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Hardyng's Chronicle (Selection)
0.1There is no evidence that Shakespeare would have seen Hardynge's account of Leyre's reign, but his is an account of some interest, partly because it illustrates the variability of the many chronicles. The editors of the old-spelling edition from which this modernized version has been derived comment:
Hardyng's account of King Leyre omits a number of details found in most other chronicles . . . It does not remark on Leyre's partiality for Cordele; Leyre's retinue is only downsized once before Ragawe asks him to disband it completely; Leyre does not return to Goneril after Ragawe upsets him; and the king's lengthy lament on Fortune is excluded. There are nevertheless some interesting additions: Hardyng describes the way in which the "r" in the pronunciation of "Leyrecestre" was set aside "to make the language swettre" (2.1203–05); Leyre is advised to seek Cordele's help by his friends; Cordele is touchingly buried next to her father as her soul ascends to Janus and Minerva.
University of Rochester, Robbins Library Digital Projects, TEAMS Middle English Texts. Hardyng's Chronicle, edited from British Library MS Lansdowne 204 by James Simpson and Sarah Peverley. Online at http://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/hardyng-chronicle-book-two. This excerpt includes lines 1999-1303.
The eleventh chapter: of King Leyre
0.2How this Leyre proved his daughters, which of them loved him most and best. How Maglane, Duke of Albany, and Ewayn, Duke of Cornwall, did homage to King Leyre for Cornwail and Albany, and afterward they wed his daughters and put him out of the realm by unkindness.
2Who that did make a city upon Soar,
3Caerleyre, in which he did most dwell and wone,
4Leicester is now called, but wherefore
5I wot not why, but Leirecestre afore
6I trow it hight. We leave out "R," this letter,
7For lighter speech to make the language sweeter.
9So after time that he had reignèd long
10In all honor and high prosperity,
11And fall'n in age, he set him them among.
12To the eldest with voice he spake and ronge,
13Imagining how that they might be proved,
14Which of them three that best and most him loved.
16How well she did him love he prayed her say.
17She answered him again then with a wile,
18Well better than her own life in good fay;
19Of which he was so pleased to his pay
20That he her granted fully forto advance
21With sufficient part of his inheritance.
23He askèd so, to whom she said anon,
24"Father, I love you right, so as I owe,
25More than all this whole earthly world alone."
26"Daughter," he said, "as true as any stone,
27The third part of my realm so shalt thou have;
28Thou say'st so well I may no more thee crave."
30He askèd then right on that same avise,
31Who answered him with all benignity,
32Right in this form and as she could devise
33"You as my father I love without quaintise
34And as much as ye be worth of richesse
35So much I love you father and shall doubtless."
37Now truly thou shalt never have good of me,
38But help thyself from this day forth therefore."
39With that the Duke of Albany, wit ye,
40Wed Goneryle his wife for to be.
41Sir Maglayne then hight withouten fail.
42And Ragawe had Ewayne, Duke of Cornwall.
44For good love wed without any richesse
45Cordeyle, to whom her father no quantity
46Of goods gave that I can aught express,
47But all his lands departed by process
48Betwixt Maglayne and Ewayne so in fere
49With his daughters two that to him were full dear.
51Of all his land, and let him have no might
52For which they grant him than by ordinance,
53To find him so with forty knights right
54Whilst he might live, so laid they down his height;
55For which he went to his daughter Gonerile
56Of whom certain she irked in short while.
58She did right as her sister with him had done.
59Within a year she would have made him low,
60His knights voided and holden but a whone.
61So went he thence; he wist not what to do.
62For sorrow he would have liggen on his bier,
63Such thought he had and made right heavy cheer.
65By friends he had, to Cordeyle for to gone
66To fele her help thither they did him lead.
67He sent to her his messenger anon,
68For whom she was annoyed and made great moan.
69Both gold and goods she sent him, and array
70Right sufficient and rich unto his pay.
72Where he had cheer full fair and all disport;
73And welcome was, and hight him whole succor
74To win again his land with great comfort.
75The King of France, his host, assembled and resorted
76To pass with him to win his land again;
77Did send his wife to help him in his pain.
79In which he stood the sovereign king three year,
80And then he died, and buried is, to lain
81At his city of Caerleyre as did affeir,
82With all worship within a temple clear
83Of Janus god; and then Aganippe
84Her lord at home did pass away and die.
86Without issue, and held the monarchy
87Of all Britain after her father dear.
88The queen she was, and held the regency
89Till on a day her sisters' sons forthy
90That they were come, and also generate
91Of her elder sisters and procreate.
The twelfth chapter: of King Margan and King Condage
92Margan that was then Duke of Albany,
93Condage that was so Duke of Cornwall,
94With hosts great, through right of ancestry
95For to be kings and have the governal,
96Then fought with her and gave her strong battle.
97So, at the last, overcome she was and take.
98Imprisoned sore, her own death sought to make.
99She slew herself for woe she lost the realm,
100And buried was beside her father right
101Within a tomb under the water stream
102Of Soar, that she had wrought for him and dight
103Within Caerleyre that now Leicester hight.
104Her soul so went to Janus whom she served
105And to Minerva whose love she had deserved.