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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Hengistus reconsiliatus est. |
 | The Story of England |  |
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Hengistus reconsiliatus est.
When Hengist herde þo tydinges,His God he þanked, & made offrynges;
He dight hym folk, an hundred þousand
Of armed men, brought þem to land.
Many a Breton þen dredde hym sore,
& so schold oþer þat þenne [ne] wore.
When þe kyng herde Hengist was comen,
& wiþ mykel folk þe lond had nomen,
He dredde hym sore, & mente his mone.
Þe Bretons were greued ones ilkone,
& seide ‘þey wolde do þer myght
‘To sle þem doun wyþ force & fight.’
Bot Hengist herde, what loud, what stille,
Þe Bretons to hym hadde yuel wille.
Hym self was euere ful feloun;
He sente to þe kyng al in tresoun,
‘Þat he wolde speke wyþ alle in pees,
‘& simplely wyþouten pres;
‘Pes he asked, pes wolde he seke,
‘Til hym in pes he wolde be meke,
‘& he wolde nought þe Bretons greue,
‘Ne dwelle wiþ force ageyn þer leue,
‘Bot chese þem-seluen, as þey wol say,
‘Wheþer we schul dwelle, or go our way.’
On þat couenaunt & þat deuis
Þey hadde trewes on boþe partys.
When þe partys to trewe wer brought,
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Þorow trist of trues, of on assent
Þey sette a day of Parlement
Opon þe Playne of Salesbury,
Byside the Merueille of Aumbresbyry,
Þey bede Hengist no gret folk lede,
Bot senglely come, & noman drede,
& what lordyng he gan mete,
Als he þem dredde he scholde lete.
Hengist sent hym bode a-geyn,
Þat he wolde comen to þe Playn
Wyþoute armure on any wyght,
ffor drede of contek & of fight.
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