Royal MS 19 C IX

'LES CRONIQUIES DANGLETERRE': chronicle of the Brute in French prose to 1333. The text is unfinished, breaking off at the words 'viii autres jours de respit', about three pages short of the point at which most MSS. of the class ending with the battle of Halidon Hill terminate (e.g. Cotton MS. Cleopatra D. III). It evidently, however, belongs to the same recension with the Cleopatra MS. and with 20 A. III and the other MSS. enumerated by Dr. Brie, Geschichte und Quellen der mittelengl. Prosachronik The Brute of England (Marburg, 1905), pp. 28-31, the distinguishing feature of which is the prologue (f. 8) on the Albina legend, beginning 'En la noble terre de Sirie estoit vn noble roy puissant de tresgrant renom qui eut nom Dyodicias'. This recension formed the basis of the English versions; see above, 17 D. XXI, 18 A. IX, 18 B. III, 18 B. IV. The prologue is preceded by a table of 220 chapters and followed (f. 10) by the text, which beg. 'En la noble cite de la grant Troye eut vn fort et puissant cheualier'.

Vellum; ff. 155. 121/2 in. x 9 in. Written in France. Middle of XV cent. Double columns. Gatherings (beg. f. 8) of 8 leaves (last⁴), with catchwords. Sec.fol. in table 'Comment les Bretons'; in text 'Mais leurs coustumes'. Poorly executed miniature (f. 8) representing the daughters of Diodicias landing from a ship on the island; further back, two giants; in the distance Brutus and his followers arriving in another ship. Border and initial. Other small illuminated initials. Cat. of 1666, f. 13; not in CMA.