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 Constantino, filio Constanty & sancte Elene. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De Constantino, filio Constanty & sancte Elene.
At Rome was þenne an Emperour
Þat dide þe Romayns gret desonour;
His name was Maxencius,
Proud, & fers, & malicious;
He wasted þe honur of þe toun,
Þe noble men he brought þem doun,
Þe ordre of þer sene abated he,
& reft hem þeir dignite.
Somme þat hated hym of þo,
Left þer fes, dide hem to go
Hider to Bretaygne, til Constantyn.
ffor he was born of þeyr lyn,
Þey preied hym he wolde make defens,
& abate þe pruyde of Maxens,
Bysoughte as he was, worþy knyght,
Of þer sene to holde vp þe ryght.
Þe Bretons alle preied hym so,
Wyþ hym þey wolde concente þer to.
Longe þey preied, bot at þe ende
He graunted þeym þider to wende;
He tok wyþ hym knyghtes & squiers,
Men wiþ bowes & arblasters,
& his moder ful wys of dome;
Wyþ hym wente þey alle vntil Rome.
ffor þey were men of honurs,
He dide hem y þe ordre of senaturs;
Þat on highte sire Huwelyn,
Þat oþer Iohern, Eroert, & Maryn;
Wardeyns he ordeined gode & certeyn,
Þis lond to kepe til he com ageyn,
Þat dide þe Romayns gret desonour;
His name was Maxencius,
Proud, & fers, & malicious;
He wasted þe honur of þe toun,
Þe noble men he brought þem doun,
Þe ordre of þer sene abated he,
& reft hem þeir dignite.
Somme þat hated hym of þo,
Left þer fes, dide hem to go
Hider to Bretaygne, til Constantyn.
ffor he was born of þeyr lyn,
Þey preied hym he wolde make defens,
& abate þe pruyde of Maxens,
Bysoughte as he was, worþy knyght,
Of þer sene to holde vp þe ryght.
Þe Bretons alle preied hym so,
Wyþ hym þey wolde concente þer to.
219
He graunted þeym þider to wende;
He tok wyþ hym knyghtes & squiers,
Men wiþ bowes & arblasters,
& his moder ful wys of dome;
Wyþ hym wente þey alle vntil Rome.
ffor þey were men of honurs,
He dide hem y þe ordre of senaturs;
Þat on highte sire Huwelyn,
Þat oþer Iohern, Eroert, & Maryn;
Wardeyns he ordeined gode & certeyn,
Þis lond to kepe til he com ageyn,
When Constantyn to Rome cam,
Þe maistrie fro Maxcence he nam,
And was hym selue emperour,
& Maxcence doun wiþ deshonur.
Til sire Huelyn he gaf a wyf,
Of noble kynde was sche ryf:
Of þat wyf, sire Huelyn wan
A child men calde Ma[x]imian.
Þe maistrie fro Maxcence he nam,
And was hym selue emperour,
& Maxcence doun wiþ deshonur.
Til sire Huelyn he gaf a wyf,
Of noble kynde was sche ryf:
Of þat wyf, sire Huelyn wan
A child men calde Ma[x]imian.
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