 | [Chronicle of Fabyan] |  |
I. [Volume I]
Prologus
Whan
I aduertyse/in my remembraunce
The manyfolde storyes/in ordre duely sette
Of kyngz & pryncz/that whylom had gouernaūce
Of Rome and Italye/and other further fette
As of Iewes and Grekz/the whiche haue no lette
But that men/may se/in ordre ceryously
Howe longe they reygned/and howe successyuely.
The manyfolde storyes/in ordre duely sette
Of kyngz & pryncz/that whylom had gouernaūce
Of Rome and Italye/and other further fette
As of Iewes and Grekz/the whiche haue no lette
But that men/may se/in ordre ceryously
Howe longe they reygned/and howe successyuely.
Of Fraunce and other/I myght lykewyse report
To theyr great honour/as of theym doth appere
But to Englande/if I shall resort
Ryght mysty storyes/doughtfull and vndere
Of names of tymes/and of the duraunt yere
That kynges or prynces/ruled that famousyle
Almoste vncertayne/howe I shuld guyde my style.
To theyr great honour/as of theym doth appere
But to Englande/if I shall resort
Ryght mysty storyes/doughtfull and vndere
Of names of tymes/and of the duraunt yere
That kynges or prynces/ruled that famousyle
Almoste vncertayne/howe I shuld guyde my style.
And for of cunnynge/I am full destytute
To brynge to frame/so great a mysterye
I nyll presume/without other refute
To ioyne suche a werke/or it to rectyfye
To me it semyth/so ferre sette a wrye.
In tyme of yeres/to other discordaunt
That to my dull wytte/it is nat atteynaunt.
To brynge to frame/so great a mysterye
I nyll presume/without other refute
To ioyne suche a werke/or it to rectyfye
To me it semyth/so ferre sette a wrye.
In tyme of yeres/to other discordaunt
That to my dull wytte/it is nat atteynaunt.
To brynge in ordre/a thynge of suche weyght
And cause it to agre/with other olde storyes
But it to remytte/to theym that been sleyght
And sharpe in lecture/and haue kepte theyr studyes
And sought the bookes/of many olde hystoryes
And haue in Cronycles full experyence
To frame suche a werke/by theyr great prudence.
And cause it to agre/with other olde storyes
But it to remytte/to theym that been sleyght
And sharpe in lecture/and haue kepte theyr studyes
And sought the bookes/of many olde hystoryes
And haue in Cronycles full experyence
To frame suche a werke/by theyr great prudence.
And I lyke the prentyse/that hewyth the rowth stone
And bryngeth it to square/with harde strokes and many
That the mayster after/may it ouer gone
And prynte therin/his fygures and his story
And so to werke it/after his propornary
That it may appere/to all that shall it se
A thynge right parfyth/and well in eche degre.
And bryngeth it to square/with harde strokes and many
That the mayster after/may it ouer gone
And prynte therin/his fygures and his story
And so to werke it/after his propornary
That it may appere/to all that shall it se
A thynge right parfyth/and well in eche degre.
So haue I nowe/sette out this rude werke
As rough as the stone/nat cōmen to the square
That the lerned/and the studyed clerke
May it ouer polysshe/and clene do it pare
Flowrysshe it with Eloquence/wherof it is bare
And frame it in ordre/that yet is out of ioynt
That it with olde Auctours/may gree in euery poynt.
As rough as the stone/nat cōmen to the square
That the lerned/and the studyed clerke
May it ouer polysshe/and clene do it pare
Flowrysshe it with Eloquence/wherof it is bare
And frame it in ordre/that yet is out of ioynt
That it with olde Auctours/may gree in euery poynt.
Besechynge hym/that wyll so take the payne
Or any other/that lyste on this loke
Where any Errour/in this by hym is sayne
It to correct/and mende this rude boke
For by hym/that neuer yet/any ordre toke
Or gre of Scole/or sought for great cunnynge
This werke is gaderyd/with small vnderstandynge.
Or any other/that lyste on this loke
Where any Errour/in this by hym is sayne
It to correct/and mende this rude boke
For by hym/that neuer yet/any ordre toke
Or gre of Scole/or sought for great cunnynge
This werke is gaderyd/with small vnderstandynge.
Nat for any pompe/or yet for great mede
This werke I haue taken/on hande to compyle
But of cause oonly/for that I wolde sprede
The famous honour/of this Fertyle Ile
That hath contynued/by many a longe while
In excellent honour/with many a royall guyde
Of whom the dedys/haue spronge to the worlde wyde.
This werke I haue taken/on hande to compyle
But of cause oonly/for that I wolde sprede
The famous honour/of this Fertyle Ile
That hath contynued/by many a longe while
In excellent honour/with many a royall guyde
Of whom the dedys/haue spronge to the worlde wyde.
But of those dedys/me lyste nat here to shewe
For in the Sequele/they shall well appere
And in short processe/and in as wordes fewe
As I goodly may/I shall lyke in fere
The Sturyes of Englande/and Fraunce so dere
That to the reder/it may well be sayne
What kynges togyder/ruled these landes twayne.
For in the Sequele/they shall well appere
And in short processe/and in as wordes fewe
As I goodly may/I shall lyke in fere
The Sturyes of Englande/and Fraunce so dere
That to the reder/it may well be sayne
What kynges togyder/ruled these landes twayne.
And in the pryncipyll/of reygne of euery kynge
As well of one/and other more and lesse
What yere of the worlde/he toke begynnynge
To guyde his Realme/and ferther besynesse
I wyll eke take/to shewe and expresse
What terme of yeres/euery prynce dyde reygne
And in what honour/he dyd his tyme maynteyne.
As well of one/and other more and lesse
What yere of the worlde/he toke begynnynge
To guyde his Realme/and ferther besynesse
I wyll eke take/to shewe and expresse
What terme of yeres/euery prynce dyde reygne
And in what honour/he dyd his tyme maynteyne.
The tyme also/howe longe the Brytons ruled
And howe by Saxons/they were lastly put oute
Than of Danes/whiche bothe landes defoyled
By theyr outrage/and of theyr fury stoute
Of whom bothe nacions/stode longe in great doute
Tyll Fraunce with theym/allyed by maryage
And Englande lastly/voyded that lynage.
And howe by Saxons/they were lastly put oute
Than of Danes/whiche bothe landes defoyled
By theyr outrage/and of theyr fury stoute
Of whom bothe nacions/stode longe in great doute
Tyll Fraunce with theym/allyed by maryage
And Englande lastly/voyded that lynage.
Than howe the Normannes/by Wyllyam Conquerour
Entryd this lande/and helde the Sygnory
A certayne of tyme/tyll the hygh gouernour
Restored the blode/of Saxons Enderly
And of the Scottes/that neuer coude apply
To kepe theyr Allegeaunce/but many a tyme rebelled
And to be true/were full often Compelled.
Entryd this lande/and helde the Sygnory
A certayne of tyme/tyll the hygh gouernour
Restored the blode/of Saxons Enderly
And of the Scottes/that neuer coude apply
To kepe theyr Allegeaunce/but many a tyme rebelled
And to be true/were full often Compelled.
The fatall warre/that hath dured so longe
Twene Fraunce and Englande/to both theyr damage
And of the peas/that hath ben vnderfonge
Bothe by great othes/and Eke by maryage
Of Walys Geryshnesse/and of theyr lyght dotage
Howe they were scourged/for their vnstedfastnesse
With dyuers other/whiche I shall after expresse.
Twene Fraunce and Englande/to both theyr damage
And of the peas/that hath ben vnderfonge
Bothe by great othes/and Eke by maryage
Of Walys Geryshnesse/and of theyr lyght dotage
Howe they were scourged/for their vnstedfastnesse
With dyuers other/whiche I shall after expresse.
And for that London/that Auncient Cytie
Hath euer parseueryd/in vertuous noblesse
To the great honour/as may consiryd be
Of all this lande/in welth and great largesse
Therfore I thynke/somwhat to expresse
Of their good ordre/and Ciuyle polycy
That they so longe/haue ruled their Cytie by.
Hath euer parseueryd/in vertuous noblesse
To the great honour/as may consiryd be
Of all this lande/in welth and great largesse
Therfore I thynke/somwhat to expresse
Of their good ordre/and Ciuyle polycy
That they so longe/haue ruled their Cytie by.
And of their rulers/as they are yerely chosyn
To rule the Cōmonte/by their discrecion
I shall you shewe/and to you disclosyn
The names of Mayres and Shyriffes of that towne
And all suche actis/as by Reuoluciowne
In their dayes fyll/so that there shall appere
The prynces Actes/whiche chaunged yere by yere.
To rule the Cōmonte/by their discrecion
I shall you shewe/and to you disclosyn
The names of Mayres and Shyriffes of that towne
And all suche actis/as by Reuoluciowne
In their dayes fyll/so that there shall appere
The prynces Actes/whiche chaunged yere by yere.
Of Fraunce also/the Cronycle shall ensewe
In his dewe ordre/so that ye may knowe
Whan they began theyr prynces to renewe
And from the seruage/whan they were kept lowe
Of the Romaynes/whom they dyd ouerthrowe
And of theyr names/that they whylom dyd chaunge
Of theyr firste Baptym/and of theyr maners straunge.
In his dewe ordre/so that ye may knowe
Whan they began theyr prynces to renewe
And from the seruage/whan they were kept lowe
Of the Romaynes/whom they dyd ouerthrowe
And of theyr names/that they whylom dyd chaunge
Of theyr firste Baptym/and of theyr maners straunge.
Thus in this boke/may you here or se
Of bothe landes/the Cronycles entiere
With other matiers/whiche Regystred be
Of olde wryters/suche as wrote full clere
Actes of Prynces/done both ferre and nere
And theym engrosed/with great dylygence
Wherby to their folowers/myght growe experyence.
Of bothe landes/the Cronycles entiere
With other matiers/whiche Regystred be
Of olde wryters/suche as wrote full clere
Actes of Prynces/done both ferre and nere
And theym engrosed/with great dylygence
Wherby to their folowers/myght growe experyence.
Into .vii. partes/I haue this boke deuyded
So that the Reder/may chose where he wyll
The firste conteyneth/howe the Brytons Guyded
This lande from Brute/Molyuncius vntyll
And from Moliuncius/I haue sette for skyll
To the nyenth yere/of kynge Cassibelan
The seconde parte/for that the Romayns than.
So that the Reder/may chose where he wyll
The firste conteyneth/howe the Brytons Guyded
This lande from Brute/Molyuncius vntyll
And from Moliuncius/I haue sette for skyll
To the nyenth yere/of kynge Cassibelan
The seconde parte/for that the Romayns than.
Conquered Bretayne/and thens to Seuerne
The thirde part/I haue also assygned
The fourth endyth/than at Constantyne
The fyft at Cadwaladyr/I haue also diffyned
At the Conquest/I haue Eke determyned
The .vi. part/And of the Seuynth or laste
At our redoubted prynce/I haue the ende caste.
The thirde part/I haue also assygned
The fourth endyth/than at Constantyne
The fyft at Cadwaladyr/I haue also diffyned
At the Conquest/I haue Eke determyned
The .vi. part/And of the Seuynth or laste
At our redoubted prynce/I haue the ende caste.
Henry the .vii. whom god preserue and saue
And hym defende/from all aduersytie
Besechynge theym/that wyll the labour haue
This boke to Rede/or any part to se
That where defaute is/it may corrected be
Without disdayne/and that they wyll support
And ayde this werke/with all their comfort.
And hym defende/from all aduersytie
Besechynge theym/that wyll the labour haue
This boke to Rede/or any part to se
That where defaute is/it may corrected be
Without disdayne/and that they wyll support
And ayde this werke/with all their comfort.
And for this boke/Includyth Storyes fele
And towchyth thynges/done in sundry place
So that one tyme muste/with an other dele
To kepe the yeres/the tyme and the space
Therfore this name/it shall nowe purchace
(Concordaunce of Storyes) by me prouydyd.
The Auctour Sans Nome/fynally deuysyd.
And towchyth thynges/done in sundry place
So that one tyme muste/with an other dele
To kepe the yeres/the tyme and the space
Therfore this name/it shall nowe purchace
(Concordaunce of Storyes) by me prouydyd.
The Auctour Sans Nome/fynally deuysyd.
And for this werke/may haue the better spede
To prayer me thynketh/it is right necessarye
That I shuld falle/Consyderynge my nede
That I muste haue/for lacke of due studye
Where thorough that connynge/and parfyte memorye
Of thynges taken/whan I was yonge and hynde
Ben ferre set of/and put from my mynde.
To prayer me thynketh/it is right necessarye
That I shuld falle/Consyderynge my nede
That I muste haue/for lacke of due studye
Where thorough that connynge/and parfyte memorye
Of thynges taken/whan I was yonge and hynde
Ben ferre set of/and put from my mynde.
By this is Ignoraunce/nowe cōmyn in place
And Oblyuyon/hath sette in his foot
Soo that knowlege/from me they done race
Wherby in olde Auctours/I myght fynde some boot
In latyn and Frenche/that in theyr dytees swoot
These olde wryters/haue so Compendyously
Sette the olde Storyes/in ordre dilygently.
And Oblyuyon/hath sette in his foot
Soo that knowlege/from me they done race
Wherby in olde Auctours/I myght fynde some boot
In latyn and Frenche/that in theyr dytees swoot
These olde wryters/haue so Compendyously
Sette the olde Storyes/in ordre dilygently.
But in this prayer/I thynke nat to be vsed
As dyddyn these Peotis/in theyr olde dayes
Whiche made theyr prayers/to goddes abused
As Iupiter and Mars/that in theyr olde lawes
Were named Goddes/and feyned in their sawes
That they were Goddes/of Batayll and rychesse
And had in theym/great vertue and prowesse.
As dyddyn these Peotis/in theyr olde dayes
Whiche made theyr prayers/to goddes abused
As Iupiter and Mars/that in theyr olde lawes
Were named Goddes/and feyned in their sawes
That they were Goddes/of Batayll and rychesse
And had in theym/great vertue and prowesse.
For what may helpe/these fayned goddes all
As Saturne/or Mercury/or yet bryght Appollo
Bachus/or Neptune/or Pluto the thrall
Coelus/or Mynos/or blynde Cupido
Or yet that goddesse/the fayre Iuno
Diana or Pallas/or Ceres the fre
Or yet the Musis/that been thryes thre.
As Saturne/or Mercury/or yet bryght Appollo
Bachus/or Neptune/or Pluto the thrall
Coelus/or Mynos/or blynde Cupido
Or yet that goddesse/the fayre Iuno
Diana or Pallas/or Ceres the fre
Or yet the Musis/that been thryes thre.
Wherto shuld I calle/vnto Caliope
Moder of Orpheus/with swete Armony
That of Eloquence/hath the Soueraynte
Or to Carmentis/whiche by her firste study
The Latyn letters fande out parfytly
Syne all these/were Mynystris of god Inmortall
And had in theym/no power dyuynall.
Moder of Orpheus/with swete Armony
That of Eloquence/hath the Soueraynte
Or to Carmentis/whiche by her firste study
The Latyn letters fande out parfytly
Syne all these/were Mynystris of god Inmortall
And had in theym/no power dyuynall.
Wherfore to the lorde/that is Celestyall
I wyll nowe Crye/that of his Influence
Of grace and mercy/he wyll a drope let fall
And sharpe my wytte/with suche experyence
That this may fynysshe/with his Assystence
With fauour of the virgyn/his Moder moste excellent
To whome I thus praye/with mynde & hole entent.
I wyll nowe Crye/that of his Influence
Of grace and mercy/he wyll a drope let fall
And sharpe my wytte/with suche experyence
That this may fynysshe/with his Assystence
With fauour of the virgyn/his Moder moste excellent
To whome I thus praye/with mynde & hole entent.
Assit principio sancta maria meo.
Moste Blyssed lady/comfort to suche as calle
To the for helpe/in eche necessytie
And what thou aydyst/may in no wyse Apalle
But to the best/is formyd in ylke degre
Wherfore good lady/I praye it may please the
At my begynnynge/my penne so to lede
That by thyne ayde/this werke may haue good spede.
To the for helpe/in eche necessytie
And what thou aydyst/may in no wyse Apalle
But to the best/is formyd in ylke degre
Wherfore good lady/I praye it may please the
At my begynnynge/my penne so to lede
That by thyne ayde/this werke may haue good spede.
Finis.
Prima Pars Bruti.
[Celestyall Goddesse/that weldest frith and wood]
Celestyall Goddesse/that weldest frith and woodThe wylde bore & bestz/thou feryst by thy myght
Guyder of shypmen passyng the Rageous flood
The infernall howses/for and the Erth a ryght
Beholde and serche/& shewe where I shall lyght
Tell the certayne place/where euerlastyngly
A temple of virgyns/to the I shall edefye.
[Brute farre by West/ouer the lande of Fraunce]
Brute farre by West/ouer the lande of FraunceAn Ile in occeane there is/all closed with the see
This Ile wc Graūtz/whylom inhabyt by chaūce
Nowe beynge deserte/as apte for thy people left the
In this of thy body/kynges borne shal be
And of this Ile thou shalbe lorde and kynge
Serche this for here a perpetuell See to the
And here to thy childer/a new Troy shal sprynge.
Prima Pars Cronecarum.
[Most mergynall flor/of al most excellēt]
Most mergynall flor/of al most excellētPercyng of Angellz/ye hyest Gerarchy
Ioye and be glad/for god Omipotent
Hath the lyft vp/& set moste worthely
Aboue yt nombre & glorious company
Of his blessid seȳtz wt most hye dignite
Next after hym most honoured to be.
Finit Pars Prima.
Tertia Pars Cronecarum.
[Hayll and be glad/thou vessell moost shynynge]
Hayll and be glad/thou vessell moost shynyngeOf vertue and grace/at whose cōmaundement
The hole Court of Heuyn/is euer and byddynge
And thou also/art amonge theym ment
Moost benygne and happy/to euery good entent
As dyngne moder of Ihesu/with moost excellence
Honoured in glory/with all theyr assystence.
Explicit Pars Tertia.
Quarta Pars Graciani.
[O excellent pryncesse/and Quene celestyall]
O excellent pryncesse/and Quene celestyallBe Ioyous and glad/for thou art eternally
By knot of charyte/and dignytie pryncypall
Art to the hyghest/Ioyned celestyally
That thou may impetre/what is necessary
For thy seruauntes/thou virgyn moost pure
Of thy swettest Ihesu/and optayne it sure.
Explicit Quarta Pars.
Quinta Pars Cronecarum.
[Ryche of Goodes stronge in vertue/in triumphe clere shynynge]
Ryche of Goodes stronge in vertue/in triumphe clere shynynge
Kynge Clodoueus/this temple bylt of stone
Fader of comon prophete/cladde with honoure excellynge
Replenysshed with goddes loue despysed his olde foon
And his Pagan law/with the straunge fygures echoon
Purgyd with holy water/by Christes font borne newe
And holy Crisme enoynted/floured with vertue dewe.
Kynge Clodoueus/this temple bylt of stone
Fader of comon prophete/cladde with honoure excellynge
Replenysshed with goddes loue despysed his olde foon
And his Pagan law/with the straunge fygures echoon
Purgyd with holy water/by Christes font borne newe
And holy Crisme enoynted/floured with vertue dewe.
Example gyuynge/hym foloweth many a man
Forsakynge theyr Erroure/and theyr false goddes all
And by his techynge honoure/but one god than
Thus by his merytes/he excelled his parentall
And thoroughe his counsayll/made cytie and Castell thrall
He was a noble Duke/and therwith/of great myght
And in Fronte of Batayll/was euer the firste knyght.
Forsakynge theyr Erroure/and theyr false goddes all
And by his techynge honoure/but one god than
Thus by his merytes/he excelled his parentall
And thoroughe his counsayll/made cytie and Castell thrall
He was a noble Duke/and therwith/of great myght
And in Fronte of Batayll/was euer the firste knyght.
Quinta Pars Chilperici.
[Myrrour to the Churche/and of the Countrey the strength.]
Myrrour to the Churche/and of the Countrey the strength.Compassion of Gylty/to them shewynge mercy.
A fader & a leche/an herd and louer at length.
Of his people/cosyn to vertu and of allye.
In feyth and in hert/and eke in mouth holy.
Of whom the flesshe nowe holdith this Sepulture.
But the Spirite is in heuen euer to endure.
To this nothynge noyed/nor faute of sepulture.
He lyueth southly/for deth which he not drede.
Hath hym hense tane/but yet he hoped sure.
This right wyse man/thoughe sometyme he were ladde.
As a bryttell vessell which with the erth was cladde.
And sōme whyle felle/yet efte he rose a noone.
Wherfore he nowe shyneth as doth an Orient stoone.
By helpe and meryte nowe hath the dumbe his speche.
Of this blessyd man/And to the blynde his sight.
Restorid of God/as this daye doth vs teche.
And he of the Flesshe hath gotten nowe the fyght.
And vpper hande with a trihumphant myght.
By vertue whereof/he lyke a conquerour.
Of the highe Heuyn nowe sittith in the Tower.
Quinta Pars Cadwalader.
[Worshipfull Riches kynred tryumphes assuryd.]
Worshipfull Riches kynred tryumphes assuryd.Plenteous welth with Clothes rychely dyght.
Howsis Castellis and Townes strongely muryd.
And other honours which by his parentis myght.
And his was wone this merciall vertuous Knyght.
For Crystis loue renouncyd all his good.
[Thou mother to wretchis & other disconsolate.]
Thou mother to wretchis & other disconsolate.Hayll and be glad for god of worldes all.
To them that here in this present state.
Doon to the worship he reward shall.
With condigne meryte passynge all temporall.
In Heuen to be stallyd with moost felicite.
Euermore to Reygne with thy sone & the.
Sexta Pars Carolimani.
[Of Charlis the great/and Emperoure mooste cristen]
Of Charlis the great/and Emperoure mooste cristenOf Rome/the body is hyd/this Toūbe within.
Sexta Pars Senioris Caroli.
[Cezers tryumphis were nat so moche to prayse]
Cezers tryumphis were nat so moche to prayseAs was of Elfleda that Sheldes so ofte dyd rayse
Agayne her enemyes/this noble venqueresse
Uirago and made whose vertue can I nat expresse.
Sexta Pars Lodouici Quinti.
[For more Auctoryte/as of this matyer]
For more Auctoryte/as of this matyerThis translacion/suche as in sentence
Out of Laten/made by the Cronycler
Called of olde/Gyrardus Cambrence
Whiche wrote the dedes/with great dylygence
Of theym that were/in Westsex crowned kynges
Greatly cōmended/for the knyghtly excellence
Guy of Warwyke/In his famous wrytynges.
Sexta Pars Edgari.
[Ayder of the poore/and punyssher of trespasse]
Ayder of the poore/and punyssher of trespasseThe gyuer of worshyp/kyng Edgar is now gone
To ye kyngdom of heuē/which lyke to prayse was
As Salamon/that for wysdom/aboue all shone
A fader in peas/A lyon̄ to his foone
Founder of Temples/of monkz stronge patrone
Oppresser of all wronge/& of Iustyce guardone.
[Thou that syttest/in this Iudiciall place]
Thou that syttest/in this Iudiciall placeSytte vp ryght/and holde thyne handes from mede
Thyne erys from prayer/and fauoure from the chace
Let lawe be thy gyde/kepe Iustyce in thy rede
Thy Faders skynne/whiche doth thy chayer sprede
Haue in thy mynde/fall nat to lyke offence
Leste for thy faute/thou make lyke recompence.
Sexta Pars Edwardi Confessoris.
[As tyme requyreth/so men doon theym vse]
As tyme requyreth/so men doon theym vseIn wynter warme clothes/in somer lyght and lesse
In tyme of sadnesse/men doon gamys refuse
And in myrth tyme/men to myrthes theym dresse
So in tyme passed/was vsed great sadnesse
In the Churche/but nowe men lyght be
Wherfore the maners/must with men agre.
Sexta Pars Haroldi.
[All hayle and be gladde/moste noble and Moder dere]
All hayle and be gladde/moste noble and Moder dereOf Ihesu christe/Uirgyne moost pure and clene
Deseruynge oonly by grace/and lyuynge moost clere
To be of that dignytie/thou celestyall Quene
To perce the Heuyns/that beeth so serene
And next to the Trone/of the hygh Trinitee
Thou arte admytted/for to holde thy see.
[Nowe shaketh my hande/my pen waxeth dulle]
Nowe
shaketh my hande/my pen waxeth dulle
For weryed and tyred/seynge this werke so longe
The Auctours so Rawe/and so ferre to Culle
Dymme and derke/and straunge to vnderstonde
And ferre oute of tune/to make trewe songe
The Storyes and yeres/to make accordaunt
That it to the Reder/myght shewe trewe and plesaunt.
For weryed and tyred/seynge this werke so longe
The Auctours so Rawe/and so ferre to Culle
Dymme and derke/and straunge to vnderstonde
And ferre oute of tune/to make trewe songe
The Storyes and yeres/to make accordaunt
That it to the Reder/myght shewe trewe and plesaunt.
But vnder correccion/all thynge may be borne
And so I remytte it/to suche as been experte
Prayinge to theym/as I haue done beforne
To fauoure and correcte/so that vnder couerte
Of theyr proteccion/this maye shewe aperte
Holsome and playne/fruytefull and profytable
And to the Reders/and herers Ioyous and delectable.
And so I remytte it/to suche as been experte
Prayinge to theym/as I haue done beforne
To fauoure and correcte/so that vnder couerte
Of theyr proteccion/this maye shewe aperte
Holsome and playne/fruytefull and profytable
And to the Reders/and herers Ioyous and delectable.
For were nat that/I durst nat farther wade
The streme is so depe/and therto so daungerous
But one thynge there is/that somwhat doth me glade
The great daunger/and storyes doughtous
Been ouerpassed/so that more bounteuous
The Auctours been/and more manyfestly
The storyes folowynge/they doon certyfy.
The streme is so depe/and therto so daungerous
But one thynge there is/that somwhat doth me glade
The great daunger/and storyes doughtous
Been ouerpassed/so that more bounteuous
The Auctours been/and more manyfestly
The storyes folowynge/they doon certyfy.
Wherfore as before/to you I dyd promyse
This .vii. parte nowe I woll take on hande
Besechynge alwayes/in moost humble wyse
The welle of bountie/that flowre moste odorande
By whose humylytie/man firste comforte fande
And was redemed/from his Captiuytie
This parte to fynysshe/she wyll myn helper be.
This .vii. parte nowe I woll take on hande
Besechynge alwayes/in moost humble wyse
The welle of bountie/that flowre moste odorande
By whose humylytie/man firste comforte fande
And was redemed/from his Captiuytie
This parte to fynysshe/she wyll myn helper be.
And brynge to ende/this werke that I haue take
On hande to wryte/oonly of entent
To brynge to lyght/and for it shulde nat shake
The olde honoure/that to Englande was ment
Of Famous wryters/whiche haue theyr duytes sent
Unto theyr folowers/all vyces to subdue
Honoure to meyntayne/and to exalte vertue.
On hande to wryte/oonly of entent
To brynge to lyght/and for it shulde nat shake
The olde honoure/that to Englande was ment
Of Famous wryters/whiche haue theyr duytes sent
Unto theyr folowers/all vyces to subdue
Honoure to meyntayne/and to exalte vertue.
Septima Pars Primi.
[The sone here lyeth with also the fader]
The sone here lyeth with also the faderThe belsyre/for & yt great graūdfader.
Septima Pars Henrici.
[Auyse the wele let reason be thy guyde]
Auyse the wele let reason be thy guydeWhan other folke thou arte about to blame
That suche defawte in the be not espyed
For if there be than shalte thou haue the shame
A mannes honoure such thynges woll reclayme
It is full foule whan that a man woll chese
If that his dede agayne his wordys preche.
Septima Pars Lodouici.
[Kynge henry is dede/bewtye of the worlde/for whom great dole]
Kynge henry is dede/bewtye of the worlde/for whom great doleGoddys nowe makyn/for theyr kynde brother/for he is sole.
Marcurius in speche/Marce in Batell harte stronge appollo
Iupiter in hest/egall with Saturne/and enemye to Cupydo.
Kynge he was of ryght/& man of moost myght/& gloryous in raynynge
And whan he lefte his Crowne/than fell honour downe/for mysse of such a kynge
Normandy than gan lowre/for losse of theyr floure/and sange well a waye
Englonde made mone/and Scotlonde dyd grone/for to se that daye.
[The noble father of Lewys/Lewys the Kynge]
The noble father of Lewys/Lewys the KyngeTo crystys seruauntys right meke & louynge
Caused to be made of Chanons an howse
In a selle by Parys where the streme flowes
Which this man myghtye for loue of saynt Uictor
With Golde and Relykys enorned with great honor
Wherfore seynt Denys which kepest his body graued
Martyr and Bisshop praye that his sowle be saued.
Septima Pars Henrici.
[Nowe take good hede thow that doest ouer lyue]
Nowe take good hede thow that doest ouer lyueHym that in honour & vertue dyd excelle
Se thou not alter nor thy selfe depryue
But falowe hym which was of honour the well
For if thou doo not men shall of the tell
Thou art degenerat & growen out of Kynde
Thy progenytours lawde hauynge nothynge in mynde.
[The yere to rekyn from Crystys Incarnacion]
The yere to rekyn from Crystys IncarnacionA thousande an hundrede/and seuentye thereunto
The prymat of Englonde with great abomynacion
Was slayne with swerde Thomas that wolde not doo
The kynges hest which arred the ryght froo
Of the Church and lyberties of the same
Wherby of honour he wan perpetuell fame.
[The rose of the worlde/but not the clene Floure.]
The rose of the worlde/but not the clene Floure.Is here nowe grauen/to whom bewtye was lent
In this graue full derke/nowe is her bowre
That by her lyfe was swete and redolent
But nowe that she is from this lyfe blynt
Thoughe she were swete/nowe fowly doth she stynke
A myrror good/for all that on her thynke.
Septima Pars Secundi.
[Suffysyth nowe this Graue/to whom all erthly thynge]
Suffysyth nowe this Graue/to whom all erthly thynge
Suffysed not/my mynde so hyghe was sette
Tyme that was shorte/my name wyde dyd sprynge
which fame by deth/is into shortnesse fette
Kynge Henry was I called/no man I thought my bette
Whose mynde some tyme/all Erth not suffysed
Suffysed not/my mynde so hyghe was sette
Tyme that was shorte/my name wyde dyd sprynge
which fame by deth/is into shortnesse fette
Kynge Henry was I called/no man I thought my bette
Whose mynde some tyme/all Erth not suffysed
Uiii. fote of Grounde nowe hath my Body comprysed.
Thou that this redeste/the parell of deth/and in me
Thou mayste beholde/the cource of euery wyght
That erthely is/wherfore prouyde and se
That thou wele may doo/shortly do it/& tyght
Dyffer not tyme/for I assertayne the Right
The worlde is transytory/and vnwarely men takyth
Cruell deth/from whom none astate escapeth.
Thou that this redeste/the parell of deth/and in me
Thou mayste beholde/the cource of euery wyght
That thou wele may doo/shortly do it/& tyght
Dyffer not tyme/for I assertayne the Right
The worlde is transytory/and vnwarely men takyth
Cruell deth/from whom none astate escapeth.
Lenuoye.
Prece forth rude volume and recōmende me
To my derest frende experte in all Scyence
Praye hym at leysour/the to ouerse
And where in meter or prose he fyndeth offence
Or congrewe Englynsshe/or of parfyte sentence
Humbely hym praye/that he woll the correcte
Which in all his faytes/is so circumspecte.
To my derest frende experte in all Scyence
Praye hym at leysour/the to ouerse
And where in meter or prose he fyndeth offence
Or congrewe Englynsshe/or of parfyte sentence
Humbely hym praye/that he woll the correcte
Which in all his faytes/is so circumspecte.
And shewe to hym forther/his meret to Encreace
The seconde volume/is redy to hym dyght
Praye hym he woll not/therefore with the sursease
Tyll that thy Felowe/he haue by his Insyght
And by his scyence/brought in so good plyght
That to all reders it may be delectable
And to the herers frutefull and profytable.
The seconde volume/is redy to hym dyght
Praye hym he woll not/therefore with the sursease
Tyll that thy Felowe/he haue by his Insyght
And by his scyence/brought in so good plyght
That to all reders it may be delectable
And to the herers frutefull and profytable.
And not to disdayne my malapert rudenesse
That to his Payne/I shuld thus boldely sende
Or hym to wyll/to suche great busynesse
So rude a werke/to correcte and amende
But shewe hym sothly/that all that I entende
Is for to enhaunce/his prayse and great lawde
As he shall knowe/I truste without Frawde.
That to his Payne/I shuld thus boldely sende
Or hym to wyll/to suche great busynesse
So rude a werke/to correcte and amende
But shewe hym sothly/that all that I entende
Is for to enhaunce/his prayse and great lawde
As he shall knowe/I truste without Frawde.
Finis.
| [Chronicle of Fabyan] | |