University of Virginia Library

THE CHRONICLE OF ROBERT OF GLOUCESTER.

I. Part I.

Commendacio Anglie.

Þe yle of man þat me clupeþ bitvene vs & irelonde
& þe gret yle of orkeneye bi ȝonde scotlonde
Þe þridde is toward normandie þe yle of wiȝt bi souþe
Þre þe beste yles þese beþ & mest couþe
Þe werste louerdes & maistres þat in engelond were
Þe chef tovnes hii lete in engelonde arere
Londone & everwik lincolne & leicestre
Golchestre & kanterbury bristowe & wircestre
Chichestre & grantebrugge and þanne cirencestre
Derccestre & winchestre and suþþe Gloucestre
& oþer grete tovnes þat were þo in wales
Þis was þo in engelond brutons were iwis
Engelond haþ ibe inome & iwerred ilome
Verst þoruȝ grete louerdes þe emperours of rome
Þat wroȝte & wonne engelond & þat lond nome
Suþþe þorȝ picars & scottes þat to engelond come
Þat werrede & destruede ac al clene ne wonne it noȝt
Suþþe þorȝ engliss and saxons þat hider were ibroȝt
Þorȝ brutons for to helpe hem & suþþe hom over come
Þe brutons þat hom heder broȝte & þat lond hom binome
Suþþe haþ engelond ibe iwerred ilome
Of þe folc of denemarch þat ne beþ noȝt ȝvt isome
Þat ofte wonne engelond and helde it bi maistrie
Þe vifþe time ȝwan engelond þat folc of normandie
Þat among vs wonieþ ȝvt & ssulleþ euere mo
We ssulleþ her after in þise boc telle of al þis wo
Brutons was þe verste folc þat to engelonde com
Voure kinges hii made þo in þis kinedom
Þe king of westsex and of kent & of norþhomber þe þridde
& þe kyng of þe march þat was here amidde

Commendacio Anglie.

Þe saxons & þe englisse þo hii hadde al an honde
Viue & þritti ssiren hii made in engelonde
Souþsex & soþereye kent & estsex
Barcssire & hamptessire & þanne middelsex
Dorsete & wiltessire & somersete al so
Deuenessire & cornewaille & gloucestre þer to
Ssropssire & wurcestressire & al so hereford
Chestressire & warewikssire Derbi & stafford
Lincolne & hontindone & al so bedeford
Bokingham & norþhamtone & of oxenford
Norfolc & souþfolc & grantebrugge al so
Hertford & leicestre & notingham þer to
Euerwik & cardoyl & norþhomberlond
Þes ssiren wiþ oute walis beþ alle in engelond
Seventene bissopriches in engelond beþ al so
Cardoyl & duram & everwik þer to
Of ely & of kanterburi of norþwik & of roucestre
Of londone & of salesbury of chichestre of wincestre
Of lincolne & of chestre & ek of wrcestre
Of hereford & of baþe & al so of eccestre
Þanne beþ þer in walis þre wiþ oute Mor
Sein dauid & landaf & suþþe bangor
Of everwik & kanterbury beþ erchebissopes tvo
Duram beþ & cardoyl vnder everwik ido
& alle þe oþere of engelond & also of walis
Vnder þe erchebissop beþ of kanterbury iwis
Þe saxons þo in her poer þo hii were so riue
Seve kynges made in engelond & suþþe bote viue
Þe king of norþhomberlond & of estangle al so
Of kent & of westsex & of þe march þer to

Descripcio Anglie.

Descripcio Anglie.

Mirabilia Anglie.

Þre wondres beþ in engelond none more inot
Þat water of baþe is þat on þat euere is iliche hot
& verss & newe & euere springeþ ne be þe chele so gret
Swiche baþes þer beþ fale in clos & in þe stret
Vpe þe plein of salesbury þat oþer wonder is
Þat ston heng is icluped non more wonder nis
Evene vp riȝt & sviþe heiȝ þat wonder hit is to se
Þe stones stondeþ þere so grete none more ne mowe be
& oþere liggeþ heie aboue þat man may be of aferd
Þat eche man wondry may hou hii were ferst arered
Vor noþer gyn ne mannes strengþe it þencheþ ne may it do
Telle me ssal herafterward of þes wondres boþe tvo
& hou hii were verst imaked Þat oþer wonder is
Vpe þe hul of þe pek þe wind þere iwis
Vp of þe erþe ofte comþ of holes þei hit were
& blouþ vp of þulke holes so þat it wolde arere
& bere vp grete cloþes ȝif hii were þer nei
& bloue hom here & þere vp in þe luft anhei
Veire weies manion þer beþ in englonde
Ac voure mest of alle þer beþ ich vnderstonde
Þoru þe olde kinges imad ȝwar þorȝ me mai wende
Fram þe on ende of engelond vorþ to þe oþer ende
Fram þe souþ tilþ to þe norþ erninge stret
& fram est to þe west ykenilde stret
Fram douere in to chestre tilleþ watelinge stret
Fram souþest to þe norþwest & þat is somdel gret
Þe verþe is mest of alle þat tilleþ fram totenas
Fram þe on ende of cornewaille anon to cattenas
Fram souþwest to þe norþest to engelondes ende
Fos me clupeþ þilke wei þat bi mani a god toun deþ wende

De Mundicia et pulcritudine gentis terre.

De excidio troie & genelogia bruti.

Vor þer nas god kniȝt in mani lond ne stalworþe man
Þat in þe on side þere nas & al vor a woman
Þat heleine was icluped þis bataile verst bigan
An hei man was þer bi vore þat me clupede dardan
Of him com þe gode brut þat was þe verste man
Þat louerd was in engelond as ich ȝow telle can
Dardan biȝet troye þat god man was & wis
Troye byȝet priamus & also anchis
Þes were in þisse bataile of mest miȝt & mayn
Anchis biȝet enias & enias ascayn
Ascayn biȝet silvi of ȝwan þe brut com
Vor enias after þe bataile ascayn is sone nom
& silui ascaynes sone & oþere þat þer were
& to þe lond of lombardie wende & wonede vorþ þere
Þo silui hadde biȝete a child wane he wolde iwite
ȝwat man þe child ssolde be þat he adde bi ȝete
A clerc þorȝ enchantement him bigan þo telle
Þat þat child ssolde verst fader & moder quelle
& suþþe he ssulde mani lond over passi & wende
& mani bataile over com & suþþe at þen ende
To a noble lond he ssolde come and þere a louerd be
& kynges come of his blod & þat me ssulde ise
Þat eneas bi gan is of spring to lombardie verst bringe
Þre þousend & sixe & twenti þer was fram þe worldes biginninge
Þo þe clerc adde iseid his enchanterie
Þer vore silui him let sle ac þat was lute maistrie
Vor hit com no þe later as he hadde iseyd
Vor in travail of his beringe is moder was verst ded
Þo þis child was ibore me let hit clupie brut
Verst louerd he was in engelond of ȝwam me spekeþ ȝvt

Brutus occidit patrem et exulat.

Þe child wax & wel iþeȝ as þe clerc seide er
Suþþe þo hit adde þe elde of viftene ȝer
As he wolde ssete an hert al aȝen is wille
To deþe he sset his owe fader þat he lai þer stille
Hit him of þoȝte sore inou & naþeles ȝvt he was
Out of þe lond idriue vor þe deolvol cas
In to þe lond of grece he wende & þo vond he þere
Of þe kinde of priamus mani men þat þere were
Þat were of his nexte blod þat were þer in seruage
Vor her eldrene were þer biuore inome in ostage
Fram þe bataile of troye wreche as hit were
Vor þe grete slaȝt and wo þat hore kunde dude þere
Þo brut among hom com to such prowesse he drou
Þat al þe kun þat him iseiȝ adde of him ioye inou
So þat atte laste þo he in stat was
& him þoȝte þat is per in þe world nas
Þat folc al of þulke blode to him drowe vaste
Þat he ssolde is owe kunde of þulke seruage caste
Hii come alle aboute him so þat brut isey
Þat þer was of hom gret poer & noble volc & hey
Hii ȝarked hom to gadere þat vair ost it was
To þe king of grece he sende þat ihote was pandras
Þat he ssolde þe noble folc þat of so noble blod com
Oout of seruage lete & out of þraldom
Oþer him ne ssolde noȝt wondri þei hii dede hor miȝte
Wiþ hor bodies þat aȝte be so fre vor to winne hor riȝte
Þis king adde in is þoȝt gret bisemare of þis þinge
He ȝarkede is ost anon him to gronde bringe
Þis brut aien him wiþ is ost wel wisliche drou
Hii smite þer an bataile hard an strong inou

Brutus vicit pandrasum regem grecorum.

Brutus.

& nom is leue vaire of him & þonkede him alle god
& nom wiþ him al þat folc þat he vond þere of his blod
& his wif Innogen & to ssipe wende
Hii nuste to wuche londe bote as god hem sende
Þat deol þat made Innogen no tonge telle ne may
Heo criede & wep mid sorwe inou & ofte iswowe lay
Þat heo wende fram al hire kun & fram ech þat heo knew
& nuste an erþe ȝwderward bote as þe wind blew
& wuste þat heo ne ssolde neuere aȝen come ne go
Ne see vader ne oþer kun louerd þat hire was wo
Brut hire clupte & kuste & confortede hire inou
Ac he ne miȝte here herte change þat heo to sorwe ne drou
Tweie dawes hii wende in þe see fram þe lond of grece
So þat hii come to an yle me clupede leogece
Þere hii gonne ariue & brut sende vp þere
Þre hondred men iarmed wel to loke ȝwat lond þat were
Þis men wende aboute wide & man ne fonden hii non
Bote vair contre & bestes wilde manion
A temple hii vovnde vair inou & a maumet amidde
Þat ofte tolde wonder gret & ȝwat men bitidde
Þes men of þis wilde bestes slowe & caȝte inowe
& to astori hem of mete vaste to ssipe drowe
Of þe maumet hii tolde brut þat hii fonde þere
& he nom wiþ him twelf men þe hexte þat wiþ him were
& a clerc þat couþe of enchantement & to þis temple drow
& offrede to þis maumet & honoured it inow
Vor to wite in ȝwiche stede is woniigge were
Þo he adde is bone ido he werþ aslepe riȝt þere
Him þoȝte þe ymage in is slep tolde him is chance
Brut he sede passe vorþ al biȝonde france

Brutus.

Brutus.

Vor to porchassi hom mete & þe king goffar
Þat was king of þe lond þo he was iwar
Þat such folc was ariued as me sede vp his londe
& nuste wat folc it was to hom he sende is sonde
To wite ȝweþer hii wolde pais oþer hii nolde non
His messagers as hii wende vorþ comen & mette echon
Corineus mid is compaignie as hii wende an honteþ þere
Hii esste anon at corineus hou hii so hardi were
To honti ope þe kinges lond bote þe king hom ȝeue leue
Corneus seyde þat he nolde noman esse leue
To honti & to winne is mete & to abbe solas & game
Þe maister of þe messagers Imberd was is name
He bende is bowe & sset anon to corineus to gronde
Corneus nom is bowe of him & ȝaf him ane wounde
Anowarde is scolle mid his owe bowe anon
Þat is scolle to brec in peces manion
His felawes þo hii seie þis bigonne to fle echon
& tolde þe king vore hou þe gome was al igon
Þe king made him vroþ inou & lute wonder it was
Þat strange men in is owe lond dude a such trespas
Þat asaileden is lond & to robberie drowe
& robbed is bestes & is game & is men so slowe
He wende viþ al is poer & asailed hom anon
Brut & corineus preste were & hor men echon
& smite an bataille strong þat no tunge telle ne may
Þe folc þat þer was aslawe in eiþer side a day
Corineus suerd sone brac so strong he smot & vaste
Vor no suerd ne miȝte mid is dunt longe dure ne laste
Mid him he adde an strong ax þat maniman broȝte to deþe
So strong & gret þat an oþer hit ssolde hebbe unneþe

Brutus.

Corineus herwiþ harde smot & stured him aboute
& made is wey bi eiþer side & percede þe route
Mid þre hondred kniȝtes a duc þat het syward
Asaylede corineus him sulf a uorþ ward
He smot corineus harde inou þat he it stronge velde
& ȝut he hente þene stroc muchedel mid is sselde
Corineus was þo somdel wroþ is ax an hei he drou
& smot him anowarde þat heued mid god ernest inou
& vor clef him al þat heued & þe bodi to gronde
Þo miȝte siward segge þat he adde is per ifounde
Þo corineus was alles wroþ so strong dunt he ȝef
Þat ech bodi þat he smot oþer heued he to clef
Oþer he smot of þen arm oþer hond oþer heued
No lim nas þat he smot mid þe bodi bileued
Amty place he made aboute þat folc fley him vaste
A wonder maister he was on þat hom so couþe agaste
So vaste hii slowe of þis men & adoun hom caste
Þat þe king mid a vewe men him self fleiȝ atte laste
Þo þis bataile was ido brut & corineus
& astored hom aboute mid richesse & chateus
Of corn & win & alle gode & to ssipe vaste drowe
& barnde al þe contreie & þat folc vaste slowe
Þo hii adde al bar imad þe contrei al aboute
& hii were hom sulf wel astored of no þing hii nadde doute
Hii wende hom to ssipe anon & euene hii gonne driue
To þe contreie of tours & þere hii gonne ariue
A veir place hii chose hom & þere hii gonne arere
Walles wide & stronge inou castles as it were
& astored it wel inou & hor god þuder in bere
& abide þen king ȝif he wolde asaily hom þere

Brutus.

Brutus.

Brutus.

Brutus rex.

Locrinus rex.

After þat he com to engelond In þe foure & twentiþe ȝere
Ibured he was in londone þat he let verst rere
Þis lond was þo ideled a þre amang þre sones iwis
Bi weste seuerne kember adde & so al walis
Albanac biȝonde homber ac lotrin adde best
Al out bitwene hom fram est to þe west
Vor þat he was eldest me lokede him mest bi riȝte
Þes were as þre kinges & men of muchel miȝte
Þe king of hongerie suþþe com homber was is name
Into scotlond to worri & to do albanac ssame
& werred vpe him vaste & atte laste him slou
Þo lotrin iseiȝ þis he was sori inou
After his broþer kamber hastiliche he sende
& beye mid gret ost toward þe king wende
& smite bataile strong inou strengore ne miȝte non be
So þat homber king of hongri suþþe bi gan to fle
In to a gret water þere & adreinte him silue mid ssame
Þer vore me clupede þat water þo homber after is name
As me deþ ȝut & euermo wule vor þis cas
Þat homber king of hongrie þer inne adreint was
Þo lotrin adde al is wille he astore wel is lond
Wiþ homber kinges god þat me of his wond
Þo vond he þere damaiseles gent & vair inoȝ
Þat homber wiþ him brouȝte to þe ones herte drouȝ
Þat was of hom cheuentein & þe kinges doȝter was
Of germain & as him þouȝte in þe worlde her pere nas
So ȝwit ne of suich color ne in eche manere so gent
King lotrines herte was al & clene vp hire iwent
He nom hire vorþ mid him mid gret honur inou
& þouȝte hire to spousi so his herte to hire drou

Locrinus rex.

Locrinus rex.

Madan rex. Mempricius rex. Eboracus rex. Brutus rex. Leil rex.

Bladud rex. Leir rex.

Leir rex.

Þe fader was þo glad inou & bad ire vnderstonde
To ȝwan sse wolde imaried be mid þe þriddedel of is londe
Þe ȝongeste he esste þo as he adde þe oþere ido
Heo ne couþe of no vicelinge & ne ansuerede noȝt so
Sire heo sede ine leue noȝt þat min sostren al soþ sede
Ac auorneȝe me icholle soþ segge of þis dede
Ich þe louie as þe man þat my fader is
& euere abbe iloued as mi fader & euere wole iwis
& ȝif þou wole ȝut þer vppe more esse & wite of me
Al þe ende of loue & þe ground icholle segge þe
As muche as þou ast al so muche ȝou art worþ iwis
& as muche ich louie þe þe endinge lo is þis
Þe king was þo wroþ inou vor ȝo sede al þat soþ
& sede vor þou ne louest me noȝt as þin sostren doþ
Ac despisest me in min olde liue þou ne ssalt neuere iwis
Part abbe of mi kinedom ne of lond þat min is
Ac þine sostren ssolleþ abbe al vor hor herte is so kunde
& þou ssalt vor þin vnkundhede be out of al min munde
Ac ine segge noȝt ȝif ich may to mariage þe bringe
Þat inele wiþ oute lond wiþ some lutel þinge
Vor þou art mi doȝter & ich abbe more þan þin sostren boþe
I loued þe one þou ȝelst nou my loue wroþe
Þer after euene a tuo he delede is kinedom
& ȝef is tueie doȝtren half & half him sulf nom
& þe eldeste doȝter wiþ here del ȝef viþ oute faile
Þe king of scotlonde & þe oþer þe king of cornwaile
To abbe half is lond wiþ hom atte biginninge
& suþþe al is kinedom after is endinge
& þe gode cordeile vnmaried was so
Vor ȝo nolde vikeli as ire sostren adde ido
Ac god þouȝte ȝut on hire vor hire triwenesse
Vor þe king of france hurde telle of ire godnesse
& bed hire fader granti him þe gode cordeile
Þe king sende word aȝen þat it was wel is wille
Ac he nolde wiþ hire ȝiue tresor ne lond
Vor is tuo eldore doȝtren hit adde al an hond
Þo þe king of france hurde þis he ansuerede þer to
Þat he adde him sulf lond inou & tresour al so
& þat he ne kepte bote hire one wiþ oute alle oþer þinge

Leir rex.

Þat some eirs & children bituene hom miȝte bringe
So þat atte laste þis maide ispoused was
To þe heie king of france as god ȝef þat cas
Þo þis king leir eldore was he bigan to loþe
Vor he so longe liuede is leue doȝtren boþe
Hor louerdes hii entissede þat hii hulde to gadere vaste
& wonne al þis lond to hom & hor fader out caste
Þis tueie kinges nome hor ost & endede þis dede
& binome þis oldemannes lond as hor wiues hom bede
Ac þe king of scotlonde vor reuþe & for kundhede
[Hym nom to hym in to his hows aȝeyn ys wyues rede]
Sixti kniȝtes wiþ honour to vinde him al his lif
As wo seiþ vor a kinedom & vor honur of is wif
Wiþ inne tuo ȝer after hit of þouȝte þe luþer quene
Þat hire fader adde to muche & þat he wolde to muche spene
Heo made þat of sixti kniȝtes hire louerd wiþ drou
& made him holde to þritti & hom þouȝte inou
Þis leir was assamed þo & in wraþþe atte nende
To is doȝter quene of cornwaile gan wende
& plainede of þe unkundhede of is doȝter gornorille
& wende þer amendement abbe after is wille
Þulke doȝter him aueng mid honur as þe hende
Ac he was al vol of him ar þe ȝeres ende
Vor he entisede hire louerd þo þat he is kniȝtes echone
Vor coust binome him bote an vif men one
Wuche so hii were to serui him & þat was inou
Þo þis oldeman þis ihurde to sorwe is herte he drou
He nuste to ȝweþer doȝter betere truste þo
& naþeles he wende aȝen to þe oþer mid muche wo
& hopede vor to finde of hire betere mulce & grace
& heo suor bi hire heie godes anon in þe place
Þat he ne ssolde mid hire be bot it one were

Leir rex.

Wiþ one kniȝte wiþ oute mo þe ȝwile he him wel bere
& esste ȝwat sorwe him were wanne he nadde him sulf no god
To wilni so gret coust & be of so gret mod
Þis word dude muche wo to þis seli olde king
Þat heo atweste him is stat þat he nadde no þing
Þat word brac nei is herte muche he it onderstod
Þat is child atweste is pouerte þat adde al is god
Nere neuere king ne quene glad wanne hii him seie
Ac to þe Ioiuol day hopede wanne he ssolde deie
He bileuede as he nede moste vorþ mid one kniȝte
& þe quene is doȝter alle wo him dude fram dai to niȝte
So þat he moste vor fin miseise awey atten ende
Þe oþer doȝter þat he adde ifonded he ne dorste to hire wende
Þe quene of france þe þridde him þoȝte mid vnriȝte
Vor he misdude hire þat he ne dorste comen in hire siȝte
Ac attelaste þo he isei þat he moste attenende
Vor pur meseise vorfare leuere he adde wende
& bidde is mete ȝif he ssolde in a strange londe
Þan þere as he him sulf king was & such þing adde an honde
Attelaste in sorwe inou to þe se he wende
To do is beste in meseise ware so god him sende
In þe ssip oþer princes in gret prute he biheld
& he nadde mid him bote tueie men him þoȝte is herte veld
[He þoȝte on þe noblei þat he hadde in ybe
He wep þe terus ronne doun þat deol it was to se]
Mid ȝoxinge & gret wop þus he bigan is mone
Alas alas þou luþer wate þat vilest me þus one
Þat þus clene bringst me adoun woder ssal ich be broȝt
Vor wel more sorwe it deþ me wan it comþ in mi þoȝt
Þe nobleye þat ich abbe iheued & þat ich was iwoned to wende
Mid so moni hondred kniȝtes aboute in ech ende
& castles nime & tounes & min fon bringe to grounde
Þanne do al þe meseise þat ich am on ibounde

Leir rex.

Leue doȝter cordeille to soþ þou seidest me
Þat as muche as ich adde ich was worþ þei ine leuede þe
Þe wile ich oȝt adde ich was worþ & nou it is al agon
Min children þat ich ȝef mi god beþ min meste fon
Vor my god hii louede me & nou hii abbeþ eueridel
Hii nolleþ me ȝiue of min owe mid gode herte a mel
A wey doȝter cordeille woder ssal ich nou fle
So muche ichabbe þe misdo þat ine dar þe ise
Mid woch bodi dar ich come in þin siȝt ene
Þat bi nom þe My frendssipe vor þi soþnesse al clene
Þis men mowe her ensample nime to lete hor sones wiue
& ȝiue hom vp hor lond al bi hor liue
Vor wel may a simple frankelein in miseise him so bringe
Of lute lond wanne þer biuel such cas of an kinge
Þo þis king adde iwend aboute in such soruol cas
Attelaste he com to carric þer is doȝter was
He bileuede wiþ oute toun In wel grete fere
He sende þe quene is doȝter word wuch is aunters were
& þat pur meseise him þuder drof & defaute of biliue
& bad hire vor þe loue of god hire wraþþe him vorȝiue
Þe quene þo ȝo ihurde þis nei iswowe was
Alas heo sede is mi fader ibroȝt in such cas
Mid hou mani kniȝtes is he come þe oþer aȝen sede
Ma dame bote mid o man & ȝut þulke in feble wede
Alas quaþ þe quene þo is it nou mid him so
Nimeþ anon tresor inou þat he aþ neode to
& cloþeþ him mid þe beste cloþ þat ȝe mowe bise
& vourti kniȝtes wiþ him þat of is siwte beo
& doþ hom alle wel an horse as king bicomþ to
& wanne no defaute nis þat al nis wel ido
Sendeþ mi louerd word & me þat mi fader in þis lond is

Leir rex. Cordoille regina.

Wat halt it to telle longe ido was al þis
Þo þe king leir atired was & me hom word sende
Þe king & quene vaire inou aȝen þis oþer king wende
& mid gret honur him avenge þo he to hom come
& toke to is owe wille al clene þe kinedom
Þis was þo þe gode doȝter þat nolde vikeli noȝt
Ofte þing þat is ivikeled to worse ende is broȝt
Þe kying of fraunce after folc wide aboute sende
To awreke him of þe luþere men þat is frend so ssende
Þo he adde poer inou þe kyng leir he nom
& þe quene is doȝter & to þis londe com
Many kundemen of þis lond Mid king leir hulde also
Vor þe vnkunde suikedom þat is doȝtren adde ido
So þat of france & of þis lond poer he adde inou
& toward is fon mid hom alle mid god herte he drou
& ouercom þis false kynges & hor wiues also
& aȝen was in is kinedom mid grete honur ido
Cordeile is leue doȝter eir of al is lond
After is daye he made þo þat he so kunde fond
Bi þis tale me mai ise þat men triwest we seþ
& best me mai to hom truste þat of lest wordes beþ
Wiþinne þe ȝer þe king of france deide & þe king leir
& cordeille þe kinedom aueng as þe riȝt eyr
& hire fader let burie wiþ gret prute & honour
At leicestre þat he made him sulf bi side þe water of sour
Þis gode cordeille as king & quene þo
Bileuede her in þis lond vif ȝer & nanmo
Ar hire tweie soster sones stalwarde men þat were
Hennin & Morgan worre hire gonne arere
& adde despit þat womman king ssolde alonde beo
& naþeles wan mid all ritȝe hii were ner þan heo

Cunedag rex.

Hii gaderede vp hor aunte hor ost aboute wide
& destruede hire londes eiþer in is side
So þat attelaste to bataile hii come
& þe quene hor aunte in bataile hii nome
& in stronge prison broȝte & þe kinedom
Delde bitwene hem two & eiþer is del nom
Morgan king of scotlond as hii dele couþe
Adde al is lond bi norþe & þe oþer bi souþe
Wiþinne tuo ȝer þer after some to morgan come
& vor he of þe eldor soster was bed him nime gome
& sede him it was gret despit þat were in þis londe
Tueie kinges wanne it riȝt was þat he it adde al an honde
Þis king was entised so þat he nom atte last
His ost & upe is cosin bigan to werri vaste
& bigan berne & quelle & atte laste iwis
Þe oþer bigan to torne aȝen & drof him in to walis
& þer hii smite an bataile in þe souþ half of þe londe
& þere was morgan aslawe þat longe worþ vnder stonde
Þe stude þat he was on slawe me clupeþ ȝut Morgan
& euere wolle after him vor he was so worþe man
Cunedag was þo one & þat lond to him nom
& nobliche þre & þritti ȝer huld þis kinedom
Þe tweie holi prophetes were ose & ysaye
Þulke time in israhel & dude hor prophecie
Romulus & remeus þe tweie breþern iwis
Bigonne þo verst rome þat noble cite is
Four hondred ȝer it was & fourtene also
After þe bataile of troye þat þis was al ido
& rome was vif hondred þus imad bifore
& þre & vifti ȝer ek ar god were ibore
After þis king kunedag his sone þat het riual

Gorgont rex.

Gorgont rex.

Hii dude hom vorþ in to þe se & bi moni a londe wende
So þat in to spaine atte nende hom sende
Þere hii bileuede & woxe & alle þat of hom come
Vorte now þis oþer day þat we ne miȝte noȝt be isome
Vor þe kunde volc of þe lond adde to hom onde
& þat we to grete maistres were driue us out of londe
Oþer half ȝer we abbeþ now iwend wiþ oute reste
In þe grete se of occean vorto seche oure beste
Þat oure owe lif ous is loþ þat we nuste ware bileue
Þer vore we wolde bidde þe þat þou vs som place ȝeue
Þat were ampty In þine londe ware þou wost bi þenche
Þat we miȝte biswinke oure mete & libbe bi oure swenche
Þe kyng hom nolde granty no þing of is lond
Ac he sende hom bi god condut In to yrelond
Þat al ampty was of men þat no mon ne wonede þere
& þis were þe verste men þat in yrlonde were
A þousend ȝer hit was & tuo þat ido was al þis
After þat folc of israel of egipt wende iwis
Seue hondred ȝer & nyenty hit was ek biuore
Er þan oure louerd crist anerþe was ibore
Hit biuel þerafterward suiþe long inou
Þat out of þe lond of scicye oþer folc þuder drou
Vor in to þe grete se of occean a gret compainie
Of picars wende some time out of scicie
Fram londe to londe wide hii gonne wende
So þat hii come attelaste to yrlondes norþ ende
Aȝen þat folc of scotlond & þat folc þat hii founde þere
Of þis eldore kunde scottes icluped were
Þe picars bede þe scottes an ende of hor londe
To ȝiue hom to libbe by bi suench of hor honde
Þe scottes sede þat þet lond noȝt inou be
To hom boþe to libbe by as hii miȝte ise

Gorgont rex.

Gorgont rex. Lud rex.

Cassibel rex.

Cassibel rex. Iuli[us] imperator p[ri]m[us] perquisitor Anglie.

& his lond huld of him & dude him omage
Laste þe heie emperour vor is outrage
Come & destruede al is lond & ȝut þat worse were
Þe blod schedde of is owe kunde & defoulede so þere
& þe olde heinesse of priamus worrede so
Of was kunde hii come echone & þat were him loþ to do
Vor þer ne scholde in al þe world no lond be uer bore
Þis was euene sixti ȝer ar god were ibore
Þe kyng sende þis word aȝen þo he hurde þis tiþinge
Cassibel king of brutaine to Iuly send gretinge
Wonder it is sire emperour of þi noble gentrise
Þat is so noble anerþe iwolt wiþ so vil coueitise
Þat worles nobleye as so muche alle manne mest
& vor coueitise art icome so ver fram þen est
To wilny oure lute god þat god vs wolde sende
Þat beþ here bi vs sulue at þe worles ende
& þat þou nart one ipaid vr tresour to nime at ene
Bote þou þerafter vs binime vr franchise al clene
To bringe us so fre as we beþ In to so gret seruage
Þat we bere þe & þine eueremo truage
Gret vilte þou askest ous wanne we of one kunde
Beþ icome ȝe & we as þou ast þi sulf in munde
Þanne aȝt it be inou wanne we beþ of one blode
Loue & frendssipe to aski us ȝif þou þe wel vnderstode
Þei þou ne askedest þer vppe þralhede euere mo
Siker þou be we ne conne noȝt of þralhede ne of wo
So muche we abbeþ euere ibe in franchise ȝut her to
Þat þei vr owe god vs wolde in þralhede do
Fondi we wolde aȝen hom vor oure franchise wiþstonde
Þei þou þer vore sire emperour gret poer abbe an honde

Cassibel rex.

Wite to soþe þat we wulleþ vor oure franchise fiȝte
& vor oure lond raþer þan we lese it wiþ vnriȝte
Þis was ek four hondred ȝer & four score & þrittene
After þat þe boru of rome verst was bigonne ich wene
Þo þe emperour hurde þis to schipes he wende vaste
& al is poer vorþ wiþ him & hor seiles vp caste
Hii entred In at temese mouþ & þere hii gonne ariue
Þo cassibel hurde þis he ȝarkede him wel bliue
Þo adde king lud is broþer ȝonge sones tueie
Androge & tennant þat to ȝonge were beie
Þo ȝare fader deide to holde þe kinedom
Þer vore cassibel þat lond to him nom
Ac þo nolde cassibel þat hii ssolde allinge faile
Tennant þe ȝongore he made erl of cornwaile
& androge erl of kent & ȝef him londone þer to
Beie hii were noble men þo þis dede was ido
Þe king adde ek an broþer nenni was is name
Stalwarþe kniȝt & hardi & mon of grete fame
Þe kinges chef conselers þes þre were of þis þinge
Alle hii come to kaunterbury atte biginninge
Þere þe king & is poer such conseil to gadere nome
To kepe þe emperours folc ar hii to ver in come
Vor ȝif hii adde o þing iwonne of castel oþer of toune
Wel þe worse it wolde be to bringe hom þer doune
Þe king wende toward þe se mid vair ost inou
& as þe emperour adde ipiȝt his pauilons he drou
Þo hii adde iordeined hor ost in eiþer side
Þe bataile hii smite strong inou þat couþ was wel wide
Mid arwen & mid quarels so muche folc verst me slou
And suþþe mid speres smite adoun þat deol it was inou
Þo hii were þoru out imengd mid suerd & mid mace
Mid ax & mid anlas so muche folc in þe place

Cassibel rex.

Me slou þat al þe erþe aboute stod as in flode
Ar þe bataile were ido al of rede blode
Nenny þe kinges broþer & þe erl of kent al so
Mid al þe poer of kent & mid londreis þer to
Abated hom to þulke ost þat þe emperor Inne was
So þat nenny isey þe emperour bicas
Anon he willede in is herte wiþ a so hei man to fiȝte
He asailede him & drou is suerd & smot mid al is miȝte
Ac þe emperour mid is suerd þen stroc hente inou
& adrou is suerd an hei & to grounde harde slou
& smot nenny þoru þe helm somdel toward þe braine
& suþþe toward þulke stude he smot mid more maine
To abbe icloue him al þat heued ac nennin is sseld nom
& dude bituene þat þe stroc so dep þer inne ne com
Þat þe emperour ne miȝte it out drawe mid al is mayn
Nennyn caste is owe swerd awei anon wel vain
& nom þat suerd to him þat so noble was & riche
Vor þer nas in al þe world suerd him iliche
Vor þer non wiþ him iwonded þat euere keueri miȝte
Þer vore it was rede deþ icluped & mid riȝte
Þo nennyn adde þis gode suerd aboute he smot to grounde
Ech man þat he þer wiþ smot he ȝef deþes wounde
Þe romeins leie sone adoun he made ampti place
& þe brutons arise vaste so þat þoru godes grace
Hii adde þe maistrie of veld þe romeins flowe bliue
Ac mony was þe moder child þat arst was ibroȝt of liue
Þe emperour & is poer to schipe flowe vaste
& to france flowe aȝen somdel hii were agaste
Hor folc hii lore in þe se þoru tempest monion
Wat in bataile wat in þe se & hore hors nei echon

Cassibel rex.

Cassibel was glad inou þo he adde þe maistrie
Vaire he þonkede is gode folc & gret corteisie
Of ȝiftes delde among hom euere as hii worþe were
So þat ioye & murþe inou among hom was þere
Ac þer was among hom deol inou vor nennin ibroȝt
Þat þe emperour þe wounde ȝef þat he miȝte hele noȝt
He lai uorpined in þe wounde & toward þe deþe drou
& deide þe vifte day mid sorwe & deol inou
At þe norþ ȝate of londone hii birede þis gode kniȝt
& burede wiþ him in is cheste þat swerd þat was so briȝt
Þat he wan of þe emperour wiþ onour inou
Þat rede deþ was icluped warewiþ he him slou
Ibured it was uorþ wiþ him as in tokninge
Of is prowesse þat he it wan of an so heie kinge
Cassibel þis gode king him gan euere vnderstonde
Þat þe emperour þoȝte ȝut worrie in is londe
Þe vif tounes of þe vif pors he let walli aboute
& so gode kniȝtes dude þer þat he nadde þer of no doute
Stakes of ire monion he piȝte in temese grounde
Aboue ssarpe & kene inou bineþe grete & rounde
Þat ȝif þer eni ssipes come ar me iwar were
Hii ssolde piche hom þoru out & adrenche so þere
Her was quointise inou he let also arere
Vpe þe water stronge hous þat hii vnwarned nere
& of þe ȝonge folc of þe lond þerinne dude inowe
To be prest to kepe hor fon wenne hii þuder drowe
Iulius þe emperour wiþ strong poer inou
Tuo ȝer after þe bataile to engelond aȝen drou
& þoȝte to sle al þat folc & winne þe kinedom
Ac he caste ambesas þo he to londe com

Cassibel rex.

Vor as þe ssipes wiþ gret eir come toward londe
In temese as þei al þe world ne ssolde hom atstonde
Þe pikes smite hom þoru out ar hii wuste wat hit were
& to dasste & drainte vourti ssipes þere
& a þousend gode kniȝtes þerinne were adreint
& al hor atir & tresour was also aseint
& so hii miȝte lerni wiche brutons were
Betere hom adde ibe at rome þan iiousted þere
Þe emperour wiþdrou him þo & bi anoþer ende
To londe he com wroþ inou þis lond vor to ssende
Þo king cassibel isei so muche folc vorlore
& adreint of is fon glad he was þeruore
& naþeles he was sori & made gret imone
Of hom þat ofscapede þat hii nere adreint echone
Þo þe romeins were icome to londe attelaste
Cassibel wiþ his poer aȝen hom sette vaste
Hii smite bataile strong inou þer was ido gret wo
& muche folc aslawe in eiþer half & of þe romeins mo
Vor þe brutons woxe vaste þe romeins bineþe were
Þo þe emperour isei þat his fare nas noȝt þere
Wiþ lute folc þat him was bileued to ssipe hii flowen vaste
Hit was folc of an gode londe þat hom so couþe agaste
Þe king cassibel anon vor ioie made his heste
Þat alle þe kniȝtes of is lond come to is feste
To londone at a certein day & hore wiues al so
Hor sacrefize to hor godes as riȝt was to do
Vourti þousend of ruþeren he let quelle þer to
& of fatte weþeren an hondred þousend al so
Of wilde bestes he let þritti þousend quelle
Of wilde foweles & of tame ne miȝte no tonge telle

Cassibel rex.

Þo þis feste ȝare was þat folc verst in is wise
To hor godes as hii wolde dude hor sacrefice
Þer after hii sete at hor mete wiþ gret nobleie echon
Þat me nuste þer biuore so noble feste non
After mete as riȝt was þe menestraus eode aboute
& kniȝtes & swaines In karole gret route
So þat þe kinges neueu & þe erles neueu of kent
Þe tueie ȝonge bachelers þat noble were & gent
In þat noble tresche strif bigonne arere
So þat þe herles neueu þen oþer slou riȝt þere
Þo was al þe court anuyd as he moste nede
Þe king verde ek vor wraþþe as he wolde awede
Androge he sende word þat he is neueu toke
& broȝte him vorþ to auonge þat þe court him wolde loke
Androge was adrad vor he nuste þe kinges wille
& loþ he adde is neueu to hongi oþer spille
Þe king he sende word aȝen þat he adde is franchise
In is owe court vorto loke domes & assise
& þat ȝif is neueu adde misdo In is owe court he ssolde
Ansuerie þat echman to him siwi wolde
Þo þe king hurde þis þat he ne miȝte bi no lawe
Iugi him þat his neueu broȝte of lifdawe
He greiþede is ost faste vpe þis erl of kent
To bringe is neueu mid strengþe to stonde to Iugement
Oþer mid fure oþer mid swerd bringe he wolde al out
Him to noȝte & al is þing nere he no so proute
Þis erl bi grete louerdes to þe king ofte sende
Þat he ssolde vor godes loue is herte somdel amende
& þat he vor is neueu wolde vorto abatie strif
Do hey amendement sauue lume & lif

Cassibel rex.

Þo þer nas oþer wey bote stonde al out to dome
Þe erl of anoþer wei bi þouȝte him ilome
& as he & is conseil stable conseil nome
Þe lettres he sende to Iuli þe emperour of rome
To Iuli emperour of rome androge erl of kent
Gretinge & stable loue after wraþþe sent
Sire wite to soþe þat sore ofþinkþ it me
Þat ich abbe vor oure kinges loue iholde aȝen þe
Þat ȝif mi poer nadde ibe þou addest him ouercome
Ac vor he aþ now þe maistrie such prute him haueþ inome
Þat nou me þoru wam he aþ of þe þe maistrie
Driue he wolde out of his lond mid grete vileinie
Ich him abbe iholde in is lond & mi mede þer of is
Þat he me wole driue of is lond vnofserued iwis
Vor oure godes ich take to witnesse þat oþer gult non þer nis
Bote þat inelle mi neueu þat a lute dude amis
Bitake him to Iugement to hongi oþer to drawe
Ac ich wolde to sauui lif & lume bringe him to ech lawe
Þer vore ich bidde þat ich mowe mi stat holde þoru þe
& þat þou vp him brutaine mowe winne þoru me
& ne þench þou sire noþing þat ich treson þenche
Vor siker þis is þe soþe wei wiþ oute eni mis wrenche
& god wole þat men ofte be in wraþþe & in sore
Þat after hor grete wraþþe hor loue be þe more
Þo þe emperour hurde þis he ne truste wel þer to
Wiþ oute siker ostage such þing to do
Þe erl þritti noble men þat were of is blode
Sende him & is owe sone þat were ostages gode

Cassibel rex.

Siker was þo þe emperour he ne leuede noȝt bihinde
Ac com here to engelond mid þe nexte winde
Þe king þe wule londone bisegede uaste
& destruede þe erles lond & is courtes adoun caste
Ac þo he hurde þat þe romeins icome were to þis londe
To hom he wende hasteliche & let londone stonde
Þo he com nei kaunterburi In a valeie biside
He sei þe emperours ost sprad aboute wide
Þe emperour verst in is half & he in is also
Ordeinede verst hor ost þe bataile to do
Ac mid vif hondred hors iwrie as it was bispeke
Þe erl of kent was in a wode him vor to awreke
Þer of nas noȝt þe king iwar ac wiþoute faile
Mid gode herte he wende vorþ to smite þis bataile
Bituene þe se & kaunterburi þis bataile was
Neuere ich wene more slaȝt in so lute wude nas
Þat folc vel doun vorwounded & aslawe in eiþer side
As þicke as leues doþ of tren aȝen winteres tide
Ac þo þe folc of þis lond nei adde þe maistrie
Com þe erl of kent mid is ost þoru is tricherie
Al verss bi hinde þe brutouns alas þulke stounde
So þat þis lond was ibroȝt þoru treson verst to grounde
Ac þe king & some of is defended hom so vaste
Þat hii vor hom alle aliue ofscapede atte laste
& nolde hom ȝelde for no þing ac among al or fon þere
Ofscapede vp an hei hul þer moni roches were
& þer hii kudde hor prowesse vor hii wuste hom þere anhei
Mid stones þat no mon ne dorste come hom nei
Ou louerd þe noble folc þat is of þis londe
Wanne hii þe emperour of rome þat no lond ne miȝte at stonde

Cassibel rex.

In bataile & al is ost ouercome twie
& euere wolde as ich wene ȝif nadde ibe tricherie
Þer vore ich wene þat þis lond neuere iwonne nere
Bote it þoru treson of þe folc of þe londe were
Þo þe emperour ne miȝte þe king mid strengþe ouercome
Þen hul he wuste vorte he adde mid honger him inome
Atte laste þo þe king was al ibroȝt to grounde
Þoru honger & defaute of mete alas þulke stounde
& he sei wel þat he moste nede vor honger deie
Oþer ȝelde him to þe emperour as al is men iseie
& þe emperours prison he dradde ek wel sore
Þer vore þe erl of kent he bisoȝte milce & ore
Þat he adde reuþe of him & uor is gentrise
Hadde is pes wiþ þemperour wiþ oute feintise
& þat þe kunde blod of þis lond of wam we boþe come
Nere þoru him ibroȝt to ssame & þat he toke gome
& þat ȝif he adde ouȝt misdo aȝen him mid wou
Þat he it wolde amendi aȝen him wel inou
Þo androge hurde þis somdel he was in þouȝt
Þe prinse he sede oþer king nis to preisi noȝt
Þat in time of worre as a lomb is boþe mek & milde
& in time of pes as leon boþe cruel & wilde
Min godes of heuene & of erþe wat segge nou ȝe
Mi louerd bisecþ nou mi grace þat miȝte er hote me
Mid þe emperour & me pes he secþ drawe
& we boþe of him biuore pes wilnede vawe
Þer vore he ssolde abbe biþoȝt þat þoru me he was aboue
& þoru me he miȝte abbe icome adoun & abbe ikud me loue

Cassibel rex.

Vor it is ech prince iwis & king vileinie
To defouli is kniȝtes þoru wam he aþ þe maistrie
Vor þe maistrie nis noȝt a kinges ne be no so god
Ac kniȝtes þat vnder him viȝteþ & ssedeþ hor blod
Naþeles icholle fondi to bringe him of is sore
Vor ichabbe of him wreche inou wanne he bisecþ min ore
Þe erl wende to þe emperour & sat adoun a kne
Sire he sede al þi wille þou ast þou miȝt ise
Of þe king þat is min vncle he is al at þin wille
Haue merci of him ich þe bidde & ne let him noȝt aspille
Wat wostou more of him bote þat he truage þe bere
Þe emperour was stille þo & ne ȝaf him non ansuere
Sire emperour quaþ þe erl þo ne be ȝe no so bolde
Vnder þat voreward ichabbe þe al iholde
To bringe þe king bineþe & þat þou wonne al is londe
Wat ssolde ich þe more do nastou al þis an honde
Nolde god þat ich soffrede mi louerd þat is & was
Þat bit me vorȝifnesse & to amendi is trespas
Þat he in þine bendes come god it ssilde me
Vor þou ne ssalt so liȝtliche him nime i segge þe
Þe wle ich libbe vor ich wolle in ech manere fonde
To helpe mi louerd & min vncle bote þou me vnderstonde
Þo þe emperour hurde þis he bigan him biþenche
& is wraþþe toward þe king [for drede of þe erl quenche
Þe emperour & þe king] in þis fourme acorded were
Þat þe king of þis lond to þe emperour bere
Þre þousend pound of seluer fram ȝere to ȝere
As þe truage to rome þat non vorbore nere
In þis manere was engelond Ibroȝt verst in seruage
& þoru treson of þe sulue lond verst ȝef truage
Þeruore a king ne mai noȝt among is kniȝtes be
To sturne of is iugement ac somdel him bise

Cassibel rex. Tennanci[us] rex.

Kymbel rex.

Gwyþer rex.

Aruiragus rex.

Aruiragus rex qui desponsauit filiam imperatoris Claudii.

Þo he com outward wiþ is folc þe emperour atstod
& dradde is hardiesse & þoȝte it nas noȝt god
To don is lif an aunter & is men al so
He þoȝte to speke of acord ȝif it miȝte be ido
To þe king he sende word þat he ssolde him bise
& make fourme of acord ȝif it miȝte so be
Vor wanne hii adde al ifoȝte & hor lif anauntre ido
& hor folc aslawe in eiþer side & peraunter hom sulf al so
Al vor a lute coueitise þe biȝete were þanne lute
Betere hit were acordi & bileue hor prute
Vor he was so god kniȝt & al so so noble king
He bed vor to ȝiue him is doȝter in spousi[n]g
Þe nobloste damaisele þat was in eni londe
& to spousy þe emperours doȝter hit nere him no ssonde
Vor wat he bere is truage as riȝt were to rome
As alle oþere kinges dude & is eldore ilome
Þe king vor his heie herte anon it wiþ seide
Ac naþeles is conseil him gan þer to rede
& sede þat it was to him gret prou & honour
To be in such mariage alied to þe emperour
Þe heiest prince of al þe world & þe maide so noble al so
& þat it nere him no ssame his truage to do
To þe noble stude of rome wanne þe oþer kinges echon
Hit dude þoru al þe world & in so noble fourme non
Þe king þei he hautein were ches þe beste won
& vnderstond is conseil so þat hii were at on
Þat he bere is truage as oþere dude to rome
& þat he þe emperoures doȝter in spoushod nome
Þis maide was to londe ibroȝt of so noble gentrise
Vairor wommon nas þo non ihote heo was gewise

Imperator Claudius. Aruiragus rex.

At a lute toun þat was þo bi este walis
Þat vpe seuerne stod ispoused hii were iwis
Þe king louede is wif anon so purliche & so vaste
Þat al is herte onliche on hire on he caste
Vor honur of þe mariage þe emperour & he
Þere as heo was ispoused rerde a gret cite
& after þe emperoures name þat claudius was
He let þis cite clupie claucestre vor þis cas
& þe emperour biȝet suþþe in þulke toun bicas
An sone þat me clupede glou þat gret man suþþe was
& hei duc of al þulke stude he clupede þen toun iwis
After his name gloucestre as he ȝut icluped is
Aboute foure & twenty ȝer as þis clerkes vnderstode
After þat oure louerd was idon on þe rode
Gloucestre þoru þe emperour verst þus arerd was
& souþhamptone þer bivore ȝe abbeþ ihurd þat cas
Seinte peter þer biuore so muche so it were
Pope was at rome verst cristendom to lere
& sende seint Marc þe ewangelist in to egypt vor to preche
Þen gospel þat he adde imaked & cristendom to teche
Seint poul ek þulke time to cristendom wende
Seint denis & monye oþer as oure louerd aboute him sende
Seinte peter vif & twenti ȝer pope bileuede so
Vorte it was þe laste ȝer of þe emperour nero
Þo þe emperour adde in þis lond is wille ido inou
He let þe king al iworþe & to rome aȝen drou
Þe king let diȝte þo þis lond nobliche wiþ alle
& let bulde vp grete tounes þat were ney adoun ivalle
Þo claudius þe emperour to is ende was ido
After him was emperour þe luþer man nero

Imperator Nero. Aruiragus rex.

Imperator Vespasianus. Domicianus Imperator.

Nerua imperator. Adrianus Imperator. Antoninus Imperator.

lucius rex.

Fulgencius.

& vorto be þe sikerore he wende to scotlonde
& made him þere gret ost of landfolc in þe londe
& wende ofte vpen him & slou & barnde vaste
Ac euere adde þe emperour þe maistrie atte laste
Þe emperour here in þise lond weddede a wif
Þat was fulgences soster al in þis strif
Bi hire he adde an gode sone icluped basian
Anoþer he adde ihote gec þat he at rome biwan
Þo fulgence isei þat he ne miȝte aȝen stonde
To þe lond of scicye he wende out of þis londe
& a gret ost of picars was cheuentein he was
Of stalwardemen he gaderede to helpe him in þis cas
Þo he adde imad him a vair ost of þis ȝonge bachelerie
He com aȝen in to þis lond out of scicye
He bilay verst euerwik vpe þe emperour vaste
So þat þe emperour him ȝef bataile atte laste
Ac Mochedel of þis lond To fulgence toke
Vor he more of kunde was & þe emperour vorsoke
Bataile hii smite strong inou & slowe vaste to gronde
So þat fulgence þere adde deþes wounde
Ac þe emperour was al aslawe & ibured at euerwik
Ac fulgence deide suþþe þo he adde ileye sik
Þo þis men were boþe ded me moste abbe an king
Bituene þe romeins & þis lond þer wax þo striuing
Gec þe emperoures sone þe romeins to kinge nome
Vor he was of fader & moder of þe kunde of rome
Ac þe brutons of þis lond nome basian þer to
Vor is moder was of þis lond & is vncle al so
Þo þer were tueie kinges þus þer nas noȝt wel gret loue
Ne miȝte þei hii breþren were ar þe on was aboue
So þat hor eiþer vp oþer worrede vaste
& an bataile strong inou smite atte laste
& basian & is poer slowe get is broþer
& basian bileuede king þo þer nas non oþer

Carausius rex.

A Stalwarde ȝong bacheler in þis lond was þo
Coraus was icluped þat couþe of muche wo
Vor þo he adde moche in worre ibe & ido gret maistrie
& him sulf moche ifonded he þoȝte do tricherie
He wende & bed leue þo of þe emperour of rome
To wite þe se aboute þis lond fram strange men þat come
& bi het hom þat ȝif þer of wel avouwed hii were
To ȝelde more god to rome þan al brutaine þuder bere
Þo þe conseil of rome leuede is vair biheste
& þat he was stalwardeman of gret poer mid þe meste
Þe emperour mid gode chartre & mid is owe ceel
Him ȝef of þe se aboute þe warde eueridel
Þis false man wende þo mid is chartre aboute
& of willeuol men him gaderede a gret route
& bi het hom god inou of porchas þat god hom sende
& porueiede hom gode ssipes & in to þe se wende
& wonne hom sone Moche god mid strengþe & quointise
& suþþe mid robberie bote hii miȝte in oþer wise
Of is porchas so large he was to men þat hem founde
Þat he adde a gret ost in a lutel stounde
Þe yles he robbede in þe se & þe hauenes suþþe aboute
So þat men of porchas come to him so gret route
Þat þer nas no prince vnneþe þat him miȝte at route
His poer wax Euere so þat ech lond him gan doute
So þat he spac mid heie men here of þisse londe
& bi het hom vaire inou & dude hom to vnderstonde
Þat ȝif hii buyde to him & to hor king him nome
Þat he wolde hom al out bringe of þe daunger of rome
& deliueri þis lond of romeins & of straunge men echon
Þat so fre lond as þis ne ssolde be naur non
Þat folc him made þo hor king vor he was so quointe man
& he bigan to worri anon vpe þe king basian
& hor eiþer aȝen oþer gaderede hor ost vaste
So þat hii come & smite an bataile atte laste

Asclepiod rex.

Ac caraus of felonie him gan vnder stonde
& þouȝte þat picars were of strange londe
Þat were wiþ basian þe king þat fulgence is vncle broȝte
Þat hii wolde liȝtliche to him tourne he þoȝte
Mid hom he spac so quointeliche & mede hom gan bede
So þat þe king basian hii bitraiede in is nede
Vor þo hii come into bataile hii turnde aȝen him echon
Hii nuste woche were hor frend ne woche were hor fon
Ac basian & al is folc ȝede anon to gronde
& he him sulf & mani oþere islawe were in a stounde
Þo was þis false caraus king of þis londe her
Vuele it com him of kunde to be of such poer
Þis tidinge com to rome þat he dude hom such ssame
Hii nome an grete louerding allect was is name
& sende him here to þis lond & men wiþ him inowe
So þat in bataile þis caraus hii slowe
Þo þis bataile was ido hii bigone arere
Worre vpe men of þis lond vor hii mid caraus were
Þe brutons þo of þis lond to ssulde ȝam fran ssame
Chose hom a niwe king asclepiod was is name
Þat was erl of cornwaile he gaderede is ost anon
To worry & to stonde aȝen þe romeins is fon
He wende him to londone as king allect þo was
To honoury hor false godes as it vel þo bi cas
Þo þis king it vnderȝet þat þis folc þus com
He bileuede is sacrefize & is folc wiþ him nom
& wende out aȝen hom & strong bataile hii smite
So moche folc þer was aslawe þat deol it was to wite
Þis brutons were so egre & woxe euere so vaste
Þat þe romeins & hor king gonne fle atte laste
Þe brutons sywede after as hii aȝte to do
& slowe mani þousend & allect þe king al so
A louerding of þe romeins þat ihote was galle
Com & ȝelde him to ur king & is men nei wat alle

Asclepiod rex.

Cole rex.

Constans rex & imperator. Constantinus rex & imperator.

Constantinus.

Constantin him vnder stod of is kunde londe
& god it were to abbe boþe þis & þat an honde
Moche þat poer of þis lond mid him uorþ he nom
& suþþ ef sone of france as he þer uorþe com
& wende toward rome to winnie þe aumperie
& to bringe þen ssreue adoun þat dude such robberie
As he wende he bi huld toward heuene an hey
& þo vp in þe firmament an aungel he sey
Þat huld an croiz & þer on ywrite was lo þis
Constantin þoru þes signe þou ssalt be Maister iwis
Constantin þis vnderstod heþene þei he were
An croiz in stede of is baner is men at vore him bere
Maxencius þo he wste him come he adde of him gret doute
He let at rome an stronge dich make al aboute
& Deop aȝen constantin & aȝen is route
Vor to holde hom þer þoru wanne hii come wiþoute
As he was aboute þis dich he ne gan noȝt muche winne
Vor he velle an alle midde & adreinte þer Inne
Þere þoru vertu of þe croiz he was sone ouercome
& constantin adde also sone þen toun inome
Constantin ne com nour in bataile non
Þat he nadde þoru þe croiz þe maistrie of is fon
So þat he him vnderstod of þe beste won
& of seint siluester þe pope he let him baptisi anon
& he was as it is iwrite pur mesel þo
& he bicom in is baptizinge hol of al is wo
Sein seluester was pope þo & þe verste þat þer com
Of alle popes þat deyde wiþoute martirdom
Vor þer nas non biuore him þat ymartred nas
Of þe luþer emperours vor ech heþene was
An churche of seint Ion þe baptist constantin let rere
& cluped is constantiniane vor he ybaptized was þere
Of seinte peter & seinte poul anoþer he rerde also
& in strong mastling he aþ þerinne boþe hor bones ido

Octauus rex.

Vter.

O cler leom wiþoute mo þer stod fram him wel pur
Yfourmed as a dragon as red ase fur
Out of þe dragons mouþe tueye leomes þer stode þere
Þe grettore tylde euene est ouer france as it were
Þe oþer adde seue branches alle clere ynowe
& toward þe yrisse se westward euene drowe
Þo þis sterre was yseye men wondrede ynou
Vter þe kinges broþer mid is ost þo drou
To walis to þis strange men to asayli hom & fiȝte
Adrad he was sore ynou of þis wonder siȝte
Merlin he clupede & esste anon hou it miȝte þer of be
Merlin wep anon so vaste þat reuþe it was to se
Alas he sede þe deoluul harm þat ys endeles
Alas þat folc of brutaine þat is nou help les
Ded he is þe noble king aurely þi broþer
Ac þe sterre þat me ysey bitokneþ anoþer
Hye nou þou noble duc þat þe batayle were ysmite
Vor king þou worst of brutayne & þe maistrie bi ȝite
Vor þe sterre bitokneþ þe & þe fury dragon al so
Þe lem þat out of is mouþ ouer france is ydo
Þat bitokneþ a child þat þou ssalt biȝite ywis
Þat ssal biȝite france & oþer londes in þe world such mon nis
Þe lem þat tylþ westward a doȝter þat is
Þat þou ssalt biȝite & ȝo ssal abbe sones ywis
Þat ssal ech after oþer king of bruteine be
Of som oþer al in contek & þis me ssal yse
Þe noblemon of wam he spac þat he ssolde biȝite
Þat was þe king arþure as ȝe ssolleþ ywite
Vter let al þis be vor he ne leuede it noȝt anon
& wende toward seint dauid to mete wiþ is fon
Þe oþer were of hom ywar & ȝarkede in hor side
Hor ost & let hom army wel bataile uor to abide
Hii come & smite þis bataile & vaste slowe to grounde
In eyþer side moche folc in a lutel stounde
Kniȝtes & oþer folc ac attelaste vre louerd þoȝte
In is cristine folc & þe maistrie hom broȝte
Vor þer was gynemon aslawe king of yrlonde
& pascence vortigeres sone þat so moche poer adde an honde

Vter

Vter

Vter

Vter

Vter

Vter

Vor him hii sede it were ssame þat we yharmed were
Nis he more þan half ded ylad in an bere
Þe king sette up is herte hey & ordeined is folc uaste
Þe saxons he asaylede & to grounde hom caste
So þat sone dawes hom of þoȝte hor prute
Þat hii of þe noble mon þe king tolde so lute
Vor þer was octe aslawe & is cosin eose al so
& so it adde ybe betere þat me adde er ydo
Þe saxons þat miȝte fle bigonne to fle uaste
Þus þe samdede king couþe hom agaste
Lo he sede hii clupede me samdede king some
& ȝut ichabbe leuere samded hom ouercome
Þan hol & sound be ouercome & leuere al so me is
Vor to deye myd honour þan libbe in ssame ywys
Þe saxons were þo ouercome ac hii ne bileuede ȝut noȝt
Hor ssrewhede ac to wroþerhele were hii to deþe ybroȝt
Vor hor ost euere wax þer come euere mo & mo
Boþe by este & by norþe hii dude wel muche wo
Þe king wolde aȝen hom wende ac he ne moste uor is conseil
Vor þe feblore he was vor þe eror trauail
Þe saxons hom adde ymad in þis lond ywis
Kinges in þre stede þat al to on ycome ys
Hengist was verst king in kent & elle in souþsex
& suþþe last was certik king of west sex
Vor he & kenryk is sone com vp at ȝarnemouþe
& suþþe a gret duc þat het port com vp at portesmouþe
Hit was as In þe ȝer of grace þat god was ybore ich wene
Þat certyk com verst four hondred ȝer & four score & tene
King he was of westsex & is of spring al so
& atte laste þulke kunde alle þe oþere wan þer to
Vor port þulke grete duc com vp her bi souþe
Me clupeþ it þer he uerst com up after him portesmouþe
Þus were in worre & in wo ymeng þe saxons
Some tyme aboue & some bineþe her myd þe brutons
Ac al aboue neuere hii nere ar after þe king arþure
Ac suþþe hii wonne al clene out as ȝe ssulle after yhure
Vter þe gode king of wan we speke biuore
Was feble after þat he was in þe hors bere ybore

Vter Arthure

Arthure

So large he was & so hende & al so debonere
So hardi & so gentil & of so vair manere
Þat so moche folc to him com of kniȝtes ȝonge & olde
Þat he nadde noȝt wel war wiþ such menie up to holde
Ac is herte was euere god ȝong þei he were
Vor he þoȝte of þe saxons is spense vp arere
He bigan þo wel sone to arere vp is baner
Vor is prowesse he adde sone gret folc & poer
He wende toward euerwyk wiþ vair compaynye ynou
Þo þe saxons it vnderȝete þat he þuderward drou
Of scottes & of pycars & of hom sulue hii nome
Gret poer ynou & strong & aȝen hom come
Þer was slaȝt in eyþer syde no mercy þer nas
Ac king arthure atte laste as god wolde aboue was
& sywede in to euerwyk colgrim hor cheuenteyn
& him þo he was wiþinne by segede mid al is mayn
Baldulf colgrymes broþer six þousend men mid him nom
& is broþer uor to helpe toward euerwyk com
Þo he was fram euerwyk aboute an ten myle
He at stunte & þoȝte þat he wolde mid gyle
Vpe þe king arthure come an onywar bi niȝte
& so him & al is folc ssende ȝif he miȝte
Þe king was þer of ywar he þoȝte to do bote
Mid six hondred kniȝtes & þre hondred men auote
Cadur erl of cornwayle aȝen hom he sende
Þat aȝen hom com an onywar by a wey þat hii wende
& slowe & euere woundede & monye broȝte to deþe
So þat þis baldulf of scapede aliue vnneþe
Þe wule þat þe king arthure by segede euerwyk
Me tolde him of a gret duc þat het theldryk
Þat out of alymayne com to scotlonde so
Mid six hondred ssipuol of kniȝtes & al þe atyl þer to
Þer was lo gret poer yn to a londe ylad
Þo þe kinges conseil wuste þis hit was somdel adrad
Þe king arþure hii radde anon to londone to wende
To nyme þer is conseyl woch were þe best ende
Leste such poer come vpe him & him ssende
Þe king dude after hor red & to londone wende

Arthure

Þere he huld is parlement wat were best to done
So þat he & is conseil at o red were sone
So þat to þe lasse brutaine þe king sone sende
To howel king of þe lond þat he to him wende
To helpe him in suche nede & þat he him vnderstode
Þat kunde it wolde þat he dude vor hii were of one blode
King arthures soster sone þe king howel was
& þe kinges sone of þe lasse brutayne no wer kunde þer nas
Þo þe messagers wiþ þe tydinge to king howel come
His conseil wol hastiliche in suche nede he nom
Vor to helpe is neveu & is kynedom
Wiþ fiftene þousend kniȝtes in to þis londe he com
At souþhamtone hii come vp & þo hii to gadere come
Þis tueye kinges hii custe hom & bi clupte ylome
Þo hii adde hor folc yset as riȝt was in such cas
Norþward toward lincolne hii wende mid god pas
Þere hii come & mette hom & strong bataile smite þere
So þat mo þan six þousend of þe saxons islawe were
Wat aslawe wat adreint so þat atte laste
Þo hii ne seye oþer won hii gonne to fle vaste
In to an wode þer by side þo hii þer inne come
Hem þoȝte hii were siker ynou & toke þe lasse gome
Þe king sywede vaste & bi segede hom aboute
Ac among þe tren hii wuste hom þat hii nadde no doute
Þo þe king arthure ysey þat hii nolde out come
Aboute þe wode he let fulle þe grete tren some
& leide ech ech vp oþer aboute in eche ende
Þat it was as it were a wal þat hii ne ssolde out wende
Þre dawes & þre niȝt meteles hii wuste hom so
Þat hii nuste hou on take ne wat for honger do
Þe king arthure hii bisoȝte mercy attenende
Þat he grantede hom in pes out of þisse londe wende
& hii grantede him al here god þat hii hider ladde
Gold & seluer & tresour al clene þat hii adde
Hii bihete him ek eche ȝer to bere him truage
Out of hor londe & þer to take him god ostage
Þe king þoru is conseil assentede wel þer to
& god ostage of hom nom þe truage vor to do

Arthure

Arthure

Þat beþ godes owe lumes þoru ȝoure cristendom
Þencheþ on god þat vor us deide & on þis kinedom
Viȝteþ uor ȝoure kunde & defendeþ ȝoure riȝte
Þencheþ of þe nede of þe lond & of vre louerdes miȝte
& ȝif eny of ȝou is aslawe in þis ulke fiȝte
To saui þat lond folc & uor þe londes riȝte
He syweþ purliche god þat ȝef is owe lif her
To savy us sinuol men fram þe deueles poer
& wo so her is aslawe is deþ him sal be
In lesnesse of al is sinne & is soule ssal fle
& be ybroȝt biuore god ar þat bodi be cold
He asoylede al þat folc þat he adde þus ytold
Þat folc þoru is prechinge so god wille nom þere
Þat hom þoȝte ech wule viue ar hii in bataile were
Þe king was aboue yarmed wiþ auberc noble & riche
Wiþ helm of gold on is heued was non him yliche
Þe fourme of a dragon þer on was ycast
His sseld þat het þridwen was þonne yhonge vaste
Aboute is ssoldren & þeron ypeint was & ybroȝt
Þe ymage of vre leuedy on wam was al is þoȝt
Mid is suerd he was igurd þat so strong was & kene
Calibourne it was icluped nas nour no such ich wene
In is riȝt hond is launce he nom þat was ycluped Ron
Long & gret & strong ynou him ne miȝte at sitte non
He þoȝte al on ihesu crist & is men echon
Vpe þe doune aboue baþe hii mette mid hor fon
Hii smite bataile strong ynou þat al longe day ilaste
Þe saxons in hor syde stode euere aȝen vaste
Moche folc þer was ynou aslawe in eyþer side
Þo þe niȝt vpe hom com þat hii ne miȝte no leng abide
Vpe þe torret of an herre hul þe saxons wende þere
Þat þe heye hul to hom was a castel as þey it were
A morwe þo it day was adoun eft hii aliȝte
& in batayle strong ynou bigonne eft sone to fiȝte
& sloue uaste in eyþer alf þat reuþe it was ynou
Þo þe king arþure ysey þat me is men so uaste slou
His herte he gan vp arere þat he nadde þe maistrie
& dude is wille al to god & on is moder marie

Arthure

Arthure

Arthure

Arthure

Bote to sigge ssortliche þer nas ver ne ner
Of prowesse ne of corteisie in þe world is per
Is los sprong so wide sone of his largesse
Of strengþe & of is corteisie & off is prowesse
To þe verrost ende of þe world þat such nas nour non
So þat oþere grete kinges doutede him echon
Biȝonde þe se in ech stude & dradde ver & ner
Þat hii come & binome hor londes oþer hor poer
Hii bigonne hor heiȝe tounes & strengþede vaste aboute
Hor castles & astori þat hii miȝte be Inne in doute
Þo þis gode tidinge com to þis noble arthure
Mid gode herte he wolde such tydinge yhure
He þoȝte come bi hom & bringe some to lure
& to winne al europe ȝif he miȝte dure
Þe þridde del of al þe world europe icluped is
Þat tylþ ver fram biȝonde rome to þe west worles ende ywis
Him þoȝte he adde yrest ynou no leng he nolde abyde
Is poer he let someny þat ysprad was wel wyde
& greiþede is noble ost & dude him in þe weye
& dude him so in to þe se & verst to norþweye
Nou was þe king of norþwey ded þerbiuore bi cas
& Lot þat was is oþom þulke kinges neueu was
& þe king him adde ymad is eyr þerbiuore longe
Ac þe men of norweye nolde vor prute him vnder uonge
Ac adde ymade anoþer mon king of þe londe
Þat aȝen þe king arthure hopede wel at stonde
Child wawein lotes sone þulke time nas
Bote tuelf ȝer & þe pope of rome þat child bitake was
To norisy þoru þe king arthure & þulke time riȝt
Þe pope bitok him armes & is owe honde made him kniȝt
As þe king arthure as ich sede to norþweye com
Þe king of þe lond aȝen him sone þen wey nom
Mid is poer & smite an bataile strong ynou
& ssedde blod in eiþer side & moche folc me slou
Ac hor poer of norweye ydo was anon
Þe king him sulf was sone aslawe & is men monyon
Þe brutons hom sturede þo & slowe & barnde uaste
So þat hii wonne al clene norþwey atte laste

Arthure

Þer after hii wonne denemarch uor to do seruage
To þe king arthure euermo & to bere him truage
He made Lot is oþom king of norþweye
Þer after toward france hii dude hom in þe weye
Nou adde france þulke tyme þe emperour leon
& he bi tok in warde an duc þat het ffollon
Þat hardy bodi was & god & poer adde ynou
Þo he wuste þat þe king arthur þuder drou
Alle þe kniȝtes & þat folc þat in is poer were
He nom & mette þe brutons & smite batayle þere
Ac al þat hom was lute worþ vor aȝen þe king arthure
& is poer hii miȝte lutel wule dure
Vor euere wan he nom a lond al þe bachelerie
Þat aȝt was in þe lond he nom in is compaynie
& of is mayngnage vp is coust & uor he was so hende
Ech noblemon vawe was mid him uor to wende
& þe beste party of france to him al so he drou
Vor he was so large & hende þat him com poer ynou
Vor me ne tolde wel ney of nomon noþer here ne þere
Bote he mid þe kinge arthure In som manere were
Þo þe duc follon ysey þat is poer no þing nas
He fley into paris mid wel quic pas
& astorede þen toun & strengþede him aboute
King arthure & is poer asegede hom wiþoute
So þat wiþinne a monþe þe duc follon ysey
Þat is men vor defaute & uor hunger deyde ney
& þat is poer nas noþing aȝen þe king arþure
He þoȝte do is owe body wat he miȝte dure
Vor he was strong ynou & hardy þe strengost of þis londe
To þe king arthure he sende þat he ssolde him vnder stonde
To do an batayle hom sulue tuo mid hor owe honde
& weþer so miȝte aboue be were louerd over oþeres londe
Þe king arthure hurde þis no gladdore mon nas
He sende word þat al prest to such batayle he was
Sikernesse & treuþe ypliȝt of þis voreward hii nome
So þat a certein day yset to þe batayle hii come
A lute wiþ oute paris atyled wel ynou
Moche was þat folc aboute þat to þis batayle drou

Arthure

Hii fondede hor steden uerst hor lances suþþe hii nome
& wiþ hard dunt & gret eir to gadere sone hii come
King arthure aȝen þe brest is felawe verst ahitte
Aȝen þe brust þat a vul & ne miȝte no leng sitte
Ase sone as he miȝte turne is hors is suerd he drou þere
Vor to asaile him þerwiþ ac þe oþer was vp ere
& ȝef his stede wiþ þe spere aȝen þe brest deþes wounde
So þat boþe stede & king leye sone atte grounde
Þo þe brutons seye þis hii vorbere vnneþe
Þat hii ne breke couenant & broȝte þan oþer to deþe
Ac þe king arthur keuerede vp & asailede fullon vaste
& smite hor eiþer oþer her & þer & harde duntes caste
So þat fullon wiþ a stroc þe brutons sore agaste
Vor þe king arthur aȝen þe frount he smot atte laste
Þat ȝif he nadde wiþ þe sseld somdel þe dunt yhent
Siker he im adde aslawe oþer al out yssent
Þo king arthure it ivelede & ysei al so is blod
Vpe is hauberc & is sseld he was ney uor wraþþe wod
He adrou sire calibourne is suerd þat was so god
& anowarde þe helm mid wel stourdy mod
Þen oþer he smot & to clef þe heued mid þe wounde
He vel & ssoc þe helm & deide in a stounde
Þo þis dede was ydo & þe oþer was ded
Þe conseil of france sone nom hor red
& to þe king arthure hom ȝolde ech man þat was wys
& ȝolde him vp al þat lond & þe keyen of parys
Þis was lo þe cornwelisse bor of wan merlin spac ynou
& þe cler leom of þe sterre þat ouer france drou
Som was ycome as he sede of þis noble king arthure
Wel more me ssal herafter of him ȝut yhure
Þo he adde ywonne france þus & al þis was ido
Þis noble king arþure delde is men atuo
Þe king howel he bitoc & oþer princes al so
Þe o del of is ost to wende to peyto
Vor to winne þat lond & him sulf he wolde wende
Vor to winne seygnorie aboute in oþer ende
King howel wiþ is poer wan sone peyto
Al to king arthures wille & gascoyne al so

Arthure

Þe king wan normandye & al so god angeo
& wiþinne a nye ȝer al þis was ydo
Þe king wende þo to parys þo he adde ydo al þis
& alle þe heye men of þe lond þuder come ywis
Hor omage of hom & hor seruise he nom
& lawes as he wolde im sulf sette in þe kinedom
He ȝef þat lond of normandye bedwer is boteler
& þat lond of aungeo kaye is paneter
& oþer þing oþer heyemen & syker it made ynou
& suþþe aboute leinte toward þis londe drou
Þo þe king arþure com here in to þis londe
& so moche lond adde ywonne & adde al so an honde
In ioye & blisse he was ynou & alle þat wiþ him were
& aȝen witesontyd hit was in þe ȝere
He þoȝte þe heye feste of wytesonetyd do
Wiþ honour among is men & þat alle come þerto
Boþe kinges & dukes & erles echon
Barons & kniȝtes & squiers monyon
Leuedies & maidens & ech mon þat aȝt were
In eny lond þat it was þat hii were alle þere
Of þis rounde table is ban aboute he sende
Þat ech a witesonetyd to carleon wende
A toun þat is in glammorgan vpe þe water of osk ydo
A lute bisyde seuerne in murye stude al so
Vor me may þere in þe souþhalf al bi þe se lede
Fram oþer londes god ynou to endy such a dede
In þe oþer half beþ grete wodes lese & mede al so
So þat þer nas non defaute such noble þing to do
Þer come to þis rounde table as he sende is ban
Auncel king of scotlond & al so vryan
Þat was king of murifens & king of norþwalis
Cadwal & al so scater king of souþwalis
Cador king of cornwayle & erchebissopes al so
Of Londone & of euerwyk & of carleon þer to
Erles þer come ek monion as þe erl of gloucestre
Moroud & Ingemer erl of leicestre
Mauron erl of warewik & cursal of cicestre
Gallut erl of salesbury Ionatal of dercestre

Arthure

Kyninnar erl of kanterburi of baþe sire vrgen
Bose erl of oxenford þat were alle noblemen
Þe barons & kniȝtes þat of þis londe a day
At þis rounde table were noman telle ne may
Kinges þat were of yles as king of yrlonde
Gillam & al so malueys king of yslonde
Lot king of norþwey & doldam of godlonde
& þe king of orcadas & of denemarch ich vnder stonde
Kinges ek of byȝonde se as kay of aungeo
Bedwer of normandye Gwider of peyto
Ligger of coloyne & al so þe dosse pers
Of france were þer echon þat so noble were & fers
His neueu king howel of þe lasse brutayne al so
Mid so vair uolc þuder com & mid so gret charge þer to
Of mules & of cartes & of hors mid alle gode
Þat þer nas non so wyttimon þat it al vnder stode
Þer nas bituene þis & spayne no prince wiþoute al þis
Þat nas at þis rounde table & at is feste ywis
& no wonder uor þe kinges los so wyde sprong ynou
Of godnesse & of cortesye þat hor herte to him drou
Þo þis heymen were alle ycome & þe heye tyme al so
Of þe wytesonetid þe feste uor to do
Þe erchebissopes were ybroȝt to sette þe kinges croune
On is heued ac sein dubric of þe sulue toune
Was erchebissop him biuel þe croune on him do
& þe seruise ek of holi chirche þat biuel þer to
Þo þe croune was on is heued & ydo ech oþer þing
Tueye erchebissopes ladde þis noble king
To þe chirche of þe heye munstre & þat ȝede biuore him þere
Four kinges & four suerdes of golde biuore him bere
Verst þe king of scotlond & þe king of norþwalis
& þe king of cornwaile & þe king of souþwalis
Oþer bissopes & prelats biuore þis king arþure
& clerkes songe as riȝt was þat ioye it was to hure
In þe oþer half þe quene was of erchebissops al so
Ylad & ycrouned ek as riȝt was uor to do
& to anoþer munstre ylad & vour quenes biuore hire wende
Þe voure kinges wiues þat we biuore nemde

Arthure

& foure wite colfren al so biuore hire bere
Þe compainye of leuedies wel gret al so were
Þo hii were to chirche ybroȝt eyþer in is side
So murye & so gret was þat song þat me song þerinne wyde
Þat þet folc stod þat þer was as hii were ynome
Ne hii nuste to weþer chirche murgore it was to come
Þe king was to is paleys þo þe seruise was ydo
Ylad wiþ is meyne & þe quene to hire al so
Vor hii hulde þe olde vsages þat men wiþ men were
Bi hom sulue & wymmen bi hom sulue al so þere
Þo hii were echon yset as it to hor stat bicom
Kay king of aungeo a þousend kniȝtes nom
Of noble men ycloþed in ermine echon
Of o sywte & seruede at þis feste anon
Bedwer þe boteler king of normandye
Nom al so in is alf a uayr compaynie
Of o sywte uor to serui of þe botelerye
Biuore þe quene it was al so wiþ a such corteisye
Vor to telle al þe nobleye þat þer was ydo
Þey my tonge were of stel me ssolde noȝt dure þer to
Womman ne kepte of no kniȝt as in druerye
Bote he were in armes wel yproued & atte leste þrie
Þat made lo þe wimmen þe chastore lif lede
& þe kniȝtes þe stalwordore & þe betere in hor dede
Sone after þis noble mete as riȝt was in such tyde
Þe kniȝtes atyled hom aboute in eche syde
In feldes & in medes to prouy hor bachelerye
Some wiþ launce & some wiþ suerd wiþoute vileynie
Wiþ pleyn de atte tables oþer atte chekere
Wiþ castinge oþer wiþ ssetinge oþer in som manere
& woch so of eny game adde þe maistrie
Þe king hom of is ȝiftes dude large corteysie
Vpe þe alures of þe castles þe leuedyes þanne stode
& bihulde þis noble game & wuche kniȝtes were gode
Alle þe þre hexte dawes laste þis nobleye
In halles & in veldes of mete & eke of pleye
Þis men come þe verþe day biuore þe kinge þere
& he ȝef hom large ȝiftes euere as hii worþe were

Arthure

Bissopriches & chirches clerkes he ȝef some
& castles & tounes kniȝtes þat were ycome
Sein dauit was þe kinges vncle him he ȝef aday
Þe erchebissopriche of karleon as he him wel by say
Vor he was suiþe holyman & an munstre he let rere
Þat me clupeþ in walis sein dauid & ȝut he liþ þere
Þe bissopriche of wincestre a god mon he ȝef þo
Of chichestre an oþer & ȝut oþer mo
Þe wule þe king & is men aboute þis nobleye were
Þer come in tuelf olde men wiþ euene pas þere
Men of wel vair semblant & branches hii bere
Of oliue as in signe þat hii aȝen pays nere
A lettre hii toke þe kinge þat þo he hit let rede
Fram þe senatour of rome hii come & þus sede
Lucye senatour of rome to arþure þe kinge
Send þat he of serued aþ wiþoute gretinge
Moche me wondred & ouermoche of þine reuerye
Of þin cruel luþerhede & of þin robberye
& nameliche of þin vnriȝt ichabbe gret dedeyn
Þat þou to þe noble stude of rome dest mid al þi mayn
& þat þou nelt him iknowe ne do þin seruage
Ne vnderstonde hou luþer it is to do eny outrage
Oþer winny out þe noble stude þat al þe world abueþ to
Vor þine auncetres hit dude al þat we þe hoteþ do
& þou as in gret despit of so noble seignorie
Ne at halst noȝt one þi truage ac mid þi reuerye
Rauissest france & oþer londes þat bi weste beþ echon
Þat bere truage to rome & þoru þe ne deþ nou non
Vor þanne of þe gret despit þe noble court of rome
Riȝt wol abbe of þe ywis þat þou hom misdest ylome
Amidde haruest we þe setteþ day of þis nexte ȝere
At rome uor to ansuerye & þat þou be þi sulf þere
We þe hoteþ uor to auonge þat þe court þe wole deme
& bote þou do of one þinge nym wel god ȝeme
Þat icholle þe mi sulf seche out & þoru suerd restore
Al þat þi reuerye vs aþ binome & more
Þis was a prout mandement & an heiuol dede
Þe king adde þer of gret despit þo he hurde it rede

Arthure

Arthure

Min auncetres hii were alle þre & kinges of þis londe
& wonne þe aumperye of rome & boþe adde an honde
Of france & of oþer londes þat we wonne mid vre miȝte
We mowe segge þat we nabbeþ to ansuerye noȝt mid riȝte
Wanne hii vorsoke is & uorslewede & to none defense ne come
Þo we þoru chiualerie out of hor poer is nome
Vor hii ne mowe noȝt segge þat wiþ treson oþer stalþe it were ydo
Vor wiþinne nye ȝer non of hom ne com enes þer to
Howel king of þe oþer brutayne þo he hurde þis he sede
Þei ech of vs sete al day þe beste red to rede
Betere ansuere we ne ssolde vinde þen ȝe abbeþ nou ysed
Þeruore we aȝte onoury wel of so noble wit þi red
For ȝif we in þisse manere wendeþ we ne fayleþ on none wyse
Þat we ne wolleþ abbe þe maistrie wanne we defendȝ vre franchise
& wo so an oþer mannes god bi nime wole mid vnriȝte
Wiþ riȝte he may is owe lese ȝif þe defendour aþ þe miȝte
& wanne þe romeins aboute beþ vs to binyme vr riȝte
Wiþ reson we wolleþ hom bi nime ȝif we mowe to gadere fiȝte
Nou it worþ iended þat Sibile þe sage sede biuore
Þat þer ssolde of brutayne þre men be ybore
Þat ssolde winne þe aumperye of rome of þe tueye ydo it is
As of bely & constantin & þou art þe þridde ywis
Hye nou vaste uor to auonge þis noble honour al
To bringe hom vnder þe þat þe wolde makie þral
Hye to anhansi vs alle & inele noȝt be bi hinde
Ten þousend hors ywrye icholle þe þer to vinde
Auncel þat þe king adde ymad king of scotlonde
Glad ynou was mid þis word & uor ioye huld vp is honde
Vor þat he sede ich abbe yhurd so gret ioye ich abbe & blis
Þat inabbe no tonge þat mowe hit al ssewe ywis
Vor al þat we abbeþ of londes & of kinges her biuore
Ywonne mid chiualerie it þincþ me al uorlore
Bote we of romeins be awreke & of saxons al so
Þat vre elderne er þis so moche ssame abbeþ ydo
& nou þe time is icome þat we mowe be awreke
So glad ich am þat inot wat vor ioye speke
Vor ine wilnede neuere þing so moche as ich do hor blod
Ou iesu þat þulke day worþ me suete & god

Arthure

Arthure

Of egypt of babiloyne & of frygie
Of mesepoc of bytynie & of boecye
Alle þes kinges & alle oþere þat were bi este rome
& alle þat to rome ssolde seruise to him come
So þat fourty þousend hors & sixty hondred al so
Þat were þo hii ȝare were þis chiualerye to do
King arthure bitok modred is soster sone ich wene
Þis lond to loke þo he wende & gwenwayr þe quene
Vor he truste to hom mest as me þincþ he wel aȝte
Ac as ȝe ssolle her after yhure hii broȝte him suþþe to naȝte
Mid al is ost of þis lond to souþhamtone he wende
& dude him in to þe se mid wind þat god him sende
Þo he com ver in þe se & he aslepe was
At tyme of midniȝt of þe niȝt him mette a greuous cas
Him þoȝte he sey a grislich bere fle in þe eir an hey
Þat alle þe hauenes quakede of is fliȝt him þoȝte ek he sey
& a dreduol dragon fram þe west com mid him to fiȝte
Þat þe leom of is eyen al þe contreye liȝte
Ac þe dragon velde þulke bere & to grounde him caste
An oþer dragon com fram þen est & mid þulke dragon faȝt uaste
Þo þe king awok he tolde his meyne of þis cas
& some þoȝte & tolde wat þe bitokne was
Þat þe dragon of biweste bitokneþ þe king arþure
& þe bere som foul geant þat me ssolde of yhure
Þat he ssolde ouercome þe geant & þe dragon bi este
Bi toknede þe emperour of rome & þe bataile of þe beste
Ouercome bitoknede & þe romeins ssolde al so
Ac þe king ne Iugede noȝt þat it ssolde be so ydo
Þer after hii come to barbesflet & piȝte þer bi syde
Hor tentes & hor pauilons hor compaynie to abide
Vnder þat þer com word to þe king arþure
Þat þe meste geaunt þat mon ssolde of yhure
Out of þe lond of spayne come & adde ynome eleyne
Þat was so vair þe kinges nece howel of brutayne
& vpe þe mount of sein michel hire ladde atte laste
& þe kniȝtes of þe lond sywede after vaste
Ac hii ne miȝte noȝt aȝen hym do no weþer so hii wende
Bi water oþer bi londe anon riȝt he hom ssende

Arthure

Mid gleyue oþer mid roches & vewe aliue he let
& some he mid strencþe nom & al quic hom vret
& al stilleliche wiþinne niȝt þe king nom is boteler
Bedwer þat no mon it nuste & kay is paneter
Vor he truste to hom mest & wende vorþ alone
Vor he nolde to such geant verdes lede none
Vor o body as wo seiþ & so moche ek he truste
To him sulue & to hardysi is men wan hii it wuste
Þo he com toward þis hul a gret fur þeruppe he sey
& anoþer vp a lasse hul þat þer bi syde was ney
Nou nuste hii to soþe vpe weþer þe geant were
Bedwer he sende vorto aspye stilleliche verst þere
Verst to þe lasse hul he wende by a ssip þat he vond
He wende al bi watere vor he ne miȝte noȝt alond
Þo he com vpe þe hul an hey he hurde atte biginninge
Of a womman a deoluol cry & a pitos wepinge
Verst he was sore adrad þat þe geaunt were þer ney
& naþeles he hente herte & drou more an hey
Þo vond he þere þat fur & a lute þer bi syde
A buryels al nywe ymad & a womman þat so cryede
Al uor olded sitte þere & anon so ȝo ysey
Þe king bedwer ȝo siȝte & bi gan to grede an hey
Alas alas þou wrecche mon woch mesaunture
Aþ þe ybroȝt in to þis stede alas hou ssalt tou dure
Alas þo pynes þat þou ssalt sone þolie of deþ
Þe pyte þat ich abbe of þe þoru out min herte geþ
Vor þis vorbroyde geant abbe he of þe an siȝt
Þi faire body so gentil vor swolwe he wole to niȝt
Vor he wole sone come þulke vorbroyde pece
Þat nom eleyne þat noble mayde king howeles nece
Þat ichabbe nouþe riȝt here ybured was norice ich was
Þat was al mi soule & al mi lif ich wene no such nas
& þe wule he wolde þis tendre þing wemmy foule ynou
& heo ne miȝte sofry noȝt Mid lecherye he hire slou
Þo eode he to me olde wrecche to endi þis foule case
To witnesse god ich take þat aȝen my wille it was
& dude bi me is lecherye alas þulke stounde
Þeruore fle þou hendy mon vor siker be þou yfounde

Arthure

Wanne he comþ binne to ligge he wole þe limemele
To drawe & uorsuolwe par auenture at one mele
Bedwer bigan to conforti þe wommon In þe place
& bihet hire bote of hire wo bi tyme þoru godes grace
& wende aȝen to þe king & tolde al þis cas
Þe king was sori þo he wuste þat þet maide aslawe was
Ac anauntre he þoȝte him do & dude him in þe weye
Þis clene maide uorto awreke & is felawes beye
Ar hii come vpe þe hul arst he was ycome
Þis grisliche geant & adde an vatte barn ynome
& yspited him þoru out mid an yrene spite
& rostede in þis grete fur to abbe þe volle bite
Arthure bed is felawes to late him yworþe al one
Ac ȝif hii seye him in nede þat hii ne made targinge none
King arthure him blessede & baldeliche ynou
Toward þis grisliche fourme mid god herte him drou
Þis geant þo he sey him come bigan is mace adrawe
Þat tueye stalwarde men ne ssolde noȝt enes wawe
Toward þe heued þe king he smot ac he hente mid is sselde
Ac ȝut he buyde al adoun & wel harde it yvelde
Vor hit þoȝte al þe hul mid þe stroc was astoned
Arþure was liȝt ynou as he was ywoned
He hupte þo he ywraþþed was & is suerd adrou
& smot þen ssrewe in þe frount mid god ernest ynou
& þe vel & fless was so hard & þe scolle hard & þikke
Þeruore þei it ne come noȝt þoru þe dunt nas noȝt wikke
& is male he dude ek bituene ac þat blod adoun wende
So vast in eye & in face þat hit him ney ablende
Þe king hupte her & þer & leyde on euere vaste
So strong was þe ssrewe þat no dunt ne miȝte him adoun caste
He vemde & grunte & stod aȝen as it were a strong bor
Þat euere wole aȝen þe stroc vor te he ne may nammor
Þe king smot euere her & þer so þat atte laste
Ernest of herte he nom to him & adrou so vaste
Calebourne is gode suerd þat he þut scolle clef a tuo
Þat þat suerd was al þer Inne Ihud þat brayn orn out al so
So grisliche ȝal þat ssrewe þo & grislich was is bere
He vel adoun as a gret ok þat bineþe ykorue wer

Arthure

Arthure.

Þo was þer on þat het marcel þat fonded mid al is mayn
Vor to awreke quintylian to quelle sire waweyn
Sire wawein him biturnde & an stroc him ȝef
& al þat heued & þe breste al clanliche him to clef
Go he sede to quintilyan in helle þer he is
& seye him þat sire wawein him sende word þis
Þat suiche strokes þe brutons conne ȝiue ywis
Þat he seiþ þat mid hom bote ȝulpinge & bost nis
Vor ichot þuder þou ssalt þin del þou miȝt him ssewe
His felawes he bad turne aȝen al þei hii were vewe
Hii turnde aȝen ech of hom atte laste on slou
Ac euere þe romeins after sywede uaste ynou
So þat þer com out of an wode as it was bi speke
An six þousend of brutons hor felawes uor to awreke
Hii come out mid god eyr & asaylede uaste
Þe romeins & monye slowe & some adoun caste
Þo to petreye a gret romeyn þes tydinge com
Ten þousend hors ywrye mid him sone he nom
Vor te helpe is felawes & þo þe oþer ne miȝte be
Toward þe wode wanene hii come þe brutons gonne to fle
Ac þo hii come among narwe hegges hii stode aȝen anon
& turnde þe brest aȝen & vaste slowe hor for
& þe romeins stode aȝen so þat þer was gret slaȝt
Þe erl of oxenford ysey þat þis fare nas naȝt
Þulke þat he mest truste to as a gret compaynye
He bed hom sywy treweliche to do chiualerye
Þo þis voreward was ymad þoru out þis ost he drou
& percede þe ost þoru out & uaste aboute slou
So þat to hor maister petreye he com
& uaste as he adde iþoȝt bineþe þe nekke he him nom
& wraste him adoun of is hors & him sulf al so
Anoward him he vel adoun as he adde iþoȝt to do
Þe romeyns sturte to anon hor prince vor to arere
Þe brutons to helpe hor alf vaste aboute were
Þer was pultinge & ssouinge & stroc monyon
So þat þe brutons atte laste among al hor fon
Mid strengþe ladde vorþ petreye hor prince þere
Þo þe romeyns were wiþoute chef desconforted hii were

Arthure

Arthure

Arthure

& adde seruage of al þe world were it nou wel bi gonne
Þat we lore þe nobleye þat hii so nobliche wonne
Oure fon al ȝare beþ bote we vaste hye
Seche we hom in þe feld vor vre is þe maystrye
An ern in stude of is baner he sette vp of golde
& wende toward þis batayle abyde wo so wolde
Hii made hor cry in eyþer half & to gadere smite
Wo so nuste neuere of slaȝt þere he miȝte ywyte
Þat folc vel to grounde aslawe as leues doþ of tre
Þe brutons adde þe worse verst vor hom was loþ to fle
Þe king bedwer was þer aslawe vor þe king of medes him slou
Mid an launce þoru þe þrote as he toward him drou
Kay is felawe him wolde awreke king of aungeo
& to deþe was in þulke verde ywounded al so
& ȝut as a noble kniȝt is felawes body he nom
& þer wiþ ded as it was to þe kinges dragon com
Ou louerd þe deol þat þer was of hom of normandye
Þo hii seye hor king aslawe flour of chiualerye
Þe deol of hom ek of aungeo þo hii hor king yseye
Wiþ woundes to Raunced so þat he moste nede deye
Hyrel bedweres neueu þo is vncle aslawe he sey
He verde as a witles mon hit was deol to be him ney
Mid þre hundred hors ywrye In is wod rage he wende
Vor to awreke is vncle deþ as fur is herte tende
He percede ost & oþer vorte he ysey ynou
Þe kinges baner of medes þat is vncle slou
So gret was is herte þat of deþ he ne roȝte no þing
To grounde he smot him & is & a slou þen king
& þere as is vncle ded lay is foule caroyne he broȝte
& riȝt þer bi pecemele hakked it al to noȝte
Þo gradde he to is felawes mid god herte þere
To legge on vaste þe luþermen þe wule hii versche were
Vor þe prowesse þat he adde ydo hii sturede hom alle vaste
& foȝte & in eyþer half þat folc adoun caste
In þe romeyns alf to deþe þer were ydo
Þe king of babiloyne & þe king of spaine al so
& tueye grete senatours & oþer folc wiþ oute ende
In is half þer were aslawe noblemen & hende

Arthure.

Sire leger duc of boloyne & an oþer duc al so
& þe erl of salusbury & of cycestre þer to
& þe erl of baþe al so so þat þoru þis cas
Þe compaynie of þis alf moche aneþered was
Þo com þe king of brutayne & sire wawein þe hende
Mid hor nywe ost al verss & stured hom in ech ende
So þat þer were among hom þo to deþe ydo
A gret duc & tuo þousend of oþer men al so
Þe king howel & sire wawein þat so gode bodyes were
Euere hii were yliche versse & slowe her & þere
Bote hii som mon broȝte adoun vewe duntes hii smite
Weþer of hom betere were strong it were to wite
Sire waweyn willede euere mid al is miȝte
Mid lucye þe senatour in batayle to fiȝte
Lucye ne wilnede noþemo no þing somoche alonde
As to fiȝte mid a such kniȝt him sulue uorto fonde
So þat hii mette hom þere boþe hii were wel vawe
Þere were duntes ariȝt & suerdes wel adrawe
Þe romeins come to hor maistres sone to helpe him in such cas
So ney þat sire wawein ney ybroȝt to grounde was
Þe king arthure it vnderȝet & com sone in an stounde
Wat doþ ȝe he sede sire kniȝtes quelleþ on to grounde
Wy lete ȝe þis haluemen þus longe aliue go
Þencheþ on þe batailes þat ȝe abbeþ ar þis ydo
On vre elderne þat þes wrecches worrede mid vnriȝte
On vre franchise þat hii wolde binime vs ȝif hii miȝte
Ne leteþ non aliue go to grounde smiteþ ȝoure fon
Sire calibourne is suerd he bi gan to ssake anon
& slou to grounde her & þer ac he ne smot noȝt on
Þat he ne slou him oþer his hors & among hom echon
Þe king of lybye & of bytynie him sulf gan to quelle
Mid calibourne & sende hor heþene soule to helle
Þe brutons as hii versse were to grounde þo slowe
& þe romeins in hor alf uaste ek aȝen drowe
Lucye to hardissi is men prikede here & þere
& bigonne as a nywe batayle riȝt as hii versse were
Moroud erl of gloucestre mid is ost bi syde
In an valeye houede þe endinge uor to abyde

Arthure

Arþure.

Arþure

Þe ssrewe ȝarkede is ost & aȝen him com
& wiþoute winchestre anoþer batayle nom
Þere hii dude sorwe ynou & slowe to grounde uaste
Ac þe traytour was bineþe & fley atte laste
To cornwaile mid gret eyr he ne dorste no ner abyde
Þere he gaderede him nywe ost aboute in eche side
So þat he adde vnder al wiþ þat him bileuede er
Sixti þousend hors ywrye al to moche was þer
His ost he diȝte suiþe wel al hou it ssolde be
& suor he wolde raþer deye þan euere eft fle
King arþure was anguisous in is compaynye
Þat þe luþer traytour adde ofscaped so tuye
He sywede mid is folc to cornwayle uaste
Bisyde þe water of tamer hii mette hom atte laste
Þere hii smite an batayle deoluol ynou
Þat deol it was so muche volc in eyþer syde me slou
Vor þer ne bileuede in noþer syde non heymon vnneþe
King ne duc ne oþer þat nas ybroȝt to deþe
Ac modred þe traytour adde more folc of ynou
Þo þe king arþur ysey þat me is folc so slou
& þe king of denemarch was aslawe & þe king al so
Of norweye & of is oþer men mony a þousend þer to
& he sey þat is fon stode euere aȝen vaste
To þe lutel folc þat he adde he spac atte laste
Sulle we he sede vre lif dere ar we be ded
& icholle sulle min dere ynou wanne þer nis oþer red
Habbe ich aslawe þe false suike þe luþer traytour
Hit worþ me þanne vor to deye gret ioye & honour
He drou calibourne is suerd & in eyþer side slou
& vorte he to þe traytour com made him wey god ynou
He hente verst of is helm & suþþe mid wille god
Anne stroc he ȝef him mid wel stourdy mod
& þoru hauberc & þoru is coler þat nere noþing souple
He smot of is heued as liȝtliche as it were a scouple
Þat was is laste chiualerye þat vaire endede ynou
Vor þat folc so þikke com þe wule he hor louerd slou
Aboute him in eche half þat among so mony fon
He aueng deþes wounde & wonder nas it non

Arþur

Saxones plene Dominantes.

Cadwallad

Cadwallad

Þe king him let ek in sorwe & in siknesse lede
Toward þis lasse brutaine & þis deoluol pleinte sede
Awey awey we sunuol men Alas vre wrecchede
Þat we abbeþ þus god agult mid moni a sunuol dede
We & vre elderne ek þe wreche ich vnder stonde
Þat þus wrecchedliche vs drifþ out of vre kunde londe
Þat þe romeins ne miȝte mid bataile neuere do
Ne scottes ne picars ne þe saxons þer to
Nou we beþ þoru wreche of god vor vre sunuol dede
Y Driue out al clene wiþoute hope wiþ sorwe & wrechedhede
Vor naȝt we abbeþ so ofte vpe hom ywonne þat lond
Wanne god nel noȝt þat it be lengore in vre hond
Vor þe soþuast god þo he ysey þat we nolde uor no þing
Fram vre sunnes vs wiþdrawe ne þat no prince ne king
Ne miȝte us bringe out of þe lond he þat miȝtfol is
Deþ after vre decerte & pult us out ywis
Comeþ nou aȝen ȝe romeins & ȝe scottes also
Pycars & saxons & englisse þer to
Þat so moche abbeþ desired þat lond ȝe mowe hit finde nouþe
Al bar wiþoute defence binorþe & eke bisouþe
& al þat þoru wreche of god & þoru our poer noȝt ydo
Vor poer þat ȝe alle adde ne miȝte it bringe þer to
Ac þoru þe miȝte of ihesu crist we beþ ybroȝt to grounde
Þat we wraþþede euermo & nou we it abbeþ yfounde
Alas þat by myne daye suche wreche ssolde come
Þat y nadde be dedbore bote god adde þe soule ynome
Þe deol ne may no tonge telle þat þe king to him nom
So þat to þe lasse brutayne mid þis sorwe he com
To þe kinges neueu salomon Aleyn þat was king þo
& vaire of him was vnderuonge in is mochele wo
Þo þe brutons þer after were al as out of munde
After volc þe saxons sende of hor kunde
To come & wonye in þis lond þat no mon aȝen hom nas
& þut lond to hor wille al bar aȝen hom was
Þo þis strange men hurde þis ynou of folc hii nome
Of men & of wimmen ek & to þis londe come
& anon fram cornwayle to norþhumberlond
Bote it were of pouerayl al bar hii founde þat lond

Cadwallad

Adelwolf

Adelwolf

Hii come & smite an batayle & þere þoru godes grace
Þe deneys were al bineþe & þat lond folc adde þe place
& more prowesse dude þo þan þe king miȝte biuore
Þeruore gode bonde men ne beþ noȝt al vor lore
Þe king was þe boldore þo & þe more aȝen hom drou
& is foure gode sones woxe uaste ynou
Adelbold & adelbriȝt adelred & alfred
Þis was a stalwarde tem & of gret wisdom & red
& kinges were alle foure & defended wel þis lond
& þe deneys dude ssame ynou & þat me vol wel fond
In þe sixteþe ȝere of þe kinges kinedom
Is eldoste sone adelbold gret ost to him nom
& is fader also god & oþer heyemen al so
& wende aȝen þis deneys þat moche wo adde ydo
Vor mid tuo hondred ssipes & an half at temese mouþe hii come
& londone & kaunterbury & oþer tounes nome
& so vorþ in to soþereye & slowe & barnde vaste
Þere þe king & is sone hom mette atte laste
Þer was batayle strong ynou ysmite in an þrowe
Þe gode kniȝtes leye adoun as gras þat me doþ mowe
Heueden þat were of ysmite & oþer lymes al so
Flote in blode al fram þe grounde ar þe batayle were ydo
Wanne þe blod stod al abroc nas þere wo ynou
Nis it reuþe vorto hure þat so me folc slou
Ac vre suete louerd atte laste ssewede is suete grace
& sende þe cristine englisse men þe maystrie in þe place
& þe heþene men of denemarch bineþe were echon
Nou nas þer ȝut in denemarch cristendom non
Þe king þer after to holy chirche is herte þe more drou
& teþegede wel al is lond as hii aȝte wel ynou
Seint swithin at winchestre bissop þo was
& alcston at ssirebourne þat amendede moche þis cas
Þe king was wel þe betere man þoru hor beyre red
Tventi winter he was king ar he were ded
At winchestre he was ybured as he liþ ȝut þere
His tueye sones he ȝef is lond þat eldoste were
Adelbold þe eldore þe kinedom of estsex
& souþsex adelbriȝt & kent & westsex

Aldred Alfred

Aldred Alfred

Alfred

Vre louerd mid is eyen of milce on þe lokeþ þeruore
& þi poer þe wole ȝiue aȝen þat þou ast ney vorlore
& þat þou þerof soþ yse þou ssalt abbe tokninge
Vor þine men þat beþ ygo to day avissinge
In lepes & in coufles so moche viss hii ssolleþ hom bringe
Þat ech mon ssal wondry of so gret cacchinge
& more vor þe harde vorst þat þut water yurore is
Þat þe more aȝen þe kunde of fissinge it is
Of serue it wel aȝen god & lef me is messager
& þou ssalt þi wille abide as ich þe abbe ytold her
As þis king her of awok & of þis sixte þoȝte
His vissares come to him & so gret won of fisse him broȝte
Þat wonder it was & nameliche vor þat weder was so cold
Þo leuede þe godemon wel þat seint cuthbert adde ytold
In deuenissire þer after þer ariuede of deneys
Þre & tuenti ssipuol men al aȝen þe peys
Þe kinges broþer of þe march duc of þe ost was
Oure kinges men of engelond mette hom bi cas
& smite þer an batayle & hor grete duc slowe
& eiȝte hundred & fourty men & hor caroines to drowe
Þo king alfred hurde þis is herte gladede þo
Þat londfolc to him com so þikke so it miȝte go
Of somersete of wiltessire of hamtessire þer to
Euere as he wende & of is owe folc al so
So þat he adde poer ynou & atte laste hii come
& an batayle at edendone aȝen þe deneys nome
& slowe to grounde & wonne þe maystrie of þe velde
Þe king & is grete dukes bigonne hom þo ȝelde
To king alfred to is wille & ostage him toke
Vor to wende out of is lond ȝif he it wolde loke
& ȝute þerto uor is loue vor to auonge cristendom
King gurmund hor hexte king verst þer to com
King alfred is godfader was & baptized ek þer were
Þritty of hor hexte dukes & moche of þat folc þere
King alfred hom huld wiþ him tuelf dawes as þe hende
& suþþe he ȝef hom large ȝiftes & let hom hom wende
Hii þat nolde cristine be of londe flowe þo
& biȝonde se in france dude wel moche wo

Alfredus Edwardus

Edwardus

So þat ware þe king were & þer come hor fon
In eche contreye prest hii were mid þe lond folc anon
& smite mony batayle þat þe king it nuste
So þat þoru strengþe of heye tounes ech contrey him sulf wuste
His soster he let spousy þat yhote was elfled
To þe king þat huld þe march of him þat yhote was eþelred
So þat heo mid childe was & þoȝte hire so sor
Ar þat child were ybore þat he ne willed it nammor
Come nammor to þulke stoupe vor me ne miȝte hire bringe
Þat ȝo wolde euere eft in monnes bedde come vor eny þinge
Ac euere sede wanne ȝo was of such þinge bisoȝt
Þat kinges doȝter as ȝo was hit ne bi com noȝt
Such fol delit for to do ne such dede naþemo
Þat were encheson afterward of such pine & wo
Ac ȝif þe biginninge were ȝut as strong as is þe ende
Ich wene ȝut moni womman þulke wey wolde wende
Þe luþer ed wolf was þe kinges broþer edward
& vor pur hate aȝen is broþer held as a ssreward
Þe deneys were in homberlond to hom he gan drawe
Hii auenge him vayre ynou & were wiþ him wel vawe
& made him hor king anon is broþer uor to ssende
Sone hii greyþede hor ost þo souþward vor to wende
& asaylede estsex & nome þat lond anon
Vor þe maystres of þe lond ȝolde hom to hom echon
Þo wende hii in to þe march & moche sorwe made
& robbede & destruede uaste anon to crekkelade
So hii passede temese & dude wo ynou
King edward sone mid is ost toward hom drou
& drof hom in to humberlond mid wel quic pas
Ac king edwolf þer after sone aslawe was
Vor þe king edward & is men hamward ywend were
Þat folc of kent aȝen is wille bileuede bihinde þere
Þo edwolf & þe deneys wuste hom so bileue
To hom hii smite anon & batayle hom ȝeue
Þe kenteys stode vaste aȝen & þe king edwolf slowe
Heye & lowe þer were aslawe in eyþer alf ynowe
King edward þe niþe ȝer of is kinedom
Þe castel made of hereford & to god ende com

Edward Aþe[l]ston

Aþelston

Him þoȝte it was more nobleye þo he adde an honde al þis
Vor to maky kinges þan to be king ywis
Aȝen he made kinges þat kinges er were
Bote þat hii were vnder him & truage him bere
Þo hii adde hor lond aȝen þe king of scotlond
Constantin & analf king of homberlond
Vpe þis king aþelston gaderede men ynowe
& here bisouþe humber mid hor ost drowe
Analf was god kniȝt & stalwarde & quoynte
Menestral he was god ynou & harpare in eche poynte
To aþelstones pauylon mid is harpe he wende
& so wel wiþoute harpede þat me after him sende
Þere he harpede so wel þat he payde al þe route
Ac euere were is eyen in eche hurne aboute
After mete þo hii nolde nammore of is pley
Hii ȝeue him siluer uor is gle & lete him go is wey
Of þe siluer he adde hoker vor he ne com þuder vor non
Ac is wille he adde þo he sey þe stat of is fon
On þat adde ybe mid him þe king tolde þer
Þe king him blamede þo þat he nadde ytold him er
Sire he sede ich was ysuore to him ar to þe
& ȝif ichadde him bisuike þe wors þou wost leue me
Ac remwe in to anoþer stude þi pauilon bi mi rede
Oþer þou miȝt ȝut to niȝt of som treson drede
Þe pauilon was remewed þo & þe king & alle his
Ac a bissop & is men þer uorþ come ywis
& piȝte þere hor pauylon & bileuede al niȝt þere
& þis luþer men come aniȝt & wende þe king it were
& slowe bissop & al is men þat gult nadde non
& suþþe hii wende vorþore mo & soȝte aþelston
Of hom nas he noȝt ywar ar þo atte laste
Ac sone he & is men armede hom wel vaste
& edmund is broþer mid him & þo hii preste were echon
Hii wende vorþ to þis batayle & mette mid hor fon
Þe king to is suerde drou & þo ne vond he non
Ac was mid treson him binome hard cas was þat on
On god al miȝti & seint aldelm þe king cryde vaste þo
& hii sende him bi uair miracle bote of is wo

Aþelston

Edmond

Edmond Edred

Edwinus

Edgar

& so he dude for þo he was after is broþer king
He broȝte al þat lond in pes þat er was in striuing
He vndude alle þe luþer lawes þat me huld biuore
& gode lawes broȝte vorþ þat er were as uorlore
Scotlond & norþhumberlond & walis al so
Wiþoute heste to him come is wille vor to do
Þe erþe ȝeld betere & þet weder was murgore bi is daye
& lasse tempeste in þe se þan me er ysaye
Me tolde him of seint dunston þat is broþer drof of londe
After him he sende anon & he com þoru is sonde
& is abbeye aueng in pes fram wan he was so longe
& was þe kinges conseiler & vaire was vnderuonge
Erchebissop of kaunterbury þoru þis gode kinge
Sein dunston was suþþe ymad þe more god to bringe
Þis king also at glastingbury as he þeruorþ com
Seint aþelwold þat was þere monek out of þe house he nom
& ȝef him an place in barkssire þat moche is in mone
Vif mile bisouþe oxenford þat me clupeþ abindone
Þis holy mon seint aþelwold bulde þere uaste
& a uayr abbeye þer bigan þat euereft aþ ylaste
Verst abbot he was þere him sulf & monekes to him nom
In þis manere abindone verst to abbeye com
Hit biuel þat þe bissop of winchestre was ded
Þe king him made bissop þer þoru sein dunstones red
Atte heye chirche of winchestre þere is se was ydo
Þat me clupede chirche cathedral & ȝut me deþ al so
Canons þer were seculers þo he verst þuder com
Ferce men & proute þat moche were in hordom
Þe king & seint aþelwold aȝen hom sette vaste
& out of hor hous & of hor rentes ech after oþer caste
& made an hous of monekes to holde hor ordre bet
Þe monekes out of abendone verst were þuder yuet
Of seint swithin þat hous was as it is ȝut al so
So þat out of abendone hit was verst ydo
In þe secunde ȝere þat he verst bissop was
Þis gode king & he dude þis gode cas
& ek in þe vifteþe ȝere of þe kinges kinedom
Seint aþelwold verst bissop was & þe bissopriche nom

Edgare

Edgar

Sanctus Edwardus

Aeldred

Aeldred

& robbede þen toun vaste ac hor poer noþing nas
Þis was as a tokne þat to comene was
Ac bi sein dunstones daye nammore þer ne com
Vor he deyde þe teþe ȝere of þe kinges kinedom
& nyn hondred ȝer & eiȝte & eiȝtety after þat god was ybore
& þe bissop seint aþelwold was ded þer biuore
& seint oswald þe bissop after þre ȝer
As in þe þritteþe ȝer þat þe king croune ber
Þe betere pays it was uor hom þe wule hii were aliue
Ac after hor daye sone þe sorwes spronge bliue
Þe king adde bi is verste wif an stalwarde sone
Þat uor is stalwardhede euere worþ in mone
Vor me ne vond non so god kniȝt ware so he wende wide
Me clupede him uor is stalwardhede Edmund yrensyde
Þe sorwes as ich abbe ytold spronge aboute ylome
Vor þat folc of denemarch sone to londe come
As a uour alf þis land þe hauene hii adde ysoȝt
So þat norþhumberlond was al to grounde ybroȝt
Kent hii destruede al so god & þe est contreye wide
Eccestre hii barnde al adoun & in þe west syde
Vr king worrede ofte aȝen as he miȝte do
Ac wreche of is broþer deþ wel harde him com to
Vor is poer was lute worþ ac he ȝef hom atten ende
Four þousend pound of sterlinges hom aȝen to wende
So þat is quene deide & of sorwe & sore
Him com in ech half euere þe leng þe more
Vor þe deneis come aȝen & in euerich ende
Him worrede her & þer þat he nuste wuder wende
He biþoȝte him wel narwe ȝif þer miȝte be eny red
Þoru wiuinge oþer þoru eny þing vor is wif was ded
He vnderstod þat richard duc of normandye
Was mon of gret poer & of gret seygnorye
Vor emme is gode doȝter he sende ofte is sonde
To spouse hire & to make hire quene of Inglonde
Þat he miȝte þoru þe aliance eny help vndergo
To wite him fram hem of denmarch þat dud them such wo
So þat þo hii were at one þis spousing was ydo
As in þe ȝer of grace a þousend ȝer & two
& of þe kinges corouning in þe foure & twenty yere
Þo þoȝte þe king þat he adde of is fon ye lesse fere

Aeldredus

& here sprong lo þe uerste more as of hom of normandye
Ware þoru hii come in to þis lond & abbeþ þe maystrye
Vor þe kynge adde bi þis emme tueie sones ywis
Alfred & seint edward þat at westmunstre yssrined is
& þoru þulke blode suþþe willam bastard com
As ȝe ssolle her after ihure & wan þis kinedom
Þat poer muche of denemarch in pes wiþoute strif
Was hom ywent to denemarch ar þe king weddede wif
Þe king uor is grete poer as of is wiuinge
Alle þe deneis þat were bileued he let to deþe bringe
In a seinte bryce day & in one day echon
Þat non nere of oþer ywar ne þat þer ofscapede non
Suan þe duc of denemarch þo he hurde of þis cas
Made him wroþ & wod ynou & ech þat wiþ him was
Hii greiþede hom mid gret poer & to engelond come
As in þe vif & tuentiþe ȝere of þe kinges kinedome
& in þe ȝer of grace a þousend & þre
Hii slowe & sorwe dude ynou non more ne miȝte be
Þo þikce hii come þat þet lond oueral hii gonne fulle
As þikke as ameten crepeþ in an amete hulle
Bi norþe & bi souþe in þe est & in þe west
So þicke hii come þat me nuste in wuche alf kepe best
Hii ne sparede prest ne clerc þat hii ne slowe to grounde
Ne men of religion ware so hii eni founde
Ne wommon ne soukinde child ne doȝter ne sone
Hii vorbarnde norþwich & þe toun of wiltone
Þat a reulich lond was engelond & vol of sorwe ynou
Hii miȝte acorci þe fole quene þat seint Edward slou
Vor suan þe luþer duc adde euere is yuere
Þre velawes þat next him were ech in þat manere
Brenningge & robberye & quellinge atte laste
Þis were is þre felawes þat he huld euere vaste
Wanne at an gode monnes house is men were at inne
Verst hii wolde ete & drinke þat hii founde þer inne
& suþþe þe louerd of þe hous quelle & alle his
& suþþe brenne al is hous al uor hor scot ywis
Suche were lo þe gistes þat hider come þo
Moche aþ þis lond ar þis idrive in sorwe & wo
Mest wo hii dude in barcssire & vpe assesdoune
& so aboute quichelmeslewe & so in mani a toune

Aeldred

Atte laste king aildred þo he was to grounde ybroȝt
& Muche of þe lond aslawe & destrued al to noȝt
Suan þe duc of denemarch he ȝef atten ende
Folle þritti þousend pound to denemarch to wende
& bileue þis lond in pes so þat þis was ydo
Ac lute it was ar þer com wel more wo þer to
Vor þe king aildred isey is lond al bar
Of þe folc of denemarch he nolde noȝt ȝut be ywar
Ac let gadery a nywe ost þoru al engelond wel wide
Of heyemen & of lowe ek ygadered bi þe hide
Þat euere eiȝte hide lond an man him ssolde finde
Wiþ helm & hauberc & þe atil þat non nere bihinde
& greiþede him ssipes in þe se ac al nas worþ a fille
Vor þo is coust was al ydo he miȝte bet abbe be stille
To suan þe duc of denemarch þe tidinge sone com
His ost & is poer wiþ him sone he nom
& in þe a þousend ȝer of grace & þe teþe ȝer al so
& of vr kinges crounement þritti ȝer & tuo
In an haly þoresday to þis lond he com
& þen toun of gypeswich mid strengþe sone nom
& robbede aboute in þe lond & tounes adoun caste
Ac þe contreye of grantebrugge aȝen hom stod uaste
& foȝte ase stalwardemen þe wule hor poer ylaste
Ac hii were as hii nede moste bineþe atte laste
& þer was þe kinges soster sone islawe aþelston
& barons & kniȝtes & heiemen monion
Aboute heruest þis deneis as rotes arnde
Bi chilterne & to oxenford & þen toun barnde
Þo wende hii vorþ of denemarch & robbede al est sex
& grantebruggessire & estangle & al so middelsex
Bokinghamssire & oxenfordssire & hertfordssire al so
Bedeuord ssire & haluendel hontindone ssire þer to
Norþhamtone & bisouþe temese barcssire
& soþereye & souþsex & souþhamtessire
& muchedel of wiltessire & þo al þis was ydo
Hii drowe hom toward kanterbury to robbi þere al so
In þe a þousend ȝer of grace & endlefte þer to
Þis folc com to kanterbury robberye to do
Bituene vre leuedi day þe late & misselmasse day
Þis folc bisette kaunterbury & uaste it bi lay

Aeldred

& gret raunson of hom wiþinne esste to be out of wo
Ac þe erchebissop of þe toun seint alfe þat was þo
Was vaste þer aȝen to ȝiue eni raunsoun
Þe deneis vor wraþþe þo asailede uaste þen toun
& wonne him & vaste slowe & þo hii wiþinne come
Heye men þat inne were & seint alfey hii nome
& monekes & þen toun barnde & adoun caste
Þe erchebissop seint alfe hii hulde & bounde uaste
& ladde him biside londone to þe toun of greneswich
& helde him þere in prisoun þat he nas no mon ilich
Half ȝer & somdel more & suþþe in þe ȝer of grace
A þousend & tuelf ȝer hii ladde him in an place
Wiþoute þe toun of greneswich & henede him wiþ stones
As me henede seinte steuene & tobrusede is smale bones
Atte laste mid an deueniss ax me smot him to gronde
In þe heued þat he lay & deyde in an stounde
Þe saterday þe ester wouke þis holy man hii slowe
Ac vewe þer were atte dede þat þe beuerege bilowe
Vor some bicome cancrefrete & some blinde oþer wode
& som deyde verlich vpriȝt as hii stode
So þat vor drede of þis wreche þe deneis were agaste
& wiþ drowe hom of hor luþerhede þe wule it wolde ylaste
& þer was þe betere pays a ȝer & vnneþe
Vor in þe ȝer of grace a þousend & þretteþe
Suan þe duc of denemarch bigan to turne is hond
& after þat he adde destrued þe souþhalf of þis lond
He wende & robbede of þis lond al þe norþ side
Norhumber & lindeseye & destruede wyde
Euere fram watelinge stret & so bi oxenford
Hii come & nome winchestre & so walinford
Fram walingford hii wende & þen toun of baþe nome
So þat suan was king yholde ware so he euere come
Ac þe king of engelond in such sor & morninge
Carede of is ȝonge sones mest of alle þinge
Leste hii were defouled oȝt vor hii ne couþe of fiȝtinge
Þeruore in to normandie he let hom sone bringe
Boþe alfred & seint edward & þe quene hor moder also
Wiþ þe duc richard þe quene broþer vorte such wo were ydo
Ac is eldoste sone Edmond yrene syde
Vor he was hardi & god kniȝt at hom he let abide

Aeldred

Þat luþer folc of denemarch robbede & slowe uaste
Chirchen & abbeys barnde & adoun caste
Men leye vnbured to drawe þat reuþe it was ynou
Þat feble folc to wildernesse & to wodes faste drou
Aildred king of Engelond ysei al þis wou
Hou me destruede is lond & is folc so slou
To midewinter he wende anon þo he ne sey oþer red
To normandie & huld him þer uorte þe duc suan was ded
Suan deide in þe ȝer of grace a þousend & fourteþe
His folc made euere uaste worre ȝut after is deþe
& made is sone king after him knout was is name
Þat dude as wel as is fader engelond gret ssame
& false kniȝtes of engelond hulde mid him vaste
Ac hii þat trewe & gode were aȝen hom hor herte caste
& sende after king aildred in to normandie stille
& he com sone to engelond & wende abbe is wille
Ac þo king knout it vnder ȝet he was vol of rage
He wende anon to sandwich & men þere in ostage
Þat were bitake is fader vor heye men of þe londe
He nom & let hom smite of boþe vet & honde
Nou adde heyemen of þe lond itake þer bi uore
His fader ostage god ynou & deop oþ ysuore
Wiþ him to holde treweliche & breke þo hor oþ
Þer uore þe king knout wiþ hom was þo so wod wroþ
& for wraþþe let bilimie hor ostages þat were
Suþþe he wende in to westsex & robbede þere
& in dorsete dude & wiltessire & somersete gret wo
King aildred lay sik in þe toun of cosham þo
In þe west ende of wiltessire vor he was feble & old
& wiþ care & sorwe ouercome as me aþ itold
& fram cosham to londone he ofscapede vnneþe
Vor to witie him fram is fon þat hii ne broȝte him to deþe
Þere he huld him in þe toun mid muche sorwe & sore
Þat of al is lond of engelond he nadde an vot more
Þe ȝates he made vaste & wuste him wiþinne
His fon asailed þene toun wiþ oute mid al hor ginne
Atte laste þis king aildred as in al þis strif
In a seint gregories day wende out of þis lif
As in þe ȝer of grace a þousend & sixteþe
Febleliche he liuede al is lif & deyde in feble deþe

Edmund iren side

Edmundus

& slou aboute vaste ynou moni þat he vond
& Monie flowe her & þer aboute in þe lond
Batailes hii smite monion as we bigonne to telle er
Vor eiȝte batailes hii dude ney wat wiþinne half ȝer
As at sserston & elleswere & þe sixte bataile was
Vpe þe hul of assesdoune icholle telle þat cas
Þis tueye noble kinges mid hor poer hom mette
& smite þer an bataile & faste to gadere sette
Iordeined hii adde hor ost wel in eyþer syde
& edmond diȝte is stondard ware he ssolde him sulue abide
& is dragon vp sette & þis bataile ysmite
Hii slowe to grounde in eiþer side þat deol it was to wite
In is standard edmund was as riȝt was uor to abide
He sey þat me slou is folc aboute in eche syde
His herte him nolde soffri noȝt abide uor te time were
Ac to þe bataile smot anon as man wiþoute fere
& bileuede dragon & standard & sturede vaste is honde
& slou to grounde as noþing him ne ssolde at stonde
Sone adde is gode body yperced þe ost þoru out
He made is wei roume ynou vorte he com to king knout
Þer were duntes ariȝt ismite bituene hom tueie
Of þe helmes þat fur sprong out vor hii were stronge beye
A duc þer was mid king Edmund Edric was is name
Þat was traytour & louerd suike þat god ȝiue him ssame
Vor he fondede him bitraie vor king knoutes loue
Þo he sey þat Edmund was as he dradde al aboue
& king knout ney ouercome vp an hul an hey
He wende wiþ is suerd adrawe þat þet folc him al ysey
He adrou is blodi suerd & loude bigan to grede
Englissemen englissemen fleþ anon ich rede
Vor edmond vre noble king to deþe he is ydo
Him sulf he gan uerst to fle vor oþere ssolde al so
Englissemen him leuede wel & flowe after bliue
& al it was to bitraye is louerd þat was aliue
Þo king Edmond þis isey þat is folc vnderstod
Þat he was to deþe ybroȝt & þeruore hii flowe vor wod
He arnde vpe a lute hul & gradde in þe place
Is folc & dude of is helm & ssewede is face
& sede turneþ faste aȝen ich am aliue ywis
Is folc turnde anon aȝen þo hii hurde þis

Edmundus

& smite vorþ þis bataile grettore ne miȝte non be
& foȝte uorte it was niȝt þat hii ne miȝte no leng ise
Ac þe englisse adde ybe aboue ȝif it nadde ybe uor niȝte
Ac hii departede as hii nede moste as uor defaute of siȝte
Hii greiþede hom þer after an oþer bataile to do
& ef sone come to gadere up assedoune al so
& bataile smite strong ynou ac knoutes poer uaste
Wexinge was þat he wan þe maistrie atte laste
Sori was edmond þo to gloucestere he wende
To porueye him more help ȝif god him grace sende
King knout sywede after mid an longe tayle
So þat aboute gloucestre þe eiȝteþe batayle
Vpe seuerne hii smite in a stude & so vaste me slou
Þe gode bodies in eiþer half þat it was deol ynou
Mid blod þe erþe was iheled þat pite it was to wite
& noþer partye ne miȝte þe maistrie al bi ȝite
Ne hii ne miȝte yse uor þe niȝte þe batayle to fol ende
Hii departede mid sor ynou amorwe aȝen to wende
& king edmond of seuerne was in þe west side
& king knout bigan mid is ost in þe est alf abide
& seuerne was bituene hom & knoutes poer
Of folc of bi ȝonde se wax euere ver & ner
As edmond sat mid is ost aniȝt in such solas
As folc miȝte þat vorwounded & sor & wery was
& speke of þis batayle hou it miȝte be god
An old kniȝt þer ros vp & biuore þis folc stod
Ich am he sede mest fol þeruore as foles wolle
Mi fole red ȝif ȝe wolle ihure uerst ssewi icholle
Muche þing we abbeþ yseye & vr elderne vs ek sede
Anguisse & sorwe we abbeþ ynou of wel more we mowe drede
We fiȝteþ & beþ ouercome & no maistrie we ne seþ
Hou miȝte we be bote ouercome þat þus defouled beþ
Despoiled & vorwounded & vr strengþe leseþ vaste
Vre felawes & vre owe lif we dredeþ ek atte laste
Wanne ssal vre reste come & þe endinge of vre wo
& among vs sikernesse & pais ich drede neuere mo
Edmond ne mai be ouercome uor is strengþe ywis
Ne þe king knout vre fo uor he so quoynte ys
Wat may þanne vre ende be bote wanne þis kniȝtes echone
In eyþer side beþ aslawe & vr maystres bileued one

Edmundus

Edmundus

Þe king knout was so debrused þat he stod vnneþe
He dradde wanne he lore þat lif & were ybroȝt to deþe
He adde leuere þan eni þing þat hii acorded were
Ac he ne dorste is feblesse telle edmund vor fere
Laste ȝif he vnderȝete þat he were so ouercome
Þat he nolde fine ar he adde is lif him binome
Þo he him adde an wule yrest is armes he gan to caste
& wiþ gret ernest step ner & asailede edmond vaste
Mid al þe strengþe þat he miȝte & ssewede more þer to
& al uor he ne ssolde wene þat he were ouercome so
Þis knout bigan to reste þo is asaut was ydo
& bed edmond as in pes a word hure oþer tuo
King edmond him grauntede & somdel him wiþ drou
& lenede vp is sseld & herknede him ynou
Ichabbe quaþ knout ywilned þi kinedom ar þis
& nou wel more þan þi lond þi sulue ich wilni ywis
Vor þou nart noȝt one worþe be of engelond king her
Ac to be prince of al þe world uor in þe world nis þi per
Ich abbe al þat lond of norþweye & of denemarch anhonde
Ine wende noȝt þat eni mon min dunt ssolde atstonde
Ac þou ne atstonst it noȝt one ac art al clene aboue
Ware uore ich desiri mest þin grace & þin loue
Þat þou of alle min londes me be felawe & per
& ich mot ek of engelond be þi parciner
Vor ȝif we to gadere beþ & al clene of one rede
Norþwey & ech oþer lond & ech prince vs wole drede
Þeruore ich biseche þe haue half mi lond mid me
& ich as þi parciner half engelond mid þe
Edmond þo he hurde þis is grete herte wiþ drou
& ensentede to is red & bi com milde ynou
& abuide to is milde word þat mid suerd was aboue
Hii caste awei sseld & suerd & turnde al to loue
& biclupte hom & custe & hor folc in eyþer side
Þo hii seye hom acorded uor ioye loude hii cride
& songe te deum laudamus eiþer in is route
& to gadere wende & custe hom ech oþer aboute
Bi tuene þis tueye kinges was a certein fourme ydo
& forewarde among al hor folc ar hii departed atuo
Wat eiþer adde to is del of lond & oþer þinges
& departede wiþ loue atuo & bileuede boþe kinges

Edmond

& ȝif hii adde in gode loue longe iliued beye
Me adde þoru al cristendom yspeke of hom tueye
& ech prince & ech lond ydouted hom tuo
Ac edmond was al to raþe alas to deþe ydo
Vor þe luþer duc edric þoȝte euere to bitraye
King edmond is owe louerd knout uor to paye
A luþer gadeling was is sone boþe at one rede
Hii fondede mid alle gile to do þis luþer dede
Þo hii ne miȝte anoþer wise þis dede bringe to ende
In to an chaumbre foreine þe gadeling gan wende
Þat king edmond com ofte to & in þe dunge þar
Hudde him bineþe in þe dunge þat nomon nas ywar
Þo þe king þer to com is nede uor to do
Þe luþer þef ȝare was mid is arme þer to
& smot him þoru þe fondement & þoru þe gottes riȝt
Edmond þe noble king þat was so noble kniȝt
Wiþ a long ipointed knif iegged in eiþer side
Þus senduolliche he him slou aboute seint andrewes tide
At oxenford he was aslawe þoru þis luþer lore
Mid treson & gile ynou inot hou miȝte be more
Þe beste bodi & noblost þat in eni lond þo was
Islawe was þoru a gadeling so villiche alas
Ar men miȝte aboute come þen þef to seche þare
Of scaped he was & iflowe nomon nuste ware
Me greiþede þis gode king wanne non oþer nas
& broȝte him vaire an erþe as he wel wurþe was
In þe abbey of glastingburi biuore þe heye weued an hey
Vor he wilnede vorto ligge is grantsire ney
Þe king edgar þe gode king þat þere ybured is
Þere hii liggeþ uaire ynou boþe ȝut ywis
Ac þis luþer gadeling þat þe king so slou
To king knout wende anon glad & prout ynou
He grette him anon & sede hail þou be king one
So nis it noȝt quaþ þe king uor mi kinedom is ymone
Vor an felawe ich abbe þer to þat ich louie ynou
Vor gode sire king quaþ þis þef uor þi loue ich him slou
Here is þat knif al blodi þat ich broȝte him wiþ of dawe
& smot in þoru þe foundement & so in to þe mawe
Þi loue ich abbe wel dere aboȝt & mi lif an auntre ydo
Þer nis non aliue nou þat þe abbe yserued so

Edmundus

II. Part II.

henricus primus

henricus

Þat he were his wardein & al is ordeinour
To is wille to wissi him & to þe kinges honour
Þe king wende to normandie to soiorni þere
& mid sein tomas dude is sone þat he is wardein were
Þo tebaud þe erchebissop suþþe ded was
Þe king & monekes ek chose seint tomas
Þo he was erchebissop he huld ȝut in is hond
Þat child uort þat þe king come in to engelond
Þe child louede him inou more nas neuere iseye
Ne he nadde of no man more loue ne eye
Þo þe king to londe com sein tomas nom is sone
& vel vawe aȝen him wende to souþhamtone
Þer was ioye & blisse inou þo hii to gadere come
Hii custe hom & bi clupte & herede god ilome
It was enleue hundred ȝer & sixti & tuo
Of grace þat sein tomas was erchebissop þo
Þe nexte ȝer þer after as it wolde be
Endleue hundred ȝer of grace & sixti & þre
He halwede as þe king him bed þe churche of redinge
Þat verst ifounded was þoru henri þe oþer kinge
He ssrinede þulke sulue ȝer seint edward iwis
Þat was king of engelond at westmunstre þat is
Þe king ȝef þulke sulue ȝer henri is sone aungeo
Tours & al normandie & richard is sone al so
He ȝef gascoine & aquitaine so þat hii dude homage
King lowis of france þeruore wiþoute outrage
Geffray is sone he made erl of brutaine al so
Þe wule is children ȝonge were al þis was ido
Noman ne miȝte þenche þe loue þat þer was
Bituene þe king henri & þe gode man sein tomas
Þe deuel adde enuie þer to & sed bituene hom seu
Alas alas þulke stounde vor al to wel it greu
Vor þer adde er ibe kinges of luþer dede
As willam bastard & is sone willam þe rede
Þat luþer lawes made ynou & helde in to al þe lond
Þe king nolde nouȝt bileue þe lawes þat he fond

Thomas

Thomas

Ricardus rex

Ricardus

Iohannes

Iohannes

Þe couent was wel ipaid ac þe king nouȝt
Vor he suor in engelond he ne ssolde ariui nout
Ne erchebissop be bi is daye þei he ssolde þeruore deye
Þo þe pope þis ihurde he nom it wel heye
He sende to alle þe bissopes of þis lond is sonde
Þat entredit in is name hii dude in al þis londe
Þe king was þo he hurde þis wroþore þan he was er
Þe monekes of canterbury alle þat he vond þer
Þat miȝte go he drof out of is kinedom
& al þe erchebissopriche in is hond he nom
Henri is eldoste sone ibore was in þis wo
As in tuelf hundred ȝer & eiȝte & nammo
At winchestre at alle halwetid þat suþþe was vr king
Þe king vorbed ek in þis lond al þe popes playdinge
Of bullen & of oþer þing þat he nadde poer non
Þe bissops wende ek ofte to þis king Ion
& lettres þat þe pope hom sende him ssewede monion
& felle adoun to is fet wepinde echon
& criinde pitosliche þat he ssolde hom vnderstonde
& abbe reuþe of cristendom & of engelonde
Ac al ne miȝte it helpe noȝt so þat atten ende
Þis bissopes to londone echone gonne wende
A lute biuore candelmasse & abbodes al so
& conceil made general þis entredit to do
Ac þoru bisokne of þe king delayed it was ȝute
Vorte wiþinne leinte ac it was wurþ lute
Vor þe king was euere þe leng þe wors & þo it ne miȝte oþer be
Þe bissopes as hi nede moste bi gonne hom bi se
& þe sonenday of þe passion amansede alle þe
Þat avilede so holichirche þat mid riȝte was so fre
Þe morwe as þe monenday an seinte Marie eue
Þe holi time þat þo was hii nolde leng bileue
Þis bissopes wende to churche as to nime þer hor leue
& ef sone pitosliche þis mansinge ȝeue
& entreditede al þis lond & walis al so
Þat noþing of cristendom þer inne nere ido
Vort of is luþer dede þe king him wiþdrowe
Out of churche men hii driue wepinde ynowe

Iohannes

& pitosliche hom sulue wende out atte laste
& þe doren after hom wepinde loke vaste
& binome al cristindom þe holi time alas
Hou miȝte be of cristinmen more wo þan þis was
Þe king þo as vor wraþþe wod let nime in is hond
Alle þe erchebissopes god þat he vond in þis lond
Maners & oþer þing & is medes let mowe
& vorbed þat me ne ssolde non of is lond sowe
Persones þing he solde men þat mest wolde þeruore ȝiue
Þat hii nadde þer of nout bote vnneþe hor biliue
& hor bernes dores acelede & al clene out hom caste
Þe bissopes þo in hor alf amansede vaste
Alle þat suich dede dude king & quene boþe
& hor Iustizes ek þo were þer manie wroþe
Þe bissop of londone of eli of roucestre
& þe bissop of hereuorde & þe bissop of wurcestre
Of þis mansinge were principals & susteinede it vaste
& wende uort it betere were ouer se atte laste
Alle clerkene lefmen in prisoun þe king brouȝte
Vort at is owe wille hor maistres hom out bouȝte
So þat in ech half sorwe ynou þer com
Ac þe meste was alas þat þer nas no cristendom
Þe king þo he sey þe wo þat was in his londe
To þe erchebissop he sende over se is sonde
Þat he come in to þis lond ac as erchebissop nout
To speke so þat þut lond in þe betere were ibrouȝt
Ac þe erchebissop nolde come vor it ne ssolde amounti noȝt
Ac þre bissopes wende vor to fondi is þoȝt
Þe bissop of wurcetre of eli of londone
Ac þo hii come hii nadde of him bote is olde wone
Glosinde wordes & false so þat hii wende aȝe
& hor wey hulde uorlore & bileuede biȝonde se
Þe king of alimayne sende specialliche inou
To king Ion þat he wiþdrowe him of is wou
& vnderuenge þe erchebissop & holichurche al clene
Lete abbe ir franchise & al nas wurþ a bene
Þe king suþþe mildeliche to þe erchebissop sende
Þat he bote he verrore wolde to douere to him wende
To vinde him gode borewes & sauf condut al so
To bringe him sulf eft aȝen so þat it was ido

Iohannes

Iohannes

Her after þat par auntre ich may him ȝiue ȝute
Anoþer uor þe popes loue & þat nis noȝt lute
Holi churche quaþ pandulf so riȝtuol is & was
Þat he ne ssal no prelat sette adoun wiþoute apert trespas
Ac he ssal princes chasti þat hom doþ eni wou
Nou sir clerc quaþ þe king ȝe mowe þretni ynou
Ower dede ne may be no wors þan ower word is
Nou sir king quaþ pandulf þou sedest vs ar þis
Þe priuete of þin herte & ich þe segge iwis
Þe priuete of oure & wat oure erinde is
Þe pope þe amanseþ & alle þat serueþ þe
Is þer more quaþ þe king pandulf sede ȝe
Þe pope of alle hor sunnes asoileþ alle þe
Barons & kniȝtes þewemen & fre
Clerkes & lewede þat fram þi seruise wol fle
Of sunnes þat hii abbeþ ido ȝuf hii wolle gode be
& to sywi þis mansinge & þe asoylinge al so
We asigneþ þe bissop of winchestre þer to
& of norþwich here in engelond & in scotlonde þer to
Of roucetre & of salesburi þe siwinge to do
In walis þe þre bissopes þat beþ of þe londe
Þoruout al cristindom þe pope send er sonde
To erchebissops & bissops & ȝifþ ech poer
In is bissopriche þe & þine to amansi ver & ner
& of hor misdede to asoyli alle þo
Þat aȝe þe vaste beþ as godes fo
& siker þou be þat kinges & dukes al so
& erles & barons & kniȝtes þer to
Habbeþ bi souȝt þe pope croiserie biginne
Vpe [þe] & þine & hii wolle þi lond winne
& deliueri it vp þe pope þat he is wille ssewe
& make king wan he wole vor þou ast frend vewe
& we hoteþ in is half & he deþ in his ende
Alle þat cristine beþ þat hii vpe þe wende
& asoileþ hom clene of alle hor misdede
Wat miȝte ȝe more ssame do me þe king sede
& in soþnesse we segeþ þe pandulf sede þo
Þat þou ne berst neuereft croune ne þin eir naþemo

Iohannes

Ich ise wel quaþ þe king þat ȝe ne louieþ me nouȝt
To binime me mi kinedom me þincþ ȝe abbeþ iþouȝt
Ac bi him þat made al þe world ȝuf ich adde iwust þis
Þo ȝe verst come in þis lond ich ȝou wolde iwis
Habbe imad heie ride al þis ȝer longe
As wel þou miȝt segge quaþ pandulf þat þou vs wost abbe an honge
Wan þou seist quaþ þe king þat þat was mi þouȝt
So gret louerd as þou art Ine wiþsegge þe nouȝt
Ac ich sende to rome to abbe help of þe
& of þe pope & is poer & ȝe beþ aȝen me
Þine cause quaþ pandulf in riȝte & nouȝt in wou
We auauncieþ as in god & louieþ þe inou
& vor þi loue hider we come þe bet uor to lere
Þat þou to god & to holichirche obeysant were
& þou seist þat þou vs wost habbe ilate an honge
Siker we ne weneþ of þe non oþer mede auonge
Ne in non oþer entente we hider ne come
Bote þat we vor holi churche þun deþ of þe nome
Þe king anon in wraþþe let prisouns vorþ bringe
Þat uor þufþe were inome & uor oþer þinge
& demde hom biuore pandulf & let hom honge heye
As him vorto afere riȝt biuore is eye
A clerc þat was among hom þe king het anon
Þat me ssolde him honge hecst of echon
Pandulf þei he wende wel himsulf to honge sone
Ne sparede he noȝt þeruore to do wat was to done
In þe popes half he sede ich uorbede vpe mansinge
Þat no man ne touchi þulke clerc to him to deþe bringe
He esste boc & candle þe sentence to do bliue
Þe king þo him wiþdrou & let him gon aliue
& vewe wordes þer were mo & þo al þis was ido
Mid such loue þe king & pandulf departede a tuo
And þe king bileuede amansed & ech þat mid him was
Pandulf wende to rome & tolde al þis cas
Þe pope & is cardinals In þe ȝer of grace ywis
Tuelf hundred & þretene ido was al þis
Þe pope ȝut him biþoȝte ar he verrore nome
& alle þe bissops of engelond let someni to rome

Iohannes

Iohannes

To amendi aȝen holichirche al þat he adde misdo
& to vnderfonge þe erchebissop & to ȝelde aȝen al so
Him & oþer bissopes al þat he nom of hore
& al þat eni clerc adde þoru him oþer his ilore
& grantede alle þe franchises þat hii adde biuore
At douere biuore al þut folc þis oþ was isuore
& ȝe heyemen of þis lond vpe bok suore also
Þat ȝuf he wolde aȝe þis oþ eueremor out do
To turne alle aȝen him vort he to betere come
Þe king made ek is chartre to þe court of rome
To bicome þe popes man & homage him do
& eche ȝer him bere rente & is eirs al so
Eche ȝer a þousend marc & nouȝt a verþing lasse
Half to paye at estre & half at misselmasse
Seue hundre[d] marc to paye uor engelond
& walis & þre hundred marc to paye vor irlond
Al wiþoute petres peni so þat he nom
Þe croune of is heued þo holi þorsdai com
& tok is pandulf þe legat to ȝelde him sulue ywis
To þe pope innocent al clene & alle his
Of seinte peter & of him & of is successours of rome
To holde euere engelond & is eirs þat of him come
& ȝuf eni king it wiþsede þat after him com
Anon vor þulke trespas lore þe kinedom
& þus pleide þe king Ion to him & alle his
Verst to lese normandie & suþþe to paye þis
Þo it was al siker inou þat nouȝt nas bileued
Pandulf nom þe croune aȝen & sette vp on is heued
& pur was þe pes ymad he lokede arst wel rowe
More uor eye þan vor loue maniman serueþ howe
After þe erchebissop hii sende þo anon
& after þe oþer bissop ek þat hii come hom echon
At winchestre at sein swithines þo þe erchebissop co[m]
Þe king was & pitosliche aȝen him þun wey he nom
& riȝt atte churche dore he vel adoun akne
To þe erchebissopes fet as þut folc miȝte ise
& sede leue fader wel come mote þou be
God wot wuch is herte was vor he nolde him noȝt vnwr[e]
Þe erchebissop him asoilede at is vet as he lay
& wende vp & song þe masse a seinte margrete day
Þe king offrede him a marc & anoþer gywel þer to
Ac þe entredit of þis lond nas noȝt þo ȝut vndo
Vor þe pope nolde it nout vndo ar þe king ȝolde
Al þat he of clerkes nom wolde he so nolde
As he bi is lettres sende & ȝuf eni clerc vorȝeue out
Þe king of suich mis niminge þat it were al uor noȝt
So þat at sein bartelmewes tid þe bissopes come
& þe erchebissop to westmunstre & conseil þer of nome
Þere hii made ech clerc segge wat him binome were
& þe king enquerede of is men al wat hii awei bere
& þo hii were al at on he suor is oþ iwis
To ȝelde at sein nicholas tid at redinge ech man his
Ac ferlich it was iholde vor þe hexte þer was ibrouȝt
Somwat as uor hore del & þe pouerore nouȝt
Peris þe wise þat at corf in prisoun þo lay
Vor þe king of scapede holi þorsday
Harmles me him nom & mid hors to drou
& suþþe anhunge him & is sone at warham as mid wou
In þe ȝer of grace tuelf hundred & fourtene al so
A gret conseil at londone of bissopes was ido
& of þe legat of rome so þat þe king & he
Were þere so at on as hii miȝte bise
Þat hii vndude þe entredit a sein swithines day þer
Wodnesday as was þo þat adde ilast er
Six ȝer & þre monþes þer was ioye inou
Me rong bellen in al þe toun & vaste þe ropes drou
Þo þe king hadde pays aȝe þe pope iwis
Þe baldore he was uor to do is barons amis
As in þe ȝer of grace tuelf hundred & fiftene
Contek bigan bi tuene hom & noȝt vor noȝt ich wene
Vor hor wiues & hor doȝtren þe king ofte vorlay
& hangede men gultles vor wraþþe al longe day
& to drou & bileuede þe barons in o þouȝt
Nome hor conseil & sede þat hii nolde it þolie noȝt
Ne þe luþer lawes þat he huld ac bede him wiþdrawe
Is luþer wille & granti hom þe gode olde lawe
Þat was bi seint edwardes day & suþþe adoun ibroȝt
Þoru him & þoru oþere þat were of luþer þouȝt
Þe king glosede her & þer & made it somdel touȝt
Ac þo it com to þe strengþe he nolde it graunti nouȝt

Iohannes

Iohannes Henricus

Henricus

Þe legat þere asoilede heye & lowe al so
Of homage þat hii adde þis lowis ido
He made ek seue bissops vor nammo þer nere
& erles & barons & kniȝtes suerie þere
Holde oþes þe ȝonge king þat hii him treuþe bere
& amansede alle of engelond þat aȝen him were
Manie in hor bare fless hom lete croici vaste
To libbe uor him & deie lowis out to caste
Heyemen of engelond þat mid lowis were
Vor kundede hor herte to king henry bere
So þat anon to somere hii gonne to vrne vaste
& þe eue of þe trinite hii mette hom atte laste
A sein dunstones day at lincolne iwis
& smite þer an bataile þat wel couþ is
Ac so it was þat englisse þat mid Lowis were
Toward king henri & is muche hor herte bere
& þo it com to þe strengþe hii fouȝte feinteliche
& inome were of hor frend & hii ȝolde hom liȝtliche
So was þe erl of winchestre sir saer de quinci
Inome & of hereforde þe erl sire henri
& sir Roberd le fiz water & mani oþer al so
& mani was þe gode bodi þat þer was to deþe ido
Vor þe ȝonge erl of peithes þun deþ þere nom
Þat was iholde ȝong kniȝt þe beste of cristendom
He nas þo bote of þretti ȝer þe erl marchal him slou
Wan tueye stronge comeþ to gadere it is somdel tou
Þo lowis hurde telle þat is men bineþe were
He wende him to londone & huld him vaste þere
Socour fram biȝonde se to abide in þulke place
Tuelf hundred ȝer & seuentene þis was of ȝer of grace
So þat gret poer of france dude hom in þe se
Aboute an hundred ssipuol ac hii ne come noȝt alle aȝe
Vor sir Richard fiȝ le rei þe kinges sone Ion
& sir huber de boru & oþere kniȝtes manion
& þe sink pors scarseliche mid ssipes eiȝtetene
& ȝeue hom bataile in þe se þat was sone isene
Vor sir Eustas þe moine was þere to deþe ido
& mani oþer of france & þer were inome al so
Ten grete louerdinges & oþere manion
So þat inome oþer aslawe oþer adreinct hii were echon

Henricus

To þe castel of douere me ladde þat were inome
Þo was þe frensse poer as here ouercome
Þo þouȝte lowis þat is poer him moste nede faile
& þe englisse preste were londone vp him asaile
So þat me spac of acord vor þe baronie
Vor loue him broȝte hiderward & þat was cortesie
& þe king him ȝef ten þousend marc vor is meschaunce
& he as in gode leue wende hom to fraunce
Sir Richard fiz le rei of wan we speke biuore
Gentil man was inou þei he were abast ibore
Vor þe erles douȝter of wareine is gode moder was
& is fader þe king Ion & biȝete him a porchas
Sire morisse of berkeleye weddede suþþe bicas
Is doȝter & biȝet on hire þe kniȝt sir tomas
Þo þis lond þoru godes grace to god pays was ibroȝt
Vor to abbe þe olde lawes þe heiemen turnde hor þoȝt
Tuelf hundred in þe ȝer of grace it was & eiȝtetene
Þat wiþ þe ȝonge king hii speke þat was isene
Vor to abbe as we sede er þe gode olde lawe
Þe king made is chartre & grantede it wel vawe
Þe gode lawes of forest & oþere þat wule were
Þe legat & þe erchebissop amansede þo þere
& alle þe bissopes of þis lond alle þat þer were aȝe
Þe legat þo it was aceled wende uorþ ouer se
& pandulf com in is stede & fram ȝere to ȝere
Me amansede alle þoru þe lond þat aȝe þe chartre were
Tuelf hundered as in ȝer of grace & nintene ich vnderstonde
Þe eire of iustize wende aboute in þe londe
& sir hubert de boru was hext Iustice of al þe route
& þere þis gode lawes hii despeplede al aboute
Þe olde quene ysabel þe kinges moder henri
Hir let to þe erl of þe march þulke ȝer spousi
& willam marchal deide þo þat longe worþ in mone
& atte nywe temple was ibured at londone
Þer after at westmunstre ar þe baronie bi sai
Hii crounede þe king ariȝt a witesoneday
It was as in þe ȝer of grace & tuelf hundred & tuenti ȝer
& as in þe verþe ȝer þat he verst croune ber
Þe newe worc of wesmunstre þe king bigan þo anon
After is crouninge & leide þe uerste ston
Þe king wende þo to canterbury & þe heiemen al so
To nime vp sein tomas body & in to ssrine do
Arst he adde ileye an erþe vnssrined vifti ȝer
Of engelond & of fraunce so muche folc þer com þer
Þat alle contreye aboute vnneþe auonge it miȝte
Þeruore hii nome him vp priueliche bi niȝte
Þe nexte ȝer þer after as in þe ȝer of grace
Tuelf hundred & to & tuenti in þe vaire place
Of þe noble munstre of salesburi hii leide þe uerste ston
Þat me not in cristindom vairore work non
Þer was pandulf þe legat & as hext of echon
He leide viue þe verste stones as uor þe pope þut on
Þe oþer uor vr ȝonge king þe þridde as me sey
Vor þe gode erl of salesburi willam þe longespei
Þe verþe uor þe contesse þe uifte he leide þo
Vor þe bissop of salesburi & he ne leide nammo
Þe nexte ȝer þer after was Richard of clare ibore
Þat was erl of gloucetre after is fader þat was biuore
Þe ȝongore willam þe marschal þat erl marschal was
Spousede þe kinges soster as god ȝef þut cas
As in tuelf hundred ȝer of grace & foure & tuenti þer to
Suþþe sir simond de mounfort spousede hire al so
Faukes de breute þat in engelond was longe
Mid king Ion & adde of him bedeuorde auonge
He astorede þe castel þulke ȝer wel þoru alle þinge
& sette þer uolk inou to holde him aȝe þe kinge
Þe king & heiemen of þe lond mid strengþe & mid ginne
& bilaye þe castel longe ar hii him miȝte iwinne
Hii nome him þo mid strengþe þeruore as riȝt was
Four score gode kniȝtes hii an henge alas
& sir faukes broþer sir willam de breute
In gibet hii were anhonge as to more vilte
A seinte marie day in heruest þat reuþe it was to se
& so hii miȝte lerni traitour to be

Henricus

Sir faukes þat fleu aboute wide gan to fle
Atte laste he was ifounde in þe churcde of couentre
Þe churche sauede is lif ac villiche inou
He uorsok þe kinges lond & to is owe contrei drou
Þo was þe king him þoȝte quit of al is fon
Of god stat to þe lond he spek þo anon
Vor þe gode olde lawes of wan we abbeþ ispeke
He confermede vaste þo þat me ne ssolde it breke
& made þer of chartres on ich vnderstonde
Of þe forest & anoþer of franchise of þe londe
& aselede is boþe & þe erchebissop þere
& oþer bissops amansede alle þat þer aȝen were
It was tuelf hundred ȝer of grace & fiue & tuenti þere
Þer uore þe men of þis lond gret raunson him bere
Þe vifteþe peni of al hor god & blake mones iwis
Vnder al to þousend marc him ȝeue uor al þis
& þe giwes vif þousend marc iconfermed it was vaste
& ȝut as me ssal ihure lute wule it laste
King lowis of fraunce & willam þe longespei
Þe eldore deide suþþe as in oȝer ney
& after king lowis com is holi sone lowis
& after him com is sone willam þat was so wis
Þe gode erchebissop steuene broȝte is lif to fine
As in tuelf hundred ȝer of graee & tuenti & nine
& maister Richard þe grant in is stede was ido
& wende uorþ to rome to sacri him þer to
Þe king wende to brutaine mid gret ost þulke ȝer
Vor to winne aȝen þing þat is fader les er
Ac he wende hom aȝen in þe uerste ȝere
& bileuede þe erl marschal & þe erl of chestre þere
Vor to winne is riȝtes uor him sulf lute he wan
In brutaine deide þo Gilebert þe nobleman
Erl of gloucetre & richard is ȝonge sone was þo
In þe kinges warde uor he was of eiȝte ȝer & nammo
& sir peris de roches bissop of wincestre
Þe king ȝef þe warde of him & of þe erldom of gloucestere
Richard erl of cornwaile þe nexte ȝer after þis
As in tuelf hundred ȝer of grace & on & þritti iwis
He spousede þe contesse ysabel þat þe childes moder was
Willam þe erl marschal deide þulke ȝer alas
& at londone was ibured & Richard is broþer
Vnderueng þe eritage vor he nadde eir non oþer
Þe king him vaire vnderueng & þe erldom of penbroc
& al is oþer eritage wel vaire him tok
Randulf þe noble erl of chestre deide suþþe al so
As in tuelf hundred ȝer of grace & þretti & to
Sir hubert de boru erl of kent þe noble iustise
Þat as þe kinges poer hadde an alle wise
Acused was to þe king of mani luþer prise
So þat he was in prison in þe castel of þe vise
& was bitake four erles to witie wiþoute faile
Þe erl of wareine & Richard erl of cornwaile
& Richard þe marschal & þe erl of chestre Ion
So þat hii founde kniȝtes ech of hom on
To witie him in prison & ȝut uor echon
He of scapede to churche as him þoȝte best won
Wiþ strengþe he was out idrawe & suþþe to þe castel
Of scorgoil he was ilad & iwust þere wel
Vor he was of churche inome þo clergie bispek it vaste
So þat he was þoru þe pope deliuered atte laste
Sire steuene of segraue was imad þo hei iustise
In sire hubertes stude de boru þut lond wel to wise
Þo sprong þer a gret contek & strong þoru out al
Bituene vr king henri & richard þe marschal
& sir gilberd basset & sir richard stiward þer to
Vor to uor sir hubert de boru & uor þe bissop al so
Of winchestre sir peris de roches uor þe king as me sede
Dede þoru is conseil mani luþer dede
As in tuelf hundred ȝer of grace & þritti & þre
Aȝe þis þre louerdinges þe king gan luþer to be
Destruede hor londes ouer al & dude hom ssame inou
Ac þe erl Richard þe marsschal soffrede euere inou
& vaire þe king bisende þat he him ssolde wiþdrawe
Bi men of religion & al nas wurþ an hawe
Þo þer nas oþer red he wende to walis
& ber him þere vaire inou & lute dude amis
Vor þe kinges londes þer he miȝte abbe al destrud
Ac vor he ne dude is felawes were wel sore anuid
Ac sire gilebert basset & sir Richard syward
Hii destruede þere vaste inou & suþþe hiderward
Þe kinges conseilors londes hii destruede mid hor tayle
Ac þe bissop of winchestre & þe erl of cornwaile
& nameliche þe bissops vor sir Richard siward vaste
Barnede is courtes oueral & walles adoun caste
So þat maister edmund of abendone was
Erchebissop of canterbury as god sende þat cas
As tuelf hundred in ȝer of grace & four & þretti also
Þis holi man seint edmund in suich poer was ido
Þo wende Richard þe marschal þat of penbroc erl was
Into irlonde to worri in luþer time alas
Vor þoru treson of is owe men to bataile he wende adai
So þat þe ost of is fon ouer muche he sai
& muche of is owe folc bigan vor to fle
Sire quaþ þo þo kniȝt þou most þe bi se
Þou sucst þis folc ouer muche þat aȝe þe is
& þin owe ouer lute betere it is iwis
As me þincþ turne aȝe uort god sende betere iwon
Vor vr poer is to lute aȝe þus manie fon
Wat seiste quaþ þis gode erl wan richard þe marschal
Vpe is stede iarmed is & atiled þoru out al
& toward is fon in þe feld haþ is wombe iwent
Ssold he turne hom is rugh he nas neuere so issent
Vor he ne dude it neuere ne neuere iwis ne ssal
Fram such ssendnesse crist ssulde Richard þe marssal
As noble bodi in he smot he nolde longe abide
He slou to grounde her & þer vaste in eiþer side
More prowesse ne miȝte of o bodi be
Þan me miȝte of richard þe marschal þere ise
Hii ne miȝte him one felle al þat to him drowe
Ar hii mid som felonie is stede vnder him slowe
& ȝut ne miȝte hii him ouercome ar on him smot bicas
In aboute þe fondement as he vnarmed was
& so vp toward þe gottes & þus was of lif dawe
Richard þe marchal ibroȝt & þoru treson aslawe

Henri[cus]

At kildar he was aslawe þat in yrlonde is
& at þe frere prechors ibured at kilkenni iwis
Þo vr king henri hurde of is deþ telle
& of þe prowesse þat he dude ar me him miȝte quelle
& he vnderstod of is wit & of is wisdom
Him þoȝte it was a gret lere to al is kinedom
Vor is deþ he made deol inou & vor is soule he let do
Almesdede manion & mani masse al so
Is broþer sir gileberd þat eir was of þe lond
He bitok mid gode wille þe eritage an hond
Sir steuene de segraue þat is hey Iustise was
He let nime & in prison do vor he wuste of þis cas
& concentede as me sede to þe luþer treson
He let al so uor is loue deliueri of prison
Sir hubert de boru & oþere þat in prison were ido
& hom þat iweiued were is pes he ȝef al so
& hii a sein swithines eue of Iun þe verste day
To him come at gloucetre as mani man isay
Vn hosed & bareuot & vngurt al so
Hor armes to þe elbowe naked hor heued bar þer to
Hii velle to þe kinges fet & merci him criede vaste
Þe king ne miȝte þo uorbere þat he ne wep atte laste
& bigan nei vor pite isuowe vpriȝt toumbe
Bote as þe erl of hereforde him huld & sir geffrey of crancoumbe
Þo he it miȝte uor deol do he nom hom in is hond
& custe hom wiþ milde herte & ȝef hom al hor lond
Þo was þe bissop of winchestre & sir peris doriual
Remued þoru seint edmund out of þe court al
& to late þouȝte mani man uor god is wel to do
Maister roberd groce teste þulke ȝer w as also
Isacred bissop of lincolne of seint edmund at redinge
Seint edmund þo at canterburi spousede to vr kinge
Þe erles doȝter of prouence elianore to wiue
Tuelf hundred as in ȝer of grace & þretti & fiue
Sir henri of alimaine þe erles sone of cornwaile
Þulke ȝer ibore was al so wiþoute faile
Sir simond de mounfort of wan gret munde is
As in tuelf hundred ȝer of grace & seuene & þretti ywis
Elianore þe kinges soster willames loue þe marschal
Contesse of penbroc spousede god womman þoru out al

Henricus

Þe erl of gloucestre þulke ȝer Richard þat was so bold
Þe erles doȝter of lincolne spousede þat het mold
Þo com þe legat sir otes to engelond fram rome
& made a conseil at londone to wan þe bissopes come
& suþþe he wende to oxenford to þe abbeie of oseneye
& þere clerkes him made climbe somdel heye
As tuelf hundred in ȝer of grace & eiȝte & þritti þer to
To him hii wende to oseneie hor nedes uor to do
So þat on of is men a sein gregories day
Caste broþ up a clerc as þut folk it sai
Clerkes come þikke þo in gret wraþþe inowe
& asailede þe legat & on of is men slowe
In to þe stepel of oseneye þe legat fleu vor fere
Is men mid strokes flowe al so & of þouȝte hii come þere
Suþþe þo it com to pes & folie bileued was
Þe legat esste amendment of þe vil trespas
So þat vor þe manslaȝt & uor þe oþer wou
Þe clerkes finede wiþ him gret raunson inou
Þat ech clerc in þe toune him ȝef atten ende
As muche as he in þe wouke in is commune spende
Þe king sir simond de montfort þe erldom ȝef & his
A candelmasse day þo of leicestre iwis
In þe kinges chaumbre at wodestoke atte welle was
A clerc ifounde wonderliche þulke ȝer bi cas
He made him as bi wit so þat it was ifounde
Þat it was bi speke to sle þe king wan he sei stounde
To couentre he was isend todrawe he was þere
& a four half engelond is quarters isend were
Þe kinges eldoste sone sir edward ibore was
A seint botulfes tid as god ȝef þut cas
Tuelf hundred as in ȝer of grace & nine & þritti riȝt
Þat suþþe vr king was & so noble kniȝt
Sir Richard erl of cornwaile þulke ȝer wende al so
At missomer to þe holi lond & mani god kniȝt þer to
Þer after in Ieniuer Isabel is wif
Contesse of gloucestre let at bercamstude þat lif
Ibured heo was at beulu & ir herte ibured is
At teukesburi & ir gottes at messendene iwis
Þo sprong þer gret contek bituene henri vr king
& þe erchebissop seint edmund & noȝt vor lute þing

Henricus

Vor þe king þo he adde iwiued & an eir adde al so
He drou to oþer conseil þan he was iwoned to do
& of þe riȝtes of holichurche & of þe gode olde lawe
Þat he adde of is chartre ymad he him gan wiþ drawe
Seint edmond pitosliche wel ofte him bi souȝte
Þat he wiþdrowe of is dede & bet him bi þoȝte
Ac it was euer þe leng þe wors so þat atte laste
Seint edmond him huld stedeuast & amansede vaste
Alle þat holichurche in suich vnriȝt broȝte
& wende uorþ ouer se vort þe king him bet biþoȝte
& deide ar he come aȝe & ibured was ek þer
As in ȝer of grace tuelf hundred & fourti ȝer
Þo Richard erl of cornwaile to þe holi lond com
Þe soudan somdel uor fere Triwes wiþ him nom
& alle prisons & sarazins þat in heþenesse were
Inome & in prison ido he deliuerede him þere
At þe torment of wareine sir gilebert þe marschal
Defouled was þoru mesauntre & debrused al
& deide as tuelf hundred ȝer & fourti & on
Of grace & þo were dede þe four breþeren echon
As þe tueie willames & richard & gileberd atten ende
& god nolde non of hom eir of is bodi sende
Ac to four sostren & hor eirs þe eritage was þo
To deled & to gadere ne comþ neuer eft mo
Elianore of brutaine deide ek þulke ȝer
Þat was arþures soster þat king Ion let sle er
Suþþe was gileberd ibore þat richardes sone was
Of clare erl of gloucestre as god ȝef þut cas
As tuelf hundred in ȝer of grace & þre & fourti þer to
Þo was is fader verst of elde & out of warde ido
Erchebissop of canterburi imad was þulke ȝer
Boneface & þe erl of cornwaile of wan we speke er
Weddede dame ssenche þat vr quene soster was
& þe quene soster of france as god ȝef þut cas
& þe erles doȝter of prouince & ir moder þe contesse
Brouȝte hire hider in to þis lond & was her in gladnesse
Fouke basset was suþþe imad bissop of londone
& sein Richard of chichestre & edmond þe kinges sone
Ibore was amidde Ieneuer & in ȝer of grace iwis
Tuelf hundred & foure & fourti idon was al þis

Henricus

Suþþe deide þe olde quene biȝonde þe se wiþoute faile
Þat vr kinges moder henri was & þe erl of cornewaile
Hir sone bigan to rere þe abbeie of hailes
As in ȝer of grace tuelf hundred & six & fourti iwis
Þe erles sone of gloucestre beues was suþþe ibore
& newe peni chaunge imad & þe olde bileued biuore
& erþgrine strong inou aboute leinte al so
Tuelf hundred as in ȝer of grace & seuene & fourti þer to
Þe nexte ȝer þer after þe gode king lowis
Of france to þe holi lond wende & þoru paris
Bareuot eode & open heued & þen holi wey bigan
Wiþ procession of freres & of mani god man
& þe nexte ȝer suþþe as me telle can
Þe stronge cite of damiet vpe saracens he wan
As tuelf hundred in ȝer of grace & fourti & nine
Þulke gode lowis is nou seint & ileid in ssrine
Þe erles douȝter of gloucetre ibore was þulke ȝer
Margrete & dame ssenche of wan we speke er
Þe nexte ȝer þer after a seinte steuenes niȝt
As tuelf hundred & fifti in ȝer of grace riȝt
An sone adde ibore þat edmond ihote was
Þat spousede þulke margrete suþþe as god ȝef þat cas
& was erl of cofnwaile þulke ȝer al so
Þer was in þe holi lond strong bataile ido
At seinte marie tid in leinte & þe beste kniȝtes þat þer were
Of cristinmen alas aslawe were þere
As sir willam de longespey & þe erl of artois al so
& þe king lowis was inome & in prison ido
Vort he was out ibouȝt mid raunson of is lond
& damiet i ȝolde aȝen in to heþene manne hond
Þe king ȝef sir edward is sone gascoine suþþe al so
As in tuelf hundred ȝer of grace & fifti & tuo
Þulke ȝer was þut somer so druye & so hot
Þat ȝut to þis daye of none hattore me not
Sein Richard of chichestre & roberd iwis
Groce teste deide þe nexte ȝer after þis
Suþþe vr quene of engelond & ir sone sir edward
& þe bissop water of wircetre ȝarkede hom ouerward
& to makie mariage wende hom ouer se

Henri[cus]

& sir edward spousede ar hii come aȝe
Þe kinges soster of spaine elianore iwis
As in ȝer of grace ido was al þis
Tuelf hundred & four & fifti & þere þis noble king
Made sir edward kniȝt þo nobliche þoru alle þing
Þe nexte ȝer þer after giwes a child in drowe
At lincolne þat het hue & in þe rode him slowe
Þe erl Richard of cornwaile suþþe was imad king
Of alemayne & þer icrouned nobliche þoru ech þing
An holi þorsdai in alimaine & made so noble feste
Þat of alle þat me wuste it was þe richoste & þe meste
As tuelf hundred in ȝer of grace & seuene & fifti riȝt
Þulke ȝer he made sir henri is sone kniȝt
Bituene vr king & lowelin gret worre þer was þo
In walis & me dude in eiþer half gret wo
& gode kniȝtes of engelond of wan was gret pite
Aslawe were þer alas þe eue of þe trinite
As sir steuene bausein & sire patric de chaus also
& mani oþer god bodi was þere to deþe ido
Þe meste wo þat here vel bi king henries day
In þis lond icholle biginne to telle ȝuf ich may
He adde þre breþeren þat is moder sones were
& þe king of alimaine þe verþe þat to heie hom bere
Ac sir willam de valance & sir eimer þer to
Elit of wincetre & sir gui de lisewi al so
Þoru hom & þoru þe quene was so muche frenss folc ibrouȝt
Þat of englisse men me tolde as riȝt nouȝt
& þe king hom let hor wille þat ech was as king
& nome poueremenne god & ne paiede no þing
To eni of þis breþeren ȝuf þer pleinede eni wiȝt
Hii sede ȝuf we doþ ou wrong wo ssal ou do riȝt
As wo seiþ we beþ kinges ur wille we mowe do
& manie englisse alas hulde mid hom al so
So þat þoru godes grace þis erles atte laste
& þe bissop of þis lond & barons bispeke it vaste
Þat þe kunde englissemen of londe hii wolde out caste
& þut lond bringe adoun ȝuf hor poer ilaste
Þer of hii nome conseil & to þe king hii sende
To abbe pite of is lond & suiche maners amende

Henricus

So þat atte laste hii broȝte him þer to
To makie a porueance amendement to do
Imad it was at oxenford þut lond uor to seyte
Tuelf hundred as in ȝer of grace & fifti & eyȝte
Riȝt aboute missomer fourten niȝt it laste
Þe erles & þe barons were wel studeuaste
Vor to amendi þat lond as þe erl of gloucetre
Sir Richard & sir simond erl of leicetre
& sir Ion le fiz geffray & oþer barons inowe
So þat atte laste þe king her to hii drowe
To remue þe frensse men to libbe bi ȝonde se
Bi hor londes her & þer & ne come noȝt aȝe
& to graunti gode lawes & þe olde chartre al so
Þat so ofte was igraunted er & so ofte vndo
Her of was þe chartre imad & aceled vaste þere
Of þe king & of oþere heye men þat þer were
Þo nome tende taperes þe bissops in hor hond
& þe king him sulf & oþere heyemen of þe lond
Þe bissops amansede alle þat þer aȝen were
& euereft vndude þe lawes þat iloked were þere
Mid berninde taperes & suþþe atte laste
Þe king & oþere sede amen & hor taperes adoun caste
To confermi þe mansinge & þo þoute it stable ynou
Þer after ech as in pes toward is owe drou
& þe kinges þre breþeren & oþer frensse þere
Flowe & þoȝte al to longe þat hii in þis lond were
Þe newe churche was of salesburi ihalwed þulke ȝer
Þoru giles of brute post þat bissop was þo þer
A sein Misseles dai of þe erchebissop boneface þat was þo
Þer was boþe king & quene & heiemen mani mo
Þe quene ssenche deide suþþe of alemaine iwis
At bercamstede in nouembre & ibured was & is
In þe quer of hailes an hey in a vair place
Tuelf hundred & on & sixti as in ȝer of grace
Al þis time was sir edward biȝonde se aboute
& hauntede torneimens wiþ wel noble route
Wiþ gascoine þat was his & gode kniȝtes adde
As sir warin of bassingbourne þat him aboute ladde

Henric[us]

& sir hamond þe strange & sir gemes of audele
Sir roger of clifford & oþere uort he com aȝe
Þe quene was ek biȝonde se & þe kinges breþeren al so
& euere þoȝte hou hii miȝte þe purueance vndo
Hii porchasede þat þe pope asoilede iwis
Of þe oþ & of þe mansinge þe king & alle his
Þo was it þe kinges wille & is conseilers also
Al out ȝuf hii miȝte þe purueaunce vndo
It was euere þe quene þoȝt so muche so heo miȝte þenche
Mid conseil oþer mid sonde oþer mid wimman wrenche
& þo sir edward was iproued hardi kniȝt & god
Aȝe þe porueaunce al so he turnde al is mod
So þat þe erl of gloucetre Richard deide þo
Þo was þe baronie wel in þe more wo
Þe king gaderede is poer & sir edward al so
& þe king of alimaine his & mani oþer þerto
In þis manere þe barons bigonne hor vrning
A freinss kniȝt was at gloucetre þe sserreue þoru þe king
Sir maci de besile and constable also
Þe barons it bispeke þat it nas noȝt wel ido
Ac aȝe þe pourueance vor hii nolde frenss man non
An oþer sserreue hii made þoru commun conseil echon
A kniȝt of þe contreie sir willam traci
& of þulke poer clene pulte out sir maci
Ac sir willam ssire huld in a monenday
Sir maci com iarmed as mani man isay
Wiþ poer isend fram þe court iarmed wel inou
& euene as þe ssire sat to þe tounes ende him drou
Hii aliȝte wiþ drawe suerd wiþ macis manion
& wiþ mani an hard stroc rumede hor wey anon
Vort hii come vp to þe deis & þe sserreue vaste
Bi þe top hii hente anon & to þe grounde him caste
& harlede him vorþ villiche wiþ mani stroc among
In a foul plodde in þe stret suþþe me him slong
& orne on him mid hor hors & defoulede him vaste
& bihinde a squier suþþe villiche hii him caste
& to þe castel him ladde þoru out þe toun
Þat reuþe it was vor to se & caste him in prison
Þo þe tiþinge her of com to þe baronie
Hii þoȝte in time amendi suich vileinie

Henricus

So þat sir roger de clifford & sir Ion giffard nome
Gret poer in somer & to gloucetre come
Hii sende to sir maci þat he þun castel ȝolde
To hom & to þe baronie oþer hii him nime wolde
Sir maci hom sende aȝen þat þe king him tok biuore
Þun castel him to loki mid trewe oþ isuore
Ne þat he nolde traitour be ne þen castel neuere ȝelde
Bote þe king oþer is sone þe wule he him miȝte welde
He adde wiþinne lute folk þun castel to defende
Arblastes sone & ginnes wiþoute me bende
& ssote inward vaste inou atte laste hii sende
Al þe brutaske wiþoute & þe brugge brende
Vor he was al of tre & sir maci & his
Flowe in to þe tour an hey þo hii seye þis
& defendede hom vaste þe wule hii miȝte iwis
Ac vor defaute of helpe mani man issend is
Wiþ an quarel on wiþinne an squier þer oute slou
Sir Ion giffard uor is deþ made deol inou
& þo sir maci was inome & hii wiþinne come
An carpenter þat hii sede þat sset þe ssute hii nome
& ladde him vpe þe tour an hei & made him huppe to grounde
He hupte & debrusede & deide in an stounde
& sir Roger of clifford þo þe castel in warde hadde
& hii nome sir maci & in to marc him ladde
& sir Ion giffard nom to him is quic eiȝte echon
& al þat he fond of is & nameliche at sserston
A freinss bissop þer was at hereforde þo
Sir peris de egeblaunche þat hii dude al so wo
Hii come vor to nime him Iarmed manion
Þe godeman vor drede to churche wende anon
& reuestede him bi þe auter ac sir roger ne sir Ion
Vor honour of holichurche nolde wiþinne gon
Ac sir tomas torbeuille & oþer ssrewen mo
Wende vp & wiþ strengþe made him out go
Þo he sei þat he ne moste habbe churche peis
Par crist he sede sir tomas tu es Maveis
Meint ben te ay fet vor he adde muche god
Þer biuore him ido & he it vuele vnderstod
Hii harlede him out of churche þat lute pite adde
& is god nome vaste inou & to erdesleye him ladde

Henricus

& him & sir maci ek in god warde dude þere
In þe castel of erdesleye uor te it betere were
So it ferde oueral ware me freinsse fond
Me harlede hom villiche aboute in to al þe lond
& þe kinges men robbede hom þat aȝen hom were
& þe barons ek hor fon þat aȝen hom armes bere
Atte biginninge þer hulde wiþ þe king vewe wel
Bote sir Robert walrond & sir Ion Mauncel
Ac suþþe þo sir edward so wel armes ber
He drou to him manion þat wiþ þe barons were er
Þe marcheis he adde sone as sir Roger þe Mortimer
& sir warin of bassingbourne & of clifford sir Roger
Sir gemes de audele sir haumond þe strange al so
Sir roger of leibourne & mani oþer þer to
Þo was þe castel of gloucetre & þe toun al so
Þoru sir roger of clifford in þe kinges hond ido
& he astorede þe castel wiþ poer inou
& to is castel of brumesfeld sir Ion giffard vaste drou
& astorede him wel inou & goinde adde is route
To driue & to gaderi þuder god of neiȝebores aboute
Þe stalwardeste men þat me fond to him vaste he drou
& of porchas of neiȝebores ssipede hom wel inou
Bituene þe castel of gloucetre & brumefeld al so
Þer was ofte biker gret & muche harm ido
Ac þe constable of gloucetre as mid þe kinges poer
Held ofte in þe kinges name courtes ver & ner
So þat at quedesle wiþoute þe toun to mile
He let someni an hundred & þer he hente an gile
Vor as he huld þis hundred mid gret folk & onour
& Adam of arderne was is chef countour
Hii clupede sir Ion giffard þat siwte ssolde þer to
To come oþer he ssolde in þe merci be ido
He com bi asoyne vor is men inowe
Come out of brumsfeld & Iarmed to hom drowe
& asoynede hor louerd & to grounde slowe
Glad he was þat miȝte fle ar þat suerd is nekk gnowe
Manie flowe to churche & þe constable vnneþe
At arnde aliue & manie were ibroȝt to deþe
Þis luþer bailifs þat poueremen so gret wo doþ ilome
Suich giffardes asoyne icholde hom ofte come

Henricus

Wel a ȝer & an half þus it ferde aboute
Þat ech heiman dude is fon ssame mid is route
Atte laste þo winter towarde ende drou
At candelmasse ech of hom gret ost nom inou
& sir roger of clifford gloucetre wuste al so
& at ech ȝat of þe toun god warde let do
Sir Ion giffard com aday & sir Ion de balun þere
Ride vpe tueye wolpakces chapmen as hii were
To þe west ȝate ouer þe brugge & þe porters bede
To late in tueie wolmongers hor chaffare in to lede
Biweued hii were boþe mid welsse mantles tueie
Þo þe ȝates were vndo hii hupte adoun beye
Of hor hors & caste hor mantles awei anon
& þo stode hii Iarmed fram heued to þe ton
Þo were þe porters agrise sore of þulke siȝte
& caste hom þe keyen vawe þat hii miȝte
Poer þer was inou atte brugge ende
Þo þe ȝates were vndo hii gonne þuder wende
Sir simondes sone de monfort sir henri þe hende
& mani god bodi ek as god þuder sende
Þo þe barons adde þe toun & þe castel þe king
Þer was ofte bituene hom gret bikering
Sir edward was bi este þo mid poer gret inou
Sone toward leinte toward þe march he drou
Is wei he nom bi oxenford ac þe borgeis anon
Þe ȝates made aȝen him of þe toune echon
He wende & lai wiþoute toun atte kinges halle
& wende vorþ amorwe mid is men alle
Þe ȝates þo he was iwend were alle vp ibroȝt
Sone bote smiþe gate ac þat nas vndo nouȝt
Þe clerkes adde þer þoru muche solas ilore
To pleye toward beumound anuid hii were þeruore
Þe bailif hii bede ofte to graunti hor solas
To pleie & vndo þut ȝat ac vor noȝt it was
So þat an vewe wilde hinen a liȝt red þer of nome
& a dai after mete wiþ axes þuder come
& þat ȝat to hewe & to dasse þere
& suþþe þoru beumond to hare welle it bere
& subuenite sancti vaste gonne singe
As me deþ wan a ded man me wole to putte bringe
Willam þe spicer & geffray of hencsei þat þo were
Portreuen & nicole of kingestone þat was mere
Nome of þis clerkes & in prison caste
& nolde hom nouȝt deliueri ȝut þe chaunceler bed vaste
Þe clerkes were þo wroþe þe burgeis were þo bolde
& þretnede to nime mo & of hor wraþþe lute tolde
Þe verste þorsdai in lente þe burgeis were wel fers
& þe wule men were atte mete arerde tueie baners
& wende hom vorþ iarmed mid al hor poer þere
To defouli alle þe clerkes ar hii iwar were
As hii come aȝen alle halwen mid poer so strong
At seinte marie churche a clerc þe commun belle rong
Þis clerkes vp fram hor mete & to godes grace truste
& seie þat hii were issend bote hii þe bet hom wuste
Hii mette wiþ þis burgeis & bigonne to ssete vaste
I wounded þer was manion ac þe borgeis atte laste
Hii bigonne to fle vaste hom þoȝte longe er
So þat þe clerkes adde þe stretes sone iler
Þe bowiares ssoppe hii breke & þe bowes nome echon
Suþþe þe portereues house hii sette afure anon
In þe souþhalf of þe toune & suþþe þe spicerie
Hii breke fram ende to oþer & dude al to robberie
Vor þe mer was viniter hii breke þe viniterie
& alle oþere in þe toun & þat was lute maistrie
Hii caste awei þe dosils þat win orn abrod so
Þat it was pite gret of so muche harm ido
Þeruore þo þe king com & wuste suich trespas
Alle þe clerkes out of þe toun he drof vor þut cas
Ne vort after misselmasse hii ne come namore þer
Telle we nou of sir edward of wan we bigonne er
Sir edward toward lente toward þe march gan wende
So þat an axwednesdai al bi þe weste ende
To gloucetre he wende mid gret poer inou
& al ouer þe brugge to þe west ȝate he drou
& asailede þen toun ac þe barons wiþinne
Defendede hom so wel þat he ne miȝte hom winne
So þat of þe castel wiþinne com a route
Toward þe ȝat to helpe sir edward wiþoute
Ac grimbaud pauntefot aȝen hom sone com
& mid poer hom turnde aȝen & some of hom nom
Sir edward turnde in to þe med þo he ne sei oþer cas
& a ssip of teuskesburi þat þe abbodes was

Henricus

Bi seuerne wende þer sone he it nom
& þerinne bi þe water in to þe castel com
Anon so he was wiþinne vpe þe tour an hey
He arerde is baner þat me wide isey
Þo þe baruns þat isei sori hii were echon
In þe toun half þun castel hii asailede anon
& hii wiþinne casten out mid hor ginnes vaste
So þat bituene hom þe biker longe ilaste
Sir Ion giffard fram brumesfeld þuder sone com
To þe castel med wiþoute toun þun wei sone he nom
& þe castel brugge out of þe med he barnde fram þen ende
To þe tubrugge along vor me ne ssolde out wende
Mani was þe vair biker & þe vair asaut al so
Þat bituene þe castel & þe toun ofte was ido
Sir edward & is poer ofte were wiþinne
Vpe þe point to smiten out bataile to biginne
Ac þe bissop water of wurcetre ofte bituene wende
& þe abbod reinaud of gloucetere as god hom grace sende
& destourbede þe bataile ac non acord þer nas
Ac biker & slaȝt & ssetinge bituene hom ofte was
So þat sir edward aday & is men hom lete arme
To wende out & bataile do al mest to grete harme
Þo seie hii out of þe tour þe erl roberd of ferers
Atte tounes ende come wiþ noble men & fers
As framward teuskesburi iarmed wel echon
Hors & men al preste bataile to do anon
Þo sir edward þis isey no þing nas he glad
Vor me sede þat he nas of noman so sore adrad
Vn iarmed out he wende to þe barons wel stille
& anon made acord & graunted al hor wille
& made fourme god inou & suor is wel to holde
Þo hii adde al hor wil þe barons were wel bolde
Þe erl roberd of ferers þo he þuder com
He was nei uor wraþþe wod þat me eni acord nom
He smot stede wiþ þe spore & al is compainie
& wende him vor wraþþe aȝen so quic so he miȝte hie
Ech bar him ek amorwe out of toune drou
& of þe fourme þat hii made wende be siker inou
Þo sir edward & is folc were al maistres þer
Vor þe burgeis of þe toun lete in baruns er
He let crie in to al þe toun þat bourgeis þat wolde
In þe castel come to is peis god pais habbe he ssolde
Gladdore nere þe borgeis neuere in hore liue
Þan vor þis gode word hii hiede þuder bliue
Þo hii were alle icome þe ȝates me made vaste
& brouȝte hom biuore sir edward þo were hii sore agaste
Me acoupede hom harde inou & suþþe attelaste
As þeues & traitours in strong prison me hom caste
Wiþoute mete & drinke þere hii laie longe
In sorwe & care & lokede wan hii were anhonge
Sir roger of clifford þe porters vaste nom
Þat porters were atte ȝate þo Ion giffard in com
As hobekin of lodelowe & is felawes al so
& let hom vpe þe west ȝate anhonge boþe to
Euere lokede þis burgeis wan hii were vorþ idriue
Prestles hom was wel wo þat hii nere issriue
Roberd of caumpedene þat hosebonde was on
Vor he was a lute clerc he ssrof hom echon
Atte laste sir edward of hom gret raunsoun
Nom & let hom go aliue & destruede al þen toun
Ac þe fourme þat he made aȝe þe barons biuore
He bileuede al clene þei þe oþ were isuore
To oxenford he wende vorþ as is fader was þo
& is men bi þe weye dude wel muche wo
Þe king sone in leinte to oxenforde com
& is in wiþ is folc atte frere prechors nom
Aboute an þre wouke þere he gan abide
Vor to gaderi is ost þat isprad was wide
Suþþe seinte freþeswiþe was me nuste king non
Þat wiþinne þe ȝates of oxenford dorste ride ne gon
Þe king was among þe freres & hii manion
Radde him vor to wenden in & nameliche frer Ion
Of balsam & þat he miȝte þoru godes grace hii sede
In wiþ god deuocion go wiþoute drede
Þe king hadde þer to g[o]de wille þoru frerene rede
& hii massen & orisons uaste uor him bede
So þat vastinde a day a uote he dude þis dede
& in eiþer half to sikeri him freres him gonne lede

Henricus

& he wende to seinte freþeswiþe as no king ne com er
Suþþe seinte friþeswiþe was vale hundred ȝer
& wel vaire is offringe to þe heye weued ber
& suþþe ofte wan he þuder com he offrede þer
So he bileuede in oxenford & is conseil nom
Vort is sone & is folc mid poer to him com
Þo is poer ȝare was wiþinne þe passion
Wiþ is ost he wende uorþ & arerde is dragon
Is ost was gret & suiþe long he wende to norþ-hamtone
& wiþ strengþe nom þe toun & somdel wiþ treson
Aboute seint ambrose day ido was al þis
Tuelf hundred in ȝer of grace & foure & sixti iwis
Sir simond þe ȝonge mountford þere hii nome þo
& sir osebern giffard & oþere manimo
In strong prison sir simon hii dude at windelsore
Vort þe bataile of lewes ac suþþe no leng more
Þo wende þe baruns uorþ & oþere manion
& barnde court & oþer ech man vpe is fon
Sir Ion giffard mid is route nas noȝt þo þe laste
Vor he barnde aboute oxenford þe ester wouke vaste
Curt lincolne & berkele & oþer courtes also
Were aboute in þe lond þo afure ido
Þe king so sone in mai estward euere drou
As toward þe hauenes wiþ gret poer inou
Sir simond de mountfort & sire gilebard
Þe ȝonge erl of gloucetre come euere afterward
& barons ek manion as sir Ion giffard
& mani god bodi þat ne com neuereft aȝenward
At lewes þe king bigan mid is poer abide
Þe barons astunte wiþoute toun biside
& vaire sende in to þe toun to þe king hor sonde
Þat he ssolde vor godes loue him bet vnderstonde
& graunti hom þe gode lawes & habbe pite of is lond
& hii him wolde serui wel to vote & to hond
Þe king hom sende word aȝen wiþoute gretinge þis
Þat he ne kepte noþing of hor seruise iwis
& þat out of loue & treuþe he dude hom echon
& þat he wolde hom seche out as is pur fon
Þe barons ne couþe oþer red þo hii hurde þis
Bote bidde godes grace & bataile abide iwis

Henricus

Hii wende & auisede hom somdel vp an doun
Þat hii miȝte be war of hor fon & ise to toun
Some radde þat hii ssolde wende in at on hepe
To habbe inome hom vn armed & some abedde aslepe
Þe godemen sede þat hii nolde suich vileinie do non
Ac abide vort hii come Iarmed out echon
Hii houede vnder boskes & newe kniȝtes made
& armede & atired hom & hor bedes ȝerne bade
Sir simon de mountford conseilede hom vaste
Hou hii ssolde hom conteini þe wule þe bataile ilaste
Þo com þe ost smite out vaste out of þe toune
Mani was þe gode bodi þat þer was ibroȝt þer doune
Vor þe londreis þer biuore a gret despit wroȝte
To þe quene at londone sir edward þer on þouȝte
& vor to awreke is moder to hom vaste he drou
& brouȝte hom to grounde & some of hom al fleinde he slou
Þo he adde þis loundreis al ibroȝt to grounde
Wiþ gret Ioye he turnde aȝen ac lute ioye he founde
Vor þe barons were aboue & his alf ouercome
Þe king of alemaine was in a windmulle inome
Vor a ȝong kniȝt him nom kniȝt ymad þo riȝt
Sir Ion de befs icluped þat was suiþe god kniȝt
Þat muche prowesse dude adai & þe king him ȝeld in doute
To þe erl of gloucetre as to þe hexte of þe route
& to þe frere menors in to toun sir edward fleu vaste
& þere as he nede moste ȝeld him atte laste
Manion stilleliche hor armes awei caste
& chaungede hom vor herigaus somdel hii were agaste
& manie flowe in to þe water & some toward þe see
& manie passede ouer & ne come neuere aȝe
Aboute a four þousend & fif hundred me sede
Atte bataile were aslawe þat was a pitos dede
Sir philip basset þe gode kniȝt worst was to ouercome
He hadde mo þan tuenti wounde ar he were inome
Sir simond de mountfort þo ido was al þis
Vorþ mid him þe king huld as in warde iwis
& þe king of alemaine & sir edward al so
In þe castel of walingford in warde he let do

Henricus

& oþer men þat were inome he let bringe aboute
In oþer castels vaste inou þat þer nas no doute
Tokninge ȝut of more wo þat ȝut to comene was
Vr louerd sende in siȝte bi a wonder cas
Vor a sterre wiþ a launce þat comete icluped is
Aros þo aȝe dai biuore þe sonne iwis
Fram seinte margarete tid vort misselmasse nei
Þat ech man miȝte wondri þat þe sterre isei
Þer wende of him a lem þat toward þe norþ drou
Euene as it were a launce red & cler inou
Þulke sterre is selde iseie bote it be to tokninge
& suþþe þer after com muche blod ssedinge
Hii þat hulde mid þe king & nere nouȝt inome
Wende aboute her & þer as hii miȝte best bicome
In þe castel of bristowe hii come atte laste
Wel an seuene baners & hulde hom þere vaste & sir warin al so
Of bassingbourne & sir Ion de muchegros þer to
Sir pain de chaus & sir roberd tipetot iwis
& oþer mo & hor wiues þat ne likede noþing þis
As to wite hor bodies vort hii betere iseie
Hii hulde hom þere defensables to libbe oþer to deie
So þat þe quene aspide þat bote feble warde it nas
In þe castel of walingford þat aboute hir sone was
To bristowe he sende word þat þe kniȝtes miȝte wel
Wiþ lute strengþe winne him out of þulke castel
So þat þis kniȝtes to rede hom nome
& mid an þre hundred hors to walingford hii come
In a fridai iarmed riȝt as þe sonne aros
Þe castel hii asailede þat mani man agros
Aȝen alle halwe churche þe verste dich hii nome
& brake þe otemoste wal & wiþinne come
Hii þat wiþinne were þe castel wuste vaste
Mid arblast and mid oþer ginnes vaste aȝen hom caste
& sede to hom wiþoute bote hii wolde aȝen wende
Þat hii wolde sir edward vawe out to hom sende
Iliþered wiþ a mangenel hom wiþ hom to lede
Sir edward vpe wal wiþinne com al so & sede

Henricus

& bed hom wende hom aȝe oþer he was ded iwis
Þis oþer wende þus hom þo hii hurde þis
Þo sir simon de mountfort hurde of þis dede
He let þe king of alemaine & sir edward lede
& sir henri þe kinges sone of alemaine al so
To þe castel of keningeswurþe in betere warde to do
& þe kinges soster þe contasse sir simondes wif was
Þer mid hom & wat he miȝte dude hom of solas
Sir simon de mountfort in castles adde ido
Maistres of biȝonde se & vpe is londes al so
As in þe castel of walingford of douere of windelsore
Wardeins he made of frensse men þat of þoȝte þut lond sore
Þe erl of gloucetre it bi spek so þat þere was
A parlement at londone to amendi suich trespas
So þat þis tueie erles acorded were þere
Þat iremewed al clene þe frenssemen were
At seint hillari tid þis parlement was
Þer was þe erl of ferers ibrouȝt in hard cas
Vor he hadde after þe pais robberie iwroȝt
Þe king wolde in ech manere þat he were to deþe ibroȝt
Sir simon de mountford wisliche dude inou
Vor he wolde in eiþer half riȝt do & no wou
In þe tour of londone in prisoun he let him bringe
Vor to saui is lif & to paye þe kinge
Þo was þe erl of gloucetre anuid uor mani dede
Þat he huld so prisons al wiþoute is rede
Vor suich man as he was me tolde of him to lute
& him þouȝte þat þer was mid sir simon to gret prute
& me sede he was adrad þat me him nome al so
Wiþ treson vor he was hext & in prison him lete do
Sir Ion giffard þo verst aȝe sir simond turnde
Vor he askede prisouns þat me mid riȝte wurnde
Vor he was him sulf at lewes sone inome bi cas
Ac sir willam matrauers a kniȝt þat mid him was
In þe bataile suþþe inome sir reinaud le fiȝ peris
& sir alein de la souche þat barons were iwis
Ac he let hom suþþe go & sir reinaud was þer
In þe bataile suþþe inome Iarmed as he was er

Henricus

Sir alein was ek inome in monekene wede
In þe priorie suþþe arst he was in drede
& vor sir willam mautrauers hom let so quit gon
Sir simond nolde nouȝt deliueri hom sir Ion
To þe forest of dene sir Ion wende þo
& turnde aȝe sir simond & procurede oþer mo
Lewelin prince of walis robbede mid is route
Þe erles lond of gloucetre in walis aboute
Þo wende þe erl fram londone priueliche & stille
As to socori is lond aȝe sir simondes wille
In þe forest of dene to gadere sone hii come
He & sire Ion giffard & stable conseil nome
To holde aȝe sir simond stabliche hii were at on
& boreforde & beghwurþe þe erl ȝef sir Ion
Wiþ him to holde stabliche aȝe sir simon in ech cas
Sir roger ek de mortimer in is owe londe was
In þe contreie of wigemor & wuste him vaste þere
Prest wan he seie time baner vor to arere
Seue baners also þat aȝe sir simond were
In þe castel of bristowe hulde hom vaste þere
As sir warin of bassingbourne man of gret los
& sir roberd tipetot sir Ion de mussegros
& sir pain de chawurþe & sir patric is broþer
& þe oþer banerets & kniȝtes mani oþer
Þe king sende ofte is lettres þat hii deliueri ssolde
Þe castel vp sir simond & naþeles hii nolde
Atte laste sir edward is lettres hom sende
To ȝelde vp þe castel & þat hii þanne wende
Þo was among hom deol inou vor hii ne dorste leng abide
Hii ȝolde vp þe castel & wende ech in is side
A certein day hom was iset of londe vor to fle
& sir roger ek de mortimer deserited vor to be
Sir simon de Mountfort out of warde nom
Sir edward him to solaci þat to lute þonc him com
He bitok him sir henri is sone to be is compainoun
Wiþ him to wende aboute to sywe him vp & doun
So þat after estre þe king & sir simoun
Wende hom toward þe march to bringe hor fon adoun

Henricus

& sir edward & sir henri & sir vmfray de boun
To gloucetre hii wende to enfermi þen toun
Þer hii bigonne mid hor ost fourten niȝt abide
Þe erl of gloucetre was in þe forest biside
& sir Ion giffard al so vpe an hei hul lai
Þat me clupeþ erdlond boþe niȝt & dai
Gret fur he made þer aniȝt of wode & of sprai
& tresche ladde þer aboute þat me wide sai
& in to gloucetre al so þat is fon iseie
Ware hii ssolde him finde vpe þulke hul heie
Bi tuene þe erl of gloucetre heiemen ofte wende
& sir simon de Mountford hor herte vor to amende
So þat hii were acorded þe tuelfte dai of mai
Þei it were lute wurþ as in a tywesday
To stonde atte lokinge of þe bissop water
Of wircetre & al so of sir hue þe spencer
Of sir willam de Mounchalsi of sir Ion le fiȝ Ion
Vpe þe lokinge of þes foure to bringe hom aton
Þo wende sir simon be siker & toward þe march wende
Ac vnneþe he of scapede þat is fon him ne ssende
Þat þe erl of gloucetre mid is poer him ne nom
& naþeles þoru godes grace to hereforde he com
Þere he bileuede mid is ost betere cas to abide
Þe erl of gloucetere was þe wule in mani wilde side
Wan me wende he were fer ofte he was ner
& sir Ion giffard mid him & sir Roger de mortimer
Vuele hii were alle þre vorto finde ilome
& messagers bituene hom & sir edward ofte come
So þat þer was bituene hom god fourme inome
Hou sir edward miȝte best out of warde come
Sir simond de montfort wisman þei he were
Het þat me sir edward gret reuerence bere
Vor to pleie vp & doun as in compainie
So þat þer was a gile yspeke as þoru god aspie
Sir edward bed sir simon þat he him ȝeue
To a prikie stedes wiþoute toun leue
Leue him was igraunted god wot to wuch ende
So þat sir edward wiþoute toun gan wende

Henricus

An stede he gan aprikie wel vor þe maistrie
& wiþ him adde of kniȝtes a vair compainie
& suþþe he nom an oþer & weri hom made anon
& suþþe he nom þe þridde best of echon
As it was er bispeke to wuch he ssolde truste
He prikede it verst softe as him lute luste
Þo he was a lute fram þut folk wiþ spore he smot to grounde
Þe sides orne ablode in a lute stounde
Þere as of stedes a god & quic me fond
Vorþ wende þis gode kniȝt þo he was out of hond
Louerdinges he sede habbeþ nou god dai
& greteþ wel mi fader þe king & icholle ȝuf ich mai
Ise him wel bitime & out of warde him do
Wat halt it long tale he ofscapede so
& to þe castel of wigemor þun wei sone he nom
Þere was ioye & bl[i]sse inou þo he þuder com
Mid þe leuedi of þe castel dam maud de mortimer
Sone þut word was isend to ir louerd sir Roger
To þe erl ek of gloucetre þe lettres sone come
So þat priue parlement bituene hom hii nome
Hou þat hii best miȝte sir simond to grounde bringe
To þe barons deserites me sende ek tiþinge
So þat ech in is half gadere ost vaste
& to sir edward come in þe march attelaste
So þat sir edward & þe erl of gloucetre
& oþer poer inou come to wurcetre
& fram þanene hii wende & hor worre bigonne
At gloucetre & þun toun vpe sir simond wonne
An þre wouke biuore missomer þuder hii gonne wende
& asailede þun toun al in þe norþ ende
At seint oswaldes ȝat & hii wiþinne vaste
Defendede hom wel inou þe wule hor poer ilaste
[A]c bituene seint oswaldes ȝat & þe norþ ȝat iwis
Is a long wal inou as þe abbodes orchard is
& wiþinne þe orchard nas no folk þun toun to defende
Þeruore in þe asaut some wiþoute wende
& breke a pece of þe wal ar me were wiþinne iwar
Sir Ion giffard þe verste was þat in wende þar
Þo smite hii alle in & broȝte manion to deþe
Þe wardeins of þe castel of scapede in vnneþe
As grimbaud pauncefot & is felawes echon
Þe tu brugge hii drowe vp & þe ȝates made anon
Sir edward & is poer wiþoute sette vaste
Stronge ginnes & þer wiþ to þe castel caste
& þe oþer hom defendede & lutel were agaste
Þat aboute an þre wouke þe asaut bituene hom ilaste
& euere hii wiþinne abide of sir simon socour
Vor elles hii moste nede þe castel ȝelde & tour
& þo þat hom non ne com þe castel vp hii ȝolde
To sir edward in a fourme þat hii bere ne ssolde
Vourti dawes aȝen him armes in no place
& sir edward hom ȝef lif & lime & ȝut more grace
Hor armes & al hor oþer þing & hor hors echon
Þo turnde grimbaud pauncefot to sir edward anon
& was imad kniȝt & armes aȝe sir simond ber
Ac þer nas neuereft of him so god word as was er
Þo sir edward & þe erl gileberd hor wille hade also
Hii wende in toward þe march more harm to do
Bruggen hii breke oueral hii ne bileuede ssip non
Bi weye ne bi seuerne þat hii ne remuede echon
Þer boute vor sir simond ne ssolde passe þere
Ne nameliche toward bristowe vor þer of was hor fere
Vor bristowe was al in is hond castel & þe toun
Sir simond þouȝte anoþer red & dradde of tresoun
To þe prince of walis lewelin þat was
He wende after more help in is harde cas
& he tok him of fot men gret poer iwis
Ac þerof come wel vewe aȝen to walis
Sir simondes sone de montfort þat sir simond het al so
Bisegede þo an castel as he longe adde ido
Þe castel of peuneseye & is fader him word sende
Þat he bileuede þulke sege & toward him wende
Sir simond þe ȝonge þis heste vnderstod
He gaderede him of god folc vair ost & god
& þen wey fram peuneseie toward is fader he nom
A sein kenelmes eue to winchestre he com

Henricus

Þut folc þat was in þe toun þe ȝates made vaste
& wuste þe toun aȝen him þe biker longe ilaste
So þat mid strengþe sir simon þen toun nom
& robbede & slou vaste þo he wiþinne com
Alle þe gywes of þe toun he let sle echon
Þat me in eni stede fond he ne leuede aliue non
Ac after þulke time of wat him was to done
Lute god cas him biuel as messal ihure sone
Fram þenne he wende to oxenford þre dawes he was þere
Vairore folc ne miȝte be þan wiþ him was þere
Þe gywes he let seche uor to quelle echon
Ac me ne miȝte vor no þing in þe toune finde on
Fram þanene to keningwurþe wiþ is ost he wende
& þere as it fel alas is heie herte him ssende
Vor so muche he tolde of him sulf & of is grete miȝte
Þat him ne deinede noȝt to ligge in þe castel bi niȝte
Sir edward & is ost at wircetre þo were
Hii adde gode aspies hou hii hom þo bere
So þat sir edward & þe erl of gloucetre al so
& sir roger de mortimer & mani god kniȝt þerto
In a lammasse niȝt saterniȝt þat was
Out of wurcetre he wende mid wel god pas
To keningwurþe hii come in þe dawiinge
Hii broȝte sir simon & is men an feble tiþinge
In hor bed hii founde hom in toune þo hii come
Of softe awakiinge hii toke lute gome
Vor to wel cloþi hom hii ne ȝeue hom no tome
Manie hii slowe of hor fon & heie men some hii nome
As sir roberd erl of oxenford & sir willam þer to
De mountchalsi & sir adam de neumarch al so
& sir water de coleuile & oþer manion
Ac sir simond him sulf among alle is fon
In to þe castel of scapede an naked man vnneþe
Ac manion þer was inome & mani ibroȝt to deþe
& þus sir simond þe ȝonge was verst to grounde ibrouȝt
Ac naþeles he ne les þo al is poer nouȝt
Ac gret ost huld inou & ȝarkede in ech ende
Him & al is poer aȝen is fader to wende

Henricus

Þo was sir simond is fader at hereforde iwis
Mid mani god man of engelond & al so of walis
He wende him out of hereford mid vair ost inou
& toward keningwurþe aȝen is sone he drou
& was hor beire porpos to biclosi hor fon
As wo seiþ in eiþer half & to ssende hom echon
So þat sir simon þe olde com þe monendai iwis
To a toun biside wircetre þat kemeseie ihote is
Þe tiwesday to euesham he wende þe morweninge
& þere he let him & is folc prestes massen singe
& þoȝte to wende norþward is sone vor to mete
Ac þe king nolde a vot bote he dinede oþer ete
& sir simon þe ȝonge & is ost at alcestre were
& nolde þanne wende a vot ar hii dinede þere
Þulke to diners deluol were alas
Vor mani was þe gode bodi þat þer þoru islawe was
Sir edward & is poer sone come þo ride
To þe norþhalf of þe toun bataile uor to abide
Þo sir simon it iwuste & hii þat wiþ him were
Sone hii lete hom armi & hor baners arere
Þe bissop water of wurcetre asoiled hom alle þere
& prechede hom þat hii adde of deþ þe lasse fere
Þen wei euene to hor fon a godes half hii nome
& wende þat sir simo[nd] þe ȝonge aȝen hom c[ome]
Þo hii come in to þe feld & sir simond isei
Sir edwardes ost & oþere al so nei
He avisede þe ost suiþe wel & þoru godes grace
He hopede winne a day þe maistrie of þe place
Þo sei he þer biside as he bihuld aboute
Þe erles baner of gloucetre & him mid al is route
As him vor to close in þe oþer half ywis
Ouȝ he sede redi folk & wel iwar is þis
& more conne of bataile þan hii couþe biuore
Vr soules he sede abbe god vor vr bodies beþ hore
Sir henri he sede to is sone þis haþ imad þi prute
Were þi broþer icome hope we miȝte ȝute
Hii bitoke lif & soule to godes grace echon
& in to bataile smite vaste among hor fon
& as gode kniȝtes to grounde slowe anon
Þat hor fon flowe sone þicke manion
Sir warin of bassingbourne þo he þis isei
Biuore he gan prikie & to grede an hei
Aȝen traitors aȝen & habbeþ in ower þoȝt
Hou villiche at lewes ȝe were to grounde ibroȝt
Turneþ aȝen & þencheþ þat þut power al oure is
& we ssolle as vor noȝt ouercome vr fon iwis
Þo was þe bataile strong in eiþer side alas
Ac atten ende was bineþe þulke þat feblore was
& sir simond was aslawe & is folk al to grounde
More murþre ȝare nas in so lute stounde
Vor þere was werst simond de mountfort aslawe alas
& sir henri is sone þat so gentil kniȝt was
& sir hue þe despencer þe noble iustise
& sir peris de mountfort þat stronge were & wise
Sir willam de verous & sir Rauf basset also
Sir [John] de sein ion sir Ion diue þerto
Sir [William] trossel sir gileberd of eisnesfelde
& mani god bodi were aslawe þere in þulke felde
& among alle oþere mest reuþe it was ido
Þat sir simon þe olde man de membred was so
Vor sir willam mautrauers þonk nabbe he non
Carf him of fet & honde & is limes manion
& þat mest pite was hii ne bileuede nouȝt þis
Þat is priue membres hii ne corue of iwis
& is heued hii smiten of & to wigemor it sende
To dam Maud þe mortimer þat wel foule it ssende
& of al þat me him bilimede hii ne bledde noȝt me sede
& þe harde here was is lich þe nexte wede
Suich was þe morþre of einesham uor bataile non it nas
& þerwiþ Iesu crist wel vuele ipaied was
As he ssewede bi tokninge grisliche & gode
As it vel of him sulue þo he deide on þe rode
Þat þoru al þe middelerd derkhede þer was inou
Al so þe wule þe godemen at euesham me slou
As in þe norþwest a derk weder þer aros
So demliche suart inou þat mani man agros
& ouer caste it þoȝte al þut lond þat me miȝte vnneþe ise
Grisloker weder þan it was ne miȝte anerþe be

Henricus

An vewe dropes of reine þer velle grete inou
Þis tokninge vel in þis lond þo me þis men slou
Vor þretti mile þanne þis isei roberd
Þat verst þis boc made & was wel sore aferd
Louerdinges þer were inome at euesham manion
As sir vnfrai de boun sir Ion le fiz Ion
& simondes sone de mountfort sir gwy
Sir baudewine de wake sir Ion de vescy
Sir henri de hastinges & sir Nicole iwis
De segraue was þere inome & al so sir peris
& sir roberd þat sir peris de mountfort sones were
Þuse & wel mo were inome in þulke morþre þere
Ac þe welsse fot men þat þer were manion
At þe biginninge of þe bataile bigonne to fle echon
& come þoru teuskesburi & þere men of þe toune
Slowe hom al to grounde þat þere hii leie þer doune
So þicke bi strete þat reuþe it was to se
& grace nadde non of hom to fiȝte ne to fle
Þo þe bataile was ido & þe godemen aslawe were
Sir simond þe ȝonge com to mete is fader þere
He miȝte þo at is diner abbe bileued al so wel
As me seiþ wan ich am ded make me a caudel
& þo me tolde him bi þe wei wuch þe ende was þer
He turnde aȝen to keningwurþe wel longe him þouȝte e[r]
He miȝte segge wan he com lute ich abbe iwonne
Ich mai honge vp min ax febliche ich abbe agonne
Þe king of alemaine þat was is moder broþer
& sir reinaud le fiz peris & ek mani anoþer
Þat in is prison were at kenigwurþe þo
Þo he ne sei oþer red he let hom quit go
Þe sixte day of septembre þat þo was sonenday
He let hom go a godes half þo he oþer ne say
Þe king þoȝte þe loundreis bringe al to nouȝte
& hii ofte pitosliche is grace bisouȝte
So þat at misselmasse an fourti of hom come
To him to windelsore & to is grace hom nome
As vor al þe toune þe beste ichose echon
Þe king hom let bringe in strong prison anon

Henricus

Hii ȝolde þe king vp þo þe keien of þe toune
So þat þe toun was þo al clene ibroȝt þer doune
At þe feste of seint edward þe king huld þo anon
At londone a parlement & heiemen manion
Þere hii lokede þo þat alle þat armes bere
Aȝen þe king in þe worre oþer aȝen him were
At norhamtone at lewes oþer at euesham
Barun erl oþer kniȝt burgeis oþer freman
Þe burgeis of norhamtone & of londone þer to
Were alle deserited & hor eirs al so
Ac manie of þe heiemen ne grauntede it noȝt al
As þe king of alemaine ne þe erl marschal
Ne sir philip basset ne oþer manion
Ne grauntede noȝt þe lokinge ac wiþsede it echon
Þe contesse of leicestre þat sir simondes wif was
De montfort & þe kinges soster þo heo ne sei oþer cas
Þe castel of penneseie heo ȝolde vp þe kinge
At sein simondes tid & sein Iude as wiþoute striuinge
Þat heo hadde iholde er suþþe estre biuore
& þo heo hadde al clene ir ioye al vorlore
Me flemde ir out of engelond wiþoute aȝe coming
Alas ir tueie breþeren þat eiþer of hom was king
& nadde bote ir one soster & hire wolde so fleme
Alas were was loue þo suiche domes to deme
Þo com fram bi ȝonde se to alle halwe tid anon
Þe quene wiþ a legat þat het sir otebon
Wiþ þe popes poer to do þe kinges wille
Þe legat þo he was icome lute wule was stille
Of þe clergie at londone at seint andrewes feste
A conseil he made & ssewede þere þe popes heste
Wuch poer he him ȝef & clerkes anon
Þat hulde wiþ sir simon he greuede manion
Þe bissop of londone & þe bissop of wircetre
& þe bissop of lincolne & þe bissop of cicetre
Wiþoute eni grace he suspendede echone
Þat no man hom ne asoilede bote þe pope one
Þo þer nas oþer red hii wende uorþ to rome
Þe bissop deide of wincestre ar hii aȝen come

Henricus

Henricus

Henricus

& hii suore hii nolde ȝelde þe castel man aliue
Bote þe contesse of leicestere sir simondes wiue
So wel hii were astored of eche gode store
& of stalwardemen bold hii were þe more
Þe king anon to missomer mid strengþe & mid ginne
To keningwurþe wende þen castel to winne
He suor he nolde þanne ar he were wiþinne
So longe hom spedde baddeliche þat hii miȝte as wel blinne
Hor ȝates hii wiþinne none closi nolde
Vppe hii stode niȝt & day come in wo so wolde
Out hii smite wel ofte wan me to nei come
& slowe vaste in eiþer half & prisuns nome
& bouȝte hom suþþe wiþ raunson suich lif longe ilaste
Mid mangenels & ginnes hor eiþer to oþer caste
Þe legat & þe erchebissop wiþ hom al so nome
Tueie oþere bissops & to keningwurþe come
To makie acord wiþ þe king & þe deserites al so
& hom of þe castel ȝuf it miȝte be ido
Ac þe deserites nolde noȝt do al after þe kinge
Ne hii of þe castel naþemo ne stonde to hor lokinge
Þe legat mid is rede cope amansede þo
Hom þat in þe castel were & ȝut þer to wel mo
Alle þat hom holpe oþer were at hor rede
Oþer to hom ensentede in wille oþer in dede
Hii of þe castel tolde her of gret despit
Cope & oþer cloþes hii lete make of wit
& maister philip porpeis þat was a quointe man
Clerc and hardi of is dedes & hor cirurgian
Hii made a wit legat in þis cope of wit
Aȝe þe oþer rede as him in despit
& he stod as a legat vpe þe castel walle
& amansede king & legat & hor men alle
Suich game ilaste longe among hom in suich striue
Ac wel god nas it noȝt to soule ne to liue
Sir Ion deiuile & oþere þat deserited were
Nome þe yle of eli & hulde hom vaste þere
& in grauntebrugge ssire of oþer mannes inov
Vette & astorede hom þei it were mid wou

Henricus

Þe gywes hii slowe ek þat hii miȝte finde
Hor tresor ne hor oþer god hii ne lete nouȝt bihinde
Þe king at sein bartelmeus tid made ich vnder stonde
At keningwurþe a parlement of heiemen of þe londe
To chese six wisemen hii lokede þere
Þre bissops & þre barons þe wisoste þat þer were
& hii wan hiiwere isuore oþer sixe toke
Gode fourme among hom of þe lond to loke
& of þe deserites so þat a voreward
Þe bissop hii chose of baþe water giffard
& maister nicole of eli bissop of wurcetre
Þe þridde was þe bissop water of excetre
Þe þre baruns were wisemen of þe lond
Sir roger de someri sir roberd walrond
Sir alein de la souche & þus sixe iwis
Chose þo hii were isuore sixe oþere after þis
Þe erl gileberd of gloucetere þe erl vmfrai al so
Of hereforde & þe bissop of sein dauid þer to
Sir Ion de bailol sir philip basset
Sir warin of bassingbourne hii ne miȝte chese no bet
& bote hii miȝte acordi þat hii þe legat toke
& sir henri of alimaine riȝt & lawe to loke
& þe tuelf eode to gadere & ofte were ato
It was nei alle halewe tid ar it were ido
Þo let þe king someni aȝe þe tiwesday
Next biuore alle halwe tid as is conseil bi sai
Bissopes & abbodes & priores þer to
Erles & barons & kniȝtes al so
Þat hii were at norþhamptone to hure & at stonde
To þe lokinge of þis tuelfe of þe stat of þe londe
Þere it was despepled þe edit ywis
Þat was þe ban of kenigwurþe þat was lo þis
Þat þer ne ssolde of heiemen deserited be none
Þat hadde iholde aȝe þe king bote þe erl of leicetre one
Ac þat alle þe oþere adde aȝen al hor lond
Oþer hor eirs þat dede were bote þat þe king in is hond
It hulde to an terme þat þere iloked was
Vif ȝer some & some foure euere vp is trespas

Henricus

& some þre þat lest was & wan al were ido
Þat ech man hadde is londes þat riȝt adde þer to
Þis lokinge was riȝt fol in such destresse iwis
Ac euere þe sege of keningwurþe ilaste vor al þis
In siknesse hii wiþinne velle atte laste
Of menison & oþer vuel þat hii feblede vaste
& þat hom ne com no socour hii seie al so wel
So þat as hii nede moste hii ȝolde vp þen castel
Saue euerich lif & lime & chateus al so
Ne þat non nere deserited ne in prison ido
In þis fourme aboute midewinter þe castel iȝolde was
Meseise men hii come out as no wonder nas
Þo wende þe king al in pes to holde is kinedom
Ac ȝut sone þer after a nywe cas him com
Vor þe erl gileberd of gloucetere somdel mid suikedom
Gret poer & inou priueliche him nom
& þe teþe day of lud in to londone he drou
& made þo he was wiþinne þe ȝates vaste inou
& huld aȝe þe kinge þun toun & alle his
Sore was þe king anuid þo he hurde þis
Þe legat was þo in þe tour him he bilay
& bisegede him þer boþe niȝt & day
Þe legat was sore adrad vor to be inome
Noþer mete ne drinke ne moste in to him come
Manie deserites to þe erle drowe
Þat he adde mid him auȝte men inowe
Þe king wende to londone to helpe þe legat
Ac he ne moste come wiþinne neuer a ȝat
Þe deserites wolde bataile him ȝiue anon
Ac þe erl nolde nout ac destourbede echon
Þe king wende to stratford to abide more miȝte
& aboute londone is pauilons piȝte
Bi a posterne þe legat þoru quointise & gile
Hii broȝte to stratford wiþoute londone to mile
Þe king aboute londone was mid is route
A monþe vorto abbe is toun & euere he was wiþoute
& eiȝte wouke wiþinne þe erl him huld [þere]
Þoru þe king of alimaine acorded suþþe [hii were]

Henricus

& þoru sir philip basset & þis me huld þo
An ende of a foxes wrenche vor ȝut he couþe mo
Þo was þut lond in pes wiþoute destourbance
& þe worre nas no leng þoru þe pourueance
Þer after sone sir edward as ich vnder stonde
Þe crois nom at norhamptone to þe holi londe
Suþþe þer was at londone a lute destance ich wene
In ȝer of grace tuelf hundred & sixti & tene
So þat þe erl of wareine slou atte verste touche
Biuore þe iustises atte bench sir alein de la souche
Þe king was þer of anuid vor þe grete wou
Þe erl hadde so gret help þat he of scapede wel inou
Vor þe sonendai after lammasse biuore þe king he com
At winchestre as him was iset to avonge is dom
Mid him viue & tuenti kniȝtes þun oþ suore þer
Þat he ne dude it vor non vuel ne malice bi speke er
Ne in no despit of þe king & vor þis trespas
He ȝef þe king tuelf hundred marc & ipaised was
Þo wende sir edward toward þe holi londe
Þulke heruest nobliche as ich vnderstonde
& after þe assumpcion þe vifte day iwis
He dude him in þe se at douere he & his
Þe quene wende vorþ mid him & is vncle þat was
Sir willam de valance & al so sir thomas
Of clare & sir pain de chaus & of clifford sir roger
& sir roberd tipetot & mani oþer þer
Sir henri of alemaine þerafter sone alas
Wende to þe court of rome to make som purchas
In þe monþe of lude as he com hamward bi cas
In þe toun of biterbe aspied he was
Vor in a friday þe morwe vp sein gregories day
As he stod at is masse as þut folk isay
Biuore þe weued in is bedes at þe secre riȝt
Com sir gui de mountfort þat was stalwarde kniȝt
& is aunte sone alas Iarmed wel inou
& comp[ain]ie wiþ him & to him euene drou
& s[mot h]im þoru out wiþ is suerd & villiche him slou
& [[OMITTED]]tat of holichurche me þincþ wiþ vil wou

[_]

MS. is torn.