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Hardyng's Chronicle, Table of Contents

JOHN HARDYNG, CHRONICLE, PROLOGUE: TEXTUAL NOTES

Abbreviations:m: marginalia; MS: London, British Library MS Lansdowne 204 (base manuscript).

Throughout the manuscript, the marginalia, book and chapter headings, and the running heads featuring the names of the reigning kings, are written in red ink; often the first letter of each stanza of the main text is also written in red ink. Because of the consistency of the scribe’s use of red in these areas, we have only recorded exceptions to this rule in the notes. Other features, such as scribal corrections, illumination, annotations by other hands other than the scribe(s), and editiorial emendations are recorded as they occur.

Occasionally, background smudges and traces of letters or words occur behind the current text of Lansdowne 204. Though beyond the scope of this edition, a comprehensive study of each instance of smudging is desirable, as some may have been caused by underwriting, indicating that the scribe(s) altered the work. The British Library analyzed ten examples of potential underwriting for us, using multispectral imagining equipment and Digital USB microscopy. Our selections fell into one of three categories. 1) Examples that did contain underwriting: the background shadows were caused by the scribe scraping the parchment to remove a word or phrase and writing different text over the erasure (or, as in two cases, simply erasing text that was no longer required). In such instances, traces of the original iron gall ink burn-through have survived, leaving partial letter-forms or words visible at a wavelength of 420 nm on the electromagnetic spectrum; sadly, it is often impossible to discern complete letters or words, and ink burn-through from text overleaf further obscures the original writing, making it largely unrecoverable. 2) Examples that do not contain underwriting: the shadows behind the text are caused by ink-burn through from text overleaf, which, to the naked eye, gives the impression of underwriting. 3) Examples that do not contain underwriting: the shadows behind the text are again due to degradation caused by the iron gall ink flaking away from the surface of the parchment and leaving the shape of the original letter below; to the naked eye, the spread of the burn-through can look like underwriting beneath the thinner flakes of surviving ink. The following textual notes make references to confirmed instances of underwriting only; we do not highlight potential cases because, given the degradation of the ink, we feel that this could be misleading.

Contents Page

The incomplete contents page is written entirely in red ink on one folio; it is divided into two columns, the second of which begins with the entry for Book 3, chapter 7. Each of the headings denoting a new book is enclosed by a red box.

The First Book. MS: The corner of the folio is missing.

xxvi capitulum Of Arvyragus. MS: This appears on the same line as the previous entry.

viii capitulum . . . Seint Elene. MS: The text runs into the gutter, which is too tight to see the final letters of Elene.

xx capitulum of Elfride of Westsex sovereyn. MS: An early reader has added a small manicule pointing to this line.

xxii capitulum Of Edward, sovereyn. MS: xxii capitulum Of Edward sover.

xxiiii capitulum. MS: xxiiii.

xxv capitulum. MS: xxv.

xxvi capitulum. MS: xxvi.

xxvii capitulum. MS: xxvii.

xxviii capitulum. MS: xxviii.

xxix capitulum. MS: xxix.
 
fol. 4v

.i.m capitulum

ii capitulum


iii capitulum





.i.m capitulum


ii capitulum
iii capitulum
iiii capitulum
v capitulum
vi capitulum
vii capitulum
viii capitulum
ix capitulum
x capitulum
xi capitulum
xii capitulum
xiii capitulum



xiiii capitulum
xv capitulum
xvi capitulum
xvii capitulum
xviii capitulum
xix capitulum

xx capitulum


xxi capitulum
xxii capitulum
xxiii capitulum
xxiiii capitulum
xxv capitulum
xxvi capitulum
xxvii capitulum



.i.m capitulum
ii capitulum
iii capitulum

iiii capitulum
v capitulum
vi capitulum
vii capitulum
viii capitulum
ix capitulum
x capitulum
xi capitulum
xii capitulum
xiii capitulum
xiiii capitulum
xv capitulum
xvi capitulum

xvii capitulum
xviii capitulum
xix capitulum



.i.m capitulum


ii capitulum
iii capitulum
iiii capitulum
v capitulum
vi capitulum
vii capitulum
viii capitulum
ix capitulum



x capitulum


xi capitulum
xii capitulum
xiii capitulum
xiiii capitulum
xv capitulum
xvi capitulum
xvii capitulum
xviii capitulum
xix capitulum
xx capitulum
xxi capitulum
xxii capitulum

xxiii capitulum
xxiiii capitulum
xxv capitulum
xxvi capitulum
xxvii capitulum
xxviii capitulum
xxix capitulum
The First Book

Of the sustirs of Grece how thai came
to this londe and called it Albion.
How Dame Albyne eldest sustir had
the sovereynté of alle hir sustirs by
the law and consuetude of Grece.
How the ladise replete than felle in syn
and lechery with spirites whiche gat geants
on thaym that inhabyte this londe.

The Second Book

How Brutus discomfyt the kynge
of Grece, wed his doghtir, and gat
this londe and called it Bretayne.
Of Locryne, Camber, and Albanacte.
Of Quene Guendolyne.
Of Kynge Maddan.
Of Manlyn and Membrice kynges.
Of Kynge Ebrauc and of his gude reule.
Of Brutus Grenesheelde kynge.
Of Kynge Leyle that made Carlele.
Of Kynge Rudhudibrace.
Of Kynge Bladud.
Of Kynge Leyre and his doghtirs.
Of Kynge Margan and Kyng Condage.
Of Ryval, Gurgust, Sisilius, Iago,
Kymar, Gorbodian, Cloten, Pynhere
Ruddan and Scatere, with conceyte of
the maker for gude reule.
Of Dunwallo, kyng of Bretayne.
Of Kynge Belyne, kyng of Bretayne.
Of Gurgwyn, kynge of Bretayne.
Of Guytelyne, Sisilyus, Kymar, and Danyus.
Of Morvide, kynge of Bretayne.
Of Gordonyan, Argal, Elydoure,
Ingen, and Peridoure.
Of Gordonyan the seconde and xxxiiti
other kynges nexte aftir hym
folowynge.
Of Kynge Lud that called Trynovant Londoun.
Of Kyng Cassibalan and Julius Cesar.
Of Thennancius.
Of Kyng Kymbelyne.
Of Guyder.
Of Arvyragus.
Of Maryus and Coyle the seconde.

The .iii. Book

How Kynge Lucius bicam Cristen.
Of Kynge Severe.
Of Getan, Bassian, and Carauce
with the conceyt of the maker for gude reule.
Of Kynge Allecte.
Of Kynge Asclepiadote.
Of Kynge Coyle the third, fadir of Seint Elene.
Of Constance, husband to Seynt Elene.
Of Constantine, son of Seint Elene.
Of Octave and Trayherne.
Of Maximyan and Gracian.
Of Constantyne of Lesse Bretayne.
Of Constance, son of Constantyne.
Of Vortigere and Vortymer.
Of Aurilius Ambrosius.
Of Uther Pendragoun.
Of Kynge Arthure and his court
with the compleynt of the maker.
Of Constantyne, the son of Cador.
Of Aurilyus Conan.
Of Vortipore and Margo and Careys.

The iiii Book

How Kyng Gurmonde wan this
londe and divydid it to iiii kyngis
Saxons and iii kynges Englishe.
Of the reme of Kent.
Of the reme of Sussexe.
Of the reme of Essexe.
Of Est Angle reme.
Of the Merse reme.
Of Northumbirlonde.
Of the reme of Westsex.
How Seint Austyn broght baptym
into Kent and was made primate
of Englonde and had the palle bot the
Bretons wolde noght obeye hym.
How Ingils and Ive brether kynges
of Westsex had the sovereynté above alle
the kynges and were made protectours.
Of Athelarde, kyng of Westsex sovereyn.
Of Cuthred, kyng of Westsex sovereyn.
Of Sigburt, kyng of Westsex soverein.
Of Kynulphe, kyng of Westsex soverein.
Of Brytryk of Westsex sovereyn.
Of Egbert of Wesysex sovereyn.
Of Athilwolf of Westsex sovereyn.
Of Ethilbalde of Westsex sovereyn.
Of Ethilbert of Westsex sovereyn.
Of Elfride of Westsex sovereyn
Of Alverede of Westsex sovereyn.
Of Edward, sovereyn kynge of Englond
with a commendacioun of hym.
Of Athilstane, kyng of Englonde.
Of Edmonde, Edrede, and Edwy.
Of Kyng Edgare.
Of Edwarde martir and Ethilrede.
Of Edmonde Irneside and Knoute.
Of Harolde and Hardknout.
Of Seynt Edward Confessour and
Harolde, son of Godwyn.
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custom
imbued with potent desire
giants




overthrew
































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kingdom








pallium













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[The contents page is incomplete]


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