ABSTRACT
Pere was in pe noble land of greece a worpe king… called Dioclycian… And he spousid a gentilwoman callyd labana and he gate on her 33 doughters where off pe eldoste was called albyne… and so it was ordynd & don pat albyne pe eldoste doughter & all of her sisters were worpily married onto 33 kyngs and grete lords…& afterwards it befell so pat pis albyne bicame so stout and so sturne pat she told little of her lord and would not to hym obey… & all her ower sisters did so peyr will. [The husbands complain to Dioclycian, who commands his daughters to obey their husbands], Pen dame albyn led all her susters ynto her chamber… and saide: ‘ffirst wole ye wat ffair sisters pat our husbands gave complaynte to our faper upon, wherefore he hap so reproved & despised us & perefore sisters my counsole ys pat wis nyghte when our husbands been all abedd pat we will an asente slo pym en yhand and pen may we lyve in pes’… and so they slo pern all. [Dioclycian orders the daughters to be cast out to sea with some provisions.] After many storms and tempests, pey at pe last were dryvyn & londed yn an ile pat was all willde and when pey were com to pat land dame albyne pe eldoste sister went firste oute of pe sc-hyppe. And came to pe land and pen saide she to her susters ‘as y am eldoste of us all and firste to pe ground I wyll pat pis land be called Albion affter my own name.’ Afterward py tokyn wild bestis and etyn pe flesch off. Pen pey be came wonder ffat and lusty an desired manys flessschly company more pan any other pyng. Pan pe devyl pat is ready to all evyls toke a body off pe air & come into pe land of Albion & lay by pes women and pey conceived afterwards and brought forp grete and horrible geants whereof Gogmagog was one…. And pey had pe land at peyr will unto pe time pat Brute com and landed… and conquered pes geants everyone and callid pe land bretayne. 1 Engelond his a wel god lond ich wene ech londe best Iset in pe on ende of pe worlde as al in pe west Pe see gep him al aboute he stond as in an yle Of fon hii dorre pe lasse doute bote hit be pory gyle Of folc of the sulue lond as me hap yse ywile From soupe to norp he is long ieyte hondred mile & two hundred mile brod fram est to west to pende [A very long list follows of England’s natural resources, principal rivers, islands, and largest cities.] Engelond hap ibe inome & iwerred ilome Verst poru grete louerdes pe emperours of rome Pat wroyte & wonne engelond & pat lond nome Supe pory picars and scottes pat to engelond come Pat werrede & destruede ac al clene ne wonne it noyte Supe pory engliss and saxons pat hider were ibroyt Poru brutons for to helpe hem & supe horn ouer come Pe brutons pat horn heder broyte & pat lond horn binome Supe hap englelond ibe iwerred ilome of pe folc of denemarch pat bep noyt yut ouercome pat ofte wonne engelond and helde it bi maistrie pe vifpe time ywan engelond pat folc of normandie pat among us woniep yut & ssullep euere mo pe ssullep her after in this boc telle of all pis wo 2
