<County: Gloucestershire>
<Code: L7100>
<MS reference: London, BL Cotton Caligula A.xi>
<Text: Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle>
<Tranche 1>
<fol. 20r>Yrlonde is alre yle best . wiþoute engelonde .
þe se geþ al aboute him ek . as ich vnder-stonde .
More he is þan engelond . & in þe souþhalf he is .
Braddore & more of inou . þanne in þe norþhalf iwis .
A3en þe lond of spaine he stont . in þe norþ side ri3t .
Selde snow þerinne liþ . & nameliche þre ni3t .
So euene hot þt lond is . þt men dorre selde .
Hor orf in house a-winter bringe . out of þe welde .
Lese last þer alle winter . bote more wonder be .
Selde me ssal in þe lond . eny foul worm ise .
Vor neddren ne oþer wormes . ne dorre þer be no3t .
Ac 3if hii beþ þuder bi+cas . fram oþer londe ibro3t .
hii deieþ þoru smul of þe lond . oþer þor3 torchinge iwis
Ech gras þt þerinne werþ . a3en venim is .
Vor men þt beþ enuenimed . þoru graces of þe londe .
J-dronke hii beþ iclansed . sone þoru godes sonde .
Hony & milc þer is muche . Muche folc & bold .
þis is þe stat of yrlonde as ic abbe itold .
After kyng gurgnout . kinges moni+on .
þer wer~ her~ in engelond . me ne may no3t telle echon .
A-boute ane fourhondred 3er . after him þer com .
A kyng þt was lud icluped . þt wel huld þis kinedom .
Grete tounes in engelond . he amendede inou .
& londone aller mest . vor þer is herte mest drou .
& folc he het of þe toune . so noble bold arere .
þt in al engelond . so noble cite þere .
walles he let make al aboute . & 3ates vp & doun .
& after lud þt was is name . he clupede it ludes toun .
þe herte 3ate of þe toun . þt 3ut stont þere & is .
he let hit clupie ludegate . after is owe name iwis .
he let him þo he was ded . burie at þulke 3ate .
þer-vore 3ut after him . me clupeþ it lodegate .
<fol. 20v>þe toun me clupeþ ludestonn . þt is wide couþ .
& now me clupeþ it londone . þt is li3tore in þe mouþ .
& niwe troye hit het er . & nou it is so ago .
þat londone it is now icluped . & worþ euere mo .
Engelond aþ ibe . mid strengþe iwonne ilome .
& verst as ich telle can . þoru þe emperors of rome .
After king lud þer was king . his broþer cassibel .
þat noble prince was mon . & þt lond gouerned wel .
July þe emperour of rome . bi his daye com .
& muchedel of þe world bi este . to is poer nom .
So þt he drou him westward . & worrede in mony londe .
& wan lond after oþer . him ne mi3te non at-stonde .
þo he adde iwonne france . þe se he wende nei .
& bihuld west & somdel . of engelond isey .
he eschte at men wat lond it were . & wat folc þerinne was .
Me sede him þt it was brutaine . no betere lond nas .
& þt þe folc was of troye . & of brut icome .
þanne beþ hii quaþ þe emperour . of þe kunde of rome .
vor after þe bataile of troye . þe nobleman eneas .
To lombardie com þt nou is rome . & vre ferste fader was .
& brut also com of him . þat his fader slow .
& þeruore was þenene idriue . & to þulke lond drou .
þanne be we of one kunde . ac bote ic þerto lie .
A3en kunde hii beþ a3en vs . & of chiualerie .
vor þer-of ne mowe hii come no3t . j not hou hii mi3te .
To be bi hom sulue in an herne . as þer-of wiþ-oute si3te .
vor no3t we ssolle hom ouercome . ac naþeles as þe hende .
we ssolle hom warni of our~ þo3t . ar we þanne wende .
þe emperours messagers . to engelonde come .
þat þe king abude is herte . to þe noble stude of rome .
As alle oþere kinges dude . & is noble seruage .
Dude to þe heye emperour . & sende him is truage .
<fol. 21r>& his lond huld of him . & dude him omage .
Laste þe heie emperour . vor is outrage .
Come & destruede al is lond . & 3ut þt worse wer~ .
þe blod schedde of is owe kunde . & defoulede so þere .
& þe olde heinesse of priamus . worrede so .
Of was kunde hii come echone . & þt wer~ him loþ to do .
Vor þer ne scholde in al þe world . no lond be ner lor~ .
þis was euene sixti 3er . ar god wer~ ibore .
þe kyng sende þis wor a3en . þo he hurde þis tiþinge .
Cassibel king of brutaine . to July send gretinge
wonder it is sire emperour . of þi noble gentrise .
þt is so noble anerþe iwolt . wiþ so vil coueitise .
þat worles nobleye as so muche . alle manne mest .
& vor coueitise art icome . so ver fram þen est .
To wilny oure lute god . þt god vs wolde sende .
þt beþ her~ bi vs sulue . at þe worles ende .
& þt þou nart one ipaid . vr tresour to nime at ene .
bote þou þer-after vs binime . vr franchise al clene .
To bringe us so fre as we beþ . In-to so gret seruage .
þat we bere þe & þine . eueremo truage .
Gret vilte þou askest ous . wanne we of one kunde
beþ icome 3e & we as þou ast þi sulf in munde .
þanne a3t it be inou . wanne we beþ of one blode .
Loue & frendssipe to aski us . 3if þu þe wel vnderstode .
þei þou ne askedest þer vppe . þralhede euere mo .
Siker þou be we ne conne no3t . of þralhede ne of wo .
So muche we abbeþ euere ibe . in franchise 3ut her-to .
þat þei vr owe god vs wolde . in þralhede do .
Fondi we wolde a3en hom . vor our~ franchise wiþstonde .
þei þou þer-vore sir~ emperour . gret poer abbe an honde .
<fol. 21v>wite to soþe þt we wulleþ . vor our~ franchise fi3te .
& vor our~ lond raþer þan we . lese it wiþ vnri3te .
þis was ek four hondred 3er . & four score & þrittene .
After þat þe boru out of rome . verst was bigonne I wene .
þo þe emperour hurde þis . to schipes he wende vaste .
& alis poer vorþ-wiþ him . & hor seiles vp caste .
hii entred jn at temese mouþ . & þere hii gonne ariue .
þo cassibel hurde þis he 3arkede him wel bliue .
þo adde king lud is broþer . 3onge sones tueie .
Androge & tennant . þt to 3onge wer~ beie .
þo 3are fader deide . to holde þe kinedom .
þer-vore cassibel . þat lond to him nom .
Ac þo nolde cassibel . þt hii ssolde allinge faile .
tennant þe 3ongore . he made erl of cornwaile .
& androge erl of kent . & 3ef him londone þer-to .
Beie hii wer~ noble men . þo þis dede was ido .
þe king adde ek an broþer . nemi was is name .
Stalwarþe kni3t & hardi & mon of grete fame .
þe kinges chef conselers . þes þre were of þis þinge .
Alle hii come to kaunterbury . atte biginninge .
þere þe king & is poer . Such conseil to-gadere nome .
To kepe þe emperours folc . ar hii to ver in come .
vor 3if hii adde o+þing . iwonne . of castel oþer of toune .
wel þe worse it wolde be . to bringe hom þer doune .
þe king wende toward þe se . mid vair ost inou .
& as þe emperour adde ipi3t . his pauilons he drou .
þo hii adde iordeined . hor ost in eiþer side .
þe bataile hii smite strong . inou . þt couþ was wel wide .
Mid arwen & mid quarels . so muche folc verst me slow .
& suþþe mid speres smite adoun . þt deol it was inou .
þo hii wer~ þoru-out imengd . mid suerd & mid mace .
Mid ax & mid anlas . so muche folc in þe place .
<Tranche 2>
<fol. 117r>A god pope was þulke time . at rome þt het vrban .
þat prechede of þe croyserie . & croysede moni a+mon .
þer-of he sende prechors . þoru al cristendom -
& him sulf a þes half þe mouns . & to france com .
¶ and prechede so vaste & wiþ so gret wisdom .
þat aboute in eche londe . þre crois vaste me nom .
Jn þe 3er of grace . a þousend & sixtene .
þis grete croiserie bigan . þat longe was isene .
¶ Of so muche folc . nyme þe croys . ne to þe holy londe go .
Mene sey no tyme biuore . ne suþþe naþemo .
¶ Vor sulue wimmen ne bileuede . þat hii ne wende þuder vaste .
Ne 3ong folc þei hii feble wer~ . þe wule þe veage ilaste .
¶ So þt roberd courtehese . þuderward is herte caste
& among oþere gode kni3tes . ne þo3te no3t be þe laste .
¶ he wende here to engelond . vor þe croiserye .
& leide willam is broþer . to wedde normandye
& borewede þer-uppe of him . an hondred . þousend marc .
To wende wiþ to þe holy lond . & þat was somdel starc
¶ He adde arst duc of normandie nye 3er ybe .
þo he adde þis tresour . he gan him bet bise .
¶ þe erl roberd of flaundres . mid him wende also .
& eustaus erl of boloyne & moni god kni3t þer-to .
¶ þer wende þe duc geffray & þe erl baldewine þere.
& þe oþer baldewine al so . þat noblemen were .
& kinges suþþe alle þre of þe holy lond.
þe erl steuene þe bles wende ek . þat gret poer adde an ho<cropped>
þt roberdes soster courtehese . ispoused adde to wiue .
þer wende 3ut oþer kni3tes . þe beste þt wer~ aliue .
¶ As þe er of sein gile . þe gode reimond .
& vel þe kinges broþer of france . & þe erl beaumond .
¶ & tancred is neueu . & þe bissop al-so .
Of podie & sire hue . þe grete erl þer-to .
& folc also wiþoute tale . of al þis west ende .
Of engelond of france . þuderward gonne wende .
Of normandie of denemarch . of norþweye of brutayne .
Of walis & of yrlonde . of gascoyne & of spayne .
Of prouence . & of saroyne . & of alymayne .
Of scotlond . & of grece . of rome . of aquitayne .
<fol. 117v>¶ Me ne hurde neuere þt god . so vair grace an+erþe sende .
þat so muche folc at o tyme . to þ eholy lond wende .
¶ þis folc at constantinoble . biuore þe emperour .
Alex þat was þo . come wiþ gret honour .
Suþþe hii dude hom in þe se . and ariuede atte laste .
Suþþe þe toun of nyce . hii bisegede vaste .
¶ Hii departede verst hor ost . as <exp>h</exp> in vour partye .
And at ech of þe vour 3ates . sette an compaynie .
¶ Vor roberd courtehese . Mid þe poer þat ws his .
& þe erl of flaundres were iset . at þe est 3ate ywis .
¶ Atte norþ3ate was tancred . & þe duc biaumond .
Atte souþ3ate was þe bissop . & þe gode erl reimond .
¶ And þe duc godefray . & steuene de bleys also .
and sir~ hue þe grete erl . atte west 3ate wer~ ido .
Hii bigonne an hal-pores euen . þen toun to asaili þere .
Stalwardliche & vaste inou . noblemen as it were .
¶ Hit þo3te þat al þe eir aboute vol was of cri anon
& þt me ne mi3te no3t ise . bote arwen & flon .
& stones out of liþeren . & of magnels al-so .
Muche was þe mansla3t . þat þere was ido .
¶ Vor hii wiþinne versse wer~ . wiþoute trauail & tene .
& adde hor ginnes to sseten out . & þe wal hom was bitwene
¶ þe cristine failede of al þis . war þoru in a+stounde .
Alas muchedel of hom . was ibro3t to grounde .
¶ And naþeles as noblemen . hii asailede euere vaste .
So þat to þe toun walle . hii come atte laste .
And þe oþere hadde ilore hor ssute . of bowe & of arblaste
Ne hii ne mi3te vor oþer ginnes . stones vp hom caste .
¶ þe cristine+men dolue vaste . & þen wal velde adoun
So þt þe sarazins . 3olde hom þen toun .
þat was þe chef cite . of þe lasse asye .
So þat þe cristine+men . adde þer þe maistrie .
& tresour founde & stor inou . hii astorede hom wel þere .
& reste hor gode bodies . þat wel wery wer~
After six wouke & þre dawes . þt hii þuder come .
Hii greiþede hom & þen wey . to antioche nome .
¶ Out of nyce hii wende þo . of jul þe verste day .
Jch wene a+uair~ compainie . neuere mon ne say .
<fol. 118r>¶ Vor aboute seue hondred þousend . of godies . þer were .
& 3ut þer was alto-muche bihinde a+slawe þere .
¶ As hii wende toward antioche . hii bihulde an hey .
So þat in þe firmamnt<?> . þat folc hom þo3te hii sey .
A long suerd red as fur . þe point ssarp inou
& ouer painime estward . þt point hom þo3te drou .
¶ Of þis si3te hii wer~ glad . vor hom þo3te it was tokninge .
þt god wolde þe sarazens . jn hor poer bringe .
¶ Hor compainie þat was þo . wair~. hii delde verst atuo .
Jn þe one roberd cortehese . cheuentein was ido .
& þe erl beumond & tancred . & þe gode kni3t richard .
De prices & euerard . de ponsat & achard .
De moumerloy<?> & mony oþere . & þo þis was al 3ar~ .
Vorþ hii wende & þe oþer folc . bi anoþer wei elles war~ .
¶ As þis gode compainie . þen ri>te wey uor nome .
þe heþene wer~ of hom iwar . & a3en hom come .
þrehondred þousend & sixty þousend . wiþoute folc of arabie
So muche þt þer nas non noumbre . of hor compainye .
¶ þe cristine wer~ of þe sarazins . an onywar biset .
& vor þe sarazins were ywar . hom spedde wel þe bet .
¶ Batayle hii smite strong inou . ac as icholde no3t .
Vor þe cristine+men wer~ nei to grounde ibro3t .
¶ Of trompes & of tabors . þe sarazins made þere .
So gret noyse þat cristinemen . al destourbed were .
Vor hor hors wer~ al astoned . & nolde after wille .
Siwe noþer spore no bridel . ac some stode stille .
& some lepte her & þer . so þat hii were icome .
Jn wille to fle cristine+men & bigonne to fle some .
¶ þo arnde uorþ þe noble kni3t . roberd courtehese .
kni3tes he sede wat wolle 3e . vuele 3e doþ chese .
Ne se 3e þat 3are hors beþ . suiftore þan 3our~ be .
þat 3e beþ dede anon . 3if 3e wolle fle .
¶ Deie we raþer wiþ onour . & siweþ me in þis place .
Vor icholle mi lif dere inou . sulle þoru godes grace .
¶ He turnde is stede wiþ god eir~ atte biginninge .
He smot þoru-out wiþ a+launce . on of hor hexte kinge .
¶ And an oþer gret maister he slou . & ef-sone þe þridde .
His felawes smite uorþ wiþ him . & wer~ sone amidde .
<fol. 118v>Boþe tancred & biaumond . & richard de prince also .
And þis oþere gode kni3tes . gode herte hom nome to .
& smite al a+nywe bataile . & to grounde slowe vaste .
So þt fram þe oþer ost . þer com atte laste .
sire hue þe grete erl . & auncel de ripemond .
Mid an hondrred kni3tes . pur versse & sound .
¶ & þe sarazines ost . war al so vaste .
So þt tueie of our~ princes . aslawe wer~ atte laste .
¶ Vor willam tancredes broþer . an heþene king com to .
& smot him þoru mid a+lance . & he him al-so .
So þat hii wer~ boþe dede . & al-so sir~ godefray .
De mount scabiouse was . aslawe weilaway .
¶ Vor as he an kni3tes heued . of arabie of smot .
& he & his armur~ . wer~ þoru out hot .
Ousset? him þoru-out . mid a+narwe þere .
So þat þis tueye gode kni3tes . of cristine aslawe were .
¶ þis batayle laste þus . fram morwe vor to non .
So þat þe verste cristine ost was nei wat ydon .
¶ Vor þer adde vewe aliue . ofscaped<?> in þe place .
3if vr louerd hom ˆ [n]adde isend . help þoru is grace .
Vor hor felawes of þe oþer ost . al versse to hom drowe .
Verst þe duc godefray . mid gode kni3tes ynowe .
& in þe ri3thalf of is ost . þe baldewines tueye .
Were & gouernede þe ost . mid hor poer beye .
¶ & steuene þe bleis is ost . þe luft side nom .
& Roberd erl of flaundres . after þulke ost com .
Mid is poer gret inou . as þe ost in þe ri3t side .
Sywede þe gode reimond . mid is ost wel wide .
& vot-folc wiþoute noumbre . & þanne þe bissop drou .
Jn anoþer alf of an hul . wiþ gret poer ynou .
¶ þe sarazins in no bataile . neuere 3ut so uaste .
Fo3te ne so stifliche . þe wule hor poer ylaste .
¶ Ac þo þis noble kni3tes . al verss up hom come .
Hii þt mi3te of scapie . sone hor red nome .
& hor duc soliman . & bigonne to fle vaste .
So þat þis cristine+men . bileuede atte laste .
Maistres in þe velde . mid gret wo þei it were .
& of armes & of oþer þinge . gret preye awey bere .