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The Anonymous Short English Metrical Chronicle
Here may men rede whoso can {f.304ra}
 Hou Jnglond first bigan.
Men mow it finde jn Englische
As þe Brout it telleþ, ywis.
5000 Herkeneþ hiderward lordinges, ȝe þat wil here of kinges,
Ichil ȝou tellen as y can
Hou Jnglond first bigan.
Sitteþ stille grete & smale
1000 & ȝe schal here a wel fair tale.
A king þer was in heþen lond,
Of Grece he was ich vnderstond.
He was a swiþe noble kniȝt,
Duhti man he was in fiȝt,
1500 Riȝt stalworþ & strong:
Þe best bodi jn ani lond.
In þat time þat was yfounde
His enemis al he brouȝt to grounde;
Man he was of grete nobleye.
2000 A wiif he hadde soþ to say,
A riȝt swiþe feir quen,
Non feirer no miȝt ben.
Children he wan on hir tventi,
Al maiden childer witterly,
2500 Feir of siȝt on to se,
Þe feirest maidens of þat cuntre.
When þe maidens wer of age
Þai wer ȝeuen to mariage
To hem þat wer of gret honour.
3000 Noiþer to king no to emperour,
Al þai were maride wel,
Als to swiche wimen bifel.
¶ Afterward sone anon
Þeldest soster of euerichon -
3500 Hir name forsoþe hiȝt Albin -
Sche hir biþouȝt in iuel tim
Of tresoun al for to do,
Hou sche miȝt hir lord slo.
Þe deuel jnto hir hert aliȝt
4000 & consey[l]d hir anonriȝt
After hir sostren for to sende
& tel hem alle ord & ende
Hou sche hadde yþouȝt to do,
Hir lord wiþ tresoun for to slo.
4500 ¶ A messanger sche cleped
anon {f.304rb}
& bad him swiþe he schuld gon
To hir sostren al bidene,
Þat wer wimen briȝt & schene,
& to hem al for to say
5000 Þat þai come at a certeyn day
To hir, al wiþ hir to speke.
Wiþ tresoun þat wold ben awreke
Of hir lord curteys & fre
Þe fairest kniȝt þat miȝt be.
5500 Þe messanger him went anon
To hir sustren euerichon
& his message he gan telle
As to a messanger bifelle.
Hir sustren han her way ynome,
6000 Sone to Albin þai ben ycome;
Þo þai com toforn hir alle
& were asembled in þe halle
Albin þan to hem seyd,
'Sostren' sche seyd 'ich am bitreyd,
6500 Mi lord me holdeþ so in eye
Þat y dar nouȝt oȝain hi[m] say
Word no half in halle no bour.
Þat is to me gret desanour,
Þerfor ichil awreken be
7000 Of him when ich mi time se.'
¶ At þat word þai spoken alle
Anon toforn hir in þe halle
& seyden al by & by,
'So fare we al witterly.
7500 Of hem we haue miche grame
To ous al it is gret schame
For we ben al of heye parage
& ycomen of heye linage.'
¶ Albin hem answerd anon,
8000 'Sostren, wite ȝe what we schul don?
Wele schul we awreken be
ȝif ȝe wil don after me;
ȝe schul me pliȝten al ȝour fay
Þat ȝe schal don as y ȝo[u] say
8500 Þis ich day a seuen niȝt.
Lokeþ wele bi al ȝour miȝt
ȝour lordes to maken glad chere
Al þat day as nouȝt no were.
At euen lokeþ sone & swiþe {f.304va}
9000 Þat ich of ȝou haue a kniue,
& when þat ȝe schul go to rest
Loke þat ȝe be redy & prest
& to þe hert swiþe hem smite
Þat neuer man þerof no wite.
9500 & afterward wel priueliche
Bidelue hem in a foule diche;
Þan may we liue in gret anour
& maisters ben & comandour,
Erliche & late, loude & stille,
1000 Euerich man to don our wille.'
¶ When þis wordes weren yseyd
Al þerwiþ þai weren ypeyd
& seyden al wiþouten fayl
Þat þis was a gode conseyl
1050 & after her rede þai wald do
Her hosbondes al for to slo.
Ac þe ȝinges[t] of hem euerichon
Þouȝt sche nold nouȝt so don,
Hir lord to slen wiþ trecherie;
1100 Arst sche þouȝt hem al biwreye
Ar sche wald do þat wicke dede.
'Crist' sche seyd, it forbede
Mi lord ani tresoun do;
Crist nold neuer it wer so.'
1150 Hir lord þat was a ȝongling
Sche loued mest of al þing
Also schuld ich gode wiman -
Ac mani on so do no can.
Þe sustren al wenten home
1200 Vnto her stedes þat þai come
& þouȝtten al haue don þat dede
Þurth trecherie & þurth falshede.
Þe ȝong soster, when sche hom cam,
Anon hir lord warn sche gan
1250 & told him of þat foule meschaunce
& of þat wicked puruiaunce
Þat hir sostren had made.
Þerfore in hert sche was vnglade.
¶ 'Leman' sche seyd 'hende & fre,
1300 Of o þing ichil warn þe:
Mine sostren al þurth wicked rede
Han ordeyned an iuel dede
Her lordes al to bring of dawe, {f.304vb}
Oȝaines riȝt, oȝaines lawe,
1350 & eren men of gret anour;
It were a foule mesauentour.
God þat heyest sitt of alle
No lat it neuer so bifalle.'
'Leman' he seyd 'may þis be soþ?'
1400 'ȝa, sir, wiþouten oþ.
Þat schaltow wele wite & se.
Þe next sonne niȝt þat schal be,
Þat niȝt schal þe ded be don,
Þat slayn þai schal ben euerichon;
1450 & for þi loue, dede y schal be
Þat ichaue wraied her priuete.'
'Leman' he seyd 'of gret valour,
Þou schalt be kept wiþ gret anour,
Erliche & lat, loude & stille,
1500 Þine hertes wil to fulfille.
Of þis wordes þai leten her pas
& made togider grete solas
Wiþ joie & blis al þat niȝt
What it sprong þe day liȝt.
1550 Amorwe when þe day gan spring
& þe foules miri sing,
Þe kniȝt aros anonriȝt
& atired him, wele apliȝt.
His steward he gan to him calle
1600 & charged him biforn hem alle
Þat he schuld wiþ gret anour
His lef to serue in halle & bour
Of al þing sche wald craue;
Rediliche sche schuld it haue.
1650 ¶ 'Sir' he seyd 'bi God almiȝt,
Sche schal be serued, wel apliȝt,
Of what þing it be her wille,
Erliche & lat, loude & stille,
As falleþ to wiman of gret anour,
1700 Boþe in halle & in bour.'
¶ Þe kniȝt was atired in riche wede
& sadeld was his gode stede.
He girt him wiþ a gode brond,
Into þe sadel sone he wond,
1750 & forþeward bigan to ride,
Kniȝtes & sweynes bi his side.
Al þat day his way he nome {f.305ra}
What he to þe palays come
Þat was lord & emperour
1800 Þat ȝaf him wiif wiþ grete anour.
Atte gates he gan aliȝt
& went him in hastiliche, apliȝt;
Þurthout þe halle, into þe bour,
Þer he fond þat emperour,
1850 & hendiliche he him grett.
When þai togider mett,
'Sir' seyd þe kniȝt 'in priuete
O word ichil speke wiþ þe;
Why & wharfor hider ich com
1900 Þou schalt it wite son anon.'
¶ Þemperour þo gan vpstond
& tok þe kniȝt bi þe hond
& wiþ semblant glad & bliþe
To chamber lad him also swiþe
1950 His message for to here,
To wite what his wille were.
'Sir' seyd þe kniȝt 'in priuete,
O þing ichil warni þe:
Þine douhtern euerichone
2000 Han puruayd a foule tresone
Her lordes al for to sle.
Þe next sonne niȝt þat schal be,
Þat niȝt schal þe dede be done,
Þat slayn þai schal ben euerichon;
2050 Þus þai han her conseyl take
Eueriche to slen her make
Þurth trecherie & þurth falshed.
Þat is a swiþe wicked dede.
Þe king answerd 'hou may þis be?
2100 Is it soþ þou tel it me?'
'ȝa, sir' he seyd 'bi mi trewþe;
Þat is swiþe miche rewþe.'
Þe king seyd 'what is best to don?'
'Sir, after þine douhtern send anon;
2150 Do hem al bifor þe come
To wite þe soþ of þis tresone,
& when þai beþ ycomen alle,
Þe ȝongest schaltow to þe calle
& charge hir in priuete
2200 Þat sche þe soþe tel þe
Of her tresoun & her trecherie, {f.305rb}
No word to þe þat sche no lye.'
Wiþ þat conseyl þe king was peyd
& dede as þe kniȝt had seyd.
2250 Swiþe he cleped a messanger
& bad hem go boþe fer & ner
His douhtern al to warni
Þat hij come to him hastily,
Vnto her fader sone anon,
2300 To wite his conseyl & his dom
O þing þat he wald to hem telle.
'Go' he seyd '& nouȝt no duelle.'
¶ Þe messanger swiþe went
& dede þe kinges comandment;
2350 Fro toun to toun he ran bliue
His message he dede swiþe.
Þo þe sostren euerichon
Toforn her fader þai comen anon,
& when þai wer toforn him come
2400 He spac to hem atte frome.
Þe ȝingest of hem euerichon
He cleped to him sone anon
& seyd 'douhter, y bid þe
O þing me telle in priuete,
2450 As tow louest þine anour,
Or þou schalt haue gret deshonour,
Þou & þine sostren alle,
Miche schame ȝou schal bifalle,
Wiþ vile deþ to ben yschent,
2500 Yboiled quic or ben ybrent.'
On knes swiþe sche gan to falle
& merci sche crid biforn hem alle.
'Sir' sche seyd wiþ reweful cri,
'On me now ȝe haue merci.
2550 Of al þing ichil ben aknowe,
Toforn boþe heye & lowe,
Of what þing so it euer bifalle
Of me & of min sostren alle.'
Hir fader hir gan vpbreyd
2600 & þis wonder to hir he seyd:
'Is it soþ þat ȝe han byþouȝt,
Þou & þine sostren - leyȝe me nouȝt -
ȝour lordes al for to sle
Þis next sonne niȝt schal be,
2650 Wiþ trecherie &
wiþ treson? {f.305va}
Þe soþe þou tel me anon.'
'Sir' sche seyd 'ieo vus dy,
It is soþ witterly.
Our lordes al we schuld haue slawe
2700 & ybrouȝt of liif dawe.
[I]t was our conseyl & our rede
Hem alle haue don to ded.
Þan schuld we liue in gret anour
& ich of ous be comandour,
2750 Erliche & late, loud & stille,
Euerich man to don our wille.'
When hij was þis word aknowe,
Biforn hem alle heye & lowe,
Þemperour ȝaf jugement
2800 Euerichon to ben ybrent;
Ac for þai were of his linage
& ycomen of heye parage,
He comaund swiþe a schip to make,
Þat it wer redi for her sake,
2850 & his douhtren euerichon
Swiþe anon þerin to don,
Wiþouten seyl, wiþouten ore.
Þerin þai wer don, lasse & more;
Bot þe ȝingest of hem ichon,
2900 Þilke was bileued at hom.
Þai wer ystired fro þe lond
& rode forþ bi þe se strond
Day & niȝt, wike & oþer,
Wiþouten seyl, wiþouten roþer.
2950 Þe winde hem drof fer & wide,
Vp & doun bi euerich side.
Miche sorwe þai gun to make
& eueriche wepe for oþer sake.
Þe winde fast bigan to blowe
3000 & þe wawes vp & doun hem þrowe;
Sori wimen weren he,
Adrenched þai wende for to be,
Ac God þat sitt in heuen-trone
Al þat he wil it schal be done.
3050 Þus þai riden bi þe strond
What þai com to þis lond,
& whan þai gun here ariue
In hert þai wer glad & bliþe.
Asclaundred þai were euerichon, {f.305vb}
3100 Þerfore þai made michel mone.
¶ Þo bispac þeldest, Albin,
'Listeneþ sostren þat be min,
Y schal ȝou telle hou it schal be:
Þis lond ichil sese to me,
3150 After mi name Albion
ȝe schullen it clepe euerichon.'
Opon þis lond þai gun riue
& gras & rotes gadred bliue,
Frout & acren to her mete;
3200 Oþer þing miȝt þai non gete.
Loges swiþe þai gun hem make
To resten hem in arliche & lat.
In þat time in al þis lond
An acre of lond þai ne fond,
3250 Bot wode & wildernisse;
Þai no fond tilþe more no lesse.
Ac sone anon after swiþe
Þai biþouȝten hem bliue
Hou þai venisoun miȝt take,
3300 Gode mete þerof to make.
Þai gun to make mani gin
Þe wilde bestes for to win,
& so þai dede day & oþer;
Þermid þai gun hem frouer
3350 & made hem boþe glad & bleþe
& her hunger gan wele liþe.
Þai ferd wele þo hem among,
After lecherie hem gun long,
& seyd among hem euerichon
3400 Hem failed nouȝt bot mannes mon.
Þe fende of helle, þat foule wiȝt,
Amonges hem al þer aliȝt
& engenderd þo on hem
Geauntes þat wer strong men,
3450 & of hem come þe geauntes strong
Þat were byȝeten in þis lond.
Forsoþe to say, on þis maner
Were þe geauntes biȝeten here,
& ȝeres after mani & long
3500 Þai kept þis lond in her hond
Eyȝte hundred winter, al bidene;
Þai kept þis lond hem bitvene
Euer til þat Brut him come, {f.306ra}
Þat was filius Brutus sone,
3550 & he forsoþe, wiþouten feyle,
Ouercom hem al in batayle,
& þus þis lond hiȝt Albyone.
To þat Brut fram Troie come,
Þat was a þousand & tvo hundred ȝer
3600 Er þan Ihesu Mari bere.
Þo cam Brutt fram Troye, ywis,
Þat was filius sone Brutis;
Douhti man com wiþ him also,
Þat Cornius was ycleped þo.
3650 In þat time in al þis lond, ywis,
Nas þer tilþe, more no lesse,
Toun no hous neuer non
Er þan Brutt fram Troye com;
Al was wode & wildernisse,
3700 Her no was tilþe,
more no lesse.
Geauntes her woned swiþe strong
Þat wer boþe gret & long.
Gomagog was her king;
He no hadde non euening.
3750 He was of swiþe grete strengþe,
Fourti fot he was of lengþe,
.xii. fram his helbowe to his hond,
& .xx. on brede men him fond.
In grete hilles þai woned here
3800 & liued bi erbes & bi wilde dere;
Milke & water þai dronk nouȝt elles,
As þe Broutt ous siggeþ & telleþ.
Schepe þai hadde as hors grete
Þat bere wolle so doþ þe gete;
3850 Þerof þai made hem sclauines
So palmers weren & paynimes.
Þo (þe) Brutt com þis lond to win
Þe geauntes þat her wonden in,
¶ Þo þai herd of Brutus come,
3900 Þai com togider al & some
To ȝiuen hem bateyl anon,
& to slen hem euerichon.
Brutus folk wer wel kene,
& þat was wonder wele ysene:
3950 Þe geauntes þai ouercome
& her gret king þai nome,
Gomagog þat was so strong {f.306rb}
& so wonderliche long.
Cornious þe champioun,
4000 Þat wiþ Brutt fram Troye com,
He seye Co[g]magog so sterne,
He desired swiþe ȝernne
To wrastli wiþ þat foule þing
Þat was þe geauntes king.
4050 Of Brutus he bad a bone
& he him graunted swiþe sone.
Cornius anon forþ schete
To þe geaunt þat was so grete,
Al day wrastli þay gunne
4100 Fort hem failed liȝt of sunne.
Gomagog was atened strong
Þat o man him stode so long
& Cornius he prest so fast
Þat to ribbes in his side tobrast.
4150 Brut biheld Cornius
& to him he seyd þus,
'Cornius, what dostow nouþe?
Nas neuer, bi norþ, no bi souþe,
No bi water, no bi londe,
4200 Er now þi per yfounde;
& ȝif þe word of þe sprong
Þat o man þe stode so long,
Geaunt oþer champioun,
Al þine anour wer leyd adoun,
4250 & nameliche to þi leman
Þat is so feir a wiman.'
¶ When Cornius herd þat
Þat Brut of his leman spac,
Of Ernebourwe þat maiden hende,
4300 To Gomagog he gan wende
& him pelt wiþ swiche strengþe
Þei he wer more þan he o lengþe,
Þat fourti fot roume & gret,
Into þe se he made him lepe.
4350 Cornius þat was so fre
He wode into þe salt se
& wiþ a swerd þat wald wele bite
Þe geauntes heued he gan ofsmite
& dede it hong bi a cheyne
4400 In Cornewaile for certeyne.
When þe geauntes wer ouercome {f.306va}
& Brut hadde þis lond ynome,
Cornius him was so lef
Þat al a cuntre he him ȝef
4450 & cleped þat cuntre for þat bateyle
After Cornius, Cornewayle.
¶ Brut hadde miche folk wiþ him,
Boþe of fremde & of kin,
Þat wer tiliers gode;
4500 Þai falwede erþe & felled wode
Of þis lond þat was so wilde.
Þai bigun tounes to bilde:
Brut made Londen first wiþ game
& ȝaf it his houne name,
4550 Newe Troye, for he cam
First fram Troye & it bigan.
Brut sett Londen ston
& þis wordes he seyd anon,
'ȝif ich king þat after me come
4600 Make þis cite wide & rome
As ichaue bi mi day,
ȝete herafter men sigge may
Þat Troye nas neuer so fair cite
So þis cite schal be.'
4650 Þilke time, þurth Brutus mouþe,
Newe Troye it was name couþe.
¶ Brut hadde þre sones,
Þat wer swiþe fair gomes:
Þeldest men cleped Lokerin,
4700 He regned after his fader fin;
Camber hiȝt þat oþer,
He was þe midel broþer,
He was born in Deuenschire,
Of al Wales Brut made him sire;
4750 Albanak þe þridde cleped wes,
Scotlond to him he ches,
Al Brut wan to his hond
Inglond, Wales & Scotlond.
¶ Brut was king & regned her,
4800 Forsoþe, vþer halfhundred ȝer;
Biside Newe Troye he was ded
& ybirid þer so he bed,
Wel neye Temes on þe lond
Þer þat Westeminster stond.
4850 Westeminster was nouȝt
bigun þo {f.306vb}
No ȝeres after mani & mo.
And sone anon after him
Regned his sone Lokerin.
Of þis lond þat was so wi[l]de
4900 He bigan tounes to bilde.
Lokerin regned her
Seuen & fiȝti ful ȝer
Bi his fader men him leyd,
As þe philosophus ous seyd.
4950 After regned Eboras Þat swiþe wise & crafti was -
He was Lokerines sone.
He made ȝorke wide & rome
O lengþe & brede he it mete
5000 More þan Londen bi seue[n] strete,
& Newerk & Maidens Castel bo,
& Mondelrose he dede also.
In þat time Dauid & his tem
Regned in Ierusalem.
5050 ¶ Eboras regned her
Tvo & sexti ful ȝer;
Bot of þat ich king
Finde we no biriing,
For he was ded in a forest
5100 Huntende after a wilde best.
& so after þat ich king
Was swiþe grete siching.
To ȝer oþer more
Þis lond was in gret sore,
5150 So þat oft & ylome
To chese a king conseyl þai nome;
Þo þai acorded in al þing
Þat Eboras sone was crouned king.
Lud hete þat gode gome
5200 Þat was Eboras sone.
He was a swiþe wise man,
Canterbirye he first bigan
Lakok & Totbirie
& oþer tounes þat ben so mirie,
5250 & þe Vise also
& oþer tounes mani mo.
& sone anon after þat
At Londen he made a gat
& ȝaf it his owhen name, {f.307ra}
5300 Ludgate, in his game.
¶ King Lud regned here
Four score & sex ȝer,
At Ludgate liþe his bon
Yloken in a marbel ston.
5350 After þe king Lud Regned his sone Bladud.
He was a clerk of nigramacie,
Þat is an art of gret maistrie.
He made a wonder þing, ywis,
5400 Þe hote baþe ycleped it is.
¶ Herkeneþ al þat beþ hende
& y schal tel word & ende
Hou þe hote baþe ymaked is,
Al for soþ, wiþouten mis.
5450 Tvay tonnes þer ben of bras
& oþer tvay þer ben of glas;
Seuen maner saltes þer ben in
& oþer þing ymade wiþ ginne,
Quic brimston & oþer also,
5500 & wild fure ymeynd þerto,
Sal gemme & sal petre,
Sal armoniak þer is eke,
Sal arbrut, sal arkelin -
Sal gemme is meynt wiþ him -
5550 Sal kemim, sal nitre briȝt,
Þat brinneþ boþe day & niȝt.
Al þis ben in þe tonnes ydon
& oþer þinges mani on
Þat brenneþ boþe niȝt & day,
5600 Þat neuer quenche it no may.
In four welle springes þe tonnes liggeþ,
So þe philosophus ous siggeþ,
Þe hete wiþin þe water wiþoute
Makeþ it hote al aboute.
5650 Þe to welle springes herneþ yfere,
Ac þe oþer to be mare clere;
Þerof for soþe mid ywis
Þe kinges baþe ymaked is.
¶ Þilke king Bladud,
5700 Þat was þe kinges sone Lud,
Þo he hadde þis baþe ywrouȝt,
& him failed þerto ouȝt
Of þing þat þer schuld to, {f.307rb}
Herkeneþ w[h]at he wold do:
5750 Fram Baþe to Londen he wald fle
& þat day comen oȝe
& feche þing þat þerto bifel,
So swift he was & so snel;
Swiche wer al his meistrie,
5800 For he couþe of nigromacie.
¶ Þilk Bladud þe king
ȝete dede a meruaylous þing,
He ȝaf þe deuel, bi verray enscent,
Euerich ȝer a man to rent,
5850 To haue & dele to her owe,
Euermore þe fire to blowe;
& for þat rent þai blowen it ay,
& so schal do til domesday.
¶ King Bladud regned here
5900 An hundred & fifti ful
ȝere.
& when þat Bladud was ded
His soul went to þe qued,
For Ihesu nas nouȝt ȝet ybore
No deþ suffred him nouȝt fore.
5950 At Ludgate liþe his bon
Biside his fader depe in a ston.
When Bladud was ded her
Regned his sone Fortiger,
& was a douhti man at nede
6000 & wele couþe fiȝt opon a stede.
His per nowhar he fond
Wher þat he come in ani lond,
For he was boþe war & wise
& a man of miche priis.
6050 In þe tour of Eldwerk he was ded,
In þe wal ybirid in lede,
Þat stont opon Houndesdiche
Bitvene Algat & þe Tour sikerlich.
After regned a king bold
6100 Þat was yhoten Denewold.
He was stalworþ & gode
On lond & on þe salt flod.
In mani a lond he went ful wide
Auentours to seke & abide.
6150 He was a man of gret anour,
In euerich a side conquerour,
& in þis lond þat was so wilde {f.307va}
He bigan tounes to bilde;
Þerin he sett men wel ȝepe
6200 Þis lond riȝt for to kepe.
¶ Þat ich king Denewold,
Þat ichaue of ytold,
Tvay sones he hadde þenne
Þat on hete Belin & [þat] oþer hete Brenne.
6250 Þai were men of gret maistrie:
Þai wan Fraunce & Normandye
& al þat lond swiþe sone
Fram Fraunce to þe court of Rome.
Þilke Belin & þilke Brenne
6300 Four wayes þai made þenne
Þurth Þe strengþe of her hond
Þat goþ þurthout Jnglond;
Þat on to þis day ȝete
Is ycleped Watelingstrete,
6350 Þat oþer is cleped Fosse
Þat goþ fram Cornewaile into Scosse.
Þe þridde Ikelingstrete cleped is,
Þat oþer Fossedike, ywis.
¶ King Denewold regned here
6400 Al hole an hundred ȝere;
At Scheftesbirie, wiþouten lesing,
Is ymaked his biriing.
After him, witterli,
Hadde Belin þis lond ȝeres fifti
6450 He was Breteines derling,
Ac he ne was nouȝt þerof king,
For he no wald noþing owe,
Noiþer of heye ne of lowe,
Bot of his propre rent
6500 Spended he, verray ascent;
Þo nold noiþer heye no lowe
Noþing Belin wiþ honour knowe.
Þo þurth pride & gret meschaunce
Þis lond was in gret destaunce,
6550 After þat, wiþ gret vigour, Into þis lond come a conquerour,
Hingist, þe strong king,
Wele doinde in al þing.
He was conquerour of pris
6600 & king he was ȝepe & wiis.
To þe riche he was gode {f.307vb}
& wiþ þe pouer mild of mode.
Of godenes was al his fame,
Sterne in wretþe & glad in game.
6650 Of belding he was wise man:
Lyncoln first he bigan,
Herforþ & Wircestre,
Schrowesbirye, Staford & Chestre,
Oxenford & Reding;
6700 Of Walingford he made þe gining,
Grauntebrige & Huntingdone,
Bedeford & Norhamtone,
Gloucester & Þrekingham,
Dudele & Euesham.
6750 ¶ Hingist wan to his hond
Inglond, Wales & Scotlond.
After his barouns swiþe he sent,
As þai wald ben vnschent,
Þai schuld come to his parlement
6800 To here þe kinges comandment.
He sent hem bode al þurth & þurth
Þat þai schuld be at Londen burth
Þo þe parlement was ynome,
& al þe barons þider come.
6850 Þe king made hem swere oþes hold
Þat for her lord him held þai schold.
Ordenaunce he lete make
Þat neuer seþþe wer forsake:
ȝif ani þef þat men fond
6900 In ani stede of his lond,
Non abide no schuld be þer
Þat þe þef honged no wer
ȝif þe þift so miche wold be
Þritti plates of þe mone.
6950 ¶ King Hingist he was a sire,
He made boþe hundred & schire
& afterward, wiþouten gile,
He made boþe forlong & mile.
He sett a stent, riȝt verray,
7000 Þat a grome schuld gon o day:
In winter day he schuld go
Tventi miles & namo,
& in somer, wiþouten gile,
He schuld go to & þritti mile.
7050 In winter he schuld take
penis þre - {f.308ra}
Bi no lesse no schuld he be -
Þe tvay in mete & drink & fere,
Þe þridde for to glad his chere;
I[n] somer four penis he schuld haue -
7100 No lasse no schuld he
take no kraue -
Þe þre penis in mete & drink
For trauail & his sore swink,
Þe ferþe peni spende he schold
On fair wimen ȝif he wold.
7150 ¶ King Hingist made as men mai se
A gret meruaile in þe west cuntre,
Wiþ messangers stark & strong.
In o niȝt out of Jrlond
Opon þe Pleyn of Salesbirye,
7200 A mile out of Hambesbirie,
He dede it clepe in his game
Hingiston in his name.
¶ In þat ston was made a sete;
To eueriche man it is mete,
7250 To al men þat come þere,
ȝif þai of loue trewe were.
Þo went Hingist sone anon
Into Londen sone he come;
Þe buriays alle curteys & fre
7300 Welcomed him fair into þat cite.
Hingist hem answerd anon,
'Wele be ȝou, gode men ichon,
Þo Brut first þis cite ches
Newe Troye ycleped it wes,
7350 & seþþe þo þat went her þurth
For king Lud, Luddesburth.
¶ & nov, lordinges, ich warn ȝou alle
Hingisthom ȝe schullen it calle.'
¶ King Hingist, as y ȝou telle,
7400 Coniourd þre hundred fendes of helle
Þat þai schuld make a brigge
Ouer þe se for to ligge.
Aday þai schuld to helle gon
& fram þennes bring þe ston
7450 Þat schuld to þe brigge go,
& þe siment þat fel þerto,
& euermore o niȝt in derke
Opon þe brigge þai schuld werke,
On þis maner it to diȝt: {f.308rb}
7500 Þe brigge to make & wirke o niȝt
So al in a litel while
Þe brigge was maked .xx. mile.
& þo anon þe conquerour
Þer lete make a strong tour,
7550 Wele yhoused & wele ybeld,
(T)chambers & halles wiþ mani teld,
ȝif he oþer his went ouer þe se
Þat he miȝt þer herberwed be.
¶ Anon þe king Selmin of Fraunce,
7600 When he herd þat meschaunce,
Swiþe anon he sent his sond
To king Hengist of Jnglond
& seyd him þo, wiþ gode skele,
Þe se was his, bot þe haluendele,
7650 & bad him þat he schuld late
On þe brigge no ferþer to make,
& elles he seyd, wiþouten feyle,
Þat he wald ȝif on him batayle
& into Jnglond come
7700 & destruen al & some.
Hingist seyd he schuld liȝe,
He schuld ȝeld him Normundye
As his ancesters hadde bifore -
He wald it were nouȝt forlore -
7750 'Oþer in Fraunce þurth me
Strong bateyl schal þer be.'
¶ Þe messangers went oȝain
& told þe king for certeyn
Þat he miȝt drede & quake
7800 For wer þat Hingist walde make.
At Moustrel, wiþouten lesing,
Selmin mett wiþ Hingist our king,
& Hingist þo þe conquerour
Spak to him wiþ gret honour
7850 & bad king Selmin hastily
Deliuer him vp al Normundye
For þe wrong he hadde him do,
& more raunson þerto.
Þo wiþ solempnite & pris
7900 Selmin ladde Hingist into Paris;
Wiþ largesse & solempnete
A moneþ þer fest held he,
& þo þurth grete loue al sone {f.308va}
Selmin ȝaf Hengist al Gascone
7950 & Normundye also,
Wiþ al þe anour þat lay þerto.
Selmin made þe charter as Hengist wold
& seled it al wiþ red gold
& seyd as long as schineþ þe sonne
8000 Þe londes wer his, wiþ riȝt ywonne.
When þe fest was yhold
An hole moneþ as ich er told
Hingist went into Gascone
& tok þerin sesyn sone.
8050 In Gascoyne he gan sesin hold
xii moneþes & fourti days ytold.
Þo he had in Normondye be
To ȝer & more biȝond þe se
& in fele londes þe pris ywonne,
8100 More þan ani man vnder sonne.
Wiþ tresore & wiþ gret maine
He com into Litel Bretayne.
¶ Selmin bisouȝt Hengist our king
Þat he him graunted a litel þing
8150 Of þe brigge of to late
No forþer þat he no dede it make.
Hengist him seyd, bi his leute,
No forþer no schuld it maked be.
¶ Þo Hingist com into þis lond
8200 Feyr presentes him com to hond,
Tventi mules charged wiþ gold
Selmin him sent to hauen in wold,
& a þousand tonnes of win
Him sent to present king Selmin.
8250 Hingist seyd to hem anon:
'Welcome be ȝe euerichon.
Þanke ȝour lord þat is so hende
Þat he wald me þis present sende.
Say him þus in al þing,
8300 As ich am trewe kniȝt & king,
In al þat y may & can
While ich liue, ich am his man,
& trewþe euer y schel him held,
Saue omage nil y non him ȝeld,
8350 To him no to liuiand man
Whiles y mi riȝt witt can.
¶ Hingist þo þat was so strong {f.308vb}
Went him þan into Scotlond,
Þurthout al þat lond þere,
8400 & duelled þerin seuen ȝere.
Of þat lond wast & wilde
Gode tounes he lete bilde,
& as he come Scotlond fram
He bigan furst Durham;
8450 Carlel he dede also
& riȝt wele biwalled hem bo.
Þe Newe Castel he lete aginne
& on Tine it sett wiþ ginne.
Into Wales þo swiþe he sent
8500 Þurth al þat lond his comandment,
& of her londes wast & wilde
Strong tounes he dede hem bilde.
Þo went þe king to Hengisthom
& al þe lond folk þider come;
8550 Þer he comand heye & lowe
Her wast londes tile & sowe.
Þre score bateyls Hingist ouercam,
Tvelue kingdome into his hond he nam.
He was a long man o liue,
8600 Fife & þritti childer he wan on seuen wiue.
Þe seuen & tventi wer kinges strong,
Þe best bodis in ani lond;
Werrours þai were & fair men,
Kinges oþer erles Hingist made hem.
8650 Maidens children he hadde eyȝte,
Fair leuedis & wele yteyȝte;
Al he gan his londes þurth gon,
Quenes he made hem euerichon.
Caues he made mani on
8700 At Glastingebirie vnder þe ston,
Woninge stede gode & sounde
Wel depe in þe hard grounde.
¶ King Hingist regned here
To hundred & fifti ȝer.
8750 At Glastingbiri wiþouten lesing
Þer was made his biriing.
After him regned his eir,
His sone, þat men cleped Leyr.
He made Leycester wiþ game,
8800 & ȝaf it his owen name.
¶ King Leir regned here {f.309ra}
Nouȝt bot þrettene ȝer
For he dede as vnwise man:
Wiþ his douhter he ȝaf his kingdam
8850 To a wicked fals couward
¶ Þat was his owen steward.
So his douhter & hir hosbond
Drof king Leir out of lond.
King Leir him went ouer se
8900 In wel grete pouerte;
He went about euerywher
Fif & tventi ful ȝer.
¶ So to a kinges court come he
& bad þe mete par charite.
8950 Þe steward bifor þe king
Anon him brouȝt, wiþouten lesing,
& feir cloþes he him fett
& to þe mete he him sett.
Opon þe king he gan bihold
9000 & oft to himself he told,
'Whilom ich was won king to be.
Allas, þis grete pouerte.
Wheþer y schal while ich libbe
Wiþ pouerte mi mete bidde.'
9050 When he hadde wele y-ete
Þe king anon to him gan speke,
'Tel me' he seyd 'now atte frome
Fram wiche lond artow come
& what maner man hastow be.
9100 Al þe soþe telle þou me.'
¶ 'Sir' he seyd 'when ich was diȝt,
Soþ to seyn, ich was a kniȝt,
& forsoþe, wiþouten lesing,
In Michel Breteyne y was king.'
9150 Anon, wiþouten ani destaunce,
He told þe king of his meschaunce
& al hou he hadde ybe
Fif & tventi ȝer fram his cuntre.
¶ Þe king anon him lete diȝt
9200 Ten hundred of gode kniȝt
& gode armour þat hem fel to;
Fif þousand of fot men also.
Þo com Leir into þis lond
Wiþ his ost gret & strong;
9250 Þurth al þis
lond ner & fer {f.309rb}
He arered strong wer.
Þurth batayle of kniȝtes strong
His reume he wan into his hond,
Ac his douhter er þan was ded,
9300 & þat forsoþe was no qued.
Anon after, wiþ londes lawe,
His steward was hong & drawe.
Fourti wiken, wiþouten lesing,
Leir regned þerafter king.
9350 Þo he was ded men leyd his bon
At Leicestre in a marble ston.
After regned his derling,
His sone þat hete Cole king;
He made Colchester wiþ game
9400 & ȝaf it his owhen name.
ȝernemouþe he arered þo
& Dunstaple he dede also.
¶ Col king regned here
Almest to & fifti ȝer.
9450 Who so wil se his graue
It is at Colchestre in a kaue.
After him come a miche man,
He was yhote Casseribalan.
In his time wiþ grete vigour
9500 Com Julius Cesar þemperour
Wiþ his folk into þis lond
& sesed miche into his hond.
Hingisthom to him he wan,
& er þan died mani a man.
9550 Þurth falsnisse, tresoun & pride
Gret folk was sleyn bi ich a side.
Þurth gret strengþe þe cite he nom
Þat was ycleped Hingis[t]hom.
For it was wiþ strengþe ygete,
9600 Londen þe cite he dede clepe,
& so it schal be cleped ay
Til þat it be domesday.
Þurth strengþe of hond & g[r]et tresour
At Londe[n] he dede make a tour.
9650 Þe castel of Bristow he ded also,
Rouchester opon Medeway þerto.
¶ Cassibalan went into Scotlond
& purvayd him ost ich vnderstond.
He come to aseyl Julius Cesar; {f.309va}
9700 Er þat he were þerof war,
& er þe tiding was to him come,
Cassibalan was in Londone.
He drof Julius Cesar out of lond
Wiþ kniȝtes stef & strong.
9750 Cassibalan he[m] drof wiþ meistrie
Þurth Fraunce, Borgoyne & No[r]mondye,
& in Romaine ouercom him to siþe.
& at þe þride time in þis wise
Cassibalan þurth his men sauage
9800 Was nome to Julius ostage,
& er þat he most out come
He ȝaf gret trolliage to Rome:
Þre hundred pound ich ȝer,
Er þat he most be quite & sker.
9850 Þat was sexti ȝer bifore,
Er Ihesu was of Marie bore;
Cassibalan regned here
Four & fifti ful ȝer.
Forsoþe at Winchester liþe his bon
9900 Biloken in a marbel ston.
Utred regned after þan
Anon after Cassibalan.
He was adrad swiþe strong
Of wer in his owhen lond,
9950 He lete castels sone arere
To duelle in ȝif it nede were.
He no wold non londes craue
Bot þat he auȝt wiþ riȝt to haue,
& to hauen in weld
1000 Þat his auncestres held:
Gascoyne & Normondye,
As Hingist it wan wiþ meistri.
¶ King Vntred regned here
To & sexti ful ȝer.
1005 At Glastinbirie he was ded
& ybirid, for so he bed,
For þat Hingist þer birid was,
He wold ligge bi him in þat plas.
Anon after þat ich time
1010 Regned a king þat hiȝt Hine.
He was a swiþe wise man,
Heye wayes þurth þis lond he gan
Jn lengþe & brede & enviroun; {f.309vb}
He lete make wayes bitven eueri toun,
1015 & þer þe way ouer þe water schuld ligge
Þe contre schuld make a brigge.
& þurth his lond euerichwhere
He lete chepeinges arere
For to selle & for to bigge,
1020 Who so wold bi chafar libbe.
He went him into Cornewaile
& fast beldeþ þer, saun fayle.
He made Launsetone & Tintagel
Bodemyn & Lostwiþiel.
1025 Þilke cuntre he gan þurth gon
& made tounes mani on.
King Hine regned here
Fif score & seuen ȝere.
His hert wiþ his entreyle
1030 Was leyd at Bodemyn, saun faile.
At Glastingbiri, wiþouten lesing,
Was of his bodi þe biring.
King Fortiger after him cam
Into þis lond & it wan
1035 Wiþ ost & wiþ wer strong.
He went þurthout þis lond -
Men þai wer riȝt sauage -
& nom gret ransoun þurth taliage.
Wiþ men & wiþ schippes strong
1040 Þe tresour was lad out of þis lond,
Corn vestes out of þis lond was sent.
Þo was þis lond yschent.
Þerls & barouns to Wales went
& to king Arthour þai sent
1045 & seyd al þat he schold
Breteyne win ȝif he wold.
¶ Þo agan grete wer & strong
In euerich a side in þis lond
Þurth a strong conquerour
1050 Þat was ycleped king Arthour.
Of lond he drof Fortigerne
& al his folk swiþe ȝernne.
Arthour dede sle al his men
& þis lond he tok to him.
1055 Ac Fortiger er þat regned here
Þre score & four ȝere.
After him [wiþ] gret anour {f.310ra}
Regned þe king Arthour;
Fif hundred & sexti ȝer
1060 After þat Marie Ihesu bere.
At Glastingbiri verrament
Was Arthours cronement,
Wiþ grete anour also he wold
In a chaier al of gold.
1065 He was þe best kniȝt at nede
Þat miȝt ride on ani stede
Or wepen bere or folk out lede;
Of man no hadde he neuer drede.
He was of wer swiþe wise,
1070 In ich bateyle he had þe prise.
Al þat Fortiger hadde nome
Swiche (to) he made oȝain come,
& al þat gode he delt among
To pouer men wer in his lond.
1075 ¶ Þerafter aros wer strong
Þurth þe quen in þis lond.
Launcelot de Lac held his wiif,
Forþi bitven hem ros gret striif.
Lancelot was a queynt man,
1080 For þe quen sake he made Notingham;
Þe castel wiþ mani selcouþe wonder
Caues mani he made þervnder
Riȝt in þe hard ston.
Chambers he made mani on
1085 Þat þe quen miȝt in wone
ȝif þe king wald þider come.
Þre ȝere & moneþes ten
Wiþ strengþe he held Gwinore þe quen.
King Arthour lete forbede him
1090 His reume for to wonen in.
Launcelot was curteys & hende,
To Glastingbiri he gan wende,
& þe quen wiþ gret honour
Þider he brouȝt to king Arthour.
1095 Launcelot spak wordes bold:
Bot he wald hir wiþ honour hold,
Wiþ strong wer he wald on him come
Til he wer sleyn oþer ynome.
He seyd 'ȝif Arthour þe king
1100 Makeþ eni reproueing,
Wiþ bateyle strong y schal him ȝeld, {f.310rb}
ȝif God wil mi liif held.'
¶ At Glastingbiri was made a fest -
After neuer non so honest -
1105 & þer was þe fest hold
Of þe Rounde Table, so men told.
A messanger to þat fest was come
Þat hete Cradoc, Craybonis sone.
He hadde a mantel wiþ him brouȝt,
1110 To no cokkewold wiif nas it nouȝt.
Who so wil to Glastingesbiri gon ariȝt
Þat mantel he mai se wele ydiȝt.
¶ King Arthour regned here
To & tventi ful ȝere.
1115 At Glastingbiri he was ded
& ybirid, for so he bed.
After him, wiþouten lesing,
Regned Aþelberd þe king.
He was a swiþe wise man,
1120 Of Seynt Austin Cristendom he nam
After þe berþe of Ihesu here
.V. hundred & four score & lx ȝer.
In þat time seynt Albon
For Godes loue þoled martirdome,
1125 & fourti ȝer wiþ schame & schonde
He was driuen out of Jnglond.
¶ In Tenet Seyint Austin gan ariue
& preched Cristendome bliue.
In Canterbiri he gan arere
1130 An hous of order & duelled þere.
Aþelberd þe gode king
Al Tenet him ȝaf at þe gining
& seyd he schuld þerwiþ gye
His monkes wiþouten folie.
1135 ¶ Aþelberd regned here
After he was cristened viij ȝer;
At Caunterbiri, wiþouten lesing,
Was ymade his biriing.
After him regned Seberd þe king,
1140 A gode man, wiþouten lesing.
Of bischop Milit Cristendom he nam
& Westminster first he bigan
In þe honouraunce of Ihesu & of Marie
& Peter & Paule vnder her baylie.
1145 To bischop Milite he sent swiþe {f.310va}
He schuld com & halwe it bliue.
Þe bischop gan him wel feir diȝt
& his men his pauilouns piȝt.
¶ It was opon a satersday,
1150 Forsoþe as y ȝou tel may,
A pouer fischer bi Temes side
Heyed wel ȝerne after þe tide,
Whiche time he miȝt to water wende,
ȝif God him wold ani fische sende,
1155 He herd a man grede 'hale, hale',
& euer he wende it hadde ben duale.
Þo he hadde long ystond
His bot he schef fro þe lond.
Þe fischer spac to þe man
1160 & seyd 'wiltow ouer gan?'
'ȝa' he seyd 'for ichaue long
Crid after þe opon þis strond.'
It was a quarter o þe niȝt
Þat þe fischer him ouer diȝt
1165 Þo he come at Westenmister side.
Out of þe bot þe man gan stride,
'Fischer' he seyd 'wiþouten gile,
Ichil ȝeld þe þi while.
Fischer no þenke þe nouȝt long
1170 To abide me on þis strond.
Er þat ich fram þe wende
Sum fische God may þe sende;
Ac for noþing þatow miȝt se
Aferd nouȝt þou no be.'
1175 ¶ Þe man to Westenmister gan wende
& gret liȝt þer he tende;
Si(n)gnes he made on þe wal
& on þe grounde ouer al
Þat al men miȝt wele se.
1180 Of Gru he made an a. b. c.
& þo þe chirche halwed was.
Toward Temes he made his pas
& whan þat he at Temes come
Þe fischer he cleped son anon,
1185 'Bring' he seyd 'þi bot to me,
Anon fischen wil we.
Hastow ani fische ynome?'
'Nay' he seyd 'bi Godes sone.'
Into þe bot he went him swiþe, {f.310vb}
1190 To fische her nett þai diȝt bliue.
He seyd 'cast þe nett on þe riȝt side
ȝif we miȝt þe beter bitide.
In þe name of þe fader & þe sone
Þat sum fische wald to ous come,
1195 & in þe honour of þe holy gost,
Ihesu Crist of miȝt most,
As he is curteys & hende,
Þat sum fische he ous sende.'
Into þe water her nett þai kest
1200 Þat vnneþe it wald lest.
So miche fische hem com to hond
Þe fischer wende neuer haue com to lond;
So miche fische þan hade he
Þe fischer wende adrenched be.
1205 Ac þo he com to lond
Ful of fische his bot he fond.
Þe nombre of saumnes witterli
Were four hundred & fifti.
¶ A samoun þer was swiþe gret,
1210 Þe fairest fische of al þe hepe.
He seyd 'þe saumoun þat liþe here,
To bischop Milit þou it bere,
& say þarf him nouȝt hasty
Westeminster chirche to halwey;
1215 Sai þat Peter, on of þe tvelue,
Þat chirche haþ halwed to himselue:
Þe tokne þai may wele se,
Of Gru þai han an a. b. c.
Say him he þerin sing,
1220 & ȝif þe peple mi bliscing.
Loke þat neuer bi al þi miȝt
No fische nouȝt on þe sonne niȝt,
& say to þe king Seberd,
Þe best king of þis midnerd,
1225 Þat þurth Ihesu his swete miȝt
His sete is made in heuen-liȝt.'
He blisced him wiþ gode wille
& passed fram him swiþe stille.
¶ Sone so þe day him come
1230 Þe fischer to þe bischop nom.
Al þat he hadde sen he told
To þe bischop wiþ wordes bold.
'Bischop' he seyd 'wiþ miȝt & mayn, {f.311ra}
Wiþ þine pauilouns turn oȝain.
1235 Today at Westemister þou schalt sing
& ȝif þe pople þe bliscing
Of Peter, prince of þe apostels tvelue;
Þat chirche haþ halwed to himselue.
Vnderstond þis swiþe wel,
1240 For it is soþe as godspel.
In his name to ȝou present y make.
Himselue þis saumoun he gan take.'
& anon for þat tiding
Þat ich stede is cleped Chering.
1245 ¶ Þe fischer went to þe king
& told him of Peters fischeing,
Of him & of þe bischop bo.
Þe king in hert was ioieful þo
& seyd 'couenaunt ichil þe hold
1250 For þe tiding þou hast me told;
Riche man þan schaltow be
& al þine ofspring after þe.'
¶ Seberd regned here
Tvo & þritti ful ȝer.
1255 Westeminster he lete arere
& seþþe he was birid þere.
Heȝte hundred ȝer it is agon
Þat he was loken in a ston;
& seþþe as hole he was founde
1260 As þo he was leyd in grounde,
& ȝif ȝe wil nouȝt leue me
Go to Westeminster & ȝe may se.
In þat time wite ȝe wel
Com first 'wesseyl & drinkheyl'
1265 Into þis lond, wiþouten wene,
Þurth a maiden briȝt & schene.
Sche was yhoten maiden Jnge;
Of hir men can rede & sing.
Lordinges, corteys & fre,
1270 Þis lond haþ hadde names þre:
First men cleped it Albion
& seþþe, for Brut, Breteyne anon,
& now Jnglond icleped it is
After maiden Inge, ywis.
1275 Þilke Jnge fram Speyne come
& wiþ hem mani moder sone;
For gret hunger, ich vnderstond, {f.311rb}
Inge went out of hir lond,
For þer was grete defaute of mete
1280 Þat vnneþe miȝt þai ani gete.
Þo was folk loked of to go
Or to deþ haue ben ydo.
Inge a kinges douhter sche was,
In þat time non feirer nas.
1285 At hir fader sche bad a bone
& he hir graunted swiþe sone:
Sche asked him sone anon
Al þo þat to deþ schuld gon,
& dede hir come schippes swiþe
1290 For out of lond sche wold driue,
& er it come to þre dayes ende
Out of lond sche wold wende.
Gode schipes þai diȝte hem hastily
Þre [s]core bi tale & fifti.
1295 Mete & drink þai had non,
Þerfore þai made miche mon;
Þo þai to schipp gun go
Miche folk for hem was wo.
Winde þai hadde gode, apliȝt,
1300 & seylde boþe day & niȝt;
In Michel Breteyne þai gun riue
& out of schip þai went bliue.
Tiding to þe king it sprong
Þat miche folk was comen on his lond.
1305 ¶ Þe king went him þider anon
To se þo maidens euerichon.
Þe king seyd wiþ glad chere,
'Welcome be þou, maiden, here.'
& sche answerd in hir language,
1310 'Trauaile somes par mere sauage
Enfebli somes de graunt feym
Kar y nous defaut vin & peyn
Ore e argent aseȝ auoms
Puruiaunce de ceo feroms
1315 De vostre seygnorie prioms endos
En vostre reume auer repos.'
As michel lond sche bad him at nede
As a bul hide miȝt ouersprede.
Þe king graunted hir þat bone.
1320 A þwong-castel sche made sone,
& now men clepeþ it bi þis day {f.311va}
Horncastel in Lindesay,
& who so wil þider gon
Þe walles he may sen of ston.
1325 & when þe castel was made
Þe king to þe mete sche bade.
Þe king graunted hir anon;
He nist nouȝt what sche wald don.
When þe king was þennes went
1330 Þe maiden after hir men sent.
Sche seyd to hem in þis maner,
'Þe king tomorwe schal ete here,
& he & al his men;
Euer on of ous anoþer of hem
1335 Togider schul we sitten atte mete.
& when we han almest y-ete
Y schal say 'wessayl' to þe king
& slen him, wiþouten lesing;
& loke þat ichon of ȝou in þis maner
1340 Wiþouten delay sle his fer.
In swiche maner wroȝten he;
Þai slouȝ þe king & his meyne.
& after hir name, ich vnderstond,
Sche cleped þis lond Jnglond
1345 Seþþe anon sone & swiþe Inglond was delt afiue,
To fiue kinges treweliche
Þat wer noble & swiþe riche.
Þat o king hadde þe lond of Kent
1350 Þat is noble & swiþe gent,
& in his lond bischopes tvay,
Noble men for soþ to say:
Þe erchebischop of Canterbiri
& he of Rouchester þat is so miri.
1355 ¶ Þe king of Esex was riche man,
He hadde to his porcian
Al Wiltschire [&] Barrocschire,
Souþesex, Souþhamtonschire.
Þilk king hadde in his lond
1360 Fiue bischopes riche & strong:
Of Salesbiri was þat an,
He was a swiþe gode man,
At Cridington was his se
& now at Salesbiri is he;
1365 Þilke of Baþe he hadde also, {f.311vb}
Þat at Welles wonede þo;
Þilke of Chichester & of Winchester,
& eke þe bischop of Excester
Þe fift was, wiþouten feyle,
1370 At Seyn Jermain in Cornewaile.
¶ Þe king of Merken merche,
Þer nas non to him yliche.
He hadde Gloucesterschir & Pinokschire,
Worþcesterschire, Warwikeschire,
1375 Staforþschire & Derbischire,
Chesterschire, Schropschire,
Al þe Marche Herforþschire,
Oxenforþschire, Bokinghamschire,
Norhamtonschire, Leycesterschire,
1380 Lincolnschire [&] Notinghamschire.
& in his lond þat was so miche
He hadde four bischopes riche:
Þilke of Lincoln & of Chester
& of Herforþ & of Worcester.
1385 ¶ Þe king of hest lond was sire.
He hadde Grauntebrigeschire,
Norþfolk & Bedeforþschire
Hertforþschire & Blakinburnschire
Suþfolk & Huntingdunschire
1390 Lancastre & Richemond schire,
& in his lond bischopes þre,
Noble men curteys & fre:
Þe bischop of Londen & of Norwike
& þe bischop of Ely eke.
1395 ¶ Þe king of Norþhumberlond
Hadde al þe lond, ich vnderstond,
Bitvix a water men clepeþ Humber
& Scotlond þat erneþ þervnder,
& in his lond bischopes þre,
1400 Alle curteys & fre:
Þe erchebischop of Euerwike,
Þilke of Durhem & of Carlel eke.
So þat euer þe strenger
Ouercom þe febler
1405 & euer þe richer
Ouercom þe pouerer
Euer fort þat Edriȝt
Stabled Jnglond wiþ fiȝt.
He made þe reawme hole & sounde {f.312ra}
1410 Þurth dent of swerd & deþes wounde.
Al Jnglond to him he wan
Ac er died mani a man.
Seyn Fromond & Kenelmi bo
In þat bateyl wer slawe þo.
1415 Kenelmin lay in Cowdale .xl. ȝer þer in grounde
& ȝete his heued spac in þat stounde;
To lewed men þo spac þat heued,
'Her liþ Kenelmi ybiried.'
Fromond at Donstaple schewed is,
1420 Kenelmin at Winchecoumbe, ywis.
¶ Edriȝt regned here
Four & tventi ful ȝer.
A[t] Winchester liþe his bon
Ybiride in a marbel ston.
1425 After him regned Edulf, his sone. He hadde his londes al & some.
Edulf jn his time sone
Went to þe court of Rome,
Þer he woned wiþ þe Pope.
1430 He dede his lond litel note,
For he arered a costome her:
Þre hundred pounde ich ȝer,
Þat o hundred to store þe liȝt
Of Seynt Peter, þe Pope briȝt,
1435 & he ȝaf þat oþer
To Seyn Poule, his broþer;
Þe þridde he ȝaf, saunfail,
To þe selue apostolie.
ȝete he dede more qued:
1440 Edulf, er he wer dede,
Of Jnglond he rered a lok
Of ich hous þat come out smoke,
To Rome ȝif a peni, ywis.
Þat Rome Peni cleped is.
1445 Edulf in þat maner
Liued at Rome seuen ȝer,
& seþþe he com hole & sounde
Þurth Fraunce towar[d] Jnglond
& weded þer a swete þing,
1450 Charles douhter þe riche king.
Damisel Ediþ was hir name,
Michel sche loued solas & game.
Þilke Edulf wan bi his wiife {f.312rb}
Fiue sones bi his liue:
1455 Þeldest hiȝt Aþelstan,
He was a swiþe gode man;
Þat oþer hiȝt Aþelbriȝt,
He was a stalworþ kniȝt;
Þe þridde hiȝt Aþelwalt,
1460 In wer he made mani saut;
Þe ferþ hiȝt Achelred,
Þe fift king Alfred.
Þo Edulf come to þis lond here
He no liued bo[t] tvo ȝer.
1465 At Hide of Winchester liþe his bon
Biloken in a marbel ston.
After him regned Achelred;
In his time, her he wer ded,
Com þe king of Danma[r]k,
1470 Hauelok þat was strong & stark,
Al Jnglond to winne
& sle þat þer wer inne.
Achelred & Alfred bo
Hem gun þer ymete so
1475 Þat in a litel stounde
Þe Danismen wer feld to grounde.
¶ After þat batayle seuen ȝer
Achelred regned here.
At Wobourn abeye is write, ywis,
1480 His gode body ybirid is.
After him regned king Alfred,
Þe wisest man þat euer ete brede.
He was a man of miche pris,
Of al þing he was wiis.
1485 For he made þurth Godes sond
Þe gode lawes in Jnglond.
Þilke king Alfred
Slepe wel litel in his bed.
For soþe, he hadde trauail miche,
1490 Anon ichil ȝou tel whiche.
Þe four & tventi tiden ariȝt
Þat ben in þe day & niȝt
Þilke he deled on þre.
Ful wele he bisett þe:
1495 Þe eyȝte he spent as men nede
In bedes & in almosdede;
Þe oþer eyȝte his bodi to rest; {f.312va}
Þe þridde eyȝte wer þe best,
Þilke he spended, saun dotaunce,
1500 About þouȝt & puruiaunce,
Hou he miȝt him wis & rede,
His lond ariȝt for to lede.
He hadde a man in his chapel
Þus his tides he gan dele
1505 He made þre candels, bi wiȝt,
Þat schuld bren day & niȝt.
When þat o candel was ydo
Þe eyȝte tide was also.
Þe king he warned bi þan
1510 His riȝt purpos for to don.
¶ Þe wise Alfred þe king
ȝete he dede more þing:
Al his riȝt trewe purchas
He ȝaf to pouer abbeys at þat cas;
1515 His rentes he delt euen a tvo -
Ne worþ neuer his soule wo.
Þe haluendel he delt a þre,
Ful wele he bisett þe:
Þat o parti he ȝaf hem
1520 Þat in his court serued him,
Þat oþer parti he ȝaf þenne
To vncouþe pouer menne.
¶ Seþþe he delt fair & wel
O four þat oþer haluendel.
1525 Þat o parti he sent bi sond
To pouer men in his lond;
Þat oþer to religions
& to pouer clergions;
Þe ferþe parti þan ȝaf he
1530 To pouer spitels biȝond þe se.
Þus liued þe gode Alfred
Euer til he was ded.
He regned viii & xx ȝer
To seyn Poules men him bere.
1535 After þe gode Alfred þe king Regned Edward his sone ȝing.
He was boþe war & wiis,
In ich batayle he hadde þe priis.
Þerfore þe folk of Danmark,
1540 Þat wer boþe stout & stark,
Of hym þai wer agast sore, {f.312vb}
Þat in his time neuer more
No durst þai com into þis lond
Lest hem tit harm or schond.
1545 ¶ Þilke Edward hadde in his liue
Fourten children bi þre wiue:
Eyȝte douhtren & fiue sones,
Þat were swiþe fair gomes.
Of his douhtren, þre wimen
1550 To religioun ȝolden hem.
Alfled hete þat o leuedi,
Sche was abbesse of Romesi;
Ediþ hete þat oþer may,
Sche was abbesse a[t] Wilton abbay;
1555 Þe þridde hiȝt seynt Albourth,
An holi woman þurth & þurth;
Þe ferþe soster, gent & fre,
Non fairer leuedi no miȝt be,
Ne wiser in al þing.
1560 Sche halpe hir broþer Edward þe king,
Wiþ hir witt & wiþ hir rede,
His lond ariȝt for to lede,
Þe gode lawes for to hold,
Oȝain his enemis bold.
1565 & ar hir broþer was ded
Sche was ȝouen to þerl Alfred,
Þat was a gode holy man.
On his wiif a child he wan,
Ac er þat child ybore was,
1570 Þat leuedi, briȝt so ani glas,
So hard schoures com hir opon
Þat ded sche wend haue ben anon.
In hir anguis sche was wroþ
& ȝaf a ȝift & swore hir oþ
1575 Bi Ihesu, seynt Mari sone,
Þat sche neuer wald come
In þat bed, niȝt no day,
To ligge þer hir lord lay.
¶ Edward king regned her
1580 Four & tventi ful ȝer.
At Winchester liþ his bon
Wel fair in a marbel ston.
After him regned king Aþelston,
A gode kniȝt & an hardi mon,
1585 Boþe bi day & bi niȝt. {f.313ra}
Wele he held his lond in riȝt.
Al þe kniȝtes of Wales lond
He made hem bowe to his hond;
He leyd swiche trowage on hem
1590 & on al þe Walismen
Þat þre hundred pounde of sterling
Þai ȝouen to Aþelston þe king,
& eke tventi pounde of gold.
Scotlond him ȝeld sold,
1595 ȝete Wales ȝelt more [to] him:
Fif þousand of fat kin
To þe king iche ȝere
Er þai most be quic & skere.
Þilke king Aþelston
1600 Hadde a soster white so swan.
In al þe warld men wist non
So fair a leuedi of flesche & bon.
Ilde hiȝt þat maiden fre,
Þat hadde so michel of beaute,
1605 Men nist non in þis kingriche,
Leuedi of beaute hir liche.
Þe king of Fraunce, þat hiȝt Howe,
Herd tel of þat maiden trowe
Þat was so fair & so hende,
1610 & after hir he gan sende
Þerl Edulf of Boloyne,
Þerles sone Baldwine of Coloine.
He was þe kinges messanger
In his lond fer & ner.
1615 Þo he was to þis lond ycome
Þe king he fond at Abindone.
Þer þe king he mett
& swiþe fair he him gret.
A noble present he him brouȝt
1620 & of his soster him bisouȝt
To his lord þe king
Þat is in Fraunce woniing.
& fro him verrament
He brouȝt a noble present
1625 Þat was precious & dere.
Wiche it was ȝe mow now here:
C. c. c. hundred stedes milke white,
In al þis world nas her like.
Þe bridles wer for þe nones {f.313rb}
1630 Ful of precious stones.
ȝete he present him also
Oþer riches mani mo:
Þemperour swerd Costentin,
Þe schawberk was of gold fin,
1635 Þerin was closed a nail gret
Þat was ydriuen þurth Godes fet.
¶ ȝete he present him þe spere
Þat Charlmain was won to bere
Oȝaines Sarraȝines jn bataile.
1640 Mani swore & seyd, saunfaile,
Þat wiþ þat spere smert
Ihesu was stongen to þe hert.
ȝete he present him, ywis,
Þe baner of seyn Moris
1645 Þat he was won to bere
Oȝain þe Sarraȝines here,
& a parti of þe holy crois
In a cristal don inclos,
& þre of þe þornes kene
1650 Þat were in Godes heued y wene,
& a riche croun of gold -
Non richer king wer no schold -
Ymaked wiþin & wiþout
Wiþ precious stones al about.
1655 To make frendes þat wer fon
A better croun nas neuer non
To non erþelich man ywrouȝt
Seþþe þis warld was made of nouȝt.
¶ King Aþelston was glad & bliþe
1660 & þonke þe king of Fraunce swiþe
Of þis ȝiftes noble & riche.
In al þis warld was non swiche.
In Aþelstonis time, ich vnderstond,
Was Gij of Warwike in Jnglond
1665 & for Aþelston he dede a bateyle
Wiþ a geaunt gret, saunfaile.
Þe geaunt hiȝt Colbro[n]d,
Gy him slouȝ wiþ his hond.
At Winchester þe bataile was don
1670 & seþþe dede Gij neuer non.
Seuen ȝer king Aþelston
Held þis iche kingdom.
In Jnglond þat is so miri {f.313va}
He dyed & liþ at Malmesbiri.
1675 After him regned Edmund his sone Ac sone his liif was him binome,
For he no liued here
Bot vnneþ þre ȝere.
Seþþe bifel at on fest
1680 At Caunterbiri þat was vnwrest.
As þe king atte mete sat
He biheld & vnderȝat
Of a þef þat was degise
Among his kniȝtes hende & wise.
1685 Þe king was stef & stirt vp
& hent þe þef bi þe top
& cast þe þef to þe ston.
Þe þef breyd out a kniif anon,
To þe hert þe king he þrest
1690 Er ani of his kniȝtes it wist.
Þe barouns stirt vp anon
& slouȝ þe þef swiþe son
Ac raþer he wounded mani on
Þurth þe flesche into þe bon.
1695 To G[l]astinbiri men bar þe king
& þer made his biriing.
After Edmund, when he was ded,
Regned his sone Athelred;
Ac he no regned here
1700 Bot vnneþe tvo ȝer.
¶ & sone anon after him
Regned his sone Edwin.
He was a man of swiþe gret pris,
Bot of his bodi he was nouȝt wiis.
1705 Þe first day þat he croun nam
He bireft a ful gode man
Of his wiif for hir fairhed -
Of Crist he hadde litel mede -
& þei sche was his cosyn.
1710 Þerfore he suffred þe more pine.
¶ He regned tvelue ȝer,
To Winchester men him ber.
After him regned seynt Edgar,
A wise king & a war.
1715 Þilke niȝt þat he was bore
Seyn Dunston was glad þerfore
For he herd þe steuen {f.313vb}
Of angels þat were in heuen
In her song bi rime:
1720 'Blisced be þat time
Þat Edgar y born wes,
For in his time schal be pes
Euermore in his kingdom
Þer while he liues & seyn Dunston.'
1725 & so þer was gret fousoun
Of mete & dring in euerich toun
Of al þe time þat lest his liif.
No loued he noiþer fiȝt no striif:
Þer nas man non so heye,
1730 In his lond fer no neye,
Þat tre[s]passed bi day or niȝt,
Oȝain þe lawe ani wiȝt,
He schuld fong his mede
Riȝt after þe selue dede.
1735 Hou schuld he spare ani man
When he of bestes wreche nam?
¶ At Londen he made a parlement
Wharþurth he was to Wales went.
Þider he made to him come
1740 Þe Walis kniȝtes, al & some,
Him to swere oþes hold
& for her lord held him schold,
& him to bring present þere,
Þre hundred wolues ich ȝere;
1745 & so þai dede treweliche
Þre ȝer pleynerliche.
Þe ferþe ȝer no fond þai non,
So clene þai wer al agon,
& þe king it hem forȝeue.
1750 He nold hem nomore greue.
¶ Edgar was a gode holy man
Þat our lord him kepe gan.
After þat he was werþe
& þat he had liue in erþe
1755 Sexti winter vnder mold
An abbot him take vp schold;
Ailward hete þilke abbot.
As he walde take him vp
& legge him in a þrouwe of ston,
1760 He fond him wiþ flesch & bon
Also hole & also sounde {f.314ra}
So he was leyd ferst in grounde.
Þai nome him vp anon
& wald legge him in a ston
1765 Þat þe abbot lete make
For anour & for his sake.
Al to schort it was ywrouȝt;
Þerin miȝt he legge nouȝt.
His legges þai koruen of anon
1770 Fast bi þe kne bon
Ac þai no dede it for non harm
Ac þe blod also warm
As hot stert hem opon
As he were a quic man.
1775 ¶ Þabbot þat þer bistode,
He seye þe miracle feyr & gode,
He lete him in a schrine don
Boþe wiþ flesche & wiþ bon,
& as men him in schrine dede
1780 Mani man hadde bot in þat stede.
At Glastinbiri, for soþe ywis,
Seynt Edgar schrined is.
After him regned Edward his sone
Sone his liif was him binome,
1785 For he no regned here
Bot vnneþe þre ȝer
For Estirnild his stepmoder -
Seld be þer ani gode -
ȝaf him pousoun, þat he was ded,
1790 To make hir sone Achelred
King to be in Jnglond;
& so he was, wiþ schame & schond,
For in his time no pes nas
Bot while seyn Dunston aliue was.
1795 Þe king hadde a steward
Þat was a feloun coward,
His nam was yhoten Edriche.
Nas neuer treytour to him yliche;
He was fals & fikel & fel,
1800 & for þe king him loued wel
& told him al his conseyl,
Þe traitour hit wrot sau[n]fail
& sent it into Danmark
Wiþ messangers strong & stark.
1805 Þe Danismen com into þis lond {f.314rb}
Wiþ her ost gret & strong
& slouȝ þe king Achelred;
At Westminster he was ded.
ȝete þe Jnglische oft ylome
1810 Wiþ bateyl þe Danis ouercome,
& crouned at Norhamtone
Seint Edmund, Achelred sone.
For his prouwes & his strengþe -
He was a brede & a lengþe -
1815 Cleped in al þis lond wide
Edmund wiþ þe yren side.
¶ Riȝt in þe somer afterward
Comeþ þe Danismen hiderward
& gun fiȝt wiþ seynt Edmond
1820 Þat her was king in Jnglond.
Ones þai him ouercome
& he hem ofsent sone
Þat hij acordeden
& þis lond todeleden
1825 Riȝt fulliche euen atvo
Bitven þe tvay kinges þo
Þurth þe conseyl of Edriche -
Traitour was neuer non swiche.
& seþþe dyed seynt Emon
1830 Þurth Edriches tresoun.
Ich ȝou wil tel hou.
Al gode men listen now.
A king he was jn Jnglond
Knoud he hete, ich vnderstond.
1835 Of Jnglond he hadde þe haluendel
& seynt Edmound þat oþer del.
& seþþe þurth envie
& Edriche trecherie
Seynt Edmund was þurth-schote -
1840 Þat dede her soules litel note.
Þe arwes on him so þik þai schett
Þat ich point oþer mett,
For þat Jnglond þurthout
Schuld falle to king Knoud.
1845 Seþþe his heued was of smite,
Y wil wele þat ȝe it wite,
Þan he was birid in Cristchirche
Þer men Godes werkes wirche
& now at Biri, ywis, {f.314va}
1850 Seynt Edmund schrined is.
Þo men seynt Edmund souȝt
Ihesu for him miracles wrouȝt:
Þe heued seyd 'ich am her.'
A wolf in his clowes it bere
1855 Ac þe heued non harm he no dede
Bot wiþ his fet pleyd þermide.
¶ Þo hadde þe king Knoud
Al þis lond þurthout.
He bicome a gode man;
1860 He no loued no swikedam.
Þo com þe traitours of Jnglond
Þat hadde bitraid seynt Edmond
& yslawe him to þe ded,
Þurth Edriche conseyl & his red,
1865 Þai wer jolif & proud
& told it to þe king Knoud
Of her foule tresoun.
Þai wende to han hadde her warisoun.
Þe king was riȝtwise man;
1870 He dede hem tel her swikedam
Biforn heye & lowe;
He made hem ben aknowe.
He lete hem drawe wiþ stede,
For swiche is traitours mede.
1875 ¶ Seþþen sone after þas
Þer bifel a wonder cas
Bitvix þe king & Edriche -
Nas no traitour to him yliche -
Bitvix Edriche & þe king
1880 Þer ros a gret sturbling.
At Londen in a soler
Aniȝt after þe soper
Striif & chest þer aros;
Mani kniȝt þerof agros.
1885 'Sir king' seyd Edriche,
'Who wende þatow wer swiche?
Vnderstondestow nouȝt
Hou dere jchaue þi loue bouȝt?
Ich lete bitray mi lord
1890 Þat made me his steward
Of al his kingriche.
Ichim dede biswike
& sle wiþ tresoun & wiþ gin {f.314vb}
To make þe king after him,
1895 & now þou striuest wiþ me.
To wroþerhele leued y þe.'
¶ Þe king was aschamed
& of his wordes sore agramed
& seyd, 'Edriche, ich wene wel
1900 Þatow no leyest neuer a del;
Of þatow art biknowe,
Biforn heye & lowe,
Þat wiþ gile & swikedom
Þou lete þi lord to deþ don,
1905 Þat dede þe so michel anour,
& tow were his treytour,
& after tresoun & gile,
Men schal ȝeld þe þi wile.'
Þer he lete him binde,
1910 His honden him bihinde,
& his fet also
He lete binde boþe tvo,
& atte windowe kest him out
Riȝt into Temes flot.
1915 Þus ended he his day -
God his soule iuge may.
King Knoud regned tventi ȝer,
To Winchester men him bere.
After king Knoud
1920 Regned his sone Hardknoud.
He was a wel duhti kniȝt
& a man of miche miȝt
He was a kniȝt swiþe strong
& wele defended Jnglond
1925 He regned ix and tventi ȝer
& was birid at Westminster.
After him as y ȝou told
Regned his sone bold.
Arod, he regned her
1930 Bot þre mones of a ȝer.
At seynt Clementes he lis
Wiþouten Temple Bar, ywis.
After him regned seynt Edward,
Knowdes sone bastart.
1935 He was a blisced king,
He loued God þurth al þing.
He loued to wirche gode dede, {f.315ra}
Þerfore in heuen he haþ his mede.
¶ It was opon a somers day
1940 At Westminster as y ȝou tel may
Seynt Edward stode at his messe
& sey into heþenesse
Hou þe king of Danmark
Wiþ his ost store & stark
1945 At ȝernmouþe cum seyland
To fiȝt wiþ him [in] Jnglond.
He seye an angel fram heuen liȝt
Cum adoun þat was so briȝt
He smot her mast ropes atvo
1950 Þat al þai gradde walewo.
After þat he seye anon
A storm of weder rise sone
& drof so in her sayles
Þat þai drenched eueri tayles.
1955 Seint Edward seye hem end wiþ schame,
Þerfore he lowe & hadde gode game.
Þe prest atte masse was wel wo,
He wende þe king him scorned þo.
As Seynt Edward atte masse stod
1960 He seye our lord in flesche & blod,
Atte prestes leuacioun,
& hou he suffred passioun
For him & for al mankinde.
Of dedelich sinne God ous vnbinde
1965 ȝif ani of ous þerin be.
Amen siggeþ par charite.
¶ Seynt Edward wepe swiþe sore
& crid 'lord, merci, þin ore.'
Seynt Edward regned þritti ȝer
1970 & was schrined at Westminster.
Seþþe regned a gode gome,
Harold Godewines sone.
He was cleped Harefot
For he was rennere gode.
1975 Willam bastard of Normondye
Him slouȝ, & þat was vilanie.
Harold liþe at Waltham.
& Willam bastard þat þis lond wan
He regned here
1980 On & tventi ful ȝer
& seþþe he dyed at ham {f.315rb}
In Normondye at Cam.
After his ending
Regnede William þe red king.
1985 He was his eldest sone,
& a wel sterne lokeand gome.
He was liþer & vnwrest
For in þe Newe Forest
Fifti moder chirche & to
1990 He lete doun felle & chapels bo,
& clene kest al adoun,
& made wode þat er was toun.
He dede his soule litel note:
In þat forest he was yschote
1995 Wiþ an arwe ken & smert
Þat was yd[r]awe to an hert.
Water Tirel þat arwe drouȝ,
& þerwiþ þe king he slouȝ.
& for þat ich foule meschaunce
2000 In Jnglond was gret destaunce.
Þurth fals conseyl & wiked red
Mani a man suffred ded,
Þurth falsnis & procouring
Of William broþer þe red king.
2005 ¶ Þilke William regned here
On & tuenti ful ȝer.
At Winchester liþe his bon
Ybirid in a marbel ston.
After him regned anoþer,
2010 Sir Henry his owen broþer.
He was a swiþe duhti kniȝt
& al men he held to riȝt.
He regned tventi ȝer,
To Redinges men him ber.
2015 After him wel euen Regned king Steuen
Þerl sone Bloyes he was.
Al to sone he died, allas,
For he no loued no vilanie
2020 No falsnisse no trecherie
Bot al godenisse þat was to do,
Gladeliche he asent þerto.
¶ Ac he no regned bot ten ȝer
To Feuersam men him ber.
2025 After him regned king Harry {f.315va}
A gode man & an hardy,
Þerls sone of Champeyne.
He was a man of miche mayn.
He regned þritti ȝer;
2030 To Winchester men him ber.
Seþþe regned anoþer,
Henry his owhen broþer.
In his time seyn Thomas
For Godes loue martird was
2035 At Caunterbiri toforn þe auter ston.
He doþ miracles mani on.
Þilke Henry liþe at Fonteneurard,
& seþþe regned king Richard;
For soþe, as ich vnderstond,
2040 He wan Acres into his hond,
& ichil ȝou tel in what maner.
Listeneþ al þat ben here
He purueyd him of kniȝtes strong
Of þe best þat weren in lond
2045 & men þat couþe of wer & fiȝt,
Boþe bi day & bi niȝt,
& after þat, wiþouten faile,
He purueyd him vitaile,
Bred & flour win & ale.
2050 He charged schippes gret & smale,
& afterward of timber long
He lete make a castel strong
To stonden in þe tour an heye
& se w[h]at men doþ fer & neye.
2055 Þer he seye in priuete
What Sarraȝines dede in þe cite.
When it was wrouȝt fair & wel
He lete charge schipes þerwiþ eueri del
& al þing þat fel þerto;
2060 Al þiis he dede þo.
Afterward he purueyd him
Of led a wel queint gin,
Joyned wel wiþ yren & stiel.
Þerin was sett þe castel
2065 Wel depe in þe se grounde,
Þer he kept it hole & sounde;
Boþe in eb & in flowe
Fro þe castel þe wawes gan stowe.
ȝete he purueyd him o be hiue, {f.315vb}
2070 Schippes ful seuen score & fiue,
& drouȝ vp her seyles gode
& passed ouer þe salt flod.
King Richard lift vp his hond
& seyd 'lord ous be among,
2075 And al þe compeynie of heuen.
Ihesu Crist, þou here mi steuen.
For þi loue y make þis viage,
To ȝeld þine enemis her wage,
Þat stedefast nil nouȝt leue on þe.
2080 Þerfore, Ihesu, help þou me.'
Whan he com neye at Acres toun
Þe gin þan he lete adoun
Into þe ground of þe flod
& made þeron a castel gode.
2085 It was boþe gode & strong.
Swiche nas non in al þat lond;
Of tventi stages it was heye,
Men miȝt þerin se fer & neye.
When it was wrouȝt fair & wel
2090 He sett þerin a mangonel
Þat þurth queyntise of mannes strengþe
It miȝt cast þre mile o lengþe.
Þe joinour þat it hadde to ȝeme
He purueyd king Richard to queme.
2095 Anon he tok him þe be hiue
& into Acres slong hem biliue.
Of þe hiues gret plente
He slong into þat fair cite.
Þe weder was hot in somers tide,
2100 Þe ben brust out bi ich a side
Þat wer anoied & ful of grame;
Þai dede þe Sarraȝins miche schame,
For þai hem stong in her vissage
Þat al þai bigun to rage
2105 & hedde hem al in depe celer
Þat þai durst com no nerer.
Þilke Richard our king
Dede make a queynter þing,
Windemilles in schippes houend on water
2110 Sailed about wiþ brenand tapre,
Hongend wiþ vice made wel queynt
Þat non of hem miȝt out teynt.
Þe sailes wer red ȝalu & grene, {f.316ra}
Wel griseliche þing ariȝt to sen.
2115 Þe Sarraȝins seye þat mervaile,
Þai no durst abide to ȝif batayle.
Þai seyden hem ichon among,
'Lordinges, to dyen it wer strong,
For þis is þe deuel of helle
2120 Þat wil ous euerichon aquelle;
Þerfore fle we al bi time
Oþer we schul haue iuel fine.'
Of hem alle nas lasse no more
Þat longer durst abide þore.
2125 Fast þai gun oway to drawe
For dout of deþ to ben yslawe.
¶ King Richard þo vp stode
& bad his kniȝtes of hert gode
For to liue & for to daye,
2130 Þus he gan to hem to say,
'Lordinges curteys & hende
Now is time þat we wende
To awreke our lord of his fon.
Oliue no late ȝe neuer on,
2135 & wiþ þe grace of Marie sone
His enemis we schal ouercome.'
King Richard ariued to þe lond,
Ac first he smot a dint wel strong
Wiþ his ax a cheyne of þre;
2140 Al þat þer were miȝt it se.
Swiche a dent as he smot þer
In lond nas smiten neuer er.
Þo went king Richard into þe toun
He no fond Sarraȝin, ȝalu no broun,
2145 Heye no lowe, non so kene
Þat he ne orderd hem al bidene.
When þai were slawe euerichon
He seyd to king Philip anon
& to his kniȝtes hende & fre,
2150 'Lordinges, wonne is þis cite.
Now it is in Cristen hond.
Lord, y þanke him of his sond.
Ac wende we forþ to Ierusalem
& to þe toun of Bedelem
2155 & winne it into Cristen hond.
Our lord ous euer be among.
¶ King Philip & king Richard {f.316rb}
Went hem þo þiderward,
& as þai went bi þe way
2160 King Richard to him gan say,
'ȝif ich may win þis fair cite,
Who schal þerof lord holden be?'
King Philip oȝain a[n]sword
Þerof he wald be holden lord.
2165 Schortliche he seyd at wordes þre
He wald haue þerof þe dignite
& lord be of al þat þing
'As ich am trewe kniȝt & king.'
¶ King Richard seyd 'schal it so be.
2170 Þine owhen men þou take wiþ þe
& wende now forþ & it winne
Wiþ þi queyntise & þi ginne.'
King Richard tok an alblast strong
& bent it wiþ his owen hond;
2175 A quarel clouen þerin he sett
& in þe clift a besant do he lete.
He sent it in signifiaunce
God himselue to honouraunce.
Þe quarel he squached to Ierusalem.
2180 To Acres he turned oȝen
& stabled it in Cristen hond
& seþþe com toward Jnglond.
He was a duhti kniȝt & bold,
In ich lond wele of told.
2185 Seþþe he was schoten allas
In Castel Gailar þer he was.
¶ King Richard regned here
Fourtene ful ȝer.
After him sone anon
2190 Regned þe king Jon.
In his time al Jnglond
Was entredit in his hond,
For an erchebischop,
A wise man & no sot,
2195 Steuen he hete of Langtone,
Þe king him nold not vnderfone.
Sone anon after þat
He com ride in at Bischopesȝat
He seye a flecher sitt þerat.
2200 He biheld & vnderȝat
Hou he gan to prie {f.316va}
& tvincle wiþ þat oþer eye.
King Jon seyd þo,
'Flecher, whi lokestow so?'
2205 Þe flecher answerd oȝain,
'Sir, for soþe, ichil ȝou seyn.
So help me God & seynt Miȝhel
For it schuld be euen & wel.
So help me God & Seyn Austin
2210 Y no dede it for non oþer gin.'
¶ King Jon dede as a schrewe
He de[de] put out his on eyȝe
For he no schuld nomore prinke
No wiþ þat oþer eyȝe winke.
2215 ȝete he dede more schrewednisse:
For a prest nold nouȝt sing his messe
In þat time þat Jnglond
Was entreditt jn his hond,
He dede him held al quic wiþ mayn
2220 Þat was a swiþe hard payn.
Þe folk made þerfore miche sorwe
Þerfro miȝt him no man borwe.
It was a swiþe wicke dede,
Þerfore in helle he has his mede.
2225 He was ful wroþ & grim
For no prest wald sing for him.
He made þo his parlement
& swore his croyde verrament
Þat he schuld make swiche a saut
2230 To fede al Jnglond wiþ a spaud
& eke wiþ a white lof;
Þerfore ich hop he was God loþ.
¶ A monk it herd of Swinesheued
& of þis wordes he was adred
2235 He went hom to his fere
& seyd to hem in þis maner,
'Þe king has made a sori oþ
Þat he schal wiþ a white lof
Fede al Jnglond, & wiþ a spaud.
2240 Ywis it were a sori saut,
& better is þat we dye bo
Þan al Jnglond be so wo.
ȝe schul for me belles ring
& afterwardes rede & sing,
2245 So helpe ȝou God heuen-king. {f.316vb}
Graunteþ me alle now min asking
& ichim wil wiþ puseoun slo.
No schal he neuer Jnglond do wo.'
His breþer him graunt alle his bone,
2250 He lete him schriue swiþe sone
To make his soule fair & clene
Tofor our leuedi, heuen-quen,
Þat sche schuld for him be
Toforn hir sone in trinite.
2255 ¶ Dan Simound ȝede & gadred frut,
Forsoþe were ploumes white;
Þe steles he puld out euerichon,
Pusoun he dede þerin anon
& sett þe steles al oȝen
2260 Þat þe gile schuld nouȝt be sen.
He dede hem in a coupe of gold
& went to þe kinges bord.
On knes he him sett,
Þe king ful fair he gret,
2265 'Sir' he seyd 'bi seynt Austin,
Þis is frout of our gardin;
& ȝif þat ȝour wille be
Asayet hereof after me.'
Dan Simound ete frut on & on
2270 & al þo oþer ete king Jon.
Þe monke aros & went his way.
God ȝif his soule wel go[de] day -
He ȝaf king Jon þer his pu[i]soun,
Himselue hadde þat ilke doun.
2275 He dede it noiþer for niþe no ond
Bot for to saue al Jnglond.
¶ As king Jon sat atte mete
His wombe gan to wex grete,
He swore his oþ, par la croyde,
2280 His wombe wald brest a þre.
He wald haue risen fram þe bord
Ac he no spac neuer more word.
Þus ended his time,
Ywis, he hadde an euel fine.
2285 ¶ King Jon regned tvelue ȝer,
To Worcestre men him ber.
After him regned king Henri,
A gode man & an holy;
He loued better for to wirche {f.317ra}
2290 Boþe chapels & holy chirche
Þan he dede castels oþer tours
Oþer heye halles peynted wiþ floures.
Of al time þat he ledde his liif
He loued noiþer fiȝt no striif.
2295 ȝete þer was wer strong
& miche striif in Jnglond.
Þurth fals conseyl & wicked red
Simond Mufort was brout to ded,
For he wald haue þe gode lawe,
2300 Þerfore he was brouȝt o liue dawe.
King Henry regned here
Seuen & fifti ful ȝer.
At Westminster liþ his bon
Biloken in a marbel ston.
2305 After þis king ichaue of told
Regned a king swiþe bold,
Edward he hete sikerly,
Þe kinges sone Henri.
He was a wel duhti kniȝt
2310 For wele he held Jnglond to riȝt,
For þat Brut wan to his hond,
Inglond, Wales & Scottlond,
He nold forlese non of hem alle
For noþing þat miȝt bifalle.
2315 First Wales he wan to him
& slouȝ Dauid & Lewlin,
& seþþe forsoþe, ich vnderstond,
He wan to him Scotlond.
Jch ȝou telle, wiþouten faile,
2320 Wiþ dent of swerd in bataile
Þer nas no kniȝt of hem so strong
Þat he ne made hem bowe to his hond;
Oþer wiþ loue oþer wiþ eyȝe
Forsoþe he dede as y ȝou say.
2325 He wald haue won more þan so
ȝif he miȝt haue hadde liif þerto.
Y no can telle ȝou wiþ no voice
Hou lef him hadde ben to win þe croice
Þat is in þe heþen lond.
2330 God sende it into Cristen hond.
Alle þat for his soule pray
& wiþ gode hert say
{about 9 lines lost}
Of cristendom he bar þe flour
In wer no com he neuer, ywis,
2335 Þat he no bar oway þe priis.
¶ He regned fif & fifti ȝer
& was ybirid ad Westminster.
After him regned a stalworþ man,
Edward his sone of Carnervan.
2340 He les his lond, saun faile,
Þurth his wicked conseyle,
Þurth sir Howe þe Spenser,
Þat was his wicked conseyller.
¶ He no regned here
2345 Bot eyȝtetene ȝere.
At Berkele dyed þe king,
At Glowcester is his biriing.
Now Ihesu Crist & seyin Richard
Saue þe ȝong king Edward
2350 & ȝif him grace his lond to ȝeme
Þat it be Ihesu Crist to queme
& leue him so for to wirche
Þurth þe lore of holi chirche
Þat God þermid apaied be
2355 Þer he sett in his trinite;
& ȝif him miȝt & grace
Him to venge in eueriche place
Oȝaines his enemis wiche þat it be.
God it him graunt par charite
2360 Þurth his hates þat be ten.
Say we now alle amen.
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