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Hardyng's Chronicle, Book 3

Here bigynneth the thryd book

Primum capitulum (First Chapter) of Kynge Lucius, fyrst Cristen kynge of alle Bretayne.





5


 		 Aftyr Kynge Coyle his sonne Syr Lucyus
So crouned was with rialle dyademe
In alle vertu pursewed his fadyr Coylus
Hym to bene lyke in al that myght beseme.
He dyd his myght to shew it and expreme
In so fer forth that of the Crysten fayth
He herde welle telle and of thayre werkes grayth.
 		 (see note); (t-note)

followed
be fitting
express

provided for
 

fol. 41r Nota how Kynge Lucyus sent to Pape (Pope) Eleuthery to have baptyme, who sent him Faggan and Duvian, that converte all Bretayne that Josep of Arymathy dyd noght, as Martyn in his cronicle hath wele remembred.
 



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 		 In the yere so aftyr the incarnacioun
An hundre fulle foure score and foure also
He crouned was by verry computacioun
Desiringe sore baptysed to bene tho.
Suche appetyte his herte had taken so
He myght not staunche, ne cese, his gredy wille
Tylle he had sente therfore the pope untylle.

For whiche he sente to Pope Eleuthery
Bysekynge hym to sende hym clerkes wyse
To techyn hym the lawes faythfully
Of Criste Goddes sonne, and aftyr hym baptyse.
For whiche the pape by alle his hool avyse
Thankynge so God than of his grete godenesse
That Bretayne so converte withoute dystresse.

And sente than forthe two doctors fulle approved
In law dyvyne rightwyse and fulle discrete.
Oon hight Faggan with God fulle welle beloved
Another Duvyan with Goddes lawe fulle implete.
Whiche were fulle fayne with Lucyus forto mete
And so thay dyd and sone dyd hym baptyse
And alle his reame aftyr hym by hole avyse.
 

true reckoning
then

stop
unto





judgment

obstruction

teachers
righteous
was called; by
imbued
eager

realm
 

Nota of the date when Lucius and his londe were baptized; he bare of sylver a crosse of goules (red) in fourme of Seynt Georges armes in tokne of clennesse by silver, and in tokne of Cristes blode and passioun by the crosse of goules. (see note)

 

 


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40


 		 Than was the date of Criste a hundre yere
Foure score and ten whan he was so baptysed
As written hath Martyn the cronyclere
In his cronycle, as he couth, devysed.
Of whiche I trow he was so wel avysed
So as he was doctore in theology
Approved welle thurghoute alle Romany.

By processe so thay taught the lawe right thare
That thousandes than on Criste so dyd beleve
And so to faith converted fully ware
Baptysed fully as Gildas doth it breve.
Idolatry so than thay dyd repreve
And payens rytes and alle thaire consuetude
Up raysynge ever Crystes beatitude.
 


wrote
believe; informed

Rome

orderly manner


compile; (t-note)
reprove
pagans; former practice

 

Nota how the Bretons payens had xxviii temples of flamyns (pagan temples) of dignité in thair lawe, the whiche Lucius made cathedral mynstirs halowed for bisshops and thre archebissops at Londoun, Yorke and Carlyoun.

 

 

 

 



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fol. 41v
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55





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 		 Eght and tweynty temples of priorité
In Bretayn were of old and grete estate.
Temple Flamyus that were of dygnyté
Of payen lawe above other exaltate
By thaym halowed and fully confyrmate
For bysshop sees, and bysshops in thaym sette
To kepe Goddes law and fals lawe to oversette.

To every bysshop thay sette his diocyse
Of parisshe kyrkes by countrese and by towns
To reule thaire parisshe by gode and hool avyse
And thare bysshops to have correcciouns.
And thre other temples of hight renouns
Above alle other that had the dygnyté
Whiche archefflames hight of antiquyté

Thay halowed als, and made archebishoprikes.
And archebysshops in thaym thay sette so wyse
For to distroy and waste alle heritykes
And over alle other to holden alle justyse
And thaym correcte as nede by excercyse
The faith to kepe and fully to mayntene
That errysy none holde, ne yit sustene.
 		 Eight; honor


pagan; given priority

dioceses
repulse


churches


especial fame

were called



expel



heresy
 

Nota of iii archebisshops of Trynovaunte, of Ebrauk and of Carlyoun.

 

 

 

 


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fol. 42r


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 		 Ooon was that tyme at Trynovaunt
Undyr whiche than were Loegres and Cornewayle.
And at Ebrauke, that was fulle avenaunt,
The tother was then sette withouten fayle
Whiche had that tyme assigned to his bayle
From Humbre north and also Albany.
And at Caerlegioun the thrid whiche had Cambry.

And whan this londe was thus to Criste converte
Kynge Lucyus rejoysed with alle his myghte
Thankynge Jhesu of it with alle his herte.
Than wente tho two legates to Rome fulle righte
Thaire actes to bene confermed to folkes sight
The whiche thay dyd and with thaym came agayne
With other mo to preche the folke fulle fayne.

Wyth mo thay cam from Rome acompanyde
Of worthy clerkes and techers of the lawe
Of Cristes byrthe so fully glorifyde
To teche Bretons in herte thay were fulle fawe
His lyfe, his dethe in bokes as thay sawe.
Whose names alle also and alle thaire werkes
Gyldas dyd wryte as knowen wele these clerkes.

Ryght in his boke titled and so hight
De Victoria Aurelii Ambrosii
In whiche men may se alle thare werkes right
Thare names als in scripture for memory.
And Mewytryne a place fulle solitary
The kynge thaym gafe thay thought it sufficience
The lyfelode whiche Josep had to his dyspence.

And to tho kyrkes and mynstirs cathedralle
Alle that the temples flamynes had afore
Lucyus gaffe and fully confermed alle
And of his own dyd gyff thaym mykylle more.
Bot now to speke of Josep forthermore
Remembred now by open evydence.
The case felle so while Lucyus had regence
 

well-favored

jurisdiction











more


eager

(see note)
(t-note)

was called
(t-note)


(see note)

sustenance; expenditure

churches; monasteries


much
(see note)


 

How the rode (cross) at north dore, which Agrestes caste in the se in Wales, came up fletynge in Themse at Caerlud, now called Londoun in Lucius tyme Kynge of Bretayne, as is comprised in a table afore the rode at north dore and in a story in a wyndow byhynde the sayd rode. (see note)

 

 

 

 


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 		 The crucyfyxe that was at Caerlegyoun
By Agrestes a lorde was thare aboute
Caste in the se for that he wolde it droun
As mencyon ys afore withouten doute
In Lucyus tyme thurgh grace so came it oute
Right of the see in Themmys Ryvere righte
To Poules Querfe fletynge so than on highte.

Of whiche the kynge Lucyus so be name
Rejoysed was and with solempnyté
Of Trynovaunt, his cyté of grete fame,
With alle the Kyrke thurgh grete humylité
From thens it sette in université
With songe fulle swete by hool processioun
And prayers als in fulle devocyoun.

Whiche at Poules thay sette with reverence
At Northedore thurgh inspiracion
That I can fynde by any evydence.
It was so after the incarnacioun
As cronicles make notificacioun
An hundred fulle foure score and sextene yere
That rode was founde and sogate dyd apere.
 





Wharf floating; at the surface

by


Church










cross; thus
 

Nota of the date what Kynge Lucyus decesed and dyed

 

 

 

 

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fol. 42v
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140
 		 And after so this gode Kynge Lucyus
So regned than with mekylle joy and grace
Of levynge ever holy and religious
The Cristen fayth uphelde in every place.
In his tyme stode Bretayne in grete solace
Tylle tyme that deth of hym had made an ende
And fro his corse his soule to heven had sende.

Whiche than so was after the incarnacioun
Two hundreth ful also and eghtene yere
As written ys by alkyn informacioun
Of thaym that were so wyse and syngulere
Ful farre above my wytte can now appere.
Whose wrytyng so by me that was not fayred
By my symplesse I wolde nough were appayred.

So in Caerglou that now Gloucestere highte
Right in the chefe mynstere of dignyté
That firste was founde in that same cyté righte
Buried he was with hiegh solempnyté
And mournynge grete for his mortalité
For Bretons knew nought who shuld bene his heyre
Who shuld be kynge thay had fulle grete dyspayre.
 
much
living



body



all kinds of
exceptional

embellished
not damaged

is called






 

.ii. capitulum of the Kynge Severe, Emperour of Rome and Kynge of Bretayne, but Scottes, Peghtes and som Bretons chese Fulgen to thaire kynge of Albanye.

 

 

 

 





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 		 The Bretons than amonge theymselff dyd stryve
Thurghoute the londe and couthe nothynge acorde
Tylle worde thereof came than to Rome ful ryve.
For whiche so than the senate by concorde
Sent Severe forth to pesen that dyscorde
In Bretayne forth that alle the soveraynté
Might saved be to Romes dygnyté.

Whiche senator that hight so Syr Severe
With legyons two than londed in Bretayne
With whom oon parte of Bretons halde fulle clere
Another parte sore werrayd hym agayne.
Bot with batayle to Albany and payne
He drofe thaym than whare thay a kynge thaym chese
Who Fulgen hight that was fulle proude in prese.
 		 (t-note)
were able
quickly

settle



was called


fought against him


brave in battle
 

How Kynge Severe made a dyke (wall) bituix Bretons and Peghtes of soddes and turfes to kepe thaym from Bretayne

 

 

 

 

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 		 Wyth whom the Peghtes and some Bretons also
That were futyfes and men unresounable
Ever rode Bretayne and dyd it mekylle wo
Whiche to Severe than was ful lamentable
And forto kepe it wele inviolable
A dyke he made ful high from se to se
The enmyse oute to holde fro his contré.

The whiche longe tyme from thayre iniquité
Dyd save thaym welle in mykylle reste and pese
Bot only whan thay myght be grete pousté
Breke it and so override it ere thay cese.
So was it longe betwyx thaym is no lese
Ever as thay myght do any harme or werre
Thay bode no while, so cursed ay thay werre.
 		 Picts
fugitives
much


sea




Except when; by; force
before
lie

were
 

How Severe in reskows of the cité of Yorke in batayl was slayne and Fulgen, Kynge of Peghtes, had his dethes wounde.

 

 

 

 


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fol. 43r





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 		 Bot after that to Ebrauke yit thay sought
Assegynge there the cyté alle aboute
Whiche to reskowe Severe powere brought
And faught with thaym in bataylle stronge and stoute
Whare he was slayne and dede withouten doute
And Fulgen als thare had his dethes wounde
Thus in that warre so were thay bothe confounde.

Nota the date of this kynges deth after Saynt Bede

Whan he had bene so kynge by seventene yere
And sogate slayne as I have sayde afore
As Seynte Bede sayth and wrote as dothe appere
The yere of Criste was than fully nyne score
So shalle I wryte at this tyme and no more
And nyne thereto by his calculacioun
As his story sayth and compylacioun.
 
besieging


dead

destroyed




thus





 

Nota the date of this same kynge aftir Martyne cronyclere of Romany

 

 

 

 



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 		 Bot Martyne sayth, the Romayne cronyclere,
It was the yere after Cristes natyvyté
Two hundreth hole and fyve and thretty clere
Whiche ys more lyke the verrey treuth to be.
For he knew more of Romes dygnyté
That alle his lyfe thare helde his resydence
Than Bede myght know by seldome affluence.

Whiche Severe so his Romayns layde in grave
At Ebrauke than with sorowe multyplyed
With alle honoure right as a kynge shuld have
With gloriousté as myght bene artyfyed
Abowte his tombe so was he magnyfyed
For his honours and als his vyctoryse
So rially thay made his exequyse.

.iii. capitulum of Getan, Bassian and Carauce.

Getan his sonne, whiche Romayne procreate
Of alle syde was and goten in Romany,
Romayns hym made thare kynge in alle estate
And helde hym up to kepe the regency.
Bot Bretons than Bassyan chese in hy
Hys brother borne of the femynyté
Of Bretayne blode withoute diffyculté.

Bassyan kynge

This Bassian faught with Getan myghtyly
In bataylle stronge whare Getan was than slayne.
So Bassyan had the reme alle plenerly
Of whom forsoth the Bretons were fulle fayne
And crounede hym anone so than agayne
And welle he helde the reame longe while in pese
Tyl oon Karause fulle began his wo increse.
 





frequenting




crafted


funeral



descended; (see note); (t-note)
begotten


chose rapidly





(t-note)

entirely




 

How this Carause robbour on the se, of pouer (poor) blode and kyn distroyed the Kynge Bassian in defaute of law and pese and coronde hymselfe, wharfor is moste necessary to a kynge to kepe lawe and pese in hys reme.

 

 

 

 





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fol. 43v



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 		 This Karauce fulle of covetyse alle blente
Ymagynynge the kynge forto consume
To have Bretayne by Bretons hole consente
And Peghtes als that evermore dyd presume
This londe to have, to spoyle and to deplume
Of alle rychesse and alle prosperyté
For olde hatred of thare maliciousté.

Nota

He drew to hym the Peghtes fulle wyse of werre
And Bretons fele he hight grete waryson.
Outlondysshe men was nothynge to hym derre
And outelawed men withoute comparison
Thurghoute the reame he stuffed every garisoun
With mysdoers and mysreuled meyny
Robbers, revers that had done felony.

Nota

For he was longe a robber on the se
Spoylyng marchantes of every londe aboute
Thurgh whiche he was more ryche in quantyté
Than any prynce and for his myghte more doute.
Yit was he come of kyn both in and oute
Of pore degré and als of lawe estate
Thus sette on high thurgh robry and debate.

Nota

To whom for giftes Bretons and Peghtes than highte
The kynge Bassyan in batayle to betrayse
To brynge hym to the felde at alle there myght
And turne agayne hym whan his banere rayse.
Tho traytours fals thus thought thaire kynge to trayse
And plese in worde and in the felde to holde
With his ennemy for lyfelode grete and golde.

Nota

So on a day Karauce made hym to stryve
With Kynge Bassyan right for the comonté
Thurgh whiche he gan the kynge dispyse bilyve
Departynge so thurgh that subtylité
That sone thereafter his hoste with cruelté
He brought on hym, and with hym so dyd fight
Thay slew the kynge and turned as thay hight.
 		 blinded
destroy


waste; rob






promised; reward
Foreign; dear


bands
thieves






feared

low
strife



promised
betray


Those; betray

goods





rapidly



promised
 

How the maker of this moveth the lordes to kepe lawe and pese, lesse thay bene depryved and unworthy blode in thair stede regne.

 

 

 

 







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fol. 44r

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270









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285


 		 Nota of kepyng of pese and of lawe

Bot o ye lordes consydre what myschefe
Rose in defaute of gode conservacioun
Of law and pese and what harme and reprefe
Thurgh mayntenaunce of foly and instigacioun
That trespasours had no castigacioun
But sustende wele, whare thurgh the kynge was slayne
And beggars blode made kynge of alle Bretayne.

Nota

Ye lordes that suffre the law and pese mysledde
In every shire whare so ye dwellynge bene
Whare ye pore men oversette se or mysbedde
Ye shuld thaym helpe and socoure and sustene
And chastyse thaym that trespasours so bene.
Why ys a lorde sette in so hiegh degré
Bot to mayntene undyr hym the comonté?

Nota

Bot o ye lordes fro this ful foule ye erre
From youre ordyre in tille apostacy
Whan ryotours punysshe ye ne derre
For mayntenaunce of gretter seigniory.
The pore men may seke law in Lumbardy
As welle as right of a riotouse man
Whose mayntenours the comons may sore ban.

Nota

Than sewyth this of whiche ye take non hede
That who may gete moste myght and sovereynté
Wylle eche of yow supprisen and overlede
By that same way of lawe and equyté.
And who of men may make moste assemblé
His lower to overrenne and oversette
By alle reson wylle thynke it is his dette.

Nota

Principio obsta et qui stas videas ne cadas1

Than seweth more, thus ryseth barons were
That ofte hath bene in grete defaute of lawe.
He that noght hath acounteth nothynge derre
For havelesse than the prynces wold overthrawe.
The ryalle blode above thay wolde make lawe.
Wharefore ye lordes the pryncyple ay withstonde
Lesse beggars blode dryve you out of youre londe.

Carause kynge

Thurgh treson of this Karause and the Peghtes
Assented so by grete confederacy
Thurgh his gyftes and his subtyle sleghtes
Betwyx thaym wrought with grete falsode whareby
He was made kynge of alle the monarchy.
For whiche the Peghtes in Albany he sette
With grete lyfelode as he afore them hette.
 



shame

punishment



(t-note)

misgoverned

you see; oppressed or mistreated

are

common people



grievously; go astray
into
dare
(see note)
(see note)
lawless
curse



follows; heed

take by surprise; overpower
justice
gathering (of people)
take control of and subdue






follows; war; (t-note)

considers; precious
the propertyless; overthrow


Lest



(t-note); (t-note)

deceptions



sustenance; promised
 

Nota de alienigenis non receptandis in regno quia semper optant super indigenas regnare et eos expellere2 (t-note)

 

 

 

 



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fol. 44v


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320





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 		 A prynce wote nought what harme he doth his londe
Whan alyens in it he doth resette
Whose blode by alle nature shalle ay withstonde
Comon profyte of alle his reme and lette
As to the kyng Maryus now may be rette
Who sette the Peghtes in Albany afore
Whiche seth that tyme have batayld Bretayn sore.

Nota

Thus now bene Peghtes and Bretons playnly
In Albany with blode so intermyxte
That now in alle that londe of Albany
Whiche Scotlond nowe knowen ys in tyxte
Can no wight knowe a Peghte fro Bretoun fyxte.
So hool thay bene now alle of Peghtes kynde
That thay shalle never love Breton in thaire mynde.

The Bretons blode ys now thare waste alway
With Scottes and Peghtes so ys it devolute
Whiche have the reule and governans this day
Of alle that londe so fully execute
With Irisshe blode so myxte and involute
That Bretons blode ys waste and consumate
So thurgh thise other now is it alterate.

.iiii. capitulum of Kynge Allecte

But whan to Rome was know the foule consayte
Of Karauce that had made intrusioun
In Bretayne so by covyne and dissayte
And wonne that reme by grete colusioun
And slayne the kynge by suche delusioun
His peple als had slayne for covetyse
To have the reme and holde by suche quantyse

How this Kynge Allecte slew that fals Carause

For to dystroy his cursed tyrany
The senate sente to Bretayne Syr Allecte
With legions thre with hym in company
Who in bataylle slew Karause and correcte
For his falshode that playnly was detecte.
Who crouned was with croune and dyademe
And Bretayne helde as dyd hym wele byseme

And alle that helde with Karause than he slewe
That he myght take or reche in any wyse
To venge the kynge Bassian was so trewe
Whom thay betrayed falsly for covetyse
Agayn comon profyte and alle justyse
Whiche was oonly by Goddes own ordynaunce
For thaire tresoun to have so foule meschaunce.
 		 knows; (see note); (t-note)
welcome
resist
hinder
referred; (see note)

since






text
person; firmly




mixed


entangled
wasted and transformed




plan; (t-note)

conspiracy; deceit; (t-note)

deception

trickery

(t-note)



three

punished
royal authority
befit


reach





 

How the maker moveth of the ende and fyne of tresoun and falshode

 

 

 

 



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340




fol. 45r
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350
 		 Nota

Suche fyne comyth evermore of foule tresoun
It hath foule ende alle if it regne a while
And at the laste it is dystroyed by reson
And shamed foule for his dyssayte and gyle
Whan God chastyse thare helpeth than no wyle.
And after olde synne so commyth ay new shame
And wronge lawes make lordes forsake thayre hame.

.v. capitulum of Kynge Asclepiadote

The Bretons than dyd sette a parlement
At whiche for ire to Romayns that thay hadde
Dyd chese a kynge by alle thaire hole consent
Wham thay corounde with hertes blythe and gladde
Who duke than was of Cornewayle wyse and sadde
Asclepiadote so hight he by his name
Whiche that tyme was a worthy lorde of fame.

With Cambre hool and also Albany
With alle Loegres holy at his devyse
To Trynovant he came ful openly
Whils Romayns were thare at thare sacrifise
Of whiche thay harde grete crye and noyse arise
And to the felde thay wente anone forth right
And with Bretons right manly dyd thay fighte.
 

end; (see note)
even if

deceit

(see note)
home; (see note)



(see note); (t-note)
anger

happy
stable
was called; (t-note)



under his control





 

How the kynge was slayne and how Gallus Romayn helde London and was slayne at Walbroke in the cyté of Londoun (t-note)

 

 

 

 





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370



 		 Whare Allecte syde was nere so slayne away
Hymselff was dede right in the felde and slayne.
Wharefore Gallus that was his felow ay
Drew alle Romayns in the cyté agayne
Kepynge the walles with mykylle care and payne.
For whiche so than Syr Asclepiadote
Assege gan lay aboute the town God wote

Assaylynge ever aboute with feel assautes
With engynes als and magnels grete thay caste
Thurgh whiche thay made so mony grete defautes
The walles aboute thay myghtt nought longe so laste.
Wharfore Gallus and Romayns were agaste
And putte thaym hool in mercy and in grace
Right of the kynge to stonden in that case.

Wyth that Walshemen so pryvely went yn
And Gallus slewe upon a lytil broke
In the cyté that in to Themse dyd ryn.
And Romayns alle thay slew so faste and toke
Whiche broke after longe was called Galbroke
For Gallus that was slayne so in that place
And Walbroke now it hight; thus ys the case.

Nota
 



much

Siege; knows

many
military engines
damage

afraid




stream

captured


is called


 

How justfully this kynge helde his lawes and pese to tyme Maximyan the payen tirant transverte (overturned) the Cristen fayth therin.

 

 

 

 




375



 		 The kynge so was than crouned new agayn
In ryalle wyse with ful solempnyté
The lawes alle he helde and putte grete payn
On trespasours for thaire iniquyté
Thefes and robbours with sworde he dyd thaym dye.
Bot in his tyme was grete persecucioun
Of Cristen fayth and sore prosecucioun.
 



made


 

How Dioclican the Emperoure sente Maxymyan into Bretayne, who slew Seint Albane and made grete persecucioun of Cristen fayth in Bretayne.

 

 

 

 


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385

fol. 45v



390





395





400




405





410





415




420
 		 For Dioclycian than beyng emperoure
Maxymyan that hight Herculyus
By his surname that was the governoure
Of alle his werres sente into Bretayn thus
The Cristen to distroy so malicyus.
That tyme was so that he put alle to dede
Thurgh alle Bretayne that truste on Cristes Godhede.

Who than undyr this Dioclicyen
Seynt Albane slewe, Julyus and Aarone
With mony other this idoladrien
Maliciouse so in his werkes echone
Thousandes of seyntes in Bretayne so anone
Fulle cruely thare martyred to the dethe
Whose soules were safe bypassed was the brethe.

Seynt Amphybale the whiche was confessoure
To Seynt Albane ascaped nought that tyde
Bot wylfully to that curst turmentoure
Offred hymselff the martyrdome to byde
For Cristes love he wolde hym nothynge hyde
With thousondes fele so slayne withouten grave
Whose soules with God ere sette his blisse to have.

He brente chyrches and bokes of holy writte
The lawes also that were ought temporele
Alle scriptures als of seyntes lyfes comytte
Unto the fyre and brente thaym every dele
In playne markett alle openly I fele
So that whare seyntes of Bretons were honoured
Unnethe this day is oon of thaym adoured.

He reygned so in Bretayne cursydly
Thurgh suffraunce of Kynge Asclepiadote
Who wold nothynge withstonde his tyrany
Whils he distroyed the Cristen fayth God wote.
Were never mo seyntes undyr a prynce men lote
Martyrde as thare were than by alkyn wytte
That men can fynde in romans or in wrytte

Of every kynde bothe of men and women
Of chyldre als of eche estate and age
That pyté was and reuthe to se and ken.
Chyldre sowkynge whose mylke thare blode dyd swage
So ware thay slayne in alle thare tendre age
Cripils and blynde the dum als and the defe
The prestes and clerkes the lyfe he fro them refe.
 




death




idolater



when life had ended


time

endure

many
are

burned
in any way
he put
part
understand

Hardly




knows
believe
knowledge
historical record; treatise



know
mix with

Handicapped
reft
 

Nota the date whan Maximyan made this persecucioun of Cristen fayth

 

 

 

 





425



fol. 46r

430




 		 Two hundre yere foure score fro Criste was borne
Of his modyr and fully incarnate
Persecucioun, whiche I have seyde aforne,
Of Cristen fayth was than the verry date
By cruelté of thise two adonate.
Whiche Cristen soules in blisse forever remayne
The tyrant soules in evermore lastynge payne.

Kynge Asclepiadote regned fully bot ten yere
After cronycles, who suffride alle this payne
And nothynge durste agayn that tyrant stere
And hym withdrawe in hydils was fulle fayne.
And some cronycles otherwyse speke and sayne
That he was hool consent to thare malyse
The whiche I can nought trusten in no wyse.
 		 after



united




According to; allowed
dared; move
hiding places; eager

malice

 

.vi. capitulum of Coyle fadir of Seynte Elene Kynge of Bretayne

 

 

 

 

435




440





445





450




455





460


 		 Than rose on hym the duke with grete powere
Of Caercolim that Colchester hath to name
Who hight Syr Coyle by wrytynge as I here
With strenght of lordes in hoste that with hym came
A worthy lorde in Bretayn of grete fame
Fro Maxymyan was homward gon agayne
Hym werrayde sore to tyme he had hym slayne.

Who crouned was and sette in magesté
Of whiche Bretons and Romayns were fulle fayne
And specyaly of that fortuyté
That Asclepiadote was dede and slayne
Bycause he was the comon wele agayne
Of Rome and of Bretayne whiche were anoyed
Thurgh his suffrance and Cristen fayth distroyed.

Bot this kynge Coyle than reuled this londe so wele
That for his wytte and vyrtuosyté
In alle thynge that I can ought se or fele
Of rightwysnesse and gode moralité
Comende he was thurgh alle his regalté
Forpassyngly alle other in his day
So trew he was and vertuouse always.

Whose hayre was than his doughter hight Eleyne
Who lerned was in kunnynge and science
Forpassynge other that tyme of alle Breteyne
To reule a reme thurgh wytte and sapience
Endowed so in alle intelligence
That hens to Rome knew no man hyre pere
So was she wyse of wytte and syngulere.
 		 (t-note)

was called
strength





eager
good chance


troubled
affliction



understand





heir; was called
doctrine
surpassing
wisdom

equal
exceptional
 

The Romayns sente Constance to reule Bretayne fro Rome

 

 

 

 



465





fol. 46v
471



475

 		 Bot Romayns so som parte at his requeste
And sumwhat of thaire own desyre and wylle
Constance than sente, who Spayne hadde by conqueste
Subjecte to Rome obeyand evere it tylle
Paynge tribute everemore for gude or ille
Who over alle thynge ay the comon publyke
For Rome labourde that Romayns did hym lyke.

Whom Romayns sente to werre upon Bretayne
To whom Kynge Coyle anone his message sente
Offrynge trewage to Rome so forto payne
Of whiche Constans was glad in his entent
So forto have the pese he was contente.
Within fyve woukes after Kynge Coyle dyd de
And none to heyre save Elyne than had he.
in part








tribute


weeks; die

 

.vii. capitulum of Kynge Constance Emperour of Rome, Kyng of Bretayne. (t-note)

 

 

 

 




480





485




490





495





500




 		 Constance so than hymself dyd signyfy
With dyademe and wed Elyne to wyfe
And made hyre quene of Bretayne so forthy
That Bretons shuld love hym and cese alle stryfe
And for grete love he wold not hyre deprife.
Hyre bewté so alle other dyd excelle
Within Bretayne that borne was or dyd dwelle.

Who in musyke instruments was so wyse
And in dyverse science so fulle instructe
That eny reme to reule she dyd suffyse
So fulle she was with sapience producte
Whiche from hyre myght nought refte bene, ne deducte,
So was she sad and constant in alle degree
That none in hyre newfangilnesse couthe se.

On hyre he gatte a sonne hight Constantyne
Regnynge after fully elleven yere
And than to deth anone he gan inclyne
And at Ebrauke than was he leyd on bere.
And certanly as seyth the cronyclere
He byried was with worthy exequyse
And other servyce right at his own devyse.

The yere of Criste thre hundre was and sexe
Whan Constance dyed who with Galeryus
The Empyre hool dyd governe and amplexe
Agayne Maxcence of porte malicyus
And alle the weste myne authore writeth thus
Thys Constans had and with grete manhode helde
Whiche to hym evere were subjetts in the felde.
 		 (t-note)

accordingly








endowed

steady; sober
fickleness






noble funeral
plan


(see note)
embrace
conduct



(t-note)

.viii. capitulum of Constantyne kynge and aftir emperoure

Constantynes armes whiche he bare aftir he had sene the crosse in the aire (see note)

 

 

 

 

505




510


fol. 47r


515





520




525


 		 Constantyne that was his sonne and hayre
So crouned was by alle the baronage
Who lykely was, semely als and fayre,
In chyldissh yeres and in his tendre age
Grete manhode had to reule his heritage
In wysdome als grete profe of sapience
To reule alle thynge by gode intelligence.

He had so thanne a lambysshe pacyence
To here alle thynge softely with sobrenesse
A lyons chere and loke in alle regence
Amonge his folke to chastyse wykednesse
The welefare of his reme with bysynesse
Preserved ever and kepte in regyment
And in alle nede he sette suppowailement.

He helde his lawes withouten violence
His pese also in grete establisement
And on his owne by alle experience
He leved ever and thereof was content
As lawfulle prynce fully in his intent.
Whiche poynte untylle a prynce shuld ay appende
Upon hys owne to leve and nought transcende.

Nota
 		 (see note); (t-note)

handsome


wisdom


gentle

sovereignty

diligence

support


steadiness
on his own resources
lived

with regard to; pertain


(t-note)
 

How the Romayns sente to Constantyne to bene Emperour of Rome relesyng alle truage aughte (owed) to Rome, the whiche he admytte and was made Emperour, by whiche the tribute and service and truage was extyncte in lawe for it is inconvenyent that he shulde bene bothe lorde and tenant or lorde and subgyte togedir at oons by Grekes law, Troian law, or any other lawe that now is.

 

 

 

 





530





535





540




545





550




fol. 47v
555




560





565





570




 		 And so byfelle that tyme there was at Rome
An emperoure that called was Maxence
Whiche was so fals maliciouse in his dome
That Cristen folke with alle his diligence
Distroyed sore thurgh his malivolence
Whome to distroy the Senate sente forth right
To Constantyne to come at alle his myght.

Thay hight to stonde with hym at alle thare myght
With strengh of men and alle sufficianté
That tyrant so maliciouse and so wight
To waste and sla for his fals cruelté
And for they herde of his abilité
Thay graunted hym to be thayre emperoure
Thaym to delyvere of that turmentoure.

Thay graunte hym als the trewage to aquyte
Of Bretayne ever and never to aske tribute
Saynge these wordes to hym withoute respyte
“O Constantyne, O Romayns hool refute
Byholde the right of Rome so foule rebute
Whiche thou may helpe and fully restitewe
Oure natyfe grounde to us that ys fulle dewe.

“Thy fadyr was a Romayne of grete myght
Bothe gote and borne so was in Romany
For kyndely were to thee by alkyns right
The empyre holde and hool the monarchy
Of alle the worlde as dyd thyne auncetry.
Lete no sleuthe nowe thy corage so desteyne
That what we lese alle thyne elders wan fulle pleyne.”

So purposed fulle this noble Constantyne
Of Rome to helpe the wytty senatours.
He wente anone and to thaym dyd enclyne
With powere grete and als gode governours
Of his Bretons to make hym stronge socours
And with hym toke his modyrs uncles thre
In whom he truste for consanguynyté.

Loeline was oon, the seconde was Traherne
The thirde Maryn thus were thare names right.
He had his modyr with hym who dyd hym lerne
Fulle perfytly to reule hym lyke a knyght
By whose counsaylle he wrought bothe day and nyght
And emperoure was made in dignyté
Of alle the worlde to have imperialté.

To his moders eme Loeline he gaff a wyfe
A lady was in Rome of grete estate
On wham he gatte a sonne and that bylyfe
Maxymyan that hight in the Senate
A myghty man and als a fortunate
So after was in werre fulle wele approved
And with Romans evermore right wele biloved.
 		 (see note)

judgment
energy




promised

strong
slay




tribute; free from

delay
refuge
rejected




begotten
all manner of


sloth; defile
release; (t-note)

resolved
intelligent
immediately

support

kinship



teach
govern himself


imperial power

uncle

rapidly
was called



 

How Kynge Constantyne fyrste bare the armes that men calle Seynt George armes, after whom Breton kynges used to bere thaym for his sake many yeres afore Seynt George was ayther goten or borne. (see note)

 

 

 

 

575




580

 		 The yere of Criste thre hundre hole and ten
This Constantyne to batayle as he went
To fyghten so with Dioclycien
Maximyan and Maxcence of assent
Assembled stronge agayne hym felonment.
Whan he thaym sawe, he loked to the heven
In whiche he sawe a crosse than marked even
 		 (see note)



maliciously


 

As in the legende of Seinte Elene is contened and Constantine “in hoc vinces.”3 (see note)

 

 

 

 




585





590




595

fol. 48r



600





605





610




615

 		 Wyth letters bright as golde thusgates wryten
“O Constantyne in thys thou shalt overcome.”
Who thurgh comforte as after welle was wyten
Of that devyne vysioun victore bycome
The signe of whiche afore hym made he come
Thurgh whiche his fose he putte unto the flight
Grete multitude also he slew in fight.

Thensforthe the crosse he bare in his banere
Afore his hoste whare he to batayle went.
In his right hande a crosse agold he bere
Praynge to God with alle his hole entente
That never that hande shuld fouled be ne shente
Of Romayns blode by none effusioun
Bot of tyrants for thare abusioun.

From that tyme forth in Criste he fully trewed
Bot noght forthy unbaptysed wold he be
Wharfore he was in lepre so endowed
Deserved wele right by his owne decré
His soule to putte so longe in juparté.
Bot neverthelesse thof he baptym dyd delay
His werkes were gode and als his menynge ay.

This Constantyne as bokes specyfyed
Uncristen was his baptyme so deferred
Unto his days were wele forth ocupied
Bycause he thought it shuld have bene preferred
In Flum Jordan after he had conquerred
The Jewry hool and wonne the crosse rialle
On whiche Cryste dyed in manhode corperalle.

At whiche tyme so sore leprous squames he hadde
Hys leches counsaylde in blode of innocents
Bene bathed ofte whiche shulde hym moste so gladde.
Bot Petyre and Poule that knew his gode ententes
To hym appered that nyght fulle excellentes
And bade hym go to Sylvestre the pape
Who shuld hym hele withouten gyle or jape.
 		 thus

known


foes






defiled; destroyed
bloodshed
abuse of power

believed
nonetheless
leprosy


although
intention always




postponed
River



scabs
scabs
ease


pope
cure; deception
 

How leches counsailde Constantyne to bene wasshen in blode of innocents for his lepre, of whom whan he herd the cry he had suche pité that he had lever dye a lepre than bene heled with innocent blode.

 

 

 

 




620





625




630





635


 		 And on the morow he herde a pyteuse noyse
Of men women and childre alle at ones
So pytusly that thrugh his herte thare voyse
Dyd perse and thrille so sore thay made there mones
To se thaire chyldre be slayne so in tho wones.
The chyldre als for colde dyd wepe and crye
Naked alle bare forto be slayne in hy.

Bot fro he wyste how thay for hym shuld dye
He bade thaym alle “Take home youre chyldre quyte.
In werre whare oure imperialle dygnyté
Hath constytute no chyldre sla ne smyte
It were to foule a werke and inperfyte
To sla oure owne that we in werre forbade
To alyens be done for any nede.

And better is to me with pyté de
Than thurgh the deth of alle thise innocents
My cruelle lyfe recovere withoute pyté.
For who that hath pyté in his entents
Approveth hymselff a prynce in regiments.”
Therefore ye lordes in alle youre sovereynté
Whare is dystresse loke that ye have pyté.
 

piteously
pierce; penetrate; cries
those; dwellings

very soon

once
freely

prescribed; slay

forbid


die



proves; governance


 

fol. 48v Nota of fole (foolish) pité whiche is a vice and no vertue

 

 

 

 



640




 		 I say not this that lordes in generalle
To fole pyté the rather shulde inclyne
Whiche ys a vyce and coloure idialle
Destenynge foule the pyté so devyne.
Therfore ye lordes in herte this enterlyne
To do pyté whare ys necessité
Of whiche friste grew imperialle dygnyté
 
foolish
pretext false
Defiling
write


 

How Seynt Silvestre heled hym by baptyme of hys leprouse squames, whiche watir is yit kepte incorrupte and swete of savour as I haue sene it and savourede, secundum cronicas Martini.4 (see note)

 

 

 

 

645




650





655



 		 Than sente he for Sylvestre so anone
Hym forto hele with alle expedience.
Who baptysed hym in watere than alone
In whiche grete light dyd shyne of excelence
And clene wente out in alle experience
Of his leprouse squames white and rede
Sayinge he sawe thare Criste in his manhode.

Thus was he than to Cristene fayth converte
His modyr als and all the comonté
And bysshops als that were afore perverte
To Cristen fayth in all tranquilyté.
And to the Chyrche with alle the soveraynté
Hys paleys grete and se imperialle
He gafe anone in almouse eternalle.
 
heal



scabs




misguided



almsdeed
 

How this Constantyne and Seint Silvestre holde a seyne (synod) of ccc bisshops agayne the Arriens erresyes (Arian heresy), in whiche counsele and seyne Seynt Nicholas was present with Constantyne, secundum cronicas Martini. (see note)

 

 

 

 


660




665





670


 		 Who helde a seyne of bysshops fully counted
Thre hundre and eghtene, as Martyn sayth
For to dystroy Arriens that surmounted
With herisyes agayne the Cristen fayth.
In whiche counsayl Seynt Nicholas ful grayth
Was oon present the Arrians to condempne
By Constantynes wisdome that was solempne.

He sent his modyr unto Jerusaleme
The holy crosse to gete on which Criste dyed
With powere grete of every londe and reme
And for his ese Besaunse edyfyed
Whiche Constantyne to name he notified
Aftir his name whare throne imperialle
Thensforth he helde and se judicialle.
 		 synod



prepared

sound



realm
built Byzantium
in name; he called

seat
 

How Seynt Elene his modir brought home the holy crosse secundum cronicas Martini.5

 

 

 

 



675





fol. 49r
681



685

 		 Whose modyr than the crosse of Criste home brought
With relykes fele whiche I cannot telle
And dyed at Rome fulle holy in werke and thought
Levynge the crosse of Criste that heried helle
In sure kepynge for payens that were felle.
She dyed in Rome byried at Ara Cely
Whose soule to God fulle happy is and sely.

But now to speke more of this Constantyne
Of whom Gyldas, ne Henry Huntyngdoun,
In thaire cronycles lyste not to inclyne
His lyfe fully to putte in mencioun.
I wote not what was thaire intencioun
Seth he and thay were alle of Bretons kynde
To hyde his actes me thynke thay were unkynde.
 
many

harrowed
safe keeping from; fierce
Ara Coeli (Rome); (see note)
blessed

(see note); (t-note)



know
race

 

How this Constantyne gafe to Silvestre and to the cherche his palays and temporalté of Romany and made the cherche of his chambre atte Seint John Laterense secundum cronicas Martini6

 

 

 

 




690



 		 Whan he had graunte the Chyrche his regaly
And his palays chief and pryncipalle
Of his chambre the Chyrche dyd edyfy
To whiche he bare on his shuldres corporalle
Bothe erthe and stones with herte fulle spyrtualle
And with grete golde the chyrches dyd renewe
With tempraltese he dyd it welle endewe.
 		 dominion

build



worldly goods; endow
 

And than aftir his baptisme he bare of silver in tokne of clennesse, white as the ayre is, a crosse of goules in tokne of the blode of Cristes passioun in fourme of Seynt Georges armes. (see note)

 

 

 

 


695




700





705





710




 		 And als this noble manly conqueroure
Unto the Chyrche gafe many dignytese
And to it was defense and protectoure
Conservynge it in alle hool libertese
By his godenesse and grete benygnytese
With relikes grete and hiegh adournements
Of Romany also hole regyments.

Bot Martyne sayth, the Romayne cronyclere
That in the yere thre hundred thretty and nyne
After that Criste was borne of Mary clere
The famouse sonne fulle bright bigan to shyne
And spred his bemes upon this Constantyne
That thurgh the worlde alle odyr he dyd excelle
Whan his leprouse squames felle of in the welle.

Wyth wasshyng than of the holy baptymme
With whiche his lepre was than purifyed
Of squames white and rede in every lymme.
With mercy than so was he magnifyed
That levere he had hymselff be mortifyed
Than Cristen blode have spylte by his regence
Of any folke that stode in innocence.
 





full power


thirty
pure


others
scabs


leprosy
scabs

rather; dead


 

How this Constantyne is a seynte whose day is halowed the xxi day of May yerely amonge the Grekes, as is specifyd in the cronycles of Martyne Romayn. (see note)

 

 

 

 

715




720


fol. 49v


725







730




735





740





745







750




755





760




fol. 50r
765




770


 		 Who after he had regned fulle thretty yere
In the Empire dyed at Nychomede.
A saynt he ys anombred hool and clere
Amonge the Grekes in cronycle as I rede.
Isydorus and Martyn, who takyth hede
In cronycles sayn that Grekes hym have nombred
In cathologe of sayntes and obombred.

Whose day and feste with grete solempnyté
Thay holde eche yere in the moneth of May
Fulle certanly with grete humylité
And alle honoure the oon and twenty day.
No wondre ys if he be worshypte ay
Seth he was fyrste that made devocyoun
Of emperours and gaff the Chyrche promocioun.

.ix. capitulum of Kynge Octave and Traherne

But in his tyme came on Octavyus
Upon wardayns whiche Constantyne dyd make
And slew thaym alle as cronycle telleth us.
Of whiche whan worde to Constantyne was take
So moved he was for ire began to qwake
And Traherne sent who was his modyr eme
Bretayne to kepe and seurly to hym yeme.

Whiche Octavyus crouned was than for kynge
And had this reame to Traherne cam fro Rome
With grete powere with hym that he dyd brynge.
Who worthy was and rightwyse in his dome
Thurgh Italy was neyther yoman ne grome
Of alle his hoste dyd any violence
So myche thay dred his noble excellence.

Wyth legyons thre Traherne in Bretayne londe
At Kaereperis that Porchestere now hight
And wan the toune it myght hym not withstonde.
And forth he wente to Caergwent than so right
Whare in the felde with bataylle dyd thay fight
Besyde Caergwent that Wynchestere now so hatte
Whare Traherne fled and to his shippes gatte.

Kynge Traherne of Bretayne

So saylynge forth and londe in Albany
And Octave than anone agayne hym went
On Staynesmore thay mette and faught in hy.
Wham Traherne thare chased and alle to shente
Fro day to day tylle he the coroun hente
And crouned was for kynge in dignyté
Of Bretayne so had he the sovereynté.

And reulde hys reme with grete nobilité
His lawes and pese fulle welle he dyd conserve.
And welle was loved for his gode parenté
Whiche so afore this londe dyd ofte preserve
From tyrants felle that cam it to overterve.
He regned so that alle his reme hym loved
And honourde hym so wyse his wytte was proved.

For whiche Octave than saylde into Norway
For to have helpe alle of the kynge Gunberte
Who counsaylde hym to gete a frende som day
Within Bretayne to sla hym in a sterte
Thurgh whiche he myght hym sonneste so subverte.
By whose counsayle and imagynacioun
Thraerne was slayne so through his procuracioun.

Nota
 		 thirty
Nicomedia
(see note)



catalogue; (?)numbered







advancement



(see note); (t-note)
guardians


anger
uncle
guard


realm; until

judgment
yeoman; groom




is called



is called
arrived



(t-note)
against
directly
destroyed
seized



realm

ancestors

fierce; overturn
realm





slay; rush


instigation


 

How the makere of this moveth, touchant princes, to bene in company of heere men that love hem for drede of tresoun.

Unde Seneca dicit principis potestas numquam sine periculo est.7 (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 





775







780







785




790





795





800




805

fol. 50v



810


 		 O gode lorde God what peryle a prynce ys yn
Regnynge in his moste rialle magesté
And welle beloved with fremmyd and with kyn
And eche day stonte his lyfe in juparté
Of suche traytours thurgh fals iniquyté
As ofte ys sene in remes mony one
Whare kynges were slayne thurgh tresoun alle allone.

Nota

Wharfore a prynce shuld never bene hym allone
In any place for drede of felonye
For falshode ay wylle wyrke upon his fone.
In pryvyté withouten company
To imagyne is alle his victory
How that he may his purpose brynge aboute
And save hymselff to stonden oute of doute.

Kynge Octave

This Octave so than came into Bretayne
And sesed alle agayne into his honde
And sone thereafter for age he woxe unbayne
And hayre had non that mayntene myght his londe
Saufe a doughter that couth nothynge withstonde
The grete malice of cruelle conquerrours.
Wharefore he toke rede at his councellours.

Som counsayld hym to Conan hire to geve
Hys own cosyn a man of hyegh corage
By surname that hight Mariadoch, I leve.
And som counsayld to graunte hyre mariage
Unto som lorde of Rome of hiegh parage
To cesen werre and dwelle in fulle quyete
With Romayns; so this counsayld som discrete.

Bot Carodoch that duke was of Cornewayle
Counselde the kynge to sende to Rome message
Maximyan to brynge for grete avayle
His doughter to have in mariage.
For bothe he was right heyre by alle lynage
To Constantyne and als a senatoure
Forpassynge other a lorde of grete honoure.

Whiche counsaylle so was holden for the beste
And fulle exployte was done and execute
In so fere forthe Maximyane hym adreste
To Bretayne come welle sped withoute rebute.
To whom the kynge than offred grete refute
Hys heyre to wedde and after hym prevayle
The coroune hool to have withouten fayle.
 		 danger

strangers
jeopardy

realms






foes







(t-note)

incapacitated
heir


counsel

give

believe

noble family

wise



advantage

heir




speedily
prepared
prospering; resistance
succor
heir; rule
entirely
 

.x. capitulum of Maxymyan kynge, and Gracyan kyng, and Emperours of Rome.

 

 

 

 



815





820




825





830



 		 The kynge Octave decesed than anone
After whom Maximyan succede
And corounde was maugré of alle his fone
For ire of whiche Conan departe indede
And spoylede the londe to Humbre as I rede.
Wharfore this kynge Maxymyan so wyse
Encountred hym with hoste of grete assyse.

And ofte tymes so thay faught in grete batayle.
Some tyme the kynge by batayl had his wylle
Some tyme Conan at bataylle dyd prevayle
And thus it felle tyl both thay had thaire fylle.
Thus was the londe thurgh thaym fulle lyke to spylle
Wharefore thare frendes by fulle and hole assente
Accorded thaym and trete incontynent.

So stode he than fyve yere in reste and pese
That of rychesse he was so multyplyde.
He irked sore he was so longe in ese
Thus in his herte bygan to ryse a pryde
And longe hym thought in Bretayne more to byde
Wharfore his hoste of feghters ferre and nere
Assembled faste and gatte hym grete powere.
 		 (see note); (t-note)

despite; foes
anger


magnitude





be destroyed
their
Reconciled; mediated immediately



was displeased

remain


 

How Maxymyan conquerde Armoryke and named it Litel Bretayne and than he conquerde Fraunce, Almayne, and Romany and was than Emperoure of Rome.

 

 

 

 


835




840





845





fol. 51r

850




 		 He londed than I say in Armoryke
Whiche now so hight by name Lesse Bretayne
He wan it alle so welle he gan it lyke
So fulle it was of gode he was fulle fayne.
And to Conan than gan he thus to sayne
“For love of me Grete Bretayne thou foryede.
This londe I geve thee now and graunte by dede.”

He sente so than anone to Grete Bretayne
For ten thousondes hosbandes wyse and gode
To tele the londe with carte, plowgh and wayne
And knyghtes feel and squyers of hygh blode
Yomen also myghty of mayne and mode
That londe to kepe and to defende fro shame.
Lytylle Bretayne he gaff it than to name.

Kynge Conan of Lesse Bretayne

Conan than kynge of Lesse Bretayn so bolde
Graunted forever it of his sovereyne lorde
Kynge of Bretayne the more than forto holde
And bene his man withoute eny discorde
And plenysht it with Bretons by concorde
Of alle estates with joy and grete plesance
Avoydynge Frensshe for drede of more distance.
 
is called



surrendered



farmers
till; wagon
many; noble
Yeomen; strength; spirit





(t-note)



replenished

discord
 

How Kynge Conan of Litille Bretayne sent into Grete Bretayne for Ursula and xi maydens of lordes doughters with xi thousand virgyns with hem, to bene maryed to hym and to his men.

 

 

 

 

855




860





865





870




875
 		 And than Conan into Grete Bretayne sente
To Dyonote that duke was of Cornewayle
A noble prynce who heyre to Cradocke gente
And brother was withouten any fayle,
To whom sertayne Maximyan the governayle
Of Bretayne hole at his partynge gave
To his gayne come, to kepen and to save,

To sende hym than his doughter Ursula
That floure was than of alle the Grete Bretayne
His wyfe to bene evermore in wele and in wo
On whom his herte was sette nothynge to layne
Elleve thousand maydyns that wylle obayne
With hyre to come to ben hys mennes wyfes
For Frenshe thay wolde none wedde in alle thare lyfes.

This Dyonote by gode deliberacioun
His doughter so to mary in that place
Elleve thousond vyrgyns of hire nacioun
He sente also to passe with hyre that race
For hyre comforte to serve hyre in that cace
The kynge Conan to gladden and to plese
And for to sette hym and his londe in ese.
 

heir; noble



Until; return



prosperity
hide the truth







sea


(t-note)
 

How Melga and Gwayns martired the xi thousand virgyns with Seint Ursula

 

 

 

 





880





885




890

fol. 51v



895





900





905




910





915





920




925







930



fol. 52r

935





940




945

 		 In Themse that tyme, at Trynovant cyté
Thay shypped were to passe by governayle
Towarde Bretayne the Lesse to maried be
With grete worshyp and to thare grete avayle.
Bot tempeste sore stroke than so in thare sayle
That thay dyd londe in iles of Germany
Whom Gwaynes kynge of Hunlonde gan espy

And Melga kynge of Peghtes in company.
Tho two tyraunts togedyre associate
Fulfylled hole of cursed tyrany.
For thare bewté that was so fayre create
Desyred thaym by way of lechery
And for thay wold nought graunte to suche foly
Seand thay were endowed in Cristen fayth
And of Bretayne whiche was to thaym ful layth

Thay gan thaym hate and had in odiousté
For whiche the folke thaym slew on every syde
And martred thaym by grete crudelité.
For Cristes lawe in which thay glorifyde
So hieghly than in God thay dyd confyde
That thay had lever the Sarsens cruelté
Suffre and dye, than lese thare chastyté.

So were thay alle ended by martyrment
Whose bones lyge at Colayn cyté fayre
In a mynstere of nunnes convenyent.
Men may theym se that thydere wille repayre.
Wharein the quere Ursula hath hyre layre
To hyde hyre corse in erthe thare fynaly
Whose soule in blisse shalle byde eternaly.

Whiche ere alle seyntes and fully canonysed
Ellen thousond vyrgyns undeflorate
In dede or wylle so wele they were avysed
So trew thare hertes to God were fortunate.
Thay had levere dye thanne bene devyrgynate
Or God dysplese or yit his law offende
In anythynge thare wyttes couth comprehende.

In this mene while the kynge Maximyan
Alle Fraunce had wonne and Almayne hole conquerde
Itaille and Rome fully he had wonne than.
Alle the Senate of his manhode were ferde
For in batayle had he than slayne with swerde
Valentynyan the emperoure of myght
And Gracyane his brother put to flyght

And emperoure was than in dignyté
To Cristen folke havynge fulle grete envy.
Who slayne was after thurgh grete maliciousté
By Gracyans frendes that hated hym forthy
That he afore had made hym forto flye
From the empyre of whiche he had estate
With Valentynyan fully assocyate.

Kynge Gracyan

Gracyan, whan Maximyan was slayne
To Bretayne sente than by the senatours
In whose tyme so Kynge Melga and Kynge Gwayne
This londe overrode fulfylled of alle errours
Whiche mortalle fone and cruelle tormentours
To Cristes fayth were and malicyus
Alle mercyles and passynge rigorus.

Whiche kynges two, rote of alle cruelté
And payens fals fulle of grete felonye,
Afore had made thurgh martyrdome to de
Elleven thousond vyrgyns right cursydly
For envy that thay had alle utterly
To Cristes fayth and to Maximyan
For the rebute he dyd to Gracyan.

Wenynge fully Maximyan had be kynge
Of Bretayne than thay spoylde the londe and brent
The peple slewe an every syde and hynge
The chyrches als ay robbed as thay went
Wyfes and chyldre and clerkes or thay stent
Thay slew doun right and harmelesse home agayne
Thrughout the Northe thay wrought fulle mekylle payne.
 
good management

advantage




(t-note)





Seeing
hateful

regarded with animosity

cruelty


rather
their


lie; Cologne
monastery; appropriately
go
choir; protected place
body
remain

are
pure
deed; thought; determined

rather; raped




entirely

afraid





malice

on account of the fact






(see note); (t-note)



foes

exceedingly; severe

root
pagans
die



repulse

Thinking
burned
hanged
also
before; stopped

much
 

How whan Melga and Gwayns had distroyed the londe, how Kynge Gracian was slayne with his comons for grete outrage of talliage (tax) that he had take of thaym withoute mercy.

 

 

 

 




950





955




960
 		 Bot Gracyan kynge of this londe was than
Crouned fully by alle the baronage
Who in his domes injuste was to every man
Right dispytouse, and toke grete talliage
Of lordes and folke to passynge grete outrage
So mercylesse and voyde of alle pyté
He was that none hym loved that hym se.

For whiche anone the hool comonalté
Of alle Bretayne by lordes hool assent
Upon hym rose to cese his cruelté
Thay slew hym so adnullynge his entent.
Thus that tyrant fro his estate was rente
And plukked doun fro dygnyté rialle
As mensioun ys in cronycle historialle.
 

judgments
pitiless; tax
excessive

saw

populace


quashing
torn
royal

 

Gwaynes and Melga payens the seconde tyme distroyed this londe of Bretayne

 

 

 

 





965





970




 		 Gwayns and als Melga tho kynges two
Herynge welle how Bretayne was undemeyned
And Gracyan so slayne with mekylle wo
Bretayne lafte bare withoute kynge unchifteynde
And Maximyan with deth so felle desteynde
Who grete powere led into Romany
And Lesse Bretayne to strengh and multiplye

Than came agayne with mekel greter hoste
Wastynge the londe with fyre fro se to se
And slew the folke aboute in every coste
That pyté was with swerde so sore thay de.
Thus Bretayne was thrugh thare crudelyté
Subverte and brente by tho cursed tyrantes
That payens were and cruelle mescreantes.
 		 those; (see note); (t-note)
without a ruler
much
without a ruler
extinguished



[Gwayns and Melga]; much

place
died


pagans; misbelievers
 

fol. 52v How Bretons sente to Rome for helpe to whom thai sente a legyon of knyghtes that made the Bretons to make a wall of lyme and stone bituix thaym and Peghtes, whare Severe afore had made a dyke, whiche wall Melga and Gwayns wan and rode all Bretayne londe secundum Bedam De Gestis Anglorum.8 (see note)

 

 

 

 

975




980





985





990




995





1000





1005





1010




1015


fol. 53r


1020



 		 Than Bretons sent to Rome message agayne
Praynge Romayns to sende thaym more socours
Promysynge thaym alway for to be bayne
At thare byddynge and alle thare successours
And tribute pay unto the senatours
Withoute dylay or eny excusacioun
For everemore withoute derogacioun.

For whose socoure the Senate sente a legioun
Of noble knyghtes that were fulle corageus
So chosen oute of every regioun
For moste worthy and als vyctoriouse
Whiche Gwaynes and Melga so noyouse
Out of this londe drofe into Albany
Whare thay dyd ship than into Germany.

These Romayns than and Bretons fulle assembled
By thaire hole wyttes and also fulle advyse
Dyd make a walle of lyme and stones sembled
Fro the este se unto the weste that lyse
The Peghtes to withstonde and alle ennemyse
With castels hyegh and toures at every myle
Endlonge that walle with many other pyle

Whare Severe so afore had made a dyke
Of turfe and sodde that tyme of grete defence
To kepe out Peghtes from Loegres in case lyke
That noyouse were and of felle insolence.
Bot Romayns than no lengere residence
Wolde holden here in Bretayne more to byde
Bot with alle haste than homward dyd thay ryde.

Thay went thare way to Rome so than agayne
Forsakynge ever alle tribute and trewage
After whose gate Kinge Melga and Kynge Gwayne
Had gode awayte and sekyre gode message
Whan Romayns wente and after thare passage
Came sone agayne with mekylle grettere hoste
Rydynge Bretayne unto the south se coste.

Whiche tyme the kinges Melga and Gwaynus
Cursed tyrants and paynyms notyfyde
The walle betwyx thaym made and Loegres thus
The Peghtes walle to name was signifyde
Dyd bete alle doun with hostes tripartyde
In sondry place thay it so undyrmyned
That lyke the way alle playne it was declyned.

And thanne thay slew the Bretons manyfolde
In so ferre forthe thay lay on hepes dede
So myghtily the Bretons knyghtes bolde
Thare faught with Pyghtes and bare them in that sted.
But Peghtes what with wyle and what manhede
The walle overe wan and slew suche multitude
That Bretons were overcome by fortitude.
 
help
prompt

(t-note)

exception

help



troublesome





gathered
lies


Along; support


earth

troublesome

remain



taxation
departure
watchfulness; secure

much



notorious pagans


divided in three
destroyed
level


heaps

place
cunning strategy


 

How Bretons sent to Egicio senatour of Rome for more helpe, who sente none bot refused thaire tribute for evere more secundum Bedam De Gestis Anglorum.9 (see note)

 

 

 

 


1025




1030





1035





1040





1045




1050

 		 Wherfore to Rome the Bretons sente anone
To Egicyo the senatoure so wise
For socoure more as thay that strengh had none
Thare enmyse to withstonde that myght suffise
Offrynge trewage forever withowte fayntyse
To pay with thy that fro the enmyté
Thay wolde thaym kepe in constabilité.

Whiche trewage so the Romayns than forsoke
Relesynge it forever, I say yow why
Thay were so stad with werres that thaym woke
Aboute thaymselff right nere to Romany
And Bretayne was so ferre fro that party
And als a se betwyxe fulle daungerouse
And myght not passe for wyndes contrariouse.

Thay wold no more thaym socoure in thare nede
Bot bade hem helpe thaymself for evermore.
For thay no more wolde hostes thydere lede
So were thare men mescheved there afore
Thurgh chaunse of werre and som by treson sore
Of Bretons fals thurgh thayre imagynacioun
At thayre above and domynacioun.

The tyme Romayns the tribute so forsoke
Was in the yere of Cristes incarnacioun
Foure hundre ful and nyne as Bede gan loke
In his cronycles and compilacioun
This londe distroyed als by paynym nacioun
For whiche Bretons dyd sette a parlement
At Trynovant that tyme by hole assent.
 

support

tribute; slacking
as long as
security



preoccupied; arose







there
undone


On account of their superiority

(see note)



pagan


 

How the Archebisshope of Londoun went than to Litil Bretayne for socoure, and brought home Constantyne brother of the Kynge of Lasse Bretayne to bene kynge of this londe.

 

 

 

 


1060




1065





1070





1075





1080




1085





1090



 		 So forthe he wente and sayled undyr sayle
To Bretayne Lesse unto the Kynge Aldroene
Who kynge was thare and had the governayle
The fourth after Kynge Conan, so I wene,
Whom he admytte with honoure, as was sene,
Askynge the cause of his thydyre come
And why it was he came so ferre fro home.

To whom thus sayde the bysshop Gunthelyne
“Enewgh apperth to yowre nobilité
Oure heped wo and endelesse lastynge pyne
Whiche shuld yow move by alle gode parenté
Youre con-Bretons of consanguynyté
To socoure now stondynge in grete dystresse
Thurgh paynyms werre the whiche ye may redresse.

“The whiche distresse and heigh adversité
Of longe we have now susteynde and comporte
Seth Kynge Maximyane of his rialté
Thys londe dyd stuffe with men as is reporte
And thousondes feel to Rome for his comforte
Dyd lede with hym so bare he made oure londe
We had no men oure enmyse to gaynestonde.

“Wharethurgh paynyms cruelle as ye have herde
Have us overronne and done fro day to day.
The Cristen fayth grete parte thay have conquerde
And lyke ere to dystroy it alle away.
Wharefore of helpe we humblely yow pray
That ye oure reme and us wille now defende
Seth ye and we of oon blode bene descende.”

Kynge Aldroene hym thankyd with hole herte
Refusynge than that noble dygnyté.
It for to have he lyste noght to adverte
Suche drede he had of mutabilité
Thurgh Romayns myght and grete subtylité
That levere he were his own in pese to have
Than More Bretayne iff Romayns trewage crave.
 


believe

coming there
far


Manifestly
piled; pain
familial relation
fellow Bretons; kinship

pagans


endured


many

withstand

pagans


are

realm




desired; accede
changefulness
power
he preferred
tribute; should require
 

.xi. capitulum. How the Kynge of Lasse Bretayne sent Constantyne his brother to bene of Grete Bretayne the kynge and governoure

 

 

 

 


1095




1100

fol. 54r



1105


 		 Bot Constantyne his brother fresshe and fayre
He than bytoke to Bysshop Guntelyne
To ben thare kynge with hym home to repayre
With power suche right as he couth diffyne.
To Tottenesse so the se thay dyd thurgh myne
Arrifynge thare with mekylle joy and blysse
Of whom the reme was glad and blythe iwysse.

To whom anone assembled alle the floure
Of juventé and of the lusty eelde
And toke hym for thare kinge and governoure
Agayne thare fose to feghten in the felde
Whoso wele dyd with bowe, spere, and shelde
That of Melga and Gwayns the victory
Thay had forthwith, as made is memory.
 
entrusted
go
control
travel
much
realm; happy certainly


youth; energetic; aged
accepted; as
foes


immediately
 

Constantine of Litil Bretayne Kynge of Grete Bretayne

 

 

 

 



1110





1115




1120

 		 This Constantyne by Bretons hole advyse
Was crouned than with rialle dyademe
At Cyrcester, Caersyry on thayre wyse
In Breton tonge hight as thay couthe expreme,
In se rialle than sette whiche hym byseme
As prynce pierlesse thurghout the Occydent
On every syde unto the Orient.

This archebyssop this gode man Guntelyne
The croune upon his hede on hegh he sette
With alle honoure as he couthe determine
He dyd to hym, for nothynge wold he lette.
A lady fayre and fresshe he dyd forth sette
And wedded thaym with grete solempnyté
Of Gunthelyns and Romayns blode was she.
 		 agreement; (see note); (t-note)


called; were able to express
seat; befitted
peerless; West
East


high
could
obstruct



 

How this kynge had thre sonnes of whyche he made the eldest a munke for he was noght wyse to governe

 

 

 

 




1125





1130




1135
 		 Of whom he gatte thre sonnes that were echone
Kynges crouned of Bretayne to the se:
Oon Constance hight the eldest of echone;
The seconde was Aurilyus hight he
Whose surname was Ambrosius wete ye;
The thrid Utere Pendragon was his name
Of whom after in honoure rose grete fame.

This kynge so than his eldeste sonne Constance
In Wynchestere dyd put a monke to be.
The other two he putte by ordynaunce
To Gunthelyne of thaire consanguynyté
To nurture thaym in alle nobilité
As he that was rightwyse and ful dyscrete
Of alle nurture als was he fulle implete.
 

was called; them all

you know






kinship

righteous; wise
good training; informed
 

How a Peghte (Pict) of this kynges hows (house) slewe hym by counsail of the Duke Vortygere

 

 

 

 





1140


 		 Whan he had bene the kynge so ful ten yere
Upon a day as he in gardyn wase
A Peghte that in his house was hym ful nere
In that gardyne hym slew, so felle the case.
Thurgh counsaylle of oon Vortygerne it wase
To have the croune, whiche longe he had desyred,
For whiche his dethe men sayd he had conspyred.
 






 

fol. 54v .xii. capitulum Kynge Constance, the monke of Wynchestre, son of Constantyne.

 

 

 

 



1145





1150




1155

 		 Constans than so that monke was in Caergwent
That Wynchestere hatte now so this day
In the mynstere of Seynte Amphibale spent
In cloyster thare that shulde have ben for ay
This Vortigerne toke oute and led away
And sette the croune upon his hede fulle he
With alle honoure and als regalyté.

For love of whiche that he hym so preferred
He made hym than alle hole his governoure.
Fro alle wysdome the kynge was so deferred
He knew not what appent to his honoure
So symple was his wytte in alle laboure
He toke no hede of reule, ne governaunce,
So he were kepte in joy and hiegh plesaunce.
 		 (see note); (t-note)
is called
monastery; (see note)
permanently

high


raised up

From; distant
pertained

heed

 

How Vortiger by grete subtilité made the Peghtes to sla Kynge Constance and after he slew thaym for to excuse hym selfe

 

 

 

 




1160





1165




1170





1175





1180





fol. 55r
1186



1190





1195





1200




1205





1210





1215




 		 This Vortygerne fulle sette in sapience
Of Kambre kynde that now so Wales hight
A duke was than of high grete excelence.
Of rethorike wytte, forpassynge every wyght
In eloquence excedynge alle men right
Whare myght avayle he couthe of adulacioun
To fage and plese thurgh softe dissymylacioun.

So castynge yn his mynde and alle his wytte
How to the croune he myght moste sone aspyre
To kepe the kynge, whethyre he wente or sytte
An hundreth knychtes he dyd withholde and hyre
Of Peghtes alle with whom he dyd conspyre
The kynges dethe by processe after so
In subtyle wyse that no wyght knew it mo.

Thare wage he payd thaym welle fro day to day
Doynge the kynge to know and to consayve
That Peghtes wolde ryse and distroy hym away.
Wharefore the Pyghtes thare londe forto dyssayve
And thare consaylle to spy and to persayve
He waged had to warne hym of alle drede
Thrugh whiche he myght withstande thayre grete falshede.

So after that upon a day he sayde
Unto hys Peghtes that so were with hym holde
“For youre wages the kynge hath me upbrayde
And blamed me, right for that I ne wolde
Yow voyde oute of his servyce and howseholde.
Bot not forthy iff I were kynge indede:
Youre wages shuld ben payed fulle well in nede.”

Thus sayde he than by grete subtilité
To make thaym truste his gode domynacioun
For welle he knew thare mutabilité
Or thay were voyde so fro thare prosperacioun
Wold sla the kynge for his contemplacioun
To croune hym kynge with alle the helpe thay may
Thaire lyvelode forthe to have of hym alway.

Thurgh whiche comforte and subtylle intisement
Thay trustynge in his domynacioun
Iff he were kynge and had the regyment
He wold thaym pay withoute refreynacioun
Thaire wages hole withoute defalcacioun
Seynge the kynge was bot an idiote
And couth not kepe his heghte that he behote

By oon advyse thay slew hym than anone
And gaff his hede unto Syr Vortygere
Of whiche his herte was glad, but stylle as stone
He stode mornynge and hevy of his chere.
To blynde the folke he dyd crye fere and nere
That none shulde spare the Pightes by day ne nyght
Bot sla thaym doune whare thay mete with hem myght.

So were thay slayne thurgh his subtyle quantyse
The kynge also, of whiche his herte rejoysed.
And knowynge wele amonge the lordes fayntyse
And how he was with comons welle anoysed
The Peghtes hym had afore so wele avoysed
Consydrynge als the kynges castels alle
Were in his honde thurghoute bothe grete and smalle

And of grete gode he was so stronge of myght
The peple hole obeyant to his wille
The olde lordes dede, thare hayres bot yonge to fight,
The kynges brether fled Bretayne Lasse untylle
For fere of hym lesse that he wolde hem kylle
To Kynge Budyce who nurrissht thaym fulle clene
Who sybbe thaym was, as may in bokes bene sene.
 		 cleverness
is called

elegant

[it]; gain advantage; flattery
flatter


rise

knights; retain; hire





Making; think

deceive

hired




taken me to task

expel
nevertheless





Before; expelled; prosperity
slay; thoughts
(i.e., Vortigern)
wages

temptation


obstacle
withholding
seeing
promise; promised





deceive

slay

trickery

cowardice
considered
reputed him




obedient
dead; heirs
to
lest
raised; faultlessly
kin
 

.xiii. capitulum of Kynge Vortigere and Vortymere his son

 

 

 

 

1220




1225


fol. 55v


1230



 		 This Vortygere thus seynge wele he myght
Unto the croune ben lyste at alle his wille
He dyd the croune upon his hede forth right
And helde estate rialle for gode or ille.
The Peghtes and Scottes put sklaundire than hym tille
Of thare frendes dethe and also of the kynges
Whiche thurgh hys wille was wrought in alkyn thynges.

For whiche thay thought on hym to be revenged
For his falshode and his subtylle tresoun
Of whiche he myght in nowyse ben ought clenged
So know it was that it was by enchesoun
He wolde ben kynge and for non other resoun.
Wharfore with alle the myght thay can or may
Thay thought revenge that deth ful sore aday.
 		 (see note); (t-note)
chosen

royal
slander; on him

all manner of



cleansed
cause
wished to be

each day
 

How Engiste and Horne of Saxonye londed in Kente and bicame Kynge Vortygers men, which inhabite first in Lyndsay.

 

 

 

 


1235




1240





1245





1250





1255




1260





1265




fol. 56r
1270




1275





1280


 		 In this mene while the kynge as he dyd ly
At Caunterbyry, whiche than so hight Caerkent
And as som say it hight Doroberny,
But than arrofe thre shyppes fulle in Kent
Of men of werre, at Sandwyche were they lent,
For whom the kynge sente after sone anone
To whom thay came as faste as thay myght gone.

He asked what thay were and whyne thay came
And what was cause thay came upon his londe.
To whom Engeste answerde, as meke as lame,
And sayde “Gode lorde ye shalle wele undyrstonde
Saxons we bene and Saxonay oure londe
Whiche stondeth so ful fayre in Germany
And hydyr come for servyce onaly.

“The case was thus: oure prynce by his regence
Fonde that oure londe gretly was overcharged
With habundance of folke and affluence
By generacioun excedyngly enlarged.
As custome was the londe muste be dyscharged
For whiche he sette amonge the juventé
A lotte who shulde passe forth over the see.

“With oure manhode to gete us som lyvelode
The sorte on us felle, so we muste departe
Oute of the londe as of his hye godhode
Mercury hath us brought into this arte.
Thay vytaylde us and shypped for thare parte.
On us thay made thensforth no more dyspence.
Thus ere we voyde to seke oure residence.

“My brother here hatte Horse and I Engiste
Of dukes blode we bene so procreate
Leders to bene right by oure prynces liste.
Of this meyne we bene now ordynate
And dukes bene so called in oure estate.
Oure prynce us gaffe of armoure suffycence
To helpe us wyth atte alle oure indygence.

“Wharfore we muste to youre servyce intende
To wynne us londe with laboure and manhede
Or to som other prynce we muste attende
Of oure servyce that mystere hath and nede.
Now have I tolde yow alle why thus indede
We come upon youre londe by youre suffrance
To do servyce unto youre hye plesance.”

The kynge saw wele of suche men he had nede
That lykely were and also corageuse
In armes proved as longeth to knyghthede.
Withhelde thaym alle at wages plentyuouse
For to wythstonde the Peghtes perilouse
And als the hayres and brether of Constance
Of whom he truste ay grete contrariance.
 		 stay
was called

arrived
came to land



whence

lamb



here; only


crowded
abundance

relieved
youth


livelihood
lot

district
supplied

expelled

is called

desire
band; in charge


need




requirement

permission
utmost satisfaction


impressive
pertains; knighthood; (t-note)

dangerous
heirs
resistance
 

And how this Engiste and Horne were payens levynge (believing) on Mercury and Venus, and how Wednesday and Fryday had thaire names first of Mercury and of Venus.

 

 

 

 



1285




 		 The kynge hym askte what was that Mercury
That sente hym hydyr, to whom he answerd than
“A god he ys that oure olde auncetry
Worshipt evermore in world whan thay began.
And we also do so, right as we can.
This Mercury we calle a god of fame
The fourth day ever we honoure in his name.
 
here
ancestors




 

Nota also how Engist and Horsus entred Bretayne in the armes of thaire londe, that is to sey thay bare of azure (blue) the god Mercure, Woden in thair language, and the goddesse Frye in thaire language, corouned, enthronysed of golde. (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 

1290




1295





1300





1305




1310

fol. 56v



1315







1320





1325




1330





1335





1340




1345





1350



fol. 57r

1355




 		 “His name with us Woden so is called
On oure language whom we honoure moste
For every woke alway it so be falled
The fourth day so we halowed alle oure coste
That Wodensday we calle and worshyp moste
For love of hym. And so ys oure usage
And ever hath bene amonge alle oure lynage.

“A goddesse als we have of grete powere
Venus men calle in whose name we adoure
The sexte day ever of every woke ay sere
Wham in oure tonge Fry we calle and honoure
For wham the sexte day in laboure and sorore
We worshyp nexte, whiche we calle so Friday
The sonne, the mone, with other of oure lay.”

Sone after that the Scottes and Peghtes hoste
In Bretayne brent and mekylle peple slewe
For whiche the kynge came northe to felle thare boste
With Engyste als and Horsus soudyours newe
That manly faught and on the fose dyd hewe
In so ferre forthe thay made the vyctory
And drofe thaym out agayne in Albany.

Off whose manhode and worthy vyctory
The kynge was glad and gaffe thaym londes fele
And als thare wages he dyd thaym multyplye
And loved wele with thaym to speke and dele
And comforte thaym in sekenesse and in hele
Above alle other with myrthes that myght be made
Thare commynge so dyd comforte hym and glade.

How Engiste bigged (built) Thwongcastre

Bot on day Engiste the kynge dyd plese
And sayde “My lorde ye stonde in juparté
Bothe of youre lyfe and of alle hertes ese
And lyke to falle in grete adversité
Unto myschefe and alle paralité
For wele I here by worde and by language
Es non yow loveth of alle youre baronage.

“Thay say there bene of Constance brether two
Thare lege lordes of right that aw to be
With whiche thay shalle hereafter ryde and go
And venged bene that tyme of yow and me.
Thay love us nought by ought that I can se
Wharfore I wolde sende into Germany
To wage yonge men and strengh youre chyvalry.

“And of a thynge, my lorde, I wolde you pray
A walled town or castelle I may have
Or som cyté for seurté nyght and day
In whiche I may my body kepe and save
For I am hate for yow with knyght and knave
Whiche may by nyght dystroy me as they wylle
And whan thaym lyste to sla me and to kylle.”

To whom the kynge than sodenly answerde
“That thynge to graunte I dare not so forthy
That ye so ben alieyens I am aferde.
My barons wolde it sone gaynesay in hy
And als ye ben paynyms so openly
Thay wolde the more with me greve and gregge
Agayne my fayth it were thay myghte allegge.”

“Now seth ye darre nought graunte me so for drede
Yit may ye graunte me than als mekylle grounde
As with a thwange I may overlay and sprede
In brede and length or els in cyrcuyte rounde
More than I have now so with in my bounde
Seand there was thareby a stony place
Whiche nomore was bot even a castelle space.”

The whiche the kynge hym gaff fully and graunte
Wharefore he kutte a boles skyn so grete
Alle in a thwonge so rounde and hole curraunte
With whiche that grounde so stony he dyd mete
Of length and brede he toke his castelle sete.
And thereupon dyd proppe his mete and bounde
Whare that he thought his castelle sette and founde.
 

week
sanctified; country






sixth; week; different

sorrow

belief

army
burned; many
diminish their pride
soldiers
foes; cut




many

deal
health






danger


disease




ought




hire; reinforce



security

hated on account of; by

want; slay



foreigners
contradict immediately
pagans
annoy; aggravate
against

since
much
thong (strip of leather)


seeing



bull’s
strip; running
measure
foundation
set; limit

 

How Engiste sent for his doughter, who came to hym with xviii shippes full of Saxons and Englysshe men.

 

 

 

 

1360




1365





1370





1375




1380





1385





1390





fol. 57v

1395




1400



 		 So than he sente anone to Germany
To brynge his doughter that was bothe fresshe and fayre
And soudyours als to strengh hyre company.
In whiche mene tyme his castelle to repayre
He labourde so that it was for his hayre.
So stronge it was and myghty for to wynne
None enmyse myght it wynne, ne hym over rynne.

Sone after than his doughter Dame Rowen
With eghtene shyppes came out of Saxony
Alle fulle of knyghtes that were alle myghty men
Chosen for beste thurghout alle Germany
For whiche he thanke his god so Mercury
Woden that hight in his moder language
Dame Frie also, Venus called by clerkes sage.

He prayed the kynge to se his castelle then
And dyne with hym right at his owne devyse
His doughter als to welcome and his men
That knyghtes were fulle fayre, manly and wyse
Out of his londe that came by hole advyse
To helpe the kynge in his necessité
His enmyse to distroy by thare powsté.

Of whiche the kynge was glad and graunted so
And ete with hym and made gode chere and gladde
Bot for tho knyghtes his herte was wondere wo
That thay so than the paynyms creance hadde
Whiche stode agayne his herte fulle sore and sadde.
Bot neverthelesse his enmyse to dystroye
He plesed thaym foryetynge alle his noye.

Of the castelle in herte he was ful fayne
And of Rowene to wham there was none lyke
In bewté so perlesse she was sertayne
Hym lyked beste and gan therewith to syke
With that she brought a coupe of golde fulle ryke
Unto the kynge and sayde to hym “Wassayle”
To whom the kynge so lerned sayd “Drynke hayle.”

How Vortygere wed Engyste doughtir

With that hire kiste as he was taught by men
That knew the gyse and manere of thare londe
Thurgh whiche he sette his herte so on hyre then
He wolde hyre wed anone and made hyre bonde
And quene she was right as I endyrstonde
Of Bretayne hole by fulle and hole sentence.
He gaff hyre Kent to dowere and dispence.

Now called Castre on the Walde in Lincolneshire
 

soldiers; reinforce

heir
defeat







was called



planning




power




pagans’ belief
steadily

forgetting; anxiety

pleased


sigh
when; splendid
Good Health




kissed
custom



authority
as a dowry; source of income

(t-note)
 

Sapiencia attingit a fine ad finem et disponit omnia suaviter10

 

 

 

 




1405





1410




1415





1420


 		 Bot Engiste than his castelle named and calde
Thwongcastre forth bycause so of that thwonge.
For it shuld bene in memory, he walde
How he it gatte and by what wyle it fonge.
So had he joy, his wytte be mynded longe,
For wysdome so he thought shulde ben comende
Whiche reuleth alle thynge mekely unto the ende.

The reme so hate the kynge by alle thare wytte
Bycause he wedde in payens law and ryte
And favourde more payenis for love of ytte
Than Cristen men, for whiche thay had dyspyte.
To hym his frendes and other more and lite
His sonnes moste of alle hym dyd dispyse
For his weddynge so on the payenis wyse.

His eldeste sonne that hight Syr Vortymere
The seconde als was callyd Categerne
The thyrde Passhent whiche that fulle manly were
Of his friste wyfe by bokes who can dyscerne
The sothe he may of it wele se and lerne.
Thare fadyr thay lafte by alle the lordes assent
Who thurgh his wyfe to payenis was consent.
 
thong
wished
stratagem; took
astuteness; remembered
commended


realm; hated
pagans’

resentment
greater and less powerful






first
truth

pagans; in league
 

How the Bretons were infecte in diverse cuntreys with payens and errisyes Pelagien (Pelagian heresy), wharfore the lordes sent for Seynt Germayn and Seint Lupe bishops, who with thaire precchynge brought the peple out fro thaire errour and errisyes.

 

 

 

 



1425





1430




1435


fol. 58r


1440





1445




1450





1455







1460





1465




1470





1475




fol. 58v
1480




1485





1490





1495





1500




1505





1510





1515




1520

fol. 59r



1525


 		 Whare thurgh the reme fulle of idolatry
Was so, what with the payenis cursed usage
And what so with Pelagiens errysy
Whiche regned than in londes fele and lynage
The Cristene were so myxt with mariage
Of payenis blode that neigh the Cristynté
Was brought unto payenis credulyté.

In this tyme came two doctours approbate
In law dyvyne of whiche on Seynt Germayne
Lupus also the tother that consecrate
Were bothe bysshops, and sent by Seynt Romayne
To preche the folke thurghout this More Bretayne
At the prayer of alle the baronage
By Vortymers assente and his message.

By whose prechynge the peple were converte
And came unto the fayth ay more and more
That were afore oute of the fayth perverte
Thurgh comonynge instructe of paynyms lore
By this Engyste and thay that his folke wore
Who Kent had so in domynacioun
By kynges strength and quenes supportacioun.

This Engiste so for plesaunce of the kynge
By hole assent bytwyx thaym two agrede
Sent after his sonne Octa, a knyght fulle yynge,
His cosyn als Ebissa, gode in nede,
And Cherdyke with thre hundre shyppes dyd lede
Als many men as tho shyppes myght contene
Thay brought with thaym of armed men ful clene.

The barons than distracte were and afrayde
Of hethen folke so grete in multytude
For whiche unto the kynge thay playnde and sayde
And no redresse couth have it to exclude
Bot ever thay dyd encrese of fortitude
In so ferre forthe the barons were consente
Vortymere to corown by hole assent.

Kynge Vortymere of Bretayne, son of Vortygere.

Syr Vortymere thay crounde anone forth ryght
With rialle honoure that myght to hym appende
Who was fulle wyse aproved lyke a knyght
In alle corage that to a knyght extende
Forto assayle or els forto defende
Who hated sore his fadyrs governance
And by hys wytte distroyed the mescreance.

He faught with thaym anone upon Derwent
And other tyme at Abyrford dyd mete
Whare he on thaym with batayle strongly went
The felde he had and caste thaym undyrfete.
Whare Katygerne his brothur, wylle ye wete,
And Horsus als, eyther other on the playne
So felly stroke that bothe thay were there slayne.

Upon a felde bysyde the north se banke
He faught eft sones and put thaym to the flight
Unto the Ile Tenette thaire unthanke
In truste of Engystes powere and his myght.
Whither he wente than with his powere ryght.
The barons als fulle hole with hym assembled
For whiche Saxons for fere quoke and trembled.

He helde thaym there by se right many a day
With shyppes and botes thaym every day assayled
With batayle stronge fulle thik there slayne thay lay
So sore that thayre grete powere was than fayled.
Thay were so sore forfoughten and bataylde
Thay prayd the kynge thay myght have his lycense
To Germany to make there revertence

And leve bothe wyfe and childe, and godes fayre,
And alle thare londes, castels, toures and places,
And never to come agayne thare to repayre.
And so thay dyd by license and his grace
Thus fro Britayne he dyd thaym alle out chase
That were so hole of payenis mescreance
And by advyse amendyd alle noysance

Restored agayn the cytese and the townes
To barons als and Bretons alle there londes
With fraunchyse als and rightes by dales and downes
And wele mayntened the fayth with lawes and bondes
That with the Chyrche and Cristen fayth wele stondes
Praynge mekely Lupus and Seynt Germayne
The Cristen faythe to techen and sustayne.

The Kyrke he dyd honoure at alle his myght
And it restored to alle was fro it refte
In every place he helde justyce and right
So vertuose he was he made be lefte
Alle vices foule and vertu take up efte.
Fulle wele he dyd his barons governe alle
That peple alle hym loved grete and smalle.

Bot to his high vertu and grete godenesse
Envyed so the fende who was impreste
In Rowens herte so fulle of wykydnesse
That by his man, whom she had so adreste
With gyftes grete whiche she had hym promeste,
Kynge Vortymere she made bene pousond so
For whom his men than had fulle mekylle wo.

Yit at his deth he dyd his men rewarde
And bade thaym than thare londe thay shuld defende
And lay hym at the porte whare hyderwarde
Saxons dyd londe whan Engyste for thaym sende.
On high he myght ben sene and fully kende
Trustynge thay durste non nerre so come for fere
Of his body as longe as it were there.

Bot than he dyed as fate of dethe it wolde
And byried was so than at Trynovaunte
By alle assent right of his Bretons bolde
Agayne his owne presumptiouse avaunte.
This Rowen fals, with poysouns that she haunte,
Thys gode kynge slewe, whare thurgh Kynge Vortigerne
The reame dyd seyse into his honde fulle yerne.
 		 on account of which
pagans’
Pelagian heresy
many

almost
belief

teachers; approved
one
the other

Great Britain






verbal instruction; teaching
were



(see note)
between
young
also




distressed

complained
remedy; stop




(t-note)

(t-note)
pertain

suited


paganism

straight away



if you should wish to know

cruelly


again soon
Isle of Thanet; unwillingly


also






defeated; overcome
permission
return


homes
return


pagans’ misbelief
trouble



liberties; valleys; hills
restraints
suits




seized


to be adopted afterwards




the devil; inscribed

treated

to be poisoned
much



here

known
dared; nearer





vainglory
knew about

seize; eagerly
 

How the makere moveth his conceyte touchant his hardyment and presumptuous avawnte (vainglory)

 

 

 

 



1530







1535




1540

 		 O hardynesse of man so hiegh presumed
Agayne the wylle of hym that sitte above
Whiche erthely men hath sette to be consumed
Right by his reule as clerkes wele can prove
How durstow so, lesse he thy witte reprove,
To presume thynge men shulde thy bones drede
Whan alle thy myght is gone and waste indede?

Kynge Vortigere

This Vortygerne was crouned than agayne
And regned so right in his fyrste estate
Rowen his wyfe began hym trete and prayne
To sende than for hir fadyr arly and late
To dwelle with hym and helpe hym fro the hate
That Bretons had to hym for Vortymere
With whom thay helde as fully dyd appere.
 



dare you; lest





(see note); (t-note)

pray
early (i.e., continuously)
against


 

How Engiste cam into Bretayne with grete powere by the kynges wylle

 

 

 

 




1545





1550




1555





1560



fol. 59v

1565





1570




1575

 		 For whom sent forth the kynge Syr Vortygere
His letters so and prayd hym come anone
Hym sertifiant how dede was Vortymere
And in his come he seyde was perile none.
For whiche he thought ben venged on his sone
Rejoysed highly with alle the haste he may
And thowsondes feel of men he brought ful gay.

For whiche Bretons with hym were greved sore
And thought have fought with hym whan he shuld londe.
Whiche whan Rowen it knew she sent therefore
To warne hym so right by hyre pryvey sonde
For whiche he thought he might more surely stonde
Undyr hope of pese, a trety forto make
With Bretons so than batayle with hem take.

And to the kynge he sente, as bokes telles,
His message than enformed on this wyse
That his powere he brought for nothynge elles
Bot hym to kepe, lesse Vortymere wold ryse
At his londynge and fowly hym dispyse.
And if it to the lordes ought displese
He wold sende home thaym alle than for thaire ese.

Bot more he thought hit were to thaire profyte
To lete thaym londe, seth they ere now so nere
To chese of thaym the knyghtes moste perfyte
Of werres wysest, as may by sight appere,
To strengh the londe agayn outwarde powere
“For I am he,” quod he, “and say thaym so
My doughter is quene how shulde I be thaire fo?”

The messengers unto the kynge sone come
And told hym alle as is afore devysed
Byfore the barons, who it wele undyr nomme
And thought his witte thereof was wele advysed,
By hole counsaylle he came, as is comprised,
In with his flete to reste thaym and disporte
After thare laboure to glad thaym and comforte.
 

certified
coming


many




secret message
(t-note)



i.e., Hengist
shaped

preserve, lest





since
perfect

strengthen; against foreign

foe



received


entertain

 

How Engiste treted accorde bituixe hym and the Bretons on the plane of Salesbury whare by tresoun he and his Saxons and Englisshe slew all the barons and lordes of Bretons, and putte the kynge in prisoun.

 

 

 

 




1580





1585




1590





1595





1600





fol. 60r
1606



1610





1615



 		 Bot undyr this thay sette a day to mete
Upon the playne after of Salisbyry
Whiche that tyme so Caercaredot dyd hete
Bysyde the nunry ys now of Awmesbyry
Whare Ambrius abbot founde his cenoby
Who dwelte thereyn unto his endynge day
In holynesse and contemplacioun ay.

The day thay sette, thay mette to trete a trewe
At that same place, the friste day so of May,
Foure hundred of the Bretons beste thay drewe
To that trety als fele of paynyms lay.
Bot fals Engiste unto his men gan say
“Loke every man of us now have his knyfe
Within his hose to refe his felaw lyfe

“For oon of us by on of thaym shalle stonde
So shalle I reule whan we togedyr mete.
And whan I say “Nyme oure saxes,” lay honde
His fo to styke and caste hym undyrfete.
Thus shalle we sla thaym alle with moste quiete
And wyn this londe alle hole in governance
And on oure fose we shalle so take vengeance.”

At day assygned so were thay come and mette
On eyther parte afore as was devysed.
A Bretoun ever afore a payen sette
Right as Engiste afore it had avysed.
So whan he saw thay were so enteremysed
He sayde “Nyme oure saxes” and than anone
Eche payen slewe his make there by hym oone.

Foure hundre als and sexty of barons
And erles with other whiche had the governaunce
Of Bretayne thanne were slayne by tho larouns
Whose corses alle, after that foule vengeance,
Seynt Eldane so byried by Cristen ordynaunce
In a kyrkeyerde bysyde the cenoby
And mansioun of Abbot Ambrii.

No wondere thof thay that no treson knewe
Nor wapyns had thaymselff forto defende
The parte adverse of wapens purvayed newe11
Were lyghtly slayne and brought unto ane ende.
Yit Erle Eldolle of Gloucestere so kende
The tresoun foule, and fro thaym went away
And with a pale seventy he slew that day.
 		 meet

was called

monastic community



discuss; truce
first

many; pagans’ belief


stockings; take



Take our knives
stab


foes





mixed
Take our knives
pagan; partner



thugs
bodies

church yard; monastery


though
weapons


knew

stake
 

How Kynge Vortygere inprisoned gafe to the Saxons and Englisshe grete parte of Bretayne for his delyverance fro prisoun and went into Wales

 

 

 

 


1620




1625
 		 With that more folke of payens come fulle faste
And toke the kynge and led to Trynovaunte.
For fere of whiche so was he than agaste
He graunte thaym alle that thay wold have and haunte
Castels, cytese, and forseletts evenaunte,
To lette hym passe alle quyke withoute trublaunce
Whiche Engiste graunte bycause of thaire liance.
 		 pagans

afraid
possess
advantageous little forts
difficulty
alliance
 

Nota that Engiste than did call this londe Engistlonde for his name, whiche aftir sone for shortnesse of langage men called Englonde, bot it dured noght longe for Aurilius, Uther and Arthure put doun the name of Englond and called it Bretayne ayeyn (again), to (until) the commynge of Gurmund, Kynge of Afrike. (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 





1630





1635





1640




1645


fol. 60v


1650





1655




1660





1665





1670





1675




1680





1685




fol. 61r
1690




1695





1700





1705




 		 Thay toke Ebrauke that Yorke ys called nowe
Lyncolne that than Caerludcourte had to name
Caergwent also unto thaym gan to bowe
That Wynchestere is now of fulle grete fame.
Engeste had alle the reme as for his hame
And dalte it forthe amonge his knyghtes wyse
By parcelmele as ferre as myght suffise.

Wharfore so whan the kynge saw that myschefe
That payens hole distroyd the londe aboute
To Cambre went so, for socoure and relefe
Whare he bygan to bygge a castelle stoute
To kepe hym fro the cruelle payens route
Whiche as was made the day afore certayne
Upon the nyght forthe right felle doune agayne.

Wharefore his clerkes he asked why was so
Who answerd hym that he the blode shuld seke
Of a yonge chylde that never had fadyr tho
With the mortere to tempre and to eke.
The whiche thay sayde wold make the mortere steke
And with the stone to byde for evermore
Alle suche cyment thay sayde was beste therefore.

Withoute dilay he sente to seke suche oone
Whare that he myght bene founde in any wyse.
At Caermardyn his men saw children gone
Merlyne was one, who was of grete quantyse,
Dynabucyus the tother, of hiegh gentrise,
Chidynge togedur seyd Dynabucyus
“Who was thy fadyr wiste never man yit of us.”

The kynges men whiche yede forto enquere
For suche a childe that fadyrlesse shuld bene
Layd honde on hym and led hym forth in fere
And aske of men if thay his fadyr had sene.
Whiche answerde thus of his fadyr “We can noght mene
We have herde telle that fadyr had he none
Bot iff it were men say the fende allone.”

His moder was kynges doughter of Demecy
In Cambre so is now called South Wales.
A nunne profeste was she in the nunry
Of Seynte Petirs, as we have herde by tales.
Goten and borne she was in South Gales
Wham than sent forthe the mayre of Caermardyne
Unto the kynge and als hire sonne Merlyne.

Whan Merlyne and his modyr so were come
To Vortygerne, he axed hyre anone
How that hyre sonne was gote and als by whome.
She answerde hym that fadyr had he none
That she couth know that ever synde with hire alone
Sauf only thus “That in lykenesse of man
A spyrite fayre, as white as any swan,

“Whan I satte with my systers and oure dores close
Wolde halse and kysse me in grete dulcitude
No wyght seynge oure doores ought dysclose
Ne hym myght se for alle his consuetude
So pryvey was his nyghtes solicytude.
Amonge my systers ofte tymes he lay me by
And gatte this chylde that none hym couthe aspy.

“Ne how he came, ner yede, I couthe never se
So sodenly he vanyshit fro me away.
Wharefore I knew it most a spyrit be
By alle resoun that I can thynke or say.”
Maugancyus, a philosofre that day,
Affermed wele how he had redde and sene
How spyrites had with women sogates bene.

And to the kynge he seyde right thus that stounde
In bokes of oure philosofres olde
And in storise many I have welle founde
Suche chyldre gote and borne monyfolde.
For Ampuleyus in his bokes tolde
How that bytwix the mone and erthe er falle
Spirits, incubyse that clerkes so do calle.

“Whiche parte of man and parte of angel als
In nature so ere fully constytute
That whan thay wylle thay take a fygure fals
Of mannysshe fourme and women done pollute.
Suche myght thay have that tyme to execute
Thare nature so with woman subtyly
That chyldre than thay gete alle verraly.

“And happely of hyre so myght befalle
That on of thaym hath lyggen so her by
Hyre holynesse to dystayne and appalle
The rather for she was in sacrary
More highly sette thanne other to glorify
The God above who alle thynge can unfetter
That suffred hyre to falle so for the better.”
 



realm; home
divided
piece by piece

(see note)
pagans
support
build
force





then
mortar; mix; strengthen
stick
remain
cement




skill
birth
Disputing
knew

went

together

determine

Unless; the devil





begotten; Wales
mayor; Carmarthen



asked; immediately
begotten; also

sinned




embrace; sweetness
person; open
custom


see

went





in this manner

time


begotten

between; moon; are
Demons; incubi


made
desire






lain
defoul; destroy
holy place

release

 

How Merlyn, prophete of Cambre, came to Kynge Vortygere.

 

 

 

 

1710




1715





1720





1725




1730

fol. 61v



1735





1740





1745




1750





1755





1760




1760





1770



fol. 62r

1775





1780




1785

 		 Merlyn than sayde with wordes sad and wyse
“My lorde, why sende ye for my modyr and me?”
The kynge answerde “My clerkes say by thare advyse
My castelle moste be made with blode of thee
The cyment nedes with it moste tempred be.
So say thay alle his blode that no fadyr hadde
Made in mortere my werke wold make right sadde.”

Merlyne than sayde ”My lorde, it is not so.
Thay yow dyssayve with subtyle fals intente.
Do thaym come forthe and prove it ere I go.
I shalle afore yow now beynge present
Thay bene lyers of that incontynent.”
With that he dyd thaym sone right thare appere
Afore Merlyne, as now ye shalle wele here.

To whiche Merlyne than sayde on his manere
“My blode ye sayde moste nede attempred be
With cyment of thys castelle shuld be here.
Thynke ye no shame so openly to lee?
Es there ought elles bot only blode of me
That lette thys werke to stonde and upwarde ryse?”
Thay answarde hym “Thy blode may it suffyse.”

“Now lorde,” he sayde “lete now youre mynours grave.
Undyr this werke ye shalle so fynde a water
For whiche youre werke may nought stonde sure, ne save.
Than shalle ye se how thay yow fage and flater
Thay ben so wyse that sum what muste thay clater
And els thay trowe men counte not by thare wytte.
Bot now ye shalle wele se how fals is ytte.”

Thay grofe there doune and founde the water clere
In manere of a staunke fulle wyde and large
Whiche made the warke to falle as dyd appere
And myght not ryse on high, ne yit enlarge.
The grounde was fals, unstable withouten targe.
The kynge saw wele his wordes were alle trewe
And prayd hym so to telle hym that he knewe.

Merlyn thaym askte what thynge was undyr more
That hurte som parte the werke and made it fayle.
Thay stode confuse for alle thaire clerkly lore
None answere had that myght his worde prevayle.
Than sayde he thus “Wele owe ye to bewayle
The fals counsaylle and imagynacioun
Ye gaffe the kynge thurgh youre dyssymylacioun.”

Than sayde he to the kynge “Have oute alle clene
This water fayre by stremes as may renne
And ye shalle fynde two caves large, I wene
With dragons two that fight and can nought blynne
Whiche strubled have youre werke whare ye begynne.”
The water had oute thay founde right as he sayde
Two dragons grete of whiche thay were afrayde.

The kynge gretly amervelde of his wytte
Hym prayd so to say how he shulde ende.
Who answerde thus “Fle fro the fyre and flytte
Of Constantynes sonnes and defende.
For now thay come with sayles alle on ende
Whiche shalle thee brenne within thy castelle closed.
Thurgh me thou shalt nought faged ben, ne glosed.”

Thayre fadyr right falsly thou betrayed
The Saxons als to Bretayne for thy spede.
Thou sente so for that have thee now afrayde.
Thay waste thy reme thurghoute in lenghe and brede
Whose sonnes two shalle pay thee now thy mede
Whiche thare fadyrs dethe on thee shalle revenge
At Totteneys shalle thay londe thaym to avenge.”

Whare on the morne thay londed with grete myghte
And conquerde alle whareso thay rode or yede
Tylle thay came to the kynge whare he was right
And brente hym in his castelle as I rede.
Whiche castelle hight Genareu so indede.
Whiche castelle stode upon the Mounte Cloarke
In Hergyge londe on Gway that renneth starke.

The duke Eldolle of Gloucestere so bolde
With Bretons alle and alle the baronage
A parlement sette and in the felde dyd holde
Aurelyus to croune in that viage
And to restore hym to his heritage
Was thayre entent and alle thare hole desyre
The Saxons after to waste with swerd and fyre.
 		 sober; (t-note)





steady


deceive
Make; before

liars; immediately




blended

lie

prevents


miners; dig
pool
safe
deceive
talk nonsense
otherwise; believe; don’t respect


dug; pool
pond

be extended
protection

what



learning
overcome
ought; regret
conception
deceit



believe
cease
disturbed
(see note)


marveled

keep away
From; protect yourself against

burn
flattered; deceived


profit
frightened
length and breadth
reward




wherever; went

burned
is called

Ercing; Wye; powerfully




military expedition


destroy
 

.xiiii. capitulum of Aurilius Ambrosius, Kynge of Bretayne.

 

 

 

 




1790





1795




1800
 		 Thay crouned thare Aurelyus Ambrosii
With legeance hole and fulle submysioun
By hole consente of comons and clergy.
So forth he yede after that deposessioun
Of Vortygerne, so brente for his prodyssioun
And for falshode he dyd to Kynge Constance
Who putte in hym alle hole hys governance.

Than went he forthe the Saxons forto seke
Whiche fled over Humbre with alle thare myght and payne
Trustynge to have refute and socoure eke
Of Scottes and Peghtes and Danes also to seyne.
The kynge pursewed with alle his hoste certayne
So hastly thay myght nought wele eschewe
So mette thay on a felde and togedyr drewe.
 		 (see note); (t-note)
allegiance

went; dispossession
burned; treachery

wholly



refuge


escape

 

How Engiste was take and slayne, and Saxons and Englisshe discomfyte by Kynge Aurilius Ambros.

 

 

 

 





1805





1810




 		 Thay faught fulle sore with strokes grete and grym
Bot at the laste the Bretons had the bettyr.
The Saxons fled byfore that were fulle brym
Duke Eldol toke Engyste and gan to fettyr
Anone, and to the kynge he sente his letter
How he had take Engyste his cruelle fo
And shuld hym brynge to hym for wele or wo.

And so he dyd, he brought hym to Conan
That Connesburgh now hatte so in thise dayse
Whare that the kynge after his bataylle than
So rested hym his woundyd men to ayse
And with medycyne thare hurtes to appayse.
Duke Eldolle asket the kynge what shuld betide
Of fals Engiste who stode so by his syde.
 

fierce
chain





was called

ease
cure
happen

 

fol. 62v How Bisshop Eldade counsaylde the kynge touchant ( touching) Engiste

 

 

 

 

1815




1820





1825





1830




1835
 		 Bysshop Eldade that was Duke Eldol brother
Sayde “Ye shalle do with hym as Samuelle
Gaffe dome of oon Agag and none other
Who taken was, the Bybelle doth it telle,
That in his werkes was fressh and cruelle felle
And chyldre had made many so fadyrlesse
Withoute pyté and women hosbondelesse.

Whiche Agage so Samuelle the prophete
Demed to beheded and decollate
For the grete wronges and mekylle unquyete
Whiche he had made in places seperate.
His flesshe also cutte in morcels alterate
And sende aboute to townes whare he dyd wronge
To make the folke remembre his dedes longe.”

Wyth that the duke Eldol in his mynde thought
“Sethe the Byble thus sayth, I may the bettere
This payen curste that mekylle wronge hath wrought
Now sla,” and led hym forth and dyd unfettere
And with his sworde, by strengh of Byble lettere,
And hedyd hym by that autorité
Whose corse byried was after use of his countré.
 
(see note)
judgment

fierce; villainous




Judged; decapitated
considerable

pieces different

for a long time



pagan; much
slay; unshackle


body; custom
 

How the same bisshop counsailde the kynge touchant Octa and his Saxons and English

 

 

 

 





1840





1845





1850




1855


fol. 63r




1860





1865




1870
 		 In this mene tyme Syr Octa, Engestes sonne,
His cosyn als Ebissa with in fere
With many grete lordes that were wonne
To be wyth hym to Yorke they fled alle fere.
The kynge with hoste layde sege to it fulle nere
For fere of whiche Octa and his company
Came to the kynge bysekynge his mercy

Wyth ropes aboute thare nekkes in pytouse wyse
To have his grace or turmente at his wille.
The kynge so fulle of pyté asked advyse.
Bysshop Eldade was friste that spake hym tille
“The Gabanytes whan Israelles wold thaym kylle
Mercy asked and had, and we may bene
No worse than Jewes seth we be Cristen clene.”

The kynge thaym gafe his mercy and his grace
With pyteuse herte and humble yolden chere.
A grete deserte unto thare dwellynge place
Nere Scotlonde so he gaffe thaym in powere
To his lordship ever to be famulere.
So plentiouse he was alway of grace
Eche wight it had to aske it that had space.

Nota how rightfully thys Kynge Aurilyus governed

So after his were, with holy herte and clene
To God alle sette and wronges to refourme
The lawes profyte made jugges to sustene
The kyrkes als whiche payenis dyd disforme
And cytese waste whare men wold hym enforme
He dyd amende aywhare and reparayle
Thurgh alle his reme and alle his governayle.

Alle heyres right and wydews to dewry
Cyteyns burges to have thare olde fraunchise.
Prelates also unto thare prelacy
Agayn restored in alle that myght suffyse.
And alle that were exilde by thare enmyse
Or wrongfully fro thayre lifelode exiled
He dyd thaym calle agayn and recounsiled.
 		 (see note)
together
accustomed
together


beseeching

piteous manner


first; to


since


offered expression
wasteland; for

subject

person



war

uphold
churches; pagans; damage

everywhere; repair
dominion

heirs; widows; dowry
Urban freemen; liberties

befit

source of livelihood
restored
 

How Merlyn broght to Bretayn the carolle (ring of stones) that ere called now the Stonehengles

 

 

 

 





1875





1880





1885




1890





1895




fol. 63v
1900




1905





1910





1915





1920




1925





1930



 		 Than sente he for the prophete hight Merlyne
To have his wytte fully and his counsayle
A towmbe to make for Bretons whare thay lyne
Whiche Engiste slewe thurgh treson and assayle.
For whiche Bretons alway may sore bywayle
So was thare blode rialle there slayne that day
In truste of pese and wasted alle away.

This Merlyne founde and brought unto the kynge
And how that tombe myght beste so be provyde
For remembrance and perpetualle durynge.
He sayde right thus “In Irelonde artifyde
Es suche a werke of stones fortyfyde
Whiche ever wille laste and dure eternaly
Youre tombe to make and evermore magnify.

“Sende forthe Utere youre brother with an hoste
And lete me with hym thedur sone forth fonde
And we shalle brynge thaym home withouten boste
And set thaym up whare ye wille that thay stonde.
With wytte I darre and sleght it take on honde.”
The kynge anone sente forth fiftene thousonde
With his brother and Merlyne to Irelonde.

Whan thay were londe the kynge Syr Guyllamare
Of Irelond so dyd than assemble his hoste
And faught anone with Utere fersly thare.
Bot Bretons than withouten eny boste
The better had and victory with moste
And so thay wente to Mount Kylormare
Whare the Carolle of Geants stondynge ware.

The whiche with strenghe that hoste couth nothynge stere.
Yit Merlyn so with crafte sotyle dyd shippe
The whiche with wynde fulle prosperouse and clere
Into Britayne esely gan thay shyppe
Over these the wawes thay dyd over hype.
Whiche Merlyn than with crafte so forth dyd brynge
To Mounte Ambry whare that thay founde the kynge.

Whare in presence of alle rialle estate
And clergy hole assembled in that place
Unto the kynges feste solempnyyate
This Merlyn than right in suche forme and space
As at Kyllormare thay stode whan he thaym race
Thaym sette, the whiche geants fro Aufrike brought
Into Irelonde for vertu that thay wrought.

Thus were thay sette aboute the sepulture
Of blode rialle that were bytraysed there
Whiche now so hight the Stonehengles fulle sure
Bycause thay henge and somwhat bowand ere.
In wondre wyse men mervelle how thay bere.
The kynge than made archebysshops two that day
Whiche vacant were in Bretayne than I say.

Sampson he made at Yorke religiouse
Of lyfe was ever there with a famouse clerke
Dubricyus at Caerlyoun famouse.
Whiche holy men were ever in thare werke
And seyntes ere by ought that men can merke.
In whiche tyme so Pascence, Vortigerne sonne,
In Bretayne londe and grete werre had begonne.

Agaynes whom the kynge his powere brought
Upon hym northe and with hym faught fulle sore
And made hym fle that he to Irelonde sought
To Guyllomare that prynce and kynge was thore.
Who hym resette with right gode chere therfore
And than thay bothe with hostes styffe and stronge
To Menevue came, Seynt Davyd hath ben longe,
 		 called; (see note)

lie
attack
bemoan




planned
enduring
constructed
Is




go


dare; cunning; manage
immediately


landed

fiercely



Ring

move
take on board


cross





feast; solemn

extracted

power; produced


betrayed
are called
hang; are bowing
keep from falling







are; whatever; descry
(see note)




went
there
protected
powerful

 

Nota how Eopa in munkes habite feyned hym a leche and poysond the kynge wharof he dyed anone

 

 

 

 


1935




1940
 		 Dystroyed the toune and countrey alle aboute.
For whiche the kynge sente Uter forth with hoste
For he myght nought for sekenes travayle oute
He loked whan that he shuld yelde the goste.
In this mene while Eopa, traytoure moste
That Saxon was, so spake than with Paschence
That he the kynge shuld sla with poysonment.
 		 [They]

illness travel
die


slay
 

fol. 64r Nota, make nevere unknowen man ne your executour or your haire, to bene your phisisien (physician), for it is presumed that thise thre wolde purvey for youre deth.

 

 

 

 





1945





1950





1955




1960

 		 So to the kynge he come in monkes araye
As he a leche had bene with alle medecyne.
Of whom he was fulle glad and gan hym pray
Hym for to hele by his crafte and doctryne.
A drynke ful of venym gan imagyne
The whiche fro he had drunke and lay to slepe
Afore he woke away the traytoure crepe.

This traytoure so away whare no man wyste
Was gone his gate and whan the kynge awoke
He felte hymselff but dede in poynte to bryste.
His counsaylle than anone til hym he toke
Chargynge thaym alle, for sorow of whom they quoke,
To byry hym in the Geants Carolle
Whan deth his soule hath fro his body stolle.

Thus was he dede and byried so anone
At Stonehengles that alle men calle so now.
With that a sterre so bemouse by hym oone
Appered grete and clere, that wondere howe
And why that it forpassynge other dyd bowe
His bemes bright, as was not sene afore,
For whiche men dred and mervelde wondre sore.
 		 clothing
as if; doctor

learning
poison; concoct
as soon as


knew
way
burst
to
trembled



immediately; (see note)

star; bright
[it was a]
surpassing; send forth


 

How Stella comata (comet) appered agayn the deth of Kynge Aurilyus and how Merlyn tolde Uther what it signifyed in alle thynges, and that he shuld bene Kynge of Grete Bretayne.

 

 

 

 




1965





1970




1975





1980



fol. 64v

1985





1990




1995

 		 With that Utere Merlyne tille hym toke
And shewde hym thare the bemy sterre so bright
And askte hym what it mente, for whiche he quoke,
Wepynge fulle sore astonyd of that sight,
And sayde “The kynge is gone to God fulle right.
Loke up Utere and haste thee to thy foo
The tryumphe now is thyne whare so thow go.

“Kynge of Bretayne now certanly thou arte
Go to thy foose and make no more dylay.
Yone sterre berynge the beme so southwarte
Over Fraunce thy sonne it signyfith, I say.
Who shalle over regne to Rome withouten nay
Alle londes for hym shalle loute, tremble and quake
Who in his tyme levynge shalle have no make.

Bot issue shalle he certanly have none
Of his body that worthy conqueroure.
Bot yone fyry dragoun that stonte allone
Undyr the sterre fro whose mouth doth poure
A beme bemy that dothe to Irelonde loure
So signyfyeth thy doughters thou shalle have
Whose sonnes thy reme shalle after crepe and crave.”

With that unto Menevue he wente als faste
With Guyllomare to fight and with Pascence
And thay hym mette and nothynge were agaste
Bot sore thay faught and made fulle grete defence.
Bot neverthelesse by knyghtly diligence
This ilke Pascence and als this kynge Guyllamare
In that batayle were slayne and dede right thare.

What shulde a man of this matere say more?
The Saxons parte were slayne on every syde
Safe tho that fled to shyppe whiche hasted sore.
This Utere than tho Saxons justifyde.
Fro thens he rode to Wynchestere that tyde
In whiche way so the messengers hym sayde
The kynge was dede and in the Carolle layde.
 		 to

trembled
bewildered

foe
wherever


foes


doubt
bow
lifetime; peer



stands

resplendent beam; scowl

come to






same; also
dead



Except
rendered justice
time

Ring (i.e., Stonehenge)
 

.xv. capitulum offe Kynge Uter Pendragoun, brother of Auril Ambros.

 

 

 

 




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 		 Syr Utere came to Wynchester anone
And crounde was and kynge fully admytte
In se rialle sette up as kynge allone
Remembrynge hym with croune as he sytte
Of Merlynes speche his prophecy and wytte
Of the dragons wondere exposicioun
Two dragons made of golde by artificioun.

And one of hem right in the mynstere thore
Of Seynte Petyr with grete solempnyté
He offerd than to byde for evermore
In remembrance to his posterité.
The tother dragoun for his hiegh rialté
In bataylle ay aforne hym borne shuld be.

For whiche thensforthe the pepyl dyd hym calle
To surname so Pendragon comonly
In Breton tonge thurghout the reme overalle.
In Englissh tonge it is to signify
“The dragon hede” as made is memory
Bycause Merlyne had hym so signyfyde
To a dragon and for kynge prophecyde.
 		 (t-note)
recognized
throne



artifice

monastery; there; (t-note)

endure






realm


compared
as
 

How Octa and Oysa made werre (war) on Kynge Uter and how thay were discomfite in bataill

 

 

 

 




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 		 And than anone Syr Octa Engiste sonne
Oysa his sonne that was to hym ful nere
By ridynge men that in the South dyd wonne
Fulle certyfyed that kynge was so Utere
Aurelyus dede and layde upon his bere.
For whiche thay rode thurghoute the north contré
And brente and slewe with grete iniquyté.

And as thay shulde the cyté so aseged
Of Ebrauke so, that Yorke now hath to name.
The kynge with hoste thaym lette, it was unseged,
And with thaym faught and fersely on thaym came.
Bot dyscomfytte he fled with mekylle grame
To Danen Hylle with alle his hoste in route
Whare Octa than hym seged alle aboute.

Syr Gorloys duke that than was of Cornewayle
Sayd “Arme us faste for now it ys at nyght
We shalle thaym sla slepynge and thaym assayle.
Thay faught fulle sore thys day and with suche myght
Thay wylle take reste and truste tomorow right
To wynne us sone for hungre and penury
Sette on thaym now and have the victory.”

By nyght thay cam upon the Saxons thare
Alle sodenly and slew thaym doune that bode
And Octa toke his cosyn fulle of care
Oysa also, and alle thare payenhode
Was slayn and fled for alle thare foule falshode.
Wherefore the kynge to Scotlonde dyd than ryde
Unto Alclude whare that his pese he cryde

Thurghout Scotlonde his lawes welle provyde
In pese and reste and voydyd tyrany.
Who rob or stale or made ought homycyde
Withoute mercy thrughoute his monarchy
Shuld dye therefore withouten remedy.
The North in pese, to Londoun came fulle light.
Octa and Oysa there he than prisonde right.
 

dwell

bier

burned



obstructed

defeated; suffering
troop




slay


defeat; lack of resources
attack


remained

fellow pagans


proclaimed

ordained
expelled
any


readily

 

How Kynge Uter made his feest rial at whiche he was take with lovynge of Duke Gorloys wife, on wham he gatte Arthure.

 

 

 

 




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 		 He comaunde than thurghout alle hole Bretayne
That every lorde shulde bene with hym at Passhe
That solempne feste to worship and obayne
Lyke Cristene folke with joy and alle solace
In Londoun than, that was his hiegh palace,
And every lorde to brynge with hym his wyfe.
This was his charge and wille infynytife.

Amonges other Gorleys, duke of Cornewayle,
His wyfe dyd brynge, Dame Igerne fressh and pure.
Whose beuté thare alle others made to fayle
So fulle and hole avysed was Nature.
Hyre shappe and forme excede alle creature
In so ferre forthe thof Nature wold have wrought
The bewté more, hyre kunnynge stretched nought.

Of whose bewté and hyre godelyhode
The kynge so foule overcome was and oversette
That it dyd chaunge his myght and his manhode
And made hym seke for whiche withouten lette
The duke hyre had away sodenly than fette
Parsevynge wele the kynges chyldelynesse
Was sette for love of hyre and wantonesse.

And put hyre in a castelle stronge and wight
Tyntagelle hight upon the sees coste.
For whiche the kynge was irefulle day and nyght
And hight to fette hyre thens away with hoste.
Wharfore he came with powere and with boste
To Dymyoke whare that the duke than lay
And seged it with stregh bothe nyght and day.

So segynge thare he dyd hymself dyskure
To oon Ulfyn and Merlyne pryvaly
How bot he had the love of Igerne pure
He myght not leve withoute hyre company.
Wharfore Merlyne by crafte and juglary
The kynge and hym and also Syr Ulfyne
Dyssymylde than in other lykenesse to enclyne.

He made the kynge unto Duke Gorloys lyke
And hymselffe lyke in alle symylité
To Bretelle was the dukes pryvey myke
And Ulfyne lyke withouten diversité
Unto Jordan that knew the dukes pryvyté.
Thus were thay thurgh his dissymylacioun
Lyke to the duke and his in symylacioun.

This done thay sette a reule the sege to holde
And pryvaly thise thre togedyr wente
To Tyntagelle the lady to byholde
Whom at the yate the portere in dyd hente.
The kepers alle and als the lady gente
Ful fayne were of his come and hys presence
To plese hym thare with alle thare diligence.

So than to bed he and that lady fayre
Were brought to reste, bot he with besy cure
No lenger wold of hyre be in dispayre
Bot toke anone his cely aventure
In armes with that womannysshe creature
Whiche of nature tendre was of corage
Trustynge it was so done in clene spousage.

That nyght he gatte on hyre the kynge Arthure
Who after his decese thurgh worthynesse
Redouted was above alle creature
That tyme levynge in honoure and noblyesse.
Bot than the kynge after this besynesse
Gan take his leve and right so came message
That Gorloys dede was and his vassalage.

The lady couth nought so truste that message
For wele she sawe hym thare so corporaly.
His two servants brought up of tendre age
Thare were with hym and came in company
By alle lykenesse and alle gode polycy.
Thare couthe no man fully have trusted other
So lyke thay were echone of thaym the tother.

The kynge herynge thus leugh and made gode chere
And in his armes hyre kyste enbrasynge faste
Thus sayand than “Gode wyfe I am yit here
Thof I be dede, be ye nothynge agaste.
For alle the harme overgone is and overpaste
That ye of me fro thys day forth shalle have
And fare welle nowe, I pray to God yow save.

“My castelle loste and als my men so slayne
I drede me sore the kynge wille hyder prese.
I wylle hym mete and trete to turne agayne
And by som way to trete and gete his pese.
And if I may hys ire and wrath not cese
I shalle submytte me lowly to his grace
And so I truste I shalle his love purchase.”

With that unto his hoste he came fulle fayne
Ulfyn and als thys wyse Merlyne prophete
Befygurde newe in thare likenesse agayne
As thay were firste, and spake with wordes swete
Unto his men in that skarmyse and hete
And wan that place as made is remembrance
And slew the duke to have his wyfe perchaunce.

With alle hys hoste so cam he to that place
Of Tyntagelle whare Igerne dyd abyde
And bade hyre thare with joy and grete solace
Hyre womannyshe sorows to layne and hyde
Whiche by processe was so wele modifyde
That nought in haste it dried up at ones
Bot lyte and lyte as it were for the nones.
 
Easter
respect



absolute

(t-note)

(see note)

(see note)
even if; wished; to create
skill


shamefully; smitten

delay
fetched
Perceiving; foolishness


powerful
named; coast
angry
vowed; fetch; army


military force

besieging; discover
secretly
unless
live
conjuring

Disguised; shift


likeness
[who]; personal friend

private affairs

his [intimates]

arranged


take (i.e., he allowed them in)

(t-note)



obsessiveness

immediately; fortunate chance

heart; (see note)
marriage



Honored
living
enterprise
leave
followers

could



counsel



laughed
kissed
saying
Even if; afraid





advance
parley





eagerly

Refigured

encounter; heat of battle





beseeched; (t-note)
disguise
in time

little by little
 

fol. 66v How the kynge bigan the Rounde Table in figure of the ordour of the Saint Grale that Josep made at Avalon in Bretayne (t-note)

 

 

 

 

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fol. 67r


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2205
 		 A feste rialle he made at his spousage
And by advyse of Merlyne ordynance
The Rounde Table amonge his baronage
Bygan to make for fygure and remembrance
Right of the table, with alle the cyrcumstance
Of the Saynte Grale whiche longe tyme so afore
Joseph made, in Aramathy was bore.

For right as Criste in Symonde leprous house
His soupere made amonge apostels twelve
At his table that was so plentyouse
At whiche he had the maystere sege hymselve
In fygure so of it Josep gan delve
Thurghoute his wytte of his fraternyté
To rayse a borde of the Saynte Grale shuld be.

The dysshe in whiche that Criste dyd putte his honde
The Saynte Grale he cald of his language
In whiche he kepte of Cristes blode he fonde
A parte alway and to his hermytage
In Bretayne Grete it brought in his viage.
The whiche was thare to tyme of Kynge Arthure
That Galaad escheved his aventure.

For fygure so and hole remenbrance
Of that table of hole fraternyté
The Table Rounde the kynge dyd so enhaunse
Of nobleste knyghtes rialle his regalté
In knyghthode beste and alle fortuyté
Approved ofte in werre and turnament
In batayls als that had grete regyment.

Syr Octa than and Oysa bothe in fere
Thare kepers als, dyd breke oute of the toure
Of London so and home thay yede fulle clere
In Germany to gete thaym there socoure
And toke on thaym agayne a new laboure
With powere grete this londe to have and wynne
And Albany distroyed ere that thay blynne.

The kynge was seke and nothynge myght he ryde
For whiche he made Syr Loth of Louthianne
With hoste to fyghte with thaym and felle there pryde
Who wedded had his doughter hight Dame Anne
That duke was of alle Louthianne called than
A myghty prynce, hardy and corageouse,
Rightwyse and fayre, and thereto bountyuouse.

Who with thaym faught by dyverse tymes sere
Some tyme the bettere and some tyme had the worse.
For whiche the kynge dyd ordeyne hym a bere
On whiche he was caried so as a corse
With alle his hoste aboute hym with grete forse
And founde thaym than lyggynge in Verolame
A walled toune was that tyme of grete fame.

Now heght it so Seynte Albans verryly
Whare that the kynge thaym seged with his hoste
And dange right doun the walles myghtyly.
For whiche anone thay toke the felde with boste
And faught hym by halfe a day almoste.
Bot at the laste Octa and Oysa right
Were slayne bothe two, thare party put to flight.
 		 marriage; (see note)



in every respect
Holy Grail
[who]; born

Simon the Leper’s
supper

principal seat

brotherhood
construct; table; Holy Grail

(t-note)

Of which



achieved


brotherhood

royalty
good chance

domination

together
guardians
went directly



before; ceased

not at all
Lothian
bring low
called


in addition generous

many

litter
corpse

situated; (t-note)


it is called; truly
(see note)
knocked




 

How the Kynge Uter was poysond of the water of a well that he used to drynk medled with wyne and other licours

 

 

 

 





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 		 Bot sertayne men there were in this mene while
Saw whare the kynge had water to hym brought
Right of a welle bysyde his halle som while
To drynke with other licours for hym wrought
For hys sekenesse to helpe and brynge to nought
It envenymde with poysoun and corupte
Thurgh whiche his lyfe was waste and interrupte.

And dyed so in grete and sore distresse
And byried was in the Karolle besyde
His brother than with honoure and noblesse
As conquerroure so fully glorifyde
In rialle wyse wele wrought and artyfyde
That wondyr was the werke aboute to se
So was it wrought with alle nobilité.

Afore his dethe a castelle yit he made
Upon the marche of Scotlond stronge and fayre
Pendragoun hight in whiche he dwelte and bade
In that contré whan that he wolde repayre.
Of whiche place now the Clifford is his hayre
And lorde in fe of alle the shyre aboute
And shiriff als of Westmerlonde thurghoute.
 


drinks; made


stopped


Ring (i.e., Stonehenge)


constructed




border
called; stayed
go
heir
possession
sheriff
 

How the makere of this comendeth this Kynge Uter Pendragoun of worthynesse for to bene myrour and remembrance to other kynges and prynces

 

 

 

 




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2275
 		 Allas for reuthe so gode a prynce shulde de
That in sekenesse nought letted for distresse
Upon his fose on bere to caried be
Thaym to distroy he fonde non idelnesse.
Whiche to acounte was suche a worthynesse
As in my dome he aught of right be shryned
That fro his fose in werres never declyned.

He myght be shryned als for worthynesse
Amonges alle these noble conquerours
For his laboure loved none idelnesse
To helpe his londe and men with alle socours
In tyme of nede agaynestonde turmentours
The comyn profyte that wasted and destroyed
Or his comons vexed or yit anoyed.

O soverayne lorde, to whom God hath so dygned
The govornaylle with alle the regalté
Of Englonde hole to you and youres assigned
Thynke on this poynte in alle youre dygnyté
And lette no sleuthe disteyne youre soveraynté
Bot ever be fresshe and grene forto defende
The peple hole whiche God hath to you sende.

xvi chapitle of Arthure Kynge of Bretayne

Arthurs armes

Arthure his son upgrowynge than pierlesse
Thurghoute the worlde approved of his age
In wytte and strength, bewté and als largesse,
Of person hiegh and fayre of his visage
And able in alle to holde his heritage
At Cyrcestre than called Caercyry
And Caersegent som called it wytterly

Who was that tyme bot fyftene yere of age
Whanne Dubrike so, Archebysshop of Caerlyoun,
With alle estates of alle his hole homage
Assembled thare duke, erle, lorde and baroun
By hole advise of alle the regioun
Upon his hede dyd sette the dyademe
In rialle wyse as dyd hym wele byseme.

Fortune was so frendly at his byrthe
That of alle folke he was ever wele beloved.
And rychesse als so comforte ever his myrth
That with poverte he was never sore amoved
And through corage his herte was ay commoved
To sette the londe in dewe obedience
By alle his wytte and hole intelligence.

And sodenly the youth of alle knyghthode
For his largesse and his liberalité
Approched so, and came to his manhode
To bene subgyttes unto his soveraynté,
So hole Fortune hyre werdes in propreté
Unto his helpe and honoure execute
That alle his wille was sped and insecute.
 		 sorrow; die; (see note)
ceased
litter


judgment; enshrined





support
withstand



invested

your heirs

sloth besmirch



(t-note)

(see note)

peerless; (see note); (t-note)
regarded
generosity
tall


certainly

(see note)



consent

befit




distressed
stirred




generosity

subjects
fate; specificity

performed; executed
 

fol. 68r How Kynge Arthure avowed to werray (harry) the Saxons oute of Bretayne and on the water of Dougles discomfyte thaym

 

 

 

 





2280





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 		 He made a vowe atte his coronacioun
That Saxons never his londe shulde enhabyte
Whiche slew hys eme by poysoun and toxicacioun
His fadyr als, that knyghtes were perfyte.
Whose dethes so he thought revenge and quyte.
To Scotlonde than with alle his hole powere
He sped hym faste, as seyth the cronyclere.

Whan Colgrym knew, that was the capitayne
Of alle Saxons, he gatte hym Scottes and Peghtes
With his Saxons and mette the kynge to sayne
Upon the water of Douglas with grete feghtes.
Whare the Saxons were slayne anone dounreghtes
And Colgrym fled away in pryvyté
Tylle that he cam to Yorke the stronge cyté.

Whither the kynge cam than and seged itte.
Bot Baldulf thanne his brother nereby was londe
With sex thousonde of men of armes fytte.
Upon the kynge to falle he toke on honde
Of whiche the kynge was done to undurstonde.
Wharfore he sente Cadore, duke of Cornewayle,
To feght with hym who vencoust his batayle.

Wharfore Baldulf his berde and hede dyd shave
Feynynge hym than to bene a bordioure
Arayed fulle lyke a fole or els a knave
With harpe in honde fulle lyke a losengeoure
Amonges the hoste he yede as fals faytoure
And with his japes so nere the walles went
That thay within hym knew and up hym hent.
 

uncle

repay
(see note)




say the truth

down directly




landed
adapted

made to understand

vanquished


Pretending himself; jester
dressed; fool
mimic
went; deceiver
tricks
hauled
 

How Cheldryke with multitude of Saxons londed in Albany whare Arthure discomfyte them, and afterwarde sone discomfyte thaym agayne.

 

 

 

 


2305




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2315



fol. 68v

2320





2325




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2335





2340




2345
 		 So cam worde to the kynge by his espy
How Duke Cheldrike with payens multitude
Was comen oute than new fro Germany
With sexe hundre shyppes ful of juventude
Of armed men and archers multitude
And londed was that tyme in Albany
And brente the londe there thurgh his tyrany.

For whiche the kynge by alle his hole counsayle
To Londoun wente and to Kynge Howel sente
His syster sonne that was withouten fayle
Kynge of Lytylle Bretayne so fayre and gente.
And prayd hym of helpe and socourement
For whiche he came with fiftene thousond knyghtes
To helpe his eme with alle his force and myghtes.

At Hamtoun londe he than with his meyné
Ressaved fayre as dyd hym wele beseme
Like his degré in alkyn rialté
That men couthe wytte or els by reson deme.
With that anone assembled thare hostes breme.
In days few thay cam to Caerludcourte
That Lyncolne now ys called in every courte.

And Lindcolyne dyd some men than it calle
In cronycles as made is mencioun
Whare Coligrym and Baldulf his brother withalle
Seged the toun with alle intencyoun
Brennynge the londe with strengh and subvencioun
Unto the tyme the kynges two ryght thore
Dyd with thaym feght in batayle stronge and sore

And venquyste thaym with grete humanyté.
Levynge the sege thay fled at alle thare myght
Untyl a wode nereby that same cyté
Hight Calidoun with grete defence to fight.
Whare than the kynges two thay came fulle right
And seged thaym by alle the wode aboute
That on no syde thay myght nowrewhare breke oute.

Whare thay so ware hungred and sore famysht
Tylle thay dyd graunte oute of thare londe trewage
Unto the kynge so were thay almost ramyssht
And prayed hym so that he wolde take hostage
And lete thaym passe so home to thare lynage
And never more agayn hym ought offende
To whiche Arthure consent and made an ende.
 
pagans

youth


burned




noble
requested; reinforcement

uncle

troop
befit

judge
fierce







destructive force



courage


Called


nowhere


payment of tribute
made wild with hunger




 

How Cheldryke, Baldulfe and Colgrym bicam Kynge Arthurs men and aftir werred on hym agayn at Bathe whare he discomfyte thaym in bataille.

 

 

 

 





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fol. 69r
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2380
 		 So than Cheldrike, Baldulf and Colgrym
Who capteyns were to alle the Saxons hoste
By thayre letters and seles assured hym
Hys men to bene evermore withouten boste
And Germany also thrugh alle thare coste
To bene his men and yelde hym hole trewage
And there upon delyverd hym hostage.

And whan thay were upon the se with sayle
As fals men shulde at Toteneys londe agayne
And to Severne the countrey dyd assayle
And so to Bathe and seged it certayne.
Whan it was tolde the kynge he was not fayne.
Thare hostage than with hym he led anone
To the cyté of Bathe fulle faste gan gone.

He hanged thare the hostage for dispyte
Right in thaire sight and than to batayle wente
And many slew that day withoute respyte
Tylle Saxons alle were sore forhurte and shente.
Wherefore an hylle that toke for strengh and hente
The whiche the kynge with myght upon thaym wan
And slew thaym doune by many thousand than.

Wherefore thay fled away in multitude
Unto thare shyppes, Colgryme and Baldulf slayne
By Arthurs myght and by his fortitude.
So with his swerde he dalte his strokes gayne
That foure hundred he felled on the playne
That never seth on grounde myght stonde ne ryse
His own persone so gretely dyd suffyse.

Than sente he forth Cadore, that duke worthy,
To folow on the chace who with thaym mette
And slew Cheldrike and alle his Saxony
Who brente and waste and strongly had oversette
Deveshyre, Dorset and also Somersette.
For whiche he quytte thaym than so fulle thayre mede
That fro thens forthe to ryde thay had no nede.
 

(see note)

country
tribute






pleased



contempt; (see note)


destroyed
seized






skillful

afterwards






(see note)


 

How whare Scottes and Peghtes biseged Howelle kynge of Lasse Bretayne in Alclude. Kynge Arthure hym reskowed with hoste and drove thaym in to the Oute Iles.

 

 

 

 





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2390




 		 In this mene tyme Arthure herde how Howelle
His nevew was beseged in Alclude
By Scottes and Peghtes that ever were fals and felle
But whils thay were holde lowe in servytude.
Wherefore he wente with myght of multitude
To Alclude so his cosyn to reskowe
Delyverde hym as he had made a vowe.

He drofe thaym oute into a loughe so grete
That fourty iles within it dyd contene.
From ile to ile thay fled and had no mete
And sexty flodes partyng tho yles betwene
And every ile a roche so had fulle clene
Of whiche watyrs went none than to the se
Bot oon alone in boke that I can se.
 		 (see note)

fierce
Except




loch

food
isles
rock formation


 

How the kynge of Irelonde with Saxons cam into Scotland wham Arthure discomfyte

 

 

 

 

2395




2400


fol. 69v


2405



 		 In whiche tyme than Syr Guyllomore the kynge
Of Irelonde so with grete powere dyd londe
In Scotlonde hole the Saxons into brynge.
Whom Arthure than so fully gan withstonde
With batayle grete that thay were fayne to fonde
To Irelonde than agayne and forto fle
For alle thaire pryde and contumacyté.

Than came the lordes and alle the hiegh estates
Bysshops, prelates and alle the comonté
With relykes and with cros fulle desolates
Besekynge hym of his humylité
On thaym so sore oppreste to have pyté.
Whom whan he sawe for mercy crie and knele
Pyté hym made to graunte thaym every dele.
 



happy; go

rebelliousness






(t-note)

 

How the Archebisshop of Yorke shulde bene primate and metropolitane of Scotland (t-note)

 

 

 

 


2410




2415





2420







2425




 		 To Yorke he wente and helde his Cristenmesse
Sorowynge for the Chyrches desolacioun
Whiche Saxons had distroyd thurgh cursydnesse
Whan Seynt Sampson by malignacioun
The archebysshop was put fro mynystracioun
Out of the se was metropolitane
From Humbre northe alle Albany in tane.

In whiche he sette Pyrame his chapelayne
To reule the Chyrche in alkyn holynesse
With alle the rightes of metropolitane
And kyrkes waste agayne he gan redresse
Religeouse place amendyd was I gesse
Alle folke exilde and fro thare right expelled
Agayne restored, whiche payenis had doun felled.

Nota how Arthure toke of the kynges of Albany homage

Thre persones were that tyme of blode rialle
In Albany: Syr Loth of Louthione
That kynge was than of Louthian over alle
That is be south the Scottisshe Se allone;
Syr Aguselle of Albanactes echone;
And Urian of Murrefe was that day
Which of Arthure thare londes had holden ay.
 




diocese; (t-note)
included




churches


pagans









always
 

Arthure wed Gaynore and raysed the Rounde Table of knyghtes worthy

 

 

 

 

2430




2435





2440



 		 This kynge Arthure than wedded to his wyfe
Dame Gwaynore came of worthy blode Romayne
With Duke Cadore brought up fro byrth natyfe
Whose bewté so alle others dyd dystayne
So excelent the sothe of hyre to sayne
And forpassynge she was alle creature
Hyre to amende than stretched noght nature.

The Table Rounde of knyghtes honorable
That tyme was voyde by grete defycience.
So few thay were thurgh werres fortunable
Thay kepte no reule, ne yit obedience.
Wherfore the kynge than by his sapience
The worthieste of every reme aboute
In it that tyme he put withouten doute.
 		 (see note); (t-note)


exceed
truth

excel








 

fol. 70r Names of the knyghtes of the Rounde Table and the reule of the same ordour

 

 

 

 


2445




2450





2455





2460





2465




2470







2475







2480




2485
 		 That tyme was Syr Morvyde Erle of Gloucestre
And Mauron, Erle of Worcestre so stoute,
Syr Barent, Erle was than of Circestre,
Syr Harand, Erle of Shrewsbyry that men doute,
Syr Jugence, Erle of Leycestre in route,
Syr Argalle, Erle of Warrewyke of grete prise,
And Erle Curson of Chestere, that was so wyse,

Kynmare, that tyme Erle of Caunterbyry,
Urgen the Erle was than so of Bathe
Galluc the Erle was than of Salesbyry
Erle Jonatalle of Dorchestere so rathe
Gurgoyne the Erle of Herford dyd no skathe
And Syr Bewes, Erle of Oxenforde so wyse,
Amorawde, Erle of Excestre of pryse,

Kynge Aguselle, that was of Albany,
Kynge Urian of Murref, with Ewayne
His sonne who was than corageouse and manly,
Kynge Loth that was than kynge of Louthiayne,
Of Demecy the kynge Syr Uriayne
That South Wales men now calle and endoce
The kynge also of North Wales called Venodoce

Cadore, the duke of Cornewayle so plentyuous,
Donand, Mapcoyl, Peredoure, and Clenyus,
Maheridoure, Mapclaude, Griffud harageus,
Gorbonyan, Esidoure, and Heroyus,
Edlein, Masgoyd, Kymbelyne, and Cathleus,
Mapcathel, Mapbangan, and Kynkare,
Colflaut, Makeclauke, Gorbodyan, Kynmare.

Nota

These were the knyghtes fully than acounted
That friste he made of the Table Rounde
Two and fourty persounes that amounted.
That tyme no mo was to that ordre bounde
Bot as oon dyed the kynge another founde.
Thare reule was than alle wronges to represse
With thare bodyse whare law myght not redresse.

Nota

Than was no knyght acounte of hiegh emprise
Bot he were thrise in armes wele approved
Or in bataylle had grete excercyse
With ladyse els he was nothynge beloved
With whiche for thay wold not ben unbyloved
So caused thaym to haunten chyvalry
To wynne honoure and thanke of thayre lady.
 		 (t-note)


fear; (see note)
in the gathering





(see note)
quick
damage; (see note)

great value; (see note)


(see note)


(see note)
write



(see note)
stern; (see note)
(see note)
(see note); (see note)

(see note)

(t-note)



came to


(see note)





Unless



practice

 

fol. 70v How Kynge Arthure conquerde Irelonde, Iselonde, Gotlonde, Orcades, Danmark, Freslond, with many other londes and isles.

 

 

 

 





2490





2495





2500




2505





2510



 		 The somer nexte he wente into Irelonde
And with batayle and tryumphe it conquerde
And made the kynge of hym to holde that londe
That wan it so wit Caliburne his swerde
With whiche he made alle londes than so ferde
That thay were yolde to his subjeccioun
In his servyce to byde with affeccioun.

Iselonde, Scotlonde and also Orcadese
With alle the iles aboute in cyrcuyté
Danmarke, Freselonde and Norway is no lese
Alle wanne he so than with his sworde perfyte
Whare alle his knyghtes and prynces had delyte
To prove thaymselff in batayles fulle sore smyten
As memory of thaym is made and writen.

So rose of hym above alle prynces fame
Of conqueste grete and alle nobilité
There was no prynce that had so gode a name
For whiche alle folke obeyed his sovereynté
Above alle other prynces in Cristynté
And specialy alle knyghtes of juventude
Drew to his courte and his excelsitude.

Syr Loth he made the Kynge of alle Norway
Hys syster Anne had wed in trew spousage
And crouned hym with dyademe ful gay
To holde of hym as for his heritage
As cosyn nexte of Kynge Sychelme lynage
That of Norway dyed kynge and to hym gafe
His reme alle hole perpetualy to hafe.
 		 (see note)


with
afraid



Iceland; Orkney Isles
ambit
Friesland










youth
excellence



magnificent

(see note)


 

How knyghtes of the Table Rounde fought and acheved aventures

 

 

 

 


2515




2520





2525



fol. 71r

2530





2535




2540
 		 Kynge Arthure than helde the gretteste hous of name
Of Cristen kynges was none so plentyuouse
That thurgh the world of it than rose the fame.
Whiche tyme his knyghtes that were fulle corageouse
Of the Table Rounde thayre reule so vertuouse
To execute thay sought thayre aventure
Thurgh londes fele to prove what were thaire ure.

Whiche knyghtes so had many aventure
Whiche in this boke I may not now compile
Whiche by thaymselff in many grete scripture
Bene tytled wele and bettere than I thys while
Can thaym pronounse, or write thaym with my style.
Whose makynge so by me that was not fayred
Thurgh my symplesse I wold noght were enpayred.

For alle thare actes I have not herde ne sene
Bot wele I wote thay wolde alle comprehende
More than the Byble thrise wryten dothe contene
Bot who that wylle laboure on itte expende
In the grete boke of alle the aventures
Of the Seynte Grale, he may fynde fele scriptures

Whiche specify fulle mony aventure
Fulle mervelouse to yonge mennes wytte
Of whiche myne age ow now to have no cure.
Bot rather thaym to leven and omytte
To my masters that can thaym intermytte
Of suche thynges thurgh thaire hiegh sapience
More godelily than I can make pretence.
 		 (see note); (t-note)





many; good custom




chronicled
pen
embellished
impaired

(t-note)




many writings



ought; concern

present


 

How Arthure made al his knyghtes of the Rounde Table to telle hym al thaire aventures whiche he putte in writyng for remembrance and for noon avaunt (boast) be accounted (t-note)

 

 

 

 





2545





2550




 		 Bot whan the kynge longe tyme had so sojorned
In welthes grete and hiegh prosperité
And alle his knyghtes were home agayn retorned
To his howshold fulle of alle felicité
He made echone to write his fortuyté
How hym byfelle in armes in his absence
To tyme he came agayne to his presence.

And every day afore the kynge at mete
Amonge his prynces in open audience
An aventure of armes and a fete
Reported was so for his reverence
That dyd that dede by suche experyence
And forto move his yonge knyghtes corages
Suche aventurs escheven in thaire viage.
 		 (see note)



adventure





exploit



achieve; errantry
 

How he made new knyghtes of the Rounde Table for cause many were spent in the werre

 

 

 

 

2555




2560





2565




fol. 71v
2570




2575
 		 Bycause that in his werres longe contened
The Table Rounde bygan aparte to fayle
For som were slayne in bataylle mekel mened
And som by age whan deth dyd thaym assayle
Were dede away, for whiche by hole counsayle
The kynge dyd make knyghtes new for comforte
Of it to kepe the honoure and comporte.

Syr Gawen, sonne to Lothe of Louthian,
Who Kynge was than of Louthian throughoute
And Syr Launcelot de Lake that noble man
And Kynge Pelles of North Wales than was stoute
Syr Persyvalle, whom mony men dyd doute,
Lybews Dysconus, and Syr Colygrenauntt,
Syr Leonelle, Degré, and Degrevaunt,

Bors and Estore, Syr Kay and Bedwere,
Guytarde, and Bewes of Corbenny, so wyse,
Syr Irelglas, and Mordrede als in fere,
Who Gawayns brother was of ful grete emprise.
Bot som bokes sayne Arthure was so unwyse
That he hym gatte on his syster Dame Anne
Of Louthiane that was the quene so thanne.
 		 (see note)

sorely mourned



befit



(t-note)

fear
(t-note)




together
action



 

Whar Kynge Arthure helde moste usualy his housholde in Bretayne

 

 

 

 





2580





2585





2590




2595







2600





2605




2610

fol. 72r



2615





2620




 		 In whiche tyme so of reste and grete sojorne
The knyghtes alle of the Table Rounde
Grete aventurs cheved and dyd perfourne
And brought tyl ende thurghout alle Bretayne grounde
By enchauntements that made were firste and founde.
Whiche tyme so than the kynge Arthure rialle
Hys housholde helde thurghoute Grete Bretayn alle

At Edynburgh, Stryvelyn, and Dunbretayne,
At Cumbyrnalde, Dundonalde, and at Perte,
At Bamburgh als, at Yorke the sothe to sayne,
And at Carlele with knyghtes manly and perte.
And open house he kepte ay in aperte
The Table Rounde abowte he dyd remewe
In every place whare that he remewed newe.

At Londoun, als Carnarvan, and Cardyfe,
At Herforde, als Wynchestere, and Carlyoun,
In Cornewayle ofte, and Dovere als ful ryfe,
And ofte within the Ile of Avaloun
That Glasenbyry now is of religioun
Thise were his places and his habitacions
In whiche he had his hertes consolacions.

The reule of the knyghtes of the Rounde Table

The reule so of that ordoure excellent
In londes alle forpassynge moste desyred
Was to distroye sorsery and enchauntement
And rebellyoun agayne the fayth conspyred.
The Kyrke, wedows and maydens that required
That wronged were with batayle to redresse
Agayn al men that dyd thaym ought oppresse.

Devourours als of the comoun profyte
Rebelles agayne the kynges dygnyté
Extorsioners that pore men disheryte
Of londes or gude by myght or subtylité
Whare suche so were within any contré
If law myght noght thay shuld make resistence
With bataylle and chyvalrouse defence.

And every yere upon Whisson even
Thay shulde come alle unto the kynges presence
And alle that feste in his courte byleven
Bot if grete cause that tyme made his absence.
And who cam noght his felows with grete fervence
That yere shulde seke and helpe hym at thare myght
Alle severaly echone by hymselff right.

And at that feste the reule and ordynance
Was so that thay shulde telle thayre aventure
What so thaym felle that yere and what kyns chaunce
That myght be sette in romance or scripture.
And none avaunt acounted bot nurture
To cause his felaws to do so eke the same
Thaire aventure to seke and gete a name.
 		 (see note)

achieved








bold
view
transport
relocated



often







(see note)

sorcery

Church; widows











Whit Sunday (Pentecost)

remain

ardor

independently





boast; good upbringing
also

 

How Arthure conquerde Fraunce with alle londes longynge to it, and slew Kyng Frolle and Kynge of Fraunce corounde.

 

 

 

 

2625




2630





2635





2640




2645





2650



fol. 72v

2655





2660




2665

 		 But ever as next the valey is the hille
After longe reste so comyth sharpe laboure
Kynge Arthure so fermely had sette his wille
To conquerre Fraunce as his progenitoure
Maximyan had done with grete honoure.
Wharfore he sente thurghoute his homagers
Prynces and lordes tille come with thayre powers.

And so anone to Fraunce fulle faste he spedde
Whiche was that tyme a ful noble provynce
By senatours of Rome that powere hedde
To Frolle commytte that was a manly prynce
Whom Arthure sought oute of this londe from hynce
To fyght with hym or els to have alle Fraunce
For evermore in his high governaunce.

Frolle fro hym fled and myght not with hym dele
And helde hym in the cyté of Parise
Whom Arthure than dyd sege with folke ful fele
And thought he shuld hym hungre and enfamyse.
For fere of whiche Kynge Frolle by hole advyse
To Arthure sente that he wolde with hym fight
With honde for honde to jugen alle the right.

Of whiche profre Kynge Arthure was ful light
At day assyned right in an ile thay mette
Withoute the toune bothe armed wele and bright
And strokes sore ayther on other sette.
Bot in affecte Kynge Frolle so sore was bette
That dede he was, the tale forto abbregge
Arthure hym slew with Caliburnes egge.

So was the toune of Parise to hym yolde
And entred yn with alle his hole powere
And kynge was thare and had it as he wolde
And gafe Howelle that was his neven dere
A grete parte of his hoste with hym in fere
To werre upon the duke of Aquytayne
Whiche Guyen is and Paytow eke certayne.

Kynge Howelle so sore faught with Duke Guytarde
Of Guyen so and made it alle obay
To Kynge Arthure and stonde at his awarde
Servyce to do to his highnesse alway.
And Arthure with his powere every day
Hostayed the londe and with knyghthode conquerde
Alle Fraunce thurghout with Caliburne his swerde.
 		 (see note); (see note); (t-note)




vassals
to









have dealings

many
famish




happy



beaten
abbreviate
edge

surrendered


nephew
together





grant


Plundered

 

What prynces obeyed to Kynge Arthure and did hym homage and service

 

 

 

 




2670





2675




2680





2685





2690





fol. 73r
2696



2700





2705



 		 To whom Howelle, kynge of Lesse Bretayne,
And Geryn, erle of Chartres and Orlience,
And Duke Guytarde also of Aquytayne
And alle the lordes of Fraunce to his presence
Came and obeyed his hiegh magnyficence.
The kynges als of Naverne and Arrogoyne,
Of Portyngale, Castele, and Cateloyne,

The duke of Savoy and the duke of Burgoyne
With alle the prynces in cyrcuyte aboute
Of Ostryche eke the duke withoute essoyne
Who to hym cam his lordshyp forto loute
The duke also of Loreyne withouten doute
The dukes alle and prynces of Almayne,
Of Saxony, and als of alle Germayne,

The dukes als of Braban and Gellerlonde
The duke of Bayre with rialle company
The erles also of Flaunders and Holande
With mekylle folke and grete chyvalry.
Of whiche he made knyghtes so than in hy
The worthyeste of worship and knyghthode
In the Table Rounde than of worthihode.

And festayde thaym by fourty days right
In Paryse than with alle grete rialté
And coronde was in alle the peples sight.
And Quene Gaynore with hiegh nobilité
Corounde also was in that same cyté
At that same tyme with alle servyce rialle
That couthe be done tille estate imperialle.

With justes eche day for love of ladyse specialle
Whiche with the quene were dwellynge in servyse
Whose bewté was high in universalle.
Some wedowes were fulle womanly and wyse
Some wyfes were of bewté bare emprise
And some virgyns als, fresshe as rose in May,
Some deflorate whiche semed maydyns gay.

Bot for to speke of Gaynores grete bewté
Whiche forpassynge alle others dyd excelle
And fourmed was in alle femynyté
Als ferre as couthe Nature wyrke and expelle
Of womanhode she was the floure and welle
So aungellyke and so celestialle
That no bewté myght hirs in ought appalle.
 
Orléans; (t-note)



Navarre; Aragon
Portugal, Castile; Catalonia



Austria; excuse
bow before
Lorraine
Germany
Saxony (Germany)

Brabant; Gelderland
(?)Bar, France


haste



feasted
Paris






jousts





not virgins





flower; source

overshadow
 

How Kynge Arthure dwelled nyne yeres in Fraunce, in whiche tyme the knyghtes of the Rounde Table sought and acheved many aventures. (t-note)

 

 

 

 


2710




2715





2720





2725





2730




2735


fol. 73v


2740



 		 Nyne yere he helde his rialle se in Fraunce
And open howse gretly magnyfyde
Thurghoute the worlde of welth and suffisshaunce
Was never prynce so hieghly glorifyde.
In whiche tyme so the Rounde Table multiplyde
And aventurs dyd seke cotydialy
With grete honoure as made is memory.

And whan he had so bene in Fraunce nyne yere
He toke purpose to passe home to Bretayne
At Caerlyoun his cyté fayre and clere
At Pentecoste to holde and to contayne
His feste rialle thare to be crounde agayne.
For whiche he made somouns to every prynce
And lordes alle of every hole provynce

At it to bene and every worthy knyght
He sente his lettre thedyre forto come
To his cyté that Carlyoun so hight.
To whiche alle men that dwelle of north halfe Rome
In Severne myght arrife both alle and some
So navigalle that ryvere is of streme
That shyppes thare myght londe of every reme.

And in that tyme Arthur helde his counsayle
At Parisse than pese and lawes to conferme
And ordynaunce there made and governayle
And alle customes of olde he dyd afferme.
His londes sette for tribute and for ferme
By his balifs and shirrifs alle aboute
Thurgh his regence that tyl hym than dyd loute.

He gaffe Bedwere that was his botyler
The Duchy so alle hole of Normandy.
And Kay he gaff that than was his pantere
Of alle Aungoy the noble riche duchy.
And other provynce to men that were manly
He gaff fulle faste in alle that myght suffise
For whiche his name thurghoute the world gan ryse.
 		 seat




daily
(t-note)

(see note)









called
(see note)
one and all; (see note)
navigable
realm


peace
governance

control

obey

butler

in charge of his pantry
Anjou



 

How Kynge Arthure came to Bretayn coronde at Carlioun aftir he departe oute of the reme of Fraunce

 

 

 

 


2745




2750





2755





2760





2765




2770





2775




fol. 74r
2780




2785





2790





2795





2800




2805





2810



 		 This noble kynge to Bretayne gan retorne
And at his terme assigned so afore
At Carlyoun he cam there to sojorne
His feste to holde to prynces lesse and more
To lordes also prelates and clerkes of lore
Knyghtes and squyers with alle the comonté
As ordeyned was by his hiegh magesté.

On Whissonday that hight so Pentecoste
Kynges and prynces thurgh his domynacioun
Compered there of every reme and coste
To se that feste and that solempnysacioun
And servyce als at his coronacioun.
And of the quene as for hyre corounement
That same day sette togedyr by oon assent.

Archebysshops thre at that feste dyd apere
Two hundreth als of philosophres wyse
In astronomy approved clerkes were
Thurgh whiche of thynge to come thay couth provyse
And telle that shulde byfalle and on what wyse.
Suche was thayre witte and als thaire grete doctryne
Of thynge to come the certeyne to diffyne.

Whiche kynges and prynces everychone
And erles als with other noble knyghtes
Of the Table Rounde were knyghtes made anone
Whiche presed were in batayle and in fyghtes
Forpassynge other that moste had sene by sightes
Of honoure and travayle of knyhtlyhode
Of nurture als worshyp and worthyhode.

Whiche prynces so it nede no more reherse
For alle that I have named so above
Bysyde prynces that were his offycerse
That bounden were by homage and by love
To serve hym thare orwhare that he remove.
Whiche were two kynges of Wales that were manly
And kynges thre also of Albany

Kynge Guyllomare, that kynge was of Irelonde,
And Gunvase als, the kynge of Orcadese,
Kynge Malvase als that than was of Iselonde
And Doldayn kynge of Gothlonde was no lese
And Aschille, kynge of Denmarke, proude in prese,
And Loth also that kynge was of Norway
And Duke Cadore of Cornewayle redy ay

The kynge of Man, the Dusze Piers alle of Fraunce,
And of Bretayne alle hole the baronage
With provostes alle, that cytese governaunce
In Bretayn had by auncyen pryvylage
To maken joy and also sure plausage
Of his tryumphe and coronacioun
That than shuld be with grete solempnysacioun.

Whom Seynte Dubrike the archebisshop so wyse
Of Caerlyoun that than was hyegh prymate
The kynge corounde in alkyns rialle wyse
As longed to his hyegh and dygne estate
And as of olde it was preordynate
With coroun riche of golde and dyademe
That never prynce it dyd so wele beseme.

The archebysshop of Londoun helde so than
The kynges right arme, that was so his servyce.
The archebysshop of Yorke the lefte up wan
That tyme so was his dette and excercyse.
The servyce alle and als the obsequyse
Seynt Dubrike dyd so in that mynstere fayre
Of Seynte Aron whare than was alle repayre.

Whiche was the se than metropolitane
Foundyd fully of gode religioun
Where byried was Seynt Dubrike not to layne
To whom the folke in thare opynyoun
For alle desese had grete devosioun
To seke hym ofte and make thaire offerynge
So gloryus was he in alle wyrkynge.
 		 (t-note)




citizenry


Whitsunday; was called

Appeared; area
ceremonial celebration





(t-note)

foresee







commended








anywhere







battle



Twelve Peers; (see note)

magistrates

praise






worthy
ordained

suit

(see note)

sustained
duty; customary practice
dutiful service





conceal; (see note)

illnesses


 

How the kynges of Albany, of Wales, and the Duke of Cornwaille, bare foure swerdes at his coronacioun afore hym.

 

 

 

 


2815




2820

fol. 74v



2825





2830





2835




2840

 		 Kynge Aguselle of Albanyse provynce
The kynge of Demecy that South Wales hight
The kynge of Venodoce that worthy prynce
That now North Wales man calle it so fulle right
The duke Cadoure of Cornewayle prynce of myght
Foure swordes of golde afore Kynge Arthure bare
As fore thare londes so holdyn of hym ware.

It was servyce of thayre londes of right
Whiche thayre elders of longe antiquyté
Afore had done tille his auncesters of myght
At alle suche festes of grete solempnyté
Thus fro the chyrche, that was the prymates se,
Thay worshyp hym so in that humble wyse
Of olde duté hym doynge that servyce.

Many thousand knyghtes homward so wente
Afore hym than to his palays rialle
Fresshely arayed in clothes of ryche extente
With thousondes fele of mynstrals pryncipalle
The noyse of whiche was so celestialle
Thare couthe no wight it fro joy of heven
Dyscerne in ought so were thay lyke and even.

And fro the chyrche of Seynt July that tyde
The quene Gaynore the godeliest on lyve
With kynges led in rialle clothes and syde
Corounde with golde richely as his wyfe
With maydens fele to nombire infynytise
That no wyght couthe thaym telle, ne yit discryve,
Ne yit in boke no clerke that couth subscryve.
 		 (see note)
was called








to











Distinguish; similar

time

ample; (see note)


describe
write
 

How the quenes of south Wales, north Wales, and the Duchesse of Cornwaylle, bare foure whyte culvers (doves) afore the quene Gaynore.

 

 

 

 




2845





2850




2855





2860



fol. 75r

2865





2870




2875





2880





2885




2890





2895





2900




 		 The quenes of Northe Wales and of Albany
Of South Wales als than dyd hyre that servyce
The duchesse with of Cornewayle certanly
The fourth she was whiche dyd that obsequyse
Thay bare afore hyre than as was the gyse
Foure doufes white with knyghtes multitude
And mynstralsy so fulle of dulcytude.

The kynge was sette in se imperialle
So was the quene with prynces of dygnyté
And served wele at that high feste rialle.
Duke Kay stewarde was than by hole decré
For his wysdome and his habilité
Afore the servyce came with a yerde in honde
Of sylvere fyne afore the kynge dyd stonde.

A thousond knyghtes with hym to serve the halle
Both he and thay clothed alle in ermyne
From the dressoure the mete to bere over alle
With squyers, marshals and usshers gode and fyne.
And ay afore a lady femynyne
A worthy knyght was sette for grete comforte
Hyre forto chere with daliance and disporte.

And Duke Bedwere was chefe butelere
A thousond knyghtes had clothed in a sute
In clothe of golde as fyne as myght affere
Whiche served so the drynkes of refute
Of dyverse wynes there spente and distribute
So plentyuouse that wondere was to se
The grete foysoun of wynes and dyversité.

Thetys that was of waters chefe goddesse
Thare had of thaym that tyme no regyment
For Bachus so thare regned with alle fulnesse
Of myghty wynes to every mannys intente
Shad oute plenté so at that corounemente
To alle estates that there were moste and leste
For honoure so and worshyp of the feste.

The tyme so of that feste imperialle
Everiche a day justes and tournament
Thikfolde thay made for ladyse in specialle
With alle maystrise provynge in thaire entente
That longed so to knyghthode and appente
And musycanes songe notes musicalle
And poetes shewed thaire muse poeticalle.

The myrth and joy, the richesse and aray,
The fare, the feste, the worshyp and servyse,
The nurture and the bewté of ladyse gay
There couth no wyght with alle his wytte suffise
To telle it alle by ought he couth devyse
So rialle was it alle in generalle
And forpassynge estate imperialle.

And every day the quene yede sertanly
To that mynstere with many worthy man
Of Seynte July who Aarons felaw bodyly
Was whan Maxence had sent Maximyan
Into this londe whare he dystroyed than
The Cristen fayth and slewe than Seynte July
And Seynte Aron thurgh his fals tyrany.

Whiche mynstere than a nuniry was devoute
Of vyrgyns clene without any vyce
That served God fulle wele bothe in and oute
In prayers and in alle devyne servyce
Whiche she uphelde alway of hiegh emprice
And thought therein to have hyr sepulture
Whan that hyre lyfe no lengare myght endure.
 


service
custom
doves
sweetness

throne


(see note)
skill
baton




counter
porters
(see note)

polite conversation; flirtation

butler
matching garments
befit; (see note)
excellence
poured out

plenty

Thetis; (see note)
sovereignty
Bacchus

Poured




jousts
Aplenty
feats
pertained

exhibited









went; (see note)











renown
burial

 

fol. 75v Whan Saynt Dubrike dyed Saint David was made Archebisshop of Caerlyoun

 

 

 

 

2905




2910





2915



 		 But Seynte Dubrike that than archebysshop stode
Cesed mekely and hole forsoke his cure
Purposynge than in holy lyfe and gode
In ermytage whils that he myght endure
Alle solitary for any aventure
To plesen God in prayere wache and excuby
Fastynge, penaunce and leve his prymacy.

In whose stede so Davyd the kynges eme
Was sette whose lyfe ensample of alle godenesse
Was after than, as sonne doth sprede his beme
After mystes foule and grete derkenesse
Who afterwardes Seynt Davyd was doutlesse
An holy saynt and canonysed
By alle the Chyrche and autorised.
 		 (see note)
office

hermitage

nightly prayer; vigil


uncle






 

Elyden was than made Bisshop of Alclude, the whiche som say it is a litil fro Carlele at ende of the Peghte Walle, and som say it is Carlele and other some say it is Dunbretayne, bot aftir (according to) Policronicon it is at ende of the Peght Walle, and aftir Bede also. (see note)

 

 

 

 


2920




2925





2930





2935





2940




2945

 		 The ile that was of Alclude than I gesse
Whiche Dunbretayne hatte now and is named
That tyme was voyde and also bysshoplesse.
Whiche se for sothe fulle gretely than was famed
Whiche at Glaskowe translate ys and hamed
The kynge gafe than estate pontificalle
To Elidenne of that se cathedralle.

And whan that feste rialle was dissolved
That every prynce homwarde wolde retorne
Within his mynde he thought and faste revolved
With plesance howe he myght shorte his sojorne
And to his londe agayne forto attorney.
For whiche thay sought to his magnyficence
Alle holyly with alle thaire diligence

The kynge than dyd the grete estates rewarde
As dyd acorde to thaire nobilité.
So dyd he other by gode and hole awarde
Londes thaym gafe of grete sufficienté
Acordynge to thaire oportunyté
So largely that thurgh the world his name
Of liberalté than rose and spronge the fame.

He thonked thaym of thaire comynge so ferre
Prayand thaym alle eche prynce in his estate
To se his welfare was nothynge to hym derre.
Than thaire persons with hym resociate
And hevy was of chere and desolate
Whan thay departe so fro his hiegh presence
Whiche dyd excede alle prynces regymence.
 
is called

diocese
Glasgow; has its home



(see note)



return







As was appropriate to them





more precious
associated


government
 

fol. 76r How whan his knyghtes of the Rounde Table were present that Galaad sette and acheved the Sege Perlouse in the Rounde Table as the grete story of the Saynt Graal proportes in the story of the grete aventures of Arthure and his knyghtes contened, aftir Waltier of Oxenford that put in wrytynges in Policraticon that he made of Cornewail and Wales. (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 




2950





2955




2960





2965





2970





2975




2980





2985



 		 And at that feste than next of Whissonday
His knyghtes alle than of the Table Rounde
Within Bretayne that were reseant ay
Appered hool afore the kynge that stounde
As by the reule of it thay were sore bounde
At his cyté of Carlyoun so fayre
Whare than his courte rialle dyd repayre.

Whare Galaad of fiftene yere of age
The godelyest wyght afore that men had sene
Whom Launselot gat by hole and fulle knowlage
Of Pelles doughter, that longe the kynge had bene
Of Venodoce, after whome she shuld be quene,
Came sodenly at mete into the halle
Armed fulle clene, obeyed the kynge in alle,

And afterwarde the quene with hyegh honoure
The lordes alle, and knyghtes of worthynesse,
And ladyse fayre and fressh of thare coloure.
And than he yede unto the sege doutelesse
Of the Rounde Table with fulle grete hardynesse
And sette hym doune whiche was the Sege Perilouse
Whare never none satte bot Arthure redoutouse.

For alle other that it had presumed
Alle utterly were shamed and mescheved
Or brente therein or otherwyse consumed
Saufe he allone that had it wele escheved.
For whiche the knyghtes echone hole beleved
He was the same persone of whom Merlyne
Sayde shulde descende of Nacyan by lyne

The tente persone fro hym lynyaly
Who shulde acheve and fully brynge to ende
The aventurs, as made is memory,
Of the Seynte Graal whiche no man there than kende.
For whiche thay alle anone to hym attende
In alle worshyp to do hym high plesaunce
As he in whom thay truste grete governaunce.

At soupere als on Whissonday at even
Unto his sege he wente with grete constance
And sette hym doun his fortune forto preven
Whiche wele he cheved with cherefulle countenance
To alle the knyghtes fulle hyegh and grete plesance
Trustynge fully he shulde do grete honoure
To alle knyghthode that was in that ordoure.
 		 Whitsunday; (see note)

residing
time


assemble

(see note)
person








complexion
(i.e., Galahad) went; seat

Siege Perilous
formidable


undone
burned
achieved


Nacian



chronicle
Holy Grail
(t-note)

moral discipline

supper
seat
make trial of
achieved



 

fol. 76v How the Saynt Grale appered in Kynge Arthur hows (house) at soupere, and how Galaad made a vowe to seke it to he myght knowe it clerly, to whom his felaws gafe thaire servyce a yere, as is contened in the storie of the Seint Grale writen by Giralde Cambrense in his Topographie of Wales and Cornwail. (see note)

 

 

 

 


2990




2995





3000





3005





3010




3015

 		 At whiche soupere the wyndows alle dyd spere
And dores als with noyse fulle merveillouse
Right by thaymselff of whiche alle men had fere
Trustynge there came som case aventurouse.
And with that so the Saynte Graalle preciouse
Flawe alle aboute within the halle fulle ofte
Flyghtrande fulle faste above thaym alle on lofte.

And sodenly the wyndows gan to opyn
The dores also, as sayth the cronyclere,
And forth it wente and eche man gat his wopen
Bot more of it thay couth not se ne here.
Bot on the morowe Galaad dyd appere
Afore the kynge at mete and made a vowe
To seke it ever tille that he fynde it mowe.

Wyth that the knyghtes that were aventerouse
Of the Rounde Table thare graunted hym that yere
Thaire servyce hole his vow so corageouse
For to acheve and also to conquere.
To whiche thay made avowes syngulere
Praynge the kynge Galaad to make knyght
The whiche he dyd and gaffe hym armes right.

To whom he sayde “I shalle no shelde me take
Afore I have it gete by aventure
Ne two nyght ligge in o place for youre sake
Whils I may ryde and with travaylle endure
Tylle I have founde this thynge in alle fygure
And fully know fro whyne it came and howe
And what it is, here make myne avowe.”
 		 close; (see note)


happening
Holy Grail
Flew
Flying



weapon



may (might)





individual



shield

one; (see note)


whence

 

How Kynge Arthure made his compleynt at thaire departynge

 

 

 

 




3020





3025




3030

fol. 77r



3035


 		 With that he toke his leve and forth he rode
And alle the knyghtes of the Table Rounde
Toke leve echone no lengare there abode.
But forth with hym thay rode as thay were bounde
By thare avowes whiche thay had made that stounde
For whiche the kynge morned with dolefulle herte
At thare partynge with wepynge teres and smerte

Saynge “Allas what shalle I do or say
My knyghtes alle that were my joy and hele
The membres eke to kepe my body ay
My soules ese and alle my hertes wele
My londes helpe in nede fulle trew and lele
Thus sodenly from me to passe thys stounde
Unto myne herte it is the dethes wounde.

“O God, seth deth wolde briste myne herte in tweyne
Who shalle meyntene my coroun and my rightes?
I trow no more to se thaym efte agayne
Thus hole togedyr and so godely knyghtes.
Wold God I myght make myne avowe and hyghtes
To folow thaym in what londe so thay go
And take my parte with thaym in wele and wo.”
 

remained

time
(see note)
bitter


health
organs
welfare
loyal
time


since; two

trust

promises

joy and sorrow
 

How Sir Galaad had hys sheelde, swerde and his speere at Avalon, and how he acheved the Saynte Grale and made was Kynge of Sarras and made knyghtes of the ordour of Saynt Grale in significacioun of the fraternité that Joseph of Arymathy (Arimathea) had made afore, as Girald aforsaide specifieth in his saide Topographie of Wales and Cornwail. (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 



3040





3045




3050





3055





3060




3065





3070



fol. 77v

3075





3080




3085





3090





3095




3100





3105





3110




 		 With that Galaad rode forthe so with his route
At every way he made a knyght departe
To tyme thay alle severally so were gone oute
And none lefte than, so had echone thaire parte.
And iff on mette another in any arte
His reule was so he shuld his felawe telle
His aventurs what so that hym befelle.

And als sone as thaire way lay sondry wyse
Thay shulde departe, and mete no more agayne
Bot aventure it made thurgh excercyse
Of grete laboure that thaym did so constrayne
By dyverse stretes whiche togedir layne.
And whan he had his felawes alle convayed
He chese his way fulle like a knyght arayed.

Bot so Galaad than came to Avalone
Whare holy men he founde of grete perfeccioun
Whiche were fulle glad of hym than everychone
And made hym chere with alle affeccioun.
Thay shewed hym thare thynges in thayre subjeccioun
A shelde, a spere, a sworde, as thare was breved,
Whiche never man bare bot he were sone mescheved.

Bot than thay sayde in bokes thay founde it wreton
Kynge Evalache the shelde of olde there lefte
Whiche is alle white, as ye shalle se and wyten,
With crosse of blode fro Josep nose byrefte
Who sayde there shulde no wyght than bere it efte
Withouten deth, mayme, or adversité,
Bot oon that shulde leve in vyrgynyté.

The spere, the swerde was by Duke Seraphe
There lefte that tyme who after hight Nacyen
Of whiche thay founde writen of antiquyté
The same periles who bare thaym after then
Sauf he allone that were amonge alle men
A vyrgyn knowe and in vyrgynyté
Shulde de at laste and of his blode laste be.

And shulde acheve the Seynte Graalle worthyly
And kynge so be of Sarras withouten doute
Of Orboryke also duke verryly
By heritage of auncetry thrughoute.
And cheve he shulde amonges alle the route
The Sege Perilouse in the Table Rounde
That never myght knyght withouten dethes wounde.

What shuld I more say of thys worthy knyght
That afterward acheved this prophecy?
For as it spake so was he after right
And verifyed fulle hole and openly
As writton had Josep off Aramathy
That holy knyght with God fulle welle beloved
As by his werkes it is welle sene and proved.

The shelde he hange upon his shuldere than
And gyrde hym with that swerde of grete emprise.
The spere in honde he toke fulle lyke a man
And toke his horse right on a knyghtly wyse.
The holy men he prayed withoute fayntyse
To pray for hym with besy herte and pure
And forthe he rode to seke his aventure.

That every yere the knyghtes at Whissonday
To Arthure came so by his ordynance
And tolde hym alle thaire aventures ay
Whiche he dyd putte in boke for remenbrance.
So dured thay and kepte that governance
By yeres fele and ay agayn returned
At that same feste whare that the kynge sojorned.

Bot so it felle Galaad was than kynge
Of Sarras and of Orberike alle hale
Upon his queste bysyly pursuyynge
Whare he sette up the Table of Seynte Grale
In whiche he made an ordre vyrgynale
Of knyghtes noble in whiche he satte as chefe
And made suche brether of it as were hym lefe.

Syr Bors was oon, another Syr Percyvalle,
Syr Claudyus a noble knyght of Fraunce
And other two nere of his blode with alle
Thre knyghtes als withouten variaunce
Of Danmarke so of noble governaunce
And thre knyghtes als of Irelonde excelente
Whiche twelve were alle of noble regymente.
 		 troop; (see note)

Until; separately

one; place





Unless

roads
accompanied


(see note); (see note)




noted; (see note)
in trouble

(see note)
(see note)
know
(see note)
afterwards

Except one who; (see note)

(see note)



Except

die



(see note)

achieve; company



(see note)








renown


delay
solicitous


(see note)



endured
many


(see note)
healthy; (see note)

Holy Grail


dear








 

fol. 78r What the reule of ordour of Saynt Graal was, here is expressed and notifyed, as is contened in the book of Josep of Arymathie and as it is specified in a dialoge that Gildas made, De Gestis Arthuri. (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 

3115




3120





3125





3130




3135
 		 Whose reule was this by Galaad constytute
To leve evermore in clennesse virginalle
Comon profyte alway to execute
Alle wronges redresse with bataylle corporalle
Whare law myght nought have course judicialle
Alle fals lyvers his londe that had infecte
Forto distroy or of thaire vice correcte

The pese to kepe the laws als sustene
The fayth of Criste, the Kyrke also protecte
Wydews, maydyns aywhare forto mayntene
And chyldre yonge unto thare age perfecte
That thay couthe kepe thaymselfe in alle affecte.
Thus sette it was in hole perfeccioun
By gode advise and fulle cyrcumspeccioun

So endurynge fulle longe and many yere
To fate of dethe and perturbacioun
And toke his soule unto the blisse ful clere
Therein evermore to have his habitacioun
Eternaly withouten lamentacioun.
Whiche tyme than so he made Syr Borse there kynge
That ordre forthe to kepen over alle thynge.
 
purity








everywhere

manner

deliberation

(see note)




(see note)

 

How Percyvalle broughte Kynge Galaad hert closed in gold to biry at Avalon, and alle the aventures of the Saint Gralle wryten to the Kynge Arthure, whiche he made bene remembred in Bretayn in grete writynges and notable as Giraldus Cambrensis wryteth in hys Topographie of Cornwail and Wales. (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 





3140





3145





3150




3155


fol. 78v


3160





3165




3170
 		 So after his deth agayne the Whissonday
Syre Percyvalle came into Grete Bretayne
And dyverse knyghtes that were with Galaad ay
Of that ordoure so cam with hym agayne
At whiche tyme so the kynge of thaym was fayne
And asked how Kynge Galaad hys compere
Dyd fare of hele fulle faste he dyd enquere.

Who tolde hym alle the wondere aventures
That never man myght acheve bot he alone
Whiche Kynge Arthure thanne putte in hole scriptures
Remembred ever to be whan he were gone
Whiche mervelouse so were and many one
Fro tyme he wente so fro his hiegh presence
Unto his deth in knyghtly diligence.

And to the kynge his herte in golde preserved
As Galaad had comaunde he than presente
Besekynge hym for that he had hym served
It to entere at Avalon anente
The sepulture and verry monument
Whare Josep lyeth of Aramathy so gode
Bysyde Nacien that nere was of his blode.

And there to sette his shelde that Josep made
Whiche was the armes that we Seynt Georges calle
That aftir thare fulle many yere abade
And worshypt were thurghout this reme over alle
In so ferre forthe that kynges in especialle
Thaym bare alway in batayle whare thay wente
Afore thaym ever forspede in thare entente.

Whose hole requeste the kynge anone dyd spede
With alle his knyghtes in honorable wyse
His herte enterde at Avaloun I rede
Whare men sayde than that Nacyen so lyse
With dirige and devoute exequyse
In alle suche wyse as longed to a kynge
And als his shelde above hym there he hynge.
 



joyful
companion
health









(see note)


near to




(see note)





succeeded



interred
lies
funeral rites


 

How Templers and Hospitilers were founded in figure and significacoun of the fraternyté and ordoure of the Saynt Grale, and the Table Rounde was made in significacioun of the Saynte Grale.

 

 

 

 





3175





3180




 		 Of whiche ordre of Seynte Graalle so clene
Were after longe founded than the Templers
In figure of it writen, as I have sene,
Oute of the whiche bene now Hospitulers
Growen up fulle hiegh at Rodes withouten peres.
Thus eche ordre were founded upon other
Alle as on and echone others brother.

So was also the Table Rounde araysed
In remembrance alle of the worthy Table
Of the Seynte Grale whiche Josep afore had raysed
In hole fygure of Cristes soupere comendable.
Thus eche ordoure was grounded resonable
In grete vertu and condygne worthynesse
To Goddes plesyre and soules heelfulnesse.
 		 Holy Grail; (see note)



Rhodes; equals

one






proper
health
 

How Arthure helde hys feest at Carlioun whare the ambassiatours of Rome toke hym lettres fro Lucyus Emperoure

 

 

 

 

3185




3190





3195




fol. 79r
3200




3205





3210





3215





3220




3225







3230





3235




3240

fol. 79v



3245





3250





3255




3260





3265





3270




3275
 		 At Pentecoste than nexte there after folowynge
The kynge wyllynge, with hertes sore desyre
To sene his knyghtes, olde also and yynge
Dukes and erles thurghoute his hole empyre
And barons alle and knyghtes he dyd requyre
To ben with hym than at his feste rialle
At Carlyoun that Camalot some dyd calle

The kynges and prynces and prelates sprittualle
Of Wales, Irelonde, and Iles of Orchadese,
Of Denmarke als, and Norway than withalle,
Of Albany, and of Gothlonde no lese,
Of Iselonde als, he loved so wele grete prese,
The Dusze Piers alle thurghoute the reme of Fraunce
Of Lesse Bretayne the kynge with alle plesaunce.

Whiche came alle hole at his high comaundemente
In grete aray for worshyp of his feste
At whiche feste than was redde by his comaundente
Eche day at mete, whanne served were moste and leste,
Feel aventures of knyghtes whiche had preste
In batayls sore and had grete worthynesse
In thaire laboure and knyghtly besynesse.

This feste so dyd by fourty days endure
With myrthe and joy with songe and mynstralsy
Justes every day for ladyse fresshe and pure
At tournaments his knyghtes to magnyfy
And entyrludes played fulle coriously
Revelle, daunsynge, and lovynge paramours,
Romauns and gestes redynge of grete honours.

The metes and drynkes were there so plentyuouse
That alle men were amervelde of the feste
The kynge also of gyftes bountyuouse
The quene also to able men moste and leste
Grete gyftes gafe and many men encreste
So godely was hyre chere and daliance
To every wight it was a suffisshance.

So at that feste whils that he helde the dese
Twelve knyghtes came of Romayns gode and wyse
With olyfe braunche in honde withouten prese
An esy pase as legates dyd suffise.
Upon thayre knes, with dew and hole advise
Delyverd hym the letters to hym sente
By Lucyus emperoure whiche thus mente:

The Emperours lettre for truage and tribute

“Lucyus of Rome the emperoure
And procuratoure for alle the hole Senate
Of the publyke profyte chieff governoure
By hole Senate made and denomynate
To Arthure kynge of Bretayne inordinate
Sendyth gretynge as thou haste deserved
Now late in Fraunce whiche was to us preserved

“Mervelynge myche of wronges whiche thou haste done
Within oure londe of Fraunce by grete rigoure
Withouten right that bettere had ben undone
Bot if thy wytte amende that foule erroure
Of whiche seth tyme that thou was govenoure
No tribute payed bot as thyne own conqueste
Haste holden it ever undre thyne arreste.

“And for thou haste no wylle it to amende
Or was so proude to do that cruelle dede
Kynge Frolle to sla tille us that dyd apende12
And mekylle more for that thou takes none hede
Of the estate imperialle we lede
To whiche alle londes tribute pay and trewage
Sauf thou allone gaynstondest of thyne outrage

“Wharfore straytely we byd thee and comaunde
That from Auguste now next within a yere
Thou come to us and pay alle oure demaunde
And trewage whiche thou haste of thy powere
Of Bretayne longe withholden so in fere
And thy defautes amende thou dyd in Fraunce
By sentence of thy lordes and ordynaunce.

“And els we shalle approche to thy countré
And what so that thy wodenesse hath us refte
With swerdes we shalle it make restored be
To oure Senate as friste we were enfefte
The lyfelode that thy fadyr so thee lefte
Thou arte fulle lyke for thyne intrusioun
To lese and brynge into confusioun.

“Written at Rome in the Consistory
By hole advyse of alle the wyse Senate
At Paske laste paste to byde in memory
Remembred there and fully approbate
Lesse thou foryette oure lettre and the date
And lay it so in alle foryetilnesse
Trustynge in us the same defaute I gesse.”

With that the kynge wente to the Geants Toure
With barons that were there of his counsaylle
To have advyse how to the emperoure
He shulde than wryte agayne for his avaylle.
Of whiche so wyse wold not foryet, ne faylle,
So were thay made to Lucyus and endyte
Whiche spake right thus for answere infenyte:
 		 (see note)





(see note)

(see note)


Gotland

Twelve Peers






many; fought




(t-note)




Stories; narratives


astonished


made more prosperous



dais; (see note); (see note)
 from Rome
olive; unaccompanied; (see note)
Slowly
prudence; (see note)

read



(see note); (t-note)



rebellious

retained




unless


custody







refuse to cooperate; excessive pride

directly
(see note)







madness; robbed

enfeifed
heritage; (see note)

ruin

Council Chamber; (see note)

Easter

forget



(see note)


advantage; (see note)
(see note)

final
 

The lettre and answere of Kynge Arthure to the same Emperoure and how he titled hym of right to be Emperour

 

 

 

 





3280



fol. 80r

3285




 		 “Arthure the kynge of alle the Grete Bretayne
And emperoure of Rome by alkyns right
With wronge deforced by Lucyus Romayne
Pretendynge hym for emperoure of myght
To the same Syr Lucyus of his unright
Usurpoure of the se imperialle
Sendyth gretynge as enmy moste mortalle.

“To the Senate of Rome it is wele knowe
How that Cesare Julyus with maystry
Had trewage here Bretayne than was so lowe
By treson of Androges and trechery
That brought hym in by his grete policy
Withouten right or tytle of descente
Alle fulle agayne the barons hole consente.
 		 (t-note)

deprived








(see note)



 

Quicquid iniuste ab aliquot rapitur, numquam ab alio iuste possidetur ut in lege civili et imperatoria patet.13 (see note)

 

 

 

 

3290




3295





3300







3305




3310


 		 “Agayne alle right he had it by maystry
And what so he with wronge so dyd possede
Lefulle to us is to withstonde forthy.
That lawe wylle so to it who takyth hede
What thynge by man with wronge is had indede
Fro hym that aught it hole and skyllfully
By none other had may be lawfully.

“By whiche pretence thy wronge we shalle defende
And holde oure reme so in oure friste estate
Of servage fre as it to Brute appende
Who had it fre afore that Rome bare date
Whose right to us is now determynate
And by suche right as thou doste now pretende
We may clayme Rome and to the Empyre ascende.

The first title by Belyne and Brenny

“For Kynge Belyne that was oure auncestre
And Brenny als the kynge of Albany
Thay fully wan and hole dyd sequestre
The londes hool so unto Romany
Whiche after thay had by victory
And satte right in the se imperialle
Whare no prynce was that tyme to thaym egalle.

The seconde title by Constantyne and Maximian
 		 force

Legal; therefore







(see note)



Emperorship





appropriate



equal


 

Cui descendebat inperium tam per mortem patris quam per eleccionem Senatoriam quam per eleccionem totius comitatus Romani.14 (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 





3315





3320





fol. 80v
3326



3330





3335





3340




3345
 		 “Whose hole estate is now tille us descende
Bot yit we have a bettere tytle of right
Tylle the Empyre whiche that we wylle pretende
To sette so by alle wronge conqueste and myght.
Constantyne, Seynt Elyne sone so wyght,
By right of blode of Constance doun descent
Emperoure was by Romaynes hole consent.

“Maximyan was hole the emperoure
Also by ful decré of the Senate
Who next heyre was to Constantynes honoure
Whose bothe estates by law preordynate
We have wherfore of Rome we clayme estate
Of the Empyre the se imperialle
By juste tytle of law judicialle.

“Wharfore we wylle to Rome come and aproche
By that same day whiche that thou haste prefyxte
The tribute whiche thou wolde to thee acroche
Nought forto pay, as thou haste sette and fyxte.
Bot of thee thare with Senate intermyxte
To take tribute and holde the sovereyn se
In alle that longe to the emperialté.

“And iff thou like me sonner forto seke
Brynge Romany with thee what day thou wille
With me I shalle so than brynge Bretayne eke
And whiche so of us two may other kylle
Bere Rome away and Bretayne bothe ful stille.
Writon at oure cyté of Carlyoun
By hole advyse of alle oure regioun.”

He gafe unto that hiegh ambasshiate
Fulle riche gyftes and golde ynouth to spende
And bade thaym bere thare lordes in hool Senate
His letters so whiche he than to thaym sende.
And bade thaym say that sonner than thay wende
He shulde thaym se and bade thaym nought thynke longe
For in shorte tyme he shulde bene thaym amonge.
 		 to

To; claim

strong




(t-note)








retain

together

rule of an emperor
















 

How Arthure toke his viage to feght with the Emperoure Lucius Hiberus assocyed allied with Emperoure Leo (see note)

 

 

 

 





3350





3355





3360




3365

 		 This noble Kynge Arthure than forth prevyde
For his vyage agayne the emperoure.
His lettres oute he made and sygnyfyde
To alle the londes of whiche he was protectoure
Chargynge thaym alle to come for hys honoure
On thaire beste wyse hym to acompany
Of Rome forto conquere the monarchy.

Whiche by processe of tyme as thay myght come
Thay mette Arthure aywhare in place aboute
To tyme thay were of myght to go to Rome
So grete hys hoste was sembled and so stoute.
And at Barbflete in Normandy no doute
Thay londed alle with wyndes prosperouse
Whare more powere thaym mette fulle bataylouse.

Thare came the kynges of Spayne and Portyngale
Of Naverne als, the Kynge of Aragoyne,
The Dusze Piers alle of Fraunce thurghoute fulle hale
The dukes also of Guyen and Burgoyne
Of Braban, Gelre, Savoy, and Loroyne,
The Erles also of Flaunders and Selonde
And dukes alle of Almayne and Holonde.
 		 arranged; (see note)
towards









assembled; formidable






Twelve Peers; entirely




 

fol. 81r How Arthure faughte with a geant at Seynte Mighelle Mounte in Bretayne and slew hym in hys viage to Rome

 

 

 

 




3370





3375




3380





3385





3390





3395




3400





3405




fol. 81v
3410




3415





3420





3425





3430




3435

 		 Than was it tolde to Kynge Arthure fulle right
A geant grete forwaxen and horrible
Thanne ravyssht had Elyne his nece so bright
Whiche for bewté than was fulle possyble
For any prynce have wed and admyttible.
Kynge Howelle syster she was to Arthure nere
In Lesse Bretayne that tyme she had no pere.

Whiche geant so there durste no man assayle
Bot he thaym slewe or otherwyse dyd devoure.
Halfe quyke he ete thaym so it was mervayle
For whiche the folke aboute made grete murmoure
Who on the heght of Myghel Mount dyd loure
Whare he that mayde with in his armes had slayne
His luste to do so dyd he hyre constrayne.

Right so there came Bedwere by Arthure sente
Unto the hylle whare he a woman fonde
Compleynynge sore that seyde hym hyre entente
How Eleyne was brought so over the sonde
And she also right by a geants honde
And how he had so by hyre lady layne
That she was dede and by that tyrant slayne.

And so she sayde “He wille do now with me
At his comynge als faste, he is so grym
Therefore ye byde no lengere here bot fle
He is so ferse cruelle als and brym.
He wylle yow ete and rife fro lymme to lym
So huge he is there may no wyght withstonde
His cruelté so hath he stroyed this londe.”

Syr Bedwere than tille Arthure wente agayne
And tolde hym alle the case how was befalle
For whiche Arthure wolde thedyr soth to sayne
To feght with hym with hande for hande at alle.
Syr Bedwere than and Kay dyd with hym calle
And to the mounte thay rode with right gode spede
When that the se was ebbe as it was nede

Thre men with thaym thare horse to kepe and holde
Avoydynge thaym and wente up to the hylle.
Whare Bedwere than and Kay that were so bolde
He lafte and bad thaym byde hym there fulle stille
Tylle with that fende he had done alle his wille.
And to hym wente with alle the ire he myghte
With Caliburne his sworde hym stroke fulle righte.

Suche strokes thay gafe that woundere were to here
Syr Bedwere and Syr Kay myght here and se
And were fulle ferde the geants grete powere
Overcome shulde than thayre lorde thurgh grete pousté
So huge he was and horrible on to se
That Arthure was bot lyke a childe to hym
So large he was and there to stoute and grym.

So longe thay faught and sore with strokes hatouse
That Arthure had his wille and victory
And slew hym thare that was so vigorouse
That wente he to Bedwere and Kay on hy
And bade thaym there for sygne and memory
Of his tryumphe and batayle conquerouse
Strike of the hede of that foule fende hydouse.

And rode so forthe unto his hoste agayne
Bryngand the hede with thaym for grete mervayle
Of whiche the hoste were alle fulle glad and fayne
And thankynge God gretely for that batayle.
Bot Elenes deth fulle sore thay dyd bywayle
For whom Howelle over hyre tombe dyd make
A chapelle fayre, whiche stonte yit for hire sake.

Whiche yit so hight Elene Tombe so named
On Myghel Mount within Lytille Bretayne
Whiche is now thare a strengh fulle gretly famed
Envyrounde with the se aboute certayne
Marchynge right nere to Normandy unbayne
And enmy ever as it may be of myght
To take oure shyppes in pese withouten right.
 		 (see note)
excessively large
niece
(see note)
acceptable

equal

attack
(see note)
alive
complaint
top; lurk






shore






(see note)
fierce
tear



to





ebbing; (see note)


Dismounting


fiend
vigor
(see note)



afraid that
force
(see note)



hateful


haste; (see note); (t-note)
testimony




Bringing


lament

stands

is called

fortress; (see note)
surrounded
Adjoining; disobedient


 

How Arthurs ambassetours with Romayns in Itaylle did feghte in bataylle (see note)

 

 

 

 




3440





3445




3450

fol. 82r



3455





3460





3465




3470





3475





3480




3485





3490



fol. 82v

3495





3500




3505





3510





3515




3520





3525





3530





fol. 83r
3536



3540





3545





3550




3555
 		 Arthure his hoste assembled and forth wente
Tylle that he came tille Awbe a ryvere fayre
In Italy whiche fro the Occidente
Renneth estewarde whare that he wolde repayre.
His tentes gan sette whare was fulle holsom ayre
With woddes by and medowes fresshe and grene
With flowres fayre of dyvers colours sene.

Whare he had worde the emperoure was nere
To whom he sent Erle Bews of Oxenforde,
Garyn of Chartres, the erle that was hym dere,
And Syr Gawayne, his nevew, on whose worde
He truste highly whom he at bed and borde
Up brought had ay, who kynge of Louthien
For sothe was than, as sayth the historien.

Whiche messengers and wyse ambasiate
Wente so at over that ryvere fresshe and pure
Whare themperoure with alle the hole Senate
Than logged was nought ferre fro Kynge Arthure.
Bade hym remewe to Rome as he myght dure
And come none nere unto the reme of Fraunce
Elles on the morowe to fight for fulle fynaunce.

Syr Lucyus than sayde “That were grete shame.
To turne agayne I wylle noght in no wyse.
It were reprefe and shamynge of my name.
To Fraunce I wille now as I may suffyse
And have it alle right at myne own devyse.”
With that his own neveu Quyntylian
To Gawayne sayde this scornefulle wordes than:

“Ye Bretons alle in bragge and boste ben more
Than youre knyghthode ever was or hardymente.”
Whom Gawayne there right with his swerde therfore
Than slew anone, and so homwarde faste he wente
With his felaws togedyr by hole consente
Arthure to warne of bataylle and no reste.
The emperoure had made thaym so to treste.

For whiche Romayns folowed upon thaym sore
Thaym to have slayne for vengeance of that dede.
Bot fleynge so who myghte than come afore
Was slayne right doun thurgh wytte and grete manhede.
At laste thaym sewed so fele of Romanhede
Thay wyste not how escapen in no wyse
Bot faught agayne fulle sore on thare enmyse.

Out of a wode faste by sex thousond men
Of Bretons bolde upon the Romayns felle
And slew thaym doun chasynge upon thaym then
Whiche Gawen and his men recomforte welle.
Bot Petro than the senatoure fulle felle
With ten thousond Romayns of grete valoure
On Gawen felle fulle proudely in that stoure.

And on a playne he gafe hym grete batayle
That he and his unto a wode gan fle
Defendynge thaym and whan thay saw a vayle
Came oute aywhare and slew grete quantyté
Of Romayns ay thrugh manly juparté.
And at the laste thay isshed oute fulle light
And toke Petro and slew his men doun right.

Whan in thare way, whare as thay shulde passe hame
Two senatours with captayns mo in fere
Kynges that were, lay busshed as thay came
With fyftene thousonde men of armes clere
Trustynge thaym have rescowed with grete powere.
Bot in suche pride withouten reule on brede
Thay came and of the batayle toke non hede

Tylle that Bretons thaym slew and toke aywhare
And discomfyte were putte unto the flight
And kynges thre with captaynes wyse and ware
And nombre grete of Romayns party right
The Bretons slewe and helde the felde that nyght.
And on the morow came homward glad and fayne
Thay had so sped and of thayre syde few slayne.

So with thare pray and alle thare prisoners
Thay came unto Kynge Arthure home agayne
Of whiche that had so faught with smale powere
Agayne so fele he was fulle glad and fayne
“Welcome my knyghtes for me ye had grete payne.”
Bot than he sente Petro the senatoure
Unto Parise there to be holde in toure

Wyth other kynges and many grete capteyne
That taken were in these grete batayls sere.
Of whiche Gawen, Bewes also, and Gereyne,
Syr Percyvalle, Ewayn, Estore, there were,
Cadore, Guytarde, Irelgas, and Bedwere,
That knyghtes were of the Table Rounde
And prynces gode that sore were hurte and wounde.

Lucyus so acerteyned of these dedes
Estoyned was if in Augustudoun
He shulde abyde for powere that hym nedes
Of his felawe that called was Leoun
Or to Langres he shulde his hestes boun
Whiche by espies was laten Arthure wete
Wharfore he thought how he shuld with hym mete.

Within that nyght he busshed in his way
Whare he shulde come right in a valey fayre
That Seysy hight in eght batayls fulle gay.15
To feght with hym he made there his repayre
The emperoure he putte oute of dyspayre
That passe away he shulde than in no wyse
Withouten batayle or els a foule supprise.

Kynge Aguselle that was of Albany
And Cadore duke that was of Cornewayle
The friste batayle togedyr in company
Had than al hole of men that myght avayle
That couth right wele defende and eke assayle.
To Bewes also and Geryn of grete myght
Another batayle he toke, bothe stronge and wight.

Aschille the kynge of Denmarke stronge and wyse
And to Kynge Lothe of Norway vygorouse
The thrid batayle he gafe of grete emprise.
Kynge Howel so and Gawayn fortunouse
The fourth bataylle had than fulle corregeouse.
Bedwere and Kay the fyfte batayle dyd holde
Of myghty men that hardy were and bolde.

Syr Holdyne and Guytarde the sexte batayle.
Syr Jugens and Jonathas so famouse
The sevent batayle than had withouten fayle.
Cursale of Chestere and Urgen corageuse
The eght batayle had so fulle harageouse.
In eche batayle a legioun of knyghtes
Arrayed were alle redy for the fyghtes.
 		 (see note)



wholesome air






(see note)




deputation


encamped
[They]

settlement


(see note)
dishonour
be able

nephew; (see note); (t-note)
these

(see note)

(see note)



trust





followed; many
knew





exhort
fierce

encounter


(i.e., Gawain)
an advantage
everywhere
battle




more; together; (see note)
in ambush

(i.e., the Roman prisoners)
in formation


captured
defeated
knowledgeable; (see note)


joyful
prospered

spoils


many
(see note)




various
(see note)



wounded

informed; (see note)
Wondering; (see note)


plans; prepare
delayed; knew


(i.e., Arthur) ambushed

(see note)



injury

(t-note)

first battalion
succeed
also; attack

granted; vigorous









[He gave]



violent


 

Arthure bare a banere of sable, a dragoun of golde, and a baner of oure lady and the thrid baner of Seynt George, that were Galaad armes for remembrance of Galaad, and the fourt baner of goules (red) thre corouns of golde. (see note)

 

 

 

 





3560





3565





3570




3575


fol. 83v




3580



 		 The nynte batale the kynge Arthure dyd lede
In whiche the erle of Gloucestere so wyse
A legioun thay had and dyd possede
Of knyghtes gode that were of high emprise.
In whiche batayle he bare as myght suffise
In a banere a dragoun alle of golde
The castelle so to ben for yonge and olde.

The emperoure with legions fully twelve
Come thrugh that bale right as than was his way
Of Romayns fele ful stoute right with hymselve
In batayls twelve redy to fight that day.
With that eyther parte by skurours herde welle say
That bothe partes so nere that tyme were mette
That fyght thay muste or els to deth be bette.

Kynge Arthure bade his knyghtes to make gode chere
Saynge right thus: “My knyghtes ye wete welle alle
Youre manhode grete and conqueste syngulere
And youre knyghthode that never yit dyd appalle
So myghty was in every place over alle
Have wonne and gote me thretty remes by myght
Whiche with youre honde ye have conquerde ful right.

How comforte his knyghtes to the bataylle

“Stonde now on fete and alle youre right defende
That ye have wonne so lette it never doun falle.
Lete not this day thise Romayns us transcende.
Iff thay overcome us now it wylle befalle
That we muste ever in servytute ben thralle
And tribute pay to thare domynacioun
Rather de we, than thaym do mynystracioun.”
 		 (see note)
(i.e., Morvyde)




fortified camp

(see note)
strife
many

scouts; (see note)

beaten

(see note)
know

tarnish












die; service
 

How the Scottes kynges and other knyghtes recomforte (encourage) Kynge Arthure thare

 

 

 

 


3585




3590





3595





3600






 		 With that the kynge Agusel so vigoriouse
“My lorde” he sayde “seth tyme ye thought to fight
With Romayns friste my wylle so covetouse
Hath bene that woundes whiche in youre servyce right
That I shalle take for love of you I hight
Than hony so to me shalbe swetter
And over alle mete and drynke shalle lyke me better.

So thruste my soule thare blode byholde and se
And Germayns als that hath us done offence
That ofte hath putte us from felicité
Thurgh thaire cruelle and cursed violence
For whiche I shalle this day thaym recompense
With alle myne hertes laboure and besynesse
Us to revenge of alle thare wykydnesse.”

“Me thynke fulle longe” than seyde Kynge Urian
Of Murrefe that was fully lorde and syre
“Unto that houre whiche day myght sende so than
My soule dothe brenne right as it were in fyre.
I had lever now than have the hole Empyre
With thaym be mette in felde where I myght fight
Thayre pride to felle that bene so stronge and wyght.”

Howelle Kynge of Litille Bretayne
 		 (see note)

first; eager

promise
honey
please

thirsts







(see note)


burn
rather

vigorous


 

How Kynge Howelle of Lasse Bretayne comforte (urged) the kynge to bataylle

 

 

 

 

3605




3610





3615



 		 Kynge Howelle sayde to Kynge Arthure anone
“This taried tyme me thynke ys fully tynte
Of yow thay aske no right bot wronge allone.
Why stonde ye thus? Go to thaym ere ye stynte
And for thayre wronge desyre with strokes dynte
Dyscomfyt shalle thay be and insuperate
Bothe Lucyus and als his hole Senate.”

Thus every knyght right of the Table Rounde
Thaire counsayle gafe to strike sone the batayle
And severaly made there avowes that stounde.
Thay shuld never spare thare ennemyse to assayle
For hurte, nor deth, and thought fulle grete mervayle
Why that thay were holden so longe in sounder
So longe thay thought to se who shulde ben undre.
 		 (see note); (t-note)
delayed; wasted

cease
blow
defeated


(see note)

individually; time
(t-note)

individually; time

 

fol. 84r How Kynge Arthure and the Emperour Lucyus faughte in grete bataille in Itaylle whare Lucius was slayne and Arthure had the victory (see note)

 

 

 

 


3620




3625





3630





3635





3640




3645




3650





3655




3660

fol. 84v



3665





3670





3675




3680





3685





3690




3695





3700



fol. 85r

3705





3710




3715





3720



 		 Thanne to that vale whare Kynge Arthure so lay
The emperoure came holy with his hoste.
And thare thay faught whils thousandes dede that day
On ayther parte were, bot of Romayns moste.
Many thousonde Romayne thare yelde the goste.
Bot Duke Bedwere and als Duke Kay were slayne
In that batayle and suffred dethes payne.

Whose corses so brought were to the dragoun
By Aguselle and Duke Cadore with myght.
And of Romayns two kynges that bare the croun
And prynces foure that senatours were wight
Were slayne that houre that manly were in fight.
With thaire fresshe hostes layde on alle new fulle faste
Was no wyght there of deth that was agaste.

Now here, now thare, on every syde aboute
Thay stroke men doun to deth ay as thay mette
Some tyme Romayns the worse had there thurghoute
Some tyme Bretons with Romayns were oversette.
On ayther parte so were thay alle wele bette.
Than Kynge Howelle and Gawen corageouse
With thaire batayle came Bretons to rescouse.

A sore batayle was than on every syde
Whare Holdyne erle of Flaunders than was slayne.
The erle also of Boloyne in that tyde
Syr Cursale, erle of Chestere, sothe to sayne,
Of Salisbyry, erle Gwaluk, nought to layne,
Urgen of Bathe, that was fulle bataylouse,
Alle slayne were than in that stoure dolorouse.
And of Romayns were dede foure prynces grete
With thousondes fele of other low estate.
So Gawen and Howelle thaym gan rehete
And thre knyghtes than thay slewe of the Senate
Whiche for manhode myght have ben socyate
Tylle kynges degré for noble regyment
And ben lyfte up to estate excellent.

Than came Arthure right with his grete dragoun
The emperoure als with his egle of golde
Thare myght men se fele knyghtes stryken doun
On bothe sydes that were fulle stoute and bolde.
Ayther on other that day than fought thykfolde
And faught fulle sore whanne they togeder mette
And many knyghtes thay bothe to dethe doun bette.

Bot at the laste to passe unto an ende
The Bretons so upon the Romayns hewe
With comynge of Morvyde to thaym fulle hende
Behynde Romayns and at thare bakkes theym slew
As Kynge Arthure hym bade and layde on newe
Tylle Romayns faste began to waxen thynne
And Lucyus slayne, and many of his kynne.

Bot who hym slew there wyste no wyght so than
Bot Syr Gawayne of it dyd bere the name
For ayther of thaym hurte other ay whan and whan
By dyvers tymes as thay togedyr came
Whanne thay departe ayther gafe other fame
For worthyest that ever he dyd with mete
Suche ennemyse love eyther other dyd behete.

Of whose dethe so the Romayns were dismayed
And fled fulle faste on every syde aboute.
Some unto tounes and some to wodes strayed
And some to toures and castels in grete route
Grete multitude there slayne withouten doute.
There was never prynce that dyd so manly fight
As Kynge Arthure thare dyd in alle mennes sight.

So dyd his kynges and prynces for his right
His Bretons alle thurghout alle hole his hoste
His knyghtes hole also that were fulle wight
Right of the Rounde Table withouten boste
Ful doughtly thaym bare with myghtes moste
His ennemyse so to felle and wyn the felde
With alle honoure and vyctory to weelde.

Than sente he forthe the corse of Lucyus
To Rome that was emperoure than doutelesse
Who called was Lucyus Hiberus
Associate with Leo as I gesse
To holde hym in imperialle worthynesse
Of whiche in youthe and tendre innocence
He was putte oute by myghty violence.

He bade thaym take that corse for thare truage
And holde thaym payed and be nought daungerouse
And iff thay wylle have alle the supplusage
He shulde thaym pay of corses preciouse
Of senatours and princes gloriouse
In that same wyse, and prayed thaym it alowe
For with suche gode he shulde thaym welle endowe.

For fere offe whiche thay dyd hym than relese
The trewage alle and servyce every dele
Renounsynge it of suche payment to cese.
Thay prayed hym so gode lordeship thay myght fele
And iff he wolde the publike unyversele
With alle thare hertes the hole imperialté
Thay wolde hym graunte with alle the dygnyté.

Kynge Arthure than unto thayre graunte consente
And Bedwere sente to bery at Bayoun
And Kay unto Chynoun his castelle gente
Whare beried was his corse with devocioun
In an abbay thereby of religioun
And every lorde unto thayre sepulture
He sente so home whare was thare kynde nature.

Bot he abode in Italy so thane
That wynter helde his men in dyverse place
Tylle somer came at whiche tyme he beganne
To passe to Rome on Leo forto chace
The Empire hole unto hymselfe enbrace
And Leon putte in reule of his regence
As myght acorde so with his innocence.
 		 valley; (see note)

died

spirit



bodies; i.e., fortified camp; (see note)

(see note)
strong


person


(t-note)




rescue



time



sorrowful encounter
(see note)
many
attack
(see note)
raised
With



eagle; (see note)
many

in large numbers



(see note)
attacked
noble





knew; (see note)

alternately


meet
grant




bands

(see note)




strong



possess

body; (see note)







(i.e., the Senate); body; tribute
satisfied; haughty
extra payment
bodies

recognize
gifts


tribute; part

enjoy





bury; Bayeux
Chinon; noble
body

tombs


remained; (see note)






 

How Kynge Arthure had worde of Modrede that purposed (intended) to bene Kynge of Bretayne, wharfore he cam home and slew Modrede and had his dethes wounde.

 

 

 

 


3725




3730





3735



 		 Bot tythandes cam than oute of Grete Bretayne
To Kynge Arthure how Modrede had aspyred
To have the croune of Bretayne for certayne
And wedden wold the quene, and had conspyred
With Duke Cheldrike fulle bysyly requyred
To helpe hym so with alle his payenhede
And Albany he gafe hym to his mede.

For whiche to Kynge Howelle his neveu dere
His hoste he toke on that syde on the se
And bade hym ride the Romayns to conquere
And he wolde with his insulans pousté
To Bretayne wende to chastyse that contré
The fals Modrede whom he had made regent
As traytoure honge and draw by jugyment.
 		 news; (see note)
(see note)



pagan troops
reward; (see note)

nephew

(see note)
insular force


(see note)
 

Whare Arthure faughte first with Modrede atte Whytsonde

 

 

 

 



3740





fol. 85v
3746



3750

 		 In this mene while the traytoure Modrede
And Cheldrike als who came with grete powere
Assembled were with Cristen and payenhede
Foure score thousonde of men of armes clere
Whare Kynge Arthure and his hoste londed were
At Porte Rupyne whare Whitesonde is fulle ryght
Thay faught with hym in batayle stronge and wight.

Bot Aguselle the kynge of Albany
And Syr Gawayn the kynges neven dere
Of Louthian kynge than by auncetry
With many other were slayne that day in fere.
Bot Arthure had the felde with his powere
And putte thaym to the flight and made grete chace
In whiche he slewe grete peple withouten grace.
 

(see note)
armed men

Richborough; Wissant, France; (see note)
vigorous


nephew

together



 

How Arthure faughte with Modrede at Wynchestre and putte Modrede to the flyghte

 

 

 

 




3755



 		 Bot Modrede than to Wynchester so fledde
With grete peple to whom Arthure came right
With alle his hoste whom Modred bataylle bedde
And redy was anone with hym to fight.
Bot there Modrede was putte unto the flight
And fled fulle faste to Cornewayle with powere
Whom in that chace Kynge Arthure sought so nere
 		 (see note)

offered




 

How Arthure faught with Modred the thryd tyme bysyde Camblayne in Cornewaylle

 

 

 

 


3760




3765





3770





3775





3780




3785


fol. 86r


3790





3795




3800





3805





3810





3815




3820





3825




fol. 86v
3830




3835





3840


 		 That he sawe whare he lay with his powere
Upon a water that called is Camblayne
With sexty thousonde Cristen and payenis clere
That with hym were redy to fight agayne
With whom Arthure with alle his hoste fulle fayne
Thare faught and slewe fulle mekylle multitude
Thurgh powere of his hoste and fortitude.

Bot Arthure was in herte so sore anoyed
For Gawayns deth and of Kynge Aguselle
Which were afore by Modrede slayne and stroyed
And myght not mete with swerdes for to dele
His foule tresoun and falsede to cansele
And his persone to hangen and to drawe
As hyegh traytoure by jugyment of his lawe.

For ire of whiche he faughte so in that stoure
That thousondes fele he slew there and his knyghtes
Thare was never kynge, nor prynce, no conqueroure,
That dyd so wele as thay in any fightes
Bot Arthure thare at laste with alle his myghtes
Slew Modrede than with Caliburne his swerde
And Duke Cheldrike so Fortune made his werde.

Than fled thay faste thaire captayns were alle slayne.
The Saxons hole and alle the payenhede
And Arthure helde the felde and was fulle fayne
With vyctory of alle his fose I rede
So hole Fortune was his frende at nede
That Mars the god of armes and of batayle
No better myght have done withouten fayle.

Bot dethes wounde, as cronycle doth expresse,
Modrede hym gafe that was his syster sunne
And as some sayne his owne sonne als doutlesse.
Bot certaynté thereof no bokes kunne
Declare it wele that I have sene or funne.
Bot lyke it ys by alle estymacioun
That he cam never of his generacioun.

The quene Gaynore whanne she persayved wele
That Modrede so discomfyt was and slayne
Fro Yorke dyd fle by nyght than every dele
Tylle that she came to Carlyoun with payne
Whare she hyre made a nonne the soth to sayne
In pryvyté thare hyd for fere of deth
For shame and sorow almoste she yalde the brethe.

In the temple of Seynte July Martyre
Whare she corounde was with solempnyté
Amonges nunnes fro whom none shulde departe hire
She toke hyre lyfe with alle stabilité
Thare to abyde and leve in chastyté
Hyre synne to clenge to God and yelde hyre goste
Whiche eternaly ay is of myghtes moste.

In whiche batayle the floure of alle knyghhede
Dede was and slayne on Arthurs syde so dygne
The knyghtes alle that were of worthihede
To kynges egalle and compers were condygne
Whiche for Arthure thare lyfe did there resygne
That knyghtes were right of the Table Rounde
That were alle slayne echone with dethes wounde.

For whiche Arthure formerred in his thought
Never after had comforte, ne yit gladnesse,
To thynke on thaym so dere his love had bought.
Fulle fayne he wolde so than have be lyfelesse
Whyche he byried with grete and high noblesse
With herte fulle sore his sorows to complayne
His dethes woundes fulle sore bygan dystrayne.

He gafe his reme and alle his domynacioun
To Constantyne the sonne of Duke Cadore
Whiche Cadore slayne was in that adversacioun
With Arthure so at Camblayne than afore
Whose brother he was alle of a moder bore
Bot Gorloys sonne, that duke was of Cornewayle,
He was sertayne and heyre withouten fayle.

Kynge Arthure than so wounded mortaly
Was led forth thanne to Avalon fulle sore
To lechen thare his woundes pryvely
Whare than he dyed and byried was right thore
As yit this day ys sene and shalle evermore
Within the chirche and mynstere of Glastynbyry
In tombe rialle made sufficiantly.

Who dyed so in the yere of Cristes date
Fyve hundred was acounted than in fere
And fourty more and two associate
As cronyclers expressed have fulle clere
Fro whiche tyme forth he dyd no more apere
Nought wythstondynge Merlyne seyde of hym thus
His deth shuld be unknow and ay doutous.
 
(see note)
pagans; (see note)





(see note)



(see note)



encounter
many


(see note)
(see note)
fate


pagan troops

foes




(see note)


can
found



(see note)




secret
died




accepted; steadfastness

cleanse; spirit


flower; knighthood; (see note)
worthy

equal; companions; distinguished
give up



distraught; (see note)


joyful


oppress



battle; (see note)

born; (see note)



(see note)

tend to; secretly
there
(see note)



(see note)
together


(see note)

uncertain
 

De quo Merlinus dicit inter prophecias suas exitus eius erit dubius et quidam propheta Britonum fecit pro epitaphio super tumbam suam versum istum: Hic iacet Arthurus rex quondam rexque futurus.16 (see note); (t-note)

 

 

 

 



3845




 		 Bot of his dethe the story of Seynt Grale
Sayth that he dyed in Avalon fulle fayre
And byried there his body was alle hale
Within the Blake Chapelle whare was his layre
Whiche Geryn made whare than was grete repayre
For Seynt Davyd, Arthurs uncle dere,
It halowed had in name of Mary clere.
 		 Holy Grail; (see note)

healthy
burial place
spiritual retreat

pure
 

Nota how Geryn went with Arthure into Avalon, to whom Sir Launcelot de Lake cam of aventure folowyng on the chace and thay toke ordere of preest and wox (became) recluses ther to pray for Arthure time of thaire lyves.

 

 

 

 

3850




3855





3860





3865




3870
 		 Whare Geryn so abode than alle his lyfe
Aboute his tombe with devoute exequyse
So was he than ay forth contemplatife
He lyfte no more the worlde to excercyse
Bot only there to serve at his advyse
Allemyghty God whils he on lyfe myght dure
Of his erledome he had none other cure.

And as that same story aftyr doth contene
That Syr Launcelot de Lake the worthy knyght
Of the Rounde Table fulle longe a knyght had bene
Folowynge on the Saxons in that flight
Thare foonde the tombe of Kynge Arthure so wyght
And fro the tyme that Geryn had hym tolde
Of Arthurs tombe his herte began to colde.

Of Seynt Davyd archebisshop of Carlyoun
Ordres of preste with gode devocyoun
He toke, and als sone as he myght be boun
His servyce hole gostely withoute remocioun
He made his lorde of his owne commocioun
In that chapelle with Geryn his compere
In penaunce grete recluses were foure yere.
 
rites




concern





vigorous





ready
delay
motivation
companion

 

fol. 87r The compleynt of the makere for the dethe of Kynge Arthure and of hys noble prynces and knyghtes of the Rounde Table

 

 

 

 





3875





3880





3885




3890





3895





3900




3905
 		 O gode lorde God, suche tresoun and unrightes
Whi suffred so devyne omnipotence
Whiche had of it precyence and forsightes
And myght have lette that cursed violence
Of Modredes pryde and alle his exsolence
That noble kynge forpassynge conqueroure
So to dystroy and waste thurgh his erroure?

O thou Fortune, executrice of werdes,
That evermore so with thy subtylité
To alle debates so strongly thou enherdes
That men that wolde ay leve in charité
That men that wolde ay leve in charité
Why stretched so thy whele upon Modrede
Agayne his eme to do so cruelle dede?

Whare thurgh that hiegh and noble conqueroure
Withouten cause shulde sogates perisshit be
With so fele kynges and prynces of honoure
That alle the worlde myght never thare better se.
O fals fallace of Modredes propreté
How myght thou so in Gaynore have suche myghtes
That she the dethe caused of so fele knyghtes?

Bot O Modrede that was so gode a knyght
In grete manhode and proudely ay approved
In whom thyne eme the nobleste prynce of myght
Putte alle his truste so gretely he thee loved
What unhappe so thy manly goste hath moved
Unto so foule and cruelle hardynesse
So fele be slayne thurgh thyne unhappynesse?

The highnesse of thyne honoure had a falle
Whanne thou beganne to do that injury.
That grete falshode thy prowesse dyd apalle
Alsone as in thee entred perjury
By consequent tresoun and traytory
Thy lorde and eme also thy kynge soverayne
So to bytrayse thy felaws als sertayne.
 		 (see note)

prescience
prevented
insolence



arbiter of fate

participate in
live

wheel
uncle


in this manner
many

deceit; nature; (see note)
power of attractiveness
many



uncle

uncle

evil




As soon

uncle; (see note)

 

.xvii. capitulum of the Kynge Constantyne, the son of Cador of Cornewaylle.

 

 

 

 





3910



fol. 87v

3915




 		 Kynge Constantyne his brother son was crounde
Duke Cadore sonne a knyght fulle aventurouse
And chosen was oon of the Table Rounde
In Arthure tyme for knyght ful corageouse
In trone rialle was sette fulle preciouse
With dyademe on his hed signyfyde
At Trynovaunt whare no wight it replyde.

Whiche Constantyne with Saxons sore dyd fight
Assembled than with Modredes sonnes two
By dyverse tymes and putte thaym to the flight
Of whiche oon fled to Wynchestere right so
Whare Constantyne hym slewe as for his fo
Right in the kyrke than of Saynte Amphibale
At the awtere withoute lengere tale.
 		 (see note); (t-note)
(t-note)


throne

person; objected to






church
altar
 

Nota de data mortis sancti David Archiepiscopi de Caerlioun17 (t-note)

 

 

 

 

3920




3925





3930





3935




3940





3945







3950





fol. 88r
3956



3960

 		 The tother hyd than in a chyrch fulle fayre
At Trynovant behynde the high autere.
He slew anone withoute any dispayre
And Saxons putte in subjeccioun clere.
In whose tyme so, as sayth the cronyclere,
Seynt Davyd dyed archebisshop of Carlyoun
In his mynstyre at Meneu of religioun

Whare he ys byried now in fayre sepulture
Of whiche the name so for his byrialle
Es called now with every creature
Seynt Davys so by name especialle
Whare now is sette the se pontyficalle
In name of hym for his solempnysacioun
Of his gode lyfe to make comendacioun.

At Bangore als bysshop Seynt Danyele
That holy was and ful religeouse
Decesed than of lyfe had leved wele
And honourd thare his body preciouse
Amonge the folke for his werkes vertuouse
Eternaly muste bene in memory
Remembred hole within that cenoby.

Bot Constantyne his reme dyd wele governe
In reste and pese so after in grete noblesse
By foure yere hole after he couth descerne
Whanne thurgh sentence of devyne myghtynesse
He dyed so and byried was doutelesse
In the Carolle by Utere Pendragoun
As cronyclers have made in mencioun.

.xviii. capitulum of Aurelius Conan, Rex Britannie18

Aurelyus Conan his cosyn fayre
The se rialle than helde and dyd succede
To hym as next than of his blode and hayre.
His eme and eke his sonnes two indede
In prisoun slew which after Constantyne I rede
Shulde have bene kynges of alle the Grete Bretayne
The dyademe and coroune to obtayne.

Forpassynge fayre he was in alle beuté
Bot strife betwyx cytese and alle cuntrese
He cherisshit ay thurghoute, of his pousté.
Cyvyle batayls amonges alle his cytese
He maynteynd sore thurgh his hye dygnytese
And bot thre yere his regne dyd so endure
Whanne deth hym toke and layde in sepulture.
 



(see note)











Bangor

lived



monastery











(see note); (t-note)
royal see (i.e., jurisdiction)
heir
uncle





cities
promoted; power




 

The makers wordes to lordes for mayntenance of quereles and debates

 

 

 

 




3965



 		 Bewarre ye lordes that ben in hygh estates
And thynke upon this worldes transmutacioun
And cherisshe not contencions, no debates,
In youre countrese, lesse it be youre confusioun.
For fals Fortune with hyre permutacioun
Fulle lyghtely wille caste doun that ys above
Whose nature is to chaungen and remove.
 
(t-note)

lest; ruin


be inconstant
 

.xix. capitulum of Kynge Vortypore and Malgo kynges, and Kynge Careys.

 

 

 

 


3970




3975





3980





3985





3990




3995







4000





4005




4010
 		 Than Vortypore succeded aftyr hym
And helde the se of alle the rialté
Agayns whom the Saxons stronge and grym
Made fulle grete werre and grete malignyté
Whiche by batayle and grete humanyté
He overcame wele and kepte the londe in pese
Unto the tyme that deth made hym decese.

Malgo next hym to the croune atteyned
Fayrest of other that ever were in his day
Alle tyrany fully he restreyned
And conquerde hole sex iles, the sothe to say,
With force of werre Denmarke and eke Norway.
Irelonde, Iselonde, Gothlonde, and Orkadese,
With bataylle stronge obeyed his rialtese.

Stronge he was and myghty of powere
Excedynge other of hiegh and large stature
In alle worshyp and fredome syngulere
And wele beloved with every creature
Bot only so by grete mysaventure
And thurgh his foule acursed appetyte
He haunted ay the synne of sodomyte.

In whiche synne so at Wynchestere he dyed
Within a bathe by Goddes own vengeaunce
And how his soule was in his deth applyed
None wote bot God oonly of his pusaunce.
The thrid yere of his regne and governaunce
The cruelle deth hym stale away anone
Fro his coroune and fro his rialle trone.

Kynge Careyse

Careys was than corouned kynge anone
That loved wele in alle cytese debate
And als bytwyxe the cytese everychone
He suffred werre and ofte it made for hate
Engendred of his ire imoderate
So ferre that werre in every grete cyté
Fulle comoun was thurgh his maliciousté.

For whiche Bretons than made hym mekylle were
That whanne Gurmonde of Aufrike payen stronge
Irelonde had wonne thay sente to hym for fere
Of Kynge Careys and prayde hym byde not longe
Bot that in haste he wolde come thaym amonge.
So dyd Saxons, thay hight hym alle the londe
Of Bretayne hole if he wolde with theym stonde.
 		 (see note); (t-note)
seat of judgement






(see note); (t-note)



also

royal authority







practiced; sodomy




knows; power


throne



(see note); (t-note)



extreme wrath



(t-note)
pagan



promised