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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Brytannia Mynor conquesta est per Maximianum. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Brytannia Mynor conquesta est per Maximianum.
Maximian spak to þe kyng:
“Þis lond is Bretones wynnyng,
“& for þat ilke encheson
“Þat hit is conquered þorow Bretoun,
“Hit schal hote þe Lesse Bretayne,
“And we Bretons to be cheuentayne;
“And y comaunde ȝow alle oliche,
“Þat noman calle hit Armoriche.”
ffro þat day vntil þis same,
Of Armoriche hit loste þe name;
& now ys hit cald Bretaigne wyþ alle;
I trowe þat name schal neuere falle.
Maximien, til his demeynes
He sesed þe faire cite of Reynes.
Þat were þer-ynne, þe toun þenne left,
Durste neuere non of þeym ryse efte.
Maximian þe lond tok,
Tounes & casteles dide he lok;
ffaire countres ouer al he fond,
Bot þer were none myghte tyle þe lond;
He þoughte he wolde to Bretaigne sende
After men, boþe sibbe & fremde,
Þe lond to multeplie & to tyle,
Þat oþer þer-to ne scholde haue skyle.
He dide come of pore pedaille
An hundred þousand þat myghte trauaille,
To laboure & to tyle þer fode;
Wyþ þritty þousand men of armes gode,
Þe londe fro enemis to fende & were,
Þat Vtlandeys scholde þem nought dere.
Þenne was Conan corouned kyng,
& hadde þe regne al in kepynge,
Þer-ynne to lyue & to deye,
And Maximian wente forþ his weye.
“Þis lond is Bretones wynnyng,
“& for þat ilke encheson
“Þat hit is conquered þorow Bretoun,
“Hit schal hote þe Lesse Bretayne,
“And we Bretons to be cheuentayne;
“And y comaunde ȝow alle oliche,
“Þat noman calle hit Armoriche.”
ffro þat day vntil þis same,
Of Armoriche hit loste þe name;
& now ys hit cald Bretaigne wyþ alle;
I trowe þat name schal neuere falle.
Maximien, til his demeynes
He sesed þe faire cite of Reynes.
Þat were þer-ynne, þe toun þenne left,
Durste neuere non of þeym ryse efte.
Maximian þe lond tok,
Tounes & casteles dide he lok;
ffaire countres ouer al he fond,
Bot þer were none myghte tyle þe lond;
He þoughte he wolde to Bretaigne sende
After men, boþe sibbe & fremde,
228
Þat oþer þer-to ne scholde haue skyle.
He dide come of pore pedaille
An hundred þousand þat myghte trauaille,
To laboure & to tyle þer fode;
Wyþ þritty þousand men of armes gode,
Þe londe fro enemis to fende & were,
Þat Vtlandeys scholde þem nought dere.
Þenne was Conan corouned kyng,
& hadde þe regne al in kepynge,
Þer-ynne to lyue & to deye,
And Maximian wente forþ his weye.
Als he wente, Maximian,
ffraunce & al Lorreyne he wan.
Hym þoughte hit was nought ȝit ynow;
To Rome he þoughte, & þider he drow;
He þoughte to venge hym þenne of þo
Þat greued hym at Rome, when he scholde go;
& þo breþere to brynge to yuel fyn,
Boþe Gracien & sire Valentyn.
He com to Rome ful hastely;
Þat o broþer tok he par maystry;
Þat oþer he dide wyþ force fle,
& held þempire in dignite.
Þen was he þe fourtenþe Emperour
Syþen Augustus, þat bar þe flour:
Þe date of Crist þen was þus euene,
Þre hundred ȝer, seuenty & seuene.
ffraunce & al Lorreyne he wan.
Hym þoughte hit was nought ȝit ynow;
To Rome he þoughte, & þider he drow;
He þoughte to venge hym þenne of þo
Þat greued hym at Rome, when he scholde go;
& þo breþere to brynge to yuel fyn,
Boþe Gracien & sire Valentyn.
He com to Rome ful hastely;
Þat o broþer tok he par maystry;
Þat oþer he dide wyþ force fle,
& held þempire in dignite.
Þen was he þe fourtenþe Emperour
Syþen Augustus, þat bar þe flour:
Þe date of Crist þen was þus euene,
Þre hundred ȝer, seuenty & seuene.
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