Page ix

PREFACE.

The greater part of the Chronicle now before the reader exists in MS., as far as I am aware, but in two copies. One is in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, the other in the Vatican. I believe that neither copy contains any clue to the author's name; but I can speak with certainty only of that in the library of Trinity, from which the transcript was made, which has served the printers for the copy of the volume. This was presented in the seventeenth century to the College by a Suffolk gentleman, named Wilmer, along with many other books of value, and with certain MSS. of works by Stowe. There is some reason to conjecture that the Chronicle belonged to Stowe.

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I have mentioned that the greater part of the work before us exists in two copies. There is a sort of introduction to the History appearing in the Trinity MS., an abridgment, with some large insertions, of a very common short French Chronicle. This I have collated with copies in Oxford and the British Museum and in the Corpus and Trinity Libraries in Cambridge, and have given it the title of Le Livere des Reis de Britannie. This name was derived from the heading of the work in the copy in the Trinity Library, perhaps erroneously read, for the words in this heading are much contracted. It is so connected with the main work in the above-named copy that the whole appears as one book. The second, principal part, the part which exists alone in the Vatican Library, I have called by a different name, derived from the notice of Peter of Ickham in Bale. The first short history, Le Livere des Rois de Britannie, (or de Brut, if this, as I suspect, is the true reading), is hardly worth printing for any merit or originality of its own. Some of the various readings and of the insertions will be interesting to the philologist as specimens of semi-Saxonized French. The use of the early English ʒ in the spelling of the French language is curious.

The value of the principal work now before the reader will not lie in its authority or independence. Some few names and clauses will be found in it not in the original authorities, and these I have generally marked with an ^o, as also I have denoted any passages of which I cannot trace the origin. But as a careful compendium of good historians, I think it may be highly useful, especially to the younger students, and the references which I have made with much care to the older works from which the text is translated, I hope will be serviceable to many. They would have been more so if I had traced them back beyond the text from which the compiler took

Page xiv

them. For when the French was simply a translation, for example, as is usual, from Radulfus de Diceto, I have not sought further for his authority.

After the original conclusion of the work follow continuations in both the known MSS., altogether different from each other. The Trinity copy bears the appearance of the abridgment of a life of Edward I. The Vatican continuation is a history of the reign of Edward II. to within a short distance from his death, where the work is defective; the two appendices thus fit conveniently into one another. I have named the one the Wroxham Continuation and the other the Sempringham, for the latter evidently has issued from the Gilbertine monastery, and has served for the Sempringham Annals. The Trinity book has been usually called by the name of Galfridus de Wroxham or Broxholme, but upon no authority of weight that can now be found. The name which is thus copied ambiguously appears in a rather modern hand on the upper margin of the first leaf, greatly mutilated by the binder. This part in many passages bears a singular resemblance to the headings of the books of an early historian, as if it had been derived from the contents of some fuller work. I am not able to say that the work exists from which it could have been so derived. It would doubtless be a history of very great value if it existed. The character of the handwriting of this part is apparently by design hardly to be distinguished from those of the rest of the book, but the ink is somewhat blacker. The page selected for the facsimile contains the commencement of this appendix, and will, also serve to show the reader how well the work answers to Bale's description of Peter of Ickham's work, at least in respect of the date 1274.

The Vatican copy of the book I know only by the transcript which was executed for the English Government. This is so ignorantly copied that no weight can be attached to its more minute variations. I have often been obliged to correct it, and I have done so silently

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in places where the mistake was obvious. One or two of these corrections are made in the list of Errata. The Sempringham Continuation is given only upon the authority of this transcript, and therefore the names, &c., can be little depended on.

In fact, in the part common to the copies, the variations between the two show that neither copyist is faultless. The number of omissions from similarity of terminations in the Trinity MS. is even greater than that in the Vatican. Generally these omissions are eliminated in one by the text of the independent copy, but there are places where both seem to have fallen into the same blunder. When the Trinity MS. stands alone, as in the Wroxham Continuation, one finds how useful the other copy had been. In no place is this so obvious as in the account of the Parliament of Dort, p. 314, where the blunders in the Latin fragment make hopeless confusion. I have spent much time and pains in vain in trying to reduce this document to form. I had ascertained from Böhmer's Regesta that the treaty was in the archives at Düsseldorf, and endeavoured to obtain a clear account from that place of the transaction. In this attempt I was helped most liberally by the Magistrate there, to whose custody the document is confided, but I found nothing more than the counterpart of the same treaty that is given in Mr. Luard's Bartholomew Cotton.

I cannot find any Chronicle that seems to me to have served as a basis for either of the continuations. The Wroxham continuation especially seems to be the work of a man who has put down what he has heard, not what he has read. The allusion to the battle of Woringen particularly indicates this, for the importance of that battle must have seemed much greater in England on the first arrival of the report of it than afterwards. The account given of the origin of David's treason I think is peculiar to this Chronicle. The mention of Wallace's fol abet I have found in no other English Chronicle. The Scottish affairs are related more like the Lanercost

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Chronicle than any other, but are not derived from it. They indicate a less constant stream of success to the Scottish cause than we might suppose from most historians. The Sempringham Continuation adds no effect to the well-known pictures of the misery and anarchy of Edward II.'s reign. It is interesting as a fresh portrait of a gloomy period of English History.

Having said so much of the work itself, I have to add a few words concerning the present edition.

I have endeavoured to translate the original so literally, that a boy desiring to learn how to construe early French of the English dialect might find help in the volume. At the same time I hope my rendering will be intelligible to any other English reader. In the Glossary I have entered only such words as seemed likely to want illustration when found in other works. For reading this Chronicle itself the translation might supersede a glossary. With the same object of helping my fellow-students of the langue d'oil, I have taken care to conjoin prepositions and nouns, wherever I found them joined in the MS. and to separate prepositions and verbs. These practices, as the reader will perceive, are irregular in the French text. In the abbreviated words, k; and q; when I had to write them at length, it was necessary to make a rule for myself for their completion. I have intended to spell the conjunction with an e, and the pronoun with an i. This seemed to answer to the practice to be traced in the majority of the cases where the words were not contracted in the original. There were instances where ke and que, also ki and qui, were not contracted in the manuscript, and were not in accordance with the rule l had adopted for myself. They will appear as irregularities in the present text.

There are in two or three places apparent rhymes. Where these seemed to me obviously intentional I have rendered the original in rhyme of my own. In one or two places I have pointed out the place by the use of capitals following the rhymed word. In no case are

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the verses written as lines in the text. Where there was any punctuation for the metre, such as the stop resembling the Greek colon, it is retained. The rest of the punctuation is modernized. In the MS. there are periods, and a peculiar stop well known to readers of MSS., marking the conclusion of compound nominatives and of questions, and these are not regularly supplied in the MS.

I must next explain the abbreviations, &c. in the margin. The Arabic numerals on the even pages are mine, as well as the punctuation. For the rest, except the few foot-notes and the references to them, these pages are meant to represent the manuscript with all possible accuracy: except also that I have developed q and k, as above explained, and have completed the proper names. In the foot notes exhibiting the various readings, MS. denotes the Trinity MS., the readings undefined are those of the Vatican MS. This is in the main work. In the first brief history the printed text is almost of necessity an eclectic one; and the various readings are all the variations from every source which seemed to me to be of interest.

The abbreviations in the references, needing explanation, are as follows:

A.,	Geoffrey of Monmouth.
B.,	Bede.
C.,	Saxon Chronicle.
D.,	Radulfus de Diceto.
F.,	Florence of Worcester.
G.,	William of Malmesbury.
H., Henry of Huntingdon.
R.,	Roger Hoveden.1 [1]  The references to Roger Hoveden would have been better referred to in Henry of Huntingdon, from whom Roger Hoveden has copied them. They are the result of an oversight.xviii
R.C.,	Radulfus de Coggeshall.
R.N.,	Radulfus Niger.
S.,	Simeon of Durham.

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These are referred to according to the editions of Savile and Twisden; or where these have not edited the authors, I have taken the recognized printed editions. Wikes and the Waverley Annals are referred to in Gale's edition. The passages in these and in Florence are designated by the dates. Radulfus Niger is referred to by the pages of Col. Anstruther's edition. (Caxton Society.)

Two more points remain to be mentioned. In the first place the kindness of many friends who have given me such help as ought to have resulted in a much better work. Foremost among these are the Rev. Professor Grote, the Rev. H. R. Luard, and H. Bradshaw, Esq. I also wish again to speak of the exceeding courtesy of Dr. Lacomblet, Archivrath at Düsseldorf, who most obligingly sent me an excellent transcript of the document preserved there, of which I have spoken above.

Lastly I should apologise for the many Errata. The great length of time during which the book has been in the press might have promised a blank table of misprints; moreover the patience and acuteness of Her Majesty's Printers leave me unable to lay any part of the blame to their account. I can only beg my readers' pardon, and assure them that such errors can annoy no one more than myself. Several of them were kindly pointed out to me by the Rev. E. Ventris, to whom the book is also indebted for the index; and I wish to explain in regard to that index, that some of its apparent blunders are not so much so as they may appear, for example, Le Mans in Anjou, and Malachi, St., Archbishop of Ireland, are faithfully copied from the text.

Brading, Isle of Wight, 20th August 1865.

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ISCI COMENCE LE LIVERE DE REIS DE BRITTAINE.

Devant la nativite nostre Seignur mil e deus cenz ans, Brutus, le fiz Silvii, ^P2A1 [P2A1] vint en Engletere [Vat]  4ou Ynogen sa femme e ou ses treis fiz, ^P2A2 [P2A2] om  [Vat]  4vint de la bataille de Troye en Engletere, ki estoit dunkes sicum un desert. Si fist la vile de Lundres e la pella Trinovant, e pus fu ele apelle, Troye Noene, e pus Karlud, et pus Lundin, e ore Lundene. [En cel tens fu Hely juges des fiz de Israel.] Cist Brutus a soun moriant fist sun eyne fiz, ki fu apelle Locrinus, roi de Engleterre, e apella la terre Brittanie la Grande, a pres sun nun.

E Locrinus, quant cil regna a pres sun pere, fist appeller la terre Leogria a pres sun nun de meine. Al secund fiz, ki out nun Camber, dona il la terre de Wales, e illa fist apeller Cambria, a pres soun nun. Al terz fiz dona il Escoce, ki fu apelle Albanatus, e illa fist apeller Albania, a pres soun non. E en cel tens regna li rois David en Jerusalem.

Eboracus li sime rois a pres Brutus fist Euerewik, e Altlud, e le Chastel de Puceles, et le chastel de ^P2A4 [P2A4] Mount Dolerous [Vat]  4Muntros. ^P2A5 [P2A5] En cel tens. .David. .Jerusalem, Rudhudibras [Vat]  4^P2A3 [P2A3] trans. to ⁵.4Rudibraz, li fiz Eborac, fist Cantorbirie, e Wyncestre, et Ceptone. Iloec parla un egle.

A pres ceo Bladut fist Ba. Si fist les chauz bains. ^P2A6 [P2A6] om  [Vat]  4A pres ceo se fist eles e vola jekes a Lundres, ki dunc fu

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apelle Trinovant, e i loec chei ke li col de brisa. A pres lui Leir fist Leicestre. ^P4A1 [P4A1] om  the history of Lear's daughters.6Si avoit treis beles fillies. Il a resona la primere filie, si lui demaunda cum bien ele se amast. E ele respoundi: "Sire, sire, si dire le os, tant ws eim cum Deu del ciel." E pus a resona la secunde en meime la manere. E ele dist: "Atant cum filie puest amer pere." E pus a resona la terce filie, si lui demaunda: "Bele filie, cum bien me amet vus?" Ele respoundi: ^* [*] Compare Li Romans de Brut, 1787: -
                   Mes pere es et jo aim tant toi
                   Comme jo mon pere amer doi,
                   Et por toi faire plus certain
                   Tant as, tant vax e jo tant t'aim.6

                   Beau pere, jeo eim tei
                   Come moun pere amer dei.
                   E de ceo te face certein,
                   Tant as, tant vaus, tant vus eim.

E li rois Leir se coruca oue cele filie, e jura sun serment, ke par lui jammes ne averoit conseil. Si maria les deus filies einez, le oune ou la meite de sun reaume, le autre ou lautre meite. E la pusnee, pur sa beaute e pur sa genterise, fu marie a un noble roi de Fraunce. A pres ceo li rois Leir ne peust pas sustenir la curt ki il tint devant, e de vint tut povere; si ke il vint a sa primere filie si cum en pleniant; e ele lui escundit e se escusa par sun seignur, ke ele ne lui osa ne ne peust ren fere. Pus vint a lautre en meime la manere, e ele dist, "Ren ne deit em fere a celui ki rien ne vout retenir a soun ofs." E il se maia trop, e pensa de aler la utre a maunder a sa pusnee filie coment ses deus filies lui aveiunt respoundu. E il passa la meer tut povere, e maunda sun estat par lettre a sa filie ki fu reine de Fraunce. Ele ausi tost

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fist aparalier privement or e argent asset, e maunda a sun pere, ke il se turnast de genz e de chivauz, cum il soleit estre, e ke il se tenist tut coi de si ki ele lui maundast; e il si fist. E la royne tost a pres ceo fist asaver asoun seignur le roi de Fraunce, ke se peres le roi de Engleterre fut arive en sa terre pur parler ou lui. E lui rois de Fraunce se joist mut de ceo, e comaunda ke tut lui barnages venist ou lui pur welcomer le pere la roine. E eus si firunt. Pus tost a pres lui rois Leir cunta tut al roi par counseil la roine coment ses deus filies lui aveiunt respoundu en Engleterre. E lui rois de Fraunce sen doleit trop de ceo; e par counseil sa femme la reine maunda grant ost hors de Fraunce pur aider lui roi Leir conquere sa terre. E il la conquist, si en jeta ses deus filies ou lurs baruns a tut dis; e regna il memes treis ans a pres. A pres sa mort, Cordoille; sa pusne filie; rescut le reaume. E vindrunt ses deus nevouz, fiz de ses sors, si la guerrerunt, e la pristerunt, e la tindrunt en prisoun. Ele meimes se occist de doel.

A pres ceo li rois Belin, le fiz Donewal, apres ki Belingate est apelle, fist quatre reaus voies par mi Engleterre. ^P6A1 [P6A1] une veiʒe fist [Vat]  8Le un fist il de Toteneis jeke en Kateneis. Le autre fist il de Seint Davi en travers jeske al port ^P6A2 [P6A2] de Hamptoun [Vat]  8dAmer, e les autres deus voies en velif la terre. Icist ^P6A3 [P6A3] ins  rei [Vat]  8Belins prist France, e Lunsbardie, e Rome.

A pres lui regna Cassibelian, si ^P6A4 [P6A4] juta [Vat]  8jeta Julius Cesar hors de Engleterre deus fet. Mes au terz foiz fut Cassibelian vencu, si dona triu a Rome, ^P6A5 [P6A5] treis mile lyvers de argent [Vat]  8deus mil livers par an. Ceo fu devant la nativite nostre Seignur xl. e deus ans.

En cel contemple nasquist nostre Sires.

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A pres la passion nostre Seignurs ^P8A1 [P8A1] lx is in the hand of a corrector, perhaps for c [Vat]  10lx. e xxii. ans Theolesforus papa establi a chaunter Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Apres ce Lucius le rei des Brutons ^P8A2 [P8A2] porte [Vat]  10recut christienite en Engleterre de lapostoile Eleutherio e tut [Engletere fu cristiene. E cely Lucius fit ii. erceveshes e xxiii. eveshes. Ceo] fust devant Seint Austin iiij. cent e xlvj. ans. Apres ceo Dioclicianus fist grant persecusion ^P8A3 [P8A3] a [Vat]  10de la christenite. ^P8A4 [P8A4] e apres ceo tens [Vat]  10En cel contemple fust Seint Auban martirize.

^P8A5 [P8A5] om  [Vat]  10En cel tens le roy Vortigerne requili Horsus e Hengist en Engleterre. Apres ceo vint Gormond le roy de Affrike en Engleterre, e destruyt pres tote la christenite e totes les ^P8A6 [P8A6] Britons [Tr]  10iglises. Idunc perdirent les Brutons la seignoriʒe de Engletere. Apres ce fut Engleterre entredite mult grant tens.

^P8A7 [P8A7] e apres ceo fupar grant tens Engletere [Vat]  10Engleterre fust departe en cinc a cinc roys. Ly un aveit Kent. Lautre Westsex. Ly terce Marcheneriche. Li quarte Northumberlond. Li quinte aveit Estangle.

Ly rey de Kent, ^P8A8 [P8A8] om  [Vat]  10si regna soulement en Kent. ^P8A9 [P8A9] la est [Vat]  10Si aveit en sa terre li arceveske de Canturburi, e le eveske de Roucestre.

Li rey de Westsex ^P8A10 [P8A10] ins  i [Vat]  10aveit Wilteschire, ^P8A11 [P8A11] om  [Vat]  10Barrocschire, ^P8A12 [P8A12] Dorsete [Vat]  10Dorsetechire, Souþsex, Souþhamptechire, Souþþereiʒe, Somersete, Devenisschire, e Cornwaile. Si aveit en sa terre cinc eveskes; li eveske de Salusburi, que ^P8A13 [P8A13] jadis [Vat]  10dunc fut a Schireborne ^P8A14 [P8A14] om  [Vat]  10e ce!e de ^P8A15a [P8A15a] Lindeseiʒe [Tr]  10Selseiʒe, qui ore est a Chichester; e cele de Winchestre; e cele de Ba, ^P8A15b [P8A15b] Lindeseiʒe [Tr]  10que dunkes fut a Welles; e ^P8A16 [P8A16] Devenesir e de Cornwaile oue deus avoit jadis [Vat]  10cele de Excestre qe dunke fust de parte en deus; la une fust a Cridintone, le autre a Seint Germen ^P8A17 [P8A17] om  [Vat]  10en Cornwaile.

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Li reis de Mercheneriche aveit Gloucestreschire, Wirecestreschire, Warewicschire, Chesterschire, Dorbischire, Staffordschire, Schropschire, Herefordschire, Huntindoneschire, demi Bedefordschire, Norhamptechire, [Oxonefordsire, Bokinghamsire,] Leicestrechire, Lincolneschire, Notinghamschire. Si aveit quarte eveskes ^P10A1 [P10A1] om  [Vat]  12en sa terre: Cele de Nicole, de Cestre, de Hereforde, e de Wirecestre.

Ly reys de Estangle aveit Grantebruggechire, Nortfolc, Souþfolc, Estsex, e demi Bedefordeschire. ^P10A2 [P10A2] ins  e Mitelsex [Vat]  12Si aveit deus esveskes: cele de Hely e de Northwiche.

Ly reis de Northumberlond si aveit totes les terres outre Humbre, deskes en Escoce. Si aveit en sa terre le arceveske de Euerwyk, e le esveke de Durham. E issi fut Engleterre lungement de partiʒe.

Apres la venue des Angleis, si se entregwerrirunt ly reys mult sovent; les uns tolirent as autres mult sovent, li plusfort de li plus feble, deske a tens Egbrit, le fiz ^* [*] Er. for Ealmund or Alhmund.12Edmund, prous homme mult en Deu, ^P10A3 [P10A3] om  [Vat]  12e al cecle, [ne] e norri en Westsex, ^P10A4 [P10A4] om  [Vat]  12e pus en France odle roy Charles. Iceli fust li ^P10A5 [P10A5] primereyn [Vat]  12primer rey, qui out Engleterre tot en semble. Icel Egbrit ^P10A6 [P10A6] le fiz Ailmund cel esteit nez e nuriz e [Vat]  12comenca estre pruz homme e wailant; si en out grant enviʒe li reys Brictrich de Westsex. Si dutta en avant ke Egbrit li toli sun regne ^P10A7 [P10A7] ins  ou a sens [Vat]  12; si ^P10A8 [P10A8] Si le vint oscire [Vat]  12fust [mut] en tour por li oscire: mes Egbrit, si se aparceut, si senfua en France. La ^P10A9 [P10A9] pryst [Vat]  12espryt il hardiement, e corteisiʒe e affeitement. ^P10A10 [P10A10] dunkes en iceu tens avoit Charlemayn le regne de France xliiii. anz e pus regna deus anz issi ke xlvi. anz par tut regna [Vat]  12En cel tens regna Charlemaine le Grant; si regna xlvi. ans. Ileoc demorra Egbriʒt, deske Brichtrich morut.

Et pus les barons de Wessex enveiʒerent por Eg

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brit, ^P12A1 [P12A1] cum pur cely ki greniour dreit out au regne ke nul autre [Vat]  14e dunc vint Egbriʒt, ^P12A2 [P12A2] ins  ki fu pruz e sage e vailant [Vat]  14se conquist tote Engletere; si demorra xxviii. ans, devant qui il la hust ^P12A3 [P12A3] ins  tute [Vat]  14conquise; si regna puis ix. ans; ^P12A4 [P12A4] ins  e vi. mois [Vat]  14si morut e gyt a Winchester.

Apres Egbrit, si rescut le regne Eþelwolf sun fiz, ^P12A5 [P12A5] om  [Vat]  14prouz homme en Deu, e poi vailant as secle. Por ceo tint il soulement Westsex. Si fut un prodomme, rey de Mercheneriche, si li dona sa file, vailant home ^* [*] Er. for Burgred.14Lucred out noun. ⁺ [+] Er. for Eþelwolf.14Egbriʒt tote sa autre terre dona a sun fiz Aþelston. Pus si dona la dyme hyde ^P12A6 [P12A6] ins  de tute Wessex [Vat]  14a Dampne Deu e aseinte Eglise, franche e quite de tote manere servyse seculer pur vestir e pestre les poveres. Puys dona a Deu e a Seint Pere un dener de checune meson de Engleterre, que lem appela le dener seint Pere. Ce fust cil qui primes le dona. Si dona treis cent besantz a Rome; le un cent a luminare seint Pere, le autre cent asein Poul, le terz cent alapoistoile. Icent ⁺ [+] Er. for Eþelwolf.14Egbriʒt demorra a Rome un an: puys vint ver mesun par France, si prist damaisele ^P12A7 [P12A7] om  [Vat]  14Judith, la file Charlemaine le Cauf. ^P12A8 [P12A8] ins  cil Charle fu newou Charlemayn de Lowis sun fiz. E puys ke il vint a maison [Vat]  14Deus ans vesqui a pres, si morust e gist a Wincestre. ^P12A9 [P12A9] Li avant dit rei [Vat]  14Icel Eþelwol si aveit quatre fiz: li quinte ⁺⁺ [++] Er. for Eþelstan.14Eþelwaud apele fut mort: le eine des autres out noun Aþelbaud, le autre fust appele Aylbriʒt, le terce fut Aþelred, e le quarte fust Alfred. ^P12A10 [P12A10] om  [Vat]  14Le quinte fust mort, cum dyt est.

^P12A11 [P12A11] Ethelbaud le einez e Ethelbrith sun frer punez [Vat]  14Aþelbaud e Ailbryʒt departirent le regne entre eus deus; mes Aþelbaud ne vesqui que cinc ans. Si out Ailbriʒt tote sa terre. Mes il ne vesqui ^P12A12 [P12A12] for v. anz [Vat]  14que autre cinc ans apres.

Apres li Aþelred si regna, mult prodomme en

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Deu, e ^P14A1 [P14A1] pruz e [Vat]  16mult vailant ^P14A2 [P14A2] ver le [Vat]  16al secle. Mes les Deneys li hastirent tant ki ix. fez en un an li ^P14A3 [P14A3] tendirent [Vat]  16rendirent bataile ^P14A4 [P14A4] champel estre autre assauz celement. Sovent [Vat]  16champestre. Relement fust vencu e sovent venqui. Si lor oscist ^* [*] Interfecti a parte Danorum comites novem, G.16v. contes e ^P14A5 [P14A5] vii [Tr]  16un reis, e people sans nombre. Mes la bataile de Assedoune ^P14A6 [P14A6] fet a remembrer [Vat]  16ne fet pas a oblier ke il fist ^P14A7 [P14A7] om  16un autre fez en contrele rey ^P14A8 [P14A8] Oseg [Vat]  16Oseth de Denemarch, que vyn od v. contes e od un rey e od ost merveilouse. ^P14A9 [P14A9] E li reis Ethelred e sun frere Alfred en cuntre od lur gent. Si Daneis departirent lur gent en deus ousts; le deu reis od grant gent de une part, le cuntes e le baruns dautre part. Li rei Ethelred departi sa gent une partie od sei en contre le deu reis e lautre partie a sun frere en contre le cuntes. Vint le vespre, si remist la bataile deke len demain. Li rei Ethelreth oy messe, e sun frere e lur meine si hasterent mut, si comencerent la bataile. E li Daneis les asailerent ferment, e li Engleis se emaerent durement per coke li reis dimorra tant, si le hasterent mut. Mes li rei ne vout unke partir de la messe avant ke il fu pardite, e poi faili ke les Engleis ne comencerent la fute kant li reis vint. Si segna de la croze, si feri dedenz la presse, si persa lur eschele. Si se mit en la esvaie, ci ocist iloke le rei Oseg e le autre rei e le cinc quntes e pople san numbre. Mes il ne dura en le regne for v. anz, si morust e gist a Wimburne [Vat]  16^P14Adagger [P14Adagger] Alfred [Tr]  16Aþelred vynt en contre [e] sun frere [oue ly, Alfred,] si combaterent ferement deskes nuyt. Lendimain le reis Aþelred oy sa messe mult matin, si ne volt de ileoc partir deske il out oy sun servise, pur nul homme. Kar Alfred son frere esa gent aveient comenca [par matin] la bataile folement, si furunt porpoi vencuz; si enveierent sovent pur Aþelred, si fust ala messe. Si com il aveit tot oy od bone creance, si vynt a la bataile. E Deus li fist ileoc si grant honur ke il venki ses enemys, si oscist le reys Oseth e v. contes, e grant people. Apres cele bataile [si] vesqui v. ans [si morust] e gist a Winterbourne.

Page 16

Apres ii si rescut Alfred sun frere le regne, si fust pruz e sages. Icel Alfred fist les leis en Engleterre, e rescut la coroune de la apostoile. Si fust coroune a Rome. Si tynt le regne xxviii. anz e demi, a grant travail pus morust e gist a Wincestre. Cist Alfred amena estrange viʒe; si vus dirrai ^P16A1 [P16A1] coment [Vat]  18brevement. Les xxiiii. houres ^P16A2 [P16A2] ki sunt au jour e a la nuit departi en treis [Vat]  18del jour e del nuyt despendist issi. Les viii. [hures en escrire e en lire e en orer, e les viii.] en son cors reposer; e les terce viii. houres a ^P16A3 [P16A3] aparler [Vat]  18paireler e a porueance del regne. Si aveit un homme en sa chapele qui ^P16A4 [P16A4] eo servi de el for de drescer le chandelles, e departir les hures e dunc se mist le rei dun hure en autre pur fere sun repos [Vat]  18servi de cel mester, ki par treis ^P16A5 [P16A5] beles [Tr]  18owelles chandeles departi les xxiiii. houres. Si fist arder la primere chandele deskes viii. houres fussent passez; e issi les autres. Si sumunt luy de houre en houre de fere sun purpos. Uncore fist Alfred plus, kar il dona la meite de sun dreit purchas a ^P16A6 [P16A6] om  [Vat]  18poveres abbeys. Si parti ces rentes en deus. La une meitie departi il au treis. La une partiʒe dona il a cels ke li servirent en sa court; lautre partiʒe a ceus que feseient ses ^P16A7 [P16A7] guerrours [Vat]  18overaines: la terce a poveres estranges. Lautre partiʒe de parti il en quatre: la une partiʒe dona il a poveres de sa terre; la autre a poveres ^P16A8 [P16A8] abbeies [Vat]  18mesons; la terce a poveres clers; la quarte a ^P16A9 [P16A9] les Engleis [Vat]  18poveres mesons outre mer. ^P16A10 [P16A10] om  [Vat]  18Ceo fist le roy Alfred tot le tens de sa viʒe.

Apres li rescut Edward sun fiz le regne. Cil aveit tot Engletere. Mult fust prodomme et sages por le

Page 18

regne governer. ^P18A1 [P18A1] ins  cil avoit tut Engletere a la volunte, fort fu e vailant [Vat]  20Unkes ne vynt en bataile ke il ne venquist. Pur ceo ne oserent les Deneys ^P18A2 [P18A2] ins  mes [Vat]  20venir en Engletere en sun tens, pur mal fere. Icest rey Edward out xiiij. enfanz de treis femmes: v. fiz et ix. files. Le treis fyles de ceos ix. si tyndrunt areligion: la une fust appelle Alflede, lautre seint Aildride, et la terce seint Edburch. Cist Edward aveyt une sorour ^P18A3 [P18A3] la plu sage ke lem trovat au secle [Vat]  20

Aildreda Edburga

que fust appelle EīЯed ^P18A4 [P18A4] Wodenelevedi [Vat]  20Lundune Leifdi. Iceste dame aida mult par sun grant sen a Edward sun frere, pur le regne governer. Sun pere Alfred aveit done ceste dame ale conte Aþelred, prodomme mult, dunt ceste dame aveit un enfant par un covenant, ke ele unkes pur nul homme pus ne voleyt a sun seignur aprocher. Einz dyt ke fyle de rey ne duʒt ^P18A5 [P18A5] ins  hauter ne [Vat]  20amer tel delyt dunt si graunde anguysse soursist. Cist Edward regna xxvj. ans. Si morust e gist a Wincestre.

Apres ly rescut Aþelston sun fiz le regne, ^P18A6 [P18A6] mut fu beaus e sage [Vat]  20le meilour chivaler ki pout estre. Icest Aþelston tynt meuz Engleterre qui nul rey fist devant ly. ^P18A7 [P18A7] Il avoit le rei de Escoce e le rei de Northumberland a sun comandement [Vat]  20Il venqui tous les roys de Wales, si mist trewe sur eus, si ke un li rendi chescun au de Northwales xx. liveres de or, e iij. cent. liveres de argent, e v. mile vaches. ^P18A8 [P18A8] om  [Vat]  20La renome de ceste rey Aþelston fust espaundewe par sa genitrise par totes terres. Cist aveit un sorour, Hylde out nom; ceo fust la plus bele femme que unkes fust cel tens. Icest oy dyre le rei de France Huge, si envea ses messagers por ceste dame ale rey Aþelston. ^P18A9 [P18A9] a Abendone. Li messager dist sun message [Vat]  20Il envea le conte de Boloyne Alud qui fust le fiz Baudewyne le conte de Flandres e le neveu le rey Alfred le sage. Icist Alud trova le rey e bel li salewa. Si demanda sa sorour al eos

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le rey de France. ^P20A1 [P20A1] puys mist avant le presanz. Chevaus covere tut en seles e en frenez, pieres precioses de tute maneres, le [Vat]  22Pus presenta le rey de mult riche presens. Il li presenta del espeyʒe Constantin le amperour: ^P20A2 [P20A2] e sun nun en le espere od lettres de or e [Vat]  22le caple de cel espeiʒe fust de fin or. Si fust enclos de deins un des clous ^P20A3 [P20A3] dunt nostre Seinur fu figez en la croiz [Vat]  22nostre Seignour. Si li presenta la lance Charlemayne qe il soleit porter en contre les Saracins. ^P20A4 [P20A4] ke fu cele [Vat]  22Sidist un qe ceo fust la lance dont nostre Seignur fust feru ^P20A5 [P20A5] kar unke ne leva en batailez ke il ne venqui [Vat]  22en la croiz. Si li presenta le gunfainun seint Moriz qe ^P20A6 [P20A6] ki le rei porta tute sa vie encontre pains e [Vat]  22il soleyt porter devant legioun. Si li presenta une partiʒe de la ^P20A7 [P20A7] seinte [Vat]  22veroye croiz enclos en un cristal, e une partiʒe [de la corone] de les espeynes ^P20A8 [P20A8] ki fu mis au chef nostre Seinour [Vat]  22dunt nostre Seignur fut corone, et une coroune real de or fin ^P20A9 [P20A9] e mut i avoit [Vat]  22od mouz des peres preciouses. Aþelston ^P20A10 [P20A10] fu mut lez al se ellesa [Vat]  22sen joy mult de ces riches presens, si envea a rey Huwe sa sorour, qe il aveit mult desire, od riches douns e od riche presens. Xv. anz tint Aþelston le regne noblement; si morust e gist [a] Malmusburi.

Apres li tynt Edmund le regne, sun fiz; pruz e vailant ^P20A11 [P20A11] om  [Vat]  22e jeovene bachiler, vi ans e demi le tynt; pus vynt a une feste a Canturburi le jour sein Austin. Cum il vynt a manger si garda le rey par la meson. Si vyt un laron de gyse ^P20A12 [P20A12] ki il avoit einz ulage, Johan out nun [Vat]  22entre le gent, ki einz fust utlawe. Si saili li reys, si li prist par les temples, si li jeta a la terre. E il saka ^P20A13 [P20A13] om  [Vat]  22hors une misericorde ke il aveit; si ^P20A14 [P20A14] buta [Vat]  22fery le rey par mi le ^P20A15 [P20A15] pis [Vat]  22qeor. Iloec morut le rey, e les autres sailerent e oscirent le laron, mez einz naufra il plusors. Le cors le roy fut porte a Glastingburi.

Apres li tynt ^P20A16 [P20A16] Edred [Vat]  22Aþelred sun fiz prodomme, e seint ^P20A17 [P20A17] e vailant [Vat]  22mult. Ix. ans e demy regna, pus morust e gist a Wincestre.

Page 22

Apres li rescut le regne Edwine le fiz Edmund, mult ^P22A1 [P22A1] bel hom e [Vat]  24ben bachiler mes mult fust fol de son cors. Kar le jour qe il fuist corone, si toly a un prodomme sa femme ^P22A2 [P22A2] om  [Vat]  24espouse, por la beaute, ke sa cosine procheine esteyt. Si guerra mult seinte eglise ^P22A3 [P22A3] om  [Vat]  24e les ordeines Deu. Ii. ans regna si morust e gist a Wincestre.

Apres li rescut le regne Edgar le fiz Edmund, le frere Edwine, jeovene ^P22A4 [P22A4] bacheler [Vat]  24enfant de vii. ans; de grant bunte e de grant valour; mult ame de Deu, e de ^P22A5 [P22A5] tute [Vat]  24bone gent. ^P22A6 [P22A6] Quant cesti nasqui [Vat]  24A cel houre ke seint Edgar nasqui, seint Dunston oy les Angles ^P22A7 [P22A7] om  [Vat]  24de cel chanter, e dire ^P22A8 [P22A8] om  [Vat]  24en lour chaunt, "Pes ^P22A9 [P22A9] om  [Vat]  24seit en terre tant com cist regnerat, e nostre Dunston viverat." E issi a vynt il: kar a ^P22A10 [P22A10] xvi [Vat]  24cet anz qui il regna, yaveyt si bone pes, e ^P22A11 [P22A11] om  [Vat]  24si grante plente de tous biens ke unkes mes ne oy tant. Ce fut la verite. Unkes ^P22A12 [P22A12] si [Vat]  24plus dreiturel rey ne fust ^P22A13 [P22A13] om  [Vat]  24ne ke plus seinte vyʒe demena. Kar jane fut si riche home, ^P22A14 [P22A14] ki. [Vat]  24si il trespassast la ley, ke il ne a compareit solun sun mesfet. Robbeor ^P22A15 [P22A15] ins  ne larun [Vat]  24ne fut en sun tens ^P22A16 [P22A16] ne guerreur [Vat]  24geres nul, ^P22A17 [P22A17] car il feseit justice reddiment [Vat]  24ke il ne feit fere de ce tout justice Coment esparnireit il ^P22A18a [P22A18a] om  [Vat]  24nul homme ^P22A18b [P22A18b] om  [Vat]  24mesfesaunt, ke il ne preyt vengeance, quant il des bestes savages ke mesfeseient justice prist. Kar il comanda a un rey de Wales sur feu ^P22A19 [P22A19] om  [Vat]  24ke il tynt, ke chescun an li rendi de treu de sa terre treis cent lous. Cil les rendi iii. ans, al quart an ne trova nul, si fust par itant quite. Xvi. ans regna, ne fust ^P22A20 [P22A20] nul an de xvi. anz [Vat]  24un soul an qe il ne feseist akun grant chose, ^P22A21 [P22A21] pur amur de Deu [Vat]  24ou novele abbeiʒe ou ^P22A22 [P22A22] om  [Vat]  24novele esglyse, ou ^P22A23 [P22A23] autre aumone [Vat]  24encrut rentes de poveres abbeiʒes a honur de Deu. Nul

Page 24

homme pout ^P24A1 [P24A1] om  [Vat]  26ne sout per nule reson li blamer de ren ^P24A2 [P24A2] si de iii, choses nun [Vat]  26fors soulement de treis choses. Ceo fut del conte Eþ‏elwolf, e del duc de Andevere, e de la noneyne qe il treyt a force de sa abbeiʒe pur sa beaute. ^P24A3 [P24A3] mes tut [Vat]  26Mes trop i avereit a dire. Mes [t]restot le amende ^P24A4 [P24A4] om  [Vat]  26par sa viʒe par sa volunte, e par lenseignement seint Dunston. Si demena mult seinte viʒe puys, e ceo li moustra Deus apres sa mort. Kar il aveit jeu enterre lx. e xvii. anz, si li vout ^P24A5 [P24A5] om  [Vat]  26le abbe Edward de Glastingburi remuer de cel lyu la ou il just, e mettre ^P24A6 [P24A6] om  [Vat]  26en une pere ailors. Si troverent le ^P24A7 [P24A7] tut enter e ben colure cum [Vat]  26cors ausi en ter cum il fust le jour qe il fust mys. ^P24A8 [P24A8] cum [Vat]  26Kar si il le voleint lever ^P24A9 [P24A9] si le leverent folement, kar pur ceo ke la piere fu trop petite ki il aveient aparile pur mettre le enz, si [Vat]  26honourablement, e mettre en un pere ke li abbes aveit fet apparailer, si fust la pere trop petite de assez. Et li abbes fist trencher les membres, e le sanc se en ist hors, ^P24A10 [P24A10] ins  si seigna [Vat]  26cum ceo fust de un homme vyf. E li abbes qui cest fist fere perdi le sen e chey ke le col li debrusa. Pus si ^P24A11 [P24A11] mist lem [Vat]  26mistrent le cors en fertre. ^P24A12 [P24A12] Iloke meintenant un forsane receut sun sen [Vat]  26Et iluc tantost gari un forsane, e un orbe ^P24A13 [P24A13] om  [Vat]  26recoveri la vewe.

Aprez li si rescut Edward sun fiz le regne jeofne valet ^P24A14 [P24A14] ins  pruz [Vat]  26e sages: mes il ne regna qe treis anz e demy. Kar Estrild sa maratre li fist oscire par treisun, pur fere sun fiz Eþelred ^P24A15 [P24A15] sun fiz rei apre luy [Vat]  26rey. E issi fust; ^P24A16 [P24A16] si out le regne xxxvii. anz [Vat]  26kar il fut corone aveire.

Apres si regna xxxvi. ans, mes a grante hunte ^P24A17 [P24A17] om  [Vat]  26e a cheitivite ke il ni aveit pes ^P24A18 [P24A18] om  [Vat]  26par tot Engletere, fors tant cum sein Dunston vesqui. ^P24A19 [P24A19] ins  ceo fu par x. anz [Vat]  26Pus vindrunt Deneys ^P24A20 [P24A20] par tut Engleterre [Vat]  26en la terre chescun an, ^P24A21 [P24A21] E li quens Edric de Salebire trei li reis [Vat]  26par le treson Edric qui fut conte de Salopesburi, e de Hereforde e de

Page 26

Wirecestreschire. Ly reys cent cest conte. E cil manda tous jors as Deneys le conseil ^P26A1 [P26A1] om  [Vat]  28e lez privetez. ^P26A2 [P26A2] kar il fu le plu fel pautener e plu treiture ki unke vint [Vat]  28Ceo fut le plus feluns homme ki fut en Engletere, ce li monstra Deu ala ^P26A3 [P26A3] fin [Vat]  28parfin; ^P26A4 [P26A4] om  [Vat]  28sicum nus dirums apres. Li ley Aþelred morut entre ^P26A5 [P26A5] cel barat [Vat]  28itant. Si gist a Londres a sein Poul. Dunt firent les Engleis Edmund ^P26A6 [P26A6] le bastard rei. Dunke si [Vat]  28rey le fiz Aþelred bastard.

Icel Edmund fut appele Irenesyde pur sa grant prowesse. En icel este apres vint Knout le rey de Denemarch od grant ^P26A7 [P26A7] ost [Vat]  28navyne en Engletere. ^P26A8 [P26A8] si descumfit Eadmund une feis par la treisun, [Vat]  28Mes Edmund le venqui une feiz, e il li un autre fez, tant ke il se acorderent, par la treson Edric; ^P26A9 [P26A9] le traiture, puys firent concord, e impartirent la terre. Kant issi fu estemes [Vat]  28e si empartirent Engleterre entre eus deus. Edmund morust ^P26A10 [P26A10] om  [Vat]  28par la treson Edric a la seint Andreu apres, e gist a Glastingburi.

^P26A11 [P26A11] Apres la treisun edric le treiture ki si out enmie Engletere, si regna Knut xx. anz [Vat]  28Dunt se tynt le rey Knout tote Engleterre, prudomme en Deu. ^P26A12 [P26A12] e en secle, si morust e gist a Wincestre. Li primerain an ki le rei Cnut fu corone si vindrent a li ceus ki averent murdri Edmund par lenticement Edric le treiture, e kil le aveient ocis [Vat]  28Entre itant vyndreint ceus ki aveyent trahi Edmund par lor enticement al rey Knud, qui conustrent que il averent morþri le rei Edmund pur le sue amour. Si quiderent aver de li grant ^P26A13 [P26A13] guerdun [Vat]  28auer e grant douns. Mes li rey fist que prodomme. Si lor fist conustre devant tot sun barnage de Engletere tost lor felonyʒe, si lor fist tantost morir de male mort. Pus si ^P26A14 [P26A14] si munta [Vat]  28sourdi un escrif entre le rey Knud e le conte Edric le traitor en un haut soler sur Temese a Londres, tant qe Edric dit; "Jeo gwerpi ^P26A15 [P26A15] ins  dit il [Vat]  28mun ^P26A16 [P26A16] lige [Vat]  28naturel seigneur pur vus, ^P26A17 [P26A17] e puys [Vat]  28si li fiz oscire pur deliverer le regne a ^P26A18 [P26A18] vus e de ceo se corusali reis durement [Vat]  28vostre eos: "si li

Page 28

reprova cum ceo fut amyablement. Mes li rey se coresa anguisousement, si dyt: "Mar en parlastes, Edric; par dreit jugement ^P28A1 [P28A1] morree [Vat]  30devez morir, kant ^P28A2 [P28A2] om  [Vat]  30celi oscytes ^P28A3 [P28A3] om  [Vat]  30qui fut vostre seignur naturel, ^P28A4 [P28A4] ins  e mun frere en lei [Vat]  30e de ceo estes conisant." Ileoc aveire le rey li fist lyer pez e meins, sanz noise, e gettre ^P28A5 [P28A5] hors [Vat]  30le cors par mi une fenestre en Temese, e iluc peryt. ^P28A6 [P28A6] cors e alme, e a la cent cinkante diables [Vat]  30Icesti rey Knud regna xx. ans en Engleterre. Pus morut a Schafteburi, e enterre a Wincestre en lesglise seint Swithin.

Apres Knud ^P28A7 [P28A7] fu un sun fiz bastard fet rei ki il engendra en ceste tere de la file au commte Elfbert rei Haroud out nun [Vat]  30li rey Haroud Bastard sun fiz si regna iiii. ans e iiii. meis. Pus morut e gist a ^P28A8 [P28A8] a Lundre [Vat]  30Westmoster.

Apres li fu rey Hardeknout le fiz Knout, qui il engendra de Emme la ^P28A9 [P28A9] France [Tr]  30Francesche. Cil regna ii. ans e ^P28A10 [P28A10] xx [Vat]  30x. jors. Si morout a une beveire a Lamhuþe de juste Lundres; e gis a Wincestre ^P28A11a [P28A11a] om  [Vat]  30de jouste sun pere.

Apres li fut ^P28A11b [P28A11b] om  [Vat]  30seint Edward le ^P28A11c [P28A11c] om  [Vat]  30confessor rey, le fiz Eþelred; prodomme ^P28A11d [P28A11d] om  [Vat]  30e seint homme. Si regna xxiiii. ans, si morust e gist ^P28A12 [P28A12] ins  a Lundres [Vat]  30a Westmonstre.

Apres li fut rey Harald le fiz a conte Godwine. Si regna ix. meis. Dunt William Bastard si li toli la viʒe e le regne: e gist a Waltham.

Ly rey Willam Bastard ^P28A13 [P28A13] xxii [Vat]  30xxi. ans regna. Si morust e gist a Cham, en Normandiʒe.

Page 30

Apres li fust Willam ^P30A1 [P30A1] om  [Vat]  le Rous rey, sun fiz. ^P30A2 [P30A2] e morust [Vat]  Si fust berse en la Novele Foreste, e gist [a] Wincestre. Cil regna xiii. ans.

Apres li fut Henri sun frere rey. Si regna ^P30A3 [P30A3] xxxv anz e demi [Vat]  xxxvi. ans e morust, e gist a Redinges.

Apres li fust rey Estephne. Si regna xix. ans; si morust e gist a Faversham.

Aprez li regna Henri le Secund ^P30A4 [P30A4] ins  en ky tens seint Thomas de Cantorburi fu martireize. Cil fu le fiz le cunte Geffrai frere li reis, H[ierusalem] cil regna xxxvi [Vat]  xxxv. ans; si morust e gist a Font Everard.

Li rey Richard sun fiz fut rey apres. Si ^P30A5 [P30A5] il out e tint le regne x. anz, e [Vat]  regna xi. ans e demy. Si fut tret de un quarrel de arblaste al chastel des Chalous. Dunt cest verse fut fet, –

                   Christe, tui Calicis prædo fit præda Calucis;

puis morust e gist a Font Everard ^P30A6 [P30A6] a pies [Vat]  de jouste soun pere.

^P30A7 [P30A7] Apre luy fu le rei Johan sun frere, e tint li regne xviii. anz e v. meis, morust e gist a Wirecestre [Vat]  Apre li regna le rey Johan sun frere. En sun tens fust Engletere entredyte par la postoile Innocent, pur le erche eveske Estephne de Langintoun ke ly rey ne vousit receivere. Pus morust, e gist a Wircestre.

^P30A8 [P30A8] Apre luy fu rei Henri sun fiz prudome en De, e mult ama seint eglise. Il avoit guerre entre ly e partie de sun barnage iii. anz, poy avant ke il morust, mes aderein out la suvereine mein. E le bon cunte Symon de Monfort cunte de Leycestre, e sun fiz ocis a la bataile de Evesham, e plusurs autres bone gent. Il tint le regne lvii. anz, si morust e gist a Westmoster [Vat]  Apres li Henri sun fiz rescut le regne, a regna lvi. ans e xx. jors. Si morust, e gist a Westmoster. En sun tens furunt ii. grant batailes, un a Lewes, e lautre a Evesham.

^P30A9 [P30A9] Apre ly fu rei Eaduuard sun fiz, beau bacheler pruz e vailant [Vat]  Apres li fust Edward sun fiz rey, e corone a Westmoster, e conquist tote la seignouriʒe de Wales.

End