Faral, E. _Les Jongleurs en France au Moyen Âge_, Paris 1910. Paris, G. _La Littérature Française au Moyen Âge_, Paris, 5th edn. 1909. [A model handbook.] I ROBERT MANNYNG OF BRUNNE'S HANDLYNG SYNNE A.D. 1303 What is known of Robert Mannyng of Brunne is derived from his own works. In the Prologue to _Handlyng Synne_ he writes: To alle Crystyn men vndir sunne, And to gode men of Brunne, And speciali, alle be name, Þe felaushepe of Symprynghame, Roberd of Brunne greteþ ȝow In al godenesse þat may to prow; Of Brunne wake yn Kesteuene, Syxe myle besyde Sympryngham euene, Y dwelled yn þe pryorye Fyftene ȝere yn cumpanye.... And in the Introduction to his _Chronicle_: Of Brunne I am; if any me blame, Robert Mannyng is my name; Blissed be he of God of heuene Þat me Robert with gude wille neuene! In þe third Edwardes tyme was I, When I wrote alle þis story, In þe hous of Sixille I was a throwe; Danȝ Robert of Malton, þat ȝe know, Did it wryte for felawes sake When þai wild solace make. From these passages it appears that he was born in Brunne, the modern Bourn, in Lincolnshire; and that he belonged to the Gilbertine Order. Sempringham was the head-quarters of the Order, and the dependent priory of Sixhill was near by. It has been suggested, without much evidence, that he was a lay brother, and not a full canon. His _Chronicle of England_ was completed in 1338. It falls into two parts, distinguished by a change of metre and source. The first, edited by Furnivall in the Rolls Series (2 vols. 1887), extends from the Flood to A.D. 689, and is based on Wace's _Brut_, the French source of Layamon's _Brut_. The second part, edited by Hearne, 2 vols., Oxford 1725, extends from A.D. 689 to the death of Edward I, and is based on the French _Chronicle_ of a contemporary, who is sometimes called Pierre de Langtoft, sometimes Piers of Bridlington, because he was a native of Langtoft in Yorkshire, and a canon of the Austin priory at Bridlington in the same county. Mannyng's _Chronicle_ has no great historical value, and its chief literary interest lies in the references to current traditions and popular stories. _Handlyng Synne_ is a much more valuable work. It was begun in 1303: Dane Felyp was mayster þat tyme Þat y began þys Englyssh ryme; Þe ȝeres of grace fyl þan to be A þousynd and þre hundred and þre. In þat tyme turnede y þys On Englyssh tunge out of Frankys Of a boke as y fonde ynne, Men clepyn þe boke 'Handlyng Synne'.