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1

CAPITULUM VICESIMUM QUARTUM.

2
3    Leo þe emperour lete be þe enemyes of þe empere, and
4werrede aȝenst figures and ymages of holy seyntes. Pope

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5Gregory and Germanius of Constantynnoble wiþstood hym
6nameliche, as þe olde usage and custome wolde þat is allowed
7and apreeved by holy cherche, and seide þat it is worþy and
8medeful to do hem þe affecioun of worschippe. For we worschippeþ
9in hem but God, and in worschippe of God and of
10holy seyntes, þat man haveþ in mynde efte by suche ymages,
11God allone schal be princepalliche worschipped, and after
12hym creatures schal be i-worschipped in worschippe of hym.
13Beda, libro 5^o, capitulo 24^o. Þat ȝere deide Withredus kyng
14of Caunterbury, and Thobias bisshop of Rouchestre, þat couþe
15Latyn and Grew as wel as his owne longage. Paulus,
16libro 7^o. Þat ȝere Sarasyns com to Constantynnoble and byseged
17it þre ȝere, and took þennes moche good and catel.
18Withbrandes kyng of Longobardes herde þerof, and raunsoned
19þe relikes of seint Austyn þe doctor , þe whiche relikes were
20somtyme translated to Sardinia for reses of straunge enemyes,
21and he made hem i-bore to þe citee of Geene, and þennes to
22Papie, þat heet Tinum somtyme. Willelmus de Regibus,

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23libro primo. Kyng Ine betook his kyngdom of West Saxons to
24his cosyn Ethelardus, and went to Rome. Me seiþ þat he
25was þe firste of kynges þat grauntede to seynt Peter of
26everiche hous of his kyngdom a peny, þat longe tyme of
27Englisshe men was i-cleped Rome scot, but in Latyn it is
28i-cleped Peter his peny. Þe kyng his wyf Ethelburga ȝaf
29hym occasioun to take þat pilgrimage, and þat in þis manere:
30she hadde ofte i-counsailled her housbonde to forsake þe
31riches of þe world, and specialliche in þe laste ȝeres of his lyf,
32but sche spedde nouȝt. Þerfore at þe laste sche fondede to
33overcome hym wiþ gile, and in a tyme whanne þey hadde
34i-leide to gidres in þe real citee, and were agoo, þanne after
35þre dayes þe governour of þe citee defouled þe paleys wiþ al
36þe filþe þat he myȝte, wiþ tunge and dritt of bestes, wiþ
37gaderynge of dunge and of filþe of mukhilles; and þere þe
38kyng had i-leye and i-slepe, he leide a sowe wiþ here pigges
39þat hadde late i-favored. Al þis he dede by assent and heste
40of þe queene. Þanne þe queene byȝede here housbonde wiþ
41benygne flaterynge, and prayed hym for to come to þat place
42þere he hadde i-be; þe kyng graunted and come þider, and sigh

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43þat place þat was somtyme poore to Sardanapallus his likynge
44þo so desrayed and defouled; whan sche hadde þis occasioun
45sche spak to þe kyng and seide: "I pray ȝow, my lord, where
46beeþ now þe cortyns and al þe riche array of halles and
47chambres? Where is now þe pleysynge service of hem þat
48were i-woned to flatere wiþ ȝou? Where is þe likynge and
49plesynge of glotonye and of leccherie, beeþ þey not al
50apassed? So, my lord, schal my flesche passe and fal
51awey, þat is now i-norsched in gold and in riche array."
52Herwith here housbonde was overcome, and after his noble
53batailles and victories and grete prayes þat he hadde i-take, he
54bytook þe kyngdom to his nevew, and wente to Rome. Þere
55he come nouȝt openliche in siȝte, but he schare his heed, and
56cloþed hym as a pore man, and wax olde among beggers; bote
57þe queene Ethelburga wente to þe abbay of Berkynge; þere
58here suster hadde i-be abbas. And sche was afterward
59i-made abbas of þe same maydens, and made a blessed ende,
60and passed to reste. Beda, libro 5^o, capitulo 29^o. Osricus
61kyng of Norþhumberlond deide after þe nynþe ȝere of his
62kyngdom. After hym Colwulfus regnede nyne ȝere ; to

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63hym Beda wroot þe storie Historiarum Angliae. Beda, ubi
64supra. Þat gere were i-seie twey griselich sterres wiþ blasynge
65crestes aboute þe sonne, þat durede tweye wokes. Þat oon
66of hem passede erliche tofore the sonne, and þe oþer com
67after þe sonne at eve; and þese sterres blasede and caste as
68it were brennynge brondes toward þe norþside, and bodede
69greet deth and manslauȝter; ffor þanne com a grevous mescheef
70of Sarsyns, and bete doun Gallia, þat is Fraunce. Beda,
71libro 5^o, capitulo 25^o. Þat ȝere deyde Briȝtwoldus archebisshop
72of Dorobernya, þat is Canturbury. After hym Tadwynus
73was archebisshop, and was i-sacred of þe bisshoppes
74of Londoun, of Wyrchestre, and of Rouchestre. Also þat
75ȝere þe souþ provinces anon to þe marche of þe ryver Humber
76were suget to Ethelbaldus king of Mercia; þe Pictes and
77þe Scottes hadde pees wiþ þe Angles; som Bretons were
78at here owne lawe, and som servede þe Angles. After þe
79secounde Gregorye þe þridde Gregory was pope enlevene
80ȝere; he confermed þe worschippynge of holy ymages in a

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81counsaile þat was i-made at Rome of aboute a þowsand
82bisshoppes, and cursed dredfulliche al þat doþ aȝenst þat
83statute of worschippynge of holy ymages. Also þat ȝere oon
84Petronax Brixianus wente to þe hille mont Casin, and restored
85þe place covenableliche of goodes and catel and of
86monkes by heste and comfort of pope Gregorie. Tadwynus
87archebisshop of Caunterbury deide, and Nothelmus bisshop of
88Londoun was archebisshop after hym. Also þat ȝere deyde
89Alwynus þat was bisshop of Lichfeld; and Wicta was
90bisshop of Lichefeld whan he was dede. And Coita was
91bisshop of Legecestria, þat is Chestre, and Eada durede ȝit at
92Dorchestre. Þat ȝere deide þat worthy man Beda þe preost.
93Willelmus de Regibus, libro 5^o. Þe sevenþe ȝere of his age
94he was i-take to norschynge and to lore to Benet Bisshop,
95abbot of Girwy, and after his deþ to Colfridus, abbot of þe
96same place. In his nynþe ȝere he was i-made decon of Iohn
97bisshop of Ȝork, and preost in his þrittenþe ȝere. Þat ȝere

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98he bygan to write, and so he spende al his lyftyme in þe
99same abbay, and made hym besy to studie and expowne holy
100writt, and among þe besynesse þat he ne hadde everiche
101day in þe service of religioun and in syngynge in chirche, he
102hadde greet swetnesse and likynge to lerne, to teche, and to
103write. He wroot þrescore bookes and eyȝtene; þe bookes he
104rekeneþ in his storie Anglicana . Here lakkeþ and failleþ wit
105and speche to wondre at þe fulle þat a man þat was so wiþ oute
106use of scole made so many noble volumes in so sober wordes in
107so litel space of his lyftyme. Of al þis I conclude þat he com
108nevere at Rome; þey som men wil mene þat he went to Rome
109to be þere present, and to schewe þat his bookes were accordynge
110to þe loore of holy chirche, and þat if þey were nouȝt
111accordynge for to amende hym at þe pope his heste. But þat
112he wente blynd aboute for to preche, þat he was i-ladde by
113fraude of his man for to preche to stones as it were to men,
114þat he herde þe voys of stones þat answerede and seide
115Amen, þat he wente þreis to Rome, þat he fonde þre R and
116þre F i-write, and expowned what it was to mene, I fynde
117it nouȝt i-write in bookes of auctorite. Som men telleþ

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118þat suche a wrytynge was founden, R. R. R. F. F. F., and
119such an exposicioun: regna ruent Romae ferro flammaque
120fameque ; þat is to menynge, kyngdoms of Rome schal falle
121by fuyre and iren, also by honger. Willelmus de Regibus,
122libro primo. But by pope Sergius his pistel þat was i-sent
123to abbot Colfridus it is i-knowe þat Beda was i-sent after
124and i-prayed for to come to Rome for to assoyle questiouns
125þat were þere i-mevede. Here take hede how worþy þe court
126of Rome hylde hym, þat þe court of Rome hadde nede to
127have hym to declare and to assoille þe questiouns þat þere were
128i-meved. And also how worþy we schal holde hym by manere
129of his leuynge and of his techynge. He myȝte not be vicious
130þat spende so his witte and þouȝt in expouninge of holy writte.
131But his clennesse was moche i-sene at his laste ende, for sevene
132wookes contynualliche his stomak hadde indignacioun of mete
133and drynke, so þat unneþe he myȝte eny mete holde, and was
134streiȝt and schort breþed. But for al þat he sparede not þe
135travayle of lettrure and of bookes, bote everiche day, among þe

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136detty travayle of service and of psalmes, he tauȝte his disciples
137in lessouns and in questiouns, and he tornede Seynt Iohn his
138gospel into Englisshe, and seide, "Lerneþ, my smale children,
139while I am wiþ ȝou, I wot nouȝt how longe I schal
140wiþ ȝow abyde;" and evere among he seide þat sawe of Ambrose,
141"I have nouȝt so i-leved among ȝow þat me schameþ
142to lyve; noþer me dredeþ to deye, for me haveþ a good
143Lord." By nyȝte, whanne he hadde no man to teche, he
144travailled besiliche in bedes-byddynge, and þonked God of
145alle. Þe Tewesday tofore þe Ascencioun his deeþ neighede,
146and his feet gonne to swelle; he was i-led and anoynt
147and i-housled, and kessed his breþeren, and prayed hem
148alle to have of hym mynde, and he ȝaf to meny of his
149servauntes þinges þat he hadde i-kept in privete. In þe
150Ascencioun day þe cloþe of here was i-sprad, and he leyde
151hym doun and prayed þe grace of þe Holy Goost, and seide:
152"Oo Kyng of bliss, Lord of vertues, þat hast þe pris, and art

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153þis day i-steie up above alle hevenes, leve þou us not
154faderles, but sende þou into us þat byheste of þe Fader þe
155Goost for soþnesse." Whanne þat was i-ended he ȝalde
156up þe laste breeþ wiþ a wel greet swetnesse of smyl, and so
157he was i-buried þere; but þe comyn fame telleþ, þat he is
158at Durham nowþe, with Seynt Cuthbert; and wiþ hym was
159i-buryed wel nygh, al þe knowleche anon to þe conquest of
160dedes of Engelond, and nygh al þe connynge of lettres;
161for after his tyme after lewed come more lewed, as þe
162shameliche vers þat were i-wrete on his tombe bereþ greet
163witnesse of unkonnynge; þat vers were unworþy to be i-wrete
164on so worþy a manis tombe; þese beeþ þe vers: "Beda
165þe preost resteþ here i-buried in þe flesch; Crist graunte his
166soule to be glad in hevene for evere; Graunt hym to drinke
167þe wel of wisdom þat he haþ nowþe Desired besiliche
168alwey riȝt wiþ love gret." Aboute þat tyme Ricoldus duke
169of Frisons was i-tornede by the prechynge of Seynt Wilfranus
170þe bisshop, and wolde i-cristned be; and putte his owne

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171foot into þe fontstoon, and wiþdrouȝ þat oþer, and axede
172of hem þat stood aboute wheþer þere were mo of his predecessours
173in paradys oþer in helle, and he was answerd þat þere
174were mo in helle; he herd þat and drough his foot out of þe
175water, and seide: "It is esiere þat I folwe þe more þan þe
176lasse." And so he was bygiled of þe fende, and deide after
177þe þridde day. Willelmus de Pontificibus, libro 4^o. Aboute
178þat tyme deyde Seint Fredeswyde þe mayde, i-bore at Oxenforde,
179þe douȝter of duke Didianus. Kyng Algarus, a
180lecheruos man, folowede here anon to þe citee of Oxenford, and
181whanne þe mayde was i-entred into þe citee þe ȝates closede
182and were i-schette al by hymself, and the kyng werþ blynde
183þat purswerde here. But by prayeng of þe mayde he hadde
184his siȝht aȝe. Seþþe after þat tyme kynges of Engelonde
185dredeþ for to come wiþ ynne þat citee for drede of mishappes
186þat myȝte hym befalle. Colwulfus, kyng of Norþhomberlond,

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187after eiȝte ȝere of his kyngdom, lefte his kyngdom to his
188cosyn Egbertus, þe sone of his fader broþer, and bycam a monk
189at Beda his abbay; and Egbertus regnede nyntene ȝere.
190R. Bote William de Regibus seiþ þat he was i-schore at
191Lyndefare cherche, and at þe laste i-buryed byside Seynt
192Cuthbert. Notelmus archebisshop of Caunterbury deide, and
193Cuthberd, bisshop of Herford, was archebisshop after hym.

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194

CAPITULUM VICESIMUM QUINTUM.

195
196    Kyng Henry is deed at Fontenbraud, and his sone Richard
197was kyng after hym, and regnede ten ȝere. Stephene of
198Canturbury discreved cleerliche his manere and his dedes, and
199for þis storye schulde not mysse þe noble dedes of so greet
200a duke, I have studied to take þe floures of Stevenes book.
201Þis kyng ordeyned redeliche his þinges byȝonde þe see, and
202cam into Engelond for to be crowned. In his comynge prisouns
203were i-oponed and he was i-crowned at Londoun of Baldewyn,
204archebisshop of Caunterbury, þe þridde day of Septembre, þe
205whiche is acounted an evel day by þe veyn bileve and usage of
206mysbileved men, as is i-cleped in þe kalender dayes dies
207Egipciacus , and dies malus , an evel day by þe veyn bileve, as
208it were a day of bodynge of evel happes to þe Iewes; for þe
209Iewes of Engelond þat hadde evel happes þat day.
210Meny Iewes come to þis solempnite leste þe welþe þat þei
211hadde under þe olde kyng schulde be wiþdrawe in þe newe
212kynges tyme. But þe kyng heet and comaundede þat þe Iewes
213schulde nouȝt come into þe chirche while he were i-crowned
214noþer into þe paleys while he were at mete. But while þe kyng

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215was at mete som of þe Iewes parsed among oþere and come
216with ynne þe paleys gate, and oon of hem was i-smete wiþ a
217manis feest. Þan þe rabbisshe peple wende þat þe kyng
218had so i-hote, and up wiþ staves, battes, and stoones, and leide
219on þe Iewes and madde hem to flee. Here of sprank likynge
220tidynges into al þe citee, as þey þe kyng hadde i-hote, and
221up with staves to destroye þe Iewes. And þe peple, resynge and
222crienge, breck up þe hous þere þe Iewes were i-flowe for
223drede, and brende and spoylede and took what þey myȝte, and
224wolde nouȝt leve for þe kynges sendynge. But outrage of
225so greet woodnesse ȝif it were i-suffred schulde passe meny
226cruel dedes, and blenschede moche þe bygynnynge of þe
227kyng. But for þe grete multitude of hem þat were gilty
228he moste lete passe what he myȝt nouȝt take of ful
229wreche. At þe laste þe Iewes had pees i-graunted, and anon
230þe kyng ȝeveþ dignetees þat voydeþ. And al wiþ oute þat his
231broþer Iohn hadde of his fader ȝifte in Irlond and in Normandie,
232he ȝaf hym þe provinces of Cornewayle, of Devenschire, of
233Notingham, of Lancastre. Also he ȝaf hym þe eorles douȝter

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234of Gloucetre to wif, þat was his cosyn in þe þridde degree,
235wiþ al her fader lordschippe. Þe lordschepe of þe fourþe deel
236þat was i-ȝove, i-made hym unkynde and untrewe, and
237desired þe hool kyngdom. Þe kyng committed þe destourbance
238of þe reawme to þe bisshop of Durham, þat schulde
239more skilfulliche and semeliche occupie hym self in Goddis
240service þan in þe kynges service. For þe gospel seiþ þat no
241man may serve eiþer lord at þe fulle as he schulde, þey þe
242bisshop wolde to dele hym self for to plese eiþer kyng of
243hevene and of erþe. Certeynliche þe Kyng of hevene alloweþ
244nouȝt service þat is so to-deled, for he wolde be served with
245al þe myȝt of þe soule. And what ȝif þe bisshop þat is but
246half i-ȝeve to Goddes service doþ nouȝt his service ne his
247offys as he schulde, but ordeyneþ unworþy and recheles
248persons in his sted, for he wol serve holiche in þe paleys
249oþer in þe feyre and court. For in non half man makeþ
250good at þe fulle of þe acountes of an erþelich prince. Also þe
251kynge for to have þe more large spens toward Ierusalem, he
252resignede þe castelles of Berwik and of Rokesburgh to þe kyng
253of Scotlond for ten þowsand pound. Also he begiled þe olde
254man þe riche bisshop of Durham, and he made hym begge his
255owne province for a greet somme of money. Þerfore þe
256kyng seide ofte in his game, "I am a wonder crafty man, for
257I have i-made a newe eorle of an olde bisshop." By suche

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258manere while and speche he emptede meny men purses and
259bagges, and solde dignetees and lordschippes þat longede to
260þe kyng, as þeyȝ he þouȝte nevere for to come aȝen. In a
261tyme his frendes þat were homliche wiþ hym blamede hym
262þerfore, and he answerde and seide: "I wolde selle Londoun,
263and I myȝte fynde a chapman þat myȝte wel paye." Meny
264men bouȝte wiþ þe bettre wil, for me trowed þat þe kyng
265wolde nevere come aȝen hom. He hadde i-fonge power of
266þe pope þat he myȝte beneme þe crosse whome þat he
267wolde, and þerby he gat many þowsand pound. Þan þe kyng
268as it semed bytook rechelesliche þe governaunce of his
269kyngdom to his chaunceller, bisshop of Hely, and seilled into
270Normandie tofore mydwynter tyde. Þat tyme at Dunstapil
271þe signe of þe cros was i-seie in hevene, and sone þerafter þe
272schap of þe cros was i-seie forsake þe baner and passe somwhat
273of space þerfrom, telle who þat wil what it myȝte mene, for
274I have i-lerned to telle þis wonder, and not to discreve what
275it schulde mene. Þanne þe kynges of Engelond and of Fraunce
276after þat þey hadde i-made suerte bytwene hem tweyne, þat
277dwelled at Turon in Fraunce forto abide somer, to wende in
278þe wey to þe Holy Land nouȝt onliche in holy entent and for

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279cause of þe fey, but for to desire of her owne helthe
280and hope of greet hap and fortune. Bote þe riȝtwisnesse of
281God alloweþ non suche a manere doynge, but semeliche
282God ordeyneþ þat outrage pryde of mysbileved men
283schulde be alayde in þat manere. Also wiþ oute þe mescheef
284and woo þat Iewes suffrede in here body and catel at
285Lyncolne and at Lynne, ȝet at Ȝork after a longe sege and
286greet mescheef and woo, Raby, mayster of Iewes, forkutte þe
287veynes of foure hondred Iewes, and his owne veynes also, and
288his wifes þrote. Also at Staunforde Iewes were i-bete,
289i-slawe, and i-spild. And oon Iohn, moost hardy of Cristen
290men, com to Northamptoun wiþ many grete prayes; þere his
291hostiler slowȝ hym priveliche by nyȝt for covetise of money
292þat he hadde i-brouȝt, and þrew þe body by nyȝte wiþ oute
293þe citee, and fleyȝ awey as a þeef schulde. Þanne olde wyfes
294mette, and þere were i-seie wonder false siȝtes and fals
295tokenes, and þe sely men bere an honde þat it was for þe
296holynesse of þat man, þat þey hilde a verray martir, and worschipped
297þe sepulcre of þe dede man wiþ solempne wacches
298and ȝiftes; bote wise men lowh hem to scorne; bote clerkes
299of þe place were wel apaide þerwith, ffor þey hadde profiȝt
300þerby. Þis was i-tolde þe bisshop, and anon he forbeed þe
301doynge of symple men uppon the peyne of cursynge, and
302þe greet boost of coveytous men and of hir false martir. In
303þe mene tyme, while kyng Richard was absent, William bisshop
304of Hely, þe kynges chaunceller, procuratour of þe rewme, þe
305popes legat in Engelond i-made for money, he hilde lowe the

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306clergie, and spak by þe kynges power, and bare down þe kynges
307peple, and schewed auctorite of þe pope of Rome, and rood
308wiþ a þowsand hors. He greved abbayes with paymentis
309and with ȝiftes, and made his allye þe grettest of þe lond;
310eiþer primat his see he hilde lowȝ inow at his owne wille,
311for Baldewyn þe archebisshop of Caunterbury deide at Tyrus
312tofore þe comynge of þe kyng to þe Holy Lond, and þe
313kynges broþer Geffray, elyt of Ȝork, he hadde i-let ten ȝere
314þat he was nouȝt i-sacred. And also Giffray londede at
315Dovere, and he bynam his catel, and drowȝ hym out of Seynt
316Martyns abbay, and putte hym in þe kynges tour; and made
317a counsaile at Westmynstre as þe kynges procuratour and
318þe popes legat. Þere his fautour Hewe Nonant, bisshop of
319Chestre, putte forþ a pleynt þat þe monkes of Coventre had
320i-sched his blood riȝt tofore þe hiȝe auȝter; þerfore William
321bisshop of Hely demede þat monkes schulde be putte awey
322from Coventre, and clerkes i-brouȝt þider þat lyveþ by provendres.
323By occasioun herof þis Hewe, þat was gylful of wit,
324schameles and hardy in evel dedes, connynge in lettrure and

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325faire speche, and had alway i-made debaat and strif bytwene
326the priour and þe covent of Coventre, now wiþ strengþe of
327men of armes he put out þe monkes as passing evel doers,
328and gulty of huge trespas, and sente anon to the court of
329Rome men of answere ful informed, wiþ lettres of bisshops
330witnessynge þat þe monkes had forsake Cristes chivalry, and
331were afalle to wordliche likynge; þerfore he prayed of þe
332pope fre power of þe ordenaunce of þat abbay. Þe pope abood
333sixe monþes wiþ þe sentence for to abide ȝif eny man wolde
334come and speke for þe monkes, bote defaute of spense and lette þe
335monkes, and made þat þe bisshop had al his wille. Þe monkes
336come unneþe at þe laste, whan þey had longe i-wope þe
337wrong of her violent out puttynge; but þe bisshoppes myȝt
338and power hadde þe maistrye by money and by sleiþe, and
339meny ȝeres þe monkes were disperbled, and what þey hadde
340was i-ordeyned to provendres to clerkes, and þey lyved poorliche,
341and gat her liflode as þey myȝte. Þerfore whan þis
342bisshop Hew woorþ seek at Becco in Normandie in a
343Good Friday, and myȝte no man fynde þat wolde sette hym
344penaunce, as it is i-seide, þan he seide , "And I deme myself

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345to ligge in þe peyne of purgatorie for myn evel dedes anon
346to þe day of doome."
347

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348

CAPITULUM VICESIMUM SEXTUM.

349

ÞE CROWNYNGE OF ÞE EMPEROUR.

350
351    Affter Clement, þe þridde Celestinus was pope sixe ȝere and
352eiȝte monþes. Þe secounde day of his consecracioun he

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353crowned þe fifte Henry emperour, Frederik his sone, in þis
354manere: first tofore þe grees of þe cherche of Rome he feng
355an ooþ of þis Henry þat he schulde defende and meyntene
356holy chirche and þe riȝtes of holy chirche, and ȝif ouȝt were
357bynome of seynt Petres londes, he schulde restore it aȝen
358wiþ al his myȝt. Þanne he sat in his chayer and hilde þe
359emperours crowne with his feet, and þe emperour bowed doun
360his heed, and þe pope let falle þe crowne uppon þe emperours
361heed, and smot it of aȝen of þe emperours heed anon wiþ his
362feet riȝt to þe grounde, in token þat þe pope haþ power to
363make þe emperoure and sette hym down, if he is worþy.
364Þe cardynals stood by, and took up þe crowne, and sette it aȝen
365uppon þe emperours heed. While kyng William was absent,
366þe forsaide William de Longchamp, bisshop of Hely, prevede
367Hughe bisshop of Durham of al manere worschippe, and
368greved þe bisshop of Wynchestre, and wreþþed nyh alle. In
369þe mene tyme meny were arrayed for to passe þe see to have
370and axe a remedie of þe kyng, and of help aȝenst þe comoun

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371tiraunt; but he was ware þerof, and com tofore all oþere, and
372hadde alle his wille, and com aȝen or oþer men come to þe
373kyng; but oþer men hadde lettres also suche as þey wolde,
374and oon of hem, þat was bisshop of Lyncolne, cam aȝen, and
375persewede William bisshop of Hely anon to Lyncolne, þere
376was i-sette a day to answere, and þe castel of Tykhulle;
377þere whan þe bisshop of Durham was i-come, þis William
378spak to hym and seide, "I take þe nouȝt bisshop a byschop ;
379but I chaunceller, take þe castellan, forto þou ȝeve plegges
380to ȝilde up þe kynges castelles." Þe fame of þis evel man
381William fulfilled al Engelond, so þat þe grete grucchede
382aȝenst hym, and þe smale cursed wel faste. The kynges
383broþer Iohn was wrooþ for þe takynge of his broþer Geffray,
384elyt of Ȝork, and gadrede greet strengþe of his owne province
385and of Walsche men wiþ meny bisshoppes, and chased þis
386William from Wyndesore to þe toure of Londoun, and from
387þennes to Dovere; þere þis William dredde leste he schulde
388nouȝt freliche passe þe see. and took a womman clooþ

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389above his owne cleþinge, and hyled his heed and þe more
390deel of his face wiþ kerchefes and wymples, and walked
391on þe clef, and bar on his lift arme a webbe of lynnen cloþ,
392as it were to sellynge, and bare a metȝerde in his riȝt
393hond, for he wolde sliliche ascape and passe by þat craft
394and nouȝt be aspied. But for he couþe not selle and undo
395his clooþ as a womman schulde, he was i-take by his prive
396membres and despitouslyche aspied; but at þe laste he passed
397þe see, and þe bisshop of Rothomage had þe rulynge of
398reaume by maundement of þe kyng þat was in Sicilia. Also
399the bisshop of Bathe was i-chose archebisshop, but he was
400soon dede; and ȝit William bisshop of Hely purchased a wel
401stronge maundement of Celestinus þe pope, and hadde þe same
402auctorite and power þat he hadde raþer, as it were for amaundement
403of þe kyngdom of Engelond, and forto wiþstonde
404Iohn þat wolde byneme his broþer þe kyngdom while he was
405absent; but in al þis he was begiled, for he conspired and
406was assentynge to Iohn for ȝiftes oþer for faire byhestes.
407And ȝit al for nouȝt, for þey he schewed at Dovere þe greet
408warant of his legacie, ȝit þe queen Alianore and þe archebishops
409of Rothomage and of Ȝork and meny oþer compelled
410hym for to seille aȝen. Þanne after þat þey hadde abide
411springing tyme at Turon, þe kynges of Fraunce and of Engelond

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412wente, þat oon by londe and þat oþer by water, and
413com to Sicilia; þere þe kyng of Fraunce let passe þe trespas
414of his men unpunsched, and was cleped a lombe; but þe kyng
415of Engelonde leet no trespas unpunsched, þerfore he was
416i-cleped a leon. Also kyng Richard ffauȝt wiþ Griffon, in
417Calabria and in Sicilia, and hadde þe maistrie. He made a
418castel of tree to be i-lad aboute, and he rerede þat castel
419aȝenst þe citee of Messan, and cleped þat castel Mategrysphom;
420with þat castel afterward he to þe citee of
421Acres. And þere his moder brouȝt hym a faire mayde of
422schap and of speche, Berengaria, þat was þe kynges douȝter
423of Navarne, and kyng Richard wedded her to wyfe. Þanne
424þe kyng of Fraunce wente fforþ into Siria, and þe kyng of
425Engelond abood somwhat after þat he was a goo. Bote in
426þat abidynge he was nouȝt idel, but he sente forþ vitailles
427and made engynes. Þanne he wente out of Sycil and com
428into Cipres, and byþouȝt hym þat tweyne of þe kynges
429schippes were to-broke wiþ tempest in þe see, and i-spoyled
430by men of Cipres. Þerfore kyng Richard chasede þe kyng of

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431þe lond, þat wolde nouȝt doo amendes, from citee to citee, for to
432þe kyng ȝalde hym to kyng Richard. And þe kyng ȝalde
433hym self uppon covenant þat he schulde nouȝt be putte in
434bondes of iren. Kynge Richard grauntede, but he put hym
435in bondes of silver, and dwelled þere tweie monþes, and hadde
436þe londe at his wille. Þan he wente to Acres, and took in þe
437see oon of þe sowdans greet schippes i-lade with grete riches,
438and bolgede and þrulled it in þe eyþer side. Whan he
439come to Acres, fil strif bytwene hym and þe kyng of
440Fraunce HERE BEGINS AN EXTRACT FROM OTHER MANUSCRIPTS in þis manere. By covenant that was made bytwene
441him at Turon, the kynge of Fraunce chalanged half that was
442wonne in Cypres. Kynge Richard ayenesayde, and sayde that
443the covenaunt was made of þe wynnynge in þe Holy Lond
444and aȝenst þe Sarsyns. Also þere was anoþer cause

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445of stryf, for the kyng wolde leve noþing to þe eorl of Champayn,
446þat was þo ful nedy and in greet mescheef, but he
447wolde legge Champayn to þe kyng to wedde. Þan þe eorle
448seide, "Ich have y-doo þat y schulde; here after y schal
449doo what me nedeþ : myn owne lord fongeþ me nouȝt
450but for myne; þerfore y schal goo to hym þat is more redy
451to geve þan to fonge." Þanne he cam to kyng Richard,
452and was riche ynowe. HERE ENDS AN EXCTRACT FROM OTHER MANUSCRIPTS Also kyng Richard faverede Gy
453kyng of Ierusalem aȝenst Conradus Markys kyng of Tyrus, þat
454þe kyng of Fraunce faverede in þe oþer side. But he comeþ
455to þe seege of Acres, þat was byseged two ȝere and al þe
456travayle i-lost. For þe engynes þat were i-brouȝt aȝenst þe
457citee were i-brend wiþ Grekkische fuyre, þat no water
458myȝte aquenche, noþer oþer element. Also þe Cristene men
459wax lasse and lasse, somdel for siknes and somdel for oþer
460defauȝtes and mescheef. Also it was to deled in parties for
461þe stryf þat was bytwene Gy and þe Markes. Also som
462greet of oure side hadde i-fonge money and mede of þe
463sowdon.
464

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465    Þe sixte pope Clement deide at seynt Nicolas day, and anon
466þe popes cheef penytauncer, Stevene bisshop Hostiensis, was i-chosen
467pope, and was i-cleped þe sixte Innocent. Also þat ȝere
468bygan grete derþe of þinges þat schulde be soolde, so þat þe sale
469of þynges was of double price to þat it was i-wont. Also þe
470see and þe lond gan to wexe more bareyne þan þey were to
471forhonde. Þis ȝere it was accorded and i-swore bytwene þe
472kynges of Engelond and of Fraunce, oute take þat þe kynges
473seeles were nouȝt i-sette too þe endentures þat were i-wrete:
474þe accorde was þat þe kyng of Engelond schulde have alle his
475londes of þe ducherye of Gyan þat were bynome hym to
476forehonde by þe kyng of Fraunce, so þat þe kyng of Engelond
477shulde leve and resigne up to þe kyng of Fraunce al þe right
478and þe cleyme þat he had to þe reume of Fraunce. Uppon þat
479doynge were solempne messangers i-sent in þe kynges byhalf
480of Engelond, Henry þe nobil duke of Lancastre, Henry
481erle of Arundel, Michel of Norþeburgh bisshop of Londoun, and
482Gy de Bryan; þese were i-sent to the popes court forto have

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483þese covenauntes recorded by þe popes billes; but by sodeyn
484fraude of Fraunce, and by assent of þe pope, þese covenantes
485were i-putte of and undo; þerfore Engelond arrayeþ forto fiȝte
486forto recovere and wynne þe londes þat were bynome wiþ
487wrong, and þe kyng of Engelond entred into Fraunce wiþ
488greet strengþe of knyȝtes. But he herde telle þat Berwyk was
489i-take, and come aȝen, and delyvered Berwyk of þe power of
490þe Scottes. Þis ȝere was so grete drowþe þat þre monþes togidres,
491Averel, May, and June, unneþe fel a drope of reyn
492doun to the erþe. On Friday in Wytsonwyke were tweye
493freres of þe ordre of Menoures i-brent in Avyoun for som
494fals opiniouns, as it semed þe pope and þe cardynales. Þe
495same ȝere, at þe Nativite of oure Lord, þe kyng of Engelond
496his eldest sone Edward seilled into Gascoyne wiþ many
497men of armes and archeres, to recovere and wynne þe londes
498of þe ducherie of Gyan, þat þe kyng of Fraunce hadde long
499tyme wrongfulliche wiþholde; þere Edward dwelled al a ȝere
500wiþ oute eny reese of enemyes. But in mene tyme he took

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501and beet doun and spoylled and brent huge citees þat were
502rebel aȝenst hym, as Narboun, Carcason, and oþere; bot in þe
503ende of þe ȝere of his comynge, þe oon and twenty day of þe
504monþe of Septembre, while þe duke of Lancastre byseged þe
505citee of Berenens in Bretayne, Edwerd passed by þe brynkes of
506þe ryver of Leyr, þat is of þe ducherie of Gyan, þere come þe
507kyng of Fraunce wiþ a greet oost, and fauȝt wiþ hym; but þe
508kyng of Fraunces men weren i-slawe and i-chasede, and
509þe kyng of Fraunce was i-take and i-brouȝt at Burdewys,
510in Gascoyne, and was þere forto Witsontyde. Þis ȝere
511about Witsontide the forseyde Edward seyled out of Gascoyne
512into Engelond with Joon kyng of Frenschemen ; þan
513tweie cardynales come into Engelond forto to trete of pees
514bytwene þe tweie kynges. Þese cardynales dwelled in
515Engelond a ful ȝere, and þe þridde cardynal come of his
516owne heed to conforte the kyng of Fraunce, and dwellid
517wiþ the oþere cardynales at Londoun. Also þis ȝere, þat was
518ȝere of oure Lord a þowsand þre hondred and seven and fifty,
519aboute alle Alewen tide, Davyd le Bruce, kyng of Scotlond,

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520was delyvered, þat hadde i-be long tyme in warde enlevene
521ȝere in þe castel of Odiam, and he paide a grete raunsoun.
522Also þis ȝere at þe court of Rome bygan greet stryff bytwene
523þe primat Armacan and freres beggers. Also þe same ȝere was
524grete destruccioun in Bretayne and in Normandye, by Phelip
525þat was þe kynges broþer of Navare, and sir Iames Pypyn
526and Robert Knolles, and many oþer Englisshe men wiþouten
527heed and wiþouten waraunt of þe kyng of Engelond.
528Þis ȝere aboute þe Assumpcioun of oure Lady, Edward kyng
529of Engelond, and his eldest sone Edward prince of Wales, þe
530duke of Lancastre, and nygh alle þe lordes of Engelond, wiþ
531a greet oost of horsmen and of archers i-gadred wiþ aboute a
532þowsand chariottes, dwelled somtyme longe tyme at Sandewiche,
533and aboute Myghelmasse next þerafter þe forsaide
534duke seilled to Caleys; þe kyng and þe prince seilled to þe
535same place aboute Candelmasse, and bygunne to ride anon
536in þe reaume of Fraunce, but þat þey lay in þe feelde of

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537Burgoyne and in þe champayne anon to þe Anunciacioun of
538oure Lady. In þe mene tyme þe Normans londed at Wynchilsee
539wiþ a litel navey in Engelond, þe fifte day of Marche,
540and assailled þat toun, and slouȝ men, and brent some of þe
541toun. But þere meny of þe see þefes were i-slawe and
542i-dreynt, and þe oþere deel of þe see þefes flyȝe to þe
543schippes, and went out of Engelond, as þey were compelled by
544þe abbot of Bataylle and strengþe þat was wiþ hym. Þis ȝere,
545aboute seynt Donstones day and feste, Edward kyng of
546Engelond toke trewes wiþ þe kyng of Fraunce, in hope of
547pees, and cam wiþ his oost aȝen into Engelond. But he loste
548many men, horses, and chariottes, besides Parys, the eyȝteþe
549day after Estre, by a storme of weder þat fel þere þat tyme.
550Aboute Lamasse next þerafter Armacan and þe ordres of
551beggers of þe stryf þat was bytwene hem cessed by heste of
552þe pope. Also þe same ȝere þe prince of Wales, þe duke of
553Lancastre, and many oþer lordes of Engelond, and þe kyng of
554Fraunce, wente to Caleys to reforme the pees bytwene Engelond

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555and Fraunce. Þere þe pees was refourmed and assured
556wiþ suerte of oþer in eyþer side, and þe kynges of
557Engelond and of Fraunce wente home aȝen to her owne kyngdoms
558aboute Mychemasse; and sone þerafter were messangers
559i-sent to Avyon to þe pope, to conferme þe pees and
560covenante in eyþer side.
561    God be þonked of al his nedes: þis translacioun is i-ended
562in a Þorsday, þe eyȝteþe day of Averyl, þe ȝere of oure Lord
563a þowsand þre hondre foure score and sevene, þe tenþe ȝere
564of kyng Richard þe secounde after þe conquest of Engelond,
565þe ȝere of my lordes age, sire Thomas lorde of Berkeley,
566þat made me make þis translacioun, fyve and thrytty. Deo
567gracias.