University of Virginia Library

Nv seið mid loft-songe þe wes on leoden preost.
al swa þe boc spekeð þe he to bisne inom.
þa Grickes hefden Troye mid teone bi-wonen.
& þat lond iwest & þa leoden of-slawen.
& for þe wrake-dome of Menelaus quene.
Elene was ihoten. alðeodisc wif.
þa Paris Alixandre mid pret-wrenche. bi-won.
for hire weoren on ane daȝe hund þousunt deade.
Vt of þan fehte þe was feondliche stor.
Eneas þe duc mid erm[ð]en at-wond.
Nefede he boten anne sune þe was mid him isund.
Asscanius was ihoten nefede he bern no ma.
& þes duc mid his drihte to þare sæ him droh.
of kunne & of folke þe fulede þan duke.
of monne & of ahte. þe he to þare sæ brouhte.
& tuenti gode scipen. he guðliche fulde.
& þa scipen foren wide ȝeon þare wintrede sæ.
mid wolcnen & mid wedere heo þoleden wen-siðes.
ant mid muchelure care heo to londe bicomen.
On Italiȝe heo comen to londe þar Rome nou on stondeð.
fele ȝer under sunnan nas ȝet Rome bi-wonnen.
& heuede Eneas þe duc mid his driht-folcke.
widen iwalken. ȝend þat wide water.
moni lond umbe-rowen redes him trokeden.
On Italiȝe he com on lond þat him was iqueme.
A þon londe he fund mete & he hine mid monscipe biwon.
& mid golde and mid gersume & he griðliche spac.
I þere Tyure he eode alond þer þa sea wasceð þat sond.
ful neh þan ilke stude þar Rome nou stondeð.
Þe king was ihoten Latin þe on þan londe wes.
hey wes and riche & he wes redesful.
mid wintre he wes bi-weaued. swo hit wolde Godd.
Þar com Eneas & grette þen alde king.
& he hine feire on-feng mid allen his folke.
Muche lond he him ȝef & mare him biheyte.
an-long þare sea siden & widen.
Þare quene hit of-þouhte noþeles heo hit þolede.
Þe king heuede ane douter þe him was swiþe deore.
Eneam he heo biheyte to habben to wife.
& after his daye al his drihliche lond.
for he nefde nenne sune þe sarure was his heorte.
Þat maiden wes ihoten Lauine seþen heo wes leodena quene.
feier wes þe wimmon & wunsum hire monnen.
Ah Turnus was ihoten þat wes of Tuskanne duc
þet lufede þet maiden & hire monscipe bed.
þat he heo wolde habben to heiȝen are quene.
Þa com þat word to him þat was widene cuð.
þat þe king Latin ȝef Lauine his douter.
Eneam to are brude for heo wes his deore bearn
Þa wes Turnus sari & soruful on his mode.
for he heo heuede swiþe ilofe[d] & luf-þing hire biheite.
Weorre makede Turnus mid teonen he wes idrefe[d].
wið Eneam he nom an feiht þat wes feondliche strong.
hond wið honde fuhten þa heȝe men.
Teone wes on compe þar Turnus feol.
mid mechen to-heawen his monscipe wes þe lasse.
Eneas nom Lauine leofliche to wife.
he wes king & heo quen & kine-lond heo welden.
inne griðe & inne friðe & freoliche loueden.
Seoþen Eneas Lauine heuede inomen & þa leodene bi-wnnen.
he makede enne stronge castel mid starke ston walle.
Lauine hehte his leuemon þene castel he clepede Lauinion.
þat wes for hire worðscipe wel þat he hire uþe.
Feour winter he heuede þat wif mid wrðscipe to welden.
after þa feourðe ȝere he was dead his freonden hit of-þuhten.
Heuede Lauine þa quene kinebearn on wombe.
þa quen þer-efter sone ænne sune hefde to froure.
Siluius Eneas for æ[ð]elen he wes ihoten.
Ascanius his broþer þe mid his fader com from Troie.
mid muchele worscipe þis kine-bearn bi-wiste.
Asscanius wes þes childes broþer ah heo nefden noht ane moder.
His moder wes ihoten Creusa Priames kinges dohter.
þe Eneas his fader in Troie for-leas.
inne þane fehte his feon heo him binomen.
Asscanius heold þis drihliche lond daiȝes & ȝeres.
& he makede ane heȝe burh Albe Lingoe wes ihaten.
Þa burh wes wel iȝarwed binnen lut ȝearen.
he ȝef heo his stepmoder for þon lofe of his broþer.
& Lauinion þene castel & muchel lond þar-to.
þe his fader hefde imaked þe wile þe he on liue wes.
þis lond he hire lende þat come hir lifes ende.
Ah heo nom þene mahum þe heo tolden for godd.
þe Eneas mid his ferde brohte from Troie.
In Albe Lingue he hine sette ah sone he þonene iuatte.
forð aȝein mid þan winde þe Feond hine ferede.
Asscanius þe kene þe wes i kinges stude.
four & þritti winter he heold þat lond
& þa leoden mid blissen.
Þa com his lifes ende lað þah him were.
Siluium his broþer þe wes Lauine sune.
he bitahte al þat lond þat Eneas heore fader hefde on hond.
Ænne sune heuede Asscanius. þe wes ihaten Siluius.
þis child hefde his eames nome ah lut ȝer he leouede.
for his ahne sune seoþen hine sceat to deaþe.
Þa þis child was feir muche þa luuede he a maide.
þeo was Lauine mawe mid darnscipe he heo luuede.
Hit iwerð þere swa hit deð wel iwere.
þat þeos ȝunge wiman iwerd hire mid childe.
þe ȝet leouede Asscanius þe on þan londe was duc.
Vnder-ȝetene weren þe þinges. þat þeo wimon was mid childe.
Þa sende Asscanius þe wes lauerd & dux.
after heom ȝend þat lond þe cuþen dweomerlakes song.
witen he wolde þurh þa wiþer-craftes.
wat þing hit were þat þeo wimon hefde on wombe.
Heo wrpen heore leoten þe Scucke wes bi-tweonen.
heo funden on þen crefte carefule leoðes.
þet þeo wimon was mid ane sune þat wes a selcuð bearn.
þat boa sculde fallen fader & his moder.
þorh him heo sculden deiȝen & þene deað þolien.
& þurh his ealdren deð idreuen out of londe.
& umben longne first mid wrðscipe comen liðen.
Þo leoten weren iworpen & swa hit al iwearð.
Þa þe time com. þat þe cnaue wes iboren
in þere burhe. þa brude dead iwearð.
þe child wes iboren isund to baluen his moder.
Þat child was ihaten Brutus þat bearn nas nowit feie.
Þis child leuede & wel iþei & þeweas hit luuede.
He was fiftene ȝer ald þa he to wode ferde.
& his fader mid him & feie-sið makede.
Heo funden ane heorde of heorten swiðe greate.
þe fader heo bi-eode to his aȝre unneode.
To his sune he heo draf him-seolfue to balewe.
Brutus sette on his flo
he wende to sceoten þat hea der & ihitte his aȝene fader.
þurh-ut þere broste. wao wes Brutus þer-fore.
Wa wes him on liue þa þe fader wes on deaðe.
Þa þat iherde his kun þe he of icumen wes.
þat he þe flo heuede idrawen & his fader of-slawen.
heo hine flemden out of þane londe.
& he iwende sorhful ouer sea-streames.
into Griclonde þer he his cun funde.
of þan folck of Troye þe mid teonen wes to-drefed.
þere quene cun Heleine þes kinges sune Priami.
& muchel folc of his þeoden ah al heo weren þeowe.
& of his aȝne kunne moni kineborene mon.
Moni ȝer was agan seo[ð]ðen his cun hider com.
þa wepmen weren iwexan þa wimen wel iþowene.
& heore nutene neotsume weren
Nes Brutus i þon londe bute lutel ane wile.
þat alle monnen he wes leof & muchele monscipe biwon.
for cniht he was swiþe god þan folke to queme.
he was mete-custi þat is monscipe steor.
Alle monnen he was leof þe him lokeden on.
heo him ȝeuen gersume & feire hine gretten.
heo seiden him mid rede & mid stilliche runen.
ȝif he were swa þriste & he hit don durste.
þat he heom wolde leaden out of þane leoden.
out of þeowedome freo þat heo weoren.
heo hine wolden maken duc & deme ofer his folke.
We habbeð seoue þusun[d] of gode cnihten.
wið-outen wifmen þe noht ne cunnen of wepnen.
children & hinen þa ure nete sculen ȝemen.
For muchel we wlleð driȝen & habben care of ure life.
ær we nulleð mid frescipe faren from ure feonden.
Alle þe weren at þisse reade biluuede þeos runen.
Inne Griclonde was a ȝung mon of þriti ȝeren.
Assaracus ihaten of swi[ð]e heie kunne.

His fader wes a Gric ikoren ah his moder wes of Troien iboren.
& heo wes a cheuese hire cheap wes þe wrse.
Noþelas hit ilomp inne lut ȝere.
þat þe fader wes dead his duȝeðe he bi-lefde.
He ȝef Assaracum his sune sele þreo castles.
& al þat ligginde lond þe þer-abuten lei.
Assaracus heuede enne broþer þe wes under wedlac iboren
after þen heðene tidende þe wes in þan londe.
Þes cniht hefde his fader lond & loð him wes his broþer.
for he heold þe stronge castles þurh staðele his fader ȝefe.
His broþer heo him wolde bi-nimen ah he ne mihte speden.
þar aros wal[e] & win & wiðer-heppes feola.
Assaracus wes god cniht wið Grickes he heold moni fiht.
ah he hefde muchele strengþe of meren his cunne.
of þan Troyscen monnen þe weren his moder isib.
for þare sibe-laȝe luue hem wes bi-tweonen.
Assaracus hit redde mid diȝenliche runen.
þat þat Troynisce folc mid his fulle fultume.
nomen þene cniht Brutun & makeden hine to duke.
& he heora monredne mid monscipe on-feng.
He sende his sonde wide ȝend þane londe.
he heihte his folc sumunen & cumen to him-seoluen.
wapmen & wifmen þa weoleȝen & þa weaðlen.
alle he heom sumunde & to wode sende.
bote seoue þusend kempen þa he in-to þane castlen dude.
Þa lette he riden vnirimed folc.
bi-ȝeoten wepnen & mete muchel wes þa neode.
& al þat smale mon-kun he dude ȝeond þea muntes.
& him-self mid his ferde bi-foren & bi-hinden.
Seoþen he nom to rede & to som-runen.
þat he an wriht makede al mid wisdome.
Pandrasum þene king he grette mid greiðlicre speche.
& þat wriht he him sende & þeos word seaide.
For þan weorldes scome & for þan muchele grome.
þat Dardanisc kun þe we beoð of icomene.
woneð in þisse londe leode to sconde.
inne þeowe-dome þrel-werkes doð.
heo beoð to-gadere icumene kuðies mæȝes.
al swa þat ilke folc þe freoscipe wole bi-winne.
Heo habbe[ð] idemed þat ich am duc ofer heom.
Ich abbe i min castlen seoue þusend kempen.
ich habbe in þane munten monie þusund.
Leouere heom his to libben bi þan wode-roten.
al swa þat wilde swin þat wroteð ȝeond þan grouen.
þane heo þine þeowedomes lengre iþolien.
Ȝif heo wlle[ð] frescipe bi-winnen ne wndre þou nawiht þer-fore.
heo biddeð þe mid freonscipe þat þu heom ifreoie.
Þes word he sendeð al swa þe wriht þe seið.
þat heo moten wonien wer-swa heo wolleð.
inne griðe & in friðe & heo wlleð þe freonscipe don.
Ȝif þou þis nult iþolien þe scal beon þa wrse.
Þe king nom þat writ on hond & he hit wrodliche bi-heold.
seolcu[ð] him þuhte swulcere speche.
Þa he alles spac mid þræte he spilede.
To wroþer heore hele habbeð heo such werc i-don.
Mine þralles i mire þeode me suluen þretiað.
Wide he sende ȝeond þat lond for he wes leoden king.
þat come to hirede riche men & weðlen.
al þat wapmon-cun þa mihte beren wæpen.
vppen lif & uppen leomen al þes londes folc.
an horsen & an foten forð heo ifusten.
Þe king þræted Brutun swa he dude Assaracun.
þat he heom wolde biliggen mid laðen heora feonden.
Ȝif he heom mihte bi-winnen mid his wored-strencðe.
alle heo sculden hongien on heȝe treowen.
Brutus iherde seggen al swa hit soð wæs.
þat Pandrasus þe king him towardes com.
mid muchelere ferde. ah heo weren summe faie.
Brutus nom to reade þat him best was.
He nom his kene men þa to compe weren gode.
he ferde to þan wode to þan wilderne.
to þan ilke weie þe he ful ȝeare wuste.
þat þe king mid his ferde forð sculde iwenden.
Brutus hefede gode cnihtes to neode.
þre þusund mid him ilead to þære þruppe.
Þe king him com riden mid riche his folke.
Brutus heom smat on mid his grime smite.
isowte he þe Grickes mid his grim ræsen.
Þa Grickes neoren noht warre of heore wensiðe.
wenden him þeo rugges flowen haȝe men.
Achalon heihte an flum þe nes noht feor from heom.
þider in iwenden moni þusunde.
Brutus heom com æfter & æfer he heom leide on.
mid sweord & mid spere al he to-drof þes kinges here.
a londe & a watere he heom adun leaide.
& þe king him-self fleh he iseih his frend fallen.
Muchel folc þer was of-sclawen on moniare wisen.
Þe king hefde ænne broðer neafde he nenne oðer.
Antigonus wes ihoaten inne Gric-londe he wes heh.
Iseih his broðer ferden hu heo iuaren weren.
a wætere & a londe swa heom læðest wes.
Antigonus mid his weapnen & mid his wæl-kempen
iwenden toward Brutun to his bale-siðe.
Heo comen to-gadere mid greatere heorte.
Þar he mihte bi-halden þe bi-halues were.
moni wensiðes wiþer-happes feol[e].
moni heaued moni hond fallen to foten.
monie þar fuhten monie flæm makeden.
monie þar feollen þurh heora feon-ðewæs.
Þa Troysse men sloȝen. al þa Grickes þea heo neih comen.
Þer Brutus nom Antigonun þes kinges broþer Pandrasum.
mid him he hine lædde for leof he him wes to habben.
He hine leatte wel witen mid wnder stronge benden.
& al-swa his iferen þe mid him ifunden weren.
Þat iherde þe king Pandrasus hit neas him noht iqueme.
þat Antigonus his broþer wes in armliche benden.
Þe king sende swa wide swa ileste his riche.
& heihte eulne mon þe mihte riden oþer gan.
þat heo comen mid him to þane castle of Sparatin.
Nes castel nan swa strong i þon londe of Griclond.
He wende hit to soþe soð þeh hit neore.
þat Brutus hefde þa men þe he mid fihte biwon.
idon into þan castle & þear heom quic heolde.
& him-seolf þer forð mide for þære muchele biȝæte.
Ah Brutus dude betere read & him þa beth ilomp.
In þon castle he dude hende six hundred of his cnihten.
him-self mid his fenge he to wode ferde.
Þe king to þan castle forð mid his ferde
þer he lei abuten þar-inne weren his laðe feond.
His ferde he sette on ælchere siden.
ofte heo ræsden & ræmden to-gadere.
mid stelene orde & mid starka biten.
mid stocken & mid stanen stal-fiht heo makeden.
mid Grickisce fure feollen þæ fæie.
þar was muchel blod-gute baluwe þer wes riue.
Þa cnihtes of þan castle quic-liche heom wið-stoden.
þaet ne mihte þes kinges folc of heom fael makien.
ah þe king of his monnen monie þusend læs.
Þe king wes on mode sar þat wes for his monne lure.
He tæh hine aȝein ane þrowe & þreateð þene castel.
& þat folc þer-inne þenne he hit hefde bi-wnnen.
þat he heom wolde quellen oþer quic al for-brennen.
He lette makien enne dic þe wes wnderliche deop.
abouten his ferde & feiede heo mid þornen.
& leai þer-abuten & abat his bale-siðes.
Þe king wes swiðe wrað & swar muchelne oað.
þat nolde he þonne faren ar his feo[n]den feie weore.
I þon castle weoren monie men & muchel mete þer bihofede.
þe mete forð iwat for þer fengen feole to.
Heo nomen ænne ærendrake þe æðele wes to neode.
heo senden to heore læuerde þa leof heom wes on heorten.
Heo hine gretten mid godene heore worden.
heo beden hine come to helpe mid allen his strengðe.
þe wile þe heo weren isunde þe weren his sele men.
Brutus hine bi-þohte of swlchere neode.
& þas word seide mid soþere heorte.
He deð him-selua freoma þa helpeð his freondene.
swa ich wlle mine bi mine quicke liue.
Þa wes þere a wel-ibore mon Anacletus wes ihaten.
mid þes kinges broðer he was itaken & þer læi inne benden.
Brutus him ræmde to mid grimmen his rasen.
bi þone toppe he hine nom al-swa he hine walde of-slean.
& his nakede sweord leide on his necke.
& þas word saide Brutus þe sele.
Niðing þou ært al dead buten þou do mine read.
& þi læuerd al-swa bote þu min lare do.
ah ȝif þu wlt þu miht wel helpen inc seluen.
Lauerd quað Anacletus don ic wille þine lare.
help mine lauerd & me mid alle mire mihten.
Do swa quad Brutus & þe scal beon þe bet.
ȝe sculen habben lif & leomen & beon mine leofe freond.
Brutus him swar an æð breken þat he hit nælde.
Þus seide Brutus þe wes cniht mid þane beste.
Anacletus leofe freond to-niht þu scalt faren.
a þeon time bið best þonne men gað to bedde.
þu scalt forð wenden to þas kinges ferde.
Wonne þu comest to þon cnihten þat þene king bi-witeð.
þær þu findest seouen houndred þa hæleðes beoð kene.
& þu heom clepe to & cuðliche wið heom spec.
Ich am Anacletus ich am mid ærmðen abroken.
vt of þon benden þe Brutus me heuede on idon.
& ȝet ich ou sigge on oþer ibrout ich habbe þes kinges broþer.
vt of þon quarcerne of þan quale-huse.
þær Brutus hin hefde idon for to-marewene he hine wolde an-hon.
& ich hine habbe idon i þisse [w]ude derne.
Cnihtes fuseð me mid leteð slæpen þene king.
& fare we on sele riht al swo stille.
stelen swa we wolden
& ich eou wlle leden forð to mine lauerde.
i þon wode-rime þer he vnder rise lið.
Ȝif ȝe hine mawen bringen bi-foren ure kinge.
wel bið him þere bringe oeu bið þe beð þer-fore.
& for he is his broðer for nafð he nenne oþer.
Cuð he wes þen cnihten & heo hine i-cneowen.
heo wenden þat his sawen soðe weren.
ah alle heo weren lease for he wes his leodene swike.
Nis nawer nan so wis mon þat me ne mai bi-swiken.
Anacletus ferde bi-foren þe cnihtes him fuleden.
ferde æfter ane bache al-swa Brutus him hefde itaiht.
Brutus hæfde his folc bi-foren & bi-hinden.
Wes þe wei holh & long þa [c]lude weren stronge.
Brutus heom ræsde to mid richere strengðe.
alle to-gadere he heom nom nane he ne lafde.
summe he sloh summe he bond þa beste quike he at-heold.
& alle he heom bi-wuste swa him best þuhte.
Brutus nom his ferde on feowre he heo to-dælde.
& he hehte alle his men monscipe biwinnen.
[þ]a ȝunge & þa alde æðela iwurðen.
wihte wal-kempen on heora wiðer-winnan.
& an hihinga faren to þan kinge.
& ich for-beode heolde mine þeinen.
vppe þere muchele lufe þe us bi-tueiȝen lið.
þat nan ne beo so wilde nan swa unwitti.
þat word talie ne talkie mid speche.
ær he ihere minne horn mid græte hiue blowen.
For mi-self ich wlle teo to-foren to telde þas kinges.
anan swa ich lihte of blonken swa ich wlle blawen.
anan swa ȝe hi[t] i-hereð hende mine kempen.
oht-liche heom slæð on & weccheð heom of slepa.
leteð þa Grickisca gliden to grunde
fallen þa feie for heo beð vre fulle fan.
Duden alle þa cnihtes swa Brutus heom taute.
& he him-seolf teih bi-foren to telde þæs kinges.
Of his horse he þreou his horn he vastliche bleu.
Iherden hit Troynisce & tuhten to þon Gricken.
heo heom aweihten mid heora wæles igrure.
Þar fluwen haueden on felde fæiðe þer feollen.
moni hond moni fot þe hæp wæs þe wrse.
Moni þusend þer flowen þærmes heo droȝen.
& Brutus mid his cnihten þene king ifeng.
al ihal & al isund heihliche he cleopede.
Ich habbe þisses folkes king fælleð his leoden.
Ne lete ȝe nenne quick quecchen to holte.
& iche wlle þesne king læden mid me seolfan.
Þar Brutus bi-feng al þat him bi-foren wes.
Sparatin he aredde heh an his castel.
A-marewen þa hit dai wes & þa niht to-dælde.
Brutus sumunde his folc heo weren his fulle freonde.
he heihte for his lufe al his leode-ferde.
þat heo nomen þat [w]æ[l] & wel hit biburiede.
inne deope seaðen setten þa deade.
& hit wes sone idon for monie þusend þer-to fengen.
Al þa biȝetene æhte he delde his cnihten.
& alle his leoue men he mid monscipe grette.
Þa al þis wes i-don þa dude he on oþer.
he lette an heh climben & lude clepian.
þat on þane daȝe amarwen come his drihtliche folc.
& alle his heȝe men comen to hustinge.
& heo swa duden blisse wes on daie.
Þat folc com to-gadere guðliche cnihtes.
& heora lauerd spac & þus heom wið spelede.
Lusteð mine cnihtes lusteð mine leofe men.
Suggeð me to runun. ræd þat eou þunche
Ich habbe þesne leod-king ileid in mine benden.
& his broðer al-swa hit is þe bet mid us.
& his leoden of-slawen ihc am him þa laðere.
& alle his ahte iȝeuen mine æðelinge.
Ȝif ȝe hit rædeð ȝe beo[ð] mine riche men.
ich wulle mid swerde his heue[d] of swippen.
& ȝif ȝe hit wille[ð] ich hine wlle spillen.
& ȝif ȝe me readeð ich hine wille freoien.
ȝif he me ȝefeð gersume gold & seoluer.
alle his maðmas wið þon þa he mote libben.
Þa ansuereden æðela cnihtes.
Summen hit weora iqueme þat heo hine sculden quellen.
him-seolf habben þat lond & beon þere leodene king.
Summe queðen ælles & þus þa quides eoden.
Ȝeue us þe king & al his gold & þa maðmes of his lond.
ȝef us peal ȝeue us hors ȝeue us haihe scrud.
ȝeue us ænne ende of his kine-londe.
ȝeue us ȝislæs þer-to & þis mei beon wel idon.
Þer wes moni riche mon þe cuðe lutel reden.
weðer heom weore wnsumre to faren þe to wonien.
Þa wile þe heo tweoneden þus clepede Membricius.
þet wes a riche mon þe wes swiðe wel idon.
wys & witful wel he hit cudde.
Wet speke ȝe cnihtes wet speke ȝe kempen.
Vn[d]er eou alle nis þar nan swa god.
þa ȝet habbe isæid þat us is selest to don.
Ȝif ȝe hit lusten wlle Brutus mi lauard.
& ȝe alle biluuien gode mine lare.
ich eou wlle seggen selast ræden.
& þa ansuerede al þat folc Faihn we wllen hit iheren.
Þa quað Membricius ludere stefne.
Ȝirne we to þane kinge ȝeuen suiðe gode
þat is alreforwarde þat he us ifreoie.
Sone þar-after ȝurne we his dohter.
þat he heo ȝeue ure lauerde Brutun to his bedde.
of his corne he us ȝeue swa muchel þat we beon iquemed.
gold & garsume & his gode hors.
& al his beste mæte-cun þe his men habbeð.
& alle þa liðinde scipen þe on his londe beoð.
& alle þat bi-houeð þa scipen to driuen.
of monnen & of wapnen þat we mawen wel faren.
fare uorð ouer sæ sel þat we wrðen.
& liðen swa longe þat we to londe comen.
varen wide ȝeond þat lond & fondia þeo leoden.
wer us beo iqueme king þat we makien.
of Brute ure lauerde þe is best of us.
and Ignoien to quen þe is þis kinges dohter.
For ȝif we hit ȝeorneð to wonien her mid Gricken.
heo beoð ure fulle feond for we beoð ifead wi[ð] heom.
for heora kun we habbet islaȝen in eorðe heo sleopeð.
we beoð heom loaðe for heora muchele lure.
heo wlleð us biwiȝelien þurh heora wiðere-craftes.
a swa heom beoð iwrð swa us wrse bið.
for mid ure wepnen heora kun we aqueald habbeð.
mid ure honden monie þusunde.
Ȝif we sceoteð to heora mæðe þat bið ure imone deað.
ȝif we heom ilefeð þat bið ure muchele lure.
ȝif heo wel wexit heo wlleð wonien us.
Wel ich hit mai suggen to soþe ich hit wene.
nis þar nan swa heih nis þar nan swa laih.
þat we nabbet his freond ifelled to grunde.
For þon ȝif hit eow bi-loueð þe wise beoð on þonke.
fare we from þisse londe þa leodene us beoð laþe.
Al heora god we sculen nimen & lutel hem læuen.
wonien heo sculen un-balde for hora muchela bursten.
& we mæwen faren riche ȝif we ræd luuieð.
for al þat god of þisse londe we sculen leden mid us.
& heo bi-læuen wrecches & wælde heom scal fulien.
for þe riche haueð muchel rum to ræsen biforen þan wrecchan.
Þas word weoren iqueðene þeo quides weoren leoue.
Þa he mihte ihere þe bihalues were.
muchel dom muchel dune muchel folkes dream.
& alle heo clepeden þus Soð seið Membricius.
& alle hit bi-luueden gode weren his lære.
Þa letten bringen þene king vt of quarcerne.
& his bro[ð]er mid him beine to-gadere.
mid yrene benden bi-foren Brutone.
Heo him to clepeden & la[ð] spel him cudden.
heo seiden þat he sculde beon anhongen an one heȝe treowe.
oþer mid horsen to-drawen mid droflicen vitan.
buten heo heom lette freo ta faren of his londe.
ȝeue heom al his aȝte þe he biȝeten mahte.
& alle his scipen gode þa floten bi sæ-flode.
& his dohter Ignogen heore duc to quene.
Þe king hine bi-þoute wat he don mahte.
Sari he was on liue þæs tiðende him weren læðe.
Of deað he hefde care drof he wes on mode.
Pandrasus answerede mid seorhfulle worden
Ȝe biddeð mine dohter swa hende & haldeð me inne bende.
& Antigonun mine broðer mid ærmliche witen.
& mine men ȝe habbeð isclawen & ȝeorneð mine maðmas.
& mine leoue dohter to swa laðe mannes bihoue.
Ah heo mot nede beien þe mon þe ibunden bið.
Eouer axe ich eow leue lað þeh hit me were.
& ȝif ȝe bi-læuen wolden inne mire þeoden.
al þridden dale mi lond ich wolde setten Brutan on hond.
& freoien al his folc & freonscipe makien.
& Ignogen mine dohter ȝeuen eowre duke.
& swa we sculden bi-leauen leoue mæȝes.
vre lif læden & liþen to-sumne.
Þa ænswerede Brutus þe wes borene duke.
Nulle we noht þis on-fon ah we faren wlle[ð].
& þu swiðe hiendliche scild þe wið dæðe.
Ȝef us þat we wilniað ȝif þou libben wlt.
Þe king sende his sonde. ȝeond al Gric-londe.
þat me hit him to brohte alle his aihte.
& greiðede his scipen gode bi þan sæ-flode.
& al þat þær-to bi-houede hahliche i-funden.
al-swa heo wolden heora lauerd from loðen alesen.
Al his men duden swa þe king hehte.
Þa scipen weoren igreþede mid gode grund-fulled.
Þe king ȝef Brutun his dohter þe wes his bearn deora.
& al þat forward wes ilest Þa fusden þa ferde.
wenden riht to þare sæ sela þa þeines.
Muchel wæs þa blisse þa Brutus hafde mid him.
Brutus nom Ignogen & into scipe lædde.
Heo rihten heora rapes heo rærden heora mastes.
heo wunden up seiles wind sto[d] an willen.
Sixtene siðe tuenti scipen tuhten from hauene.
& feower scipen greate þe weren grund-ladene.
mid þat beste wepnen þa Brutus hauede.
Heo fusde[n] from stronde vt of Griclonde.
heo wenden vt i wide sæ þa wilde wurðen itemede.
Tweiȝe dawes & tua niht inne sæ weren.
þen oðer dai heo comen liðen on æuen to londe.
Logice hatte þat eit-lond. leode nere þar nane.
ne wapmen ne wifmen buten westiȝe pæ[ð]es.
Vtlaȝen hefden i-ræued þat lond & alle þa leoden of-slaȝen.
& swa hit wes al west & wnnen bi-ræued.
Ah swa monie þar waren wilde deor þat wnder heom þuhte.
& þa Troinisce men tuhten to þon deoren.
& duden of þan wilden al heora iwilla.
to þan scipen [lædden swa muche swa heo] wælden
Heo funden i þon eit-londe. ane burh swiðe stronge
To-hælde weoren þe walles weste weren hallen.
Temple heo funden þar ane imaked of marme stæne.
muchel & mære þe Wrse hit hafde to welden.
Þer-inne was an onlicnesse a wifmonnes liche.
feier hit wes & swiðe heih an are hæitnesse nome.
Diana wes ihaten þe Deouel heo luuede.
Heo dude wnder craftes þe Scucke hire fulste.
Heo wes quen of alle wodes þe weoxen on eorðen.
a þon heðene lawen me heold heo for hehne godd.
To hire weoren iwoned þa wnder-creftie men.
of þa [þ]ingen þa weren to kumen heo heom wolde cuðen.
mid tacnen & mid swefnen þonne heo weren on slæpe.
Þe wile þeo on þan eit-londe wes folc woniende.
heo wurðeden þat anlicnes þe Scucke hit on-feng.
Brutus hit herde siggen þurh his sæ-monnen.
þe ær weoren on þan londe & þa lawen wusten.
Brutus nam twelf witiȝen þe weren his wiseste men.
& enne preost of his lawen. þa weren on þan heðen dawen.
Gerion hehte þe preost he was an hirede hæh.
he ferde to þere stowe. þar Diane inne stod.
Brutus ferde in-to þere temple & þa twelfe mid him.
& lette al his folc bilæuen þer-vte.
Ana scale he bear an honde al of reade golde.
milc wes i þere scale & win sume dale.
þa milc wæs of are wite hinde þe Brutus sceat mid his honde.
He makede bi þon weofede a swiðe wunsum fur.
Niȝen siðen he bi-eode þat weofed for his neode.
He clepede to þere leuedi heo wes him on heorten leof.
mid milden his worden he ȝirnde hire mihten.
Ofte he custe þat weofed mid wnsume lates.
he halde þa milc in þat fur mid milden his worden.
Leafdi Diana leoue Diana heȝe Diana. help me to neode.
Wise m[e] & wite [m]e þurh þine wihtful craft.
whuder ich mæi liðan & ledan mine leoden.
to ane wnsume londe þer ich mihte wunien.
& ȝif ich þat lond mai bi-ȝeten & mi folc hit þurh-gengen.
makian ich wlle on þine nome mæren ane stowe.
& ich þe wulle huren mid wrhscipe hæȝan.
Þus spec Brutus
Seo[ð]ðen he nam þe hude. þa wæs of þare hinde.
Bi-foren þan wefede he heo spradde swlc he leie on bedde.
He cnelede þar-ufenan & seo[ð]ðen he adun læi.
Swa he gon slomnen & þer-æfter to slepen.
Þa þuhte him on his swefne þar he on slepe læi.
þat his lauedi Diana hine leofliche biheolde.
mid wn-sume leahtren wel heo him bi-hihte.
& hendiliche hire hond on his heued leide
& þus him to seide þer he on slepe lai.
Bi-ȝende France i þet west þu scalt finden a wunsum lond.
þat lond is bi-urnan mid þære sæ þar-on þu scalt wrþan sæl.
Þar is fuȝel þar is fisc þer wuniað feire deor.
þar is wode þar is water þar is wilderne muchel.
þet lond is swiþe wunsum weallen þer beoð feire.
wuniað in þon londe eotantes swiðe stronge.
Albion hatte þat lond ah leode ne beoð þar nane.
Þer-to þu scalt teman & ane neowe Troye þar makian.
þer scal of þine cunne kine-bearn arisen.
& scal þin mære kun wælden þ[a]s londes.
ȝeond þa weorld beon ihæȝed & þu beo hæl & isund.
Þæ awoc Brutus wel wes him on life.
He þoute of his swefne & hou þe læfdi him sæide.
mid muchelere lufe he seide hit his leoden.
hu him imette & þa læfdi hine igrette.
He þonkede hire ȝeorne mid liðfulle worden.
he bi-heihte hire biheste & he hit wel laste.
þat to hire he wolde teman & wrchen hire ane temple.
& on licnesse of ræde golde whenne he come to londe.
& æ to his liue hire willen idriȝen.
At hire heo nomen læue & to scipe li[ðd]en.
Heo hefden wind heo hefden water þe heom wel ferede.
þritti dawes & þritti niht heo ferden efer forð-riht.
Bi-fore Affrike heo ferden forð & eeuer heo drowen west & norð.
ouer þen lac of Siluius & ouer þen lac of Philisteus.
bi Ruscikadan heo nomen þa sæ & bi þe montaine of Azare.
In þære sæ heo funden vtlawen þa kenneste þa weoren o þon dawen.
fifti scipen fulle þer weore feondes to feole.
Wið Bruten heo fuhten & fealden of his monnen.
ah Brutus hefde þa ouere hond þa fæie he sloh þe quike he bond.
þar bi-won Brutus feole kunnan wunnan.
muchel garsum & mete his monscipe wes þa mære.
Nefde Brutus nenne swa wreche man þat gold & pal ne dude him on.
Þeonene he ferden forð wel feole dawen ȝong.
ouer Maluan æne flum suiðe long i Mauritane heo comen a lond
Heo li[ðd]en ȝeond þat ilke lond & þa leoden heo slowen.
þene drinc & þene mete þe heo þar funden.
to heora scipe heo hit fusden feirest þat heom þohte.
heo nomen of þan londe al þat heo wolden.
Þa ferden heo forð heora færð wes on sæle.
muchel ahte heo hæfden bi-wunnen Þa comen heo to þan bunnen.
þa Hercules makede mid muchelen his strengðe.
þat weoren postes longe of marmon stane stronge.
Þat taken makede Hærcules þat lond þe þer-abuten wes.
swiðe brod & swiðe long al hit stod an his hond.
Þer heo funden þe merminnen þat beoð deor of muchele ginnen.
wifmen hit þunchet fuliwis bi-neoðe þon gurdle hit þuncheð fisc.
Þeos habbeð swa murie song ne beo þa dai na swa long.
ne bið na man weri heora songes to heræn.
Hit is half mon & half fisc hit hafð þes wurse taken fuliwis.
for his werkes beo[ð] swa swete þat feolan men heo ne maȝen for-leten.
Brutus iherde siggen þurh his sæ-monnen.
of þan ufele ginnen þe cuðen þa mereminnen.
He hihte hondlien kablen teon seiles to toppa.
leten laden þene wind liðe[n] mid þan uðen.
Þa mereminnen heom to svommen on alchare sidan.
swiða heo heom lætten mid luðere heora craften.
Neðelas Brutus at-bræc al buten burstan.
& ferde riht on his wei his scipen runden swiðe.
A steores-man ham talde wil-spel þat he Spaine isæih.
Heo drowen toward hauene haleðes weoren bliðe.
To þan londe heo ferden þer heo leof folc funden.
fouwer þrum ferden þer weoren feola þusend.
gode knihtes þa gode weoren to fihten.
Þeos weoren heora sibbe-men hit wes þa beth mid heom.
Þeos feower ferden from Troye weoren iflemed.
Atenor heom ledde þe wes leode ælder.
& he mid þan folke fleh ut of Troye.
þa Grickes hit bi-wnnan mid heora wæl-slahte.
Corineus wes heora duc se[ð]ðen Atenor was dea[d].
Corineus wes a strong mon & he heuede muchele ban.
he wes swa kene he wes swa strong swilc hit weore an eotand.
Þa tiðind com to Corineum þat Brutus wes þider icomen.
wel wes him on liue nes he neuer ær swa bliðe.
Heo comen to-gadere & ofte heo custen.
Brutus him seide tiðinde þat an lond he ferde sechinde.
þer he mihte þurh-wunian mid his wnfolke.
Corineus him answerede & ich þe wulle mid fare.
mid mine driht-folke & habben dale mid þe.
& halden þe for herre & here þe for lauerd.
Þis feoreward was imaked heo ferden to-somne.
Heo ferden from Spaine riht toward Brutaine.
Armoriche heihte þat lond þer Brutaines noma nu on stond.
Peytou heo letten on riht hond swa heo comen a þet lond.
in are swiðe feire æ þer Læire falleð i þa sæ.
Seoue niht & enne dæi Brutus i þare hauene læi.
& he sende ȝeond þat lond & scawede þa leoden.
Goffar þan king of Peyters nes hit noht iqueme.
þat he iseh swlche sonden faren ȝeond his londe.
Þe king heihte his wise men þe wel cuðen a speche.
þat heo to þare sæ ferden þar þa ferde læi.
& iwusten at þon cnihten wet heo þer sohten.
wheþer heo walden hælden grið & greten þes londes king.
þe heo wolden mid wiðere þan kinge wið-stonden.
Numbert hehte þe alder-mon þe sculde þas ernde don.
Corineus wes ifaren to wode & draf þer þa wilde deor.
mid hornen & mid hunden & mid fif hundred cnihten.
Imetten heo faren Numbert þes kinges sonde of þat eard.
Numbert heom to clepede mid ludere stefne.
Whonene beo ȝe cnihtes Ȝe fare[ð] mid unrihte.
Ȝe huntieð i þes kinges friðe þer-fore ȝe sculen beon fæie.
Ȝe doð þan kinge muchel scome þer-fore ȝe sculen han grome.
Forboden he haueð his deor-frið þer-fore ȝe sculen liggen stif.
Corineus i-werð him wroð & wende him to-ȝeines.
& saide þas ilke word mid muchelere wre[ð]ðe.
Cniht þu ært muchel sot þat þu swa motest.
Ȝif þe king hit haueð forboden ne scal him neuer beo þa bet.
ne nawit for his forbode nulle ich hit bileuen.
to nimen his heortes & his hindes & al þa deor þat ich finde.
Þa iwre[ð]ðede Numbert þa kinges stiward of þat eard.
he leadde an his honde enne bowe stronge.
& he þene streng up braid balu com on ueste.
On he sette ane fla & he feondliche droh.
& þa fla lette gliden bi Corineus siden.
Corineus bleinte & þene scute bi-berh.
& towardes Numbert he leop swilc hit an leon weora.
& þene bowe igreap mid muchele strengðe.
He smot Numbert mid þon bowe þat his hæfd-bon to-brec.
þat his blod & his brain ba weoren to-dascte.
Fluȝen his i-feren feondliche swi[ð]e.
to þon kinge Goffar & saiden hine tiðende sære.
þet islawen wes Numbert þe wes his awene stiward.
Þe king wes swiðe særi & seorhful on mode.
& sende his sonde ȝeond his kine-londe.
gaderede his ferde þer weoren men fæie.
Þa ferde wes isumned & heo forð fusden.
toward sele Brutun þer he bi sæ wonede.
Brutus wes swiþe war for wisdome him fulede.
haures he sende to hirede þes kinges.
to witen of his farcost wher he wolde feihten.
Þa hawres ferden & sone aȝein comen.
& comen to heora læuarda þer he lai bi hauene.
& þeos word him seiden al swa hit s[oð] iwarð.
Hal beo þu Brutus Þu ert þe hexste of us.
Nu hafð Goffar þe king igadered his ferde.
muchel ferd & riche & heȝe word he spekeð.
þat alle heo wullet quellen quic þat heo findeð.
& þa scipen to-draȝen & þa wif drenchen.
Nulleð heo leaue nenne of ous a-liue.
Brutus nom al his ȝunge folc & hem to scipe fusede.
& alle his æhte his folc bitahte.
& to heom seide Brutus þe sele.
Ȝe beoð mine leofe men Hercniað mine lare.
Ne cume ȝe neauer wi[ð]-vten scipes bord ær ich ou sende sutel. word.
wheðer ich maȝe þe ufere hond habben of þan kinge.
Brutus nom his cnihtes & iwende forð-rihtes.
to þon ilke weie þer him iwised wes.
þer þe king walde forð mid muchelere his ferde.
To-gadere heo comen hardliche heo on-sloȝen.
þer wes swiðe strong feht feollen þe feie.
þer wes moni steap mon mid stele to-swngen.
Longe a dai leste þat feht þer feol moni god cniht.
Corineus com quecchen & to him-seolfe queð.
A-wæi Corineus Nere þu icoren kempa.
Cuð nu þine strengða & þina stepa main.
& þisse Peytisce folc fal to þe grunde.
Corineus heom rasde to swa þe rimie wulf.
þane he wule on scheapen scaðe-werc wrchen.
Breid he mid swiðeren hond a sweord muchel & swi[ð]e strong.
al þat he þer-mid hitte al hit a-dun healde.
Neora þa bearn nea swa strong þah he hefde brunie on.
ȝif he hine mid sweorde at-ran nea ras he neuer-mare.
Þa he hefde twa hundred mid sweorde to-hewen.
þa brac þat sweord in his hond riht bi þere hilte.
Þa wes wroð Corineus & þas word cleopede.
Wa wrðe auer þene smið þa þe mid honden smeo[ð]ðede.
Corineus abuten bi-heold for þe bearn was abolȝen.
& igrap of onnes monnes honde ana wiæx swiðe stronge.
al þat he neh com þer-mid he hit aquelde.
Þe king sette to fleonne & al þa ferde eafter.
& Corineus heom eafter com kenliche swiðe.
& heom to clepede þe unimete kempa.
Goffar mid þire ferde wi wolt þu fleam makian.
Ne miht þu na-wiht so fleon ȝif þu us wlt heonne fleman.
þu most swiþer fehten er we heonne iwenden.
Ne ganninde ne ridinde ne durste him nan abiden.
Þe king hefde enne þein swiþe heard he was i-haten Suard.
he bi-heold Corineum þe heom after com.
Suard hefde to i-feren þreo hundred ridearen.
he wende on-ȝean sone & he ohtliche feaht.
Nes hit noht longe þat Suard mihte stonde.
for Corineus him geinde to mid his guð-strencðe.
he gurde Suard on þat hæfd þat he grund sohte.
& he hine for-smat a-midden a twa riht bi þon ribben.
Nes þer nan swa stæðeli þat lengore mihte stonden.
Corineus heom to-brutte ban & heora ribbes.
& [ȝ]eond þat lond he heom to-draf moni þusend þar abad.
Þat folc þat flei Corineum þat com to Brutun.
& alle heo slowen þat heo neih comen.
Þe king Goffar iseih his burst & un-æðe him-seolf at-breac.
he fleih ut of his londe & bi-læfde his leode.
In-to France he ferde þer he freond funde.
to þon kaisere & to his tueolf iferen.
and tolde heom of þan balwe þe Brutus him hefde idon.
Inne Franse weren italde twelfe iferan.
þa Freinsce heo cleopeden dusze pers þa weren drihtliche men.
kinges heo weoren icleopede þat heo ofte cu[ðd]en.
Heo bi-hæihten Goffaren þen kinge þat heo hine wreken wolden.
wreken hine of his unwines þat him þe [eðere] weorra.
Heo senden ȝeond al France & buden heora ferda.
fulle seouen nihte heo somenede cnihtes.
& Brutus ladde his ferde in Armorichen earde.
& he wes swiðe bliðe for his muchele biȝate.
Ȝeond þat lond he gon ernen & þa tunes for-bearnen.
& herȝede þat lond & tæh hit to his aȝre hond.
Al þat lond he wiste & al he hit awalde.
Swa he ferde mid his here þat he on ænne hul bi-com.
He wes feir & heih & he hine swiðe bi-heold.
He nom ræd æt his monnen þat he wolde þar castel makian.
Þa þe castel vp stod he wes strong & swiðe god.
Nes hit buten lutel wile þat Goffar king com him liðen.
mid vnimete ferde of Frenchisce folke.
& of alle þon londen þa leȝen into France.
Þa Goffar þe king þene castel kennede
swa swiðe wa him was þat al his wit he for-læs.
Swiðe he fusde þider-ward kene his ferde.
heo to-dælden heom atweolfa & t[uȝen] on alchere halue.
& þa Troynisce men heom comen aȝein.
& anan leiden to þan grunden of þane Freinsce þreo þusende.
Þa Freinsce weoren isturmede & noðelas heo stal makeden.
& heo bi niðinges beard driuen heom on-ȝeinwærd.
Brutun & his kempan heo driuen into þan castle.
& in þera ilke uore heo fælden of his i-ueren.
& æl dai heo ræmden & resden to þan castle.
þat com to þere nihte þat lengre heo ne mihten.
I þon castle wes muchel dred a þa mid-niht heo nomen read.
þat heo wolden Corineum to þon wode senden.
mid alle þon folke þat he hefde on his ferde.
& ferden vt swa stille swa heo stelen wolden.
in-to ane þicke wode þa þer on uest wes.
Brutus wes i þon castle & hine wel wuste.
A-marwen þo hit dawede & dai com to folke.
Brutus wes on-bolȝen swa bið þa wilde bær.
wenne hundes hine bistondeð i þon wode-londe.
Brutus hehte his beornes don on heora burnan.
& heora wæpne gode for heo to feht sculden.
Vp heo duden heora castles ȝæten & cofliche vt wenden.
fusden to þan Freinscan & heo hem to-ȝan fengen.
Þær wes feiht swiðe strong on alche halue hit wes stor.
þer wes monies kunnes folc & moni cniht feie.
Þer hefde Brutus enne mæi haihte Turnus.
swa wod he was to fehte þat he feie iwerð.
He feolde þa Frensca on feole kunne wisen.
mid his aȝene honden he falde monie hundred.
ah he ferde to feor ut from his iueren.
& heo him to liðden on elchere siden.
mid wepnen hine wundeden & seoððen hine slowen.
Brutus hine funde dead & into þane castle dude.
& þer-inne bi-buriȝede bi ane stan walle.
Þuru þan ilka Turnus Turs wes ihaten.
Turuine al þat lond þurh Turnus deaðe.
Brutus ferde ut & fusde to fihte.
wreken he wolde his teonen & Turnus his wine leoue.
To-gadere heo comen & grundliche on-slowen.
þer wes bil ibeat þer wes balu muchel.
& feht unimete fæie þer feollen.
Þat feht wes wnder strong þa Corineus of wode com.
mid michelene ferde Brutun to fulste.
Brutus wes on ane half Corineus an oðer.
Heo letten to-gliden gares swiþe scarpe.
heo qualden þa Frensce alle þa heo funden.
þus heo westen þat lond & slowen þa leoden.
Nes næuer þa mon iboren ne swa wis mon icoren.
þe cuðe i þon daȝe tellen of þan deade.
hu monie þusende þer weoren ileid to grunde.
Þa bleou Brutus & bonnede his ferde.
& speken to-gadere of feole wisdomes.
& funden on ræde þat heo faren wolden.
Heo letten lude clepian & cuðen ȝeond þat ferde.
þat Brutus þe sele to þare sæ wolde.
Swa heo ferden to heora scipa mid allen heora uenge.
& mid seoluere & mid golde þa wes Goffares kinges.
& þere Freinsce monnen þe i þon feht for-worðen.
Heo ferden ut of hauene þa heleðes weren bliðe.
wind stod on willen ploȝede þe wilde fisc.
þet water wes swiðe god gumen weoren bliðe.
Lið[d]en þa leoden þat heo on londe comen.
æt Dertemuðe i Totenes wel wes Brutus þes.
Þa scipen biten on þat sond & al þat folc eode an lond.
Þa hefde Brutus þa ȝeue þat Diana him bi-heihte.
i Logice þan eit-londe þer heo weoren at-stonden.
Muchel wes þa murðe þe þat folc makode.
& heo Godd þonkeden mid þeu-fulle worden.
þat heo heora wil-daȝes wælden weoren.
Heo funden i þon londe twenti eotandes stronge.
Heora nomen ne herdi neuer tellen a leoda ne a spella.
boten þes anes name þa heore alre lauerd wes.
Geomagog ihaten þat was þe heihste.
Godes wiðer-saka þe Wrse hine luuede.
Brutus & his gode folc under-ȝeten þeos feondes.
& heora stelane flon fusden to þon feonden.
Þa flan heom weoren laðe & heo liðden to þon munten.
& i þon wilderne an hudlese wuneden.
Hit ilomp on ane daȝe þat Brutus & his duȝeðe.
makeden halinesse mid wrscipen heȝen.
mid mete & mid drinchen & mid murie gleo-dreme.
mid seoluer & mid golde þe elche bar an honde.
mid horsen & mid scruden blisse wes on hirede.
wes al þat folc swa bliðe swa heo neoren nauer er on liue.
Þa comen þære twenti teon of þan munten.
eotendes longe muchele & stronge.
Heo tuȝen alle to-gadere treon swiðe muchele.
heo leopen to Brutus folke þer heo hurtes duden.
In are lutle stunde heo slowen fif hundred.
mid stocken & mid stanen stal-feht heo makeden.
& þa Troynisce men mid strengðe wenden aȝein.
heo letten gliden heora flan & þa eotendes fluȝen.
& heo letten heom to gæres liðen.
Þa heo best wende to fleonne þa weoren heo faie.
Þa niȝentene heo slowen Geomagog heo nomen.
& he quic wes ibroht bi-foren Brutone.
Brutus hine lette witen wel mid þan beste.
for to leten fondien of his main stronge.
to wreastlene bi-foren Brutus Geomagog & Corineus.
Brutus hit demdæ uppen ære dune.
vppen þære sæ-cliua þat folc com to-some.
Forð com Corineus & fusde hine sulfne.
& þe eotend al-swa þat alle hit bi-heolden.
Þer wes moni wepmon þer wes moni wifmon.
þer wes muchel folc at þere wrastlinge.
Heo ȝeokeden heora earmes & ȝarweden heom-seoluan.
breoste wið breoste banes þer crakeden.
Heo scuten heora sconken þa scalkas weoren stronge.
Heo hurten heora hafden hæleðes bi-heolden.
Ofte heo luten a-dun alse heo wolden liggen.
ofte heo up lupan alse heo fleon wolden.
laðliche læches heo leite[d]en mid eȝan.
Al was heora gristbatinge al swa wilde bares eȝe.
Whil heo weoren blake & ladliche iburste
whil heo weoren ræde & hehliche wenden.
heora eiþer wilnada oðer to wælden.
mid wiȝeleden mid wrenchen mid wunderliche strengðen.
Geomagog hine bi-þouhte & þudde Corineum.
frommard his breoste & breid eft on-ȝein.
brac him bi þon rugge feower of his ribben.
vfele he hine mærde ah na-wiht he hit ne mende.
Ful lutel þer wæs wone þat Corineus nas ouer-come.
Neoþelas he hine bi-þoute wat he don mahte.
Nom him heorte to & streahte his ærmes.
& breid Geomagog þat him þe rug for-berst.
igrap hine bi þon gurdle & him grimliche heaf.
Wes þa clude swiðe heh þer heo acliue fuhten.
Corineus hine fælde & hine fusde mid mæine.
aduneward þa clude þat his ban to-cluuen.
þat al þe feond to-barst ær he to folde come.
& þus þe hæȝe scaðe ferde to helle.
Nu & æuer-mare haueð þat clif þare.
nome on ælche leode þat þat weos Geomagoges lupe.
& mid swilce ræde þas eotentes weoren deade.
Nu wes al þis lond i-ahned a Brutus hond.
Þa hæfde þa Troinisce men ouer-comen heora teonen.
þa weoren heo bliðe on heora breost-þonke.
þa makeden heo hus & hæle[ð]es sikere.
Heo makeden tunes heo tileden on eorðen.
cornes heo seowen. medewen heo meowen.
al heo tileden ase heo to þohten.
for al hit wes heora aȝen þat heo ouer seȝen.
Þis lond was ihaten Albion þa Brutus cum her-on.
þa nolde Brutus na-mare þat hit swa ihaten weore.
ah scupte him nome æfter him-seluan.
He wes ihaten Brutus þis lond he clepede Brutaine.
& þa Troinisce men þa temden hine to hærre.
æfter Brutone Brutuns heom cleopede.
& ȝed þe nome læsteð & a summe stude cleouie[ð] faste.
Brutus ȝef Corineum þe wes his kempa de[or]a.
ana dala of his londa & sette hit him an honda.
Þe lauerd hehte Corineus & þat lond Corinee.
Seo[ð]ðen þurh þa leoden þe i þon londa weoren.
heo clepeden hit Cornwaile þurh heora sotliche cure.
Heora aȝene speke Troinisce & seoððen heo hit cleopeden Brutunisc.
ah Englisce men hit habbe[ð] awend seoððen Gurmund com in þis lond.
Gurmund draf out þe Brutuns & his folc wes ihaten Sexuns.
of ane ende of Alemaine Angles wes ihaten.
of Angles comen Englisce men and Engle-lond heo hit clepeden.
Þa Englisce ouer-comen þe Brutuns & brouhten heom þer neoðere.
þat neofer seoððen heo ne arisen ne her ræden funden.
Brutaine hefde Brutus & Cornwaile Corineus.
Brutus nom alle his freond þe comen in his ferde.
neh him he heom lænde for heo him leofe weoren.
Corineus him cleopede to alle his icorene.
alle he heom lænde þer heom wes alre leofest.
Weox þet folk & wel i-þaih for ælc hefde his iwillen.
Inne lut ȝeren firste wes þat folc swa muchel.
þat þer nas nan ende of folke swiþe hende.
Brutus hine bi-þohte & þis folc bi-heold.
bi-heold he þa muntes feire & muchele.
bi-heold he þa medewan þat weoren swiðe mære.
bi-heold he þa wateres & þa wilde deor.
bi-heold he þa fisches bi-heold he þa fuȝeles.
bi-heold he þa leswa & þene leofliche wode.
bi-heold he þene wode hu he bleou bi-heold he þat corn hu hit greu.
al he iseih on leoden þat him leof was on heorten.
Þa bi-þohte he on Troyȝen þer his cun teone þoleden.
and he li[ðd]e ȝeond þis lond & scæwede þea leoden.
He funde wunsum ane stude vppen ane watere.
þær he gon aræren riche ane burhe.
mid bouren & mid hallen mid hæȝe stan walle.
Þa þe burh wes i-maked þa wes he swiðe mare.
þa burh wes swiðe wel idon & he hire sette name on.
he ȝef hire to hire tirfulne name Troye þe Newe.
to munien his ikunde whone he icomen weore.
Soððen þa leodene longe þer-after.
leiden adun þene noma & Trinouant heo nemneden.
Binnen feola wintre hit iwerð seo[ð]ðen.
þat aræs of Brutus kunne þat was an heh king.
Lud wes i-haten þas burh he luuede swiðe.
Þe king i þere burh wonede swiðe feola wintre.
he lette heo lude clepian ȝond his leod-folke.
hehte heo nemnen Kaerlud æfter þone kinge.
Seo[ð]ðen com oþer tir & neowe tidinde.
þat men heo clepeden Lundin ouer al þas leode.
Seoððen comen Englisce men & cleopeden heo Lundene.
Se[ð]ðen comen þa Frensca þa mid fehte heo bi-wonnen.
mid heora leodðeawe & Lundres heo hehten.
Þus is þas burh i-uaren se [ð]ðen heo ærest wes a-reræd.
þus is þis eit-lond i-gon from honde to hond.
þet alle þa burhȝes þe Brutus iwrohte.
& heora noma gode þa on Brutus dæi stode.
beoð swiðe afelled þurh warf of þon folke.
Þa Brutus hefde imaked þa hehȝe burh þa Neowe Troie was ihaten.
& he lette fusen þar-to muchel of his folke.
He heom bi-tahte þa burh & iȝearwed mid þan beste.
& he heom onleide þat weoren lawen gode.
He hehte þat luue scolde liðen heom bi-tweonen.
ælc halden oðren riht. ba bi daie & bi nith.
& wea-swa nolde he sculde beon iwite.
& swa vfele he mihte don þat he sculde beon ihon.
For swulchen eiȝe gode heo hefden muchele drede.
& bi-comen riht-wise men & rædes heo luueden.
Hæfde [Brutus] þis lond fower and twenti winter. on his hond
& of Ignogen his quene he hefde þreo sunen scene.
Þa heora fader wes dead alle heo nomen enne read.
& hine bi-burien in Newe Troye þere burhȝe.
þat heora fader hefde i-maked mid muchelere blisse.
Seððen þa þreo broðeren hi to-gadere comen.
æl mid seahte & al mid luue þas leode to-dælden.
Þe ældeste broðer Locrin wes ihaten.
þe wes þe wiseste þe wes þe warreste.
þe wes þe strengeste stif he wes on þonke.
He hæfde to dæle þat suð lond þat æfter him Locres wes icleped.

& Cambert hehte þe oðer þat wes þe midleste broðer.
him þat lond to dale com þat Cambrie wes ihaten.
þat is þat wilde lond þat Welsce men luuieð.
Se[ð]ðen hit is icleped Wales for þere quen Galoes.
& for þan duke Gualun Wælsce men me heom hateð.
Þe þridde broðer hehte Albanac seoððen Humber hine bi-swac.
Albanac nom his lond i þon norð ende.
þat nu ure leodene Scot-lond clepiað.
ah Albanac on his daȝe Albanie hit clepede.
Locrines mær eode suð & east forð Albanac hefde al þat norð.
Camber hefde al him-sulf bi westen Sæuarne.
Þo þa þre breðeren hefden þis lond þa luueden heom þeos leoden.
mid sibben & mid sahten seouentene winter.
Æfter seouentene ȝere sone þer-æfter
cum liðen to londe. þat wes an leodisc king
Humber was ihaten. king of Hunuze
vuele weoren his þewes. his þeines weoren kene
He hefde moni lond a-west. & leodene bi-swikene.
& moni hundred eit-londe þa weoren bi sæ-stronde.
mesten-dal alle heonne to Alamaine.
Humber king & al his fleote & his muchele scip-ferde.
comen on Albanac[k]es londe. & fuhten wið his leoden.
mid fure & mid here mid feole kunne hærme.
Albanac him fusde to mid muclan his ferde.
& heo to-gadere comen kempen þer feollen.
Al Albanakes folc folden i-seohten.
buten whilc þat þer at-wond þurh wode burȝe.
& þer was Albanac him-seolf i-slawen in þon fehte.
& swlcne hærm in þon londe dude Humber þe stronge.
Þat folc þe on þan fehte at-wond fluȝen of þan londe.
in-to Brut-londe to Locrine þon stronge.
Heo seiden him to soðe sorhfulle spelles.
þat dead wes his broðer Albanac & hu Humber hine bi-swac.
To-gædere comen mid soðe þat weoren þa tweiene broðeren.
Locrin & Camber & al heora leoden.
mid alle þon kniten þe heo biȝeten mihten.
Heo ferden toward Humber mid hæȝere strengðe.
& Humber wes swa swiðe wod. for al þat lond on him stod.
he ferde ouer Scotte water mid alle his wælkempan.
& mid bisie i-fihte Brut-lond heo wolden iwinnen.
Locrin & Camber comen heom to-ȝeines.
heo stureden heora wepnan wane wes on folke.
Þer Humber ferde to baluæ & Bruttus weoren bliðe.
Al his folc he losede þer þurh Locri[n] & Camber.
& him-seolf mid wæne ferde into ane watere.
Þer-inne he adronc & mid him muchel folc.
For Humber kinges deaðe Humbre was ihaten.
Humber wi[ð] swiðe mucle an here in Alemaine hefde iherȝed.
& hefde þat lond swiðe awest & þat folc swiðe awemmed.
He nom of þan mon-kunne þreo swiðe feire mæidene.
Þeo an wes ihaten Astrild anes hahȝes kinges dohter.
þa alre feireste wifmon þe þa wunede on folke.
Þas mæidenes weoran i þan scipen mid Humbres monnen.
þe wuste Humberes fæi þe whilen he wende to fehten.
Þa Humber was dead in Humbre adrunken.
Locrin & Camber to þon scipen comen.
for to habben al þa æhte þe Humber king aute.
Imong þon scipmonnen i funden þa þreo maidenes.
Locrin iseh þer Æstrild & he heo leofliche bi-heold.
& he heo mid armen inom eð him wes on heorten.
& he hire to seide Sel þe scal iwurðen.
wifmon þu eart hende & ic þe wlle habben.
mid wurðscipen hæȝe to richen are quene.
þa while þe ic libbe oðer nulle ic habben.
for þe ic am swa bliðe swa næs I næuer ær on liue.
Þa ȝet leouede Corineus þe in Cornwaile wes dux.
nefde he bute æne dohter ah heo wes him swiðe deore.
Locrin him hefde on foreward habben þat he heo wolde.
& he heo hæfde i hond-fæst at-foren his hired-monnen.
ah for Æstrilde luue he heo wolde bi-læuen.
Þis iherde Corineus þe wes in Cornwaile dux.
þet his leoue dohter wes Locrin at-laðed.
Corineus wes un-eðe & wa on his mode.
He ferde to þisse londe þat he com to Locrine.
He lædde on his exle ane muchele wi-eax.
He stod bi-foren Locrine & laðelich him lokede on.
& þas word him iqueð Corineus þe kempa.
Seie me Locrin saie me læðe mon.
saie me þu ebare sot seorwe þe beoð ȝeueðe.
ne scal þe nan man scilden wið scondliche deaðe.
Þu hauest mine dohter þat is mi bearn deore
& me seolfan iscend þer-fore þu scalt scrinkin.
Ic liðde mid þine fader & ledde his ferde.
moni swinc moni swæt monine seorhfulne pleiȝe.
moni grimne reas moni greatne dunt.
moni ane wnde moni wnderlic feht.
þolede ich on folde bi-foren Brutone.
þe wes mi deore wine mi drihliche lauerd
Þer-fore þu scalt beon feie. for nes he neuer þi fader
for ȝif þu were Brutus sune ne deodest þu me nane sceome.
For his luue moni eotend ic leide dead a þene grund.
an þu mi muchele swinc mid sare forȝeldest.
bi-leafest feier & sceone mine dohter Guendoleine.
for al-þeodisc meiden Æstrild ihate.
Þu nast of whulche londe heo com heder liðen.
ne whulc king is hire fader ne whulc quen hire moder.
Ah þu scalt habben for hire luue þat þe is alre laðest.
þat al þu scalt to-scæne mid scearpe mire eaxe.
Corineus up ahof & his eax adun sloh.
and smat in enne muchele stane þer Locrin stod vuenan.
Þe stan al to-sceande & Locrin at-sturte.
Alle heo hiȝeden to an elcher halfe.
& to-deleden heom atwa teona wes on hirde.
þer wes moni hah word.
& þa alre seleste eoden to-sumne
hulden muchel husting. þa hehste of þan hirde.
þat heo nolden iþolian for al-þeodene gold.
þat þeos laððe weore bi-tuxe Corineo & Locrine.
Ah we wlleð ræden & we wlleð runan.
þat weo nimen Wændoleine Locrine to are quene.
& halden alle vre aðes bi-twux Corineo & Locrine.
& halden hiredes luue mid soð-fasten huiȝe.
& senden Æstrilde vt of þissen londe.
& Locrin þis biluuede for hit wes his leodene read.
He nom Guendoleine & hefde heo to wiue
& he hit seide soð þeih hit nere.
þat he wolde Æstrilde senden vt of londe.
Ah ne dude he nawiht swo for swiken he þohte.
ah he nom his enne hired-mon þe he wel trowede on.
& hehte hine swiðe stille steolen vt of hirede.
& hehte hine faren to þon tune þe Trinouant wes ihaten.
þe wes on vre leoden Lundene ihaten.
& þar an hiȝinge þurh-ut alle þinges.
makian an eorð-hus. eadi & feier.
þe walles of stone þe duren of whales bone.
& þat inne swiðe feire stude from socne þes folkes.
& dude þer-inne muchel col & claðes i-nowe.
pælles & purpras & guldene ponewæs.
muchel win muchel wex muchel wunsum þing.
& seoððen forð-rihtes wende al bi nihte.
& mid stilliche ginne brohte Æstrild þer-inne.
Þus dude þes riche mon. swa Locrin hine hefde ihaten.
for euer-ulc god mon ah his lauerdes heste to don.
Seouen ȝer wes Astrild i þissen eorð-huse.
þat neuer ne ferde heo wið-uten dore ne na mon heo þer nuste.
buten þe king Locrin & his iueren mid him.
Þonne he to Trinouant wende þenne seide he to Wendoleine.
þat he wolde beon seoueniht þære & his godd hure.
inne diȝelnesse & elles he ne durste.
þat ei mon wuste whet he þer sohte.
Guendoleine him ilefede luðere weren his craftes.
Þus ferde Locrin þe wilde þat Astrild wes mid childe.
& Guendoleine al-swa mid childe heo weren ba twa.
Ane dohter hefde Æstrild inne þon eorð-huse.
þe king heo lette fulwen æfter þon lawen þe stoden a þon ilke dawen.
heo wes ihaten Abren nes feirure child nan.
& Guendoleine hefde enne sune an heorte hire wes þa bet.
Madan he was ihaten heh sune þes kinges.
Þis child weox & wel iþei & al folk hit wes leof.
Þa he cuðe gan & speken wið folke.
þe king Locrin hine nom his feire sune Madan.
& to Corinee hine sende in-to his londe.
þat he hine sculde wel i-teon & tuhlen him teachen.
& swa he dude mid mæine þa while þe he mihte.
Þa com þe time gliden þa ælc monne abideð.
þat Corineus þe stronge makede his liues ende.
Þet iherde þe king hit wes him swiðe queme.
Þa he wuste to soðe þat Corineus was dead.
he nom of his hirde tweolf hende men.
& Guendoleine he sende into hire fader londe.
in-to Cornwaile in-to hire cuððe.
Þa wæs Guendoleine at hame & hire sune Madan.
& swiðe heo hit mænde to alle monnen.
þe hire fader wolde þe while he wes on liue.
Heo gæderede to-sumne alle hire sibbe. freond
& alle þa knites þe heo biȝeten mihte.
& alle þat cuðe folk þat hire freond weoren.
& alle þa vncuðe to hire comen.
of wel feola londe for seoluere & for golde.
& heo rumliche hit ȝef gode þon kempan.
& bæd heom for heora wurðscipe wreken hire teonan.
Hæfde Locrin þe king inomen to him Æstrild.
heo wes him iqueme & he heo hæfde to quene.
Vnder þissere blisse þer comen muchele burstes.
Me cudde Locrine þe wes þisse leodene king.
þat Guendoleine mid ferde fusde to þisse londe.
to wreken hire teona of þon kinge & of þer quene.
Þe king mid his folke fusde hire to-ȝeines.
& heo to-gadere comen vppen ane watere.
þat water hatte Stoure þat feiht was swiðe sturne.
inne Deorsete Locrin deað þolede.
on arwe him com to heorte þat he adun halde.
þer he wes feie & muchel of his ferde.
& þa quike men at-flowen & muchel fleam makeden.
Guendoleine hæfde þa vfere hond & iahnede hire al þis lond.
& heo ferde to þan castle þer Æstrild wes inne.
heo nom Æstrild & Abren & lette heom ibinden.
& lette heom worpen in ane deope watere.
þer heo adronken & þer heo deað þoleden.
Þa wes Guendoleine leodene læfdi.
Þa hehte heo ane heste mid haiȝere witte.
þat me sculde þat ilke water þer Abren wes adrunken.
clepien hit Auren for þane mæidene Abren.
& for Locrines lufe þe wes hire kine-louerd.
þe streonede Abren vppen Astrild.
Þa hefde heo isclawen þene king & þa neowe quene & heora child.
& Auren hatte ȝet þas æ at Cristes-chirche heo falleð i þare sæ.
Guendoleine wes swiðe strong for al Brutenne wes on hire hond.
& heo was swa swiðe wel bi-þouht þat ælche monne heo dude riht.
Ælch mon mihte faren ȝend hire lond þaih he bere ræd gold.
Ten ȝer heo wes mid Locrine often heo hæfde seorwe & pine.
Fiftene ȝer and niȝen dawæs seoððen Locrin wes dead.
al Brutaine heo wuste. wel mid þon beste.
inne griðe & in friðe wun wes on folke.
Seoððen heo ȝef Madan an hond al his fader kine-lond.
To Cornwaile he ferde aȝein þe hire fader ahte.
& þer heo wonede in þon londe þa leoden weoren þe bliðre.
Madan hire sune nom a wif þe wes swiðe hende.
Bi hire he hæfde twein sunen ah beine heo weoren unseli.
Menbriz haihte þe aldre Malin þe ȝungre.
Ah fourti wintre heore fader Madan mid mensca heold his riche.
& þa his liues ende com he wende swiðe wel to don.
his tuæin sunan he sette on hond al his riche kine-lond.
Ah þa heora fader wes dæd þe sunen duden vuelne ræd.
Bi-tweonen heom aræs wal[e] & win wiðer heo weoren beien.
sleȝht & muchel seorwa al for heora uniselðe.
Ah Menbriz dude vnwreste he wes swike mid þan meste.
wið Malin his broðer he nom grið & bi-hahte to halden frið.
& swa he nom enne dai þat come heore drihtliche folc.
to makian saht & some bi-tuxen him & his bro[ð]er.
A þon daie þat wes iset þa comen heo to-sumne.
Membriz hefde inomen þat grið ah sone he makede unfrið.
he dude þer serwe inoh for þer he his broðer of-sloh.
& þus he iwon al þis lond þat hit stod on his awene hond.
Membriz hatede al his cun for non nes him iqueme.
þa riche he makede wrecchas þa hæne hine awarieden.
Ȝif þar was swa hah mon þat he ne durste fordon.
mid attere he hine adrengte þat he sone dæd wes.
A wif he nom swiðe hende enne sune on hire he streonede.
Ebrauc he wes i-cleped ȝeond al he wes cuð.
Menbriz dude an vuel weorc & him ec þa wrse ilomp.
vuel þing him wes iqueme he for-heowede al his quene.
His hired-men he nom to bedde & wifmen he al bilafde.
Twenti ȝer he heold þis lond þa leoden al to hærme.
& seoððen him a time com mid teonen he wes i-funden.
þat he to wode wende. to wundre him-seoluan.
to huntien after deoren werfore he deð þolede.
In þon wode he funde feier ane hinde
þa hunten wenden æfter mid muchelen heora lude.
Swa swiðe heo liððeden forð þat þe king heom for-leas.
þat nefde he næfer enne of alle his monnen.
He bi-com in a bæch þer he bale funde.
vppen ane weorede of wlfan awedde.
Heo him to lupen on alchere halue.
& to-luken þene king & his leomen to-drowen.
& his hors al-swa. þat deade heo weoren bo twa.
& þus ferde Membriz þe his broðer bi-swac Malin.
Enne sune he hafde bi seoluan his quene.
þe was ihaten Ebrauc æðelest alre kingen.
þe æuer sculde halden lond oþer bi-witen leode.
Al his cun he wurðede richen & wrecchen.
þa richen he lette beon stille. þa wrecchen hefden heore wille.
þat lond heo lette tilien him tuwen hired-men to.
blisse wes on londe a feole kunne þinge.
Heo heold swiðe god grið ne breac na man his frið.
Cnihtes he hæfde gode stronge & wode.
heo wilneden after worre for heom wes heora Drihten wroð.
Þe king hit wel wuste þeh he hit suggen ne durste.
He lætte bi sæ-flode ȝearkien scipen gode.
vmben ane stunde þa scipen ȝaru weoren.
& he dude þer-inne his drihtliche cnites.
& sende heom in-to France mid muchelere ferde.
& heo herȝeden France & feor þer bi-ȝeonden.
& alle þa londes þa þer-to leȝen.
Muchel wes þa gersume þe heo hæfden inome.
& comen eft hider ham al isund & ihal.
Þes wes þe æreste king þe ferde vt to ræuing.
þat ouer sæ wende vt of þisse londe.
Swiðe longe þer-after wes al þis leodisc folc.
vnimete riche of þere ræuinge.
Þa com hit to mode Ebrauc þon gode.
þat he wolde bulden twa burh stronge.
He nom his folc & ferde forð & droh him rites norð.
a ðas half Scotlonde þer he wolde at-stonde.
Ærest he makede ane burh & Kaer Ebrauc heo clepede.
þa oðer on are dune Adud he heo hahte.
Þa heo wes icleped Kaer Ebrauc seððen wes icleped Eborac.
Seoððen comen vncuðe men & Eoverwic heo hahten.
& þa norþerne men nis hit nawiht ȝeare.
þurh ane unþewe Ȝeorc heo ihæhten.
Þa ferde þe king norður ma & ane neowe burh makede.
vppen Angnetes munte mærliche feier.
Maidene Castel he wes icleoped nat ich for wan hit was swa idon.
Ebrauc leofede swiðe longe. & lond heold mid mensce.
Sixti winter he wes king i griðe he heold his kine-lond.
Ah he hæfde moni wif þe his cun of a-wachede.
he hefde on liue tuenti sunen. and alc hefde sundri moder.

he wes þritti dohtrenne fader. þeo wifmen weoren feire.
Of his sunen hercne þa nomen & ich heo þe wulle nemnen.
Brutus Uært Escut. Margadud Sisiluius. Regin Bladud.
Moruit. Lagon. Ebedloan Ricar. Spaden. Gaul. Pardan.
Ældad. Gangu. Kerin. Luor Ruc. Assarac. Buel. Hector.
Þeos weoren Ebraukes sunen þes aðeles kinges.
His dohter nomen hercna nu þa hæȝe weoren iborene.
Þa eldeste was ihaten Gloigin Ocidas. Ourar Ignogen.
Guardid Radan. Guendlian. Angarad. Guenboden Meðelan.
Malure. Ecub. Zangustel. Scadud. Kambreda Methahel.
Gaz. Echem. Nest. Gorgon. Wladus. Ebræn Blangru. Egron
Bedra. Aballac. Eangnes Andor. Scadiald. Galoes.
Efter þissere Galoes Wales wes inemned.
Galoes wes feirest of alle þan oðren.
leouest þone kinge of þan sustren & of þon breoð[er]en.
& Anoþer wes alre best itowen hire tuhtlen weren gode
Gloigin hehte þa alre elduste þeo wes þurh alle þing þa æðeleste.
alle heo weoren wel bi-hedda.
Þe king of Lumbardie Siluius he wes heora nexta cunnes-mon.
richeliche he nom his sonde & sende to Ebrauke kinge of þisse londe.
He bad hine senden him alle his dohtren.
& he heom wolde ȝeuen richen his monnen.
swiðe riche cnihten of Troinisce cunne.
þa weoren in Lumbardie of heore strund þah stræmes heom todæleden.
& þa wifmen of Lumbardie weoren heom swiðe laðe.
for þi þe king sende after þisse maidenen to ȝeuen his riche monnen.
swa he dude & þus hit wes wa wes Lumbardisce folc þes.
Þa hefde þe king Siluius his wille & Lumbardie he walde.
& al his Troinisce cun tuhten to him-seoluan.
Summe þa breo[ð]eren Ebraukes sunen comen þider mid heora sustren.
Heo biȝeten wepnen heo biȝeten scipen heo biȝeten men þe heom cuðen witen.
heo senden ouer al þan ærde to biȝeten muchele ferde.
Þa comen þas cnihtes ut of Brutaine ferden of Lumbardie to Alamaigne.
Assarac þe com ut of þissen eard his broðren hine cleopeden heora lauerd.
Heo færden mid ȝeapscipe & mid wisdome swa longe þat heo to Alamaine comen.
Muchele castles heo bigunnen heo slowen heo barnden & þæt lond bi-wunnen.
Ebrauc heora fader heold þis lond sixti winter he wes heore king.
He hæfde her his eldeste sune iholden mid him-seoluan.
his nome wes wel wide cuð he hehte Brutus Uært Escud.
Tueolf ȝer he heold þis kine-lond seoððen his fader hit bilefde.
Ænne sune he hefde ihaten Lei[l] he heold þis kine-lond after him.
fulle fif & twenti ȝer æfter his fader daie
He makede ane heȝe burh feier & hende
to imonien Lei[l] þene king & Kaer Leil heo clepede.
In alle þon norð ende nes nan burh swa hende.
Lei[l] þe king heold wel þis lond & lawen he hafde stronge.
ah toward his lifes ende him ilomp wel luðere.
þat alle his riche eorles & alle his heȝe beornes.
makeden muchel unfrið & for þon kinge heo nolden holden grið.
Nefden heo of heore kinge buten heora scærninge.
& euer-ælc wilde mon hefde al his wil to don.
Þa iwerð þe king sec þurh hefeȝere seorwe.
& sone þer-after com þe dai. þat þe king dead lai.
Þes king hefde enne sune þe wes swiðe god mon.
he wes swiðe god knit Ruhhudibras ihaten.
Þe cniht nom þæs riche & þene kinedom æke.
& niȝen & þritti winter he heold þæs leoden.
æfter leuen his fader þe Leil was ihaten.
He sette þis lond he sahtnesse wrohte.
he sette stronge lawen he wes sturne þon dusien.
he luuede þeo leoden þe his lawen heolden.
Æuer-alcne godne mon he aðelede mid gode.
he hehte hælden grið & frið vppe leome & vppe lif.
He makede ane riche burh & hehte heo Winchestre.
swlc werc him þuhte swiðe muri & seoððen he makede Cantwareburi.
& Cestesburi castel an Waladunes dune.
Ne com nauer seoððen nan swa seolcuð þing.
þat an muchel ærn spec a þon castle þer he set.
þet Ruhhudibras þe king him-seolf hit iherde.
& alle his cnihtes þe mide him weoren.
Þes fuȝel tacnede faie-sið þes kinges.
Ruhhudibras was sone dead wa wes his duhþen.
His sune hehte Bladud he wes a swiðe bisi mon.
he wes strong & swiðe muchel riche he wes & mæhti.
he cuðe þene vuele craft þat he wið þene Wurse spæc.
& al þat euer he wolde þe Wurse him talde.
Þes ilke king Bladud Baðen iwrohte.
þurh swiðe muchele ginne mid ane stæn-cunne.
al swa great swa a beam þe he leide in ane walle-stream.
Þe ilke makeð þat water hot & þan folc halwende.
He makede an temple onfest þe baðe an ære hæhtnesse nome.
þe hire nome wul ihere[n] Minerue heo was ihaten.
To hire he hefde loue. & læfdi heo hehte.
In þere temple he lette beornen enne blase of fure.
þe neuer ne aþeostrede wintres ne sumeres.
ah euer me þat fur bette swa þe king haihte.
to wrðscipe his læfdi þe leof him wes on heorten.
Þus dude Bladud þe king þat hit wes wide cuð.
Þa he hefde þus idon. þæ þohte he on oðer.
He ȝealp þat he wolde fleon on fuȝeles læche.
þat al his folc mihte iseon & his fluhtes bi-halden.
He makede his feðerhome & þaruore he hæfde muchel scome.
To Lunden he ferde mid muchelen his folke.
his feðer-home he dude him on & he his f[l]uht þer bigon.
Mid wiȝeful his fluhte. tæih him to þon lufte
he ferde swiðe hehȝe þere weolcne he wes swiðe nih.
Þe wind him com on wiðere weðeleden his fluhtes.
brecon þa strenges þe he mid strahte.
& he feol to folde þe king wes feie.
vppen are stouwe þe i Lundene stod.
Appollones temple þe wes þe tir-fulle Feond.
þe king feol on þene rof þat he al to-draf.
Þus wes þas kineriche of heora kinge bi-ræued.
Tuenti winter hafde Bladud þas kine-lond an hond.
æfter his fader Ruhhudibras þe Leil sune þes riche kinges wes.
Bladud hafde enne sune. Leir wes ihaten.
Efter his fader daie he heold þis drihliche lond.
somed an his liue sixti winter.
He makede ane riche burh þurh radfulle his crafte.
& he heo lette nemnen efter him-seoluan.
Kaer Leir hehte þe burh leof heo wes þan kinge.
þa we an ure leod-quide Leirchestre clepiað.
Ȝeare a þan holde dawen heo wes swiðe aðel burh.
& seoððen þer seh toward swiðe muchel seorwe.
þat heo wes al for-faren þurh þere leodene uæl.
Sixti winter hefde Leir þis lond al to welden.
Þe king hefde þreo dohtren bi his drih-liche quen.
nefde he nenne sune þer-fore he warð sari.
his manscipe to halden buten þa þreo dohtren.
Þa ældeste dohter haihte Gornoille þa oðer Ragau. þa þridde Cordoille.
Heo wes þa ȝungeste suster. a wliten alre va[i]rest.
heo wes hire fader al swa leof swa his aȝene lif.
Þa ældede þe king & wakede an aðelan.
& he hine bi-þohte wet he don mahte.
of his kineriche æfter his deie.
He seide to himsuluen. þat þat vuel wes
Ic wlle mine riche to-don allen minen dohtren
& ȝeuen hem mine kine-þeode & twemen mine bearnen.
Ac ærst ic wille fondien whulchere beo mi beste freond.
and heo scal habbe þat beste del of mine drih-lichen lon[d].
Þus þe king þohte & þer-æfter he worhte.
He clepede Gornoille hes guðfulle dohter.
vt of hire bure to hire fader deore
& þeus spac þe alde king. þer he on æðelen seat.
Sei me Gornoille soðere worden.
swiþe dure þeo eart me hu leof æm ich þe.
Hu mochel worȝ leste þu me to walden kineriche.
Gornoille was swiðe wær swa beoð wif-men wel ihwær.
& seide ane lesinge heore fædere þon king.
Leofe fæder dure swa bide ich Godes are.
swa helpe me Apollin for min i-læfe is al on him.
þat leuere þeo ært me æne þane þis world al clane.
& ȝet ic þe wlle speken wit þeou ært leouere þene mi lif.
& þis ich sucge þe to seoðe þu mith me wel ileue.
Leir þe king ilefde his doster læisinge
& þas ænsware ȝef. þat waes þe olde king.
Ich þe Gornoille seuge leoue dohter dure.
god scal beon þi meda for þira gretinge.
Ic eam for mire ælde swþe vnbalded.
& þou me leuoste swþe mare þan is on liue.
Ich wille mi dirhliche lond a þroe al to-dalen.
þin is þat beste deal þu ært mi dohter deore.
& scalt habben to lauerd. min alre beste þein.
þeo ich mai uinden in mine kinne-londe.
Æfter spac þe olde kinge wit his [oðer] dohter.
Leoue dohter Regau waet seist tu me to ræide
Seie þu bi-fore mire duȝ[ð]en heo dure ich am þe an herten.
Þa answærde mid rætfulle worden
Al þat is on liue nis [me] swa dure.
swa me is þin an lime forðe min ahȝene lif.
Ah heo ne seide naþing s[o]ð no more þenne hiire suste[r].
Alle hire lesinge hire uader ilefede.
Þa answarede þe king hiis doȝter him icwemde.
Þea þridde del of mine londe ich bi-take þe an honde.
þu scalt nime louerd þer þe is alre leowost.
Þa ȝet nolde þe leod-king his sothscipe bi-læuen
he hehte cumen him bi-foren. his dohter Gordoille.
Heo was alre ȝungest of soðe ȝær-witelest.
& þe king heo louede more þanne ba tueie þe oðre.
Cordoille iherde þa lasinge. þe hire sustren seiden þon kinge
nom hire leaf-fulne huie þat heo liȝen nolden.
hire fader heo wolde suge seoð were him lef were him lað.
Þeo queð þe alde king vnra[d] him fulede.
Iheren ich wlle of þe Cordoille.
sua þe helpe Appollin hu deore þe beo lif min.
Þa answarede Cordoille lude & no-wiht stille.
mid gomene & mid lehtre to hire fader leue.
Þeo art me leof al-so mi fæder & ich þe al-so þi dohter.
Ich habbe to þe sohfaste loue for we buoð swiþe isibbe.
& swa ich ibide are ich wille þe suge mare.
Al swa muchel þu bist woruh swa þu velden ært.
& al swa muchel swa þu hauest men þe wllet luuien.
for sone heo bið ilaȝe[d] þe mon þe lutel ah.
Þus seide þe mæiden Cordoille & seoððen set swþe stille.
Þa iwarðe þe king wærð for he nes þeo noht iquemed.
& wende on is þonke þat hit weren for vnðeawe.
þat he hire weore swa unwourð þat heo hine nold iwurði
swa hire twa sustren þe ba somed læsinge speken.
Þe king Leir iwerðe swa blac swlch hit a blac cloð weoren.
iwærð his hude & his heowe for he was suþe ihærmed.
mid þere wræððe he wes isweued. þat he feol iswowen.
Late þeo he up fusde þat mæiden wes afeared.
Þa hit alles up brac hit wes vuel þat he spac.
Hærne Cordoille ich þe telle wlle mine wille.
Of mine dohtren þu were me durest nu þu eært me arle læðes[t].
Ne scalt þu næuer halden dale of mine lande.
ah mine dohtren ich wlle delen mine riche
& þu scalt worðen warchen. & wonien in wansiðe
for nauere ich ne wende. þat þu me woldes þus scanden
Þar-fore þu scalt beon dæd ich wene fliȝ ut of min eæh-sene.
Þine sustren scullen habben mi kine-lond & þis me is iqueme.
Þe Duc of Cornwaile scal habbe Gornoille.
& þe Scottene king Regau þat scone.
& ic hem ȝeue al þa winne þe ich æm waldinge ouer.
& al þe alde king dude swa he hafuede idemed.
Of[te] wes þen mæidene wa & næure wors þenne þa.
[w]a hire wes on mode for hire fader wærþe.
Heo uende into hire boure þar heo ofte sætte sare.
for heo nolde liȝen hire fadder leoue.
Þat maide wes swðen swomefest for hire fader heo scunede.
& dude þene beste red. in hire bure heo abed.
& þolede þene mod-kare & mornede swþe.
& þus ane stonde hit stod æ ðon ilka.
In France wes a king riche & swiðe kene.
Aganippes wes ihaten hæleðen he wes ældere.
He wes a ȝenge king. ah quene nauede he nane
He sende hiis sande. into þisse lande
to Leir þan king. & leofliche hine gret.
He bæd hine don is iwille ȝeuen him Cordoille.
& he heo wolde habben hæȝe to are quene.
& æfter hire don ærest þat hire were alre leofust.
Feor haueden liðende men ispeken of þan mæidene.
feiȝernesse & freo-scipe at-foren þan Frensce kinge.
of hire mucla fæira wlita of hire muchela monschipe.
hu heo wes þolemod of fæire hire þeæwen.
þat nes on Leir kinges lond nan wifman al swa hende.
& þe king Aganippus igrette Leir kin þus.
Leir kin hine biþohte wat he don mohte.
he letten writen a writ & wel hit lette dihten.
& sende hit bi his sonde in Frauncene londe.
Þus spec þes kinges writ hit wes widen icuð.
Þe kinge of Bruttaine. þe Leir is haten.
greteð Aganippus. þene aldere of Fraunce.
Worðschepe haue þu þire wel-deda.
& þire feire sonde þat grete þu me woldest.
Ac ich do þe wel to witene hær bi mine writ rith.
þat mi drihliche lond atwa ich habbe ideled.
iȝeuen hit mine twam dohtren þe me beoh swiðe deore.
Dohter ich habbe þa þridda ac ne ræcche ich wær heo libbe.
for heo me for-huste & heo hold me for hæne
& for mire halde. heo me unæle[de].
heo make[de] me swa swiþe wrað. þe worse hire scal i-wurðn
of alle mine londe. ne of alle mine leode
þe ich auere biȝeat. oðer bi-ȝete mæie
ich þe sucge soð-riht na scal heo habbe nawiht.
Ac ȝef þu heo wult habben for mæide heo is hende.
ich heo wulle þe biwiten & senden ha þe in ane scipe.
mid seoluen hire claðen of me nafð heo na more.
Ȝif þu heo wult underfon al þis ilka ich wulle don.
Iseid ich habbe þene grund & þu seolf wurð al hisund.
Þis writ com to Fraunce to þan freo kinge.
He hit lette raden leof him weren þa runen.
Þa wende þe kinge þat hit were for vuele.
þat Leir kinge hire fæder heo him wolde atleden.
& he mochul a þa wodeloker wilnede þeos mæidenes.
& seide to is bornen þat wes þe bisie king.
Ich eam riche mon i-noh þat na mare ich ne rec[c]he.
ne scal neuere Leir king þat mæiden me attlede
ac ich heo wulle habben to hæ[h]ȝe[r]e are quene.
Habben heore fader al is lond al hiis seoluer and is gold.
Ne bidde ich nanne maðmes me seolf ich habben inoȝe.
bute þat mæiden Cordoille. þenne hæbbe ich mine wille
Mid writ & mid worde. he sende eft to þisse londe
& bad Leir king him sende his dohter þe wæs hende.
& he wolde wel don mid muchele worðe-scipe heo u[n]der-fon.
Þa nom þa olde king æðele his meiden.
mid seoluen hire claðes & lette heo fo[r]ðe liðen.
ofer þa stremes hire fader hire wes sturne.
Aganippus þe Frennsce king vnder-feng þis meiden child.
al hiis folc hit wes iqueme & makeden heo to quene.
& þus heo þer bi-lefde leof heo wes þon leoden.
& Leir king hire fæder luuede i ðisse londe.
& hadde iȝeuen is twain dohtren al his drihliche leand.
He ȝef Gornoille Scotlondes kinge.
he hæhte Maglaunus his mæhte weren store.
Cornwailles duke Regau is dohter.
Þa i-lomp hit seoððe sone þar-æfter.
þat þe Scottene king & þe duk speken to-gaðere.
mid heore stil rune nome hem to reda.
þat heo wolden al þis lond habben on heora hond.
& feden Leir þane king þe while þe he leouede.
dæies & nihtes mid feowerti hired-cnihtes
& heo him wolden finden. hauekes & hundes
þat he mihte riden ȝeond alle þanne þeoden.
& libben on lisse þe while þe he leouede.
Þus heo þa ispeken & eft hit to-breken.
& Leir king hit iherde & eft him wes þe worsse.
& Leir gan liðe to Scottenæ leoda.
mid Maglaune his aðume & mid þere eldre dohtre.
Me vnder-fenge þene king mid mochele feirnusse.
& wel me him dihte mid feowerti hire[d]-cnihtes.
mid horsen & mid hundes mid al þet him bi-heovede.
Þa hi-lomp hit seoððen seone þer-after.
þe Gornoille bi-þohte. whet heo don mihte
Heore þuhte swiþe eille. of æðelene hire fædere
& heo hit bi-gan to mainen. to Maglaune hire louerde
and seide him ibedde. þer heo leiin iueore
Seie me mi lauerd. monne þu ert me leouest
me þuncheð þat mi fæder. nis nowhit felle.
no he wurh-scipe ne can his wit he hauet bileued.
Me þunche[ð] þe alde mon wole dotie nou nan.
He [h]alt here fauwerti cnihtes daies and nihtes.
he haueht her þas þeines and alle heore swaines.
hundes and hauekes þer-uore we habbet harmes.
and nowher heo ne spedet and auere heo spenet.
& al þat goud þat we hem doð heo hit bluðeliche vnder-foð.
and cunnen us vn[ð]onc for ure wel-dede.
Heo doð muchel bisemære ure men hi to-betet.
mi fader hauet to monie of idele manne.
Ale þa feorðe dale lete we for[ð] fuse.
inoh he hauet on þirti to þirngen to borde.
Vs selve we habbet cokes to quecchen to cuchene.
vs sulue we habbet bermen & birles inowe.
Lete we sum þis mochele folc fare wher ha wulleð.
swa ich æuere ibiden are iðolien nulle ich hit mare.
Þis iherde Maglaunus þat is quene spilede þus.
& he hire andswarede mid aðelere spiche.
Leiuedi þu haues mochel wouh nauest þu riche-dom inoh.
Ah hald þine fæder on lisse ne luueðe he no-wiht longe.
For ȝef ferrene kinges hiherde þa tidinde.
þe we swa takede him on heo us wolden tælen.
Ah late we hine welden his folc on his willen.
and þis min aȝe ræd is for sone her-æfter he beð dead.
& ac we habben in ure hond al half is kine-lond.
Þa seide Gornoille Lauerd beo þeu stille.
let me al iwurþen & ich ham wulle atwailden.
Heo sende mid hire ginne to þare cnihtene inne
heo hahte hem faren here wæi for heo nolden hem no more feden
moni of þen þeinen. monie of þen swe[i]nen
þe þider weren icumene. mid Leir þanne kinge
Þis iherde Leir king. þar-fore he wes swuþe wrah
þa iȝedede þe king. mid ȝemeliche worden
and þus seide þe kinge. sorhful on mode
Wa worðe þan monne. þe lond haueðe mid menske
and bi-tachet hit is childe. þe while þe he mai hit walden
for ofte hit ilimpð. þat eft hit him of-þincheð
Nu ich wulle hunne faren forð-rihte to Cornwalen.
ȝernen ich wulle rædes to Regau mire dohter.
þe hauede Hemeri þe duc & mi drihliche lond.
Forhd þe king wende in-to þan suð ende.
to Regau is dochter for rædes him trukeden.
Þa he to Cornwale com he wes feire þer vnder-fon.
swa al þet halue ȝer mid al his hirede he wes þer.
Þa saide Regau to hire duc H[e]meri.
Lauerd herne þu me to fulle soþe ich sucge hit þe.
We habbet idon unwisdom. þat we mine fader habbet vnde[r]-fon
mid [þ]irtti cnihten hit nis me noht iqueme.
Do we awai þane twenti a tene beoð inohȝe
for al heo dringket and eteð & na god heo ne bi-ȝeteð.
Þa seide Hemeri þe duc þe his alde fader bi-swake.
Swa ich eæuere beo on liue ne scal he habben beote fiue.
for þer he hauet hirde hinoh for he nauyt no doð.
& ȝef he wille henne faren fuse we hine sone.
Al heo ispedden ase heo ispeken hafden.
binomen him is doȝeðe and al his drihliche folc.
nolden heo him bi-leafuen cnihtes beoten fiue
Þis iseh Leir þe king wa wes him on liue.
His mod him gon mengen he morȝnede swiðe.
and þas worde seide mid seorhfulle laichen
Wela weolla. wella. hu þu bi-swikest monine mon.
Þenne he þe treoweðe alre best on þenne bi-swikes tu heom
Nis hit nowit ȝare noht fulle twa ȝere.
þat ich was a riche king and held mine cnihtes.
Nu ich habben ibiden þat ich bare sitte
wunnen biræue[d] wa is me on liue.
Ich wes at Gornoille mire god-fulle dohter.
wu[ne]den on hire leoden mid þritti cnihtes.
þe ȝet ich mihte libben ah þenne igonne liðen.
Ich wende swiðe wel to don ac wurse ich habbe vnder-fon
Aȝen ich wulle to Scotte to scone mire docter.
ȝernen hira milcea þat heo me nele wurdea.
bidden heo me vnder-fon mid mine fif cnihten.
Þer ich wulle wunie and þolie þeos wænen
ane lutele stunde. for ne libbe ich no-wiht longe
Leir þe king wende forh. to is dohter wunede norð
Fulle þre nihtes heo hærabarewude hine. and is cnihtes
heo swor a þane ferþe dæi bi al heuenliche main.
þat ne sculde he habben mare bute enne kincte þere.
and ȝef he þet nolde ferde wuder he wolde.
Wel oft wes Leir wa and neuere wurs þanne þa.
Þa seide þe alde king æruu e was on herten.
Wallan dæð wela deað. þat þu me nelt for-demen
Seoð seide Cordoille. for cuð hit is me nouþe.
mi ȝengestte dohter heo was me wel dure.
seoððen heo me wes lea[ð]est for heo me seiden alre sohust.
þat he bið vnworð & lah. þe mon þe litul ah
and ihc nas na wurdra. þenne ich nes weldinde.
Ouer soh seiden þat ȝunge vifmon hire folweð mochel wisdom.
Þa wile þe ich hæuede mi kinelond luueden me mine leoden.
for mine londe & for mine feo mine eorles fulle to mine cneo
Nu ich æm a wrecche mon. ne leouet me no mon for þan
Ah mi dohter me seide seoh for nou ich hire ileue i-noh.
& ba twa hire susteren lasinge me seiden.
þat ich ham wes swa leof leuere þenne hire aȝe lif.
& Cordoille mi dohter dohȝeþe me seide.
þat heo me leouede swa feire swa monnes fader scolde.
Wet wold ich bidde mare of mire dohter dure.
Nu ich wullen faren feorð & ouer sæ fusen.
ihiren of Cordoille. wat beon hire wille
Hire seohðe word ich nam to grame. þar-fore ich habbe nu muchele scame
for nu ich mot bi-secchen þat þing þat ich ær for-howede.
Nule heo me do na wurse þanne hire lond forwurnen.
Leir ferde to þere sæ mid ane alpie swein.
in-to ane schipe he bi-com ne icnwo hine no mon
ouer sea icomen hauene sone. anomen.
Forð wende þe king Leir nauede he bute enne swein.
Hi axeden þa quene þat heo comen hire a neweste.
tahten heom leode wer wes þes londes quene.
Leir king wende on anne feld & reste hine on folden.
and is sw[ei]n he forð sende þe wes irad-mon hende.
to þere quene Cordoille and seide hire wel stille.
Hail wurð þu feire quene Ich eam þines fader sweine.
and þi uader is hider ikimen for al is lond is him bi-nomen.
Beoð ba þine sustren touward him for-sworene
He cumeð for neode in-to þisse leode.
and help him nu for þu miht he is þi fader alse hit is riht.
Þe quene Cordoille seæt longe swþe stille.
Heo iward reode on hire benche swilche hit were of wine-scenche.
and þe swain sæt sone þer-after him wes þe bet.
Þa alles vppe abræc hit wes god þet heo spæc.
Appollin mi lauer[d]. ich þankie þe þat mi fæder is icumme to me.
Tidinge ic ihire leoue þat mi fader on liue is.
Of me he habben scal goudne reæd bute ich beo þe raðer ded.
Seie me nuþe leo[f] swein. & harne mine lare
Ich þe wulle bi-tache a male riche
peniȝes þer buo[ð] an sunda to iwisse an hundrad punda
Ich bi-tæche þe anne hængest godna & strongna.
to læden þis garisume to leuene mine fadere
and seie him þat ich hine gret godere gretinge.
& hatine fare swiþe to hare feire burȝe.
and rumen him herberia i summe riche burie.
& bugge him alre errust þat him wes alre leouust
metes & drinches. & hende claðes
hundes & hauekes & durewurðe horses.
hal[d]e in is heose. feuwerti hired-cnihtes.
heȝe and riche bi-hongen mid ræue.
makie him god baid. & ofte hine baðie
& him blod lete lutlen and ofte.
Wenne þu wult more suluer sæche hit at me suluen.
& ich him wulle senden inoh of þisse ende.
swa neuer he ne cuðe of his alde cuððe.
cnihte ne sweine ne nauer nanne þeine.
Þenne feowerti dawes beoð agan. þenne cuðe he anan
to leue mine lauerd. þat Leir is an is londe.
icume ouer sæ-streme to isen is eastresse.
& ich hit wulle swa nimen alse ich hine nusten.
liðen him to-ȝænes. mid mine lauerde.
fainen mines lauerdes & is fæirliche cume.
Nute hit neuere nane gume buten he beo neowene icume.
& þus hit writen sende to mine lauerd kinge.
& þu þas æhte on-fo and loca þat þu wel do.
and ȝef þu heo þus dalest to godere þire hæle.
& þe swein on-feng þas ahte & to is louer[d] ferde.
to Leir þon kinge. & seide þas tidinge
þer he læi on felde and reste hine on folde.
Sone werð þe alde king wunliche iæðeled.
& þas wuord seide mid soðere stefuene.
After vuele cumeð god wel is him þe hit habbe mot.
Heo ferden to hare æȝene burh ase þe quene hæhte.
& al heo iduden efter hire lare.
Þ[a] forð wuren agan feuwerti daȝene.
þon nom Leir þe king is leouste cnihtes.
& gret Aganippum þat was his leue aðum.
& seide him bi his sond þet icume he wes to is londe.
to speken wit his dohter þe wes him swuðe dure.
Aganippus wes bliþe þet Leir wes cumen liðen.
ferde him to-ȝenes mid alle his þeines.
and þa quene Cordoille þa hauede Leir is wille.
Heo comen to-gadere & ofte heo custen.
heo uenden to burȝe blisse wes an hirede.
Þer wes bemene song. þere [ȝ]eden pipen among.
al weren þe hællen bi-hongen mid pellen.
alle þa mete-burdes ibrusted mid golde
[Ringes of golde] ælc mon hafte on honde.
mid fiþelen and mid harpen hæleðes þer sungen.
Lette þe king gan awal & lude clepien ouer-al.
and seide þat Leir kin icume wes to londen.
Nu hateð Aganippus þe is þe heȝest ouer us.
þat ȝe Leir king alle wurðe liðe.
& scal beon eouwer lauerd inne þissere leoden.
al swa fele ȝere swa he wonien wulle here
& Aganippus ure king s[c]al beon is vnder-ling.
Wha-swa wulle libba alde þas sibba
& ȝef o man hit wille breken on ueste it bi[ð] iwreken.
& wite he alle is mon þat he here haldet. on.
Þa answareda þa duȝeþa Don we hit wullet
lude and stille al þes kinges wille.
Þurð-out al þat ulke ȝer heo duden al þus þer.
mid muchelere sibba mid mocheleære seahte.
Þa þeos ȝer wes a-gon þa wold Leir king fare ham.
to þisse londe liðen and ȝernde þeos kinges leue.
Þe king Aganippus answerede him þus
Ne scalt þu neuere þider faren bute mochelere ferde.
ah ich þe wulle lanen of mine leode-folc
fif hundred schipes. ifulled mid cnihten
& al þat heom bihoueð to habben on fore.
And þine dohter Cordoille þa is þisse londes quene.
heo scall mid mochelere ferde faren mid þe
an liþen to þen londen þer þu were leodene king.
And ȝef þu miht æine finden þe þe wulle aȝen-stonde
binimen þe þine rihte & þine kine-riche.
þu ahliche ueht. & fel heo to grunde
& irum al þat lond. and sete hit Cordoille an hond
þat heo hit al habbe. efter þi[n]e daie
Þas wordes seide Aganippus. & Leir king dude þus
and al he iworhte. swa his freond him tahte.
To þisse lon[d]en he com liðen. mih leoue his dohter
He higreðe[d]e mid þane beste þe him buwen wolden.
& alle he ham fulde þe him wit feohten.
and he al þis kine-lond biwon to his aȝere hande.
& ȝef hit Cordoille þe wes Francene quene.
and hit ane stunde stod a þissene ilke.
Leir king one leoden þreo ȝer leouede.
þæ com his ende-dæi þat þe king ded læi.
Inne Leirchestre his dohter hine leide.
inne Ianies temple al swa þe b[o]c tellet.
and Cordoille heold þis lond mid hæȝere strenðe.
fulle fif ȝere quene heo wes here.
þa while Francene king fæisiðe makede.
and Cordoille com þat wourd þat heo was iworðen widewe.
Þa come þa tidende to Scottlondes kinge.
þat Aganippus was dead Leir king idæied.
He sende þurh Brittaine into Cornwaille.
& hehte þane duc stronge heriȝen in suð londe.
and he wolde bi norðen iahnien þa londa.
For hit was swuþe mouchel scome & ec swiþe muchel grame.
þat scholde a quene beon king in þisse londe.
& heora sunen beon buten þa weren hire beteren.
of þan aldre sustren þa þa æðelen sulden habben.
Nulle we hit na-more iþolien al þat lond we wulleð habben.

Heo bi-gunnen werre [w]anne com on west.
& þere quene suster sunen sumneden ferde.
Heo[re] nomen were ihaten þus Morgan & Cunedagius.
Ofte heo ledden ferde ofte heo fuhten
ofte heo weren buuenne and ofte bi-noðen.
Þat com at þan laste þat heo wes alre leofust.
þe Bruttes heo sloȝen Cordoille heo nomen.
Heo duden heo in quarterne in ane quale-huse.
heo werðede heore moddri mare þene heo sulden.
þat þe wimman was swa wroð þat hire sculuen heo was lað.
Heo nom enne longne cnif & bi-nom hire seoluen þat lif.
Þat wes an uuel ræd þat hire suluen makede dead.
Þeo wes al þis kine-lond an Morgan & Cunedagies heond.
heo fenge to þissen lond and mid fuhten hit bi-wunnen.
Þa dælden þa broþeran al þis driht-liche lond.
Cunedagius bi þare Humbre. hauede al þe[t] west Morgan hauede norð & est.
& swa heo heolden. al þis lond ale þe twa ȝere. on heore heond.
Þa þe twa ȝer weren agon þa twineden here þonkes.
Morgan wes in Scottlond þene norð ende he hauede ane honde.
inne Cornwale. Cunedagies he hauede moni god hus
Morgan hafte an hirede. swiðe monie cnihtes.
þeo ne luuede noht þas leoden. ah laið heo hem weoren
He taleden wið Morgan & is cnihtscipe tælden
and þus him to seiden þa vnselie mon.
Lauer[d] Morgan whi nult þu faren & fusen þine ferden.
and faren ȝend al Brutlond & nimen hit to þire heonde.
Þer-of we habbeð sceome & at oure herte muche grame.
þat þu dalest þis lond þe sculde beon o þire hond.
Þu eært a swa hende gome and þere eældre suster sone.
Delest þine lond wið þine mæi monscipe is þa lasse.
Þus speken þeos swiken and spileden mid worde
swa long heo hine lærde. þat he heom ileuede
He gadere[de] ferde þe wes feondliche stor.
he ferde ouer þe Humbre and hermes he worhte.
he herȝede he brande folc he amærde.
Heo sloȝen heo nomen al þat heo aneh comen.
Þat word com sone suð for hit wes widen cuð.
þet Morgan ledde muchele here & hærmes dude þas leoden.
Þa ihurde Cunedagius þat Morgan is mæi ferde þus.
þa iwerð he swiþe wrað & þas word seide.
Ȝets[in]ge a wurþe þe wa monie mon þu bi-cherrest.
þurh þe haueð Morgan mi mæ is monschipe afallet.
ah he scall hit abuggen ȝif ich mot libben.
Þa nom Kunedagius & send ȝeond his cuððe.
& gadere[de] muchel folc and ȝeærwede his ferde.
He fusede mid monschipe to-ward Margane his mæie.
Þa heo sculden fehten þa fleh Morgan awaie.
fro[m] londe to londe. & he him after liðde
In-to Wales he flæh he him after f[er]de.
þer he of-toc Morgan mid muchele strengðe.
& sloh he him of þat hæued his hap wes þa wurse.
& al his men slowen þat heo neh comen.
buten wuhlc wræcche swa cwic cuahte to holde.
Heo nomen Morganus liche. & leide hit on vrþen
wel heo hine buriden þe wes þes Wales lauerd.
Wes þet lond. þurh Morgan. Margan ihæten

Cunedagius heuede al þis lond þer-of he wes lauerd.
þro and þritti wintere he welde þas riche.
inne griðe & in friþe his frenden to blisse.
A Cunedagius dawe þe king wes on leode
Remus & Romulus Rome iwrohten.
beine iweren ibroðeren ah þe an sloh þene oðren.
After þritti wintere com þe dæi þat Cunedagius deæd læi.
He hefte anne sune ræhne Riwald wes ihaten.
he wes wis he wes fæir he welde þat riche hær.
al hit hine luuede þat liuede in londe.
An þan ilke time hær com a selkeð taken.
sulche hare nere eær ne com ne neuer seoð[ð]en hider-to.
From heouene her com a sulcuð flod þre dæȝes hit rinde blod.
þreo dæies and þreo niȝt þat wæs swuþe mochel pliht.
Þa þe rein wes agan her com hider taken a-[n]an.
Her comen blake fleȝen and fluȝen in mone eȝene.
in here muð in heore neose heore lif heom eode al to leose.
swulc. fare of fleoȝen her was. þat heo freten þet corn & þat græs
wo wes al þen folke þe wuneden an folden.
Þær-after com swulke mon-qualm þat lute hær cwike læfden.
Seoð[ð]en her com a strong ræd þat Riwald kinge iwerð dea[d].
Riwald king hafuede anne sune. Gurgustius ihaten
his lond he huld half ȝer and suððen he adun halde.
Þer-efter com Sisillius he wes sone her deæd.
Suð[ð]en com Lago þa æhte wike liuede.
Suoðen. com king Marke. he wes þritti wiken king.
Þeo com Gorbodiago he wes fif ȝere god king.
Þe king hauede tweie sunen beiene vniselie.
þe eldere heȝte F[e]reus þe ȝengere hehte Poreus.
Þas breþren weren swa wode and swa wiþer-warde.
þat al heo weren vn-sahte. & a[l] heo weren vn-some
& eiþer hateden oþer. swa ne sulde na-wiht breoþer
and beien mid onde. heo weoren in þisse londe.
þat Gorbidiagus heore fader of his sunen wes a-fered.
for ofte bi-foren him-suluen heo bi-gunnen to fuhten.
Þe aldre seide þat al þis lond he wolde halden on is aȝere hond.
þe ȝengere him ȝef swuh enswere Ær ich þe slæ mid mine spere.
ar þu hit sule aȝen þa while ich beon on liue.
Poreus hauede þe heorte swa luþer and swa loð him wes his broþer
þat swiken he him wolde a summes kinnes wisen.
Fereus hit iherde suggen. þorh soðfaste worden
þat his br[o]ðer hine wolde slæn. þer-fore he wes ful sari.
He ferde aw[æ]i ouer sæ þat him þuhte selest.
he funde inne Francene eærd þene king þe hehte Sward.
he bad him herd-sum-nesse heren þat he him wolde.
beon him for hold cniht ba bi dæie and bi niht.
Þe king wes gled for his kime & for þen cnihtes þet come mid hine.
& heold hine on erde & hæhliche hine clepede.
Ful soue ȝere mid þon kinge he wunede þere.
þat king he hauede iquemed & al-swa þere quene.
Þa seoue ȝer weoren aliðene þa bad he leue.
færren þat he wolde into þisse londe.
Þe king him lende ane ferd of his kennest folke
him-seolf he sende sonde. wide ȝen þat londe
after alle þen cnihten. þe he bi-ȝete mihte
and he to-clipede. muchelen his ferde
& al mid isunde. come to þisse londe
A-nan heo bigunne fuhte. & falde þas leoden
& is broðer [Po]reus. ferde him to-ȝenes.
mid þon stronge fæhte [Fe]reus he felden.
and alle his ferde he leiden to folde.
Iudon hæhte here moder þe riche was and on-mære.
swiðe heo was sari for sorehfulle þan slehte.
þat heore sune ȝeo[n]gere sloh þene eldere.
Þe deæde heore wæs leouere þe quike here wes leoðere.
Þe quike hire wes swa swiþe leoð þat bi-nimen heo him þohte his lif.
Poreus lai on bure þer him muchel plihte ilomp.
þer he læi softe & he siker slepte.
Com is moder liðen mid leoð-lichen creæften.
mid oþer s[ix] wiuen mid six longe cniuen.
Þeo uniseli moder þus hire sune murðde.
heo cærf him þene swure a-twa a wurþe hire wa
þe uniselie moder mid sexe hine to-snæde.
& al to-dælde lim from oþere.
Þa wes þe muchele speche ȝend þat kineriche.
of Iudon þere quene þa heore sone acualde.
& of þare seoreȝe þe isiȝe wes to londe.
Þa weas dæd Fereus al-swa wes Poreus.
bi-numen wes þere moder monschipe on leode.
þa nes þer noht of þen kunne þe mihte þis kine-lond walden
wep-mon ne wif-mon bute þa seo[rh]-fulle Iudon.
Gumen heom igader[ed]en & wurpen heo to sa-grunde.
Þa aræste here vnfriðe ouer-al me brac þene grið
sterce weren þe reæmes mid stronge raflake.
elc mon ræuede oðer. þeah hit weren his broðer.
wrake wes on londe wa wes þone vnstronge.
Her wes hunger & hete her wes alre hærmene mest.
her wes muchel mon-qualm. þat lut her quike bi-lefden.
Feowere here weren riche þe haueden ferden muchele.
þeo nedden al þæ oðere & heom ne[ð]ðer sætten.
& speken heom to-gadere & speleden þa hæȝe.
þat heo wuolden al þis lond dælen heom bi-twenen.
Þus heo hit idemden & þer-æfter swa duden.
In Scot-lond wes king Stater i Logres wes king Piner.
Cloten hafte Cornwale Rudæuc hauede Norh Wales.
Ah Cloten hæfde mest riht to aȝen þas riche.
ah þa oðere weoren ræhere & eke heo weoren richere.
of golde & of garisume and of gode londe.
Cloten heo o-scuneden & færedene for-howede.
Cloten hauede Cornwale þat he heold wel one griðe.
Cloten hauede enne sune þe sel wes on eorðe.
he wes feir he wes muchel to feahten he wes mære.
cniht he wes kene. & he wes ȝeua custi
monie þewes gode he haueda on his moda.
His no[m]e wes ihote þus Donwallo Molinus.
Þis wes þe feiruste mon þe æuere æhte ær þ[i]sne kinedom.
Þa he mihte beren wepnen & his hors wel awilden.
he lið[d]e ȝeon þeos leoden sulch hit an liun were.
He sloh Piner þene king his folc he al aqualde.
þa him wih-stoden he felde heom to his foten.
& al Logres þat lond he æȝenede to his æȝere hond.
Suððen he turnde his fare & ferd feorh-riht to Wales.
þer he funde Rudac king. þe reh wes to fehte.
to-ȝeines him he funde þer Scot-londes king Stater.
Heo speken þer to sæhte to sibbe and to some.
aiðes heo sworen swiken þat heo nolden.
Þus heo makeden heore fære A-ȝen ferde Dunwale.
& his mochele ferde to Cornwale his eærde.
Þa iherde Stater þat Dunwale wes swiðe fer.
Mid muchele Scot-ferde he scrað to þisse londe.
Rudauc mid his Welscen þat wæ wes þe more.
In-to þisse londe heo comen þis floc heo hær slowe.
wide heo ærnde tuones heo for-barnden.
mochel dal heo iwesten mid harmen þan mesten.
Þat word com to Dunwale þer he wes i Cornwale.
wet Ruwak king dude her and þe king Stater.
Þa seide Dunwale þat was þe duȝende mon.
Nu heo beð for-sworne mid heore swike-dome.
Bi Appollines ære ne ileue ich hem neuere-mare.
Nu [w]e sculle ræmen and ræisen to-gadere.
Vnder þissen luften leten riht scuften.
Sen[deð] mine sonden ȝend alle mine londe.
and biddeh alne godne mon þe grið wulle halden.
& alle þe me of haldeh cumen ær sone.
& send[eð] liþinde men æfter oþere leoden.
to folien me in mine londe for seoluer & for golde.
& ich wulle mine rihte faren to stal-fehte.
to-ȝene þene swerd broþeren þe beiene beoh for-sworene.
For wel often he beoð awald þe stonde[ð] o þen woȝe.
ne mai neuere mon-sware mon-scipe longe aȝen.
Þe Dunwale hauede isæd al his folc luuede þene ræd.
He somenede færd swulc nes næuere eær on erde.
swoððen wes þa time þe Bruttes come hær liðen.
Heo fulde his ferde & for a mucla costa.
to-ȝenes þan twam kingen þer he hem funde on walde.
Heo heolden to-gædere & hardeliche fuhten.
feollen þa fæie falewede nebbes.
Weoren al þa feldes ifayed mid blode.
þer wes moni har[d] gume mid sworde to-hewen.
Dunwal i þan fæhte wes feondliche kene.
þat fæht wes swuðe strong & swuðe stær[c] & swuþe longe.
Dunwal i þan fahte. hauede swuðe gode cnihtes
wise and wære. monie heo afelden
Dunwale him bi-þohte. wat he don mihte
He nom of his ferde six hundred cnihtes.
of þan aldre hexten to wi[ȝ]e alre hardest.
& þus heo heom seide on his som-runan.
Nime we þis wepnen þe bi þisse walle ligge[ð].
& halden bi-foren bresten sceldes þa brade.
& fare we bi-halues alse we of heoren weoren.
þe wille sullen ore ferden fæhten biliue.
Þenne Stateres floc iseoð ore fæire sculdes.
[c]umen on feste hit buh heom wel iqueme.
for þan wepnen heo wullet wenen þat þeo beon heore i-feren.
We scullen ous bi-redien and slen Rudauc þane king.
and feorh-rihtes þære slen þane king Statere.
Mid strengðe we sullen wenden þurh ure wiþer-iwinnen.
& fellen ure feondes for alle heo buh fæi.
Þus spac Dunwale þat was þe duȝenede mon.
& al he iworhte swa his word tahte.
Heo nomen þa seeldes þa leien in þan feldes.
brade and gode ihelede mid golde.
heo wenden to þan kingen þer heo weren on kompen.
Þe kingges weren bliðe heo wenden bi þan bordden.
heo wenden bi þen scelden þat hit heore scalkes weoren.
Sone so Dunwale heom næh com swa he hæhte slæn heom.
Slæð heom mid sweorde for alle heo beoð for-sworne.
Rudac heo slowen & Stater heo nomen.
& al hene to-liðeden lim from þen oðere.
heoræ sceaftes weoren strake. of his flæsces heo makeden here marce
Anan heo ferden towærd heore iueren.
þa heo to-gaderen comen somed heo on-sloȝen.
Þa kingges weoren deædde heore duȝeðe to-dealde.
twinseden cnihtes here tir wes at-fallen.
Dunwales men sloȝen al þat heo aneh comen.
al þa ferde heo falden to grunde.
buten swulc for-wonde man þe mid sorwe at-wand.
Þa hauede Dunwale þis lond al bi-ȝeten to his hond.
suððen he wes heh king. coð hit wes wide of him
beoð on beoken feole-feld bisnen.
Þet wes þa eæraste mon þe guldene crune dude him on.
here inne Bruttaine seoððen Bruttes hit ieode.
He makede swulc grið. he makede swulc frið
monien laȝen gode þe lon[g] souððen stode.
Heo makeden ane sæt-nesse and mid aȝe heo semde.
þe ælc cheorl eæt. his sulche hæfde grið al-swa þe king sulf.
alken farinde mon ȝef slaht oþer þeofðe hæfde i-don
and he æt-sturte in-to are burie. þat heo weren iborȝen.
þenne and auere-mare heo swulden habben are.
to [f]use into hame & habben his æhte
and ȝef æi mon him liðere dude he sculde dom þolien.
& þus ælkene forme gult þe king su[l]f hine for-ȝef.
Þe king makede monie laȝen þa ȝet beoð on londe.
& alle laȝen gode bi his daȝen stode.
Feowerti wintre he walde þes leode a blisse hit stod on his hand.
Seoððen dæide þe king [w]a wes his duȝeðe.
To-gadere come his eorles & brohten hine to eorðe.
inne Lundene burh feire hine leiden.
in are riche temple mid golde heo hine bi-tunden.
Þe king hauede bi his wiue twene sonen on liue.
þe ældre hæhte. Belin þe ȝeonggere Brenne
Þas breðren iwurðen heom swahte. þur[h] sele monne rede
Belin ȝef his leue broþer. anne dal of his londe
bi-ȝende þere Humbre. mid mon-scipe to halden
norð in-to þare sæ sel þat heo iworðe.
Þer-fore his mon he bicom & hærd-sumnesse him solde don.
Belin heol[d] þis suðlond & Cornwale on his hond.
& Wales þer forð mid and faire hit dihte.
Fif ȝer heo heolden þus þis lond. & leoue heom wes bi-twune
þet æuere eiþer oðer. luuede alse is broþer.
Ah Brennes hauede vuele men his æðelene heo a-merden.
þeo ælche dæie hine larden luðere craftes.
þat he sculde wih his broðer forewa[r]de breken.
Anne hird-cniht he. hauede. þe æht wes on þen weorede
þe þane balew mæinde and þus spec wih Brenne.
Seie me mi lauerd leoust alre monne.
whi þolest þu þat Belin þe is þin aȝene broðer.
hauet swa mochel of þisse lande & þu hauest swa lutel.
Nefde ȝe ba enne fader and beie enne moder.
beiene of ane cunne cuð hit is on folke.
Nu stond al þis muchele lond a Bailenes aȝere hond.
& þu eært his mon and is cniht þat is woh & na-wiht riht.
Eært þu þenne cheues-boren þat þu wult beon for-loren.
Oþer þu eart swa eærȝh cniht þat of londe ne rehchest na-wiht.
oþer þu þenchest beo raðe dead & þine duȝeðen al bi-laiuen.
Bi-leæf þe treuweþe bi-lef þene æð for al þis folc is swiðe wrað.
Hercne þine herdes ræd & heo þe wullet helpen.
Hit us þinchet wunder ȝef þu hine nelt a-walden.
Þu eært muchele betere cniht to halden comp & ifiht.
& þu eær[t] muchele ahtere & ec mare hærdere.
Cheflon þu ouer-come and Scot-lond him bi-nome.
of Muraine he wes king and he wiht þe othliche fæht.
eærst þu hine ouer-come and seoððen þu hine slowe.
and al his ferde þe he brohte to þan eærde
Ah wel ich hit ileuen. þat we þe sunden l[o]ðe
þat þu þi þanc al for-hele. wih þine hired-monnen
Ah for nauer nare teonen. nulle we þe trukien
neuer ane siðen. bi ure quike liuen.
And fær bi ure ræden & mid þe þu læden.
tweolue of þine witiȝen of þine wisuste monnen.
& fær forh nu to-niht in-to Norewaieȝe forh-riht.
to Alfinge kinge þu bist him cume deore
& gret þu londes king. and al his leode.
Þe king haueð ane dohter þe him is swuþe dure.
Bide heo to þire bi-houe to habben to are quene.
Þenne he sið þe swa hende cniht he þe ȝeueð [heo] forð-riht.
Seoððen ȝern to þan kinge þat he þe læne ferde.
to lede to þine londe to balden þine leoden
Bide auer-ælcne cniht. þet þu þer bi-ȝeten miht
for seluere and for gold cume mid þe to þisse londe.
& we sullen þe wile bi-witen þine riche.
Derneliche þu scalt don þeos ilka deda
þat hit nute Belin þe is þin aȝene broðer.
Ah fær swiðe & cum raðe for þus we þe rade[ð].
Þenne þu cumes faren ham we swulle[ð] beon al fuse.
mid mochelen ure ferde to færen ȝeon þan eærde.
to o-wreken þe uppon Beline þe þe bismar haue[ð] idon.
Þus spec Malgod swike he wes ful god
Þe oðere him radden al swa. þer-fore hem wroþe wide wa.
Þa Brennes hauede ihirde his hirde-manne lare.
þa gladede is mod þe rad him þuhte swiðe god.
& seide hem þis answare After eore rade ich wulle færen.
He greiðede his cnihtes & feorh færde bi nihttes.
swa longe þat he bi-com to Ælfinge kinge.
Þonne king heo igrette & his gumen alle.
and þe king him answerede swiðeliche fæire.
Þa spec Brennes & his ærnde a-bed.
he ȝirnde þeos kinges dohter to habben to are quene.
& þe king him ȝette al þat he ȝirnde.
gold & gærsume. feoh & færde.
Þa wes Brennes swiðe bald on heorte he wes bliðe.
þat mæiden he weddede & nom heo to his bedde.
Seoueniht he wes þære hit þutte him seoue ȝere.
ær he aȝen come to fæhten wih his broðer.
Of witten heo weoren amadde [þ]e him swa rædden.
Brennes wes in Norwæye Belin in þisse londe.
Belin ihærde sugge þurh summe sæg treowe.
of his broðer wifðinge and for wulche þinge.
& for wulchere neode he to Norwæiȝe færde.
Belin hine bi-þohte of swulchere dede.
& þas worde seide þe sæg wes itreouwe.
Wa wurðe a þon broðer þe bi-swikeð þene oðer.
Whær beo ȝe mine cnihtes whar beo ȝe mine kempen.
whar beo ȝe mine leoue men nu we scullen liðen.
Heo ferden to Humber-londe þer weoren castles stronge.
Þe castles heo nomen alle & strangede þe walles.
He lette blauwen bemen and nam al þa burhwes.
þa weoren on his broðer londe þe he hafde an heonde.
He dude þer-inne mæte inoh & wepmen unifoh.
þat me mihte heom walden wih Brennes an-walde.
His cnihtes mid him-seoluen to þare sæ færden.
þar laien bi þan brimme and bisilichen hit wisten.
Brennes wes in Norweȝe and noht her-of nuste.
he wende þat his broðer nuste noht of his fære.
Leaf he nom at Ælfing. þe wes Norweine king.
& he him ȝef answere A mote þu wel færen.
& Delgan mi dohter þe me is swþe deore.
Þis under-stod þe ȝeonge quene faren þat heo scolde.
heo hauede enne leoue-mon þa heo swuþe ileoued hæfde.
þene king of Denemark þe leof hire weis on mode.
He wes swiðe god cniht Godlæc he hahte
Þa sende Dalgan. þa quene in-to Denemarke
& guðde Godlacke þa wes hire gome deore
stille boc-runen. heo senden him to ræden
& seiden him þat Brennes. a king of Britaine
hauede heo biwedded. & ihaued heo to bedde
al hire vnðonkes. þer-fore hire wes uneðe
and heo he wolden læiden to-ward his leoden.
næuede heo bute þreo nihte feorst faren þat heo scolde.
Sone hit mæi ilimpen þanne ihc hunnen liðe.
þah þu habben blisse and grið ne speke ich þe nauere-more wið.
and ihc sende þe gretinge of mine gold ringe.
Þa Godlac isæh þis wa him wes ful iwis.
Stille he wes iswoȝen on his kine-stole.
Me warp on his nebbe. cold welle-watere.
Þa þe king wes a-waht he wes swuþe idraht.
he seide forð-rihtes Whar beoð mine cnihtes.
Fare we swiðe to þare sæ sele mine dranches.
Godlac king on ueste mid gud-fulle folke.
to þere sæ wenden scipen þer heo funden.
makede muchul sæ-flot and ferden mid streme.
to-ȝenes þare hauene þer Brennes from halde.
Þa Brennes com i wide sæ he i-mette his wiðer-iwinne.
scip ærne to-ȝen scip þa hit al towonde to scifren.
horn a-ȝen horne halde þe wacre.
Þer wes moni breoste mid brade spere i-þurlud.
helmes þe[r] gullen beornes þer fullen.
balluw þer wes riue Brennes flæh bliue.
& Godlac hæld æfter monie scipen he þer cahte.
He i-seh a scip þar hit lað sulkene wes þat seil-clæð
he clupede to his dringes: Nu forh nu niðinges.
Þet is þere quene scip: þe us bi-foren queccheð.
Halde[ð] alle þer-to and ȝif ȝe hit mawen ifon
æuere-mare ich æu leouie. þa wile þa ich liouie
Mid strengðe heo halden to schipen & þa quene heo igripen.
Godlac sloh þa scip-gumen & alle heo nom þat garsume.
and ladde þa quene Delgan toward Denemarke anan.
He þoðte heo to habben to his awere bihoue.
& oðer weis hit sæht
Godlac forh geinde glad he wes on heorte.
he þohte to habben Delgan to quene of Dene-marke.
ah him com muchel lætting swa him wes alre laðest.
Æft aras a ladlich weder þeostrede þa wolcne.
þe wind com on weðere and þa sæ he wraðede.
vðen þer urnen al-se [t]unes þer burnen.
rapes þer braken b[a]lu wes fulle riue.
Scipen þer sunken
þer þreo & fifti scipen. feollen to grunde
in þa teonfulle sæ. torneden sæiles
Godlac hauede a god scip. ne gomede him no-wiht
he hine bi-ðohte weht he don mihten.
He igrap ane wi-æxe muchele and swiðe scærpe.
he for-heow þænne mæst a-two riht amidden.
he lette seil and þane meæst liðen mid vðen.
Þus seide Goðlac sære him gromede.
Æuer-ælc æhte mon: help þat we libben.
þat we comen to londe ne recche we on wulche leoden.
Heo ferden mid þon wedere nusten heo nauere whudere.
vnder fif dawene ȝeong heo comen to þisse londe.
Comen þes kinges cnihtes þe þæ sæ wusten.
and nomen Godlac þene king & Delgan þæ quene.
Heo seiden heom enne strongne ræd Nu ȝe beon alle dead.
ah ȝef ȝe wullen us seuggen ȝet ȝe mawen libben.
whonene ȝe beð icumene & whet ȝe her sohten.
Godlac answerede mid godlichen worden.
We beoh sæ-werie men and we wullet soð sucgen.
ah nuten næuere þæs gumen in-to whuche londe heo beoð icume.
ne þas strond we ne cnoweð þe we isoht habbeð.
þis lon ne þas leoden ne wha her lauerd is.
ne we nuten na þe ma þat we ne speken wit ure ifæn.
Ah ich eow bidde leoue men leddeð us to þæn kinge.
& ich him wulle suggen of blissen and of sorwen.
And þa cnihtes heom lædden to heore leod-kinge.
Godlac & [þa] quene heore æhte & his iferen.
& seiden him þat he wes i Brutaine i Belin kinges londe.
Sone swa he to þan king com wisliche he clupede him an.
Hail wurh þu Belin king Brennes is þi broðer.
& ich hatte Godlac gumenen ich wes lauerd.
Denemarkene king þeos wif-man hatte Delcan.
Brennes com to Norhweie to Ælfinge kinge.
Þe king him ȝef Delcan þe ȝare wes mi leoue-mon.
Sonden commen bi-twenen þe soðe word me seiden.
whennen Bre[n]nes wolde liðen & mine leoue-mon leden.
To-ȝenes ich him ferde mid feowerti scipen gode.
and mid al swa fele cnihtes swa þa scipen beren mihten.
& ich wulle suggen þe an wunder he haueden scipen seouen hundred.
And ich bigon strong fæht and Brennes to flenne.
his men ich awelde & monie ich aquelde.
and þer ich nom Delga[n] þe ær wes mi leoue-mon.
& ich sugge þe to soðe þat ȝet leoueð þi broðer.
for he hald to þen londe & wel com to hauene.
And ich isæh þare quene scip quecchen mid vðen.
& ich ferden þer-æfter and bi-wan hit mid fæhte.
Þa wes ich bliðe on mine quike liue.
Þa ich wes i wide sæ wiðer com to-ȝenes.
þet weder wes swa wilde & þa sæ wrædde.
and draf me to þisse londe in-to þire leode.
A[nd] me do þine milce for þu eart mihti ouer me.
Þe king heom lette halden in swiðe feire benden.
in ane stronge castle þer he heom wel bi-wiste.
Nes hit buten feower wiken þat þas [þ]inge ifaren weoren.
cam Brennes riden in-to Scotte-londe.
mid feower hundred schipen folc þer wes fæie.
He sende his boden: to Belin his broðer.
& bad hine quic-liche aȝeuen him his quene.
& þane kinge Gudlac: þe his gumen hauede a-falled.
& ȝef he hit nolle him sal beon þa wurse
In his londen ich wulle gon. & slæn al þat ich finde
mid fehte & mid fure þis feoreward ich him halde.
bute he me wullen ȝeuen. þat ich him to-ȝeurne
& mi londe rume & fare to his riche.
and aȝeue me mine burȝes & mine buri gode.
castles and toures þe he me halt a teonen.
Forð ferde þas sonde to Belin king
& seide him þeos ibeod. from Brenne his broðer
& Belin him warde al þat he ȝernde
þat ne sulde he nauere ibiden. þe while þe he mihte riden
Þe [sonde] aȝan ferde. & seide hit Brenne
Brenne wes swiðe wrað. & bannede is ferde
scheldede his scalken. al-se heo to wiȝe solden
folkede his cnihtes al-sa heo scolden fehten.
Belin an halue hæiȝede him to-ȝeines.
Muchel æie wes þære vnder þan wude of Kalatere.
þer heo heom imetten & vuele hem igretten.
To-gædere heo comen heo graneden sone.
feondliche heo feohten bi þeosende heo fellen.
Swiðe faht Belin king swa duden his Bruttes.
heo weoren swiðe ohte men þat æðel heo bi-wunnen.
Brennes heom from bæh and mid his folke he fleh.
al to-ward þare sæ mid muchele vn-sælðe.
& Belin heom æfter & heo adun leide.
sixti þusende he leide to þen gronde.
A schip funde Brennes bi þon brimme stonden.
he bicom þer-inne mid his twelf monnen.
ne leædde he na ma isunde of alle his monnen.
Ouer sæ he ferden in toward France.
and þeo for-wundede men wende into holte.
Þa al þis wes ifarren & Brennes wes awæi i-floȝen.
Belin in Euerewic huld eorlene husting.
he bed þat his riche men rihtne read radden.
whet him weore to donne bi þon ilke monne.
& bi Godlac kinge þe [he] huold i bende.
For Gudlac him sende word. bi ane wise monne
þat if he him wold leoðien. of laðe his benden
þat he wolde his mon beon. mid alle his mon-ueorde
& he him wolde ȝeuen al þat gold. þe he haueden i Denemark lond.
& ælcche ȝere him senden þreo þusund punden.
her-to him wolden finden. ȝisel of his gilde
wih þon þe he lette. sckere. hine & his ifere
& his leoue-men swa deore. to Denemark leoden
Belin king him ȝette. þat forward þat he ȝerde
and freoliche hine lette faren. and alle his iueren
Belin hauede þeo ȝeseles. & þa ȝeuen gode
& his mon-ræidene. mid monschipe biw[u]nnen
& Gudlac ledde forh. þa wif-mon swiðe fæire
& he heo bohte swiðe deore. bruken he heo þohte
Belin huld þas riche wel feole ȝere.
& he swiðe freolic al his folc he ladde.
he makede swiðe god grið his gumen hit wel heolden.
Þa weoren i þissere leode laȝen swiðe gode.
& al leouede þeone king þe quic wes an londe.
Þa hauede Belin an heond al Brutteines lond.
he ferde ȝeond al. & lawen sette
he scawede þa wuodes. & þa wildernes
meduwen. and mores & þa hæȝe muntes.
burwes and tunes & al hit ȝeorne bi-hold.
Þe king hine bi-ðohte whet he don mihte.
He bi-gon ane stræte muchele & swiðe græte.
feiȝer & swiðe long þurhut al þis kinelond.
& þe king and his folc Fosse heo clupeden.
Heo lið hut of Toteneis. a þet cume to Catenes
Toteneis is in Cornwale. Cateneis in Scot-dale
An-oðer stret. he makede swiðe hendi from Suð-hamtone to Seint Deuwi.
Seo[ð]ðe he makede þe þridde þe kærf þis lond amidde.
Þa þeos stræt weoren idon þa leide þa king heom laȝen on
þat wha-swa i þen stræten breken grið þe king him wolde bi-nimen his lif.
ah wha-swa oðerne imette þer fæire hine igrætte.
Þis weoren þeos kinges strætte þe ich i-kenned habbe.
I Frænce wes Brennes þe wes þeos kinges broðer
on his heorte he hauede grome. on his mode muchele scome
þat he hæuede iloren his kinelond. and his quene þe he leouede
& him swiðe scomede. þat he swa i-scend wes
He wunede inne France. mid his tweolfe i-feren
he herde þon king & wel him iquemde.
& al þa Frensce leoden swiðe heo loueden Brenne.
for Brennes bi-ȝet muchel feoh & feire hit dælde.
Nes he noht. ȝælpinde. ah he wes ȝeue-custi
he wes þer swiðe oht mon. & æðele weore his deden
& him þer ofte wel ilomp. þer-fore he wes þe leofere
þa he wes þere. wel cuð & ouer-al i-cnawen.
& þe king hine leouede & al his leoden.
Þa nom he his iferen & bi-sohte þeos folkes king
þat he him sculde fulste. mid his gode folke
his lond to biȝetene. of Belin his breoðer
Þe king him bi-hette. and wel hit him ȝette
Þa bead he leaue. & he furðer lað
to Seguine Duc. þe lauerd wes of Burguine
& of þen Brutlonde þe is bi-ȝeonde sæ-stronde.
Feire he igrette þeone duc þa he his grið sohte.
he seide þat he him wolden hæren and halden hine for herra.
leofliche him buwen. & halden hine for lauerd
Þe duc þer-fore fain wes. & hine fæire on-feng.
Brennes wes swiðe hende his hap wes þe betere.
Brennes cuðe on hundes Brennes cuðe an hauekes.
he cuðe mid his honden hanlie þa harpe.
þurh his hænde-craftes hired-men hine leouede.
& his lauerd alse wilcume swa he weoren his aȝene sune.
Þe duc hauede æne dohter þe him wes swiþe deore.
ah he neuede nenne sune þer-fore he wes sari.
Þe duc bi-sæh a Brenne þe hauede bodi hende.
& him to seide mid sohfeste huȝe
Brennes þu ært hende. & þu ært hæh iboren
& þu eært cniht swiðe god & þu eært me iqueme.
Þu come ouer streme. þu eart kinges istreonne
þu eært me swiðe iliðe. & ich þe leouie swiðe
Al þat ich þe bi-hate. ich hit þe wulle halden
ich wulle ȝeuen þe mine dohter. þa me is swiðe deore
& æfter mine dæie. al mi drihliche lond
for wel hit luuieð. alle mine burnes
þat hit þus beo idon. and þat þu þis vnder-fon
Þa answerede Brennes. mid beienliche worden
Ich hit þankie þe. & alle þine þeode
for eouwer muchele wurhchipe. wel þat ȝe me vnnen
Al þis wes idon. alse þe duc demde
Blisse was on hirede. þeo Brennes þis mæide nom.
mid muchelere wurhschipe he wunede mid þan ducke.
Þa þat forme ȝer wharð forð igan.
þa wes þe duc dead and Brennes hauede his duweðe.
al þon folk he wes leof ase heore aȝene lif.
for he heold swiðe god grið & glæd wes wið his monnen.
He hauede swiðe mucchel lond þat al stod an his hond.
and he hæfde a swiðe god wif & he heo leouede alse his lif.
Wið-innen a lut ȝeren Brennes hine bi-ðohte.
an his broðer Belin þe his lond bi-nom him.
He sende his sonde ȝeond Burguine londe.

Þe ferde wes swa muchel þat heo wes vnimete.
In-to Normandie he com and þer he þa sæ nom.
& he ferde mid sunde in-to þisse londe.
Brennes bæh a þat lond mid his leode-ferde.
Sonde com to Belin þa him soð sæide.
þat Brennes his broðer hefde isoht his riche.
mid vnimete ferde icommen to his eærde.
Belin lette beoden ȝeond al his londe.
and bæd al þa kempen þe wið-inne sæ wuneden
þat heo comen to his neode. to driuen vt þa vnleoden
Ȝeærwe wes þat ferde & forð-war[d] ifusede.
heo comen swa næh þere twam ferden.
Þa ȝet leouede þa ælde quene a wifmon wis and kene.
heo wes ihaten Tonuenne ho iber Belin.
and þat heo wel cudde.
Heo nom hire on anne curtel. þe wes swiðe to-toren
hire hem heo up i-tæh. hire cneon he wes swiðe neh
Heo eode on hire bare foten. al heo hit dude for gode
Heo com to þere ferde þe icumen wes to þissere eærde
heo axede æfter Brenne þer he wes bi ferde.
þer he hine wepnede alse he to fihte þeohte.
& alle his burnes duden on heore burnen.
Swa leonge me hi[r]e tahte þat heo him to com.
Vfenen heo him orn bi-twixen hire ærmes heo hine nom.
ofte heo hine clupte. & ofte heo hine custe

A whet wult þu Brenne. Whet wult þu balwe menge.
Ȝif þu s[lea]st þine broðer ne bistz þu neuer oðer.
Ne beon ȝit bute tweien mine sunen ȝit be beien.
Biðenc o ðire mon-schipe bi-ð[e]nc o ðire moder.
bi-ðenc a mire lare Þu eært mi bærn deore.
Loka her þa tittes þat þu suke mid þine lippes.
Lou war hire þa wifmon þa þe a ðas weoreld i-bær.
Leo wær here þa wombe þe þu læie inne swa longe.
Leo war here þa ilke likame Ne do þu me neuere þane scome.
þat ich for þine þinge mid sæxe me of-stinge.
Nu hit is vmbe seoue ȝere þat þu weren here.
and al forewarde þu breke toward þine breoðer
Þu weore his mon bi-cumen and he þe leouede also his sone.
Aðes þu him swore swiken þat þu noldest.
Þu hauest woh & [he] haue [ð] riht þat is þe swiþe muchel pliht.
& ouer sæ þu liðe al buten læue.
to Alfinge kinge & nome his dohter ȝeonge.
Swa þu woldest mid ferde faren to þissen eærde.
and don þe seoluen bisemar fehten wit þine broðer.
ȝif Denemarkene king idrecched þe neuede
& suððen þu come. and herm her iuore
& æf[t] wendest ouer sæ. & nu þu ært sel icumen
Nu þu eært londes weldent. & us scal beon þe wurse
Mid uncuðe mannen. þu wlt þi cun quelle
Ne sculde na cniht. hærȝien þær he hauede ha[m]es iwald
no eæf[t] on his cuhðe. qued-schipe wurchen
Ah leoue sune Brennes. bei þi starke þonc.
leie a-dun þin hære-scrud & þinne rede sceld.
and þi sper longe & þi swerd stronge.
and ilef þire moder & leoue þinne broðer.
Vrnen ire teares ouer hire leores.
Brennes þat isæh & sorȝeden on his heorte.
let cliden his gare þat hit grund sohte.
He scæt his riche sceld feor ut in þene feld.
awei he warp his gode breond & of mid þere burne.
Brennes and his moder. mildelichen ferden.
in ænne bradne feld and Belin him to-ȝennes.
Þa weop þe breoðer al swa dede þe oðer.
Þa spec þe moder milde mid muðe.
Ȝit buð mine leoue sunen liðeð to-somne.
& iwurðeð sæhte and euer on blisse.
Cusse [ð] and cluppe[ð] cuðie meies
Cnihtes ȝit beoð boðe kene. while ich wes quene
Nis hit noht un-huhtlic. incker moder inc hateð
Þer heo hom custen. þe weren kinges bearn
bi-feoren þa twam ferden. freond-scipe makeden
Bemen þer bleowen. blisse wes on folke
þer weore segge songe. þer were pipen i-magge
þer wes swa muchel murehðe. þat ne mihte heo beon na-mare
Þus iwerað Brennes. sæht whit his broðer
Þa makeden heo ane laðunge. of heore leoue folke
þat al comen to Lundene. uppe wite of feowerti punden
to þan hustingge. bi-foren Belin kinge
Þa weoren al þas leoden. at Lundene isomed
Þer wes Belin þe king. and al his kine-riche.
Bruttes & Scottes & moni scone. þein
Þer wes þe Duc of Burgoine Brennes ihaten.
Weoren þa broðerne bliðe on here mode.
& al þa twa ferden of moni ane eærde.
Þe kingges nomen to ræde at riche heore monnen.
þat heo wolden mid ferde faren in-to France.
In France weore læwen sulkuðe a þan dawen.
& selcuðe tidende for þer were feower kinges.
Belin seide to Brenne Fare we bliue.
in tou-warde France & mid fehte hit biwinnen.
Heo bleuwen heore bemen & buden here ferde.
and to þere sæ wenden & wel ouer commen.
Mid nihen hundred scipene heo commen in-to hauene.
heo commen in-to þen lond [an]d neoðer [ed]en þa leoden.
Com þa tiðende to þan feouwer kinggen.
þat Belin king wes icumen & þe duc Brenne.
mid unimete ferde to bi-winne France
To-gadere þe kinges come & æðes heo sweoren
þat heo wolde libben to-gadere. oðer liggen
& euer-ælc oðer. halden for broðer
Mid aðen heo hit bi-hæten. and ful wel hit heolden
Heo sommeneden heore ferde. þe wes feond-liche stor
& heo ferden bliue. to-war[d] Beline
Brennes mid his ferde. wes bi-foren Beline
To-gædere come þeos kinges. mid heore here-ðringes
Ferde whit ferde. feon-liche feu[ð]ten
Scottes & Bruttes. bei[ene] to-gaderes
Belin here læuerd. heom biforen wende
Brennes bisides. mid his folke of Burguine
Heo smiten to-gædere. helmes þere gullen.
breken brade sperren bordes þer scænden.
redde blod scede rinkas feollen.
þer wes muchel gristbat þer wes cumene fæl.
weoren þa hulles and þa dæles iwriȝen mid þe dæden
Belin ibræid up his helm & clipede to Brennes.
Ne isihst þu leoue bro[ð]er heou breoðeð þa Frensce.
& þa ferde of unker londe isund ȝet stondet.
Greiðe we us seoluen mid grimme oure ræsen.
& heom on ileggen mid orde and mid egge.
Brennes wes swiðe bald & þis wel bi-leouede.
Al heo heom slowen þe heo aneh comen.
and þas feower kinges heo leiden to þan grunde.
Whulc riche mon þer at-fleh in-to castle he abeh.
& heo him after ferden mid spere. & mi[d] swerde.
Nes þer nan oðer lið ȝif heo nalden ȝernen grið.
þene castel heo nomen hine seulfne and his folke sloȝen.
Þus heo þurh-eoden Francene þeode.
In þan ilcan ȝere wes Belin kaisere.
and Brennes his broðer beiene togaderes.
for heo hauede France mid fehte bi-wunnen.
and alle þa fre londes þe leien in-to France.
Þa hauede heo muche riche irumed to honde.
þeo speken heo to-gadere þa sele ibroðeren.
and seide þat heo wolden halden hustinge.
of allen þat l[eo]den þe heore læwen leoueden
& of al þan londen þe stoden on heore heonden.
and þurh heore alre dome heo wolden fære to Rome.
to wreken o þon folke Remus þene feire.
þe Romulus his broðer in Rome of-sloh.
þer bi-foren fele ȝere for al þat mon-kun wes þa ȝet þere.
Al þa kinges þus duden swa heom-self demmeden.
heo gadere[de] heore ferde in Francene eærde.
Þa þat folc wes icumen sone heo fusden.
for þer wes swa mochel folc & swa vnimete.
þat a neuere nane walde ne mihte hit al halde.
Heo ferden ouer Mungiu mid muchelen here ferden.
seo[ð]ðen heo ferden ful iwis þer me clipð Munt Senis.
heo nomen al Taurins and Iuorie & alle þe burȝewes of Lu[m]bardie.
Versæus and Pauie & Cremuinne Melan. Plæucence & Buluine.
þet wæter heo ouer-ferden of Taurim & seo[ð]ðen heo ferden ouer Bardun.
Tuscan heo habbe[ð] al bi-wunnen i Salome heo slowe monie þusend monnen.
Swa heo nehlehte toward Rome to late heom þuste are heo þer comen
& þat Romeanisce floc swiðe wes of-fered.
for heom comen stronge tidinge from Belin þon kinge.
Haueden al þa reuen þe [w]unede in Rome.
and alle þa riche gumen þa Rome burwe walden.
iloked tweiene eorles i þon ilka ȝeære.
þe sculden witen þat lond & wissien þa leoden.
& læden here ferde wher hit neod weore.
for heore beire nome ich þe wulle telle.
þe an hehte Gabius þe oðer Prosenna.
Þeos ilke eorles weren kene ohte men and wel idone.
and al þat Romanisce folc ferde bi heore ræde.
Þeos eorles comen to Rome to þan red-fulle monen.
axeden heom ræddes of swulchere neode.
wheðer heo boden ferde whit Belinne to fehten.
þe heo speken him wit & seoððe axeden his grið.
Þa weoren in Rome wise men on dome.
and ðohten bi-pechen Belin mid heore præt-wrenchen.
Heo nomen heom to ræde and to som-rune.
þat noht heo nolden fehten no heore ferd lea[d]e.
Ah we wullet gan a leoðe and leoue we wulle[ð] wurchen.
we wulle[ð] setten heom an hond al þis Romanisce lond.
& wur[ð]ien heom in leoden al swa mon lauerd scal.
ȝeuen heom seluer and gold and bi-techen heom al þis lond.
ȝeuen heom garisum swa heo wulle[ð] kepe.
vre childre to ȝisle ȝef heo swa wulleð
ælcches barunes sune þe i þissere burh wuneð.
þeo scullen beon icorne. and swiðe wel iborne.
childre swiðe hendi ȝisles feor and twenti.
& ælche ȝer of golde ten hundred punde
Þa kingges buh stronge and of ferrene lond.
Heo habbeð swa muche folc swa nes næuer eær on ferde.
Þe kinges beoð ȝunge of æhte ȝissinge.
Sone swa heo ihurden swulch worde don heo hit wulleð.
for heo ne mawen bidde mare buten þat we ȝernen heore ære.
& ȝif we mawen swa wel don þat heo þis wullen vnder-fon.
& bi-leuen oure leoden and faren to heore londe.
seoððen we sculleð bi-g[i]nnen to don ure wille.
for betere is þat we leosen leoue oure children.
þanne we nimen swulne ræd þat we allen beo deade.
and al Rome burh mid fure for-berne[d].
& al þat liggende lond þat lið in-to Rome.
beo al bi-ræiued þe nu stonde[ð] riche.
For ȝif hit wulle[ð] Teruagant þe [i]s oure god of þisse lond.
her-mid we sculle[ð] heom bi-charren & seo[ð]ðen heom amarren.
þat ne sculle[ð] heo nauere isunde cumen to heore londe.
Þa seiden heo in halle Þisne read halde we alle.
Þeos eorles heom gereden mid godliche scruden.
& nomen mid heo[m] cnihtes swa feole swa heom þuhte.
ha leopen an heore feire hors bi-wriȝen mid fæire palle.
Ælc mon nom an honde ane scale of rede golde.
Feouwer daies fulle forð-ward heo wenden.
þat heo comen to þon eærde þer Belin wes mid his ferde.
& Brennes his bro[ð]er beiene to-somne.
Heo axeden aðelinges wer leye þa kinges.
Me heo[m] tahte þa feldes þer weoren þare kingene tælddes.
Heo ferden bi-liue þat þider heo comen liðe.
Heom þuhte muchel ferlich of al þeon folke
wher hit al i-numen weore þat heo iseiȝen þere.
Heo iseiȝen Belin king buȝen ut of telde.
& heo lihten adun & leofliche on [cneow]en
forn at þan kinge. heo fullen to folde

Læuerd þine ære. for þu ært leodene king
We þe aȝeueð Rome & al þa riche.
& al þa londes þe ligge[ð] in-to Rome.
& alle þe madmes þat we on horde habbe[ð].
& swa muchel garsumme swa þine gumen kepeð.
& æðes we sulle[ð] þe swerien þat we þe nulle[ð] swiken.
uppen ure godd wel idon. þe is icliped Dagon
We swullen þine men bi-comen. & þine mon-scipe heien
mid allen oure mihten. daies and nihtes
and we þe wulle[ð] bi-techen. ut of þissere riche
feur and twenti ȝunge. riche monne childere
þe scullen beon alle icorne. and swiðe heiȝe iborne
We scullen of þissere þeode. cumen to þire neode.
and whuder þu hatest for þu ært ure hærre.
& to swulche forward we beoð hidere isende.
& we biddeð þine ære nu & auere-mare.
Þe king wes stille & þa swiken speken ille.
he weonden þat hit weoren soð þat heo iseid haueden.
ah al heo þohten oðer to slæn Belin king & his broðer.
Þeo hit up bræc hit wes god þat he spec.
Wel ȝe me bi-hatet halde ȝeif ȝe wulleð.
eow swal beon þe betere
To swuche forewarde. fon ich hit wulle
& ȝe scullen of me halden and habben me for harre.
& habben freoliche eoure lond & we freond iwurðen.
To-daie a seouen-nihte bringeð me her rihtte.
gold & gersume ȝeoue and eower ȝisles.
& cumen her on fore þe hæxete of Rome.
& swerie me æðes þat æð heom scel iwurðen.
& bi-cumen nu mine men & mine monscipe hæien.
& ȝif ȝe þis nulleð alle ich ȝeow aquelle.
Ah swiðe ham rideð leou wer here ich eow abide.
Ȝif ȝe spekeð mid rihte comeð to-dæi a seouen-nihte.
and ȝif ȝe spekeð wowe. bi-læuet inne Rome
& ich eou wullen to faren. & bringen eou sorwen an kare.
Þeos swiken gunnen ride ham into Rome.
& ȝarekeden heore ȝeouen & alle heore ȝisles.
& to heore dæie brohten to Beline kinge.
& he heom faire vnder-feng and freond-scipe bi-hehte.
Ȝisles heo him ȝeouen sone & his men bicome.
and he mid þan ilke foreward fusde eft aȝenward.
& þa swiken sone ferden to Rome
Belin & Brenne beie to-so[m]ne.
nomen heom to ræde & to som-rune.
þat heo wolden liðen þurh-out Lumbardie.
and faren to Alemainne & þa aðelene bi-winnen.
Þa Almainnisce men weoren of here cume warre.
& heo gadere[den] heom to-ȝeines strongliche ferden.
of alle þeon londe þon keiser hæfde an honde.
& þa Romanisce men ful ȝære hit iseȝen.
þat Belin & Brennes. beiene weoren ifarenne.
Heo ȝærkeden ræhðen. twa þusend rideres.
and swiðe an hiȝende senden heom efter.
Heo letten forð bi-siden an-oþer folc riden.
ten þusend kempen alle icudde.
þat heo bi-foren comen þan kaiser to helpe.
þe wolde aȝen king Belin feht ihalden.
& þat Romanisce floc riden heom bihinden.
Heo þohten heom beon on-fest þer þe hulles weore mest.
& senden heom arewen i þon weie narewe.
s[lea]n heore lauerd Belin & his broðer mid him.
Heo forȝeten here ȝisles & þat grið þat heo ȝurden.
æðes and þa treuþen þer-fore heo hauede teonen.
Belin & his broðer beien weoren warre.
of þon swike-dome þe heom com of Rome.
þa haueden heo þa mære æie of þan Alemainnisce kaisere.
Þa speken heo mid ræde for heo haueden neode.
þat Brennes & his ferde aȝen faren sculde.
fehten wih þat Romanisce folc & fellen ȝef heo mihten.
& Belin bæh ouer mu[n]t mid muclen his strengðe.
to feahten wið þon keisere & wih þon Alemainisce here.
fondien on fehte ȝif he hine ouer-cumen mæhte
& wheðer heore of þen broðeren. þe ærht his fæht ouer-come
come on-ȝean sonen. to helpen þon oðer
Þe folc of Burguine. ferde aȝan mid Brenne
of France and Peitou. sworen him & plicten
of þan Maine & of þan Turuine. treuliche him hærden
of Normaundie & of Flaundres. freoliche him fulsten
& of Lohærenne heo liðe to mid strengðe.
& þat folc of Ca[s]cuine þe noht nælden griðien.
& folc of fele leode þe liðe forð mid Brennen.
to þan Romanisce men þe heom æfter uoren.
Brenne and his folc heom to comen.
Anan swa heo iseiȝen Brennes buȝe heo[m] to-ȝennes.
swa þat Romainnisce folc sohte to flæinde.
& heo heom æfter foren and monie þer fullen.
& swiðe monie þer fluwen & ferden to Rome.
& Brennes þe riche softe heom beh æfter.
mid starkere fore ferde to-ward Rome.
and Belin þe aðel king wes in Alemainne.
Ferde he hauede inoh muchel and vni-feie.
Bruttes & Wailsce Scottes & Densce.
þer wes Godlac þe god wes to neode.
Þa iherden tellen þe ten þusend cnihtes.
þe weoren icumen of Rome þan keisere to fulsten.
þat Brennes þe riche ferde touward Rome.
and summe heore men i-slæȝene & summe to-driuene
nomen heom ræde. þat þeonenen heo wolden riden
riht touward Rome. eære Brennes þider come.
Þat word com to Belinne of Brennes his broðer.
heo he hauede itaken on & al whet he haueden idon.
And oðer sonde þer com þe sone him talde.
þat tweie þusend cnihtes þe werren i ðon Alemainnesce fehte.
wolden aȝen sone faren in-to Rome.
& al makeden heore faren alse ha wolden a þare niht faren.
Belin wes swiðe wis & warscipe him folweden.
he hauede monie Alemains mid agge to-heowen.
and monie he ledde isunde mid him ibunden.
He hauede tweine wisse men i þon fuhte bi-wunnen.
þeo cuðe þes londen lawen and speken whit þon leoden.
Belin king heom to spæc & þus heom wið spilede.
Ihere ȝe cnihtes whet ich eow wulle cuðen.
Ic inc habbe beiene an inne mine benden.
Ȝif ȝet wulle[ð] after ræde faren ich [inc] wulle freoiȝen.
mid gode ræue bi-hon and makien inc riche.
faren mid me suluen & ich inckere freond wurðe.
ȝif ȝit me wulleð laden þe cunne þas leoden.
riht to þan weie. þe ȝit witen ful wel
þar þis Romanisce folc forð wulleð riden.
and we heom sculleð fon on & heom wi[ð] fahten
feollen oure feondes. & faren after Brenne.
& liðen mid ræde and Rome bi-liggen.
and þis [ich] inc bi-seche þat al we wurðen sele.
Þa cnihtes weoren wise & ful ȝere-witele.
& al ham iwurden þe Belin heom to-ȝernde.
and heom markede forð touward Munt-giu heo ferden.
in-to ane mucele bæche þa munte bi-halues.
þer heo forð sculden cumen þa weoren þa gumen feie.
Belin wes bi hullen swiðe-liche stille.
þa comen liðen þa weore þa Rom-leoden.
Belin heom to leop bi-foren & bi-hinden.
Þeo cnihtes weoren vnwepned þa þe wæne heom wes ȝeueðe.
heo wenden to beon sikere þeo Belin heom on sohte.
Ne nomen heo nonne cniht quic ah alle heo heom aqualden.
for nauede Belin nan cnihte þet he næs þere god kimppe.
ne neauere nenne herd-swein þat he ne fahte alse þein.
ne næuer nænne hird-cnaue þat he nas wod on his laȝe.
Þat faht bi-gon at mid-niht & [laste] þat hit wes dæiliht.
& swa þene dæi longe heo wenden seo[ð]ðen þa muntes.
and qualden alle þa ilke þe aniht weoren atcropene.
Belin a ðene mærȝen letten blawen his bemen.
& beonnede his ferde hahte forð-rihtes.
riden þenne ilke wæi þe forð into Rome læi.
æfter Brenne his bro[ð]er þe heom bi-foren wes.
Brennes hit hirde suggen & his broðer a-bad.
Forð heo b[u]ȝen beiene þat heo come to Rome buri.
Þa burh heo bileien mid heore leod-ferden.
Þet folc. þer wið-innen heom ohtliche wið fehten.
Belin & Brenne heo bileien al abeoten.
and þa oðere hem scuten to scærpe gares.
Ofte heo letten grund-hat læd gliden heom an heore hæfd.
stockes & stanes & strales hate.
and swiðe wel heo wereden. þa walles of Rome
Þer fore alle þan cræften þe heo uten cuððen.
ne for alle þen fuhte þe heore ferde makede.
ne mihten heo Rome-wal nawiht onwalden.
ah heo loseden monie þusend godere monnen.
& tuwen heom fram þan walle wa wes heore herten.
Þe king him bi-ðohten whet heo don mihten.
and seiden heom bi-twenen Leteð comen sonen.
þa feouwer and twenti children þe we habbeð to ȝislen.
and doð up an waritreo þer-on heo scullen winden.
& wreken þan siðes and ure wiðer-i-winnen.
for ȝet we scullen heom to liðen swa heom bið ælre læ[ð]est.
Þe furken. weoren aræred heo teuwen up þa ȝisles.
and heom þer hengen bi-foren heore eldren.
Wa wes heore faderen þeo heo i-seiȝen heore beærn. hangen.
Mid muðen heo seiden mid aðen heo hit sworen.
þer-fore hit sculden iwurðen muchele þa wurse.
swa þat for deaðe ne for lif nalden heo nauere makien grið.
for þat weoren þa richcheste & þa alre hæhȝeste
& þa rad-fulleste. þe wuneden in Rome
þat bi-foren heore eȝenen. bi-hulden and i-seȝen
þat heore bern me on-heng. on heȝe trouwen
Þa orles weorne iwende swiðe for þeonne.
þe heom wite solden Gabius and Prosenna into Lumbardie.
in-to þon leode efter monkunne þe heom sculden [fulsten].
to helpene heore monne aȝen Belinne and Brenne.
Þa com þer a mon irnen from þan twam eorlen.
þe brohte writ-runen in-to þere burh of Rome.
þat seide heom to soðe þat þa eorles comen.
in þer ilke nihte mid ten þusend cnihten.
& mid ferde vnimete of monnen on foten.
þe sculden cumen bi-halues & Belin king aquellen.
and Brennes his broðer beiene to-gadere.
Ȝif ȝe me wulle[ð] ileuen a-nan swa hit beoð auen.
sendeð ut cnihtes & bi-ginneð to fihten.
ær hit beo mid-niht ich sugge eow hit soð-riht.
come[ð] mid heore mannen Gabius and Prosenna.
þe sculleð eow wurðliche wreken on eower [wi]þer-i winnen.
A-nan swa þe dæi wes a-gan swa heo ȝeten openeden
letten ut cnihtes bigunnen muchele fihtes.
swa heo fehten al niht þat hit wes dæi-liht.
Þa com þer fusen vnimete ferde.
Gabius an Prosenna mid muchele mon-kinne.
ut of Lumbardie and liðen touward Brenne.
& [he] heom faht wið feondliche swiðe.
& Belin him resde to. to þan Romanisce folke
& heo fusden swiðe. Þe faht wes unimete
þer wes ballu riue. Bruttes þer fullen
Belin and Brennes. burstes þare hæfden
& þa Romanisce men. remden heom uuenen
Whet wolde ȝe her niðinges. mid þe Bruttisce kinge
wende ȝe mid ginnen. Romen bi-winnen
wenden ȝe mid fehten. to fellen uren leoden
& beon eow seluen riche. and welden al Rome
Ȝe scullen drinken eowre blod balu eow is ȝeueðe.
Ȝe beoð ure bernenne bone þer-fore ȝe sculleð breoðen.
fallen and ure leoden swa eow bið alre læðust.
Belin & Brennes buȝen heom fram þan fuhte.
wih-innen are muchele dic þe heo hæfden ilet dælfen.
þat heore folc mihten swiðe wel wunien wið-innen.
Þer-innen heo speken þer-inne heo runden.
ane lutle while ne leaste hit na-wiht ane mile.
and þus heo seiden heom bi-twune
Ȝif we hennen fareð þus. alle heo wulleð æfter us
and ȝif hit swa il[i]mppeð þat we ham cumen liðen.
heorten we haueden sare and ure cun æd-wit auere-mare.
Ah ga we heom on mid sweorde for al heo beoð for[lorn]e
& ureke ue ure wine-mæies.
for leouere us is here mid manscipe to fallen
þanne we heonne i-sunde farren. ure frenden to scare
Þe while þe heo þus speken. and spileden mid worden
wende þa þeodisce men. þat Belin wolden þenne
and seiden heom bi-twenen. in þere burh of Rome
Nu heo wulleð heonnen. nulleð heo na-mare fehten
ah Belin and his broðer. al heo ðo[ð]ten oðer
Heo senden ut of Rome. cnihtes wel idone
feowerti hundred. to hæȝen ane castele
to kepen Belin king and his broðer Brennes.
and baldeliche whi[ð] fehten
and þa oðere of Rome riden heom bi-hinden.
and slæn heom bi-twenen and wreken ore tounen.
Þe cnihtes weoren on fore fer ut of Rome.
Þa hehte Belin. & Brennes his broðer
Lihteð of eowre blanken. and stondeð on eowre sconken
and kerueð eowre spere longe. & makiet heom scorte & stronge
scradieð eower sceldes. al of þe smal enden
and we eow wulleð bi-foren. libben oðer liggen
& auer-alc god mon harde hine sulue.
for her scullen þe wædlen alle i-wurðen riche.
Blawen ore bemen and banneð ore ferde.
and maken we of ure uæren fihtie ferden
and on auer-alche hæpe. hertoȝe stæpne.
þa heom makie balde and to-gadere halde.
& wenden to þen walle on æuer-ælchere halue.
hiȝe[n]d-liche fo we on for alle we scullen wel don.
Þeo blewen heo here bemen þat heo of Rome hit sculden iheren.
and heo ut iwenden ohte kempen.
Þa i-seȝen heo of Rome Belin & his bro[ð]ere.
þa clupeden heo lude ȝeond þare leoden.
Nu fleð ure ifan nu we sculleð heom to gan.
Mid þe forwarde monnen ut wenden Prosenna.
Gabius him com æfter mid fifti hundred cnihtes.
mid alle heore wepnen þe weoren vniwælde.
Þa oðere weoren swifte heore wepnen weoren lihte.
heo leiden to-gadere & feon-liche fuhten.
Weoren heo of Rome alle ridinde.
þa o[ð]ere a-foten and fengen heom to-ȝæines.
and slowen alle heore hors here hæp wes þe lættere.
Gabius heo slowe Prosenna heo nomen.
heo duden heore wille of þan Rom-monen.
alle heo slowen þat heom aȝen stoden.
Heo breken þa Rom-walles on auer-ache halue.
and binnen heo i-wenden and þa burh awelden.
Biwunnen heo Rome þe riche burh wel idone.
þer heo funden michel gold & gærsume uni-mete.
Heo unbunde þa locun drowen ut þa baiȝes.
þa palles & þa purpres þe iworht weore in Puille.
alle þa maðemes þe weoren monie kunnes.
Þer wes moni wrehche sone iworðen riche.
al þa seouen nihte his iwil þar hefde ælc cniht.
of seoluere and of golde inoh of þon londe.
Letten þa kinges don fæire þinges.
timbrien þa hallen bæten þa walles.
þe þer weoren to-brokene mid þeon balu fehte.
Letten heo climben on hæh cleopien to þon folke
þat þe kinges heom speken wið. & þer setten heore grið.
þat ne wurðe na man swa wod þat of oþere falle his blod.
ne of his æhte ȝerne buten he hit ȝeuen him wulle.
And alle þe flæmen þe iflowe buð of Rome.
þe aȝan wulleð cumen þes kinges grið wilniæn.
a[nd] bi-cumen þes kinges mon alse we hit ær cuðden.
cumen al mid sibben and her heore lif libben.
and habben þa ilke læȝen þe stoden bi heore ældre dæwen.
And Belin ure hæȝe king hit bi-tæcheð Brenne.
þe scæl bi-læuen here and beon eower kæisere.
and him-seolf wule liðen and eower læue habben.
and heonnen he wule buȝen in-to Bruttæine.
Wælle muchel wes þa wop þæ Belin þeonne wende.
ah heo weoren ifrouuer[d] sone for þan riche-dom of Rome.
Brennes þer boȝede king of Lumbardie.
and Belin gon wenden in-to þisse londe.
Lette he ȝeond his castles makie kine-wurðe werkes.
rihten alle þæ hallen & stronginen þæ walles.
bulden þa bures hæien þa toures.
and swa þis wunliche lond mid wurð-scipe wælden.
& Brennes walde Rome fulle fiftene ȝere.
þa endede Brennes wel wes Romanisce folc þæs.
Heo seolf nomen heore lond and heolden on heore hond.
burh. & heore blissæ seoððen Brennes wes deæd.
& Belin i ðisse londe makede læȝen stronge.
& laȝen swiðe gode þe bi his liue stoden.
Belin ferde to Wales & anne burh makede.
he heo makeda æ[ð]ðele uppen Uske þan wætere.
Of þon ilke flode. þe king hire nome funde
þan king heo wes deore. Kæir Usch. heo næmde
and seoððen heo wes ihæten. Kair Lion ich wullen seggen þe for wan.
Vmbe feole ȝere æfter Belinnes forð-fare.
[herden þe men of Rome of Belinnes deaþe]
and seiden heom bi-twenen While he dude us tuone.
Nu is þe king iburied Wrake we us on Bruttes.
& in-to þan londen we sullen faren bringen þer sorwen & kare.
Hider heo gunnen senden of Romanisce ende.
feower fer-rædene þa we clipieð ferden.
þe weoren on þan ilke dæȝen legiuns ihaten.
werren on alche legiun þus feole leod-kempen.
six þusend & six hundred & sixti iferen.
Þeos comen bi wateren of weorren heo weoren wise.
heo duden i þisse londe alle leode sorwen.
and auer o þon ende heom-seoluen weoren isunde.
& auer-alche wintre inne Wales heo wuneden.
Heo iwunne þe burh Kair Uske and þer-inne heo wuneden.
a þat her com liðen ma of heore leoden.
For ilke legiuns heo clupeden Kair Usc. Kaer Liun
Seo[ð]ðen her com oðer mon-cun þe heo cleopeden Kaerliun.
Nu ich þe habben iseid hu hit is igan. of Kaerliun bi Glom-margan
Fo we ȝet to Beline to þan blisfulle kinge.
þa he hæuede imaked þas burh & heo inemned Kaer Usc.
Þa þe burh wes strong and hende þeo gon he þonnen wenden.
he wende riht to Lundene þe burh he leoue[de] swiðe.
He bigon þer ane ture þe strengeste of al þe tune.
and mid muchele ginne a ȝæt þer-vnder makede.
þeo clupede men hit Belȝæs-ȝate
nu and auere-mare. þe nome stonde [ð] þare
Leouede Belin þe king in alre blisse.
and alle his leoden leoueden hine swiðe.
An his dæies wes swa mochel mæte þat hit wes vnimete.
þat folc þurh heore. drunken moni þusend swulten.
Þe king leouede longe þat hit com touward his ende.
þat i Lundene he wes dæd sari wes his du[ȝ]eðe.
wa wes heom on liue for þæs kinges dæðe.
Heo ferden to his horde. and nome þer muche deal goldes
heo makeden ane tunne of golde. and of ȝimme.
þene king heo duden þer-inne þat wes here louer[d] Belin.
vp heo hine duden heȝe an ufen-meste þan turre.
þat me mihte hine bi-halden wide ȝeon þeon londe.
Þat heo duden for muchelere luue for he wes here dure læuerd.
Þus iuor al Belin king seo[ð]ðen com his sune Gurguint.
Gurguint Ber[t]ruc. heh[te] his sune wellen æðele wes þe gume.
welle wi[t]er wes þer a mon and wisliche heold his cune-dom.
Sæhte and sibbe he luuede unstronge monnen he leoðede.
grið he heolde al-se his fæder god mid þon bezste.
bute þat þa Densce men dunrih[t] at-soken.
þat heo to Brut-londe nolden maren senden.
gold ne garsume ne gauel of þon londe.
Gurguint hine bi-þohte. what he don mæhte
he seonde his sonde. wide ȝen his londe
he beonnede his folc & ȝærekede ferde.
muchele and grete mid monnen vnimete.
He to scipe wende & fram þan londe hælde.
ofer þane saltne strem sel hit him þuhte.
A þene oðerne dæi he com to Denemarke.
he iwende uppe þat lond æfter his iwille.
he axede gauel of þan londe þe his fader hauede an honde.
þe Gudlac king him ȝaf. mid godene iwille
Þa seide Gudlakes sune. mid gromiende speche.
Ȝif mi fæder dude his wille nulle ich hit naht iwurðen.
ah fare he ut of mine londe. ȝif he wulle libbe
Þat word com to Gurguint. þe wes Brut-londes king
W[he]r beoð mine þeines. wher beoð mine sweines
wher beoð mine kempes. and mine kene men
Eorneð and eærne. and al þis lond bearneð
and alle þa men slæð. þe ȝe cumeð neh.
and heore children and heore wif. werpeð in-to þe wæteren
and brekeð heore walles. & berne[ð] heore halles
seælle[ð] heore tures. & swaleð heore bures.
& swa heo sculden under-stonden. þat ich am king of Brut-londe
and þat heo aȝen me to ȝelden. alse heo duden Belin kinge
Forð iwende þat hired. swa þæ king hæhte
heo dude þer muchele hermes. mid hæhȝere strengðe
Þe king of þan londe mid muchelere genge.
com to-ȝeines Gurguint mid godliche strengðe.
Heo fuhten wunderliche i-noh. and Gurguint Denemarkene king ofsloh.
& his Densce ferde he felden to þan grunde.
He ferden to þan burȝen and him alle on-buȝen.
and alle he awælde betere and wurse.
His men heo bi-comen and æðes him sworen
& æfter cure heo him ȝeuen þreo hundred ȝisles.
and al swa muchel gærsume swa Gudlac king bihehte.
þa Belin inne freode and alle his iueren.
And Gurguint þa iuende aȝæn in-to þisse londe.
Ase he ferden on his wæi bi þan ende of Orcanai.
þa fonde he i sæ-flod þritti scipe gode.
of wapmen and of wif-men. þe schipe wel a-fulle[d]
mid fele cunne wepnen. swiðe ibone
Þuhte Gurguint þon kinge. hær-of swiðe sællic þing
whet þat scipen weoren. þe he ifunde þere
He sende ane sonde him to. and hæhte heom suggen
wannen heo weoren. and whet heo þer sohten
and ȝif heo wolden speken him wih and ȝernen þes kinges grið.
Þa enswerede heore alre lauerd.
We wulleð speken him wið and ȝeornen his grið.
Heo to-gaderen come and grið heo nomen sone.
Þa queð Pantolaus wið Gurguint he speke þus.
We beo[ð] sæ-werie men mid wedere bi-driuene.
Ich hæhte Pantolaus and þu art læuerd oue[r] us.
we beoð a þine londe bi-cumen þine laȝen we bi-luuie[ð].
and us alle þu miht walden æftere þine iwille.
Of Spaine ich wes ut idriuen and al mi driht-liche folc.
swiðe muchel we habbeoð i-soht bi þisse sæ-rime.
a lond þe us were liðe þe we mihten on libben.
ne maȝe we hit ifinden for næuer næne þinge.
lond to ure leoden þer we maȝen to liðen.
We habbeð ihaued moni burst moni hunger & moni þurst.
moni walc moni wind bi wilde þisse watere.
Nu we biddeð þin ære ne maȝe we drien hit na-mare.
and ȝif hit weoren þin i-wille and þu hit don woldest.
to ȝifuen us an ende i þine kinne-londe.
we wulleð þine men beon þine mon-scipe herien.
& þe leofuen wið a to ure liue.
Þa enswærde Gurguint þat wes Brut-londes king.
Nulle ich na so don ah eower monradene ic wulle fon.
and ich eow wulle senden. in-to ane londe
for ich nat whet ȝe beoð. ne whannen ȝe icume beoð
Ah ȝe scullen habben lædes-men. and forð ȝe scullen liðen
& ich eow wullen lanen. of mine leod-folke
fouwerti hundred cnihtes þe gode beoð on fihte.
Heo sculleð eow þat lond bi-taken þer ȝe sculleð libben.
and eower laȝen setten to rihten eore leoden.
Gurguint heom sende in-to Irlonde
þar nas nauer nan man. seoððen Noes flod hit hauede ouer-gan
& Gurguint forð wende. into þisse londe
and Pantolaus þer ȝeonde wunde wel mid þon beste.
and lette hine clepie king & his wif quene.
And he sette st[r]onge lawen to steowien his folke.
for heo haueden inne sæ seorwen ibidene.
fulle seouen ȝere heo misliche foren.
Heore claðes weoren iwerede and vuele heo weoren igærede.
nakede heo weoren and naðing ne rohten.
wha heore leome sæȝe alle þe on heom weoren.
& þus heo ladden heore laȝen and longe heo ilæsten.
& Gurguint i þisse londe leouede mid blisse.
& he huld god grið þe while þe i-laste his lif.
in Kaer Liun he wes dea[d] seorhful wes his duȝeðe.
Anne sune he hauede aht mon Gu[e]ncelin ihaten.
he walde þis lond and þas du[ȝe]ðe æfter his fader dæie.
Þes wes þurð-ut alle þing clæne mon and god king.
he ledde swiðe feir lif & he hæfde a god wif.
Marcie men heo clupede þat is ȝet widene cuð.
nu and auere-mare is taken of here heare.
Þeo quene leornede anne craft heo wes a boken wel itaht.
heo leornede hire lære leofliche on heorten.
of hire wisdome sprong þat word wide.
þat heo wes swiðe wis of wordliche dome.
Þa makede heo ane læȝe and læide ȝeon þat leode.
þeos laȝe wes al iworhte
Bruttes nemneden þa laȝen. æfter þare lafuedi
to soðen wihuten wene. þe laȝe hehte Marciane
Seo[ð]ðen þer-æfter. monie hundred wintre
com Alfred þe king. Englelondes deorling
and wrat þa laȝen on Englis. ase heo wes ær on Bruttisc
and whærfde hire nome on his dæȝe. and cleopede heo Mærcene laȝe
Ah þet I þe sugge. þurh alle þing ne makede heo noh[t] ærst Ælured king.
ah heo makede þa quene þe me Mærcie cleopede.
and Ælured heo seide on Englisc þis is seoð ful iwis.
Hæfde þas wise quene bi hire weoreld-kinge.
ænne lutelne sune Sillius ihaten.
nefde heo children na ma þer-foren wes þere quene wa.
Nefde þis child Sillius buten seouen ȝeæra.
þa his fader wes dæd. and his duȝeðe bi-leæfde
His moder nom þas riche and mid ræde heo walde.
& wiste wel hire sone a mid hire-seolue.
Þa þe sune wes swa ald þat he wes an horse bald.
þa makede heo hine king his folke hit wes iqueme.
He wes a wel god mon & softe he wolde libben.
ne leouede he noht half his lif þat him ne com his dæd-sih.
He bi-lefde tweie sunen þa tuwen þes fader þæuwes.
Þe aldre hæhte Rummarus þe ȝungere hæhte Damus.
Rummarus wes ane while king and seoððen Damus hit onfenge.
Þes Damus on his deie ane chiuese him ichæs.
he hauede bi þare wimman enne swiðe wandliche sune.
Morpidus ihaten monnene strengest.
of maine and of þeauwe of alle þissere þeode.
Þes biȝet þesne kinedom þurh kenschipe muchele.
cniht he wes swiðe strong kene and custi muchel and long.
of alle þingen heo weore god ȝi[f] heo neore to-wamed.
A-nan se he wes wrað wi[ð] eni mon i þan stude he hine wolde slæn.
nere he na swa riche cniht þat he hine ne sloh forð-riht.
weore hit rih[t] weore hit woh i þon stude he hine sloh.
& sone swa he iwrað glad he dude al þat me hine bad.
Ah hit wes muchel hærme. of ane mon swa hende
þat þurh his wraððe. his wi[t] wes awemmed
A ðon ilke time com þe duc of Moraine.
in-to þisse londe leode to hærme.
ferde bi þere sæ-brimme and monie burstes dude.
he makede muchel ræflac ræh he wes on fihte.
Æfter sæ he forh lað to Norðhumberlonde.
þer he gon bulde castel swiðe strongne.
al abuten hi[m] þat londe he nom to his aȝere hond.
Morpidus þe balde iwærð him abolwen.
and sende ȝeond þæs ærde & sommnede ferde.
and com to þon duke al bi lihte dæie.
Þer wes moni god Brut and moni bisi kempen.
þeo fihten wið þone duke al þene dæi longe.
Þa hit wes muchel uppe non þe king þene duc ouer-com.
he turnde to fleme and he æfter him ferde.
Þer he sloh þene duc and al his duȝeðe.
ær þe dæi weoren agon dæd heo weoren alle.
mid swiðe stronge fih[te] þet wes mid rihte.
and alle þa he funde a-marwe in þon londe.
oðer mid fure he lette hom slæn oðer he heom lette quic flan.
Mid muðe heo hit seiden þeo þat hit iseȝen.
þat Morpidus mid his honden þurh hæhȝere strengðe.
seouen hundred of-sloh and swende mid wepnen.
He lette makien ane dich þe wes long and swiðe deop.
and he lette al þat wel weorpen þer an innen.
Þa huld he ane stunde his lond mid isunde.
inn griðe and inne friðe and freo-liche on folke.
Wnder þon hær com tidinde salcuð to londe.
and hit wes sone icuð Morpidun þan king
þat wes icumen of þare sæ. a deor swiðe sellich
frommard Irlonde. com hider liðen
and bi þon sæ-rime. rasde to þon folke
Oft an one dæie. hit makede an hundred fæie
and æft to þare sæ wende. þe wæld-scæðe luðere
þenne hit æft wende aȝan. wærðe hit heom grætte
Þus hit to londe bæh. and werede þeos leoden
þat folc hit agaste tunes hit aweste.
þat folc a-w[a]i hald an aulchere halue.
Þe king hit harde seggen and særi wes an hurten.
þiðerward wende þe king him-seolue to wæine.
to-ward þon deore þer he dæð fæhte.
Þa he com suð swa feor þer þe feond wunede.
þa hahte he al his hird-folc faren to are burȝe.
and hæhte heom þer abiden and ane he gon riden.
Þa he forð wende wapnen he ladde.
þat wes a kene sweord and enne koker fulne flan.
enne boȝe swiðe strong and a spere swiðe long.
æt his sadele an æx and æt þe oðer hælue an hond-sæx.
and forð he gon wenden to-warde þan ende.
þer he herde suggen þat þe feond wonede.
Swa longe he ferde þat he hit ifunde.
and he lette fuse him to flan swuðe kene.
and alle him to sende and seo[ð]ðen him neor wende.
he ferde on his stede sulc he walde awede.
Þa his flæn weoren iscoten þæ iwærd his boȝe to-broken.
he igrap his spere. stronge þer he pihte hit o þon londe.
and he ærde to þon deore and s[m]at hit a þan sweore.
þat þe deor feol abac and þe scæft al to-brac.
And þat deor up astod and ræsde o þene stede.
and for-bat him þa breste ban and þa senuwen.
þat þa lihte and þa liuere feollen on eorðen.
And þe king droh his sweord þe him wes itase.
and þet deor he smat a-nan uppe þat hæued-bæn.
þat þet sweord in deæf and þa hilt on his hand bræc.
And þat deor to-dede his chæfles and to þan kinge weoðede.
and for-bat hine amidden a twa þat wes þat fiht idon.
Þus ferde þe king for he wes to kene.
for þe mon is muchel sot þe nimeð to him-seoluen.
mare þonne he maȝen walden he sæl halden þe raðer.
for vnræd is swiðe ræh his lauerd he let reosen.
and auer vmbe stunde felleð hine to þe grunde.
Þet folc wes swiðe særi for sorwen þes kinges.
and hit wes bliðe for dæ[ð]ðen of þon deore.
Þe king hæfden fif sunen bi feire his quene.
Þe aldest hehte Gorbo[ni]an welle æðel wes þere a mon.
Argal hæhte þe oðer þe wes Gorbonianes broðer.
Þe þridde hæhte Elidur þe feorðe Ingenes. þe fifte Peredur
Þe ældeste broðer. Gorbo[n]ian he iwærð king in þisse londe.
he wes swiðe soð-fest and swiðe wel iðæwed.
rad-ful and rihtwis and a mete run-hende.
He heold þis lond stille al æfter his iwille.
mid treouscipe gode þe while his tir læste.
and þus he hine huld an hæfne þat com his liues ende.
inne Lundene he lið særi weoren his leode.
Þer-æfter com þe oðer Argal his broðer.
þe wes next him iboren seoððen he wes king icorn.
Þis wes þe for-cuððeste mon þe æfre hedde kinedom.
vnriht him wes leof and riht-wis-nesse him wes lað.
what-se hæfde richedom he hine makede wræcche mon.
his gode men he hatede þa uuele he hæhȝede.
al his motinge was ful of ȝitsinge.
He somnede to-gædere gærsumme muchele.
& æuere he þohte embe uuel and swulche weoren his dede.
Þus ladde Argal his lif fram ȝuȝeðe to his dæd-sið.
To-gædere commen þa riche men þe aȝe weoren & mæhti.
& makeden heore hustinge mid hæhere wra[ð]ðe.
Plihten mid honden þat heo wel hulden.
þurh alle þing flemen Argal heore king
and ut heo hine flemden. feor of þissen earde
and nomen þene oðer. Elidur his broðer
Þis wes þe þridde. heo afengen hine mid sibbe
& makeden hine to kinge. þe cniht wes swiðe kene
he wes of his speche. ælche monne imete
wið þa goden he wes duhti. and sturne wið þa dusie
Argal þe wes idriuen ut. drof him wes on heorte
he ferde feor ȝeond moni lon[d]. and fondede þan leoden
he bi-soðte moni-enne king. and monienne keiser
monienne richene þein. monienne baldne swein
he bi-sohte al þat folc. þer he for[ð] ferde
þat heo him solde helpen. to muchelere neode
mid strengðe oðer mid ginne. his lond to bi-winne
Ne mihte he neuere finden mon þe him wolde ȝette beon.
þe him oht wolde fulsten þat he hider fore.
ne naðing him bi-hæten þat heo him wolden helpen.
Þa wes Argal þe king ærm on his mode.
seorhful on heorte for his muchele burste.
Argal hine bi-ðohte whet he don mihte.
þat he wolde aȝen fare and fondien his broðer.
and war he mihte of his monnen æie milce ifinden.
Hit wes vmbe fif winter seoððe he heonne ferde.
seoððen he þas seorȝe him-seolfen hæfde itimbred.
þa lette he hine atlichen and wende to þissen londe.
wið his aȝene kun he hine vncuð makede.
ne i-cneow hine nauere na man þe hine ær iseȝen hæfden.
He fræinede þis leod-folc æfter heore kineleouerde.
& heo him þene king tahten þer he hun[t]ede on comelan.
wið his hird-iferen i þon wude of Kalatere.
Þeone king he i-mette and mildeliche hine i-grætte.
Læuerd king quað Argal hæil wurð þu an isunde.
Þu ært mi bro[ð]er Elidur eædi beo þu æuere.
ne der ich noht kennen for þisses londes monnen.
þat ich her king weore leste heo me icneowen.
ah ich bidde þine ære nu and æuere-mare.
Þa quað Elidur þe king þi cume me is iqueme.
To his broðer he com and leofliche hine custe.
þer Elidur þe king weop mid his eȝenen.
and mid muchelen ædmeden æðelede his broðer.
and lette hine læden leofliche and stille.
in-to ane castle Clud wes ihaten.
and lette hine baðien and beddien feire.
and duȝeliche hine biwitten and his namen dærnen.
What iherden auere suggen a sæȝen oðer a spelle.
þat æuere æni bro[ð]er dude þus for oðer
þat Elidur þe king dude for Argale.
Þe king hine braeid sæc alse þeah hit seoð weore.
þe king læi on bure særiliche on beadde.
He sende his sonde ȝeond his kinelonde
lette laðien him to. al his leod-þeines
mid wurden and mid writen. þe dude heom wel to witen
þat ne mihte he no lengere libben on eærðe.
ah of heom þe king wolde. habben read. for hiȝenliche he weoren dæd
and heo him redden. wher his lich mihte bezst leggen
Þet word wes cuð ȝeond þis lond. and come þeos cnihtes
to burh þis kinges to muchelen hustinge.
Þe king and his broðer weoren in ane bure.
þeær heo hæfden wel iȝeten and seoððen idrunken.
Þe king eoden to bedde & his broðer hiine hudde.
and mid him his leoueste men þe he wuste on liue.
feowerti gode cnihtes mid burnen wel idihten.
mid sweorden & mid schelden alse heo to fehte sculden.
Þe king læi in his bædde. alse þæh he ne mihte libben
in þære burh he sende word. bi his beste wikeneren
and hæhten his drihliche folc stilleluker dremen.
for his hæhued oc sæ sweðen þat he ne mihte idriȝen.
to ihæren þene muchele drem of swa feole mannen.
Þe king lette witen his durren þat ne moste þer na mon in cumen.
ne wið-inne þon castel-buri na quic mon iboren.
bute þe king mid his seonden æfter him sende
Þe king aras of bedde. and burne he warp on rigge
and nam onne his honde. ane wi-æxe stronge
and cluppede into bure. Argal his broðer
And nomen heore sonde. and in-to þere burh senden
æfter þon hehste þringe. þat he comen to þen kinge.
Seone swa he to bure com þe king hine inom.
and he him wræð to ase he hine wolde anho.
& him abuten urnen cnihtes swi[ð]e sturne.
alse heo wolden mid heonden al hine to-heowen.
Þus seiden Elidur þe king Nu ich þe wulle quellen.
bute þu beo stille and don al mine wille.
Þus andswerde þe þein Ich hit wulle don fæin.
Bi-cum her mines broðer mon ȝif þu þi lif wult habbe.
Þis is Argal þe king þe of eærde wes iflemed.
þe is nu hider icumen and eower king scal iwurðen.
Þe þein swiðe stille dude al þes kinges wille.
and seo[ð]ðen þe king hine lette don in-to ane derne bure.
& lette enne cniht eærne æfter an oðer. eorle.
and swa he þer a-gon ase þe oðer hæfde idon.
Þus dude Elidur þe king bi allen þeos eorlen.
bi ane and bi ane þat he heom hæfde al clane.
Þa dude he an-oðer nom he his broðer.
mid muchelere blisse to Eowrwik hine brohte.
þer weoren þeos leoden iliðenned to-gadere.
At-foren al his folke he his kinehelm on-feng.
& sette hit on his broðer hæfd & hæf hine to kinge.
Æuer seo[ð]ðen iwarð Argal aðelest ærle kingen.
þat vuel he al for-lette þat gode he imette.
iwærð he swiðe milde þan ȝunge and þan alden.
& wið alle monnen ful iwis iwærð þe king riht-wis.
Þis lond wes istaðeled & stod i þon ilke.
fulle ten ȝere þa iwærð þe king vn-fere.
swa þe king seoc læi þreo wiken & enne dæi.
ne mihte he þer-of beon hæl ah dæd wes þe king Argal.
Þa comen al þeos leoden liðen to-somne
and nomen eft Elidur. & duden hine to his a[ð]ðelen
heuen hine to kinge. mid hæȝere blisse
and hit ane stunde. stod on him-seolue
& Elidur wes æðelest of alle his mon-cunne.
Iuienes and Perredur iseȝen þat Elidur.
west eft i-wurðen leod-king ouer þisse londe.
Heo somneden muchel folke of feole cunne monnen.
and ledden here ferde wide ȝeond þissen ærde.
To-gædere com Elidur Ingenes & Peredur.
sær-liche heo feohte & fælden heore cnihtes.
Þa sette i þon fuhte. Elidur to flænne
and his broðeren him æfter. mid alle here mæhte
Ingenes & Perredur. nomen þene king Elidur
heo hine lædde to Lundene. særi weoren his leoden
In are swiðe stronge tur heo duden þene king Elidur.
moni ȝer and moni dæi þe king in þære ture læi.
and his broð[er]en gunnen liðen wide ȝeond þeos leoden.
Iuienes hæfde half þis londe riht bi þere Humbre.
al þesne suð ende he heold an his heonde.
& Peredur hæfde norð al bi þere Humbre forð.
& seoððen þer-æfter al to-gæderen he hit ahte.
for Ingenes ne leouede buten seouen ȝeren.
Þa nom Peredur al þis lond. and sette an his aȝere hond
& he iwarð him swuðe luðer. & læh al his folke
Þæ com þe fæ-liche dæd. & falde hine to grunde
swa vuele he luuede his lif. þat þe Scucke hine i-fenge
Þæ somnede al þis leod-folc. in-to Lundene ferden
& nomen ut Elidur. þer he læi in are tur
and duden þer a selcuð þing. makeden hine þridde chærre king.
Þa i-warð he swa duhti swa þe dæi feire.
alle folc he dude riht wel wes þisse londe idiht.
inne blisse leouede his leode to murhðe.
& þa he sculde of liue wende he hæfde feiren ende.
Þa com his broðer sune Gorbonianes.
þe wes þe formeste of þæn fif broðeren.
þe cniht wes ihaten Lador he wes þisse londes king.
ah Lador ne luuede buten ane lutle wile.
Æfter him com Morgan sune Argales.
a ȝer he hulde þas leoden and seoððen he dun læi.
Ænmaunus hæhte þe oðer þe wes Morganus broðer.
þeos weoren mannes sunes þeos ær weoren kinges.
Þes ilke Enmaunus heold his kinelond þus.
þat nas na þein in þissen londe þat nalde hine fæin slæn mid his honden.
and al his folc he hatede and al he hit hænde.
wið al folc he wes wiðerward þe Wurse hine leouede.
and his aȝene heredmen hine to deaðe hateden.
Neoðeles on ende þat folc of þissen londen.
fusden hine and flæmden. feor of þissen ærde.
for he wes swa wiðerward heo driuen hine of þis ær[de].
mid seorwen and mid seore ne com he her nauer-mare.
To-gadere commen þe hæhste eorles of þissen londe.
and curen heom enne king of ane cnihte þe wes kene.
he wes Inienes sune of Peredures kunne. icume.
Iwallo hæhte þe king he wes god þurh alle þing.
wel he braid on deade efter his alderen.
of alre godnesse þe gume wes ilæred.
he hæfde gode þæwes his þeode wes þæ betere.
A[c] hit wes ladlich burst þat he ne moste libben.
na lengere þene seouen ȝere ne mosten he luuien here.
dæd wes Iwallo þe king his duȝeðe he bilæfde.
Seoððen her rixlede a king Rime wes ihaten.
he wes Peredures bæren he wes Elidures broðer.
Seoððen com Goronces sune Elidures.
Seoððen wes Catulus his fæder hæhte Goroncius.
Seoððen com Coillus his broðer hæhte Catulus.
Seoððen com Porex king he wes of þeon kunne.
Seo[ð]ðen com Cherin he wes Porexus cun
Ah Cherin leouede longe. inne þisse londe
ah þa oðer six kinges. þe ær weoren on londe
ne leouede nan here. fulle æhte ȝere
ah longe leouede here. Cherin. muchel he dronk mede and win
weoren al his duȝeðen. bilefed oppe drenche
and al he leas his wurðscipe. for þon win-scenche
ne dude nauer oðer god. ne greiðe on his þeode
Ah selliche þi[n]ges weoren of þissen kinge
swa he leoueden here. wel feole ȝere
swa næuere vnleoden. þis lond ne iseoðten
ah þis lond wes on griðe. and ifulled mid gode
Þa com þe ilke dæi. þat þe king deæd læi
þa hæfde he þreo sunen. bi hæȝere his quene
þe aldeste hæhte Fulgenius. Aldus [&] Andragus
Ah ful lutle wile. liuede þas ilke
ælc of heom an stunde. wes king in þissen londe
a[c] wið-inne feouwer ȝere. alle heo weoren dæde her
Þe ȝungeste of þan breðeren. þe wes þe bezste
Andragus he hæhte. enne sune he hehde.
Urrian hæhte þat childe þe iwærð þisse leodes king.
a ȝer he leouede and seo[ðð]en he dæd þolede.
Æfter þon kinge Vrian wes Eliu[d] his kunnes-mon.
Þa com Cledaus Doten & Gurguincius.
Þeos ilka þreo kinges heolden þas þeode.
an efter ane þæt dæd heo weoren alle.
ah nawiht heo her ne duden nouðer god ne ufel.
Seo[ð]ðen com Merian þes wes a swiðe hende mon.
hundes and hauekes he hæuede vnimete.
þat æuere-elche dæi he pleuwede mid his deoren.
Ah he wes swa feir mon þat wif-men hine luueden.
þer-of he nom ȝemen ah hit nes him noht iqueme.
ah he luuede his quene æuere bi his liue.
Seoððen wes Bledon his sune and blæð-fest king.
he hæfde inoh god and hit his gumen dælde.
nes neuer seoð[ð]en næ king swa custi þurh alle þinge.
Seoððen wes his sune king Cap wes ihæten.
Æfter Cap Oein for elchen vuele he wes fein.
Seoððen com Sillius þe wes Oæines sune.
Seoððe sone æfter þet com a king Blæðgabreat.
Seoððen þeos worle wes astolled. ne cuðe na mon swa muchel of song
of harpe & of salteriun. of fiðele & of coriun
of timpe & of lire. gleomen him weoren deore
he cuðen al þeos songes. & þat gleo of ilcche londe
Of him wes muchel speche. ȝeond þas woruld-riche
swa þat al þis mon-cun. þat of him iherden tellen
seiden þat he wes god. of alle gleo-cræften
Æuer wes þe king glad. & æuere he gomen luueden
& þus he lædde his lif. þe while þe hit ilæste
Seoððen wes his broðer king. Arkinaus ihæten
he hit heolde seouen ȝeore. i griðe he wunede here
Seoððen wes his sune king. þe vniseliche luuede
Ældolf men cleopeden þene king. his deden weoren for-cuðe
Nes nan swa god wif i þon londe. þe he walde.
ȝif heo wes a wiht hende þat he ne makede hore.
þæh hit weoren an eorles wif he bi-nom hire al hire æðelen.
þe ȝunge wifmen & þe ælde he makeden to sconde.
For þisse vniwærste laȝe his leode hine hateden.
in-to þan bare dæðe nalde he for þon hit bileæfue.
Seoððen com Redion & rædden þissen þeoden
half ȝer & seouen niht þa wes he dæd forh-riht.
Seoððen Redært his broðer lasse while þenne þe oðer.
Seoððen com an þe leouede wel he hæhte Famul-penicel.
on his liue he wes swa riche alle þon oðere vniliche.
Seoððen com a king þe hæhte Pir his hæ[d] wes swulc swa beoð gold wir.
þet al folc wundreden on wheonene com swa feir mon.
Æfter him com Capor þe king wes on þeode.
Æfter him com Eligille þe heold þis lond ful stille.
þes wes a swiðe wis mon & of alle þinge wel idon.
mid blisse he luuede here fif & twenti ȝere.
Seoððen wes king his sune Heli ȝeres fulle feouwerti.
oðer wile he heold grið & oðer while me fæht him wið.
He wes a swiðe æht gume & he streonde þreo snelle sunen.
Lu[d] wes ihaten þe an he wes a swiðe æht mon.
þe midlest Casibellaunus þe ȝungeste hehte Nennius.
Æfter Heli king æhte þis lond Lud his sune wel longe.
þes wes swiðe oht king and vnimete kene.
and he wes swiðe riche for rædes he luuede.
He ferde ȝeond al þis kine-lond and ælche burh he makede strong.
castles makede Lud þe king & Lundenne he luuede þurh alle þing.
Þe ȝeht þe Lud king ahte þis lond hehte Lundene Trinouant.
and of castles ner þer na-þing bute þat tur þe makede Belin king.
al swa þes boc her telleð bi-uore a þissen spelle
Lud king lette legge þane wal. abuten þe burh of Lundene al
þe auere ȝet haueð ilast. & swa he wule ȝet wel longe
He letten bulden þe hallen. swiðe muchele mid alle.
he hehte ilchene riche mon þat he dælde his æhte atwam.
& nome þa hæluen-dale and hæh bold him makede.
and alle þæ vnstronge men þere burh he duden wið-uten.
& heȝede þæ burh and makede heo swiðe hende.
He leide a-dun þere burhȝe nome and nemnede hire æfter him-seoluen.
& hehten heo Kaer Lud and ouer-al hit let cuðen.
Þat he duden al for þon þat s[eoð]ðen sculden moni mon.
þennen þe king weoren dæd demen of his weorken.
Seoððen her com vncu[ð] folc faren in þessere þeode.
& nemneden þa burh Lundin [an] heore leode-wisen.
Seoððen comen Sæxisce men & Lundene heo cleopeden.
þe nome ileste longe inne þisse londe.
Seoððen comen Normans mid heore nið-craften.
and nemneden heo Lundres þeos leodes heo amærden
Swa is al þis lond iuaren. for uncuðe leoden
þeo þis londe hæbbeð bi-wunnen. and ef[t] beoð idriuen hennene.
And eft hit bi-ȝetten oðeræ þe uncuðe weoren.
& falden þene ælden nomen æfter heore wille.
of gode þe burȝen & wenden heore nomen.
swa þat nis her burh nan in þissere Bruttene.
þat habbe hire nome æld þe me arst hire on-stalde.
Þa gon þis lond wenden. þat com þis kinges ende
Lud king iwarð dæd. in Lundene me hine leide
þer weoren eorles swiðe whæte. and leiden þene king bi ane ȝate
þat ȝet me cleope[ð] ful iwis. Port Lud a Bruttisce
Seoððen comen Ænglisce men. wel waht and cleupeden hit Ludesȝate.
and swa hit haueð wel longe o þon nome istonde.
Þa weoren þer twa children Ludes sunen kinges.
þe ældre hæhte Androgeus þe oþer Temelcinus
Þas children uueren lutle. þa here fader deȝede
Þa com heore fader broðer. Cassibelaunus
and iwærð him-sulf to kinge and biwuste þas children.
and leof-liche heom fedde for luue of his broðer.
Þes Cassibellaunus wes þisses londes king.
þe leodes hine luueden for his laȝen weoren gode.
he sette feire þeauwes in þissen þeoden.
and he wes swiðe god king & god cniht þurh alle þing.
Þeos children weoxen an hond þat heo mihten halden lond.
þe king heom ȝef gode tweien eorl-domes.
Androgeus him wes leouere and he him Lundene ȝæf.
& þer-mid he ȝæf him al Kent for he him wolde iquemen.
& he hehte Tennancius to Cornwale temen
and freoliche þas twein broðerne. heolden þas eorldomes
buten þat heo icneowen. þene king for heore herre
for he wes heore lauerd. and al þissere leodene
Þa wile þa heo weoren sæhte. & heore men on some
þis lond ferde swiðe wel. mid sibbe heo hulden
ah seoððen heo iwærðen wærðe. & hit iwærð þa weorse
swa þat Romleode. comen to þissen þeoden
and sette ȝeld a þisse londe. æiðer seluer & gold
þe næuer eær on liue. ne dursten hider liðen
axien king of þissen londe. þat he ȝefue ȝeld in-to Rome
Þa wes hit ilumpen o þan daȝen. ase we soð suggen maȝen
þat Iulius Scezar wes iuaren. mid vnimete ferde
from Rome. into France Þe feond wes iwraððed.
Al þa londes he bi-won þe he mid eȝene lokede on.
he þohte to bi-winnen mid strengðen & mid ginnen.
al middel-eærdes lond and halde þat worlde in his hond.
Ah he ne mihte hit don al þas wurlde under fote.
ah þa þreo dale he biwon of þissere wurlde-riche.
fif & fifti kine-lond he bi-won to his aȝere hond.
wið-uten his riche þe ær læi to Rome.
Cniht he wes kene ȝeond al middel-ærde cuð.
he wes þe wisseste mon of al þe worulde-riche.
he makede þane kalender þe dihteð þane moneð & þe ȝer.
he dihte feole domes þe ȝet stondeð ine Rome.
Wale þat eæuere ei sucche mon in-to [helle] sculde gan.
Iulius wende of Rome mid folke wel idone.
he ferde ouer Lumbardie swa he dude ouer Munt-giwe.
he bi[w]on Loherne & Gascunne Peytou.
Normandie & Brittaine & Luueine & Alemaine.
Seoððen he hæfde iwunnen Gascunne he charde aȝen in-to Burgunne.
into Flandres he ferde and makede his schip-færde.
Hit wes an ane time
þat þe dæi wes liht. and þe sunne wes swiðe briht
and Cezar rad ȝeo[n]d Flaundre lond. an scewede þære sæ-strond
Þat weder wes swiðe liðe. and he þis lon[d] ikende
Þa freinede Iulius & wi[ð] þon folke he spec. þus.
Wat his þat ilke æit-lond þat ich mid æȝen iseo.
feor ouer sæ-stram. Feir hit me þuncheð
A wis mon þus quað. and mid þæne kæisere spæc
Þæt is a muchel æit-lond. of alche gode hit is strong
þet Bruttes ærest ifeng. þer beoð duhtie men

Brutaine hit hatte. þat lond þe þu bi-haldest
Þa spæc Iulius Cezar. he wes wis and swiðe iwar
Wel ich hit wæt what Bruttis wæs. for mine bæc hit me suggeð
alle we comen of ane kunne. alse þe bæc hit us cuððe[ð]
Vre aldren weoren i Troie. þer heo teone þoleden
æt þon muchele fæhte. moni þeosend þer weoren fæie
Þa heo weoren ouer-cumen. þæ quahten heo wide
and ferde sichinde lond. þer heo mihten on libben
Þer Bruttus bi-com. and to his liue he wunede þer-an
Þeonnenen come þa kinges. þe weoren wunder kene
Belin and Brennes. þe Rome bi-wunnen
Heo for-ferde Rome. þa burh wel idone
heo nomen of Romanisce londe. muchel seoluer & gold
heore ȝisles heo letten an-hon. heore folc heo letten fordon
Þet dude Belin and his broðer. ah nou þer is an-oðer
Ich hahte Iulius Cezar. þer-fore is min herte sær.
þet me mine ældre dude scome ær ich weore mon ibore.
Ah nu ich wulle sende in-to þon lond
to iwiten at þon bezste. ȝif heo me wulleð buȝen
and ȝif heo me wulleð senden. gauel of heore londe
for ȝif heo wulleð ȝirne grið. nulle ich heom noht fehten wið
Findeð me tweien wise men. þe wel cunnen a speche
He bi-tæhten heom forð-riht. a writ þe wes al idiht
and grætte Cassibellaune. þene king of Bruttaine
Þus seide þat writ. þe wel bar þe ernde
Ich æm Iulius Scesar. þe of Rome em icumen her
Ȝif þu wult ȝirne grið. nele ic þe noht fehten wið
And hiȝendliche me sende. gauel of þine londe
þu sulf mi mon bicumen. and for kaisere me halden
for al hit is min aȝen. þat ic iseo mid min æȝen
Cassibellane i-seh þat writ. þer-fore he wes abolȝen
he wes wunderliche wrah. for þes tidende him wes læð
A writ he lette makien. mid muchere wraððe
al wið-ute grætinge. sende hit Cesar þon kinge
Þat writ to þon keisere com. þeos wordes weoren þer-on idon
Sillich us þuncheð Cezar. þu ært swa wis and swa war
þat þu þenchest to beon keisere of alle quike monne.
Þu ært icumen of Rome þine word beoð swiðe store.
Of ure londe þu axest ȝeld and ne scelt þu þer-fore ȝælpen.
Þu sulf ært swiðe gripel þine gumen sunden ȝefere.
þu þenchest to setten o þin hond al middel-ærdes lond.
We beoð in ane æit-londe at þere worldes ende. at-stonde
þe Bruttes biwunne and [w]e wunieð þer-on.
& freoliche we hit haldeð wið alle weoruld-kingen.
& þe nulle we næuere sende gauel of ure londe.
for ȝif þu weore al swa wis swa ich wende þat þu weore.
þenne woldest þu vnder-stonde [þ]æt we beoð in ure londe.
freo and swa scone swa þi folc is of Rome.
for ure ældere ut of Troye fluȝen and of anne kunne we beoð icumen.
þine aldren and ure at Troye wuren ifeire.
Ȝif þu me wult ilæiuen. boten þu us wulllen bilæiuen
þu scalt of Brutten. muchel balu habben
þu and þine iferen. ȝif þu auere cumest here
For ure aldren weoren kinges. inne þisse londe
Belin & Brenne. beiene to-somne.
heo bi-ȝeten Rome mid richere strengðe.
and hit is ore irihte þat þu an rixlest.
& forði þu ahtest me to ȝulden gauel of þine londe.
and þu hit halst on unriht þer-fore þu scalt habben pliht.
for þu waldest beon min hærre & þu me sculdest buȝen.
Cezar iseh þis writ and he hit wraðliche biheold.
abolȝen he wes on mode he weorp hit to his foten.
Wær beo ȝe mine cnihtes þe gode beoð to fihte.
Leteð ȝarkni mine scipen for nu we scullen wende.
and forð scullen buȝen in-to Bruttaine.
and ni[m]en þer þis londes king and quic hine for-bærnen.
& bi-ȝutten al þat lond to ure aȝere hond.
Sixti scipen heo makeden vnimete muchele.
þeos weoren al neowe stronge & wel itreowe.
of lasse scipen þar weoren swa feole þat nuste na man þe tale.
Þeo com heom a wedere wunderliche feire.
heo ferden from stronde touward þisse londe.
heo turnden to hauene inne þare Temese.
þer þa Temese and þa sæ heom-seoleuen imetteð.
Sone come þa tiðende to þisse londes kinge.
& he hit letten cuðen wide ȝeonde þissere þeode.
þat Cezar wes hider icomen and wrað he ha[f]de þis lon[d] inumen.
Cassibellaune þe king wes war þurh alle þing.
he wuste wel of heore cume þat hauen of Douere he hauede inu[m]en.
Þer lai mid his ferde þe king of þissen earde.
þider com tiðende þat him wæs sær þat icumen wes Iulius Cezar.
Moni wes þe kempe þe wes mid Cassebellaune þe king.
& he hafde enne stiwarde þene wisseste mon of al þis ærde.
Belan he wes ihaten bæȝes he dælde.
he wes cniht swiðe ræh to ræden ane kinge.
vnder þen kinge he heolde þis lond and þas leoden him hereden.
Þe king hehden his broðer sune beiene to-somne.
þe aldre hæhte Androgeus. þe ȝungere Tennantius
þeos weoren beien him bi-foren eorles swiðe balde.
Nennius wes þeos kinges broðer næfde he nenne oðer.
He ferde ut of Cantuarie-burie mid balden his ferden.
Androgeus of Lundene mid Kentisce leoden.
Tennantius of Cornwale his kempen weore kene.
Æridius þe king his Scottes he lædde.
and Britael com to neode Norð Walene king.
& Guærtaæt. þe mode mid þon Suð Walscen.
Co[m] of Galwæie Æssel þe gode.
com of Muriene moni spere kene.
of alle þissen þeoden come to þære neode.
to Cassibellaune kinge of þissen londe.
& þene king lærde al þas leod-cnihtes.
þat he his freo-scipe mid fehte biwunne.
& he heom an hond salde swa þat he wolde.
þat fehten he wolde wið Cezar þe axede lon-gauel her.
Forð-ward heo wenden & his folke fusde.
to þere sæ heo wenden and Cezar þer funden.
Of heore [cume wes war Iulius Cezar]
he cleopede on his cnihtes Ȝarewieð eow to fihte.
for nu is mid ferde icumen Cassibellaunus.
Heo liðede to-gadere mid heore speren longe.
mid axen mid sweorden mid scærpe speres orde.
hard-liche heo heowen hælmes þer gollen.
feonliche heo feohten hafdes þer feollen.
And Cesar þe keisere wes vnimete kene.
his longe sweord he adroh and moni mon þer-mide asloð.
he swonc i þon fehte þat al he lauede asweote.
He sloh þa him neh weoren alle buten iferen.
he dude þer muchelne wunder he sloh þer an hundred.
of ahtere monnen þe feond mid his mæche.
Þat iseh Androgeus and cleopede his fader. Nennius.
and beiene þa eorles buȝen heom to-gaderes.
mid swiðe muchele folke to-gæderen stoden faste.
Iseȝen heo Iulius Cesar fæhten al swa a wilde bar.
and heo him to fusden mid ladliche fehte.
& monie of heore feonden heo fælden to þon grunde.
Þa iseh Nennius wær fæht Cesar Iulius.
and he him to rasde mid ræhæm his sweorde.
vppen þene helm he hine smat þpat þet sweord in bat.
Selkuð hit þuðte moni cnihte.
þat he durste cumen him næh for þan þa þe keisere. wes swa hæh.
Iulius Cesar ne queð nan word ah he bræid ut his sweord.
and Nennium he smat þa uppen þene helm swa.
þat þe helm to-hælde & þat hæfde bledde.
ah he ne blakede no for he wes cniht wel idon.
& Iulius [nefde]. na bræð ah his brond he up ahæf
and Nennius hæf vp his sceld scilde hine sulue.
Iulius adun smat & þat sweord a ðene scelde bat.
Iulius hit wraste & þat sweord stike[de] feste.
Iulius þat sweord heold and Nennius þene sceld.
& þus heo hit longe bi-tuȝen ne mihte he þat sweord ut draȝen.
Þat isæh Androgeus hu uerden Cesar & Nennius.
& heo hem to fusde monie to fulste.
Þa isæh Cesar tiðend þat him wes sær.
he for-lette þene brand þa nefde he noht on his hond.
& he þa feond-liche turnde to flæme.
Nennius wende i þane felde and he turnde his sceld.
droh ut þene brande þa wes þe eorl swiðe bald.
Monie Romanisce men mid þon sweorde he leide adun.
he wes moniennes monnes bone & monianne he dude scome.
Al þat he mid þan sweorde smat þer-riht hit i-wat.
al þat he þer-mid at-ran weore hit flæs weore hit ban.
þurh þeos sweordes wunde heo fullen to þon grunde.
Alle dæi wes þat f[i]ht[e]. a þet com þe þestere niht
Iulius þe kaisere. mid alle þan Romanisce here
dalden from þan fihte. al bi þustere nihte
to hærberȝe heo wenden. uppen þare sæ-stronde
heo bi-lefden bi-æften. twenti hundred cnihten
þeo leien under scelden. i-slæȝen ȝeond þon felden
Cesar iwende to his bedde. his men weoren of-dredde
inne biwakeden in þere nihte. þritti hundred cnihten
mid helmen & mid burnen. & mid stelene sweorden
Iulius Cesar. he wes ȝep and swuðe i-wær
he isæh his muchele lure. & of mære he hæfde kare
he a-ras to þan mid-nihte. and bannede his cnihtes
and seide heom þat heo wolden faren. and fleon of þissen londe
faren into Flandre. and beo þer wuniende
a þat he iseȝen his time. þat he mihten æft cumen liðen
Heo ferden forh-rihte. to scipe al bi nihte
heo hæfden swiðe fair weder. & wenden into Flandre
A-marȝen þa hit dæi wes. þe king mid his duȝeðe
ȝarekede his ferde & wende to þan fihte.
Þeo was Romanisce folc iuaren from here [l]onde.
þat ne funden heo nauer enne of Cesares monnen.
Þa weoren Bruttes bliðe an heore mode.
muchel wes þa blisse þat heo makeden mid iwisse.
and sone þer-æfter særi heo wurðen
& Cassibellaune þe king. iwarð særi þurh alle þing
for Nennius his broðer. ne mihte finden bote
of his hæfued-wunde. þe Iulius smat mid honde
ne þurh nenne læche-cræfte. ne mihte he lif habben
Nes þer nan oðer ræd. buten Nennius iwarð dæ[d]
& Nennius was ilæid. at þon norð ȝæte i Lundene
Þe king næm enne marmestan. & lette hine mid golde bi-gon
mid golde and mid ȝimme. his broðer he leide þer-inne
mid riche-dome þa Bruttes. Nennium bi-burden
Nu þu miht iheren sulke[ð] word þe king nom þat ilke sweorde.
þat Nennius his broðer biwan of Iulius Cesare.
and læide hit bi his broðer þat hit his bone weore.
Wæs þe stelene brond swiðe brad & swiðe long.
þer-on weoren igrauen feole cunne boc-stauen.
æ ðere hilte wes igrauen
þat þa sweord wes i-cleoped. inne Rome Crocia Mors
swa þat sweord hæhte. for hit hauede muchele mahte
Þer-mide þe keisere. þrætede ælches londes here
for nas næuere þe ilke bern. þe auere i-boren weoren
þat of þen ilke sweorde. enne swipe hefde
þat he of his likame. lette ænne drope blod
þat he nes sone dæd. neore he noht swa dohti
Iulius mid his ferde. læi inne Flandre
Þat word com to France. heou he iuaren hæfde
& hu he wæs mid his færde i-flæmde of þissen earde.
Þa weoren þa Frensce men þer-fore swiþe uæine.
for toward Iulius heo hæfden grome. & þi weoren fæin of his scome
Ælc Frensc-mon þe wes aht. hæfð hine seolfne bi-þoht
and seide to his iuere. Ne wurðe he nauere isæle
þe nu and auere-mare. buȝe [to] Cesare
þe Bruttes habbeð ouer-cumen. & of heore londe idriuen
Nulle we him nauere hæren. ne hælde for ure hærre
a[c] wih him we scullen. ure freo-scipe. mid fehte bi-tellen
for ne sunde we na bliðere. þenne beoð þa Bruttes
þe hine habbeoð ut idriuen. & his cnihtes islæȝen
Þis ihærden segge Iulius. þat þa Frenscen speken þus
& þat heo speken of þrætte. & of prute ibeote
He wende into France. mid muchelen his ferde
alse heo noht ne cuðe. þat heo him vuel walden
& sende ȝeond al France. æfter his freo monnen
þat heo comen him to. alswa heo sculden to heore herre don
Alle heo comen him to. & alle hine custen
& alle hine grætten. & heore grame dærnden
Iulius wes swiðe wis. and war on his þonke
he lette bringen muchel gold. and gærsume store
ærst he ȝæf. þæn hæhste. þe eoden him næxte
ȝefuen swiðe riche. of ræden his golde
auerelcne cnihte he ȝef ȝeoue brihte.
mid þere ȝeue he heom ouer-com þat wes þa þat bezste iwan.
& freoliche him bi-hæhte habben þat heo scolden.
Þa weoren heo his freond þe ær weoren his fulle fon.
Whær is þe ilke mon þat me ne mæi mid mede ouer-gan.
þurh þa luue of þan feo feond-scipe aleggen.
makien feolle ifreond þæh heo weoren i-uæiede.
Nu spac Iulius Cesar he wes wis and swiðe iwar.
I-hereð mine Frensce men mine freo cnihtes.
Ich wulle sende to Rome to mine monnen wel idone.
þat heo me sende forð-rihtes fif hundred cnihtes.
for ȝet ich wulle wenden in-to Brut-londe.
& ȝe me scullen uæren mid mid muchelere strengðe.
& þat lond ich wulle biwinnen & þa bet eow scel iwurðen.
for eowre muchele wurð-scipe weole ȝe scullen habben.
Alle eowre flemede men mid mire freondscipen cumen aȝæn
for ȝifuen ich wulle witen. & þe wræcchen makien richen
freo ȝe scullen iwurðen & mine freond-scipe habben.
Þa answare[de] þat hired mid hæhȝere stefne.
Mid þe we wulleð libben & mid þe we wulleð liggen.
and wurð-scipe þe bi-winnen mid strengðe and mid ginnen.
& mid þe we wulleð buȝen mid baldere strengðe.
ouer sæ to Brutlonde to Cassibellaune þa kinge.
& wið him we scullen fihten & wærken þine cnihtes.
& iwinnen al þat lond and setten hit in þire hond.
& þer moste mare to ær þis weoren al i-don.
for al heo weoren særi ær hit soð weore.
Þa Cesar hæfde þis idon & his gærsume idæle[d].
& æc hæfde freond-scipe mid his feo biwunnen.
þa ferde he into Buluine þer him bezst þuðte.
He hehte wurchen ane tur wunderliche fæier.
þe tur wes muchel and hæh & þere sæ heo stod wel neh.
Þe kæisere hire ȝæf nome & Oðeres heo cleopede.
in þare tur stronge þe kæisere wunede longe.
þreottene monðes wunede Iulius in Oðeres.
and þider he lette al cumen gold and his gærsume.
Næs næuere na tur þe swa weore itimbred.
mid crafte swa gode swa þa tur of Oð[er]es.
Þer mihten sitten in þon grunde cnihtes sixti hundred.
& þa turres cop mi[h]te w[reo]n a cniht mid his capen.
Þa þe tur wes al ȝaru þa hæfde Cesar þe lasse kare.
in-to France he wende & sette his wike.
ȝeond al he sette reuwen stronge & hæȝen.
þ[e] fengen þa lond-gauel & mid þan feo sculden faren.
æuer-alcne ȝere to Oðres þeon ture.
Þa lette he wurchen wunderliche muchele
six hundred scipen. & sette heo to hauene
Þa þat wærc wes i-don. & al þat þer bihouede to
þa seide þe keisere. þat to Brut-londe he wolde faren
forð bi his quike liue. nalde he heom swa bi-læuen
Six hundred scipe gode. he fusde i sæ-flode
& nuste na mon þat itel. of þan scipen þat seileden after
& forð-riht heo wenden. in-to þere Temese
Nu þohte Iulius Cezar. ah þer he wes to vn-war
he þohte swa forð teon. æfter þere Temese
rouwen swa longe. þat he come to Londen
& þær heo wolden up faren. & fehten wið Bruttes
& iwinnen al þis lond. to his aȝere hond
Ah nas hit noht swa iloten. for lettinge com on ueste
for sæ-liðende men. seiden þon Brutten
þat þe kaisere Iulius. wolde i Temese cume þus
faren forð to Lunden. & fehten wi[ð] þan leoden
& þa Bruttes iwurðen war. & wisdom bi-þoðten
& nomen longen ræftres. stronge & rihte
mid stronge irene heo weoren iscod. & setten heom i Temese flod
Þer weoren fifti hundred. faste i þon grunde
& þa herre endes ihodede mid irene bendes.
to-ȝænes heom heolden inne þere hauene.
& swa heo þer stoden biwriȝen mid þon flode.
Þa com Iulius Cesar and hær-æf næs na-wiht war.
Þæt weder heom strong-liche drof ster-men þer sungen.
weder heom stod on wille heo wenden w[e]l to speden.
heo urnen touward hauene scipen gunnen helden.
bosmes þer rendden water in wende.
seiles þer helfden aðeles adrunken.
& þa Rom-leoden rameden ȝeond uþen.
Þa scipen wenden to wundre oðer half hundred.
Þer-after com Iulius Cesar on his hurte him wæs sær.
heo scuuen ut heore lof & læiden to þon londe.
& þeo þer-æfter comen weoren war sone.
and heom sælliche i-lomp þæt mesten dæl com a lond.
Heo sloȝen heoren teldes wide ȝeond þa feldes.
& sære menden heoren wines þe adrunken weoren.
Þa wæs þe king war Cassibellaunes.
þat Iulius þe kæisere wes a Lundene mid his hære.
Þa ȝeddede þe king Cassibellaune
Welle broðer Nennius. þat ich þe quic nabbe
& þat sweord Crocea Mors. þe þu biwunne a compe
& þe bi mire side. isund seȝe riden.
an oðer half Androchius & his broðer Tennancius.
siker-lichen we sculden uaren & fehten wið þon kæisere.
& forð we sculen liðen & fellen his leoden.
Cassibellaune Bruttene king wes god cnih[t] þurh alle þing.
He somnede vnimete here & ferde touward þon kæisere.
& þus spec wið his folke & luueliche spilede.
Biðencheð eow ohte cnihtes to bitellen eoweore rihtes.
bi-þencheð a Belin þone king & Brennes his broðer.
hu heo biȝeten Rome mid riche here ferde.
& biwunnen al þa richen þe læien in-to Rome.
& swa heo hit walden wel feole wintre.
& swa heo þer boȝeden þe wile þe heo luueden.
& ich hit sugge eow cnihtes Rome is eowre irihte.
nu hit halt Iulius Cesar þe is tweien icumen her.
& halt þer eower icunde & her eow wule driuen of londe.
& hateð eow swa swiðe þat awei he wule eow driue.
Ȝif ȝe leoseð þis lond ouer-al ȝe wurðe[ð] laðe.
Ah beo ȝe swiðe bisie for we beoð ohte Bruttes.
Cesar is in ure londe & lið her bi sæ-stronde.
Ohliche liðe we him to swa him alre laðest beo.
& awalde we þe keisere & al his Romanisce here.
& aredden ure lond of þan Rom-leodene.
Þa andswereden þa ferde. Varen we biliue.
for Iulius is fæie mid al his Rom-folke.
Forð heo ifusden & ferden biliue.
þat heo þidir comen þer læi þat folk of Rome.
& heo heom to ræsden mid ræhere strengðe.
Laðliche heo feohten & Rom-ware feollen.
þer Cesar folk folden isohten
noht bi tene no bi t[wenti] ah bi twenti þusende.
Swa heo fehten al dæi monie þer weoren fæie.
þet hit com to þere nihte ne mihte Cesar na-mare fihte.
Cesar wes swa swiðe wa & bi-ðohte hine þa.
þat he wolde a þere nihte fleon awæi mid his cnihten.
Iulius Cezar of his lure wes þer war.
he lette blawen his bemen & bannen his ferden.
& lette leode cleopien & ouer-al cuðen.
þat heo comen to heore innes & ȝarekeden heore ginnes.
& fæȝeden heoren wepnen a-marwen heo fusden to fehte.
Þis ihærden þa bisie þe weoren þer bi-hælues.
forð-riht heo comen to Cassibellaune.
& seiden him þat Cesar wulde þe ȝet wunnien þar.
& amarwe he weolde fehten mid alle his cnihten.
& fallen þa Bruttes oðer him-sulf beo fæie.
for þus heo letten cleopien & cuðen ȝeond his ferde.
Ah wa la wa & wala wa. þat Cassibellaune nær iwar
þa he wende swiðe wel don. ah ne dude he hit no
He droh in ane hælue. & toc þan herberwe
& alle þa nihte. greiðeden his cnihtes
heore scæftes & heore sceldes. þa scælkes weoren bischærred
For Iulius Cesar. of his hærme wæs wær
a-buten mid-nihte. he warnede alle his cnihtes
& to scipen ferden & fusden an veste.
Heo hafden swiðe god weder & wenden mid vðen.
heo ledden in heore scipen æiðer deade men and quiken.
moni sorh-fulne sæg sare iwunded.
monienne deadne cniht of Cesares duhȝeðe.
Swa heo wenden mid þon flode to þon tur of Oðres.
þer wes Iulius Cezar an heorte he hafde sorȝe & sar.
Amarȝen þa hit wes dæi-liht hit wes cuð forð-riht.
& æc iseid þon kinge Cassibellaune.
hu Iulius þe kæisere wes from þissen londe ifaren.
& al hu he fusde & flæh mid þon vðen.
þat næs þer bilæued nan of Rom-leoden.
Þa wes þon kinge wa & þus ȝeddede þa.
Wale wale vn-ræd mani cniht þu makest dæd.
Welle þat ich nas ær war þat Iulius wolde wenden.
Ful soh seide þe seg þe þeos saȝe talde.
Ȝif þu ileuest ælcne mon selde þu sælt wel don.
Swa ic wende wel þat þe sæȝe soð weoren.
þe me wes to-niht itald [bi] an eorl swic-ful & bald.
þat Cesar wolde nu to-dæi Brut-lond biwinnen.
oðer her mid sweorde liggen to-swungen.
and al his iuere þe mid him comen here.
Nu wes þis ilke iseid me to bi-swiken.
Wæila wæi wæila wæi þat he is þus i-faren awæi.
& na-þeles ich em bliðe for auere to ure liue.
we m[a]ȝen ouer-sitten þis lond ær he us æft isechen.
for æuere-more he mai imunnen þat he him her imunten
for her liggeð to-ȝere. ten þusend of his iferen
wið-uten his driht-liche scipen. þe i sæ idrunken
Ah wel ich þonkie mine gode. for wurð-scipe ich habbe ibiden
& twien iflemed þene keisere. mid alle his Romanisce leode
& nu ich wulle to Lundene. þa burh ich luuie swuðe
& þer ich wulle halinesse to mine goden halden.
& swiðe heom wurðen for heore wel-dæde.
Þe king lette blawen & bonnien his ferden.
& hehten heom alle faren heom. & hired-men beon bliðe
& fæien heore steden. and græiðen heore iweden
& þas dæies æn þreom wiken. wenden to Lundene
mid wif & mid bernen. blisse to makien
eorles & þeines. cnihtes & sweines
& al þat freoliche folc. of Brut-londes ærde
þene dæie heo vnder-nomen. & to Lundene heo comen
mid swulche riche-dome. [al] swa hit weoren i Rome
Þe king bi-gon seruise. on ælches cunnes wise
æfter þan heðene laȝen. þe stoden o ðen ilkæ daȝen
Þer stoden in þere temple. ten þusend monnen
þet wes þe bezste cure. of al Brut-londe
biforen heore mahun. þe heom þuhte mære
Apolin wes ihaten heo heolden hine for hæhne godd.
Ælc beorn hæfde on heonde ane þechene bærninde.
wæs ælc bald beorn iboned mid golde.
þe king hafde his kine-helm hæhliche on hæfde.
Wæs at-foren þan wæfde imaked an wunlic fur.
þe king warp riches þer-in & alle his hæhste men mid him.
seoððen heo þer offreden aððeles madmes.
& þonkede Appollin his gode þe þa muchele wurðscipe uðen him.
Þa þe seruuinge wes idon þat hit to þe mete com.
þer-of ich wulle þe tellen selcuðe spelles.
Weoren in þeos kinges cuchene twa hundred cokes.
& ne mæi na man tellen for alle þa bermannen.
Islaȝene weoren to þon mele twælf þusend ruðeren sele.
& þritti hundred hærtes & al swa feole hinden.
of þan fohȝel-cunne ne mai hit na mon kennen.
& al þat wæl & al þat gold þe wes ȝeond al þeos kinges lond.
hit wes al isomned [at] þere sereuunge.
Nes hit nauer mid soð itald seoððen þeos weoruld wes a-stald.
þat weore on ane stude swulc ȝifueðe istured.
ne of alche þinge swulc riche-dom iȝiuen & under-fon.
Muri wes þe dæi & liht & þa sonne wes swiðe briht.
weoren þa bernes i-scængte mid beore.
& þa drihliche gumen weoren win-drunken.
Heo ferden ȝeond þa feldes mid scæftes & mid sceldes.
Summe heo gunnen ærnen & somme heo gunnen eornen.
& summe heo gunnen pleien pliht com on ueste.
Summen pleoden on tæuelbrede & summen ærnden heore stede.
Þa weoren þer tweiene prute heo weoren beien.
Herigal hehte þe an Æueling þe oðer.
Herigal wes þes kinges mæi þet wes hærm a þen ilke dæi.
ahte cniht wes Auelin Androgeus wes is hem.
Þeos tweien cnihtes bi-gunnen mid sceldes to scurmen.
ærst heo pleoweden and seoððe pliht makeden.
þer Herigal smat Æuelin swiðe vuele a þane chin.
Heo bigunnen to chiden cnihtes come riden.
Euelin wes swiðe wrað & mid þan stæue to-draf.
and smat Herigal a þon ribben þat þe stæf to-bræc amidden.
Þa queð þe cniht Herigal Euelin þat is swiðe sar.
þu me smite bi þon rugge ah sare þu hit slat a-buggen.
for nu þi stæf is to-broken balu þe scal beon ȝifueðe.
Euielin wes swiðe sari þat him wes swa ilumpen.
þe oðer wolde him habben dæd hit þuhte him swiðe hærd ræd.
& he hine bi-þohte wæt he don mihte
nefde he noht on his hond. bute enne luttelne sceld
Isæh he enne hendlicne mon. þe þer stod bi-haluen
þe wes þudere icumen. for to i-seon þare cnihte gomen
þe ȝunge mon heold on his hond. enne stelene brond
Euielin þene brond igrap. mid grimliche lechen
& braid hine of þere scæðe þa wes his hurte æðe.
He ræsde to Herigale & smat hine swi[ð]e sare.
þat his neb & his neose niðer ba heolden.
æft he him to sweinde & þa hond him of-swipte.
dunt he him ȝef þane þridde & for-smat hine amidde.
Swa endede þæ pleowe þat Herigal læi of-sloȝen.
and Euelin þonene wende his sweord he bar on honde.
ne funde he nonne swa kene mon þat hond him durste leggen on.
al þat folc he bi-bæh to Androchies inne he flæh.
Þet iherde þe king icud h[it] wes him sone.
hu hit al wes ifaren & hu Herigal læi of-slæwen.
Þe king nom þreo aldere men and sende to Androgeum.
and hehte hine bringen his mæi to þon kinge.
to þolie þes kinges dom for þan slæhte þe [he] hafde idon.
and ȝif he swa nolde he hine flæme wolde.
Þa answerede Androgeus and toward þan kinge he spæc þus.
Nulle ich hine bringen for nauer nane þinge.
þat me Euelin for-do noþer slæ ne na a-ho
Ah ich habbe freo lond. þat freoliche stont a mire honde
& ich habbe min [hired] heh vnder þon kinge.
Ȝif her is æni cniht þe of Eueline axeð riht.
come to mine herede & þer he hit scal habben.
& ich sugge eow to soðe nis þer ræd nan oðer
Þis wes sone icuð. to Cassibellaune
Þe king iwarð him swiðe wrað. swulc he weore of witte
& þeos ilkæ word him seide. Cassibellaune
Ut of min æh-senen. Androgeus & his iueren
& ȝif ich hine mai eower ifon. in þon stude he beð for-don
Androgeus forð-rihtes. nom alle his cnihtes
& anan gon liðen. ut of Lundenne
& iwenden in-to Kent. to his ane castle
and hine strongede wel. mid mete & mid wepnen
& þe king nom Lundene & þat lond. to his aȝere hond
& seoððen fusde in-to Kent. mid muchelere ferde
mid here and mid fure. þat lond for-ferde swiðe
Androgeus nom tweie cnihtes. & sende to þon kinge
& þus þe cnihtes him spæken wið. King Androgeus ȝeornneð þi grið
Androgeus is þin aȝene. mon. al þine wille he wule don
wið þon þe þu him ȝeue grið. & late hine sæhtne þe wið
and leten bi-leuen þine brune. his lond þe þu for-bærnest
I-þench þat he wes Lu[d]es sune. of þine broðer he is icumen
& his fader ahte al þat lond. þat nu stondeð a þire hond
And al hit þuncð him wel idon. ȝif þu his sæhtnesse wult vnder-fon
bute nele he þe nauere Euelin. mid ærhðe bitæchen
þat þu him sculle oðer don. oðer slæn oðer a-hon
Þa þe king iherde þis. þa wes he wræð ful iwis
and þus seide þe king Cassebellaune.
What beo ȝe mine kemppen
mine driht-liche men. Wrekeð me of Androgeum
His lond ich wulle for-bærnen. & his bone iwurðen
Þis iherden suggen Androgeus. & he answerede þus
Whilen hit wes iseid inne soð spelle.
þat moni mon deð muchel vuel al his vnðankes.
Swa ich moht nu neode for muchere neode.
Þe mon þe þoleð þat me hine wule for-don þat ich telle vnwis-dom.
þe while he mæi þurh æni cræft i compe hine werien.
Ælc cniht ah an uuel to don ær he wurse vnder-fon.
and swa ich æuere bere sceld and spere sende ich wulle to þon kæisere.
& græten Iulius Cesare & mænen to him mi sar.
& bedden þat he me ræde for nu ich habbe neode.
Androgeus þe riche cnihte makede a writ wel idiht.
& nom erendrake godne & sende him to Oðres.
to Iulius þon kæisere mid al his Romanisce here
& þus wes þat writ idiht. & þus hit spæc forð-riht
Hail beo þu mid þine here. Iulius þe keisere
Þu hattes Iulius Cezar. to þe ich mæne mi sær
Androgeus þin aȝene mon þis nis nan swike-dom
for þat weord þat ich þe sende. bi mine liue ich hit halde
& þu hit nult ileuen beoten hit læssingge beo.
ich hit wulle trousien þurh minne tir-fulne godd.
þurh mine lauerd Appollin þe leof me is on heorte.
For ofte hit is ilumpen inne feole leoden.
þet æfter muchele hatinge hehȝe men heom luuede.
& æfter muchel weorld-scome wurð-scipe wurhten.
Twien þu hafuest i-beon ouer-cummen & þine men we habbeð islæn. & inome
& idriuen þe of Brut-londe mid feht swiðe stronge.
mid us þu hæfuest bileued moni þeosend kempen.
Þat nes noht þurh ure kinge Cassibellaune.
ah hit wes þurh me seolfne & þurh sele mine folke.
for ich lædde mid me Lundene uerde.
& [eke] al þa Kent-wærre þe kempen weoren gode.
& þer-wið-ute monienne Brut þe bald wes to fehten.
Seoððen we þe hafden ouer-comen & þi folke i-slaȝen an i-inomen.
Nu is Cassibellaune & his men swa modi iwurðen.
þet mid fehte heo wulleð me sende ut of Brut-londe.
fleme me from leoden feor from londe.
Mi lond heo habbeoð me al i-west & Lundene me biræued.
& me sulfne heo þencheð quellen and alle mine kempen.
Ȝif þu þis writ iheren wult hit wule þe suggen minne gult.
Þa þu weoren from us iliðe at þa latere cherre.
þa wes þa king swa bliðe swa he nas nauer ære on his liue.
& on oðer halue he hæfde kare for he nusten þat þu woldest faren.
Noþe-les he seide at-foren al his duȝeðe.
Nu is Iulius awei ifloȝen tweien he is aflemed.
tweien he com to Bruttene þer him wes balu ȝeueðe.
ne þurfe we nu nauer-mare iseon hine cumen here.
for her beoð his bezste cnihtes islæȝen in ure fehte.
& nu we sulleð for heore beone bliðe iwurðen.
Scullen alle mine Bruttes mid baldere prute.
liðen to Lundene & þer lof makien.
vre lauerde Appollin & alle ure goden mid him.
for þere muchele wurðe-scipe þe ich nu walde.
Þus lið[d]en to Lundene alle Brut-leoden.
cnihtes & ð[r]inges mid wifue & mid children.
& mid alle þe wurð-scipe þe heo weoren wældinde ouer.
Þa we þus comen to Lundene we gunnen lof makien.
ure lauerd Apollin. & alle ure goden mid him
Seoððen þeos weorld wes astalled. nes hit nowher itald
þat weore nowhar swa muchel mete. iuorððed to ane mele
ne swa muchel god dringe. folke ideled
Euelin i-seh enne gume. ȝungen him bi-halfues
& bar an his riht hond. ænne stelene brond
Euelin him ræsde to. & hine ræhliche græp
[an] hiȝinge he þat sweord adroh. & Herigal of-sloh
Þat iherde þe king. Cassibellaune
þat Herigal wes of-slaȝen. and Euelin awæi ifloȝen
to me he sende his seonde. wið-uten gretinge
hehte me bringe to him. mine mæi Euelin
swiðe bringe hine him to. to þolien his hirdes dom
for an of þon he weolden him don. oðer slan oðer an-hon
& ȝif ich þat nalde. ich scolde fleon of his on-walde
& ȝif he mihte me seoluen ifon. he me walden slæn oðer an-hon
Ich ȝirnde þes kinges g[r]ið. & walde sæhtnen him wið.
& riht him don i mine hirde for ich wes his eorl þe hehste.
ah nolde ich him neuere Euelin to ærmðen him bi-tache.
& he me a-flemde sone from hirede.
Lundene he hæfueð me bi-nome & mine cnihtes o[f]slaȝen.
Naðeles ich habbe an hirede twa and fifti hundred.
& ȝet ich habbe an honde twenti castles stronge.
& mi-seolf ich wunie inne Kent mid kene mine beornnen.
& þe king me fehteð wið & nule me ȝeuen na grið.
Nu þu hauest iherd mi sær lauerd Iulius Cesar.
al mid soðe worden alse þis writ þe telleð.
A þisse write ich habbe idon þat ich wulle bi-cumen þin mon.
& halden þe for herre for hehne mine lauerd.
wið þan þe þu me helpe a[t] heȝere neode.
& aredde me of þon kinge. Cassibellaune
Þas weord ich wulle þe treosien. þurh mine tirfulne god
þat ich hit wulle soðien. ase ich hit bi write suggen
& cum hiȝend-liche to Britteine. þat lond ich þe biteche
þurh me þu hit bi-læfdes. & þurh me þu hit scalt habben
Þis writ iherde Iulius. þe him hafde i-send Androgeus
þa enswerede. Iulius þe keisere
Nulle ich him ileuen. þur[h] alle leodene að
bute he me sende anan. his feire sune Cenan
& þritti oðere ȝisles. to Oðres me sende
þeo beon alle icornne & hæȝe ibornne.
Ȝif he þis wule don his bod ic wulle a-fon.
& cumen him to helpe mid hæȝere strengðe.
Þas word sende Iulius mid write to Androgeus.
Androgeus forð-riht anan sende his sune Cenan.
& þritti ȝi[s]les oðere he sende him to Oðeres.
And Iulius þe sele to þere sa i-wende.
mid alle his folke fusde touward Burttene.
anan swa hit daȝede he com up at Douere.
Þat word him herde Androgeus & sone þider wende.
& þas wordes seide Androgeus Wulcume ært þu Iulius.
swiðe leof þu ært me þis lond ich þe bitæche.
Heo speken to-somne & spileden mid sehte.
Þeo while hefede þe king Cassibellaune.
ȝeond al his kinelond isomned ferde stronge.
to Lundene he wolde liðen & enne castel biliggen.
þe Androgeus þe stronge hafde þa ȝet an honde.
Þa þe ferde wes al igadered þa com an gume ærnen.
& anan he þus cleopede to Cassibellaune.
Hal seo þu ure king Ich þe bringe tiðende.
of þon Rom-leoden þe laðe þe beoð an heorten.
Alle heo beoð i Doure þine dæd-liche iuan.
& þer is Androgeus to speken wið Iulius.
Þeos word beoð soðe þe ich her sugge.
and þench mid wulche deden þu miht werien þine leoden.
Þa wes særi þe king Cassibellaune.
& lette biliue blawen his beme.
cuðen his kempen þa tiðende neow-cumene.
þat Iulius þe kæisere. mid his Romanisce here
wes þer-riht icumen. and þa hauene at Doure hafde inomen
Þa sæide þe king. Cassibellaune
Lundene we mote bilæuen. & to Doure liðen
Bonnieð ure ferde. & fare we bi-liue
Forð ferde þe king. mid vnimete folke
riht towarde Doure. to his muchelen vn-bihoue
Þat iherde Iulius Cesar. he wes wis and swiðe iwar
þat þuderward com on ueste. Cassibellaune
Þa wes Iulius bliðe. for þe tiðende leofue
he ferde ut of Doure. bi þe sæ-oure
in-to ane muchele slæde. & slahliche his folc hudde
And Androgeus wende. in-to ane oðere ende
to ane wilderne in-to ane wude muchele.
& þus spec Androgeus & wið his folke spilede þus.
Ne wurðe nan cniht swa wod ne kempe swa wilde.
þat he æuere speke worde furðer þene his speres ord.
ne from his ifere ride for to-somnen we scullen gliden
faste to-gadere. & ure i-fan fællen
& ȝif here is æi heredring. þe maȝen nimen þene king
nime hine mid i-sunde. & ne ȝefue him nane wunde
for he is mi lauer[d] & mi cu[n]. nulle ich hine quellen
[ah we scullen] al his folk feollen to grunde.
& ȝemen þes fehtes & nawiht þes fenges.
fællen þa ræȝe & læten þa ræf liggen.
& al swa lerde Iu[lius] leoue his cnihtes
Iulius hæfde to iueren. þritti hundred riderne
cnihtes. i-corene. kene-wurð kempen
& Androgeus hæfde to iueren. ten þusend rideren
Al-swa heo þus leien stille. & bi-diemden heore wille
þer com þe king riden. Cassibellaune
mid vnimete ferde. mid vnimete folke
& com heom bi-tweonen. þer heo þoleden teonen
Iulius him wes biforen. Androgeus bihinden
ah Androgeus. ær awoc. & ut of wude wende
& al þat folc þe he lædde lude hit grædde.
bleowen here bemen belden heore beornes.
& heom toward wenden on euere-elchen ende.
Þis iherde þe king Cassibelaune.
iherde he þene muchelne dræm & þene dune muchelne.
he seide forð-rihtes Wepneð eow cnihtes.
Þes kinges heorte wes ful sær he wende þat hit weore Cesar.
ah Cesær mid his ginne bi-uoren wes ful stille.
and ihærde þane dræm wel of Androgeus folke.
& Iulius wes al rædi alse he to wolde ræsen.
& Cassibellaune þe king nuste her-of na-þing.
ah he wepnede his cnihtes and ȝarewede heom to fehten.
Ær heo weoren hælf ȝaru þer com Androgeus faren.
and he fusde heom to mid feondliche strengðe.
Þe cnihtes þe weoren igarede bi-gunnen to fæhten.
& Androgeus heom to mid aðelere stre[n]gðe.
æt þon frum-ræsen he feolde of þon folke.
feowerti hundred þat folke wes þæ læsse.
Þa wolde þat folke fleon þer com Iulius teon.
forn aȝæien heore hæued & heom to heolde.
of þon folke he sloh muchel & uni-foh.
Þa fleh Bruttene king Cassibellaune.
wel ofte him wes wa neuer wurse þene þa.
Iulius him wes bi-foren Androgeus him bæften.
& on ælche side siȝen to his hærme.
Þe king hine bi-þohte Cassibellaune.
i-sæh him bi-hælues ænne holt hæhne.
bi ænnes wudes ende þider he gon wenden.
and muchel of his folke floȝen mid þon kinge.
& a-stiȝen uppe þen hul mid muchele mod-sorȝe.
naþeles þer up þurngen fiftene þusunde.
Wes þe mu[n]t swiðe hæh hasles þer greowen.