University of Virginia Library

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