Secundus Liber .i. capitulum

How Brutus discomfyte (defeated) the Kynge of Grece and Albion had, and called it than Bretayne after hym and of his auncetry and his successours, the genology as is comprised in the grete Brute and in the cronicles of Itaylle, as Pli(?) saith in his book De Gestis Enee Regis Latinorum.1

Cronica Bruti per Galfridum Monmentensem extracta de quodam libro britannico sibi tradito per Walterum Oxoniensem archdiaconum et translata in latinum ad rogatum Roberti ducis Gloucestrie filii Regis Henrici primi Anglie.2 (see note); (t-note)

 

 

5 10 fol. 9r 16 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 fol. 9v 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 fol. 10r 100

As cronycles say and make notificacioun Who loke thaym wele schal know and undirstonde Of watkyns blode and generacioun Brutus first came that conquerde alle this londe. It to remembre I shal now take on honde Thurgh olde storise by philofres compiled In olde bokes as I have sene and fonde In Englisshe tonge it shal be made and fyled. At the Bible therfore I wille begynne At Adam whiche was so firste creature Convaynge doun lynyaly in kynne As thay descent in birth and engendrure Next unto Brute as mencionde hath scripture I shalle reporte as God wille deyne to lede My symple goste unkunnynge in lettrure As liketh hym with language me to fede. To whom I pray for spede unto the ende My wytte enforce in myght and sapience. Of other goddis whiche poetes used and kende In olde poeses I lak intelligence Ne nought I wille so hurte my conscience On thaym to muse whiche God defendeth me And als for sothe for any eloquence I tasted never the welles of Caliope. Yit wille I nought pray helpe of Saturnus Of Jubiter, ne Mars or Mercury Venus, Ceres, Phebus or Seneus Of Pallas, ne Alecte or Megary Of Genyus or yit Thesiphony Of Cupido ne of Ymeneus Mynerve, Diane, Bachus or Cerbery Manes, Glaucus, Vulcane or Protheus. Tho goddis olde and fals I alle refuse And pray to God that sitte in Trynyté My goste to guy on thaym that it nought muse Enspirynge it in alle sufficienté Of suche language as is necessité This boke to ende in balade and translate Thus newe bygunne of my symplicité Amonges makers it be unreprobate. For wele I wote withoute his supportacion For to reporte alle his genology How he descent by alkyn generacion From Adam doun to Troiane auncetry Goten and borne certayne in Italy Who Grece conquerde, Guyen, Fraunce and Spayne Makers can I none counterfete ne revy So symple ere my spirits and my brayne. Bot to thaym alle this boke forto corecte Whare as thay thynke my wytte in ought hath merred Mekely I wylle submytte now and directe Bysekinge thaym amende whare I have erred. Allethoughe I am unworthy be preferred Amonges makers, yit I wolde I fayne bene one Of thaire servants accounted and referred Thurgh thaire mercy, that thay were noght my fone. The genlogie fro Adam to Brutus Bot of Adam that was firste creature That ever had life and alther wisest man Cam Seth his son so holy clene and pure. And Seth for sothe Enos his son gatte than And of Enos cam his son Caynaan Of whom cam doun his son Malaleel Of whom so forthe descended Jareth than Of whom Enoch that gatte Matussaleel. Of whom Lameke, noght he was weddid twyse Whiche was that tyme agayn the law of man Bot he of whom Noe cam so gude and wise Of whom Japhet cam the whiche gatte so Javan Of whom so doun descended Cythym than Who Cypre gatte that Cypres first dyd name Of whom cam Crete that the Ile of Grece bygan And dyd it name ay forth after hym the same. Of Crete than cam his son hight Celi Of whom Saturne that taught men firste to bygge Nerwhare that Rome now ys in Italy And edyfy thaire houses into lygg Vynes to plante the londe to tele and dygg So with thaire swynke and bodily laboure For than was thare nayther hen, gose, ne pygge Ne other flesshe for thaire lyves socoure. Of whom cam than Jubyter of Frygy Whiche Turky hight in whiche Troy cyté In honoure stode and in grete victory That chief cyté was so of alle Turké. Dardanus cam of his paternyté His sonne he was and gretly magnifyed That regned firste as kinge of alle Frygé And as a god amonges thaym glorified. Of whom cam than his son Eryctonius Who gatte a son that Troy first edifyde Who Troyus hight of whom came Kynge Ilus That Ilyon made a palays of grete pryde Whiche forpassinge other was longe and wyde Rychely within wrought with stones precyus. Whiche Ilus gatte Leamedon that tyde That aftyr was kinge of Troy so gloryus. Whom Ercules at Troys firste eversion In bataylle slew whan Jason with his hoste Destroyed Troy and wasted by subversioun The rialle blode and led away with boste In dyverse parte within the Grekesshe coste Thaym holdynge thare in bondship and in servytude Perpetualy to byde thare leest and moste Thus into peyne thay felle fro altitude.

(t-note); (t-note) what kind learned men recorded (see note) spirit; unskillful it pleases him; provide success strengthen knew poems; knowledge prohibits (see note) (see note) Those spirit; guide; become lost poetry poets; unreproved know; help all kinds Begotten (see note) imitate; rival are my mental faculties (see note) gone astray to be raised up poets; desire; to be reckoned; numbered foes (see note) of all truly; begot the one who against begot; (t-note) forever called build Near build; dwell till work goose sustenance Phrygia is called (t-note) begot; built was called surpassed begot; time destruction; (see note) (see note) lands endure height

Conceyte of the maker how Troy for litil myght hafe bene undistroyed, by whiche is to consider favoure, whare none hurte may be, whan aliens com in to a reme by distresse of tempest or wynde.

 

 

 

 

105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 fol. 10v 145 150

Whiche sorowes so for lytille thynge dyd falle Bycause thay lette Jason whan that he wolde Have vytayld hym thare and his navy alle Whom nayther for money ne for golde Thay wolde refresshe, bot whether he wolde or nolde Thay bad hym voyde on payne of forfeture The londe anone, in story as it is tolde And iff he bode upon hys aventure. O thou gude lorde that was Leamedoun What fortune drofe thee do thaym unkyndenesse Whare thay to pay for it were redy boun Considerynge how he cam in by distresse Whiche aftyr was cause of thy hevynesse Whan he thee slew distroynge Troys cyté And caste doun alle thy myght and grete noblesse Withouten hurte that saved myght have be? Leamedon gat than Kinge Priamus And Anchises that worthy duke and wyse. Whiche Priamus gat Ector and Troylus And Dephebus, Helenus, and Paryse Whiche were alle dukes in Troy of grete empryse Of ryalle blode and of most excellence. And alle were slayne thurgh Fortunes excercyse At sege of Troy knyghtly in thaire defence Sauf Helenus and his sistir Exiona Were holde in Grece in thraldom and servage Unsemyngly for Priams childer and Eccuba Whiche kinge and quene so were of heritage And made Troy new agayn in his yonge age Aftyr the firste sege and subversioun And Ilion als rialle to his parage That wasted was by that same eversioun. The largesse of Troye cyté So brode he made Troy and in longitude Thre days jornays it was on horse to ryde With walles stronge and toures grete multitude And yates therto ful strongly fortyfyde. Never cyté was so gretly edyfiede Of marbre clere, fresshe of dyverse coloure Of whiche the walles were murifyde Two hundre cubits with many rial toure. This longeth nought I say to my matere It is so ferre and longe degrecioun Wherfore fro it I wille agayn refere To Anchises, fro whom I made egrecioun That fadyr was by alle repetycioun To Eneas as cronyclers expreme Who gat Ascanyus by disposicioun Of God above by ought that men can deme.

hindered provisioned wished to or not leave remained; chance prepared begot grandeur Except; (see note) Unfittingly; children destruction heritage destruction gates constructed marble; bright encased splendid tower pertains digression return divagation express begot; (t-note) judge

How Eneas regned in Itayly and was Kynge of Latyne and of Tuskayne by hys wife Lavynyane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

155 160 165 170 175 180 fol. 11r 186 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 fol. 11v 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 fol. 12r 275 280 285

Whiche thre cam doun playnly by discent Of rialle blode of Troy next Priamus And worthi dukes were in werres and excellent Tyl Troy was take, in bokes I fynde it thus The Grekes exilde Eneas and Ascanyus And Anchises by se that dyd forth passe Thurgh many stoure and tempest aventrus Tylle in Sisilé thaire ship arryven wasse Whare Anchises dyd dye and was dispent. Eneas and his son toke than the se With alle thaire shippes to Itaylle had thay ment Bot wynde thaym drofe in Aufrike withoute lee From whyne thay myght so nayther sayle ne fle Bot welcome were for Duke Eneas sake For Quene Didone hym had in specialté And thought of hym hire husbonde forto make. He stale fro hire and toke the see agayne And rofe on londe whare now is Italy In Tyber mouthe with travaylle and with payne Whare Ostia the porte ys fynaly. Whare hym was tolde in vision pryvaly That he shuld helpe Kynge Evandre that reyned In seven mountaynes whare Rome is now oonly Whiche londe on hym he vouched sauf and deyned For by thaire god it was so prophecyde That he shuld have grete parte of Italy And regne tharein of peple magnyfyde Thurgh his wisdome and dedes of chyvalry. Wharefore he cam to hym fulle worthyly To do hym bothe his servyce and plesance Bryngand a braunche of olyfe pesibly In honde for signe of pese and concordance. Of whom the kynge Evandre gan glorify And of his come was wele rejoysed and gladde For his worshyp and for his auncetry And gaffe hym londe and reule of alle he hadde. And for he was so exilde and bystadde He gaffe hym thare bothe castels and rychesse To leve upon, and rialy hym cladde And golde ynewgh, right of his worthynesse. This kinge Evandre made werre on Kynge Latyne In whose socoure Turnus kinge of Tuskayne Cam with his hoste of Tuskalayns so fyne Agayn Evandre and faught til he was slayne. Eneas dyd that dede and that derayne With myghty strokes and corage chyvalrouse Of whiche so was Evandre glad and fayne Whan that he saw hym so victoriouse. Bytuyx Evandre than so and Kynge Latyne The pese he made, reste and ful concordance And Kynge Latyns doughtir that hight Lavyne Weddyd to wyfe by trew and gode accordance Bytwyx thaym forthe was no more discordance. Bot ful posseste kynge was of alle Tuscayne Syr Eneas, and had the governance And Lavyne quene in grete plesance certayne. Sone after that dyed the kynge Latyne So Eneas had bothe remes in pese And reuled thaym by reson wele and fyne Tyl he dyd dye withouten werre or prese Of enmyse ought. By lawe it was no lese So rightewysly he kepte the regymente That fame of hym went wyde at his decese Of honoure hiegh deserved in hys entente. This Eneas dyd byg and edify Within his reame a castel passynge fayre Lavynyon by name specialy Aftir his wife Lavyne thareof was hayre Of whom he gat a son, bot in despayre Therof he dyed wenynge have had son none Who borne so was of beuté nought unfayre Aftyr he was dede, to hayre his londes echone. The fourth yere after that Troy was desolate Whiche was afore that Rome was edifyde Or had the name of Rome denomynate Thre hundre yere and thretty specifyde Whan Abdon was in Isrelle magnyfyde And reuled alle thynge aftyr his jugyment As Omer sayde and hath it notyfyde That poete was, and wyse of sentement. This worthy prynce Kynge Eneas mortaly Endyd his lyfe that was of hyegh prowesse Whare that God wylle to regne eternaly Withyn the House of Fame, whare as I gesse Ere knyghtes fele of grete worthyness That more desire had ay to bere grete fame Of doughty dedes alle of thare own prowesse Than beste knyght be and bere therof no name. Bot than his sonne Sylvyus Postumus New borne was than and yonge of tendre age. Kynge of his londes was made Ascanyus His brothur dere that reuled his heritage Ful pesybly kepte oute of alle servage Twenty wynter and eght corporaly Wythin whiche tyme he gate a sonne so sage Hight Sylvyus and Julus nomynaly. Whiche Sylvyus dyd gette and generate His sonne Brutus on Creusa, Lavynes nese Alle pryvely by hym devirgynate And sore bisoughte with his subtilitese And nought forthy some parte by hire pitese That tendred hym of hire femynyté As womanhode wolde of gode humylitese Have reuthe on alle men in adversité. Askanyus whan he knew that it was so Amonge hys clerkys he dyd anone enquere What shuld become of Brutus, welle or wo Alle answerde hym as ye shalle after here That he shuld sla Creusa his moder dere His fadir als thurgh grete fortuyté And afterwardes to grete estate affere And reames wyn thurgh his humanyté. So after sone the fate of dethe wolde so That passe away shuld than Ascanyus He gaffe his brother Silvyus Postumus tho His heritage of richesse plentyuus In whiche he made a cyté merveylus On Tyber, so hight Aube and yit hatte so. A dignyté it is to Rome famus A cardynalle it hath ay and no mo. Dame Creusa than that tyme lay in gisée Afore hire tyme by right disposicioun Of Brute hire sonne in whose natyvyté She dyed right thurgh thayr dyvysioun. Thus was he cause of hire occisioun Fro his modir whan he was seperate As clerkes seyde by thaire prevysioun It felle right so and lyke predestinate. His fadir than that hight Syr Sylvyus Dyd brynge hym up as he up grew in age In alle nurture that myght be fructuus And vertu als semynge for his parage. So was he grounde and taught in alle language Within fewe yeres and in his juventude That by the tyme he was fiftene yere age In eloquence he had the plenytude. Nota

taken battle; dangerous Sicily exhausted by death intended; (see note) Africa; shelter whence special favor arrived Tiber; difficulty granted exalted Bringing; olive coming ill situated live plentiful support combat delighted Between was called Tuscany realms fine external pressure lie rule build; construct; (see note) exceptionally heir begot; (see note) thinking inherit constructed thirty (see note) told (see note) Are; many subjection (see note) begot Called beget niece; (see note) deflowered fervently entreated; trickery (see note) grew compassionate towards pity (see note) (t-note) slay ill chance befit courtesy then (see note) called; named always preparation for delivery death foresight (see note) (see note) edifying lineage youth (see note)

 

How lordes sonnes shuld bene lerned in tendre age, aftyr the consayte of the makere of this boke, to induce hem to take vertu and eschewe vices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

290 295 300 305 310 315 fol. 12v 320 325 330 335

And as lordes sonnes bene sette at foure yere age To scole at lerne the doctryne of lettrur And after at sex to have thaym in language And sitte at mete semely in alle nurture. At ten ande twelve to revelle is thaire cure To daunse and synge and speke of gentelnesse. At fourtene yere thay shalle to felde isure At hunte the dere and catche an hardynesse Nota For dere to hunte and sla and se thaym blede Ane hardyment gyffith to his corage And also in his wytte he takyth hede Ymagynynge to take thaym at avauntage. At sextene yere to werray and to wage, To juste and ryde and castels to assayle, To scarmyse als and make sykyr scurage And sette his wache for perile nocturnayle. Nota And every day his armure to assay In fete of armes with some of his meyné His might to preve and what that he do may Iff that he were in suche a juparteé Of werre byfalle that by necessité He muste algates with wapyns hym defend. Thus shuld he lerne in his priorité His wapyns alle in armes to dispende. So was Brutus after other lessons hadde Upon a day at age of fiftene yere Nurtured fully right faire, wyse and gladde, Gentile and god and of right humble chere And of his age that tyme he had no pere. So was he sette in alle nobilité And trew in alle by ought that couthe appere, Stedfast also withoute mutabilité. His fadir so for joy he of hym hadde As Fortune wolde, executrice of weerdes Led hym to wode apon a day fulle gladde Of hertes and hyndes to hunte right at the heerdes. Thay slew thaym doun with houndes and som with swerdes With that Brutus as he an herte dyd shete His fadyr slew as was afore his weerdes Wharefore his herte was oute of alle quyete. Thus were his werdes at that tyme execute By Fortunes fals and fallible execucioun By clerkes aforne spoken and prelocute. How myght it be bot verry constitucioun Of God above and by his institucioun Whiche myght noght be in no wise dissolute Withouten hym to whom alle retribucioun Fully longeth and may alle retribute?

to good breeding engage in merrymaking sally forth To; master a fearless boldness courage; heart do battle; fight assault household danger in any case use (see note) good (see note) mistress of fate shoot destiny untrustworthy; (t-note) predicted relaxed repay

 

How Brute, after the dethe of his fadir, fled fro Itaylle into Grece whare that he discomfid (defeated) the kynge and his Grekes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

340 345 350 355 360

Brutus seand thys fals fortunyté The sorows grete in hym so multiplyde That thare for shame of that fortuyté In no wyse wolde he lengar dwelle ne byde Bot into Grece his sorows forto hyde He wente anone whare exils were of Troy Of whom thay were right glad and medifyd Thaire double sorowe he leched alle with joy. Syr Helenus was Priams son of Troy And Anchises an olde worthy knyght And sex thousond that of hym had gret joy Of gentilmen fro Troy exiled ryght Hym thare besought with instance day and nyght To helpe thaym oute right of thare heped sorow In whiche thay lay opressed agayns myght In servytute and thraldome even and morow. For pyté of thaym he made than his avowe What whils that he myght armes bere and ryde He shuld never lete no Troyan to Greke bowe Ne in servage thare langer to abyde. For whiche he wrote his letture in that tyde To Pandrase that the kynge was of that londe Requyrynge hym to late thaym passe and ryde With fredom whare thaym lyste to sytte or stonde.

wicked destiny accident; (see note) cured healed (see note) evening; morning (see note)

 

fol. 13r How the Grekes segid Brute, and by a wile of werre he putte the Grekes to flyght and toke the kynge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 fol. 13v 405 410 415

For whiche the kynge had scorne and grete derisioun Sendinge aboute for alle his barons stoute Tellynge thaym alle of Brutus disposicioun How he was sette the Troyans to have oute Of Grece alle fre, right in a rialle route Whiche was grete harme unto his regioun Iff thay shuld fre with myght departen oute And to his lawe a foul abbregioun. With that the Grekes cam on with alle thaire hoste Thaym purposynge with Brutus forto fight. So dyd also Brutus withouten boste And sodenly he felle on thaym that nyght And slew thaym doun the tyme while he had light. The Grekes gafe bak and fled to Askalone The kynge also thare fled at alle his myght In whiche water ware drowned mony one. And in that chase were take Antigonus The kynges brothur and Syr Anacletoun That pryvy was with Kynge Pandrasius Whiche Brutus had and sette in his prisoun. For whiche the kynge agayn dyd make hym boun And sought Brutus whare he in castel lay Makynge a dyke aboute it up and doun So stronge he myght nought owt bot by o way. Wherefore Brutus seynge alle this meschefe That seged was his castel in suche wyse He sente so than Anacletus in briefe Unto the hoste to say thaym on this gyse How he had stolne fro Brute Antigonyse And in the wode hym hyd withouten fayle From whyne withoute grete helpe he durste not ryse And byd thaym helpe “ere eny you assayle.” To whiche disceyte graunted Anacletus So he alle fre delyverd myght so be Withoute raunson fully consentynge thus And to the Grekes he made this propre le Ledynge thaym forthe unto the wod he se Levynge thaire warde open withouten wache By whiche way Brute wente forthe with his meyné Embusshynge hym in it the Grekes to cache. The Grekes ful glad came to that wode anone Trustynge in alle his wordes that he were trewe Bot Brute brake oute and slew thaym everychone At sprynge of day whan nyght had chaunged hewe From whyne he wente that Grekes aftir knewe Forth whare the kinge of Grece in tente dyd lye Undiskevred with alle his Troians newe So had he slayne thaire scurage sutylye. And toke the kynge and slew his men right faste So that thay fled forbeten on every syde And some were drownde ere thay the water paste Som in tentes slayne, som fled and wold not byde And Troians ever after thaym chace and ryde And wan the feeld with honoure and victory Rejoysed gretly of alle thaire dedes that tyde As wryten is and put in memory.

illegality turned and ran ready; (see note) trench one way besieged manner whence lie until he saw the forest gate; guard company ambushing whence scouts skillfully severely beaten time

 

How Brute wedde the kynges doughter of Grece and came to Leogice with his flete whare Diane sayde he shuld have Albion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

420 425 430 435 440 fol. 14r 446 450 455 460 465 470 475 480 485 fol. 14v 490 495

Brutus thynkynge no langar thare abyde So that he myght have Innogene to wyfe And shippes ynew fulle vytailde in to ryde By se to seke hym londe upon to thryfe His purpose was with Troians to arrife Thaym forto holde in alle fulle liberté As natife byrthe of his prerogatife Had ordaynde thaym of olde antiquité. The kynge he sette in alle fulle liberté Anacletus also and Antigone And lordes alle with alle tranquylité With thy he myght alle fre with Troyans gone Saufly to passe oute of the londe anone With alle suche thynge as longe to thaire dispense To whiche the kynge with gode wille graunte anone Sendynge for shippes that were of grete defence Thre hundreth shyppes wel stuffed of vytaylle With alle tresoure and golde grete quantyté And riche aray for thaire two apparaylle Accordant wele unto thaire parenté And armours als in oportunyté Thaym to socoure from alkyns violence And wedded thaym with grete felycyté And gaffe thaym gyftes of his magnyficence. So saylynge forthe by two days and two nyghtes With sex thousand of Troyans in his flete Right welle arayed for werre on alkyn rightes His wyfe swownynge he comforte and rehet Hyre kyssynge ofte with wordes kynde and swete Tyl at the laste in Leogice thay cam An ile it was forwasted and forlete By outlawde men that it conquerde and nam. So on thrid day thare in a cyté fayre Alle waste, no man ne woman dyd thay se Bot o goddesse to whom right grete repayre Of olde had bene and of priorité Dyane she hight and couth of destené And telle the werdes of men what shulde byfalle. Bothe hert and hynde grete sufficienté Within that ile were spred and sene overalle. His men thaym slew and to the shippes dyd lede For thaire vitayle and for thaire sustynance To leve upon if that thay stode in nede. But Brutus went Dyane to do plesance Made his prayers to hyre with exspectaunce Offrynge bothe blude and mylke of a white hynde And wyne also for his observaunce Whiche was the use of Troyans as I fynde. He lay alle nyght upon a hynde skyn white Bysekynge hire to lete hym wytte what place He shuld byde in with his Troyans grete and lyte And slepynge so Dyane hym shewed hire grace And sayde “Byyonde alle Gaule a se grete space Ane ile thou shalt fynde gode and fructuouse Toward the weste which se doth alle enbrace That geants now holden ful maliciouse “That londe shalbe to thee and thy posterité Evermore lastynge whare thou shalt edyfy New Troy forsoth with grete felicité A cyté grete thy name to magnify. Thou and thyne heyres thare shalle so multiply That alle the worlde shalle drede and doute youre name So shalle ye growe in welthe and vyctory That over alle londes wyde whare shalle sprede youre fame.” And whan he woke of slepe he tolde his dreme Unto his men for whiche thay were ful fayne That thay shuld wyn and have so gude a reme Unto thaire shippis thay went ful faste agayne Saylynge so forthe by se in storme and payne. In thretty days into Aufrike thay cam And so forthe sayled towardes the se of Spayne And richesse grete he gette aywhare and nam. So saylynge by the Columpnes of Ercules That men do calle in oure Englisshe language Ercules Pylers of Bras it is no les Who wan alle theder and had therof truage And sette thaym so to stonde by that ryvag In signe that he was thedir conqueroure And wan it alle only of his corage Evermore to dure in signe of his honoure.

(t-note) aplenty stocked; travel thrive (royal) prerogative these [men] (see note) provisioned with lineage protect (see note) in all manner comforted; cheered; (see note) abandoned seized one; dwelling place (see note) live propitiate (see note) custom know fruitful build eager realm everywhere; seized (see note) lie tribute shore thither remain

 

How Brute bylaste (bound) Coryneus to ben with hym, and how thay faughte with Kynge Goffore of Aquytayne and discomfyd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

500 505 510 515 520 525 530 fol. 15r 535 540 545 550

Fro thens thay came in tille the se of Spayne Whare that thay founde Troianes of thare lynage That fled fro Troy with sorow grete and payne Whan Troy was loste that was thaire heritage Whiche wan by se thare lifelode thurgh outrage Robbynge also and takyng what thay fonde Of grete rychesse thay made alle thayre lastage Thare shippes so to charge thay toke on honde. Coryneus than hight thaire capitayne A mykylle man and thereto ful of myghte A geant like of Brute he was ful fayne Bycause thay were of Troy and Troyans hight. Wherfore with Brute he dyd passe forth ful right Bycam his men he and his company Whare so he wolde in any place to fight Sayand it was thayre werdes of desteny. Thay sayled so forthe by se to Aquitayne That Guyen now is, whare thay rofe to londe And thare thay slew of whiche thay were ful fayne Both buk and do, bothe herte and hynde thay fande Of no wight had thay leve ne yit warrande. Wharfore Goffore and alle his meyny felle That thare was kynge faught with thaym hande by hande So at that tyme Coryneus bare the belle Discomfyte thaym thai durste not byde ne stande. With that Goffore wente into Gaule agaste That now is Fraunce and so denomynate Prayande ful fayre the Dusze Piers right faste To socoure hym that was extermynate And putte out of his londe and superate With enmyse felle and of grete multitude As he that oon of thaym was ordynate To reule the londe oute of alle servitude. In this mene tyme whils he gatte his socoure For Turnus sake that was his cosyn dere Was slayn so thare, Brutus dyd make a toure Whiche yit thys day hatte Toures who wille enquere For cause Turnus was layde thare in his bere And byried thare for whose rememorance Aftir his name Turnus as myght affere Brutus so made in signe and conyshance. That castelle made and fully edifyde The Dusze Piers alle with thare power rialle Faught with Brutus and Coryneus defyde. Yit never the les the Dusze Piers had a falle The Troyans dyd that tyme so welle over alle And so dyd Brute and als Coryneus. Gret multitude of thaym that were of Galle Was slayne and fled — Ovyde hath wryten thus. At Toures thay helde after that gret bataylle Thaire counselle wyse to se what governance Were to thaym beste and moste myght thaym avaylle And to thaym als that myght be leste hyndrance. In whiche by oon assent and concordance Thay toke to rede whare that thay were assigned By the goddesse to passe with alle plesance Lesse she be wrothe thurgh which it be repigned

necessities piracy ballast load was called great (see note) (t-note) Guyenne; landed fierce band won the field Routed (t-note) named Entreating; Twelve Peers; (see note) driven out overcome appointed is called bier be suitable recognition (t-note) (see note) considered angry; denied

 

How Brute londed at Tottenes and conquerde Albyon upon the geantes.

Nota how Brutus entred at Totnesse in Grete Bretayne in the armes of Troye as heire to Eneas; he bare of goules (red) two lyouns golde rawmpants, a contrarie (opposite each other), also he bare a banere of vert (green) a Diane of golde dischevely (with hair hanging loose) corouned and enthronysed, that were Eneas armes whan he entryed the reme of Latyne that now is Romanye, as it is specifyed in the cronycles of Romanye, as Giraldus Cambrensis wryteth in his Topographie of Brutes armes of Troye aforsayde, and as Trogus Pompeyus wryteth in his book of al storyes touchant (concerning) the forsaide armes of Eneas. (see note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

555 560 565 570 575 fol. 15v 580 585

Wharefore thay wente anone to shyp and sayle Restynge no thynge tille that thay were anente The coste thay sought, and myght nought of it faile. Enhabite so with geants of defence Albyon it hight by alkyns evydence As ye have herde in this before expreste Whiche by malyce and grete malyvolence The poraylle ever devourde sore and oppreste At Totteneys so this Brutus dyd arrive Coryneus als and alle thayre company Whiche name no wight that tyme that bare the lyve Couthe telle of it or say specialy. Bot alle this londe that tyme hight certanly Albyon as ye have herde afore Only protecte and kepte by tyrany Of geants whiche mysgoten were and bore. Into this londe he came so fortunate A thousond fulle right and two hundre yere Afore Cryste was of Mary incarnate In whiche he thought to make his dwellynge here By alle wrytyngs that I can ought enquere. Thus Brutus wan thys londe and it conquerde And slew alle way whare as thay durste appere The geants alle that were of hym ful ferde. So felle it than a geant of grete myght That Gogmagog was callyd by his name With other geants right grete and longe of highte Nynetene thay were that with hym came fro hame Assaylynge sore the Troyans with grete grame Whan thay were beste at ese and gode quyete Affrayand thaym of whiche thay felte no game With strokes stronge at mete thay dyd rehete.

facing warlike giants was called; every kind of (see note) poor was alive misbegotten; born (see note) (see note) afraid home anger Startling attack

How Brute slew alle the geantes excepte Gogmagog that wrastylde with Coryneus

 

 

 

 

 

 

590 595 600 605 610 615 fol. 16r 620 625 630 635

Bot aftyr thys Brutus with his Troyans Sought tho geants that hiegh upon the hilles Were dwellynge than sothely for the nanes For drede of Brute, for thay knew noght his wylles. He slew thaym doun with axe swerde and bylles And made of thaym a felle occisioun And lefte bot oon levynge than by his willes Was Gogmagog by his previsioun Who sesed was for alle his resistence To wrastille with the duke Coryneus That Brute myght se who was of moste defence And strongar als in case aventerus. Twelf cubit longe he was I say you thus Bothe royde and brode and uggly forto se. On the se banke thay mette afore Brutus Whare thaire wrastlynge was ordeynde forto be. This Gogmagog so thraste Coryneus That ribbes thre he brake than in his syde Bot than for shame he luked on Brutus And thought he wold revengen hym that tyde. With that he stode and sette his legges wyde And gatte hym up bytwene his armes faste And to the roche hym bare that was besyde And with alle myght he had thare doun hym caste. And yit this day alle men that place do calle In oure language for his derisioun The saute I say of Gogmagoges falle In remembrance of his occisioun. Thus was thare made a faire divisioun. Gladnesse to Brute it was and acceptable That thay departe so by previsioun In alle thaire play that was so jocundable. Brute Kynge of Bretayne inhabyte it and called it Bretayne and his men named Bretons Thus Brutus than was kynge in regalté And after his name he called this londe Bretayne And alle his men by that same egalté He called Bretouns of Brutus noght to layne. So were thay alle of that name glad and fayne. Than rode he forthe departynge as he wolde Thurghoute the reme the londe to yonge and olde Rewardynge ever his men so juste and trewe In dyverse londes that with hym had grete payne. Gafe thaym londes upon to dygge and plewe Of whiche for sothe thay were right glad and fayne. And to Coryneus he gafe the sothe to sayne The londe that nowe is called so Cornewayle Coryneus named withouten fayle. So was the name right of Albyon Alle sette besyde in kalendes of a chaunge And putte away with grete confusion And Bretayne hight it than by new eschaunge Right after Brute that slew thise geants straunge And wan this londe by his magnificence In whiche he dwelte longe tyme in excellence. Nota

truly at that moment stratagem pikes fierce slaughter deliberately foresight most skillful in fighting perilous boorish crushed rushed rock ridicule battle place (assault); leap slaying description parted company; providence fight; pleasurable equanimity in truth distributing realm (see note) plow (t-note) as the beginning; (see note) shame substitution

 

How the maker of this sayth his conceyte of evyl levynge and wrongful governance of peple, as of thise geants that cursidly were goten and wrongfully and tirantly levyd for the whiche God sette Brute to distroye thaym as Salamon sayth: “In malicia sua expelletur impius et adversio parvulorum enim interficiet et prosperitas stultorum perdet eos.”4 (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

640 645 650 655 fol. 16v 661 665

O ye yonge fresshe and lusty creatures In whiche the pride upgroweth with youre age Take hede of thise unsely aventures Of thise ladise and of alle thaire lynage And thynke on God that after his ymage Yow made and thynke this world shalle passe away As sone as done the floures fresshe and gay. Nota Suche fyne lo hath Dame Albyne and hir sisters That groundyd were to sla thaire husbondes alle Suche fyne lo hath thaire cursed werkes and mysters Suche fyne lo hath upon thaire isshue falle Such fyne lo hath thaire generacion alle That bene dystroyde so sone and slayne away For pryde and synne and for thaire fals array. Nota Thus after pryde thare commeth alleway grete shame And after synne so commeth grete vengeance Aftyr wyke lyfe commeth a wykyd name And after wronge lawes come shorte perseveraunce After olde synnes come new shames and meschaunce. Thus may ye se right by the ende and fate Thare cometh no gode of lyfe inordynate. Of this matere now ys sufficienté Reported here through my symplicyté That lytille have of konnynge or sapience To ende this boke of my synglarité So farre passith it myne abilité But thus of Brute I wylle now forth procede As lyketh God with language me to fede.

(see note) ill-favored end; (see note) projects progeny behavior ill-governed [it] pleases; provide

 

How Kynge Brute bygged (established) Trynovant that now is Londoun and made Troian law in Bretayn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

670 675 680 685 690 695 700 fol. 17r 705 710 715 720 725

Thus Kynge Brutus of whom I spake afore Fully provysed in wytte and sapience His reame thurghoute in contrese lesse and more Departed so that by his diligence Eche shire was know from other by difference And every town also thurgh alle Bretayne Whiche Englond now Wales and Scotlond ere certayne. Whiche with the se ere closed alle aboute And Albyon was called so afore In whiche he made his rytes and lawes thurghoute Grounded after lawe Troyane lesse and more Of whiche he was descended doun and bore. The pese he made saufly to go and ryde And thurgh the londe the townes edifyde. He made men tele the londe and sawe with sede Of cornes whiche that myght be gette ourewhare Controvynge so with hosbondry to brede And brynge forthe corne whare before none ware The feldes that were barayne and alle bare With muk he dyd becomposte and bespred Thurgh whiche the londe with corne ynewth was bred. He sought a place thurghoute his regioun Whare he myght have a wonnynge delytable Of alle dysporte and for dygestyoun And for his helthe were moste comfortable Moste plentyuouse and als moste profytable Thare to abyde and have his habitacioun Right after his own hertes delectacioun. So came he by a ryver fresshe and fayre Rennynge his course ay fresshe unto the se On whiche he chese to bygge and to repayre For love of Troy was his priorité A cyté fayre and of grete dygnyté Above alle othyr to ben incomperable Within Brytayne and als moste profytable. Thamyse he gafe that ryver so to name On his language hym liked to do so On whiche he sette his cyté of grete fame Of Novel Troy to kepe in wele and wo In remembrance of Troy his kyn cam fro. Som say to name he gaffe it Trynovaunt Of his language natyfe so consonaunt Bot Troynovant som boke sayth so it hight Of Troyane speche to sounde it oute alle playne Whiche language yit the Turkes speke ful right Alle Turky thurgh of modre tonge certayne. For Troy ys yit in Turky sothe to sayne Thof it be waste yit ys the grounde thare stille The language als upholde that longe there tylle. So thynke me wele it shuld hight Troynovaunte Or els I say that Trynovaunt itte hight Of Troys language as Turkes yit use and haunte Rather than to calle it Novel Troy by right. That Frenshe language was nought to thaym so light Whare Brute and his no tendyrnesse couthe fynde Bot emnyté, grete bataylle, and unkynde. Whan Brute his werke had made and brought til ende Of Troynovant that now ys London named He led his lyfe, his reame to kepe and mende In every londe his name so wele was famed. Of pese and reste alle wykednesse he blamed Levynge so forthe in myrth and rialté With Innogen his wyfe ful of beuté.

(see note); (t-note) endowed regions distinguished (see note) founded till; sow grain; everywhere Devising; cultivation manure plenty dwelling build Thames (see note) New Troy Although remains; pertains be called speak comprehensible; (see note) rebuked Living

 

Nota quod quidam Hely iudicavit in Iudea; Silvyus Postumus filius Enee et Lavyne regnavit in Ytalia, et Brutus filius Silvii Iuli in Britania nunc Anglia regnavit.5 (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

730 735 740 fol. 17v 745 750

That tyme Hely so regned in Judé The Arke of God eke take by Philistiens Than regned als in Troy of novelté The sonne of Ector with helpe of Trogyens And put away Anthenores Posterieus And Sylvius as Gildas seyth in story. Eneas sonne regned in Italy Grete justes he helde with grete felicyté In gyftes also he was right liberalle Glad and mery festes with grete solempnyté He made fulle ofte to his peple and lordes alle Huntynge hawkynge and revelynge in halle And by his wyfe he gat so sonnes thre Benygne of porte and godely onto se. And at his ende he made by his previsioun Of alle Bretayne certayne until the se After his decese a playne dyvysioun To bene departe amonge his sonnes thre The quene hire thrid of ful sufficienté That worthy was of alkyn womanhede In so ferre forthe she passed other and excede.

Eli; Judea; (see note) (i.e., Brutus) conduct (see note) clear

 

But Giraldus Cambrensis sayth in his Topographie of Wales and Cornwail that he regned in Bretayne lx yere, that is more lyke to bene for he might have made Londoun in xxiiii yere, as it is specifyed in this balade. (see note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

755 760 765 770 775 780 785 fol. 18r

Whan he had so in fulle prosperité Fully regned by foure and twenty yere In his cyté of Troynovant dyd de And byried thare with alle that myght affere To suche a prynce who that tyme had no pere That knowen was in any reame aboute So was he dred that every londe hym doute. And in the yere afore the incarnacioun A thousond hole eght score and sextene Aproved welle by calculacioun Amonges these clerkes as wele it may ben sene Whan deth his soule refte fro his body clene And led away withoute impedyment Whare God ordeyned right by his jugyment In the temple that tyme of Appolyne Whiche now ys Paules in vulgar tunge so hight Before Diane that was his goddes fyne Whiche thare he made in name of Dyane right In Leogyce that Albyon hym hight He byred was and layde in sepulture In rialle wyse as come hym of nature. Lamentacioun of the makere why God suffred so rightwis a prynce to bene dampned O gude lorde God what dole it ys to here Of suche a prynce so rialle and benygne Ful of vertu by sight as dyd appere Nothynge wyllynge to mysdone ne maligne Why was so gode a person and so dygne In godenesse sette and alle humylité To dye and noght his soule to saved be? Bot thus thou myght whan that thou heried helle Knowynge his trouthe and rightwis governaunce Of thy mercy from peyne perpetuelle His soule within some restfulle place avaunce Consideringe welle unto the olde creaunce Whiche only was that in grete God above How myght thou Lorde foryette that hym dyd love? .ii. capitulum of Kynge Locryne and hys two brether

die pertain feared Apollo St. Paul’s pure promised was becoming grief; (see note) worthy harrowed belief forget

 

Nota for homage of Scotlond. How Kynge Brute devydyd Bretayne in thre remes: Logres, Cambre and Albany.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

790 795 800 805

Of Brutus sonnes now wille I thus bygynne Locryne than hight the eldest sonne of alle Whiche Loegres had that Englond is with wynne Unto his parte men did it Loegres calle The beste it was also moste pryncipalle. Locryne Loegres dyd calle after his name Whiche was that tyme as yit ys of grete fame. Kynge Camber The seconde sonne Syr Camber so he hight Who Camber had that cald is now Wales So after his name it hight Camber right And now in Frensshe so is it calde Gales. Ful ofte it hath sen that tyme done us bales For servyce dew we claymed of it to have Whiche ys now sure us nede no more to crave. Kynge Albanacte Syr Albanacte the thrid sonne than so hight Had to his parte the londe of Albanye After his name so cald he it be right Whiche Scotlond now ys named sertanly The whiche he helde of Locryne soveraynly As Camber dyd than for his parte the same Yit sen that tyme for it hath risen grame.

(see note); (t-note) was called possessions since; tribulations strife

 

Nota how Kynge Locryne had the sovereynté and servyce of Camber and Albanacte for thaire londes that now ere called Wales and Scotland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

810 815 820 825 fol. 18v 830 835 840 845

Thus Locryne had, as come hym welle of right Of Troyans lawe of grete antiquyté In Troy so made whan thay were in thaire myght The eldest sonne shuld have the soveraynté His brether alle of his pryorité Shuld hold thaire londe withouten variance So was that tyme thaire lawe and ordynance. Nota And alle resorte so shuld ever apperteyne To the elder by superyoryté If the yongar non issu have to reyne The elder shuld by alle priorité Have alle his parte to his posteriorité. Thus Brute by lawe of Troy and consuetude Thurgh Bretayne made the same by rectitude. Nota At Mewytryne some tyme a place of fame In Bretons tyme in whiche was oon Mewyne So wyse poete that tyme was non of name That florisht so ful longe afore Merlyne Who in his boke so wrote for dissiplyne The lawes of Troy to this day unreversed Amonges the whiche is that I have rehersed Nota How Brutus made in Bretayne Troyans lawe Thaire sacrifyce, thayre customes and thayre rytes And in his boke he sette thaym hye and lawe Whiche tretise so was called Infynytes Evermore to dure and byde as fulle perfytes As poyntes whiche longe to the monarchy Of Bretayne so and to his successory. Bot as these brether sette beste in pese and reste Thaire servyce done that dewe was of thayre londe The kynge Humber of Hunneslonde fulle preste Wyth shyppes arrofe whare now ys Humbre sonde In Albany was than I undyrstonde With whom the kynge was than of Albany Syr Albanacte dyd fyghten manfully. In whiche bataylle was Albanactus slayne His men that fled, fro he was dede away, To Locryne came thare sores to complayne Tellynge hym of Humbre and his aray And prayd hym fayre to helpe iff that he may Thayre londe to voyde of ennemyse and to clenge His brothyr dethe also for to revenge.

custom Glastonbury (t-note) low (see note) ready landed; water after (see note) purify

 

How aftir the decese of Albanacte, Kynge Locrine dyd seyse Albany in his honde by eschete (escheat) and resort (right) as soverayne lord and hayre. (see note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

850 855 860 865 fol. 19r 871 875 880 885 890 895 900 905 910 fol. 19v 915

The kynge Locryne to Cambre than forthe sente His lettres sone, fulle wofully endyte Hym chargynge sore with alle his hole entente To come anone his brothyr deth to quyte. Who come anone and taryde bot a lyte With bothe thayre hostes with Humbre forto fyght Besyde a water agayne hym dyd thay lyght. And wyth hym faught amoved in thare herte For thayr brothyr dethe whiche sette thaym wondir sore Thay slew thaym sore with strokes grete and smerte. Bot Humber fled in that ryver therefore Whare he was draynte, that sene he was no more, For whiche Locryne so dyd that ryver calle Humbre of hym that dyd so in it falle. Wythin tho shyppes Locryne had mekyl gode That made hym stronge so forth of alle rychesse. His brother als thaire men that with thaym stode In bataylle sore bysette in grete dystresse He delte it welle and with grete bysynesse Amonge thaym alle as ferre as myght sustene Thayre pore estates to menden and to meyntene. Whan seysed he Albany sothe to sayne Into his honde to byde for evermore As itte that owe of right resorte agayne To hym that was sovereyne eldeste bore Who kepte itte wele fro ennemyse and alle sore As longe as he dyd leve and bare the crowne His men thay were and at his byddynge bowne. Bot in tho shippes thre maydens there he fonde Of beuté faire and of gode auncetry Of whiche oon was on whom his love he bonde The doughter of a kynge of Germany Estrilde that hight wham he thought womanly And for his wyfe hire helde at his plesaunce The whiche he thought to wed by ordynaunce. Coryneus than for that with hym was wrothe And to hym sayde “Why art thou so untrewe My doughter so to falsen and to lothe Thy wyfe shulde ben if that thou were ought trewe For whiche I shalle thy bales bake and brewe. Bot thou hire wed I shalle now be thy dethe Testment othur shalt thou never make ne quethe.”6 Wyth that for fere and som dele by avyse Of alle his lordes that were to it acorde He wed his doughter that was bothe gode and wyse Anone forthwith by trety and concorde. Bot ever he thought Estrilde shuld bene restorde. Bot with his wyfe that hight Quene Guendolyne A son he gatte by wedlayke and right lyne. Whiche Maddan hight right by his propre name And in mene while this Estrylde was with childe Kepte undir erthe for drede of speche and blame And whan he wold ought gon to this Estrilde He sayd his wyfe with tonge as he couth fylde He yede sogates to do his sacryfise Unto his god in his moste pryvy wyse. And undyr this this lady Dame Estrylde So kepte in mewe with alle grete pryvyté Whan tyme so cam delyverd was of chylde. A doughter it was of ful femynyté Of womanhede and alle abilité Whiche Sabren hight as cronycles done recorde, I can se non that fro itte dothe discorde. Coryneus as whan the day of deth Was come hym to and nedes muste he de Passed so forthe to Jubyter bequethe His woful goste to sitte with hym and be Perpetualy so undur his deyté. Than Guendolene Maddan sente to Cornewayle Thare to be kepte within hire londe and baylé.

avenge tarried come strong drowned great beset obedient deceive troubles Unless partly; judgment agreement regained meanwhile deceive; (t-note) in this way kept concealed; secrecy die power protection

 

.iii. capitulum of the Quene Guendelyne that regned aftyr Locryne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

920 925 930 935 940 945 950 fol. 20r 955 960 965 970 975 980 985 990 995 fol. 20v 1000 1005 1010 1015 1020 1025 1030

After the deth of Coryneus so Locryne toke Dame Estrilde and hire wedde And put away the quene with mekyl wo. And she anone so in tille Cornewayle fledde And raysed thare the power that she hedde And in the felde she faught with Kyng Locryne Whare he was slayne: he had none other fyne. Anone she toke that lady Dame Estrilde And Sabren als hire doughter fayre and dere And drowned thaym bothe two, hire and hire childe, In a ryver grete rennynge faire and clere Whiche Severne now is cald ferre and nere. For Sabren sake she dyd it so forth calle After hire name and quene she was overalle. Nota For ten yere than had regnyd Kynge Locryne And fiftene yere after she regned quene And had the reule and governd wele and fyne. Than Maddan so that was hire sonne I mene She made than kynge and crouned hym I wene And to Cornewayle she went agayn so este To kepe that londe the whiche hire fadyr lefte. Nota This tyme than was the prophete Samuel Of grete wysdome and of high sapience Governynge than the childer of Israelle From alkyns evel thurgh his intelligence That was so wyse in al experience To lerne the folke to love God over alle thynge Thus dyd he longe afore his laste endynge. Nota And Sylvyus the son of Eneas Yit regnyng than and kynge in Italy Of Tuskayne hole and of Latyne so was By heritage and right of auncetry As Omer sayth that florissht in poetry In rethoryke forpassyng other famouse That philosofre was clere and curiouse. .iiii. capitulum of the Kynge Maddan Nota of gude reule in this kynges tyme and therfor he regned .xl. yeres This Maddan so was kynge of Loegres than And also of the londe of Albany Ful fourty yere he regned as a man And kepte his landes in pese fro tyrany. In wisdome was he grete to magnyfy, Manly and wise, of knyghthode corageouse, Hardy and stronge like to Coryneus. In pese he was his tyme and so he ende Bot sonnes two he gat right of his wyfe, Manlyn also and Membrice, to defende His remes bothe from alkyn werre and strife And dyed so and byried by his wife With grete praysynge and ful comendacioun Of alle his reames thurgh his dominacioun. Fulle of vertu he regned fourty yere That no man durste his neyghbur oughte displese So wele the lawe he kepte while he myght stere That every wight was glad hym forto plese And every man eche othur for to ese So dred thay hym alle for his rightwysnesse Kepynge his lawe and pese in sykyrnesse. .v. capitulum of the Kynge Manlyn and Membrice Manlyn his sonne whiche of priorité Have regned shuld and fully have bene crounde With treson fals and grete iniquyté By his brother Membrice falsly founde A day was sette to se who shuld that stounde Bene kynge and regne in pese by ful concorde To cese alle strife amonge thaym and discorde. Upon whiche day Membrice his brothyr wounde And slew hym thare by his imagynacioun For he wold regne oonly and be crounde And upon that he made his coronacioun Thurgh falshode foule and hiegh conspiracioun. Kynge was he made and had the londes two And led thaym so in wykednesse and wo. Kynge Membrice Membrice this kynge distroyed his men thurghoute Thaire londes, thaire godes or els thaire life sertayne He toke fro thaym and held thaym ever in doute So wyk he was and fulle of grete dedayne. His comons sore dyd vexen and distrayne To plese and pay in alle that he wold have Or dye he shule foule deth so God me save. His wedded wife he dyd falsly forsake Hauntynge the synne so foule of sodomyte With bestes ofte instede right of his make To thaym he had suche luste and appetyte And of his wife havynge right no delyte Bot hire avoyde out of his companye Withouten cause bot of his trechary. How this cursed kynge was dede thurgh vengens Whan he had so fulle regned twenty yere As God wold he shuld have he had deserved To wod he went folowynge upon a dere Right by hym oon with wolfes feel overswerved He was anone thare slayne and alle forterved That lym fro lym was fro hym draw and rente He myght never have gode ende that falsly mente. He had a sonne, Syr Ebrauke was his name, To have hys reames aftyr his cursed ende. Thus was Membryce than dede and made fulle tame His body eten with wolfes and alle torende Whose soule Mynerve with bales al tobrende. And in his tyme Saul regned in Judea Eristens in Lacedemonya. .vi. capitulum of the Kynge Ebrauke Ebrauke his sonne crowned so was anone Whiche made grete shippes upon the se to saile With helde his knyghtes with hym so forth to gone And als his men than waged of Cornewayle And into Gaule he sayled withouten fayle In whiche he wan richesse innumerable To holde estate rialle and honorable. And twenty wyfes had, as cronycle sayth, And alle wedded by maner as was than Trouthed fully right with his honde and fayth With other rytes the whiche that I ne kan At this tyme telle, ne say unto no man, Bot twenty sonnes had by generacioun Thretty doughters als by alle relacioun.

(t-note) great end pleasant teach Tuscany; Rome Homer; who was famous skillful (see note); (t-note) security (t-note) time devising conspiracy (t-note) fear wicked; arrogance distress Practicing; sodomy partner wished alone; savage overcome thrown down limb; torn torn apart Minerva; torments; burned Lacedaemon (Sparta) (see note); (t-note) accounts

 

How Ebrauke (York), Maiden Castel, Mounte Dolorous and Alclude this Kinge Ebrauke did make.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1035 fol. 21r 1040 1045 1050 1055 1060 1065

A cyté than he made that hight Ebrauke After his name whiche now that Yorke so highte. A castelle stronge sette on the north se banke Whiche he dyd calle Mounte Dolorouse so wighte That now Bamburgh ys castelle of grete myght In which there ys a toure hatte Dolorouse Garde Bot by what cause I can nought wele awarde. Bot thus I have in olde bokes red and sene That Ebrauke whan he was put to the flight For his socoure than thydyr came I mene. By other bokes I have eke sene be sight For Launcelot love a lady dyed fulle bright Whiche in a bote enchaunted for the nones Arofe up thare: so named he tho wones. And in the londe for sothe of Albany The Mayden Castelle strongly than dyd he make Callynge it so on his language forthy That he had thare his luste with maydens take In yowth whan that hym lyste with thaym to wake Whiche now so hatte Edynburgh ryghte by name. Alle Scotlond thurgh it hath now alle the fame. High on the Mounte Agneth so was it sette A castelle stronge and of grete altitude To whiche thare were thre score maydens sette By a geant for his solycitude Agayn thaire wille for thaire grete pulcritude And bewté als that hym liste with thaym play Whom for thaire sake Syr Ewayn slew men say. And thaym he dyd delyver of that servage And put that place so fulle in obeyssance Of Kynge Arthure, it was his heritage As sovereyn lorde. And so for that myschaunce, That maydens were there kepte to ther grevaunce, So was it calde Mayden Castelle aftirwarde Many a day ful longe by that awarde.

was called is called (see note) strong discern Arrived; dwellings (see note) special attention fairness it pleased him obedience wrongdoing; (t-note)

 

Nota quod Policronica dicit Alclude esse iuxta Caerleyle prope Sulwath tunc in Albania et nunc in Anglia, vastata per Danos ita quod nichil inde videtur hiis diebus sed omnis apud omnes incognita. Tamen Scoti dicent Alclude esse illam villam quae nunc vocatur Dunbretayne.7 (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1070

The cyté als he made than of Alclude Whiche bare that tyme the fame of Albany. A castelle by was of grete fortitude Whiche Dunbretayne now hight ful notably Whare Seynt Patrike bycame man natifly For whiche in itte never seth was sene vermyn Ne yit non horse that ought myght donge therein.

(see note) is called born afterwards void excrement

 

Nota how Ebrauk maryed alle his daughters in Itaylle and alle his sonnes saufe his hayre he sent in Germany (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1075 fol. 21v 1081 1085 1090 1095 1100 1105 1110 1115 1120 fol. 22r 1125 1130 1135 1140 1145 1150 1155 1160 fol. 22v 1165 1170 1175 1180 1185 1190 1195 1200 1205 fol. 23r 1210 1215 1220 1225 1230

He sent his doughters so unto Italy Thare to be wedde to lordes of Troyans kynde At grete requeste of Brutus cosyn Silvy Who kynge was than of Latyn as I fynde. For ladise thare had neyther wylle ne mynde To Troyans blode be wed ne yit maryde So lothe thay were with thaym to ben allyde. Whare thay were wed echon to thaire degré To Trojans grete and of the beste estate Thurgh Kynge Sylvy of whose consanguynyté Thay were echone descende and generate. And alle his sonnes that were so procreate To Germany he send thaym forth anone Savande only his eldeste sonne alone. Nota how wisely this gode Kynge Ebrauke reuled his londe Thus was his wytte and als his policy That thay shuld wyn in other cuntré lande To leve upon oute of alle mysery With navy grete by se and eke by sande For he nolde payre ne harme no lorde he fande For love of thaym, ne in no wyse wold spille So was he trew his lordes alle to stylle. Undyr the reule and by the regyment Of thaire brother that hight Syr Assarak Alle Germany thay had at thaire entente And lordes were thare ay forth withouten lak. Thus were thay lordes and holpen alle the pak Outwarde fro home by wytte and governaunce Tylle his barons and reme fulle grete plesaunce. Than Kynge Davyd so regned in Judé Undyr whom than prophecyed in Israelle Gad, Nathan and Asaph of the deyté. And Sylvyus also regned fulle welle In Italy as dyverse cronycles telle Who was the sonne right of Kynge Eneas That Brutus cosyn and nere of blode than was. And sexty yere Kynge Ebrauc bare the croune Regnynge fully with alle prosperyté With honoures high and myghty of renoune Redouted bothe in age and juventé Of alle ennemyse for his humanyté And at Ebrauke was made his byrialle Whiche was so than his cyté pryncipalle. .vii. capitulum of the Kynge Brute Grenesheelde Nota Hys sonne Brutus Grenesheeld by name so hight Bothe gode and trew and esy of alle porte Wyse and manly and feyre to alle mennys sight. In alle desese he wold his men comforte To ryde his londe thurghout was his dysporte Alle wronge to mende and fully to redresse Thus was his life as bokes done expresse. He regned fulle in pese and reste twelve yere And dyed than and by his fadyr syde Beryed was right as I can enquere With grete honoure aboute hym in that tyde. Of alle Bretayne the barons dyd hym guyde Tylle tyme he was layd in his sepulture As Gyldas sayth for sothe in his scripture. .viii. capitulum of Kynge Leyle So Leyl his sonne was kynge than after so That made anents the londe of Albany A cyté fayre whiche that Caerleyl highte tho That now Carlele men callen fynaly. In whose tyme so regned than corporaly Kynge Salomon so wyse in alle Judé Begynnynge thurgh his noble dygnyté To bygge and make the temple of Jerusaleme And Saba quene that same tyme came to here His hiegh wysdome spoken of mony reme. And in the tyme of Leyl were prophetes sere Prechynge of God the peple forto lere Amos, Aggeos, Joel, Azarias also With othur als bot I canne telle no mo. He in his tyme held welle the londe in pese Bot in his age it was sette alle on stryve. Whan he had bene so kynge withouten lese And regned had fulle twenty yere and fyve The deth his goste oute of his corse gan dryve And unbody so fro his erthely place That tylle another he yede withouten grace. .ix. capitulum of the Kynge Rudhudibrace At his cyté of Caerleyl there he lythe Buryed right fayre and of grete honesté. That he was gone the barons alle were blythe. Hys son anone of grete nobilité So regned than with alle habilité Rudhudibrace by propre name that hyghte His barons alle he sette in pese fulle ryghte. Caerkent he made that now ys Cauntyrbyry Caergwent also that now hatte Wynchestre Caerpaladoure whiche hatte Shafftesbyry He made amonge his werkes terrestre Whare that tyme sette an egle on the cestre Whiche in Englisshe we calle a castelle right And spake bot what I saw it never in sight. So regned he oute thretty yere and nyne And buried is besyde his fadir Leyle. In whose tyme so Amos, Joelle prophetes fyne Azarias als prophecyed wythouten faile Ful treuly so thay taught and toke no vayle Bot only dyd of gode perfeccioun The folke to lerne by gode affeccioun. .x. capitulum of the Kynge Bladud Bladud his sonne so aftyr hym succede And regned so fully than twenty yere Caerbladon that now ys Bathe I rede. He made anone the hote bathes alle in fere Whiche to thys day in that place yit appere Made so by crafte that ever thay have grete hete In whiche men have grete ese and grete quyete. Helyas than so prayd it shuld not rayne At whose prayer it rayned noght thre yere And sex monethes upon the erthe sertayne. And in his tyme Amos, Hien, Joel in fere Azarias as prophetes to God fulle dere Preched and taught and also prophetysed As the Byble it hath autorysed. Thys Bladud was, as Gyldas seyth the clerke, Fully instructe and lerned in nygromancy And by his crafte he dyd devyse a werke A fedyr-hame with whiche that he wold fly And so he dyd, as Waltier sykyrly The archedeken of Oxenford ful graythe In story whiche he drewe sogates saythe. He flaw on high to temple Appolyne Whiche now ys Poulys with worschip eedifyde Whare on he felle and made his ende and fyne So was he cause of his own homysyde. Thus slayne he was I say and mortyfyde Thurgh his own wytte and thurgh his fals atyre He whom he served so quyte hym than his hire. .xi. capitulum of the Kynge Leyre Aftyr hym than regned Leyre his sonne Who that dyd make a cyté upon Sore Caerleyre in whiche he dyd most dwelle and wonne Leycestre ys now callyd but wherefore I wote not why but Leyrecestre afore I trow it hight. We leve out R this lettre For lyghter speche to make the language swettre. How this Leyre proved his doughters which of hem loved hym moste and beste This Leyre had to his heyres bot doughters thre So aftyr tyme that he had regned longe In alle honoure and high prosperyté And falle in age, he sette hym thaym amonge. To the eldeste with voys he spake and ronge Imagynynge how that they myght be proved Whiche of thaym thre that best and moste hym loved. He asked so the eldeste Goneryle How welle she dyd hym love he prayd hyr say She aunswerde hym agayne than with a wyle Wele better than hir own lyfe in gode fay Off whiche he was so plesed to his pay That he hyre graunte fully forto avaunce With suffysaunt parte of his enheritaunce. The secunde than that cald was Ragawe He askyd so, to whom she sayd anone “Fadyr I love yow right so as I awe More than al thys hole erthly world alone.” “Doughter” he sayd “as trewe as eny stone The thyrde parte of my reame so shalt thou have Thou sayste so welle I may no more thee crave.” To Cordele than the yongeste of thaym thre He asked than right on that same avyse. Who answerde hym with alle benygnyté Right in thys fourme and as she couthe devise “Yow as my fadyr I love withoute queyntise And as myche as ye bene worthe of rychesse So myche I love yow fadyr and shalle doutlesse.”

Rome kinship (Ebrauke’s) shore damage slay pacify desire deficiency army Unto; realm power of God kindred youth courtesy was called; (see note); (t-note)  manner tribulation custom guide (t-note) (t-note) near to build Sheba various teach maturity; strife lie went lies (t-note) worthiness terrestrial eagle profit teach (t-note) ruled together rest (t-note) necromancy object plumage certainly fully in possession of (the story) thus equipment repaid; reward (see note); (t-note)    (the River) Soar proclaimed deceptive strategy faith satisfaction full portion ought trickery

 

Nota, for homage of Scotland. How Maglane Duke of Albany and Ewayn Duke of Cornwail did homage to Kyng Leyre for Cornwail and Albany, and afterward thay wed his doughtirs and put hym out of the reme by unkyndenes. (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1235 1240 1245 fol. 23v 1250 1255 1260 1265 1270 1275 1280 1285 fol. 24r

To hyre he sayd “Why lovest me no more? Now treuly thou shalt never have gode of me Bot helpe thyselff fro thys day forth therefore.” With that the duke of Albany wete ye Wed Goneryle his wyfe for to be Syr Maglayne than hight withouten fayle And Ragawe had Ewayne duke of Cornewayle. Aftyr alle this the kynge of Fraunce Aganypé For gode love wed withoute any rychesse Cordeyle to whom hyre fadyr no quantyté Of godes gaffe that I can ought expresse Bot alle his londes departed by processe Betwyx Maglayne and Ewayne so in fere With his doughters two that to hym were ful dere. And in his age the prynces two toke governaunce Of alle his londe and lete hym have no myghte For whiche thay graunte hym than by ordynaunce To fynde hym so with fourety knyghtes right Whils he myght leve, so layde thay doune his hight, For whiche he wente to his doughter Gonerile Of whom certayne she irked in shorte while. Than wente he forthe unto his doughter Ragawe. She dyd right as hyre syster with hym had done. Wythin a yere she wolde have made hym lawe His knyghtes voyde and halden bot a whone So wente he thens he wyste nought what to done For sorow he wold have liggen on his bere Suche thought he had and made right hevy chere. Than toke he fulle to counsaylle and to rede By frendes he had tille Cordeyle forto gone To fele hyre helpe thedyr thay dyd hym lede. He sent to hyr his messengere anone For whom she was anoyed and made grete mone. Both golde and gode she sente hym and array Right sufficient and ryche unto his pay. Thay brought hym so to hyre with grete honoure Whare he had chere ful fayre and alle dysporte And welcome was and hight him hool socoure To wyn agayne his londe with grete comforte. The kynge of Fraunce, his hoste assembled and resorte To passe with hym to wyn his londe agayne, Dyd sende his wyfe to helpe hym in his payne. So wan he than his londe with myght agayne In whiche he stode the sovereyne kynge thre yere And than he dyed and byried is nought to layne At his cyté of Caerleyre as dyd affere With alle worshyp within a temple clere Of Janus god, and than Aganypé Hyre lorde at home dyd passe away and de. So stode she forthe wydew regnynge fyve yere Wythoute issu and helde the monarchy Of alle Bretayne after hyre fadyr dere. The quene she was and helde the regency Tylle on a day hire syster sonnes forthy That thay were come and also generate Of hyre elder systers and procreate. .xii. capitulum of Kynge Margan and Kynge Condage Nota for servyse of Scotland.

know was called together provide for himself honorable position (i.e., Leyre); wearied low discharge; while lain on his bier advice to obtain troubled pleasure promised recalled won lie was appropriate (i.e., Cordele’s) begotten

 

How Margan regned from Humbre north and Albany, for whiche he did homage to Cundage and helde of hym. (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1290 1295 1300 1305 1310 1315

Margan that was than duke of Albany Condage that was so duke of Cornewayle With hostes grete thurgh right of auncetry Forto be kynges and have the governayle Than faught with hire and gafe hire stronge batayle. So atte the laste overcome she was and take Emprisounde sore hire own deth sought to make. She slew hireself for wo she loste the reme And buried was besyde hire fadyr right Within a tombe undyr the water streme Of Sore, that she had wrought for hym and dyght Within Caerleyre that now Leycester hight. Hyre soule so wente to Janus whom she served And to Mynerve whose love she had deserved. Syr Margan than the eldest syster sonne From Humbre northe alle oute had regency Condage that was so borne by south to wonne From Humbre south had to his persenary. Bot after that thurgh falshed and envy The northen folke sente Margan so on strife With hoste to ryde on Condage than ful ryfe. He brente he slew and toke alle that he fande As he that claymed alle Bretayn hole aboute For his modyr was eldeste sister in lande To have the chefe he thought withouten doute. Syr Condage than with hoste hym mette ful stoute And made hym flye whare now is so Glamorgan In whiche Margan was slayne and dede was than. Nota for resort of Scotland.

(t-note) (see note) dwell portion mighty (t-note) priority

 

How Kynge Condage seysed Albany by deth of Margan by resort (right) and eschete (escheat), in defaut of heire of his body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1320 1325 1330 fol. 24v 1335 1340 1345 1350 1355 1360 1365 1370 fol. 25r 1375 1380 1385 1390 1395 1400 1405 1410 1415 fol. 25v 1420 1425 1430 1435

And for his name it hight so Glamargan Whiche now men calle Glamorgan uttyrly In Wales it stant, thurgh whiche Syr Condage than Sesed alle his londe and helde it sykyrly In pese and reste out of alle mysery. Ful gloriously by thre and thretty yere The monarchy of Bretayne kepte he clere. In whose tyme was the prophete Isaye Ful of wysdome enformed and instructe So was also the prophete Osee In sapience gloriously inducte. And Rome byggid was than and fulle constructe By Remus and his brother Romulus Whiche cyté was above alle other moste famus. By ought that I can undurstonde and know Kynge Brutus had so conquerde alle this londe Afore that Rome was byggyd as I trow Fyve hundre yere who wille it undurstande Foure score and als nynetene I darre warrande. Thus had this lande of longe grete soveraynté Afore that Rome ought was of dignyté. .xiii. capitulum of Kynge Ryval and other kynges folowynge Ryval his sonne whiche was pacificalle And esy in alle thynge of governaylle After his fadyr succede in specialle Havynge the croune in pese withouten faylle Undestourbed durynge with grete avaylle In pese and reste and alle fulle charité So was he sette in alle tranquylité. In his tyme it rayned blode and men venymde (infected) with flyes to the dethe In whose tyme so thre days it reyned blode And flyes als thare were suche multitude That peple were so venymde as they stode Thurgh that tempest and foule amaritude Dyed right doun so in thaire juventude As alle shuld waste with fulle paralité Suche pestelence was and mortalyté. Kynge Gurgustius Nota of drunkenes Gurgustius his son so regned than With mykyl joy and wordly celynesse That kepte his londe right strongly as a man In mekyl welthe and ful of worthynesse. Bot oon defaute he had yit neverthelesse As writen ys that he wolde drounken be Unacordant with his hie dignyté. To drounkenesse succedyth every vyce Wherfore it is for to eschew alway Namely in grete estate iff he be wyse That regneth overe his peple every day That other vyce thurgh it make none aray Agayne His wylle that made alle thinge of nought Or yit his reame to noye in dede or thought. Kynge Sisilius Nota how he was overe paciente, for law and pese was unexecute. Sisilius his son so dyd succede And bare the croune so wele many a day Savynge his men that grete wronge wrought in dede He punyshte nought but suffred his barons ay To sustene wronges and quareles as I say. Thay dred hym nought so was he meke of porte Whiche was more vyce than vertu to reporte. Thurgh whiche thay toke on thaym so grete boldnesse That thay distroyd his pore comonalté Thurghoute the londe and thaym dyd sore opresse That every man of myght in his contré Dyd other over renne with grete crudelité So that oure Lorde for his mysreuled regence In litargy hym smote and epilence. Kynge Iago Iago than was kynge in londe certayne As it is so writen and notified. Newfangle was at alle tyme sothe to sayne Now this, now that, to do he glorified For of his wille he wold nought be replyed Ful lyte he dyd that was to autorise Bot mekylle wronge withouten gode advise. How he wolde noght be replied of his wylle thurgh whiche the reme was gretely noyed For whiche God toke on hym so hiegh vengeance That he hym smote in suche a frenesy Growynge dayly with fervent affluence Of color rede as made ys memory Descendynge in his braynes so myghtyly That slepe he myght none have ne yit ought reste Tyl he was dede so sore it hym oppreste. Kynge Kymar Kymar his son had than the diademe And crouned was with alkyn rialté He kepte his londe right pesibly and queme Also his law as was necessité Withoute favoure or mutabilité Unto alle men ever in unyversalle Whiche to a prynce ys vertu pryncipalle. Conceyte of the makere of this in defaute of conservacioun of pese and lawe For iff he kepe no pese, no lawe certayne Amonge his folke in every shire aboute In moste perile he stonte forto be slayne Or els put doun right by his undirloute. For unrestreynte by law, it ys no doute The porest man of alle his reame to fight Durste hym supprise conffedred with grete myght. Kynge Gorbodian Gorbodyan that was his sonne and hayre So regned than the whiles his sonnes grewe Tylle age hym made to feble and appayre That he was dede for whiche this reame dyd rewe. In whose tyme so was reule and alle vertewe Bot sonnes two he had couth never acorde Ferrex and als Porrex that ever discorde. Thaire fadyr levyng Ferrex the elder brother For his discorde to Sywarde kynge of Fraunce Wente so and dwelte with hym and with non other For borne he was of his kyn and aliaunce. And whan he knew of his fadyr deth the chaunse With power grete so came he than agayne And with his brother faught whare that he was slayne. Thayre modyr than Quene Judon was fulle wrothe And in hire mynde she thought to take vengeaunce. The next nyght after she dyd a thynge ful lothe That Porrex throte she cutte for that distaunce While that he slepte and trusted no grevaunce. The whiche vengeaunce was after many yere So spoken of that wounder was to here. She cutte hym alle in peces smalle for ire Whiche forpassynge was modyrs cruelté So fervently with rancoure sette on fyre She couthe nought cese of hire maliciousté Byfore she had fulfild so hire decré. Whiche vengeance was over felly arbytrate For oon lese bothe hire sonnes so generate.

securely Isaiah Hosea endowed built believe dare say (t-note) prosperity bitterness youth paralysis (t-note) (see note); (t-note) great; blessedness great Inappropriate to avoid Especially showing (t-note) ever manner populace cruelty lethargy; epilepsy (t-note) Fond of novelty resisted fit of madness sovereignty; (t-note) pleasingly subordinates allied heir; (see note); (t-note) decline living terrible strife hear anger too severely judged loss

 

Cloten, Pynhere, Ruddan, Scatere: kynges of Bretayne devyded by barons werres in defaute of lawe and pese.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1440 1445 1450 1455 fol. 26r 1460 1465 1470

Cloten the duke that than was of Cornewayle Right haire he was by alle successioun And next of blode by lyne withouten faile To have the reame hool in his possessioun Whiche Pynher than had gote by wronge ingressioun Ruddan also that tyme dyd Cambre holde And Albany had Scater that was bolde. Thus was Bretayne to kynges foure devyded Echone of thaym werrynge so upon other And undur thaym the barons were provyded To dystroy other alle, were thay kyn or brother. The yonger brother dyd than overrenne the tother The sonne his fadyr dyd often tymes dyssese Of his lyfelode and put hym fro his ese. Nota Every cyté and walled toune and toure Other werrayde and brought thaym unto nought. Every tirant than was a conqueroure And lordes fayne subgyts bycome forfought So were thay lowe unto meschefe than brought. Thus worthy blude of honoure and estate Was brought to nought and fouly alterate. Nota The pore men that afore were desolate Of none honoure ne yit of worthynesse Thurgh thayre manhode with peple congregate Lordships conquerde and rose to hie noblesse And ladyse wedde that were of grete rychesse. Thayre kynne afore had neyther londe ne house Defaute of pese made thaym victoriouse. Nota Fourty wyntyr durynge the barons werre The londe so stode in sorow and in strife In fawte of myght the waykere had the werre And suffryde wronge that wo was thaym the lyfe For who that myght ought wyn with spere or knyfe He helde it forthe as for his heritage And grew a lorde byfore that was a page. Nota

(t-note) heir usurpation intent deprive livelihood utterly defeated changed assembled Lack lack; weaker; worse anything

 

How the makere of this moveth his conceyte for the gode sureté of the kynge and of hys reme of Englond for to kepe and conserve law and pees in his lond amonge his peple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1475 1480 1485 1490 1495 fol. 26v 1501 1505 1510 1515 1520

Defaute of lawe was cause of this myschefe Wronges sustened by maystry and by myght And pese layde doun that shuld have be the chefe For whiche debate folowed alle unright. Wharefore unto a prynce acordyth right To kepe the pese with alle tranquilyté Within his reame to save his dygnyté. Nota What is a kynge withouten lawe or pese Within his reame suffyciently conserved? The porest of his reame may so increse By injury and force to bene preserved Tylle he his kynge with strenght have so overterved And sette hymself in rialle magesté If that it be in suche a juparté. Nota O ye prynces and lordes of hye estate Kepe welle the lawe and pese with governance Lesse youre sugettes you foule and deprecyate Whiche bene as able with wrongfulle ordenaunce To regne as ye and have als grete pussaunce. Iff pese and lawe be layde and unyté, The floures ere loste of alle youre sovereynté. .xiiii. capitulum of Kynge Dunwallo And whils thise foure so chefly in thayre floures Regned so moste, and had the soveraynté Of alle Bretayne as verry conquerous, As God it wold, that nede it muste so be Of alkyns right and oportunyté, Cloten was dede oute of this world expyred. Dunwallo than right with his men conspyred As son and heyre to Kynge Cloten discrete His heritage to wynnen and conquerre Of alle Loegres that stode fulle unquyete In neygburres stryfe and also barons werre That longe had laste and of it spokyn ferre. His name was than Dunwallo Molmucyus A lusty knyght in armes and corageus. Whiche Dunwallo grete hoste assembled right. On Kynge Pynhere he came fulle vygrously And in batayle hym slow throw strokes wight. This Scater herde and Ruddan for envy Thaire hostes brought upon hym spytuysly And faught with hym ful sore withoute fayntyse Tylle Dunwallo bethought of his quantyse He made his men to arme thaym efte anone In armure of his ennemyse that were slayne — Thaire armes and sygnes and clothynges everychone Lyke as thay were thayre frendes cam new agayne — Thurgh whiche coloure thay donge thaym doun with mayne.8 The kynges thay toke bothe two, the whiche thay slew, Dunwallo thus in conqueste wexe and grew.

Lack violence; force strife overturned turmoil mistreat; devalue power put aside; public order; (see note) (see note); (t-note) war far energetic powerful cruelly faint-heartedness cunning heraldic badges prospered

 

How this Dunwallo made his lawes called Lawes Molmutynes and graunted pese and fraunchise (privilege) to alle temples, plowes (plowland), markets and comon wayes that was the seconde lawe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1525 1530 1535 1540 fol. 27r 1545 1550 1555 1560

So whan he had overcome alle his ennemyse With trihumphe and with joy and victory He sette his lawes and pese at his avyse And ordeyned than and graunted fraunchesy And also gyrth for alkyns felony In temple, market and alle comon wayse And at the plewgh, so loved he it his dayse. At plough who yede, or to the marketwarde, Or in hieghway that was the comyn strete Iff any dyd hym harme or hym forbarde He shulde be dede and hanged by the fete. In temple als who so dyd harme or lete The deth shuld bene his fulle punyssioun Of whiche peyne so he shuld have no remyssioun. He was friste kynge that ever bare croune of golde In alle Bretayne afore that day I fynde And kepte the pese evermore tille yonge and olde. What so a wyght, as cronycle makyth mynde, Had done, iff he the plough in hande myght wynde, Hieghway, or yit market myght gete for fere, Suche gyrthe shulde have as he in temple were. He made a temple of pese and of concorde In his cyté so grete of Trynovaunte Whare he was layde in grave as is recorde. Aftyre that he this londe had kepte and haunte Fourty wynter as Gyldas dothe avaunte In alle honoure myght and prosperyté Wythoute supprise or any adversyté. Nota O noble prynce take hede how that this kynge In lawes made called Molmutynes How rightwysly he kepte thaym in alle thynge And sette his pese fro whiche none durste declyne Ne thaym attempte in ought or countremyne. And if thay dyd he wolde thaym seke at home Bot iff that thay the sonner to hym come. .xv. capitulum of Kynge Belyn Than felle discorde betwyx his sonnes two Whiche of thaym than shuld have alle hole Bretayne Bot happely thay were acordyd so By frendes helpe of whiche men were fulle fayne That Belyne so that elder was shuld rayne In Loegres fulle and Cambre als eche dele As Trojan lawe and custome wold it wele. Nota for homage of Scotland

judgement liberties protection against plow; during his reign went blocked hindrance punishment first towards Whatever; person; recalls manage protection; as if inhabited declare oppression dared divagate challenge; undermine Unless (see note); (t-note) by good chance glad part

 

Nota how Belyn graunted to Brenny his brother Albany to holde of hym and dyd homage for it to Kynge Belyne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1565 1570 1575

And Brenny so, who was the latter borne, Shuld have in pese the reame of Albany And also alle Northumbreland aforne From Humbre north to mende his parte forthy That he shuld holde of Belyne alle his parcenry As Troyans lawe and fulle consuetude Afore was ever by subgitts servytude. Nota Homage he made therefore unto Belyn His man to be and to his parlemente By semons made to come and be therein Olesse that he had cause of gode entente Escuse hym, by that he were so absente. And fyve yere so thay regned wele in pese With honoure grete and vertu dyd encrese. Nota

regulate portion custom subjects’ summons Unless if

 

The conceyte of the makere compleynynge of Fortune for dissencioun bituix the two brether Belyn and Brenne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1580 fol. 27v 1585 1590

Bot O Fortune with alle thy feyned chere So fayre showynge afore in alle semblance And undyrnethe thou can right welle refere Thaym that he truste to do contrariance. Whare is thy fayth that maketh suche distaunce Amonges prynces to sette impedyment Whan thay truste beste to bene in stablysement? Nota Thurgh thy faynte chere and fals felycité Thou deceveste that trusteth on the wele So chaungeable ys evermore thy sertaynté The sweigh also so light ys of thy whele It casteth doun from alkyn welth and sele Whiche now with thee above alle men is chefe Als faste with thee shalle undyr bene unlefe.9 Nota

feigned place the contrary strife stability prosperity motion happiness

 

How Brenny went into Norway for helpe again his brother and wed the kynges doughter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1595 1600 1605 1610

The forgers so of lese and mendacyté Thou sette above so fully fortunate Upon thy whele thurgh mutabilité Betwex tho brether that made a grete debate Whiche made Brenny to breke and alterate His covenaunts alle anents his brother dere Who trusted hym in alle that myght affere. Thay counsayld hym tille passe into Northway Kynge Alsynges doughter to have unto his wyfe Thurgh helpe of whom he shuld conquere som day Alle Loegres hool whiche was his grounde natyfe. For better it was to make with Belyne stryfe Than holde thay sayde of hym by suche servage The londe whiche that shulde bene his heritage. So ful counsaylde he wente into Norway Declarynge to the kynge alle his entent To whom he gaffe his doughter gent and gay To bene his wyffe with fulle and hoel assente And hight hym helpe to conquere Loegres gente And as he came homward with hyre anone Upon the se he mette than with his fone.

lies; falsity change with regard to was pertinent to native country noble whole promised; noble her foes

 

How Kynge Guthlake of Danmarke toke Brennys wife on the se fro hym and were brought to the Kynge Belyn, wharfore Brenny faught with Kynge Belyn and, discomfyte, he fled to Burgoyne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1615 1620 1625 fol. 28r 1630 1635 1640 1645 1650

Guthlake that kynge of Denmarke was so stronge Who had hyre loved in alle his wytte and myght Ful many day so had she hym of longe Upon the se for hire dyd with hym fight Toke hyre fro hym and put hym to the flighte And that same nyght was Guthlake than and she By tempeste dryve within Loegres cuntré. He was so brought and she to Kynge Belyne To whom he hight his kyngdome of hym holde And eche yere pay truage to hym and fyne With-thy hym and his wife he fre then wolde Whiche to fulfylle he bonde hym monyfolde Whom Kynge Belyne lete passe than home agayne With hyre in fere of whiche thay were ful fayne. With that Brenny with hoste and grete envy Agayne Belyne came than in grete aray And bade hym sende his wife to hym in hye Iff that he wolde so cese alle tene and tray Or els he shuld hym make many affray And waste his londe with mekylle werre and strife That he shulde irke fulle gretly of his life. Of whiche manace Kynge Belyn nothynge rought Bot sende hym worde and bade hym do his beste For at his wille so wold he do right nought He shuld it fele and fynde whan so hym leste. For whiche anone and that withouten reste Right in the wod of Calathere thay mette In Albany with strokes sore thay bette. At whiche batayle Kynge Brenny had the werre And putte to flight unneth myght gon away For bought he never afore no bargayne derre. Out of his own was bette in foule aray And fayne to fle the londe forever and ay Bot unto Fraunce he wan to Duke Segwyne Of Burgoyne so was lorde by verry lyne. To whom he was so plesand to his pay So manly als and in his wytte so wyse That every wight hym loved nyght and day. And what was done it was by his avyse In so ferre forthe the duke dyd so devyse To hym anone his doughter in spousage With alle Burgoyne to holde in heritage.

promised tribute; payment As long as together; happy hatred battle formation quickly grief; affliction attack much be grieved threat; cared wanted struck worse hardly more dearly state came inheritance satisfaction person counsel marriage

 

How Kynge Brenny was made Duke of Burgoyne by the dukes doughter that he wed to his wife, and brought grete hoste on Belyn, whare thaire modir made thaym accorded and kysse. (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1655 1660 1665 fol. 28v 1670 1675 1680 1685

Sone after whiche the duke than dyd decese And Brenny duke was of that grete duché A myghty prynce that tyme withouten lese. Bythought hym off his grete adversyté How Belyn putte hym fro his ryalté And drove hym oute from alle his hye puissaunce For whiche he thought on hym to take vengeaunce. Wyth that anone grete hoste upon hym brought Of whom Belyne fulle knowlage had and wytte And redy was to do that he had sought In felde with hym to fyght his way to dytte Thynkynge to make hym so a sory fytte For whiche than came thayre modyr Quene Conwen To cese thayre strife displayd hire pappes then. Tylle oon she wente and seth unto the tother Saynge right thus “Lo here the pappes thou soke I bought thee son fulle dere, I am thy modyr. Whan that thy fete lay to, my herte fast stroke. For love of me lete alle this stryfe be broke And cesed so that pese and charité Betwyx you forthe alway may dure and be. “Lo here the wombe that to this world yow brought In erthe to regne and conquerours to bene Of other londes by menes that may be wrought And lete me nought this sorow betwyx you sene. Do of thyne armes and come with me I mene.” To Brenny sayde she “Thus for love of me Elles treuly son anone right wille I de.” For pyté so he cam forth with his modyr dere Unto Belyne and saughtylde with mekylle blysse And thus was than so staunched alle thaire stere In love and pese togedyr bounde iwysse For evermore and thareto dyd thay kysse And so to Fraunce thay purposed forto gone To wyn that londe and conquer it anone.

die lie power rule episode breasts To; afterwards sucked dearly kicked; beat fast endure be; (t-note) means Put off die made peace; happiness ceased; strife certainly

 

How Kynge Belyn and Duke Brenny conquerd Fraunce, Almayne and Itaylle, with Rome and the hool empire secundum Alfridum Beverlaicensem et Galfridum Monemutensem.10 (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1690 1695 1700 1705 fol. 29r 1711 1715 1720 1725 1730 1735 1740 1745 1750

Whiche after so by processe thay conquerde And so forth in the londe of hiegh Almayne Whare alle the folke were of thaym dred and ferde Obeyssynge thaym with servyce wondir fayne Of whiche thay chese oute men, is nought to layne, Right of the beste and that grete multitude And Almayne so thay wan with fortitude. Alle Savoy thurgh thay rode and Lumbardy And had it hole in thare subjeccioun And so forthe over mountayns of Italy Thay had it alle withoute objeccioun. Alle Tuskayne so at thayre eleccioun The londe of Gene and also Romany Calabre and Puyle and also Campany. To Rome thay came with hoste besegyng ytte In whiche were so that tyme two counsellours Syr Gabas and Porcenna fulle of wytte And of manhode appreved in many stours By whose counsaylle and of the senatours The Romayns so to Belyne and Syr Bren Sende oute hostage and heght to ben thayre men. The whiche hostage because Romayns were false And lefte thaire hight and promyse that thay made Afore Rome yates were honged by the halse Whan Belyn and Brenne thaym new aseged hade To thayre falshode that knowyn was fulle brade As Romayns ere ay perilouse with to dele What so thay hight thay wille ful sone repele. The Romayns sente unto thaire councellours And ofte to reyse the cyté to reskowe With whiche so came the forsayde governours Syr Gabas and Persenna I trowe To breke the sege so made thay there avowe Upon Awbe flode with Belyne and Syr Brenne Thay faughte ful sore as men myght after kenne. Suche multitude of folke was never are sene As thare dyd fight with strokes sore and felle On ayther parte were slayne that wold not flene. Bot at the laste the Bretons bare the belle And wan the felde thare was no more to telle. Syr Gabas was slayn in that batayle And Porsenna was take withouten fayle. The cyté so was wonne with strengh and take Whare Belyn had and Brenny alle thaire wylle Of grete rychesse whare with here men to make Thurgh alle the londe thayre byddynge to fulfylle. So Itaylle alle obeyd thaym untylle Of whiche thay had fulle domynacioun Withoute more stryfe or yit malignacioun. Secundum computacionem Orosii ad Augustinum11 This was after that Adam was create Foure thousand yere seve hundre foure score and eghte And als byfore Criste was associate To mankynde, so whan that thay dyd so feght Thre hundre yere and oon that tyme it neght Whan Rome was reuled hool by two councelours Whiche stode for juges and were the governours. And after Rome was fully edyfyed Thre hundre yere, as Martyne cronyclere In his cronycles hath clerly specifyed, In whiche tyme so regned Kynge Assuere In Perse alle hool. Socrates with gode chere The venym dranke in prison whare he lay And pusound was by his own wille that day.

afraid Obeying; ready lie Germany Savoy; Lombardy resistance Tuscany; will Genoa; Rome Calabria; Apulia; Campania skill conflicts promised oath gates; neck besieged widely are; dangerous promise; repudiate lift (the siege); (t-note) believe promise River Allia know before fierce flee had the victory taken their with respect to foul play (see note); (t-note) seven fight approached built poison poisoned

 

fol. 29v How Kynge Belyn gafe to Brenny the empire and cam into Bretayne and made the cité called Caeruske, now Caerlioun, and seysed Albany in his hande by resort and by eschete, in defaute of heire of Brenny after his deeth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1755 1760 1765 1770

Kynge Belyn thare so graunted to Brenny than That londe alle hole and wold thare byde nomore And to Bretayne agayne remove bygan. And Brenne his lyfe alle Itale held evermore Holdyng alleway Romayns in awe ful sore Thay durste not route for fere of hym ne stere So was he dred in Itayl fere and nere. Nota of resort and eschete of Albany So in mene while Kynge Belyn was come home With mekyl joy to alle his baronage And Albany he seysid at his come From thens forthe as for his heritage Kepynge the pese and put away outrage. The lawes whiche his fadyr dyd so make Were kepte so welle that none that tyme thaym brake. Than made he up his castels that were doun And thare with made a cyté of grete myghte On Uske water that now ys Carlyoun That called than was Caeruske fulle righte In Glamorgan bycause of Uske it highte. In Breton tonge a cyté men calle “Cayre” Caeruske so called on Uske for it stode fayre.

remain assemble; resist far and near meanwhile took possession of; arrival illegality was called beautifully

 

How he made Bilyngate in London, than callede Belyngate, and sette a barelle of golde in whiche he was biryed at his deth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1775 1780 1785 1790 fol. 30r 1795 1800

Than made he so a toure at Troynovaunte Stronge and rialle and of grete worthynesse Upon Thamyse whare shippes most dyd haunte In signe of his trihumphe and hyegh prowesse That straungers alle of outen londes I gesse His victory myght thare remembre wele His honoure als and knowe it every dele. Upon the heght above upon that toure He sette right than a barelle made of golde His batayls alle and trihumphes wrought there oure That every man myght se thaym and byholde In what honoure he stode and never dyd folde For whose name so than hight it Belyngate Whiche at London is knowen arely and late. In whiche barelle was fully his entente Oute of this worlde whan he were dede and paste Hys body alle to poudre shuld be brente Faste loken in evermore to dure and laste. Thus was his wylle and als his grete forcaste Bycause he wolde nevermore foryeten be And rayse his fame ever upward in degré. So ende he than, his body sogates brente In poudere alle and putte tharein to kepe. The peple alle of sorow couthe not stynte For hym so faste thay gan to crye and wepe. Thare sorows grete with teres did thay stepe Whiche from thaire eyen in stremes ran ful faste Thaire heped sorow so multiplyed and laste. .xvi. capitulum of Kynge Gurguyn

remain foreign part over give in it was called early past powder; burned locked; endure plan forgotten thus; burned cease soak eyes

 

Nota that this kynge had homage of Danmark and gafe Irelonde to certeyn folke of Spayne to holde it of hym and his heyres as it is contened in Policronica Radulphi Cestrensis. (see note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1805 1810 1815 1820 1825 1830 1835 fol. 30v 1840 1845 1850 1855 1860 1865 1870 1875 fol. 31r

Gurguyn his son so crouned after hym Of Bretayne bare so than the diademe Semely and faire rightwyse and large of lym Right meke and juste what so that he shuld deme. By gode avyse he dyd alle thynge me seme. Gode pese and reste with alle tranquylité He loved welle and no malignyté. Who dyd agayne hym any rebellioun He wolde hym brynge unto his friste degré And make hym know in his opynyoun That wronge he dyd agayn his dygnyté. That poynte so come of his paternyté Of nature so he muste do so algates For so his fadyr dyd ever to alle estates. So felle it than the kynge of Denmarke nolde His tribute pay bot yt withhelde by force Whiche to his fadyr was graunted many folde And payd alway unto his rialle corse. To Dannemarke wente to menden that deforce Whare he the Danes than slew in grete batayle Thare kynge also withouten eny fayle. He made the londe to bowe and to enclyne To his lordshyppe and to his soveraynté In paynge of tribute and thayre fyne As it dyd friste to his paternyté Thus sette he it agayn in friste degré. And as he came by Iles of Orkenay Homwarde he founde whare thretty shippes lay. Alle were thay fulle of men and women fayre Besekynge hym of mercy and of grace To have some grounde whither thay myght repayre To dwelle upon and make there wonyng place. Thaire governoure that was so in that case Partholoym hight that came of gode lynage From Spayne exilde of youthe and tendre age. To whom Gurguyne graunted and gafe Irelande And sente two shippes to gyde and brynge thaym thare Whiche was alle waste, nor houses non thay fande, Than gan thay tele and howses made aywhare The londe to holde of Bretayn everemare By homage so and servyce sovereyne And to Bretayne perpetualy obeyne. Gurguyne Batrus this kynge hight of Bretayne Come home agayne after his vyage sore And sone thereafter he felte suche sore and payne That fro his corse his goste departed thore Regnynge fully thretty wynter afore In Caerlyoun so after his hiegh estate Was buried than as usage was Gode wate. .xvii. capitulum of Kynge Guytelyn and iii kynges next aftir hym. How Quene Marcyan made the lawes called Lawes Marciane that was the thrid lawe. Guytelyn than his son dyd regne as hayre Of alle Bretayne thurghout unto the se Who wedded was and had a wyfe ful fayre That Marcian hight so was hyre name pardé Bothe wyse and gode whiche of hyre synglerté So lerned was made the lawes Marcyane In Bretoun tonge of hyre own wytte alane. Whiche Kinge Alverede in Saxon tonge translate And Marchen lage did calle in his language. This Guytelyne was gode of his estate And meke also and manly of corage Right juste and wyse and fayre of his vysage And regned fulle and pesebly ten yere And to his wyfe he lafte his reame ful clere. Kynge Sisilyus Sysilius his sonn so than of seven yere age Undre the reule and wytty governaunce Of Marcian his modyr so gode and sage She was so wyse in alle hyre ordynaunce Who kepte the londe from alle mysgovernaunce. At hyre decese she crouned Sisilius That was hyre soune as cronycles tellen us. He dyed yonge and als in tendre age And yit he gatte a son to bene his hayre Upon his wyfe in wedloke and in spousage Afore his deth, and byried was ful fayre. To whose son so the barons dyd repayre And brought hym than with grete and hyegh reverence To Caerlyoun with alle obedyence. Kyng Kymar

(see note); (t-note) judge it seems to me first warrant of decree; (see note) in any case did not wish person default fine first condition thirty take refuge dwelling was called young guide till; everywhere pay homage was called body; spirit; there thirty custom; knows (t-note) was called; indeed uniqueness alone Alfred laws (t-note) intelligent management come

 

Nota how he was wyse piteuse for ther is grete difference bituix wise piteuse and fool piteuse. That first is vertu, the seconde is vice and foly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1880 1885 1890

Kymar his sonne the barons dyd corowne With honoure suche as felle for his degré Who twenty yere and oon so bare the corowne And kepte the londe in alle tranquylité. Pyteuse he was right as a kynge shulde be In rightfulnesse accordant with his lawe Agayn his pese that dyd, he made thaym lawe.12 Kynge Danyus Danyus than his brother so succede Durynge ten yere in werre and als in payne Withouten reste in cronycles as I rede. Bot how it was or why cronycles layne And of his dedes me liste nought forto fayne Bot as myne autor seyth and doth expreme Now in my wytte I can non othur deme. .xviii. capitulum off Kynge Morvyde

(t-note) befitted (t-note) war remain silent I did not wish; lie express judge

 

How this kynge was so immoderately irouse (wrathful) that nayther he ne none other myght staunche it. Who was slayne feghtynge with a monstre that cam oute of the se and stroyed (destroyed) men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 fol. 31v 1921 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 fol. 32r 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 fol. 32v 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045

Morvyde his sonne whom that he gatte of baste On oon that hight Tanguste his paramoure Stronge and myghty and irouse ful of haste Hardy and kynde and fre as conqueroure Of alle largesse forpassynge emperoure Or any kynge that in his tyme dyd reyne So was he kynde whan ire was paste and deyne. Bot in hys ire there myght none with hym speke He was so hote and fulle of cruelté. He rought nothynge of whom he dyd hym wreke Hys yre excede his wytte in alle degré In so ferre forthe his sensybilité Couth nought in wrath his cruelté restrayne So fulle he was of fury and disdayne. Nota for sovereynté of Scotlond and resort of it In whose tyme so the kynge than of Murreve With hoste fulle grete distroyd Northumbrelonde Bothe brente and slew and alle the lande dyd reve. With hys lege lorde that werre he toke on honde Whom Kynge Morvyde with hoste mette to withstonde And slew hym than for his rebellyoun And sette the londe in pese and unyoun. Nota of vengeance immoderate without mesure which is vice and no vertu Bot so irouse and fulle of wrath was he He myght not cese afore the dede were brente That thare ware slayne of his grete cruelté The bodyse alle, afore that he couth stente, In fyre be caste and into poudre spente. To it was done his ire myght not appese His vengeaunce than thus sette his herte in ese. Sone after that cam fro the Irisshe se A wonder beste or fysshe, whiche men do calle A monstre grete, of whiche the comonté Were alle affrayed thurghoute the londe over alle For it dovourde the folke bothe grete and smalle. For whiche thay fled the londe as exulate That waste it stode and also desolate. The kynge seynge his londe in poynte bewaste His corage was so stronge and cruelté Hym thought he wold alone fight with that gaste And destroy hym so than in pryvyté Trustynge oonly in his synglarité. He faughte with hym that no man wiste ne knewe Whiche hym deuourde right sodenly and slewe. Nota how the maker sayth by this cruelle kynge So were bothe dede withoute any delay With cruelté of thaymselff inordynate By rightfulle dome of God seand alway His cruelté so foule intemporate To fyghte with suche a monstre and debate. I can nought se bot of his rightfulnesse That reuleth alle it came right as I gesse. .xix. capitulum of Kynge Gorbonyan first and iiii kynges next Nota how this kynge helde pees and lawe in hys tyme Gorbonyan his eldest sonne of fyve Was after kynge and helde the magesté Rightfulle and trew to every man of lyve His reame in pese and fulle prosperité. And to his peple he helde fulle equyté Tele men of londe with godes he dyd comforte Sowdyours als from wronge hym to supporte. Ten yere he stode so kynge in pese an reste With moste plenté that any reame myght have And as nature of lyfe may noght ay leste The deth his soule oute fro his body drave. So byried was he than and layde in grave At Trynovaunt that was his grete cyté With alle honoure and alle regalité. Kynge Argalle Nota of this kynge how he was put doun for wronge sustened by hym Argalle his brothyr sygned with dyademe The kynge was tho with alle solempnyté By natyff byrthe next brother he was men deme. Alle gode men ever he hate at his powsté Oppressynge thaym by his subtilité And alle fals folke fulle ofte he dyd avaunse The baronnage hym putte doun for that chaunse. Kynge Elydoure This kynge deposed hymself and made his brother Argalle kynge efte sone agayne Elydoure who brother thrid ful generate Was than the nexte by alle successioun And bare the croune with alle rialle estate By lordes wille and thaire concessioun. Who regned wele withoute oppressioun Unto his folke ought done in any wise So reuled he wele his own dyd hym suffise. Whan he had fulle regned so by fyve yere As he was gone a day for his disporte Tille a foreste the wode of Calathere He mette Argalle his brothyr of symple porte Fully despayrde and oute of alle comforte Besekynge hym that he wolde hym socoure For his brothir and bene his govenoure. Kynge Elidoure for pité that he se Toke hym so than betwyxe his armes two And comforte hym so in his poverté. And to Alclude his cyté gan he go Of Albany moste famouse cyté tho Whiche now but fewe wote in what place it is So is it now that name unknowe iwys. And made hym seke and for his barons alle So sende he than in haste to come hym tylle. Whiche came anone in haste so at hys calle His comaundement in allethynge to fullfylle. He toke thaym in and told thaym alle his wille Ever on by on and made thaym swere the othe To Argalle so whether thay were lefe or lothe. And after this anone right so he yede To Ebrauke than and helde his parlement Whare he right than of tendre brotherhede Toke of his croune right by his own intente And on his brothers heved it sette and spente By fulle decré and jugement of his mouthe And made hym kynge agayn by northe and southe. Kynge Argalle the second tyme Argalle so kynge crouned new agayne Fulle welle his lordes dyd after love and plese And lefte his vyce and toke vertu to sayne. So sette he alle his peple in gode pese Regnynge ten yere and then felle hym diseese Thurgh malady and dyverse grete sekenesse He dyed and lyeth at Carlele as I gesse. Kynge Elydoure twyse made kynge and ever mercyfulle The barons alle than made Syr Elidoure The kynge agayne with alle the rialté So wele thaym payed to have hym governoure For his godenesse and his benygnyté. And for he was so fulle of alle pyté That in alle thynge mercy he dyd preserve To every man beter than thay couthe deserve. Ingen and Perydoure kynges But Ingen than and als Syr Peridoure His brether two rose thurgh grete trechery And hym put doun oute of his hiegh honoure Emprisounynge hym than corporally Within the Toure of Trynovaunt forthy That thay departe the reams amonge thaym two Bot nought forthy it dured nought longe so For Ingen tho so leved bot seven yere Whan deth hym toke and ravyshit hym away His issu yonge of his own body here. And byried was as usage was that day With alle honoure that the barons may For wele he dyd his parte alway governe As ferre as men couthe knowe or yit discerne. Kynge Perydoure Peridoure had than alle the londe fulle clere Who kynge was than as alle cronycles telle. Fulle pesybly the reaume he reuled here Tylle sudeyn deth hym toke, so it byfelle And byried was as kynge bothe fayre and welle After thaire rytes and als thaire olde usage With hiegh honoure by alle his baronage. Kynge Elydoure thryse made kynge Elydoure whiche in prison so foryette Alle this mene while so lay in hevynesse The barons alle oute of the Toure dyd fette And crouned hym with alkyn worthynesse Thus was he thryse so crouned as I gesse And every tyme he kepte his olde condiciouns Withouten wronge or any evelle addiciouns. And whan the tyme that deth hym had exspyred Oute of this world that dede he was away Thay layd hym than as he had theym requyred In Alclude whiche his cité was that day. Bot neverthelesse som cronycles otherwyse say That he was layd at Elud so and buryed That now Aldburgh is called and specyfyed.

bastardy; (t-note) wrathful; violence (impatience) generous generosity; surpassing wrath; anger anger cared; violence Moray (Scotland) army rob burned cease to be reduced to ash until community devoured exiles wicked creature singular ability understood excessive judgment; seeing intemperate oppose (t-note) (see note); (t-note) upheld; justice To soldiers forever drove appointed; crown; (t-note) then agree hated under his power guile advance situation (t-note) own (income) pleasure To manner lacking hope aid then know certainly seek to one by one desirous; loathe went York off head; gave (t-note) (t-note) it pleased them did (t-note) Such that; divided; realms nevertheless; endured lived custom (t-note) forgotten; (t-note) sorrow fetch all kind of

 

fol. 33r .xx. capitulum of the Kynge Gorbonyan, the sone of Gorbonyan, the second of that name, and xxxii other kynges next folowynge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2050 2055 2060 2065 2070 2075 2080 2085 fol. 33v 2090 2095 2100 2105 2110 2115 2120 2125 fol. 34r 2131 2135 2140 2145 2150

Gorbonyan whiche was Gorbonyan sonne The croune had so and after his eme alle thynge Dyd kepe and reule in alle as he was wonne And welle was loved with olde and als wyth yynge. And at his dethe was byried lyke a kynge In alle honoure and worship hool entered As to suche prynce of right shulde be requered. Kynge Margan the son of Argalle Margan that was the sonne of Kynge Argalle Was corouned than and helde the ryalté With mekylle blys his reame he rewled alle And kepte it ever in alle tranquylité. He ended wele with alle benygnyté For whiche he was fulle gretely magnyfyde Thurghoute his reame and highly lawdyfyde. Kynge Enniaunus son of Argalle Nota how this kynge was ended sone for his cursed lyfe and his tirantrye Enniaunus his brother so was kynge Seven yere than in tyrantry he bare The croune alway in cursidnesse regnynge. For whiche he was put doun with sorow and care The sexte yere so that no man knew ourwhare That he become; so secretly his ende Was kepte counsaylle that never man after kende. Ivalle kynge son of Ingen. Nota of the gudenes of this kynge and of his vertue Ivalle the sonne of Kynge Ingen dyd rayne Who loved ever to kepe alle rightwisnesse And hated vyce the sothe of hym to sayne. Amonge his men he loved ever alle clennesse Pore men to helpe fallyn in febylnesse Was his desyre and shrewes forto chastyse And sone he dyed and biried as myght suffyse. Kynge Rymo the sone of Perydoure Nota of the gudenes of this kynge and of his vertue Rymo the sonne than of Kynge Peridoure Corounde was than and loved alle gentyllesse None evelle wold here bot vertu and honoure Of lyfe fulle clene and lovynge alle clennesse. In his tyme was alle plenté and largesse Pese and reste and hool felycyté Of worldly welthe and grete prosperyté. Kynge Geyennes the son of Elydoure Nota of this kynges gode reule and governance Geyennes than the son of Elydoure To regne began and reuled welle his day In grete vertu as noble governoure And kepte his reame unto the peples pay And dyed sone and biried on gode aray As noble prynce of deuté ought to be In ryalle wyse as men couthe for hym se. Kynge Katellus Nota of punysement of trespassours Katellus so his sonne dyd than succede And regned welle and helde up lawe and right Oppressours alle that pore men dyd overlede He hanged ever on trese fulle hiegh to sight. He spared thaym nought forsothe by day ne nyght Bot ever forthwith he gaffe thaym jugyment Whiche execute was aftyr his entent. Kynge Coyle Coyle his sonne than aftyr hym dyd succede Corownde for kynge regnynge mony a day In grete welfare withouten eny drede And lefte the londe in riche and gode aray. Whan he dyd de and passed hens away Byried and layd as came hym of degré Right ryally and of grete honesté. Kynge Porrex Porrex was than his sonne ful generate Made kynge and had than forthe the rialté And reuled welle by law preordynate His reme thurghoute and alle his comynté In grete quyete and gode stabilité Withouten grevaunce or noy of any wight So gode he was and plesand to mennes sight. Kynge Cheryn Nota of drunkenes Cheryn was kynge replete of drunkenesse In whiche vyce so he wox a fole unwyse And couthe discerne no reson doutlesse Bot bete his men and fouly thaym dyspyse And voyde thaym ofte so oute of his servyse Whiche in a prynce was nothynge to comende For in vertu he shulde al folke transcende. Kynge Fulgyn, Kynge Eldrade, Kynge Andragius. His sonnes thre, Fulgyn was eldest bore The secunde hight Eldrade, the thrid Andragyus. But Fulgyn was so crouned than byfore And dyed sone and Eldrade crouned thus And dyed anone as bokes tellen us. After whom so Andragyus was kynge Who in shorte tyme after made his endynge. Nota how the maker off this moveth his resoun touchant drunknesse Thof thay dyed sone no mervelle soth to say That so were gote in drunkenesse and generate For drunkenesse cometh of fume of drynke alleway That undygeste ascendyth the brayne algate With quantité taken untemperate And coverth it as clowde above the sonne Whare thurgh his wytte and mynde away is ronne. Wharfore I truste right by myne estymate Thay myght not dure so wayke was thayre nature. For whan the hede is seke and intemporate Alle other membres in wyrkynge fayle thayre cure And febled ere and wayke withoute mesure. How shuld thay than that were so procreate Endure ought longe, by reson approbate? Kynge Urian Nota how viciouse this kynge was of lyfe Urian his sonne was kynge in magesté And kepte his londe bot he was licherouse Eche woman so that was of grete bewté He wolde thaym have, he was so vyciouse. Bot neverthelese he was right bountynouse To every wyght that had necessité He gafe grete gode and richesse of suffishenté. Kynge Elyud Nota of gode reule of thise two kynges Elyud was kynge and than dyd bere the croune And dyed sone that wyse was in alle thynge. Detonus than who ever to werre was boune Was crounede than in tendre age and yynge. Thayre ennemyse ever to deth thay dyd doun dynge And gode reule helde thurgh alle the reame fulle wele So happy were thay and so fulle of sele.

(see note); (t-note)  uncle accustomed by old; by young interred (t-note) kindness praised (t-note) where secret; knew reign; (t-note) evil-doers (t-note) generosity (t-note) satisfaction state duty (t-note) oppress trees was carried out (t-note) state die; hence befitted splendor (t-note) citizenry molestation; person (t-note); (t-note) became; fool exiled born; (t-note) was called although begotten vapor undigested; in any case intemperate cloud; sun fled weak care are; debilitated approved (t-note) lecherousness generous sufficiency (t-note) intent; (t-note) beat bliss

 

Kynge Detonus, Kynge Gurgucius, Kynge Meryan, Kynge Bledudo, Kynge Cappe, Kynge Oenus, Kynge Sisilius, Kynge Bledud Gabred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2155 2160

Detonus than was kynge of alle Bretayne And aftyr hym Gurgucyus bare the croune And Meryan than aftyr hym sertayne. Bledudo than after hym was redy boune To regne in londe as kynge of grete renoune. Aftyr hym Kynge Cappe and than Kynge Oenus Eche after other regned and Sisilyus. Bledud Gabred, who in alle note and songe Forpassynge was and in alle instruments Of musyke so excede alle other amonge In whiche he had for passynge sentements That for a god in alle the folkes intents Of myrthe and joy and als in alle musyke Above alle other holden and none hym lyke.

(t-note) (t-note) set

 

Kynge Archyvalle, Kynge Eldolle, Kynge Redyon, Kynge Redryke, Kynge Samuel, Kynge Pyrre, Kynge Penyssel, Kynge Capoyre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2165 2170 fol. 34v 2175 2180 2185 2190

Than regned so his brother Archyvalle And than his sonne Syr Eldolle wytterly. To whom his sonne whom Redyon men calle After whom his sonne Redrike was kynge in hy. Samuel than was kynge made sykyrly So than succede Kynge Pyrre and Penysselle After hym Capoyre and than Kynge Elyguelle. Kynge Elyguelle Nota how this kynge ded punysshe trespasours Bot Eliguelle, the whiche was Capoyres sonne, Bothe wyse and sad and in his reame helde righte To alle his folke that in his reame dyd wonne Fulle stedfastly certayne at alle his myght. And thaym that dyd eny wronge or unright He prisounde thaym with sore and grete duresse And helde thaym longe so after in greteste distresse. Kynge Ely Hely his son aftyr this Elyguelle Right debonayre in alle thynge gode and wyse So dyd succede as cronycles us do telle Who made so firste by his wytte and devyse The Ile of Ely that ys of grete empryse. And whan he had regned fully sexty yere Thare biried was by ought I can enquere. Some sayth he lyeth at Castre nought forthy The whiche I can nought trusten was aforne Nayther byggid, ne gun to edyfy. For Hengest who it made was than unborne And Horsus als that some men callen Horne. Wharefore me thynke it was to hym condygne At Ely lygge how shuld men it repygne.

certainly haste surely solemn; steady dwell (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) even-tempered planning renown nonetheless prior constructed; begun to be built fitting to lie; however; deny

 

.xxi. capitulum of Kynge Lud that chaunged the name of Trynovant and called it Carlud after whom it was called after (afterwards) Londoun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2195 2200 2205 2210 fol. 35r 2215 2220 2225 2230

Than Lud his sonne his heyre was so of myght For wysdome so and als grete worthynesse With honoure hole as came hym wele of right Was crouned kynge by hole and dewe processe. His citese alle and castels dyd redresse Of mete and drynke alleway right plentyuouse Rightwyse manly and also chyvalrouse. How he called Trynovaunt Caerlud and made Ludgate With walles fayre and toures fresshe aboute His cyté grete of Trynovaunt so fayre Fulle wele he made and bataylde alle thurghoute And palays fele for lordes and grete repayre And mended fresshe alle places that were unfayre. He made a yate that now men calle Ludgate Whareby he made hys palays of estate For love of whom Caerlud men dyd it calle In Bretoun tonge fulle longe and many a day Tylle Saxons came with language chaunged alle. Thys gode Kynge Lud whan he shuld passe away Byrid so was right in a temple gay Besyde Ludgate nere whare his palays stode In tombe rialle accordant to his blode. Two sonnes he had whiche were of tendre age The reame to reule by gode discrecioun. Thay were to yonge to kepe thayre heritage Bot hayres thay were by alle successioun. Wharfore thare eme toke fulle possessioun In alle the reame by northe and als by southe And helde it wele in honoure as he couthe. .xxii. capitulum offe Kynge Cassibalan Cassibalan thaire uncle than was kynge And foonde thaym bothe right honestly and wele Dyd nurture thaym whils thay were childre yynge. And whan thay came to age that thay couthe fele To reule thaymselff the duché every dele Of Trynovaunt and Kent gafe Androgyus And of Cornewayle to Tenvancyus. Andragyus the elder brothyr wase The yonger was so Tenvancyus Whiche were bothe two manly in every case And wyse and tylle thaire eme fulle bounteuus. So felle a day that Cesar Julyus After whan he alle londes had conquerde At Boloyne of this londe he faste enquerde

(t-note) due fortified many; spaces gate near uncle knew how to (t-note) tended manage part uncle (see note)

 

How Julius Cesar came into Bretayne firste pretendynge title to conquere Grete Bretayne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2235 2240 2245 2250 2255

That it dyd hight and what folke were tharein Thay tolde hym how that Bretayne was the name. “O” sayde he than “me thynke it light to wyn. Belyne and Brenne it aught of noble fame Whiche Rome so wan and helde it for thayre hame Whose successoure I am in dignyté Wharefore I wylle of it have soveraynté. “Brutus also that friste it had in walde Come of Troyans and so was Romulus Whose successoure I am now fully calde. Bot for as muche as bastard was Brutus The right to me of it shuld longen thus As we that cam of Eneas so gode Descended doun by verry lyne of blode.” By thys tytle he came into this lande And it claymed as for his heritage And faught with Kynge Cassibalan with honde With hostes grete of thaire bothers lynage Bot Bretons yit fully had avauntage And put Romayns alle utterly to flyght That thay were glad to sayle agayn forth ryght.

what; called easy; (t-note) possessed; (t-note) home control due right

 

fol. 35v How Julius Cesar came to Bretayne the seconde tyme

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2260 2265 2270 2275 2280 2285 2290 2295 fol. 36r 2300 2305 2310 2315 2320 2325

The Frensshe were prowde off that discomfyture By whiche thay thought right so to do the same Oute of thaire londe to chase thaym in some ure. For drede of whiche Julyus fulle of fame In Flaunders was with mekyl tene and grame And sente for Frenshe, Normayns and als Gascoyns Flemyngs, Brabans, Henaldes, Gellers and Burgoyns. The pore that were of corage and manhede He gaffe lordshyp and landes sufficiaunte. The grete he gafe fraunchise off worthyhede. The exilde men that ferre were conversaunte He gaffe thaym grace evermore of ful covenaunte Come home agayn and have thaire heritage Fully restored agayn with alle damage. The bonde he made alle fre out of servage For joy of whiche the peple came so faste That men inow he had withouten wage To fyghten with the Bretons to the laste. To conquer thaym he was nothynge agaste With alle his shippes and many under sayle In Thamyse came certayn withouten fayle. Upon grete piles with irne poynted wele Agayne thayre come were sette by ordynaunce Of Bretouns wyse to droune the flete eche dele And perse thayre shippes to sette thaym in balance. Thus were thaire shippes dystroyd by that chaunce. Thaymselff on londe fulle fayne were forto ryve And to the felde in bataylle gan to dryve. Cassibalan so wyse and reuled wele By alkyns wytte and knyghtly provydence With his neveus so kynde and naturele That manly were and fulle of alle prudence In wham there wante nought of benyvolence To helpe thaire eme thay were fulle corageus With barons alle fulle bolde and batailous. And so thay mette with Romayns fresshe and stronge And faught ful sore with corage odiouse And mony one thare slayne were thaym amonge With strokes grete and woundes tediouse. So aither parte on othur were dispytouse That alle the felde was colourde of the blode Suche quantité of it there was and flode. Julyus thare so myghtly hym bare That whom he stroke to deth he muste enclyne His sworde was of suche myght and ege ware That Crocea Mors it hight so was it fyne. Syr Nemynus thought longe to undyrmyne The batayle, so that he Julyus myghte In batayle mete and with so worthy fighte. Tylle at the laste thay mette togedyr same With strokes sore ayther on othyre layde Thof Nemynus were hurte he thought gode game To dele with hym that never yit was afrayde. Julyus sworde within his shelde men sayde He brought away and als his dethes wounde So manly wele he bare hym in that stounde. His neveus two with Kent and Trynovaunt And Cornyssh folke so chyftenly thaym beere That thurgh thayre myght and power habundaunt Put the Romayns in perele and in grete feere. With that Bretons cam fresshly on thaym there And slew thaym sore and putte thaym to the flyght To Normandy thay fled agayn fulle right. Thare in a place Odnea that so hight Julyus than for grete mystruste of Fraunce Dyd make a toure right grete and stronge of myght Hym and his godes to kepe in alle suraunce Thydyr to brynge his rentes by ordynaunce And trewage als of diverse regiouns Agayne Bretayne to wage his legiouns.

defeat propitious moment much difficulty; suffering dominions far; in touch agreement damages enough afraid spikes coming; in preparedness part pierce eager; land move all manner of nephews was lacking uncle martial full of hatred grievous pitiless abundance cede edge; prepared Yellow Death; called attacked even though encounter great peril was called safety There tribute pay

 

How Kynge Cassibalan somonde all lordes of Bretayn to his feste whare grete wrath and werre arose bituix the kynge and Andragius

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2330 2335 fol. 36v 2341 2345

So than the kynge Cassibalan rialle Admynystred so fulle in alle plesance With alle honoure and glory trihumphalle For joy dyd make his rite and observaunce His goddes only with alle his suffisaunce For to honoure and do thaym sacryfyse As that tyme was the manere and the gyse. His feste dyd crye thurghoute alle hole Bretayne In Cambre, Loegres and als in Albany And in Ireland with iles alle that pertayne To his lorshyp and noble monarchy That servyce dyd untyl his auncetry Praynge thaym alle that were of gode estate Wyth hym to be at his feste ordynate. And forto drawe the knyghtes chyvalrouse To it he sette grete justes and turnement. And forto make the knyghtes more corageuse He ordeyned than at that feste excellente Afore eche knyght ben sette a lady gente Fulle of beuté and alle fresshe juventé To chere thaym wele as wold femynyté.

majestic custom (he) had announced ancestry appointed jousts youthfulness womankind

 

How the makere commendes the joysement of the peple for his triumphe and victory agayns Julius Cesar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2350 2355 2360 2365 2370 2375 2380 fol. 37r 2385

Suche joy was nought I say in Romany Made for tryhumphe and the gloriousté Whan Julyus came home with victory Ne for conqueste of Sipions pousté Whan he so at Cartage had alle degré As was than at Cassibalaynes feste Amonge the folke assembled moste and leste. Bot than Erle Andragius sent after Julius Cesar to helpe hym agayn the kynge Bot ever as nexte the valey ys the hill So after joy comyth ay adversité. So thare byfelle thurgh strife and evelle wille Debate fulle foule of grete dyversité Bytwene Syr Irelglas of hyegh degré That cosyn was unto the kynge so nere And Syr Hewlyn, Erle Andrage neven dere. Thurgh whiche debate Hewlyn slew Syr Irelglasse For whiche the kynge Syr Hewlyn wold have slayne Whom Androgyus withdrew right for that case For drede right of his eme Cassibalayne. Wherefore the kinge to venge it dyd his payne And hastily he thought hym to anoye Hym to werray utterly and dystroye. Wharefore Androge had in his wytte provyde That he nede muste of alle necessité Bene slayne hymselff and wrongely mortyfyde Or his neveu withouten equyté Slayne shulde be so only by cruelté Or els to fle the londe as exilate And leve his frendes hevy and desolate. For grace and pese whan he the kynge had prayde And none couthe gette, bot fully trusted warre, He wrote than to Julyus alle affrayde Who cald hymselff in his writynge Cesarre Besekynge hym to come agayn so farre With alle his hoste to helpe hym in his right Agayn the kynge in bataylle forto fight. And hool trewage he of the reame shuld have For he of right therof the kynge shuld bene As verrey heyre he myght it clayme and crave Unto Kynge Lud as alle the reame may mene. Wharfore hym thought the more he myght hym tene And of the londe to graunte hym ful truage And wele the more it was his heritage.

Scipio Africanus’s power (see note) Quarrel; differences nephew uncle harass attack foreseen killed justice exile expected the worst tribute true; desire realm; direct trouble tribute

 

Than, at instance of Andragius, Julius cam into Bretayne thryd tyme whare, after sore bataile, the kynge graunted truage tille Rome and tribute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2390 2395 2400 2405 2410 2415 2420 fol. 37v 2425 2430 2435 2440 2445 2450 2455

Syr Julyus than so humbely requerde By Androgyus to whom he gaff credence As doughty prynce that was nothing aferde With alle his myght and his magnificence. To have his wille dyd alle his diligence Arrifynge up at Dovere certanly Whither the kynge than came fulle spedely. And thare thay faught so with Cassibalan. The kynge was fayne to fle unto an hille Whare Julyus with warde dyd sege hym than By counsaylle of Androgyus and his wille His hoste to hurte to famysshe and to spille. Whare he for hungre sente to Androgyus Besekynge hym of helpe and socoure thus. And alle defaute shuld ben amended wele And alle rancoure utturly appesed At his owne wille as he wole have eche dele So shuld his herte in alle thynge bene wele esed. A man, he sayde, to se his kyn disesed It shuld his herte agrege and greve fulle sore. Thus sende he worde to Androgyus thore. Who for pyté myght than no lenger byde Bot to Cesare he wente anone forth right Tretynge hym so that pese was made that tyde Betwyx thaym and trewage redy dight To pay by yere to Rome so hath he hight Thre thousond pounde of sylver fyne in plate Thus endyd was thaire werre and grete debate. Thys was the yere afore thyncarnacioun As Seynt Bede in his Gestes of Englonde Affermed hath right in his compylacioun Fulle sexty yere as he had red and fonde Who can his boke wele se and undyrstonde. Bot Martyne sayth nothynge of this matere In his cronicle that Cesare ought was here Who Romayne was and borne in Romany For honoure of his londe an reverence If it so were shuld it in memory Have made me thynke for Romayns excellence Seth he Romayne was borne of grete science And in cronycle alle Romes worthynesse Remembred hath how lefte he that prowesse. Bot as a Boke of Brute it hath comprised He wyntred here in Bretayne for grete love Tylle somer came as he afore devysed At whiche tyme so he wente for his byhove. To Fraunce agayne he gan forto remove Upon Pompey to werray at his myght Of every londe he had men with hym right. With hym wente than Androgyus and his sonne For love and truste betwyxe thaym was so fyxte That none of thaym than couthe from othur wonne So were thaire hertes lovynge and entermyxte. And Tenvaunce his brother that heyre was nyxte He lefte at home the coroune forto bere After the tyme thayre uncle so dede were. Cassibalan so kynge stode forth seven yere Paynge tribute with alle humylité To Rome alway and was thayre truagere Unto the day of his mortalité That deth hym toke oute of his dignyté And biried was with laude and reverence At Ebrauke than unto his excelence. .xxiii. capitulum of the Kynge Tenvancius Tenvancius that duke was of Cornewayle Unto the heghte of alle the regymence Was raysed up and had the governaile Of Bretayne hole, who with fulle hiegh prudence Governed right wele with alle his diligence. Bot longe he stode nought kynge to deth hym toke As cronyclers have writton in thare boke.

petitioned guard; besiege determination starve; destroy (i.e., Cassibalan) resolved part harmed weigh down there continue time tribute; prepared promised pure incarnation read at all and Since; learning Until necessity Pompey (the Great); make war apart from; dwell next subject king praise (see note); (t-note) until

 

.xxiiii capitulum ofe Kymbelyn Kynge of Bretayne in whose tyme Criste was borne (t-note)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2460 2465 fol. 38r 2470 2475 2480 2485

Kymbelyne so that was his sonne and hayre Noryssht at Rome instructe of chyvallry And knyght was made with honoure grete and fayre By Cesare Auguste regned than enterly Thurghoute the world that helde the monarchy. In whose tyme so was pese and alle concorde And every reme to Rome was wele acorde. Whiche Cesare so was called Octovian By propre name who dyed the fiftene yere Aftyr that Criste was so incarnate than To whom succede Tyberyus in the emperé Fro that tyme forth as clerly doth appere Unto the yere after Cristes natyvyté Eght and thretty in whiche that he dyd de. Nota how Criste was borne the tenth yere of this kynge Ten yere forth this Kymbelyn was kynge And dyed so the same yere Criste was bore. And aftyr Brute had made his arryvynge In Albyon a thousond yere there wore Two hundreth als I say so mykylle more Unto the tyme Kynge Kymbelyn dyd de Whiche was the ferste yere of Cristes natyvyté. The tyme whan Criste was so of Mary borne In Bretayne was a clerke hight Thelofyne Who prophecied and preched even and morne. Of Cristes byrthe thus gan he to devyne And sayde thaym than he foound by his doctryne How that a mayde had borne that tyme a childe Hyre maydenhede preserved and unfylde. .xxv. capitulum of Kynge Guydere

(t-note) Brought up (see note) thirty; die born were was called undefiled

 

Nota how this Kynge Guydere gan to regne in the first yere of the incarnacioun of Criste

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2490 2495 2500 2505 fol. 38v 2510 2515 2520 2525 2530 2535 2540 2545 fol. 39r 2550 2555 2560 2565 2570

Guydere his sonne and hayre fulle corageus Up raysed sone and crouned with excelence The tribute whiche the Romayns had of us Denyed fully and made grete resistence And none wold pay but thought by fulle defence To voyde Romayns and alle thaire seyniory Who nought had here bot of thaire tyrany. This kynge Guydere to regne friste bygan In the friste yere of Cristes natyvyté Right after his fadyr so dede was than Withoute delay or more prolyxité Crouned than was with alle solempnyté And Romayns wolde he nought obeye ne loute Bot thaym withstode with bataylle grete and stoute. For whiche cam than Claudyus themperoure To Caerperis that Porchestere now hight Whyche hym withstode and helde it with honoure. And Claudyus made a walle afore it right To famysshe thaym tharein so hath he hight. Bot Kynge Guydere and Syr Arvyragere It reskowed than, that was his brother dere. Thay faught thare with the emperoure of myght And slew his men on every syde aboute That he was fayne to ship and take his flight Kynge Guydere and his Bretons were so stoute. And so byfelle a Romayn spied whare oute A Breton dyed bysyde lay in a slake Whos armes he toke and caste upon his bake. As Guyders man he rode with hym fulle nere Waytynge his tyme and with his swerde hym slew. Whom Arvyragus that was his brother dere Espyed friste and caste on hym alle new His brother armes, and fresshly dyd hym sew, And hym ovretoke whare now ys Southamptoun Whare he hym slew and in the haven dyd droun. .xxvi. capitulum of Kynge Arviragus This Romayne hight by propre name Hamoun For whom the toune whan it was edifyde First Hamon Haven and after Hamontoun Men dyd it calle wyde whare on every syde. Arviragus to Wynchestre than gan ryde And Claudius aftir the towne to wynne Bot he it had he wold not cese ne blynne. Wyth that foresoth Arvyragus with hoste Right in the felde withoute the toun hym mette In bataylle hole to fight and felle the boste Of Romayns alle hym thought it was his dette. And as thay shuld eyther on other have sette Thurgh counsaylle of there bothers councellours Thay were acorde of pese with grete honours. And to this fyne that Syr Arviragus Shuld reigne and wed his doughter Genvyse And bere the croune of Bretayne so famus And pay tribute unto Romayns wyse. For whiche accorde he sente as dyd suffyse To brynge hyre to his noble hiegh presence Thare to be wed with joy and sufficence. How Claudius sent for his doughtir and wed hir to this kynge Whan Claudyus sente for his doughter dere So after was that Criste was incarnate As cronycle sayth the sexte and fourty yere Oute of Latyne as I can hit translate In balade thus and sense nought alterate Iff myne auctore ought wronge hath sayde of ytte To correccioun fully I me submytte. Coronacion of Arviragus and his wife Genvyse At certayne day accordyd and assygned She was brought in a valey fresshe and fayre On Severne syde by merkes and boundes signed Whare Gloucestere is now of grete repayre Whare bot a mede was than of floures fayre Whan thay were wed with grete solempnyté And crouned bothe with alkyns rialté. How Claudius Emperour made Gloucestre The emperoure thare callyd Syr Claudyus A cyté made Caerglou he called it right After his name some cronycles sayen thus. Bot othur cronycles sayne Caergloy it hight Bycause he gate a sonne tharein fulle wight Whiche Gloy so hight and lorde thereof was made Whare alle his tyme he dwelled and abade. After the weddynge so wente he home agayne. Arviragus in Bretayne dyd abyde And lorde he was thurghoute alle hole Bretayne With alle the iles aboute on every syde Who felle in suche presumpsioun and grete pride To Rome he wolde no trewage forward pay So was he stronge he dred thaym nought that day.

(t-note) expel; authority had business first verbosity bow to valiant is called starve; promised embark ditch back Looking out for first follow harbor built far and wide (t-note) (t-note) Until; stop destroy duty of each of their end (i.e., Claudius’s) contentment (see note) distorted author (t-note) boundary markers identified well-situated meadow every kind of was called energetic remained tribute; in advance

 

How Vaspasyan cam to Bretayne and had trewage, in whose tyme Seynt Petir preched at Antioche.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2575 2580 2585 2590 fol. 39v 2595 2600 2605 2610

Than sente thay hyder worthy Vaspasien To sette this londe in humble obeyshance To Rome agayne, as sayth the historien Gyldas in his storyese and remembrance, Or els dystroy his dyssobeyssance Thurgh his worthy conqueste and chyvalry By whiche Bretons shuld falle in mysery. In his tyme was Seynte Petre than prechynge Att Antyoche and came so forth to Rome The peple hool to Crysten fayth techynge That was his werke whan he so thyder come On whiche stode alle his sentence and his dome With benygne chere and verry humble herte The folke aywhare to prechen and converte. To Dovere than, that called was Rutupewe, Vaspasien came there forto arryve. On whom the kynge so fersely gan to shewe That to Totneys he gan with sayle to dryve Whare he founde none with sworde, ne yit with knyve, His londynge ought to letten or to conturbe Whare he arrove and no wight hym disturbe. So went he forth to Excestere his way Caerpenelgorte so hight and hit assayled. On whom the kynge came than the sevent day With bataylle stronge that ayther party wayled So wery were that bothe here hostes fayled. For whiche by hyre tretyse Quene Genvyse Acordyd thaym by gode concorde and wyse Quia mulier desiderat nisi superioritatem13 (t-note) To pay to Rome so forthwarde his tribute With love and pese as was afore conquerde And nayther parte to suffere more rebute. Thus hath she thaym fully counsailde and sterde. Vaspasian als tendyrly she requyred To wynter here and byde unto the somyr And graunte hyre alle; he myght no better ourcom hyr. From thens forwarde he worshipt eche Romayne Paynge treuly eche yere his hoel truage With wisdome so reduced was agayne That welle he kepte his lond and heritage Oute of alle werre and stryfe and alle outrage In whose tyme so, as some cronycle expresse, Josep Aramathy in Bretayn came I gesse.

here (see note) (t-note) there determination; judgment everywhere appear hinder; disturb was called seventh suffered treaty (t-note) repulse managed overrule; here entire; tribute guided illegality (see note)

 

Nota how Joseph of Arymathy cam into Bretayn, to whom Kynge Arvyragus gafe the Ile of Avalon and gafe hym leve to teche the Cristen fayth, whare he converte grete peple and made the rode of the north dore, whiche Agrestes caste in the west se bisyde Caerlyoun, for vengeance of whiche he brent hymself in an oven, as it is contened in the book of Joseph of Arymathi lyfe and of his governance.

Unde in Jeromia: “Et factus est sudor eius sicut gutte sanguinis decurrentes in terram.”14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2615 2620 2625 2630 fol. 40r 2635 2640 2645 2650 2655 2660

The yere of Cryste so was syxty and thre Whan he came with his frendes in Grete Bretayne Whare he byred is withouten le. And two fyols fulle of the swete to sayne Of Jhesu Cryste as rede as blode of vayne Whiche he gadered and brought with hym away And layd in erth with hym at his laste day. By lycense of the kynge, Josep gan teche Within Bretayn the fayth in dyverse place And parte converte whare so that he dyd preche Thurgh wille of God graunted to hym by grace. To whom the kynge than gaffe a dwellyng place Mewytryne than it hight and had to name Of Breton tonge that tyme it had no fame. Twelve hydes of londe to hym he gaffe therewyth To leve upon and gete his sustynaunce Whiche byggyd ys and wele reparailde syth To Goddes worshyp and his holy plesaunce. Whiche is a place of worthi suffishaunce That men calle nowe the house of Glassynbyry Whare that he lyeth men say and hath his byry. At Caerlegion, the whiche he had converte, Of Cambre hool that had the dignyté A crucifyxe he made thrilde thurgh the herte Fulle lyke to Cryste as whan he saw hym de In alle fygure to hys symylité Whiche in the chyrche was metropolitane He sette thare up to worshyp for Cryste alane. Whyche by processe and turnynge of the fayth Agrestes fals dyd caste therein the se That no wyght knew aftyr of it no graythe So was it loste thurgh his iniquyté. For whiche, and for his instabilité, Thare felle on hym suche fury and vengeance That in an oven he brente was thurgh meschaunce. Kynge Advyragus in sekenesse grete dyd falle Whose worthyhed alle Europe gretely dredde Who in the pese was ever pacificalle And in the werres alle vyctory he hedde. And at his dethe to Gloucester was ledde And buried thare in a temple edifyed In honoure of Claudyus and deyfyed. Nota how our lady died, or was assumed, in the tyme of Kynge Arviragus. In whose tyme so of Kynge Advyragus Our lady dyed or els she was assumed In body hole and soule fulle gloriouse. Lesse clerkes sayne I have to myche presumed To thaym I wylle that matere be transumed To argew on unto the Day of Dome For it assoyle my braynes bene fulle tome. .xxvii. capitulum of Kynge Marius and Coile secund

(Joseph of Arimathea) lie vials; sweat vein was called built; equipped since abundance Glastonbury burial place esteem pierced die protection (sanctuary) burned peaceful taken up Lest entrusted Judgment resolve; dull

 

How Roderyke and the Peightes (Picts) faught with the kynge and, fro thay were discomfyte, he gafe thaym Cattenesse to dwel in and inhabyte.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2665 2670 2675 fol. 40v 2680 2685 2690 2695 2700 2705 2710

Maryus his sonne goten and propagate Right of his wyfe that was Quene Genvyse Was crouned kynge of Bretayne and create By alle his lordes in thaire moste solempne wyse. Who was at Rome so noryshed on thaire gyse Wyth his modyr kyn, the beste of that empyre, With Claudyus als, who was his own graunsyre. And in his tyme a Peght that hyght Rodryke With powere grete by se cam fro Sythy Als proude and breme as lyoun Marmoryke Arryued up so than in Albany Dystroynge hool the londe alle sodenly. For whiche the kynge hym mette with hole bataylle And slew hym thare that day withouten faylle. In signe of his honoure and victory In that same place he sette a stone up right On whiche was sette and tytled that same story A bounde it ys of Westmerland by sight Whiche the Rerecrosse of Staynemore now so hight. And Westmerlond the contré he dyd calle Than after his name and boundyd it over alle. To alle the Peghtes that bode he gaffe Cattenesse In Albany to have in heritage Whiche toke thaym wyfes in Irelonde more and lesse For Bretons nolde mary in thaire lynage. Thay were of suche mysreule and grete outrage That he thaym putte so ferre away I gesse From his Bretons for drede of thayre wyldenesse. Kynge Maryus so dyed than anone And buried was at Salysbyry cyté Who regned nyne and fourty yere echone Paynge tribute as dyd his parenté Levynge the londe in richesse and plenté With lawes wele kepte in pese and fulle concorde As cronyclers bere wyttenesse and recorde. Kynge Coule the secunde Coyle than his sonne was kynge right corounde so Who nurtured was at Rome with grete vertewe Helde welle his lawes egalle to frende and fo And in his domes constant he was and trewe. Amonge alle men his reule in werke up grewe So vertuouse that he had grete honours Welle more than other of his antecessours. And at Norwyche as cronycles do telle He buryd was with grete solempnyté After that he ten yere had regned welle In alle gode reule and fulle felicyté. Alle other kynges nere his extremyté Aboute ourewhare he suffred to sytte in pese Or els gafe thaym of his withouten lese.

begotten; (t-note) brought up; manner grandfather Pict Scythia fierce (see note) frontier marker is called remained did not wish to immoderation ancestors (t-note) impartial judgments ancestors frontier In each direction his [goods]; lie