his eldest daughter, and all her sisters, richly were married unto thirty-three kings, that were lords of great honour and of power at this solemnity. And when the solemnity was done, every king took his wife, and led them into their own country, and there made them queens.

And it befel them, afterward, that this dame Albine became so stout and so stern, that she could little prise of her lord, and of him had scorn and despite, and would not do his will, but she would have her own will in divers matters. other sisters every one bare them so

And all her

evil against

And foras

their lords, that it was wonder to wyte. much that them thought, that their husbands were not of so high parentage come as their father. But those kings, that were their lords, would have chastised them with fair manner, upon all love and friendship, that they should amend their self-willed conditions; but all was for nought: for they did their own will in all thing that they liked, and had of power. Wherefore those thirty-three kings, upon a time, and oftimes, beat their wives: for they willed that they would amend their tatches and their wickedness. But of such conditions they were, that for fair speech and warning, they did all the worse; and for beatings oftentimes much the worse. Wherefore the king that had wedded Albine, wrote the tatches and conditions of his wife Albine, and sent the letter to

Dioclesian, his father. And when the other kings heard that Albine's lord had sent a letter to Dioclesian; anon, they sent letters, sealed with their seals, the conditions and tatches of their wives. When the king Dioclesian saw and heard. so many plaints of his daughters, he was sore ashamed, and became wonder angry and wroth toward his daughters, and thought how he thence might amend it that they so misdid; and anon sent his letters unto the thirtythree kings, that they should come to him, and bring with them their wives, every one at a certain day : for he would then chastise them of their wickedness, if he might in any manner wise.

So the kings came all at that time and day, that then was set between him and the kings. Diocle sian received them with much honour, and made a solemn feast to all that were underneath his lordship. And the third day after that solemnity, the king Dioclesian sent after his thirty-three daughters, that they should come and speak with him in his chamber. And when they were come, he spake to them of their wickedness, and of their cruelty, and spitefully them reproved and blamed. And to them he said, that if they would not be chastised', they should his love lose for evermore.

And when the ladies heard all this, they became

' amended.

abashed, and greatly ashamed; and to their father they said, that they would make all amends; and so they departed out of their father's chamber.

And dame Albine, that was the eldest sister, led them all to her chamber; and then made to void all that were therein; so that no person was among them, but she and her sisters together. Then said Albine: my fair sisters, well we know that the king, our father, us hath reproved, shamed, and despised, for because to make us obedient unto our husbands. But certes that shall I never, whilst that I live; syth that I am come of a more higher king's blood than mine husband. And when she had thus said, all her sisters said the same. And then, said Albine, well I wote fair sisters, that our husbands have complained unto our father upon us; wherefore he has thus foul reproved and despised, Wherefore, sisters, my counsel is, that this night, when our husbands ben a-bed, all we, with one assent, for to cut their throats; and then we may be in peace of them. And better we now do this thing, under our father's power, than other where else. And anon, all the ladies consented, and granted to this counsel. And when night was come, the lords and ladies went to bed. And anon, as their lords were asleep, they cut all their husbands' throats; and so they slew them all.

When that Dioclesian, their father, heard of this thing, he became furiously wroth against his daugh

ters, and anon, would them all have brente1. But all the barons and lords of Syria, counseled not so for to do such straitness, to his own daughters; but only should void the land of them for evermore; so that they never should come again; and so he did.

And Dioclesian, that was their father, anon commanded them to go into a ship, and delivered to them victuals for half a year. And when this was done, all the sisters went into the ship, and sailed forth in the sea, and took all their friends to Apolin, that was their God. And so long they sailed in the sea, till at the last they came and arrived in an isle, that was all wilderness. And when dame Albine was come to that land, and all her sisters, this Albine went first forth out of the ship, and said to her other sisters for as much (said she,) as I am the eldest sis ter of all this company, and first this land hath taken ; and for as much as my name is Albine, I will that this land be called Albion, after mine own name. And anon, all her sisters granted to her with a good will.

And tho went out all the sisters of the ship, and took the land Albion, as their sister called it. And there they went up and down, and found neither man, ne woman, ne child; but wild beasts of divers kinds. And when the victual were dispended, and they failed, they fed them with herbs and fruits,

in the season of the year; and so they lived as they best might. And after that, they took flesh of divers beasts, and became wonder fat; and so they desired man's company, and man's kind that them failed. And for heat, they waxed wonder courageous of kind, so that they desired more man's company, than any other solace and mirth.

When the devil that perceived, [he] went by divers countries, and took a body of the air, and liking natures shed of men; and came into the land of Albion, and lay by those women, and shed those natures upon them, and they conceived, and after brought forth giants. Of the which one was called Gogmagog, and another Longherigam; and so they were named by divers names. And in this manner there came forth and were born horrible giants in Albion. And they dwelled in caves and hills, at their will, and had the land of Albion as them liked, unto the time that Brute arrived, and came to Totness, that was in the isle of Albion. And there this Brute conquered and discomfited the giants abovesaid.

Explicit prima pars.

Here beginneth now how Brute was gotten, and how he slew first his mother, and after his father. And how