetours tellen dyuersly / ¶ Beda l [...] / p. seyth that it was bylde by west that arme of the see that departeth bytwene the britons and the pyctes somtyme there seuerus famoꝰ welle endeth wes [...]ward & so it semeth by hym that it is not ferre from caerleyl / For that Cyte is sette atte ende of that walle: Other wryters of storyes wryten that the cyte of alclyud is that cyte that nowe is called Aldburgh that is to saye an old toun· and stondeth vpon the Ryuer o wse not fer for burgh brygge that is xv myle westward oute of york and it semeth that he preueth that by ganfride in his book of dedes of britons / he wryteth that elidurus kynge of bri­tons was lodged atte cyte alcliud by cause of solace & hunting- And fonde his broder agalon maskyng in a wode neygh there beside that heyghte calatery / But that wode calatery· whiche is cal­tres in englysshe recheth almost to york and stretcheth toward the north by aldeburgh in lengthe by space of twenty myle the most dele of that wode is now throwen donn and the londe y tylled Other men wold suppose that Alcliud was that cyte that now is called burcham in the north countrey of westmerlond fast by comberlond / & stondeth vpon the Ryuer Eden the cyte is ther yet wonderly seen. Deme ye now where it is bylded Treuisa hit is not harde to assoylle yf men take hede that many townes bere one name· as cartago in affryca & cartago in spayne newport in wa­les & newport in the parisshe of barkeley wotton vnder egge and wotton basset wyckwar wyck payn / & wyck in the parissh of barkeley· & two shyre tounes eyther is callid hampton / as southhāpton & northāpton / so it semeth by the storyes that one alcliud was in yorck shyre / another in westmerlond / & one fast by in the right side of the west arme of the see· that departeth englond & scotlond but that alcliud was a right strong cyte as beda sayth. & that cite stondeth fast by a Ryuer that is called cliud / & ther is no such ri­uer in yorkshyre. nether in westmerlond as men of the contrey telle me / sōme men saye that the riuer cliud is nowe named sulwach / sulwach is but / v. myle fro caerleyl. R Caerleyl is a cyte in the contrey of northenglond toward the northwest. And hath [Page lix] another name whiche is lugubal / leyl the / vij / kyng of Brytons bylded Carleyl R ¶In this cyte is somwhat of that famous wa [...]e that passeth northumberlond W / de pon· In this cyte is yet a thre chambred hows made of vawte stones that neu (er) myght be destroyed with tempest of weder ne with brennyng of fyre / also in the countrey fast by in westmerlond in the fronte of a thre chā bred place. is wreton. in this maner. Marij victorye· what this writing is to saye I doubte somwhat / but yf it were so that sōme of the combres laye there somtyme whan the consul marius had put hem out of ytalye· but it semeth better that it is writen in mynde of marius kynge of brytons that was / Aruiragus sone This marius ouercome in that place Rodryck kyng of pyctes· so seyth Ganfr. in his brytisshe booke· Wiliam malmesbury sawe neuer that booke At hagustaldes chirche is a place f [...]ur score myle oute of yorke northwestward the place is as it were destroyed so seyth wil ·li 3. de pont That place longed somtyme to the bissho­prich of yorke / there were somtyme howses with vyce arches and vou [...]es in the maner of Rome· Now that place is called bestoldesham and heglesham also. Beda .li. 3. ca· p· seyth that that place faste by the longe walle of the werke of Rome in the north half ¶R Ther is diffrence bytwene the prouynce of lyndeffar and the chirche of lyndefarne / ffor the prouynce of lyndeffar and lyn­desaye is al one and lyeth by eest lyncoln / & lyncoln is the he­de therof / Of the which sayth beda li. 4. c / 11· that sexnulphꝰ was fi [...]st bisshop. there / but beda sayth· li. 4 / c / 23· that lyndeffern chirche is an ylond that is called haly ylond in the Ryuer thwede next berwyck. And so it is gadred of Bedaes sawes that twede ren­neth in to the famoꝰ arme of the see that now departeth englyssh men and scottes in the eest half / And in that Arme ben thre ylondes / that one is mailros that nowe is called menros / Then aboue toward th [...] west is lyndeffarn Chirche that is called haly ylond Thenne the thyrd is aboue vpward / and that is the ylond farne And is callyd also / Farny ylond / thenne vpward aboue that two myle is a Ryal Cyte vpon the brynke of twede that somtyme heighte Bebenborgh that is bobbes Cyte / And nowe is called Bamburgh· And hath a right stronge castel Gir in itinere Two Cytees there ben eyther is called Caerlegyon & Caerleon· also· One is demecia in southe wales that is named Caerusk also / ¶There the Ryuer vske falleth in to seuarne fast by glam­morgan. Bellinus kynge of Brytons somtyme bilded that cyte [Page] And was somtyme the chyef cyte of demecia in southwales / Afterward in claudius cezars tyme hit was y called the cyte of legyons whan atte prayer of Genyus the quene vaspasianus & arinragus were acorded and legyons of Rome were sent in to y [...]lond / tho was carleon a noble cyte and of grete auctorite and by the Romayns ryally and walled about with walles of brent tile Grete nobley that was there in old tyme is there yet in many places seen / as the grete palayses gyantes towres noble bathes / Re­leef of the temple places of the atres that were places hye and riall to stonde / and sitte in And to beholde about / the places were rially closed with rial walles that yet somdele stondeth right nyghe cloos / And within the walles and without is grete byldyng vnder erthe / water condytes and weyes vnder erthe and stewes al­so thou shalt see wonderly made with strayte side wayes of bre­thynge that wonderly cast vp heete. In this Cyte were somtyme thre noble chirches one was of seynt Iulius the martir and ther in a grete company of virgyns / That other was of seynt Aaron / that was of the ordre of blac chanons. That chirche was with hem nobly adourned· The thyrdde chirche was the chyef moder chirche of alle wales· And the chyef See But afterward the chyef see was torned out of that cyte in to meneuia / that is seynt dauyes londe in west wales· In this Carleon was amphibalus y borne / that taught seynt albone· There· the messagers of rome come to the grete Arthurs court / yf it is leeful to trowe Treuisa Yf giraldus was in doubte whether it were leefful for to trowe it or no. hit were a wonder sweuen as men wold wene for to haue euermore in mynde. and euer be in doubte· yf alle his bookes were suche what lore were therinne / and namely whyle he maketh none euydence / For in neyther side he telleth what moeueth so for to saye ¶R There is another cyte of legyons / there this cronyke was bytrauaylled / as it is clerly knowen by the first chapytre of this book· Treuisa That is to vnderstōdyng in latyn wrytyng For he that made it in latyn torned it not in to englyssh / ne it was tor­ned in to englysshe in the same place yt it was made first in latyn The vnderstondyng of hym that made this Cronyk is thus wreton in latyn in the begynnynge of this book / Presentem Crony­cam compylauit Frater ranulphus cestrensis monachus· that is to saye in englysshe· Broder Ranulphus monke of chestre compiled and made this present Cronyke ¶R The cyte of legyons that is chestre stondeth in the marche of Englond toward wales [Page lx] bytwene two armes of the see that ben named dee / and mersee This cyte in tyme of brytons was heed and chyef cyte of alle ve­nedocia that is in northwales. The founder of this cyte is vnknowe For who that seeth the foūdamentes of the grete stones wolde rather wene that it were Romayns werke· or werke of gyant [...]s / than were made by settynge of brytons / This cyte somtyme in brytysshe speche heet Carthleon legecestria a latyn. And chestrean englyssh and the cyte of legyons also / For ther lay a wynter the legyons of knyghtes that Iulius cezar sente for to wynne yrlond And after claudyus cezar sente legyons out of that Cyte for to wynne the ylondes that be called Orcades / what euer wil­iam malmesbury by tellyng of other men mette of this cyte /

¶This cyte hath plente of lyuelode / of corn of fflesshe of ffysshe and specially of pris of Samon / this cyte resseyueth grete mar­chandyse and sendeth out also· Also neygh this cyte ben salt· welles / Metal and oore / Northumbres destroyed this cyte somtyme But afterward Elfleda lady of mercia bylded it agayne and made it moche more· In this cyte ben wayes vnder erthe with vowtes and stonewerke wōderly y wrought thre chambred werkes / grete stones y graue with old mennes names therin There is also Iulius Cezars name wonderly in stones y graue & other noble mēnes also with the wrytyng about· this is the cyte that Ethelfryd kynge of northumberland destroyed. & s [...]ough there fast by neygh two thousand monkes of the mynster of bangor / ¶ This is the cyte that kyng Edgar cam to somtyme with seuen kynges that were subget to hym. A metrer breketh oute in this maner in praysynge of this Cyte / Chestre Castel toun as it were name take of a castel ¶ It is vnknowe what man byld this cyte now Tho legecestria chees [...]ete now toun of Le­gyones ¶Now walsshe and Englysshe holde this toun of grete pris / Stones on walle / Semeth werke hercules alle. There longe with myght to dure that hepe is y hight· Saxon sm [...]le stones / sette vpon grete ben attones Ther vnder grounde lotyng double vout is founde That helpeth with sondes / many men of westren londes Fisshe flesshe and corne low This cyte toun hath ynowgh· shippes and chaffre See water bringeth ynowgh thare. Godestalle there is that was emperour er this And ferth henry kynge er­the is there righten dwellyng. Of kynge haralde. Powder is ther yet y halde / Bachus and marcurius Mars and venus also lauerna· Protheus and pluto regnen there in the toun Treuisa [Page] God wote what this is to mene But poetes in her maner of speche feynen as though euery kynde craft and liuyng hath a dyuerse god eueryche from other And so they feyned a god of batayll and of fyghtyng & called hym mars / & a god of couetyse of Rychesse and marchandyse and called hym mercurius. And so ba­chus he called god of wyn. venus goddesse of loue and beaute. lauerna god of thefte & of Robberye▪ Protheus god of falsshede & of gyle / and pluto god of helle· And so it semeth that these verses wold mene that these forsay [...] goddis regne & ben serued in chestre Mars with fyghtyng and [...]kyng Mercurius with couetise of Rychesse and marchandyse / bachus with grete drynkyng· venus with loue lewdly Lauerna with theft and Robberye / Protheus with falshed and gyle thenne is pluto not. vnseruyd god of hel­le ¶R Ther babilon lore more myght hath trouthe the more

¶ De shiris Anglie siue prouyncijs / ¶ Capitulum 49

TAke hede that Englond conteyneth .xxxij· shyres and pro­uynces / that now ben called Erldomis / reserued Cornewayl and the Ilondes ¶Alfr These ben the names of the Erldoms & Shyres· Kent Southsex / Sortherey. Hampshire. barokshire that hath his name of a bare ook that is in the forest of wyndesore For at that bare ooke men of that shyre were wonte come to gy­ders and make their tretis and there take counseyl and aduys Also wildshyre that heet somtyme the prouynce of semeran So­mersete Dorsete / deuenshire that now is called deuonia in latyn. These .ix. southshires tamyse departeth frō the other dele of englōd whiche were somtyme gouerned and Rewled by the westsaxon lawe / Estsex Myddelsex· Southe folke north folk hertfordshire. Huntyndonshyre. Northamptonshyre / Cambryggeshyre / bedfordshyre / Buykynghamshyre Leycetre shyre Derby shyre / notynghamshyre Lincolnshyre yorkshyre / Duramsihre· Northumberhand Caerlelshyre with Cumberlond Appelbisshyre with westmer­lond lancasshyre that conteyneth fiue litil shires / These fyftene northe and eest shyres were somtyme gouerned and rewled by that lawe whiche is called denelawe / But Oxenforshire War­wikshire. gloucestreshyre ▪ wircetre shire Herdforshire shropshire staffordshire Chestresire ¶These viij middel and west shires were [Page lxj] somtyme gouerned and Rewled by the lawe called mercia in latyn and merchene lawe in englysshe· It is to wete that yorkshyre stretcheth from the ryuer of humbre vnto the Ryuer of teyse. and yet in yorkshyre ben / xxij hondredis hundred and candred is al one. candred is one word made of walsshe and prysshe And is to menyng a countrey that conteyneth an honderd tow­nes / And is also in englyssh called wepentak· For somtyme in the comyng of a new lord. tenauntes were wonte to yelde vp her wepē in stede of homage. durāshire stretcheth frō the ryu (er) teise vnto ye riu (er) of tine / & for to speke proprely of Northumberlād it stretcheth fro the ryuer Tyne vnto the Ryuer of Twede that is in the begynnyng of Scotland / thenne yf the countray of Northū ­berland that was somtyme from humbre vnto Twede be now a­compted for one shire And for one erldom as it was somty­me· Thenne ben in englond but / xxxij shires but yf the countray of Northumberland be departed in to vj shires that ben euer wik­shire duramshire Northumberlond carleylshire Appelbyshire and Lancasshire· thenne ben in englond xxxvj shires withoute Cor­nuale and also without the ylondes Kynge william conquerour made alle these prouynces and shires to be descryued and meten thenne were fonden xxxvj shires and half a shyre / Townes L / ij / M / four score Parissh chirches / xlv M and ij / knyghtes fees / lxxv·M Wherof men of Relygyon haue xxviij thousand .xv. knyghtes fees / But now wodes ben hewen doun and the lande newe tylled and made moche more than was at that tyme and many townes and vyllages buylded and so ther ben many moo vyllages and townes now than were in that tyme And where as a fore is wreton that cornuayll is not sette amonge the shi­res of englond it may stonde amonge them wel ynowgh For it is neyther in wales ne in scotland but is in englond And ioy­neth to deuensshire / And so may ther ben acompted in englond xxxvij shires and an half with the other shires

¶De Legibus legum (que) vocabulis ¶ Capitulum 50

DVnwallo that heet Moliuncius also made first lawes in britayne the whiche lawes were called moliuncius lawes And were solompnly obserued vnto wiliam conquerours tyme [Page] Molyuncius ordeyned amonge his laws / that Cytees Temples and weyes that lede men therto and plowmen solowes shold ha­ue priuelege and fredom for to saue alle men that wold flee ther to for socour and refuge / Thenne afterward marcya quene of bri­tons that was gwytelynus wyf. Of her the prouynce had the name mercia. as somme men suppose. ¶She made a lawe ful of right of wytte and of reson / and was called merchene lawe / Gil­das that wrote the historyes of brytons torned these two lawes out of briton speche in to latyn· And afterward kyng Aluredus torned alle out of latyn in to saxon speche / and was called merchene lawe / Also the same kyng Aluredus w [...]ote in englyssh & put to another lawe that heet westsaxon lawe / Then̄e afterward danes were lordes in this lond / and so cam forth the thyrdde la­we that heet dane lawe / Of these thre lawes seynt Edward / the cōfessour made one comyn lawe that yet is called seynt edwardes lawe / I holde it wel don to wryte here and expowne many ter­mes of these lawes· Myndebruche. hurtyng of honour and wor­ship· In frensshe bleschur dhonour· Burchbruch in frensshe / ble­schur de court on de cloys / Gritchbruch brekyng of pees· Myskennyng chaungyng of speche in court / Shewyng settyng forth of marchandyse / In frensshe displeir de marchandyse· Hamsokne· or hamfare a rese made in hows / Forstallyng / wronge or lete doun in the kynges hye waye· Frythsoken sewrte in defence· Saka / for fait Soka Sute of courte / and therof cometh soken / Theam sute of bondmen· Fyghtingtwyte. Amersement for fightyng. Blode­wyte. Mersement for shedyng of blode Flytwite. amendes for she­dynge of blode. leyr wyte· amendes for lyeng by a bondewoman / Gul [...]ewite amendes for trespas· Scot a gadryng to werke of bailyes / hydage tayllage for hydes of londes Danegheld tayllage yeuen to the danes that was of euery bonata terre that is euery Oxe londe thre pens / A weepentack and an honderd is al one ¶For the contre of C townes were woonte to gyue vp wepen in the comyng of a lord. Lestage custome y chalengyd in chepyn­gys and fayres stallage custome for stondynge in stretes in feyre tyme

¶ De Regnis regnorum (que) lymitibus ¶ Capitulum 51

THe kyngdom of britayn stode without departyng hool & al one kyngdom to the britons from the firste bruyte vnto [Page lxij] Iulius cezars tyme / And fro Iulius cezars tyme vnto Seue­rus tyme this londe was vnder trybute to the Romayns Nethe­les kynges they had of the same lond from Seuerus vnto the laste prynce gracyan successours of brytayns faylled / And Ro­mayns regned in brytayn Afterward the Romayns lefte of the Regnyng in Brytayn. by cause it was fer from Rome of for grete besynesse that they had in other side ¶Thenne Scottes and pyctes by mysledyng of maximus the tyraunt poursiewed brytayn and warred therin with grete strengthe of men of Armes long tyme vnto the tyme that the Saxons come atte prayeng of the brytons ayenst the pyctes and put out gurmund the yrysshe kynge with his pyctes and the brytons also with her kyng that heet Carecticus and drof hem oute of Englond in to wales / And so the saxons were victours and euery prouynce after his strength made hem a kyng & so departed englōd in to vij kyngdōs Netheles afterward these vij kyngeddoms euerych after other come all in to one kyngdō al hool vnder the prince adelstō / netheles the danes poursued this lōd fro athelwulfis tyme that was a luredus fader vnto the thyrde seynt edwardes tyme about / C / lxx yere and regned therin continuelly xxx yere after the danes the / iij. seynt Edward regned therin xxiij yere and a lytil more / And after hym haralt helde the kyngdom ix monethis And after hem Normans haue regned vnto this tyme But how long they shal regne he wote to whom nothyng is vnknowen ¶R Of the for said seuen kyngdomes of her merkes meres and boundes / whan they began and how long they endured / here shal I somwhat shortly telle ¶Alf [...] The first kyngdom was the kyngdom of kent that stretcheth fro the eest Occean vnto the Ryuer of Tamyse. there regned the first hengistus & began to regne by the acompting of dyonyse the yere of our lord four / C / lv· That kyngdom dured thre honderd lxviij / yere vnder ·xv / kynges vnto the tyme that Baldrede was put out. And Egbert kyng of westsaxon̄ ioyned that kyngdom to his own. the second kyngdom was of southsaxon that had in the eest side kent In the south the see and the yle of wight. In the west hampshyre and in the north sothery. Ther ella regned first with his thre sones / And began to regne the yere after the comyng of the angles euen / xxx / But that kyngdom within a short tyme passed in to other kyngdoms The thyrdde kyngdom was of eestsaxon· and had in the est syde the see· In the weste the contrey of London· In the southe Tamyse / In the [Page] north southfolk. The kynges of this contreye estsaxon fro the first Sabertes tyme vnto the tyme of the danes were ten kynges whiche were subget somdel to other kynges / Netheles oftest and lengest they were vnder the kynges of mercia and vnto. that tyme that Egbert kyng of westsaxon ioyned that kyngdom to his owne The fourth kyngdom was of eest anglis and conteyned Norfolk and Suffolk and had in the eest side and in the north the see· In the northwest cambrygeshyre· In the west seynt Ed­mundes dyche and hertfordshyre. And in the southe Ests [...]x / This kyngdom dured vnder / xij / kynges vnto the tyme that Kynge Edmunde was slayn / And thenne the danes toke wrongfully bothe the kyngdoms of eest angles and of eestsaxon ¶ Afterward the danes were put and dryuen away or made subgette And the elder kyng Edward ioyned bothe the kyngdoms to his owne / the fyfth kyngdom was of westsaxon & dured lengest of alle these kyngdoms and had in the est side southsaxon. In the north Tamyse. In the southe and weste the see Oxcean· In that kyngdom regned Cerdrick with his sone kenrik and began to regne the yere of our lord .v·C·xix / And after the comyng of anglis lxxj· so seyth denys the other kyngdoms passyd in to this kyngdom. The sixte kyngdom was of mercia and was grettest of alle The markes and the meres therof were in the west side the Ry­uer dee fast by chestre and seuarn fast by shrowesbury vnto bri­stowe / In the eest the est see· In the south Tamyse vnto London In the north the Ryuer humbre / And so westward and doun­ward vnto the Riuer mersee vnto the corner of wirhal ther hū ­bre falleth in to the west see / Penda wybbes sone regned firste in this kyngdom the yere of our lord ·vj / C / xxvj / so seyth denys And fro the comyng of angles an / C.lxxv / yere / This kyngdom dured vnder xviij kynges about two C lxiij yere vnto the laste colwulf / to the which colwulf the danes bitoke that kyngdom to kepe whan burdred the kyng was put out / But the elder Edward the kynge put out the danes and ioyned the kyngdom of mercia to his own kyngdom / netheles atte begynnyng this kyngdom of Mercia was departed in thre In west mercia In myddel mercia and est mercia / The seue nth kyngdom was northamhimbrorum that is the kyngdom of northumberlond The meres and markes therof were by West and by est the see of occean by south the riuer of humbre and so dounward toward the west by then­des of the shires of Nothyngham and of derby vnto the Ryuer [Page lxiij] of mersee / And by northe the scottysshe see that heete forthe in scottysshe werid in brytysshe· the scotyssh see in englysshe ¶ This kyngdom of northumberlond was first deled in two prouynces / that one was the south side and heete deyra / and that other was the north side and heet brenicia as it were two kyngdoms· And the Riuer departed these two kyngdoms that tyme· For the kyngdom of deyra was fro the Ryuer of humber vnto the Riuer of tine. The kyngdom of brenycia was fro tyne to the scottysshe see· And whan pyctes dwellyd there as beda seyth libro terci [...] capitulo secundo / that ninian that holy man conuerted men of the south side / ¶ Ida the kyng regned there first and began to regne the rere of oure lord / v / C / xlvij. so seyth dyonyse. In deyra regned the kyng elle the yere of our lord .v.C.xlix· These two kyngdoms were other whyle as it is sayd departed bytwene two kynges & somtyme al hool vnder one kyng ¶And dured as it were .xx englysshe kynges. thre hondred & / xxj / yere / Atte laste osbrutus & elle were slayn in the / ix· yere of her kyngdome / the danes slowe hem· And northumberlond was vode without kyng viij yere ¶ Thenne afterward the danes regned in northumberlond / xxxvj yere vnto the oonyng of the kyngdom of adelston· he made subget the kynges danes scotyssh and walssh / And regned first al one in englond and helde the kyngdom of englond all hoole and all one kyngdom that was the yere of our lord / viij / C.xxvij That Ryuer of mersee was somtyme the marke and mere by­twene the kyngdom of mercia and the kyngdom of northumberlond that may be shewd in two maners [...] firste by the proprete of this mersee that is as moche to saye as a see that is a bound and a mere / For it departeth one kyngdom from another ¶ Also it is wryte in Cronycks of Henry and of alfrede that kyng coward the elder fastned a castel at mauncestre in northumberlond / But that cyte maūcestre is fro the Riuer of mersee scarsely thre myle·

¶De episcopatibus et sedibus / Alfr ¶ Capitulum. 52

LVcius was the first kynge Cristend of the brytons in his tyme were thre Archibisshops sees in Brytayn / One was at London· Another at york And the thyrdde at caruske the cyte of Legyōs in glamorgan· that cyte now is called carleon / to these [Page] Archibisshops sees were subget xxviij bisshops and were called Flamynes to the archibisshops see of London was subgette C [...] nual and al myddel englond vnto humbre / To yorke al northumberlond from the lowe of humbre with al Scotland To Caerleon alle walles / ther were in wales seuen bisshops and now ben but four· Tho Seuarne departed englond and wales / W de pon libro primo. But in saxōs tyme though seynt gregorye had graū ted london the pryuelege of tharchibisshops see· Netheles seynt Austyn that was sente in to Englond by seynt Gregory torned tharchebisshops see out of London in to caūterburye After seynt Gregoryes daye atte prayer of kyng Athelbert and Cytezeyns & burgesyes of caūterbury. ther tharchebisshops see hath dured vn­to now / Saue that in the mene tyme Offa kyng of mercia was wroth with men of caunterbury / and bynam hem that worship· And worshipped adulph bisshop of lichfeld with tharchibisshops pal by assente of adrian the pope vpon caas by yeftes sente Netheles vnder kenulph the kynge it was restored to caunterbury a­gayn. The worship of the see of york hath dured there alway and dureth yet though Scotland be withdrawe fro his subiection by passyng of tyme. Gir in iti / li / p: the archibisshops see was y torned out of caerleō in to meneuia that is inthe west side of demecia vpon the pryssh see in seynt dauids tyme vnder kyng arthur from seynt dauids tyme vnto sampsons tyme were in meneuia Archebisshops. xxiij / aftward fyll a pestylence in al wales of the yelow euyl that is called the Iaūdis / & then̄e sāpsō tharchibisshop toke with hym the palle and wente in to Brytayn armonyca the las­britayne and was there bisshop of dolensis / From that tyme vnto the first harryes tyme. kyng of Englond were at meneuia. which is called seynt dauids xxj bisshops alle without palle whether it were for vnconnyng or for pouerte / Netheles alway fro that tyme the bisshops / of wales were sacred of the bisshop of meneuia of seynt dauyes / And the bisshop of meneuia was sacred of the bisshops of wales as of his suffrigans & made no profession ne subiection to none other chirche / ¶ Other bisshops that come afterward were sacred at caunterbury by compellyng and heest of the kyng. In token of that sacrynge and subiection bone face archibisshop of caunterbury that was legate of the crosse sōge in euery cathedral chirch of wales solēpnly· amasse he was the first archebisshop of caūterbury that so dyde in wales. & that was don in the second Harryes tyme· ¶R But now ben but [Page lxiiij] two primates in al̄ Englond of Caunterbury and of york / To the primate of caunterbury ben subget .xiij. bisshops in Englond and foure in wales ¶ The primate of york hath but two Suf­frigans in englond that ben the bisshops of caerleyl and of durham ¶ Of alle thyse sees and chaungyng of her places I shal shewe you here folowyng· ¶ Take hede in the begynnyng of holy chirche in Englond bisshops ordeyned theyr sees in lowe places and symple that were couenable for contemplacion for prayers & deuocion / But in wiliam conquerours tyme by dome of lawe canon it was ordeyned that bisshops shold come out of smale tounes in to grete cytees· ¶Therfore was the see of dorchestre chaū ­ged to lyncoln / lychefeld to chestre: Tetford to norwiche. Shir­born to salisbury welles to bathe· Cornwayl to Ex [...]tre And Se­lesey to Chicestre. The bisshop of Rochestre hath no paryssh but he is tharchebisshops chappellayn of Caunterbury. Syth the See of caunterbury was first ordeyned by seynt Austyn / it chaunged yet neuer his place· Chicestre hath vnder hym only southsex and the yle of wight / And had his see. first in Selesey in the tyme of tharchebisshop theodore. And the see dured there thre honderd ·xxxiij / yere vnder .xx. Bisshops fro the first wilfrede vnto the last Stigande atte commaundement of kynge william conque­rour chaunged the see from Selesey to chicestre.

¶ De Episcopis occidentalibus. Willelmus ¶ Capitulum 53

HAue mynde that al the prouynce of westsaxon had alway one bisshop fro the begynnyng vnto theodoras tyme / By graunt of kynge Islo kynge of westsaxon the first byrinus ordeyned a see at dorchestre that is a symple toun by southe Ox­enford beside wallyngford bytwene the metynge to gyder of Tems and Tame whan birinus was dede kenwalcus the kyng ordeyned a See at wynchestre as his fader had purposed. there Agilbert a frensshe man was fyrste bisshop of al the prouynce of westsaxon / ¶ Fro that tyme the Cyte and the See of Dor­chestre perteyned and longed to the prouynce of mercia

¶For that cyte stondeth within Temse· And Temse departeth bitwene mercia and westsaxon· After that Agilbert was put oute of wynchestre that tho highte wynton ¶ Ther was there an englyssh bisshop there that was called wyn O Somme men [Page] suppose that the cyte hath the name of this wyne and is called wynchestre as it were wynes cyte / Atte last he was pute out & after hym come lentherius the forseyd agelbertes neuew / After lentherius hedda a whyle was Bisshop there whan he was dede theodorus tharche bisshop ordeynd two bisshops to the Prouynce of westsaxon Danyel at wynchestre to hym were subgette two contreyes Sothery and Southampshire· Adelin / at shirborn to hym were subgette six countrees / Barkshire· wiltshire / Somerse­te Dorsete shire / Deuenshire and cornuayl ¶ Treuisa It semeth by this that westsaxon conteyned sothery / Southampshire / barkshire. wiltshire Somerseteshyre Dorsetshire deuenshire and Cor­nuayl. ¶Willelmus Afterward in elder Edwardes tyme to these two sees were ordeyned by commaundment of Formosus the pope· thre other sees at welles for Somersete / At. kryton for Deuenshyre / And at seynt germayn for Cornuayle. Not ful longe afterward the sixth see was sette at Ramesbury for wytlt­shire / Atte laste by commaundement of kynge wiliam conque­rour alle these sees saue wynchestre were torned and chaunged out of smal townes in to grete cytees For shirborn and Ramesbury were torned in to Salesbury ¶Now to that see is subget barkshire wiltshire and dorsete. The see of welles was torned to bathe / therto nowe is subget al Somersete. the sees of kyrton and of cornuayl were chaūged to exetre / therto is subget / Deuenshire and cormuayl

¶ De Orientalibus episcopis willelmus ¶ Capitulum 54

OIt is knowen that the eeste saxons alwaye fro the begyn­nyng to now were subget to the Bisshop of London But the Prouynce of eeste Angles that conteyneth Norfolke and suffolke had one Bisshop at donwyck The Bisshop heete Felyx and was of burgoyn and was bisshop xvij yere After hym thomas was bisshop fyue yere / After hym Boneface xvij / yere / Thenne bysy afterward was ordeyned by theodorus and rewlid the prouynce whyle he myght endure by hym self alone· After hym vnto egbertes tyme kyng of westsaxons an hondred / xliij / two bisshops rewled that / prouynce. one at donwyck & another at elyngham / Netheles after ludecans tyme kyng of mercia lefte and was only one see at elyngham vnto the / fyfth / yere of [Page lxv] wiliam conquerour whan herfastus the / xxiij bisshop of the estrene chaunged his See to Tetford. And his successour herebertus chaunged the See fro Tetford to norwiche by leue of kyng wiliam the Rede. the see of ely that is nygh therto the firste kynge harry ordeyned the ix yere of his regne and made subget therto Cambrigshyre that was to fore a parte of the bissoprich of Lyn­colne And for quytyng therof he yaf to the bisshop of lyncoln a good toun callyd spaldyng

¶ De Episcopis merciorum· Willelmus / ¶ Capitulum 55

HEre take hede that as the Kyngdom of Mercia was alwaye grettest for the tyme so it was deled in moo Bis­shopryches and specially by grete herte of kynge Offa / whiche was fourty yere kynge of mercia. he chaunged tharche­bisshops see fro caunterbury to lychefeld by assent of Adryan the pope. thenne the prouynce of mercia and of lyndefar in the first begynnyng of her cristendom in kyng wulfrans tyme had one bisshop at lychefeld the first bisshop that was there heet dwyna the second heet Celath / and were bothe Scottes After hem the thyrdde Trumpher / the fourth germuannus. ¶ The fyfthe Chedde / but in Edelfredes tyme that was wulfers broder whan Chedde was deed theodorus tharchebisshop ordeyned there wyn­frede cheddes deken / Netheles apud hyndon after that for he was vnbuxom in som poynt he ordeyned there sexwulf abbot of me­damstede that is named burgh / But after sexwulfs fourth ye­re theodorus tharchebisshop ordeyned fyue bisshops in the prouince of Mercia And so he ordeyned bosel at wyrcetre· cud wyn at lychefeld / the forseyd sexwulf at chestre· Edelwyn at lindesey atte Cyte Sydenia And he toke eata monke of the Abbay of hil­de at whytby· and made hym bisshop of dorchestre besides Oxen­ford ¶ Tho this dorchestre heet dorkyng. And so the see of that longed to west Saxon in seynt byrynes tyme longed to Mercia from theodorus the archebisshops tyme Also whan Ethelred kynge of Mercia had destroyed kent. This Bisshop Sexwulf toke pyctas bisshop of Rochestre that come out of kent and made hym first bisshop of herford· Atte laste whan Sexwulf was de­de hedda was bisshop of lychefeld after hym and wylfred flemed [Page] oute of northumberlond was bisshop of chestre / Netheles after two yere alfrede kynge of northumberlond dyed and wilfred torned agayn to his owne see of hagustalden / And so hedda helde bothe the bisshopryches of lychfeld and of chestre. after hym come Albyn that heet wor also / & after hym come thre bisshops Torta at chestre wytta at lychefeld / and eata was yet at dorchestre / after his deth bisshops of lyndeseye helde his see thre honderd & / liiij / yere vnto Remygyus chaunged the see to lyncoln by leue of the first kyng wiliam· But in edgars tyme bysshop leofwnus ioined bothe bisshopryches to gyder of chestre and lyndeffar whyle his lyf dured

De episcopis northūbranis W· de pon. li· 4 ca / 11· Capitulum / 56

AT Yorke was one see for al the prouynce of Northumber­lond / Paulinus helde first that see and was ordeyned of the bisshop of caunterbury and helde that see of yorke seuen yere Afterward whan kynge edwyn was slayn and thynges were distroubled paulinus wente thens by water wey in kente· from whens he come first and toke with hym the palle ¶Will libo. / 3

¶ And so the bisshopryche of york ceesed / xxx. yere and the vse of the palle seced there an / C.xxv· yere vnto that Egbert the bis­shop that was the kynges broder of the londe recouerid it by au­toryte of the pope ¶ R ¶ Whan seynt Oswold Regned aidanus a Scotte was bisshop in brenicia that is the Northside of Northumberlond / after hym ffinianus· After hym Salmannus ¶W vvi sup / Atte laste he wente in to Scotland with grete indignacion for wilfride vndertoke him for he helde vnlawfully esterday / xxx. yere after that paulinus was goon from wylfryde was made bisshop of york Beda libro quarto ¶ But whyle he dwellyd longe in Fraunce aboute his Sacryng at exityng of quartatadecimanorum that were they that helde Esterday the .xiiij / daye of the mone Chedde was y take oute of his Abbaye of lestynge and· wrongfully putte oute in to the see of yorke by assente of kyng Oswy / But. thre yere afterward Theodorus tharchebisshop dide hym away and assigned hym to the prouince of mercia / and restored wylfrede to the see of york / ¶ But after wilfrede by cause of wrath that was bytwene hym & the kynge Egfryd was putte out of his see by helpe of theodorus tharche­bisshop that was corrupt with som maner mede / This was don after that wilfred had ben bisshop of york x yere / Then̄e atte Instaunce of the kynge. theodorus made bosam Bisshop of Yorke [Page lxvj] And Cumbert at hagustald chirche / & [...]ata at lyndeffar chirche that now is called holy ylond in the Ryuer of Twede / Aidanus founded firste the see / And theoder [...]s made eadhedus bisshop of reponn that was comen agayn out of lyndesaye· wylfrede had be abbot of Repon. Theoderus sente Trunwynus to the lond of pyctes in thendes of Englond fast by scotland in a place that heete Candida casa. and whyterne also· There seynt Nynyan a bryton was first foundour and doctor / But all these sees out take york fayled lytil and lytil / For the See of Candida casa that is ga­lewey that longed tho to Englond dured many yeres vnder ten bisshops vnto that it had no power by destroyng of the pyctes The sees of Hagustald and of lyndeffar was somtyme al one vnder .ix. bisshops about four score yere & ten & dured vnto the co­myng of the danes / In that tyme vnder hyngar and hubba ar­dulph the bisshop yede long about with seynt cutb [...]r [...]s body vnto kyng aluredes tyme kyng of westsaxons· and the see of lyndefar was sette at kunegestre that is callyd kunyngysburgh also / that place is now called vbbesford vpon twede / Atte laste the xvij yere of kyng egbert kyng edgardes sone· that see was chaunged to durham. And seynt cuthberts hody was brought thyder by the doyng of Edmond the bisshop / And fro that tyme forward the see of hagustald and of lyndeffar faylled vtterly· The first kynge henry / the .ix· yere of his regne made the newe see at caerleyl /

¶ Capitulum 57

THe Archibisshop of caunterbury hath vnder hym ·xiij bis­shops in englōd· & ·iiij / in wales / he hath rochestr̄ vnder him & that see hath vnder hym a part in kent allone / London hath vnder hem estsex myddelsex & half hertfordshire Chichestre hath vnder southstx [...] & the yle of wight. wynchesere hath vnder hym hāp­shyre & southerye. salesbury hath vnder hym barkshire wiltshire & dorset· excetre hath vnder hym deuēshire & cornuayl· bathe hath vnder hym somerseteshire allone. wyrcetre hath vnder hym gloucetreshire wircetreshire & half warwyckshire / herford hath vnder hym herdfordshire & som of shropshyre / Chestre is bisshop of couē tre & of lychfeld· & hath vnder hym chestreshire staffordshire. derbyshyre half warwykshire: som of shropshire and som of lancastreshyre· fro the Riuer of mersce vnto the Ryuer of Rypyl / Lyn­coln hath vnder hym the prouynces that ben bytwene Tamyse and humbre that ben the shyres of Lyncoln Of Leycetre Of [Page] Northampton of. huntyngdon of bedford of bokynham Of Ox­enford & half hertfordshyre / Ely hath vnder hym Cambregeshire oute take merlond ¶ Northwyche hath vnder hym merlond / Norfolk and suffolk Also tharchibisshop of Caūterbury hath four suffrygans in wales / that ben landaf. Seynt Dauyes ban­gor and seynt Assaph. ¶ The Archebisshop of Yorke hath nowe but two Bisshops vnder hym that ben durham and caerleyl / R. ¶And so· ben but two Prymates in englond. What one of hem shal doo to that other and in what poynt he shal be o­bedyent & vnder hym / It is fully conteyned withinne about the yere of our lord a thousand .lxxij / to fore the first kyng wiliam And the bisshops of englond by commaundement of the pope The cause was handled and y treated bytwene the forsayd pry­mates / And ordeyned and demed that the primate of yorke shal be subget to the primate of Caunterbury in thynges that longen to the worship of god and to the bileue of holy chirche So that in what place euer it be in englond that the primate of Caunterbury w [...]l hote and constrayne to gad [...]e a Counseyl of Clergye /

The prymate of yorke is holden with his Suffrygans for to be there and for to be obedyent to the ordynaunce that there shall be lawfully ordeyned. Whan the prymate of Caunterbury is dede the prymate of yorke shal come to Caunterbury and with other Bisshops he shal sacre hym that is chosen and so with other bisshops he shal sacre his owne prymate· yf the prymate of york be dede / his successour shal come to the Bisshop of caunterbury and he shal take his. ordenaunce of hym and doo his ooth with profession and lawful obedyence / ¶ After within aboute the yere of oure lord .xj. honderd four score and .xv. in the tyme of kyng Rychard ben resons sette for the right of the partye for ey­ther prymate / & what one Prymate dyde to that other in tyme of th [...]rstinus of thomas & of other bisshops of york from the Con­quest vnto kyng harryes tyme the thyrdde / Also there it is said how eche of them starte from other / This place is but a forspe­kyng and not a ful tretis therof· therfore it were noyeful to charge this place with alle thylke resons that there ben made.

DA quot quando et quibus inhabita ta [...]it gentibus ¶ Capitulum 58

[Page lxvij]BRitons dwellyd first in this Ilond the .xviij yere yere of Hely the prophete the xj yere of Siluius postumus kyng of latyns / xliij yere aftir the takyng of Troye to fore the buyldyng of Rome four honderd and xxxij yere ¶ Beda libro primo· They come hether and toke her cours from armorik that now is that other brytayn / they helde long tyme the south contre­yes of the ylond / ¶ Hit befel afterward in vaspasianus tyme duke of Rome that the Pyctes shipped out of Scicia in to Occe­an and were dryuen aboute with the wynde and entred in to the north costes of Irlond and fonde there Scottes and prayd to haue a place to dwelle in / and myghte none gete / For Irlond as Scottes saide myght not susteyne bothe peple ¶ Scottes sente the pyctes to the northsides of brytayn. And behight hem helpe a­yenst the Brytons that were theyr enemyes yf they wold aryse

And toke hem wyues of her doughters vpon suche a condicion yf doubte fylle· who sholde haue right for to be kynge they sholde rather chese hem a kyng of the moder side than of the faders side / of the women kyn rather than of the men kynde Ganfr In vaspasiane themperours tyme whan marius aruiragꝰ sone was kyng of Britons / One Roderik kyng of pyctes cam out of Sci­cia and▪ gan to destroye Scotland / thenne marius the kynge sle­we this Roderick. And yaf the northe partye of Scotland that heet Cathenesia to the men that were come with rotherik and were ouercome by hym for to dwelle Inne / but these men had none wyues ne none myght haue of the nacion of brytons. therfore they saylled in to Irlond and toke to theyr wyues prysshmens doughters by that couenaunt that the Moder blode sholde be put to fore in succession of herytage. Gir. c / 17. Netheles syrinꝰ suꝑ virgiliū seith that pyctes ben agatyrses that had somme dwellyng place about the waters of scicia / & they ben called pyctes of peyntyng and smytyng of woundes that ben seen on her bodyes / For they hadde moche flewme and were ofte boxed and bete blood and had many woundes seen on her bodye So that they semed as men were peynted with woundes / therfore they were called pyctes as peynted men ¶ These men and the gothes ben al one peple. For whan maximus the tyraunt was wente oute of Brytayn in to Fraūce for to occupye thempyre· Thenne Gra­cianus and valentinianus that were bretheren and felaws of thempyre brought thyse Gothes oute of Scicia with grete yef­tes with fflaterynge and fayre byhestes in to the Northe [Page] owne name In kynge edgards tyme kynadyus Alpynus sone was duke & leder of the Scottes and warred in pycte londe & destroyed the pyctes he warred six sithes in Saxon and toke al the londe that is bitwene twede and the scotyssh see. with wrong and with strengthe

¶ De Incolarum Anguis ¶ Capitulum 59

AS it is knowen how many maner peple ben in this Ilond ther ben also many langages and tonges. Netheles walsh men and scottes that ben not medled with other nacions kepe neygh yet theyr first langage and speche· but yet tho scottes that were somtyme confederate and dwellyd with pyctes drawe som­what after theyr speche / But the Flemynges that dwelle in th [...] westside of wales haue lefte her straunge speche & speken lyke to saxōs / also englysshmen though they had fro the begynnyng thre maner speches Southern northern and myddel speche in the middel of the londe as they come of thre maner of people of Germa­mania. Netheles by commyxtion and medlyng first with dan s and afterward with normans In many thynges the countreye langage is appayred / ffor somme vse straunge wlaffyng / chyte­ryng harryng garryng and grisbytyng / this appayryng of the langage cometh of two thynges / One is by cause that children that gon to scole lerne to speke first englysshe / & than ben cōpellid to constrew [...] her lessons in Frenssh and that haue ben vsed syn the norm [...]ns come in to Englond / Also gentilmens childeren ben lerned and taught from theyr yongthe to speke frenssh / And vplondyssh men will counterfete and likene hem self to gentilmen and arn besy to sp [...]ke frensshe for to be more sette by. Wher­for it is sayd by a comyn prouerbe· Iack wold be a gentilman if he coude speke frensshe. ¶Treuisa This maner was moche v­sed to fore the grete deth· But syth it is somdele chaunged For sir Iohan cornuayl a mayster of gramer chaunged the techyng in gramer scole and construction of Frenssh in to englysshe. and other Scoolmaysters vse the same way now in the yere of oure lord / M·iij / C·lx·v. the / ix yere of kyng Rychard the secund and leue all frenssh in scoles and vse al construction in englissh. wher in they haue auantage one way· that is that they lerne the son­ner theyr gramer And in another disauauntage / For nowe they [Page lxix] lerne no ffrenssh ne can none / whiche is hurte for them that shal passe the see / And also gentilmen haue moche lefte to teche theyr children to speke frenssh ¶R Hit semeth a grete wonder that Englyssmen haue so grete dyuersyte in theyr owne langage in sowne and in spekyng of it / whiche is· all in one ylond· And the langage of Normandye is comen oute of another lond / and hath one maner soune among al men that speketh it in englond For a man of Kente Southern / western and northern men spe­ken Frensshe al lyke in sowne & speche. But they can not speke theyr englyssh so Treuisa Netheles ther is as many dyuerse manere of Frensshe in the Royamme of Fraunce as is dyuerse englysshe in the Royamme of Englond ¶R Also of the for­sayd tong whiche is departed in thre is grete wonder / . For men of the este with the men of the west acorde better in sownyng of theyr speche than men of the north with men of the south / Therfor it is that men of mercij that ben of myddel englond as it were partyners with the ēdes vnderstāde bet [...] the side lāgages northern & sothern than northern & southern vnderstande eyther other· W / de p. li / 3· Alle the langages of the northūbres & specially at york is so sharp slytyng frotyng and vnshape that we sothern men may vnneth vnderstande that langage I suppose the cause be that they be nygh to the alyens that speke straungely And also by cause that the kynges of englond abyde and dwelle more in the south countreye than in the north countrey. The cause why they abyde more in the south countrey than in the north countrey. is by cause that ther is better corn▪ londe more peple moo noble cytees. & moo prouffytable hauenes in the south contrey than in the north

¶ De gentis huius moribus ¶Gir in itinere. Capitulum· 60

FOr the maners and the doyng of walssmen and of Scottes ben to fore somwhat declared· Now I purpose to telle & declare the maners and the condicions of the medlid peple of englond / B [...]t the Flemyngys that ben in the weste side of wales ben now tornyd as they were englysshe by cause they companye with englyssmen / And they be myghty and strong to fighte And ben the moost enemyes that walshmen haue and vse marchaundyse and clothyng / And ben ful redy to put hem self to [Page] auentures and to peril in the See and londe by cause of grete wynnyng / And ben somtyme redy to goo to the plowe / and somtyme to dedes of armes whan place and tyme axeth It semeth of these men a grete wōder that in a boon of a wethers right sholder whan the fflesshe isw soden away and not rosted they knowe what it haue be don / is don and shal be don as it were by a spyryte of prophecye and a wonderful craft ¶They telle what is don in ferre countreyes tokenes of pees or of warre. the state of the Royamme / sleyng of men and spousebreche suche thynges they declare certaynly of tokenes and signes that be in suche a sholdre boone ¶R But thenglissmen that dwellen in englond and ben medled in the ylond and ben fer fro the places that they spronge of firste tornen to contrary dedes lightly withoute enty­syng of ony other men by her owne assente / And so vnesy also ful vnpacient of pees enemy of besynes & ful of slouthe W de pon̄ / libro tercio / Seyth that whan they haue destroyed her enemyes al to ground. thenne they fighte with hem self and sleeth eche other as a voyde· and an empty stomak wircheth in hit self. ¶R Netheles men of the south ben esyer and more mylde / than men of the north / For they be more vnstable. more cruel and more vnesy. The myddel men ben somdele parteners with bothe / Also they vse hem to glotony more than other men and ben more cest­lew in mete and clothyng / me supposeth that they toke that vyce of kynge hardekunt that was a dane. For he heete sette forth twyes doble messe at dyner & at soper also these men ben spedeful on hors and a foote. able and redy to alle maner dedes of armes And ben wonte to haue vyctorye and maystrye in euery fight where no tr [...]son is walkyng. And ben curious and can wel telle dedes and woundres that they haue seen. Also they goo in dy­uerse londes vnnethe ben ony men rycher in her owen londe / or more gracious in fer and in straunge londes / They can better wynne and gete newe than kepe her owen herytage ¶Therfor it is that they be spradde so wyde and wene that euery londe is their owne. The men ben able to al maner sleyght and wytte But to fore the dede blondryng and hasty And more wyse after the dede And leueth of lyghtly what they haue begonne Pol / li / 6. Therfore Eugenius the pope sayde that Englyssmen were able to doo what euer they wold / & to be sette & put to fore all other / ne were that light wytte lettyth. And as Hanybal sayde that the Romayns myght not be ouercome / but in her owne countrey [Page lxx] ¶ So englyssmen· mowe not be ouercome in straunge londes but in her owen countrey they be lightly ouercome ¶ R These men despysen her owne and prayse other mennys / And vnnethe ben plesyd ner appayd with theyr owne astate· what befalleth and becometh other men. they wyl gladly take to hem self· therfor it is that a yeman arayeth hym as a squyr / a squyer as a knight A knyght as a duke / A duke as a kynge· yet somme goo about and lyke to al maner state and ben in no state. ¶ For they that wil take euery degre be of no degre ¶ For in beryng outward they ben mynstrales and herowdes. In talkynge gre [...]e speke [...]s / In etyng and drynkyng glotons In gaderyng of catel hucksters and tauerners. In araaye tormentours / In wynnyngys Argy / In trauayl tantaly In takynge hede dedaly. In beddes Sarda­napaly In chirches mamet [...]s· In courtes chonder only in pry­uelege of clergy and in prebendis they knowleche hem self cler­kys / ¶ Treuisa ¶As. touchyng the termes of latyn as argy tantali dedali Sardanapali ye must vnderstande hem as the poetes feyned of hem / Argus was an herde and kept beestes. he had an honderd eyen / and argus was also a ship a shipman and a chap­man And so Argus myght see before and behynde and on eue­ry side Therfor he that is wyse and ware and can see that he be not deceyued may be callyd argus· And so the Cronyke seyth in plurel numero that Englyssmen ben Argy / that is to saye they see about where as wynnyng is / ¶ That other word tantali the poete feyned that tantalus slowe his owne sone· wherfore he is dampned to perpetuel penaunce· And he standeth alway in water vp to the neyther lyppe. And hath alway Rype apples and noble fruyt hangyng doun to the ouer lyppe / but the fruyt ner the water maye not come within his mouth· he is so holde and stan­deth bytwene mete and drynk and may neyther ete ne drynke· & is euer an hongred & a thyrst that wo is hym a lyue· by this maner lyknes of tantalus they that do right nought / there as moch thynge is to doo in euery side ben callyd tantali / It semeth that it is to saye in trauayl they be tantali / For they doo right nought therto / the thyrdde worde is dedali. take hede that dedalus was a subtyl and a slye man / And therfore by lykenes they that ben subtyl and slye ben called dedali / the fourth word is Sardanapali Ye shal vnderstande that Sardanapalus was kyng of assyryens and was ful vnchast and vsed hym to lye softe· And by a ma­nere of lykenes of hym they that lyue vnchastly ben y cleped [Page] Sardanapaly R But amonge alle Englysshe men medled to gyders is so grete chaungyng and dyuersyte of clothyng and of aray and so many manere & dyuerse shappes that wel nyghe is there ony man knowen by his clothynge and his Araye of what someuer degre that he be. therof prophecyed an holy anker in kyng Egelfredes tyme in this maner Henricus libro sexto Englyhssmen for as moch as they vse them to dronkelewnes / to treson and to rychelesnes of goddes hows / First by danes and thenne by Normans· and atte thyrdde tyme by scottes that they holde moost wretches and leste worth of alle other· they shal be ouercome· thenne the world shal be so vnstable and so dyuerse and varyable that the vnstablenes of thoughtes shal be bitoke­ned by many maner dyuersitees of clothyng

¶ Explicit liber primus

¶ Liber secundus.

¶Cao. pio. /

AFter that places and countrees be rekened and descryued of the world wyde. the ordre of the tale of the storye axeth that beryng & dedes of the world be also descriued· But euery thyng is for somwhat. and that is more· Treuisa / Here this auctoryte of the philoso­phre is to mene. that al thyng that is resonable and kyndly ordeyned for another thyng / as a mene for to come therto and for to saue / It is ordeynyng for better thyng and more noble than is that thyng that is so ordeynyng. therfor / ee­ryng· and sowyng and dongyng of land· is ordeyned for to ha­ue good corne / And good corne is better than al the other deel Also medycyne is ordeyned for heel / and hele is better than the medycyne / Also mete and drynk and other thynges be ordeyned for the lyf / And the lyf is better and more noble than the mete and drynk. and al other thynges that be so ordeyned for the lyf ¶ R Than syth that the more world is made for the lasse as holy wryte seyth / The more shal serue the lasse· and now the mo­re world is descryued in our foresawes in the first book. than is it skylful somdele to descryue the lasse world also. from the be­gynnyng of his forne dedes· that it myght be knowe what maner thynge it is. and how grete / that is so lytel / and doth so greete dedes. in the more world that is soo grete & so huge / And also the worcher and the maker of al thynges that hath with hym shaply resons of al maner thynges. whan he had made the more world than he made the lasse / And thaugh he made hym lord of the grete world. yet he prynted on hym the lykenesse of the gre­te world for a man and the world be lyke in thre thynges / In length and brede in kyndly disposicion and vertues worchyng

And firste though the lengthe of a mannes bodye that is from the soole of the foote to the toppe of the heede· be suche six as the brede that is from the one side of the ribbes to the other side and ten so moch as the depnesse that is from the rigge to the wombe ¶Netheles Plenius libro / vij / ca / 18 / seith that as moch space as is bitwene cinct. that is the poynt that is in the firma­ment euen ayenste hym in the other side of the erthe so moche is oute of the eest in to the west and soo it is in the body of a man that as moche as is from the soole of the foote to the toppe of the heed / so moche is bytwene his twey longest fyngres endes and he stretche oute his armes and handes a brood Also Plenius [Page] the right capo 17. Seyth that the stature & the mesure of a child whan he is thre yere old is euen half his mesure and his stature that he shal haue whan he is of age. yf he lyue so lo [...]g / the second as we see in the world so we see in a man / that [...] membres & the partyes helpeth and standeth eueryche other in ste [...]e and bynē meth his woo· For the ouer lymmes gouerneth a [...]d yeueth. the neyther lymmes bereth and serueth / the myddle receyueth and deleth about the other lymmes / And in the eyther world yf a limme is out of his owne place and entrede to another place / than in his owne / anone is grete distourbaunce made as whan the ayer is enclosed within the erthe / than therth quaketh / & whan within the cloudes than is greet thondryng Also in the body of a man whan the lymmes be writhed out of her owne places / or yf the humours be apayrede. than is ache sekenesse and sorow ¶Also whan the lymmes be wel arayed and as they shulde be in shappe coloure and hewe maner quantite gretenesse and smalnesse me­uyng and place than hath the man good pees and quyete and is in good hele and reste ¶ The contrary falleth and the lymmes be euyl and not ryghtly arayed / Therfor Plato yafe his dome & sayde suche ordenaunces & disposicion and shap as a man hath in his kyndly membres and lymmes· suche kyndly maners & dedes he foloweth· also as it is in the partyes of the grete world that they be so ordeyned. and y sette that the highest of the ney­ther kynde touche the lowest of the high kynde· As oystres and shelfysshe that be as it were lowest in beestes kynde passeth / but litil the perfection of lyf of trees and herbes. ¶ For they may not meeue hem but as c [...]lpes of the See waggeth with the water els they cleuen to the erthe / and may neyther see ne here / taste ne smelle but only feele / whan they be towched ¶ And the laste of the erthe touchethe lowest of the water· And the ouer most of the water toucheth the lowest of the eyer and so vpward by degrees anone to the ouermost heuen Also the hyghest in bo­dyly kynde that may be cleped skylfully mannes body kyndly & parfytly disposed arecheth to the lowest of the nexte ouerkynde that is mannes soule that holdeth the lowest degree of spyrytes and of goostes that haue knowlege and vnderstandyng· And therfor it is cleped Oryson as it were the next narche in kynde betwene bodyly and goostly thynges· By the soule me gooth vp from the lowest kynde by degrees of knowleche and of connyng anone to the ouermost knowleche and vnderstandyngAnd [Page lxxij] whan the soule is all cleene without erthly lykynge it recheth otherwhyle to holy spirites that be nothing bodily also man hath somwhat comyn with thynges that be partyes of the gret world ffor gregory in an Omely saith that a man hath being with stones lyuyng with trees / & herbes / felyng with beestes knowlege & vnderstandyng with angelis. Also in mēnes body semeth erth in flesshe & boones / water in blood & in other humours / eyer in the longes: fyre in the hert: & is called homo in latin & antropos in grue. & is as it were a tre torned vpso doū & hath an heed with here as it were a roote & hath armes & thyes as it were bowes Touchyng the thyrd lykenesse that is vertuous worchynge we see as gregory sayth in an Omelye of the aduent that the world was atte begynnyng thryuyng & strong for to bryng forth childer as it were in youth / & was ful of heele & so fressh & grene & by grete ryches it was fatt / but now it is abated with eld & as it were dryuen toward the deth with ofte & many diseases: So in a mannes youthe the bodye is thryuyng the breste is stronge the nolle is bolde / the armes be ful / But in his elde the stature boweth & croketh & stonpeth a downe / the bold nolle abateth the brest is dryuen oft with many sighes & soore· the breth shorteth & in al the body myght and strength abateth And though there were none other sekenesse in old men for the more dele [...]le is se­kenesse Also as we see that in the more world be two contrarye moeuynges / One is kyndely· by the whiche the planettes and nether welkens meoue oute of the west in to the est. That other is violēt by the which they be y rauesshed ayeinwarde with the moeuynge of the ouermooste welken or firmamente oute of the Eeste in to the weste ¶ So it fareth in a man that the flesshe coueyteth ayenste the spyryte [...] and the spyryte ayenst the flesshe

¶ For the nether knowleches and wyttes fighte ayenste the reason ¶ And yet a man hath comyn worchyng and suffryng like to many other partyes of the more world For he is slowe and heuy as the erthe / and fleteth awaye as the water and withdraweth sodenly as the eyer / and heteth as the ffyre▪ chaungeth as the mone / Fyghteth and sleeth as mars / coueteth as Marcurius: goth oute of kynde as Iupiter / And is cruel as Saturnus ¶ Also plenius libro septimo· capitulo tricio Se­yth that as the vtter partyes of the greet world wellith and spryngeth ful of myracles wonders & meruaylles as in Inde / Ethiopia blew men lond and in Affryca ¶So in mankynd [Page] kynde hath slyly & craftely made wōderful werkes & myrth / for firste in a mānes face ther ben t [...]n lym̄es other fewe moo. ther is so gret diursyte that among many thousand men vnnethe is one founde in face lyke to another. In affryca be many that haue wi [...] chyng tonges so that thynges that they preyse they shende & slee with her praisynges / so that trees that they preysen waxen drie & childer deye So in triuallis & in Iliricis be men that slee with her sight what they behold and loke on longe namely and they be greued / and wroth whyle they loke so and bihold· and these haue in eyther eye twey blackes ¶Also amonge vs varro saith kynde hath y gendred & brought forth venym in somme mennes eyen so that none euyl is founde. that ther nys somwhat lyche y founde in mankynde. So somme partyes of a mannes bodye be forbyson and bodyng of wondres so pirrus kyng of Epyrothes had a grete too in his right foot / the touchyng of that too was a good medecyne ayenst venym / ¶ And that too myght not be brente with the other bodye· whan the other partyes of his bodye was brente So Auctours telle also Pliꝰ li 7 ca [...]e 7 seyth that somme men be geten and born with gendryng stones clenyng to gyders as it were al one / Somme be borne with one bone al hool in stede of teth and that boon is harder and sharper than ony mannes toth / ¶ So prusi kynge of Bithimia had a sonne that had a­bo [...]n in his mouth in stede of his other teth / one boon al hool and that boon was so harde / that whan the other dele of the bodye was brent that boon myght not brenne also Ibid ca. 18. Sōme men lyue and eueryche of hem hath the boones of his bodye cle­uyng to gyders as it were all one bone all hoole & without mary: thes men be neuer a thirst also they swete neuer more· Treui­sa Sōme men telle som man in irland hath one boon al hoole in oo side in stede of al his ribbes: & Tom hayward of barkley hath in the moold of his hede polle & forheed but one boone al hool therfor he may wel suffre gret strokes aboue on his heed without hurt: Also pliꝰ l: 7: c: 21 seith that som men had in al the body senewes euen strayght thwert ouer & crosse wyse & [...]assing wonderful in strength: som may dure to renne without werinesse som be passyng clere of fighte: as a knyghte that highte Strabo stode in a waytes place & sawe the nauyes & shippes of puny that were from him an honderd fyue and thirtty myles: Also pliꝰ li. 11: capitulo: 44: seyth That tiberius Cezar sawe more clerely in derknesse than in lighte so that whan he waked in the nyght he [Page lxxiij] myght see al thyng clerly about / Also pliꝰ li 7 c 27· Somme were wonder myghty of mynde as cyrus kyng of perse that to alle the knyghtes of his hoost yaf certayn names ¶R And seneca / p. li / declamacionum seyth of hym self that he was so myghty of mynde that he rehersed two thousand names arewe by hert in the same ordre as they were sayd. and that he rehersed moo than two honderd versus / that other men had yeuen and began atte / last / & rehersed anon to the first withouten ony faylle / Also he sayth that Cineas pirrus messager kyng of Epirotes. this Cineas the second day that he cam to Rome he salewed and grette the Senatours and spake to eueryche of the peple aboute hym by his own name· Another sayth that Cineas had made a grete makyng of poesye. For he rehersed it atte firste heryng more swiftly than he that had made it. Also pliꝰ / li 7 / c. 27. Seith that som̄e were noble & wyse of wytte as Iulius cezar that was wonte to rede & wryte what men seyde with a good auisement al attones / Also he vsed to wryte quaires & endite lettres & wryte pistles al attones

Also pliꝰ li bro 7 c 18 / seith that somme men haue more strengthe in the right side and somme haue more in the lyft side· and som be like stronge in eyther side· Also men be heuyer than women & dede mennes bodyes be heuyer than quyck & slepynge than wakyng heuier also· Of the careynes of dede men renneth foule moisture & humours & they ligge vpright / and of the careynes of dede women / yf they legge neuelyng & dounright as thaugh kynde spared shame ¶Also li. 7. ca 17 we rede that oo man lough that day that he was born and put away a mānes hande that groped & handled him also c. 20 / Me speketh / of som mē that neu (er) lough of som that wepe neu (er). of som that spytte neu (er) of som that bok balked neu (er) / Treuisa Rogger bagge was a ful old mā at wottō vnder egge in gloucestreshire he spytte neu (er) he coughed neu (er) Also seneca vbi piꝰ c 4 ¶ And as· it is amonge other beestes so it is in mankynde that somtyme one of mankynde is both man & womā & suche is cleped hermofrodyta & was somtime cleped androginꝰ & in englyssh is called a scrette & accompted among meruaylles & wondres but now amōg vs it is deynte / for it is selde seen Al­so we haue y seen & herd that somme chaūge wonderly her shape / For we sawe in affryca a mayde the same day that she shold haue ben wedded transformed & torned in to a man & anon forthwith berded & membred & lymmed as a man & wedded a wyf with in a short tyme after Also seynt austinꝰ de c / d / libro tercio / c / / 29 [Page] toucheth that agellus / li· atticar [...]co noccm̄ Seyth that women be somtyme tourned in to men it is no magel tale but it is soth as the lettres be wryten / therfor agellus seyth that in a Cyte called Smyrna He sawe a mayde tourned in to a man / the same daye that she shold haue ben wedded / Also suche one was brought to Rome to the Senatours in tyme of lasciuius crassus and cassius longinus consuls of Rome and by heste of dyuynours that tok [...] hede of weder and of chittryng of birdes it was born into a wild yland. Also titus lyuius speketh of hennes that were torned in to cokkes / And auicenna libro / 8 / de animalibus speketh of an henne that had ouercome a cok in fightyng / & after the fightyng & the victorye she rered vp the tayle as a cok· & had anon a spore growyng on the legge and a crest on the hede as it were a cok / Also capitulo ·5· Trogus seith that in egypte be ·vij· children born at one birthen / & thies dayes yf two twynnes be borne it is selde that the moder & the first child lyue longe after the byrthe & na­mely yf the one be a knauechild & that other a mayde· Also· cao.· 12. And somtyme a woman conceyueth twey children & is but a lytil tyme bitwene and so the childer be afterward borne one after another and be parfihte ynowgh / as it was of hercules & his broder hispycle / And so it ferde or happend of that woman that bare two childer· one lyke to her husbonde / & that other to the cō ­pyner / & of that woman that in the vij / moneth after her birth in the second moneth aft (er) she bare twey Childre / somme women bere alway. mayde childrē & som alway knaue childrē & som alway chaūgen and beren somtyme a mayde child & somtyme a mā child som be barayne / & conceyue of no mā & som cōceyue of sōme mē & of som mē cōceyueth not. Also / ca / 13 / Sōme bere childre lyke to hem self· & som lyke to the fader & somme lyke to no mā. somme bere doughters like to the faders and somme lyke to hem self· Somme bere childer lyke to her forfaders Ensample is Nyceus the noble peyntour at by sancm̄ that was borne of a fayr moder and went out of kynde & had one hand as a blew man Hugo capitulo malo· ¶ Me sayth that womans kynde is suche / that she conceyueth children lyke to thynges that they see peynted & shape for the worchyng of the soule whyle the body is in geetyng of a child sēdeth inward likenes & shape that she seeth without & ra­uess [...]th the ymages therof as it were to his disposicion / & so they vsen in spayne for to brynge fayre horses & gentel & holde hem before the mares and in her sight whyle they conceyue / & they vse [Page lxxiiij] also to peynt fayre culuers or downes in places ther culuers were wont to dwell / And quintilianus defendeth and excuseth a woman that was accused of spousebreche for she had born ablue man· And he leyed for her that suche an ymage was peynted in her bedchambre whan she conceyued that child. and ypocras wrot of a woman that shold be dampned to the deth for she had borne a fayr child that was not like to her self / ne to the fader / but ypocras made men assaye / And it was founde that suche an ymage was peynted in the fader & moder hedchābre / whyle that child was conceyued / and so the moder was saued. Pliꝰ· li 7 / c / 13. Ther for in a man be many diuersitees for swyftnesse of thought and chaungyng of wytte in the concepcion emprynteth in many dyuers lykenesse and shappes· In other beestes wytte is as it were not chaungeable therfore amonge hem al the brode is lyke to the same kynde Augustinus de ci. de / li· 16 / ca / 7

¶ Capitulum. secundum

OF brodes that be wōderly shapen me axeth if they come of adam and Noe / Sōme of hem hete. ciclopes & haue. but on eye in the forheede / Somme haue both the shap of man & woman & gēdreth to gider & geteth & cōceyue & beren childer as the cours cometh aboute / For ones he shal gete child. & he shal eftsones cō ­ceyue & goo with child in his tyme as it goth aboute / Sōme women conceyue at / v. yere old· & lyue not ouer eyght yere. som haue thies without hammes & be wonderly swifte and hete ciopodes for they lye neuelyng & doun right in the somer tyme & deffenden hem self with the shadowe of her feete from the hete of [...] sonne wherto we answere and saye that it nedeth not to trowe that ther be so many maner mishappen men as men speken of· Netheles re­son as is y yeuen of wondre shappe children that be amonge vs suche reson men may yeuen of dyuers manere people that be wonderly shapen / For god knoweth where and when it nedeth to ma­ke eny manere thynge / he knoweth the fayrenesse of al creatures and with what likenesse and vnlykenesse of partyes they be medled to gyders ¶ Certaynly in our tyme was a man borne in the Este that had two bodyes vnto the myddel of the wombe & bynethe but one ¶ But yet for al that we shal trowe that be come of Adam / Therfor suche as be wonderly shape owther they be nought· owther they be no men / owther yf they be men withoute doute they come of Adams kynde ¶ Touchyng [Page] antipodes that men speketh of & syngeth that they be men in the o­ther side of the erthe and her feet toward oures and her heed yondward and treden hiderward / that may be trowed by no reson / ther is no story that maketh vs haue knowlege / but only by gessyng of mankynde such a tale is founde / Though the erthe be round al about and somdele hangyng within the holownesse of heuen / na­theles the erthe is not bare in that side / For it is biclypped and closed within the water / and though it were bare and not so closed· yet foloweth not that men shuld dwell there / R / But he wold meene as marcianus seyth in his astrologye that the signe capricornus the grete maketh somer to the antypodes and the cancer the signe maketh to them wynter / And that is acompted. beyonde the side of ethyopia blewe mennes lande / ther men tornen wel nygh her fete toward mennes feet that dwelle about the ylond tile. vnder the north sterre Treuisa. Here take hede that the cercle that the sonne holdeth his cours in by the yere is deled in twelue partyes and euery partye therof is cleped a signe and euery signe hath a propre name / These be the names of the signes. The weder the bole the twynnes / the crab the lyon / the mayde the balance. the▪ scorpion the archer / the goot the stewe / the fysshe / also twelue monethes be in the yere and euerych moneth entred in to a signe as it falleth for the moneth / and so in marche it entreth in to the weder in aprile in to the boole / In may in to the twinnes in Iune in to the crabbes and so forth arewe by monethes & signes So that in december the sonne is in the Goote / than marcianus wol mene whan he seeth that the goot maketh somer to the antipodes that whan the sonne is in the goote than it is somer with hem But in december it is midwinter moneth· & whan he seeth that the crabbe maketh hem winter he meeneth that whan the sonne is in the crabbe than it is wynter with hem. that is Iune that is midsomer moneth & thus it is declared what is to mene the goote maketh hem somer & the crab winter / ysid eth ·l / 11· Sōtyme birthes be borne wōdelrly shapen for to be boodyng & to kennyng of wō ­ders that shal befalle. but than they liue not long· as in excerses tyme. kyng of perse a mare foled a Foxe & boded that the kyng­dom shold be vndo / & in the greet kyng alisāder in his tyme was brought forth a beest wōderly shapē. for the ouer partyes of him were shapē as the ꝑties of a man but they were dede / & the nether partyes were shapē as the partyes of dius maner beestes & were alyue & beto [...]ened sodayn sleing of the kyng / for the wers ꝑties [Page lxxv] lyued lenger than the better Treuisa Wiliam wayte of berkley sawe a child with twey hedes and twey nekkes borne and cristened at mese in Loreyn the yere of our lord thousand thre honderd .lvj / that yere the kynge of Fraunce was taken atte ba­tayle of peyters / this child had twey armes and twey legges as other childer haue / and he had the thyrdde legge growynge out aboue the buttokkis behynde and the thyrdde arme bytwe­ne the twey shulders / ¶ Item Isid / li. 11 / capitulo tercio Somtyme is grisly and wonderfully chaungyng of shappes of men in to beestes & is doo by wordes other by wyccecrafte. sōme hath and receyueth such chaungyng by the same kynde. somme by corrupcion passith and chaungeth in to other kynd and so of calues roted cometh bees and of hors roted cometh thauers· therfor ouide sayth yf thou craft haue take armes holowe for the crabbe / Scorpio bryngeth haile to stynge with kroked· tayle. Au / li / 18· c sexto. In the matier of wonderful tornyng changyng and sha­pyng of men & women it is to holde that fendes and euyl men mow make no kynde neyther chaung that is made· Neuertheles Almyghty god suffreth lykenesse of thinges dyuersly for to se­me / so that the fantasie of a man that gedreth likenesse of dyuers thynges in thought and in dreamyng or sweuenyng whan the wyttes be lette and take none hede maketh to seme likenes­se of bodyes that is not present also of ymages and of dyuerse lykenesse and shappes of thynges that neuer were made· and so men wakyng semeth that they see lykenesse and shap of diuers thynges & of beestes. as men seme slepyng and metyng wonderful sweuenes / & seme somtyme that they bere meny heuy birthōs but and they be birthons fendes bere hem / and so god that demeth rightfully suffreth mankinde be ofte so begyled R Of this matier loke within more playnly after the batayl of Troye

¶ Capitulum tercium

THough man as it is sayde be lyke & acorde to the world in two thynges that be conteyned therin· Netheles in many poyntes of mannes condicion of his prerogaty­ue and his worthynesse he is dyuerse and vnlyke to the world

¶For though mannes bodye were made firste of erthe / yet it was so couenablie and so acordyng to the soule that in mannes bodye was euenesse of complexion acordynge to lymmes rightfulnesse [Page] of stature / fayrenesse of shap / & so shuld the body be afterward buxome to the soule withouten ony rebellion and brynge forth childre without ony synne and lyue without ony defaute of strengthe and be translated and chaunged in to blysse of heuen withouten deyng and deth. also he shold gete and conceyue childre without shame and a woman shold bere childre withoute sorowe and woo / and haue mete and drynk without swete and trauayl steryng and moeuyng in lymmes withouten ony mys­fare / and to all this paradyse was yeuen mankynde for to· dwel in / and woman for to be mannes felawe / paradyse to wonyng place / the tre of lyf for mete and al creatures for solace and a [...] te laste god hym self for to be mannes mede / But allas that so noble a banyour fell [...] so soone. that was erly brought forth / & put in worship he knewe not that he shold be like to beestes whan he dyd that was forbode Fro that day forth the body that is corrupt by synne greueth the soule ¶ The flesshe coueyteth ayenste the soule and mannes wyttes torne and assente lightly to euyl A mannes oune meynal wyttes / be his owne enemyes / so that al mannes lyf is in temptacion whyle he lyueth here in erthe. & the disposipon of the soule ruleth meynteneth / helpeth and con­forteth the bodye / But ayeinward the wretched disposicion of the bodye distourbeth the soule· Also man is euer fayllyng and wayward he may not stydfastly abyde / he falleth lightly but he ma [...] not lyghtly aryse / Profyt of byrth is sorow and care in lyuyng and man must nedes deye Plenius libro septimo deci­mo capitulo tercio decimo· ¶ And thaugh oll other that be made haue shelles ryndes skynnes. wolle heer / bristels feders wynges owther skals / Man is born withoute ony helyng or keueryng nakede and bare / anone at his birth. he gynneth for to wepe atte begynnyng lyke a beest but his lymmes fayllen hym and maye not helpe hym self· but he is febler than ony other beeste / he can noon helpe / he may nought doo of hym self but wepe with al his myght No beest hath lyf more brutyl and vnseker / None hath sekenesse more greuous no [...]n more lykyng to do otherwyse than he shuld. none is more cruel ¶ Also other beestes lone eueryche other of the same kynde and dwell to gyder and be not cruel / but to beestes of other kynde that be contrary to hem / ¶ But man torneth that maner doyng vp so downe / and is contrary to hym self and cruel to other men / and yf he may not reche for to greue other / thenne he becometh angry and cruel to hym self ¶R [Page lxxvj] And yet to al thees man hath twey myshappes and that rightfully. one is of him self within / so that he that threwe away peas and reste warred within hym / in his lyuyng he hath neyther peas ne rest but warre & strif within Another myshap man hath withoute forth. So that he that wold nought be subget to god that is aboue hym now he feeleth his vnderlinges rebell to hym· so that the creatures that were yeuē man to solace of brutelnes to susteynyng of comfort to bere vp feblenesse to seruyce and subiection to myron [...] and shewyng of wonders / Nowe for the mooste dele they flee mannes sighte and his felawship fro his compa­ny and hateth his handlyng & wil nought of his lordship. and dredeth for to lyue and dwelle with hym

¶ Capitulum / 4

ADam was made of erthe in the feld of damask the sixthe day of the world and brought in to paradyce and synned the same day and was put out after mydday / and so he fille out of the state of Innocence. and of welth in to the valey of wret­chednesse and of woo· Man in his begynnyng myght take wele swete mete in goddes own hows But he desired that he shold not and assayed that was forbode. And fylle out of hye in to lo­we out of light in to derknesse and slyme· out of his owne lād and contrey in to outlawyng / out of his hous in to waylynge / and trouble / Oute of fruyts in to w [...]pyng and woo Oute of praysinge in to dole and sorow· out of myrthe in to stryf / oute of loue in to hate. out of ioye and welth in to peyne and [...]ene / oute of helth and grace in to gilt and synne / out of pees in to peyn out of homlynesse in to offence and wrath ¶ Methos This Adam the xv· yere of his lyf bigate cayn that is co [...]unely callyd caym and his sister Calmana Than / xv. yere aftir that whan adam was· xxx / yere old he gate Abel and his syster delbora / but Abel was slayne and his fader & moder made dole and sorowe for hym an honderd yere· ¶R· ¶As hebrewes seyth / Adam begate seeth the yere of his age an honderd and thryttye. And lyued afterward .viij·C / yere / And so Adam lyued in al nyne honderd yere and thyrtty Treuisa There were thre score and ten· that torned holy wrytte oute of hebrew in to grewe· And they be cleped the thre score and ten· ¶R ¶Adam deyed & was buryed in Ebron that is cleped also / Caryatharbe that is to meane the [Page] Cyte of four that be patriarches that be buryed there that be a­dam abraham· ysac and Iacob ¶Seeth gate enos whan he was an honderd yere old and fxue and lyued after / viij C / yere / but the thre score and ten seyen that seth was two honderd yere and fyue whan he begate enos and lyued afterward seuen honderd yere and fyftene· But the thre score and ten seyen that Enos was nyne score yere & ten whan he gate caynan and lyued afterward seuen honderd yere and fyftene. Me seyth specially that Enos cleped firste goddes name. For vpon caas he fonde firste. wordes of prayeng· Other as hebrewes tellen. he first fonde ymages to worship of god for to wake the slouthe of mannes mynde in to god almyghty. Caynan thre score yere old and ten gate malaleel & lyued afterward / viij / C yere and fourtye· But the thre score & ten putteth an honderd yere to fore the seuentye / & withdraweth an honderd afterward Malaleel fyue and sixty yere old gate Iareth and lyued afetrward eyght honderd yere and thrytty but the seuentye setteth an honderd to fore v. & sixtye and withdraweth an honderd afterward. Iareth an honderd yere old & lxij / gate enoche· and lyued afterward eyght honderd yere / ¶ In this the seuentye acordeth with other: Enoch fyue and sixty yere old bigate matusale and lyued afterward thre hon / derd yere and helde god almyghtyes way and was transla­lated and brought in to paradyse / But the seuentye setteth an honderd yere bifore the fyue and sixtye / this enoch was fynder of lettres and wrote somme bookes so seyth Iudas the Apostel in his epistle / Me troweth that· Adam deyed in enokes▪ tyme / And as in caymes childer lameth the seuenth was werste· [...] in sethes children enoch the seuenth from Adam was beste

Matussale an honderd yere old four score and seuen gate lameth / and lyue [...]d afterward seuen honderd yere and tweyne that was vnto noes flode / lameth an honderd yere old four score and tweyn gate no [...] / and lyued afterward fyue honderd yere four score & ten

¶ Capitulum 5

CAym Adams first sonne begate enoch / he gate Irad he gate manayel· he gate matusale he gate lameth. This lameth toke [...]wey wyues ada Ada and sella and gatte twey sonnes on Ada Iabel that was fader of hem that woned in tentes and in pauilons And tubal that was fader of organistres & of harpers

[Page lxxvij]And lameth gate on Sella tubulcam that was a smyth wor­chyng with hamer and his sister Noema she fonde first weuyng crafte Iosephꝰ Caym gadred ryches violently by strengthe / & made men be lechours and theues and torned sympel lyuynge of men to fyndyng of mesures and weyghtes / he ordeyned mar­kes and boundes of feldes and of landes. and bylde a cyte and walled it / For he ful soore drad them that he had greued Ysi libro quinto decimo capitulo secundo ¶Men were first naked and vnarmed not syker ayenst beestes· nowther ayenste men to defen­de and kepe hem fro cold and fro heete / than by besynesse of kyn­de witte / they bethought theim of buyldyng· therfor they buyl­de theim smale cootes and cabans and keuerd hem with smale twiggis and with reede. that her lyf myght be the more sauf

¶Petrus capitulo visesimo septimo / ¶ Lameth the seuen from Adam and mooste shrewe was the firste that brought in By­gamye and so spousebreche ayenst the lawe of god and of kynde and ayenst goddes owne dome. ¶Iosephus Iabel ordeyned first flokkes of beestes and markes to knowe one from another And departed kyddes from lambes and yong from the olde ¶Petrus Tubalcam founde first smytthes crafte / Tuba had grete likyng to here the hamers sowne· And he fonde proporcion̄ and acorde of melodye by weyght of the hamers· And / so he v­sed hem muche in thaccorde ef melodye· but be was not fynder of the instrumentes of musik For they were fonde longe afterward ¶ R Here wysemen tellen that thaugh tubal vsed first musike for his plesir whyle he was an herde and kept beestes for al that was not he that fonde firstt the resōne of acord in musik by wightes but Pyctagoras fonde that. therof loke within in the thyrdde book of pytagoras ¶Petrus visesimo septimo capitulo Lameth an Archer but somdele blynd had a yonglyng that ledde hem whyle he hunted for play and lykyng owther for one of beestes skynnes For men ete no flessh before noes flood. And it happed that he slough caym that loyterd amonge the busshes and wende that he had ben a wyld beest / And for his leder warned hym not He slowe hym also / And therfore syth that caymes synne was punysshed seuenfold that is in the seuenth generacion. For La­meth was the seuenth from adam in that lyne / Lamethes synne was punysshed seuen and seuentye fold for seuen and seuentye childer that come of hym were deed in noes flode / outher for many generacions were btywene Lameth and Criste that payed [Page] raunsome / ¶Iosephus ¶No man shal trowe that it is fals / that is redde of so longe lyuynge of men that were somtyme / for they lyued fayr lyf and had couenable and clene mete and drinke Also for blysful vertues that they vsed and made hem besye aboute astrologye & Geometrye that they myght neuer lerne· but yf they lyued six honderd yere atte leste in· For in so long tyme is the / grete yere of the sterres fulfylled ¶Petrus Sethes childer were good men vnto the seuenth generacion / But after­ward men mysused men / and women mysused· women ¶Thenne Goddes sonnes take mennis doughters: That is to. saye. Sethes sonnes toke caymes douhters and begate geantes ¶ Petrus. 29 And it myght be that Incubi suche feudes that lye / by women in likenesse of men made geantes be y geten. in the whiche Geantes gretenesse of herte answereth and acordeth to the hugenesse of body But after noes flood were other geantes born in ebron and after were other in than a cyte of egypt· and thylke gean­tes were cleped Tythanes of hem come enachym His children woned in ebron / Of hem come Golyas ¶Iosephus That tyme men wyste as Adam had sayd / that they shuld be destroyed by fyre or ellys by water ¶Ther for· bookes that they had made by greet trauayl and studye he closed hem in two grete pilers made of marble and of brente Tile / ¶ In a pyler of marbel for water and in a pyler of tyle for fyre· ¶For it shold be saued by that maner to helpe of mankynde· ¶ Me seyth that the piler of stone escaped the flode and yet is in Siria Gen̄. Than whan noe was fyue honderd yere old he begate Sem Cham. and Iapheth that is to seyne whan he was so old he hadde thes thre sones geten / and he made the ship an honderd yere afterward of tymbre planed wel smoth and was glewed within and with out / The Ship was thre honderd cubyte long and fyfty cubyte brode / and thrytty cubyte high from the kele to the hatches vnder the c [...]bans and housing ¶Noe made a wyndowe in his ship & a dore on the side dounward And housing and cabans with dy / uers floryng ¶ The wyndowe was a cubyte high Treuisa Here men maye wondre how the wyndow was made bynethe in the side of the ship for comyng in of water ¶Doctor de lira moeueth this doubte and sayth that there we haue Fenestra that is a fenestre and a wyndow the lettre of hebrew hath lucerna that is a lanterne & sommen sayen that that Lanterne was a carbuncle or som other precious stone that shone and gaf lighte clere [Page lxxviij] ynowgh there it was sette / But somme other sey that that wyn­dow was al hool of Cristal stone by whiche light entred & hield out water. Many other wyndowes were in the ship / and soo neded for the ship was ful grete and huge and had in ful ma­ny beestes Petrus 30 This ship was made somdele to the lykenesse of mannes body in the which the lengthe from the soole of the foote to the toppe of the heed is suche six as the brede that is from the myddel of the side ribbes in that one side to the middel of the side ribbes in that other side / Also the lengthe is suche ten as the depnesse. that stretcheth from the rigge to the wombe ¶ Trenisa If the man be of ful shappe as he shuld be nouther to gret ne to smal Hugo de Ar This ship· myght not resseyue so many beestes and other thynges and so greet / but the cubyttes were cubyttes of geometrye For the comune cubite that me vseth conteyneth but a f [...]ote / and an half that is six spannes ¶ A span stretcheth from the end of the thombe to thende of the myddel fyngre / whan the hande is straught· But a cubyte of geometrye conetyneth sex commune cubittis that wol be nyne fote longe ¶Gen ¶ Than whan the ship was made Noe in the yere of his lyf six honderd entred and yede in to that ship· the first day of the second moneth that is of man / & in eyght dayes he brought in to the shippe al that he was warned to brynge in er our lord sende rayne here vpon the erthe / And so the flood was made and occupyed the erthe wel nyghe al a yere / The water of the flood passed .xv / cubyttes aboue the highest hilles for the werke of mā kynde defouled the eyer so highe as me troweth by worshypyng of fyre that smoked and sprynkeld vp so highe This yere en­ded. the firste age of the world from Adam to noes flode vnder ten generacions that we spake of rather ¶ And Iosephus libro primo capitulo quarto ¶And also the hebrews sey that this first age of the worlde conteyneth two thousand yere seuen honderd six and fyftye B [...]t the seuenty turneers and ysidorus libro 5 seyth two thousand yere seuen honderd and two and fourtye But Ierome seyth not fully two thousand / And meotodus seith two thousand / For here he leueth the odde yeres that be ouer the thousandes ¶ For he calcleth and acompteth the ages of the world by thousandes and lette the other dele abyde

¶ Capitulum sextum

[Page]ATte laste whan the water of the flode withdrewe noe wente out of the ship the / xxvij· day of the secōd moneth that is man· Than our lord behete and promysed noe / that noo suche flo­de shuld be after that· And in token of that couenaunt· he sette his bowe in the cloudes that is the rayne bowe ¶ Petrus 329 The rayne bowe is token oute of twey domes / Of the dome that was don by water ¶ For me shuld not drede it. and of the dome that shal be by fuyre for me shuld drede it Therfore the bowe hath twey colours / the vtter is wattry for the dome of watir that is a passed the ynner is fyry for the dome of fyre shal be And holy sayntes tellen that the rayne bowe shal not be seyn .xl. yere befor the day of dome / Also they sey that it neuer appered fro adam to noes flode ¶Also no rayne bowe was seen al that tyme now ther flesshe ne fyssh eten ne wyn dronken / For that tyme was as were springyng tyme / and tho was inow and plente of all helthful thynges that was afterward chaunged thurgh synne / But after the flode mankynde had leue to ete flesshe and fyssh. that rather ete herbes and rotes Noe lyued after the flood thre honderd yere and fyftye / And he lyued in al nyne honderd yere and fyftye / and so deyed and lefte thre sonnes a lyue Sem Cham and Iapheth of the whiche thre cam al maner of mankynde Gen Than two yere after the flode Sem was an honderd yere old & gate Arphaxath̄ and lyued afterward fyue honderd yere Arphaxath was fader of caldeis and gate· Sale / whan he was an honderd yere old and / xxxv· as Ierom sayth· ¶ But ysidorus libro sexto· and hebrewes seyn· xxxv. yere & lyued afterward thre honderd yere and thre: / But the seuentee and luc also folo­weth hem Arphaxath whan he was an honderd yere and fyue and thryfty he gate caynan / and lyued after thre honderd yere & thrytty Caynan an honderd yere old and thrytty gate Sale of him come the old Samarytanes and the Iudes and lyued afterward four honderd and eyght yeres and thryttye soo the seuen­tye tellen Hebrewes sayth that Sale whan he was thyrtty yere old gate Eber ¶ Of this Eber they were called hebrewes / And Sale lyued after that he gate eber four honderd yere / But the seuentye and ys [...]dorus accōpte the honderd yere bifor the thyrtty & thre honderd yere after the xxx / Of Heher Hebrewes haue the name / the hebrewes saye that heber four and thyrtty yere old gate phaleth And lyued afterward four honderd / thyrtty yere but the seuentye putteth an honderd bifore the four and thrytty [Page lxxix] Hebrewes saiye that phaleth thrytty yere old gate Ren that heet Ragan also & lyued afterward two honderd yere and nyne but the seuenty and ysidorus putten the honderd bifore the thyrtty· & afterward two honderd and nyne / This heet phaleth rightfully for phaleth is to saye departyng For langage was departed in his tyme that rather was al one in the buyldyng of the tour of Babel ¶And so men were departed in to dyuers londes. Ragan xxxij yere old gate Sarug and lyued afterward two honderd yere and seuen so s [...]iye hebrewes. but the seuenty and ysidorus set ten an honderd bifore two and thrytty and afterward two honderdseuē He brewes saye that sarug thrytty yere old gate na­chor and lyued afterward two honderd yere and tweyne / But the seuenty and ysidorus put an honderd yere bifore the thrytty & two honderd afterward Hebrewes sayye that nachor xxix ye­re old gate thare and liued afterward one honderd yere and nyne but the seuenty put an honderd yere bifore nyne and twenty

¶ And ysidre seyth that nachor was seuenty yere and nyne whan he gate thare The hebrewes and ysidorus seyn that thare seuentye yere old gate abraham / Nachor and aran and lyued af­terward an honderd yere and thyrty but the seuenty put the honderd yere bifore the seuentye yere: ¶Petrus 38 ¶And soo the second age of the world is ended fro noes flode to abraham̄s birth and conteyneth ten generacions & two honderd yere four score & twelue / so sey hebrewes Iosephꝰ and Ierom. But the seuenty and seynt ans [...]yn acounten a thousand yere and two andseuen­ty and enleuen generacions But ysidorus acounteth nyne hon­derd yere and two and fourty and meotodus a thousand ¶The caas of this dyuersite is / for the seuenty / and seynt Augustyn also putten to euerych faders age from arphaxath to nachor an honderd yere Beda As noe was the tenth from Adam so Abraham was the tenth from noe ¶ Netheles luc in his genologye· whan he sayth Qui fuit Sale that is to meene that was Sales sone. and so forth that was caynans sone that was Arphaxath sone / ¶Ther luc foloweth the seuentye· that putten one generacion moo than the hebrewes put / ¶ Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro 15 / capitulo 13 Whan in many translacions is dy [...]ite foū de that maye not stande than the first langage that the tornyng & the translacion is made of shal be moost be bileued Beda The tornyng and translacion of the seuenty was first not fully torned redily owther it was afterward appayred by misbileuid [Page] men Eusebius ¶Fro adam to abraham is no story founde in grewe nowther in straunge langage Methodius ¶ Noe had a sonne borne two thousand yere & an honderd after the begyn­nyng of the world. That sone was called Ionytus ¶Noe yaue him lordship anone to the see elyochora to him god almyghtye yafe witte and wysedom that he shold fynde scyences of astrono­mye and that he coude telle bifore· what shuld befalle and come afterward and specially of the begynnyng and endyng of the foure chyef kyngdoms / and so he knewe that first of cam the assiriens shulde regne of cham come belus· afterward of Sem the Medes the perses and the gre [...]s / Thenne of Iapheth the Romaynes / Ionytus shewed al this to his disciple Nemproth / therfor Nemproth had grete desire to regne & regned in babylon among Chames childeren. they gate and hield Assiria in egypte for to Nynus regned in assiria vpon the assires Iosephus libro pri­mo capitulo quinto ¶After that noe was dede in phalathes ty­me· than al the men of the world had one langage and tonge Noes childer by techyng and ledyng of nemproth trowed and bileued that good happes & good spede is not of god almyghty but by mannes owne vertues & dedes / Also they wende that god almyghty wolde departe hem by enuye· that he myght the more lightly make hem subget Also they dradde that another flood shold come and buylded a wel high tour of brent tyle and glue in stede of morter in the felde that heete Sennaar / ther babylone was afterward buyld / but god almyghty departed hem For they shold not make dessencion and stryfe among hem self This nemproth was chus sonne. chus was cams sonne· And Cham was noes sonne / That place is cleped babel that is to say shedyng / For there at god almyghtyes heest / the langage and the tonges of the buylders were shadde and skaterd / Heber was holden gyltles of conspiracion in the buyldyng of the tour and therfor he was spared as gyltles in the shedyng of tonges Petrus 35. Than nemproth a stronge hunter of men that is a tirant vpon men / he putte assur oute of that lond & began to regne among chams childer in the cyte of babylon that he buyld. Neth [...]l [...] semyramys the quene afterward made this cyte wel more Afterward nemproth wente to the men of perse and taught hem to worship the fuyre & founded there the cyte nynyue / afterwad nynus and semyramys made that Cyte more / Augustinus de ci­uitate dei / libro octodecimo cao. primo

¶ Capitulum / 7

[Page lxxx]WHan men were departed and to shufte or skatred in to dy­uerse londes and eueryche folowed his owne lykyng and wille while that it semed that what that was desired was ynow to no man. Mankynde was departed ayēst hym self and the strē ger partye bare doun that other / and told more pryce of Fredō than of sauacion and of heele / So that it was greete wonder of hem that had leuer be loste and spylt than be vnderlynges & seruauntes / And yet by loor of kynde better is be vnderlyng and seruaunt than be put out of lyf. Therfore by goodes ordenannce it is doo that somme men be kynges and lordes / and somme sub­gettis and seruauntis. Isidorus libro 8 ca / 3 / Than men that cam of Seem / Noes first sonne had the south lande from the rysynge of the sonne anone to the Fenyces men that so heete These men that come of Sem occupyed four honderd cuntreys and six vnder seuen and twenty langages ¶ They that come of cham held the londe by the southe Occean vnto the se [...] Gadytan thre honderd countreyes four score and fourten vnder thrytty lan­gages & tonges / Au. li / 6. They that come of Iapheth held the lō ­de from the hille that heete mons Taurus in Salicia. Northwarde toward the north Occean to half dele of asia and al Europia vnto the brytyssh Occean that is the englysshe see· thre honderd contrees vnder fyften langages and tonges· and lefte eche londe and peple his name of the whiche many be now chaunged other of kynges of landes other of the same londes / other of maners of men of londes ¶ Other thynges stande as they were· Soo that yet it is seen of whome that they come ¶ As the Ass [...]res come of Assur and the Hebrewes of H [...]ber Of somme is no reason knowen / as that that me sayth that Egypcians perteyne to mes [...]aym and Ethyopens to chus ¶Iosiphus libro· primo capitulo quinto ¶ Of Chus vnto now the Ethyopens be cleped Chusey and the Egypcians mysrey ¶ And so when men were to scatred in to dyuerse londes· Somme chaunged Names as hem lyked as the grees / o wther for feyrenesse of wrytynge / Owther for lykynge of Reders outher for to make her owne self the nobley of her forfaders. ¶ Hugo Capitulo Frisia ¶ Ofte names be sette for manere of doynge· As whan we wylle meene that the Troyans be ferful we clepe hem Frigios ¶ And yf we will [...] meene that they be gen­tel and Noble we calle hem Dardano / ¶ Yf we wille meene that they be stronge we calle hem Troyans ¶Yf hardy [Page] we clepe hem hectours. ¶ Isidorus li 14· ca 2 ¶Men of the eest sownen her wordes in the throte as Hebrewes and Syres men of myddel londes in the roof of the mouth as Grees and Asiās ¶Men of the west breketh her wordes bitwene the teth as spaynols and Romayns ¶ Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro sex­to decimo capitulo octodecimo ¶ But syth that men were firste skatred in to dyuerse londes though the kyngdoms of Assyry­ens in the eeste of egypcians in the south and of Shites in the north that is in grece begynne as it were attones Augustinus libro octodecimo capitulo primo Netheles the kyngdoms of as­siriens of medes that is of perses of grece of Romaynes folowed eueryche after other And were pryncipally amonge other / Netheles the first and the last were more noble and dured lenger· Other kyngdoms and kynges longed to thes kyngdoms Also berynge and dedes of men of Athenes be gretter in loos & fame than they be in dede / so seyth Salustiꝰ & varro also And that is for that wryters and philosophres of Athenes were solempne of wytte and preysed the dedes hugely and ouer mesure / ¶ R And for the tretice is. ful and general of the four chyef forsayde kyngdomes from the begynnyng of the kyngedome of Assiryes to the ende of the kyngdom of Romaynes axeth long wrytynge and processe· therfore of the firste kyngdomes as it were of the same age with the kyngdom of Assiries first we shal wryte

¶ Regnum Shitarum ¶ Capitulum Octauum /

THe kyngdom of Shytes in the North by cause af age and of tyme axeth the second place in ordre / And is sette after the kyngdom of Assiries And began in Saruges tyme vnder thanaus the first kyng that was there / Sarug was Abrahams fader grauntsyre ¶ It semeth that the Ryuer Thanays hath the name of this kynge thanaus the whiche Ryuer in the north side of the world departeth bitwene Asia and Europa· ¶ This kyngdom was neuer ouercome but thryes it conquerd asia and ouercome Darius kyng of Perses and slowe Cyrus the kyng and did awaye Zephiron that was the greet Alysanders leder ¶ Petrus capitulo 60 ¶ Also another kyngdom was in the west & was the kyngdom of Scicions that is of archadia a par­tie of grees in europa and dured vnder Agilaus first / ix·C yere [Page lxxxj] thre score and enleuen· Agilaus is a lord as it were a kynge outher an Emperour Afterward this kyngdom endured vn­der one and thrytty kyngis from the xxiiij yere of Nachor abrahams grantsir vnto Zensippus tyme that regned the yere of he­ly the preest seuentene Therfor one kyngdom in Archadia heete somtyme Agealea ¶ Netheles it. hete afterward palaponensis there was one of the kyngdoms of grece ¶ R Nethe­les Denys seyth that the kyngdom of Scicions began the yere of thare fyfty that was twenty yere er abraham was born Thare was abrahams fader / In this kyngdom the firste kyng was Cicrops and regned fyue and fyfty yere Another kyngdom as it were of the same age with these forsayd kyngdoms was the kyngdom of Egypt in the south and began in nachors tyme Abrahams grauntsire ¶ Regnum Egipciorum

¶ This kyngdom had fyftene grete lordshippes and cleped hem dynastias from the first myneus other sonnes to abrahams tyme ¶ Afterward thebey men of thebes helde sexten greete lorshippes and cleped hem dynastias ¶Than Diapolitani that were cleped pharaones that were kynges of Egypt held echten greet lordshippes and cleped hem dinastias dinastia is greet lordship and power duryng in a prouynce that chose kynge outher emperour And soo this kyngdom of Egypt dured vnto the ty­me of cambis that was Cirus sonne Cirus was kynge of Perse and yaf whyle he lyued the kyngdom of Assiria that was tho torned to the medes to his sonne cambis and cleped hym Nabu­godonosor also and his prynce Olofernes and subdued egypt And Egypt was vnder seuen kynges of Perse and after went from the Perses and had ten kynges of her owne for to Othus that heet. Artharexerses / Also the twellue kynges of Perses put oute Nactanabo the laste kynge of Egypt vnto Ethyopia and wan the kyngdom of egypt ¶ Afterward that kyngdom du­red vnder thre kynges vnto the seuent yere of the greet Alexander after that the kyngdoms of Egypte and of Perse were vn­der the grekes thre honderd yere vnder thretten kinges that were cleped lagydes and tholomeus vnto Iulius cezar tyme outher as somme men mene vnder the fyften yere of augustꝰ Cesar that ouercome Clopatram Denys doughter / Denys was ptholomeꝰ & the last laged ¶Egypt from that tyme fel to the romaynes· and so al the kynges of Egypt from the first begynnyng vnto Alisander were four score & enleuen The kynges of egypt were [Page] firste cleped diascenes and than pharaones and ate last lagydes and ptholomees. Ioseph libro octauo / ca· The kynges of Egypt had in her chrldhode other names / But whan they were made kynges they were cleped pharaones / For a kyng is cleped pha­rao in the langage of Egypt ¶ The kynges of allexandrya were cleped ptholomeis whan they were made kynges and the kynges of Romaynes were cleped cezares Salamon wedded a kynges doughter of Egypt I rede of no kyng of Egypt after hym that was cleped Pharao Regnum assiriorum Augus­tinus li 16 ca· 18· The fourth kyngdom but eldest of tyme is the kyngdom of assiryes and began in the est vnder belus nemproth the xxv yere of Sarug that was abrahams fader grauntsire This kyngdom had lordship of al asia out take Inde Petrus 60 And it dured a thousand yere / iij.C & tweyn vnder seuen & thrit­ty kynges vnto the last Sardanapallus the kyng that deyed the vij yere of Ozias kyng of Iuda / Than arbaces that heet arbac­tus also the kyngys stieward and his traytre· for he slough him and tourned the kyngdom of Assyryes to the medes that is to vnderstande in hope and not in dede R ¶For after Sardana­pallus from the seuenth yere of· Osias kyng of Iuda to manasses kyng of Iuda aboute an honderd yere and twelue ¶ The Assyryes hadde seuen myghty kynges though they had not the kyngdome al hoole of whiche thes be the names / Arbaces Phille / Teglafalasar / Salmanasar: Senacherib / Assaradon Sargon ¶ Netheles somme wil mene that after Sardanapallus deth from the seuenth yere of Ozias the kyng to the yere of the transmigracion of the Iewes one & thyrtty the hoole kyngdom of the Eeste. stode with the medes two honderd yere· and sixty vnder eghte kynges f [...]om the firste Arbaces vnto Astrages that was Darius vncle and Sirus grantsyre ¶ Cyrus ouertorned this Astrages and tourned the kyngdom of medes to the hoole kyngdom of Perses and lefte the kyngdom of Hirca [...]s to Astrages ¶ Regnum Babilon ¶Netheles in Sanache­rib kyng of Assyries tyme and in Ezechias tyme Kyng of Iuda come vp the grete kyngedome of the Babilons and cal­d [...]is and dured vnder seuen kynges whos names were Me [...]edac that heete Baladac also. Nabugodonosor / Emlmerodoc. Re­gusar / Labofardac Baltasar that heete Nabar also. ¶ Hym slough Cyrūs y socyed to his vncle Darius ¶ And tour­ned his Kyngdome to the Kyngedome of Perse and of [Page lxxxij] Medes the yere of transmygracion of the Iewes one and thrytty & so passed ij / C yere & .lx from the vij yere of ezechias kyng of Iuda / in the whiche yere began to faylle the hoole kyngdom of Assiryes vnto the yere of transmygracion one & thyrtty tho be­gan the hool kyngdom of perse Regnum Persarum ¶ Than the hole kyngdom of Perse from the yere of transmygracion one & thrytty vnto the / vij· yere of the grete Al [...]xāder that was from the first cyrus of the last darius arsanius sone dured .ij / C: yere / & v & thrytty vnder threttene kynge that was cyrus the first· Cam bises the second his fader Cirus yaf hym another name and cleped hym Nabugodonosor and yaue hym nynyue with the kyngdom of assiryes whyle he was / him self a lyue· vnder hym befel the storye of Iudith the third Ermendes magus / the iiij darius tapsis sōe· the v / exerses the .vj / arcarexerses yt hete longimanꝰ also vnder him were esdras & neemyas. the / v. excerses· the .viij / Fogodia: the / ix / dariꝰ nothus. nothus is a bastard outher he that is geten of a worthy fader / & born of an vnworthy moder· the .x ar­tharexerses that heet assuerus also vnder hym was hester. the / xj othus: the / xij / arsanius / the / xiij darius Arsanius sone / the greete alysander ou (er)come hym & torned the kyngdom of perses to the ho­le kingdom of macedons at grece ¶ Regnū macedoin Netheles this kyngdom of macedones begā rather vnder the first cranans the fourteth yere of Ozias kyng of Iuda / & so dured vj C yere. & xxxvj vnto the laste perseus the romaynes slough hym the ix yere of onyas the bisshop that heet menelaus also: nethles there were other kyngdoms in grece eueryche / after other ordey­ned Of the whiche the first was in archadia atte Scicions· that peple And was y torned thens to the peloponenses as it is saide bifore: ¶Another kyngdom of grece was among the argyues And was y torned thens to mecens ¶ Another was at Athenes that Cyte ¶ Another amonge the Lacedemons / these were the spartans Another at Epyrus that is Tracia / Another at Macedonia / ¶Regnum Romanum ¶ The kyng of Rome swolewed vp al these kyngdomes as it did other kyngdoms of landes and made hem al longe and be obeissaūt to the kyngdome of Rome / In this maner the kyngdom of ro­me began vnder Ianus the first kyng of ytalye and dured vnto the vij yere of darius arsaniꝰ sone kyng of perse [...] him slough the grete alexander & so the kyngdom of Rome dured at that cours viij·C. yere & four score vnder / xxvij / kynges of the which xxvij [Page] kynges six the first. were latyns. The fourtene that came after­ward were albanes. the other seuen that came after that the cyte was buyld wer [...] romaynes of the which romulus was the first & tarquinus the proude was the last Afterward kynges were put out of the cyte and were from yere to yere twey consuls chosin / After consuls trybunes plebes & doctours ruled the comō [...]e vnto Iulius cezars tyme / iiij / C / yere thre score & four. afterward they left of the name of kynges & cleped her chyef lordes cezares emperours and augustes of the which Iulius cezar was the first of a consul & dytatour made an emperour his successour & Ne­uew was Octauianus augustus & brought al the kyngdomes of the world in to one kyngdō al hole: Then̄e philip the / xxviij emperour was the first emperour that was cristened / Than the grete constantine made constantynople the chyef cite of thempyre & lefte rome for to be chyef See of the pope to saynt petres successours· whan thempyre was translated & torned to the greet charles kynge of Fraunce Pipinus the kynges sonne / than the name of themperour lefte allone at constantinople Augustinꝰ de cimitate dei libro / 18

¶ Capitulum nonum:

IN sarugges tyme belus neinprothis sone kynge of babilon went in to assiria & wan it aftward within a short tyme & whan he had regned· lxv yere: than he deyed / & his sone nynus regned aftir hym & began to regne the yere of thare abrahās fa­der euen thrytty & was kyng wel nygh of all asia oute take In­de / liij. yere. In the yere of his kyngdom .xliij· abraham was born bifore the buyldyng of the cyte of rome nygh a thousand yere & thre· C / : Oroꝰ li. 1 The yere bifore the buyldyng of the cyte of rome a thousand and thre hondred nynus kyng of assiriens for couetise to make his lordship grete bare oute armure and lyued cruel lyf fyfty yere in all asia in warre and in batayll / & aroos out of the south and from the reed see & destroyed in the northe vpon the see that heete eusinū that stretcheth fro the riuer thanay to the endes of hiberia and armenia / ¶ And soo this kyng Nynus ouercome men of Scicia barbaryca that were yet no werrours but stille men and pesible & made hem knowe strengthe & taught hem to lyue by mannee b [...]ode that liued bifore hād with mylke of beestes / And atte laste he slough Zoroastes kynge of battryans that was synder of wytche craft but atte laste deyde [Page lxxxiij] whyle he besegied a cyte that was torned from hym he was hitte with an arowe and soo he was slayne petrus 36 / ¶Nynus belus sonne whan his fader was deede had assiria and the Cyte Nynyue and named it after his name And made that Cyte Nyniue chyef of his kyngdom and enlarged the cyte gretely by thre iourneyes· For nemproth had biforehand founded that cy­te and slowe also cham that heete zoroastes also kyng of battri­a that wrote the seuen sciences in fourten pilers in seuen of brasse and seuen of brand tyle for to saue hem both ayenste fyre and water / but Nynus brent his bookes Ysidorus libro 8 Aristotle of Zoroastes he wrote that he made twenty honderd thousand verses of wytccherafte and democritus made that c [...]aft more af­terward in ypocras tyme Petrus 36 Of this nynus maw­metrye began in this maner ¶Whan belus was dede his sonne nynus for to haue somme comfort of his sorow made an ymage of his fader and he dide that ymage so gret worship and reuerence that he spared al euyl doers that fled to that ymage by ensā ple of this doyng many men made ymages to her lyef frendes. And so by ensample of belus mawmett come forth other maw­mettis also of belꝰ name come forth the comune names of maw­mettes in dyuerse langages and tonges For somme men calle her mawmett beel. somme Baal and som baalym. and somme gafe her mawmete a surname and cleped her name Belphegor and somme belesebub ¶Alexander in mytiloḡ ¶ Idolatria mametrye ¶Of the bryngyng forth of mametrye come wele nyghe the feynyng of Poetrye For whan Syrophanes of Egypte had an ymage of his sonne that was deede That y­mage he cleped ydolum that is lykenesse and shappe for lyke­nesse of sorowe whan he had made that ymage in mynde of his sonne that ymage was gretely worshipped of his seruauntes / It was refute and socoure to mysdoers as he had y ordeygned

And while he sought helpe and remedye of sorowe / he foun­de seede and spryngyng of wel more sorowe / for the olde erroure in worship of mawmettes gan to sprede ¶Netheles the same maner doynge was. not ordeyned and comfermed of al men· Fo [...] Phylosophers worshipped oo god and yaue hym many names for many manere doynges and worchynges / that he worcheth and lyueth for he yeueth lyf / felith for he yeueth felynge Iu­piter that is helper For he helpeth / ¶ Also Plato in the booke callyd Philosophus sayth: that Poetes by cause [Page] of wynnyng and of fauour peynted reasons science and myght that were graunted to the vse of lyuyng in many maner shappes: and yaf to eueryche a propre name And so connyng of tillyng of feldes he cleped cereres: Connyng of tyllyng of vynes he called bachus: and acoūted foule dedes of men amonge goddes ¶Ysidorus eth̄ libro octauo They that paynyms cleped goddes they were men: And as they bare hem in her lyf better or wers: so they were worshipped after her deth / But by fals loore of fendes men that come afterwarde worshipped hem for goddes· that were first worshipped only for mynde / And than for to make it more solempne come feynynges of poetes ¶R Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro secundo capitulo vndecimo The poete with his lyppe speketh of thre maner of goddes: ¶For somme they clepe goddes as mars and Iupiter / Somme half goddes as hercules and Romulus: And somme vertuous men that men trowed that had somwhat of godhed as hector and achilles Of mame­trye come many maner of euyl doyng ¶Suche is that / that Ierom speketh vpon ysaye / 18: And seyth that the egypcians and wel nygh al men of the eeste landes worshipped fortune· that is god of happes / as they mene the ymage of fortune is y sette in a place that is wel knowen / and hath in his right hand an horne ful of mede al that sitteth aboute foundeth to taste of that horne the last day of nouembre / And yf they fynde than the horne ful it bodeth a good corne yere. And yf they fyndr it voyd or empty / than they make sorow ¶Crogus libro primo ¶ Whan nynus was deed his wyf Semyramys with her sonne nynus that heet nynyan also regned in this maner· ¶ The woman durst not be­take the kyngdom to the yong child nowther she durst her self regne openly. Therfor she disguised her self in the childes lyche the moder for the sonne a woman in stede of the childe· For eyther had a smale voyce and mene of stature ¶Therfore they hidde her armes and her thyes with dyuerse helynges and hir heede with a cap· And for me shuld not say that she had ony thyng with newe maner clothynge· she hight that her peple shulde go clothed in the sam̄e araye. and yet the peple vse the same maner clothing Than this woman did many grete dedes and whan she had ouer come the enemye of al enemyes· than she knowleched what she was & how she had don than that doyng torned her to right greete worship for she ouercome ethiopia blew men lande & Inde also And atte last she desired her own sone and bade hym for to ligge [Page lxxxv] by hir / And he slowe her. whan he had regned two and fou [...] yere But her sonne nynus helde him appayed with the trauai [...] of his fader and moder· and was afterward seld y seye amonge men and lyued and wexe old among women ¶And his succes­sours kynges that come aftir hym folowed the ensample of him and yaf answer to the peple by messagiers that shuld goo by­twene R¶That maner doyng was vsed vnto kyng Sarda­napalis tyme

¶Genesis ¶ Capitulum 10

THare whan he was thre score yere old and ten than he ga­te Aram nachor & abraham / & abraham was borne the yere of nynus kyng of assiria thre and fourty / two honderd yere four score and twelue after noes flode so seyth Iosephus ¶ R The nombre· and the somme of this second age loke bifore in this book ¶Ben Than Aram gate lo [...]h Sarray and melcham / Aram deyed bifore his fader thare in vr caldeorum a place in cald [...]a· [...] so nynus deyed the yere of abrahams age enleuen ¶Petrus 60 Semiramys nynus wyf for she wold regne after her husbonde / Ninus she wedded her owne sone that she had by her husbond nynus. And had by her sone a child that echyd and enlarged babilonia and made it more Gen ¶Than thare myght not suffre the wronge that him was y doo of worshippyng of fyre in cal­dea / there they had y slayne his oldest sonne Aram ¶He wente out of that coūtrey with abraham and nachor· and arams mey­ne vnto charram in mesopotania and deyed there after two hon­derd yere and fyue ¶Abraham whan his fader thare was dede he wēt doun out of charra in to Sychem & thens in to pentapo [...]s ¶Afterward he pyght his pauyllon bytwene bethel and haye And honger was strong he went doun in to Egypt and told there that Sarray was his sister ¶Iosephus libro primo· capi­tulo septimo Abraham lerned in caldea and wente doun in to Egypte and was the firste that taught the Egypcians Arsme­trike / and astrologye that was vnknowen to hem bifore ¶Abraham was ful ryche and wente oute of egypt to the place of the forsaid pauylon and for stryfe of herodes he departed from Loth and wente fro hym vnto the vale of mambre besides Ebrom

¶Petrus .42 Ebron that hete Chebron also is a cyte and hete also caryatharbe of caryath that is a Cyte in arabe: that is foure [Page] for four the grettest patriarches were buryed there Adam abraham Isac and Iacob ¶R But Ioseph is buryed in Sychem besides mount Effraym as it is seyd aboue & in the book of Iosue in the laste chapyter ¶Genesis Whan abraham come ayen from the batayl of four kynges / he [...]afe tythynge of al that he had goten to melchisedech kynge of Salem And melchysedech offred breed and wyne ¶Decime Melchisedech ¶ Ieroni­mus in epistola ad ewangelium. et petrus 43 ¶Me redeth that Abraham yaf fyrst tethynges but abel yaf rather the first that god / sente hym of al maner kynd The hebrewes telle that this melchisedech was sem noes sone and telleth that he lyued vnto Isac / They telle also that from noe vnto Aaron al the eldest sonnes were preestes· and blessed the peple in offrynges and festes and receyued & had the first birth of beestes And me seith that suche were the firste birthes that Esau sold to his brother Iacob Also som men menyth that annus Iubilens that is the yere of grace toke the begynnyng of the vyctorye for the delyueraunce of prysoners / Iobel is foryeuenesse outher the begynnyng therof come Iobileꝰ outher Iubileꝰ the yer of grace & is ordeined the / L yere· For [...]oth was tho fyfty yere old For abraham that was connyng in the craft of knowleche of the planettes and sterres knewe that the temprure that cometh of highnesse and lownesse of planettes and sterres cometh ayene to temprure atte fyfty yere. And so Abraham: ordeyned som lykenesse here in erth that he sawe in the sterres and planettes ¶Petrus 53 ¶Abraham had a sonne Ismael borne of his seruaunt Agar the which Ismael was circumcided whan he was threttene yere old ¶The Ara­bes vsen yet that maner of doyng Ismael was her ductour / ¶Genesis This Ismael was afterward an Archer and ga­te [...]n his wyf that was of egypt twelue dukes leders of peple that cleped hem self Sarasins As thaugh they were y come of Sarra: but they be veryly agarenes for they come of agar Ismaels moder· Also they be called Ismaelytes for they come of Ismael and be madianytes also R ¶Our lord yaf Abraham & his children the circumsicion f [...]r to make and departe his peple from other nacions Petrus / 47 ¶For abrahams name was chaū ged whan he was circumcided. therfor [...]ebrewes yeuē her childer names the ·viij / day whan they be circūcided: In the old testamēt me redeth that men were warned of four mennes names bifore the birth of ysmael Isaac / sampson and Iosias In the newe [Page lxxxv] testament only of Iohan babtyste and criste R ¶And whan that was y doo it bodeth and bitokened grete grace and merite & vertu. So me redeth in Remygyus lyf Genesis / This yere so­doma was destroyed and loth delyuerd and wente in to Segor a lytil cyte there heside an hille / And was wyn dronke and in his sleep he gate Moab on his oldest doughter and Amon on his other doughter Of moab come the moabytes / And of Amon the amonytes ¶ R ¶Of the place of Sodoma that is called nowe the dede see loke aboue in the first book in the prouynce of Asia in the chapytre Iudea that is the Iurye:

¶ Isaac Capitulum vndecimum

ISaac was born of his Moder Sarra whan she was foure score yrre olde and ten / Petrus 539 Isaac was wened wha [...] he was thre yere old and tho was made a gret feeste ¶ For tho he went first to his fader borde ¶ Crees began to regne in Creta / of hym that ylond creta hath that name c [...]eta ¶ Somme men say that Crees was one of the gou [...]rnours that norysshed and hidde Iupiter Sarra dyed whan she was six score yere old and seuen and was buryed in eb [...]on And sone therafter elezeer abrahams seruaunt was sente f [...]r [...] fette a wy [...] for Isaac and brought rebecka. Also Abraham wedded ce [...]hura and big [...] te on her six childeren and departed hem all from his sone I [...]aac ¶ Petrus 59. Hebrewes seyn that Ce [...]hura is a com [...]n [...] na­me and is to vnderstandyng y coupled / And seyth that this ce­th [...]ra was aga [...] and of le [...]man was made a wi [...] after / the deth of Sarra lest pe [...]auenter the old man shold haue be holden and reputed for a lechour yf he had wedded ony other than he had leye by bifore ¶ I [...]aac was fourty yere old whan he wed­ded Rebecca that bare no child / xx yere after ¶ Augustinus libro octodecimo. Atte last / 54 Tryconydes was seyn a womā that [...]eete trycona the grees calle hir minerua and heete pallas Also of pallas the Ilond of Tracia there was she nourysshed outher of pallas the geant that he slough R Here take [...]ede that this geant pallas was another g [...]ant than the geant pal­las that turnus euanders slough in [...]n [...]as tyme Augustinꝰ vbi supra This maide pallas that he [...]te minerua found vp many craftes and specially wolle craft / and was lightyer trowed [Page] a goddesse: For me wist wele lytil whens she cam· Isaac had twey twynnes born of rebecca Esau and Iacob ¶Augustinus vbi supra / The kyngdom of Argyues began in Grecia vnder Inachus Isis fader Isis heete Io also & Inachus regned fyfty yere And that kyngdom dured fyue honderd yere and foure and fourty vnder xiiij kynges vnto the last acrisius hym slowe per­sius. though it were not by his wylle the twelfth yere of delbo­ra Iugge of Israel· And therfore persius drad ful soore and lefte the Argus and torned the kyngdom to the mycenes Abraham an honderd yere old thre score and fyftene deyed and was buryed in Ebron Petrus 66 The langage of Hebrew and the vsage of old latyn is for to accompte the lasse nombre before to the more countray to the maner that latyn vseth nowe For now we seyn in latyn Abraham lyued an honderd yere .iij score and fyftene· But the hebrewes seyn in this maner: Abra­ham lyued fyftene thre score and an honderd yere ¶ Augusti­nus de ciuitate dei libro octodecimo Feroneus Inachus sonne was the second kyng of the argyues and regned sixty yere / This Feroneus Argolycus yafe firste lawes in grees and ordeyned that causes shold he pleted to fore Iugges ¶ Therfor he cleped the place of domes forum after his owne name / his broders na­me was Fogons and the fogons coude moche Astrologye / and ordeyned temples to worship fals goddes: therfor he was repu­ted and taken for a God amonge them that worshipped suche fals goddes His sister was called ysis / and Io also. she sayl­led into Egypt and taught men there lettres and tyllynge of feldes: Therfore after her deth she was honoured as a goddesse a­mong theym Isidorus libro tercio ¶Isis ordeyned first trompes. therfor the amasones cleped hir oft to batayll ward with trompes ¶ R ¶ That me redeth that Iupiter rauesshed Io and on hit begate epaphus It is but a fable and feynyng of Poetes / For noble fame of eyther persone ¶ For Poetes feyne many noble persones geten of Iupiter For the kyn shold be holde for the more gentil and noble ¶ But Io was in the tyme of Isaac and Iupiter was after in the tyme / of Iosue: Thessallus grecus sonne regned in thessalia. Iacob after that he hadde bought the first birthes and slyly geten his faders blessyng by his moders counsayle he went doun in to mesopotania Petrus 64 ¶The first birthes were speciall profytes and worship that the oldest sonne had in her kynrede vnto Aaron: For they were [Page lxxxvj] clothed in special clothynge in offrynge of sacrifice and had her fader blessynge and double porcion in feestes and in delyng of herytage and they shuld blesse her lasse Iacob begate his first sonne ruben on his wyf lya ¶This yere was a lytil flode in a­chaia that heet attica· that lond was vnder ogiges the kyng that renued the cyte Atthen and bilde Elensis ¶ This yere Iacob four score yere old and enleuen begate Ioseph on rathel / Petrus 74: Whan the fourten yere were doo in the whiche Iacob serued for his wyues. Laban made couenaunt with hym that alle the spekeld lammes and kyddes that shuld be ewed duryng his co­uenaunt shuld be Iacobs mede· and all that were of oo coloure whyte / or blac shuld be labans owne therfore Iacob toke gren [...] yerdes of poplers of almond trees and of Platans and pylled of the rynde in somme place of the yerdes / and in somme place pylled hem not· And soo he made the yerdes spekeld and made hem in the wattryng place bifore the shepes eyen when they shold conceyue for theyshold conceyue lambes like to the shadowes that they sawe of Rāmes in the myrroure of the water in the con­ceyuyng / And for they shold not alle be specled leste the gyle were knowen / therfor in the first conceyuyng tyme he leyde so ye [...] des but not in the later conceyuyng tyme And so Iacob founde a newr maner tornyng of kynde with kyndely craft to fighte ayenst kynd R Loke more of this matier aboue libro eius capi­tulo primo ¶ Whan Iacob was come ayene with his wyues & children er he cam to his fader twellue yere bifore the deth of I­saac Ioseph sexten yere old was sold in to egypte to one that he [...] te putephar that was ennuchus and maister of pharoes knyghtes ¶Treuisa Ennuchus is he that is gelded and suche were somtyme made wardens of ladyes in egypt ¶Augustinus super Genesim ¶This putephar was not soo ennuchus as they that were gelded in her childhode for he had wyf and childer and Io­seph had wedded his doughter / but this putephar sawe that Ioseph was fayr and boughte him for to mysuse hym. therfore god made this putephar so cold· that he myghte neuer after haue to doo flesshely with his owne wyf no moore than thaugh he were ennuchꝰ y gelded / & therfore as he that was most worshipful he was made bisshop of god heliopoles. Apis the third kyng of argiues was Feroneus sonne and regned two and twenty yere Isaac an honderd yere old and four score dyed and was bury­ed in the double graue in ebron ¶ That yere pharao sawe the [Page] sweuen of the seuen corn eres and of the seuen kyne

¶ Iacob· ¶Capitulum duodecimum

THis yere that was the seconde yere of Fanus Iacob an honderd yere old and thrytty wente with his childer doū in to Egypte ¶ Augustinus libro octodecimo This yere apis the kyng argolicus sailled in to Egypte & dyed & was y cleped Serapis Varro tellith why he was cleped serapis and saith that the chiste that he was put in was cleped Seron in grewe / And therfor apis was named Seronapis and afterward by withdrawyng of lettres as me vseth he was called Serapis That whyte spekeld oxe that men of Egypte for it was worsh­ped a lyue it was cleped apis / And whan that oxe was deede they ordeyned hem another oxe that was also whyte specled & tenderly nourysshed and worshipped ¶ Hugo capitulo Apes That bole hete Apis that was wonte to come out of the Ryuer Nylus and warne by his pleyng and startlyng what was to comyng ¶Petrus Somme telle that euery yere in Serapis feste / come vp a boole oute of the Ryuer Nylus and had a whyte marke in the right shulder shapen as a newe mone / And whan the Egipciens came to hym with al maner musick and myrthe yt bole was lyfte vp in to the eyer as it were with Iolyte & with the meouyng and styntyng of that boole· the Egipcians moeued & stynt vpō the erth / but that boole vanysshed out of theyr sight that same daye Therfor the Egypcians worshipped that boole for than man Apis and a cowe in stede of Isis that woman & a boole also for Iupiter Therfor it was a grete abhominacion among the egypcians to slee neet or ete ther flesshe ¶Argus the fourth kynge of Argyues began to regne and regned six and fourty yere In this tyme grees hadde sede brought oute of o­ther landes and gan to ere and sowe and haue corne tylled the rinne Iacob an honderd yere old and seuen and fourty blessid his childer & yaf to euery of them his blessynge & dyed & was enoynted and kept thrytty dayes and atte last born in to ebron and buryed there in the double graue ¶Petrus. It was the maner of mysbyleued men for to kepe a dede bodye nyne dayes withoute oynement and make sorow for hem nyne dayes and wasshe the bodyes nyne dayes for to wytte whether the soule were apassed or noo ¶Afterward they kepte the bodyes fourty [Page lxxxvij] dayes enoynted But it was the maner of Iewes for to kepe dede / bodyes seuen dayes without oynement / and afterward thrytty dayes enoynted Augustinus libro octodecimo ¶ Me seyth that Promotheus· Rapetus sonne and athlas the Astronomer his broder made men so seyth ouidius in magno / ¶Netheles that is seyde / for of men that were vnconnyng & boystous as beestes they made connyng men and wyse Ysidorus tercio decimo Also for me redeth that they made ymages of men goo and walke on the grounde by a certeyn crafte ¶Also thes fonde firste a ring of yren and closed therinne a precious stone and cleped it a nayle. ffor as the nayle is closed in the flessh so is such a stone closed in the / metal Hugo capitulo Annulus Annulus is a ring seid of anus an ers. ¶For somtyme theues and mansleers whan they were taken shold bere an ape on her neck and holde her mouth atte apes ers. but this foule vsage ceesed and theues manslers whan they were taken shold bere ringes of yron in her fyn­gers And therfor gentilmen for to haue dyuersite and distinction from suche brybours made hem rynges of gold or of syluer ¶Ysidorus libro 19 in fine / Gentilmen vsed her rynges of siluer and of gold on the fourth finger that is cleped the leche by cause of more heyghting and fayrenesse / for in that fynger is a veyne that stretcheth to the herte But Romaynes had rynges of the comune tresory gentilmen had rynges and other had solidi that were hool and sound ¶Free men of bloode vsed rynges of gold Fre men that came of bonde men vsed rynges of syluer / but bond men vsed rynges of yron ¶Somtyme it was a greet diffamaci­on for a man to vse moo rynges than one· ¶Augustinus de ci. This promotheus had a brother that heete Athlas and was an Astronomer. therfor men feyned that he bare heuen ¶ Also a greete hille in Affryca heete Athlas / by this man Athlas name. and the lewde peple wene that that hille bere vp heuen Petrus

¶ Me seyth that Trycolomus went that tyme in his ship that was peynted with a dragon in to Grece and made there more craft of tyllyng of feldes / Also that tyme Ceres that woman that the grees calle demetra without Instrumentes that she fond vp of eeryng craft She founde also vp mesures of whete for bi­fore they deled whete / by huples smal or grete R After that tyme grees began to haue tylth of corne so seyth ysidorus libro 5 / ¶Ioseph an honderd yere old and ten deyed in egypt and was enoynted with swete oynementis and kepte vnto the goynge of [Page] the children of ysrael out of Egypte an honderd yere and foure and fourty in the whiche tyme the hebreus serued the egipcians ¶Also as Iosephes bretheren dyed eueryche after other they were buryed in ebron ¶Netheles afterward her bones were born in to Sychem with Iosephes bones that place heete nowe neapolis the cyte of Samarytanes And so from that tyme that Iacob come in to egypte vnto that tyme that the hebrewes the childer of Israel wente out of Egypt were two honterd yere and fyften

¶ Moyses ¶ Capitulum 13

AMram was caath sonne Caath was leuy sonne. this Am­ram sixty yere old begate moyses on his wyf Iocabeth / Petrus ¶ Pharao vnder whom Ioseph was heete nephres by his owne propre name / the eyghte pharao after hym heete a­monophis / in his tyme moyses was born ¶Iohannes libro secundo ¶ This Pharao hated the childer of Israel / for vertu of wytte for connyng of trauayle for plente of Rychesse and for fairenesse of childer / Therfor he bethought him felliche and gylefully to bere a downe the childer of Israel and hold hem lowe / lest they wold multyplye to fast and aryse ayenst hym ¶ Also he put vpon theym charges of many maner werkes for to make brent tyle for to digge [...]ches about the rennyng stremes of the Ryuer of Salus and for to bere fen and cley / And yaf hem nought to mete but smal chaffe ¶For he wold so ouercome hem with trauaylle and with honger that they sholde haue no wille f [...]r to ligge by theyr wyues and so it sholde folowe that childer shold faylle ¶Also one that was a wryter of holy lettres / and w [...]st what was to come· warned pharao kyng of egypte that one shold be borne of the hebrewes that shold bere doun the pryncipate of Egypte and areyse the kynde of Israel and make hem ful grete· ¶Therfor it was commaunded that the men childer of I­srael shold be slayne whan they were born / Petrus / But yet for this the peple multiplyed fast & pharao cōmāded the midwyues of egipt that they shuld sl [...]e alle the men childer of hebrewes and kepe the mayde childer ¶For he helde women kynde wel febel to be rebel / And netheles wele likyng of lechery to the egipcians and whan Pharao myght not so haue his wyl he comāded [Page lxxxviij] to throw the men childer in to a Ryuer anone as they were borne Me troweth that for that synne the Egypcians felle in to that errour for to worshipe an oxe that they cleped ▪ Apis in stede of god / Genesis Therfor moyses was hidde thre monethes whan he was born but atte last he was don in a scaf of asshes shapen as a lytel boot glued wele aboute and throwen in to the Ryuer / Than thermuth pharoos doughter fonde hym and toke hym vp of the water and made hym as it were her owne sonne and cle­ped hym moyses ¶ Iosephus libro secundo / Moyses is a name made of twey names of grewe of moy that is water / and esis that is saued / and so moyses is sayde as he that is saued by water / Also this child moyses hated al the wymens brestes of the Egypcians and wold suke no womans breste of the egypcians but he was slyly brought to his owne moder and she fedde him And whan he was thre yere old god almyghty made hym so fayr of shap and of stature· that whan he was born by stretes· al that were aboute hym lefte of her werke and occupacions for to loke and bihold on that child were they neuer so sterne ne an­gry Than on a day thermuth Pharoes doughter brought the child to Pharao· for he shold see the child and make hym as it were his owne sonne ¶ Than the kyng had wonder of the fayrenesse of the child and toke his owne crowne in the whiche the ymage of Iupiter was grauen· and sette it on the childes heede. but the child anone threwe downe the crowne / and trade theron spytously with his feet. and there stode one that was god Eleopoles preeste and cryed and saide / this is that childe that oure god bade vs slee / that we drede no more and wold anone haue slayne the child / But there was a wyseman and sayde / that the childe hadde so do by vnconnyng of childhode and soo [...]e saued the child ¶Petrus libro secundo ¶ In euydence of this excusacion of the child were brennyng coles brought bifore the child moyses / & anone he put hem in his mouth & skal­ded the poynt of his tonge. the Hebrewes trowed that by cause therof he hadde afterward a lette in his tong· This child Moy­ses was so fayre that men that bihelde hym toke so grete hede to the fayrenes of him that they put of al angre & teene & toke hede to the fayrenesse of the childe ¶Me seyth that aboute this tyme hercules ouercome Antheus in wrastlyng Iosephus libro secūdo The ethyopes blue men warred vpon egypte & the dyuynours had answer that they sholde take a beder of hebrewes & vnnethe [Page] they gate moyses and made hym her leder and capitayne / Moy­ses was cunnyng in dedes of bataylle and forsoke the waye by the water Nylus and ladde his hoost by a wyldernesse that was ful of serpentes / Netheles he put ciconias by nyght ayenst the serpentes / Cicome be birdes of the lande of Egypt that haten and destroyen serpentes and be myld, ynow to mankynde ¶ And so came vnwar vpon the Ethyopes and closed theym in a Ryal ci­te Saba afterward Cambyses the kyng cleped that Cyte meroen after his sister name ¶ That cyte is ful stronge by cause of wallys of dyches and watres that renne aboute that Cyte / And is sette bytwene the Ethyopes and the Egypcians vpon the Ryuer Nylus· ¶ Tharbys the kynges doughter of E­thyopes sawe the fayrenesse of moyses and delyuerd him the cyte vpon a couenaunt that he sholde wedde her to wyf Petrus libro secundo ¶ This is that woman of Ethyopia for the whiche marye and aaron stroof with moyse [...] in desert / whan moyses wold torne agayn in to Egypt his wyf wolde not as­sente / ¶ Therfore moyses as a man that was connyng in the Cours and worchynge of the sterres and planettes made twey Rynges / one of mynde and another of foryetyngnesse / And kepte the Rynge of mynde with hym self. and toke his wyfe the Ryng of oblyuyon / And soo he tourned home agayne Genesis / That tyme whan Moyses vysyted his bretheren in the lande of Iessen / he slough a man of the Egypcians and hidde hym in the sand for he hadde smyten a man of the Hebrewes

¶ On the morne a man of the Hebrewes putte that ayenste moyses berde and Moyses dradde soore. and auoyded for drede in to the lond of Madyan / And wedded Zephora a Preestes doughter of that londe and gate on hir Gersan and Elieser /

¶ Petrus libro secundo· ¶ This Preeste was Prymat [...] in the lande of Madian aboute the reede See / his propre name was Raguel And hadde twey surnames Iethero and Cyneus and hadde seuen doughters that were herdes and kept beestes / for thoffice of kepyng of beestes was that tyme ordeyned for women & specially in the lond of Trogodytes The kyngdom of Athenes began vnder cicropis fables telle that on his wyf latona. apolyn lord of wytte & of wysedome was geten by Iupiter. deucalyon began. to regne in thessalia in his .xij· yere was the thyrd perticu­ler flood & the brennyng vnder pheton ¶ Augꝰ li / 18. This flode destroied a gret partye of grees· ther many mē fledde in to shippis [Page lxxxix] to deucalyon kynge of thessalia and were saued ¶ Deucalyon occupyed that tyme the mount pernasus / for this happe Poetes feyned that deucalyon and his wyf Pirra threw downe stones and arered men [...] Ysidorus libro terciodecimo capitulo 61 ¶ Whan Ryuers waxen ouer mesure they doo not only harme in the arysynge but they bode and bitoken harme that shal come afterward / ¶ Oroꝰ libro secundo ¶ Also the sonne that tyme brent not only Ethyopia blew mennes lande but it brente also the lande of Scicia so greuously that men myght not endure. and bycause herof mysbyleued men feyned the fable of Feton.

¶ Moyses / Aaron ¶ Capitulum 14

MOyses four score yere old with his broder Aaron four score yere olde and thre spak to Pharao kynge of Egypt for he shold delyuer god almyghtyes peple and lete hem doo sacrefice to god / But pharao was fast and hard in his malyce. and wold not suffre the people goo / Wherfore Egypt was smyten with ten grete wreeches and punysshmentes Augustinus libro octodecimo / ¶ That tyme that god toke wreeche in egypte somme of the Egypcians dradde lest Egypt shold haue fynally be destroyed & went in to other landes / and soo one Cycrops saylled in to Grece and buyld the cyte Atthen that was called afterward a­thenes ¶R Loke more of Atthen in the first book / capitulo grecia scilicet Alladia Netheles Coryntheus that firste was na­med Epyra was buyld fyue yere bifore Atthen ¶ Petrus li­bro secundo / Ther were many wreeches in egypt withoute the ten grete wreeches. therf [...]r sōme dayes in the kalendre / be called dayes of Egypt by cause that in thoo dayes felle wreeches in egypte Of the which dayes we sette in the kalendr [...] but in euery moneth tweyne in mynde of the wreeches that god toke in egypte· Neu (er) ­theles ther were many moo wreeches taken in egypt· It is not to be demed ne trowed thaugh the egipcians were connyng in knouleche of the sterres & planetes that they founde that these dayes were peryollꝰ & forbode in beginning of werkes & of weyes & in bloode lettyng. than whan moyses was lxxx yere old he ledde the folk of Israel out of egypt in the same day of the yere that Iacob & his childer entred in to egypte whan Isrl̄ went out of egypte the mone was .xv· dayes old. and was four honderd yere and [Page] thrytty after that Abraham went oute of Carram that was in mesopotania in the lande of bibeste whan Israel wente oute of Egypte about vj C M men & bare with hem Iosephes boones And the boones of his enleuen bretheren that be callyd patriar­ches and buryed hem in Sychem so seyth Ierome Israel to­ke with them m [...]le and floure / sprong with oyle / and vsed that thrytty dayes A pyler of a clowde went bifore Israel and lad­de hem by day and a pyler by nyght / whan Israel went out of Egypte the reede see opened and lete hem passe / and drenched alle the egypcians that toke the same way in the openyng of the See for to pursu [...] / ¶ Iosephus The openyng of this See shal not be vntrowed / for me redeth that the See Pamphilicum opened bifore kyng Allexander Macedo and also bifore his hoost whan he pursewed darius / ¶ Petrus libro secundo / ¶ The water of this see is not reede of kynde· but it is dyed of reede clyues and erthe that lyeth there aboute· ¶ Therfor also there be founden reed precious stones and there is founden sharp ver­mylon· This see is departed in tweyne / that one parte is called the see Persicus and that other the see Arabycus / ¶Iohannes libro tercio ¶ Thrytty dayes after that Israel wente oute of egypt they faylled corne and our lord yaue hym curlews manna and water of the stone in Oreb / yet that place is watred with rayne as god yaue water that tyme by moyses hande ¶ Thre monethes after that Israel went oute of Egypt· Moyses wente vp in to the hille / and fasted fourty dayes and fourty nyghtes / and receyued the lawe / and seuen monethes he made the taber­nacle by ensample that was shewed hym on the hille and soo the tabernacle was arrered the firste daye of Aprille in the second yere of her outgoynge of Egypte. ¶ From this tyme to the buyldyyg of the temple in Iherusalem is compted foure honderd yere and foure score ¶ Also this tyme as somme men telle / Yo that woman wente frō Argyues in to egypte and there she was callyd Isis and was wedded to Thelegon / And hadde a childe that was callyd Epaphus ¶ Petrus libro quarto capitulo decimo sexto ¶ After the seconde yere of the outgoyng of Egypte twelue espyes were sente to the londe of biheste / and come agayn for grudchyng of the people and despeyr and wanhope the childer of Israel were forb [...]den to goo forther / ¶ Therfor they torned ayene in to wyldernesse and were there punysshed fourty yere and none of them entred in to the lande [Page lxxxx] of biheste oute take Caleph and Iosue ¶ The sixth yere after the outgoynge of Egypt Eriston buylded the temple of App [...] ­lyn Delphycus. ¶ Also that yere Cranaus the second of a­thenes began to regne and regned nyne yere. His doughter was called Athys of hir Atthica that lande hath the name ¶ R Loke bifore in the first book capitulo. Grecia silicet Eladia That tyme the Hebrewes receyued lettres and grecia vynes ¶Also lacedemon Semelis sonne buylded lacedomonia that Cyte and the ferth Erutonius of Sciciones· Archas kyng of the Argyues yaue his name to that lond Archadia and callyd after his owne name· ¶But that lond Archadia hette rather Cici [...]ma Egypte he eete rather Aerea· And hath that name Egypte of one Egyptus that regned therinne / ¶ Danaus the tenth of Argyues regned fyfty yere. ¶ Oroꝰ libro primo· ¶ Da­naus and Egystus were twey bretheren ¶ And Danaus by his fyfty doughters slowe Egystus fyfty sonnes in one nyghte oute take one that sholde regne after hym ¶Danaus doer of many euyl dedes went vp to the Argyues / and by gyle put ou [...] sceuelus that had ofte saued hym whyle he was nedy and on [...]lawe and regned hym self ¶ Me troweth that in that tempeste went out that man that was called Liber pater and heete dyonysius Bachus Also he made vp Argiues and yaue the grekes vse of vynes· Augustinus de ciuitate dei ¶Me sayth that the grete mercurius was in that tyme / this Mercurius was Maya Athlas doughter sonne / ¶This mercurius wās connyng in many craftes· And there he was made amonge hem as he were a god. but the grete hercules was somdele latter than he ¶R This grete hercules had a surname de [...]aneus so seyth marianus libro primo capitulo Fyue honderd fourty and fyue Also this is that Hercules that slough busirus the tyraunt so seyth Ouyde Iosephus / This hercules wedded ethea Affers doughter affer was Madyans sonne / therfor hercules went with affer to wyn­ne Libia· and that land was than cleped Affryca by Affer the conquerours name· The fourty yere after the outgoyng of egypt Aaron an honderd yere old and thre and twenty dyed in Oreb / Also the same yere moyses whan he had lyued fourty yere in E­gipt fourty yere in madyan and fourty yere sauf thrytty dayes in desert six score yere old almost he dyed in the hille mount a­barim ayenst Ierico that towne and was buryrd of our lord in the valey of Moab

¶ Sequitur Capitulum 15.

[Page]IOsue moyses seruaunt ruled the peple six and twenty yere so seyth Iosephus / Netheles the scripture rekened not the yeres Iosue the first yere of his leedynge ladde the peple in to the lande of biheste / And the Ryuer Flum Iordan opened and lette them passe and Iosue offred the estre offryng and renewed the circumsicion that was forborn̄ fourty yere in wyldernesse And whan they ete of the fruyt of that lond than manna failled that hadde dured fourty wynter ¶ Petrus ¶ Eusebius in his Cronyke sayth that that yere was Iubileus the yere of gra­ce and was the one and fifteth yere of grace as though ther were a passed from the begynnyng of the world two thousand yere fy­ue honderd and fyfty that is one and fyfty sithes fyfty yere than for to take of euery fyfty yere one yere of grace [...] It cometh to one and fyfty yeres of grace / But by the seuenty ther were pas­sed many moo yeres / And Beda foloweth the Hebrewes / and proued that there lacked seuen yere of two thousand fyue hon­derd and fyfty The firste yere of Iosue Eruthonius the fourth kynge of Athene was the first that brought charyote in to grece as me sayth Netheles bifore were Charyottes in other landes ¶ Augustinus libro octodecimo ¶ This ordeyned firste pleyes to / Apolyn and to minerua ¶ Also that tyme busirus the ty­rant kynge of Egypte vsed his tyrannye on his ghestys. For he slough men and offred hem to goddes / Me sayth that he was Nep­tunus sonne begeten on Libia Epaphus doughter ¶ Iosue de­parted the lond of palestynes· to the Iewes / ¶ Also that ty­me Fenyx and Cadmus twey brethern of thebe that is in E­gypte wente in to Siria / And regned at Tyrus and at Sydon twey Cytees that so were callyd Iupiter kynge of Creta ra­uesshyd europa the doughter of Agenor kynge of Libia Afterward Astrius kyng of Creta wedded Europa to wyf ¶ Augustinus libro octodecimo ¶ Iupiter on Europa that he raues­shyd he gate Radamantus Sarpedon and mynoys that regned after hym in Creta / R / Netheles marianꝰ / li / 1· c· 61 / seyth that astriꝰ on europa begate these thre sones / Ysid / li / 14 / Agenore kyng of libia begate thre sones / silex / fenyx cadmus and one dough­ter that was callid Europa / whan Iupiter had rauesshyd her he put hir in his ship that was y peynted with a bole / & therfor po­etes feyne that Iupiter was torned in to a boole / agenore bad his iij / sones that they shold go seche their sister that was so rauesshid & ladde away & forbade hem to come agayn but yf they brought [Page lxxxxj] theyr sister with hem· And by cause they coude not fynde her· they d [...]ad the wrath of her fader / Silex abode in a countre and cleped it Scilicia after his owne name / And fenyx abode in Fenycia But Cadinus chose his exilyng in grecia. there he folowed the steppe of an ox and come to a countrey and abode there and cleped it Boecia Oxlande / Afterward he buylde there the cyte of thebe ¶ R Loke more herof in the first beok capitulo Grecia ¶Au­gustinus libro octodecimo Iupiter regned in the Ilond Cre­ta and his fader saturnus was put out and went to Italy ¶Henricus ¶This was a wyckedman and a grete werryour and conquerd gree [...] ¶ There after his deth the grekes that were full of lesynges / helde hym god of heuen· and named hym god of goddes / for his grete power and myght ¶The men of Cre [...]a for he was buryed amonge hem / wolde speke of his byryels Therfor the grekes· cleped hem lyers Allexandre in mith· Veray story sayth that Saturnus the fader and Iupiter the sonne had twey kyngdoms ioynyng to geder in Creta and for en­des and boundes of feldes was a batayll bitwene hem and Iu­piter hadde the maystry and Saturnus was chased oute and went in to Italye and there Ianus the kyng receyued hym to a part of the Empyre by cause he couthe skylle in vynes in ree­pyng and in tyllyng of feldes And he was called Saturnus of satu [...]itas that is plentee for he made grete plente in that londe ¶Eutropius ¶ This Saturnus flemed his sonne Iupiter out of Grece to the endes of Tuscia not fer from the place of Rome he hidde him there in a place and cleped the place Saturnia after his owne name / & after he cleped it lacium that is his hy­dyng place / there he taught boystous men to bylde ere and sowe. and sette vynes / For byfore they lyued by Ackornes and dwelled vnder bowes and twygges wouen to geder ¶ Also this or­deyned pannes of brasse / therfor the vplondysshe men hyeld hym a god ¶R ¶And though poetes mene that Iupiter gelded Saturnus for he shold not gete childer to supplante hym / Netheles the history of Rome sayth that Saturnus gate pycus in I­talie· ¶ Allexander in mith ¶ Other myghty geantes foū ded to put out this Iupyter / this Iupiter was ful cruel and destroubled the pees after that his fader was put out and ouer come the geantes with gynnes of werre / me feyned that be lightned out geantes ¶ Petrus / ¶ Iosue er he dyed hyeld water on the erth bifore the peple in token of the couenaūt that [Page] was made bytwene god & the peple that was that the peple had chosen the sothfaste god ¶ Petrus: ¶ Mysbyleued men vsed to helde out and shede. the bloode of a sowe in token of coue­naunt made Hugo capitulo Fedus ¶ Fedus that is a coue­naunt is sayd of Feda a sowe that is slayne as it were to mene that is blood that breketh the couenaunt shuld in that maner be shadde / Petrus / But the hebrewes helde out water in token that as the water is all shadde and nought y lefte / soo he that bre­keth the couenaunt shuld be deed and al his kyn· Also men in old tyme vsed to arere and enhaunce signes and tokens that myght longe dure in mynde of couenaunt of hem that come after ward / And so somme men arered and enhaunced stones and hu­ples of stones in mynde of couenauntes

¶ Othonyel ¶ Capitulum 16

AFter Iosues deth Israel serued chusan kyng of Mesopotania eyght yere / Netheles this eyght yere be acompted with Othonyels tyme Calephs broder / by the hebrewes / ¶ But the yeres of reste and of thraldome were acompted to geder vnder Iugges of Israel / the sothnesse of the acomptes wold not stan­de in the historye ¶ Augustinus libro octodecimo ¶ About this tyme that woman Lathona bare Appolyn in to the Ilond Del [...]s· R / But not that other appolyn delphicus that had longe bifore be / but that Appolyn that serued the kynge admetus with the latter hercules. ¶ Me seyth that this Latona was the same woman that he [...]r Isis ¶ Than othonyel was leder of Israel fourty yere for to r [...]ken the forseyd eyght yere of thraldome Neptunus regned and was the fyfth kyng of Athene Cady­nus regned in th [...] cyte th [...]bes of his doughter semela was born Denys bachus that was callyd also Liber pater· that is the fre fader· In his tyme was lynus of thebe in Egypt the grete chaū toure in his floures / ¶ Fenyx bylde bythynya that heete som­tyme Mariandyna. Ysidorus libro secundo capitulo quinto ¶ And as Fenyx yaue the Fenyces. somme rede lettres R Therof boke more in the first book. capitulo quinto decimo Fenicia / Ysidorus libro secundo ¶ The lettres of grece that cadinꝰ [Page lxxxxij] yaf hym speleth wordes and stondeth for nombres ¶R The lettres of grece from the first to the tenth as· A / standeth in ordre of A b c so they stande for nombre amōg the grekes / for the first standeth for one / and the seconde for tweyne and the thyrdde for thre / and soo the fourth vnto the tenth. But the .xj. letter stan­deth for twenty / the twellyfth for thrytty the xiij for fourty· & so vnto an C for an C / standeth the / xix than the twenty lettre standeth for the one and twenteth for thre honderd / the ·xxij for four honderd & so forth Petrus Crafte & vse of yren was foūden in egypt. the dedes that me telleth of demetra / and of dan Per [...]us moder befell that tyme. and the cyte corinthy was buyld [...]d tha [...] tyme·

¶ Aioth ¶ Capitulum [...]

AIoth was leder of Israel foure score yere for to acc [...]m [...] eyghtene yere / in the whiche Israel serued Eglon the [...] [...]yng of Moab· ¶ Also for to rekene one yere of Sangar· the duc and leder that slouwgh six honderd men with a plowe sha­re. ¶ This Aioth vsed eyther hande for his right hand and was Ier [...]es sonne Ihera was gemynus sonne ¶ Petrus ¶Somme tellen that Gemynus was a vyle persone of the lyng­nage of Benyamyn: ¶ And was ofte named in reprooue to alle his ofprynge / for he was so vyle and vnworthy. Netheles these hebrewes meene that these Gemynus was benyamyn. as though he were so named by chaungynge owther withdrawyng of somwhat of the begynnynge of the name / For where we set [...]e Gemynum / the Hebrewes sette Iamyn that is a Rynge· that longeth to the righte side· And maye be sayd Gemynus in latyn / ¶ Rytholomus came in a longe shippe to Elensio / and deled there wheete· And Ortus kynge of Molos and of Tracia rauesshyd Proserpyna hir hounde that was callyd Cer­be [...]us swolowed vp a man that was named Piriton that come with theseus to rauessh Proserpyna / And the same hound cer­berus wold haue eten theseus also But hercules came the mea­ne tyme and saued hym· And therfore he was [...]yned in to helle ¶Athens bylde Achaia ¶Denys liber pater duc of athene [Page] was born of Semela as somme men saye and toke myscerya of Perseus that slowe that hoor gorgon that was so fayre that she astonyed men that bihelde her fayrenesse Also that tyme Frixus & his sister Elles fled the malyce & the pursuyte of theyr step­dame and were drowned in the see that is called Elespontus And for a wethir was paynted in the signe of her ship. therfore me feyned that the wether with the golden flese bare hem forth / by the ayer / Laomadon the eyght kynge of Scicions regned. L yere / Amphion and Zebus regned in Thebe the Cyte of Gre [...]e· & put out Cadinus Tros regned in Dardania. that is Frisia and warred afterward ayenst Tantalꝰ kyng of Athene for the rauesshyng of Gammedes / Of this Tros the Troyans haue her name and ar called Troyans R ¶Than the fable of Iupiter is feyned and soo the rauesshyng of an e gle is feyned in ydel Perseus Erutheus brother faught ayenst the Perses. he smote of the heed of Gorgon ¶ Pegasus was a ful swyft hors of a wo­man that was callyd bellerefrontis ship ¶Ion the stronge man cleped the men of Athenes Iones by his owne name Denys that hete liber pater also werred wyth the Indes and buyld the Cyte Nisan ¶ This denys ordeyned first / women in his hooste with men ¶ Pelops first kyng of Poloponens was heed of the Olimpies· netheles afterward he was ayenst Troye and ouercome of dardanus / In Aiothes tyme duc of Israel the latter her­cules / another than we spak of bifore was in his floures ¶Trogus This hercules was stronge and tamed the world & ouer come the Amasones and passed in to Inde and warred there and ouercome the troyans and warred in libia and was lord of spayne ¶R This hercules ouercome Antheus the geant of Libia So seyth Ouyde in magno libro octauo / And slowe Gereon the geant kynge of Spayne and ladde his catall and hys beestes thurgh ytalye in token of the maystrye / And he bigate the kyng Latyn on the doughter of Fanus and he slowe a lyon / he slowe the serpent ydra in the water lerna / and he ran a furlong at one breth and he restored the tournamentes and Ioustes of Mount Olimp / he ouercome the Centaures and pight his pilers in the see atte Ilandes gades and he dyd twelue grete dedes. Treuisa The centaures were men of Thessalia they were the first that chastised horses and ledde hym with bridels and rode on horsbakkes ¶Augustinus libro octodecimo / And after his greete dedes he felle in a greet sekenesse / that was so payneful and soore that he [Page lxxxxiij] myght not endure / Therfore he threwe hym self in to a fyre and brent hym self R ¶Claudyanus libro sexto de raptu proserpine· et virgylius eneydis viij eciam Ouidius meth libro nono ¶ Reken the grete dedes that hercules did of the whiche dedes / the first was the vyctory that he had of the Centaures The second the sleyng & the huyldyng of lyons in a wood that hight nenia the thyrd the chasing of the foules that highte Arpyes The fourth the takyng of the golden apples out of the Orchard of the seuen doughters of Athlas the geant and the sleyng of the dragon that kept the palce / the fyfth the cheynyng and the tyeng of the grete hounde Cerberus that deuoured perytheus in the ra­uesshyng of proserpina ¶ The sixth the beryng doun of dyomede kyng of Tracia that fedde his hors with mennes flessh The se­uenth the destroyeng of ydra the serpent in the water lerna The echt the ouercomyng of Achelous that chaunged oftyme in to dyuerse lykenesse and shappes. The / ix. the throwyng doun of Antheus the geant of Libia that toke ayen myght & strength as ofte as he touched the erth / The / x / the sleyng of the catte that cast out fyre of his mouth as me sayde ¶ The .xj. the sleyng of the boor in Archadia. The ·xij· the beryng and holdyng vp of heuen whyle Athlas the geant reste hym whan he was wery

But in the thyrten dede he did on a corsette of dianier and dy­ed ¶ Here take hede that these twelue dedes that be acompted to hercules sowneth the story as it is told soo doth the second of the lyon and the elleuenth of the boor / owther it perteneth only to coueryng of thewes / and than the tale is a fable· but the menynge is full of truth and of sothnesse / So the thyrdde of the Arpy­es and the fourth of takyng and the rauesshynge of the gol­den apples / Owther it tokeneth and sowneth the storye y me­dled with a fable / so doth all his other dedes of thes twelue. Also here take hede / It semeth that it is not all one hercules that the­se twelue dedes be ascrybed to For seynt Augustyne de ciuitate dei li. octodecimo capitulo quarto decimo Seyth that it was another hercules that these dedes be aretted vnto· & another hercules that ouercome antheus the geant in wrastlynge / And also Boecius in fine quarti libri de consolacione telleth that same of Antheus among the twelue dedes of hercules / Also seynt Augustyne vbi supra eciam capitulo 19 / Seyth that there were many hercules And also sampson for his wonder strengthe / was acounted her­cules. And Frigius dares in his book of the batayll of Troye [Page] seyth that Iason that wan the golden flees at Colchos had a surname and was callid Hercules ¶ Therfor ouidius meth terciodecimo sayth Menia vnder fur [...] and the Troyans vnder hercules / And Ouidius octauo meth arretteth the sleyng of the boor of Archadia to meleandrus· And also septimo meth he ascri­beth the chasyng of the Arpyes to Boreas sonnes that highten Zoas and Calaius· therfor many wise men tellen that hercules is the surname of noble men and stalworth that passeth other men greetely in boldenesse and in strengthe. and soo it semeth alle by kyndly menynge of that name for hercules is seyd of heros / that is a man and of cleos that is blis as though hercules were to menyng a blysful man and gloryous

¶Eusebius in Cronyca ¶ Aioth ¶ Capitulum / 18

IN Aioths tyme namely in grece fables were founden and me seyth that Isopus founde firste fables for highte and enhaunce kyndly sothnesse· for the pryuyte of kynde shold not be despysed / therfor kynde of thynges and by dyuers maner of do­yng he feyned names and worchyng of goddes ¶Alcyn in mith And soo he feyned that after the flood men come of stones and of trees / but that was feyned for the manere of dwellynge of men in the old tyme / for somme went about as they were beestes Augustinus libro octodecimo capitulo decimo tercio After Io­sues deth vnto the batayll of Troye fables were feyned in grecia As that vlcanus in gret hete and brennyng of lechery with minerua gate Eruconius foted as a dragon that is a fable and a poetes feynyng and sawe / But the soth meanynge is that in the Cyte Athene was a temple of vlcanus and of minerua in that temple was a child founde byclypped aboute with a dragon / that bitokened that the child shelde be grete· and for the child was founde in her bothe temple / therfore the child was cleped her bothe sonne / ¶Also Tritholomus that was born of Fleyng addres in to nedy landes atte heste of Cerreres / & brought theym whete it is a fable· Also of mynotaurus that a beest [...] closed in laborintus ded [...]lus hows / And whan men wente in to that howse they were so begyled that they couth not come oute / Also of centaures that were medled of mankynde and of hors kynde / Also of Cerberus the hound of helle that had thre heedes / Also of [Page lxxxxiiij] Frix [...]s and his sister Elle that were borne of a wether by the eyre and flewen as fowle▪ Also of gorgon the strompet that she was heered with addres and turned in to stones men that bihelde hir Also of Bellerefront that he was born of a fleyng hors with fethres and wynges / his hors was callyd pegasus / Also of Amphion that he plesed stones and drowe hem to hym with swetnesse of his harpyng / Also of dedalus the carpenter and his sonne ycarius that made hem wynges of fethers and fley as fowles· Also of Antheus hym slowe hercules· Antheus was the sonne of the erth / therfor whan he felle down he roos agayne with more strengthe Ysidorus libro vndecimo / ¶Also gereon the geant kyng of spayn that was slayne of hercules and was descryued in thre lykenesses and shappes / It is a fable / ffor there were thre bretheren so wel acordyng to gedres that it semed that they hadde one soule / one wytt and one wylle Also the strōpettes Gorgons heered as serpentes had one eye and torned in to stones men that bihelde them it is a fable / But ther were thre sistres al of one fayrenesse. men that bihelde theym they made hem as styll and as stydfaste as stones / ¶ Also the thre syrenes / that were half maydens half fowles and hadden wynges and talentes as hawkes. and one of hem sang that other pyped and t [...]e third harped / and drowe to hem ward Shipman that saylled in the see in to ship wrake it is a fable / But ther were thre hoores that brought men that vsed hem in to meschyef and therfor me sayth that they brought hem in to shipbruche· ¶ Also that me feyneth that Scilla was a woman byclypped about with heedes of hoū ­des and with grete berkyng of houndes that is sayd / for the wa­wes of that see / Siculus that flasshith and wasshith vpon that rok that is called Scilla maketh suche maner noyse men that sail­leth therby be so aferd that they wene that the wawes berk that wasshen on that rokke / So they fenne that the serpent ydra with nyne heedes· and yf one heed were smyten of / than grewe vp thre for one / ¶ The sooth tale is that ydra was somtyme a place that wonderly and perilously cast vp water. and yf oo water were stopped the water brake-vp in many places and weyes Hercules sawe that and destroyed the swolowe and closed alle the weyes / therfor me feyneth that he destroyed ydra the serpent. ¶ꝑsid libro primo capitulo trisesimo tercio / Fables be sayde of fando that is spekyng / not for they be sothe in dede but feyned in spekyng Poetes brought in fables for thre skylles· for liking [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] of talkyng and of fayr spekyng. suche be the fables of plantus and of Terencius / and fables that be comonly told. Also for hel­the and enhauncyng of kynde so me seyth that vlcanus halteth for the fyre is neuer euen vlcanus is feyned god of fyre ¶ So Chymera is feyned a beeste of thre maner shappe [...] and kyndes & bitokeneth the ages of mankynde The first youth of a man is cruel as a lyon The second age of manhode is sharp of sight as a goot / owther stynketh by lechery as a goot▪ The thyrdde age is [...]lde and boweth as a dragon & wasteth alway and so the fable of ypocentaurus that was feyned medled af hors kynde and of mankynde bitokeneth the swyft passyng of mannes lyf / Also fa­bles be feyned for derke fayr and mystyal spekyng of thewes. As whan me speketh. and feyneth that thynges that can no rea­son speke to hem self that by the tale that is feyned the soth beto­kenynge be remeoued to that that is sothly don in dede· So Orace speketh of the mouse and of the wessylle / And ysopus and aue­net of the Fox and of the wolf and in libro Iudicum of the trees of lybanus and so speketh demostenes of wolues and houn­des feyned for the delyueraunce of the aduocates and lawers ¶R And that is that seynt Austyn seyth in his book de mendacio ¶ Fables he sayth though they haue no sothnesse in hemself· Netheles they represente and enduce to mannes mynde soth­nesse that they bitokene and signefye. ¶ Augustinus libro ter­cio capitulo tercio ¶ By auctoryte of the Romaynes it was affermed that the goddesse venus was Eneas moder· and that god mars was Romulus fader / But I and so varro byliue it not / the wryter of the storyes of Rome that sayth pryuely it were prouffitable to Cyteseyns that stronge men and orped trowed that they were bigeten of goddes though it were fals / That in that maner the mennis hertes shold be the bolder and haue trust in the lignage of goddes and auenture them [...] to the gretter dedes and doo myghtly with the moore boldenesse in trust of gracioꝰ ende by cause they hold them self of the kynde of goddes ¶Al­lexander in mith· Macrobius super sompnium / Scip [...]onis Seyth that somme fables be feyned by cause of lykyng· suche be of me­nandre and Terencius / and suche long [...]th not to philosophres And somme fables be feyned by cause / of prouffyt in excitinge & comfort / in the whiche fables the matier that me speketh of ow­ther the ordre of tellynge of the thynge that is feyned is fey­nyngly told that is to vnderstande / do fals is told by another [Page lxxxxv] fals / So it fareth in esopus fabbes & in anians fables also / and thes fables be not pertynent ne long not to philosophres Also somtyme a soth sawe is told by a feyned tale and suche were the feynynges of Esiodus and of Orpheus whan they spak of dy­uerse dedes of kynde of goddes and suche a tale is no fable but a tale like a fable And yf suche a tale is told by lykenesse of fowle thynge and harlottry than it lengeth not to philosophres neyther to dyuynes / but suche as be told by lykenesse of fayrenesse & of honeste perteyneth to philosophres / So plato feyned that a knyght that was callyd Er / aroos from deth to lyue and told many thynges of the euerlastyng lyf of mannes soule ¶R And Boece feyned that philosophye appered to hym in the lykenesse of amayde / In this maner maye a dyuyne vse ensamples manerly in his talkyng and spekyng ¶Pet [...]us ¶In Aiothis tyme the latter Appollo that was laton [...]es sonne as the Grekes telle founde vp the A [...]te of Phisic and made harpes ¶R / Netheles ysido­rus libro tercio eth Sayth that [...]rcurius afterward in Ge­deons tyme put seuen strenges to the ha [...]p that was bifore foun­den and he put to the strenges and streyned hem in this manere / The Ryuer Nylus had be vp and biflowed the lande / and was ebbed in to the chanel agayn. Than lay many beestes deed on the fe [...]des· and amonge other laye a dede snayle / whan this snayle was rooted the senewes were streyn [...]d within the skynne of the snayles hows and sowned as the wy [...]de blewe theron esyly / theron and softly. than mercurius toke hede therto / and made an harp to the lykenesse therof and gaf it to Orpheus the harper ¶Treuisa ¶I rede amonge the wondres of Inde that snayles be there so greete and so huge that a man may be herbeured in a snayls hows ¶ Petrus ¶Also that tyme the forseyd mercurius fo [...]nde vp an Instrument of musick· and called it Siringa and is made of reed and of pipes / and [...]eete Siringa by the name of that woman Syrynga that was cadmus wyf· she wente away from her husbond for loue of musik and of melodye / It is vncertayn whiche Mercurius this was· whether Mercurius hermes or mercurius Trimegystus the ph [...]losopher or the greet Mercurius /

For Iosephus speketh of thre of the whiche euery was called Mercurius Ysidorus libro quinto ¶ Also that tyme in grees was founde vp an Instrument of musi (que) that heete [...]horus Pe­trus Strabus sayth that that Instrument with twey pipes by one pipe the eyer goth in / & by that other the sowne goth oute

¶ Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro / 18. c. 13 / ¶ Delbora ¶ Capitulum / 19

DElbora that woman was a Prophetisse of the lignage of Effraym / This Delbora with barache of the lignage of Neptalim ruled the peple of Israel fourty yere for to reken xx / yere in the whiche Iabyn kyng of canaan pursued Israel. In her tyme the kynges of Argyues faylede that had regned v / C. yere & fourty / that was from the first Inachus to the first pelops tyme kyng of peloponensis / and than the kyngdom torned to the Mecenes. That tyme began the kyngdom of Laurentines in Italye / After the deth of Ianus and of Saturnus / that had longe regned there / there regned pycus Saturnus sonne / Augustinus de ciuitate dei vbi supra / About that tyme dyed Denyse that heete also liber pater. that warred in ynde. and hadde in his hoost men & women medled to geders. Netheles atte laste perseus slough hym His golden buryels is yet seen in thessalia besides Appolyn del­phicus in mount pernasus. Myda the ryche kynge regned that tyme in frigia· Of hym poetes feined many thynges. as it is writen in mitholog fulgencij et Alexandri. And Ilius Appolyns sonne bylde Ilium in Troye

¶Gedyon ¶ Capitulum 20

GEdion that heet Iheroboal was leder of Israel fourty ye­re for to reken / viij / yere that Israel serued madyanytes & Amalechites ¶Iosephus sayth that the cyte Tirus was buyld in Gedyons tyme about two honderd yere and fourty before Salamons temple ¶Petrus Minos kyng of Creta Iupiters sone occupyed the see that tyme. and gafe lawe to the men of Creta That tyme the stronge man theseus Egeus the kynges sonne of Athene slough mynotaurus in the tournamente. therfore men of Athene that were trybutarye byfore were quyttte and free of all trybute Mynotaurus was a grete man of stature. and ther with all right myghty and strong and ful delyure in wrastlyng and was kyng of mynos Bocher / Therfor he was cleped as it were mynoys taurus that is a bocher. Aboute that tyme Theseu [...] rauesshyd Eleyn and hir twey brethere castor and pollux fett hir and brought hir agayne· And toke theseus moder and chased [Page lxxxxvj] theseus out of contray Also me sayth that dedalus was that ty­me in his floures This dedalus made byrdes of metal by craft and spyryte closed for to flee about· Me sayth also that he made ymages that mo [...]ued hem self / he was the first that departed feet of ymages a twynne / for other men ioyned hem to gyders Ysidorus libro nono This dedalus had a nenew callyd perdix and toke hym to his loer ¶ This perdyx was subtyll and con­nyng of craft and bythought hym in his ymagynacion to haue somme spedeful maner of clyuynge of tymbre and toke a plate of yren and fyled it and made it tothed as the rigge boone of a fysshe and than it was a sawe / Also this child bythought hym & made the first compas and wrought therwith Therfor his maister dedalus toke greet enuye to the child and threwe hym doun of an highe tour and brake his neck / therfore Dedalus with his sonne ycarus at Creta fleygh and come in to Scicilia and there he made first laborintus otherwyse callyd a mase Petru [...]· ffor dedalus flewe away so swiftly after he had slayn his neuew me feyneth that he flewe with wynges as a bird by the ayer ¶Ysidorus libro quincodecimo ¶Laborintus is a maner buyl­dynge wonderly buyld / with daungerous walles· therin mino­taurus was closed yf ony man went theder in withoute a clewe of threde it were ful hard to finde away oute they that opene the yat [...]s shold here drede ful thondryng Hugo capitulo labor

Me gooth a downe as it were by a honderd grees or steppes ther be also in derknes wonder many dyuerse wyndynges and tournyngys / and suche foure be in this worlde of suche howses One in egypte another in Creta the thyrd in the ylande lempno and the fourth in ytalye and be soo made that vnn [...]the they maye be destroyed while the world dureth ¶ Hugo capitulo Cilleo

¶Whan there felle a pestylence amonges men of Athene for the [...]eth of ycarus and of his doughter Erigen and maydens of Athene were compellyd as it were to snarles and greues Than they had answer of Appolyn delphycus that the pestilen­ce myghte ceese yf they sought besyly the bodyes of ycarus and of his doughter Erigen / Than they soughte besyly / And whan they hadde longe sought and myghte nowher fynde. for to shewe the deuocion and wylle / that they hadde for to seche for to be sene seche besyly in another Elemente that they myghte not fynde in erthe men of Athene henge vp roopes in the Eyer and men tottred theron and moeueth hyder and thyder. for they wolde [Page] be seen seche the bodyes in the eyer aboue the erthe / & whan men felle of the tottres and were hurt soore it was ordeyned amonge hem that ymages like to the bodyes shold be sette in the tottres & meeue & tottre in stede of hem that were fallen that game is cleped ocillum in latyn and is componed and made of tweyne of cilleo cilles that is to meue and os oris that is a mouth for they that tottred soo meneth ayenst mennes mouthes

¶ Abymalech Thola / ¶ Capitulum 21

ABymalech gedeons sonne born of his concubine was leder in sichem after his fader thre yere. And slough his owne bretheren thre score & ten oute take one that were born of diuerse wyues / That tyme was the batayll of athene bytwene the lape­hites & centaurus / Palefatus libro de Incredibilibus sayth that Centaures were noble hors men of thessalia that faught ayenste Thebees men of thebe in Egypte· Thola of the lygnage of Isa­char was Iugge in Israel thre and twenty yere / In his fourth yere medea went from her husbonde egeus kyng of Athene in to the yland colchos there she was born Trogus 43 ¶Aboute that tyme Faunus pycus sonne regned. in ytalya in his tyme euandr [...] came oute of Archadia and receyued and toke feldes / & the hill mount palatyn / This Faunus had a wyf called Fatua and had ofte a spyryte of prophecye / therfore yet ofte they that haue a spyryt of prophecye be cleped fatui. Tho hercules. hadde slayne Gereon the geant kynge of spayne and ladde his beestes thurgh ytalye in token of the vyctorye he laye by this Faunus doughter vnlawfully & begate Latinus that regned afterward in ytalye / Oroꝰ li / p. About this yere vesores kyng of egypt war­red first ayēst scites yet first he sente messagers / & willed his enemyes to be subget to his lawe / & the scites answerd / a dull kyng & moost ryche moeueth batayll ayenst pore men & nedy namely while it is in doute what ende the batayll shal haue / prouffyt cometh therof none but gret open harme & damage & not long after the dede acord with thanswer for they compellyd the kyng of e­gipt for to flee & chaced & spoylled his hoost & wolde haue spoyled al egipt had they not be lette by watres of the riuer nylus / than in the tornyng ayen they warred xv yere in asia & made a­sia tributarij. & her wiues sente theym worde / that but they wold [Page lxxxxvij] come hoome / they wolde haue children by men of the contreyes about. The meane tyme amonge the scytes twey ryall yonglyn­ges by fraude and by deceyte of the greet werre were putte from home and toke with hem greet multitude of peple and strengthe and werred in the countrees of pontus & capadocie & whan they hadden doo greete destruction· than they were kyld of men of the contrees about / than her wyues [...]xyled and wydewes armed hem and toke wreche of her husbandis deth / and whan they had made pees by strength and by dedes· of armes they toke men of other landes to lye by hem for to haue childeren and slough her owne men childer and kepte her mayde childer and brent of her ryght brest. atte laste tweyne ef thes wymen were quenes Mersepia & lampeto and departed her hoost and kept and mayntened hem in batel eyther by her cours. Than whan they had ouercome a gret dele of europa and many cytees of Asia they sente home the better part of her hoost with proyes that they had taken / than ene­myes slough marsepia the quene and the other women that were lefte there for to kepe Asia / And hir doughter synope regned af­ter her moder deth and gadred a singuler ioye of vertue by euer­lastyng chastyte. Men wondred so gretely of this woman that whan hercules had hest of his lord for to warre ayenst the quene he gadred al the grete strengthe of the yong men of grees and or­deyned nyne longe shippes and felle vpon the women that were vnwarned for him was leuer to stele vpon hem than come vp on hem with a batayll openly / than whan the twey quenes that were sistres were sodenly ouercome hercules yaue menalippa to his sister Anthiopa and wedded hir sister ypolyta to his knyght theseus and receyued the armure of the quene in price of redemp­cion / ¶ Atte last after Orthia the quene pentasilia the quene was in the batayll of troye and did many greet dedes ayenst the grekes·

¶ Iair ¶ Capitulum 22

IAir of Galaad of the lignage of manasse was Iugge of Israel two & twenty yere & hadde thyrty sones & made hem princes vpon .xxx cytees & cleped the cytees by his owne name anoc Iayr that is to saye Iayres townes ¶R Somme tellith that cartage was byld the third yere of Iayr. but loke in the first boke / co. Affrica scilicet munidia. the xvj yere of Iair mynoys of [Page] Egypt amended armure ayenste dedalus in Scicilia and was kyld of Cotalus sonnes· ¶Ysidorus libro primo. ¶Carmentis nympha otherwyse callyd Nichostrata kyng latyns moder fonde and brought latyn lettres / ¶ Ysidorus libro nono The lan­gage of latyn was departed in four The firste was vnder Ia­nus and Saturnus and was cleped Priske· / and latyn vnder kyng latyn And other kynges of tuskan / In that langage were twelue tables of lawe wreton / Also Romayn that began af­ter kynges were made subget and that langage vsed plantus & Tullius virgylius and caton / but myxt langage encreaced af­ter that thempyre encreased and was huge ¶ After the deth of Iare Israel serued the philystyns and ammonytes / xviij yere that be acompted to the yeres of Iepte that was duc afterward of. Israel

Iepte ¶ Capitulum 23

IEpte of galaad of the lygnage of gaad a comyn womans sonne was Iugge of Israel six yere / kyng latyn ffamy­us sonne began to regne in ytaly and regned there two and thyrty yere. Of hym the kynges of ytaly hadden that name and we­re called kynges of latyns Ysidorus libro octauo. In this kyng latyns tyme was Sibille Eretrea in her floures and was callid Erofila and was borne at Babilon▪ she warned the grekes that wente to Troye that Troye sholde be destroyed and that Omerus sholde wryte lesynges afterwarde ¶ Ther were ten Sybyls / and this is the fyfth in nombre and is put bifore other The firste Sibylla was of Perse the second of Libia / the thirde was Delphica in Appolyns temple bifore the batayll of Troye omerꝰ wrote many of her versis in his bookes / the .iiij was cimeria of Italye / the / v / was critria of hir is nowe oure speche the vj / was samia born in the ylād samos. the vij / was cumana born in campania. she brought .ix bookes of torquynꝰ priscus kyng of romayns in the whiche were writen the domes of rome / the / viij was elesponsia born in a felde of troy / me redeth that she was in kyng Sirus and in Salons tyme the / ix / was Frigia / me redeth that she prophecied in anchisa. the tenth was tiburtina otherwise called albunea / the bookes of hem all be worthy preysyng for they wrote moche of Crist & also of paynes / ¶R Netheles it semeth that seynt Augustyne· li 18 / capitulo 16 / Will meene that Sibilla [Page lxxxxviij] Eritrea was in Romulus tyme and she wrote moche of Criste & that openly as it foloweth in thes versis of hirs / Token of dome the erthe shal of swete become wete / Out of heuen the kyng endles shal come to syghte and that in flesshe present for to deme the world. And so forth Sibilla hath many moo versis· The heede lettres of these versis and of other as they be wryten in latyn speketh thus Ihesus Cristus goddes sonne sauioure. Ysidorus libro quarto ¶ Sibilla is a name of offyce and not of persone and is seyd of Syos that is god and of beele that is thought / And so Sibille is sayd as it were a woman that hath goddes thought ¶ Therfor as a man that prophecyeth is cleped a prophete / Soo a woman that prophecyeth is called a Sybylle / vnder these dayes in kynge latyns tyme / was the sayllyng made that is called the sayllynge of Argonantes / that saylynge was cause and occasion of the batayll of troye and began in this ma­nere Trogus libro secundo ¶ After Neptunus the successour of Erutonius the kyngdome of Athene felle to Egeus that had geten his sonne theseus on his firste wyf· And atte laste whan that wyf was deed / he wedded Medea the kynges doughter of Colchos and gate on hir medus· ¶ Atte laste medea dradde her stepsone theseꝰ whan he come to age. & toke with hir hir sonne medus and wēte home to hir fader in to colchos▪ after egeus his sonne theseus regned in Athene / he wente somtyme with hercules & warred & ouercome the amasones· After theseꝰ his sonne demephon regned & halp & assisted the grekes ayenst the troyans Trogꝰ li / 42 / Than pelias kyng of poloponens that is of thessalia dradde leste Iason the noble wold warre in his lond. & put hym out· Iason was esons sonne Eson was pelias owne broder pelias brought Iason in wytte for to fetche the golden fle [...]s at colchos & hoped therby that the yong man shold be deed owther f [...]r long sayllyng in the see. owther in batayll ayenst straunge nacions ¶ Frigius dares· ¶ Therfore Pelias made Argus ordeyne a wel fayr ship couenable to his sayllyng and passage Petrus Of this name Argon cometh this name argonante / Argonante were stalworth yong mē gadred al about for Iasons viage / than Iason saylled forth with thes men & landed firste in frigia / tho laomedon regned there. Trogus / But Iason was put out of frigia & come in to colchos and ouercome the kyng & slough his sone egealms & toke the golden flees & lad with hym medea the kin­ges dought & made hir his wyf· netheles aftward he forsoke hir [Page] and put hir away But afterwarde whan kynge Pelyas sonne was putte out of thessalia Iason recounseylled and toke ayene his wyf media with his stepsonne medus and gadred a stronge multitude of yonge men and went in to Colchos and restored or­pedly his wyues fader that was put oute of his kyngdome and yaue hym many cytees to his kyngdome / in recompensacion and amendement of the olde wronge Frigius dares / Than Iason whan he had subduyed Colchos he had with hym at his prayeng Hercules castor pollux peleus of Scicia thelamon of Salymina and come in with fiue shippes by nyght in to Frigia and slough laomadon the kyng and destroyed Ilium in troye He rauesshed hesiona the kynges doughter and yaue hir to his knyght thelamon to wyue for he was the firste that entred in to Troye / there was taken a grete proy and Iason torned ayene with his men Whan pricimꝰ laomadons oldest sone herde & wyst of al this / he strengthed Ilium that is troy with yates and with walles and began for to Regne

¶Abessa / ¶ Capitulum 24

ABessa of Bethlem was Iugge in Israel seuen yere in his second yere priamus kyng of Frigia that is kyng of Troy sente Anthenor to the grekes and sayd that he wold gladly for yeue all trespasses that they had doo bifore· yf they wold sende ayen his sister hesiona that they had rauesshyd / The grekes wold not priamus arayed for the bataylle and made his oldest sonne hector leder of other men / Alysaunder that heet paris also hectors brother assenteth herto and sayth / that whan he hunted somty­me in the woode called Ida / he slept and dremed that mercurius brought bifore hym Iuno venus and mynerua for he shold deme whiche of hem were fairest & minerua biheete hym wysedome / Iu­no worship and venus behete hym the fareyst wyf of the worlde yf he wold deme that she were the fayrest / helenꝰ the other broder prophecyed the contrary & sayd that yf that alisander that heet paris toke a wif of grece / the grekes wold come & destroye yliū that is troy· that woman cassandra prophecied the same netheles shippes were arayed and paris with Anthenor were sente in to grece and when th [...] men came in to the Ilande Citheria to the feste of Iuno helena kynge menelaus wyf came for to see the fayrenes [Page lxxxxix] of Paris and paris rauesshyd hir and toke hir with hym in to Troy Than was Priamus glad ynow wenyng therby reco­uer his sister hesiona / Than menelaus kyng of lacedomonia made greet and greuous playnte to his brother agamenon kynge of mescenes of the rauesshynge of his wyf / and gadred passynge strong men Achylle Patroclus vlyxes Aiax Nestor with other stalworth men seuen and fourty and hadde shippes redy in the hauen in nombre a thousand and two honderd and hadde answer of Appolyn Delphicus / that Ilium that is troye shold be destroyed in the tenth yere ¶ The grekes toke vp theyr ankres and saylled on the see and toke grete proyes and torned home ayene

¶In the mene tyme Agamenon sent messagers vlixes and Dyomedes to kynge pryam to wytt yf he wolde yelde vp heleyn. and sende hir home agayne Pryam bythought hym and hadde anone in mynde the wronge of the Argonantes. the deth of his fader the rauesshynge of his sister / the despysyng of his messager Anthenor· therfore he forsoke pees / and ordeyned for the warre

¶ Than whan the hooste was gadred on eyther side / Hector slough Protheselaus / and slough and felled to the ground many men til that this Cosyn Esiona sonne Aiax The lamomus knowleched kynrede bytwene hem / and soo lett hym of his rees The mene tyme trewes was taken for two yere· that they might burye her men that were slayn but after two yere they receyued a strōg batail in the which batail· hector slough .x / stalworth dukis & achilles on the other side slough / iiij. stalworth men & noble / & the batayll dured four score dayes continuelly in hard fyghtyng & strong. & after that was trewes taken for thre yere & aft (er) that trewes they receyued and appoynted to fyghte. & slough many men on eyther syde. And andromach hectors wyf warned hector by hir dreame that he shold not that day wende in to the batayll ¶ Netheles Hector wente to bataylle and was slayne of achilles / And whan Hector was buryed were trewes taken for an yere And whan Hectors mynd day was holden. Achilles was there at & loued right hertely policena kyng priamus doughter & axed to haue hir to wyf & withdrewe hym from the bataylle· & said that it was euyll done to destrouble al Europa for the ra­uesshynge of Eleyne. But atte. laste he wente forth atte prayer of the Grekes and was wounded of Troylus that hadde slayn many Grekes. therfore he was angrye and wroth and slough Troylus and menon also ¶Than was Hecuba wonder wroth [Page] Priamus wyf and bythought hir of gyle and sette Achylles a daye whan he sholde come and fetche home his wyf polixena that was hir own doughter. and whan the day was comen alysandre otherwyse callyd paris slough Achilles gylefully. therfore they hadde answer of goddes that the grekes shold haue the vyctorye by achilles lignage ¶Neoptholonius Achilles sone wente forth in to batayll· in the whiche batayll Paris and Aiax were woū ­ded to deth eyther of other Thenne the seuenth yere of the siege came pantasilea quene of Amosons in helpe and socour of the troyans and brake the siege of the Grekes and brent many of their shippes / Netheles she was slayne of Neoptholomus that she had wounded· ¶ After that Antenor and eneas counseilled for to delyuer heleyne / and for to desire peas. Priamus toke grete indignacion of theyr counseylle and sayd they shold dye. yf euer they were so wood to counseylle that eftsones / Therfor they toke grete indygnacion and sente Polidamas to the grekes and proferd to bitray the cyte for her owne sauacion / The grekes graun­ted peas to these thre to Anthenor eneas and polidamas / and to alle theyr retinue. and the cyte was opened by nyght to the gre­kes / Than pryamus fledde to thautres of their goddes and neoptholomus pursued hym and slough hym ¶ Eneas hidde polixe­na at his owne fader Anchises atte prayer of helene. andramach had fredom graunted to seke polixena and was long sought and atte last founde and slayne of neoptholomus at hir fader tombe Eneas for he had hidde polixena was y hote to be a goo. The lond was left to Anthenor / heleyn went home ayene with menelaus This siege of troye dured ten yere and six monethes and were slayne of the Troyans er the Cyte was bytrayd six honderd thousand thre score and sixtene / And whan the cyte was bytraid thre score and echten thousand / were slayne / Than Eneas wente oute of countrey with foure and twenty shippes and with hym thre thousand men and thre honderd· and with Anthenor thre thousand with Andromach & elenus two thousand

¶ Aylon ¶ Abdon ¶ Capitulum 25

AYlon of the lygnage of Zabulon was Iugge of Israel ten yere· Netheles the seuenty acounten hym not / and therfore Eusebius acounteth his yeres with the yeres of Iosue of [Page C] samuel and of saul for the scrypture spekyth not of theyr ye­res / Netheles they sette moo yeres than be founden by Iosephus So that from the goyng oute of egypte vnto Salamons temple were four honderd yere and four score Abdon that heet labdon also was Iugge of Israel echt yere in his thyrd yere Troye was takē echt honderd yere and four and fourty after abrahams birth thre honderd yere and fourty after the goyng out of egypt the yere of kyng latyn in ytaly / xxv· byfore the byldyng of Rome four honderd yere and two and twenty ¶ Augustinus ·18 / capitulo ·16 ¶ After that Troye was destroyed· yet while kyng latyn regned in ytalye / the grekes that torned agayne & hadden in the way many myshappes / For varro libro tercio de historia sayth that diomedes were torned in to foules and dyomedes was no more seen· ¶So that he was holden a god / his temple is solempne in the Iland dyomedia not fer fro mount Gargan in Apulia / Me saith that fowles be / and flee about this temple and serue wonderly and sprynge water· Yf the grekes or ony of the kynde of the Grekes come thyder / the birddes make hem good semblaunt and yf ony other come / they wounde hem with theyr greet billes / and for to conferme the same / varro tellyth not a fa­ble lesyng but sothnesse of story of that famous dyuyneresse sor­ceresse and wytche / Cirte that transfourmed vlyxes felaws in ro beestes / And of the Archades that by lo [...]t swam ouer a p [...]ole & than were tourned in to wolues and lyued with wylde beestes· and yf they ete ther no mannes flesshe they shuld after nyne ye­re swymme home ouer the poole. and tourne ayene in to shap of mankynde / He sayth also that demenetus whan he had tasted of the sacrifice of Archad was torned in to a wolf / and after ny­ne yere he was restored ayene to his owne shappe of mankynde and vsed afterward geantes dedes / and had the maystrye in a tornyng of Olimpe ¶ Plenius libro sextodecimo capitulo vy­sesimo secundo That men be transformed in to wolues / and oft in to her owne shappe we trowe it be fals / Netheles Auctours of Grece tellen that Archades were ledde to a pool in the same lan­de & henge her clothes on an ooke and swam ouer the poole & in wildernesse torned in to wolues and dwellyd nyne yere among wolues / And yf they kepte hem all that tyme and ete no man­nes flessh· they shold swymme home ageyne and take her owne clothes and her owne shappe. and be nyne yere older than they were whan they wēt out / but ther is no lesing so greet but it may [Page] be confermed Augustinus libro / 18 / capitulo .16 Than what shall we saye to alle this sayngys / Certeynly whan we were in ytalye we herd ynowe of women hostelers of that lande that vsed to yeue chese that was bywytched to men that trauaylled by the way and anone the men torned in to beestes and bare heuy char­ges and hadden kyndly wytte and reason / and whan they had done her seruyce they torned ayene in to theyr owne shappe / Also epuleus in his book seyth that so it happed hym self that he toke suche venym and had his wytte and reason and was made an asse R Willelmus de regibꝰ libro secundo Tellith such doing of tweyn wytches or enchāteresses / that dwellid in the high wey to Romeward And yf ony gest come allone they torned him in to a beest and soo come by them aminstrele that couth moch mirth and they transformed hym to an asse and sold hym to a ryche man for a greet som of money. netheles with such warnyng that he shold neu (er) passe water & his warden kept hem besily long tyme Netheles in passynge of tyme he toke lasse hede to his Asse and escaped to water and torned ayene to shap of mankynde / the warden of the Asse folowed after and axed after his asse of euery man that he mette / And he that had bene an Asse. and was tour­ned to a man ayene sayde that he had ben an asse and was bycomē aman / & his warden ledde hym to his lorde & the lord ledd them both to leon the pope & the old wytches were cōuyct bifore the pope & knowleched the dede the pope douted of this thyng & petrꝰ damianꝰ a cōnyng man of letture confermed the maner doyng by ensample of Symon magus that tourned Faustinus in to his owne shappe and made his owne childer drede hym ful soore ¶ Augustinus vbi supra / ¶ It is to be bileuyd that fendes may nought doo but at goddes suffrance and soo they may make noo man kynde neyther transforme ne chaungebodyes / ¶ Netheles it semeth semtyme that they chaunge lykenesse and shap of thynges that God made and wrought· So that the fantasye of a man that chaungeth in thought & in metyng of dreames by dyuerse maner thynges and taketh the likenes of bodyes with a wonder swyftnesse though no body be presente· whan the wyt­tes of the bodye be absente and lete of theyr worchynge and the ymage and lykenes that is in thought & in fantasie is as it were emprynted in the lykenesse of sōme beest and semyth to other mēnes wyttes in the same lykenesse / And soo a man maye seme to hym self such as he semeth in metyng of sweuenes and so him [Page Cj] maye seme that he bereth berthens and charges But and they be veray berthens and charges fendes bere hem that men maye be so begyled For one prestācius told that suche an happe befelle his owne fader that he toke suche venym by these in his owne hows and lay in a bedde as he were slepyng and no man myght hym wake but after many dayes he awoke and told as it were a sweuen how hym was bifalle for hym thought that he was made an hors and bare corne among other beestes to knyghtes that were at Rethica and it was founde right as he told it was done in dede / ¶ He sayde also that he sawe a philosopher at home in his hows. whiche philosopher expowned to him many secretes of platoes bookes whiche thynges he had boden hym expoune bifore and he wold not and whan me axed of the philosophre. why he wold expowne in an other mannys hows. that he hadde denyed in his owne: nay quod he / I dyd not so but I mette that I did

¶ And in that maner by the ymage and lykenesse of fanta­sye it was shewed to that one wakynge what that other mette in his sleepe Therfor that the Orchades torned in to wolues by wytchecraft of Cirta. me semeth it myght be in this maner / Netheles yf it were soth but for dyomedes felawes vanysshed sodenly away & were neuer after foūde me troweth that wycked angels toke wreeche on hem and torned hem in to other fowles that we­re made and brought theder by crafte of men As it is knowen that an hynde was brought in stede of ephigenia Agamenons doughter and she was ladde away The fowles that at dyomedis temple that spryngen water and flateren the grekes is by exci­ting of the deuyl to bryng men in wytte to bileue diomede be made a god and soo begyled in worshipyng of fals goddes ¶R Loke moore of this mater in the first book capitulo hibernia / ¶ Giraldꝰ in top ¶Fendes and wycked men may not chaunge kynde but by suffraunce of god / they maye chaunge lykenesse & shappe and lette mennes wyttes and begyle men so that thyng [...]s seme not as they be but by strengthe of fantasye and of wytche crafte men haue semyng by feyned shappes / But it is not vn­sytting that we trowe that god as he maketh thynges of nought so he chaungeth one in to an other for to take rightfull wreche / owther for to shewe his myghte or mercy. So he tourned Lothes wyf in to an ymage of salt and water in to wyne / owther chaunge the lykenesse without and leue the kynde vnchaunged within·

¶ Abdon ¶ Capitulum 26

AFter the destruction of Troye eneas with his fader anchi­ses and his soune ascamꝰ with twelue shippes come in to Scicile and there Anchises deyed / than eneas wold haue sailled in to Italye but tempeste. droof hym in to Affryca / there he was right wel byloued of dydo / the quene / But soone after he forso­ke and lefte dido and came in to Italye R ¶Yf it be soth that Trogus & papie and other wyse men wryten this quene dido buylde Cartage thre score yere and twelue bifore the buyldyng of the cyte of Rome· that was buyld the fourth yere of Achaz kynge of Iuda / Than is it truth that Eneas sawe neuer dydo the quene of cartage / For eneas was bifore and dyed thre hon­derd yere and more er cartage was buyld· And so meaneth & wryteth seynt Austyne primo libro confessionum in fine / And seyth that wysemen denye that Eneas sawe cartage Hugo Capitulo Elissa / This Dido was callyd elyssa that is vyrago a man­ly woman for hap that felle afterward for she slowe her self mā ­ly Trogus libro octodecimo Atte laste this Elyssa Pigma­lyons doughter whan she shold haue be compelled of the peple to take an husbond / she went in to a greet fyre that she had / made & so she slough her self manly & was long after worshipped for a goddesse Mar Than eneas cam in to Italye and was confedred and sworn to kyng euander that tho regned in seuen hilles / these two faught and warred ayenst latyn kyng of Latins and t [...]r­nus kyng of Tuscan kyng latyns doughter husbonde / ¶ In that batayll pallas euandres sonne and turnus were slayn ¶R Netheles Trogus libro .43 wryteth that eneas in his first comynge fonde so grete grace with kynge Latyn that he entred in to a partye of the kyngdome and wedded lauyn kyng laty­nes doughter. that was turnus spouse And so bothe Latyn and eneas confedered to geder· toke katayll ayenst turnꝰ for the gyle­ful maryage of [...]uyn / and latyn and turnus were bothe deede in that bataylle. And eneas afterward was kynge of eyther kyngdome of latyns and of Tuscans. And buyld a cyte and called it the cyte lauinium by the name of his wyf. and warred afterward ayenst the kyng of mescene in Tuscan & in that bata­ylle Eneas was slayne and lefte after hym his sonne Ascanius that he had goten on creusaat troy Ysidorus eth Iulus was Eneas sonne & heete first ascanius by the name of a ryuer in [...]rigia [Page Cij] that so heet and was afterward called Ilus by the name of I­lus kyng of troye Hugo capitulo Iulus Afterward whan the kynge of mesenes was slayn in a singler bataylle of stal­worth men than ascanyus was cleped Iulus for his ferst springyng of berde that tho was first seen for the first spryngynge of berde is proprely called Iulus and is a name of twey sillables by cause of metre R ¶ Here take hede that but the yeres of Eneas regnyng be acounted within the yere of kyng latyn the acomptyng of this story shal faile for the story sayth that kyng latyn regned two & thyrtty yere & specially whyle eneas whan Troye was taken come in to ytalye the xxv yere of kyng latin as all historyes tellen· ¶ Trogus / 43 li· ¶Ascanius ene­as sonne began to regne amonge the latyns & regued .xxxviij / yere. and lefte the cyte lauinium that his fader eneas had som­tyme y buyld and buyld the cyte alban a long vpon the riuer Tiber That cyte was heede of that kyngdome thre honderd yere by the name of that Cyte kynges latyns were cleped kynges Albanes Reges Albani ¶ Eutrop / This Ascanius nonrys­shed vp ful myldly his broder siluius posthumius· For he was born of his stepdame lauina after his faders deth and was cal­led posthumus for he was born after that his fader was bury­ed and was callyd Syluius for he was nowrysshed in a wode A wode is Silua in latyn. By his name the kynges of latyns were afterward callyd Syluyes ¶Ascanius whan he had regned / xxxviij yere he lefte the kingdome to siluius posthumus for his owne sonne Ilus was yet of tendre age so seyth marianus libro primo. ¶ Of this Ilus the meyne that be cleped familia Iliorum had that name· Sampson was Iugge in Israel / xx / yere. in his tyme befelle that that fables tellith of vlyxes of grecia· how he fledde scilla & syrenes therof speketh palefatus. libro primo Incredibilium and sayth that Scilla was a woman that vsed to robbe her gestes & sayd that Syrenes be comyn wymen that begyled men that saylled on the See Also that tyme orestes slough Pirrus of Egypt in Appolyn delphicus temple / ¶Also somme saye that Omerus was that tyme but to speke of his tyme old men discorden for somme saye that he was an hon­derd yere somme an honderd yere & fourty Somme an honderd yere & four score· somme two honderd yere & fourty after that Troye was destroyed & somme trowe he was bifore Troyes des­truction Hiderto the book of Iuges liber Iudicum accompteth [Page] thre honderd yere vnder twelue Iugges

¶ Hely ¶ Samuel ¶ Capitulum 27

HEly the preest after Sampson was Iugge in Israel / xl yere so seyth ysidorus libro quinto and Iosephus libro sex­to But the seuenty sey that hely was ouer the peple twenty yere In his tyme felle a greet honger in the lande of Israel / And the storye of Ruth that was of moab felle· Hectors childer toke Ili­um that is troye and put out Anthenores ofsprynge by helpe of helenꝰpriamꝰ sone siluiꝰ posthumꝰ eneas & Ascaniꝰ his broder geten on his stepdame lauina was the thyrd kynge of latyns & began to regne and regned nyne and thyrtty yere in the whiche yere Brutus Siluius sonne that was ascanius sonne occupyed bretayne as storyes rehersen. It semeth that historyes discorden that telle of this brutus fader for thystorye of brytons sayth that this brute was siluius sonne the whiche siluius was Ascanius sonne But thystory of Rome sayth that Ascanius gate Iulius of which cam th [...] meyny familia iuliorū & maketh no menciō of Siluiꝰ then if this Iuliꝰ had twey names & was cleped silui­us also that one of historyes fayllyth / for me sayth that this brute whan he was fyften yere old slough his fader at huntyng and alle historyes acorden that Siluius posthumus was eneas sonne and not ascanius sonne and lyued long after vnslayne and regned also than it is soth that this siluius posthumꝰ was not bru­tes fader but vpon case for thystory of Rome seyth that ascanius after eneas deth norysshed vp tendrely Siluiꝰ posthumꝰ / therfore he is acompted his fader· Herto I wold assente withonten doubte / ner that me redeth that siluius was slayne of his sonne Baite T ¶ Ganfr This brute slough his moder in his birth and his fader afterward at huntyng whan he was fyften yere old Therfor he was put out of ytaly [...] and went in to grece and there by helpe of the troyans he ouercome pandrasue the kyng of grece & wedded his doughter Innoges· he delyuerd the Troyans and saylled thens and had answer of the goddes and landed in af­frica / then he passed the auētur [...] of philenes the lake callyd lacus salinarum the salt lake / the riuer malue and hercules pilers. and cam in to the see Tiren and founde there corneus and went in to Gyan and ouercome there Gopharyus Duc of Peytowe and Turnus Brutus nenewe was slayne at a Cyte callyd turon [Page Ciij] owther Turon by his owne name· And than brute had good wynde and saylled in to brytayn and helde britayn atte clyf of Totenes in Cornewayle and was first kyng of brytayn all hole and destroyed the geauntes that dwellyd there in and cleped the Ilonde Brytayne by his owne name and called his felawes Britons and bitoke cornewayl to corneus and buyld a Cyte & called it Trinouantuin as it were new troy that cyte now is called london and is vpon Temse Brute bigate thre sonnes Lo­trinus camber and albanactus and dyed whan he hadde regned four and twenty yere in the yland / The kynges of Scicions failled whan they had regned an honderd yere thre score and twey­ne. ¶ Samuel after hely was Iugge in ysrael twelue yere soo seyth Iosephus libro octauo / Netheles the scripture speketh not therof from his tyme began the tymes of prophetees tempo­ra prophetarum· And in his thyrdde yere dauyd was born Petrus This Samuel ordeyned first company of clerkes in que­res for to singe and than me sayd that they prophecyed that is to meene they worshipt god besyly Afterward Samuel was Iugge in ysrael vnder Saule echten yere / Lotrinus brutus el­dest sonne began to regne as it were vpon the south see to the Ryuer of humbre and named that partye of the ylonde loegria that is englond as it is sayde in the first book in the chapytre of Bri­tayne / But Albanactus was slayne and camber dyed And locrinus after that he had regned twenty yere was slayne also in batayll that his wyf Gwendolena made ayenst him by cause of a strompete called estrilda And Gwendolena regned after her husband fyften yere

¶ Saul ¶ Capitulum 28

SAul of the lignage of Beniamyn was the firste kyng of Ebrewes and regned tw [...]nty yere / so seyth Iosephus of the whiche yeres the scripture speketh not / Petrus / For Saul regned xviij yere whyle that samuel lyued & two yere after his deth The .iiij. kyng of latyns Eneas siluius was posthumꝰ sone and began to regne and regned xxxj yere R In somme historyes posthumus brother latynns siluius is sette the fourth and this eneas is sette the fyfth but in this place eneas is sette the fourth / The xvij duc of Ath [...]ne Codrus melautus sonne began to regne & regned one and twenty yere after his deth kynges [Page] of athene faylled ¶ Augustinus libro octodecimo capitulo 14 The peloponens men of thessalia rebelled ayenst them of Athene. Than was answer yeuen of goddes / that on whether side the duc were slayne that side shold haue the maystrye ¶ Therfore the knyghtes were charged ouer all thynge to take good kepe of kyng Codrus· Netheles Codrus toke a pore mannes clothyng & a byrthen of Fagottes on his neck and entred in to the strength of his enemyes. and ther was stryf arered amonge the peple and a knyght slough hym· that he had rather wounded with an hook whan it was knowen that coreus went awaye without bataylle and the Athenes were delyuerd / Codrus hadde leuer dye and his men haue the maystrye than lyue and his men be oue [...]come After his deth the comonte was gouernyd by maystrys for there was no lawe but lykyng of lordship vnto the tyme that Salon the noble maker of lawes was chosen Iugge Maddan Loctinus sonne by Gwendolena geten regned fourty yere amonge the britons and bigate mempricius and maulus / the Amasons maken warre in Asia saule & his childeren ben slayn in the hill mount Gelboe and soo endeth the thyrd age of the world from the byrth of Abraham to the kyngdome of dauyd ¶ Ysidorus libro quinto Seyth that the third age of the world conteyneth nyne honderd and eyght & f [...]urty yere by fourtene generacions But eyther translacion sayth that the thyrdde age of the world conteyneth nyne honderd yere and two and fourty R¶ This dyuersyte befalleth for ysidorus sayth that Samuel and Saul ruled the peple fourty yere ¶ Netheles Iosephus libro octa­uo and the maister of the storyes acorden that Samuel reuled the peple allone twelue yere and after hym Saul regned ·xx· yere

¶ Dauyd ¶ Salamon ¶ Capitulum 29

DAuyd of the lignage of Iuda was the second kynge of Hebrewes & regned fourty yere first seuen yere in ebron vpon Iuda al one & after thre and thyrtty yere vpon all israel ¶Latynus Siluius the fyfth kyng of latyns regned fyfty yere The second Ixyon kyng of cormth̄ regned xxxviij yeres Andonycus buylde the cyte ephesus / And Salamon is borne ¶Psidorus libro quinto Cartage is buyld ¶ Petrus [Page Ciiij] Somme wol meene that carthedon Tirius bylde cartage / And other wryte that his doughter dido buylded it ¶R And yf ther were but thre score yere and ten bytwene the byldynge of cartage and of Rome as Trogus and papias acorden· than it semeth that cartage was buyld about the first yere of Ozias king of Iuda as it is sayd in the first book of the prouynce of Affri­ca capitulo numidia. Galf [...] and Alf [...] Menpricius the fifth kyng kynge of brytons regned twenty xere This cleped his broder for acorde and slough hym and toke the kyngdome with strength and vsede tyrannye in the peple and bigate on his wyf a noble yong man called Ebrancus & forsoke his wyf atte laste & vsed zodomye as a shrew shold but atte last at huntyng he was eten of wolues ¶ Dauid the kynge. dyed the xxix day of december at the tour of Syon in Iherusalem and was buryed therwith grete rychesse of the whiche rychesse afterward hircanus the bis­shop yaf antiochꝰ demetriꝰ sone thre thousand talentes for to goo from Ierl̄m / Treuisa / A talent is a grete weyght & ther be thre man talentis the lest is of / l. poūde / the middel of ·lx / score pond & twelue / the moost of an / C. poūde and twenty / Sequitur in histo­ria / This dauyd while he had peas made songes & ympnes som of thre metres & som̄e of v & made also organs of dyuerse man & other instrumētes of music in which the dekenes shold say ympnes and songes & four men maystres ouer other / Ema [...] in the myddel Asaph in the right syde. ethan in the lyft syde & edythim to ouer see the symbals Also ther were xxiiij bisshopps & had vnder hem four and twenty preestes four and twentydekens & four and twenty porters· the thyrdde part of hem serued in the temple and the m [...]ene tyme the other two partes ordeyned for her own hows / Salamon regned in ysrl̄ somwhat of yeres while his fader dauid was a lyue / the whiche yeres ben acompted to dauid & not to· salamon / & after that his fader was deed he regned xl yere· Also Ierom in epl̄a ad vitalē presbiterū· sayth that salamon whan [...]e was xj yere old gate a sone on pharoes doughter Also me redeth of achaz the kyng yt gate a child whan he was xj yer old / also this salamō whan yt he had slayne Ioab semey & adonyas & whan he had receyued wytte & wysedom of god in the hill & yeuen dome of the two strompettes / he cast in his hert to doo thre thynges· fyrst bylde a temple to almyghty god / a kynges pala­is to him self / and to walle Iherusalem with thre wallys / within the first walle dwellyd preestes & clerkes that serued in the tēple [Page] and the kyng & his houshold within the second wall woned stalworth men and prophetes and within the thyrdde wall were in­habyte with comyn peple and craftes men / Salamons mete was euerx day / xxx / chorus of ter floure & lxxx chorꝰ of mele / x / fatte oxen & an honderd weders / withoute veneson pultrye and wylde foule. Chorus conteyneth the mesure of .30 / busshels Salamon wrote also thre bookes that one is called Parabole salamonis & prouerbia also / the second heete ecclesiastes· the thyrd cantica can ticorum / He disputed also of kynde of trees & of herbes. from the cedar that groweth in the woode Lybanus / vnto the ysope that groweth oute of the walles· Also he told moche philosophye of the kynde of beestes / He foūde vp also halsyng & coniurisons for to slake sekenesse and other for to caste fendes oute of men· that they combred / Also he founde vp figu [...]es and pryntes to be gra­uen in precious stones that shuld with the rotes of somme herbes be holden to the nose thrylles of men that hadden fendes within hem and put out the fendes / This craft was moche vsed among the hebrewes bifore the comyng of crist Therfor Iosephus libro octauo sayth that he sawe Elyazarus the coniurour in presence of Vaspas [...]an the Prynce helede men that hadden fendes with in hem / in this maner he put a vessel with water to the mannes no­se and heet the fende / that he sholde ouertorne the vessel whan he wente oute· and so it was done / ¶ Also Salamon. to fynde a spedeful craft for to clense and cleue stones / he enclosed a struction bird in a glas & the struction brought a worme that heete Thamyr oute of wyldernesse and touched the glas aboute wyth the blood of that worme / and so brak the glas and delyuerd his bird ¶Than the first yere of salamon was the outgoing of that nacion Ionica of Lacedemonea Omerus was in that passinge· Ionica is a nacion of grekes ¶ The fourth yere of Sa­lamon the second moneth that was four honderd and four score yere after the goyng out of Egypte salamon began to buylde the temple & was seuen yere in buyldyng and signefyed holy chirch & the viij yere the temple was halowed & had in length an C cubites & xx / in brede thre score & in heyght xxx / ¶ In this temple was so moch gold that whan the romaynes sette it on fyre ther ran a streme of gold of nayles molten in to the brooc called torrens Cedron. Also that yere the quene of Saba come for to here the wysedome of Salamon ¶ Petrus ¶ Me sayth this queue sawe a tree in the temple on the whiche tree / one shulde [Page Cv] be an hanged / and by cause of his deth the kyngdome of Iewes shold be destroyed· the quene warned salamon. and anon the tre was throwen in to a depe pyt vnder erth & how it fleet aftward aboute Cristes tyme in a pond called probatica piscina / it is vn­certayne. Me troweth that this tree· was the rood tree Gaufr / Ebranc Nempricius sonne was the sixth kyng of brytons and regned sixty yere / this man was both fayre and stronge and on one and twenty wyues he bigate twenty sonnes and thyrttye doughters. The fayrest doughter of alle was gwalaes / Hebranc sende thes doughters to Albia siluius kynge / for he wolde haue hem maryed to the bloode of troye bycause that the wymmen Sabynes fledde the beddes of the latyns Also Ebranc by leding of Assaracus occupyed a party of germania Ebranc beyonde humbre bylde that cyte of york in the marche of northumberlond and of scotland / he ordeyned the cyte alcluyt ¶ And he buylde within Scotland the castel of maydens that now is called eden borgh / ¶Afterward he sayled in to Fraunce with a greet nauye and come ayene wonderly ryche / Alba siluius the sixth kyng of l [...]tyns regned nyne and thyrtty yere

¶ Roboas ¶Abdyas ¶ Asa Capitulum 30

ROboas Salamons sonne regned only vpon twey lygna­ges Iuda and Benyamyn echten yere so seyth Iosephus libro octauo Capitulo quinto / and seuenten yere as other wryten Roboas forsoke the counseyl of old men / and was ruled by the counseyl of yonglynges· that tyme Ieroboam Nabathes sonne regned in Samarya vpon ten lygnages of. Israel xvij yere / But Iosephus libro octauo capitulo septimo Seyth that he reg­ned two and twenty yere ¶ This nabath for the peple shold not tourne her hert to her lord Roboam / whan they wente to doo sacrifice in· Ierl̄m he made twey calues of gold to be worshiped of the peple in dan & in bethel & so this nabath was cause of mau­metrye in Israel· ¶The varyaunce in the countynge of yeres of the kynge of Iuda and of Israel may be determyned by that· that a part of the yere is taken for the hoole yere owther for somme kynges regned with her faders / er that they regned all one or for the kingdoms were otherwhiles without kynges [Page] For the bookes of kynges were gadred of dyuerse wrytynges of prophetes / Therfore the begynnynges bothe of the kynges of Iuda and of the kynges of israel be dyuersly sette and therfor such discorde may not lightly be determyned. we trowe it happeth by defawte of the wryters that be oft begyled in nombres and in propre names ¶Treuisa ¶For we speke of the kynges of Iuda and of the kynges of Israel Here take hede that the lyne or ofspryng of Iacobs childer were called the lignages of I­srael / And soo the lyne or ofspryng of Iudas Iacobs sonne-was called the lygnage of Iuda & the of spryng of Benyamyn was called the lygnage of benyamyn and so of other ¶Dauid and Salamon were kynges of alle the lygnages of Israel but for Roboas Salamons sonne was hard and sterne the ten lyg­nages forsoke hym and made hem a kynge by hym self / and cle­ped hym the kyng of Israel for he was kyng of the more parte of israel Twey lygnages abode with Roboas the lygnage of Iuda and of benyamyn And for the lygnage of Iud [...] was the worthyer lygnage / the kynge of thes twey lygnages was called the kyng of Iuda and criste come of the kynges of Iu­da / Iosephꝰ li·8. ca / 5. Susac kyng of egypt spoiled & toke away the sheldes of golde that Salamon had sette in Iherusalem. Ro­boas sette sheldes of brasse in her stede / Susac went and subdued Syria ¶Abyas Roboas sonne was the fourth kyng of Iuda and regned thre yere that is to say two ful yere and the thyrd dele of the thrid yere ¶And for he trusted in god he shold ouer come Ieroboam that faught ayenst hym and slough sixty thou­sand ¶ Asa· the rightful Abyas sonne regned xlj yere and destroyed mawmetrye and clensed the temple and slough the kyng of egypt And atte last he had a greuous sekenesse on his feet and dyed. he had put a prophetes feet in the stokkis that had charged hym to doo right / Nadab Ieroboas sone regned in Isrl̄ two yere that is one yere & som what of that other. hym slough ba [...]a & regned aft hym xxiiij / yere / this slough Iehen the ꝓphete that time Ieheia ananias & asarias ꝓphecied in isrl̄ / egippꝰ siluiꝰ the vij kyng of latyns regned xxiiij yere / asa the kyng hyred be nadab the kynge of siria to lette basa the kyng that had bylded [...]ama xl furlonges out of Ierl̄m / so that noman myght goo oute Brute grenessheld ebrācꝰ eldest son̄e was kyng of brytons xij· yer. capis siluiꝰ the viij king of latins regned xxviij yer & made capna / hela bases sone regned in isrl̄ / ij yere that is one hole yer & [Page Cvj] somwhat of that other that yere zamry slough ela & regned for hym seuen dayes and whan he was deed the peple was departed and one part folowed zamry & the other folowed tebui Petrꝰ

This steyf of this kyngdome endured thre yere and more for zamry began to regne the xxj yere of asa kyng of Iuda. and regned with tebui four yere And after tebui. he regned al one in I­srael echt yere and soo he regned in al twelue yere Leyl brute grenesheldes sonne regned in brytayn xxv yere / Achab zamryes sonne regned in israel xxij yere his wyf heet Iesabel· Iosaphath asas sone was rightful bifore god & regned in Iuda xxv yere / in his time ꝓphecied helias michias & abdias Ruthud [...]bras leiles sone regned in britayn xxxix yere & build thre noble cytees / caūterbury winchestre & shaftesbury / carpentꝰ siluiꝰ the ix kyng of latins regned amōg the latins xiij yer. Ochosias achabs sone regned in isrl̄. ij / yere & had no sone but his brother Ioram regned viij yere after him vnto the second yere of Ioram the kyng & regned after that al one four yere / Ioram Iosephath kyng of Iudas sonne reg­ned viij yere / in his viij yere edom went his way for they wold ot be vnder Iuda & ordeyned hem a kyng of her oune & helyas was rauesshid in to paradyse / the / x· kyng of latyns tiberius sil­uiꝰ carpentus sone regned among the la [...]yns viij yere of him the riuer tiber had that name / tiber that heet rather albula / achasias otherwyse called asarias Ioranis sonne regned in Iuda one yere Mathew rekeneth not this achasias ne his sonne Ioas neyther his sone amasias in the genealogye of crist by cause of her v [...]cioꝰ & wicked lyuyng Iehu enoynted of helizeꝰ his child vpon isrl̄ slough achasias kyng of Iuda & Ioram kyng of isrl̄ & his moder Iesabel and achabs lxx sones & asarias king of iuda xlij brethe­ren & all baals preestes & regned xxviij yere Atha [...]ia kyng asarias moder was achabs doughter & regned in iuda six yere & slough alle the kynges childeren of Iorams hows except Ioas Asari­as sone for Achasias suster that was Ioyade the preestes wyf toke away that child and hidde him and norysshed hem priuely six yere in the dekens chambres with in the temple The xj king of Latyns Agryppa siluius regned among the latyns Ioas Achasias sonne regned in Iuda fourty yere and renewed the temple / bladud Ruthydibras sonne regned in brytayne ·xx. yere

Ganfr & alfrid writen that he by craft of [...] Nygromancy made the cite caerbadō that is bath & made the hote bathes / R· Netheles wiliā malmesburi se [...]th yt iuliꝰ cezar brought vp thilk baths but [Page] I trow it not as it is said rather in the first book capitulo de vrbibus Ioathas Iehues sonne regned in Israel xvij yere in his tyme helyzeus the prophete dyed & was buryed in sebasten that is Samaria· whan this helyzens was born in galgalis / One of the goldē calues that Ierobas had made lowed· & whan that was herde in sharp wyse a preest of Ierl̄m sayd. Now is a prophete born that shal destroye all the mawmetrye of Israel & Zachary as Ioiade the bisshops sonne was stoned to deth of kynge Ioas bytwene the aulter & the temple ¶ Oure lord in the gospel clepeth him barachias his sonne bycause of his myldenesse and goodnesse / barachias is as moche to saye as goddes oune blessyd sonne / Leyth bladudis sonne regned in britayne sixty yere and buylded leycestre vpon the ryuer soray & gate thre doughters so sayth the brytissh booke / Ioas Ioathas the kyng of israels sonne regned in israel seuenten yere / the xij kyng of latyns aremulus siluius regned amonge the latyns xix yere

¶ Amasias ¶ Capitulum 31

AMasias Ioas sone regned in iuda xxix yer aft him the kingdome of Iuda was without king xiij yere. Petrꝰ. vpō caas me sayth yt the kyngdom was voyde so long For amasias departed the kyngdome while he was a lyue / & his sonne a child of / iij / yere old yet myght not regne & so it semeth for whan his fader amasias was deed his sonne Ozias was but xvj yere olde whan he began to regne / ¶ R. Thes xiij yere in the whiche me sayth that the kyngdome of Iuda was without kyng somme storyes acompteth hem not other acompte hem amonge the xxix yere of amasias the kyng / els shal not so many yeres be founden ther as Eutropius acompteth from the xxv yere of kynge latyn in the whiche yere Troye was destroyed vnto the buyldynge of rome that was in all four honderd xxxij yere Ieroboam Ioas sone regned in israel xlj yere / the xiij kyng of latyns euentinꝰ siluiꝰ regned among the latins .xxxiiij yere. Ozias that heet asarias amazias sone regned in Iuda lij yere / this kyng loued wele erth til­lyng also this kyng wold haue taken vpon hym & entremeted of thoffyce of preest & was smyten with lepre or meselrye & half a greet hille claf and fell vpon his gardins Arbaces otherwise called arbactus the first kynge of medes slough Sardanapallus [Page Cvij] the last kyng of Assyries and regned amonge the medes xxix / yere· And tho faylled the hool kyngdome of assyries that hadde continued from belus and ninus to the last sardanapallus a thousand yere & .iiij·C / Nethehes after sardanapallus were myghty kynges in assiria vnto the destroyēg of nynyue though they were not ful & hool kynges / Trogus / li· p / This Sardanapallus was a man more wretche than ony woman. his stuard arbaces fonde hym spynnyng reed silk on a distaff in womās clothyng among company of comyn wymmen / for to to receyue sōme of the huyr Therfor arbaces toke greet indignacion & exited his knyghtes a­yenst the kyng in conspyracye & atte last the kyng was ou (er)come& went in to his ryal place & brēt hym self with moch rychesse / R / Comētator / p / eth̄ / c / 14 ¶Sayde that one wrote on sardanapallus tombe in this man / so moch I had as I ete & drāk· And seint au­styn de. ci· de / li / 2 // ca / 17. Vnderstādeth that sardanapallus hym self whiles he liued ordeyned that to be writen on his tōbe whan he was deed. for it was the man that tyme that kinges ordeined the wrytyng that shuld be writon on her tombe after her deth / the / xiiij· kyng of latyns procas siluius regned among the latyns xxij / yere / that tyme fidon foūde vp & yaf the argyues mesure & w [...]yghtes Trogus libro tercio Ligurgus kynge of Lacedo­monies yaue lawe to his peple· the tenor of his lawes is thus The peple is enformed to be buxome to the prynces and the princes to doo the people right and reason· he techeth al men to be skyl­fully scars or mesurable that the trauaylle of knygthode be not destroyed by greet wastyng and spendyng / ¶Al that shal be bought and sold shal be bought and sold not for moneye / but for chaungyng of marchandyse / he dyde away vse of moneye as it were matier of vyce or synne / He departed the gouernaunce of the comonte by degrees. and yaue kynges knyghtes power of batayls and to Iugges power of domes and to the Sena­tours kepyng· and mayntenyng of the lawes and yaue the pe­ple power for to chefe Iugges whom they wold· the land and grounde he dealed euen amonge alle men that egalyte of enherytaunce of londes sholde make hem al lyke myghty and stronge Her yonglynges sholde holde hem apayed alle the yere with one clothe· he suffred no man to be gayer than other / ne noo man to fare better than other of mete ne of drynk· He bade that childer of fourtene yere he sholde not vse hem in chepynge ne in feyres / but in feldes vnto they come to mannes age. Nothynge shulde [Page] be sprad vnder theym when they shold slepe they shuld lyuewith out delicioꝰ mete / maidēs shuld be wedded without endowing or yeftes for to constrayne wedlok the faster whan noo wedlock were bound with bridels of endowyng He ordeyned that oldmen shold be more worshiped than ryche / he ordeyned no thyng to be holden ef other men but as they wold hold it hem self / ¶ And for his cyte that was out of good reule & out of good lyuyng shold the rather come to rule and receyue the lawe· he feyned that ap­polyn was fynder of this lawe / And for he wold that this la­we sholde last euermore / he bonde the peple by oth and made hem hem swere not to chaunge this lawe til he came ayene / And fey­ned hym that he wold goo to Appolyn delphicus and axe coun­sel of hym yf ought sholde be withdrawe of this lawe or made moore Netheles he went in to Creta that ylonde and was there till be dyed and whan he shold dye he bade throwe his body in to the see / leste he were born to lacedomonia and the men that were sworn to his lawe wold wene that they were discharged of their oth Cranius the first kyng of lacedomonia regned there echte and twenty yere Ganfr ¶ Cordeylla kyng leyers dough­ter after hir fader regned in brytayn fyue yere but atte laste her sisters sonnes morgan and cunedagius put hir in prison and cu­nedagius regned in brytayn after cordeylla thre and thyrtty yere he slough morgan that was rebelle ayenst hym in Glammorgā in wales and by cause of that happe that countrey is called morgans lande / ¶ After cunedagius regned Ryuallo after hym Gurgustius siluius after hym Iago After hym kymnarchus after gorbodio he had twey sonnes fferrex and porrex· this porrex for couetyse of lordship slough his broder ¶ Therfor her moder was ful wroth and fylle with her maydens vpon the mansleer / whyle he slept and hakked hem all in gobbettes ¶ Afterward was discorde in the lond that greued the peple ful soore vnder / v kynges vnto molyuncius donwallons tyme / ¶The fyftenth of Latyns Amilius procas yonger sonne regned thre and fourty yere but his yeres be acompted with his broders munitors yeres Munitor procas sone was put out of his kyngdom by his owne broder amulius and lyued in his owne felde afterward and his doughter rea otherwyse callyd Etilia for she shold haue noo child was chosen to be a mayde in the temple of the goddesse ves­ca And the seuent yere of hir eme amulius she bare tway childer at oo childyng Remus and Romulus. and she sayd that god [Page Cviij] mars gate hir with child and therfor she was buryed quycke & the childeren were leyd in a woode & a woluesse that had loste hir welpis fedde ofte the childer & made hem souke of her owne tetes But faustulus the heord espyed this doyng & toke away the childer from the wylde beest and norysshed hem vp amonge his beestes with mete of wode and of feldes ¶ Than whan the the childer come to age and hadden wytt and strength they saued ofte the beestes from strong theuys but atte laste the theues toke Remus & brought hym to munitor for he shold punyssh hym as a thef that had stolen his beestes And whan munitor toke hede of the shap of the child he aduysed him long and bythought him how his doughter childer were layde somtyme in the wode Than in the mene tyme come fastulus the herd and brought with hym Romulus Thenne after whan munitor knewe that the childe­ren were his doughter sonnes he and the childeren entended to slee his broder Amulius Eutr ¶Faustulus the heorde that kept the kynges beestes fonde twey lytil bretheren leyde by the brynke of the ryuer tyber & brought hem to his wif yt was callid acta laurencia & for hir fayrenes & concupyscēce of her disordinate lust she was called lupa in latyn that is a woluesse in englissh And therfor the hows of comyn women is called yet lupanaria in latyn Thes childer Remus and Romulus waxed strong and gadred to hem many heerdes and theues and slough amu­lus vpon the Ryuer Alba and restored her grauntsir munitor to his kyngdome ayene ¶Martinus· ¶ Netheles whether that woman was called lupa or noo the old wrytyng in marble & in other stones at Rome sheweth yet / that a woluesse fedde the twey bretheren with hir mylk / a woluesse is lupa in latyn Zacharias Ieroboams sonne regnede in israel sex monethes hym smote Sellum Iabes sonne and regned oo moneth Petrus by veray acomptes owther the kyngdome of Israel. after the deth of Ierobam was thre and twenty yere without kynge owther this Zacharyas began to regne the xv yere of Ozias and so regned all thylk thre and twenty yere that be not acompted to him for al that tyme he lyued a wycked lyf and for he amended him and lyued s [...]x monethes good lif therfor sex monethes be acompted to hym in the xxxviij / yere of Ozias Manaen gaddyes son­ne regned in israel ten yere ¶O [...]ors yaue the egypcians lawe in his tyme a lamb spak and told redy tales The lacedomo­nies arayed bataylle ayenste the mecenes and atte laste were [Page] agreued by playntes of her wyues for they were so longe from home & ordeyned that the womē that were lefte at home euerych sholde take many men for they hoped in that maner to haue the strenger childern ¶R Loke more herof in the firste book capitulo grecia scilicet lacedomonia ¶In corinthy were euery yere ordeyned Iugges in stede of kynges ¶ The first Olimpias began that tyme so feyth Eusebius in his Cronyke This yere phace­as manaens sonne began to regne in israel and regned two yere

¶ Ioathan ¶ Capitulum 32.

IOathan Iosias sonne regned in Iuda sexten yere· In his firste yere Phacea Romelyas sonne began to regne in Israel and regned twenty yere ¶This firste yere of Ioathan as Iosephus and the history of Affryca and beda tellen after four honderd yere and six after the destruction of Troye the first Olimpias was ordeyned by the Iliensis vnder Escilis Iugge of Athene in the whiche Olimpias corebus of athene was the first vyctour / Hugo ¶ Olimpus is the name of an hill in grecia atte clyf named acten that hille is called olimpus for myrth & clerenesse of weder that is ther as it were the myrth of god Ther the Ileens haue theyr tornamētes frō iiij yere to iiij yere so that four yere was bytwene the tornoyes in the whiche four yere princes be ordeyned and chosen & that space of four yere is cleped Olimpias Isichus praxomdys sonne ordeyned first Olimpi­as / R / The Olimpias begynneth atte styntyig of the sonne in the wynter that is whan the day is shertest for the grekis begynneth her yere than Hugo ca / Olimpus ¶ Olimpiades be playes or­deyned vnder the hylle Olimpus in worship of Iupiter· In the whiche playes who that hath the maystrye shal haue what he wold axe and was holden ones in fyue yere lest it shold be for­yete and it were lenger forborn and for it shold greue men with grete cost yf it were ofter vsed ¶ Theglathphalazar kyng of assiria wente vp in to Israel and destroyed the countrey beyonde Iordane and toke prisonners twey lygnages of Israel and an half. and ladde with hym to Assiria / And that was the begyn­nyng of the thraldome of the ten lignages of Israel ¶Pol. li / octauo ¶ Ierom sayth that this kynge of Assyria hadde fyue [Page Cix] names salmanasar Senacherib phulle Theglathphalazar. Sar­gon. therfor it is no wōder though this king be named in dyuse storyes by dyuerse names. R· Now somme wol meane that these names be names of dyuerse kynges that regned in Assiria after Sardanapallus euery after other as arbaces phul theglathphasar Salmanasar senacherib Assaradon Sargon / After hym the greet kynges Merodac and other vnto Balthazar regned in ba­bilonia vnto darius· Cirus torned hir kyngdom to the perses the [...] for after Sardanapallus that was the last hole kyng of assiria come kynges euerych after other and warred with nacions that dwellyd aboute hem for to rekeuer worship and dignyte and brought the ten lygnages of israel in seruage and regned vnto Ezechias tyme kyng of Iuda / whan senacherib fledde oute of Iuda and was slayn of his owne sonnes in the temple

¶ Achas ¶ Capitulum 33

AChaz Ioathās sonne regned in israel xvj yere in his .iiij· yere Rome was ful buyld in the hille Palatynus of the twey bretheren twynnes Remus and Romulus the .xxj. day of Apryll in the begynnynge of the vij Olimpias from that yere is the kyngdom of Romulus acompted xxxix yere Martinus ¶Me redeth that this kynges regned longe bifore aboute that place in ytaly & specially Ianus Saturnus Picus Faun­us and latynus regned vnto eneas aboute two honderd yere

R. ¶Than from eneas to this Romulus / Italye was vnder fyften rectours four honderd yere and two and thyrty· And after that from that the cyte was buyld to the last yere of tarrquiniꝰ the proud me regned at rome vnder vij kinges abou [...] two honderd & four & fourty yere And afterward vnder Con [...]suls vnto Iulius cesar four honderd and foure and fourty yere ¶Entr Than while romulus regned his leder fabius slough remus Romulus broder with an heordes raak Marc ¶I not yf that was done by his broder wylle / the cause of his deth was thus Remus sayd that a sengle wall was not strength ynowe for the new cyte and for to make that good / he lept ouer the walle at oo lepe F ¶Titus ¶ For thise bretheren twynnes were of one age they put vpon dyuynyng whether of hem shold rule the cyte that was buyld as the older and gretter mayster / [Page] Than whan they were in the hille Auentinus seuen fowles shewed hem to remus that he callyd vulters and afterward suche two that were fourten vulters shewed hem to Romulus / than they stryued and eyther sayd that he had the better diuinacion of foules Remus for he had firste and Romulus for he hadde the more nombre and so Remus was slayn in that strif Marc But the more comyn sawe is that remus was slayn f [...]r he lept ouer the new walles of Rome Entr ¶Than Romulus the first of the Romaynes for by his name the latyns were cleped Romaynes and he named the cyte after his owne name and ga­dred peple al aboute and chasse an honderd of the eldest and wy­sest and did all thyng by her counseyll and cleped hem senatours by cause of her elde or age for senex in latyn is old in englysshe and he named hem faders by cause of the charge and kepynge that they had And he made her names be wryten with lettres of gold And therfor they were cleped faders wryten / He chees a thousand werriours and called them milites by that nombre mille that is a thousand / Milites be knyghtes in englysshe ¶ Titus And whan Romulus had gadred to his cyte a gret multitude of flemed men of mysdoers and heordes and of vnwor­thy personnes than men that dwellyd aboute hem helde hem but harlottis and wold not yeue hem her doughters to wyues / for they were so vnworthy. Than Romulus satte vp games and prayd all the nacions aboute to come and to see· And whan they were comen the Romaynes rauesshed her maydens the fairest maide of alle was yeuen to duc thalassus Therfore in weddynge of Romaynes me cryed thalassus R ¶ Austyn de ciuitate dei libro tercio capitulo vndecimo ¶ Seyth that Titus lyuius treateth how by cause herof was werre long duryng bitwene the sabines and the Romaynes ¶Atte last whan the Sabynes fyll one tarpenis doughter made couenaunt with tacius kyng of Sabines that she wold delyuer to hym and to his men the· tour torpeya wher her fader was lord / So that the Sabynes wolde yeue her the broches that they bare on her lyft armes / of the whiche ouide maketh mynde libro primo de fastie The Sabyns entred in atte yates of Rome and brused and ouerlay that mayde wylfully with sheldes that they bare on theyr lyfte sydes ¶Whan the romaynes herde that they arayd hem for to fight and faught till they were nygh destroyed· But the Romaynes wyues that were the Sabynes doughters went with her herr spradde and [Page Cx] childer on her armes wepyng bytwene the shiltrons and cryed peas and made peas so that her kynges shulde regne to geders an [...] the peple shold putte her owne names bifore the names of her felawes but the name of the kyngdome sholde leue to the romaynes Eutr Therof it come that euery romayne hadd af­terward twey names ¶But sone after tacius kyng of sabins was slayne by assent of Romulus that semeth wel For he ma­de no sorowe for hym neyther toke wreche but he graunted hem fedome that did that dede R ¶Titus lynius and other wry­ten that whyle Romulus tolde his peple atte water of capne he was couerd and heled with a thykke c [...]wde ¶ But Austyn de ciuitate dei libro tercio capitulo 13 ¶ Vnderstondeth with other as it semeth that Romulus was smyteij with lyghtynge and al to dasshed so that nothyng of his body myghte be founde Or as sōme Romaynes wryte he was al [...]o haled and drawen of his owne Senatours for his cruelta ¶Than one Iulius proculus that was at greete worship amonge the Romaynes sayd that Romulus appered to hym in his sleep and hight hym and the Romaynes that they shuld worshipe Romulus in stede of god and clepe him quirinus for he vsed a spere and a spere [...] called quyris in the langage of Sabyns and therfor knyghtes of ro­me be cleped quyrytes as it were [...]pere men ¶ In this manere the peple of rome were lette that they slough not the Senatours for the deth of Romulus. And namely for that tyme fylle the eclypps of the sonne Therfor the Romaynes wende that the sonne had be sory for Romulus deth ¶Augustinus de ciuitate dei li. decimo octauo capitulo quartodecimo· In Romulus time was Tales millesius in his floures the first of the seuen wyse men Ysidorus libro secundo ¶ This tales was the firste that serched naturel philosphye causes and worchyng of heuen kynd of thinges and afterward plato departed his doyng in four in Arsemetrik geometrye music and astronomye ¶Pol̄ / ¶ This na­turel philosopher and dyuynour serched kynde and vertues of thynges and warned and told bifore the eclypses of the sonne and of the mone and he trowed that moisture is the begynnyng of all thynges and me sayth that he lyued vnto the lxviij Olimpiad Augustinus libro octauo ¶Tales disciple was Anaximander he chaunged the forseyd oppynyon and trowyng of his mayster a [...]d sayde that euery thyng hath his owne propre be­gynnyng and causes wherof it is gendred Anaximenes herd [Page] it by his owne name nummus. Ysidorus libro sextodecimo ca­pitulo 17 ¶Pecunia cometh a p [...]cus that is a beste. For pecunia that is mony was first made of lether and of beestes skynne [...] Afterward Saturnus made money of brasse with wrytynge [...] boute ¶Atte last this numa made money of siluer and wro [...]e his owne name aboute / Therfore nummus that is a peny hath that name nummus of numa

¶ Manasses ¶ Capitulum [...]

MAnasses ezechias sonne began to regne· & regned lv / yere In his tyme sibill Erophila was in hir flowres in the yland [...] ¶And· nychomedia in bythymia was buyld that was called somtyme Archacus Mida the ryche kyng of Fugia dranck bloode of a boole and dyed Manasses an euyl kyng before god after that he had made the stretes of Ierl̄m reed with bloode of ppephetes. and made ysayas the Prophete to be sawed with a sawe of tree and ladde to pryson in to Babylon. yet atte last this manasses repented hym and wept and did penaunce and so by grace amended his lyf The hebrewes seyen that ysa­ias while he was sawed without Iherusalem beside the welle siloe axed water / men yaue him none. than god from heuen sent water in to his mouth and so he yelde vp his soul [...] ¶ Siloe is as moche to saye as sent Isaye hadde prayd and it was graunted of god in the sege of Iherusalem that men of the cyte that wente theder shuld fynde the water. and enemyes myght ther no water fynde. In mynde of that dede the peple buryed hym vnder an ook called quercus Rogel faste by the water of Siloe / Kynges seaccen at Athene and Iugges be ordeyned to rule the people ¶Tullius hostilius the thyrd kyng of Romaynes regned two and thyrtty yere Eutr ¶This was the first kyng of Romaynes that ware p̄pure a maner reed clothyng of kynges and brouderd and Ryueld and after long pees he arayd batayls and ou (er) come the Albans & the fidenates / and atte laste he was smyten with lighntyng in his owne hows and soo he dyed / Augusti­nus libro tercio capitulo vndecimo From Ascamus tyme to r [...] mulus the heede of the kyngdome lefte with Albans / whan the Cyte was byld was greet s [...]ryf and long bitwene the romaines [Page Cxij] & the albans· the ende of the stryfe was put vpon thre knightes on that one side & iij knightis on ye otherside / so yt of whether side the knyghtes ou (er)come other that side shold be hede of the kyngdom Tha [...] on the romaynes side came to geder thre knyghtes euery of them wa [...] callyd Oracius & were borne at one byrthen / And on the Albans syde cam also to geder thre knyghtes euery of them was called curiacius and were also born at one byrthen These thre curyacies of the Sabyns side first slough tweyne of the oracies of the Romaines side than the thyrd Oracies sawe that he was left allone in right grete perill he feyned for to flee that he myght sodenly fall vpon the thre whan they were departed & vnware purposyng to take his auantage and so it was done· For they ran after hym vnwysely euery after other and he slough euery by hym self as they cam to his hande eche after other Therfore the heede and the name tourned to the Romaynes of the kyngdome ¶ But Oracius sister that was spoused to one of the Curyaces sawe that hir broder had slayne and spoylled hir spouse she myssa yde her brother angrely for the sleenge of hir spouse therfor her brother was wroth and slough hir also ¶R This tullius hostilius had bataylle agaynst fydenates / And prayd metius kyng of Albans to come with him and as­siste hym bothe for olde kynrede and alyance and for new coue­naunt and frendship made after the deth of the thre curiacies ¶ But whan Tullius hostilius felle on his enemyes Metius withdrewe hym / netheles tullius had vyctory and toke metius kynge and drowe hym with horses and threwe downe the Cyte Alba and toke the men and Rychesse and sente hem in to Rome ¶Archilotus and Simonides the enchaunters were that tyme in her floures and the Cyte Bysans was byld in Tracia. that now is called constantynople Amon Manasses sonne regned two yere so wryte the hebrewes but the seuenty sayen that he reg­ned twelue yere· ¶This Amon lyued an euyl lyf and was slayne of his owne seruauntes ¶R It may happe that bycause therof that the yeres of this age ben dyuersly acompted amonge dyuerse men and that the yeres from the buyldynge of the cyte passen by ten yeres the whiche ten yeres the seuenty put ten to Iosias Amons sonne a child of echte yere old beganne to regne and regned in Inda one and thyrtty yere This iosias the iiij yere of his regne corrected euyl doers as he had ben an old [...] man and gladly herde the wordes of Deutronomij that is [Page] this anaximander and sayd the eyer is cause of al thynges His disciple was Anaxagoras he sayd that the In wytte of god is maker of all thynges He taught Archelaus and democritus· And Archelaus taught Socrates and Socrates was Platoes mayster ¶Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro decimo octauo capi­tulo visesimo quinto· The other s [...]x wysemen were in the tyme of the transmigracion of the Iewes Netheles they left no bookes after hem writ [...]n but they taught men by honeste of lyuyng· thes be the names of these wisem [...]n / Pitacus milytenus. Salon Atheniensis / chilon lacedemonius / Piriadrus Corinthius Cleobolus lidius byas Pien [...]us ¶Val̄ libro quarto capitulo primo In this tales tyme Somme ffisshers sold a draught of fysshes with the nett tho was drawen the golden meteborde that was in Ap­polyn delphicus temple And bycause of that bord ther fylle strif among hem and the Fysshers sayd that they had sold the fissh that was taken And the myghtier seyd that fortune had bought the bargayne Than for wonder and nouelte of this doing me axed counseyl and reede of Appolyn delphicus and he demed that the borde shold be yeuen to the wyseste man Than the bord was yeuen to Salon and he sente it to bias and Bias yaf it to phitacus and so fro one to other til it was yeuen to Salon ayen Tho salon halowed the bord to appolyn / Os [...]e elaes sonne slough Phasee the kyng of Israel and regned for hym nyne yere And whan the nyne yere were doon the folke of israel were broughte in to seruage. that tyme myda the ryche kyng regned in Frigia

¶ Ezechias ¶ Capitulum 34

EZechias was the fourtenth kynge of Iuda. in his seconde yere the Cyte Siracusana and in his thridde yere the cyte Catina in Scicilia were buylde ¶ The kyng of Babilon wor­shipped this Ezechias with yeftes· For he hadde herd telle that the sonne that they worshiped in stede of god· had torned ayene atte prayer of Ezechias / And so he vnderstode that the sonne had don the kyng grete worship / therfor he sente messagers with ryche yeftes / and desired to knowe the reason and cause of that wonder· Than Ezechias shewed all his tresorye ¶ Senacherib otherwyse callyd Salmanasar was kyng of Caldees and [Page Cxj] ouercome osee kynge of israel and beseged Samarya thre yere and gate it / ¶Also he toke ten lygnages that is to say the se­uen other lygnages prisons in to the hilles of medes besides the Riuer gothan / Girald that is beyonde the hilles of caspy wher Alysaunder encluded and closed twey foule maner peple gog & magog / Antecrist whan he cometh shal delyuer thes people and bringe hem out / Also the Iewes abyden this antecrist and bile­ue that he is Messias that is crist / Petrus in the first takyng in to seruage of the thre lygnages ¶ Me troweth that Tobye was taken and lefte with kyng Osee prysonner in Nynyue his story was fulfylled vnder manasses Ezechias sonne· owther atte moost the xx yere of Iosias the kyng / Than the kynge of Assyryes brought men of dyuerse londes in to Samaria to kepe the lande of Israel / And they for drede of lyons that were cruel & styerne weren made holders of the lawe of Iewes and cleped Samarite and samaritani that be kepers. they be cleped also chutei and Iacobites that be supplanters but they left not her maumetrye· Romulus dyed whan he had regned xxxix yere / as it is sayd bifore / and the Senatours ruled the comyns of Rome the space of an yere and half and space of tyme was callyd Inttempus as it were a tyme bytwene Numa pompilus began to regne· amonge the Romaynes and regned four and fourty yere· This numa had no batayll with men that dwellyd aboute hym he ordeyned to the romaynes lawes and good lyuyng For they semed rather by custome of batayls theues and tyrauntes law­les This deseryued or departed the yere without redy. acomptes in ten monethes / Hugo capitulo Ianus ¶For the Romaynes as the hebrewes bigan her yere fro the moneth of marche vnto the tyme▪ of this pompilus but he putte Ianuar and februare to the begynnyng of the yere· and so the yere lefte amonge the Romaynes incorrecte vnto Iulius cezars tyme / Eutr· Numa ordeyned ornamentes and serymonyes and all worshippes of goddes bisshoppes dyuynes and mars preestes and other mynystres of presthode euery by due ordre and forboden dayes and other He yaf a temple to god Ianus and another with fire to the goddesse vesta & her maydens to be worshipped that the lyght shold be warden of Emperye and wake and shyne to the lykenesse of sterres of heuen And numa sayd that he had all thes to the keping of the noble goddesse / Also he buyld the capitoyl and rered it from the firste fundement he ordeyned peny to his peple & cleped [Page] [...] [Page Cxij] [...] [Page] moyses book of the lawe & destroyed mawmetrye with the high places Treuisa High places be templis that were in groues vpon hye totes or hilles to worship mawmettis in Than folo­weth in the story This Iosias brent the bones of fals prophete [...] and of fals preestes that worshipped and serued fals goddes / And helde the esterday in mynde of passage thurgh the reed see. And atte last he faught with pharao nechao kyng of Egypte & was slayn and lefte after hym thre sones Elyachym otherwyse called Ieconias Ioathas otherwyse called sellum and mathani as otherwyse called Sedechias ¶ Ancus marcius the fourth kyng of Romaynes Numaes neuew borne of his doughter by­gan to regne and regned xxiij yere ¶This Ancus for the grace that he sawe in tarquiniꝰ priscꝰ / made hym warden of his he yres but he quyte it ful euyl / Ieremyas was Elchias the bisshops sonne & began to prophecye and prophecied xlj yere vnto the destroyeng of the cyte withoute that tyme that be prophecied in E­gypte This Ieremyas sawe thre tokenynges a yerde waking a crocke brennynge and his owne bregyrdel y roted besides the riuer of eufrates. he made the lamentacions for the deth of Iosi­as kyng of Iuda / Also that woman olda and sophonias the prophete prophecied of them & is made mynde in the book of kynges Tarquinius priscus the fyfthe king of Romaynes regned seuen and thyrtty yere This priscus doubled the nombre of Sena­tours / he ordeyned games and playes and made walles and vi­ses and other strong places and pryuy and atte last Ancus sonne that was his precessour slough hym ¶ Titus [...] Whan ancus was deede he sente traytously ancus sonnes an huntyng for he wold hym self be ordeyned kyng in the meene tyme Also he chees Seruius Tullius to wedde his doughter and to be his heyr after hym. therfor Ancus sonnes conspyred ayenst hym & hiered heerdes to slee hym / therfor the heerdes feyned a plee. & as it were to haue a rightful dome they appeled to the kyng In the whiche cause and plee whyle the kyng toke hede to that one / that other heerde slough hym / Ioathas Iosias myddel sone whā his fader was deed & his elder broder forsakē was ordeined by the peple kynge of Iuda & regned thre monethes / as it were from the first day of Ianuar to the first day of auerel ¶Pharao Nechao kyng of Egypt lad hym bounden in to Egypt and ma­de his elder brother Elyachym kynge and Trybutarij to the kyng of egypte and cleped hym Ioachym in token of subiection [Page Cxiij] Than this elyachym that was so cleped Ioachym regned en­leuen yere and lyued atte worst for he slough vrias the prophete and prisoned Ieremye and brent baruchis book

¶ Nabugodonosor ¶ Capitulum 36

THe grete nabugodonosor began to regne in Babyloyne / & regned xxxiij yere and ouercome the kyng of Egypt and occupyed the londe from the riuer of egypt to the riuer eufrates & was lord of all Siria withoute Iudea / Iosephus li / 10 ca / [...] Sayth that this nabugodonosor in the fourth yere of his regne wēt in to iudea that is the Iewrye & wan Ierl̄m & toke Ioach [...]m prisonner & made him trybutary & left hym in the way netheles he toke with him prysoners noble childer that were descended of kynges. Anania / Azarias misael and danyel and ladde them with hym in to babilon with the vessel of the temple / ¶Fro that tyme forward this kynge Nabugodonosor was Emperour of caldea of siria of egypt and of Iudea that is the Iewry Petrus Vnder that tempest and teone. the rachabites Ionadab / Rachabs sonnes childer that folowed her fader bestes and com­maundementes and dranc no wyn ne sette vynes ne sewe sedes they went tho in to Ierl̄m to saue hem self / Ioachym the kynge herd tr [...]le that the kyng of egypt wolde efte fyght ayenst nabu­godonosor and denyed hym trybute that he had promysed hym Therfor nabugodonosor was wroth and went and toke Ieru­salem and kylled alle the strong men and Ioachim the kyng also and threw hem without the walles vnburyed and crow­ned. ther his sonne Ieconias kyng ¶R Here we shal yeue credence to Ierom that sayth ther w [...]re twey Ieconias One in the ende of the forne fourtene generacions and another in the be­gynnyng of the other fourtene generacions and so it may seme that the comune lettre of mathew is ful scars for vnlerned men to vnderstonde There he sayth Iosias gate Ioconias and his bretheren in the transmygracion of babyloyne for it shold be continued in this maner that meane and vnlerned men myght vn­derstande ¶ Iosias begate Iechonias and Iechonias And Iochonias gate salatiel· & eyther Iechonias was called Ioachym so seyth Iosephus and the text must be vnderstande in this maner. in to the transmygracion that is aboute the tyme of [Page] the tyme of the transmygracion Treuisa The transmigracion of Babyloyne was the takyng of the folke of Israel in to bonda­ge in to babyloyne / Petrus / On the bodye of the elder Ioachim that was soo throwen withoute the walles / were founde lettres and fygures ayenst the lawe of god and the name of the mawmett codonasia that he worshipped Iosephus li· 10 ca / 8 Ie­chonias otherwyse callyd Ioachym / Ioachis sonne was made kyng by Nabugodonosor & regned but thre monethes that was vnto the moneth of Iuyl For nabugodonosor drad hym· leste he wold haue mynde of his fader deth and holde with the egypciās ayenst hym / therfor he nabugodonosor / torned ayene & besieged Ierusalem / And the kyng Iechonias by counseyll of Ieremye yelde hym wylfully with his moder and al his houshold to nabugodonosor / and so this Iechonias was taken prysonner and two ·M / prynces with seuen thousand craftes men among the which were mardocheꝰ & ezechiel that was yet a child of the blode of preestes and soo this Iechonias otherwyse called Ioachym left in prison in caldea xxxvij yere til nabugodonosor was deed and his sonne nabugodonosor also & enylmerodach nabugodonosors other sone toke hym out of pryson Petrus 144 ¶From this transmygracion that was made the echt yere of the regnynge of Nabugodonosor some rekeneth thre score and ten of the bonda­ge of Iewes. but proprely to speke thes that yelde hem wylful­ly be cleped the transmigracion and other that weren y taken af­terward ayenst her wyll be called prysonners and bondage Mathanias Iosias thyrd sonne was ordeyned kynge of nabugodo­nosor. but he was sworn that he shold serue him tributary & was also callyd sedechias and regned xj yere· Iosephꝰ li. 10 ca. 9 / Ezechiel began to prophecie & prophecied in babylon to hem that we­re in bondage aft that they had takē the [...]pl̄e of Ieremye the prophete out of the lāde of Iuda & this ezechiel sēte his ꝓphecie in to Ierl̄m / but the king sedechias trowed not his ꝓphecies for him semed that the ꝓphecies of Ieremie & of ezechiel were not acor­dynge / For al the Prophecies acorded that Ierusalem shold be taken and that the kyng shold be ledde away prisonner in to babyloyne· But it semeth that they discorded in that that Eze­chiel sayd that Sedechias sholde not see Babyloyne ¶ Nethe­les ther sayng were true of both· For whan nabugodonosor toke Zedechias he put out his eyen in reblatha and ladde hym so in to babylon stark· blynde ¶ Salon one of the seuen wyse men did [Page Cxiiij] away the old dragons lawes and gaf his own lawes to men of athene / R. Of this salon speketh seint austin de ci / d / li. 2 / ca 16· Agellus spekith more openly li / 11. & trogꝰ pomp li· [...] / in this maner In salons tyme men of Athene had no lawe for euery of them had lykyng of rengnyng in stede of lawe Atte laste sa [...]on a man of grete rightwysenesse was elect and chosen that wente so rightfully bytwene the peple & the senatours that he had thāk on either side· Val / li / 8 / ca· 7 / This at his last ende day whan his frendes came / aboute him & talked / he arered & lyfte vp his heed & bihelde hem / one axed hem why he did soo / he answerd & sayde / what euer it be that ye talke of whan I haue vnderstanden it / than I shal dye Danyel the prophete expouned Nabugodono­sor the kyngis sweuen ¶ Here take hede that Danyel see ten sightes / thre vnder Nabugodonosor thre vnder balthasar the vij & the viij vnder darius / the ix & the tenth vnder cirus· Netheles other prophetes longe bifore the takyng of Iherusalem & of the peple prophecied of the takyng. and soo did ysaias osee michias and other whan the takyng was toward and while it was in doyng and soo did sophonias Ieremyas· & Ezechiel and somme durynge the takynge and the bondage as Danyel abacu [...] and somme afterward as Aggeus and Zacharyas Yet somme vnderstand that danyel sawe that sight the fyf and thyrtty yere of Nabugodonosors regne Nabugodonosor beseged Iherusalem for trybute. was werned him ¶ The kyng of Egypt arayed hym and wente oute as though he wold haue broken the siege ¶Therfor Nabugodonosor went from the siege and chasede the kyng of Egypt out of Siria ¶ And therfor prophetes sones and fals prophetes scorned Ieremyas and sayd / the babilon shal not torne agayn as thou seydest & prophecidest / but Ieremyas seid the contrary and therfor he was first putte in prison and than in a lake in slyme vnto the throte / ¶ Than the same yere the tenth moneth Nabusardan prynce of cheualrye of Babyloyne· beseged Ierl̄m & the cite was closed thre monethes & for gret honger womē ete her own childer to the mesure of a span / That yere the iiij moneth the king was takē in ye dawing in ye way of wildernes & brought to nabugodonosor in reblatha ther his eyē were put out & he was boūdē & lad in to babilō & ther was yeuē to him a laxatif drink in presence of the kyng & of al the fest & for shame he died sone aft / Also that yere that was the xix yer of nabugodonosor nabusardā brēt ye tēple & hous of Ierl̄m & destroied [Page] the walles and toke away the vessel with the pilers & toke the men prisonners and toke Ieremyas oute of pryson. Netheles na­bugodonosor lett Ieremias dwel with godolia and he let the rachabytes goo fre and soo the temple was brente foure honderd and four and thyrtty yere after that it was buyld so wryten he brues / But more veryly ysidorus and the seuenty wryten iiij· / C / and four and fourty yere After the byldynge of Rome an honderd yere thre score and one ¶ The fourth age of the world endeth from the begynnyng of the kyngdome of dauid to this ta­kynge of Iherūsalem and of the Iewes that is cleped the trans­mygracion This transmygracion and taking was done the xj yere of Sedechias in the moneth of august and dured four honderd yere thre score and thryt [...]ene sex monthes and ten dayes. by sextene generacions / Netheles mathew by cause of somme priue meanyng setteth fourten generacions but ysidorus and the seuē ­ty tellen that this age conteyned four honderd yere four score & thre And in case this discordyng of yeres happeth for the comyn translacion sayth that Amon regned two yere and somme seyne that he regned xij yere Therfor yf the xiij yere that the kyngdō of Iuda was without kyng after the deth of amasias be put to thes yeres. than the yeres of this fourth age shul be iiij C / lxxx and xvj

¶Explicit liber secundus /

¶Incipit Liber tercius

THe fyth age of the world began from the transmygracion of the Iewes and the brennyng of the temple that was doone the· xj / yere of sede­chias / Therfor who that wol reken seuenty yere of the prysonnyng and bondage of Iewes from this .xj / yere of sedechias as Eusebius dide by auctoryte of Zacharye. the prophete / than he shal ende this seuenty yere in the second yere of dariꝰ Itapsis sonne· but it semeth that Iosephꝰ & Ieroms glose reken these seuenty yere from the / xiij· ye­re of iosias the king in the which yere Ieremias began to ꝓphecie vnto the first yere of cirus but redyly to acompt the seuēty yeres that enden in the thirde yere or in the laste yere of cirꝰ be ꝓprely the yeres of taking & bōdage of the Iewes / but the yeres that ende in the second yere of dariꝰ be ꝓprely the yeres of the ful transmygracion & of the destroyng of the temple / Petrꝰ 154 / The men of Iuda drad the face of nabugodonosor for the deth of godolyas whom they had slayn. therfore they went with theyr children & cataill in to egypt & Ieremias went with them· ayenst her wylle And for he prophecied alway that they that went in to egypt at that tyme sholde be destroyed / therfor they ston [...]d hym to deth the fourth yere of that transmygraciō· Netheles the egypcians wor­shiped the prophete & buryed him besides the buriels of kynges / for he had with his prayers dryuen away the eddres & cocadril­les from the egypciās / Treuisa A cocadrille is a four foted beest that lyueth both in water & in land & is cominly xx cubet long with clawes & teeth strongly armed / his skynne is so ha [...]d that he rekketh not of strokes of hard stones. he rested by day in water & by nyght in lande / the cocadrylle allone among beests moeueth the ouer Iowe so seyth ysidore / Than it foloweth in the story / Also the ꝓphete yaf a tokē to the kynges of egypt that her manmettes sholdē falle whan a mayde had born a child· therfore the preestes of misbileuid mē ordeined hem an ymage of a maide with a child & worshiped it in a piuey place within the tēple· Also this Ieremias knew that the tēple shold be destroyed & toke the shrine of the testamēt with al that was therin & made it thurgh his prayers be swalowed in to a stone bitwen ye hilles of wildernes wher moises & aarō bē buried / & he marked the stone with his finger & wrote therin goddes owne name / & from that tyme hidderto & to the worldes ende the stone is hidde with a clowde / so that the place maye not be knowen neyther that name of god maye not [Page] be redde· Me seyth that atte first arysyng atte day [...] dome moy­ses and aaron shal brynge that shryne and [...] on the hille Syna. ther the holy halowes shul be gadred to [...] the ayene [...] goyng of god The kyng nabugodonosor the [...] yere of his kyngdome went doune in to Siria and made subge [...] [...] hym an [...] and moab and ouercome egypt and slough the kyng of Egypte and ordeyned ther another kyng / ¶ Also atte laste the Iewes that he founde there he ladde in to babilon / Nabugodonosor the second yere of his kingdom mette the sweuen of the ymage of / iiij maner thynges made and was ful soore aferd This second ye­re is not acompted from the firste begynnyng of his kyngdome but from his grete kyngdome whan he had made subget other nacions about and brought the relyef of Israel and of Iuda out of Egypte / that yere befelle the second sight and vision of daniel of the angel that delyuerd the· childer out of the ouen ¶ That yere befelle the thyrdde vision that is cleped the kynges pistle. in the whiche he telleth that he was hym self bitokened by the tree that was y seen And atte last for his pryde he shold be shapen bifore as an oxe and bihynde as a lyon not by chaungyng of body but by chaungyng of disposicion of wytte and of semyng and that he shold ete hey as an oxe til seu [...] times were torned in to seuen monethes atte prayer of daniel ¶Petrus 16 ¶After the which tyme he was chaūged in to his owne shappe ayene but he regned no more· but he ordeyned seuen Iugges for hym self and did penaunce vnto seuen yeres ende / and ete no breede ne flesshe / · ne dranck no wyn but ete herbes and potage by counseyl of daniel ¶ Seruius tullius the sixth kyng of Romaynes come after tarquinius priscus and wedded his doughder and regned four & twenty yeres ¶ Eutr libro primo This was a noble womās sonne that was taken· He yafe thre hilles to the Cyte of Rome Quirinalis equilinus and viminalis and made diches about the cyte. this ordeyned first personale trybute to the Romaynes / ¶In his tyme were founden echt honderd thousand and s [...]uen thousand burges in Rome Titus ¶This hadde maryed his doughter tullia to one tarquiniꝰ superbus. she made hir own hus­band to conspyre with the comynte of Rome and the Senatours for to slee her own fader. Therfor this tarquinius mette with the kyng vpon a tyme and threwe hym doune of a stayre and so the kyng was soore hurt and went homeward / and was slayn by the way of men that tarquinius had hyred to doo that fals dede [Page Cxvj] And Tullia the kynges doughter herd herof and toke hir char & went to grete her husbond that was made new kyng· and by the waye she ladde hir chare ouer hir fader bodye ¶ Ezechiel the Prophete was to drawen with horses in [...]aldea by the doyng of hem that were lefte of the lygnages of dan and of gad / and that for he hadde warned hem that they shold not come ayene to Iherusalem ¶Also that yere he sawe sigh [...]es and visions of the newyng of the temple Iosephus libro decimo capitulo vndecimo

¶ Capitulum secundum /

AFter the grete Nabugodonosor his sonne Nabugodonosor regned in Babyloyne ten yere / he put moche more to his fader Royalte ¶ For Megasten in libro Iudiciorum sayth that in strengthe and grete dedes he passed hercules And he destroyed Libia and hiberia and pulled and drough oute of places grete stones as it were hilles and sette there trees and made ther an Orchard that was cleped suspensilis / that his wyf myght st [...]de in that Orchard and see home in to hir owne countrey where she was born and she was darius doughter· Darius was astrages sonne Astrages heet assuerus also ¶ Also this kyng beseged Tirus thre yere and thre monethes R Nethehes Marcianus speketh not of this second nabugodonosor but he sayth that euil marodoth and Balthasar were bretheren ¶That tyme were in theyr flowres Anaximander and Anaximines Philosophres tales disciples Petrus 162 ¶ This Nabugodonosors brother Enylmerodach began to regne whan his broder was dede and anon he toke Ioachiin king of Iuda out of prison that had be in prison & in bandes seuen and thyrtty yere and he sette his trone aboue all kynges trones that were with hym in babilon / he did hym this grace & mercy· ffor his broder nabugodonosor in the tyme of his fader meschyef had doo many euil dedes / and whan his fader was restored ayene· to his owne shap· he put his broder E­nylmerodach in pryson that was accused to his fader / And Io­achim was there in pryson vnto the deth of the second Nabugodonosor ¶Therfor this enylmerodach whan he began to regne toke Ioachym oute of pryson for he drad lest his fader wold rise from deth to lyue as he was somtyme tourned fro the shappe of a beest in to the shap of mankynde ¶And by counseyle and loore [Page] of this Ioachim / he toke out of the erth his faders body and cutte it in an honderd peces & deled the peces to an honderd vulters for to ete· For Ioachim sayd his fader shold neuer ryse er al the vulters come to geder ¶ This enylmerodach had thre sonnes one beyght egessarius & regusar that other hight labo sardachus & the thyrd heyght nabar and Balthasar to hym fylle the kyng­dome Petrus 169 / ¶In this enylmerodachs [...]me was Su­zanna accused that is not in danyels booke of hebrew / but is cle­ped a fable not for feynyng that is therinne but for somwhat fals is rade therinne of the preestes that they were stoned to deth For Ieromye sayth that they were brent in fy [...]e ¶ Also for we saye that it was wryten of danyel and natheles it was writen of one that was of Grece· and that semeth wel by som̄e maner acordyng of / wordes that be not in hebrew

¶ Capitulum 3

BAlthasar regned in caldea and in Babyloyne in his first yere daniel sawe his iiij sighte of the iiij wyndes in the see that is four angels of the four beestes. Of the lyon the bere the pardus and the boor that is of the four chefe kyngdoms of the world and of the ten hornes that is of the other ten smal kyngedoms that sprang oute of the fourth beeste· and shold be subdued of a lytel horne that is Antecrist Petrus 163 ¶This ante­criste vnworthy of the lygnage of dan. shalbe borne of the seed of fader and of moder in a derke place of Babylone and after that he is conceyned an euyl spyryte shal lyght in to his moders wombe and by vertu of him the child shal afterward be yned born and waxen and be cleped the child of losse dr of lesyng And thre of the firste ten hornes be smyten of his face that is to say he shal slee first thre kynges of thylk ten the kyng of Affrica the kyng of Egypte & the kyng of ethyopia & then the other seuen kynges shal yelde them to that fals vyctour antecrist· He shal haue wonder wytte and connynge for by wytchecrafte he shal worche wonders and fynde tresour that is hidde· He shal circumside hym and clepe him self messias that is cast Iewes shal falle to hym and he shal buylde the temple ayene and sette his trone therinne / he shal torne men to hym with drede with yeftes and with wonder werkes that he shal worche / He shal slee [Page Cxvij] Enoc & hely he shal greue god almyghties holy people that shal be bitaken vnto his hande vnto the tyme and tymes and halfe a tyme that is vnto a yere and two yeres and half a yere·

And Remigius seyth that Antecrist shal feyne hym deed and aryse agayne But atte laste criste shal slee hym owther by his owne hecst or by seruyce of seynt michael tharchangel ¶And Ieronimus super danielem saith that Antecrist shal be slayn in his owne tente in the monut of Olyuete where crist as­cended in to heuen And Remygius sayth that crist shal not come vnto the dome till Antecrist be slayn but men that shal be saued shal haue fyf and fourty dayes for to doo penaūce· Therfor take hede that though it be wryten in mathewe & in marc. 13 / that no man knoweth that houre but the fader allone / yet goddes sonne knoweth itfor he is the same god that is the fader. But therfor it is sayde that he knoweth it not for he maketh not vs knowe it that be his lymmes and holy chirche her in erthe ¶ It is not spedeful to vs to knowe that day Austyn in glosa sayth / The last day is vnknowen to vs for we sholden bewar of all and soo we shulden lyue alway as though we sholden be demed to day· or to morow Trogus libro secundo ¶About that tyme at Athene after the deth of salon the wise one Phisistratus botte him self that he bledde and sayd that the grete maystres hadden beten him soo for loue that he had to the peple and comyntee ¶ Therfor were many knyghtes assigned to kepe him and he regned at a­thene four and thyrtty yere Pol̄ libro octauo ¶The wyf of this egged him for to slee one that had kysshed his doughter. in the high wey and he answerd and sayde. yf we [...] them that louen vs what shal we doo to hem that haten vs / ¶ Daniel sa­we the fyfthe sighte and visyon of the whether or sheep that had hornes not alle lyke / that is to vnderstande of the kyngdome of medes and of perses and of goot buck that is the grete Alysander that was drad and bytokened by that buk and on hym gre­we four hornes that were his successours One lytel horne that is Anthyochus epyphanus come of one of the four hornes for he come of Selencus that was somtyme plegge and prysonner at Rome / but he escaped thens and wente and warred in the kyngdom and defowled the temple. The sixth sight of daniel was whan Balthasar with his concubynes drank of the vessel of the temple of oure lord· the whiche vessayle his grauntsyre the gre [...]e nabugodonosor had krought out of Iherusalem· [Page] Balthasar sawe an hand wryte byfore hym on the walle these wordes / Mane techil Phares / that is to vnderstonde nōbre wight and delyng whiche daniel expouned and sayde god hath tolde & nombred thy kyngdom that is now fulfilled / For the first thou art weyen in a balance and founden that thou hast lasse that is thou lyuest lasse while than thou wendest For the second· thy kyngdom is deled from the and yeuen to the perses ¶ ffor the third than the same nyght cirus and darius come and toke the cyte babylon and slough balthasar Oracius whan Cirus had wonne the eeste landes and come toward Babyloyn / the Ryuer Eufrates let hym and a bold knyght and a fayr that the kyng loued wel auentured hym in to the water and was drowned Than the kyng was sory and wroth and made his auowe / that he wold make that grete Riuer so shalde withoute depnesse that the water sholde not come to womens knees / that wolde wade ouer Therfor in the brode feldes he departed the Ryuer in foure honderd and thre score chanels and so destroyed the Ryuer that was woonte to renne thurgh the myddel of Babyloyne and so enemyes wente in and toke the cyte that me wold wene myght not be buyld ne destroyed by mannes dede ¶ Petrus 165 / Somme wryte that Balthasars moder for whome the orchard suspensilis was made was darius doughter and for Balthasar had no sonne darius Cyrus came socyed and ioyned to Cyrus. occupyed that kyngdom Petrus 166 ¶Whan Balthasar was slayne / Darius torned the kyngdome of Babyloyne and of cal­dea to the perses and medes That yere befell the seuenth vysion of danyel / For danyel sued darius til he was done and putt in to the pyt [...]e of lyons in medea for that he worshipped god And the same yere befelle the echt auision of danyel for the An­gel gabryel certefyed him of the fynal takyng and bondage comynge by the Romaynes ¶ And of the comyng of Crist after seuenty wekes of yeres· For Gabryel sayd seuenty short wekes be vpon thy people / that be wekes sette not of dayes but of yeres. So that one weke conteyned seuen yere ¶And he sayd shorte wekes For we sholde vnderstande yeres of the mone / and not of the sonne For a yere of the mone is shorter by xj dayes than an yere of the sonne Treuisa ¶A yere of the sonne is from a day of the yere to the same another yere but an yere of the mone is from pryme in a monethe of the yere to· the firste prime in the same moneth of another yere & that wyl be enleuen dayes rather [Page Cxviij] in the second yere than in the first yere / Ensample whan pryme goth by one than fallyth the pryme the thre and twenty day of Ianuary and the next yere after it shal falle the xij day of Ianuary. And that is enleuen dayes rather Than it sueth in thistory / Than seuenty wekes of yeres of the sonne maketh foure honderd yere four score and ten / Beda rekeneth this seuenty we­kes of yeres of the Mone from the twenty yere of Artaxzerses the kyng that yere neomyas had leue and bylde the temple vnto the xviij yere of Tiberius cezar / that yere crist suffred deth Affrycanns history acordeth with bede touchyng the begynnyng but he endeth the seuenty wekes in the xv yere of Tiberius Ce­sar in that yere crist was baptysed. ¶ Tercullianus rekene [...]h this yeres from the firste yere of Darius. that yere was goddes worde shewed to danyel til titus destroyed the temple. ¶ The ix auysyon of Danyel was of a man clothed in lynnen whos bodye was of Crisolitus / And the tenth sighte was of the after fo­lowyng of the kynges of Perse and of kynge Alysaundres successours and of antecrist ¶Danyel sawe the thyrd yere of cyrus kyng of Perse R It is vncertayne how long daniel lyued but nethles me redeth in the first chapyt [...]e of his booke that he dured vnto the firste yere of Cyrus

¶ Capitulum quartum

AFter the deth of darius of media that was made assuerus ether Astiages sonne Cirus helde the hole kyngdom of the Este and sette his see in percia though the kyngdome of Media were more worshipful for the men of Percia had auaunced hym to be kyng / This Cyrus was darius sister sonne and Astya­ges doughter son [...] ¶ Trogus libro primo ¶Astiages otherwy­se called assuerus had but one doughter & he mette in hes sleepe that a vyne sprange oute of his doughters priue chose / and by­spradde al· Asia ¶Than dreeme reders expowned this swe [...] and sayde that his doughter shold haue a child that shold be lord of asia and put hym out of it Than the kyng drad and yaue his doughter to a symple knyght that was pryuely born for his doughter shold bere no noble child / And also whan his dough­ter was with child he toke hir to hym and whan the. child was borne. he betoke it to one Arpagus that was his secretary for he [Page] shold slee the child. And he trowed that the kyngdome shold somtyme falle to the kynges doughter / and bitoke the child to an heerd that kept the kynges beestes / and comanded hym to ley the child in a woode there to be deuoured / And whan the heerde had leyde the child in the wood he tolde his wyf therof whiche was lyghter of child the same tyme and she prayd that he wold fette the child to hir and she wold nowrysshe hym and that he wolde leye her owne sonne in the woode for him / And whan the herd came to the chyld he founde a bytche yeuyng it sowke and kept it from beestes and fowles ¶ Petrus 173 And whan the child was brought to the herdes wyf / it made to her good semblaunt as though it had knowen hir / and she na­med the child spartatus that is a welpe in the langage of perse And whan the child was of age and strength and that he couth goo aboute and play with childer his play feres called him Cyrus and made hym her kynge in playes and he chastysede soore them that were rebell to his heestes wherfor the fader of the child [...]e were aggreued and compleyned to kyng Astyages on the heerdes sōne. than the kyng sente after the childe. and axed why he ferd so with the childer. he answerd boldly and sayde that he did so as a kyng shold The kyng wondred that the child was so bold and so stydfast and toke hede that the child had signes and tokenes of a kyng / and he toke the herde a syde pryuely and lerned the soth all how it stode ¶ Netheles the drede of his neuew was aslaked for he trowed that the meanyng of his dreme reders was· fulfylled in the kyngdome of childer Therfore to the same man Arpagus· to whoome he hadde rather bytake the childe to slee he bytoke tho hym to nouryssh and to fede / & tolde hym that that child was the herdes sone· but he made arpagꝰ priuely ete his own child / for he had broken his heeste and whan he he ha d eten his child than he told him al / It befel that astiages made this Arpagus leder of his hoost for to werre ayenst his enemyes of perse and the kyng lefte him self in media ¶ Than Arpagus bythought hym and hadde in mynde of that euil dede that the kyng had done hym and conseyled thoost to chese cyrus and make hym the kynge of Perses and than they cleped hem Cyrus as they wold meane though astyages stryue this shal be heyre ¶Trogus libro primo In the mene tyme Arpagus sente a letter to Cyrus that he shold haue mynde how he sauede hym and lost h [...]s owne child for loue of hym ¶ Arpagus myght [Page Cxix] not sende this letter openly for the kyng. therfor he toke oute the bowels of an hare and put the letter within the hare. and for the fraude shold not be knowen he sent it on a daye as it were vene­son And whan the letter was redde. Cirus was warned in his sleep that the first man that he mette erly on the morow he shold take hym with hym on his wey / Than erly on morow he mette one Sebar that was escaped oute of pryson and was borne in Perse / He dide of his gyues and ladde hym with hym to persi­pol there he gadred the people and bade hem hewe doun a greete wode and made hem a greet feest a morowe / And whan he sawe them mury and wel at ease with mete and drynke he axed hem whether hem were leuer the trauayll of the rather daye· owther the feeste of that day Than Cyrus sayde who that foloweth the medes he shal haue the trauaylle of yist [...]rdaye and they that fo­lowe me shal haue suche feestes / Than anone he arayed hem to batayll ayenst Astyages Petrus 173 / ¶ Than Astiages drad soore and made his cosyn darius to be his sonne adoptiuus. and whan the bataylls cam to geder and began to fight cyrus & perses began for to flee. than her wyues and her moders came fast ayenst hem and shewed hem her pryuee choses and axed of hem wol ye crepe in to your moders wombe & be born ayene / than the men were a shamed and tourned sodenly ayene and felle on her enemyes & hadden the vyctory Cyrus bare hym to astiages as his neuewe after the vyctory. and not as his vyctor for be graunted hym the kyngdom of hircans while he lyued. and he graunted the kyngedome of medes to his [...]ame darius as to his moder brother and hoped that it shold torne to hym ayene ¶ Petrus 174 ¶ Cyrus whan he had herd ysayas prophecye that was wryton of hym an honderd yere and twenty bifore· in this maner to my crist whos right hande I haue take &c / he delyuerd the Iewes the first yere of his kyngdome and made free nygh fyfty thousand men and restored hem the holy vessels of gold / and of siluer fyue thousand and thre honderd and yaue hem leue to goo ageyne and bylde the temple in Iherusa­lem ¶ Aggeus me [...]ued hem moost therto that was tho yong & not yet a prophete and also Zacharias the prophete meued hym / that blessyd salatiels sonne and cleped hym Zorobabel that is to say mayster of babylon ¶But for many of hem in caldea & hadden there possession and wyues and childre hem was the lo­ther to goo thens and abyden vnto the thyrdde yere of Cirus

¶ Capitulum 5

DAnyel prayde. to god for the delyueranre of the peple and darius kyng of medes the first yere of his kyngdome pur­posed to delyuer the people but he dyed sone and he fulfylled it not· Therfor Cyrus the firste yere of his kyngdome yafe the Ie­wes the same leue but the peple was slowe therfor danyel prayd god that as he had yeuen the kynge wylle to delyuer the peple that he wold yeue the peple wyll for to wende homeward agayn ¶Petrus 174 ¶ Than the thyrd yere of Cyrus the Iewes wenten vnder Zorobobabel the duk and vnder Iohan the greete preeste and this was the lxx yere of the bondage and takyng so seyth Iosephus and Ieroms glose vpon Ezechiel / that tyme was from the / xiij / yere of Iosias the kynge to the thyrdde yere of Cyrus though eusebius in his Crony (que) by auctorite of Zacharie the prophete sayth that the second yere of darius itapsis sonne was the lxx yere of this takyng and bondage Netheles it may be determyned in this maner The second yere of darius was lxx yere of the fyfth age of the worlde and of the destroyeng of the temple· But the thyrdde yere of Cyrus was the lxx yere of the first takyng that was don the xiij yere of Iosias the kynge Than the Iewes went hoome agayne and leyde the fundament of the temple and the Samarytans herd therof and came to hem and asisted hem to buylde the temple for they worshipped all one god and had vnderstande moyses bookes The Iewes answerd and seyden though we worshipe one god· netheles it falleth not vs to byld one hows / Therfor the samaritans were wroth / & let her werk with suggestions and with yeftes vnto the second yere of darius Itapsis sonne ¶Orosius libro primo In kynge Cyrus tyme Phalaris a tyrant of Scicilia punysshed men ofte rightfully / though he were hym self vnrightfull ¶ Than one Parilius a craftes man of bras desired to plese the tyrant and made hym a brasen boole with a dore in the riyhtsyde / where men that were damp [...]d shold goo in to the boole for to be tormen­ted and whan they were within and the dore closed and fyre made ther vnder the noyse and crye of hem that were tormented shold passe by dyuerse wyndinges and tornynges so that it shold seme grisely roryng of booles and of beestes / and not mannes gronyng But Phalaris the tyrant was wele apayed with the dede an [...] wroth with the doer and made hym first essaye the [Page Cxx] torment that he had wickedly brought vp to torment other men and punysshed the craftes man by the craft that he had founden ¶That yere befelle that that me redeth of Cresus the ryche king of Liddus: For whan Cyrus werred ayenst the babilons Cresꝰ kyng of lyddes helpe the babylons but he was ouercomen and fledde / And whan the Babylons were sessed Cyrus toke Cre­sus and dide by hym grete worship. and that tourned to eyther of them grete profyte ¶For the strengthe that come out of grece to werre ayenst cyrus torned agayne for the curtosye that was done to cresus ¶ This Cresus hadde a doughter that hight / Fanatica whiche hadde a spyryt of prophecie / and euer counseylled hir fader to leue the warre / wherfor cresus axed counseyll of goddes that begyled hym with a vers and a worde of double vn­derstandyng Cyrus alym passe shall / And than kyngdomes many lese Therfor Cresus was rebel ayenst Cyrus and was taken the thyrdde tyme Petrus 176 ¶ Cyrus smote Cre­sus besides the Ryuer Alim and brought the lyddes. that were noble men of Armes by sleght to wrechednes and sleuth / For whan they hadde loste her horses and theyr armure he made hem to vse tauernes pleyes iapes and nyce craftes with comyn wo­men and strompettis and euyl lyuyng men / And in this manere as it were shewyng loue and good wylle he ouercome by liking and lechery hem that he myghte not ouercome by bataylle / And soo the kyngdome of lyddes faylled that had stonde two honderd yere and one and thyrtty ¶ Trogus libro primo ¶ Ther had be noble kynges of lyddes but none so gracious as Candalus that louede his wyf to moche by cause of hir beautee / and wolde speke of hir and preyse hir to alle manere men and atte laste he shewde her nakede to one Gygy that was his owne felawe / By that dede he made his felawe a spouse breker and his owne enemye And therfor he lost bothe his kyngdome and his wyf

¶ Eutropius ¶ Capitulum 6

THe seuenth and the last kynge of the Romaynes hadde thre names Lucius tarquinus and Superbus / He slough his wyues fader Seruius tullius and regned fyue and twenty yere· [Page] This foūde vp first diuse maner tormentes among the romains as bandes boleyerdes plates battes prysons gyues cheynes out lawyng and exylyng / he ouercome the vultes and the gabyes & made pees with the tuscans / Augustinꝰ de ca / li 2 ca 14· Atte last he bylde a temple of Iupiter in the hille carpelus & for they foū ­de a mannes heede in that place while they· digged they cleped that place capitolium / wherfore theyr prophetes & dyuynes tolde that that place shold be heede of the world· Titus liꝰ / & augꝰ de ci li· 1. ca 19· Somtyme while this tarquinus superbꝰ besieged the Cyte ardea that was rebell to Rome / his sonne tarquinus sextus and lucrecias husbonde tarquinus collatinus satte at soper and talkede of the chastyte of her wyues / lette be quod collatinus· & lette theyr owne dedes preyse our wyues / therfor as it were by assent they came by nyght to Rome and founde lucrecia all one wakynge aboute wol werke and other mennes wyues were a sleepe and somme aboute gyglotrye· wherfor Sixtus tarquinus wayted his tyme and was lodged with lucrecia in gestwyse· and cam vpon her while she slepte with his swerde drawen to ligge by hir maugre her teth And sayde but thou suffre me lye by the I shal put a naked churle deed withthe in bed. and thou shalt ligge deed with hym also / Than whan this sextus had done that dede the woman went hir wey sorowfully / and sente to hir fader and husband and prayed them to come home out of the hoost & enformed them the mishappe that hir was bifalle· & they yaue feyth and credence to hir messagier and she toke wreche of the dede and slough hir self bifore hem with a priue knyf that she ba­r [...] ¶ R Wysemen here saye that lucrecia here slough not hir self· for no vertu but for shame & for angre for neither mā ne womā shold be punysshed without gylt / neyther gylt without Iugge / But for the romaynes coueyte moost praysyng of men & worldly worshipe This lucrecia had drede yf she lyued after that dede lest the peple wold wene that she were assentyng to the dede / And therfore in token that she was sory therof / in conseruynge hir good loos and name and in a voydyng the despyte. and in example of good women he wold no lenger lyue / Of this happe speketh a dytour or retricion as seynt austyn de ci li 1 ca 19 tou­cheth tweyn ther were and one brake spousage / Eutr. By cause of this dede the people gadred to geder / and putte downe and deposed his fader· from his kyngdome / and exyled hym and his childer ¶ The hooste that was with the kynge at Ardea [Page Cxxj] forsoke tarquinus the kinge And whan the kyng came to ro­me and fonde the yates closed ayenste hym / he and his childre wente away / After that kynges were put oute of the Cyte and two consuls were ordeyned to gouerne the comontee. that were Iunius brutus and tarquinus collatinus lucrecias husband but er the yeres ende lucrecias husbād was put out of his office of cōsul for hate of his name bicause he was callyd tarquinus For the / romains wold that no man that bare that name shold bere offyce in the cyte [...] neyther dwel therin / And that in despyte of the spouse brekyng that tarquinus sextus had done R Austyn de / ci / de / li / 2 / ca / 14 / & .15 / Seyth that lucrecias husbond was put out of his offyce within the yere by fraude of his felawe that other consul· Augustinꝰ / li. 3 ca / 14 & Titus / Whan Tarquinus was soo put of he sente messagiers in to the cyte and his messagiers had pryue coūseil with the sonnes of brutus the con­sul and with vicilles the bretheren of brutus wyf· The counseyl was that Tarquinus shold be brought to his estate in the cyte agayne / but this came out by a seruaunt of the vycellyes / and was knowen and told to the Senatours / Than brutus the consul did them to deth euerychone R Virgile speketh herof in fine sexti libri eneidis ¶Euto. libro primo / ¶ Than Tarquinꝰ gadred help on euery syde and warred ayenst the cyte for he ho­ped to be restored in that maner / and in the encountrynge and fyghtyng Brutus· the conseyll and Arnus tarquinius slough eyther other and tarquinus faught thryes in thre yere ayenste the Romaynes and was onerco men ¶ Therfor he went in to tusculus with his wyf and lyued there fourtene yere / But the for­seyd brutus the consul / was soo poure whan he dyed that he had no money to burye hym with but as it was gadred among the peple / ¶ Petrus 176 & Trogus libro primo

¶ Capitulum 7

CIrus whan he had wonne Asia· he entended to warre a­yenste the Schites. there thanurus the quene of / Shites & messagetes that be al one nacion came ayenste hym / Though she myght haue withstande his entre in to hir londe and all hir ene­myes / and haue holden hem of atte passage of the Ryuer Arex­es / Netheles she wylfully suffred them entre to haue the esyer fyghtyng within the lande that she knewe ¶ Also for the Ryuer hehynde hir enemyes shold lete not them escape by flyght / [Page] Cyrus sett his pauylon within her lande with grete plente of mete and drynk and feyned hym to flee· and withdrawe hym as it were for drede ¶ The Quene had sent hir yong sonne with the thriddele of hir hoost ayenst Cyrus. and whan he come to the deynteous mete and drinke he was vnconnyng of chiualrye and he and his men were rather ouercomen with dronkenesse. than with dedes of Armes Than Cyrus cam vpon him and slough hym. whan the Quene herde therof / she wepte not therfore / But for solace and comfort she desired to take wreche / and begyled Cirus with suche a maner gyle ¶She as it were fleyng for hir sonne that was new wounded drough Cyrus in to a narow va­leye bytwene highe hilles and slough Cyrus and two honderd thousand of his mē of pers· so that not one escaped to bere home tydynges ¶ The Quene bade smyte of Cyrus heede and throwe it in a fflaket ful of mannes bloode / and despysed hym in this maner / nowe fylle thy self with the bloode that hast euer desyred & thus Cyrus was dede after that he had regned nobly and ry­ally thrytty yere and alway done grete dedes ¶ Petrus 178

¶Capitulum 8

CAmbyses Cyrus sonne regned after his fader / Esdras clepeth him artarxerses & assuerus / Netheles in the story of iudith he is called nabugodonosor In this cambyses tyme bifell that is redde in thystory of Iudith / Trogus 189. And no won­der though he were soo cleped for his owne fader Cyrus callyd him nabugodonosor and while he was a lyue he made this cambises that was his owne sonne to regne twelue yere amonge the Assyryes in nynyue. ¶ But atte last whan his fader was deed· he helde the hole kyngdom of the eest eyght yere This cambises suffred not the temple of Iherusalem to be buylde durynge all his tyme Also the first yere of his hole kyngdom he slough Arphaxath that wolde haue regned in Media / while he wold be worshiped in stede of god of Israel as he was ouerall Iudith the wydowe slough Olyfernes the prynce of his hooste in the Siege of Bethulia the second yere of his empyre Than Cambyses the fyfth yere of his kyngdome destroyed E­gypte / He forsoke the vsages therof and destroyed the temple and buyld Babylonia in egypt / And whan he torned thens / he dyed in Damask the viij yere of his kyngdome.

[Page Cxxij]Valerius libro sexto This cambyses made stryke of the skinne of a Iugge for he had yeuen fals Iuggement and made hem to sprede and to take / it aboute the chayre / there as the Iugge shold sytt in plee for to deme and made that Iugges sonne Iug­ge in that place in stede of his fader / and made suche versus to be wryton vpon the chayre syttynge on this see / Iustice looke thou stydfast be / Kepe hande and eke eeres from yeftes and from mennes prayers / Take lanterne lawe / lyght vnder skyn to dra­we / Thou sittist in place yet· where thy fornfader was sette / Trogus libro primo et Petrus decimo octauo

¶ Capitulum 9

AFter Cambyses one hermeydes that was one of the seuen wyse men that Rewled the kyngdome of Perses wedded Cambises doughter and made it as though he wold not regne by the tytle of his wyf· but as though he wolde haue kepte the kyngdome to one Mergus Cambyses brother. that yet was a yong childe· Netheles cambyses hadde slayne bifore this mergꝰ within the temple and noo man wyst therof / but this wyseman hermeydes· ¶After seuen monethes of his kyngdome this Her­meydes lyeng on his deth bed and he hadde a fayre yonglyng to brother ordeyned hym kynge / and sayd that that Ionglynge was Mergus Cyrus sonne and Cambyses brother. Suche hy­dyng of kynges myght lyghtly be done in Perse. For no man goth in to the kynges of Perse but men of meyne / One of the wysemen beganne to haue suspection of this doynge and hadde a doughter amonge the kynges concubynes & charged his dough­ter pryuely· that she shold by nyght grope the kynges heed and take heede yf he hadde eeres / And whan it was knowen by the wenche that the kynge had none eeres· the vij. wyse men conspy­red to geder & slough hym / & so these two bretheren regned scar­sely one yer / thā thes vij wise mē treated bitwene hem self which of hem shold wedde the kynges dough [...] & be king of that kingdō than al they acorded that they shold erly a morowe come in to a place of the palyce bifore the tēple yates & whos hors neyde first he shuld be kynge by the shewyng of the goddes / Than one of hem darius I [...]apsis sone spak pryuely with the keper of his hors and charged hym that he shold make his hors assaylle a mare that nyghte in the same place / where they shold come to geders [Page] a morowe So it was done and when· the wysemen came to ge­ders on the morow anone darius hors began to neye for he had mynde of the mare and so darius was made kyng and regned six and thyrtty yere

¶ Capitulum 10

DArius regned ouer an honderd and seuen and twenty prouynces and Zorobabel Salatyels sonne was right famylyer with hym and hadde counseylled hym er he were kynge. that he shold make his auowe to god of Isrl̄ that if he were kyng he sholde restore the temple of god and yelde the holy vessels a­gayne ¶ Therfor Zorobabel began boldly to bylde the temple and Zacharyas and aggeus the prophetes comforted hym [...] therto And sayde that god was wroth with hem by cause god­des hows was desolate and they dwellyd in howses that were wel bylde and sayden that it was a token of goddes wrath that they sewe moche and gadred lytil ¶But the Prynces of perse that weren beyonde the Ryuer letted the werke of the temple ¶ Therfor Zorobabel wente to darius and had grete worship of hym and slept in his owne Chambre Iosephꝰ lib [...]o vndecimo ¶The kynge putte forth a redels erly a morowe and axed of the thre wardens of his body which quod he is strengest of thes thre· kynge wyne or woman· And promysed him yeftes that gaf rediest answer The first said that the king is strengest of all for this skylle for a man is aboue al beestes and the kyng is a­boue men and men doth al thyng that he commaundeth

The second sayde that wyne is strengest by this reson The kyng is not aboue other men but by strength of his wytte and wyne ouercometh the strengthe of mannys wytte ¶Zorobabel sayd a woman is strenger than eyther of the tweyne / and women yeueth lyf and fedynge to kynges and to hem that sette vynes. and whan kynges be comen to strength they Ieoparde theyr lyf for women and he tolde that he sawe a kynges concubyne yeue the kynge buffettis And whan she lough the kynge lough and whan she was wroth the kyng was wroth also Netheles he said Truthe is strenger than all these thre For all thes be they neuer so fayr so grete and strong they shal passe and fayle but sothnes and truth shal neuer dye ne chaūge but euer dure· this sentence plesyd moore alle men and the kynge graunted him the vessels [Page Cxxiij] of the temple / and lycenced hym to goo and buylde the temple and yaue hym lettres of warrant that no man shold lette him Than the second yere of darius ytapsis the eicht moneth the werk men wrought for to bylde the temple and fulfylled it the seuenth yere that was the sixe and fourty yere of the kyngdom of perses from the firste yere of Cyrus / whan they had leue to buylde the temple [...] And so it is sothe that is sayde in the gospel in six and fourty yere this temple was bylde Whan the temple was byld it was halowed the twelue moneth that is in marche ¶ And this is the second halowing of the temple and was done in marche Netheles the first halowiyng in Salamons tyme was done in heruest The thyrdde was done in wynter in Iudas Machabeꝰ tyme ¶Petrus 182 Also this yere the fyre that was taken a­waye of the Aulter the first yere of the takyng in to bondage & hidde in a pytte it was founde brennyng / Of the Shryne of the testament how and whan the Iewes came there to it is vncertayn

¶ But yf it be sothe that epyphanius that the shryne sholde not come oute of the den of the stone where Ieremyas had hidde it til the day of dome ¶ Than it is sothe that the hebrewes made a nother to the lykenes of the old shryne that moyses ma­de ¶ For it is redde that among the prayes that the Romay­nes toke oute of the Iewry they toke the shryne of god a can delstyk and a mete boordAnd soo whan the temple was ful buyld in the monethe of Marche Aggeus and Zacharyas dyed ¶This yere kynges were putte oute of Rome and consuls began to rule the comonte as it is sayd byfore / ¶ And there were made twey consuls that yf that one wold outrage / that other myght refreyne And thes twey consuls were chosen and chaunged from yere to yere leste they wold outrage yf theyr offyce dured long tyme Titus ¶ After that Tarqui­nius was put out of Rome the Romaynes hadden peas among hem self while Tarquinius warred ayenst hem ¶ But in the fyfthe yere beganne stryfe bytwene the greete Reu [...]ers. and the Comonte / in this manere / ¶ It was vsage and customme amonge the Romaynes that w [...]rriours sholde werre vpon her owne coste But tho by cause that they warred ofte they muste borowe moneye of the greete Maystres. and of the Reulers of the Cyte. And the dettours that myghte not paye her moneye / at her daye they were putte in prysonne / ¶ And ther­fore beganne stryfe / and the comynne people wente thre myle [Page] out of the cyte vnto the hille moūt sacer but atte laste pees was made vpon suche a condicion that the peple shold haue grete maistres and trybunes that shold mayntene and defende hem ayenst the grete

¶ Capitulum 11

PIctagoras the philosopher dyed that tyme. Trogus li / 22 This was of the naciō of samia a rich marchaūtes sone call [...]d [...] but pictagoras was wel richer than his fader for he might forsake more than his fader might gete. this wēt first in to egipt & aft in to babilō to lerne the cours of the sterres & to knowe the beginning of the world / Thens he torned agayn in [...] creta and lacedomonia for to knowe mynoys and ligurgus lawe ¶Than he torned to the Cyte called Ciuitas Croconiorum that was all out of rule And there he was twenty yere and taught there vertues and thewes and taught their fader and moder childre and old women euery by hym self and atte laste he wente to Mechapontus and dyed there Th [...] same sentence is wryten of hym pol libro septimo capitulo quarto ¶ But there is more putto in this maner pyctagoras with ofte disputynge bro [...]hte aboute that olde moders put away her noble aray of gold and of other royalte as thaugh suche [...] were Instrumnet to leche­rye and therfor they dyde hem away and offred hem in the tem­ple of Iuno Pyctagoras sayd that chastyte is veray [...]oble a­ray of [...] modree [...] Thre honderd yongmen were sworn to ge­der and lyued in a felawship by hem self as it were a company of pryuy conspyracy ayēst hym & tornned the Cyte ayenst hem self So that the people of the Cyte gadred hem in to one hows / and wold haue brent [...] and in that stryf were sixty dede and the other were exyled This pyctagoras was of greet auctoryte in old tyme [...] his oppynyon passed al other mennes sentences Also it was y [...]ow to conferme ony sentence yf pyctagoras sayd soo Val̄ libro tercio capitulo sep [...]mo ¶ They that herd hym dide hym so greete worship that they sayd It is not lawful to make neyther doute ne question of loore that he had taught And me axed hem ony reason of sawes that me sayde they yafe none other answer but that pyctagoras sayd so Isidorus libro pri­mo sayth that pyctagoras founde firste this letter / Y· to the lyke­nesse of mannes lyf Agel libro octauo capitulo octauo [Page Cxxiiij] Alle the money that ony of Pyctagoras company had it was openly put forth among hem and soo the company was stydfast and true / ¶ Also they that came to his loore axed besyly of thewes and of kynde of castyng of mouth and of semblaunt of aray and shape of body ¶Also he ordeyned couenable tyme to be stylle and to speke / Hugo didascolus Pyctagoras had this maner by the seuen sciences / none of his scolers shold bifore se­uen yere ax [...] reason ne skylle but besyly herkynge what he sayde· And he sholde byleue what the mayster sayde til that he had said and soo than he myght hym self fynde skylle and reason Poē. libro septimo This Pyctagoras vsed so grete contynence and abstynence that he ete neyther fisshe ne flessh ¶ Also after his deth men wonderd so moche of hym and his Auctoryte was so grete that men made a temple of his hows and worshipped hym in stede of god and in caas toke occasion of his sawe· For he sayde whyle he was on lyue that a philosophres hows is an holy place of wytte and of wysedome and veray temple of god Also he taught men to byleue that mennes sowle shal neuer dye but lyue for euermore and for to haue mede or peyne after the deseruyng in theyr lyf netheles me sayth that he brought wickedly the fable of a thousand yere after the deth ¶Ieronimus contra Ruf Pyctagoras sayth that sowles after the deth passe frō body to body And virgilius sexto eueydis sayth ofte they begyn to wylle to torne to body Tullius de natura deorum libro tercio / Whan Pyctagoras fonde newe conclusion in geometrye he wol­offre an [...]xe to the muses and that I trowe was done for he wolde not offre to Appolyn delphicus. for he wolde not sprynge the Aucter with blood ¶Treuisa ¶ [...] is wonder to speke of the muses for som̄e poetes feyne that the muses were [...] doughters of Iupyter and of mynde And somme seyn that they were the doughters of meno and of tesbia ¶Pol̄ li 5 capitulo quarto Men of Athene brente Pyctagoras bookes and exyled hem al­so for they doubted of her goddes whether [...] were soth or noo / of somwhat that me spak of her goddes ¶Agellus libro quinto Whan that Pyctagoras was yong and was besy to gete spede­ful man beryng of byrthens to gete his lyuelode with / he bare a byrthen of many Iuy stalkes bounden in a short roop Democritus the philosopher mette hym· and sawe the yonglynge doo spedyly his dedes and hadde his byrthen bounden as it were by craft of geometrye and axed hym who had bounden that fagott [Page] I sayde Pyctagoras· than he made hym vndoo the byrthen and bynde it agayne. And sayth syth thou hast wytte for to doo wel yf thou wold folowe me thou shalt doo wel better dedes and he graunted and lerned of hym philosophye Pol̄ libro quinto One Auallius riche and yong come to Pyctagoras for to lerne parfyght maner of spekyng and payd hym half his moneye before er be lerned and that other half he shuld pay that day that he made plee bifore a Iugge and had the maystrye ¶Atte laste whan he had connynge of speche he forsoke his facunde and his connyng bifore pleders as me troweth for he wold not pay that he owed to his mayster Pyctagoras toke counseyll and som­moned hym bifore Iugges and began in this maner lerne thou yong foole that that I axe is dette to me by either wey for yf I ou (er)come the in this cause than by right it is dette to me / And yf the dome is yeuen for the than is it dette to me by couenaunte / for than thou ouercomest and haste the maystrye / Naye sayd Auallius but lerne wyse mayster that by nether waye I shall pay the that thou axist· for yif it be demed ayenst me than shal I not paye by dome / and yf it be demed ayenst me than shal I not by couenaunt for I haue not the maystrye ¶Than the Iugges sawe that the cause was brygous as it were an insoluble & con­tinued the sentente of Iuggement to a long day ¶So it is red­de amonge the men of Athene that a woman poysened hir hus­band and hir owne sonne / for they had wickedly slayne hir sone and her heyr that she had by hir fyrst husbande ¶The old Iug­ges respyted theyr Iuggement till an honderd yere ¶ For on that one side was grete sorowe to assoylle and in that otherside a cruel dede to be dampned ¶Ysidorus libro secundo capitulo vise­simo quarto ¶Though men rede that tubal of caimes lygnage was fynder of consonancye and of music bifore Noes flode Netheles me redeth among the Grekes that Pyctagoras founde the craft of musik̄ by sowne of hamers and by stretchyng of cordes and of strenges ¶Marian̄ libro secundo ¶It happed that Pyctagoras passed forth openly and herd smythes bete with hamers / on hote yron & acorde eueryche to other in certayne ordre of sowne / For the sharpe sowne acorded to the grete and made the smythes to chaunge hamers / but the same acorde of sownyng folowed alway Than he toke hede that the hamers were of dyuse weyght and bade hym make greter hamers And from hamers he tornede hym to examyne strenges and streyned guttes· and [Page Cxxv] senewes of shepe and of beestes fastned to dyuerse weyghtes such weyghtes as he founden in the hamer and hadde suche song and acorde as the rather acordynge of hamers made with swetnesse of kyndly sowne of strenges Than whan he was connyng of so gret pryuete he began to fynde nombres by the whiche sownes acorde and so he spedde to make the craft of musik R ¶Ther­for Tullius de tusculis questio libro quarto speketh of hym and sayth that Pyctagoras scolers couth brynge her mynde oute of strif of thoughte [...] to reste by song and sowne of strenges ¶Augustinus ep̄ h contra Rut / Whan yonglynges were wyn dronken and wold breke the yates of chast women Pyctagoras bade pipers pipe a songe made by thendytyng of spondeus and whan they did soo / tho the bestyalyte of moeuyng of lechery ces­sed by the slouth of the maner of tewnes· Seneca libro tercio de lira Pyctagoras with harpe and strenges cessed the distourbance of wyttes ¶R Here wyse men I tell that Pyctagoras passed sōtyme by a smythes hows & herde a swete sown & acordyng in the smytyng of four hamers vpon an anueld and therfore he lette wey the hamers and founde that one of the hamers weyed twey so moche as another / Another weyed other half so moche as another And another weyed so moch as an other & the third dele of another· As though the first hamer were of vjl [...] ̄ / the se­cond of twelue / the thyrd of eycht· the fourth of nyne / As this figure sheweth / ¶ Whan these acordes were founden Pyctagoras yaf hem names and so that he cleped in nombre double. he clepede in sownes Dyapason / And that he clepeth in nombre other half he clepeth in sownes Dyapente. & that that in nombre is called al & the thyrd dele hete in sownes dyatesseron / and that that in nombres is called al and the eyghteth dele heete in tewnes double dyapason as in melodye of one strenge yf the stryng be streyned endlonge vpon the holownesse of a tree· and departed euen a two by a brydge sette ther vnder in eyther party of the streng the sowne shal be dyapason yf the streng be streyned and touched▪ And if the strynge be departed euen in thre and the brygge sette vnder / So that it de­parte bytwene the twey deles and the thyrdde than the lenger dele of the stryng yf it be touched shal yeue a sowne callyd dyatesseron. And yf it be departed in nyne and the brigge sette vnder bytwene the laste parte and the other dele· than the lenger dele of the streng yf it be touched shal yeue a sowne that hete tonus [Page] for nyne conteyneth echt and the eyght part of eyght as in this figure that foloweth

¶ Ieronimus contra rufū Many of Pyctagoras disciples kept her maistres heestes in mynde and vsede her wytte & mynde in studye of bookes & taught that many suche prouerbes shal kytte & depar­te sorowe from the body vnconnyng from the wytte lechery from the wombe / treson oute of the cyte / stryf oute of the hows Incon­tynence and hastynesse oute of alle thynges ¶Also al that frendes haue shal be comyn A frende is the other of tweyne ¶ Memot take hede of tymes ¶After god sothnesse shal be worshiped that maketh men be next god ¶Ysidorus libro octauo capitulo sexto

¶ Capitulum 12

THe name of philosophres had begynnyng of Pyctagoras / for old grekes callyd hym self sophistris that is wyse / but Pyctagoras whan me axed what man he was / he answerd and sayde that he was a Philosopher that is a louer of wytte and of wysedom for to clepe him self a wyseman it wold seme grete boost & pryde / Afterward other philosophres hadden her names of her auctours ¶And soo they that held pyctagoras loore / were cal­led pyctogoraci· And they that helden Platoes loore were cleped platonici ¶Pol̄ libro primo Somme philosophres hadden na­mes of contrees & so they that helden pyctagoras lore were cleped Italya / For Pyctagoras taught a grete contre of Italye / that somtyme was called the grete grecia / Other were callyd Io­nyci / that hadden that name of the yonder grece / theyr Auctor & prince was tales and millesius Ysidorus libro octauo ¶Other had names of standyng and comyng to geders as stoycy· achademice peripatetici Stoyci had that name of a porche of Athe­ne called Stoa in the langage of grece ther in was peynted the grete beryng and dedes of wisemen. and of strong The firste of hem was yeuen that all synne was lyke grete and thus he mea­ned that it were as grete synne to stele strawe as gold & to slee a knyght as an hors for the beest he saide is not to blame but the mannes wylle ¶ This Zenon̄ sayd that mannes soule shal dye with the body. Treuisa I wolde a wyseman had seen his water / [Page Cxxvj] and powred it in his throte though it were a galon· ¶ Than it foloweth in the storye he and his scolers sayde that they shold not dure withouten ende and netheles they desired lif withouten ende Achademici hadden that name of platoes towne beside a thene called achademia and was in poynt for to falle· there plato was woont for to studye ¶ This trowed al thyng was vn­certaynly made / Archelaus brought vp that secte but democritꝰ made it more ¶But it must be graunted that many thynges be vnknowen and hidde fro mannes knowleche. ¶ So god wyl that many thynges passe the knowleche of man. And also ma­ny thynges be that maye be knowen by mannes kyndly wytte / Paripatetici haue that name of wandrynge and of walkyng▪ for Aristotle was her Auctour and was wont to dispute wan­dryng and walkyng· Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro octauo Ther be thre maner philosophres of kynde and taketh hede of kynde of thynges suche were· tales Millesius Pyctagoras and they that helde her loore / And somme ethici that toke hede and taught the knowleche and connynge of gode lyuynge and of thewes [...] Suche was Socrates and they that held his loore / and Plato specially and they that helde his loore Therfore amonge all he is preysed for a parfighte techer of Philosophi [...] ¶ Ysidorus libro octauo capitulo sexto ¶ Therfor he is a veray phisosophre that hath knoheleche of thynges that longeth to god and to man and holdeth al maner way of rightful lyuyng / But of al manere of Philosophres they that were cleped dyuynes were reputed for moost excellent For they treated of god that is almyghty. Ne­theles many of hem erred in treatyng of god and of the world And many came to the knowleche of god netheles they worshipped hym not as god / but vanysshede away in her thoughtis and sayd that they were wyse and they were made fooles. The err­ours of hem brought in afterward many errours in holy chir­che / Suche a fals errour is that dede men shal not ryse at the day of dome· and that euery martir is euen and pere to god Au­gustinus de ciuitate dei libro octauo / capitulo decimo / ¶ They that had right knowleche of god profyted moche to the knowleche of truth and suche was plato that sayd that in god is cau­se of beyng / reason of vnderstandyng and ordre of good lyuyng And therfor god is to vs begynnyng of kynde so [...]hnes of loore and grace of lyf· Also ther were Philosophres that trauaylled theyr wyttes to fynde and knowe cause of thynges and maner [Page] of lyuyng· netheles they were mooste preysed that knewe god & where he is and that he is cause of al thynges that is wrought and lyghte of sothnesse and of truthe and welle of grace / that we shal drynke To this knowleche they come in this maner / they trauaylled theyr wyttes to fynde the best of all that is god They knewe that / that is no body for a body maye be fordone & corrupted for it is made of contrary thynges Also they toke hede that god is no lykenesse / that may be chaunged therfore he passed al bodyes and al lykenesses ¶The body is sene withoute the lykenesse of the bodye is in thought within & that that is in thought within / is no body but lykenesse of a bodye Than the lykenesse is knowen by a thyng that is nowther the lykenesse nowther the bodye and that that is lykenesse is seen and demed whether it be fayre owther fowle / is better than the thynge that is soo demed Ther is no fayrenesse of body whether it be in sta­te of body as in shap of lengthe and brede owther in moeuynge as in songe but suche as the inwytte of man demeth / and that myght not be but yf ther were a better lykenesse in the inwytte without swellyng of body and cryeng of mannes wis without lengthe or space of the place and of tyme· But that is mannes thought and kynde in wytte of mannes sowle and that is no body· syth that the lykenesse that is knowen therby is no body But and our inwytte is no body shold god make that our in wytte be a body / Also our inwytte is chaungeable and moeua­ble / els sholde no mannes wytte knowe better than other· of that he felyth and knoweth neyther he that is wyttyer better than he that is duller / And yet· the same wytte amendeth and profyteth and demeth better after than byfore / But what that is amended and apeyred is chaungeable Than philosophres and dyuynes knewen wel that no thyng that is chaungeable may be but by hym that is a stydfaste and not chaungeable· to him is none other beyng than lyuyng. none other being than vnderstanding none other beyng than be wele ¶Eutr & Mariauns

¶ Capitulum 13

THe peple of Rome made stryfe as though they were mys­ledde by the Senatours / therfore they made hym trybu­nes as defendours of the people ayenste the consuls· Quintus [Page Cxxvij] Marcius duc of Rome that had taken the vultes bifore. was putte oute of the cyte and was wroth and wente to the vultes· that he had rather taken and had help of hem and wente for to warre and destroye the countre fyue myle from Rome and ouer come efte the Romaynes and forsoke pees that they profered & cessed not to warre and greue the Cyte till his moder and his wyf came oute of the Cyte and prayde for the cyte ¶ Thre hon­derd noble men called Familia Fabia faught allone ayenst the vegenses and weren smyten to deth The Romaynes be biseged in the mount algyd and lucius quincius delyuerd hem. he was taken from the plough and made a dictatour he wiped awaye his swat and toke on a royall gowne ¶ Egypte forsoke Darius kyng of Perse and wold not be vnder hym ¶Pompilia a mayde at Rome was taken in lechery and was buryed quyck a lyue. Pyndarus and symonydes the poetes were tho in her flowres Trogus libro secundo After the deth of pisistratus the tyraunt of athene one of his sonnes toke a mayde by vyolence and laye by hir / and therfor the maydes brother slough hym ¶That other broder named Espyas helde the kyngdome of Athene after his fader and made hym be taken that had slayne his brother / and whan the mansleer was compellyd by torment to knowlege the men that were assentyng to the mannes deth. he accused and ap­pelled all the hispias the tyraunces frendes / and whan they all were slayne hispias axede yf ther were ony moo consentynge to his broder deth And he answerd and sayde / There is no man alyue worthy to dye but thou allone ¶ Than the peple knewe the vertue of the yong man & put espyas oute of the cite Than hispias wente anone in to Perse to darius the kyng and exited him ayenst them of Athene ¶Orocius libro secundo This da­rius after that he had rekeuerd by / bataylle the Assyryes and the Babylons that rebelled ayenst hym / he ordeyned batayll & warre ayenst Anticirus kyng of Schites for he had axed the mariage of his doughter and had it not And wente forth with vij.C / thousande men of Armes and loste seuentythousand by so­dayne reses & skarmysshes Netheles in retornyng he chastysed the macedoynes and the Iones Also he ordeyned a batayll ayenst the men of Athene for they helped and were assistente to Iones Netheles the men of Athene with ten thousande mette so many thousand / and were so glad for to fight / So that whan ther were a thousand paas bitwene the shiltrons / the cours was so sped [Page] that the strokes came bifore the enemyes ¶Than ther was soo strong fyghte· that they semed men on that one side and beestes on that other Trogus libro secundo The perses were ouerco­me and fledde to theyr shippes. of the. whiche shippes many we­re dreynt and many were taken In so grete a vyctorye it we­re harde to telle who that gate the pryce / Netheles one Cynegy­rus a knyghte of athene. after many grete dedes and slaughters pursued the perses that fledde to shippes there a shippe that was laded he held with his right hande til it was smyten of / and eft with the lif [...] hande & lost it / and whan he had lost both his hādes he bote on and helde the ship with his teth so that the stok of a man faught with his teth as it were a woode beest ¶ Two hon­derd of the perses dyed there with hipius the tyraunt / And sone afterwarde darius dyed the yere of his kyngdome xxxvij / and lefte many sonnes a lyue ¶ Amonge his sonns Artaxerses as he that was begeten in the kyngdome and he had the grete cirus to his moder grauntsir that was auaunced to the kyngdom /

¶ Capitulum 14

ARtaxerses Darius sonne was the fyfth kyng of Perses / and regned twenty yere This wanne egypt that his fader had lost and put out arysted· and warred fyue yere ayenste Grece as his fader had bigonne ¶ Iosephus sayth that vnder this Artaxerses the seuenth yere of his kyngdome Esdras wēt downe in to the Iewry and Neemyas the butl̄er wente downe the fyue and twenty yere and restored the lawes of Iherusalem in space of twelue yere And esdras him self saith that he went downe in Artarxerses tyme ¶ Trogus One damarachus was exiled out of Athene and dwellyd with kynge Artaxerses / & loued moore his owne lande after thexilyng than the kynge after that he had done hym moche good / and wrote alle the kyn­ges purpoos in tables of tree and waxed the tables aboue the wrytyng and sende him by a pryuy messagier to the grete of Athene Than the men of Spartania aduysed hem longe what it it shold meane / ffor they sawe no wrytyng in the tables And atte last kyng leonydas sister fonde out the cōceyte of the wryter For she shaued of the wax and than the lettres were seen and [Page Cxxviij] redde. and so they were warned of the warre / For Artaxerses hadde made redy ixCM of fyghtyng men / so that it semed that the hoost dryed vp the Ryuers for hem behoued so moche water Orocius libro 2 Artaxerses had seuen C· thousand fyghtynge men of his own kyngdome and iiijC thousande of helpe of other landes and shippes of warre with yren snowtes / ij / M / & / ijC. & thre thousand of other shippes wel arayed soo that the Ryuers semede scars for hem for to goo in and the see semed skars for hem to sayle in ¶ Than this grete rowte that was not habyly arayed to fyghte neyther free to goo forth and to renn [...] / neyther redy to flee come bytwene places of Termopyles and four thousand of sparnates fell vpon hem and leyden a downe and slough of hem thre dayes to geder ¶Valerius libro sexto ¶Whan the grete rowte was gadred to geder one of the perses sayd the gre­kes shal not only be ouercomen but they shalle be alayed with the multitude of Perses and another spake and sayde the kynge shal haue no enemyes to kyth on his strength / Yet another spa­ke & sayde the see is skars for oure shippes· townes be skars for our knyghtes & feldes for our other mē. ¶ Then̄e Damarachꝰ answerd & sayde / here be so many mē that they may not be ruled And what maye not be ruled may not longe dure· and soo it be­felle / ¶ For many that were nought rewled were ouercome of fewe that were wele ruled ¶Therfor whan the kynge was ouersette with them of Lacedomones / he sayd that he was begyled for he had soo many men and but fewe connyng in batell for to fyght ¶ Valerius libro tercio ¶ In that fygh­tynge one of the grekes sayde to his felawe the sonne is derked with arowes and shotte of Perses / thou sayst wele seyd that other for we shold better fyght in shadowe than in hete of sonne /

¶Also me axed in grete despyte of one that halted / why he came in to the bataylle / And he answerd and sayde It is my purpoos to abyde and not to flee / And that befalleth wele for an halt man ¶ Trogus libro secundo ¶ Atte laste Leo­nyda kynge of Athenes came on with four thousand men & bete downe a grete parte of the hooste of Perses and came vpon the re­menaunt by nyghte whan they were a slepe / and slough of hem and chaced hem and brake and skayled the hoost euery fro other Artaxerses myshapped twyes for he was ouercomen in bateylle on the lande and wold essaye his fortune and happe vpon the Se [...] / And there his men were beten & shad and skayled euery [Page] from other / And he that had rather hilled & be spradde the See with grete shippes was disconfyte and for fere gladde to flee / & vnnethe escaped away in a fysshers bote / Also / ther deyde won­der many for honger and many dede careyns laye in the feldes and afterward ther came a moreyn vpon the hoost / So that beestes and fowles folowed the hoost by the smell of dede careyns Herodotus the wryters of historyes euripedes basylydes dya· goras and Sophocles the wryter of gestes were that tyme in her flowres R ¶ Ieronimus in epistola ad nepocianum spe­keth of this Sophocles and sayth whan he toke but lytel heede of meyne and of his howshold for his grete elde his sonnes ac­cused him of wodenesse Than bifore the Iugges he rehersed & sayde the fable and geste that he had wryten of Edippus and now in his gret age of wytte and of wysedom that he shold torne the cruelte of Iugges in to fauour of the theatre That ty­me socrates the philosopher was born & a stone shapen. as a goot felle downe from heuen in the see egeus Artabanus Artax­erses the kynges steward purposed to be kyng of Perse and cā in an euentyde with his seuen sonnes in to Artaxerses chambre and slough the kyng and many other ¶ And the kyng had twey sonnes that one hight darius and that other Artaxerses And Artabanus excited Artaxerses to slee his broder darius and sayde that darius had slayne his owne fader But one vagabaxus knewe how the kyng was slayne and told Artaxererses how it stode and how Artabanus had slayne his fader

¶ And ano [...]e Artaxerses gadred the peple to geder and made hem come armed bifore him. as though he wold knowe the nombre of his knyghtes / ¶ Than whan Artabanus stode bifore him armed amonge other men. the kyng sayd that his haberion was to to short and bade Artabanus doo of his haberion / and chaunge with hym / And whan Artabanus had vnarmed hym & was naked anon the kyng cōmanded his mē to sle him & his sonnes. And soo Artaxersts toke wreche of his fader deth & saued his fader trone and his broder lyf and hym self from gy­le and trayson Marianus

¶ Sequitur Capitulum 15

[Page Cxxix]ARtaxerses the seuēth kyng of pers was call [...]d longimanus and regned xl yere and bigan to regne whan Artabanus had regned seuen monethes Somme say that thystory of h [...]ter and of mardocheus befell in this Artaxerses tyme but I trowe not for hesdras the writer in this kingis beginning tellith that he and neemias tourned fro Babyloy [...]e & speketh not of hester· & yf hester had be in his tyme is to presuppose he wolde somwhat haue spoken of hir But hester was in the other artaxerses tyme that was the enleuenth kyng of Perses and hete Assuerus also ¶ Aboute this time dunwallo moliuncius that was the dukes sonne of Cornewayle began to regne amonge Brytons ¶And whan the kynges were slayne of Englond of wales & of Scotland he regned allone in the Ilond and made hym a dyademe and a crowne of gold and made certayne lawes that be callyd molyuncius lawes / the whiche lawes afterward gyldas torned in to latyn And af [...]erward kyng aluredus made hem be torned oute of latyn in to englysshe / And whan this molyūcius had regned fourty yere he dyed & was buryed by the tem­ple in the Cyte Trinouantum that is london ¶This is be that gafe priuelege & fredome to temples to plowes to cytees & to we­yes that ledeth therto Petrus ¶Esdras the wryter cam dow­ne with the kynges lettres by whiche he shold discharge the my­nystris of the temple of al maner trybute· and putte other yn & other oute and chaūge hem as it were to doynge and punysshe hem that were rebelle by deth by exylyng by prisonne owther by paynge of catalle And Esdras came downe with the vessayls of the temple to teche his peple in Ierusalem the lawe that he had wryten and corrected the bookes two honderd & xx of the childer of Israel that were beyonde the hilles of caspy cam with hym at ones / and a / M / and vij / C. cam with hym oute of Babyloyne There he chastysed in his comyng the childer of the transmygracion. and specially preestes for wyues of straunge nacions / Esdras renewed and wrote the lawe that the caldeys had brente / & amēded the volumes that straungers had apayred & gadred al in to xxij bookes for the hebrewes sholde haue as many bookes / as they had lettres / ¶Also he foūde vp newe maner titles & prikkes to wryte amōg the lettres that were lyghter to be writō & therfor he was cleped a swyfte wryter / Also he put somme ty­tles of psalmes & telleth that Iewes wrote before in maner of bydders from the lyft side to the right side / & efte frō the right side [Page] to the lyft syde / Empedicles Permenides and Zeno the philoso­phres be in her flowres empedycles chees to be buryed in the hill mons ethna that is in scicilia that brenneth alway ¶ Boecede consolacione sayth that permenydes satte ten yere on a roche / & bythought hym of the Arte of Logyke But Plato afterward made that art more and founde therinne many prynciples and rules / But Aristotles brought it to geder in to Art· Tho was feretides the second wryter of historyes in his flowres / netheles lytel before herodotus had wryten thystoryes ¶R And Ti­tus liuius

¶ Capitulum 16

THe Romayns sende messagiers and prayd men of Athene to sende hem lawes wryten ¶ This were Salons lawes they sent not in to lacedomonia to haue ligurgus lawes / though his lawes were best. For they hadde hym suspecte as a lyer for he had sayde that he had taken lawes of Appolyn ¶ The Ro­maynes gadred this Salons lawes in to ten tables & put afterward twey tables therto ¶Therof come afterward that fa­mous lawe of the twelue tables as it is wryten in folio de origine Iuris libro secundo in the glose ¶ Ysidorus libro quinto. Moyses gaf firste lawe to the hebrues Feroneus to the grekes Mercurius trimogestus to the Egypcians Salon to men of athene / Ligurgus to the Lacedomones and numa pompilius to the Romaynes ¶Afterward the peple of Rome myghte not ne wold not suffre the stryf of the maystres and Iugges and or­deyned ten men to wryte lawes and they wryten lawes oute of Salons bookes and tourned the lawe of twelue tables oute of grue in to latyn ¶ The fyrst that wold make bookes of lawe was the grete pompeus the consul but for drede of euyl spe­kers he accomplysshed ne fulfylled it. than Iulius Cezar began to make bookes of lawes / but he deyde to sone ¶ And soo a­monge the Romaynes lytel and lytel lawes were compyled / til Constantyne the grete ordeygned newe lawes. ¶ But Theodosius minor made a booke of lawe that is called Theodo­sius coode ¶ And soone after Iustinianus of wele nyghe of two thousand bookes and thyrtty thousand versus made / and restored the lawes of digeste / The power of consuls cessed [Page Cxxx] in the cyte· And thēne men were ordeyned rulers in stede of the twey· consuls but the second yere after as seynt austyn toucheth de ci· dei li primo ca / 19· One of thes ten men that highte appiꝰ claudiꝰ hadde grete desire & luste to enduce & meoue a knyghtes doughter to lygge by hir and made falsly one of his seruauntes chalenge hir for his bonde woman / and so Appius demed and Iugged hir / And hir owne fader slough hir and made pleyn [...]e to the peple of that falsheed / the peple was tho in the hille algid Than the ten men were put out of her offyce and trybunes and Edyles were put in theyr stede Petrus 186 Neemias a mā of hebrues kyng artaxerses butler cam by leue of his lord out of Babylon in to the Iewry / & ladde the peple xij yere / soo th [...]t that the .v / yere he begā to restore the walles & the yates of Iherusalem / and he ended his werke in two yere and four monethes and had so grete lette in the buyldynge that half the people srode armed withoute the cyte for to defende the cyte and the werke for resing and slekkyng of straunge nacions / and that other de [...]le of the peple / armed bylde the wallis and leide stones with one hande and helde eueryche his swerde in his other hande ¶ Af [...]terward neemyas toke heede that the Iewes had no fyre from heuen and clensed a pytte in the valeye of Iosephath where Ieremias had hid fyre in the tyme of takyng into bondage and foū de the stokkes of the aulter and brennyng coles and fette water and he cast of that water on a faggotte of wode and therof come fyre ¶ Than yf thou wolt reken seuenty wekes of yeres from the twenty yere of Artaxerses whan neemias wente downe to buylde / Ierusalem vnto criste that is vnto the eyghten yere of Tiberius cezar / the whiche seuenty wekes of yeres danyel pro­phecyed to be shorted vpon goddes peple / thou myght fynde seuē ­ty wekes of yeres so that thou acompte a weke of yeres of the mone / and a yere of the mone is twelue monethes of the mone As it was vsede in moyses lawe not the yere of the sonne now ther of Embolisme· ¶ And soo seuenty wekys of yeres from this yere vnto crist maketh four honderd yeres of the mone and foure score and ten withoute the monethes of Embolismes that maketh four honderd yere of the sonne and thre score and fyften

¶ Treuisa. ¶ An yere of the sonne is the full yere· that men vse nowe in Englond and other landes. But the yere of the mone is xij monethes of the mone. and a moneth of the mone is fro change to change and soo the yere of the mone is lasse [Page] by enleuen dayes than the full yere and the moneth of embolis [...] me fallith whan xiij primes be in one yere ¶R The nombre of the wikes and yeres may be proued in this maner ¶For Beda libro de temporibus sayth that the kyngdome of Perses dured from this twenty yere of Artaxerses to the sixth yere of da­rius· whan darius was ouercome of Alysaunder an honderd yere and fyftene· And than the kyngdome of grece dured vnto Iulius cezars tyme two honders four score and tweyne yeres Than from the begynnynge of Iulius cezar that regned foure yere and seuen monethes to the / xviij / yere of Tiberius Cezar was four score yere and eyght / and so alle thes yeres amounte vnto the nombre of four honderd lxxv yeres of the sonne ¶Orocius libro tercio Till a grete dele of the day was passed it semed that the nyght dured / ¶Also hayle stones felle and descended from the clowdes and bete the erth with veray stones

¶ Petras 188 ¶Esdras dyed in good age and elde / And Neemias torned ayene to Artaxerses the kyng but he tourned ayene to Iherusalem ayenste his endynge daye / and chastysed hem that trespaced ayenste the lawe and dyed and is buryed by the wall that he made in Iherusalem ¶Beda de tempore Hiderto thordre of the holy history is taken of the bookes of hebrewes that were wryten of dedes and of doynges of yeres· But what dedes and doynges folowed after this be taken of the bookes of Iosephus Affrycan and the bookes of machabeis Efte consuls were made at rome ¶ Ypocras in this tyme flourysshed ¶Ysidorus libro quarto Appollo founde first Arte of phisik [...] amonge the grekes / Than his sonne Esculapius made. it moore· & was smyten with lyghtnyng / And than that Arte was lefte fyue honderd yere vnto this Artaxerses tyme / And in his tyme Ypocras renewed the arte and crafte of phisik in the ylande cheo But the twey first Artes were vntrusty that is to say methodyca that taketh none hede of tymes of causes of elementes neither of age but only of the euyl and vse tellynges as old wyues do The second is callyd Emperita and axeth not but essay ¶The thyrdde is called logyca and is alowed and appreued

¶ Capitulum 17

AFter this artaxerses· Artaxerses the eyght kyng of pers regned. two monethes In his tyme plato was born / & after [Page Cxxxj] hym / fogodyanus regned nyne monethes / After him darius no thus by his surname was the tenth kyng of perses and regned xix yere. Gaufr & alfr / In his time belinus mo [...]uncius sone regned in brytayn and helde to hym self loegria myddel englond / wales and cornewayle and toke that other lande by yonde humbre and scotland to his brother brenicius and they tweyne acor­ded in the kyngdome fyue yere wel ynowe [...] but afterward bre­nicius was rebelle to belinus and this belinus ouercome hym [...] he fledde to the duc Alebrog that is the duc of lytil brytayne / [...] wedded his doughter and had the lorship after the dukes deth· After that he had that ducherie one yere / he came in to Brytayn with frensshemen and brytons of lytel brytayne / to werre ayēst his broder But theyr moder that was full old spradde hir hee­abrode and shewed her brestes that they had sowked and so she made pees / Than after an yere thes bretheren made Fraunce subgett and ouercome the germayns and besieged Rome atte las [...]e That tyme the first denys vsed tyrannies in scicilia and Furius Canullus was made dictatour in Rome and ouercome the venetans and the falystes but he was put out of the cyte by enuye surmysyng vpon hym that he had not egaly departed the [...]rayes that they had taken / Titus Whan the Romaynes beseged the vegetens they hadde many vnhappes / And Furius Camillus myned on that one side of the cyte & made wayes vnder [...]the by the whiche weyes a knyght went in and toke the tour of the Cyte while furius camillus yafe assaute to the cyte on the other side / And whan men of the cyte sawe that / they yelded them self and the Cyte. But Furius camillus offended the people in de­lynge of prayes / ¶ So that he was callyd to Iuggemēt [...] and he drad to be condempned and outlawed hym self wylfully and wente in to the Cyte Ardea / Netheles in his absence he was condempned in ten thousand of certayne money of bras / But afterward he came and brake the siege of Frensshemen /

¶ Capitulum 18·

ARtaxerses the sonne of darius & of ꝑa [...]itides had a surna­me· Menuon and the hebrewes callyd hym Assuerus / He was the xj kyng of pers and regned fourty yere from Inde to [Page] ethiopia· ouer an honderd prouynces and xxvij / his trone was in the Cyte Susis / The Cyte that here was called susis was called Egbatanis in the boke of Iudith and was chyef cyte of the elemytes / Iosephus sayth that danyel made there a wonder buryel for kynges· So wonderful that it semede made the same day that is to say the kynges of media of perses and of Perche­a were wonte to be buryed in that buryel. This Artaxerses otherwyse callyd Assuerus in the thyrd yere of his kyngdome made grete reuel and feste to his prynces that dured an honderd dayes thre score and ten in that wonderful palais that me redeth of in thistory of Alysaundre The pyllers of that palays we­re of siluer the keueryng lyke to the firmament chambred and hauyng precious stones of dyuerse colours to the lykenesse of the sterres ¶After he lay with his peple seuen dayes in the Orchard of lykynge / there was a vyne yerde with vynes of seluer with braunches of gold and clustres of precious stones The pauilons were pighte vpon pilers of siluer of marble and of I­uory with roopes of whyte sylk and of reed / ¶There vasty the quene was rebell and wold not come to the kyng / therfor hester was chosen quene in her stede Democritus the philosopher dyed that tyme Agellus speketh of hym and sayth that he putt out his owne eyen. and that for thre skylles ¶ The first for his sight lette hym of his holy thoughtes· the second for hee myghte not see women withoute grete temptacion the thirdde for that he sawe shrewes ofte mysdo and deden euyl dedes & that myght he not suffre but it greued hein soore Tullius ep / 95 Democri­tus was wonte to say that the hestes of shrewes & the noyes of the wombe ben in one place / what haue I to do therwith sayd he whether this noyse sowne vpward or downward ¶ Pol̄ libro septimo ¶Socrates the philosopher four score yere old and xix. dranke poyson with stydfast semblaunt and dyed ¶ R Leste erroure befall in the name of Socrates take hede for there were thre Socrates One was Auctour of doyng and of dedes Cassiodorus in thistory callyd tripertita preyseth well this So­crates ¶ Selencus theodoricus and Socrates made that story Another Socrates was of grece a grete philosopher and lawer

¶Of hym libro primo Saturnalium is rehersed that noble sawe Whan he was prayed of his felawes to putte forth somwhat of his noble spekyng. he saide as this place axeth I spareno spech & the spech that I spare is not couenable / for this place nouther [Page Cxxxij] for this tyme▪ ¶ Suche a tale is told of Ipocras the philo­sofre / the thyrd Socrates was platoes maystrer of hym is our speche at this tyme Pol libro quarto capitulo sexto Socra­tes was reputed the wysest by answer of Appolyn & withoute ony withsayenge he passed the seuen wysemen / that were holden wysemen among the grekes and was acompted bifore hem with out comparison not only in wytte and connynge but also in ma­ner of good lyuing· therfor tullius libro primo de tuscul̄ qō seith that Socrates was Prynce of philosophye / and that he called philosophie from heuen vnto erth and stuffed cytees with philosophie. Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro octauo capitulo 14 ¶ A spyryte folowed Socrates and taught hym thynges / ¶Apuliꝰ libro suo 1 de di / Socrates saith & reherseth. that this spiryte / vsed to warne Socrates to leue of his doyng whan the doyng shold haue no good ende R Therfor calcidius super librum thimei Me sayth that a spyryte folewed and / taught Socrates from his first childhode not to compelle him to do ought but to forbede him to doo thynge not spedeful· and as in adremes It semeth a man that he herith many thynges not by veray voys / but by somme token that folowed thoffyce of mannes vois / So socrates thought while he was waking was comforted and taught by warning of clere token of the spyryte Tullius de diō [...] libro primo / We haue lerned of Socrates that was alway tendaunt to a spyryt that was cleped demon but he neuer moeued hym to doo dedes. but withdrewe hym ofte fro doyng of dedes / And therfor whan he sholde be dampned to deth he chees to deye in moost rightful maner· but tho had he no token yeuen hym of his god ¶ Valerius libro primo capitulo septimo ¶ Socrates in his old age vsed harpyng & armonye of strenges & sayd that it was better to vse that crafte late than lerne it neuer. he wold also take hede to the Arte of musik that art is right nedeful sayd he / ¶And soo he hield hym self euer poure to lerne and ryche to teche· ¶ And though he was wyse and wytty euer he sayde that he coude noo good / Therof came the comune sawe of Socrates I can not but that I can not / As Ieronimus reherseth epistola 35 / Valeriꝰ li / 8 Socrates shamed not to take a rehed bytwene his thyes· and playe with his smal childer Pol̄ libro octauo ¶It is homely and necessary a wyseman other while to pleye / not to putte away the vse of vertues / but to refresshe hym self and make him moore stronge to doo vertues of vertues ¶Also Socrates was [Page] profytable in vertues that maketh men lyke god / For he was a man of good temprure as Agell sayth libro secundo / So that wele nygh al his lyues tyme he lyued in helth withoute seke­nesse / & also in that moreyne tyme / that destroyed the Cyte Athene Therfor Valerius libro secundo Seyth that Socrates saide that many men wold lyue for to ete and. drynke / and that he wold ete and drynke for to lyue Also he was of grete suffraū ­ce / therfore Seneca libro tercio de Ira sayth that Socrates wal­ked in the Cyte and was euyl smyten vpon the heed. and he answerd and sayde nought ellys but he sayde It is euyl for men that they wytte not ¶whan they shold goo oute with salettes on her heedes and whan withoute Also whan a yong man spyt­te in his face whyle he disputed of wrath / he answerd and sayde I am not wroth but I doute whether I shold be wroth or noo

Also he was somtyme wroth with a shrewed seruaunt / that he had and sayde I wold bete the and I were not wroth ¶Also he had a wyf lyght of hir body as who sayth comyne and childer that were rebell and horelinges / & moore lyke to the moder than to the fader And a seruaunt that was alway a shrewe alwaye wroth and grutchyng ¶Netheles Socrates suffred alway and was paciente ¶Therfor Seneca epistola 197 Seyth that So­crates was wel nygh alway in bataylle owther in Tyrannyse· owther in fredome harder than bataylle owther tyrannyse / Therfore Ieronimus contra Ionium and also Epistola 33 seith that socrates had twey shrewde wyues that wolden alway chi­de / and stryue / And hadden ofte stryf for hym bitwene hem / the wynes were callyd Zantippa and Altipias / And on a tyme he blamed hem by cause they stryuē for hym that was but a fowle thynge / and sayde ye stryue for a man with snatted nose with a balled fort [...]p with [...]ery shulders and with croked thyes.

And atte laste both the wyues torned ayenst hym / and chidden him alto scarthes by one assente· and after grete chidynge and dispytous wordes they threwe on his heede theyr pisse of foure nyghtes pissynge oute of a soler. And he answerd nought ellys but wypte his heede and sayde I wyste wele that it shold rayne of thondryng of wordes Agellus libro secundo et Pol libro / 5 One axed of socrates why he chastysed not his wyf· Zantippa that was so ful of chidynge and of anger or els why he pute h [...]r not away from hyme And he sayde I suffre suche one at ho­me to haue vse and customme that I maye the moore paciently [Page Cxxxiij] suffre wronges of other men Seneca de Ira capitulo tercio Token of wrath in Socrates was lowe speche and fewe wordes He was true and trusty in counseylle as Valerius libro octauo seyth that a yong man axed counseyll of Socrates whether he shold wedde a wyf or no. whether so thou do of thes tweyn seith he. thou shalt forthynke ful soore / For yf thou wedde no wyf. thou shalt haue this disauauntages· thou shalt be allone / thou shalt haue no child a straunge man shal be / thyne heyr / And if thou wedde a wyf thou shalt haue grete besynesse alwaye / many maner playntes plee of doyng despysyng chidyng and stryf / of thy wyues dame and vnsekernesse and drede of thy childers ende ¶And Seneca epistola. 30 and Pol libro septimo ¶ One axed of Socrates why pilgrimagis stode hym to noo prouffyte what wonder sayth Socrates / while thou berist thy self alwaye aboute with the / The same cause that greueth the maketh the goo from hoome· what profyteth newe lande there the flyghte fleeth not the. the disease of thought must be putte awaye els shal no place the plese Also Poli libro quinto capitulo sexto ¶ One axed of hym who sholde gete hym best fame / ¶ Who that doth beste sayd he and speketh lytel Also poli libro septimo Plawes scolers hadden enuye to plato in Socrates scole. And pla­to axed of Socrates how he myght escape the enuye of enuyous men / Be moost wretche sayd he / and than no man shal enuye the No thyng is withoute enuye but wrechednesse allone Ysidorꝰ eth libro secundo capitulo decimo quarto ¶This Socrates ordeyned first morall philosophie for rulyng of good lyuyng of right wysenesse and temprure vertues and redynesse ¶Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro octauo This Socrates turned first al maner of philosophie to helpe of good lyuynge and of good ma­ners but I know not whether he dyde that for he was ouerco­me of greef of hardnesse of derk and of vncertayne thynges / to fynde som̄e certein man of doing by the which lif of man myght be the better / Owther for mannes soule sholde be the better and discharged of vnskylful lykynge· and be borne vp by kynde strengthe to knowe thynges that euer shall laste / for the sowle may· not knowe chief causes of thynges· but whan it is pured & made al cleene This Socrates whan [...]e deyde / lefte many dis­ciples a lyue that disputed in many wyse of our last ende & of hym that is the best. but of alle his scolers plato was chyef Seneca epistola 107 Speketh of the cause & maner of socrates [Page] deth / For socrates sayd he was more lyef to swere by creatures / than by goddes ¶ It was leyde ayenst him he did ayenst the lawe· and that he appeyred childer / and therfore he was damp­ned to prisonne· where he shold ete venym called fermacum Augustinus de vera religione capitulo primo / Socrates [...] was hardyer than other in sweryng / for me sayth that he wold swe­re by handes and stones and all that he wold swere by. he had redy in mynde / I trowe that he vnderstode that al the werkes of kynde that god ordeyned to be wrought by worchynge of god / be wele better than ony crafty mannes werkes / And therfore it is more worthy to take worshipes that longeth to god· than mawmettes that were worshipped in temples R ¶ Therfore an expositour vpon boece de disciplina capitulo quarto / seyth / that one of Socrates dtsciples accused hym for he had made a book of one god and not of many goddes / ¶ Therfore he was compellyd to drynke a venemous herbe in that goddes name / & drank and deyde not. And efte he was compellyd to drynke in name of many goddes and drank and deyde ¶Therfor Tullius wryteth that after that he was dampned the men of Athene were sory and punysshed hem soore: that hadde accused hym / and maden an ymage of gold resemblyng and remembraunce of socrates and· sette it in theyr temple ¶Also the commentor eth 5 seyth that Socrates whan he was accused seyde· Men of Athene maye dampne socrates but they maye not make hym vnright­ful Than the Athenes began to vse four and twenty lettres / & vsed bifore sixtene Eutr and Eaufr

¶ Capitulum 19

FRensshmen otherwyse called Senones by ledyng of brennius ouercome the Romayns enleuen myle fro Rome att [...] Ryuer Albia and chasede hem vnto the cyte and toke the Cyte vnto the capitoyl Titus liuius / there the frensshmen came in by nyght by a wey vnder erth euery after other while the Romayns slepte Mallius Torquatus and other Romayns awaked with cryenge of gandres / the firste daye of Iunij and they put of the Frensshmen ¶Therfore longe tyme the Romayns halo­wed the feste of gandres the first daye of Iunij / Netheles after­ward they called that feste of Iunoes moneth· for they trowed [Page Cxxxiiij] that Iuno warned the gandres and made hem to crye. ¶ In that fightynge the Senatours arrayed hem ryally in araye of Senatours. and soo they sate in theyr howses ¶And whan the Frensshe men founde hem syttynge in soo ryall araye· they wende that they were goddes that be c [...]eped genij and spared hem and wente bakward Treuisa ¶ God Genius is to say a spyryte that foloweth a man al his liues tyme. than it foloweth in thistory. Netheles one of the Frensshemen groped and handled the berde of a Senatour called papirius / and he vp with a staf that he had in hand and smote the frenssheman on the heede / therfor al the frensshmen were wroth / and slough hym first and than alle the Senatours euery one ¶ Than the Frenssmen receyued a thousand pound of gold for pees and wente theyr way Than Furius camillus that rather was putte oute of the Cyte pursued the Frensshemen and slough hem· and brought the gold and Iewels of knyghtes to the Cyte agayne ¶And this Ca­millus did the thyrdde viage and wente in to the Cyte ayene. & was callyd the second Romulus He besieged somtyme the falisces and the capitayne of hem ladde oute childer of the cyte / as it were for to playe and yaue hem to camyllus & sayd that the Cyte sholde be yolden to him for sauyng of the childre ¶And Camyllus not only forsoke the fraude / but he bounde the Capi­tains handes behynde hym and lete dryue hym with yerdes and sente hyin and the childer to her faders and moders and for that courtoys dede / the cyte was yelden to him that he desired not to gete with fraude and treson Trogus libro 24 ¶Thre honderderd thousand of Frenssmen by ledyng of belgius & of Bren­nius destroyed Ytaly and brent Rome and spoylled Pannonie and macedon and slowe tholomeus the kyng of macedonia Paulus libro secundo Me seyth that the cause why the frēsshmen came in to Italy was this ¶ The frensshmen tasted wyne that was brought oute of ytaly and were moeued by lykynge of that wyne / and went in to Italy ¶ The leder of hem was brennius that regned amonge the Frensshmen senones· he cam with thre honderd thousand & sente an honderd thousand to spoyll the Grekes. Netheles fast by Appolyn delphicus they essayed & felt that the grekes hadden ful sharp swerdes and kene Another honderd thousand wēt in to galacia that is in the lasse Asia and were first called gallogreci and after galates ¶The thyrdde honderd thousand left in Italy and bylde papie. [Page] Melane Pergame Brixia ārimi· And yaue the name to ffraū ­ce that is on this syde Alpes and cleped it gallia

¶ Treuisa Burgoyne is in that countrey that is called gallia Senonensis ¶Pol libro sexto capitulo decimo Galli Frensshmē in ytalye bylde veron and vincencia. ¶Also they bylde the Cyte Cene for her olde men / and sekelew and for theyr heordes that kepte her beestes ¶That wytnessith yet lykenesse of fayr hewe & colour and fayr shap of peple in the which they acorde with brytons and with the galles frensshmen though longe passynge of tyme and place and countray of the world and companye with men that dwelle aboute hem haue chaunged hem in many poyn­tes Gaufe ¶Belinus torned agayne oute of ytaly in to britayne and lyued in pees and repayred and bylde cytees amonge the whiche he founded the cyte caerusk that now is called caerle on vpon the Ryuer vske that is nygh Seuarne ¶ And he bylde belius gate that englysshmen callen now Byllyngsgate vpon Temyse in the cyte trinouantum that is london / ¶And he bylde a tour aboue that yate therinne were the askes of his body were done after whan his body was brente he made also lawes & four highe wayes as it is sayde in the firse book capitulo Brytania ¶ Trogus libro 24 Efte brennius tourned ayene oute of the eest countrees / and efte ouercome the macedoyns & theyr duc Sosten and spoylled goddes and temples and sayd meryly that rych goddes must yeue men somwhat of her rychesse

¶Also he spoylled Appolyn Delphicus temple in the hil­le mount pernasus Pol libro sexto There men of the countray prayde help of her god and sodaynly the erthe gan shake and a grete partye of the hille felle vpon the hoost of galles and haylestones slough that other dele ¶ The Duc brennius for soore of his woundes might not endure / And therfor he slough him self with a sharp swerde ¶ No man shal wondre though Appolyn toke wreche of hem that spoylled the goddes & the temples / For god suffred Appolyn destroye many nacions by cause of their trespaas and euyl lyuyng and dedes For it is certayn that spirites of the ayer may vse her shrewdnes in hem that be mysbyle­uyd and euyl of dedes For grace is withdrawe from such maner men and euyl spyrytes haue leue graunted to noye hem & to gre [...]e hem Eutropius

¶ Capitulum 20

Office and dignyte be chaunged amonge the Romaynes / For in stede of twey consuls be made trybunes of cheual­rye with the power of consuls Tho began the prouffyte of ro­me tencreace but this dignyte dured not longe / R· Aboute this tyme dyogenes the philosopher prospered. Iosephus in pol libro suo septimo seyth that dyogenes was Anaximines disciple Ieronimus libro suo contra Ioninianum seyth that he was an tistenes that was Socrates disciple and that I trowe sothly For Seneca and valerius seyne that dyogenes was in the grete Alysaundres tyme that regned long after Anaxagoras but yf ther were many dyogenes in dyuers tymes as ther were many Socrates Ieronimus contra Ioninianum Dyogenes vsed a double mantel for colde and had a scrip in stede of his celer· and a staff to lene to and dwellyd in yates & outgoyng of yates and knowleched soth in yche side and toke heede of the lyf of men that passed by the wey / For many maners of men stanke as him semed Whan that he punysshed hym self in a tonne. yet he had game that his hows moeued ¶ He torned the mouth of his tonne toward the south in cold time and toward the north in Somer tyme where euer the sonne were dyogenes hows torned thyderward ¶Valerius libro quarto capitulo tercio ¶Alysaū der Macedo came to hym syttyng soo in his tonne and bade him axe somwhat of hym / I wolde sayd this Dyogenes that thou woldest not lette my sonne Therof came that bysawe that alysaunder myght lyghtlyer putte darius out of his trone and oute of his kyngdome than dyogenes oute of the state of vertue ¶ R Seneca libro quinto de benefycijs Seyth that dyogenes was myghtyer and rycher than alysaunder· ffor ther was moore that he wold not receyue than Alysaunder myght yeue & thēne Alysaunder was ouercome for he foūde a mā to whom he might nought yeue and he myght take from dyogenes right nought / ¶Seneca epistola 94 et Ieronimus contra ¶ Dyogenes bare in his scrippe a dysshe of tree for to drynke of· and sawe a childe drynke of the pawme of his hande / and braake his disshe anone / and sayd how long shal a foole bere superflue fardels I wyste not rather that kynde had crafte of drynkynge and he alway after drank water of the pawme of his hande He neuer abated countenaunce neyther his thought / what euer mishappes [Page] befel him he neuer chaūged semblaūt / he thought neuer of dise­ase neyther of fortune. he chaunged neuer his purpoos for sorowe neyther for meschyef and sayde It falleth not to a philosophre to chaunge his wytte for happe of fortune / his deth shewed that he was vertuous and continent. For whan he was old he wente to the tornemente of Olimpe / He was taken with a feuer in the waye and laye in a den by theway and his frendes wold haue caryed him thens on a beest / or on a chare but he wold not as­sente but wente to the shadow of a tree and sayd I pray you go ye hens and cesse / For this nyght I shal essaye whether I shal ouercome or be ouercomen / If I ouercome the feuer I shal co­me to the tornament and yf the Feuer ouercome me I shall go downe in to helle and leyde downe his heede and neck and was there al nyght· and shewed not only that he wold dye· but also that he wold putte ouer the Feure by deth / And in caas was he gyled by ensample and oppynyon of noble men that wold gladly dye and help to her owne deth I trowe that he cleped helle the state of the sowle after the deth of the body ¶ Valerius libro 4 capitulo 3 ¶Dyogenes weded wortes vpon a tyme and one aristippus sayde to hym yf thou woldest vse flatery with denys the kyng thou ne shulde nede to wede wortes. ¶And▪ he answerde yf thou woldest ete of these wortes. thou woldest not flater with denys Also dyogenes disputed on a tyme of wrath and one spy [...]ce in his face and he sayde I am not wroth but I doute whe­ther I shold be wroth or noo Seneca de ira libro tercio Dy­ogenes pleted ones in cause and one lentulus spetted and thre­we ropy spotel in his face & he wyped his face and sayd I shal say after this that they al be begyled that say that thou hast noo mouth ¶ Pol libro octauo ¶ One behilde dyogenes and sayde thou hast right wanton gygly eyen wherfor his disciples wolde haue beten the man as a lyer. lete be felawes sayde Dyogenes For I am suche one by kynde but I refreigne me by vertue ¶ R Iuuenal libro 4 satira prima / wryteth that Dyogenes wolde wepe whan he went out openly among men / for he demed al that he sawe was wretchednesse and woo But democritus dide the contrary and lough vhen he went openly oute amonge men for he helde al that he sawe ny [...]sty and fooly In libro de dictis philosophorum One that was fowlest of al men shewed his hows to Dyogenes / the hows was wonderly plesaunt and welbesene and this dyogenes spytte in the mannes face /

[Page Cxxxvj] And men axed of him why he dyd soo / and he answerd and sayde for I saw noo soo foule place in his hows as his face / Also it was axed hym why he vsed a berde ¶A woman sayd he berded / is vnsemely syght ¶ One sayd to hym that one of his frendes had spoken euyl by hym ¶I doute sayd he yf my fr [...]nde haue sayde suche wordes by me / But it is openly knowen that thou hast that thynge sayde ¶Treuisa ¶It is wonder that dyogenes vsed so lewed sophistry / For here he maketh noo differen­ce. bytwene the lyer and hym that accused the lyer and warned men of his lesynges ¶It is not one to speke euyl by a mā and warne hym that a man speke euil of hym / and rehe [...]ce what euyl was sayd ¶ Seynt Iohan in his gospel sayde not that the deuyl was in crist but the Iewes sayde that the deuyl was in criste And crist hym self despysed not god but he reherseth how men bere him on hand that he despysed god ¶Than it folo [...]weth in thystory Also one sayd him that al men despysed him And he sayd wytte and wysedom must be despysed of foly Whan euyl spekers blame and missaye a man· it sheweth that he is right good that is of hem myssayde Tullius libro primo de tusculis questione ¶Dyogenes whan he shold dye bade that he sholde not be buryed but throwen and lette lygge in a felde / owther vpon an hille ¶ Than his frendes sayden that he shold be eten with beestes and fowles / Nay quod he but laye a s [...]aff by me that I may therwith kepe hem away ¶ Wherto sayd his frendes for thou shalt not fele than sayd he the etyng of the bees [...]tes shal not greue me whan I shal not fele

¶ Capitulum 21

DEnys the tyraunt kynge of Scicile dyed and the yong de­nys toke the kyngdome ¶ Valerius libro quarto Amon and Phiceas were two frendes and denys wolde nedes slee one of hem / ¶And that one axed respyt [...]e to a certayne daye that he myghte the meane tyme dispose his goodes. and Cataylle and toke his felawe to the tyraunt to plegge / The daye came and the man came not / Therfore Denys demed that other· that was an vnwyse pledge / ¶ Nethelesse that other come atte houre that was sette· ¶ Than the [Page] tirant wondred and foryaue hym the deth / and prayde that he might be one of her felawes ¶Tullius de tusculis qō One damocles denys frende praysed denys royalte and riches and said ther was neuer man that had soo grete welth· ¶Wiltow saide denys essay my fortune and my welth. and he graunted Than denys made aray a bedde of gold and a ryche table rychely bese­ne with grete plente of d [...]ynteous mete and drynke / noble seruā ­tes redy swete songes and myrth ynowe Amonge all this he bade hang a bright swerde and a sharp euen aboue his heede by an hors heer and the poynt downward euen to his heedewarde And whan he toke none hede to alle this likyng for drede of the swerd than denys sayd suche is my lyf that thou holdest the lyf of welth and of ioye ¶ Valerius libro sexto ¶Whan all men Siracusanes desired and prayd the deth of denys the tyraunt for his cruelte / an old wydue in hir last elde to god prayed for de­nys lyf and his helth and whan he wyst therof he wondred of the good wylle of the woman and axed what hir moeued soo to pray ¶Whan I was seyd she a yong wenche I was ouer­sette with a tyraunt and desired to be delyuerd of hym ¶And whan he was slayn one wors than he helde the kyngdome And whan he was dede than had we the thyrd that was worst of alle· And therfor lest a wors than thou come after the / I wolde yeue myne heede and my lyf to saue thy lyf and thyne helthe Tullius de officijs libro secundo ¶ Denys the kynge vsed no barbour to shaue his berde for he drad the barbours ra­sours ful soore and sweled of the heer of his beerde with fyre

¶This denys on a tyme came in to a temple where many ymages were clothed in gold and he toke away the gold from hem and sayde to them that were besyde him / this clothyng is to heuy for somer and cold for wynter ¶ Efte he toke a crown oute of an ymages hande of Mercurye and sayde. Lo ye see wel that I take no thynge from him but that he profrith me with his wylle That tyme Aristotles in his eyghtenth yere of age lerned of his mayster plato ¶ And nectanabus kyng of E­gypte began to regne and regned nynetene yere

¶ Pol libro quinto ¶Furius Camyllus Duc of Roma­yns dyed / byfore is made mynde of his grete dedes

¶ Gaufr and Alfr / ¶ Aboute that tyme Gurgun­aus Kynge of Brytons that was Belyns sonne came oute of Denemarche that warned hym Trybute· that was [Page Cxxxvij] wont be payed to hym ¶ And fonde by the Ilandes Or­chades xxx shippes ful of men basclenses that theder were dry­uen oute of spayne side and he sente hem and their duc bartho­lomew in to Irlond that was tho voyde and inhabyte R Loke more herof in the first book capitulo hibernia

¶ Capitulum 22

OThus otherwyse called Artaxerses the xij kynge of pers / regned xxv yere / In this tyme whā furiꝰ camyllꝰ was dede among the Romayns ther fell a grete pestylence among them soo that in the myddel of the cyte the erth was opened & there was a grete chynne and a waye to helle Atte laste the dyuy­nours sayden that that waye to helle abode the buryenge of a quyck man ¶ Than marcus cursius an hors man of Ro­me for to saue the Cyte armed him and wente down in to that clyffe· and soo the clyf was closed The mene tyme the Romaynes faught ayenst the galles ffrensshemen that destroied ytalye & one of the galles proferd him to fyghte with one mā body fordy than lucius malliꝰ faught with hym & slough hym and toke a byce of gold from his neck and dyde aboute his owne and so toke a surname for euermore to hym and his ofsprynge and was cleped torquatus that is a man with a byse / For a byse is torques in latyn· ¶ Augꝰ de ci. de / li. 5 / ca· 18· Seyth that this torquatus slough his owne sone that had foughten for the contray and wonne the vyctory· he slough him for he had foughten ayēst his faders heest lest that dede shold haue be ensample of more harme and despyte of the empyre than the worship shold be of the deth of the enemye / Philip kyng of macedonia that was hol­den Alysaunders fader began to regne and regned xxvj yere In his tyme demostenes the aduocate fairest speker of al prospered. he wente on a tyme to a fayr strompet called layes & was of corynth & lays axed of hym an yefte / that she clepeth nūmū quantum & demostenes that was gretely moeued in lust sayde that he wold not bye so dyer & after be sory & forthynk his dede Pol libro sexto ¶ This nummum quantum maketh / x / M / pens of ours and is worth half the greter talentum that is worthy xx thousand pens of ours Trogus & val li· 8 / Demostenes [Page] the aduocate was so besy to putte of al maner lette of his speche that noman spake more cleere than he· And though he hadde a wel smal voyx. netheles he vsed it soo that he had a noble sow­nyng speche Me axed of hym ofte what were mooste spede­full among wyse men / and he sayd moost spedeful is to the knouleche of that he can nought ¶Me tellyth of hym that he spake moche and longe tyme while he hadde stones in his mouthe but whan the stones were oute and the mouth voyde he was moore redy to speke ¶Agellus Messagers of the moloses came to a­thene and the firste day of plee demostenes pleted ayenst hem & withstode hem / ¶On the morow he was stopped with moneye for he shold not speke ayenst hem The thyrdde daye whan the cause sholde be pleted demostenes come forth with wolle aboute his neck and sayd that he had the squynacie & therfor he mighte not speke ayenst the moloses Than one cryed and sayd it is no squynacy but siluery that hym ayleth ¶ And demostenes af­terward told out how it was & acompted it for a grete worship and axed of Aristodimus what mede he had taken for to plede for hem / talentum sayd he / and I sayd demostenes had wele more for to hold my pees Valerius libro septimo Twey mē had taken money to a woman to kepe and ordeyned that the woman shold delyuer the money to neyther of hem by him self but to them bothe to geder / long tyme after that o [...]e came & sayd that his felawe was deed & begyled the woman & had the moneye of hir. than not longe after his felawe came and axed the moneye than the woman was pursued hard & greuously & demostenes cam & helped hir in this maner & said lette hem both come to geder & axe / hir money as it was ordeyned whan the money was ta­ken hir to be kept & than the moneye shal be payed & no rather & for they cam neuer to geders the woman was quytte. Yꝰ li / 1 / ca 31· Kyng philip besieged the cyte athenes / & axed x wyse mē of the cyte to be deliuer to him & he wold goo awaye from ye cyte & besiege it no lēger. but demostenes counseiled nay & told this fable wolues somtyme proferd frendship to shepherdes on this condiciō that the shepherdes sholde delyu her hoūdes to the wolues for your dogges sayd they make all the varyaunce bytwyx you and vs wherupon the shepherdes delyuerd hem the houndes / ¶ Than the wolues whan strength and warde of houndes was away slough and deuowred all the shepe at her owne wylle

¶So sayd he wold this Philippe destroye this Cyte / [Page Cxxxviij] yf it lacked wyse men of counsayle ¶ Othus kyng of pers torned the Iewes in to hircania ¶ The grete Alysaunder is born in macedonia / And denys is slayn in Siracusa / ¶ The Romayns ouercomē the galles in the whiche fyghtynge one of the Galles axed Marcus valerius a Tribune of Rome to fight with hym in a singler bataylle body for body / ¶ And while they faught a rauen sate vpon the right shulder of valerius and alway smote to the eyen of the frensshman and soo the Romayn gate the vyctorye and the name / and was afterward cleped coruinus for a rauen is coruus in latyn. and Coruinus was con­sul four and twenty yere after that dede Pol libro septimo

¶ Capitulum 23

PLato the philosopher died whā he had lyued lxxxx yere / in so grete reuerence that me doubted long after his deth whe­ther that he shold be acompted among the goddes owther amōg half goddes ¶ Plato was moost excellent among Socrates disciples and was callyd plato for he had a brode breste and a brode space bytwene his browes / ¶ For platos in grewe is latum in latyn / broode in Englysshe / ¶ Plato was borne in Athenes ¶ Tullius de di / libro primo capitulo decimo sexto ¶ While Plato was a child / and laye in his cradel and slepte bees sate on his lippes and dyuynours sayde that he shold shyne in swetnesse of Eloquence ¶ Valerius libro primo capitulo quarto ¶ That nyght that Plato was sette to Socrates loore he demed that a swan lay on his knees ¶ Pol li. septimo This plato in his first loore of lettrure was taught of denys / In wrastling of Ariston Argus he dispysed not the crafte of puture / he feyned him self profytable to diuinacions and to ges­tes And he trust on his endytyng and tellyngys as olde wy­ues vse and wold become a fyghtyng man but socrates forbade hym / Valerius li / 8 ca· 7· Socrates dyed atte laste and plato torned to the loore of hem that folowed pyctagoras loore & wor­shipped hem not only for here connynge but also for they were contynent ¶After that he went to theodorus cyrenensis and lerned gemetry [...]. Than he wente to egypt to lerne astronomye Pol libro septimo ¶And many wene that le lerned there the [Page] prophecyes of prophetes· but the aōcpting of tymes suffrith him not to be in tyme of prophetes. For austyn li / 8 de ci ca 11 / seyth that plato was born aboute an honderd yere after the deth of Ieremye the prophete Than aboute a sixty yere after his deth the bookes of prophetes cam in to egypt in tyme of the king tholomeus / there in that pylgremage of Plato· Plato myght not see Ieremias that was dede long tyme bifore nowther rede the boo­kes of prophecye that were not yet translate in to grue Nethe­les many thynges be foūde in platoes bookes that acordeth with sawes of prophetis ¶Austyn libro 16 ca 20 & libro confessionū ante finem sayth that seynt Iohannes gospel was founden in platoes bokes vnto that place tenebre cam non comprehenderūt that is to say derknes knewe not light. ¶ For thapostle sayd that suche philosophres vanysshed awaye in her thoughtes / I wold not trowt but yt it is wreton in bookes of holy faders / than Plato departed from egypte and came in to Ytaly and folowed Carentinus articus that helde pyctagoras loore· ¶ And th [...] he wold haue goon vnto the Indes & medes that couth nygroman­cye and wytchecraft but that the werre of caldee lette hym for to passe And therfore whan he founde Ceno and permenydes / he abode with hem and gadred her sawes / Shrewes remoeued this thre connyngys in to Scicilia by dyuers oppynyons· For sōme meoued that he came for to see thystory of kynde and the reason of brennyng of the montayne Ethna The second sayd that he came atte prayer of denys the tyraunt to holde with the Cyt [...]ci­racusa and for to teche theyr lawe / the iij sayd that he cam to reconsile one dyon to his countray by foryeuenesse and grace geten of denys ¶Ieronimuscontra Ion Plato was [...]iche for condiciō and tyme ¶And dyogenes with his foule feete trade on his bedde that was wel besene ¶ Than Plato chees a lytel tow­ne callyd achademia a myle out of Athenes in that towne was ofte pestylence and erth shakyng and therfor he chees that drede­full place for suche dredeful happes sholde withdrawe his scolers from temptacion of lechery and for his scolers shold feele none other liking / but of thynges that they shold lerne ¶Marc libro tercio ¶ This plato sayd that ther be twey dethes by one deth the sowle forsaketh the body / By that other deth the soule while it is in the body forsaketh and despiseth bodyly lykingges wrath and angre. and vnskylful doynges and this shold philosophres desire / ¶ Seneca de ira libro tercio ¶ Plato [Page Cxxxix] was ones wroth with his seruaunte and heete hym doo of his kertill and make his sholders naked and bare but whan he vnderstode that he was wroth. he helde his hand / and stode as he wold smyte ¶ Than one of his frendes pseusippus axed hym why he stode soo and what he dyd and thought / and he answerd and sayde I am aboute to punysshe a man and am wroth and worthy to be punysshed I pray the sayd he. bete thou this seruaunt lest I bete hym more than it nedeth by cause of my wrath Noo man is in his power that is not in his owne power ¶R Helmande saide that plato vsed to title his bookes by names of his maystrys for they shold be of the more auctoryte outher by names of scolers that he wel loued Pol libro septimo Seyth that men tellen that Plato dyed / for shame for he coude not assaylle the question of shipmen / I trowe better that it was soth of homerus as maximus sayth / Ofte thes twey men ben t [...] ­ken eyther in stede of other for her grete wytte and wysedome & noble spekynge and also for breede of brestes For it is certayn that noble men and worthy hadden many names· Pol li / [...] / Philosophres that were cheped Zenofontini hadde grete enuye of pla­toes connynge and loos and feyned of him suche a tale ¶ Fla­manus the philosopher libro de vestygijs philosophorum sayth / that though many men tellen that plato yelde vp the goost wyl­fully at a derk meanynge of a nombre that was whan he hadde fulfylled yeres of his age nine sythes nyne that is four score & one Valerius libro nono capitulo decimo tercio ¶ Homerus for he myght not assoylle the question dyed for shame and sorowe R ¶Gregorius Nauzauzenus vpon this worde of the Apostle The wysedome of this world is foly bifore god / and sayd that Plato walked vpon the see clyf and biheld heuen than shipmen saw hym and lough hym to scorne / What haue ye sayde he ¶ They answerd and sayde / alle that we haue taken. we haue nought and al that we haue nought take we haue

¶ They had low [...]ed theyr clothes / and slayne al that they myght take and soo they had nought that they hadde taken

¶ Plato thought on fysshe and wondred and ete nought ne slepte For he made hym soo besye to fynde the solucion of the question and soo he dyed / ¶ Valerius libro quarto ¶Plato herde telle that his disciple Zenocrates hadde spoken moche euylle of hym and gretely despysed hym / ¶ Netheles Plato toke none heede of this complaynte· and the Iugge [Page] axed him why he yaf no credence to the tale / It is not to be yeul feyth vnto sayth plato that hym that I haue loued so long loued not me also. but the Iugge sware that he hadde herd suche tales of Zenocrates mouth Than plato answerd and sayde that Zenocrates wold neuer telle suche tales / But it semed that it were spedeful suche tales to telle Valerius libro septimo. ¶ After Plato in his stede cam his sister sonne pseusippus and after him Zenocrates platoes scoler that he loued wele in the scole callyd Achademia. And therfore they that came after them politinus / Porphirius Apuleius and affer hadde that name of the scole & were callyd Achademici As they hadde the name of Plato and were cleped platonici Valerius libro decimo Of this Zeno­crates it is redde that a fayr comyn womā of Athenes receyued mede and vndertoke to make hym lie by her and came at nyght and laye by hym in his bedde but she myghte in no manere wyse make hym abate chastyte / than yonglynges scorned hir / For she myght not abate the philosophres chastyte ¶ I made no coue­naunt sayd she of an ymage but of a man Ieronimus contra Ioninianum ¶ Zenocrates lefte to the men of Athenes but thre hestes of Tricolinus lawes to worship fader and moder & herie goddes & ete no flesshe Also in the [...] dictes of philosophres it is wreton that Zenocrates sawe one ladde to be hanged & lough and sayde / the gretter theues punysshe the lasse ¶ Valerius li / 6 in fine / Also one pollemo otherwise called pollemius a yong mā of Athenes was full lecherous so that he had lykynge and ioye not only of his euyl doyng but also he hadde grete ioye of euyl loos and mysfame / ¶ On a tyme he come from a feste not after the goynge doun of the sonne but after the sonne ry [...] ­syng & went home and sawe Zenocrates yate open and was wy­ne dronken and enoynted with oynementes and aparaild with garlandes and ryally clothed entred in to the scole in this ma­ner ful of noble doctours and sette hym downe there for to scor­ne▪ the fayr speche of the doctours in his dronkenesse Atte laste euery man had indignacion of hym but Zenocrates chaūged not his semblaūt but he lefte the matier that he spake of and torned his speche to the matier of sobrenes of pacience and suffraunce & by his resonable fayr and noble speche· Polemiꝰ was compellid to take hede and first he drough to hym his arme that he held stoutly withoute his mantell / and than he threwe downe the garlād of his heede and atte laste be forsoke al his euyl lykyng soo that [Page Cxl] of a fowle boller and goloton was made a grete philosopher ¶ Pol libro septimo et Augustinus de ciuitate de [...] libro nono ca­pitulo vndecimo

¶ Capitulum 27

AFter Plato come aristotle a noble man of fame and of lore and of grete wytt· Netheles not so noble a speker as plato But he passed many men in thoffyce of techynge and was con­nyng in crafte of fayr vtteraunce and shewyng to with sey all other mannes sētences / he brought vp the secte that is called pari­patetica· For he vsed to dispute wandryng and walkynge while plato lyued aristotle gadred many disciples in to his heresye. he made bookes of al maner philosophie and yaue certeyn hestes & rules in al maner philosophie ¶ Netheles passyng al other he brought logyk in to his right lawe / ¶ This is called the philo­sophre as it were he that berith the price of philosophres· So Ro­me is called the cyte· so maro / the poete and soo Aristotle the philosophre ¶ Netheles somme men trowed that he was a fendes sonne / for he was swyper and swyfte and clere of wytte and de­sired grete worship / for by many manere sleyghtes· he vsed to wynne and toke worship bifore alle other men / Alexander de natura ¶Aristotle amonge other taught eloquence fayr and noble speche as it is specially seen in his comentes homeris / and in dyte of troye the whiche he bytoke Alysaunder and in his dyalogus of poetes and in his tretice of rethori (que) ¶Aristotle xviij ye­re old was sente in to Athenes and lerned there of Socrates thre yere. And whan Socrates was dede he was with plato xx· yere till plato dyed / and had so grete fauour of plato that pla­to callyd Aristotles hows / the redyng hows / and wolde ofte say go we to the reders hows ¶ And whan Aristotle was absente Plato wolde crye vnderstandyng is awaye. the audience is deef / he lyued after platoes deth xxiiij yere / ¶Somtyme te­chyng Alisaunder somtyme wending aboute with hym in to many landes somtyme makyng bookes somtyme techyng disciples and so he lyued in al lxiij yere ¶He made Alysaunder buylde ayene the Cyte stagerik that philip had destroyed and beten doune Therfor the men of that Cyte haloweth a fest daye in wor­ship of Aristotle and that feste is called Aristotileya and the [Page] moneth that this feste is halowed in· they clepe it stagerites Aristotle dyed in calcide & was brought in to stagerik. whan a­lysander wēt ayēst the perses aristotle was besy aboute philoso­phye and made an historye of two honderd and fyfty lawes Aristotle put to many thynges of philosophye and to ethyk. that is the science of thewes He put that parfyt welthe / is not in wordly rychesse ¶ Also to philosophye he put the fyfth beynge ¶ Treuisa In libris de celo et mundo and in other bookes also Aristotle clepeth the welken or firmamente that is aboue the four elementes the fyfth body ¶Than it foloweth in the storye that he withdrewe nothyng of diuynyte. He made problemes me dycynale of phisik and of kynde in four score bookes / And pro­blemes of perspectyue and of methaphisik ¶Treuisa A pro­bleme is a question that is harde to assoylle and also an hard redels is also cleped a probleme ¶ Perspectyf is a science that specially longeth to the sighte that science techeth howe a thynge is seen and is lasse owther more than it semeth / owther euen as moche as it semeth euen or croked and right as it is or other wyse shapen than it semeth ¶ Than it foloweth in thistorye· he made statutes to iustefie the Cytees of grece by the whiche statutes philip determyned & made ende of plees bytwene the grekes He lefte after him his sonne nychomachus / and his doughter pitharda and ful many disciples among the whiche theofrastus was of grete name He made the booke de nupcijs of spousayls Aristotle made a thousand bookes and loued to folowe truth. & not forsake thing that was openly knowen / Auicenna preyseth him wel libro tercio methapharo suo / And raby moyses li· 1 / capitulo 4 & agellus li / 8 capitulo tercio & Iohan in suo policrato li / septimo / This is he that meoued archademia more with strength of resons than it was moeued with strong blastes of wynde for thurgh his besynes the Achademici that were lefte after. plato moeued doubtes wele nygh of al thynges ¶Also plynius libro suo seyth / That the grete Alysaundre brente in couetyse of knowleche of the kynde of beestes and sente to Aristotle many thousandes of men of Grece / of Asia and of Tracia that fedde beestes and fowles wyld and tame and al that be taken with haukyng owther with huntyng and had al maner beestes in kepyng in hyues in layes in fysshe weres & pondes / ffor he wold know all thynge that is brought forth in kynde Aristotle ex­amyned al hem besyly & made aboute a fyfty volumes of the [Page Cxlj] kynde of beestes Therfor plinius de naturis recū libro secundo / seyth that sommen tellen that Aristotle made his bookes so short­ly and soo hard for enuye and for veyne glorye ¶ Other say that he made his bookis in that maner to vse of studiētes as the science axeth for science is aboute thynge that is good and harde to knowe Treuisa ¶Here take heede that here al thynge that hath lyf and felyng is cleped a beest Than it foloweth in thystory / aristotle whan he shold dye bad that his subtyll bookes shold be buryed with hym in his graue / For they that come af­ter hym shold haue no proufyt therof / But I wote not by what vertue of kynde owther of crafte that I saye not by wondre of wytchecraft that sepulcre hath soo appropred there to that place that is aboute it that noman maye come nowe in to that place /

Somme men say that antecrist shal know that place and loke and see the bookes that he there hid / but who dar trowe / thynges that be in doubte and vncertayn / Of the deth of Arystotle gg. Nauzauzenꝰ in his tretice vpon that worde of the apostel The wysedome of this is foly bifore god And sayd that in grece at a place callyd the black brygge· the see ebbith and floweth as it were at ones in the same place And Aristotle came and wold knowe the cause why and bihelde it & toke heede long tyme / & for he coude not fynde the cause why· for grete indignacion he spake to the water and sayde / For I maye not comprehende and take the thou shalt take me and so he felle in to the water and dreint him self ¶Treuisa It is wonder that gregorius Nauze [...]zenꝰ tellith soo madde a magyl tale of soo worthy a prynce of philo­sophres as Aristotles was / why telleth he not how Aristotle de­clareth the matier of ebbynge and flowynge of the see. secundo meth / why tellyth he not why it is wreton in the book of the ap­pel howe Aristotles dyed and helde an Appel in his hande and hadde comforte of the sinelle and taughte his scolers howe they shold lyue and come to god and be with god withouten ende

¶And atte laste his hande began to quake and the apple f [...]lle downe from his hande and his face wax al pale and soo Aristo­tle yelde vp the goost and dyed Than it foloweth in thystorye Aristotles successour was theofrastus and hadde that name for his noble spekyng of god so sayth the mayster of thistoryes sup­li. math ¶This theofrastus made a book de nupcijs of wedlok & called the booke theofrastus aureolus / there be disputeth clerely of the teene and anguysshe of wedded men ¶ Ieronimus [Page] talketh moche of that book ayenst Ioninianus ¶ And this Theofrastus made another booke of frendship and putteth and preferreth frendship before al other thinges of men / ¶Me sayth that this theofrastus accused kynde for it yafe lenger lyf to o­ther beestes than to mankynde ¶ Ther it is sayde that is spede­ful that frendes loue wele / and not assaye hem that they loue / Also it is wryten there that louyng men haue blynde domes

¶ Eutropius ¶ Capitulum 25

THe Romaynes ordeyned a bataille ayenst the Sampnytes that be bytwene campania and Apulia and haue armoure of gold and of siluer ¶ The cause of bataylle was the lande of campania that is best lande and moost pleyne ¶The chyef Cyte therof is capna and is peer to Rome and to cartage in grete­nesse and in plente ¶Than lucius papirius dictatour or oratour of Rome was sent ayenst the Sampnytes and he t [...]rnede ayene to rome and bade quintus Fabius mayster of the horsmen that he shold not fyght while he were a way. netheles Quintus sawe and founde occasion and faughte and spedde wel and skomfyte the Sampnytes / And by cause therof the dictator dampned him for he had foughten ayenst his heest in his absence ¶ Netheles he was delyuerd and saued by grete fauour of knyghtes of the peple. ¶And soo grete stryf was arered ayenst papirius that he was in [...]opardy of his lyf But afterward in a place callyd furcule cādeꝰ. the sāpnytes had the Romaynes closed in narow wayes and streyte & ouercome hem with so grete shame that hem was leuer kepe hem a lyue to shame and to shenship. than slee hem so closed and made hem caste of her armour and her clo­thee / and goo on a longe rewe vnder the hille syde and hadde of hem a condiciō the whiche condiciō yf the Romaynes had holden they had bē deed owther bonde men to the sampnytes Titus liuiꝰ

¶ The duc and the leder of the sampnytes called poncius hadde ord [...]gned his hoost besides Furcule candynes where the Romay­nes shold passe That place is closed with hilles on eyther side & hath a playne in the myddel bytwene highe landes with streyte entre and strayte oute goyng Poncius had sent somme of his knyghtes b [...]fore clothed as heordes that kepen beestes and that [Page Cxlij] they shold answere the hoost of Romaynes that wold passe and axe after the sampnytes where they were and the knyghtes to answer that the sampnytes were passed to besiege a cyte callyd lucrecia that was comfedred with the romayns / and whan the Romayns herd that anon they went swyftly in to the valey of furcule as it were for to spede hem to socour the Cyte that was besieged / but in the mene tyme the sampnytes knyghtes and other hewe downe trees and stopped the entre and the outegoynge of the valey and wente in to the toppes of the hilles & soo the Ro­maynes were compellyd by meschyef to axe pees of the Sampnytes owther a batayll of knyghtes ¶ Than poncius the duc answerd and sayde now the batayll is done and graunted pees vpon this condicion that the Romaynes sholde yelde vp her clo­thyng and her armour and goo al naked sauf her preu [...]e mem­bres in a long rewe vnder the hille side and yelded vp pleggys thre hond [...]rd horsmen of the Romaynes ¶T Entr The ye­re that folowed after by heest of the Senatours the dictator [...] ­cius papirius scomfyted the Sampnytes ¶Orocius libro tercio After that vyctory ther felle so grete pestylence in Rome of deth and of lyghtnyng that alle the cyte made sorowe for dede men & for seke / than they loked the bookes of Sibylle the wyse and to­ke counseylle and sente in to Epydauru a cyte of grece for to haue a mawmette the ymage of Esculapius· he is feyned god of medycyne and sheweth him to his worshippers in the lykenesse of a serpent Item Orocius ¶Wyues of Rome brennyng in wode loue toward her owne husbandes made as they trowed drynkes of loue and yet the drinkes were veray poyson and deth A wenche that knewe that doyng warned the Senatours therof than the wyues were compellid to drynke of the same and by the vyolent poyson of that drynk many of them felle downe sodenly deed. and two hondred wyues and seuenty that were mays [...]s of the doyng were dampned to the deth / ¶ Aboute that tyme Guytelynus Gurguncius sonne regned in Brytayn· his wyf marcia was right connyng and coude many maner craftes she made the lawe callyd marcene lawe. R ¶Loke more herof in the first booke capitulo de legibus Gaufr

Also this marcia regned somwhat of tyme after hir husbandes deth and after hir regned Sicillius and after hym kymarus dauius after dauius morindus that was ful cruel / but atte laste a beest deuoured hym

¶ Capitulum 26

ARsanius otherwyse callyd artaxerses othus sone was xiij yere kynge of Perse and regned four yere In his first yere Iadus bisshop of Iewes prospred ¶Philip kyng of macedonia was dede by trayson of one pansania Trogus libro nono This philip was moore besy aboute dedes of Armes than about feestes and yaue hym moore to wynne rychesse than to kepe it And for al that he robbed alway yet he was euer nedy and loued mercy and falseheed bothe lyke wel and was vntrusty in his speche / and wold behote more than he wold perfourme He couth feyne hym gracious and wel apayed whan he was wroth & wroth whan he were wel apayed He vsed to make wrath bytwene partyes and gete thank on eyther syde ¶ Trogus libro septimo This whan he had fyrste ouercomen the men of athe­nes he lette the prysonners goo by his good wylle than he wedded olimpyada Neoptholomeus the kynges doughter of the moloses and bigate on hir the grete Alysaunder ¶ Thes yaue an assaute to the cyte mathona and there his right eye was smyton oute with the strook of an arowe / but for that wounde he was neuer the slower to fyght ne wrother with his enemy / but atte laste men yelde vp the Cyte and than he was mylde and mercia­ble to hem al Trogus libro octauo This philip was enemy to mennes fredome he nourysshed firyfe in Cytees & helped the lasse aiēst the more & brought both in to thraldō the victor & him that was ou (er)come / so he made to hym .ij / brether kynges of tracia subget that putte her querele in his arbytracion to deme rightly bitwene hem to make final pees ¶ He made subget to hym the Bardanes and other nacions by suche maner fraude ¶He made his wyues brother Alysaunder a yonglynge of / xx. yere old to vse f [...]rnicacion alwaye / for he wolde haue hym afterward the moore bounde to hym and to his seruyce ¶Trogus libro 14 Philip somtyme werred ayenst the Shi [...]es and scomfyted hem more with gyle and fraude than with vertu and strength He had with hym on a tyme twenty thousand childer of women & of beestes with twenty thousande noble mares for to doo what it were in macedoyne as it were to haue somme manere newe men to dwelle therin And on a tyme he torned from the tebans men of thebes in grece that warned him passage / and was woū ded in his thigh wōderly soore so that thurgh his thye his hors [Page Cxliij] was slayne that he rode on Netheles he scomfyted hem solemp­nely but that day for the vyctory he semed neuer the gladder of chere to his owne men / ne the more stierne to hem that were ouer come but he sente ayen the prysonners and restored ayene thre honderd wysemen that were put oute Al thes wyse men whan fyue of hem were accused of the trespas sayde that they al we­re euen peres in doyng of that dede Yet philip arrayed an hoost of two honderd thousand fote men and fyften thousand horsmen to werre in the Reame of pers and made one Attalus duc and leder of that hooste this dukes sister Olympiada was philippes wyf and afterward put away and forsake / ¶ Therfor whan Philip sate atte feste of spousayle without wardcorpses Pansa­nia a noble yong man slough him right there ¶ The cause therof was this· Atthalus had dispitefully scorned this pāsania and done hym greete vylenye firste pryuely and after openly in a grete feste and reuel & he complayned ofte to Philip of the de­spite that atthalus had done hym and had none amēdes· therfor he tourned his wrath and was wroth with philippe and slough hym in that maner for vengeance of that dede ¶ Olimpiada philippes wyf and alysaunder philippes sonne were hadde in suspection and not holden all gyltles of that dede ¶ Olimpia­da for that she was forsaken· and Alysaunder for the despyte in that was done to his moder And specially for philip ofte repreued his sone alysander for his moder was so forsakē & was oft in point to rese on hym with his swerde And therfor Alysander exiled. dwellyd a while with his vncle in epyrus Treuisa This lande is tracia and was somtyme the land of Epyrotes / It foloweth in thystory he hanged afterward pansania & crow­ned olympyada with gold & brente aftward hir body vpon hir husbandes body / Treuisa / Who that knoweth this crony (que) a right knoweth that it was vsed somtyme in dyuers landes to bren­ne noble bodyes whan they were deed and kepe the askes solēpnely in reuerent place It foloweth in thystory he hanged cleopatra Atthalus sister ¶ This philip was somtyme warned & saued him self from the vyolence of a chariot Therfor he vndid all the charyottes and chares that were in his kyngdome Also he auoyded and withdrough him from that place callyd chariot in boecia / and come not therinne ¶ Netheles he escaped not pansanias swerde in the hilt of that swerde was engrauen a chariot ¶Pol libro sexto capitulo sexto ¶While philip ordeyned [Page] his hooste he forbade al men al maner cariage that gooth vpon wheles and commaunded euery ten foote men bere aboute with hem stones and ropes. In somer tyme he made men bere meele & flour and quernes on hir neck for thyrtty dayes ¶ Trogus li­bro primo

¶ Capitulum 27

THe grete Alysaunder whan his fader was dede· bygan to regne after his fader in macedonia in his xx. yere of age & regned but xij yere and sex monethes / He was gretter than his fader both in vyces and in vertues / Netheles his fader was the wyser man of counseylle / but the sonne was the gretter man of herte ¶ The fader wold ofte kepe secrete and ouercome his owne wrath· the sonne vsed not to seche loue nowther the maner of wreche / eyther loued wel wine and were both good deynkers The fader wold slee but his enemyes and the sonne wold slee both his enemyes and his frendes ¶ The fader wold be loued but the sonne had leuer be drad. they were of one byleue / the fa­der yaue him to skylful largenes of yeftes / and the sonne yaue him to lechery Vynceū libro quinto The yere of othus kynge of pers xv of philip kyng of macedoine xij and of nectanabus kyng of egypt xvij. othus occupyed egypte and put oute nec­tanabus· If this nectanabus drad werre and bataylle he wold not araye and gadre his hoost· neyther ordeyne gynnes of wer­re but he wold go secretely in to a pryuate place and take with him a basine of clere water and make shippes and men of wax to the lykenesse of a shippe in the see soo that it shold seme that all tho meoued and were alyue Also he wold take a yerde of fyrre holowe / within as a pype and he wold speke in the holow­nesse of that yerde and clepe goddes aboue and bynethe and soo he wold founde to drowne his ship of waxe in the basen / And soo it shold byfalle that by drenchyng of the wax and of the ta­pres that were brennynge his enemyes sholde drenche in the see / He herde telle on a tyme that Indes perthes medes Arabes and other nacions also had conspyred to ryse ayenst him and he bra­ke on laughyng and went to doo his craft that he vsed / and he knew by that that he shold be ouercome but yf flyght might helpe him· Anone he bade shaue his heed. and toke alle the precious [Page] riches that he had and cam in to macedonia and sayd that he was a astronomer / and philip the kyng was thoo oute of countray / & occupyed in werre and nectanabus by his enchauntement and his fantastick feynyng gate suche loue of the Quene Olimpias. that he laye by hir in lykenesse of Iupiter horned and bygate the grete alysander / Than whan the quene. was with childe ma­ny foules flowe about philip that was tho occupyed in werre But amonge other fowles an henne leyde an egge in philippes lap and whan that egge was smyten of his lap to the grounde a dragon lepte oute of the shelle and crept all aboute and while he wold haue cropen in to the shelle that he came oute of. he dyed anone / Than Antiphon a noble dyuynoure was demaunded what that shold signefye & he answerd & sayde that philip shold haue a sone borne that shold goo about all the world but he shold dye er he came ayene For a dragon is a ryall beest and an egge hath the shap of the worldAfterward whan Olimpias was trauelyng of child were herde and seene erth quakynge lyght­nyng and thonder Quintus curcius Al t [...]at day sate twey egles vpon the coppe of the hows that boded & sygnefyed twey grete empyres of europa and asia Vyncen̄ The child is born and named Alysaundre with fayre heier and fayr eyen one yelo­we another black ¶ Ieronimus epistola 85 ¶ Alysaundre might not leue the maners and the vyces and the lechery of his mayster leonydes. in the whiche he was enfe [...]t while he was a childe and vsed hem whan he was lorde of theworld / ¶ And therfor his fader philip put away leonydes and made Aristotle to be Alysaundres mayster ¶ Seneca ¶Alysaunder put that leonydes afterward to lyons to be deuouted

¶Vincen̄ ¶ Whan Alysaunder was twellif yere old he hadde grete lykynge and ioye to be in hooste amonge men of Armes / and to lepe on hors and vsed hym self right knyghtly On a day whan Philip was absente. Alysaundre prayd Necta­nabus that he wold teche hym his crafte and he graunted / and whā they cam to geder to a depe water pytte· alysander threw the witche in the same pytte And whan he was dede wounded he ax­ed of Alysaundre why he dide soo ¶ Thy craft sayd Alysaunder is to blame for it warned not the this chaunge. there thou lyeste neuelyng and sholdest telle after these thynges o [...] heuen / and he answerd and sayde / ¶ No man maye flee his ow­ne desteny / ¶ Treuisa / ¶ Nectabanus sayde this [Page] sawe & was a wytche & therfor he is neuir the better̄ to be byleuid But it were a vyle shame / for a cristen man to byleue this fals sawe of a wytche. For from euery myshap that man is shape / in this world to falle yn / god may him saue yf it be his wylle Than it foloweth in the story nectanabus sayde I know well by this craft that myne owne sonne shold slee me / what sayde Aly­saunder art thou my fader & he told alysandre al thyng by ordre as it stode & dyed anon after / than alisander ordeyned hym a graue & told his moder of al this / that tyme philip toke gret thought who shold be his heyre and kyng after hym & had answer of appolyn delphicus that who that euer myght ryde his hors withoute falle or hurtynge sholde be his heyre and lord of the world / Alysander herde telle herof of philippes hors called Bucyfall right perillous and bytyng· and alwey kept in cloos and neyed as it were in the roryng of lyons. netheles alysaunder toke the hors by the mane & ledde hym out & lept on his bak & rode hym without hurting / Philip herde therof & worshipped alysandre as lord of the world / therfor alisander in his xvj yere faught in chariottes & had the vyctorye & wan the cyte mathona that his fa­der had loste / and whan he cam hoome ageyne he sawe messagers of pers in his fader hows chalenge trybute that they were wont to haue for land and for water / what seid alisaunder chalengith the kynge of pers / the Elementes that be commune to al men & beestes / than he bade darius leue of & cesse of vnskylful doing Gir in top· In an homely & special company & myrthe alisandre herd a swete harp and he kytte the strenges & sayde is is better to kytte strenges than hertes / he conceyued that by the swete melo­dye his herte shold be moor torned to likyng than to hardynesse. to ease than to cheualrye / to lechery than to vertu / to bestly liking than to manhode / netheles historyes saiē that antigonus brake the harp that alysander toke grete delyte to here. & saith it befalleth to thine age now to regne. be than ashamed to suffre womens liking to regne in a kynges body Tullius ¶While alysaunder gate fauoure of men by yeftes of moneye / his fader wroote to hym in this manere / What erroure hath broughte the in to that hope that thou troweste to haue hem true to the / that thou haste ouercome with money. he that receyueth is the wors and also moore redy to wayte after yeftes thereby he taketh heede to the as to a seruāt and a yeuer of yeftes and not as to a kyng

¶ Capitulum 28

THe xiiij kynge of pers darius Arsanius sonne / began to regne the second yere of alysander and regned six yere ¶Trogus libro 11 ¶ Than Alysaunder slough his stepdames sonne caranus and all his owne kynne that semed able to the kyngdome· for that no matier of stryf sholde leue in macedoyne whan he were oute of the land Than he alayde craftely many stryues that were bygonne and went in to corinth / he began to restore the werre in pers that his fader had bygonne He made subget the lacedomones and the athenens that were rebell by coū ­seylle of· demostenes Than the Attenens with the flemes the­bans yaue them self to darius kyng of pers He deled his hery­tage amonge his frendes and byleued that Asia were allone ynowe for him· And therfor he bade the knyghtes spare the thin­ges of Asia / he lefte the duller men to kepe his kyngdome / ma­cedonya and had with him the sharpest wytted men ¶Olde mē of sixty yere that had trauaylled with his fader. he made them maystres / and leders of his hooste / for they put hope in brayne and not in feet and trust in the vyctory and not in the flyght In Alysaundres hoost were / xxxiij M fote men and fyue thou­sand horsmen Therfor it was doute whether it was more won­der that alysaunder myght wynne the world with so lytel strēgthe / owther that he durste auntre him with soo lytel strengthe ¶Petrus 196 ¶Than Alysaunder passed the see Elespontus / and ouercome darius dukes and leders that were assembled a­yenst him vpon the granicus ¶Than he passed forth thurgh li­dia thurgh y [...]onia. thurgh pamp [...]ilia and toke the cyte Sardes / that is sette bytwene the twey Frygyes Trogus libro vndeci­mo ¶Alysaunder herde of the comyng of darius and drad the streytnesse of places and went vp to the hille mount taurus & leyde on fyfty furlonges and had the maystrie and came to tharses full of swote and of pouder or dust and threw him self in to a water that spryngeth there / than his Senewes beganne to shrynke soo that he shold haue dyed anone but he had taken a dryncke of philip a Phisicien Netheles darius had bifore yeuen to philip a grete somme of money for to slee alysaunder and Alisaundre had lettres therof and was warned that he shold in noo wyse take drynke ne medycyne of philips hand / ¶ Netheles Alisaundre toke trustly a dryncke of Philippes hande / But he [Page] toke him first the same lettres to rede. after four dayes alysander was hole and darius passed the Ryuer Eufrates at mount tau­rus with iiij C·M / fote men & an honderd thousand horsmen & set forth the forward and sheltron There was strong fyghtynge & eyther kyng was wounded / darius fled fast away four score / M fotemen and ten thousand horsmen of his were slayne and xxx thousand were taken. his castels and walled townes were beten to ground. darius moder and his wyf and his twey sistres were taken but her lyf was saued and they be to new maryage taken Than alysaunder bigan to lyue lecherously and loued barsines that was taken and gate on hir hercules. Than he desired to be kyng of the eest. and went in to Siria ¶Petrus 146 Than one Saraballa made a subgestion to kyng alisaundre that the Iewes wold be the lasse rebell yf theyr power were deled a two & by leue of the kyng they bylde a tēple in the hill mōt gazarim that dured to the destruction that was done by the Ro­maynes and ordeined abysshop ther in manasses that had wedded his doughter and was Iadus the bisshops broder ¶ Tro­gus libro 11. Whyle alisander was in siria many kynges of the est cam ayenst hym & lordes with crownes and dyademes somme of hem· he toke to his cōpany & som he bename her kingdōs & put newe in her stede & put down many gētilmē & put vngētilmē in her stede. amōg the which he put of gētilmē & made an vngētilmā lord of the sidonies that lord was wont bifore to worche for hem & laue vp wat of pyttes & wat orchardes & gardens so he did for men shold take hede and truste to be anaunsed by ther noble dedes & not by her grete blood· Trogꝰ li / 18· That tyme alisāder filled the diches and toke the cyte tirus & heng in croyses all that dwellyd there out take stracons blode. Trogus li / 81· Sōtyme were many chorles in that cyte tirus & conspyred to geder & slough her lordes that were vyctours long tyme and all her fre men & oc­cupyed her howses and wedded her wyues / and bygate free childer though hym self were bonde ¶ Netheles one chorle of soo many thousand hidde his lord called stracon and sauede hym goodly / Than the chorles come to geder to ch [...]se hem a kyng and were assented that whiche of hem myght first espye the sonne risyng on the morow he shold be her kyng. this goode chorle warned his lord strakō of this doing & strakō coūseylled the chorle that whan they were al comyn at nyght in to the feld & loked Estward after the sonne he shold loke westward and soo he did [Page Cxlvj] and shewed him wonderly the lyghte of the sonne beames shynyng on the highest towres of the Cyte. but hem semede that that manere doynge come of no churles wytte and axede faste who was counseylour of that dede and he knowleched that it was his lord / than it was knowen how gretely witte of lordes passed wit of churles / than the old men and his childer had grace & stracō was chosen kyng / this man doyng of chorles comynly was vsed in euery lande vnto alysaunders tyme / He toke the cyte & slough all that was therinne except stracones blode / Iose li / 11 / Than alysandre wrote to Iadus prynce of preestes in Iherusalem that be shold ordeyne for hym vytaylle and trybute that he was wonte to pay to darius the kyng / Iadus warned and sayde nay / for he was sworn to darius to pay hym that trybute / therfor alysander was displesyd with the Iewes· Petrus li / 196·. Than alysander wente forth and toke the Cyte Gaza whan he hadde besieged it twey monethes and from thens he went toward Ierusalem And Iadus the Bisshop as he was taught in his slepe arayed him in bisshops arraye and wēt with other preestes ayenst kinge alysaunder & shewed him the prophecye of danyel· in the which prophecie it was sayde that one of the Grekes sholde destroye the power of the perses and that by goddes doynge and soo Iadus gate grace of the kyng and relesse of the trybute for seuen yere

Trogus libro 11· Than he wan roodes· and egypt as it were withoute bataylle / Than he wente to Iupiter ammon to wytte of hym reede & coūsayle of happes that sholde bifalle & also of his owne byrthe / For his moder olimpias was beknowen to philip· that a grete serpent hadde geten alysaunder on hir & not Philippe therfor philip in the last tyme of his lyf tolde openly that Aly­sander was not his sonne and therfor he forsoke Olympyada and put hir away from him / ¶ Than Alysaunder desired to gete him lygnage and byrth of godheed and also to put of the sklander of his moder Than alysaunder gaue mede to the bisshops and warned hem what answer he wolde haue and wente in to Iupiters temple and was worshipped as he were goddes sonne ¶ And therfore he wexe the more prowde and vnesy and lost the vysage of thewes that he hadde lerned in lettres of grue Than he torned in to egypt / and there bylde the cyte allexandria. and passed forth and warred vpon the Cyte of Samarita­nes and wanne it and yaue it to Macedoyns to dwelle in ¶ For the Samarytes hadde slayne one Andromachus. that [Page] Alysaunder he lefte to kepe the countray / Augꝰ de ci dei li 4 ca 4 Pol li 3 That tyme Alisaunder axed of one dyonydes a theef of the see that was taken· why he robbed the see and he answerd and sayde stydfastly for the same skyl that thou robbest alle the world wyde / but for I doo with a lytel ship therfor I am cal­led a theef & for thou doost it with a grete nauy thou art cleped an emperour towchyng the cause therof / is noo difference bytwe­ne vs· but vnfortune & vnhap oute take that he is werste that stelith moost / were alysaundre taken al one. he shold be cleped a theef. and yf the peple were redy to dyonydes commaundemente than dyonydes were an Emperour ¶ The lawes that I flee thou impugnest and withsayst hem / lytel fortune / pouerte and scarsite of ryches maketh me a theef. Grete pryde and couetyse that may not be fulfylled maketh the a theef· On caas yf my fortune and Ryches were withdrawe I sholde be better than I am now And thou the more fortune and ryches that thou hast / the wors thou shalt be / Alysaundre wondred of his stydfastnesse· & sayde I shal essay yf thou wolt be the better / yf thy fortune be chaunged / soo that after this thou shalt wyte it thyne own maners and not fortune what thou trespassist and doost amysse Iustinus li·6 / Whan siria was ouercome. alysaunder and darius cam efte to geders in batayll for to fighte / darius sente lettres to alysaunder in this maner / darius kyng of kynges & cosyn of goddes sendith to his seruaūt alysander chargyng & commādyng the that thou retorne to my seruaūtis thy forfaders that yet lyest in thy moders lap I hote that thou lerne mānes offyce & til thou come therto. I sende to the a scourge a ball & a purs with gold· the scourge bitokeneth the to take hede to thy lore the bal acordeth to the playeng of thyne age & the money maye releue the in thy wey & but thou be obeyssaūt to my cōmādemētes & hestes & do as I cōmāde / & charge I shal sende men that shal scourge the & binde ye & bring the boūden byfore my lordship & mageste / these saynges made the lordes that were with alysander sore abasshed & aferde Than alysander answerd hem & said why be ye abasshed of thes wordes that haue more of brag & of boost than of trust & of truth It is the maner of the feblest houndes to berke moost & euer the lasse might they haue they berke the faster Than alysander wrote to darius in this maner alysander kyng of kynges and lord of lordes and cosyn of goddes sendith greting to darius Thou hast sēte me a scourge a ball & money of gold therbi I knoulech [Page Cxlvij] that thou hast couenablye gran̄ted me all thyng / for it behoueth that I vse a scourge among my subgettis / the roundenesse of the balle signefieth that I shal be lord and emperour of al the wy­de world / the gold that thou hast sente me behoteth me lordship of al thy rychesse and tresour the grete boost that thou makest of rychesse maketh vs to haue the gretter wylle to werre ayenst the /

Trogus libro vndecimo ¶ Atte last darius was ouercome & fledde in to babylone and prayd Alysaunder by lettres that he myght raunson his men that were taken prisoners But aly­saunder chalenged not only money but all the hool kyngdome / Efte darius proferd Alysaunder his doughter / and a grete par [...]e of his kyngdome with her / But alysaunder charged him to deliu to hym his owne· and commanded darius to come mekely and receyue as the vyctor wyl ordeyne· Than darius had none hope of peas and cam ayenst alysaunder with / iij.C.M. fote men & an C / M. horsmen· Netheles it was told him by the way that his wyf was deed in trauayll of child in Alysaundres warde· & that a­lysaunder had buryed hir with gre [...]e worship. Netheles alysan­der did it not for loue / but for māhode of hym self / therfor dariꝰ wrote to him the thyrd tyme thākyng hym that he was curtoys to al his and dyde hem no despyte ne enuye· & proferd hym the more part of his kyngdom vnto the Ryuer eufrates & his doughter with xxx / M talentes for the other dele of his men that we­re taken prysoners· Alysaunder answerd thankyng of enemyes is but vanyte / It nedeth not said he flater among reses of werre than he promysed hym araye his sheltron / owther yelde hym & his / namely while that land may not suffre twey kinges that be lyke grete Than Alysaunder went priuely in to darius tentes / and mette happely with darius and sayde. I am Alysaunders messager and I telle thes tydynges I hold hym no kynge. that hyeth hym slowly in to bataylle. whether thou be Alysaun­der sayd Darius that spekest soo boldly / Nay sayd Alysaunder but I am his messager ¶ Than Darius brought him· in to soper where Alysaunder of euery vessell that was profered hym to drynke he drank of the wyne & put the vessel in his bosom Whan dariꝰ was warned herof by his seruauntes / he was wroth & reproued alysander as a theef / this maner said alysander is v­sed in alysandris court. and therfor I wende it be soo vsed [...]re And soo the kyng was apayed and the noyse cessed ¶ But one that was atte feste knewe Alysaunder & therof Alysaunder [Page] was soone war and fledde anone and slough a child of perse that helde his hors atte yate and passed the Ryuer and came to his men Darius folowed Alysaunder but alysander charged that none of his men sholde passe the Ryuer / and that his men shold yeue wey and lette the perses passe Trogus libro vndecimo Ther was strong fyghtyng and atte last darius gan to fle and Alysaunders knyghtes pursued and toke grete prayes ful thyrtty dayes Than that ryche cyte persipolis that was the chief cyte of pers was taken but darius fledde with many soore woū des and his owne cosyns put him in boundes of gold / but atte last darius dyed and alisaunder buryed him with grete solempnyte and worship ¶Trogus libro 1 [...] ¶The meane tyme messa­gers came with lettres oute of macedonia and tolde that Anti­pater the wardayn and kepar of the countray had ouercome ca­cides kyng of spartania that is lacedomonia and also alysaun­der kynge of epyres that is tracia but Antipater also was fow­le born downe ¶Also Zephiron Alysaunders stuard with xxx thousand faught ayenst the shytes and were al destroyed· whan Alysaunder hadde herd these tydynges. he made thre dayes greet moone and sorowe. than his knyghtes trowed that he wold retorne to his owne countray / Netheles alysaunder comforted his knyghtes to trauaylle and wynne straunge londes of the eest / & sayd that he sought not darius body / but his kyngdome and his londe ¶Sone after he wanne the mardes and the hircanes Also talestris the quene of Amazones with thre honderd wo­men mette with Alysaunder and came xxxv iourneyes amonge right cruel men for to haue childer by kynge Alysaunder. The sight and the comyng of hir was wōderful to al maner mē and specially for the message that she brought was wonderful & not vsed Than she lyued there xiij dayes / in flesshly lykynge and went hir waye ¶R Netheles Alysaunders storye tellyth that Alysaunder axed trybute of the quene of Amazones and she wrote to hym in this maner ¶Of thy wytte is wonder that thou woldest fyght with women / For yf it happe that fortune fauour vs and thou be ouercome than thou art shamed for euer more and yf thou ouercome vs thou getest but lytel worship of vyctory of women ¶Trogus libro 12

¶ Capitulum 29

AFter this Alysaunder toke the clothyng and the dyademe of the kynge of pers as thaugh he wold passe in to the ma­ner and vsage of macedonia ¶And for it shold not seme that all one he trespassed in that doyng· he. bade his frendes also vse longe clothes of gold / Also he deled the tymes and stempnes of the nyghtes amonge companye of strompettes and put to noble mete & drynk lest fastyng destroyed lechery he highted his meels with dyuers playes and hadde no mynde that grete Rychesse is lost by suche maner doyng and not gete ne wonne. Therfore men began to haue indygnacion of hym for he forsoke the vsage and the maners of his forfaders / He lette knyghtes wedde women that were taken prysonners / for they shold take and suffre more easily the trauaylle of chiualrye and thynke the lasse of theyr owne countrey / he helde that macedonia shold be strenger / yf yong knightes come after old faders and vsed dedes of knyghtes with in the boundes of theyr owne byrth / And shold be the more stal worth afterward yf they pyght her tentes as it were in her ow­ne cradels / Also Alysaunder ordeyned fedyng for childre· hers· and armour for the yonglynges hire & wages for the faders / & yf the faders dyed the sonnes shold receyue the wages of the faders and so her childhode shold be as it were knyghthode & cheualrye / than whan the partyes were chased Alysaunder waye cruel amonge his owne men and hated moost yf ony of his men with saide him of ony maner dede· There he slough one permenion an old man that was next the kyng and permenyons sonne phil [...] ­ta also / for they tolde hym that he ouertourned and destroyed the maners and the vsages of the countray and of his fornfaders Than Alysaunder drad lest tydynges of that dede shold come in to macedonia. he made it as he wold sende somme of his frendes in to macedonia to. telle there tydynges of the vyctoryes and of the grete dedes that he had doo and bade that men shold wryte lettres al that wold tydynges sende and made the messagers brynge him the lettres pryuately for he wold knowe al mennes wylle that wold lettres sende owther for he wold rewarde hem that were true owther sende hem that were fals in to ferre londes Pol· Alysander was ofte dronken and than he was cruel amōg his meyny / And soo it happed on a tyme that he yaue dome a­yenst one the grettest of his palays that his heed shold of / And [Page] he appeled anone right· ¶ But for me vsed to appele from the lasse to the more. the tyraunt that was wyne dronke torned in to more wodenesse and sayde from whome and to whom appellyst thou / I appelle sayd he from Alysaunder the dronke to alysaunder the sober / By that answer Alysaunder abated his wrath & put of the sentence and dome / and fully foryaue hym the trespas ¶ Trogus Than he subdued the peple that dwellyd atte fote of the hille cancasus and bylde the cyte Alexandria vpon the ryuer thanays ¶R Here take hede that Alysaunder buyld xij· cytees euery of hem callyd Allexandria in dyuers kyngdomes and landes / ¶Atte Ryuer thanays Pontus Shiciā mesagetes Egypt Troada at Tigris and at Staurus. and made wryte in the walles of the cytees in lettres of grue Alisander Iupiters cosyn ¶ Trogus libro duodecimo ¶ The men that be closed with in the watres that be callyd Palludes meotydes sente a letter to Alisander in this maner· Yf goddes wolde that the hauyng of thy body were euen to the coueitese of thy sowle the world myght not receyue the· whether thou knowe not that trees that growe long tyme be roted vp in a litel while / than take hede and bewar that thou falle not with the tre while thou takest to the the bowes Ofte the lion is mete to smale beestes and to fowles and rust destroyed yren / there is no thyng so strong and stydfast that may not be brought in to peryll and that by a feble thyng and wele litel worth / ¶ What cyleth the at vs / we cam neuer in thy lond we may serue no man and we kepe not to regne ¶ And thou hast ioye to pursue theues and thou art euery nacions thef What nede hastow to ryches that maketh the the more nedy to desire moore riches To the vyctory is cause of bataylle / no man suffreth gladly an alien lord / And yf thou art god thou sholdest yeue men benefyce and yeftes and take fro no man his owne If thou be a man thynke what thou art / thou myght haue frendes of hem that thou hast not greued / and them that thou hast ouercome thou myght haue hem euer in suspect. bitwene a bonde man and his lord is no maner frendship though they be in peas / One day at a fest amonge Alisandres trusty frendes was speche of the dedes of philip the kyngis fader Ther Alysaun­dre began to booste and make him self more worthy than his fa­der and a grete dele that were atte feste helde vp Alisandres oy­le But olitus an old man and wyse trust in the kynges frend­ship and praysed the fader and anone Alisandre slough hym [Page Cxlix] for that grete preysyng but afterward whan the kynges wo­denesse was cessed he bithought hym of the persone / that was slayne of the cause of his deth and of the fest tyme and made soo grete sorowe that he desired to dye. the teeres brake oute of his eyen and he wept ful soore Than he biclypped the dede corps and gropeth the woundes and drewe oute the shafte and profe­reth to stycke him self therwith ¶For this olitus sister was ali­sandres norse / this sorowe dured four dayes and one calystenes alisaundres scole fere vnder aristotle alayed this sorow vnneth with grete besynesse ¶Trogus libro duodecimo ¶But not long afterward for this calystenes the Philosopher wold not vse the maner and the araye of pers Alysaunder bare hym on hande that he was a fals espye and heete smyte of his lymmes and threwe the stoke of the body in to a pyt and an hand with hym· But one lysimachus a gentilman and a noble made him dryn­ke venym for remedye of his sorowe ¶ Than Alysaunder was wroth for that dede and put this lysimachus to a lyon to be eten but he wrapped a cloth aboute his hande and put in to the lyons mouth / whan the lyon resed and rased of the tong and slough the lyon. Alysaunder sawe that and loued him the more afterward ¶Solinus ¶After this Alisander cam to the hilles of caspy there the childer of boundage of the ten lygnages of Israel were closed and prayd for lycence to Alisander to goo oute of that closyng / And whan Alysaunder had vnderstande that they were closed there for her synne / and that it was prophecied of hem that they shold not goo thens / Alisaunder closed them· faster & stopped her oute goyng with stones and glue and he sawe that mannes wytte was not suffisaunt to doo that dede and prayde god of Israel that he wold fulfylle that werk. and dede than the coppes of the hilles wente and closed to geder / and soo the place was closed that noman myght come therto ¶R But they shal go oute atte worldes ende and slee many men so sayth Iosephus After this Alisander aboute the tenth yere of his kyngdom wēt to Inde and keuered the armour of his knyghtes with siluer and wēt vp in to the noble cyte nysa / thens he ledde his hooste toward the holy hille where men heele ther preuy harnays with yuy leues· there with a sodayn doyng of the hill his hoost was moeued to crye to god almyghty with holy cryes· ¶ Than he went to the hilles called montes dedaly that be in the kyngdome of the quene cleofilis· and for she myghte not withstande hym [Page] with Armour in fyghtyng / she lette the kyng lye by hir and she raunsomed the kyngdome / The sonne that she had by alisander was named alysaunder and was Emperour of Inde after his moder / ¶But the quene was cleped the kynges harlatte while she was a lyue / than Alysaunder cam to a stone of a wonder sharpnesse· moche peple were fledde theder for socoure / At that stone hercules was forboden forther passage for he shold passe noo ferther But Alysaunder wold passe hercules dedes and gate that place with grete trauaylle and perille and made the peple yelde them to his mageste ¶ After that Alysaunder faught with porrus kyng of Inde / he slough Alisaunders hors that hete bucyfall / Netheles porrus was wounded al aboute and take prysonner And Alysaunder restored hym ayene to his kyngdom Netheles this porrus was so sory that he was ouercome that he wold not ete ne suffre men hele his woundes

¶ Capitulum 30

WHan Alysaunder had goone aboute the last clyff of occeā he arayed him to werre in the Ilond Bragmans / They sente him suche a letter Kynge we haue herd of thy bataylles / & of thy vyctoryes / but what shal suffice the whō all the world suffiseth not. rychesse we haue none for the whiche me shuld werre on vs. Al our good is comune to vs all / Mete is our ryches / Vyle clothyng and sckars we haue in stede of gold and grete araye Our women be not arrayed for to plese For grete aray is acompted charge amonge vs and not highnesse and fayrenesse Our women desire no more fayrenesse than they haue of kynde ¶ Our drye dyches and dennes standeth vs in double stede / in stede of oure herberowe while we lyue and in stede of oure graues whan we be dede· ¶ Yf we haue somtyme a kynge / It is not for to doo right· but for honeste of kynde / We haue among vs neyther domes ne plee· for we do not thing that nedeth redresse by plee owther by dome· we desire no more than reson of kynde axeth· we holde nedefull that we knowe is mesurable and not to moche / Euenesse of pouert maketh vs all ryche· our peple hath one lawe and dooth nothynge ayenst the lawe of kynde we vse no trauayll that slhod make vs couetous we shone and forsake [Page CL] fowle sleuthe and lechery we doo no thynge that nedith punys­shyng / It is vnlawfull to vs to wounde the hilles with culture and with share. we vse no gloteny ne outrage of mete and dryn­ke and therfore we be not seke / we dwelle in drye dyches heuen fyndeth vs keueryng & erth fyndeth vs bedding We be no werriours we make pees with good liuyng and not with strength Also noo fader foloweth thoffyce of his sonnes deth

¶ Committatur exequias

¶ We seche no playes & Iapes for it is right lyking to vs to behold the firmament and the sterres of heuen / we be men of simple speche· It it commune to vs all not to lye / god of al is our god for he hath lykyng in wordes and in beedes by a maner lykenesse of loue / He is a worde spyryte and thought and is not plesid with wordly Rychesse but with hooly werkes and thankynges of his grace Rn̄o allexandri If it be as thou sayst dindimꝰ bragmans allone be acompted in the nombre and tale of man­kynde they be withoute vyces and ryches. they acompte wronge­full all the dedes that we doo· they acompte greuous the benefy­ce that god hath graunted to the help of mankynde. helpe and seruice of craftes they acompte synfull and atte laste they destroye the lawes of lyuyng. than eyther they sey / that they be goddes· or that they han enuye to god and bi cause therof they blame the fayrest of creatures Respōsio dindimi ¶ We be not at home in this world but from home as gestes / we come not to dwelle here but to wende hens. we be not alayde with charge of synnes / but withoute suche maner charges / We drawe nyghe oure owne hows and hye faste homeward / we say not that we be goddes we haue none enuye to god / But we sey that we wol not mysuse goodnesse of god almyghty. We say not that al thynge is seme­ly that is lawful / god hath putte the vse of thynges in mānes fredome than he that leueth the wors and foloweth the better / is not god but he is made goddes frende· ¶ Whan the swellynge of welth hath bolned vp pryde than ye forgete that ye be men and seyn that god rekketh not of mākynde / ye bylde temples to youre self in the whiche ye sheden blode Therfore I calle yow. woode for ye wytte not what ye doo and yf ye despyse god wyttyngly than ye holden in the synne sacrylege Epistola Allexandri Thou callest thy self a man of welthe for thou dwellest ther noo [Page] man may come to the / ye prayse the lyuynge and doing of youre scarsete but by the same skylle they be in welthe that be in perpe­tuel prysonne. for they haue noo vse of ryches. but they be with oute ryches right as ye be· lawe of kynde dooth to you as prison doth to hem That ye tille neyther gardyns ne feldes that ma­keth defawte of yre that kynd voucheth not sauf to yeue you / that yet lyue by rootes / soo ye muste nedes for ye maye not sayle in to other londes to gete you other lyuelode ¶ Somtyme beestes ly­ued by rootes right as ye doo therfor it is good to lyue in good rule and in plente and not in strayte skarste and meschyef Elles blyndenesse and pouerte shold be noble vertues allone Blyndenesse for he seeth not what he coueyteth / and pouerte for he hath not what he desireth That your women ben not lykyng­ly arayed I graunt for ye haue neyther connyng ne wher wyth That ye haue no grete flesshely lykynge it is no wonder for that maketh your grete nede and meschyef and fowle sight and na­kednesse / that ye haue no lawes and domes men and studye in no l [...]ttrure and axen neyther grauntmercy / therinne ye acorde with fysshes and vnskylful beestes / Mannes sowle in dyuers time for dyuers happes of causes is able to dyuers maner of doyng / dyuers manere of sowles torne and chaūge with the chaū gynge of heuen and be wyttede in a cl [...]er day and dull wytted and heuy whan the day is dym and clowdy / Also the reason of wyttes as it maye be in many maner wyse soo it is chaungeable and not only by dyuersyte of other thynges but also by dyuersite of ages ¶ Therfor childhode is myld and yong men be wyl­de and old men be soft and wexen feble Also al the wyttes ben plesed with thynges that longe to her owne felyng ¶Treuisa / Ye may knowe how the wyttes han lykyng in thynges that longeth to her owne felynge yf ye take hede how the sighte hath ly­kyng in fayr hew and colour the heryng in swete voys and sowne / the nose in swete odour & smelles / the mouth in swete tast & sauour / the gropyng in hote and cold drye and wete nessh and hard but nesshe is knowen by many wyttes / for it is knowen both by gropyng and by sight. ¶Than it foloweth in thystorye The elementes yeueth vs matier of wyttes and of all that we fele. the stature of the body of mankynde is made of the elementes medled [...]o geder. for euery shold make good for his owne partye and yeue vs special help and subsydye by his owne dispensacion. than yf thou wolt not vse the benefyce / that we haue [Page CLj] by thelementes the whiche benefyces ben seedes. fysshes and fow­les and many other Thou shalt be accused of pryde / for thou forsakest yeftes / eyther for enuye for they be yeuen of hym that is better than thou Responsio dindimi / ¶ Ye moeue werres and bataylles and werre outward ayenst men· for ye haue not ouercomen your enemyes within / but we bragmans had ouer­come the ynner bataylles of our owne membrys and reste sikerly and haue no bataylles outward / We beholden the firmamente and the sterres of heuen and her foules song we be heled and fedde with leues and fruyte of trees· we drynke water and sing songes in worship of god / and take hede and thynke of the lyf that is comyng We be apayed with fewe wordes and be sone stylle and hold our pees / Ye say what shold be doo but ye doo it not Your wytte and wysedome is in your lyppes. ye be hongry and thyrsty after gold· you nedeth hows and seruauntes. ye coueyte reuerence and worship / water quencheth our kinde thirst ¶Gold heeleth not your woundes nowther withdraweth / ne refreyneth your couetise but maketh it moore ¶ Therfor it is openly kno­wen that the thyrste and hongre of gold / cometh of kyndely nede. whan it were ones had it wold somtyme quenche suche honger and thyrst One calamus fledde from vs to you· we despysed hym and ye worship hym ¶Than Alysaunder sente one Onesi­critus to dindimus that lay in a wode vpon leues of trees with these wordes Alysaunder the grete god Iupiters sonne and lord of the worlde chargith and commaundeth that withoute delaye thou come to hym and if thou comest he wold yeue the many grete yeftes and if thou come not / thou shalt thi hede and thy lyf for goo ¶Dindimus lay styll and answerd him in this maner Sothfaste god yeueth men lyght and doth no man wrong / He auoydeth manslaughter / and arereth no stryf ne werre ¶ But Alysander shal dye than he is no god. ¶ What he promyseth to me is not nedeful to me· Me nedeth noo suche thynges· I goo frely wheder me lyketh· If Alysaunder smyte of my heede and slee me / he may not slee my sowle ¶ The gronyng of hem that suffren wronge is begynnynge of peyne and tourmentes of hem that doth the wrong Say than to Alysander that I drede not my deth / yf he wol ought of myne lette hym come to me Than Alysaunder lefte of all pompe and boste and cam to dyndimus fete· and dindimus to hym sayde. why distourbest thou our peas What desirest / we haue no thyng. & what we haue is not nedeful [Page] to the We worship god and loue men. we rek not of gold / we despyse deth / Ye loue gold and hate men and despyse god Than Alysaunder sayd teche thou me wytte and wysedom that thou hast receyued. of god as it is sayde ¶Than dyndimus an­swerd and seyde. thou haste not wheron to doo. suche a yefte / for thy sowle is ful of couetyse / than howe shal I suffyce to the. to whome all the world suffyseth not / god hath made the lytil / and though thou desire al the world / It nedeth the to haue atte last as lytel londe as thou seest me lye on owther thy self sitte on / If thou lerne this wysedome of me al thou shalt haue / though thou desire nought / for couetise is moder of pouert God is my frende / I haue heuen for my roof. the erthe in stede of my bed. the Ryuer fyndeth me drynke / and the wode is my mete borde· flesshe of beestys roteth not within my guttes / I am not buryels of de­de bodyes / I lyue as I am made / I knowe goddes pryuytees. for god wyl that I be pertener of his werkes / ¶Than whether seyst thou is more [...]ightful to mysbede men owther to defende hem and doo hem right to shede and to shyfte owther to kepe and to sa­ue. If thou slee me I goo to god and thou maist not escape his hand / ¶Than destroye thou not that god hath wrought and made ¶Than Alysaunder sayd thou comest of god and lyuest in a place of pees and reste· I liue in grete drede and effray / myne ou­ne wardeyns I drede I drede mote my frendes than myn ene­myes I may not leue hem ne trust to other ¶ A day I greue men and I am greued at nyght and drede ful soore yf I slee him that I drede than am I sory and full of woo ¶ And yf I be easy and softe than I am despysed. and yf I wold dwelle with the in valeys and in dennys I myght not endure· whan these ta­les were tolde. Alysaunder profered to dindymus gold syluer clothes breed and oyle ¶And dindimus sayde to hym may thou make the briddes that here singe the better for gold & siluer & yf thou maye not / why wolt thou make me wors than the briddes· and make me receyue thynge that maye not stande me in steede / but of a free man make me bonde but for I wold not greue the to swyth this oyle I wolle receyue And whan dindimus hadde sayd soo he threwe the oyle in a fyre of wode and sang an ymp­ne to god almyghty / And alysaunder sawe that and went his way

¶ Capitulum 31

AFter this Alysaundre aboute the enleuenth yere of his kyngdome passed by the est occean & the bisshop of the trees of the sonne and of the mone come ayenst him / the bysshop was clothed in wylde beestes skynnes and sayde that they shold entre in to the place yf they were clene and not pollute in lykyng by women but they sholde doo of her clothes & her aray / And for thylke trees were an honderd fote highe. Alysaunder sayde that it rone ofte in that place. nay sayd the preeste and sayde that the­re came neuer rayne ne byrd ne wylde beest / but the trees hadde wepte in the eclyps of the sonne and of the mone Petrus 197 Prestes toke of the apples of thes trees and lyued fyue honderd yere and whan the beame of the sonne touched the tree of the son̄e owther the beame of the mone the tree of the mone. than anone the tree wolde shake and yeue answer to hem that stode aboute Vincen̄· Alysander wold haue do sacrifice to the trees & the preest sayd It is not leful to sette encense a fyre in this place ne to slee bestes / than alysander felle downe and clypped and kysshed the stokkes of the trees and herd in the sonne rysynge of the tree of the sonne spekyng in the langage of Inde. And at euen in the mone rysinge· he herde of the tree of the moue spekyng in the lā gage of grece that one shold be lorde of alle the worlde aboute & that he shold neuer come home in to his owne countrey / and ther­for he coūseylled hym that he shold not come at babyloyn / For yf he cam there he shold be slayne there not with egge tole but with venym. the second yere after· Also he herde that his moder shold wrechedly dye and his sistres lyue longe tyme in grete welth Petrus 197· Alysander warned his mayster Aristotle of this doyng and of other wondres of Inde / ¶ R / Many storyes tellen that whan Alysaundres knyghtes wente aboute the pry­uy places of Inde / there was one that blamed gretely alysaundres couetyse / and sente hym a lytle stone with eyē by his knigh­tes & sayd that her lord withoute deute was lyke to that stone / in al maner poyntes / and whan that stone was brought me wō dred longe tyme in whiche syde of that stone that likenesse shold be Atte laste the stone was laid in a balaunce and it weyed vp al that myghte be layde ther agayns on that other side till they layde a ly [...]el clay ayenst the stone in the balance in the other [Page] side / and it weyed vp the stone lyghtly ynowe ¶ Eutropius That yere lucius papirius dictator of Rome that was so noble a wereiour was chosen amonge all the Romaynes to withston­de alysaunder and to putte hym of / yf he wold come in to ytaly [...] he ouercome the sampnytes so worshipfully that he beet so downe the cytees· soo that though me sought Sampnium in that place Sampnium it myght not be fonde Petrus 197 ¶Whan Aly­sander had wonne al the este londes and went toward his own contray / the messagers of the west landes of Affryca of spayne & of ytaly come in to Babyloyne / to yelde hem to his lordship and mageste / netheles he hoped therby to be kynge holly of alle the world and for grete lykynge and ioye he forgate the answer of the trees of the sonne and of the mone and went in to babyloyne to speke with these messagers Trogus libro duodecimo ¶Also the stewardes that he had made wardeynes & kepers of prouinces and of landes mette with hym there / and were greuously ac­cused of men of landes and of prouynces and hete hem hange hem there in the sight of the messagers that were comen oute of the west londes Alysaunder toke darius doughter to wyue and maryed noble maydens of the countrey to men of macedonia / he lefte old men and toke to hym yonglynges ¶Also he receyued his moders lettres of the fraude and treson of antiparte ste­ward of macedonia / he sawe that the kyng had slayne his men / and that he hym self was not rewarded for his grete trauaylles & drad ful soore lest hym shold wors byfalle and ordeyned his sone cassandrus to empoysen the kyng with venym. the strength and malyce of this venym was soo vyolent and tyngynge· that no bras ne yren ne noo maner metalle myght holde it but only the hoof of an hors fote myght holde it ¶ Than atte soper of Tessalus the phicicien amonge grete seruyce of meete and of dryn­ke Alysaunder was poysened and yaue a groone as though he had be stykked thurgh the body with a swerde and drad the handlyng of mānes hande as▪ soore as harde woūdes· & axed a toole to slee hym self in remedye of sorow / His frendes trowed that vnholsomme mete that he hadde eten at soper was cause of his se­kenesse ¶ Petrus 197 ¶ Than Alysaunder lost his speche and wrote his last wylle and wolde not make one man heyr of his hoole kyngdome for me shold rede after hym of noo man / that was his pere / But he made twelue yonge men that were his felawes of youthe / successours of his kyngdome / But that [Page CLiij] ordenaunce dured not longe. for four of hem regned and the other were forsake / soo it is comprehended in danyel Trogus li· 12 Whan that Alysandres frendes sawe that he shuld dye / they ax­ed of hym who sholde be his heyr and emperour after hym / the moost worthy sayd he / he was so stout and grete of herte though he had a sonne hercules and a broder arydeus and sawe also his wyf Roxones with childe· he forgate the ofsprynge and lygna­ge and ordeyned that the worthyest shold he his successour and emperoure· he sawe also that of this manere spekynge & doynge myght come grete stryf and enuye. whan he myght not speke be toke the ringe of his fynger and yaue it to one Perdyca in tokē yt he shold be his successour Alysander dyed the yere of his kingdome xij / and the yere of his age xxxiij / Strange men made soro­we for his deth as though he were her fader and they that were next hym made ioye as though her enemy were ouercome Darius moder ordeygned for his deth not for to put her enemye byfore hi [...] sonne but for she had founde with hym myldenesse as it were the myldenesse of hir sonne. Also his frendes prayd to Iupiter and had answer and ordeyned for to bury hym in egyp [...]e not in memphis but in the cite alexandria that he had bylde ¶ Pol libro quarto In grece was neuer man gretter than alisaunder netheles perdyca a tomblestres sonne was his successour and▪ not his owne sonne For it is a comyn sawe Sylde owther neuer emperours childer be the fadres heyres for they hadde her owne enemyes to be her heyres after hem or els heyres that they knewe not Trogus libro duodecimo Whan alysaunder was buryed Philosophres came to geder and sayd Alysaunder hath made tresour of gold but now is the contrary / Another sayd alle the world was to lytle for hym yisterday & now four ellues is ynow atte ful Another sayd yisterday he had the peple at his heestes and now the peple hath hym at her heste· Another sayd yisterday he had an hoost to day is the contrary for an hooste le­deth hym Another sayde that yisterday he bare a downe men & this day he is born downe vnder erth· Petrus 197· After the gre­te alysander in the four partyes of the world regned iiij kinges Philip arydeus alisandres broder regned in the west in macedo­nia in grece / Antigonus regned in the north of Asia and of pontus selenchus nichanor regned in the cest of Siria & of babyloyne and after nichanor antiochus sother kynges that regned aftir hym had the name of hym and were named antiochy & euery in [Page] the singler nombre were cleped Antyochus ¶ The kyngis that succeded hym were Antiochus theos Antiochus galerius Antiochus the grete· Antyochus Epyphanes / ¶ Also in the south of egypte regned tholomeus lagus sonne / of hym kyngis hadde that name and were cleped tholomei / the whiche kynges were philadelphus euergetes ¶ Philopator otherwyse called Eupator / Epiphanes Philometor Euergetes· Sother ¶ Iosephus libro 120

¶Capitulum 32

THolemeus lagus sonne regned after Alysaunder in egypt fourty yere and was cleped sauiour and had a surname Sother he putto Siria to his kyngdome & werred with the Ie­wes that were ydel in the holy day and toke prysonners of hem and sette hem to sale ¶ In his dayes dyed Iadus bisshop of Iewes After Iadus his sonne Onias was bisshop

After hym Symon the rightful After hym his broder Elea­zarus This tholomeus was soo stronge that he restored Pir­rus kyng of epurtes to his kyngdome ayene after that his ene­myes had put him oute of his kyngdome ¶ And he ouercome demetrius Antigonus sone & restored som of the kingdom to Salencus kyng of Siria / for the kyngdome was bynome Selen­cus byfore ¶ Agathocles vsed tyrannye in Syracusa / Of his wonderful begynnyng me redeth in Trogus bookes

Tholomeus toke Iherusalem by fraude and gyle and toke many Iewes prysonners and sold hem for couetyse ¶ Theophratus the philosophre had that name theophratus for his noble spekynge of god Almyghty ¶ This theofratus and menandis be in theyr floures ¶ Fro this yere the historye of ma [...]hebeis acompted the kyngdome of grece regnum grecorum ¶ About this tyme Selencus kynge of Siria bylde Antyochia Leodicia and selencia / ¶ The grete Symon Onias sonne is in his pro­speryte and is cleped rightful for his rightful byleue and wor­shipyng of god ¶ The tarentes dyd grete vyleny to the messagiers of Rome / therfor they toke with hem pirrus kyng of E­pyrotes with four score thousand fote men and vij M / horsmen and twenty olyfauntes ayenst the Romaynes but pirrus was [Page] ouercome in the thyrdde fyghtynge and torned home ayene to his owne countrey. ¶After this the tarentines and the cartagynenses to geder werred ayenst the Romaynes and reysed the bataylles that be cleped bella punica Eutropius Pirrus ouer­come the Romayns in the first batayll and occupyed ytaly vnto the cyte prenestes xviij myle fro Rome ¶ And sente hem the prisoners that were taken a lyue without raunsome and buryed al that were slayne ¶And whan he beheld them lye with gri­sely woundes and sterne terrible and cruel he heef vp his hand and sayde that he myghte be lorde of the world yf he had suche knyghtes ¶ Pirrus profered the fourth part of his kyngdom that he hadde geten / to one fabricius messagyer of Rome to holde with hym and be on his syde ¶ And fabricius wold not assē te· Than pirrus sente one cin [...]a with grete yeftes in message to the Romaynes and desired pees with skylful condicion

Trogus decimo septimo But he foūde no mannes hows that wold receyue his yeftes but was put of / and the prysone [...]s that were sente agayne were sklaunderd for euermore for they were taken prysonners whyle they were armed Titus Cyneas came ayene and sayde to pirrus that he hadde sene the contreye of kynges· and sayde that nygh al that were there were such as pirrus was holden among his owne men Than in the seconde ba­taylle pirrus was ouercome and his olyfauntes were slayne & twenty thousand of his men· For as Isoder sayth the Romain [...] hadde ordeyned swyfte yonglynges sittynge by hynde horsmen· the whiche yonge men lept downe lyghtly in the fyghtyng and clawed and froted the Olyfauntes in the forheede with hors combes vnto the olyfauntes fylle downe and dyed right there ¶ Than pirrus was ouercome and went in to tarente and say­led thens in to grece there he was afterward slayne Valerius ¶Pirrus fabricius hadde castels nyghe to geders and Pirrus Phicicien came to fabricius and promysede hym / that be wolde take to hym his lorde yf he wolde yeue to hym a couenable mede

¶ Than this fabricius bounde this Phicicien and sente hym to his lorde and messagyers to warne hym of the treson and of the falseheede / than the kyng wondred and sayde. ¶ This is Fabricius that is harder to be tourned oute of honneste / than is the Sonne to be tourned oute of his cours ¶ Titus / ¶ Pirrus was praysed of the Tarentines to werre ayenste the Romaynes And he axede of Appolyn what ynde the bataylle [Page] shold haue / And Appolyn answerd hym Amphibolyce. that is / he that yaue him answer of double vnderstondyng ¶ It may befalle the pirrus to scomfit the romayns / Pirrus was cō ­fortid with. this answer & cam to eraclea the Cyte of Sampnia there the Romaynes the fyrst daye were a ferd of· the horrible gretenesse and shappe and smelle of Olyfauntes and fledde away for drede but in the second batayll pirrus was soore woū ­ded in his arme and went his wey thens In many places of ytaly blood sprang and ranne oute of welles and rayne of milke cam downe fro henen Selencus kyng of Siria toke many iewes in to the cytees of his kyngdom and graunted hem as grete worship as the grekes had Eleazarus Symons broder is bis­shop of Iewes The Romaynes buylde beneuent in Sāpmū / ¶ Gaufr / and Alfr ¶ Aboute this tyme Morindus the cruel sonne of dauius regned in brytayne his moder was called tan­gustela and was dauius concubine This morindus did many cruel dedes and was eten atte laste of a grete beest of the see· and lefte after hym fyue sonnes / the first was callyd gorbomanus he loued wel rightwysenesse and regned a while and dyed Than the second sonne archgallo regned cruelly and atte last by the peple was putte out. Than the thyrd sone Elydurus a mild man and softe was made kynge and after fyue yere of his kyngedome he hunted in a wode called calcum that nowe is cal­led Caltras besides Yorke. ¶ Gaufr ¶ Beside the Cyte Acliut he fonde his broder Archgallo maskyng that was putte oute of his kyngdome and kepte hym pryuely in his chambre and lay in his bed and feyned hym seke and sent for the lordes of the land and compellyd hem to restore his broder to the kyng­dom / than archgallo regned ten yere and dyed ¶ Than Elydurus was restored efte to the kyngdome / but his twey other bretheren vygenius and Peridurus werred with hym and prisonned hym in Trynouantum that is London̄ / and they twey regned by tymes eyther after other and dyed atte last ¶ Than Elydurus was take oute of prysonne and restored to the kyngedome the thyrdde tyme and lyued afterward in pees to his lyues ende / ¶ After hym two and thyrtty kynges reg­ned among the brytayns eueryche after other / among the which kyng bledgaret passed all his predecessours in musicke & in melodye· soo that he was called god of gle men After that hely regned fourty yere and lefte thre noble sonnes a lyue after him

lud cassibelanus and nemius Petrus capitulo 200

THolomeus philadelphus the second kyng of egypte regned eyght and thyrtty yere▪ me seyth that he ouercome his own fader and had in his hoost two honderd thousand fote men xx M horsmē two thousand charyottes & iiij C olyfantes / Petrus 200 This delyuerd the Iewes that were in egypte and lette them goo free six score thousande by tale & payed to her lordes for eu (er)y pol xx dragmes of siluer that is xxv s of oure money and sent the vessaile that were halowed by Iewes to eleazarus bisshop of Iewes ¶ Also by counsayle of demetrius that was warden of his bookes he sent messagers to eleazarus the bisshop prayeng that he wold sende hym wyse men of the Iewes that shold torne moyses lawe oute of hebrew in to grue Than Eleazarus sente vnto the kyng of euery lygnage vj men that draweth to thre score and twelue but the scripture vsith ofte time to speke not of the litel nombre yf it be odde ouer the grete / thes be called the seuenti that torned holy scripture oute of hebrewe in to grue & enformed tholomeus the kynge of the knowleche of one god and of the go­uernaunce of the kyngdome and translated the lawe psalmes ad prophecyes ¶ In that translacion where they founde ought of the trynyte. they spake not therof owther they translated it in a redel wyse lest we wold wene that they spak of thre goddes ¶ Also in I saye aboute the incarnacion of criste. they founde six names of god and sette but one that is angelus magni con­silij an angel of grete counseylle leste me wold wene that they meaned that mankynde and manhede shold be the ky [...]de of god and godhede ¶ They fulfylled this werke in thre score dayes and ten but it semeth that seynt Augustyn de ciuitate dei libro decimo octauo capitulo 42 Vnderstandeth that these seuenty were departed euery by hym self in a selle and translated the lawe withoute discorde of wordes or sentence ¶ Ierom holdeth that they all were closed in one hows owther that they came to geder the saterday / and examyned and correcte her werke of s [...]x dayes ¶ Augustinus de ciuitute dei libro decimo octa­uo capitulo quadragesimo secundo ¶ Seuenty olde men of alle the lygnages of Israel euery by hym self at Alexan­dria in Egyp [...]e tourned. holy wrytte oute of hebrewe in to Grue and discorded not in wordes in sentence nowther in settynge of [Page] wordes / And though ther were other in the tyme of the newe testament that torned holy wrytte oute of hebrew in to grue that were aquila symachus theodocion and the fyfth translacion· the auctor therof is vnknowen thes seuenty be sette byfore al other / In our tyme one Ieronimus a preeste a wyse man and connyng in thre langages translated holy scripture out of hebrewe in to latin· Iewes say that his translacion is truest / ¶ Netheles holy chirche demeth noman to be putte byfore the auctoryte of so many men Somme men wolde amende the translacion of the seuenty by bookes of hebrew / but they dar not withdrawe what the seuē ­ty hadden more than the hebrues / but there they made strykes lyke as vnces be wrytton. And be also cleped oboly to shewe that ther is moore than is in the hebrewe bookes But what the hebrues had more than the seuenty they marked with markys that be called Astarisces / and be shapen as sterres as it were to highte the defante Ysid libro sexto ¶ Me seyth that this tholomeus had seuenty thousand bookes in his lybrary ¶ Petrus capitulo decimo quinto / Of dyuers translacions it is ynow to speke at ones· Byfore▪ thyncarnacion of our lord thre honderd yere and fourty and one the seuenty that tornyd holy wrytte out of hebrewe in to grue were in prosperyte / Also after the ascēcion of oure lorde six score yere and four in adrian the prynces tyme aquila made a translacion ¶ Than after thre and fyfty▪ yere in comodꝰ the prynces tyme theodocion was in his prosperyte / ¶Than af­ter thyrtty yere· in seuerus the prynces tyme symachus made his translacion / Than after eyght yere the fyfth translacion was founden at Ierusalem and is cleped the comune translacion for he that made it is vnknowen ¶Than after xviij yere in alysaū ­der the prynces tyme Origenes made a translacion with signes that be cleped Astaryches and obelus and afterward he made another translacion with siches / signes and markes. And alle thes translated oute of hebrew in to grue. Many translated oute of grue in to latyn / But atte laste Ierom translated oute of hebrue in to latyn and his translacion is holden nyghe in euery place oute take in the sauter Eutr ¶The Romaynes dyde the first batayll that is cleped bellum punicum & cartaginen̄sem the Ayens the affres that be men of Affryca Treuisa Men of affrica be cleped affri primi peni punici punices and cartaginenses Therfor the batayll that is ageynst hem is cleped bellum puni­cum and cartagmense also as it were the bataylle that is ayenst [Page CLvj] hem that be called punici punyces & cartaginenses· Than it foloweth in the story though the romayns had moued none armour withoute ytaly byfore that tyme / Netheles for to knowe certainly the somme and nombre of romayns they payde a certayn and were acounted and y founde two honderd thousand four score thousand twelue thousand thre honderd and four and thyrtty· the batayll cessed neuer sith· the cite was first bylde / And soo the ro­maynes fyue yere continuely and Sicillia ayenest Iheron kyng of Sicilia and ayenest the affers were vyctours and hadde the maystrye Than the Romaynes yaue the first batayll in affryca Her leder was marcus regulus consul of Rome / And fyrste they toke theyr shippes and drenched hem ether chaced hem and her shippes And atte laste they toke thre dukes of Affryca and beet doun the hooste and toke many olyfauntes and sente xxvij thousand prysoners to Rome amonge these dedes atte Ryuer bragada they slow a grete serpent and sent the skyn therof to Rome for a grete wonder. for that skyn was syx score fote long Than the cartagynenses men of affryca were ouercome and axed pees And marcus regulus wolde graūte none pees / But vpon wel harde condicions / than the Affers gate with hem zansippus king of lacedomonia and ouercome marcus regulus with all his hoost atte last meschief So that only tweyne of the romayns escapede and fledde ¶Thirtty thousand were dede slayne Marcus regulus and fyue honderd prysonners were holden longe in bondes Afterward the Romayns ouercome the Affers in werre in see and in londe soo that they slewe of theyr enemyes two honderd thousand and six score olyfauntes and ten were y take and the cartagynenses affers sente marcus regulus to Rome and prayde that they wold chaunge prysonners ¶ Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro primo Netheles an oth was y swore that yf they axe­de sholde nought be doo / Regulus sholde torne ayene to cartage he wente forth and dide awey his wyf from his bedde as though [...]e were no Romayn and in the counseyll of Senatours y gadred to geder / he counseylled the contrary of his owne message· And he sayde that it was not prouffitable· to the comonte of Rome to chaunge soo many noble prysoners for suche an olde man as he was. the Romayns dide by his counsayle ¶ Netheles he was not compellyd to goo ayene but the Romaynes counseylled him specially for to abyde at Rome· But by cause he sware at cartage to come ayene yf he myghte not haue Auctoryte of an honneste [Page] bourges of the cyte of Rome after that he was prisonner he chese for to goo agayne and went ayene there the Affres closed hym in a strayte tree that was ful of pykes within forth of sharpe nayles and pared of the lyddes of his eyen and made hym stand soo ther and wake to his lyues ende Petrus 168 ¶ Tholo­meus faught ayenst Antyochus theos kyng of siria / but after­ward they were confedered to gyder for Antyochus wedded beronica tholomeus doughter and forsoke his rather wyf laodyces But atte laste laodyces hadde grace of hir husbond and came to hym agayne and punysshed hym and his sonne that he had begeten on beronica and made hir owne sonne Antyochus kyng of Siria ¶ A peny of siluer is first shapen in rome /

¶ Capitulum 33

THolomeus euergetes philadelphius broder was the thyrd kyng of egypt & regned xxvj yere This in wreche of his sister beronica for hir husbonde and hir sonne were slayn with venym destroyed siria silicia and a party of asia and greued antyochus galerychus. But whan he herde that the prynces of egypt had conspyred ayenst hym in his absence / he torned agayne in to egypt and lad with hym grete good and two thousand and sex· honderd mawmettes ¶ Antiochus galerychus left twey sonnes after hym Selenchus and the grete antyochus but atte last se­lenchus was slayne and his broder antiochus regned in Siria six and thyrtty yere and faught afterward with philopater king of egypte & fledde & was wel nygh taken Ennius the poete is born at tarent· Cato the questor brought hym to Rome Tre­uisa ¶ Questor is he that gadred trybute to Rome and the do­mesman was somtyme cleped questor. Also the wardeyns of the tresour were cleped questores But now churles and pardo­ners be cleped questores Than it foloweth in the history Ennu [...]s the pocte dwellyd in the hille auentinus with lytel coste and was content with the seruice of a wenche ¶ That tyme a bonde man. lay by a mayde of the temple of the goddes vesta / & the mayde slough hir self for sorowe ¶Eutropius libro secundo / Aboute this tyme fourty thousand galles passed the / hilles Al­pes and were slayne of Romayns ¶These galles had a leder [Page CLvij] callyd Brytom [...]r [...]s and they made theyr auowe and swar that they wold neuer doo of theyr gurdels of knyghthode till they come in to the capitoyl of Rome and soo it befell for whan they were ouercome enulus the consul putte them to deth in the capy­toyle That yere the grete Antyochus bygan to regne in Siria ¶ Tholomeus eupator other wyse callyd philopator Euergetes sonne regned in egypte seuenten yere / In his tyme were the dedes doo that be redde of the fyrst machabeis Trogus libro 30 This tholomeus for his euyl lyuynge was called Philopator· for he lefte of the dedes of knyghthode & yaue hym to sleuth to lecherye to childrens nicete to man slaughter & to slee his peeres He spende the nyghte in hoerdome and the day in festes Atte laste he slough erudyces that was his sister and his wyf and yaue hym al to strompettes and to harlattes ¶ Therfor the grete Antiochus was wroth and wold han wonne Egypte nadde he be lette by an hoost that was huyred oute of grece ¶ Atte last this tholomeus was deed and lefte a child of· fyue yere of▪ age to kepe the kyngdome that he had bygoten on erudyces Than his strompettis were hanged euerychone Eutropius libro tercio That yere began the second bataylle called bellum punicum and dured seuenten yere ¶ In that batayll the Romayns were more ouercome than vyctors and had more harme. than they were quytte. for hanybal auul caris sonne a child of nyne yere olde had sworn to his owne fader atte auters of goddes that he wold yeue the Romayns a bataylle as sone as he myght / Than hanybal in his twenty yere of age and eyght monethes be sieged saguntin the fayrest cyte of spayne and moost frende to the Romaines The Romayne sente a messager to hanybal prayenge that he wolde leue the siege bycause of couenaunte that was bytwene bem rather This prayer was despysed and the messager went forth in to Affryca to playne of the couenaunte broken but they sawe that it was for nought and torned hoome ayene to Rome ¶Than in the meene. tyme saguntin was des­troyed in this maner / Saguntin was gretely a greued by the siege and by the grete honger and one of hanybals knyghtes that was frende to the cyte wente to the cyte and counseylled the men of the cyte to yelde it vp with al the gold and siluer & other ryches that was therinne and they shold escape them self a lyue but they aduysed hem and toke counseylle and made a grete fire and threw therinne al the gold and siluer and hem self atte last [Page] Whan the cyte was destroyed hanybal lefte his broder astrubal in spayne / and he hym self with an honderd thousand fotemen & ten thousande horsmen and fourty olyfauntes passed the hilles Alpes in spryngyng tyme there no man had passed byfore and went in to ytaly ¶ The mene tyme cornelius Scipio consul of Rome werred in spayne ¶ Orocius ¶ Than Hanybal passed the hilles pyrenes and made hym a weye with yren amonge the cruel peple of galles and he cam the xix daye from the hilles pi­renes to Alpes there he was harde sette four dayes with Galles· but he made him weye with yren and with fyre / Netheles in the highest hille Appenuinus hanybal was closed twey dayes with snow· there he loste many men olyfauntes and other beestis ¶ Treuisa Pirenus is an highe hille of spayne and many hy­ghe hilles in that side be cleped montes pireni Alpes be hyghe hilles in the side of ytaly therforth hanybal went to Rome and hanybal heete penitus also therfore alpes be cleped appenuini as though it were penitus hilles Eutropius ¶ Tho wonderfull meruaylles feered the Romaynes· for amonge the Alpes it se­med that the sonne faught with the mone ¶Among the capenes it semed that twey mones were risen among the falistes it semed that heuen was clouen ¶Than whan they herd the comyng of hanybal cornelius scipio was sente forth to spayne. & hanybal mette with hym and ouercome hym first at ticinum and beet dewne the hooste of Rome And he ouercome hym efte atte Riuer crema Atte thyrdde tyme he scomfyt Sempronus with his hooste that come oute of Scicilia / Atte fourthe tyme he slough flameus / the consul and fyue and twenty thousand of his hooste and toke six thousand prysonners Titus There was soo harde fyghtynge that the fyghtynge men wyst not of the erthe shakyng that was while they faught and threwe downe cytees and claf hilles ¶Eutropius libro tercio ¶Atte fyfth tyme fabius maximu [...] was sent ayenst hanybal and pyght his pauilons in the hyest hilles and pryuate place of wodes and scorned hanybals strength and wayted his tyme and ouercome hym· ¶ The syxth tyme the consuls of Rome lucius emilus paulus and publius teren­cius and varro were sent ayenst hanibal But fabius maxi­mus warned hem that hanybal was soo froward and so cru­el in fyghtyng yt they shold neuer ou (er)come hym but by taryeng of the bataylle and of the fyghtyng· theywere feruent and dide ayenst coūseyl. and were ouercome at canna a streyte of apulea [Page CLviij] there the wynde and the grauel that was a reered with the winde halpe wel hanybal there were slayne xl / M / knightes of romayns and fyue thousand of peeres of consuls and of Senatours were deed owther I take It is no doubte tho had be the last daye of the state of Rome yf hanybal couth as wele haue vsed the vyctorye as he couth wynne it in fyghtynge· R· Hadde he gone anone after the vyctorye for to take the cyte ¶Titus There was soo grete slaughter / of Romayns· that hanybal bad his men spare the Romaynes· ¶ Eutropius Varro the consul torned to Rome with fyfty horsmen and no moo / ¶ The Sena­tours preysed hem wel for he had nought disparagyde the com­mente of Rome he shaued neuer his berde nor his heede he ete neuer lyggyng he wold haue no worship til he sawe· wreche on hanybal Tho it was neuer seen byfore bonde men and mē of werre made free· theues and mansleers and prysonners were made knyghtes Orocius ¶Also poletarij that were ordeyned to gete childer were than made knyghtes who that sawe than the cheualrye of Rome myght be wele soore ashamed. for than the knygh­tes ne the Senatours were not wyse ne couth not other craft / ¶Eutropius ¶And hanybal profered hem her prysoners to raū som The Romaynes answerd and sayd that the bourges that myght be taken armed were not nedeful to the cyte Therfor hanybal slough somme of the prysonners and sold somme in to dy­uers londes· and sente thre busshel of gold rynges that were ta­ken of the handes of the knyghtes of Rome in to cartage in tokē of the vyctorye Titus ¶Than the comons of Rome were soo born down and soo bare / that they spoylled the temples of bras & of yren to make hem armoure therof ¶For the armours that were offred in temples and halowed to her goddes as they vsed to doo after theyr vyctories than they were taken ayene oute of the templis soo grete nede and meschyef that they were yn / Also hem lakked shipmen to gouerne her shipes and theyr tre­sour suffysed not for wages of werrours. therfor the consuls and the Senatours bade that euery man shold [...]ryng his riches in to the tresory ¶Therfor bygan grete stryf bytwene the comō te and the Senatours But one of the consuls alayed the strif in this maner and sayd as the grete passith the comons in wor­ship and in dygnyte soo they shold passe theym in coste and be­ryng of charge in helpe of the cyte And soo they ordeyned that euery in his degre shold offre all his gold in to the comyn tresorye [Page] out take one ring for hym self and another for his wyf. And he sholde offre a camprenol of golde for his sonne / and for euery doughter an vnce and the grettest shold begynne first and soo it was done Than ther was so moche money brought and offred that the wardeyns myght not wryte the names of hem that brought money and gold / nowther brynge in to the tresorye al that was brought Orocius libro quarto In the tyme of the meschyef Rome was a sette with so many myshappes / that the Senatours toke hem to reede for to flee oute of ytalye and gete hem other places for do dwelle in. Than dyuynes that axed counseyl of Appolyn answerd the Romaynes and sayde· that ther shold be saued yf they myght gete that god that highte nu­men matris pessimite· therfor messagiers were sente in to Frigia / for to fetche the goddesse that hight sibyle and the messagyer by the wey axed counseyl of Appolyn / And Appolyn counseyled hym for to gete helpe of Attalus kyng of the lasse Asia / for to gete this ymage Also appolyn counseyled hym. that whan the ymage comme to Rome it sholde firste be brought to the beste mannes hows of the cyte ¶ Whan alle this was y doo one Scipio nasica was y chose as the best man of Rome· and mette with the ymage with a grete multitude of wyues the ymage hight numen matris pessimite and sibyle also that is to vnderstande moder of all goddesses / And she hight bretnicia that is moder hilles And she hight holy frygya / For she was worshipped specially in a wode of frigia whiche woode is callid Idea / R· Ouidius de fastis seyth that of this happe it come vp amonge the Romayns / that euery yere the fourth day of aueril they helde a feste of the bathynge of goddesse lretnicia ¶ For whan her ymage was brought of Frigia hit was wasche in the Ryuer al [...]a there. that water falleth in to tiber ¶Than it was ydo with fowle songes & gestes of Iapes and ny [...]e mynstraley / & euery suche geste was cleped amens ¶Hanybal the tenth yere of his comyng moeued his hooste oute of campania anone to the Ryuer amens atte thyrd stone that is thre myle oute of Rome. and hanybal hym self with noble hors men and swyfte wente anone to the yate of Rome that hight porta collma ¶The consuls withdrewe not the fyghtynge but whan the sheltrous were ara­yed on eyther side· there felle so grete reyne medled with hayle stones that the hoostes were so y shent that vnnethe they mighte holde theyr wepen· And fyghte in theyr tentes. ¶And whan it [Page CLix] clered and was fayre weder they wente ofte in to the felde and ofte fell a wel grete tempeste that efte compellyd them for to fle Eutropius· the mene tyme tweyn that were sent to spaine either hight Scipio ouercome astrubal· there the hooste of Affryca lost fyue and thyrtty thousande Philip kyng of macedonia behighte hannybal helpe ayenst the Romaynes / the Ilond sardonia forsaketh the Romayns / Wherfor dukes & leders were sente in to iiij places in macedonia ayēst philip in to spaine aiēst astrubal sardonia ayenst the sardens and in to ytaly ayenst hanybal Therfor leninus consul of Rome maketh pees with Attalus kyng of asia And werrith in macedonia and ouercome philip the kynge and toke Scicilia and thre score cytees also and he beete downe six & twenty cytees and come to Rome with grete ioye and worship For drede of hym hanybal that was but four myle from Rome fledde in to campania Also that yere in spayne eyther Scipio that had be vyctor long tyme was slayne of astrubal his broder but the hooste left al hoole and sounde Therfor the other Sci­pions sonne that hight publius cornelius Scipio the noblest mā wel nygh of al the Romayn is sent in to spayne in the xxiiij yere of his age ¶Whome the Senatours and the Romaynes had take to rede to forsake ytaly for drede. this Scipio drewe out his swerde and forbede theym and sayde not soo hardy and behighte that he wold defende the cyte and countray ¶ Than Scipio went forth and toke cartage in spayne / therinne was grete plente of money and grete araye for men of Armes ¶ Than he yelde vp the pledges of spayne to theyr frendes and sente mago hany­bals broder prysonner to Rome and a wel fayr maide was pry­soner amonge other and he as a myld fader delyuerd and to­ke hirto his owne spouse to weddyng and foryaue hir her raunsomme. for her dower: ¶For the whiche doynge by assente of the spouse of this mayde wel nygh al spayne torned to Scipio The mene tyme fabius maximus wanne tarente and slewe cartagylo in Ytaly and sold fyue and twenty thousand prysonners Than Hanybal triste not that spayne myght lenger beholden ayenst Scipio / he sente for his broder astrubal. that he shold come to hym oute of spayne with all that he hadde But the consuls of Rome sette enbuschementes for him and he defended him nobely But they slewe hym atte last and eyght and fyfty thousand of his hoost were deed and fyue thousand y take four and fourty thousand bourgeys of rome were y foūde & clypped to geders [Page] Also Astrubals hede was throwen byfore his broder yate

Whan hanybal sawe that he made grete sorow and fledde in to brucia / and the grete Scipio was sent after oute of spayne Iosephus libro duodecimo

¶ Capitulum 34

THolomeus epyphanes the fyfth kynge of egypte. eupaters sonne regned four and twenty yere ¶ Trogus libro ter­cio ¶ And for he began to regne whan he was fyue yere old· Messares of Allexandria prayde the Romaynes that they wold take the warde of the childe and defende the kyngdome of egypte For philip kyng of macedonia and antyochus kynge of Siria / had cast. as it were by couenaunt to dele the kyngdome of egipte bytwene them tweyn ¶ The Romayns were glad of that message / and anone sente messagers to the same kinges chargyng that they shold holde theym oute of egypte Iosephus libro duode­cimo Thanne ptholomeus wext a strong yonglynge and sent one scopa a duke of his in to Siria and made Siria subgette to hym· But not longe after antyochus ouercome scopa and was better frende to the Iewes Eutropius libro tercio ¶ After this the grete Antyochus bycome ptholomeus frende and wedded his doughter cleopatra to wyf and graunted her in stede of dower / siria Inde and fenicia Therfor eyther kynge had of the Iewes But onias the rightfull symons sonne was bisshop and warnid the trybute and counseyled that none shold be payed as it were f [...]r loue of the lawe ¶ / Netheles it was more for couetyse for he wold not goo speke with the kynge· But his sisters sonne Iosephus went to ptholomeus the kynge and had grace of the kyng and foryeuenesse of the trybute of the seuen yeres and not only that but he was made leder of his kyngdome and treso­rer of trybutes to his lyues ende two and twenty yere ¶Iose­phus libro duodecimo capitulo quarto ¶This Iosephus wold essaye the wytte of his yonger sonne hilcanus that was twelue xere old and had gete hym on his broders doughter And by­toke hym thre honderd yokes of oxen for to ere & sowe in wyl­dernesse from home two Iourneyes and more and hidde the rey­nes that the oxen shold be [...]yed by ¶ Whan he come to the place ther he sholde crye / the plowmen ra [...]e that somme of hem shold wente hoome to the fader and fetche the reynes / the childe sayde nay· but lete s [...]e somme of the oxen and lete greythe the flesshe [Page CLxj] to plowmen mete and to kytte reynes of the skynnes to teye with other oxen. The fader wondred therof & sente hym in his own stede to worship the feste of kynge ptholomeus / for he hadde a yong sonne newely y bore the / fader profered to his sonne hircanus grete ryches for his coste by the weye. and for yeftes to yeue the kynges sonne / the childe seyde nay· and saide that he coude lyue soberly and that lesse coste wolde doo his nede· But sende lettres sayd the child to arion procuratour of Allexandria / and pra­ye hym that he lene me as moche as me byhoueth / the fader hoped that ten talentes were ynough for to worshipe the kynge with his sone / and prayd aryon in his lettres that he wold take the talentes to his sonne· ¶ Hircanus cam with the lettres to Aryon [...] And Aryon asked how moche him behoued / A thousand talen­tes sayd he / But Aryon wolde graunte but ten· And hircanus cast hym in boundes And Aryons wyf wente anone and com­playned to the kynge / And the kynge axed of hircanus why he dyde soo / ¶For suche seruauntes sayd he shal be punysshyd that can not knowe· ne make difference bytwene the smal and the grete ¶ Aryon herde that the kynge alowed hircanus answer and his dede· and delyuerd to hym a thousand talentes

And anone he bought of marchauntes an honderd chyldren lettred and an honderd maydens / eueryche for a talente / Whan the day of the feste was come / hircanus by cause he was yonge. was sette last of the wyse men And the bare bones that other men lefte were in skorne sette to fore hircanus ¶ One Try­phon a Iaper sawe this and sayde openly to fore the kynge. Loo lord kynge howe this childe hath eten the flessh of soo many bo­nes / soo his fader that is thy receyuer and tresorer in Siria spoylle [...]h the moneye of the men of Siria / ¶ The kynge loughe and axed of the childe why he had soo many bones to fore hym

¶Skylfully lord kynge sayd the childe / For houndes eten the boones with the flesshe as thy ghestes done this daye / But men that ben norysshed and taught spare the boones / as ye see that I spare ¶On the morne hircanus axed of euerych of the kyn­ges frendes. what and howe moche eche of them wolde yeue the kynges sonne ¶And he that wolde yeue mooste answerde and sayde scarcely ten talentes / ¶ Thenne hircanus feynede hym soory [...] as thoughe he myghte yeue but fyue / But whanne the daye of the Natyuyte· was come / ¶ Hircanus the childe gaue to the Kynge an honderde children. ¶ And eueryche of [Page] hem bare a talent in his honde and yaue to the quene an honderd mayde children & eche with a talent in hond ¶ Than euery man preysed hym wel Therfore the kynge dide hym grete worship and made. hym ryche and sente him to his fader with lettres of commendacōn and of preysynge. Netheles his fader was wrothe for the grete yeftes that he had yeuen ¶ Also his elder brether had gre [...]e enuye at hym for the grete worship that he had so f [...]r­forth that they werred ayenst hym and tweyne of hem were dede in fyghtyng· Treuisa / Take hede that a talent is a grete weighte of gold or of syluer or of other metal But ther be thre maner talentes / the lest weyeth fy [...]ty pounde the myddel two and seuenty pounde and th [...] moost six score pounde. ¶ Than it foloweth in the historye / Hircanus passed flome Iordan and gadred there the kynges trybute of straunge nacions many yere to gyder and he bylded there a wonder tour Oute therof he pursued ofte the Arabyes men of Arabia alle the tyme that Selencus regned in Siria / Whan Selencus was dede hircanus drad the cruelte of Antyochus epyphanes and slowe him self with his owne hand Aboute the firste yere of this tholomeus the grete Sapio whiche had nobly y born hym and don many grete dedes in spayne. was made consul and sente in to Affryca And he made to him subgett ammorus duc of thaffres & syphaces kynge of numydya / whan that was herd wel nyghe al ytaly forsoke hanybal. hanybal the xvij yere of his comyng in to ytaly was boden by men of cartage to retorne home· And soo he retorned oute of ytaly soore weping And whan hanybal was comē / he destroyid the pees that thaffres had made with Scipio· the condicion of the pees was suche / that thaffres shold haue but thyrtty shippes / & they sholde y [...]ue fyue honderd thousand pound of siluer / pondo is a pounde· they sholde also sende home alle the prysoners and banysshed men that they had taken. Hanybal had sente thre spyes for to espye Scipions tentes ¶ These spyes were taken and ladde aboute the tentes· and made wel at [...]ase with mete and drynk. & thēne Scipio sent them home agayn / thenne was harde fyghtynge bytwene these two dukes-but Scipio had the vyctorye· And Hanybal was nygh taken / pees was graunted to men of cartage And Scipio tourned agayne to Rome / And was after that callyd Affry­canus In this maner the second batayll punicum ended in his tyme· That yere plantus deyed at Rome he grande atte querne with a bakar for hyre for hongre and scarsete of corne / And [Page CLxij] whanne he myght haue whyle he wrote fables and sayd them Whan the second bataylle punicum was don than come the ba­tell macedonicum that was ayenst philip the kynge Titus quin­cius ouercome him and ladde twey kynges sonnes of macedonia & of lacedomonia plegges before his charyot & lad home to the romains that hanybal had take and sold in grecia & lete shaue her heedes in token of shauyng away of the boundage / the romaines werrid ayenst the grete antyochus kyng of siria for he destroyed the kyngdoms that were nyghe aboute hym And also for he held with hym hanybal that was wente oute of affryca· Eut / li / 4 Antyochus saw that hanybal spake ofte with the messagers of rome & had him suspect & forsoke to haue hym in his counseyll And yf he cleped him otherwhiles to conseyll that was by cause he shold not wene that he was suspecte & forsake and not for to do his coūseyl / but hanybal counseylled alway for to warre aiēst the romayns & not for to abyde & sayd that the romaynes might not be ou (er)come but in their own contray. out of their own cōtrey quoth he they may not be ouercome but at home they ben brutel and lyghtly ouercome· It nedith more to wrastle wysely ayenste them that ben ouercome and speke not· than ayenst them that openly withstondith· But though̄ his counseyll was oft good & spedeful / it was not alowed for the kyng had hym suspect & also for makyng of bagbyters that wold not that he were alowed of the kyng. therfor the kyngis hoost was ouercome bothe in the see and in londe. than Antyochus the kyng forthought that he dydde not by hanybals coūseyl and made hanybal pryuy of his coūseil Eutropius libro quarto ¶For philip kynge of macedonia halpe the romaynes ayenst Antyochus and his sonne demetrius that was prysoner and plegge was sente hoome ayene Scipio nasica the grete Scipio that hight Affrycanus / his nenew ouercome hanybal in batayll both in the see and in the londe / there he hadde a surname and was cleped Asiagenus of asia that was ouerco­me. than antyochus the kyng yaue his yonger sonne antyochus epyphanes to the Romaynes pledge for euermore for his elder sone Selencus & hadde pees vpon couenaunte / that he sholde leue Europa and the lasse Asia and holde hym within the hille moūt Taurus ¶ And also he sholde bytake hanybal to the Romayns For he eggyde and counseylde to werre ayenst Rome·

¶ Therfore Hanybal dradde and tournede to Prusia kyn­ge of Bythynya ¶ Trogus / [Page] libro trisesimo secundo The mene tyme whan Emnenes attalus the kyngis broder of Siria shold ouercome prusia / than hanybal helped prusia by a newe sleght of batayll / for he had diuers ma­ner addres and serpentes closed in erthen stenes and threwe hem in to the shippes of her enemyes in the myddel of the batayll thā the enemyes were aferd and withdrewe hem anone ¶ The romaynes herde herof and sent messagers and made the kynge at one and axed for to haue hanybal in to theyr owne hande / but hanybal lykked venym of his owne rynge and dyed at ny­chomedia / It is certayne of him that he sate neuer to soper with­oute bataylles· He was amonge many wonder fayr maydens & lefte neuer his chastyte· he was neuer bytrayed by ymagynaciō of his owne men nouther of his enemyes ¶R Orocius libro 4 Sayth that the ylonde called Insula vulcani. the whiche ylond was neuer byfore seen sprange vp of the see at Scicilia that yere that hanybal dyed and yet is there alway vnto this day Pol libro sexto Of this hanybal it is redde that whan antiochus the kynge shewed him his hoost royally arayed with gold and with siluer and with other ryche aray and axed hym yf all that suffysed to the Romayns. I trow sayde hanybal it is ynowgh though the romayns be the most couetoꝰ mē on liue but he vnderstode easyly shortly & frowardly for he vnderstode of the praye and not of the strengthe of the hoost Plenius libro octauo capitulo octauo· Hanybal ofte whan he had the maystrye compellid prisonners of rome to fyghte vpon the grauel with stronge bees­tes and promysed one that he wold delyuer hym yf he threwe downe an olyfaunt / And whan the beest was cast / hanybal sente horsmen to slee the man anone right there ¶Pol libro primo Hanybal sayd that he was not worthy his lyf· that myghte be compellyd to fyghte with beestes / but me troweth sothly that hanybal slough the man for grete enuye for he wold not that a Romayne shold haue soo grete a name and worship of a greter dede than me hadde herd of byfore / ¶ Also for he wolde not diffame the beestes by the strength of whiche he hadde ofte a ferde his enemyes ¶ Eutropius libro quarto ¶ That yere: Sci­pio Affrycanus dyed at Auntern / that hadde be longe exyled oute of Rome / that was an vnkynde Cyte to him ¶ Valerius libro Whan Scipio was accused of money amonge the Senatours he answerd and sayde whan I wan al Affryca and made it subgette and vnder your power· I toke no thynge therof but [Page CLxiij] only the name Affrycanus. Also the rychesse of Affryca ma­de me not couetous neyther the rychesse of asia made my broder Scipio couetous / For eyther of vs was rycher of enuye than of money ¶Salustius This Scipio sawe ones a child gayly arayed and sayd I wonder not that he arayeth wel his childe for it helpith hym more than doth his swerde ¶Valerius Emila Scipions wyf was so goodly that though she wyst that hyr husband loued one of hir bonde women for she wold not diffame her lord conquerour of Affryca by women reese and anger And she absteyned hir soo from vengeaunce and wreche that she made hir bond woman fre and maryed hir right wele whan hir lorde was deede Pol ¶Scipio deyed and ordeyned suche a wrytyng on his tombe a [...]te cyte palustres Thou vnkynde contrey receyue thou not my bones ¶Augustinus de ci / de / li / 1 / Scipio na­sica byfore the thyrdde batayll punicum forbade the settynge. vp or enhauncyng of the theatre in the cyte of Rome that twey Iugges had arayed forto arere and Scipio sayd that it is grete enemye to werriours for to norysshe slouthe and lechery· and therfor he pleded soo strongly in the people that all the aray therof was sold and benches stoles formes and al maner subtylytees were done thens / and soo he brought in that men sholde stande and not si [...]te for to see playes and myrthes for to saue her own manheed That maner was vsed amonge the romayns .v.C.xlviij yere / R Auctours seyn that theatrum was a place shapē as half a cercle and in the myddel therof was a lytel hows that was called see na. in that hows poetes and gestours vp in a pulpyt / rehersed poisies gestes & songes / and without were mynystrals that coū trefayted the doynge and the dedes that they spake of in her gestes and songes with bendyng and wyndynge and settynge and styntynge of her ly [...]mes and her body ¶ Augustinus libro primo capitulo trisesimo primo Thes playes that were called ludi Scenici. were firste ordeyned by excytinge of the deuyl· for men shulde be exyted to suche dedes / whan they myghte here in the theatre that goddes had done suche maner dedes ¶Augusti­nus libro quarto capitulo 25 ¶ But in passyng of tyme· a chorle called Titus Latinus was warned by his dreame that he shold telle the Senatours that they sholde restore and renewe the playes that were callyd ludi Scenici / the playes of the teatre and for he was warned twyes and dyd nought therto he loste his owne sone

[Page] And for he was warned the thyrdde tyme and dyd noughte therto / he felle in a greuous sekenes till he warned the senatours than he was hoole wonder sodenly / Whan the wonder was seen / the Senatours spende foure suche moneye as they we [...] wonte in pleyes of the theatre as it were to make good for the churles trespas that was four sythes recheles for to warne the senatours as he was warned Petrus 204 The grete Selencus Sother the grete Antiochus sonne regned in Siria and in asia twelue yere for his fader was slayne in pers in the temple of god Na­neas and throwen oute gobet m [...]le traytorly by preestes that by­gyled hym in to the temple. and promysed him tresour that was hid vnder erthe

¶ Capitulum 35

THolomeus philometor regned in egypt xxxv yere Symon onyas sonne was preest of the temple & bisshop & bought the presthode of appolynus duc of fenicia / Selenchus herd therof and sente elyodorus for to vndoo that dede / And whan he was entred to spoylle the temple twey yonglynges aroos oute of a preuy place and slough him there It semeth that Iosephus meaneth that they were angels in lykenesse of men / netheles secundo machabeorum it is wryten that a dredeful horsman shewed him for [...]h and all to trade him / but he slough hym not ¶ Ioseph li 12 / Aboute that tyme Ihus siraks sonne wrote the book callyd ecclesiasticus and called it panerethon / the thyrdde yere of philo­metor one aristobus a Iewe and paripaticus that is of aristotles loore wrote to tholomeus a declaracion and exposicion of moyses bookes / Eutropius libro quārto That yere dyed philip kynge of macedonia / and his sone perseus was rebel aienst the romains But Emilius paulus Consul of Rome ouercome hym in wel stronge batay [...]le and slewe thyrtty thousande of Grekes / but he dyde him worship as though he were not ouercome For whan he wolde falle downe to his feete he wolde not suffre hym / but he sette hym beside him vpon his seete and rel [...]esed half the trybute that was wonte to be payed and promysed that the macedones sholde be free for it shold seme that the Romaynes warrydde for Ryghtwysenesse and not for moneye

Trogus libro trisesimo tercio· In this fightyng one mēninus catō the aduocates sone while he fought mightely fil doū of his hors & [Page CLxiiij] fawght on his feet & wold haue smiten a grete man & his swerd fel doune of his hond he defended him with his sheld and gadred his swerde amonge the swerdes of his enemyes in sight of bothe the hoostes. and had many woūdes and torned to his oune sidde other men toke ensample of his hardynesse and faught orpedly And the· hardynesse of him was cause of the vyctorye / Perseus was y take and than afterward macedonia fyll to the Romains from the first craneus anone to this perseus that londe had fyue and thyrtty kynges in eyght honderd yere and four and twen­ty Ysid libro sexto This emilius paulus brought firste boo­kes to Rome oute of grece. Afterward Iulius cezar chargith marcus varro with that doynge for to make him a lybrarye. And amonge cristen men pamphilius the martir gadred a lybrary of bokes of him Eusebius wryteth that he had a thyrtty M volumes of bokes in his lybrary Thā orygenes passyde all that were byfore hym. Ierom sayth that he radde six thousande volu­mes of orygenes bookes. But Austyn passyde the trauaylle of them alle / for vnnethe may a man rede all his bookes Antyochus epyphanes regned enleuen yere in siria and in asia· this is he that was pledge at Rome for his owne fader but he herde speke of his broder nycete & hoped for to be kynge of sciria & went pryuely from Rome / though somme men tellyth that he escaped by assente of the Senatours Fyrst he was godely the peple yaf him another name and callyd him Epyphanes that is worthy and noble and seemly aboue other ¶ He regned for his bro­der Selencus whan his broder was deed ¶ This yaue his sister in gyle to tholomeus to wyf / for he wolde by that reioyse Egypte whan he sawe his tyme / ¶ Thanne he wente in to Egypte vpon a tyme as though it were for to see his sister and his neuewes / ¶ But he made that tholomeus was slaine whi­le he sate at mete. But the egypcians put him awey for he shold not be kynge ouer hem / ¶ But he came ayene after two yere and besyeged Alexandr [...]a ¶ Trogus trisesimo quarto Lo. the messagyers of Rome were sente to delyuer Egypcians & mette with Antyochus wandryng on the see stronde and dyd her message in this manere The Senatours and the peple of Ro­me chargeth and commaundeth the / that thou goo awaye from theyr frendes the egypcians / ¶Than Antyochus axed respyte and day to yeue his answer Than marcus publius made with a yerde a cercle in the sande aboute Antyochus and sayde. The [Page] Senatours and the peple of Rome chargith and commaunde the / that thou neuer passe this cercle / er thou haue yeuen thyne answer / If the peple of Rome wol haue it soo sayd Antiochus Lo I goo R Than he torned in to the Iewry and did many euyl / tornes ¶Therfor the bisshop onias Symons sonne wēt in to egypte and gate frendship there of the kynge and buylde ther a temple at [...]leopoleos like to the temple of Iewes & sayd that in that dede he fulfylled Isayes prophecye that sayde the aulter of oure lord shalbe in egypte and mynde of hym shal be in the endes therof This temple dured soo two honderd yere & fyfty vnto vaspasianus tyme that destroyed that temple and the cyte also / ¶Than bisshop onyas dyed as it is sayde / and his twey bretheren Ihs and Iohan stryuen byfore Antiochus for the bisshopriche and for to please Antyochus they torned to the vsage and doyng of mysbyleued men / soo ferforth that they toke names of mysbyleued men and soo Iesus was callad Iason and Iohan was named menelaus by ensample of hem many of the Iewes brought in doynge and dedes and vsages of mysbyleuyd men and made in Ierusalem harlattes howses / & places for yonglyngys to vse theyr nicete yn / and lefte hem vncircumcided and cleped hem self Antyochenes ¶ Antyochus made iason bisshop and putte hym oute afterward and made menelaus bisshop that counseyled andronicus wt slee his brother Iason for he folowed the kyng in to Antiochia to make hym chaū ­ge his purpoos and soo it was done / ¶Therfor the kynge was wroth and slough Andronicus· ¶Petrus 206 That tyme that Antyochus sold Iason the bissopryche and prystehode. the fy­re of the sacryfyce acquenchid that had dured byfore vnder water lxx yere Antyochus toke Ierusalem by treson of the cytezeins and toke thens ten thousand cytezeyns and compellyd the Iewes to maumetrye and slough hem that wolde not / he offred swynes flessh and toke away the holy vessel· the mete bord and the stone with the lanternes and the temple clothes and sette Iupiter olimpicus ymage euen in the temple and forbade the sacryfyce of moyses lawe & in the tour of sion. he put men of macedonia that hated the Iewes in this antyochus tyme the seuen brether were slayne. and her owne moder ¶That tyme Mathatias preest in the cyte modyn by helpe of his fyue sonnes awreked the lawes of her forfaders / Iudas that was eleped machabeus for the pris and the maystrye he was capteyne amonge them and leder

[Page CLxv]¶ Petrus 207 ¶ Machatias taught the Iewes to fyght on the saturday for the lawe and the people shold not be loste / but he ruled the peple one yere and dyed afterward and made his sone Symon as it were fader and counseylour and Iudas machabe­us leder of the hoost Ennyus the poete dyed in the euyl arti­cularis and is buryed in Scipions tombe Iudas machabeus kept the lawes of forfaders full thre yere and he slough Appo­linus duc of Samaria and faught afterward with his swerde Antioohus went in to pers / for the trybute was vnpayed. and Iudas machabeus ouercome Antiochus leders lisia that norys­shed the yong antiochus and tholomeus gorgias and nycanor & clensed the temple and renewed it· there gras breres and busshes were growen and soo the thyrdde halowynge of the temple was done in Iudas tyme in the moneth of december that halowynge is named eucennia and dured afterward Petrus 211 ¶An­tiochus was shamely chaced out of pers and herde that his princes were ouercome in the Iewry and manaced the Iewes and anone he was taken with antar [...]us that is ache and sorowe of his bowels and felle doun of his chare and was hurte ful soore and wormes sprange oute of his bodye And the stenche of hym greued allthe hooste / than he bythought him and knowleched that hym was byfalle that sorowe / for he had defowled the tem­ple of Ierusalem / therfor he made his auowe that he wold be a Iewe and delyuerd the Iewes and make them peer to the men of athene / He sayd also that man sholde be subgette to god and not make hym self peer and euen to god and soo he dyed in the montaynes / Antyochus e [...]pater the forsayd antyochus epyphanes sonne regned after his fader and gadred ayenst the Iewes an honderd thousand fote men and twenty thousand horsmen and two and thyrtty Olyfauntes and shewed hem the Iuse of gra­pes and of beryes for to sharp hem to the batayl

¶ Petrus 213 ¶ Capitulum 36

DEmetrius sother selencus sone wēt out of the cyte of rome & occupyed the citees by the see side & bygā to regne & regned in asia· & in siria twelue yere For he come to Rome in childhode to [Page] accuse his vncle Antiochus epyphanes that had put hym out o [...] his kyngdome / Therfor whan he herd that this vncle was deede he went ayene and many receyued him for her lord / and kynge soo that the hoost of siria wold slee licia / and the yong antyochus that was aboute to reygne Alchimius made preest of arons ordre accused machabeus to this demetrius of many manere thyn­ges and dedes / therfor he was sente with bachides to destroye the Iewry but Iudas withstode hem soo that they spedde not / ther­fore alchimius torned ayene to the kynge Nychanor was sente of the kynge ayenste ¶Iudas and was slayne and his hede & his right hande were hanged toward Ierusalem / for he hadde prowdly spoken. And Iudas was connexed in frendship with the romayns and the couenaunt was wryten in tables of bras Iudas machabeus was slayne of bachides and alchimius and his broder ionathas roos in his stede & was leder of the Iewes nyneten yere / ¶ While alchimius bygan to destroye god­des hows and the werkes of prophetes / he was smyten with a palesye and dyed· Bachides torned efte to the kynge and than two yere the lande was in quiete and in pees. Alysaundre antiochus epyphanes sonne occupyed tholomayda and achon and confedred to him Ionathas and slough demetrius the kyng and regned nyne yere in Siria and in asia and wedded cleopatra tholomeus doughter / Demetrius· demetrius sonne that fledde in to creta to his moder kyn whan his fader was slayne he cam aye­ne and gadred him strengthe and occupyed the landes by the see side and tholomeus gaf him his doughter Cleopatra to wyf / the whiche he had byfore yeuen to alysander and soo tholomeus that traytrely occupyed Alysanders Cytees entred in to Antiochia and toke on hym twey dyademes of egypte and of asia Aly­sander was ouercome of hym and fledde in to arabia with his so­ne antiochus to his moders cosyns but the kyng of Arabia drad tholomeus strength and sente hym alysaundres hede / tholomeus dyed the thyrd day after that and demetrius regned ¶ Petrus 219 Ionathas was accused to demetrius that he had wonne the tour in Ierusalem but he sente grete yeftes to demetrius and gate grace of hym soo that he had renewed the pryncipate and the presthode / Thenne demetrius was assured that the londe shold be in pees in his owne honde. he lette his hoost go home euery mā to his owne place and heelde with hym a straunge hooste Ther­for the peple hadde indignacion of the kyng and Ionathas sente [Page CLxvj] the kyng thre thousand of chosen men that chacede the traytours Atte last one tryphon that was somtyme one of Alysaundres frendes in to arabia and brought thens the yong Antyochus alisanders sonne and crowned him kyng and faught ayenst demetrius and ouercome hym and chased hym and Antiochus made frendship with Ionathas and sent hym vessel purpre and laces of sylke. and made his broder Symon duk and leder· After that Ionathas renewed frendship with the Romayns and with the sparciates Eutropius libro quarto / ¶ The thyrdde batayll punicum aroos for whan the men of cartage hadde do away theyr shippes / and her armoure· hem for thought the dede and for hem laked bothe bras and yren they made hem armour of gold and of siluer and made hem twey dukes and leders eyther heet astrubal the yonge Scipio the grete Scipions neuewe ouercom [...] hem both and toke the cyte and destroyed it with fyre soo that it brēt six [...]ene dayes to geders soo that stones were bren [...]e to asshes and to powder. and soo cartage was destroyed aboute the seuen hon­derd yere after that it was first bylde· R / That is soth for to acoū ­te from kyng danidris tyme. So w [...]ll the maystre in storyes / but loke more herof in the first book capitulo de affryca ¶ Orocius libro quarto Than kynge Asdrubals wyf for manly sorowe & womanly wodenesse threwe her self and her twey sonnes in to the myddel of the fyre and soo the last lady of cartage had right suche a maner ende as dydo the fyrst lady had. ¶ Augustinus primo libro capitulo visesimo nono Whan the thyrd batayl pu­nycum was ended / Marcus cato counseylled that cartage shold be destroyed but scipio nasica counseylled the contrarye and wolde not assente / that it shold be destroyed that sikernesse sholde be enemy to the brutel wyttes of Romayns for as a wardeyn and keper is nedeful to a childe soo is drede nedeful to cytezeins and that was pr [...]ued by the same dede. for whan cartage was destro­yed / than fylle many myshappes cruel stryf and tresone thefte & robberye sleyng of cytezeyns and exylyng and moche other sorowe. soo that the Romaynes loste the honneste of vertues and of thewes and suffred more cruelnesse and sorowe of theyr owne neyghbours and cytezeyns than of strange enemyes / this knew wel scipio and wolde not assente that cartage shold be destroyed for he wold that the outrage sholde be chasede by drede

¶ Capitulum 37

THolomeus euergetes regned in Egypte nyne and twenty yere and the yonge Scipio was twyes made consul and ouercome the numantanes and made hem subget in a wel strong batayll in spayn / the Romaynes sayd that they escaped and had not the maystrye / than Scipio axed of a knyght that was cal­led tiresus why that cyte was somtyme so strong that it myghte not be ouercome and by what cause it was aftward ou (er)come & destroyed Petrus 22 Tryphon desired for to regne and caste for to slee antyochus but he drad Ionathas as hym that wolde defende Antyochus / therfor he begyled Ionathas and slew him traytorly and his twey sonnes also / And than afterward he slewe the yong antiochus and regned for him in Asia ¶ Symon aroos in stede of his broder Ionathas and made frendship with demetrius the kyng for wreth of tryphon / But demetrius passed to the medes for to gete helpe to warre ayenste tryphon But he was take and afterward slayne of one Arsaces kynge of pers· After hym his sonne Antyochus regned nyne yere in Siria. he made firste frendship with symon And than he pursued tryphon that flygh by the see side in to Antyochia / But at laste he brake couenaunt of frendship that was made bytw [...]ne hym and symon and made one cendebeus duc and leder in the see ¶ For he shold werre in the Iewry but he was put abak and ouercome Symon renewyd frendship with the sparciates that ben the lacedomones and sent the Romaynes a shelde of gold of a thousād mnas Treuisa Mua is a maner of other maner money and weyeth sixty cicles ¶Ciclus is a ful vnce among the hebrewes and amonge Grekes and Latyns· ¶ Cy­clus is a quarter of an vnce. So in holy bokes of hebrewe ciclus is y take for an vnce and in hethen menus bookes Ciclus is y take for a quarter of an vnce Than it foloweth in the storye Suche frendship was made bitwene the iewes and the romains that lucius consul of Rome wrote to kyngdoms of the est londes chargyng that they shold not greue the Iewes / Attalus kynge of asia made the peple of Rome cyres of his kyngdom ¶Petrus 2 [...]5 / That yere one tholomeus duc of Iheryco that had wedded Symons doughter was bede to the feste and slewe Symon and his twey sonnes But Iohan Symons sonne that ouercome the hircanes was cleped hircanus and herde herof and occupied [Page CLxvij] Ierusalem and pursuede tholomeus and besieged hym and for tho was the seuenth yere tholomeus hadde sette Iohannes moder with twey sonnes vpon the walles of the cyte and made hem blede byfore Iohannes eyen. Iohan left the cyte and the siege & went his wey Antiochus ponticus kyng of Siria besieged Ierusalem / therfor Iohan hircanus opened tweyne of the eighte tresor places that standith aboute dauithis sepulcre & toke thens thre thousand talentes and yaf Antiochus thre honderd talentes for to go away and of that other dele he made places of socours for poure men for to ceese soo the peple that grutchyde for the ope­nyng of the sepulcre / Iohan the bisshop ouercome the hircanes & was confedered to the Romaynes Orocius libro quinto ¶That tyme was soo grete multitude of grete flyes in Affryca ▪ that they ete and destroyede corne gras and ryndes of trees / and were adreynt atte last in the see of Affryca and afterward were y throwe grete heepis therof alond to the clyffes that stank so / foule and soo greuously that the smel therof slewe bothe beestes and fowles / At munidia were slayne four score thousand men / at cartage two honderd thousand men / and at cyte vtica were dede thyrtty thousand knyghtes of Rome that were lefte to kepe the contray Cartage in Affryca was bylde ayene by beste of the Senatours of Rome twelue yere after that it was destro­yed· and theder were brought burgeys of Rome ¶ Antiochus regned thre yere and in asia twelue yere / Iohan hircanus destroyed Samaria / but herodes bylde it afterward and cleped it Se­basten / A duke of the galles wente ayenst the Romaynes with an honderd thousand and four score thousand of men of Armes and was ouercome in the brygge of shippes that they had made ouer the water of rome Marcus terencius varro that was both philosophre / and poete and wryter of storyes is y bore at Rome ¶ Orocius libro quinto & augustinus libro tercio ¶ The hill mount ethna brent passynge that it was wonte to doo· soo that it sette the cyte of cathenens on fyre and vndede the lordes of shippes that come ther nyghe and brente the bowels of men that were ther nygh and choked hem with hote eyer / therfor the romains relesshed the cathenens her trybute for ten yere

Sequitul capitulum 38

[Page]THolomeus Sother the sonne of cleopatra regned in egipt seuenten yere Marcus tullius Cithero is born in the vulcene kynde Valerius He kepte beestes in his youth and ruled thempyre of Rome in his elde / ¶It is wonder that he despysed lettres / and was hym self a plentuous welle of lettres ¶ This was a noble speker in al maner tonges of wytte and of wyse­dom and chyef speker with tonge. he assoylled al doutes clerely· at wyll and clensed and enorned al Rethoryke Me axed him somtyme how he come to the fayr spekyng that he had / noble fa­cunde sayd he is a grete gifte of god almyghty· Who that knew how he shold haue fayr maner of spekyng He wrote all the ges­tes of Troye subtylly as it myghte be closed in a note sha [...]e Pol libro quinto capitulo sexto Cithero wold somtyme bye an hows in the palays and had no money and borowed of one scilla / but he was wryed er the bargayne was made· Than Cythero was moeued and denyed al that he had receyued and sayde that [...]e wolde bye none hows. And yf I bye an hows sayd he / I shal knowleche the sothe of that ye putte to me / and afterward whan he had bought the hows it was putt ayenst him / Ye be vnwyse seyde he yf ye knowe not that byers forsake yf they wole ought bye and make it as though they wold no thynge there of to haue the b [...]tter chepe and soo what he myght not denye / he turned it to bourde and to laughyng and not to blame and to trespasse· He hadde alway that maner doynge that as ofte as ony fowle dede was put ayenst hym that he myght not denye / he wold put it of with a mery answer ¶Ieronimus ad nepoc Me said somtyme of one to tullius in this maner / Demostenes by nam the that thou were not fyrste pleder and thou hast bynom hym that he is not pleder allone This tullius made many bookes as he sayth libro secundo de diuinacione ¶Liber hortensibus Four Archademicis fyue tusculanis Six annunciandi de diuinaciōe. De Senectute. De amicicia / de rethorica de officijs. de re publica / ¶ Titus Six honderd yere and fyue and fourty after the byldyng of Rome was a bataylle bytwene Sertorius and pompeiꝰ

¶ In that batayll were dede six honderd knyghtes on that one syde and six honderd on that other side / the fyrst bataylle endured vnto nyght / A morowe a knyght of pompe [...]us came amonge the dede bodyes that shold be buryed and perceyued that he had slain his owne broder and despysed the bataylle· and slough him self for sorowe of that dede and fylle downe deede vpon his broders [Page CLxviij] body / Petrūs capitulo tercio ¶ Iohan hircanus. dyed after thre and thyrtty yere of his ducherye and lefte after hym his wyf that was a noble speker / and fyue sonnes to rule the Iew­ry· The eldest was called Aristobolus that myght not suffre his moder to regne ouer him / therfor he prysonned his moder and his thre yong bretheren and slough hem with honger / therfore he ly­ued afterward but one yere kyng and bisshop and made his broder Antygonus But he lete slee hym whan he come in armes oute of the Iewry and that made his sister for he wold not lye by hir / And soo the kyngdome of Iuda was restored ayene that had be withdrawe fro Sedechias tyme vnto the aristobolus iiijClxxv yere Petrus capitulo quinto ¶ Whan this Aristobolus was deed his wyf that had no child by him toke his elder broder Alysaundre Iammeus oute of bandes and made him kyng This was a ful euil man and slough his owne second broder & kepte the thyrdde brother to lyue pryuely the space of fyue ye­re / He slough fyfty thousande of old men for they withsayde his vices and euyl doyng / he axed on a tyme how he shold plese the Iewes and was answerd that he shold plese hem yf he were de­de Than he henge foure score wedded men and her wyues and childre ¶ Iosephus seyth that he dyed atte last the xxvij yere of his kyngdome and lefte twey sonnes a lyue· Hircanus and Arystobolus and wyste that they were odyous to the Iewes & made his wyf Alexandria lady of the Iewes / She had ofte bifore wonne loue of the peple for she abated ofte the malyce and the tyrannye of hir husband while he was a lyue Marius duc of Rome and six sithes consul after that he had ouercome Iugurta in munidia he slew two honderd thousand of cunbres that co­me ayenst the Romaynes and he toke four score thousand pryso­ners and eft with one catulus were dede four score thousand ¶ Tholomeus alexander [...]egned in egypte ten yere / For tholomeus sother was put oute by his moder cleopatra and chasid in to Cyprys Lucrecius the poete is y born that dranke afterward loue drynkes and werth wode / Netheles he wrote somme bookes bytwene the reses of his wodenesse. and slough hym self with his owne honde the yere of his lyf four and fourty and cythero amended his bookes Eutropius libro quinto / The▪ kyngdom of Siria faylyd and fyl to the lordship of the Romaynes. The batayll that was cleped sociale bellum began in ytaly for the pyteus marses pelignes werred strongly foure yere ayenste the [Page] romayns / In that were dede twey consuls and porans [...] But they were ouercome at last of scylla and of marius pompeius

¶ Capitulum 39

THolomeus Sother that was put out by his owne moder [...]ekeuerd the kyngdome of Egypte / whan his moder was slayn by tholomeus Alexander and regned in egypte eyght yere ffor cytezeyns had put oute tholomeus alexander for the slaughter of his moder· ¶Salustius crispus wryter of storyes is y bore in Sabyn / of hym is yet moche thynge wryte. ¶ That tyme were seen many grete wondres hard and dredeful. For vnder the arysynge of the sonne was seen a dredeful clustre of fyre / And in a feste among the aritines bloode ranne oute of the loues as it were oute of newe woundes / And the erthe was y bete seuen dayes to gyder with grete hayl stones medled with scherdes / Amōg the sampnytes and beneuentanes the erth opened & leyhe of fyre was s [...]en breke oute and stretche vp in to heuen / Also beestes that were wonte to lyue amonge men forsoke stabels and [...]esow and fledde to hilles and montaynes lowynge and bletynge Also houndes forsoke company of mankynde ¶ Orocius libro quinto / In a playne of campania were seen as it were shiltrons and hoostes of fyghtyng men many dayes to geder and noyse & hurlyng to geder of armour was herde & there were seen aftwarde forows and steppes of men and of horses ¶ And not longe after the bataylle called bellum sociale / began the bataylle called bellum ciuile· twey bretheren germains bygan that batail. eyther of them was named grac [...]us The bataylle was bygonne for the lawe called agaria / In that lawe it was of old tyme that the senatours sholde entremete of no dede mennes feldes / that he hadde while he was lyuynge / but the feldes withoute ony plee shold falle to the next of the bloode / but the gentilmen dyde other wyse and helde and occupyed feldes of many men ¶ Therfor one graccus on a day of prayers whan all thynge shold be axed that shold be restored axed openly that the feldes that were soo [...]den shold be delyuerd and restored ayene to the peple Therfore the gentilmen were moeued and wroth and slough two honderd of the people with fete and gobettes of chayres of fourmes and [Page CLxix] of stoles and threwe hem in to tiber / and graccus was slayne. & vnburyed long tyme Also Silla the consul went in to campania for to destroy alle the releef of the batayll called bellum soci­ale Than marius that had be consul six sithes desired nowe to be consul the seuenth tyme and profered to vndertake the bataill [...] ayenst metridas ¶Whan Silla wyste therof he tourned agayne to the cyte with four legyons and entred in to the cyte & slough marius messager and axed brondes for to sette the Cyte a fyre & besieged marius within the capytoyl ¶Atte last marius ymagy­ned to fynde a meane to meoue the comonte of horsmen to helpe him at that tyme / And atte laste he egged bondemen to dedes of armes for hope of pray and of fredome but they durst not with­stande Than marius went vp in to the capytoyl and had many of his men slayne and vnneth escaped hym self ¶Than marius fled and tourned to marryes and to wattry places· there herodes fonde him amonge mory flagges and sprayes and sente hym to Silla and Silla sente him to the cunbres that were the worst enemyes that he had and they emprisoned hym ¶There it semed that goddes come to hym and were with hym there and lyghte [...] the pryson whan that the tormentour was sente in to sle him / the tormentors hande fayled and shoke for drede and a voys was herde in the eyer wherwith the cunbres were astonyed for drede and felle to the grounde and betten marius goo his wey ¶ R Lucanus speketh of this hap libro secundo. ¶ Marius was flemed and hidde in the busshes of the fennye more Titus ¶ This marius was soo delyuerd by help of the goddesse marica that was worshiped there / he had put hym self to hir by his auow He toke with him his felawe Cynna and greued the romaines in many maner wyse and gate thoffyce of consul and occupyed it the seuenth tyme but he occupyed that offyce but thyrten dayes at that tyme from the first day of Ianuar / whan consuls receiuen the aray fyrst of consul to the / xiij day of the same moneth Marius after that he come oute of prison passed in to affrica & gadred helpe on euery side & cam agayne to destroye the comonte of rome & made his hoost in four partyes· One party that was thre legions / he toke hym self / Carbo had the second party Sertorius the thyrd and cinna the fourth Sertorius fought strongly with pompeus· marius & cinna entred the cite and slough many of [...] consuls and of the Senatours

¶ Augustinus de ciuitate dei·

[Page]Also marius made octauius the consuls heede be smyten of and lette sette the heede in prorostris that is the comune place of Ro­me / there thynges be sette vp in sight for men to loke and wondre on / there the bourgeys were wonte to stande and loke aboute and telle there myry tales R ¶ Lucanus sayth that in the felde called marcius atte grete feeste he made sette the heedes of ge [...]til men that were slayne in stede of messes vpon the mete bordee. ¶ Titus Marius was so cruel that many men had leuer slee him self. than come in marius hande Therfore catulus the consul dranke venym and merula Iupiters owne bisshop kytte his veynes and bled to deth ¶ Also Marius bade that noman shold be spared though he axed mercy in his owne presence / But yf he him self put forth the right hande in token of mercy Therfor the Senatours that left and gentelmen of Rome passed in to Grece and prayd Silla the consul to helpe the comynte of Rome that was nygh loste Eutropius ¶ That tyme Silla at athene had ouercome one Archelaus metridas duc and slayn an honderd thousand men / soo that Archelaus hidde him self na­ked thre dayes in depe wattry mores / whan this was knowen / metridas prayd for pees and Silla assented and graunted for to haue the lesse perylle byhynde hym and for to goo the more sauely and surer to the ciuile bataill ayenst marius Than Silla cam ayene to Rome and slough and exyled so many thousandes of men that Quintus catulus sayde to hym openly. with whome shal we lyue Yf we slee armed men in bataylle and vnarmed men in pees ¶Augustinus libro tercio capitulo visesimo 4· For Silla than gafe l [...]ue in that stryf to his men to slee whome that they wold / the wey was opened to take wreche of all old wrath Therfor Scillas right was wers to the comonte of Rome than marius wekednesse though they were vnpunysshed For by both were mo men slayne than by that one ¶ Eutropius This ciuile bataylle dured ten yere and destroyed moo than an honderde thousande men and fyfty thousande withoute senatours consuls pretoryes and edylicies men of dygnyte R ¶Therfore here take hede of six batayls that were amonge the Romaynes / & euery batayll was called bellum ciuile· ¶ In the first bataill marius fought ayēst the cyte / In the second batayll silla fought ayenst marius and ayenst his fauctours ¶In the thyrdde bata­yll. Sertocius fought ayenst pompeus / In the fourth batayll catelina fought aiēst the comente / In the .v / batayl lepidus fought [Page CLxx] ayenst catulus ¶ The sixth a batayll was bytwene Iulius and pompeus Eutropius After this Sylla torned ayene & had worshipfully the maystry of metridas Trogus libro 37 / Metridas metridas sonne kynge of pontus was rebell to the Romaynes six and fourty yere So that if it semed somtyme that he was ouercome he wold aryse ayene with more myghte and strengthe ¶ This was delyuerd by his kynnesmen oute of the awaytes of his owne moder that had slayne her owne fyue sones / and this yonglynge was taken to wardens to kepe· that sette hym vpon a wylde hors and compellyd hym to play and to ryde / And while he ruled the hors ouer myght to his elde / his wardeyns arayed venym for to yeue him to drynke The wyse childe drad therof and dranke ofte medycynes of treacle / by the whiche remedyes he put of the peryl of venym in his yougth / so that he myght not dye by venym whan he wold haue dyed by venym in his elde ¶ Than after venym he drad Ire and feyned that he wolde goo an huntynge / soo that in seuen yere he cam neuer in cyte ne in smal towne / so that al that tyme he had neuer hows ouer hede / but walked and lay by nyght in hilles & in montaynes and there he trauaylled ofte wylde beestes / and toke hem with swyfte rennynge and fought with hem· somtyme for to make his body stydfast by vse in trauayl for tendure

¶Also whan he come to rulyng of kyngdome. He chastysed the Scites that myght not be ouercome byfore by sleyght of wyt ¶He occupyed pontus and macedonia ¶Also he wente pryue­ly oute of his kyngdome and toke with him somme of his fren­des· and passed in to Asia and wente aboute in Asia and espyed the places and countrees of that londe and came agayn than in to his owne kyngdome and founde a lytel sone that Laodyce that was bothe his wyf and his owne sister / had brought forch by a copyner while he was absente in other landes ¶ Therfor the wyf ordeygned venym for metridas whan he come home· but he was warned by a wenche that serued his wyf / and toke wreche of the doers of that fals dede ¶ Than whan wynter was comen / he wold not be in festes but in the felde stryuynge on his hors in rennyng or in grete dedes of strengthe and made his hoost to vse suche trauaylle and dedes for to make hem connynge by vse stalworth and stydfaste eftsones whan they shold fyght

¶ Than he werred in Galacia and despysed the manase of the Romaynes ¶ Metridas seconde wyf shaar hir heede [Page] for loue of hir husband & vsed her for to ride for to helpe what she myght / yf hir husband fell in ony peryll / and for to be with him alway / hir husband was ouercome of pompeus & fledde and she sewed him alway among ful cruel nacions ¶ Giraldus As ofte as highest consuls sylla and Pompeus ouercome metri­das· soo ofte he semed the more myghty and stronge for he occu­pyed babyloyne and asia and peased the Scites and made subget capadocia and Armenia and made his owne kyngdome stretche streyht vnto Inde / and come to ephesus and slough al the Ro­mayns in one daye that were in Asia / Than he sente Archelaus that was the duc byfore him in to grece with an honderd thousād fyghtyng men that gate hym al grece / Atte last he was holden of his owne sonne farnaces and dranke venym by his good wylle for he wold haue dyed / but it greued hym not / Therfor a knyght of the galles that he had greued was prayd for to slee hym and slough hym anone / ¶ After his deth Pompeus made Tigranes kynge of Siria and brente with fyre the temple of Ierusalem /

¶ Capitulum 40

Ptholomeus denys regned thyrtty yere in egypte. In his tyme was plantus latinus the grete pompeus endytour and rethoricien / Libertus the doctor. was in prosperyte in rome. sylla the consul dyed at Rome after that he had the vyctorye of metridas / Nichomedes kynge of Bythinia made peple of Rome his beires whan he dyed Whan he was dede metridas brake the peas / and werred in bythynia and in lytel Asia Twey consuls of rome were sente ayenst hym· he ouercome that one of hem / and was ouercomen of that other that come byhynde / and folowed after him and slough of his an honderd thousand fyghtynge men In [...] began a newe batayll of lxxiiij / comune fyghters and cokkers that robbed brente and slough and brake spousage and did [...] lechery & ouercome the consuls of Rome and gadred hem / lx tho [...]sande men of armes. But after thre yere marcus the consul ouercome hem in Apulea / naples ¶Alexandra otherwyse cal­led Sabina Alexandres wyf regned nyne yere among the Iewes and slough and outlawed many Iewes by counseyll of thephareseys. The secte of them bygā at that tyme. Eutr. libro 6 [Page CLxxj] Virgyl marco is born nyghe to mantua Scomers and see theues greued and robbed alle the see / soo that the Romayns that were vyctors of alle the worlde aboute had no sure saylyng with oute other socour ¶But Pompeus the consul chastysed thes theues atte last Than Pompeus toke a batayl ayēst metridas and ayenste Tygranes kyng of Armenye for he had socoured & fauoured metridas that was ayenst the Romayns and receiued him and saued him whan he fledde the Romayns ¶ Therfore Pompeus ouercome metridas in bataylle by nyghte and destro­yed his castels ande his tentes and slough fourty thousand of his men and made tigranes to yelde him self· and toke f [...]om him both Armeny and Asia and made hym bere trybute of six thou­sand talentes of syluer for he had moeued werre withoute cau­se ayenst the Romaynes Therfor pompeus ouercome metridas Than metridas fledde with his wyf and not longe afterward he was cruel to his owne men and slough his twey sonnes Than Far [...]aces his thyrd sonne toke ensample of his bretheren· and was soore ferd and made the hoost torne to hym that was sente to pursue him and besieged his owne fader in gofforn

The fader cryed mercy but the sone wolde not here Than this metridas prayed his goddes that his sone farnaces myghte som­tyme here the same vois of his owne sonnes ¶ Than he yaue his wyf and his doughters venym to drynke and slough hem in that manere / for he myghte not dye by venym he prayd a knyghte of Galles to slee hym and he slough hym anone and soo metridas dyed the yere of his age lxx / and the yere of his kyngdome. lx euen After that pompeus ouercome the Albans and the men of hiberia of Siria and of Arabia Marc libro 1 ¶ The yere of Ptholomeus sixtene· Oracius the poete Satiricus and Liricus were born at venacia a cyte of ytaly ¶ Treuisa ¶Here take hede that a poete is called Liricus and somme poete is cleped satiricꝰ And hath that name of satis that is ynowe. for the matier that he speketh of he toucheth atte fulle ¶And thre poetes he specially called Satirici· Oracius Percius and Iuuenalis Petrus· Whan that Alexandre was dede that ordeyned his eldest sonne hircanus to be kyng and bisshop / ¶Afterward the twey sonnes that were a lyue hircanus and Aristobolus stryuen for thempire And yaue the romaynes occasion to werre in Iudea that is the Iewry. ¶Therfor pompeius cam and toke Ierusalem vnnethe the thyrd moneth▪ and. slough· xiij / M / Iewes and toke the other [Page] vpon theyr othes· and threwe downe the walles of Ierusalem euen with the grounde and yaue hircanus the prysthode and ledde Aristobolus bounde and his twey sonnes with him in to Ro­me and lefte staurus lord of Siria Pompeius had be byfore strengeste in bataylles but for that he stabuled his horses in the porches and other places of the temple / he had neuer grace afterwarde wele to spede / and soo hee foughte neuer after. but he was ouercome. Eutropius· libro sexto ¶Whan al this was done after that pompeius had foughten ryally with two and twenty kynges he wente in to asia and made an ende of the old bataylle of the est landes ¶ Metridas sonnes wente by fore his chare / & Tigraues sonnes also Oracius flactus is borne at venusye / Sergius catelina a noble man of blode but euyl and shrewde of wytt and of wylle conspyred with somme grete men / right stronge to destroye the countray ¶ And though Iulius Gayus pleted for hym and defended his partye / Netheles in tullins cythero the / consuls tyme Marcus caton pleted ayenst hym and so he was put oute of the cyte and sone afterward slayne in bata­ylle / Also his felawes were taken of one Antonius another consul and prysonned to ther lyues ende Salustius made a book of hem / the booke is named / the book of catelinus conspyracy Ti­tus liuius the wryter of storyes is born and vyrgyle lerneth at Cremona / gaius iulius cesar is made consul and gallia was iugged to him & iliricus that is grece with x begyōs. Iulius fought ten yere ayenste the germayns and galles in many harde bata­yls Treuisa Here galles ben cleped men of gallia / Gallia is closed with thre noble watres with the Rine and the Rone and the see of occean Though gallia & ffraūce be ofte acompted alone lande and countray / Netheles as we speke comonly of Fraunce and now here o [...] gallia Gallia conteyned al the reame of Fraūce and many other countrees and londes vnto the Ryne northward to the Rone Estward and to the See of Brytayne and of engl [...]nd westwarde. ¶ Thanne it foloweth in the storye Iulius ix yere made hard batails ayēst the germayns & the galles and destroyed foure honderd thousande [...] and fourty thou­sand of germaynes / that passed the Ryne for to wynne gallia Than he made a brygge and passed the Ryne and wanne sue­uia / than he wan al gallia and toke pledgis of the brytons & made hem trybutary / Amonge al his grete dedes he fought euil / but thryes and no moo ¶Beda acounteth this yere sixty byfore [Page CLxxij] the incarnacion / This yere cam Iulius cezar to wynne brytayn in this maner while Iulius the consul werryd ayenst the ger­mayne and the galles that be to deled only by the Riuer of [...] ­ne / he come to the morians and ordeyned him an honderd shippes and thyrtty with sayles and with oores and sayled in to Bry­tayne / there he was fyrst sette with right harde fyghtynge / and afterward [...] in a grete tempest that fylle ayenst hym. he loste many shippes and horsmen and torned in to gallia / And sente certeyne Legyons of knyghtes in to Irland and arayed efte his shippes and had fourty shippes broken in grete tempeste. while he wente ayenst the brytons and was ouercome atte fyrst batayll. and labienus the consul was woūded and dyed right there Vnneth atte second batayll Iulius chaced the brytons / For the Britons had pyghte sharp stakes in the Ryuer of thamys / there Iulius hadde landed / the stakes were grete shapen as a manne [...] thygh and sette aboute with lede as it is yet seen Whan the Romains were war of this gyle for to escape that peryll they toke the cy­te of Trynouantum by sleyght of one andragius and receyued fourty plegges and wente thens and occupyed the cyte cassy­bala a stronge cyte and a ryche sette amonge waters ¶ Than Cesar went in to gallia and was sette with harde batay [...]s on euery side Lud kyng of Brytons is dede▪ he cleped trynouantum Ca [...]rlud by his owne name and bylde there the west yate and called it after his owne mame Ludgate / His broder Cassibelanus regned after him for lud lefte after hym twey sonnes on lyue / Andragius and Teamucius / and were to yonge to gouerne the Royamme / But whan they come to age Cassybelanus yaue to Andragyus the Cyte Trynouantum with the ducherye of kente And he yaue Temancius the ducherye of Cornewayle / That ty [...]e Iulius cezar sayled in to Brytayne and was twyes put of / but whyle the kynge and Andragyus were at grete stryf / For Andragyus neuew in wrastlynge Andragyus sente for Iulius cezar and he cam And wanne the londe and made kynge cassybelanus trybutary and cassibelanus lyued seuen yere after that Iulius was a goo ¶ Crassus Pompeius felawe and consul after gabynus deth was sente to be ruler of Siria for to chastley the parches that were waxen rebelle ¶ For to spede that Iourneye Crassus toke two thousande talentes oute of the temple of Ierusalem· the whiche Pompeius spared ¶ Ther­fore Crassus fyghtynge ayenste the perches was ouercome and [Page] taken / The parches melt gold and powred in his throte and de­spysed him and sayde· thou Romayne art a thyrste after gold / nowe drynk gold atte ful

¶ Capitulum 41

CLeopatra the doughter of tholomeus denys kynge of egipte was Empryce of egypte two and twenty yere· two yere by fore Iulius cezar fyue yere vnder Iulius and fyften yere after octauianus augustus / A batayll Cyuyle bygan bytwene Iu­lius and his wyues fader pompeius in this maner Giraldus / For Iulius whan that he had trauaylled ten yere and wonne Gallia germania and brytayne. He axed the worship that was dewe for soo grete vyctoryes and noble dedes / But Pompeius cato and marcellus the consuls withseyden him and bade hym leue the hoos [...]· and come agayn to the cyte ¶ Eutropius libro sexto And by Auctoryte of marcellus the consul the grete Pompeius was sente with commandemēt to the Legyons that were at luce­ria / and for that of puttynge Iulius cezar with his hooste [...]me ayenst the countrey ¶Suetoniꝰ ¶Ther were many maner dyg­nyt [...]es in Rome / Somme therof dured one yere. the chyef dygnyte of alle was the dictatours dygnyte that dured fyue yere / But first was but one dictator but afterward the comente encreased And were made thre dictators in Rome / ffor yf there fylle ony discorde bytwene the tweyne / the thyrdde sholde redresse it· ¶It happed that thes thre were dictators to geder Pompeius Iulius and marcus crassus of the whiche pompeius / for he was an old man and of the chiualrye Emeryta lefte at home for to gouer­ne the comonte Treuisa In xxv. chapitre of the fyrste booke / it is wryten that somtyme the knyghtes of rome after that they were sixty yere old sholde not be compellyd to dedes of Armes / but they sholde be at home and haue certayn lyuelode· and than they were callyd knyghtes of the cheualrye Emeryta / that is putte out of dedes of armes· Than it foloweth in the story [...] ¶ Crassus was sente to werre ayenst the Parches and was taken & lost by gyle and by trayson ¶Iulius was sente in to the west londes & dwellyd fyue yere to make the galles and the Allobrogues men of Burgoyne subget ¶Than he helde the dygnyte other fyue yere / by his owne Auctory [...] / In the whiche fyue yere / he warryd [Page CLxxiij] ayenst the brytons and efte ayenst the galles ¶ Than in his comyng to Rome ward whan he came to Alpes· he sente to pompe­ius whos doughter he had wedded that he shold araye for him triumphum that is the worship that a vyctor of Rome shold haue in his comynge to Rome after the vyctorye But for Iuli­us had holden the dygnyte by his owne auctoryte lenger than he shold Pompeius warned him the worship called tryumphus by assent of the Senatours Than Iulius was wroth and wēt to the cyte aienst pompeius ¶Eutropius libro sexto ¶ Than pompeius dradde with the Senatours and consuls and fledde in to grece and arayed there a bataylle ayenste Iulius cezar / Iulius entred in to the cyte of Rome as it were in to a cyte beynge voyde and brake the comon tresory ¶Orocius libro sexto ¶Iulius to­ke four thousand poūde of gold and six score and ten of syluer He toke four thousande and ten thousand pounde and deled to his knyghtes ¶ Eutropius ¶And in lykenesse of pees he occu­pyed the dygnytees euerychone and wente than in to spayne / and there he destroyed pompeius strengthe [...]oostes and thre capytains / than he come in to grece and faught with pompeius In the fyrste bataylle Iulius was ouercomen and chaced and whan nyght come pompeius wold not folowe and pursue the chace Therfore Iulius sayd that pompeius couth not take the vyctory and that only that day he myghte haue be ouercomen ¶ After that they faught in thessalia ther pompeius sheltron had fourty thousand fote men and six honderd horsmen in the lyfte wynge. and fyue honderd in the rygt wynge and alle the helpe of the est side with nobley of the Senatours pretoryes and consuls Ce­sar had in his shiltron not fully thyrtty thousande horsmen / and atte laste in the bataylle pompeius hooste fledde. and his tentes were destroyed and he hym self fledde to the yonge ptholomeus kynge of egypte and axed helpe of him for he was ass [...]gned by the Senatours to be his tutor and wardeyn ¶Netheles the king folowed more hap and fortune than frendship and lette slee pompeius and sente to Iulius his heede and his ryng ¶ Whan Iulius sawe the heede and the rynge he wepte wel better teeris and went forthwith to Alexandria and tholomeus araied busshementes Than cezar was ouersette with strengthe of his enemyes and went in to a boote that was soo heuy laden with men that folowed hym that it sank downe and was dreynte ¶ Than cesar swam thre honderde paas with one hand & helde chartres [Page] with that other hande· aboue the water and come to a ship▪ The­re he was comforted anone and drenched eyther toke all the kinges nauey in batell on· the see easely ynow But the Alexandrynes prayd for her kynges lyf / and Iulius graunted and charged him that he sholde rather essay the frendship of the Ro­maynes than dedes of Armes / Netheles anone as he was free· he yaue cesar a batayll. but he and his hoost were sone destroyed Cesar bytoke that kyngdome to a woman callyd Cleopatra and dwellyd with hir two yere in lecherye Hugo capitulo Ianus That tyme Iulius amended the kalender and fonde the cause of the leep yere R ¶The Romaynes as the Hebrewes bygan her yere in marche vnto numa pompilius tyme / And this numa put Ianuar and februar to the yere in an vncertayne manere / but the yere was not fully amended byfore Iulius tyme Quintilis the fyfth moneth after marche was afterward callid iulius in worship of iulius cesar for he was born in that moneth or in that moneth he dyde somme grete dede and vyctory· for suche a ma [...]er skyle sextilis the six [...]he moneth after marche is cleped Augustus in worship of augustus cesar / Eut / Cesar remeoued from egypte and ouercome f [...]rnaces metridas sonne in bataylle and let [...]e slee hym for he had meyntened pompeius ayenst Iu­lius / thennes he wente to Rome and made hym consul the thirdde tyme ¶ Than he went in to Affryca and ouercome in batayl the noble dukes Scipio and porcius cato and Iuba the kynge of mauritania and they slough hem self afterward ¶R Seneca epistola 26 & Pol libro septimo capitulo sexto Spe [...]en of this caton and seye that he dranke venym and smote hym self in to the brest [...] with a swerde and soo he y [...]lde vp the gooste ffor he wold not see cesar regne while he were a lyue. also seneca secundo libro ad Seuerum Cato lyued not after fredome nowther fredome aft (er) cato ¶Also anoth [...]r story of Rome seyth that cato was not in the bataylle that was bytwene Iulius and pompeius / but he herd of pompeus deth and redde platoes bookes de inmortalite a­nime and sawe in that booke that the sowle maye not dye and soo he wounded him self but his fre ndes counseylled him to lyue and a leche dide his cure to his woūdes but whan they were a [...]go he opened his wounde and soo he dyed This doynge is not excu [...]able in cato were he neuer so wele l [...]t [...]red & so gloryous / First for his frendes counseylled hym the c [...]ntrary that were wyse men & kynde ¶Also for that he counseylled his sonne not for to doo soo [Page CLxxiij] but he counseylled hym rather to lyue vnder Iulius cesar the victor. The thyrd skyle for he slough hym self by enuye for he wold not suffre and see Iulius welth and his ioye / And so it semeth that cato slough hym self by vnstydfastnesse and folye / for he wold not suffre anguyssh and disease and not by honneste to voyde and escape foule maner of doynge Here take hede of many catons that were in Rome amonge the Romayns / one was cato questor / he brought ennius the poete oute of tarent in to Rome Another was mennius cato that fought wonderly ayēst the grekes in paul emilins tyme. ¶ Another was marcus porcius cato that was called vtycensis for he slough him self at a Cyte callyd vtyca in Affryque / Of him we speke nowe at this tyme / and in caas this was tensorius cato / Of hym speketh ierom in epistola ad Nepocianum and sayth that him shamed not whan he was an olde man to lerne lettres of grue / nowther was put oute of hope and trust for to spede ¶ This was a philosopher of the secte that heet secta stoycorum· Treuisa Stoici had that name of a porche of Athene called stoa / ther were peynted dedes and doyng of wyse men and of stronge ¶ The fyrst philosopher of that secte. was named Zenon ¶Than it foloweth in the story ¶This cato made a grete science of vertues and of maners that is called ethica catonis / therof was that lytle book of metre drawen caton that childer lerne in scole Eutropius After an yere cesar wente efte to Rome and made him consul the fourth tyme and soone after went in to spayn wher pompeus sones had arayed right strōg bataylles in the laste bataylle there cesar was so nye ouercome / that his men fledde & he was in poynte to slee hym self lest in his elde he sholde falle in to childres hande after grete worshippe and ioy and grete dedes of cheualrye ¶Cesar was than six and fyf­ty yere of age Atte last his men tourned ayene and ouercome his enemyes & efte he wente to Rome & made men callyd hym Emp [...]rour. he was callyd Emperour for a passynge lordship of one pryncipate / & was callyd cesar / for he was kytte oute of his moders wombe whan his moder was dede ¶ Cesus in latyn is cutt [...] in englysshe Eutropius / ¶ Whan Iulius by his owne wylle sholde doo worship to the peple as the peple dyde hym byfore· he wolde neyther arryse ayenste the Senators whan they come to hym & dyde many other tyrannyes & doynges ayenst the cus­tommes of Rome Than lx horsmen & Senatours of Rome & specially tweyne Eyther was called Brutus conspyred ayenste [Page] him / soo that on a day· whan the Senatours shold come to geder Iulius cam to the capitoyl and was stykked thurgh / and hadd [...] thre and twenty woundes and dyed

¶ Capitulum 42

IVlius wente towarde the capitoyle and rec [...]yued lettres / that were Iuggis of his deth / the messager that broughte the lettres sayd that he sholde be dede yf he come that day amonge the gadryng of the peple. I shal now sayde Iulius speke with an astronomer and afterwarde I shal see the gadrynge and the lettres. Than he callyd to hym an astronomer that sayde that Iulius shold dye in the kalendes / this daye sayd Iulius be the ka­lendes and yet I am on lyue / ¶ To day be the kalendes sayde the astronomer / but they be not passed / and I wold that I wer foūde a lyer· Than Iulius wēt to the capitoyl & was slayn with alles of comune contekkers or brawlers. the first day of marche / but ther semed no woūde in his body. but the lettres were foū de in his hande after his deth ¶Petrus An hondreth daye [...] bifore Iulius deth fylle a lyghtnynge vpon Iulius ymage in the chepynge place· and toke away the letter / C / of this name cesar· Also the nyght byfore his deth his chambre wyndowes were soo gryslye and soo sternly opened / that Iulius resed oute of his bed / and wende that the hows had falle vpon him ¶ Also the day after his deth ther semed thre sonnes in the eest that wente a lytle and lytle to geders alle in one sonne / that bytokened that the lordship of the thre partyes of the worlde shold come alle in to one prynces lordship ¶ Owther more verely / it bytokened that alle the worlde sholde knowe the trynyte / thre▪ persones and one god / Also an oxe spake to a plowe man in the subarbes of Rome and sayde that he was prykked and dryuen in ydel / for in shorte tyme sayd he men shal fayle more than Oxen owther whete / Also in Iulius pyler that now pylgrymes calle saynt pet [...]rs nylde. there the asshes were of Iulius body / that was brent It was wryten in metre in this man [...] ¶Thou were grete Ce­sar as al the world is at eue / And art now sette there closed in a lytel stone R ¶ Also many men wrote many thynges in praysyng [...] of Iulius / for Eutropius libro sexto seyth that nomā was punysshed this daye that he entred in to the cyte ¶ Also he [Page CLxxv] made his knyghtes haue costlew armour for they shold defende he in more manly for drede of soo grete losse / ¶ Ther was neuer man more noble than he in bataylle by his ledynge / there were slayne enleuen honderd thousand four score xij thousande of his enemyes withoute the batayls that were called bella ciuilia. for he wold not wryte the nombre of hem that were slayne in ciuile batayles Treuisa / Bellum ciuile is a batayll amonge the romaynes hem self Than it foloweth in the story ¶ Iulius fought fyfty sithes with baner displayed / Also noo man wrote swyfter than he / no man redde swyfter than he ¶Also he vsed to endyte four maner pystles and lettres at ones. And whom he made subget by armes he ouercome hem more by myldenesse Also ther was no day in all his harde werres and batayls that he nold wryte rede owther endyte Plenius Iulius cesars hande was as able to the pen as to the swerde but no man gouer­ned the comonte better than he in al his grete lordship / he bade neuer slee man but one domicius / to whom he had yeuen his lyf byfore / He toke hym ones in a cyuile bataylle and yaue hym his lyf and bade hym forswere Armes and sawe hym afterward fight ayenst hym in a bataylle Than he sayde to his knyghtes It is ynowh to me to yeue an vnkynde man ones his lyf / he was neuer soo wroth with man that he nold foryeue yf he sawe skyl­ful occasion ¶ Also Iulius was of grete suffraunce· for in his worship in his comyng to Rome after a grete vyctorye knyghtes of Rome sayd in his owne hering and he was neuer the wrother Lo cesar taketh worship as a vyctor for he hath ouercome the galles why hath / Nychomedes kynge of bithinia noon worship as a victor for he ouercome Cesar· for me sayde that he had to greete frendship with hym Therfor me sayth that Tullius sayd to iulius / hayle kynge and Quene and efte hayle quene of bythinia thou were somtyme woman of alle men and nowe thou art made man of al women Pol libro tercio ¶ Iulius cesar was sore agreued of his ballidnesse and heer fayled on his molde and on his fortop. he wolde bende his heer from the polle toward the forhede· and a knyght of Rome that wa [...] [...]eproued of cowardyse byfore Iulius sayd to Iulius / Iu [...]us sayd he it were lygh­ter to make the not balled than it were to the to make me do ony thynge cowardly in the hoost of Rome / Also ther were famous bokes and mury gestes made and knowen openly in despyte of hym and he suffred it paciently ynowh ¶Also one despysed him [Page] and his moder kynne and called hym bakar and he roughte nothynge therof Therfor cythero in praysynge of hym sayth / Iulius couth not foryete but only iniurye and wronge Plenius Cesar came on a tyme in to Iulius scole and Tulli­us aroos ayenst hym and Iulius forbade hym and sayde· aryse not ayenste me / for wytte and wysedome is better than myghte & strength Shal I not aryse sayd Tullius ayenste the vyctor of the world / Thou hast wonne a more worshipful crowne and pryce than it were to streche oute of the boundes of the empyre of Rome and by cause of that word Iulius ordeyned a lawe that he that redde owther helde a book shold not aryse ayenst noo man ¶ Valerius Acius the poete aroos not ayenste Iulius Cesar / whan Iulius cam in to the college of poetes and me axed hym why he sate stylle in the comynge of so grete a lord / the lasse said he shal aryse ayenst the greter & pere shal come to his pere but wyt and wysedome passyth all. & Iulius alowed his sayenge R A man childe ond a mayde childe were brought byfore Iulius / that were moost lyke him of ony childer a lyue / and Iulius by helde hem on a tyme and yaue them grete yeftes and sente hem ayene with suche versus Sheweth al one chere lyke and peeres gon in fere / lat no myskyssyng haue pris of your both lyuynge None yuy sprayes none noyse of dounes layes Ye lyke of chere be in fere withoute ony gyle ¶ Apuleus The conspiracy of catelin come oute by cithero the best consuls tyme and was dampned

¶ There nowther for nobley of the persone that had gilt / nowther roialle spekinge of Iulius cesar that was his patrone and his auowry and pletede for him by mildenesse and pite at that tyme if he mighte him helpe. For marcus cato plete d ai [...] ̄st him and proued him gilty ¶ Salustius ¶There were twey noble men marcus cato and gaius Iulius wel [...]ighe of one worthi­nes of blode of age and of noble and roiall speche and y like grete of hert / but they were of diuerse ioye and worship. ¶ Cato was grete in clēnes of [...]f / in largenesse of yeftes & in mildenes that one had worship by cruelnesse & that other by fredom of yeftes ¶Cesar by yeftes Cato by yeuinge of none yeftes is praised ¶ In cesar socoure and refute of wretches and of nedye men. In caton punisshinge of euil dooers ¶ In cesar wakinge and trauaile for gendeinge of his owne / noo thynge werne that he myght doo araye new batails desirous triumphous and worship as a victor of Rome all this was lykynge to cesar Caton loued [Page CLxxvj] besynesse of sobrenesse of stydfastnesse of sternesse· He strofe not with rychesse ayenste the ryche not with trayson ayenst the tray­tour but with strengthe ayēst the strong / with honneste aienst the the sobre man. he desired more to be good. than to seme good. Soo that the lesse he desired worship the more worship he had ¶Gau­fredus and Alfr Whan cassibelanus was deed in Brytayne & buryed at york / his neuew tenancius was kyng after hym Tenancius was duc of corne wayle and kyng luddes sonne and andragius brother / Andragius wente with Iulius cesar to Rome

¶ Capitulum 43

WHan Iulius cesar was slayne Octauianus of Rome xviij yere of age was sente with twey cōsuls for to pursue marcus Antonius. that was than demed open enemy to the comente / for he made insurrection ayenst the Senatours and ayenst hem / that slough Iulius cesar This octauianus was a Romayne / Octauius the senatours sone And come of Eneas on his moder side by the kynrede called Iulia familia and was Iulius cesars neuew of his sister born and his owne sonne adoptiuus and Iulius made him his heyre in his testamēt / Marcus was ouercome at mutina / and the twey consuls dyed by the wey· than had Oc­tauianus the grete hoostes at his commaundemente ¶Octauianꝰ made pees with Marcus Antonius atte desire of one lepydus / that was mayster of the horsmen to hym / Marcus antonius was fledde Than Octauianus cam to Rome in his xx yere of age / and toke the dygnyte and made hym self consul by strengthe / & afterward regned Emperour Lvj yere sex monethes and somme what of dayes that was from the moneth of marche to the firste day of october / In the whiche tyme he regned twelue yere with Antonius and four and fourty yere al one and soo he brought all the worlde in to one principate and lordship ¶ And as the kynges of Rome hadden the name of Iulius Cesar / and were callyd cesares soo they that cam after this octauianus Augustus had the name of hym Augustus Hugo capitulo Augeo This had not that name Augustus only of Augere that is for encreace or make more for he made more & eched the comune pro­fyte / but for he was born in that moneth Augustus· owther for [Page] For he had th [...] vyctory in that moneth of Antonius and of cleopatra This augustus was the sone of one Actia Iulius sister doughter Eutropius libro septimo Than augustus the first of his empyre in wreche of Iulius deth exyled the Senatours and chaced brutus and cassius And toke cithero to Antonius paleys in hope of acord cithero was than in lxxij yere ¶Augustinus de ciuitate dei libro tercio capitulo tercio ¶Tullius had fauerd and tendrely kepte octauianus in his yongth ayenste the malyce of Antonius in hope that he sholde helpe moche thempyre and the comune profyte of Rome / Netheles octauianus lete Antonius slee tullius cythero as it were by a maner couenaunte of acord Than whan Antonius wold haue kytte of tullius tong for he had wryten moche ayenst him Antonius in blame of him than tullius answerd in metre and sayd. Nought dost thou Antoni wrytynge shal nedes abyde ¶Eutropius Thanne Octo­uianus with Antonius slough hem that slough Iulius Cesar. bothe brutus and cassius and grete multitude of other / And af­terward they deled thempyre bytwene hem / So that Augustus hield spayne gallia and ytaly. and Antonius helde the este landes ¶Valerius libro quarto ¶Porcia the grete catons doughter whan she herde that hir husband Brutus was slaine for she had none egge tole she toke brennynge coles in her mouth / Somme say that ouidius naso the poete was born at pelgius Salustius the aduocate and wryter of storyes dyed at Rome This hadde euer [...]nuye to Cythero / he wedded terencia to wyf that Cythero had by dyuorse put from hym & forsaken Therfor cythero made gestes in reproue of salustius ¶Ysidorus libro primo This salustius was mayster of playes. and put fyrste this l [...]ttre / K / to t [...]e latyn lettres for to haue somme dyuersite of sowne bytwene / C / and 9 / Only latyn men vsen this letter K· ¶ Petrus decimo s [...]ptimo ¶The principate of Iewes fayled and herodes Ascolonita regned in the Iewry six and thyrtty yere / his fader was Antipater of Idumea and his moder was of Arabia ¶Whan Hircanus Aristobolus broder and Antipater / this herodes fader. hadde be frendes and hadden grace of Iulius cesar. as they had­den bifore of pompeus Hircanus was confermed in the kingdome of Iewes· but soo that he shold not be callyd kynge And Antipater of Idumea was accused to Iulius of grete falshede / than be shewed openly the wemmes of the four woundes / that he had in egypte therfore Iulius made hym procuratour of [Page CLxxvij] the Iewry Afterward his second sonne herodes that was. afterward called ascolonyta for that he repayred the cyte Ascalon / he was made procuratour of galylee whan Antipater was slam by malyce of venym / this herodes had so grete grace of Antonius that of procuratours he made hym and his bretheren four pryn­ces / Petrus 14 / Atte last this herodes folowed Antonius to Rome and by helpe of him he was declared kynge of the Iewry And crowned. in the capitoyl in presence of themperour Augus­tus Than this herodes was sente with twey dukes of Rome that sholde put hym in his kyngdome ¶ But Antigonus that occupyed the kingdom of the Iewry in the meane tyme by helpe of the perches he wounded so one of the dukes of Rome / that herodes myght not regne byfore the fourth yere But atte last by helpe of Antonius that▪ was than al Athenes / whan Ierusalē was besieged fyue monethes and vnneth [...] taken / herodes was broughte in to his kyngdome the fourth yere of his crownynge And therfor it is that somtyme moo yeres be redde of herodes Petrus This more herodes had nyne wyues & put hem away and wedded one mariammes that was hircanus Ne [...] and ar­cumcided hym self for hir loue and torned to the sect of the iewes And bygate on hir Alisander and Aristobolus and on desides he bygate Antipater / On metheta he bygate Archelaus. On cleo­patra he biga [...] philip and herodes antipas that was afterward called tetrarcha one of the four prynces / But this Aristobolus that was herodes sone bygoten on Beronica the doughter of his owne aunt called Saloma / he bygate the grete Agrippa Aristo­bolus & herodes that was smyten of the Aungel as it is redde in actibus Apostolorum ¶ Also on the forsayd beronica he gate twey doughters mariammes and herodias that was afterward Philippes wyf that was Aristobolus [...]ame and vncle / Netheles lyuyng this philip herodyas bycame this herodes wyfe that was Philippes brother / ¶ Atte laste ther fylle stryfe bytwene hir mariammes the more herodes wyf and Saloma herodes sister / ¶ And Herodes by counseyl of his sister slough first hircanus the bisshop And afterwarde he slough Ionathas the broder of mariammes that he hadde made bisshop ayenst god­des lawe in his seuenten yere of age And than he slough his wyf Mariammes and the husbande of his sister Saloma and bare them on hand that they had layne by his sister Saloma

¶ But afterward Herodes for the dethe of Mariammes [Page] fell in to wodenesse as a man that was ofte lunatik that is mad in certayn tymes of the mone and toke agayne his wyf dosides. and hir sone Antipater. And sende Alysaunder and Aristobolus the sonnes of mariamines to Rome for to lerne· But he slough hem afterwarde / Also herodes lefte after him many of his wyse werkes / for he honoured the temple and reparayled Samaria and called it sebasten in worship of cesar / he bylde a temple about the welle of Iordan He fulfylled the byldyng of cesarea in pa­lestina in worship of cesar He sette an egle of gold that was grete and heuy vpon the yate of the temple that was callyd speciosa in worship of the Romayns But the Iewes bare that ful heuy & toke it in euyl

¶ Capitulum 44

ANtonius putte from him his wyf Cleopatra cesars sister / and wedded the quene of egypte and yaue hir Arabia By couetyse that women haue she desired to regne in Rome / and by hir counseyll and comforte Antonius moeued a ciuile bataylle ayenst octauianus and was ouercome at actia in grece ¶Petrus visesimo octauo Herodes was not at that batayll / for that tyme Antonius had sente hym ageyne to the kynge of Arabye atte prayer of cleopatra. so that he shold haue his kyngdome that were ouercome whether it euer were ¶ Eutropius libro septimo ¶ Antonius whan he was ouercome at Actiū / he sledde in to Egypte / there he slough hym self ffor he had none hope of helpe ne of socour ¶ Cleopatra made hir gay and mette with Augustus entendynge to meoue him to lechery / But she myghte not spede and was put in warde and escaped away and leyd hir self in the graue by hir husband Antonius and dyed by the venym of a naddre that she toke with hir / Afterward Egipte fell to thempyre Petrus 78. After this augustus enlarged herodes kingdom for he had wytly prouided for hym what him neded while he was toward egipte / R. Sōme acompte the firste yere of augustus hole kyngdom from this place for aftward he regned al one. Beda suꝑ danielē seith so as it semeth· that tyme marcꝰ terenciꝰ varro dyed that was lxxx yere olde & x. Virgilius mar [...]o the poete of mantua dyed at Brundusium / whan he was aboute fyfty wynter old and was buryed in naples with [Page CLxxviij] such a wrytynge vpon his tombe that he made whan he dyed owthe [...] ouidius afterward as somme men say Mantua broughte me forth calabres rauessed me / holdeth now percinope / made leefe feldes and leders R ¶ This was wyse and connynge of Philosophye and vsed ofte nigromancy Therfor Al [...]xandre de naturis cerum tellith wonderly of him and sayth that napl [...]s was greued with a pestylence by blode soukers and virgyl threwe a golden blood souker in to the bottom of a pytte / And many yere after this golden blood souker was take vp oute of the pytte / & anone the cyte was ful of bloode soukers withoute remedye / til the golden blood souker was put in to the pytte agayne / It is also sayd there / th [...]t one marcellꝰ of naples myght not kepe fles [...]he long withoute appayryng / but virgyl by his wytte ordeyned re­medye ayenste that meschyef and closed flessh sauered / I not by what vertue of herbes soo that fyue honderd yere the flesshe was founde fressh and of good sauour. Also there it is sayd that vyr­gyle closed his orcha [...]d al aboute with ayer in stede of a wal· And he made a brygge of ayer and vsed to go ouer that brydge whan and whyder him lyked / There it is sayde also that he bylde that noble paleys at rome· in the which were sette al the ymages of prouinces and of londes Hugo sayth the same and put [...]et [...] more therto of collosens that ymage of the sonne owther of rom [...] Loke more herof in the fyrst book in the chapyter of Rome / Pol libro primo / Me sayth the poete of mantua that is vyrgyl axed of marcellus of napl [...]s the neuewe of Augustus. wherf [...]re [...]e slough many byrdes and whether hym were leuer be shapen to a byrd to take byrdes owther to a flye to take & slee flyes / he tolde this to his graūtsi [...] augustus & by coūseylle of him he chesse to be made a flye that he myght dryue al the flyes oute of naples Herby it semeth that the comune profyt shold be put bifore euery werk / Varrus and tuctu virgyls felawes by commaundement of Augustus amended vyrgyls booke Eneydos· netheles vpon suche a condicion that they shold put no thynge more therto This yere Saynt marie crystys moder is born. hir fader was Ioachim of the lygnage of Iuda and hir moder was anna Isachars doughter of the lygnage of leuy ¶ R ¶ Here take heede as Ierom sayth that [...]nna and emerea were twey sustres ¶ Of Emerea cam Elyzabeth Iohan baptiste moder ¶ Also Anna was firste wedded to Ioachym and had by hym marye Cristes moder / ¶ And she was afterwarde wedded to cleophas and [Page] had by hym marye cleophe that was wedded to alphens and of hem come Iacobus minor / the lasse Iames called Alpheus / And Symon cananeus Iudas thaddeus and Ioseph otherwise callyd barsabas but in historia ecclesiastica Eusebius libro. 2 ca 2 Seyth that Iacobus minor the lasse Iames was cleped our lordes broder / for he was the sonne of Ioseph the spouse of marie But that is not comynly holden Also Anna was wedded to Salome and had by hym marye salome that was wedded to Zebedeus and had by hym the more Iames & Iohan Euangelist The fyrst marye that was cristes moder was wedded to Ioseph the forsayde cleophas broder Gaufr and Alfr ¶ Kinbe [...]nus tenancius sonne regned in Brytayne and gate twey sonnes guiderius and aruyragus Oracius flactus and Satiricus seuen & fyfty yere olde dyed at Rome the xxxvj yere of themperour augustus and the xiiij yere of Augustus marcus / Porcius Cato Latinus that was declamator a grete doctor and Seneca the philosophres felawe slough hym self for noy. & sorowe of a double quarteyne ¶Marianus libro secundo In the one and fourty yere of Augustus in the seuenth moneth that is september in the enleuēth day of the mone the xxiiij day of september on a thursday Iohan baptist was conceyued and there after two honderd dayes lxxv on a fryday he was born And soo he went bifore crist in his conceyuyng in his byrth in his baptisinge in his pre­chyng and in his dyeng / for he must wane and crist must waxe and encrease· For a woman goth with childe from the concepcion to the byrth two honderd dayes lxxvj / soo many dayes crist had in his moders wombe· though not alle women goo so longe with child as seynt Austyn meaneth de ciuitate dei libro quarto capi­tulo quinto. But Iohan had twey dayes lasse in his moders wombe ¶ Also Iohan was born whan the day bygan to shorten or wane And crist whan the day bigan to waxe long Also Iohan was buryed without hede & in crist was no bone broken

¶ Explicit liber tercius

¶ Incipit Liber quartus

OCtauianus Augustus bygan to regne in marche / In the begynnyng of his xlij yere in the yere of herodes / xxxj / in the thyrdde yere of the Olimpias nyne score and ten after the buyldyng of the Cyte of Rome / vij C / yere & fyue af­ter the concepcion of Iohan baptist the sixth moneth the xxv day of marche in a frydaye the tenth day of the mone the twelue in­diction at nazareth in galylee crist was conceyued of the virgi­ne marie Iosephs spouse Treuisa The grekes vsed somtyme turnemences dedes of myghte and of strengthe atte fote of the h [...]lmons olimpus ones in fyue yere and named suche dedes & pla­yes olimpias And also the first fiue yere of suche playes they named the first olimpias And the second fyue yere of suche dedes & playes the second olimpias And the third fiue yere the thyrdde olimpias / & soo forth of al other And for crist was conceyued in the twelfthe indiction that is the menyng in twelue yere of the indiction. therfor take hede that the indiction is the tyme of fyften yere for whan the Romaynes had wonne many prouinces and londes they had of eueryche londe that they had wonne thre maner trybute in fyften yere and clepyd the xv yere indicti­on and the fyrst / v / yere of the indiction the Romaynes had brasse to trybute for to make armour & the second / v / yere they hadde siluer for to pay knyghtes & the thirdde & the last fyue yere of indiccion they had gold to the tresory of rome / Petrus / Criste was conceyued ful man in soule and in flesshe soo that the shappe of his lymmes and of his body myght not be seen with mānes eye & so endeth the / v· age of ye world as it were the age oft greued with care & with wo from the transmigraciō of iewes vnto crist that is frō march bifore brēning of the tēple that was don in haruest vnto march in ye xlij yere of augustꝰ vnder xiiij gnaciōs & & cōteyneth / v.C yere & xlj so seith bede· Is [...]d seith v C yere & xlv Elporicius seith· v.C four score & ix· But the veryest acoūtes of all saith v C yere lxxx & xj / for Isidre in cronike of his v booke hath one leped ptholomeus filometor bitwene tholomeꝰ epipha­nes & tholomeus eugetes the second / & ofte he ou (er)lepith tholomeꝰ Sother in the second [...] ordre of his regnynge that regned after that his moder was slayne eyghte yere and the sixthe age of the world beginneth from crist the age is not certaine of generaciōs nowther of yeres but it shal be ended as it were by deth the last age of all the world Sōme wol mene that the sixthe age of the world bigan at the incarnacion of crist by the which incarnaciō [Page] criste vysyted vs and cam doune from heuen / Somme acounten the sixth age of the world from the byrth of crist. & for that auctoryte of the apostle whan plente of tyme come god sende his so­ne born of a woman / Somme acounte from the cristnyng of crist for the vertu that was yeuē vnto the water to bryng forth children goostly whan the circumsicion bygan to cease. Sōme acoūte from cristes passion for thanne was opened the yate of paradyse Than the yeres from the begynnyng of the world that was the xiiij daye of Apryl in the whiche daye the world began vnto the incarnacion of crist were fyue thousand and two honderd yere soo seith orocius / But the comyn calculyng seyth fyue thousand & C yere four score and sixtene / Marcius seyth fyue thousasand an / C yere and nyne / the fyrste Adam synned in a friday and dyed in the same fryday after nyne honderd yere and xxx. and in suche a fryday the second Adam that is crist toke flesshe & bloode and en­ded his fastynge and suffred dethe for mankynde / & in the same houre of the fryday that adam was put oute of paradyse right in such an houre the theef was brought in paradise / Marianus libro secundo· It is nought ayenst this that holy chirche holdeth that the fyrste adam was made of erthe in the ix daye byfore apryl. & crist conceyuid the vij day to fore Apryl ffor the nyght of the ix / day bifore the first day of apryl that come after the day that adā was made ynne is now made by cristes passion the nyght of the viij / day of april that goth byfore the day / ffor the / viij / day bifore april of his first partye is made the ix daye byfore april & of his last partye that is the nyght in the whiche crist was holden and buffeted and scorned. is made the vij day a fore apryll / than it fo­loweth that crist suffred the ix day / the viij / day & the vij· day afore Apryl. that maye be shewed by another reson / For euery yere the letter of the day chaungeth in the kalender / for ther is one lettre more than / lij / wekys. ¶It is no wonder though the fryday that was in the begynnynge of the worlde the nynethe day afore Apryll Whan Adam was made fylle after so many yeres the seuenth day afore Apryl whan Criste suffryd dethe that holdeth and approueth loore of greete men Auctoryte of hooly Chirche. and certayne essaye of calcalers 3 ¶ But as seynt Austyne sayth aboue / Ayenst reson no sobre man demeth noo Cristen man demeth ayenste holy wrytte / noo possible man demeth ayenst holy chirche Also here take hede that seynt Austyn sayth that criste laye in the herte of the erthe thre dayes and thre nyghtes / but [Page CLxxx] not all fulle and hoole thre dayes and thre nyghtes / For Criste laye in his graue· but fourty houres / So that he laye in his gra­ue in the laste ende of the fyrste day for to acounte the first daye of four and twenty houres with the nyght that was to the ffry­daye that criste deyd ynne. And crist laye in his graue hooly all the seconde daye and in the first partye of the thyrdde day And so seynt austyn sayth that yche of these thre dayes had his nyght Soe that the nyght passed a fore the daye / therby it semeth that the mayster of the storyes sholde not be folewyde / there he sayth that the nyght that was bitwene the saterday and the sonday of the resurection was come bothe to the saterday and also to the sonday ¶Lucas and beda Thanne marie aroos after that she had conceyued and come in to Zacharyes cyte four myle oute of Ie­rusalem and was there thre monthes and serued her cosyn elyzabeth tyl that she had a childe. And than mary wente ayene in to her owne hows in to nazareth ¶Lucas Than wold not her spouse Ioseph̄ take her sekerly to his wyf for she was founde with child til the aungel charged hym in his slepe that he shold take her withoute drede ¶Lucas / That tyme come out a maundement from cesar augustus for to descryue all the worlde Petrus Cesar wold wete the nōbre of londes of the world that were subvet to rome & also the cytees of euery londe & the nombre of pollys of euery cite & bad that out of subarbes of cit [...]es of smal tounes & grete & oute of euery countray & kyth euery man shold departe home to his owne cyte that he come of & had of his byrth / & euery man shold take a penny of siluer of the valewe of the ten pens that were tho vsed to the styward of the prouynce & knowliche him self. subget to themperour of rome· Lucas / Therfor ioseph̄ went oute of nazareth in to bethlehem that was his cite with his wyfe mary that was with childe for to knowleche there / & there mary was deliud & had a childe. Petrus / Than in the ende of xlij yere of augustꝰ the saterday at nyght that than folowyd the day the xiiij yere of age of mary ye vij / day afore ianiuere crist was born at bethlem. & than the viij day after he was circumcided in a sonday / the xij day after the byrth was the epyphany & fell in a friday the vj day of Ianiuere than come the kinges & worshipped crist & after that xl dayes after the natiuite in a thursday the second day of feuerere crist was presented in the tēple inmind therof is candelmasse day / After that by warnyng of the Angel that warned ioseph in his sleep he fledde in to egypte with his moder [Page] And Ioseph was there six yere vnto herodes deth Herodes cast for to slee alle the children by cause of crist. for he wold be seker of hym amonge other ¶ Whan Criste entred in to egypte the mawmettes ouerthrew and fille doun R ¶ Than to the seuēth day afore apryll that was the fryday in the whiche criste was conceyued to the nyght of the sondaye in whiche crist was borne / were to honderd dayes thre score and sixtene the whiche nombre of dayes maketh nyne monethes of the mone and six dayes / So that euery moneth be of thyrtty dayes as men acounted in old tyme These nyne monethes and six dayes ben assigned to wo­men that goth with childe as yet were ten monethes though not all women goo with child to this sixte day / As yet was sothe of seynt Iohan baptiste and of seynt mary that had one daye lasse than crist in the moder wombe R ¶And for of the comyng to gyders of yeres of criste and of kynges the begynnyngys and the endes ben vncerteyn and ful oft falle grete doutes in acoun­tynge of yeres. And also of the yeres of our lord / what yere he was baptysed· what yere crist suffred deth ¶ Auctors speken dyuersly / therfor for to put away al maner doute take hede by bedas loore libro de temporibus. that the Romaynes byfore numa pompilius tyme bygan the yere in marche as the hebrewes don But from numaes tyme that put two monethes to the yere Ia­nyuere and feueryere / the Romaynes bygynne the yere in the begynnyng of Ianyuere / Holy chirche in the west londes folowith them in the comyn kalender and in the yere that is moost vsed

But the grekes that brought vp olimpias begynnen the yere from the shortest day of the wynter ¶But the hebrewes beginnē the yere in marche whan the day and the nyght ben lyke long / for that tyme the world was firste made ¶ But the Egypcians by­gynnen the yere from heruest ¶ Men of the eeste londes as Ara­bes and caldeis begynnen the yere after the gadrynge of wyne and corne and of fruyte whan the tethenges ben brought in to the temple in the begynnynge of october whan the day and the nyght ben y lyke longe in heruest tyme as yet semeth [...]zechielis vision theer he speketh of the fourth moneth and the fyfthe day of the moneth amonge them october was the firste moneth & Ianyuere the fourth R / ¶It is sayd that dyuerse men haue dyuerse begynnynge of yeres and yet ouer that cometh dyuerse yeres by some happe that ther falleth and begynneth in dyuerse tymes of the yere that we moost vse as yet is of yeres of kingis [Page] that begynnen to regne in dyuerse tyme of the yere that we most vse yet we acounte the yeres of oure lord in twey maner wyse / other by his byrthe or by his age. ¶ And also while crist was born in the ende of the yere that we vse by the sonne / he had of the first yere of his byrthe but seuen dayes from the natyuy [...]e to yeres daye But the fyrst yere of his age of twelue monethes by his cours from the fyue and twenty day of december to the same day twelue monethes is fulfilled the second yere of his birth And soo in the fyrst yere of his age he fulfylled almoste two yere of his byrth / And the second yere of his byrth is the fyrste yere of his age therfor yet is that the yeres of the byrth of our lorde by the cours of the sonne be nygh four and thyrtty yere & an half and the yeres of his age nyghe thre and thyrtty yere & an half and he was baptysed in his / xxx / yere of age and the xxxj yere of his byrthe for to acounte that yere with the last partye that was almoost an half yere It is sothe that criste prechid four yere and specially thre yere and an half by the Gospel of seynt Iohan· And so crist suffred deth in the xxxiij yere of his age and in the xxxiiij yere of his byrth ¶ R Than in the two and fourty yere of Octauianus in the which yere crist was born bygan in marche and endeth in marche Therfor that yere bygan in the thirdde yere of Olimpias nyne score and fourten & endeth in the fourthe yere of the same olimpias in the moneth of marche And fo [...] the wysedome of our lord ordeyned his byrth there the grekes begynnen the yere with the olimpias / therfor the yeres of oure lord bygynne and ende with [...]he Olimpias But the yeres of kynges and of Emperours begynne and ende certaynly but right selde· therfor it is hard to acounte them with olimpias owther with yeres of oure lord for they begynne ofte in one yere of the olimpias and ende in another Than the kingdome of Augustus is acounted in march ¶And crist beginneth his first yere of his byrthe in the ende of augustus two & four­ty yere / than the xlij yere of Augustus bigynneth in the fyrst yere of the age of criste and the xliij yere of Augustus in the se­cond of the age of crist and is xliiij yere in the thyrdde and soo forthe

¶Sequitur Capitulum secundum

[Page]WHanne oure lord was born a welle of oyle sprang by yōde Tiber oute of the tauerne emeritoria and ranne al a day & a cercle was seen aboute the sonne ¶Treuisa Knyghtes of Ro­me after sixty yere lefte dedes of armes and were callyd knightes of the cheualrye emerytoria and spende what they had in a tauerne beyonde Tiber / And therfor that tauerne was called taberna emeritoria Marcus ¶ The ymage of gold felle doune that Romulus had sette in his paleys and seyd hit shal not falle til a mayde bere a childe Also the temple of pees fylle doune in Rome / and / Ierom vpon that worde lyght is aryse to the right­ful sayth that al the Sodomytes in al the world were destroyed ¶ Petrus Whyle herodes arayde for the children deth he was sompned by amandemente of cesar for to come to Rome for to answer to the pointes that his owne sonnes put vpon him Alysan­der and Aristobolus For ther were thre herodes of grete name for her euyl dedes· take hede that the fyrst was herodes Ascolemta / And had that name of the cyte Ascalon for he fulbylte that cite. And in this herodes tyme Criste was born and the children were s [...]ayne ¶The second hete herodes Antipas and was the first herodes sonne In his tyme Iohan baptist was byheded and Crist suffred deth The thirdde hete herodes agrippa Aristobolus sone / Aristobolus was the first herodes sonne· ¶ This herodes Agrippa slowe ¶Iames and prysonned peter / Therfor ben ver­sus made ¶Ascalonita sleth children and Antipas I [...]han b [...]p­tist· Agrippa slow Iames and prisonned peter / The fryste he­rodes whan he sawe that his sonnes Alisandre and Aristobolus stroof the [...]older with her fader for the herytage of the kingdome by cause of theyr lettrure / he had indignacion therof and fonded to put his eldest sonne antipater afore them bothe while they treted of their fader is deth they were put away and wente to cesar for to plaine of the wronge that their fader had do them The meane tyme the thre kingis come to Ierusalem and come not a­geine to herodes by the same wey [...] / Herodes trowed that they had begiled him & [...]orn [...]d again ashamed / therfore he withdrowe his will / and slowe not the children for to doo hem to deth / But f [...]r the citacion of cesar / he wente to Rome and come by tharses And brente her shippes for the kingis come ouer see therinne / Than after a yere and somwhat more of dayes after the birthe of c [...]ste he come from Rome and was acorded with his sones· And therfore he was the bolder / And helde the more sure the [Page CLxxxjij] kyngdom and slowe alle the children of bethlem aboute the age of crist that he wyste was then xij moneth olde vnto two yere olde and with ynne that is to menynge from the children of two yere olde to the children of one nyght old ¶ Amonge the whiche one of his owne children was slayne that was parauenture take to norysshyng But methodius sayth that. that was doon by goddes owne dome and his ordenaunce for he that had be refte soo many men / theyr children sholde be by refte of his owne children all so / For his sones Aristobolus and alysaundre were efte suspecte For they had byhote mede to their. faders barbour· for to kytte her faders throte whan he were ashauyng· and sayd that me shold not truste in an old man / that died his hoore lockis / for [...]e wolde seme the more yongly / Therfor his fader was wroth and slewe both his owne sonnes ¶ Also for he was a boute for to put his sone herodes Antipa in the kyngdome and fauered and loued herodes Agrippa and his sister / herodyas as fader shold His eldest sonne Antipater that he hadde byfore hand ordeyned to the kyngdome was wroth and fonded with venym [...] his fader. but herodes was ware therof and put hym in prysonne Me sayth that cesar herde therof and sayd· Me were l [...]uer be he­rodes swyne than his sonne / for whan he was proselytus [...] s [...]a­red swyne and slewe his owne sonnes ¶ Treui [...]a Take he [...]de that proselytus is he that torneth from one lawe to another and specially he that torneth to the lawe of Iewes from another / as did herodes and soo he was proselitus somtyme ¶ Thanne it foloweth in the story / whan herodes was thre score yere old and ten he felle in a sekenesse of a stronge feuer / and was tormented with ydchyng that sesed not with swellyng of feet with wormes that wellyd and sprange oute of his pryuey harnoys with stenche that myght not be suffryd with puffynge and bloweyng and grete hastynge of brethe with a greuous and stronge cogh ofte bre­kyng of soore sykyngys Than phisiciens bathed hym in oyle And he was born forth as though he were dede / but for he vsed to pare an appel and ete it after al other mete. he toke the knyfe & wold haue styked hym self but one of. his cosyns let hym and rered a crye· by the which crye sprange tydynges and noyse of the kynges dethe / thanne Antipater in prysonne herde therof / & made grete ioye And by cause therof he was anone slayne Petrus 46 That yere Iohan euangelist was born ¶ Hero­des after the sleyng of his sones had the d [...]oposye with wormes [Page] wellyng oute of the rotyng of his pryuy stones and dyed wrechidly the yere of his kyngdome seuen and thyrtty ¶ He was most vngracio [...]s in homly thynges and happy in other thynges And for to make the Iewes make sorowe f [...]r his deth whether they wolde or noo he [...]ad in his d [...]ynge slee al the noble mennes children of Iewry Eusebius libro primo capitulo septimo ¶ The genelogyes of the hebrewes and rekening of kynred of other nacions were wryte in bookes in the preuiest libraries of the temple / And herodes bad brenne al suche bookes And hoped therby to be holden a noble man and Gentyl / yf he that was an alyen and not gentilman were conteyned in none suche bookes Nethel [...]s there were many men that had at hoome suche bookes other suche genologyes in mynde / and by them come to vs r [...]dy rekenyng of kynred ¶ Petrus 6 [...] The first herodes sonne arche­laus and herodes stryue afore cesar for the herytage of the kyng­dome· than cesar by counseyl of the senatours toke to Archelaus vnder the name of tetrarcha half the Iewry and Idumea the other halfdele of the Iewry he deled at tweyne & toke galyle to herodes Antipa Ituria and dyacomtidis to his broder philip and so Archelaus was made dyarchus but neuer monarchus / but by comyn speche and by his owne boost Treuisa Dyarchus is he that hath twey deles owther the half dele of a kyngdome & monarchus is he that hath the kyngdome all hoole and tetrarcha is he that hath the fourth dele of a kyngdome / Than it foloweth in the story / that yere crist come agayne oute of egypte / the child Iesus was foūde in the temple sittynge and apposyng doctours Archelaus was ofte accused of the Iewes and put oute in vy­an that is in the Royalme of ffraunce And in his stede for to a legge the outrage of the kyngdome of Iewes were made foure kyngis and were callyd trirarche / that yere cesar Augustus dyed in campania in the moneth of september whan he hadde regned six and fyfty yere and an half the yere of his age thre score and sixten And was slayne by treason of his wyf linia / owther by venym as somme men wolde mene / Netheles al the yere seuen & fyfty is acounted to the kyngdome of octauianus Augustus ¶ Eutropius libro septimo

¶ Capitulum tercium

THis Augustus was so loued amonge straunge nacions / that the scites and the Iuwes that knewe not a fore honde the name of the Romaynes sente hym messagers and gyftes And many kynges bylde cytees in worship of hym and called the cytees cesareas Also kynges wente oute of hir owne lon­des clothed as lordes of Rome And wolde renne by his chaare· And atte last he hatid soo werre and stryf that he wold neuer werre ayenste man withoute a rightful cause And he sayth that it was the doyng of a proude booster and of a lyght wytted man for to breke surte in stryf and disease of the people for couetyse of worship and of laureal leues withoute ony fruyte ¶ Also he sayd that no werre shold be meued withoute cause and grete profyt lest grete boost wonnen by lytel profyte faire as a golden fisshoke / the lesyng therof maye be quyt by no wynnyng of takynge of fysshe. he was also mylde to the cytezeyns / And trewe to his frendes / Selde he wold receyue frendship / and to holde frendship he was trewe and stydfast / he was kunnyng in arte and science And specially in fayre spekyng. he was soo besye that noo daye sholde him escape / that he wolde rede wryte or declare rightwyse­nesse ¶Ysidorus libro primo He brought vp first this lettir X Me wrote therfor / C / R / S / And he fonde it vp skylfully for the figure / therof is like the crosse of crist that was born in his tyme ¶ Eutropius He echid the cyte of Rome with fayr howses & had ioye to saye I fonde a cyte of brande tile and I leeue a cy­te of marbel· He was fayr in al his body but his eyen were fayrest of al ¶ But soo grete and soo fayr a man was not al with oute vyces and synne· For he was angry and myght not suf­fre wretheful and pryuely enuyous and openly disseyuable coueytouse of lordship and player at the dyces· and though he were a grete eter and drynker of wyne yet he absteyned him from slepe and vsyd lechery / so that name and fame was coūted therof amonge the comyn peple ¶For he was wonte to lye bytwene twelue suche that wolde lyghtly assente to synne and bytwene twelue maidens also and he dide away his wyf Scribonia. and wedded one linia as it were by graunt and assente of her husbād His sones were tiberius and drusus and though he were a gret [...] lecherour / yet he toke grete wrech of lechery / Seneca· The romains sawe that this was so fayre and wolde haue made hym a god / [Page] but he forsoke hit and wold not assente And axed therof counseylle of sibilla tibur [...]ina and after the fastyng of thre dayes she answerd hym in this maner / Token of dome erthe shal waxe wete by swote. oute of heuen shal come the kynge that last shall euer ¶And so forth of many versis that be not [...]ere wreton

Augustinus libro decimo octauo capitulo 24 ¶ The heede lettres of the versis speketh this menynge / Iesus crist goddes sonne sauyour ¶Marc ¶ Anone heuen opened and cesar sawe a faire mad [...] stond vpon an aulter and holde a child in her armes and he herde this wys / this is the aulter of goddes sonne And anone cesar fylle doune to the erthe vpon the floore of his chambre there was afterward bylte a chirche of our lady and is callid in ara celi that is in the aulter of heuen Gal tercio Tibe­rius told to Augustus that me spake moch of euyl by hym al day ¶ And he answerd and sayde We take none indygnacion though men speke euyl of vs / It is ynow to vs that they may doo vs none harme Pol libro tercio capitulo 13 ¶ Antonius despysed augustus kynne in the moder side and callyd hym ba­kar by kynde And Augustus louwgh and lete the same Antonius be wedded to his suster· ¶ Also ones for the shortenesse of his body one callid hym dwarf / I must quoth he vse wyde hos [...]n and shoon Marc in Satur ¶Augustus passed by the wye & one callyd hym a tyraunt / And I were a tyraunt sayde he / thou woldest not calle me so / It was sayd in Rome that noo mā sholde be doo to dethe· nowther to p [...]yne as ofte as Augustus entred in to the cyte ¶Also somtyme one come in Rome that was moost lyke Augustus in al maner poyntes and was broughte byfore augustus / and augustus aresoned him and sayd / say me yonge man / was thy moder euer in Rome / nay quoth he· but my fader was ful ofte ¶ The emperour was not wroth therfore but made him ryche and sent hym agayn Seneca de clemencia Whan Cynnas t [...]son was knowe / Cesar wakyd all that nyghte thanne his wyf linia spake to him in this maner. Take counseyll of a woman and doo by woman [...] counseill and doo as phisicians vse to do· there comyn medycynes that me vse may not helpe / they essay ofte medycynes that be contrary Cinnas treson is kno­we now / he may not greue the / foryeue hym / than the trespas / he may profyte to thy loos and to thy fame ¶C [...]sar was glad of the counseyll and of this rede / and bad brynge Cynna afore him at morow and spake to hym in this maner ¶ Cynna. the I [Page] the fonde myne enemye in pauilons and tentes and saued thy lyf I graunted to the rentes and rychesses and made the homly with me / Nowe efte I gyue thy lyf / first to myne enemy· And nowe to the traytour and mansleer· From this day forthward bytwene vs frendship shal bygynne / Nowe stryue we whether I haue gyue the thy lyf by a better feyth than thou owest me▪ other than thou owest me better fayth than thy lyf is saued by / Afterward he made him consul and helde hym his trusty frende And atte last cesar was made his heyr Marc in S [...]tur An olde man that was in peryll of dome came to Augustus and prayd hym of help for to stonde by hem and Augstus ordeyned hym anone a noble aduocate / than the old man cryed & seid O [...]esar whan thou were in peryll in the batail of actia / I soughte no mā to put in my stede but I my self fought for the & shewed hym the woundes that were seen in his bodye. than cesar was ashamed & come ānon and pleted for him not only that he wold not be holden proude / but also for he wold not be holden vnkynde ¶ Also cesar came from the vyctory of actia and one met hym with a popeniay on his hāde that he taught to saye / heyl cesar victor and emperour / the emperour wondred and bought that myry byrde for twenty thousand of pens / Also a pye [...] grette hym in the same maner· and he wondred and bought hym also ¶ And soo dyde a stare and wondred and bought the stare / than a pour souter fonde to teche a chough to speke and saye the same salutacion And whan he had spente wha [...] he had and the chough answerd not / he vsed for to say allas al is lost trauayl and c [...]ste· But at [...]e laste the chough bygan to speke and sayde the same salutacion & cesar passed by and herde it and sayd we haue at home suche sa­lutacions ynow / Alas quoth the chough as it fylle in the mynde al is lost trauail and cost thanne cesar lough & bought the chough derrer than ony of al the other Also a greke that was a grete maker vsed to make noble dytees in preysyng of cesar and wrote and gaue hem to cesar. And whan he had ofte doo so without ony mede Cesar made suche endytynge of praysyng and gaue to the greke that hadde preysed hym / the greeke radde the dyte with semblaūt and with voys & profered to gyue cesar money / than al men lough and had good game And cesar badde his spenser gyue the greeke a grete dele of money ¶Eutropius libro septi­mo· Atte laste cesar deyde at nola in campania and al men cryede & sayd wold god that he had neuer be born other that he neuer [Page] shold dye. the man was lyke god in bataylle was noman more gracious nowther more skylful in pees ¶ Pol libro sexto Augustus wolde saye the same counseyll is ayenste the enemye / that is ayenst sekenesse for they ben more ouercome with hongre than with Iren Also he made his sonnes vse them to renne to lepe and to vse of castyng / And he made his doughters vse them to wolle crafte to spynne on a distaf and to make brede for they shold yf them neded lyue by crafte

¶ Capitulum quartum

TIberius was augustus stepsone. and wedded his doughter and bigā to regne in the moneth of september in the which moneth Augustus was dede and tiberius regned thre and twē ­ty yere and somwhat of dayes Eutropius This first gouerned the empyre with grete sobrenesse So that whan somme men counseylled hym to take grete tribute of prouynces and londes He answerde and sayd it falleth for a good shepherde to shere his sheepe and not for to swolewe them / this was first wyse and re­dy ynow and gracious in Armes ¶A man of grete cunnynge of letture and of castyng euer awaytynge and aspyeynge and what he nold / he made hit as though he wold ¶To them that he loued he made it as though he were wrothe And to them that he hated he semed goodly / he wold y [...]ue better answer and coun­seyl sodenly and withoute auisemente / than with grete auisement He sent [...] for somme kynges and made them come to hym by flateryng [...] and sente them neuer agayn ¶ This was called Tiberius nere· but mynstrals callyd hym a faier name Tiberius mero for he was ofte wyne dronke ¶ Also this by cause of somme lettres that pilat sente hym wolde haue be worshipped as god al myghty / But the Senatours sayd nay / and therfore he exyled many of the elder men and chees hym counseyllours and lefte vnnethe tweyne of them in good heele eer be were Emperoure / he was wyse and redy in Armes ¶But afterward he werryd by messagers ¶Pol libro te [...]cio capitulo quarto ¶He was gre­ [...]ly to blame in many of his dedes but ayenst chydyng he was s [...]ydfaste and sayde that mennes tonges and hertes sholde be [...] in the cyte ¶Iosephu [...] This was stydfast in all his dedes. So that vnnethe that he wolde chaunge procuratours that he hadde [Page CLxxxv] made ones in prouynces and in londes ¶ Me axed why that he dyde soo· he answerd and sayd that in that doynge he spared the peple for euer the lasse tyme quoth he procurators haue lo [...]dship ouer the people they ben the more greuous And preued that by ensample of one that was wounded and sette i [...] the sonne and wold not doo awaye the flyes that sate on his woundes / thanne come one of his frendes and droue away the flyes for he w [...]n [...]e that the seke man myght not suffre for feble ¶ Thou hast doone euil quoth the s [...]ke man for the flyes that thou hast dryue away were ful and therfore they ete wel the lasse / But nowe comen hongry flyes and wole byte ful soore / So newe officers greuē wors the peple that is vnder them / Ysid li / 6 / ca. 16 / Me s [...]yth that in tiberius tyme a craftis man had fonde vp a crafte of t [...]m­pryng of glas to make the glas towy now to bende and wynde and to reche out with strokes of hamers / the emperour brake som of his glas / and he amended it agayne and bende it and bowyd it as it were tyn / than themperour lerned of this craftes man that ther was none other man alyue that so coude tempre glas And bad smyte of the craftis mānes hede / for yf that craft were knowen / gold and other precious metal shold be of no prys Ouidius naso the poete dyed in the ylond pontus besides the sarmat [...]s and the gothes the fourth yere of his exylynge ¶ This made fyrste a booke of the crafte of loue and made the romaynes wroth with him for he made yonglynges to loue wyues to moche Therfor he sayd in his boo [...] de ponto / naso not wyse ynow techith sleyght [...] of loue crafte / ylle pryse of loore. therfore than had the mayster / Me sayth that atte last ouidius laye by the empryce & therfor he was exyled / that yere pilatus was made Iugge in the Iewry of his byrth & of his lyuyng. me redeth many wondres ffor a kyng that hete tirus gate a sone on one pila a milwardes douht that hete atus & the sone had a name made of the name of his moder pila & the name of his graūt [...]ir atus-& so he was cal­led pylatus / this pylat was sente to his fader in his iiij yere of age· his fader had a sone by her yt was his rightful wif / yt which sone & pilat were of one age. but this lauful sone had maistrye of pilatus in euery place▪ & stryf / therfor pilatus was wroth & slew his own broder. therfor the king that was his fader [...] p [...]atus to rome to lye there to plegge for tribute yt he shold euy yere pay to ye romains / also the same time ye kinges sone of f [...]aū [...]e lay in plegge at rome & pilatꝰ slewe hym for he had ofte [...] [Page] in playes and in stryf▪ ¶ Therfor the romaynes demed that pylatus was profitable to the empyre to hastyse frowarde men & sterne and sente hym in to the ylond of pontus to be Iugge to chastyse men that were there / that wold with good wylle ouer them no Iugge receyue nother suffre amonge them / But that shrew pylatus chastysed them with punysshyng with manaces and with fayer byhestes therfor he had a name of that ylond & was callyd poncius pilatus / Herodes Antippas had ioye of his wykkednesse and sente messagers and giftes and drowe him to hym and made him prynce vnderr hym in the Iewry But pilatus atte last gadred moche money and wente to Rome vn­wetyng herodes for to receyue the offyce of tiberius / that he helde of herodes And by cause therof they were enemyes herodes and pilatus to the tyme of cristes passion whan pilatus sente Ihesus clothyd in whyte to herodes That tyme tiberius cesar that was the emperour had an harde sekenesse and herde telle that at Ierusalem was a leche that heled seke men only with a wor [...]e Ther for tiberius sente one volucianus to herodes / that he sholde sende hym that leche Pilatus had xiij dayes auisement to geue his answer / for Ihs was afore honde nayled to the crosse The forseid volucianus toke a queyntaūce and knowlech̄ of a nobel womā that heet veronica So that he brought her to Rome to the emperour with her lynen clothe in the whiche clothe she had the printe and the lykenes of our lordes face ¶ The emperour beheelde this clothe and was hool anone. whan themperour wyst that pylatus had dampned crist / pylatus was take by amaundement of the empe [...]our & brought to rome byfore thēperour & had / on him cristes owne kyrtel that was withoute semes & was callid tunica īcōsutilis & pilatus was brought in this aray afore thēperour ones efte & the iij tyme. but no worde might be said yt him shold greue while he had on that cloth / but atte last by goddes wyll & coūseyl of sōme cristē mē that kyrtill was take of hym & than he was put in prison and there· he slow him self with his own hāde Of pylatus deth loke within in gayus last yere· Petrꝰ / That ty­me were thre sectes of iewes in the Iewry seuered & departed frō the comyn lyuyng of other men ¶ The sectes were Phariseis saduceyes and essayes that heete Assideyes also the phariseies wered & vsid hard clothing & scarsite of mete & of drinke. they determined moyses lawe by her ordenaunce & statutes. They bare scrowes in her forheede & in her lyfte armes & callyd [Page CLxxxvj] the scrowes philaterna In the scrowes were the teen commaun­dementes wrete in mynde of the lawe Also they had large hē mes / bounde with thornes that prycked them as they w [...]nte in theyr weye They withsayd neuer theyr souereyns Also they hoped in a rysynge of bodyes from deth to lyue / the saduceyes denyed the arysing of bodyes from dethe to lyfe & sayd that they noon aungels were / they trowyd that the soules dyed with the bodyes· They heelde only moyses fyue bookes And for they we­re to cruel and not compeynable amonge them self / they callyd them self saduceyes that is rightful / the esseyes lyued wel nygh in al poyntes as men of relygyon and forsoke wedlok. but it were fulselde· for they trowyd that noo woman was trewe to her husbond· her clothis were clene alwey they had no certayne cyte afore the sonne rysyng / they spak no thyng that was vnlauful they worshipped the sonne whan he dyde aryse / they spak not at theyr mete. they hated othes as it were for swerynge / they toke noman to theyr secte but by the essay of one yere if they toke ony of her cyte with synne / they putte hym awaye for to ete gras as beestes doen in penaunce to his lyues ende / though ten of them sate to geders none of them wold speke a worde withoute l [...]ue of the nyne / they wolde not spete in the myddel of the company [...] nother in the right side ¶They helde the saturday soo holy that they wold that day dresse no mete nother tende fire nother sette a vessel oute of one place to another / ¶ And also they wolde not cacke in the saturday Iosephus libro secundo ¶Other da­yes they wolde dygge the erthe withoute thwytel / and make hem a pytt and let fal here clothis about them and hele al about whan they wold cacke for me sholde wene that they dyde wrong to the sonne beme and whan they had cacked they wold fyl the pytte agayne with the same erthe that they had digged vp of the same pyt / these leued longest of al men for they lyued starsly and dede noo surfeet of mete and of drynke / They trowyd that al the soules were made atte begynnynge and put in bodyes whan it were tyme And somme of them wolde telle what was to come for they forsoke flesshely lykyn ge as it were an euyl do­yng And despysed ryches ¶Here lond and what they had was comyn amonge them alle / ¶ They bargayned not among them but· euery had frely of other what hym neded they rought not of none oynementes / [Page] They chaunged neuer hosen and shoon nother clothyng but whā they were y tore other spente / they helde hospytalyte / they hadde one maner mete / they prayd afore mete and after / In her hous was neuer herde crye nother noyse None of them shold not ge­ue withoute ordenaunce of the comyn spencis / they helde al theyr lawes strenger thā ony other he that sholde be receyued to abyde among them / after his yere of essaye he shold swere to kepe faith to god / rightwysenesse to men and obedyence to princes And yf it happed hym somtyme to be aboue and ouer other he shold not mysuse his power and his myght in damage and wrong of subgettes but he shold chastyse lyers with al his myght / To here dome sholde come no lasse than an honderd persones the dome of hem shold stonde stydfast and not be chaunged

¶ Capitulum quintum

FRom the fyften yere of tiberius to the fyrste yere of Adam for to acoun [...]e bakwarde were fyue thousande yeres so se­ith eusebeus and so many yeres make lx▪ yere of grace and so by his tale the sixtene yere of tiberius was the begynnyng of the yere of grace sixty and one / But the seuenty say that from Adam to the xv yere of tiberius [...]ere fyue thousande two honderd and xxv Bu [...] the hebrewes tellen fyue thousande. therfore somme men wol mene that that yere began the sixth thousande for than the circumsicion seesid and cristendom bygan ¶ Other begynne from thincarnacion of crist Also that yere Iohan began to preche and baptise and baptised crist the sixth day of Ianeuere the day of the shewynge of our lord / And that day twelue moneth he torned water in to wyn Petrus ¶ Therfore in olde bookes that day is callyd the day of shewynges in the plurel nombre for that day fyll many diuerse shewynges and had dyuerse names for in the same day in diuerse yeres were do thre grete shewinges the first hete epyphania and is a name made of epy that is a boo­ue & phanos that is shewynge a [...]t were a shewynge made frō a booue as it were a ste [...] the second hete theophania / & that name is made of theos that is god and phanos that is shewynge as it were shewyng made of god in baptising of crist by a douue· ¶ The thyrdde hete bethphania and that is made of bethe that is [Page CLxxvij] house and of phanos that is shewynge as it were a shewyng made in an hows by tornyng of water in to wyne ¶R And som men meene that that daye two yere was the myracle doo of the fyue loues and two fysshes and heete fagephania that name is made of fagyn that is ete and phanos that is shewynge / for that myracle was doo in fedynge of men ¶Also that seconde yere as Luke and Ierom sayth Crist bygan the thyrtty yere of age soo seyth the gospel Iesus was beginnyng as it were xxx yere Crisostimus marianus / ¶And comyn meenyng of hooly chirche. & Eusebius in historia ecclesiastica / Meneth that than crist bygā his one and thyrtty yere hool and as moche as was from the natiuite to the passion tyme / thanne crist▪ the monday nexte after his baptym was ladde in to wyldernesse by the spyryt / and bygan his fastynge and fastyd fourty dayes And ended his fastynge in a frydaye the xv daye of feuyre / that day he ouercam the deuil that temptid hym / in the whiche day the deuil had ouercome and supplanted Adam the firste man ¶ Than the nexte ester after as trewe loore telleth he drofe and chacid sellers and byers oute of the temple / In the same yere after he callyd and chees his disciples Andreu Petyr Philip Nathanael ¶The nexte yere after he torned water in to wyne in a xij day And after that be­da tellyth Crist and his disciples baptysed in the Iewery / And the next ester after Iohan was enprysonned ¶Also in a hooly feeste crist heled in a saturday one that had the palsey eyght and thyrtty yere And after that in the same yere he went vp in the hil there he chees the twelue Apostles and sente them for to pre­che And soo it semeth that thre gospelers that telle the doyng of crist / after the prisonyng of iohan baptist leueth vntold almoost the doyng of one yere afore the prisonyng / but iohan the euāge­list speketh lasse of other thynges & telleth the doyng & dedes how ihus torned water in to wyne nichodemus come to ihs by night & how ihs drofe out the sellers of the temple / after that atte third ester Iohn was biheded whā he had be prysoned al a yere· atte iiij Eester crist suffred deth / Petrus C / 11. The xj book ecclesiast [...]e historie tellith that Iohan was byheded at macheronta a castel of Arabia / His bodye was buryed at sebasten that is Samaria His heede was buryed at Ierusalem bysides Herodes howse· for dreede leest he wold aryse from deth [...] to lyue yf the hede were buryed with the body

Mysbyleuyd men deuyded his bones and threwe them abrode in [Page] Iulianus Apostatas tyme for they hadde enuye to the myraclis that he wrought / And they gadryd agayn the bones to gyders & and brente them and wynnewyd the askes away with the winde / that doyng somme men nowe acounteth as it were the second martirdome of the dede man / they wyst not what they dyde In the feest of his natyuyte while they gadryd his bones to ge­ders and brente them as ferforth as they myght ¶ And while mysbyleuyd men gadryd Iohans boones men of Ierusalem were medled amonge them and toke with them a greete dele of the bones amonge the whiche dele of the bones was the fyngre that Iohan shewyd crist with Afterward seynt tecla brought that fyngre vnto Alpes ¶ Alpes ben hye hilles in Lombardy side That fynger is now in moris mynyster. as it is sayd but the bones were sente to Athanasius bysshop of Alysaundre In marcianus the prynces tyme Iohan warnyd two monkys of his heede and tolde where it laye ¶ The monkes were of the londes and were come to Ierusalem for to bydde and praye Neuertheles the heede was longe lost by vnkunnynge and was leyde in a den in feniciā till that Iohan efte told where his he­de laye to marc [...]llus the Abbot that dwellyd in the same den / & than afterwarde the feest of the bihedyng bygā to be holden in the same cite the same day yt the hede was foūdē & take vp of the erth Other tellith that it is not the feest of the decollaciō of byhedyng but of the collection of the gadrynge of the boones that was ra­ther do and of the brennyng Thanne theodosius the emperour brought the hede to constantinople And thens it was brought in to ffraunce and is ofte shewed to pylgryms at Amyens

¶ Capitulum sextum

CRiste suffred dethe seuen dayes afore apryl / cassyodorus seyth· that daye was a greete Eclips of the sonne / Soo that none suche was a fore hond nowther after / soo that the ste [...]es were seen in heuē & erth schakyng In Bythinya were throw [...] doun many cytees / R / Also the stones were cloue / therfor it semeth that veynes & clyftes that now ben seen in quareis & in roches and in rokkes come of that erthe shakyng. for byfore that tyme onests were hoole withoute clyftes Ioseph̄ That yere in [Page CLxxvij] the whyte soneday preestes in the temphe had styrynges & noyse of places ¶ Thanne they herde a voys breke oute sodenly faste by the temple that sayd passe we oute of these seges ¶Also that yere aboute pentecost that is whitesonetyde the apostles ordeyned the lasse Iames Alpheus sonne bisshop of Ierusalem / he songe first masse among them & reuled the bisshoprych at Ierusalem thyrtty yere / there were ordeyned seuen dekens / steuen / philip Procorus Nychamor Timor permenas and nycholas· Nycholas [...] sto­de not as he sholde but he made his wyf comyn to al that wolde haue hir ¶ Eusebius in historia ecclesiastica libro tercio This nycholas had a fayr wyf and was blamed of the apos­tles as though̄ he were Ielous and he brought forth his wyf & yf ony man wold lye by her he wold suffre it In simpel and innocent doyng though somme folowyd dyuerse lechery / yet ny­cholas dide yet in despysyng of the vyse of Ielousy and not by wylle to teche men to desire flesshely lykyng and namely for his sonnes and doughters lyued chaste to her lyues ende and also [...]e hym self toke none other wyf after his fyrst wyfe R ¶ Of this Iames take hede that he had four surnames and so be is named Iacobus Alphay for he was Alpheus sone [...]ur lordes broder for he was moost lyke to oure lord in holynesse and in face So that many men were bygyled in the lykenesse of them two And therfor Iudas gaf the Iewes a signe of a cusse leste they were deceyued in takyng of crist ¶ Also he is called the lasse Iames for the other was Zebedeus sonne / though he were yonger than he for he was rather callyd of crist And is called the more Iames and that maner is vsed in the chirche of Rome and in many relygyons Soo that he that cometh first is called the more And he is called rightfull for the worthynesse of passynge holy­nesse This was alway holy and clene mayde from the tyme that he was first born / he dranke neuer wyne nother sider nother tasted flesshe yren come neuer on his heede / [...]e vsed neuer oyle ne­ther bathes. ffor grete knelyng his knees were as the soles of his fete / he al one had leue to entre in to the holyest place of the temple / Firste of al he songe a masse / In the good fryday whanne criste▪ dyed he made his auowe that he wolde neuer ete er Criste were aryse The peple fonded wel fast to touche the [...]emme of his clothis ¶ That yere bytwene the assencion that is hooly thursdaye and whytesonedaye Mathias was choosen and made Apostel in stede of Iudas the traytoure Of hem· it is wreton [Page] in a story / though the auctor therof be vnknowen A man wa [...] in Ierusalem that heete ruben as Ierom sayth of the lygnage of Isacar his wyf [...]ete ciborea· In a nyghte whan they had payed dette of wedlok eyther to other. the woman dremed that she hadde y bore an ylle sonne that shold he traytour of his owne peple The child was born and callyd Iudas and the fader and the moder were a grysed for to sle the child other for to norysshe him vp / that sholde destroye his owne peple / therfor they put hym in a lytel cryb shape as a bote and dide hym in to the see and so he come in to an Ilond that hete scariot / there the quene of the Ilōd hadde no children and fonde the cryb and the childe and feyned her self with child and laye and feyned that she had childe· But long after the quene conceyued and yede with childe by the king Whan the childe was born and come to age· Iudas greuyd him ful ofte and made hym wepe ful ofte but al for noughte / for it was not worth the while / Atte laste it come oute that [...] Iudas wa snot the kyngis sone ¶ And than he slowe pryuely the kinges sone and d [...]ad the peyne and fledde to Ierusalem with men that were trybutarye and put them to pilatus courte that was than Iustyser ¶ And for thynges that be lyke acorde to geders Iudas had sone grete fauour of pylatus ¶ In a day pylatus loked oute of his palays in to rubens Orchard that sothely was Iudas fader And Pylatus had lykyng to the Apples· therfor he sent Iudas to gader him of the Apples / than ruben come and mette hym and after the stryf and strokes Iudas vp with a stone and smote ruben on the heede and slowe his owne fader But Iudas fled pryuely away after that euil dede And ther for men trowyd that ruben was sodenly dede ¶ Than Pilatus gaue to Iudas al Rubens catel and he gaue cyborea to be Iu­das wyf Than in a day ciborea made grete mone bifore Iudas of her wrechyd and sorowful lyf / how she had put her yonge so­ne in to the see stremes How she lost her husbande sodenly / & how she was maryed agaynst her wylle And soo it was knowen that Iudas hadde slayne his owne fader and wedde his owne moder / therfore by counseyl of ciborea Iudas folowed crist / that his trespas were forgeue / And soo Iudas was criste pro [...]oure and his disciple ¶Also that yere after the election of mathias and after the sendyng of the holy goste er the Apostles wold go aboute in to dyuerse londes / they come to Ierusalem to geders / & made the crede and steuē was stoned to deth six dayes a [...]ore Ianyuere [Page CLxxxix] / That yere peter the Apostel Iones sone of the prouince of galylee of the strete bethsayda Andrews broder bygan to holde the bisshopes see in the eeste londes and was bisshop there four yere and song masses and sayde the pater noster ¶ Ieronimus de viris illustribus Whan peter come to antyochia & was bisshop there seuen yere· than he come to Rome / and was there fyue and twenty yere and seuen monethes / paul was conuerted And was with the disciples at damaske vnto after that he had recey­ued crystendom of Ananias and thens he wente to Arabia. & thens agayne in to· damaske· and made thre yeres that hooly wryte callyd many dayes there he was lete doune ouer the wall in a cupe and come in to Ierusalem for to see peter and was with hym fyftene dayes and callyd with hym of the gospel ¶ Afterward he come in to the countrees of Suria and of cicilia and of Assia and was there [...]ourten yere / And whan the xiiij yere was doon he come to the Appostles in to Ierusalem / than whan he had appeled he come to the emperour in to Rome. there without the cyte he hured a comyn bern and taught therinne the wordes of lyf· Amonge the whiche Seneca that was neroes Mayster visited paule not only mowth with mouth / but also with lettres and pistles Persius the poete was born Tiberius cesar deyde poysoned with venym the yere of his age thre score and eyghten as it were the fyrst day of october ¶Petrus capitulo sexto Tiberius knewe that he shold dye and called to him his neuews afore other noble men / Gayus his owne broders sone and tiberius that he loued mooste the sone of his owne sonne drusus and ordeyned that he wold a morwe ordeyne hym a successoure and prayd fyrst to her goddes / And he ordeyned by hym self to putte afore his owne neuewes He that come fyrste to hym a morowe and warned Tiberius pryuely that he shold come fyrst in al maner wyse / But he was recheles a morowe and wolde not come til he had ete And gayus come fyrst and had the empyre· kymbelinus kynge of Brytons dyed and lefte after hym twey sones Guyderius and Aruiragus but guiderius had the kyngdome / And warned trybute / and soo he made the Romayns arise ayēst hym

¶ Sequitar Capitulum septimum

[Page]GAyus Tiberius neuew of his broder germayn was callyd galygula for he was born in the hooste· He hadde the name of a knyghtes legge harneysed that heete galygula ¶This was Emperour after Tiberius and regned as it were four yere and nyne monethes and was an ydle disposed man And clensed al the shame of Tiberius / And made men calle hym god of heuen & of erth / therfor he made his ymage sette in the temple of Ierusa­lem. he lay by his owne sistres and gate a doughter on that one And laye by that doughter afterwardAnd atte laste he exyled his sustres that he had laye by ¶This the fyrst yere of his Empyre delyuerd herodes Agrippa oute of prysonne and made [...]im kyng of the Iewry Tiberius had prisoned herodes agrippa· the second yere of his kyngdome he exyled herodes Antippa [...] And herodyas that had lyued in spouse brech with herodes antipa and herodes agrippa accused them ¶The erthe swolowyd the wenche that tombled But gayus the thyrd yere of his empyre exyled Pilatus Iustyce of the Iewry and sent hym in to v [...]en that is in the royalme of fraunce in despyte of his kynge for he was born there The Iewes accused pylatus that he slowe mē gyltles & that he had set ymages of men of straūge nacions in the temple ayenste the wylle of Iewes ¶Also that he had take mony of the holy tresory and made a water condyte to his owne hous ¶ Also that he hadde take the stole of prysthode in to his owne hows and wolde not delyuere hit but for huyre to the prince of preestes in the holy dayes / Than be was put in prison and borewyd a knyfe for to pare an Appel and slewe hym self there with and with his owne hand / and was bounde to a grete stone and throwen in to tiber / than ylle spyrites made ioye with hym that ylle was also and made pestylence and grete rysynge of water and grete thondrynge aboute that place ¶Therfor the romaines drowe hym out of tiber & threwe hym in to rone at vien· that place was tho graunted the plase of corsinge And also hit hete vigenia as it were via that is a waye & of Iehenne that is the valey of children of depnesse ¶ But there fyll a pestylence also and the men of the place buryed hym at bosane / And there also men of the countraye were effrayed and dyde that body in a pytte that is byclipped al aboute with hilles There is yet harde gry­sely bere and noyse ¶In historia ecclesiastica it is redde that the Iuwes accused pilatus to tiberyus and that pilatus was bore to lugduns in fraunce ¶R And that eyther story may be sauede [Page CLxxxx] withoute with sayenge for to vnderstonde that he was born in to lugduns after the accusacion of the Iewes and that after volusianus was come agayn from Ierusalem / he callyd hym oute of the exylynge for to haue harder dampnacion ¶Eusebius and beda withness [...]th that Pilatus slewe him self with his owne hād

¶Capitulum Octauum

CLaudius the [...]ame of gayus and of drusus whan Gayus was slayne was made emperour by sleyhte and helpe of herode Agrippa and bygan to regne in lammesse moneth and regned as it were fyften yere The dedes of this be s [...]lde in mynde but that he made the Bryto [...]s subget for he gaue hym alway to mete and drynke and lechery oute of mesure And cast hym to make a lawe to excuse all that behynde let go a blaste / for somtyme he spared it to moch and fel in grete peryll ¶ Iosephus libro visesimo This claudius had thre wyues / the firste hete pet [...]na & he gate on her a doughter that hete Antompde / petina deyd and he wedded messalina / ¶ And gate on her a sone that hete britannicus and a doughter that heet octauia / his / thyrd wyf hete Agrippa germanicus doughter and she had a sone that heete nero Claudius wedded his doughter octauia to this nero and for loue that Claudius had to this Agrippina / he slewe hi [...] wif messalina and whan she was slayn claudius in triclinio sittyng at mete vsed for to speke as though he were out of mynde & axed why his lady messelina wolde not come ¶Agrippina drad leste B [...]tannicus the sone of messalina shold regne after his fader And therfor she poysened claudius for her sonne nero shold be Emperour· And nero quyt his moder that triacle whan he was Emperour· For he poysoned brytannicus and slewe his moder & his owne wyf octauia R Of the forseyd messalina speketh iuuenalis satiricus and sayth that [...]he was so lecherous that firste she dyde hir pryuely to the pryue harlattes place & / afterward she put her forth openly & went thens not fulfylde of the maner doynge but wery of trauaylle & also she exyted noble wyues to the same maner of doyng Beda libro primo capitulo quarto That yere was the grete honger in [...] that Agabus the pro­phete had prophecyed in Actibus Apostolorum ¶Petrus 81 [Page] While this hongre was stronge in euery place of Siria and in the Iewry moost / helene the quene of adyabenes come to Ieru­salem and bought corn al aboute for to susteyne nedy cristen mē at Ierusalem / and atte las [...] she made two vnryels and heete bu­rye therinne her body and her sonnes bodye the buryels beene yet seen / therfor many ben disseyued and trowith that there is the buryels of helene / constantyns moder· for mē rede of her that she come to Ierusalem and highte the cyte in many thynges Also that yere powle come to Ierusalem to talke with peter of the gospel. ¶Also that yere the fyftene day of Iuyll the Apos­tles were departed in to al the world aboute ¶ Than peter come to rome & sente marcial to lymonica & appollinaris to rauen and marcus in to egypte This marcus of leuyes kynde was peters sone by baptym and his disciple and come to Rome with peter Ther atte prayer of cristen men he wrote the gospel that peter a­lowed and approued and toke it to be rudde in chirches ¶Thanne marcus was sente in to Aquileya there he conuerted moche folke Atte last he was sente to Alexandria in Egypte and there he was doo to dethe / thanne aboute the yere of our lord iiij C thre score & seuen he was translated & brought frō alex­andria in to venys / this kyt of his thōbe somtyme leste he shold be made preest other bisshop but goddis ordenaūce had the maystry and auctoryte of peter that made him bisshop of Allexandria Beda libro primo capitulo quinto ¶ Kyng guiderius regned amonge the brytons and warned the romayns trybute / therfor claudius cesar come and conquered brytayne as it were without bataylle and grete noyse of grutchyng was arered in brytayn as it semeth for her men that fled were not restored ageyne He come in to an Ilond there Iulius cesar durste neuer come nother other man after hym Also the ylondes orchades that ben beyonde brytayn in the see of occean / he made subget to the empyre of Rome and torned agayne to Rome the sixth moneth after that he wente oute and gaue his sone that name brytannicus Lelius hamo a leder of claudius slewe kynge guyderius at porchestre And this hamo deyde afore hamoes hauen that was soo called by his name that is now hampton Than claudius after dyuerse happes of batayll toke Aruiragus guiderius broder to his grace and brought his doughter genuyssa from Rome and maryed her to kynge Aruiragus And for he wold make the place of the mariage solempne he callyd it claudyocestria by his own [Page Clxxxj] name ¶R Claudyocestra hete caertleon in brytyssh speche that is claudius cyte / But after that it was callyd glocestre and glouernia also And had that name of the duc of demecia that hete glora Me sayth that claudius cesar gate hym there at gloucestre Than claudius sente legyons of knyghtes in to Irlond· But he torned ageyne to Rome and aruiragus withdrowe hym and wold not be vnder the romaynes ¶ Therfor vaspasianus a duc of Rome was sente and made the kynge of the kyngdome and the yle of wyghte that is nexte to brytayn in the south syde sub­get to thempyre of Rome Herodes Agrippa whan he had gre­ued somme of the holy chirche· he come in to cesarea for to make pleyes in worship of cesar And there to lete him self be callyd god / therfor an Angel smote hym and his body swal and he sa­yd to his frendes / Lo I that was callyd god / now I am right fully bounden with bondes of dethe and so he dyed Peter ca 60 This herodes Agrippa was Aristobolus sone / Aristobolus was the sone of the grete herodes ascolonita & his suster was herodias her oldest eam [...] herodes Antipas the forsayd Aristobolus broder This herodes agrippa was a man of grete herte a grete w [...]rriour and fre of gyftes but he was pour ¶He come to Rome while Tiberius cesar liuede for to geete another tetrarchia that is an other fourth deele / of the kyngdome of Iewes and hadde grete frendship of drusus tiberius cesars sonne and obleged hym self for moche dette for to wynne the wyll of the Romayns ¶But drusus was hastly dede and therfor tiberius cesar was sory that he dide al drusus seruauntes oute of his presence leste drusus dethe come to his mynde by syghte of his seruauntes ¶ Therfore hi [...] happyd that herodes Agrippa wente ageyne to the Iewry / as it were a man withoute comforte and for shame and for nede and for meschyef he closed hym self in a toure that he myghte dye for hongre but at prayer of his suster herodyas he was releued by herodes Antippa But herodes antippa repreued hym in a ty­me for the good that he had doo hym / and herodes agrippa hadde indignacion therof and wente to tiberius cesar and gate grace of hym atte laste and leefte with gayus Germanicus sone / In a tyme he sate with gayus in his chaar and wyssched that tiberius the oldman and vnnesy were dede that gayus myghte be emperour The charyoter herde that and warned the emperour And therfor Agrippa was prysoned six monethes vnto the deth of tiberius cesar. While this Agrippa was in prisonne one of his [Page] prysonners that was kunnynge in dyuynynge warned hym· that he sholde be sone delyuerd oute of prysonne and be a kyng soo that his frendes sholde haue enuye to his welthe. this dyuy­nour dyuyned soo while he sawe an owle sitte vpon the tree that Agrippa lened to And sayd that as sone as he sawe efte such a maner byrde sitte aboue hym he shold dye the fyfthe day after / ¶Whan tiberius was dede gayus delyuerd Agrippa and gaue him two tetrarchyes of philip and of lisania and crowned and called hym kynge / ¶ Therfor his suster herodyas was wrothe & had grete indignacion for her husbonde herodes Antippas that was retrarcha had not gete hym the nāme of kynge and she excited her husbond herodes Antippa that he shold goo to gayus & beye the name of a kynge but gayus was warned afore honde by lettres of Agrippa and put herodes to lugduns in fraunce And for herodyas was Agrippaes suster / she had choes where she wolde goo agayne other folow her husbond / And she chees to be exyled with her husbonde and said that she wolde not leue her husbonde in his meschyef that she had folowed in his bonechefe And soo the thyrd tetrarchia was take from herodes Antippa and geue to herodes agripp [...] ¶ Atte last gayus was slayne whan there was stryf bytwene the senatours and knyghtes & the peple of Rome· For the senatours drad the cruelte of the emperour and the disauauntage of the comynte. And the peple dradde the couetyse of the consuls / thanne by sleyght of Agrippa clau­dius was made emperour and anone he gaue herodes agrippa the fourth tetrarchia that is Iudea ¶And so herodes agrippa was made grete and wente agayne in to Iewry ¶ And afterwarde there he slowe Iames and prysonned peter Than he made playes at cesarea as it is sayd afore hande and swal and was ete with wormes and deyde / And lefte after hym two other lygna­ges and an halfe beyonde flume Iordan his sone herodes agrippa was not callid herodes but only agrippa ¶ To hym cristen men fled afterward oute of Iewry whan the cyte sholde be ta­ke and destroyed / Seynt mary our lordes moder deyd the yrre of her age thre score and thre for in the byrth of her sone she was fourtene yere olde and leued with her sone thre and thyrtty yere Afterward sixtene yere as somme men wol mene and so she was take hennes whan she was sixty wynter olde and more / for men say that the apostles prechyd after crist in the Iewry and in the countreyes aboute ful twelue yere. ¶ Philip the apostel was [Page Clxxxxij] nayled to the cros in the cyte Iherapolis the yere of his age thre score and eyghten· Lasarus the first bisshop of cipris deyde in his second deth and had four and twenty yere bytwene his two dethis Felix procurator of the Iewry was sente by claudiꝰ afore this felix / powle was accused and appeled for his offence to the emperour / that tyme were many fals prophetes Egesip­pus libro secundo Also that tyme were many shrewyd swerd men in Ierusalem and were medled amonge the peple and slewe many men so subtily & so pryuely that no man coude them aspye / soo the drede of them that liued was more greuous / than the meschief of them that were dede ¶Therfor many men wente in to wildernesse for to haue refute and socour ¶ Claudius died at Rome in his owne palis. the yere of his age thre score and four as it were in the moneth of marche for his wyfe Agrippina slewe hym with venym for to put of his sone brytannicus and to make her owne sonne Nero emperour

¶ Capitulum 9

NEro the sone of domicius and of Agrippina gayus suster had wedded claudius doughter and bygan to regne and regned almoost fourten yere / this was moost curyous and craf­ty to werke with Iustrumentes of musick. soo that he had ioye & likyng to be openly callyd prynce of harpers Also he had gre­te likynge in the swetnesse of his voys that absteyned hym and spared al manere mete and drynke that was not goode for the voys and not only he dyde that but also he vsed ofte c [...]isteryes and vomytes whan Nero bigan to singe / no man was soo hardy to goo oute of the theatre er he had made ende of his songe And he was al ruled and lad by ledyng and counseyll of mynstrals / And for he was moost couetous of al emperours / he vsed so to saye / he that is aboue alle hath nede to all but yet it greued hym not to geue mynstrals al that he had And he gaue them al the Worshippes [...]f the cite of Rome Suetoniu [...] He wered no cloth twyes. he vsed shosoles of siluer / he fysshed with nettis of gold / the nettis were drawe with ropis of reede silke Also for this be wolde see the lykenesse of troye whan it was sette a fyre he sette a grete dele of Rome a fire that brente seuen nyghtes and seuen dayes / And he began to crye and singe the gestes of troye [Page] Orocius ¶ Also he was so lecherous that he wolde be w [...]sshe with hote oynementes and colde ¶Also he wedded a man for to be his wyf and he bycame another mannes wyfe Also he lete kerue his owne moders wombe for he wolde see the place that he was conceyued ynne Martinus Phisiciens blamed him for he had defowled his owne moder ¶And he answerd and sayde / but ye make me goo with childe ye shal be deede euerychone thā they made him swelle with drynkes and made hym vnwytyng drynke a frogge ¶And atte last after moch wo and sorowe / he delyuerd him and caste vp a frogge / ¶ But the phisicians sayde that the childe was born afore his tyme / And therfore it was so vnthryuyngly and so euel schape. But nero made this frogge be kepte in a tour to his owne lyues ende ¶Therfor somme men wenen that lateran hath that name of the frogge that loted there for latere a latyn is lotye & be hidde other vnknowe in en­glysshe and rana in latyn A frogge in englysshe ¶ Also nero made hym an heuen of an honderd fote hye and bored and thyr­lyd with many smale hooles / and it was born vp with four score pylers and ten of marbel stone he leete fall water therupon / that dropyd doune as it were rayne that falleth from heuen He made also a lampe brennyng be drawē in to that heuē by day that yede a doune westward as it were the sonne ¶And he ma­de a myrrour sette with precious stones that shone by nyght as it were the mone ¶ But al these were by goddes ordenaunce so sodenly distroied so to rusched and to broke that therof was neuer gobet founde nother cromme ¶Also he made a carre with iiij whelis be drawe vpon that heuen soo that noyse was herde as it were the noyse of a grete thonder but god almyghty sente a grete wynde that threwe the cart in to the Ryuer ¶ Eutropius Nero slewe many noble men and linia octauians wif his own moder Agrippina and his fader suster and his wyf And Seneca the philosopher of cordij bē Lucanꝰ came was neroes mayster / & axed couenable reward for that he had be neroes mayster / & he hadde choys in whiche bowe of a tree he wolde be an hanged Seneca axed why [...]e had deserued that maner deth ¶ Than Nero made one to scarmuch aboute seneca [...]s heede with a bryghte swerde and sawe that he was wonder sore aferd And sayd as sore as thou art aferd of this swerde As sore I am aferd of the And yet I am as sore aferd of the as I was somtyme while I was a childe And therfor while thou art thou alyue I [Page CLxxxxiij] may not be withoute drede but euer in grete drede· therfore Se­neca chees what man deth he wold take & chees to be late blode in a bath & to dye in that man / & as it were by a forbedinge he had that name seneca / for seneca a latyn is he that sleeth him self in englyssh / this seneca had two bretheren one of them hete iuliꝰ gallo & was the best declamator of al / he slow him self with his oun hāde / the other broder hete mela lucanꝰ the poetes fader also this lucanꝰ whan he had made his booke of the harme & damage of strif & discord bitwene cyteseins & therby he brought nero to acorde & mildenes yet by heest of nero he was slayn in bleding by kittyng of his veynes as it is sayd· Pol / li. 8· Som ben bolde & hardy to despise this seneca & for to grounde him vpon the auctorite of quintilianꝰ but me semeth that they doute for he was worthy to be homely with poul & ierom rekeneth him amōg holy seintes this seneca had noble wit to lerne & to teche & had grete studiyng & grete knowlech of thinges & wel nye al mat of studye of wyt & of science he had & wrote resons of poetry & nye al maner philosophy & in euy doing he was good & trewe keper of vertues & enemy of vices & of synnes· so that it semed that he made worldes of gold & goddes acorde with mākinde / also he made bokes de beneficijs de clemēcia declamacōes tragedias de nālibꝰ q̄stiōibꝰ & de tusculāis / de casibꝰ fortuitis. Ieroꝰ de viris illustribꝰ / paul appeled to thēperour & was sēt boūdē to rome & ther [...]e was .ij· yere in freward & disputed ayēst the iewes & was aft (er)ward lete go fre. peter that yere ordeined at rome / ij / bisshops that were [...]elpers to tech the feith of holy chirch / linꝰ was one & cletꝰ that other for to fulfil thoffice of pisthod to the peple yt come & not thoffice of bisshops Peter him self was occupied in bedes & in preching / Martinꝰ / of this cletꝰ it is writē that he wrote first in his lettres sl̄in & apl̄i cam benedcōnē that is greting & the apostles blissing this praised moch pilgremage do to holy seintes & specialy to the apostl [...]s pe­ter & paul & seid that ones visiting of apostles was most help [...]i to a mānes soule than ij / yeres fasting / Also that yere lucas was with paul in the cite of rome & wrote the boke that hete actꝰ apostolorum / but he had write the gospel afore· about that yere died longius the knight that opened Criste with a spere And toke his syhte by the bloode that ranne vpon the spere oute of Crytes syde / ¶ And soo be trowyd in Cryste and was taughte of the Apostles and wente in to cesarea in capadocia and lyued [Page] [...] holy lyf xxviij yere & torned many men to the fayth of holy chirche and dyed martir atte last percius satiricus & poete dyed / R / There were mo poetes than satirices. poeta hath that name of feynyng & such one was virgyl specially in his encidis & our dius satiricus is sayd of saturitas that is fulnes of the mat other of the repreuingis that they spak ayenst yl mē & euil liuing for they spake therof atte ful / & ther were .iij / such ꝑsiꝰ. oraciꝰ & iuuenalis / Isid li 8 ca / 7 / The office of a poete is for to telle thyngis that ben sothe in dede by other lykenes & chaungyng with florysshyng & fair maner of spekyng. therfor it is that as poetes isye that temples were fayrer than other howses & Maumettes heyer than other bodyes so they trowid that goddes sholde be worshiped with the fayr & noble speking / therfor som poetes ben callid diuines for they made their dites of goddes / R / Therby it semeth that lucanꝰ was no poete whan he made iij storyes of the stryf of cyteseins· but if it were by the maner of medlyng of poises / The lasse iames bisshop of Ierl̄m was slain vij dayes afore april in the estern tyme xxx yere after the passiō of our lord· firste the iewes they stoned iames for anger that they might not sle paul & afterward they smite out his braine with a walkers staf / R / Eusebiꝰ in historia eccāstica [...]li / 1 / ca / 1. seyth that iames was the sone of ioseph our lady spouse gete on his other wif & therfore he was called oure lordes broder / But Ierom meneth more sothly that he was the sone of the other mari our ladies suster & his fader hete alpheꝰ / Marke the gospeler paules disciple & his meuer dyed at alexādria in egipte. his gospel was wretē at rome & peter app­ued it & alowyd it & toke it for to be rad in chirches / Linꝰ the bis­shop suffred deth at rome vij dayes afore decēber / after him cletus was his successour xij· yere that peter wēt to rome to withstōde & put of simon magus that come of the samaritanes / peter had ouer come him afore at cesar [...]a & chaced him out of the iewry· simō magus gad [...]ed the peple to gider at rome & seid that peter & paul mē of galyle had greued him sore / & therfor he wold forsake rome yt he had defēded long tyme / & than he set a day whan he wold stye vp in to heuē / & whan that day was come he torned to & kydde all the might of his witchecraft-than they that were in his side seid that crist did neuer such a dede / but atte prayer of peter he [...] fil doū of his flyght & was al to broke & brused / nero was [...] he had [...]st such an helper & putte peter in ward / & peter knewe that his [...]nde day was nye and made clement bisshop in his stede· Also [...]t [Page CLxxxxiiij] instaūce of bretheren he wold finde to escape neroes tirānie & met crist in the gate of the cite & seid lord whether gost thou / I go seid crist to rome to be nayled to the crosse agein· than [...]eter vnderstode that it was sayd of his owne passion & torned ageyn in to the ci­te and was taken of the wardeyns & honged on the crosse & his hede dounward / his disciple marcellus abode no mannes sentence nother leue but toke peter doune of the crosse with his own hondes & buryed hym in a place that hete vaticanus / after the xxv. yere of his bissopriche of Rome In neroes last yere nero dyd pe­ter in the crosse & made paule to be slayn with a swerde al in one day and sente the duc vaspasianus in to the Iewry to make the Iewes subgette that wold not suffre the couetyfe of florus that was Iustice / Eutropius / Whan he herde that galba in spain was made emperour than he loste al comforte and for harmes that he hadde doon and bythought the comynte. the Senatours demed hym for an enmye and fled four myle from the cyte and slowe him self in a subarbe of his bonde man that he hadde made free / the yere of his owne age two and thyrtty That yere al the meyne of Augustus cesar were consumpte whan peter hadde suf­fred deth / than clement come after hym / Clement had gouerned holy chirche nyne yere vnder peter while he was alyue / He was bisshop xxij yere .xij yere with linus and cletus & after that .ix yere by him self aloon for tho he was exyled· this Clement as a wyseman & war for to be ware of meschyef that myght falle af­terward yf euery other wold make hym a successour by that en­sample of peter / & soo holy dignyte might falle in possession as it were by herytage / therfor he resigned his dignyte to linus & af­terward to cletus· Also this clement wrote many lookes of cris­ten lawe & made linus & cletus bisshoppes afore hym· & this cle­mēt was the fyrst by electiō after peter & the third in degre of ordre for linꝰ & cletus were. bitwene peter & him / his bodi was throwe in to the s [...]e cerson & after many yeres one Cirillus apostel of the sclaues fonde it & brought it to rome in the first nycholas tyme. Gaufr / Aboute that tyme marius the sone of aruiragus reg­ned in britain in his tyme one rodicus kyng of pictes come out of sicia & occupyed the north party of britain that party hete albania & now it hete scotlād / But atte last marius slough rodicus And in mynde of that vyctorye kynge marius rered a stone in that place the which countray is called by his name westmaria that is westmerlonde / yet it is wreton in a stone marij vyctory [Page] R Here wyllelmus of malmesbury was disseyued that troweth this stone was reerde in mynde of marius the co [...]sul of Rome But it is no wonder he had not radde the Bryttysshe book there hit is wreten of marius the kynge ¶ Afterwarde marius the kyng graunted to Rodycus men that were ouercome the londe of catenesy that is in the last endes of Scotland for to dwelle ther [...] ynne / As it is sayd in the last chapyter of the fyrst booke

¶ Capitulum 10

GAlba Seruius regned after Nero vij monethes y chosen of spaynerdys and Galles the yere of his age thre score and thyrten & had be a senatour of old nobley / his pryuy lyf was ful noble and had ofte be consul and ofte proconsul and ofte duk and leder of grete bataylles and harde He made one pysonne a noble yong man his sone adoptiuus & his heir / but by a wayte of one otho they were bothe deede in the myddel of the chepynge place ¶ Otho lucius regned thre monethes whan he herde that there was an Emperour made in gallia by relygyons of germania he arayed batayls that ben callyd bella ciuilia and hadde the vyctory in thre the fyrst bataylles and the fourth batayl / Whan he sawe his men ouer set [...] and falle to grounde. [...]e sayd that he was not soo worthy that cyuyle bataylle sholde for hym aryse & so he slew hym self Vytellus regned after otho as it were seuen monethes and was stronge and noble / but he was soo grete a gloton that he ete somday thries som daye four sithis & somday fyue sithis / ¶At one soper were sette afore hym two thousand fysshes and seuen thousande fowles soo it is wryte ¶ This drad that vaspasianus shold regne and slewe his brother sabynus & than for d [...]ede he hid hym and closed hym in a celle ¶ And dukes that were with vaspasianus drowe hym oute and so he was openly and naked drawe thurgh the cyte and heelde vp his hede on hye and a sharp swerde was set vnder his chy nne. And alle men threwe on him dirte & du ste and so he was throwe in to tiber Vaspasianus regned as it were eyght yere / And was coueytoꝰ of money but he toke it not wrongfully ¶ He wolde forgete wronges & lyghtly take chydinges of mē of lawe & of philoso­phres This was sōtyme sēt by nero in to the iewry for to chaste [Page CLxxxxv] the Iewes and herde of neroes deth and left there his sonne Titus and wente agayn to Rome. He fought two and thyrtty ty­mes manly agaynst his enemyes in germania and ellys where / ¶ Pol libro tercio capitulo 14 One buculus an old man cryed in despy [...] of vaspasianus and sayd. the foxe maye chaung. his skynne but not his wylle / ffor vaspasianus couetyse was neuer the lasse ffor the passynge of his age Me saith that he answerd in this maner. To suche men we owe lawghyng to our silf cor­rection and payne to euil doers [...] Also this more for the playne chastysyng of the peple and nacions of londes that he had won­ne / he made prouynces of these kyngdoms Archaia licia Rhodus Samus tracia and silicia and ordeyned stywardes to gouerne these londes that were rather vnder kynges that were frendes and subgettis to the romaynes ¶R Here laketh ten yere by the co­myn cronykkes bytwene the passion of oure lord and vaspasia­nus tyme as it is sayd afore in the prologe ¶ Ierusalem was take by titus The temple was brente and throwe adowne euen with the groūde ¶Iosephus libro septimo ¶The same monethe and day that it was fyrst brente by the calendres that was the eyghtene day of September the yere after that Salamon buylde hit fyrst enleuen honderd and thyrtty After the second byldyng that was in aggeus tyme seuen honderd yere and nyneand thyrtty / ¶ But martinus and other tellen that it was taken in the estern tyme ¶Egesippus ¶ In this brennynge and des­truction enleuen tymes an honderd thousand Iewes were slayn with swerde and with honger / ¶An honderd thousand were take prysoners and sold al way thyrtty for a peny and nyne honderd thousand fledde and were to shifte & departed

¶Ieronimus ¶That tyme was so moche folke at Ierusalem for in the estern tyme they come to the temple oute of al the Ieury ¶ Iosephus libro septimo It is no wonder that soo greete peple of Iewes was dede and take for nero somtyme wold wete the tale and the nombre of Iewes that were at Ierusalem / for he despysed that temple with al his myghte· & cestius the styward as he had lerned of bisshopes wrote to nero that there were founde at Ierusalem in one holy day twenty C / M. and seuen honderde thousande withoute them that were pollute and perso­nes with wemmes that hadde no leue for to offir

¶ The Bisshopes acountyd this nombre by the nombre of hoostes that were offryd / the whiche nombre was two honderd [Page] thousand and six and fyfty thousande and fyue honderd And euery ten persones offryd one hooste In this fyghting the Romaynes had kunnynge and strengthe ¶ The Iewes hadde wodenesse and folye ¶ For the tyme was drye and Vaspasianus wente to the Cyte Iotapaten· and stopped al the water conduytes ¶ But Iosephus was withynne and founde vp a connynge crafte and henge wete clothis vpon the toun walles ¶ And for the clothis dropped they that were withoute wende and trowed that they that were with ynne had no lacke of water for to drynke while they had plente of water to wasshe their clothis ¶Than vaspasianus distourbed the wal with a stroke of an engyne / but Iosephus heng sakkis ful of strawe ayenst the strokes of the engyne and soo the stro­kes were lette & the walles saued / For harde thynges ben better withstōde with nesche thinges thā with hard but ye romains boū de hokes to long poles & kytte the ropis of the sackis / but Iosephꝰ threwe out brenning oyle vpon them and smote of al their engynes & vaspasianꝰ wold amēde hem & was sore woūded in the heel· After that there fyl so grete strengthe of castynge & of shote of titus side that the nolle of one iosephus felaws was smyte of with a stone & flewe ou (er) the third furlong. also a woman yt was with childe was smyte so that the childe was smyte oute of her wombe and flewe ouer half a furlong / whan titus had broke the second wall Iosephus was founden hid among osers & had hid him thre dayes· than they that founde hym despised him in this maner / wherto wolt thou lyue while it is not couenable nother leeful nether semely / thy lyf shal be made of peryschyng & of lost other it shal be payne of seruage & of bondage / haue mynde of moyses / hym was leuer be scraped oute of the booke of lyf than lyue lenger than the peple

Also dauid was leuer take in se ipso wreche than lyue and see the peple perysshe / Who desired nought quoth Iosephus / Yf it were lawful to be delyuerd and vnboūde of soo grete wo and sorowe but he that bonde hath leue to vnbynde and none other Yf ony other vnbyndeth he doth the lord wrong ¶Than as our lordes trewe seruauntes kepe we what he hath bytake vs whyle it is his wylle ¶ Thanne he is vnkynde that wil rather be a goe other longer abyde than he wylle to whoome he is bounde ¶ Soo hit was sothe of Abraham of Iacob of Moyses / of Dauid that prayde to be delyuered of prysonne [Page CLxxxxvj] oft his lyf / but none slowe hym self of al holy sayntes ¶ Than yf it is good to lyue it is sacrylege to forsake it vnrighlfully Yf it is glorious to dye in batayll I withsey hit not / And yf it be good to fyghte for the countray for the peple and for the cyteseyns and dye in batayll I put forth my heede to be smyte of yf the enemy axeth by lawe of the bataylle / Nother I flater with my self yf it is to sparyng / be he my borowe. I hadde leuer dye by here thefte than by myne owne / yf ye saye that it is sweete to dye for fredome I with say it not but is swete to dey for [...]dome He is feerful that wyl not dye whanne it nedith It is a wo­mans stalworthnesse for ony to slee hym self ¶Beestes conne not doo soo for they defende them self ayenste other beestes with tethe and with clawes but amonge them self they vse c [...]sses & likkyng and strokynge God hath take vs our lyfe to kepe But whether we doo we ben to blame. yf we throwe hit awaye withoute his axyng that gaue it vs / owther yf we warne for to take it at his axyng / whan these wordes were sayd Iosephus sawe one of them that stode by and stroue faster than other Than Iosephus sayd cast we lotte who shal dye fyrst and laste and soo forth of vs al / soo he that shal dye fyrst shal be slayne of hym that shal dye nexte. and soo euery one after other / the condicion plesyd them al and it happed that they were deede al saue Iosephus and one other· ¶ Than Io sephus counceyled his felawe to forsake his lot / And therby he e scaped peryl at home and soo he was brought to vaspasianus ¶ Iose­phus libro 6 Atte laste vaspasianus was callyd to be Empe­rour and his sone titus was lefte at the siege of Ierusalem. And went in a daye with six honderde horsmen withoute haber­ions aboute for to see the cyte and Iewes come oute and closed them in bihinde / & he whette his hert & will with hardines & rode māly thorough the cōpany of iewes & come to his own mē & for grete drede aledged oft grete wrethe they yt were in wāhope in the cite cōforted to giders in the mene ty [...]e & many of the iewes prayed pees of titus / & titus drad gyle & treson & seid to his mē· as they that ben bineth vsith waityng & aspiyng / so it nedeth bem yt be strēger to be ware of such waiting & espiēg leste strengthe be bytrayd by fraude and by gyle / Thanne the firste wal was broke with an engyne and titus counseyled his men to fyghte wa [...]ly / for yf they lacked coūseyll. strēgth sholde seme but foly / also in the victory is moost drede· for yf the strenger dyeth with ye feble [...] [Page] [...] [Page CLxxxxvj] [...] [Page] that is a vyctory to hym that is ouercome / thanne the second wal that was quasched and titus proferid pees· But in the Ie­wes side simon and Iohan withsayde· thanne fyl so grete cruel­nes. and honger in the cyte / that byeng and sellyng seesid and so dyde rostyng and sethyng and dressyng of mete Men ete skynnes of sheldes and out caste of herbes that cleued on the walles and fylthe. that men had spued and cast vp & men soughte old dyrte of skynnes of Addres and careyn of horses for to haue to mete ¶It was lyghter for to gete mercy amonge her enemyes / than among her [...]wne men· galowes and gybetes were sette vpon the walles for no man shold flee / takyng deth and prysonynge withoute and honger withynne and drede in euery side Titus made a newe walle that closed fourty furlonges aboute the cy­te and the tentes / and pauilons closed ten furlonges & wardes & watches were sette that no man shold escape Atte last the hongre encreced soo that ofte he that bare the dede man to his bury­eng was buryed rather than he· there was so grete stenche of dede men / for the grounde of the cyte suffysed not to beryels· that the careyns were throwe by th [...] sondes ouer the wallis / whanne titus sye that and he sayd ofte that he profered mercy· but ma­ny fled to the romayns & whan mē gaue thē mete there was no strengthe for to ete outher for to defye theyr meete that they ete Somme of them that fl [...]d whan they clensed theyr wombe deliuerd the [...] of Iuels of gold· that they had swolowed afore that they [...]ed for the enemyes sholde not openly suche iuels fynde One of the Asiries aspyed that doyng by one that hadde cacked gold and trowyd that al the Iewes had gold within them / than the Iewes that fled to the Romayns were opened agaynst titus heest and the wombes and bowels were slitte and c [...]ruen to seche gold withyn ¶Titus made Iosephus to wete yf he myghte make the Iewes yelde them withoute more harme yf he myght with wrytyng with ensamples with fayr byheestes other with teres but al was for nought Iosephus libro sexto But Symon and Iohan with her fautors stopped the weyes al aboute soo that the Iewes had no waye outward nother the romayns ynward / houses were bysily serched yf ought mighte be founde and yf ony man warned ought he was anone slayne Atte laste wyues caught mete of theyr husbondes mouthe and fader and moder of her owne children mouthe / Yf ony dore were hytste anone me trowyd that somme man ete therinne / therfore [Page Clxxxxvij] anone the hows was broken The pore men were robbed and the ryche were accused for her money as though they wold flee other bytray the cyte and were slayne Egesippus libro sexto & Iosephus libro septi [...]o / than byfell that grisely dethe A straū ­ge woman that heete mary was ouercome with honger and spake to her owne lytell sone in this maner ¶ My sone thou art by set aboute with al thynge that is grisely and dredeful with ba­taylle with hongre with fire brennynge and with theues: quyte ones thy moder and paye her that thou hast of her and tourne a­gayne in to thy pryuey place that thou come of somtyme I dede as mildenesse wolde / do we now as honger constreyneth / thus she sethed & rosted her owne sone & ete somme and kept somme But men that made stryf come theder by the smel ef the brente flesshe but the woman stylled them and spake to them in this maner Be styll I was coueytous and vnkinde I haue kepte you your parte And she spak to the part that was lefte in this maner / Myne owne son thou art kynde to me / thou lengest my lyf / thou cesest them that wold me smyte / they that come to sle me / ben ma­de now my frendes and gestes [...]han tasteth what ye knowe that the childes moder hath tasted other ellys ye shal ete al yfere ¶ Shame you not to folowe a woman that ye haue made in this manere / Anone the cy [...] was full of the clamour of this grisely dede / And titus was soo meued therwith that he gaf vp his hondes in to heuen ward & sayd we co [...]e to a bataylle of men· but nowe I see that we fyghte ayenste beestes / yet beestes rampaunt spare theyr owne kynde be they neuer soo nedy and helpith her owne children but these men deuoure theyr own chidren / than destroye we them for al her dedes stynken Iosephus libro septimo Amonge the Romaynes was one of Ciria that hete sabinus an orped man and stalworth of honde and of herte and worthy for to be praysed withoute ende / this was black of hewe· and lytel of stature but a noble soule shone by vertues in that lytel bodye This with enleuen felawes wente vpon the walle first and dro­fe awey the Iewes But atte last he was af [...]lyd with a stone & he despysed & towhte not of arowes and of stones / But he defended hym with his shelde and faughte vpon his knees & wounded many men alway for he was ful of Arowes and of shot & thorough shote in euery side & dyed in the place Egesippus· Atte last the engynes were remeued toward the temple / but it halp but lytil. But atte last they brent the walles of the tēple [Page] that were heled with gold / R ¶ Here Iosephus tellith that this meschyef and destroyeng of the cyte and of the peple be fil for the deth & sleyng of Iames the rightfull But more veryly it fil for the sleyng of crist as the gospel sayth they shulle not leeue one / stone vpon a stone for thou knoweste not the tyme of visitacion / but our lord wol not the deth of a synful man but he wol that the synful m [...]n amende hym and torne to good lyfe And for the Iewes sholde haue none excusacion nowther cha­lenge nother cause for to saye that god Almyghty toke wreche of them vnwarned. therfore god Almyghty abode fourty yere yf they wolde them amende and warned ofte by prechyng of the Apostles by dredeful signes and tokyns Egesippus and Iose­phus libro septimo ¶ For aboute a yere byfore the destruction of the cyte / the lykenesse of a fyre swerde was seen honge in the air aboue the temple / In that Estern tyme a heffre that shold be offryd in the temple ewed a lombe· also the est gate of that tēple was soo heuy of sound brasse that twenty men were bysy ynow to lyfte it and yet many nyghtes the yren barres were broken & the yate opened by hit self as it were wylfully. So that vnneth hit myght be closed afterward ¶ Also hoostes of armed men were seen in the cloudes and charyottes fled by the eier at with sontyde preestes wente in to the temple by nyghte and herde a voys that sayd go we hens passe we oute of these seges Also Iesus Ananias sonne an vplondisch man four yere afore the destruction of the cyte come to the sacrifice of the dedicaciō of the temple / And bygan to crye in the langage of the countraye and sayd A voys oute of the est a voys oute of the west a voys oute of four wyndes. wo wo / wo is to ierusalem & the temple he cryed so day and nyghte and cessed not for· betynge nor for fayer prayenge And yet he was broughte afore Albinus the Iustyce of Rome and hard & cruelly bylad ¶ But he rought not of his wronge [...] nor of his owne meschyef but he cryed that the coū tray shuld be destroyed and cessed not er the last day of the destruction and that day he wente vpon the wall and reherced the same crye and put more therto and sayde wo is me also / and he was anone smyte with a stone of a slynge and deyde ¶ R Marianus libro primo sayth / that whan the temple was brente the floore therof was ered with plowes for wreche and despyte of the Iewes ¶Ieronimus in prologo super Iosephum Whan the Cyte was destroyed titus wente to Rome and ladde [Page] with hym Iosephus the Iewe that wrote anone in G [...]ue seuen bo [...]kes of the takynge of Iewes and titus dyde th [...]se bookes in to the comyn lybrary and Iosephus after his deth had an ymage at Rome made of his noble wytte Also this Iosephus wrote of doyng and dedes from the begynnynge of the world to domicianus twenty bookes that ben callyd libri antiquitatum / the bokes of olde▪ I [...] the eyghten book therof he graunteth & knowlegeth that Iohan baptist was a very profyte & that Ierusalem was destroyed by cause of the sklaūder of Iames the rightful

Also there he sayth that crist was a wyseman and dyd many wonderful werkes and dedes and that he was doctor and techer of the Iewes and of other men and slayne atte last for enuy: and shewyd ▪ hym to his disciples the thyrd day after ¶ And that cristendom and the name of cristen men failed neuer to that tyme Vaspasianus dyed in the flux aboute his owne toune aboute the sabins the yere of his age thre score and ten ¶ Me sayth that he stode vp whan he sholde dye and sayde ¶It falleth for an emperour to passe stondynge oute of erthe Giral in top / Appolinaris peters disciple that was somtime sente to Rauenna suffred deth / Euery yere in his feest day rauenes crowes and chowes comen theder to gyders oute of euery side as it were by couenaunt made / And that day as it were by customme is gyuen them a careyn of a dede horse ¶ Therfor somme men wol mene that by cause therof that the cyte is callyd in duche speche Rauenesburgh Eutropius

¶ Capitulum 12

TItus regned after his fader as it were thre yere ¶This was moost noble speker of g [...]e and of latyn and wrote causes in latyn and poesyes and gestes in grue· they that were conuicte of conspyraciō agaynst him were as homely afterward with hym as a fore ¶ Pol libro tercio capitulo 14 ¶This was so fre of herte that he purgyd and clensed the couetyse of his fader soo that he was callyd the loue and the lykynge of man­kynde· Also he had alwaye that maner that no man that c [...]me to hym yede from hym withoute spede or hope of spede Therfor men of his hows axyd hym why he wolde byhote more than he myghte performe ¶There shulde no man sayde he go [...]lynge & [Page] sory from the answer of a prynce / Ones at a soper he bythought hym of that sawe and bithought hym also that he that day gaue no gyfte in helpe of ony man and was sory and sayd Alas my frendes this day I haue lost ¶In the tyme of his deth he was born in a lyter and loked vp in to heuen and sayd that he nedid not to thynke of none of al his dedes but only one / but what dede it was noman wyste. Aboute that tyme dyed Iulyanus bis­shop of cenomannens Me sayth that he was symon leprosus the mesel that crist heeled and he receyued crist in his hows and lodged him after the assenciō of our lordr he was bisshop of cenomannens ordeyned by the Apostles or by here disciples And he was a noble man of vertues· And rered thre men from deth to lyf. Somme men wold mene that this is he that men that trauayleth by the waye prayeth to for good lodgynge for crist was was herberuhd in his hows But it semeth more sothely that it is the other Iulianus that vnwyttynge slewe bothe his owne fader and moder Of hym it is certayne wreten in this manere Iulianus was yonge man and wente an huntyng and chaced an herte and the herte tourned his face to hym and sayd thou chacest me and thou shalt slee bothe thyn own fader and moder ¶Than Iulian drad sore and for to beware that / that meschyef sholde not befalle Iulian forsoke & lefte al that he had and put hym self to a grete prynce in fer londe and bare hym wel and nobly vnder that prynce both in batayll and at home in his palais And bare hym soo that he was made a knyghte and wedded one castellana a wydowe that his lord gaue hym to wyf Than his fader and his moder sought Iulian in euery londe And it hap­ped atte laste that they came to Iulians owne castel and whan Iulians wyf had talked with them / she knewe wel that they were her husbandes fader & moder and receyued them goodly and leyd them for to reste in her husbondes bed and went her self to chirche at morowe erly and lefte them bothe a bed ¶ Iulian cam erly home and fonde them slepe bothe to gyders in his owne bed And trowyd that another man had laye there by his wyf / & stikked them bothe thorugh out and went out and met with his wyf▪ ¶And than he knewe that he had slaine both his owne fader and moder. as the hert had sayde that he sholde ¶Fare well my leue suster quoth he for I shal neuer reste er. I wete yf god wole take my penaunce and forgeue my synne. God forbede sayd she that I shold forsake the in this maner in wo and in [Page Clxxxxix] sorowe and haue be pertinet with the in ioye and in welthe / Than they went forth to gyders and made an hospytal by a ryuer whe [...]e men passed oft and were in grete peryl there / they hal­pe men that passed and socoured pour men Long after in frost tyme Iulyan was w [...]ry and reste hym aboute mydnyght and herde a voys cryeng and pray [...]ng of helpe ouer the passage Iulian aroos and fette ouer the pour man that was ney deede for colde and brought hym in to his hows and made fyre and sette hym therby / but for al the fyer the man was neuer the h [...]tter / than Iulian dyde hym in his owne bedde and hilled hym with clothis / And withynne a lytel whyle th [...]s man that semed soo colde and a vyle mesel was whyte and fayr and styed vp in to the ayer and spak to his hoost Iulian and sayd / Iulian / Iulian Our lord Ihesu crist sente the worde by me that he hath receyued thy penaunce ¶ And sone afterward bothe Iulian and his wyf wente al to our lord to endels reste

¶ Capitulum 12

DOmicianus vaspasianus sone regned fyften yere and fiue monethes. his wyf hete fyrste Augusta & fyrste he hyte to calle him self god and lord This forbade geldynge of men & plantynge of vynes in the cyte of Rome that exyled many of the senatours and put mathematicos and philosophres out of the cyte of Rome and bylde a temple of Rome wythoute ony tym­ber. that temple hete pantheon and was bylde in worship of alle goddes / there is now the chirche of our lady that hete sancta ma­ria rotunda that is seynt mary the rounde· Somtyme this hadde the vyctorye of Germans and of danes / and was soo proude therfor that he wold suffre none ymage sette in worship of hym / but it were of clene gold Treuisa ¶ Ma thematic [...]s is he / that hath the science that tretith as it were of lengthe and of brede and telle thurugh suche lengthe and brede be none body [...] that men may grope and fele and so it fareth ofte of arsmetrike and geometrye Pol ¶ This man was vnprofitable in euery dede and dyde no thynge manly as a man shold but that he bare only the name of the empyre But for he wolde hyde the lewydnesse of his witte and of his body vnder the name of a prince. he ordeyned hym euery day a pryuy ydelnesse / and vsed hym [Page] to catche flyes and stykked them with a sharp poyntel / soo that in a tyme one axed yf ony man were there ynne with the emperour nay sayd his chāberlyn metellꝰ-th [...]re is not a flye. left with the emperour / This gaue two monethes of the yere newe names [...]nd callid september germanicus and october d [...]micianus Anacletus of the nacion of Athene was pope nyne yere in Clementes stede whan clement was exyl [...]d / eusebius called hym cletus but he ouerlepe hym in his cronyke / Damasus the pepe wryteth to Ierom the cronyke of bisshopes of Rome and withsayd that sawe and sayd that cletus was a romayne and anacletus a greke also in many other thynges eusebius cronik varyeth from cronycles of other men This Anacletus ordeyned that preestes shold be worshiped afore other men and not trauayled ne greued Eutropius Cornelia the cheef mayde of the temple of the goddesse vesta was conuicte in lechery and buryed [...] quyck a lyue Anaristus after cletus was pope ten yere / this ordeyned seuen dekens that sholde k [...]pe the bisshop while he prechyd lest enemyes of trowth wolde bere hym wronge on hande and saye that he er­r [...]d And also for they sholde not lyghtly be herde nor he despysed Whan d [...]micianus was slayne of his owne men and dispytously born forth amonge theues ¶Nerua the mylde prynce. regne [...] af­ter hym one yere· and vndyde the dedes of domicianus / And alle they that were exyled were reconsiled and come home agayn And so Iohan the euangelist come home agayne to ephesym out of the yle of pathmos ¶ Coiyllus marius sone was norysshed at Rome from his childehode / and regned in brytayn and payd trybute to the romayns and ladde his lyf in pees R Sōme men suppose that he buylde the cyte of colchestre whiche is chyef cyte of estsaxon

¶ Capitulum 13

VVlpius crinitus traianus was born in spayne and was emperour nyneten yere· among his frendes he was free of herte and besy in dedes of Armes and esy in gouernynge of cy­teseyns and myghty in reuelyng of cytees and townes. He chastysed the danes Scytes Sarmates hiberes. Colches and Ara­bes. he ordeyned a nau [...]y in the reede see for to werre in Inde / He made hym self euery mannes felawe & vysyted ofte his frendes [Page CC] for he wold be salewed of hem and wete how they ferde. he gre­ued no man he dyde no thyng wrongfully for to haue the more esche [...]es but be made his seruauntes ryche that them neded to greu [...] no man / his frendes blamed him for he was soo comyn to a [...]le maner men / he answerd and sayde / I wyl be suche an emperour [...] to other men as I wold they were to me if they were emperour [...] ¶ R Helymandus sayth that in a tyme traianus was lepte to hors for to goo to batayl for the comynte / And there come a wydowe wepynge and toke hym by the foote and prayd hym that he wolde doo hir ryght and iustice of hem that hadde slayne her sonne / I shal doo the right sayde themperour whan I come ageyne. what sayd she yf thou neuer comest ageyne Thanne sayd [...] themperour my successours shal doo the right / what pro [...]yt sayd she shal be to the yf another man doo me good· thou art dettour to me / and thou shalt resseyue as thou deseruest by thin own dedes. ¶And so it is fraude for to yelde not that is du [...]· whan it may be yolden ¶ Thy successour shal fare wel yf he bere hym wel and doo as he sholde Traianus was meued by these wordes and lyght doun of his hors and dyde the wydowe right and Iustyce And therfor he was worthy to haue an ymage in rome Also on a tyme Traianus sone rode on a wylde hors and slough a wydowes sonne And therfor traianus yaue his owne sonne to the wydowe for her sonne ¶And by cause of this gre [...]e right wysenes it semeth that seynt gregory wan his soule out of helle ¶ Creuisa So myght a man wene that were wors than wode or oute of right byleue ¶ Whan euariscus was martrid. Alex­ander come after hym and was pope ten yere. he ordeygned holy water to be blessyd with salt and to be spryngt in cristen menni [...] houses. he put in to the masse / Qui pridie quam pa [...]eretur / And so forth vnto these wordes hoc est &c ¶ Also he ordeyned that water sholde be medled with the wyn in the chalyce for to bytokene the onyng of crist and of holy chir [...]he / And he ordeyned that the oost shold be of therf brede and [...]f lytel quantite / and seyde the scarser this oost be the better it is Symon that hete symeon also cleo [...]has sone / the lasse Iames successour was nay­led to the crosse in the chirche of Ierusalem. And alle men [...] that so olde a man of six score yere myght suffre that passio [...] Ignacius bisshop of antyochia Iohans disciple was broughte to Rome and throwen to wylde beestes· And while he was tor­mented he cryed alwey besyly Iesus / ¶ Thenne after his deth [Page] his herte was hewen in to smal gobeites ¶And in euery gobbet was foūden iesus wreton with lettres of golde / the second pliniꝰ nonocomensis a pleter and a wryter of storyes was in his flow­res· he was mayster to traianus themperour / and refreyned hym in many thynges & in especial that he shold not persecute ne gre­ue cristen men ¶ Also this not withstondynge the knyght­hode and chiualrye that he vsede alway· yet he wrote seuen and thyrtty bookes of the storye of kynde in the which he descryueth clerly the world and al that is therinne· ¶Atte laste he wente for to serche and enquere the cause of the grauel that is in the see stronde whiche is alayed with heepes of grauel as it is sayde· ¶After the passion of Alysaundre the pope sixtus was pope almoost enleuen yere / he ordeyned that trisagium that is sanctus / sanctus sanctus shold be songe atte masse And that the corpo­ras shold not be of sylke nether sendel but clene lynen clothe not dyed and that no woman shold handle no towelles of the auter And though men rede that Alysander suffred deth in adrians tyme [...] yet thenne was not Adrian Emperour / but perauentur consul or prefect. In this trayanus tyme placidas mayster of knightes went on huntyng and mette with an herte hauynge bitwe­ne his hornes the crucifix which sayd to hym that he his wyf & his children shold suffre moche wo and sorowe ¶And after this he was crystend and his wyf and his children / and he had a newe name and was named eustace Cassiodorus ¶ This Traianus deyde in the flux in Selencia the yere of his age / lxiij His bones were in a golden vrne or potte and buryed in the market place vnder a piler that he had made of an honderd and four and fourty foote high· Loos and mynde of hym is soo spronge that yet in our tyme men praye in plesyng of prynces / More gracious mo [...]e thou be than [...] was Augustus / and better than traianus▪

¶ Capitulum 14

ADrianus helius Traianus cosyn was Emperour one and twenty yere and ten monethes / he was connyng in the langage of grue and of latyn and made in Athenes a lybrarye of wonder maner werke· He was connynge of musique of phisick of payntyng of grauyng of meltyng and of castyng of brasse / [Page CCj] and of other metal· Whan bookes of oure byleue were wreton by one quadratus the disciple of thappostlis & by one [...] of athenes· Adrianus bad and commaunded by his lettres [...] cristen men shold not be dampned without trespas put against hem & proued / he made many lawes / but he hadde grete enuye to the noble loos and renomme of traianus· So that he forsoke the prouynces that traianus had wōne· as siria / mesopotania & Armenia / & purposed to haue left dacia· but his frendes caused him to chaunge his thought / Also this Adrianus ouercome the Iewes that were eftsones yet rebell and chaced hem oute of ierl̄m And put therinne men of other nacions [...]nd sith that tyme the place where crist suffred his passion is within the northe walles of the cyte of Ierl̄m / whiche was to fore that tyme withoute the walles / In this Adrianus tyme the philosopher secundus was flouryng whiche put hym self to silence & wold not speke to his lyues ende. And the cause of his scilence was this / he had [...] & study [...]d atte scole of Athenes & herde of the vnstydfastnes of women And therfore in a tyme whan he come home & was vn­knowen of his frendes / he thought tassaye & proue the vnstydfastnes of his owne moder· & yaue to a wenche [...]er seruaunt yef­t [...]s & she brought hym pryuel [...] by nyght vnto his moders bedde Thenne his moder bygan to [...] hym and comforte him for to haue to doo with her / nay moder sayd he it is not sitting to me to defowle that place from whiche I cam of / why / sayd she / who art thou. I am sayd he secundus thy sonne / And whan his moder herd that she deyde forthwith for shame and sorowe / Thenne he sawe and vnderstode that his moder was deede by his defaul [...]e in spekynge and t [...]llynge what he was vnto her and made grete doole and sorowe / and auowed neuer to speke after / and soo he neuer spak after but lyued as a d [...]mbe man to his lyues ende / And helde his auowe v [...]to his lyues ende· so that he wold not sp [...]ke fo [...] man [...]ce ne for fayre bihe [...]tes and yet he was brought to fore Adrian th [...]mperour· but speke wolde he neuer as it is wreton in [...]he questions that he wrote in his scylence tyme / the lefforꝰ the pope was a greke after sixtus passion he was pope xj yere. he ordeyned the lente [...] be fasted to fore cester. And that noman sholde synge masse to fore the hour of vndern - & that men shold singe thre masses with gloria in excelsis on crystemas day. That yere Eustace that to fore was callyd Placidas was martred and his wyf and children ¶ That tyme the thre maydens [Page] fides spes & caritas and her moder sapiencia were martred at rome [...] Adrian themperour deyde in campania in the dropecye [...] That tyme Aquila of the ylond pontus was flourysshynge· He was the second after seuenty that torned holy wryt oute of hebrue in to grue ¶ After the passion of Thelefferus Igynus a greke philosopher of Athenes was pope four yere· he ordeyned the clergye to be rewled in ordre and in degree ¶Also he ordey­ned that no Archibisshop shold condempne his suffrygan but in sight and in heeryng of othe [...] suffrigans and bisshops of the same prouynce

¶ Capitulum 15

ANtonius pius with his sonnes Aurelius and lucius was Emperour two and twenty yere / he had suche a name that in al his kyngdome he withhelde the caucions of his dettour and foryaue the dettis. And therfor he was callyd the fader of the countreye. And m [...] sayd that he wolde saye ofte in this maner Me is leuer by the ensample of Scipion saue one cyteseyn than ouercome a thousand enemyes [...] His doughter faustina sawe swerde men fyghte and cast soo grete loue to one of them that she was seke for loue· And she tolde it to her owne husbond Mar­cus Antonius / Thenne by counseyll of phisiciens of caldea that swerde man was slayne and faustynas bodye enoynted with his bloode And soo the sorow cesed· Also many men of straunge nacions dyde of her armure / and putte the causes of her stryf vpon Antonius and were redy for to stonde to his ordenaunce and dome / Ieronimus de viris. In his tyme policarpus bisshop of ephesim that was disciple to Iohan theuangelyst come to ro­me and conuerted many men oute of theyr heresye / And was afterward brente in his own chirche. After Iginus pius was pope fyften yere. At his prayer hermes wrote that booke that is cleped pastor / therinne it is wreton that esterday shold not be hol­de but on a sondaye by byddynge of the Aungele that shewed him in the clothynge of a fyssher / ¶ Aboute this [...]yme Tro [...]tus pompeus of the nacion of spayne was in his floure [...] / He wrote the storyes of al the world from Nynus tyme kynge of Assiria vnto the tyme of the hoole lordshippe of Emperours [Page CCij] in xliiij bookes / his disciple Iustinus abredged those bookes This Iustinus was a pleder and a wryter of historyes. Also this iustinus wrote the book de cristiana religione to antoniꝰ piꝰ And therby he made hym the more goodly After pius Anitetus was pope as it were ten yere / he badde that clerkes sholde be shauen rounde aboute and haue no longe lockes ¶ Galyen the phisicien that was born at pergamus was in his floures at Ro­me· he expowned ypocras bookes and not only them but he made many volumes of his owne Me sayth that for resonable abstinence that he vsed he lyued honderd and fourty yere / he ete neu (er) ne drank his fylle nether ete rawe fruyt. ¶ He hadde alway a swete smellyng breth / he deyde for age and for non [...] other euyl That tyme hirmeus episcopus lugdium was flourynge he expowned many bookes of holy wryt ¶ And ptholomeus a connyng man of the science of mathematyke was in his flowres he made more of astronomye than was made to fore his tyme. This man was of straunge wacche and of lytel mete and had a swete breth. he made many b [...]okes that ben named Almages­tus perspectiua and in Iudicijs quadripertitum and centilog­um ¶Amonge his prouerbis tweyne ben famous and noble he is heyghest amōg men that retcheth neuer / who hath the world in honde. and other men ben not amended by hym that is not amended by other men

¶ Capitulum 16

MArcus Antonius verus and lucius comodus the sones of Antonius pius regneden after thryr fader eyghten yere These tweyne were bothe ioyned by kynred [...] & affynyte though they were not bothe born of one wombe / For marcus Antonius had wedded Antonius pius doughter / And lucius comodus had wedded marcus Antonius doughter· & soo by these tweyne the Romaynes begonne to haue twey emperours This mar­cus was neuer proude for none happe that myght befalle to him he was so stydfast & so sad that from his childhode he chaunged neuer his semblaunt for sorow ne for ioye· also after the bataill that he dyde ayenst the germans sclaues and sar [...]tes he hadde spent al that was in the tresory & had nought for to yeue vnto his knyghtes / yet hym was leuer leye to wedde his vessels of siluer and of gold and tharaye of his wyf / than greue prouynces [Page] londes and the senatours ¶ Therfor whan the vyctorye was wonne he recouerd al that and moche more & payd the pryse of the valewe to hem that wolde yelde ayene that they had bought other receyued to wedde / And was not wroth to hem that wold not yelde agayne that they had bought or receyued to wedde / he relesed many [...]butes to prouynces and londes. the tables of the dettes that men o wyd hym he brente in the myddel of the cyte Cruel lawes he attemperid with newe ordenaunces & constituci­ons· In his tyme egesippus flouryd the wryter of storyes & of destroyenge of ierl̄m / his booke was wreton in grue & Ambrose torned it in to latyn [...] Tho was the mayde praxedis flouryng after that she hadde buryed many martires she prayde oure lord that she myght passe after hem & her boone was herd / In this Emperours tyme wa [...] [...] grete pestylence & deth that the hoost of rome was nygh destroyed / so in a tyme themperour fought ayēst the quades and his men fayleden wele nygh for drynke & god almyghty sente hem rayne fro heuē· but the contrary befyl whā lightnynge fered the germans & sarmates / Gaufr / Aboute the firste yere of this marcus lucius coyllus sonne bygan to regne in Brytayne / Gaufr & alfr / he sente lettres to elentherius the pope for to resseyue crystendome / & his bone was graunted· & britons helde & kept hoolly that fayth & byleue vnto dyoclysian themperours tyme / After Anitetus sother was pope nyne yere / he ordey­ned that a menchon or nonne shold not handle the towayllis of the auter neyther do ensence in the sence [...] but she shal bere a veyle on her heede / also he ordeyned that no wyf shold be holden law­ful but she were blessyd of a preest. After sother elenthe [...]u [...] was pope xv yere· he ordeyned that crysten men shold not Forsake ne forbere no mete. that is skylful & resonable for mankynde / & that no man shold be degraded ne put out of his state & of his degre but he were lawfully accused to fore hond / & he sayde that our saueour wyste wel that Iudas was a theef & his traytoure· but for he was not accused he was not put downe / but al that he dyde in the meane tyme among thappostlis for the state of his dyg­nyte it was alowed and stode ferme & stable / also this pope atte prayeng of lucius kyng of brytons sente forganus & damianꝰ that crystned the kynge & the peple and made bisshopes & Archebisshops in stede of flamynes and A [...]cheflamynes that mysby­leuyd men hadden in steede of Archibisshops & bisshops / And this crystendome dured in brytayne ij·C yere and sixtene vnto [Page CCiij] dyoclisians tyme whan seynt albon was martred

¶ Capitulum 17

AFter marcus lucius comodus was emperour? thyrten yere / This comodus was vnprofytable to all thynges and yaue him al to lechery and harlotrye / he made to slee many senatours and cristen men and cleped the monethe of septembre after his own name. Also he was deffamed by the shrewdnes of his wif and fought in Amphiteatre with short swerd men in the hows of the goddes vesta / he was strangled atte laste and dyede with soo grete wrath and de [...]pyte that he was demed enemy of man­kynde / Tre uisa / Amphiteatrum is an hygh round place for to se aboute / Thenne it foloweth in the sto [...] that be sente philip the no­ble burgeys of Rome in to egypte This philippes doughter eugenia with twry sonnes prothus and Iacinc [...]us went a way in a mannys wede vnwetyng her fader that was not in the byleue and she was cristned and was called eugenius and made a monk / And whan the Abbot was dede / Eugenius was made Abbot in his stede· Atte last a woman that hete melencia cast a lecherous eye vpon Eugenius & wold haue had eugenius to lye by her· And by cause eugenius wolde not assente / melencia diffamed eugenius and sayde that eugenius wolde haue leyn by her by strength ayenst her wylle. wherfor eugenius was take and brought to her own fader philip / thenne she kytte and slytte her clothes and shewed that she was his owne doughter eugenia / & shewede that there were prothus & iacinctus y gelded. whan her fader sawe that he was cristned with al his meyne / And melencia that hadde her deffamed was sodenly brente with a stroke of lightnynge: After elentherius victor was pope ten yere. Anone he sente lettres to theophilus of Allexandria and to alle the bre­theren that were there that they sholde gadre a counseyl for to ordeyne the very holding of esterday / Marianus li [...] 1. ca 2. ffor after that the apostles were dede vnto that tyme as cristemas daye is holde the vij day to fore [...]anyuer vpon [...]hat day euer it felle. so all the men of gallia helde the esterday the vij day to fore april vpon what day of the weke someuer it be felle as it was fyrst bygonne and take for to be holde ¶ Eusebius in his storye tellith that [Page] men of the eest londes helde esterdaye the fourten daye of the mo­ne vpon what day it euer fylle in the moneth of marche ¶ In this counseyl and sinode was pope victor and narcisus patriarch of Ierusalem and hireneus bisshop of lugdium / there it was or­deyned that esterday sholde be holden the fyrst sondaye after the xiiij day of the mone of the first moneth that is marche / [...] esterweke sholde dure vnto the xxj day of the same mone so [...] thylk day be acompted in the ester weke / Theophilus of cesarea halpe moche in this ordenaunce. Theodocius of ephesym was that tyme holden a noble man he was the thyrdde that tourned holy wryt out of hebrew in to grue / after comodꝰ hiliꝰ pertinax was Emperour six monethes Hym sl [...]we Iulian a connyng man of the lawe and so he toke thempyre by strengthe but he was slay­ne of one seuerus anone after the seuen moneth

¶ Capitulum 18

AFter Iulianus Seuerus of Affryca of the countray that heyghte tripolis was Emperour sixten yere / this was made emperour and no mo of Affryca fyrst this was an eschetour & steygh vp by dyuerse offices and dygnytees vnto he was empe­rour / He was right skars and sterne of kynde / he ouercome the parthes and the arabes. and therfor he was callyd perthicus and arabicus / he made a wall in brytayne that stretcheth six score myle and tweyne vnto the see / and he deyde at york ¶ Beda libro 1 This seuerus gouerned the comynte myghtly / & with grete trauayl· And atte last he wente in to brytayne and made a wall of turues and not of stones as somme men wene and departed brytayne by that wal / he dalf vp turnes of the grounde and made vp an high wal / soo that to fore the wal is the dyche that the turues were doluen oute / therupon ben pyght stronge poles and stakes of tree / he strengthed ofte that wal with many toures & deyde afterwarde at york and lefte after hym twey sones basia­nus and geta / But geta was Iuged for a comyn enemy and put to deth / basianꝰ was callid antoniꝰ & had the kyngdō / Gaufr Luciꝰ kyng of britōs dei [...]e without childrē & was buried at gloucetre / thēne fyl stryf among the britons & the power of the romayns· therfor seuerꝰ the senatour with two legions was sēte in to brytayn / he made a wall atte coste of the comynte bytwene deira. [Page CCiiij] and albania that ben the north side of englond and Scotland He made the wal ayenst fulgencius kynge of pyctes & fought afterward at york and was slayn & buryed there and lefte after hym two sones / one hete geta. his moder was of Rome. that other heet bassianus and his moder was of brytayne. Therfor was grete fyghtyng bytwene the two bretheren and geta was slayne & bassianus had the kyngdome Gaufr The brytons chose bassianus for his moder was bryton / but the romains chese geta by cause his moder was a romayn / & so they fought and geta was slayn R ¶ But eutropius sayth in the story of rome! that geta was slayn atte cyte edessa whan he fought ayenst the parthes

¶But gaufr / in the story of brytons sayth that geta was slayn of one caransius a tyraunt that frayed with hym / Symachus was tho in his floures· [...]e was the fourth that translated holy wrytte oute of hebrue in to grue he was of the samarytes & tor­ned vnto the Iewes lawe & was· made proselitus that is whan he is torned fro another lawe to the Iewes lawe / Eusebius libro sexto / That tyme was narcisus flowryng bisshop of Ierl̄m It is wreton that he was a right trewe Iugge and stydfast & wold not bende but alway holde the trouth & yeue true senten­ces / therfor thre men that were culpable in hem self feyned a blame and accused the bisshop and brought forth hem self for wytnes / the fyrste prayd that the fyre of helle must brenne hym but it were sothe that he sayde / the second prayd that the kynges euil muste de [...]troye hym but yf it were sothe that he sayde. the thyrdde prayde that he muste lose bothe his eyen but it were sothe that be sayde / But the grete eye of goddes ordenaunce brent the first witnes as he had prayde and all his hows therto· And destroyed the second wytnes by the kynges euyl / the thyrdde sawe how his fe­lawes sped & dr [...]d ful sore & knowleched h [...]s trespas to sore all th [...] peple & wept so many teres & so ofte for that synne & trespas that he lost both his eyen / After the passion of vyctor Zephirinus was pope ix yere. he ordeyned that euery cristen man of xii yere olde & aboue sholde euery yer ones receyue the sacramēt & be hoseled on esterday / He made many omelyes & epistles & so of his makinge is the legende on childermasse day & beginneth Zelus quotendat & so forth & also of the decollacioon of seint iohn /

¶ Eusebius libro sexto ¶ Seynt leonydes Or [...]g­n [...]s fader was martrid at alexandria the first day of march his sonne origenes a child of xviij yere that hight adamanciꝰ also cast [Page] for to folowe thensample of his fader / but by thordenaūce of god and besynes of his moder the child was kepte to ful grete prouffyt of many men / for she hidde the childes clothes that night that he wolde haue goon oute on the morow. therfor the childe wrote a letter to his fader howe he was holden at hoome by sleyht of his moder and prayde his fader that he wold be stydfaste and holde forth that he hadde bygonne. whyle this was a lytel childe he axed ofte questions of his fader / and axyd howe holy wryte was yeue to vs by thinspiracion of the holy gost· and what of goddes counseyll is hid in holy wryt in symplenes of spekyng and of wordes / ¶ Hit is sayd that ofte whan the childe was a slepe the fader wolde vnhele the childes breste and worshipe it a [...] it were goddes temple and kysse it ful swetely and saye that wel was him that gate euer suche a childe ¶ Thenne whan the fader was martryd the child was of eyghten yere age as a fore is sayde / whan his fadris catel was taken be thescheters / he and his moder that was wydowe and his eyght bretheren were lefte in grete pouert and meschyef ¶ Than at Alexandria he helde a gramer scole for to haue lyuelode for hym and his ¶ But euer amonge he tourned men to cristen feyth and halpe and socoured hem that were poursiewed and brought in meschyef and confor­ted hem that were lad to deth for the fayth of holy chirche· he vsid moche wakynge and fastynge· he folowed the sayng of the gospel that counseylleth that me shold not haue two kyrtels ne ca­re for the day that cometh to morowe / Soo that yf le knewe ony that kepte of her own catell to lyue by he refused hem and wold not haue hem in his loore / he wente many yere withoute hosen or shoe [...] / Alwey he spared wyn but yf it were for helpynge of the stomak In his yougth he dyde one dede that semed of vnparfight wytte but it was a token of a ful byleue and of parfyght chas­tite as the gospel sayth / somme ben ghelded that ghelde hem self / for the kyngdome of god Therfor not only by cause of chasty­te but also for he shold preche to men and to women pryuely

Mame [...] Alysander themperours moder desired to here orygenes speke and stute after hym that he shold come to her oute of alexandria vnto antiochia ¶ This orygenes withoute other hadde seuen yong men and seuen maydens that wrote dyuers bookes & maters as he yaue hem to [...] by his owne mouth he wrot [...] [...]o moch that Ierom knowlechyd that hadde red of orygenes bokes four thousand volumes withoute epistles that he hadde wryten [Page CCv] Hit was a prouerbe of hym. Suche was his loore suche was his lyf / he slepte vpon no bedde / he tasted nether flessh ne wyn / Giraldus Orygenes was neygh the grettest of holy wryt [...] yf he not erred in so moche speche / And as alle the latyn [...] folowen ennius so alle expositours folowen orygenes Also in hi [...] maner he translated the byble in to grue Also he fonded to amende the translacions of other doctours· of Aquila / of symachꝰ and theodocion And there they had more than was in hebrue he made a signe that heyght [...]belus / and is shappn endlong lyke a rodde / And there they had [...]e lasse than was in hebrue or spak derkly· he made a signe that is called Asteristus and is shape lyke a s [...] re Ieronimus epistola 41 There orygenes sayde wel. noma [...] sayd better and there he sayd euyl no man sayde werse ¶ And whan he passyd wele nygh all other doctours in his other boo­kes. he passyd hym self super cantica canticorum / he spake a thou­sande tretys in chirche and made exposicions withoute nombre & called hem themos / yf ony that folowe hym put errour ayenste vs he may take hede that the grete homerus slepte somtyme / for in a longe werke it is lawfu [...]l to slepe somtyme / we shall not folo­we his vytes yf we may not folowe his vertues ¶ Therfor yf one of his bookes be defowled whiche book heyg [...]te peryarchon. whe [...]nne he vnderstondeth euyll of the fader and worse of the sone and worst of the holy goost· And there he sayd that cast will somtyme thurgh̄ his grete mercy saue the angels that fyll dou­ne fro heuen And he leyth for hym that verse of the saw [...]r / god shall not be wroth for euermore / nether manace withoute ende Shall all his bookes for this be destroyed / he hym self orygenes in a pystle that he wrote to fabyan the pope of Rome maketh so­row for he had wreton suche thynges / And put the cause of that fo [...]e vpon one Ambrose that put forth his bookes that be had wreton priueli and made hym comyn er he hadde corrected and amended them My frendes sayd he haue done me this· Yf I holde my pees / I shall be holden gylty And yf I answer I shall be holden an enemy / eyther condicion is harde / but of the tweyne I shall chese the lighter / Aboute this tyme the fyfth translacion was founden in a toun at Ierycho That translacion is callid vulgata the Auctor [...] is vnknowe ¶It semeth̄ that the comyn sauter that we vse is taken of that translacion though we folowe Ieroms translacians in other bookes of holy wryt But Damasus the pope made the chirche of rome folowe Ierom [Page] also in the sawter

Sequitur Capitulum 19

BAssianus Antonius seuerus sonne regned after his fader seuen yere. this was callid marcus aurelius and carakalla also for a maner clothyng that he gaue at Rome And therfor bathes that he made at Rome ben called caracalane This was a right euil man and sharper of maners than his fader and he was vnsuffrable of lechery R ¶ So that he toke his owne stepdame Iuliana and wedded her to wyf ¶ Of the place and maner of his dyeng auctours discorden as it is sayd to fore hon­de Gaufr and Alfr While this bassianus regned one caransius that come [...]h of the lowest blode of brytons was a noble man of coūceyl & of honde [...]he gate of the senatours the kepyng of the costes of Brytayne· for that tyme frensshemen and saxons werryd therupon but whan [...] had goten his axyng he dyde more harme and damage than proff [...]t to the comynte For he byhete to the britons that he wolde [...] and chace the Romayns oute of the ylond yf they wold make hym kyng ¶ Thenne he slough bassia­nus and [...] the kyngdome seuen yere For the pyctes that fulgencius the [...]nc bassianus moders broder had brought oute of Sacia and oute of other londes fors [...]e bassianus in the bataill For carancius hadde hyred hem / And soo carancius hadde the vyctorye and yaue to the pyctes a dwellyng place in Albania that is Scotland / there they were medled with brytons & dwellid there afterwarde longe tyme The Senatours of Rome herde herof and sente one allectus with thre legyons in to brytayn for to slee the tiraunt carancius and he was slayne Allectus regned thre yere and he restored brytayne agayne to the power of rome. Gir· And for this Allectus greued and poursiewed the brytons that had holde with caransius one asclepiodotus duk of cornewayle was made kynge And after thre yeere he slough Allectus at london and many thousandes of Romayns ¶ Gauredus After that london was lon ge besieged / venodotes men of north wales fylle vpon gallus Allectus felawe and slough hym within london at a broke. that hath the name of hym and is callyd gallebro [...] or walbrooke ¶And asclepiodotus reg­ned somwhat of yeres in the ylond vnto dioclisianus tyme Thenne coelus duc of colchesire slough Asclepiodotus ¶ R Giraldus & gaufredus calle this aslepiodotꝰ duc of cornewaile [Page CCvj] But beda libro / 1. ca / 6 foloweth eutropius in the story of Rome and called this Asclepiodotus prefecte of the pretorye

Eutropius Opilius macrinus prefect of the pretorye was Emperour after bassianus as it were one yere / And thenne atte archelaydes he was slayne and his sone also ¶ After Zephiri­nus calixtus was pope fyue yere· he ordeyned the fastyng of the four tyme of the yere for plente ol corne and of fruyte. and ma­de a chirche yerde at Rome in a place that is callyd Via apia / for to burye in the bodyes of holy martris / now that place is callyd cimitoriū calixti / Marcꝰ aureliꝰ antoniꝰ that was holden the sone of carcalla was emperour two yere He forbare no maner of lechery. Atte last he was slayne in a stryuyng of knyghtes

¶ Capitulum 20

AVrelius Alexander was emperour thyrten yere / This was soo cruel in corrections of the lawe of chyualrye / that he vndyde hool legyons that made grutchyng and stryf / his asses­sour was one vulpianus a connyng man of lawe / ¶ He was slayne at magounce in almayne in stryuyng of knyghtes In his tyme the sixth translacion was founden of holy wrytte at nycapolis in palestina ¶Marcus ¶ Calixtus the pope was martred in Alexanders tyme ¶ And the fyrst vrban was pope after hym eyght yere / he ordeyned that the offryng of cristen men shold none otherwyse be spente than in vse of holy chirche and in helpe of nedy cristen men / for they ben the vowes of cristen men & the prys of synne In his tyme the chirche of rome began fyrst to haue londes and rentes and with the prouffyt therof· he fonde notaryes and clerkes to wryte the lyuynge and dedes of holy sayntes To fore this tyme holy cirche lyued as the Apostles / And receyued only money to the vse [...]f nedy cristen men This. is that vrban that cristned valerianus the spouse of seint cecile and was atte last martred with hym in Aurelius tyme After him poncianus was pope fyue yere And atte last [...] brought and martred at sardinia / ¶ And afterward [...] brought his body to Rome & buryed it there Me sayth that our Siriacus was pope after this poncianus one yere But by cause he resigned the papacye ayenst the wyll of the clergye. And [Page] one Antherus was made pope / And for he wente to Agrippina. whiche nowe is called coleyn with enleuen thousand maydens / whom he had crystend wel nygh al· he is not sette in the booke of rekenyng of popes / The cardynalys trowyd that he had lefte the poperych not fo [...] [...]euocion but for lykyng of maydens Netheles he was a clene mayde y martred with the sayde maydens / Af­ter that Aurelius was slayne at magounce / Maximinus Iulius was made emperour by the hoost withoute auctoryte of the senatours and was emperour thre yere / he poursiewed holy chirche and specially for orygenes / And he was slayne atte last in aquila· Gordyanus was Emperour six yere and was slayne of one phelip prefect of the pretory not fer from Rome after that gordianus hadde ouercome the parthes / Fabian was pope after An­therus fyften yere / whan the pope was deede this passed by the way and talked with his frendes of the [...]chesyng of a newe pope

¶ Thenne a downe came sodenly and sat on his heede and sayde thou shalt be crowned bisshop of Rome ¶ And soo he was chosen by goddes ordenaunce and ordeyyed seuen [...] to wryte the dedes of holy martres / And he ordeyned that [...] yere crysme and oyle sholde be halowed in holy chirches [...] he was martred atte last in decius tyme· In this popes tyme one nanacius a prest of Rome desired to be pope and bycam an here­tyke and denyed that a synful man myghte be saued / therfor was made a counseyll of sixty bisshops· That tyme was Af­fricanus the wrytar flouryng· h [...]ac [...]ydes the bisshop sayth that he wrote the lyues of holy fadres in a booke that is callyd para­dysu [...]· affrycanus was prayd and wente to Alexandria & occu­pyed the mayster chayr after orygenes / Also that tyme co [...]lus the duc of colchestre slough asclepiodotus and regned in brytain thyrtty yere vnto the ecomyng of constancius

¶ Capitulum 21

PHilippus with his sonne philip was emperour seuen yere This was the fyrst [...]risten man of al themperours / & was [...]istend of seynt poncius the martir· he was soo stydfaste in the fayth of holy chirche that he knowleched frely his synne & was houseled to fore al the peple on esterday / his sone was a cristen [Page CCvij] man but he was so sterne of herte that no man myght meue him to lawghe / ¶ Ones be tok [...] heede how his fader made a mowe & torned away his face / alwey he withstode vyces and fonded to styghe vp to the parfyghtnesse of vertues Eutropius in the iiij / yere of this emperour were ended a thousand yere after that Rome was bylded / and for solempnyte therof philip slough beestes withoute nombre in a round place that is called the grete cirtꝰ And made playes of the theatre in marses felde thre dayes and thre nyghtes to the peple that woke besyly / fabian the pope was martred in decius the consuls tyme / After him cornelius was pope thre yere He ordeygned that none othe sholde be chalengyd of the pope but it were for the right fayth of holy chirche And that no preest sholde committe his cause to another mānes dome but it were appeled to the court of Rome ¶Also atte prayer of seynt lucina he made the bodyes of thappostles to be take ou [...] of the place that hght catacumb as it were a charnel and brought powles bodye in the place that is callyd via hostiensis. And petres body in the place that is called vaticanus faste by the place / where he was put on the crosse / ¶In this popes tyme the grekes had stolen the bodyes of the apostlis for to brynge hem in to grece· but fendes that were closed and dwellyd in maw­mettes were compellyd by the vertue of god and cryde / Help ye men of Rome for our goddes ben take away from you / thenne crysten men vnderstode that this was sayd of thappostles and mysbyleuyd· men vnderstode that it was sayd of theyr goddes ¶ And so mysbyl [...]uyd men and cristen men gadred hem to geders alle in one rowte by one assente and poursiewed after the grekes· thenne the grekes were aferde and threwe the bodyes of thappostlis in a pytte atte a place that heyght catacumbe / And whan the bodyes were take oute of that place hit was doute whether bones were peters and whether were pawles ¶Thē ­ne crysten men bygonne to praye and to faste and had a reuela­cion and a shewyng of god that the gretter bones were the fys­sher bones· the fyssher was peter Phelip the older was slayne at verona And philip the [...] was slayne at Rome by gyle and by fraude of decius ¶R It is redde in legenda sanctorum that philip the olde [...] [...]ad sente his noble knight decius for to chastyse gallia / decius spedde wel and cam agayne and themperour cam ayenste him oute of Rome and was slayne at verona by his fraude and gyle / thenne the yonger philip herde therof and [Page] sleygh and toke his fader tresour to sixtus the pope and to laurence the dekene for to dele it to pour men ¶Then [...] decius was made emperour for men shold-wene that he hadde slayne his lord for loue of maumetry & not trayterly ¶This decius poursiewed cristen men and was emperour thre yere ¶He wolde haue crow­ned his sone decius emperour but his sone wold not and sayde I drede that I shal foryete to be a sone yef I be made emp [...]rour Me is leuer sayd he to be not emperour and be a meke sonne than be emperour and be a stoute sone and vnkynde· My fader shal be emperour ¶My empyre shal be to be subgette and buxom to the emperour

Capitulum 22

ORosius sayth that decius was Emperoroure thre yere [...]ud thre monethes / But eusebius beda and cassiodorus tellen that he bygan to regne the yere after the buyldynge of Rom [...]a thousend yere and four and by eusebius cronyque it semeth that this decius regned eyght yere / and by the martilogye it semeth that he regned sixten yere / It semeth that [...]llys it myght not stō de that so many pop [...] as fabian cornelius lucius stephen & sixtꝰ were martred in decius tyme as it is wreton and radde Therfor somme men wold suppose / that these sixtene yere and two yere of galerius shal restore the eyghten yere that lacken in the cronikes of eusebius and of beda fro the fyften yere of tiberius cesar vnto our tyme / Here among take hede that the elder decius that slough philip and was emperour after hym / he was Emperour as it is here sayde But the other decius the yonger was Cesar & not emperour· And so bytwene these two decius were bothe em­perours and popes as gallus and volusianus After hem regned valerius with his sone galyenus fyften yere In her tyme were martryd fyue popes and laurencius the dekene & ypolitus with al his hows It semeth by this that galyenus had two names for he was callyd decius also [...] Other men suppose that it was al one decius that was made cesa [...] by philip and thylke de­cius vnder whome laurence was martred / ¶ And therfor it is nowther y redde in laurence legende decius emperour but decius cesar It happeth oftyme that somme were cesars and not Au­gustes ne emperours For somme were fyrst cesars and thenne [Page CCviij] Augustus· and thenne emperours / thenne in the fyrst yere of decius themperour the seuen slepers bygonne to sleepe in the mount celius and slepe so two honderd yere And they roose aboute the last tyme of theodocius / Aboute that tyme Antonius the famoꝰ monke was born in Egypte· Cornelius the pope was martrid & after hym lucius that was pope thre yere And Abdon & sennen was martred also and seynt Agatha at cathyna / Also that yer [...] decius and his sonne w [...]re slayne of gothes in Tracia / But it is red in ypolytus passion that decius and valerianus were trauailed with a fende after Laurences passion and deyde in that me­schyef / Gallus with his sone volusianus regned two yere / they wente oute of Rome and Emilianus slough hem and toke them­pyre with wronge and was slayne the moneth after / In his ty­me fyl a pestylence as it were in to al the world / And Oryge­nes deyde and was buryed in tirus the yere of his age lxx /

¶ Capitulum 23

UAleryanus with his sonne galyenus regned fyften yere· Fyrst· he worshiped soo holy sayntes that me trowyd that his hows hadde be goddes owne chirch. But afterward he was apeyred by one that was a wytche and bygan to hate the fayth of crystē men / thenne he biganne to poursue cristen men· And goddes helpe was soo by mone hym that he was taken of sapor kyng of perce And his eyen were putte oute· And he was holden in a dispytous bondage to his lyues ende· Soo that he sholde stoupe to grounde And the kyng sholde sette his fote on his bak whan he shold lepe to hors / Aboute that yere decius that hyghte galyenꝰ wax cruel and sterne / And paule the fyrst heremyte wente in to wyldernes and lyued there vnknowen lx yere to geder as Ierom wryteth in vitas patrum / ¶After lucius stephen was pope thre yere / he ordeygned that mynystres of holy chirche sholde not were holy vestymentes in the comyn vse of euery daye: this stephen was slayne whyle he saide his masse / the second ciprianus was fyrst a man of lawe and a pletar an [...] afterward a preeste / and atte last he was bisshop of cartage and was martred the same daye that cornelius the pope was martred but not the same yere Aft [...]r that stephen was martred sixtus was p [...]pe two yere / he [Page] [...]edeygned that men sholde synge a masse vpon an Aulter and was afterward martred with felicissimus & Agapitus in deciꝰ tyme so sayth the martiloge that is better to byleue than crony­kes of Auctours that ben not knowen / For galyenus thempe­rour hete decius also ¶This sixtus went in to spayne in a time and fonde there two yonglynges vyncent and laurence that were his owne cosyns and were wel thewed and manerd. He toke hede of hem and brought hem [...] with hym to Rome· And lau­rence abode with hym at Rome and vyncent went agayne in to spayne And was martred afterward in dacianus the Iuges tyme / After that sixtus was martred / denys a monk was pope six yere· he departed paryshes and chirche yerdes / And assygned to eueryche parysshe a preeste / After denys felix was pope foure yete / Eugenia prothus and iacinctus were thenne martred at Rome / that tyme gregorius nazauzenus was in his flour [...]s / He was bisshop in constantinople in grece Two bretheren germa­yns strofe for a ponde that had plente of fysshe and by his prayers the ponde waxed drye and bere corn [...] and fruyte ¶ Also a chirche shold be buylded in a place but the place was to scarce and to narowe for in the eest side was a grete roche and a grete Ryuer in the weste side / And gregory prayde in a nyghte / And on the morn it was founden that the roche was withdrawen a [...] fer as it neded & so there was a place large ynough for to make & bylde a chirche / also in another tyme in wynter he passed the alpes and he must wende by Appolyns temple / but whan he was goon fro the temple the preest of the tēple that was wōt to gete moche good by answers that the maumett gaf gate no more / for the mawmet gaf none answer / And the preest offred sacryfyce bysyly / and it was sayd him in his sl [...]pe that Appollo delphicꝰ was put oute by the comyng of gregory And he myght not co­me ageyne withoute leue of gregory ¶ Whan the preest herde that. anone he wente to gregory and purchaced a letter of hym in these wordes / Gregory sendeth gretynge to Appolyn / I suffre the to torne agayne in to thy place and doo as thou were wont to doo this letter was set vp in Appolyns temple / And Appo­lyn yaue answer as he was wonte· Whan the preest sawe that he wente to gregory and prayd hym that he wolde make hym a crysten man And atte last whan gregory was dede he was bisshoppe after hym / ¶ Claudius the seconde regned one yere & somwhat of monethes ¶ Ones he ouercome the gothes and deyde. After [Page CCix] him his broder quintilius r [...]gned by ass [...]nte of knyghtes / and was slayn the xv day in Aquila ¶ After that felyx the pope was martred euticianus was pope six yere / he ordeyned that the first fruytes shold be blessyd vpon the aucter. Also he buryed thre honderd and sixty martres with his owne honde

¶ Capitulum 24

AVrelianus of denmark born was emperour fyue yere / and somwhat of monethes / he was lyke to grete Alysaunder or to Iulius / For as Alysaunder in xij yere w [...]te in to Inde / and Iulius in ten yere ouercome the Galles and the Germans and fought foure yere ayenst the cyteseyns▪ So in this four yere be restored the lordship of Rome / In his first tyme the state of holy chirche bygan [...] soo that a solempne counseyl of Bisshops was made at Antiochia ¶In that counceyl paule the heretyk was condempned but afterward he was [...]eyred by shrewes & arered disese and stryf in holy chirche This Aurelianus ouer­come the gothes fyue sythes· this was the fyrst amonge Roma­yns that vsed clothes of gold / he dyde on his hede a dyadem [...] a­rayed with precious stones· he restored to the peple vse of swynes flessh / Atte last he cam in to gallia and martred many holy men and called the cyte genalium by his own name aurelyan And was after slayne fast by constantinople ¶After hym tacitus regned six monethes after the whiche he was slayne in pon­tus ¶ Thenne after tha [...] [...]rianus regned thre monethes and was slayn in Tharsis [...]ter the passion of euticianus / gaius was pope nyntē yere. he ordeyned degrees of ordres in holy chirch ¶ Hostiariu [...] lector exorcista and acolytus and other mo / And that no man shold accuse the mynystrys of holy chirche to fore a seculer Iugge Anatolius bisshop of Alysaunder in laodicia made a boo [...] of the verrey ester day & ten bookes of arsmetrik ¶ The heresye of the manachies began to sprynge. Mauych [...]us was of perse a man of sharp wytte and of straunge man [...]s ¶ First [...]e was named mane [...] ¶ The manychyes haue tha [...] name of him▪ The [...] s [...]y [...] that ther ben tweyne fyrst werchers and maker [...] of thynge [...] / One of good and another of euil / one of l [...]ght and another of derknes· Giraldus and Alfredus.

¶Aleu [...] that tyme the [...]mayns sent one constan [...]us for to [Page] make coelus kyng of brytayne subgett / And for [...] resseyue try­bute that was denyed ¶ But coelus wa [...] dede after the moneth of his comyng and constancius had the kyngdome / and wedded this coelus doughter / and gate on her the grete constantin Probus was Emperour six yere and somwhat of monethes / he wan gallia that was oute of theyr hondes and restored it agayne / he lete the galles and pannonyes haue vse of vynes / And whan he had wele nyghe sette al in pees / he sayd that in short tyme me sholde haue no nede to knyghtes / And atte last he was slayn [...] a stryuyng of knyght [...]s ¶ Carus with his sones carinus [...] Numerianus was emperour two yere and he was drowned [...] the Ryuer Tigris / ¶ Also Numerianus was lad in a lytter for his sore eyen and his owne wyues fader Apru [...] satte in a way [...]e for hym and slough hym ¶Thenne after many daye [...] he wa [...] vnnethe founde but by stenche of his carayn. ¶ Carinus was ouercome and slayn at margus

¶ Capitulum 25

DIoclysianus the sonne of dalmata the wryter was fyrste consul and thenne he was made emperour and he was emperour twenty yere Anone this smote Aprus in a gadryng of knyghtes and swore that withoute his tresonne and gyle Numerianus had not be slayne / This man was ful ofte [...]esy & subtyl of wytte. soo that he couthe fulfylle his cruelnes by the enuye of other This badde and commaunded that men sholde worshipe as it were god almyghty [...] He vsed clothes ho [...]en & shoen ryally araied with precious stones· though emperours that were to fore hym were salewed as Iuges and had a re [...]e mantel more than other men and none other dyuersite fro the comyn clothyng of other men / but suche a reede mantell ¶ Also for werre and b ataylles that were toward / this toke one herculius maxmianus and made hym his felawe in the kyngdome ¶ This herculius wa [...] openly grym and sterne. and wold not be vnder the [...]awe▪ his sternes was sone knowen by his grysly countenaūce and semblaunt ¶ But dyoclysianu [...] made him fyrste Cesar And afterward Augustus ¶He bare doune a greete multitude of chorles and yelded [...] to the galles ¶ In that Iourneye was the legyon at A [...]pe [...] that heete legy [...] thebea Seynt M [...]ury [...] was one of that [...]gyon. ¶Atte laste [Page CCx] dyoclysianus made constanciu [...] and galerius cesars / And soo thempyre was gouerned by two Augustus and dioclysianus and maximianus and by two cesars constancius and galeriꝰ He that is Augustus is gre [...]er than he that is cesar. And for he wolde haue the gretter affynyte / dyoclysianus made constancius forsake his wyf and wedde theodora the stepdoughter of herculiꝰ Max [...]mianus and constancius gate on her six children· And he made galerius wedde his doughter and forsake his wyf. and atte last dyoclysianus and Maximianus lefte of thempyre by their fre wyll and begonne to be philosophres Thenne constan­cius and galerius deled thempyre bytwene them tweyne And so Iliricum and the est londes fill to galerius and the west bondes fille to constancius but he helde him content with fraunce and spayne and graunted the other londes to galerius Therfore Galerius ordeyned two cesars Maximinus in the est And seuerus in ytalye and helde hym content with Iliricum al one that is grece In the mene tyme dyoclysianus fonde to sle constan­tinus that was the sone of helene. But constantinus was ware of that gile and fledde to his fader ¶ That yere seynt george of capadocia that was tribunus in perce at a cyte that heyte dyospolis that is besides Ioppen. And he was martryd vnder dacianꝰ the Iugge / By doome of the counseyll of nycene his legende is acompted for wryting that is callyd Apocryfa Treuisa ¶Apocrifa is a wrytyng of none auctoryte by cause thauctor therof is vnknowen Thenne it foloweth in thystory ¶Aftre that gains was martred marcellinus was pope eight yere ¶Dioclysianus compe [...]lyd him somtyme & he assented to do sacrifice to mawmettes but af [...]erward in counseyll that was made in campania. he knouleched his trespaas to fo [...]e nyne score Bisshops and clothed him self in heer and threwe powder and duste on his owen hede and submytted hym to stonde to the dome and Iugement of the bis­shops ¶Thenne the bisshops sayde thou hast forsake / and peter forsoke and was demed of none other man but wente oute and wepte bytterly and soore / therfore deme thou thy self / ¶And I sayde he deme that I be deposed and sette doune And I acoorse alle them that burye my body in holy buryels ¶Afterward he knowleched byfore dyoclysianus that he was a cristen man and soo he was beheded and his bodye lay thirtty dayes in the strete vnburyed / And seint peter appered in a night to marcellus the preest that was pope after marcellinus and saide to him in this [Page] manere ¶ Marcelle why buriest thou not my bodye / by whiche he vnderstode marcellinus bodye / haste thou not redde that euery man that loweth and meketh hym shal be made hye ¶ Thenne burye hym thou fast by me. that buryels departe vs not / for one grace hath made vs rightful / Beside lyngons constancius Au­gustus slough sixty thousand almains· for he was closed within the cyte and late oute by a roope ouer the wal vnwetynge the hoost Galerius was ouercome of narsus and flye to dyoclysi­anus. And me sayth that he was receyued of hym in the waye with soo grete booste and triumphe that dyoclysianus ranne by galerius chare many long myle clothed as an emperour Marc ¶ After the passion of marcellinus the pope· the see was voyde many dayes / And thenne marcellus Was pope fyue yere / he or­deyned in the cyte fyften cardynals for the seruyse of crystnyng and buriyng Maximianus themperour made this pope kepe beestes for he wold not doo sacryfice to mawmettes. thenne in a night his clerkes lad hym oute of the stable / and in the broode way he halowed an hows and made therof a chirche / And maximianus made of the chirche a stable and closed marcellus in the comyn warde for he shold efte kepe beestes and there marcellus deyd [...] clothed in heer / After hym eusebius the phisician was pope eyght monethes R ¶ By the cronyk of eusebius and of beda this eyghten yere of dyoclysianus was the fyrst yere of the grete persecucion that was vnder dyoclysianus in the eest and maximianꝰ in the west ¶That persecucion was grettest and lengest duryng for it dured ten yere continuelly· for though dyoclysianus and maximianus left and yelde vp thempyre in the thyrdde yere of this persecucion as it is sayd to fore hond / yet the persecucion that was bygonne seced not to fore the seuenth yere of the grete con­stantin / Me sayth that this persecucion was so greuoꝰ & so grete yt chirches & bookes of goddes lawe were brēt / & within one mo­neth in dyuerse places of the world were xvij thousand [...]oly mē & women crowned with martirdom / no man shold bye ne selle ne take vp water of ony place but yf he dyd sacryfyce to maumetrie That tyme were martred many noble martres pancraciꝰ the first felicianꝰ sebastianꝰ felix & audaciꝰ vij bretheren & her moder be don grysogonꝰ & the .iiij that ben callyd quatuor coronati. Also vyncent george and pantaleon / vitus modestꝰ ciprianꝰ & iustina cosmas and damianus & that childe Barala / fidis & Eufenna Lucia / Anastasia· Agne [...] and gorgonius and alle in one Cyte [Page CCxj] in frigia Beda libro· capitulo sexto ¶ That tyme seynt Al­bon was martred in brytayne· of hym fortunatus the pree [...]st in libro quē de laude virginum intitulauit speketh in this manere

The plentynous [...]rytayne bryngeth forth the noble albon Whan this Albon was a paynym he l [...]dged a cristen man and was couertyd by his loore and toke vpon hym the habyte of the clerk and cam to fore the Iugge and was dampned to the deth And couertyd moche folk fast by the broke that was dreyed by his prayers / [...] And afterward on the toppe of the hil where as he deyde / he made by his prayers a welle sprynge oute of the erthe. And tourned the tormentours that shold slee hym to the feyth of holy chirch / he was martred fast by the cyte verolanium that hete in englysshe verlamchestre or watlyngchestre

Beda ¶That tyme come vp Arrians heresye that enfected not only the grete londes of the world. but also the Ilondes of the world that ben alwey redy to here newe thynges and holde no thynge certayne ¶Dioclisianus and maximianus forsoke thempyre and ladde a pryuate lyf that one at nychomedia and that other at melan ¶ Melchiades was pope four yere he forbade fastynge on the sonday and an the thursday for paynems worshipen thylke dayes ¶ Galerius was emperour one yere and ordeyned tweyne cesars ma [...]ius and seuerus· ¶Beda libro primo That tyme con [...]tancius deyde at yorke in Brytayne / the yere of his pryncipate x [...]ij ¶And left after hym his oldest sonne goten on helene that was constantyn kynge of brytayne and fraunce

¶ Capitulum 26

WHile constantyn dyde nobly and bare hym myghtly / and strongly the knyghtes of the pretory at Rome toke maxē ­cius herculius sone & callyd hym augustus / thenne galerius Augustꝰ sente seuerꝰ that he had made cesar with al his hoost ayenst him to rome. seuerꝰ besieged the cyte & was bytrayed by falshede of his owne knyghtes and fled to Rauenna & ther was slayn Herculius maxencius fader herde therof & brake oute / of his hu­dels and wold be empepour. and dyde his best for to pryue max­encius of myght and of power / therfor he & galerius comforted [Page] dyoclisianus for to take [...] dygnytees that he hadde y lefte. And he setted not therby but answerd and sayde / wold god that ye myght see wortes in myn honde in salon / Sikerly thēne wold ye not deme that I shold take this agayne ¶ Thenne herculius for stryf of knyghtes was openly sory and aferd· & wente in to fraunce for to reue byneme and take thempyre with treson from constantyn that had wedded his doughter· but he was bewreyed by the same doughter fausta constantinus wyf and fled to mar­selle and was there slayne Thenne galerius [...] licinius emperour at tarent the worst of all men in couetyse. sharpest in leche­rye and moost enemy to lettred men / he called lettres comyn pes­telence / And the meyne of the palays he called spadones that is to saye ghelded men. And also he called hem mowhthes and rattes of the palays / Whan galierius had pursiewed [...] greued men ten yere. thenne his brest roted withyn and by cause phisici­ens myght not endure the stenche of hym / he slough of hem ful ofte / In a tyme a phisician sayd to hym th [...] this meschyef was goddes wratthe and wreche / Thenne he sente out maundementes and reconseyled cristen men that were exy [...]d· and thenne he dey­de After melchiad [...]s siluestre was pope four and twenty yere He crystned the grete constantyn [...] clensed hym of his meselrye in his crystnynge ¶Also he delyuerd the cyte of Rome of the pestelence of the dragon. by his prayer he reysed a dede boole to lyf. he ouercome the Iewes in disputision / he made the firste gre [...] counseylle at nycen / ther were four honderd bisshops and eyghten ¶ He had the names of poure men of wydowes of faderles and Moderles children wryten in a booke and fonde hem what them neded / he ordeyned to faste the wednesday fry­day and saterday ¶ Also he ordeyned that the thyrsday shold be worshiped as the sonday / for that day cryst ordeyned the sacrament of his body / And on a thursdaye he ascended vp in [...] nene / And holy crysme and oyle is halowed on a thursday [...] ¶Gir / p. Thenne constantyn in his seuenth yere wente toward a batayle ayenste maxencius and sawe in his slepe the signe of the crosse shynynge in heuene. as it were brennynge layte of fyre And angels stode beside and sayde / Constantyn· Thoycana­ta. that is to saye by thi [...] tokene thou shalt haue the vyctorye

¶ Thenne he awoke and made peynte the signe and token that he hadde seen in the baners and penons of his knyghtes /

¶ Atte laste Maxencius was ouercome atte brydge [Page CCxij] pount milinum / And constantyn went to Rome and made peynte the signe and tokene of the crosse in the right hondes of the y­mages that the senatours had areysed in the worship of his triū phis and of his vyctory / and he made wryte vndernethe / this is the signe and tokene of that god of lyf that may not be ouerco­me Gaufr and Alfrd Constantyn wente oute of brytayn to thempyre of Rome ¶ Thenne octauius duc of the Iewesses werryd in brytayne and toke the kyngdome ¶Constantyn her­de therof and sente on trahern the came of his moder helene with thre legyons of knyghtes ayenst octauius / but hem byfell diuerse happes soo that in dyuerse tymes one had the maistrye / and efte that other An [...] soo trahern was slayne by fraude and gyle And soo octauius regned vnto the tyme of gracianus & valen­tinianus themperours Gir de p ¶After that maxenaus was ouercome constantyn was smeton with a stronge lepre or mesel­rye ¶R As it is wreton in legenda sanctorum in siluestris lif

Somme suppose that constantyn was smeton with meselrye for wreche of persecucion and tarauntrye that he vsed poursiewed & greued cristen men· durynge that persecucion siluester amonge other fledde out of the cyte. But withoute ony doubte for what cause it euer were that he was smeten with meselrye / It is sothe that siluestre he led him of it / Gir vbi supra / By coūseyl of the senatours & of the bisshops of mysbyleuyd men were brought / iij / M· smal children that sholde haue be slayne and costantyn sholde haue ben wasshen in the warme bloode of the children for to hele hym of his lepre / whan the kynge sawe the moders of the chil­deren wepe and make grete sorow· thenne he sayde / the dygnyte of thempyre cometh of the welle of myldenes For it is demed that he shold dyȝ that sleeth a childe in batayll ¶ De legenda sancti siluestri Thenne it were a c [...]uel dede for too do to our owne / that we be forboden for to doo the straungers / what prouffyte is it to ouercome straung [...] men and be our self ouercome with cruelnes Hit is the vertue of strengthe for to ouercome straunge men· but but is the vertue of thewes for to ouercome vyces and synne In that bat [...]l w [...] be strenger than they. but in this batayll we ben strenger than we oure self· Thenne late myldenes haue the maystrye in this [...]yng that we mowe the better haue the maystrye of our eaemyes For it is better to vs for to deye and sa­ue the childrens lyf than to gete a greete cruel lyf by the dethe of Innocent children / ¶ And yet it is not certayne [Page] that we shal saue our lyf / but it is certayne that yf it were soo saued it were a cruel lyf / thenne the next nyght after peter and paule appiered to hym and sayde. For thou were agrysed and agast and sparedest to shede the children bloode take to. the coūseyl of heele and of sauacion / ¶ Sende after siluestre that hydeth hym in the mount sarapt and make hym come to the. and whan he was brought he shewed the kynge the ymages of thappostles peter and paule that had appiered to hym in his sleepe Thenne he fasted eyghte dayes and made hym cathecuminus And was crystned atte laste and knowleched that he had seen crist ¶ Treuisa / Cathecuminus is he that lerneth the fayth of holy chirche and is in wylle to be crystned R ¶ But Ambrose & Ierome in a cronyque tellen that constantyn abode with his bapteme to his last dayes that he myght be crrystned in Iordane. ¶Thenne whan constantyn was crystned / he made the prisons to be opened & lete the prysoners goo oute And temples and mawmettes were destroyed / And chirche dores opened olde chirches amended and newe chirches buylded-And he graunted to chirches fredome and pryueleges. and ordeyned that the bis­shop of Rome shold be hyest of al bisshopes and yaue the tenthe deele of al his possession to chirches / but atte the reparaylynge of s [...]int peters chirch he wente with a mattok and opened the fyrst erthe and bare cleye to the werke on his sholders / ¶ Giraldus vbi supra From that tyme forwarde by cause of the grete Ry­chesse that the chirch of Rome had it was made the more seculer And had more seculer besynes than spirituel deuocion / And mo­re pompe and boost outward than holynesse within forth as it is supposed Therfor it is wreton that whan constantyn hadde made that yefte to the ch [...]rches. the olde enemy cryed openly in tha­yer· This day venym is heled and shedde in holy chirche Therfore Ierome in vitas patrum seyth· Syth that holy chirche encreaced in possessions / it is decreced in vertues ¶ Also themperour in the palays laterane bylded a chirche in th [...] worship of seynt Iohn and made therinne a fonte stone of a maner stone that hete porphiriticus and arayed it within with siluer ¶And in the myddel therof was a pyler that bare a vy [...]l of gold with bawme brenning alwey ¶In legenda siluestri ¶Siluester halowed this chirche the ix day of nouembre ¶That day was the ymage of our sanyoury peynted on the wal by goddes oune werk and by no mannes dede. that ymage was s [...]en of al men / And is there [Page CCxiij] yet vnto this tyme Siluestre ordeyned to arere in alle chirches auters of stone but in that chirche he stāblysshed an auter of tre that was therinne afore ¶ Men saye that peter & his successours songe masses vpon that auter For holy chirch was soo strong­ly poursued to that tyme / yt the bisshop had no certayn abydynge in the cyte of Rome / but they songe masses in holowe caues and dennes where they myghte beste vpon holow auter of tree whiche was born aboute Helene was in brytayne and herde how her sonne spedde and sente hym lettres and praysed hym moche by cause he hadde forsake mawmetrye. but she praysed hym not in that he worshiped and byleued in a man that was nayled to the crosse· themperour wrote ageyne to his moder that she shold brynge maystres of Iewes that the sooth myght be knowen by disputacion ¶Thenne helene brought forth seuen score wysemen of Iewes and syluester come ayenst hem ¶And two wysemen that were no Iewes ne crysten men were ordeyned by comyn assent for to deme the sothe / Thenne the Iewes were ouercome· And after that they had longe disputed one of the Iewes spake certayne wordes in a wylde booles eere. and the boole dyed anone: thenne anone men repreued siluestre and he sayde it is not goddes name that he had nempned / For god sleeth and yeueth lyf as it is wreton / I shal slee and I shal make thynges lyue and be a lyue. But this hath named the deuyls name that maye not but slee· & yet not [...]at by suffraunce of god / For lyons and wylde beestes maye slee. but they maye not make thynges that they slee to lyue ag [...]ne Thenne yf he wole that I byleue on hym late hym areyse the boole fro deth to lyf that he hath slayne And by cause he myght not areyse the boole that he hadde slayne the Iewes promysed that they w [...]d byleue in criste yf siluestre myght areyse the boole from deth to lyf / Then̄e by the praiers of siluestre the boole was reysed from deth to lyf / and helene the que and the Iewes and the Iugges byleueden al in crist / thenne constantyn sente his moder helene to Ierusalem for to bryng thēs the [...] holy crosse / Ambrose sayth that this helene was an hosteler at Treuere in Fraunce and constantinus cezar wedded her for her beaute / but the storye of Brytons telleth that she [...] coelus doughter kyng of brytayne as it is sayde to fore honde ¶ This helene cam to Ierusalem and fonde there the holy crosse and de­parted it and lefte one part in Ierusalem and brought to her sone that other deele and the foure nayles and she dyde do▪ putte [Page] tweyne of them in her sones brydel And the thirdde in an ymage of the rode / And she threwe the fourth nayl in to the see adri­aticus that was to fore honde a sw [...]lo [...]ful peryllous to seyle by And so syth that tyme the fest of inuencion of the hooly crosse hath ben holden· thenne themperour wente from Rome to bysan­us and callyd after his owne name constantinople and made fayr that cyte feir howses and chirches and with d [...]gnyte of patriarke and brought theder the noblest of Rome Gir vbi supra

In the begynnyng of holy chirche were but thre patriarkes as it were in stede of Abraham. Ysaac and Iacob. One was at antiochia in asia Another was in Allexandria in Affryca / And the thyrdde was at Rome in europa / these thre peter halowed. by his owne sittynge / In tweyne th [...]rof he was Bisshop hym self / But his disciple marcus helde the thyrdde at Al [...]ndria in Peters name / After [...] the synodus nycena hadde yeuen that pryuelege to the Bisshop of Rome that he sholde be aboue al other bisshops as them perour is aboue all kynges· And that he sholde be callyd pope as the chyef fader / And the right of the patriarke was torned to constantinople as it were to the second Rome The oth [...]r se [...]s of patriarkes were chaunged· the see of antiochia to Ierusalem And the see of Alexandria to Aqu [...]ia And it is supposed that the cause therof was for wycked cristen men shold be take in to the lond of mysbyleuyd men. and soo it sholde folowe that they shold lese the hooly places ¶ Eusebius in historia ecclesiastica libro decimo Constantynus dyde to god almygh­tyes p [...]estes grete reuerence and worshipe ¶ Therfor whan the bisshops were assembled in the Synode of nycena by commaun­dement of constantyn and by counseylle of siluestre for to decla­re the fayth of holy chirche ¶ Many of hem playned eche vpon other and put vp bylles to themperour for he shold do hem right Themperour sawe that holy chirche for the whiche the bisshoppis were comen myght lyghtly be l [...]tte by suche playntes & strif Therfore he set [...]e hem a certayne day after the sinode and counseil for to make an ende of al thylke causes and playntes· But he brente priuely alle thylke bylles of hem that made playntes & sayde ¶God hath ordeyned yow as it were goddes to be your owne I [...]gges. ¶Therfore I holde that it were vnsittynge that we that sholde be demed of you shold deme you that ben goddes But in holy chirche among you self trete ye of youre errours & [Page CCxiiij] defawtes soo that no thyng be knowen outward that is v [...]semely to your holynes And yf ye wyl nedes stryue Abyde ye the dome of god almyghty as the psalme sayth / God stode in the sinagoga of goddes Certaynly yf I saw [...] ony of your ordre sinne with a woman. I wolde couere hym with my· mantel by cause that for none men sholde haue occasion to speke euil of your relygyon ¶ Therfor bretheren trete ye more of the fayth of holy chirche / for therfo [...] ye ben comen

And whan this was sayde he threwe the billes in to the fyre & brente· hem That yere saynt martin was y bore And thenne the twellyfth yere he was made cathecuminus that is he that lerneth the fayth of holy chirche· / ¶ In the xvj yere he was made knyght / And the xviij yere he was made y crystned. And was knyght after that two yere vnder Iuliānus / ¶ In the synode of nycena were thre honderd and eyghten bisshops ¶ That sino­de was made sixtene dayes to fore the moneth of Iuill in the cyte of nycene in bythinia And it was made ayenst the Arrians / fotmos / and the sabellians Seynt nycholas was at that synode / tho it was ordeyned that the fastyng of the lente that tho fo [...] hond dured fro the six [...]h day of Ianyuer to the xv day of feuerer sholde bygynne and dure as it is nowe vsed / And that for thre causes / the fyrste cause for our fastynge sholde be coupled to the tyme of crystes passion: the seconde for we sholde in thende of oure fastynge [...]esseyue crystes body in clene lyf The thyrdde for oure lord shold fynde vs fastyng ¶ Hyderto Eusebius and pamphilius wryten the storye ecclesias [...]ica which is callyd historia tripertita Thenne Ierome wryteth forth that storye vnto the yonge theodosius tyme / And th [...]erus the bisshop wryteth that story al oute ¶Arnobius re [...]horicus was flouryng this tyme in Affrica. he was dryuen to [...] fayth of holy chirche as it were by sueuenes and the bisshop of the place wolde not receyue him er he had made cleere bookes of the fayth and delyuere them as for plegge of his trewe fayth ¶ Iuuencus the preest wrote the gospels to the chirche of Rome in verses of six feete / After siluester marcus was pope viij monethes ¶He ordeyned the bisshop hostiensis shold vse a palle and also sacre the pope To this marcus Athanasius bisshop of Alexandria and other bisshopes of egypte w [...]iten for seuenty chapitres that were pub­lisshed in the synode of nycena ¶In that epystle Athanasius knowleched that his bookes shold be brente of the heretick [...] [Page] Arrians / After marcus Iulius was pope sixten yere. he was exyled in the second constantinꝰ tyme· the bones of seynt Andrew thappostle and of seynt luke theuangelyste were translated in to constantinople the grete constantyn deyde at Nychomedia. And Ierom was borne. Ierome in historia tripertita Seyth that constantin in his last dayes was crystned agayne of one eusebius bisshop of nychomedia that was of the Arrians ¶And soo Constantyn fylle in to the euil loore of the arrians / But that is vnderstanden of the second constantyn / this constantines sone namely for seynt gregory in his Regyster wryteth to maurice the emperour and callyth constantyn the emperour of good mynde And in the story tripertita his [...]nde is approued And Ambrose vpon the fourten salme sayth that he was a man of grete meryte and mede· And alowed afore god / And ysidre in his cronyke sayth that he made a gracious ende· And also the grekes maketh a feste of hym the enleuenth day of may

¶ Capitulum 27

COnstancius the grete constantyns sonne regned after his faders deth with his bretheren Constantyn and Constant six and twenty yere / he was byspronge with Arrius heresie and dyspysed chirches and chaced Crysten men and exyled Iulius the pope fourten yere / and chaced athanasius bisshop of Alexan­dria as it were in to al the world That yere Arrius the heretik by helpe of themperour [...] to constantinople to chirche for to stryue agaynste crysten men And tourned by constancius place for to clense his bely ¶ / And he voyded oute his bowels & so he dyed there mescheuously ¶ That yere Iulius the pope by­gan to come agayne oute of the countrey of cerso [...]here he hadde ben for to destroye Arrius heresye ¶ Thenne he was warned by an aungel that he sholde translate clements body / And while he dyde as the angel bad / the see withdrewe hym as he wa [...] wonte on seynt clementis day / And [...] body was sette vpon the brink of the see / And there is bylded a chirche / And anone the buriels that was lef [...] in the see with the erthe aboute aroos vp and by cam an ylond and sith men come to that ylonde by shippes & botes and there is bylded a chirche / That yere paule the fyrst heremyte deyde in egypte the yere of his age an honderd / and .xiij

¶ Eusebius in historia eccl [...]astica libro 21 ¶ That yere was stronge persecucion ayenste Athanasius / for he hadde a [Page CCxv] scoler that hete Arsemus he hadde trespaced and d [...]d the chastysyng of his mayster and fledde and hidde hym in hydynge pla­ces / Athanasius his enemy [...] tolde that Athanasius bare with hym thi [...] scoler his arm for to vse wytchecraft ther with ¶ Atte [...]aste these tydynges cam to Arsenius ther he was hid. the daye to fore that this mayster sholde come to his answer Arsenius co­me to his mayster but he hid hym efte as his mayster bad / And the strengthe [...] the vnwylful corrupcion was resseyued therby Thenne Athanasius mad [...] a signe to his preest tymotheus / that he shold answere· Thenne the preest axyd besyly yf he were the same man that the woman spak of· and she affermed stydfastly that it was soo Thenne it was sone knowen that thaccusacion was fals & not trewe / After this athanasius was exyled as it were in to al the world aboute soo that he had no seker place for to dwelle ynne / therfor two yere to geders he dwellyd in a ponde that was withoute water / soo that vnethe he sawe the sonne al that while. but there he was bewreyed by a yong woman / and thenne coude he fynde no syker place in al constancius kyngdome Thenne he went to constant cesars londes and ther he was so [...]oured a while with one maximus bisshop of treuerent. And in that while he made the simbolum quicumque vult salus esse ¶Atte last constant cesar sēt lettres to his broder constanci [...]s / And athanasius was restored agayne to his bisshoprych / But constant cesar deyde & thenne athanasius fyl agayn in grete hate & wrath in so moche that grete rewardis were promysed to hem that wolde brynge hi [...] or slee him and brynge forth his heede ¶Thenne in Iulius the āpostatas tyme Athana [...] [...] efte and rowed by the Ryuer Nylus Thenne one that was sette for to take him poursiewed him. And Athanasius was waar therof and tour­ned his bote toward the clyf agayne as it were [...]or to mete with his enemye but his enemye coude not byleue / that he that fledde fro hym wolde so mete with hym / And therfor he axed of Athanasius that sat in his bote / yf he hadde seen Athanasius. he passith not fer to fore. sayd Athanasius and so his enemy was begyled & passed forth dayles / Sapor king of perce besiege the cite nisibm two moneth [...]s / and by the prayer of saynt Iame that was Bisshop of that cyte / the snowtes of oly [...]untes and his hors eresw [...]e soo ful of gnattes and of grete [...]yes that they threwe a doune al that was vpon hem and disparcled al thoost /

¶ Seynt nycholas deyde. at his [...]mbe sprange oute a welle [Page] of oyle atte his heede / and a welle of water atte his feete Atte laste his bones were translated to larrus the yere of oure lord a thousand four score and seuen. ¶ After Iulius liberius was pope [...] yere· He was outlawed thre yere / for he wolde not fauoure the Arriaus ¶ In the mene tyme by his counseyll the clergye of Rome ordeyned felix pope. this felix made a counseyl with eyght and fourty bisshops / there he condempned and putte of two preestes Arrians Vrsacius and val [...]nt / ¶Constancius the emperour h [...]rd therof and reconciled liberius for him semed that he was esyer to the arrians Thenne liberius as he that was ouercome with the griefe of exylynge and y gladed for he was pope agayne assented to heresye and put doune f [...]lix and heelde the chirches of pe [...]er and paule and of laurence vyolently and wi [...]h stre [...]g [...]he / soo that clerkes and preestes that fauoured Fel [...]x were slayne in the chirche and liberius forbade it not Fe­lix was martred [...] vyctorinus the Rethour and donatus the gra­maryen were holde grete men in Rome / ¶Antonius the monke deyde in egypte the yere of his age an honderd and fyue Seynt hillarye bisshop of peytres by conspyracy of the bisshop Arelatē ­sis an Arrian was exyl [...]d thre yere in Frigia / there he wrote no­ble boo [...]s of our relygyon At Selencia in Isauria was made a counseyl ¶Ther was put vp a bylle to themperour that hil­larye had made and hillarye had lene to come agayne home in to peytow Marc ¶Me vseth for to saye of this hillarye that leon the p [...]pe that was an here [...]k sayd to hym in the counseyll of bisshops· th [...] art gallus and not of gallina ¶ Treuisa Gallus is a [...] is a frenssheman· thenne be mē te that hillarye was a frenssheman / Thenne it foloweth in the storye▪hillarye shold saye thou art a lyon but not of the lygnage of Iuda ¶Also in the counseyll of bisshops noman aroose ayenst [...]illarie and hillarye sayde the erth is our lordes / Thenne the erthe aroos in the maner of a tote for to resseyue hillary [...] But this is founden in no cronyke that is auctentik By cause noo pope w [...]s called leon in hillares tyme / but yf liberius the pope that fauoured heretyks or somme fals pope wa [...] callyd l [...]on

¶ Capitulum 28

[Page CCxvj]WHan constancius was dede / Iulianus Apostata that wa [...] cesar was made emperour· And was emperour as it were two yere In his tyme were martred Pygmeus the preeste that had ben to fore Iulianus mayster / Iohan and paule and quiriacus that hete Iudas bisshop of Ierusalem· for he had fon­de the crosse. R Of this Iulianus it is redde vndecimo libro historye tripertite that constancius the grete constantinus brother had two sones one gallus and this Iulianus· ¶ But whan the grete constātyn was dede his sone constancius was emperour And made his eme gallus cesar ¶But afterward for suspection of his grete wytte he made hym be slayne at histria / ¶ And therfor this Iulianus gallus broder dr [...]d lest he shold be slayn and bycame a monke and made him ful pop holy vnder monkis habyte Therfor a woman brought hym to kepe thre st [...]n [...]s ful of gold couerid aboue with asshes / But Iulianus toke the gold and delyuerd to the woman the stenes ful of asshes / ¶ And whan the gold was taken a way Iulianus coude not be conuict for the wytnesses that were present atte rece [...]uyng of them sawe no thyng / but asshes / And soo Iulianus toke the golde & went to Rome· And dyde so moche that he was consul / And atte laste he gate hym thempyre and was emperour. This Iulianus in his childhode lerned nygrom [...]ncy and wytchecraft. and on a tyme as his mayster was oute he radde in his bookes of that craft And there cam byfore hym a grete multitude of fendes And [...]e dradde him soore and made the signe of the crosse· And anone alle the fendes vanysshed away / And soo he tolde his mayster whan he cam home· And his may [...]ter sayde that the fendes hated moost the signe of the crosse Iulianus cam to Rome and a fende shewed hym to hym by th [...] doyng of a wytche: And promised hym thempyre yf he wold forsake cristen fayth / And soo it was don ¶ Thenne constancius made hym cesar & sente hym in to Fraunce there he dyde many vyctoryes / and gate a crowne of laureal that henge bytwene two pylers & brake the rope that the crowne henge by & was ryally crowned with that crowen· They that sawe that tolde that it was a token that he shold be emperour Whanne constācius was dede Iulianus was made emperour / & he fonded to plese al men ¶Therfor in the begynnyng of his empyre he graunted that euery man sholde holde what fayth be wolde. But he destroyed the signe of the crosse with al that b [...] myghte / And supposed therby for to gete to hym moost grace of [Page] fendes / Thenne he opened temples / and dyde sacrifice to mawm [...] Ones while he dyde so dew fyll vpon his clothes and vpon [...] other mannes clothes that there were in the likenes of the crosse / In another tyme in the bowels of a berest that was slayne to sacrifice was founde the shap of the crosse byclypped about with a crowne· the mynystres sawe that / and sayde that the vyctorye of cristes crosse lasteth with outen ende But Iulianus syke­led with hem & sayde that that was a tokene of constraynynge of cristes loore. & that it shold neuer passe the wydenes of the [...] ¶Also he dyde somtyme sacrifice at constantinople and cal­cedonius the bisshop was blynde for age and repreued Iulianꝰ sharply ¶Thy man of galyle sayd Iulianus myght not saue the fro blyndenes / therof I thanke hym sayde the bisshop that he hath bynome my syght that I shold not see the pryued of al mildenes ¶Also at Antiochia he gadryd to geders the holy vessels / and to w [...]yls of the Auter & defowled hem with the fylthe of his ars· And anone wromes sprange oute therof & frate soo Iulianus nether ende that he myght neuer be delyuerd therof while he was a lyue ¶Also his styward pyssed vpon vessels of the chirche and sayde / Lo in what vessels maries sone is seruyd And anone his mouth bycame his ar [...] and seruyd afterward in stede of his nether ende ¶ Also Iulianus for hate of Crysten men bygan to buylde the temple of Ierusalem vpon his owne coste / But al that was bylde a day / erth shakynge threwe doune a nyght Also fyre come oute of the temple and destroyed moche folke / And in the nyght after the signe of the crosse was seen vpon al mennes clothes. ¶Also Iulianus put oute of his court ennuches that is ghelded men Barbours and cookes Ennuches for his wyf was dede and he hadde wedded none other after her. he dyde awey cookes for he vsed symple me­tes and barbours for one myght serue many men / He made many bookes and blamed therinne his [...]redecessours / In that he dide awey cookes and barbours He dyde as a philosopher and not as a prynce: In that he blamed princes he dyde not as a philisopher n [...]r as a prince / Thenne Iulianus wente doun in to perse as it is redde in vitas patrum & sente a fende in to the weste londes for he shold bringe hym wor thēnes / but the fendes was ten dayes lette of his Iourneye by one publius a monke that was alwey in his bedes soo that the fende brought none answer [Page CCxvij] agayne / whan fendes had promysed hym vyctorye of the perses his sophistris axed in this maner of a crysten man. what supposest thou doth your god now that carpenters sone The cristen man answerd and sayd he maketh a buryels for thy mayster iulianus ¶ Iulianus wente in to perse and come vnto cheysisont and besieged there the kynge of the countre and forsoke somme of the knigdome that was profered to hym ¶ / For he trowed that the grete alysandres soule was putte in his body by the meuyng of pyctagoras and of plato that sayde / that the soules af mankynde passyd from bodyes to bodyes / But a darte cam sodenly and stycked in his side and therwith he ended his lyf ¶R Eutropius and orocius libro sexto tellen that Iulianus wente in to perse and was ladde in wylde places by gyle and fraude of one that was outlawed And there he was one roome with trauaylle of the grauel with▪ thyrste and with hete of the sonne· and soo an horsman of his enemyes smote hym with a spere and he deyde / Also it is [...]dde in basilius lyf that whan Iulianus wente in to perse ward / ba­sileus was at cesarea in capadocia. and sent hym a present of barley loues / Iulianus behelde the loues and sente hym heye agayn Hit is sayd that basyleus sayd thenne. We sende to the suche as we ete. but thou sendest to vs such as beestes eten / Thenne iulianꝰ sayde whan I come agayne vyctour oute of perse / I shal so des­troye this cyte that it shal bere more heye than corn / thenne basilius prayd for the sauacion of the cyte / & saw by night in the mid­del of the chirch a grete multitude of aungels. & in the middel of hem a woman sittyng on a trone that sayde clepe to me mercuriꝰ the knyght that shal take wrech for me & my sone· of this iulianꝰ yt despiseth god. mercuriꝰ was a cristē knight yt iulianꝰ had slain for the feith of holy chirch & was late buried in that chirch where as this sight was seen. & anō mercuriꝰ toke his wepē that yet hēge in that chirch & wēt forth ayenst iulianꝰ & stikked him in the middel of his body· & vanisshed a weye anō / Iulianꝰ drewe out the blode of his sides & threw it abrode & seyd thou galile mā thou hast ou (er)come / & now I shal forsake the / fulfil thy silf after this / basiliꝰ awoke & fonde mercurius spere al blody in the same chirche & his armure sette in the same place· it was to fore / after iulianꝰ ioninianꝰ was emperour viij monethes a strōg & a nobl̄ cristē māIulianus had cōmaūded that cristē knightes shold do sacrefyce to mawmettes / or forsake her knighthode / But anone this [Page] fordyde that bonde / For whan the knightes [...]ough hym for to be emperour with strengthe· he cryede and sayde that he a Crysten man wold be emperour of paynyms Whan that was herde al the knyghtes were made crysten men ¶ Also this was dryuen to by grete nede and yaf a grete dele of mesopotania to sapor king of perse Thenne be deade. whether it were for euil smel of his chambre that was made of newe lyme and heuy to reste therin· Or of to many cooles that he made sette a fyre for the grete cold.

¶ Capitulum 29

UAlentinianus with his broder valent regned enleuen ye­re· This was gentil and curtoys. For whan the hoost la­boured to gyue hym a felowe of thempyre. he answerd and sayde / ¶ O knyghtes it was youres to yeu [...] me the kyngdome and now I haue receyued it· hit is myn to thynke on the comyn prouffyte. And made his broder felaw of thempyre ¶ He ouer­come the saxons and the sarmates. his fader gracian [...] was cal­led funarius that is a roper· For he bare a roope that was for to selle / and fyue knyghtes myght not wreste the roope oute of his honde / And therfor he was worthy to be take to knyhthode In a tyme valentinianus wyf preysed the feyrnes of Iustina And therfor valentinianus wedded Iustina and yaue a lawe that euery man that wold shold wedde two wyues. In this emperours tyme the erthe quoke in al the worlde and the See aroose and passed the clyues and destroyed many cytees / After liberius damasus was rope nyneten yere this was a fair maker of metre· And wrote verses vpon tombes that he fonde of holy sayntes / And ordeyned also that by day▪ and by nyght psalmes shold be sayd in queor· and that one verse shold be sayde on one side and the other verse in that other side / And that gloria patri shold be sayde on eche psalmes ende / ¶And by comfort of this pope Ierom translated the byble oute of hebrew in to latin / & amēded also the psauter of the lxx interpretes that thēne was vsed for the moost part in al chirches: & that sauter was efte apeyred & he translated new agayne / & damasus the pope ordeyned that to be songe in the cyte of rome & in the chirches of fraūce & therfor the sauter is called the frenssh sauter psatelriū gallicanū [Page CCxviij] yet he made the thyrdde translacion of the sawter word forword That yere deyde seynt hillarye bisshop of peytow vnto the songe that the Aungel songe gloria in excelsis· he put to laudamus te / benedicimus te· Adoramus te / and soo forth ¶ Seynt dydimus of Alexandria that lost both his eyen after the fyfth yere of his age and herde ones redde in the chirche that word of the gospell What man maye not doo god may not doo ¶ Thenne he was soo besy aboute the lyght of his sowle that he had parfyght knowlech of seuen artes and was made doctor & made & expowned many bokes by notaryes and wryters Seynt martin was made bisshop of turone the yere of his age lxj and was Bisshop there xxvj yere The grete basile bisshop of cesarea in capadocia is dede Among his other grete dedes of vertue he reconciled a yongling to god almyghty that had oblyged hym self to the deuyl for the loue of a wenche· and gate agayne the chartre of his oblygacion Also Ioseph a Iewe was connyngest of alle phisicians. And Basyle lengthed this Iosephs lyf one day and tourned hym to the fayth of holy chirche / And he made and instituted the rule of monkes and many other holy tretys ¶ Seynt Ambrose a man of the dignyte of consuls while he spak to the pepl̄e· he was made bisshop of melane / for the voys of a child that cryede that he shold so be ¶ Seynt patrik in this tyme was born / his fader hete calprun whiche was a preest and a dekens sone that heyte fo dun patrikes moder hete conches martyns suster of gallia that is fraunce / In his crystnyng he was called sucat / And seint germā called hym magonius / And celestinus the pope callyd hym Patrik that is to saye fader of cyteseyns ¶ Valentinianus Augustus was strongly meued agaynst the messagers of the sarma [...]es And deyde in a maner outbrekyng of his veynes / and is an euil that grekes clepe Apoplexia. That tyme in egypte were noble faders in her floures pastor pambo / and tweyne either hete macharius Arsenius· Paphinisius Agatho moyses / Ioseph enagrius & theodorus. Pambo wold lerne no more of the sawter than one verse that he had herd er he had fulfylled that verse· This was the verse▪ Dixi custodiam vias meas vt non delin­quam in lingua mea that is to saye· ¶I haue sayd I shal kepe my wayes that I trespace not in my tonge

Pambo sayde that vnnethe he fulfylled this verse in nyne and fourty yere ¶ The two Macharyes / one of Egypte that other of Allexandria were bothe noble men in abstynence· [Page] & in loore / A woman that was with childe defamed falsely one of them and sayde that he hadde brought her with child / but she myght neuer be delyuerd of child / er she had tolde the trouth ¶Arsenius was a senatour of Rome and parfyght in the lan­gages of latyn and of grue and made hym self a monk ¶ In a tyme he herde a voys that sayde to hym Arsenius flee fro men & kepe scylence and thou shalt be saued ¶ Also he [...]are alwey a sudary in his bosome for to wype away the teeres that ranne oft fro his eyen ¶Therfor the heer of his eyen lyddes fyl al of for grete wepyng In the ester euen whan the sonne wente to reste / he torned his face toward the West and woke al that nyghte in his prayers vnto the tyme that he sawe the sonne aryse erly by the morowe. And thenne he was wery of wakynge and cal­led to hym slepe and sayde / come forth euil seruaunt. And so he rested a lytell syttyng / for he wold saye that it were ynowgh for a monke that fyghteth ayenst temptacions for to sleepe one houre in the nyght and day ¶In a tyme his faders testament was brought to hym / in the which testament he was made his faders heyer / thenne he answerd and sayde that he was drede to fore his fader / how myght he thenne that shold dye make me his heyr that was dede afore ¶Also he wold not lyghtly mete ne speke gladly with ony man. ne sende lettres and comynly he fledde theyr company and sayde that he myght not be at ones with god and with men· neyther he meued lyghtly questions of holy wryt / but of sterynges of the soule and temptacions. he wolde gladly spe­ke and yet he was a noble clerke and connyng in questions of holy wrytte / therfore in a tyme he wente doune for to speke with an old man of egypte for to appose hym of thoughtes Thenne somme men seyden to hym how mayst thou Arsenius that a [...]t so connynge of loore ax [...] for to lerne of this olde chorle I haue sayd he lerned both latyn and grue / but yet coude I neuer the / A / B / C / of this chorle / And while Arsenius dwellyd in the palays of rome. no man vsed better clothes than he / soo while he was a monke was none fowler couerd than he / he had a longe berde that henge to his myddel & he lyued in the older theodocius palays fourty yere after / & in wyldernes / lv yere / Paphinicius thabbot toke seculer clothyng & habyt & cōuerted a comyn womā that hete tharsis / he prayed thryes our lord that he wolde shewe hym to whom he was lyke to in erthe. thabbot pastor wold not see his moder in erthe for hym was l [...]uer to see her in heuen [Page CCxix] thabbot Agatho bare a stone thre yere in his mouth for he wold lerne to be styl and kepe sylence. he wold no nyght slepe yf he had ony quarel ayenst ony man or ony man ayenst hym ¶ Thabbot Moyses was ones prayd for to come and deme a broder that had trespaced And he toke and bare a panyer ful of grauel on [...]is bak and sayde / these be my synnes that renne after me / And I goo deme other mennes synnes and take none heede of myn owne ¶ The fader musius wente for to vysyte a broder that was seke / and made by his prayers the sonne stonde styl vnto the tyme he had doon al his offyce atte ful / Also ofte he blessyd grauel that was brought hym the whiche was sowe in feldes and the feldes bade the more corne and fruyte ¶ The Abbesse Sara was thyrten yere to geder inpugned and tempted of a fende but she wolde not assente· Sara prayd not that the temptacion shold passe from her / but that god wolde yeue her grace to with­stonde it ¶ Thenne the spyryt of fornicacion shewed hym to her sighte and sayde / Sara thou hast ouercome me. Naye sayde she I haue not ouercome the· but my lord Iesus that sa­ueth hem / that trust on hym he hath ouercome the

Enemyes brought forth an arme and it was axed of Athanasius for what vse he hadde cut of that arme and he brought forth Arsenius that had bothe his armes and shewed hem bothe hoo [...]e and sounde. And axed of the other men / where they had that other arme that they shewed there / ¶Also his enemyes hyred a woman that sholde saye that she had ofte lodged Athanasius

R ¶ Thabbot Euarius macharius disciple wrote vitas patrum in Egypte as genadius sayth in his booke de viris illus­tribus / Valens with his broder sones gracianus and valentini­anus was Emperour four yere / his broder hete valentinianus. Also this valens was crystned agayne of the Arrians / and poursiewed cristen men and yaue a lawe that monkes shold doo dedes of Armes or be beten with staues· And thenne were the monkes martred at Nitria in egypte. In a tyme the gothes sen­te to this valens for to haue crysten Bisshops to teche hem the rightful byleue and he sente hem bisshops o the Arrians / And therfor alle the gothes were infecte and gleymed / And therfore by goddes rightful dome the knyghtes of Rome were ouercome by the gothes. And this valens was chaced oute of Antiochia and was wounded with an arow and fledde in to an hows & there was brente he and al his hows and had no buryels

¶Capitulum 30

ORacianus whan he hadde regned with his fader valentini­anus the older and with his eme valens / thenne after the deth of his eme he regned with his broder valentinianus the yonger and with theodosius of spayne six yere / Beda libro primo capitulo 19 / This gracianus whan he sawe that the sta [...] of thē ­pire was almost fallen / he made theodosius of spayn gouernour of thempyre in the [...]est / And anone theodocius ouersette the sy­thes / the Alanes / the hunes / and the gothes with grete batails and stronge and made p [...]es with Athanarius kynge of the go­thes. That tyme one pristyllianus of galles made an heresye of the loore of manychyes and of the Gnostyces / And that heresye hath the name of hym· Tho was theophilus Bisshop of Alexandria in his floures / And in damasus tyme the [...] / was made a counceyll at constantinople of seuen score bisshops and ten / ayenst macedonus the heretyk· he sayde the holy goost is noo god-there was made the credo that is songe on sondayes in the chirche / After damasus siricins was pope fyften yere / he made a counseyl at constantinople of thre honderd and fyfty bisshops for to declare the fayth of holy chirche ayenst heretykes. Gaufredus and Alur Octauius kyng of brytons we [...]e old and prayde one maximus the neuewe of helene and sen [...]ur for to come from Rome and take the kyngdome of Brytayne and his doughter for he hadde no mo children / ¶ Conanus the kynges neuew cast for to be kynge and was wroth therfore and was [...]fte atte debate and at stryf with this maximus / But atte l [...]st they were ful acor­ded and lad with hem alle the armed knyghtes for to warre in the prouynce Armorica that is lytel Brytayne / the re maximus fought with conanus and ouercome hym for he was put oute of the thyrd dele of thempyre / Eutr & b [...]da / li / 1. Maximꝰ was a no­ble man & a stalworth saue that he dyde ayenste his oth▪ by treson of knyghtes he was made emperour in brytayne and wente anō in to fraūce & made fraūce & germania subget by cruel batayls / & slough graci [...]nus augustus that was sod [...]nly aferd & fled in to lug [...]uu & chaced gracianus broder valentinianus oute of ytalye. Anone valentinianus fledde to theodosius in the eest & was mildly restored agayn to his kyngdom / for sone after by sleyght of theodocius maximus was besieged in Aquilia / & there putte [Page CCxx] to deth Gaufredus and Alfred In the mene tyme conanꝰ duc of lytel brytayne had no wyl to wedde frensshmens dough­ters and sente to dynotus kyng of cornewayle for to haue wy­ues to his people and anone he sente his doughter vrsula with xj M vyrgyns. somme of them were drowned in the see by tē ­peste and stormes / And somme of them were caste in to straunge londes / And the cursed dukes gwanius and melga slowe many of them for they wold not consente to theyr lechery. Guanius was kyng of hunes and melga kyng of pyctes ¶Gracianus and valentinianus had sente them to the see costes for to slee the fauctours of maximꝰ the tyraunt Ther after these two cursed dukes gwanius and melga aspyed that maximus had ladde al the chiualrye oute of brytayne / and that Brytayne was voyde & helpeles and without strength of chyualrye / thenne they gadred with hem the side ylondes and occupyed albania that is scotlande Maximus the tyraunt herde therof and sente anone two legyōs of knyghtes with gracianus a knyght that longed to Rome that went forth and chaced the forsaid cursed dukes in to Irl̄ond ¶But this gracianus herd that maximus was slayne. he made hym self kyng of brytayne· and by cause he vsed to grete tyrantrye he was slayne of his owne peple. In his stede one constantinus of the lowest chyualrye was chosen / not for worthynes of his vertue / but for hope of his name only· he wente anone in to fraunce and dyd grete harme to thempyre Therfor by commaū dement of honorius Augustꝰ Constanciꝰ the Erle was sente in to fraunce & slough constantinus at arelate with his sone constan­cius that therle geroncius had of a monk made cesar /

¶ Capitulum 31

THeodocius Gracianus sone whan his fader was slayn regned with his eam [...] Valentinianus enleuen yere His fader and moder were warned in her sle [...]pe / that they shold yeue hym that name theodocius [...] for theodocius is ye­uen of god almyghty / he made neuer batayle by his good wylle but in euery batayl that he yaue he had the vyctorye In historia tripertita / This the odociꝰ vsed dedes of armes by day & rightful domes and causes of his subgettes / & was occupyed [Page] wel nyghe al nyght in his bookes Therfor it is rad that he had a candelstyk made by craft of honde. so that the oyle shold r [...]nne in to the crysler withoute trauayle of theod [...]cius· for trauayle shold not lette hym. And soo he wythstode slepe and made kynde trauayle by strength ¶Also he was like traianus in al poyntes meke and myld and softe to men and subget to god / but he wold lyghtly be wroth / therfor he was taught of a philosooher that he shold whan he bygan to wexe wroth saye softe and by ordre foure & twenty lett [...]e [...] of grue er he shold ordeyne ought that shold greue for so his thought sholde be occupyed in somwhat ellis and his wrath shold sece in passyng of tyme In a tyme he wold haue entred in the queor of clerkes at melan for to here masse And Ambrose forbade hym vnto the tyme that he hadde don his penaunce for the deth of thyrtty knyghtes that he had slayne in wrath in constantinople ¶ Therfor the emperour dyde penaunce and ordeyned a lawe that the dome of prynces vpon thauysemēt of deth sholde abyde thyrtty dayes withoute [...]xecucion for tabyde yf it myght be founde· or if it nede were that the dome shold be re­pelled or chaunged Victor the sonne of maximus the tyraunt was slayne of one Arbogastes / Aboute that tyme was a childe y bore in the ca [...]tel of emaus that hadde twey bodyes fro the nauel vpward two brestes / two hedes & ten wyttes in eyther body fyue soo that the one myghte ete or slepe though that other dyde nether ete ne slepe And whan they had lyued two yere to gyder that one deyde thre dayes to fore that other ¶Valentinianus Augustus / was sory of his lyf for the cruelnes of Arbogaftes the mayst [...]r of knyghtes and henge hym self with a suar in vi­an [...] in fraunce Therfor Arbogast [...]s made one eugenius emperour in gallia ¶Therfor theodocius axed counseyl of Iohan the heremyte at egypte and axed what [...]de the batayll sholde take ayenst eugenius / And he sayd that he shold haue the vy [...] ­rye ¶R That yere deyde seynt martin the bisshop / One seuerus sulpicius a preest of gyen wrote seynt martins lyf that was ful of vertues and of goodnes G [...]nadius de viris illustribus. Seyth that seuerus in his elde was begyled of the heretyks pe­lagyens and was sory the [...]fore And for he had synned with his speche he toke silence vpon hym to his lyues ende for to pu­nysshe that synne with sparyng of spech Archadius theodociꝰ sone whan his fader was dede he regned fourten yere and heelde the eest londes. And his broder honorius helde the west londes [Page CCxxj] Claudianꝰ the poete was that tyme flouryng Conatus bisshop of epirꝰ spatte in a dragons mouthe & slough hym / six [...]en oxen myght vnuethe drawe-that dragon to the place where he sholde be brent for he shold not enfecte the eyer in the countre aboute A grete counseyl was made thenne in cartage / ¶Marc After Siricius anastasius was pope fyue yere / he ordeyned that a man that were wemmed in his body sholde receyue none ordres / and be ordeyned that euery man sholde stonde while the Gospel is a redyng Beda libro primo capitulo decimo ¶Aboute that yere pelagius a bryton had helpe of Iulianus bisshop of campania whiche was to fore honde put doune of his bisshopryche ¶ And pelagius brought vp his heresye / that sayde that a mannes wil & fredom of chois without goddes grace is ynowe for to diss [...]rue mede and the blysse of heuene Also he sayde adams synne wē med Adam al one and none other man ¶Also he sayd that children ben born as cleene withoute synne as Adam was to fo [...]e er that he had synned And sayde that it nedeth not to cristen chil­dren for to clense hem of synne / but for to worshipe hem with the sacrament of adopcion ¶Treuisa Adopcion is makyng of children in this manere yf a man take a childe that is not his and maketh hym as it were his child and noryssheth and bryngeth hym vp and amitteth hym as his owne child Thenne pelagius wote not what he sayth· for the child that is clene oute of syn­ne is veryly goddes childe ¶ Thenne it foloweth in the storye Seynt Augustyn and other holy faders trauay [...]led manly ayenst suche heretyks· but they myght not amende hem / so sayth prosper the rethour in his versis of six fete ¶ R Sōme men wolde suppose that this pelagius was abbot of that famoꝰ abbaye of bangor that was ten myle oute of legecestre / that is caerleon ¶Men saye that in that abbay somtyme were two thousande monkes er the kyng of northumberland e [...]hellfrede hadde slayne thyl̄k monkes at caerleon ¶After Anastasius Inno­cencius ablimensis was pope fourten yere. he ordeyned for to faste saterday and for to kysse the pax at masse / and for to enoynte se­ke men with hol̄y oyle ¶Al̄so he condempnedd pel̄agius the heretyk and his fauctours Al̄so he acursed Archadius them­perour for he was assentynge to the puttynge oute of one Iohan Crisostimus for themperesse endexia had procured the puttynge out of Iohan / for he had preched ayenste wymmen that playde aboute the ymage of endoxia ¶ Aboute that yere seynt Alexis [Page] the confessour deyde at Rome ¶Benadius in his book de viris i [...] lustribus sayth that aboute that tyme Ticonius of Affrica wro­te rules for to seche and fynde oute the vnderstondynge of holy wryt the whiche rules ben yet famous among holy doctours

¶ Capitulum 32

HOnorius whan his broder archadiꝰ was dede regned with his broders sone theodociꝰ xv yere / this was so mylde that whan me repreued hym by cause he slowe not hem that were re­bel to hym-he answerd and seyd ¶God wold that I myght reise dede men to lyue. Eutropius libro decimo ¶The hoost of the Gothes was slayn in tuscia and her leder Ragadasius was ta­ke he cam with ijC thousande of gothes / and had made his auowe that he wold [...] offre the bloode of the Romayn [...] in sacrifice to his goddes Me sayth that in that fyghtyng were so many men y take that flockes of hem were sold at lytel prys as it were flockes of beestes ¶ In the mene tyme one of the gothes that heete Alaricus out of Affryca went in to ytaly and axyd a place of honorius for hym and his men to dwelle in / And he graunted be in gallia / ¶And as he wente thyderward he was besette with somme of themperours dukes in an hard batayll that fyll vpon him vnwar on the eesterday but he tok herte and strengthe and ouercome his enemyes that soo pursued hem. And there he lefte his waye that he hadde bygonne and torned agayne to Rome / & destroyed alle that he come by with yron and with fyre / and to­ke the cyte of Rome and sette it a fyre ¶ Netheles he lete crye that men sholde spare al men that fledd [...] to holy places and that his men sholde take prayes and spare shedyng of bloode ¶ Paulus libro vndecimo· ¶ And so Rome was y brooke and taken of the gothes the yere after the buyldyng therof a thousand an C / & lxiiij After that tyme the consulat of rome lefte in the est And the Romayns seceden to regne in Brytayn that had reg­ned therinne from Iulius cesars tyme aboute a foure honderd and lxx yere ¶Eutropius ¶The thyrdde day after that Rome was take Alaricus lefte the cyte and destroyed the prouynce a­boute and wente in to Cicilia and loste many shippes and was sodenly dede ¶There the gothes by trauayl of prisonners torned [Page CCxxij] the ryuer basentus oute of the chanel and buryed her kyng with grete ryches in the myddel of the chanel. And torned the Ryuer agayn in to his owne chanel / Thenne the gothes toke one athulfus kynge Alaricus a lye and made hem her kynge and wente agayn to Rome and destroyed al that there was lefte. Also that tyme lyghtnynge destroyed the noble places of Rome that ene­myes myght not brenne· god was despysed in al the cyte / And men cryede to crist and sayde that suche myshappes fyll to the cyte by cause the holy places of goddes forgendryd and alterid / But the gothes toke one galla placida. theodocius doughter and honorius suster and maryed her to her owne kynge / She was so profytable to the comynte that the gothes made pees with the Romayns and lefte Rome and wente to [...]llia / ¶ Aboute that tyme were founden the bodyes of seynt steuen and of ga­malyel an [...] of her felawes by one lucianus a preest of ierl̄m That tyme saynt Austyn sente his disciple Orocius in to bethleem to seynt Ierom for to lorne the reson of the soule. for thenne he made the booke of the comyng forth of the soule / And orosius wente abo [...]e the holy places and was the fyrste that broughte the relyques of seyn [...] steuen in to the west londes· Also thenne honorius made constancius cesar / and maryed his sister Gallia placida to constancius & she was maryed to fore to Athulphus On her constancius gate valentinianus that afterward helde the empyre longe tyme / After Innocencius zozinius was pope two yere and six monethes / he ordeyned that a bonde man sholde not be a clerk ner a ghelded man / & that the holy taper sholde be halo­wed on ester eue / After zozinius lonefacius was pope four yere He ordeyned that no woman shold wasshe ne handle the towails of the auter ne doo ensense in the censer. Gaufredus and Alfr. Thenne the deth of maximꝰ the tyraunt the knyght that longed to Rome was knowen and also the deth of constancius was knowen And the for sayd enemyes Guanius and melga come a­gayne oute of Irlond with scottis and Norweys and brente & slowe in the kyngdome of brytayne fro see to see / therfore the bri­tons sente to the Romaynes and promysed to be subget alwaye for to haue helpe. Anone honorius sente hem a legyon that des­troyed theyr enemyes and taught the Brytons to make a wall thwert ouer the ylond to holde oute theyr enemyes· the Legyon wente agayne and the men of the ylonde were vnconnyng of so grete craft and made a wall of tur [...]es and of stone that was no [Page] thyng proufytable whiche dured fro penulton vnto the cyte ac [...] ut / So that where the socour of the water fayled men sholde de­fende hem by the helpe of the wal / but enemyes cam by water & destroyed and toke prayes fro yere to yere as they dyde to fore / Thenne the Romayns sente a legyon y armed and s [...]we and chaced the enemyes and made vp a wal of stone to [...] [...]rytons of eyght foote thyck and twelue fote hye from see to see bytwene cyt [...]es / there seuerus had somtyme made a dyche and a wal of tornes. And the Romayns bad and charged the Brytons to leue theyr cowardyce and nycete and to take Armure and courage as men shold for they were so occupyed in other sides that they myght no more come fro so fer to be with hem in so gre-te trauaill and iourneyes / ¶ Thenne they made a wal of stone on the comyn cost and also on preuy coste that men yaue therto. And hadde with hem the strengthe of Brytons and toke to hem armure and buylded toures on the clyues of thoccean in [...] dyuer­se places· where as men dredde tharryuyng and londyng of straū ge men and enemyes Thenne the romayns bad the Brytons fare wel as they wold neuer come agayn Gildas ¶ Whan the Romayns were goon thenne the scottes and Pyctes bygan to breke oute of her hooles The scottes and pyctes discorden in maners but they acorde in clothyng and feyth and in couetyse of shedynge of bloode / they coue [...]e [...] theyr preuy membrys moore with heer than with clothe / whan they knewe that the legyons of Rome were retorned. they destroyed thendes of brytayn mo­re boldly than they had done to fore· B [...]da ¶ They slowe the wardeyns of the walles and other mē of the londe· And the mē of the loude were dryuen out of her hows and her home and yaue hem to thefte and robberye and robbed ec [...]e other for socoure of the paryll of honger that they sawe that shold byfalle to them And soo fylle deth vpon deth and sorowe vpon sorowe / For alle the kyngdome was bare and withoute sustenaunce of mete After bonefaciꝰ celestinus was pope ten yere. he ordeyned that the psalme Iudica me deus & discerue causam meam / shold be saide to fore thentryng of the masse. & atte thentre of the masse sholde be sayde the verse Et introibo ad altare. of the same psalme· And the grayel and the offretory sholde be sayde to fore the [...]acrynge

This is he that fyrst sente seynt patrik to conuerte yrlond / and Paladiꝰ a deken of rome to conuerte the scottes in the ix yere of his papacye / In his fourth yere by helpe of theodocius thēperour [Page CCxxiij] and of cirillus bisshop of Alexandria the thyrdde grete synode of thre honderd Bisshops was made at ephesus ayenst nestorius the heretyk ¶ There it was demed that in crist is one persone and two kyndes the godheede and the manhede / And our lady sholde be [...]lyd theotochos that is to saye our lordes moder Aboute that tyme Ierom the preest deyde at bethleem and four score and sixten yere old▪ ¶ That tyme was sente an hoost out of Rome in to spayne ayens [...] the wandels· But for themperour had oute of his company that myghty bonefaciꝰ themperour dyde no thynge manly [...] but bonefacius went in to Affryca and dyde moche harme in thempyre

¶ Capitulum 33

THe yonge theodocius Archadius sone regned with his doughter husbond valentinianus six and twenty yere The kyngdome of frensshemen bygan in his tyme vnder ferramundus the sone of martomirus as it is sayde to fore honde of prouynces in the fyrst booke capitulo gallia ¶Thenne theodosius knewe that his eme honorius was dede and toke valentinianus the sone of his aunt galla placida and made hym cesar and sente hym with his moder galla placida for to gouerne the eeste londes· these two ouercome Iohan that werryd in thempyre And they were merciful to Aecius the noble knyght· for by his wytte and sleyght the hunes were torned that had purposed to warre mithēpire of the west londes / Then̄e bonefacius the noble knightthat we spak of to fore honde toke hede that he myght not sewrly holde Affryca ayenst valentinianus & his noble knyght Aecius / therfore he prayde the wandals and the Alanes that had occupyed spayne to fore honde for to come in to Affrica with her kynge giserichus and he come anone and destroyed Affrica / and defowled the feyth of holy chirche ¶ In that tyme of tempest deyde saynt Austyn / the yere of his age four score and six / He made soo many bookes that the metre is sothe that saith He lyeth that sayd that he had rad al his bookes ¶ R This gysericus kyng of wandels though he in the mene tyme ouerco­me the spaynardes galles & Romaynes yet he regned in Aff [...]ica seuen and thyrtty yere so seyth eusebius cronyk right in thende [Page] After gisericus sone. his doughter husbond Omericus regned viij yere / And he also closed chirches and outlawed thre honderd Bisshops / therfor by goddes rightful doome / he wambled ful of wormes and deyde sone ¶ After hym gysericus broders sonne Guttamundus regned there twelue yere ¶In the xij yere of his regne. he opened chirches and reconciled them that were out lawed ¶ After hym the forsayde homericus broder trasamundꝰ regned eyght and twenty yere ¶ After hym his sone hilderycꝰ goten on valentinianus doughter regned eyght yere ¶One glomaurus the tyraunt that had werryd in Irlond and in Bri­tayne put hym oute of his kyngdome and regned after hym in Affryca thre yere. And soo fro the begynnyng of the persecucion of wandales that bygan in gysiricus tyme vnto the goyng oute of the wandels out of affryca passed as it were an honderd yere ¶After celestinus sixtus was pope nyne yere ¶ R [...] his tyme seynt maximus bisshop teruernensis was in his [...] and made noble Omelyes ¶ And as geuadius sayth he m [...]de that famous omely of marires that begynneth in this mane [...] Qui Religiosa caritate sanctorum merita miratur and soo for [...] And cassiodorus the senatour is in his flowris· he expowned the sawter and made a cronyk of themperours and of bisshops / Also that tyme Orocius of spayne was in his floures / he cam to Ro­me after seynt Austyns deth and made seuen bookes ayenst mys­byleued men de ormesta that is of the wretchednes of this world That tyme endoxia themperesse that was theodocius doughter & valentinianus wyf come oute of Ierusalem and brought with [...]er the cheynes that seynt peter was bounden with in prisonne Of hem is the feste of lammasse day ¶ The solempnyte of cesars vyctorye was holden vpon that daye fro octauianus tyme vnto that tyme ¶ Aboute that tyme the deuil appered to the Iewes in the lykenes of moyses in the ylond of creta / and promysed hem that he wolde lede hem drye fotem to the londe of byheste / thēne many of hem were drowned and the other torned to the feyth of crist ¶ After sixtus leo was pope one and twenty yere· he was holyest of al men / and sayde his masse fyue sythes and sō ­tyme ofter in one day ¶ On an esterday a woman kissed his honde and the pope felte so grete temptacion that for wreche therof he cut of his owne right hond Thenne the peple grutchyd ayēst hym / for he songe not his masse as he was wonte to doo / And he made his prayers and put hym al to oure lady and besoughte [Page] her of helpe and grace ¶ Thenne our blessyd lady restored to hym his honde agayne and he sayde his masse as he had doone to fore / and told oute that myracle to fore al the peple ¶ In this popes tyme vnder marcianus the prynce was made the ungeneral counseyl in caladonia of sex honderd bisshops and thyr­ty ayenst one entices abbot of constantinople & ayenst one dyo­scorus bisshop of Ahexandria They denyed that in cryst was very flesshe and denyed also the resurection atte day of dome. Pope leo made a letter of the right feyth for to sende to this coū ­ceyl and leyde the letter vpon seynt peters auter and fasted fourty dayes and prayde seynt peter that yf ony thynge sholde be amended therinne that he wold amende it / and so it was done

Another tyme he fasted fourty dayes and prayd peter to gete hym foryeuenes of his synnes ¶ And peter apered to hym & sayd alle thy synnes ben foryeuen / but vnwyse handlyng is chalenged of the ¶ In this popes tyme that was in theodosius last tyme at ephesus in the mount celius the seuen slepers awoke and aroos / & the feyth of our resurection was moche confermed and stabled by that arysyng In decius cesars tyme these men fledde and hydde them in a caue for tescape the wodenes of the persecucion that was done vpon crysten men / And so they slepte two honderd yere. And a woke atte laste by the vertue of god & sente a seruaunt with money in to the cyte for to bye mete / and for to espye how it stode of the persecucion / And by old moneye that was shewed that tho was not vsed / it was knowen & foū den that they had slepte aboute a two honderd yere / & soo the feyth of the resurection was confermed that entices denyed / and they begonne to slepe agayne in presence of theodosius themperour Eutropius About that tyme one Athyla kynge of hunes gouerned denmarke and pannonia and ladde an hooste of two honderd thousand and had helpe ayenste the Romaynes of nacions / that he made subget and passed forth wel nygh al the west londe vnto Aluerne ¶This man was born to shame and sh [...]ndship of nacions / he loued werres and was stronge of counseyll Valentinianus that thenne gouerned the west londes sholde fyghte ayenst this Athyla and sente a letter to the gothes in these wordes ¶ It by [...]alleth to your redynes and wysedome to conspyre ayēst the tyraūt that desyreth al the seruyse of the wo [...]l [...]· & be retcheth of no rightful cause of bataylle. But what hym lyketh / he holdeth it lawful only byleue heleth and couerith his pryde / he [Page] is worthy [...] byhated of al men that i [...] enemye to al [...] men / But they wrote a letter in this man [...]re / ye haue made Athyla youre enemye / ye haue youre desire / thenne they come to gyders in the feeldes cathulintes that contrynen an honderd leghes in lengthe and lxx in brede / ther was a stronge bataylle / none old storye speketh of no batayl so s [...]ronge. for there were slayne in both nyne score / M men / So that the dede bodyes were born forth with the streme of blood ¶ In the Romayns side were slayne the kyng of burgoyn and the kyng of gothes ¶Eutropius li­bro nono ¶ Kyng Athyla as though he were ouercome wente agayne in to pannonia to gadre hym a gretter hooste

R ¶It is redde in seynt germans lyf that whyle kyng Athyla werred gallia he besieged in a tyme the cyte trecasma / there saynt lupus was Bisshop the tyme thenne seynt Lupus wente vpon the yates of this cyte that was besieged and cryed and axed who they were that soo greued hem. ¶ [...]nd kyng Athyla answerd and sayde / I am Athyla goddes scourge & I sayd the bisshop am the wolf that destroyeth our lordes flok / & haue nede to goddes scourge / lupus is a wolf / thenne anon the yates were opened & the enemyes were blente thurgh goddes might and wente from yate to yate and sawe n [...] hurted no man Athyla kyng of hunes was chaced out of gallia by a noble knyght that hete Aecius. And in his fleyng toward pannonia he d [...]stroyed ytaly and besieged Aquilia thre yere and gate it Tho leo the pope fasted and prayde thre dayes and thre nyghtes in seint peters chirche and sayde to his men / Who that wole come after me come in goddes name / ¶And whan he approched the kynge Athyla the kyng lyght doune of his hors and fyl doune to the popes fete and prayd hym to axe what he wolde· And anone he prayde and had it graunted that the kynge shold goo oute of ytaly and delyuer alle the prisoners· ¶ Afterward whan the kynge was repreued and resoned why the lord of the world wa [...] so lyghtly ouercome of a preest / In tha [...] sayd the kynge I dy [...] prouffyt to you and to me▪ ¶For I sawe in his right fide a [...]ronge knyghte with a swerde drawen that menaced me. bu [...] I dyde as he wolde / I sholde be dede and alle myn / thenne the kynge lefte ytaly and wente in to pannonia. and deyde there sone after [...] Eutropius libro nono capitulo 13 ¶Aboute that ty­me the poure releef that was lefte of the brytons sente the thyrde tyme a [...]ett [...]r to that noble knyght Aecius and to patricius in [Page CCxxv] this maner. To Aecius thryes cōsul we shewe the Greues of [...]tons strau nge nacions chacen vs to the see / And the see dry [...]eth vs to straunge nacions ag [...]yne / And therof cometh two maner of careyns / for we ben slayne with wepen or ellys we ben drouned / But it was for noughtthat they wrote so. For aecius that tyme was occupyed in Gallia with harde warre ayenste kynge Athila· Gaufredus. and Beda· In the meane ty­me the forsaid honger encreced strongly amonge the Britons & compellyd many of hem to yelde hem to the theuys their enemyes

¶ And somme of hem come oute of hilles and laundes ther [...] mannes helpe fayled and trusted in god almyghty and chaced oute the pyctes as wele as they myght / thenne for a tyme the enemyes were p [...]tte oute vnto the vtterist part of the ylond and made hem a place to dwelle ynne beyonde deyra that is the southe side of Northumberlonde and slough and toke prayes eche of other. ¶ Also that tyme fyl grete honger at constantinople with grete pestylence and eyer infecte and engleymed that the walles of the Cyte fyl doune with seuen and fyfty towres and were dede many thousande [...] of men and of beestes ¶Gaufredus and Alfredus· ¶ Thenne the Brytons toke auysement and counseylle / And gaytelynus the Arch [...]bisshop sayled in to Armorica that is lytel Brytayne to one aldroenus that was the fourth that regned there after conanus / and thar­chebisshop declared to hym the meschyef and the sorowe of the Brytons / And brought with hym one constantinus that was the kynges broder with many thousandes of men of Armes. and at surcetre he made hym kyng· ¶ Also this constantinus hadde thre sones / the oldest hete constant / He made him a monke to be shorn at winchestre at seynt Amphibalus chirch / ¶ And the other tweyn Aurelius and vter / he bytoke to Guydelynus the Bisshosshop to norisshe and to teche ¶Constantinus atte last after ten yere of his kyngdome was slayn by treason of one of the Pictes that he hadde in his seruise. And vortigerus a consul of the Iewesses desired the kyngdome and toke constant oute of winchestre and made hym a kynge for he was dul and slo­we of wytte ¶ Anon vortigerus hadde an. honderd pictes oute of Albania that is Scotlande and made hem wardeins of the kynges bodye· And vortigerus made hem ryche ynowgh /

And they vnderstode that vortigerus desired for to b [...] [...] [Page] And slough constant the kynge and brought his hede to vortigerus. And by cause vortigerus wolde be holde giltles and not culpable of that dede / he feyned greete sorowe and made byheede al the honderd pictes to fore the lordes of the lond end so he was crowned kinge / whan this was knowen thenne the wardeyns that kept two bretheren Aurelius & vardredde hym and fledde with the children to the kyng of armorica that is litel Britayn

¶ Explicit liber quartus

Incipit libe [...] quintus

¶Capitulum primum

MArcianus wedded theodocius suster & was Emperour seuen yere· ¶In his fyrst tyme was the coūceyl calcidonense made ayenst en­tices and dioscorus as it is sayd to fore hond Atte last this marcianus was slayn at constantinople by conspyracye of his owne men

And the hunes and wandels destroieden the cytres of gallia that stode vpon the ryn / that tyme vortigerus regned in britayne. and thenne fyl so greete plente of corne and fruyt that none suche plente was seen in none tyme ther to fore. And with that plente lechery & pestilence of al euil doing bigan to encrece cruelnesse and wrath / not only in seculer men· but also in the flock of oure lorde & in the herdes and gouernours of the flok of our lord were both strong & grete: so that euery man tor­ned his spere ayenst the trewe man / as it were ayenste the tray­tours of brytayn / & they yaue hem to dronkenes / fyghtyng staf & enuye· thenne sodenly fyl so grete pestylence on the men of euil lyuynge / that they that were lefte a lyue myghte v [...]meth burye them that were dede / but they that were left a lyue / were not so­ne amended therby. therfor a gretter vengeaūce cam afterwarde For vortigerus & his coūseyl toke hem to rede and sente after paynyms of saxon & prayd hem to come fro byyond the see to do hem help and socour / It is vnknowē that it was goddes oune dede. for harme shold falle vpon wycked men / Gaufr / & alfr. Vortigerus drad the pictes that he had greued to fore hond & in the other side he drad the comynge of aurelius ambrose / for he had herde that he had made redy his shippes for to passe the see / therfor be coueluded to sende for the saxons that were noble men of warre & strong in batayl / Beda li·1 / Thenne the saxons strong men of armes & hauyng no place to dwelle in. were prayd of the brytons for to co­me in thre longe shippes that they calle obylas in to brytayn. & resseyue a place to dwelle in in the est side therof in the ylond thanet beside kente as it were to fyght for the contray / but it was more for to fyght and warre ayenst the countrey / W / de. regibus / Wel nygh al the lond that lyeth northward ouer the see occean of britayn is called germania. for it bryngeth forth so moch folk / ger­mania cometh of germinare that is for to borge and bringe forth

Therfor as water bowes ben kutte and hewe [...] of trees for the [Page] fatnes of the erth shold suffise to the lif of the other dele of the tre So men of Germania releue that londe that is her mode [...] by puttynge oute of men that ben stronge to fyghte. leste they sholde [...] ouercome with to many children yf they shold alle a [...]yde at [...] me. But for to couere the enuye of doyng / they saye that they [...] sente out by lotte / therfor it is that men of that londe maketh h [...]m strengthe of nede for to chalenge straunge londes to dwelle [...] / whan they ben putte oute of her owen londes / As the [...] somtyme wan Affryca. And the Longobardes ytaly / And the normans gallia / So fyrst come twey bretheren oute of germania Engistus and horsus with a lytel strengthe· and were wodens neuewys And as they cam of woden· Soo wele nygh all the kynges lygnage of straunge nacious come of this woden And for as moche as the saxons helde hym tho for a god· they called the fourth day of the weke wodens day in worship of this woden and the sixth day fryday in worship of his wyf frea Thus they dyde by sacrelegye the lestel euermore ¶ Beda li / primo ¶ Ther cam thre of the strengest peple of germania in to Brytayne / Saxons Angles and Iutes / Of the Iutes come the Kentysshe men and the men of the yle of wyght and the men that dwellen ayenst the yle of weyght. Of the saxons come the cest saxons / the south saxons and the west saxons ¶ Of the Angles come the eeste Angles and myddel Angles that is the mercies and hadde myddel Englonde that stretcheth westward toward the Ryuer dee besyde chestre and to Seuarn besides shro­wesbury and so forth to Brystow / and estward toward the see And southward to temse and so forth to London and northward to humbre and torned dounwarde and westward to the Ryuer mersea and soo forth to the west see / ¶Also of the Angles come the men of northumberlonde and horsus and Engistus were be­ders of hem alle ¶ Treuisa For to knowe redyly the meres & merkes of the countreyes where these men were to sette. Looke in the fyrst capitulo 51 / Henricus libro secundo· These men sayled in to Brytayn & bete doune the enemyes of Brytayne The enemyes were come vnto Stanford. that is fourty myle onte of Lyncolum southwarde. ¶ Whan the Pyctes and the Scottes vsyd longe shaftes and s [...]eres / the Saxons foughte with longe swerdes and axes ¶ Gaufredus And soo vortigerus hadde the vyctorye by helpe of the saxons And yaue to Engistus londe in lyndes [...]ye / there he buylded a [Page CCxxxiij] Castel that heete thongcastre / for him was graunted as moche londe to buylde on a castel as a thwonge myght beclyppe. Therfor engystus kutte a boole huyde al to one thonge and be clypped therwith al that place ¶ Beda libro primo Thenne tydynges come home of the goodenes of the londe of britayne and of the feblenes of the men that dwellyd therinne Thenne was sente a gretter naueye for to make more nombre of saxons & they toke on them the warre vppon that couenaunte that they shold fyghte for the countrey and the Brytons shold fynde them mete and wages ¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro primo ¶ Thenne atte second tyme the saxons come with sixten shippes / and brought with hem Engistus doughter a wonder fayr mayde meruayle of kynde and wonder of sighte for men to byholde The kynge vortigerus behelde her ofte and bad that she shold serue hym in stede of his boteler. And the kyng axed her to wyf / and egged her fader therto / as though hit were ayenste his wyll / and yaue kente in stede of a yefte to hym / And consented that Engistus shold sende for his sone ¶ Gaufredus and Alfredus ¶ This weddynge was made and the kynge put awaye his lawful wyf / on the whiche he had goten thre noble yonglynges. vortimerus catigirnus and pascencius ¶ Beda libro primo ¶ Thenne the saxons conspyred with the pyc­tes that they hadde put oute to fore honde / and torned for to fyght ayenst her felawes the brytons / Ano fyrst they axed more corne for it was not yeue hem / They destroyed the contray and slouwe the bisshops and the peple ¶ Gaufredus and Alfredus Thenne the B [...]ytons sawe that they were ouersette with mul­titude of saxons and counceyleden the kynge for to forsake the Saxons / And by cause he wolde not assente / they toke his sonne vortimerus and made hym kynge. ¶ Willelmus de Re­gibus libro primo / ¶ After the seuenth yere of the confede­racion he fought ayenst the Angles ofte in smal bataylles. but fyue sithes sharply with al the company Henricus / & gaufred The fyrste of these bataylles was vpon the Ryuer derwont / and the seconde vpon the forde Epiford ¶ There horsus and ca­tagirnus wounded eche other The thyrdde was don by helpe of seynt Germ [...]n tho Bisshop ¶ At that bataylle was cryed thryes Alleluya. And the Saxons fledde ¶ The fourthe bataylle was vpon the See brynke / there the Saxons fledde in to the Ilonde Thanet / ¶ Whan these batayls were done [Page] Vortimerus deyde thurgh venym of his stepdam Rowen ¶R But william saith that whan Vortimerus hadde fought twenty yere manly ayenste the Angles he was take awaye by lotte of desteny / ¶ Ganfredus and Alfredus / ¶ Whan Vortimerus was deede / Vortigernus was efte restored to the kyngdome / thenne in hoope of pees bothe Brytons and Angles come to gyders byside thabbaye Ambrius the fyrst day of maye for to tre [...]e of pees / bytwene them there / There Engistus vsed a newe manere of treason and sayd to his knyghtes / whan he cryed in englyssh / Nymeth your sexes· thenne anone they shold slee theyr felawes the Brytons with knyues that they hadde hydde in theyr hosen and soo it was done. ¶ But eldol duke of gloucestre caught a stake and defended hym manly and slowgh seuenten Saxons ¶ But the Saxons wolde not slee Vorti­gerus / but they resseyued his raunsonne noble cytees of Brytayn and he wente in to the weste countrey of wales and abode at Genoren vpon the Ryuer Guania in the hille Cloarcius. there Aurelius Ambrose come afterwarde vpon hym and brente hym in his owne tour ¶ But will [...]lmus de regibus libro primo / Meneth otherwyse and sayd that Engystus by treasonne and fraude prayd his doughter husbonde Vortigerus to a f [...]ste with thre honderd men / ¶And whan the ghestys hadde wele dron­ken / thenne by sleyghte they were made to stryue and bra [...]lo And after toke theyr wepens and foughte ¶Thenne the Bry­tons were slayne and the Kynge was taken· and raunsonned for thre prouynces of the eeste Also Willelmus libro primo / and Henricus libro secundo. Tellen that Vortigerus laye by his owne doughter in hoope that kynges sholde come of hym and gate on her a sonne ¶ Therfor he was acursyd of seynt German and of alle the company of preestes and fledde in to the west syde of wales. ¶Also it is wreton that seynt German fledde / and he poursiewed after hym / and after was brente in his toure with fyre that cam downe fro heuene / ¶Thenne the Brytons gadryd an hoost / And Aurelius Ambrose was duc and hadde that hoost ayenst horsus & engystꝰ in kente / But gaufr· in his brittysshe boke sayth that after that aurelius ambrose was come from beyōde the see / he brente Vortigerus in his owne toure / ¶And thenne he passed humbre and made Engystus to be byheded at conyn­gisburgh and spared his sonne Octe that was besyeged at Yorke and brought lowe· ¶ After this he ouercome [Page CCxxviij] pascenflus vo [...]igerus and his helper Gillomaurus kyng of Ir­lond / ¶ Atte lost h [...] waxe seke at wynchestre and saxon that [...]ete [...]pa yaue hym venym to drynke in stede of medecyn and so Aurelius deyde. One pascencius hadde hyred copa· as it were a leche for to doo that dede / It is wreton in seynt germans legen­te that vortigerus warned seynt german lodgynge and an herde that kept the kynges beestes / sawe that goddes se [...]uauntes were greued. and lodged seynt german and slowe a calf for his sop [...]r But after soper seynt german reysed that calf agayne from deth to lyf / On morow by commaundement of g [...]d G [...]rman put dou­ne vortigerus of his kyngdome / and toke the forsayd herde and made hym kynge / thenne alle men were aston [...]d for wonder / And fro that tyme forthon / the kynges of B [...]ytons come of the berdes kynde ¶ But gildas in his storye say [...]h that this befell by the kyng of powysye that he [...]e buly and not of vortige­rus and sayth that bulyes successours come of this herdes kynde that were kynges in that syde of wales ¶ Thenne what is sayde here of vortigerūs ende / it is in a manere doubte as for to kepe the storye hoole / Furthermore what is sayd of the ponde of the two dragons / whyte and reede / and vortigerus buy [...]dynge Of merlyns fantastyk getynge and of his pr [...]phecye that is so derk is conteyned in the bryttyssh book / And I wold put it to this story yf I supposed that it were trewe

¶ Capitulum 2

VAlentinianus augustus his tyme is acounted to the cours of theodocius and of martinianus ¶ Eutcopius. He dradde the fortune of Aecius and patricius. and made hym slayne at Cartage. And the fortune of the west empire fyl doun with hym / But in the same yere valentinianus was slayne of Aecius frendes in the felde marcius twelue dayes to fore Aprill The daye after one max [...]mus a man of two consulatus toke the empyre of Rome / he herde that Gysericus kynge of the wandals was comynge oute of Affryca / And arayde hym for to flee / and was alto hewed of Valentinianus seruauntes· and thro­wen lymmele in to the tybre / Thenne Gisericus cam to the cyte of rome· And Leo the pope mette him and plesed hym so that [...]e [Page] spared brennynge and manslaughter and toke prysoners and Ryches of the cyte and ladde with hym in to affryca / Amonge the whiche prysoners endoxia Augusta was toke prysonner. she hadde prayd gysericus to doo that cursyd dede In the tornynge agayne toward Affryca Gysericus destroyed the noble Cytees of Campania Nola and Capna. ¶ Thenne as Gregory saith in libro dyalogorum / Paulinus bisshop of the cite nola whan that he had spente al that he had in raunsons of pri­sonners he wente in to Affrica and yaue hym self to be a man of straūge nacions and bound man for the raunson of a wydowes sone and was his lordes gardener and dyde soo wel in his offyce that he tourned his lord to crystendome / and wan and gate fre­dom to men of his nacions ¶ Marcianus libro primo ¶In marcianus fyfth yere horsus and engystꝰ fought ayenst the brytons in a place that heete aglystorp th [...]r horsus and cartigirnus slowe eche other· but engystus had the vyctory ¶Beda libro primo / capitulo 17 ¶That tyme the feyth of Brytons dyde faste fayle for company of saxons that were straunge men and of mysbyleue / & also by cause of pelagius heresye. that began to sprynge amonge them / therfor they sen [...]e in to fraūce for to haue helpe and socoure ayenst mysbyleuyd men / And to hem were sente germanus Al­tisiodorus and lupus trecasinus bisshops ¶In seylyng by their holy preyers the tempest of the see seecyd and they destroyed that heresy [...] by trouthe of loor [...] and techyng by shewynge of myracles and by holynes of lyf ¶They hel [...]d a blynde damysel of ten yere old / [...]henn [...] saynt german went vnto the sepulcre of seynt albon [...] l [...]f [...]e there holy relyquyes of thapostles and martires but he tok [...] w [...]h hym reede erthe oute of that holy place ¶ Th [...]nne he wente forth and sauyd the place of his lodgynge with al that was delyuerd hym from brennyng / whan other mēnes thynges were brente with fyre / And thenne he wente with the Brytons ayenste t [...]e saxons that were associat vnto the pyctes / he cryed t [...]ryes alleluya / and ouercome thenemyes without shedynge of blood and soo t [...]e ylond was clensed and german torned home agayne. But that heresye bygan to sprynge a [...]ene / and german was ofte prayd for to come and helpe / Thenne he come with lupꝰ disciple seuerus and destroyed and dyde awey the [...]our and tor­ned home agayne / But he prayd valentinianus at Rauen for men of Armorica that is lytel brytayne and deyde / and by heest of themperour he was born for to be buryed at his owne chirche

[Page CCxxix]AFter marcianus leo regned xvij yere In his fyrst yere vortimerus vortigerus sonne deyde in a stronge euy [...]l / And Engistus with his sonne osca gadryd strengthe and brought togyder his knyghtes and men of Armes that were so sparpled & departed and fought strongly ayenst the brytons at crekenford Of hem were slayne four dukes and four thousand of other mē And he chaced the other dele oute of kente vnto london / and they neuer tourned afterward in to kente· for his broder ho [...]sus was dede with categirnus to fore hond / his buryel is yet shewed in the eest side of kente· And soo the kyngdome of kente bygan vnder engystus the eyghten yere after the comyng of saxons in to britayne / And engistus regned in kent after that four and twen­ty yere. ¶ The heresye of the Acepheles bygan to sprynge and [...]ncrecyd They agayne sayd the counseyll of calcydonense The acephales ben sayd as it were men withouten heede / for their auctor is vnknowen After leo hillary was pope seuen yere Engystꝰ and his sone osca at wyptysflete slowe twelue dukes of Brytons and of the angles was slayne but one that he ete wypet After hillarye simplicius was pope fyften yere· he ordeyned that noo clerk shold resseyue the inuestiture of his benefyce ne of his offyce of a lewd mannes honde

¶ Capitulum tercium

TEno themperour regned after leo seuenten yere· In his tyme deyde childericus the fourth kynge of frenshem [...]n / and after him his sone clodenus lewys regned thyrtty yere / This in the fyften yere of his kyngdom while he ladde his hooste / and shold fyght ayenst a grete nombre of Almains / he loked in to heuen and sayd lord Ihesu crist whom my wyf worshipeth yf thou gyue me this daye the vyctorye I shal be crystned in thy name The Almayns fledde and he and his two susters and thre thou­sand of his men were crystned on an esterday of seynt Remigiꝰ bisshop of Raynes· And for they had no crysma. Lo a downe brought hem in his bylle a vyole with crysma / and the Bisshop enoynted the kyng therwith That vyole is kepte in the chirch of raynes / and with that crysma the kynges ben enoynted. sone after this while the king wēt to a batail ayēst one aladericꝰ that [Page] warryd in guyan ¶ Remigius toke him a flaket ful of holywyn and promysed hym vyctory & sayd / Goo forth as longe as this wyn dureth / Thenne the kyng drank and his seruauntes & the wyn fayled in no place ¶ Thenne he occupyed guyan and passed the ryuer of leyr and tu [...]one / and in seynt martins chirche he herde that verse of the sauter / Precinxisti me domine virtute ad bellum· that is lord thou hast byclypped me with vertue and strengthe to bataylle ¶Therfor the kyng was gladde with al & arayde hym for to passe the forde of the Ryuer vincenna / but the water began hugely to aryse. And an hynde appiered sodenly & passed the water to fore the kyng and shewde hym the forde / Thenne the kyng made the kyngdom of fraunce stretche vnto the hye hilles of Aragon that ben called montes pireni ¶ Therfore themperour anastasius herde of his name and sente hym a crow­ne of gold rychely besette with precious stones with a kyrtell & a gyrdel· And fro that tyme he was assigned to be consul and Augustus for the comyn prouffyt of thempyre ¶And he was clothed in a consuls gowne / ¶And from that tyme the empyre of Rome that was somtyme translated to constantinople bygan to waxe lasse and lasse from daye to daye· And the kyngdom of fraunce bygan to sprede and wexe more and more ¶Whan Gise­ricus kynge of wandels was dede his elder sonne homericus reg­ned in Affryca eyght yere by sleyght of straunge nacions. this began first to doo myldly with crysten men / But at ende he com­maunded to putte fyry plates to the brestes of holy maydens / by cause they sholde knowleche that bisshops and clerkes had leyn by them / Also he put a grete multitude of cristen men in a strayt pryson for they shold lete falle vryne and foul ordure eche vpon other / and so it semed that the stenche therof passed al that other paine Aboute that tyme seynt medarde and seynt gyldard bis­shops of Roen confessours were in her floures / they were brethe­ren of one wombe. bothe born in one day [...]y sacred bisshops in one day and bothe dede in one day ¶Henr / libro secundo ¶Elle and his thre sones Cymen plettynger and Cyssa come in to brytayne with thre shippes the yere after the fyrst comyng of Angles xxx And slowe many Brytons at cun [...]ueshore & chaced many vnto the wode Andresleger / and soo he occupyed souths [...]x ¶Henr / li / [...]iunto ¶Andrysleger is a grete wode in the south side of kent [...] bysides the hauen lymme and conteyneth fourty myle in lengthe and thyrtty in brede ¶After simplicius felix was pope eyght yere [Page CCxxx] Seynt Banabas body was founden in a caue· there his disciple Iohan had hyd it with the gospel of mathew th [...]t he had wryte with his owne style. ¶Barnabe p [...]echyd fyrst of crist at Rome and was fyrst bisshop made of m [...]lan Willelmus de regibus

¶ That yere deyde engystus in kent xxxij yere after his co­myng in to englond / he drof forth his tyme and dyde his dedes as moche with fraude as with strengthe / And hym was leuer to do cruelly than lawfully / After hym his sone was kyng Osca four and twenty yere· he defended the kyngdome and made it no mor [...] & him held payd with his faders kyngdom and passed nowhere his faders boundes Eutropius libro quarto ¶Also in this zeno themperours tyme Aurelius Ambrose vsed the purpure in Brytayne ¶After the fyghtynge of the saxons he was lefte alyue and no moo of the Romayns. And ouercome the saxons that were vyctours / And fro that tyme forth now that one and nowe that other hadde the maystrye and vyctory [...] vnto the tyme that the saxons had the maystrye and wan alle the ylond / about that tyme seynt manmertus bisshop of vyen ordeyned solempne letanyes that ben callyd the rogacions ageyne erthe quakynge and tempeste of weder and parelle of wylde beestes that greued the peple that tyme / And it is called the lasse l [...]tanye for difference of the more letanye that seynt gregory ordeyned to be sayde on seynt markes day Paulus libro primo ¶ Aboute that ty­me Agrimundus the fyrste kynge of the longobardes er [...]e cam in to pannonia he fonde seuen children leyde besydes a ponde / that a comyn woman had born at one burth [...] and cast hem there for they shold haue ben slayne / the kynge passed forth by and wold wyte what it were and torned the spere that he bare in his honde toward the children· and one of hem helde the sp [...]re wi [...]h his ho [...] de. And therby the kyng tolde that the childe sholde be grete / and lete take hym of the ponde and dyde do norysshe hym vp besyly And after agelmundus deth for his nobley he was chosen king and rewled the longobardes right wel long tyme ¶And for he was take from the ronde they named hym lamissio· For a pond is called lama in theyr langage / Of hym it is sayde that whan the A [...]asoues werned the longobardes to passe one of her owne Ryuers This lamiss [...]o swymm [...]ng in the Ryuer fought with the strengeste woman of the Amasones / and slough her ryght th [...]re / And soo by couenaunt he ordeyned passage for his men / That yere Zeno the emperour sente theodericus to fyghte ayenst [...] [Page] one oda [...]cer that had werred in ytaly fourten yere This theode­ricus was the kynges sone of gothes and was delyuerd to Zeno in pledge. whan the couenaunt of pees was made / thenne whan theodericus was eyghten yere olde he passed bulgaria and pannonia and fedde hym and his in the lese of Aquylya ¶ Thenne Odaacer mette hym with alle the power of ytaly and was ouer come of hym Therfor he torned agayne to Rome and was put of by the Romaynes and wente to Rauen and there he was be­sieged thre yere and slaine right there ¶ Thenne theodericus co­me to Rome and was gladly resseyued and wedded Andel [...]lede the doughter of Clodoneus kynge of fraunce / And maryed his doughters and his susters to kynges that dwellyd there aboute Soo that wel nygh al ytaly was ioyned to hym by suche affy­nyte

¶ Capitulum quartum

ANastasius was emperour seuen and twenty yere ¶In his first yere seynt patrik deyde the fyrste bisshop of Irlond the yere of his owne age six score and tweyne. In Aurelius Ambroses tyme that was thenne kynge of brytayne ¶Gir in top / In his tyme were the abbot columba that hete kolunkillus also And seynt bryde that seynt patrik veyled and professyd and she ouerlyued hym sixty yere ¶These thre were buryed in vlster in the cyte dymeus as it were in a denne with thre chambre s

¶ Her bodyes were founden the fyrst yere of the comyng of sir Iohan the seconde kynge haryes sone in to Irlond / vpon her tombes these verses ben wreton / Hic iacent in duno / qui tumulo tumulantur in vno / Brigida patricius atque columba pius / that is to saye / In duno these thre ben buryed right al in one tombe Bryde with patrik and also columba the mylde ¶R Men sa­ye that this fyrst patrik among his other wōderful werkes & dedes dyde thre grete thynges· One is that he droof with his staf al the venemous beestes oute of Irlend / The second is that he prayde and it was graunted to hym of god almyghty that none irissh̄ man shold abyde the comyng of Antecrist ¶The thyrde wonder is radde of his purgatorye. but that is more acompted to the lasse patrik that was abbot and not bisshop· And was in his flowres aboute the yere of our lord eyght honderd and fyfty The [Page CCxxxj] ma [...]tilogye speketh of hym that he fonde fyrst a rebell peple / and therfore he wente oute of Irlond and deyde in thabbay of glas­tenb [...]ry at seynt bartilmew thappostlis daye ¶After felix gela­sius was pope. fyue yere / he ordeined that thordres sholde be youen four tymes in the yere / and made the comyn pre [...]as tha [...] is song in the masse tyme▪Vere dignum et iustum est and so forth vnto dies nostros / Also in hys tyme the denne was shewed at seynt mychaels mont in monte gargano. the yere of our lord four honderd four score and twelue bygan the kyngdome of the eest an­gles vnder vffa / Of hym all the est angles ben callyd vffynges and now we calle hem fycanes and fykeys also ¶ Beda libro [...] capitulo decimo sexto / Also that yere was the grete slaughter of saxons in the siege of badon hille by the duc of brytons Aure­relius Ambrose the four and fourty yere after the comyng of angles. Henr / libro secundo That yere two dukes of saxons Cerdicus and his sone kynricus with fyue shippes come a lond at cer­dishore that now is called yarnemouth ¶Seynt leonard was born and kyng clodoneus was his godfader and toke hym oute of cold water ¶Whan gelasius was dede Anastasius was po­pe two yere· he ordeyned that no clerk shold for wrathe leue his seruise vnsayd in holy chirche but only the masse / Also this pope cursed anastasius themperour After anastasius symachus was pope fyften yere / with hym was ordeyned another pope that hete laurencius / In that stryf were many manslaughters in the cyte· but they cam both to the dome of theodericus of Rauenne and the kyng demed that [...]e that was fyrst ordeyned shold be [...]ope / or he that hadde the more partye of the chesers to his election / And by that dome symachus was pope / he loued the clergye and halpe pour men / therfor paschasius a cardynal deke [...] after his deth in the payne of purgatorye was sette for to serue bathes for he fa­uoured laurence partye vnto his deth· so tellith gregorius in libro dyalogorum / Also this pope ordeyned that euery sondaye and in fe [...]stes of martres gloria in excelsis shold be sayd at masse. R / Therfore somme men wold suppose that be made that foloweth in that ympne· but other men wene that seynt hillarye made al that foloweth in that ympne That yere deyde Remigius doctour of frensshmen and bisshop of Raynes. An heremyte w [...]rned Remygius moder of his byrthe and of the maner of his byrthe· This heremyte had loste his eyen and his syght and was blynde for ofte wepynge that he vsed in his beedes· And prayd his moder [Page] that whan the child shold be wened that the child myght wasshe the heremytes eyen with the moders mylk and soo sholde he haue his sight agayne ¶ Thenne this Remigins from his childhode dwellyd in a closet til he was two and twenty yere old ¶After that he was made bisshop of Raynes & was so mylde that wilde sparowes wold take met [...]of his hond Henr ¶That yere one porth with his two sones come a londe at por [...]esmouth in southse [...] and slowe a noble yonge man of the brytons and many other with hym / Lotharius kyng of [...]raunce after his fader clodon [...]us regned one and fyfty yere-In his tyme Aurelius Ambrose dey­de in Brytayn and his broder vter pen [...]ragon reg [...]ed after him ¶ R Vter pendragon by helpe of merlyn the prophete brought coria gigantum that is stonehenges oute of Irlond / Stonhenge is now in the playne of salesbury / of that bryngynge of stonhenge out of Irlond speketh the bryttyssh story· yf it shold lawfully be y trowed / Also v [...]er pendragon slough gyllomaurus vortigerꝰ sone. This gyllomaurus was kynge of Irlonde ¶ Also vter slowe osca engistus sonne and his cosyn osa and gorolus duc of corne wayle and wedded the same dukes wyf Iugerna: and [...]ate on her the noble Arthur / ¶ But he was atte last poysoned with venym and deyde and was buryed by his broder Aureliꝰ in coria gigantum that is stonhenge. ¶ After Symachus hor­mysda was pope eyght yere· he reconciled the Grekes and ordey­ned the clergye in rewle and in o [...]dre / and lefte in seynt peters chirche a beme of syluer of a thousand pound and sixty / ¶ Also he sente lettres to Anastasius themperour that fauoured entices errour and commaunded themperour that he shold amende hym self We wyl commaunde seyd themperour and not be commaū ­ded ¶Therfor he was afterward besette with his enemyes / and smyten with lyghtnyng and soo deyde ¶Whan Osca engystus sone was dede his sone octa regned after hym two and twenty yere in the kyngdome of counterbury that was the kyngd [...]me of [...]nte / Marrianus libro secundo ¶ That tyme Iordanus the bisshop was in his floures and made a cronyk

¶ Capitulum quintum

BEda sayth· that Iustinus the elder was Emperour eyght yere / But other telle that he was Emperour ten yere / Atte [Page] Instaunce of hormysda the pope / Iustinus reconciled the Bys­shops that Anastasius had exyled for the fryth of holy chirche / And german bisshop of Capna was the popes messager to Iustinus at that tyme Henricus libro secundo ¶ This is the yere after the comynge of the Angles / lxxj ¶This yere bygan the yere of the westsaxons vnder C [...]rdicus and his sone kyn [...]icus by helpe specially of her owne ne [...]ewes stuffer and wyghtgar that londed in thre shippes [...]t Cerdychesore / and fought s [...]rongly and slough many Brytons / To the whiche neuewes was you [...] the ylonde of wyght Treuisa ¶ Loke more of the kynge of westsaxons in the fyrste booke capitulo decimo quinto ¶ Thenne it folowoth in the story ¶Af [...]r horsmisda the fyrst Iohan was pope thre yere Theodecicus Augustus emperour of ytalye hel [...]e Arrius heresye-and sente this pope Iohan with other men of the dignyte of consuls to Iustinus emperour of Constantinople and bade hym that he shold leue and suffre the Arrians in pees. or he wold flee th [...] crysten men of ytaly. And whan he herde telle that his messagers were worshipfully receyued / whan they come a­gayn [...] to Rauenna. he toke pope Iohan and Symachus pat [...]iciꝰ and boe [...]e the senatour and slough hem in hard prisonne ¶ But for Boece hadde defended and mayntened the auctoryte of the senatours of Rome by good skyles and resons· therfore he exyled hym out of Rome and put hym in to papy [...]· There bo [...]cins ma [...] fyue bookes de consolacione philesophye / And atte last he l [...]te sle hym in the contreye of melan [...] ¶R This bo [...]ce was a passyng man in his werkes and dedes. And famous withoute repreef & lerned fyrst the langage of latyn and grue at rome. And th [...]nne at Athenes he ler [...]ed hem at [...]e ful withoute the bookes that he made or declared of the seuen ar [...]s· he made fyfty songes endyted Comice that [...]s as it were short verses / a [...]ong the whiche song [...]s the best begynneth in [...]his maner· O amor deus deitas. O thou loue god and godhede / But his wyf Elpes the kynges doughter of Scicilia made an ympn [...] in praysyng at thappostles pet [...]r and paule that begynneth in this manere. Felix per omnes festum mundi cardines ¶That is to saye thou feste that art hooly and gracious in euery countre of the wyde world / she made a writing to be grau [...]n on her tombe. and made hit in metre in this manere Elpes was m [...] name / Soo cecily brou [...]ht m [...] forth· Fer oute of londe my husbondes loue me ladde. In boly place nowe I reste in straūge londe / I queth me to the trone of that Iugge that neuer [Page] hath ende But theodericus the tyraūt escaped not the payne / For he deyde sodenly at Rauenne four score and ten dayes after that he had fulfylled his tyrauntrye in that holy man boece ¶ One solutarius sawe hym boyle and sethe in vulcanus crokce in the Ilonde luparis beside Scicilia / there he boyleth as it were in a caudrone / ¶ That yere seynt Bryde the mayde deyde in Irlond After Iohan the fourth felix was pope four yere / he was seint Gregoryes fader grauntsir. He ordeyned that seke men sholde be enoynted with holy oyle [...]r they passed oute of this lyf· and cursed patriarke of Constantinople ¶Also that yere the Abbot dyonisius exiguus began to make his compot at Rome· He was the fyrste or ther were no moo that toke hede of the defautes of that compot ¶And afterward marianus the monke y closed in Ma­goncia as it is touchyd in the begynnynge of the fyrst booke in the thyrd prefas

¶ Capitulum sextum

IVstinianus Iustinus neuewe on his suster goten regned eyght and thy [...]t [...]y yere / this gadred the lawes of the Ro­mayns that were wryten wel nygh in two thousand bookes & in thre honderd thousand verses in longe wrytynge & vnprofytable / he gadred hem in to a volume of twelue bookes and callyd that volume Iustinianus code Also he made pendactas that is dygest and departed it in thre volumes ¶Also he dyde many ba­taylls by hym self & bilisiarchus the duc / netheles at the exyting of theodora Augusta he dyde many cruel dedes. and exyled the pope After felix bonefacius was pope two yere and somwhat of dayes: he ordeyned that clerkes and lewd men shold be depar­ted whyle the masse is a syngynge ¶ After Bonefacius the se­cond Iohan was pope two yere and four monethes. ¶ After the second Iohan the fyrst agapytus was pope .xj yere. he ordeyned that procession shold be made in the sonday / and wente to constantinople to Iustinianus and deyde there. but he was born to Rome Cerdicus the fyrst kynge of westsaxons deyde whan he had regned seuen t [...]n yere ¶ After Agapitus Siluerius was pope one yere and fyue mon [...]thes. he was exyled and sla­yne while he was exyled / And that made thempresse theodora Augusta for he wold not restore agayne Anthemius patriark [Page CCxxxiiij] of constantinople that was to fore hond condempned of heresye. That yere seynt dauy was born that hete dewy also· he was bisshop of meuenia whiche is now callyd seynt dauy in wales ¶After Seuerius virgilius was pope nyne yere he ordeyned that the masse shold be sayd toward the eest ende of the chirche. And atte laste as his predecessour was poursiewed of thempresse by cause anthemius the patriark was not restored / so was he al a day to drawe and haled / scorned and buffeted at constantinople / and atte laste deyde exyled / In his tyme bellisarius patricius delyuerd Rome of the takynge of the gothes / ¶Also in his tyme byfyl that i [...] rad of theofolus tharchedeken. though this virgilius entred in to an euyl maner to the papacye by cause he procoured thexyling of his predecessour siluerius for▪ he wolde be pope hym self / But for he was repentaunt veryly / he was exyled for the fayth and deyde exyled atte laste ¶Henricus libro secundo ¶ This was the tenth yere of C [...]rdicus kynge of westsaxon / And this yere arthur the warriour bygan for taryse as it were eyghten yere old He faught twelue sithes ayenst the saxons and hadde the vyc­torye· Fyrst vpon the Ryuer gleuy and efte four sythes vppon the Ryuer douglas that is in the countrey of Iewes. ¶R Now that Ryuer is callyd dongglys in Englyssh / and that Ryuer renneth vnder the cyte of wygan / that is ten myle from the Ryuer mersee in lancasshyre· Henricus ¶The sixth batayll was vpon the Ryuer bassa / the seuenth besides lyncolum in the wod [...] that hete celidon / but in bryttissh it hete caercayt celydon that now is callyd Lyncolum· the ix batayl was atte cyte caerleon / the xij was at badonhille ¶Willelmus de Regibus libro primo ¶ This is Arthur of whome the Brytons that gone oute of the waye tellen many ydle tales / he that prayseth sothe storyes and not false is worthy to be praysed· he that mayntened the contra­ry that was dounward and comforted mennes hertes to fyghte courageously in bataylle / And atte last he slough nyne honderd of his enemyes in the siege of badenhill / ¶R ¶ Men red [...] in somme cronykes that Cerdicus fought oft with Arthur· and yf he were ones ouercome / he aroose vp efte strenger to fyghte & atte laste after six and twenty yere of Cerdicus comynge / Ar­thur was wery and noyeful to hym and yaue hym hampshyre and somersete and called that countrey westsex· And he made fayth and swore to hym ¶Also it is rad in Cronicis Anglo­rum that mordredus Arthurus neuewe desyred for to regne [Page] but [...] [...]radde only Cerdi [...]s and yaue him other townes for to fit [...] ou [...]e hym / cerdicus assented therto and restored his prouynce. and cou [...]treyes with new saxons· and was crowned at wynchestre in the maner of misbileuyd mē / but at london mordredus was crowned kynge of britons / but the yle of wyght lefte to withga­ras the neuew of cerdicus-But the storye of brytons telleth t [...]at Arthur fought afterward with mordredus and slough hym & was slayne and buryed in the vale of Aualon besides glasting bury· Afterward his body and the body of his wyf gwenner were founden in the seconde harryes tyme and translated in to the chirche aboute the yere of our lord enleuen honderd four score so seyth giraldus distinctione prima capitulo decimo octauo / That was tho on lyue and handled arthurs boones / Furthermore of this Arthur among all wryters of cronykes Gaufredus allone prayseth hym soo moche that men wondre how it myght be sothe that is told of him Fo [...] yf Arthur had goten thyrtty kyngdoms as Gaufredus celleth yf he had made the kynge of fraunce sub­gette. yf he had slayne lucius in ytaly procuratour of thempyre· and of the comynte-why lefte alle the wryters of storyes of Romayns frenssh men and saxons-and speke not of soo grete dedes. and of soo grete a vyctour. Syth that they tolde soo moche of soo many lasse men and lasse dedes· yet herto Gaufredus sayth that that he slough lucius hiberius procuratour of thempire / but by al storyes of rome it is knowen / that none lucius was procuratour of thempyre eyther of the comynte in that tyme. ¶ And also that none Arthur regned ne was born in [...]o themperours ty­me· but in Iustinianus tyme that was the fyfth after leo Also gaufredus sayth that hym wondreth that gyldas and be­da in alle her bookes speke not of Arthur But I holde more wonder why gaufredus prayseth so moche one that alle the old famous and soth writers of storyes make of it wel nygh no mē cion But sothe it is that the maner of euery nacion is to ouer preyse somme one of the same nacion as the gre [...]es preisen their Alysaundre And the Romaynes theyr Octauianus And En­glysshmen theyr Rychard And Frensshmen theyr Charles and the britons theyr arthur / It happeth ofte as Iosephus sayth for fayrenes of thistorye or for lykynge of the redars eyther for to preys [...] theyr owne bloode. these cause th [...]m to write soo ¶ For Austyn de ciuitate dei libro decimo / T [...]eth that [...] doynges of men of Athenes ben gretter in fame than in dede And that was [Page CCxxxv] for ther were wryters of clere wytte and hadden ioye and ly­kynge to tourne her wytte and her tonge to grete hyhe and huge praysyng / thenne gaufredus in his bryttissh booke sayth that arthur whan he sholde deye graunted the dyademe of his kyngdom to his cosyn Constantyn the sonne of cador duke of cornewayle / that fought oftymes with mordredus sonnes and slough hem a [...] te laste. and soo four yere after he had regned he deyde / And af­ter hym aurelius conanus helde the kyngdome thre yere / ¶And after hym vortiporius four yere· After hym malgo regned som­what of yeres / he was fayre stronge large free of yef [...]es / But be was infect with the vyce of sodomye ¶After hym Careticus regned somwhat of tyme he was vnlykynge to god and to brytons and loned stryf and destruction of ryghtful lyuynge of mankynde The saxons were waar of his vnstedfastnes· and senten to the kynge Affrycanus Gurmundus that he made hym subgett & prayd hym for to come oute of yrlond ¶And gurmundus and the saxons ioyned and oned to gyder· Cha [...]ed creticus from cy­te to cyte and besyeged hym atte laste in sissetre· and droof hym afterward and his brytons in to wales ouer seuarn / and destro­yed lo [...]gria that is Englond with yron and with fyre. And from that tyme for warde the brytons lost the hoole kyngdome of Brytayne ¶Chilpiricus the seuenth kynge of fraunce regned after his fader lotharius xxiiij yere that was the yere after the comynge of thangles four score and eyghten That yere bygan the kyngdome of northumberlond vnder one Ida the sone of [...]oppa. he was the twellyfth after woden / of him come al the blood of kynges of northumberlonde / and yda regned twelue yere in brenicia. and had many sones / Treuisa / Brenicia is the northsyde of northumberlonde and stretcheth to the scottysshe see· loke more ther of in [...]he fyrst book capitulo 51 / there thou may finde the meres & markes of Brenicia· thenne it foloweth in the storye· In Iustinianus themperours tyme befel that gregorius in libro dyalogo­rum telleth of th [...] [...]isshops that spake atte beste whan her tonges were kytte in Aff [...]ica for the fayth of holy chirche. But one of hem was pryued of that myrache for lecherye that he fylle ynne somtyme / ¶ Aboute that tyme in a Cyte of Scicilia was an Archedeken that heete Theofilus-and bare hym soo nobly vnder the Bisshop / that whan the Bisshop was dede alle men cryeden that he was worthy to be Bisshop ¶ And he helde hym payed with his Archedekenry / and hadde leuer that another [Page] were bisshop than he· But afterward he that was made bisshop putte hym wrongefully oute of his Archedekenry ¶ Than he fylle in soo greete meschyef / that he hyred an hebrewe whitche and forsooke criste and his moder vppon that condicion that he shold come to the worshippe that he hadde loste / ¶ And also he dyde the deuyl hommage and wrote hym a chartre with his own bloode / And soo he hadde his Archedekenry a morowe But he bythoughte hym atte laste and was sorowfull for that dede / And prayde oure lady of helpe and socoure· And soo by helpe of oure lady he hadde his chartre agayne and foryefnes of his synnes ¶ Thenne he knowleched his trespaas and all the maner of that doynge openly to fore the Bisshop and alle the people· Thenne alle the people wondred and worshipped and thanked Cryste and oure lady· And theofile deyde after thre dayes in the same place / where as oure lady brought to hym his chartre agayne. ¶ After Vigilius the fyrste pelagius was pope enleuen yere. ¶ That yere Totila kynge of gothes wer [...]yd in ytalye· Thenne he passed by campania and by seynt Benettes abbaye and besieged Rome strongly / and toke it atte laste by nyght and entryd atte yate / that highte Porta hosti [...]nsis ¶ And for the Romaynes sholde somdele voyde cruelnes he made trompes to be blowen ¶ Also Totila wolde essaye yf seynt Benette hadde a spyryte of prophecye· and cl [...]th [...]d one of his knyghtes as a kynge and sente hym to seynt B [...]net as though the kynge him self were comen to the holy man / Thenne seynt Benet sayd to hym / Sone doo of that thou berest for it is not thyn. ¶Afterwarde Totila hym self fyl doune to the grounde to fore the hooly man. and wolde not aryse / till the hooly man toke hym vp with his owne honde and sayde / moche harine thou hast done / nowe reste / thou shalt entre in to Rome & passe the see and thou shalt regne nyne yere / and after that daye he was the lasse cruel / And atte laste narses patricius was sente of augustus and ouercome hym in batayll. Tho was Cassiodo­rus in his flowres that was somtyme kynge Theodorus Chaunceler / And after that consul and thenne Senatour and monke atte Rome atte laste· ¶ Amonge his other grete trauaylls he expowned clerely the sawter· Henricus kynge of westsaxons deyde / And his sonne Ceaulinus was Kynge after hym thre and thyrt [...]y yere / He droof the Brytons oute of the Cytees [Page CCxxxvj] of gloucetre and surcetre and bathe in to the hilles montaines & wildernes of wales Willelmus de regibus li [...] 1 / But atte last he was hated of Angles and of brytons and his hoost was bete adoune / And he hym self chaced and exyled and deyde exyled /

¶Also in the fyrste yere Elle yffus sonne the twellif [...]h after woden bygan to regne and regned neygh thyrtty yere in the prouynce of deyra ¶ In his tyme seynt gregory sawe englysshe children to selle at Rome. And acorded and sayd alleluya must be songe there fro whens these children come ¶R But the gra­ce of bylene cam not to kynge elle but to his sone kynge Edwy­nus ¶ In the mene tyme Idas eldest sonne Adda regned seuen yere in brenicia And claspa fyue yere Theodwolfus one yere And Freodulp [...]us seuen yere / yet elle was alyue / And his sonne Edwinus a childe of thre yere old was chaced And eth [...]lricus Idas sonne regned fyue yere in bothe prouyn­ces of deyra and of brenicia ¶ Paulus libro p [...]imo in fine Aboute that tyme while kynge Audoenus regned vpon the lon­gobardes that dwellyd in pannonia was a stronge batayle by­twene the gespydes and the longobardes ¶ In that bataylle Albumus Andoenus sonne slough the kynges sonne of the ge­spydes And so the gespydes were sparpled and departed Therfore the longobardes prayde her kynge Andoenus to make a solempne grete feste to his sonne Albuinus- ¶ The kynge answerde and sayde that it was not the maner amonge hem that the kynges sonne shold sytte atte feste euen with his fader the kynge but yf he hadde to fore honde take Armure of a kynge of a straunge nacion. ¶ Albuynus herde this and toke with hym fourty yonglynges chosen and wente boldly to the kynge of gespydes / whos sonne he hadde slayne in bataylle and axed Armure of him. there he was goodly resseyued and sette to mete by the kyng in the kynges sones place that he hadde slayne The kynge behelde the man and the place and syghed ful soore and sayde The place is lef to me. but the person [...] that sytteth therinne is greuous for to see / ¶ Thenne the kynges other sonne that was yet alyue byganne to terre and to angre the Longobardes with dispytouse wordes and sayde. that they were lyke [...]o mares with whyte legges vp to the thyes / for that tyme the longobardes v [...]ed s [...]raples with brode laces doune to the sparlyme / ¶ Then ne one of the Longobardis sayde to hym that soo scorned hem· goo in to the felde where thy broder was [Page] slayne / ¶And there thou myghte assaye howe strongly thyse mares conne kyke ¶Thenne the gespydes arayd hem to wepen And the longobardes sette hond on the hiltes of her owen swer­des but the kyng lepe ouer the lorde and sessyd the stryf and sayde. It is not an honnest vyctorye to slee a grest in his hostelrye / And he yaue his sones armure that was slayn to hym that had slayn hym and sente him with pees to his fader agayn Wil / dere. li / primo / Ethelbertus was ermericus sone / The whiche Ermericus was ueueuewe of engistussonne ¶ This ethelbertus regned ouer kentysshmen fyue and fyfty yere / so sayth beda / But another cronyke sayth thre and fyfty yere. In his yongthe he was scorn and bysmer to kynges that dwellyd nygh hym. for he was ouercome in double bataille and saued vnneth his oune boūdes / But whan he was older he brought alle the kynges that were nygh hym vnder his yok out take the kynges of northum­berlond. thenne he wedded a Frenssh woman that hete berta / and by ensample of one letardus a Bisshop that come with berta· He was moche exyted for to leue and forsake his wylde maners / Atte laste he herde seynt Austyn preche the loore of holy faders & forsoke his cursyd lawes and made good lawes in the langage of the lond. in the whiche lawes he promysed mede to good men and peynes to euyl men and wycked / ¶And deyde the yere after that he had receyued the feyth of boly chirche one and twenty / Martinus After pelagius the thirde Iohan was pope thyrten yere· that tyme prescianus the gramaryen of cesarea was in his floures at constantinople / he made noble bookes not only of gramer but also he descryued al the worlde in a book that he called Cosmagraphia / Of him it is sayde as Hugucio capitulo / edo edes ¶Telleth that he become apostata and forsooke the feyth for loue of his disciple Iulianus / ¶ Also that tyme one Arator a subdedene of Rome and a wonder poete made the book Actus Apostolorum alle in versis of six fete. ¶ And seynt Brendan Abbot of Irlonde was in his floures that tyme. Of hym ben many wondres radde. and specially of his purga­torye that is in the west side of I [...]lond ¶Also that tyme seynte Steuens boones were brought to Rome and leyde by seynt laurence in the same place / Therof speken Cronyckes of Rome and legendes of hooly sayntes and telle that whanne seynt Steuens boones were brought thyder / seynt laurence boones tourned on his syde. and hadde leyn vp right alwaye to fore hond· but thēne [Page] he torned him so for to yeue place and stede to his felawe seynt stephen

¶ Capitulum septimum

AFter iustinianus the second iustinus regned enleuen yere That man despysed poure men and spoylled the senatours and yaue hym to couetyse soo that he made cofres of yron for to put in his tresour / ¶ And fyl atte last in to pelagius heresye & loste reson and good mynde· but he ordeyned one tiberius a mylde man to gouerne thempyre Beda libro tercio capitulo tercio In this prynces fyrste yere one columba preeste and abbot come oute of yrlond for to preche to the north pictes that were departed from the southe by hye hilles and downes / for the southe pyctes were conuerted to fore honde by ninianus the bisshop of the naci­on of Brytons and he was sente thyder therfore But he was firste taught right wel at Rome· his see was at candida casa. that is the whyte hows there he lyeth and resteth / And thenne that see perteyned to men of brenicia / Marianus libro secundo / Badiꝰ a myghty kyng regned amonge them tho / Beda vbi supra / Then Columba come to the north pictes and receyued of hem the ylond hij that was as it were of fyue meynes to bylde there an abbay that was heede of alle thabbayes that be bylded / So that ylond vseth alwaye to haue hym that is abbot and preeste to rule and to gouerne hem· Soo that alle the ppouynce and the Bisshopes also ben subgette to that Abbote and preeste in a manere ordre that is not vsed elleswhere· And that by ensample of her fyrste Doctor Columba that was not Bisshop but preeste and monke After his comynge two and thyrtty yere he deyde and was buryed there and lefte after hym noble disciples / But they were in doute of the eester terme and folowed the cycles an honderd yere & fyfty vnto the yere of grace seuen honderd and fyften

Thenne cam to them one egbertus a preest af Englysshe nacion that hadde ben longe exyled in yrlonde· ¶ It was noo wonder for the decretes of synodes of the holdynge of the Eester tyde come not yet to hem· for they were sette f [...]r as it were oute and ouer the Roundenes of the world Paulus libro secundo Narses patricius was sente. of Iustinus in to Italye & slough [Page] Totila kyng of gothes and restored the state of thempire but the Romayns hadde so grete enuye to hym / soo that they sente to iustinus and sayde it was better to the Romayns for to serue the grekes than the gothes / Here narses patricius was emperour. Ther­for thempecaur was meued and put his prefect longinus in narses patricius stede / & the empresse sophia augusta sente to narses a dispytous scorn that he sholde retorne in to constantinople & that he sholde with his wenchis & with wymens wytte fynde coste & wollen thredes / Me sayth that he answerd therto and sayd that he wold warpe suche a webbe to the empresse that she neuer sholde haue it to her lyues ende / thenne he wente in to naples in Cam­pania / and sente the longobardes worde that they sholde leue the poure feldes of pannonia and come in to the Ryche londes of yta­ly and soo they dyde The longobardes cam in to ytaly the mo­rowe after eester day / the yere of our lord fyue honderd lxviij Thenne was the kyngdome of ytaly vnyoked and delyuerd of the yock of constantinople· And the Romaynes were afterward rewled by patrycies / R. There Albuinus kyng of Longobardes assayled ytaly / Fyry hoostes were seen in heuen that cast onte mannes bloode as it were lyghtnynge / therfore gregory speketh in an Omelye / Also in Ligurgia were wonder tokenes y seen in houses in dores and in clothes / and if ony man wold wesshe hem away· they were the more seen / And after a yer in mennes cha­nels at nether ende sprange out as it were akehornes / and after that cam a brennynge feuer and slough men in the space of thre dayes· therfore men fledde and lefte not at home but hoūdes· Noo tylyer of the londe were lefte in the feldes ne in vyneyerdes the places of pasture were turned to buryels and sepulcres / Daye and nyght men herde in thayer / now trompes now grutchyng as it were of an hoost that passed / but stappes nether forowes were none seen. Paulꝰ. li / 5 / The longobardes haue that name of their longe berdes· they vse to shaue of theyr heer of her heede fro the molde to the nolle / but to fore they had lockes hangynge doun to the mouthe· they vsed large clothes & long & specially lynen clo­thes as englysshe saxons were wonte to vse with brode laces wouen with dyuerse colours / they vsed hye shoon vp to the kne y slit to fore and lacede with thwonges· her hosen tylled to the hamme and y teyd with layners al aboute ¶ The fyrste yere of her comynge her kynge Albuinus besyeged the Cyte papye thre yere and toke it atte laste and occupyed al Italye / reseruyd [Page] Rome Paulus libro secundo. whan the kyng albuinus roode in atte est yate of the cyte of papye / the hors that he sate on fylle doune vnder hym in the myddel of the yate· and myghte not be reysed though he were prycked with spores vnto the tyme that the kynge had reuoked and releced an harde· auowe that he had made. he hadde made his auow that al the people that wold not yelde hem shold be slayne with swerdes / Thenne Albuinus reg­ned in ytaly thre yere and six monethes and deyde atte laste by treson of his wyf in this maner ¶This Albuinus dwellyd in pannonia somtyme and ouercome the gespydes· and also theyr kyng and made him a cuppe of the kynges skulle for to drynke of / that maner cuppe is called Scala amonge hem and pathera a latyn Also he wedded Rosamunda the same kynges doughter. that he had sleyn And atte cyte verona in ytaly at a grete feste he made his wyf Rosamunda to drynke of that cuppe whether she wold or noo· and prayd her to drynke with her fader· And she hadde grete indignacion therof and awayted her tyme whan the kyng was oute and layd her self pryuely in the bed of a damoysel That a Duke of the Kynges loued specially / the Duc came to that bedde / and supposed that she hadde ben the Damysel ▪ and laye by her ¶ Thenne she spak to the duc and sayde wost thou not what thou hast done / Sekerly thou hast doo suche a dede nowe that thou shalt slee my husbonde Albuinus the kynge. or thou shalt be slayne with his swerde and soo he slowe the king For Rosamunda in an vnder tyde bonde so fast the kynges swer­de / that tho slepte· that it myght not be drawen oute of the scaberde by cause the kynge shold not mowe helpe hym self / whan that other cam to slee hym Thenne whan the king was slayne the sleer fledde and went with the quene to Rauenna. & after that they had dwellyd there a whyle / Rosamunda sawe a right fayre yonge man that was prefecte of the cyte· & loued hym out of wit & by cause therof she yaue her husbond venym for to drynke / and anone the duke felte the strengthe of the venym / & drough oute his swerd & made his wyf drynke that other dele / & soo they deyde both· but somme men telle that whan Rosamunda was slayne One parideus that wyst of the first treson come oute of Rauēna in to constantinople and slough on leon in presence of themperour in comyn spectacle· where men stode for to byholde pleyes and ne we thynges· But for he sholde not caste ayenste the / Cyte / The Emperoure made to putte oute bothe his eyen. [Page] but sone after he toke two knyues pryuely in his sleues / and feyned that a secrete coūceyll for to telle to themperour / And the emperour sente hym two pat [...]ricies that were preuy with hym / & the forsayde perydeus slough hem bothe at one stroke / In that se­cond yere of Iustinus ethelbertus kynge of kente yaue a bata­ylle to ceaulinus kynge of westsaxon and his broder cutha / but they chaced hym and slowe two of his dukes of wyl [...]aldoun· And that was the fyrst batayll that was bytwene the Saxons ¶ That yere cutwulf kynge ceaulinus broder fought strongly ayenst the Brytons at Bedford and toke fro them four cytees lygauburgh / Eglesburgh Besington and euesham and deide the same yere That tyme deyde seynt german bysshop of paris a noble man and ful of myracles ¶ Whan he bygan to waxe s [...]ke he sawe on the wal ayenste his bedde thus wreton / Foure dayes to fore maye· & therby he knewe that he shold dye on such a day & so dyde / & was buryed in the medowes bysyde paris Chilperitꝰ the seuenth kynge of Fraunce deyde al so that same tyme Af­ter hym his sone Lotharius regned four and fyfty yere· ¶ The Poete fortunatus of ytalye a cleer man of wytte and sharp of connyng softe and swete of speche wrote seynt martyns lyf in iiij bookes in metre and versis of six fete / and was afterward Bisshop of turon / ¶ In this Iustinus seuenth yere was fulfylled the grete cycle of the eester tyme / that conteyneth fyue honderde yere and two and thyrtty from crystes passion. so sayth marianꝰ 560 But fro the beginnyng of the worlde fyue thousand lxv yere as somme men suppose

¶ Capitulum Octauum

TIberius constantinus was Emperour seuen yere / This was myldest of alle men and yaue the tresour of the pala­ys to pour men / therfor his wyf blamed hym ofte. And men sa­ye that he answerd her in this maner / I truste in oure lord that money shal not faile vs at our nede if we put our tresour in heuē Thenne he passed in a day besydes themperours palays at constā ­tinople / and sawe a crosse grauen in the pauiment of marbelstone And him semed that he was not worthy to trede vpon it with his fete and specially vpon that that shold be prynted in the forhedes of mankynde And toke vp that stone / And sawe another graue [Page CCxxxix] in the same wyse· & thenne he sawe the thyrdde in the same wise grau [...] & toke it vp & foūde ther vnder tresour withoute ende / Pope Iohan deyde / On his tombe it is wreton in metre in this man Bynam worshipe thoughte and word Iohan besyly thoughte / with wylle to plese god. that alle thynge hath wroughte After hym the fyrst benet was pope four yere / he brought many thousandes of mesures of whete in shippes oute of Egypte / and delyuerd the cyte of Rome fro the meschyef of honger while king Albuynus besieged that cyte. Therfor they wrote in his tombe in metre in this maner / Fader benet thou benet thou liuest greten mynde / Title of vertues fayrenes and gretene sorowe Maria­nus. ¶ That yere Ceaulinus kynge of westsaxons ouercome the Brytons and toke of hem the famous cyte gloucetre su [...]cetre· & bathan cestre. Also that yere seynt maurus deyde the yere of his age lxxij / he bare his maystres seynt benettes stole on his necke as long as his lyf lasted After benet pelagius was pope ten yere

¶ Capitulum nonum

MAuricius was emperour one and twenty yere a good crysten man of byleue He ouercam the perses and the Arme­nyes· but atte last he discorded fro seynt gregory. soo that he spak moche euyl of hym and founded to do hym to deth / And thenne was seen a man in Rome clothed in monkes wede with a swerde y drawe in his honde that cryede in to al the cyte in this manere Mauricius shal be slayne The emperour herde this and amended hym of his euyl dedes and prayde god that he wold withdrawe that dome Our lord shewed him self to mauricius in his sleepe and sayde / wylt thou that I spare the here. eyther after this lyf Lord sayde he thou louest wretches that ben here in meschyef / yel­de me here as thy wyll is ¶Thenne whan mauricius was in the eest londes and founded for to forbede his knyghtes thefte and robberye and yaue hem not wages as he was wont to doo / ther­fore the knyghtes were moeuyd and made one foca Emperour ayenst hym and Foca slaugh mauricius and his thre sones whi­les he fledde in an ylond ¶Marianus libro secundo ¶ That yere ceaulinus and his sonne cutha foughte ayenste the Brytous at Fechaulege but cutha was slayne there and ceaulinus had the [Page] byctorye Beda libro primo ¶ Elle kynge of deyra deyde the one and thyrtty yere of his regne / And Idas sone ethelbertus regned fyne yere both in deyra and brenicia ¶ That yere were born in fraunce thre bretheren / Ado / Bado and dado / Dado heete Audoenus also / Afterward he forsoke chyualrye· & was made bisshop of Roan Paulus libro quarto Aboute this tyme gū tranus kynge of fraunce wente an huntyng in to a wode / and his men were disperpled hyther and thyder on euery syde / And the kynge wexe wonderly slepy and leyde hym self to slepe / and slepte in ones lappe that was moost preuy with hym / Thenne crepte oute of the kynges mouth a lytel beest and wold haue passed a lytel lake that ther was fast by· the secretarye in who [...] lap the king slept sawe that & drow out his swerd & leyde it ouer the lake & that lytel beest passed therupon in to that other side & wēt in to a caue of an hille and abode there a whyle and came agayn the same way vpon the swerd in to the kynges mouthe After a while the kynge awoke and told his secretarye that he hadde y mette a wonder sweuen· and tolde that he mette that he passed an yron brydge· and fonde grete tresour in an hille

Thenne his secretarye tolde hym what he hadde seen and done thenne they tweine wente to gyder and digged greete tresour in that caue of that hille / ¶ Of somme of that tresour the kynge made a grete couerynge as it were a shryne and caste for to sende it to Ierusalem· but he was lette of that purpose. & dyde hit ouer the body of seynt marcel the marter in the cite cabyllona ¶Beda libro primo The holy fader Columbanus with seynt gallus and other noble disciples come oute of Irlond in to burgoyn and bylded there the abbay luxonium by leue of theodericus the kynge / but he was dryuen thennes by brunmylda the quene and come in to Almayn / and builded many abbayes that yet ben famous there and resseyne but yrysshe men to monkes. there columbanus lefte gallus and came in to ytalye and buylde the Abbay bonum / That yere fyll so grete rayne that tyber wesshe the Walles ol Rome / and cast vp a grete multitude of serpentes and one grete dragon· and the stenche of hem slewe many men in the cyte Also ther come a pestilence of euyl in the chanels of men atte neder ende / that pestylence slowe pelagius the pope. that pesty­lence was so wood that it slowe men in the weye / at mete at playeng and in talkynge and ofte slowe men with gal [...]ynge and snesynge / therof it cometh that men vse to saye whan they fnese. [Page CCxxxx] god helpe the and whan he gapeth to make a crosse to fore his mouthe / For this pestylence seynt gregory tharchedeken of Rome ordeyned seuen maner letanyes to be sayd on seynt marcus daye For he set in the fyrst the clergy· in the second abbotes & mōkes in the third abbesses with theyr menchons / in the fourth childrē in the fyfthe lewdmen· In the sixthe wydowes and the seuenth wyues Beda libro primo capitulo visesimo tercio ¶ Gregory was pope thyrten yere six monethes and ten dayes / he made ma­ny noble beokes / therof quadraginta due omelie / omelie suꝑ euā gelia dominicalia moralia suꝑ Iob / Omelye super principiū et finem ezechielis Registrum pastorale dyalogorum and buylded an abbaye in his owne hows Also in al the chirches of Rome he ordeyned fastyng euery day in the lente for foryefnes of synnes ¶Also he mae alle the heedes and lynmes of maumettes y cut of. & in the canon of the masse he putto / Dies que nostros in tua pace disponas and so forth ¶Also he was the fyrst of alle popes that called hym self and wrote in bulles· Seruus seruorum dei / that is seruaunt of the seruauntes of god▪ Also he ordeyned in the Synode and counceyll at Rome. that the mynystres of the auter sbolde take heede to prechyng & not to syngyng. & sayde that while me axith a swete wys in holy seruyse / Couenable lyf is sette a part and the syngar with his maners pricketh the peple / though he plese hem with his voys / And though seynt gregorye were moost holy yet he had bachiters and enemyes that wold haue brente his bookes after his deth / but his deken pers had sworn vpon the booke and by perylle of his sowle and wytnes of his owen deth that his bookes were endyted by inspiracion of the holy goste ¶ That yere Ceaulinus kynge of westlaxon and oryda were slayn. after hym calfritus the sone of his broder cuthulphꝰ regned strongly fyu [...] yere / after hym his broder colwulfus regned xiiij yere. Beda li / [...] / ca. 5. Ethelfridꝰ was ethelricus sone & Ethelricus was ydas sonne ¶This ethelfridus bygan to regne ouer the northumbres and regned nobly four and twenty yere This was right stronge and desyred grete worshipe and destro­yed the Brytons more than alle the Angles princes and made hem tributaryes. he had by his wyf Acta kyng elles doughter seuen sonnes and one doughter that hete ebba ¶ Tweyne of his sonnes highte Oswaldns and oswyns Beda libro tercio capi­tulo tercio Columba deyde this tyme that was abbot and buyred in his abbaye in the ylonde hij ¶ Beda libro quinto / ca. 9 [Page] He hadde a name made of acella and columba and was callyd Colunkillus ¶Beda libro primo capitulo visesimo tercio ¶Also that yere the grete gregory sente Austyn the Monke to preche the word of god to englysshmen / And Austyn was aferd and drad in the wey and torned agayne to seynt gregory / And gregory comforted hym and sente hym with lettres to the bisshop are latensis that he shold helpe austyn in what that hym neded· The tenoure of thylke lettres and of other lettres that were sente to the kynge of kente and also answers that seynt gregore gafe to Austyns questions ben wreton in Registro gregorij and in beda Paulus libro quinto Also that yere the longobardes by nyght assayled seint benettes abbay in the mount cassinus / but the monkes fledde to Rome & toke with hem the book of the holy rule & a weyght of brede for the iourneye and a mesure of wyn that here euinia· Of this meschyef benette warued hem byfore honde & prayde god and had it graunted vnnethe that men of that place sholde be sauf / In the Riuer nylus atte ylonde delta. the hoost of Rome sawe mermyns in lykenes of men and wymen that were so seen from the morow vnto the euentyde ¶ That yere Austyn cam a londe in the eest side of kente in the ylond [...] thanet ¶Sōme men calle that ylond den [...]e / ther he cam a lond with fourty felaws and somme men interpretours to be with hem oute of the londe of fraunce by counseyll of gregory· ¶ Seynt Austyn sente these interpretours to kyn ge ethelbertus the yere of his kyngdom six and thyrtty and sayde they were come oute of Rome for hele & sauacion of the kynge and of his Royamme The kynge herd this / and had herd to fore honde of the same of crysten feyth· For he hadde to his wyf a crysten quene that was a Frenssh woman And hadde resseyued her of her fader and moder vpon that condicion that she shold vse and kepe crysten feyth / ¶ Thenne after somwhat of dayes the kynge come in to that ylond-but he spake with hem withoute the hows vnder the welken / In that doynge he vsed the mysbyleue of mysbyleuyd men and in his comyng they areysed vp the baner of the crosse with a crucifixe y peyn­ted on a table and songe the letanye and prechyd the wrod of lyf Thenne the kynge spak to hem and sayde It is fayre that ye promyse / but for as moche as it is newe I may not yet assen­te And by cause ye ben come fro ferre for my sake we shal spare yow and fynde suche thynges as shal be nedeful to your lyflode

And we shal graunte you l [...]ne also to tourne of oure men to [Page CClx] your feith as many as ye may / Whan they herde this· they went with procession to the cyte and songe alleluya and sayde Lord we praye the in al thy mercy that thy wrath be take fro this cyte And soo they wente in to the Cyte Dorobernia that is Caun­terbury / ¶And ladde theyr lyf as holy faders dyde in the begynnynge of hooly chirche. in fastyng / in wakynge in bedes byddyng ande in prechynge of goddes worde and songe masses and crystned in the eest syde of the cyte in tholde chirch of seynt martyn vnto the tyme that the kynge was conuerted & a grete dele of his peple The kynge was conuerted and yaue his doctour a place for the bisshops see atte crystes chirche with many possessions and buylded thabbay of seynt peter and paule in the eeste side of the cyte. Austyn and his successours and also the kynges of kente were wont to be buryed there Beda li / 26 ca / 2 / ¶In the mene tyme Austyn wente to tharchebisshop Arelatensis and was sacred Archebisshop of hym / Seynt grego [...]e was certefyed therof and sente to Austyn moo helpers / Melli­tus. Iustus and paulinus and bookes and relyquyes of hooly sayntes & answers to saynt Austyns questions / Suche were thā swers as the chirche of Rome vseth of al goodes that fall̄e that tho goodes sholde be deled on four partyes / One to the bisshoppe. and his meyne to fynde hem herbegerye and suche as they nede / The seconde to the clergye / the thyrdde to pour men· the fourthe to the amendement of chirches ¶To hem that lyuen in comyn / alle thynge is comyn. And what ther leueth shal be spended in dedes of mercy [...] To the second that is axyd while the feyth is al one / why ben ther so many diuerse vsages in chirches / herto it is answerde in this maner / what thou knowest· is mooste plesynge to god almyghty gadre thou to gyders and make that to be vsed in chirches of Englonde· Thynges ben not loued for the place / but the places ben louyd for good thynges ¶Colwulfus the sonne of cutha ceaulinus broder reigned in westsaxon fourtene yere ¶That tyme in the subarbis of constantinople come forth gree [...] meruaylles and wondres / for one child was bore with foure feet and another with two nolles and moldes That yere seynt Iue the bisshoy that was born in perce deyde in Englond ¶ Beda libro primo That yere Austin by commaundement of gregorie made two archebisshops one at London and another at york / In the mene tyme by helpe of ethelbertus gadred hisshops and doctours of brytons to gyder in a place called Anstyns oc. that [Page CCxlj] is Austyns strengthe / that place is in the marche of the wiccies and of the west saxons / ¶And there he charged hem that they sholde preche goddes worde to the Angles with hym. And also that they shold amende somme other errours amonge hem self & specially of thusage of the eester tyme / And they withsayd openly til it were shewed by an open token whiche partye shold be holden / thenne was a blynde man brought forth of the nacion of Angles that was heled and hadde his syght by the prayer of austyn· for brytons fayled in that dede / Whan the brytons sawe that the blynd man hadde his syght they knowleched that seynt Austyns waye was trewe / ¶But they sayde they myght not forsake theyr old vsages without assente of hem that vsed the same Thenne be gadred a synode / therto cam seuen bisshops of britons with the wysest men of that famous abbaye of bangor But fyrste they had a counseyll of an heremyte that they shold assente to austyn yf they fonde hem meke and mylde as Crystes disciple sholde be / And that they myght knowe yf Austyn wold aryse ayenst hem whan they come in to the synode· Austyn satte stylle in the bisshops chayer and roose not. therfore they forsoke hym in grete wrath ¶Thenne seynt Austyn seyde assente me specially in thre thynges / yf ye wole not assente to me in the other Assente to me and holde the eester daye in dewe tyme and yeue ye crystendome in the maner of the chirche of Rome and preche ye goddes worde to the Angles / and that other dele I suffre you to amende anonge your self / but they wold not therof Thenne seynt Austyn by inspiracion warned hem and sayde / that they that wolde not resseyue pees of her bretheren shold ress [...]yue of hem warre and wreche and afterward atte goddes owne dome. Hit was fulfylled by Ethelfridus kynge of northumberlond whan the people and the monkes of Bangor were slayne at chestre

¶ Capitulum decimum

AFter that mauricius was slayne Focas regned eyght yere· Ethelfridus kynge of northumberlond foughte ayenste Edan kyng of Scottes at dexsastan and hadde a solempne victo­rie / but theobaldus the kynges broder was slain and the hooste of alle that be ladde Beda libro secundo. Also that yere the [Page CClxij] holy fader seynt austyn in a mydwynter daye whan he hadde cristned ten thousand Englysshmen in the weste Ryuer that is cal­led swale besydes yorke / he knewe that he shold deye and ordey­ned hym a successour one laurence / while he was alyue hym self for the state of holy chirche in Englond· that was yet rude and boystous / And that he dyde by ensample of seynt peter that made clement his helper and his successour / Also he ordeyned mellitus bisshop of estsaxons / The Ryuer thamyse departeth bytwene hem and kente / her chyef Cyte was london in the whiche Ethelbertus kynge of kente buylded seynt paulus chirche / for to be cathedrall chirche and the bisshops see R ¶ Another cronyke seyth that sebertus kynge of eest angles made paulus chirche in lond [...]n / and he made Iustus bisshop in kente atte cyte dornbres that nowe is called Rochestre. And had fyrst the name of one rufe / and is by­west dorobernia that is caunterbury thre and twenty myle / In the which cyte of Rochestre kynge ethelbertus lete bylde a chirch of seynt Andrew Also the grete gregory deyde that yere After hym gaminianus was pope two yere / he ordeyned that the houres of the day shold be rongen to at chi [...]ches· And he sp [...]k euil of gregory· for he had made to grete cost on poure men Therfore seynt gregory app [...]ered to hym thryes and blamed hym· And [...]tte fourth tyme by cause he wolde not amende he smote hym on the hede / and thenne he a woke and yelded vp the goost ¶Also that yere in wales seynt dauyd deyde that hete dewy also· he was bis­shop of mene [...]ia that now is called seynt dauyes ¶Aboute that yere deyde seynt Iohan the Amener patriarke of Alexandria / ones to hym in his praiers appiered the fairest maide that might be crowned with olyue and called her self mercy and promised hym that he shold spede wele / yf he wolde take her to his spouse. And fro that day forward Iohan was the more merciable. So that alle poure men he called his lordes ¶Therfor it is that seynt Iohans hospitalers calle poure men lordes / ¶ Also this Iohan hadde al the poure mennes na [...]es of his cyte wryten in a booke Also he vsed twyes a weke to sytte alle day to fore the chirche do­re for to a [...]orde men that were in stryf· In a tyme he hadde seten there al day / and sawe no man pleyne thenne he groned and saide / who is me wretche for this da [...] / was I not worthy to do noo good dede. yes sayde the dekene / this day thou sholdest be gladde & and make grete ioye. for nowe men ben made right as Angels without strif ¶Also on a tyme while the gospell was a reding [Page] the peple wente oute of the chirche for to talke and telle tales / & he wente oute also and sate among hem and sayde where the shepe be / there the herde shal be / thenne goo ye in to the chirche and I shal goo with you / or yf ye abyde here I shal abyde with you

And after that he taughte hem for to stonde at Chirche in the masse tyme [...] ¶ And Iohan in his prayers was ofte herde as it were spekynge with god almyghty and saynge so so / Lord Ihesu· thou yeuest largely and I dele forth / loke who shal haue the maystrye After Saminianus the thyrdde Bo­nefacius was pope eyght monethes and eyght and twenty da­yes / he ordeyned that no clothes sholde be leyd vppn the auter but white clothes / after the thyrdde boneface. the fourth boneface was pope seuen yere· he purchaced of themperour Augustus focas. that seynt peters chirche at Rome shold be heede of al the chirches in the worlde· For the chirche of Constantinople called her self the fyrste ¶Also he purchaced that pantheon myght be halowed in worshipe of alle halowen Pantheon was the chirche that was somtyme halowed in worship of the goddesse Cybele and neptu­nus there fendes slewe oft crysten men Therfore euery yere two dayes to fore nouembre the pope syngeth there and the peple houseled / Also he treted that lynynge the bisshop noman sholde treate of the newe election of his successour but thre dayes after the Bisshops deth· Also he demed that monkes myght vse the office of prechynge of crystenynge and of assoyllynge / ¶Aboute that tyme tunica domini inconsutulis that was oure lordes kyrtell· or cote withoute ony seme was founden in the vale of Iosephat in a cofre of marble by gregory bisshop of Antiochia and broughte to Ierusalem R ¶ Yf this be sothe it semeth that it may not stonde that is radde to fore honde in T [...]erius Cesars tyme / For there it is radde that Pilatus stode to be demed to fore Tiberius cesar and myght not be dampned / while he hadde on that kyrtel withoute semes. Tunica xpristi inconsutilis· yf pilatus had this kyrtell with hym at Rome It semeth that it was not afterwarde y take thennes and brought to the vale of Iosephat Also yf that tyme that kyrtel was founden in the vale of Iosephat. So it semeth not that pilatus had not that kyrtel with hym at Ro­me Treuisa ¶It was noo more maystrye to brynge that kyr­tel fro Rome in to the vale of Iosephat than it was to brynge it fro Ierusalem to Rome And so it may wel stonde that pilatus hadde that kyrtel at Rome· And the same kyrtell was founden [Page CCxliij] afterward in the vale of Iosephat Beda libro secundo Also that yere ethelfridus kyng of northumberlond destroyed th [...] Brytons at legecestre the Cyte of legyons that Brytons callen coerlegyons that is chestre / he slough ther about a two thousand two honderd monkes of thabbaye of bangor that were comen to praye for his knyghtes and he slough hem fast by the cyte only [...] / with her leder bruciuayl that escaped oute of the hoost & fledd ¶The nombre of the monkes that dwellyd in that abbay were two thousand and an honderd that is seuen sythes thre honderd / And alle they lyueden by trauaylle of theyr owne hondes. The perses aroos ayenst thempyre and toke Ierusalem and had a way the baner of the crosse And byname the romayns many prouynces / thenne baraclyan Rector of affryca slough Foca themperour and made his owne sone heraclius emperour

¶ Capitulum 11

HEraclius was emperour / xxvij yere / in his iij / yere cosdras kyng of perce sette Ierl̄m afyre & other holy places. & toke zacharye the patriark p [...]isoner with moche other peple / & the part of the crosse that helene had lefte there he had with him in to perse / but in his xij yere heraclius slough cosdras & so the prisoners were delyuerd & the cross [...] was brought agayne to Ierl̄m with pride and with boost / the yate closed ayenst him by doyng of god almighty but the king meked him and yede barfote & thenne the yate opened agayn / And syth that tyme holy chirche hath ordeined the feest of the exaltacion of the holy crosse· Wil / de re / li / i / Col­wulfus kynge of westsaxon deyde / And after hym two sones of his broder colricus regned to gyder / one hete kyng [...]l [...]us and that other quichelinus that dyden many grete dedes ayenst the britons and specially at hampton byside ox [...]nford and also ayenste penda kyng of mercia that wolde haue taken fro them of her kyngdome the cyte of surcetre Atte last kyngilsus was crystned of seint birinus but quichelinus voyded and wolde not resseyue the sacrament of crystendom til he was warned by feblenesse of his bo­dy. And thenne he crystned and deyde the same yere And so Kyngilsus regned in al with his brother and after his brother two and thyrtty yere ¶ Her is to be noted that Auctours varye / For Willelmus sayth that Quichelinus was kyngylsus [Page] brother / But marianus and beda sayen that he was kyngylsus sonne After bonefacius one deus dedit that hete theodorus also was pope four yere ¶That tyme atte exytynge of kynge ethelbertus a Cytezeyn of london buylded a chirche of seynt peter in the westside of london in a place that tho hete thorney / that is to saye the ylond of thornes & now is called westmonestre / Beda li / 2 capitulo quinto / That yere ethelbertus kynge of kente deyde and wente to heuene after that he had regned in this worl̄d .Lvj yere the yere after he had receyued the feyth ·xxj. After hym his sone edbal̄dus regned xxv yere· he was apostata and laye by his stepdame / and therfor he was ofte wode. That tyme whan Sebertus kynge of westsaxons was dede his thre sones and his eyres tourned to ydol̄atrye and prayd mellitus bisshop of the place to yeue him whyte breede as he had somtyme y yeue to theyr fader· but he wolde not but yf they wol̄d receyue crystendome / therfor they put hym oute of his bisshopryche. And he wente to the Bisshops of Kent· thenne mellitus and Iustus by one assente wēt oute of englonde in to ffraunce. For hem were leuer serue god in pees than be bisshops amonge straunce nacions withoute fruyt But sone afterward the mysbyleuyd kynges were sl̄ayn of the kyng of the gywesses / ¶Beda libro capitulo nono Also after the other bisshops· Laurence tharchibisshop purposed for to forsake the countrey-And in a nyght after his prayers peter appiered to hym and bl̄amed him for he wolde forsake his peple and not onl̄y bl̄amed hym but bete hym also ful soore / And on the morow the bisshop shewed hys woundes to kynge Edbaldus / thenne this kyng forsoke his ydol̄atrye. his mysbyleue and his vnl̄awfull wif and torned again to his right fe [...]th and sente for the Bisshops that were fledde and brought hem a­gayn to theyr bisshopryches. but the londoners wolde not resseiue ageyne theyr bisshop mellitus / for they had leuer to serue ydola­trye for the kynge was not so stronge as his fader was to chast [...] se them. thenne Laurence deyde & mellitus was archebisshop after hym / & though he was podagre on his body he was gl̄ad of herte and hel̄ed seke men by his prayers and saued his cyte from brē nyng· Paulus li· 5 / Aboute that tyme cacanus kyng of the anes that ben the hunes come in to ytal̄y & bete doun the longobardes & slowe her duk gysulfus & besieged the Cyte Aquilia / Romilda the wyf of the duke that was sl̄ayne sawe hym wal̄ke aboute in the siege and sawe that he was fayr and louely / and loued [Page CCxliiij] him gretely and sente him word anone that yf he wold take her to wyf she wolde delyuere hem the cyte and al that was therinne The kynge graunted and the cyte was taken and brente and the men take prysoners & lad awey and the kyng toke romylda as ho had promysed but it was in scorne and laye by her one nyght / & in another nyghte he made twelue of the hunes to lye by her in despyte eche after other. ¶Afterward he pyght a sharp pole in the myddel of the felde· and pight her thurgh oute her body with the ouer ende of the pole and lete her be there & sayde· soo cruel an harlatt suche an husbond semeth to haue· the doughters of Romilda were chast and drewe not to hoerdome after her moder. for the maydens toke rawe fflesshe of chykens or coltes and leyde it by­twene theyr brestes for the flessh shold stinke whan the hunes come and they sholde wene that the maydens stonke and for that cause the hunes lefte and come not nyghe hem / But afterward the maydens were sold and wedded to gentilmen· Beda / li / 2 / ca / 9 While edwinus fledde the persecucion of ethelfridus & hyd hym / redwaldus kyng of eestangles was assenting to edwinus deth & that for manace or for yeftes of ethelfredus / One of edwinus frendes was war therof and warned edwinus of that peryll and promysed him that he wold brynge hym in to a syker place yf he wolde go with hym· he withseyde it as though he wold not be the fyrst that sholde breke the trewes and acorde that was made by­twene him and the kyng / thenne he sate al one in a grete thought and one come to hym that he knewe not and axyd hym why he sate al one sorowful / and sayde / I wote who thou art and why thou art sory and what is thy drede / thēne yf ony man slowe thin enemyes and brought the to thy kyngdom / Also yf he shewde to the the best counseyll of sauacion and better than ony of thy for­faders euer herde woldest thou not assente and doo by his rede & his counseyl / yes truly sayd he and that I yromyse the. But the other leyd his honde on Edwinus heede and sayde / Whanne this token cometh to the haue in mynde of this tyme / and of this speche / and doo / as thou promysed· Whanne. this was sayd / he vanysshed awaye / ¶ After this his forsayd frende come to hym and warned hym that the kynges wylle was tor­ned to hym that gadred his hooste atte laste· and mette with Ethelfridus in the Countreyes of Mercia by Eeste the water Idle and slough hym ryght there. ¶ And he made Ed­winus Kynge of bothe kyngdomes of Northumberlonde· of [Page] deyra and of brenicia / And edwinus regned after that xvij yere / whan this was don ethelfridus sones oswald of twelue yere old and oswyns of four yere old by sleyght of theyr wardeyns were lad in to scotland. After the pope that hete deus dedit / the ·v / boneface was pope fyue yere ¶Seynt Anastasius monke and marter was born in perce / in his childhode he lerned of his fader wytchecrafte and nygromancye / there he resseyued the feyth of cryst of crysten men that were prysoners and forsoke perce & passed by calcidonia & Iherapolis and come to Ierusalem· & there he was crystned· and four myle oute of the cyte in an abbay that that now is callyd seynt anastasius abbay· he lyued by rule se­uen yere / he cam in to cesarea in palestina for to bydde his bedes & was take prisoner ano lad in to perce and there he was long boū den and beten and sente to cosdra kynge of perce and putte to deth One that was vexed with a fende was deliuerd by vertue of his kyrtel whan he was clothed with alle. heraclius cesar ouercome the perses & brought anastasius body to Rome· & leyde it in seint paules mynystre ad aquas· laurence archebisshop of caunterbury deyde and mellitus bisshop of london was archebisshop fyue yere And thenne after him ced seynt chaddes broder was Bisshop of london· After bonefacius honorius was pope xij yere. that yere he raclius ouercome the perces and. slowe cosdras & brought ageyn the crosse / this was a connynge astronomer / and knewe by the sterres that circumcided men shold destroye his royamme. and sente to the kyng of ffraunce that he shold driue alle the Iewes out of his Royamme or make hem to resseyue baptemme / And soo it was done· Afterward was bigonne grete warre and batayl bytwene the Romaynes and the saracenes. And heraclius brought the holy crosse oute of Ierusalem in to constantinople / A grete dele of that crosse was sent to lowys kynge of ffraunce in the yere of our lord a thousand two honderd and seuen and fourty Dagobertus the nynth kynge of ffraunce regned after his fader lotharius thre and thyrtty yere / whan mellitus the archebisshoppe of Caunterbury was deede· thenne iustus Bisshop of Rochestre was Archebisshop after him / and made one Romanus Bisshop of rochestre after hym in his stede / ffor iustus had sent paulinus that had be the thyrdde bisshop of Rochestre to men of northumber lond for to be bisshop of york and for to wedde edelberga edbaldes suster to kynge edwinus and to conuerte his peple ¶ Henricus libro secundo & W [...]de / re / libro primo

¶ Capitulum duodecimum /

THat yere penda paganus the tenth after woden was the sone of wybba and bygan to regne whan he was fyfty yere olde / and regned in mercia xxx. yere / R / But som cronykes saye that cryda kyn woldes sonne was the tenth after woden and the fyrst that regned in mercia and regned ten yere. and after hym his sone wibba regned twenty yere / and after wybba his kennisman ceorlus regned ten yere / and after him pen [...]a wibbas sonne regned thyrtty yere / he slough the two kynges of n [...]oth [...] ̄berlond edwyn and oswald and thre kynges of eest angles Sigebertus egritus and annas Also the quene his wyf bare hym fyue so­nes / wedda / wulferus / etheldredus merwaldus & merce [...]linus and two doughters seynt kyneburgh and seynt kyneswyd Beda libro 2 / capitulo 9 / That yere in an esterday cam to the Ryal cy [...] besyde the water dorwēt one eumerus a swerd man with a swerd y venymed sente fro quichelinus kynge of westsaxon for to slee kyng edwinus / But one lylla the kynges trusty seruaūt for he had none other sheld· he put his owne body ayenst the stro­ke and was smyten thurgh the body / and the kyng was woūded with the same stroke. / and the swerde man was smeton thurgh with swerdes in euery syde / and slowe another knyght with his cursed swerde / Also the same ester nyght the quene had a dough­ter that hete enfleda / the kyng gaf her to god & made paulinus to halowe her in token of couenaunt that he wold fulfylle his by [...]este and be a crysten man yf he had vyctorye of the kyng of weste saxon / thenne on a whitesonday the mayde was crystned. and th [...] kyng was tho fyrst vnneth hole of his wounde / and gadryd his hoost and ouercome the kynge of westsaxons. But though kynge edwinus forsoke his mawmetrye and wold gladly he­re paulinus yet he auysed hym long tyme with his counseil what was best to do in that maner of doyng / Also he that tyme ressey­ued lettres that pope bonefacius sente hym and comforted hym to the feyth and he resseyued a sherte / som therof was wroughte with gold and another letter of the same tenour was sente to the quene with a mirrour of siluer and a combe of yuorye. somdele ouergylt ¶ Paulinus sawe that the kynge was harde to con­uerte and made his prayers to God and lerned by inspiraci­on / that a tokene somtyme was shewed to the Kynge· whyle [Page] he was exyled with Redwaldu [...] / Thenne on a day paulinus leyde his hond vpon the kynges hede & axyd yf he knewe that token The token was knowen & paulinus sayde / lo thou hast ouercome thyn enemy [...]s and wonne thy kyngdom. thenne doo as thou hast promysed and be trewe to hym that so hath holpen the· thenne the kyn [...]e toke counseyll of lordes & was crystned at yorke and ma­ny other the yere of his regne enleuē [...] thēne caysy fyrst of bisshops so soke his maumetrye & ayenst the vsage of theyr fals holynes armed h [...]m & leepe an a noble hors and destroyed the templ [...]s of maumettes / It was not leeful to the bisshop of mysbyleuyd men to be armed ne to ryde but on a mar [...]. From that tyme forward vnto the sleyn [...] of kynge [...]dwynus paulinus baptised c [...]ntinu­elly s [...]x yere in both prouynces in deyra and in brenicia in the Ryuers gleny and swala· and prech [...]d in the prouynce of lyndeseye and bylded a chirche of stone at lyndecoln that is lyncoln. After­ward in that ch [...]rche whan Iustus tharchebisshop was dede paulinus sacred honorius Archbisshop of dorobernia that is caun­t [...]rbury in his stede with suche auctorite of pope honorius· that yf tharc [...]bisshop of caunterbury or of yorke be dede. he that is alyue h [...]th power to sacre another bisshop in his stede that is dede· Beda libro secundo ca ·16· Thenne ther was so grete pees in edwinus kyngd [...]m that a woman might go from one toun to an [...]ther without ony gr [...]ef or anoyng· Also fo [...] refresshyng of weyg [...]e [...]s there as clere well [...]s were by hye weyes / the same kyng made a­rere postes and to honge theron shelles or cuppes of br [...]s· And noman durste take thylke cuppes but to the same vse / he was the fyrst man that wan the ylond eubon [...]a that is man / R [...]dwaldus so [...]e corpwaldus kynge of est Angles by comfort of edwynus receyu [...]d the fey [...]h of holy chirch both he & his mē / & was slam not long after of one rigbertus a mysbyleuid man / Beda li / 2 / ca / 17 That yere the pope honorius sent the p [...]l to honorius archebisshop of caun [...]rbury with l [...]t [...]res / that enformed him of the manere of the ordeyn [...]nge of Arch [...]bisshops in brytayne /

Also he sente lettres to the Scottes of the holdynge of Esterday / and charged them / that they sholde not trowe that they that were so fewe / in thende of the worlde sholde be more connynge. than C [...]ysten men that ben nowe and were in old tyme

¶ Beda libro secundo capitulo visesimo

That yere Penda Kynge of Mercia And Cedwalla Kynge of Brytons slough kynge Edwynus in the feld of hattefelde / These [Page CCxlvj] two kynges penda and cedwalla were so cruel in that prouynce that they spared neyther man ne woman ne yonge ne olde ney­ther relygion / And yet vnto this tyme the Brytons acounte the feyth and relygion of Angles for nought / In the tyme of that myschyef paulinus Archibisshop of york toke with him the que­ne and her doughter canfleda and went by water way in to kent And the chirch of Rochestre was tho voyde by the deth of Romanus the bisshop. for he was tho adreint. and so paulinus was made bysshop of Rochestre / and was there bisshop xix yere· and de [...]d and lefte there his pal / ¶Willelmus de pont libro primo And soo the chirche of men of northumberlond was withoute bisshoprich after paulinus deth / xxx· yere. & was withoute the vse of pal .vj score yere & / v. Beda li·3· ca· 1 / Whan edwinus was ded osiricus was kynge of deira· osiricus was elfricus sone & elfricus was edwinus came. but ethelfridus caufricus sone was king of brenicia / & anon both these kynges tourned to manmetrie / but cedwalla slowe hem both in one yere one after other by goddes right­ful wreche· therfor it plesed hem that acompted the tyme to with drawe the mynde of mysbylened kynges / so that thilk vngracioꝰ yere shold be acompted vnto the regne of oswald that regned af­terward· & after the sleynge of his broder caufridus with a litel hoost / he slough the forsayd cedwalla that come ayenst him with a wonder huge hooste in a place that hete denisseburn & is called denisus lake also. the place where as oswald kneled & rered a crosse & praide god for the sauacion of his men to fore the batayl / that place hete heuen felde / that place is now in grete worship W / de ro li. [...] ¶ That place is in the northside of that famous wal that the legyon of rome bilded thwert ouer the ylonde not f [...]r fro the chirche bagustald / Beda li / 3 / ca. 1 / Of the spones of this crosse be don many vertues & wondres / To fore that tyme was no chirch that had an auter in brenicia til kyng oswaldus had reysed that crosse at that batail. & so after ther was bilded a chirch. Beda li / 3 / capitulo / 2. King oswald axed of the scottes & had it graūted that Bisshop Aidanus sholde come and teche his people. thenne the kynge yaue hym a place of the Bisshops see in the ylond lyn­defar / there men myght see wonder· for the bisshop prechid in scottisshe and the kynge told forth in englyssh to the people what it was to saye or meene· thenne al daye cam scottissh monkes for to preche to the Angles oute of Aydanus Abbaye that was in the ylond hij / Beda li / 3 / capitulo quarto / Aidanus was the mirrour [Page] of abstinence. and fasted euery daye vnto none He lyued none other wise but taughte Al that was yeuen hym he yaf it gladly to poure men / he yede on his fete and rode on none horse· he pre­chyd walkyng vp and doune / he spared not to t [...]lle the defautes of ryche men for reuerence ne for drede / he yaf no mony but only mete· yf he bad he wold yeue. he raunsoned prisonners oute of prison and made hem his disciples ful ofte / the occasiō of his coming in to englond was this / To fore honde was sente a sterne man in to englond atte prayer of kynge Oswald for to teche his peple & dyde but lytel prouffyt and torned home ayene to his owne / as he that had trauayled in yole / thenne the Scottes treted amonge them for to sende another man in to englond / Men saye that to hym that was soo comen ageyne in to Scotland Aidanus spak in this manere. Brother me semeth that thou were harder / than thou sholdest be / For to men that ben rude and vnconnynge· thou yaf not at the begynnyng the mylke of good loore / as thappostle techeth / that whan they ben esely brought in lytel and lytel thēne ben they able to vnderstande parfyght loore. thēne whan that was herd aidanus was sente as the more discrete man and wyse. By his word and ensample oswald had hope to the kyngd [...]m of heuen and not only that / but also he had a greter erthely kynge­dome. for alle nacions of brytayne that were deled in four lan­gages / Brytons p [...]ctes Scottes. and Angles toke hym to theyr lord and kyng ¶Also it is sayd of him that on an esterday ay­danus sate by hym at mete / and a grete multitude of poure men come to the kynges gate / and axyd for to haue of the kynges almes. And for the kynge had not elles atte honde to yeue hem· he toke the messe that was sette to fore hym and the dysshe of siluer and brake it al to pyeces and sente it to the pour men The bisshop sawe that and toke the kynge by the ryght honde & sayde I pray god that this hond wex neuer old and soo it happed / ffor afterward whan oswald was slayne that arme was cut of from the bodye and dured hoole and sound atte Ryal cyte of bebban­burgh Beda libro tercio capitulo 8 ¶ It is sayd of him that for he vsed so ofte for to bydde his bedes / or make his prayers & to thanke god almyghty alwey where euer he sate / that he wolde stretche his hondes and holde hem to gyders and leue on his kne­es / And therfore yet it is a bysawe God haue mercy on soules sayd oswaldus and fyll to the grounde· ¶ Also that yere were ordeyned bisshops Audoenus of Rotomagis and [...]ligius The [Page CClxvij] Abbott Gallus / the disciple of columbanus was thenne in his floures in almayne /

¶ Capitulum 13

SEynt Birinus the confessour was sente of honorius the pope for to preche to englysshmen. And while birinus sayled in the see of brytayne / he bythought on his restellys that he had foryete in the hauen and yede vpon the see and fette his restellys Beda libro tercio capitulo sexto / This birinus conuerted kyn­gilsus kynge of westsaxons and cristned him atte cyte dortyk. that is dorchestre / there was kynge oswald presente and was kyngilsus Godfader and wedded his doughter afterward / and bothe the kynges gaf that cyte for to ordeyne there a bisshops see and ther birinus deyde after the fourtenth yere of his b [...]sshoprich and was buryed there· But atte laste by hedda bisshop of wyn­chestre birinus was translated to wynchestre in to the chirche of seynt peter and paule ¶R But the chanons of dorchestre saye naye and saye that it was another body than seynt birinus bo­dy that was so translated ¶Therfor a byere of a wonder werck is yet seen at dorchestre aboue the place of his fyrst graue / that cyte dortyk or dorkynga that now is callyd dorchestre is seuen myle by south oxenford y sette bytwene twey Ryuers of Tame and of Temse Also it is founden in cronykis that kynge kyngilsus assigned al the londe seuen myle aboute for to make a Bisshopis see in wynchestre and for the sustenaunce of the ministres / and for the kynge was let [...]e by his deth euil that he myght not fulfil hit. he swore that his sone kenwalcus shold fulfylle it afterward ¶Willelmus de pon libro secundo / ¶This cyte dorchestre longed to the bisshops of mercia fro that tyme vnto the comynge of the normans / but in wiliam conquerours tyme the bisshops see was chaunged to lyncolyn ¶Willelmus de pon libro primo ¶ That yere felyx of the n [...]cion of burgoyn that had ben ho [...]ely with sigebertus kynge of [...]st angles while he was exyled in Fraunce / come with hym in to englond and was made bisshop f [...]st of don wyck· and was there bisshop xv [...] yere ¶Beda libro tercio capitulo 17 ¶This Sigebertus hadde the kyngdome after his broder corpwaldus and ordeyned scoles of lettrure in his kyngdom as he hadde seen in Fraunce and assigned petagoges and maystres [Page] for children in the maner of caunterbury men Atte last he by­toke his kyngdome to his neuewe egritus and was shore monke in an abbaye that he hym self bylded ¶ But afterward kynge penda paganus warryd in that kyngdome and sigebertus was drawe oute of the abbay as it were for to strength the knyghtes and soo he was slayne in his s [...]mplenes and bare but a rodde in his honde / and al his hoost was neigh slayne After him regned Anna Enus sonne penda slough hym / But while segebertus regned an holy man that hete furs [...]us come oute of yrlond in to the prouynce of eest angles and in the way conuerted many men / or made hem more stedfaste in the feyth. there in a tyme he was seke and was warned in a vision by an Angel that he shold besyly do as he hadde bygonne and besyly wake and make his praiers thenne by helpe of the kynge he bylded an abbaye by the see in a castel that hete cimbrisburgh. there he wexe seke agayne and was rauyshed oute of his body spirituelly vnto the syght of holy an­geles there he herd the sowne of that verse of the sawter. holy mē shal goo forth fro vertue to vertue god of goddes shal be s [...]en in syon Also his spyryte cam to his body agayn and take away agayn the thyrdde day / and sawe not only the greete ioye of holy seyntes but also the grettest stryf of euil spyrites by whiche they purposed to lette holy men / thenne he was lefte an hye / and sa­we vnder hym four fyres in the ayer and the Angel that ladde hym expowned to hym the fyres in this manere and sayde that these fyres shall destroye the world· the fyrst fyre is the fyre of lesynge for men doo not as they promysed in theyr baptemme / the second is the fire of couetise whan ryches is more loued than god almyghty / the thyrdde is the fyre of discorde and of stryf whan men greuen her neyghbours withoute cause· the fourth is the fire of wyckednes whan the gretter or myghtyer dredeth not for to vndoo and destroye the lasse o [...]d febler These fyres semed gadred as it were al in to one ¶Thenne furseus was soore agast and cryed and the angel sayd to hym / what thou hast not sette a fyre in the shall not brenne / This shall examine and serche all mennes dedes· thenne furseus cam to a yate that was open and fendes threwe on him a man that they termented in fyre / And therwith furseus sholder and his cheke were brente / Anone fur­seus knewe that man / and knewe that he hadde resseyued his cloth whan he deyde / the angel that lad furseus threwe that cloth in to the fyre / and the fende sayde throwe not away that whiche [Page CCxlviij] thou hast to fore hond approuyd / For thou hast receiued the goo­des of synful men / so thou shalt be partener of theyr paynes. naye sayd the angel he receyued it not for couetyse but for sauacion of his soule / and thenne the fyre ceced / and the angel sayde to furseus what thou hast sette a fyre that hath brente the / thēne furseus was brought to his body agayn. the same marke & tokene that he had felt in his soule / he bare alwey after seen on his sholder and cheke Afterward as ofte as furseus tolde this tale though he were right thynne clothed in the myddel of the colde wynter. he shold swete for drede / ¶Atte laste furseus lefte that abbaye to his broder fullanus and he wente with another broder vulcanꝰ and lyued heremytes lyf al one yere / thenne that prouynce was anone destroyed by rennyng and reyses of straungers and he sayled in to Fraunce and deyde there after many grete dedes of ver­tue and was buryed at perma. ¶After honorius Seuerinus was pope one yere· In his tyme the Iewes were conuertyd and torned to crysten feyth ¶Heraclius themperour after his noble vyctoryes erryd oute of the feyth and that by coūseil of Cirus patriarke of Allexandria and of Sergius patriarke of constantinople And Eraclius deyde in the droposye / and was shende with the heresye of the Iacobytes that were they that mysunder­stode seynt Iame thappostle /

¶Capitulum / 14

ABoute that tyme lyued machamet the fals prophete duke and leder of Sarasyns and of turkes· his story is brought in this maner / But steuen of caunterbury and girald of cam­bria helpen moche in this mater. Somtyme while thempyre of rome was in grete myght and strengthe. Crystendome was nyghe wydder and more than thempyre of Rome was in grete myght & is no wonder. for crystendom was soo encreced that it conteyned Europa and many prouynces of Asia and wel nygh al affryca within his merkes and boundes. Atte laste by d [...]scorde & stryf of crysten men bytwene hem self / It was do that that Agarenes wexe stronge / the agarenes haue thre names and ben called agarenes Ismalytes and saracenes / of her empyre prophecyed me­thodius the martir and sayde that crysten relygyon shold [...]aue lytell withoute thendes of Europa ¶ Also after that errour of [Page] Sarasyns had infecte al affryca. hit defouled also a grete dele of spayne And but goddes grace and mercy had holpen / it wolde haue infecte and shente al ffraunce with spayne ¶Thenne after the grete gregoryes tyme the empyre of Rome that stretched som­tyme from th [...]ccean of brytayne vnto the endes of perse was soo destroyed with tyrauntrye and ciuile bataylles that it was not of power to defende it self ayenst enemyes / thenne the cruel pay­nym hoost of perce bygan to occupye many prouynces of the lordship of Rome and of men of crysten feyth in the est landes / Thenne as th [...] grete flye foloweth the trace of the malshawe. soo after oth [...]r woo cometh pestylence of the ismalytes that was more greuous and destroyed neygh the crysten men that were lefte in the eest londes by ledyng of the prince machomete in heraclius themperours tyme Thenne in the fyfth bonefas tyme while heraclius regnede aboute the yere of our lord six honderd and twenty. machamete the fals prophete and witche begyled the ysmaly­tes and agarenes in this maner. a famous clerk was atte court of Rome and myght not spede atte his wylle and p [...]ssed the see and plesed many men and had hem at his assente / Amonge the whiche he promysed machomete that he wold make hym prynce of h [...]s peple yf he wolde doo as he sayde / thenne this clerke fedde vp a douue and made hym fe [...]che his mete in machome [...]s ere. for there he put the co [...]ne that the douue sholde ete / And of that sa­me the douue wold ofte fede hym self thenne in a day this clerke gadred the peple to geder and promysed them that he wold make hym theyr prynce whom the holy goost wold shewe in lykenes of a douue and lete anone his douue flee. And the douue as he was wonte sate vpon machomets sholderes and put his bylle in machamets ere / And therfore machamet was chosen prynce and leder of the peple. This that is sayd is the comyn tale· but what now foloweth is more alowed and approu [...]d· A monke that hete sergius was put oute of the company of monkes that he was amonge for he was falle in to nestorius errour· he cam in to Ara­bia and put hym self to machomete and enformed hym though it be radde that this sergius was archedeken of Antiochia or pa­triarke of Ierusalem· thenne machomet faderles and moderles was in his emes kepynge in his childhode and worshiped maumetrye somwhat of tyme with his countrey men of Arabia / and he yaue him self specially to worshipe venus / And therfore it is that yet the saraseyns holden the fryday holy as the Iewes don [Page CCxlix] the saterday and we the sonday ¶ After that machomet come to age and was sharpe of wytte and wente. in to many londes by cause of marchandyse and was ofte in company of Iewes and of crysten men and lerned the maners· vsages and custommes of both the lawes of crysten men and of the iewes / And couth both wytchecraft and nygromancy / and was a wonder felle man and fer castynge and had noble faconde and fayr speche / th [...]nne he come to the lady of the prouynte Corozonia / the lady hete cadygan / And with somme spyces that he brought with wytchecraft and fayr wordes he made the lady so madde and so nyse that she wor­shiped him as the grettest prophete of god almyghty· or as it were messias thāt the Iewes abyden / and she desyred hym to hus­bond / It is the vsage of that prouynce to be ruled also by womē Thenne he wedded the wedewe that was quene and soo he was made lord of that prouynce / thenne he drewe to hym the Arabes and occupyed the est empyre vnto Allexandria ayenst heraclius themperour / Thenne he toke the maner of spekynge of trewe pro­phetes as though god had spoke in hym & spake in this maner in his bookes that he made / Oure lord spak to his prophete and sayde. for so the bookes that he feyned gylefully shold be byleuyd as though they were made by auctoryte of god almyghty

Thenne not only his owne men but also men of fer londes fylle to hym and bowed to him in euery syde. he hadde grete lykynge to haue gretter lordship And as it were for to brynge men in to good maner lyuyng and as it were by commaundement of god almyghty he assoylled the nacions that dwellyd nygh hym and dyde by craft and by gyle that he myght not doo by dedes of Ar­mes ¶Therfor whan Egypte Libia arabia and Siria were sub­gett by cause he wold seme the more holy· he drewe the peple that were subget to his fals lawe and made hem to forsake the vsages and lawes of theyr fornfaders / And he forbadde the paynems maumetrye and he graunted circumsicion to the Iewes as they had vsed· and feyned of his owne self somme newe lawes and alleged wytnes of eyther testament The sarasyns calle that lawe his lawe yet vnto this tyme ¶And he bade the sarasyns circumcide hem as the Iewes don / and forbad hem that wolde folowe hym etyng of swynyssh flessh / And machomet wold telle the cause why he forbade them the swynyssh flessh and sayde that swyne come of camels dirt after noes flood and therfor clene men shold eschewe it as mete that is vnclene. ¶And as it were to acorde [Page] with Crysten men in the manere of crystnynge / he ordeyned ofte wasshing of lymmes in water as it were for clensing of synnes And for to brynge the people that was soo begyled the faster to snarle / what he knewe that was mooste playsanut to mannes ly­kyng he ordeyned that for lawe / And so he ordeyned that a man shold haue as many wyues and concubynes as he myght sustene with his catel / Also that a man myght haue wyues of his oun kynrede vnto the nombre of four. and that a man myght four si­thes forsake his wyf and take her agayne / & also that he myghte haue as many concubynes as he wolde of wymmen / that were bought prisoners· And also that he myght selle hem but yf he had brought ony of hem with childe-And ordeyned hem to vse sobrenes of mete and drynk / and forbad hym drynkyng of wyn / but it were in certayne solempne dayes in the yere· And for he wolde somdele varye fro the Iewes that worshiped god westward / and fro crysten men that worshiped god eestward / he taughte his pe­ple to worshipe god south warde with ofte knelynges· for in the south is plente of light / he ordeyned hem to worshipe the goddesse venus and to holde the day therof solempne and [...] holy. that is friday / he bade worshipe one almyghty god creatour and maker of alle thynges and sayde that moyses and Iohan were Prophetes and that Cryst was gretter and grettest of all prophetes & that he was born of the mayde marie by vertu of god withoute man­nes seede as he sayth in his booke that hete Alkaron. netheles he medled somme fals sawes with soth sawes / And sayde that criste was afterwarde born vp to heuen and not slayne· For he sayth that Iudas the traytour sought cryste in a denne and chaunged in to the lykenes of cryst / & soo he was take & nayled to the cros in stede of crist ¶Also he bade that the men of his lawe sholde euery yere yf they myght goo in to goddes hows that is in ma­tha for to bydde her bedes / & whan they were comen thyder they sholde ben clothed in one maner clothynge / & they sholde throwe oute stones thurgh hooles of the walles· as it were for to stone the deuyl / & sayde that Abraham made that hows for his childe­ren ismaelytes / for they sholde there bydde theyr bedes / Also by machomets lawe [...]e that were take with a woman in spousebre­che sholde be stoned to deth / & yf he dede fornicacion with a sengle woman he sholde haue four score lasshes / A theef the fyrste tyme and the seconde tyme sholde be beete· & the thyrdde tyme he sholde lese his hondes / and the fou [...]th tyme he shold lese his feet / And he [Page CCL] seyth that who that holdeth al this and other heestes of his lawe god almyghty promysed him paradys / the orcharde of plesyre & lykynge. there is no distemprure ne payne that is ony maner of gryef but al maner of welthe and of lykynge / there is lykyng mete for to ete and clothes to were and maydens tembrace fayre shal serue them there / the Angels ben so grete and soo huge that from that one eye to that other is the space of a day iourneye· & to them that holde ne kepe not his lawe· he promyseth hem fyre & payne of helle withoute ende / And also in his booke that is cal­led alcoranum he prayseth alle the faders of tholde testament. & specially moyses and Iohan the baptist· Cryste and machomete Also ther he preyseth alle that that byleue in god and doo right­wysenes / but it is not there red what is the ryght feyth. ne what men ben of ryght byleue. ne what men ben of mysbyleue Also there is wreton that fyue bookes come fro heuen for the in­formacion of mankynde / the sawter / moyses bookes / the bookes of prophetes and machometes Alcaron / In that Alcoron it is wreton that god almyghty wolde rule and lede mankynde in to the way of sauacion· and after abraham he yaue to the childeren of Israel a lawe by whiche lawe they shold knowe God and worshipe hym / ¶ But for they told not of his lawe god gaf the gospel to other men / And also they mysused the lawe / And the Arabes that cam of Abraham by ysmael were mo men and gretter peple than the Iewes that come of Abraham. by Isaac. And the Arabes that were lefte were lefte withoute lawe / ther­fore oute of the consistorye of goddes rightwysenes come a decree that a prophete of her owne peple sholde be sente to the ysmaelytes with a lawe / the which prophete and lawe the sarasyns shold folowe as the Iewes folowed moyses· and crysten men Cryst And therfore the Sarasyns holde them self better than Iewes and Crysten men for they holde holy theyr lawe / And Iewes & Crysten men ofte trespacen ayenst theyr owne lawe / For to bringe this aboute / machomet norysshed and fedde a fayr camel in a pryue place / so that the camel had no mete but of his own hon­de / And machomet wayted his tyme and henge that cursed book Alcaron aboute the camels necke. in that book were the forsayd lawes wreton And machomet lete go the forsayd camel in to the feldes with the book aboute to fore day lyght / Thenne the camell as it was no wonder bygan to lepe and to sterte and made grete ioye for he was at large and fled euery man and wold come [Page] nyghe no mannes honde-Speche of this wonder sprange once in feldes and townes and the peple gadred thyder oute of euery syde. But whan machomete was comen the beest sawe hym a fer that yaf hym alweye mete & ran to hym anon right· & bowed to hym and lykked his hondes as he was taught. thenne the peple cryed and sayde in this dede is shewed the holynes of goddes prophete / And they prayde him that he wolde vndoo the booke with his holy hondes / and whan the book was opened / Lo sayth machomet Here is your lawe not wreton with mannes ynke but with angels hondes and sente fro heuen for to be bolden euer withoute ony. ende In the book ye ben taught how ye shal worshipe god / & how greete mede ye shal hope to resseyue of hym for kepynge of this lawe / The daye that this was don in is euery yere made so­lempne and hooly / and is called the fest of the camel / and they faste a moneth to fore that feste in this maner Euery day of that moneth fro the fyrst lyght of the day whan men maye knowe bitwene whyte & blac vnto the goyng doū of the sonne / they fast & ete not ne drynke / ne delen with theyr wyues / but ben alwey in her prayers but after the goynge doune of the sonne vnto the dawynge agayne they ete drynke and lye by theyr wyues / but seke men and feble ben not holden so for to faste. This machomet dis­plesyd ofte his wyf for he hadde the fallynge euyll / and in that euyll he fyll ofte to the grounde / But he plesyd her and other that had r [...]sseyued his lawe in this maner and sayd that he fyll to groūd for the wordes of seint mychel tharchangel that spak with hym so ofte For a flesshliman he sayde may not suffre an angels wordes but yf he falle / he hated wyn dronkenes as Rybawdrye / and harlottrye / by cause of heete of the countrey he wolde haue it spared· But in a nyght he was dronke and fylle doune in the streete· And there swyn ete him which he reputed vnclene beestes Therfor they that holde his lawes spare wyn and swynes flessh In the fyrst poynt it semeth that they folowe the Iewes / In the seconde poynt it semeth that they folowe the philosophye of theyr mayster Also after the deth of machomet that cursed secte encreced so faste that it caused so myghty men of perce to drawe to that cursed lawe of the Arabes ¶ Also that secte hath infecte vnto this tyme al affrica and a grete dele of spain as gernarde. And tharchebisshop turpinus tellith that machometes ymage of latone that he made with his owne hondes / stondeth in the See stronde and hath his face toward the south. ¶In that ymage [Page CClj] machometus by wytchecraft closed a legyon of fendes. A crystē man that cometh there is lyghtly perysshed. But a sarasyn goth alwey hoole and sound / A byrde that cometh there dyeth anone The ymage holdeth a mace in his right honde And that mace shal fyrst fallen whan a kynge shal be born in gallia that shal renewe al spayne with crysten lawes / And whan the mace shal falle / thē ne the sarasyns shall flee ānd leue theyr tresorye / The famous norye of this cursed secte Saladinus duc of turkes the stronge hamer of crysten men about the yere of our lord enleuen honderd four score and ten he herde that crysten men vsed many messes of mete at one mele and sayde that cristen men were not worthy to haue the holy londe Also he was felle and slyhe for to prayse his owne secte· and to blame and despyse our lawe. and that is kno­wen by this ensample ¶On a tyme were two whyte monkes brought to fore him that theues of turkes had take. And he knewe by her straunge clothynge that they were philosophres and crysten men. And he axyd by one that knewe both langages of hem what they were and of what condicion and profession and they sayde that they were monkes and had don theyr profession to seynt Benettes rule. Thenne he axyd besyly many poyntes of that rule. And specially amonge other. he axed yf they sholde by her rule ete flessh or drynke wyn / Thenne answerd they and sayde that they hadde at al tyme somwhat of wyn for to drynke. but flessh shold they none ete / but it were for sekenes or grete nede / thē ne the tyraunt badde that they shold haue more large kepynge and haue two yong fayr wymmen to serue hem / and badde that they shold ete flessh and drynke water / And so they ete flesshe & dronke water· and toke ensample by seynt Iob / and made coue­naunt with theyr eyen that they wold not thynke of fylthe and of synne and were alwey besy in theyr prayers / Thenne Saladynus was waar therof and toke from hem the flesshe and the water and bad hem serue with fysshe and wyn / And he badde so doo to that entent that Salamon moeueth and sayth / yeue ye wyn to hem that ben in grete sorow that they may drynke and foryete theyr sorowe and her nede / Whan he had thus done he caste to begyle by symplenes these two monkes / For he wold yf they myghte ther bysette chalenge and blame vpon the Relygion / thenne the Monkes dronke wyn & wexe mery & glad & forgate what they sholde haue in mynde and fylle to and laye by the wommen ¶ Thennne on the morowe whanne the wyn was defyed· they [Page] thoughte on theyr trespaas and gan for to wepe ful soore. the tiraunt sawe hem wepe and sayde why be ye more soory than ye were wonte to be. For we haue sinned greuously sayde they and were ouercome with wyn· Thenne he sayde / while ye ete flesshe and dranke water ye helde forth your purpose redyly ynowgh / But whan ye were ouercome with wyn without flessh ye brake your rule and your purpose / Therfore it is knowen that Benett the Auctour of your rule was vnwyse for to forbede you etyng of flesshe that distourbled not a mannes wytte & graunted you to drynke wyn that roteth vp the strengthe of reson as ye haue as­sayed now by newe assaye / Thenne he that made our lawe machomet that forbad vs wyne that distourbeth mannes wytte & graū ted vs the vse of flessh was wyser than your Benet· But what be your remedyes and clensyng of this synne nowe that ye haue broken your rule and your purpose. Penaunce seyd they and satisfaction by ordenaunce of our [...]elder fader / Thenne sayd he mowe ye not be clensed amonge vs / Goo ye to youre owne and be clensed in your owne maner wyse / and soo he lete hem go This man was ful of olde pestylence of sleyght and wyles / And what the wyly shrewe / myghte not haue saueour in· he gan to despyse / For he wolde blame the hooly man seynt Benet / Of the whiche seynt Benet the grete gregory sayth that he wrote the Rule of monkes ful of wytte and of wysedome / and open and clere in wordes. For it was a wyse dede to withdrawe fro hem that go to holy chyualrye. lykynge of metes that withdraweth the sou­le from holynes of dedes and of thoughtes / & by thappostles lore he graunted hem a lytel what of wyn for to strengthe somwhat the feblenesse of the flessh & graunted hem but lytel. for it sholde not greue the sharpnes of the soule

¶ Capitulum 15 /

HEraclonas heraclius sone regned two yere / the senatour of rome put him & his wif martina out of his kingdom / & his moders nose & tong were cut of al both / Aft (er) the ·iiij. iohn theodorꝰ was pope vj / yere / that time ysodre bisshop yspalencis was in his floures / he was somtyme the grete gregories disciple. ysid left after hym many good bokes that he had made. the bookes ethimologiarū. de sūmo bono / de ordine creaturarū simonia & many other bokes· Edwaldus kyng of kente deyde & left after him his sone & [Page CClij] his eyre Ercombertus that he had bygoten on Emma a woman of Fraūce / ercombertus r [...]gned four & xx yere in kente· He destroyed the temples of maumetrye and ordeyned that the fastynge of the lente shold be holden in Englond / On his wyf sexburga the doughter of ānna kynge of eest Angles / he gate a doughter Eukengoda that was made a menchone in thabbay bryggense in gallia. there her aunt etherberga seruyd god in that abbaye / ethel berga had ben edwinus wyf ¶ Also ther afterward eyther of hem was abbesse▪ That tyme though ther were many abbayes in englond. yet englysshmen vsed to goo in to abbayes of fraunce bycause of the conuersacion and of the maner of lyuynge and specially at brydges at calays at Andilegium That tyme An­domarus Bisshop and Bertinus thabbot were in her floures in the countrey of toreuence in gallia that is Fraunce ¶ Paulus libro quinto / The thyrdde constantinus was heraclius sonne and heraclius broder and regned eyght and twenty yere / he was be­gyled of paulus grauntsir of sergius / therfore he exiled pope martin and spoylled Rome / ¶Willelmus de Regibus libro quarto / He vnconerd chirche roo [...]es & steples that were coueryd with slattes of bras & toke away tho slattes / but he lost hem at Sira­cusa in Scicilia and was slain in a bath by sarasyns. And they ladde awey that partye in to Alexandria Beda libro tercio ca. sexto That yere kygylsus kynge of westsaxons was dede and his sonne kyn walcus regned after hym one and thyrity yere· for his elder broder Quichelinus had regned to fore with his fader / & lefte after him his sone cuthredus that was crystned also of by­rinus R ¶Here take heede that beda and william varyen / For beda sayth that quychelinus was kyngilsus sonne· Wiliam seyth that he was kingilsus broder / Beda v / su / This kinwalcus in the begynnyng of his kingdom wolde not resseyue the feyth of crys­tendom / & therfor rightfully he lost his kingdō / for he dyde awey his wyf that was kyng pendaes suster & wedded another. & ther for penda in the / v / yere of his kyngdom chaced hym & drof hym away· W. de / pon / li / 2 / And he hidde him self .iij / yere with Annā king of eestangles / therfor afterward penda slough anna· but in the mene tyme of his exylynge / kenwalcus was baptised of Felix the bisshop while he was with anna & recoueryd his kyngdom by helpe of Anna / and made one Agilbertus bisshop of his pro­uynce a ffcensshe man that come oute of Irlond / And he was bisshop of wynchestre in westsaxon fyften yere. And the kynge [Page] of straunge tonge was agreued and noyeful / or for somme other cause / he was wroth I note. And brought in another bisshop of his own langage and tonge that was callyd wyn by his name he was ordeyned in Fraunce. and they bytoke him the prouynce y deled in two parysshes & sett the chyef bisshops see / therfore agilbertus was wrothe and wente in to Fraunce & was afterwarde Bisshop of parys· And not longe after this wyn after the two yere of his prelacye was putte oute by the kynge. and boughte the see of london of the kynge of mercia of Wolferus / And helde it while he was alyne / And soo the prouynce of westsaxons was four yere bisshoples ¶ Atte last kyng ken walcus was ofte [...]arde bysette with enemyes / and sente for Agilbertus that was putte oute. But he wolde not or myght not come and sente his neuewe lentherius in his st [...]de whiche was confermed of the Archebisshop theodorus and was bisshop there seuen yere ¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro primo ¶ This kinwalcus ouercome the Brytons twyes / fyrst at wyght gosneburgh and efte atte hille of Pente / And for wreche of his faders persecuci­on he bynam wolferus pendas sonne a grete dele of his kingdom

Beda libro tercio capitulo secundo ¶ That yere kynge Os­wald kyng of northumberlond was slayne by a paynym kynge of penda in a place that height meserfeld. There god ofte sheweth myracles and wondres. Penda bad honge his armes and his hede in the stockes Willelmus de pontificibus libro primo After one yere his broder oswy that was kynge after hym come thyder and buryed the hede in the chirche yerd of lyndeff ar but it is sayd that the heede is now at durham bytwene seynt cutbertes armes / but he putte oswaldes Armes in the cite bebanburgh But Ostryda quene of mercia that was oswyes doughter and etheldredus wyf brought the body and the other dele of the boo / nes with her to the Abbaye of Bardeny / there she myght not be receyued er a pyler of lyght had shyne vpon thylke relyquyes al a nyght Many yere after men of straunge nacion / the danes werred in that londe· And Elfleda lady of mercia brought thylke bones with her to gloucetre in achirche of chanons / Willelmus de pon. libro quarto ¶ But seynt oswaldes arme is in thabbaye of petreburgh hoole and sounde with flesshe and with synewes / as men seyn. hit was theefly stolen oute of the olde restyng pla­ce and brought thyder and there it is in a shryne precious & riche but the bileue herof is somdele doubtable / for there men here and [Page CCliij] aspye and see not therof· I say not this for doubte that I haue of the holynes of this seynt but for· I keepe not to hastely af­ferme whether it be in that place or no Paulus libro quinto Aboute that tyme Cesara the kynges wyf of Perce come with fewe crysten men to constantinople for to be crystned / her husbonde herde therof and sente messagers to constantinople for to axe his wyf of themperour· But cesara answerd and sayde / Telle ye my lord your kynge that but yf he wyll resseyue my feyth and byleue in my god he shal neuer haue me to wyf▪ The kynge her­de therof and come wth sixty thousand men in pees to themperour and was crystned he and al his and had grete worship and ma­ny grete yeftes and toke his wyf and wente home ageyne / Beda libro tercio capitulo 13 ¶ Whan oswald was slayn after hym his broder oswy was kyng of northumberlond and regned nobly in deyra / ¶ Oswinus osricus sonne of Edwinus bloode was a stedfast man and holy meke and mylde and fayr of spech But kyng oswy made hym to be slayn in erle hunbaldus hous Oswynus was fledde to erle hunbaldus for helpe and socoure And after him Oswy hadde a felawe in the kyngdome of deyra Od [...]lwaldus oswaldes sone / After theodorus the fyrste Martin was pope six yere ¶ Aswerde man of Climpus wolde haue slayne hym at awter while he songe his mosse / But while he began to smyte anone he worde blynde· ¶ The Emperour of Constantinople exyled this pope. for he had dampned paulus patriarke of constantinople and had falsely that name / Beda li· tercio / ca· 13 / That yere deyde paulinus that was thenne bisshop of Rouchestre and had be somtyme archebisshop of york / And after hym thamar was bisshop / Also Felyx deyde the fyrste bisshop of eest angles and thomas was bisshop after hym / Beda li / 3 / ca / 12 Aboute that tyme the eest saxons toke the feyth that they had to fore honde cast away and forsake / OsWinus kyng of northum­berlonde made hem now resseyue and take the feyth / For her king Sigebertus was· crystned of finanus bisshop of northumberlond fast by the long wal that departed somtyme bytwene Brytons & Scottes / thenne he toke with him one cedde a preest the broder of Chad oute of prouynce of Mercia for to preche to his men of the eeste ¶And whanne he hadde done that dede / he tourned ayen to the forsayd Finianus / & was made Bisshop of hym & wen [...]e agayne to preche to the eest Angles. in a place that hete straūchestre that is by the brynk of the water pent. And also in the toun [Page] of tilleburgh that is fast by temse· It befel in a tyme in that coū trey that the forsayde bisshop ced cursed an erle· and excomyned him for he helde a woman in vnlauful wedlok / And kynge Sygebertus despysed the bisshopes heste and cam at that erles pra­yer and ete with the erle in his hows. And whan the kynge wente fro the mete / the bisshop ced mette the kynge / and touchyd hym with a rodde that he bare in his honde· and seyde to the Kynge in this maner / For thou woldest not at my heest withdrawe and holde the out of that lost and cursed mannes hows / in the same hous thou shalt deye / and so it befell / For the same Erle and his broder slough the kyng in the same hows· and afterward whan men axed hem why they hadde doo that cursed dede / they answerde not ellys but they sayde that the kynge was to esy to his enemyes & wold lyghtly foryeue wronges and trespaces ¶ Treuisa It is soth that cursed men hate good men and her good dedes / And soo the cursed erle slowe the kynge for he was gracious and good

¶ Thenne it foloweth in the story also that yere kynge oswy hade slee kynge oswynus in the erle hunbaldus hows. Oswinus [...]adde lefte his hoost and was fledde for grete truste to Erle hunbaldus as it wereto abyde better tyme for to fyghte· It is sayd of this Oswinus that he had somtyme yeuen his beste hors to Aydanus the Bisshop that vsed more to goo afote than to Ryde on horsbak. But soone afterward a poure man prayde the Bis­shop of his almesse / And the Bysshop yaue him that hors for he hadde nought ellys at honde· Whan that was tolde to the kynge the kynge was anone wroth and sayde to Aydanus as he sate by hym at mete / What hast thou don sere Bisshop / hadde we nothyng of lasse prys that myghte suffyce for Almes dede / What spekest thou lord sere kynge seyd the Bisshop / Shal ā mare sone leuer be to vs than Marye sonne / Anone the Kynge fylle doune to the Bisshops feete and prayde hym of mercy and foryefnes / And promysed hym truly that he wolde neuer after that tyme speke euill of that dede / thenne the kynge and the Bisshops were bothe wel plesed and sate to gyder atte mete / And the Bisshop bygan sodenly to wepe many teres· thenne it was axyd of hym the cause of his wepyng and he answerde and sayd this kynge shal not longe be with vs here alyue· Vnnethe haue I seen ony Kynge meke to fore this tyme. And this euyl̄ people is not worthy to haue suche a kynge longe tyme ¶ Thenne it happed soone after that the kynge was slayne as it is sayd / ¶And Bisshoppe [Page CCliiij] Aydanus lyued after but twelue dayes And seynt cuthbert sa­we angeles bere his soule in to heuen R ¶ Also this yere deyde Birinus the fyrst bisshop of dorchestre after the fourtenth yere of his comyng and of his bisshopriche / Beda sayth that hedda bisshop of wynchestre translated Birinus body oute of dorchestre to wynchestre· loke more therof in the fyrst book de pontificibus west saxon Beda libro tercio ca / 23 ¶After martin eugenius was pope as it were thre yere / this yere the kynge of deyra odyle wal­dus oswaldes sone yaue to ced bisshop of the eest that cam ofte in to the north a place in high hilles that hete lestyngay for to byl­de there an abbay· but this ced er he wolde foūde there an abbay Faste al a lente euery day sauf the sonday al day til▪ it were eu [...] ̄ And thenne he wolde ete a lytel what of brede and one hen egge and a lytel of mylk y medled with water as aydanus his disciple vsid him he had lerned and taugh [...] / after him his broder chimbillus gouerned that place and was buryed there in a pestylence tyme / And after him cedda ruled that place

¶ Capitulum 16 /

AFter Eugenius vitalianus was pope fourten yere / he sent to the chirches of englonde and to the Archebisshops theodorus monke of Tarseus / Beda li / 3 / ca / 19 / That yere the merces that be now of myddel englond receyued cristēdom vnder her prince Weda pendas sone· For this weda by consente of his fader had wedded elfleda kyng oswyes doughter vpon a condicion that he shold be a crysten man / and he dyde it with the better wyll for el­fridus oswyes sonne had wedded oswyes suster kyneburga / ther fore weda had brought with hym four preestes oute of northumberlond for to preche hys peple and his men / the prestes were ced adda becti & duina. & kyng penda forbad not to conuerte to cristen feyth all that wold / Also that yere deyde honorius archibisshop of caūterbury / & after one yere· one deus dedit was bisshop ix yere / him comfermed Ithamar bisshop of Rouchestre / W / de / pou. li. 3 / ¶ That yere benet bisshop and the abbot that norysshed beda the preest and was kynge oswyes seruaunt forsooke hows & home his cosyns and alle his kyn for cristes loue and toke the weye to Rome and come efte agayne / Fyne sythes he wente to Rome and broughte bookes and Relyquyes of holy Sayntes [Page] home to his abbayes that were in the brynk of the Ryuer wyre He was the fyrst that brought glasyers crafte in to his coūtrey He buylded two Abbayes of peter and paule vpon the brynkes of the ryuer wyre one in that one syde and another in that other syde / forn ayenst and was abbot of bothe / he toke his noble noryebeda a childe of seuen yere olde and taught hym while he was alyue Willelmus de regibus libro primo ¶ Beda wondr [...]th of his pacyence and of his wytte / of his wytte for he brought so many bookes and craftes men in to englond· ¶And was pylgrym wel nygh al his lyf tyme / In hym loue of the countrey and ly­kynge of fayrenes ouercome the strong trauayls· he wondryd of his pacyence for he was made Abbot by the kynge of kente and in possession of thabbay of seynt Austyn of Caunterbury / And at comynge of Adryan he lefte it with good wyll and lete adryan be Abbot there. Also thabbayes of wyre made hem another Ab­bot while he was absente and he suffred it with good wylle / and dyde obedyence to the newe abbot whan he come home and wor­shipe as other men dyde· Also he was atte last smyten with a pa­l [...]sye and made the thyrdde abbot therto ¶ Also that yere Penda kynge of mercia slough anna kynge of [...]est Angles in a bataylle For he hadde fauoured kyng kenwalkus ayenst hym ¶ Also that yere botulphus bylded an abbaye by eest lyncol̄n in a place that hete Icanno ¶Beda libro tercio capitulo quarto ¶That yere deyde penda kynge of mercia / and was slayne he and thyrtty Capytayns that come in to the countrey of northumberlonde for to slee kynge oswy as he had slayne his broder oswald somtyme and spared not for a lye and affynyte that was bytwene theyr sonnes and doughters / netheles kyng oswy prefered hym many grete yeftes for to restorne oute of his londe. but he wolde not ther of ¶Thenne oswy sayde yf this paynym can not resseyue our yeftes· thenne we shal profere and offre to hym that can / Thenne kynge oswy made his auowe that yf he hadde the vyctory in that bataylle he wold offre his doughter elfleda to god of heuen and also possession for to bylde twelue abbayes / thenne the bataylle was made in the countrey of ledes not fer from york faste by the Ryuer wynwed· that thēne was hugely arysen and ouerflowed a grete deele of the countrey / In that batayll Penda was slayne and thyrtty dukes and leders of his. and yet he had thryes soo many in his hoost as that other had in his. For they that escaped the swerd were drowned in the Ryuer Thenne Alfridus hadde [Page CCLv] be with his fader· but egfridus was holden in hostage with Pendas wif / thenne odyle wald oswaldes sonne had be with penda but he stode a syde for to see what ende the batayl sholde haue / Whan this vyctory was don kynge oswy bytoke his doughter of thre yere old to the loore of hilda thabbesse of hertesye that is her­tes ylond. But afterward she was abbesse of stremshalt that is the bosome or lappe of corne that nowe is callyd whitby and is thyrtty myle from york / there was elfleda abbesse afterward Thenne oswy yaf possessions for to buylde abbayes as he hadde promysed / six in the prouynce of deyra and six in the prouynce of Brenicia· and he yaue to weda that had wedded his doughter the kyngdom of southmercia that conteyneth as it is sayd fyue thousandes housholdes and meynees / and is departed fro north mercia by the water of Trent but weda after thre yere of his kyngdom was soone lost by treason of his owne wif. Whan weda was dede the mercyes wexe rebelle ayenst kynge oswy / and toke wolferus pendas sonne that they hadde secretely kepte and made hem theyr kyng / he was the fyrst cristen man of al the kinges of mercia. & wedded [...]rmenylda ercombes doughter kyng of caunterbury. and gate on her keneredus / and wereburga and ouercome nobly ken walcus kinge of westsaxons and wan the Ile of wighte and yaue it afterward to the kinge of ceste Angles for to be a cristen man and was his godfader whan he was cristned. and atte last after the seuententh yere of his kingdome he was buryed at ly­chefeld ¶ Clodonens after his fader dagobertus regned in fraū ce sixten yere. By entysyng of the deuil he made cutte of seint de­nis arme ¶Also that yere deide seint wandregesilus thabbot· ¶ Aboute that tyme grimaldus kynge of Longobardes espyed that his knight bertaricus was fledde to cacanus kynge of the a­nares and sente to kyng cacanus word and saide that he shold leue bertaricus or he shold haue noo pees with the longobardes Bertaricus herde therof and wente in to ytaly agayne / And by helpe of his frende hunulphus he was reconciled and made at one with the kynge Somme wicked men sawe that bertaricus hadde good semblaunt of many men and made suggestion to the kynge and saide but yf soo were that bertaricus were slain / the Kinge sholde lese his kingdome / the kinge herde that and sette knightes and other men to bisette bertaricus hows for he sholde not escape· And hunulphus aspied that and ded a burthen of bedclothes on bertaricus necke / and bete him with his fiste / and shufte him [Page] and put hym forth thurgh the myddel of the cyte to the walles & lefte hym there and bertaricus fled in to Fraunce· whan men axyd of hunulphus why he dyde soo / he answerd and sayde / by cause my seruaunt wolde haue bedded me in the dronken Bertaricus bedchambre whiche plesyd me not· therfore I haue made hym to bere his clothes agayne to myn own hows / And so the knyghtes were begyled and fonde nothynge in bertaricus chambre / And they toke bertaricus seruaunt that wyste of this escapynge and was assentynge therto and drough hym oute by the heer and brought hym to the kyng / the seruaunt was dampned to the deth But yet the kyng praysed hym and hunulphus gretely by cause they were so stydfast and trusty· And yaue hem choys whether hem were leuer abyde with hym in his courte for euermore / or wende to theyr lyef frende Bertaricus / thenne they wente in to Fraunce with Bertaricus with al that they hadde / Also that yere Egf [...]ydus kyng oswyes sonne spoused feynt etheldreda that was to fore honde wedded to erle Todbar to kyssyng / clyppynge and flesshely lykyng and yet she preserued her a clene vyrgyne / and was departed from egfrydus and wente in to the abbaye of Ely and was made abbesse there / and dyde many fayr myracles and grete ¶Aboute that tyme hunarus prince of Sarasyns in Siria buylded a newe temple that is now in Ierusalem. there the sarasyns worshipe god and make theyr prayers Beda li­bro quarto capitulo primo Ercombertus kynge of caunterbury deyde and his sonne egbertus was kynge after hym nyne yere· Also that yere deyd tharchebisshop that hete deus dedit Thenne the kynge of kente and the kynge of northumberlonde by one assente sente wychardus to pope vitalianus for to be Archibisshop of caunterbury· But he and almooste al his company deyde in the grete pestylence that was soo stronge in alle Englond / And the pope ordeined one theodorus a monke gouernour of the chirches of englond Beda libro tercio capitulo visesimo primo ¶Also that yere fylle a grete pestylence in al Brytayne and byganne in the south contreyes. In that pestylence byfyll that / that is rad of Egbertus the monke that wexe seke that tyme / This man felt that he was seke and wente priuely oute of his bed at matyn tyme and was very contryte and sorowful in his herte and praid god besyly that he shold not deye at that tyme er he had ful clen­sed him of his synnes that he had doo to fore honde. And he ma­de his auowe that yf he might escape that pestilence / he wold deye [Page CClvj] in pylgremage / And that aboue the ful seruice he wolde saye euery daye the sawter but yf sekenes of body letted hym· And that euery weeke he wolde faste one daye and the nyght therto / whan this was done he wente priuely to his bedde ageyne. But with somme maner rustlynge that he made in lyyng doune· his fe­lawe awoke and spak to hym and sayde / Egbert what hast thou doone / I hoped that we tweyne sholde haue gone to gyder to reste But what thou hast prayd it is graunted to the / Thenne that felawe deyde. And thus Egbertus lengthed his owne lyf to the yere of his four score and ten· But he dyde more than his fyrste auowe. And fasted in the yere thryes fourty dayes continuelly to brede / and thynne mylk. Fourty dayes in the Aduente· Fourty dayes in the lente / and fourty dayes to fore wytsontyde. But al the creme and fatnes of that mylke that he hadde to his brede sholde be ouerblowe and take away ¶ Beda libro sexto capitulo visesimo quinto

¶ Capitulum 17

ABoute that tyme deyde Aydanus and Finanus bisshops of Northumberlonde / And Colmannus a Scot come after hem to be Bisshop thre yere / ¶ In his tyme come Agilbertus Bisshop of westsaxons in to the countreyes of Northumberlond And ordeyned wylfrydus that was tho Abbotte of Rypon and made hym preest atte prayers of kynge oswyns ¶ That tyme was a greete question made and meuyd of the Eesterdaye that was not that tyme holden lawfully of scottes & of brytons but it was suffryd at reuerēce of colūba of aidanus of fimanus and of other holy faders / Therfor was a counseyl made in thabbay of Hilda. there in that one syde cam colmannus the bisshop and hylda thabbesse· and alleggyd for them that her predecessours were worthy men and holy & helde the Eester tyde from the fourtenth day of the mone vnto the xx day of the mone· And specially seint Iohn the euangelyst helde soo the cestirtyde in Asia / In that otherside ayenste hem cam Egylbertus Bisshoppe of westsaxons Iames that was somtyme Paulinus preest the Archibisshop of Yorke and wilfridus abbot of Rypon and Alfridus the kinges sonne / And Wilfridus disputed for hem and aledged for hem that the maner and the vsage of al hooly chirche of Grekes [Page] of ytaly of Rome Of gallia and of Fraunce / shold be sett to fore the maner customme and vsage of a corner of the world that knewe not the decrees of synodes as it is no wonder· namely while seynt Iohan the euangelyst in the begynnyng of holy chirche that was tho yong and tendre helde thordenaunce of moyses lawe in many thynges and folowed tho the Iewes as it is wreton of poule that he circumcided thymothe and offred oostes in the tem­ple and share his heede with Aqnyla and priscilla at Corynthy And that was profytable to nothyng but for to put of the sklaū dre of the Iewes / And also seynt Iohan by the vsage of that lawe byganne to holde the eester tyde the fourtenth day of the first moneth and rought not whether it fil on a saterday or in another day of the weke / And peter thappostle that was primate of holy chirche and hadde power to bynde and vnbynde. he abode the four tēth day of the mone whan the mone were at full as seynt iohn dyde and bygan to holde the eester tyde at eue the next sonday af­ter the ful of the mone and the euenes of the day and the nyghte and helde that tyde to the one and twenty day of the mone / And yf the fourtenthday fyll on a sonday he helde not there the Eester day. For that sonday was of the rather yere and not of the newe yere that shold tho begynne / kynge oswy herde this and sayde. [...]ith that ye telle that so many and grete pryueleges and power be graunted to seynt peter I dar not withsaye soo grete an vssher & porter / lest he close heuene yate ayenst me whan I sholde come to heuene / Whan this was sayde the multitude assented / But Ced Bisshop of the eeste was there presente and helde hym corrected from that tyme forward / But colmannus that was tho bisshop of northumberlond was tho wroth and wente thennes in to the coūtrey of scottes for to fynde the eester tyme withoute fayle ther ben rewles ynowe in the ordynal of the kalendre and it is nede­ful to sette it here / But the errour that holy chirche suffreth in the kalender that we. vse is so encreced that the styntyng of the sonne and the euenes of the day and night and thentryng of the sonne in to signes ben passed backward by twelue dayes in our kalender now aboute the yere of our lord a thousand / iij / C and twenty / And therfore but our kalender that we vse / be amended by withdrawing of the dayes that ben put in to lepe yere / to a certayne tyme or in somme other maner wyse. yf the tyme of grace dure to eyghten thousand yere· eesterday shall falle aboute the shortest day of al the yere by our kalender / And yf the sixthe age of [Page CClvij] world dure two soo longe· the feeste of the byrthe of seynt Iohan baptist shal falle in the shortest daye of the yere. And the feeste of the byrthe of our lord in the lengest day of the yere ¶ The cause of this errour is declared in tholomeus book. in Almagestis tholomei Treuisa ¶Here take heede that twyes in the yere falleth the styntyng of the sonne and soo doth the euenees of the daye & of the nyght that is callyd in latyn equinoxium. the stynting in winter of the sōne is whan the day is shortest & eke in somer whan the daye is lengest / the euennes of the daye and nyght is ones in lente and ageyne in haruest tyme / whan the daye and nyght ben lyche longe / And for we speke of the sonnes entringe in to signes ye shal vnderstande that euery moneth ones the sonne passed oute of one signe in to another / And for we speke of the moneth of the mone. the moneth of the mone is from chaunge to chaunge / or from pryme to pryme Also the fyrst moneth of the mone is heere callyd the tyme of the mone / whan it is ful whan the day and nyght ben lyche longe in marche or next after / For in suche a tyme the world was fyrst made ¶Willelmus de pontifi­cibus libro tercio / thenne Colmannus bisshop of northumberlond was conuycte by wylfridus of mysholdynge of the esterday and was wroth and wente to the Scottes as it is afore sayde / And the same wilfridus was chosen Archebisshop of yorke by procu­rynge of Alfridus that was the kynges sonne. And was sente in to Fraunce for to be sacred / For deus dedit tharchebisshop of Caunterbury was dede that sholde haue sacred hym here in En­glonde That tyme kenwalcus kynge of westsaxons deled his prouynce in two bisshopryches ¶ Therfore egilbertus was wroth and wente ageyne in to fraūce there he was born and other thinges as it is sayd in the same book· Capitulo 15. Paulus libro / 6 Aboute that tyme Constantyn themperour wolde delyuer ytalye of the hondes of the longobardes and cam to Tarent in ytalye & axed there of an holy man that was solytarie / whether he mighte ouercome the longobardes or noo / he answerde that / it myght not yet be doo. For by cause of an abbaye that is founded in Ytalye in worship of seynt Iohan baptist / seynt Iohan prayeth alweye for the longobardes / But the time shal come whan that Oratory shal be despysed and vnworthy persones shal dwelle therinne. And thenne the longobardes shal fyrst be perisshed-Themperour rought not therof & wente forth ayenst the longobardes but he spedde not. ¶ But le spoylled Rome not withstondynge [Page] that vitalianus the pope prayd hym for to leue / And this Em­perour dyde many grete tyrantryes in Scicilia / and had atte last his penaunce in a bathe / Wilfridus as it is sayd was chosen Archebisshop of york and was by yonde the see with agilbertus abydynge his confirmacion / Thenne the counseyl of the quartadeci­mannes that ben they that helde the eester daye in the fourtenthe daye of the mone kyng oswy toke Cedde Abbot of lestyngay and made him Archibisshop of yorke ayenst thordenaunce of holy la­wes. Willelmus libro tercio capitulo visesimo septimo. and sente hym in to kent for to be sacred bisshop / But for thachebisshop deus dedit was ded cedda torned to wina bisshop of westsaxons for to be ordeyned of hym and toke with hym two bisshops of Bri­tons in his company to be with hym at his sacrynge. Thenne wilfridus come oute of Fraunce and sawe cedda made bisshop in his stede. thenne wilfridus abode in kente thre yere vnto the comyng of theodorus and made ther ordres and halowed chirches and made one putta a connyng man of songe bisshop of Rouchestre ¶Also that yere Benet bisshop wente agayn to Rome and in his comyng homwarde he was shorne in thabbaye lirnence and was there two yere / ¶ And thennes he wente to Rome / the thyrdde tyme and come agayne in to Englond with theodorus the bisshop and Adrianus thabbott atte commaundement of Vi­talianus the pope. Cissa the kyng. kynge Iues fader made an abbaye at Abendon / ¶ That yere seynt Leodegarins suffred deth in Fraunce vnder one Ebroinus the grettest man of the Kynges hows ¶Constāntinus themperour was slayne of his owen men in a bath in Scicilia ¶After Vitalianus the holy pope A deo datus was pope four yere / In his tyme seynt Benettes body was translated with the bodye of his suster Scolastica· Augustus a monke of Floria translated hem in to thabbay of Floria / that is besyde Orleaunce fro the mount cassin that is in the prouynce boneuent

¶ Capitulum 18.

THe fourth constantyn the forsayd Constantins sonne was Emperour seuenten yere. Grimiwaldus kynge of longo­bardes the nynthe daye after his bledyng on the arme shotte at a douue and his veyne to brake· And leches leyd therto venemoꝰ [Page CClviij] thynges and soo he was dede ¶Beda libro quarto capitulo secundo That yere theodorus tharchebisshop come in to kente fyue dayes to fore Iuyn the second yere of his consecracion / and he was bisshop there one and twenty yere and four monethis. This man was a monke born in thars in Scicilia and was connynge both in hooly letture and in seculer letture· in grue and in latyn / whan he was six and sixty yere olde vitalianus the pope sente him bis­shop in to Englond / and sente Adrian thabbot with him for to helpe hym / For he sholde brynge nothyng that is ayenst the feyth in to hooly chirche of Englonde as the grekes dyde· Anone he was comen / he wente aboute in to alle the ylonde and taught the ordre of right byleue and of right lyuyng· and the lawful holdynge of the eesterday and taughte his disciples the craft of syngynge of calculyng of Astronomye bothe in latyn and in grue by help of Adrian and ordeyned bisshops in certayne places / And the bisshops that were not lawfully ordeyned he put hem away / or ordeyned hem to be bisshops in other places / Among the whiche cedda that was not lawfully ordeyned bisshop of York. knowleched mekely his oune defaute. And theodorus put hym away fro the see of york and restored there wilfridus. and ordeyned cedda that was confermed atte last bisshop of mercia at prayer of king wulferus and badde hym ryde on horsbak / Beda libro tercio capitulo visesimo sexto / That tyme doctours were ful besy to serue g [...]d and not the world. the herte and not the wombe / therfor the habite of Relygyon was thenne in greete worship. soo that a monke or a clerk shold be gladly receyued And men that wente by the way prayd to haue his blyssynge And they wente for none other cause by weyes and stretes but for to preche and teche / for cris [...]e­nyng and for sauacion of mannes soule And they wold ressey­ue none possessions for to bylde abbayes but it were profered hem and they were dryuen to resseyue it by strengthe of lordes / Beda libro quarto capitulo quinto ¶Also that yere deyde Oswy kynge of northumberlond / his sonne Egfridus was kynge after him fiften yere / ¶ Item capitulo decimo octauo ¶This had Ethelfreda that had be Tonbertus wyf prince of the south girwyes whan Egfridus had had his wyf twelue yere and myght haue no leue of her for to dele with her for prayers / ne for yeftes. Thenne she hadde leue of the kyng and was made menchone one yere at Colud vnder Aebba kyng Egfridus aunte And after that she was made Abbesse of Ely. there she ete but ones a daye [Page] & neuer vsed lynen clothes / After the nyghtis collacion she awoke vnto the day / She deyde after that she had be abbesse seuen yere and lay hoole and founde xvj yere Beda libro quarto capitulo quinto / That yere was made a synode of bisshops vnder theodorꝰ at Tetford In that synode was ordeyned a statute of the right holdyng of the eestertyde / the second that no bisshop sholde assoyle in another mannes bisshopryche The thyrde that bisshops sholde not distourbe abbayes ¶ The fourth that clerkes and monkes shold not chaunge benefyces withoute leue of her souerayns The fyfthe that in a prouynce the synode shold be gadred ones in a yere ¶ Egbertus kyng of kente deyde And his broder lothari­us reg [...]ed after him enleuen yere ¶Marcus libro secundo Also that yere Agilbertus bisshop of westsaxons wente a waye wrothly for kenwalcus the kyng departed his bisshoprich a tweyne· And lentherius was made bisshop in his stede and confermed of theodorus. by the kynges wylle and he was bisshop seuen yere That yere was grete slaughter of fowles that faught to gyd [...]r ¶ [...]enwalchus kyng of westsaxons deyde the / xxx yere of his kyngdō / R. His wyf sexburga regned after him one yere. But beda sayth that vnderkynges or smal kynges deled the kyngdom bytwene hem ten yere ¶Beda libro quarto capitulo sexto That yere seynt Chedda deyde at lychefelde / the thyrde yere of his bisshopryche. theodorus made wynfryde cheddes dekene bisshop in his stede and put hym donne not longe after for he was vnobedydyent and made sexwulfus abbott of medampstede bisshop in his stede / ¶R Medampstede is now named peterburgh / and was somtyme in the kyngdom of girwies ¶ Wynfridus was putte doune the fourth yere of his consecracion and wente to barowe After deo datus pope bonus was pope a yere and six monethes / Beda vbi supra After the deth of wyna Erkenwolde the thirde bisshop of london made two abbaies one to him self in suthery in the ylond cereot that now is named chirchecye fiften myle out of london westward and another to his suster ethelberga / by eest london in the prouince of cessex / the abba [...]e hete now berkyng Ther she was abbesse in grete holynes. ¶To her seint Aldelme brought a book of maiden hede ¶Willelmus de pon libro secundo ¶It is supposed that by this holy maidens prayers it is that this place was neuer yet destroied / But that other abbaye of cherche seye was destroyed by the danes / And the kinge Edgar bilded it ageyne That yere oswinus bigan to regne ouer the westsaxōs [Page CClix] and regned thre yere and fought ayenst wulferus kynge of mercia at wydanheaf Also that yere deyd wulferus kynge of mercia and his broder etheldredus regned after hym thyrten yere For wulferus sone kynredꝰ myght not regne. for he was so yong Wulferus wyf ermenylda / whan her husbonde was dede was made mynchon at ely / And her doughter werburga vnder etheldreda Marianus ¶ Her eme etheldredus made this werburga menchon in somme abbeyes of maydens at Trykyngham at we­dunām at hamburgam. she deyde in the fyrst abbey. and was buryed in the thyrd as she had promysed while she was alyue· there she laye hoole and sounde aboute a thre honderd yere vnto the co­myng of the danes R ¶Atte last whan the danes laye at Rypyndon & had dryuen away the kyng of mercia / the Cyteseyns of hamburga drad and toke the bere that conteyned the body of that maide that was tho fyrst torned in to powder / & fled therwith in to legecestria that is chestre. as to the moost syker place ayenste peryll and meschyef of Alyens and of straunge enemyes ¶ In that cyte chestre were seculer chanons from kynge ethelstones ty­me to the comynge of normans & ofte possessions were yeuen ther to / And thenne monkes of Relygyouse dwellyd there in worship of that mayde / Mar. li / 2 / Thenne kynge wulferus hadde thre bre­theren as it is a fore sayd weda etheldredus / and merwaldus that was kyng of west mercia / his quene Ermenberga was Ermenredus doughter kyng of kente· And she bare hym thre holy doughters. Mylburga / Myldreda / and mylguyda. and one sonne Meresyn a man of grete [...]oolynes ¶ Quene Ermenberga was Ermenredus doughter ¶ Willelmus de pontificibus libro quar­to ¶ Also wulferus had two holy susters kynedda and kyne swyda menchons and were bothe buryed at medehampstede that nowe is peterburgh ¶There seynt ethelwoldus bylded an Ab­bay afterwarde / Kyneswyda conuerted so kynge offa / that after that she had forsake hym to husbonde· he wente to Rome with kinredus and Egwinus bisshop of the wiccyes and bycam a mon­ke ¶Agatho was pope thre yere / In his second yere was made the sixth synode at Constantinople of two honderd bisshops and four score / In that synode it is seyd that in cryste ben two wyl­les and two kyndes / Wylles and kyndes of Godheed and of manhede

¶ Capitulum 19

THeodorus kyng of Fraunce regned after his fader Clotari­us eyghten yere. Beda li / 4 / ca· 18 / That yere Etheld [...]dus kyng of mercia destroyed kent· And pucta bisshop of Rouchestre went fro Rouchestre to sexwulfus and receyued of him the chirche of herforde / there he toke more hede to melodye of hooly chirche than to amende his owne bisshopryche / Also that yere Benett the bisshop toke with hym colfridus the monke and went the fourth tyme to Rome and brought with hym Iohan the Archechaun­ter ¶Beda li. 4 / ca / 18 ¶Also that yere was don a grete batayll bytwene Egfridus kynge of northumberlonde and etheldredus kynge of mercia by syde the Ryuer of Trente / And kyng Egfridus broder was slayne that heete Elswinus / and was leef to both kyngdoms / For his deth was moche money gyuen atte instā ­ce of theodorus tharchebisshop and soo was made acorde In that fyghtynge one of Ethelfridus knyghtes was greuously wounded. And etheldredus men toke him as he wold haue rysen / And as ofte as he was in boundes with his enemyes or with one Frison that had boughte hym / his boundes brake as ofte as his bro­der a preeste songe masse fore hym as for a dede man· And in the same houre· And that dured alwey· till his raunson were payd / and that he cam to his broder ageyne· ¶ Also that yere was seen a sterre that hete stella comata thre monethes in the heruest tyme That tyme kyng Egfridus at exytyng of his wyf putte wylfri­dus oute of the bisshopryche of Northumberlond ¶ Treuisa. Stella cometa is a sterre with a lyght blasynge creest aboue· And euer it bytokeneth pestylence· deth and warre / or somme hard auentures / W. de re / li. 1 / Theodorus tharchebisshop halp to put wil fridus out of his bisshopryche / And for to folowe the kynges wil whan wylfrydus was put oute he ordeyned bosa bisshop at york in his stede. and eata at lyndeffar chirche / And tunbertus at Hagustald chirche / And Trunwinus at Candida cassa that is the whyte hows in the londe of pictes ¶ Marianus libro secundo And putte eadhedus in the chirche of Rypon. Eadhedus was co­men out of lyndeseye· For etheldredus kynge of Mercia hadde recouerd that prouynce ayenst Egfrydus Will ¶ Ther it myght be seen and sorowfully be meuyd that the wrecchedenes of mankynde / though it haue greete holynesse yet it put­teth not atte ful maners of Reblenes ¶ For as fer­forth as we can caste· Theodorus putte oute Wylfrydus [Page CClx] wrongfully· Beda libro quinto capitulo 19 ¶Thenne wilfridꝰ was so put oute and wente to Rome for his cause / but saylynge in the see he was wynde dryue in to Frisia / there he fyrste of alle conuerted many men· And wyllibrordus fulfylled it afterward Atte laste he come to Rome and cam to fore pope agatho & was herde and alowed / & there in a synode of an honderd bysshops and fyue and twenty he disputed ayenst the errour of hem that wolde teche that in cryst is but one wyll and one kynde. Willelmꝰ de pon / and he folowed his owne cause sobrely that he greued not theodorus that was sente by the court of rome and put none greuous accusations ayenst hym / but maintened his owne ryghtw [...] senes and suffrid it not bowe. he spake to the pope and sayd / why is it sire that theodericus while I am alyue hath ordeyned in my see thre bisshops by his owne auctoryte withoute myn assente / For he was sente by the court of Rome and I accuse hym not / But though wylfridus were alowed there / he had not in dede [...] that made the kynges frowardnes and theodorus assente Beda libro quarto capitulo ·12 ¶ Therfor wylfridus torned hym to southsaxons and bylded an abbay in sylyseye and prechyd xō yere vnto Egfridus deth and conuerted the peple / Also for thre yere to fore his comynge was there noo reyn. the fyrste day of his crystnyng hit bygan to reyne / the erthe wexe grene and berbes began to sprynge / he gadred ele nettes and taught men of the countrey to fysshe Oswinus kyng of westsaxons deyde and kentw [...] nus regned after hym nyne yere ¶That yere deide lentherius bisshop of that prouynce· and theodorus ordeyned hedda bisshop that was bisshop at wynchestre thyrtty yere. ¶Seynt A [...]doenus bis­shop of Roan deyde this yere. and the childe beda was borne / Af­ter agatho the second leo was pope thre yere / And the papacye cessed one yere Beda libro quarto capitulo visesimo / Seynt etheldreda abbesse of ely deyde Mari. li / 2. ¶ After her suster sexburga was abbesse that had be somtyme the wyf of ercombertus kynge of caunterbury. ¶ Beda vbi supra / That yere deyde hilda abbesse of whythy that had be seke six yere / fourten dayes to fore december the yere of her age six and sixty· she was kynge Edwynus nece an holy woman wyse and redy and wel lettred Oute of her Abbaye come fyue Bisshops Bosa / Eata / Offor Iohan and wylfrydus ¶ In her abbaye was a broder that hete Cedmon / that was taughte by inspiracion of God to make songes and dytee in the countrey langage· that sholde meane [Page] men to deuocion / In that manere of doyng noman myght be his pere / And he him self couth nothyng doo in other mater· but only in mater of deuocion. he cam therto in this maner· he wente on a tyme fro a feste ful soore ashamed for he was prayd to syng to the harpe and he couth not synge Thenne he was sory and fylle a slepe· and one cam to hym in his slepe and charged hym to syn­ge / I can not quod he and therfor I flee· After this sayd that other / singe boldly of him that made al thynges. This man awo­ke· and after that he made wonder poysyes· as it were of al the storyes of holy wrytte Henricus libro tercio ¶That yere theodo­rus made a counseyll of bisshops and of other doctours at hatfeld For he wolde wete and knowe of what byleue alle men were / as Pope Agatho hadde boden him by his Archechaunter Iohan. that was presente in that synode. That tyme the prouince of mercia that sexwulfus rewled allone was departed in fiue Bissho­pryches / one at chestre and another at worcetre· the thyrd atte Ly­chefeld / the fourth at Sedenia in lyndeseye / the fyfth at Dorches­tre / But pucta lefte at berford there sexwulfus had putte hym somtyme ¶ Paulus libro septimo ¶ Cunebertus kynge of Longobardes stode vnder his chambre wyndow and counseylled with one of his secretaryes how he myghte slee his knyght Aldo ¶Thenne there was a greete flye and he fonded to haue slayn [...] this flye and cutte of the flyes fote with a knyf

In the meane tyme Aldo not knowynge of the kynges entente· cam towarde the kynges court and mette with an haltman that went with a staf and sayd to Aldo in this maner / Beware the aldo / For yf thou comest to the kynges courte / thou shalt be slayn by the kynges honde. Whanne Aldo herde that he fledde to seynt Romaynes chirche and the kynge axyd hym why he dyde soo / And he answerd and sayde by cause an haltman hadde warned hym of his deth / Anone the kynge vnderstode that he that halted soo was a wycked spyryte / and that he hadde cut of his foote in lykenes of a flye· and hadde soo wrayed his counseyll and pre­vyte / And hadde alsoo exyted him to Aldoes deth / ¶ And so the Kynge resseyued Aldo to his grace ¶ After leo. the seconde Benet was pope fyue yere [...] / Osricus vnderkyng of mercia buylded an Abbaye of Gloucetre and made his suster kyneburgh Abbesse there ¶ That yere kynge kentwi [...]us chaced the weste Brytons vnto the see / And Benett Bisshoppe bylded an abbaye of seynt poule at girnum on the brynke of the [Page CClxj] Ryuer wyre and had to fore hond byld another abbaye of seynt peter in that other brynke of the same Ryuer / by helpe of kynge Egfridus and made colfridus abbot there / That yere Beda a childe of seuen yere old was taken to benet bisshops loore / And the / v / tyme to Rome and bytoke beda to colfridus· Beda libro quarto capitulo. 12 / That yere was gadred a synode vnder kyng Egfridus byside the Ryuer alue in a place that hete twyford· there was the odorus / there tundbertus was put doune of his bisshopriche of hagustald and cuthberd was made bisshop in his stede / but for he loued more the chirche of Lyndeffarn thyder he wente and· Ea [...]a was made bisshop at hagustald in his stede Beda· libro quar­to capitulo visesimo tercio / This cutberd was fyrst made a monke in the abbaye of mailros and thenne preest / And atte last he ly­ued an Ankers lyf in the ylond farn Also that yere kyng eg­fridus destroyed wrechidly the men of scotland that were alweye moost frendes to englysshmen / And they prayd helpe of god and feyned hem for to flee and begyled egfridus· not withstondynge the prayers of his frendes for he wold not doo after them and they tolled and drough him in to strayte places bytwene hilles and montaynes and slough him there and a grete dele of his hooste· From that tyme forward the strengthe of the angles by­gan to falle awey / And pictes Scottes and many of the Bry­tons receyued her londes with fredome ageyne / Cedwalla a stron­ge yonglyng of kynges kynde of the gewisses that ben westsax­ons / he regned ouer the westsaxons after kentwinus deth W [...]de Regibus / He was kenbrightus sonne / Kenbrightus was ced­daes sone / Ceadda was cutas sone / Cuta was Craulinus broder C [...]aulinus was kynricus sonne / Kynricus was Cerdicus sonne / Anone he slough Athelwold kynge of southsex· and made his prouynce thral and destroyed kente· and toke the yle of wyght [...] and yaf the fourth dele therof to seynt wylfridus for the loue of god In that partye of the yle were acounted thre honderd meynees and housholdes ¶ That yere in northumberlond Egfridus was slayn and his broder alfridus nothus bastard regned after him eyghten yere ¶ That yere Sarasyns come out of Egipte in to Affryca and toke cartage and destroyed it / And Constantin at Constantinople

¶ Capitulum 20

THe seconde Iustinianus after his fader Constantyn / was Emperour ten yere / After Benet the fyfth Iohan was pope one yere After him Zeno was pope tow yere Beda li / 4 ca / 23 Lotharius kyng of Caunterbury deyde of a wounde that he had taken in the fyghtynge of the southsaxons ayenst ceadwalla ¶After hym Edricus Egbertus sonne regned one yere and an half ¶After him that kyngdome was longe vnstedfast vnder certayne kynges til wightred lawful sonne was comforted & regned in that kyngdō. Mul kyng ceadwal [...]s broder & xij knightes were besieged & brēte in kente / therfor ceadwalla was wroth and destroyed kente eftsones / and wilfridus receyued the bis­shoprych of hagustald atte prayer of kynge Alfridus / For seint Iohan of Beuerley went to york whan bosa was dede After Zeno Sergius was pope thyrten yere / he ordeyned that Agnus dei shold he thryes songe in the masse / And by shewyng of god he fonde a grete dele of the holy crosse in seynt peters sacrarye / Gir / d. p / ca / 17 ¶The fyrst pipinus that hete vetulus breuis also the sone of ansegisilus the sone of seint arnulphꝰ was made the grettest of the kynges hows amonge Frensshmen & receyued the principate of the eest partye of Fraunce / and was prince seuen & twenty yere. he fought fyrst ayenst theodericus kyng of fraunce and chaced him vnto paris and wan the kyngdom and saued the kynges lyf and his name. Paulus libro septimo / That tyme in Fraunce kynges torned fro the wytte and strengthe that kinges were wonte to haue / And they that semed grettest in the kynges hows rewled the kyngdom / For god had ordeyned that the kingdom shold torne to the bloode of hem That yere deyde seynt cuthbert in the ylond farn that he had loued alwey. but his body was born in to the ylond lyndeffarn· His bisshopryche ruled wylfridꝰ one ye [...] til he was put out by the kynge / That yere Ceadwalla kyng of Westsaxons whan he had nobly ruled his peple thre yere. he forsoke thempyre and wente in pylgremage to Rome· There he was crystned of pope Sergius and named peter· yet while he was sette in whyte / he was with sekenes and deyde not fully thyrtty yere old thyrten dayes to fore maye and was buryed in seynt peters chirche· ¶ And was worthy to haue suche famous wrytinge on his tombe. ¶ Lordshippe Ryches Children / Plente of Ryches / and of welthe· Clothes of Ryche arraye. Prayers hows castellis and wallyd Townes [Page CClxij] that his fader and he had wonne by strengthe. Cedwal / the mighty man of Armes lefte and forsoke for loue of Almyghty god ¶ Gir de· p / capitulo 17 / Here take hede that this cadwaladrus the last kynge of Brytons is callyd Cedwalla in the storyes of Romayns & of longobardes and in bedas storye also. But corruptly for they knewe not the langage of Brytons / therfor in sōme place in the last verse on his tombe it is wreton in this maner Kynge Cadwaldrus lefte for the loue of god / for it is sayd that he was crystned of Sergius / that is to vnderstande that he was confermed by enoynting of holy crysme / And thenne his propre name was chaunged as it happeth in confermacion of children And though he were of Brytons he was callyd kyng [...] of west­saxons For he was kynge of hem also / For they ioyned to the walsshmen. Walshe men saye that they shal haue kynges ageyne whan cadwaldrꝰ bones ben brought from rome / but I holde that but a fable as I doo the storye of gaufridus in thende / After Cedwalla regned Iue of the lygnage of kynges the sonne of kynredus the sonne of Ceolwold / the sone of cutha. the sonne of cuthwyn the sonne of Ceaulinus and soo forthe. And Iue reg­ned seuen and thyrtty yere / And thenne he wente to Rome in po­pe gregoryes tyme / and so dyde many other that tyme Also that yere deyde benet bisshop / the xij daye of Ianiuer· Colfridus was abbot after hym in his eyther abbaye in the brynk of the Ryuer of wyre ¶Also theodorus tharchebisshop deyde the yere of his a­ge four score and seuen and of his bisshopryche two and twenty After hym Abbot brightwold was Archebisshop vnto the tyme tharchebisshops were of rome / and sith that tyme tharchebisshops were of Englond / Seynt wilfridus was efte accused of kynge Alfrydus to fore many bisshops and put oute of his bisshopriche

¶Therfore he appeled to the courte of Rome / and defended soo his cause to fore the pope Iohan· that he hadde lettres of the pope to the kynges of Englonde of his restitucion

The redynge of the Synode that was tho reherced was grete helpe to his cause / This wilfridus had be at that Synode in pope a­gathoes tyme / the lettres were redde that were sente for hym to kyng Aluredus / but the kyng wold not yet receyue him therfor / he torned to the kynge of mercia and receyued of him the bisshoprich of legecestria· that is chestre & helde it to Alfridus deth /

¶ Beda libro quinto Capitulo nono

¶ Aboute that tyme Egbertus the Monke. that we spake [Page] of tofore hond that escaped the moreyn by prayers and auowes had sayled about brytayn & cast for to conuerte the men of germania. but dedes and warnynge of heuen letted hym. For the shippe that he had ordeyned for that iourney was to broke with a sodein tempest of weder / And tho one of his bretheren was warned by a vision and spak to egbertus and sayde. that he must whether he wold or no retorne to seynt columbaes abbaye ageyne / For their plowes yede not a right / therfor he sente wyllebrordus with / xij. felawes in to the countreyes of germania· And he torned moche folke to the feythe by helpe of the older pupinus duk of Frensshe men that had wonne the hyther fryselond / And atte last by auctorite of the pope gregory he was made bisshop of vtrecht and ruled that bisshopryche wel and nobly wel a fourty yere ¶ Offorus deyde Bisshop of wiccies that had men of the bisshoprich of wir­cestre and Egwinus was bisshop after hym that sone afterward bylded the abbaye of euesham by assente of Etheldredus / whan theodericus kynge of Fraunce was dede whome pupinus Vetulus had myldly suffrid to regne with him / he made his sonne Clodoneus kyng / pupinus vetulus hete pupinus breuis also That yere the men of Caunterbury made pees with Iue kynge of the westsaxons and yaf thre thousand pound for the deth of mul cedwalles broder. Iustinianus Cesar was priued of the ioye of his kyngdome for gylt and mysbyleue and wente exyled in to pontus Leo patricius refte him his nose and his tonge and exy­led him in to Cersona

¶ Capitulum 21 /

THe seconde Leo was emperour thre yere. In his tyme Clo­doneus kynge of Fraunce deyde. And pupinus made his broder childebertus kyng The men of northumberlond slowghe ostryda / etheldredus wyf that was kynge oswyes doughter Willelmus de pontificibus libro quarto ¶ That yere Cuthlacus the confessour forsoke armes & the boost and pompe of this world and wente to the abbaye of Rypendon / And there vnder the Abbesse Alfrida he toke tonsure and habyte of clerk / the xxiiij yere of his age Thenne the thyrdde yere after he wente in to the yle of Crowland / and there he bygan to lyue an Ankers lyf & dyde many myracles & had power ouer vnclene spyrites / so grete as the [Page CClxiij] comyn tale that he made hem buylde many places· and he closed such a [...] a sethyng erthen pot. there as his hody now lyeth is buylded a [...] [...]baye· that neuer was destroyed amonge alle the stryues and chaungynge of tymes. there resteth the confessour neotus that was somtyme the disciple of Erkenwald / Bisshop of london / & though noman may come to that place of Croulond but by ship or by boote / yet that is neuer well nygh without [...]stes Beda That yere bifell in brytayn that myracle that ought to be remēbryd for thelthe of sowle· for one that hete brightwoldus was dede somwhat long tyme and aroos ageyne to lyue and tolde many thynges to many men / And departed his catell on thre· And yaue his wyf one dele and his children another / And kepte him self the thyrd and deled it to poure men / and ended his lif in thabbay of mailros. the iij tiberiꝰ was emperour seuen y [...]re He aroos ageinst leo and assoylled his kyngdome and helde h [...]m in warde as longe as he regned. In his tyme Iustinianus that was exyled in Cersona made openly his booste that he shold reco­uer the empire / therfor the peple was meuyd for loue of tiberius and fonded for to slee Iustinianus / therfor he fledde to the prince of turkes and spoused his suster and recoueryd themppre atte laste by helpe of him and of the bulgares / ¶ And slowe Leo and Tiberius that had assoylled thempire. And as ofte as he wyped of a drope of corrupcion of his nose that somtyme was cut so ofte he made sle somme one of his enemyes The fyfth general Synode was holden in aquilia in sergius tyme ¶ After Sergi­us the thyrdde leo was pope two yere. he is not acompted in the ordre of bisshops by cause he was wrongfully putte in by patricius Beda libro quinto capitulo 1 [...] Aboute th at tyme Arnulphus bisshop of galles come in to Britayne / he wente in to Ie­rusalem for to visite the hooly places & yede aboute in al the londe of byheste and came to damaske to Constantinople to Alexan­dria and to many ylondes of the see and sayled homeward in to his countrey ageyne and was cast by strengthe of tempest to the west clyues of Brytayne. There he fonde goddes seruaunt Ada­minanus / Abbot of the ylond hij / and tolde him wondres of holy places· And he made anone a booke therof as he hadde herde the wondres and sente it to kynge Alfridus to rede R ¶It semeth that beda toke of that booke afterward suche / as he wrote of ho­ly places ¶ After leo the sixth Iohan was pope thre yere / ¶That tyme etheldredus kynge of mercia forsoke this worldly [Page] kyngdom & was shorn monke at bardeny / After him regned leuredus .v / yere the sone of his broder wylferus· the seuenth iohan was pope thre yere That tyme deyde hedda bisshop of wynchestre ¶After hym that bisshoprych was departed a tweyne. For Brythelynus tharchebisshop put danyel at wynchestre at seint aldelme at shirborne ¶ Seynt Aldelme was to fore honde abbot of maltby that is malmesburye ¶Willelmus de pontificibus li­bro quarto Also that yere deyde Sexwulfus bisshop of mercia After him hedda helde lychefeld and wylfrydus chestre· but af­ter two yere Alfridus kyng of northumberlond deyde And wilfridus torned ageyne to the bisshopryche of hagustald and was bisshop afterward foure yere. And tho hedda helde both the bisshopriches of lychefeld and of chestre

¶ Capitulum 22·

THe second iustinianꝰ regned agein with his sone tiberiꝰ vj yere / This was he that was priued of thempyre by leo / but for he recouerd thempyre this yere / therfor the storye maketh efte mynde of him / thenne Iustinianus was restored and helde the right feyth and worshiped Constantin the pope and destroyed cersona the place of his exylynge and slough alle that dwellyd the rinne oute take children / And efte whan he wold slee the chil­dren / men of that prouynce made hem a Capitayne one philipicus that was exyled and dwellyd there / And anone he wente to constantinople and slough Iustinianus That yere deyde alfridus kyng at driffelde After hym his sone Osredus a childe of viij / yere regned enleuen yere / ¶ Ssinmus was pope twenty dayes After him the fyrst constantyn was pope seuen yere / he denounced philipicus an heretyk· for he had put ymages of holy sayntes out of chirches Beda libro quinto capitulo 19 ¶That yere kenre­dus kynge of mercia lefte his kyngdome to colredus the sone of his cāme Etheldredus and wente to Rome with Offa· the kynges sonne of westsaxons and with egwinus bisshop of wiccies ¶ Treuisa / ¶The See of wyke was torned to worcetre and is there yet ¶ Thenne it foloweth in the storye / Colredus kynge of mercia translated fyrst the body of seynt wesburgh the mayde out of therthe atte abbay of hamburgh / that had leyn there nyne yere hoole and sounde / And dured soo hoole and sounde vnto the [Page CClxiiij] comyng of the danes at Rypendon· aldelme. bysshop of shirburn deyde· hym buryed egwinus. this aldelm was kyng Iues broder sone kenten and was called aldelm as it were in an olde Elmeor an olde helme and moost connyng in lettres of grue and of latyn. he had and vsed instrumētes of musike pipes and strenges and other maner gleo· Fyrste he was a monke and thenne he was made preest & abbot of malmesbury / he toke vpon him this martirdome that whan he were temptyd in his flesshe. he wolde holde with hym a fayr maide in his bed as longe as he was saing the sauter fro the begynnyng to thende· Treuisa Saue reuerence of seynt aldelm / this semeth none holynes ner wysedom but pu­re very foly bothe for him self and for perylle and drede of temptacion of the woman as it may be preuyd both by Auctoryte & reason Thenne it foloweth in the storye / the seuenth day of the weke whan chapmen come he prechyd to hem besyly the worde of god Atte last his grete fame exyted sergius the holy man pope to sende after hym by lettres and by pystles / thēne he cam to rome and hadde desired longe to see that cyte and had with him vestementes for to synge alwey masse and songe masse to fore the pope in seynt Iohns chirch latran. There on a day after his masse he had supposed to haue take his chesible to one of his seruauntes behynd hym / But the seruauntes were not there and the chesible fyll on the sonne beme / and the sonne beeme bare hit long ty­me where his other seruauntes faylleden / That chesible is yet in thabbay of malmesbury ¶ Also that tyme the holy pope was deffamed that he hadde goten a bastard childe whan the childe was nyne dayes olde he was brought to crystnyng to seynt aldelme and seynt aldelme coniured the childe of nyne dayes olde that he sholde telle yf sergius the pope had bygote hym / the childe an­swerd and sayd that the pope was gyltles of that dede. Atte laste Aldelm with many pryueleges wente home ageyne to his ab­beye and wrote noble bookes de virginitate / De termino Postali De veteris ac noui testamenti floribus· de caritate. de sensibilium rerum natura· De regulis pedum metricorum / de methaplasmo & de metrico dyalogo. he was abbot of malmesbury fourty yere / And was Bisshop foure yere ¶ And that tyme his bretheren made hem another abbot / but they buryed hym whan he was dede And Egwinus the bisshop cam to his buryeng as it is supposed by warnyng of god almyghty / ¶ Afterwarde hooly bisshopdunston worshipped gretely his place and highted [Page] his shrine / & yaf therto organs and belles holy relykes and ornamentes / & by cause men shold not take hem awey vnskylfully he cursed therfor and wrote in this maner / Bisshop dunstan yeueth seynt Aldelm Organs· who that taketh hem awey lose he the kyngdome of heuen ¶Also in a water st [...]ne it is wreton in this ma­ner / Archebisshop dunstan heete Iute this stene. For it shold in the holy temple serue seynt Aldelm. Also in the belle of the fray­tour it is wreton in this maner / In hie halle of heuen come he neuer that stelyth this belle oute of seynt Aldelms seete ¶Aboute this yere deyd seynt wylfridus ¶In his tombe ben wreton suche verses ¶ Wylfridus holy by mynde / worthy by name / Greued with peryls here wel many long tyme. thre sithe fyften yere· Bis­shop he was here a lyue / And passyd with ioye to the blys that is in heuene Beda libro quinto capitulo 19 ¶This child was of sharp wytte and wente in the fourtenthe yere of his age to thab­bay of lyndeffare and lerned there many thynges of the loore of Relygyon / & knewe thenne that somme thynges were not right­fully holden of the Scottes And wente to Rome for to lerne more parfyght loore / there he lerned the four gospels of Boneface tharchedeken and the compot of the eester and other nedefull thinges to the vse of holy chirche / In his comyng ageyne he dwellyd with Alfinus bisshop of lugdunensis till he was slayne by the quene batild ¶Thenne wylfridus wente ageyne in to Brytayne and resseyued londe of kyng of wyns for to make an Abbay at Rypoun· there he was made preest of Agilbertus ¶ After that whan the stryf was ended of the eester terme. he was chosen bisshop of yorke as it is sayd a fore honde / whan he was dede his preest Acta was bisshop after him at hagustal̄d chirche. Beda libro quinto capitulo secundo That yere deyde Adrianus Abbot of seynt peters and helper of theodorus tharchebisshop· his disci­ple and successour was albynus / Of him it is wreton innermore

¶ Item capitulo duodecimo That tyme nactanus kynge of pictes sente messagers to col̄fridus abbot of Bedaes abbay / that is thabbaye gerwyk to be. enformed of the very hol̄dynge of the ester tyde & of the man of tonsure of hoolly chirche / emong other thingis he wrote to hym / that for to holde a right the eester terme Thre rules ben nedeful̄ to knowe / Tweyne of hem ben conteyned in moyses lawe and the thyrd in the gospell by thordenaunce of thappostlis / And soo he sente to hym the very true maner and reulis to holde the eesterday like as we now hol̄de ¶ The second [Page CClxv] Ius [...]inianus sent his hoost for to take Philipicus that he hadde lefte at pontus in cersona. but the hoost torned to philipicus syde and slough Iustinianus The second philipicus that hete dardanicus also was Emperour one yere and six monethes / he fled in to scicilia for the hoost of rome· And by cause he was an heretik he commaunded to scrape of al the payntynge of chirches Therfor the Romayns threwe awaye al maner money that his ymage was graue ynne / the second Anastasius was Emperour thre yere after that he had slayne philipicus ¶In his tyme Dagobertus was kynge of Fraunce after his fader Childebertus / & regned enleuen yere by suffraunce of pypinus vetalus / that yet ruled the kynges hows After Constantinus the second gregory was pope sixten yere ¶ That yere seynt cuthlacus the Anker deyde in crowlond. And I [...]e kyng of westsaxons and colredus kyng of mercia foughten at wodenesburgh so sharply. and either of hem bare hym self so vngraciously. that it was not knowen / whether of them hadde worse spedde ¶ The thyrde theodosius was Emperour one yere and was goodly and benygne. and ouercome his predecessour Anastasius and made hym a preest But after one yere this theodosius was putt downe and made a clerk by his successour the thyrdde leo the stronge / ¶ In his ty­me come many sarasyns and besyeged Constantinople thre yere. It semeth that Iohan damascenus was that tyme in his flow­res and was brought in to Perce There were lettres wreton of his enemyes and throwen forth and founde and openly redde / In whiche lettres was conteyned his conspyracye ayenste the prince. Thenne his right honde was smyten of / for he sholde neuer ward wryte / but he prayd fast to our lady that he seruyd bysyly and his honde was restored to hym ageyn ¶R It it is not to suppose that this Iohan is Iohan theremyte that is sette in the book of faders / soone after hillarion and warned theodosius the emperour of other vyctoryes ¶It is another Iohan that was in the thyrdde theodosius tyme in grece and afterward in Perce and made many noble bookes in bothe philosophye. ¶That Io­han theremyte was long tyme to fore the grete gregory· And this Iohan damascenus was long tyme after the grete gregorye

¶That is knowen by that· that this Iohan damascenus in his bookes of diuynyte aledgeth the grete gregoryes noble and grete myracle of the drlyueraunce of Traianus· that may not be vnderstande of gregory nazauzenus· for he was aboute constantinople [Page] and aboute pontus and vnnethe come euer at Rome / But mynde of that myracle of the delyueraunce of Traianus atte sepulcre of thappostles in the cyte of Rome by the grete Gregory pope is holden euery yere as holy chirche maketh mynde / In tretynge of dedes that helpeth hem that ben dede / Iohan damascene alledgeth that myracle

¶Capitulum 23

THe thyrdde leo with his sone Constantyn was Emperour fyue and twenty yere / In his fyrst yere deyde pipinus Vetulus after that he hadde gouerned the kynges hows eyght and twenty yere / ¶After hym come charles that was bygoten on a Concubyne and heete tutides and marcellus also / And hadde suche names of sledges and hamers / with the whiche smythes beten and temperen grete gaddes of yron. tudes or malleus in la­tyn is a sledge or an hamer in englysshe This Charles fought nobly ayenst sarasyns that come oute of Affrica and made hem flee in one batayll at peytow· and in another batayll at narbon and chaced hem in to spayne· in the whiche bataylls were slayne four hondred thousand & fyue & sixty thousand of sarasyns / Also he fought ayenst the saxons and ayenst the bauar [...]es Also ayenst hendo a duc of guyen & ayenst Raufredus duc of angeo Also this charles for besynes of warres and bataylles that fill vpon hym bytoke the goodes of holy chirche to lewdmen. therfore Eucherius bisshop of Orleyans while he laye in his bedes sawe this charles in body and in soule. tormented in helle / The Angel that shewyd that syght to the bisshop sayde that it was bycause he toke the goodes of holy chirch and of poure men / Thenne by warnynge of the bisshop the abbot of seynt denys and pipinus preest wente to charles graue and torned the stone / and sawe a greete dragon flee oute of the graue / but ther was no body y founde ¶ Paulus libro septimo That yere at Rome the Ryuer Tiber wex [...] so grete and soo huge that the watres that fylle mette and ioyned to geders fro port seynt peter to port Iuilinum / and dured so seuen dayes til the Cyteseyns made a letany / That yere deyde kynge etheldredus after that he hadde be kynge of mercia thyr­ty yere and monk e of bardony thyrten yere / And he was bury­ed at lycheselde After him his cosyn ethelbaldus regned that [Page CClxvj] was pendaes neuewe sone in his broder side / And soo he was the sone of the sone of alwy pendaes broder· And ethelbaldus reg­ned fourty yere as cuthlacus the confessour hadde sayd This ethelbaldus in the eyghtenthe yere of his kyngdome bysie­gid Somerton and wanne it and spoylled northumberlond & ouercome the walsshmen / but in the xxxvij yere of his kyngdom he was ouercome of cuthredus kyng of westsaxons / The laste yere of his kyngdome his owne men slowe hym at Secandon Also that yere Colfrydus abbot of girwey deyde at hugon in pilgremage Willelmus de pon libro quarto That yere deyd seint Egwinus the thyrdde bisshop of wyccies / ¶ That Bisshopryche is nowe callyd wyrcetre. In a tyme Egwinus bythought hym of the synnes of his yongthe. and gyuyd him self / and threwe the keyes of the gyues in to the Ryuer Auene· And wente gy­ued openly to Rome· And sayd he shol be syker of the foryeuenes of his synnes / Whan his gyues were vnshyt and vnloken by the vertue of god or ellys by the same keyes· And he wente soo gy­ued to Rome· And it is sayd that the belles of the cyte bygon­ne to rynge by hem self in his comynge / he come ageyne with priuelege for his chirche / whyle he saylede in the see of Brytayne a grete fysshe leepe in to his shippe. And in the gutte of that fysshe was founden the keye that vnlokked the gyues Beda libro 5. capitulo sexto Seynt Iohan bisshop of york deyde at deyrwode that is beuerle the yere of his bisshopryche thre and thyrtty / and was buryed in the porche of the minstre. In his fyrst yeres & specially in lente he dwellyd in seynt mychels chappel at hastugald chirche not f [...]r fro the tyne in the northe hylle of the same place that hete hernyshowe in Englyssh / But in englysshe that is now vsed hit hete Ernes hille / And he deyde atte last atte Beuerley that is four and twenty myle oute of yorke estward. And that place is called beuerley / and also brokkesly. For many brockes were wonte somtyme to come thyder oute of the hilles that ben there nygh / There seynt Iohan builde a chirche of seint nicholas and another of seint Iohan baptist in the hille for refresshing and feding of bretheren / The fredome and the priueleges of that place is encreced to grete prouffit and worship / so that ther is receyued no bataille and stryf bitwene tweyne / but who that is accused shal purge him self with his owne honde I [...]em Beda vbi supra After this Iohan his preest wilfridus was bisshop thirtty yere

R¶ This hete the yonger wilfridus and ouerpassed bedaes [Page] tyme, For ther were thre famous wilfrydes. the fyrste was the more wylfrydns that went thryes to Rome of him we haue spoken to fore honde / that other was the yōger wylfrydus that was bisshop of yorke / after seynt Iohan of beuer [...]ey· the thyrdde was bisshop of wyccyes after Egwin [...]e. ¶Willelmus de pontificibꝰ libro secundo Kyng Iue bylded on abbaye at glastenbury as Aldelm had counseylled hym somtyme ¶ That abbay endured nobly vnto the tyme of the danes / but afterward by help of dunstan vnder kynge edmond and kynge edgar / that abbay was nobly amended and arayd to the comynge of normans / But after that tyme I note by what mysshappes / it is alweye sette with wycked trauaylles· ¶Also the abbottes of that place for greete Rychesses ben proude & bycome tyrauntes and swellen in pryde outward and be not wroth / & ben cruel in ward and not prouffytable And that was specially knowen in abbot thurstinus tyme ¶R Thider were translated the boones of seynt hilda thabbesse / of colfrydus thabbott of gyrwye / & somme bones of Bisshop aydan the which bones king Edmond brought with hym whan he was in the iourney ayenst the Scottes ¶There resteth the se­cond patriark of Irlond abbot and confessour / The mar [...]iloge that is redde on seynt bartilmeus day sayth that he wold conuerte the yrysshe men and myghte not / ther fore he forsoke yrlonde and cam to glastyngbury and deyd there on seynt Bartilmeus daye

¶ Capitulum 24.

LEo themperour lefte thenemyes of thempyre and warryd ayeynste fygnres and ymages of sayntes / Pope gregorye & Germanus of Constantinople withstode him manly as the olde vse and customme wolde that is alowed and approued by holy chirche and sayde that it is worthy and medefull to doo hem the affection of worship / For we worshipe in hem but god / And oft by the fyght of suche ymages men worshipe god and holy saintes God a [...]one shal be principally worshiped and after hym Creatu­res shal be worshiped in worship of him Beda libro quinto ca­pitulo visesimo quarto ¶ That yere deyde wyhtredus kyng of Caunterbury and Thobias bisshop of Rouchestre that couth la­ [...]yn and grue as wel as his owne langag [...] / Paulus libro 7 / [Page CClxvij] That yere sarasyns come vnto Constantinople / and besyeged it thre yere and toke thens moche good catell / Wyght brandus kynge of longobardes herd therof and raunsonned the Relyques of seynt austyn the doctour / the whiche relyques were somtyme trā slated to sardina for fere of straunge enemyes / And he made hem to be borne to the cyte of gene / and thens to papye / that hete somtyme titinum / ¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro primo Kynge Iue bytoke his kyngdome of westsaxons to his Cosyn ethelardus / and wente to rome / hit is sayd that he was the fyrst of kynges that graunted to seynt peter of euery hows of his kyngedome a peny / that long tyme of englysshemen was callyd Ro­me skott / but in latyn it is called petres peny / The kynges wyf ethelburga yaue him occasiō to take that pylgremage / & that in this man / she had ofte coūceyled her husbond to forsake the ryches of this world / & specially in the last yeres of his lyf / but she sped not / therfor atte laste she fonded to ouercome hym with gyle / And in a tyme whanne they had leye to gyder in the Ryal cyte / and departed thens / thenne after thre dayes the gouernour of the cyte defowled the palays with al the fylthe that he myght fynde with dunge and fylth of beestes and of mukhilles / And where the kynge had leyn and slepte / he leyde a sowe with her pigges that late had farwed / Alle this he dyde by assente and commaū dement of the quene / thenne the quene prayd her husbond with flaterynge and desyred him to come to that place / there he had be The kynge graunted and cam thyder / and sawe that place that somtyme was lyke to Sardanapalus plesure and lust / thenne so disarayd and defowled / whanne she sawe this occasion / she spak to the kynge and sayde / I pray you my lord / where ben nowe the curteyns / and alle the ryche arraye of halles and chambres / Where is nowe the plesaunt seruyse of them that were wonte to flatre you / where is the lykynge and plesaunt seruyse of glo­tonye and lecherye / Be they not al passyd ¶ Soo my Lorde shal oure flesshe passe and falle aweye / that is now norysshed in golde and in ryche araye / here with her husbond was ouerco­me / and after his noble bataylles and vyctoryes / and grete prayes that he had taken / he bytoke his kyngdome to his neuewe / and wente to Rome / He cam not openly thedyr in syghte as a kynge / but he share his heed / and clothed hym as a poure man / and wexe olde amonge beggars / ¶ But the que­ne Ethelburga wente to the Abbay of berkynge there her suster [Page] had be abbesse / And she was afterward made abbesse of the same maydens and made a blessyd ende / and passed to reste

Beda li / 5 / ca / 29 / Osricus kynge of northumberlond deyde after the nynth yere of his kingdome / After hym Colwulfus regned nyne yere / To hym beda wrote the storye callyd historia Anglyca­na / Beda vbi supra / That yere were seen two grisely sterres with blasyng crestes aboute the sonne / that dured two wekes / That one of hem passed erly to fore the sonne / and the other cam after the sonne at eue / And these sterres blased and caste as it were brenning brondes toward the northside and boded grete deth and manslaughter / For thenne cam a greuous meschyef of Sa­rafyns / and bete doune gallia that is fraunce / Beda li / 5 / ca / 25 / That yere deyde bryghtwoldus archebisshop of doroberma / that is caunterbury / ¶ After him Tadwynus was archebisshoy and was sacred of the bisshops of london / of wynchestre / and of Rou­chestre / That yere the south prouynces vnto the marche of the Ryuer of humbre were subget to ethelbaldus kynge of mercia / The pyctes and the Scottes hadden pees with the Angles / Somme brytons were at her owne lawe / and somme seruyd the Angles After the seconde gregory / the thyrdde gregory was pope enleuen yere / he confermed the worshipyng of holy ymages in a counceyl that was made at Rome of a thousand bisshops / And cursed dredefully alle them that done ayenste that statute of worshipyng of holy ymages / Also that yere one petronax bryxianus wente to the hylle mount cassyn and restored the place couenably of go­des of catel and of monkes by comfort and commaundement of pope gregory / Tadwinus tharchebisshop of caunterbury deyde / And nothelinus bisshop of london was archebisshop after hym / Also that yere deyde Alwynus wor bisshop of lychefeld / And wytta was bisshop of lychefeld whan he was dede / & Totta was Bisshop of legecestria / that is chestre / And eata dured yet a dor­chestre / ¶ R ¶ That yere deyde that worthy man Beda the preest / Willelmus de Regibus libro 5 / The seuenth yere of his age he was bytake to nourysshynge and to loore to benet bisshop of girwye / ¶ And after his deth to Colfrydus abbot of the same place / In his nyntenth yere he was made deken of Iohan Bis­shop of yorke / and preest in his thyrtty yere / that yere he bygan to wryte / and so he spente al his lyf tyme in the same abbay / and made hym besy to studye and expowne holy wrytte / & among the besynes that he had euery day in the seruyse of Relygyon and in [Page CClxviij] syngynge in chirche / he hadde grete swetenes and lykynge to ler­ne / to teche and to wryte / he wrote / lxxviij / bookes / he acompteth the bookes in historia Anglicana / Here lacketh and fayleth con­nynge and speche to wondre atte ful / that a man that was soo without vse of scole made so many noble volumes in so sobre wordes in soo lytel space of his lyf tyme / Of al this I conclude that he come neuer at Rome / though̄ som men wold wene that he went to Rome to be ther presente and to shewe that his bookes were acordyng to the loore of hooly chirche / And yf that they were not acordyng / for to amende hem atte popes commaūdement But that he wente blynde aboute for to preche / that he was ladde by fraude of his man for to preche to stones / that answerd & said Amen / that he wente thryes to Rome / that he fonde thre / R. and thre / F / wryten and expowned what is sygnefyed / I fynde not these thynges wreton in bookes of Auctoryte / Somme men [...] that suche a wrytynge was founden / R / R / R / F / F / F / And such an exposicion / Regna ruent Rome / Ferro / Flamma / fame que / that is to say / Kyngdoms of Rome shal falle by Iron / fyre and honger / ¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro primo But by Pope Sergius pystle that was sent to abbot colfrydus it is knowen that beda was sente after and prayd for to come to Rome / for tassoylle questions that there were meuyd / Here take heede / how worthy the court of Rome helde hym / that soo noble a court had nede to haue hym for to declare & assoylle the questions that there were meuyd / And also how worthy we shal holde hym by the maner of his lyuynge and of his techynge / he myghte not be vycious that spent soo his wytte and thoughte in expownynge of hooly wrytte / But his clennesse was seen moche at his laste ende / For seuen wekes continuelly his stomak had Indignacion of mete and of drynke / Soo that vnnethe he myght reteyne ony mete / and was strayt and short brethed / But for al that he spa­red not the trauaylle of letture and of bookes / But euery daye amonge the de [...]ty trauaylle of seruyse and of psalmes / he taught his disciples in lessons and in questions / And he tourned seint Iohans Gospell in to Englysshe / and sayde / Lerne ye my smal Childeren while I am a lyue and with you / I wote not how longe I shal with yow abyde / And euer amonge he sayd that sawe of Ambrose / I haue not so lyued amonge you / that me shameth to lyue / nether me dredeth to deye / For we haue a good lorde / ¶ By nyghte whanne he hadde noman to [...]eche / he [Page] trauaylled besyly in bedes byddynge and thankyng god of al / The tuesday to fore thascencion his deth neyhed / & his feet bygonne to swelle. he was houseled and enoynted and kyssed his bre­theren and prayd hem alle to haue of him mynde / And he yaue to many of his seruauntes thynges that he had kepte in pryuyte In the ascencion daye the clothe of heer was spred and he leyd him doune and prayd the grace of holy goost and sayd / O king of blysse· lord of vertues that hast the prys and art this day / styed vp aboue al heuenes / leue thou vs not faderles· but send thou in to vs that byheest of the fader / the Goost of sothnes / whanne that was ended he yelded vp the last breth with a wel grete suetenes of smel-and thenne he was buryed there / But the comyn fame tellith that he is now at durham with seynt Cuthbert / and with him was buryed wel nygh all the knowleche vnto the con­quest of dedes of englond and neygh alle the connyng of lettres For after that tyme after lewde came more lewd. As the shamely verses that were wreton on his tombe bere grete wytnes of vnconnyng / tho versus be vnworthy to be wryten on so worthy a mā nes tombe / these ben the verses / Beda the preest resteth here y buried in the flesshe· Cryste graunte his soule to be glad in heuen foreuer / Graunte him to drynke the welle of wysedome that he hath now. Desired besily alwey right with loue grete ¶ Aboute that tyme ricoldus duc of Frysons was tourned by the prechyng of of seynt wulfranus the bisshop and wold be crystned. And put his one foote in the fontestone and withdrew that other / and axyd of hem that stode aboute whether ther were moo of his prede­cessours in paradys or in helle / and was answerd moo in helle he herde that and drough his fote oute of the water and sayde It is esyer that I folowe the moo than the lesse / and so he was begyled of the fende· and deyde the thyrdde day after

¶Willelmus de pontificibus libro quarto

Aboute that tyme deyde seynt Frydeswyde / the mayde borne at Ox [...]nford the doughter of duc dydamus / kynge algarus a lecherous man folowed her to the Cyte of Oxenford / And whanne the mayde was entryd in to the cyte the yates closeden and shytt by hem self / And the kynge werde blynde that poursued her But by the prayer of the mayde the kyng had his syght ageyne Syth that tyme after kynges of Englond drede for to come with ynne that Cyte for drede of myshappes that myght hem by­falle ¶ Colwulfus kynge of northumberlond after eyghte [Page CClxix] yere of his kyngdome lefte his kyngdome to his cosyn Egbertus the sone of his faders broder / and becam [...] monke at bedas abba­ye / And egbertus regned nynten yere· ¶ R But Willelmus de regibus sayth that he was shore at lyndeffa [...] churche / and atte last buryed besyde seynt cuthbert / nothelinus archebiss [...]p of caunterbury / deyde / And cuthbert bisshop of herford was Archebisshop after hym

¶ Capitulum 25

THe fyfth constantinus after his fader leo was Emperour thre and thyrtty yere / This as his fader vsed toke ymages oute of chirche in euery place and sette hem a fyre / Etheldredus kynge of westsaxons deyde the fourtenth yere of his kyngdome / His cosyn cuthbert was kynge after hym· and werryd oftymes ayenst ethelwaldus kynge of mercia. and regned sixten yere. His cosyn Sygebertus regned after hym two yere / he was prou­de of the happes of his predecessour and gouerned his subgettis hard and euyl· And torned the lawes at his owne wylle And slough the noble Erle cumbranus euyl and wyckedly / for he had spoke to hym of his euyl berynge and dedes But atte laste for he wold not be amended. he was put oute of his kyngdome. thenne he wente in to a wode· and hidde him self / And a swyneherd of therles that was slayn fonde hym & slough hym. ¶Aboute that tyme deyde Charles marcellus / After hym his two sonnes the second pipinus and charlemayne come to the pryncipate of the kynges hows / ¶ But charlemayne after the fourth yere of his pryncipate lefte of the pryncipate by counceyl of his broder· and toke the wey to Rome· and was shore a monk in pope Zacharyas tyme. And made an Abbeye in the hylle Mount Sarapte / and lyued there somdele long tyme / But atte laste by cause frensshmen come thyderto ofte to hym as to theyr lorde as they dyde somtyme· he wente thennes to mount Cassyn / And they prayd hym thāt he wold sende lettres to the kynge of Fraunce for to restore ageyne seynt benets body to mount Cassyn The pope dyde as he was prayd / And the kynge of Fraunce bad the monkes of floriacio to delyuer seynt Benettes body Thenne the monkes bygan to wepe and to faste / and prayd god besyly that the body must abyde with hem / god herd their prayers [Page] and smote the messagers that were sente / and made hem starke blynde. And soo they fayled of theyr purpoys and wente in to y­taly ageyne. thenne the second pipinus prefecte of the palays gouerned the kyngis hows of Fraunce / Vnder hildericus the sone of theodericus· for he was an vnprofytable man and to esy and resseyued nothyng of the kyngdome / but the name of the kynge­dome and his liuelode / Pipinus axyd of the pope Zacharyas / yf he shold be kyng that helde him apaid only with the name of king and yaue him to slouthe and dyde none other good / The pope wrote ageyn and sayde that he shold haue the name and be kyng that rewleth wel the comynte / the frensshemen were gladde of this an­swer. and closed hildericus in an abbay and made pipinus kynge And after the eyghtenth yere he was made Emperour by decre of Zacharyas the pope / thenne he compellyd astulphus kynge of ytaly that inpugned the right of Rome for to restore that he had ta­ke and made hym delyuere and yeue plegges / After Gregory Zacharias was pope twelue yere / this wente on a tyme toward ra­uenna right in the myddel of Iuyn and was couerd al a daye with a clowde that god had sente / for he shold not be brente with the grete hete of the sonne· And al nyghte that cloude abode beside his tente and aroos ageyne a morowe· Also fyry ostes wente to fore that holy man in the cloudes / The ordre of the Eester was distourbled / Theyonger wylfrydus bisshop of york deyde / and after hym Egbertus kynge egbertus broder was bisshop xxxvj yere Willelmus de regibus libro primo / And de pontificibus li­bro quarto ¶ By his wytte and sleyghte and his broder the kynges money / he reparayled the see / and amended hit in two states / for he was a man of grete herte and of grete wytte / and toke strongly hede that as it is grete pryde to coueyte and desire ought that is not rightful. soo is it grete lewdnes and wrechedines to forgendre what is detty and ryghtful. therfore tharchibisshops pal that the fyrst paulinus that was put out by strengthe of enemyes hadde lefte at Rouchestre· and many of his predecessours hadde forgendryd it there. he gate it ageyne by grete Instaunce & money that he made atte court of Rome / ¶ Also he ordeyned at york a noble lyberarye / ¶ The noble doctour of Englisshmen Alcuinns that was sente to kynge Charles for peas of En­glysshmen / in his pystle that he sente to holy chirche in to Englond of that lybrarye maketh noble mynde· ¶ Also he wryteth to kynge Charles in this manere. Yeue me bookes [Page CClxx] of loore suche as I had in my countrey of englonde by the wytte of my mayster egbertus· & I shal sende to you somme of our children that shal take therof what is nedefull. And brynge in to Fraunce the floures of brytayne / For alone an orchard y closed shal be at york / And at turoyn the spryngynge of paradys / That yere deyde seynt danyel bisshop of wynchestre / After hym cam humfrious· After zacharyas steuen was pope fyue yere / This enoynted pipinus two sonnes and made hem emperours Charle­man and the grete charles / Syth that tyme thempire of Rome passyd fro the grekes to frensshmen and thenne to germans Kenulphus of cerdicus kynde in the fyfth degree pendas neuew goten of kenwalcus was a grete man / his vertues passyd his fame / By helpe of the westsaxons he put Sygebertus oute of that kyngdome for the gretenes of his euil dedes / and regned in his stede thyrtty yere / but he graūted hym the prouynce of hampton til he had slayne duc cumbranus / thenne he was putte awaye & hid in a wode and was slayne of the dukes swynherd· Ethelwoldus kynge of Mercia was slayne at Sygeswold of beoruredes the tyraunt & was buryed at rypindon / but not long afterwarde offa ethelwaldus neuewe slough beoruredus & reg­ned in his stede xxxix yere in mercia / this ouercome in a batayll the northumbres the westsaxons / and kentysshmen / Soo that [...]e tourned tharchebisshops see oute of Caunterbury in to lychefeld in the prouince of mercia. Also he translated seynt Albons bones to the more abbaye that he had bylded / he yaf to the pope Peters v [...]ca [...]y a rent by yere of euery hous of his kyngdom. he made al so a grete dyche that is euer seen to departe bytwene wales & the kyngdome of mercia / the whiche dyche is yet named offedyche Thou shalt fynde more herof in the fyrst book capitulo de platris regalibus ¶ w / de r li / 1. This offa fonded to gete frend ship [...] of kynges / and maryed his doughter ethelburga to bryghtrycus kynge of westsaxons. he sente alcuinus doctour of Englysshmen to Charles kynge of Fraunce for to procoure pees· For ther was soo grete discorde and stryf bytwene the kyngdoms / that passage of marchauntes was forbode on eyther syde.

Organs come fyrst in to Fraunce sente fro Constantyn the Em­perour kyng of gre [...]e to pipinus kyng of Fraunce

Egbertus· kynge of northumberlond was shorn monke / and his sone ofwulphus regned after hym and was slayn in thende of his fyrst yere of the northumbres / ¶ After hym mol [...] that was [Page] called ethelwold also regned seuen yer Mar / ¶ After stephen paul was pope ten yere a mylde man in alle thynges. In his tyme gengulphus was in his floures in Burgoyn. In a tyme he bought a welle in Fraunce and prayd god and had it graunted that thylke welle myght sprynge oute in burgoyn / This man lefte his wyf for she had broken spouseed and was slayne of the clerk that had lay by his wyf. whan he was dede god shewde many myracles for him. but his wyf spake euyl of the myracles & sayde whā gengulphꝰ myn husbond doth myracles myn arse shal synge / & so it was do. For as ofte / as she spak afterward her ar [...] wold synge w [...]th a fowle noyse / Mull kynge of northumberlond lefte the kyngdome. And Aluredus regned after hym nyne yere This Aluredus had two sones / ofredus that was the thyrd that regned after hym in his stede / and seynt Alcum [...]dus that was slayn afterward whan he halp the men of mercia ayenst the west sax [...]us ¶ Paul the pope deyde and Constantyn a lewd man was made pope by maystrye and by strengthe and was pope one yere and dyde sklaunder to al holy chirche / But by chierte of cristen men he was put of the chirche and his eyen were put oute That yere deyde pipinus kyng of Fraunce in an euyll that was bytwene fell and flessh after that he had regned eyght and twenty yere

¶ Capitulum 26

THan pipinus was dede the frensshemen departed the king­dome bytwene his two sonnes charles and charleman. but charleman deyde after two yere and thenne charles hadde al the kyngdome and gouerned it nobly after that tyme six and fourty yere ¶ Thenne charlemans wyf and children fledde to desiderius kynge of longobardes and prayd him of helpe and socoure with out ony nede for noman compelled hem therto But charles first ouercome duc hunald and wangyen and made it subget / and at te prayer of pope adryan he bysieged desiderius kynge of ytaly in the cyte of papye / for he was rebell ayenst the chirche of Rome / as his broder astulphus had ben / Charles toke hym in the Cyte of papye & exyled hym & made his owne sone pipinus kyng of ytaly in his stede / In that batayl deyde amicus and amelius crystes knightes· and his herty frendes· Of hem ben red wonderfull [Page CClxxj] dedes Atte laste charles chastysed the saxons and the sclaues and toke many of hem and sent hem in to dyuerse places of fraū ce / So that the saxons forsoke theyr mawmetrye and were made one peple Saxons and Frensshmen· There after Charles wente in to spayn and wanne the dales londes and countreyes about the hilles montes pireni· But he was assoylled in the wey with busshementis of Gascoyns. soo that they slough the vtterde [...]le of his hoost. there olyuer chyef sewer of the kynges bord· & rouland Erle of the palays were slayne and many other peres of Fraū ­ce· De libro turpini In a day whanne trewes were graunted on eyther side / Aigolandus a stronge prynce of spayne cam to charles for to be crystned / And sawe alle that were at b [...]rde rially clothed and delyciously fedde· And sawe a fer thyrten [...] men sytte on the grounde and haue broken mete and simple with oute ony borde. And he axyd what they were. & it was answerd hym that these thyrten ben goddes messagers and praye for vs & brynge to mynde the nombre of crystes disciples / As I see said Aigolandus your lawe is nought rightful that suffreth goddes messagers be thus euyl seruyd· He seruith euil his lord that soo resseyued his seruauntes / And soo he was lewdly offended and despysed crystendom and wente home ageyne / But charles worshiped afterward poure men the more Treuisa Aigolandus was a lewd gost and lewdely meuid as the deuyl hym taught and blynded hym that he couth not knowe that men shold be seruyd as her state axyd / ¶ Gir de p. ca. 17 Here after charles wanne gallia narbonensis and made subget capnanes. and be [...]neuentanes the danes and the sueues that were confedered to hem / And he dyde that al at one iourney / kynges of brytons of angles of perte & of scottes of grece worshipeden hym with yeftes And as Turpyn tharchebisshop telleth Charles was fayr and welfaryng of body and sterne of face· His body was eyght fote on lengthe / his face a span and an half· and his berde was a fote longe· he cleef a two with his swerde a knyghte armed at one stroke / he wolde esyly with his hondes folde and bende four horse shone at ones· he wolde heue a stondyng knyght armed from the grounde with his one honde / he wolde ete an hare alle hoole or tweyne hennes / or a goos at one mele / and he wolde drynke a litell wyn watred / he was soo scarse of drynke that seelde he wolde drynke but thries at his soper ¶This Charles was gracious & mylde to poure men & to chirches / Ouer the Ryn at magounce [Page] he made a brydge of fyue honderd paas· as frensshmen don / as so ne as he myght for youthe he taught his sones to ryde and hunte. to doo dedes of armes and to lerne scyences of scole / he ordey­ned his doughters to werche▪ wolle werke with spyudle & with dystaf and ordeyned hem to vse suche werkes for they shold not wexe slowe by ydlenes / he helde hym not a payd with his countrey speche / he couthe better vnderstāde the langage of g [...]ue than speke it / in loore of gramer peter of pyse was his mayster / & in other sciences of clergie alcuinus albinꝰ an englysshman was his mayster / Charles fonded to wryte lettres / therfor he bare a payr table [...] for to wryte ynne. but it profyteth right lytell / for that trauaylle was bygonne to late· he wolde be at chirche erly and late and at houres that were sayd by nyght / he ordeygned and assigned grete almes to poure men that were in f [...]r londes in egypt and in Affrica. he hadde alweye a reda [...] at mete. and had grete delyte in seynt Austyns bookes and specially in his bookes de ciuitate dei. ¶In somer tyme after mete in the vndertyde he wolde take som­what of apples and drynke ones therto / and doo of his clothes and goo to bedde as it were by nyght and slepe two houres· By nyght he wolde four sythes or fyue awake & aryse and lye doun and slepe / thryes he cam to Rome and alyght of his ho [...]s a myle a this half the cyte and yede afote in to alle the cyte and kys­sed alle the pylers of chirches· he delyuerd the hooly londe and come ageyne to Constantinople and forsoke alle the precious and grete yeftes that Constantin themperour profered reserued rely­ques of holy sayntes / he receiuyd a grete party of our lordes crosse and a partye of the crowne of thornes that there in his syghte that byganne to blosme· and bere floures. and one of crystes nailes / our lady smok and seynt symeons Arme / and brought these relyquyes with hym to seynt marye chirche at Aquisgranum that he had founded and lyeth buryed there / he fonded as ma­ny abbayes as ben lettres in the A / B / C. In euery of thylke abbayes by th [...] ordre of the fondacion therof. he sette and pyghte a letter of gold of the weight of an honderd pond tournoys / Of this man Charle [...] it is wonder that he wolde vnnethe marye ony of his doughters while he was a lyue / oute take his oldest dought [...]r the whiche he maried to the kynge of grece that hete constantin / Charles sayde that he myght not be withoute company of his doughters / Therfor though he were gracious in other dedes / In that poynt ayenst fortune he was to blame / and though ther [Page CClxxij] were grete speche therof among the peple. he made it as though he knewe it not· And as none suspection were of that foly dede. therfor somme men wene that that was the synne that he wold neuer shryue him of with his mouthe· but vnnethe atte laste by wry­ting to seynt gyles Also this charles or he deyde deled his catel in thre partyes. one partye he assigned to poure men / Another to chirches· And yet the thyrd he departed in four partyes· one ther of he kept for to holde his myndeday / that other to euery dayes v­se / the thyrdde to his sones and neuewes and the fourth to his seruauntes that were of his houshold / he sate ones at meete. and his mayster alcuinus sat to fore him. thenne he axyd his mayster how grete difference and space was bytwene a scot and a sot / but the brede of a metebord sayd his mayster R. ¶For to brynge storyes to acorde that semeth oute of acord spekynge of thempy­re and of the kyngdome of charles / Take heede that this charles while he was yonge was enoynted kyng of the second pope ste­uen / the yere of our lord seuen honderd .Liiij. while his fader pipi­nus was a lyue and regned with his fader. and vnder him xv yere vnto his faders deth / thenne after his faders deth that deyde the yere of oure lord seuen honderd and eyght and sixty yere / he regned with his broder charleman two yere. his broder deyde the yere of our lord seuen honderd and / lxx / Charles helde the kyng­dome al hool fourten yere / to the yere of oure lord seuen honderd four score and four That yere he wente fyrst to Rome to be crouned emperour of Adrian the pope And there after he was Em­perour sixten yere to the yere of our lord eyght honderd Whan the fourth pope leo confermed charles ageyne Emperour. there after he was emperour fourten yere And deyde the yere of his age two and seuenty / that was the yere of oure lord eyght honderd and xiiij Thenne after somme men telle in storyes that he regned in al six and fourty yere / that shal be vnderstonden from his fadres deth to his owne deth / / But who that wole see more of charles lyf must loke the bookes of his mayster Alcuinus or turpyn tharchebisshops bookes ¶That day that Charles deyde at vyan in Fraunce Turpyn was in his bedes and sawe a company of blac knyghtes wende toward Akon for to take charles soule· and he coniured the last of hem that he shold come ageyn whan he had don and telle hem what they dyde and how they spedde Thenne the fende wente and come ageyne And Turpyn axyd of him what they had do / we haue quod the fende weyed charles [Page] sowle / but thylke Iames of spayne that was byheded / leyde soo many stones and teres in the weight and balaunce that charles good dedes had the maystrye and weyed more than his euyl de­des / And we haue right nought brought with vs ageyne· Char­les sayd the fende vsed to bylde many chirches in worship of seint Iame. After that Constantyn that had assoylled the poperych & take it with strengthe was putte oute. Pope stephen was pope four-yere. Anone he gadred a synode and reuoked al that was do by his predecessour oute take crystenynge and crysme / and what that was ordeyned to sauacion that deyen

¶ Capitulum 27.

AFter Steuen the fyrst Adryan was pope four and twenty yere / First this gadryd the second counceyl at Constantinople of thre honderd faders and fyfty / he made another counceyll in the Cyte of Rome with thre honderd and fyfty faders / kynge charles was presente there / Thenne him was graunted right in the election of the pope and of the ordeynyng of the popes see /

The northumbres putt oute theyr kynge Aluredus and toke ethelbertus that hete Etheldredus also the sonne of mollus· and made hym theyr kyng / he regned ouer hem fyue yere / The fourth leo the sonne of the fyfth Constantyn regned in grece four yere / He brente in thurste for grete couetyse· he toke of a chirche a crowne that was ryally sette with carbuncle stones / and sette it on his heede and was take with a sodayne feuer and deyde / That yere / offa kyng of mercia spoylled lamberd Archebisshop of caū ­terbury of his dygnyte / of prymate / and brought that dygnyte to lychefeld and helde it there while he was a lyue by assente of the pope adryan The sixth Constantin the sonne of the fourthe leo regned in grece with his moder Iren ten yere / In his last yere fylle discorde and stryf bytwene the sonne and moder. And the moder toke the sonne and put hym in prison & so she regned alone fyue yere. Atte laste the sonne had helpe and counseyl of the Armenyes and cam oute of prysonne and poursued cruelly his moder and her helpers Thenne afterward the sonne for his grete cruel [...]es was take by commaundement and strengthe of the moder / and his eyen were put oute in so euyl m [...]ner that he deyde [Page CClxxiij] sone afterward and soo Iren regned ageyne fyue yere. But nichoforus patricius that had grete worship of Iren. roos ageynste her and toke the crowne ayenst the peples wylle. and toke of her the tresour of thempyre with an oth made to be harmeles· and exiled her and soo exyled she deyde / the fyrst yere of this Constan­tin in a dede mannes graue at Constantinople was founde a plate of gold. in which plate was wreton in this maner / Cryst shal be borne of mayde marye / In him I byleue· Vnder Constantyn and Iren / sone efte me. thou shalt see. Mari li. secundo. That yere kenulphus kyng of westsaxons / . & offa kyng of mercia fought strongly for the cyte of besyngton / but offa had the vyctory and the cyte ¶ That yere the northumbres put oute her kyng ethel­bertus that heete etheldredus also / and made Aswolf kynge that regned enleuen yere / That yere the second synode was made at nicene of thre honderd and fyfty bisshops in adryans tyme / In that synode ayenst thoppinion of grekes it is sayd that the hooly gost cometh of the fader and of the sone Willelmus de pontificibus libro quarto Kenulphus kyng of westsaxons cast for to put kinehard oute of his kyngdome the broder of his predecessour Sigebertus and cam by nyght to a womans hows at merton that was his lemman / there Clyto cam with four score felawes / and and bysette the kynge al aboute· But whanne the kynge was awaked he defended manly hym self / but he was slayne at laste Erly a morow it was knowen that the kyng was dede· and of [...] cus the kynges capitayne cam with his felawes to the place and slough clyto and his felawes euerychone / and toke the kynges body and buryed it at wynchestre· ¶After kenulphus brightricus of Cerdicus bloode was kynge of westsaxons fyften yere [...] Anone by helpe of kynge offa whos doughter he had wedded be putte oute Egbertus the sonne of Alemundus the vnder kynge that was the sone of offa that cam of the bloode of gengulsus & of Iue / Anone as he was so put doune he wente in to Fraunce· & vsed the scole of chiuailrye. And whan bryghtricus was dede. he cam ageyne and regned and taught the scole of chyualrye / as he had lerned in fraunce / lull archebisshop of caunterbury deyde / and Rychulfus was archebisshop after hym eyght and twenty yere he bygan to buylde seynt albons grete chirche from the fundamēt of a wonder werke of brente tyle and brought it nobly to an ende / ¶Willelmus de pontificibus libro quarto This yere kyng offa maryed his doughter Ethelburga to Brightricus kynge of [Page] westsaxons / Of her it is sayd that she laboured besyly by might or by venym for to sle al the houshold men of her husbonde / thenne on a tyme she yaue venym to a yonglyng that was homly with the kyng and slough both the kynge and the yonglynge / thenne she wente to the kynge of Fraunce and had with her grete tre­sour and ryches / And in a tyme the kynge and his sone stode in a chambre / and the kynge yaue her choy [...] / whether she wold ha­ue to husbond of the fader or the sonne / And she chees the sonne / haddest thou chose me quod the kynge / thou sholdest haue had my sonne / But for thou hast forsake me / thou shalt not haue me nermy sonne / thou muste leue the pryde of the world / and goo in to an abbay / there a lewd mā laye by her / & she was put oute & deyde in pouerte / After that tyme therof it cam to be vsed amonge the Angles that the kynges wyf sholde not be callyd quene. ner sitte by the kyng in the kynges sete / ¶Henricus / libro quarto / ¶ That yere was seen a wonder signe of the Crosse on Englysshe mens clothes / and blood fylle doune fro heuen to the erthe / It is not knowen / whether this befyll in token of the mocion of Ierusalem / that fyll thre honderd yere afterward in wiliam the Reedes tyme / or ellys for tamende Englysshmen that they shold drede the wreche that was to come vpon hem by the danes / but as god wil soo mote it be / that yere the danes cam fyrst in to Englonde / The kynges styward of westsaxons wēte ayenst hem vnwysely with fewe men and was slayne of hem / ¶ Seynt Oswold kynge of northumberlond was slayne of his owne men / his neuew Osre­dus the sonne of Aluredus / and broder of Alcmundus regned after hym and was sone put once after and slayne / After hym Etheldredus that was somtyme put oute of his kyngdome reg­ned ageyne and was sone afterward slayne / therfor Colwul­phus bisshop of lyndeffar fo [...]soke bothe and lefte the see and the kyngdome / Here after oswaldus regned after fewe dayes After him Adulphus regned one yere / There after / lxxvj / yere kynges regneden there / the last of hem were Osbryght and Elle The danes slough hem atte Cyte of yorkland al the flour of their men the yere of our lord eyyht honderd / lxxvij / After that tyme the danes regned in northumberlonde two and fyfty yere / vnto Ethelstans tyme ¶Pipinus the sonne of charles conspyred a­yenst his fader / but his counceyl was wried / And he was shore monke. and closed in an Abbaye / and his felawes were somme byheded and somme an hanged by the throte / Seynt Ethelbertꝰ [Page CClxxiiij] kynge of [...]estangles was pryued bothe of his kyngdome and of his lyf by heest of kynge offa and by exytynge and counceyll of his owne wyf kyneswyda

¶Capitulum 28 /

Offa deyde kynge of mercia / his sonne Egsercus regned after hym one yere / And after hym a mylde man kenulphus cutbertus sone was kyng / he gate on his wyf quene Alfritha quen drida / burgenilda / and seynt kenelme / ¶ Willelmus de Regi­bus libro primo in fine / This kenulfus was pendaes neuew in the fyfthe degree / and was a greete man / his vertues passyd his fame / At home he was deuoute and mylde / In bataylle he was stronge and had ofte the vyctorye / ¶ After Offa he toke wrath ayenst kentysshmen and werryd strongly in her londe / And toke theyr kynge Egbert that hete pren by his surname / & lad hym with hym y bounde in to mercia / But sone after he was mylded by mercy of manheede in the buyldynge of the chirche of wynchecombe that he buylded / Atte auter he yaue the kyng fre­dom that was his prisoner / There were presente thyrten bisshops and ten dukes / For that dede al the chirche sowned for ioye / and the strete cryde grutched and made noyse startynge aboute / Also he restored ageyn the dygnyte of prymate to athelardus bisshop of caunterbury and deyde atte laste after the yere of his fyrste regne four and twenty / and was buryed at wynchecombe / and left kenelme after hym to be his heyr / That tyme at Constantinople the sonne withdrewe his lyghte seuenten dayes / and was not seen / soo that many men supposed that it was byfalle for the blendynge & puttyng oute of kyng Constantyns eyen / Alfredus Also that yere that was the tenth yere of bryghtrycus were fy­ry dragons seen in englonde fleyng by the ayer / After that sygne cam two pestylences / stronge honger / and the warre of the danes that assaylled fyrst northumberlond / and thenne lyndeseye But at that tyme the danes were ouercome and fled to her shippes ¶ After adryanus the fourth leo was pope twenty yere / ¶In a tyme this wente to seynt peters on a seynt marcus daye with the letany and was take and his eyen put out and his tonge kyt of / But god by a myracle restored hym his syght and hi [...] speche / soo that he spake withoute tonge / Afterward he wente to [Page] Charles in to Fraunce / and come ageyne with hym to Rome / Thenne wreche was take of the popes enemyes / and the pope purgid hym of that men bare him on honde / And thenne efte he crouned charles / and confermed him that was to fore crowned / Nychoforus patricius exyled Irene themperyce of grece· and as­saylled and toke thempyre with wyles and with strengthe / and regned yeght yere / In his tyme the eeste empyre fayled al oute The body of seynt wythburgh the mayde was founden hoole and sounde in the toune of durham / there as it was buryed after / lv yere / wythburgh was the doughter of kynge anna / and the sus­ter of sexburga / that yere charles was crowned emperour of leo the pope / Syth that tyme thempyre passyd fro the Grekes to the Frensshemen / and to the germans that ben Almayns

Giraldus de / p / capitulo septimo / ¶ For this passinge of thempire / the grekes though they fayle in hem self / and stryue more with venym than with vertue / more with crafte than with strengthe of batayl / and of mars that is callyd god of batayll / yet they haue soo grete enuye to the latyns / that they haue with­drawe hem oute of the subiection and obedyence of the chirche of Rome / And therfor whan the popes of Rome charged hem ofte to be obedyent and to come ageyne to the vnyte of hooly chirche / They vsed to wryte ageyne in this maner / Ye haue withdrawen you from vs / and we withdrawe vs fro you / Willelmus de regibus libro primo / Et de pontificibus libro tercio / ¶ Bryghtrycus kynge of westsaxons / deyde y poysoned by the venym of his wyf / ¶After hym Egbertus the sonne of Alcmundus the vn­der kynge that was the sone of offa of Iuees bloode and kynde regned seuen and thyrtty yere· ¶ Somtyme this was chaced of bryghtrycus and fled in to fraunce / and cam ageyn and taught what he hadde lerned of chyualry to his subgettis / to al the peple bonde and fre / he ordeyned knyghtes delyuere men and stronge & swyper / And made wepen to be born in tyme of pees / In a tyme bernulphus kynge of mercia scorned his doynge / And he that was ydle and ful of reste meued him to bataylle that was vsid in dedes of armes / And bad him sternly that he sholde doo him homage / thenne there was bytwene hem a bataille in somer tyme at elyndon in the prouince of hampton / ther was vnlike nombre and araye of knightes / for ayenst an honderd of Egbertus knightes that were paal / and lene cam a thousand that were rody & fatte / and were soner stuffed with swote than with bloode / But [Page CClxxv] whan the batayle was done / Egbertus oned the kyngdoms of mercia / of kente and of northumberlond to his kyngdome and toke chestre vpon the brytons / For the Brytons helde chestre vnto that tyme / thēne he called the lordes to gyder at wynchestre and was crowned kyng of al brytayne / there he ordeyned and cō ­maunded that al the saxons and Iutes shold be callyd Angles fro that day forward / and that brytayne shold be callyd anglia Brytayne conteyneth englond wales and Scotland / R / That yere that kynge bryghtrycus deyde / as marianus sayth / Ethel­mundus kynge of mercia wente oute of his owne londe vnto the forde of chymerforde / and fought ayenst weoftan duc of wylton In that bataylle the dukes were slayne in eyther syde / and the wylton men had the victorye / But seynt alcmundus the martir the sonne of kynge Aluredus of northumberlond come in Ethel­mundus syde and was slayne there / his body was fyrst buryed atte white ābbay and afterward at derby / in the north chirch that is buylded in his name / there god sheweth for hym many tokēs and myraales / and the northumbres comen to hym ofte a pylgremage / Willelmus de / 2 / li 1 / That yere albinus englisshman that hete alcuinus also a connyng man of Clergye passyd ouer the see in to Fraunce / and enlumyned that lond with lyght of his te­chyng / and ordeyned there orysons and offyce of masse for feryal dayes / And he brought to parys studye that the grekes had somtyme chaunged to Rome / After beda and aldelm this was the wysest man of al Englysshemen that I haue redde of / & he was take and left specially with kynge charles whether it were for clennes of the londe / or for manhede of the kynge / and taughte hym logyke and sophystrye / rethoryk and astronomye / And the kyng bytoke hym seynt martyns abbay at turone to gouerne by thabbots right / for the monkes ther were fallē in to grete outrage Therfor a mōk saw two aūgels come in to her dortour & slew all the mōkes of that place / out take him that saw that sight / at last alcuinus restid at seynt paule of cormarik / ther is euery day al­mes d [...]led for his soule / four monkes mete / about this tyme seint gylys thabbott of the nacion of grekes was in his floures / he come in to the ouer fraunce by warnyng of god. & lyued fyrst an ankers lyf by the riuer of roone / Also that tyme paule the deken of rome was in his floures / that discriued the longobardes / he come out of thabbay of moūt cassyn in to fraunce for loue of kyn­ge charles / ¶ Amonge the Grekes mychel a mylde man was [Page] made emperour / In his thyrd yere the sonne fayled in the sonne rysyng / And sone ther after themperour was sho [...]ne monke / And a grete pestylence of ruther [...]n destroyed wel nygh al Europa / and namely brytayne / The grete charles was seke four yere in the feuers and deyde the fourth day to fore feuerer / at Aron & is buryed there / Marianus libro secundo / In his laste yere the treen brydge of fyue honderd paas that he had made with cost and trauaylle in ten yere ouer the Ryn at maguncia / was soo brente in thre houres that ther was not a spoon therof y seen fle­te vpon the water / Many men suppose that this happe fylle atte prayer of ryculfus the bisshop for manslaughter and robberye / that was ofte by nyght don vpon that brydge / But other men suppose that it fyll by somme auenture and none otherwyse

¶ Capitulum 29

LOwys the mylde Charles oldest sonne was Emperour af­ter his fader six and twenty yere and / xj monethes / In his tyme bisshops and clerkys dyde awey barred gyrdels / and gaye blasynge clothes / Giraldus de pontificibus / capitulo 17 / This lowys on his fyrst wif hirmēgard gate thre sonnes / lotharius was one of hem / he was crouned of pope paschal on an ester day and his fader made hym kyng of ytaly and felowe of them­pyre / & he made lowys the seconde regne in Germania / & pipinus the thyrd in guyan and in gaskoyn / on his seconde wyf Iudyth the doughter of the duc of bauaria / he gate charles the balled & yaue hym burgoyn to gouerne and to rewle / Wil / de / r / li / 2 / For the fader loued moost this balled charles and kyssyd hym oft in sight of his bretherē / lothariꝰ was wroth & had indignaciō / therof / therfor he pursued ofte his fader / & put hym in prison / Gi [...] vbi su / Also this lowys for he was so mild was oft diseased both of his owne men & of other til he dyde more wysely / & rew [...]lyd the royame more sternly / Me sayth that that happed hym for his wyf Iudytha was to nygh of his kyn / W / de / p / li / 1 / Therfor whan this kynge had auaunced one fredericus to the bisshopriche of Vtrecht in Fryselonde / and sate by hym at meete / the fyrste daye of his ordenaunce on his right honde be chargyd the Bys­shoppe amonge other thynges that / he sholde haue in mynde that he was a yonge Bisshop / And folowe the stablenesse of [Page CClxxvj] his antecessours / and that he shold purpose the sothe withoute ac­cep [...]on of persones / and punysshe mysdoers / the bisshop answerd and sayde / Syr thou dost ryghfully by me that comfortest the [...]ndernes of my profession with hooly counseyll and loore / B [...]t I praye that it greue you not and youre mageste though I [...] you openly what hath long tyme walowed in my herte / whe [...] is it more honeste to atame this fysshe that is here sette fyrst [...] or atte tayll / The kynge wyst not how fast he had greued [...] self / but answerde hastely and sayde / Atte hede the fysshe shal [...] fyrst attamed / Soo it is lord emperour quod the b [...]sshop / that [...] fayth may fyrst make the seece of thyne errours / that [...] be not hardy to forsake what they see the suffre & take / [...] forsake thou the vnlawful wedlok that thou hast made [...] thylke Iudytha / This worde was heuy to the kynge / but [...] toke it aworth / This worde sprang wel wyde and gladed men o [...] holy chirche that herde therof / So that a counseyl was made therof for that dede / and the wedlok was vndo / And the kynge [...] doune him self / and the woman was closed in an abbaye / But atte last by myldenes of the court of Rome / it was ordeyned by better counseyl and dome that penaunce shold be sett and they sholde after that tyme vse lawful wedlok / The emperour forpa [...] gladly alle wronges and lete the sentence passe / But the womā hyred two knyghtes that slough the forsayd bisshop in his ves [...]y­mentis after that he had songe his masse / Gir / de p / capitulo / [...] Atte last this lowys yaf his sone charles the balled· that he had goten on Iudytha almayne and Rethyca / therfor the othe [...] thre bretheren had indignacion / and were wroth and forsoke lowys by helpe of the galles / & made tholdest sone lotharius kyng / he prisoned his fader lowys by assente of the fourth / pope gregory & exiled his faders wyf Iudyth [...] / & put her sone charles the bassed in the castel of prynge / but sone afterward the prynces of fraū ce delyuerden the kynge and acorded hym and his sone / But by counseyll of pipinus fals men acused falsely the quene Iudyth and made her a menchon / but the same yere the kyng had the quene ageyne by helpe of the pope / For bernard purgyd hym lawfully of the spousebreche that hym was born on honde / Soo that none of hem that accused hym / was hardy ayenst hym for to stryue / ¶ After leo the fourth steuen was pope thre yere ¶ After hym paschal was pope seuen yere / he crouned lotharius / & made a gaderynge of monkes of grece at Rome [Page] in the chirch of praxede / Willelmus de Regibus libro primo / Et de pontificibus libro quarto / Kenulphus kynge of mercia deyde / and his sone kenelme a childe of seuen yere old regned after him After fewe monethes by entysyng of his suster quendreda kenel me was slayne of one heskebertus in a thyk wode / And he was founden by a pyler of light that stode vp from his body in to heuene / But by a scrowe that was wreton in Englyssh with gol­den lettres that a Culuer brought and beyde vp seynt peters Auter / which was redde of an Englisshman that was there present ¶Kenelms deth and the place of his deth was knowen at Ro­me / R ¶ In that scrowe it was wreton in this maner / At Clente in co [...]bache kenelm kynebern lyeth vnder thorn heued by weued / In englysshe that is now vsed it is to saye / At Cleut at Couuale vnder a thorn kenelm lyeth hedeles slayne by fraude / Thenne whanne kenelms bodye was born to his graueward fro the place that he deyde ynne / she that was gylty of his deth herde men synge and putte oute her heede at wyndowe / and for to seece the gladnes of the syngars she sayde the psalme deus laudem bacward / But I note what wytchecrafte and what [...]shrewdnes she wolde meene / but she loste bothe her eyen with rennyng dropes of bloode / the bloode is yet seen in mynde of goddes wreche in the sauter book that she held thenne in her honde

¶ Capitulum 30

AFter kenelm his eme on his faders syde colwulfꝰ regned in mercia / but after two yere beornulphus the tyraunt put hym out and regned in his stede two yere / he was on a tyme ouer come at elyndon of Egbertus kyng of westsaxons as it is sayd to fore honde / he meuyd to a iourney ayenst the est angles that had holpen egbertus and was slayn of hem / his successour & his neigh kynnesman ludecan wold aueng his deth & fought ayenst the eest angles & was slayn of hem also / & thre dukes of his / After hym his neyh kynnesman wyglanns regned / xiij / yere / but Egbertus distourbed him [...]ng tyme / After pascal the fourth Eugenius was pope four yere / he sente seynt sebastyans boones to hildewynus abbot of seynt denys / After eugenius valentinus was pore four yere / ¶ In his tyme the childe swy thyne was borne at Wynchestre that dyde myracles there after [Page CClxxvij] hemstans deth After valentinus the fourth gregroy was pope thyrten yere ¶ Giral / d / p / ca / 17 / In this popes tyme the­odulphus was in his floures / that was fyrst abbot of Floryace and thenne Bisshop of Orleans / he was exyled and was in the Cyte of Angeo by assente of kynge lowys / whanne his enemy­es had falsely accused hym / thenne it happed on a palmsondaye / that the kynge passyd therforth and he made and songe the verse that bygynneth in this maner Gloria laus tibi sit / and soo forth by the dyte and note of the vers / the kynge was meuyd and delyuerd him and brought hym to his rather grace / That tyme rabanus was in his floures monk and abbot of meldens in Germania a grete poete and a grete clerke of dyuynyte / That ye­re the danes spoylled the ylonde of shepeye besyde kente / Therfore kyng egbertus fought ayenst hem at carrum / and was chaced / At Tolouse a damoysel of twelue yere old resseyued our lordes body on esterday and fasted afterward six monethes contiunelly to brede and to water / and absteyned ther after thre yere from all maner mete and drynke / And tourned ag [...]yn atte last to comyn lyuyng / Also that tyme somme mysdoers of the Romayns sente to the soudan of babylon that he shold come and be lord of ytaly Thenne he come with grete multitude and strengthe and spoylled Rome / and made a stable of seynt peters chirche / ond destroyed Tuscia and secilia / Atte last atte prayer and requyrynge of pope gregory / gy of mercia with his longobardys and lowys with his gālles chaced hem oute of tho londes and countreyes / And they sayled toward affryca and were drowned wel nygh euery chone / That yere deyde helmstan bisshop of wynchestre / And seynt swythyn was bisshop after hym / ¶ The danes with grete nauye londed in a place called cural amonge the westbritons / & made confederacyon with the brytons & wente to gyder / & assaylled kynge egbertus londes / W / de / r / li / 2 / Egbertus kyng of west saxons deyde / and his sone athulphus that hete ethelwulfus regned after him / xxij / yere / This was somtyme take to norysshing to helmstan bisshop of wynchestre / & made hym subdeken / But atte last by graūt of leo the pope / he was made kynge & had a wif osburgā that was his owne botelers dought / & gate on her thre noble sones that regned after the fader eueryche in his tyme / He toke with hym the yongest of his sones aluredꝰ & went to rome / & dwellyd there one yere & repayred there nobly the scole of sax­ons / that was as it is sayd first ordeined by kynge offa / But [Page] it was brente the last yere to fore hond / Also he sawe there outla lawes and men that dyde open penaunce doo theyr penaunce in y­ren y bounde / thenne he purchaced of the pope that englysshmen shold neuer after that tyme out of her countrey doo penaunce in bondes / It is sayd that therfor it was that he graunted of euery hows of his royame euery yere a peny to seynt peter / & after that tyme / he sente euery yere in / C / marc to rome / an / C / to seint pe­ters chirch an C to seynt paulus lyght / & an honderd to the pope Also he delyuerd and quytte all the chirches of his Royamme of al maner kynges trybute / and offred to god the tenth dele of his catel / In his comyng ageyn fro Rome in the twenty yere of his kyngdome he spoused Iudytha / the doughter of charles the balled / and brought her with hym in to englond / And for he sett her in trone bysyde hym ayenst the maner of the kyngdome of westsaxons / his oldest sone aroos ayenst him and many other lordes / So that a grete dele of the kyngdom was take to his oldest sone but yet vnnethe the stryf was ceced / For amonge hem it was v­sed that the quene shold not haue suche worship / And that for wrath of ethelburga kynge offas doughter / that hadde poysoned her husbonde bryghtrycus / ¶R Also his sone Aluredus hadd an euyl incurable whom he sente in to yrlond to be heeled of seint modwenna / that dwellyd there / And therfor whanne the chirch of modwenna was destroyed in yrlond she cam in to Englond / And the kynge yaf her londe to buylde two abbayes of maydens One in Ardern at pollyswortham that yet dureth / There osytha and athea the maydens dwellyd with seynt edyth kyng Athul­phus suster / ¶ But modwenna dwellyd somwhat of tyme in the other abbaye of streueshale / thennes she wente thrryes to Rome / And she deyde atte last in the ylond andreseye besides burton after that she was closed seuen yere ¶ That yere the danes slough many men in lyndesaye in eest englond and in kente / ¶That yere deyde wyglaf kynge of mercia the yere of his regne thyrten / and was buryed at Repyndon / he hadde goten wygmū dus / and wygmundus had goten wistan the martir / But after w [...]glaf bertulphus was kynge ouer mercia twelue yere / his so­ne bertsericus slough seynt wystan cruelly /

¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo /

¶ Sequitur capitulum 31

[Page CClxxviij]WHan lowys was dede / his oldest sonne lotharius that was Emperour fyften yere while his fader was a lyue / and after his fader xviij yere in the party of ytaly / that is next to Al­pes that hete lotharingia after his name / as it were lotharius kingedome / he roos ayenst his two bretheren lowes and Charles the balled for the kyngdome of guyan. that her broder Pipinus had hold somtyme / Gir / d / p / ¶ And they fought at fo [...]tanet there lotharyus fled and was chaced / there was soo grete slaughter in eyther syde that they myght no lenger withstonde her ene­myes / the sarasyns in affryca in spayne herde therof / and arayde hem tassaylle the kyngdome of Romayns / Sone here after lowys the myddel broder deyde / And charles the balled helde thempyre somwhat of tyme alone / That yere seynt Bertilmeus body was translated to beneuentan / ¶ After gregory the second Sergius was pope nyne yere / this hete fyrst os porci / swynes mouth / therfor after his tyme alle popes chaunged her names / and that for thre skylles / one is whan Cryst chees his apostles / he chaunged her names / Another is for as they chaunge her names / so shold they chaunge her lyuynge / the thyrdde is for he that is chosen to an excellent astate shal not be defowled with a fowle name· That yere the body of seynt helene Constantins moder that was buryed at Rome was brought to the dyocise of Remēce of Fraunce / That yere the normans cam fyrst in to Fraunce by the water of Seyne / ¶ That yere bertulphus in a wytsontyde slough wyc­kedly seynt wystan / his body is buryed at Rypyndon in the gra­ue of his grauntsir wyglaf / And in the place there he was slayne stode vp thyrtty dayes a cleer pyler of lyght / After sergius the fyfthe le [...] was pope fyue yere / he amended the chirches that the paynyms had destroyed in the cyte of Rome / Also for the men of naples thāt fought in the see ayenst the sarasyns / he made this oryson / Dens cuius dextera beatum petrum / and soo forth / And after that he amended seynt peters chirche / he sayd this ory­son / Deus qui beato petro collatis clambus / & so forth / Also this made aluredus his sone adoptiuus that was the sone of ethewulfus kynge of westsaxons / And he enoynted aluredus by assent of his fader to be kynge afterward / that yere deyde bertulfus kynge of mercia / & burdredus was kynge after hym / he wedded anone ethelwytha kyng athulphus doughter / by helpe of this a­dulfus he made subget the brytons of the middel lond that is by­twene mercia & the west see / also this burdredꝰ the xxij yer of his [Page] regne was put oute by the danes / and wente thenne to Rome / & lyued there not ful longe tyme atte scole of saxons and was buryed at seynt mary chirche / Also that after that the danes hadde spoylled london & kente / & chaced king bertulphus they were ou (er) comen and beten a doune in suthrey at oclea of kynge ethelwul­fus / That yere lotharius themperour forsoke the world and was shorn monk in thabbay of prunye / and deyde there / For his sow­le was grete stryf bytwene angles and fendes / So that they that stode by / sawe the bodye as it were to haled hyther & thyder / but monkes prayde / and the fendes were dryuen aweye / ¶ Willelmus de regibus libro secundo ¶ This Lotharius hadde by Er­mengarda houwes doughter thre sones and lefte hem after hym / One hete lowys / to hym he bytoke the kyngdome of Romayns & of ytaly / That other hete lotharius / to hym he bytoke the royame of fraunce / the thyrdde hete charles / to hym he bytoke prouynce / But charles was sone dede / and lowys and lotharius deled the royamme of prouynce bytwene hem

¶ Capitulum 32 /

The second lowys as somme men telle regned fyften yere / But marcus tellyth he regned two and twenty yere / and was crowned of Sergius the pope / and he had two sones / lowis kyng of norykes that ben normans / And charles the yonger that heete grossus akso / This charles was tormented of a fende thre dayes in presence of his fader / And knowleched that he was so tormented / for he had conspyred ayenst his fader / Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo ¶ In this lowys tyme Iohan scot come in to Fraunce / and translated denys bookes out of grue in to latyn / atte prayer of kynge charles / and made the bo­ke perefision / that is the book of the departyng of kynde / but there after kynge aluredus sente for hym for he shold come in to En­glond / and soo he dyde / and taught children at malmesbury / the whiche childeren stykked hym to deth with her poyntels / that ye­re seynt Edmunde bygan to regne ouer the eeste Angles / but he was slayne in the fourtenth yere Ethelwulfus kyng of west saxons deyde the thyrtenth day of Ianiuer / and was buryed at wynchestre / After hym his oldest sonne ethelwaldus regned but one yere· And that is no wonder / For whan his fader was [Page CClxxix] dede / he wedded his oune stepmoder ayēst the lawe and vsage of holy chirche / and he was buryed at shirburn / ¶ Marianus After pope leo Iohan englyssh was pope two yere and fyue monethes / Hit is sayd that Iohan englysshe was a woman / and was in yongthe ladde with her lemman in mannes clothynge to Atthene / and lerned there dyuerse scyences / Soo that ther after she cam to Rome / and hadde there grete men to scolers / and redde ther thre yere / thenne she was chosen by fauour of al men / And her lemman brought her with childe / But for she knewe not her time whan she sholde haue child / as she wente from seynt peters to the chirche of seynt Iohan lateran / she byganne to trauaylle of childe / And had childe bytwene Collosen and seynt Clements ¶ Treuisa Collosen was the place of the ymages of the prouinces and londes / as it is sayd in the fyrst book / capitulo / 24 / Thenne it foloweth in the story that she was buryed there / And for the pope torned there oute of the weye / men suppose that it is for hate of that wonder myshappe / This pope is not rekened in the booke of popes / For she was a woman and ought not to be pope / She was born at magounce in Almayn vpon the Ryn / Aboute that tyme the kynge of bulgares and his men tourned to Crystes feyth and byleue / And was so parfyt that he bytoke his Royamme to his oldest sonne / and bytoke hym self thabyt of a monk / But whanne his sonne torned to maumetrye / he torned to chyualry ageyn & pursued his sonne / & toke hym / & putte oute bothe his eyen and leyde him in prisonne / and closed him there / & made his yonger sonne kynge / and toke the holy habyte ageyn ¶After ethelwaldus his broder ethelbertus was kyng of west saxons fyue yere / In his tyme a grete hooste of danes destroyed wynchestre / and were slayne of the kynges dukes er they might retorne to theyr shippes ¶ After Iohan the thyrdde Benet was pope four yere / ¶ Seynt Swythyn Bisshop of wynchestre deyde and dunbertus was bisshop after hym / Of hem tweyn ben wondres y redde ¶After Benet the fyrst nychol was pope / viij yere / he was lykened to the grete gregory / For in his tyme Cy­rillus thappostle of sclaues / brought seynt clements bodye oute of Cersona to Rome / and leyd it in seynt Clements chirche / and deyde ther after and dyde many myracles / ¶ That yere lowys kynge of Fraunce wolde leue his rightful wyf for his lemman waldrada that he had to moche louyd in his yongthe in his fa­ders hows / ¶ Thenne pope nychol atte instaunce of the quenes [Page] bretheren that pleyned to hym of that dede sente his tresorer Ar­senius in to fraunce / and he made a counceyl of bisshops and compellid the kyng to take his wyf ageyne / And made him swe [...] vp on the booke / that he sholde neuer take that other woman / But whan the legate of Rome was a goo / the kinge putte awey the quene / and toke ageyne waldrada / therfor in playne consistory the pope cursyd waldrada & al that comende with her / R / But marianus tellyth this of lotharius and not of lowys Ethel­dredus the thyrdde broder of byrthe was kynge of westsaxons after his two bretheren eyght yere / In his fyrst yere a grete na­uy of danes londed in eest englond / and laye there / there after at yorke they were compellyd to defende hem self / For whanne the northumbres had do awey her kyng Osbrucus / as the deuyl hem radde / and made a tyraunt their kynge that hete ella / Atte laste for drede of enemyes / they were somdele ceeced / and wente wyth theyr eyther kynge to fyght ayenst the danes / & compellyd hem to fle to the cyte of yorke that was not ful wel walled / thēne the northumbres disarayd hem self / and werryd vnwysely / and were beten doune / somme in one place and somme in another and her kynges were slayne / So they that myght escape made pees with the danes / and soo fayled kynges of northumberlond / That yere the danes lefte northumberlond / and come in to kyngdome of mercia / and dwellyd al a yere at snotyngham / that is nowe callyd nothyngham / there Burdredus kynge of mercia and the kynge of westsaxons cam ayenst hem / But the danes were within the strengthe of the tour and wolde yeue no bataylle / and englyssh men myght not spede to breke the wal / thenne pees was made / and the kynges torned home ayene / and the danes wente ayen to yorke / and dwellyd there al a yere / ¶After nychol / the second Adryan was pope two yere / To hym the second lowys kynge of Fraunce that was somtyme acursyd of pope nychol wrote lettres and prayd hym that he wolde resseyue hym with grace / The pope wrote to hym in this maner ageyne / yf thou knowe thy self gyltles / come to Rome / And yf thou knowe thy self gylty / make the redy to doo worthy penaunce / thenne the kynge come / and the po­pe axyd of him / yf he had holden his oth and pope nycholas heestes / The kynge and his fautours sayd / yes al atte ful / thenne quod the pope / ye must come with vs that ye be vnyed to cristes lymes from the whiche that ye were kyt and departed / & whan the masse was y doo / he hou [...]cled h [...]m and saide / yf ye be gyltles [Page CClxxx] this comyng be to you remission and foryeuenes and ellys damp nacion Thenne it happed that none of hem alle lyued ouer yere But the kyng was anone taken with a sekenes and deyde in the cyte placencia / there after fyll a grete pestylence on the peple / After that yere the danes destroyed the Cyte Aclint / and wente oute of northumberlond to ecstenglond / and laye al a yere at tet­ford / ¶That yere hungar and hubba two danes slough seynt Edmond the kynge at eglyston Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo ¶Seynt edmondes heede laye hyd amonge busshes and spak to hem that sought him in the countrey langage and seide / here / here / here / ther was a wolf founden that beclypped the kynges heede / and folowed mekely the men that cam theder / Willelmus de Regibus Et de pontificibus / libro secundo / After the sleynge of the kynge / his broder [...] edwoldus hated the lykynge of the world for hard fortune toke hym and his broder And lyued an heremytes lyf only by breede and water atte abbaye of Cern in dorsete by the clere welle that seynt Austyn by his prayers made sprynge somtyme for to Cristen the peple that tourned to Crysten byleue / hit falleth ful ofte that a gentil herte warned by hard happes and meschyef of this world / tourneth the more besyly to god that can not begyle / nor be begyled / The abbaye that was there bylde was afterward ryche ynough yf they that shold gouerne hit deled it to goddes seruauntes / and not to glotons / But in our tyme couetyse & pryde hath so chaun­ged al thynge in englond that thynges that were yeue to Ab­bayes in old tyme ben now more wasted in glotonye and outrage of owners / than in sustenaunce and helpe of nedy men and of ghestes / but certaynly the yeuers shal not lese her mede / For her wylle and her entente is weyed in goddes balaunce /

¶ Capitulum 33

THe thyrdde lowys regned in Fraunce after his fader the secunde lowys four yere ¶Willelmus de Regibus libro secunde ¶ This yere the hooste of danes lefte este englond and come with theyr dukes hungar and hubba / towarde redynge in westsaxons / there the thyrd day after their coming the two dukes of danes wente out for to take prayes and were [Page] slayne at engelfeld / there after the fourth daye the two bretheren kynges of westsaxons mette to gyder and made a grete slaughter of the danes. Atte laste the danes brake oute of the tour & slough Ethelwulfus duc of barrokshyre / and compellyd thenglysshmē to wende a bak / For that shame Englysshmen were meuyd and arayed a batayll the fourth daye ther after vppon Asshdoun / There Aluredus was dryue for grete nede to come to the bataylle to fore his broder the kynge that herde a masse that tyme / The whiche kynges prayers to god that daye was moche worth / For though the danes had taken the hyther place of the hille / Crysten men come from the foote of the hylle vpward ayenste hem / and slough osryk kyng of danes and fyue of his dukes / and many thousandes of enemyes / and chaced the other al a day vnto Re­dynge / But the fourtenth day after at basynge the danes yaf a batayll / and ageyne two monethes ther after at merton and had the vyctorye / In the mene tyme the kynges of mercia / of nor­thumberlond and of eest angles had no wylle to suffre the lord­ship of westsaxons / therfor hem was leuer susteyne the enemyes and fauoure hem in the syege than helpe her owne countrey men that trauayled for the londe / Therfore it was that the enemyes encrecyd and had the maystrye / and men of the lond were ouer come / and bare doune and made doole and sorowe / the nexte yere ther after / / After many batayls etheldredus kynge of westsax­ons deydr eyght dayes to fore maye and was buryed at Wyn­burn / ¶ After Adryan the eygth Iohan was pope twelue yere / ¶In a tyme this dwellyd with lowys balbus kynge of Fraunce al a yere / and was prysoned of the Romayns / for he wolde not fauoure charles Also this pope yaue to ansegysus bisshop of Senons the grete gregoryes heede & pope leos Arme­for to doo hem in his chirche / In the tyme of this pope / the fyfthe Synode of Constantinople was made of thre honderd / lxxiij / bisshops / Also in his tyme Sarasyns pryked in ytaly / and destro­yed seynt benets abbay in mount cassyn thenne the seconde tyme

¶ Explicit liber quintus /

¶ Incipit Liber sextus

¶ Capitulum primum /

ALuredus the fourth brother of byrthe / was euer holden behynde whyle his bretheren regned / But he had after hem the hoole kynge­dome of westsaxons nyne and twenty yere / And ruled it nobly / but with grete trauail

Here take heede of his begynnynge of his forth goynge / and of his last ende / For Aluredus was fayre of shappe / and more loued of fader and mo­der than his other bretheren / and dwellyd in his faders courte to the yere of his age twelue / and was not yet lettred / yet after that the chylde lerned ryght wele / and helde saxon poesy [...] in mynde / He passed other men in crafte of huntynge / and was a subtyll maister of buildynge and of other werkes / he gadred psalmes and orysons to gyder in a lytel book / and called the book manuel that is an hand booke / he hadde that book with him alwey / He was but a symple Gramaryon / for that tyme was not one techer of gramer in al his kyngdom / Therfor by counseyl of neo­tus the abbott / whome he vysyted ryght ofte / he was the fyrste that ordeyned comyn scole at oxenford of dyuers artes and seyences / and procured fredome and pryueleges in many articles to that Cyte / he suffred noman to take degre or ordre / to what ma­ner dygnyte of holy chirche / but he were wel lettred / he tourned the beste lawes in to englyssh tong / Atte last he auentred him to translate the sawter in to Englysshe / But he translated vnneth the fyrste part byfore his deth / whanne he come to age and wolde stable his hert and his thought in goddes heestes / the lechery of his flessh greuyd hym and lette hym of [...]e tyme / therfor to putte awey temptacion of flesshely lykynge / he wente and vysyted oft temples of hooly sayntes erly and late / and at cokkes crowyng and prayd god that he wolde chastyse his flessh with suche a sekenesse that he sholde not be vnprofytable to worldly dedes / and that he myght the more frely serue god almyghty / At goddes or­denaunce he had many yere the euyl called Fycus ¶Atte laste­he was out of hoope to be heeled and wente in to Cornewayle to to seynt suerons chirche / there seynt neotus resteth / owther for to ceese owther for to chaunge it ¶ R But somme men saye that seynt modwenna / the yrysshe mayde heled hym of that euyll / [Page] Atte last whanne he had his wyll / a wors euyll toke hym in his wedded tyme / and greued hym wel more from his twenty yere / to his fyue and fourty yere / his quene ethelswyda bare hym / ij / sonnes / Edward the elder / and egelward / And thre doughters Elfleda lady of mercia / ethelgota a menchon and elf [...]yda and he made hem alle lerne gramer and other fre artes and scyences / Than aluredus yeuer of almes herer of masses / sought besyly loore of arte & of craftees that he knewe not & sent after seynt gyrmbald the monk a connyng man of letture & of song and prayde hym to come to hym oute of fraunce in to englond / Also he sente for Iohan monke of seynt dauid abbaye in meuenia to come to hym oute of wales to teche hym clergye / he exyted and comfor­ted the lordes of his lond to lerne letture ānd clergye / so that they shold sette theyr children to scole / and yf they had no childer / they shold graūte her bonde men fredome / and sette hem to scole / yf they had good wytte and were able to lerne / he enquyred and [...]spyed besyly the doynge and dedes of his offycers and seruauntes / and namely of Iugges and of domesmen / And yf he myght vnder­stande that they erryd or dyde amysse / whether it were for vncon­nynge or for couetise / he put them oute of offyce / ¶ Also he made Werfredus Bisshop of worsetre translate in to Saxon speche gregoryes bookes dyalogus Will / de Regibus libro primo / He departed in thre alle that he myght spende / and yet he departed the fyrst part in thre / For the twey partyes of the kyn­ges ministres were at home for to ordeyne for homly thynges / In the thyrdde moneth euery partye and companye of his hows­holde shuld serue byfore hym / he assygned the second part of this fyrst part to dyuers werkmen that gadred oute of euery syde / The thyrd pa [...]te he deled to comers and straungers / Than the se­cond chyef parte of that he myght spende / he departed in foure / The fyrst part therof he yaue to poure men / and nedy / the second [...] to foundynge of abbayes / the thyrd to scolers of oxenford that were gadred and shuld be gadred there / & the fourth parte to a­mendyng of chirches / and for he wolde weye his owne lif a right he departed in thre the four and twenty howres of the day and nyght / and spende eyght therof in wrytynge and redynge and byddyng of bedes / eyght aboute his bodyly nedes / & eyght about nedes of the kyngdome / And to departe thes howres redyly / h [...] sette a candel in his chapel of four and twenty partyes & shold be warned by them that were ordeyned therfore / as ofte as ony of [Page CClxxxij] thylke four and twenty were spente / After the moneth of his kyngdome he fought with the danes at wyl̄ton with grete harme of both the hoostes / For englissmen were destroyed with eyght batayllis in one yere and were moche febled / therfore engli [...]shm [...]n made that yere pees with the danes on the coneuaunt / that they shold wende from hem / and so they dyde / for that yere they dwellid at london / and the nexte yere after at lindesaye / And the merces made pees with the danes also at that tyme / but in the thirde yere the danes brake the pees / and wente oute of lind [...]seye to R [...] ­ [...]yndon Charles the elder the third lowes broder toke the weye to Rome whanne his broder was dede / and was crowned Emperour of pope Iohan and regned two yere / For whyles he ordeyned at papye for the comune prouffyt of the Empyre / he herde of the comynge of charlemayne / that was his owne broders sonne And his herte byganne to falle for drede / and wente towarde Fraunce / and deide amonge the grete hilles / called the Alpes / After hym his sonne lowys balbus regned two yere / After him Charles the yonger that was called grossus / that is grete / the sone of the thirde lowys regned ten yere / That yere the danes lef [...]e lindeseye and cam to Rependon / there they putte oute burdredus kynge of mercia / and bitoke the kyngdom to one Colwulfus / that was Burdredus seruaunt vpon suche a condicion / that they sholde haue the kingdome ayene whanne they wolde / But after thre yere they departed somme of the kyngdome bitwene hem / & somme they lefte to colwulfus / and this Colwulfus was the last kyng of mercia / ¶After his deth Aluredus ioyned lon­don first / & Colwulfus part to his owne kyngdome / Also that yere the danes cam ofte to Rependon / and the men of hamburgh that is fyue myle fro Rependon were wonder soore a­ferd and toke the body of seynt werburgh the mayde that hadde long tyme ley buryed there / & was alwey hool & soūde / vnto that tyme & translated her to chestre as to a seker place / ¶Also that yere kynge Aluredus made pees with the danes and they slough the kynges horsmen al in one nyght ¶Therfore the kynge was meoued and chaced hem vnto chestre / And the danes delyuerd and yaue efte pledges and dwellyd a yere there / ¶ Henricus libro quinto / That yere Rollo the dane cam fyrst in to normandye and regned there fourty yere / ¶Willelmus de Regibus libro / 2 / First one hastynges and than Rollo noricus / that is a dane that had no countrey of his owne / but by heste of the kynge / he [...]xyted [Page] mysdo [...]s that coneyted other mennes goddes and catayls and brought hem in grete hoope of grete wynnyng and led hem with him and warryd on lond and on see from brittyssh occean vnto the see called mare tirenum / that is the see that stretcheth to ytaly / thenne he come to Carnotum / there the Cy [...]eseyns trust not on her walles nowther on her strength / but they toke our lady smocke that charles the balled had brought with other relyques out of constantinople and sette the smocke vpon a pynacle / as it were a baner / the enemyes scorned the smock / ands hotten ther at & were smyten with blyndenes / but Roll escaped and occupyed Rothomage the yere of oure lorde eyght honderd / lxxvij / that was one yere byfore the deth of charles the balled / his sonne Lowys ouercome the normans but he put hem not oute· And Charles simplex otherwyse callyd Grossus / this lowys broder and neuew to charles the balled was oft ouersette in batayllis with Rollo / and toke counseyl atte laste / and acorded with Rollo· soo that he sholde be cristened and knowlege that he helde n [...]omādye & Armorica / that is lytel britayne of the kynge of Fraunce as of the chyef lorde / whanne that was doo men that stode by coun­seylled rollo that he sholde kysse the kynges feete that yafe hym suche a yefte / But he hadde indignacion & was to prowde to falle downe on his knees / but toke vp the kynges foote to his mouth soo that he threwe the kynge vpright / For that hap normans be­ganne to laugh & the frensshmen waxe right wroth / Rollo excu­syd hym of that boystous dede / & alledged the manere and vsage of his countreye Thanne Rollo wente ayene to Rotomage / & ordeyned for his catell and thynges / & deyde sone therafter /

¶ Capitulum secundum /

LOwys balbus regned in Fraunce two yere / In his first yere the danes sailed from warham towarde [...]xcestre / and lost [...]x score shippes in a tempeste of the see / But somme of the danes occupyed the Royal Cyte Chypenham and the countreye about / and chaced awey many englysshemen / owther made them subgette / In the meschyef of that tyme king aluredus with fewe men ledde vncertayne and vnnesy lyf in the wode countreyes of Somersete / For he had right nought to lyue by / but what he [Page CClxxxiij] myghte wynne by prayes / owther with huntyng / owther with fyss [...]yng [...] / ¶ On a tyme whyle his felawes were a fysshynge / and he comforted his vncertayn and vnstidfast lyf with comfort of [...]okes / ¶ A pylgrym cam to hym and axed almes in goddes name / The kynge lyft vp his handes to heuen and sayde I thank god that vysyted his pore man this daye / by a pore mā That he wol vouchsauf this day to axe of me that he hath yeuen me / and restore ageyne with encreace / that he axeth of me / Anone the kynge called his seruaunt that hadde but one looff and lytel what of wyne / and hadde hym yeue the half therof / to the pore man / The pore man thanked hym and vanysshed sodenly awaye / and noo steppe was seen of his goynge in the nes­she more / ¶ And also alle that was yeuen hym / was foun­den hoole an [...] sounde / And they that were a ffysshynge brought grete plentye of ffysshe / ¶ Thenne whanne the kynge was slepynge / one appered to hym in a Bisshops wede / and charged hym that he shold loue god / and kepe ryghtwysenesse and be merciable ayenst pore men / and worship [...] preestes / And sayd moore to / myne Aluredus Cryst knoweth thy conscyence / and thy wyll and putteth an ende of thy sorowe and care for to morow stronge helpers shal be with the / By helpe of hem thou shalt ouercome thyne enemyes / who art thou sayde the kynge / I am Cutberth sayde he / thy pylgrym that yisterdaye was here with the / to who­me thou yaue breede and wyn / I am besy for the and for thy­ne / haue mynde herof / whanne it is wele with the / But how he made mynde of his pylgrym by the fredom and possession of the chirche of durham / it is now sene / Willelmus de regibus libro / 2

¶Than Aluredus cam oute of prysonne / and putte hym to a peryll of grete fraude and gyle / For he wente in to the kynge of Danes pauylons and tentes / in myustralles weede / and espyed all that he wolde / and come ageyne to ethelynge and declared to his felawe the slewthe of his enemyes / ¶ Thenne be fylle sodenly on his enemyes / and slough moo of hem than me wolde trowe / For the daye after cam to hym the men of wyl [...]shir / of So merse [...]te / and of Hampshyre / ¶ By helpe of hem / he buylde a tour at Ethlynge / that is to saye in Englysshe that now is vsed the ylelande of noble men / Oute of that tour [...]e [...]ee­sed ofte his enemyes and ouercome hem / and namely besyde [...] Selwode that is a grete wode in Englysshe that now is vsed / [Page] So that he receyued hostages and pledgis the best that he wold [...] ch [...]ese / And Guttrun kynge of Danes was Crysten [...]d / and twenty of the grettest that were with hym ¶the whiche kynge Alfredus receyued of the colde water / and yaue hym a name / and callyd hym Adelstan / Therfor to kynge Guttrun that we calle Gurmundus were yeuen the prouynces of Eest Angles / and of northumberlonde for to dwelle ynne / But for the blewe man chaungeth not lyghtly his skynne / This Guttrun destroyed the landes with tyrannye / / and with pryde enleuen yere / and dyede the twellyfth yere / ¶ The other Danys that wolde not be Crysten wente in to Fraūce / That place that hete Ethlyng or Ethelyngeseye is not an Ilelande of the see / but it standeth in water marreys and moores / soo that me maye not come ther to but by shippe owther by boote / ¶ The place conteyneth vn­nethe the space of twey dayes iourney of erthe in breede / and yet there ben wylde beestes / and veneson / ¶ Charles the yonger otherwyse callyd Grossus / that is grete was the thyrdde Lowys sonne / and regned in Fraunce after his came lowys balbus / ten yere / he wente oute of Almayne and occupyed ytaly fy­ue dayes and cam to Rome and was sacred emperour of pope Iahan / In his tyme byganne the Erldomme of Flaundrys / For that tyme Flaundrys was not of grete name / but it was ruled by the kynges Forsters of Fraunce /

Also this Charles putte fro hym his wyf / for it semed that she was to pryue with the bisshop of Versell / ¶Therfore the kyng of Fraunce knowleched openly that he hymself hadde neuer leyne by her flessbely / And she was gladde of her maydenhode / and and wente in to an Abbaye whanne she was forsaken / Atte la­ste / the tenthe yere of his kyngdome / this Charles wente oute of Fraunce in to ytaly / and was poysoned of a Iewe callyd Se­dechias / and dyed atte hilles Alpes / ¶Ranulphus ¶ It semeth that this is that Charles that maryed his doughter Gilla that he hadde by his rather wyf / to duc Rollo / and graunted with hir the ducheryes of normandye and of lytel Brytayne

¶ Willelmus de pontificibus libro secundo /

Also that yere dyede Du [...]bertus Bisshop of Wynchestre / And kynge Aluredus made Dunewolfus Bisshop in his stede / that be founde in the woode in his hydynge tyme kepyng [...] beestes / But whanne he knewe his good wylle after g [...]e [...]t [...] age / he putte hym to scole to lerne lettrure / and clergye / That yere the kyng [Page CClxxxiiij] aluredus amended the cyte of Septon / that is shaftesbury / as a greete stone wytnessyth / that there in the Chapytre hows of Nonnes lyeth aboue erthe ¶ After Iohan / martyn was pope one yere / He relessyd to the Scole of Saxons al maner trybute atte prayer of kynge Aluredus / ¶ Also he sen [...]te to Aluredus a grete parte of the hooly crosse / After marty [...] agapitus was pope one yere / the which yere the danes cam ou [...] of Fraunce / and besyeged Rochestre / and buylde a tour ayenst [...] the yates of the cyt [...] / But the Cyteseyns defended the Cyte til [...] that Aluredus come and toke alle the horses of Danes / and compellyd hem to flee / Thenne the danes wente in to Fraunce ayene / and the kyng sente his nauy full of men of armes oute of kente in to Eest englond / and toke sixten shippes of danes / But in the comyng ageyne the kynges nauye was ouercome [...] / ¶Treuisa / ¶ Eeste Engelonde / conteyneth Northfolke / and Southfolke / Looke more herof in the fyrste booke capitulo iji / ¶ It foloweth in the storye / that yere the danes rowed in the water of Seyne and besyeged parys a yere all hoole / That yere Aluredus reparayled london / and bytoke it to the k [...] pynge of Etheldredus Erle of mercia / ¶ Than the Englysshmen that were disparpled yaf hem self to the kyng Aluredus /

¶ That tyme the kynge sente his almes to Rome and to Inde and buylde twey Abbayes one of men at Ethelyngesley and another of women at Shaftesbury and made his doughte [...] Etholgof Abbes there / After Agapytus / the thyrdde Adryan [...] was pope one yere / After hym Basilius one yere / After hym Stephen six yere /

¶ Capitulum 3 /

CHarles Grossus was poysonned of a Iewe as it is sa­yd bifore / and wexed strongly seke / Therfor Arnul­phus the sonne of his brother Charleman was chosen kynge / But whanne Charles was deede / were ordeyned fyue kynges / But the Empyre leste with Arnulphus / and he was crowned atte laste of Formosus the pope / and he bete downe the normās & the danes that had werrid in fraūce xl / yere / Aatte last [Page] he was hard holden with a stronge sekenesse / and myght not be heled ne saued with no maner medycyne / that he was destroyed and eten with lyse ryght to the deth / Franco Archebisshop of Rothomage Crystened Rollo / And kynge Guttrun is deede

¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo ¶ For reses of normans and of the danes / seynt ma [...]tyus body was transla­te from Turon to seynt Germayns chirche at Altissiodor / and many were there myracles done / And the monkes of Turon and of Altissiodore pleted for thofferyng / And for the saynt sholde deme whether of hem hadde ryght of thofferyng / they brought forth a leper that was heled in that one syde of his bodye / that was to warde seynt martyn / and the other parte of his bodye lefte foule and not heled / ¶ Than for me sholde wene that that was happyly byfalle / they tourned the other foule syde toward saynt martyn / and anone it was heled also /

Than the monkes of Turon hadde at the offerynge till the werre was seeced and than they hadde her owne saynt hoome ageyne to her owne hows / ¶ This befel not in this maner / for no power of seynt germayne / but he spared & dide his gheste reuerence in his owne hows / ¶Henricus libro quinto / That yere cam four hoostes of danes ayenst Aluredus / one in northūmberlonde / another in Eestenglonde that conteyneth Nor­ffolk / and southfolk / the thyrdde at Excestre / the fourth at Ches­tre / but at chestre the danes were soo besyeged / that they ete her horses for honger / ¶Thre scottysmen dusblay mahbon / and malmmyn desired to lede pylgryms lyf and toke with hem lyue­loode for one weke / and toke Akarabum / that is a [...]oote made but of twey huydes and an half and wente therinne wonderly withoute sayle withoute rother and oore / and al maner tacle of

Shipcraft and cam on londe at Cornewayle after seuen dayes / and come to kyng Aluredus / ¶ After steuen fo rmosus was pope fyue yere / Somtyme for drede of pope Iohan / he lefte his bisshopryche of portune / but for whan he was callyd / he wolde not come ageyn / he was cursyd / Atte last he come to the pope Iohan / and was degraded vnto the state of a lewd man / Also he was made swere that he sholde neuer tourne ayene to hi [...] bisshopryche nowther come in to the cyte of Rome / But atte last he was restored ageyne by pope martyn that was pope Iohannis successour / ¶Plegmundus Archebisshop of Caunterbury [Page CClxxxv] that was a noble man of Clergye receyued the palle of formosus / the pope / and ordeyned seuen Bisshops to chirches of englond in one day / ¶ That yere kyng Aluredus chaced the danes furste oute of Kente / of excestre / and of Chichestre /

Henricus libro quinto / ¶ The danes that were at Chestre we­re besyeged thre dayes / And were compellyd by honger to leue the Cyte / Than they spoylled Northwales / and wente soo about by Northumberlonde in to Eest Englonde / there her wyues and theyr Shippes were / They entryd in to the Ryuer luys / and buylde a castel there fast by / But the Londoners by helpe of the kynge destroyed that castel / and departed that Ryuer in thre chanels or stremes / Soo that Danes myghte not brynge oute theyr Shippes / and dwellyd atte brydge vpon Seua [...]n faste by wales / and buylde there a stronge castel / And soo these thre yere / Englond was harde bysette with thre manere of sorowe / with warre of the Danes / Moreyue of men / and pestylence of beestes / ¶ After Formosus Bonefas was pope fyften dayes / ¶After hym the sixth steuen one yere and thre mo­nethes / ther after he lefte the papacye / and was made monke / This was somtyme made Bisshop of Angum by Pope Formo­sus / But afterwarde whanne he was pope he pursued soo For­mosus that not only he withsayde his doyng and his dedes / But also he lette take vp Formosus / whanne he was deede / oute of the erthe / and made men brynge hym in to the playne Consistorye clothed as a pope / And than he made men vnclothe hym / and take of hym that manere clothynge / and clothe hym as a lewde man / and kytte of twey fyngars of his ryght honde and caste hym in to Tyber / ¶ After this Steuen Roma­nus was pope foure monethes / Lowys Arnulphus sonne regned in Fraunce twelue yere / But he hadde neuer the Crow­ne of the Empyre / And in hym was the ende of the Empyre▪ / towchynge Charles ofsprynge / ? In his tyme were fyue Popes Theodorus / Iohan / Benette / Leo / and Crystofor / Of hem Theodorus the seconde / though he were Pope / but one monethe / yet he aroos ayenst pope Steuens doyng / and wi [...]hsayd his dedes / and confermed the dedes of Pope Fromosus / The nynth Iohan was pope twoo yere / he made a counseyll at Rauenna / and dampned pope steuenes dedes and fought ayenst the Romayns Willelmus de re / libro secundo / This yere deyd kyng Aluredus and was fyrst buryed in the cathedral chirch at wynchestre / but [Page] for the madnesse and rauynge of the chanons that sayde / that spyryts of kynges taken the careyn / and walke aboute by nyght from hows to hows / His sonne Edwarde toke the faders bodye and dyde it in the newe Abbaye / This and suche other lewde tales Englysshmen holden by a mysbyleue that hath full longe dured / and borowed it of mysbyleuyd men / ¶ That they trowe not that after a mannes deth the bodye walketh and goth aboute by menyng of the fende / ¶ Therof spekyth Vyrgyl / and sayd / whanne deth cometh what semyng shappes fleeth aboute / Ranulphus / ¶ In praysynge of this kynge Henricus libro primo wryteth versus in this maner / Kyndly noblesse / of goodnesse / yeueth to the worshipe / And goodnesse trauayle / myghty werryour Aluredus / And traua­yle name / to the withoute ony ende / Ioye with woo medled / he hadde in euery tyme / Alweye thyne hoope was medled with greete drede / Though he were nowe downe / he arayd bataylle a morowe / yf he were vyctor / he dradde the bataylle a morowe / After trauaylle of lyf / of regnynge bothe / His veray reste / be with Cryste withoute ende / ¶ Marianus libro secundo /

¶ Capitulum 4 /

EDward the elder by his surname regned after his fader four and twenty yere / he was lower than his fader in worshiy of lettrure and hygher than he in wordly ioye / and worshippe / For he buylde newe Cytees / & repayred citees that were apayred / And spradde the endes of his kyngdome wydder than dyde his fader / He made the kynges of Scottes of Cumbres and of walsshmen to yelde hem to hym / He wanne Essex / Northumberlonde and mercia with strengthe oute of the handes of the danes / & hadde al mercia after the deth of his sus­ter Elfleda / ¶ On his fyrst wyf Egwyna he gate his ol­dest soune Edelstan / On quene Edgyna he gate Edredus and Edwynus and seuen doughters / he maryed one of hem to Otho the Emperour / and another to Charles / kynge of weste Fraunce / and the thyrdde to Sythyrycus duc of northumberlond

¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo / On his thyrd wyf [Page CClxxxvj] Ethelswyda / he bygate Edmonde / and Edrede / Eyther of hem regned after her broder ethelstan / he bygate also two doughters / Seynt Edburgh that was sacred· to God / and restyth at wynchestre / ¶ And Edgyna the fayr that was maryed to lowys kynge of guyan / ¶ Also this made his sonnes lerne lettrure / and he made hys doughters fyrste lerne lettrure / And after that he made hem vse the nylde and the dystaf / Willelmus de pontificibus libro secundo / Of this mayde Edburga it is redde / that whan she was thre yere olde / hir fader wolde wytte & essay whether she wolde tourne to God / owther to the worlde / and leyde in that one syde of his chambre many [...]ay [...] I [...] ­wels and dyuers and greete Ryches / And on that other syde chalyce and gospels / Than in another place he p [...]tt besauntes broches and rynges / thanne the noryce brought forth the chyld And the childe was boden chese / and take what she wolde / and she crepte on honde and on foote / and toke the gospel / Than the fader kyssed the childe / and sayd goo thyder as god clepe [...] the / sewe hym with a gracious foote that ledeth the And soo ther after she was made nonne / kynges bloode neuer made her torne aweywarde / But she wolde take the shoes of her sustres pryuely bx nyghte and wasshe hem / and smere hem / and brynge hem pryuely ageyne / that sygnefyed mekenes /

After Iohan the fourthe Benette was pope thre yere. Also that yere seynt Gyrmbald the Confessour that was kyng Aluredus techer dyed at wynchestre / ¶ That yere plegmundus the Archebisshop of the Cyte of dorob [...]rnia / that is Caunterbury / ordeyned seuen bisshops to the chirches of Englonde / Fyue to the lande of guyseyes / that be westsaxons / one at wynchestre / one at Cornewayle / one at Shirburn / one at welles / one at kyrton / Also amonge the southsaxons one / And in mercia one at Dor­kyngam that is Dorchestre besydes Oxenford. /

For formosus the pope hadde yeuen his cours to kynge Edward and to Englysshmen by cause of scarsete of Bisshops in her lon­de that hadde be bisshoples seuen yere to geder /

That yere breede fayled in Irlonde / For wormes that were twey tothed / and lyke to wontes fylle doune fro heuene / and ete the breede corne / But the wormes were done aweye by prayenge and fastynge / . ¶ Clyto Ethelwoldus kynge edwardes [...]ames sonne / roo [...] or rebellyd ayenst the kyng [Page] and occupyed the cyte of wynburn besides bath and sayd that he wolde haue the maystrye owther dye there / But he rauesshyd & toke with hym a nonne of thabbaye of wynburn & wente thens to the danes of northumberlond & prayde hem of helpe / But the kynge pursued hym soo strongly that he forsoke Englond / and fled in to Fraunce / But the kynge brought with hym the nonne ageyn / and restored her to her abbay / ¶ But the same yere Ethelwulfus come ageyne with shippes in grete aray / & toke with hym the danes that dwellyd in eeste englond and assayled and destroyed al that he myght fynde vnto Crekanford / that is cryklade / thenne he passed temse / and spoylled and robbed the londe Bradenestok / and soo he wente ayene to eestenglond / that conteyneth northfolk / and southfolk / as it is sayd byfore ofte tyme The kyng folowed after and destroyed and spoylled the londe of his enemyes from the Ryuer ous to the boundes of seynt edmun­des lande / And badde his men that none of hem sholde abyde be­hynde / but the kentysshmen forgendryd the kynges heest / and a­bode there / and were slayne nygh all of the danes / many were slayne on eyther syde / ¶ But clyto ethelwoldus was slayn amonge his enemyes / than the danes sawe that kynge Edward myght not be ouercome and made pees with hym / After bene [...] hee fyfthe leo was pope twey monethes / For his prest crystofor prysonned hym and toke the papasye so / by maystry / but he was cast oute after the fourth moneth / the fourth Sergius putt oute crystofor / and was pope ther after seuen yere / Somtyme he was deken cardynal / and reprouyd of Formosus the pope / and wente to Frensshmen / by helpe of hem he prisoned crystofer that gate th [...] poperyche / and helde it by strengthe / and than he hym self occupy­ed the poperyche / & in wreche of his puttyng / he made men take vp Formosus the pope oute of his graue / and smyte of his heede / & threw the body in to Tyber / But atte laste fysshers founde the body and brought it to seynt peters chirche & the ymages of hooly sayntes dyd that body grete reuerence and worship in his comyng That yere the cyte Caerleon that is legec [...]stria that now is callid chestre / after that it was destroyed by the danes / it was restored ageyne by helpe of etheldredus duc of mercia and of his wyf e [...] fleda / that cyte than was closed aboute with newe walles / and made nyghe suche two as it was byfore ¶ Soo that the castel was somtyme by the water / withoute the walles is now in the toun within the walles / Ranulphus / Kyng edward buyld [Page CClxxxvij] a castel at herford / That tyme was thabbay of cluny founded of wyliam the mylde prynce of burgoyn / the fyrste abbot of that place was seynt odo the second mayclus / Wi / de p / li / 4 / Seyth that fyrste the monkes of that place were ryche in the world / & and of clere Relygyon in god / That tyme etheldredus duc of mercia / & his wyf elfleda translated [...] the bones of seynt oswald the kynge from bardeny to gloucestre / there they buyld an abbay in worship of seynt peter

¶ Capitulum quintum

COnradus after lowys was made prynce amonge the almayns / But for he was not emperour in ytaly / he is not rekened among emperours / ne he is not enhaunced with sacryng & blessynges / but he regned seuen yere / In this yere bygan thempyre to passe from frensshmen to the Almayns / For lowys predecessour of this myght not defende the Romaynes ayenste the Lon­gobardes / thempyre passyd from the Frensshmen / And soo were twey Emperours / one in Almayne and another in ytaly / vnto the fyrst otho that was Emperour of bothe / That yere in the pro­uynce of stafford at toten hale the Englysshmen ouercome the danes and afterward at wodenysfelde / kyng edward slough of the danes twey kynges / twey erles / and many thousandes of danes of northumberlond / Etheldredus duc & leder vnder kyng of mercia deyde / & his wyf elfleda kyng Edwardes suster regn [...]d nobly longe tyme in al mercia / oute take london and ox [...]nford / the whiche the kynge helde to hym selfward / she buylde many cytees & townes and amended many one / that be brymmesbury bridge vpon seuarn / thomworth besydes lychefelde / stafford / warwyk sheresbury / watrisbury / Edysbury in the forest besyde Chestre / that now is al destroyed / Also she bylde a Cyte with a Castel in the north endes of mercia vpon the Ryuer merce that than was na­med Runcofan / But now it is called Runcorn / Willelmus de regibus libro secundo ¶ This strong vyrago Elfleda fauour of cyteseyn [...] and drede of enemyes halpe moche the kyng / hir broder in yeuyng of counseyl and buyldyng of Cytees / whanne she had ones assayed the wo and the sorowe only of one childe / that she bare / she hated the enbracyng of a man after for euermo­re / And toke wytnesse of god and sayde / that it was not semely [Page] to a kynges doughter to vse flesshely lykynge where suche sorowe shold come after / The [...]er theues of danes that wente oute of en­glond in to Fraunce aboute nynten yere byfore / come ageyne in to Englond / and sayled aboute Cornewayle and come in to Se­uarn see / and toke prayes / and teke a bryttyssh bisshop in Irchenfelde / the whiche Bisshop kynge edward raunsoned for fourty pound / and chaced the enemyes in to yrlond / and made a castel atte mouth of the water of auene and other Castels at Bokyn­gham in eyther syde of the Ryuer ouse / and made subget the da­nes that dwellyd at betford and at northhampton and her kynge Turketillus / Anastasius was pope two yere / After hym lando was pope fyne monethes / ¶That yere the hungaryes that be by the Ryuer of danubins / destroyed ytaly / The tenth Iohan was pope fourten yere / This was pope Sergius sonne and Bisshop of Rauen / By his helpe Albericus the markys put the sauasyns oute of ytalye / Atte laste fyl stryf and discorde bytwene hem & the pope put the markys oute of the cyte / therfor he was wroth & brought the hungaryes that had destroyed ytalye / therfore the markys was [...]slayn but the pope was straungled of the markys knyghtes / That yere deyde Rollo the fyrst duc of normandye af­ter the fourtenth yere of his duchery / his sone wiliam longa spata was duc after hym fiue & twenty yere / Elfleda quene of mercia toke prayes in the londe of brytons at brechnok / and toke the kynges wif of wales and ren [...]wed legecestre that is chestre / kynge edward bylde the Cytees of Toucetre and of wygmore and destroyed the castel that the danes had made at Temesforde / Elfleda toke the cyte of derby vpon the dan [...]s / hir four mynystres we­re slayn / Harry the sone of duc Otho of saxō regned eyght [...]n yere ouer the almayns / but not in ytaly / & therfor he is not acōpted amonge the emperours / this ouercome the hungaryes and torned to the feyth the duc of normandy / wiliam longa spata / longa spata is a longe swerde in englysshe / ¶Will / de Regibus libro secundo / That yere deyde elfleda eygten dayes byfore Iulij / fyue yere byfore the deth of her broder kyng edward / And she was buryed in gloucestre in saynt peters chirche that she & hir husbōd had bylde vpon kynge oswaldes boones / that they had brought thyder from bardeny / But the danes destroyed that chirche / and aldredus bisshop both of yorke and of worcestre reparayled ano­ther that is now the chyef abbay of the cyte / kynge Edward toke the power of mercia from elswyna the doughter of Elfleda / [Page CClxxxviij] and ledde hir with hym in to westsaxon R ¶In praysyng of this elfleda / Henricu [...] libro quinto / O Elflede myghty o mayde mennes drede / vyctryce of kynde wele worthy the name of a mā And the wele bryghter / now kynde hath made a mayde / go [...]dnes hath the mayde to haue the name of a man / kynde techeth the to chaunge nothynge but the name / myghty kynge and quene victoryes to arraye / Cesars tryumphes were not soo moche worthy / Nobler than Cesar / mayde vyrago Fare wele / whan kynge Edward herde the deth of his suster / he made subget to hym thom worth and snotyngham that now is nothyngham / there he byld a newe cyte in the south syde right ayenst the olde cyte / and sette a brygge vpon trente bytwene the twey cyte [...]s / ther after in the same yere twey kynges yelde hem frely to hym· / that were the kynges of Scotlonde / of danes / and of wales / That yere kynge Edwarde buyld a cyte at thylwal / that is in the north endes of mers [...]a by the water of mersee / & there he sette kepynge of knigh­tes / Than he passed the water of mersee / and restored the Cyte of manchestre / that is in the south endes of northumberlond / kynge Edward dyed at faryndon twelue myle by west oxenford and was buryed at wynchestre in the newe abbay /

¶ Capitulum sextum

EDelstan kynge edwardes oldest sonne was made kynge at kyngeston besydes london in southrey / [...]e regned sixten yere In his fyrst yere the noble childe dunstan was borne in the coutreye of glastenbury / Al his lyf to his endynge daye he shone by vertues and by myracles / Alfredus / Kynge Edelstan maryed his sus [...]er to sithricus kynge of the danes of northumberlonde / Sythrycus dyed sone after / and the kynge put oute Sythrycus sonne / and ioyned that kyngdome to his owne / Than by bataylle he made subgett ho [...]lus kyng of brytons / and Constantyn kynge o [...] the Scottes and receyued h [...]m whan they were yolden / Kyng Ethelstan made this Constantyn kynge of Scotlond / Than Constantyn sayde / It is more worship to make a kynge / than to be a kynge / ¶Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo / Also kynge ethelstan maryed his other suster to Otho the Emperour and receyuyd of him horses and other precious stones / [Page] & a maner vessel of stone callyd Onychynus / that was clere & bryght / and letted not the passynge of lyght / nowther of syghte and it was made subtylly by grauynge crafte that it semed veryly that corn growynge therynne waued hyder and thyder / as longe corne doth in feldes / and that vynes bourgened / and ymages of men meoued / Also he receyued of him the grete Constan­tynes swerde / In that swerde the owners name was redde in lettres of gold / in the hylte therof in grete plates of golde was stykked on of the four yron nayles that cryst was nayled with to the roode / he receyued of hym the grete charles spere / euer whan Charles shoke that spere / he hadde the maystrye / Me sayth that spere opened Crystes owne syde / and seynt moris baner / that baner Charles vsed ayenst the sarasyns / Also he receyued a parte of the holy crosse and somme of the thorned crowne / Kyng ethelstan ordeyned somme of the Relyques to the abbay of malmes­bury / Mar / The sixth leo was pope four yere & / vij / monethes / Odo is made bisshop of wylton / Willelmus de pontificibus li­bro secundo / Frystan Bisshop of wynchestre deyde / and Birstan was Bisshop after hym / Of this Byrstan it is redde that he sange as it were euery day for all Crysten sowles / Than he wente on a nyght aboute a chirche yerde and sayd salmes for al cry­sten sowles / and whan he had al sayde he sayde Requiescant in pace / And he herde a voys of a grete hoost answer / oute of graues / and sayd Amen / Odo Bisshop of wynchestre is made archebisshop of Dorobernia that is Caunterbury. Than Steuen was pope seuen yere / Odo Bisshop of wynchestre is deede / After hym elphegus the balled was bisshop of wynchestre / that man was a prophete and nygh of seynt dunstans kyn / Willel / de pontifici­bus libro secundo / On asshe wonesdaye as the maner is / he putte hem that sholde doo open penaunce oute of chirche / and charged other men that they shold in thylke dayes fast / and be chast and spare lykynge of theyr wyues / Amonge hem al one spake and sayde / Syr I may not at this tyme leue bothe my feste and my wyf / But the wyf that I haue putte awey for the tyme / I shall sone take her ageyn / Wretche sayd the bisshop thou makest me soory thou knowest not what is for the ordeyned ayēst the morewe / Than on the morn he was founden deed in his bedde / also on a tyme this ethelphegus made thre monkes preestes dunstan Ethelwold and ethelstan / And whanne the seruyce was done / he spak to hem and sayde / This day byfore god I haue sette myne hande [Page CClxxxix] vpon thre men / Tweyne of hem shal be bisshops / but the thirde shall make a wretchid ende / Than ethelstan was the more home­ly by cause of kynrade and spake and sayd / Shal I be a bisshop thou shalt haue no part in this ordre sayd elphegus / nowther thou shal bere longe this clothynge / ¶For Constantyn kynge of Scottes hadde broken couenaunt / Kynge ethelstan arayd hym toward Scotland and inthe wey he went on pylgremage to saint Iohan of beuerley / and leyd his knyf to wedde vpon seynt Io­hans auter / and sayd yf he come ageyne with the vyctory be shold raunsonne his knyf with a worthy prys After the vyctory whanne he come ageyne / he prayd god that he wolde thurgh the prayer of seint iohan of beuerley shewe som open tokē / by which token they that be and shal be maye knowe that the Scottes by right shold be subget to englisshmen / Thanne the kynge with his swerde smote on a grete stone faste by the Castel of dunbar / In that stone yet to this day is seen of that stroke a chynne of an elne long / Than the kyng cam ageyn and raunsonned his kynf with worthy doynge / the enleuenth Iohan was pope one yere / After hym the seuenth leo was pope thre yere and six monethes Lowys the sone of charles the symple and of kynge edwardes doughter regned in Fraunce after his fader in westfraunce nynten yere / ¶ Willelmus de r / libro secundo / ¶ He was on a tyme pursued of one Isenbardus / and axed helpe of the lordes of his londe / & they yaf hym none answer / Than hughe a symple knyght of Erle Robberts of mount desyre / toke wylfully the bataylle for his lord & slough hym withynne lystes that wolde nedes fyght therfor sone ater whanne the kyng was feble / he made this hugh his heyr / and soo ceesed the ofsprynge of charles / owther for his wyf was barayne / owther for he lyuede but a shorte tyme / than this hugh wedded kynge Edwardes other doughter The fyrst Otho the sonne of the fyrst harry / was the fyrste Em­perour of duchemen / and regned seuen and tthyrty yere / On an eester tyme he made a grete feste to his prynces and lor­des / And er they were all seruyd a prynces sonne toke a messe of the bord as a childe shuld / and the kynges sewer smote the child with a staf / the childes mayster sawe that / and slough the sewer anone / than the emperour wold haue dampned hym withoute audyence / he threwe downe the emperour to the erth / and straunge­led hym al moost / the Emperour was vnnethe delyuerd oute of the chyldes maystres handes / but whan he bade saue the chlides [Page] maysters lyf / and cryed and sayd that he hym self was to blame / for he hadde not spared hym for so grete a feste / That yere Anlaf a paynym kynge of Irlond and of many ylondes Syhtricus sonne by exytynge of his wyues fader that was Constan­tyn kyng of Scotlande / Anlaf entred in to the mouth of the ry­uer of humbre with a stronge nanye / kynge Edelstan and his brother Edmond mette hym at Brymford / Willelmus de Regi­bus libro secundo / ¶Whan the hoostes were gadryd Anlaf by­thought hym of a queyn [...] gyle / and toke an harpe in his hande / & cam to ethelstanes tenth / in harpers arraye / Ther atte mete tyme he espyed all that he wolde / and hadde money for his harpynge He had the money ayenst his hert / and buryed it pryuely vnder hym in the erthe / That was espyed of one that hadde be somtyme a soudyour with anlaf / and he warned ethelstan / whan Anlaf was a goo / The kynge blamed hym for he warned hym noo ra­ther / he answerde and sayd O kynge the same feyth that I owe now to the I yaf to Anlaf somtyme / Therfor yf I had broken that feyth to hym thou woldest wene that I wolde doo the same to the another tyme / But now take heede to my counseylle / Re­meoue thy tent fro this place / that whanne he cometh vnwysely he may fayle of his purpos / than thou may ouercome hym with grete sobrenes / This was doo / and Anlaf cam hastely by nyght and in the wey he slough a Bisshop that remeoued his tente / & his meyny / and passed forth and fylle on the kynges tente / But the kynge was waked with soo grete noyse and his swerd fylle forth of his skaberd / and he cryed to god and to seynt Aldelm And atte prayer of odo the Archebisshop that was than with the kynge / the kynge fonde his swerd fallen in to his scaberd ayene That swerde is yet kepte in the kynges tresorye / that swerde is keruyng on that one side / and reyceueth in no place neyther gold ne siluer / By that yefte of god the kynge was thenne holpen / & chaced his enemyes al that dawynge and al daye on the morow / there the kynge Constantyn was slayne / & fyue other smal kyn­ges and twelue dukes / & wele nygh al the gadrynge of straun­ge nacions / here after he chaced the north brytons at herford / soo that they shuld pay hym euery yere twenty pound of gold and and thre honderd pound of syluer / and fyue and twenty honderd heede of neete / thān he toke to his subiection Cornugallia / and a­mended excetre ¶ / In praysynge of hym / one made this dyte / ¶ Kynges bloode brought forth a full noble knyght / Bryght [Page CClxxxx] precious stone / tho byshone our derk so bryght / Grete Ethelsta­nus hight of lande path to the ryght / Noble worthynes the sothe forsake ne myght / After leo the thyrd martyn was pope thre yere and six monethes / Also that yere Ethelstan dyed at gloucet [...]e and hadde no chylde / and was buryed at madulf / ¶ Marianus

Capitulum 7

THan Athelstans brother Edmundus biganne to regne in his twenty yere of age / and regned aboute seuen yere / and bygate on his quene Elgina twey sonnes / Edwyn and Edgar the pesyble / ¶Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo / ¶ In this Edwyns tyme the northumbres rebellyd and sente for Anlaf oute of Irlond / But kynge Edmund ouercome hym / And Reynold gurmundus sonne / and outlawed hem and toke nor­thumberbond to his owne lordship / And bete doune Combreland that was rebell and yaf it to malcolyn kyng of Scotlande / Soo that he shulde helpe hym in euery place where he were / ¶R [...] It semeth that in this iourneye / kynge Edmond toke with hym the boones of Colfrydus the abbot / and of hylda thabbesse / and brought hem to glastenbury / ¶ Alfrydus sayth / and marianus also / that the kynge in the seuenth yere of his kyngdome wolde delyuer his sewer oute of his enemyes handes / and was slayne of hem right there at pulkerchirche ¶But Willelmus de Regi­bus libro secundo / sayth that the kynge was at a feste at Pulker churche / on seynt austyns day and he sawe one leof / a theef / that he hadde exyled for his trespas / sitte there at mete amonge other men / And the kynge lepte ouer the borde / and toke the theef by the hee [...] / and threwe hym to grounde / and the theef gloton with his knyf rente oute the kynges bowels / Than the theef bytwene the handes of hem that made noyse and crye / wounded & slough many men / and was alto bakked of knyghtes and of other men ¶ After martyn the seconde Agapitus was pope six yere / That yere lowys the kynge of Fraūce / the sonne of Charles made wil­liam longa spa [...]a be slayn gylefully the second duc of normandye the sonne of Rollo Therfor the lordes of normandy▪ were wroth and toke the kyng and helde hym in Rothomage / till that he had promysed and sworne that he sholde yelde normandy to Rychard [Page] duc wili [...]ms sonne / And that [...]uer after that tyme / in euery speche / whanne the kynge and the duc spak to gyder / the duc sholde be gyrde with a swerde / and the kynge shold neyther [...]ere swerde ne knyf / After this ducwyliams yonge sonne Rychard was duc / And yet whyle this Rychard was yonge / he was callyd richard the olde / and withoute drede / for he dradde neuer / he was duc of normandye two and fyfty yere / and come to his duchery by harde trauaylle and grete / and on his wyf gunnora a dane / he bygate fyue sonnes and twey doughters / The fyrste was cal­lyd Emma / and was the flour of normandy / Hir fader mary­ed hyr to Etheldredus kynge of Englonde / This duc Rychard vsed to bydde his bedes in euery chirche / that he come by / and namely withoute / yf he myght not come in to the chirche / On a nyght he cam in to a chirche allone / and foūde a Corps ly [...] ther [...] on a bere / and no man therwith / while he hade his bedes / be laid his gloues on a deske / and forgate hem there / and wente on his weye / Thenne the dede man aroos with a grete noyse / and spr [...]d his armes in the chirche dore ayenste the duc / The duc made the signe of the crosse in his forheede with his thombe / and coniured the dede man that he shold reste. But al for nought / for it wolde not be / Than the duc with his swerde smote the corps in twey / and by thought hym whan he was oute / that he hadde forgeten his gloues / Than he torned ayene and fett his gloues / After­ward he ordeyned in al his lande / that aboute a dede corps sholde be a watche al the nyght longe / ¶ It happeth that a monke of saynt Ando [...]nus of Rothomage wolde on a nyght go to his lemman / and fyll downe of a brydge in to a water / and was drowned / Than for his soule was stryf bytwene an Aungel and a fende / And eyther of hem put the cause vppon duc Rycharde [...] do­me / And he yaue suche a dome / that the soule sholde be restored ayene to the body / and the bodye sholde be sette on the brydge / of the whiche he hadde fallen· And yf he wente than to doo that syn­ne / he sholde be dampned / and ellys he sholde be saued / whanne this was doo the monke fledde to chirche / The duc wente on the morowe to the same chirche / and fonde the monkes clothes yet al wete / and tolde thabbot of the place / that dede that was bifalle Whanne the duc / and Gunnora hadde longe lyued in dishonest [...] lyf / the peple spak moche therof· And the duc by counseyll of the peple wedded hir atte laste / Than the fyrst nyght after the wed­dynge / whanne they come to bedde / whether it were in game or in [Page CClxxxxj] ernest / gunnora torned hir bakke & hir buttoks toward the duc as she had neuer byfore done / me axyd of hir why she dyde soo / for now fyrst sayd she I may doo what / me lyketh / Also this duc waxe seke vpon a tyme / and made hym a grete chyste & fylled it ful of whete and deled it to poure men energy fryday to his lyues ende / Henr / Edmond kyng of Englond toke & wan oute of the danes handes that were paynyms fyue noble cytees / lyncoln / notingham / derby / stafford and legecestre. he toke fro hem these Cytees in that they were paynyms / and caused these cytees to be of ryght byleue / For he receyued anlaf of the cold water / Anlaf was cristened more by strength than by preching of goddes worde / Also ordeyned and made ordenaunces / & amended what shold be amended by counseyll of dunstan / & made the abbay of glas­tenbury / noble in cataylle / & in monkes / R / As it is sayd byfore atte last he dyed at pulkerchirche & was buryed at glastenbury ¶ Marianus libro secundo

¶ Capitulum Octauum /

EDredus was euoynted at kyngeston of odo tharchebisshop & regned after his broder edmond ten yere / For Edmondes sones edwyn & edgar were yet of yong age & to yong for to regne / this edredus in the fyrst yere of his kyngdom beet doun strōgly the northumbres that were rebelles / therfore the scottes dradde hym & yelde them to hym / after agapitus the / xij / iohn was pope viij / yere / his fader alberycus was myghty in the cyte of Rome & he made the noble men of the cyte to swere that they shold make his sonne octauianus pope whan agapytus were deed / & so they dyd / & chaunged his name / & named hym iohan / he was an hū ­ter & a lecherous man / soo that he helde wymen with him openly Therfor some of the cardynals wrote to otho the ēperour of saxons / & prayd hym that he wolde come to rome & help to do aweye the sklaunder of holy chirche / the pope was war therof & kytt of the nose of the counseyllour & the hande of the wryter that wrote that lett / than he was oft warned by thēperour / & by the clergye that he shold amende him self / & for he wold not he was deposed & leo was made pope in his stede / but whan thēperour was gone benett was made pope / therfor thēperour cam ageyne & besyeged Rome till they yelde benet to hym and restored leo ageyn / Lowys the kyng of westfraunce is deed / the sone of charles the simple [Page] After hym his sone lotharius was kyng xxxvij / yere and dyed without children / he pursued Rychard duc of normandye as his fader had pursued wiliam his fader / Mar / But at last edredus for the vntruth of the northumbres / he destroyed her lande & brent thabbay of Rypon with fyre / whan the kyng wente thens home ward / an hoost brake out of york / & dyde grete harme on the last partye of the kinges hoost / therfor the king was wroth / & thought to destroy al northūberlond / but the northumbres dyd awey hir­cus that was theyr kynge & plesyd the kyng with / yefces / kyng Edredus bygan to be soore seke / & sente for his goostly fader dunstan / & he cam with greete spede / & as he cam in the weye a voys spak to hym clerely / & sayd / now restyth kyng edredus in pees / At that voys the hors that dunstan sate on fylle downe & dyed withoute hurtynge of hym that sate aboue / Dunstan byryed the kyng at wynchestre / in the old abbay / After this kyng that dyed without yssue / edwynus was kyng edmundus oldest sone / and was enoynted kyng of englond in the Royal town kyngeston be side london of Odo tharchebisshop / the fyrst day of his sacrynge he fyll in to an vnlawfull lechery / therfor dunstan myssayed hym & blamed hym therfor / & therfor he exiled dunstan & many monkes / & toke fro hem what they hadde / he putt oute the monkes of malmesbury / & yaue the abbaye to his clerkes / Atte laste the merces and the northumbres put this edwyn oute of his kynge­dom for his euyl lyuyng / & made his broder Edgar kyng whan he was sixten yere old / in edgards begynnyng seynt dunstan herde angels synge in this maner / pees to the lond of englysshmen in the childes tyme that now is born / & in dunstans tyme / & so it was than made that the ryuer of temse departed the twey kynges londes / edwyn regned four yere / & dyed at last / & was buryed at wynchestre / but his soule was delyuerd out of helle at prayer of seynt dūstan & translated to the soules that do penaūce in the wey of sauaciō / Treuisa / Here take hede cristē mē of the vnderstādyng for the wordes be perillously set / therfor haue minde now of twey maner of helles / in that one were adā abrahā / isaac & iacob / and other holy forfaders that dyed byfore cryst / in to that helle crist descēded aft (er) his passion / & brought with him thens holy faders that ther were / the other helle is a place for them that be & shalbe dāpned for eumore· who that cometh in that helle shal neu (er) aft (er) be sauid ne come out fro peyne / but as me seyth in comune speeche / that a thef that is delyuerd frō hangyng & from the galowes though [Page CClxxxvij] he come not there yf he be delyuerd out of her power that wolde lede hym to the galows and hange hym thrrupon / So in somme maner vnderstandyng / he that is delyuerd oute of the fendes power that wold bring him to helle / is delyuerd out of helle though he come not there / So meaneth the prophete in the sawter / & seith thou hast delyuerd my soule oute of the lower helle / Willelmus de re / li / 2 / And as the same lande beryth euyl herbes and good / & the netylle somtyme groweth next▪ the rose / so of the same mylde Edmond come edwyn the worst and edgar the best /

¶ Capitulum nonum

EDgar yong of sixtene yere old was made kynge & / regned after his broder a sixten yere / in the twellifth yere of him in Athāmannes cyte that is bathe the fyftenthe day of may on a wytsonday he was enoynted kyng of the hooly bysshops dun­stan & oswald / anone he reconcyled dunston & made hym of thabbot of glastenbury bisshop of wyrcetre / he connexyd the kyngdo­mes that were denyded & made therof but one kyngdome / he bare downe wykked men & chastysed them that were rebel / he loued wel good men and sobre / he repayred and amended chirches / In many places he dyd awey clerkes that lyued in outrage & putte there monkes / Treuisa / In that / saue reuerence of edgar / he was lewdly meoued while there were other clerkes / thāt lyued wel ynowe / Than it foloweth in the story / he byld more than fourty abbayes / among the whiche he made ryche glastenbury / abyndon burgh / thorney ramesey wylton & wynchestre / but at wynchestre in the new abbay that now is callyd hyda for an hap that ther bifel / he was the fyrst that put in monkes in stede of clerkes / for clerkes fled the trauayle of the quere & spende the catail of holy chirche in other places at her own wyll / & vycars in her stede ful lytle for to lyue by / & whan they wold not be amended by kyng edgar nowther by bisshop ethelwold nouther by tharchebisshop dūstan / the kyng yaf the prouēdes of these clerkes to the forseid vicars / but the vicars were wors than the rather whan they were made persōs / & liued more in outrage thā the rather did / than the kyng was aggreued / & by thassēt of the xiij / pope iohn he put out [Page] the clerkes and put in monkes / W / vbi su / In his tyme was no theef taken open ne pryuy / that he ne hadde his payne / Also this kynge cast to destroy the wyld beestes that desyre bloode / therfore he made ludwallus that was kynge of wales / to bere him cer­teyn yere a trybute of thre honderd wolues / And whan he had payed this thre yere to gyder / in the fourth yere myghte neuer a wolf be founden / Item / W / Though this edgar were smal & lytel / of stature / he wold ouercome euery man were he neuer so strong that wold with hym fyght / On a tyme at a feste where Iouglers she­wed hem self moost / me sayth that kynadus kynge of scottes se­yd in his game / that it semed wonder that so many prouynces & landes were subgette to so a lytel man as Edgar was / A myn­stral herde that worde / & told the kyng / & he told not his men / but he aroos from the feste / there kynadus was / & hadde kynadus to hym as it were for a grete counseylle & [...]ad hym ferre in to a wo­de / & toke hym one of twey swerdes that he brought with hym / & spak to kynadꝰ & sayde / now thou hast leue to kythe thy strengthe / & essay whether of vs tweyne shal be subget to other for now we be here alone / It is a foule thyng for a kyng to [...]angle moch atte fest / & not to fyght in batayll / kynadus was abasshyd and fyll downe to edgards feete / and prayd hym of foryeuenesse / of that symple worde that he had sayd in his game / Euery somer after he wold gader shippes to geder / and departe hem in foure / & sette them in the four partes of Englond / Thenne with the west nauey he wold sayle in to the north countrey / with the north nauey / he wold sayle in to the eest countrey / and wyth the eest na­uey he wold seylle in to the south countrey / And with the southe naueye in to the weste countrey / In that doynge he was a mylde espye / for the theues shold not greue in water ne in lande / In wynter tyme he wolde ryde about in the lande / & enquyre & espye the domes and the dedes of his mynystres / he wolde take cruell wreche of hem that trespassed ayenste the lawe ¶ At al tyme he was a prouffytable counseyllour for the [...]omonte / But he fa­uoured the danes vnwysely in theyr axynge / For vnnethe was ther one strete in englonde but danes dwellyd therin with En­glysshmen / That was suffryd with a good herte / but therof come a ryght greuous ende / for the danes were grete drynkers by kynde and lefte with englysshmen that one doynge that is knowen and dureth alwey / soo that now the doynge of englysshmen doth pryiudyce to al the world in emptynge of cuppes / Therfor kyng [Page CClxxxxiij] edgar made styke nayles in the cuppes / & marked so the Cuppes for they shold drynk by mesure vnto the nailes / W / de / r / et de / p / li / 2 / Than this edgar on his wyf egelfleda / the whyte by hyr he bygate his oldest sonne Edward. that was afterward Edward kynge and martir / Than on alfritha the dukes doughter of deuē shyre he gate edmond that dyed bifore his fader / & Egelredꝰ that regned after seynt edward / & on seynt wylfrytha / he bigate seynt edyth the mayde / this wylfrytha was not verely a menchon / as the comune sawe madly meaneth / but for deede of kynge Edgar that desired her vnlaufully / she toke nonnes clothynge / & soo she was brought to the kynges bed / And for the kyng lay by that woman that was holden & semed a nonne / he was blamed of seint dunstan / and dyde penaunce seuen yere / Also whanne she hadde a childe / she forsoke flesshely lykyng and mannes companye and lyued relygyously / & is holden a seynt in the abbay of wylton so it is seyd / Also of hir doughter edyth / it is sayde that whyle she was a menchon at wylton / she vsed ofte gayer clothes than hyr profession axed / and she was therfor blamed of seynt ethelwold and she answerd nowther vncouenably ne ful cu [...]tously / God­des dome sayd she that may not fayle / is plesed only with conscience / therfore I trowe that as clene a soule maye be vnder these clothes / that be arrayed with gold / as vnder thy slyt forour skynnes / On a tyme while dunstan halowed a chirche / he sawe this mayde croyse ofte her owne forheede with hyr ryght thombe / Dunstan was gladde therof and sayd I praye god / that that thombe maye neuer rotte / And anone at masse Dunstan bygan to wepe & sayd / Anone after six wekes this fay [...]rose shal wel wydre / and so it befelle / For after whanne hyr bodye was taken vp of the erthe / it was founden al roten / and torned to pouder / oute take the thombe / and hyr wombe with the pryuy chose by­nethe. Dunstan hadde therof greete wonder / and thought moche therynne / and why it myght be / ¶ Thenne she appered to hym and tolde hym the cause / and sayd wonder the not / though I be hoole and sounde in the nether partes of my bodye / for I was neuer gylty of outrage of mete and drynk / nowther of flesshely lykynge / Also of this hooly maide it is red / that whyle kynge cauntus loued lytel sayntes of englōd ones in a whitsontyde at wilton at a feste he made open mowes & scorned seynt edyth & seid that he wold neuer trowe that of edgards childre that was lecherous / & a grete tyraunt sholde be a saynt / Ednotus tharchebisshop [Page] withsaid / that tho was there present / & opened anon the graue of the mayde / thēne she arrered her self vp to the girdel stede / so that it semed as though she wold haue resed on the rebel king / for that dede the kyng was astonyed & fil down to the groūde as though he were in a swoun / and drough breth atte last / & was ashamed and glad / that he was saued / & entended to doo worthy penaunce

¶ Capitulum / 10 /

ABoute that tyme dyed odo tharchebisshop of Caunterbury This was of the nacion of danes / but he dyde alweye his wildenes at last / & seruid kyng edward the elder in chiualry And not long after he toke the tōsur of clerk / & was made bisshop of wynchestre / he had made kyng ethelstā his frēde by the coming of the swerde that was loste in the scaubert ageyne / Soo that he was made archebisshop of caunterbury / & for that he wold take that dignite the more holily / for al his predecessours had be mōkes he passed the see & toke monkes wede at floriacio beside aurelian / Treuisa / Odo was lewdly meoued therfor to make him a monk for cryst ne none of al his apostles was neuer monck ne frere / Than it foloweth in the story / Odo come ageyne and was nyghe the kynge / and wente atte last with kynge Edredus in to Nor­thumberlond / & brouht with hym to Caunterbury the holy axes of saynt wylfryde the bisshop / therof is yet contynuel stryf bitwene them of york / & of caunterbury whether hath the more wilfrides bones / that was buryed in the chirche of rypon / by these for­said bones owther the bones of the lasse wylfride that was seynt iohns prest & his successour / in the see of york / Also this Odo su­spended kynge Edwynus of crystendome for he was to feruente in lecherye and oute of al good fame / Therfore Edwynus toke wreche in al the monkes of Englond / For in all englond was no man that hym durst wythstande oute take odo / and dunstan / For as Seneca sayth / a Cok is moost myghty on his own dung hylle / ¶ Also on a tyme Od [...]es temple was vnheebed And alle that tyme / that the heelynge was in makynge / and the temple in heelynge / he heeled it soo with his bedes / that there fylle noo drop of rayne in alle the place aboute / and yet that tyme was soo grete tempeste / and rayne of water / that is semed [Page CClxxxxiiij] that al the world shuld go to giders / Also on another tyme whan he sacred seynt dūstan bisshop of wyrcetre / he did so thordre of the seruyce as though he had sacred tharchebisshop of caunterbury / & whan his clerkys blamed him therfor / I wote sones said Odo what the holy goost worchith on me / & in the true byfore bodyng lakked no sobre feyth· though elsinus bisshop of wynchestre euer among founded to haue that see / for whan odo was dede / this el­sinus ordeyned him aduocates / and groped her handes / and gate slyly a maūdement of the kynge / and was put in at caūterbury And the fyrst day that he was in there / he spared not but he caste out of his wodenes that he had long kepte in his hert / & put with his feet on seynt odoes tombe / and despysed his soule and spake / to hym in this manere / thou worste old man / thy soule is a goo late ynow / thou hast made a place to a bett than thou were / what I haue long desired / now I haue maugre thy teth / therfor I can the ful euyl thank at this tyme / but whan that day was a goo / and this blower of wodenes was brought to his bedde / he sawe the shap of seynt odo blame hym and despyse hym / and manace that he shulde dye / But he wende that he had be scorned of a fle­ynge fantesye / and spared not therfor / But he wente toward ro­me to receyue the palle of the pope / and passed by the hylles alpes and was fro [...]en in a cold snowe / and in his hors bowels that we re opened to haue somme hete / he wrapped his feet with whiche he spurned seynt odoes tombe / and dyed soo there / ¶ After hym bryghtlynus bisshop of wynchestre was archebisshop of caunterbury / and for he was not suffisaunt to so grete a charge / he went ageyne to wynchestre by comaundemēt of the kyng / & Dunstan bisshop of london & of wyrcetre was made archebisshop of caunterbury / and wente to rome / & receyued the palle of the pope Iohan He come ageyne and gate of the kynge. that oswalde that was Odoes broder sonne shold be bisshop of worcetre /

¶ Willelmus de pontificibus libro primo

Dunstan was fyrste abbott of glastenbury / he was alwey full of vertues / and made hym besy to torne kynge edgards hert / to dedes of sauacion / & to make the kynges lyuynge to be a myrroure and ensample to all his subgettis / And yf the kynge trespassed he studyed hym fast to amende / & soo he made hym doo penaunce seuen yere for vnlawful lyggyng by a menchon / by that ensam­ple he chastysed the comonte / and made knyghtes doo as they shold / and fered the [...]es and refreyned hem / Thordre of [Page] monkes was thryfty that tyme / For it hadde relygyous rulers clere of scyence and of clergye / And soo bytwene thacorde of the good lyuyng of the kyng / and of the Archebisshop / clerkes had choys / whether they wolde amen [...]e her lyf / or byd her benefyce fare wele / and leue wonynge places to better than they were / For soo sholde be noo moore discorde / bytwene the fayrenesse of the hous & the lyuynge of hem that dwellyd theryn / Than the foldes answerde to the tillers of plente of corne / and of fruyte / Euery grone shone with hurton trees / and other trees ful of fruyte / The Elementys were clere and lykynge / vnnethe ther was ony dystemperance of weder / pestylences and enemyes bothe were fer that tyme / ¶Aboute that tyme in Gaskoyne was a woman de­parted and deuyded from the nauel vpwarde / and hadde twey hedes and twey breestes / soo that somtyme one slepte / owther ete whanne that other dyde nowther / and they lyued soo to gydre longe tyme / and dyed bothe at ones / ¶ After the twellyfthe Iohan the fyfth Benet was pope thre monethes / ¶ Nychoforus kynge of grece was an old man / and drad lest his owne sonnes wold put hym oute of his kyngdome / and demed that his sonnes shuld be ghelded / But the quene coūseylled one Iohan / that he shold slee the kynge and regne / and soo it was done / After Benet the eyghtenth leo was pope a yere and four monethes / For the malyce of the Romaynes that made of hem self vnlawfully popes / he ordeyned that no popes sholde be ordeyned without assent of the Emperour / ¶After hym the thyrtenth Iohan was pope as it were eyght yere / Atte laste he was taken of the prefecte of the Cyte and exyled / But the emperour restored him ageyne / and slough his enemyes / After Iohan the sixth Benet was pope one yere and six monethes / ¶ After hym / the eyght Bone face was pope thre yere / he myght not abide at Rome / but he spoil led saynt peters chirche / and went to Constantinople / and come ayene to Rome wyth grete pompe and booste / And whanne he myght not haue his purpoos be toke the Cardynal Iohan / and putte oute bothe his eyen / and dyed sone after / ¶ Willelmus de pont libro secundo / ¶ Whanne Askatyllus Archebisshop of yorke was dede / saynt oswald bisshop of wyrcitre receyued the the archebisshoprych / and gouerned both that / and the bisshoprich of wyrtetre / Besydes the cathedrale chirche of seynt Peter at wircetre / he buylde another chirche of our lady that he myght ther be the more homely with the monkes / and there by he had grete loue [Page CClxxxxv] of the people / There clerkes of the nexte chirche whan they sawe that / had leuer be monkes than soo despysed and forsaken / Whanne oswald was stalled at york / he brought lettred men in to countrey / For the countraye shold not be defrauded / and be with­oute suche goodnesse / withoute the whiche goodnesse / other goodnesse semeth but a vanyte / ¶ Albo monke of floriacio was one of thylk lettred men / withoute moche f [...]uyte of clergye / that he brought in to Englond / he descryued and wrote the lyf of saynt Edmunde the kynge and martir / atte prayer of saynt dunstan / This Albo torned home afterward / and was made Abbot / ¶ Than on a tyme in a celle in gascoyne callyd Alereul and longed to his abbay / he wolde haue vsed the strengthe of Relygyon / but the eruelte of Gascoyns wolde not suffre it and kytte his throte and soo he dyed / and oswald lyued fyue yere after / and kneled downe on a tyme to wessh pore mennes fete / and sayde gloria patri / and dyed ryght soo / ¶ Willelmus de regibus libro secundo / ¶ Kynge Edgar in the twellyfthe yere of his kyngdome was enoynted kynge / and sacred at bathe and sayled aboute north Brytayne / and come a land at legyon that nowe is callyd Chestre / Eyght vnder kynges come ayenste hym / with the whiche kynges he wente in a boote on a day on the Ryuer dee / and toke the helme in his hande / and was steres man and the other kynges were sette to rowe with oores / and soo he come rowynge to seynt Iohans chirche / and come rowynge with a grete pompe and boost to his owne palays / and me sayth / that he sayde thennethat ony of his successours myght be ioyeful and gladde / whanne he had so grete pompe and worship /

¶ Capitulum 11

EDgar Emperour floure and fayrenesse of Englonde dyed the fyftenth day of Iuyll the yere of his lyf seuen and thirty / and of his kyngdom with his brother and after one and twē ty / & was buryed at glastenbury / he is noo lesse worthy to be in mynde to englysshmen / than cyrus to the perses outher Romulus to the Romayns / owther Alysaunder to the grekes / owther charles to frensshmen / ¶ Willelmus vbi supra / ¶ At glastenbury the yere of our [...] lord a thousande and two and fyfty whanne [Page] abbot aylward had dygged vnworshipfully edgards graue / the bodye was founden hoole and sounde and soo full of flessh that it myght not entre in to the newe cheste / Also fressh blood was seen drop oute of the fressh body / & so that body was put in to a shryn that he hadde yeuen to that chirche / and sette vpon the auter with seynt Apolynarys heede / and other relykes of seynt vyncente / that the same kynge hadde brought for grete prys / and yeuen to that hows / but that nyce Abbot waxe woode / and wente oute of chirche / and brake his neck and dy [...] / ¶ Ranulphus / ¶ The Bryttyssh storye tellyth in seynt eltutus lyf that whanne kynge edgar destroyed the countrey of glomm [...]rgan for the rebelnesse of the peple / saynt eltutus belle was taken awey / & hanged aboute an hors neck / therfor in vndertyde while kynge edgar lay on his bed to rest him / one appered to him / & smote him on the brest with a spere / than whan the kyng was waken / he bade restore ayene al that was taken / But the kynge dyed after nyne dayes / In praysynge of hym one sayd in this maner / Henricus libro / 5 Helper punyssher of tresp [...]as and yeuer of worship / kynge Ed­gar is ago to the kyngdom of heuē / This other salamon lawes fader wey to the pees / Noble in batayls than more noble he was Temples to the good monkes / to the monke temples yaue he feldes / Al wrong / this put awey / soo this yafe place to the right / ¶Willelmus de regibus libro secundo / But somme men founden to putte venym to the ioye and goodnesse of Edgar / and tellen that he was cruel in his begynnynge to Cyteseyns and lecheroꝰ to maydens / As in this maner one ethelwold an Erle was priue with hym / and on a tyme he charged this Erle / that he shold goo to elfrytha orgarus doughter Erle of deuenshyre that was a wonder fayr mayde and counseyle hir and brynge hir for to be wedded to the kynge / yf it were soo that the fayrenesse of hir we­re acordynge to the loos and to the fame / ¶ The erle wente his wey and toke the mayde to his owne vse / and come āgeyne to the kyng and ālledged for hym and for his syde as he trowed wolde helpe and sayde that that wenche was but of comune fayrenesse and shap / suche as me sayth al day not couenable to be a kyngys wyf / But on a tyme tale tellers / warned the kyng how gylefully that ethelwolde hadde seruyd hym / than the kynge droof oute one nayle with another / and toke wreche of a gyle with a wyle / and made good face to therle and semblaunt and sette hym a day as it were in his game / whanne he wolde visyte [Page CClxxxxvj] that woman / For so dredefull a game / therle was all comf [...]rtles and nygh dede for feare / and ranne home byfore / and prayed his wyf / that she wolde helpe for to saue hym / and that as muche as she myght / she shold make hir self foule and vnsemely in the kynges syght with clothynge and foule aray / But what / she durste not / but she dyde the countrary / and toke a myrrour and kembed hyr / and arayed hyr bodye / and hyr heede / as gay / and as fayre as she couth / and lefte no thyng that shold make her fayr and lykynge / to a mannes syghte / Thenne whanne the kynge sawe the woman / he began to brenne in her loue / and made it as though̄ he were not wrothe / and had the erle with hym for to hunte in the woode of werwelley that now is callyd hoote woode / There the kynge smote hym thurgh with a shafte / there the kyng ax [...]d of therles baste sone how hym lyked suche huntynge / & me sayth that he answerd and sayde / lord kyng what plesyd the shal not dysplese me / By that worde he meked soo the kynges herte that was to swollen for wrath / that no thynge was leuer afterward to the kynge than the sonne of therle that was slayne / After­ward for clensynge of this dede / this Elfrytha buylde an abbay of nonnes at warwell / ¶Ranulphus / But more verely for the sl [...]ynge of hir stepsone / Edward that she made be slayne / for hir owne sonne egelredus sholde regne / ¶Willelmus vbi supra To this ensample of cruelnes they telle another of lecherye / and saye / that he toke a mayde that was sacred to god / oute of an abbay and laye by hir / ¶Also that he was on a tym [...] by nyght at Andeuer not fer from wynchestre / and badde brynge to his bedde a dukes doughter that was a wel fayr mayde / But the mode [...] of that mayde wolde not that her doughter shold soo be defowled and hadde a bounde seruaunt that was a fayre mayde smothe & lykynge / and sente her to the kynges bedde / A morowe whanne the dawynge byganne to sprynge / the woman byganne to ryse / Thenne me axed of her why she hyed / for to doo my werke sayd she / as I am wonte euery day. Than for that nyghtes iourneye she axed fredome for her mede / For she that was assentynge to the kynges lykyng sholde no more be vnder in boundage to cruel lordes / Anone the kyng byganne to laugh and made that boundewoman lady of lordes / But how it euer be of suche dedes / it is sothe / that he clensyd hym of suche dedes by veray penaunce / After Boneface the seuenth / the seuenth Benet was pope / viij / yere and six monethes / the seconde otho / the sonne of the fyrste [Page] [...]tho regned after his fader among duchemen ten yere / and six monethes / The seuenth yere of his kyngdome / he was crowned at rome of pope Benet whanne the ytalyens brake the pees / This made a grete feste to the lordes of ytaly / at the grees of the chirche of Rome / And whyle they were at mete / he made men of Armes byclyppe hem pryuely aboute / and meoued a pleynte atte laste of brekyng of the pees / & bade hem take hym the names wryten of hem that were gylty / and made hem be byheded right there euerychone / and made the other ete her mete in pees / ¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo /

¶ Capitulum 12

YOng Edward by help of dunstān / and of other Bisshops was made kynge ayenste the wylle of somme other lordes / Specially ayenste the wylle of his stepdame elfrytha / that fonded to make hir owne sone egelredus kynge a childe of seuen yere old That she myght soo regne vnder the childes name / This edward regned as it were four yere ¶ Ther āfter waned the grace of the kyngdome / For in the fyrmamente was seen stella Cometa / that is a sterre with a bryght shynynge creest / that bodeth alwey pes­tilence in the prouynce / owther chaungynge of the kyngdome / And long therafter fell bareynesse of feldes / honger of men / and deth of beestes / And Alferus prynce of mercia fauoured Elfritha the quene with al that he myght / and put oute monkes that edgar had ordeyned / and brought ynne Clerkes with concuby­nes / But dunstan and the erle of eeste englonde withstode hem manly / For the clerkes that were somtyme put oute / rered stryf ageyn / and sayd that it were a wretchyd shame / that a new co­myng shold put old landesman of her place / That is not plesing to god that graunted the place to the old woner / nowther a good man aloweth it not that may drede that me wolde doo to hym self as he seeth that me doth to other / Herfor was a solempne coun­seyle made at wynchestre / there the ymage of rode spak oute of the wall / and sayd that dunstans wey was good and true / but yet cesed not the hertes of vnskylfull men / therfor was made a counseylle atte Ryal strete of Calue / there the kyng was absente / for he was yet of tendre age / & there sate in an hygh hows the sena­tours of Englonde / There dunstan was strongly despysed and [Page CClxxxxvij] chydde / Thenne the gystes and the beames of the sober al to bra­ke / and the soler fylle downe / and somme were dede / and somme hurt & maymed for euermore / so all that there wree were dede owther hurt ful soore / oute take dunstan alone that escaped graciously and wysely / that myracle brought forth sylence to hem that entended afterward to haue mayntened that qua [...]ele / The yong Edward cam from huntyng wery and a thurst / and his stepda­me yaue hym drynke / and the meane tyme / he was stykked with a swerde· Thenne he byganne to prykke his hors with all that he myght thennes for to flee / Thenne his one fote slode oute of the styrope / and he was to drawe by that other foote al aboute the feldes / and thwert ouer weyes and al be bloded and at Cornisgate be yaue the sygnes and tokens of deth / than he was buryed vnworthly thre yere at warham / there god wrought for hym m [...] ny myracles and grete / For there grete lyght come downe fro he­uen / and the haltman receyued his goyng aryght / the dembe man receyued his spoche / the deef his herynge / and the blynde his syght / there all manere seke men toke the state of helthe / By that rumour she that slough hym was meoued and cam rydyng on a beeste that myght not come nyghe the place / for noo betynge / ne for noo cryeng / the beeste was ofte chaunged but it was al for nought / therfor what she myght not done in her owne persone / she dyd by another / For her mynyster Elferus that hadde somtyme putte oute monkes in mercia and brought Clerkes in her stede / he toke edwardes body and buryed it solempny at Septon that is shaftesbury / ¶ R In tyme afterwarde somme of his bodye was translated to leof monaster besydes herforde and somme to Abyndon / The place at shaftesbury / there his longes yet qnaue alle fressh and sounde is callyd Edwardestow / W / vbi supra For this slaughter Elfrytha buylde twey Abbayes of women not for fro Salesbury / One at ambrysbury and another at werwel / she dyde awey the pompe of the world / and dyde long tyme hard penaūce at warwell / and vsed alwey the heer / and fasting and chastysed hir bodye that was full fayre somtyme / Ande al­way as she myght she croysed her forheede and brest and lyeth buryed there / But the forsayd Elferus escaped not all maner wreche for he was eten all wyth lyse after one yere after the buryng of the forsayde martir / Aboute that tyme was fulbertus in pro­speryte bisshop of Carnot an excellente man in our lady loue / Among his other noble werkes he made in praysyng of oure [Page] lady the response styrps yesse / and solem iusticie / and this ym [...] ne Chorus noue Ierusalem / On a tyme he was seke atte yate of deth and our lady appered to hym and axyd of hym / wherof he dradde / my lady sayd he / I trust in thy mercy / but I drede full soore thyne owne sonnes dome / drede the nothynge sayd she / and for to make the / the more seker herafter. I shal now make the al hoole / and anone she toke her brest oute of her bosomme and dropped on his face thre droppes of precious lycour of mylke / and went forth hir wey / he was hoole forthwith and dyde that swete lycour of heuen in a vessel of siluer / and hadde kepe▪ it in mynde /

¶Willelmus de regibus libro secundo

¶ Capitulum 13

EGelredus edgards sonne bygoten on his seconde wyf El­frytha was made kynge after his elder broder Edward at kyngeston / he was a fayr knyght and a louely / Eyght & thyrty yere he besyeged the kyngdome more verely than ruled it / For the cours of his lyf was cruel / and vngracious in the begynnyng / wretched in the myddel / and foule in the ende / For whyle seynt dunstan baptysed hym / he defowled the fontston with the fruyte of his wombe / therfor dunstan sayd by god and by his moderthys shal be vnkynde / And in the day of his crownynge he told [...] this prophecye / For thou come to the kyngdome by the deth of thy broder· in whos deth Englysshmen conspyred with the wykked woman thy moder / they shal not be withoute bloode and swerde er ther come peple of an vnknowen tonge / ond bryng hem in to the last thraldom / this trespaas shal not be clensed withoute long vengeaunce / whanne this egelredus was a chylde of ten yere ol­de / and herde telle that his broder edward was soo slayne / he me­oued so his wode moder with wepyng and with yellyng that she bete hym almost to deth / with tapers / for he shad nought ellys at hand / therfor he hated tapers al his lyf tyme / Also on Ethelgyna Erle egbertus doughter he bygate Edmund Ir [...]nsyde by hi [...] surname / and edwyn and ethelstan and one doughter callyd edgyna / Afterward on emma of normandy he bygate Alfredꝰ and Edward / Half a nyght a cloude was seen in al Englond now blody now fyry / than it chaunged by dyuers colours and [Page CClxxxxviij] beames / and wente awey in the dawnynge / That yere southhāpton & the yle of Tanet besydes kente / and saynt petrocus abbaye in Cornewayle / & the prouynce of chestre were destroyed by the­ues of danes / the cyte of london was brente with fire of the same Cyte / Seynt ethelwold bisshop of wynchestre is deed / he was born at wynchestre / & norysshed vp vnder dūstan at glastenbury & made monke / And he was made abbot at abyngdon in kynge Edredus tyme / And he was made bisshop at wynchestre in Ed­gars tyme / there he made an abbaye of nonnes / and translated seynt swythynes body oute of the erth / ¶ After hym seynt alphegus abbot of bathe was bisshop / And afterward Archebisshop of Caunterbury / and was slayne of the danes / Of hym Inner more we shal speke / This thyrdde otho the seconde Othoes sonne regned amonge duchemen after his fader eyghten yere / This had a wonder surname and was callyd otho the wondres of the world / Mirabilia mundi / and he was crowned at Rome of the fyfthe pope gregory / And though these thre othones were emperours arewe as it were by kynde herytage / yet afterward it was ordeyned that the Emperour sholde be chosen / by thoffycers of the empyre / tho offycers be seuen / Of hem ben versus made / Maguntmensis / treuerensis / Coloniensis / Qu [...]l [...]b [...]t imperij fit can cellarius horum / Eciam palatinus dapyfer / dnx portitorensis / Marchio prepositus camere pyncerna boemns / Hij statuunt do­minum per secula summum / these be to meane Bisshop meynse / magunce Treuer and Colonia / thes thre / Euerychone of this is made ryght chaunceler of thempyre / Erle palatinus sewer duc of Oustryche beryth the swerd / marquys is chamberleyn· butiler kynge is of beame / this chosen to men alle the lord hyest for euer / the thyrdde otho hadde a wyf that wolde haue had an hus­bond man to lygge by hir / but the man wold not assent to anon trye / than he was thretend that his heede sholde be smytē of / withoute ony dome / but er he dyed he bad his wyf that she shold after his dethe proue hym gyltles by the doyng of ho [...]r brennyng yren The day cam whanne the emperour sayd that he wold do ryght / to the faderles and moderles childer and to wydues / This wy­duc cam and brought with her hyr husbandes heede / and axed what deth he were worthy that had slayne a man wrongfully / He is worthy to leese his heede sayd themperour / thou art that man sayd the wydue / and that I shal proue anone by the dome of fyre & brennyng yren / whan the dome was done / thēperour [Page] yaue hym self to the woman / for she sholde punysshe hym as she wold / but atte prayeng of bisshops / fyrst of ten dayes were groū ted / and than of eyght / and than of seuen / and atte laste of sixe In the whiche dayes the emperour examyned the cause atte full and brente his owne wyf / and for his raunsonne he yaue to the wydue four castel townes in the Bysshopryche of Brynensis / that yet haue the names & be cleped by the first dayes / ten / eight seuen and six The fourtenthe iohan was pope eyght monethes ¶After hym the fyftenth iohan four monethes / After hym the sixtenth iohan was pope ten yere Willelmus vbi supra / ¶Kyng Egelredus for stryf that was bytwene hym and the Bisshop of Rouchestre besyeged the cyte of Rouchestre / Dunstan sende to hym that he sholde leue his wodenesse / ānd that he shold not offende seynt andrew patrone of that place / The kyng rought not of bare wordes / than dunstan hight and arayed his heest fair with money / ānd sente hym an honderd pounde for he shold bre­ke the siege / the moneye was receyued and dunstan wondred of the mannes couetyse and sente hym worde by messagers in this manere / for thou hast putte gold byfore god and syluer byfore the apostle / and couetyse byfore me / ryght sone euyll happes shal come vpon the / but not whyle I am alyue· Than two yere after came the danes whanne dunstan was deede / that yere twey pestylences that were vnknowen byfore / fylle in Englond For men hadde the feuers / and beestes the flyxe / ¶Seynt dunstan ended his lyf ful of vertues & of wondres / as descryued osbertus monk of Caunterbury / he tellith in seynt dunstans lyf / that while seynt dunstan hyghted the ymages of appostles and martirs with the stole of a preeste / An harpe that henge vpon the walle was herde make swetely melodye withoute mannes hande / the melodye was the note of this anteme of the martres / Gaudent in celis a­nime sanctorum / that is to saye hooly mennes soules make ioye in heuen / Also he tellyth thkt dunstan couth many craftes / and wrought with his handes / and made on a tyme a chalis by gold smythes craft in a celle fast by glastenbury / there the fende cam in lykenes of a woman and tempted hym by fantasyes of dy­uers lykynge / Dunstan in his spyryte was war therof / and caught hym by the nose with his fyre hote tong / so that dede was knowen of neyghbours aboute with cryeng [...] and yellynge of the fende / Also on a tyme dunstan was slepy and herde angels synge full swetely / Kyryeleyson / Xprysteleyson / the melodye of [Page CClxxxxix] that note / and armonye / is yet famous among englysshe men / & vsed on that kyrye / kyrye rex splendens / than whan dūstā was dede / the danes come in to euery hauen of englond / so that me wist not where me myght met hem / therfor mē myght not put hem a­way with yren / and put hem awey with syluer / and payd hem the fyrst yere ten thousand pound by counseylle of Syrycus that was Archebisshop nexte after dunstan / ¶ And the seconde yere sixten thousande pound / the thyrdde yere twenty thousand / l̄i / the iiij / yere / xxiiij / M / l̄i / the / v / yere / xxx / M / l̄ / atte last xl M / l̄i till all the money fayled / than the danes bygan ayene to robbe & to reue / and yet herto one elfricus māyster of the kynges shippis fledde to the enemyes as a vyle flemed harlot / the nyght bifore the batayle / and warned hem of whome they sholde take heed & bewar / For that dede men toke his sonne algarus / and put oute both his eyen / And yet elfricus come ayene / but he fayled ayene / Thenne the danes spoylled and robbed al northumberlond / and besieged london / and made the kynge pay trybute by strengthe / The mene tyme elphegus the bisshop of wynchestre yaue pledgis and brought Anlaf kyng of danes to kyng [...]gelredus / & kyng egelredus receyued hym of cold water / & the bisshop confermed hym / therafter he wente to his own & dyd no harme / but yet so cesed not harme / But as the hedes of Idra whan somme enemyes were awey come vp other enemyes / and destroyed the coun­traye. ¶ The Capytayns presence is moche worth to be knowen in werre and in bataylle / soo is hardynesse vse and loore of de­des of Armes / these fayled that tyme among englysshmen / For yf the hoost were ony tyme gadryd yf Shippes were made / noo thyng spedde a ryght / For our men were not chasted / they yaue them to thefte and to robbery / For they were not comforted / they wold lyghtly flee / Our shippes were destroyed with grete tem­pest / ¶ One wylnotus that the kynge hadde exyled occupyed the shippes that were lefte and drenched hem owther brente hem / If the lordes come to counseyll ony tyme / they were not of one assent But they treated more of discorde and stryfe that was among hem self than of the comune profyt / & yf ony good counseyll and profytable were yeuen / anone theyr enemyes shold wytte For withoute the forsaide Elfrycus one Edrycus / that the kyn­ge hadde made lorde of mercia a ryght fals traytour and slye that couth wel feyne hym self true frende though he were fals

He espyed the kynges counsayle as he were true and trusty [Page] and warned the enemyes therof / as a fals gybeful traytour / In the mene tyme / mescheue / & hunger encreaced fast / ¶ Enemyes myght go frely fyfty myle / & take prayes and lede to her shippis Thenne they payd more trybute to the danes / the kyng had suche a condicion that he wold lyghtly dyssheryte englysshmen / & feyne trespaas for to haue her money and her good / he was so froward to his wyf emma. that she selde come in his bedde / he walowed in lechery with strompettis / and with comune wymmen /

¶ Capitulum 14

LOtharius lowys sonne was kynge of westfraunce / and dyed withoute childer / In hym the grete charles ofspryng loste the kyngdom / Somme men say that this lotharius had chil­dre that regned not after hym / By helpe of Rychard duc of Normandye / that was somtyme gretely greuyd by lotharius / ¶Lotharius sonnes were taken / and the grete hugh capette was made kynge of fraunce / and regned nyne yere / this hugh Capett was the sone of duc hugh / whos suster duc rychard had spoused

¶ Seynt oswald archebisshop of yorke / and of worcetre also / dyed & was buryed at wyrcetre / The / v / gregorius was pope as it were thre yere / this was byfore called brunus / & was othoes themperours kynnesman / At his instaunce he was chosen pope / But afterward whan themperour was absente one Crescenciꝰ prefecte of the cyte toke one placentinus a ryche man of moneye / and putte hym in the poperyche / and callyd hym the seuenth Iohan / But the Emperour came ageyne / and putte oute this Iohan / and putte ynne the seconde Syluester / ¶ That ye­re / the Bisshops see that somtyme was callyd Lyndeffarn was chaunged to durham / ¶ And seynt Cuthbertus bodye was translated thyder / the whiche bodye / ardulphus ledde aboute with hym somtyme / The fyrste Rychard the thyrd duc of Nor­mandy is dede / ¶ After hym his sonne the seconde Rychard was duc / xxviij / yere / For his grete goodnesse he was callyd the good Rychard / he was deuoute in goddes seruyce / & wyse & redy to the worlde warde / Curtoys and large of yeftes / On his fyrste wyf he bygate thre sonnes / Rychard Robert & Wiliam / & thre doughters On his seconde wyf he gate wyliam and Robert / [Page CCC] archebisshop of rothomage / One of thes second rychardes knyghtes stale a spone / & leyd it to wedde among other thynges / The duc espyed it & none other man / & lete quyte oute al the knyghtes weddes / the knyght espyed that the spone was so espyed / & was soo ashamed that he fled pryuely awey / The kynge wente after the knyght that fledde / and brought hym ayene and made hym ryche / and loued hym afterward ryght wele / One mayster Bernard herde the dukes loos / and wold be knowen to him / And bythought hym on euery syde how he myght beste doo for to come therto / he come atte last with a bowe and an arowe to a wyndowe of the castel / there the duc was wonte to stande / And walked hyder and thyder as though he wold haue shotte to the duc / the duc was war therof / and espyed what the cause was / & loued hym ryght wel / After the seuenth Iohan was put oute the second syluester was pope four yere and twey monethes / W / v / su / This hete fyrst gerebertus by his name / & was of the naciō of frensshmen / & was shorn monk at Floriacio besyde aurelyans / Whanne he come to pyctagoras double wey / he was caught with noye of his ordre with couetyse of worship / and left his habyte on a nyght / and fled in to hyspals / that is syuyl le grannt a cyto of spayne for to lerne subtyle and curyous artes & scyences / there as crysten men haue Tolet / Sarasyns haue hyspals / ther gerebertus lerned and passed tholomeus in astronomye & Alcā drius in the space bytwene the sterres & Iulius fermicus in des­teny / there he lerned what sygnefyed song / and flyghte of foules what the curyosite of kynde may take that Carsong I leue / But he drank therof that he passed all other / he was the fyrst that toke Agabus of Sarasyns / and yaue rules therynnne / that maye vnnethe be vnderstanden of the connyngest men of that crafte / whiche craftes men ben cleped Abacyste / Gerebertus was at In with one that was moost connynge philosophre / that was boūde with promyses and with yeftes / Gerebertus hadde wryton and copyed al this philosophres bookes / excepte one that conteyned all the pryuyte of the crafte / For that booke myght he not geete by noo maner of sleyght / But the philosophre was otherwhyle dronken· And soo Gerebertus wayted his tyme / and toke the booke / that was vnder the philosophres heede and fledde aweye therwyth / Thenne he awoke. and pursued Gerebertus by crafte of the stere [...]s / in the whiche crafte he was parfyht ynowe /

By that same crafte he that fledde was ware of the perylle / [Page] and dressyd hym vnder a treen brydge that was there nexte and henge ther by the armes / soo that he touched neyther erth ne water / and soo by that crafte he was begyled that sought hym right besyly / and withdrough hym and torned home ayene / Thenne this gerebertus cam to the see / and called forth the fende and be­hete hym homage yf he wold bere hym ouer the see / and saue him fro hym that pursued hym / and soo it was done / Than he come agey [...] in to Fraunce / & helde open scole / and had with hym Constantin thabbot of saynt mayimin besydes aurelyans / To hym he made and yaue a rule of Abacus / Also he told the skylle and reson of the dyameter aboue macrobius / Treuisa / The dyameter is of a fygure owther of a shap the lengest euen lyne that is de­uyded therynne / take who that may / Than it foloweth in the sto­rye / Gerebertus hadde s [...]olers Robert the sonne of hugh Capette kyng of fraunce / and otho / Otho the emperours sonne / But robert was afterward kyng of fraunce / and made this gerebertus Archebisshop of remensis / yet in that chirche is mynde of his lore for ther is an orloge made by crafte of honde / and water organs that sowneth by eyr and water / there by strengthe of hoot [...] wa­ter the wynde brekyth oute and fylleth the holownes of the Or­gans / and thenne by shaply draughtes the brasen pypes sende oute swete crye and noyse of melodye / therafter Otho was Em­perour and made Gerebertus bisshop of Rauenna / and sone ther after pope / ¶ Marianus / ¶ Of that happe is a vers made / Scandit ad / R / Gerebertus / ab / R / post papa vygens / in / R / That is Gerebertus passyth vp to / R. oute of R / and is theraf­ter pope in his floures in R / ¶R / He passed oute of Remence to Rauenna / and the thyrde tyme to Rome / ¶ Willelmus de Regibus / Fauour of the fende droof forth his fortune / for by help of the fende / and by crafte of nygromancye he fonde tresour that was hyd of olde tyme / in that felde callyd Campus Marcius / besydes rome was an ymage that tyme that helde streight oute ¶ the fynger / of his right hande / the which fynger som men calle lyk pot / that is the fynger nexte the thombe / and on the ymages heede it was wreton / smyte her / men of olde tyme wend & trowed tresour ther to fynde / & brake sōwhat of the ymage with many hard strokes / gerebertꝰ blamed hem therfor / & euē at mid­day whā the sōne was highest / he toke hede wher the shadow of that finger fil on the groūd & pight ther a stake & at night he toke with him his chāberlayn alone that bare with him light & opened the [Page CCCj] erth there as the stake was pyght and went in and sawe the [...]e a kynges hows of gold and knyghtes of gold playng with dyses of gold / and kyng and quene of metal sitting atte borde & serued with mete sette on the borde / seruauntes standyng byfore hem / & cuppes of grete wyght and pryce / In the ynner place of the ho [...]s a carboncle stone shoone clerely / and dyd awey al the derknesse of the nyght. On the other syde stode a yonglynge with a bowe bente / But amonge al these no thynge myght be touched though it myght be seen / yf ony man wente ner to handle ony thynge h [...]r of / it semed that al the ymages wold on him rese / Gerebertus was war therof and absteyned hym & withstode his couetyse / & desyre / but the chamberlayn absteyned not atte full / for he toke a knyf that lay on the boorde / Anon as he had taken the knyf / all ymages bygan to grutche / and to aryse / & the child lowsed / and shotte and hytte the carboncle stone with a reode / and made alle the hows full of derknesse / Soo that but yf he hadd leyd downe the knyf as his lord bade hym / bothe sholde haue payed the peyne So it is redde that Ioseph dalf with his fader moche tresour in to the erthe / ¶ And hircanus toke vp thre thousand talentes of kyng dauids graue / for to breke vp the syege of Ierusalem / Also it is a comune faine that this gerebertus by certayne crafte of the sterres / dyde ghete an hede that spak not / but whan me axyd of hym and seyd nought but soth / That hede warned gereber­tus that he shold be pope / and that he shold neuer dye er he [...]ad songe a masse in Ierl̄m / but he was not ware that in Rome was a chirche that hete ierl̄m / ther the pope singith masse thre sondayes in the yere in the stacion tyme / In that chirche he arayd hym to masse on one of these sondayes / and was taken with strength of sekenesse / and lay seke in his bedde / and counseylled with his y­mage / and knewe that he was begyl̄ed and was war of his oundeth / he sente for the cardyuals and knowleched his euyl dedes / and wepte ful soore / And as it were a woode man for sorow of his synnes / he made men kytte him self lymmele· and throwe out his lymmes / and sayd lete hym haue thoffyce of the lymmes that axyd homage of hem & lete the spyryte go to god that made it of of nought / Mar / Than he bade doo the stoke of the bodye vpon a cart and burye it where the beestes wolde abyde / & [...]o it was done Than the beestes steynte at seynt iohans the l [...]ran and he is bu­ryed there in token that his synnes were foryeuen / his graue bo­dethe and warneth yf the pope shal sone dye / And that by [Page] sterynge and rustlyng of the bones that be therynne / & by swe­tynge of the tombe as it is yet there wreton in lettres of latyn /

¶ Capitulum 15

HVgh Capett kyng of west Fraunce dyed after that he had regned ix / yere / his sone Robert was kyng after hym / that he had bygoten on the elder edwardes doughter kyng of englond This robert regned aboute thyrtty yere / in his tyme a [...]elygyous pylgrym cam oute of ierl̄m in to Scicilia / & lerued of one that was closed that dede / mē [...]es soules for dyus synnes & trespaces be tormented in vulcanus crokke / he that was closed tolde that he had herd ofte the voys & the grysbytyng of thylke soules that be delyuerd by prayers and almesdedes of crysten men & namely of monkes of cluny / Therfor odyl [...] abbot of cluny whan he was war therof / he ordeyned to haue mynde and memorye for hem that ben dede / And that the morow after al halowe day / That maner of vsage and doynge / passed afterward in to al the world / Also this robert was a connyng man of scyence / & wold in high̄ festes of sayntes in somme abbay of his kyngdom / syng owther bere a coope and rule the quere / ¶ Ones at aurelyans in seynt Anians day he had lefte his hoost aboute a castel / that he beseged & bare a coope in the quere / and sange thryes agnus dei knelyng on the grounde / thenne the same tyme the walles of the castel / that was besyeged fylle sodenly to the grounde / This is that ro­bert that made that sequence / Sancti spiritus assit nobis gracia / that is the grace of the hooly goost be with vs / Also he made the response on mydwynter euen / Iudea & ierl̄m nolite timere / that is Iewry and Ierl̄m haue ye no will to drede / as who saith / drede now ryght nought / Also that yere deuelyng a cyte of an Arche­bisshops see of Irlond was destroyed by Scottes / & the naueye of denmarch̄ wente in to normandye / & kynge egelredus destroyed Combrelande and the ylande mon / that hete Anglesya / & is by north wales / Seynt Iuo the bisshops body is founde / / W / de p / libro quarto / This iuo of the nacion of perses forsoke the likynge of this world & passed by many landes in a churles wede with thre felawes and no moo and ended his lyf in the yle of ramsey His name & his graue was long tyme vnknowen to mē of that countrey / but this Iuo appered to a symple man & enformed him [Page CCCij] of his name and of his degre / & charged hym that he sholde goo to thabbot of ramesey for they shold go yfere & take vp his body oute of the erthe / whan that was done an heeleful welle for al maner sekenes sprang oute of his graue / So that yet vnneth in al englond is ony seynt that wold lyghtlyer here a mannes bone and helpe hym in dede / That yere kyng egelredus wedded emma the flour of normandy / the doughter of the fyrst Rychard duc of of normandy / and was proude therfor / and sent lettres in to the cytees of englond / and he commaunded / & hete to sle al the danes in one nyght / And so it was done on seynt bricius nyght / Also that yere was the abbay founded at burton vpon trent of a grete man callyd wulrycus spoite / After the thyrdde otho the first henry that was cleped mylde was emperour / xvij / yere / him crouned tharchebisshop of magonce / And here take heede that mo [...]n­ryes were kynges than emperours / therfore whan me redyth the fyrst henry / the seconde owther the thyrde by cause of lykenes of the saide name / he is the fyrst o [...]ther the secōd in thēpire / the same shal be vnderstanden of Conrades and othones emperours that so hete / This fyrst henry lyued clene mayde with his wyf / the / xv [...]ij iohn was pope six monethes / Suanus kyng of danes herde t [...]ll that danes were pryuely slayn / in the cytees of englond / & come with a grete nauye and landed in corne wayle / there by treson of a norman erle hugh that the quene Emma had made lord of Deuenshire suanus toke excetre and destroyed the walles / But the westsaxons come manely ayenst hym / but as ofte as the hoostes neyhed to geder the Capitayn of englyssmen / Edricus a fals traitour feyned for to spue / and sayd that he was seke / therfor En­glysshemen were discomforted / and kyng swanus robbed wylton and shirburn and wente to his shippes ageyne / and come to nor wyche the nexte yrre after & destroyed the countray and set Te [...] ­ford a fyre / whanne duc vsketel was war therof / he sente to men of the countrey / that they sholde brenne the shippes of theyr enemyes / But they made it as they rought not owther durst not / Thenne the duc come with alle that he myghte and yaue the da­nes a wel harde and sharpe bataylle / But for that yere was stronge honger in Englonde / kynge Suanus tourned ageyne to denmarche / and come the nexte yere after in to englonde ageyne / The nyntenthe iohn was pope fyue yere / ¶ This yere El­phegus bisshop of wynchestre was made Archebisshop of Caun­terbury whan wulrycus tharchebisshop was dede / ¶ There [Page] after in the monethe of Iuyll / the naueye of danes landed at Sandwyche / and spoylled and Robbed kente and Southsex & trauayled the hoost of englond with many maner deceites & wiles / now spoyllynge / and robbyng / & now tornyng home ageyn Thre felawes folowed hem alwey robbyng sleyng & brennyng / For kyng egelredus woned than at shro [...]sbury & myght not anō putte of the danes / er they hadde destroyed barokshire / Therfore Egelredus by counseylle of lordes payed to the danes trybute thyrtty thousande pounde for to haue pees / ¶ That yere he made Edricus the traytour duc of mercia / Edrycus was lowe of kyn Ryche of tonge / fals / and deceyuable of wytte / softe and fayr of speche / vntrusty and fals of thought / ¶The thyrdde Sergius was pope thre yere / Henricus / li / 6 / ¶ Turkyllus an erle of the danes come a lande in kente / And caunterbury men yane hym a thousande pounde for to haue pees / And the danes wente in to the yle of wyght and toke prayes there / ¶ As ofte as the kyng wente forth for to fyght ayenst them / Erle Edrycus counseyled that he shold yeue hem noo bataylle / ¶ Therfor that yere the danes were made full ryche and destroyed almoost half englond from northampton to the yle of wyght /

¶ Capitulum 16

ABoute saynt matheus feste the danes beseged Caunterbery and the twenty daye of the syege the cyte was taken / and sette on fyre / and that by tresonne of Almarus the Deken / that saynt Elphegus had byfore saued from dethe / Thabbot of seynt Austyns was suffred for to go his wey / crystes flocke were ty­thed / the / ix / were slayne / & the / x / was kepte / of hem that were slayne / somme were slayne with yren / and some throwen down from hygh places / somme hanged by the pryuy membrys & som drawen by the heere / Amonge the whiche Elphegus the Bisshop was taken and bounde seuen monethes / & greued and despysed with many maner paynes / Therfor goddes wrath felle vppon the peple / that slough soo men / that sorow of her bowels slough & des­troyed of hem / now by / x / now by / xx / & so a grete nombre / than the danes were warned by crysten men that they shold do the bisshops gre / but they dyfferted it & abide therwith / for on ester euē [Page CCCiij] they gaf the bisshop chois whether he wold pay thre thousād pond owther leese his lyf / he forsoke at her profre / & prayde mekely his crysten men / and forbade them hyghly that none of hem shol­de pay for his raunsome / therfor the danes were wroth and kene and the next saterday after the danes were wyne dronken / & ledd oute the bisshop and slough hym with stones and with rotheren bones / That saterdaye felle twelue dayes byfore maij / whan the bisshop was dede he was not buryed til on the morn / whan a drye tree was touched with a drope of the blode it wax grene ageyn / Than the nexte daye after his bodye was brought to london / and buryed worshipfully in seynt paulus chirche / But afterward by graunte of kanutus kyng of danes he was brought all hoole in bodye to his owne chirche / ¶ W / de / r / li / 2 / After that this Alphegus had taken monkes habyte at dirhust / he lyued as an Anker at bathe / and gadred there monkes afterward and as it fallyth ofte in agreete college / these monkes drough hem alle to euyll maner of doynge / For vnwyttyng the fader somme of hem made festes by nyghte in outrage and in drynkynge to the daye lyght / But the banyour of this euyll doynge / fyl dede by wreche of god in the myddel of the hows that they drank in / The fader was war therof by noys that he herde / and come to the wyndow and sawe twey fendes bete that body / and the wretche axed helpe Nay sayde the fendes / thou were not obedyent to god / so we shal not be obedyēte to the / On a tyme saynt andrew / appered to dunstan & by coūseyle of seynt andrew alphegus was made bisshop of wynchestre and ete neuer flessh / but he was seeke / By nyghte [...]e wolde begyle his wardeyns and stonde in the water to the gyr­del stede / and worship god and pray hym to the day lyght / Whanne he had be bisshop of wynchestre two and twenty yere / he was made Archebisshop of Caunterbury ayenst his wylle / But as he went to Rome for the palle / he was robbed in a strete of al that he hadde / therfore god toke wreche of that streete / soo that the strete waxe on fyre / than the men of that streete knowheched her trespaas and restored ageyne al that was his / Than they sawe that the fyre was quenched atte prayer of saynt elphegus / ¶ Marianus / ¶ After Sergyus the eyghtenth benet was pope twelue yere / Of hym peter damianus sayth / that a bisshop sawe hym sitte on a blac hors greuously tormented / therfor he prayd the Bisshop that saw that syght that he shold go to his successour the / xx / iohan / and praye hym to doo almes dede for hym of the [Page] money that was in suche a cheste / For al that was deled for hym byfore / stode hym in no stede / For it was of thefte and robberye / soo it was don and than that bisshop wente in to an Abbay / This yere twey dayes byfore october the see ouerflowed and passed the clyues and d [...]ynt many men and townes / Henricus libro sexto / Suanus kynge of danes sayled aboute eestenglond that conteyneth northfolk / and southfolk / and come with his nauey in to humbre / and passed forth by the ryuer Trente to geynil burgh· than the men that dwellyd by / the north watlyng streete swar / fewte to hym & bytoke hym pledgys / & he bitoke his nauey and these pledgys to his sone canutus / whyle he wente to destroye south mercia / and slough the men and kepte the women to flesshe­ly lykynge of hym / and his men / Than he toke oxenford and wynchestre / but as he went toward london and sought no brydge he lost many of his men in the Ryuer of Temse. But by presence of kynge Egelredus he was put of at london and wente and wanne westsaxon / the londoners wente and sawe that / and sente hym pledges / than the kynge was abasshed and sente his wyf Emma to hir broder the second Rychard duc of normandy / and sente with hir his twey sones and the bisshop of l [...]ndon / In the meane tyme hyder and thyder at wyght he helde so his mydwynter tyde. Atte laste he was withoute cataylle and comforte / and sayled in to normandy / than kyng Suanus was the more prou­de / and to eche owne dampnacion be chalenged greete trybute of seynt edmunds the martirs cyte & menaced that but the trybute were payd he wold slee the men & sette the cyte on fyre / Also he despysed and scorned saynt edmond with all that he couth / But whanne euen come he was stykked with saynt edmondes swerde in the myddel of his owne knyghtes / atte toune of geynisburgh ānd cryed in the departyng of day and nyght / and dyed the thirde day of Februar / His sone canutus sawe that and dyd myldly with seynt edmond and made a dyche aboute saynt Edmundes land and graūted hym fredom / and discharged the place of all maner seruyce / and buylde a chirche ouer the martirs body / and ordeyned there monkes and yaue hem money landes and ren­tes / therafter it was vsed that kynges of englonde sente her crounes to seynt Edmond / and yf they wolde vse or were hem after­ward they sholde pay therfor moche money and haue hem ayene ¶ The collectours of trybute that were ful cruel in other pla­ces of englonde there be mylde and easy and softe pl [...]tynges on [Page CCCiiij] this half saynt edmondes dyche /

Capitulum 17 /

WHan Suanus was dede the danes made his sone canutus kyng / But the englysshmen sente in to normandy to kynge Egelredus / & promysed yf he wold be more goodly to hem than he was wonte / hem were leuer to put aweye Canutus and take hym to kyng / he assented to the profre / and sente his son [...] edward before for to stable the pees / therafter about lente tyme / the kyng come with grete spede / and droof canutus oute of lyndesey / Thenne canutus toke hym to rede for fo flee at Sandwyche in kente / he made kytte of handes and noses of alle the Englysshe pledgys that were delyuerd to his fader somtyme / & falled ayene in to deumarche / and come ayene the next yere after / ¶ This yere Canutus sayled aboute eestenglond and toke prayes in the southe countrey / The noble knyght edmund yrensyde cam manly ayenst hym / But edmond withdrough hym whan he was ware of Edricus treason / Edrycus yaue hym / and his to canutus /

The westsaxons sawe that / and delyuerd hym pledgys / and dyde the same / Kynge egelredus dyed at london eyght dayes bifore maij / and was buryed in paules chirche / After his deth bisshops abbotes and lordes of the lande forsooke his yssue / and progenye / and knouleched at Southampton / that Canutus sholde be her kynge / and he sware that he wolde be to hem a true lord both to god warde and to the worlde / ¶But the londoners and many of the lordes made her kynge edmund yrensyde / And anone he made the westsaxons subgette / somme for drede / and somme by her owne good wylle / In the mene tyme canutus bysieged london / but be was putte of ther / & he fought with ed­monde in dorsette besydes gyllyngham & was ouercomen there / Therafter after the myddel of the somer Edmond with a greete hoost fought more sharply with canutus in the prouynce of wiccyes / that is the prouynce of wircetre / ther they fought so strong­ly that eyther hooste / withdrough hem from other for / pure werynesse / Alfred / and marianus / But the morowe Edmond had ouercome the danes / ne had the fals Edrycus shewed a knygh­tes hede that was moost lyke to kyng edmōd / Edrycus shewed that heede & sayde / flee englysshmen / loo here is the heede of Ed­mond your kyng / but whan edmonde was ware therof / be leyde [Page] one more sharply and faster and fought vnto nyght / ¶ By nyght canutus wente to london warde / But Edmonde folowed after / and saued the cyte and passed temse / the thyrd tyme / and ouercome the danes at brentford / Than duc Edrycus swar few­te to kynge Edmond / yet the fyfthe tyme whan the danes rob­bed and reued & toke prayes / edmond ouercome hem at okeford in kente and chaced hem vnto the yland of shepeheye / Thenne while Edward torned in to westsaxon Canutus toke prayes in mercia / therfore edmōd mette hym vpon asshdon / ther was strong fyghtynge on eyther syde / Duc Edrycus sawe the danes downe­ward / and fledde as a traytour sholde / soo that many noble men were slayn on edmondes syde / ther was slayne the bisshop of lin­coln and the Abbot of Ramesey that were come to praye for the knyght / Than by counseyll of Edrycus pees was made bytwene the kynges / and pledgys taken on eyther syde / ¶At Durhurst vpon the brynk of Seuarn / the pees was made in thys maner / One of the knyghtes stode vp in the myddel of the hoost / & sayd alwey we dye / no man hath the vyctorye / Edmond maye not be ouercome for his grece strengthe / Canutus may not be ouercome for fauoure of fortune / But what shal be the fruyte of this con­tynuel stryf / but whan the knyghtes he slayne on eyther syde / than the dukes compellyd by nede shal acord· owther certeynly they shal fyghte withoute knyghtes alone / eyther with other / Than why doo they not now one of these tweyne / If they acord why is not the kyngdome now more suffycient for hem tweyne / that was somtyme ynowe for fyue / If her couetyse of lordship is soo grete that eyther hath indygnacion to take and haue part with other / owther to be vnder / than late hem fyghte alone / that wol be lordes alone / lest yf al men fyght al men be slayne / and soo shold leue no knyghtes vnder the heestes of dukes / nowther to defende the kyng ayenste straunge alyenes / Thenne the dukes with her hoostes come to geder atte yland of olneye besydes Gloucestre / there alle men cryed owther they sholde acorde / or fyght a [...] one / Than both the kynges come to geder in middel of the ylād & the peple stode / & behelde on eyther syde / The kynges fought first on hors / and than on fote / There canutus espyed that Edmonde myght not be ouercome and acorded to be partyner of the kyngdom / and they threw awey her wepens and kyssed eyther other Thenne al men wondred / and were ioyeful therof / whanne this was done the traytour Edrycus desyred to make hym self leeue [Page CCCv] Canutus / And at oxenford whanne edmonde was at pryny to clense his wombe / as nede of kynde axeth / Edrycus was pryue­ly hydde vnder the place / and stykked the kynge vpwarde / that sate on the sege / And than edrycus wente to canutus and sayd hayle kyng aloone / Whanne the kyng knewe how it stode / he sa­yd to Edrycus / For thou trowest to plese me with suche manere seruyce / and hast slayne the best body of the world / I shal arerethyn hede aboue all the lordes of englond / Than anone Edrycus heede was smyten of / and sette aboue the highest yate of london /

¶ R But somme storyes say / and specially marianus / that Edmond dyed not in that manere / But after that the acorde was made / and stabled bytwene the kynges / and the kyngd [...]me deled bytwene hem tweyn / Edmond dyed at london aboute seynt andrews tyde / & was buryed at glastēbury with his grauntsir edgar / That semeth soth / For comune cronykes tellen / that after edmundus deth / Canutus yaue mercia to the fals Edrycus / and exyled edmundes broder / by his counseylle and dyde many other dedes / and that myght not stande / yf he had beheded Edrycus byfore /

¶ Capitulum 18 /

CAnutus the dane was made kyng alone whanne edmond was dede / and regned about nynten yere / he deled the kyng of Englond in four / and assygned westsaxon to hym self / Eeste englond that conteyneth northfolk / and Southfolk to therle tur­kyllus / Mercia to the fals Edricus / and northumberlond to hyricius / Than he made a counseylle at london and axed of the lor­des / yf ony mencion was made in thacord bytwene hym and ed­mond / that edmundes bretheren owther his childer shold be kyn­ges after his deth / They answerde ful falsly and flateryngly & saide nay / Also they swar that they wold in al wyse putte of ed­mondes kynne / They trowed therby to be greete with the kynge afterword / Therfor somme of them were slayn by goddes right­ful dome / and somme banysshed and exyled and putte oute of the lande / By counseylle of Edrycus / the kynge exyled edmon­des broder that was cleped kyng of churles / But he was afterwarde gylefully reconcyled and slayne by / tresonne of his oun men / but kyng canutus drad / and was ashamed to sle edmōds [Page] sonnes edmond and Edward / and by counseyll of Edrycus he sente hem to the kynge swanus / for he shold slee hem / but he drad god and sente hem forther to Salamon kynge of hongary to sa­ue her lyf / And edmond wedded that kynges doughter / & dyed sone after withoute children / But Edward wedded Agath / henry the emperours doughter / and bygate on hyr Margarete that was afterwarde quene of Sco [...]lande / and Crystyne a nonne / & Edgar adelyng / Henricus libro sexto / This name adelyng is made of twey saxon wordes / Ade [...] that is noble / and lyng that is an ymage / than adelynge is as it were a noble ymage / Therfor the westsaxons haue in a prouerbe / of grete despyte / vn­derlyng / that is he that is put oute of honeste / owther an yma­ge that goth bakwarde / The hooly kyng edwarde was after­warde in purpo [...]s to make this Edgar heyr of Englond / but he dradde goodwynes sones / and the shrewdnes of his owne men / and made wiliam norman his sone adoptinus / Willelmus de re­gibus libro secundo / ¶ In the moneth of Iuyll kyng Canutus wedded Emma the quene / for he wold be the more sure of Englonde / and bygate on her a sonne called hardeknutus / After that at london the fals Edrycus despysed the benefyce that hym was yeuen / and the kynge bade slee hym ryght there in his owne palays / and bade throwe the body besydes the walles in to Temse / ¶In that he was war / that Edrycus shold not bytraye hym by fraude and by treasonne / he exyled somme other lordes / But he loued Erle leofrycus alwey afterwarde / ¶ After this· he made a parlement at oxenforde / there Englysshmen and danes were acorded for to holde kyng edgars lawes / Henricus libro sexto / That yere Canutus wente in to denmarck / and hadde with hym Englysshmen ayenst the wandales that werred vpon hym / The nyght byfore the batayll duc goodwyn and englyssh­men come vnwar vpon the enemyes and dysparpled hem / and chaced hem vnwyttyng the kyng / therfor the kyng dyde englissh men grete worship from that tyme forwarde / and come ayene that yere in to Englonde ¶ This yere Alduinus bisshop of lyndef­farn was dede / Than the see was wyde aboute thre yere / & there was made a synode for the election of the bisshop / there come Edmonde the preest & sayde in his game / why chese ye not me / Som toke not his game in game / but they ordeygned for to faste thre dayes for the same cause For they wolde wytte saynt cuthbertus wylle Thenne whanne the preest was atte masse a voys sowned [Page CCCvj] twyes oute of seynt Cuthberts tombe / and sayd that Edmond shold be his bisshop / ¶Also this yere fell that wonder in Saxon in saynt magnꝰ the martirs chirche / There fyften men / and thre women ledde a daunce in the chircheyerde on a crystemas nyghte And the preest of the chirche was wroth / and prayd of wreche / and sayd in this maner / God graūte by the prayer of seynt mag­ne the martir that ye be soo dyseaced / and lede in this maner the daunce alle the yere longe / and so it was done / For whanne that yere was passed the same cristemasse a twellyf moneth they ledde the daunce in snowe vp to the sydes / and hadde nowther ete ne dronke / nowther slepte till they were delyuerd by the pra­yer of seynt Cuthbert bysshop of Colon / whanne they were dra­wen vp of the erthe / they leyde hem self byfore the aulter / thēne somme of hem dyed anone / and somme were kepte alyue / and shewed on them self the grete dedes of god / One of thilk women was the same preestes doughter / that prayd this wreche / Hir ou­ne brother wold haue drawē her oute of the daūce / but she brayde to hym hir arme / and led forth the daunce neuer the latter with the other all that yere / ¶ Willelmus do pontificibus libro pri­mo / ¶Aboute this tyme bryghtwold monk of Glastenbury that was afterwarde the fyrst bisshop of wylton / was in his co [...] templacion / and thoughte on the kynges lygnage of Englyssh men / that lygnage was than nygh̄ al destroyed / And soo this monke fyll on slepe / and sawe saynt peter the apostle helde by the hande edwarde / Egelredus sonne in normandye that was thenne exyled oute of englond / and he sawe petre sacre this Edward & made hym kyng and shewed atte ful / how hooly this Edwarde shold be / and how he shold regne thre and twenty yere / Also this monke axyd and made question of Edwardes ofsprynge and who sholde be kynges afterward / Peter answerde and sai­de / the kyngdome of Englysshmen is goddes kyngdome / and af­ter this god shal ordeyne and puruey / Henricus libro sexto / ¶ Aboute this tyme an hooly man warned englysshmen / that a lorde that they thought not on / sholde come oute of Fraunce / & gbrine hem ryght lowe / and tolde other thynges as it is sayde in the ende of the fyrst book / ¶ Willelmus de Re / libro secundo This yere egelnotus Archebisshop of Caunterbury plesed kyng Canutus in goodnesse by auctoryte of hoolynesse / And f [...]red hym in his excesse / and brought seynt elphegus body oute of london to hys owne chirche / ¶ There after as he cam from Rome [Page] at Papye / he bought seynt anstyns the doctours arme for an Cl̄i of syluer / and a talente of golde / he sente that arme to couentre for loue of leof [...]ycus / This yere dyed the fyrst henry Emperour of Almayne / After hym the fyrst Conradus regned / xv / yere / He ordeyned that who so euer brake the lawe of the lande sholde leese his heede / Thenne the fyrst that trespa [...]ed ayenst thordena ū ­ce was Erle lupoldus / Thenne he d [...]adde ful soore / and fledde in to wyldernesse / he and his wyf / On a tyme Conradus come thy­der for to hunte / and herde slepynge in his bed a wys that spake to hym twyes and sayde / the erle heremytes childe. that now is born newly / shal wedde thy doughter / and shall be thyne heyr / Therfore he had indignacion and commaunded to brynge the childes herte / But the messagers dradde god and threwe the childe a lyue in a woode / And brought to the kynge the herte of an hare / Sone after it happed that one duc harry passed therforth / & herde the childe wepe / and sente hym to norysshynge to his owne wyf / that was bareyn / and named hym harry by his own name Whan the chykde come to age / Conradus the kynge behelde hym ofte tyme / and bythoughte hym full ofte that he was warned somtyme / and kepte the chylde with hym / But he that was hol­den the childes fader withsayde it alwey / Themperour by hym self bythought hym full ofte / how he myght destroye this childe / Therfor he sente this chylde to themperyce / with lettres wreton in this maner / whanne the lettres were redde / the childe sholde dye the same day / the childe was lodged on a nyght with a preest / that redde the childes lettres / whanne the childe was a slepe / and for this word sholde dye / the preest wrote shold wedde our douh­ter / and so it was done / And though themperour was euyl apaid therfor he bythought hym that the child was a gentil erles sone and toke it the lyghtlyer / And buylde an abbaye in the place of wyldernesse there the childe was borne / The Abbaye is called vrsania /

¶ Capitulum 19 /

ALso this yere dyed the seconde Rycharde / the fourth duc of normandy / ¶ After hym his sone the thyrde rychard was duc of normandy· After one yere of the ducherye / his yon­ger broder Robert slough hym / with venym / and was duk after [Page CCCvij] hym / But after the vij yere of his duchery / he was sory for his broders deth and went on pilgremage / barfote to Ierusalem and dyed in Bithinia / Of hym it is seyde / that he was mighti and polytique / in batayle / large & free of yeftes and of mete and drynke / ¶On a tyme it happed at a grete fest that knyghtes of­fred at masse / but one of hem offred not / The duc trowed ther­for that he had not that he myght offre / and bad yeue hym an C / pound / he leyd hem holy vpon the aulter / Me axed hym why he dyd soo / for hit was yeuen me for to offre seyd the knyght / The duc herd that and yaf hym a nother hundred pound to his owne vse / ¶ On a nother tyme the same duc pleyed atte chesse / & hym was yeuen a golden Iust / wonderly feyre arayed with perles & with precious stones / and he yaf hit anon to the clerk that pleyed with hym atte chesse / & the clerk dyed anon / Phiscians tolde the cause and seyd / that right as the hert closeth for grete sorow and is cause of deth but the hert be the soner opened / ¶ Also for grete Ioye the hert openeth and is cause of deth / But it be the soner closed / ¶ Also on a tyme one brought to Duc Ro­bert twey wel fayre knyues / and anon he badde yeue hym an hondred pounde / ¶And while he told the mony / were tweye gentill horses yeuen to the Duc / ¶The Duc yaf hem anon to hym that yaf hym the knyues / Whan he had receyued all thys he sped hym fast his way / lest som lette myght haue fallen In the mene tyme the duc was yeuē acup of seluer that was a [...]essel to bere in fruyte / ¶ Than he was sought that brought the knyues and myght not be founden / ¶ Than the Duc made grete moone and sayd / that he had receyued a symple reward that broughte hym the knyues / ¶ Me seyde of thys Ro­bert / that alle that me yafe hym / but hit were suche a yefte that shold be eten / he wold yeue it to hym / that yafe hym the fyrst worshipfull yefte that day / willelmus de Re / libro 2 / This Robert on a tyme passed by phalesya a cyte of normandye. & sawe a ma [...]den called Arlett by hir name a skynners doughter daūce among other / & had hir to his bed at nyght & helde hir som­dele long tyme in stede of his wyf / & bygat on hir wiliā the con­querour / a sweuē that his moder met signefyed how grete he shold be / for she met that hir bowels were sprad in to al englōd & nor­mādy / Also whan the child was born it happed that he touched the groūd & toke both his handes ful of the powder of the pamēt & cō streyned his [...]andes & helde fast the powder / therfor the mydwyf [Page] told that the child shold be a kyng the first night that this mayd [...] arlett was brought to the dukes bed / she to rente hir owen smok fro the chynne to the feet / The duc axed whi she dyd so / It is neyther skyll ne curtesye said she that the hemme of my smok that hath byclipped my feet / shold be torned toward my lordes mouth Than duc Robert went to Ierl̄m and had to geder all the lordes of his londe at Fiseanum and made hem swere feuty to his sonne william that was tho vij yere olde & ordeyned erl [...] Gilbert the childes tutor & ordeyned the tutor to be maynteyned by the kyng of Fraunce / they held their obeysance to the child til duc robert was deed / But whan they herd of duc Robertus deth / euery of theym toke hede to hym self and rought not of the child / Atte last this Gilbert was slayne of one Rauf that was the chyldes vnkle / Ther was fightyng and man slaughter the countrey was foule faren with / with strif that men had amonge hem self / but william was yong in armes / and one Guye a Bourgyon / was cause and maker of alle that strif / and treson the whyche Gye was williams kynnesman of the second Richardes doughter But william toke hym and did hym to deth / ¶ And Odo the kynges broder of Fraunce come ayenst willyam / but willyam / had the maystrye and chased Odo / and made hym fle [...] / henry the kyng of Fraunce herd therof and cam with a grete multitude and was despitously and fouly chased / ¶But mediatours went bitwene and made peas / And the kynges men of fraunce were delyuered that were taken prisoners. / ¶ Here take grete hede that wylliam faught ofte with the kyng of Fraunce / but neuer sodenly as our men doo now a dayes / ¶But the day of batayle shold be sette / and he had euer the victorye / Than whan the kyng of Fraunce was ded / he toke manly the londes of Nor­mandy thaugh the londes wer long tyme absolute / that by the counte of canouic / & litil bretayn / that kyng charles had yeuen to rollo with his doughter gilla / this will̄m wan it manly / harold an english̄ man was in that batayle asit shal be sayd with in / Duc whert went to Ierl̄m & passed by borgoyne / ther as he went out of the yate / the porter smot hym with a staf / anon he thanked god & forbad his men & charged that none of hem shold tak wreche of that dede for I am sayd he wel worthy to haue more harm I loue sayd he this stroke more than al Rothomage / Than he cam for to take the crosse of the pope / and did his noble palle aboute the ymage of the grete Constantyne and scorned there with the [Page CCCviij] Romayns that wold namely ones a yere yeue theyr lord a clothe Also he made to shooe his mule with gold that he rode on / and forbade al his men that they shold not take vp the shoes / whan they were fallen / Also he cam by themperour of constantinople & whyle he spak with themperour he sawe no benche in al the hous and sate hym down vpon his owne pall in the maner of his ou­ne countrey· and his knyghtes did the same / And as the duc bad they lefte theyr pallys there / whan they arysen / and sayd that they shold not take awey her benches / the duc was prayd of the emperour to take money for his cost by the wey and he answerd and sayd that he wold in pylgremage lyue by his owne / But whan he cam ageyne he wolde doo the emperours wylle / than the kyng forbade that no man shold selle him fewel to sethe his mete therwith / than the duc bought notes and sethed his mete there with / the kynge wondred of the dukes manhede / and made ben­ches in his court afterwarde in stede of the forsayd palles / heraf­ter the duc eueled soo in the weye that he myght neyther goo ne ryde / therfor he hyred pour sarasyns that sholde bere hym by daye / in a litere on her shulders / and charged a norman that wente agayne in to Normandye / that to the normans that wold axe tidynges of the duc / he shold tell that he had sene fendes bere the duc to heuen ward / he called the sarsynes fendes / and the holye lande heuen / Than hit was vsed that no crysten man shold come within the holy Cyte wyth oute grete hyre / ¶ Than many men herd of this dukes comyng and came to hym and prayed hym of helpe and he sware by the herte of hys wombe / that whyle he had one peny / he wold be the laste that shuld entre / That noble Sarsyn the lord of the cyte herde therof and had also herd of this Dukes other manly dedes / and forbad anon that nothyng shuld be taken of hym nowther of ony man that come in his companye and charged and comaunded also to yeue to the duc alle the of­fryng of a day / He receyued the offryng & yaf hit anon to pore men and dyed sone after in Bithinia as it is before sayd

¶ Capitulum 20

AFter Benet. the xx Iohn was pope ix yere / Al [...]o thys tyme Maryanus the Scotte was / born / by his laboure / this cronyk is muche enhaunced / Maryanus / The Norganes that [Page] is to sey men of norewey forsoke eft theyr holy kyng olauus for his symplenesse / and toke canutus in his stede / and he was cur­sidly slayne / the fourth yere after / ¶ Robert kynge of Fraunce is dede / his sonne hugh was kynge after hym / ¶ Also that yere canutus wente oute of denmark / to Rome / and yaue large gyftes to seynt peter / and made there the scole of Saxons free of al maner trybute / and yaf large Almes / and grete in his comynge ageyne toward englond / and payed grete raun­sonne for passage of pylgryms in many places / And purchaced that the weyes were opened that were closed and procured the pope to relece the pryce and the payment that prymates of his kyngdome were wonte to yeue and pay for to haue the palle / Of all these dedes they sente a letter to the lordes of Englonde & and charged hem that they shold byfore his comyng amende all trespaces and defautes / · After Iohan the nynth Benette was pope eyght yere / but this benet was putte oute of the poperyche & another that was callyd Syluestre was putte in his stede / But this Siluester was putte oute and Benet was restored ageyne But yet this benet was efte put oute ageyn / and Iohan Arche pretour of seynt Iohns place that is callid ante portam latinam was made pope / Inner more this Iohan is callyd the sixt gre­gory / This benet for he was boystous of lettrure / whanne he hadde the poperyche / he ordeyned another pope for thoffy [...]e of holy chirche / That maner of doyng dysplesyd many men / Therfore the thyrd was brought ynne / that shold do thoffyce for hem both And soo one stroofe ayenst tweyne / and tweyne ayenste one for the poperyche / Thenne henry themperour that hadde wedded conradus doughter / and was his successour put oute these popes / and brought in by strengthe the bisshop of ramberge that was callyd the seconde clement / ¶ Of hym this henry was crowned / also this henry compellyd the romaynes to swere that they shold neuer ch [...]se pope without his assent / But this Benet after his deth appered to a man in the lykenesse of a wō der shape [...] beeste / with an asse tayle and with a beeres heede & seid that he apeyred so right as he was whyle he was alyue / This yere dyed robert duc of normādy in his pylgremage / after hym his yong sone wiliam was duc / of the whiche wiliam it is sayd [...]fore / Mar / This yere canutus a lytel byfore he dyed one suan [...] kynge ouer the norganes / this suanus was holden the sone of canutus and of Elgyna of hampton / ¶ Somme men [Page CCCix] sayd that this elgyna myght conceyue noo childe by the kyng & therfore she toke this suanus whanne he was newe borne / of a preestes wyf and leyde hir self downe / as it were in childebedde / and the childe by hir / and begyled kyng canutus / and broughte hym in wytte that it was sothe / ¶ Canutus made his sonne & Emme sone hardeknutus kynge ouer the danes / kynge canutus dyed at Septon that is shaftesbury / & is buryed at wynchestre in the old abbay / ¶ Henricus libro sexto / Me spekyth of thre grete dedes that he dyd / the fyrst that he maryed his dough­ter to themperour Conradus. The seconde that he wente nobly to Rome / and come ageyne and brought with hym a greete dele of oure lordes crosse / the thyrd that he sette his seet on the see stronde whyle the see was flowyng and commaunded and charged the see shold not comme vpon his lande and that the see sholde not wete his lordes clothes ¶ / But the see cam vp as it was wonte by his owne kynde / and wette the kynges thyes / Than the kynge starte awey and sayde / Al men shal wyte and knowe / that the power & myght of kynges / is vayne & vanyte / & that none is worthy to haue the name of kyng but he that hath al thynge subgette to his lawes / And this kynge canutus ne­uer bare crowne vpon his heede after that tyme / but he sette the crowne vpon the crucifyx heede / at wynchestre / whanne Canutus was dede / than was made grete stryf at oxenford / who sholde be kynge and his successour / For leofrycus consul of chestre / and other lordes of the northsyde of temse / and the londoners also toke harold harefote that was holden the sonne of Canutus & of Elgyna hampton / and made hym kynge / though Goodwyn made hym besy for Canutus / Marianus / Somme men sayen that this harolt was a souters sonne / and falsly anone he was born brought to the bedde of this Elgyna / and leyde by hir as thouh she had born hym & brought hym forth / Ryght as suanus was leyd by hir somtyme / but herald was made kynge & toke fro Emma al the kynges ryches / and put hir oute of Englond / But the erle of flaundres receyuyd hir worshipfully / and dyde hir grete fauour / Ethelnotus archebisshop of Caunterbury dyed / & seuen dayes after him dyed ethelricus bisshop of winchestre / he had besily praid god yt he him self shold not lōg liue after ethelnotꝰ Than edsius heraldes chapelayn was made archebisshop of caun­terbury / & stygandus heraldes other preest was made bisshop of wynchestre / Therafter he toke the see of caūterbury wrongfully [Page] after edsius / This herald dyed at london after the fourth yere of his kyngdome / and was buryed at wynchestre / whan he was dede / the lordes of the londe sente for hardeknutus / kynge of Den­mark / that dwellyd than in flaundres with his moder /

¶ Capitulum xij /

HArdecnutus come in to englonde / and regned thre yere / But he dyde right nought that he was worthy to be praised fore / for anon he sente alfrycus archebisshop of york with good­wyn to london / & made take vp kynge heraldes body / oute of the erthe / & for wreche of the wronges that herald had done to his moder / he made smyte of heraldes hede that was dede byfore / & throw the body in to temse / but afterward fysshers founde the bodye / & buryed it couenably / Also hardecuntus made to pay to euery rower of his nauey eyght marc of syluer of the tribute of thempyre of englonde / And putte al the rule and gouernaunce of his kyngdome vpon the wytte and counseyll of Goodwyn / & of his owne moder / whan this kyng putte all themperial trybute vpon Englysshe men / tweyne of the kynges mynystres that were assē ­tynge to that dede were slayne at wyrcetre / therfore that Cyte was destroyed / & sette on fyre / ¶ Willelmus de re / li / 2 / Also this kynge maryed his fayrest syster gunnylda to harry thempe­rour / gunnylda was the doughter of Canutus and of Emma / and was byfore wowed of many greete wowers in hir faders tyme / ¶Whanne she hadde be longe tyme with her husband / she was accused of spouse brekynge / Than hir nory that she hadde brought with hyr oute of Englonde putte hym to fyghte in that quarele with hym that had tolde that fals tale / though that tale teller was as grete as a geaunt / they fought to gyder / and gun nyldas nory carf the fals pelours hamme / and had hym down· & so by vertu of god he had the maystrye / than gunnylda beganne to hep and daunce for ioye / and forsoke hir husband for euer more / & wolde neuer after come in his bedde for no mannes prayer / but she toke the hooly veyle and bycam a nonne / Hen / li / 6 / & mar / In this heraldes tyme elfrede / & edward the sones of kyng egelredꝰ & of emma aft (er) that they had long dwellid in normādye they toke with hem many knyghtes of normandy & come to speke [Page CCCx] with her moder at wynchestre / Than goodwyn caste to mary his doughter to edward / as to the sympler & yonger of the tweyn & supposed that the elder broder wolde despyse suche a maryage / & goodwyn warned the lordes of Englond / & sayde that it was not seker that ony man shold brynge in to the lande / so many mē of Straūge / & gileful nacion / & therfor they that were comin must pay the peyne / For of. the normans / that were brought forth / he slough alwey ix / & kepte the tenthe / & yet hym thought that the tythyng were to many lefte· and tythed efte the tythynge [...] / In this maner he fastned the endes of guttes to stakes that were a­rered and pyght in the grounde / and ledde the lodyes aboute the stakes till the last endes of the guttes come oute / Elfreduc was sente to Ely after his blyndynesse but fewe dayes / Whan emma herde that she sente her sone Edward hastyly in normandy / Ther after Goodwyn was blamed of hardecuntꝰ the kyng & of other lordes for these dedes / ¶ Thenne he sware that he dyde neuer suche dedes / But as he was compellyd by strengthe of kyng harald / whan Conradus the first was dede / the seconde harry that had wedded his doughter was emperour after hym / Of hym be wondres redde both byfore & after in this book· he regned xvij / yere / he put al mynstrals oute of his court / & yaue to pore men al that he was wonte to yeue to mynstrals byfore / W / de re / li / 2 / Also he had a syster that was a nonne / & loued hir so moch that he myght not suffre hir out of his companye / On a tyme a clerk of the court had layne by hir al nyght vnto the morow tyde / and the erthe was heled al with snow / they toke hem to re­de / And the clerke made hir to bere hym on hir bakk oute of the court / the kyng aroos to pysse / and sawe that doynge / and hel­de his pees till a bisshopryche was voyde / and thenne he yaue the clerk that bisshopryche / & sayd loke that thou neuer after this ri­de more vpon a womans rydge / Therafter voyded an abbaye of menchons / and he yaue it to his syster / & sayd take this / & looke thou neu (er) bere clerk more ridyng on thy bak / they were thus espyed / & absteyned afterwarde / Also on a tyme this emperour wēt vpon a sonday that is callid quinquagesima pryuatly for to bere a masse in a chapel besydes a forest· There seruyd ryght a fowle preest / therfor the kynge bythought and wondred in his herte / why god that is so fayr wold suffre soo foule a creature come ny­ghe / & handle his sacramentis / whan the verse of the tracte was songen / S [...]itote quoniā dominꝰ ipse est deus / that is wyte ye that [Page] our lord is god / the preest loked on themperour / as it were bla [...] mynge the defaute of his clerc / and sayd Ipse fecit nos / et non ipsi nos / that is he made vs / and not we our self / The Empe­rour was meoued by that sawe / and made that preest a Bisshop sone after / This preest made the place and the gree honeste with good maner of lyuyng / For a ryche man had lad awey a nōne and he departed him from hyr / and restored the nonne to hyr ab­bay ageyne / And afterward this ryche man fylle in to synne / & cursed hym with all that come in his company / & thenne he dwel­lyd in his owne orcharde to his last sekenesse / and thēne he pray­de the bisshop that he wold hym assoylle / the bisshop answerde / & sayd / yf that cursyd man wol leue that cursed woman / he shal be assoyled / and yf he wol not this day a twelue moneth the sa­me hour whanne I shal dye / he shal dye and answer for his de­des byfore the hyghest god / and so it was done / For they dyed bothe the same daye a twellyf moneth / the same kyng had in his chappel a clerk / that had grete connynge in scrypture / and a fa­yre wys / but the clerke was lecherous / the Emperour bade hym on a day rede the gospel / & he wold not / for he had defouled him self with a strompette the nyght to fore / thenne the Emperour sa­yde / owther rede the gospel owther forsake my lande / Anone he trussed his fardels / and arayd hym for to goo / The Emperour hadde charged his seruauntes that they sholde go after hym pri­uately / and yf he wolde be a goo / they sholde brynge hym ageyne Whanne that was done the kynge sayde to hym I am gladde of thy goodnesse / that thou draddest more god than the losynge of thyne owne countrey / and the wrath of heuen more than my ma­nace / therfore forsake the woode loue that thou vsyst / and I shall make the a bisshop / Also whyle this harry was yonge in Con­radus hows / he toke of one a pype of syluer / suche as children v­se for to playe with / and he promysed that clerke a bisshopryche for that pype / whan he were Emperour / Atte laste he was em­perour / and the clerk axyd & had that was promysed hym / Sone after themperour was smyten with a greuous sekenesse / soo that thre dayes he felte noo thynge / nowther tasted mete ne drynke / Atte laste by prayers of goode men / that stode aboute hym / he caught breth / and sente for the clerke that was so auaū ­ced / and deposed hym by dome of counseylle / and knouleched / that he was al tho thre dayes tormented with fendes / that cast on hym wonder hoote brennyng lye / thurgh the same pype / ¶ In [Page CCCxj] comparyson of that lye oure fyre is as it were temperatly war­me / But ther come a yonglyng with a golden chalis ful of wa­ter / and quenched the same heete with spryngyng of water He sayd that saynt laurence was that yonglyng / Seynt lauren­ces chirche was al to falle for elde and feblenesse / and defawte of helpe / And the emperour had amended the chirche / and yeuen therto a chalys / Mar / In this henryes tyme was grete stryf in the chirche of Rome / for thre men were chosen popes at ones / And a preest callyd gracianus yaue money / and had the pope­ryche / but this harry cam to Rome to cesse that stryf / Gracianus profered hym a crowne of gold / but for al that he was con­uycte of Symony / and deposed / and another made pope / Also in this Emperours tyme pallas bodye the Geaunt was founden at Rome hole and sound withoute rotyng wyth a chyn of a woūde-of four fote longe and an half / his bodye in lengthe passed the heyght of the walles of Rome / ¶At his heede was a lanterne brennynge that myght not be quenchyd with blast neyther with moysture / er the eyer cā in at a lytle hole / that / was made vnder the leite / On his tōbe were these two versus wretō / Pallas euandres sonne / whom with his spere turnus / That knyght dyde to deth in his wyse lyeth here / ¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro 1 / I trowe not that these versus were made in latyn whanne that geaunt was buryed / though Cārmentus euandres moder hadde founde byfore lettres of latyn / But I trowe rather / that they were afterward made of Ennio / owther of somme other poete / But in tyme after that the bodye was bysprongen with water / it roted as other bodyes doo / and the senewes were fallen and the skynne also

¶ Capitulum / 22

AFter Benet the sixte gregory was pope aboute four yere / & was callyd gracianus byfore / Willelmus de Regibus ¶ This man of grete relygyon & sternesse hadde a batayll somtyme with henry themperour Also this founde the state of the papacye of rome soo to falle that vnnethe he had ought to hym self· & the cardynals for to lyue by / but fewe townes nyghe the Cyte / and the offryng of crysten men ¶ The remenaunt was taken awey owther occupyed by theues soo ferforth that the offrynges [Page] were taken awey from the aulters vnder naked swerdes outher robbed in the high stretes and weyes / therfor all prouynces left of & toke not the wey to Rome / bycause of theues in the wey / & of other theues in saynt peters chirche / Gregory sawe this and treated with them fyrst softe / & with fayr speche / but whan he sawe that helpyd not / he cursyd alle them that dyde soo / and de­parted hem from the body of hooly chirche / and all that were as­sentynge to them that soo dyde / whanne the pope sawe that / that halp not but it brought hym self in to peryll of dethe / he wrote to themperour that he shold helpe hooly chirche / that was in poynte to falle / themperour excused hym by the warre of wandalia / and prayd the pope / that he wold in his stede / & at his cost put to his hande / therfor the pope yaue the dome / that the yren of cuttynge must be vsid & gat him armour & horsmē on euery side / that drofe awey fyrst owther slough the theues that robbed the offrynges of saynt peters chirche / than the pope gate ageyne the lande that he had loste longe tyme / Thenne the quyrytes that were wonte to lyue by thefte and robberye cleped the pope ablodsheder and a man sleer / And sayde he was not worthy to doo thoffyce of the aulter / ¶ Soo that many of the cardynals were assentynge to that meouynge / and demed that the pope shold not be buryed in hooly chirche / In his laste sekenesse he was ware therof / & cal­lyd the cardynals byfore hym / and he spak to hem in this man My bretheren me wondreth gretely / that ye deme your bisshop so rabbyshly I haue lyued so that I haue spēte what I had in youre prouffyte / For your delyueraunce I haue forgendryd / & rouht not of the fame of this worlde / therfore yf other men make suche tales on me / ye shold stylle thoppynyons of fooles in a better manere meanynge / theues hadde taken aweye youre lyflode that I myght not suffre / therfore I werryd with the theues / therfore syth euery mannes dede shal be demed by thentente of him that doth the dede / as the gospel sayth· If thyne eye be symple / that is yf thyne entente be ryghtfull / all the body shal be bryght and clere / that is the gaderyng of thy werkes / Somtyme I yafe al­mes to the poure men / and he shewed my benefeite to the thef & to the robber / therfore he was robbed & slayn / Shal I be blamed / for I ydue almes to the pylgryme / thurgh whiche he hadde his deth / god it forbede for it was couetyse of the theef / that dyd that cursed dede / and not my larges and fredome / Also in the lawe the same is blamed and punysshed and praysed for dyuers entēt [Page] For the thef that sleeth in hydels. is punisshed & the knyghte is preysed that sleeth his enemye in bataylle / for the fyrst sleeth the man for couetyse / and the second for the sauacion of the countrey Also the fyrst pope Adryan was somtyme preysed / for he graū ­ted to charles the inuestiture of prelates / nowe be our Bisshopes preysed for they doo the contrary / and taken fro prynces such maner power / Thenne for somme manere causes it was resonably graunted / that is nowe resonably warned and denyed / For than charles soule was not enfecte with couetyse / and the court of rome was fer from the ellysers / and the prynce was nyghe & fastby that wolde ryght nought doo by couetyce / but now couetyce of prynces hath shente al / In this maner maye my cause be ta­ken toward eyther syde / and be apeyred owther holpen / but ye sey it is not a bisshops offyce to shede bloode / nowther to make it to be shedde / I graunte / netheles it fallyth to hym / yf he sue the inno­cente in peryle / to helpe and socoure hym with his tonge / & with hande / For ezechyel accused the preestes for they wythstode not ne made a walle for goddes hows / Twey persones be ordeyned to destroye vyces in goddes chirche / One that whetteth the speche another that bereth the swerde / I take wytnesse of god and of you / that I armed the tonge ayenst thenemyes of hooly chirche / as longe as I myghte profyt / And hym to whome it befalleth to worche with the swerde / I prayede thryes by messagers / and by lettres that he wolde come and chastyse suche maner theues / & he wrote ageyne that he was occupyed in the warre of wanda­lia / and prayd that I wolde at my trauayle / and his coste dys­tourbe the theues / what shold I doo than whan he hadde put his offyce vpon me / and I sawe the sleynge of cyteseyns / the doma­ge of pylgryms and the meschyef of th [...] pope and of the Cardynals / And he that spareth the theef / yeueth cause and occasion why the ryghtful man and innocent is slayne / but one caas ye sey that it falleth not for a preest to shede mannes blode / I graūt but yf he defowle hym self that bereth downe the wykl̄ed man and saueth the man that is innocente and ryghtful / and they be blessyd that kepe ryghtfull dome / and ryghtwysenes / Phynees and mathathyas be praysed for they stykked hem thurgh / that trespast / but we shal lesse suffre oure veray hooly thynges to be defowled / than they her mysteries / that were but shadow in comparison of oures. & zachary the bisshop put kyng osias oute / For he wold cense and withoute drede he wold haue kyld hym nadd [Page] he hadde goon his weye / and he dyd hym good / the whiche it se­med that I slough / for the lenger that the wycked man lyueth / the more he deseruyth of blame and peyne / therfore he that shor­teth the lyf of suche one / lassyth his blame and his peyne / and soo he doth for hym and yeueth hym a benefyce / Treuisa / Here ware of the deuyls argument and of gyle / For be a man neuer so euyl / yet he may amende while he is a lyue / and soo dyde Pa­ul and mary magdalene and many other and soo cryst meaneth in the gospel in the ensample of whete and of cockle that somme men calle darnel· Than it foloweth in the storye / Thenne the pope sayd that I no wther ye be begyled in this doynge / take my bo­dye whanne I am dede / and sette it byfore the chirche dores with oute and doo that the dores be fast loken and barres / and yf the dores ope not by goddes grace and his vertue / doo with my body what ye wol / whanne it was done that the pope desired / ther cam a whyrl wynde / and brake vp the dores and the barres / and shufte the body anone / to the Inner wal of the chirche / Whanne this miracle was seen the cardynals & the people buryed hym in seynt peters chirche / ¶ Also this yere at a fest of a spousayle at lambehyth besydes london / whyle kyng hardecnutus was hool gladde and mury / and stode and drank / be fylle sodenly downe & wexe dombe. and dyed the eyght day of Iunij / and was buryed with his fader at wynchestre / ¶ Henricus libro sexto / Me seith he was soo large and soo free of hert that he wold make araye kynges messes four sythes a day / ffor hym was leuer that ghestes shold leue releef than axe more mete / willelmus de re Me sent in to normandy / that edward sholde come & be crowned kyng and pledgys were yeuen so that he shold brynge with hym but fewe normans / thenne helped Edwardes syde / leofrycus. Erle of chestre. Goodwyn duc of westsaxons and lyuyngus Bisshop of wyrcetre / ¶ R But marianus sayth that kynge hardecnutus hadde sente byfore for his brother edward and made hym abide with hym in his owne courte / ¶ Willelmus de re / & marianus

¶ Capitulum 23

THan edward come in to englond and was crowned kyng at westmynstre of edsius the archebisshop of Caunterbury and regned aboute four and twenty yere / This kyng wedded [Page CCCxiij] Godytha / Goodwyns doughter / and by ladde hir by suche crafte soo that he put hir not from his bedde / nowther lay by hir fles­shely / whether he dyde it for hate of hir meyny / owther for loue of chastyte / I knowe not for certayne / but that solempne doyng is told of hym / that he lyued alwey withoute gylt of woman / This kynge worshiped not his owne moder atte full / no wther shamed hir openly / but by counseyll of goodwyn he toke of her all the precious thynges and Iewels that she hadde / Owther for she had be to harde with hym somtyme / owther for she wolde yeue hym ryght nought / Also he hadde to hym oute of normandy somme that were with hym famylyer there / for they sholde be re­warded / Among the which he toke one Robert gemeticus a mōk and made hym fyrst bisshop of london and than Archebisshop of Caunterbury / The kyng was symple and dyde so moche by this Robertes counsayle that he awaited his tyme. and outlawed his wyues fader goodwyn and his sonnes also / and toke fro his ou­ne moder al that she had / and closed hyr in thabbaye. of werwel for suspection that she was to homely with the Bisshop of wyn­chestre / and prysonned the bisshop alwyn / But emma was easyly kepte / and somdele at hyr large. and wrote to the Bisshops of Englonde / in the whiche she hadde trust of frendship / And sayd that hit greued hyr more the despyte that the bisshop had than hyr owne shame / and sayd that she was redy by goddes owne dome and by thassay of fyre hoote yron / that the bisshop was wronge­fully defamed / Thenne the bisshops come to geder to the kyng & shold haue had of the kyng al that they prayed / ne hadde be Ro­bert tharchebisshop of Caunterbury spake ayenst hem / My bretheren bisshops said Robert / how dar ye defende hir that is a wil­de beest / and not a woman / she hath defamed hir owne sonne the kyng / and nempned hir lecherous lemman goddes owne crist / But be it / that the woman wold purge the bisshop / But who shal purge the woman that is accused that was assentyng to the deth of hir sonne Egelredus and procured venym to the poyse­nynge of Edward / But be it that she had auctoryte and power vpon the condicion of proprete of kynde of male owther female / Yet yf she wold goo barfote for her self four steppes / and for the bisshop fyue steppes continuelly vpon nyne solow shares bren­nyng and fyre hoote / Thenne yf she escape harmeles ouer all the­se steppes / he shal be quytte / and assoyled of this chalenge / Anone the day of thassay of this purgacion was appoynted / till [Page] that day come the kyng and all the lordes were there / out take Robert all one / but the nyght before the day of this purgacōn / the woman was in her prayers at wynchester at seynt Swythy­tes tombe / and was comforted there / Than on the morowe hir eyen were hidde / and she passed the fyre in hote solowe shares / and escaped harmeles / ¶ Than the kyng began to grone and axed mercy and was disciplyned of eyther bisshop / and of his moder also and than he restored to his moder all that he had taken fro hir before / Thenne Quene Emma yaf saynt Swithyne ix maners and the bisshop yafe other ix bicause of the ix solow shares that Emma had ouer passed / But Robert bisshop of Caunterburye fledde in to normandye / Marianus / Elfword bisshop of london that was somtyme abbot of euessham / wax vnsuffisaunt for elde feblenes and sekenesse to gouerne and rule so grete a bisshopriche and wold haue be abbot of Euesham ayene / but the brether of the place wold not assente / Than he toke with hym bokes and other thynges that he owther his successours had yeuen to the abbey of Euesham / and went hym to thabbey of Ramesay / ther he dyed sone after / and was buryed there / ¶ After hym came Robert / I [...]em Marianus / kyng edward gadred a strong na­uey in the hauen of sandewiche / ayenste harolde harfager kyng of the Noreganes / that arrayed hym for to com and werr in Englonde but by the betaylle that Suanus kyng of Danes / yafe hym / all that purpos was lette / Me sayth that in a nother tyme kyng edward lough at messe / as he was not wonte / they that were present wondred / and axed why hit was / The Noreganes and the danes sayd the kyng / were accorded for to come & werre in Englond / But whan they all were arrayed forto sayle one profred hem a bolle with meede for to drynke and prayed hem in a dispitous name / but yf they wold drynke / Than cam bolle after bolle and dronkenesse torned into Ianglyng and Ianglyng into stryf and strif into fyghtyng and so they be departed and to shufte a twynne / And I hope that in my tyme shall non aliens werre in my londe / After grego the x benet was pope / aboute two yere / he had bought the poperiche. and therfor harry themperour put hym oute and brought in the second Clement that dyed after one year & poppo was pope after hym two monethes This poppo was cleped the second damasius whan he was dede the ix leo was pope v yere / The forsayd harrold kyng of Noreganes was sent to Olauus hys broder on the moder syde / He chased [Page CCCxiiij] Swanus kyng of denmarche / and made denmarche subgiet to hym self / kyng Swanus that was so put out / axed helpe of the kyng of englond / ¶ And erle Godwyn was assentyng / But other lordes counselled Nay / But kyng har [...]old dyed and Suanus recouered Denmarche agayn / This yere lyuyn­gus the bisshop of wirceter dyed & Aldredus was bisshop after hym / ¶ This Aldredus had be first / monke at wynchester and than abbot of tauestok / Grete snowe fille in the west con­treyes of Englond / So that hit brake grete trees of the woodes and dured from the first day of Ianuar to seynt patriques day After that fell grete pestilence of men / & deth of beestes & light­nyng forscalded cornes / This yere was a bateyle bitwene henri kyng of Fraunce & the lordes of Normandy / For they wold not receyue william to be duc / whan they wer ouercom / Duc william outlawed som of hem / and heng som of hem by the throtes / Aboute that tyme erlewynus a knyght of Normandy forsoke the worldly cheualrye and byld an abbey at beccum in Normandy that yet is called Becherlewyn / ¶ Hym shamed nought abbot & ruler / to bere ston and morter to the werke and bake brede and doo other werkes of clennes and of honeste / God sent hym the twey lanterns of the worlde / to his helpe and counseyl lanfranke & Ancelme / twey men of grete clergy and lettrure / Eyther of hem was pryour in that place / one after a­nother and afterward Archebisshop of caunterbury / Marianus This yere pope leo and Swanus kyng of danes· went with harry themperour ayenst baldwyn Erle of Flaundres / ¶ And Edward the kyng of englond kepte the see with his Nauey til themperour had all his wylle / ¶ Also this ix pope leo had a wemme in his conscyence for the emperour had made hym pope somdele by mastrye / therfor he resygned the poperiche but than he was laufully chosen pope agayne / Also this yere the theues of Irland cam in to seuarn see with helpe of Griffyn kyng of wales and toke many prayes aboute the riuer vaga / In the meane tyme swanus / Godwynes eldest sone / that had somtyme leyne by Edgyna / the Abbesse of leofmonaster / and cast for to wedde hir and forsoke his wyf therfore he cam to Englond / Yf he myght haue grace / to make his peas with the kyng / But in his comyng / he slough Erle Beornus that was his Cosyn that was aboute to make his peas wyth the kyng / Than he fled in to flaundres til he was reconcyled by helpe of Aldredus [Page] the Archebisshop of york and of worcetre / Marianus /

¶ Capitulum 24

KYng Edward dyscharged englysshmen / of a greuous tri­bute that his fader Egelredus had made pay to the soudyours of denmarck / and had tho dured fourty yere / This yere dyed Edsius Archebisshop of caunterbury / And kyng edward yafe the Archebisshopryche to his famylyer Robert that he had made Bisshop of london / Here after in the moneth of September Eu­stacius Erle of Boloyn come a lande at douer / he hadd wedded goda kynge edwardes syster· his knyghtes sought him in Innes vnwysely / and slough one of the Cyteseyns / and the Cyteseyns slough one of his knyghtes / ¶ Willelmus de regibus libro secundo / and marianus Atte laste was strong fyghtynge / soo that the cyteseyns slough twenty men of the erles company. and wounded so many that me couth not telle how many were woū ­ded / the Erle escaped vnnethe with one felawe / and cam to the kynge at gloucestre and meoued the kyng greuously ayenst En­glysshmen / Than goodwyn erle of kent was sompned to courte and y charged that he sholde with his hooste take wreche of the wrong that was done to therle / he saw that alyenes were alowed with the kynge and wolde helpe to saue the Cyteseyns / and his countrey men and answerde and sayd that it were reason that the wardeyns of the castel of douer sholde be sompned / and yf they couthe excuse them self they sholde be harmeles / and els doo therles plesure with her bodyes and catel / The kynge semed that Goodwyn sett lytel by his heste / therfore the lordes of the lande were called to geder at Gloucetre and specially leofrycus Erle of mercia and syward Erle of northumberlond for to withston­de Goodwyn Erle of kente / and his eldest sonne Suanus and harold also / For goodwyn had gadred a grete hoost at beuerstō of his countees of kente of southrey and of westsaxon and sua­nus of his [...]untees of Barokshire of Oxenford shire / and of Gloucestre shire / And harold of his countees of eestsex / of eeste englond and of Huntyngton shyre / Than goodwyn was enpe­ched for he had gadred so grete an hoost / he answerde and sayd that it was doo for to cesse the walsshmen / But the walsshmen [Page CCCxv] made the blame tourne ayenste his owne hede. Than what lytell accorde that euer was procured / ther was assygned a counsayll at london for the same dede / Soo that Goodwyn and Harold shuld come to courte all vnarmed with twelue men / and no mo that they shulde bytake to the kynge the knyghtes seruyce that was dewe to hem in all englond / ¶ They sayde that they myght not withoute weddes and pledgys come to the counsayle of tre­chours and of gyleful men / And that they myght not wythoute perylle and shame passe by the weye with so fewe naked men / and vnarmed / In the mene tyme goodwyns knyghtes withdrewe them somme and somme / for drede of the kynges hooste / Thenne it was openly cryed by the kynges cryours that Goodwyn shold come to the court in maner as it is sayd / owther wi­de oute of Englond within fyue dayes / Therfore goodwyn and his thre sones Swanus and Tosty and gurth sayled by the I­lande of thorney in to Flaundres to therle baldwyn / For Sua­nus hadde spoused his doughter Iudytha / But harold and le­ofwynus sayled oute by brystow in to Irlond / Algarus leofrycus sonne toke and had haraldes counte and ruled it no­bley and delyuerd it vp to harald with good wyll / whan He­rald was comen ageyne and axyd it ageyne whan harold was tourned to his faders countees / Therfor kyng edward in playn parlemente outlawed goodwyn and his thre sonnes / And putte his owne wyf Godytha the quene in to the abbay of warwe [...]le withoute worshipe with one mayde and no moo / And soo the fader and the sonnes were outlawed two yere fulle / and toke prayes in the marches of englond and gadred grete strength and purposed slyly for to fyghte with the kynge / But lordes wente bytwene / and soo peas was made after two yere / and the quene was broughte ageyne / Soo that wylnotus Goodwyns sonne / and hacun Swanus sonne were pledgys leyde to wedde for su­rete of the pees / Anone kynge Edward sente hem to kepyng to wylliam duc of normandye / Durynge the outelawynge Duc Wylliam of normandye come with a grete multitude in to En­glonde / and hadde many greete yeftes / and wente ageyne in to Normandy / And Quene Emma the kynges moder dyed / and was buryed at wynchestre / Also marianus the Scot the yere of his age fyue and twenty forsoke the world and wente in pylgremage and was shoren monke at Coloyn a Cyte of Almayn in the Abbay of Scottes /

[Page]¶ Willelmus de Pon / li / 1 & marianus / This yere Godwyn and al his sones were acorded with kyng edward / oute take his eldest sonne swanus that was sory for the deth of his Cosyne berinus & wente out of flaundres barfoote to Ierusalem / & went out of Ierusalem to licia & dyed for cold that he had taken / here after the normans that were the kynges coūseyllours had yeuen hym euyl counsayle and were exyled / & specially Robert arche­bisshop of caunterbury / that had ludder blowen his trompe ayenst goodwyn and englisshmen in that cause / This robert dradde him and wold beware of perylle ▪ and wente to Rome & cam ageyne with lettres of the pope / and dyed in his abbay called gemmeti­cum / After hym Stygandus was archebisshop / he hadde lefte the bysshopryche of Shyrborn / and toke by strengthe the bisshoprich of wynchestre / This man vsed feyres of hooly chirche thynges / & was a lewed man / & so were nygh al the bisshops of Englonde that tyme / but this was a myghty man by money and by fla­teryng / therfor he was neuer worthy to haue the palle fro Rome though ther be grete sale that doth many maystries / W / de p / li / 2 Than was openly songe in weyes / that he was not worthy a bisshopryche that coude vse the brag and the boost of this world / the vse of wodenesse· the courage of glotony / the araye of clothynge / the fare of knyghtes / and the gaderynge of horsmen / and thynk ryght lytel of profyt of soules / If me told hem that a Bysshop shuld be alowed by his holynesse and his clergye and not by co­uetyce of moneye they wold answer by this metre / Nunc aliud tempus / alij pro tempore mores / that is now is other tyme / and other maners vsed for the tyme / And so they planed the sharpnesse of the doyng with lyghtnesse of the answer / Marianus ¶That tyme in Irlande a clerk barbosus was a man of grete and wonder Relygyon / soo that he helde a grete scole of clerkes of lewdmen and of wenches / and forshaar the wenches in the same secte and maner of his scolers / he was putte oute of Irlond Willelmus de pontificibus libro secundo / ¶Aboute that tyme dyed seynt Alfwold the laste Bisshop of Shirborn / he was first monk at wynchestre / and thenne he was made Bisshop / He vsed breede and water amonge alle the greete festes / that were made in Englonde after the comynge of the danes / This man was deuoute at alle poyntes to oure lady and seynt Cuthbert / ¶ After his deth noo man myght greue his see / but he were punysshed / For he shulde [Page CCCxvj] be so fered with blac ymages in his slepe that he shold starte / Also on a tyme was stryf bytwene hym and goodwyn the erle and myght not be alayed atte day of acorde that was sette / Than the bisshop was wroth and sayd in his goynge awey / by saynt mary my lady he shal fare ryght euyl / and after that hour goodwyn had neuer rest of gnawyng of his bowels till he hadd the bisshops blessyng / On a tyme this bisshop went to Durham and he dyde a dede that semed of grete hardynesse / For he tourned awey the helyng of the bodye and spake to seynt Cuthbert as it were to his owne frende / and leyd there the yefte of loue / and wente forth his wey

¶ Capitulum 25

AFter leo the seconde vyctor was pope two yere and six mo­nethes / He made a synode at florence in ytalye / and sette a downe many Bisshops for Symonye and fornycacion / ¶Marianus / ¶This yere Syward the noble duc of northum­berlond by commaundement of kyng Edward bare downe Scotland wyth an hoost of horsmen & with grete gadrynge & chaced the kynge and toke malcolyn the kyng of Combres sones and made hym kynge of Scotland / but in that bataylle Sywardes sonne was slayne / whanne his fader wyste that he was dede of a wounde that he hadde receyued byfore in his bodye / and not be­hynde / though the fader was sory / for the sones deth / yet he was gladde that his sonne was so herty and soo hardy / That yere dyed Wulsius bisshop of lychefeld and leofwynus abbot of Couentre was Bisshop after hym / ¶ Also that ye­re at wyndsor the morowe after Eester daye / erle goodwyn sate atte kynges borde / and it happed that one of the childer that ser­uyd the kyng cam in with the kynges cuppe and stombled with his one fote and kepte hym self with that other / so that he shed nought of the drynke / ¶ Goodwyn sawe that and lough and sayde / nowe that one brother hath holpen that other / Anone the kynge answerde therto and sayde / Soo my brother Aluredus wold haue holpen me / ner goodwyn had be / the erle vnderstode ther by that he had spoken more than ynough / and vnderstode the kynge meaned the bytraynge of his broder / And sayd to the kynge Sir as I see it is told to the / that I shold [Page] be aboute to slee thy brother and to bytraye the / so mot I sauely swolowe this morsel that I holde in my hande. as I am gyliles of suche dedes / And he was choked anone / Atte kyngys comaundement harold drough hym fro vnder the bord and he was buryed at wynchestre / R / But Marianus saith / that godwyn sate at te mete by the kyng at wynchestre and was sodenly take with a sekenesse on eester monday / and dyed the thursday in the eester weke / than godwyns Erldome was yeuen to harold / And ha­raldes Erldome to Algarus the sonne of Erle leofrycus / This yere kyng edward sent aldredus bysshop of wircetre to the second henry themperour / prayeng that he wold sende lettres to hungary and sende thens in to Englonde his Cosynne Edward the sone of Edmond Irensyde / ¶ The kynge hadde ordeyned to make hym his heyr in englond / but the thyrdde yere after he come in to englonde and dyede at london / long tyme rather than the kynge / This Edward was the fader of margaret quene of Scotland / and of Edgar adelyng / But margret had by mal­colyn / Dauyd the kynge of Scotlande and molde the quene of of Englond / ¶ Marianus / ¶This yere kyng edward outlawed Algarus the sonne of leofrycus withouten gylte / Anon he was prayed and associate to gryffyn kyng of wales & destroyed the prouynce of herford and toke herford▪ and sette the mynster a fyre and slough seuen chanons / But erle harald pursued hem that fledde and restored herford ageyne and walled it aboute / & made her pees that were outlawed with the kyng / Item / Mar / Also this yere Syward the noble duc of northumberlond dyed at york on the flyx and was buryed in the mynster galmaicho that he had buylde / but er he dyed he made arme hym / and sate vpryght and sayd / thus it semeth a knyght for to dye and not lyggynge faynt as an Oxe / And for his sonne waltyf was yonge and lay in his cradel / his Erldome was yeuen to Tosty heraldes broder that was theraboute ten yere / Item / Mar / & W / Also that yere herman of Flaundres that was somtyme kynge Edwardes preest / and than bisshop of wylton and Ramesbury was at dysease for defaute of catayll & prayd the kyng & had it almost graunted for to ordeyne his see in the abbay of malmesbury / but the lordes of the londe wolde not assente / Therfor herman was wroth and lefte the bisshopryche and went ouer see & toke monkes habytes at seynt Bertines and lyued so thre yere & Aldredus bisshop of wyrcetre ruled hermās bisshoprich in the men [...] [Page CCCxvij] tyme / But as it fallyth ofte that they that take relygyon in such hasty and sodayne reeses haue no stydfast wyl and deuocion / For it withdraweth and slaketh atte laste / ¶ After thre yere herman come in to englond ageyne / ¶ The man that was wonte al his lyf tyme to haue [...]ykyng seruyce and plesynge at his wyll thought ful heuy and elenge to leue it in his age / Also it come to his ere that Goodwyn was dede / that hym hadde wythstande / And also that the Bisshop of Shirborn was dede & he hadde longe tyme thought to oone and ioyne that bisshopryche to his owne by old promysses of the quene / He held longe tyme these Bysshopryc [...]es soo ioyned with thre countrees that longed therto vnto the nynth yere of wyliam conquerour / whan he pas­sed from Shyrborn to Salesbury / Willelmus de regibus Also that yere the kyng was at / a feste and Harold and Tosty pleyed byfore hym / and harold drough his broder by the heeres / harder than game wold and threwe hym to the ground and had weryed hym with his handes ne he had be the rather delyuerd oute of his clawes / whanne the kynge sawe that he sayd that grete stryf sholde be after bytwene tho twey bretheren / and that one of hem shold slee that other / ¶ Erle Goodwyns fyrst wyf was kyng Canutus syster / on hir Goodwyn gate on a sone that rode on an hors vnwysely / and spurred hym and the hors threwe hym in to Temse / and soo he was dreynt / The moder was smyten with lyghtnynge and dyed / and it was no wonder for s [...]e toke fayr wenches and sette hem to hoerdom for she wold ga­dre the more ryches / After her deth Goodwyn wedded another wyf and bygate on hyr syx sonnes / Suanns / harold / Tostius / Wilynotus / Surth and loofrycus / how they spedde / it is wret [...]n byfore and after in this Cronyk / ¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro secundo / Aboute this tyme a woman at barcley vsed euyll craftes and was at a fest on a day / Than a crowe that she hadde lykyngly fedde and norysshed creked ludder than he was wonte The wom n herde that and the knyf fyll downe of hyr hande / & hyr face wex / al pale / than she byganne te sygh and grone & sayd this day is my solow comen to the last sorow / Whanne that was sayd cam in a messagyer that sayd to the woman that her sonne was dede and al hyr meyny / leyde and fallen and dede also / The woman laye seke anone / and sente for hyr chylder that she had a lyue a monke and a Nonne / whanne the monke and the nonne were comen she spak to hem in this maner / I am a womā [Page] that haue vsed euyl crafte & euyl lyuyng / In veyne I hoped to be saued by your bedes and prayers / but now I pray you that ye wol releue my tormentes and paynes / for of the soule the dome is yeuen / On caas ye may kepe my body / yf it be sewed in hertes leder / lay it in a trowh of stone & heled it with a lydde of leed faste bounde / and barred with yren / and byndeth it fast with thre yren cheynes / make ye fourty syng psalmes by nyght and as many masses by dayes. And yf I lye soo thre nyghtes / the fourth daye burye the body in erthe / But al for nought / for twey the fyrst nyghtes while the psalmes were in syngyng fendes brake vp the doores / and twey the vttermest cheynes and that wonder lyghtly / ¶ The thyrd nyght aboute cockes crowyng the place al to shoke and one with a grysely face that was hyghe of stature brake vp the dores / and heete the bodye that it sholde aryse / I may not sayd the body for strong bandes / thou shalt be vnbounde sayd he / but to thyne owne harme / and anone al that letted was to broken and he toke hir oute of the chirche / and sette hyr vpon a blac hors that neyhed byfore the dores and soo she wente awey with lowde cryes that were herde four myle thennes / ¶ Though this be wonderful / who that hath redde the fourth booke af Gregoryes dyalog shal not deme that it myght not be trowed / ¶ Therfore it is wreton that fendes caste oute a wycked man that was buryed in a chirche / and so it ferd of Charles marcellus as it is sayd [...]

¶ Capitulum 26

THe thyrdde henry the second henryes sonne regned amōg Duche men aboute fyfty yere / Somtyme he dystourbed holy chyrche / ayenste pope Hyllebrande / & he wold yf he myght haue putte in another pope / but he was ceesed and wente to the hooly lande with the Dukes Godefr [...]de / and Beamund as it shal be sayd Inner more / ¶ After Victor the nynth stephen Abbot of mount Cassyn was pope eyghte monethes / he cam in by strengthe and resygned the Papacye after­warde / ¶ Agelrycus Bisshop of Durham lefte his owne bisshopryche / by his owne good wylle / and wente in to thabbaye of bourgh / there he was norysshed and lyued / xij / yere in peas [Page CCCxviij] and quyete / His broder Agelwyn was bisshop after hym / Mar / Also this yere the noble erle leofrycus the sonne of leoswynus duc of mercia dyed in his owne towne Bromley the last day of Nouembre / and was buryed at Couentre in thabbay that he had bylde / Somtyme by counseyl of god and of his owne wyf God gyna / that worshiped moche our lady. he amended and made ry­che thabbayes of leonen besydes herford / of wenlok / of wyrcetre / and of euesham / and of twey chirches of chestre / one of seynt iohan and another of saynt werburgh / while he was on lyue his wytte and his redynes stode in greete stede to the lande of En­glysshmen / R ¶ Also at abusy prayer of his wyf he made his town of couentre fre of al maner tolle / oute take the tolle of horses / For to haue that fredome graunted his wyf godgyna the countesse rode naked thurgh the myddel of the towne in a mor­nyng not keueryd / but with her own here / After the deth of leo­frycus his sonne algarus had therldome of mercia / but the same yere he was conuycte of treason and outlawed / But of gryffyn kyng of wales he was receyued as he had ben byfore and recon­cyled / W / de re / A yong Cyteseyn of Rome lucianus by his name a ryche man of cataylle and of gold a man of grete kynne / He wedded a wyf Eugenya / bycause therof he made a grete feest and wente in to the felde after mete with other men to dyscharge his stomak / And this newe wedded man for he wold play atte balle / dyde his spousyng rynge on the fynger of an ymage / that was there fast by / And whanne he had playd and was hoote / he drough hym fyrst oute of the game / and wente to fette ageyn his ryng / but he founde the ymages rynge y [...]lyght in to the pal­me of the hande / Thenne he bygan to wrynge and wrast long ty­me / but he couth not wreste of the ryng nowther wreth ne breke / nowther ryght vp the fynger / than he wente stylly aweye for his felawes shold not wytte therof lest they wold scorne hym / whyle he were there / owther take awey the rynge whanne he were thennes / ¶Thenne he cam thyder with his seruauntes whan it was derk nyght and founde the fynger euen strayght and the ryng awey and had grete wonder / whanne it was tyme he araid hym to bedde with his wyf and felt a dym thyng and sadde wa­lowe bytwene hym and hys wyf / ¶ And that spake to hym and sayde. lye by me / and dele with me▪ / For thou hast spou­sed me this daye / I am the Goddesse Venus / ¶Thenne he was soore afered / and woke alle the nyghte / [Page] And soo it ferde as it wer [...] euery nyght / Thenne his wyf pleyned and charged hym that he shold warne his fader and his mo­der / And soo he dyde / Thenne his fader and his moder warned pal [...]mbus the preest of the suburbes that was the grettest Ny­gromancer that was that tyme a lyue / he receyued greete mede / & yaue the yong man a letter that he shold take to him that he met laste at nyght comyng ayenst hym with a chaar in the metyng of twey weyes / the yonge man stode in the metyng of twey we­yes at nyghte and sawe a woman sytte on a mule arayed as a strompet / and hyr heer abrode with a chaplet of gold / on hyr hede and a rodde of gold in hir hande / Thenne he toke this letter to hym that cam last rydyng / whanne the letter was redde the principale fende hafe vp bothe handes to heuen and sayd / Almyghty god how long shal the wickednesse of palumbes the preest dure / Anone his knyghtes come to venus to haue the rynge / but she wrenched and blenched and stroof long tyme / But atte last the knyghtes wrest of her the ryng and toke it to the yong man ayene and soo he had his wylle and Ioye of his loue / that he hadde long desyred / but palumbus herde the fende crye of hym in to heuen and kytte of his owne lymmes and knowleched al his tre­s [...]aas to the pope in presence and heryng of the peple / Marianꝰ ¶ Aldredus bisshop of wyrcetre made saynt wulstan pryour of wyrceter by leue of the kyng / and yaue the bisshopryche of wylton to herman that was comen ayene from beyonde see / & aldredus wente ouer see / and forth by hungary on pylgremage to Ierl̄m ¶Me redyth of no bisshop of englond that soo dyde byfore that tyme / At Coloyn in Almayne twey abbeyes of Scottes were brente with theyr owne fyre / ¶ One patronus a monk that was there closed warned hem of that brennyng longe tyme byfore / But whanne the fyre was comen / he wolde oute in noo maner wyse / but there he was brente for loue of martirdome / Treuisa. / ¶In that doyng patronus the monke semed a lewde goost that couth not knowe the cause and circumstances of veray martirdō For there is no veray martirdome / but it be for mayntenynge of trouth / owther for the feyth and wythstandyng of wrong and of synne / but god graunte yf it be his wylle / that patronus be not dampned for his blynde deuocion / ¶Than it foloweth in thystorye / ¶Aboute that tyme in the prouynce of Apulea was founde an ymage of marble with an heede of brasse / and hadde a garland / in whiche garland it was wryton / The fyrste daye [Page CCCxix] of maij atte sonne rysyng / I shal haue an heede of gold / A Sa­rasyn that the duc of the longobardes had taken prysonner vn­derstode what it meaned & come the fyrst day of maij / and toke hede of the shadow of the ymage in lengthe and in brede / & foun­de vnder the shadowe wonder greete tresoure / and payed for his raunsonne / ¶ Willelmus de Regibus /

¶ Capitulum 27

WHan Benet was putt oute / the second nycolaus was pope aboute two yere / In his tyme hooly chirche in Fraunce was gretely destroyed by berengarius Archedeken of Toreyn / he sayde that the ooste in the aulter is not veray crystes bodye / but it is a fygure therof / Ayenste him the pope made a counseylle at versel in ytaly of an honderd bisshops and thirtene / in the which counsayll berengarius withsayde his erroure as it is sayd in de­crees de consecracione diui / 2· Ego berengarius / But after the popes deth his heresy byganne ef [...]e to sprynge / Than hyltebrandus the pope determyned and yaue the dome ayenst his fauctours / To his errours answerd lanfrank· pryour of becceus in his boo­ke called liber sintillarum / And specially wymund that was a monke of normandye / and afterward bysshop of Auersan in A­pulya / that was tho the moost proufyte / So that Berengarius amended his lyf atte laste / soo that somme men helde hym an ho­ly saynt / he expowned the Apocalyps and vsed mekenes and almes dede and voyded the syghte of women / and vsed symple mete and cloth / and that by thappostles loore / Hyldebertus Bysshop of Cenonia in his versus praysed hym moost in this ma­ner / Of hym now wondrynge / shal wondre the world euermore This berengarius that dyed / shal dye no more / And than thus After deth with hym / lyf byd I in euen reste / Noo better be my lot / I praye than is his lot / Loo here me may see / how the noble Bisshop passyd in maner of praysyng / But the Rethoryke with his fayr speche brekyth oute oftyme in that manere / therfore the poete sayth / Ryche speche shedyth oute ofte wel fayr reede floures But among al this take heede / that though berengarius amen­ded his sentence. yet he myght not amende al that he had apeyred with his loore in dyuers landes / Suche it is to a peyr other men [Page] by word owther by euyl ensample that whanne his owne synne is awey yet noyeth it and greueth other mennes synnes / Me sayth that the noble bisshop of Carnotens / Fulbertus spak ther of in his latter sekenesse / For whanne he sawe Berengarius co­me to hym among other men / Doth hym awey sayd the Bisshop for I see a fende folowe hym that apeyreth the eyer all aboute / Also this Berengarius whan he dyed on a twellifth daye / had mynde how many wretches he apeyred / by his euyl loore whanne he was a yonge man / And sayd / this daye I hope that Cryste wol shewe him to me / in the day of his owne shewynge / outher for my penaunce towarde blysse / owther for other that I haue apeyred by myn euyl loore toward peyne / Aboute this tyme Mananus the scot was closed in the abbay Fuldence and was there ten yere / whan kynsius Archebisshop of york was dede / Aldredus bisshop of wyrcetre was archebisshop after hym / and wente t [...] Rome with Tostius Erle of northumberlond for to receyue the palle / but he was founde blame worthy in his answer / & he was pryued of al maner worship / & as he wente homeward he was robbed of al that he hadde / Therfor tostius therle wente ageyn to Rome and entreated soo the pope by skylles that he alledged / that the pope yaue Aldredus the Archebisshopryche / Tostius sayd that nacions of fer landes shold sette ryght lytel by the po­pes cu [...]s / whyle it was soo scorned of theues that dwellyd there nygh. therfore owther aldredus shold haue his catayll restored / owther it wolde seme that he was robbed by fraude of the pope / Also the kyng of englond shal here therof and withdraw th [...] tribute of saynt peter / It is euyl doo sayd therle that Aldredus shal goo home worshiples and be robbed of al that he had / And soo Aldredus hadde the pall and wente in to englond and made wulstan the pryour bisshop of / wyrcetre / Noo man wold gladly of Stygandus the archebisshop of caunterbury receyue the yefte of bisshopryche nowther wiliam conquerour whanne he was co­me wold receyue the blessyng of hym / After nycol the second Alysaunder was pope enleuen yere and was chosen by the Car­dynals / and defended hym manly ayenste one Candulus tha [...] the ytalyens had chosen pope / They sayd that no man shold be chosen pope but yf he were of the paradys of ytaly born / Herald duc of westsaxon by commaundement of kynge Edward wente in to wales with fewe horsmen after crystemasse and sette kyng gryffyns palays on fyre / at Ruthlan and his shippes also / But [Page CCCxx] Gryffyn fledde and escaped / After that aboute the Rogacion tyme he wente aboute Brystow with a grete naueye / and sayled nyghe al aboute wales & his broder Tostius Erle of northumberland mette hym with an hooste of horsmen and destroyed soo the countrees of wales / that the walsshmen delyuerd pledgys and payed trybute as they were wonte / and outlawed and put oute her kyng gryffyn and slough hym atte last aboute the fyfth day of August / and sente his heede to harold therle / After that kyng edward graunted the lande of wales to Gryffyns twey bretheren that sware to hym feute / ¶ Henricus libro septimo / ¶This yere harold wente toward normandy to speke with his broder wylynotus and with his broders sonne hacun / that were in pledge with duc wyliam· But he was dryuen with tempeste in to the prouynce of ponntyf / The duc of that land toke hym / and sente hym to duc wiliam / Me sayth that there harold er he myght escape sware that he wold wedde duc wiliams doughter & that he shold kepe for hym Englond whan kyng Edward were dede / And soo he hadde his neuewe with hym and cam in to englond ageyn / R / But his broder wylynotus left in duc wyliams warde alwey yet while he regned / ¶ Henricus vbi supra / ¶Also that yere in kyng edwardes co [...]t at [...] wyndsor Tostius was agreued and wroth & wente thens to herford / there Harold had arayd a feste for the kyng / there Tostius to hakked his bro­der seruauntes and souced her lymmes / and sente worde to the kyng that yf he wold come to his feste he shold haue salt mete y­now / The northumbres herde therof and putte oute her duc Tostius and slough his seruauntes also and they brake his tresory and made hym flee in to Flaundres / ¶Willelmus de Regibus / But the kynge herde therof and sente harold to take wreche of the wronge that was of his broder / they alleyed that they were frely born and frely nourysshed / and that they myght not suffre the cruelnes of dukes / Also that they had lerned of her souera­ynes / to mayntene fredome owther ellys take the deth / Also that they sholde lyghtly be ladde by an esy duc / Thenne harold semed that it were more wysedome to fauoure the countre / than to take heede to the syngler prouffyte of his broder / and sente that his hoost shold come ayene / and wente to the kyng and procu­red that malcherus sholde be her erle / Al this greued Tostius / & therfore he wente in to flaundres with his wyf and his childer and was there vnto the kynges deth /

¶ Capitulum 28

KYng edward sate at mete at westmynster on an Eesterday And while other men ete besyly / he fyll in a thought and lough whyle other men ete / Me axyd hym in chambre after me­te what hym ayled soo to laugh / For seuen slepers sayd he in mounte Selyon besydes ephesum in the lasse asia had there slept two honderd yere on the ryght syde and tourned hem on the lyft syde in my laughyng tyme / and they shal soo lygge on the lyft syde thre score yere and fourtene / That tyme shal come amonge mankynde that harde sawe that Cryste menaceth in the Gospel / Men shal aryse ayenste men and soo forth / For the Sarasyns shal aryse ayenst crysten men and crysten men ayenst Sarasyns / And also the kyng tolde how the seuen slepers weren arayed / & soo tellyth none other storye / Anone the kynges mynystres sente to nycete themperour of Constantinople to espye the soth of this sawe / he receyued them goodly / and sente forther to the Bisshop of ephesye. that he shold shewe the araye of the seuen slepers to the messagers of Englonde / And soo it was founde as the kyng had sayd / And sone after the Sarasyns and turkes arysen and occupyed Siria / the lasse Asia and Ierusalem / The thyrdde Henry themperour dyed sone after / and henry kynge of Fraunce was poysoned and dyed / Seuen dayes byfore maij a sterre with a bryght blasyng crest was seen in al the world wyde / and was so seen seuen dayes continuelly / Olyuer monk of malmesbury grett that sterre / and spak therto in this maner / Thow arte comen now Thou art come doole and sorow / to wel many moders / It is long syth I see the / but now I see the more dredeful and grysely / Thou menacest destroyenge of this countrey / This Olyuer was tho a c [...]nnynge man of lettrure. and a man of greete age / but in his yongthe by grete hardynes / he foūded for to fl [...]e as a byrd with whynges I not by what maner crafte he fethred his fete / and his handes for he wold flee in dedalus wyse / and soo he toke a fable in stede of a sothe sawe / and soo he stode on an hye toure and toke the wynde and flough the space of a furlonge & more / But he was aferd of the grete strengthe of the wynde and of the whyrle wynde / and on caas of his own foly dede / and fyll down so that he was lame in his thyes terme of his lyf / Also this yere whanne Childermas daye was halowed at westmynstre kyng [Page CCCxxj] Edward began to be seke in his laste sekenesse / he sawe a syghte and told it to hem that stode aboute hym / Twey men of Relygyon sayd the kyng come to me / that I knewe somtyme in normā dy & sayden that god hem had sente to warne me herof / For the rather dukes bisshops & abbotes of Englond be not goddes ser­uauntes but the deuyls / god hath taken this kyngdom in to the enemyes hande for a twelue monethes and a daye / and fendes shal walke and hurle aboute in al this land / I prayd and by sought that they must by my warnyng do penaunce / and be delyuerd by ensample of the men of nynyue / Naye sayd they for nowther shal be / for these men shal not doo worthy penaunce / nowther god shal haue mercy of hem / Than I sayde / whan maye be hope and truste of foryeuenes / they answerd and sayde / whan a grene tree is hewen downe / and a partye therof kytte from the stok / and leyde thre teme length fro the stok / Ther stode tho Sty­gandus the Archebisshop and sayde that the olde man raued & doted as olde men doo / and was oute of his wytte and spak fo­ly and vanyte / But afterward Englonde felte the soth and the trouthe of his prophecye / whan it was in subiection and destro­yed with alyens and men of straunge landes / Than kyng Ed­warde dyed at westmestre on a twellyfth euen / whanne he hadde regned thre and twenty yere / and seuen monethes / and was buryed at westmynstre / R / Aluredus of Ryual deseryued clere­ly kynge Edwardes lyf / and sente it to laurence abbot of west­mynster / And he sente that lyf that was soo descryued forth to the second henry / ¶Willelmus de Regibus vbi supra / Anone Harold occupyed the kyngdom & helde it aboute nyne monethes But somme entended to make Edgar Adelyng kyng / Edgar Adelynge was the sonne of Edward the whiche Edward was the sonne of edmond Irensyde / But for the childe was insuffy­saunt to soo grete charge / Erle harold that was feller of wytte Rycher in the purs / and strenger of knyghtes / occupyed the kyngdome by an vngracious happe / R. ¶But marianus sayth that kynge edward ordeyned byfore his deth that Harold shold be kynge after hym and that the lordes made hym kyng anone / ¶ Item Marianus / ¶ This was sacred of Aldredus the Ar­chebisshop of yorke / & byganne to destroye euyl lawes & to make good lawes and ryghtfull to defende hooly chirche / To worshipe good men / to punysshe euyll doers & to saue & to defende the londe But his broder Tostius herde therof. and that he was kynge / & [Page] cam with syxty shippes oute of flaundres / and toke paymentis and trybute of the yle of wyght / and toke prayes in kente on the see costes / but he dradde the arraye of his broder harold / and wente by the see in to lyndeseye / and brente there townes and slough men til that he was dryuen thens by edwyn and Morkar dukes of mercia and of northumberlonde / Than he wente to mal­colyn kyng of Scotland and was with hym al the somer tyme / ¶ In the mene tyme the kyng of the norganes / harold harfage Olauus broder cam with thre honderd shippes in to the mouth of the Ryuer Tyne / thenne Tostius cam to hym with his strengthe as they were acorded byfore / Kyng harold was warned therof / and ordeyned thyder grete strength / but er he was comē / the twey bretheren that we spake of rather Edwyn and morkar had stal­worthly foughten and were ouercome atte laste / and ther were delyuerd pl [...]dgys on eyther syde an honderd and fyfty / After this the fyfth day kyng harold cam to stemesford brydge and had a stronge batayll and hard fyghtyng / but he slough the kyng of norganes & his owne broder Tostius / but he made Ola­uus the kynges broder of norganes and paul duc of the ilondes Orcades / swere to hym and toke pledgys of hem and lette hem goo hoome ageyne / but one of the norganes bare hym soo there / that he is worthy to haue a name for euermore / For he stode al one vpon the brydge of Stemesford and slough moo than four­ty englysshmen with his owne axe and lette the passage of alle the englysshe hooste / till it was none of the day / till an Englissh man toke a boote and cam vnder the brydge and stykked the nor­gan thur [...]h an hoole with his spere / For that happe harold was prowde / and wolde not part with his knyghtes the prayes that were taken there / therfor many of the lordes and of the comonte were wroth and a greued and forsoke hym / whanne he wente to the batayll of hastyng ayenst wylliam / ¶ Willelmus de Regi­bus libro secundo

¶ Capitulum 29

WHanne harold was sette vp in the kyngdome and thought not on the couenauntes that were made bytwene hym and wylliam / he helde hym self dyscharged of the oth. for wylliams doughter that he had spoused was dede within age of wedlok / [Page CCCxxij] And also for wylliam was occupyed with werres in Ilandes that were nyghe hym / But william warned hym of couenaunt broken / and medled menaces with prayers / Harold sayde that a nyce foly couenaunt shold not be holden / and namly the byhest of other mennes kyngdome withoute comune assente of all the Senatours / There a lewd oth sholde be broke namely syth it was compellyd to be sworen for nede in a nedeful tyme / In the meane tyme wylliam arayed al that neded for the iourney and gate the assente of the lordes of his land / and purchaced fauoure of A­lysaunder the pope with a baner that was to hym sente / these were the causes why duc william axed and chalenged Englonde ayenst harald / the deth of Aluredus that was his cosyn the sone of emma on aluredus he had procured his deth / the seconde the e [...]ylyng of Robert Archebisshop of Caunterbury· The thyrdde cau­se for kyng edward had promysed duc wiliam that he shuld be kynge after hym yf he dyed withoute childer / and harold was sworn to fulfyll that commaundement / Henricus libro sexto / The lordes of normandye counseyled among hem self what were best to doo of this iourneye / and wylliam that was the dukes sewer the sonne of osbert counsayled to leue and forsake the iour­ney both for scarcete of fyghtyng men / and for strengthe / hardy­nesse and stiernesse and cruelte of his enemyes / the other lordes were gladde herof and put her answer and her wordes vpon this wylliams mouth / and as he wold say / whanne he come byfore the duc / he sayde that he was redy to the iourneye / and all the other lordes / than myght not the lordes withdrawe hem for shame / ¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro tercio / Whanne duc William and his men were long taryed in saynt waleryes hauene· for the wynde was ayenst hem / the peple grutched and sayd that it was a wod [...]nes to chalenge by strengthe other mennes lande / and namely while god stroof ayenst hem / and god must graunt hem good wynde / yf they shuld seyle / Duc william made brynge out seynt waleryus hooly bodye and sette hym there oute for to haue wynde / Anon lykyng wynde fylled the seyles / than duc william cam toward Englond after mychelmasse day / and landed at ha­stynge in a place called Peuenesey / In his goynge oute of his shippe / he slode with his one foote and styked in the sande / and the knyght that was next cryed to hym anone / and sayd / nowe Syr Erle / thou holdest Englonde / thou shalt ryght newely be kyng / than he charged that they sholde take noo prayes & sayd [Page] that he must spare thynges that shuld be his owne / & he lefte soo fyften dayes / harald cam from the werre of the norganes / and herd tydynges herof / and hyed wel fast / & had but fewe knigh­t [...]s aboute hym for he had loste many stalworth men in the rather bataylle / and he had not sente for more help / and though he hadde men were wroth ond wold haue withdrawe hem for they shuld haue noo prayes atte batayll of norganes / but harold sente forth espyes to awayte and see the nombre and the strengthe of his e­nemyes / duc wylliam toke these espyes and ledde hem aboute his tentes and pauylons and fedde hem ryally and sente hem to Ha­rold ageyne / than they told to harold tydynges / and said that al that were in duc williams hoost / were preestes for they had both the chekes and bothe the lyppes shauen / Englysshmen vsed that tyme the heer of her ouerlyppes shedde and not shore / Nay sayd harald they be no preestes but they be strong knyghtes / Than said gurth heraldes yongest brother / why wolt thou vnwar fight with soo many orped men / we sware hym neuer none oth / Than is it better that thou that art sworn to hym withdrawe the for a tyme & lette vs that be not sworn fyght for the countray / & yf we haue the maystrye wele it be / and yf we be ouercome the cause & the querele is sauf to the / yet duc william sente a monke to Ha­rold & profered hym thre weyes / owther that he shuld leue the kingdō o wther hold the kingdō of duc williā / & regne vnder him owther they tweyne sholde fyght eyther with other in that qua­rele in syghte of both the hoostes / namely whyle kynge Edward was dede that hadde graunted hym englonde yf he dyed without heyr / and by coūseylle and assente of Stygandus tharchebisshop and of therles goodwyn and Syward / In token therof Goodwyns sonne and his neuewe were sente to duc william / But Harolde wolde not assente to the monkes message / but sayde the cause shulde be dereyned by dynte of swerde & prayde god onely that he shulde deme bytwene them tweyne / Than the hoostes of eyther syde cam to the place of the bataylle on saynt Calyxt the pope the fourtenth day of October on a saterday in the place wher thabbaye of bataylle is buylde / as we be enformed / the nyghte byfore the bataylle Englysshemen yafe hem to song and to drynk & waked al nyght / Erly on the morow foote men with her axes made a greete strengthe of sheldes. & sette hem to geder & had the maystrye. ne had be that the normans feyned to flee / kynge Ha­rold stode on his fete by his baner with his twey bretheren. [Page CCCxxiij] That baner was afterward sente to the pope / The normans the nyght before the bataylle shrofe hem of theyr synnes and were houseld erly in the mornyng / Fote men and archers were sette in the bataylle and than knyghtes with wynges on eyther syde / Duc william comforted his men to the batayll and was waare that his haberion was torned in & oute and amended that hap [...]e with a bourde and sayd the strength of an erldome shal tourne in to a kyngdom / But er that the Shiltrons come to geders one of the normans callyd Taylefer caste his swerd and play [...]d by­fore the hoostes and slough a banyour of Englysshmen that cam ayenst him and dyd efte the same of another / Also he slough the thyrdd and was slayne hym self / Thenne anone the Shyltrons smote to geders with Roulandes songe that was bygonne on the normans syde / The bataylle endured from vndern of the daye to euensong tyme / And neyther partye wold wythdrawe / but the dukes archers had theyr forth / than the duc made a token to his men that they shold feyne to flee / and by that wyle engl [...]sshmen were begyled and dysarayed hem as it were to pursue and so to reese on her enemyes / but whanne englysshmen were so out of aray / the normans arayed hem efte / and torned ageyne vp [...]on the englysshe men that were out of aray and chaced hem on euery syde / Atte laste harold was smyten with an arowe and loste his one eye / and was hurt on the brayne and fyll downe in that place / And one of the knyghtes smote him in the thyghe whyle he laye there / And therfor wylliam put that knyght oute of cheualrye / for he had done an vnconnyng dede / That day lost wylliā thre the best horses that he had / and were stykked vnder hym / but he bare hym soo that no bloode cam oute of his body / whanne the vyctorye was done wylliam buryed his men that were slayne / and graunted his enemyes to doo the same / who that wold and sente haraldes bodye to haraldes moder withoute ony mede as she had prayd and she buryed hym at waltham in thabbay of chanons that harold had founded / R / But gyraldus Cambrensis in his boke called Itinerarius wold mene that harold had ma­ny woundes and lost his lyft eye with the stroke of an arowe / & was ouercome and escaped to the countray of Chestre· and lyued there hoolyly as me troweth an Ankers lyf in saynt Iames sel­le faste by saynt iohns chirche / and made a gracious ende / And that was knowen by his laste confession and the commune fame acordeth in that cyte to that sawe / Also Aluredus Ryuallensys [Page] in saynt edwardes lyf / ca / 26 / in the ende there he sayth that Harold eyther dyed wretchedly owther he escaped & was preserued to doo worthy penaunce / R / Thanwhan kyng haraldes deth was knowen therles of northumberlonde and of mercia / Edwyn and marcarus that had withdrawen hem self from harold for streyt­nesse of places. owther more verely for wrath that the prayes were not deled atte bataylle of norganes / they come to london and and toke her syster Agytha haraldes wyf and sente hyr to Chestre And they and aldredus tharchebisshop of york & the londoners promysed that they wold make edgar adelyng kyng and fyght for hym / but for the drede of wylliam encreaced / they withdrew hem and fulfylled not that they had promised / And al this with other noble mē come to wylliam and yafe hym pledgys / & sware hym fewte and dyd hym surete

¶ Explicit liber sextus

¶Incipit Liber septimus

¶ Capitulum primum

WHan william cam to london and was crowned at westmynstre of aldredus archebisshop of york and wyded stygandus archebisshop of Caunterbury / & was y crowned in a mydwynter day / that fil that [...]ere on a monday / W / de / pon / But the next lente therafter [...]e wente in to normandy / & lefte his broder Bisshop of bayon to kepe englond / & had with hym· the gentilmen / & name­ly the erles edwyn & markarus & edgard adelyng / & moost specially stygandus tharchebisshop / though he wythstode in that with al that he myght / he ladde hym with hym / as it were for to doo hym worship / but his mening was specially for no treson sholde be done in his absence in englond by auctoryte of stygandus Amonge all other it is harde for to telle / how greete worship he dyde to stygandus for he wolde aryse and come ayenst him with procession and that with grete boost & aray / but all that was clo­sed & hyd in that doyng / come out afterward clere ynough / whan the popes legat come in to englond / & made a counseyll by thassēt of the kyng / & stygandus was deposed & set a doun / & prayed be­syly the kyng of his grace / the kyng excused hym self with fayre wordes as he couthe wel ynough / & sayde that he myght not doo ayenste the popes heste / And soo he helde stygandus in boondes at wynchestre terme of his lyf / Alfr / Herafter ayenst wynter kyng will̄iam cam in to englond & putte a trybute vpon englysshe men gretter than they myghte bere / & bes [...]eged excetre that was rebelle ayenst hym and brake the cyte / ¶Gytha the countesse that was somtyme goodwyns wyf forsoke the cite & sailed in to flaūdres W / d re / li / 3 / In this syege the toune wall fylle doun as it were for the nones / & so the enemyes come in for one of the cyteseyns stode vpon the walle and dyde doun his breche and defowled the eyer with the fowle noyse of his neyther ende / Also that yere the lordes of northūberlond drad the cruelnes of william & toke with theym edgar adelyng & his moder agath & his twey systres margret & crystiā & sayled to malcolyn kyng of scotlād / R / But sommē wol mene that this edgar sygh that the thynges of englysshmē were distourbed in euy side / & toke a ship & cast for to sayle with his moder & his twey systres in to his own countrey there he was y bore / But there come grete tempest and drofe hym in to Scotland / ¶ By occasion therof it was that malcolyn kyng of Scotland wedde edgars syster margret / and [Page] gate on hyr sixe sonnes and twey doughtes / thre of his sonnes were kynges after the fader / Edgar Alysaunder and dauid / Mold malcolyns doughter was maryed to the fyrst henry kyng of Englonde / of hym come mold themperyce / the other doughter mary was maryed to eustas erle of [...]oloyne / of hyr come mold / that was maryed to kynge steuen / Also that yere kyng william made a strong castel at snotyngham that now is called notynghā and another at lyncoln and tweyne at york / Also that yere mold the quene cam oute of normandy in to englond and was crow­ned of aldredus / harald and Canutus the sones of suanus kin­ge of denmarche come a lande in the mouth of humber with two honderd shippes / Edgar adelyng yaf hym self to hem / Aldredus the archebisshop was so soory for her comyng that he deyde for so­rowe the / xj / day of September / The eyght day therafter the nor­mans that kepte castels dradde / leste the houses of the subarbes shuld helpe the danes to fylle the dyches / & therfor they sette hem a fyre / but the lyght aroos to hye / and brente the cyte of yorke / with the mynster of saynt peter / But er the fyre were done cam the strength of the danes and slough by assente of the cyteseyns more than thre thousande normans / Than kynge wylliam was wroth and destroyde soo that prouynce that for grete honger men ete horses flessh / hoūdes flessh / cattes flessh / and mannes flesshe / Also that lond that lyeth bytwene york and durham was nyne yere without tylyer & wonyer / out take only saynt Ioones lond of beuley. for ther fyll a wreche vpō one of the kynges knightes for his hors neck was to broke & his face torned bacword / Also that tyme was brent saynt bedas abbay that was in girmū vpō the brynk of the ryuer wyre / That yere malcolyn destroyed so northūberlond that he slew all the old mē & feble / & made the strong boonde for reuerence / soo that vnneth ony was hows in scotlande without an englysshe boonde man other woman / kynge william by counsayll of som mē made serche all the abbayes of englond & toke al the money in to his owne tresour / W / d / p / li / 1 / Sone ther after in the vtas of ester was made a counseyll at wynchestre by ass [...]nt of the second pope alysander / ther were twey cardynals present / In that counseyll stygandus tharchebisshop was degraded for thre skylles / first by cause he had holden wrōgfully the bissho­priche of wynchestre and the Archebisshopriche of Caunterbury whyle Robert the Archebisshoppe was a lyue / and vsed the pal that was there lefte withoute leue of the court of Rome / [Page CCCxxv] For he had receyued the pal of pope benette that was acursyd of the chirche of Rome / And though stygandus sought besyly frēdshippe of the kynge the kyng excused hym self swetely as he well couthe by the popes commaundemente and caste stygandus in to bondes at wynchestre to his lyues ende / and yaue hym euery day a lytel what of enchetes / to lyue by / Stygandus was kyndely so hard that he wolde take ryght nought of his owne / and swore by at halowen that he hadde not a peny / but that oth was pre­ued vntrewe by a lytel key that henge aboute his neck / whan he was deede / For by that keye was founde grete ryches in many places vnder erthe / Also in that counseyll were sette doune many bisshops and abbotes / namely by procurynge of kynge wylliam for he wold brynge in normans in theyr stede / Somme men trowyd that he dyd soo for he wold be the more seker of the kyng­dome / Also in that counseyl saynt wulstan bisshop of wyrcetre axyd besyly somme possessions of his bisshopryche that were with holde by Aldredus Archebisshop of yorke and y falle in to the kynges hondes after aldredus deth / But for the chirche of york was dombe that tyme / for the see was voide / It was demed that that cause shuld be stylle & not y touched at that tyme / herafter at wyndsor in a whitsonday kynge william yaf tharchebisshoprich of yorke vnto thomas chanon of baiocens / Wd / p / li / 1 / Herafter the kyng had lanfrank abbot of cadomenence out of normandy / this lanfrank was of the nacion of ytaly & was most connyng of holy wryt & of syngler lettrure and moost redy in gouernyng of thynges / In our lady day the assumpcion the king made him archebisshop of caunterbury / ¶R / Of his thewes and of his noble dedes it is wreton Innermo [...]e / about his deth tyme / W / d / p / li / 1 / ¶Thomas that was y chose archebisshop of york· cam to this lanfrank for to be sacred as the vsage wold. lanfrank axyd of hym an othe & his profession y wryte of his obedyence / Thomas answerd & sayde / that he wold neuer do that but yf he herd ther for auctoryte y wryte / other skylful reasons & byndyng· by the which it were knowe that he shold so do withoute ony preiudyce of his chirch / he saide so more for lewdnes of wyt than of rebel­nes / & pryde of hert / as he that was a new man & begyled by flateryng wordes / & knewe not the custome and vsages of englond And lanfrank declared and preued resonably / that his axynge was resonable and ryghtful / but yet thomas wold not assente but wthsayde hit and wente his weye vnsacred / the kyng herde [Page] therof and was wrothe and trowyd that lanfrank wolde haue grete thynges wrongfully / and he trusted more in his connynge / than in good feyth and reason / But he answerd therto in presence of the kyng / and esed the kyngys hert / therfor by commaunde­mente of the kyng / thomas was compellyd for to come ageyne / and cam ageyne and wrote his profession of obedyence and rad it / In that profession he byhete withoute ony condicion that he shulde be obedyente in al that longeth to the worship of god and Crysten feyth / and soo he was sacred and wente forth his weye Not longe therafter lanfrank axyd and toke profession of alle the bisshops of englond that were sacred of other men bifore hond

¶ Capitulum secundum

THe Erles of mercia / of northumberlonde edwyn and Markar wente pryuely oute of the courte / For kynge william hadde cast to put hem in bondes / And so they were rebell somwhat of tyme / but it stode hem but lytel in stede / edwyn wente toward the kyng of Scotland / and was slayne in the wey of his men / But markar and Egylwyn Bisshop of durham wente in to the yle of Ely / there the kyng stopped the oute goyng in the eest sy­de / and made a brydge of twey myle in the west syde / Than they were aferd that were closed withynne / and yelde hem to the kin­ge / And the kyng sente the Bisshop to the Abbay of Abyndon to be there in warde / there this Bisshop deyde for honger / for he wolde not ete for sorow / Willelmus de pontificibus libro tercio / ¶ Walkerus of lotharynge was bisshop after hym / And Edytha that had be kyng edwardes wyf sawe hym brought to wynchestre for to be sacred and saide here we haue a fayr martir By coniecturynge of the cruel men of northumberlonde she was meoued to telle what shuld afterward byfall she sawe hym whytely of heer / rody of face / & huge of body and of stature / W / de p / li / 4 / This yere deyde walter bisshop of herforde / of hym it is said that he lou ed hugely / I not by what mysshappe a shipster of that Cyte / But she wyst not therof / and in caas thowh she had wyst she wold haue sette lytel therby / In the mene tyme yet the bisshop thought that nothyng is more vngracioꝰ than a louyng old mā / and withstode as he myght for reuerence of his owne state / [Page CCCxxvj] but in a tyme by fraude of the deuyl she came in to the Bisshops chambre in caas for to shape the chamberleyns lynnen clothes Seruauntes that knewe and wyst the Bisshops pryu [...]te wente oute for the nones ¶ Atte last. ethe Bisshop after vnsyttyng wordes wolde haue take the woman with strengthe ¶ The wo­man styked the Bisshop bynethe his pryuy membrys wyth the sheres that she hadde in honde and soo the Bisshop dyed After him robert lotharyngus was bisshop ther / he was connyng of al maner artes and scyences / specially he conth skylle in aba [...] that is a table to make by dyuerse fygures and shappes / [...]e kne­we the cours of the mone and of the other sterres and planetes That tyme Marianus Scott and monk was closed at magounce in Almayne / In his long solytarye beyng / he serched cronykes & storyees / & was waar fyrst other alone of denys exyguus dyscord ayenst the sothnesse of the gospel in acountyng of cycles and of yeres / And marianus acounted al the yeres from the begynning of the world and put two and twenty yere that lakked of the forsayd cycles and yeres and made a grete booke of Cronykes the whiche booke this robert defloured solempnly and take oute the beste / soo that it semeth that that defloracion is now more worthy than all the grete volume and longe / ¶Wyllelmus de pon / tificibus / libro primo / Also this lanfrank archebisshop of Caunterbury / and thomas Archebisshop of york wente to Rome y fere for to haue the pal / But lanfrank receyued the palles / one of Worship / and anthoer of loue / for lanfrank had suche grace to pope Alexander / that both his felawes that come with hym to Ro­me thomas of york / and Remigyus of dorchestre that were right fully y pryued of her croyses and rynges / he restored hem to their offyce ageyne / For the fyrste was a preestes sonne / And whyle the seconde was monk of ffyscam / he halpe duk wyllyam in ma­ny thynges / to his wendyng to Englonde / Soo that the duc by­hete hym by couenaunt a Bisshopryche yf he hadde the vyctorye and that was preued vpon hym byfore the pope / and therfor he was sette a doun / in the presence of the pope / Thomas of york meoued a cause of the chalenge of the prymate of Dorobernia that is caunterbury / and of subiection that shulde longe to hym of thre Bisshopryches / of Lyncolne / of wyrcetre and of lychefeld

And sayde that the Sees of Caunterbury and of yorke were ferre atwene / and that nother of hym by Gregoryes [Page] constitucion shulde be subgette to other / but that the one of he [...] is more worthy than the other / for he is of elder [...] tyme / Then­ne lamfrank declared skylfully that that constitucion of grego­ry maketh noo mencion of Caunterbury / but of york & of londō Than the pope demede that that cause shulde be termyned to fore the kynge and the Bisshops in englond / And though lanfrank held thomas y bounde by the professyon that thomas hadde ma­de byfore hym byforehonde / yet hym was leuer trauayll for his successours than lete that chalenge abyde to hym to stryue ther­for afterwarde / ¶ This yere the yere of our lord a thousande thre score and twelue at wyndsore byfore kynge wylliam & the clergye that cause was treated / & there Bedas story was shewde and therby it was shewed that from the fyrst Austyns tyme / to Bedas last tyme aboute an honderd yere and fourty / the Ar­chebisshopryche of Caunterbury had prymacye ouer alle the londe of Brytayne / and of Irlonde also / And also that he hadd holde coūsayls fast by york / & cleped therto the bisshops of york and made bisshops and punysshed somme bisshops of york for her trespaas / and sette downe many / and putte hem oute of the dyg­nyte / Herto were rehersed pryueleges that were graunted vpon this maner of doynge / Ayenst al this thomas aleyde the pystle in the whiche pope Gregory demed that the chirches of york and of london shold be euen peres and neyther subget to other / Than lamfrank answerd and sayde I am not bisshop of london nowther the question is not meoued of the chirche of london / Thenne thomas that had many fauctours and moche folke / ga­dred with hym answerd and sayde that Gregory had graunted to Austyn al one to haue vnder hym all the bisshops of englond and that the bisshops of london and of york shold be good fren­des / and loue wel eyther other / and he that were fyrst ordeyned sholde be fyrste worshiped / and though Austyn had chaunged the Archebisshops see from london in to kente yef gregory wolde that Austyns successours shuld be aboue the bisshops of yorke / he wolde lyghtly haue sette in his epystle suche maner wordes / I graunte to the Austyn and to thyn successours / But for he wold not that it shold stretche to austyns successours / therfore he made noo mencion of his successours / ¶ Lanfrank answerde herto & sayde / yf that auctoryte was graunted to Austyn alone and not to his successours it was a symple yefte that the pope yaue Au­styn that was pryue with hym / and namely whyle Austyn [Page CCCxxvij] ordeyned noo Archebisshop of york whyle he was a lyue / and also there was no bisshop at york / that shold be ordeyned by au­styn / Also pryuelege of popes confermeth this dygnyte to Au­styns successours of caunterbury / and demed that it is skyle and ryght that alle the chirches of Englonde sholde take loore of ly­uynge of that place for of the welle of that place they hadde the leeme of byleue / But for thou sayst that gregory myghte yf he wolde haue confermed with a worde to austyns successours that he had graunted to seynt Austyn / That is soth but that doth no preiudyce to the see of Caunterbury / For whanne cryst sayde to peter / I shal yeue to the the keyes of the kyngdome of heuene / he myght also haue sayd / yf he wold I graunte the same power to thy success [...]urs / And though he sayde not soo yet he bynymeth Peters successours nothynge of reuerence / nother of autoryte / But they hadde lawfully the dispensacion of offyce of hooly chirche / what maketh that but the vertu of god that spryngeth by Cryst of peter in to his successours / Also yf thou kanst knowe bytwe­ne fals and soth· what hath strengthe in al / hath strengthe in the partye / and what strengthe in the more / hath strengthe in the lasse / The chirche of Rome is as it were al of alle chirches and other chirches both as it were partyes therof / And as for to take hede in one maner wyse / man is the kynde of his syngulers / but in euery syngler man is the kynde of al mankynde / Soo for to take heede in somme maner wyse the chirche and the see of Rome is as it were the kynde and conteyneth al in comparyson to other chirches / and yet in euery chirche regneth the ful holynesse of Crysten feyth / The chirche of Rome is grettest of al chirches / & what hath strengthe in that chirche shal haue strength in lasse chirches / Soo that in euery chirche the power of the fyrste shal sprynge in to al his successours / but ought be namely and spe­cially oute take / Therfore as Criste sayde to al the Bisshops of Rome that he sayde to peter / Soo Gregory sayde to alle Austyns successours / what he sayde to Austyn / Herof foloweth that as Caunterbury is subget to Rome for he taketh the feyth of Rome Soo shal york be subgette to Caunterbury / that sente thyder pre­chours to preche hem the feyth / But for thou sayst that Gregory wold that austyn shold haue his see at london. hit maye not stonde / who wolde trowe that soo noble a disciple as Austyn was wolde wythstonde / nd do ayenst his maystres wille / that was soo noble a maystre and doo ayenste hooly decrees / But though it [Page] were soo that Austyn as thou sayst passed from london / what is that to me that am not bisshop of london / therfor yef this stryf is ceesed and pees made for a tyme / yef thou desyrest to plede / I shal not be from the dome / but I shal defende myn offyce / and my ryght / By these reasons thomas was ouercome and graunted gladly that the yonder brynke of humber shold be the begynnyng of his dyocesy / Also it was demed that there afterward in thyn­ges that longeth to worship of god and to the feyth of hooly chirche the archebisshop of york shold he subget to the Archebisshop of Caunterbury / Soo that yf tharchebisshop of Caunterbury wolde make a counseyl in ony place of englond the Archebisshop of yorke shulde be there at with the bisshops of his prouynce and he shal be obedyente to his lawful heestes / ¶ Yf the Archebisshop of Caunterbury is deede / the Archebisshop of yorke shal come to Caunterbury with bisshops of the forsayd chirche / and sacre the primate that is chosen / And yf tharchebisshop of york is dede his successour shal come co the archebisshop of Caunterbury where he wol assygne in englonde and be sacred of hym / And he shal ma­ke hym an othe with profession and obedyence / Than lanfranck hopped for ioye and toke al this wreton for that newe doyng sholde not slyde oute of mynde and his successours sholde be begyled of the knowleche therof / but he bare hym soo that he loste nought that nother passed in spekynge / For it is hated a man to make hym self curious in his owne praysynge / Than lanfranck sente a pystle to pope alysaunder that conteyned al this doyng with the profession of thomas the Archebisshop of york / This yere kynge wylliam wente in to Scotland with a grete nauey and an hooste of horsmen / And made kynge malcolyn subget / and kynge malcolyn bycame his lyege man / and swore hym hommage and feute Sygebertus bisshop of magounce wente to saynt Iames a pyl­gremage / but in his comyng ageyne he was made monk of clu­ny / than shīpmen wolde haue bought his Bisshopryche / he sawe that / and wente ageyne to his bisshopriche as his abbot bad hym

¶ This yere Edgar Adelynge wente to kyng wylliam in to normandy and was acord with hym

¶ Capitulum tercium

HIltebrande that was the seuenth pope gregory was somtyme pryour of cluny / and than Archedeken of Rome / and [Page CCCxxviij] than he was made pope enleuen yere / he made a synode and for­bede clerkes that were sacred wyues / and forbode that they shol­de haue no wyues nother dwelle with women / but with suche as the synode nycena and hooly lawes suffryth / But for preestes dispreysed his punyschyngis / the pope badde that men sholde not here a preestes masse / that helde openly and comunely a concuby­ne ayenste the popes ordenaunce / In a tyme this was a Cardy­nal and the popes messagyer in to Fraunce and made harde processe ayenste prelates that were made by Symonye / Than one bisshop that was sharply defamed by Symonye chaunge with me­de the wytnesse that hym had accused / The legate was waare therof and sayde byfore alle the counseyll / now mannes doome is awey that faylyth ofte / lete vs brynge goddes owne dome that faylyth neuer more / Sith that the grace of a Bisshopryche is the yeft of hooly gooste / he that byeth a bisshopryche doth ayenst the hooly goost / than thou bisshop hast not doo ayenst the holy goost / Saye openly here in the counsaylle gloria patri et filio et spiritui sancto / that is the ioye to the fader and to the sonne / and to the hooly goost / he byganne and essayed ofte / but he myght neuer say the hooly goost / But he sayde it pleynly whan he was put oute of the bisshopryche / Also whyle this pope songe his first masse in a myd wynter nyght at saynt marye at presepe domini / one Crescē cius the sonne of the prefecte of the cyte toke hym and put hym in prisonne / but anone the Romaynes brake the tour and dely­uerd the pope / Also in a counseylle of thre honderd bisshops / this pope cursed the thyrdde henry themperour and assoylled al men of her othe that owht hym hommage and feute / For he caste many thynges ayenst the state of holy chirche / And afterward though the emperour stode long tyme barfote vpon snowe and yse vnne­the he was assoylled / But afterwarde besyeged Rome and me­ded the cyteseyns and prysonned the pope / and toke one wyber­tus bisshop of Rauen and made hym pope / and cleped hym Cle­mente / But Robert duc of Apulea herde therof and delyuerd the pope / Roger the erle of herforde / by whos counsayle kyng william hadde made serche all thabbayes of Englond for to haue grete tresour / this erle maryed his syster to rauf erle of eestenglond that conteyneth northfolke / ayenst the kynges heeste / And made there conspyracye ayenst the kynge / and made Erle walref assēt therto bygyle· but he wente anone to lanfrank / and toke his pe­naunce / and wente thenne in to normādy to the kyng & warned [Page] hym of the treasonne / and putte hym wylfully in the kynges grace / the kynge cam ageyne in to Englond and outlawed som and chaced Erle Rauf and prysonned waltef and made after­warde smote of his heede wyckedly besydes wynchestre / In tyme that cam afterward by thordenaunce of god / his body was beryed afterwarde in the abbaye of crowlond / of hym wytnessyth lan­frank that he was very repentaunt of his sinnes & saide that wel were hym yf he myght come to waltefs reste after his ende daye ¶In lanfrancus tyme was made a counseyll at london in saynt paules chirche / that doyng had be long tyme lefte of in Englonde / Fyrste there was ordeyned how bisshops shold sytte in counseyll and in Synode / the seconde that the bisshops see shold passe oute of smal townes in to gretter townes and soo the See of Selfey passed to chychester of kyrton to excetre / of welles to bathe / Of shirburn to sabesbury / of dorchestre to lyncolne / Of lychefeld to chestre in bisshop peters tyme / But his successour robert passed from chestre to couentre / ¶ Willelmus de pontificibus libro 2 / ¶This yere deyde hyrmanus the fyrst bisshop of Salesbury / of the whiche it is wreton to fore hond / After hym the kynges chaū ­celer osmundus was bisshop four and twenty yere / he buylded there a newe chirche and brought thyder noble clerkes and con­nyng of clergye and of songe / soo that this bisshop him self sho­ned not to wryete and [...]ymne and bynde bookes / Also he made the ordynal of the seruyce of hooly chirche / and cleped it the con­suetudynarie / now wel nigh al englond wales and yrlond. vseth that ordynal / Also he endyted saynt adelins lyf / ¶ This yere Robert courthchose kyng williams oldest sonne / for he myht not haue normandye that his fader had assigned him somtyme / ther­fore by helpe of the kynge of Fraunce he toke prayes in norman­dye and dide his fader moche woo / Soo that his fader was woū ded and vnhorsed and beganne for to crye / Robert herde his fa­dere bois / and alighte doune of his hors. and horsed his fader a­geine· Willelmus de pontificibus libro tercio / The northumbres slewe walkerus bisshop of durham / William that was somtyme abbot of cariles was bisshop after him / This william brought firste monkes at durham / he was myghty in the worlde / & hadde his mouth at his wyll / & had grete trust therinne / and fauoured afterward partyes / Somdele ayenst kyng william the rede / Therfore he fledde oute of englond and cam ageyne to his owne Bisshopryche after two yere and made hym ful besy to haue the [Page CCCxxix] kynges loue ageyne / soo that he folowed the kynges wyll in his ye and nay in al maner wyse / and specially in that stryfe that was bytwene the kyng and ancelm / and hoped therby to geete the kyngys grace other to be archebisshop after ancelm / But he fayled of eyther / for there fylle stryf bytwene him and the kyn­ge / and he was at gloucestre to defende his cause / This was the fyrst that dyde the pryour of durham that benefet that he shulde be deen and archedeken in all that bisshoprych / waryng erle of shrowesbury made twey abbayes / one in the subarbes of shrowesbury and another at wenlok in worship of saynt mylburgh / Willelmus de Regibus ¶ Whyle a myghty man sate at a fest Myes byset hym sodenly al about / & though he were brouhgt in to the high see it halp hym not / for the myes syewed hym in the see vppon ryndes of pome garuat and were adreynt of the shipmē Nothynge that god hath wrought is al withoute wytte / nother thynge withoute remedy / Than the man was brought ayene to londe and myes al to haaled hym / Me sayth that the same happe byfyl a prynce of polonia that a leopard hadde y bete / Also suche an happe is told of a prynce that myght by noo maner crafte kepe and saue hym self fro lyese in no maner wyse / Henricus lib / sexto / This yere was a cursyd stryf bytwene monkes of glasten­bury and the vnthriuyng abbot thurstā that kyng wylliam had brought theder oute of the abbay of cadony and made hym abbot of glastenbury that couth noo maner wytte of Redynesse / Among his other lewdnesse and folye he despysed gregoryes songe and offyce / and byganne to compelle the monkes for to vse the songe of one william monk of fyscamen / Willelmus de pontifi­cibus li 1 / ¶ He wasted and spended the chirches gooddes and catailsin lechery-and chalengyd cruelly the ordre and seruyce of the monkes and withdrewe therwith their mete and their drynk Therof cam chiding & strif of wordes discorde & of wittes and of thoughtes / For lucanus saith fastynge folk can noo drede / Than after chidynge and strif me toke wepne / And the abbot with his men of armes fille armed on the monkes and slough tweyne atte hye auter / & wounded eighten & shotte arowes to ymages and schrines of the chirche / the monkes as they were driue to by nede defended hem self as wel as they might in euery side with formes and stoles and candelstikkes and wounded somme of the knyghtes / This cause was meoued bifore the kyng / and the Abbot was chaunged and torned to his owne abbaye in normandy [Page] But the monkes were to scatred aboute by the kynges heest by dyuers byisshopryches and abbayes / But after kyng wylliās deth this thurstan bought the Abbaye of glastenbury of kynge william the reede for fyue honderd pound and soo he wente about somwhat of yeres by the possessions of the abbay & deyde fer from hym / ¶ This yere kyng wiliam hadde of euery huyde of lond sixe scyllynges of siluer / Also pope hyltebrand laye in his dede bedde and cleped to hym the cardynals that he loued moost / and knowleched that he hadde made wrathe ānd stryf bytwene the Emperour and the other crysten men / Therfor he vndede the boū ­des of the peynes that were sette and deyde

¶ Capitulum quartum /

AFter hyltebrand the thyrd vyctor was pope one yere and fyue monethes / ¶Somtyme he hyght desiderius Abbot of moūt Cassin / he was poysoned with venym that was done in his chalys / that yere canutꝰ kyng of dēmark by help of his wyues fader Robert of flaundres arayed hym for to come in to englond with a greete nauey· but kyng wylliam herde therof and gadred a grete hoost and come in to englond oute of normandy / But his enemyes were lette and he helde his court at gloucestre / ther he yaf Bisshopryches to his thre preestes / to morice he yafe the Bissho­pryche of london / To william the bisshopryche of Tedford / To ro­bert the bisshoprych̄ of chestre / but he chaunged the see to couentre ¶ Willelmus de pontificibus libro quarto / He rasede of one be­me of that chirch fyue honderd mark of syluer for to fyll the kinges honde and for to begyle the occupacion of the pope / erle leofrycus hadde made that place ryche of gold and of syluer of relykes and other precious stones / And soo this Robert robbed his owne chirche / and was gylty to make good therfore in his lyf owther with his cataill after his deth yf ony man were that hym wolde accuse / also he fed the monkes of that place with symple mete & drink & suffryd them not to lerne but symple lettrure / lest lykynge mete and drynke and gretter lettrure wolde make the monks stoute and proude ageynst the bisshop / Netheles at lychefelde he byganne many greete buyldynges. Aboute that tyme bygan thordre of the chartrus in calabria in the bisshoprich [Page CCCxxx] of grannopolytan by one bruno that was y bore at Coloyn of the nacion of Duche men and chanon of Reynes in Champayne in Fraunce and mayster of the scoles / he forsoke the worlde & founded the heremytage of chartrus aboute saynt ioones fest & ruled it syx yere / Atte last he cam to Rome by heeste of the seconde po­pe vrban that hadde be somtyme his scoler / there he halpe the pope gretely in dygnyte of hooly chirche / But whanne he myght not suffre the stryf and the maners of the court / he forsoke the courte and the Archebisshoprych of Rysens / to the whiche he was chose by heeste of the pope / And wente to the heremytage that was called the tour in Calabria / and ended there his lyf / That manere heremytes that be cleped Cellystes also for they woneth in celles and lyuen vnder a pryour and passen not the nombre of twelue in clerkes / but it be for somme worthy persone / but they take leude men anone to the nombre of twenty / euery in his owne celle in symple dayes y seruyd by hym self byddeth his bedes / slepyth and etyth / Eche of theym hath one loof for his brede for all the weke / they ete neuer flessh ne blode / they were neuer lynen cloth nother stamyn but the heer next the flesshe and a boue a kyrtell of wollen and a pylche / they haue thryttene celles / and euery celle is departed a four & to set wythin for the oratory the dortour the fraytour / and the werk hous there they doth her werkes / but they ioyne alle to gyders / On sondayes and other hygh dayes they come to chirche and to a comyn borde and etyn y fere / and talken y fere of goostly tales / they saye theyr seruyce after saynt benets rule / An apostata that breketh his ordre they take hym neuer ageyne / ¶ Kyng wylliam made descryue al englond / For he wold wytte and knowe how moche londe eche of his ba­rons hadde / how many knyghtes fees how many teme londe / how many townes and men and how many beestes / the lond was greued with many meschyefs and happes that fyl for that dede / That descrypcion was wryten al in one volume / and y doo in the kynges lyberarye at wynchestre / Also this yere Edgar Ade­lyng wente in to Apulea with grete strengthe by loue of kyng wylliam and his syster Crystyne wente in to the abbay of Romsee / After vyctor the seconde vrban was pope thyrtene yere / Fyrst this was a monk of cluny & archedeken of rome / and hete Odo Therafter he was Bisshop hostyence and pope atte last / Another pope that hete clemente that was in the poperyche with wrong dy­de this vrban moche woo and teene. ¶ This clemente was [Page] somtyme bisshop of Rauenna / That yere in englond was greet [...] deth of beestes and dystemperyng of the eyer by the whiche many men deyd in feuers and for honger / In the same tyme grysely fyre destroyed the pryncipal cytees of Englond and saynt Paules chirche / and a grete dele of london / Alfr / That yere the danes in a chirche slew her kyng Ca [...]tus / ¶ Willelmus de Regi­bus libro tercio / This kynge wylliam lay a bed at Roen Rotho­mage in the laste ende of his lyf the kynge of Fraunce scorned hym in this maner / kyng williā of Englond lieth now as wymmen don a chyldebed and taketh hym to sleuthe he bourded soo / For kyng wylliam hadde slaked his grete wombe with a drynke that he hadde dronke / the kyng was displesyd with this scorne / and sayde I shal offre hym a thousand candels whanne I shal goo to chirche of chylde / And not longe therafter in a lamesse moneth whanne the cornes were in feldes Fruyt on trees / and grapes on the vynes / he sette a fuyr the west syde of Fraunce & the Cyte medant and our lady chirche / In that chirche he brente a womā that was closed & trowyd not but she sholde fle in suche a maner nede / In that hete he toke an euyl that myght not be hee­led other ellys whanne his hors lepe ouer the dyche he brake the entrayls of his fatte wombe / than leches warned hym that he shold dye / than he ordeyned normandy to his eldest sonne Robert And Englond to wylliam the reede. And the moder possessions and tresour / To henry clerk & made delyuere his prisonners that he had in boundes / that were the Erles marcarus Rogyer / wilnotus / haraldes sonne / his brother odo bisshop of bayon / And so he deyde the yere of his kyngdome one and twenty the tenthe mo­neth the yere of his duchery two & fyfty / the yere of his lyf nyne and fyfty / the yere of our lord a thousand four score and seuen the eyght day of december / and he was buryed in thabbay of ca­dony that he had founded / there me myghte see sorowe that he that was soo dredeful and soo worshipful in europa myght not be buryed withoute chalenge / For there a knyght forbede open­ly his beryeng and seyde that grounde was his owne / and y take of hym with strength / therfor his sonne henry yaf the knyght an honderd pound for to ceese for ther were none of kyng williams sonnes / for his eldest sonne Robert warred than in the countray / and william the reede was sayled in to englond / But at Wyn­chestre he toke his faders tresorye and yafe moche for his faders mynde / Henricus libro quinto / This william conquerour was a [Page CCCxxxj] wyse man and gyleful ryche and couetouse gloryous and loued wel grete loos fayr speker with goddes seruaunces and sterne to hym that wold him withstonde / In the prouynce of hampton in the newe forest in the space of thyrtty myle / he threwe doun chirches & townes and dyde there wyld beestes / Soo that who toke there a wylde beest shold lese his [...]ne eye / & who that toke a wo­man by strengthe shold lese his genetoryes· W / dere / li / 3 / Kynge wylliam was of skylful stature to grete & fat of bodye sterne of face / bar of forheede / grete of strengthe in brawne and armes / soo that vnnethe ony man myyhte bende his bowe / but he wolde on his hors stretche forth his senewys and bende it easyly ynough vpon his one foete / he had skylful strength and yaue hym self to moch to huntyng / soo that he threwe downe chirches & town [...]s to make wodes / he made grete feestes and reueles in the high fe [...]tes of the yere / he helde his mydwynter tyde at gloucestre / his ees­ter at wynchestre / whitsontyde at westmynstre / whan he was in Englond / but he passyd and ouerdyde in gaderyng money of the people / other to wythstonde his enemyes / other to make hym a greete name / other to ceese his couetyse / it is· a comyn tale that whan this william was yong he distourbed his came malgerus Archebisshop of Rotomage of his bisshopryche / for he forgēdryd goddes seruyce and yaue hym self to huntyng and to festes / but more verely / for the bisshop had acursid duc william & mold his wyf and his cosyn / for they were vnlaufully y wedded to giders But for that trespaas duc William bylded an abbaye of men / & mold another of wymē at cadony / R / Also william bylded twey abbayes in englond one at bermūdeseye fast by london / & another at bataylle in southsex / there he hadde foughte / Hen / li / 7 / Whan this william was kyng vnnethe was there a lord in englond an englysshman / but englisshmen were made boonde / so that it was shame and despyte to be cleped an englysshman / To bere doune & to destroye englysshman god had ordeyned cruel and sterne / that be of suche kynde that whanne they haue boren downe theyr ene­myes than they bere doune theyr self /

¶ Capitulum 5

WYlliam the reede was crowned kyng the day of saynt Cos­ma and damian / him halp wulstan Bisshop of wyrcetre / & [Page] the Archebisshop lanfrank that hadde hym norysshed / and made knyght / This william regned thyrten yere a moneth lāsse / Ro­bert the eldest sone was that tyme in almayne / & hadd gadred a grete hoost ayenst the fader. & herde herof & cam ageyne in to nor­mandye / & leyde half normandy / oute take castels to wedde to his broder henry for to wage an hoost ayenst his broder william and cam at last a lond at hampton / Than the kyng sente hym messagers that sayd in this maner / Thy broder william clepeth him self not kynge / but vnderkyng to regne vnder the / & by helpe of the that art gretter than he / & better & rather y bore / yf it is thy wylle / he bathnot mystake as his owne that he hath take for a time by cause ofthyn absence. but by cause he is nowe crowned he prayeth that he may regne vnder the & pay to the euery yere thre thousand marc / & he that ouer leueth shal haue the worship of o­ther / Robert waggng his heede assentyd anon & left his hoost & wente ageyne in to normandy / & had ryght nought but fayr by­hestes / wel nygh al the noble men of englond wold haue made robert kyng out take lanfrāk & wulstan / That tyme fell a cruell & grysely tempest in englond / for after winter in the begynnyng of spryngyng tyme kyng williams eame Odo bisshop of bayocens that was byfore delyuerd onte of the fyrst kyng williams pry­sonne cam in to englond / to hym was yeuen the Erldom of kente He sawe that it yede not al to his deuyse in the londe / as it dyde somtyme in the fyrst kyng wylliams tyme / and was wroth therfore / and forsoke the kynge & enfected many other with the same grutchyng / & namely the bisshop of durham / The erle of northū berlond / & rogyer of moūt gomeryk / Erle of shrowesbury / Than this odo wasted and destroyed the kynges rentes and enchetes / And lanfrank the Archebisshops londes / for he was by his counseyll cast in the fyrst kyng williams boundes / for the fyrst kyng william pleined somtyme of his broder that he wold forsake him Take hym quod lanfrank and bynde hym that he greue the not I saye not the bisshop but the erle of kente. That tyme Rogyer Erle of shrowesbury with his walsshmen destroyed the endes of Englond anon to wyrcetre / But by the prayer and curs of seint wulstan / they were soo y febled and blente that he and his men were chaced of a lytel nombre of men of castels of the same Bisshops meyne / Kyng wylliam sawe that the normans were nygh all conspyred ageynst hym / Than he plesyd englysshmen with be hestes of bett lawes & fre hūting in his owne wodes / In the same [Page CCCxxxij] maner he awelded roger erle of shrowsbury & anō he fil on them that hym hadd forsake & occupyed odoes castels in kent / & toke odo & made hym forswere englonde / & besieged & toke the cyte of rochestre ther the noble men were gadred / Also that yere saint nycolas body was brought to the cyte barrus in apulea whan turkes destroyed the cyte mirrea / four & twēty knightes of barrus wente thyder and brought to her owne cyte saynt nycolas bones swymmyng in oile / Also that yere pope vrban had with him ancelm abbot of becko / & made a coūseil at cleremoūt in gallia that is in fraunce. ther it was ordeygned that the houres of our ladye shold be saide euery day / & fulle seruyce of her the saterday. Kyng william corrūped the wardeyns with money & whan sōme of ro­bertes castels in normandye & lette the kynge of fraunce / that be shold not fauer his broder robert / & so normandy was longe vn­stidfast / now fauouryng that one broder / & now the other til that robert had chynon & kyng williams som castel in saynt nycolas moūt & resed vpon either broder now vpon the one & now vpon the other / there in a day kyng william went oute of his tente on war & fyl on many enemyes with fewe men / But his hors was slayne vnder hym / & he was long draw and haled by the fote / But his haberione was so good that it saued hym that he was not hurt / the knyght that had throwe hym downe set his hond to his swerde for to sle the kyng / leue foole quoth kyng william I am kynge of englonde / alle the hoost drad whan they herde that voys / & brought the kyng another hors / he axyd who threwe him doun / I quoth the knyght that had doo the dede / I wende not to throw doune a kyng but a knyght / Per vultum de luca quod the kyng / thou shalt be me the leuer after this / Than whan hen [...]y was so beseged of both his bretherē. that him locked water / he sente to his broder robert that was the more benigne man & sayde that it was an euyl dede for to werne water that is comyn to al men / & beestes / & that it were more lauful to fyght with strength of knyghtes than with vyolens of the elemēs / than he graūted hym water / kyng william herde therof and scorned that dede & sayde / so thou hast lerned robert to ouercome thyn enemyes & to yeue hem drynke / Thou tellest grete pryce of water quod robert / tellest thou more pryce of water than of our broder / woldest thou suffre hym to deye for defaute of water / where shal we haue another broder yf we leese hym / For this answer the kynge vndyde the werre / and had both his bretheren with hym in to englond /

¶ Capitulum sextum /

THis yere dyed lanfrank Archebisshop of Caunterbury / the fourth day of Iuyn after that he had be archebisshop / xviij yere / And than the see was voyde four yere / W / de p / li / p / This lanfrank of the nacion of lombardes was a noble man of lettru­re / he hadde y yeue al his yought to free artes and scyences and spente his elde al in hooly bookes / he was connyng therof / and despysed the smokyng and schyllyng speche of mysbyleuyd men And of al thabbayes of normandy he chose becco· and was y capped by the pouert & relygyō of that place / there he was monk vnder abbot herlewing / & was a man that couth do no grete werkes to gete his lyuelode therwith / therfor he helde open scole of arte to releue the nedy place by fredome of his scolers / the loos of hys praysynge & of his worship sprang out among wykked men / soo that they had grete enuye to the good man and to the preestes of the coūtray meoued so william duc of normandye that he comaū ded to putte oute lanfrank out of normandy for his vnnesynesse W / li / 2 / By cause herof duc williams preeste was holden a man of grete scyence byfore the comyng of lanfrank / And he cam in a daye to lanfrank scole with greete bragge and boost / than by hys fyrste speche lanfrank was waar that the man couth wel nygh [...] ryght nought / and toke hym a thyng with lettres for to spede / And soo he ouercome the wyldenes of the man by cunnynge of ytaly / therfor he was wroth / and made duc willyā put lanfrank out of al normandy / But occasion to haue grace of the duc was for lanfrank wente to the dukes courte / and his hors halted & made the duc laugh / The duc toke hede of courtosye of lanfrācks answer and of the fayrenesse of his face / and made hym pryour of becco / abbot of caen and afterward archebisshop of Caunterbury / W / de / pon / li / 1 / This man was so famous of lore that Pope alysaunder aroos worshipfully ayenst hym whan he cam to rome and sayde that he dyde not to the archebisshop that worship / but to his clergye / therfore the pope axyd that / syth that he hadde doo / what was worshipful lāffrāk shold do what was rightful that is that he shold falle doun to the feet of saynt peters vyker / whan he had doo soo / the pope by cause of hym restored his felawes bisshops that come with hym to theyr state croyses & Rynges that were bifore y preued as it is said bifore / Also this lanfrāk tretid [Page CCCxxxiij] and byladde kyng wylliam conquerour by an hooly crafte / not with grymchydynge / but somtyme an ernest & somtyme in good myrthe / Kyng william was sterne and dradde no man & ruled both temporalyte & spiritualyte at his own wyll / he toke no man fro the pope in his lande but he come & plesyd hym / he suffred no counseyll made in his owne countrey without his own leue / Also he wold no thyng suffre to be ordeyned in suche a counseyll but as he wold assente / Also no lord of his londe shold be punysshed but at his owne heest / Somtyme lanfrank toke money for to spare the more the trespas of his subget / That dyd he not for lyght the charge of synne / but for to gete the more grace of the kyng / The nede why it most be doo excused somwhat the kynges dede in gadryng of money / For with grete money one may make peas / in the londe that is wonne thith dedes of armes and with streng­the / And though it be lytel acounted amonge men to rauysshe of men of the londe and yeue to enemyes / yet byfore god I holde it ryght nought / Thenne kynge wylliams dedes in comparyson of dedes of kinges. that nowe ben be worthy to be preched for ensample of free and lordely herte / That was sayde trespaas of presūp­cion / Lanfrank suffryd it ageynste his wylle / And whanne [...]e sawe his tyme he wold speke plesauntly and warned hym and wythsayde hym in skylful manere / Lanfrank hadde fylled his wytte with alle vertues and specially in / almesse deedes / he pas­sed other menne in wordes and in deedes / and vsyd ofte that worde of hooly wrytte yeueth almesse and al thynge is cle­ne to you / And though c [...]uetyse be a speciall vyce to lombardes he put that gleymyng fer from his persone / soo that he spence on pore men mete & drynk & cloth / he shamed hym not to gyrde him self high and fede and serue pore men and make pore stolers stryue and dispute / and whanne they hadde done eyther sholde goo gladde aweye / the vyctor for he hadde the maystrye / and he that was ouercome for comforte and solace of shame / he aduanced namely the place of monkes and of clerkis / he brouht manly a [...]en possessions that were alyened / Sharpnes of wytte and dunstās fauour comforted him ofte / for as oft as he was thoughtful for suche doynges and abode with the sentence / Saynt dunstā wold come to lanfrank whan he was a slepe / and warne hym of al the sleyghte of his aduersaryes / and teche the weyes how he shold escape / Also in a tyme lanfrank was seke and hym s [...]med that dunstan warstled with hym and delyuerd hym of his sekenesse [Page] and made hym al hoole / And as it is take oute of saynt Dun­stans lyf / lanfrank was soo mylde and soo fayr of speche in he­rynge of shryfte that whanne the shryfte were doo he wold kysse theyr hondes that were y shryue to hym / and saye these haue made me hooly this daye / Also in his tyme the monkes of Caunter­bury as wel nyghe al other monkes in englond were not vnlyk to seculer men saue that they lefte not theyr chastyte / but they v­syd haukynge / and huntyng and playeng at dees and grete dryn­kers also / ¶Soo that thou woldest wene that they were consuls rather than monkes for they had soo many seruauntes of so grete arraye / lanfrank suffryd theyr outrage a space of tyme / but he fered hit awey wyth the staf of couenable sternesse / The wyse mayster of soules knewe and wyst wel the customme is the seconde from kynde / ¶ And he knewe also that sodayne chaungyng of maner & thewes greueth thoughtes & wyttes / ther for otherwhiles emonge he putte awey somwhat of suche maner doyngis with fayr speche and softe / and whette the ruyde soules to good with the whestone of vertues / So that they forsooke the braunches of shrewdnesse and euyll maners of lyuyng and de­syred the kynde cours of vertues and of thewys by theyr own good wylle / therfore yet they haue the hooly man in mynde and greete deuocion to god and fayr speche to ghestes and charyte a­mong them self / this lanfrank lete neuer mā go fro him [...]lenge or sory / yf he saw ony man discomforted he wolde besyly axe and wyte the cause and yeue comfort and medicyn / he wolde frely profre penyes to yonge childeren / he ordeyned to monkes what theym neded in euery syde / soo that they shold not lacke of what that them neded / & out of rule they shold not blenche / that tyme sprā ge enuye among bisshops that wold put out mōkes of their places / & bringe in seculer clerkes / auctor of that doyng was walke linus bisshop of winchestre a good man in other dedes / though he were bade in that doing & brought therto by coūseyl of bacbitres Also he had cōutid kyng williā to the same entēt / but lāfrāk herde therof & destroyed the castes of the mighty mē as who destroyeth attercops nestes / so they that comen afterward shuld not be har­dy to begynne that doyng ne none other lyke / he made that pope alisander forbode it by his wrytyng / he restored thabbay of rochestre frō the nōbre of four clerkes to the nōbre of fifty mōkes that had ynough to lyue by. his wytte is y wyst that he translated gundulphus monk of cadony to the bisshoprych of rochestre as I [Page CCCxxxiiij] trowe by the election of god / For this gundulphus lerned ho­ly wrytte of lanfrank at cadony while his mayster toke heede to other thynges he and his felawe walter with the thyrde helde on honde the booke of the gospels / & sayde now essaye we be turnynge of the leues whiche of vs shal be abbott & whiche shal be Bisshop / than gundulphus fonde this place true seruaunt wyse & redy that our lord ordeyneth ouer his meyne / but walter fonde this place goddes seruaunt and true entre in to the Ioye of thy lorde / The thyrde felaw fonde I not what hard word that greued hym soore / and though I haue herde it / I foryete it gladly for it is a gentil herte to make noo game and scorne of other mennes woo / thenne they made ioye of that happe / and lanfrank axyd what they had of murthe / & whan he knewe how it stode / he told theym wythout doubte that gundulphus shold be a bisshop and walter an abbot / and that the thyrdde shold torne to the slidyng of the world / as it fylle afterward / the soth was preued / for gū dulphus was bisshop of Rochester / & walter abbot of euesham / & the thyrd passed in veyne / whan lanfrank acorded not in maners with kyng wylliam the reede / he lay atte last seke of the feuer [...] & was shryuen and houseled and dranke a medecinale drank and so he yelde vp the goost as he hadde desyred / he knowleched that he had prayde god that he myghte deye in the feuers or in the flux / for these euyls dystourbith not the mynde nowther letteth the speche

¶Capitulum 7

THis yere whan the counseyll was made in the cyte turon in gallia / in fraunce pope vrban exyted nygh al the west londes to socour of the holy lande / therfor the thyrd henry emperour Reymund erle of saynt Gyles and beamund of apulca toke the crosse and passed the see of myddel erthe at that place that is callyd saynt georges arme and had with hem two honderd thousād of Crystē men / & so the holy lond was wonne at that tyme & crystes spere was founde by reuelacion of saynt andrew that was shewed to a clerke / with hem wente Robert duc of normandy & therfor he made acorde with his broder kynge william the reede & leyde to hym normandy to wedde for ten thousande pounde / But be cause therof kyng wylliā toke a greuoꝰ trybute of englisshmen [Page] so that prelates melted theyr vessel / and lordes spoylde their subgettes / Malcolyn kyng of Scotland toke prayes in northumberlond / therfore kynge william and his broder Robert wente in to Scotlande / his nauey was nygh al adreynt & his hoost marryd with [...]old and with honger. Malcolyn cam ayenst hym with adelyng and made pees by medyacion / Soo that malcolyn sholde be obedyente to kyng william / as he was somtyme to his fader / and kyng william shold yeue hym euery yere twelue mark of golde and he sholde yelde hym twelue cytees / in englond / but sone ther after the kyng fayled and Robert toke with hym edgar & went ageyne in to normandy / ¶ This yere the fyfte day of October a grete strook of lyghtnyng smote the chirche toure at wynchecom be and thyrled the walle and threwe the crucifyxe hede doune to the erthe and brake the ryght thygh and threwe downe our lady ymage that stode by the roode / therafter cam a stynkynge smoke that fylled all the chirche / and dured till the monkes hadde goo a procession aboute all the places and offyces of the abbay with hooly water and relykes of hooly sayntes and with the Letanye

Also at london a whyrle wynde threwe doune six honderd houses or moo / and many chirches therto / and slewe two men in seint marye chirche atte bowe / and lyfte vp sixe reftres of the chirche / and stroke theym soo deepe in the grounde / that vnnethe the sixte part of hem was seen aboue the erth / ¶ Also a whyrlwynde threwe doune the heelyng of the chirche of Salesbury / the fyfth day after that osmundus had halowed that chirche / ¶ Willelmus de pon / libro quarto / ¶ Remigius the Bisshop that translated the see from Dorchestre to lyncolne / cast for to ha­lowe the chirche that he had newely buylde / But thomas bisshop of york wythstode hym and sayde / that that place was of his pa­rysshe / And kyng wylliam for money that Remigius hadde yeuen pryuely commaunded nyghe alle the bisshops of Englonde that they sholde come to that dedycacion the fyftenth day of may / but twey dayes byfore that daye of the dedycacion Remygyus dyed by goddes preuy doome / Robert Bisshop of herford aloone wolde not come to the halowyng of that chirche / for he knew by certayn syght of the steres that that chirche shold not be halowed in Remygius tyme / This Remygius semed nygh a wonder forbodyng for his bodye was soo lytel / but he ouercome kynde and shewed outeward a noble hert and wytte / Soo that gracious and noble vertue come of that litel body / After this Remigius Robert bloet [Page CCCxxxv] was Bysshop a full lecherous man / he fulfylled ryally the halo­wyng of that chirche / Atlast at wodestok he wēte from the kyng & deyde and his bowels were take oute of his bodye & beryed in the abbay of euesham that he hadde founded / the other dele was buryed at lyncolne / there it was well knowe that the wardeyns of the place were ofte dysesed with shadowes by nyghte / till that the place was clensyd with hooly prayers and be dys / That ye­re kyng william wente in to northumberlonde / and repayred the cyte of lugubalia / that now is called caercol and made a Castell therynne / that cyte hadde ben destroyed from the comynge of the danes two honderd yere / ¶And sone therafter at gloucestre the kynge was take with a grete sekenesse and byhete that he wolde amende his lyf by counseyll of the lordes / ¶ Henricus libro sexto ¶And he yaf that yere the Archebisshopryche to Ancelm / but he myght not take therof but as the kyng wold / er the tribute was payd that the kyng had sette / Also he sayde that the Bisshopriche of lyncolne longed to the See of york / till that Robert bloet had yeue the kynge fyue thousand marc / ¶Also this yere deyde Ro­gyer erle of shrowesbury / whanne he lay seke he made hym mōk for to haue somme socoure by assente of countesse Adelysa / for he hadde sente Reynald pryour of shrowesbury to cluny for to haue saynt Hughe / the abbots kyrtel to were it aboute hym / Treuisa ¶A wyseman wold mene that erle Rogyer had as moche mede of that he was monke / as malkyn of her maydenhode / that noo man wolde haue and not adeel more / Thenne it foloweth in the story / after Rogyer his sonne hugh was erle / ¶ Also that ye­re was grete reyne and flodes / And soone therafter soo grete fro [...]t that one myghte ouer all lede cartes and waynes ouer waters & ryuers / And whanne the frost byganne to. thawe and to melte it brake nygh al the bridges in euery syde / Rees kyng of wales was slayne in fyghtynge faste by brechnok / and soo ceesed the kyngdome of wales / ¶ Malcolin kyng of Scottes come to gloucestre ayenst king williā on a saynt barnabas daye / to acorde with him / But they departed in wrath / for king william wolde that malcolin shold be demed in his court where euer it were in Englond / But malcolin wolde not but in the marches of bothe the kingdoms there it was wonte / but that yere vppon saint bri­cius daye malcolin and his eldest sonne edward and many other were slaine in northumberlond of Erle Robartes knightes / margrete quene of Scottes that loued and worshiped god with her [Page] myght / toke soo grete sorowe that she fyll seke as she had prayd god and deyde the thyrde day therafter / whanne she was dede / the Scottes made dunwald malcolyns broder kynge / But duncan malcolyns sonne by helpe of kyng wylliam put oute dunwalde and toke the kyngd [...]me of Scotland / ¶Willelmus de pontifici­bus / it was tolde this malc [...]lyn in a tyme that one of the lordes of his londe hadde conspyred to brynge him to deth / he badde hym be stylle that tolde hym that tale and he helde it preuy with hym self tyll the traytour was comen / Atte laste the traytoure cam to the kynge to awayte his tyme to doo that cursed dede / the kynge bad erly in a mornyng that all the hunters shold come with their houndes / ¶ Whyle they were an huntynge the kynge wente with this traytoure to a broode pleyne / that was bysette with thykk wode al aboute as a garland / In the myddel of that pla­ce was a lytell toote as it were an hylle / these tweyne stode alone on that toote / loo sayd the kyng / I and thou ben here alone / eche wel y horsed and wepened· and eche well arrayed / Now is noo man that seeth vs that myght helpe other lette / yf thou myght & yf thou darrest doo now as thou haddest thought / I can not see whan it myghte be better nother more frely done / yf thou hast or­deyned venym that is the doyng of wymmen and not of knygh­tes / yf thou desyrest my wyf soo may spouse brekers / yf thou cas­test to stele vpon me with [...] that is a theues doyng & not a knyghtes / Therfor do [...] and as a knyght shold / that thy tresonne he withoute shame of cowardyse for withoute fals­heede may it not be / Anone he fylle doune to the kynges feet and swore tha he wolde therafter be trewe to the kyng to his liues ende & promysed hym pledgys whiche he wolde cheese / And soo the traytour was made trewe and wente ageyne to his felawes whanne he sawe his tyme / Also this yere Ancelm abbot of barro cam oute of normandy in to Englond atte request of hugh er­le of chestre for thre causes / one bycause he shulde releue abbayes that he hadde byfore founded in englond of greuous trybute that the abbayes payed to the kyng / the second for to visyte erle hugh that was sore seke that tyme / The thyrdde by cause he sholde foūde an abbaye at chestre / In that place he assygned his preeste Rychard fyrste abbot and chaunged seculer chanons in to monkes But in the comyng ageyne thennes he was made Archebisshop of Caunterbury /

¶ Capitulum 8

THis yere Englond and Normandye were greued with a greuous trybute and with moreyn of men / soo that erth ty­lyenge ceesed / and therafter come grete honger and walsshe men forsoke the yok of thraldome and of subiection and toke prayes in the shyres of Chestre / of shrowesbury and of herford and toke the castel of meuema / That tyme the Scottes slewe theyr kynge duncanus and made dunwald efte kynge / Sterres were seen [...] doune from the skye as it were fyghtyng to geders / Kyng Williā cam oute of normandy and sente an hoost in to wales / there he loste many horses and men / than the kynge sawe that the walshmen myght not be ouercome for streytnesse of dyuerse places / and for thykke wodes / therfore the kynge made stronge castels in places by the see syde and hewed doune a grete dele of the wodes / and therafter he beete doune many walshmen / Wulstan Bisshop of wyrcetre deyde the eyghtenth daye of Ianuary / Willelmus de pon / li / tercio / This wulstan in the hour of his dyyeng appered to his wel byloued frende Robert bisshop of he [...]ford in the towne of Cryklade and chargyd hym that he shold araye for his beryeng / and efte the thyrtenth day therafter he appered to [...]ym & warned that he shold amende hym of the neglygence of hym s [...]lf and of his also / And sayde that he shold not longe in his chayr sytte / And soone therafter Robert deyde / Also this wulstan wol [...]de suffre noo man whanne he was deede to take of hym his ryng that he had fyrst whanne he was sacred bisshop / he hadde ofte sa [...] ­de whyle he was a lyue that he wolde neuer leue that ryng / Also he sayde ofte to egnlysshmen / It is goddes chastysynge that ye suffre / Englysshmen answerd hym and sayde that the normās were wors than euer were englysshmen / god almyghty quod he vsith wel the wykkednesse of hem in you and by hem that be vnworthy he takyth wreche of hem that haue trespaced and a gylt

So god by his good wylle the fende by his euyll wylle tor­mentyth euyll men in helle and is tormented with theym also / Ensample may be yeuen / thou art wroth and smytest a man with a staf / of the brekyng of the staf thou rechest but lytel / Willelmus de pontificibus likro quarto / Wulstan was borne in warwyk shyre. and lerned lettrure and offyce of hooly chirche in the abbaye osburgh / Atte laste he was made preeste and songe a [Page] longe masse / and heelde hym apayed with only the offrynge of crysten men / and he was holden a clene mayde / he dyde no outrage in drynke / Flessh / he ete somtyme / but he f [...]rsoke etynge of flessh / by cause of this happe / In a day whanne he shold goo for to plede / hym semed that he sholde fyrst synge his masse / and than toke somme mete to releue with his neede / Thenne a goos was leyd to the fyre / & he smelled the rosted flessh / while he was at masse and was lette of his deuocion by the smell of the flessh and so he strof long tyme & myght not torne awey his thought at this wyll / therfor he swore on the hooly sacramente that he had on hond / that he wolde neuer ete suche maner mete after that tyme / and sayde his masse and ete and wente forthe to the ple as he must / Atte laste his deuocion encreaced and he auowed chas­tyte / and forsooke the worlde by ensample of his forfaders that hadd auowed chastyte before his deth tyme / and in the abbay of wyrcetre there his fader had serued bifore that tyme / he was made monke / there he wente vpward by al the offyces of the hous / He was euer besy in fastyng waking and in bedes / he was wōt to laye his hede on a fourme of the chirche / there he badde his beedes and slepte there / he laye byfore the aulter in a nyghte / in his bedes / and there cam a fende in a mannes lykenesse / and warstled with hym / whether he wold or noo. and cast him thry­es to the grounde / therfor he hadde afterward grete penaunce in an euyl that is called yleos and greueth fast by the reynes / the fende cam to hym in a seruauntes lykenesse of the courte. as ofte as wulstan sawe that seruaunt afterward he wexyd al pale for drede / he wolde not lyght doune from his hors for noo brekyng of brydges / but he wolde ryde surely ynough vpō the hyghe brinkes of the bridge· though it were ryght strayte / Atte last whan the forsayde aldredus was translated to the bisshoprych of york wulstan was chosen Bisshop of wyrcetre specially by the procu­ryng of aldredus that hoped to blynde his rebberye by the sym­plenesse of wulstan / but he had more helpe of vertue than of lettrure / and defended manly the ryght of his chirche / But he was not so lewde of lettrure as he was holden / for he couth what hym neded for to kunne / oute take fables of poetes / and wyly and Slyȝ Sylogismes / that he wolde not on cas / vouche sauf for to lerne / wulstan wolde not assente to his owne election / Thenne one wulsius an hooly man hadde be fourty yere closed / blamed hym sharply for he wold not assente / Also he was warned [Page CCCxxxvij] of god that he shold assente to the election / In his consecracion were two legates of the court of Rome / and though he made profession to Stygandus the Archebisshop / he toke his consecracion and his sacryng of aldredus the Archebisshop of york / but for to auoyde chalenges that myghte falle afterward / Aldredus made protestacion that he chalengyd no ryght of subiection in wulstā after that tyme / though he hadde be his monk byfore that tyme / Than wulstan was made bisshop and spared both mete and drynke in his halle alle the houres after mete / as the vsage was of englisshmen / he wold sytte by hym and frote his palmes and feyne to drynke as his tyme come and comforted hym that wolde dryn­ke / but he dyd that more for vsage of the countraye / than for ony lykynge that he had therynne / and he lefte not of the boost of the normans but he had knyghtes aboute hym where he wold wēde He sayde his masse euery day and the sauter also / and memoryes and myndes of famous sayntes departed a seuene by the seuene houres of the day / As ofte as he was at wyrcetre he wolde syng the hye masse / and sayde that he wolde not leue that offyce for to resygne the bisshopriche / he wold be at collaciō of monkes / & made the general confession with other / and yaue the beneson / and goo in to his chambre / whan he rode on his hors he wold say his saw­ter / and beneson that englissh men makyth on the cuppe. he spared it not atte kynges borde / yf nede droof hym to plede in ony ma­ner tyme / he wolde bydde crstes curs to al euyl arbytrours and moyens / but to alle the good he wold bydde crystes blessynge / he vsed furres of symple pryce / and rought but lytel of wh [...]t maner skynnes / but be vsid more skynnes of lambe than of other beestes / and yf one hadde counseyled hym somtyme that he sholde vse skynnes of cattes / he answerd in his game and sayde / I her­de synge in the chirche of goddes lambe and not of goddes catte / therfor I loue better the heete of the lambe than I doo the beete of a catte / In a tyme his monkes wente in the more chirche that he hadde buylded / and he sawe that the old chirche was destroyed that saynt oswald hadde bylded and wepte ful soore teres / He was in fayr maner wythsayd of that dede / and it was sayd vnto hym that he shold rather be gladde that his chirche hadde so grete worship in his tyme / And also as the houses were more / so were the moo of monkes / He answerd and sayd I mene al other wyse than ye do / we wreches destroye the werkes of hooly sayntes for to gete vs a grete name and praysyng of men In that [Page] tyme they vsed not to buylde / no hostful buyldynges / But they vsed to offre them self to god vnder that roof what it euer ewre / & and to drawe theyr subgettis to theyr owne ensamples / but we doo the contrary and gader stones to hepe and retche not of soules In a tyme he made a sermon of the pees to the peple / and many men tourne to loue and to pees / But one ther was that wolde not be acorded in noo wyse / nother for reasonne nother for skyll nother for prayeng of the bisshop / he stode byfore the bisshop / and the bisshop sayd to hym / It is y wryt [...]n that men of pees ben blessyd / Than they that ben not men of pees be wr [...]tches and the de­uyls children / Than till thou amende the / I betake the to hym that hath the as his owne chylde / And anone as he was made the enemyes manciple / he byganne to lygge and to fome / to grysbyte and to grynde with his teth / and to caste hys hede about Wulstan heeled hym ageyne / but he wold not of peas / Than the fende hadde hym efte and the thyrd tyme till he had foryeuen all maner trespaas / ¶ In a tyme lanfrank putte ageynst wul-stan of lettrure / And the archebisshop of york Aldredus chalen­gyd of hym lawful subiection / and he wente oute of the palays / and sayde the houre of none that he had behynde and cam ageyne boldely / and answerd and had the mastrye / ¶ One Alwyn that leuyd as an anker at maluerne hylles had grete wylle to take the weye to the hooly londe and tolde his counseyll to Bisshop wulstān / the bisshop answerd nay / & sayde leue of Alwyn with thy good wylle / trowe thou me / thow woldest haue grete wonder yf thou wyst / what god thynketh to do by the / he dyde by his re­de / and wente thennes· and gadred thyrtty monkes in the same place / A shipman that hight Sewulphus shroof hym to wulstā ofte of the same synnes / than the bisshop sayde I see wel that ese maketh a theef / therfore I counseyll the that thou be a monk / He wold not for it was an hard lyf / Go quoth the bisshop / whether thou wolt or noo thou shalt be a monk / and soo it happed after­ward / ¶In a tyme wulstan groped the heede of one nycol that was his owne nory / that byganne to wexe balled ryght in his yongthe / wulstan sayd to hym / I trowe sonne that thou shalt be balled in short tyme / Than sayd he / fader why kepyst thou not my here and make it abyde. Sone quod the bisshop trowe thou me / the other dele of thy here shal abyde whyle I am alyue / and it happed that the same weke the bisshop deyde / That here of Ny­cols heede fyll awey and lofte not on his heede but the bare skyn [Page CCCxxxvj] After wulstans deth whanne al the chirche was a fyer / ther fell neyther ysel nor spark nother soote vpon wulstans graue / and soo it ferde of the matte that was vnder hym / whanne he badde his bedes / Of hym it is sayd that kynge william the conquerour wolde haue pryued for vnsuffysaunt lettrure / And also for he couth no Frenssh and cast in that maner to brynge in somme nor mans in his stede / Thenne wulstan toke his crosse / & pyghte it in the harde stone at saynt edward the kynges feete that lay the­re in his graue / he pyght soo the crosse / that noo man it myght take oute of the stone er he toke it hym self at the kynges heeste / While he pyght there the crosse / he sayde to kyng william a better man than thou art / betoke it to me / and I take it to hym ageyne / take it awey now yf thou myght /

¶ Capitulum 9

THis yere was the goyng to Ierusalem / in the which iourney was beamund / and Robert duc of normandy / By cause of that iourneye Robert leyde normandy to wedde to his broder william for ten thousand pound of syluer / Therafter twelue dayes byfore Iuyl Crysten men toke the cyte Acon / & in the mo­neth of october stella cometa that is a sterre with a bryghte bla­syng creest was seen fyften dayes / and many men sawe the sygne of the crosse brennyng in heuen / That tyme saynt steuens heede was brought to Cadony in normandy and that with many gre­te myracles / Amonge that hyght Odo brought thyder that hooly heede / Henricus libro septimo / There fyll stryf bytwene kyng William / and ancelm the archebisshop for Ancelm most make no synodes nother correcte trespaas / Also the kyng chalengyd the inuestiture of prelates and pylled and shaued the peple with trybute / and specially to spende aboute the toure of lon­don / and aboute the grete hall of westmynstre / Also the kyn­ges meyne greued the peple ouer all where they wente /

Willelmus de Regibus libro quarto / And yet herto the rote and norysshyng of couetyse of Ranulph that was somtyme the fyrste kynge williams preest and his chapellayne was made thus his procuratour in euery place / Yf this Ranulph sholde gadre the kynges trybute / he wolde take suche two as reasonn [Page] wolde / He pylled the ryche / & bare doune the pore / & dysperagid herytages & toke hem in to the kynges honde / therfore the kynge bourded in a tyme and sayd that he was a man alone / for he couth soo torne his wytte that he rought of noo mannes wreche whyle he myght plese his [...]orde atte ful / By his doyng hooly dignytees were sold / and sone therafter he bought the bisshopryche of dur­ham for a thousande pounde / That tyme they vsed strowtyng lockes and longe blasyng clothes / gay sporres and sharp / tho men yede tryppyng shewyng the sides / Ancelm wold amende al this and had noo help of his suffragans / and therfor he wente out of englond / but by heste of the kyng in his goyng in a hauen of kēt he was pylled and robbed and faren with as it were a theef / His males were serched / his bouges and his trussyng coffers & all that he had / Thenne ancelm wente to pope vrban in grete coū seyll at barus in apulea / he declared clerly ayenst thoppynyon of the grekes that tellyn that the hooly gooste cometh of the fader and not of the sonne / ¶ Willelmus de pontificibus li­bro secundo ¶ That tyme Raf bisshop of Chichestre spared not the kynge nother the bisshops that holde ageynste ancelm / but he spak for Ancelm and wythsayde the kyng to his owne face / and dradde ryght nought / he shewed forth his crosse and his rynge & cesed neuer nether slaked the grete doyng of his wytte / er ancelm in his goyng hadde brought his cause to a good ende / And also this wold he not assente that the kyng shold take tribute of prestes that vsyd fornycacion / but in al his dyocesy the seruyce of hooly chirche was suspendyd and the chirche dores were stopped with thornes / the kyng was awelded by grymnesse of that dede Soo that he graunted to hym aloone the trybute of his preestes / Also he aleyde that the chirche that is destroyed and brente shold not be pylled and robbed with trybutes. but it sholde be releued and holpen with fre yeftes / And the kyng that hadde take from al chirches / he yaue gladly to raufes chirche many grete yeftes / This Rauf spared not to blame mysdoers for her synnes and yf his blamyng halp but lytel / he wolde destroye the synne wyttyly / with game and wyth myrth· he wolde go aboute his dyocyse thryes a yere / but he pylled not his subgettis by myghte or by maystry / but what they wold frely yeue him he toke it with good wyll / Herof wold I not speke at this tyme nether that it shold be acounted a myracle now in oure age to fynde in a bisshop besi­nesse of prechyng and resonable receiuyng / Willelmus de re / li / 4 [Page CCCxxxix] Will / de regibus libro quarto / In a tyme whan kyng william went an huntyng / there cam a messager and sayde that Cenemo­nia was besyeged· Anone the kyng torned his hors heede and to­ke the wey streyght to the see / the lordes counseylled hym to gader an hoost / I shal see quoth he who wyll folowe me / and wente so to the see wel nyghe alone / The weder was derke and the wynde was ageynst hym / but he wold nedes sayle ouer / & shipmen coū seylled hym for to abyde the wynde & the weder / I herde neu (er) of a kynge said he that was adreynde / but take vp your ankers / & aray you for to sayle / and ye shal see that the elemētes make hem redy to my seruyce / Soo he passed the see / and they that besyeged Cenomania herde of his comyng and brake the syege / Helyas the mayster of that treson was take and brought byfore the kyng & the kyng spak gamely to hym & sayde mayster now I haue the yet is by happe quoth he that thou hast take me / I wote what I wolde do myght I ones escape / The kyng was wroth and sayde go thy wey and flee / I graunte the to doo what thou mayst and yf thou ouercomest me / I shal acorde with the / For the kyng dyde suche dedes / that yf it myght stonde with the feyth of holy chir­che / ye wold wene / that Iulius cesars soule were passed and comē in to this kyng as I trowe somtyme that euforbins soule pas­sed in to pyctagoras / Hen. li / 4 / This yere at fynchamstede in barrockshyre a welle was y see welle blode fyften dayes / And al a nyght heuen was seen brennyng a fyre / Also this yere hugh and hughe erles of shrowesbury and of chestre toke the ylande mon that hight Anglesye also / and slewe walsshmen that were therin and of many they cutte of theyr genetoryes / and putte oute her eyen / Among the whiche they toke a preest that hyght kynredus and drewe hym out of the chirche and put oute his one eye / and kytte of his genetoryes and his tonge / But by myracle of god he hadde his speche afterward the thyrde day /

That tyme the grete kyng of the norganes the sonne of Olanus toke with hym harald that was somtyme kyng haraldes sonne / and toke the ylandes orcades and menanies / and thennes in to mon / there the twey forsayde erles were. the erle of shrowesbury wente ageynst hym and was smyte with an arow right in to the eye & deyde the eyght daye after that he had kydde his wodenesse of the forsayd preeste / & he was beryed at shrowesbury / / W / de p li / 2 Aboute that tyme Robert losang that had be somtyme abbot of ramsey and was thenne bisshop of tedford was a grete nory for [Page] symony for he had bought the bisshopryche of the kyng / but af­terward he was sory & bywepte the vnskylful rest of his yongth and toke the wey to Rome and come home agayne and chaūged and tornyd his see from Tedford to norwiche / And he founded a solempnel abbaye with his owne catell and not with the catel of his bisshopryche / But at Tedford he ordeyned monkes of cluny that were ryche in the world and clere of relygion to god ward And soo herbart was amended by double sawe of warnynge / that one was of his predecessour herfast / and was this / not this but barabas / And the other was his owne and was this / fren­de wherto art thou come / He herde this and wepte and sayde / I come in an euyl maner / but by goddes grace / I shal goo oute in good manere / and had ofte in mynde the worde of Ierom that sayde we erryde in our yongth / amende we vs in our elde / Henricus libro quarto / ¶ Than kyng william cam oute of normandy / and whanne he sawe fyrst the grete halle of westmynstre / he sayde that it was to lytel by the halfe / and therfore he had cast to ordeyne it for his chambre /

¶ Capitulum 10 /

ABoute this tyme beganne thordre of whyte monkes in burgoyne in the dyocyse of Cabyloneus / that ordre is cleped ordre Cystersiensis in latyn and bygan in this maner / W / de r / li / 2 One steuen hardyng of the nacion of englond monk of shyrburn from his childholde wente in to scotland and afterward in to fraū ce / there he lerned lyberal scyences and toke the pryckes of the loue of god and wente to Rome at last with one of his scole feres Noo greef myght departe them tweyne / Noo thyng them letted that they nold euery day say the sauter / It sprange in his wytte as it cam forth afterward / For he cam in to burgoyne and in to molys in the grete newe abbaye / he threwe awey the here / there he toke lyghtly the poyntes of the rule that he had seen byfore / And whanne he sawe other put forth to be holden and kepte that he hadde neuer seen / nother herde in seynt benets rule / he enquyred the skylle & the reason therof soberly as a monk sholde & said / the higher worcher made al thyng by reson & gouneth al thyng that he made by reason / by reson the elementis haue theyr beyng & the sterres also meoueth by reason and kepyn theyr cours by reson / [Page CCCxl] And so shold our kynde stonde by reson & falleth of the reson by sleuthe and vnconnyng and is y cleped ageyn by law to reson / & also by saynt benets rule / in the whiche rule is somwhat contey­ned of the whiche I am not of power to conceyue the reasonne / but yet I holde that it be resonne to assente to auctoryte / For the auctorytees of holy scripture ben alone though it seme somtyme / that they discorde and god doth nothyng withoute reasonne / how shal I than trowe that hooly fader that folowyd cast ordeyned ought withoute reasonne / As though we shold yeue feyth to all̄ one auctoryte & nought to reson / Than of that ye doo shewe sōme auctoryte other reason / and sheweth ensample of seynt benets rule / yf ye mow not / it is al ydel that ye make profession / that is so noble & despyse to folowe the lore therof / the sentence of this spe­che passed from one to other & meoued many on lest / they hadde ronne in veyn other shold renne in veyn / than it was demed that the suꝑfluyte of the rule shold be take awey & only the marouh shold be holde / thabbot made hym besy to make all assente / but it is harde to wreche vp on thoughtes that is roted in of long tyme / Only eyghten mōkes & abbot hardyng left that abbay & sai­de that the clennes of the rule myght not be holden in place there ryches were gadred & ther plente of mete & deynk stoffed the soule & the wyt that sholde withstande / than they wente to cisterus a place that was to fore hond ful of wode & of lādes / but now ther is a famoꝰ abbay / the which abbay is hugely aduaūced by help of the bisshop of yvē / & aft (er)ward by help of the pepe· R / Theraft the yere of our lord a / M· an C / & xxxv / one walt espek brouȝt that ordre of whyte monkes in to englond / & made at Ryual an abbay of thordre of Cysteraus that is thordre of whyte monkes W / de regibus li / quarto / These ben the obseruauntes that semyn hard in that ordre / they shal were no maner furres nother lynen cloth nother wollen that is smal and softe as stamyn nother bre­che / but in the wey one of hem shal haue on him twey curtels & a coule / though it be wynter but yf they wol they may haue lesse in somme maner tyme / they slepe clothed & gyrde & aft (er) mateyns they go neu (er) to bed ageyn· they dispose so the houre and tyme that before laudes the day lyght begynneth to sprynge / anon aft (er) lau­des they sing prime / after that they go to hādwork that they do by day they make an ende therof withoute candel light / none of hem shal be from houres nother frō cōplyn / but yf he be seke / aft (er) complin ye selerer & ye hosteler go stilly out & serue the ghestes / thabbot [Page] doth not hym self / but nygh as he graunteth to other monkes / he is oueral present with his flok / but only at mete & that by cause of ghestes / & thēne he is serued but only with twey messes / none of hem eteth blode nother flessh but yf he be seke / frō the thyrtenth day of September to the eester tyde / they ete but ones a. day out take the sonday / they go neuer out of theyr cloystre / but by cause of hondwerk / they speke in noo place but to theyr pryour or the abbot / they putte no gybletes to the houres of goddes seruice out take placebo and dirige for the deede / they vse Ambros offyce & haue charge of ghestes and of seke men / Fyrst this abbot of mo­lyce helde streytely these ordenaunces and compellyd other to hol­de hem also / but in tyme that come afterward the man thought [...] that he hadde be lykyngly nourysshed and somme of the monke [...] knewe wel his lust and lykyng / and procoured lettres of the pope of reuokyng by the whiche lettres this abbot was brought ageyne to his fyrst abbay and al the monkes with hym oute take eyght and made alberyk her abbot and hardyng her pryour / But therafter this steuen hardyng was abbot there and bylded sixten abbayes / and byganne the seuententh / That ordre encreced so that tyme / that the monkes of Cysteꝰ were espyed / of al monkes the myrour of hem that were goodly besy and repreef / and chastyng of sleuth / here they be clepyd ostrum of the slowe oostrū hight tanu in frensshe

¶ Capitulum 11

AFter vrbā the second pascalis was pope eyghtene yere and fyue monethes / In his thyrtenth yere he was prysonned / & his cardynals also / by the fourth henry the Emperour that assaylled Rome / & the pope myght not be delyuerd er he had sworn fewte to henry the Emperour and byhight hym the inuestiture & prelates with the cros and with the ryng / and also that he shol­de neuer curse themperour / and herof he wrote him a pryuelege in this maner I enbrace and take al hooly wrytte the olde testa­mente and the newe lawe and the prophetys the gospels / and the hooly pystels / alle the general counsayle and decrees of Bisshopes of Rome what they helde / I holde / And what they dampne / I dampne also / And namely that pryuelege that is [Page CCCxlj] more veryly a pryuelege that is an euyl lawe that was somty­me graunted to henry we dampne it withoute ende / W / de p / li / 3 Whan william bisshop of durham was dede the kyng yaf the bisshopryche to one walter that had be the elder williams preest / & his chapellayn / the kyng yaf him the bisshopryche for a thousand pound / Euyl doers that fledde to saynt cuthberts chirche / this drewe hem oute of chirche and made monkes sytte with hym speci­ally in his halle atte mete and seruyd hem with mete that was forbode / and ordeyned wymmen to serue hem with her heere sprad byhynde that semed wowyng gyglotes in clothyng face and sē ­blaunt / ther vnnethe escaped ony that he was vndertake / For yf he turned awey his eye he was clepyd an ypocryte and yf be were assentyng or accordyng with the myrthe he was cleped a nyse man and a foole / but this is worthy to be gretely preysed for by his procuryng saynt Cuthberts body was take onte of the graue and clothed in newe clothynge / and kynge of waldes [...]eede was founden bytwene his armes / Osmund bisshop of Salesbury de­yed / Also this yere the see floode sprange vp by temse / and drow­ned many townes / the deuyl was seen and spak with many mē of the kyngys malyce and of his hasty deth / Willelmus de Regibus / libro quarto / The kyng was warned therof and sette lytel therby / Also this yere hugh abbot of cluny sygh in his suenene kyng william brought byfore god almyghty and y dampned / Hugh the Abbot t [...]lde that to ancelm that was so [...]xyled / Also this met that he was y lette blode and bledde blode that dymmed the sunne / therfore he cryed ofte saynt mary and saynt mary· and awoke of his sleepe and badde brynge lyght / and commaunded that the chamberlayus shold with hym abyde / than the thyrdde daye of August / the yere of oure lorde enl [...]uen honderd / and his kyngdome thyrtene / and his age foure and fourty / in the newe forest he was shotte of one walter tyrel that was his owne mey­neal that wolde haue shotte to an herte and soo the kynge deyd & fewe men wepte for sorowe / walter tyrel escaped and noo man hym pursued / & so the kyng was layde in an hors bere & ladde to wynchestre / and his blode dropped doune in the weye as he was ladde / and he was buryed within the toure of the bisshopryche / That toure fyl doune withynne a yere therafter / this man toke vppon him grete dedes and caste to doo wel gretter yf the destyne of his lyf had be scaped to make therof a good ende / Before the nexte daye of his deth one axyd him where be wolde holde his [Page] myd wynters tyde / at peyters quoth he / For the erle of that place arayeth him for to wende to Ierusalem and wolde borow money of him and laye his londe to wedde / he wold suffre no counseylle of Bisshops shold be made / he solde dygnytees of hooly chirche in dyuers maner wyse and helde somme in his owne honde / For on the day of his deth he helde thre bisshopryches in his handes caunterbury wynchester and Salesbury / and twelue abbayes also And somme he lete to ferme also· He desyred to be euery mannes heyre / he werned the trybute to rome for stryf that was in the chirche of Rome bytwene pope Vrban and wybert the Antypo­pe / ¶ Henricuslibro septimo /

And though he were lyght of dedes he was stable and stydfaste of werkes / soo that yf he byhyght ony man good other euyl / he myght be full syker of that he hadde by hyght / And though he was moost coueytous of money / yet he dyde one dede that is worthy to be kepte in mynde / For in a tyme an abbot was deed in englond / and twey monkes gadryd a grete somme of money / and wente to the kynge eyther to supplante other / to geete the Abbots offyce / and the thyrdde wente with hem in that entente to bryng hym home mekely that sholde be abbot / These tweyne stode before the kynge / and the one behyghte more than that other / and the thyrdde stode stylle and spak neuer a worde / ¶ And the kynge axyd hym what he wolde yeue / nothynge sayd he / For I wol neyther yeue neyther promysse / Come nere quoth the kynge / for thou art worthy and none other to take soo hooly a charge /

The other dedes that longeth to kynge williams lyf loke hem within Ancelms lyf / Capitulo 14

¶ Capitulum 12

KYng wylliā the rede vsed lēmans alwey & deyde without children / & his yonger broder henry was kyng after hym / And waschose at wynchestre the fyfthe daye of August / and crowned at [...] westmynstre of morys bisshop of london for Ancelm was not there / this was gete in wedlok the thyrdde yere of his faders kyngdome / He spente his fyrst yougthe in lyberal artes and scyences / ¶ His broder wylliam hadde greued hym [Page CCCxlij] in a tyme & his fader conforted him in this maner / Sonne wepe thou not for thou shalt be a kynge / Than in the laste yere of his faders kyngdō / & in the / xix / yere of his age he was made kniȝt of his owne fader and wente with his owne fader in to normandy and was at his faders dyeng / Sone therafter as it is sayd by fore / and his other bretheren were goon euery in his syde as it happed hym at that tyme / therfore he had his faders blessyng & his moders herytage and tresoure and drad the pryde of his br [...] ­theren but lytel / he bowyd hym alweye to his brother robert fo [...] myldenesse of hert / but robert groned alwey and trowyd lyghtly tale tellers· and also Robert spente in his knyghtes soudyou [...] thre thousand pounde that were byquethe henry in his fad [...] testamente / Thenne henry was made kynge moost by the helpe of henry Erle of warwyk that was byfore his meyneal / He made hooly chirche free / but he helde the forestes in his owne hand / he helde edwardes lawe with the amendyng therof he yaue the greuous pencions / he put oute of his court the men that vsed wim­mens maner & restored ageyn in his court candel lyght / by night that was lefte of in his faders tyme. & closed ranulph bisshop of durham in the toure of london & reconcyled ancelm archebisshop of caunterbury that was so exiled / he chasted the fals mesures of marchauntes and brought forth the length of his owne arme / he wold fyght more gladly with counseyl than with swerd / he wolde ete to staunche his honger and not for gloteny / he wolde neuer drynke but he were a thurste / In him self and in his meyne al­weye he hated outrage of mete and of drynke / After grete stryf that was bytwene hym and ancelm the archebisshop / he resigned to god and to saynt peter the inuestiture of prelates that was [...] ­ne by seculer honde / Atte last was made a counseyl of bisshops at london / and strompettes were put awey and remeoued & he wed­ded mold the doughter of malcolyn kynge of Scotland / Ancelm crowned her quene vpon a saynt martyns day / Willelmus de p / li / tercio / This yere deyd thomas archebisshop of york & gyralde was archebisshop after him a lecherous man a wytche and euyl doer as the fame tellyth / For vnder his pyle whan he deyde in an erber was founde a book of curyous craftes / the booke hight Iulius frumeus / In that booke he radde pryuely in the vnder tydes / therfor vnnethe the clerkes of his chirche wold suffre him be buryed vnder heuene without hooly chirche / Willelmus de re / li / 5 / In the mene tyme Erle Robert the kynges broder herde of [Page] the deth of kynge william the reede / and cam ageyne oute of the hooly londe in to apulea and thennes in to normandy and arayed hym to wende in to englond / Than it was knowen / and many of the lordes fayned somme smale occasions and withdrew hem priuely and openly from kyng henry & clepyd hym godryche god­fader and sente pryuely for erle Robert / And herto Rauf bisshop of durham that had ben byfore prysonned / gate a roope and escaped oute of the toure of london / and wente in to normandy and encouraged duc Robert ayenste kyng henry / Will de regibus libro quarto ¶This Robert was kyng william the conque­rours eldest sonne a lytel man of bodye with a fatte wombe / In his fyrst knyghthode he vsyd his faders maners / but afterward by heete of his yong blode and coūseyll of fooles prycked hym & he founded to haue normandy while his fader was alyue / and whanne his fader warned it hym / he wente awey for wreche and made ofte restes vpon the countray. Fyrst his fader scorned hym but afterward he swore by the resurection of Cryst and sayde Robert schort boot my sonne shal be a noble man / For ellys had ro­bert not that shuld he blamed / For he was curtoys and fayre of face of shap and of speche / myghty of strength and sad of coun­seyl / but at laste his fader was so wroth with hym that he pry­ued hym of the herytage of englond and lefte hym vnnethe ther [...] dom of normandy / he dyde many grete dedes in the hooly londe / & was so wonderful in euery place that he myght neuer be vnhorsed by crysten man nother by paynym / ¶Also at Ierusalem in an ester euen he stoode amonge other men and abode the fyere that was wonte to come from heuene and tende somme mannes taper / Than his taper was y tende by doyng and vertu of god / Ther­for al men chose hym kynge of Ierusalem· But whanne he herde of the deth of his broder william kyng of englond / he refused the kyngdome of Ierusalem / not by cause of reuerence but for drede of trauaylle or couetyse of the kyngdome of Englonde / Therfore hym happed neuer wel therafter in batayll / Also in the comyng ageyne from Ierusalem he wedded the doughter of william de auersana in Apulea a fayre woman of shap and loste hyr by an euyl after fewe yeres / yet was sayd that he was begyled by coū ­seyll of a mydwyf that kytte her brestes for grete plente of mylk that ranne of her brestes whanne she hadde childe / but she hadde a sone tha thight william noble mā of wit / Robert toke grete money for that maryage & wasted it sone therafter / Than he gadryd [Page CCCxliij] a grete hooste in euery syde and cam in to englond for to reue his broder henry the kyngdome / and londed at portesmouth but by mene of the wysest men of the kyngdome pees was made vppon such a condicion that Robert shold haue euery yere thre thousand marc / and whether of hem lyued longest shold be others heyr / yf he deyde withoute heyr male / but the nexte yere after Robert cam in to englond / and atte request of molde the quene he forya [...] that pension of thre thousande marc / Thenne Robert wente ageyne & was lytel y told of amonge the normans / soo that the normans prayed kynge henry to come ageynst Robert / The kyng c [...]m and bynam hym al normandy lytel and lytel / Rone / Cane and fa­leys in the whiche cytees Robert wente burethely vp and doun Therfor they of ca [...]e were wroth and prayd kyng henry for to co­me to them and closed theyr yates ayenst Robert / Thenne Robert fledde to Rone with one squyer alone and prayd help of the kyn­ge of Fraunce / and of the Erle of Flaundres / but Robert was helpeles for theym and founded to yeue his broder a batayll and was ouercome and taken and kepte in warde seuen yere to his lyues ende / and deyd in the castel of Cardef and. was buryed at Gloucestre

¶ Capitulum 13

THis yere Robert de Bolysme roos ayenst kyng Henry / This Robert was the grettest of the sonnes of Rogyer de mount Gomeryk erle of shrowesbury / Robert strengthed his cas­tels of shrowesbury of brugges of Arundel of tykenhyl / And encouraged many walsshmen ayenst the kyng / But wythin fourty dayes the kyng wan and toke al these strengthes and ouercome the walsshmen with yeftes and fayr byheestes / And compel­lyd this Erle Robert to forswere englonde / and he sayled in to normandy / and sone therafter williā Erle of mortom in normandy and of Cornewayle in Englond sayled to Robert in to nor­mandy / For the kyng had warned hym the erldome of kente / These tweyne fautours werryd and dyde grete harme in normā dy / Kyng henry herde therof and bynam the erle of mortom alle that he had in englond and sayled therafter in to normandy / & made it subgette not wythoute shedyng of bloode / And prysoned the twey forsayd Erles to theyr lyues ende that were men full [Page] of gyle and stryf & of wyles / than kynge henry left [...] grete pees in normandy and cam ageyne in to englond and made sharp la­wes ayenste fals men and theues / in the whiche lawes is con­teyned loste and lesyng of eyen of pryny stones of fustes and of hondes / Than he made subgette the Scottes the walsshmen / the britons of beyonde see / and lowys kyng of Fraunce / Than kynge henry lay in normandy and pope Calyxtus cam nygh to normandy amōg other causes for to haue king henry sharply at answer for the prysonnement of his broder Robert pylgrym of Ierusa­lem / But he hadde semely answers and ceesed of that cause / Al maner arguynge may be bonde toward other syde by the facunde of the pleder the whiche facunde is with presentes specially lyghted / And for no pompe and boost shold fayle / the kyng made the yong sonnes of the erle of mellent appose the cardynals that were tho present / and embryge hym. and smar [...]e hym with s [...]tyl sophyms / therfore the Cardynals shamed not to knowleche / that there was more wytte and cunnyng of clergy in the west londes than they had herde of speke / ¶ Hugh erle of chestre kyng wyll­iam the conquerours neuewe in his systres syde deyde / and his sonne Rychard a childe of seuen yere old was Erle after hym / Ancelm made a coūseyll at london and put doune many abbotes and forbade setting of dygnytees to ferme / and demed that So­domytes sholde be acursyd euery sondaye / but afte [...]ward he vndide that doynge for pupplycacion of vyce / that was norysshynge of more hardynes to wycked hert [...]s to doo suche dedes / Also he forbede preestes wyues / strif fyll bytwene the kyng and ancelm by cause that he wold not sacre the prelates that had take inues­titure of lewde mennes handes / namely bicause that the pope had forbode hit vppon peyne of cursynge / but giralde Archebisshop of of york sacred suche prelates / therfore ancelm was meoued and went to the pope / The countray of flaundris was destroyed with castyng vp the grauel of the see / therfore the flemynges yede a­boute long tyme and had no place to dwelle in / therfore they prayd and had y graunted of kyng henry a place for to dwelle in fast by twede in the eest syde of englond / but in the enleuenth ye­re they were tourned in to west wales / For the mysbyleue of somme prelates / Seynt Cuthberts body was founden hoole and soūde the yere after his beri [...]ng / CCCC & xiiij yere / and bytwene his armes saynt Oswaldes heede was founden al hoole and sounde / The seuenthe day of Iuyn were seen foure whyte cercles [Page CCCxliiij] aboute the sonne / That yere the first weke of lenten on the fryday at euen was an vncouthe sterre seen schyne bytwene the souche and the west and schoone so euery day in the same houre fyue & twenty dayes / Also a grete beame was seen come ayenst that sterre oute of the eest syde / therafter in cene thoursday that somme mē clopyn chere thoursdaye were seen twey ful mones a lytel byfore day one in the eest and another in the west / That yere was a gasely stryf bytwene the fader henry emperour and his owne sonne henry / soo that the sonne prysonned the fader / That yere kyng henry cam to becco / and ancelm was acorded with hym / and sente thennes in to englond /

¶ Capitulum 14 /

THis yere the fourth henry the sonne of the thyrdde henry beganne to be emperour among duche men / and regned nyntē yere / he cast his owne fader in boundes in the which his fader de [...]d Also he toke and prysonned pope paschal and the cardynals as it is sayd byfore / therfor men trowyd that he deyde withoute childrē though he hadde wedded mold whan she was but fyue yere old Henryes doughter kyng of englond / At last he reputed and re­sygned vp the ryghtes of hooly chirche frely to pope calyx [...] / and so as the sothe oppynyon tellyth [...]e exyled hym self by his owne fre wylle vnwyttyng his wyf and deyd at chestre / Ancelm made a counseylle at london and there it was ordeygned by assente of the kynge that neuer after that tyme the kynge shold not nother other lewd persone make inuestiture with croos other with ryng

That tyme gyrald archebisshop of york / put his hondes bytwene the hondes of Ancelm Archebisshop of caunterbury / and dyde hym obedyence. Than the tenth day of August at london Ancelm sacred fyue bisshops in one day / the bisshop of wynchestre / Of sa­lesbury of excetre / of herford and of glamorgan / That happed not after plegyndus tyme This yere kyng henry ordeyned that theues shold be hanged and that fals money and fals seel ma­kers shold l [...]se theyr eyen and her pryuy stones / and that penyes and half penyes shold be rounde / Philip kyng of fraunce deyed / and his sonne lowys was kyng after hym / Girald archebisshop of york deyd and thomas the neuewe of the elder thomas was archebisshop after hym seuen yere / kynge henry made a bisshops [Page] see at Ely and ordeyned there henry that had be bisshop of bangor And for in that doyng hee toke a grete dele of the bisshopryche of lyncoln / and gaf Cambryggeshire to the see of ely / therfore he yaf the bisshop of lyncoln his owne ryal towne of spaldyng That yere dyed saynt hugh abbot of cluny in the eester weke / After that oure lady and saint peter and saynt hillarye had apeyred to hym ¶ Willelmus de pontificibus libro primo / / That yere dyed ancelm Archebisshop of Caunterbury / And the next day after that fyll the Cene thoursday / he was enoynt with bawme that god sente downe from heuene / And so he was beryed / And than the see of Caunterbury was voyde ful fyue yere / And in the mene tyme holy chirche good was spente in the kynges vse / ¶ And whanne the kynge was meoued to helpe the chirche that soo was hedles as it were a wydowe / he wold putte it of with a meke answer / and say that his fader and his broder hadde made Archebisshops the best men that they coude fynde / and that he wold not goo oute of kynde / but he wold make archebis­shop the best man that he myght fynde / Suche answer semed ful of lawe & of ryght / but the grete sōme of money that was ar [...]red of the archebisshoprych [...] plesyd the kyngis herte· though emerus monk of Caunterbury had wryte and descryued saynt ancelms lyf at full / yet by the help of william malmesbury somwhat mot be sayde of soo noble a man / Than ancelm was born in the Cyte August fast by the hilles that hight Alpes / and was lettred & chaste of his childehode & had his fader [...] wrethe and myght plese hym in no maner wyse / wherfor he fledde awey fer from his fader and cam to becco in normandy / And was fauoured vnder lāfrāk priour of becco / and was made monke there in his six and twenty yere / After thre yere lanfrank pryour of becco was translated to the abbaye of Cadony / And ancelm was made pryour vnder abbotte herlewyn / Thenne Ancelm yaf hym to penaunce and to fastyng and to techyng of children namely fyften yere and wold say ful oft that hym was leuer to be in helle without synne than in heuen with synne / he made many bokes of clergy in the which oure byleue that other men make hem besy to wynne with aucterite / he strengthed with reasons and argumentes that maye not be assoylled / Soo that he passyd not only her werkes that were byfore him· but also be gadred her werkes al in to one hepe / Also ly witte & pacyence he ouercome the malyce of his enemyes / Af­ter the fyftenthe yere of his priory herlewin Abbot of becco deide [Page CCCxlv] and ancelm was made abbot in his stede and helde hym fyue yere oute of englonde / though his comynge were nedeful for many maner causes lest that it shold be demed that he conuerted the archebisshopryche of caunterbury that wided tho by lanfranks deth But atte last for thre maner causes he was compellyd for to co­me in to englond as it is sayd byfore / That tyme in [...]nglonde was Robberye vnder kyng william the reed and pr [...]scripcions / and exylynges and takyng in to the kynges honde / For it were esyer to by waill the Empyre of one man alone than be vnder newe lordes that comen one after other / Amonge al this was grete sylence amonge the bisshops / The ryghtful dome was choked within the conscience of hem that might not other durst not spek [...] for drede of one man / For what prouffyt is hit for to speke there thou shalt arere wreth / and wynne noo proufyt / thenne was ho­pe for to escape al this meschyef yf the banyonr ancelm that was fyrst comyn childe were made archebisshop / Kyng William put of al that was wel said to him with swellyng wreth other with myrthe and curtosye of speche / he suffryd doo noo bedes for hym / nother for the state of hooly chirche / but he sayde praye ye what ye wol / I shal do what me lyketh / ¶At last he was take with a grete sekenesse and sent for Ancelm / and by assent of bisshops he ordeyned that he sholde be Archebisshop and he wythsayde it / & alayde for hym in this maner / yf a yonge shepe that is Ancelm shal be coupled and yocked to a wylde boole that is william the reede / for they drawe not al lyke / the solouh of hooly chirche shal not goo a ryght / But Ancelm toke the inuestiture and was sa­cred / but he recouered of his sekenesse and was wors after than before / his frendes coūseylled hym to good / and he vsed to answere and saye / per vultum de luca / god shal neuer haue me good / for the harme that he doth me / Also this kyng was a Raue­nour in gadryng and a grete waster in spendyng / he fered despytously euery man that proferyd hym ought / but the yefte were grete and acordyng to his owne hert / So in a tyme seynt ancelm profered the kyng fyue honderd pounde / and he wold not take it / Than Ancelm deled it to pore men / dyuers wondres were seen in to al englond / for at shrowesbury was a grete erth shakyng / & a [...] notyngham from the erly morow tyde to vnder of the daye / The Ryuer of Trente was so fordryed that men myght goo therouer drye foote / And stella cometa that is a sterre with bright bemyng creste was seen thre hoole wekes in the moneth of Iuyn /

[Page]Than was an hard wynter / strong honger. deth of men / pestylence of beestes & fyghtyng of foules that fought to geders / kyng henry buylded the abbay of hyde withoute the walles of wynchestre that was byfore within the cyte / This yere the fourth henry em­perour of almayne / wedded molde kyng henryes doughter at magounce the syxth day of Ianuar /

¶ Capitulum 15

THe fyftenthe day of October fylle grete defaute of watre in Englond / so that hors and men myght wade bytwene temse brydge and the toure of london that dureth a day and a nyghte / ¶ Willelmus de pontificibus libro tercio / ¶ This yere was a counseyl at wyndesore and the kyng ordeyned faricius abbotte of abyndon to the see of Caunterbury / but the charge of that deede come to the examynynge of bisshops / and they putte byfore hym Raaf bisshop of Rochestre / Also that yere one thurstan was chose archebisshop of york / the kyng charged hym ofte that he shold do lawful subiection to rauf Archebisshop of Caūterbury / but hym was leuer leue the dignyte than be obedyente to the Archebisshop of Caunterbury / But whaune he was pryued and had no ser­uyce as he was wonte / he was agreued and for thought that dede ful soore / and folowyd the kyng ouer see / there by procurynge of thurstynes clerkes / pope pascal sente a letter to the kyng for to restore thurstan ageyn / whanne he was efte come to the see of york yet he hadde scorn to doo lawful obedyence to the Archebisshop of Caunterbury / than the old stryf was renewed ageyn / fyrst there the pope promysed to the kyng of englond and to Raaf Archebis­shop of Caunterbury that he wold nothyng ordeyne ageynst the dygnyte of hooly chirche of Caunterbury / ¶ Willelmus libro secundo / But it semed that he graunted a pryuelege in this maner / ¶ Of all the autentyk grauntes that your chirche hath y graunted of our predecessours / we wol nothyng wythdrawe. but will that it stande and be kepte withoute ony wemme / Here yf the pope hath sayde your chirche hath these. dygnytees & these he had assoylled the plee and the stryf / but now he leueth / the stryf al vnassoylled / Soo the gyleful speke of Romaynes can torne hym self to the walles of pleders / So that hym lyketh he wolde suspende in veyn and leue hit in doubte / and spareth net [Page CCCxlvj] the cost and trauayll of other men whyle he casteth for his owne prouffyte and auauntage / therfor whan the kynges messagers were goo / the pope was bowyd other for fauour other for yeftes more gylefully than soo grete a man sholde and forsoke the rule of olde tyme and sacred thurstan and yaf hym the pal / Willelmus de pontifici [...]us libro tercio ¶ Kyng henry had grete indignacion therof and forbede thurstan his lond / but he was aferd by the popes lettres / in the whiche it was conteyned / the kynge shold take thurstan owther be acursyd and suspended by the dygnyte of the offyce of Caunterbury· Willelmus de pontifi­cibus libro primo / Kyng henryes fyrst wyf was dede / Than he wedded the dukes doughter of lotharyngia / In the day of the weddyng Raaf Archebisshop of Caunterbury that was wrethful and acombred with the palesey and sygh the bisshop of Salesbury reuested to doo the solempnyte of that weddyng / and made hym leue of that deede / and ordeyned the bisshop of wynchestre to doo that offyce / than the next day therafter he sawe kyng hen­ry crowned ageynst his conscyence / and wente to him and sayde / thou art vnryghtfully crouned / therfor thou shalt leue thy croune other I shal leue the masse / Fader quoth the kynge / amende thou that is mysdoo / Than Raaf spared vnnethe for prayers of lordes / but he had smyten doune the crowne of the kyngis heede He was a stedfast man of good lyuyng of lettrure and of fayre speche withoute suspection of ony trespaas that was knowen / but that he vsyd more laughyng and playeng than it semed his state and his age / and he was nygh cleped a Iaper / the wynter was harde / so that many brydges in englond were broke in tha­wynge of the yse / ¶ In the moneth of may cam so many flyes / and flyed aboute in the londe of Ierusalem that they ete and destroyed vynes trees and corn / And whanne they hadde doo her iourney a day somme flye and somme yede on her fete to her herbe row at euen / In ytaly was an erth shakyng that dured fourty dayes / so that many houses were throwen doune / and a grete towne was meoued and heue fer oute of one place in to another / Pope pascal deyd / Iohan gaytanus was pope after hym / This was the rather popes chaunceler and was cleped the seconde gelasius and was pope a yere and an half / Henry the emperour herde that his pryuelege of the inuestiture of prelates was with cleped and wente to Rome to take more greuous wreche of pope paschal and herde of pope paschalis deth / And ▪ putte one morys [Page] burdyn in to the poperyche / This morys was bisshop of bache [...] / and the emperour cleped this moris the seuenth gregory / For drede of the emperour pope gelasius lefte Rome / and sayled to geue and wente thens on his feet to cluny / and deyd there / the Cardynals than there toke Gy / Archebisshop of vyen / and made hym pope / and cleped hym the second kalyxte. R / Also this yere dy­ed florencius monk of wyrcetre / by his studye and trauayll this story is gretely y hight / Grete stryf was bytwene the kynges of Englond and of fraunce and henry kyng of Englond ouercome the kyng of fraunce ryally in batayll / ¶ Willelmus de p [...]. libro quinto / ¶ Here after kyng henry maryed his eldest sone william to ful [...]oes doughter duke of angeo / Than was pees made bytwene the kynges / For this william helde normandy of the kyng of Fraunce / and dyde hym homage / For that londe by graunte of his fader kyng henry / For the kyng was so grete / that he wold not doo homage to the kyng of fraunce for normandy / Than kyng henry made his fre men of englond and of normandy to doo homage to his sonne william / than men hoped therby that kyng edwardes profecye shold be fulfylled in this william / In that prophecye it was sayde that whan the tree that is kytte cometh to the stok ageyne and spryngeth / than shal be hope of re­medye / but that was blende by chaungyng of the happe of man­kynde / For after that the kyng had dwellyd thre yere in normandy / this william was adreynt / Also that tyme this Erle Fulco wente to Ierusalem and bytoke the erldom of angeo to the kyng of englond to kepe to the prouffyte of his sonne in lawe yf he co­me not ageyne /

¶ Capitulum 16 /

THe second calyxt was pope fyue yere and fyue monethes / [...]e gadred strengthe in euery syde and toke and prysonned morys the forsayd antipope and made fyrst sette hym vpon a ca­mel and turne his face toward the camels tayle / And soo he ro­de / and helde the tayle in his honde in stede of a brydel and roode before the pope / Willelmus de regibus libro quinto ¶ [...] Aboute th [...]s tyme beganne thordre premostracensis / that is the ordre of whyte chanons and bygan in the dyocesy laudunensy· vnder the fader nothbert of the nacion of Coloyn / Aboute this tyme deyd [Page CCCxlvij] mold quene of englond / Fyrst she was lerned lettrure and was nourysshed among menchons / at wynchestre / for to putte of vn­worthy maryage / that her fader profered her ofte tyme / she bare the veyle of hooly auowe / therfor kyng henry wold haue her to wyf / that doyng fylle in grete desputyson / and ancelm wythstode that maryage till it was preued by lawful wytnesse that she toke the veyl for to put of wowers and for none other cause / This had twey children at one byrthen a sonne and a doughter / and cessed of children beryng / than she dwellyd at westmynstre & was founde as a quene by the kynges wyll / But she were the heer vnder the ryal araye and yede barfote to chirche in the lente tyme and was not squaymes to wesshe seke mēnes fete and grope soore botches with her hondes and kysse the seke men and sette to hem a mete borde and serue hem / Also she loued moche goddes seruyse / therfor she spente moche on clerkes that couth wel singe / therfor famoꝰ men of scole come to her with versus and with songe as it were oute of al londes / ¶ Also she spente largely in comers that cam of euery syde / Desyre of praysynge is so kyndely pyghte in mennes hertes / that vnnethe ony man though he be of good Conscyence holde hym apayd with the fruyt of his good werkes / but yet he hath lykynge that the peple knowe of his good dedes / by cause of suche dedes she pyled her plowe men / but that may be wyst by the counseylle of hyr mynystres

¶ Willelmus de Regibus libro quinto / The syxthe day byfore december at harfleet In normandy vp goo the ankers / and the kyng sayled graciously in to englond / His sonne william wolde sayle after hym / and was adreynte and many noble men not fer from londe. / ¶ The kynges sonne Rychard bastard was among hem and nota the contesse of Percy / and Rychard Erle of Chestre and his wyf that was the kynges neece / and the Archedeken of Herford / and other in the nombre of an honderd and fourty / Of hem alle escaped none but one chorle bochour that swamme al nyghte vppon a broken maste / and cam to the clyue in the morowe tyde / and told alle the geste / how it was byfalle / ¶ Alle these wente by nyghte in to a newe ship with dronken shipmen / and fylle anone vppon a rock not fer from the lande / and the ship to cleef / And william the kynges sone was do in a bote in the which he might haue be saued wel ynough / but whan he. cam to the clyf he herde his syster wepe & crye / than he torned ageyn and toke her in to his [Page] bote / Than other men starte in to that boote / and ouerlode it and drowned the bote and al that was therynne oute take the forsa­yd chorle / But it was wonder that grete tresoure was founden fast by the clyues in the morowe / and none of the dede bodyes were founde / but they were al eten of the ffysshes of the see / Henr / libro septimo / And it was sayde that nygh al these were sodomytes / ¶ William / And also this william the kynges eldest sonne had manaced Englyssh men that yf euer he were lord ouer hem / he wold make hem draw as oxen at plowe / ¶ R / Also Rychard erle of Chestre had manaced that whanne he were [...]me oute of normandy / he wold destroye the monkes of Chestre that his fader had ordeyned there / W / de re / li / 5 ¶ Herafter ful­co erle of Angeo / whoos doughter william that was drowned hadde wedded come oute of the holy land and maryed his other doughter to Robert short hooses sonne / and yaf with her the Erl­dome of Cenomannia / For kynge henry withhelde his dower in Englond / Herafter / ¶ Henry maryed his doughter mold to the fourth henry Emperour of Almayne / ¶ This yere kyng henry made a greete parke at Wodestode / Whanne Rychard Erle of Chestre was drowned / the fyrst Ranulph de mescheues / the sone of the fyrst hughe was erle eyght yere after hym / Raaf Archebisshop of Caunterbury dyed and william Canonicus was Archebisshop after hym / ¶ Aboute this tyme be­ganne the ordre of the templers / These were gadred of the Re­leef of the hospytalers / & ordeygned hem a place in the porche of the temple of Ierusalem / therfor they be cleped knyghtes of the temple / these were susteyned by the Releefe of the hospytalers bothe in mete and in armure / and waxe soo ryche that it semed that the doughter passed and wyryed the moder / Atte laste for vyle apostasye and despysyng of Cryst / they were destroyed in the fyfth pope Clements tyme· the yere of oure lord a thousand thre honderd and twelue / ¶ Henricus libro septi­mo / ¶ Iohan Cardynal of Rome cam in to Englond and made a greuous processe ageynst preestes concubynes & said that it is a foul [...] synne and a grete to aryse from a strompettes syde to sacre crystes body / but the same day after that he had songe masse he was taken with a strompet at euen / thynge that was open­ly y knowe myghte not be forsake / Hit moste nedes be knowen yf this dysplesyth ony man / I reede hym holde his peas / and be stylle lest it wold be demed that he folowe Iohan in wordes / [Page CCCxlviij] and in dedes / After kalixt the second honorius was pope fyue yere / The fourth henry the Emperour of almayn is dede / & som men tellyn that he is buryed at spyre with his forfaders with such wrytynge on his tombe / Here lyeth the sonne and the fader and the grauntsyr and the faders grauntsyre. R / But it semeth / that Gyrald in his booke itinerario wallie hath the more soth vnder­standyng / there he sayth that this henry after that he had empry­soned his flesshely fader / and his goostly fader the pope / and the Cardynals also / hym repented atte last and wente awey vnwy­tyng his wyf mold of Englond / & exyled hym self by his good wylle / and lyued at Chestre ten yere as an heremyte / and by cau­se he wold not be knowen the whyle he was alyue / he cleped him self godestal that is goddes clepyng / whanne the emperour was soo pryuely goone / mold the Emperyce cam ageyne to her fader kyng henry in to normandy / there she was soone maryed to gef­froy plantagenet Erle of Angeo / and hadd by hym the second henry that after hym was kyng of Englonde /

¶ Capitulum 17 /

WHanne the fourthe Henry was goo Lotharius duke of Saxon was made Emperour / At london was made a counseylle / and it was graunted to kyng henry / that he shold doo ryght of preestes fornycaryes / and of her concubynes But he dyde not ellys but toke money in euery syde· That yere in presence of the kyng the lordes of Englonde swore / that they wold kepe the kyngdom to his doughter molde the emperyce / yf she lyued after his daye / and yf he deyde withoute other children / ¶ Saynt mathys the Apostles body was founden in the Cyte Treuer / the whiche bodye Agricius the archebisshop hadde broughte thyder oute of Constantinople in the elder Constantynes tyme / and he hadde that body of the yefte of Helene the quene / ¶ After Honorius the Seconde Innocencius was pope thyrtene yere and seuene mo­nethes / ¶ Peter leonis that hight Anacletus also assaylled the Poperyche / and soo fylle greete stryfe in hooly Chirche / ¶This Anacletus was chosen of the lasse deele [Page] and partye / and chaced Innocencius oute of the cyte / And spoy­led the chirches of Rome and meded the Romayns with the money of the chirches / But Innocencius and the Cardynals wo­ned with the kyng of Fraunce / and made a counseyll at Rome and in his comyng ageyne he crowned lotharius duc of Saxon / and sacred hym Emperour / ¶By his helpe he chaced Rogyer duck of Sycilya and of Apul [...]a that was rebell to this Inno­cencius the pope / whanne the fyrste Ranulph Erle of Chestre was deed / his sonne the second Ranulph Gercious by his surname was Erle after hym fyue and twenty yere /

The Erle of Flaundres deyd / and Henry kynge of Englond by the assent of the kynge of Fraunce hadde the Erldome after hym by ryght of bloode and of kynrede / Mold the emperyce was soone forsake of her husbond Geffroy / and wente to her fader in to normandy / there the kyng sawe thre wondre syghtes / Fyrsts he sawe in his sleepe many clerkes assaylle hym with toles and axe of hym dette / Efte he sawe a Route of men of Armes that wolde refe on hym with al maner wepen / the thyrde tyme he sa­we a grete company of prelates manace hym with theyr croyses And at euery tyme the kyng start vp of his bed and caught his swerde and cryed help / as though he wold slee somme men / but he myght noo man fynde / ¶ Also a phisician grymbald by his name sawe alle these syghtes / and told hem to the kynge erly in the morow / And as danyel had somtyme chargyd Nabu­godonosor / Soo he chargyd the kyng that he shold doo almesse dedes in remedye of his synnes / Thenne the kyng wente in to En­glond and was sore trobled with tempest in the see / & made his auowe that he wold relece the danes trybute for seuen yere / and that he wold vysyte saynt edmund / and doo and vse ryghtwysenesse / ¶ In Fraunce was soo grete drought / that Ryuers and welles were fordryed / ¶ Also fyere come in to the chynes of the erth that myght not be quenched nother with wete nother with cold / nother with doyng of crafte / ¶ This yere at kerdef dyed the kynges broder Robert that was somtyme Er­le of normandy and was beryed at gloucetre byfore the hye Auter / ¶ William the sonne of nychellus founded the pryorye of norton in the prouynce of chestre / ¶Also thabbay of Cumbremer was founded in the same prouynce / ¶ And henry short mantel is born the sonne of the Emperyce / Kynge Henry [Page CCCxxxxix] deyd in normandy / Of hym one moeued in metre in this maner / Kyng henry deyd fayrenesse somtyme now deol of the world / Goddes now wepyn for her god that is now dede / marcurius the lasse. in speche / hert strong as appollo / Iupiter in hest and mars in strength / greueth Englond in childhode and kyngdome ryght of this godde was high in shynyng for derk now falleth a doune This lond with his kyng / normand with his duke wel with a­wey / This londe nouryssheth the child / that other now lesyth the man / Henr / li / 8 / Whan kyng henry was dede men demed of hym and spake frely / what they wold as they doo of other men whan they be deede / Somme sayde that he passed other men in thre thyn­ges in wytte / in spech and in fortune of batayl / Other sayde that he was ouercome with thre vyces / with couetyse with cruelnesse / and with luste of lecherye / Also the kynges bowels were drawe oute of his bodye / and his brayne taken oute of his heede / and the body salted with moch salt / and for to auoide the stenche that had infecte many men it was at last closed in a boole skyn / & yet myghte not the noyful odour be lette / But he that toke oute the brayne of the heed deyd of the stenche / he hadde eten of a lamprey whyle he was old and feble and he loued it alwey though it greued hym euermore / The kynges body was brought in to englōd and beryed in the abbaye of Redynge that he had founded oute of the grounde / Henricus libro septimo / In this kynges tyme one Symon the sonne of Robert bisshop of lyncolne was in his floures deen in the same chirche / he was sharpe of wytte / clere of speche / fayre of face / and of shap and gracious with all / yong of age and wyse and redy / as an olde man / but he was spytted with the vyce of pryde / In hym of his pryde sprang enuye of enuye. wreth of wreth / stryf and bakbytynge / he spake in a tyme of hym self and sayde / I am sette among mē of court as salt amōg quyck elys / he toke heede of one proprete of that sawe and was not war of that other / For als salt among eles greueth ful sore· Soo he greued men of the court with bacbytyng and euyl speche But at last whan salt is destroyed by moysture of the el [...]s / So was he by hate of all men / For at last he had the kynges wrethe and was prysonned and escaped aweye by a gonge / and was flemed and deyde so exyled /

[Page]WHan the fyrst kyng henry was dede / steuen Erle of boloyn was kynge after hym / This steuen was the erle of blesens sonne / kynge henryes neuewe in his susters syde / and he regned seuentene yere a noble man and hardy / but ageynst his oth that he had made to the emperyce he was crouned at london on a saynt Steuens day of william archebisshop of Caunterbury that was swore to the Emperyce also / Therfor this william leued not ouer one yere / Also al the grete that were sworen to steuen made a wrechyd ende / Also men sayde that in the day of his crownement the sacrament of crystes body was brought to the kyng & it vanysshed awey sodeynly / kyng steuen was crowned and swore byfo­re the lordes at oxenford / that he wold not holde in his honde the prelacyes that voyded / and also that he wold foryeue the dane gylt and that he wold emplede no man for his owne wodes / Also for he drad the comyng of the emperyce he graunted euery lord leue to bylde a Castel other a strength vpon his owne grounde / & sone therafter he toke to acorde dauid kyng of Scottes / that had before by gyle taken the castel caerlel / and the castel vppon tyne and he yaue hym huntyng in englond and had hommage / and sente to the Emperyce / than kyng steuen toke excetre and william Archebisshop of Caunterbury deyd / and theobald abbot of becco was Archebisshop after hym / Lotharius Emperour of almayne deyd / and Conradus was Emperour after hym fyftene yere of Almayns and of Romayns / And though he toke not the Beneson of the pope / yet atte prechyng of Abbot bernard he toke the holy lande in pope eugenius tyme and dyde many grete dedes / Gir / d / p / ca / 19 / That tyme theobald the mylde erle of Campa­nia was in his floures / he wolde myldely vysyte poure men and lepres / One praysed hym in metre passyngly in this maner / This felowe Erle this was that mylde man theobaldus / Heuen maketh ioye / that hym hath / and sorowful is the worlde / that hym leueth / I may calle hym man / hym dar I not clepe God / Deth preueth hym man his owne lyf hym preueth goode / Aboue man / vnder God / more than man / lasse than God / I not what maner thynge is bytwene the weyne / /

Dauid kyng of Scotland cam the thyrdde tyme in to Englond and destroyed the lond anone to the Ryuer of theyse in the mouth of the prouynce of york / and brende / and slewe and slytte wym­men with childe / thurstan the archebisshop cam pryuely ageynst hym with the kynges knyghtes / & chaced hym and slewe / x / M [Page CCCL] of his men and toke many prayes and gret [...] / kyng steuen toke the Castel of bedford that was ageynste hym / and herafter he wente in to scotland / and dyde there fewe dedes at his owne wyll / and cam home ageyn / but in his comyng homeward / he toke alysaun­der bisshop of lyncolne and putte hym in boundes / til that he had yeue hym the castel of newerk / ¶ Also [...]e chaced nygellus bisshop of hely / and Roger bisshop of salesbury that hadde doo hym moche good / he toke hym and put hym in pryson and helde hym there till that he had yeue hym two castels of the vyse and of shirburn / And for this Roger was a greete bylder of houses and of Castels / he bycam seke and deyd for sorowe / After that he lefte in his castels of moneye as it were a fourty thousande marc / that was spente in the kynges vse / and not to gods seruyce / For with that moneye the kyng bought to his sone Eustace / Constaunce the kynges syster of Fraunce / Thurstan the Archebisshop of york was a grete foundour of ab­bayes of hagustald of Founteynes / and of eyght other / and to­ke the habyte of monk / and pountfret / and deyd in good elde / After two yere his bodye was founden hoole and sounde smel­lyng ful swete / ¶ That tyme the kyng toke the Castels of Gloucestre of herford / of webbely of Brystow / of Dudely / and of shrowesbury / ¶ Robert Erle of gloucestre kyng Henryes bastard sonne herde therof and sente for his syster mol­de the Emperyce that dwellyd at Angeo / and prayd her to come in to englond and byhyght her helpe ageynst kyng steuen /

¶ Henricus libro 9 ¶ Than in the moneth of Iuyll Robert and mold cam fyrst to portesmouth and thennes to Bri­stow / and dyde men of the Countray grete harme and dommage Than the kyng besyeged the castel of wallyngford / and herde herof and lefte the syege and wente ageynste them and besyeged lyncolne soone after that tyme / ¶ Than aboute Candelmasse Ranulph Erle of Chestre and Robert erle of gloucestre cam with many walsshmen to breke the kynges syege /

And whan they were vnnethe passyd a reedy mareys. and had arrayed the sheltrons / The Erle of Chestre spake to his men in this maner and sayd I thanke you and praye you besyly that I that am cause of youre perylle mot be the fyrst that shal entre in to the peryl / ¶ Erle Robert answerde hym / and sayde· It is not vnworthy that thou axyst the dygnyte of the fyrst stroke both for noblesse of bloode & for vertu of strength [Page] in the whiche thou passyst other men / But the kynges fals [...]the and his wodenesse meoueth men to warre / and to fyght / But we may not torne ageyne by the wey that we come / Than we must haue here the maystry other be ouercome / he that hath none other socour muste nedes flee to bolde dedes of armes and manhode of strength / but take hede ageynst hem and what maner mē ye must feyght / Robert erle of mellent stondyth ageynst you / he is crafty of fraude and of gyle and hath wyckednes in his herte / treason and gyle in his mouthe and sleuthe in his dedes / there cometh also the erle of Albemarl / he is deuoute to bachus and not knowē of mars / he smellyth of the wyn and vsyth noo warre / ¶ Treuisa Po [...]tes feyneth a god of wyn and clepyn hym ba­chus / and another of batayl and clepyn hym mars and so forth to speke / he that is a good drynker is deuoute to bachus / and he that is not worth in batayll is vnknowen to mars / Than he tel­lyth forth his tale in the story in this maner / There stondeth Sy­mon of hampton / his dedes ben but wordes his yefte is but a by hest whan is worde is sayd he hath done his dede / / whanne he hath behyght he hath yeuen his yeftes / In this grete heete kynge steuē herd alysaunder the bisshops masse and the tayre that the kynge offred brake in the Bisshops hande / and the cheyne brake and the box fyl there gods body was in / that was a token of the kynges fayllyng / than the kyng wente forth and baldwyn the erle had the wordes to comfort men for to fyght / and he spake to other men in this maner / Men that must fyght must knowe thre thynges / the ryghtfulnes of the cause lest men shold falle in peryll of soule / The quantite of the company that they be not boren doun with to many enemyes / And the effecte of myght and of strength lest men lene vpon feble helpe / and falle to the grounde touchyng these thre poyntes / I trowe that we be spedde / But take heede fer­thermore What maner enemyes we haue / Loo Roberts coūseyll that vsyth grete menace and doth lytel in deede / in mouth he is a lyon and in herte an haar / he is clere of speche and derke by vn­cunnyng / Also there stondeth therle of chestre a man of vnresonable hardynesse redy & prest to conspyracy / and vnstydfast to ful­fyll in dede / hasty of herte and vnware of peryls / he casteth ful grete dedes and essayeth dedes that he maye not awelde / what he begynneth fresshely / he forsaketh i [...] feyntly / as a woman vnhap­py and vngracious in euery place and is alwey ouercome other chaced / he hath with hym flemed men & sculkers about the walsshe [Page CCClj] men euer the more ben of hem / the wors they ben in fyghtynge / But er he had made ende of the wordes come the crye of the ene­myes the noyse of the trompes and the gruntng of horses / & the sheltrons smytyn to geders and forth goon tharowes / The king was take and brought to the emperyce and was kepte in boūdes at brystow from candelmasse to the holy rode day in heruest / ther­for the emperyce wexeth swyth proude / and occupyed surcetre and than wynchester / there they cam ageynst her with procession and that alowyd the popes legate / than she wente to wylton / to Ox­enford to Redyng and to saynt albon and in euery place all men toke her with good wyll oute take kentyssh men alone / But theobaldus the Archebisshop cam specially ageynste her / Than she cam to london to trete of the state of the lande / there the quene of Englond kyng Steuens wyf prayd the emperyce that the kyng myght be delyuerd oute of bondes vppon that condicion that the kyng shold yelde vp the kingdom to the emperyce and somwher become a monke other be a pylgrym to his lyues ende / But the emperyce wold not here this bone / Also the cyteseyns of lon­don prayd hyr that they myght vse saynt edwardes lawes / and not the lawes of hyr fader kyng henry / for they were ful harde / But she wold not assente / therfor the peple was meoued and ordeyned for to take her / she was ware therof and lefte al her store of houshold & fledde to oxenford / & there she abode her knyghtes that were al y shed or dyuyded / thenne she toke with hir her ow­ne came dauid kyng of scotland and strength of knyghtes / and went to wynchestre / there she besyeged strongly the bisshops toure there the kynges broder was / At last cam the quene with will­iam I prens and the emperyce was so aferd that she was born to gloucestre in an hors bere as it were a dede body / her broder erle Robert was take and putte in pryson in the mene tyme / than the quene on that one syde was besy for the kyng / and the emperyce in that other syde for her owne broder / and suche delyueraunce was y procured and ordeyned that the kyng shold be restored a­geyne to the kyngdome and the Erle to his lordship / and bothe shulde make pees in the kyngdome as they had dystourbed it / But the erle wold not assente / than al the yere was in the lan­de Robbyng & reuyng / manslaughter and sellyng of Ryche men / than aboute hooly Rode day in heruest the kyng was dely­uerd and besyeged the emperyce in the cyte of Oxenford from mychelmesse to mydwynter and destroyed alle that was without [Page] Atte last fyll a grete honger and the Emperyce was couerd in whyte and byspronge with snowe and escaped ouer Temse that was froren and hylled with snow and cam to walingford / Therfor the men of the syege were begyled and y blend with the blasyng of the snowe / And soo the cyte of oxenford was yolden to the kyng / Aboute this tyme one mayster arnold prechyd at ro­me ageynst ryche men and ageynste superfluyte that men vsen / therfore many men pursued hym / at last he was taken and han­gyd for wreth of clerkes / Also that tyme deyd Iohannes de temporibus that had lyued thre honderd yere thre score and one / and had be squyer with the grete charles /

¶ Capitulum 19

AFter the second Innocencius the seconde celestynꝰ was pope fyue monethes / after hym lucius enleuen monethes / The thyrdde eugenius was pope eyght yere and fyue monethes / This was fyrst saynt bernardes disciple and afterward Abbotte of saynt anastasy besydes Rome. and cam vnware to saynt Cesa­rius chirche and was chocen by the Cardynals / but for drede of the Senatours he was sacred withoute the cyte / This sygned lo­wys kyng of Fraunce with cros and made a counseyll at Reme in Fraunce. ¶ Also to hym saynt bernard the Abbot wrote the bookes de considere / ¶ Henricus libro nono ¶ Ranulph Consul of Chestre cam to walyngford with many knyghtes / and was acorded with the kyng / But soone therafter he was gylefully taken in the parlement of northampton and myght not be delyuerd er he had yolden vp the castel of lyncolne / ¶ That tyme the walsshmen destroyed the prouynce of Chestre / but at wycumalbā they were kylde / Soone therafter kyng steuen was crowned at lyncolne / and soo happed noo kyng byfore / Also that yere con­radus the emperour lowys kyng of Fraunce the Erle of flaun­dres and many other that hadde take the cros to the hooly londe / chesed the lond weye and not the water weye / And passed by hongary and were bytrayd by fraude of the emperour of Constā tinople / For many of them tasted mele medlyd with lyme / and deyde and many other were deed by swerde and honger / For robbyng and reuyng and lechery / Giraldus de p / capitulo 18 [Page CCClij] ¶ Loys kyng of Fraunce come homeward out of the hooly lon­de / and wexed seke for long continence and defaute of women as leches sayde / and leches and prelates counsayled hym to take a wenche· by cause he was so fer from the quene / Me is leuer deye sayd he chaste than lyue in spousebrekyng / and soo he putte all in goddes hande and was hoole anone / In a tyme a clerke cam to hym / and brought to hym ā pryuelege of the pope that he sholde in euery cathedral chirche of his Reme haue the fyrst Bene­fyce that voyded with the fruyte and prouffytes in the mene ty­me / Anone he threwe the lettres in to the fyre / and sayde that hym was leuer brenne suche lettres than haue his soule tormented in helle / the same prynce fasted euery frydaye to brede and water / and men counseylled hym to fede an honderd poure men on the fryday and leue that fastyng / We wold gladly fede so many poure men other more / but our fastyng will we not breke / For al withoute the prouffyte that it doth to the soule / hit profyteth moche to the body also / we do euery weke soo moche and so many superfluytees in to the body / that the purgacion and reste of one daye helpyth moche to putte of superfluyte / and also to make the sharper appetyte / Whan this lowys was dede a vercifyour wro­te on his tombe in short style a wrytyng y hight with faire spech of rethorik & torned his speche as it were to his sone phelip / & shewed hym his fader that lay beryed there / and sayde / Nunc super tu qui superes successorum honoris / Degener es si degeneris a laude prioris / that is to saye thou ouerlyuest this that art aboue suc­cessour of worship / thou art vnkynde / yf thou goost oute of kynde of the praysyng of thy forfader / Aboute that tyme deyd mayster hughe de saynt vyctor monk and pryour of saynt vyctor besydes paris a parfyght man of lettrure and of Relygyon / Of hym it is sayde that whanne he was seke in his deth euyl / and myght holde no mete nother drynke he axyd besyly and prayed to yeue him gods body / his bretheren wold ceese his cryeng and brought him an oubleye that was not sacred / he knewe hit in his spyryte and sayde god foryeue it you bretheren why wol ye begyle me this is not my lord / Anone they brought an obley that was sacred / he sawe it and myght not hold and hened vp his handes and sayde I praye that the sonne goo vp to the fader. and the spyrite to god that made hym of nought / And so he yelde vp the goost / and our lordes body vanysshed oute of syght / R / But somme men wol mene that this hughe myght not holde for he was castyng aweye / [Page] and therfor his bretheren wolde not brynge hym the veray sa­crament / And he prayd hem specially that they wold sette the sacrament vpon his syde / and whanne they hadde soo done the seke mannes syde opened and the sacrament went in by hit self / This made many good bookes de sacramentis de Archa noe / de institucione nouiciorum / de arra anime / de studio sapiencie / dydascaly­con and de laude crucis / he made a booke also / Fr [...]st and yse was soo stronge that horses myght passe ouer temse / This yere mayster gracianus de Tuscia / monk of Bononia was borne / He compyled and gadred the book of decrees so sayth hugh / 296 / forma / His broder germayne mayster peres lombard Bisshop of parys compyled and made the foure bookes of sentence· and gloosed the sauter and poules pystles also

¶ Capitulum 20

AFter Conradus the fyrst frederyk was Emperour of Al­mayns and of Romayns seuen and thyrtty yere / After pope adryans deth that hym had crowned this was a gre­uous enemy to pope alysau ndre / for in preiudyce of hym / he hel­de with four fals popes eche after other / ¶ Also by cause that the pope was fledde to the kyng of Fraunce / he fought ageynste the kyng of Fraunce with grete strength of boemes and of danes but he was put of by help of rychard kyng of Englond / Than the yere of our lord enleuen honderd thre score and tweyne he cam to mylan that was the hyghest walled of ony toune / and destroyed it downe to the grounde / At last after that this had do the pope many greues / he drad the rebelnesse of the lombardes / And prayd foryeuenesse of the pope / and toke the crosse in his flessh to the holy land as it were in amendemente of his synnes / And he was drowned in a lytel ryuer besydes armenye / and beryed at Tyrus / And his sonne a noble yonglyng deyde at the siege of tholomayda that is Aron and nygh al̄l the noble of cristen men deyde that tyme / After Eugenius Anastasius was pope as it were two yere / ¶ That yere deyd saynt bernard abbot of cler­uaulx that was borne in burgoyne in the Castel of Founteyns He was a noble knyghtes sonne and was fyrst fedde with his owne moders mylk and afterward norysshed with greter metes [Page CCCliij] Than the yere of oure lord enleuen honderd and twelue after the begynnynge of the ordre Cistersiensis that is the ordre of whyte monkes fyftene / of his owne age two and twenty / He entred with thyrtty felawes in to Cystercy / and after the fyfte yere of his conuersacion he was ordeyned abbot of Clereuaus / There he vsed wakynge passyng the vsage of mankynde / he sayde that he lost no tyme more than whanne he slepte / he lykened slepe to deth / vnnethe that he myghte suffre hym that routed and aferde foule in his slepe / he wente to mete as it were to tormente for grete ab­stynence that he vsed / he hadde loste his taste and sauour of mete & of drynke / Soo that he wold take oyle in stede of wyn and blo­de in stede of botter / he wold say that hyin sauoured water for hit keled his mouth and his Iowes al that he lerned of Scryptu­re / he dranke hit in wodes and in feldes in his medytacions and and beedes / he knowleched none other maystres that he hadde butokes and beches / In his clothyng was pouert without ony fylth He sayde that clothynge is Iuge and wytnesse of herte and thought of negligence other of pryde and veyne glorye / that prouerbe he had oft in his mouth and alwey in his herte al men wō dryth of hym that doth that as none other doth / To the [...]ouyce that sholde come to the Relygyon / he wolde saye yf ye hye to that is within / leueth here without the bodyes that ye broughte of the world / the spyryte shal entre / the flesshe doth no prouffyte As ofte as. men prayd hym to be Bisshop he sayde that he was not his owne / but that he was ordeyned to seruyce of other men / Alwey he was founde other byddynge other redyng / other wry­tyng other in medytacions other prechyng and techyng his bretheren / The yere of oure lord enleuen honderd and thre & fyfty / whanne his deth neyghed he bytoke his bretheren thre poyntes to kepe / and sayde that he had kepte hem in his wyse al his lyf ty­me· and sayde / I wold noo man sklaundre / but yf ony sklaun­der were aryse / I ceesed it what I myghte / I trowe myn owne wyt lasse than other mēnes dome / yf I were greued I axed no wreche of hym that had greued me / Bernard wrote many noble bookes and specially of the incarnacion of cryst / and dyde many myracles / and buylded thre score Abbayes / and passed oute of this world to oure lord of heuene / Also that yere deyd the Se­cond Ranulph that hight Gercious by his surname / he was the fourth Erle of Chestre / after the conquest / his sonne second hughe was lord after hym in that Ducherye nyne and twenty [Page] and dyde many grete dedes / ¶ Also that yere deyd kyng ste­uen in kente in the abbaye of Feuersham that he buylded vp of the grounde / In this steuens tyme a knyght that hight owen wente in to the purgatory of the second patryk abbot and not bisshop / he cam ageyne and dwellyd in the nedes of the Abbaye of ludene of whyte monkes in Irlond and told of ioye and of paynes that he had seen as it is sayd byfore in the fyrst capitulo / 34 / of the wondres of Irlond

¶ Capitulum 21

WHanne steuen was dede / the second henry was kyng / This henry was the fyrste henryes neuewe / the eldeste sonne of his doughter the Emperyce / and of geffroy plantegeneti Erle of angeo. his maners and his dedes his vertues and his vyces gyrald Cambrensis in his dystinctions descryueth and saith in this maner / Dredeful it is to allegge ageynst hym that may put out of londe / and to descryue hym with many wordes / that may exyle a man with a worde / that were a gracioꝰ thyng and passyng oure wytte and our strength to telle oute the soth in all his dedes and offende the prynces hert in noo maner poynte / ¶ This henry was somwhat redyssh with large face and brest / and yelowe eyen and a dym voys / and flesshy of body / and toke but scarcely of mete and of drynke / and for to alledge the fatnesse / he trauaylled his body with besynesse / with hunting with stondyng / with wandryng / he was of mene stature / Renable of speche / and wel y lettred / noble and orped in knygthode / and wyse in counseyll and in batayll / and drad doutful desteny / more manly and curtoys to a knyght whanne he was dede than whanne he was alyue / he shewyd more sorow for men whanne they were dede than loue while they were alyue / Noo man was more goodly than he in meschyef And whan he hadde efte seurte / noo man was more sterne than he / he was cruel to theym that were not chasted / and somtyme mylde to his subgettis / harde to his famylers and free herted to straungers / large in yeftes outward and skars in pryuyte / Whome he hated other loued ones vnnethe he wolde tourne to the contrary / he wold wylfully passe his owne word / slowe in al maner answere / and loued wel pees and quyete / he bare doune [Page CCCliiij] gentilmen and sold and taryed ryghtwysenesse / vnstydfast of feyth / chaungeable and gyleful of word open spousebreker / the hamer of holy chirche alwey vnkynde to god / He norysshed strif amonge his sonnes with al besynesse and hoped to haue peas alone by stryf of his children / yf men axyd of al his grete dedes the world shold rather faile than we shold make an ende / laudes may ceese to a bold herte but vyctoryes can not ceesse tryumphes / and praysyng shal not fayle but the mater of wynnyng of worship may fayle / he was pereles and passyng in chyualry in werre and in lechery / he pesed myghtly the landes of his herytages / and wanne Irlond myghtly by strength / he toke william kyng of Scotland and ioyned the kyngdome of Scotland to his own From the southe occean to the north Ilandes of Orcades he clo­sed al the londes as it were vnder one principate / And spradde so nobly his Empyre and made it ful wyde / After Iulius Cesar men rede of noman that soo happed by yonde the see withoute normandy / Gyan / Angeo / and Chynon in toureyne that fil to hym by the ryght of his fader and also peytow and gascoyne anone to moūtes pyrenes the hylles of spayne that fyll to hym by maryage / He made subget to his lordship aluerne and other londes / He vsyd for to saye that alle the worlde is lytel ynough for a man that is stronge and myghty / The kynges of spayne for to ceesse stryf put her querel vppon this kynges dome / many of his dedes that were al ageynst the pees he brought to ende at his ow­ne wylle as it were by warnyng of gracious [...]ur and by a chosen worcher of fortune / but many thynges happyd hym as it were vngraciously to his owne mekenesse / yf he wold be repentaunt and ellys for he sholde be tormented in his owne flessh / the cruell bochour / Fyrste he toke wrongfully Elyanor the quene from her lorde lowys kynge of fraunce and wedded her in dede / though he myght not by the lawe and his owne fader geffroy forbad him and sayd that he shold not touche her for he had lay by hyr him self whyle he was the kynges steward of Fraunce / Netheles this henry gate on hyr thre doughters and syx noble sonnes / The fyrst doughter mold he maryed to the duk of Saxon / The second Elyanor to the kyng of spayne and the thyrdde Iohan to william kynge of Scicil. Also his twey sonnes were hastely take from hym and he was worthyly distourbed and greued by the other four to his lyues ende / he regned nygh fiue and thyrtty yere and so he had thyrtty yere y yeue hym to wordly blesse / and [Page] lykyng to suffraunce of Conuersacion and to assay of deuocion / & the yeres that were ouer the thyrtty yere / were yeuen hym to greef and to wreche as to an euyl man and vnkynde / For in the second yere of these fyue yere the strength vanysshed aweye that he had ordeyned aboute the sendyng of his sonne Iohan in to Irlond / & the thyrde he that lost neuer thyng loste aluerne ageynst the kyng of Fraunce / the fourth yere he lost bytu rycam / the fyfth yere the cytees Cenomānea & Turon & many castels therto & him self also / This kyng vsed to haue in his speche of Tr [...]iys Rely­gyous bisshops and lad hem with hym beyonde the see in dedes of armes / and dyde more by counseylle of hem than by counseyll of knyghtes / and that he dyde for twey skylles / Fyrst for his court sholde seme the more ryal and noble to messagers and legates / that come therto / the seconde skylle for alweye he assayed rather pees than wepen and armour / therfor he made suche medyatours with puttyng to of money / Also for he had somtyme yeuen dyg­nytees of hooly chirche to vnworthy persones for to wynne his fame ageyne / he made baldwyn the whyte monke Archebisshop of Caunterbury / & hugh pryour of the chartherous bisshop of lyncolne / he had these tweyne as it were alwey to Conseyl / For euery man that redyth in booke sholde haue the lasse wondre of the vngracious yssue / and ende of this kyng and of his sones / Men shal take heede of this kynges begynnynge / and wherof he come both in fader and in moder syde. Also of the Condicion of his lif / on whome he gate his sonnes / Geffroey plantagenet come of the children of a countesse of Angeo that was spoused only for fayrenesse of body / She wold selde come at chirche / and than vnneth she wold abyde the secreet of the masse / The Erle her husbond to­ke heede and was waar of that doyng and ordeyned four knyghtes to holde her in chirche / and she threwe awey her mantel that she was holden by / and lefte there hyr twey sonnes vnder the ryght side of the mantel / & with her twey other sones that she had than vnder the lifte side of her mantel / she fleuh out atte chirche wyndow in sight of all men / and was neuer seen after that tyme / / Afterward Richard king of englond tolde ofte this tale & saide that it was no wonder though they that come of suche kynde gre­ned euery other / as they that come of the deuel / and shulde goo to the deuyl / ¶ Also in a tyme kinge henry sente a clerke to his sonne gaufred erle of britaine for to reforme and make full pees and the sonne answerd the clerk in this manere / Why art thou [Page CCClv] come to dysheryte me of my kynde byrthe knowest thow not that it longed to vs proprely by kynde and it is pyghte on vs by kynde of fornforfaders that none of vs shold loue other than trauayll thou not in ydel to put awey kynde also this kyng henryes moder was wedded to this geffrey lyuynge hyr rather husbonde that was a pylgrym and lyued as an heremyte / & this kyng henry come of hem tweyne in this latter maryage / Also of henry whyle he was a childe nourysshed in the kynges court of Fraunce / saynt bernard the abbot prophecyed and sayd in presen­ce of the kyng / of the deuyl he come / and to the deuyl he shal / and moeued therby both the tyrauntrye of his fader geffrey that gelded the bisshop of sagre & his owne cruelnesse that slew saynt thomas of Caunterbury / and yet his fader geffrey had laye by this Elyanor that his sonne this henry wedded afterward / Also this Elyanors fader erle of Peytowe rauysshed his owne shyrreues wyf and wedded hyr lyuyng· her husbond / In a tyme an hooly man blamed hym for that dede and it auailed not / than the good mā prayed that neuer childe that come of hym shold bryng forth gracious fruyt / It happed in a tyme at wynchestre in this kyng henryes chābre that was dyuersly y peinted / that one place was lefte vnpaynted by the kynges beeste / there the kyng badde after­ward peynte an Egle with four byrdes the thre birdes cratched and torent the fader with billes and with clawes but the fourth byrde besyed hym strongly to cratche oute the faders eyen / Men axyd hym what this sholde meene / these four byrdes quoth the kyng be my foure sonnes that wol not ceesse to poursue me vnto the deth / And namely this last Iohan whom I loue now most shal moost sharply awayte and cast for my deth /

¶ Capitulum 22

AFter anastasius the fourth Adryan a man of englysshe nacion was pope foure yere / the comyn fame tellyth that this was the abbots bonde man of saynt albon in englonde and that he prayed somtyme that he myght be monk in that abbay & was putte of and forsake / but he yaf hym to clergye and to good the­wes & was made bisshop alban [...]ses / In a tyme he was made le­gate to wormacia / & conuerted that prouynce to the ryght byleue [Page] ¶ Atte laste he was· māde pope / and for the woundynge of one Cardynal he enterdyted al the cyte of Rome / He cursed william kyng of Scicile & compellyd hym to submytte hym to his grace / ¶This was the fyrst pope that dwellyd with the Cardynals in the old cyte / ¶ The kyng of Scotland dyed and neyghe alle the lordes of Englonde· In the moneth of October the sygne of the crosse was seen in the mone / ¶ Saynt Iames the A­postles hond is brought to the abbay of Redyng / That yere kyn­ge henry ladde fyrst an hoost in to wales and made a stronge Castel at Rutland and founded the abbaye of basyng werk / After Adryan the thyrdde alysaunder was pope two and twenty yere / he ouercome four fals popes that Frederyck the Empe­rour had sette vp / Also this acorded Frederyk and emanuel of Constantinople / and the kyng of Scicile and socured thomas of Caunterbury whanne he was exyled ¶Henry this kynges eldest sonne wedded the kynges doughter of Fraunce ¶ At Gloucestre Iewes nayled a child to the roode / ¶ Theobald the Archebisshop dyed and thomas of london the kynges chaū ­celer was sacred Archebisshop the second daye of Iuyn / /

And the thyrdde yere therafter he wente oute of Englond / and cam ageyne the seuenth yere of his exꝑlyng / and was martred / Foure famous men descryued his lyf & his dedes as it is writen in his lyf / Aboute that yere abbot Ioachyn was in his floures in Calabria / he wrote the exposicion vpon the Apocalypsis / and vpon the bookes of prophetes / ¶ Also he warned Frede­ryk the Emperour and other kynges that wente to the hooly londe that they sholde not profyte there but a lytel at that tyme / for the tyme of the delyueraunce was not yet come / Men seyn also of this Ioachyn that he descryued as it were by prophecye / the maners and dedes of nombre of al popes that shold be in hooly chirche / But there he wrote ageynst the maystre of sentence / his opynyon was repreued as it is wryten in the begynnyng of decretals by the nynth gregory / The twellifth day byfore october aboute prime were seen thre cercles in heuen and twey sonnes That yere aroos the stryf bytwene the kyng and thomas / That tyme was mayster pyers comestor in his floures in fraunce he wrote a storye of eyther testamente that hight historia Scolastica / He wrote allegorias vppon eyther testamente that is a book of goostly vnderstandynge / ¶ Also he made a noble boke of Sermons and made afterward his Allegorias [Page CCClvj] in a booke of me [...]re and cleped the booke Auroica / ¶ Raaf Bisshop of Coloyn brought the bodyes of the thre kynges to co­loyne oute of melan that was destroyed by Frederyk / These bodyes were fyrst brought out of Perse to Constantinople and than by pope Sergius they were brought to Melan / This yere was thomas of Caunterbury martred / Of hym one sayth in this manere / Anno milleno Centeno / Septuageno An­glorum primas corruit ense thomas / / That is to menynge / The yere of our lord enleuen honderd and seuenty / thomas deyde / by a swerde prymate of englysshe men / ¶ Another sayth in this maner / quis moritur / presul / cur / pro grege / qualiter ense / Quando / natali / quo loco / ara dei / In Englysshe who dyeth / a Bisshop / why / for the flock / how / with a swerde / whan / at myd­wynter / in what place / at goddes aulter ¶ Another sayth in this maner / Pro Crysti sponsa / Crysti sub tempope Crysti / In templo Crysti verus amator obijt / That is to menynge / For Crystes spouse in Crystes tyme / In Crystes temple crystes tre­we louer dyeth / ¶ Giraldus / ¶ After his deth the kynges fortune beganne to withdrawe / for the yere after the kynge wente in to Irlond that he had myghtely wonne and made there counseyls in many places by the popes wylle / and namely at cassil / there was not the primate of arnach for febelnesse of his body / This prymate ladde with hym a whyte cowe alwey aboute / and was susteyned only by the mylke of that whyte cowe / he re­formed al that yland with all his myght / specially in thre poyntes in rulynge of thoffyce of hooly chirche / in the trewe payeng of tethyng to hooly chirche and in lawful vsage of wedlok / than it was there ordeyned that men dyed that shold make theyr testamente in presence of theyr neyghbours· & yf the man that dyeth hath wyf and children / he shold fyrst cast what he oweth / and his dettys to other mē / and to seruauntes for theyr hyre and the other deele of his meobles shold be deled in thre / The one partye sholde be ordeyned to his children / the other partye to his wyf / and the thyrdde to brynge hym in erthe and for to doo for his soule / yf he bee withoute wyf or withoute children / his catell shold be deled in tweyne / ¶ Whanne the kynge come oute of Irlond he byganne to haue reuelacions and specially by cause that he shold amende his lyf / fyrst in the Castel of cardef in wa­les the sonday next after eester day whan the kyng had herd masse / and wente to his hors / there stonde a pale man with rounde [Page] tonsour lene and long barfoote in a whyte kyrtel he spak to the kyng in duche speche in this maner and sayde / Good old kynge And than he told forth his tale in this maner / Cryst greteth the and his moder myld and Iohan baptist and peter and comman­deth hyghly that no chepynges be holden nother seruyle werkes / doon on the Sonday in the londes of thy lordshipe oute take do­ynge that nedith to the vsage of dyghtynge of meete / yf thou dost as I telle / alle that thou begynnest / thou shalt brynge to a gracious ende· the kynge spake Frensshe to the knyght that helde his brydel & sayde / Axe of this chorle yf he hath y dremed al this that he tellyth / And he expowned it in Englysshe / Thenne the man spake in the forsayde tonge / and sayde / whether I haue mette this tale or noo / take thou heede what day it is to daye / For but yf thou doo as I telle and amende thy lyf / thou shalt here suche tydynges within this yere that thou shalt be soory therfore to thy lyues ende· The man vanysshed whanne this was sayde / and within the thre yeres the kynges sones henry Gaufred & Rychard torned to the kyng of Fraunce ageynst theyr owne fa­der / ¶ The kynge of Scotlande the Erle of Chestre / and the Erle of leycetre reysed ageynst the kynge / And the kynge had many warnynges / but he sette lytel therby / For the second tyme an Irysshe man warned hym and told hym tokenes that were moste pryuy / the thyrdde tyme a knyght of lyndeseye Phelyp of Chestreby passed the Frensshe see / and come to the kynge in nor­mandye / and expowned hym there seuen artycles that he sholde amende / and yf he dyde he shold regne worshipfully seuen yere / and he shold wynne the holy crosse and his enemyes / and ellys he shold shamely dye in the fourth yere / ¶ Thre the fyrste were the Artycles that he hadde swore in his crownynge that he shold hold / One was of the mayntenyng of hooly chirch The other of ryghtful lawes / the thyrdde that he shold no man dampne withoute dome / The fourthe that he shold restore agey­ne herytages that he hadde byn [...]me / the fyfthe that he sholde doo ryght withoute meede / the syxthe that he sholde paye the wages of his seruauntes / The seuenth that he shold doo the Iewes oute of Englond and leue hem som what of moneye to wende oute of the lande / ¶ But the kynge was not amended / Therfore aroos ageynste hym thre stronge men and myghty his owne thre sonnes with the kynge of Fraunce / But whanne [Page CCClvij] kynge henry hadde vysyted mekely thomas the martiris tombe / William kyng of Scotlande and the twey Erles of Chestre and of lyncoln were taken at Alnewyk / ¶ This meschyef dured two yere and was vnnethe ceessed / and he acounted the ce [...]ssyng therof to his owne strengthe / and not to goddes mercy / And he that hadde prysonned his wyf Elyanor the quene and was pryuely a spouche breker / and lyued now openly in spousebrekyng and is not ashamed to mysuse the wenche Rosamund / To this fayre wenche the kyng made at wodestoke a chambre of wonder crafte slyly made by dedalus werke / leste the Quene sholde fynde and take Rosamund / but the wenche dyed soone / and is beryed in the chapyter hows at Godestow besydes Oxenford with suche wryting vpon her tombe / Hic Iacet in tumba / r [...]samundi / non rosa munda· Non redolet / sed olet / que redele [...]e sole [...] / That is to saye / Here lyeth in tombe the Rose of the world / not a clene rose / It smellyth not swete but it stynkyth that was wōt to smelle ful sweete / This wenche had a lytel Coffre scarsely of twey fote longe made by a wonder crafte that is yet seen there / Therin it semyth that geauntes fyghtyn / beestes startlyn / foules fleyn / and Fysshes leepe withoute ony mannes moeuynge /

¶ Capitulum 23

ALso this yere at yorke the twellyfth daye byfore september william kyng of Scotland by assente of lordes and prela­tes of his lande dyde hommage to henry kyng of Englond / Also this kynge william seyth in his lettres patente that he and his successours and men of Scotland shold doo hommage lege­ance and fewte to the kynges of Englonde / as ofte as they be therto requyred / In token of this subgettion the kynge of Scot­lande offred his hat and his sadel vpon saynt Peters Aulter / in the chirche of york that be yet there kepte vnto this day / And yet herto the lordes of Scotland swore that yf the kynge of Scotlande wold withdrawe hym in ony tyme from that feyth / they wolde ryse ageynste hym and be ageynst hym alweye / till that he were torned ageyne / ¶ Pope Gregory in dyuers wrytynges that he sente to the kynges of englond and of scotland charged heyhely / that this composicion sholde bee stydfastly [Page] holde / And for the declaracion of this subgection / the kynge of Scotland and his prelates come to northampton to kyng henryes parlement / And therafter he cam to kyng henry in to normandy Also this yere by assente of the kyng the Couent of Caunter­bury cheese Rychard pryour of douer to be Archebisshop / In the enleuenth yere of his bisshopryche our lord appered to hym and sayde / thou hast wasted the goodes of my chirche / and I shal rote the oute of the erth / thenne he was aferd and deyd the eyght day therafter / the charge of the trauayl of the takynge of the crosse that henry the kyn [...]e hadde y take somtyme beyonde the see and swore afterward [...]yfore two cardynals that he wold poursue it after thre yere / whanne thre yere were passed / he sent to Rome for to haue lenger delaye in ydel of his gyleful doynge / And that by suche a feyned colour that he shold make thre abbayes in englōd And soo he dyde in this maner of Seculer chanons of waltham he made chanons reguler & dyde awey menchons of Ambresbury and brought thyder other menchons from beyonde the See / & restored symply the chartrous at wythā besydes salesbury / Also he hadde taken somtyme the kepynge of the kynges doughter of fraunce for he shold mary hyr to his sonne rychard of peytow / But after the deth of Rosamund he laye by this mayde / therfor his sonne Rychard refused the maryage / therfor the kynge caste to wedde this wenche / and therfor he prayd huguncio the cardynal for to come and make dyuorse bytwene hym and elyanor the quene / for he hoped so to haue the more helpe & fauour of frensshe men to dyssheryte his owne sonnes / Afterward fyll warre by­twene hym and the kynge of Fraunce for Castel Raph· and kyng henry axyd this wenche to wedde hyr to his sonne Iohan / And axyd with her the erldoms of Peytow and of Angeo / but the kyng of Fraunce assentid not to this axynge. but he sente the lettres to Rychard by cause he sholde hem see / Therfore aroos a grisely wreth bytwene the fader and his owne sonne / Grysly thundryng was herd in a mydwynter nyght at andeuer In hamptshyre a preeste was smyten to deth with lyghtnynge in the myddel of the people / and none other man was touched / & swyne were seen amonge hem renne vp and doune / Tempest of hayel slewe foules beestes & men in a ma [...]deleyn nyght / Gir / 16 This tyme that was in our tyme kyng arthures body was foū den that was acoūted as it were fantastyk / & brought as it were a fer at an ende & a fable of Brytons feyned / that he shold eft [...] [Page CCClviij] come and be kyng / at glast [...]nbury bytwene two pylers that were arered of stone somtyme in the hooly chirche hygh by wonder tokenes and warnynges / this Arthures body was foūde beryed and marked in an holow oke depe in the erthe / and than he was take vp and translated worshypfully in to the chirche and y l [...]yde honestly in a tombe of marbelstone / there was founden a croys of leede / and a stone therupon / and lettres y wryte within in the crosse tourned toward the stone / the whiche lettres I radde and handled in this maner fourme / Hic iacet sepultus inclitus Rex Arthurus cum wennenera vxor sua secunda in Insula Aualona That is here lyeth beryed the noble kyng Arthur with his second wyf wennener in aualon / The bones were leyd in the graue / soo [...]hat the twey deles of the graue toward the heede conteyned the mannes bones / and the thyrdde dele toward the feete conteyned the womans boones / there the yelow tresses of the womans heere was founden hoole and sounde with Fresshe colour and hewe as [...]t had somtyme / but a monk touched it coueytously with his han [...]e / and anone it fyll all in to pouder / ¶ This kynge hen [...]y hadde herde somtyme of a bryton that knewe storyes and was a synger of gestes that kynge Arthures bodye sholde be founden [...] an holow oke aboute fyftene fote depe in the erthe / He was beryed soo deepe lest he were lyghtly founde of the Sax­ons that were his enemyes / And therfore lett [...]s were wryten and grauen within toward the stone / to be Iuge and wytnesse of the sothnesse and truthe / And also haue mynde that Arthures schyn bone that was thenne shewed was l [...]nger by thre ynches than the legge / and the knee of the lengest man that was than founde / Also the space of his forheede bytwene his twey eyeen was a spanne brode. Also in his heede were seen wemmes of ten woūdes / and it semed that they come al in to one wemme oute ta [...]e the wemme of one wounde / ¶ Ierusalem was take and destroyed of the Sarasyns / ¶ After Alysaunder the thyrdde lucins was pope a yere and four monethes / ¶ That yere dyed hughe Erle of Chestre at l [...]k / his sonne the thyrdde Ranulph was Erle after hym fyfty yere / Also that ye­re deyde henry that was the kynges eldest sone / of hym one sayde in this maner / Omnis honoris honor decor et decus vrbis & orbis That is worship of all worship fayrenesse and worshipe of the Cyte and of the world wyde / Milicia splendor gloria lumen apex that is shynynge and blysse lyghte and heede of Chyualrye [Page] Iulius ingenio / virtutibus hector / achylles viribas / Augustus moribus / ore parys / that is iulius in wytte / hector in vertues [...] Achilles in strengthe / Augustus in thewes / Parys in mouthe /

¶ Capitulum 24

THis yere whanne Rychard Archebisshop of Caunterbury was dede / baldwyn bisshop of wyrcetre was Archebisshop after by assente of the kyng and of alle the bisshops / but the mō kes of Caunterbur [...] withsayde it with all that they myght / Of hym it is sayd that he ete neuer Flesshe from the fyrste daye that he was made [...]hyte monke to his lyues ende / In a tyme by the wey an old lene womman met hym and axyd yf it were sothe that he ete no maner flessh / It is sothe quoth he / It is fals sayde she / For thou hast ete my flesshe vn to the bones / For I had but one cowe that I was sustened by / and thy deenes haue bynome me that cowe / he answerd and sayde truly by the grace of god thou shalt haue as good a cowe as she was / The four [...] yere of his bisshopryche fyl stryf bytwene hym and the Conu [...] of Caunterbury / for newe houses and chirches that were buyld fast by the monkes walles / in the which chirche he had ordeyned seculer clerkes and ordeyned hem prouendres of the monkes chirches / that he was compellyd to take awey the byldyng / and they were translated to lambhythe fast by london byfore westmynstre The yere of our lord enleuen honderd four score and eyghte / thi [...] baudwyn had the offyce of the legacy of the cros and wente in to wales and songe in euery cathedral chirche of wales a masse in pontificalibus / and that was neuer seen byfore that tyme / After lucius the thyrd vrban was pope as it were two yere / he deyd for sorowe that Ierusalem was take of the sarasyns / That tyme cam heraclius patriarke of Ierusalem in to Englond to kyng henry and prayd hym help ageynst the saraseyns in the name of all the Crysten men of the eest londes / and profered the keyes of the hooly Cyte / and of our [...] lordes graue with the kyn­ges baner and lettres of lucius the pope that coūseylyd and chargyd hym that he shold take that iourney / and made mynde of the othe that he had made / but the kyng put ouer his answer till he cam at london / and by the prechyng of the patryark and of baldwyn the Archebisshop many toke the crosse to the hooly lande [Page] But henry answerd and sayde that he myght not forsake and leue his landes / withoute warde and kepyng nother sette hym to the pray to the Robberye of Frensshmen / But he wold yeue largely of his to theym that wold thyder wende / kyng sayth the patriark / It is nought that thou dost / we seke and axe a prynce and not money / Neygh euery londe of the world sendyth vs moneye / but no man sendeth vs a prynce / Than we axe a man that nedeth money and not money that nedyth a man / And so the patriarck [...] wente his wey / & his hope was lost and the kyng folowid him vn to the see / For he wolde with fayr wordes as he wel couthe plese the patriark that was greued but the patriark spake to the kynge and sayde / hederto thou hast regned gloryously / but heraf­ter he wold forsake the that thou [...]ast forsake / Thynke and ha­ue mynde what our lord hath yeuen the and what thou hast yolden hym ageyne / how thou were fals to the kynge of Fraunce & slowe saynt thomas and now thou forsakest the defence and pro­tection of crysten men / The kynge was wroth with thyse wordes The Patriark sawe that and profered hym his heede and his nek and sayde doo by me ryght as thou dydest by saynt thomas· For me is as leef be slayne of the in Englond as of Sarasyns in si­ria / for thou art wors than ony sarasyn / though all my men said the kyng were one body and spake with one mouth / they durste not speke to me suche wordes / Noo wonder sayd the Patriarke for they loue thyn and not the / this peple folowyth pray and not a man / than the kyng sayde I may not wende out of my landes For myne owne sonnes wold aryse ageynst me / whanne I we­re absente / No wonder seyd the patryark for of the deuyl they come and to the deuyl they shal / This yere the kyng sente his sone Iohan in to Irlonde / but he dyde lytel prouffyt there and come home ageyne / This yere the fyrste day of may sarasyns toke Ie­rusalem and bare awey the hooly crosse / and slew the mayster of chyualrye of the temple and many noble men / whanne that was wyst amonge crysten men / many toke the crosse to the hooly lande in al the world wyde / Among the whiche Rychard of peytow kyng henryes sone toke the crosse also. And for the same cause baldwyn the Archebisshop wente in to wales as it is touchid before hande / In his Company was girald Cambrensis archedeken of landaf that descryued the maners of walsshe men in his booke that is called Itinerarius as he had before descryued the state and the maners of Irisshe men in his booke / that highte [Page] Topographia / whanne he was sente with Iohan kyng Henryes sonne in to Irlond / ¶After vrban the eyght gregory was pope four monethes / He sente many lettres and pystles for socour of the hooly land / After hym the thyrdde clemente was pope thre yere / ¶ This yere at dunstaple in englonde many men sawe our lord Ihesu Cryst in the eyr honge on the crosse / Also this yere [...]ng henry made Ranulph erle of Chestre knight and yaf hym [...] wyf constance the contesse of brytayne the wy­dowe of his sone gaufred with al lytel brytayne / & the erldome of Rychemond / the kynges of Englond and of Fraunce and Rychard erle of peytow and many other noble men to the nom­bre of an honderd thousand & four score thousand toke the crosse on· saynt Gregoryes daye / that yere Frederyk the emperour wente acursed to the hooly land / and ladde his hooste by Constantino­ple / but for grete hete he bathed hym in a ryuer in armenye that is called gula Sathane that is Sathanas throte / and there Frederik was drowned / other as some men tellyn his hors stombled and fel in to the water and soo he was drowned and beryed at Tyrus / his eldest sonne was dede in the same iourneye / and his other sonne the fyfthe henry was Emperour of Almayne after hym and regned eyght yere / and wanne Apulea and Scicilia / and was acursed of Pope Celestinus / For Rychard kynge of Englond was take whanne he come from the hooly lande / and holden in the Emperours prysonne and myghte not be delyuerd without a grete somme of money / And the emperour dyed in the same cursyng / and myght not be beryed without assente of kyn­ge Rychard / Also that yere fyll stryf bytwene the twey kynges of englond and of Fraunce / and alle the moneye was wasted that was arered of dymes for the iourneye and goyng to Ieru­salem / For atte Cyte Cenomanna the kyng of Fraunce and Rychard erle of Peytow come ageynst the kyng of Englond / and kyng henry made sette the subarbes a fuyer for a cautel / by cause his enemyes sholde haue noo socour therin / but the strengthe of the wynde droof the layte of the fyer in to the cyte & brente vp all the cyte· and compellyd kyng henry to goo oute of the Cyte / And the kyng in his goyng from the cyte spake suche wordes / & sayde for thou hast bynome me this day the cyte that I moost loue in this worlde I shal quyte the / For after this tyme I shal benyme the thyng that sholde moost plese the in me that is myn herte / Atte last at Turon he was take with a feuer and desyred [Page] to haue pees with the kynge of Fraunce in suche manere that he wold gladly put hym self in the kyng of Fraunce grace / sauyng his owne worship and the crowne and his Royamme / But all for nought for he myght geete no pees / but yf he wold withoute ony condicion putte hym in the kynges grace / And it was well worthy / for he graunted not to thomas this worde sauynge the worship of god and the dygnyte of his ordee and the Fredom of hooly chirche / Than kyng henry deyd in the Castel Cynon [...]us / & alle that were aboute hym yaue hem soo to Robberye and to bry­brye that the kynges body lay naked long tyme / til that a childe coueryd the nether partyes of his body with a short cloke / Than hit semed that his surname was fulfylled that he hadde of his childhode / henry short cloke that hight short mātel beyonde the see / For this was the fyrste that brought shorte clookes oute of Angeo in to englond / Also they that were there as he was dede told that al the whyle that his sonne stode by his faders body / the faders both nosetherles bledde dropes of blode / Eyght dayes byfore this kynges deth fysshes leepe out of a ponde in normandy and fought strongly to gyders with soo greete noyse that men of the contraye aboute come thyder oute of euery syde for to see the won­der and founde vnnethe ony fysshe alyue

¶ Capitulum 24

KYnge henry is dede at Fontreuerard / And his sonne Ry­chard was kyng after hym and regned ten yere / Steuen of Caunterbury descryued clerely his maners and his dedes And by cause this storye shold not mysse the noble dedes of soo grete a duke / I haue studyed to take the floures of steuens booke / This kynge ordeyned redyly his thynges beyonde the See / & cam in to Englond for to be crowned / In his comynge prisones were opened and he was crowned at london of Baldwyn Ar­chebisshop of Caūterbury the thyrde day of September the whiche daye is acounted an euyl daye by the veyne byleue and vsage of mysbyleuyd men / and is clepyd in the kalender Dies Egypci­aca / and dies mala an euyl daye as it were a day of bodynge of euyl happes to the Iewes for the Iewes of Englond had euyl happe that daye / Many Iewes cam to this solempnyte leste the welthe that they hadde vnder the olde kynge sholde be withdrawe [Page] in the newe kynges tyme / But the kyng heet and commaunded that the I [...]wes shulde not come in to the chirche / while he were crowned nowther in to the palays whyle he were at mete / But while the kyng was at mete / somme of the Iewes pressed amōg other / and come within the palays gate / and one of hem was smyten with a mannes fyste / Than the Rabyssh peple wende that the kyng had soo commaunded / and vp with staues battes and stones / and layde on the Iewes and made them to flee / Herof sprang lykyng thynges in to al the Cyte / as though the kynge had commaund [...]d to dystroye the Iewes / and the peple resxny & cryeng brake vp the houses there the Iewes were fledde for drede / and brente and spoylled and toke what they myght / & wolde not leue for the kynges sendyng / The outrage of▪ soo grete wodenesse yf it were suffred shold passe many cruel dedes and blemysshed moche the kynges begynnyng / But for the grete multitude of hem that were gylty he must lete passe what he myght nought take of ful wreche / ¶ Atte last the Iewes had pees graū ted / And anone the kyng [...]eueth dygnytees that auoydeth / And all withoute that his broder Iohan hadde of his faders yefte in Irlond & in normandy. he yaf hym the prouynces of Cornewail Of Deuenshyre / of notyngham and of lancastre / Also he yafe hym the erles doughter of Gloucestre to wyf that was his Cosyn in the thyrde degree with all her faders lordship / The lordship of the fourth dele that was yeuen hym made him vnkynde and vntrewe and desyre the hoole kyngdome / The kyng commytted the gouernaunce of the Royame to the Bisshop of Durham / that shold more skylfully and semely occupye hym self in goddes seruyce than in the kynges seruyce / For the Gospel sayth that noo man may serue twey lordes at ful as he shold / though the Bys­shop wold to dele hym self for to plese eyther kyng of heuen and of erthe / Certaynly the kyng ef heuen aloweth not seruice that is so deled For he wolde be seruid with all the might of the soule / And what yf the Bisshop that is but half yeuen to Goddes ser­uyce doth not his office as he shold / but ordeined vnworthye and recheles persones in his steede for he wold serue ho [...]ily in the pa­lais other in the feire and courte / For in none half man makith God atte full of the acountes of an erthely prince / ¶ Also the king for to haue the more large spence toward Ierusalem he resigned the Castels of Berwick and Rokesburgh to the kinge fo Scotland for ten thousand pounde / ¶Also he begiled the [Page CCClxj] olde man the ryche bisshop of durham and made hym bye his owne prouynce for a greete somme of moneye / therfor the kynge sayde ofte in his game / I am a wonder crafty man / For I ha­ue made a newe erle of an old bisshop by suche maner wyle and speche he empted many mannes purses and bagges / and solde dygnytees and lordshipes that longed to the kynge as though he thought neuer for to come ageyne / In a tyme his frendes that were homely with hym blamed hym therfore and he answerd & sayde I wolde selle london and I myghte fynde a chapman that myght wel paye / many men bought with the better wylle / For they trowed that the kyng wold neuer come ageyne / he had take power of the pope that he myghte byneme the crosse whome that he wolde / and therby he gate many thousande pounde / than the kyng as it semed betoke rechelesly the gouernyng of the kyngdom to his chaunceler bisshop of hely / and sayl̄ed in to Norman­dy byfore mydwynter tyde / That tyme at dunstaple the sygne of the crosse was seen in heuene / and soone therafter the sh [...]p of the crosse was seen forsake the baner and passe somwhat of space therfrom / Telle who that wyll what it myght mene / For I haue lerned to telle this wonder and not to descryue what hit shold mene / Than the kynges of Englond and of Fraunce after that they had made suerte bytwene hem tweyne they dwellyd at Tu­ron in Fraunce for to abyde somer to wende in the wey to the holy land not only for hooly entente and for cause of the feyth / But for desyre of her owne welthe and hope of grete happe and fortune / but the ryghtwysenesse of God aloweth not suche maner doyng / but semely god ordeineth that outrageoꝰ pryde of mysbyleuyd men shold be alayd in that maner / Also withoute the meschyef that Iewes suffryd in her body and catel at lyncolne and at lynne / yet at york after a long siege and grete meschyef and woo / Raby mayster of Iewes forkytte the veynes of four hon­derd Iewes & of his owne veynes also and his veynes throte Also at staūford Iewes were beten / slayne and pylled / And one Iohne mooste hardy of Crysten men come to Northampton with many grete prayes / there the hostiler slowe hym pryuely by nyght for couetyse of moneye that he hadde brought / And threw the body by nyght withoute the cyte and fled aweye as a theef sholde / Than old wiues mette and there were seen wonder fals sightes of fals tokenes / and the sely men bare on honde / that it was for the holinesse of that man that they helde a very martir [Page] and worshiped the sepulcre of the dede man with solempne watches / and yeftes / But wyse men lough hem to scorne / but clerkes of the places were wel apayd therwith / for they had prouffyte therby / this was told to the bisshop / & anone he forbad the doyng of symple men vppon payne of cursyng & the grete boost of coueytōs mē & hir fals martir / in the mene tyme whyle kyng rychard was absent williā bisshop of hely the kynges chaūceler procuratour of the Reme the popes legate in englonde made for money he helde lowe the clergye / and spake by the kynges power / and bare doune the comyn people and shewyd auctoryte of the pope of Rome / and roode with a thousand horses / he greued abbayes with paymentes and with gyftes / and made his allyes the grettest of the lond / Eyther prymates see he helde lowe ynough / at his owne wyll / For Baldwyn tharchebisshop of Caunterbuy dyed at Troys byfore the comyng of the kyng fro the holy londe and the kynges broder geffrey electe of york / he had lette ten yere that he was not sacred / And also geffrey landed at Douer / and he bynam his cateyt and drewe hym oute of saynt martyns abbaye and put hym in the kynges toure / And made a counseyll at westmynstre as the kynges procuratour / and the popes legate There his fautour hughe nouaunt bisshop of Chestre put forth a playnt that the monkes of Couentre had shadde his bloode right byfore the hygh aulter / Therfore william bisshop of hely demed that monkes shold be put awey from Couentre / & that clerkes shold be brought thyder that lyueth by prouendes by occasiō her of this hughe that was gyleful of wytte / shameles and hardy in euyl dedes cunnynge in lettrure & faire speche / and had alweye made debate and strif bitwene the priour and the Couent of Co­uentre / nowe with strengthe of men of Armes he putte oute the monkes as passing euil doers / and gilty of hughes tr [...]spaas / and sente anone to the court of Rome men of answere ful enformed with lettres of bisshops witnessyng that the monkes had forsake Cristes chiualrye and were falle to wordly liking / therfor he prayed the pope of free ordenaunce of that Abbay [...] / The pope abode six monethes with the sentence for to abide if ony man wold come and speke for the monkes / but defaute of spences lette the monkes and made that the bisshop had al his wille / the monkes come vnnethe at laste whanne they had longe wepte the wrong of her violent out puttinge. But the bisshops might and power hadde the maistrye by moneye and sleight and many yeres the monkes [Page CCClxij] were disparpled / and what they had was ordeyned to prouen­des of clerkes and they lyued porely▪ and gate theyr lyflode as they myght / therfor whanne this bisshop hughe was seke at bec­co in normandy on a good fryday / and myght noman fynde that wolde sette hym penaunce as it is sayde / ¶ Than he sayde / and I deme my self to lye in the peyne of purgatorye for myn euyll dedes vn to the day of dome /

¶ Capitulum 26▪

AFter Clement the thyrdde Celestinus was Pope syxe yer [...] and eyght monethes / the seconde day of his consecracion he crowned the fyfth henry Emperour Frederycks sonne / In this maner / Fyrst byfore the grees of the chirche of Rome he toke [...]n oth of this henry that he shold defende and mayntene holy chirch and the ryghtes of hooly chirches / and yf ought were bynome o [...] saynt peters londes he shold restore it ageyne / with al his myg [...]t Thenne he saate in his chayr / and helde the Emperours crowne with his feete and the emperour bowyd doune his heede / and the pope leete falle the crowne vppon the Emperours heede / and smote it of ageyne of the Emperours heede anone with his feete / in token that the pope hath power to make the emperour and to sette hym doune yf he be worthy / The Cardynals stoode by and toke vp the crowne and sette it vpon the Emperours heede ageyne / Whyle the kyng was absent the forsayd wylliam de longchamp Bisshop of hely pryued hugh bisshop of durham of all manere worship / and greuyd the Bisshop of wynchestre / and wrethyd neygh alle / In the mene tyme / many were arayd for to passe the see to haue and axe remedye of the kynge and helpe ageynste the comyn tyraunte / but he was waare th [...]rof and come before all o­ther / and had al his wyll and come ageyne er other men come to the kyng / but other men had lettres also suche as they wold and one of hem that was bisshop of lyncolne cam ageyne and pursued william bisshop of hely vn to lyncolne / There was sette a daye to answere in the castel of tykhylle / there whanne the bisshop of durham was come / this william spake to hym and sayde / / I take the bisshop not a bisshop / but I chaunceler take the Castellan till that thou yeue pledges to yelde vp the kynges Castels / The [Page] fame of this euyl man william fulfylled al englond / Soo that the grete grutchyd ageynst hym and the smale cursed wel fast / The kynges broder Iohan was wroth for the takyng of his broder Geffrey erle of york / and gadred grete strengthe of his owne prouynce and of walsshemen with many bisshops / and chaced this william from wyndesore to the toure of london / and from thennes to douer / there this william dradd left he shold not freely passe the see and toke a womans cloth aboue his owne clothyng and coueryd his hede and the moost part of his face with kercheues and wymples and walked on the clyf / and bare on his lift arme a webbe of lynnē cloth as it were to sellyng and bare a me­te yerde in his ryght hande / for he wold slyly escape and passe by that crafte and not be espyed / But by cause he couth not selle and vndo his cloth as a woman shold he was take by his pryuy mē bris & despytously espyed / but at last he passed the see / and the bisshop of Rothomage had the reulyng of the Royamme by cō ­maundemente of the kyng that was than in Scicilia / Also the bisshop of bathe was choce Archebisshop / but he was so­ne deed / and yet william bisshop of hely purchaced a wel stron­ge maundement of Celestinus the pope / and had the same Auc­toryte and power that he had rather as it were for amendemence of the kyngdome of englond / and for to wythstōde Iohan that wold byneme his broder the kyngdom whyle he was absent But in al this he was begyled for he conspyred and was assentynge to Iohan other for yeftes other for fayr byhestes / And yet al for nought for though he shewed at douer the grete waraūt of his legacye / yet the quene Elyanor and the Archebisshops of Rothomage and of yorke / and many other compellyd hym for to sayle ageyne. thenne after that they had abyde spryngynge tyme at Turon the kynges of Frannce and of Englond wente / the one by water and the other by land and come to Scicilia / There the kyng of Fraunce lete passe the trespaas of his men vnpunysshed and was cleped a lambe / but the kyng of Englond l [...]te no trespaas vnpunysshed / therfor he was cleped a lyon / Also kynge Rychard fought with griffons in Calabria / and in Scicilia / and had the maystrye / He made a Castel of tree to bee ladde aboute and he rered that Castel ageynst the cyte of messā and cleped that Castel mategryffons / with that castel afterward he toke the cyte of Acres / Also there his moder brought hym a fayre mayde of speche and of shap Berengaria that was the [Page CCClxiij] kynges doughter of nauarn / and kyng rychard wedded her to wyf / Than the kyng of fraūce wēt forth in to siria / & the kyng of Englond abode somwhat after that he w [...]s goon / but in that abydyng he was not ydel· but he sente forth vytayls & made engyns Than he went oute of Scicile and come in to Cypres & bythouht hym that tweyne of the kynges shippes were broke with tempest of the see and spoylled by men of Cypres / therfor kyng rychard chaced the kyng of the londe that wold not doo amendes / from Cyte to Cyte till that the kynge yelded hym to kyng Rychard / And the kyng yelde hym self vpon couenaunt that he shold not be put in boundes of yren / kynge Rychard graunted hym / but he putte hym in boundes of syluer and dwellyd there twey mone­thes / and had the lande at his wyll / than he wente to acres and toke in the see one of the soudans greete shippes lade with greete ryches / and bulgyd and thyrled it in the nether syde / whanne he come to akres fyl stryf bytwene hym and the kynge of Fraū ­ce in this maner / by couenaunt that was made bytwene him at Turon / The kynge of Fraunce chalengyd half that was wonne in Cypres / kynge rychard ayene sayde & sayde that the couenaūt was made of the wynnyng of the hooly lond and ageynst the sarasyns / Also ther was another cause of stryf for the kyng wol­de lene nothyng to therle of champayn that was than ful nedy and in grete meschyefs / but he wold laye champayne to the kyng to wedde / than the erle sayde / I haue doone that I shold do herafter / I shal doo that me nedyth / Myn owne lorde takyth me not but for of myne / therfor I shal goo to hym that is more redy to yeue than to take / Than he cam to kyng rychard / and was ryche y nough / Also kyng Rychard fauoured guy kynge of Ierusa­lem ageynste Conradus markys kyng of Tyrus that the kyng of fraūce fauoured on that other syde / But they cam to the si [...]ge of acres that was besyeged two yere & al theyr trauayll lost / For the engyns that were broughte ageynst the cyte were brent with Grekysshe fyer that noo water myght quenche nother other Ele­ment / ¶Also the Crysten hoost waxed lasse and lasse somdele by sekenes and somdele for other defautes and meschyefs / Also it was to deled in partyes for the stryf that was bytwene guy and the markys / Also somme grete of our syde hadde recey­ued money and mede of the Soudan

¶ Capitulum 27

THan the yere of our lord enleuen honderd foure score and ten / the enleuenth day of Iuyl / the thyrtenth day after the comyng of kyng Richard / the cyte thelomayda was take that is called acres / In that takyng the duk of austrych folowyd kyn­ge rychard for he wold on caas chalenge part of the prayes that were take / but I can not telle whether by hap other by the kynges wyll the duk of austryche baner was troden in the feen / Therfor the duk was wroth and torned home ageyne for to take afterwarde gretter wreche of kynge rychard / Than al that there was wonne was departed bytwene the kynges of englond and of Fraunce / and the kyng of Fraunce sold his prysoners and the kyng of englond henge his own prysonners / Herfor and for other suche deedes the kyng of Fraunce byganne for to stryue / & had grete enuye to the name that kyng rychard had and sayde that the eyer was dystempered and wente home ageyne and swore that he wold do no damage to kyng rychard before his comyng oute of the hooly lande / than he had good wynde and sayled in to ytaly / and cam to the pope & prayed to be assoylled of an oth that he had made ageynst his wyll / but the pope wold not assēt Than Conradus the markys was slayne of twey theues in his owne Cyte Tyrus / And the kyng of fraunce founded for to put that cursed dede vpon kyng Rychard / & made a counseyll at Paris / & ther he sayde that he wold be wroken vpon kyng rychard / but the wisest men coūseyled him to leue his purpos / & take none hasty wreche / & sayde / though it were soth that was bore kyng ri­chard on hand / yet men shold not hastly and vnskylfully worche but men shold abyde by cause of honeste till he were come home a­geyn / for it was knowen that he was in pylgremage for crystes sake / Also yf he wold whan he were come home purge hym of that men bare hym on honde other make good for the trespaas / than it shal be wel ynough / & ellys it is ryghtful to axe wreche and that in skylfull tyme / & yf this counseyl plese you not / axe coūseyl of the pope / the kyng ceessed for a tyme / but he cast a cruel doyng & blody for the kyngdome of Englond / For the kynge of Fraunce sent messagers for to haue to his wyf the kynges suster of denmarke vpon suche a couenaunt that he shold haue graūted with her alle the ryght that the danes had somtyme in Englond and nauey and strengthe for one yere to helpe wynne that right

That condicyon was denyed for the Wandales that were [Page CCClxiiij] ageynst hym in the other syde / but the kyng had with the wen­che ten thousand marc of syluer / But after the fyrste nyght of the weddyng / the kyng forsoke hyr and put her awey vnsemely other by cause her breth stank / other for he fonde her not mayde / That tyme in the eeste landes was greete defaulte of spence and also kyng Rychard was wyckedly defamed that he was vntrewe to the kyng of Fraunce and had doone hym wrong. and also that he had hyred theues to slee conradus the markys and that he had conspyred with the soudan to bytraye the hooly lond / and that it was therfor that kyng rychard wold not go to for to take the hooly cyte / therfore kynge rychard arayed hym hom ward Also for the more dele of the crystē host was destroyed with swerde / with sekenesse with honger and with hard trauayll / In that doynge take hede that the hygh wysedom of god that ret [...]th but lytel as it semeth of the wordly heel and sauacion of his seruaū ­tes whyle he maketh hem come wysely by meschyefs and sorow to fulfyll the cyte of heuē / I tell it for they that passed so ther sped more graciously than they that come home ageyn to her foule maner of liuyng of old tyme / soo cryst our kyng vseth wel the euil dedes of mankynde whyle he takyth the erthly Ierusalem in to the handes of enemyes for the synne of hem that dwellyd th [...]rynne and bryngyth forth wysely large wynnyng of hygh Ierusalem of heuen / for the defaulte / and shame of oure tyme the hooly Cyte mot be defouled of mysbyleuyd men vn to that tyme / that god knowyth alone / For without ony doubte whan tyme cometh the holy land shal cast oute euyll mē that dwelle therin as it dyd somtyme & on caas with wel lasse strength / for goddes owē strēgthe shold be more knowen in that man dede / So amōg the machabeys one sayde it is but lytel maystrye to god almyghty to ouer­come many men with the myght and strengthe of fewe men and that was shewed and declared whanne one pursued a thousand and tweyne chaced ten thousand / And gedeon dyde aweye the greete multitude / and hadde the vyctorye of a greete multitude with thre honderd men that laped water in to theyr owne mou­thes / But Crysten men shal not assaye god and start forth rabbyschly and vnwisely fewe ageynst many enemyes / as who saith we haue a good lorde and a myghty / For god wo [...] that his ser­uauntes truste so on hym that they be not recheles and neglygēt but worche wysely /

¶ Capitulum 28

THan trewes were take for thre yere bytwene kyng richard & the soudan / & hubert bisshop of Salesbury yede to the se­pulcre for hym self / and for the kyng and offred there an hooly oyst / and cam thennes and sayled with the kynge to Cypres / Thennes the kynge sente forth to Scicile twey quenes / his wyf / and his suster neygh with al̄ his meyne / and he myght not wel endure in the softe see / but he sayled with a strong wynde toward the countray of hystria with fewe men / and was dryuen til that he cam bytwene Aquila & venyse / & ther he houed & bleynt hider and thyder / & hyd hym somwhat of tyme & men made grete pur­ueaunce of vytayls for hym / and so he was aspyed and take of the dukes men of Austryche / whan that was knowen the kyng of fraūce made Iohan kyng Rychardes broder to torne lyghtly ageynst kyng rychard / ānd exyted also themperour of almayn a­geynst kyng rychard / than themperour made couenaunt with the duk of austryche for to haue the thyrdde part of the prouffyte & wynnyng that come of kyng rychard and had kyng rychard in to his owne warde / yet whyle kyng rychard bare the crosse and the sygne of our lord / And the emperour putte hyin in a place that is called Tryuallis / there arystotle seith it were good a mā to sle his owne fader / but about palmsonday themperour brought forth kyng rychard to yeue his answer before many lordes of the emperours land / and he cam forth with so glad chere & answerd to alle thynge that was putte ageynst hym / that the Emperour was bowed not only to mercy / but also for to doo hym grete re­uerence & worship / than cam to the kyng that was so holden william bisshop of hely that was put oute of englond for his grete extorciōs & outrages / he cam to the king for to espye what wil the kyng had to hym ward / & whanne he myght not begyle the king with gyle of blynde flateryng he had euyl trust to hym self and torned ageyne to Fraunce with hoope of grace / But Hubert bisshop of Salesbury come oute of Scicile to the kynge and was sente in to englond for gouernyng of the Royame and also for to spede the kynges raunsone whan he was comen in to englōd he was chosen archebisshop by assente of the monkes of Caunterbury and of the Bisshops / and noo wonder / He toke the pal & and was stalled / and toke anone the habyte of Chanon at [Page CCClxv] Marton / and was not greuous to the monkes of Caunterbury / but the sharpnesse of baldwyn had somwhat vnwysely greued theym byfore / Though this baldwyn was a good man and ho­ly in other dedes / yet he founded to torne the ryght and the prero­gatyf of the election of the Archebisshop from the monkes of Caunterbury / by cause therof fast by the monkes chirche by fa­uour of the kyng he byganne to bylde a place and grete housyng not withoute shedyng of bloode for to haue there prouendes for seculer chanons / and for bisshops suffrygans sholde come thyder for to trete therwith clerkes of the election of the archebisshop and for to do awey the monkes / but in the oth [...]r side the monkes appellyd to the pope and compellyd to ceesse the werke that was begonne / and after baldwyns deth they threwe it downe streight to the grounde / In that doyng it is wonder of soo greete a man / that was fyrst archedeken and than whyte monke / and than abbot / and than bisshop of wyrcetre and than Archebisshop that [...]e wolde brynge men of more wnparfyghte lyf / seculer chanons in stede of men of more parfyht lyf / For somtyme holy prynces and bisshops in englond wold not haue to many of suche maner clerkes / & yeue theym choyse / whether they wold leue theyr benefyce other chaunge theyr lyf and goo in to Relygyon / ¶ Treuisa / It semeth that baldwyn was wel aduysed that cryst was hede of hooly chirche / and his apostles heyghe bisshops / and none of them all was neuer monk nother freer / and soo it myght seme that he knew wel that other clerkes were more parfyht than eu was monke other freer / but for it is sayd that the clerk [...]s had [...] choys whether they wold leue theyr benefice or go in to Relygion / of that choys it myght seme grete wonder / for it semyth therby that they shold leue theyr benefyce / how it euer were / for yf they yede in to relygyon they shold leue theyr benefyce / & yf they ye­de not in to relygyon they must leue the benefyce by the rule of relygyon / other they speke other wyse of relygyō than al men in co­myn spech [...] wol mene & so it semeth more wonder of that wōder than of his menynge / but men wold wonder that baldwyn that was a mōk wold not flater with mōkes but helde other clerkes more holy than mōkes / syth he knew the degre of eu eyther. than it folowith in the story / aft (er) the wo & tene that kyng rychard had in prison in almayn a yere & thre monethes / he was delyuerd in the moneth of Ianuar for an / C / thousād poūd of siluer / & lefte [Page] with themperour pledges / the Bisshop of Rothomage and of bathe for somme of the money that was not yet payd / And for to pay that somme of money al the woll of whyte monkes & of chanōs was take / & also rynges of prelates vessels croyses and chalyces were take & gold of seuentene shrynes y shaue & molten and noo pryuelege of persone nother of hooly chirche nother fredom was spared / the kyng dwellyd two monethes ful at swynne in Fl̄aundres other to abyde the wynde other for to araye what hym neded / There the emperours men had almost take hym eftsones / for the Emperour thought thāt he hadde latte goo the kyng as phaaro forthought somtyme that he had lete go the children of Israel / But in the moneth of marche the kyng cam a lande at Sandwyche / and dwellyd a whyle at london and wente and toke the strengest castel that his broder Iohan hadde The Castels of nothyngham and of tykkehylle / and putte the wardeyns therof in prysonne / & by counseyl̄ & dome of l̄ordes he pryned his broder Iohn of al maner worship / For he helde hym vntrewe and vnkynde / And heelde his eester at hampton / And so at wynchester whan the meschyef of his takyng was wyped of / he was newely crowned as a newe kynge the fyfthe yere of his kyngdome / After the solempnite of that crownyng the kyn­ge axyd ageyne al that was byfore lygh [...]ty yeuen or greuously sol̄de / and he acounted for the sorte all the fruyte that was take in the meane tyme and spared for no couenaunt nother for charter / nother for dede / nother for instrumente / And soo he dwellyd a whyle and sayled in to fraunce for to werre ageynst the king of Fraunce / than the kynges fought and eyther sped dyuersly / And trewes were graunted for one yere / and that was prouffytable for kynge Rychard for to gader both ryches and strengthe / though hit wolde not stonde with reason of honeste / Iohan kyn­ge Rychardes broder that torned to the kyng of fraunce ageynst his owne broder for he hadde ryght nought / he myght do ryght nought / therfor he was forsake of the kynge of Fraunce / But by helpe of his moder Elyanor he cam mekely ageyn to kyng richarde & was aft (er)ward his trew knyght / for vse of ong knyghtes as it were to make hym al to fyghte in a batayl / that tyme tornementes that were lefte of longe tyme were made & vsed a­geyne not withstondyng the popes forbedyng

¶ Capitulum 29

ABoute that tyme one steuen procurator of Angeo that had wysely y bore hym in the seconde kyng henryes tyme / and in this kyng Richardes tyme also / he supposed thāt the kyng that was tendre of body shold be ou (er)come with long wey & perylle that he shold neuer come ageyne / other yf he come ageyne it shold be vnnethe / therfore he bygan rabbysshly to passe his warraunt in absence of the kynge / than one that was homely with hym conseylled hym to axe of a nygromancer / whether kynge Rychard shold come ageyne or no / the nygromancer ladde steuen in to a priuy place and shewed hym a brasen heede in the whiche was a spyrite closed / Axe of this what thou wolt quoth the nygromancer but fewe and shortly / For he answerd not to grete ianglyng / Shal I euer see kynge Rycharde quoth steuen / naye quoth the spyryte / how longe shal myn offyce dure quoth steuen / To thy lyues ende quoth the spyryte / wher shal I dye quoth steuen in pluma quoth the spyryte / Than myght he axe no more but he wente from his prophete and forbad his men and badde theym that they sholde brynge noo fetheres nyghe hym in noo maner wyse / and that by cause that a fether is pluma in latyn / ¶ Therafter he byganne to worche the more boldly and greued his subgettis full soore / and namely a noble man that fledde somtyme in to his owne castel by cause steuen pursued hym / ¶ This man aspyed whanne steuen was Recheles in the syege and toke hym and al to hakked hym / ¶ That Castel was called pluma / And so the cautel of the gyleful spyryt was knowen / And so it felle of gerebertus the fals pope as it is sayd byfore

Ranulphus And so it bef [...]ll of one alberycus erle of north thumberlond that was a myghty man with all and heelde hyin not apayd with his owne state / but he counseyled with a fende / that told hym that he shold haue grecia that is grece / Therfore he wente eftward and cam in to grece / Whan the Grekes herde telle that he shold regne ouer them they toke of hem al that he bad / And put hym oute of theyr londe / But afterwarde somwhat of yeres this was wery of trauaylle and of woo and cam to kyng henry in to normandy / and had of hym a noble wydowe to wyf / And whanne the preeste shold wedde theym / he axyd of the woman and sayde / dame grecia hast thou wyll to this man· Thenne [Page] Albericus knewe the gyle and the fraude of the fals spyryt that arered his owne coueytous herte in to veyne hope / whan kyng Rychard had made redy to pay to the duc of austryche twenty thousand ponde that was behynde of Raunson / the pledges that kyn­ge rychard had left with hym come sodenly and tolde that the tyraunt was ouertorned by wreche of goddes dome and his lande byfore his deth was greued with many grete meschyefs / For Cytees were sodenly brente / and the Ryuer dannbyus passed the brynkes and dyde grete harme fer aboute / Sedes that were sowē fordryed in the erthe / Also this duke was acursyd of the Pope / for the takyng of kyng Rychard and scorned the cursyng / Also on a saynt steuens day he roode to the feeldes and hurte so his foote that it moost be kytte of / And he withoute hope of lyf sawe that he muste dye / and in presence of the lordes of his lond he prayd to be assoylled of the sentence that he was in bounden / The clergy answerd and sayd that it myght not be / but he wold swere to stonde to holy chirches ordenaunce touchyng the wrong that he had done to kyng Richard / the duc swore and delyuerd kyng Rychardes pledges anone after his othe / Than the kyng amended his lyf / and had also another warnyng for to amende his lyf / For a man of Cenomania wente to saynt Iames for grete deuocion and cam home ageyne sauf and sound / Therafter he had a greete deuocion to wende and wente to the hooly land to see oure lordes graue / As he wente by the wey vpon caas aloone He sawe one with a dredeful face and was aferd ful soore / and blessyd hym self welfast with the sygne of the crosse in euery side Than the other as it were despysyng the signe of the crosse seid / thou miȝt not defende the / in that maner but thou shalt be myne / & yf thou wolt falle doun to the grounde & worshipe me / I shall make the Ryche / now quoth the man it semeth that thou art cō ­trarye and of the other syde / take thou thyn owne / crystes owne yefte is ynough for me / I worship hym aloone / wolt thou nylt quoth he / thou moost haue somwhat of myne / And threwe anon vpon the mannes heede as it were a thynne mantel / that brente the here of his heede and made the skyn of his hede al black / the man was soore aferd and cryed to saynt Iames Saynt Iame came anone and arouted the fende and axed what he was and wherof he serued / I am a fende quoth he and greue mankynde / I letted the Crysten kynges in the iourneye in the eest landes / I toke kyng Rychard prysoner by my seruaunt the duc of austrich [Page CCClxvij] Aft (er) that king richard was deliud I beset him al about & namely about his chambre & his tresour that he gadred besyly / whanne these wordes were sayde the fende vanisshed awey & the man was comforted and lefte his weye that he had mente and torned ho­me ageyne to Cenomannea and told kyng rychard what he had seen and herde / and shewed hym his heede that was swelled and scalded / than the kyng amended his owne lyf and his maners / Aboute that tyme Hubert archebisshop of Caunterbury was lieutenant [...] of the pope and of the kyng in englonde / The Arche­bisshop of yorke was deede. and hubert made a greete counseyll at york /

¶ Capitulum 30 /

ABoute that tyme were tweyn that foūded as it were to do the kynges prouffyte al by one entente but by dyners causes of doyng / For the Abbot Cadonencis warned the kynge of the fraude of his offycers / therfore he wolde that theyr outrage shold be chasted that men of the contrayes myght lyue in pees / But william with the long berd warned the kyng of the outrage of ryche men that spared theyr owne Rychesse & pylled pore men / Thenne this abbot had a warraūt and cam to london in the moneth of Februar and made somme to come byfore hym / the offycers of countrayes and of prouynces to yelde ful ac [...]untes / But deth hym lette soo that he sawe not eesterdaye / ¶Men sayn that this william was borne at london / and had [...] of his longe berde that he vsed / and was cleped william with the long berde / He vsed that longe berde bycause that he wolde seme the more worthy / & semely in speche and gaderyng of many mē He was sharp of wytte and somwhat y lettred and ouer mesu­re a grete speker and by a maner kyndly Rabbysshnesse of wyt and of thewes. he wolde geete hym a grete name and caste hym to doo newe dedes and byganne to here grete doyng and dedes / Also his wreched and shamely deedes ageynste his owne broder was sygne and token of his wodenesse in his other dedes / For he accused his owne broder of treson to the kyng / for he yaf hym no more large spence of solace & cost than he was wont / His broder was a bourgeys of london / & had founde hym to Scole / He was scorned of the prynce for that deede / & yet by fauoure of somme [Page] men he hadde place among the grete of london / Also amonge the people he blamed venymously the pryue deedes and outrage of ryche men that mysferde with poure men and soo he excited hugely· the mene men to loue and desyre fredome oute of mesure Soo that he socyed many to hym as though they were bywyt­ched ryght with wytchecraft / For there he hadde tendaunt to his heestes fyue honderd thousand and two thousand men of london / as it were to the comyn puruyour of al / whanne he had so many fautours as he that wolde stonde for the pore people and for the kynges prouffyt he wold in euery gaderyng and counseyll with stonde gentylmen and say that by her fraude the kynge lost many grete enchetes / they grutchyd ageynst hym therfor / and he sayled to the kyng and sayde hym / that Ryche men dyde hym greete wrong by cause he was trewe to hym / Thenne he cam ageyne and byganne to worche with fraude as he was wont more besyly and more trustly / and comforted his fautours as it were by fa­uour of the kyng. Noyse and tydynges of this conspyracy sprā ­ge oute and hubert Archebisshop of Caunterbury that hadde the rule of the Royamme herde therof / and sente for the peple / and rehersed how it was tolde / and for to put of all euyl suspection / he prayd wel fayre and axed pledges / The peple was plesyd with his fayr speche and yaf and delyuerd hym pledgys / but this william helde forth as he hadde bygonne and had moch folke about hym and went with grete boost and aray and made openly Con­uentycles and counseyls and gadrynge of m [...]n and cleped hym self the sauyour of poore men / and made grete boost and bragge and sayde that the frowardnesse and outrage of myghty men sholde be alayd / and that in a short tyme / And he toke a teme of hooly wrytte and byganne to preche in this maner / Haurietis a­quas in gaudio de fontibus saluatoris / that is drawe vp water with ioye of the welles of the sau eour / I am said he the saueour of pore men / ye be pore men and haue essayed the harde handes of Ryche men / now drawe ye and laue vp water of heelefull lore vp of my welles / and that for ioye for the tyme of your vysytacion is come / I shal quoth he departe and dyuyde watres from watres / the people is water / than shal I dyuyde and departe the people that is trewe and meeke from the peple that is fal [...] and proude / I shal departe good men from euyl men as lyghte from derknesse / than by counceyll of lordes this hubert sente for williā for he shold stande and answere to that m [...]n shold putte ageynst [Page CCClxviij] hym / he come at that tyme as he was somned / but he had soo moch peple aboute hym that he that had sent for hym was aferd and the softer in his doyng and putte o [...] the dome for that tyme Afterward oportunyte was aspyed by two burgeys of london / whanne he myghte be founde aloone withoute peple aboute hym & men of armes were sente for to take hym / But william with his axe slewe one of the bourgeys that had espyed hym / Anone william with fewe of his men and with his concubyne that wolde neuer from hym wente in to a chirche / that was there fast by that is saynt mary chirch at bowe / ther he wold not defende him as it were in a chirche but as it were in a Castel with strengthe and hoped in veyn that his peple wold come and delyuer hym / The people was soory for the peryll that he was Inne / and is no wonder but by cause of the pledgys that they had yeuen hym / & for drede of the knyghtes that they sawe armed they cam not to his delyueraunce / than william was boden come oute but he wolde not / than he was compellyd by fyer and smoke to come oute maugre his teeth / whanne he cam oute the bourgeys sonne / that he had slayne forkytte his wombe with a knyf / but by d [...]me of the court whanne he was taken he was fyrst drawē with horses and than he was hanged with nyne felawes that wolde neuer leue hym / but fautours defamed the Archebisshop as a mansle [...]r and not only that but alfo for to wype awey the shame of their owne conspyracye and for to preue that they that dampned william were wycked men and euyl doers / By crafte and by fraude and gyle they fonded to make william to haue the name and worship of a martir ¶ Also men seyn that a preest of will­iams kyn leyde the cheyne that william was with bounden vn­der a mannes hede that was seke of the feuers and preched openly that the man was hool anone / Ryght this sprang oute amōg the people / and the peple cam pryuely by nyght and toke aweye his gybet and pared awey lytel and lytel the erth that was by bled with his bloode / And made a grete dyche and kepte the erth as it were holy relyques to hele with seke men / Name and tydynges herof sprang wel̄ wyde and grete company both of slye men and of fooles cam to the place and woke there by nyght / Alwey cam theder greete multitude of lewdmen and of fooles / and as moche worship as they dyde the dede man soo moche vylonye they put vppon hym that hym hadde dampned / This errour had soo his forth whanne it was bygon that it wold haue by witched [Page] wyse mē & redy nad they redyly take h [...]ede to the doyng that they knew of this williās dedes / for he slewe a mā a lytel byfore his takyng / and that is ynough for a wise man to knowe that he sholde not be worshiped as a martir / & yet his last confession that he made whanne he shold dye / shold sham [...] al that worshiped hym / for a martir. Many counseylled hym to be shreuen mekely of his sinnes / and to worship god / he shroof hym / though it were laate and knowleched that he had defouled saynt mary chirche and lay there by a woman whyle he was therynne / Also by cause his men come not at his wylle to delyuere hym / he forsoke mary sone and called the deuyl to help and prayd that he wold delyuer him Williams fautours denyed al this and sayde that it was falsly feyned / also the vanyte of this tale fyll doun sone & dured but a whyle and alayde the stryf / For sothnesse is stedfast and is str ē ger in long tyme / but falsenesse feyned vanysshed awey in short tyme / ¶ Than hubert the Archebisshop ruler of the Royamme cursed that preest and sette men of Armes to kepe that place / by cause men shold not c [...]me thyder a pylgremage / And soo the sleyght that was feynyd fyll awey in short tyme / And thoppynyon of the peple byganne for to reste

¶ Capitulum 31

THat tyme one Fulco an holy preest in Gallia cam to kyng Rychard and sayde kyng / to the I saye in the name of god almyghty that thou marye soone thyn thre euyl doughters· leste somme worse happe the befall / thou lyest ypocryte quoth the kyng for doughter haue I none / yes sayd he / thou hast pryde Couety­se and lechery / The kynge had lordes to geders and sayde I ye [...]e my pryde to the templers and hospytalers / my couetyse to whyte monkes / and my lechery to prelates of hooly chirche / They that sawe this Fulco toke and putte hym in boundes / but he myghte not be bounden / This yere deyd Rees prynce of wales / Of hym one sayde in this maner / O blysse of batayll child of chyualrye Defence of contraye worship of armes / Arme of strenght hand of largenesse / eye of reson / bryghtnesse of honeste / beryng in brest Hectors prowesse / Achilles scharpnesse / Nestors sobrenesse / Ty­deus hardynesse / Sampsons strength / hectors worthynesse / Eurialius swyftnesse / vlyxes fayre speche / Salamons wysedome / [Page CCClxix] Aiax hardynesse / O clothynge of naked / the hungryes mete / fulfyllyng al mennes bone / that hym wold ought bydde / O fayre in speche / felawe in seruyce / honneste of dede and sobre in worde / glad of semblaunt and loue in face / goodly to euery man and ryghtfull to all / The noble dyademe of fairenes of wales is now fallen / that is Rees is dede / al wales groneth / Rees is dede / the name is not lost but blysse passeth / The blisse of wales passeth / rees is dede worship of the world goth awey / Res al praysynge sla­kyth / wales lyueth in gronyng / Rees is dede / Rees is awey / the enemye is heere / for Rees is not here / Nowe wales helpyth not it self / Rees is dede and y take awey / But his noble name is not dede for it is alwey newe in the world wyde / This place hol­dyth grete worshipe yf the byrth is byholde / yf men axe what is the ende / It is asshes and pouder / here he is hyd / but he is vnhylled for nam [...] dureth euermore / And suffreth not the noble duc be hyd of speche / his prowesse passed his maners / his wytte pas­sed his prowesse / his fayre speche passed his wytte / his good the­wes passed his feyr speche

AFter Celestinus the thyrd innocent that was callyd lot [...]arius also was pope eyght yere and fyue monethes· This was a lettred man and made the bookes de miseria humane con­dicionis and speculum misse and many constitucions / he damp­ned Abbot Ioachyms booke that he had made ageynste Pyers lombard mayster of sentence / he dampned also amary Carnoten­sis with his heretyk loore ¶Also that yere whan the Emperour was dede / the prynces of almayn discorded for somme chose otho and somme phelip the fifth henryes brother / but phelip was traytourly slayne / and otho was crowned of Pope innocent in fraū ce / he fought anone with the Romaynes / by cause they had don hym noo worship / And than he byname frederyk the kyngdome of apulea ageynste the popes wylle / and therfor he was acur­sed of the Pope / than the fourth yere of his regne the prynces of Almayne made Frederyk Emperour / and he had worshipfully the victory of otho / this last yere of kyng richard one wydomarus vycecounte of lemonke in brytayne the lasse / the kyng ofen­glondes owne man fonde greete tresoure of gold and syluer in his owne grounde / and sente a greete dele of the tresour to kynge Rychard / and he refused it and sayde that he sholde haue alle by [Page] the ryght of his lordship / and the other withsayd hym / Than the kynge besyeged the vycecountes castel that is called Calux / and trowed that the tresour was therin / the mynystres of the Castel come oute to the kyng and profered hym the castel with al that was therin sauynge theyr lyf and lyme and armour / But the kyng wold not / but had theym goo ageyne and defende theym self with al the strength that they couth and myght / Thenne on on a day the kyng and the duc of brabant wente aboute for to espye the feblenesse of the Castel / and one bertrand guedon an al balastrer hyt the kyng in the arme with a dart / therfor the king hadde that the Castel sholde be take in al wyse and al men that were therinne shold be hanged oute take hym that. hym had woū ded and soo it was done / the shafte was take oute / but the yron abode withynne and veynes and senewes were forkytte / & the nynthe daye after whanne the kyng shold dye / he sente for hym that hym had wounded and spake to hym and sayde / what dyd I euer to the that thou haste wounded me to deth / thou slewe quoth he my fader and my twey bretheren and now thou wol­dest haue slayne me also / therfor it plesyth me what peyne I euer suffre / so that thou be deede / than the kynge commaunded that he shold goo free / and yaf hym an honderd schyllynges sterlyng / But after the kynges deth the duck of brabant made hym hee flayn al quyk / and hanged / than kyng rychard dyed the syxth day of apryl and his body was deled in thre and beryed in thre places / therfor one sayde in metre in this maner / vyscera carleo­lum corpus fons seruat ebardy / et cor Rothomagum magne Rycarde tuum / In terra diuiditur vnus quia plus fuit vno / Non superest vno / gracia tanta viro / that is thy bowels ben at carl [...]el Thy bodye at font ebrard. and thyn hert at Roon thou grete Ry­chard / he is departed in thre for he was more than one and so grete grace is not in one man alyue / Another metriour sayd in this maner / Cryste tui calicis predo fit preda calucis / Ere breui denis / qui tulit era crucis / Hic Richarde iaces / sed mors si cederet armis Victa timore tui cederet armis tuis / that is Cryst the theef of the chalys is caluxes praye / For short metal thou throwyst him dou­ne that toke the metal of the croys / Here thou lyest Rychard / but yf deth wold spare for wepē ou (er)come with drede of the he wolde voyde thy wepen / Treuisa / Here kyng rychard is cleped Ca­luxes pray for he was slayne at a Castel that was callyd calux

¶ Capitulum 32

KYng Rychard deyd withoute children / and his brother Iohan withoute lond was kyng after hym / Anone he occupy­ed kynge rychardes tresour at chynon and sente hubert the Ar­chebisshop to ordeyne thynges in englond / but thomas of thorney bytoke angeo to Artur duk of Brytayne the sonne of the elder broder geffrey / there come to geders the lordes of Angeo of Cenomannia and of Chynon in Tureyn / And helde with Artur as the maner is of the londe / there the elder broder sonne shal be eyer yf the eldest sonne dyeth withoute sonne / Constans Geffr [...]ys loue countesse of brytayne betoke the warde of her sonne Arthur and his herytage to the kynge of Fraunce / but Iohan ouertourned soone Cenomannea / for he helde with Arthur / Than at Eester at Roen Iohan was gyrd with the swerde of the ducherye of Brytayne / And on hooly thursday at westmynstre he was crowned kyng of Englond of hubert Archebisshop of Caunterbury / That daye Iohan made hubert his owne chauncel [...]r / Hubert was to proude of that offyce· and afterward one spake to hym and said Syre thou sholdest not be proude of the yok of thraldome / Of [...]e we haue herde of an Archebisshop made of a chaunceler / but ne­uer a chaunceler made of an Archebisshop / herafter aboute saynt Iohns feste the natyuyte kynge Iohan sayled in to normandy There were trew [...]s y take bytwene the kynges of Englond and of Fraunce / and assured with oth and with wrytyng / So that whether of hem brake fyrst that pees his men sholde be assoylled of his hommage and fewte and torne to the other kyng / But afterward kyng Iohan wold slee his owne neuewe Arthur· thenne the kynge of Fraunce occupyed many londes beyonde the see / ¶ Also this yere the erle of Flaundres bycam kyng Iohns lege man / And the kynge of Fraunce made Arthur knyght / & toke of hym hommage for the landes of Angeo / of Cenomanne­a / of Peytow and of toreyn / Of lytel britayne and of normandy Also this yere was made dyuorse solēpnly bytwene kyng Iohn and his wyf the erles doughter of gloucetre by cause of kynred in the thyrdde degree / And by counseyl of the kyng of Fraunce kyng Iohan wedded Isabel the doughter of engolosym / and gate on hir henry and Rychard duk of cornewayle and thre doughters / and toke anone tribute of euery teme lond in englond thre [Page] schyllynges / and wente ageyne in to normandy / That tyme the thyrd Ranulph erle of Chestre on caas by ensample of the kyng lefte his wyf Constance countesse of brytayne that he hadde w [...]d­ded somtyme by counseylle of henry / and wedded one Clemencia Rauffes doughter of Feneger / therfor he dyed withoute childe­ren as somme men wenen / Men trowyn that this yere bygan the lordship of Tartres / Thise m [...]n dwellyd vnder the hylles of Inde that was preter Iohns sone and wente to robbyng and reuing and toke prayes of other nacion [...] / Also that yere Frensshe men toke Constantinople / and made there Emperour baldwyn Erle of Flaundres / Men of the countrey aboute long tyme therafter myghte vnnethe leue that that cyte was take / and that for old prophecye that sayde that that Cyte myght not be take but by an angel / but the enemyes entred in to the cyte by a place of the wal there an Angell was peynted / and soo the men of the contraye knewe atte last that they were begyled by double entendment of an angel / The second Frederyk was Emperour thre and thyr­ty yere / This was crowned of Pope honorius / fyrst he fauoured hooly chirche as it were his owne moder. but afterward he spoylled hooly chirche as it were his stepdame / therfor Pope Honoriꝰ cursed hym and assoylled men of his fey and feute / The nynthe pope gregory renewed the same sentence / this frederyk toke his own sonne henry kyng of almayne and slewe hym in pryson / Also the prelates that the nynth Gregory had sente for to c [...]me to a general counseyll he made theym to be take / And whyle he was so acursed he wente to the hooly lond and lefte there more desolacion and discomforte than consolacion and comfort / Atte laste he was sette doune of the fourth pope innocent / & whyle he be syeged a cyte of ytalye he loste his tresour / and the popes legate chaced hym in to Apulea / and there he eueled and dyed / ¶ Aboute this yere fyll so grete reyn thonder / and hayl / that hay [...] stones fill doune from heuen as grete egges y medled with reyn / And destroyed vynes and cornes / Men were shende and foules were se­yn flee in the eyer and bere fuyer coles in theyr bylles and sette houses a fyer / ¶ Also this yere at london dyed saynt hugh bis­shop of lyncolne but he was beryed at lyncolne / To his beryeng cam the popes legate and thre Archebisshops of Caunterbury of deuelyn and of Ragne and thyrten bisshops and twey kynges of Englond and of Scotland that was soo comen thyder for to swere feute vpon the hubert archebisshops crosse and for to do [...] [Page CCClxxj] hommage to kyng Iohan. That day a woman had her syght that had be seuen yere blynde / and a purskeruer in kyttyng of purses was lame in his handes till that he was delyuerd by prayeng of the Clergye of the peple / This hughe was of the nacion of beyonde the see / he was made pryour of the chartrous at wycham / besydes Salesbury and thenne he was made bisshop of lyncolne / Whanne he was stalled at lyncolne by the Archedeken men axyd an hors other a Cowe for his stallyng / And he sayd he were le­uer forsake the bisshoprich than yeue ony maner thinges for such a doynge / Wilde foules wolde fetche mete at his hond /

This yere eustace abbot of flaye cam in to englond for to preche goddes worde / and dyde many myracles amonge the other my­racles he blessyd the welle of wy bysydes Caunterbury / and se­ke men that dronk therof had theyr heele / For a woman that had a fende within her drank therof and cast vp twey black todes / that turned anone in to houndes and thenne in to grete Asses / and flyed vp in to the eye and lefte foule foores after hem / This eustace by his prechyng made many man leue vserye and Chepynge and feyres on the sondaye / He made that lyght sholde brenne alweye in chirches byfore goddes bodye / and that lordes at borde sholde haue almesse dysshes / At last somme prelates had enuye to this Eustace and sayde / thou hast noo leue to sette thyn hooke on other mennes rype / there is moche corne quoth he / and fewe werkmen. and soo he wente in to Normandye /

Also this yere in the prouynce of york in the moneth of Decem­ber were seen fyue mones in heuene / one in the Eeste / Another in the west / The thyrdde in the south. the fourth in the north / And the fyfthe in the myddel of heuene / And yede syxe sythes aboute the other mones / as it were in an houre / and vanysshed awey atte laste /

¶ Capitulum 33

AT lammesse at the castel of myrabel kyng Iohan toke and slew his neuew Arthur and prysonned his syster elyanor at Brystowe to her lyues ende / therfor as it were for felonye / the kyng of fraunce occupyed normandy brytayn peytow / angeo / & [Page] Cenomannea / This yere that was the syxth yere of the thyrdde Innocencius began thordre of frere prechours in the countray of tholons vnder the duc dominik / but it myht not be confermed before the fyrste yere of honorius / than fylle a sharp wynter and grysly / and dured from Ieres daye to the annunciacion / Also kynge Iohan maryed his baast doughter to lewelyn prynce of wales / and yaf with her the castel and all the lordship of Ellesmer in the marche of wales / this yere whan hubert archebisshop of Caunterbury was dede fyll grete stryf in the ehirche of Caun­terbury / For some chose the suppryour / and somme the bisshop of norwyche / by the kynges heeste / but Innocencius the pope vndyd eyther election and sacred steuen of langton / Houndes and maistynes ben slayne in al the forestes of englond / Gir In southe wales in morgons land a knyght appered to one mayster moris in his sleepe that was wonte to playe with hym / and to make versus eyther with other now begynnyng and eft endyng / So that eyther shold ende others verse / In that apperyng the knyht spake to maystre morys and sayde / Mayster morys I wole that thou ende this verse / Destruet hoc reguum Rex regum / But en­de thou it quoth morys for thou hast almoost made a ful verse / As I see quoth the knyght / thou art old and slowe / Therfore ende in this maner / Destruet hoc regnū rex regum duplici plaga That is kyng of kynges shal destroye this Royamme with dou­ble meschyefs / Also this yere was henry borne kyng Iohns oldest sone y gete on ysabel / he gate on hyr this henry and rychard Erle of Cornewayle and thre doughters / Isabel the emperyce & Elyanor that was fyrste maryed to william marchal Erle of Penbroke and afte [...]ward to symon de montford erle of leycetre that gate on hyr six children / ¶ Also the thyrd Iane was maryed to the kyng of Scotland / ¶ This yere bygan the enterdytyng of Englond that dured seuen yere contynuelly / For kynge Iohan refused and wold in noo wyse take Steuen of langton Archebisshop of Caunterbury / that was confermed by the Pope· Also kynge Iohan chased the monkes of caūterbury and toke their goodes in his owne honde / therfor the pope as­soylled kyng Iohans men of his hommage and fewte / and wrote to the kynges next Iohan that they shold arryse ageynst Iohn Heretiks that hight albygensis come in to englond / and some of them were brent alyue / Sarasyns cam oute of affryca with thre thousand men of armes al without / lx / M / Lauendres / [Page CCClxxij] and occupyed a grete dele of spayne / therfor Innocencius the pope sente messagers to dyuerse nacions for helpe and socour of the holy landes / for the sarasyns had bylded strengthes in the hylle mount Tabor for to werre ageynste Acres / Also this yere saynt Fraunceys bygan the ordre of frere menours bysides assyse / The kyng of Fraunce with a grete hoost occupyed the clyues of nor­mandy ageynst kyng Iohan / The popes legate pandulphus cam in to englond and spake to kyng Iohan and chargyd hyghely / that he shold be buxom and obedyente to the chirche of Rome / the kynge sawe peryll in euery syde by the kynge of Fraunce & also by lordes of his owne landes / that had by wrytyng torned hem self to the kyng of Fraunce / than the kyng oblegyd al his kyngdom of englond and Irlond also for hym and his heyers to pope Innocencius and his lauful successours for euer / so that after that tyme he and his heyres sholde be feodaryes to the chirche of Rome / and pay euery yere seuen honderd mark / for englond and two honderd mark for Irlond / Soo that yf he or ony of his hey­res fayled of this condicion other of the payemente he shold falle of the ryght of the kyngdome / herafter pandulphus wente forth and compellyd the kyng of Fraunce to wende oute of normandye Steuen tharchebisshop / and they that were exyled with hym cam in to englonde and assoylled the kyng and his fautours in the chirche of wynchestre / but he made hem swere that they shold re­store al that was wrongfully taken / About that tyme kyng Iohn caused to hange & drawe an holy man that hight pyers of ponfret / for he had warned hym of many myshappes that him shold fal for his cruelnes and for his fornycacion. Also for he had warned hym that he shold regne but / xiiij / yere / & he regned almoost xviij / yere / but he knewe not in that doyng that he regned frely but xiiij yere / but he regned thre yere not frely for thylke thr [...] yere he was trybutary to the pope / cryst appered twyes to this pyers at yorke and ones at ponntfret and taught hym many thynges that he tolde afterwarde to bisshops and peple that were of euyll lyf / Also in a tyme he lay thre dayes and thre nyghtes as he were in swonyng and was rauysshed and sawe the Ioyes and pey­nes of good men & of euyl / On saint andrews euen kyng Iohn toke the Castel of Rouchestre / there many gentilmen were conspyred ageynste hym / Also lowys that was the kynges broder of Fraunce cam in to englond atte prayer of the lordes and hadde hommage and fewte of Frensshe men and Englysshe / and of [Page] the kynge of scotland at london / But the Popes legate Gna [...] was than in englond / and cursed lowys and his fautours / nethe lesse lowy [...] toke wynchestre and besyeged douer and wyndesore· Pope Innocencius deyd / and the thyrdde honorius was pope af­ter hym ten yere and eyght monethes / In his fyrst yere he confermed the ordre of frere prechours / For the thyrd Innocencius was loth to conferme that ordre / kyng iohn deyd at newerk of the flux on saynt Calyxtes day the pope / the seuententh yere of his kyng­dom in the syxth moneth / but he was [...]oweld in the Abbaye of whyte chanons at Croghton / and beryed at wyrcetre in the middel of the quere of monkes / R / But the comyn fame tellyth that he swore there at meete that the loof that was than there worth an half peny / shold be worth twelue pens within that yere yf he myght lyue / A monke of that hous herde that / and made hym drynke of venym and shroof hym and was houseled and drank to the kyng as it were his tastour / and soo the kynge / and he deyd both attones

¶ Capitulum 34 /

ANon vpon saynt symons day & Iude kyng Iohns sone hen­ry a child of ix yere old was made kyng / he was holpen by strength & wyt of the Popes legate of the bisshop of wynchestre / of therles of penbroke / & of chestre / for ranulph erle of chestre had than take lyncoln ageynst lowy [...] & slayn ther many frenssh men Than lowis saw that his party was febled & toke money & yelded vp the strengthes that he had holde / & was assoilled of the popes legate / & went ageyne in fraunce / Lewyd men that helde with lowys were not disheryted but clerkes as the trespas wa [...] grete were pryued of her benefyces / other sente to the court of ro­me for to be assoylled / Ranulph erle of chestre went to ierl̄m af­ter that he was acorded with lewelyn prync [...] of wales / & damye­ta was taken of crysten men / This yere fyrst the abbotes of blac ordre come to geders at oxenford for to tr [...]te of thordre / kyng henry began the newe werk at westmestre / & ranulph erle of chestre cam oute of the hooly lande and bylded the castels of charteley & of beston & thabbay of delacresse of the whyte ordre / for the costes of these castels / he toke tollage of & in all his lād / Also this yere seint thomas of caunterbury the martir was translated by [Page CCClxxiij] Steuen the Archebisshop duryng the solempnyte he fond hey and prouende to al men that wold axe hit in the wey bytwene lōdon and Caunterbury / ¶Also in the day of the translacion he made wyn to renne in pypes contynuelly in dyuers places of the Cy­te / & so the cost that steuen made in thi [...] solempnite / his fourth successour bonefacius payed it vnnethe / Alysander kyng of scotlād wedded Ione kynge henryes syster / On saynt luk the euāgelystes day cam a wynde oute of the north syde / that brake doune houses orchardes and wodes / belhous / and belfrayes / Also fyry dragōs & euyl spirites were seen fle aboute in the whyrlwynde / At ox [...] ford in the counseyl of bisshops was one taken that hadde in his body woundes as oure lord Cryst had y nayled to the crosse / This sayde that he was Ihesus / but by dome of holy chirche he was take to be punysshed & at abburbury he was nayled to the crosse / Dauid an erle of Scotland had a sonne Iohan that wedded lewelins doughter prince of wales as it were for final acorde bytwene him and lewelyn and his eme Ranulph Erle of chestre / Iohan kyng of Ierusalem cam in to Engl̄and for socour of the hooly land / the lordes of englonde graunted kyng henry [...]he wardes of heyres and of her [...]andes and that was begynnyng of moche harme in englond / and sone therafter kyng henry toke the fyftenth peny in al englond / This yere fyrst come frere menours in to englond two yere byfore saynt Fraunceys deth / After honorius the nynthe gregory was Pope fourten yere / this strengthed the sentence of cursyng ayenst Frederyk the Emperour / Therfore the Emperour toke many prelates and two Cardynals that we [...] to the counseyle / This Pope made broder Raymund to compyl [...] fyue bookes of decretales that were gadred of many constituciōs pystles and decretales / Also in a tyme this Pope was besyeged of the emperour in the cyte of Rome / & he saw that the romayns had takē mede of thēperour / than he toke in his hādes the hedes of thappostles petir & paul̄ / & made a processiō frō seint iohns chirch the lat (er)an to seint pet (er)s chirch & so he awelded the hertes of the romamayns / therfor thēperour was aferd & wēt thens a ferre wey / Steuen tharchebisshop deyd he quoted the bible at paris & marked the capytres / & endited kyng rychardes lif / & left aft (er) him many good bokes that he had made / the grete deen of lōdon maist richard of wethershed was archebisshop aft (er) him / also thi [...] yere deid williā of alune a lettred mā / first he was chaūceler & than bisshop of paris / & lefte after him many bokes that he had made de sacramentis [Page] Cur deus homo / de fide et de legibus / & de vniuso corporali & spū ­ali / gregory toke the dyme [...]f holy chirche / while the Bisshop o [...] london sayde his masse in saynt paules chirche fyl so grete thyck­nesse of cloudes derknesse of the sonne / with thundryng & lyght­nyng and stenche that no man myght suffre / so that the peple wēt oute of the chirche / & lefte the bisshop there with his seruaunte [...] aloone / This yere kynge henry graunted englysshmen many Fre­doms / but he toke of hem the fyftenth dele of her goodes / & catail for to wynne landes beyonde the see that the kyng of fraunce had occupyed in kyng henryes tyme / & so he sayled ouer see with gret [...] strength & dyd [...] lytel prouffyte / william de brewes was blamed for lewillyns wyf prynce of wales / & prysoned and hanged / therfor fyl grete stryf bitwene the kyng and lew [...]lyn / Ranulph erle of chestre. of lyncoln & of huntyngdon deyd at walyngford & was beryed at Chestre in the chapytre of monkes with his for faders / his sistres sonne Iohan scot was erle after hym / This ranulph dyed withoute children / & had four sustres / the eldeste of hem mold was maryed to dauyd an erle of scotland / of hym cā Iohn scot / the second sister mablye was maryed to therle of arū ­del / the thyrdde agnes to therle of derby william de Ferraus / the fourth hawys was maryed to therle of wynchestre robert quy­nycy / kyng henry made the hospytal of saynt Iohan withoute eest yate at oxenford & layd the fyrst stone / whan rychard archebis­shop of caunterbury was dede / saynt edmond of abendon was archebisshop after hym that was at that tyme tresorer of salesbury. he dyed beyonde the see the eyghtenth yere of his bisshoprych and was bury [...]d at poūtney in burgoyn / & the seuenth yere therafter he was translated by fauour of the fourth innocent the pope

¶ Capitulum 35

FRederik themperour wedded ysabel kyng henryes sust / that yere iewes were brought bifore the kyng at westmestre / for they had hyd a child al a yere at norwich / & aft (er) that they had circumcyded hym they cast for to naile hym to the crosse / kyng henry wedded the erles doughter of prouynce / Iohn scot erle of Chestre and of huntyngdon deyd without children at derēhal [...] the seuēth day of Iuyn & was beryed at chestre / but bycause that this lādes [Page CCClxxiiij] had prerogatyues of realte / his erldō fyll in to the kynges hond & his systres that were his eyres had other lādes / therfor in cōpē sacion by cause that so feyr a lordship shold not be deled bytwene dystanes of women / this Iohan had four systres / one of hem margaret was wedded to aleyn of galwey and bore the mayde deuer­goyl / This mayde was wedded to Iohn bayllol / & bare Iohn baillol / kyng of scotlād / the other syster Isabel was maryed to robert de bruys / the third sister wold dyed without childrē / the fourth sister alda was maryed to henry de hastyngys / Also this yere Octobonus the legate cam in to englond / & ordeyned many good ordenaūces for the prouffyte of hooly chirche / whyle he passed thurgh Oxenford was grete fyghtyng bytwene the scolers and som of his meyne / so that one of his men was slayne / & he hym [...]self octobonus was besyeged in the belfray at osenay till euensonge tyme / & myght vnneth be delyuerd by many of the kynges mynystres that cam thider from abyndon / than he was brought at walyng­ford & cursed the mysdoers & suspended the studie of oxenford til that the abbot & chanons of osenay & maystres regentes of oxen­ford cam barfote & bare legged and vngird thurgh london to the legate and had foryeuenes vnneth / that yere a fals clerk feyned hym self mad / & espyed the pryuyte of the kynges court / & cam by a wyndowe in to the kynges chambre at wodstock for to slee the kyng / but by the crye of an holy woman he was taken & dra­wen at Couentre / Edward kyng henryes eldest sonne is borne at westmynstre / hym cristned octoban the legate and confermed edmond archebisshop / This yere the kynges of Tartres whan th [...]y had ouercome the eest landes they departed hem in twey compa­nyes / that one party therof destroyed so hūgary & pannonia that men of the coūtray ete the flessh of their own childrē / & many scrapyd of the pouder of an hyll and ete it as it were mele / Af [...]er the nynth gregory the fourth Celestinus was pope one moneth / & the see was voyde one yere / And after him the fourth innocent was pope enleuen yere and syx monethes / Oure saueours crowne of thornes wa [...] brought in to Fraunce / Octobonus went oute of englond and was take in the see of the emperours men / At Chestre kyng henry entred in to wales / & dauid the prince cam to him at ruthlād / that yere dyed seint edmōd at pōteny & bonefas was archebisshop aft (er) him / this edmōd was born at abendon besides oxē ford / & had an holy fader & moder / his faders name was edward rych̄ by his surname / by assēt of his wif he lad relygyous lyf at [Page] eueshā / his moders name was mablye / she vsed the heer & an haberion / & fought in her flesshe ageynst the fflesshe / Edmond was born cleene of al wem of childhode on saynt edmondes daye the kyng and martir / and lay al that day from the morow tyde to e­uen as though he were a swowne / So that they that were there wold haue buryed hym yf his moder had not withsayd hym / he was cleped edmond that is gracyous and clene / for he was bor­ne on a saynt edmondes daye / And also whyle his moder was with childe with hym / she wente a pylgremage / and badde her bedes at saynt edmondes tombe / and there she was first ware that the childe was alyue / ¶ From his fyrste childhode this vsed his wytte to the studye of goodnesse by occupacion of goostly / lyuynge / For good vsage and customme shold afterward haue the maystrye / and voyde al wycked dedes / though he were shy­nyng with al the floures of vertues / yet he chose the clennes that makyth man be next god / In token therof he made his auowe to oure ladye by his moders counseyl / he vsed the heer and fasted euery fryday with brede and water / and vsed euery sonday and holy day to saye al the sauter er he wold dyne / In his childhode he lerned his gramer and was soo dysesed with the hede ache that he had no hope to spede afterward in lore / his moder spak to hym and sayd sone I trowe that the lewd and vnsemely tonsour that thou vsest is cause of thy woo / Than afterward he vsed tonsoure of a clerk / and was hool of al that woo / In a tyme he walked by hym self in a meede / besydes oxenford / and a fayr childe appered to hym and sayde / hayl my leef / I wonder that thou knowest me not. and namely whyle I am alwey by thy syde in scole and in other places / therfor what thou seest in my forheede wryten / prente it euery nyght in thyne owne forhede / The wrytinge was Ihesus Nazarenus Rex Iudeorum / that is Ihus of Nazareth kyng [...] of Iewes / Therafter he lerned alwey to haue oure lordes passion in his mynde / Ones for besynes of a lesson that he muste rede he forgate it / ¶ Thenne whan the day byganne to sprynge the old enemy bond fast his hondes / by cause that he shold not blesse hym self / and he prayd in his herte / and the enemy fyl dou­ne from hym bytwene the bedde and the wal / and he coniuryd hym by the shedyng of goddes bloode that he shold telle wherwith he myght be moost y chasted / with that thou hast now nempned quoth the fende / Another tyme he had foryete to saye this oryson / O beata et intemerata / And saynt Iohan the ewangelyst appered [Page CCClxxv] to hym in his slepe / and manaced him to smite with a pawmer And for hooly wrytt sayth that he that rectheth not of the smale fallyth awey lytel / and litel / and he wold euery day shryue him and clense him of venyal synnes / by entysyng of the old enemy his hoostes doughter not only with sygnes and bekkes / but also with wordes auentred her to tempte saynt Edmond for to do amysse and wold not cesse / er she cam to the hooly mans chambre and was strypte and scourged and soo she putt of her utchyng and whan the enemy myght not spede by the wenche he auentred by the wyf to assaylle hym / but edmōd wold not take her yeftes withoute leue of the husbond / and put her of soo ashamed / and though he was not infra sacros / he was a mayster of Art / and vsed to here a masse / and saye his houres euery day / er he wolde rede / and was prouffytable to his scolers / for he taught hem here masse also / whanne he toke moneye of his scolers he leyde it in a wyndowe and seyd powder to pouder / & asshes to asshes / but the money was ofte take awey / with his felaws in game other els pryuel̄y with theeues / whanne he radde arithmetryk / his moder that was deede appered to hym in his sleepe and axyd of hym & sayde what fygures be these that thou studiest yune / & he answerred suche and suche / than she peynted thre cerkles in hyr ryght honde as though she wold mene the fader and sonne and hooly goost and sayde / Sonne studye thou in these fygures after this tyme / Selde he sate in chirche but he bad his bedes other standyng other knelyng / For he was a noble precheour / a sharp arguer & a mylde lyster. For he was auysed and toke heede of falace / and was waare and wyse in assoylynge of questions / and did grete prouffyte in redyng ¶ For greete abstynence his heer fyll aweye from his berde and heede / soo that his lyppes semed y cloue / he vsed alwey grete mete & lefte flesshe on mon­daye and wonesdaye / and also in septuagesima that is al the lente from tyme that Alleluya is closed / he wold taste noo Flesshe the daye before that he wold singe his masse / and soo ofte it hap­ped that he ete noo Flesshe in a moneth al hoole / he ete but selde twyes a daye / he rought not of lectuaryes and of medecyns / For grete knelyng his knees were harde as the sooles of his feete / Euery daye he said thre paire of matyns and of houres of the daye of our ladye and of the hooly goost with Placebo and dirige A night after his firste sleepe he wolde aduise and saye certeyne prayers and psalmes / Yf ony enuious worde. come in place / he [Page] wolde not be in pledynge of causes / he wold haue men [...] s [...]culer court with hym to the mete / For he wold wynne hem [...] blesse of heuene / he wold not vysyte his houses of offyce / [...] heere acomptes of his mynystres / he spente alwey more [...]han he hadde He chalengyd of his seruanntes clennesse of body by couenaunte wryten / Soo that yf ony of hem fyll in to lecherye / he shold take his hyer and take his leeue / and goo his wey / Tethynges and offrynges and redempcion̄ of his synnes / he spente only in myl­de vses / he had byfore hym paynted the ymage of oure lady and al aboute hym the passion of our lord / And soo the lesson come of the booke / and byfore the ymage he had his hedes / and of ey­ther come grete deuocion / the tyme of etyng and slepyng and re­dyng whanne he myght not studye he tolde hit al lost / As ofte as he opened his bible / he wold worship it with a crosse / whanne the legacy of the crosse was commytted to hym he toke noo procuratoryes that hym were graunted but ayenste the vsages of other suche legates he trauaylled on his owne coste / he prechyd at oxenford at gloucestre / at wyrcetre / and Reyn. that fyll on the people he made turne ageyne with his prayers· It happed as he slepte in his studye that a candel fyll doune on his byble and brente / but whanne he awoke he sawe / noo brennynge was seen / Also with hys penne he made thre crosses on a kybe that he hadde / & it vanysshed awey / his heeris that he wered were throwen in to the fyer whan they were old / but they myght not brenne and in the heres that he wered myght vnnethe ony worme be founde / Somtyme messagers were sent from Caūterbury to Salesbury For edmond tresorer of that place shol̄de come and be Archebisshop of Caunterbury / the deen of Salesbury spake to hem and sayde ye be welcom and euel come / ye be welcome for ye do worship to oure chirche / but ye be euyl come / for ye take oure tresoure with the tresorer / hym shamed not to drawe of his owne hosen & shone / Euery man that he met in the wey / that wolde be shryuen to hym· he wolde lyght doune of his hors / and here his shryfte / & spare for no let of comyng to his ynne / nother for wynde nother for reyne / ne for other weder / he ferde as the olif tree that holdith to yt self the bytternesse in the rynde and heldeth oute toother the swetnesse of the oyle / soo he was harde to hym self / and easy and goodly to other men / he beete his brest ofte with his honde & his knees ageynst the grounde / Soo that clerkes that lay in se­ler [...] vnder hym myght vnneth slepe For worship of oure lady he [Page CCClxxvj] worshiped al wymmen / but therby he was neuer y wemmed / but in a tyme one blamed hym that was hoomely with hym / For a fayr wyf that he wold ofte speke with / And he answerde and sayde / Sawe thow not how fayr she was / y know [...]che / she hath ofte sette by me / but by her was I neuer more temp [...]ed / that I was by the wal / and yet more th [...]ugh all that I haue trespaced in that maner synne were wryten in my forhede I shol̄de not be ashamed / he hated takers of yeftes and sayde in Frensshe Entreprendre / and prender is but one lettre aloone / At last by exytyng of the deuyl kyng henry and the chapytre hous of Caunterbury was rebel ageynst hym / In that hurlyng he made it as though he knewe it not / and kyssed hem and preserued hym and dyde to hem al other homely dedes / and whanne his frendes sayde he was to mylde / and yafe ensample to other men for to aryse in the same wyse / he answerd and sayd the swellyng of the see as mylk / we shal souke and ete wylde hony in the wyldernesse of this world with Iohan baptist the forgoer of our lord / the power of takyng wreche moote be withholde only in goddes hande / I wol not of other mennes defautes gete me loenge and vnprouffytable c [...]st & trauayll / than he had prelates to geders & axyd how he might releue hooly chirche that was made subgette and thral / It was counseyled that the kyng and other men that were rebell shold be warned / and yf they wolde not amende / than the wreche of C [...]nsures of hooly chirche / sholde not sl [...]pe / the hooly man assenteth & & goth to the kyng / the kyng axith auysement / and he abideth but al for nought / therfor the kyng was spared aloone and all other that were rebell were denounsed acursed / but therby wolde not the euel doers be amended / Than hym was leuer suffre the malyce for a tyme than kyth his myght in plee and in stryf / for be toke heede that though he hadde doone al that he myght / hit myghte happe that the Popes legate that was than in englond / wolde vndoo al his sentence and dedes and so comforte the kyng to wors dedes / but yf the Archebisshop were presente and corrected not her trespas and errours / hit myght seme that he wolde alowe his dedes by a maner feyned suffraunce / therfore hym was leuer be absente for a tyme for to shewe ther by the sorowe of his herte and that he was soore agreued with her malyce / than his last sekenesse byganne to waxe greuous and strong / and he wēt oute of poyntney / to soysy / and he byhyght hem that he wold come ageyne on saynt Edmondes day / whanne the sacramente of the [Page] auter was brought hym he sayde thou art my lord / the I haue loued. in the I haue trowed / the I haue prechyd / the I haue sought and none other / Men tellyn that it goth in to the wombe / but I telle that it goth in to the soule and thought / than he we­sche the woundes of the ymage of the crucyfyx / and kyssed hem full swete / and sayde / ye shal drawe vp water in Ioye of oure sa­ueours welles /

¶ Capitulum 36

AFter Celestinus the fourth innocencius was Pope enleuē yere and six monethes / he put honest and noble persones in the Cardynals sees that were voyde / he made Cardynal Frere hughe of the ordre of prechours that expowned all the byble and made grete concordaunces vpon the byble / This Pope made a coū seyl at lugnum in Fraunce / . there he canonysed saynt Edmond the Archebisshop the seuenth yere after his deth / And demed that the rebel Emperour Frederyk shold be deposed and sette doune / At tholet in spayne a Iewe dygged in his orchard to make him a more vyneyerde / there he found a stone hool and sound in euery syde / In the myddel of that stone / he founde a booke as grete as a sauter with treenleues wrytten in grue ebrue and latyn / & spake of thre worldes / From adam to Antecryst and declared the proprete of men and sette the begynnyng of the thirdde world in Cryst in this maner / In the thyrdde world goddes sone shal be borne of mayde marye / and he shal suffre deth for sauacion of mankynde. the Iewe radde this / and was crystned anone / In englond was so grete derth that a busshel of Corne was sol­de for twelue schyllynges / That yere was seynt edmond tranlasted / and Frederyk the Emperour dyed acursyd / After hym his sone manifred assaylled the kyngdom / and the tresour of Scicile till that charles that was the kynges broder of Fraunce pryued hym bothe of the kyngdome and of his lyf / Whanne this Frede­rik was dede / innocencius the Pope procured the chesers of them­pyre for to chese many / and so were y chosen the duk of Turing and the Erle of Holande / but they dyed soone / and some cheese the kynges brother of englonde Rychard duk of Eornewayle / This stryf dured wel many yeres with wel grete coste / a ver [...]y­fiour d [...]uyded the sillables of this name fredericꝰ in this maner [Page CCClxxvij] Fre fremit in mundo / de deprimit alta profundo / Res rimatur / cus cuspyte cuncta minatur / ¶ That yere at london was ma­de a solempnel procession towarde crystes bloode that the patry­ark of Ierusalem had sente to kyng henry / the thyrtenthe day of October lowys kyng of Fraunce wente to the hooly land and toke damyeta / but in the yere after he was take of the soudan in a batayll in the felde / and william longa spata was dede / Longa spata is a long swerde / An honderd thousand and fyfty thousand huerdes marked with the sygne of the hooly crosse come to paris and destroyed hughely the vnyuersyte & slewe many Clerkes / Kyng henry yaf to to his eldest sonne Edward gascoyn / I [...]lond wales and Chestreshyre / ¶ That yere for grete hete the erth was so drye that it bare noo fruyte / but in the ende of heruest fyl so grete rayne that the erth myght not swolowe therof cam many meschyefs ¶ Also that yere deyd saynt Robert grosthed bisshop of lyncoln the nynth day of october / He was connyng in all the lyberal artes and specially he expowned many thynges in in logyk etyks & astrologye / he sente to the fourth pope innocent a pystle sharp ynough that begynneth in this maner / Our lord Ihesus Cryste he sente that pystle by cause the Pope greued the Chirches of englonde with taxes and payementis vndue and vncustumable / Also for he had yeuen his lytel neuewe a chanonrye with the fyrste that voyded in the chirche of lyncolne / But this Robert wold not receyue the childe but he wrote to the pope and sayde that he nother wold nor shold receyue suche to the cu­re of soule that couth not rule hym self / therfor this Robert was somned to the court and acursyd / Thenne from Innocents courte he appellyd to Crystes owne trone / Than after Robertus deth it happed on a nyght that the Pope lay in his bedde and reste / A bisshop appered to hym arayd as a bisshop / and spak to the pope and sayde Aryse wretche and come to the dome / and smote hym with his crosse on the lyft syde right to the h [...]rte / than in the morow the popes bed was founden blody and the pope dede / Herfor though robert was a noble man and did oft myracles / the court suffryd hym not to be canonysed / ¶ After Innocencius the fourth alysaunder was Pope seuen yere and four monethes / Pees is reformed bytwene kyng henry and l [...]welyn prynce of wales at mont gomeryk in this forme / that lewelyn and his successours after that tyme shold doo hommage to the kynges of Englond / And kyng henry toke of hym thre thousand marck / [Page] Herupon henry made his chartre confermed by auctoryte of the pope / Sone therafter fyl so grete honger that a busshel of Corn was solde for syxtene schyllynges / that tyme kynge henry made his four half bretheren so ryche that they despysed other lordes / Therfor come to geders at oxenford at fest of the trynyte Symon de montford / erle of leycetre / Rychard de clare / Erle of gloucetre and other lordes and chose twelue peres / and by counseyll of hem these chaungyd the kynges mynystres and put these the kynges foure half bretheren oute of the l̄and / That dede was cause of the barons werre / kyng henry sayl [...]d in to Fraunce / and made shamely acorde with the kynge of Fraunce / and foryafe hym Nor­mandy with other landes of beyonde see / soo that hym shold leue hoole the lond of gascoyn / After Alysaunder the fourth vrban was pope neygh four yere / This was fyrst patriark of Ierusalem Than by helpe of hem that hadde y take the signe of the crosse he chas [...]d the hooste of Rome that manyfredus had putte in saynt peters lande / Also the pope yaf the kyngdome of Scicile to Charles that was the kynges broder of Fraunce yf he put thens manyfredus. and soo hit was done / Aboute that tyme at Teukesbury a Iewe fylle in to a gonge on a saterday and wold suffre noo man to drawe hym vp for the reuerence of his hooly daye. But Rychard of Clare erle of gloucetre wold suffre noo man to drawe hym vp in the morow on the sonday / For reuerence of his hooly day / And soo the Iewe deyd /

¶ Capitulum 37

THis yere fylle stryf bytwene the kynge and the lordes of Englond for the kynge wolde not holde the ordenaunces / that were ordeyned at parleament at [...]xenford / Aboute saynt Iohns f [...]ste the natyuyte the lordes helde in warde the bisshop of herford the pryour of wenlok and other prelates that were alye­nes / other that were next the kyng they chased oute of Englond and occupyed theyr goodes and catayll / therfore henry putte the vniuersyte oute of oxenford / At last the kynge and the barons put hem self touchyng the articles in the ordenaunce of the kyng of Fraunce / and he repreued these articules euerychone / but the lordes of Englond forsoke his vnskylfull dome and stode forth as they had bigōne / than lordes that maintened these ordenaūces [Page CCClxxviij] cam to geders at lewys in southsex the / xiiij day of may / and yaf a batayle and toke kyng henry and his broder Rychard duck of Cornewayle / and edward kyng henryes eldest sonne and many other grete / And soo they compellyd the kyng to holde these orde­denaūces that they had made and helde edward eyght monethes at herford in warde / That tyme the prouynce of Chestre was ye­uen to Symon of montford erle of leycetre in the Trynyte euen / The kynges sonne Edward of herford escaped oute of warde by help of Syr Rogyer mortymer / for he had leue by cause of solace to prycke a courser and so he escaped vnto the hylle Dūnemore / there he sawe this Rogyer mortymers baner displayd / Herafter aboute lammasse was an hard bataylle at Euesham bytwene the kynge and the barons / there by gyleful withdrawyng of the Erle of gloucestre that helde with Symon byfore / This rightful Symon was dede / and many other noble personnes / Of him grete fame tellith that he dyde many myracles / but they were not shewed for drede of the kynge / Thenne Symons knyghtes helde the Castel of kenelworth half a yere ageynst the hoost of all en­glonde / After vrban the fourth Clement was Pope as it were four yere / After hym the Popes see voyded thre yere and twey monethes / This Clement had fyrst wyf and children / and was afterwarde aduocate and cheef of Counseyls with the kynge of Fraunce / whanne his wyf was dede he was made bisshop of pue and than Archebisshop of narbon and than bisshop of Sabyn / & Cardynal and legate sente in to Englond / there whyle he was absente he was chosen Pope / therafter as men trowyd with his mylde lyuynge and hooly bedes he aqueynt many trybulacions of hooly chirche / Also whanne Conradynus wente in to Scicile to werre ageynst charles / this pope told openly in a sermon. that cōradinꝰ dede shold come to nought / That yere aboute all halowē tyde Octobon the legate cam in to englond & ordeyned many thynges for the prouffyte of hooly chirche / By his counseylle kynge henry graunted that they must raunsonne her landes that were dysheryted for the arisyng ayenst the kyng oute take the Erle of derby Robert de ferrer for it semed that he hadde moost greued the kyng ¶ than the next yere therafter he greued the kyng / & was taken and diherited till he / other his heyres / other somme who for hym myghte pay on a daye / l / M / pounde / At London octobon the legate denounsed the londoners and the portnens acursyd / and sayde that they were acursyd in pope Clements counseyll and he [Page] enterdyted hem and forbode hem the conpany of Crysten men / Thenne he suspended the bisshops of london and of Chycestre of her offyce till they were assoylled of the pope / therfore the london­ners besyeged octobon in the toure of london till many bisshops armed had hym aweye / This octobon toke dymes of hooly chirche for thre yere whyle he was in englond and so he wente hi [...] weye and of a deken Cardinal he was made Pope / That yere the sou­dan of Babylon destroyed ermonye and toke antyo [...]he and slewe the men that dwellid therinne and destroyed the noble cyte / Kyng henry laye with his hoost withoute london at stratford til that pees was made bytwene hym and the barons / Octobon wē te oute of englond with huge tresour / And edward the kynges sonne and many other toke the sygne of the crosse / Pope Clemēt deyd / And saynt edward kyng and confessour is translated the fourthe daye of october in kynge henryes tyme / And kyng henry had the twentyest peny of lewd mennes catayl & the dymes of holy chirche for thre yere by assente of the Pope / This yere edward the kynges eldest sonne and his wyf / wente to the hooly land / After Clement the tenthe gregory was pope four yere / the thyrd yere of his poperyche he made a counseyl at lugdnum for the profyte of the hooly lande / For he caste to wende theder in his owne person / In that counseyll were messagers of the Tartres and of the grekes / the grekes promysed that they wolde come ageyne to the vnyte of hooly chirche / there were syx honderd bisshops and a thousand prelates / therfor one sayde / gregorius denus congre­gat omne genus / he wolde by these versus mene that the tenthe gregory gadered al manere men / there was ordeyned that noble statute that neuer was herde afore that alle personnes with cure sholde be preestes after that tyme / And that after that tyme noo man sholde haue leue to assigne his tethynges as he dyd byfore at his owne wylle / but al tethynge sholde be payed to the moder chirche / ¶Also this gregory charged hooly chirche with dymes for six yere / he dampned pluralyte of benefyces with cure / Also he approued somme states of the ordres of beggers as prechours & menours and somme he suffryd as Carmes and austyns / and somme he reproued as sacfreres / that were callyd de penitencia / and de valle viridi and other suche ¶ Also this yere deyd henry kyng of englond on saynt edmondes day of Pon­tenay / & men trowyd that skylfully he ended his lyf in his day for he had trauayled hym wrōgfully whyle he was alyue / he had [Page CCClxxix] regned fyue an [...] fyfty yere / Also this yere dyed bonefas archebishop of caunterbury / and the pryour of Caunterbury was chosen archebisshop / but the pope forbadde that election and made Ar­chebisshop Frere Robert of kylwerby of the ordre of prechours & mayster of dyuynyte / ¶Among his other noble wrytynges he made noble wrytynge vpon precian / and vpon logyk / Sone herafter lowys kyng of Fraunce and his twey sones the kynge of nauern and many prelates wente efte to the hooly lond / But by greete sekenesse and euyll [...]. that was stronge in the see costes of that land / The Crysten hoost that was of two honderd thousand was disparpled and to shed / for the popes legate that was ruler of pylgryms in the hooly lande dyed and the kyng of Fraunce also / This kyng while he laye seke prayd besyly in this maner / Lord I pray that thou make vs despyse the welth of this world and drede none of his meschyefs / And for the peple he prayd in this maner be thou lord to thyn own peple ha [...]ower and wardeyn And he putte to at the ende I shal entre in to thyn hows / and I shall pray to thyne hooly temple /

¶ Capitulum 38 /

EDward kynge henryes sonne cam oute of the holy londe in to englond / the second day of august / & was crowned kynge the threttenth day byfore december. and the morow after his coronacion / he toke openly hommage and fewte of alysaunder kyng of Scotl̄and / ¶ Thenne the second yere he made lawes / After the tenth gregory the fyfte Innocent was Pope fyue mo­nethes / ¶This hyght byfore Tarentasius of the ordre of pre­chours / a doctor of dyuynyte / ¶ After hym the fyfthe Adryan was Pope twey monethes / Somtyme this was sente of Pope Clement in to englond for to alledge the stryf bytwene the kynge and the barons / After hym the / xxj Iohn was pope eyght monethes / he hight byfore peter / & was famous in many & dyuerse scyences / but after that h [...] was Pope he doted so that it semed that hym lacked a grete dele of kyndly wyt netheles he auaū sed clerkes ofte in presence of many men / this byhyght hym self lōg lif / but he fyl doun sodenly of a new chābre that he had byld [Page] a [...] vit [...]rbe / and deyd after the syxth daye of the fallynge / After Iohn the thyrdde nychol was pope as it were thre yere / ¶ This yere for lewelyn prynce of wales wold not come to the kynges parlemente in to englond / kynge edward wente in to wales and foūded the castel of the flynte and strengthed the cāstel of Ruthland / There lewelyn submytted hym to the kyng and yaf hym fyfty thousand poūd for the trespaas and for the yland of mon a thousande mare by the yere / ¶ Pope nychol made f [...]rere Ro­bert of Culwarbye archebisshop of Caunterbury Cardynal / and made frere Iohan pecham Archebisshop in his stede / Kyng ed­ward punysshed the Iewes and her assentours for clyppyng of moneye / and for euyl chaunges. So that he made all the Iewes to be taken in on [...] day and somme he henge & put awey the other Kyng edward and the lordes made a statute ageynst maynmort Soo that after that tyme no man shold yeue nother selle nother byquethe nother chaunge nother by other tytle assygne landes tenemētes / nother rentes to no man of relygyon withoute the kynges l [...]ne / ¶ The kynge made smyte in co [...]n newe moneye / halfpeny & ferdynges al rounde / theron it semeth that marlyns prophecye is fulfylled that sayth the haluendele shal be round / After nychol the fourth honorius was Pope as it were seuen yere In his fourth yere he chaunged the copes of Frere Carmes in to cleene whyte that were to fore ray barred and bemed. The fals walshe dauyd ro [...]s ageynst kyng edward on a Palm­sonday / and dyde englysshe men grete harme and damage / But kyng Edward cam aboute saynt Iohans feste / and wanne wales and yaf tounes and landes that were in the myddel of wa­les to lordes of his land and helde to hym self the Castels / that were on the see syde / Of that doynge cam grete pees and reste after that tyme / Herafter aboute saynt lukes feste lewelyns heede was smyten of and brought to the kyng and sente to london & sone therafter this lewelyns broder dauid was take that was exyter of all the wo / In the grete parlement at shrowsbury he was first dāpned / & than to draw with horses & than hanged by the throte and than quartred and deled in dyuerse places of englond Of this lewelyn twey men of relygyon wrote versus in metre / of the walshmen in this manere / Hic Iacet Anglorum tortor / tu­tor venedorū / Princeps wallorū lewelinus regula morū / Gēma coeuorū flos regū pret (er)itorū / Forma futurorū dux laus lex lux ppl̄o (rum) / that is here lyeth the tormētour of englissh men wardeyn & [Page CCClxxx] Tutor of walsshemen / prynce of wallsshmen / lewelyn ruler of gode thewes / Cheef precious stone of hem that were in his time floure of kynges that were byfore / Ensample of hem that shall be after this tyme / leder praysynge lawe and lyght of peple / But the englysshmen sayde in thys maner / Hic Iacet errox prynceps predo virorum / proditor anglorum / fax liuid [...] / secta reorum / Nu­men wallorum / trux dux homicida piorū / F [...]x troianorum stirp [...] mendax causa malorum / That is here lyeth the prynce of errours Theef and robber of men / Traytour of englisshmen / a dym brond and set of euyll doers / God of walsshmen a cruel duk / a slee [...] of good men / Drastes of Troianes / a fals rote cause of euyll de [...]es

Kyng Edward made englisshe lawes to be holden in [...] sette shirreues there / ¶ Kynge Edward hath a sonne borne at Carnaruan in wales on a tuesdaye / ¶ After the fourth honorius / the fourth nycol of the ordre of menors was [...]ope as [...] were syx yere / ¶ That yere Iohan Peccham the Archebisshop cam by chestre in to wales to reforme the state of holy chirch [...] That yere was so grete drouth and hete that men dyed for [...] Also that yere was marchādyse brente at saynt botulphs by [...] deuels children / that sette fyer in dyuers places of the t [...]une / for they wolde the more frely Robbe and reue in other places / [...] sayde that vnnethe alle the moneye of englond sholde restore t [...]e harme that was there done / For stremes of golde of syluer and of other metal that was molten ranne vnto the see / That yere a bushel of whete was sold for four pens / on saynt margrets [...] fil tempest of reyn / of thundryng & of lyghtnyng so that m [...]n [...] herde of none suche byfore that tyme / for it bete doune & drowned corne and gras that stode on the grounde· & so corne wexed der [...]rer & derrer / so that at london a busshel was sold for twey s [...]yllynges that was afore sold for thre pens / & so derth of corne d [...]red about a fourty yere vnto the deth of kyng edward the second after the Conquest / so that tyme at london a bushel was sold fo [...] x / shyllynges / Aboute this yere by heeste of pope nychol the chirches of englond were taxed to the very value / & syth voyded the taxacion of norwiche that was made by the fourth Innocencius / the Iewes were put out of englond & cam neuer ageyn / after the fourth nychol the fifth celestinꝰ was takē from ankers lyf & was pope fewe yeres as it were thre yere / Somdele for stryfe t [...]at was in the court / somdele by counseyll of his successour bonefas he was y meued and resygned vp the poperyche and toke ageyn [Page] his rather maner of lyuyng / ¶ Also that yere dyed alysan­der kynge of Scotland / Than was ther grete stryf bytwene the Scottes / who shold be kyng after hym /

¶ Capitulum 39

AFter the deth of alysaunder kynge of Scotlānd that dyed withoute children grete stryf was y moeued who shold be kyng of Scotland after hym / & for many chalengyd that kyng­dome by cause of nygh kynred & of bloode and that myght not be determyned al full withoute the presence of the cheef lord / Than it was founde by wrytyng autentyk and old that the kyng of englond is cheef lorde of scotland / and that he shuld knowe and deme in suche a maner caas / and for that it shuld be knowen af­ter his tyme / This yere kyng edward made serche all thabbayes of Englond of Scotland and of wales for to wytte and kno­we what ryght he had in that maner dede / Than in the cronykes of maryan the scotte / of william of malmesbury / of Rogyer of huntyngdon & of raph le bruys hit was founde that in the yere of oure lord nyne honderd and ten kyng edward the elder made subgette the kynges of scotland and of Cumbres / Also in the same cronykes it was founde that in the yere of our lord nyne / C / and one and twenty these forsayd men scottes and Cumbres chese the forsayd edward the elder to be her lord and her patrone / Also there it was founde that the yere of our lord nyne honderd and syx and twenty Adelstan kyng of englond ouercome Con­stantyn kyng of scotland and suffryd hym eft to regne vnder him Also Adelstans broder Edredus kyng of englond ouercome the scottes & the northumbres / & they submytted hem self to hem and swore hym feute / Also there it was found that edward kyng of englond ou (er)come alpinꝰ sone kynadius kyng of scottes that swore hym feute / Also there it was foūd that canutus kyng of englōd & of denmarche the yere of his kyngdom xvj ouercome malcolin kyng of scotland & therafter he was kyng of four kyngdoms of englond of scotland of denmarche and of norwey / Also there it was founde that saynt edward yaf the kyngdom of scotland to malcolyn that was the kynges sone of cumbres to holde of him Also williā bastard the syxt yere of his kyngdom ouercome malcolyn kyng of scotland & toke of hym an oth of homage & feu­te / also williā the rede did in the same wise as his fader had don [Page CCClxxxj] to m [...]lcolyn kyng [...] of Sco [...]land and to mal [...]olyns twey sonnes that regned on [...] after other / Also Alysander was his brothers successor edgar in the royam of scotland by assente of kyng henry the fyrst / Also dauyd kyng of scotland dyd homage to kyng ste­uen / Also william kyng of scotland dyd homage to the thyrdde henry / the second henryes sone in his coronacion / And also to henry the fader in his twentyest yere of his kyngdome / as it is wry­ten in a couenaunte that was wryten bytwene hem tweyne / Also rogyer of hūtyngdon sayth / that william kyng of scoland cam to his lord kyng henry in normandy / & dyd homage also to kyng rychard / & to kyng Iohn at lyncolne / Also on saynt albōs cronykes it is foūde that alisander kyng of scotland wedded margaret kyng henryes doughter at york & dyd hym homage the ye­re of kyng henry xxxv / the same is foūde in the kynges chartr [...]s of scotlād / also in the popes bulles that were sent in to scotlād it is foūd that the kinges of scotlād were acursid for they wold not be buxom & be obedient to her lordes kinges of englond / than cam to geders at norham in thendes of englond toward scotlande the kyng of englond with his wise men / & the kyng of scotland with the redyest men & worthyest that he had / there the kyng of englōd axed fyrst that the scottes shold pesybly assente [...] is ordenaū ce / touchyng the kyng of scotlād / namely for it longed to him by cause by his cheef lordship / the scottes sayde that they knewe none suche soueraynte that longed to the kyng of englond / & saide that they myght not answer to such thinges without an hede & a king to whom it longeth to here such tretynges / & yt they shold yeue none other answer at that tyme for her oth that they had made eche to other after kyng alysanders deth / the whiche oth they must bolde vpon peyn of cursynge / than kyng edward toke aduisement & made his lettres patēt to the scottes & knowleched that the coming of the scottes in to englond a this half the water twede shold not eftsones be to him preiudice of comyng eft in to englond [...]eraft [...]r the grettest of scotlond & of englond that chalengid right of the succession in the kyngdome of scotland knowleched / & graūted by theyr lettres patent that they wold with good wyll receyue right byfore this kyng / as before the cheef lord / & they wold holde fer­me & stable al that he wold ordeyne in this forsaid dede / but for it semed wise men at that tyme that king edward myght yeue no right of succession in the kyngdom to no man but yf he had erst right and possession in the kyngdome of scotlande / Therfore in [Page] the kynges syde of englond surete was made to the scottes that the kyngdome sholde be restored within twey monethes to hym that had ryght therto vpon peyn of an honderd thousand pound sterlyngis that shold be payd at Rome in helpe of the hooly lond And also vpon peyne of cursyng and enterdytyng of the kynge and of the Royamme of englond yf he wold not restore the kyn­gedom as it is sayd / And so the scottes with her chartres yafe & bytoke to kyng edward the kyngdome of Scotlond / with Cas­tels with ryght with custommes and vsages / & sette wardeynes that sholde saue to hym that had ryght al the auaūtage & profite of the land in the mene tyme / whan this was don after long ple and disputacion in eyther syde of hem that chalengyd that kyng­dom the kyng of englond toke heede of the strength of the resons and euydences in eyther syde and yaf the dome for Iohan de baillol / & Iohn knowleched that the king of englond is cheef lorde of Scotland· and dyde hym hommage and swore hym fewte / This yere deyd Frere Iohan pecham archebisshop of Caunterbury / ¶ Mayster Robert of wynchestre was Archebysshop after hym / a [...]so that yere madoc a walshman rered warre in wales on a mychelmesse day / therfor kynge edward cam to Chestre aboute saynt nycolās feste / and toke the yle of mon that is callyd Anglesia in latyn and bylded newe the cyte and castel de beel marys / That tyme the wodes in wales were hewen doune that were grete socour to men of the contray to hyde hem self in warre tyme / & strong castels were made in dyuers places by the see syde / And sone herafter this madoc was taken and brought to london / After that tyme werre cessed in wales and walsshmen lyued as englysshe men and gadred tresour and dredde lost of catayl / that tyme kynge edward made serche alle the abbayes of Englond & bryng to london all̄ the money that was y founde / Also he made arrest all the wulles and felles / & therafter fyll a grete derthe of Corne and of wyn

¶ Capitulum 40

AFter the fyfth Celestinus the eyght bonefas was Pope enleuen yere / This popes fyrst yere was a yere of grace / that yere he graūted large & grete pardō to pilgrims that [Page CCClxxxij] wolde come to Rome and vysyte the Apostles Peter and paule / He made the syxth boke of decretales therin he determyned many grete doutes / he encorpored many grete constitucions extrauagāt / as the Constitucion of honorius of adrian / of innocencius of cle­ment and of other popes / and dyde awey al that was wrongful A constitucion that is not put / in the cours of lawe is cleped a cō stitucion extrauagant / This begyled his predecessour Celestinus & made hym to resygne vp the poperyche and torne eft to ankers lyf / men seyn that therfor celestinꝰ prophecyed of hym in this maner / thou come vp as a fox / thou shalt regne as a lyon / and dye as an hound / for he made pope Celestinus make a cōstituciō that he & euery pope myghte frely resygne vp the poperyche / & whan he was pope he reuoked the same constitucion / ¶ than he ruled strongly & sette doune somme Cardynals & som gentilmen de co­lumpna / and withstode the kyng of Fraunce in many poyntes & not only that but h [...] founded with all his myghte to set doune the kyng of Fraunce / therfor the stuward of fraunce william de longaret a wyse man and f [...]r castynge / and the forsayd bretheren de columpna conspyred to geders· And toke pope bonefas and se [...]t hym vpon a wylde hors withoute brydel and torned his face to­ward the tayl and made hym prycke so aboute to the last brethe & slewe hym so with pryckynge & with honger / Iohn de baylloll that was made kyng of Scotland aroos ageynst the kyng of englond & ageynst his owne othe / and that by counseyll of somme men of Scotl [...]nd & namely of the abbot of menros / But Iohan was take and dissheryted / ¶ Thenne the yere after williā waleys of the nacion of Scottes arrayd werre ageynst kyng ed­ward / but he was chaced the second yere after ¶ kyng edward slew / lx / M / Scottes at fouchirch on a mary maudelyn day but the Scottes wexed stronger & stronger / xxx / yere to geders vnto kyng edwardes tyme / the thyrd after the conquest / & beete doune englysshemen oft and englysshe places that were nygh to her marches / Somme sayde that that myshappe fylle for softenesse of englyssh men / and somme sayde that it was goddes owne wrech as the Prophecye sayde that englysshe men shold be destroyed by danes / by Frensshe men & by scottes / as it is touched in the ende of the fyrst book / The kyng made seyse in to his hond al the temporalyte of clerkes & put hem oute of his protection for they wold not reward him of her catail the yere before aiēst the scottes for by assēt of the clergy robert tharchebisshop had purchaced an inhibiciō [Page] of the pope that no clerke shold rewarde the kyng of holy chirche goodes / but many clerkes purchaced for drede the kynges protection withoute the counseyl of the lordes / kyng edward with ly­tel serengthe of englysshe men / and walsshmen sayled in to flaū ­dres as it were ageynst the kyng of Fraunce / It was a co­myn sawe that kyng edward loued so blaūche the kynges doughter of Fraunce / that he wold gladly yelde vp gascoyn to the kynge of Fraunce for his doughter blaunche / but for Edward was olde and blaunche wās a yonge wenche / kyng edward wedded margaret the kynges syster of Fraunce / and gate on hir twey sonnes thomas and Edmonde / kynge edward dampned sodanly fals money that was slyghtly brought vp / Men clepin that moneye pollardes / Crokardes / and Rosoryes and were putte forthe lytel and lytel & pryuely in stede of shyllynges / Fyrst he made one of hem worth an halfpeny / and than he forbad hem aboute / Also this yere edmond erle of Cornewayle deyd without children / This edmond was the sonne of Rychard Erle of Corne­wayle / and kyng of almayne and soo that erldome fyll ageyne to the crowne / This yere was a yere of grace / in the whiche wēt many pylgryms to Rome / kyng edward yaf his sonne edward the pryncypate of wales and the Erldome of Chestre / At london william waleys leeder of scottes was honged and drawen / his heede was smyten of and sette vpon the brydge of lon­don al men to beholde that there wolde passe· His body was quar­tred and sente in to dyuerse places of englond / this yere kyng edwarde sente to pope bonefas lettres to declare the ryght and the lordship that Englonde hath ouer the Royamme and kynges of Scotlande / For Robert le bruys had pleyned to the Pope that kynge edward greued wrongfully the Royamme of Scotland Therfor the pope wrote to the kyng of englond that he sholde le­ue of suche greuynge / but he myght shewe clerly his ryght / After the eyght bonefas the enleuenth benette of the ordre of prechours was pope not fully one yere / Of hym one sayde in this maner / A re nomen habe benedic benefac benedicite / Aut rem peruerte maledic / malefac maledicite / that is / haue thy name of thy dede / say wel / doo wel y blessyd. Other torne the dede / say euyl / do euyl acursyd / he sayth thus for benet is benedictus in latyn blessyd in englysshe / After benet the fyfte Clement was Pope as it were twelue yere / he trauayled aboute byldynge of Castels and gaderyng of tresour / he dampned thordre of Templers / & ordeyned [Page CCClxxxiij] the seuenthe booke of decretales that hyghte Clementynes / And soone therafter in a counseyl that he made at vyen / he reuoked the same booke / but his successour the two and twentyest pope Iohn renewed efte that boke / and publysshed it and putte it to the cours of lawe canon / ¶ This Clement was the fyrst that chaungyd the popes see from Rome to Auinion / Men wondren of that dede whether it were done by goddes ordenaunce / other by mannes foule hardynesse ¶ Also that yere kyng edward made hard inquisicion ageynst euy [...] doers and ageynst hem that trespassed ageynst the crowne / that maner inquisicion hight tra­ylbaston / Robert de bruys toke wronfully the kyngdome of scot­lande / and aboute Eester he slowe Iohan le comyn at dunfre in the chirche of frere menours / for he wold not assēt to hym in that trayson / but the kyng of Englond cam and chasid this Robert and benge the sleers of this Iohan ¶ That yere kyng Edwarde deyd at Carleel and made piers of ganeston that was pryuy with his sonne forswere the londe of Englond

¶ Capitulum 41

KYnge edward deyd on saynt thomas day the translacion be sides Carleel at burgh vpon the Sond / the yere of his kyngedome fyue and thyrtty ¶ Robert Archebisshop of caunter­bury was exyled and he sawe his deth in his slepe at Rome / After the fyrst edward his sonne was kyng the second Edward after the conquest / Anone he had home ageyne his leef pyers of Ganeston and yaf him the ducherye of Cornewayle / and made hym wardeyn of englond whyle he was aboute his owne maryage by yonde the see at boloyn / he wedded ysabel the only dough­ter of phelyp kynge of Fraunce / And cam thens ageyne / and was crowned kyng at westmynstre the sondaye in quinquagesi­ma / that is the day a fourtenyght after that alleluya is closed / He was crowned of the bisshop of wynchestre / by Auctoryte of pope Clemente / For Robert Archebisshop of Caunterbury was at that tyme at Rome exyled oute of englond / This edward was fayre of body and grete of strengthe and vnstydfast of ma­ners and of thewes / yf men shal trowe the comyn tale / For he forsoke the company of lordes and drewe hym to harlottes / To [Page] syngars / to gestours / to carters / to deluers / and to dykers / to rowers bote men / and ship men / and to other craftes / and yaf hym to grete drynkyng / he wolde lyghtly telle oute pryuy counseyll and smyte men that were aboute hym for wel lyght trespaas / And dyde more by other mennes counseyll than by his owne / He was to large of yeftes and solempnel in makyng of festes Redy to speke and varyaunt of deedes / vnhappy ageynste his enemyes / and cruel to his meyne / and loued strongly one of his whistrers and dyde hym grete reuerence & worship / and ma­de hym grete and ryche / Of this doyng fyll vylony to the louyer / euyll speche and bakbytyng to the leef / sklaundre to the peple / harme and dammage to the Royamme / he auaunced to states of hooly chirche / hem that were vnable and vnworthy that was afterward a stake in his eye and a spere in his syde / In his tyme was soo grete derth of whete / and continual mo­reyn of beestes that none suche was seen byfore that tyme / Than were dymes alwey gadred and contribucions payed / Spiritua­le and temporale was alwey pylled and by suffraunce of the pope and by coloure to wythstonde the scottes / moche good fyll to the kynges encheytes but by the kynges outrage all was was­ted and spente in ydel / but in one poynt this kyng happed wel that wales was neuer rebell ageynst hym / In other sydes hym myshapped alwey / In his begynnyng he loued Piers of ganes­ton and had bifore forswore his company at his faders heeste / but he sente after hym ageyne from beyonde the see by cause of hym / he was recheles of ysabel the quene / and rought not of the lordes of the lande / therfore the lordes had indignacion and putte oute this Piers ouer see in to yrlond / there the kynges tresoure was rabbyshly wasted and spente / yet for hope of more pees Pyers was brought ageyne / but the kynges tresour was wasted and spente as it was byfore. and the lordes aroos and putte pyers from the kyng and toke his horses and iis tresour in northumber­lond and chacyd pyers / and besyeged hym in the Castel of scardburgh and toke hym / and smote of his heede at gaueressyche be sides warwyck / but whanne pyers was dede / yet the kynge vsyd his old maners and drewe to other men / therfor Robert archebis­shop of Caunterbury made a solemynel counseyll of the prouyn­ce / there were ordeyned many noble statutes in helpe of the Ro­yamme / the kynge was sworne to holde these ordenaunces / And Robert the Archebisshop yaf his blessynge to al that wolde hem [Page CCClxxxiiij] holde and his curse that wolde hem breke / But than as alweye the kyng drewe to his fautours and dyde not as he had promy­sed / therfor was grete speche among the comyns and grutchyng emong the grete ayenst the kyng / ¶ And hem that were nygh the kynge / ¶ And specially Robert the Archebisshop. and thomas Erle of lancastre by confort of this Robert fonded with hym many yere to wythstonde the kynges nycete till that he yelde vp the brethe in that stryf at the last ende / By [...]or­des ageynst the kynges wyl pyers of ganeston was exyled in to Irlond / and the yere after aboute the natyuyte of oure lady [...] was sente after ageyne and the kyng came ageynst him at ch [...] tre / But aboute midwinter Pyers was exiled in to Flaundres & aboute Candelmasse y sente after ageyne ageinst hir wille The kyng was with him a while & lefte him in the castel of scard­burgh / there lordes besyeged him / & toke him / & brought him to dadynton & slewe him besides warwick. ¶Pyers was heeded a [...] gan [...]ressiche vpon the daye of saynt Gernacius & Prothacius And the same yere on on saint brices daye the kinges eldest sonne the thyrd edward after the conquest was borne at windesore / Tharchebisshop of winchestre deide & mayster thomas of Cob [...] was chosen awel noble clerke / by Instaunce of the kyng he was put of and translated to wyrceire and waltre Reynald the kynges tresorer was made Archebisshop ¶ & sone therafter the kyng wente in to Scotland with grete boost and grete aray and [...] he and his were shamely ouercome on a saynt Io [...]ans day / Gentilmen were slayn and taken / and tresour lost / Somme threw awey her wepen and toke socour only by flyght / Herafter twelue yere contynuelly whyle this kyng regned the north countreys of englond were destroyed by the scottes / edward le bruys Robert le bruys brother wente in to Irlonde for to wynne that londe· but the fourth yere therafter he was slayne / on a saynt Calyxtes day / ¶ Also this yere aboute mychelmasse a knyght of lancastreshyre moeued werre ageynst his owne lorde Thomas erle of lancastre / but aboute martynmesse he was t [...]ken and beded

¶Capitulum 42

AFter the fourth clement the two and twentyest Iohan was pope aboute an eyghtene yere / He renewyd the seuen bokes [Page] of decretales & auaunced clerkes and ordeyned general studyes lore of thre langages of hebrue / grue· and latyn / And fyrst bycause that hit shold seme that he hated takyng of yeftes / he damp­ned pluralyte of benefyces / Soo that euery creatuure sholde hold hym appayd with one benefyce with cure / and this pope shold haue the fruytes of the other benefyces that voyded long tyme of ye­res ¶ Also he reserued to hym self the fyrst benefyce that voyded by deth resygnacion other by translacion / Soo that the personne that were institute shold chese whether he wold haue the taxe of the benefyce other the ouerpluys / by that cautel come hu­ge tresour to the popes hande / ¶ But the duc of bauaria / that clepyd hym self emperour werryd ofte ageynst hym and ba­re hym doune alwey / ¶ Also this yere was greete deth of men and of beestes and greete fallyng of reyne in somer and in heruest / therof cam grete derth of Corn [...] so that a quarter whete was sold for fourty shillyngys / ¶ A wryter that hyghte Iohn had a catte that was homely with hym aboute pentecost at oxenford / this Iohn sayde openly that he was heyr of englond Therfor at northampton byfore the kyng and lordes he was preued fals / and hanged and drawen / ¶ That yere twey cardynals come in to englond and cursyd Robert le bruys and his fautours / and enterdyted scotland / kynge edward fauoured the twey spensers hugh the fader and hugh the sonne ageynste the wyll of lordes / therfor thomas erle of lancastre and many other withdrewe soo the kynges strengthe / Soo that they made hem a colour as it were by assent of the kyng and exyled these spensers and threwe doune her castels in wales / they ladde awey the beestes and gadred tresour and occupyed gloucestre in the wynter tyme / and sone therafter withoute counseyll of other men the king sente ageyne for eyther hughe / than wreth and stryf encreaced from day to day / Among al this twey lordes de mortimer toke hastely Cytees in the marche er the erle of lancastre myghte be re­dy / and pursued the kynges knyghtes till that the kyng come aboute by shrowesbury vppon hem with a grete multitude of fote men / there for defaute of money / and by cause that therle of lan­castre was to long behynde / the knyghtes wente awey / and the two mortyners must nedes yelde hem and soo they dyde and were prysoned at london / than the kyng wente to Gloucestre / and had with hym thens eyther spenser / Than he wente to lyche feld aboute saynt Chedde day for to take the erles of lancastre and of [Page CCClxxxv] and her fautours that were at Tutbury and at burton but while the kyng passed the waterr out of the toun at afoorde / the erle of lancastre and his men fled oute of the toune of burton to the Cyte of burghbrydge / there cam andrew of herkeley in the kyn­ges syde and slewe the Erle of herford ryght vpon the brydge the syxtenth day byfore apryll and toke the erle of lancastre & many other noble men / the most dele of hem were in dyuers places hanged by the throte / but the Erle was byheded at his own Castel of Poūfret / the tenth day byfore Apryl· Of this Erle and of his dedes it is ofte grete stryfe among the comyn people / whether he shold be acounced amonge sayntes or noo / Somme sayde yes for he dyde many almes dedes and worshiped men of relygyon and mayntened a trewe quarel as it semed to his lyues ende / Also his enemyes dured afterward but a whyle and de­yde in shameful deth / Other seyn the contrary and tellyn that he was an husbond man / and rought not of his wyf and de­fouled a grete multitude of gentil wymmen and wēches / yf ony man offended hym a lytel he lete hym sle anon / Apostatas and euill doers he fauoured strongly for they sholde not be punisshed by the lawe· Also he wolde commytte alle his doynges to one of his secretaryes to doo with as he wolde / ¶ Also that be fled shamely in tyme of fightyng for the right vnto the deth / and suche one sholde not be acounted a saynt namely whyle le was take and slayne maugre his trethe / But offrynges and likynes of myracles that ben now done in the place there he was by [...]d [...]d what yssue they shal take it shall be knowen after this tyme / From that tyme to the syx [...]h yere after the fortune of the spen­cers beganne to encreace / and the condicion of the quene drough̄ toward seruage till that the kyng of Fraunce pursued hugely the kyng of Englond / for hommage of Gascoyne was not done / ¶ About the Ascencion of oure lord the kyng helde a parlemente at yorke / there he made hugh the spenser the elder / Erle of wynchestre and Andrewe of harkley erle of Carleell / The same yere aboute Lammasse the kyng wente in to Scotlond And though he had none withstandyng / yet he loste many men with sekenesse and with honger / ¶ Aboute the Natyuyte of oure lady the kyng cam homewarde ageyne. and the scot­tes come after hym and toke the castell norham· and afterward aboute saynt lukes tyde at the abbay of bella lauda vpon blak­hammor / they hadde nyghe take the kyng at mete yf he had not [Page] fledde / but they toke the Erle of Rychemond / and the kynges tresour was lost / th [...] same yere the morow after saynt chaddes day Andrew of harkeley was taken at Carleel / as a traytour han­ged and drawen and heded and his bowels brente and quartred and his heede set [...]e vppon london brygge / ¶ At lammasse Rogyer mortimer the yonger / that was in prisonne escaped oute of the toure of london by a slepyng drynke that his wardeynes hadde dronke / Aboute mydlente for to make pees the quene of en­glond was sente to her brother kyng of Fraunce / that had assaylled a grete dele of gaskoyn / ¶ Aboute the natyuyte of our lady the kyng sente his sonne edward in to Fraunce for to do the kynge of Fraunce homage for the ducherye of guyan that was yeuen hym / and the kyng of Fraunce made hym abyde with his moder in the coūte of Pontyeu / the moder and the sone dwellyd soo by yonde see / and wold not come ageyne other durst not for drede of the spensers / ¶ Thenne the kyng of englond by counseil of the twey spensers outlawed and banysshed his wyf and his sonne openly at london in cheepe as traytours of the Royamme /

¶ Capitulum 43 /

THis yere aboute mychelmasse the Quene of englond & her sonne edward and Rogyer mortymer that escaped oute of the tour of london cam in to englond with lytel strengthe of He­newers and londed in estsex and wente toward london / there the kyng was that tyme / and wonder it was that the lond was still all aboute withoute noyse and shedyng of blood / And the kyng fledde oute of london in to west wales and they folowyd hym easyly a foote pas / That tyme the morow after of saynt Calyxtes daye by counseylle of the bourgeys of london the kynges tresorer bisshop of excetre was heded withoute the north dore of saynt poules chirche / And in the morowe the toure of london was take by bourgeys of london in helpe of the quene and of hyr sonne / Sone therafter on saynt Symons euen and Iude the quene and her men toke the castel of Brystow / there hugh the spenser the elder was hanged and drawen and his heede sente to wynchestre / The same yere on saynt hughes day the erle of Arundell was take in· the countray of shrowesbury / but he was heded at Herford [Page CCClxxxvj] The same weke the kynge of englond was take in the Castel of neth in west wales / & putte in warde in the castel of kenelworth ¶ Hugh the spencer the yonger was take with the kynge and drawen / at herford byheded and quartred / & his hede was sent to london bridge Also that yere in the octaues of twelue day was made a parlement at london / there by comyn ordenaunce were so­lempne messagers sente to the kyng that was in prysonne / Thre Bisshops / Thre Erles / Twey Barons / twey Abbottes / Twey Iustyces for to resygne to the kynge that was than in warde the hommage that was made to hym somtyme / For they wol­de no lenger haue hym for theyr lord / One of hem syre william trussel / knyght and procuratour of alle the parlemente spake to the kyng in name of all the other and sayde these wordes / ¶ I william trussel in name of all men of the lond of englond and of alle the parlement procuratour / I resygne to the edwarde the ho­mage that was made to the somtyme / And from this tyme forthward I dyffye the / and pryue the of all Ryall power / and I shal neuer be tendaunt to the as for kynge after this tyme / Also this was openly cryed at london / The same yere on Candel­masse euen / edward the kynges sonne was made knyght /

¶ Capitulum 44

EDwardes sone the thyrd edward after the Conquest a yōg childe of fyftene yere old vnderward yet lyuynge his fa­der was crowned kyng at westmynstre on a Candelmasse daye /

¶ In his begynnyng come forth gracious happes and fortune / ¶ Thenne the erthe toke plente / the eyer temprure / the see quyete and pe [...]s and hooly chirche fredome· The thyrdde daye of Apryl the old kynge was brought oute of the Castel of kenelworth to the castel of barkley / ther many mē conspyred for to helpe for his delyueraunce / but he deyd about the feste of saynt mathew the ewangelyste / Of his lyuyng and of his dedes / it is yet stryf among the peple / as was somtyme of thomas of lancastre whether he shold be acounted among sayntes or noo / For nother prysonement nother persecucion / and greues preueth a man a saynt / but the holynesse of the rather lyf acorde therto / For suche ben indiffrent to good and to euyl / For euer [Page] synful man it is a fayr grace of suche peynes with contricion do­ne awey his synnes & lassen his peynes in purgatorye / though they make hym not flee anone to heuene withoute ony payne of purgatory / but presumpcion and pryde of euyll men and synfull trusteth and hopeth an ydel that they and other suche sholde haue no payne in purgatory / Also lykyng and wylle that wyues haue to wende aboute make tydynges sprynge and sprede hugely of suche worshipynge till the byldyng vpon suche vnsyker groū de begynne to slyde / At the parlemente of wynchestre Edmond of wodestok was heded for he had conspyred ageynste the kynge as it was sayd / ¶ The forsayd Edmond was the kynges eme and erle of kent / the syxtenth day byfore Iuyn this thyrd kyng edward after the Conquest had his eldest sonne edward borne of his wyf the quene the erles doughter of henaud / ¶ Also that yere on the morow after saynt lukes daye / Rogyer mortimer that made men clepe hym erle of the marche was taken at notyn­gham and sente to london / And there by dome af the parlemente he was hanged and drawen on saynt Andrews euen / ¶ About lammasse Edward de bayllol that was somtyme kyng of Scot­land entred in to scotland for to recouer his kyngdome with lytel strengthe of englysshe men vnnethe two thousand and slewe syxty thousand of scottes at gledesmore / The kynge of Englond [...]ome for hel̄pe of the kyng of scotland and besyeged Barwyck / the twellyfth day of Iuyll ¶William de reth a scottiss [...]e knyght promysed th [...] kynge that he wolde at a certayne day brynge the hoost of scottes to fyght with hym and to remeue the syege / And but yf he soo dyde he wolde yelde to the kynge the Cyte of berwyk / In the mene tyme the Scottes brente in northumberlond as traytours shold / and besyeged the Castel of banburgh / ther in laye the quene of englond yf they myght in that wyse br [...]ke the syege of barwyk / ¶ Thenne at the day that was sette the seuententh day byfore lammasse anon at full see / the Scottes cam ageynste englysshmen in thre bataylles all a foote and vn­gyrd in a place fast by barwyk that is called bothhull besydes Halydon ¶Englysshe Archers bete doune the Scottes and horsmen pursued hem and chaced hem till it was nyghte / Soo that there were dede of Scottes eyght erles / a thousand and thre honhonderd horsmen and of other men fyue and thyrtty thousand / Whanne this was seen barwyk was yolden vp to the kyng of englond / ¶And wonder it is to telle / there were none deede of the [Page CCClxxxvij] Englysshe mennes sydes / but a knyght and a squyer and twe­lue foote men / In the feeste of geruasius and prothasius / Ed­ward le bayllol verry kynge of Scotland dyde homage for the Royamme of Scotland to edward kyng of Englond at the Castel vppon Tyne in presence of thre bisshops / of erles / of Barons and of grete multitude of peple / And soone therafter the Scottes were rebell ¶ Therfore in a cold wynter the kyng of En­glonde wente in galweye and destroyed the Countraye vnto the scottisshe See / and repayred the Castel of Rokesburgh / and there he socoured hym and his men alle the wynter tyme / The two and twentyest pope Iohan deyd in the aduente of our lorde / And anone in the same weke the twelueste Benet was made pope / That was fyrse monk / and thenne Abbot of whyte monkes / and thenne bisshop in his owne dyosyce / and than Cardynal / and att last pope / ¶ Anone he made Constituci­ons to relygyous men of dyuerse ordres touchynge her Rules and her ordres / ¶ Aboute on saynt Gregoryes day in the lente kynge Edward in ful parl̄emente at London made a Ducherye of the erldome of Cornewayle / and yafe it to his eldest sonne Edward / and the Erldome of Chestre yet therto ¶Also there he ordeyned fyue Erles / One to Derby / another to northampton / the thyrdde to huntyngdon. the fourth to Sales­bury / and the fyfthe to gloucestre / ¶ Grete stryf fyll bytwe­ne the kynges of Englond and of Fraunce / For the kynge of Fraunce bad wrongfully in gaskoyne many londes and tounes Therfore the kynge of Englond profered the kyng of Fraunce many fayre proferes and meke / for he wolde haue his londes a­geyne / but al for nought / Than the kynge gadred money in euery syde / and arayde hym to passe the see / And aboute saynt margarets daye kyng edward passed in to flaundres & went thens to Coloyn / there he socyed to hym the Emperour benarrus the brabans & the flemyngys / & by coūseil of hem he medled the armes of fraunce among his owne armes & brente & destroyed the north coūtrayes of fraūce vn to tournay / About Candelmasse kyng edward cam in to Englond ageyn / His wif & his childeren that he had gete in that syde / he lefte hem at andwerp in braband as it were for surete of his comyng ageyn / & he made a parlement at lōdon & ordeined for the nedes & chargid englisshmē with tribute of the fyfthe parte of her good and catayll and all mens wolle / [Page] And the nynthe scheef of euery glebe of englond / he ordeygned for his owne iourneyes / and made lordes of the nexte townes aboute answere hym of the prouffyte that come therof / Also this yere was soo grete scarsyte of moneye / and plente of other thynges that men solde a quarter whete at london for twey schyllynges / And a fatte oxe for an half mark /

Kynge Edward tokē the see toward Flaundres with two hon­derd shippes on saynt Iohans baptiste euen / But by the coost of Flaundres he mette the grete nauey of Fraunce strongly arayd Therfor all that day he auysed hym and his men what were beste to rede / And in the morowe hym cam to helpe a noble knyght Robert of moreleye with the north nauey of englond / There was a stronge bataylle / in the See / Suche a bataylle was neuer sene in the Costes of Englond / There by Goddes helpe and fauour / Frensshe men & normans were sharpely shoten / Sōme slayne with strokes / somme / drowned by her owne good wyll and somme were take and her shippes also / oute take fewe that fledde awey as fast as they myghte / ¶ Thenne the Kyng of Englond cam in to Flaundres and had a grete hoost and destroyed the northsyde of fraunce / And besyeged the strong Cyte of tourneye somwhat of tyme / But atte last for defaulte of moneye that his slowe procuratours sente hym not oute of En­glonde trewes were take bytwene the kynges in eyther syde / and soo eyther wente his wey / kyng edward with his naueye wente in to lytel Brytayne / There he loste many of his men by vnhol­somme meete and drynke / ¶ But twey Cardynals were sente by the pope and made trues to be take bytwene the kynges for thre yere in the whiche tyme the ryght that the kynge of En­glonde chalengyd in the Royamme of Fraunce myght be decla­red atte full / In his comyng ageyne oute of Brytayne / kyng edward had grete dysese by tempest of the see / ¶And men sayde that the kynge of Fraunces reygromancers hadde made that tempest / ¶Pope Benette deyde / And the Archebisshop of Rom was Pope after hym / and was cleped the syxt clement a man of grete Clergy / but a grete wastour / and spender / so that he yaf his cardinals dignitees of holy chirch that voided in englond / & fonded to put therfor other tytles in englonde / Therfor the kynge of englond was wroth / and the yere of our lord a / M thre honderd / & four & fourty / The kyng fordyde the prouysyons that the pope had graūted / and bad that no man shold after that [Page CCClxxxviij] tyme brynge suche prouisions vppon peyne of prisonnemente and of lesynge of his heede / ¶ In the feste of the translacion of saynt thomas of Caunterbury kynge Edwarde toke the See vnwyttynge all his men whether he wold wende / But by ledynge of a knyght of Harecourt / that was somtyme outlawed oute of Fraunce the kyng londed at hoggys bysydes the Ryuer of seyn in the south syde of normandy / And spoylled Cadony and other Cytees and so his men were made full ryche / But the kynge of Fraunce had broke the brydges of Ryuers in euery syde / For the hoostes shold not come to geders and fyght Ther for kynge Edwarde roode in normandye and toke prayes in euery syde / ¶ On saynt Rufus daye the martir that is on saynt Austyn the dectours euen that is the seuen and twentyest day of lammasse monethe / at Cressy in pycardy kynge Edward gloryously ouercome the kyng of Fraunce· & chaced hym / & slewe twey kynges of boheme & of mayorck the duk of lotheryng Twey Bisshops / eyght erles / many noble lordes / two thousand knyghtes / And other men withoute nombre / and chaced the pe­ple that fl [...]dde awey alyue / ¶There phelyp kynge of Fraunce was wounded in the thyghe. and in the throte / and twyes vn­horsed of the kynge of Englond as it was sayd / and escaped aweye vnnethe / ¶ T [...]erafter the kyng of Engl̄ond besyeged Caleys twelue monethes and more / For Cal̄eys was somtyme grete enemye to englysshe men / ¶That yere in the morow after mychelmasse day in monte tumba that is the seuententh day of Octobre englyssh men and specially of the dyosyce of york seculeres and rugulers bete doune the Scottes that were come by entycyng of the kynge of Fraunce vnto Durham / There dauyd be bruys kynge of Scotland william douglas and other grete lor­des were take / and the other were dede and chaced ¶ Aboute saynt bartholomeus feste Phelyp kyng of Fraunce that had arayed hym as it were for to fyghte / and namely for to breke the siege of Caleys he fledde awey pryuely in the dawnyng / and left there his tentes and a greete dele of vytayls therin / the men of Caleys saw that and yelded vp that Cyte to kyng edward / than kyng edward was there a moneth and ordeined for Cal̄eys and wente in to englond ageyne aboute mychelmasse / And graunted trewes for nyne monethes at the Instaunce of the Pope / But as he had somtyme in comyng out of lytel brytayne so he had at this tyme greete tempeste in the see / and loste therby many noble [Page] knyghtes / therfore this kyng edwarde made a wonderfull com­pleynt / and sayde my good lady saynt marye / what is hit and what bodeth it that at my wendyng in to Fraunce / I haue wynde and weder and al thyng at my wylle / and in my comynge a­geyne toward englond I haue tempest and many hard happes / This yere fylle grete reyne from the feste of the natyuyte of sa­ynt Iohan / and dured till mydwynter next therafter / Soo that vnnethe passed ony day but it rayned by day or by nyght / That tyme fyll grete deth of men in all the world wyde / & bygan in landes oute of the southeest sides / Soo that vnnethe lefte half the people alyue / And somme hous of relygyon of twenty lefte but tweyne / The syxthe Pope Clement dyed on saynt nycholas day / And anon the Popes cheef penitancer steuen bisshop hostiensis was chose pope and was cleped the sixth Innocent / Also that yere byganne grete derth of thynges that shold be solde. soo that the sale of thynges was for double pryce to that it was wonte / ¶Also the see and the lande byganne to wex more bareyn than they were byfore / ¶ This yere it was acorded and sworne bytwene the kynges of englonde and of Fraunce / oute take that the kynges seeles were not sette to the indentures that were wryten / the acorde was that the kyng of englond shold haue alle his londes of the ducherye of guyan that were taken from hym by­fore by the kynge of Fraunce / Soo that the kyng of Englond sholde leue and resygne vp to the kyng of Fraūce all the right and clayme that he had to the Royamme of Fraunce vpon that doyng were solempnel messagers sente in the kynges half of englond ¶ Henry the noble duk of lancastre / henry erle of arū del / mychel of northburgh bisshop of london and guy de bryan / These were sente to the popes courte for to haue the couenauntes / Recorded by the popes bulles / but by sodayne fraude of Fraunce and by assente of the pope the couenauntes were put of and vndoo / Therfore englonde arayeth for to fyghte / for to rekeuer and wynne the landes that were take with wrong / And the kyng of englond entred in to Fraunce with grete strength of knyghtes But he herde telle that barwyk was y take / and cam ageyne & delyuerd barwyk of the power of scottes / ¶ This yere was so greete drought to geder that in thre monethes Apryl / May and Iuyn vnnethe fyll a drope of reyne doune to the erth / On a Fryday in a whi [...]sonweke were twey Freres of the ordre of menours brente at Auinion / for somme fals oppynyons / As [Page CCClxxxix] it semed by the pope & the cardynals / the same yere at the natiuite of our lady the king of englonds eldest sone edward sailed in to gascoyn with many men of armes & archers to recouer & wynne the landes of the ducherye of guyan that the kynge of Fraū ­ce had long tyme wrongfully withholde / there edward dwellyd all a yere withoute ony rees of enemyes / But in the me­ne tyme he toke and bete doune and spoylled and brente huge Cytees that were rebelle ageynst hym / as narbon Carcason and other / but in the ende of the yere of his comynge the one & twen day of the moneth of septembre / whyle the duc of lancastre besyeged the Cyte Breuens in brytayne / Edward passed by the brynkes of the Ryuer l [...]yr that is of the ducherye of guyan / There cam the kyng of Fraunce with a grete hooste and fought with hym / but the kynges men of Fraunce were slayne and chased / And the kyng of Fraunce was take and brought to Burdeaus in gascoyne / and there he was till whitsontyde / This yere aboute whitsontyde the forsayd edward sayled oute of Gaskoyn in to englond with Iohan kyng of Frensshe men / And anone the Pope sente twey Cardynals in to englond for to trete of pees bytwene the twey kynges / The Cardynals dwellyd in englonde a full yere / and the thyrdde Cardynal come of his owne hede to comfort the kynge of Fraunce / and dwellyd with the other Cardynals at london ¶ Also this yere that was the yere of oure lord a thousand thre honderd and seuen & fyfty aboute al halowen tyde / dauyd le bruys kyng of Scotlond was deliuerd that hadde be long tyme in warde enleuen yere in the Castel of odyham / and he payed a grete raunsonne / Also this yere at the court of Rome beganne grete stryf bytwe­ne the primate Armacan and Freres beggers / Also the same yere was grete destruction in britayne and in normandy by phe­lip that was the kynges broder of nauerne / And by sire Ia­mes pipe and Robert knolles / and many other Englisshe men withoute he de and withoute warraunt of the kinge of Englond This yere a bo ute the assumpcion of oure ladye Edward kinge of Englond and his eldest sonne Edwarde prince of wales / the duck of lancastre / and neighe alle the lordes of Englond with a grete hooste of horsmen and of archers gadred with aboute a thousand chariottes dwellyd somwhat long time at Sandwich̄ and aboute Michelmasse nexte therafter / the forsaide duk sailed to Caleys / the kyng & the prynce sayled to the same place about [Page] about Candelmasse / And bygnnae anone to ryde in the Royam of Fraunce / but they lay in the feelde in burgoyn / And in chā payne to the annunciacion of our lady / In the mene tyme the normans landed at wynchelsee with a lytel nauey in englond the fytenthe day of marche and assaylled that toune / and slewe men and brente somme of the toune / But there many of the see theues were slayne and drowned / and the other part of the See theues fledde to theyr shippes and wente oute of Englond as they were compellyd by the Abbot of bataylle and strength that was with hym / ¶ This yere aboute saynt dunstans feest ed­ward kyng of englond toke trues with the kyng of Fraunce in hope of pees / & cam with his hoost ageyn in to englonde / But he lost many men horses and charyottes besydes parys the / xviij day after eester by a storme of weder that fyll there that tyme / Aboute lammasse nexte therafter Armacan and the ordre of beg­gers / of the stryf that was bytwene hem ceessyd by heeste of the pope / Also the same tyme the prynce of wales / the duc of lancastre / and many other lordes of englond and the kyng of Fraunce wente to caleys to reforme the pees bytwene Englond and Fraunce / there the pees was reformed and assured with surete of oth on eyther syde / And the kynges of englond and of fraū ­ce wente home ageyne to her owne kyngdoms aboute mychelmasse And sone therafter were messagers sente to Auinion to the pope to conferme the pees and the couenauntes on eyther syde /

God be thanked of al his dedes / This translacion is ended on a thursdaye the eyghtenthe daye of Apryll the yere of our lord a thousand thre honderd and / lvij / The xxxj yere of kyng Edward the thyrd after the Conquest of Englond / the yere of my lordes age Syr thomas lord of berkley that made me make this trans­lacion fyue and thyrtty /

[Page CCClxxxx]THus endeth the book named Proloconycon made & compiled by Ranulph monk of chestre / whiche ordeyned it in latyn & atte request of the ryght worshipful lord / Thomas lord of berkeley it was translated in to englisshe by one Treuisa thenne vycarye of the Paryssh of barkley / And for as moche as syth the accomplysshemente of this sayd booke made by the sayd Ranulph ended the yere of oure lord a / M / CCC / lvij / many thynges haue fallen whiche ben requysyte to be added to this werke / by cause mennes wyttes in this tyme ben oblyuyous and lyghtly forgeten many thyngys dygne to be putte in memorye / and also there can not be founden in these dayes but fewe that wryte in theyr regystres suche thynges as dayly happen and falle· Therfore I William Caxton a symple persone haue endeuoyred me to wryte fyrst ouer all the sayd book of proloconycon / and som what haue chaunged the rude and old englyssh̄ / that is to wete certayn wordes / which in these dayes be neither vsyd ne vnderstanden / & furthermore haue put it in emprynte to thende that it maye be had & the maters therin cōprised to be knowen / for the boke is general touchyng shortly many notable maters / & also am auysed to make another booke after this sayd werke whiche shal be sett here after the same / And shal haue his chapytres & his table a parte For I dar not presume to sette my booke ne ioyne hit to his / for dyuerse causes / one is for as moche as I haue not ne can gete no bokes of auctoryte treatyng of suche cronykes / except a lytel bo­ke named fasciculus temporum / and another callyd Aureus de vniuerso / in whiche bookes I fynde ryght lytel mater syth the sayde tyme ¶ / And another cause is / for as moche as my rude symplenesse and ignorant makyng ought not to be compared / set ne ioyned to his boke / Thenne I shal by the grace of god set my werke after a parte for to accomplysshe the yeres syth that he fy­nysshed his book / vnto the yere of our lord / M / CCCC / lx / and the fyrst yere of the Regne of kyng edward the fourthe / whiche amoūte to an honderd and thre yere /

¶ Incipit Liber vltimus

THenne folowyng this fore wreton booke of Prolicronycon I haue emprysed to ordeyne this newe booke by the suf­fraunce of Almyghty god to contynue the sayd werk bryefly / And to sette in hystoriall thynges / suche as I haue conne gete / from the tyme that he lefte / that was in the yere of oure lord a thousand thre honderde and seuen and [...]yfty vnto the yere of our sayd lord thousand four honderd and syxty and to the fyrst yereof the regne of kynge Edward the fourth /

¶ Capitulum Primum

IN the yere of oure lord a Thousand thre honderd eyght and fyfty in October Robert knolles a Capytayne of a greete companye of Englysshe men and other helde and had wonne many forttesses in Fraunce by Orleaunce in B [...]y­tayne and in Normandye / And in the same monethe he lefte his garnysons / and cam to fore Parys / and there by toke a stronge place named Amblanullers / And they of Parys sente out men of warre ageynste them / but they were anone ouerthrowen and beten in to the toune ageyn / And dayly they assaylled the Frensshmen vn to the yates of parys / And helde them of Parys soo strayte that atte laste they were constreyned to bye that place of hym & to yeue to hym large moneye to departe / And after they destroyed many places in Champayne / And in Marche aft [...]r they toke the Cyte of Anserre and the Castel / At whiche pryse were made thre knyghtes / that is to saye Robert knolles / Tome­lyn Fouque and another / whiche thre were Capytaynes of gre­te Foyson of Englysshmen / And they pylled that toune / which̄ was Ryche as was sayd / They hadde as moche good and Ie­wellys / as was valewyd to fyue honderde thousand motons of Golde / And the Raunsonne of prysonners of synguler per­sonnes was an ouer grete somme / ¶ And whan the Englysshmen had seen the lordes of the toune and had pylled it viij dayes during / they said they wold brenne the toun so that they that were left dwelling in the toun agreeed to gyue them to [Page] saue it fourty thousand motons of golde / and syxty perles va­lewyd at ten thousande motons of golde / And that Englysshemen sholde bere aweye with them aboue that / as moche goode as they wold / excepte the Iewellys of the chirche of saynt Germayn / the whiche they shold haue in pledge for theyr payemente vnto mydsomer / and as to the wallys / they sholde breke them doune / and brenne the gates / and soo they dyde /

In this yere of oure lorde a thousande thre honderd syxty / And fyue and thyrtty yere of the Regne of kynge Edward the thirde the pees was fynysshed and acorded bytwene bothe kynges af Fraunce and of Englonde / as it is afore sayd / And at al halowen tyde after bothe two kynges metten to geder at Caleys with bothe theyr counseyls / And there were shewyd the Arty­cles and condicions of the pees and acorde / to whiche both party­es agreed and promysed to obserue and kepe / where forthwith was songe a solempne masse / And after the thyrdde Agnus dei vppon goddes bodye / and also on the myssal [...] bothe kynges her sonnes / and the grettest lordes of both Royames beyng tho there presente swore to holde obserue and kepe the sayd pees and acor­de / and alle other couenauntes that were ordeyned bytwene hem

¶Aboute this tyme saynt Brygytte an hooly wydowe of the Royamme of Swethen had many reuelacions to bee enfor­med vnto alle thastate of the chirche / And Instytued and foū ded an ordre newe of women and of men / wherof she is Patro­nes / her feste is kepte the two and twentyest day of Iuyll / In the same yere were grete and sodayne tempestes / and strong lyghtnynge and thondrynge / by whiche howsynge b [...]stes and trees were perysshed / And the deuyl appered in maunys lyke­nesse to moche peple in dyuerse places and spak to hem / Also in dyuerse places of the worlde were erthe quaues / in soo moche that Basyle the Cyte fylle doune with many Castels a­boute hit / / ¶ That tyme men dwellyd in woodes as beestes and durste not entre in to Cytees / ¶ That tyme were many bataylles / Pestylence and honger in many places / Also in dyuerse places the Erthe caste oute whyte water / and stynkynge. whiche ouerthrewe and made to falle Castels and stronge places on many places of the worlde / ¶ In this yere in the feste of Conuersion of saynt Poule kynge Edward helde a parlamente at Westmynstre / In whiche was shewyd [Page CCClxxxxij] the pees / and acorde made bytwene the two kynges / Item In the same yere in the Ascencion euen was seen Eclyp­se of the Sonne / Wherupon fyll a grete droughte / and that for defaute of Rayn fyll grete derth of Corne and heye / ¶ Also this same yere the same monethe fylle Rayne in Burgoyne almoost lyke to blood / And a Crosse almoost reede was seen in the ayer there / Also in the same tyme was seen in Fraunce / in Englond / and in many other places appyere two Castels / oute of whiche yssued oute two hoostes of Armed men / that one was clothed in whyte / that other in black / And whanne the bataylle was bygonne bytwene them / the white ouercome the black / And soone after the black ouercome the whyte / And thenne they retourned in to theyr castels and soo vanysshed aweye / In this yere was an huge pestylence / and this yere deyde Syre Harry duck of lancastre / ¶ In the same yere Edward prynce of wales maryed the Coūtesse of kente. that was Syr Thomas holandes wyf / whiche was somtyme dyuorsed fro the Erle of Salysbury / for cause of the same knyght / ¶ Aboute this tyme a grete company of dyuerse nacions assemblyd theym to gy­der / of whome the gouernours and leders were Englysshmen / whiche dyde moche harme in Fraunce / Anone after aroos ano­ther companye of dyuerse nacions / that were callyd the whyte companye whiche in the countrayes of lombardy dyde moche harme / ¶ This same yere Syre Iohan of Gaunt sone to kynge ed­ward the thyrdde was made duk of lancastre by hys wyf doughter and heyr of henry duk of lancastre that deyde /

¶Also this yere was a grete wynde / which ouerthrewe houses Trees / and many a steple in Englond / ¶ Item in this yere kynge Edward made Syre leonel his sonne duc of Clarence / And Edmond his other sonne Erle of Cambrydge / In this yere was ordeyned by a parlament that men of lāwe shold plete in theyr moder tongue / ¶In that yere cam in to Englond the kynges of Fraunce / Cypres / and scotland / Whiche were worshipfully receyued / And after they had ben here long tyme / two of hem wente in to theyr Countrayes ageyne ¶But the kynge of Fraunce for grete sekenesse that he had abode stylle in En­glond /

¶Sequitur Capitulum Secundum

¶ Capitulum secundum /

THis yere was an huge froste lastyng fro saynt Andrews tyde vnto the fourtenthe kalendas of apryll / In this yere ther was a scoler whiche slepte contynuelly by the terme of se­uen yere in lubyke / And after he awoke and lyued long tyme / ¶Also this yere was a grete batayll kytwene Syre Iohan of Mountford duc of Brytayne and Syre Charles de bloys / but the vyctorye fylle to syre Iohan thurgh helpe and socoure of en­glysshmen / This same yere deyde at the maner of sauoye kynge Iohan of Fraunce ¶ and after was caryed to saynt denys in Fraūce / & there bury [...]d / After Innocent the fyfth vrban was pope eyght yere / This was abbot of massylyen̄ of saynt benettes ordre doctour of decrees and reputed an hooly man / he made to be preched grete pardon to warre ageynst the turkes / vnto him seint brygytta was sente from Cryst for confermacion of her Rule & ordre / Atte last / he was poysoned and deyde / In this yere seynt katheryn of Senys was in her floures an hooly vyrgyn of the ordre of the frere prechours she had the stygmates in her handes and feete and side whiche deyde the yere of our lord / M / CCC & four score ¶ This yere was ordeyned that Peter pens from thē [...] forth sholde not be payd / whiche of old tyme was graunted for contynuynge of scole in Rome / In this yere was borne at bour­deux Rychard prynce Edwardys sonne / whiche after the deth of his fader and of kyng edward also was crowned kyng in the enleuenthe yere of his age by ryght lygne and assent of al the comunes of the royame / This yere fyl a grete variaūce in spayn & grete warre bytwene peter ryghtful kyng of spayne / & Henry his bastarde broder / in soo moche that kynge peter cam to prynce Edward to bourdeux to axe socour and helpe of hym / on whome he had grete compassion & pyte / And by lycence of kyng edward his fader / he pourueyed for his ayde and helpe / ¶ In this tyme was seen thre dayes duryng in the scottyssh see two Egles / One comyng out of the south / & that other out of the north / which fo­ught fyersly to geder / & the south fyrst scomfyted the north egle / & he than fled home ageyne to his own costys / & anon after were seen many sterrys gadred to geder on one hepe / which fyl doun to therth leming with fire lemes in man of lightnynges / whos flames brente mens clothes / & heris walkyng on the groūd / In this yere prince edward / & the duk of lācastre his broder with a gre [...]e [Page CCClxxxxiij] Armee wente in to spayn. and had a batayll at nazers ageynst Syre harry the Bastard whiche had putte doune kynge Peter & wan the bataylle / and had the vyctorye / and put the bastard and his men to flyght and there were slayne a syx thousand of the bastardes partye and a two thousande prysonners taken / of whome the Erle of dene Syre bertram claykyn and many other lordes were prysoners / & the noble Prynce Edward restored the sayd kyng peter to his Royamme ageyne / In the same yere was seen a blasyng sterre named Cometa bytwene the north & south with bemes toward fraunce / In this yere sir leonel kynge Edwardes sone duc of clarence wente to melane / and maryed the doughter of galoys / And in the natyuyte of oure lady he deyde / In this yere the bastard of spayne reentryd ageyne / and sle­we the kyng Peter the two and twentyest day of august / ¶ In this same yere the Frensshmen brake the pees / rydyng in Guyan and Pontiew takynge castels and tounes / surmysynge on the englysshe men subtylly and vntruly that they were cause of the brekynge of the pees. ¶ In this same yere deyde the Duchesse of lancastre and is buryed at Powlys in london

¶ Capitulum Tercium

IN this yere / xliiij / of the kynge was a greete pestylence / and a greete moreyn of Beestes / And there fylle soo gre­te waters that it caused greete destruction of Corne / in soo moche that the nexte yere folowyng a busshel of whete was worth thre schyllyngys & foure pens / In the laste day of may was holden a parlemente at Westmynstre for the brekynge of the pees of the Frensshmen / and how the wronges myght be redressyd and auē gyd / In this sayd yere in thassumpcion of oure lady deyde que­ne phil̄yp / and is buryed at westmynstre / ¶ At mydsomer this same yere the duc of lancastre and the Erle of Herford with a grete companye of men of warre wente ouer see toward Fraū ce / & on Chalkhylle bytwene saynt Omers & guynes was an hu­ge hooste of frensshmen / & the hoost of englysshe men fast by the same / whiche hadde long leyn there / & dyuerse Englysshe men yaf counseyll for to fyght with the frensshmen / but the lordes & capitayns wold not / Anone after it happed that therle of warwyck [Page] come thyderward / And whanne the Frensshemen h [...]de of his co­mynge er he cam fully to londe th [...]y lefte theyr tentes and pauy­lons with all theyr vytayl / and fledde theyr weye / And whan therle was londed he hasted toward normandy / And in his co­myng ageyne toward Caleys he deyde on the Pestyl [...]nce / In this yere at mydsomer was made an hooste / and Syre Ro­bert knollys was made gouernour / And whanne they cam in to Fraunce / as longe as they helde hem to geder / the Frensshmen durst not come neygh them / But atte last for enuye and couetyse that was among them they discorded and sundryd them in to dyuerse companyes / whiche couraged the Frensshmen / in soo moche that they cam frely on our Englysshmen / and for the most parte toke and slewe hem / ¶ In the same yere Pope vrban cam fro Rome to Auynyon / purposynge to haue made a fynal pees bytwene Englond and Fraunce / But er he beganne his traytye he deyde / Somme saye he was poysoned / ¶ After vrban / the enleuenthe Gregory was pope eyght yere / This pope was callyd to fore Petrus de bello forte / he was deken Cardynol and deyde in Rome in goddes pees / ¶ After hym folowed grete trybulacion in the chirche whiche god sh [...]wyd by [...]eu [...]la­cion to saynt Brygytte for the synnes of men of the chirche / In the same yere Prynce Edward beynge at Burdeux by tha­uys of his counseyl byganne to sette Inp [...]sicions and taxes vp on the duchye of Guyan / wherfore the Cyte of lymoge reb [...]llyd & fought ageynst hym / & other moo also and t [...]rned from hym to the Frensshe kynge / wherfore he toke and destroyed that Cyte And slough al that was therynne / ¶Sone after Prynce Ed­ward cam in to Englonde leuynge behynde hym in Gascoyne the duck of lancastre / and Syre Edmond Erle of Cambrydge with other worthy men of armes / ¶ In the parlement at Westmynstre was graunted to the kynge a subsydye of fyfty thousand pound to be payd of the laye fee / And thenne in hate­red of men of the chirche / the lordes putte oute of offyce the chaū celer / the Tresorer / and the pryue Seal / and in theyr stede were putte seculer men / ¶ In the eyght and fourtyest yere of the Regne of kynge Edward the duk of lancastre / and the Erle of Cambrydge the kynges sones cam oute of guyan in to englond and were maryed to two susters / doughters & heyres of kynge peter of spayne / ¶That same yere Frensshe men be ye­ged Rochel ¶Wherfore [...]e Erle of Penbroke was sente in to [Page CCClxxxxiiij] Gascoyn with a greete company of men of armes / And er they couthe entre in the hauen of Rochel ther cam vppon hem a stron­ge nauye of spayne / whiche scomfyted the Englysshe men / and toke the Erle with grete tresour and many other noble men / Thenne the kynge with a grete hoost entryd the see to haue reuē ­ged the siege of Rochel / but the wynde wold not serue hym / wherfore he taryed longe at the see Cost / abydynge after a good wynde / but it cam not / and soo he retourned home ageyne / Thenne the duc of lancastre with a grete hoost wente in to Flaū dees / and passyd thurgh pycardye to parys / and soo thurgh alle Fraunce / till he cam to burdeux withoute ony resystence / Aboute this tyme wenzelaus sone of charles kyng of Boheme his fader yet lyuyng was electe and chosen to be Emperour / he beyng a childe / of whiche empyre he toke none heede / ne rought not / Wherfore after he had regned four and twenty yere / and after many warnynges he was deposed / his lecherous lyf defoul [...]d hys noble wytte / and his ende was withoute worshippe / For he was neuer crowned with a dyademe /

In this yere were sent fro the pore two bisshops / one of rauēne & one of carpentras for to treate bytwene two kynges of fraūce & of englond / & day was holden at Brugys in flaūdres / & ther were for the kyng of englond the duc of lancastre / the bisshop of london / and many other / And for the Frensshe kynge the Duc of Burgoyne / his broder the bisshop of Amyens / and many other but they concluded no thyng /

¶ Capitulum quartum

IN the fyftyest yere of kynge edwardes regne on Trynyte sondaye that yere the eyghte daye of Iuyn deyde the noble Prynce edward at kenyngton / and brought to westmestre wher he had his obsequye / and fro thens caryed to caunterburye / and there worshipfully beryed besyde saynt thomas shryne / Aboute this tyme bartholus & baldus greete doctours of lawe were in her floures / After the deth of pope gregory the / xj began the worst scysme that euer was in the chirche whiche dured xl / yere / For at rome was vrban the syxthe chosen by force & strength of the [Page] Romaynes / And this dyde the Cardynals for drede / ageynste theyr entente and wyll / therfore they fledde to the cyte fundorum saynge hym not to be pope / And chose in his place Robertum de gebennis / the same yere whiche was named the seuenth clement And thus beganne the scysme / In the fyfthe yere the mayre of london Adam stable was dyscharged the / xxj day of marche / And nicholas brembre chosen by vertu of a lettre that cam from the kyng / The same yere was a grete parlemente at westmynstre / in whiche the kynge axyd a grete subsydye / but the Commynes answerd that they myght no lenger bere suche charges / and sa­yde they knewe wel that the kynge had good ynowgh for hym self and for sauyng of his Royame / yf the Royamme were well gouerned / but it hadde be longe euyl ruled by euyl offycers that the londe myght not be plentiuous of chaffare marchaūdyse ne Ryches / & shewyd many complayntes of dyusers officers of the Royamme / And namely on the lord latemer the kynges chā berlayn / and on dame Alyce pyers / for grete wronges that mysgouernaunce that were done by theyr counseylle / desyrynge that they sholde be remeuyd and other putte in theyr stede / suche as were wyse true / wel proued and of good gouernaunce / And soo amonge all other they chees Syre Pyers delamare a wyse knyght and eloquent for to be speker for the commynes / And by cause the same Syre Pyers tolde and publysshed the trouthe / rehersynge the wronges don by dyuerse personnes of the kynges hous / Anone after the deth of the good prynce Edward he was putte in to p [...]rpetuel prysonne / ¶ The same yere anone after Candelmasse durynge the sayd parlement a subsy­dye was graunted to the kynge bothe of the Clergye / and of the temporalyt [...] / that is to saye of the temporalyte of euery per­sone passynge fourten yere of age / he shold haue four pens / except p [...]ure beggers / And of euery man of hooly Chirche benefyced or promoted twelue pens / and vnpromoted foure pens / excepte the four ordres of Freres / ¶ The same Rychard Prynce Edwardys sonne was made prynce of wales / And to hym the kynge gafe the Ducherye of Cornewayle / and the Erldome of chestre / ¶In the / lij / yere of kynge Edwardes regne the / xj / kalendys of Iuyn the sayd kynge Edward deyde in his maner at Shene / and from thens brought to westmynstre / and there buryed worshipfully atte southe syde of saynt edwardes Shryne On whoos soule god haue mercy / Amen /

¶ Capitulum 5

AFter kyng Edward the thyrd Regned rychard the second that was the noble prynce edwardes sone of wales / which kyng Rychard was borne at bourdeux / he was crouned at westmestre / the enleuenth yere of his age / ¶ In the second yere of his regne the lord latemer and Syre / Rauf Ferys stryuyng and beyng at debate with Syre Robert hawle and one shakley [...] for the Erle of dene theyr prysoner cam in to westmynstre chirch and there slough atte hye masse tyme the sayd hawle / And Shakle was arestyd and putte in the toure of london / It is sayd that this was done by commaundemente of the duc of Gloucetre Wherfore he cam / and was assoylled at westmynstre. and made greete amendes and gafe grete gyftes and Iewellys therfore to the sayd chirche / ¶ Aboute this tyme the fest of the vy­sytacion of our lady was bygonne by pope vrban the enleuenth after the forme and also the same pardon that is yeuen to the fes­te of the Sacramente / whiche feste is holden the second daye of Iuyll / ¶In this tyme the grete maystre of Rhodes entryd in to Turquye with a grete companye / And there by the Grekes / that were with the Turkes he was discomfyted and taken / and the remenaunt of his peple deed and taken to fore a Castel callid Sayette / In the thyrdde yere of his regne cam certayne galeyes of warre oute of Fraunce in to dyuerse portis of Englond and robbed / brente / and slue moche peple / in so moche that they cam to grauysende and brente a grete part of the toune /

In the same yere was ordeyned at a parlement at westmynstre / that euery man and woman past fourtene yere of age / shold pa­ye to the talage four pens / wherfor fyl afterward moch meschyef For in the fourth yere of his regne the Comons aroos in dyuerse partyes in Englond / and dyde moche harme / and it was callyd the hurlyng tyme / And they of kente and of Estsex made hem two Capytayns callyd Iac strawe / and watte Tyler / And they assembled on blacheth / and on corpus Cristi day they cam in to Southwerk / and lete oute all the prysoners of the kynges benche and marchal see / And cam in to london and robbed alle the alyens and straungers and sl [...]ughe and made hauoke / On the morne after they cam to the toure of london where the kynge was presente the same tyme / and toke oute the Archebisshop [Page] of Caunterbury / and the pryour of saynt Iohans / and a why­te Frere confessour to the kyng and smote of theyr hedes atte tour hyll / thenne come they ageyne to london and slewe men of lawe / and other worthy men in dyuerse partyes of the t [...]une / Thenne wente they to the duc of lancastres place callyd Sauoye / and destroyed it doune / and bare [...] the goodes that they might fynde and brente the place / thenne wente they to westmestre and sa­ynt martyns the graunt. and delyuerd them all oute of sayntuarye that were therynne for ony maner grythe / Thenne cam they to the Temples / and to alle other Innes of men of lawe. and despoylled and brente theyr bookes / Thenne came they to london a­geyne / and toke oute al the prysonners felons and other oute of newgate / and both countours and destroyed theyr bookes / Thēne on the monday kyng Rychard sent for the mayr of london Will­iam walworth / and his aldermen / and they wente to speke and knowe thentencion of thyse rebellous peple / ¶ Thenne this Iac strawe lete make an oye in the felde that all his peple shold come nere and bere his crye and wyll / Thenne the lo [...]des the mayer & aldermen hauyng indignacion of his presumpcion and co­uetyse / and the mayer seenge that he dyd noo reuerence to the kynge starte to hym and slewe the sayd Iac straw Capytayne of the Rebellys / and anone his hede was smyten of / And the hede reysed vp that all myght see hit / And forthwith Incontynēt alle tho Rysers and mysgouerned peple sledde awey / Thenne the kyng forthwith dubbyd the mayer knyght / and fy­ue of his bretheren Aldermen / that is to saye Syr william walworth Mayer / Syre Nychol Brambre / Syr Iohan Phylpet / Syre Nychus Twyford / Syre Robert laundre / and Syre Ro­bert gayton / And after this as they myght take and gete thyse rebellys and mysgouerned people / they henge hem vp by ten / by twelue twenty &c / ¶ In the fyfth yere was a grete erth quaue thurgh oute al the world / the one and twentyest day of maye Of whiche al maner peple was sore aferd / ¶ This yere quene Anne cam in to englond and was maryed vnto kyng richard at westmynstre / ¶ In the syxth yere Syre Henry spencer bisshop of norwiche wente ouer see with a Croysye in to Flaun­dres and gate the townes of grauenyng / burburgh / and Dun­kyrke / And ther he dyde do lade one and fyfty shippes with p [...]llage and goodes whiche sholde haue comen in to Englond. But the Bisshop lete brenne the shippes with alle the pyllage in the [Page CCClxxxxvj] same hauen / And he had a grete batayl with the Flemynges at dunkyrke / and there were slayn an huge multitude of Flemynges / The Bisshop with his retenue wente and besyeged Ipre longe tyme / but he couthe not gete it / And by cause many of his men deyde there of the flux / he cam ageyne in to englond / ¶The same yere was a bataylle done within the kynges pala [...]s at westmynstre for certayne poyntes of treasonne bytwene Syre Iohan Ansley knyght defendaunt / and garton Squyer app [...]llaunt / And the defendaunt discomfyted thappellaunt / Alle this tyme dured the Scysme / For vrban at Rome was chosen Pe­trus de thomacellys / and was named Bonefacius Nonu [...] / 13 ye­re / And after Clemens was chosen in Auynyon Petrus de lu­na / whiche was named / benedictus / xiij / and he abode p [...]pe there two and twenty yere / And after Boneface was Innocencius septimus two yere / And after hym Gregorius 129 .xij / yere / and after hym Alexander grecus one yere / And thēne after hym Iohannes visesimus tercius / and thenne at Counseyll of Constan­ce was chosen martinus quintus / and soo of alle thyse forsayd popes from gregorius vndecimus vnto Martinus Quintus en­dured the scysme by the space of fourty yere that it was not knowen who was the very and vndoubted pope

¶ Capitulum sextum /

IN the eyght yere of kyng Rychardes regne / Syr edmond of langely Erle of Cambrydge the kynges vncle wente in to Portyngale with a grete companye of men of Armes and Archers in strengthyng and helpyng the kynge of Portyngale ageynst the kynge of Spayne / And there the kynge of Portyn­gale had the vyctorye / That done the Erle of Cambrydge cam home ageyne with his Armye in to englond / The same yere kyng Rychard helde his Crystemasse at El [...]ham / The kyng of E [...]monye the same tyme fledde oute of his owne londe / [...]nd cam vnto kynge Rychard for socour and ayde / For the Turkys had deuoured & destroyed moche of his londe / The kyng hauyn [...] grete pyte & compassion of his grete meschyef toke coūseyl [...] on / And it was concluded that the kynge shold yeue hym some good / for tauenture his peple so ferre it were a grete Ieopardye [Page] And so the kyng gaf hym gold and syluer and many ryche yeftes / and betaught hym to god and soo he departed oute of En­glond This same yere kynge Rychard with a grete and puissaunt Armee wente toward Scotland / And the Scottys sente to the kynge and desyred and made grete laboure for to haue a tryeus / soo a tryeus was taken and made / and thenne the kyng retorned to york / and there Syre Iohan holand therle of kentis broder slewe therlys sone of stafford / wherfore the kyng was so­re meued / and retorned to london / ¶ In the nynthe yere of his regne was a parlement at westmynstre / In whiche the kynge made and created two Dukes / Fyue Erlys / and a mar­quys / Syr Edmond of langely the kynges vncle Erle of cambrydge was made duc of york ¶Syre thomas of wodestok his other vncle that was Erle of bokyngham was made duc of Gloucetre / Syre leonel vere Erle of Oxenford was made Mar­quys of deuelyn / Harry bolyngbroke the dukes sonne of lancastre was made erle of derby / ¶ Syre Edward the dukes sone of york was made erle of Ruthlond. Syre Iohan holond the Erle of kentys broder was made erle of huntyngdon / Syr Thomas monbray erle of notyngham was made Erle marchal of Englond / ¶ Syre mychel de la pole knyght was made Erle of Suffolk / and Chaunceler of Englond / ¶ Atte this sa­me parlement therle of marche was proclamed heyre apparaūte to the crowne of Englond after kynge Rychard / The sayd Erle of marche wente ouer see in to Irlond vnto his lordship therldome of vlster whiche was hys by enherytaunce / And there as he lay on a tyme in a castel of his / there cam vppon hym greete multitude of wylde Irysshe men / and he cam oute of his Castell fyers [...]y with his peple / and fought with hem manly / and there he was slayne / ¶ In the tenth yere the erle of Arondel went to the See with a greete nauye / and there he mette an hoole flete comynge fro the Rochel laden with wyn / whiche were enemyes goodes whiche flote he toke and brought in to dyuerse hauens in Englond / and somme vnto london / where men myght bye a tonne of Rochel wyn for twenty schyllynges / ¶ In the enleuenth yere of his regne was tharysyng of certayn lordes in englond in destruction of rebellys / &c / that is to saye Syre Thomas wodestok duk of gloucetre / Syre Rychard erle of arundele / Syre Richard erle of warwyk / Syre harry of Bolyngbroke Erle of Derby / And Syre thomas monbray erle marchal These fyue lordes of [Page CCClxxxxvij] vnderstode the myschyef & gouernaūce of the kynges counceylle wherfor they that were that tyme of the kynges coūseyll fled out of the londe / that is to saye mayster Alysaunder neuel Archebisshop of york / Syre mychel de la pole Erle of Suffolk & chaunceler of englond / and the marquys of deuelyn / Syr Robert le ve­re / these thre lordes cam neuer ageyne in to englond / for they deyde beyonde the see / These fyue lordes aboue sayd made a parlemēt at westmestre / and there they toke Syre Robert Tresylyon Iustyce / Syre nychol brembre knyght and Cyteseyne of london / Syr Iohan Salesbury knyght and vske sergeaunt with other moo whiche were Iuged to deth and were drawe to Tyburn / and there hanged / Also in the same parlemente / Syre Symon beuer­ley knyght of the garter / Syre Iohan beauchamp knyght sty­ward of the kynges hous / and syr Iohan berneis were byhedid atte toure hylle ¶ Also Robert bealknap Iohan holte / Iohan Cary / William burgh / Robert fulthorp and Iohan lokton Iustyses were exyled in to Irlond ther for to dwelle all her lyf ty­me / ¶In the twellifth yere duryng the sayd parleme [...]t was holden a general Iustys in smythfelde of lordes knyghtes and squyers for all maner straungers that wolde come / holdyng [...] housholde to hem and alle other. And alle they of the kyngys hous were of one sute / thryr Cotys / theyr armys / theyr sheld [...]s / and theyr trappours were browdrid all with whyte hertis with Crownes of gold about theyr neckes and cheynes of gold hangyng theron whiche hertys was the kynges leuerey that he yaf to lordes ladyes knyghtes and squyers to knowe his houshold peple from other / Thenne four and twenty ladres comynge to the Iustys ladde four and twenty lordes with cheynes of gold and a [...]le in the same sute of hertes as is a fore sayd from the tour on horsbak thurgh the Cyte of london in to smythfeld / To this feste cam many grete lordes straungers oute of Fraunce / henaud / Holond and of other countreyes / whiche feste and Iustes endured four and twenty dayes vppon the kynges cost / whanne the feste was ended and Iustys the king thankyng the straungers [...]aue to them grete yeftes / And thenne they toke their loue / and so de­parted / In the thirtenth yere was a bataille dene in the palays at westmestre bitwene a Squyer of nauerne that was with the kinge / and a squyer callid Iohan walssh for pointes of treasonne / that he of nauerne put vppon this walssh / but in the ende he of nauerne was ouercome and disconfyted in the felde / [Page] & yelded hym / And anon he was despoylled of his armure and drawen oute of the palays vnto Tyburne / and there hanged /

¶ Capitulum Septimum /

IN the fourtenthe yere Sir Iohan of Gaunt duk of lancastre with a grete hooste wente in to spayne to Clayme and chalenge his ryght by his wyues tytle vnto the Crowne of spa­yne / and he had with hym the Duchesse his wyf and his thre doughters. And therafter grete commynycacion herupon had they were acorded and concluded that the kynge of Spayne shold marye the duck of lancastres doughter / And he shold yeue to the duck of lancastre gold and syluer / whiche was casten in to grete wedgys and soo many other Iewellys / as moche as eyght cha­ryottis myghte carye / And euery yere after durynge the lyf of the duc / and his wyf / ten thousand marc of gold / Of whiche golde they of spayne sholde aduenture and here the Ieopardye therof / and brynge yerly vnto bayon to the dukes assygnees / by surete made / ¶ Also the duc of lancastre dyde doo marye ano­ther of his doughters to the kyng of Portyngale the same tyme / And thenne he retourned / and cam ageyne in to Englond with his wyf / ¶ In this yere the Turkes made grete warre ageynste Crystendome vnto the Cyte of Iene / wherfore the Ie­ne wayes sente to the kynge of Fraunce for ayde / and also to the kynge of Englond / And soo ther were wente oute of Fraunce fyften honderd knyghtes with the duc of Borbon / and the Erle of ewe / and other / ¶ And oute of Englond wente the Erle of Alby a valyaunt man with certayne Archers / And they ship­ped at marcellis / and wente and besyeged thunes in Barba­rye and made there many skarmuches / and putte oute ofte the Sarasyns / but in thende the turke fered / and made trewes for a seasonne / and delyuerd alle the Crysten prysonners / and payd ten thousand du [...]atis / and soo the Crysten men retorned hoome ageyne / ¶ In the fyftenth yere of kynge Rychardes reg­ne / he h [...]lde his Crystemas at wodestok / where therle of Penbro­ke a yonge lorde and tendre of age wolde lerne Iuste with a knyght called Syre Iohan saynt Iohan / And rode to geder in the parke / And there the Erle was slayn with the knyghtes spere as he cast it from hym / whanne they hadde coped / [Page CCClxxxxviij] ¶This yere Iohan hynde beynge that tyme mayer of london & Iohan Shadeworth and henry vanner shereues were dysharged of theyr offyces byfore saynt Iohans day baptyst / and the kyng seased the fraunchyse and lybertees of the Cyte of london / And ordeyned and constitued Syr Edward dalyngredge wardeyn of the Cyte / and endured in his offyce vnto the fyrst day of Iuyll the yere / xvj / ¶And thenne Syr Bowdwyn Radyngton was made wardeyue to saynt Symons daye and Iude / The cause ther of was for a bakers man beryng a basket with hors brede in to Fletestrete / there come a man of the bisshop of Salesburyes that toke oute an hors loof oute of the baskette / wherfore the bakers man stroue with the yoman / soo that the Bisshops man brake the bakers mans heede / Thenne neyghbours come aboute to haue rescowed hym and to haue arestyd the Bisshops man / But he scope fro hem in to his lordes place / The Constable cam and wold haue bad hym out / but they withynne the place kept it that they myght not come in / And thēne come the mayer with moche peple and sayde / they wold haue hym oute or brenne the place / and all that were therin / The Bisshop beynge tresorer of Englonde and the archebisshop of Caunterbu [...]y wente to geder to wyndesore to the kynge / and made a grete complaynte to the kyng and his coū seylle of the Cyte of london / And the kynge sen [...]e for the mayer and shereues / and yaf hem grete rebukes for thoffence that they hadde done ageynst hym and his offycers in his Chambre of london / And deposed the mayer and shereues / and māde a wa [...]deyne of the Cyte as afore is sayd / In the syxtenth yere the kyng with drewe his courtes from westmynstre to yorke / whiche were there holden and kepte fro the feste of saynt Iohan baptyst vnto Crystemasse after / Thenne atte requeste of the goode Quene Anne & of the bisshop of london thēne callyd grauesende / the kyng graū ted the Fraunchyse and lybertees to the Cyte of london and they of london gaf to seynt edwards shryne a table of syluer and enameled stondyng on the Awter / And after this the mayer Alder men and shereuys mette with the kyng submyttynge them humbly to hym as they ought do / And resseyuyng the kyng thurgh the Cyte with grete tryumphe / and brought hym to westmynstre And on the morne after the mayer aldermen and shreues presen­tyng the sayd table & other yeftes prayd the kynge of his good and speciall grace to haue theyr lybertees and Fraunchyses / as they hadde to fore tyme / And soo the kyng graunted to them alle [Page] theyr askynge and wente home ageyne / ¶ In this same yere the duc of lancastre was sente in to Fraunce to demaunde a myllion of scutes whiche was due for the raunson of kyng Iohan / And dyuerse places as peytowe Rochell / and a parte of Guyan / And he was answerd by the counseylle of Fraunce that the men of warre of Englond hadde done harme in Fraunce aboue the trewes to the somme of thre mylions / whiche oughte to be repayred fyrst / and so departed ageyne / ¶ In the seuententhe yere come oute of Scotlande certayne lorde [...] in to Englonde to ge­te worship by fete of armes / Therle of morryf chalengid the Erle marchal of Englonde to Iuste with hym on hors back with shar­pe speres / And soo they roode to geder certayne courses / but not the full chalenge / For the Scottyssh Erle was caste bothe hors & man / & two of his rybbes broken with the same falle / and soo borne home in to his Inne / & anone after was caryed homewarde in a littyer / and at York he deide ¶ Syre william darel banerer of Scotlande· and Syre pyers Courtney the kynges banerer of of englond ryden to gyder certain courses of warre hitte & assayed The Scottysshe knyght seyng he myght not haue the beter / yafe it ouer / and wold noo more of the chalenge / ¶ Thenne one Cok­burn Squyer of Scotland and Syre nychol hauberk rode fyue coursys / and at euery cours the Scot was caste bothe hors and man / This same yere the seuententh day of Iuyn deyde the good qu [...]ne Anne kynge Rychardes wyf / And lyeth buryed at westmynstre by saynt Edwardes shryne /

¶ Capitulum Octauum

IN the yere 1494 were trewes taken bytwene the kyng of Fraunce / and the kynge of Englonde for foure yere / Also this same yere aboute Crystemasse kynge Rychard wente fyrst in to Irlond / After wenzelaus / Rupertus alias Robertus was Emperour nyne yere / ¶ This Robertus duk of bayer and Counte Palatyn on the Ryn a Iuste and trewe man and a ca­tholyke / he was crowned of the nynthe Boneface the Pope / He entryd in to ytalye with a grete armye ageynst duk galyace / but he retorned with grete losse / ¶ About this tyme was that cursyd heresye of Iohan wyclyf in Englond / and Iohan hus in bohemye / and Ierome of praghe / which heresye enfected moch peple [Page CCClxxxxix] And vnder the habyte of a lambe hydynge woluysshe cruelte hadde purposed to subuerte alle the state of the chirche. And the sklaunderous scysme whiche was in this euyll tyme was a grete helpe to them / ¶ Also this tyme the heresyee Ada­mitarum beganne to growe in Boheme / but it was putt doune by the bussytys / That was ouer grosse. and vnshamefast / For they wente naked / and Indyffrently dyde theyr lecherye with wommen / ¶ Petrus de Elyaco / and Iohan Ger­son his disciple both doctours of dyuynyte of Parys were in her floures this tyme· / ¶ In this yere were merueyllous grete wyndes thre monethes contynuelly / and specially in september that ouerthrewe greete trees with fruyte howses chyme­neyes and steples / And ther was seen in langedok in Fraunce / a grete sterre and fyue lytell sterres assayllynge the grete / and poursyewed it by the space of an houre / and a voys cryeng fro heuene· And after was seen a man semyng of Copper holdyng a spere in his bandes by the greete sterre / and smote hit / And after that it was no more seen / ¶ In other places we­re herde the noyse of harneysed men fyghtynge /

¶In the nynetenthe yere of kyng Rychard / he wente to Calays / and maryed there quene Isabel the kynges doughter of Fraunce· At whiche tyme the Frensshe lordes were sworen on a booke that alle couenauntes. Forwardys and composicions ordeyned and made on both sydes shold be truly holden and kept withoute contradiction or dylaye in ony maner wyse / And whanne this Ryal maryage was done and fynysshed / kynge Rychard with dame Isabel his quene cam in to Englond And the mayer of london with all his bretheren with grete multitude of the Comons of the Cyte & the Craftys resseyued hem worshipfully atte Blacheth and brought hem to saynt Georges barre / And there takynge theyr l [...]ue· the kynge and the Quene roode to kenyngton / ¶And after that withynne a whyle the quene cam to the Toure of london / at whoos comyng was moche harme done / For on london brydge were nyne personnes crowded to deth / Of whome the pryour of Typtre was one / And from the tour she wente thurgh the Cyte of london to westmynstre / and there she was crowned / ¶ And after this kyng rychard by appoyntemente delyuerd the toun of brest to the duc of brytayne / wherof bygon moche trouble and sorowe [Page] whiche dured vnto his deth· ¶In the twentyest yere kyng Rychard dyde holde a grete feste at westmynstre / At whiche feste arryued the Sowdyours that hadde kepte breste / And sate atte dyner in the hall / and after dyner the Duc of Gloucetre sayd to the kynge / Syre haue ye not seen tho felawes that sate at dyner in your halle / And the kynge demaunded who they were / And he sayd these ben youre folk that haue seruyd yow and ben come from breste / and now wote not what to doo / and haue ben euyl payd / Thenne the kynge sayd that they shal be payed / Thenne answerd the duc of Gloucetre in a grete furye / Syre ye ought fyrste to putte youre bodye in deuoyre to gete a toune or a Castel by fayt of warre vpon your enemyes / er ye sholde selle or delyuer ony townes that your predecessours kynges of Englond haue goten and conquerd To the whiche the kynge answerd ryght angrely / how saye ye that / Thenne the duk his vncle sayd it ageyn / Thenne the kynge byganne to wexe wrothe and sayde Wene ye that I be a marchaunt or a foole to selle my londe / by saynt Iohan baptist nay / but trouthe it is that our Cosyn of britayne hath rendryd and payd to vs the somme that my predecessours hadde lente vppon the sayd toune of Brest / and syth he hath payed it is reasonne / that this toune be delyuerd to hym ageyne / Thus beganne the wrath bytwene the kynge and his vncle / And afterward at Arondele was a Counseylle of certayne lordes / as the duck of Gloucetre the Archebisshop of Caunterbury / The Erles of arondele / warwyk and marcha [...] / and other / For to refourme the rewle aboute the kynge / whiche lordes promysed ech [...] ta byde by other and soo departed / and anone after the Er­le marchal whiche was Capytayne of Calays bewrayed and lete the kynge haue knowleche of all theyr counseylle / Wherup­on the fyue and twentyest daye of august / the duke of Gloucetre was arrestyd at plasshey in Estsex / and brought to the tour of london and from thenn [...]s sente to Calays / and there murthred and slayne withoute processe of lawe or Iustyce / / and therle of arondel / the Erle of warwyk Syr Iohan Cobham / Syre Iohn cheyne knyghtes were arestyd and putte in holde / Saue therle of arondel fonde seurte tanswere and wente at large tyl the parle­ment tyme / In the one & twentyest yere of kyng rycharde at the parlement holden at westmynstre / therle of arondel was brought to fore alle the lordes / and there was Iuged to deth / that he sholde goo on fote fro westmynstre thurgh the Cyte of london [Page CCCC] to the tour hylle / And there to haue his heede smyten of And syxe lordes roode with hym to see that Execucion sholde be doo wi [...]h grete multitude of peple of men of Armes and Ar­chers / For they dredde leste he shold be rescowed by men of lon­don / ¶ And on the morne tharchebisshop of Caunterbury his broder was banysshed for euermore / And Syre Thomas Mortemer was banysshed also / And Syre Rychard Erle of warwyck cam to fore the parlemente / And was Iuged to the same deth / but by cause of his age he was releced to perpetuel prysonne / ¶ The Mondaye after Syre Iohan Cobham / and Syre Iohan Cheyne were Iuged to be drawen & hanged / but at the Instaunce of the lordes that Iugement was releced vnto perpetuel prysonne / And this done kyng Rychard made a ryal feste and helde open Courte / In whiche feste he made fyue Dukes / A marqueys / and fyue Erles / that is to saye the Erle of Derby was made duc of Herford / The Erle of Ruth­lond was made Duc of Anmarle / The Crle of Kente / Duck of Surrey / The Erle Huntyngdon Duck of Excetre / The Erle Marchal Duck of Norfolke / The Erle of Somersete Marqueys of Doesete / The lorde spencer / Erle of Gloucetre / The lord Ne­uyll Erle of westmerlonde / Syre Thomas Percy / Erle of wor­cetre / Syre william Scrope Erle of wylshyre / Syre Iohan Montague Erle of Salysbury / And thus there was a greete feste to al these lordes / and to all other that wold come /

In the same yere fylle a greete debate and dyssencyon bytwene the Duck of herford Erle of Derby on that one partye / And the Duke of Norfolke Erle marchal on that other partye / In so moche that they waged bataylle and caste doune theyr gloues whiche were taken vp byfore the kynge and ensealed / And the daye and place assygned at Couentre / To whiche place the kynge cam· the Duk of lancastre and other lordes / And whanne bothe partyes were in the felde redy for to fyghte the kynge toke the matere in his owne honde / And forthwyth he exyled and banysshed the Duke of Herford for ten yere / And the duke of norfolke for euer / ¶ The Duc of Norfolcke deyde at venyse In the two and twentyest yere of kyng Ry­chard there were made blank Charters / to whiche all the Ryche men of the Royamme were compellyd to sette to theyr seales / And it was noysed thurgh the Royamme / that he hadde sette Englond to ferme to Syre william Scrope Erle of wylshyre / sir [Page] Iohan busshe / Syre Iohan grene / and sir Iohan bagot / and he ordeyned his vncle Syr edmond of langley duk of yorcke to be his lyeutenaunt / whiles he shold be in Irlond in his absence / In this yere deyde the duc of lancastre / and is buryed at powlus in london / ¶ Thenne kynge Rychard wente in to Irlonde with many lordes and grete ordenaunce / And there he was wel resseyued / And the wild [...] Irysshmen cam downe to hym with theyr Capytaynes and yelded them to hym / and swore to be his true lyege men / and dyde hym hommage and feawte Thus he conquerd Irlond the moost part in a lytel whyle /

Whyles kynge Rychard was in Irlond thus occupyed Syre Harry of Bolyngbrooke Erle of Derby the duc of lancastres sonne / whome kynge Rychard hadde made Duk of Herford / And had exyled hym for certayn causes / & with hym tharchebisshop of Caūterbury also londed at rauenspore in the north contre And by the Coloure of his tytle to the Duchye of Lancastre he reysed and assembled the people euer as he wente in soo moche as he hadde greete multitude of peple / For the peple were soo op­pressyd with the offycers of kyng Rychard / that almoost all the Commyns of the londe were redy to awayte on the Erle of Derby / hopynge to be releuyd by hym / ¶ Incontynent tydynges cam to kynge Rychard beyng in Irlond how he was landed and that the Comons drewe faste to hym / Anone he made hym redy and cam ouer see in to Englond with alle his hooste / and arry­ued in Mylford hauen / And there taryed a two dayes for to refresshe hym and his hooste / And in the mene whyle the lordes and mooste parte of the peple vnderstode that the Erle of Derby bycam strenger and strenger / began to murmure and to grutche / ¶ That seynge / Syr thomas Percy called them to geder brake the Rdode of his offyce / For he was styward / and badde euery man goo his wey vnwetyng the kynge / And so in the nyght euery man wente his weye leuynge the kynge allone saue two or thre lordes with a fewe men / whiche lordes for sewerte and by counseyll of the styward brought the kynge to the Castel of Flynt / where he was taken and delyuerd to therle of Derby / whiche brought hym to london / ¶ And thenne were taken at Brystowe Syre william scrope / Syr Iohan bussh / Sir harry grene / & Syr Iohan bagot / But Syre Iohan bagot escaped / And the other that were take were byheded / And thus as [Page CCCCj] he was comyng to london warde / tydynges cam to the Cyte / that kynge Rycharde was comen to westmynstre / And anon the peple of london in their furye and wodenesse as peple maliciously sette ageinst king Richard their soueraine lorde Roose and pur­posed yf they myght haue founden to haue destroyed hym / But the mayer and aldermen with the sadde men of the toune with moche werke tourned hem hoome ageyne to london / yet they toke Syre Iohan slake dene of the kynges chapel / and putte hym in ludgate / and Syre Iohan Bagot that escaped from bristowe was take in Irlond and brought to london and sette in newegate / ¶Sone after this kynge Rychard was broughte to the tour of london / and thenne was ther a parlement / In whiche kynge Rychard was deposed of his Crowne / And kynge Hen­ry chosen and taken for the kynge / to whome kynge Rychard resygned the Crowne and the Royamme of Englond / And thē ­ne from the tour he was had to the Castel of ledes in kente / And from thennes he was had to the Castel of Pountfret /

¶ Capitulum 9

THenne the duc of lancastre Erle of derby named Henry bolyngbroke was crowned kyng of englond at westmynstre on saynt Edwardes day Confessour· Thenne made the kynge his oldest sonne henry prynce of wales / Duke of Cornewayle / and Erle of Chestre / he made Syre thomas of Arondel Arche­chebisshop of Caunterbury / as he was byfore / And he that was made Archebisshop by kynge Rychard / he made hym Bisshop of london / and he made the Erlis sonne of Arondel to be put in p [...]ssession of all his londes / In the fyrst yere of his regne be helde his Crystemas at wyndesore / And on the tweluthe euen the duk of Anmarle tolde the kyng how the duc of surrey / the Duc of excetre / the erle of Salesbury & therle of gloucetre with other of theyr affynyte were acorded to make a mommynge / to the kyng and soo for to slee hym in the reuelynge / ¶ wherfore the kyng the same nyght cam priuely to london / and anon these lordes that had purposed to haue made this mommery vnderstode that theyr counseylle was bewrayed / anone with theyr people wente westward / And at Sysseter the Duke of Surrey and [Page] the erle of Salesbury were taken and biheded & their heedes sette on london brydge / and at Oxenforde were taken two knyghtes bloūt / and sir benette Sely and wyntercele a squyer / whiche were byheded and quartred and their heedes sette on london bridge / and the quartres sente to other good townes / And at prithwell in Estsex Sire Iohan holonde Duck of excetre was taken with the Comons of the Countreye / and his heede smyten of / and sente to london and sette on london bridge / ¶ Also at Bristowe was take the lorde spencer that was made by kinge Richard erle of Gloucetre and biheded and his heede sent to london and sette on londonbridge / In the same yere Sire Bernarde brokeis. Sir Iohan Selley / Syr Iohan mawdelyn / and Syr william Ferby were taken and sette in the tour / And after by Iugemente were hanged and byheded / and theyr heedes sette on london brid­ge / whanne kyng henry sawe that these lordes thus hadde rysen / and assemblyd greete peple to haue putte hym to deth / and for to restore kynge Rychard ageyne to his Crowne / and to his Ro­yamme thoughte [...]eschue suche peryls / Anone commaunded Sir Pyers of Exton that he shold goo strayte to pountfreyte / and delyuer the worlde of kynge Rychard / And soo he departed fro the kynge / and wente to the Castel of Pountfret / where as kynge Rychard was in prysonne / the whiche was sette at table for to dyne / And anone after Syre Pyers cam in to the cham­bre where the kynge was / and eyghte men with hym / and eche man an axe in his hond / Trouth it is whan the kyng sawe Sir Pyers with his Felaushippe entre in to the chambre defensably arayed / he shoof the table from hym / and sprange in the myddes of hem / & caughte an axe oute of one of theyr hondes / and sette hym self valyauntly at defence / And hym self defendynge he slowe foure of the eyghte / And whanne the sayde Syre Pyers sawe the kynge soo defende hym / he was soore abasshed and gre­tely aferde / And forthwith sterte vpon the place / where as kyng Rychard was wonte to sytte / And as kynge Rychard foughte and defended hym self goynge bacwarde / the sayd Syre Pyers smote hym on the heede with his axe that he fyll to grounde / Thenne cryed kynge Rychard god mercy / And thenne he gafe hym yet another stroke on the heede / and soo he deyde / And thus was thys noble kynge slayne and murthred / And whanne the kynge was deede / the knyght that hadde thus slayne hym / sette hym doune by the deede bodye of Kynge Rychard / And [Page CCCCij] byganne to wepe / saynge Alas / what thynge haue we doone / We haue putte to deth hym that hath ben oure kynge and soue­rayne lord two and twenty yere / Now haue I lost myn honour / Ne I shal neuer come in place / but I shal be reproched / For I haue done ageynste myn honour / ¶ After this the tweluest daye of marche was the bodye of the Noble kyng Ry­chard broughte thurgh London to Powlus / whiche Corps was leyd on a Charyotte coueryd with black / and foure ba­ners / wherof tweyne were of the armes of saynt George / and tweyne of the Armes of Saynt Edward / And there were an honderd men clothed in black eche berynge a Torche / And the Cyte of londo n badde thyrtty men in whyte / Eche be­rynge also a torche / And the Corps was leyd open the vysa­ge that euery man myght see and knowe that it was hys body and that he was soo deede / For many men byleuyd it not / And from thennes he was caryed to the Frerys at Langley and there he was buryed / On whoos sowle God haue mercy Amen / ¶The Comyn oppynyon of Englysshmen is that kynge Rychard deyde not after the maner a foresayd / But that he deyde oth [...]r wyse / That is to wete that whanne [...]e herde saye / that his brother the Duc of Ex [...]te / The Duc of Surey / The Erle of Salysbury. and the other lordes were deede / He was soo angry and soo sorowfull / that [...]e swore that [...]e wolde neuer eete meete And soo abode foure dayes withoute erynge as they saye / And whanne that kynge Henry vnderstode that he wolde not ete / he sent to hym two prelates for to comforte h [...]m And whan they were come he confessyd hym to one of them / the whiche gaf hym in penaunce that he sholde ete his mete / And whanne be supposed to haue eten / the meete myght not goo doune / ne auale in to his stomake ¶For the conduytes of his bodye w [...]re shronken to geder / ¶ And thenne sayde the noble kynge Rychard that it was d [...]n [...] / and that he muste nedes deye / and soo he deyde / But certes whether be deyde this waye / or that other / Certaynly he deyde / and was buryed at langley / God haue mercy on his sowle / Amen / ¶ And thenne was kynge Harry peasyly kyng / ¶ Thenne he fonde in kynge Ry­chardes tresorye nyne honderde thousande nobl [...]s withoute Iewellys and vessels. whiche was as moche worth or more / And ther was founden in the tresorers kepynge of Englonde an honderde [Page] and fyfty thousand nobles / and Iewels and vessell as moche or more / And thus kynge henry hadde alle his goodes / Item This same yere kynge harry sente hoome ageyne kynge Rychardys wyf Quene Isabel vnto the kynge of Fraunce her fader / and putte her from her dowayre

¶ Capitulum decimum

IN the seconde yere of kynge Harry the fourth Sire Rogy­er of Claryngton knyght and two of his men / and the priour of launde with eyght Frere mynours were drawen and hanged for treasonne / In this yere beganne a grete debate in walys bytwene the lorde gray Rethyn and ewayn of Glyndor Squyer of wales / This Ewayn reysed grete nombre of walssh­men and kepte the Countrey with strength and dyde moche har­me. and destroyed the kynges townes and lordshippes in walys Robbyng and sleyng the kynges peple whiche contynued longe tyme / And toke the lord Gray prysoner and made hym to marye his doughter / And helde hym stylle there with his wyf / And so­n [...] after the lord Gray deyde / Thenne kynge Harry with a grete power wente in to wales / for to take and destroye the sayd E­wayn / but he and all his company fledde to the montayns wher [...] the kyng myght not hurte hem for the montaynes / And soo the kynge retourned and cam ageyne in to Englonde for losynge of his men / ¶ In the same yere was a grete scarcete of whete in englond / a quarter was [...] sixten shyllynges / wherfor marchandise was sente in to normandy for whete / and from thennes cam grete plente / Also Syre william Sawtry preest was de­graded of his presthode / Aboute this tyme the Duc of Orleaunce sente an herowde of Armes with lettres vnto kynge Harry / by whiche he chalengyd for to fyght with hym withynne lystes at Bourdeux / or in somme other metely place with an honderd Gentylmen withoute reproche ageynste as many Gentyll men withoute reproche / Wherto the kynge answerd ageyne by lettres worshipfully / rehersynge that at suche tyme as it shold plese hym / he wolde come with suche nombre as it apperteyneth to a kynge / and conquere his ryght / At whiche tyme he shold be an­swerd atte full / And soo the mater fynysshed ¶ In the thyrd [...] yere was kynge henry wedded to dame Iane Duchesse of britain [Page CCCCiij] And they were maryed at wynchestre / And fro thens she cam to london / And so forth to westmynstre / And there she was crowned Quene / In the same yere was dame blaunche oldest dough­ter to kynge harry wedded in Coleyn to the dukes sonne of bayer with grete solempnyte / In the seuenth yere was seen a sterre that is called stella Comata / and anone after was the batayl of shrerewesbury on mary magdalens euen in whiche bataylle was slayne Syre Harry Percy / and Syr thomas percy taken and kept two dayes / and after he was hanged byheded and quartred and hys heede sette on london brydge / And in thys batayl was the Prynce shotte in to the heede with an arowe / And the Erle of Stafford was slayne vnder the kynges baner / And many other lordes knyghtes squyers and Gentyls were put to deth in the sayd bataylle / In the fourth yere cam the Emperour of Constan­tynople with many grete lordes and knyghtes in to Englond to see the kynge / the peple / and the Royamme / and the Commody­tees therof / The same yere the lord Castel with a grete multitu­de of Brytons & of normans landed a myle out of Plymouthe on saynt Laurence day at after None and cam in to the toune on the bakhalf / and there they abode al that day and al that nyght till it was on the morne ten of the Clock and Robbed and despoylled al that was in the toune / and bare hit awey at her owne wylle / ¶ In the fyfthe yere was a grete bataylle on the see atte blackpole two myle oute of dertmouth bytwene Englysshmen & Brytons / where thanked be God Englysshemen had the vycto­rye / & there were take slayne & drowned moo than fyue honderd gentyls of Frensshe men and Brytons / On whome the lord castel was pryncipal leder and Capitayne whiche there was taken and slayne / ¶ Also this same yere william Serle / the whiche was one of hem that murtherd the gooed duke of Gloucetre at Caleys was taken in the marche of Scotlande / and broughte to london and there he was drawen / hanged and byheded / and his heede sette on london brydge / and his quarters sette vp in foure good townes / In the syxthe yere was a Iustys in Smythfeld bytwene the Erle of morryf in Scotland and Syre Edmond Erle of kente vpon a chalenge made by therle of morryf to Iuste certayne courses of warre with sharp sperys on horsbak / And the Erle of kente had the felde / and gate hym there grete wor­ship / This same yere Syre Rychard Scrope Archebisshop of york and the lorde Monbraye that was Erle marchal of Englond [Page] assemblyd grete power ageynst kyng harry / And th [...]kyng met with hem and toke hem / and smote of bothe theyr heedes / And soone after god shewyd and wrought many myracles for this worthy Clerke Arclebisshop of yorke / that was soo putte to deth / In the seuenth yere the mayer of london Iohan wodecok and the comynalte dyde do breke vp al the weerys that were bytwene medewey and kyngeston / by cause they were sette ageynst the fraunchyse of the Cyte of london / In the eyght yere of kyng henry dame lucye the dukes suster of Melayn come in to En­glonde / and soo forth to london / and there was she ryally maryed to Syr Edmond holond Erle of kent in the pryory of saynt marye ouerayes in southwerk / ¶ The same yere syr Robert knollys knyght a grete warryour in his tyme / dyde doo make the bryd­ge at Rochestre and a chapel atte brydges fote / the whiche Syre Robert deyde and lyeth buryed in the whyte Freres in Lond [...]n / by his wyf dame Constaunce / ¶ In the same yere Syr Thomas rampston knyght constable of the tour of london was drowned at london brydge as he come fro westmynstre toward the tour in a barge / ¶ The same yere dame Phelyp the yon­ger doughter of kyng henry was maryed to the kynge of Den­mark / In the same yere a man that was callyd the walssh clerk appelled a knyght callyd Syre Percyual of treasonne / And they fought with in lystes in Smythfeld / where the knyght scomfy [...]ed the Clerk / and there the Clerk was despoylled of his ar­mure / and drawen oute of the feld to Tyburn and there hanged In the same yere Syr henry Percy erle of northumberlond and the lord bardolf comyng oute of Scotland to geder with a grete company were taken by them of the north that fought with them and smote of theyr heedes and brought hem to london / and sette hem on london brydge / ¶ In the / ix / yere was Syre Edmond Erle of kente made Ameral of the see / whiche kepte the see wor­thyly with many Ryall shippes / And atte laste he londed at the Costes of Brytayne in the Ile of Bryak / and besyeged the castel / and sawted hit / and with a quarel he was slayne / but neuer theles the Castel was goten / And thenne his meyne come home ageyne with therles body whiche was buryed with hys Anncestryes worshipfully / ¶ Also this same yere was a grete Frost that dured fyftene wekys / whiche frost destroyed for the moost parte alle the smal byrdes /

¶ Capitulum xi

[Page CCCCiiij]This yere lowys Duc of Orleauns was slayn mescheuous­ly at Parys atte Commaundement of the duc of Burgo­yne / For it was soo that the duc of Orleaunce hadde ben to vysyte the Quene / And as he retorned to his Inneward / certayne personnes ordeyned by the sayd duc of Burgoyne laye in a way­te / and fyll on hym and slewe hym cruelly smytynge the brayn oute of his heede / And one of his gentylmen was slayne with hym / wherfor on the morn was a grete counseyll / And the ya [...]es of Parys were closed / And alle the grete lordes thenne beyng at Parys were assemblyd / Among whome was the sayd duc that commysed this murdre / and there was gyuen strayte commaun­demente to the Prouost of Parys that he shold make strayte ser­che to knowe who hadde cōmised this grete murdre / For as soone as the murdres hadde slayne the duk / they sette an hous a fyre / And whyle the people cam for to staūche the fyer / they had their horses redy / and soo escaped and roode in to flaundrys / And on the nexte daye whanne al the lordes were reassembled there was moche axynge and serchyng. who myghte doo this murdre / Thenne the sayde Duc of Burgoyne stode vp and sayde that he hym self hadde doo putte hym to deth for certayne causes whiche he wold Iustyfye / and forthwith he departed oute of the counse [...]l and wente to his lodgyng / and toke his hors with a pryuy meyney / and rode strayt to l̄yle / and after cam al his other meyny / and so departed he from parys / Wherupon after cam the duchesse of Orleaunce his wyf the Dukes doughter of Melan with her sonnes / and her oldest sones wyf suster to the kyng / whiche had ben to fore quene of Englonde kynge Rychardys wyf / and re­quyred humbly Iustyce of the kynge / whiche thenne was in go­de heele / and sate in the chayer of Iustyce / To whome the kynge sayde that he wold doo Iustyce on them that commysed that hor­ryble crysme on his seul and only broder / And that they sholde veryly knowe it in al hast possible / Thenne after this the duc of Bargoyn made requestys that he myght come to fore the king and his counseyll for to Iustyfye the deth of the duc of Orleaū ­ce / whiche was graunted / and soo cam with a grete Armye in to Parys / And there to fore the Dolphyn and al the counseylle of the kynges in playn parlemente by a doctour of dyuynyte callyd mayster Iohan Petyte / he made his Iustificacion / And after at another daye assygned the duchesse of Orleaunce dide by another doctoure of diuinite make a replicacion / And so that mater [Page] [...]enge longe / whiche mater was occasion of Infynyte sorowe in the Royamme of Fraunce / ¶Aboute this tyme the counseylle of Pyse was / in whiche was bygonne the maner to make vny­on in the chirche / but [...] it preuayled not / ¶ In the tenthe yere cam the Seneschal of henawd wtth many other gentil men in to Englond for to doo armes and to g [...]ete honoure and wor­ship / The Seneschal chalengyd therle of Somersete And therle delyuerd hym manly of his chalengys and wanne thonoure o [...] the felde. / The next day after cam in to the felde another man of the Seneschallys partye / & ageynst hym cam Syre Rychard of a rondele knyght / And the Henewer had the better of hym for he brought hym on his knees ¶ The thyrdde day cam in another And ageyne hym cam Syre Iohan Cornewayle knyght and manly quytte hym in the felde and hadde the beter of his aduersarye ¶ On the fourth day cam in to the feld another Henewer And ageynste hym cam Syre Iohan Cheynco sonne / and he cast [...]oune hors & man / And therfor the kyng dubbyd hym knyght ¶The Fyfthe daye cam in another Henewer / And to hym cam Syre Iohan Styward knyght / whiche quytte hym manly and hadde the better / ¶ The Syxthe daye cam another Henewer / And to hym cam william Porter Squyer / And he hadde the better of the Henewer / and the kynge dubbyd hym knyght ¶The seuenthe day cam in another Henewer / And to hym cam Iohn standysshe Squyer / and he hadde the better / and the kyng dubbyd hym knyght / ¶ The same day cam another Henewer And to hym cam a squyer of Gascoyne / whiche hadde the better / and was dubbed knyght / ¶ The eyght daye cam in two He­newers / And to hem cam two Sowdyours of Calays / that we­re bretheren whiche had the better in the felde / And thus ended this Chalenge with moche worship / The kynge thenne fested the straungers ryally / And at theyr departynge yafe hym Ryche yeftes / and soo they departed and wente home / ¶ In the enle­uenth yere was a batayll done in smythfelde bytwene two squy­ers / One callyd Gloucetre / And that other Arthure / whiche well and manly foughte to geder longe tyme / ¶And the kynge for theyr manlynes toke theyr quarel in to hys honde / and made hem goo oute of the felde to gyder attones / ¶And soo they were dyuyded of theyr bataylle / And the kynge yaf hem grace / This same yere the Comon [...] putte vp a bylle in the parlement to the kynge as for the temporalytres beynge in the handes of the [Page CCCCv] spirituelte. but ther was none answer gyuen at that tyme / For the kyng wold be aduysed / ¶ After Rupertus Sygismundus was electe and chosen emperour this same yere / and was Emperour seuen and twenty yere / ¶This Sygysmundus was kynge of hongary whiche was a veray Crysten and meke man / also de­uoute and hooly / and after thoppynyon of somme persones wor­thy to be canonysed / This was a special socour to hooly chirche whiche he fonde soore afflycte and desolate by the scysme / but he by his merueyllous wysedome and industrye socoured it gretely / For he spared not hym self / ne his vnto the tyme that ther was a very and full vnyon in the chirche / ¶ He hadde nyne batataylles ageynst the turkes / whiche he al gate tryumphyng / what shal I saye more / but alle the lawde that hath be gyuen to Con­stantyn / Theodosio / To Charles / To Ottone / and all other Em­perours worthy to be preysed / maye surely be applyed to this Sy­gysmunde / he was crowned of Eugenye / ¶ After this the Royamme of Boheme was a grete pa [...]te destroyed by Sygismunde / and the prynces of Almayne for the heresye of the hussytes / And the pope gaf oute a Croysye ageynst them / A Croy­sye gyuen by the pope is whanne he giueth playne Indulgence to them that make warre ageynste Hethen men / Turkes or herety­kes / or them that be not obedyente to the chirche of Rome / In the same yere Iohan of badby a fals lollar and heretyke was brente in Smythfeld / whiche byleuyd that the Sacrament was was not goddes bodye /

¶ Capitulum Duodecimum

IN the twellyfth yere of kyng Harry was taken a Squ [...]er of wales that hadde ben a rebelle and supporter of owen of glyndor and he was Iuged to deth at london / where he was dra­wen hangyd & quartred. & his four quartres sette vp in four go­de townes / and his hede on london brydge In the thyrtenth yere of his regne deyde Sire Iohan Beauford Erle of Somersete Capytayne of Calays / And lyeth buryed in the Abbaye of the Tour hylle / The same yere cam the ambassatours of Fraunce from the duc of Burgoyne to the prynce kynge henryes sonne for helpe and socour ageynst the duc of Orleaunce / Thenne wente ouer / The Erle of Arondele / the Erle of kyme / and the lord [Page] Cobham with many other knyghtes / and squyers / and had a grete retenew ageynst the duc of Orleaunce / And at sayntelo besyde Parys in Fraunce they mette and had vyctory of the Frenssh­men / and of the Armynaks / And the duc rewarded Rychely our Englyssh men and they come ageyne / ¶ Not longe after the duc of Orleaunce sente Ambassatours to kynge Harry to haue helpe and socour ageynst the duc of Burgoyne. At whiche tyme the kynge made thomas his sonne duc of Clarence / And Iohan his sone duc of Bedford / And his sonne vmfrey Duke of Gloucetre / Syre thomas beauford Erle of Dorsete / And the duc of Anmarle he made Duck of york / ¶ Thenne he ordeyned the Duc of Clarence / and the Erle of Dorsete / and Syre Iohan cornewayle with a grete retenue to passe ouer in to Fraunce to helpe and strengthe the duck of Orleaunce / and thenne the lordes with theyr retenue sayled in to normandye / And at theyr londynge met [...]e ageynste hem the lorde ham [...]o with seuen thousand men of Armes of Frensshemen / whiche were putte to flyght / and taken of hem seuen honderd men of Armes of Frensshmen / and toke many prysonners / And soo they rode forth thurgh Fraunce takyng Castels and townes / and slewe moche peple of frensshmē and toke many prysonners / and soo passed forthe tyll they come to Bourdeux / there restyng them a whyle / And sette the coun­ray in peas and reste / and thenne come hoome ageyne / In this yere the Coyne was lyghted both of Golde and of siluer / and weyed lasse syn than it dyde byfore / ¶ In the / xiiij yere of the regne of kynge harry ther were made galeys of warre for the kynge purposed to haue passed the see / and soo forth vnto Ierusalem / but god vysyted hym with grete and feruent Infyr­mytees / and on a day he was brought to saynt Edward Shr [...]n to make his offryng and to take his leue / And there beynge he becam soo seeke that they were about hym supposed he shold haue deyd there / & thenne they toke & bare hym in to the abbots place in to a fayre large chambre / and leyde hym vppon a Paylet to fore the fyre· And whanne he was comen to hym self ageyne / and wyst not where he was / he axyd of his Chamberlayn where he was / and how the Chambre was callyd that he was Inne / And he told hym that he was in thabbots place / and that the chā bre was named Ierusalem / ¶ Thenne he sayde that his tyme was come. and that it was prophecyed of hym / that he sholde dye in Ierusalem / and there disposed hym to godwarde and made [Page CCCCvj] hym redy / & sone after deyde in the same chambre / On whoos soule god haue mercy Amen / ¶ Thenne was the bodye caryed from thennes in a barge by water to Feuersham / And from thennes to Caunterbury by londe / & there by saynt thomas shry­ne in Cristys chirche he is buryed / Thus ended kyng harry the fourth aboute mydlente sondaye in the yere of oure lorde / a thou­sand four honderd and twelue

Capitulum xiij

AFter kynge Harry the fourth regned harry his sonne borne at monmouthe in walys / This Harry whiche was the fyfth harry after the Conquest was a noble and wyse man / For after his faders deth whanne he hadde take vpon hym to be kynge / he chaunged al his Condicions and was sodeynly chaū ­ged and lefte al his old wyld maners and charged alle them / that had ben conuersaunt in his wylde lyuynge that they shold auoyde his presence and come no more therynne /

This man dyde many greete thynges in his dayes / and regned not fully ten yere / For in the tenth yere of his regne and syx & thyrtty yere of his age he deyde / and is buryed worshipfully at westmynstre / In his fyrst yere anone after he was crowned / whiche was the nynthe day of Apryll / He sente to the Frerys at langley where the body of kyng Rychard the second was buried and lete the body take oute of therth ageyne and dyde do bryng it to westmynstre in a Ryal chare couerd with black veluet and baners of dyuerse armes about / And alle the horses in the chare were couerd with blac / and beten with dyuerse Armes / and many a torche brennyng by the chaar till they cam to westmynstre / And there he lete make a ryall terment and buryed hym by quene Anne his wyf as his desyre was / Aboute whoos sepulcre ther stande foure grete tapers contynuelly brennynge / And one day in the weke perpetuelly he hath a Dirige with nyne lessons And on the morne a masse / bothe by note solempnly on whiche day is gyuen also wekely in pens to poure peple enleuen schyl­lynges / & viij d / all ordeyned by this kyng vpon grete payne / And on the day of his annyuersary is yerly gyuen twenty pond in pens to pour peple / ¶ Also this kynge ordeyned by his lyf and founded the chartrous at Shene / And the hous of [Page] Syon of saynt Brygyttes ordre / And dyde moche good to the newerke at westmynstre where he lyeth buryed / and ordeyned thre masses perpetuelly to be songen ouer hym dayly / & also certayne lyghtes dayly to brenne atte hye masse and at euensong / & twenty pound to be deled in pens yerly at his annyuersarye / Al this ordeyned he by his lyue besyde all his warre in Fraūce and other greete actes / On whoos sowle Ihesus haue mercy Amen / ¶Also in this fyrste yere Syre Iohan olde Castell lord Cob­h [...]m was take and dampned for an heretyk by al hooly chirche and commyted to the tour· and from thennes he brake prysonne / and escaped / And anone after he and his Complyses conspyre­den the kynges deth and his bretheren / and also the destruction of hooly chirche· For they hadde purposed to haue assemblyd by nyght in saynt gyles felde for tachyeuyd theyr euyll purpose / But blessyd be God the kynge and lordes had knowleche of theyr entente / and toke the felde to fore them / and awayted on theyr comyng and toke many preestes / clerkys / and other lewd men that were of theyr secte fro alle the partyes of Englond / wenyng to haue founden theyr Capitayne there Syre Iohan ol­de castel / but they were deceyued ¶ For there were take many of them / and nyne and thyrtty were hanged on one daye vppon a newe payr galowes new made fast by the same felde by the hye waye / And seuen of the gretteste heretykes were brente hangyng on the galowes / And anone Syre Rgoyer Acton knyght was taken drawe and hanged vppon the same galowes for the same cause / ¶ In the seconde yere of his regne byganne the generall counseylle at Counstaunce for the vnyon of hooly Chirche / and for to depose them that were Scysmatykes / and to chose one ve­ray heede and vndubytate pope / Also the same yere Iohan Claydon skynnar and Rychard baker of lombardstrete were brent in Smythfelde for heresye / Also this same yere by thadnys of hys counseyle the kynge sente lettres vnto the kyng of Fraunce that he shold rendre & delyuer to hym his enherytaunce / whiche his predecessours had holden and had to fore hym. or ellys he wolde doo his deuoyre to grete it by the helpe of god and of his subgettys with the swerde / To whome it was answerd that the kyng was ouer yong and tendre of age to vse the warre ageynste hem and in derysyon sente to hym a tonne full of Tenyse balles to playe with [...] And whanne the kynge vnderstode his answer / anone he lete doo ca lle a counseylle / and there shewed them thismater / [Page CCCCvij] mater / ¶ And there it was concluded by the sayd counseylle and in especiall by the spiritu [...]te that h [...] sholde goo and grete normandye / and they wold helpe hym to theyr power / It is sayde that the spyritualte f [...]red soore / that yf he hadde not hadde to doo withoute the londe / that he wolde haue laboured for to haue taken fro the chirche the temporel possessions / And therfor they concluded amonge hem self that they shold stire hym for to goo and make warre ouer see in Fraunce / for to conquere his ryghtful enherytaunce / And soo it was concluded and acorded that the kynge and lordes with al theyr power shol­de mete at Southhampton at lammasse next after / And soo the eyghtenth day of Iuyn the kyng roode thurgh london with all his hooste ryally toward Southhampton / And there beynge redy for to passe and alle his lordes assembled There was taken and arestyd for hye treasonne Syre Rychard Erle of Cambrydge brother to the duc of york / the lord Sccope Tresorer of englond / and Syre thomas gray knyght / whiche sholde ymagyne the kynges deth / For whiche cause they were Iuged and dampned to deth / And there the nyne and twentyest day of Iuyll they were byheded / And thenne the kynge and alle the lor­des with theyr armee toke the see with fyften honderd say [...]ys / and arryued at kydkaws in normandy / And fro thennes went and leyd syege to harflete by lande and by water / And leyd his ordenaunce to the toune / And the twoo and twentyest daye of September the toune· was gyuen ouer to hym / Thenne ordeyned he there capytayne his vncl [...] the Erle of Dor­sete / and putte oute the Frensshmen / and stuffyd it with englisshmen / ¶ Thenne the kynge sente in to Englond / and lete crye in euery good towne that what crafty man wolde come theder for to dwelle and enhabyte the toune there sholde haue hows and houshold to hym and his heyres for euermore / Thenne come theder many craftes men / and enhabyte them the­re / ¶The kynge seynge the toune wel stuffyd with vytaylle and men / he passyd forthe by lande towarde Calays / Thenne the Frensshmen heerynge of his comyng brake the brydges that he sholde not come ouer the Ryuer of Somme / . ¶Thenne the kynge wente soo fer vpward / that he gate ouer and cam in to Pycardye / ¶ And thenne were the Frensshmen at Agyncourt Rolandcourt and blangy wyth alle the Ryal power of Fraunce / excepte the duc of Burgoyne [Page] whiche wolde not come theder / ne suffre his sonne the lord cha­royles to come theder / ¶ And whanne the kynge sawe that h [...] myght not passe / he toke hi [...] felde with suche peple as he hadde / whiche were not passynge seuen thousand fyghtynge men And the mooste parte of hem were seeke of the flyxe / and the yemanry hadde theyr hosen teruen or bounden bynethe the knee hauynge longe Iackys· But euery man had a good bowe a sheef arowys. and a swerd ¶ Thenne he sette his felde / and sette the duc of york in the vauntward / And ordeyned in the nyght to fore the bataylle that eche man sholde make a stake sharp on both̄ thendes and pytche it a slope in the grounde to fore hym / And soo on the morne he hadde his confessour that made hem to saye a general confession / and gaf them general absolucion / And thenne the kynge roode thurgh̄ the felde and comforted hem promysynge to them that he wol̄d rather deye that day than yelde hym / And thenne euery man toke good herte and courage And soo abode the comynge of Frensshmen. whome they ressey­ued on her stakys stomblynge and fallynge donne hors and man / In suche wyse that our men shotte on hem / and soo fought that thurgh the grace of god the vyctorye abode with the kyng / and the Frensshmen ouerthrowen / and were slayne of them en­leuen thousande and moo / And many grete lordes and gentyls take prysonners / And whanne the kynge hadde thus goten the Felde / tydynges cam that ther was comynge a newe batayll of Frensshmen towards hym / And thenne he dyde doo crye and co­maunded that euery man shold slee his prysonners And whanne the duc of Orleaunce herde that / and other greete lordes / they sente worde to the Frensshmen / that yf they cam on they shold be slayne / And thenne the Frensshmen for sauacion of the prysonners lyues withdrewe them / And soo the kynge hadde and kepte the felde / and wanne the worshippe of the bata­ylle / ¶ And there were slayne in the felde thre Dukes / Nyne Erlys / And Barons nyghe an honderde / and Gentyl­men in Cote armoure / xlv / C / ¶ And of the Englyss [...]e partye the Duc of yorke / and therle of Suffolke and not twen­ty personnes moo blessyd be god / the duc of Braban was taken a lyue / but whan the kynge commaunded that euery man shold slee his prysoner· he was slayne / on whos sowle and alle other god haue mercy Amen / Thus by the helpe of Almyghty God the kynge of Englond with vij / M / Englysshmen wan the feld [Page CCCCviij] vpon the Frensshmen whiche were nombred moo than foure sco­re thousand men with all the ryall lordes of Fraunce except the kynge and Dolphyn / And whanne al was done the kynge de­maunded the herowdes the name of the next place to the felde / And they answerde Agyncourt / Thenne sayd he we wille that the bataylle be callyd and named the bataylle of Agyncourt / ¶ Thenne the kynge kepynge the felde with his hoost al nyghte after on the morne departed toward caleys with his prysonners. That is to wete the Duck of Orleaunce / The Duck of Borbon / the erles of Ewe and of vendon / Burcicaught the marchal of Fraunce with many other lordes and Gentill men / whome he brought alle in to Englonde with hym where he was receyued in euery place worshipfully with alle the honoure Ioye and So­lempnyte that myght be / And the foure and twentyeste daye of nouembre the kyng cam to london / and it is to wete that euery Englisshman that had ben in that bataylle gate good prysoners or good Iewellis For the Frensshmen were Richely and costlew arrayed / wherof oure peuple had good pyllage /

¶ Capitulum 14

IN the thyrdde yere of his regne the emperour of Almayne Sygysmund cam in to Englonde / and was receyued worworshipfully at douer ky the duc of gloucetre / And the Cyte of london / as the mayer Aldermen and alle the craftes in the moost best wise resseyued hym at blackheth / the seuenthe daye of maye / And at saynt thomas wateryng the kyng him self with his lordys mette him and welcomed him in the moost goodlyes [...] wyse / And toke him by the honde / and· roode forthe with him thurgh the Cite and offrid at powlis / and thenne rode forth vnto westmestre / where the king lodged him in his owne palays / And there abode a grete whyle at the kinges coste /

Thenne come the Duc of Holonde in to Englonde / whome the king resseiued worshipfully / and lodged him in the Bisshop of Elyes place in holburne / whanne the Emperour hadde seen the manere of this londe and the commodytees therof / he was electe and chosen to be a broder of the garter / whiche he toke and receyued gladly / and ware it euer after / ¶ And thenne the [Page] kynge brought hym to Calays / And theder cam to hym the duk of Burgoyne for to doo hommage to themperour for the coū te of alst in Flaundres / whome the kynge receyued worshipful­ly / And thenne after themperour toke leue of the kynge / and departed / and soo eche toke leue of other and the kyng retourned ageyne in to Englond / And the Emperoure wente to Zierixsee in Zeland / and thenne vnto Dordrecht in holonde· ¶ In the fourthe yere the duc of Bedford / therle of marche and other certayne lordes with theyr retenue foughten on the see ageynst seuen Carryks of gene / and fyfty other vessels as hul­kes barges / galeys and galyetis / Of whome were taken thre grete carryks with the patrons. and drowned a grete hulke callyd the black hulk of flaundres. And the remenaunt fledde aweye and this was done on our lady day Assumpcion / Also this yere at a parlement holden at westmynstre was graū ­ted to the kynge an hoole fyftenthe / and a dyme to mayntene with his warrys / And this yere the kynge sayled with al his retenewe ouer see in to normandye ageyne / And londed on lammas daye at Toke / And there at landynge the kynge made eyght and fourty knyghtes / And anone the kynge wanne the Toune of Toke and the Castel withoute strooke / and he made Syre Iohan kygley Capytayne therof / And thenne the kynge sent therle marchal vnto louers whiche they sawted / And anon it was yolden / And therle brought the keyes to the kynge. and the kyng delyuerd hym the keyes ageyne / and made hym Capytayn of louers / Thenne the kyng wente to Cane / and besyeged it / and with a sawte entryd the toune and gate it / but the Cas­tel helde / and the Capytayne desyred respyte of fourten dayes for tabyde rescows / and yf none cam than to delyuere it / The kynge graunted it hym and vnder the same apooyntement was the Cyte of bayows with other townes and fortresses vnto the nombre of fourtene / vppon the hyll to fore the Castel of Cane the kynge pyght alle his tentes and pauyllons whiche semed a toune as moche as Cane ¶ And whanne tydynges cam that noo rescowes wolde come / at fourten dayes ende the Capytayne delyuerd the keyes and Castel vnto the kynge /

And in lyke wyse was bayons with other fourtene townes delyuerd also / Of whiche townes and castels the kynge made the duk of Clarence Capytayne and gouernour / In cane the kyng heelde his feste of saynt George / where he made fyftene knyghtes [Page CCCCix] of the bathe. ¶ And thenne er he departed he gate valeys and sente the duc of gloucetre to Chyrburgh for to geete it / whiche he besyeged and lay long there / And thus the kyng sente to dyuerse townes / and gate dayly many townes / in soo moche that he gate alle the tounes Castels / Pyles / strengthes and abbeyes vnto pount Alarche and fro thens to Roan / Aboute this tyme yet contynued the counseylle of Constaunce In whiche was ended the scysme of fourty yere / and ther was dampned the heresyes / and two heretyks that is to wete Iohanhus and Iherome were brente / And many good thynges Insti­tued and ordeyned / there was determyned decreed by the hooly synode that the counseyll lanfully gadred and assembled representyng the chirche hath vnyuersal power inmedyatly of Cryst To whome euery astate as wel the papal astate as other is boū den and holde to obeye in tho thynges that toucheth the general reformacion of the chirche that is to wete in feyth and maners al wel in the heede as in the membrys / Item that from thenne forth on sholde alwey the general counseyl be holden fro ten yere to ten yere. ¶ In this counseyll was chosen for to be pope Martyn / whiche was martinu s quintu s / and was pope fourten yere / And there was the vnyon whiche was desyred long y had for the defence of the feyth / This was a myghty Pope aboue alle other / Ryche· and a man of grete Iustyce / he helde the stretes and hye weyes sewrly and in pees / He destroyed heretyks / he dyde many goode thynges by helpe of the noble Emperour Sygys­munde / ¶ And for to recouer the holy lond / he gadryd moche tresoure / but by deth that cam vpon hym / it was lette / And a lytel to fore his deth ordeyned a general counseyll to be assemblid in Basyle / In the fyfth yere of the Regne of kynge harry the fyfthe Syre Iohan old castel lord Cobham was taken and con­uycte by the clergye for heresye / and dampned to fore the tempo­ral Iuges for tresonne / And soo he was drawen and hanged in saynt gyles felde vpon a newe payr of galows with a cheyne of yron / and vnder the galewes was made a grete fyre which brente galowes and alle / ¶ In the syxthe yere the kyng besyeged the Cyte of Roan / whiche endured half yere and more And atte laste the Cyte beyng in grete famyne putte oute moche peple as women and children whiche deyde for honger. moo than thyrtty thousand / & also seyng that noo rescowse cam appoynted with the kyng & gaf ouer the toun vnto hym which he receyued [Page] And anone after that Roan was goten deepe and many other tounes in baas normandye gaf them ouer withoute strook or syege whanne they vnderstode that the kynge had goten Roan /

¶ Capitulum xv

AAlso this same yere hadde ben a pees made and sworne by­twene the duc of burgoyne and the dolphyn / whiche were sworn vpon our lordes body that they shold loue and assyste eche other ageynst theyr enemyes / And after this contrary to this othe / the Duc Iohan of Burgoyne was slayne and pytously murthred in the presence of the dolphyn / wherfore the Frensshemen were gretely deuyded and of veray necessyte labouryd to haue a traytye with the kynge of Englond / For the kynge of en­glond wanne dayly on them townes Castels and fortresses / Also this same yere was Quene Iane arestyd and brought to the castel of ledys in kente / And one Frere Randolf a doctour of di­uynyte her confessour whiche afterward was slayne by the per­son of the tour fallynge at wordes and debate / And afterward Quene Iane was delyuerd ¶ In the seuenth yere both kynges of Fraunce and of englond were acorded / and kyng harry was made heyr and regente of Fraunce / And wed­ded dame kateryne the kynges doughter of Fraunce atte Troyes in Champayne on Trynyte sondaye / And this was made by the meene of phelyp newely made duke of Burgoyne / whiche was sworne to kynge harry / And for tanenge his faders deth he was become englysshe / And thenne the kyng with his newe wyf wē ­te to parys. where he was ryally receyuyd / And from thens he with his lordes and the duc of Burgoyne and many other lor­des of fraūce leyd syege to dyuerse townes and Castels that holde of the dolphyns partye / & wan them / but the toune of melun helde long / for therin were good defendours / In the viij yere the kyng and the quene cam ouer see & londed on candelmasse by the morow at douer / & the xiiij day of feuerer the kyng cam to lon­don / & the xxj day of the same moneth the quene cam / & the xxiiij day of the same she was crowned at westmestre / Also the same yere anon after eester the kyng helde a parlement at westmestre / at whiche parlement it was ordeyned that the gold in Englysshe [Page CCCCx] coyne shold be weyed and none resseyued but by weyght / And anone after whitsontyde the kynge sayled to Caleys. and passyd soo forth in to Fraunce / And in marche the two and twē tyest daye byfore the kynge cam ouer / the duc of Clarence was slayne in Fraunce / and dyuerse other lordes taken prysoners as the erle of hūtyngdon the erle of Somersete with dyuerse other And al was by cause they wold not take with hem Archers / But thought to haue doo with the Frensshmen them self with­oute them / And yet whanne he was slayn tharchers cam and rescowed the body of the duc whiche they wold haue caryed with them. God haue mercy on his soule / he was a valyaunt man. And the same yere bytwene Crystemasse and Candelmas [...]e the toune of melun was yolden to the kynge / ¶ In the nynth yere on saynt nycholas day in december was born harry the kynges first begoten sonne at wyndesore / whoos god faders at fou [...] ­stone was harry. bisshop of wynchestre. and Iohan duke of bed­forde / And the duchesse of holond was godmoder / and harry chychely archebisshop of Caūterbury was godfader atte confermyng And in the tenth yere the Cyte of mews in brye was goten / whiche had ben l̄onge besyeged / And this same yere the Quene shipped at hampton / And sayled ouer to the kynge in Fraunce / where she was worshipfully receyued of the kyng / and also of the kyng of Fraunce her fader and of her moder / and thus kyng Harry wan faste in Fraunce and helde grete astate / and sate ardyner at a grete fest in parys crowned & the quene also / whiche hadde not ben seen to fore / and alle peple resorted vnto his courte / But as to the kynge of Fraunce he helde none astate ne rule / but was lefte al moost allone / / ¶ Also this yere the whether cock was sette vpon powlus steple at london / ¶And this yere in the moneth of August kynge Harry w [...]xe seke at Boys de vyncent / And whanne he sawe he sholde deye / he made his testament. and ordeygned many thynges nobly for his sowle / and deuoutly resseyued alle the ryghtes of hooly chirche / in soo ferforth that whanne he was enoynted he sayd the ser­uyse with the preeste / and whanne the vers of the Psalme / Miserere mei deus / &c / that was Benigne fac domine in bona vo­luntate tua syon vt edificentur muri Ierl̄m was sayd / he bade tarye there and sayd thus O good lord thou knowest that mynentent hath ben and yet is yf I myght lyue to reedefye the wallys of Ierl̄m / and thenne the preest proceded forth and made [Page] an ende / And anone after this mooste noble prynce and vycto­ryous kynge flour in his tyme of Crysten chyualrye / whome alle the world doubted gaf his soule in to the handes of God / & deyde & made an ende of his naturel lyf atte sayd Boys de vyncent besyde parys / the syx and thyrttyest yere of his age / on whoos soule god haue mercy Amen / Thenne was the bodye enbamed and cered and leyde in a ryall chare / and an ymage lyke vnto hym was leyde vpon the Corps open with dyuers ba­ners and horse coueryd rychely with tharmes of Englonde and Fraunce / And also the olde armes / as saynt Edwardys / seynt edmonds and other with grete multitude of torchys / with who­me wente the kyng of Scotlande and many other lordes whiche accompanyed the body till it cam vnto westmynstre by london in Englonde / And in euery toune by the waye he hadde solempnly his dirige / atte euen and masse on the morn / and moche Almesse was gyuen to poure people / And the seuenthe daye of Nouembre after / the Corps was brought thurgh london with grete reueren­ce and solempnyte vnto the monasterye of westmynstre / where as he nowe resteth / On whoos Tombe is a Ryche ymage lyke hym self of Syluer and gylt / where he is dayly remembrid and praid fore / On whoos sowle and all Crysten god haue mercy Amen /

¶ Capitulum xvj

HEre is to be noted / that this kynge Harry the fyfthe was a moche noble prynce after he was kynge and crowned / How be it to fore in his yongthe he hadde ben wylde / Recheles / and spared no thyng of his lustes ne desyres / but accomplisshid them after his lykynge / But as soone as he was crowned / enoynted and sacred / anone sodaynly he was chaunged in to a new man / and set al his entente to lyue vertuously in mayntenyng of hooly chirche destroyng of heretykes / kepynge Iustyce / and defendynge his Royamme and subgettis / And for as moche as his fader hadd deposyd by his labour the good kynge Rychard And pytously made hym to deye / And for thoffence doo to hym ageynst his lyegeaunce / he hadde sente to Rome to be assoylled therof / For whiche offence the pope oure hooly fader enioyned hym to make hym be prayd fore perpetuelly / and lyke as he had [Page CCCCxj] done to be taken from hym his naturell lyf / therfore he sholde doo founde four tapers to brenne perpetuelly aboute his body / that for the extynction of his bodyly lyf / his sowle maye euer be remem­bryd and lyue in heuen in spyrytuel lyf / And also that he shol­de euery weke on the daye as it cometh aboute of his dethe haue a solempne masse of Requiem / and on the euen to fore a dirige with nyne lessons / and a dole to pour people alwaye on that daye of enleuen schyllynges eyght pens to be delyd peny mele. And ones in the yere at his annyuersarye his terment to be hol­den in the moost honest wyse and to be deled that day twenty [...] / in pens to pour peple / and to euery monke to haue twenty schil­lynges whiche alle these thynges performed this noble kyng for his fader / For kynge harry the fourth his fader performed hit not duryng his lyf / whome as it is sayde god touchyd and was a lepre er he deyde / ¶ Also thenne this noble Prynce l [...]te doo calle alle thabbottes and pryours of saynt Benets ordre in Englond / & hadd them in the Chapytre hous of westmynstre for the reformacion of thordre / wherynne he had comynycacian / and also with Bisshoppes & men of the spyritualte / In soo ferforth / that they doubted soore that he wold haue had the temporaltees oute of their handes / wherfor by thaduis labour and procuryng of the spyrytualte encouraged the kynge to chalenge normandy and his ryght that he hadde in Fraunce / to thende to sette hym a werke there that he sholde not seeke occasions to entre in to suche maters / And soo alle his lyf after he labouryd in the warrys in conquerynge grete parte of the Royamme of Fraunce / that by thagrement of the kynge charlys hadde alle the gouernaunce of the Royamme of Fraunce / And was proclamed Regent and he­yr of Fraunce / And soo not withstandyng alle this grete warre that he had yet he remembryd his soule / and also that he was mortal and muste deye / For whiche he ordeyned by his lyf the place of his sepulcre / where he is now buryed and euery day thre masses perpetuelly to be songen in a fayr chapel ouer his sepulcre / Of whiche the myddel masse and the fyrst and the laste masse shal be as it is assygned by hym as it appereth by thyse verses folo­wynge /

¶ Henrici misse quinti sunt hic tabulate
Que successiue sunt per monachos celebrate /
Die dm̄ca ¶ Prima sit assumpte de festo virginis alme /
Poscit postremam. Cristus de morte resurgens /
[Page]Prima salutate / de festo virginis extat /
Feria ij Nunciat angelicis / laudem postrema choreis /
Esse deum natum / de virgine prima fatetur /
Feria 3 Comemorat natam / sic vltima missa mariam /
Prima celebretur / ad honorem neupmatis almi
Feria 4 Vltima conceptam / denunciat esse mariam
Semper prima coli / debet de corpore cristi
Feria 5 Vltima sit fata / de virgine purificata /
Condecet vt prima / celebretur de cruce sancta
Feria 6 At (que) salutate / fiet postrema marie /
Omnes ad sanctos est prima col [...]nda supernos /
Sabbato Vltima de requie pro defunctis petit esse
Semper erit media de proprietate dei /

And yet this noble kyng harry the fyfthe founded two howses of Relygion / One callyd Syon besyde braynford of the ordre of saynt Brygytte both of men and wymmen / And on that other syde of the Ryuer of Tamyse an hows of monkes of the chartre­hous in whiche two places / he is contynnelly prayd fore nyghte and day / For euer whanne they of Syon rest / they of the char­trehous done theyr seruyce / And in lyke wyse whanne they of the chartrous rest the other goon to / and by the ryngyng of the bel­lys of eyther place / eche knoweth whanne they ende theyr seruy­se whiche ben nobly endowed. and done dayely there grete almesse dedes / as in the chartrehous certayne children ben founde to scole and at Syon certayne almesse gyuen dayly / And yet besyde all this he hath founded a recluse whiche shal be alwey a preeste to praye for hym by the sayde chartrehous / whiche preest is wel & sufficiently endowed for hym and a seruaunt / Loo / Here maye all prynces take ensample by this noble prynce that regnynge so lytel tyme not fully x yere / dyd so many noble actes / as wel for his sowle to be perpetuelly remembryd & prayde fore. as in his wordly conquestys / and he beynge in his moost lusty age despy­sed and eschewyd synne / and was vertuous and a grete Iustyser In soo moche that alle the prynces of Crystendom dradde hym / & also of hethenes / And had determyned in hym self yf god wolde haue sparyd hym that he wold haue warryd agayne the sara­syns / and for to knowe the ayde of other prynces & all the passages in that iourney he sent a knyght of henawd named syr hugh̄ de lanoye vnto Ierl̄m / but er he retorned he deyd at boys du vincēt in the / xxxvj / yere of his age / on whos soule god haue mercy

[Page CCCCxij]How kyng harry the syxth regned beynge a childe not one ye­re of age / and of the bataylle of vernoyl in perche /

¶ Capitulum 17

AFter kyng harry the fyfthe regned harry his sonne a chil / de and not fully a yere old / whoos regne began the fyrst da­ye of september / the yere of our lord a thousand four honderd and two and twenty / This kynge beyng in his Cradel was moche doubted and dradde by cause of the grete Conquest of his fader and also the wysedome and guydynge of his vncles the duck of bedford and the duc of gloucetre / This yere the xxj day of Octo­bre deyde charles kyng of Fraunce / and lyeth buryed at saynt denys / and thenne was the duc of Bedford made regent of fraūce And the duc of gloucetre was made protectour and defendour of Englond / And the fyrst day of marche after was Syr wylliam Tayllour preest degraded of his preesthode / and on the morne after he was brente in Smythfeld for heresye / ¶ This yere Syre Iames styward kynge of scottes maryed dame Iane the duchesse doughter of Clarence of her fyrst husbond therle of So­mersete at saynt mary ouerays ¶ Also this yere the seuententh day of august was the bataylle of vernayl in Perche bytwene the duc of Bedford regent of Fraunce and the Duc of alaun­son whiche was a greete bataylle / The duc of Bedford hadde on his syde with hym therle of Salesbury Mountagu the lord talbotte and alle the power that they coude make in normandy the garnysons kepte / And also many Capytayns with moche peple of the duc of Burgoyns / And on that other syde was the Duc of Alaunson / the duc of Turon that was therle douglas / therle of Bougham with many lordes of fraunce / and greete companye of Scottes and armynakes / And thenne therle douglas callyd the duc of Bedford Iohan with the leden swerde / and he sente hym worde ageyne that he shold fynde that daye that his swerde was of stele / And soo the bataylle ioyned on bothe sydes and fought longe that ther wyst no man who shold haue the bet [...]r a grete whyle / but at last as god wold the vyctory fyll on thenglysshe partye / For ther were slayne therle douglas whiche a lytel byfore was made duc of Turone / therle of Bowhayn. therle of Almarre / the erle of Tonnar / therle of vauntedore· and the [Page] vysecounte of nerbonne whiche was one of them that slewe duk Iohan of burgoyne knelyng to fore the dolphyn and many mo vnto the nombre of ten thousande and moo / And ther was taken prysonner the duc of alaunson and many other lordes and gen­tyls of Fraunce / but scottys that day were slayne doune ryght the substaunce of them alle / In the thyrde yere of kyng harry the syxth / the duke of gloucetre maryed the duchesse of Holond and wente ouer see with her in to henawde for to take possession of his wyues enherytaunce / where he was honorably receyuyd and taken for lord of the lond / But soone after he was fayne to retorne hoome ageyne / and lefte his wyf and his tresour that he brought with hym in a toune callyd mounse in henawd / whiche promysed for to be trewe to hym / Not withstandyng they deliuer­de the lady to the duc of Burgoyne / whiche sente her to gaunt / And from thens she escaped in a mannes arraye / and cam in to Zeland to a toune of her owne callyd Zierixee / And from thens she wente to a Toune in holond called the Ghowde. and ther she was stronge ynough and wythstode the sayd Duc of burgoyne / and sone after this the duc of gloucetre sente ouer in to Zeland the lord fytzwater with certayne men of warre and Archers for to helpe and socour the sayd duchesse of holond / whiche londed at a place in Zeland callid Brewers hauen / where the lordes of the coūtre cam doune and fought with hym / and in conclusion was fayne to withdrawe hym and his meyne to the see ageyne / but yet he slewe and hurte diuers lordes and moche peple of the coū treye / And soo retorned home ageyne and preuayled noo thyng

Also this same yere therle of Salysbury / therle of Suffolke the lord wylby / and the lord scalys with theyr retenue / leyd syege to the Cyte of mauns / the whiche Cyte was yolden to them in shorte tyme with many other stronge townes and Castels to the nombre of syx and thyrtty / ¶ This tyme all normandye and a grete parte of Fraunce vnto Orleaūce was vnder thobeysaunce of the kynge of Englond / And alle the remenaunt of Fraunce was in grete trybulacion and meschyef /

¶Capitulum xviij

IN the fourth yere the same nyght that the mayer of london iohan Couentre had taken his charge was a grete watche [Page CCCCxiij] in london for affraye that was bytwene the bisshop of wynches­tre / and the duc of gloucestre protectour / For the mayer with the peple of the Cyte wold abyde by the duc of gloucetre as protec­toure of the Royamme / but by labour of lordes that wente by­twene / And in especial by the labour of the prynce of Portyn­gale ther was appoyntement taken that ther was no harme don And after the bataylle of vernoyll in Perche the Duc of Bed­forde cam ouer in to Englond / And on whitson [...]aye this yere at leyceter he dubbed kynge harry knyght / And forthwith the sayd harry dubbed alle these knyghtes / whoos names folowe / that is to wete Rychard duc of york / Also the sone and heyr of the duc of norfolk / therle af Oxenford / therle of westmerlond / the sone and heyr of therle of northumberlond / the sonne and heyr of ther­le of vrmond / The lord Roes / Syr Iames buteler / the lord matrauas / Syr harry gray of Tankeruyle / Syr william neuyl lor­de Fauconbrydge / Syr george neuyl lord latymer / the lord wellys the lord barkley / the sonne and heyr of the lord Talbot / Sir Rauf gray of werk / Syr Robert veer / Syr Rychard gray / Sir Edmond hongerford / Syr Robert Wynkefeld / Syre Iohan boteller / Syr Raynold Cobham / Syr Iohan passhely / Syre thomas tunstal / Syr Iohan Chydyock / Syre Rauf Langford / Syre william drury / Syre william apthomas / Syre Rychard Carbonel / Syre Rychard wydeuyle / Sire Iohan shyrdelowe / Syr nychol blonket / Syre Rauf ratteclyf / Syre Edmond traf­ford / Syre william cheyne / Syre william Babyngton· Syre Io­han Iune / Syr gilbert beauchamp / ¶ Item / In the fyfthe yere the duc of Bedford with the duchesse his wyf wente ouer see to Calays / And a lytel tofore wente ouer harry Bisshop of wynchestre / And on our lady day Annunciacion in our lady chirche at Calays the Bisshop of wynchestre whanne he had songe masse was made Cardynal / And he knelyng to fore the hye auter the duc of Bedford sette the hatte on his heede. and ther we­re his bulles redde as wel of his charge as the reioysyng of his benefyces spirituel and temporel / Also this yere was greete habundaunce of Rayn / that the substance of heye and Corne was destroyed / For it rayned almoost euery other day / ¶This yere the goode erle of Salesbury Syre thomas montagu leyd syege vnto Orleaunce / At whiche syege he was slayne with a gonne / whiche cam oute of the toune / on whoos sowle god haue mercy Amen / For syth that he was slayne Englisshmen neuer gate ne [Page] preuayled in Fraunce / but euer after beganne to lese lytel and lytel tyl all was loste / ¶ Also this same yere a breton murthred a good wydowe in her bedde withoute Algate / which wedowe fonde hym for almesse / And he bare awey al that she hadde / And after this he toke the gryth of hooly chirche at seynt Georges in southwerke / and there toke the Crosse and forswore this lond / And as he wente it happened that he cam by the place where he dyde this cursyd dede in the subarbys of london / And the women of the same paryssh cam oute with stones & ca­nel dunge and slewe and made an ende of hym / Notwithstan­dynge the Conestable s and many other men beyng there present to kepe hym / For ther were many women· and had noo pyte / Also this yere the duck of norfolke with many gentilmen and yomen toke his barge the eyght day of nouembre at saynt mary ouerayes for to haue goon thurgh london brydge / and thurgh mysguydyng of the barge / it ouerthrewe on the pyles / and many men drowned / but the duc hym self with twoo or thre leepe vpon the pyles / and soo were saued with helpe of men that were aboue the brydge / whiche cast doune Ropes / by whiche they saued hem self / ¶ This yere on saynt leonards daye kynge harry beynge seuen yere of age was crowned at westmynstre / at whos Coronacion were made syx and thyrtty knyghtes /

This yere on saynt georges day he passyd ouer see to Calays to­ward Fraunce / Aboute this tyme and afore the Royamme be­ynge in grete myserye and trybulacion· the dolphyn with his partye beganne to make warre and gete certayne places / and make destrusses vpon Englysshmen / by the mene of his Capytaynes / that is to wete la heer and poton de sentraylles / And in especial a mayde / whiche they named la pucelle de dieu / this mayd roode lyke a man / and was a valyaunt Capytayne among them and toke vpon her many and grete enterpryses in soo moche that they had a byleue to haue recouerd al theyr losses by her / Notwithstā dyng at last after many grete feates by helpe and prowesse of sir Iohan luxemburgh whiche was a noble Capytayne of the du / kes of Burgoyne / and many Englysshmen pycardys and bourgoygnons whiche were of oure partye / byfore the toune of Compyne the thre and twentyest daye of maye the sayd pucelle was taken in the felde armed lyke a man and many other capytayns with her / And all broughte to Roan / and there she was putte in prysonne / and there she was Iuged by the lawe to be brente / [Page CCCCxiiij] And thenne she sayd that she was with childe / wherby she was respyted a whyle / but in Conclusion it was founde that she was not with childe / And thenne she was brente in Roan / And the other Capytaynes were putte to raunsonne / and entreated as men of warre ben acustommed / ¶ This same yere aboute Candelmasse Rychard hounden a wolle packer was dampned for an heretyke / and brente atte tourhylle / And aboute midlente Syr thomas baggely preeste and vycary of mauenden in Estsex besydes walden was disgrated and ▪ dampned for an heretyke / and brente in Smythfeld. ¶ Also in this yere while the kynge was in Fraunce / ther were many heretykes and lollars / that hadde purposed to haue made a rysyng / and caste bylles in many places· but blessyd be god the Capytayne of hem was taken· whoos name was william mandeuyle a weuar of Aben­don and bayly of the same toune / whiche named hym self Iak sharp of wygmoryslonde in wales / And afterwarde he was byheded at Abendon in the whitsonweke / on the tewisdaye /

¶ This yere the seuenth day of december kynge harry the syxthe was crowned kyng of Fraunce at parys in the chirche of oure lady with grete solempnyte / There beyng presēt the Cardynal of englonde / the Duc of Bedforde / and many other lordes of fraū ce and of englonde / And after this Coronacion and grete feste holden at parys / the kyng retourned from thens to Roan and soo towārde Calays / And the nynthe daye of Feuerer londed at douer / whome alle the Comyns of kente mette at beramdoun / bytwene caunterbury and douer alle in reede hoodes / And soo cam forth till he cam to blackheth where he was mette with the mayer Iohan wellys with alle the craftys of london cladde alle in whyte / And soo they brought hym to london the one and twē tyest daye of the same moneth / This yere was a restraynt of the wollys at Calays made by the sowdyours / by cause they were not payed of their wages / wherfor the duc of Bedford regente of fraūce being thēne Capitayn cam to Cal̄eis the tewsday in the esterweke / & on the morne after many sowdiours of the toun were arested / and putte in warde / And in the same weke he roode to terewyn / And by the mene of the bisshop of Terewyn he wed­ded therles doughter of saint poul / and cam ageine to Caleis /

¶ And the enleuenst daye of Iuin on saint bernabes daye there were four [...] soudyours of Calays that were chyef causers of the restraynt byheded / that is to wete Iohan maddeley / Iohan [Page] lu [...]daye / thomas palmer / and thomas Talbot / And an Cx / banysshed the toune that same tyme / And byfore were banysshed [...]ixe score soudyours / And on mydsomer euen after cam the lord Regent and his wyf to london /

¶ Capitulum 19

ABoute this tyme Pope martyn deyde / And after hym Eu­genye the fourth was pope / This was pesybly chosen in Rome by the Cardynals and was very and Indubytate pope / But shortly after he was putte and expulsed oute of Rome / in suche wyse that he was fayne to flee naked / ¶ In this tyme was the counseylle of basyle / to whiche counseylle he was cyted to come / and bycause he cam not they deposed hym / but he rought not ne sette not therby / but gate the Cyte of Rome. and abode stil pope seuentene yere / ¶ This yere aboute whitsontyde the He­retyks of praghe were destroyed / For at two iourneyes were destroyed of them moo than twoo and twenty thousande with her Capytayns / that is to wete Procapius / Saplico / and lupus presbiter / ¶ Also ther was taken a lyue mayster Pyers clerk an Englysshman and heretyke / Also this same yere was a grete froste and a stronge duryng enleuen wekes / For it beganne on saynt katheryns euen / and lasted vnto saynt Scolasticais day in Feuerer in which tyme the vyntage that cam from bordeux cam ouer shoters hylle / This yere was the counseyl of Aras and a greete traytye bytwene the kyng of Englonde and the Frensshe kynge / where was assemblyd grete many of lordes of bothe partyes / At whiche counseylle was offryd to the kyng of Englond many grete thynges by the moyen of a legate that cam from ro­me / whiche was Cardynal of saynt Crosse / whiche offres were refused by the Cardynal of Englond and other lordes that we­re there for the kyng / wherfor the duke of burgoyne whiche had ben longe Englysshe sworne forsoke oure partye / and retourned Frensshe by the meene of the same legate / and made a pees with the Frenssh kyng receyuynge of the kynge for recompensynge of his faders deth the counte of pontieu / the lordship of macon with moche other as is specyfyed in the sayd trayttye / And soo oure ambassadours cam hoome ageyne in wers [...] caas than they wente / For they lost there the duc of Burgoyne / whiche hadde [Page CCCCxiiij] ben with his bourgonyons and pycardes a synguler helpe in all the conquest of normandy and of Fraunce / This same yere was a grete batayll on the see bytwene the Ieneweys and the kyng of Aragon / of whiche bataylle the Ieneweys had the vyctorye / For they toke the kynge of Aragon / the kyng of nauern / and the greete mayster of saynt Iames in galyse with thre honderd knyghtes and squyers and moche other peple / And this was on saynt domynyks day· This yere were seen thre sonnes attones And anone folowyd the threfolde rule and gouernaunce in the chirche / that is to wete / of Eugenye / of the counseyle / and of the neutralyte / Also this same yere 1434 was a passyng grete wynde by whiche steples howses and trees were ouerthrowen / Aboute this tyme was an hooly mayde in holond callyd lydwith whiche lyued longe only by myracle not etyng ony mete / This yere the duc of burgoyne byganne his ordre at lyle of the golden flyes· and ordeygned certayne knyghtes of thordre / and made statutes and ordenaunces· moche acordynge vnto thordre of the garter. Also this yere the Frensshmen hadde enterprysed to haue stolen Calays in the fysshyng tyme / For many bootys of Fraunce had sauf conduytes to come to Calays for to take bee­ryng / And the soudyours of the toune hadde a customme to come to the chirche and leue theyr stauys stondynge at the chirche dore whiche stauys the Frensshmen which̄ were arayd lyke Fysshers hadde purposed to haue taken soo theyr wepen / and wynne the toune / but one of them laye with a comyn woman the nyght byfore / and tolde to her theyr counseylle / And she on the morne told the lyeutenaunt / whiche forthwith commanded that euery man shold kepe his wepen in his hond sacryng tyme and other / And whanne they apperceyued this that they were myspoyn­ted / they sayled strayte to depe and stale and toke that Toune / And on newyers euen after they toke harflete /

And thus Englysshmen byganne to lose a lytel and a lytel in Normandye /

¶ Capitulum visesimum /

THis yere was a grete noyse thurgh al Englond / how the duck of Bourgoyne wolde come and besyege Calays / wherfore the Erle of mortayn with his Armye that he hadde [Page] for to haue goone with in to fraunce was countremaunded and charged that he shold go to calais. whiche was at that tyme wel vitailled and manned / For sire Iohan Ratclif was lyeutenāt of the kinge in that toune / and the baron of dudeley lyeutenaūt of the castel / and the nynthe daye of Iuill the duke of Burgo­yne with al the power of Flaundres and moch other peple cam before calais and sette his syege aboute the toune / and euery tou­ne of Flaundres had their tentes by them self / And this syege endured thre wekes / In the mene while the duc of gloucetre beyng protectour of englond toke the moost parte of the lordes of En­glond and wente ouer the see to Calays for to rescowe the toun or to fyghte with the duke and his hoost yf they wolde haue by­den / This tyme london and euery good toune of Englond sente ouer see to this rescowe certayne peple well arayd of the best and chosen men for the warre / And the second day of August the sa­yd duke of gloucetre arryued at Calays with alle his armye / and fyue honderd shippes and moo / And the duke and alle his hoost that laye in the syege as sone es they espyed the sayllys in the see / byfore they approched calays hauen / sodaynly in a mor­nynge departed fro the syege / leuyng behynde them moche stuffe & vytaylle / and fledde in to flaūdres and pycardye / and in lyke wyse dyde the syege that laye to fore guynes / where as they of guynes toke the grete gonne of brasse whiche was callyd dyge­on / and many other grete gonnes and serpentyns / And thenne whanne the duke of gloucetre was arryued with all his hoost / he wente in to flaundres and was therynne enleuen dayes / and dy­de but lytel harme / excepte he brente two fayr vyllages poperyng and belle / and other howses whiche were of no strengthe / and soo retourned home ageyne / Also this same yere the kyng of scottys besyeged Rokesburgh with moche pepl̄e / but sir Rauf gray departed fro the castel / and ordeyned for rescows / but as sone as the kynge vnderstode his departyng / he sodaynly brake his syege / and wente hys weye leuynge moche ordenaunce behynde hym / where he gate noo worship / ¶ This yere the second daye of Ianyuer quene katheryn whiche was the kynges moder and wyf to kynge harry the fyfthe deyde and departed oute of thys worlde / and was brought ryally thurgh london / and soo to westmynstre / and there lyeth buryed worshipfully in oure la­dy chapel / Also this same yere the fourtenthe daye of Ianyuer [Page CCCCxv] fyl doune the gate with a toure on hit on london brydge toward southwerk with twoo arches / and all that stode theron / This yere was a grete trayttye holden bytwene grauenyng and ca­lays bytwene the kyng and ducke of burgoyne / where for the kyng was the Cardynall of Englond the duck of Norfolke & many other lordes / and for the ducke was the Duchesse hauyng full power of her lord / as regent and ladye of his londes / where was taken by thaduys of bothe partyes an abstynence of warre for a certeyne tyme in the name of the Duchesse / and not of the duke / by cause he hadde goon from his oth and lygeaunce that he had made to kyng harry / therfor the kynge neuer wolde wrytene appoynte ne haue to do with hym after / but all in the duches­se name ¶ Also this yere quene Iane deyde / the second daye of Inyll / whiche had ben kynge harry the fourthys wyf / and was caryed fro bermondesey vnto Caunterbury where she lyeth bury­ed by kynge harry the fourth her husbond / This yere deyde alle the lyons in the toure of london / the whiche hadde not be seen in many yeres byfore / oute of mynde

¶ Capitulum 21

IN the xvj yere of kyng harry deyde Sygysmūd Emperour of almayne and knyght of the garter / whos terment the kynge kepte at pawlys in london ryally / where was made a ry­al herse / and the kynge in his astate cladd in blewe was at euen at dirige / and on the morne at masse / And after hym was elect & chosen Albert duke of ostryche whiche had wedded Sygys­mundus doughter for to be Emperour / This was taken and res­seyued to be kyng of boheme & vngary by cause of hys wyf that was sigismundus doughter whiche lefte after hym none other he yer This albert was emperour but one yere / for he was poysond and soo he deyde / somme saye he deyde of a flyxe / but he was a vertuouse man and pytefulle / soo moche that alle the peple that knewe hym sayde that the worlde was not worthy to haue hys presence / In this yere was the kynge of scottys murthred in his chambre by nyght pytously whiche kynge had be prysoner xv yere in englonde / And they that slewe hym were taken afterward & had cruel iustyce / this yere one owayn a squyer of wales a mā of lowe byrthe / whiche had many a day to fore secretely weddyd quene katheryn & had by her thre sones / & a doughter was taken [Page] and commaunded to newgate to prysonne by my lord of glouce­tre protectour of the Royame / And this yere he brake pryson by the mene of a preest that was his chappelayn / and after he was taken ageyne by my lord bemond / and brought ageyne to newe gate / whiche afterward was delyuerd at large / and one of his sones afterward was made Erle of rychemōd / & another erle of penbroke / and the thyrde a monk of westmynstre / whiche monke deyde sone after / This yere also on newyersday at baynardyscas­tel fyl̄ doune a stak of wode sodeynly at after none / and slewe thre men mesch yuously and foule hurte other / Also at bedford on a shyreday were eyghten men murthred / withoute stroke by fallynge doune of a steyr / as they cam oute of theyr comyn halle and many foul̄e hurte / In the eyghtenth yere sir rychard beau­champ the good erle of warwyck deyde at Roan / he beynge that tyme lyeutenaunt of the kynge in normandye / and from thennes his bodye was brought to warwyk / where he lyeth worshipfully in a newe chapel on the south syde of the quyre / ¶ Also this yere was a greete derthe of Corne in al englond / For a busshel of whete was worth fourty pens in many places of Englond / & yet men myght not haue ynowgh / wherfor steuen broun that ty­me mayer of london sente in to pruse / and brought to london cer­tayne shippes laden with rye / which easyd and dyd moche good to the peple / For corne was soo skarce in Englond that in some places of englond poure peple made hem brede of fern rotes / This yere the general counseyle of basyle deposed pope eugenye And they chese felyx whiche was duc of sauoye / And thenne byganne the scysme / whiche endured vnto the yere of our lord a MCCCC & xlviij / This felyx was a deuoute prynce / and sa­we the sones of his sones / and after lyued a deuoute and hooly lyf / And was chosen pope by the counseyllr of basyle / eugenye deposed / and soo the scysme was long tyme / and this felyx had not moche obedyence bycause of the neutralyte / for the moost parte and wel nygh al cristendom obeyed & reputed eugenye for veray pope / god knoweth who was the veray pope of them both / for both occupyed durynge the lyf of eugenye / This yere Syr Rychard wiche vycary of hermettesworth was degrated of his prysthode / at powlys / and brente at toure hylle as for an heretyk on saynt Botulphus day / how well at his deth / he deyde a good cristen man wherfore after his dethe moche people cam to the place / where he hadde be brente / and offryd and made a heep [...] [Page CCCCxvj] of stones / and sette vp a crosse of tree and helde hym for a saynt till the mayer and shreues by commaundement of the kynge and bisshops destroyed it / and made there a donghyll. Also this same yere the shreues of london fette oute of saynt martyns the graūte the sayntuarye fyue personnes / whiche afterward were restored ageyne to the sayntuarye by the kynges Iustyces / After Alberte the thyrde Frederyk was chosen Emperour / This Frederyk duke of ostryche was longe Emperour / and differyd for to be crowned at Rome by cause of the scysme / but after that vnyon was had he was crowned with Imperyal dyademe with grete glorye and tryumphe of pope nycholas the fourth / This was a man pesyble quyete and of synguler pacyence / not hatyng the chirche· he wed­ded the kyng of portyngales doughter /

¶ Capitulum 22

IN this yere dame Elyanore Cobham duchesse of gloucetre / was arestyd for certayne poyntes of treasonne leyd ageyn her / wherupon she was examyned in saynt steuens chapel at west mynstre byfore tharchebisshop of Caunterbury / and ther she was enioyned to open penaunce for to goo thurgh chepe berynge a [...]a­per in her honde / and after to perpetuel prison in to the Ile of man vnder the kepynge of sir thomas stanley / ¶ Also that sa­me tyme was arestyd mayster thomas southwel a chanō of W [...]stmynstre mayster Iohn hum a chappellayn of the sayd ladyes / mayster Rogyer bolyngbroke a Clerk vsynge nygromancye /

¶And one margery Iurdemayn callyd the wytche of eye [...]syde westmynstre / These were arestyd as for beyng of counseyll with the sayd duchesse of gloucetre. And as for mayster thomas south wel he deyde in the toure the nyght before he shold haue be reyned on the morne / For soo he sayd hym self that he shold dye in his bedde and not by Iustyce / ¶ And in the yere twenty mayster Iohan hum and mayster Rogyer Bolyngbrooke were brought to the guydhalle in london / and ther byfore the mayer / the lordes and chyef Iustyce of Englond were rayned and dampned to be drawen hanged and quartred. but mayster Iohn hum had his chartre and was pardoned by the kynge. but mayster Rogyer was drawen to Tyburne / where he confessyd that he yde gyltles and neuer had trespaced in that he deyd fore / [Page] Notwithstandyng he was hanged heded and quartred / on whos soule god haue mercy / And margery Iurdemayne was brente in Smythfeld / ¶ Also this yere the lord Talbotte had leyde syege to dyepe / but the Dolphyn rescowed it / and wan the bastyle that Englysshmen had made ¶Also this yere was a greete effraye in fletestrete by nyghtes tyme bytwene men of Courte and men of london / and dyuerse men slayne and somme hurte / and one herbotel was chyef cause of the mysgouernaunce and effraye / ¶ Also this yere at the chesyng of the mayer of london the Comons named Robert Clopton and Rawlyn ho­lond Taylour / And the Aldermen toke Robert clopton & brought hym at the ryght honde of the mayer / as the customme is / And thenne certeyne tayllours and hande crafty men cryed nay naye not this man / but rawlyn holonde / wherfor the mayer that was padysley sente tho that soo cryed to newgate / where they a­bode a grete while and were punysshed / ¶ In this yere were dyuerse ambassadours sente in to Guyan for a maryage for the kynge for the erles doughter of Armynak· whiche was concluded / but by the mene of therle of Suffolk it was lette & put a part / And after this the sayd erle of Suffolk wente ouer the see in to Fraunce / / And there treated the maryage bytwene the kynge of Englond and margarete the kynges doughter of Secyle and of Ierusalem ¶ And the next yere it was concluded fully that maryage / by whiche maryage the kynge shold de­lyuer to her fader the Duchye of Anges. and the Erldome of mayne whiche was the keye of normandye /

¶Thenne departed the Erle of Suffolke with his wyf and dyuerse lordes and knyghtes in the moost ryal astate that myghte be oute of Englonde with newe chares and palfrayes / whiche wente thurgh chepe / and soo wente ouer the see / and resseyued her / and syth brought her in the lente after to hampton / where she landed and was ryally resseyued / And on Candelmasse euen byfore by a greete tempeste of thonder and lyghtnyng at after None / Paulus Steple was sette a fyre on the myddes of the shafte in the tymbre / whiche was quenchyd by force of laboure / and specially by the laboure of the morowe masse preeste of the bowe in chepe / whiche was thought Inpossyble / sauf only the grace of god / ¶This yere was the erle of stafford made and create Duke of Bokyngham / the Erle of warwyck / Duk [Page CCCCxvij] of warwyck / therle of dorsete / marquys of dorsete / and the erle of suffolk was made marquys of suffolk /

¶ Capitulum 23 /

IN this yere kyng harry maryed at southweke quene mar­grete / And she cam to london the eyghtenth day of maye / And by the waye alle the lordes of englonde resseyued her wor­shipfully in dyuerse places / and in especial the duc of gloucetre And on blackheth the mayer Aldermen / and alle the craftes in blewe gownes browdred with the deuyse of his crafte that they myghte be byknowen / mette wyth her with reede hoodes / And brought her to london / where were dyuerse pagentis and counte­naunces of dyuerse historyes she wyd in dyuerse places of the cyte ryally and costlewe. And the thyrttyest daye of maye the sayd quene was crowned at westmynstre / ¶ And there was Iustys thre dayes duryng within the sayntuarye to fore thabbay / / This yere the pryour of kylmayn appeled therle of vrmond of treasonne / whiche hadde a day assygned to them for to fyghte in Smythfeld / and the lystys were made and feelde dressyd / But whanne it cam to poynt the kynge commaunded that they shold not fyghte / but toke the quarels in to his owne honde / and this was doone. at the Instaunce and labour of certayne prechours & doctours of london as mayster gylbert worthyngton parson of sa­ynt Andrews in holborne and other / ¶ Also this yere cam a grete ambassate in to englonde onte of Fraunce for to haue con­cluded a perpetuel pees / but in conclusion it torned vnto a tr [...]ews of a yere ¶Aboute this tyme deyde saynt bernardyn a gray frere whiche beganne the newe reformacion of that ordre in many places / in so moche that they that were reformed ben callyd ob­seruauntes / whiche obseruauntes ben encreaced gretely in Italye and in almayne / ¶ This Bernadyn was ca­nonysed by pope nycholas the fyfthe in the yere thousand foure C and fyfty / Iohannes de capestrano was his disciple / whiche prouffyted moche to the reformacion of that ordre / for whome God shewyd many myracles also / Here is to be noted that from this tyme forward kyng harry neuer prouffyted ne wente forward / but fortune beganne to tourne from hym on all sydes / as well in Fraunce / normandye / guyan / as in Englonde / Somme men [Page] holde oppynyon that kyng harry gaf commyssion plenerly to sire Edward hulle Syre Robert roos / the dene of saynt seneryns & other to conclude a maryage for hym with therle of Armynaks suster / whiche was promysed as it was sayd and concluded / But afterward it was broken / for by the mene of the marquys of Suffolke it was broken / And he wedded Quene margrete as a fore is said / whiche was a dere maryage / for the Royamme of Englonde / For it is knowen veryly that for to haue her was delyuerd the duchye of angeo / and the erldom of mayne / which was the keye of normandy for the Frensshmen tentre / And a­boue this the· sayd marquys of Suffolke axyd in playne parlement a fyftenth and an half for to fetche her oute of Fraunce / Lo what a maryage was this / as to the comparysone of that o­ther maryage of Armynak / For ther sholde haue ben delyuerd so many castels and townes in Guyan / and so moche good shol­de haue ben youē with her / that all englond shold haue ben therby enryched / but contrarye wyse fylle / wherfore euery greete prynce ought to kepe his promyse / For bycause of brekyng of this promyse / and for maryage of quene margrete what losse hath hadde the Royamme of Englond / by losyng of normandye and guy­an by dyuysion in the Royame / the rebellyng of Comons ayenst theyr prynce and lordes / what dyuysyon among the lordes / what murdre & sleyng of them / what feldes foughten & made / ¶In conclusionthat man y a man hath lost his lyf / the kyng deposed the quene with her sone fayne to flee in to scotland / and from thens in to Fraunce / and so to lorayn the place that she cam first fro / Many men deme that the brekyng of the kynges promyse to the suster of therles of Armynack was cause of this grete losse and aduersyte

¶ Capitulum 24

IN the yere xxv. of kynge harry was a parlement at bury callyd saynt edmondes burye / aboute whiche was comman­ded alle the comyns of the countre to bee there in theyr moost defensable araye for to awayte vppon the kyng / To whiche parlement cam the duc of gloucetre hunfreye the kynges vncle / whiche hadd ben protectour of englonde alle the non age of the kyng / And anone after he was in his lodgyng he was arestyd by the vyse­counte [Page CCCCxviij] bemonde the conestable of Englonde / whome accompanyed the duc of Bokyngham and many other lordes / And forthwith alle his seruauntes were comaunded for to departe fro hym / and two & thyrtty of the chyeef of hem were also arestyd and sente to dyuerse prysons· And v or vj dayes after this sayd arest / the sayd duke was deede / on whoos sowle god haue mercy / But how he deyde and in what manere the Certaynte is not to me knowen / Somme sayde he deyde for sorowe / somme sayde he was murthred bytwene two fetherbeddes / other sayd that an ho­te spyt was putte in his fundament / but how he deyde god kno­weth / to whome is noo thynge hydde / And thenne whanne he was soo deed / he was leyd open that al man myght see hym / And so both lordes and knyghtes of the shyres with bourgeyses cam & sawe hym lye deede / but wounde ne token coude they not perseyue how he deyde / Here maye men marke what this world is This duk was a noble man and a grete clerke / and hadde worshipfully ruled this Royamme to the kynges behoef / and neuer coude be founde fawte with hym / but enuye of them that were gouernours / and hadde promysed to delyuer the Duchye of An­geo & the Erldome of mayn caused the destruction of this noble man / For they drad hym that he wolde haue enpesshyd that delyuerance / And after they sente his body to saynt Albons with certayne lyghtes for to be buryed. And soo Syre geruays of clyfton hadde than the charge to conueye the corps / And soo it was buryed at saynt albons in thabbay / And fyue persones of his houshold were sent to london / and ther were rayned and Iuged to be drawen hanged and quartred / of whome the names were Syre Rogyer chamberlayne knyght and myddelton Squyer / herbard a squyer arthur a Squyer / and Rychard Nedham / whiche fyue personnes were drawen from the tour of london thurgh c [...]e­pe vnto Tiburne / and there hanged and lete doune quyck / and thenne strypt for to hau e ben heded and quartred / And thenne the marquys of Suffolk shewyd ther for them the kynges pardon vnder his grete seal / and soo they were pardonned of the re­menaunt of the execucion and had theyr lyues / And soo they were brought ageyne to london / and after frely delyuerd / Thus beganne the trouble in englond for the deth of this noble duke / Alle the comons of the Royamme beganne for to murmu­re and were not content / After that pope Eugenye was deed nycholas the fyfth was electe pope / ¶This nycholas was chosen [Page] for Eugenye yet hauyng the scisme / Notwithstondyng he gate the obedyence of all cristen Royammes / For after he was electe and [...]red pope / Certayne lordes of Fraunce and of Englond weere [...]nte in to sauoye to pope Felyx for to entreate hym to cesse of the papacye. And by the specyall labour of the bisshop of norwyche / and the lord of saynt Iohans he cessyd the second yere after that Nycholas was sacred / and the sayd Felyx was made legate of Fraunce and cardynal of sauoye / And resygned the hoole papa­cye to nycholas / and after lyued an hooly lyf and deyd an holy man / And as it is sayd god shewed myracles for hym / This was the thre and twentyeste Scysme / bytwene eugenye & Felyx / and dured sixtene yere / the cause was this / the generalle counseylle of basylle deposed eugenye whiche was only pope and Indubytate for as moche as he obserued not and kept the decrees and statutes of the counseylle of Counstance as it is sayd / nether he rought not to gyue obedyence to that general counseyll / wherof roo [...]e a grete alteracion amonge wrytars of this mater pro and contra whiche can not acorde vnto this day / One partye seyth that the counseylle is aboue the pope / that other party sayth nay. But the pope is aboue the counseyll / God blessyd aboue alle thynges gyue and sende his pees in hooly chirche spouse of Cryst Amen / This nycholas was of Iene comen of lowe byrth a doctour of dyuynyte an ac [...] yf man / he reedefyed many places that were broken and ruynous / and dyde do make a grete walle aboute the pa­lays▪ and made the walle newe aboute Rome for drede of the turkes / And the peple wondred of the ceesynge and resygnynge of Felyx to hym / consyderyd that he was a man of so lowe byrthe And that other was of affynyte to alle the moost part of Crystē prynces / wherof there was a verse publysshed in Rome in this maner / Lux fulsit mundo cessyd Felyx nycholao.

¶ Capitulum 24

IN the yere of kyng harry xxvij beynge trewes bytwene Fraunce and englond a knyght of the englysshe partye named Sir Fraunceys Aragonoys toke a towne of normandy named Fogyers. ageynste the trewes / of whiche takynge byganne moche sorowe and losse / For this was the occasion by whiche the [Page CCCCxx] Frensshe men gate all normandy / This yere a Squyer of englōd named chalons dyde armes with a knyght of Fraunce named Syre lowys de buyel to fore the Frensshe kynge / and ranne the Frensshe knyght thurgh with a spere and slewe hym in the felde ¶ In the yere xxviij was a parlement holden at westmynstre And from thennes adiourned to the black Frerys at london / And after Crystemasse to westmynstre ageyne / And this same yere Robert of Cane a man of the west contre with a fewe ships toke an hole flote of shippes comynge oute of the baye laden with salt / whiche shippes were of pruys / Flaundrys / Holand and Zeland / and brought hem to hampton / wherfor the marchaunt [...]s of englond beynge in flaundres were arestyd in Brugys / Ipre and other places / and myght not be delyuerd ner theyr dettys dyscharged till they had made a poyntement for to paye for the a­mendes and hurtes of tho shippes / which was payd by the marchauntes of the staple euery peny / And in lyke wyse the mar­chauntes and godes beyng in danske were also arestyd and ma­de grete amendes. This same yere the Frensshmen in a mornynge toke by a trayne thea toune of poūt al arche and therynne the lord Fawconbrydge was taken prysonner / And after that in decem­bre Roan was taken and lost / beyng therynne the duc of s [...]mer­sete edmund / therle of shrewsbury / whiche by appoyntement left pledgys and lost all normandye / and came home / And duryng the sayd parlement the duck of Suffolk was arestyd and sen [...]e in to the tour / and ther was a monethe / and after the kynge dyd doo fetche hym oute / For whiche cause alle the comyns of En­glond were in a grete rumour what for the delyueraunce of An­geo and mayn and after for losynge of al normandye / and in e­special for the deth of the good duke of gloucetre / in soo moche that in somme places men gadred to geders and made [...]em Ca­pytaynes as blewe berd and other / whiche were resysted and taken and had Iustyce and deyd / And thenne the sayd parlement was adiourned to leycetre / And theder the kynge brought with hym the duke of Suffolke / And whanne the comon hows vn­derstode that he was oute of the tour and comen theder / they desy­red to haue execucion on them / that were cause of the delyueraunce of normandy / and had ben cause of the deth of the duc of glouce­tre / and had solde gascoyne and guyan / of whiche they named to be gylty the duc of Suffolk as chyef the lord saye / the Bisshop of Saslebury / Danyel and many moo / ¶ And for to pease the [Page] Comons the duck of Suffolke was exyled oute of englond fy­ue yere / And soo durynge the parlement he wente in to norfolke and there toke shippyng for to goo oute of the Royame in to fraū [...]e / And this yere as he sayled on the see / a shippe of warre cal­ [...]yd the nycholas of towr mette with his ship and fonde hym ther in whome they toke oute / and brought hym in to theyr shippe / to fore the mayster and Capytayns / And ther he was examyned and atte last Iuged to the deth / And so they putte hym in a Cabon / and his chappellayne for to shryne hym / And that done they brought hym in to douer roode / and there sette hym in to the boot / and there smote of his heede / and brought the bodye a londe vpon the sondes and sette the heede therby / And this was done the fyrst day of maye / Loo what auayleth hym now this delyueueraunce of normandye / And here ye may see how he was rewarded for the deth of the duck of gloucetre / Thus beganne sorowe vppon sorowe and deth for deth /

¶ Capitulum 26

THis yere of our lord a thousand four honderd & fyfty was the grete grace of the Iubilee at Rome / where was greete pardonne / in soo moche that from alle places of Crystendome grete multitude of peple resorted theder / ¶This yere Syre thomas cryell was ouerthrowen at fermygny and many Englysshemen slayne and taken prysonners / ¶This same yere was a grete assemblyng and gaderyng to geder of the Comons of kente in greete nombre / and made an Insurrection and rebellyd ageynste the kynge and his lawes And ordeyned hem a Capytayne cal­lyd Iohan Cade an Irysshe man / whiche named hym self mortymer Cosyn to the ducke of yorke / And this Capytayne helde these men to geder and made ordenaunces among them & brought hem to blackheth where he made a bylle of petycions to the kyng and hys counseyll / and shewyd what Inyuryes and oppressions the poure comyns suffryd / and alle vnder coloure for to come to his aboue / And he had a grete multitude of peple / And the seuē ­tenth day of Iuyn the kynge with many lordes Capytayns and men of warre wente towarde hym to the blackheth / And whan the capytayne of kente vnderstode the comyng of the kynge with so grete a puyssaūce / he withdrewe hym with his peple to seuenok [Page CCCCxx] a lytil vyllage / ¶ And xxviij daye of Iuyn beynge with drawen and goon / the kynge cam with his armye sette in ordre and enbataylled to the blackheth / and by aduys of his counseyll sente sir vmfrey stafford knyght. and william stafford Squrer two valyaunt Capytains with certayne peple to fight with the capytayne and to take hym / ¶ and brynge hym and his accessaryes to the kynge. whiche wente to seuenock / and there the Capytayne with his felauship mett with hem / and fought ayēst hem / and in conclusion slewe them bothe and as many as abode / and wolde not yelde hem nor flee / Duryng these scarmuche fyll a grete varyaunce among the lordes men and comyn peple beyng on blackheth ageynst theyr lordes and capytayns sayyng playnly that they wolde goo to the capytayne of kente to assyste and helpe hym / but yf they myghte haue execucion on the traytours / beyng aboute the kyng / wherto the kyng sayd nay /

And they sayd playnly that the lord saye tresorer of eng / lond the Bisshop of Salysbury / / the abbot of gloucetre / danyel andtreuylyan and many moo were traytours / and worthy to be ded / wherfor for to plese the lordes meyne and also somme of the kynges hows the lord saye was arestyd and sente to the Toure / of london / And thenne the kynge herynge tydynges of the dethe and ouerthrowynge of the staffords withdrewe hym to london / and fro thennes to kyllyng worth for the kyng ne the lordes durste not truste theyr owne houshold meyne / Thenne after that the Capytayne had hadde this vyctory vpon the staffordes / anone be toke sire vmfrayes salade and his brygantyns smyten ful of gylt nayles / and also his gylt spores & arayed hym lyke a lord and a Capytayne / and resorted with al his meyne / and also mo than he had to fore to the blackheth ageyne / to whome cam tharchebis­shop of Caunterbury / and the duck of Bokyngham to the blac­heth and spake with hym / And as it was sayde they fonde hym wytty in his talkyng and his requestys / and so they departed And the thyrdde daye of Iuyll he cam and entryd in to london with alle his peple / and there dyde make cryes in the kynges name and his that no man shold robbe ne take noo mannes good / but yf he payd for it / and cam rydynge thurgh the Cyte in grete pryde / and smote his swerde vpon / london stone in Canwyckstre­te / and he beyng in the Cyte sente to the tour for to haue the lord saye / and soo they fette hym and brought hym to the guyldhalle before the mayer and Aldermen / where he was examyned / and [Page] he sayd he wold and ought to be Iuged by his peres / And the comons of kent toke hym by force from the mayer and offycers that kepte hym / and toke hym to a pryeste to shryue hym / And [...]r he myght be half shryuen they brought hym to the standard in Chepe / And there smote of his hede / on whoos soule god haue mercy Amen. And thus deyde the lord saye tresorer of Englond After this they sette his heede on a spere / and bare it aboute in the Cyte / And the same day at myle ende crowmer was byheded And the same day byfore at after none the capytayne with certa­yne of his mayne wente to phelyp malpas hows / and robbyd hym and toke awaye moche goode. And fro thennes he wente to saynt margrete patyns to one gherstys hows / and robbyd hym also. At whiche robbyng dyuerce men of london of theyr neygh­bours were at it / and toke part with them / For this robbyng the peples hertes fyll from hym / and euery thryfty man was aferd for to be seruyd in lyke wyse. For ther was many a man in lon­don that awayted / and wolde feyne haue seen a comyn robberye / whiche god forbede / For it is to suppose yf he hadde not robbed / he myght haue gon f [...]r er he had bee withstonde / For the kynge and alle the lordes of the Royame were departed excepte the lord sca­les that kepte the toure / And the fyfthe day of Iuyll he dyde do smyte of a mans heede in Southwerke / And the nyght after the mayre of london the aldermen and the Comons of the Cyte concluded to dryue awey the Capytayne and his hooste / and sente to the lord scales to the tour and to mathew gogh̄ a Capytayne of normandye that they wolde that nyghte assaylle the Capytayne with them of kente / And so they dyde and cam to london brydge in to Southwerke / er the Capytayne had ony knowlege therof And they fought with them that kepte the brydge / And the kē ­tysshmen wente to harnoys and cam to the brydge and shot and fought with hem / and gate the brydge / and made them of london to flee / and slowe many of hem. And this endured all the nyght to & fro tyll nyne of the clock on the morne / And atte laste they brent the drawebrydge· where many of them of london were drouned / In which nyght Sutton an alderman was slayne / Rogyer heysaunt and mathew gogh̄ and many other / ¶ And after this the chaunceler of Englond sente to the Capytayne a pardone ge­neral for him and another for alle his meyne / And thenne they departed from southwerke euery man home to his hows /

¶ And whanne they were al departed and goone / ther were [Page CCCCxxj] proclamaciones made in kente / southsex / and in other places / that what man coude take the capytayne quyck or deede shold haue a thousande marck / And after this one Alysaunder Iden a squyer of kente toke hym in a gardyn in southsex / and in the ta­kynge the capytayne Iohan cade was slayne / and after byheded and his heede sette on london brydge / / And anone after thenne the kynge cam in to kente / and dyde his Iustyces sytte at caunterbury and enquyre who were accessaryes and chyef cause of this Insurrection / And ther were eyght men Iuged to deth in one day and in other places moo / And fro thennes the kyng wente in to southsex / and in to the weste countre / where a lytell byfore was slayne the bisshop of Salysbury / And this same yere were so many Iuged to deth that thre and twenty hedes stode on london brid­ge attones /

¶ Capitulum 27

IN the yere thyrtty the duck of york cam oute of the march of wales with therle of deuenshyre and the lord Cobham with grete puyssaunce for reformacion of certayne Iniuryes and wronges / and also to haue Iustyce on certayne lordes beynge a­boute the kyng / And toke a felde at brentheth besyde dertford in kent / whiche was a stronge felde / for whiche cause the kyng with alle the lordes of the lande went vnto the blackheth with a grete multitude of peple armed and ordeyned for the warre in the best wyse / And whanne they had musteryd on the blackheth / certa­yne lordes were sente to hym for to treate and make appoynte­ment with hym whiche were the Bisshop of Ely and the Bis­shop of wynchestre / and therles of Salysbury and of warwyk And they concluded that the duck of Somersete sholde be hadde to ward / and to answere to suche artycles as the duk of york sholde putte to hym / And thenne the duc of york shold breke his felde and come to the kyng whiche was all promysed by the kyng And soo the kyng commaunded that the duke of somersete sholde be had in warde / And thenne the duck of york brake vp his felde. and cam to the kynge and whanne he was come / contrary to the promyse a fore made. the duke of somersete was presente in the felde awaytyng and chyef aboute the kyng and made the duke of york ryde to fore as a prysoner thurgh london / and after [Page] they wolde haue putte hym in holde / but a noyse aroos that the erle of marche his sonne was comynge with ten thousande men to london warde / wherof the kynge and his counseyl fered / and thenne concluded that the duc of yorke sholde departe at his wyl Aboute this tyme byganne greete dyuysyon in spruse bytwene the grete mayster and the knyghtes of the duche ordre whiche were lordes of that countre / For the Comons and townes rebellyd ageynste the lordes / and made so grete warre that at last they callyd the kynge of pole to be theyr lord / whiche cam & was receyuyd and layde syege to the castel of maryenburgh / whiche was the chyef castel and strength of alle the lond / and wanne it / and droofe oute the mayster of danske and alle other places of that lond / And so they that had ben lordes many yeres / lost all theyr seygnorye and possessions in tho landes /

In the yere of oure lorde a thousand four honderd and thre and fyfty the cyte of Constantynople themperyal Cyte of Grece was taken by the turke / the Emperour slayne / and Innumerable cry­sten peple destroyed and put in Captyuyte / by whiche pryse Crysten feyth perysshed in grece / and the turke enhaunced gretely in pryde / ¶ And the yere of our lord a thousand four honderd & thre and fyfty on saynt edwardes day the quene margaret was delyuerd of a fayre prynce / whiche was named Edward / That same day Iohan norman was chosen for to be mayer of london / And the day that he shold take his othe at westmynstre / he wente thyder by water with alle the craftes / where a fore tyme / the mayer aldermen and al the craftes / Rode a horsback / whiche was neuer vsyd after / For syn that tyme they haue euer goone by water in barges / ye haue wel vnderstande to fore how that Contrarye to the promyse of the kyng and also the conclusions taken bytwene the kynge and the duke of york at brentheth / the duke of somersete wente not to ward / but abode about the kyng and hadde grete rewle and was made Capytayne of Calays / and rewlyd the kynge and the Royamme as he wolde / wherfore the grete l̄ordes of the Royamme and also the comons were not ple­syd / for which cause the duke of york the Erles of warwyck and of Salysbury with many knyghtes and squyers and moch̄ peple cam for to remeue the sayd duke of Somersete and other fro the kynge / And the kynge herynge of theyr comyng thought by his counseylle for to haue gone westward and not for to mete with hem / And hadde with hym the Duke of Somersete / the Ducke [Page CCCCxxij] Bokyngham / the erle of stafford / therle of northumberlond / the lord clyfford and many other / And what tyme that the Duk of york and his felawship vnderstode that the kyng was departed with these sayd lordes from london / Anone he chaunged his wey and costed the countrey & cam to saynt albons the thre and twentyest day of maye / and ther mette with the kyng. to whome the kynge sente certayne lordes and desyred hem to kepe the pees and departe / but in conclusion whiles they treated on that one syde / therle of warwik with the marche men and other entrid the tou­ne on that other / and fought ageynst the kynge and his partye / and soo byganne the bataylle and fyghtyng / whiche endured a good whyle / but in conclusion the duck of york obteyned and had the vyctorye of that Iourneye. In whiche was slayne the duke of Somersete / therle of northumberlond / the lord Clyfford and many knyghtes and squyers / And many mo hurt / And on the morne after they brought the kynge in grete astate to london / whiche was lodged in the bisshops palays of london / And anon after was a grete parlament / In whiche parlement the duke of york was made protectour of Englond / And therle of warwik Capytayne of Calays / And therle of Salysbury chauncel [...]r of englond / and all suche personnes as had the rewle to fore aboute the kynge were sette a parte and myght not rewle as they dyde to fore / In this yere deyde pope nycholas the fyfthe / and after hym was Calyxte the thyrdde / This calyxte was a cat [...]lane / & an old man whanne he was chosen and continuelly seke / wherfor he myghte not performe his zele and desyre that he had ageynste the turkes conceyued / and the cause of lettynge therof was his age and sekenesse / ¶This Calyxte Institued and ordeyned the feste of the transfyguracion of our lord to be halowed on saint sixtes day in August by cause of the grete vyctorye that they of hungary had ageynste the turkes that same day / he was chosen pope the yere of our lord thousand four honderd and fyue & fyfty / And deyde the yere thousand four honderd and eyght and fifty / that same day that he ordeyned the feste of the transfyguracion to be halowed / In this yere fyll a grete affraye in london ageynst the lombardes / The cause bygan by cause a yong man toke a daggar from a lombard and brake it / wherfor the yong man on the morn was sente for to come to fore the mayer and aldermen / and there for the offence he was commytted to warde / And then ne the mayer departed from the Guyldhalle for to goo hoome to his [Page] dyner / but in Chepe the yonge men of the mercerye for the most parte prentyses helde the mayer and shreues styll in chepe / and wold not suffre hym to departe vnto the tyme / that theyr Felaw whiche was commytted to warde were delyuerd / and soo by force they rescowed theyr felawe from prysonne / and that / done the mayer and shreuys departed / And the prysoner delyuerd which yf he had be put to pryson had ben in ieopardy of his lyf / & thus beganne a rumour in the cyte ageynst the lombardes / and the sa­me euenyng the handcrafty peple of the toune aroos and ranne to the lombardes howses / and despoylled and robbed dyuerse of hem / wherfor the mayer and aldermen cam with the honest people of the toune and droof them thens and sente somme of them that had stolen to newgate / And the yong man that was rescowed by his felaws sawe this grete rumour affraye and Robberye ensiewed of his fyrst meuyng to the lombard / departed and went to westmynstre to sayntuarye / or ellys it had [...]osted hym his lyf / For anone after cam doune one Oyer determyne / for to doo Iustyce on alle them that soo rebellyd in the Cyte / ageynste the lombardes. on which satte with the mayer that tyme William marowe / the duke of Bokyngham and many other lordes for to see the execucion done / But the Comyns of the Cyte secretely made them redy / and dyde arme them in theyr howses / and were in purpose for to haue rongen the comyn belle / whiche is named bowe belle / But they were lette by sad men / whiche cam to the knowleche of the ducke of Bokyngham and other lordes / and Incontynent they aroos for they durste noo lenger abyde / For they doubted that the hoole Cyte wolde haue arysen ageynste them / But yet neuertheles two or thre of the Cyte were Iuged to deth for this robbery and were hanged at Tyburne / And anone after the kynge / the Quene and other lordes Rode to Couentre / and withdrewe hem from london for thyse causes / And a lytel to fore the duke of yorke was sente fore to Grene­wych̄ / and there was dyscharged of the protectourshippe / And my lord of Salysbury of his chauncelership / And after this they were sente fore by preuy seal for to come to Couentre / where they were almoost deceyued and therle of warwyck also / and shold haue ben destroyed yf they had not seen well to / &c /

¶Capitulum 28

THis yere were taken four grete Fysshes bytwene Eerethe and london / that one was callyd mors maryne / the second a swerd Fysshe / the other tweyne were whales / In this yere for certayne effrayes done in the north countre bytwene the lord egremond / and therle of salysburyes sones / the sayd lord egremond whome they had taken was condempned in a grete somme of money to the sayd erle of Salysbury / and therfor commysed to prison in newgate in london / where whanne he hadde ben a certayne space brake pryson and thre prysoners with hym and escaped / & wente his way / Also this yere therle of warwyk and his wyf wente to calays with a fayr felawship & toke possession of hys offyce / Aboute this tyme was grete reformacion of many mo­nasteryes of relygyon in dyuerse partyes of the world / whiche were reformed after the fyrst Institucion and continued in many places. Also about this tyme the crafte of Enpryntyng was fyrst founde in magounce in Almayne / whiche crafte is multy­plyed thurgh the world in many places. & bookes ben had grete chepe and in grete nombre by cause of the same crafte

This yere was a grete batayll in the marches bytwene hongary and turkye at a place callyd Septegrade / where Innumerable turkes were slayn more by myracle than by mannes hond / For only the honde of god smote them / Seint Iohn of capestrane was there presente / & prouoked the cristen peple beyng thenne aferd to poursiewe the turkes where an Infynyte multitude were slayn and destroyed / the turkes sayd that a grete nombre of Armed men folowed them / that they were aferd to tourne ageyne / they were holy angels / ¶This yere the prysonners of newgate in london brake theyr prysonne and wente vpon the leedes and fought ageynst them of the Cyte and kept the gate a long while but atte last the toune gate the prysonne on them / and than they were put in fetherys and yrons and were soore punysshed in en­sample of other / In this yere also was a grete erth quaue in naples / in soo moche that ther perysshed fourty thousand peple that sanke there in to therth / Item In the yere six and thyrtty saynt Osmond sōtyme bisshop of Salysbury was canonysed at Rome by pope Calyxt / ¶And the sixtenthe daye of Iuyll he was translated at Salysbury by the Archebisshop of Caunterbury and many other bisshops / ¶And in August after Syre pyers [Page] de brese [...] seneschal of normandy with the capitayne of depe and many other capytaynes and men of warre wente to the see with a grete nauye and cam in to the downes by nyght· and on the morne erly byfore day they londed and cam to Sandwyche both by lande and water / and toke the toune and ryfled and despoilled it / And toke many prysoners / and lefte the toune al bare / whiche was a ryche place and moche good therynne / And ladde with hem many ryche prysoners / ¶ In this yere in many places of Fraunce / Almayne / Flaundres / Holond / and Zelond children gadred them by grete companyes / for to goo on pylgre­mage to saynt mychels mount in normandye / whiche cam fro fer contreyes / wherof the peple merueylled and many supposyd that somme wycked spyryte meuid them to soo doo / but it endured not longe by cause of the longe way and also for lack of vytayll as they wente. ¶ In this yere Raynold pecok / Bisshop of Chychestre was founden an heretyke / and the thyrdde day of De­cember was abiured at lambhyth in the presence of the Archebis­shop of Caunterbury and many Bisshops and doctours / and lordes temporall / and his bookes brente at poulus crosse / Ye haue herde to fore how certayne lordes were slayne at saynt Albons / Wherfore was alwey a grutche and wrath had by the eyres of them that were soo slayne ageynst the Duke of yorke / the Erles of warwyck and of Salysbury / wherfor the kyng by thaduys of his counseylle sente for them to london / To whiche place the Duke of york cam the syx and twentyest day of Ianyuer with four honderd men / and lodgeat Baynardys castel in his owne place / And the fyftenth day of Ianyuer cam therle of Salysbury with fiue honderd men / and was lodged in therber in his ow­ne place / And thenne cam the dukes of excetre and of Somerse­te with eyght honderd men / and lay withoute tempelbarre / And the Erle of northumberlonde the lorde egremond / and the Lord clyfford with fyftene honderd men / and lodged withoute toun And the mayer that tyme gefferey boleyn kept grete watche with the Comons of the Cyte and rode aboute the Cyte by Holburn and Fletestrete with a fyue thousand men wel armed and ara­yd for to kepe the pees / And the fourtenth day of Feuerer therle of warwyck cam to london from Calays wel beseen and wor­shipfully with six honderd men in reede Iaquettys browdryd with a ragged staf behynde and afore / ¶ And he was lodged atte gray Freres / And the seuententhe daye of Marche [Page CCCCxxiiij] the kynge cam. to london and the quene / And there was a con­corde and pees made amonge these lordes / and they were sette in pees / ¶And on oure lady day the xxv day of marche a thou­sand four honderd and eyght and fyfty / the kyng / quene. and all these lordes wente on. procession at powlus in london / and anone after the kynge and lordes departed / ¶In this yere was a grete affray in fletestrete bytwene men of court and men of the same strete / In whiche affray the quenes attorney was slayne.

Capitulum 29

ALso this same yere as the Erle of warwyck was at a coū ­seyll at westmynstre / Alle the kynges houshold meyny gadred them to geder for to haue slayne the sayd erle / but by helpe of god and his frendes he recoueryd his barge / and escaped theyr euyll enterpryse / how wel the Coques cam rennynge oute with spyttes and pestels ageynst hym / And the same day he roode to­ward warwyk / And sone after he gate hym a commyssion / and wente ouer see to calays / Sone after this therle of Salysbury comyng to london was encoūtrid at bloreheth with the lord audeley / & moche other peple ordeyned for to haue destressid him / but he hauynge knowleche that he shold be mette with / was accōpanyed with his twoo sonnes sir thomas and sir Iohan neuyll / and a greete felawship of good men / And soo they mette / And fough [...]e to geders / where therle of salysbury wanne the feld / And the lord audley was slayn and many gentill men of chesshyre and moche peple hurte / And therles twoo sonnes were hurte / and goynge homeward afterward they were taken / and had to Chestre by the quenes meyne / ¶ After Calyxte / pius was pope and was chosen this yere 1458 / And he was callyd to fore Eneas an Eloquent man and a poete laureate / he was Ambassa [...]our of the Emperours afore tyme / ¶ And he wrote in the counseylle of basylle a noble trayttye for thauctoryte of the same. Also he canonysed saynt katheryne of Senys / ¶ This po­pe ordeyned grete Indulgencys and pardonne to them that wol­de go warre ageynst the turke / and wrote an Epystle to the grete turke exortynge hym to become crysten / ¶And in the ende he ordeygned a passage ageynste the Turke at Ankone / To [Page] whiche moche peple drewe oute of all partyes of Crystendome / of whiche peple he sente many hoome. ageyne by cause they suffy­sed not / And anone after he deyde at the sayd place of Ancone / the yere of oure lord a thousand foure honderd and liiij the xiiij day of August / ¶ In the yere eyght and thyrtty of kyng harry the duke of yorke / the Erles of warwyck and of Salys­bury sawe the gouernaunce of the Royamme stode moost by the quene and her counseylle / and how the grete prynces of the londe were not callyd to counseylle but sette a parte / & not only soo / but that it was sayd thurgh the Royame that tho sayd lordes shol­de be destroyed vtterly as it openly was shewed atte bloreheth by them that wold haue slayne the Erle of Salesburye / Thēne they for sauacion of theyr lyues and also for the comyn wele of the Royame thought for to remedye thyse thynges / assemblyd them to gyder with moche peple and toke a felde in the west countray / to whiche the erle of warwyck cam from calays with ma­ny of thold soudyours / as andrew Trollop / and other / in whos wysedomes as for the warre he moche trusted / and whanne they were thus assemblyd and made theyr felde / the kynge sente oute his commissyons and preuy sealys vnto alle the lordes of hys royamme to come and awayte on hym in theyr mooste defensable wyse / and soo euery man cam in suche wyse that the kynge was strenger / and hadde moche more peple than the duc of york / and the Erles of warwyck / and Salysbury / For it is here to be noted that euery lord in englond at this tyme durst not dysobe­ye the quene / For she rewlyd peasybly all that was done about the kynge / whiche was a good symple and Innocent man / And thenne whanne the kynge was comen to the place where as they were / the duck of yorke and his felawship had made theyr felde in the strengest wyse / and hadde purposed veryly to abyden and haue foughten / But in the nyght Andrew Trollop and all the olde Soudyours of Calays with a greete felawshippe / so­daynly departed oute of the dukes hooste / and wente strayte vnto the kynges felde / where they were resseyued Ioyously / For they knewe the entente of the other lordes and also the ma­ner of theyr feld ¶ And thenne the duck of york with the other lordes seynge them so deceyued toke a counseylle shortly in that same nyghte and departed from the Felde leuynge behynde them the mooste parte of theyr people to kepe the Felde till on the morne / ¶ Thenne the Duke of [Page CCCCxxv] yorke with his seconde sonne departed thurgh walys toward Ir­lond leuynge his oldest sone therle of marche with the Erles of warwyck and of Salesbury / whiche to geder with thre or foure personnes roode strayte in to deuenshyre / and there by helpe and ayde of one denbam a squyer / whiche gate for them a shippe / whiche coste enleuen score noblys / & with the same shippe sailed fro thens in to garneseye / And there refresshyd them / and from thennes sayled te Calays / where they were receyued in to the castel by the postern er they of the toune knewe of hit / And the duk of yorke toke shippynge in wales and sayled ouer in to Irlond where he was well resseyued

¶ Capitulum Trisesimum

THenne kynge harry beynge with his hooste in the felde not knowynge of this sodayne departynge on the morne fonde none in the felde of the sayde lordes. sente oute in all haste men to folowe and poursiewe after to take hem / but they mette not with them as god wold / and thenne the kyng wente to ludlowe and dispoylled the castel and the toune / And sent the duchesse of york with her children to my lady of Bokyngham her suster / where she was kepte longe after / And forthwith the kynge ordeyned the duc of somersete Capytayne of Calays / And these other lordes soo departed as a fore is sayd were proclamed rebellys and grete traytours / ¶ Thenne the duke of Somersete toke to hym alle tho Soudyours that departed fro the felde / and made hym redy in alle haste to goo to Calays and take possession of his of­fyce / And whanne he cam he fonde the Erle of warwyck therin as capytayne / And therles of marche and salysbury also / And thenne he londed by Scales and wente to guysnes / and there he was resseyued / ¶ And it fortuned that somme of tho shippis that cam ouer with hym / came in to Calays hauen by theyr free wylle / For the shipmen ought more fauoure to the Erle of warwyck than to the Duke of Somersete /

In whiche shippes were taken dyuerse men· as Ienyn Fynk­hyll / Iohan felaw / ka [...]lles and purser / whiche were byheded so­ne after in Calays ¶And after this dayly cam men ouer See to thyse lordes to Calays / And byganne to wexe strenger and strenger· And they borowed moche good good of the staple / [Page] And on that other syde the duc of Somersete beyng in guysnesgate people to hym / whiche cam oute and scarmusshed with them of Calays / and they of Calays with them whiche endured many dayes / duryng thus this dayly scarmuchynge / moche people dayly cam ouer vnto thyse lordes / Thenne on a tyme by thaduys of counseylle the lordes at calays sente ouer Mayster Denham with a grete felawship to Sandwyche / whiche toke the toune / And therynne the lord Ryuers and the lord scales his sonne / and toke many shippes in the hauen / and brought hem alle to calays / with whiche shippes many maronners of theyr free wylle cam to Calays to serue the Erle of warwyck / ¶ And after this the Erle of warwyk by thaduys of the lordes toke alle his shippis and mannyd them wel / and sayled him self in to Irlond for to speke with the duke of yorke / and to take his aduys how they sholde entre in to Englond ageyne / And whanne he hadde ben there and done his erandes / he retourned ageyne toward Ca­lays / and brought with hym his moder the Countesse of Salysbury / And comyng in the west countraye vpon the see the duk of excetre admyral of englond beyng in the grace a dieu accompanyed with many shippes of warre / met with therle of warwyck and his flote / but they fought not / For the substaunce of the pe­ple beynge with the duke of excetre ought better wyll and more fauour to therle of warwyck than to hym / And soo they depar­ted and cam to Calays in saefte / blessyd be god /

Thenne the kynges counseylle seynge that these lordes had goten these shippes from Sandwiche and taken the lord Ryuers and his sonne ordeyned a garnyson at Sandwiche to abyde and kepe the toune / And made one mountford Capytayne of the Toune / And that noo man / ne vytaylle ne marchaunt that sholde goo in to Flaundres shold not goo to Calays / Thenne they of Calays seynge this made oute mayster denham and many other to goo to Sandwiche / And soo they dyde / and assaylled the toune by water and by lande / And gate it and brought mountford theyr Capytayne ouer see to rysebank and there smote of his heede / And yet dayly men cam ouer to them oute of all partyes of En­glond /

¶ Capitulum Trisesimum Primum·

[Page CCCCxxvj]ANd after this the sayd erles of marche warwyk and of salysbury cam ouer see to douer with moche peple and there landed / to whome al the coūtray drewe and cam to london armed And for to late the lordes of the kynges counseylle knowe theyr trouth / and also theyr entente / assemblyd them and told them / that they entended no harme vnto the kynges personne / sauf that they wold putte fro hym suche persones as were aboute hym / ¶And soo departed fro london with a grete puyssaunce toward norhampton / where the kynge was accompanyed with many lor­des and had made a stronge felde withoute the toun / And there both partyes mette and was foughten a grete bataylle· In which batayll were slayne the duck of Bokyngham / therle of shrowesbury / the vysecounte Beamond / the lorde Egremond and many knyghtes and Squyers and other also / And the kyng hym self taken in the felde / and afterward brought to london / And anone afterward was a parlament at westmynstre / duryng whiche parlament the duck of york cam onte of Irlond with therle of Rutland rydyng with a grete felawship in to the palays at westmes­tre and toke the kynges palays ¶ And cam in to the parlement chambre / and there toke the kynges place / and claymed the croune as his propre enherytaunce and ryght / and cast forth in wrytynge his tytle / and also how he was ryghtful Eyer / wherfore was moche to doo / but in conclusion it was appoynted and con­cluded that kynge harry sholde regne and be kyng durynge his naturel lyf / For as moche as he had ben so long kyng / and was possessyd / And after his deth the duke of yorke shold be kynge and his eyres kynges after hym / And forthwith shold be proclamed eyr apparaunt / And sholde be also protectour and Regence of englonde durynge the kynges lyf / with many other thynges ordeyned in the same parlament / And if kyng harry duryng his lyf wente from this appoyntement / or ony artycle concluded in the sayd parlement he shold be deposed / & the duke sholde take the crowne and be kyng / all whiche thynges were enacted by thauctorite of the sayd parlament / At whiche parlament the Comons of the Royamme beyng assemblyd in the comon hows comenynge and treatyng vpon the tytle of the sayd duc of yorke / sodaynly fyll downe the crowne whiche henge thenne in the myddes of the sayd hows whiche is the fraytour of thabbay of westmynstre / whiche was taken for a prodyge or token that the regne of kyng harry was ended and also the crowne whiche stode on the byest [Page] tour of the stepel in the Castel of douer fyll doun this same yere /

¶ Capitulum 32

THenne for as moche as the quene with the prynce was in the northe / and absented her from the kyng / And wolde not obeye suche thynges as was concluded in the parlement / hit was ordeyned that the duck of york as protectour shold go norward for to brynge in the quene and subdue suche as wold not obeye / with whome wente the erle of Salysbury / Syre Tho­mas neuylle his sonne with moche peple / And at wakefelde in Crystemasse weke they were alle ouerthrowen and slayn by the lordes of the quenes partye· that is to wete the duk of york slayn therle of Rutland / Syre thomas neuyll and many moo / Therle of Salysbury was taken a lyue and other as Iohan harow of london Capytayne of the foote men / and hanson of hulle / which were brought to pountfret / and there after byheded and theyr he­des sente to yorke and sette vpon the yates / And thus was that noble prynce slayne the duke of yorke / on whoos sowle & on alle crysten sowles god haue mercy Amen / And this tyme therle of marche beyng in shrewesbury heeryng the deth of his fader / desyred assistence and ayde of the toune for to auenge his faders d [...]th / And from thennes wente to walys / where at Candelmasse after he had a batayl at mortemers crosse ageynst therles of penbroke and of wylshyre / where the erle of marche had the vycto­rye / Thenne the quene with the lordes of the north after they had distressyd and slayne the duck of yorke and his felauship / came southward with a grete multitude and puyssance of peple for to come to the kynge / and defete suche conclusions as had ben taken byfore by the parlement / Ageynste whoos comynge the Duke of norfolke / the erle of warwycke with moche peple and ordenaunce wente vnto saynt Albons / And ladde kyng harry with hem / And there encountryd to geder in suche wyse and foughte that the duke of norfolke / and therle of warwyk with other of theyr partye fledde and loste that Iourneye / where kynge harry was taken / and wente with the quene and prynce / and his sonne / whiche tho had goten that felde / ¶ Thenne the quene and her partye beynge at theyr aboue sente anone to london / whiche was on Asshwednesday / the fyrste daye of lente for vytaylle / whiche [Page CCCCxxvij] the mayer ordeyned by thaduys of the aldermen that certayne cartes laden with vytaylle shold be sente to saynt Albons to them / And whanne tho cartes cam to crepylgate / the Comons of the cyte that kepte that gate toke the vytaylles from the cartes / and wold not suffre it to passe / ¶ Thenne were ther certayne Aldermen and comeners appoynted to goo to barnet for to speke with the quenes coūseylle for to entrete that the northern men shold be sente home ageyne in to theyr countraye ageyne / For the Cyte of london dredde soore to be robbed and despoylled / yf they had come And thus duryng thys trayttye tydynges cam that the Erle of warwyk had mett with therle of marche on Cotteswold comyng oute of wales with many wallshmen / And that they bothe were comyng to londonward / Anone as these tydynges were knowen the trayttye was broken / For the kyng / quene prynce / and all the other lordes that were with hem departed from saynt albons northward with alle theyr peple / yet er they departed they byheded the lord Boneyle / and Syr thomas cryel / whiche were taken in the Iourneye done in the shroftewysday. Thenne the duchesse of yorke beyng at london and herynge of the losse of the Felde of saynt albons sente ouer see her twoo yonge sonnes George and Rychard whiche wente to vtrecht / And phelyp malpas a ryche marchaūt of london / thomas vaghan squyer and mayster wylliam hatte­clyf / and many other feryng the comyng of the quene to london toke a shippe of Andwerp for to haue goone in to Zeland / And on that other coost were taken of one Colompne a Frensshman a shippe of warre and he toke hem prysoners / and brought hem in to Fraunce / where they payd grete good for theyr raunsonne / and ther was moche good and rychesse in that shippe /

¶ Capitulum Trisesimum Tercium /

THenne whanne the Erle of marche and therle of warwyk hadde mette to geder on Cottiswold Incontynent they con­cluded to go to london / And sente worde anone to the Mayer and to the cyte that they sholde come / Anone the Cyte was gladde of theyr comynge hopynge to be relyeuyd by them / And soo they cam to london / And whanne they were comen and hadde spoken with the lordes and astates / thenne beyng there concluded for as [Page] moche as kynge harry was gone with them northward / that he had forfayted his crowne and ought to be deposed acordyng vnto the actes made and passed in the last parlement / /

And soo by thaduys of the lordes spirituel and temporel thenne beynge ot london· the erle of marche Edward by the grace of god oldest sone of Rychard duke of yorke as ryghtful heyr and next enherytour to his fader / the fourth day of marche the yere of oure lorde Lix toke possession of the Royamme of Englond at westmynstre in the grete halle. And after in the chirche of the ab­bay and offryd as kynge berynge the Septre Royall / to whom alle the lordes bothe spirituel and temporell dyde hommage and obeyssaunce as to theyr souerayne / lyege / and lawfull lord and kynge / And forthwith it was proclamed thurgh the Cyte kyng Edward the fourthe of that name / And anone after the kyng roode in his Ryall astate norward with all his lordes for to sub­due his subgettis that tyme beyng in the north / and tauenge his faders deth / And on palmsonday after he hadde a grete bataylle in the northe countrey at a place callyd Towton not fer fro yorke / where with the helpe of god he gate the felde and had the vycto­rye· where were slayne of his aduersaryes xxx thousand men & moo as it was sayd by men that were there / In whiche bataylle was slayne the erle of northumberlond / the lord clyfford / Syr Iohan N [...]uyll / the Erle of westmerlandes brother / Andrewe Trollop / and many other knyghtes and squyers / ¶ Thenne kynge harry that had ben kynge beynge with the quene and Prynce at yorke / heerynge the losse of that feld and soo moche peple slayn and ouerthrowen / anone forthwith departed al thre with the duc of Somersete / the lord roos and other toward scotland / And the next daye kynge Edward with all his armye entryd in to yorke / and was there proclamed kyng / and obeyed as he ought to be / And the mayer Aldermen and comyns sworne to be his lyege men / and whanne he hadde taryed a while in the north and that alle the countrey there had tourned to him / he retorned southwarde leuynge the Erle of warwyck in tho partyes for to kepe and gouerne that countrey / And about mydsomer after the yere of oure lord god a thousande four honderd and syxty / And the fyrste yere of his regne he was crowned at westmynstre and enoynted kynge of Englond hauynge the hoole possession of all the hoole Royamme / whome I praye god saue and kepe / and sende hym thaccomplysshement of the remenaunt of his rightfull [Page CCCCxxviij] enherytaunce by yonde the see / And that he may regne in them to the playsyre of almyghty god / herthe of his sowle / honoure and worshippe in this presente lyf / and wele and prouffyte of alle his subgettis / and that there may be a veray fynal pees in al cry­sten Royames that the Infydeles and myscreauntes may be with­standen and destroyed / and our feyth enhaunced / whiche in thyse dayes is sore mynuysshed by the puyssaunce of the Turkes and hethen men / And that after this presente and short lyf we maye come to the euerlastyng lyf in the blysshe of heuen / Amen

And here I make an ende of this lytel werke as nygh as I can fynde after the forme of the werk to fore made by Ranulph monk of Chestre / And where as ther is fawte / I beseche them that shal rede it to correcte it / For yf I coude haue founden moo storyes / I wold haue sette in hit moo / but the substaunce that I can fynde and knowe I haue shortly sette hem in this book. to thentente that such̄ thynges as haue ben done syth the deth or ende of the sa­yd boke of polycronycon shold be had in remembraunce and not putte in oblyuyon ne forgetynge / prayenge all them that shall see this symple werke to pardone me of my symple / and rude wrytynge / ¶ Ended the second day of Iuyll the xxij yere of the regne of kynge Edwardthe fourth & of the Incarnacion of oure lord a thousand four honderd foure score and tweyne /

Fynysshed per Caxton

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