The Story of England by Robert Manning of Brunne, A.D. 1338. Edited from mss. at Lambeth Palace and the Inner Temple, by Frederick J. Furnivall |
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De Dioclisiano Inperatore. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De Dioclisiano Inperatore.
In his tyme was an Emperour
Dioclisian, a werreour,
He sente hider Maximian;
& struyde & slow ilk Cristenman.
Þat he on þys half Moungow fond,
Til he come vntil þys lond,
Al he destruyed, & broughte to schame,
Þat cristned were in Iesu name.
Dioclisien, on his partie,
To Cristenmen dyde felonye;
Vnder hym & Maxymian
Þey slowe at Verolame seint Alban,
& seint Iue & seint Aroon.
Þo were in ware at Kerlyon,
Þe byschop wyþ alle þe clergie
Þat leued in Iesu or Marie,
Alle þey slowe þat þey fond,
fful fewe ascaped fro þer hond;
So fele were neuere slayn in stour
Of corseyntz vnder emperour.
Þat ȝer þe date of Iesu wex,
Dioclisian, a werreour,
He sente hider Maximian;
& struyde & slow ilk Cristenman.
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Til he come vntil þys lond,
Al he destruyed, & broughte to schame,
Þat cristned were in Iesu name.
Dioclisien, on his partie,
To Cristenmen dyde felonye;
Vnder hym & Maxymian
Þey slowe at Verolame seint Alban,
& seint Iue & seint Aroon.
Þo were in ware at Kerlyon,
Þe byschop wyþ alle þe clergie
Þat leued in Iesu or Marie,
Alle þey slowe þat þey fond,
fful fewe ascaped fro þer hond;
So fele were neuere slayn in stour
Of corseyntz vnder emperour.
Þat ȝer þe date of Iesu wex,
Two hundred ȝer, four score & sex.
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