Political poems and songs relating to English history, composed during the period from the accession of Edw. III. to that of Ric

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Vti^ ^K'i ^V^ Ul

4

RERUM BRITANNICARUM MEDII MYI
SCRIPTORES,

OB

^

CHRONICLES AND MEMORIALS OF GREAT BRITAIN

AND IRELAND

I

DURXNG

THE MIDDLE AGES,

'THE CHRONICLES AND MEMOBI^S

OP

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

DURING THE MIDDLE AGES.

PUBLISHED BT THE AUTHORITY OF HEK MAJESTY'S TREASURY, UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS.

On the 26th of January 1857, the Master of the Rolls
submitted to the Treasury a proposal for the publication
of materials for the History of this Country from the
Invasion of the Romans to the Reign of Henry VIII.

The Master of the Rolls suggested that these materials
should be selected for publication under competent editors
without reference to periodical or chronological arrange-
ment, without mutilation or abridgment, preference being
given, in the first instance, to such materials as were most
scarce and valuable.

He proposed that each chronicle or historical document
to be edited should be treated in the same way as if the
editor were engaged on an Editio Princeps ; and for this
pm*pose the most correct text should be formed from an
accurate collation of the best MSS.

To render the work more generally useful, the Master
of the Rolls suggested that the editor should give an
account of the MSS. employed by him, of their age and
their peculiarities ; that he should add to the work a brief
account of the life and times of the author, and any
remarks necessary to explain the chronology; but no other
note or comment was to be allowed, except what might be
necessary to establish the correctness of the text.

a2

The works to be published in octavo, separately, as
they were finished ; the whole responsibility of the task
resting upon the editors, who were to be chosen by the
Master o( the Rolls witi) the sanction of the Treasury.

The Lords of Her Majesty's Treasury, after a carefiil
consideration of the subject, expressed their opinion in a
Treasury Minute, dated February 9, 1857, that the plan
recommended by the Master of the Rolls "was well
calculated for the accomplishment of this important
national object, in an effectual and satisfactory manner,
within a reasonable time, and provided proper attention be
paid to economy, in making the detailed arrangements,
without unnecessary expense/'

They expressed their approbation of the proposal that
each chronicle and historical document should be edited
in such a manner as to represent with all possible correct-
ness the text of each writer, derived from a collation of the
best MSS., and that no notes should be added, except
such as were illustrative of the various readings. They
suggested, however, that the preface to each work should
contain, in addition to the particulars proposed by the
Master of the Rolls, a biogi*aphical account of the author,
so far as authentic materials existed for that purpose, and
an estimate of his historical credibility and value.

Itolls Ilouse^

December 1857.

o

POLITICAL POEMS AND SONGS

&ELATIN0 TO

ENGLISH HISTORY,

C0HF08ED BUBU^G THE PEBIOD

From the Accession of EDW. III. to that of RIC. III.

EDITED

THOMAS f RIGHT, ESQ., M.A., F.S.A., HON.M.R.S.L., ETC.,

COBBESPONDIKG MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE,
(aGAD^MIE DBS inSCBIPTlONB ET BELLES LETTRES.)

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOElTY OJ^ THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HElt MAJESTY'S
TREASURY, UKDER THE DIRECTIOST OF THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS*

1861;

/hf/.

QcCr.'i'/.

/*
-*'/■

y '

'/

-^>wn - • -

s.y* i

'i^^'^^L,

"T:

SoS>

J ^>/

/S^^J

(,

y

Priuted by

EffiE and Spottiswoodb, Her Majesty's Printers,

For Her Miyes^g Stationery Office.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

Pago

Introduction vii

1. Complimentary Verses on King Henry IV. ;

by John Grower ...... 1

2. Address op John Gower to Henry IV. . 4

3. Jack Upland 16

4. The Reply op Friar Daw Topias, with Jack

Upland's Rejoinder 39

5. On the Execution op Richard Scrope, Arch-

bishop op York . . . . , .114

6. On the Death of Henry IV. ; by Thomas of

Ehnham 118

7. On the Battle op Azincourt . . . 123

8. Epigram on the Battle op Azincourt . . 127

9. The Frenchman to the Englishman . .127

10. On the Lollards 128

11. On the Death of Henry V 129

12. Epigram on the Assumption of the Arms of

France 130

13. On the English Title to the Crown op

France 131

14. To King Henry VI. on his Coronation . . 141

15. On the Coronation of Henry VI, . . . 146

16. On the Duke of Burgundy . . . .148

17. Philippe of Burgundy and James of Scotland 150

18. On the Siege op Calais

19. The Libel op English Policy

20. Lament of the Duchess of Gloucester .

21. On the Prospect op Peace ,

151
157
205
209

IV CONTENTS,

Page

22. On the Truce op 1444 215

23. Ox THE POPULAE DISCONTENT AT THE DISASTERS

IN France ... . . , 221

24. On the Arrest op the Duke op Suffolk , 224

25. On Bishop Boothe 223

26. A Warning to King Henry . , . . 229

27. Verses against the Duke of Suffolk . .231

28. On the Death of the Duke op Suffolk . 232

29. On the Corruptions op the Times . . 235

• 30. On the Corruptions op the Titles . . 238
31, Against the Lollards 243

• 32. To THE King 248

33. A Political Prophecy 249

• 34, Against the Friars 249

• 35. Ox THE Corruption op Public Manners . 251
' 36. Epigrams on the Public Extravagance . . 252

• 37. Ox THE Times 252

38. On THE Times 253

39. On the Procession to St. Paul's op the

Reconciled Parties 254

40. Epitaph for Richard Duke op York . . 256

41. On the Civil Wars 258

42. A Political Retrospect .... 267

43. On the Recovery of the Throne by Ed-

ward IV 271

44. On England's Co3imercial Policy , . . 282

Glossary and Index of Medieval Latin Words . 291
Glossary and Index of Obsolete English Words 301
Index 346

INTRODUCTION.

YOIkH.

INTRODUCTION.

John Qower was the principal political poet of the- John
reign of Richard II. His writings of this class are ^^®^'
nearly aU in Latin verse, and ostentatiously designed
for the most educated classes of society, and he was
no advocate of the popular cause, but was evidently
guided by his personal partialities to the nobles who
led the opposition to the court; yet the changes in
his political views were coincident with those which
agitated society during Richard's reign. In its earlier
period he had written in praise of the yoimg
monarch, and sought court favour; but, as we have
seen in our former volume, he subsequently took part
warmly with the opposition, and attached himself to
the party of Henry of Lancaster, and the last of his
Latin poems written before the accession of that
prince to the throne are bitterly hostile to the person
and government of king Richard. The present
volume opens with the latest known of these Latin
poems, and probably the latest which ever came from
his pen. They were professedly written to glorify the cJompli-
new monarch, by commemorating the ruin which hadS*^^-^^
threatened the kingdom tinder his predecessor, the on King
patriotism and courage Henry had displayed in saving ^^""*^^-
it, and his just title to the crown. We have, how- Addmjss
ever, another poem by the same author, addressed ^^^Jl^^
also to Henry IV., but written in English. In thisHainiTlv.

b 2

Tui nrTBODUcnov.

Gower b^;iii8 by pointing oat the manileflt inter-
positian of God in promoting that prince to the
sovereigntjr of his ooontry, and he mges this dicom-
rtanoe, wherebjr the people had be^i no less evidently
saved from tyranny and oppression, as one of the
Btrangest proofr of his right to the crown, and at the
same time as a sahstantial gronnd for the hope that the
new government wonld be pnMperons and beneficial
to the country. England was still at war witli
France, but this had been carried on without honour
to onr c ountr y, and Grower expresses the strong feel-
ing of the people in general, in his earnest desire for
the establishment of peace. He recommends the king
to petition heaven for wisdom in ruling his own
people, ratiier than for the faculty of conquering
others. Solomon, who had his dioice, chose the
former, and his reign was one of peace and glory.
Alexander chose the other alternative, and was
enabled to carry his conquering arms over the
whole world ; but, says our poet, the world was then
all heathen, and fiill of sin and confusion, but now,
under Christ's faith, everybody is bound to eschew
war and to seek peace. The advantages of peace are
contrasted in some rather vigorous lines with the
injustice and tyranny of war ; and the poet advises
the king against taking to his councils any partizans
of the latter. Christ, he says» came into the world
to establish peace, so that war is contrary to our
fidth ; and yet, at this time war prevailed through-
out Christendom, and even in Christ's church itself,
which was then disputed between two rival popes.
Where there was disease in the head, the body must
needs suffer; and under these circumstances it be-
hoved the Christian kings to promote peace among
themselves for two causes ; first, for the protection of
the church against internal division; and, secondly.

INTBODUCIIOK. ix

io defend Christendom against the infidels, "Who at
this time were making dangerous attacks upon it.
These blessings were to be hoped from the known
character of Heniy of Lancaster.

The only manuscript of this poem with which I
am acquainted is contained in a volume in the library
of the duke of Sutherland at Trentham in Stafford-
shire, which was made well known by Wharton as
containing Oower's French sonnets.^ There appears
sufficient reason for believing this manuscript to have
been presented to king Henry, after his accession, by
the poet, who seems to have been rather vain of his
French verses, and the two pieces here printed were
probably written on the occasion. They are accom-
panied by a shorter piece, in Latin elegiacs, here
given at the end of the English poem, in which
Gower states, that at this time, which was the first
year of Henry's reign, he was struck with blindness ;
and he complains of old age (torva senectiis), and
announces his resolution to write no more, but to
leave literature to a younger generation. In faci^
there are reasons for supposing that he must now
have been considerably advanced in years — perhaps
not far short of eighty ; he died in 1408.

Gower, though, as a layman, conscious of many
abuses in the ecclesiastical state, and wishful for their
reform, was still a staunch catholic, and no favourer
of what he considered as innovations in religion, and
he urged the king above all other things to give the
whole support of the secular government to the
church. Henrj^'s father, John of Gaunt, had been no-
toriously a fiivourer of the Wycliffites; and Henry
himself previous to his accession to the throne, had
not been considered a very zealous son of the church ;

' These were printed by the | Gower, as a contribution to the
late doke of Satherland, when earl I Roxborghe Club.

X INTBODUCmON.

BO that, at the opening of hiB reign, the religious re-
formers took courage, imagined that they were at
least sure of toleration, and employed themselves with
extraordinary activity in spreading their doctrines.
But, to their great disappointment, they soon found
their mistake. Henry is accused of having deliberately
purchased the support of the Bomish clergy in his
designs upon the crown by at least a verbal engage-
ment to suppress the sect of the Lollards, and all other
heretics; and, be this as it may, the clergy began
immediately to display an active spirit of persecution
which rendered it not improbable, and the commence-
ment of his reign was marked by a statute against the
religious reformers of a severity then unexampled. By
New Act the Act of the 2nd Hen. IV., chapter 14 (A.D. 1400),
Lollards. ^ heretics were ordered to be punished by burning at
the stake, and this cruel law was immediately carried
into effect in the case of William Sautrey, a parish
priest convicted of heretical opinions. These proceed-
ings naturally carried consternation among the Wy-
cliffites, but, as is usually the case, persecution on the
one hand only increased and embittered the zeal of
the persecuted, while some acts of severity on the part
of the crown against a few Bomish ecdesiastics who
had engaged in treasonable conspiracies encouraged
them still to hope for a change in their favour.
Under these circumstances the Wycliffites slackened
nothing in their activity, but they united more warmly
with those who were struggling for social and politi-
cal liberty ; and the popular dislike to the Bomish
priesthood, and especially to the four orders of friars
with whom people came into closer communica-
tion, was greatly increased. The watchword of this
party was still -the same which had been raised with
so much vigour in the poem of Piers Ploughman, and
which demanded the emancipation of the oppressed
peasant. But the name of Piers Ploughman had been

INTBODUCrriON. XI

exchanged for that of Jack Upland, which was exactly
equivalent^ as it signified simply Jack the countrjrman, Jack Up-
or Jack of the country, in contradistinction from the-^^
town. About the date just mentioned there appeared
a poem under this title in aUiterative verse, intended
evidently to be circulated among the populace, in
which the popular character, Jack Upland, is intro-
duced propounding the various heads of the complaints
of the Wydiffites against the Bomish church in a
series of questions addressed to the friars, who were
the most active agents against the professors of the
new opinions. This poem appears to have given great
alarm, or oflTence, to the friars, one of whom, whose
real name, it is intimated, was John of Walsingham, but
who wrote under the assumed and more popular name
of Daw Topias, put forth a reply to these questions, com-
piled in exactly the same style, but sprinkled here and
there with rather violent abuse of Wycliffe and the
Lollards. A Wycliffite took up the cudgels immediately,
and retorted in a similar style, and this last writer
alludes to an event as then recent which seems to fix
the date of all these pieces to the year 1401. Of the Popular
fiawt of these no manuscript appears now to be known, g^^^t.''
but a copy had been found in the sixteenth century ings.
by Stow, and was inserted, without any reason, in the
folio black-letter edition of the works of Chaucer. The
other two, which may be considered among the most
remarkable of the popular records of the history
of the religious movement during this period, are
preserved in. a contemporary manuscript In the
Bodleian Library, in which the friar's poem occupies
the page of the vellum, and the reply of the Lollard
is written in a smaller hand in the margins above
and below. It was the common practice to write
the alliterative poetry as prose, with a slight stroke
of the pen to mark the divisions of the lines. Such is
the case with the manuscript in the Bodleian Library,

Zli IKTBODUOTION.

where the divisions of the lines are very distinctly
marked. But the copyist of the first poem for the
edition of Chaucer, who evidently understood the
English of his original imperfectly, and was not at
all acquainted with the principles of the old allitera-
tive verse, had really mistaken it for prose, and not
only copied it for such, but substituted for the obso-
lete words with which this class of poetry abounded
others which were then better known, and often
paraphrased the language in the belief that he was
making it better understood. Thus in some parts all
traces of its metrical character is lost, and we may
judge in many cases how much it is corrupted by
comparison with the quotations £rom it in the stric-
tures of ''Daw Topias." At the same time it must
also be remarked that with the beginning of the
fifteentii century the alliterative verse began already
to be written very loosely, and, the rhythm being
preserved, the alliteration was often left imperfect, or
entirely neglected.
Jack To begin with Jack Upland, the popular satirist

Uplaho. commences with stigmatizing the church of Bome as
Antichrist and his disciples, and complains that the
worst of these '' diverse sects" were those last brought
in, the different orders of firiars, who neither showed
obedience to the prelates of the church nor allegiance
to the crown, but sought only to indulge their own
selfishness, while they pretended to have the power of
selling heaven and earth to whom they liked. After
taunting the friars with their great pretensions to
knowledge, he proceeds to put certain questions to them,
requiring that the answers should be grounded "in
" reason and holy writ/' His first question is a very
simple one — if there be so many different religious
orders on earth, one must be supposed to be better
than another, or there need have been no more than
one ; and if these orders are not better than the order

iirrBODUCTioN. ziii

which Christ himself founded, namely the Gospel, why
should they choose any one of them in preference to it ?
Moreover, for which should a friar be more severely
pimished, for breaking the rules of his order or for
breaking God's commandments ? He asks further,
why should a friar be considered an apostate for
leaving one order for the purpose of joining another,
where they were all considered to belong to Christ's
church? In a number of consecutive questions, the
Mars are accused of placing their religion in their
habit, and of furnishing themselves with clothes of
rich materials for no other cause but vain-glory ; of
placing undue importance in vain things, such as par-
ticular colours of doth and particular places ; of
obtaining dispensations from duties which were unea^
to them; and of pretending to embrace with their Pkctenuons
profession a life of mortification— to be as dead men ; ^ ^^u^
whereas they were the most active beggara alive, and, fKan.
instead of graves, which were appropriate to dead men,
they affected to live in mansions which exceeded
in extent and splendour the palaces of the greatest
nobles. As proo& of the selfish motives of the orders
of friars, it is stated that fixed districts were &rmed
out to certain limitors, or begging friars, as the
name intimates, and that they were not allowed to
trespass within each others' limits ; that they were
exempted from the visitations of the bishops; that
they sold for money, and never gave in charity,
letters of brotherhood, by which people were entitled
after death to a share in their merits; and that they
induced people to give them large sums of money for
their prayers, on the assurance that these would bring
them out of purgatory or hell, while they were igno-
rant where they should go themselves Jack Upland
asks, with some reason, why, if they had this power,
they should not employ it out of love for their fellow
men as well as for gain. They ai*e accused also of

XIV INTEODTTCnOK.

'' stealing" men's children in order to bring them up
in their order, a charge which is proved to be true
by a collective force of contemporary evidence. They
sought only to perform the two sacraments, shrift and
burial, which brought in most money ; and only,
therefore, to those who could pay, rejecting the poor.
" According to your own doctrine," says the reformer,
" holiness consists in poverty, and why, therefore, do
" you refiise to receive for burial those who are
" poor?* The friars, we are told, disapproved of
preaching, and condemned the secular priests who
practised it ; they sold God's mass for a penny, and
therefore set that sum either on " God's body,*' which
was worse than the crime of Judas, who sold it for
thirty pence, or sold their labour, which was bribery
and covetousness, or sold the service of the church.
Their »i- which was simony; they entered in their table books
°^^"y» the names of those who purchased their pardons, as
if God was not likely to remember them ; and they
justified their system of mendicity by the example of
the Saviour, who, they pretended, had gained his
living on earth by begging. In some fuHher ques-
tions these particular charges are dilated upon ; the
reformer complains that the multiplication of friars
and other ecclesiastics was an unnecessary and unjust
burthen upon the people, and alleges that when Christ
had but twelve apostles and a few disciples his work
was done much better than since the number of
workmen had been so greatly increased. Just as a
man works better with four fingers and a thumb to
his hand, than he would if the number were doubled ;
so the superfluity of workmen in the church only
encumbered it and made it inefficient. These unworthy
workmen locked up the bible from those who were
able and willing to read and preach it, and persecuted
as heretics those who sought to make its doctrines
public. The reformer again repeats the charges that

INTBODUCnOK. XV

the friars only sought riches aad self-indulgence ; that

one of them who brought home most money to his

house received fiill absolution for whatever error he

might have committed in obtaining it; that they

neglected the poor, and chiefly sought out rich men,

who could afford to pay them well for their religious

consolations ; and that these consolations were of such

a kind that they encouraged lords and ladies to sin

worse than before, instead of amending their lives;

and he then again puts some home questions to

the friar as to the superiority of one religious

order over another. If the friar replied that his own

order was the best, he assumed that the other orders

were inferior to it ; whereas each friar of one of the

other orders would give him the lie and say that

his own order was best ; yet one only could be the best,

and therefore three must be false, while there was

no means of knowing which was the true one. And Their con-

this contradiction between the orders was so great ^^p^^°*

that a friar who left his own order to enter another sumptuous-

was looked upon as an apostate. Also these orders'**"*

and rules were assumed not only to be superior

to one another, but to be superior also to that

rule which had been given by Christ, otherwise why

did they not follow Christ's order in preference to all

others? Thus it was assumed that St. Francis or

St Dominic was superior in power and knowledge

to Qod himself, an evident blasphemy. ^' Canst thou,

'' friar, point out any de&ult in Christ's rule of the

** Qospel, with which he gave all men the certain

" power to be saved, if they kept it to their ending?

'< If thou sayest it was too hard, thou accusest Christ

" of untruth ; for he said of his rule, ' My yoke is

'* 'soft and my burthen light.' If thou sayest that

'* Christ's rule was too light, that cannot be alleged

'^ as a &ult, for it only made it the easier to keep.

'- If thou findest no &ult in Christ's rule of the

XVI IKTEODUCnON.

*' Gospel, since Christ himself said it is light and
*' easy, what need was there for the founders of
" orders of firiars to add other roles to it, and so
" make a harder religion to save friars than the re-
" ligion of Christ's apostles by which his disciples
" obtained salvation?"
Reply OF These questions of Jads: Upland are put simply,
Daw'to- ^^^ ^ ^ ^^™^ ^ ^ easily imderstood by minds not
piAs, AHD accustomed to abstruse reasoning. His opponent, Daw
iJ^^»g^. Topias the friar, shows far less temper, and an incli-
joufDEs. notion to browbeat rather than to convince or
persuade. He begins by lamenting the degraded state
of society which rendered it necessary to reply to
such questions, and he reproaches the Lollards in
rather abusive language, alleging that Jack Upland's
questions were ignorant and foolish, and proclaiming
his readiness to answer them, although himself only
a '4ewd'' or uneducated friar. It was, in fact, an
attempt on the part of the Romish clergy to encounter
the reformers in their own popular field. Daw Topias
denies that the friars were other than liege subjects to
the king ; and asserts that they professed obedience to
the bishops, though not in the same degree as the
secular priests, inasmuch as holy church had given them
exemption. Jack Upland, who repays the friar with
Disloyalty language as rude as his own, replies that their non-
new of Uie ^Jl^giw^oe to the crown — meaning thereby disobedience
fKan. to the laws of the realm — was notorious ; for when a
iriar lay under the charge of any crime or vice, his
prior took him out of the hands of justice, without the
king's authority, and thus, however guilty, he escaped
punishment "Oft," says he, "ye seduce men's wives,
" and are put in the stocks, but your captains, or
" superiors, lay claim to you and ask no leave of
" kings." In reply to the charge of laziness brought
against the friars, Daw alleges that each class of
society had its particular province, and that, as in a

INTRODUCnOK. xvii

man's body, the hands were made to work for the
support of the head and the feet and the eyes, so the
common people were made by God to labour for holy
church and the aristocracy. To this it is answered,
that St Paul and the apostles gained their living by
the labour of their hands, and that yet at the same
time they performed the duties of the ministry much
better than the clergy of modem times, and hated
above all things such '' bold begging " as was practised
by the friars. ''You accuse us/' says the popular
advocate of the old religious system, ** of being con-
'' founders of prelates and lords .... but give
" us any examples of prelates or lords thus confounded.
'' But since that wicked worm named Wydiffe began
'' to sow the seed of schism in the earth, sorrow
" and ruin have made their appearance everywhere, Attacks
" and are bringing disgrace equally upon lordship and ^^2 ^^"
'^ prelacy.'' On the question of selling the sacraments
by simony, the friar endeavours cunningly to throw
this charge upon the parish priests, alleging that the
only sacrament the friars had to dispense was the
absolution of sins ; and in retaliation for the charge
of interfering unduly in families, he accuses the
Wycliffites of seeking to make converts of women,
with an evident intimation of something ftirther,
which is not declared openly. We know how many
women embraced the opinions of the Wycli£Stes, and
suffered martyrdom for maintaining them. In reply,
the advocate of the reformation repeats the charge of
incontinence against the friars, and offers to forfeit a
hundred poimds if the friars can fix a similar charge
on any member of the sect of Lollards. Daw justifies Splendid
the splendour of the ecclesiastical buildings by thejj^"^
example of Solomon's temple, and passes on to a longfHan.
string of more abuse of the reformers, who, he says,
were the plagues sent upon earth by the " blastes " of
the seven angels in the Revelations. ''The third

XVin THTBODUCIIOir.

" angel sent down a star from heaven, fiercely bom-
" ing afl a brand, it was called wormwood ; this truly
'' was WycUffe yom- master; he dione brightly in
'^ appearance at his beginning, but by bis false
'' doctrines afterwards he created much trouble, and
" by his rash presumption fell from the church . . .
*' The hereiicB Maximinus and Manichseus never

WjeUilie '^ caused more misdiief" This attack on Wydiffe
^^°^^ roused the indignation of the reformer, who replies:
'* I wonder, Daw, thou darest thus to lie on so great
" a clerk, who was known well in his time by rich
'^ and poor as a vertuous man, but thou, as blind as
'^ Bayard, barkest at the moon, like an old miller's
'< dog when he b^;ins to doat But I know well
** that thy barking, however loud thou liest, will not
^' diminish this saint, who lived and taught so tnfth-
'^ fully/' After several pages of general abuse, the
apologist of the friars returns to the questions of the
reformer. He justifies the munber and diversity of
the religious orders by alleging the various orders
of angels in heaven, and he proceeds to give an ex-
planation of the former, which was certainly not
calculated to satisfy one of the reformers. His own
order, he says, was that of Christ, who taught

Viceiof obedience, chastity, and poverty. "Nay,*' is the reply,
" there is hardly an individual in thy order who can
*' boast of possessing these three virtues, in regard
" to which ye rather follow Antichrist than our
" Lord Jesus. As to chastity of body, ye break it
'* continually; and ye have no chastity of soul, for
" ye forsake Christ your spouse, and are become
" apostates from his church. In respect to true
" poverty, ye are the most covetous men in the
" world, for what with simony, and with begging,
" and with selling absolutions, you plunder both
" great and smalL'' Daw alleges further, that
Christ ordained two manners of life, the one con-

tbefHan.

INTEODUOnON.

XIX

templative^ the other active^ to the former of which
the monks belonged, while the latter was represented by
the friara He represents their begging as the collect-
ing of alms, and refuses to tell what they themselves
gave to the poor, on the plea that charity should be
exercised in secret. He defends the richness of the
doth worn by the firiarsi and explains the different
parts of the costmne symbolioaUyi retaliating upon
his opponent by sneering at the LoUards for affecting
to dreiss in plain grey, which, he pretends,, was in-
tended to imply simplicity, while the wearers were
ravenous wolves in Christ's fold. Others of the
peculiar observances of the friars are explained in
much the same manner, or defended in general terms,
mixed with a large amount of abusive language
addressed to the Lollards; to which his opponent
replies with not much more temper, and utters a Prophecy
prophecy, not unlike that which has been so often S^^yi f
remarked in the older poem of Piers Ploughman ; the fHan
" and yet,'* he says, "the time shall come when Josiah ^^^
^ shall reign, and make an end of such fiends, andoiden.
" restore Christ's rule." ^

The friars were celebrated for the splendour of their
conventual buildings, and this circumstance furnished
a never-fiuUng ground of attack to the reformers. It
is one to which both the advocate and the opponent
recur; and the former finds a rather singular reply
to the charge of lavishing money on these great

< The pasiage in Plen Plough-
man is as follows : —

" Ac iher shal come a kyng,
** and confbsse yow religionses,
•'and bete j<rw as the Bible

<*telleth
" for brek jnge of yonre rule 5
"'and amende monyals,
«« monkeB and chanons^

'< and paten to his penannoe
" ad pristinun statum ire.

'* And thanne shat the abbot of

•• AbyngQone^
*' and al his issue for erere,
" have a knok of a kyng,
" and incnrable the woonde.**

Pkr$ Ploughman, p. 292.

XX miHiiHJcnoA.

edifiees instead of expending it in ahanby to the
poor. ^'JnA," he nyB, ''is not a man better tban
'' » rode beast? Tet yoa**— of conrae, addreaBing bim
in bis aasomed cbancter of the nplandman or
plong^hman — ^^make a abed for your aheqi, and a
TW gplM. ^ ataUe fer yoor borae ; and meanwhile there is
dtdtafld- «< many a man who baa no nx^ over him, but the
fended. *' open air only is bia bonae, and the beasts atand
*' coverecL Wl^ dost thou not boose the poor man as
*^ wen as thy beasts?" The reformer finds a ready
answer to this ''monkey's argnmenty" as he calls it^
by wbidiy be says, it mig^t be proved that ''be that
" drinks a quart of wine, must needs drink a gallon.
'' Bat I gmdge no reasonable boose ; and, thoogfa yon
" speak floomfblly of it, I baye a sheep-boose, for
'' which I have better warrant in God's law than you
'' have for yoor Cain's castle. I thank God, I boilt
" it with honestly gotten goods ; but you built yours
'' with the produce of begging, contention, and rob-
** hery/* It is curious enough that the fiiar here —
for there can be no doubt that it was the boni Jide
composition of one of the order who chose to en-
Hottiii^ counter the popular preacher on his own ground — not
<^^^™"only uses arguments which are in general very easily
parifh demolished, but he. loses few occasions of displaying a
P"^**^* feeling of spiteful hostility, which is known from other
sources to have existed, towards other orders of the
Bomish clergy. In an earlier part of his writing, when
accused of selling the sacraments, he attempts to throw
this charge upon the parish priests ; and now, in
reply to the charge of £Btrming out the country in
districts to the limitors, he asserts that this was not
done by the regular friars, but su^;ests that it was
probably done by the pardoners, and the friars of
some less regular orders. The clergy claimed a general
exemption from secular taxes, and, when reproached
with the example of Christ, who caused his disciples

INTRODirCnON. XXI

to pay the tribute to the emperor, our Daw Topias
pretends that the Saviour did not do this as a duty,
•but merely as a matter of policy, that it might not be
made a charge against him in his trial before Pilate.
At length we come to the grand charge of kidnapping Kdnap-
the children of people of property in order to bring SSwren.
them up in their order, with a view, of course, to
future profit The existence of this practice is noto-
rious, for it was a subject of complaint not only with
the Lollards, but with the commons assembled in par-
liament, who proposed an act forbidding the reception
into the orders of firiars of any men under twenty-one
years of age; but the king, ruled by his fear of the
clergy, gave only a partial assent ; and it was enacted
that in future no boy under the age of fourteen should
be received into an order. Daw Topias, therefore,
does not attempt to deny the fact, but he justifies it
in rather a singular manner by the example of Christ.
" Thou accusest us," he says, "of felony, for stealing
" children to draw them to our sects. I hold it no
" theft to draw people towards God, unless you callj^^^^
" Christ a thief, who did the same, saying to the rich friara.
" man (Matt. xix. 21): 'Go and sell thy goods, and
" * give them to the poor, if thou wilt be perfect ;
" ' and afterwards follow me, and be my disciple.'
" And, in the same gospel, see what he saith also
" (Luke xiv. 26) : * Whoso forsaketh not his fether and
" * his mother, his son and his daughter, his sister
" ' and his brother, his land and his tenements, and
" ' himself also, he is not worthy to be my follower/
" And again he said to his twelve chosen (John xv.
" 16): 'Behold, from the world I have chosen you all,
" * that ye go and bear fruit, and your fruit may
** ' remain,' And thus to plunder the world, and spoil
" it of its subjects, it is no robbeiy, but theft
" approved by Christ." In regard to the keeping ot
prisons by the dOTgy, Daw Topias argues that they

VOL. IT. c

XXU INTRODUCTION.

have the same right to have prisons as the secular autho-
ritiea For, he says, if we take the Gospel literally,
neither emperor nor king would have the right to
imprison or put to death, but only to reprimand
offenders, and then set them at liberty ; whereby mur-
derers, robbers, and all kinds of malefactors would go
Right of unpunished. The pope, the archbishop of Canterbury,
to kee?^ and the bishops in general had, he says, their prisons,
prisons and with the king's permission; and it would be a bold
o dcourts. ^yjjg ^^ pretend that this was contrary to God's law.
But his opponent replies that the two cases were very
different, that the sentences and punishments of the
bishops were arbitrary and unjust, and generally
directed against the innocent ; whereas the king caused
the law to be executed by judges who were bound to
administer justice with impartiality, "as he did now
" lately, when he hanged you traitors." Some friars
had been hanged for treason in the course of the year
1401.

The remainder of this very curious poem is chiefly
occupied with a defence of the various means by
which the friars obtained money, and of the use they
made of it. Daw Topias justifies the style of preach-
ing of the friars, and the character of their sermons,
which had become a subject of ridicide to the re-
formers, by urging that the means are justified by the
end ; and that if the people were taught the right
&ith, it mattered not how they were instructed in it.
On the other hand, he accuses the Wydiffites of
having conspired to destroy Christ's church and turn
it to idolatry; and adds that he considers it more
" wholesome " to pursue a heretic to prison, or to the
fire, than even to consecrate a church. In answer
to the charge of selling the sacraments, he pretends
that the friars administered them freely, and that they
also received freely the offerings of those who partook
in them, and argues that there was no more simony

INTRODUCTION. XXIU

in being paid in this way, than in the payment of a
certain annual salary to a parish priest for his exer-
cise of the ministry. To which Jack Upland replies
sneeringly, comparing the friars to tapsters, or inn-
keepers, who, instead of beer, "tap" out and serve
their absolutions from Borne, and their preachings,
prayers, and burials, to the deluded people. The Replies t(
begging of the friars is justified as a literal imitation ^^
of the example of Christ, who did not disdain to ob-
tain his sustenance in this manner, and by the favour
shown by the Saviour to mendicants; and here the
popular advocate of Romanism, believing that his dis-
play of learning might betray his assumption of the
character of a "lewd" friar, pretends that he had
learnt to speak Latin when he was once a manciple,
or servant employed in collecting the provisions, at
Merton HaU, in Oxford. Another practice which had
been ridiculed, that of writing in their books the
names of those who give them money, or in other
words making lists of benefactors, is justified on the
ground that such lists were not made to remind God
of those who had done good actions, but to assist
their own memory as to those for whom they were
bound to pray, inasmuch as, according to the opinion
of the clergy, such special prayer was most conducive
to the salvation of the souls of those for whom they
prayed, a position which of course the reformers in a
great measure denied. The practice of going about
preaching in couples, when the apostles only went
singly, is again explained symbolically, as Daw pre-
tends that they went partly to bear one another
company, " but more for the mystery contained in the
" number" — ^for the law was written on two tables,
and there were two cherubim in the temple, and two
in the tabemada Jack replies that they did not
adhere strictly to the symbol in this case, but that
they sometimes went three together, one of the two

c 2

XXIV

INTRODUCTION.

OWTHB
EXBCU-
TIOM OF

Arch-

SCBOPB.

being of the other sex ; for the immorality of the
friars is constantly insisted upon.

In regard to the complaints of the increase in the
number of fnars, who were made "against God's
" will/* and the comparison with the hand and its
fingers, Topias alleges that it would apply equally,
and even in a greater degree, to the priests, who are
again sneered at and represented as being more nume-
rous and more burdensome to the people than the
friars. Moreover, he proceeds to argue : " You say
" that God made all things in measure, weight, and
" number, and you cannot deny that every friar is
*' something, and yet you assert that friars are made
'' against God's will ; thus you pretend that God hath
*' made something which he would not make, so that
" his sovereign goodness is contrarious to himself/'
Jack Upland replies to this notable argument: "Though
" God made aU things in measure and weight, it does
" not foUow that he made you, for ye are out of
" measure, and so the devil and Cain and Judas are
" your fathers." The apologist of the friars remarks,
with more reason, in regard to the hand, that nature
had determined the number of its fingers, and if that
number were passed, it was looked upon as a mon-
strosity; but that God or holy church had fixed no
definite number of priests or friars. The question
relating to Christ's presence in the sacrament is
brought forward last, and becomes the ground for a
good deal of personal reproach, with which both the
poem itself and the reply to it dose.

The resentment of the Wycliffite party, no doubt,
told against the house of Lancaster in the turbulent
reign of Henry VI., and raised a stix)ng prejudice
against the memory of Henry IV. in the minds of
the older protestant historians, while the latter
monarch gained but a partial advantage by his
yielding policy towards the church, for the clergy

INTBODUCTION. XXV

took an active part in nearly all the treasonable con-
spiracies of his reign. The plot for murdering the
king, at the beginning of bis reign, was arranged in the
lodgings of the abbot of Westminster, where the con-
spirators held their secret meetings. In the spring of
1401 several priests and .friars were, as we have seen
before, executed as traitors, some, as was presented,
having likewise plotted to murder the king. In the year Hostility of
following the friars appear to have been especially J^^^^^®'^^
active in spreading abroad the report that king Richard govem-
was still alive, and that he was preparing to raake"*®*^^
an effort for the recovery of his kingdom, and some
of them suffered the penalties of treason. They
encouraged the same reports two years later, on the
occasion of Serlo's rebellion, and some of the higher
clergy had been compromised in the gi-eat insurrection
of the Fercies. Among these stood conspicuous the
archbishop of York, Richard Scrope, or Le Scrope,
who still claimed the title of primate of England
In 1405, this prelate, in conjunction with Thomas de
Mowbray, earl marshal, tlie son of one of Richard the
Second's great favourites, but at this time little more
than a boy, placed himself at the head of a consider-
able armed force, and raised the standard of rebellion
at Shipton-on-the-Moor. The insurrection was soon
suppressed, and the archbishop and his youthful ally
fell into the hands of the king, his friends said,
through the treachery of the earl of Westmoreland,
and they were immediately tried, condemned, and
executed for high treason, being the first instance in
this country of the execution of a prelate of the
church by the sentence of a lay court. These pro-
ceedings, as it is well known, provoked a feeling of
great indignation among the clergy, and the Latin
ballad on the occasion, here printed, is evidently a
clerical composition. It expresses the grief which
must be felt by the church in general on so great an

XXVI INTRODTJCnON.

event, and points out the circumstance that the
execution of archbishop Richard occurred on the same
day as the martyrdom of archbishop St William,
who died, as the Romish church which canonised him
pretended, by poison, on the 8th of June 1154j. This
Latin ballad complains of the haste and unfairness of
archbishop Scrope's trial, without any regard to his
rank as a peer, or to his quality as a dignitary of the
church who claimed exemption from lay jurisdiction ;
and tells how the sentence was passed in his own
episcopal palace at Bishopsthorpe, and how he was
led to the place of execution (between that place and
York) on a mare (which was regarded as disgraceful),
without a saddle, and with a halter instead of a
bridle. The archbishop there encouraged the young earl
to submit courageously to his fate, and then bowed
himself to the sword. The virtues of the martyred
primate are dwelt upon with great earnestness, and
his sanctity is insisted upon. The writer then laments
the other victims who perished on account of this
rising, and tells how his palace was plundered, how
his body was buried without the decencies becoming
his station, and no attention was paid to the poor, to
his creditors, or to his household. Even the common
people of York were punished with him, and were
subjected to unbearable exactions. Not only did
York, he says, suffer, but the kingdom was deprived
of its noblest chiefs, and the army was denuded of
its choicest warriors ; and the ballad concludes with
the expression of regret for the good old times which
were passed. The clergy, indeed, pretended that arch-
bishop Scrope was a holy martyr, encouraged the belief
that miracles were performed at his tomb, which be-
came a place of pilgrimage to the disaffected, and
went so far as to declare that it was in punishment
for his enormous sin in putting to death the arch-
bishop of York, that Henry. was struck with a loath-

INTEODUOnON. XXVll

some diseasOj sidd to be the leprosy, which shortened
his days.

We find no more political poems of this reign, unless
we reckon under that head Occleve's Poem, De Regi-
ftiine PriTicipum, of which an edition has been recently
printed by the Koxburghe Club ; but the death of
Henry IV. is commemorated in a curious little Latin Poem op
poem by a now rather well-known writer of thatu^^^^.
period. Two works by Thomas de Elmham have been ham.
published recently, but neither of the editors appears
to have been aware of the existence of the poem on
the death of Henry IV., which is printed in the pre-
sent volume. Elmham was in the first place a Bene-
dictine monk of Canterbury, and subsequently entered
the Cluniac order, and became prior of Lenton, in the
county of Nottingham. He evidently held some posi-
tion at court imder Henry IV., and the poem here
printed seems to have been composed no long time
after the death of that monarch ; but the object of the
writer is not very evident. In the prefatory verses,
which the rubric seems to intimate were written after
Elmham became prior of Lenton, it is addressed to
Henry V., who is exhorted to attend to the domestic
happiness of his kingdom, as well as to the prosecution of
his foreign wars. Elmham warns the king (not unpro-
phetically) of the fleeting and uncertain character of
human life, and urges him to consult the welfare of his
own soul by correcting errors in his government, which
are not very clearly intimated. He tells him that he
would weep if he loiew the true feelings of his subjects,
to all whom his coming home was a subject of sorrow,
while his departure from his country was looked upon
with joy. In explanation of this he intimates that
when the king was at home in his kingdom a host of
overbearing warriors and chiefs, and their greedy fol-
lowers, committed all soris of violence and oppression,
from which his subjects ,were released when he carried

XXVm INTRODUCTION.

the oppressors away to the wars. In time of war,
he says, the priest and the monk, the merchant and
the cultivator of the knd, received protection, and why
should they not be protected in time of peace. Ebn*
ham reminds him of the fate of king Richard, and of
the shortness of his father's reign, whose example, how-
ever, he recommends him to follow. These introductozy
lines are followed by a series of supposed exhortations
addressed by king Henry lY. to his eldest son on his
personal conduct, and on the government of the king-
dom, which is called in the rubric a "letter,'' composed
by the king when dying. This, differing in this
respect from the introductory lines, is a curious speci-
men of the pedantic and obscure style of writing in
which Thomas de Elmham indulged. In the conclu-
sion the king is made to give his blessing to prince
Henry, and to his three other sons, Thomas (duke of
Clarence), John (duke of Bedford), and Hmnphrey
(duke of Gloucester). The dying king is then intro-
duced offering his thanks to heaven for the ^fisbvours
which he had received thence during his life. This is
folldwed by a brief account of his death, which occured,
we are told, on St Cuthbert's day (the 20th of
March), in the year 1412, meaning, according to our
Story of present calculation, 1413. But this account is parti-
tonC^uD^ cularly interesting, as containing the only contemporary
ber. notice of a story, probably legendary in great part, which

made much noise in after times, chiefly from the way
in which it has been used by Shakespeare. It seems
probable that Henry IV. entertained at some period of
his reign a notion of entering into a crusade against
the Turks — the language of Gower, in the poems
printed in the present volume, would lead us to sup>-
pose that such designs had been talked of. According
to the ordinary story, some one endued with the
spirit of prophecy had told him that he would die in
Jerusalem; and when suddenly struck with his last

UTTRODUCnON. XXIX

illness in Westminster Abbey, and carried thence into
what was called the Jerusalem Chamber, on being
told the name of the apartment, he recognized t^^e ful-
filment of the prophecy, and prepared for death. But
as told by Elmham, the story is more simple and less
wonderful He informs us that a false prophecy had been
current during his life that he would take the cross,
and win the Holy Land ; and that by an unforeseen
occurrence he unwittingly gained admission to tlie
Holy Land by being carried when dying into the Beth-
lehem (not the Jerusalem) Chamber in Westminster.
Li the latter part of this poem Elmham has given his
own name, as well as those of the king and queen, in
acrostics. Its exact aim is not very clear, but it shows
that the domestic policy of Henry V. was not alto-
gether popular.

We have no other poems on the domestic affairs of Poems on
England under the reign of Henry V., but H^i^rys^^j^^
foreign wars appear to have been celebrated in a con-V.
siderable number of contemporary poems and ballads.
The short and dmple song which carried the tidings of
the victory of Azincourt through the towns and vil-
lages of ikigland is preserved with the music to which
it was chanted in a manuscript of the Fepysian
Library in Cambridge, from which it was printed in
bishop Percy's " Eeliques," and, I believe, in a still
more interesting form among the manuscripts in the
Library of Trinity College, in the same University.
The expedition into France, which was crowned by
this great victory, is related in a very detailed manner
in a much longer poem in the balled form, which also
was evidently intended to be snng or chanted about
the country, and which, preserved in a manuscript in
the Harleian Collection in the library of the British
Museum, was printed not very correctly by Sir Harris
Nicolas, in his '* History of the Battle of Agincourt."
Another poem of some length, written by one who

XZX INTRODUCnOV.

was present afc the events he relates, gives a dream-
stantial and most interesting aoconnt of the siege of
Rouen in 1418-19. There is no early complete copy
of it known, but the first and larger part of it is
found in an imperfect manuscript in the Bodleian
Library at Oxford, and was published very inaccurately
by Professor Conybeare, in the twenty-first volume of
the Archseologia of the Society of Antiquaries. It was
subsequently discovered that the author of one of the
continuations of the English Brut Chronicle had used
this poem as the material for his account of the siege
of Rouen, and, afler going on for some time para-
phrasing it, had at last copied the text verbatim, thus
preserving the whole of the latter part of the poem
which was wanting in the Oxford manuscript. This
supplementary text was edited firom two manuscripts
in the British Museum by Sir Frederic Madden in a
subsequent volume of the Archseologia. A complete
copy of the whole has since been met with in a
manuscript in Balliol CoUege, Oxford, containing a
collection of pieces, chiefly in verse, made at the close
of the fifteenth century by a citizen of London named
Hill, which is, of course, of too late a date to be of
much value as a text. The manner in which the
latter part of this poem was preserved is of particular
interest, as showing how much the narratives of events
given by our old chroniclers were founded upon the
ballads of the time, and upon other such popular mate-
On the rials. Another very curious example will be found in
^TTLB OP ^ gijQrter ballad or song on the battle of Azincourt,
couKT. printed fi-om a manuscript in the British Museum, in
the present volume. The compiler of a contemporary,
or nearly contemporary, chronicle of London has taken
his accoimt of the battle of Azincourt entirely fi:'om
this ballad, turning the first part of it into prose, in
which, however, the lines and rhymes of the original
may still be traced, but transcribing the latter part of

INTEODUOTION. XXxi

it without any alteration. It is a plain straightfor-
ward account of the battle, without^ any poetical em-
bellishment. A Latin epigram on this same battle Epiorau
completes the number of our poems and songs of the ^^^^^ ^y
French wars of King Henry V. They are followed in Azin-
the present volume by another Latin epigram, in two ^^'''
parte, in the first of which the Frenchman reproaches fbencu-
the Englishman with the injuries he had inflicted ou'^nto
France, to which, in the second part, the English- qushman.
man repliea Even these short epigrams throw light
on the feelings by which the contending parties were
actuated.

The next short piece included in the present col- On thb
lection, consisting of a few lines of Latin verse com-^^^^"^®'
posed by a Lollard, and a parody upon them by a
churchman in reply, are curious only as illustrating
the bitterness of the hostile feeling between the Ro-
manists and the church reformers. Each charges the
other with crimes which were to be sufficiently
punished only by the sword or the faggot. It has
been said that the clergy encouraged Henry in his
warlike plans, in order that his attention might
be taken away from the religious persecution they
were carrying on against a numerous portion of his
subjects, which they supposed might have received a
check from his sentiments of patriotism, or from the
interference of the lay aristocracy ; and the support he
received from the clergy led him to pursue in regard
to the church the policy which had been adopted by
his father. He was not, however, destined to enjoy
long the military glory which he had gained. In the Treaty of
December of the year 1419 was concluded the treaty ^^^^^
of Troyes, by which the crown of France was con-
firmed to the king of England ; and it was ratified
in the spring of the year following by the English
parliament. Henry V. died on the 31st of August
1422. A few Latin verses, here printed from a

XXXU INTBODUCTION.

OwTHB manuscript in the Bodleian Library, were probably
HknkyV. written immediately after Henry's death, and seem to
picture the feelings of the moment when the great
warrior king had died so suddenly and so prematurely,
and left his kingdom and his conquests to an infiant
less than a year old. Tlie writer begins by boasting
of the glory of the treaty of Troyes, and declaiming
on the great qualities of the departed monarch. By
his death, he says, the English were filled with sorrow
and their enemies with joy, for the smiles of fortune
in war, it was feared, would desert the former and
pass over to the latter. The apprehension is intimated
that Henry's queen, Catherine of France, would be
guided by her partiality for her native land, and
the young king, as he grew up, might be educated by
her in French sentiments. Gloomy anticipations arc
the subject of a few concluding lines in prose, but
expressed more mysteriously even than in the verse.
These lines convey no distinct evidence of their dates,
but the closing paragraphs seem to intimate that they
were written before the death of the queens father,
Charles VI.

Tliis latter event took place in the month of October,
1422, upon which the young king of England, Henry
VI., became, by the terms of the treaty of Troyes,
king of France, and he was proclaimed accordingly.
But a counter-demonstration was made at the same
time by the friends of the dauphin, who had been
disinherited by the treaty, but who was, nevertheless,
proclaimed king in Auvergne, where he had sought a
refuge, and crowned subsequently at Poitiers as
EpxoBJLM Charles VII. These rival claims are the subject of
sfiMPTiox ^^ epigram printed here from a manuscript in the
OF THK Bodleian Library at Oxford, in which the claim of the
Prakcb. French heir and the answer of the English heir are
duly set forth, but which otherwise has no great im-
portance. This question of inheritance continued to be

INTRODUCTION. XXXUl

debated, the more so as the English affairs in France,
neglected by the home government, began to decline.
A Frenchman named Laurence Calot, who was clerk
of the council to the regent Bedford, had been em-
ployed by that prince to draw up in French verse a
genealogical statement showing tlie superiority of the
claims of the king of England over those of the dau-
phin, considering it as merely a question of legitimacy,
in order that the nature of these claims might be
made familiar to all who were capable of understand-
ing the French language. It appears, however, to have
been considered neoessaiy that this justification of
the English claims should be made known to the
English also ; and in the year 1 426, while the duke of
Bedford was absent in England, occupied in pacifying
the troubles already displaying themselves in the Eng-
lish court, the earl of Warwick, who had been left in
Paris as his lieutenant, employed the well-known poet,
John Lydgate, monk of Bury, who was then in the
French capital, to translate Calot's composition into
English verse. Warwick had just then returned from
a successful expedition into Maine against the duke
of Brittany. Lydgate states in his prologue that the John Lyd-
object of this composition was to " set troubled hearts ^*®'
" at rest," and put a stop to the talk of " many English
" folks," who disputed or threw doubts upon the legiti- Title to
macy of king Henry's claims. Henry VI. was then, he crown op
tells us, nearly five years of age. In the text of the ^'kance.
poem itself we are reminded of the great troubles
which had been caused by the disputed claims to the
French crown, that is, of course, by the resistance to
the claims of the king of England, in punishment for
which the English seem to have thought that God
had visited France with all its domestic misery;
and of the murder of the duke of Burgundy, Jean-
sans-Peur, at Montereau, by the duke of Orleans,
now Charles VII., but of whom the English still

XXXIV INTRODUCTION.

only spoke by his old title. The latter, he says, had
by this treacherous and sanguinary deed rendered
himself incapable of *' succeeding to any dignity of
" knightly honour/' and much more, therefore, *' to
" reign in any land," and he in consequence had
abandoned his claims by his own oath and imder his
own seal In consideration of all this, and to put an
end to the troubles of France, God had provided a
young heir to the crown of France in the person of
Henry VI. of England, whose right could not be dis-
puted He then proceeds to declare how Henry, as
eighth in direct descent from St Louis, was the
nearest heir to the French throne, and how his right
was allowed and confirmed by the treaty of Troyes.
In conclusion, Lydgate specifies in an affected style of
learning, then &shionable among poets, the day on
which he concluded this " translation," which was the
28th of July 1426 ; and he adds a roundel in praise
of the infant prince.
To Kino Somewhat more than three years after this, on the
oNmJc^fi*^ of November 1429, Henry, who was then only
RowATioN. nine years of age, was crowned in England, and a
poem on his coronation, the style of which seems to
show that it also was composed by Lydgate, urges
again the claim of the yoimg king to the inheritance
of the two crowns, as being the direct descendant on
one side of St. Edward, and on the other of St. Louis.
OntheCo-A second poem, on the same occasion, gives a more
ROTATION particular account of the ceremony, tKe solemnity and
VI. splendour of which seem to have produced a great im-

pression on contemporaries, and they are described at
length by the London chronicler Fabian. Our rhymester
tells us of the display of mitred bishops and abbots
who attended at the coronation, among whom were
two archbishops and a cardinal (Beaufort). After the
coronation the king and his great courtiers went in
procession to the hall of Westminster, preceded by

INTRODUCTION. XXXV

three dukes carrying the three swords, that of mercy,
that of estate, and that of empire. The king was led
by two bishops and six eark; his " pall'^ was borne
by the Cinque Ports, and the earl of Warwick carried
his train. Then followed in order the barons of the
land, the judges, the knights of shires, and the city of
London* At the feast which followed, the young king
sat at the head table, having cardinal Seaufort on his
right hand and the chancellor (Kemp, bishop of Lon-
don,) on his left. The archbishop of Rheims sat at the
same table ; while, on the right side, the earl of Hunt-
ingdon knelt, holding the sceptre ; and, on the left,
the earl of Stafford, holding the sword of state. The
earls of Norfolk and Salisbury were on horseback, the
first as lord marshal, the other as constable in the
place of the duke of Bedford. The Cinque Ports occu-
pied a table on the right hand ; another table was
occupied by the prelates of the church, bishops and
abbots; and at a table on the other side sat the
representatives of the city of London. " Many other
lords" occupied different tablea When the king and
his lords were thus seated, the hereditary champion,
Philip Dymmok, rode into the hall in complete armour,
and publicly challenged all who had anything to say
against the right of Henry VL to the two crowns.

Henry was again crowned in Paris on the 17th of Henry
December 1430, and on the 21st of February 1432, p~^^^ '°
on his return to England, he made his ceremonious His return
entry into the city of London, an event commemorated
in a poem by Lydgate, which has been printed in the
collection of Lydgate's Minor Poems, edited by Mr.
Halliwell for the Percy Society. Lydgate teUs us
how, after a succession of gloomy mist and rain, the
weather suddenly became bright and smiling for the
reception of the young king. The lord mayor, clad in
red velvet, the sheriffs and aldermen in scarlet furred
clothes, aU well horsed, went forth to meet the king

XXXVl INTRODUCTION.

at Blackheath. They were followed by the citizens in
their Uveries, and by the foreign merchants in the
following order : — Genoese, Florentines, Venetians, and
Easterlings. The king was conducted in great state
to London Bridge, where the pageantry b^an. A
giant with a drawn sword stood at the entrance to
the bridge, and other devices followed. Similar
pageants were erected at different points in the lino
of the royal procession, which are rather minutely
described. At St. Paul's the king dismounted from
his horse, and was received by the archbishop, a
number of bishops, and the clergy of the church ; and
he was thence accompanied, as before, by the mayor
and citizens to Westminster, where he was received
into the minster by the abbot and bis monks.
lijdgBkte addresses his description of the splendid
pageantry exhibited on this occasion to the lord mayor
of London and the citizens.
^*A^°k The next event which produced a strong political
of Bur- excitement was the defection of the duke of Bur-
fipindy. gundy from the English allianca After the failure of
Philippe-le-Bon in his attempts to effect a peace be-
tween England and France in 1435, and the death of
the duke of Bedford, that prince allowed himself to be
persuaded by the French party, and, after extorting
very considerable concessions from Charles VII., he
abandoned his alliance with England, and became
reconciled with the king of France. The news of this
event were received in England with such furious
indignation, that the populace of London rose and
plundered the foreign merchants who came from his
dominions. At the beginning of March 1436 the
duke of Burgundy declared war against England, and
made no secret of his intention to wrest from the
crown of this country its old conquest of Calais, which
he laid claim to as belonging to his own county of
Artois> and which he seems to have looked upon as

INTBODUCmON.. XXXVU

an easy enterprise, encouraged, no doubt, by a
mistaken estimate of the weakness and discourage-
ment of the English at this moment. His subjects,
and the men of Ghent especially, embarked in this
enterprise with great zeal, and the siege of Calais Siege of
b^an on the 19th of July 1436. The result is weU ^^^
known; the Flemings abandoned the siege early in
August, and the duke of Gloucester, who arrived with
reinforcements from England, invaded the dominions of
the duke of Burgundy almost without resistance, burnt
several towns, and returned to Calais laden with plunder.
We gather firom the allusions in contemporary
histarians that these events caused not only great
indignation, but great exultation in England, and that
they were the subject of many popular songs and
ballads, most of which, unfortunately, have perished.
One of these, copied into a contemporary manuscript
in the Sloane collection in the British Museum, but
left imperfect by the transcriber, is a song on duke
Philippe, composed, perhaps, if we may judge from the On thb
first lines, after the siege of Calais and the invasion b^q^^t
of his dominions by the duke of Gloucester, when he
was unable to take the field against the English.
Duke Philippe is accused of falsehood, of being a public
disturber of the peace, and of cowardice, and is chal-
lenged to come into the field and fight in defence of Ms
character. The writer of the song reminds him of the
kindness which he had experienced fi:om Henry Y.,
and of the assistance which in his own distress he
had received firom the English; of the murder of his
&ther at Hontereau; how he had sworn allegiance
under Henry V. to the crown of England; and how,
through the duke of Bedford, he had renewed his
fealty on the coronation of Henry VI. at Paris.
Another short but carious piece, in Latin verse, Phxlippb
alludes to some communication between the duke of ^!!^^"

OUNBT AND

Burgundy and the king of Scotland, which appears to Jamss of

VOL. II. d SCOTLAHD,

AJULVm INTRODUCmON.

have provoked considerable indignation in England,
but which ifl not noticed in onr histories. It also has
probably some reference to the siege of Calais, as
Philip is introduced boasting to James of his irresist-
ible power in reducing fortresses. It is little more
than a string of reproaches, directed espedally against
the duke of Burgundy.

A chronicler of England, preserved in a manuscript
in the archiepiscopal libi*ary at Lambeth, speaking of
the satirical ballads composed by the English on the
failure of the duke of Burgundy's attempt upon
Calais, has inserted one in his narrative as a sample.
It Was copied from the manuscript, and communicated
to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. Benjamin
Williams, and is printed in the thirty-third volume of
the Archseologia. The writer begins by jeering the
Satire on Flemings on their expectation of conquering Calais,
theFlem- m^^ }^q reminds them of their great exploits on "the
" first day," when the earl of Mortaign, with a party
of the garrison of Calais, carried away their plunder
openly in view of the town of Qravelines, although the
townsmen sallied out upon them as fierce as '' lions ot
** Cotswold,'" which was in England a burlesque name
for sheep. After ridiculing their dress and arms, he
tells how the men of Qravelines fell upon the
English with much fury ; but how they left three hun-
dred of their men dead, and the rest were glad to
gain a refuge within their own walls, while the
English continued their way without further inter-
ference. The Flemings are reminded how they came
before Calais with a hundred and fifty thousand men,
when the garrison of Calais were so much afraid of
them that they left their gates open ; and how they
brought ships filled with stones to block up their
harbour, which the English broke up and carried off
at low water. They are reminded of Goby, the
water-bailiff's dog, which "akirmished" with them

INTRODUCTION. XXXIX

twice at sea» and many times on the sands. The men
of Bruges are reminded how they came out one
afternoon to give battle on the plain of St Pierre,
and how many of them were oarried into Calais,
*' tied fast by the fist." The men of Gaunt are
reminded how their bulwark was captured, and how
they fled from the siege, leaving their ordnance behind
them. The Picards bred no better, and behaved just
as disgracefully as the others. A song on the siege On the
of Calais, printed in the present volume from ^q^j^^
manuscript in the British Musexmi, is written in much
the same tone, but is considerably longer. After a
commencement, much in the style of the old English
metrical romances of chivalry, as though intended to
usher in some notable exploits, we are told how the
duke of Burgundy, in his great pride, had made a
great assemblage of his power and chivalry fix>m
Flanders, Brabant, Burgundy, Picardy, Hainault, and
HoUand, to the number of more than a hundred
thousand men, to make war upon Calaia Their great
preparations for the siege are described in the same
mock-heroic style; and we are told that, among other
things, they had brought nine thousand cooks to crow
in the night, and eight thousand cressets to give them
light. In Calais, meanwhile, the earl of Mortaign,
Sir John Batcliff, lieutenant of the town, and the
baron of Dudley, who commanded the castle, made
valiantly their preparations for defence, and did
everything to encourage the defenders. The Lord
Camois had the charge of Boulogne-gate, and Sir
John Aston and Sir GeoflFrey " Warbulton ** of Milk-
gate, but the gates themselves were kept continually
open, as an act of defiance to the besiegers. Never-
theless, the soldiers, burgesses, and merchants of Calais
posted themselves on the ramparts and in every
position in which they could do good service in
fighting ; and even the women assisted by carrying

d 2

Xl INTRODUCTION.

stones and other missiles to the men on the ramparts,
and preparing boiling cauldrons, in case of assault,
** all hot to give drink " to the assailants. The duke
threatened the south-west comer of the town, and
shot "many a great stone'" into the place, but
without doing much damage; and the French and
Flemings were finally obliged to retreat to their
camp, closely pursued. The exploits of an Irishman
in this pursuit are especially commemorated, as
furnishing " a sportful sight ;'' and the courage of the
water-bailiff's dog appears to have furnished matter of
especial exultation; he is here said to have played
'' heigh-go-bye " in every skirmish, and to have spai^d
neither man nor horse. One Thursday the earl of
Mortaign fought the Flemings at St. Pierre, in the
plain, drove them to their tents, and brought into
Calais many prisoners. Next day came the duke's
navy, with the " bulged ships,'' to block up the
harbour, but this stratagem fidled, and his ''castle"
was soon afterwards taken and destroyed Next day,
after this mishap, the duke fled with the men of
Qhent, and was followed by those of Bruges and
Tpres. *^ Little knows the fool," says the songster in
conclusion, ''who might choose, what harm it were to
^^ the crown of England good Calais to lose."
ThsLibbl The danger of Calais, indeed, seems to have created
LMH^^' as much alarm in England as the defeat of the be-
PouGT. siegers gave joy, and not only the chance of losing it,
but the great importance of England's maritime policy,
began more and more to occupy people's minds. It
was in the middle of the political agitation of this
period, apparently soon after the defeat of the Fle-
mings before Calais, that a writer, whose name is im-
known, but who was evidently very intimately ac-
quainted with the commercial affairs of the time,
published the remarkable poem entitled " The Libel of
" English Policy." The author was a friend of one of

IKTBODUCmON. xli

the great warriors aad statesmen of the daiy, Walter
baron Hungerford, to whom he showed his book, and
whose warm approval of it he received before it was
published; and he seems also to have enjoyed the
&vonr of cardinal Beaufort, and to have been inti-
mate with the other great lords of the court He
quotes, as his authorities for facts he states, on one
occasion the earl of Ormond, on another, "a good
'^ squier in time of parliament/' who in one of the
manuscripts is called Hampton, and at another a
merchant named Master Richard Bamet. The grand
political principle of this writer is that England's
power lay on the sea more than on the land, and
that she might make her commercial and maritime
influence so great as to be able to impose peace on
the nations of western Europe. He considers the im-
portance of Calais as an Euglish possession to consist
in giving to England the undisputed command of
the straits. When, in the year 1416, the emperor
Sigismund visited England, to endeavour to effect a
peace between Heniy Y. and the king of France, he
had been especially struck with the importance of
Calais in this point of view, and advised the king to
value the two cities, Calais and Dover, as the two
eyes of his maritime power. Taking this anecdote as
his text, the author shows how, as the straits of Dover
were at that time the only passage for the commerce
of western Europe, of which Flanders was the chief
mart, England, having the power to forbid the passage
and put a stop to the commerce, could compel the
countries whose wealth arose from that commerce to
keep the peace with her in their own interests. This
had been the policy of Edward III. and of Hemy V.,
but now, under Henry VI., it had been neglected,
and the English began to be despised by foreign
nations. The English coin called the noble, he says,
first issued by Edward III., was significant of this

slii INTBODUOnON.

polioyy because it bore on one side the king and a
sword, and on the other a ship, intimating especiaUy
maritime power; but now, he says, the oourage and
influenoe of the English on the sea had £sdlen so low,
that the Bretons, Flemings, and others, punning upon the
word, said that the English ought to take the ship
from their noble and put a pusillanimous sheep in its
place. With this introduction, he proceeds to examine,
in a most curious and interesting manner, the com-
mercial relations of England with the continental
states.
Commeree The principal exports of Spain at this time were
andSSi- %8, raisins, the wine called bastard, liquorice, oil of
den; Seville, grain, Castile soap, wax, iron, a coarse doth
called wadmotte, the skins or leather of goats and
kids, saffron, and quicksilver. These were shipped to
the port of Sluys, for the great commercial mart of
Bruges, and in return the Spanish merchants carried
home the fine cloths manufactured in the Low Coun-
tries. Here, then, we are told were two ways in
which the influence of England might be exerted on
Flanders and Spain. In the first place, if she shut
up the passage of the straits, the trade between the
two countries would be stopped entirely. In the
second place, although the English weavers had not yet
learnt the art of making fine cloths themselves,
yet the English wools were so much superior to those
of every other country, that the Flemings could not
make fine cloths without them ; and if England
stopped the exportation of her wools, the manufacturers
of Flanders would be utterly ruined. Flanders, there-
fore, could not permanently be at war with England
without the entire ruin of her population, and that
would ruin equally the commerce of Spain, so that
peace with England would be absolutely necessary to both.
It is true that wool was also one of the great articles
of Spanish produce, but not only were the Spaniards

iNTBODucfnoN. xliii

obliged to carry their wool to Flanders to be made
into doth, but it was in itself of so poor a qua-
lity, that it was good for little unless mixed with
English wool. The Flemings could not live without
this foragn trade, of which their country was a sort
of central and general mart ; for the agricultural pro-
duce of Flanders in a year was not sufficient to keep its
population alive one month. The commercial intercourse of Fortu-
between England and Portugal was very intimate and^'
fiiendly. The chief exports of Portugal were wine of
different kinds, oil, wax, grain, figs, raisios, honey,
oordewain (or shoe-leather), dates, salt, and hides.
They, however, like the others, were not to be allowed
to pass through the straits firedy in time of war ;
for the duke of Bm^undy seems to have been con-
sidered as the arbiter of the wars in western Europe
at this time; and it is assumed that, by stopping all
commerce with Flanders in time of war, either by
foes or fiiends, England would compd that prince to
be her ally. The commerce of Britany also was ofof Britany.
some importance, consisting chiefly in salt, wines
a fine linen doth known by the name of creste-
doth, and canvas, but it was carried on principally
through Flanders, and might, therefore, be easily
stopped if England were master of the sea. But the
Breton navigators, and especially those of St. Malo
were notorious at this time for their piracies, and had
little daim upon English sympathies, for they had
not only plundered our merchant shipping at sea, but
they landed unawares on our coasts, and burnt and
plundered the coast towns with impunity. Former
kings had taken energetic measures against such in-
sults, and an anecdote is told of the maritime policy
of Edward III., in whose time the piratical propensi-
ties of the Bretons were equally notorious, Edward
and the duke of Brittany were at war, but a peace
having at last been concluded, the English merchants

Xliv INTRODUCTION.

repaired to Britany, expecting the due protection, given
to the ships of Mendly states, but, to their diunay,
they were attacked by the Breton navy, and taken
Edward and plundered as in time of war. King Edward, we
the Breton *^® ^^^ loved his merchants, and he expostulated
pirates, with the duke of Britany, who, in reply, alleged
somewhat deceitfully that the people of Mont St Michel
and St. Malo were disobedient subjects, and that he
could neither restrain them nor be answerable for
them. Edward said no more, but enabled the three
towns of Dartmouth, Plymouth, and Fowey to fortify
themselves, and to send their sailors to make war
upon the Breton rovers. They not only defeated these
at sea, but they landed in Britany, and committed
such ravages that the duke was now obliged to com-
plain, and, as he received an answer similar to that
which he had before given, he found himself placed
under the necessity of acting with honesty, and he
undertook to put a stop in future to the depredations
of all his subjects. In proof of the care of Edward III.
for the interests of his English merchants, we are told
that he passed a statute for the Lombards, compelling
them to discharge the merchandise they brought, and
charge that which they were to take, within forty
days. The importance of this regulation is alluded
to afterwards.
Commerce The exports of the Scots were chiefly fells, or skins,
of Scot- hides, and wool-fleeces, which were carried to Flanders,
and the Scottish merchants carried home mercery,
haberdashery, cart-wheels, and barrows. The chief
marts of the Scots in Flanders were Belle and Pope-
ring, which had been recently burnt in the invasion
by the duke of Gloucester. Scotland would herself be
greatly distressed if England, master of the sea, held
oftheGer-a check upon her navigation. From the Grermans of
SSLv"^ Prussia and the Easterlings the Flemings derived their
lings; beer, which was one of their great articles of con-

IKTRODUCTION. xlv

sumption. The author of this poem takes the occasion
of making some rather coarse satirical remarks on the
drunken habits of the Flemings, on their cowardly
conduct before Calais, and on the punishment they
received from the duke of Gloucester. The articles of
commerce brought from Germany to the marts of
Flanders were very numerous, and comprised, among
other things, beer and 'bacon, a preparation of iron
known by the name of osmond, copper, steel, bow-
staves, wax, peltry-ware, or skins of wild animals, grey
(badgers' fiir), pitch, tar, boards, flax, thread of Cologne,
fustian, canvas, card-board, buckram, silver plate, and
wedges of silver and other metal. The German mer-
chants carried back woollen cloth, and they ventured to
the " Bay " in search of salt, so that they too would
be affected either by our stopping this branch of com-
merce at sea» or by our cutting off the supply of fine
wool to Flanders. The Italian merchants followed
rather a different course of traffic. The Genoese, for of the Ge-
instance, came to England with great carracks, laden "^^*^''
with cloths of gold, silks, black pepper, woad, and
woad-aahes, ' wool, oil, cotton, rock-alum, and "gold of
" Genoa." They took from England the English wools,
but instead of carrying them home, they conveyed them
to the markets of Flanders, and carried on a second
traffic there. The Venetians and Florentines brought of the Ve-
to England what our writer calls "things of compla- ^^'^",*"'*
" cence," meaning mere articles of luxury, under tines,
which head are included spicery and grocers* ware,
with sweet wines, apes and marmosets (or monkeys),
and what he calls '* nifles and trifles," things which
" blere the eye," and are of no substantial use or
profit to the buyers. These merchants also brought
in their galleys the foreign drugs which were used in
medicinal receipts, which our author thinks might
easily be dispensed with, as he suspects that our good
English medicinal plants were more efficacious remedies.

Xlvi INTRODUCnON.

Indeed, he was evidently of opinion that the commeroe
with Italy was rather injurious than otherwise, for,
in exchange for wares which were of no substantial
use, they carried away some of our most valuable
commodities, such as cloth, wool, and tin, which we
might keep with more advantage at home. Moreover,
there was so great a balance in their favour, through
our foolish love for these luxuries, that they carried
away our money as well as our merchandise. He
complains, too, that these Italian merchants followed
a system of trading which was as dishonest as it was
injurious to our interests. For instance, they obtained
the wool and other materials in England on credit,
going to Cotswold and other districts where they
were produced to buy them up at first hand, and
then carried them to Flanders, where they sold them
for ready money at a loss of as much as five per cent,
on their purchase. This money they lent out on
heavy usury, and thus realized a considerable profit
out of the money before the term at which they were
obliged to pay their debts in England. Practices like
these, we are assured, were commonly resorted to,
and were very injurious to honest English trade, to
remedy which it was desirable that the old law should
be resorted to, and that they should be compelled to
discharge their merchandize and complete their trans-
actions within forty days. Our author intimates that
by thus allowing so much of our commerce to be
carried on in foreign bottoms, we had allowed our
navy to decline until we were no longer in a condition
to repel foreign invasion. In illustration of this part
of his subject, he tells us how Denmark, by neglecting
her merchants and merchant navy, had fallen entirely
from her former pr6sperity ; and he introduces inci-
dentally a few words in praise of the great London
merchant, then not veiy long dead, Richard Whit-
tington, "thrice lord mayor of London." Our writer

INTRODUCTION. xlvU

comp]ams further, that the indulgence given in England
to foreign merchants was not reciprocated to English
merchants in other countries Thus Englishmen, trading
to Brabant, were compelled to dispose of their mer-
chandise in fourteen days» and to take within the
same space of fourteen days their retuni cargo, on
pain of forfeiting all they had. Nevertheless, it was
commonly reported that the English merchants were
the great supports of the marts of Brabant, which
were frequented by most nations, and that if the
English absented themselves the trade would be ''full
« feeble."

The merchandise derived from Brabant consisted Commerce
chiefly of madder and woad for dyers, garlic, onions, zeSS^**
and salt fish ; while the Dutch procured through Bra- and EW-
bant from Calais our skins and wools. This com-°*^**
merce of Brabant was carried on, from Hainault,
Burgundy, France, and other parts, by land-carriage,
and not by sea; yet, though we had thus not the
same means of interrupting it, our merchants were the
great support of it, and could always exert a serious
influence over it. As an example of the remissness of
England in exerting the influence which thus natu-
rally belonged to her, he speaks of the ravages com-
mitted on our commerce at that time by the arch-
pirate Hankin Lyons, who was suffered to rob on the
sea with impunity. The Lombards, he assures us,
were themselves a sufficient injury to this land, with-
out any others, and he complains that they obtained
impunity by means of gifts and presents bestowed on
those in power. It is intimated, somewhat obscurely,
that the Lombards promoted secretly the depredations
of the sea-rovers, and that people in power connived
at them from interested motives.

Ireland was rich in products of various kinds, and Jreiand,;

among the articles of commerce derived thence the"*^*^?

author enumerates hides and flsh, especially salmon, conqoering

it.

xlviii INTEODlTCnON.

hake, and herrings, Irish linen and woollen cloths,
a rough cloth called falding, the furs of martens, the
hides of deer and other animals of the chase, skins
of the otter, squirrel, Irish hare, sheep. Iambs, and
foxes, as well as of kids and rabbits in great plenty.
With such numerous and valuable articles of merchan-
dise, the author argues that there must be a commu-
nity of interests between Ireland and England, and
that the Irish ought to assist us in l^eeping the com-
mand of the sea, which they were bound to do, seeing
that the king of England was by inheritance from his
forefathers lord of Ireland. He speaks of the great
havens and goodly bays of the sister island, such as
that of Waterford, and many others, than which Eng-
lish merchants said that there were none better in
the world for ships to ride in or for protection against
enemies ; of the great fertility of the soil ; and, fur-
ther, of its richness in gold and silver ore, which the
" wild Irish " were unable to turn to account. A
jeweller of London, who had brought gold ore from
Ireland, had informed him that, when refined, he had
obtained from it pure gold of the most excellent
quality. He urges, therefore, that the English govern-
ment should take care that Ireland were not lost by
its negligence, for it was a "buttress and port" to
support England, as Wales was another. " God for-
" bid," he adds, " but they were all as brothers, and
** faithful in one allegiance to the king." He ex*
presses, however, great fears that our power in Ireland
was in imminent danger, and declares that it could
not be lost without the ruin of England. At the same
time he announces his intention of composing a sepa-
rate book on Ireland and the English policy with
regard to that country, which he either never wrote,
or it is unfortunately lost. Our possessions in Ireland,
he continues, were then so ineffectually defended,
that the wild Irish had recently gained upon us as

INTRODUCTION. xHx

much as two or three English shires, so that the
English ground was but as a small comer compared
with the rest If this were lost, Wales must go too,
and then both would become our enemies and form
alliances with Scotland, Spain, and other countries,
against us. The earl of Ormond had assured him that
the expenses of one year in the wars in France, if
properly employed, were suflScient to reduce the whole
of Ireland to obedience within twelve months, and
that the money would soon be repaid by the com-
mercial advantages which would be derived firom it.
Wales also required to be watched with the utmost Wales,
vigilance, if we would not leave it to be a cause of
weeping to our children's children. Men who knew
the people were in continual apprehension of their
rebellion.

The mariners of Scarborough had long been in the ComineTce
habit of visiting the "coasts cold" of the north, and J^j^^/*^-
had monopolized a trade in stockfish with Iceland, of
which island this seem to have been the only export;
but within twelve yeai-s before this treatise was written,
that is, about the year 1424, the merchants of Bristol
had found their way thither, " by nedle and by stone,'*
or, in other words, by the guidance of the mariner's
compass, and had shared in this trade, and so many
ships had visited Iceland during the season in which
the author compiled his book that they could not
obtain cargoes sufficient to dear their expenses.

Having thus described the products and commercial importaiice
position of the diflTerent countries with which England ^^'■'*-
was in relation, the author of the Libel of English
Policy returns to the question of keeping possession
of the passage of the straits. He dwells at some
length on the importance of securing CalaiB, quoting
the same lines which conclude the song we have
printed on the siege of that town, which seem to have
been then proverbial He fears that the ears of men

1 INTRODUCTION.

then in power were not sufficiently open to warning,
and laments over the losses of Harfleur and Bouen.
In further proof of the care with which our wisest
kings had provided for retaining the superiority over
other nations on the sea, the story of king Edgar and
his fleet is given from the old chronicles, and the writer
quotes the examples of Edward III. and Henry Y.
King Edward, who won Calais, was able by the
strength of his fleet to beleaguer it on all sides, by
sea as well da by land; whereas the duke of Bur-
gundy, in his late siege, had been obliged to leave it
open to the sea, through the insufficiency of his naval
force. As to Henry V., he says, what was the object
of all the great ships he caused to be built at South-
ampton, so much larger than any of the ships of the
merchant navy, such as the "Trinity," the " Grace,"
the " Holy Ghost,'' and others which are now lost ?
What was the king's intention with these but to make
himself master of the sea ? When Harfleur was at-
tempted in his time, and the enemy brought a great
fleet to attack it by sea, this fleet was destroyed by the
English navy under the duke of Bedford. These refleo-
tions lead the writer into a warm eulogy of the
greatness of character of the late king, Henry Y.
Had he lived, his great ships would not have been built
in vain, but England would at this time have been
undisputed mistress of the sea, instead of lamenting
over the successive losses of his conquests. In con-
clusion, the lords of the king's council are urged to
unite together in devising measures for the estabUah*-
ment of our supremacy on the sea, not only on ao-
count of the importance of that supremacy in a com-
mercial point of view, but because it would prove the
surest means of establishing an honourable and per-
manent peace with other countries. Such, in a brief
abstract, is the poem entitled the "Libel of English
" Policy," published at a very interesting period in

INTRODUCTION. K

our national annals, and remarkable both for the sort
of information it gives lis, and for the political views
entertained by its author.

At the moment when this poem was published, the
personal dissensions were showing themselves at the
English court) which afterwards took a more definite
form, and inundated the kingdom with blood The
quarrel between the duke of Qloucester and cardinal
Beaufort had compelled the duke of Bedford to quit
his government in France at a very critical moment,
in order to return to England to pacify their feuds.
Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, the fourth son of Humphrey
Henry IV., and now, since the death of the duke of^^®**^
Bedford, heir-apparent to the crown, was a great
fiivourite of the people, and was called popularly the
" good doke Humphrey/' He had been appointed,
under the regency of the duke of Bedford, protector of
England during the king's minority. He had greatly
embarrassed our foreign relations by an impolitic mar-
riage with Jacqueline, countess of Holland, who was
already married to the duke of Brabant, but, when
the countess's second marriage was declared void by
the pope, duke Humphrey married a lady who had
already lived with him as his mistress, Eleanor,
daughter of Reginald lord Cobham, to whom he appears
to have been much attached. The timely relief of
Calais in 1436, and the subsequent invasion of the
territory of the duke of Burgundy, had increased the
" good duke's" popularity, to the great disappoint-
ment of the party opposed to him, who looked for-
ward eagerly to an opportunity of revenging them-
Belve& Their vengeance was first wreaked upon his
duchess, Eleanor, his marriage with whom had been
a cause of considerable scandal Duke Humphrey was
a patron of literature, and especially of science; he
was the founder of what was afterwards the Bodleian
Library; and he maintained an intimate intercourse

lii niTBODUCTION.

with learned meit, Among those whom he thns patro-
nised was a derk or ecclesiastic named Roger Boling-
broke, a man veiy learned in astronomy, or, as it was
then called, astrology, and other sdenceis^ who wsa
permanently establiehed in the duke's household as his
chaplain. The ill-feeling between Gloucester and car-
dinal Beaufort had never really ceased, and it broke out
with violence in 1440, in a quarrel relating to the
deliveiy of the duke of Orleans from his long impri-
sonment, in which Humphrey was obliged to yield.
Pretended Soon after this an accusation was brought against
<^*"^j|"^r his duchess of having employed witchcraft to compass
the king, the young king's death, and she and Boger Boling-
broke were placed under arrest. Three other persons
were thrown into prison at the same time, as accom-
plices in the conspiracy, a priest and canon of West-
minster, another priest, named John Hum, and a person
named Maigeiy Jourdain, better known as the witch
of Eye. The duchess was examined before a council
of the English prelates, in St. Stephen's chapel in
Westminster, on the charge of having had an image
in wax made by these necromancers, as they were
all judged to be, by which the king^s death was to
be effected Dame Eleanor was an ambitious woman,
and she, perhaps, superstitiously consulted some of these
supposed magicians, to know how long the king would
live, and whether she were destined to become queen
of England; but the evidence against her seems to
have been of a veiy unsubstantial character. ^ Yet both
she and her reputed accomplices were found guilty;
and, while, most of them were publicly executed, the
duchess of Gloucester was condemned to a humiliating
penance, and to imprisonment for life in the Isle of
Man. The duchess Eleanor does not appear to have
shared the popularity of her husband, yet her misfor-
tunes can hardly have fEiiled to excite some d^ree ot
public sympathy. The only monument of it with

n^TRODUCTION. liii

which we are acquainted is the baUad printed in the Lambmt
present volume, which, though preserved in a n^^^"^™gg
script perhaps written nearly half a century later, has ot Glou-
all the appearance .of a contemporary composition. ^■*'™^
The duchess is introduced lamenting over her fall, and
ascribing it to her pride and vain-glory. She regrets
her high estate, and the reverence she had once com-
manded, tells how she was carried before the council
at Westminster, where the king himself was present to
hear her case; and, though according to the law she had
incurred sentence of death, and "some men sought to
" have it executed," he took pity on her, and prevented
it. She was then examined before thci two cardinals
(Beaufort and Kempe), five bishops, and others of the
spirituality, who, on her confession, enjoined her
penance, in accordance with which she went barefoot
through the principal streets of London. She takes
her leave sorrowfully of London, of Greenwich (where
the duke had a noble palace), and of other fair places
" on Thames' side ;" and of all her Worldly wealth-—
her robes of damask and cloths of gold, and other
rich dresses, her minstrels and music, and ^' all joy
** and [lustiness." The duke of Gloucester is said to
have borne this iitjury with patience, but his enemies
were not pacified, and there were other persecutions
in store for him.

There had been frequent rumours of negotiations NegoCia'
for peace, and some vain attempts had been made to***^*^'
treat, for all became wearied by these long and costly
warS) but the peace party was not altogether the
popular one. The people, however they complained
of the burdens of the war, felt too mudi the humi-
liation of the recent reverses to give up the hope of
recovering the brilliant conquests of Henry V. ; while
the men who now directed the meajEnires of the court,
conscious of inability, and perhaps of neglect, dreaded
the continuation of disasters, the efiect of which was
VOL. IL e

liv INTRODUCfnON.

to make them every day personally more unpopular
Onthb Two poems by Lydgate, here printed, seem to have
OT pITct. ^^^^^ intended to promote the feeling in jEavour of
peaoe thus desired by the ministers. The first consists
chiefly of a general eulogy of peace, and concludes in
wishing for a speedy peace between England and
Onthb France. The second is equally indefinite in its lan-
14^^ ^^ guage, though it contains more general allusions to
the condition of the country ; it appears to have been
written at the time of the truce with France in 1444,
and it contains something like an intimation of dis-
trust at the treaty then in agitation. The year fol-
lowing saw the conclusion of this treaty, and the
marriage of the young king with Margaret of Anjou,
whose favouritism and spirit of political intrigue
haatened the crisis which the disputes and jealousies
of the feudal aristocracy of Ikigland were already
preparing. One of its first results was the death of
the duke of Gloucester, while attending the parlia-
ment at Bury «6t Edmund's, in 1446, under circum-
stances which justify a strong suspicion that he was
murdered, and the popular party did not hesitate in
laying the crime to the charge of the queen and her
jbvourite Sufiblk. Gloucester's old Vival and opponent,
cardinal Beaufort, followed him to the grave in 1447.
The great chie& who had continued to labour with
some success in keeping together the remains of the
English power in France were now nearly all dead
or unemployed, and disasters followed one another in
rapid succession in that country, and increased the
exasperation of the popular party at home. Normandy
was invaded, and Bouen, Caen, and the other places
held by English garrisons in that duchy, fell into the
hands of the French. Amid the agitation caused in
England by these events, songs and poetry, as a means
of promoting the general discontent and spreading the
spirit of resistance to the government which was then

INTBODUCTION. Iv

begiBning to manifefit itself, were used more largely,
and assumed a bolder character^ A few of these have
been accidentally preserved, and afford extremely in-
teresting illustrations of the history of the turbulent
reign of Henry VI., though they are full of minute allu-
sions which it would require very extensive research,
and would, perhaps, now be hardly possible, to explain.
There is, among the charters in the Cottonian
Library in the British Museum, a roll of vellum,
marked iL 23, which haa belonged to a partizan of
the popular cause at the time of the proceedings
against the duke of Suffolk and Cade's rebellion, that
is, in the years 1450 and 1451. This individual, who-
ever he was, has copied into his roll a great variety
of political matter, such as a copy of the articles
against the duke of Suffolk, the written demands of
the commons of Kent assembled under Jack Cade,
lists of persons involved in some of the events of
the time, the duke of York's declaration to the
king, one or two rather long metrical prophecies,
and interspersed with the others a few political songs,
which are printed in the present volume. The earliest On thb
of these, which may be as old as the year 1449, ^^^^^^'^
is a sort of lament over the state of our foreign affairs, tent at
The writer tells with regret how the old warriors who '^^'sas-
had established our continental power were dead, and Feange.
how the work they had raised was falling to pieces ;
how the king was led by courtiers who cared not
for the interests of their country ; and how the duke
of York, who was now becoming the popular hero,
had been obliged to retire into Ireland to consult his
own safety. In these political troubles it was cus-
tomary to speak of the leaders by their signs or
badges, which were as well known as their names or
titles, and which had the advantage of being more
comprehensive, as they were worn by their followers,
who were thus recognized at a glance. The song of

e2

Ivi

INTRODUCTION.

On thb
asrbst of

THB
OF StJF.
FOLK,

which I am speaking has a peculiar interest from the
circumstance that, while the badges only are given in
the text, an interlinear gloss in the manuscript has
placed over them the name of the individual to whom
each belonga The next of these songs is a chant of
DuKEJ^y on the committal of the duke of Suffolk, here
designated as the fox, and as Jack Napes, the popular
name for a monkey. Suffolk is accused of having
'' tied Talbot our dog," meaning, I presume, that he
had designedly left him without the means of carrying
on the war effectually. He is frui^her charged with
the murder of the duke of Gloucester ; and it is
recommended that his enemy, the earl of Salisbury,
should be his confessor, and that he should be forth-
with hanged at Tyburn. Some rather obscure lines
at the end contain another allusion to the retreat of
the duke of York to Ireland.
Oh Bishop The third of the songs from the Cottonian Roll is
directed against the unpopular prelate, bishop Soothe,
who had been promoted entirely by court fSavour
during the time that Suffolk was the fiEtvourite. Wil-
liam Boothe had been originally a jurist, but he sub-
sequently embraced the clerical profession, and in 1447
obtained the bishopric of Coventry and Litchfield.
The first Norman bishop of Litchfield had removed
the see to Chester, and hence, although his successor
carried it back (or, at least, took it to Coventry, from
whence it was half restored to Litchfield), it continued
long to be popularly 'called the bishopric of Chester.
In these popular songs Boothe is always called bishop
of Chester, and he is spoken of by that title in docu-
ments of a more serious character.' In this song

Booths.

> As in the following list of on-
popolar persons "endited'' at
Rochester, which is giTen in the
same Cottonian Roll, ii. 23, fh)m
which these songs are taken : —

*' These ben the namys that were
enditede at Rowchestre afore the
cardynalle of Yorke, bysshoppe of
Cantnrbnry, and the dnke of
Bokyngham, etc., in the feste of the

INTBODUCTION.

Ivii

Boothe is accused of having obtwied his bishopric by
simony; and the writer of it seems also to charge
him with ignorance, for he tells him to leave '^prac-
" tising on the privity of prince's power/' to follow the
plough/ or to become a carter. The bishop is charged
with usury, as well as simony, and of paying little
attention to his clerical duties. The covetousness of
men in power, he says, was the ruin of ancient Bome,
and such was likely to be the cas» in England also.
The bishop is spoken of in this song as an old man,
suffering from palsy, and as nevertheless sacrificing
his duties to his personal interest, in '' praying for

ABtumpcioiin of onre lady and (?)
festo Laorencii, anno r. r. Henrici

Johan Snttone de Dnddeleyein
com. Stafforde, alias dictiu
Jolian Snttone miles de Lon*
done, 2.
• Jolian Trevyliane, nuper de Lon-
done, anniger, 2.

Johan Say, nnper de Londone,
anniger, 2.

Alida de la Poole, nnper nxor
Willelmi Poole dncis Suffolciae,
nnper de Newelme in comitatn
Oxon., 2.

Johannes Polsforde, nnper de
London., anniger, 2.

Thomas Kent, de London., gen-
tyllmane, alias dictns T. K.
c^eiicnsconsilii domini regis, 2.

Johan Penycole, nnper de Lon-
don., armiger.

Thomas Hoo, de Hastynge in
oomitata Sussex., miles, of, 2.

Beginaldns abbas Sancti Petri
Glonoestrise, o( 2.

Jacobns Ff^nys, dominns de
Say,j.

T. Stanley, miles, of, j.
Bdmnndns Hongurforde, ot, j.
Willelmns Minors, armiger, j.
Edmnndus Hampdene, miles, j.
John Halle, armiger, j.
Thomas Danielle, armiger, j.
Thomas Thorppe, gentilman, J.
Johan Blakeney, gentilmane, j.
Dominns Johannes Fforstkew, of,

j. miles.
Johannes Gargrove, j.
Walter Liarde, episcopns Nor-

wic.,j.
Bieardos Wodvile, dominns de

Byvers, j.
Bobertns Manselde, armiger, j.
Maister Johan Somers, j.
Edwardns Grymstone, armiger, j
Willelmns Booth, episcopns Ces*

trifle, j.
Johannes Stanley, armiger, J.
Palmere.
Tressame.
Fanmpage.
Gryffwolde.

2. Hamptone essquiere, rest
2. Hargraye in the Towre."

Iviii INTRODXTCJTION,

" the party that all the world cried out on." The voice
of the oppresfled, we are told, complained of the prince,
" and of the priest eke," and he warns them of ap-
proaching vengeance. As an example of how little
was gained by the givers of false judgments, he reminds
h im of the case of Trevilian. After some further
reflections on the evil-doing and treasonable designs of
the bishop's "sect,'' or party, and an appeal to God
to guide the king "better than he had been guided, and
to rescue him from the influence of men like the earl
of Suffolk, ** and firom all his foes," the writer of the
song calls upon Boothe to bridle himself and not be
too bold, and above aU things to " cast away covet-
" ousness." In 1453 Boothe was further promoted to
the archbishopric of York, and he died in 1464.
A Wabk- The next of these popular compositions is addressed
^l^ to the lords of the court, and contains a warning for
Hbkbt. the king himself. The courtiers who ruled the king
are called upon tb restore the grants they had
obtained from him, for they had reduced him to
such poverty that he was obliged to " beg from doqr
'* to door" through his tax-gatherers. The lord trea-
surer Say and Daniel are exhorted to set the first
example of this good work. Untruth, oppression, and
evil-doing prevailed throughout the land much more
than the king knew ; but vengeance was at hand.
The *' traitors " believed that they were too cunning
to be caught, and that their opponents had not the
power to punish them ; but, says the writer, " we
" swear by him that harrowed hell that they shall
" remain no longer in their heresy and false belief."
So poor a king and such rich nobles were never seen
before; while the commons could support their bur-
dens no longer, in spite of the resolution of the lord
Say to tread them under foot. The earl of Suffolk
had sold Normandy, and now sought to make the
king take upon himself the blame of his treason. It

rNTRODUcrnoN. lix

was evident that Suffolk was taking advantage of the
king's innocence, and, unless the commons of England
came to the assistance of their liege lord, that noble-
man would usurp the crown. The king would do
well to let these traitors no longer go loose, for they
were aU sworn to hold fast together. The writer con-
cludes with a condemnation of the conduct of the late
chancellor Wainflete, bishop of Winchester, and a
strong assertion of the truth of what he states con-
cerning the wrongs of the people. This is followed Vemm
by a short but more direct attack on the duke of ^^^^^J^
Suffolk ; and those who support him are warned that, of Sot-
if they did not abandon him and seek popular ^^"^*
favour, punishment would overtake them within three
months.

The spirited ballad which follows, taken from an- On the
other manuscript in the British Museum, has for its^J^^^
subject the death of the favourite, the duke of Suffolk, op Scp-
It commemorates the accident by which, in the plesr^'^
sant month of May, Jack Napes, as the favourite is
here termed, who had gone to sea to be a mariner,
was arrested by death on the way ; and how Nicholas,
which was the name of the ship which stopped him,
and was possibly taken by the writer for the name
of a person (unless it were the name of the ship's
commander), volunteered to be his confessor. Tie
principal ecclesiastics and laymen are introduced
taking different parts in the exequies of the deceased
favourite. Among the ecclesiastics thus introduced are
two who appear to have been especially unpopular, the
bishops of Coventry and Litchfield (already mentioned)
and of Norwich. It is worthy of remark that the
latter is here called Walter Liard, instead of Walter
Hart, which is the name by which he is known in
all our lists of bishops. Nevertheless he is also un-
doubtedly named Liarde in the list of persons indicted
at Bochester, given in the note on page Ivii. of

Iz JNTBODUCnON.

this Introdaction. In some lists of the bishop of Nor-
wich he is called Hart or Le B[art»

In the present volume these songs are followed by
a few short poems, more general in their satire, most of
which appear to have been written just before the dvil
wars between the rival houses of York and Lancaster.
They are found scattered through contemporary manu-
On thb scripts in different collections. The first of these oom^
Tiom or pl^'^ ^ general terms of the absence of wisdom ijnd
THB TniEs. truth from the state, and the prevalence of falsehood
and guile. So completely was the just order of things
overthrown, that, the writer says, it might be well
said, that the blind man was guided by him who
could not see, or, in the language of the time, ^'the
" bysom ledys the blynde," and this proverb is made
the burden of the song. The writer complains, among
many other grie&, that poor men were raised to be
peers of the land, and that maintainers, or men who
supported their dependants in doing wrong, and men
ignorant of the laws, were made the dispensers of
justice ; that robbers and men who only looked to
their private gain were established in the place of
righteousness ; that in .the consistory courts the ofE*
cials and deans sold their judgments for money ; that
friars, contrary to nature, were made confessors to
the chief ladies of the land ; that the prelates made
a traffic of holy church, selling their pardons and ab-
solutions; that the holiness which prevailed among
them ^'came out of hell;''' and that the commons
loved not the great. Sin thus reigned supreme, and
it was to be feared that evils would fall upon the
land such as those which had been brought by sin
upon France and Flanders. The next of these pieces
is similar to the other in purpose and tone. It pro-
fesses to show ''how mischance (or misfortune) reigns
'' in England;" and in the same way ascribes it to
the sins of all ranks and of all dasaes of society.

INTBODUCTION. Ixi

All this time the persecution of the Lollards con-
tinued, though we hear perhaps less of them in con-
sequence of the preoccupation of men's minds with
the political crisis. The first piece here given is curious Against
as being a ballad against the religious ref ormers, ^^^^ '^
and belongs probably to the earlier part ot the reign
of Henry VI., or perhaps to that of Henry V, The
writer pretends that, till lately, he did not know
what ** Lollards " were, but now that he did know it,
he was astonished that anybody should be so^unwise
as to incur the risk of being burnt by meddling
with questions which they did not understand Above
all things, he says, it was contrary to nature for a
knight, whose business it was to defend castles for
his king, to '' babble " about the Bible day and night
It is hardly necessary to say that the allusion is to
Sir John Oldcastle, the martyr, whose name was long
a sort of watchword among the persecuted Wydiffites.
The allusion becomes more pointed as we go on. It
is not worth the wages, he continues, to remain with
such a captain, who is but an ''old castle/' all in
ruin, and who secretly laboured to raise tumults
against the king and his clergy. After representing
the Lollards as wolves who had introduced themselves
treacherously among the sheep, he proceeds again with
his punning sarcasm. The castle, he pretends, the
walls of which were overthrown, was not fit for a
king's residence, especially when the captain had fled,
and forsaken bow and spear, in order to ''creep from
" knighthood into clergy." "For I trow," he adds,
" there is no knight alive who would have done so
" open a shame, for it is no gentleman's game to
" study or dispute in that craft.'* The writer calls
for the execution of the law upon men who, he inti-
mates, only sought riot and robbery under pretence of
religious reform; and he blames their contempt for
images, their want of reverence for the saiats who

brii

INTBODlTCnON.

To THE
KlNO.

A Politi-
cal Pro-

PHBCT.

AOAINST
THE

Fbiass.

Onthb
Corrup-
tion OF
Public
Manners.

had been canonized by the church, adding an allusion
to some recent occurrence in Kent, where the Wy-
cliffites had beheaded the image of St. James. In
some rather obscure Latin rh3rming verses, preserved
in a contemporary manuscript belonging to the library
of Merton College, Oxford, the king is called upon to
protect the clergy againgst the attacks of the laity,
and the people are blamed for their ingratitude towards
their sovereign. A short metrical prophecy follows,
which is more obscure in its English than the Latin
verses which precede. We are informed that certain
disastrous occurrences are to take place, and among
them a battle on the banks of the Humber, "when
" Rome shall be removed into England, and every
** priest shall have the pope's power in hand." An-
other short poem, from a manuscript in Trinity
College, Cambridge, is written in alternate lines of
English and Latin, and presents a very violent attack
upon the friars. They are accused of leading people
to hell, and of being themselves possessed by the seven
mortal sins. They were, according to this account,
false and deceitful, and extremely immoral, so that it
was dangerous for a man who had wife or daughters
to let them enter his house. No lord could afford
to build such a house as these men, who pretended
to live by begging, erected for themselves, so that
you might imagine them to be coiners, and therefore
traitors to the king. Another short English poem
of the same age, after exclaiming against the extra-
vagant apparel of the courtiers and "proud gallants,"'
again attacks the church and the " pope-holy "* priests,
whose conduct was the reverse of their preaching,
who obtained advancement by simony, and who were
as proud and extravagant in dress as the courtiers.
They are admonished to keep within their monasteries,
instead of wandering about ; and not to reprove other
people till they set a better example themselves. If

INTRODUCTION. Ixiii

they did their duty as they ought, they might restore
peace to the land. Two or three shorter scraps inEpioiiAMs
English verse may be classed under the head of epi- p^^
grams. One makes love complain of being exiled byExTRAVA-
envy, and ascribes it to the long beards which ^'^^^
people wore hanging down to the breasi Another
states that England had been ruined by extravagance
in dress, great oaths, bribery, flatterers, and false
deeds. A third describes England as in a state of
universal contention, and says that the land con-
tained much people of light consciences ; many knights,
who had little power ; many laws, with little justice ;
many acts of parliament, and few of them properly
kept ; little charity, but much flattery ; many a
penniless gallant; great show of living, upon small
wages; and many gentlemen, but few pages or ser-
vants. A few lines in Latin, on the same subject, Ow the
Mow. . ^^'^

When we return again to the poems on political On the
events, we meet with an ahnost solitary example of ^*^^^o"st.
a ballad, the subject and tone of which are of a more Paul's.
cheering character. The first battle of St. Albon's
had been fought, and had added family feuds to the
political divisions, and everything announced the ap-
proach of a sanguinary civil war. But suddenly an
outward pacification was effected, and it was arranged
that the great lords of the rival factions should
mutually forgive each other, and that there should
be a public reconciliation. This took place on the
25th of March 1458, when the king and queen and
the reconciled chie6 walked in procession to St. Paul's
to celebrate so joyfdl an event. The ballad here printed
was written to celebrate this reconciliation. " Charity,''
it was believed (as we here learn), had at length
driven wrath out of the land, and had paved the way
for wealth and prosperity. The foreign enemies, who
had rejoiced at our divisions, were now "quaking**

hdv iNTRODUcrriOK.

with fear at the report that peace at home had suc-
ceeded division. Sorrow had fled with shame into
France, "as a felon that hath forswome this land/'
and love had driven out " malicious governance." The
great lords had laid aside their feuds, so that England
might now enjoy concord and unity. The king and
queen, and the great lords, went in friendly procession
to St. Paul's on Lady-day, and showed to one another
" lovely countenance," which France and Brittany
would have cause to rue. It was the archbishop of
Canterbury and the bishop of Winchester who had
brought about this "love-day." The ballad ends with
an eulogy of the city of London. The contending fac-
tions had now become those of York and Lancaster.
The songs A manuscript preserved in the librazy of Trinity
*™^jj^^_ College, Dublin, of a few years' later date than the
nuscript. Cottonian roll, has, like it, a few very interesting
political songs, which, with one from another MS. in
the same library, we^e published by Sir Frederic
Madden in the twenty-ninth volume of the Archseo-
logia of the Society of Antiquaries. They commence
with the date of the public reconciliation just described.
The first in date is the single song from the last-
mentioned manuscript, where it is stated to have been <
written in the year 1468, and is the work of a
Lancastrian partisan. Henry VI. is represented under
the form of a ship, with the young prince Edward for
a mast. The ship's light was a blazing cressett,
representing the duke of Exeter, and its strong stern
was the duke of Somerset. The sail-yard was the earl
of Pembroke, the stay the duke of Buckingham ; and
the shrouds consisted of the lords Devonshire, Grey,
Beauchamp of Powik, and Scales. The earl of North-
umberland, with Ros, Clifford, and Egremont, formed
the sail ; the earl of Shrewsbury was the top-mast ;
and the ship had three good anchors, the lords
Beaumont, Welles, and Bivers. Si George is appealed

INTRODUCTION. Ixv

to for protection for this stately ship. The other
Dublin manuscript has belonged, most certainly, to a
Yorkist, and it was evidently written dining the years
1460 and 1461. The earliest of the songs contained
in it, writteh about the month of May in the former
year, gives a list of the Yorkist leaders, and enume-
rates their qualities. Another commemorates the
battle of Northampton, fought on the 10th of July
1460, and appears to have been composed between
that time and the month of September. The Yorkists
were now again the victorious party, but intrigue was
soon active against them, and another of those poems
in the Dublin manuscript, composed in the month of
December, is a warning to them to be on their guard.
A song, printed in the same volume of the Archseologia,
from a manuscript in the archiepiscopal library at
Lambeth, celebrates the entry of Edward IV. into
London, at the beginning of March 1461. The last of
the songs in the Dublin manuscript cdfaimemorates
Edward's decisive victory at Towton.

To return to the poems printed in the present Epitaph
volume, the death of Bichard duke of York, the hero J^chard
of the earlier period of the wars of the roses, is here ^^^^^^^b of
commemorated, and his titles and qualities and great ^^'*
actions enumerated, in an epitaph in French verse,
stated to have been composed by '* Chester the herald.^'
A Latin poem, composed by a rather well known monk On ths
of St Alban's, John de Wethamstede (called sometimes ^^
in Latin Johammes Frumenta/rms or de Loco Frumenti),
soon after the battle of Towton, in not very elegant
Latin, gives an accoimt of the previous civil wars as
far, chiefly, as they concerned the town and abbey of
St. Alban's, and the object of the writer seems to have
been to protest against the predatoiy propensities of the
northern troops who formed the army of Margaret of
Anjou. He gives his name at the end under the
affected concealment of puns, and informs us that when

IXVi INTBODUCTION.

it was written he was an aged man, and that he was
both deaf and blind. His poem begins with an account
of the first battle of St. Alban's, in which the Lancas-
trians were defeated, and their chiefe, the earl of
Northumberland and the duke of Somerset, slain. The
Lancastrians, the writer tells us, fled like children from
the rod and many of them sought refuge in the abbey,
and, in their terror, concealed themselves under the stalls
of the church, or in any other hiding-places they could
find. After the battle the victorious troops of the
duke of York fell to plundering the town« and the
monk who wrote these verses looks upon it as a
miraculous intervention of his patron saint that the
king, instead of flying to the abbey, sought refuge in
a house in the middle of the town, and thus the
abbey escaped plunder. A brief account of the battle
of Wakefield, in which the duke of York was slain,
follows, and we have then a description of the second
battle of St. Alban's, in which the abbey was less
fortunate. The monk speaks indignantly, and no
doubt feelingly, of the barbarous conduct and rapacity
of the northern troops, and narrates with evident joy
the arrival and triumph of Edward, and the sanguinary
punishment which he inflicted on the northern plun-
derers on Towton field. The poem' concludes with a
statement of Edward's claims to the English crown,
and a comparison between him and the feeble monarch
to whom he had succeeded.
APoLiTi- A poem, in English, written at the commencement
of the reign of Edward IV., gives a sort of retrospect
of the history of the Lancastrian dynasty, composed in
a strongly Yorkist point of view. The author praises
highly the prosperous reign of Eichard II., and speaks
of the base usurpation of Henry of Lancaster, who had
dethroned ''this righteous king, God's true knight,"
and thrown him into prison. " The blessed confessor,"
archbishop Scrope, took his death '^ full patiently "' in

CAL Re*

TRQBPSGT.

INTRODUCTION. Ixvii

that quarrel.Ta3 *• said Henry," for his tyr anny and
usurpation, was struck with leprosy, of which he died.
The glory of his son, Henry V., was still too recent,
and his name too popular, to allow of his being spoken
of with disrespect ; and, although he " reigned unright-
** ftdly," he had held up the honour of England But
no language was too strong to describe the bad
qualities of his ill-fated son, and more especially of his
consort queen Margaret, whose reign had been one of
continuous misrule. In speaking of the sanguinary
struggle which had paved the way of the house of
York to the throne, and which had proved so fatal to
the English nobility, the writer of this poem compares
England to a garden which had been many years
overgrown with weeds, and which required to be
'^ mown dowia plain" before the "pleasant sweet
" herbs " could have a chance of growing. He quotes
Edward's victories, and his constant good fortune, as
an acknowledgment from heaven of his worthiness and
right, and praises highly the earl of Warwick, "the
" load-star of knighthood, bom of a stock that ever
" shall be true/'

Edward's fortune, however, was destined to change On the
once, and Warwick's trueness to be put to a trial in ?^^Tf *^
which it fedled. The next poem in the present volume, Thronb
a longer English poem than the preceding, commemo- ^I^d jv.
rates Edward's return from exile in 1471 to z^cover
his crown.

After at least warm praise of king Edward, the
writer tells how, when he landed in Holdemess, the
people were unwilling to join him, and showed him
unkindnete. He, however, made his way to York
in spite of his enemies, and when the people of that
city had a sight of his person, "their malice was
" quenched,'* and they joined him. He proceeded thence
to Fontefract, to the great chagrin of the marquis
Montague, who durst not meet him. At Coventry

Ixviii INTRODUCTION.

Edward was in want of meat, drink, and lodging for
his army, yet he prepared to give battle to the
earl of "Warwick. He was here reconciled with his
brother the duke of Clarence, but he remained long
without being able to bring Warwick to fight, until
" want of lodging and victual " obliged him to change
his quarters, and he proceeded to London. At
Daventry, a miracle — " an image which was closed
" brake open suddenly " — was manifested in the abbey
as a token of victory. The citizens of London
received him with great joy, and he there took
prisoners "a king and a clerk." He went by water
from London to Westminster, where he resumed the
crown and sceptre, and offered his devotions at the
shrine of St. Edward. The meeting between Edward
and his queen and children was very tender, but he
was soon called away to meet his enemies in the field.
The night before the battle of Bamet witnessed an-
other miraculous sign in Edward's favour, for a bright
star was seen to shine over his head. The battle is
described at some length, after which the king returned
to London, where his presence was very desirable. The
bastard Falconberg had collected a multitude of fight-
ing men, with whom he plundered the country roxmd,
and attempted to force his way into the capital, but'
he was successfully resisted by the citizens at London
Bridge, the outer gate of which was burnt by the
assailants. In another assaoilt they applied gunpowder,
as well as fire, and destroyed all the btdldings up to the
drawbridge, but they could get no further. They also
attacked Aldgate, and burnt fair houses there, but the
earl of Essex and the aldermen, with the citizens,
went out at Bishopegate, and, falling upon them, put
them to flight. The earl of Eivers, too, happening to
be in London, did great service, and, placing himself
at the head of the citizens, attacked the Kentish men,
and defeated and pursued them with great slaughter.

INTRODUCTION. Ixix

After this defeat the Kentish men dispersed, while
king Edward came to London with his forces. The
duke of Gloucester, " that noble prince," — " grace him
" foUoweth, fortune, and good speed," — with the earl
of Pembroke, and the lord chamberlain and others,
rode in the king^s advanced guard of eight thousand
men, and was joyfuUy received by the citizens. King
Edward knighted eight aldermen on the field of battle.
The king, accompanied by the duke of Clarence,
followed with a smaller division of his army, and was
received and welcomed by at least twenty thousand
men. They rode through the city to St. Paid's, to
offer up thanks for their success. The ballad ends
with some lines in praise of Elizabeth, Edward's queeiL
It is rather curious that the author of this poem,
who was evidently a contemporary, and probably a
Londoner, should make the bastard Falconberg's attack
upon London follow immediately after the battle of
Bamet.

The last poem in the present collection is somewhat Or Emo-
similar in subject to the Libel of English Policy, fix)m ^J^mr-
which the first lines are taken, but it is much shorter, oial
Like that poem, its theme is the supremacy which ^"^^*
England ought to secure by her navy and coqeimerce.
There was no man, the writer says, of whatever degree,
who had not absolute need of three things, meat, drink,
and dothea England, he said, possessed all these three
articles in abundance, and of one there was a great
superfluity, but the people neglected to make the most
of this advantage. Other countries produced meat and
drink for their inhabitants, but it was dear that they
depended upon England for dothing, for merchants
firom them all came here to purchase either the raw
material or the doth that was made of it. The
writer here gives a list of the ooimtries which then
traded with England, adding that there were doubt-
less many others with the names of which he was not
VOL. II. f

IxX INTBODUCnON.

aoquaintedy for he ooigectiiFed that all the nations
under heaven, whether Christian or heathen, had need
of our English commodities. He recommends that
none but wool of the worst quality should be ex-
ported ; because, as the coarse doth could only be sold
at a low price, while the various processes of Tnalring
the cloth were nearly as expensive as in the fine
cloth, so the profit of this coarse doth to the
makers was very small. The next point to which
this writer calls attention makes us acquainted with
rather a curious &ci A custom had, he says, been
recently introduced among merchants and doth-makersi
which was very unjust and oppressive to the poor
workmen, whom they compelled to take half of their
wages in merchandise. This plan forther enabled the
employers to cheat those they employed, by giving
them merchandise at a nominal value, which was
double its true worth, so that it was an indirect
manner of couBiderably diminishing their wages. ^Thus,
'* the poor had the labour, and the rich the gain.''
The writer demands an ordinance, or act of parliament,
to compd the employers to pay the wages of their
workmen in money. This system of paying wages in
goods seems to have prevailed very extensively, and
is represented as not only creating much misery among
the poor, but as being in many cases a disadvantage to
the employers themsdves, and generally to the coun-
try, as it prevented the development of the national
industry. This, the writer teUs us, was especially the
case in the mines, and he proposes a rather mngnUr
remedy. He asks for the establishment of a mint
near the mines, and an ordinance that all the silver
brought up should, as soon as it was refined, be coined
on the spot, and that the men should receive their
pay in this newly-coined money before any of it waa
carried away. If this were the case, he says, people
would be glad to work, and the number of workmen

INTRODUCTION. Ixxi

would be increased tenfold^ and necessarily the more
workmen were employed in the mines the greater
quantity of silver would be derived from than ; thus
the king himself, and through him the whole king-
dom, would be enriched. In the same way, by mak-
ing all the fine wools into cloth at home, and paying
the workmen fairly, money would be brought into
the country, and a great source of national wealth
transferred from our enemies to ourselves. The sug-
gestions contained in this poem furnish a very in-
teresting illustration of the social condition of the
English workman and of the state of English manu-
factures in the fifteenth century.

This is the last poem of a political character with
which I am acquainted which comes within the limits
of the present collection. It is hardly necessary to
state that the texts in the present volume have been
edited,, from the original manuscripts, on the same
principles which were observed in the former. It may
perhaps, however, be right to state that the plan
adopted in the first volume was to collect together all
the songs and short poems of a political or historical
character, belonging to the period, which have been
preserved, whether they had been previously printed
or not; but as it has been since decided that
poems which have previously been printed in works
generally known and easy of access, such as the
Archseologia^ should not be re-edited here, that plan
has, to a certain degree, been abandoned in the second
volume, and such only have been re-edited aa have
previously appeared in books less likely to be gene-
rally known. I have thought it weU at the same time,
to prevent any inquirers who may be using this
book from overlooking poems which have been printed
elsewhere, to notice in the present Introduction all
those which have been omitted

The Glossary of English words given at the end of

Ixxii INTRODUCTION.

the volume has no further pretensions than to aAsist
the reader in understanding the texts. The English
poems belong to periods scattered over a century and
a half ; and they are just of that popular class which
present the varying peculiarities of the language^ and
which contain a great number of words of a populaa*
or . trivial character, which perhaps only occur once
in the writings with which we are aoquainted, and to
the exact meaning of which we have hardly any due.
It would be ahnost impossible, under such circum-
stances, to attempt anything like a systematic philo-
logical dictionary of the English language, as exhibited
in these various examples;* and I have contented
myself with giving an index of the obsolete words or
less intelligible forms, and explaining as many of
them as I can.

POLITICAL POEMS.

Vol. IL

Complimentary Verses on King Henry IV.^

By John Govver.

Sequitar carmen uncle magnijicus rex noster Henri-
CU8 prcenotatVfS apud Deuni et homines cum omni
henedictwiie glcnnficetur.

Rex cceli Deus et Dominus, qui tempera solus

Condidit, et solus condita euneta regit ;
Qui rerum causas ex se produxit, et ununi

In se principium rebus inesse dedit ;
Qui dedit ut stabili motu consisteret orbis,

Fixus in seternum mobilitate sua ;
Quique potens verbi produxit adesse creatn,

Quique sua) mentis lege ligavit ea;
Ipse caput regum, reges quo rectificantur,

Teque tuum regnum, rex pie, qujeso regat.
Grata superveniens te misit gratia nobis,

O sine labe salus, nulla par ante fuit.
Sic tuus adventus nova gaudia sponte reduxit,

Quo prius in luctu lachryma major erat.
Nos tua milities pavidos relevavit ab imo,

Quos prius oppressit ponderis omne malum.
Ex probitate tu.a, quo mors latitabat in umbra

Vita resurrexit claraque regna regit.

» From MS. Cotton. Tiberius

A. iv. fol 166, r**. It is found in

most of the manuscripts of Gower's

Latin poems; and has here been

VOL. II.

collated with a copy in the MS. of
Gower's poems in possession of the
duke of Sutherland, now preserved
alTrentham.

f A

2 POLITICAL POEMS.

Sic tua Rors sortcm mediante Deo ronovatam

Sanat et emendat, qnvc \m\is segra fuit.
O pie rex, Christum per se laudamus, et ipsiim

Qui tibi nos tribuit terra reviva colit.
Sancta sit ilia dies, (pia tu tibi regna petisti,

S<anctus et lUc Deus qui tibi regna dedit.
Qui tibi prima tulit, confirmet regna futura,

Quo poteris magno magnus honore firui.
Sit tibi progenies ita multiplicata per a)vum,

Quod genus inde pium repleat omne solum.
Quicquid in orbe boni fuerit tibi summus ab alto

Donet, ut in terris rex in lionore regas.
Omne quod est turpe vacuum discedat, et omne

Est quod honorificum det Deus esse tuum.
Consilium nullum, pie rex, te tangat iniquum,

In quibus occultum scit Deus esse dolum.
Absit avaritia, ne tangat rcgia corda,

Ncc queat in terra proditor esse tua.
Sic tua processus habeat fortuna perennes,

Quo recolant laudes ssocula cuncta tuas.
Nuper ut Augusti fuerant prsBConia Roma),

Concinat in gestis Anglia la3ta tuis.
tibi, rex, sevo detur fortissime nostro

Semper honorata sceptra tenere manu.
Stcs ita magnanimus quod ubi tua regna gubemas,

Terreat has partes hostica nulla manus.
Augeat imperium tibi Christus et augeat cinnos,

Protegat et nostras aucta corona fores.
Sit tibi pax finis, domito domineris in orbe,

Cunctaque sint humeris inferiora tuis.
Sic honor et virtus, laus, gloria, paxque, potestas,

Toque tuum regnum magnificare queant.
Cordis amoro boni, pio rex, mea vota paravi,

Corpore cum nequii sei-vio mente tibi.
Ergo tufB laudique tuo geniflexus honori

Verba loco doni pauper habenda tuli
Est tamen ista mei, pie rex, scntentia verbi.

Fine tui rcgni sint tibi regna poll.

COMPLIMENTAKY VEBSES ON KING HENRY IV.

H. aquilas pullus quo nunquam gratior ullus,
Hostes confregitquo tyrannica colla aubegit.
H. aquilio copit oleum quo regna recepit,
Sic veteri juncta stipiti nova stirps redit uncta.

Epistola brevis v/nde viHutes regico Tnoralea ad aanum
regvmmi ampliori Tnemoria dirigantur,

O recolcnde bone, pie rox Henricc, patrone, Notade

Ad bona dispone quos cripis a Pharaona '^

Noxia depone quibus est humus Iifoc in agone
Eegni persona) quo vivant sub ratione.
Paeem compone, vires moderare corona),
Legibus impone fraenum sine conditionc,

Firmaque sermono jura tcnere mono.
Rex confirmatus licet imdique magnificatus, Notade

Sub Christo gratus, vivas tamen immaculatus.
Est tibi praelatus, comes et baro, villa, senatus,
Miles et armatus, sub lego sua raoderatus.
Dirige quosque status, maneas quo pacificatus,
Invidus, elatus, nee avarus erit sociatus.

Sic eris omatus, purus ad omne latus.
HflBC ut amans quibit Gower, pie rex, tibi scribit; Notade
Quo pietas ibit, ibi gratia nidla peribit,
Qui bone describit, semet mala nulla subibit,
Sed pius exibitque Dei pietate redibit.
Sic qui transibit, opus et pietatis adibit,
Hunc Deus ascribit, quod ab hoste perire nequibit ;

Et sic finibit, quia pia vota bibit.
Quanto regalis honor est tibi plus generalis, Notade

Tanto moralis virtus tibi sit spccialis. p?rtione.

Sit tibi camalis in mundo regula qualis
Est tibi mentalis in Christo spiritualis.
Si fiierit talis, tua chronica perpetualis
Tunc erit lequalis perfectaque ^aterialis.

Rex immortalis te regat absque roalis.

A 2

POLITICAL POEMS.

Address of John Gower to Henry IV.*

Electus Christi, pie rex Henrice, fuisfci,
Qui bene venisti cum propria regna petisti ;
Tu mala vicistique bonis bona restituisti,
Et populo tristi nova gaudia eontribuisti. ^ .
Est mihi spes lata quod adhuc per te renovata
Sueeedent fata veteri probitate beata.
Est tibi nam gi'ata gratia sponte data.

O worthi noble kyng Henry the fertile,
In whom the glade fortune is befalle

The poeple to governe uppon erthe, n

God hath the chose in comfort of ous alle,

The worschipe of this lond, which was doun falle,

Now staut upriht thurgh grace of thi goodnesse.

Which every man is holdc for to blesse.

The high God, of his justice allone,
The right which longeth to thi regalie

Declared hath to stondc in thi persone ;
And more than God may no man justifie.
Thi title is knowe uppon thin ancestrie,

Tlic londes folk hath ek thy riht affermed ;

So stant thi regne, of God and man confermed.

Ther is no man mai seie in other wise

That God him self ne hath the riht declared,

Whereof the lond is boun to thi servise,
Which for defalte of help hath longe cared;
But now ther is no mannes herte spared,

To love and serve, and wirche thi plesance,

And al is this thurgh Godes pourveiance.

* This poem was inserted in the I is here printed from a contemporary
old black-letter editions in folio of i manuscript in the possession of his
the collected works of Chaucer. It I grace the duke of Satherland.

ADDRESS OF JOHN GOWER TO HENRY IV. , 5

In alle thing which is of God begonne,

Ther folwith grace, if it be wele govenied ;

Thus tellen thei whiche olde bookes conne,
Whereof, my lord, y wot wcl thou art lemed.
Axe of thi God, so schalt thou noght be werned

Of no reqwest, which is resonable ;

Ffor God unto the goode is favorable.

King Salomon, which hadde at his axinge
Of God what thing him was levest to crave,

He ches wisdom unto the goveniynge

Of Goddls folk, the whiche he wolde save,
And as he ches it fel him for to have ;

Ffor thurgli his wit, whil that his regno laste,

He gat him pes and reste imto the laste.

Bot Alisaundre, as telleth his histoire,
Unto the God besoghte in other weie.

Of all the world to winne the victoire
So that undir his swerd it might obeie ;
In werre he hadde al that he wolde preie,

The myghti God behight him that beheste,

The world he wan, and had it of conqwcste.

«

Bot thogh it fel at thilke time so.

That Alisandre his axinge hath achieved,

This sinful world WJis al paiene tho.

Was non which hath the hihe God believed,
No wonder was thogh thilke world was grieved,

Thogh a tiraunt his pom-pos mihto winne ;

Al was vengaunce and infortune of sinne.

Bot now the feith of Crist is come aplace
Among the princes in this crthe hiere»

It sit hem wel to do pite and grace ;
Bot jit it mot be tempred in manere ;
Ffor as thei finden cause in the matiere,

Uppon the point, what aftirward betide,

The lawe of riht shal noght be leid aside.

POLITICAL POEMS.

So mai a kyng of werre the viage

Ordeigno and take, as he therto is holde,

To cleime and axe his rightful heritage
In alio places wher it is withholde ;
Bot other wise if Qod him silve wolde

Afferme love and pes betweu the kynges,

Pes is the besto above alio erthely thinges.

Good is teschue werre, and natheles

A kyng may make werre uppon his right;

Ffor of bataille the final ende is pes.

Thus stant the lawe, that a wortlii knyght
Uppon his trouthe may go to the fight;

Bot if so were that he myghte chese,

Betre is the pees, of which may no man lese.

To store peace oghte every man aljrve,
Ffirst for to setto his liege lord in reste,

And ek these otliro men that thei no stryve,
Ffor so this world mai stonden ate beste.
What kyng that wolde be the worthieste,

The more ho myghte oure dedly wen-e cesse,

The more he schulde his worthinesse encresse.

Pes is the chief of al the worldes welthe,
And to the heven it Icdoth ek the wcie ;

Pes is of soule and lif the mannes helthe
Of pestilence, and doth the werre awoic.
My liege lord, tak hiede of that y seie,-

If wen*o may be lefte, tak pes on honde,

Which may not be withoute Goddis sonde.

With pes stant every creature in reste ;

Withoute pes ther may no lif be glad ;
Above alio othre good pes is the beste ;

Pes hath him self when werre is al bestad ;

The pes is sauf, the werre is ever adrad ;
Pes is of al charitie the keie.
Which hath the lif and soule for to weie.

ADDRESS OF JOHN COWER TO UENRY IV. 7

My liego lord, if that the list to seche

The sotlie ensamples that the werre hath wroght,
Thou schalt wiel hiere of wise mennes speche,

That dedly werre turneth into noght.

Ffor if these olde bokea be wel soght,
Ther myght thou se what thing tlie werre hath do,
Both of conqueste and conquerour also.

For vein honour, or for the worldes good,
Thei that whilom the stronge werres made,

Wher be thei now, bethenk wel in thi mod ;
The day is gone, the nygth is derk and fade.
Her crualtd, which mad hem thanne glade,

Thei sorwen now, and ^it have noght the more;

The blod is sehad, which no man mai restore.

The werre is modir of the wronges alle ;
It sleth the prest in holi chirche at masse,

Fforlith the maide, and here flour tofalle ;
The werre maketli the grete citee lasse.
And dothe the lawe his reules ovcrpasse.

There is no thing wherof meschef mai growe.

Which is noght caused of the werre, I trowe.

The werre bringth in poverte at hiso hieles,
Wherof the comon poeplo is sore grieved ;

The werre hath set his cart on tliilke whieles,
Wher that fortune mai noght be believed.
Ffor whan men wenc best to have achieved,

FuUe ofte it is al newe to beginne;

The werre hath no thing siker, thogh he win lie.

Forthi, my worthi prince, in Grists halve
As for a part, whos feith thou hast to guide,

Leic to this olde sor a newe salve,

And do the wen'o awei, what so betide ;
Pourchaco pes, and sette it be thi side,

And suffro noght thi poeple be devoured ;

So schal thi name ever after stonde honoured.

POLITICAL POEMS.

If eny man be now, or ever was,
A^cin the pes thi prev(5 counseilloiir,

Lcte God been of thi counseil in this cas,
And putte awei the cruel werreiour.
Ffor God, which is of man the creatour,

He wolde noght men slowe his creature,

Withoute cause of dedly forfeture.

Wher nedeth most, behoveth mast to loke;
Mi lord, how so thi werres ben withoute

Of time passed, who than hiede toke,

Good were at hom to se riht wel aboute,
Ffor evermor the werste is for to doute ;

Bot if thou myghtest partit pes atteigne,

Ther schulde be no cause for to pleigne.

Aboute a kyng good coimseil is to preise,
Above alle othre thinges most variable ;

Bot ^it a kyng withinne him self schal peise,
And se the thinges that ben resonable ;
And theruppon he schal his wittes stable,

Among the men to sette pes in evene,

Ffor love of liim which is the kyng of hevene.

Ha ! wel is him that schedde never blod,
Bot if it were in cause of rihtwisnesse.

Ffor if a kyng the peril undirstod,

What is to sle the poeple, thanne y gesse
The dedly wen'es and the hevynesse,

Wherof the pes distourbid is ful ofte,

Schulde at som time cesse and wexe softe.

O kyng, fulfilled of grace and of knyghthode,
Eemembre uj^pon this point for Cristes sake ;

If pes be profred unto thi manhode,

Thin honour sauf, let it noght be forsaka
Though thou the werres darst wel undii-take,

Aflir reson jit tempre thi corage,

For lich to pes ther is non avantage.

ADDRESS OF JOHN GOWER TO HENRY IV.

My worthi lord, thenke wel how so befalle
Of thilke lore, as lioli bokes sein,

Crist is the heved, and we ben membres alle,
As wel the subjit as the sovereign:
So sit it wel, that charit(5 bo plein,

Which unto God him selve most accordeth,

So as the lore of Cristes word recordeth.

In tholde lawc, er Crist him self was bore,
Among the ten comandementz y redo

How that manslaghtre schulde be forbore ;
Such was the wille that time of the Godhede;
But aflirwaixls, whanno Crist tok his manhede.

Pes was the ferste thing he let do crie

A^ein the worldes rancour and envic.

And er Crist wente out of this erthe liiere,
And stigh to hevene, he made his testament,

Wher he beqwath to liis disciples there
And ^af his pes, which is the foundament
Of charite, withouten whos assent

The worldes pes may never wel be tried,

Ne love kept, ne lawe justefiod

The Jewes with the paiens hadden wen*e,
Bot thei among hem self stode evere in jxis ;

Whi schulde thanne oure pes stonde out of herre,
Which Crist hath chose unto his oghne encres?
Ffor Crist is more than was Moises,

And Crist hath set the parfit of the lawe,

The which scholde in no wise be withdrawe.

To jive ous pes was cause whi Crist dide,
Withoute pes may no thing stonde availed ;

Bot now a man mai sen on even side,
How Cristes feith is every dai assailed.
With the paiens destruied, and so batailod

That for defiilte of help and of defence,

Unethe hath Crist his dewe reverence.

10 POLITICAL POEMS.

The righte feitli to kepo of holy chirche.
The firste point is named of knyghthode ;

And everi man is holdc for to wirche

XJppon the point which stant to his manhode.
Bot now, helas ! the fame is sprad so broode,

That everi man this thing compleigneth,

And pt ther is no man which help ordeigneth.

The worldes cause is waited over al,
Ther ben the werres redi to the fuUe,

Bot Cristes oghne cause in special,

Ther ben the swerdes and the speres dulle;
And with the sentence of the popes bulle,

As for to do the folk paien obeie,

The chirche is turned al another weie.

It is to wonder above any mannys wit,

Withoute werre how Cristes feith was wonne ;

And we that ben uppon this erthe ^it,
Ne kepo it noght tis it was first begonne.
To every creature undir the sonne

Crist bad him self, how that we schulden preche.

And to the folk his evangile techa

More light it is to kepe than to make ;

Bot that we founden made tofore the hond
We kepe noght, bot lete it lightly slake.

The pes of Crist hath al tobroke his bond ;

We reste our solve, and soeflSdn every lond
To slcn cell other, as thing undefcndid;
So stant the werre, and pes is noght amendid.

Bot thogh the heved of holy chirche above
Ne do not al his hole businesse

Among the men to sette pes and love,

These kynges oughten of here rightwissnesse
Here oghne cause among hem self rodresse ;

Thogh Peters schip as now hath lost his stiere,

It lith in hem that barge for to stiere.

ADDEESS OF JOHN GOWEB TO HENRY IV. 11

If holy cherche after the duet^

Of Cristas word ne be noght al avysed

To make pes, acord, and unit^

Among the kinges that ben now devised,
^it natheles the lawe stant assised

Of mannys wit to bo so resonable,

Withoute that to stonde hem selve stable.

Of holy chirche wo ben children alle,
And every child is holden for to bowe

Unto the modir, how that ever it falle,
Or eUes he mot reson desalowe.
And for that cause a knyght schal ferst avowe

The right of holi chirche to defende,

That no man schal the previlege oflFende.

Thus were it [good] to setten al in evene,
The worldes princes and the prclatz bothe,

Ffor love of him wliich is the king of hevcne;
And if men scholde algato wexe wrothe,
The Sarazins, whiche unto Crist be lothe,

Let men ben armed atein hem to fighte.

So mai the knight his dedo of annes righte.

Uppon thre pointz stant Cristes pes oppressed ;

Ffh'sfc holy chirche is in her silf divided,
Which oughto of reson first to be redressed,

Bot jit so highe a cause is noght decided.

And thus whan humble pacience is prided,
The remenaunt, which that thei schulden reule,
No wonder is though it stonde out of reule.

Of that the heved is sick, the limes akcn ;

These regnes that to Cristes pes belongen,
Ffor worldes good these dedly werres makon.

Which heliples as in balance hongen.

The hdVed above hem hath noght undirfongen
To sette pes, bot every man sleeth other,
And in this wise hath charity no brother.

12 POLITICAL POEMS.

The two defaltcs bringen in the thridde,
Of miscreantz, that sen how we debate,

Betwene the two thei fallen in amidde,
Whcr now ul dai thei finde an open gate.
Lo, thus the dedly werre stant algate ;

Bot evere y hoi)e of king Henries grace,

That he it is which schal the pes embrace.

My worthi noble prince and kyng enoignt,
Whom God hath of his grace so preserved,

Beholde and se the world uppon this point,
As for thi part, that Cristes pes be served ;
So schal thin highe mede be reserved

To him which al schal qwiten ate laste,

Ffor this life hiere mai no while laste.

See Alisandi-e, Ector, and Julius,

See Machabeu, David, and Josue,
See Charlemeine, Godefroi, Arthus,

Ffulfild of werre and of mortality.

Here fame abit, bot al is vanity ;
Ffor deth, which hath the weiTes under fote.
Hath made an end of which ther is no bote.

So mai a man the sothe wite and knowe.
That pes is good for eveiy man to have ;

The fortune of the werre is evere unknowe,
Bot wher pes is, ther Ijen the marches save.
That now is [up], to morwe is under grave,

The might i God hath alle grace in honde,

Withouten him jjes mai noght longe stonde.

Off the tenetz to winne or lese a chase,
May no lif wite er that the bal be ronne;

Al stant in God, what thing man schal pourchace,
Thende is in him er that it be begonne.
Men sein the woUe, wliannc it is wel sponne,

Doth that the cloth is strong and profitable.

And elles it mai never be durable.

ADDRESS OF JOHN GOWER TO HENRY IV. IS

The worldes chaunoes uppon aventure
Ben evere sett, bot tliUke chaunce of pes

Is so behoveli to the creature,

That it above alle othre is piereles ;
Bot it mai noght begete natheles

Among the men to lasten eny while,

Bot wher the herte is plein withoute guile.

The pes is a3 it were a sacrement

Tofore the God, and sehal with wordes pleine,
Withouten eny double entendement

Be treted, for the trouthe can noght feine;

Bot if the men withinne hem self be veine,
The substance of the pes may noght be trewe,
Bot every dai it chaungeth uppon newe.

Bot who that is of charity perfit.

He voideth alle sleightes ferr aweie,
And sett his word upon the same plit,

Wher that his herte hath found a siker weie ;

And thus whan conscience is trewly weie,
And that the pes bo handlid with the wise,
It sehal abide, and stonde in alio wise«

Thapostle seith, ther mai no lif be good
Which is noght grounded uppon charity,

Ffor charity ne schedde nevere blod;
So hath the werre as ther no proprit^.
Ffor thilke vcrtu which is seid pit^

With charite so ferforth is acqweinted.

That in here may no fals semblant be peinted.

Cassodre, whos writinge is auctorized,

Seith, wher that pitd regneth ther is grace,

Thurgh which the pes hath al his welthe assised,
So that of werre he dredeth no manace.
Wher pit^ dwelleth in the same place

Ther mai no dedly cruelty sojome,

Wherof that merci schulde his wei torne.

14 POLITICAL POEMS.

To He what piW forth with mercy doth,
Tlie cronique is at Rome in thilke empire

Of Constantin, which is a tale soth ;

Wlian him was levero his oghne deth desire
Than do the ^onge cliildren to martire,

Of crualtd he lafte the querele,

Pit^ he WToghte, and pitd was his hele.

For thilke mannes pit6 which he dede,
God was pitous, and mad him hoi at al ;

Silvestre cam, and in the s<ame stcde
^af him baptLsme first in special,
Which dide awai the sinne orgin<al,

And al his lepro it hath so purified

That his pit^ for ever is magnified.

Pitd was cause wlii this emperour
Was hoi in bodi and in soule botho ;

And Rome also was set in thilke honour
Of Cristes feith, so that the licue of lothe.
Which bidden be with Crist tofore wrotlie,

Resteined were unto Cristes lore ;

Thus schal pitd bo prcised evermore.

My worthi liege lord, Henri be name,

"Which Engelond hast to govcme and righto,

Men oghten wcl thi pitd to proclame.
Which openHche in al the worldes sighte
Is shewed, with the help of God almighte

To ^ive ous pes, which longe hath be dcleated;

Whcrof thi pris schal nevere ben abated.

My lord, in whom hath ever ^it be founde

Pitd, withoute spot of violence,
Kep thilke pes alwei withinne bounde

Which God hath planted in thi conscience;

So schal the cronique of thi pacience
Among the seintz be take into memoire,
To the loenge of perdurable gloire.

ADDRESS OF JOHN GOWER TO HENRY IV. 15

And to thin erthli pris, .so as y can,
Which everi man is holde to commende,

I, Gower, which am al thi liege m<an,
This lettre unto thin excellence y sende,
As y which evere unto my lives ende

Wol praie for the stat of thi persone,

In worschipe of thi sceptre and of thi throne.

Noght only to my king of pes y write,
Bot to these othre princes cristene alio,

That ech of hem his oghne herte endite,
And sese the werre er mor meschiefe falle.
Sette ek the rightful pope uppon his stalle,

Kep charity, and draugli pit^ to lionde,

Maintene lawe, and so the pes schal stondc.

Explicit cai'men de pcuds conimendatione, quod ad
latidem et memoriam serenisaimi pHncApis
djomini regis Henrici . quarti 8^ms humilis
orator Johannes Gower coniposuit

Henrici quarti primus regni fuit annus

Quo mihi defecit visus ad acta mea.
Omnia tempus habent, finem natura ministrat,

Quem virtute sua frangere nemo potest.
Ultra posse nihil quamvis mihi velle remansit,

Amplius ut scribam non mihi posse manet.
Dum potui scripsi, sed nunc, quia torva senectus

Turbavit sensus, scripta relinquo scholis.
Scribat qui veniet post me discretior alter,

Amodo namque manus et mea penna silent.
Hoc tamen in fine verborum quacso meorum,

Prospera quod statuat regna futura Deus.

Eacplidt

16

POLITICAL FORMS.

Jacke Upland.*

1401.

I, Jacke Upland, make my inone to very God,

and to all true in Christ,

that Antichrist and his disciples,

by colour of holines,

walking and deceiving Christs church

by many false figures,

I This violent attack on the
friars by one of the WycUflSte party
has been preserved by being in«
serted in the early printed black-
letter folios of the works of Chaucer,
from whence it is here printed. The
old editor was quite ignorant of the
fact that it was composed in allitera-
tive verse, and either he, or some one
from whom he had it, has altered it
so ranch, with the view apparently
of removing the obscurity which
seems to a certain degree insepar-
able from this class of old English
poetry, by using common words
for obsolete ones, and adding words
and phrases to explain the meaning,
that much of the alliteration and
rhythm is lost. I give it verbatim
from this printed text, except that
I have arranged it in lines as
nearly as I can make them from
a knowledge of the rhythm of
this class of versification. A com-
parison with the alliterative poem
which follows will enable us to
restore a good deal of it to its
original form. The poem alluded
to is a reply by a friar to the attacks
of Jack Upland, and this latter is
accompanied by a rejoinder which

contains an allasion which enables
us to fix the date of all three. The
writer throws in the teeth of his
opponent a recent act of justice of
Henry IV., who had hanged certain
traitorous friars : —

" And the kyng by his jnges trwe

" execute his lawe,

"As ho did now late,

" Whan he hanged ^ou traytours."

There can be no doubt that this
refers to the event thus recorded
in Capgrave's Chronicle, p. 278 :
" About the fest of Pentecost that
" same ^ere [May, 1401], certeyn
" men whech had conspired the
'' kyngis deth, &c. ... a prest . . .
" was take at Ware .... The
" prest for his laboure was hang and
" drawe. So was a chanon priour
** o Lawne, whech mite a lyved
" but for his tunge. So were cer-
** teyn religions men, and specialy
** of the menouris order, endited of
" treason and hanged.'* It is most
probable that all these poems were
composed during the year 1401 ;
the last in date of them must have
been written very soon after the
event just mentioned.

JACKE UPLAND. 17

where through (by Antichrist and hia) many vertues

been transposed to vices.

But the felliest folke

that ever Antichrist found, /

been lasfc brought into the church,

and in a woonder wise ;

for they been of diverse sects of Antichrist,

sown of diverse countries and kindreds.

And all men knowne well that

they bee not obedient to bishops,

ne leege men to kings ;

neither they tillen ne sowen,

weeden ne reapen,

wood, com, ne grasse,

neither nothing that man should helpe,

but onely themselves,

their lives to susteine.

And these men han all manner power

of God, as they seyn,

in heaven and in yeartli,

to sell heaven and hell

to whom that them liketh ;

and these wretches weet never

where to been themselves.

And therefore, freer/ if thine order and rules

been grounded on Goddis law,

tell thou mee, Jacke Upland,

that I aske of thee,

and if thou be or thinkest to be on Christen side,

keepe thy paciens.

Saint Paule teacheth that all our deedes
should be do in charitie^
and els it is nought worth,
but displeasing to God,
and harme to oure soules.
And for that freers challenge
to be greatest clerkcs of the church, |

VOL. II. B

18 POLITICAL POEMa

and next following Christ in living,

men should for charitie

ask them some questions,

and pray them to ground their answeres

in reason and holy -writ ;

for eke their answer would nought be woorth,

be it flourished never so £aire,

and, as me thinke, men might skilfully

aske thus of a freer.

1. Freer, how many orders bee in earth?
and which is the peifectest order?

of what order art thou ?

who made thine order?

what is thy rule?

is there any perfecter rule

than Christ himself made ?

If Christs rule be most perfect,

why rulest thou thee not thereafter?

Without more, why shal a freer

be more pimished,

if he break the rule

that his patron made,

than if he break the heats

that God himself made.

2. Approveth Christ any more religions
than one that saint James speaketh of?
If hee approveth no more,

why hast thou left his rule,

and takest another?

Why is a freer, apostata,

that leveth his Order,

and taketh another sect,

sith there is but one religion of Christ?

8. Why be ye wedded faster to your habits
than a man is to his wife?
For a man may leave his wife for a year or two,
as many men done ;

JACKS UPLAND. 19

and if you leave your habite a quarter of a yeare,
ye should be holden apostataes.

4. Maketh your habit you
men of religion or no ?
If it doe, then ever as it weareth,
your religion weareth;
and after that your habit is better,
your religion is better ;
and when yee have liggen it beside,
then lig ye your religion beside you,
and been apostataes.
"^ Why buy ye you so precious dothes,
sith no man seeketh such,
but for vaine glorie,
as saint Qregorie sayth?
What betokeneth your great hood, •
your scaplerie, ,

your knotted girdle, ,

and your wide cope ?

6. Why use ye all one colour
more than other christian men doe?
What betokeneth that ye been clothed
all in one manner clothing?
If yee say it betokeneth
love and charitie,
certes then ye be oft hypocrites,
when any of you hateth another,
and in that that ye wol be said holy
by your clothing.

Why may not a freer weare clothing
of another sect of freers,
sith holinesse stondeth not
in the cloths?

6. Why hold ye silence in one house
more than another,

sith men ought over all to speake the good
and leave the evill?

B 2

20 POLITICAL POEMS.

Why eat you flesh in one house
more than in another,
if your rule and your order be perfect,
and the patron that made it?

7. Why get ye your dispensations
to have it more easie?

Certes either it seemeth
that yee be unperfect,
or he that made it so hard,
that ye may not hold it.
And siker, if ye hold not
the rule of your patrons,
ye be not then her freers,
and so ye lie upon your selves.

8. Why make yon as dede men,
when yee be professed,

and yet ye be not dede,

but more quicke beggars than you were before?

And it seemeth evil a dede man

to go about and beg.

9. Why will ye not suflfer
your novises hear

your councels in yom: chapter house,
ere that they have ben professed,
if your councels been true
and after Gods law?

10. Why make yee so costly houses
to dwell in, sith Christ did not so,
and dede men should have but graves,
as falleth it to dede men?

And yet ye have more courts

than many lords of England ;

for ye now wenden throgh the realme,

and ech night will lig

in your own courts,

and so mow but right few lords doe.

11. Why heire you to ferme

JACKE UPLAND. 21

your limitors,

giving therefore each yeare

a certain rent,

and will not suffer one

in anothers limitation,

right as yee were your selves

lords of countries ?

Why be ye not under your bishops visitations,

and leege men to our king?

Why aske ye no letters of bretherheads

of other mens praiers,

as ye desire that other men

should Bfike letters of you ?

If your letters be good,

why grant ye them not generally

to all manor of men,

for the more charitie?

12. Mowe ye make any man
more perfect brether for your prayers,
than Gtod hath by our beleeve,

by our baptisme and his owne grant ?

If ye mow, certes,

then ye be above God.

Why make ye men beleeve

that your golden trentall sung of you, ^

to take therefore ten shillings^

or at least five shillings

will bring soules out of hell,

or out of purgatorie ?

If this be sooth, certes,

yee might bring all soules out of paine ;

and that wol ye nought,

and then ye be out of chaiitie.

13. Why make ye men beleeve y
that he that is buried

in your habit

shid never come in hel.

22 POLITICAL FOfMS,

and ye wefrt not f/f your «elfe

whither yee nliall to hell or no?

And if tliiij were HO<^;th,

ye should nell your high hou«e«

Uf make many habites

for to nave many mens Boules.

14. Why Hteal ye menfl children
for to make hem of your sect,
Hith that theft is against Gods hests,
and Bith your sect is not perfect?
Yee know not whether the rule that yee bind him to
I JO hewt for him or worst.

16. Why undememe yee not your brethren
{()T their trenpasse after the law of the gospell,
Mith that undememing
iH the best that may be ?
But ye put them in prison oft,
when they do after Gods law;
and by saint Augustines rule,
if any doe amisse,
and would not amend him,
ye should put him from you.

16. Why coveit ye shrift and burjdng
of other mens parishens,
and none other sacrament
that falloth to christian folke?
WJiy busio yo not to heare
to shrift of ])oore folke,
as well as of rich,
lordos and ladies,
aith they mow have more plentie
of shriftrfathera than poore folke mow ?
Why say yo not the gospel
in ]iouBi>8 of l>cdred men,
as ye do in ricli mens,

that mowe goo to church and heare the gospell?
Why covet you not to burie

JACKE UPLAND. 23

poor folk among you,

sith that they been most holy,

as ye saine that ye ben for your povertie?

17. Why will ye not be at her diriges,
as ye have ben at rich mens^

sith Qod praiseth him more

than he doth other men?

What is thy prayer worth,

sith thou wilt take therefore?

For all chapmen yee need to bee most wise

for dread of simonie.

What cause hast thou that thou wilt not preach the gospel,

as Qod saith that thou sholdst,

sith it is the best lore^

and also our beleeye?

Why be ye evill apaid

that secular priests

should preach the gospell,

sith Qod himselfe hath bodden hem ?

18. Why hate ye the gospell to be preached,
sith ye be so much hold therto?

For ye win more by yeare /

with In prmdpio,

than with all the rules

that ever your patrones made.

And in this minstrels

ben better than ye;

for they contrarien not

to the mirths that they maken,

but yee contrarien the gospell,

both in word and deed.

19. Freer, when thou receivest a penie
for to say a masse,

whether sellest thou Gods bodie for that penie,
or thy praier, or els thy travellt
If thou saiest thou wolt not travell
for to say the masse but for the penie,

24 POLlTICiX FOEBiS.

that certes if this be sooth,

then thou lovest too litle meed for thy sou]e ;

and if thou sellest Gods bodie, other thy prayer,

then it is very simonie^

and art become a chapman worse than Judas,

that sold it for thirtie pence.

20. Why writest thou hir names in thy tables
i that yeveth thee mony,

sith God knoweth al thing?

For it semeth by thy writing

that God would not reward him,

but thou writest in thy tables,

God would els forgotten it.

Why bearest thou God in hand,

and slanderest him,

that he begged for his meat,

sith he was lord over all?

For then had he beene unwise,

to have begged and have no need thereto.

Freer, after what lawe

rulest thou thee?

Where findest thou in Gods lawe

that thou shouldest thus beg?

21. What manner men
needeth for to beg?

For whom oweth

such men to beg?

Why beggest thou

so for thy bretheren?

If thou saiest, for they have need,

then thou doest it for the more perfection^

or els for the least,

or els for the meane.

If it be the most perfection of all,

then should all thy brethren do so,

and then no man needed

to beg but for him self,

JACKE UPLAND. 25

for 80 should no man beg

but he needed.

And if it be the least perfection,

why lovest thou then other men

more than thyselfe?

For so thou art not well in charitie,

since thou diouldest seek the more perfection,

after thy power living

thy self most after God ;

and thus leaving that imperfection,

thou shouldest not so beg for them.

And if it is a good mean,

thus to beg as thou doest,

then should no man do so,

but they been in this good meane ;

and yet such a mean granted to you may never

be grounded on Gods law,

for then both lerid and leaud

that ben in meane degree of this world,

should go about

and beg as ye do.

And if all should do so,

certes well nigh all the world

should go about

and beg as ye done,

and so should there be ten beggers

against one yever.

Why procurest thou men

to yeve the their almes,

and saiest it is so needful,

and thou wilt not thy selfe

win thee that meed.

22. Why wilt thou not beg
for poore bedred men
that bin poorer
than any of your sect,
that liggen and mow not go about )

26 POLITICAL PO£lf&

to help him selfes ?

Sith we be aU brethren in God,

and that bretherhed passeth

any other that ye

or any man could make.

And where most need were,

there were most perfection;

either els yee hold them

not your pure brethren,

but worse, but then ye be

imperfect in your begging.

Why make ye so many

maisters among you,

sith it is against the teaching

of Christ and his apostles ?

23. Whose ben all your rich courts that yee han,
and all your rich jewels,
sith ye seyen that ye han nought
ne in proper ne in common ?
If ye saine they ben the popes,
why gather yee then of poore men and lords
so much out of the kings hand
to make your pope rich,
And sith ye sain that it is great perfection
to have nought in proper ne in common,
why bee ye so fast about to make
the pope, that is your father, rich,
and put on him imperfection?
Sithen ye saine
that your goods been all his,
and he should by reason
be the most perfect man,
it seemeth openlich
that ye been cursed children
so to slander your father
and make him imperfect.
And if yee saine that the goods be youra^

JACKE UPLAND. 27

then do ye ayenst your rule.

And if it be not ayenst your nilcj

then might yo have

both plough and cart,

and labour as other good men don^j

and not so to beg by losengery,

and idle, aa ye done.

If yee say that it is more perftiction t^ beg,

than t<) travell or to worcli with your liand,

why preach ye not openly,

and teach all men to do so,

sith it h the best and mo^ perfect life

to the help of tlieir soules,

m ye make children to beg,

that might have bin rich heirs?

Why make ye not

your feasts to poor© men,

and yeveth Inra yefty,

as yee done to the rich^

sith poore men han

moi-e need than the rioli f

What betokeneth that ye go<i /

fcweine and tweiiie togither ^

If ye be out of chaiitie,

yc accord not in sonle.

Why beg ye and take salaries therto

more than other pries ts^

sith hee that most taketh,

most charge hath ?

24 Why hold ye not saint Franm ^
nile and bis testament,
aith Francis naith that God shewed him
this li\^ng and this rule ?
and cei^s, if it were Gods wiU,
the pope might not fordo it,
or els Francis was a licr,
that saied in this wise.

r

28 POLITICAL PO£lfS.

And but thid testament that he made

accord with Gods will,

or els eri'ed, he is a lier,

that were out of charitie ;

and as the law saith, he is accui*sed

that letteth the rightful last wU of a dead man.

And this testament is the last will

of Francis that is a dead man ;

it seemeth therefoi'e

that all his freers been cursed.

25. Why will ye not touch no coined money
with the crosse ne with the kings head,
as ye done other jewels
both of gold and silver?
Certes if ye despise the crosse,
or the kings head,
then ye be worthy to be despised
of God and the king ;
and sith ye will receive money
in your hearts, and not with your hands,
it seemeth that ye hold more holinesse
in your hands than in your hearts,
and then be fia^lse to God.
. 26. Why have ye exempt you from our kings lawes,
and visiting of our bishops,
more than other christen men
that liven in this realme,
if ye be not guiltie of traitorie to our realme,
or trespassers to your bishops?
But ye will have the kings lawes
for the trespasse doe to you,
and ye wil have power of other bishops
more than other priests,
and also have leave to prison your brethren,
as lords in your courts,
more than other folks han
that ben the kings leege men.

JACKE UPLAND, 29

27. Why fllial some sect of you freers
pay ech a yere a certaine

to h^r generall provinciall or minister,

or els to her sovereines,

but if he steal a certaine number

of children, as some men saine?

And certes, if this ben sooth,

then yee bee constreined upon certein pain

to do theft, against Gods commaundement,

Non fuHum fades,

28. Why be ye so bardie to grant by letters t
of fratemitie to men and women,

that they shall have part and merite

of all your good deedes ?

And ye weten never whether Qod bee apayed

with your deeds, because of your sinne.

Also yee witten never whether that man or woman

be in state to bee saved or damned,

then shall he have ho merit in heaven

for his owne deeds ne for none other mans.

And all were it so that he should have

part of your good deeds,

yet should hee have no more that God woidd give

him
after that he were worthie ;
and so much shall each man have of God's yeft,
without your limitation.

But if ye will say that ye been Gods fellowes,
and that he may nought doe
without your assent,
then be ye blasphemers to God.

29. What betokeneth
that yee have ordeined,

that when such one as ye have made

your brother or sister,

and hath a letter of your seale,

that letter mought bee brought in your holye chapter,

30 POLITICAL POEMS.

and there be rad,

or els yee will not pray for him.

And but ye willen pray especially

for all other that were not made

your brethren or sistren,

then were ye not in right charitie,

for that ought to be common,

and semely in ghostly things,

30. Freer, what charitie is this,

to overcharge the people by mightie begging,

under colour of preaching,

or praying, or masses singing?

Sith holy write biddeth not thus,

but even the oontrarie;

for all such ghostly deedes should be done frely,

as God yeveth them freely.

31. Freer, what charitie is this,
to beguile children

or they commen to discretion,

and bind hem to your orders,

that ben not grounded in Gods law,

agains hir friends will?

JSithen by this foUie been many apostataes,

both in will and deed,

and many beene apostataes in hir will

during ail her life,

that would gladly be discharged,

if they wist how ;

and BO many ben apostataes,

that shoulden in other states have been true men.

32. Freer, what charitie is this,
to make so many freers

in every country,

to the charge of the people ?

Sith persons and vicars alone,

ye, secular priests alone,

ye, monkeg and cannons alone.

JACKS UPUIND. 81

with bishopB above them,

were ynough to the church

to doe the priests office.

And to adde more than ynough,

is a fonle errour,

and great charge to the people,

and this openly against Qods will,

that ordained all thyngs

to be done in weight, number, and measure.

And Christ himselfe was apaied

with twelve apostles and a fewe disciples,

to preach and doe priests office

to all the whole . world ; t

then was it better doe than is nowe at this time,

by a thousand dele.

And right so as foure fingers

with a thombe in a mans hand

helpeth a man to worch,

and double number of fingers in one hand

should let him more;

and so the more number that there were

passing the measure of Gk>ds ordinaunce,

the more were a man letted to worch;

right so, as it seemeth,

it is of these new orders

that ben added to the church,

without ground of holy write and Qods ordinance.

33. Freer, what charity is this,
to the people to He,

and say that ye follow Christ in povertie
more tiian other men done?
And yet in curious and costly housing, /
and fine and precious dothing,
and delicious and liking feeding, ^
and in treasure and jewels, ^

and rich ornaments,
fireers passen lords
and other rich worldly men.

iS POLITICAL P0Fai9.

and soonest they should bring

her cause about,

be it never so costly,

though Oods law be put abacke.

34. Freer, what charitie is this,

to gather up the books of holy write,

and put hem in tresorie,

and so emprison them

from secular priestes and curats,

and by this cautell

let hem to preach the gospell

freely to the people

without worldly meed,

and also to defame

good priests of heresie,

and lien on hem openly,

for to let hem to show Oods law

by the holy gospell

to the Christian people.

35. Freer, what charitie is this,
to &ine so much holines

in your bodily clothing,

that ye dope your habit,

that many blind fools desiren to die therein

more than in another?

And also that a freer that leveth his habit,

late founden of men,

may not be assoiled

till he take it againe,

but is apostata^ as ye saine,

and cursed of Qod and man both ?

Tlie fr^er beleeveth truth and patience,

chastitie, meeknesse, and sobrietie,

yet for the more part of his life

he may soon be assoiled of his prior ;

and if he bring home to his house

much good by the yeare,

bee it never so falsely

JACKE TTPLAKD. 3S

begged and pilled
of the poore and needle people
in countries about,
he shall be hold a noble freer ;
o Lord, whether this be charitie !
36. Freer, what charity is this,
to prease upon a rich maUi
and to intice him to be buried among you *
from his parish church,

and to such rich men give letters of fratemitie,
confirmed by your generall scale,
and therby to bear him in hand,
that he shal have part of all. your masses,
mattens, preachings,
fastings, wakings,
and all other good deeds
done by your brethren of your order,
both whilest he liveth,
and after that he is dead ;
and yet ye witten never whether your deeds
be acceptable to Cfod,
ne whether tjiat man
that hath that letter
be able by good living
to receive any part of your deeds.
And yet a poore man,
that ye wite well or supposen in certen
to have no good of,
ye ne given to such letters,
though he be a better man to Cjod
than such a rich man.
Neverthelesse this poore man
doth not retch therof ;
for as men supposen,
such letters, and many other
that freers behoten to men,
be fuU false deceits of freers,

VOL. IL c

34 POUnCAL POKBCS.

out of all reason^

and Oods law,

and Christian mens faith.

37. Freer, what charitie is this,
to be confessors of lords and ladies,
and to other mightie men,
and not amend hem in hir living t
but rather, as it seemetb,
to be the bolder
to pill hir poore tenants,
and to live in lechery ;
and there to dwell in your offioe of oonfeasor
for winning of worldlie goods,
and to be hold great
by colour of such ghostly offices ?
Tbia seemeth rather pride of froers,
than charitie of Qod.

88. Freer, what charitie is this,
to fain that who so liveth after your order^
liveth most perfectlie,
and next followeth the state of apostles
in povertie and penance ;
and yet the wisest and greatest clerkes of you
wend or send or procure to the court of Home,
to be made cardinals or bishops
of the popes chaplens,
and to be assoiled of the vow of povertie
and obedience to your ministers;
in the which, as ye sain, standetb most perfection
and merit of your orders ;
and thus ye &ren as Pharisees
that sain one and do another to the oontrarie^

Why name ye more
the patron of your order
in your Confiteor,
when ye begin masse,
than other saints.

JACKS UPLAND. 35^

apostles, or martyrs,

that holy ohiirch hol<l[eth]

more glorious than hem,

and clepe hem your patrons

and your avowries? ^

Freer, whether was saint i^^nois
in making of his rule that he set thine order in,
a foole and a liar,
or else wise and true?

If ye sain that he was not a foole, but wise,
ne a liar, but true,

why shew ye oontrarie by your doing,
when by your suggestion. to the pope
ye said that your rule that Francis made
was so hard,

that ye mow not live to hold it,
without declaration and dispensation of the pope?
And so by your deed,
ne let your patron a foole,
that made a rule so hard
that no man may well keepe ;
and eke your deed prooveth him a liar,
where he saith in his rule,
that he tooke and learned it
of the Holy Ohost ;

for how might ye for shame pray the pope
undo that the Holy Qhost bit,
as when ye prayed him to dispense
with the hardnesse of your order?

Freer, which of the foure orders
of jfriers is best,
to a man that knoweth not
which is the best,
but would fidne enter into
the beet, and none other ?
If thou saiest that thine is the best,
then saiest thou that none of the other

2

86 POLITICAL POEMS.

is as good as thine ;

and in this ech freer in the three other orders

wooll say that thou liest,

for in the self same maner ech othor fireer

wooll say that his order is best

And thus to ech of the foure orders

bin the other three contrary in this point,

in the which if any say sooth,

that is one alone,

for there may but one

be the best of foure.

So foUoweth it that if ech of these orders

answered to this question as thou doest,

three were false, and but one true,

and yet no man should wite who that were.

And thus it seemeth that the nloet part

of freers bin Or should be

liars in this point,

and they should answere thereto.

If you say that another order of the freers

is better than thine, or as good,

why tooke ye not rather thereto as to the better,

when thou mightst have chose at the beginiug?

And eke why shouldst thou be an apostata,

to leave thine order and take thee to that is better,

and so why goest thou not

from thine order into that?

Freer, is there any perfecter
rule of religion
than Christ Qods sonne gave
in his gospell to his brethren?
or than that religion that saint James
in his epistle maketh mention of?
If you say yes, then puttest thou on Christ,
that is the wisedome of God the Father,
unkunning, unpower,
and evill wiU ;

JACKE UPLAKD. 37

for ihen he could not make bis rule
80 good as an other did his,
and 80 he had be unkunning ;
that he might not so make
his rule so good
as another man might,
and 80 were he unmightie, and not Qod;
as he would not make his rule
80 perfect as another did his,
and so he had bin eviU willed,
namely to himselfe.
For if he might, and could,
and would have made a rule perfect,
without defftult, and did not,
he was not Qods Sonne almighty.
For if any other rule
be perfecter than Christesi
then must Ohristes rule
lacke of that perfection,
by as much as the other
weren more perfecter;
and 80 were de&iUt, and Christ had failed
in making of his rule ;
but to put any defftylt or fiedling in Qod
is blasphemie.

If thou say that Christes rule,
and that religion

which saint James maketh mention of,
is perfectest^
why boldest thou not
thiike rule without more?
And why depest thou the rather
of saint Francis or saint Dominiks rule,
or religion or order,
than of Christes rule or Christes order?
Freer, canst thou any default afsigne
in Christes rule of the gospell,

38 POLITICAL POEMS.

with the which he taught all men

sikerly to be saved,

if they kept it to her ending ?

If thou say it was too hard,

then saiest thou Christ lied ;

for he said of his rule,

" My yoke is soft and my burden light"

If thou say Christes rule

WBS too light;

that may be assigned for no de&ult,

for the better it may be kept.

If thou salst that there is no default

in Christes rule of the gospell,

sith Christ himself saith

it is light and easie,

what need was it to patrons of freers

to adde more thereto,

and so to make an harder religion to save freers

than was the religion of Christes apoBtles^

and his disdples helden,

and were saved by?

But if they woulden that her freeni

saten above the apostles

in heaven for the harder religion

that they keepen here,

so would they sitten in heaven above Christ himselfe,

for their more and streict observations,

then so should they be better

than Christ himself, with mischance.

Go now foorth, and fraine your detks,
and ground ye you in Gods law,
and gif Jacke an answer ;
and when ye han assoiled me
that I have said sadly,
in truth I shall soile thee
of thine orders,
and save thee to heaven.

JACKM UPLAND,

m

If fretjrs kun not, or muw not,
exciii^ti Lem nf thes^j r^uestiuJvH askril of lieui,
it ^eometh tliat they be horribU' giltiij
jigainst Gtnl aad lier L'ven cbriBtiiui j
for wljich gilfc-s jiiid tleffuiltfl
it were worthy tluit tlie onli^rt
that they cal thuir orderj
were fordoue.

Ai\d it is woonder tliat men Kussteuiu lioni,
or suffer hir livo in ^wch intiiUT.
For kolie ^\Tite biikletli
tbat tkoii do vraW to thi^ nie^ke,
and give not to the wickctl^
hot forbed to give hem brearb
lea.st they be nvA*]^.' fliereby
mi gh tier tki^ougb yoo.

Tee Reply of Friak Daw Topiar, ^virti Jack
Upland's Rejoinder.'^

Ho shal graiuiteii tii ni}Ti eye
a atrong streme of terew,
to waikn and to ^veiiyu

An answure to iLiJa tivti^

he callith hytii seU' Daw Tupiu^,

T Tln?sc two all iterative pwms, n
Tpply to nnd :i dftint'e of tLc prt^-

Libr^- at OiibrO, il^i?. Uifc^^y,

Nil. ^K f*A i-% t". !%■ alhif^iDD
ivli]*^ti Hxi'si tbrvr dnt"" ^^is ulmitly

VplLiml

40 POLITICAL poe;ii3.

the sorwynge of sjrxine ?

for charity is cbasid

and flemed out of londe,

and every state stakerth

unstable in him silfe.

Now apperid the prophede

that seint Joon seide^

to joyne therto Johel

in his Both sawis ;

the moone is al blodi

and dymme on to lokyn,

that signefieth lordship

forslokend in synne ;

the sterres ben on erthe throwun

and &llen to the erthe^

and so is the comount^

treuli oppressid;

the sunne is edipsid

with al his twelve pointes,

by errouie and heresie,

that rengnith in the chirche.

areB[oneth] Jak Uplondie.

He groundith hjm upon seven thynges,

as his ordre askith,

lesynges with losengery,

cursynges and false glose,

chidyng with blasfemie

or chyteryng as chow^es.

Thow saist thi name is Dawe,

it may rith wel be so ;

ffor thou hast condiciounes

of a tame ^ chowte.

He chiterith and he bribiih

alle that he may gete ;

* I have ventured to read the I in the MS. and cannot be read with
word thus, but it is nearly efihced | certainty.

THE REPLY OF TOIAB DA^ TOPIAS, ETC. H

Now is oure bileve laft

and LoUardi growith;

envie is enhaunsid

and aproched to preestes,

that shulden enforme her flok

and ground in Goddes lawe,

to love her God sovereynli,

and sithen her brothir.

Bot not for thanne now 13 tau^t

hindring of states,

and pursuynge of poverte,

that Grist hath approved.

Now is that seed of cisme

sowen in the chirche;

the whete fiadith with the floure,

oure fode is for to feche.

Ffoxes frettid in fere

wasten the comes,

and Cristes vine is vanishid

to the verray rote.

Now Achor spoilith Jerioo,

and lyveth of the thefte ]

and so lyven this Lollardis

this he doth in dede

asseye of hem that knowith.

Jak Dawe, thou blaberist blasfemics,

and reson hast thou non ;

thou leggist oft Goddis lawe,

bot to a false entente ;

^ee, falselier than the fende,

whan he saide to Crist,

Quia angelis mis mandavit de te.

Daw, thou fablest of foxes,

and appliest hem to a puple,

of whom nether thou knowyst kunnyng,

ne her conversacion.

Bot iche man that witte hath,

4fi POLITICAL POEMa

in her fids fablis.

Datan aad Abiron

and Chorees children,

with newe senceres ensenoen

the auters of synne.

Baal preestes ben bolde

sacrifice to make,

and mortel maladi

crepith in as a canker ;

and thus is Jak Uplond

fodid with foUe,

and thoiir^ fonnyng of his formers

thus freyneth afrere.

On wounder wise, seith Jak,

freres, le ben growun ;

sowen in ^oure sectes

of Anticristis hondes ;

unboxom to bishopis,

not lege men to kynges;

wede com ne gras

wil je not hewen,

ne lyven with Jakke in labour,

but al to ^our ese.

and happe of discrecion,

maj knowe thee and thin ordre,

as Crist saith, bi the werkes.

Take propirt^ of twey foxes,
. and werkee of twye freres,

and than thou fyndest hem meche acorde,

bot freres ben the werse }
i if thou siust this is not so^

bot gromidid without skil,
. loke how Sampson bonde the foxes

two and two togedir,

til that thai destried

the come alle about hem,

and this was, as a doctour saith,

the figur of freres.

THE BEPLT OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS^ Sra 43

Jak, thi formur is a fole,
that thus thee hath yfourmed,
to make so lewid an argument
atens so many freres^
that better knowen littles
her doctours and her bible^
than he can rede his troper
bi a long torche.
But, Jak, thou^ thi questioDS
semen to thee wyse,
^it li^tly a lewid man
maye leyen hem a water ;
ffor summe ben lewid, summe ben shrewid
Bumme falsli supposid;
and therfore shal no maister^
ne no man of BOole>
be yexid with thy maters,
but a lewid frere

that men callen frere Daw Topias,
as lewid as a leke,
to medelin with thi maJioe
as longe as thou wolt.
T That we ben not lege men,
Jak, lowde thou lyest;
£For longer than we lyven so,
abide we not in londe,
the sotil witt of wyse men
shulde temte us wel soonoi
and fleme us from felowshipe^

T Dawe, thou saist proudely I lie^
for I telle the trouthe ;
ffor that [thei] ben not lege men
men knowlechen wise;
ffor whan ^e ben trespassoures
in theft or other viceB,

44 POLITICAL POEHa

and done ub of dawe.

We obeien to bishopes,

aa boxomneBse askith,

althou^t not so fer forth

as aecuier preestes;

fibr holy chirche hath us hent

and happid with grace,

to were us from wederes

of wynteres stormes,

wede com ne gras

have we not to hewen,

ne with Jakke Uplond

ferme the dikes ;

Talthou^ Poul in his pistele

laborers preise,

displesith him not the preestes

that syngen her masses.

For ri^t as in thi bodi, Jake

ben oixleyned thin hondis,

ffor thin heed and for thi feet

and for thin eyen to wirken.

^our priour may at wiUe

fecche ^ou home to hym,

without kynges commission,

Jak, hot gret aten reson.

Ffor oft ^e leden awaye menncs wifes,

and ben sette in stokkes.

Bot ^our captaynes chalengen ^ow,

and asken not leve of kynges.

T Me mervelith of thi lewdnes, Dawo,

or of wiliul leeynges ;

fibr Poule laborid with his hondcsy

and other postiUes also;

^eOy oure gentil Jhesu,

as it is openly knowo.

And thes were the best prestos

THE BEPLT OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 45

ri^t so the comoun peple

Qod hath disposid,

to laboren for holi chirche

and lordshipis also.

A! for-writhen serpent,

thi wyles ben aspied,

with a thousand wrynkels

thou vexed many soules ;

thi malice is so michel,

thou maist not for-hele,

but thi vtoym with vehemens '

thou spittist al at ones.

Thou seist we ben confounders
of prelates and of lordes ;
but, JakkOy bi my lewt6,
lowde thou lyest ;
ffor teUe me, bi oure oounseile
what lord hath ben confoundid ?
or what prelat of ony pepil
put in ony peril?

But sith that wickide worme, >

Wiclyf be his name,
began to sowe the seed
of cisme in the erthe,
sorowe and shendship
hath awaked wyde,
in lordship and prelacie
hath growe the lasse graca
Jak, thou seist with symonye
the seven sacramentes we sellen.

that ever rose on grounde ;

and the best messes song,

not lettjng hem her labour.

But suche bolde beggyng hatid thai

in worde and werke*

46 POLITICAL POEMa

and preien for no men

but ^if thei willen paion.

God wote, Jakke, thou sparirt

here the sothe, ,

and, er we departen xm asbundre,

it shal wel be shewid

But oon is the sacrament

that we ban to dispensen

off penaunoe to the peple

whan nede askith.

I trowe it be thi paroche preest,

Jadke, that thou meenest^

that nyl not hosel his parischens

til the peny be paied^

T ne assoHen hem of her synne

withouten schrift silver.

Jakke, of thi foli

thou feyne^t fife erores,

and tit ben ther but foure

foundid in the lawe,

ffalsly as thou seist

and soone shal be distroied.

Jakke, thi lewid prophede

I preise not at a peese.

Somme feuitasie of Fiton

TDawe, thou spekist prondelj,

apechyng euro prestes;

bot of oon thyng am I oerten,

thai ben lasse eyel than te.

Ffor alle if thai synne on,

as it is wel knowen,

^it the grounde that thai haye

is playnly Cristis religion.

And thow^ thai straje oft iherfro^

tit mowe thai com to grace.

^ot ^e han left that grounds^

THE BEPLT OF FBIAB DAW TOPUS, ETa 4?

hath mairid thi mynde ;

thou prophete of Baal,

thi Ood is aslepe ;

the goodnesse of the groat

may not listen upon thea

Whi presumyst thou so proudli

to prophede these thingis?

and west no more what thou blaberest

than Balames asse.

Thou mayntenist in thi mater

that matrimony thus we mane;

but this arowe shal tume a^en

to him that it sent,

ffor thou and thi secte,

sothli ^e schenden,

in as moche as ^e may,

the sacramentis seveUi

and rdes of qrnne

and grauntyng of graoe,

and Cristis bitter passioun

ze sette not at an hawa

Who marrith more matrimonie,

^e or the freris,

and ^our patron bothe.

Ffor as the prophetes of Achab

war multiplied in many,

and by oon holy prophet

were thai alle destried,

so the chirche is cropun now

to multitude of cundd men,

whiche of sadde bileve

most nede be destried,

Bot I prayse nother prestes ne ihea^

for ^oor assent in symonye.

48 POLITICAL POEMS.

Twith wrenchis atid wiles

"wynneii meimes wyves,

and maken hem scolers

of the newe soole,

and reden hem her fonne

in the lowe chaier?

To maken hem profit in ^our lawe

thei rede ^our rounde rollis,

and callen hem forth her lessouns

with, "Sister, me neditf

Jak, thou seist that we bilden
the castels of Caym.
It is Goodis hous, oold schrewe,
that we ben aboute,
to mayntenen his servauntis
to singe and to reden,
and bidden for the peple,
as we ben beholden.
Clerkis sern that Salomon
made a solempne temple,

TDaw, I have askid questioncs

of thee and of thi freres ;

bot that I lied oones ou^t

knewe I me not gllty,

ffor Groddis lawe forbedith this

in monj place, I wene.

And thow^ I be Jak Uplonde,

tit drede I Goddis lawe.

Bot I suppose thi secte tristith

80 meche in her habites,

that thai kun lye of custom,

as Peter prophecith of hem,

Fueruni paeudo^-propheUB in populU^ magUtri

mendacesj etc.
Bot to lie thus playnly and openly on men,

THE REPLY OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 49

Tand ^it was it bot figure
of oure newe chirche,
that ech holi hous that Crist
him silf in dwellith.

Jak, thou seist fol serpentli,
and sowdiours us thou callist^
sette for oure sutilt^
in Anticristis vaunwarde.
Crist in the gospel
rehersith a rewle,
how ech man shal be knowun
oonli bi his werkes;

^0 count it not sjnne,
as ^our wordes shewen ;
^our freres ben. taken alle day
with wymmen and wifes,
bot of ^our privey spdomye
spakQ I not tette,
Bot lat see, Dawe, if thoa,
or any Iyer of thin ordre,
can preve this on oon of hem
that clepest'my secte,
and sicerly shalle thou haYQ
of me an hundrith pounde*

TDaw, thou leggist Salomon
■l\ for ^our hie houses ;
^ bot olde holy doctoures
ben a^en thee here,
and specialy Jerom,
that saith in the lawe,
who wil allege the temple
for glorie of our chirche,
fforsake he to be cristen, Jak,
and be he newe a Jewe.
VOU II.

60 POLITICAL POEMB.

and if we were founden
on AnticristiB side,
onre werkes sliulden shewenj
Jakke, fcil soone.
The werkeB of Anticrist
pursuen onre bileve,
so do the disciplis
of ^our sori secte,
shending the sacramentes,
salve to oure sons.
Who tytheth hot ye
the anet and the mente,
sterching tour fiBfcces,
to be holaen holi,
blaimchid graves
fill of dede bones,
^ wanderynge weder-cokkes,
with every wynd waginge ;
the spiritis of the devel
mateyn ^onre tokenys,
thourt quenching of torches in Jou tayl-ende

12 5» 2* Gloria episcopi.
K Ffor sith the pore lorde, he saith,
halowed his pore chirche,
take ^e Cristes crosse, he saith,
and counte we delices claje.
Daw, blaberere and blynde leder,
thowg thou bigile symple hertes
with thi gildjn glose,
and with thi coBtlj housed,
thou bigilest not Jak
with ^our thevishe logges.

Unde in evangelic, vo8 autem fecistis earn
speluncam latronum*

THE BEPLT OF FEUB DAW TOPIAS, ETC. St

T te ressejve ^our wisdom ;

^oure predbing is perilouse,

it poiseneth Bone,

as houyed venym

it crepit in swot.

Jaky in the Apocalypse

fill pertli ^e be peintidy

whan the seven angels

blowtin there seven trompis,

to wame Anticristis meyn^

of onr Loides oomyng,

with her steme stormes

astonye al the erthe>

reve men of her rest,

and ferli hem afefe.

The first angel with his blast

he noieth ful sore^

hayl and fier he myngit with blood

he sendith«to the erthe,

by the tokenyng that ^our preching, Jak,

makith obstinat hertis.

^our daliannce indudt

ire and envie.

Who ben more Fariseis

than hinderers of sonlis,

TTopias, ihoa writist me
to be a lewed man ;
hot lewed men prechen not|
as thou canst saje,
bot if the list to lye.
Bot I wot thou saist thus,
by Tertnouse prestes ;
bot thai ben ful bisie
to edifie the chirche,

D 2

52 POLITICAL POEMS.

the which in her interpretadon
divisioiin ben callid ;
and ^our teehing in an hour
wil breke mo love-daiee^
than ^e mowe brynge togidere
- vij. ^ere after.

The seootinde atmgel wit his blast

smytith with drede,

and an huge hill is sent adoun

into the salt water;

the thridde party of creaturis

ben bitter therof,

ffor Sathanas by ^our sawes

is sent into soulis,

that ben ful unsavery,

and saltid by synne.

The bittemesse of ^our bacbityng

brewith many bales.

The thridde angel sent doun

a sterre from heven,

bremli brennynge as a bround,

wermode it was callid;

wermode, Jak, moost verreli

was Widif, ^our toaister,

withinne in his begynnynge

litht lemed he by cunnynge,

that the multitude of tou

han allemost destried,

Ffor the gospel saith,

Surgent multi pseudo^propheUp.

Bot of hem beu fe^e,

and gretly dispiside ;

and of ^ou ful many,

and eyer tho mo the werse.

THE REPLY OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS, Eia 58

Tbut afUr with wrong wrytyng

he wrou^te mykil car6^

and presumynge perilously

foul fel fro the chirche,

missaverynge of the sacrament,

infectyng many other.

Thus brenneth he ^it as a bronde>

consumyng many soulis^

that in her hard obstinacy

growen schides of belle.

Maximine ne Manich^ nevere

wrou^ten more wraka

Therfore from wele is he went,

and woo mote< him wrynge.

The iiij' aungel with his blast

smytith ri^t smerte;

the iij. party of the sonne

with dymmenes is dirked,

off the moone and of the sterres,

and of the day also ;

and the egle in the eyre

thries v<b ! wescheth.

T Me mervelitb, Daw, thou darst thus lie

on Buche a gret derke,

and in hys tyme knowen wel

a yertuouse man,

of riche and pore

that hym tho knewe.

But thou, as blynde Bayarde,

berkest at Oxe mone,

OS an olde mylne dog

when he bygynnith to dote.

Bet wel I wot thi bafi^g,

lye thou never so lowde,

may not menuse thi^ seint,

that lyyed and tau^t so truly.

Quia dignus est operari misericordiam^

H FOUTIGAL POEai£L

The Sonne is holy chirche^

and lordsHp the moonei

the sterres ben the comuns^

as I seid bif ore^

IT and alle these ben alured

to toure sory secte ;

and summe of ech of these lutates

ben privyly apoisond,

Therfore thries vop/

is manassid upon ^ou,

ffor three manere of synnes

that comunly ^e usen;

V(B for envye, v<b for ipocrisie,

and vce for ^our leccherie.

Whan the first angel blew,

ther was a pit opend,

ther rose smotheryng smokei

and brese therinne,

alle thei weren lich horses

araied into bataile,

thei stongen as scorpioun,

and hadden mannis £stoe»

tothed as a lioun^

with haburjouns of iren.

This pitte is the depnes,

Jak^ of ^onr malioe ;

the smorthering smoke

is ^our dymme doctrine,

that flieth out from the flawmes

f I drede me, Dawe, the sentence,

of whiche the prophet spekith,

ahal falle hevy on thin hede,

and many of ihi brether*

Va vobis qui diciHs honum fmlum ^t malum banum.

Ffor alle trw9 sentence,

THE EEPLY OP FBIAB DAW TOPIAfl, ETC. 55

of the develis malioe,

that tronblith and blindith

the iien of maDnis resoun.

The breses ben not ellis

but Anticristis menye,

with short leggea bifore

and longe bihinde;

the which pretenden first

mekenesse of herte,

and aftir rysyng to QfTOgaunoey

disdeynynge al other.

That te ben lyke scorpions,

signefieth not ellis,

but that ^e flateren afom,

and venym casten bihinda

Ze ben also lich horses

redy into bateil,

by woodnesse and foolhardinesse

for heresie to dien.

e ben tothed as lyoun

»y stynkyng detracdon.
^oar habtirjons that ^e han upon,
Den cauteles and slei^tes.
ech intnkid in other,
to snarre symple soules;
but that thei ben of iren,
obstinacie is shewid,
flTor the which with Forao
iQ helle ^6 wil be dampned.

I

that we taken here,
thou tumest into falsenes,
that woo ehal the bitide ;
ffor to our secte that is Ghristis
we drawen hot fewe puple ;
ffor thou and other pseudo

66 poLrncAL POEiia

In .the si^t of auDgels blast

foure aungels there were lousid,

the whiche were redye bothe day and ny^te

men for to noien,

to sleen the ferthe part of men

with fiyr^ smoke, and biymstone.

Ffoure angels singnefien

foure general synnes,

sett up bi sir Adam, Jakke^

among ^our mabtris,

cedidouns, supersticioiis,

the glotouns, and the proude.

Poerte preamblis to presse

afome Anticristis oomyng,

to sleen the thridde party of men

with ther deedly dartis

off envie, pride,

and leschry stynkynge.

Ffor sum ben perfit, sum ben yvel,

sum ben unstable;

the perfit wole not ben hirt,

the yvel ben al redy,

but thei that be^ unstable

resseyven the strokes,

and thei ben depid the thridde part

of hem that ben deda

The seventhe angel blew his trufnpe,

and noise in heven was mad^.

ban marrid hem in the way,
that hot if God of his grace
sende his honde of help,
the chircho that shuld folowe Crist,
is lykly to sinke.

Qui mihi ministrat me sequaiur. AttendUe afertnenio
Pharifccwrum^ q^Qd e9t hypocrUis.

THE REPLY OF FRIAB DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 57

that the kyngdom of this world
shulde falle to Cristis hondis;
betokenyng that thoa^ Antierist,
with his mj^ti meyn^,
shulde for a short tyme
by tirantrie intrusyve,
^it shal God gader his flok togider,
and rengoe without eende.
Jak, thus to dubby with scripture^
me thinkith grete folie ;
ffor as lewid am I as thou^
Qod wote the sothe,
-I know not ana
from the wynd-mylne,
Y ne a b from a bole foot,
I trowe, ne thi silf nother ;
and ^it for al my lewidhed,
I can wel undirstonde
that this prevy prooesse
perteneth to tour secte,
and we as giltles theroi^
as ^e of Cristis blessyng.
It ar ^e that stonden bifore,
in Anticristis vauwarde,
and in the myddil and in the rerewarde,
All bigly enbatailid.

%Hamo apostata^ vir inutilu^ gradUur ore

perverso*
Dawe, thou hast li^t consciencOy
thus fjnaly to deme ;
ffor here thou danmest men to helle
without any condicion.
Whe have leve of scripture
to deme after mennes werkes,
but for to deme as thou dost,
is to robbe G^ of his power ;

58 POUnCAIi POEMSL

The devel is ^our duke,
and pride berith the baner;
wraihthe is ^oure gaxmer,
envie is ^our archer,
^our coveitise casUth fer,
^oiir leccherie brennith,
glotony gideriih stickes therto,
and sleuthe myneth the wallii^
malice is ^our men of annes,
and trecherie is ^our aspia
Thus semith that ^e more than we
be Anticristis frendis,
Jak, of perfite pacience holilich
holy chirche thou me prechist,
to kep it if I will sitte
on Cristis owne side ;
' but, good Jak, herdist thou evero
how judAca/re cam into crede ?
no more skil thou canst of padens, Jak;
so Gbd me spede,
ffor thi schreude herte and he
ben as afere asundir
as Lucifer is from heven,
and Gabriel from helle^
the which, as many man euposis,
shal nevere mete togider.

ffi>r the apofltil saith,

Noli ante tempus judicare, quoadnuqu^ veniai

Dominus.
Litil wondir thow^ lordis myssetyme,
that han sucbe oonfusours.
Q^ia si cacus eacum dueai, ambo in ftweam

cadunt.
Thou saist thou knowist no lettre h^:^
as if thou wer noo clerk&
To take a derke as it shuld be^

THE BEPLY OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS^ ETC. 59

On old Englis it is said,

unkisaid is unknowun,

and many men apeken of Bobyn Hood,

and shotte nevere in his bowe.

Now, Jak, to thi questional
nedes me moste answer,
althou^ thei wanten sentence
and good thrift bothe.
Which is the moost peifit ordre,
Jakke, thou askist,
and how many ordres
ther ben in erthe.
Off what ordre art thou, frere,
and who made thin ordre?
iff thou wolt have the hi^est ordre^
soke it in heven,
in the blessid Trinity
that fourmed us alle,
where flowith the Sunne from the Fadir^
the Holigost from hem bothe; •

noon gretter in degr^i
no more perfite than other,
but the ordre that there is,
is in her preceding;
and if we comen lower,
there finde we holy angels,

after his undirBtondyng,

than sajst thou here more trwly

than in any other place.

Clark is als meche to mene,

as of the sort of Grod,

and BO thou previst thi self non snche,

if thou loke ri^t,

but a Here apostata,

with alle his other partes.

60 POLITICAL POEUS.

stablid in iij. iararchies,

dividid in ordres nyne.

Seraplun he is the soyereynest,

in charity he brenniih;

and of al ordris in erthe

y holde preesthood the hi^est,

that han the principal partis of men^

and kingis han the bodies ;

and this is the popes decrd

in comoun lawe.

TBut peraunter, Jak, thou menest

of religious ordre,

of templeresy hospitalers,

chanouns, monkes, and fireres,

Jak, in this mater,

loke seint Thomas bokes,

and thei shal thee techen

% Daw, dirt, thou claterist meche of orderis

of aungeles in heven,

hot Ijkkyn not thes to thin ordre,

ne thin ordre to hem ;

ffor thai ben ordenid of God,

there withouten gjnnes;

and thin is ordened of man,

with many rotun rites ;

and so as the prestes of Bel

stale undir the awter,

to bigile the kyng,

to thefly cache here lyflode,

80 ye forge ^our falshed

undir ydil yprocrisie,,

to bigile the puple,

bothe pore and riche ;

as the prestes fayned that Bel

ete the kynges sacrifise,

BO ^our wikkid wynnyng

Je saye wirchipith God,

THE REPLY OF FHIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC CI

and enfourme at the fulle.

How many.ordris ther ben

can I not telle,

but if y cowde calkyxi

al manere kyndes,

ffor to loken how many kyndes

oure Lord hath yfourmed

But evermore betwene two and two, Jalc,

thou shalt iynden ordre.

Off what ordre I am,

and who made myn ordre,

Jakke, fast thou fraynest,

and &yn woldist wite.

Y I am of Cristis ordre, Jak,

and Crist made myn ordre,

ensaumple in the gospel,

in many sondry place,

ffor who tau^te obedience,

chastiti, and poverte?

Hopist thou not it was Crist,

and fulfillid in him ^ilf,

in which ech religion

perfitli is groundid,

reyersynge the soorie synnes

IT^ity Daw, in th}B mater,

thou broylist up miiny lesynges,

ffor grounde of thin ordre

not groundid in the gospel;

ffor see thes thre vertues

whiche thou here rehersist,

fiaylen in thin ordre

welny in every persone.

Ffor in obedience and chastity,

and poverte also,

^e folowen more Anticrist

62 POLITIGAL POElia

notid of the posQe,
lust of fleich and lust of i^e,
and pride in onre lyvynge.
On this three, Jak^ by my ewt^^
is gronndid al ^our colege.
Iff I breke myn ordre,
^I breke Goddis lawe,
and if I be pnnishid for that oon,
I am ponishid for that other.
Bot the contrarie of this, Jak,
thou falsly afermest.
If ony religioun be more perfit^
than techith seint Jame, Jacke boy,
either more appreved of God^
&yne thou woldist witen.
Iff I seie thee, thou askist
where it is fotindid ;
and if y nayt seie not that then seisC,
thus thou procedist.
Thou seist that I contrarie
Cristis owne rewles,
bidinge ^eve to be pore
in peyne^ of dampnadon,
and we piken firom the pore and riche

than Jhesn Crist our Lorde.
Xe ben more obedient
to ^oure owne reules,
than to the reules of Crist
groundid in lawes.
And as to chastity of body,
^e breken it ful oft;
bot chastity of soule,
forsakyng Crist our spouse,
ffor ^e ben apostatas,
gon bak fro holi chirche.

THE HEPLT OF IfBUB DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 63

al that we may geten.

Jak, thou ahewist Bikirli^

-what scole thou hast hea inne^

of sutiltee of argayng

me thinkith thi brayn fol thinne.

Go grees a shoep undir the taile,

that semeth the beter

than with sotil sillogifimes

to parbrake thi witt.

Jack, in James pistles

al religioun is groundid,

ffor there is maad mendon

of two perfit lyves,

that aciif and contemplatif

comomili ben callid,

ffdlli figurid by Marie

and Martha hir sister,

by Peter and bi Joon^

by Bachel and by Lya.

Thes lyves ben groundid in charity

by diverse degrees,

by men of professionns

makyng sundri religionns,

and evident ensaumple

jnoun techen ns the waye.

\

Initium omnis peccati apostare a Deo.

As to verrei poverte,

who that wil ri^t loke,

le ben the most covetoose

of alle men in erthe^

fPor with symonye and begrye,

and seUyng of shrift,

Ze pillen bothe gret and smal,

and prise hem of bileve

Avaritia, quod est idolorum itrwHa.

64 POLITICAL POEMS.

^ Ffor sum fleen from the worltl,

and cloBen hem silf in wallis,

and steken hem in stones,

and litil wole thei speken,

to fleen sich oocasiouns

as foly wole fynden;

and these we clepen ancrea

in the oomoun speche.

Also in contemplacion

there ben many other

that drawen hem to disert,

and drye myche peyne;

by eerbis, rootes, and firuyte lyven,

for her Qoddis love;

and this manere of folk

men callen heremytea

The thridde degree there is,

not for to be dispisid,

off sich as ben gaderid

in coventis togidere;

off the which men spekith

David in his psalmis,

sith he seith how merie it is

to dwelle togidere ;

ITDftwe, thou ratelist inany thjQges,

hot grounde hast thou non ;

ffor where gromidist thou in Goddia lawe

to dose men in stones,

hot if it were wode men,

or giloures of the puple ?

Sith alle that is not groundid

smacchith grete ^ynne ;

hot if ^e taken as ^e usen

arseworde this gospel,

THE REPLY OK FKIAR DAW TOPUS, ETC. 65

the which for worldly combraunce

kepen in cloistris,

on herb and oon soule

havyng with the apostlis;

and this clepe we monasticale,

that kendly is knowun.

Mo, Jak, in contemplacion

ther be diverse degrees ;

and after that charitc growith in hem,

the more is her mede.

Off aetif lyf y shulde thee tellen,

yf that y hadde tyme,

and shewen how men by charity ben liolden

to helpe her bretheren ;

somme with paynymes for to fitte,

oure feith to defende;

somme for to make purvyanncc

for seke and for pore ;

Ronime for to preche to the puple

aftir her synne askith;

and somme in bothe lyres

laboren full soore,

liche unto the angels

in Jacobus ladder.

Nan potest civitas abscondi super montem posita;
ellis, neque accendunt lucemam et ponunt earn sub

modio.
Or wher fyndist thou, Dawkyn,
that men shuldcn killc her brether ?
Sith Grist, our allcr duke,
brou^t us vcrrci pees,
hot if there be of the rancs
that ran fro Anticristis nose,
Pacem relinquo vobis, pacem meam do vobis.
VOL. IL E

66 POLITICAL POEMS.

f See now, Jak, tfai silf,

how these bothe lyves

opinii ben expressid

in the epistle of James :

cleen religioun it is, he seith,

to visite the widewis,

the fiulirles and the modirles,

to actif lyf expressid,

and undefonlid us to kepen

from al worldly werkes.

Byhold of contemplacioun

opinii he spekith ;

so this may be resonably

the conclusionn of my tale,

that no religion more is

than techith sent Jame.

Jak, thou seist we piken
from the pore and from the riche,
and not ^even a^enward,
thou^ that thei ben nedy ;
that almes is pykyng,
y fynde it in thi boke,
and I herde it nevere afom
in no maner scripture.
But if alwey pikers, Jak,
thou wolt us maken,
ther we piken but seely pans,
thi secte pikith poundis.

TTouchyng this pagyn, Dawe,

thi lesynges ben ful rif ;

ffor her thou spekist of twey lyves,

and ^e don nother wel,

ffor Martha groundid hir labour

fully in GU)ddis lawe,

so may not ^e ^our beggyng,

ne ^our castelles nouther.

THE REPLY OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 67

What we ^even to the pore,

it nedith not thee to telle ;

ffor almes-dede shul be hid,

and sweten in thi hondis.

Whi, bi mannes manage,

^e ben weddid to ^our abitis

wele harder than worldly men

ben weddit to her wyves,

which thei mowe leeve and lete go

as longe as him list.

Jak, for siche manere scole

^e caechen Cristis curse,

so freli to mayntenen

Manich^ errours,

to make men breke her matrimonye,

and leeve her wyves,

and whanne the good man is oute,

playe hey god rode.

Jak, to oure abite

be we not weddid

more than eny preest is

weddid to his coromi,

that is over growim with heer,

and he preest nevere the lesse;

or ellis shulde every harbour

make newe preestes.

Bi^t so oure dothis maken us

not men of religion.

But of contemplacion

ye usen not bot as foxes ;

so in this ^e leven Crist

Martha and Marie both.

As touchyng ^iftes to pore men,

^e pike that thai shulde have,

bothe of godes and faithe of soule,

I, Jak, can see non other.

K 2

68 FOLITICAL POEMa

but oonli oure profession
byndiih us to the stake ;
and BO apostasie

mowen we maken in oure soule,
liche men of religion
abidinge in oure abitia
If Sathanas were transfigarid
into his former fairnesse,
trowist thou he were ou^t ellis
but a danipnid aungel?
and so not for the levynge of oure clothis
we be not punishid,
but bicause it bitokeneth
forsakyng of oure reule;
and, Jacke, no more than thi sadil
makith thin hors a mere,
— no more makith oure abitia
monkes ne freria
Jak, of oure presciouse clothis
fast thou carpist,
the which ben so fyne
that noman werith better.
Every man may perseyve apertli,
Jakke, that thou liest.
Were we no sendal ne satyn,
ne goldun clothis,
and these passen in presdousitee
many foold ouria

Pants egentium vita pauperis est; qui defraudai

eum, homo sanguinis est.
Wo can not make mai'iage, Dawe,
ne pursue no divorse ;
we Wynne not meche money with thes,
as thi secte doth ful oft.
Quod Deus conjunxit, homo non separet.

THE REPLY OF FBlAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 69

But if my cloth be over presciouse^

Jokke, blame the werer;

flTor myn ordre hath ordeyned

al in good mesure.

Thou axist me, Jacke, of my grete hood,

what that it meneth,

my scapelarie and my wide cope,

and the knottide girdil.

a What meenith thi tipet, Jakke,

as longo as a stremer,

that hangith longe bihinde,

and kepith thee not hoot?

an hool cloith of scarlet

may not make a gowne ;

the pokes of purchace

hangen to the erthe,

and the cloith of oo man

my^te hele half a doseyne.

Why is thi gowne, Jakke,

widder than thi cote,

and thi cloke al above

as round as a belle, ,

% I praise not, Dawe, the stremerre

that thou herof spekest ;

hot of suche wide clothing,

tateris and tagges,

it hirtith myn hert hevyly,

I wil that thou it wite.

Bot ^our ypocrites habit,

to whiche ^e ben harde weddid,

doth more harm than thes,

bi thes two Bkiiies ;

oon for the coloure,

that signifieth sadnes,

whan ^e ben most unstedfast

of any folk in erthe i

another for ^our difformed shap,

70 POLITICAL POEMS.

sith taille my^te serve

to kepe thee from coold?

Jak, answere thou to that oon,

and I shal to that other.

My grete coope that is so wild,

signefieth charity,

that largeli longith to be sprad

to sibbe and to frende,

figurid in the faire cloith

of Salomons table,

and bi wedding gamement

that Crist hadde at his feeste.

My greet hood behynde,

shapun as a sheeld,

suffraimce in adversitee

sothely it scheweth,

herbi to reseyve repreef

for oure Qoddis sake;

or ellis bisynesse of oure feith

it may wel bitokene,

whiche that ^e Lollardes

constreyne zoxx to distroie.

that signifieth ^our holines ;
so if it be soth
that ^e therof saye,
it wold with litil help
make an ape a seint.
The tipet is a comyn retile>
if it be not superflue,
and so it doth gode
to bynde a mannes hede ;
bot ^our misse shapen shelde
bihynde at ^our shulderes,
blowith ^our ypocrisie,
and blyndith many foles.

Genimina viperaruniy quis demonstravit vobis fugerU
a Ventura irai

THE REPLY OF FRIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 71

The scapelarie also

that kevereth the sdhiildrisy

it bitokeneth boxnnmesse

dewe unto oure prelatis,

and boxomly here burthuns

that they wole leyen upon us.

Off the knottide girdel

knowe I no mysterie ;

therfore what it meeneth

axe frere menonra '^

But, Jacke, amonge oure chateryng,

^it wolde I wite,

whi that the Lollardis

weren moost greye clothis;

I trowe to shewe the colour

that signefieth symplenesse,

and withinne, seith Crist,

je ben ravenous wolves.

YWhi, seist thou, holde we more scilence

in oon hous than another,

sith over al a man is holden

for to seie the goode?

To thi lewide question

Salomon thus answerith,

Hat tacefia ade^na tempua apti temporia, et
homo aapiena tacet uaque ad tempua; temr-
pua tacendi, tempua loquendi; et iterwm,
Sicut urba paiena et ahaque murorum a/mr-
hitUy ita qui in hquendo non poteat co-
hibere apiritum auv/m.

f ^it, Dawe, me thynkith thou usist

thi customale condicion,

thou hast BO lerned to lye,

thou kanst not leve werk,

hot ^it I am gladde

thou groundist the on the gospeL

72 POLITICAL POEMS.

Thus perfit scilens

by scripture is approved

Jixkke, if thou undirstonde no Latyn,

go to thi paroche prest,

and undir ^ou bothe, ^itb Goddis gi-ace^

marren ^e wolen fill yvele.

Wki also eie we no fleish

in every hous iliche,

but cbesen thei*to an hous,

and leeven another?

Jak, if every hous were honest

to ete fleish inne,

than were it honest

to ete in a gonge.

Whi is not tlii table sett

in thi cow-stalle?

and whi etist thou not iu thi shipun

aa wele as in thin halle?

But al is good ynow^ for thee,

where that evere thou sittist.

Whi with not thi cow make

myiy weder in thi dish?

But, Jacke, in this mater

appose thou the monkes;

Diaholus est audax, et pater ejus.

The sectc that thou seggist of,

I wot, is Jhesu Cristis,

tcilen litil hy clothing,

hot now oon now other;

thou^ thou accuse the menourd

have I not to do,

hot wel I wot ya ben alio di'awen

in 00 manor draggee.

Lewde Dawe, whi lalst thou forthe

80 many blunt resoncs ?

ffor Salomon spekith not of ellenoa

THE REPLY OF FRIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 73

for tbei kepen this serimonie

more streiter than freris.

Moreover thou merest,

Jak, another mater;

if oure patrouns be perfit,

and oure reule also,

whi renne we to Borne,

to be assoilid of the oth

that we ban maad,

and be popis freris?

Jak, summe rennen to Rome,

but mo ther ben at boom,

and dewli done her dever

afbir that tbei han chosen;

and that the Lollardis

forthinken ful soore.

ie wolden that tbei-e where oon le&se,

^e ^ave nevere tale,

that ^e my^ten have ^our reyke

and prechen what ^ou list,

and with ^our privy pestilence

enpoisoun the peple.

Jak, that Judas was a shrewe,

what was Crist the worse?

and so that summe ben exempt,

propii'de to an house,
bot of silence in iche place
in tyme ai^d in reson.
Bot the cursid ypocrisie
of etyng of Jour fleshe,
shuld iche man despise
for Jour rotun rewle,
and so thes similitudes,
with thes soluciones,
ben not worthe
the devellls dirt, Dawe.

74 POLITICAL POElfS.

and rennen to ^our litis,

and summe bi apostasie

ben Sathanas servauntis,

whi shulde owre patrouns

be ever the lasse perfit?

IT " Fferther more whi make ^e ^ou

" as men dede ?

" sith in begginge ^e ben as quic

" as ben ony other,

'' and unsemeli it is

" to see deed men begge.*'

Jak, me thinkith thou lemedist nevere

of Poulis pistlis,

whiche in a fewe shorte wordes

answerith to thi sentence,

QiLaai morientea et ecce vivimus ; gloasay quaai
morientes, i, de vitio in vvtiwm eecumdv/m
opinioneni aliquorum, et ecce vivvmue in
bonis operibua in rei veritate.

So thouj we ben deed to the world,

after thin opynyon,

^it is oure soule in the bodi

and grace in the soule.

" Whi," seist thou, " suffre ^e not ^our children

IT Daw, thi wordes ben many,
and ever medled with venym ;
ffor a^enes gode men
strecche Jus malice,
ne non of thilk Cristis secte
that myn callist,
hot a^enes heritikes,
bosteres and lieres,
whiche han chosen hem a reule
with blabereres of Baal ;
and ^it shal tyde the tyme
when Josie shal regne^

THE REPLY OF FRIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 76

'* to come into your conseil,

" if it be good and able,

'' and aftir Goddis lawe?"

A, Jak; mafey/me merveilith moche

of thin lewidheed !

Herdist thou nevere how Crist was

transfigurid in the hil,

and ther to his priVyte he chees

but three apostlis,

forbedinge hem to telle

that conceil ony ferther,

and so were there nyne

&o that conceil refusid.

Crist also took to him

alle his twelve apostlis,

and tretide of his passioun

in ri^t privy maner,

and the rude peple that folowiden

knewe no thing therof.

Shal we, Jak, therfore seie

his conceil was not able,

suspect and not good

confourmed to Qoddis lawe.

Another cause resonable

and make an ende of suche fendes,

and Cristis reule shal renue.

'^ee, Jamnes and Mambres

japid not so the kyng,

as thou with thi cursid secte

the kyng and the puple.

Attendite a falsis prophetisy qui veniunt ad vos

in vestimenHs ovium.
I til thee, Daw, without dout^
thes wordes ben said of ^ou,
with other pregnant prophecies
of Peter and of Poulci

76 POLtncAii potuia

me thinkith I can telle,

for counceil owith to be kept

and not to be datrid;

and children ben ay clatringe,

as thou wel knowest.

Another skil may be groundid

of Salomons sawis ;

to him he seith that is wiis

it longith to kepe conceil ;

and children ful seldum

ben foundim wiis.

Jak, wolt thou telle thi knave

as mychc as thi wyf ?

a Fforthermore thou spekest

of oure costli houses ;

thou seist it were more almes

to helpen the nedy,

than to make siche housynge

to men that ben deede,

to whiche longith but graves

and momynge housis.

Jak, is not a man beter

than a rude best?

Zit makist thou to thi sheep a shepen,

irt>aw, thou kboHst fast

to lede thi self to hello,

and blyudist many lewde foles

with thi stynking brethe ;

ITor bi this apis argument

that thou here now ratelist,

he thot drynkith a quart wyne

most nedis drynk a galon.

Bot a^en house in mesurc, Dawe,

gnicche I ri^t nou^t ;

and thou^ thou saye a scome,

a shepe house I have,

THE REPLY OF FRIAJl DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 77

and to thi hers a stable;

and many a pore man ther is

that hath noon hUlyng,

but oonly heven is his hous,

the bestes stond kevered.

Whi houses thou not pore men

as wele as thi beestis?

Take hede to sumwhat

that is seid biforen,

and thou answere to my question,

answer to tliin owne.

Thou carpist also of oure coveitise,

and sparist the sothe ;

thou seist we ben more ryal

tlian ony lordia

Coven tis have wee noon, Jack,
but cloistrers we ben callid,
ffoundid afor with charity,
or that he were flemyd ;
but sith entride envie,
and renyd hath oure houses,
that unnethes the hillinge
hangith on the sparres;
and ^it thou thinkist hem over good/
y yel fare thou therfore I

that hath more grounde in Goddis lawo

than alle ^our Caymes castelles ;

I thank God, I beldid it

with trwe bygeten gode.

Bot ^e ^onres with beggery,

bargenyng and robberye ;

ffor grounde have thai non,

bot if it be here.

Non habemus hie manentem civitatem. Et idem, V(b

qui adificatis dvitatem in sanguinibus, Et, V<b

qui canjugatis domum ad domum.

78 POLITICAL POEMS.

Jak, where saw thou ever frere houses,

thour^out the rewme,

liche in ony rialt^

to the Toure of Londouii^

to Wyndesore, to Wodestoke,

to WaUingforde, to Shene,

to Herforde, to Eltham;»

to Westmynster, to Dover?

How maist thou for rebukyng

lye so lowde,

to saye that oure covetise

passith the lordes?

But so longe, by my leut^,

thou hast lemed to lyen,

that thi tonge is letteroun of lyes,

thou lettest for no shame.

% We leten, thou seist, to lymytours
al this rewme to ferme,
as that we were welders
and lordes of alle.
Unsikir thing sothli
it were to sette to ferme,
and fooles were the fermeres
to taken it to tax.

I trowe thou menys the pardonystres
of seint Thomas of Acres,
of Antoun, or of Runcevale,

% ^it, Dawe, thow^ thou accusest

pardoneres that beu fals,

thou lovest lesse a trwe prest

than thou dost hem alle,

fibr thai gon hccre ^ou apostatas

in gilyng of the puple.

Bot that te ferme to limi tours,

it maye be denycd,

THE BEPLY OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 79

that rennen so fast aboute ;
for of the kynges rewme
have we no more astate,
than thou haat of paradis,
or of the bEsse of hevdn,
for the which 7 trowe thoa maist
of hasilwode singe.

Why, seist thou, paye ye to no taliage
to oure cristen kynge,
sith Crist paiede tribut
to the hethene emperour ?
Jaky of no dewt^ ne of no dette
paide Crist noo tribute ;
but oonliche of mekenesse
performynge the lawe,
and for to fleen occasioun
of aftirward apechinge,
whan that afore Pilat
' he shuld be forjugid
But aflir the scripture,
preesthode shulde not paien
to tax ne to taliage
with the comun peple.
For whan the folk of Israel
were put undir servage,
Pharao suffride preestes
in her former fredome
to be saved and susteyned

lye thou never so lowde,

and therto sette a sele,

bote thus with many fals meenes

opprcsse the cuntrees.

Bot as to payng of tribut,

as Crist hym self did,

thou lyknist ^ou to Pharoes,

80 POLmCAL POEMS.

of the comonn stora
But now is the compleynt
of Jeremye trewe,
the prince of provynoes
sugette is under tribute.
Not for thanne the comun lawe
may wel sufiren,
that preesthode may paye
bi assent of prelatis,
ifreli of her owne wille
no thing eonstreynede,
and thus prelatis and persouns
aftir her state,
ben stended to paien
what that nedc askith ;
but neither frercs ne annuellers,
save now late.
God woot, it worchipith not
to beggen of beggers.
J Off lettris of brotherhoo<l
also, Jak, thou spekist,
and woundera that we wynnen noon
of pore men and of preestis ;
and ^it ye desiren that every man
shulde have ^our;
of pore mennes preieris
to be parteners we wolden,
and of her lettris and of her sele,
if autentike thei weren.

and 80 ^e ben and werse.
Atenes Cristes paying
and alle other mekcnes,
thou autoriscst ^our pride,
a^enes his holi werkes.

Qui non est mecum^ contra me est; et qui non
colligit mecum, dispergit.

THE REPLY OF FBUR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. SI

But of ^our preestis pater-nosters

we desiren noon,

for comunliche her blake bedes

thei delen to freris;

^ but thei shal deve unto thi ^hekes,

and Cristis curse also,

as wysly as we holde us

not more perfit than ony other,

ne non suifragies selle

for a eerteyn bi jere,

ne maken men more perfit

than her blessid baptisme ;

flTor praier may not satyllyn

but oonliehe on them alle,

and so that gilden trentels )

that thou spekist of,

that now is purchasid of preestis

out of freris hondis,

delyverith noo soule

out of the peyne of 'helle,

ne purgen may of purgatory,

but as it is deserved.

Ffor charity is the mesure

that demeth that meyn^.

Also thou seist, Jak,

that we men enformen

that oure holy abite

shulde helpen men fro helle,

f Dawe, I seide first to thee
con of thi groundcs was eirsyng,
Tvhare autorisist thou this lewde
answere nowe.

Thi rcsones ben a staf of rede
that li^tly persen the honde,
I mervel that . thou, a elerk,
VOL. IL

82 POLITICAL POEMS.

and nameliche tho that be
beried thermne;
and Cristis dothia dide not so^
ne noon of the apostlis.
Jaky that firere was over lewid
thatJemede the this lessoun,
or on thi ficol fantasie
thou fBtynyst this fable.
Ffor Austyns ne prechonrs
proponen no siche pointis.
Whether the Carmes of her copes
mayntenen siche an errour,
or whether seint Fraunce
hath geten to his habite
that vertu be his grace^
witterly me ne wote.
But wel I wote that Cristis doith
helide a womman
fiom the longe fluxe of blood,
as the gospel tellith;
but his piedestinadon
may onlich save soulis^
and his prevy presdens
may dampne whom him list.
Jak, ferthermore of felony
thou felly us enpechest,
of stelyng of children.

blaberist thus biyndely.

Thou takest comynly no grounde

of Crist ne of his lawe,

bot spr • • • • the pope

as if he were thi God,

or of other fantasies

that han no grounde hem self ;

THE REPLY OJ" FRIAH DAW tOPIAS, ETC. 'SS

to drawe hem to oure sectis.

To tiUe folk to Ood-ward,

I holde it no theft,

but if thou calle Crist a theef,

that dide the same,

sayyng to the riche man,

" Oo and selle thi goodis,

" and tif hem to the pore,

" ^if thou wole be perfit ;

" and aftirward folowe me,

*' and be my disciple/'

And in the same gospel

se what he seith also :

'f Whoso forsaketh not

*^ his fiwlir and his modir,

'* his sone and his dou^tir,

" his sistir and his brother,

'^ his lond and his tenementes,

" and him selven also,

" he nys not worthi

" to ben my folower/'

And to Ids twelfe chosen

eftsoones he seide,

" Behold, from the world

" I have chosen ^ou alle,

" that ^e gon and beren fruyte,

" and ^our fruyte may dwelljm.''

ffor whi shuld not alle prestes
be meke after Crist,
in payng of tribut
and alle other werkes?
Daw, late thi false gloBe,
it driyith thee to the devel.
Benedicite et nolite maledkere.

F 2

84 POLITICAL POEMS.

T And thusf to reven the world,

and spoilen him of his peisouns,

it ne is no robeiy,

but Crist approved thefte.

Thou 8eist also ferthermore

that prestis shul not enprisoon,

ffor it nys not foundid

in al Goddis lawe,

but undermyn bi charity,

and so wynnen her brpther,

and ^if he \nl not be so wonnen,

have him as hethenc ;

^TiO, Dawe, with thi draffc,
thou liest on the gospel ;
ffor Crist said it hjm self,
" The vertu passid fro me."
And here thou maist see,
I knowe a b fro a bole £ote ;
ffor I cacche thee in lesynges
that thou laist on the gospel.
Bot thus to stele a childe
is a gretter theft,
than to stele an axe,
for the theft is more.
Dawe, for thou saist ^e robbe
him fro the worlde ;
^e maken hjm more worldly
than ever his fadir ;
^ee, thow^ he were a plowman,
lyvyng trwe lyf, ye robbe hym
fro the trwe reule,
and maken hym apostata,
a begger and a sodomit ;
for suche thai ben many.

Vts vobis quifacitis unum proselytum ! supple, Jilitim
GehewuB duplo quam vos.

THE REPLY OF FBUR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 85

and thus bi thin opynyon
no man sholde be enprisound.
But, Jakke, in thi frensj,
thou fonnest more and more,
^thou wenyst to make to me a diciie,
thou fallist thi silf therinn&
Ffor if thou pursue thi piurpos,
thou assentisfr thi silf in trcsoun,
menusynge the kyngis majesty,
privyng him of his power.
T For if we taken the gospel
aftir the menynge,
nether emperour ne kyng
may honge ne drawe,
heved ne enprisoun,
no haunte no domes,
but al in fair manere
shulen ben tmdJrnomen,
and who wil not amenden liiiu, ^
^eve him the brydil ;
and be robberis and revers,
mansleeris and treytours,
and al maner mawfesours
shulden ben unponnishid.
Jak, the pope hath a prisoun,
the bishop of Cantirbury,
and of Londoun also,
and many other bishopis,
by leeve of her kyng;

YDaw, I do thee wel to wite,

frentike am I not;

hot it semith thi sotll witte

marrith many man.

Bot how stondith this togedir,

^e sle men in ^oor prison ?

86 POLITICAL POEMa

art thou hardy to seien

it is not Qoddis lawa

But 7 blame thee not gretli,

thou^ thou here hem hevy;

ffor goldsmythis of thi craAe

ofte haveth hem haunted,

and ^it thei shulen ofber,

bi the helpe of heven.

ALso thou seist no sacrament

we covetyn ne desiren,

but shrift and biryyng,

that longeth to the peple.

Alas, Jak, for shame 1

whi art thou so &iB,

ffor to reverse thi silf

in thin owne sawes?

Thou seidist in thi begynnynge,

whan thou seidist of freres,

thei sellen seven sacramentes

with Symoundis eyris;

and now that we coveite noon

but the sacrament of schrifte.

Ffor beriynge is no sacrament,

but an ahnes-dede.

Thou jawdewyne, thow jangeler,

how stande this togider,

by verrd oontradiccion

thou concludist thi silf,

and biyngest thee to the mete

^e have ^our conspiracies,

when ^e gode likith,

ye damme the trwe, ^e hyen the false ,

deme, Dawe, wher this be gode.

And the k^ng by his juges trwe^

THE REPLY OF FBIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 87

there I urolde have thee.
Who wolde take entent
to suche wreohes wordes,
that nevere more ^eveth tale
to be take with a lesyng?

Whi, axist thou ferthermore,
wil we not shiyven
ne birien the pore
as wel as the riche,
and do other dedes of almes
done at her nede?
But if we Bchryve not the pore,
whi ben perssons so wrothe^
and paroche preestes also,
for schryvynge of her padshensf
For every Lenten us a^en
thei aleggen the lawe
off (ynmis utrvvbsqyLe aeosue,
with the favourable glooses.
But^ Jafc, do thi won,
and lette not to lyene;
I have as leef thy leesing
as thi Both saw.
Ffor who is oonis suspect,
he is half honged.
Thou seis that we prechen
fallaoe and fibbles,
and not Ooddis gospel
to good undirstondinge ;

execute his lawe,

as he did now late,

whan he hangid ^ou traytours ;

wilt thou, Dawe, allegates

compere Jou to the kyng,

or to other lordes,

83 POLITICAX VOEMH,

and we ben more huldan tlioiio

than to alle other renlLst.

For we wynneu more tlierwitli

than Crist and his apostUn,

what we ben holdun

and wil not foi*sake«

For moche of oure lyvynge

is of the gospel ;

so dide Poul

and other disciples,

and lyvede of oolectis

made g^nerali bi chirchis,

ffor sustinance of prechours,

and ako of the pore.

And if thou leve not me,

loke Poulis pistlis,

and the glose therwith,

and there thou shalt fyndo it.

QiUa, inquity militat auis atipendiis unquam ?
Et itei'umy Dominus ordincmt iia qui
evangelium annun&iant de evangelio
vivere, .

And so to his prechours

CHst also thus seide,

In qtiamcunqiLe domum intraverUis, maneie .
m eadem edentes et bibentes, etc., dignua
est enim operariua mercede av^. Et ad
Rovianos, Probaverunt JUadedonea et Achaia
coUationem ,facere in pauperea amidorum
qvi aunt in Jheruaalem.

that han her groundc in God ?
Lefe, fole, thi loBengerie,
nnd studio Cristis Ijf.

Qiice conv€7itio Christi Q.d Belial f Quid communis
cabit cacabus ad ollamf

THE BEPLY OP FJMAE DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 89

A^ens that that thou saist that we proclioii
but fallace and fables,
and leve the gospel
that moste us al save,
-loke that every werke is knowen,
plenili bi his eende,
and BO the peple hath the pathes
of feith and of bileve,
and God woote freres prechinge
]iath wi*ou^t to this ende.

% Daw, hou maist thou sayo for Hhame

that Crist stale thus childre^

and Poule beggid as ^e don,

^e lyven bi the gospel?

^ee, Dawe, Je selle derrere

lesynges and poyson,

than over did Poule

alle his holy writjng ;

ever thou likynest ^ou to Crist,

whan ^e ben verrei Anticrist

And if bisshopes bysido wel to knowo

alle ^our dedes,

thai founde ^ou worse than harlotcs,

or jogulours ether ;

ffor ^e begge or Jc preche

many tymes and oft,

somen men and threten hem,

bot if thai ^if ^ou gode.

Bot the harlot wil drawe

the blode of his arse,

or he ask any godc,

or any rewarde.

And, Dawe, truly ^our dedes

contrarie Crist.

Mordent dentibus et predicant pacem^ et si guts non

dederit in ore eorum quippiam, sancHficani super

eumpralium.

90 FOLinCAL FOEII&

But ^6 haa cast corsidly

Cristendome to distroye^

and of Cristis gospel

make Machometis lawe,

a^ens wbcMB with opin mouth

other whfle we romee,

and sam tyme biynge ^ob til a bay

if God wil it graunte.

For this cause ^e caUe us

bastard branchis,

pursuyng preestes to prisoun

and to fire also ;

Ybut, Jak, the! ben bastard braunches

that launehen firom oure bileve^

and writhyn wrongli away

from holy chirche techinge,

siche beren yvel fruyte

and Boure to atasten,

worth! to noon other good,

but in the fire to brenne ;

and so for to pursue an heretike

to fire or to prisoun,

I holde it more holsum

than to halewe a chirche,

inprisonynge of the poysen

that mortherith many souliff,

fDaWy here thou blaberist togedir

falsenee and trouthe ;

ffor a bastarde is he

that holdith a^enes the sothe.

Grod and trwe men dlBcusse

wher that be ^e or I.

Ffor if thou seyst holi chirche

the techyng of Crist,

the renles of apostles,

the lyf of hem alle,

THE REPLY OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS, ETa 9\

aftir Crisiis doctrine

in the holy gospel.

Orrmis, vnquvt, arbor qucB non fert fructum

bormm, exddetur, et in igTiem mittetur.

Et Uerv/m, Qui non mcmserit i/n me, mvt-

tetur foras aicut palmes, et areacet, et ooU

Ugerd, et i/n igTiem vn/Utetur.
Disseverynge jou from the tree
that is Crist him silfe.
But how shulden freres
pursue heresie,
and many of hem wite not
what heresie meneth.
Jak, I am not lettered,
but I am frere Dawe,
and can telle wel a fyn
what heresie amounteth ;
heresie, that is Grw,
is divisioun on Latyn,
the whiche in oure langage
meneth sunderyng and partyng.
He thanne that sundrith him
from Crist and his cbirche,
and frely forgith sentences
contrarious to oure feith,
siche manere of forgers
heretikes we callen»
and also her felowis

I smmnitte me to hem,
and wil wile I Ijrve.
If thou callist, Dawe,
^our Dominikis reiiles,
with determinacion
of many false prestes,
holi chirche, as I wene,
as oft thou hast done,

POLITICAL POEMK.

taken the same name,

and her soiy sentences

ben clepid heresies,

but namely when thei ben hoUun

of obstinat hertis.

And I shal this mater

more largely declare.

Sixe maner of heretikes

ben foondun in the lawe.

For he is callid an heretike

that rasith oure bileve;

and he is callid an heretike

that heresies sowith,

as Arrians, Wyclyfiines,

Sabellyanes, and other ;

and the corruptoars of scripturis

heretikes ben holdun,

that other wise undirstondin

than the Holi Goost techith.

Also we clepen hem heretikes,

that sacramentis sellyn,

or ben from hem dividid

bi cursynge of the chirche.

He is also an heretike

that doutith our bileve,

and with a litil evydence

goith out of the waye.

And also an heretike

I forsake the for ever,
with this cursid chirche,
Odivi ecclesiam tnalignanHum,
If thou purposist to pursuwe
and drawe men to dethe,
I mcrvel not meche,
for it is thin office.
The fadires of freres,

THE KEPLY OF FRIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 03

him slialde we holde
that distrieth privyleges
graiintid of the pope.
This sixe maners
put Hostiensis in his Summc,
and if this sentence be soth,
7 can noon other seien,
but thou and thi secte
ben heretikes alle.

Jak, thou spekist ferthermore
of messis and of preires,
and askist what we sellen,
wen we seyen oure messe,
whether the sacrament,
our preieres, or our traveile ;
and if ony of this we done,
thou arguest a greet errour.
Jak, unto this questioun
on wyse may be answerith,
aftir that seint Austyn
spekith of the apostlis.
The apostUs a seye
reseyved freely her breed
of hem that freely
token her techinge;
and so, Jak, freely graunte
we our masse
to hem that freely
^even us her almesse.

whiche were the Pharisees^

pursuwed Crist to the paynful dcthe,

^y callid hjm a blas&me,

as ^e clepen hem heritikes

that holde a^enes ^our falsehcde,

alle if thai men truthe.

Ei vos implete mensuram patrum vestrorum.

94 POLITICAL POBMB

and sjnnieii no vryee

bi noon other vice,

to Belle no sacramentis

ne spiritual preier.

And thus among frereis

gete thei no logginge,

but bete hem to.gretter men

and geten her herbegage^

of patronis of chirchis,

or privyly with preestes,

wich to Mte benefieeB

wolde be promotid.

SJsk, I suppose

That my labour y seUe,

what wil thou seie therto,

do y ony symonye?

How than shal the persons seye

that setten her chirches to ferme,

that ben more spiritual

than bodili traveUe;

and these paroche preestes

that ministren the sacramentis^

for a oerten sawd bi ^eer

of ten mark or of twelfe ;

fDaw, thou hast lerned

so long to lye,

thou wenest thou saist soth

whan thou liest most lewde,

and Bclaunderist the truthe.

Thou saidist thou were no lettred man,

thou prevest thi self fals^

fibr thou spekist of ierarchies,

of herisies also ;

thou art gilty in alle thes poyntes,

and thi brether bothe,

that I wolde preve apertly,

THE REPLY OF PRIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 9i

and al these annueUers

that syngen for a tyme,

takyng for her traveil

as thei may acord^;

but thei caa answere for hem silf^

and we ahal for xi&

Another mater ther is meved,

that touchith begging;

thou seist that we faJsly

Grist him silf disclaundren,

to seie that he beggid,

sith he was lord of al,

and al in his demiqn^

if that the tjme sufriiiL

Lok Jour lyvyng, Jour prechyng,

with other opun dedes^

and laye it by the apostles lyf,

and se how thai acorde,

and as I wene the Holigost

appreveth nether nouther.

Me thynkith Je ben tapsteres,

in alle that Xe don ;

Je tappe Jour absoluciones

that Je bye at Rome,

Jour prechyng, Jour prayings

and also Jour beryings*

Bot thou accusist- other men

that han bot the mote

in the comparison

of alle Jour gret synnes.

Hypocritay ejice prima irabem de oculo iuo^

Dawe, Je folowen Crista

as grejhounde doth the hare;

ffor as God Jaf kjng Saule

in his wodeneSy

so Je ben dekkid out

to pursuwe holi chirche,

Periculum in /alsis fratrHus.

96 POLITICAL roEirs.

TBut for this mater, Jacke,

thou most undirstonde,

that Crist in his godbede

is lord of alle thingis,

as testimonie of Scripture

preveth in many places ;

as touching his manhood

he was nedi and pore,

for of his nede spake

David in ]iis psalmes.

Bgo^ inquit, Tnendicua sum et pauper, et Do-

minus soLicUua est mei.
And after Austin and Jerom
this word of Crist was seid,
so thanne these twey
stonden wel togidere,
that Crist after oo kynde
was lord of alle,
and after that other

1'^it, Dawe, thou drawist in

many fols promptyDges,

ffor to hirt symple men,

hot me never a del ;

ffor Crist in his membres

beggid ful oft,

ffor synne of the puple,

when thai were at mischef.

Bot as Buche bolde beggcrs

in bodily heic,

begged never Crist,

ne non of his membres ;

ffor Crist, that is tnithe,

may in no wise

contrarie him self

nc God that is his fadir ;

fibr in many places

thai damnen suche sturdy beggyng,

And, so, Dawe,' thou dotest,

THE BEPLY C)P FRUR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 9^

nedide to begge.

For if Crist seie soth,

him silf ne liadde noon hai*borow,

to resten in his owne heed,

and steken out the stormes.

Vulpes, inquii, etc,, ubi caput euum reclinet.

And if we shulen ^eve credence

to doctonrs wordes,

heere what seith seint Jerom,

and seint Bernard also.

Cave, inquit Jeronimus, ne mendicaMe Deo tuo

alienaa divitias augeaa; et Bemardus. Ut

te, Domme, per omnia nostrce paupertati

, confoTTnares, qtuisi unus in turba pcmpentm

aiipem per hostia Tnendicabas,

Wherfore thou feynest fonnedll

aWeggyng the water,
the asse, or the herberowe ;
for he was lorde of alle,
and 80 thou mjsse takist Jerom,
and Ijest on Bemarde,
ffor Ah-ede his clerko
wrote his reson,
that thou mjsse lajst^
and dokkist-it as the likisti
Herfor a clerke saith,
that evel mot he spede,
that beggith of the puple
more than is nede.

Mendax mendicus nan est veritatis amicusi
Nutantes tramferantur Jilii ejus et mehdieent,
God gif the grace to knowe how
thou art Judas childe ;
whiche psahne thoii leggist to me,
as to an evel entent $
for ^it thou schuldest be damned
softly in helle,
Nutantes transferentur Jilii*
VOL. IT. a

9a POUTICAL POEII&

that onre Lord we sclaundre ;

or ellis oure holy dociomn

diden not her dever.

Jakf have no merveyle

that y sp^e Latyn,

for oonee I was a maudpld

at Mertoun halle,

and there y lemede Latyn

by roote of clerkes.

Of clamourus also bulging

thou chaterist and oriist,

and seist it is uttirli

forbodun m Qoddia lawa ,

f Jak, the blynde begger

sat bi the weye,

and lowde criede uppon Crist,

as the gospel tellith;

but him was pvim i^e-si^t,

for al his grete noise,

and also the pore man

at the specionns ^ate

praiede to the apostlis

to parten of her almes ;

and ther the begger unreproved

of crokidnesse he was heeHd.

fThou ffeillest much brethe^ Daw,

with legyng of thi tyxtes ;

for snnime thou legest kenely.

to a fols entente ;

but of other thou blondyrst

as a bljnde bnserde.

For ihes pore of whom thou spekyst,

mjXt not helpe hem selfe ;

but toure prowde losengerie

that rune abowt as gnek-drawers

ben nejther pore ne fabii^

and so juge thou

how thes to acorde.

THE REPLY OF FRIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 99

I for^ete not the lazar

that beggide of the riche,

and criede lowde at hia ^ate

to cachen his almes.

Where redist thou that he wan

repreved of his begging?

I rede wel he was fid soone

in Abrahams bosum,

Thou makist also more ado

for writing in oure tablis

of sich mennes names

that ^even us her almes^

" Wenynge that God were a fool,

" not knowinge mennes dedes,

" but if he were mengid

" bi weie of ^our writyng/'

T Jak, writyng was ordeyned

for slipemes of mynde,

not of God, but of us men,

hirt in oure nature,

and bi bodili buystousnesse

fallen to for^etynge.

Now special preier,

as derkes seien,

f ^it, Dawe, thou hewist hye,

and puttist thi mouthe in beyen ;

thi tong likkith the chesefat,

and the gamer also,

and the pore wedowes porse,

thow^ she have bot a peny.

And Jit, Dawe Dotypolle,

thou justifiest this harlotrie ;

whi lykkeuRest thou writyng of names,

which thou dost for money,

to the holi Bcripture,

that is our bileve ?

Ffor God ne any godeman

G 2

100 t»OLmCAL POElfS.

tnofite helpeth the soulig,

and that may not be done

withouten special mynde.

Thanne for oure for^etfulnesse

it nedith us to not^,

and tlus is cause whi

we writun in oure tablis.

And Esdras wroot a newe book,

to have the lawe in mynda

To seint Joon in the Apocalips

it was bodun also,

that privy reveladon

to writun in his book^

for unstabihiesse of mynde,

seith the comoun glose.

" Whi," also thou axist,

*' make ^e so many maistris,

*^ a^ens Cristis bidding

" in the hoU gospel t "

For sothe, Jak, among other,

this is a lewid question*

Taking heed to thin astaate,

thou art but a knave,

and ^it thou lokist that thi knAve

approved never this symonje ;

but thou approvest ^our capped inaisti*cs

with a glaseki glose,

whicho galpen afler grace

bi sjmonye ^our sister,

and after sitten on hie decc

and glosen lordes and ladies.

And this is no liknes

bitwix my knave and hem ;

fibr of thes and suche it ben

that Crist specth in his gospel.

Anuint enim primos recubUus in ccenis^ el primas

cathedras in synaffogis, et votari ab hominibus

Rabbi.

THE REPLY OF FRIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. J^l

shulde calle thee maistir.
Leve Jacke Jawdewyn,
liow kepisb thou the gospell
Nevertheles to thi question
sDswerith the comoun glose,
that neithir the acte of teching,
neither the acte of maistir,
ben forbodun of Crist,
but oonli ambidon,
and the nyce appetite
of worldly worship.

Thou askist also ferthermore,
whos ben alle oure jewels ;
and we seyen we han ri^t nou^t
[^ in propre ne in comoun,

but gederen the goodes of the rewme

to make the pope riche.

Jak, the foure and twentithe pope

Joon wroot a^ens this mater»

and frere menours a^ens him,

as her actis shewen.

Examyne her actis

and loke who hath the beter,

and knowe noon other ordre

this perfitnesse approveth,

TThou grucchist also that we gon

two of us togider ;

YDaw, thou herdist me not grucche

that ^e went two togedir ;

ffor otherwhile ^e gon three,

a wonunan is that oouc

Bot whether Je go two or oon,

if Je wol do wele,

it were a gret joye to me,

God wot the sothe.

Bot wel I wote that charit6

may not duelle there,

102 POLITICAL POEHa

for of the perfit apostlis

wenten but oone aloone.

Thou seist that we pretenden

the perfeccioun of apostlis.

Parfay, Jak, in scripture

thou fSedlist here ful foule,

herdest thou nevere the processe

of the actis of the apostlis,

in what maner the Holi Qoost

chees Bemab^ and Poule,

to gone bothe togidere,

and Cristis seed to sowun;

and aftirward whan Bemabaa

from Poul was departid,

another felowe, T^nnothfi,

toke Poul to his feere.

And jit thei weren perfit

bi fastinge and bi preieris,

and resseyved hadde the Holi Qoost

bi the apostlis hondis.

And thus we gon two togider,

folwinge her stappis;

but more for the mysterie

includid in the noumbre,

for to bi workes of charity

fulfilling the lawe ;

and two tablis of Moises

where covetise crepith in,
and lecherie is loggid.
Therfor, Dawe, allegge thou
no fignr for thin ordre,
bot if it be Zambre
with Corby his lotby,
or Janmes and Mambres,
Pharaouse freres.

Hi 8unt qui penetrant domos^ et dueunt muKerculas
oneratas peccatis.

THK BEPLT OF FBIAR DAW TOPUS, ETC. 103

there the lawe was wiitun;

and two cherubyns in the temple,

and two in the tabernacle.

It was not good to Adam

for to be aloone;

and Crist seith woo to sool

in aventnre that he fiille.

Also for fraternity

ful harde thou us holdist^

to graunt part of merits

and also of messis^

bicause that we witen not whether

that we ben In grace or in synne,

and happili for we praien for suche

that ben dampned in helle.

Jak, if this cause were good,

al preier were reproved,

and thanne were set at nou^t

bothe messe and matynes,

and holy bedis and orisons

seid in holi chirche.

Y Thanne shulde we leve Oristis bede,

the holy pater-noster*

Thanne was the memento

put &lly in the masse,

and hooli chirche voidli

or madli biddith preye,

and alle siche ^onge impossibilitees

folowen therof

TThou argust, Topias, wonderly,

as if thou were an asse i

for thou legest ^oore Belde bedys to the pater*no8ter,

that Crist him eelre made ;

but wel I wote that alle ^e

gate neyer a peny,

10 ( POUnCAI. POESfS,

For who is that that kiiowith liiin nilf

worthi for to prcien,

but God bi reyelaciou

specially wolde it shew^;

for noman, seith the scripture, woot*

whether he is worthi love,

or ellis maugree but God

it oonly knowitfa*

And who can telle ferthermore

whiche shulde be dampned,

sith Gbddis privy domes

man may not comprehend^;

and so shal noman preie for other,

ne noman for him silf.

Jak, se now thin ejrour,
and sum tyme sesse for shame ;
for thou jangelist a^ a jay,
and woost not what thou meenest
Moreover thou monest multipliyng
of so many freri^,
whicbe encresen combyouseli,
a^ens Goddifl wille;^
sith preestis with other religious
myjte serve the peple,
for twelve apostlis and fewe moo
serveden al the world,
and mo fyngris on myn bond
than foure and the thombe

with the pat^*-noBter,
but with Joure famulonim,
that Je sey is beter,
ye gate many poundesi
For Crist made that one,
for better may none be ;
but Je with ^oure ypocrisy
ban autorised that other,

THE REPLY OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS, ETC 405

amenusith my worching

more than it acreaith;

and 80 thou seist that freris letteu

Cristis growipge into heven.

Jacke, thou weene^t thou wynno lout!,

but thou ooncludist thi silf ;

thou seist that Ood alle thingis hath uiaad

in mesure^ wei^te, and noumbre,

and that every frere is sum thing,

thou maist not denye,

and thou seist freris ben maad

atens Goddis wille.

Than hath God maad sum thing

that he wolde not make^

and so his sovereyne goodnesse

is oontrarious to him silfe.

Lo^ Jakke Jospinel/

what folowith of thi sawis.

Jakke, if thou^ a fewe moo

myjte serven al the world,

thanne my^te a fewe preestes

serven a litil rewme.

Whi renne thanne these ^onge clerkes

so faste to the ordres,

to encresen preestes

above mony hundridis?

And if freris ben combrouse,

to blynde with the pupyl
for ^oure cursed gi'oundc,
and thou God made ol thinge in mesure and in

as the scripture seythe,
it folowth not he made ^ou,
for ^e ben oute of mesure,
and 80 the devyl and Caym
with Judas ben ^oure fadirs.

106 POLITICAL POEMS.

preestis ben wel more;

or ellis telle a beter skil

thaime thou hast begunne,

whi the toon is ohargeaunt

more than the tother.

Also the ensaiunple of thin hond

is no thing to ptirpos ;

for kynde hath determyned

the noumbre of thi fyngris^

and if it passe noumbre,

it is depid monstruosit^ ;

but God and holi chirche

determyned noo noumbre

of preestis ne of freris

to helpen mannis Boule.

For the mo good ther ben,

the better is Cristis spouse;

and thou^ fewer my^ten

done that nedis^

^it many hondia togider

maken U^t werk.

Y Another mater thou tnovesti Jak^
moost to be chargid^
of the solempne sacrament
of Cristis owne bodye,
conteyned in figure of brede^
sacrifise for synne ;
- thou drawist a thorn cut of thi hele^
and puttist it in oure.

f Oft, Dawe, in thi writtyng,
thou wryngist out contradiccion ;
but ^it thou puttist defaut to prestes,
as erst thou didist to curates.
I wot thai ben defectif,
bot ^it Btondith Cristis religion,
of whose defaut I dout not^ Dawe,
^e ben the chef cause.

THE BEPLT OF FRiAll DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 107

Thou berist us on honde thai we aeiea

ther ia not Crista bodye,

but roundnease and whiteneaaej

and ac-cidcnt withouteu suget

Jakj we seie with holy chlrche,

that tlier is Criatia bodi,

and not material breed

with Wiclyf jour maistirj

the wliiclie put ther but a^ a figure,

and not verr^ Cristis bodi,

after a manere spekyug

that holy cliirche usith,

as we depen Crist a etoon,

a lomb, and a lioun,

and nooa of these ia Crist,

but oouH in figure.

ThiB her*isie holde not we,

but ^e hiB false folowera^

priyyly as ^e doreu,

and opinli je woldenj

I1& were the sharp ponishiugc

of tour former &dirs.

Bi this it Buwit not God,

hot Sathanas broujt ^ou in*

Thou saist, Dawe, as tlioE fellst,

that there ia Cristas hody ;

l>ot I afferme faithfully

that that i& Cristis body ;

Daw, aske thi cappid maiatre%

as if thai were heritikes,

what is the sacred hostj

and grounde hem in ^eripturej

to whiche wo knele and doffe our hodesj

and don aHe this wirchip^

and I bileve that oste Bacred,

whiche 18 botho whit and roundej

its verrei Oriatis body.

f

108 POLITICAL POISBIS.

And now I will thee telle

the freris coiiJUeoT,

touching to this sacrament,

how that thei bileven.

Thei seie breed is turned into tLevsh,

and wyne into blood,

thour^ the my^t of oure God,

and vertue of his wordis ;

the fleish is mete, the blood is dryuke,

and Crist dwellith [therin],

no thing rasyd, no thing dividid,

but oonli broken in signe,

and as moche is in oo partie

as is al the hole ;

thus leeveth not of the breeds

but oonli the licnesse^

which that abidith therinne

noon substeyned substans.

It is deth to the yvel,

lyf to good encresing of pure giace.

It wole not be confect

but oonli of a preest^

as men shuld bileve,

and did to the tyme

that Sathanas was unbounde.

The wittnesse of this reson

is Crist and his apostles,

with many holi doctouris

of the thousande ^ere.

Bot this ^e falsely forsake,

with alle ^our secte, or many,

and blynden the puple with beresie,

and leven Groddis lawe ;

ffor ye sayen ther is Cristis body,

and nou^t that sacred host.

Commutaveruni verUatem Dei in mendacium.

THE REPLY OF FRIAR DAW TOPIAS, ETC. 103

tlmt lawfuUi is ordeyned
bi holi chirche keies;
and 80 carpenters ne sowters,
card-makers ne powchers^
drapers ne cutellers,
girdelers, coferers, ne corvysere,
ne no mauere of artifioeris,
this sacrament mowe treten^
but the privity of preesthode
wer piickid in her souUs.
And ^it ^our sect susteynes
wommen to seie massis^
shewyng to trete a sacrament
as preestes that thei 'were,
reversfynge holy doctours
and decree of holy chirche.
Y Alias I ^onr brymme blastis
awake the wilde wawlis,
and sealen sely Peter ship,
and putt it in hi^e perile;
ne were God the giour,
and kept the stem,
with the steme stormes
that renfulli ^e reisin,
al schnlde wende to wrak

%Xii spekith Jak Uplande.

To make with the a dialogge^

I holde it hot wast,

for thou maryst thy Icsynges lowde

with thy false heresycs ; .

men may se by thy ^yriting,
- here, thou jangelyng jay,

how thou bylevest not in the sacriJ o.^le,

for we sey alle^
ry the sacrid oste that is sene with eye
^ is verey Cristes body ;

but thy seote seyth not soo,

110 pounoAL FOEva

into the waast watris.
The releef of Cristia feeiste
ye renden and ratyn,
that his alumners the pofitliB
gaderid togidere,
and delith it to dogges
and rayenous baeetes;
^ and the presciouBe perlis
^e strowun to hogges,
the sutil metis of scripturia
to cherlis stomakes,
>-- and maken hem als eomoun
as the cart weye,
a^ens Poulis sentence,
and Poulis owne doctrina
Non, mquit Pcmkis, potm vohis a&ribere quaei

apvrituaUbu^, aed qucLsi ea/mtUihus, etc.
Se also what Crist seith,
in the holy gospel

MuUa lidimi vobia dioere^ aed Tum, eta.
Also in many other place thus speldth he
to his perfit disciplis:
Vobia datwm eat noae&ne myaterwm regni Dei,

ccBteria (mtem va pa/rdbolam, eta,

but ^e say ther is Qristee body,

te tel not where.

But Crist seyth, this is my body,

and not, ther is my body.

Whi, ^e templars messe sellers,

grante ^e not Cristes wordes,

syth ^e chafyr thus therwith,

bygylyng the pupil?

Lete ^oure secte write ^oure byleve

of this sacrid oste,

and preche it as ^e write it,

and sette therto ^ore sele,

THE REPLY OF FBIAB DAW TOPIAS, ETC. I I I

Than the lewide and the lered
au^t not yliche,
the scripturis ben scaterid
in his privy pointes.

Jak, thou seist at' the laat,
that charity is chadd^
to vengyn cure de&utis>
and mBndb.us QjF ours myase,
levynge oure rotyn ritis,
folowinge Qoddis lawe.
Jak, oure litis ben nou^t rotyn,
her rootis ben al freisbe,
plantid in the gospel,
as I seide biforen;
buty good Jak, ^our grace,
where be je foundid?^
noty^i Qoddi^ gospel) \
but in Sathaiias pistile,.
wher of soroi^e aitfLolWowci^ie
noon is to seken,
but al manor of ddoaittf
to ^ou is enditid, 4

as in thi lewid daliaunoe *
ajie^tMlthou hast pr^ed'';

and I am siker of my feith

^ schul be stonde to deth;

and than schal tonre castela

cache hem new majsters^

for ^e wil not grante,

ne hot few of ^oure ordirs,

the OBt sacridy white and rounds^

is verey Cristis body,

I pray oure Lord Jhesu,

that sone be it sene,

who is in the trew wey^

whether ^e other we.

112 POLITICAL POEUS.

but moche mawgr^ mote thou have

thus to frayn a frere,

that slily wolde have slent aweye^

and nomau have greved«

But for till grete labour

thi gardoun thou shalt gete;

thou shalt have the popis curse,

and al holi chut^his ;

and if thou sett this at nou^t,

God mowe sende thee more,

the curse that he hath ^ovuu to Cayiii

and Choreis sone also ;

thou shalt also have the curse

that Crist ^af to Phafiseis,

figured in the figre tree

that nevere bare fruyte aftir*

Thou shalt have the weleaway

of Gelboth hilles,

the sorowe of Sodome^

and al sinful citeis.

Take for thi faire speche

the preier of Deus laudem,

the greable gardoun

for al opin sclaundris;

thou shalt have the roalisoun

of Moab and Ariel ;

But towching men of craftc,

whom thou dispisjst,

al they schulde medle hem

to know her byleve,

but as wele of her sacryng,

as wymmen syngyngc meese,

alwey thou usest the craft

of thyn old fader.

Why darst not thou of summc

of ^ou false heretykis,

THE REPLY OP BTIIAR DAW TOPTAS, ETC. 118

the benjBoun of Bethsaida

shal make thy beddis heed ;

and, Jakke, for thou apprisist not

the curse of seint Franceis,

but scornyst the malisoun

of the foure ordris,

take the malisoun that God ^f

to brekers of his lawe,

in the book of Deutronomye,

the seven and twenty chapitre ;

but evere be ware of Cristis curse,

and of cattis tailis,

the which if thou have grace to cacchon,

nevere shal thou thryve.

Now fere forthe to thi fourmures,

and, Jak, thou hem telle

the matere of oure talkynge,

and loke how hem likith ;

and if hem thinke not thi sawes

sufficientli assoilid,

]at hem senden a^en,

it shal be amendid ;

and sai hem that it nedith not

to sharpen oure clerkes,

lor frere Dawe is scharpe ynow^

for al sich enditinge.

fynde owte such on,
and preve ^oure lesynges sothe.
And therfor, Daw, I sey nomore
to the at this tyme,
but thou ert on of the falsest
that ever I saw write.
For Mahomete and Serginus,
and al her grete lawe,
wot not 80 many lesynges
as ben here in thy writynges.
VOL. II.

114 POLITIGAL POEMS.

Ffare wele, Jak Jawdewjme,
I thee God bitake ;
and noxnore of finaris
I thee rede to preoha
To lower state than ihei ben
thou maist hem not dryve,
and if thei evere oome to hijer,
the wers shal thou thryve.

Explicit dictamen ftutris Daw Topias, quern in fine
appeUdt Johannem WalaavngJiam, contra quoRs-
tionea Jdhminia Uplond.

On the Execution of Richard Scbopb, Archbishop
OF York.*

June 8, 1405.

Quis meo capiti dabit effundere,

Et fonte lachrytnas multum suffundere,

Per dies noctesque aquas deduoere,

Deflenti mortem preesulis?
Quid mirum efBuam totus in lachrymaB^
Defleam, lugeam tantas misereas,
Procerum, plebium stragea innumerafi^

Nunc finis verisimilis.
Sancti Paracleti sacra solemnitas
WiUelmi prsesulis felix festivitas/
Pastoris humilis csBdis severitaa,

Coneursu gaudent temporis.
Secunda feria post lucis medium
Ricardus Anglise primas ad gladium
Ducitur, cseditur, migrans ad gaudium

Commutat ima superis.

From MS. Cotton. Fatistina B. ix. fol. 242, y^.

ON THE EXECUTION OF RICHABD SCROPE. 115

Faster perdudtur plebis prsesentia,
Et interdicitur mox audientia;
In primis promitur ipsa sententia

Ingressus quam prseposterus.
Judex prsepotens, nulla dilatio,
Nulla negotii examinatio,
Gravis sententise prsBoeps probatio,

Progressus temerarius.
Nil ergo conscius prsdsul non resonat.
Nee latas canonis censuras fulminat,
Sed prothomartyris exemplo geminat,

Ne Chiistus noxam statuas.
Non sacri temporis prodest prcesentia,
Nihil nobilitas, nil reverentia*
Fetsonse, ordinis nee prseminentia,

Hse habent voees vacuas.
Loeus sentential, patris palatium ;
Jumento vehitur hinc ad supplicium;
Cessavit penitus sellaB solatium^

Capistro frsenum eesserat.
Tunc ait pontifex, despectus congruit,
Omatus varius quia complacuit,
Hunc mundi Dominus Christus sustinuit,

Cum pati poenas venerat.
Solatur comitem adolescentulum,
Ne prorsus timeat mortis articulum ;
Certus obtineat coeli coenaculum,

Coruscus comes angelis.
Fel, ferula^ virgula satis sufficerent,
Furentem fiumeam si non adjicerent;
Foedam infiuniam sic procul pellerent,

Yulgatam regnis singulis.
Proh dolor! parvulum ense percutiunt;
Proh pudor ! sanguinem proprium poUuunt
Proh nefas ! patriae primatem perimunt,

FoUuti parricidio.
VOL. 11. H 2 +-

116 POLITICAL POEMS.

Flexis poplitibus post pads osculum

Offert camifici columba jugulum ;

Sic linquit pontifex comis ergastulum ;

Fert ictus quinque gladio.
Mitis in moribuB, in pudidtia
Castus, virtutibus clams, scientia
Lucidus, stabilis in patientia,

Vemat laude multiplici.
Baptismus sanguinis, fluminis, flaminis,
Abstergit maculas cujusque criminis,
Hoc sacro tempore virtute numinis

Benatus fonte triplici.
Ast Thomam militum audax atrocitas,
Sjrmonem plebium furens ferodtas,
Bdcardum callide saava crudelitas,

Obtruncant christos Domini.
Annus millenus quadringentesimus
Quintus erat Chiisto patri novissimus,
Dies quo patitur pastor piissimus

Octavus erat Junii
Ad sancti Stephani altaris titulum,
Cujus proverbii sumpsit capitulum,
Praeparat prsesuli sepuldiri lectulum

Cunctorum Deus praesdus.
Lectorem simplicem supplex expostulo,
Ne patrem poUuat veneni poculo;
Benigne audiat quse videt oculo

Factorum Dei nesdus.
Quicquid ab aliis divisim traditur,
A probis plurimis sparsis asseritur.
Quod pie, patiens, devote moritur,

De fine nuUus hsesitat.
Si vera caritas monstrat miracula,
Prsecedet Veritas, nee offendicula
Beddetur probitas per ulla ssecula,

Scriptura sacra recitat.

ON THE EXECUTION OP RICHARD SCROPE. 117

Si caussa subeant, Deus, ecclesia,
Begnum, res publica, fides, justitia,
Pie pr89sumitur pro patientia

Omnia viacit caritas.
Non queuat caetera poenarum genera,
Corpora lacera, carorum funera,
A plebe toUere amoris munera;

Omnia suffert caritas.
Thesaurus toUitur, vasaque csetera.
Corporis, camersd supellex varia,
Capellse, studii vasa, jocalia ;

Omnia fiscus occupat
Non datur corporis funeri lintheus,
Non nummus minimus pro funeralibus.
Nihil pauperibus, nil creditoribus,

Pictas prorsus exulat.
Pa3na progreditur familiaribus,
Census indicitur, nudantur opibus,
Nee veris creditur probationibus,

Yenenum est his vcnia.
Post hiec extenditur poena in plcbibus
Importabilibus exactionibus ;
Nemini pai-citur, sed innoccntibus

Ingnita datur gratia.
Anglorum recolens prima fastigia,
Nunc horum intuens dii'a discidia,
Cunctorum metuens simul excidia,

Mutata miror prospera.
Gens olim nobilis, nunc nimis misera,
In fide fragilis, vilis ut vipera,
Verbis instabilis, in factis effera,

Matema rodit viscera.
Ignavi exteris bellis hostilibus
Caedunt se mutuo plus quam civilibus,
Trucidis, horridls, innaturalibus, .

Cognato madent sanguine.

118

POLITICAL POEMS.

Orbatur regie inclitis dudbuB, ^

Nudatur legio lectis militibus,
Baochatur pugio ccesis tyronibus,

Bams fortis in agmine.
Quis mihi tribuat ut aDiios pristinos
Bevolvi videam et mores patrios,
Bidere rideam at canos ultimos;

In forma pacis finiam.
O summa Deitas, qui coelis inseris^
PrsBsidens mediis medere miseris,
Ut spectis infimis IsBtemur superis,

Beatus dona veniam. Amen.

On thb Death of Henby IV.^

By Thomas of Elmham.

IncvpU epistola aacrce theologicB professoris magistri
ThorruB Elmham^ monachi de Lenton prope
UTotyngham, ad regem Eenricum qwrntv/m pro
opere sequenti.

rex mi domine, ssepe quae tibi scribere duxi,
Providus ut fias, damna fiitura cavens,

> From the Bodleian Library,
MS. Bawlinson, No. 214, fol. 134,
r^. The writer of these lines,
Thomas of Elmham, is well known
to historians by his prose history of
the reign of Henry y», printed by
Heame ; by a history of the monas-
tery of St. Augustine at Canter-
bury, of which Mr. Hardwick has
recently given us an edition ; and
by his summary of the history of
the same reign in Latin verse, the
latter edited by Mr. C. A. Cole, in
his ** Memorials of Henry the Fifth,

<< King of England." In his earlier
life he was a Benedictine monk of
the monastery in Canterbury, of
which he compiled the history ; he
subsequently entered the order of
Cluny, and was elected prior of
Lenton in Nottinghamshire, an
office which he held until 1426.
The short poem here printed must,
from internal evidence, have been
composed immediately after the
event it commemorates, the death
of Henry IV., and before its author
became prior of Lenton.

ON THE DEATH OF HENRY IV. Ill)

Errores solitos quos nunc tua curia mittit

Corrige, ne feriat te gravis ira Dei
Nam licet hie hodie sis rex, sors crastina forsan

Te cito subvertet et diadema tuum.
Ecce quod intrasti transis, patet exitus orbe,

Quo tria sunt ista, pus, labor, atque dolor.
Flebilifl ingressus, progreasus debilis inde,

Egressus timidus, hsec memorare precor.
si lamenta popxdi, si gaudia scires,

Qu89 tibi dat fleres egrediens, regrediens.
Nam tuus adventus cunctis tnstis perhibetur,

Jocundus tuus est exitus a patria. *
Cervicata oohors et avari quique jninistri
. Causant plura mala, dum bona vi rapiunt.
Quod fit eis placitum tenet hoc pro jure vigorem,

Ad libitum paret his homo, sio animal
Hi nihil exdpiunt, tamen hoc in tempore guerrse,

lUidtum fieret, liber ut esse solet.
Presbyter et monachus, mercator, cultor agrique, .

His et jumenta libera jure manent.
Hi cum securi debent fore tempore guerrse,

Cur non securi tempore pads erunt?
Si pax nuUa lods datur in quibus ipse moraris,

Facis ades fractor, inde caveto tibi.
Begis Rioardi crebro memorare secundi,

Cujus fortunae sit cito versa rota.
Henrici regis patris ipse ttii memor esto,

Nam sua fortuna carne supina ruit.
lUius in speculo res extitit hoc speculata,

Hsec mage quo fieret conspicienda tibi
Hujus doctrina tibi stat vice cotis, acutum

Quae ferrum reddit ipsa secando nihil
Dogmatis ecce sui metra congrua condere conor,

Ut tibi proficiant hie tibi dixit ita.

Explicit epistola magistri Tluymce EVmham ad regem
Henricum quintum.

120 POLITICAL POEMS.

Indpit epistola regis Henrid quarti ad JUium swum
Henricum quintum in extremis larvguerUis pro
sui et regni Angliw guheniatione^ una cum
benedictione pccterruili eunctis suis filiis, ex com-
posito prcedicti magistri T. E.

Dilige mente Deum, fill, virtuteque tota,

Hoc tu si facias sit tibi vera salus.
Vera salus tibi sit, si corde Deum venereris^

Nee dubites sibi dans corpus, opes, cor, et os.
•Corpus, opus, cor, et os sibi dans, mala discute prisca,

Si sit prosperitas, inde caveto mali.
Inde caveto mali, ne degener ad bona fias,

Et te sic habeas ut mala quaeque luas.
Ut mala quseque luas crebro bene confitearis,

Tu confessores excipe proficuos.
Excipe proficuos, foveas quo te reprehendant,

Ut decet exculpa Isetius arte feras.
Arcta feras tete servire Deo, vigil affer

Os, aures, oculos, corde precando Deum.
Corde precando Deum consortia pange piorum ;

Det tibi colloquium religiosa cohors.
Beligiosa cohors pellat decreta malorum,

Omne malum fugiaa, dilige quodque bonum.
Quodque bonum nutrias, coram te despice dici

AUectiva mails, cor pietatis habe.
Cor pietatis habe, labor assit, et otia speme,

Exemplum prsebens arma tuendo tuis.
Arma tuendo tuis memorans I'egni diadema,

Die memorans tibimet ad quod, amice, venis.
Ad quod, amice, venis, ut prsesis proficias nil,

Non mis inde piger si nimis alta petas.
Si nimis alta petas, scripturse ceme valorem,

Nee puteus Jacob est, sit sapor inde recens.
Sit sapor inde recens, hinc vana recentia pelle,

Teque deeentia stent recta docentia te.

ON THE DEATH OF HENBY IV. 121

Recta docentia te dictant ut linea recta

Sit servanda tibi quo vacet iUicitum.
Quo vacet iUicitum non dextris nonque sinistris

Divertas, gratis prosperitate cavens.
Prosperitate cavens adversis tu patiens sis,

Esto memor finis, die ego quis tibimet?
Die ego quis tibimet, Henrice, tibi speculum do,

Fortis eram quondam, debilis ecce ruo.
Debilis ecce ruo, multis formosior olim

Yultus pictura pluribus alma fuit.
Fluribus alma fiiit quae nunc patet horrida cunctis.

Qui sapui plura, vix memor esto mei.
Yix memor esto mei quis me de oorpore mortis

Hujus nunc leniet, mors, mihi cara, veni.
Mors, mihi cara, veni, cum sis mihi janua vitse,

Foetor, gleba, lutum, stat reputanda caro.
Stat reputanda caro nil, quamvis sint tibi vires.

Si non mente vires, non bonus ipse vires.
Non bonus ipse vires, horum sijion memor assis,

Qui cari mihi sunt, his bona ferre velis.
His bona ferre velis, cunctis ingrata refutes.

Quo gratus maneas, hoc tibi gratia det.
Hoc tibi gratia det, Acheron non grata resumet ;

Terram terra teget, spiritus alta petet.
Spiritus alta petet, benedictio te sacra Christi

Servet, quo solvas debita quaeque mea.
Debita quaeque mea solvas et eris benedictus,

Te firatres quoque rex beat ipse poll
Bex beet ipse poli pietate Thomamque, Johannem,

Necnon Humfredum, sit quibus alma fides.
Alma fides vireat qua crescant prospera regni,

Ut te contingat hac prece posse frui.

Gratiarum actianes regis Henrici 4 in fine vUce suce.

Gloria^ Christe, tibi, miserorum rex miseratur,
Pro pietate tua tu miserere mei

122

POLITICAL POEMa

Nomen
regis.

Nomen

venifica-

torui.

\

Tu miserere mei noaoo conoeptus in alvo,

Ingressus mundum mox bona grata tuli.
Grata tuli, tribues tibi nil miles, comes, et dux,

Nunc rex grata tuli gloria tota tibi
Tota tibi laus ait, in te nunc omnia possum,

Hsec me confortant spes, amor, atque fides.
Spes, amor, atque fides, sensusque, memorque voluntas

Fatri tum nato spirituique sacro. , a

Sacro spiritui sit laus in honore perenni, ^ . , ( -*''^'

Infirmus cum sim fortior atque potens. /'*^ '
Fortior atque potens respirans ^xprimo Xpistum,*

JTinc ego nunc rogito j'usta crucis i;ia «it.
JTaec est Tiobilitas regnantibus inclita cunctis
Firtutum aeries, relevans examine Zpus.
Bbstes ecce Tiocent rapiendo jocalia eara,
Firtus «ervetur respirans excipe JTpum.
JVaditur Aostis opus, meditetur amoro sophia,

JBicipiens iumen mortis amara monens.

Mortem regie Henrid Ui.

Annis millenis quadringentis duodenis

Rex meat Henricus ad loca digna sibi
Cuthberti luce vitBB spiramen ab imis

Suscipit altitonans rex miserando piis.
Ficta prophetia sonuit quam vivus habebat.

Quod sibi sancta fuit terra lucranda cnice.
Improvisa sibi sacra terra datur nescius hospes

In Betlilem camera Westque monasterio.
O fallax fortuna, suis vergenda repente,

Quos sua dextra levat, bos sua laeva prcmat.
Fingit, ovat, rccipit, tradit, variat, negat, aufert,

Quot rara promittit, fine periro solent.
Claruit Henricus rex, regum germino natus,

Anglus, Normannus, cum sit uterquo parens.

* It is necessary to retain the I case, or we should lose the a-,
abbreviation of the irord In this | which is necessary to the acrostic.

ON THE DEATH OF HENKT IV.

123

Anglia, Francia, Neustria^ parte patris referuntor,

Nobilius reliquis, siirps sua clara viret.
Henrico r^ temo sextos reperitur,

Tarn patre quam matre pura propago patet.
Audax, intrepiduSy micuit miles, comeS; et dux,

EQnc rex magnificus robore, mente, statu.
Hio moriens monuit successurum sibi natum

Henricum quintum, nobilitate parem.

FmituT finds regis Henrici Hi.

jRex CB, ajpicolis ale ne grrave tedat, id effer;
flic es, nH rapias, ^*us conservans vice summi ;
Quo tdrtus ^ubilans, -n^xam terit, itndique suffer.
(Thrismatis anna tenens, en regni ^us notat ara.
i2es 6st gratifica ^am TiobUitas animosa,
ilngelicum Tiomen grenti iocus imprimit ecce.

On the Battle op Azincoubt.*

And ther lay owre kynge til the fyrste day of
Octobre, the which day owre kynge remevyd and
toke his way thorow Normandy and thorow Pykardy
towarde Calys. And these bethe the townes that
owre kynge rood by thorow Frawnce. First is Har-
flew ; the secunde is Houndefle ; the thirde is Barfletc ;
the ferthe is Mousterevelers ; the fift is Fescoonpe,
with the abbey; the sixt is Arkes; the seventhe is
Depe; the eyghte is Depe; the ix© is the cet^ of

» From MS. Cotton. Cleop. C. iv.
foL 24, r**. This song, evidently a
contemporary effusion, is preserved
in a partly imperfect form in.an early
chronicle of London, the writer of
-which was taking his narrative from
the account given in the popular

ballad, until, tired of paraphrasing
it, he went on copying Uie song
itself. The lines of the earlier part
of it, with their rhymes, are easily
traced in the introductory prose,
which is printed here as it stands
in the MS.

124 POLITICAL POEMS.

Delewe ; the x° is the cet^ de Tewe ; the xj® is cet^
de Neelle ; the xij° is the cetd de Amyas ; the xiij° is
the cet^ of Aras ; the xiiij^ the water of Somme ; the
XV** the cet^ of Pyi-oune ; the xyj° the water of
Swerdys; and than the batel of Tyrwyne. And in
A^yngcorte felde owre kynge faught with the French-
men the ffryday tofore the day of Symond and Jude ;
and ther all the ryall powere of Frensshemen come
a^enst owre kynge and his litill meyn6, save the
Frensshe kynge and the dolfyne and the duke of
Borgoyn, and the duke of Barre, elles all the lordys
of Frawnce lay tofore the kynge in his hy way as
he schuld passe towarde Calys, enbateylyd in iij®
batayles, as the Frensshemen sayde hem silfe, the
nowmbre of Ix m^ men of armes, and tho were the
faireste men of armys that ever any man saw in any
plase. And owre kynge with his litille mayn^ sey
well he must nedys fy^te, or he myght not come to
Calays by the hy way. And than he sayde to his
lordys and to his mayn^ : " Syres and ffelowes, the
'* ^ondere mayn^ thenke to lett us of owre way,
" and thei wil nat come to us, lete every man preve
" hym silfe a good man this day, and avant baneres,
** in the best tyme of the yere, for as I am trew
" kynge and knyght, for me this day sclialle never
" Inglond i*awnsome pay ; erste many a wyght man
" schall leve is weddes, for here erste to deth I wil
** be dyght, and therfore, lordynges, for the love of
" swete Jhesu, helpe mayntene Inglondes ryght this
'* day. AUso, archers, to yow I praye, no fote that
" ze fle away, erste be wo alle beten in this felde.
" And thenke be Englysshemen that never wold fle
" at no batelle, for a^enste one of us thowthe ther
" be tene, thenke Criste wil help us in owre ryght.
" Bot I wold no blode wer spiltc, Cryste hclpe me
" so now in this case, but tho that been cause of
" this trespase; when thou Bxttest in jugment, ther

ON THE BATTLE OF AZINCOURT. 126

" holde mo excused tofore thi face, as thou art God
'* omnipotent. But passe we all now in fere, duke,
" erle, and bachelere, of all owre synnys he make us
" sekei*e. Jentil Jhesu, borne of Marye, and as for us
" thou deydyst on good Fryday, as thi will was, so
" brjmge us to thi blisse an hy, and graunte us ther
" to have a place. Do and bete on ffaste,'* owre kynge
tho bad wythe fuUe glad chere; and so thei dyde at
that word, lord, knyght, and archere. Ther men
myght * see a sembl^ sade that tumyd many on to
tene and tray, for many a lorde ther ryght low
lay that commen was of blod full gent. By even-
song tyme aothely to say, ther helpe us God omni-
potent.

Stedes ther stumbelyd in that stownde.

That stod stere stuffed under stele;
With gronyng grete thei felle to grownde,

Here sydes federed whan thei gone fele.

Owre lord the kynge he foght ryght wele,
Scharpliche on hem his spere he spent.

Many on seke he made that sele,
Thorow myght of God omnipotent.

The duke of Glowcestre also that tyde

Manfully, with his mayn^,
Wondes he wroght ther wondere wyde.

The duke of ^orke also, perd^,

Fro his kyng no fote wold he flee,
Til his basonet to his brayn was bent;

Now on his sowle he have pet^,
MersifuU God omnipotent.

Hontyngdoun and Oxforde bothe

Were wondere fers all in that fyght;

That erste was glade thei made ful wrothe,
Thorow hem many on to deth were dyght.

126 POLITICAL PO£a(S.

The erles fowghten with mayn and ihy^t,
Rich hauberke thei rofe and rente ;

Owre kyng to helpe thei were full lyght;
Now blesse hem God omnipotent.

The erle of Suthfolk gan hem aaeaylle,

And sir Bicharde Eyghld in that stede.
Here lyves thei losten in that bataile,

With dyntes sore ther were thei dede.

^if eny man byde eny good bede
Unto God with good entent,

To tho two sowles it mote be neede,
Gracilis God omnipotent.

Sire William Bowsere, as foule in fright,

Preste he ther was upon his pray,
Erpyngham he come hym with,

Her manhode help us welle that day.

Off Frensshe folk in that afray
Thre dukes were dede with doleful dent,

And fyve erles, this is no nay;
Ther holpe us God omnipotent.

Lordes of name an hunderde and mo

Bitterly that bargayn bowght;
Two thousand cot-armers also,

After her sorow thedere thei sowght

Ten thbwsand Frensshemen to deth wer browght,
Off whom never none away went ;

All her names sothly know I nowght,
Have mersy on hem Cryst omnipotent.

Two dukes were take in that stoure,

He of Orliawnce and of Borboun,
The Ewe and Arthowre,

The erle of Vandoum, and many ona

ON THE BATTLE OF AZINCOURT. 127

The erchebifishope of Sens come with oure fopn,

» « » » *

Hym fiuled the wynnyng of his schone,
Thorow myght of God omnipotent

The fals Flemyngys, God ^ef hem care,

Thei loved us never ^it, by the roode,
For alle here fals flateryng fare,

Atenst owre kyng that day thai stode.

Bot many of hem her hert-blode
Unblythly bledden upon that bent;

^it schalle thai never wayt Inglond good,
I swere by (Jod omnipotent.

Epigram on the Battle of Azincourt.^

Mortua cara cruce caro Christi victor ut unus
Crispini luce fecit Francis fore fimus.
Henricus quintus rus agens curtum fuit intus,.
Jure juvante Jesu rex est victor sine Isesu,
Dant sua firma fides, bona vita, preces, et amores.
Per silvas virides quod perdit Francia flores.
Ante lepus fugit, quae nunc est Anglica villa,
Quum leo rugit per Francos redditur ilia.

The Frenchman to the Englishman.^

Versus Francorum,

gens Anglorum, morum flos, gesta tuorum,
Cur tu Francorum procuraa damna bonorum?
Servorum Christi quos tractas crimine tristi,
Et servant isti fidem quam bis renuisti.

> From MS. Harl. No. 869, fol. I ^ From MS. Ilarl No. 2,406, fol.
282, Y<». I 9,v".

•y

y

/

128 POLITICAL POEMS.

Sub specie casti, iraudem tu semper amasti.
Scindas annosam caudam quam fers venenosam,
Sed cantas prosam fidelibus Christi morofiaiD.
Exaudi prsBsto tu, prsesul, et memor esto,
Qui ie caudavit Deus ipsum sanctificavii.

Re^ponsio Anglorum.

Anglorum gentem cur false percutis ore?

Et pro rcsponso do tibi metra duo.
Pnevalet in lingua qui non est fortior armis,

Nullus in iiac pugna plus meretrice valet.

On the Lollards.

Versus LoUardoi'um contra prcdatos ecclesice ad eorci-
tandum dommos temporales cmiira eos.

Plangant Anglorum gcntcs crimen Sodomorum,
Pauluft fert Iiorum sunt idola causa dolorum.
Surgunt ingrati Giesitad Simoi\e nati,
Nomine prselati haec defensare parati.
Qui reges estis, populis quicunque pnocstis,
Qualiter his gestis gladios prohibere potestis.

Versus quidam oatholici conUxi eosdem Lollardos.

Gens Lollardorum gens ast vilis Podomoruni,
Errores eorum sunt in mundo causa dolorum.
Hii sunt ingrati, maledicti, dtomone nati,
Quos vos, pnelati, sitis damnare parati;
Qui pugiles estis fidei populisque praeestis,
Non horum gestis ignes prohibere potestis.

' These verses appear to belong i taken from MS. Cotton. Vespas. D.
to the reign of Henry V. They are | ix. fol. 51, r*.

ON THE DEATH OP HENRY V. 12!)

On the Death of Henry V.*

Nota bene de Henrico rege quint o, scilicet Anglice.

Flnit tractatus celebri memoramine dignus,
Tractatus talis qualem non viderat Anglus,
Nee visurus erat, licet annis mille manebit,
Flosquam militia nisi gratia deferat arma,
Et fortisque potens princeps sit bella gubemans,
Ut semper ftierit Henricus quintus quando regebat;
Quando sed id fiet, Deus utique non homo dicet.
Det Deus Augustus ut sit Julio novus hseres,
Duxque patri Macedo successor honore Philippo.
Quam probus et pugnax, quam vi\;ax, fortis, et auda^c
Adversus Francos fuit Henricus rex nomine quintus,
Dum regnans steterat, hsdc nunc concordia monstrat.
Monstrat, dedarat, piano sermonequc narrat,
Quod fuit in bellis Mars, altus et Hector in armis^
In causis Icathus, in judiciis Kadamantus,
Carolus in quaestu, Clodoveus et in moderatu ;
Pluraque sub brevibus ut summatim referamus,
Quicquid regis erat, hie imus solus habebat,
Unus et in numero rex, miles, duxque regendo.
Begum gemma fuitque ducum flos dummodo vixit.
Quam bona, quam magna, quam grandia, quamque

notanda
Hie rex, dum rexit, apud hostes gesta peregit.
Si melius memores, et quomodo nunc variat sors,
Non sine militias neglectu desidiaque.
Die flens, dieque moerens, fert hostis sen modo gaudens^

I From a MS. in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, MS. Land. No. 697,
fol. 28, v".

VOL. IL I

130

POLITICAL POEMS.

Nunc yir, nunc sestus, nunc Martis iota potestas
Ad Francos abiit, nunc nos Anglosque reliquit
Begina fallit habens patrem, sequitur sua proles,
Fallit item dictum, dat ramus semper eundem
Fructum quem stipes, interdum sunt variantes.
Desino plura loqui, res est manifesta legentL

Deed enim talia haberi in memoria in honorum
laudeni, vituperationem enim eorum qui dor-
mitcmi et peregre permittvmt omnia in per^
ditionem.

/

Epigram on the Assumption of the Arms of
France. 1422.^

Invectio OaUici contra dominum regetn Anglice pro
mutatione ai^morum.

lilia Fraricorum, rex Karole septime regum,
Sint tua cum regno, si qua est reverentia legum.

Justa reaponaio Anglici pro mutatione a/rrruyrum.

Lilia Franoorum descensu progenitonim

Jam sunt Anglorum, si lex valet uUa priorum.

* From a manuscript in the Bod-
leian Library, MS. Rawlinson, No.
214, foL 121, v°. This epigram
appears to have been written on the

occasion of the proclamation of the
dauphin of France, claiming the
kingdom as Charles Vll., upon the
death of Charles Yl.

english title to the crown of france. 131

On the English Title to the Crown of France.*

Here begyTi/neth a rememhra/mice of a peedeugrS how
that tiie kyng of England, Henry the aeoct, is
truly borne heir unto the corone of Fra/unoe
by lynyaUe succeesioun,^ ah wde on hie ffader
fAdey Henry the fifih, whom Cfod asaoiUe, as by
KaJbeftyne quene of England, hie modir, wham
Ood aeeaiU; made by Lydygate Joham, the monke
of Bury, at Pa/rySy by Ike instawaoe of my lord
of Wanrewyh

The prolog.

Trouble hertis to sette in quyete,
And make folkys theire language for to lette,
Which disputen in their opynyons
Touching the ligne of two regions,
The right, I mene, of Inglond and of Fraunce,
To put away alle maner variaunce,
Holy the doute and the ambyguyt^^
To sette the ligne where hit shuld be,
And where hit aught justly to abide,
^Wrongfulle claymes for to set aside^
I moved was shortly in sentement
By precept first and commaundement
Of the nobly prince and manly man,
Which is so loiyghtly and so moche can,

> This U one of the nameronB
metrical prodactioiiB of the poet
Lydgate, and certainly is one of hU
wont Its date la fixed to the
autnnm of the year 1426 by the
statement that the king was then
M nigh '* five years old, and Lydgate
himself gives os the day of the

VOL. IL I 2

month on which it was written,
namely, the asth of July. It is
printed from MS. Harl. No. 7333,
fol. 81, f. I have not been able
to disoorer any traces of the original
from which Iiydgate professes to
translate.

132 POLITICAL POEES.

My lord of Warrewyk, so prudent and wise,
Beyng present that tyme at Parys
Whanne he was than repairede agein
From seint Juliane of Matins, oute of Mayne
Resorted home, as folkys telle conne,
From the castelle that he had wonne
Thurgh his knyghthode and his hy noblesse,
^And thm^h his wysdom and his hy prowesse.
Gladly he chevith what so he begjmne,
Sesyng not tylle he his purpos wynne,
The fyne therof berith witnessing.
Lyf and goodis for title of his kyng
He spaiith not to put in juperdye,
Oonly the right for to magnifie
Of him that is to him moste soverain,
Henry the sext, of age ny fyve yere renne,
Borne to be kyng of worthie reamys two.
And God graunt that it may be so,
Septure and crowne that he may in dede,
As he hath right, in peas to possede^
And to put his title in remembraunce,
Whiche that he hath to Inglond and to Fraunce.
Ther^ent The noble, that worthi varioure,
^*^^i f ^^^^^^ ^^y ^ eaUid a very conqueroure,
Fraunce, Who lyst considre and serche by and by
BTeA^rdi ^^ grete emprise in ordre coriously,
' And specially to enorece his glory.
Who list remembre the grete high victory
Which that he had in VemoiUe in Perche,
Fulle notable in boke oute to serche,
In cronydes to be song and rad;
And this prince moste discrete and sad,
Hy lord of Bedford, of Fraunce the regent.
Was the first that did his entent,
By grete advys and M hy prudence,
Thurugh his laboure and his diligence,

ENGLISH TITLE TO THE CROWN OF FRANCE. 133

That made eeoche in cronycle fulle notable^
By the clerk which he knew moste able,
Benomed of wysdom and science^
Worthie eke of fame and of credence.

And I) as he that durst not withsey,
Humbly his biddyng did obey,
Ful desirous him to do plesaunce,
With fere suppresed for my ignoraunce,
And in my hert quakyng for drede ;
And as I kend began to taken hede
Unto the Frenssh compiled by Laurence,
* In substaunce filowyng the substaunce
Of his wiityng and compilacioun.
Alle be that I in my translacioun
To my helpe nor to my socoure
Of rethoryk have no maner floure,
Yit shal I folow my maistre douteles,
Calot, and be not recheles
Liche his writyng my stiel to direct ;
Where I dare pray hem to correct,
I mene tho that shalle hit sene or rede;
And right forth who so lyst take hede,
Undir favoure and supportacioun,
Thus I begyn on my translacioun.

Here endith the jyroloff, and begynneth the translcicioun.

Crist Jhesu, prince and soverain lord
Of unytd, of pease, and of accorde,
Seyng the myschief and the hie dLstaunce
Betwene the kyng of England and of Fraunce ;
Perylle of soules both nygh and feiTe,
By occasioun of the moi;talle werre ;
Seyng also the grete confusiouu
Of both reames, by devisioun
Thurgh feyned falshede caused cursidly
By the dolphyn, that so horribly

134

POLITICAL POEBIS.

Sohewjng
of the pee-
degr^ in
poitratore.

Made sleen withoute drede or shame,

At Monstreux, a toune of greie iame,

Johan due of Burgoyne, by grete violence,

Doyng to him honm^ and reverence,

And evermore of inyqnit^,

By false tresoun and cursed cruelty,

Compassed ; alas \ that was to grete a ruth

Under coloure and shadowe of veray trouth,

In dispite of the chirche, alas !

Havyng no reward in this horrible cas

To suert^ nor othe ymade tofome,

Nor asuranoe in holy place aswome,

The high lord Herry Bully to offende;

That wit of man coude not comprehende,

That this dolphyn shuld in any wise

So hygh tresoun compassen or devise,

Him self, alas ! in hindryng of his name,

Thurgh the world to sdaundre and to blame.

Causing in soth his unabilit^

For to succede to any dignity,

Of knyghtly honure to regne in any lond,

As by lettres ensealid with his hond

Clerly recorde, truth wolle not vary,

He to his othe wirching the contrary.

Consideryng this and peised in balaunoe,
Touching the right of true enheritaui^ce,
God thurgh his myght who can undirstonde
More of grace than of mannes honde,
AUe oure trouble to enden and to fyne,
By purveaunce which that is devyne,
Provided hath of his hy grace
For reames two large to compasse
A rightfuUe heire, I dare^hit wele endite,
As this figure imto every wight
Shewyng in ordre descendyng lyne right,
To forein blode that it not ne choinge,
The crowne to put in non hondis straunge,

ENGLISH TITLE TO THE CROWN OF FRANCE. 136

But it conveied there it shuld be.

Verily, liche as ye may se,

The peedegr^ doth hit specifie,

The figure lo of the genelagye,

How that God list for her puichace

Thurgh his power and benigne grace,

An heir of peas by just successioun,

This figure makith clere demonstracioun.

Ageins which noman may maligne,

But that he stondith in the veray ligne,

As ye may se, as descendid is

Of the stok and blode of seint Lowys ;

Of which we aught of equity and right

In oure hertis to be glad and light,

That we may se with every drcumstaunoe

Direct the lyne of Englond and of Fraunce.

Oil the othir part byhold and ye may se Shewyng

How this Herry in the eight degri tareTCj

Is to seint Lowys sons and veiy heire; pede^.

To put awey alle doute and despaire,

God hath for us so graciously provided,

To make al oon that first was devided,

That this Herry stonding in the lyne,

Thurgh Goddis bond and purviaunce devyne.

Is justly borne, to voide alle variaunce, ^

For to be kyng of Englond and of Fraunce ;

To whom we owe truly to obey

In every thing, there is nomore to sey.

By whom we se the werre doutelesse

Fully finisshed, brought in werre and peas,

Betwix this noble worthi reames twayne,

Ful long afome with laboure and grete payne

Sought and required, which ben now at rest,

Thanked be God, that alle doth for the best.

And that this peas in sothfast unyt^,

Be endid sone withoute strif or plee.

By thavise and mediacioun

136 POLITICAL POEMS.

Made by tret^ of bothe regioun,

Swome and asured by fiille besy peyne

Of both parties at Trois in Champoigne.

Charlis the sext makyng thassurance,

Thilke tyme beyng kyng of Fraunoe ;

The quene also swome in the same wise,

And after hem, as I shal devise,

The boke also entouchid with his hond,

Was Herry swome, kyng of Englond,

Heir of Fraunce, and also regent,

And Phelip eke beyng there present,

Due of Burgoyne, assured eke and swome,

Sone to the due of whom I spake byforne,

That slayn was and murdred traitoursly;

Than thre astatis beyng by and by,

Prelatis, erles, lordis, and barons,

Swome and assured, of both regions,

As the traits fully hath devised.

And there in Troys also was solempnesed

The manage, to conferme up the peas;

And to declare the maner douteles

Of this weddyng, who so lyst to serche.

At Seint Petirs Aundels of the chirche.

The said Herry, manly and pmdent.

Of Englond kyng, of Fraunoe the regent,

Betrouthed hath my lady Kateryne,

And the mystery with that is devyne.

O manage by grete reverence.

The sacrement for the excellence

He hath worshipped, and fulle humbly

In the chirch made axid openly,

After castume of hy or low degr^,

To show ensample of humylit^.

In the chirche thries of Seint Johan,

Liche the custume of new and yore agon,

Thries published in open audience,

As the lawe byndeth in sentence.

ENGLISH TITLE TO THE CROWN OF FRANCE. 137

Touching the statuyt in cas of mariage.

For any favoure of blode or lynage,

The cours sujmg in alle his hole entent.

And in no wise list not be exempte.

From poynt to poynt list no thing withdrawe,

The bonde filowyng of holy chirche lawe,

Notwithstondyng his astate rialle ;

But in his chirche than parochialle

Of Seint Johan he came with good entente

For to receive the holy sacrement

Of manage, he and Kateryne,

As ye tofome have herd me determyne.

The which Kerry if I shal disciyve,
I dare wele sey there was never on lyve
No manlier to speke of worthinesse,
Of govemaunce, nor of hy prowesse,
Whiche thurgh his manhode and grete laboure,
Lyche a notable worthi conqueroure
Cesid not, thurgh his besy peyne,
Justly to bring worthi reames twayne
Undir oo crowne by desceynt of lyne ;
For which he may among the worthie nyne
Truly be set and reconed for oon.
Who can take hede among hem everichone.
And of this Henry, of knyghthode moste famous,
Moste avisy, and moste victorious,
From saint Lowys in the right lyne,
I sey of him and of Kateryne,
Don in ordre by corious lynealle,
Descendid is from the stok rialle
Of seint Lowis, who can undirstond,
Henry the sext, borne in Englond,
For to possede by enheritaunce
Crownes two of Englond and of Fraunce,
By true title, as ye have hard tofome,
The first yere in soth that he was borne.
By the which of hem he and his fader dere Kyng of

Both two passing in oon yere, ^^'

138 POLITICAL POEMS.

tb[e Everiche in baste suyng aftir othir,

thekyi^of ^7 pitous &ate, hit wold be non othir,
Engiond, The yere of grace by computacioun
fift], A thoufland foure hundrid' by conclusioun

Twenty and two, who so compte right
God graunt her soulis of her grete myght
Joy and rest which is etemalle,
In his court above celestialle ;
And graunt oure kyng joy, honure, and glorye,
Peas and quiete, and of his foon the victorye,
To love his people, and to be loved ayen.
As thei loved her lord most soverain,
Charles the sext, which was his aieUe.
And in doctryne norisshed be as wele,
And ak wys and prudent fynally,
As was his fader callid eke Henry.
Graunt him grace and also good fortune,
In his regnes also to contynue
His rialle lyne also to habounde,
And that hit may verily be founde
Hy to encrece in worship and vertue,
As an heir blessed of Jhesu,
And of renoun excellent in vertue.
To drawen oute a true peedegrue,
Lyneally descending even adoun
From seint Lowys, most famous of renoun5
And renommed of parfite holynesse ;
And specially, the trouth to expresse,
Amonges other to rekene everychone,
Of Frenssh men oonly there was oon
From the trouth which wold not vane,
Oure liege lord chosen secretary
For his feithfulle true diligence,
Which by name callid is Laurence
Calet, of the counseiUe derk,
Which toke on him the laboure of this werk,
Ever afbir to be rad and song;
First to compile hit in the Frenssh tong,

ENGLISH TITLE TO THE CROWN OF FRANCE. 139

Compendiously drawe hit in sentence

In that language, by grete providence,

As he that was passing excellent,

In rethoryk famous and eloquent,

And diligent withouten any slouth

To dedare pute the trouth,

The chaf to voide and take the true come.

Of which my lorde that I spak of byfome,

My lord of Warrewyk, ful worthi of renoun,

Of high prudence and discrecioun,

Touching the writyng of this Calot derk.

Draw into Frenssh by his besy werk,

Gaf me precept in oondusioun

To make therof a playne translacioun

In EngUssh tong, and bad me hit translate.

And to reherce the very true date

Of this laboure, when I first bygan,

Hit was in soth, as I reherce can,

The monyth of Juylle twenty dales comen,

And eight over, when the sonne shone

Made his paleys and his dwellyng place

Ameddis the hevene in the thrid face,

The signe I mene caUid the lioun.

Which is the toure and chief mansioun

Where Fhebus hath moste soverain dignity ;

And thilke tyme in the thritteneth degr^

He entred was of the same signe,

Thatempre wedir lusty and benigne,

Satume beyng in the scorpyoun.

In which he hath no d'omynacioun,

Ne dignity shortly for to tary;

Jubiter in the sagittary

Seven degr^s where he is dignified,

Fulle fortunat and gretly magnified;

Furious Mars, the ferfulle red sterre,

Causar of stryf, patroun of the werre,

With lus hemes cast moste fervently,

Was two pocys passed of gemeny ;

14.0 POLITICAL POEMS.

Fretuh Venus, lady of Citheroun^
Was nyne degrees entred the lyoun ;
And the mone, with her homes pale,
From the bolle gan her cours availe ;
The same tyme when that Mercorious
In the lyoun had take his hous,
Ful contrary to his dignity,
Beyng tho in the tenth degr^ ;
And of the bulle also douteles
By accomptes also twenty grees
Entred was the hed of the dragoun ;
And his taille in thopposicioim ;
The same tyme> as I understond,
My lord bad me this werk take in hond.
That he may se his generaciouu
Unto the forteth multiplicacioun
Victoriously for to regnen here,
After this lyfe above the sterres clere,
God him graunt oonly of his grace
OS mercy there for to have a placa

Here endith the genologie of kyng HeniTf tlie aexf,
and folmvith a roundelle of him ayens kia doro-
naciouriy Ttuide by Lydegate daun Johan.

Rejoice, ye reames of Englond and of Fraunce,
A braunche that sprang oute of the floure-de-lys^
Blode of seint Edward and seint Lowys,
God hath this day sent in govemaunce.

God of nature hath yoven him suffisauncc,
Idkly to atteyne to grete honure and pris.

O hevenly blossome, o budde of alle plesaimce,
God graunt the grace for to ben als wise
As was thi fader by circumspect advise,
Stable in virtue, withoute variaunce.

Explicit.

/

TO KINO HENRY VI. ON HIS CORONATION.

141

To King Henry VI. on his Coronation.*

Most noble prince of cristen princes alio,

Floi¥ryng in yowtlie and verfcuous innocence,

Whom God above list of his grace calle
This day to estate of knyghtly excellence,
And to be crowned -with diewe reverence,

To grete gladnesse of al this regioun,
Lawde and honour to thy magnificence^

And goode fortune unto thy high renoun.

Royal braunched, descended from two lynes,

Of seynt Edward and of seynt Lowys ;
Holy seyntes, translated in theyr shrynes,

In theyr tyme manly, prudent, and wys;

Arthur was knyghtly, and Charles of grete prys,
And of all these thy grene tender age.

By the grace of Qod and by his adyys,
Of manly prowesse shal taken tarage.

Qod of his grace gaf to thy kynrede

The polme of conquest, the laurere of victorye ;
They loved Qod, and worshipped hym in dede,

Wherfor theyr names he hath put in memory,

Made hem to reigne for vertu in his glorye;
And sith thow art bom of theyr lynage,

Tofore al thynges that bien transitorye
Love Qod and drede, and so gynne thy passage.

' This poem was evidently ad-
dreaied to the iniknt king» on his
corooatMni, which took place on the

6th of November 1429. It is printed
from a contemporary manoscript,
MS. Harl. No. 2251, fol. 251, v^

142 POLITICAL POEMS.

Downe firom the heven thre floui'-de-lyB of gold.

The fielde of asore, were sent to Godovd,
To sygnifie, in storye it is tolde,

Farfite bileve, and soth&st unyt^

Of thre persones in the Trynit^ ;
For to declare that the lyne of Ffraunce

Shuld in theyr trouth parfite and stable be,
Qronnded on feyth, withouten variaunce.

And sith thow art from that noble lyne
Descended downe, be stidefast of byleve ;

Thy knyghtly honoar lete it shewe and shjoie,
Shewe thy power and thy myght to preve
Ageyn^ al thoo that wil the chirche greve.

Cherisshe thy lordes, hate extorcioun;
Of thyn almesse thy peple thow releve ;

Ay on thy comunes havyng compaasioun.

Noble prince, the high Lord to qweme,
Susteyne right, trouth to magnyfie,

Differre vengeaunce, alwey or thow deeme,
And gyf no dome til thow here iche partye
Til nother part thy favour nat applye;

And eeke considre, in thyn estate royal,
The Lord above, whiche noman may denye,

Indiflferently seeth and considreth alle.

God sent this day unto thy regalye

Of al vertues hevenly influence ;
First of alle thi state to magnyfye

With Salamons soverayne sapience;

To goveme thy wit and thi high prudence,
Liche kyng David to be loo! mercyable,

Whiche of pit^, whan men dide hym offence,
Mercy preferryng, list nat be vengeable.

TO KING HENRY VI. ON HIS CORONATION. l43

Nobles and force in wexynge liche Sampson,

Kesemble in knyghthode to worthy Josu^;
And tho-w mayst be Qoddis champioun,

As that he was, Judas the Maehab^e;

With Alisaundres magnanimyt^ ;
Conquest, victorye, with Cesar Julius,

His pacience'and his tranquillity,
And in suftratince to be als vertuous.

Provident, with Brutus Cassius ;

Hardy as Hector, whan tyme doth require ;
Vices eschewyng as Fabricius;

Constant of hert, and al als entier

As Zenocrates, whos renoun shoone so dlere;
Wronges forgetyng, noble Cypion ;

Clement, with Titus ; with al these in feere.
In al thi dedis conquest and high tenoun.

In al thi werkis haimtyng rightwisnesse,

As themperour that caUid was Trajan ;
With Thiberye, fredam and gentiUesse;

Attemperance, with prudent Gi-acian;

And in thy doomes, Uche Justynian,
Nothyng conclude til thow se the fyne;

Pees preferryng aa Octovyan ;
The chirche cherysshyng, like Constantyne.

And that thow mayst be resemblable fotmde,
Heretikes and Lollardes to oppresse,

liche themperour worthy Sygesmounde ;
And as thy fader, flowre of high prowe&se,
At the gynning of his roial noblesse,

Voided al cokil farre out of Syon,
Cristes spottse satte in stablenesse,

Outrayeng foreyns that cam from Babilon.

144 POLITICAL POEMS.

God graunt the grace for to i^esemble in al

Unto these noble worthy conquerours;
Longe to eontynue in thyn estate royal,

And to be lyke to thy progeny tours ;

To gadre the vertu out of fressfae floures,
As dide thy fadir, niyrrour of manhode ;

And to represse of vices al the showres,
With fynal grace to love God and drede.

Fynally, remembryng of reasoun
Croppe and roote of that royal lyne

Fro whiche thow cam, folwe discrecioun
Of thy fader, whiche dide so shyne
In al vertu ; plainly to termyne.

Late hym by thy myrrour and thy guyde,
With the goode lyf of qwene Kateryne,

Thi blessid moder, in that other side.

Of goode rootes, sprynggyng by vertu,

Must growe goode fruyte be necessite;
Whan influence by the Lord Jhesu

Is sent adowne from his hevenly cytee.

And God I pray, of his hygh bounty,
Of fader and moder in thy tendre yowth

To take ensample, reygneng in thy see,
And bien in vertu als famous and als kowth.

With hym in knyghthode to have excellence ;
Like thy moder in vertuous goodenesse ;

And liche hem both, grounde thy conscience
To love thi Lord in parfite stabilnesse,
Goode lyf and longe al vices to represse.

Love of thy lieges, pees and obeysaxmce.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Tliy right rejoisyng of Ingland and of Fraunce.

TO KING HENRY VI. ON HIS CORONATION. 145

Prince excelent, be feythfiil, triewe, and stable ;

Drede God, do lawe, chastice extorcioun;
By liberal of courage, unmutable ;

Cherisshe the chirche with hole affeccioun;

Love thy lieges of eyther regioiin ;
Preferre the pees, eschewe werre and debate;

And God shal sende from the heven downe
Grace and goode hure to thy royal estate.

Be mercyful, nat hasty ne vengeable ;

Lightly forgyve, where as thow seest reasoun;
Be rightful juge, be manly, be tre table ;

Thy right ay sugre with remyssioun;

Deme nat to sone, but make dilacioun ;
Kewe on the poore and folk desconsolate ;

And God shal sende from the heven above
Grace and good hure to thy royal estate.

In thy behesfces be nat variable ;

Holde thy promesses, made of entencioun ;
Be bountevous, and kyngly honurable ;

Voyde thy realme from discencioun ;

Eschew flatery and adulacioun;
Folkes reconsile that stonde desolate ;

And God shal sende from the heven downe
Grace and goode hure unto thy royal estate.

VOL II.

146 POLITICAL POEM&

On the Cobonation op Henry VI.^

Nov. 6, 1429.
A balade made of the same hynge.

Holde up oure yong kyng, (we hemgna, ^

And aende us peas in oure londe, ave regma.

Mater, nunc bright bee thy beamjrs, .\

Moodir of mercy, save bothe reamys ; \

See to oure innocent, oure crowne may be gladder, ^

Holde up oure lorde that nevir sigh his ffadir, l

Ne the fSoMlir his sone reynyng in his londes ; .>

Crete nede have we to kepe peas amonge us. >

On a Sounday, trewly ye may trowe, /

Oure bisshoppes and oure abbottes were mytird arowe ; a

Two archiebisshoppes so woorthely acqueyntid, •

And a gracious cardynalle aboute oure kyng anoyntid/^^

Thre swerdis there were borne, oon poyntlees, and two

poyntid; c
The toon was a swerde of mercy, the oothir of astate,
The thrid was of the empier the which ert oure gate.
Three dukes were in presens woorshipe to encrece;
Two bisshoppis hym ledde to kepe in peece ;
Six erles in their estate shewid them alle;
And the v. poortis beryng up the palle.
Gracious Werwik, Gbd hym contynue,
Beryng up his trayne in peece and vue.
Alle the barouns of oure londe togidir they were founden.
The juges, the knyghtes of the shire, and the dt^ of

Londen.
This is procession goyng thorughe the halle ;
Angelis mete, manna, on his crowne did &Ile,

> Printed from M8. Lansdovne, No. 286, ifoL 5, 7''.

ox THE COBONATION OF HENRY VI. 147

And conceyvid in this lande the crowne to encreoe,

Evir enduryng with plenty and with peece.

The archiebiashope of Cauntirbury appoyntid,

The gracious kyng Harry the sixt he anoyntid

Oure sovereigne lorde in the chief, who wille undir-

stonde.
The oardynalle tho was on his right hande;
On the toothir side the channceller, theis lordes were

able.
The bisshope of Beames^ at the same table.
Huntyngdone kneeljmg with his septure on the right

honde,
Stafforde with his swerde there woorthyly holdande.
Northfolk as a marschalle fulle woorthyly beknowe,
Bidyng in his office, truly ye may trowe.
Salisbury in Bedforde office present hym there,
Sittyng on a stede, as he conestable were.
The V. poortis on the right hande that the palle beere,
At the boorde on the right hande present they were.
At the next bisshoppis and abbottes togidir were

founden ;
And on the toothir side the citee of Londoun.
Many oothir lordis were present in that place,
To woorshipe oure soveraigne lorde with alle solace.
Byfore the kyng, with his lordis thus sittyng alle,
Came PhiUipe Dymmok ridyng to the halle,
Armyd dene with armure so bright.
Like as perteynethe unto a woorthy knyght,
As the kynges champion by heritage ;
There redy his body and his gloove to wage,
Tif there were any man that wille say the contrary,
That kjmg Harry the sixt is crownyd truly.
He is redy to delyvir hym, and not abasshe.
By signement of tiie kyng, tyme and place.

> An error apparently for Bheims.

K 2

148 POLITICAL POKILS.

Praye we alle bothe more and lesse,

Criflt save Englonde in reste and peece,

And God coomforthe that mykille hathe loost,

That was woon with woorshipe kte nevir be looet.

On the Duke op BuRGtrNDY.'
A songe made of the duke of Burgeyne,

Thow Phellippe, fonndour of new falsehede,
Distroubar of pees^ capiteine of cowardise,

Sower and distrouber, reprof of alle knyghthode,
Which of alle Bourgoyne, that is so gret of pris,
Thow clepest thi selfe due, whan woltow ryse

Ande in pleyne felde do mustre with thi lance?
See how alle knyghthode thi werre doth despise.
White thi owne falsnes alle thi myschance.

Remembre the, Phelippe, ande have in mynde
Howe Henry the w*« of werray gentelnesse,

Withotene thi desert, he was to the kynde,

Ande alwa thi socoure whane thou were in destresse,
Defende thi persone from alle wilftdnes

Of alle thi mortal enemys of Engelonde and of France;
Wherfor thou shewest gret unkyndnesse,

The which thou may wite alle thi myschance.

Remembre the, Phelippe, at thi begynnyiig,

Whan that thi ffader, thurgh conspired tresoun, |

* ThiB piece, which appears to he
imperfect, was written at the time
of the defection of the dnke of
Bargondy teom the English alliance,
prohablj shortly before, or at the

It is printed fh)m MS. Sloane.
No. 252, fbl. 169, t*. It is written
in a French hand, and apparently
by a scribe whose mother tongue
TTfls not English, which will account

time of; the siege of Calais (1436). j lor some obscurity.

ON THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY. 149

By assent of Charles that callede him self kyng
Of that reame of Ffrance withouten ground resoun,
Was at Motreux broght to his confusioune ;

To kyng Henry there thou dedist thy l^eance ;
Of lyf and land he was thi proteccioun ;

Wherfor thi faJsnes causethe thi myschanee.

Bemembre the, Phelippe, what tyme and how
To kyng Henry the fifte, by thi owne assent,

Withouten his desire, thou madest a solempno vow,
XTsyng Goddes body, the holy sacrament,
To becomme trew lygman with good entente

To liim ande his heires, withouten variance ;

Now art thou fals to Gode, by thine owne assente.

The which thou may witte all thi myschanse.

Remembre the, Philleppe, that thou yonge kyng,
Harry the sext, was crowned at Parys,

Johan due of Bedford thine absenc excusyng
By souflSsant warant made by thi devise,
He did thine homage as to the ffloure-de-lys ;

This matere the lust not to adversity,

With thine oune falsnes and thi myschanee.

Remembre the, Philleppe, how peple of Englond
Have bene to the evyr gentil and trew;

For whan thou wer besegede with many a thousand
Of Armynackes, they did the rescewe.^

* This poem appears to end imperfectly.

150

POLITICAL POEMS.

Philippe op Burgxtndy and James of Scotland.*

PhUippus d/ux BurguncU(B ad Jacobmn regem Scot-

toTwm.

niustri Jacobo Scotiorum principi magno,
Begi magnifico cum fulmine castra reduce.

Reaponaio ad hoc per quendam Anglicum.

Burgundus Scoto, dux regi, &isuB iniquo,
Philippufl Jacobo, dedit h89c baliaria metro.
Et si quis quaarat cujus vox extitit ista,
Vox balearis erat, ut finxerat ipse metrista.
Nunc reflexivum parvum lapidem tibi flabo,
Atque ducem vivum si vult mihi stare probabo
Bumbardo metrico; sic scripsit amicus amico^
Begi magnifico cum fulmine castra reduco ;
Ecce tene lapidem, per sermones ita viles^
Et frangendo fidem, tu falsus es undique miles.
Nee Burgundorum dux, quamvis scandat ad astra,
Nee rex Scotorum, sibi subdit Anglica castra.
Per tantum fulmen, per talem nempe reductum,
Anglorum culmen adquisivit sibi fructum.
Quamvis falsidicus hie dux noster amicus,
Nobis multa dedit ut ab obsidione recedat,
Angligenis vinceps tum Scotus rex habeatur,
Est falsus prinoeps, quia pnncipi falsificatur.
Dux Burgundorum quia princeps feJsus habetur,
Principi Scotorum sua per metra falsa fatetur.
Est et semper erit similis, similem sibi quaerit;
Ambo peijuri, sunt ambo simul perituri.

*Thi8 short poem, printed from
MS. Bawliiuoii, No. 214, fol. 166,
r**, belongs no doabt, from internal
evidence, to the same period as the

preceding. The king of Scotland
mnst be James I., vho was mur-
dered in the night of the 20th of
February 1437.

PHILIPPE OF BUBGtJNDY AND JAMES OF SCOTLAND. 161

Philippus, Jacobus, sancti simul ambo foere;
Istorum reprobus contendit uterqae manere.
Nominibus similes sunt non in imagine morum ;
Sed nisi sint humiles non intrant castra polorum.
Dux dudum victus est, per papam maledictus ;
Acriter inflictus est iste grayissimus ictus.
Miror vos quippe, te, Jacobe, teque, Philippe,
Cur ita temptatis nos Anglos et stimulatis.
Si vultis pacem, populum revocate minacem ;
Si vultis gnerras, proprias defendite terra&
Expectate domi, nos proprias terras tenemus,
Vinus pomi vestri pretio nee egemus.
Obsecre, rex et dux, clare videatis ubique,
Quomodo lex et lux vestrum tenebranttu* utrique.
Si non curetis vestras animas fore salvas,
Non alias detis infemi visere valvas.
Dux Burgundicus et rex Scoticus insidiantur,
Sed rex Anglicus et grex publicus his dominantur.
Anglia regna premit, Burgundia dedecus emit,
Francia fracta tremit, Scotia victa gemit.
XJndique concursus stat et Anglia fortis et ursus;
Anglia dum rugit, circula terra fugit.

Explicit

On the Siege of Calais. 1436.'

Her biginyth the sege off Calaya, in the yer off
our Lord j. m' iiU\

In Juyl, whan the sone schon,
Tres, levys, and herbis grene,
Wyth many sonder colowris,

1 From MS. Cotton. Qalba £. ix.
fol. no, v^ The duke of Bnigondy
laid siege to Calais on the 19th of

July 1436, and -was compelled to
raise it on the 25th day of the same
month.

162 POLITICAL POEMS.

And ffresch flowris that April mad,
Qan for to feynt and to fad

Of lusty colowris and of swete odowris ;
And finyte on tre both gi'et and smale
Gan for to rip and wex fulle pale;

Than comyth tyme off labowr,
To profit and to wirschip wyne
In armes, so ther be no treson inn,

Untruth, ne fals colowr.
The duk of Burgayn off grete prid
Mad gret assembill^ in landes wyd,

In Flanders, and in Breban,
Of his power and in chevalry
Of Burgayn and in Pikardye,

Of Henaw and off Holand ;
A c.l. ml, and mo,
That weryne alle to ryd and go

To ber sper and schild,
And mak avant Calys to wyn,
And schuld dye that wer theryn,

Both man, woman, and chyld.
The wolles and the merchandyss,
And othir god with the ympriso,

They wold have a serteyne.
The walles they wold ber adowne,
Towi*, castelle, and dongen,

Alle schuld be mad fulle playn.
And so with red baners displayed,
With odir in the bateyllys arayed,

They cum the towne abote ;
Statly tentes anon they py^te,
Larg and long and gret of sylth ;

It was a ryalle rowte.
Wyth gunnes gret, and other gret ordinance.
Them to help and to avane,

With many a prowd pavys,

ON THE SIEGE OF CALAIS. 153

Qayly peynted and stuffed welle,
Ribawdes armyd with iyme and stele,

Waa never better off devyce ;
Ix. m^ cokkes to crow at ny^th, •

And viiL ml cressetes to brene li^th ;

Qret wonder to her and se,
How sone the had mad her logyng,
Defens off berth and dikyng ;

Redier my^th non be.
The erle of Mortayne mad a diner,
And, " Felowys, be of good chere,

" Off no thyng hav we no dred ;
" I trust to God to se that day,
" That, for alle the proud aray,

" Fulle low schalle thay lowth.''
The levetenant, ser Johan Raclyf,
That ever lovyd worschyp and dred repreve.

Kept fulle god governance.
And so did the baren off Dudley,
In the castelle, the soth to say.

Mad fulle good ordinance.
My lord Camoys at Bolyn-gate,
The bulwerkes he did undertak,

At no tyme wuld he fayle,
Nether late ne erly ;
Yff any withowt wer so hardy

It onys to assayle.
At the Mylk-gate ser Johan Aston,
And ser Jefferey Warbulton,

With a many a hardy man,
The trompetes lowd they dyd blow,
That the duk my^th welle know

The wach whan yt bigan.
The portei-s kept the gattes full manly,
The gattes opyn continually,

To wate they wer not irk ;

164 POLinCAl. POEMS.

The trew sodiers both day and nythe
Lay on the wallas in hames brighe,

Hit was ther howss and kirk.
The burges and men wer full bown
For to defend the possession,

Hit longith to them off ry^th ;
The merchanttes wer fill redy
At all tymes and every skry ;

Hyt was a full good sytth.
And so did the good comjois,
That had stuffed well the town

With the good and vitayle,
In town and feld to rid and go,
And all odur werkes to doo,

In all that my^th avayle.
The women, both yung and old,
Wyth stones stuffed every scaffold,

The spared not to swet ne swynk;
With boylyng cawdrens, both grett and smalle,
Yf they wold assaute the walle,

AU bote to gev them drynk.
The furst day ther enmys prowd
Gan to skirmysch with schowtes lowd,

But countred they wer anon.
Gonners, to schew ther arte,
Into the town in many a parte

Schote many a fulle gret stone.
Thankyd be God and Mary myld,
The hurt nothir man, woman, ne chyld,

To the howsis thow they did harm.
Sent Barbara ! than was the ciy,
When the stone in the stone did fly;

They cowd non other charm.
And for the duk lay them no nere,
At the sowth-west comer

Off gonnes he had a song ;

ON THE SIEGE OF CALAIS. 155

That anon he left that place,

And to the west end he mad a chace ;

Hym thowth he bod to long.
Ther men my^th se archerys good
Cast from them both gown and hood,

The better for to schote;
That Frensch and Flemysch was ful fayn
To ther tentes to retom ogayn.

They saw non othir boote.
And one amang, an lyrysch man,
TJppone his hoby swyftly ran;

Hyt was a sportfulle sygthe.
How hys darttes he did schak ;
And when him lyst to leve or tak,

They had fdlle gret dispite.
Allso a hownd that did hyeghe go by,
That longid to the water-bayly,

Fulle swyftly wold he ren;
And every skyrmysch to travayle,
Man and hors he wold assayle,

Fulle welle he coude them kenne.
And so hit byfelle upon a Thyrsday,
The erle of Morteyn made a trskj

At seynt Peturs on the playne;
And drove them to there tentys nere.
And toke many a prisonere,

And many off them wer slayn.
And after they com with gret navi,
With bolgit schipis fill craftly,

The havyn for to han schent,
At Friday; but on the morow,
Tlian began the dukes sorow,

Hys schypis when he saw brent.
And so after, within a whyle,
Drawyn adown was hys castell

With many a hardy man;

156 POLITICAL POEBIS.

His men of armes were layd to grownd,
And sum askapid with dethys wond,

And few off them were tan.
The next morow, or yt was day,
Erly the duk fled oway.

And with hym they off Gant.
And after Bruges and Apres both
To folow after they wer not loth;

Thus kept they ther avaunt.
For they had very knowyng
Off the duk off Gloceturs cumyng,

Caleys to rescue.
Bycaus they bod not ther,
In Flanders he soght hem fer and ner,

That ever may they yt rew.
Only God, in whom ys aU . . . . ,
Sav Caleys that ryall towne,

That ever yt mot wel cheye
Unto the crown of mery Yngland,
Whils that this world wyll stand,

That neany enmys ytt greve.
Lytelle wote the fool.

Who my^th ches,
What harm yt wer

God Caleys to lese. Amen.

Explicit the sege off CcUeys,

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY.

157

The Libel of English Policy.^

Here beginneih the ptvloge of tlie pivcesae of the Libelle
of Englyahe Polycye, exhortynge alle Englande to
kepe the see enviroun, cmd oiamelye the narowe
see, shewynge whate profete coTrvmeth tliereof and
also worshype and salvacioiun to Englande and
to aUe Englyshe menne,.

»The trewe processe of Englysh polycye.

Of utterwarde^ to kepe tliys regne^ in rest
Of oure England, that no man may denye,

* Incipit liber de custodia maris, pnesertim arcta inter Dovoream
et Caliseam.

* The date of this very important
poem is fixed by iatemal eyidence,
for it was written after the siege of
Calais by the dnke of Burgundy,
and the invasion of his territory by
the duke of Gloucester, which latter
event occupied the first half of the
month of August 1436, and while
the emperor Sigismond was still
living, and therefore before his death
in 1437. From the tone in which
the defeat of the Flemings is spoken
of we are justified in supposing that
it was written soon after that event ;
and if we may take the marginal note
in the MS. we follow (see further on,
p. 183) as referring to the time at
which the poem was written, its date
would be fixed very nearly, for the
14th year of Henry VI. ended on the
31 St Aog. 1436. It is here printed
iVom a MS. in the Bodleian Library,
MS. Laud. No. 704, fol. l,r» (A.),
collated with other copies, MS. HarL
No. 401 1, fol. 120, r" (B.), MS. Harl.
No. 271, foL 1, r° (C), and MS. Cot-
ton. Vitel.Rx.foL 192, r»(D.) The

first of these manuscripts has the
appearance, by the care and style in
which it is written, of having been
an original copy, intended to be sent
by the author to one of the states-
men of the day, perhaps to the lord
Hungerford, whose name is inserted
in the Envoy at the end. In MS.
D. the title has been changed to
*' TheBibleof EnglischePolyce," an
evident mistake. It is hardly ne-
cessary to state that Libel (Jihelbui)
means a little book. There are two
classes of the MS8., one of which
has the name of lord Hungerford at
the end, the other is addressed to a
high ecclesiastic, no doubt cardinal
Beaufort In this respect Hakluyt's
copy agreed with the text now
printed, while the three other
manuscripts belong to the second
class. I have not attempted to give
all the verbal variations in the texts,
but the readings of MS. D. are
generally the most interesting.

' outwardy B., D.

^ hndf B. ; reamey D.

158

POLITICAL POEMS.

Nere say of soth but^ one of the best
Is thys, that who seith southe, noi-the, est, and ^
Cheryshe marchandyse,* kepe thamyralt^,
That we bee maysteres of the narowe see.

west,^

^Ffor Sigesmonde the grete emperoure,

Whyche yet regneth,* whan he was in this londe

Wyth kynge Herry the v*®, prince of honoure,
Here moche glorye as hym thought he founde;
A myghty londe, whyche hadde take on honde

To werre in F&aunce and make mortality.

And evere welle kept® rounde aboute the see.^ '

And to the kynge thus he seyde, "My brothere,"
Whan he perceyved too townes ® Calys and Dovere,

'* Of alle youre townes to chese of one and othere,-
" To kepe the see and sone to come overe
" To werre oughtwardes and youre regne" to recovere,

*' Kepe these too townes, sire, and^^ youre magest^,

" As youre tweyne eyne to kepe the narowe see'"

Ffor if this see be kepte in tyme of werre,
Who cane here" passe withought daungere and woo?

Who may eschape, who may myschef dyflferre ?
What marchaundye may for by be agoo.?
Ffor nedes hem muste take truse " every jffbo,

Fflaundres, and Spayne, and othere, trust to me,

Or ellis hyndered alle for thys narowe see.

** Videns imperator SigiBmundus duas viUas inter csetens An-
gli», scilicet Caliseam et Dovoream, ponens buob duos digitos super
duos suos oouloB, ait regi, " Frater, custodite istas duas yilias sicut
" duos vestros ooulos."

> but it is, D., with Hakluyt
» or, B., D.

' Men aojf <(f$otke tkia is the best.
Who saUedie souths, norths, est,
or west, B.

* marchamiUss,'B.

^ whiche reigned, B.

• hepe, D.

' And were ever wek hqi>t rounde
aboute the see, B.
" too townes, omitted in B.
• ream,B.

" to, B. 5 sewer to, D,
1* thorougfU, D.
» trusse,B,

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 169

Therfore I caste me by a lytele wrytinge

To shewe att eye thys conclusione,
Ffor concyens and for myne acquytynge

Ayenflt God and ageyne abusyon,

Ajid cowardyse and to oure enmyes confosione;
^Ffor iiij. thynges our noble sheueth to me,
Kyng, shype, and swerde, and pouer of the see.

Where bene oure shippes? where bene oure swerdes*
become?
Owre enmyes bid for the shippe sette a shepa
Alias ! oure renle halteth, hit is ben9me ;

Who dare weel say that lordeshyppe shulde take

kepne?
I wolle asaye, thoughe myne herte gynne to wepe,
To do thys werke, yf we wole ever the,
Ffor verry shame, to kepe aboute the see.

Shalle any prynce, what so be hys name,^
Wheche hathe nobles moche lyche onres,

Be lorde of see, and* Fflemmyngis to oure blame*
Stoppe us^ take ns, and so make fade the floures
Of Englysshe state^^ and disteyne oure honnoures?

Ffor cowardyse, alias ! hit shulde so be ;

Therfore I gynne to wryte now of the see.

' Quatuor considerantur in moneta aurea Anglicana quae dicitur
noble, scilicet, rex, navis, et gladius, qui designant potestatem
Anglicorum aaper mare, in quorum opprobrium his diebus Britones
minoies et Flandrenses et cseteri dicunt Anglicis, " tollite de vestro
" nobile navem, et imponite ovem," intendentes quod, sicut quon-
dam a tempore Edwardi tertii Anglici erant domini maris, modo
his diebus sunt vecordes, victim et ad bellandum et mare obser-
vandum velut oves ; et sicut ssepissime patet eorum derisio in oppro-
brium Anglicorum, etc.

1 wher ben thei, B. | * a«, R

* SehoR the duke of Bwrgoyne he * out of fame,!),
his name, D. I * cutate, B.

160

POLITICAL POEMS.

Of the commorlytees of Spoyne and of Fflaundre^.
The ffyrnte chapitle.

Knowe welle alle men that profites' in certayne,
Commodyt^ caUed, commynge ^ ont of Spayne,
And marchandy, who so wylle wete what that is,
*lBene fygaes, raysyns^ wyne bastarde, and dates;
And lycorys, Syvyle oyle, and grayne,
Whyte * Caatelle sope, and wax, is not in vayne ;*
Iren, wolle, wadmole, gotefel, kydefel also,
Ffor poynt-makers fuUe nedefolle be the ij. ;
Saffron, qniksilver, wheche ame Spaynes marchandy;'^
Is* into Fflanndres shjrpped fuUe crafty lye,
Unto Bruges, as to hiere staple fayre,
The haven of Sluse here havene' for he^tj repayrc,
Wheche is cleped Svyn, tliaire shyppea gydynge,
Where many wessell? and fayre ame abydynge.
But these morchandes, wyth there shyppes greet,
And suche chaffare as they bye and gette
By the weyes, most nede take on6 honde
By the costes to passe of oure Englonde,
Betwyxt Dover and Calys, thys is no doute,
Who can weelle ellis suche mater bringe aboutie.

And whenne these seyde marchauntz discharged '° be
Of marchaundy in Fflaundres neere the see,

^ Ffygues, raisjns, wyne bastarde, dates, lyquoiyce, Cyvylle oylle,
grayne, white Cartelle sope, wax, iren, wademolle, gottefelle, kyde-
felle, Baffiroun, quykesylvere.

* Here hegynnethe tJte profites, B.

' With eommoditeee that comethe,
B. ; Comoditeea caUed out of, D.
» With,D,

* and were certaytif B. ; and wex,
armours in vayn, D.

• ThU and the preceding line are
transposed in D.

• This, D.

' To have at, B.

• they haven, D.

' many a vesselle are bydyng, B.
" charged, B.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 161

Than they be charged agayn wyth marchaimdy

That to Fflaundres bougeth fiill rychelye ;

Ffyne clothe of Ipre,* that named is better than oure is,*

Cloothe of Curtryke," fyne cloothe of aUe coloures,

Moche ffustyane and also lynen cloothe.

But ye Fflemmyngis, yf * ye be not wrothe,

The grete snbstaunce of youre cloothe, at the fiille,*

Ye wot ye make hit of youre® Englissh woUe.

Thanne may hit not synke in mannes brayne,
But that hit most, this marchaundy of Spayne,
But ought and inne by oure costes passe ;
He that seyde nay, in wytte was lyche an asse/
Thus if thys see werre kepte, I dare well sayne,
Wee shulde have pease with the growndes tweyne.
Ffor Spayne and Fflaundres is as yche othere brothere,
And nethere may well lyve wythowght othere.
The® may not lyven to ma3aitene there degrees,
Wythought oure Englysshe commodytees,
Wolle and tynne ; for the wolle of Englonde
Susteyneth the comons Fflemmyngis,® I understonde.
Thane yf Englonde wolde hys wolle restreyne
Ffrome Fflaundres, thys ffbloweth in certayne,
Fflaundres of nede must wyth us have pease,
Or ellis he is distroyde, wythowght lees.
Also yef Fflaundres thus distroyed bee,
Some marchaundy of Spayne wolle nevere ithe ;^°
Ffor distroyed hit is, and, as in chefle.
The wolle of Spayne hit cometh not to preffe,
But if it be toseed " and menged welle
Amonges Englysshe wolle the gretter delle.

* //ncr, B.

' than ourest B.

* Curryk, B.

* though^ B.

« atte/uBe, B.
The clothe ye make of our ^ B.

' He that seithe nay^ in witte is
like an asse, B.
• That, D.

' conume ofFlaunders, D.
" woBe never thee, B.
>> toned, B,,D.i coated, Htikl

VOL. IL L

162 POLITICAL POEMS.

Ffor Spayneshe wolle in Fflaundres draped^ is,

And evere bath be, that men have mynde of thifl ;*

And yet wolle is one of the cheffe marchatuidy

That longeth to Spayne, who so woll aspye ; *

Hit is of lytelle valeue, trust unto me,

Wyth Englyashe wolle but if it menged be.

Thus if the see be kepte, then herkene hedere,

Tf these ij. londes comene not* togedere,

So that the fflete of Fflaundres passe nought,

That in the narowe see he be not brought

Into the Bocfaelle, to feche* the fumose® wine,

Nere into Britonuse bay for salt so fyne,

What is than Spayne? what is Fflaundres also?

As who seyde,' nought, the thryfte is ago.

Ffbr the lytelle londe of Fflaundres is

But a staple to other londes, iwys,

And alle that groweth in Fflaundres, greyn and sede,

May not a moneth ffynde hem mete of® brede.

What hath thenne Fflaundres, be Fflemmyngis leffe or*

lothe.
But a lytelle madere and Flemmyshe cloothe ?
By drapinge' of oure wolle in substaunce
Lyvene here comons, this is here govemaunce;
Wythought whyche they may not leve at ease,
Thus moste hem^® steive, or wyth us most have pensse/

Of the covrmwdit^s of PortingaUe. The ij. captle.

The marchaundy also of Portyngale
To^^ dyverse londes tome** into sale.

> ^aperd, D. i ' seith, B., D.

' haie wynd iwia, B. ; or this^ D. | " and, D., and so Hakl.

« list aspie, B. j ® drapryng, D.

* can not come, D. i '" ihei, B.
»*e*«,B. »7nto,B.

• fmmouae, D. " conwr, B.

tHE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY.

163

Portyngalers wyth us have troughfc one hande,'

Whose marchaundy cometh moche into Englande.

They bene oure* firendes wyth there commoditez,

And wee Englysshe passen into there countrees.

e Here londe hathe oyle/ wyne, osey, wex, and greyne ;

Ffygues, reysyns, hony, and cordeweyne ;

Dates and salt, hydes, and suche marchaundy.

And if they wolde to Pflaundres passe forth bye,*

They schulde not be sulSrede ones ner twyetf,

Ffor supportynge of oure cruelle enmyes j

That is to saye Fflemmyngis wyth here* gyle,

Ffor chaungeable they are in lytelle whyle.®

Than^ I conclude by resons many moo,

Yf wee suflTerede nethere fl5«nde nere tToo,

What so^® enmyes and so supportynge,^

Passe for-by us in tyme of werrynge,'

Sethe oure ffirendys wolle not bene in causse

Of oure hyndrenge, yf reason lede thys daiisse. -

Than nede frome Fflaundres pease shulde by to us

sought,
And othere londes shulde seche pease, doute nought.
Ffor Fflaundres is staple, as men tell me,
To aUe*° nacyons of Ciystiantd.

* Wynne, oyle, oBcy, wex, greyne, ffygues, reysyns, hony,
weyne, dates, salt, hydes.

oorde-

> have truse in honde, B. $ hath
trouih in honde, D.

•yoiir,D.

' This word is supplied from B. ;
10^91, oyUy wex, D.

^ fare-bife, B. ; forb^ D.

• For they were never trewe emf
wkyU, D.

' TFAan, A.
"/or,©.

* What for enemyeand aupporiyng,
B.

" 0/o/7c,B.j ToaSemanern.,D.

h 2

164

POLITICAL POEUS.

The cornmodyUd of Pety ^ Brytayne, wyth hei^e revera
on the see. Tlie iij. capitle.

Fforthermore to wrytene I hame fayne,

Somwhate spekynge of the Lytell Bretayne ;

Commodity therof there is and was,'

Salt and wynes, creste clothe,* and canvasse ;

And the londe of Fflaunderis sekerly

Is the staple of there marchaundy ;

Wheche marchaundy may not passe awey.

But by the coste of Englonde, this is no nay.

And of this Bretayn, who so trewth levys,*

Are* the grettest rovers and the grettest thevys

That have bene in the see many oone-yere,f

That oure marchauntes have bowght full dere7

Ffor they have take notable gode of cures

On thys seyde see,® these false coloured pelours,*

Called of Seynt Malouse, and elles where,

Wheche to there duke none obeysaunce woU bere.

Wyth suche colours we have bene hindred sore,

And fayned pease is called no werre herefore.

Thus they have bene in dyverse costes manye

Of oure England, mo than reherse can I ;

In Northfolke coostes, and othere places aboutte,

And robbed and brente and slayne by many a routte.

And they have also ransonned toune by toune,'®

That into the regnes of bost" have ronne here soune;

> LiUlle, B.

* The commoditees therof is' and
toot, B. ; ComodiiU therof duU is and
UfOSfD,

* creskecloth, D.

* the trauthe bekves, B.

* A. reads and^ an eyident error
of the scribe ; the whole line stands

thus in B.: Are the grettest robbers
and thetfes,

' many a yere, B.

' bought joUe to dere, B.

* On this sgdethe see, D.

' thise seidpillourf, B.

>' towne to toume, B. ; towre and
towne, D.

»» of the best, Ti,

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY.

165

Whyche hathe bene ruthe unto thys realme and shame ;
They that the see shulde kepe are moche to blame.
Ffor Bretayne is of easy reputasyoun,
And Seynt Malouse tumeth hem to reprobacioun.

A storie of kynge Edwarde the iij^ hya ordynauiice
for Bretayne.

'Here brynge I in a storye to me lente,

What a goode squyere ^ in tyme of parlemente,

Toke unto me welle wretene in a scrowe,

That I have comonde/* bothe wyth hygh and lowe,

Of whyche all mene accordene in to one.

That hit was done not monye yeris' agone,

But when noble kynge Edwarde the therde

Eegned in grace, ryght thus hit betyde.

Ffor he hadde a manere gelozye

To hys marchauntes, and lowede^ hem hartelye.

He felde* the weyes to reule well the see,®

Whereby marchauntes myght have prosperity,

That fro^ Harflewe and Houndflewe^ dyd he makene,

And grete werres that tyme were undertakene

Betwyx the kynge and the duke of Bretayne ;

At laste to falle to pease bothe were they feyne.

' Historia, ostendens quam ordinatdonem rex Edwardus m»
fecit contra depredatores marinos Britanniae minoris, ad debellan-
dum eoB et subjuganduin minores BritannoB, non obstante colore
duels eonim, per ekcusationem sui dicehtis se non posse domare
suos inobedientes, et insubjicibiles ei erant.

> That Hampton esquyer, D.

* I comoned with bothe, B, i amen^
did,J>.

* dates, D.

* hved,B.
*feUe,.D.

• He/eU wele the waxes the rtUes
ofAesee,B.

^ iherfor, B.

Harflete and Houn4fiete, B. ;
Harflew and Hand^flew, D.

166

POLITICAL POEMS.

Upon the whyche, made by convencioun,

Oure marchaundys made hem redy boune

Towarde Bretayne to lede here marchamidye,-

Wenynge hem frendes, and wente forthe boldelye.^

But sone anone oure marchaundes were itake,.

And Tree spede nevere the bettere for treuse sake.

They loste here goode, here mond, and spendynge;.^

But there compleynte come^ unto the kynge.

Then wex he wrothe, and to the duke he sente,

And oompleyned that* such harme was hente

By convencioun, and pease made so refused.

Whiche duke sent ageyne, and hym excused,

Kehersynge that the mounte of Seynte Michele

And* Seynt Malouse wolde never a dele

By subject unto his® govemaunce,

Ner be undere hys obeysaunce;

And so they did withowten hym that dede.

But whan the kynge anone had takene hede,

He in his herte set a jugemente/

Wythoute callynge of ony parlemente,

Or grete tary to take longe avyse,

To fortefye anone he dyd devyse

Of Englysshe townes iij., that is to seye

Derthmouth, Plymmouthe, the third it is Ffoweye,

And gaffe® hem helpe and notable puissance,

Wyth insistence set® them in govemaunce

Upon Pety Bretayn^® for to werre.

That gode see-menne wolde no more deferre,

* and Uiedir yode hcidbf, B.

^ They lost her navy, her goode,
and here ependinge, D. Hi^uyt
has navy in place of moni.

' ihei complayned hem^ B.

* how,B.

* Nor,B.

' undir Att, B.

^ Amendes he wold none make, he
seide,
Wherfor the kynge in hart eette
ajugement, B.
* garte hem, D.
^ to sette, B.
>^ LiteOe Bretaigne, B,

THE LIBEL OF ENQUSU POLICY.

167

But bete theme home, and made^ they myght not route,

Tooke prysoners, and lemyd hem for to loutte.

And efte the duke an ensample wysse

Wrote to the kynge, as he ffyrste dyd dewysse,

Hym excusynge; but oure meny wode*

Wyth grete poure passed overe the ffloode.

And verrie forth into the ' dukes londe,

And had neygh destrued free and bonde.*

But than* the duke knewe* that the townes thre

Shulde have loste all hys natale cuntree/

Undertoke by sewrte trewe, not false,

Ffor Mount Mychelle and Seinte Malouse als,

And othere partees* of the Lytelle Bretajmne,

Whych to obeye, as seyde was, were nott fayne,

The duke hym selfe for all dyd undertake,

Wyth all hys herte a fall pease dyd he make.**

So that in all the lyffe tyme of the kynge

Marchaundes hadde pease wythowtene werrynge.

KHe made a statute for Lumb^des in thys londe.

That they shulde in no wysse take one honde

Here to enhabite, here^^ to charge and to dyscharge,

Butt xL dayes, nomore tyme had they large.

Thys good kynge, be wytt of suche appreffe,

Eepte hys marchauntes and" the see fro myscheffe.

' Tutum statutum regis Edwardi tertii pro Lombardis.

* that, B, ; made is omitted in A.,

and IB here supplied from D. and

HaUnyt.

' Than the duke in like wise

Wrote to the kynge for the tnue.

The kynge aunewerd how his

mayni wode, B.
And after the duke m sembiahle

wtfse
Wrote to the kynge, as he fyrst

diddemse,
Hym excusyng, hut our navy
woode, D.

* werryd in the, D.

* To destroie the dukes hnde,
Ayenst his wille, I undirstonde,

B.

* And whan, B.

* «y, B.

' Sheid haoe de^roied his countrt,
B. ; notable contri, D.
" And for dUe the parties, B.
^ These two lines omitted in B.
1* Omitted in B. and D.
" in, B.

168 POLITICAL POEMS.

Of the corrnnodites of Scotdonde, aiid drapynge of her
woUe in Fflavmdrea. The iiij. chapUle,

Moreovere^ of Scotlonde the commoditees

t At flFelles, hydes, and of woUe the ffleesse.

And alle thesse muste passe bye us aweye

Into Fflaundres by Englonde, sothe to saye.^

And alle here woUe was draped^ for to selle

In the tonnes of Poperynge and of Belle,

Whyche my lorde of* Glowcestre wyth ire^

Ffor here ffalshede sett upon a ffjrre.

iAnd yett they of Belle and Poperynge

Cowde never drapere® here woUe for any thynge,

But if they hadde Englysshe woll wythalle.

Oure godely woUe that^ is so generalle

Nedefulle to hem in Spayne and Scotlande als,

And othere costis, this sentence is not fals.

Ye worthi marchauntes, I do it upon yow,

I have this lemed, ye wott wele where and howe;"

Ye wotte the staple • of that marehaundye

Of this Scotlonde is Fflaundres sekerlye.'®

And** the Scottes bene chargede, knowene'* at the eye,'*

J Out of Flaundres wyth lytyll merceiye,

^ Ffelles, hydes, wolleflees, owtewarde.

* Hie patet de incendio villarum de Poperynge et de Belle per
ducem Gloucestre et suos.
i Mercerye, haberdashrye, cartewhelys, barowes, homeward.

> Abo over aUe Sc.j B.

* this is no itay, B.

* drapered^'D,

* the duke of, B.

' in grete ire, B. ; in ire, D.
< drcqte, B. ; draper, D.
» it, B, D.

' That this is trew, ye wote wek
how,l^.
• For the staple, B.
>• truly, B.
" Than,'^.

'3 This word is omitted by B.
" kiiowen that ye, D.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 169

And greie plentee of haburdasshers ^ ware,
And halfe here ^hippes* wyth carte whelys bare,
And wyth barowes, are laden as in substaunce.
Thus moste rude ware be in here cheveaaunoe ;
So they may not forbere thys Fflemysshe londe.
Therefor if we wolde manly take on honde
To kepe this see fro Flaundres and fro Spajme,
And fro Scotelonde, lydi as fro Pety* Bretayne,
Wee schulde ryght sone have pease for all here bostis ;
Ffor they muste nede passe by oure Englysshe costis.

Of the cammoditeea of Pruse^ and Hyglie JDuche
menne, and Enterlynges. The v. cltapUle.

Now goo wee fforthe to the commoditees
That Cometh to^ Pruse in too manere degrees;
Ffor too manere peple have suche use.
This is to saye, Highe Duch men of® Pruse ^,
And Esterlynges, whyche myghte not be forborne
Oute of Fflaundres, but it were verrely lome.
^'Ffor they bringe in® the substaunce of the® beere
That they drynken fele'® to goode chepe, not dere."
Ye" have herde that twoo Fflemmynges togedere,
Wol undertake, or they goo ony whethere,.
Or they rise onys, to drinke a barelle fulle
Of gode berkyne ; '® so sore they hale and puUe,

^ Nota de proprietatibus et conditionibus populorum Flandren-
sium.

> haberdasshe, B; haburdashiy,
D.
s B. omitB these three words.
« LiteOe, B.

* Spntce, D.
•>9tMmD.andHaklnyt.

• and,B.

^ Spruce, D.

• hem,B.

• here, B. ; their, D.
»• eeUe, D.

• * thei drynke good ekept dare, B.
»/,R

*' here, B. ; berekjfn, D.

170

POLITICAL POEMS.

Undre the borde they pissen as they sitte ;
This Cometh of covenant * of a worthy ^ witte.
iWythoute Calise in ther buttere the® cakked,
Whan they flede* home, and when they leysere* lakked
To holde here sege, they wente lyke® as a doo ;
Wei was that Fflemmynge that myght trusse and goo.
Ffor fere they turned bake/ and hyede faste ;
Mi lorde of® Gloucestre made hem® so*° agaste
™Wyth his commynge, and sought hem in here londe,
And brente and slowe as he hadde take on honde ;
So that oure enmyse" durste not byde nor stere,
They flede to mewe,*^ they durste no more appere.
Then his meynd seyden that he was dede,
Till we were goo, ther was non bettir rede.
Ffy! cowardy knyghthode was aslepe,
As dede their duk yn mew they did hym kepe,^®
Bebukede sore for evere so shamefiiUy
»Unto here uttere everelastinge vylany.

' Nota enonnitatem Bcurrilitatis Flandrensium quando fiigas
feoerunt relinquentes Caliseam.

" Nota de fuga Flandrensiuni propter adventum strenuissimi
principiB ducis Glouoestrensis.

^ Hio redarguitur veoordia fugientium, in perpetuam eorum
memoriam.

D.

' conoetofght, D.

' ccmetke of an unworthy ^ B.

' hoture thei, B.

* wenUy D.
» leve, B.

• yode light, B. ; went lyght, D.

' And her prince toumed his baky

^ The duke of, B.

• h^, D.

" sore, B.

" their duke, D.

*' mew, B. ; He was in mew, D.

" This and the three preceding
lines, omitted in A.^ are sapplied
fVomD.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY.

171

After here a/nd bacon, odre gode commoditSa uaene.

^ Now bere and bacon bene fro Pruse ^ ibroughte

Into Pflaundres, as loved and fere isoughte.;^

Osmonde, coppre, bow-staffes, stilp,* and wex,

Peltre-ware/ and grey, pych, terre, borde, and flex,

And Coleyne threde, fustiane, and canvase,

Garde, bokeram, of olde tyme thus it wase.

But the Fflemmyngis amonge these thinges dere

In comen lowen* beste bacon and bere.

Thus am they hogges, and drynkyn wele ataunt,

Ffare wele, Flemynge, hay, harys, hay, avaunt.®

Also Pruse ^ mene make here aventure

Of plate of sylvere^ of® wegges gode and sure

In grete plente, whiche they bringe and bye

Oute of londes of Bealme ® and Hungrye ;

Whiche is encrese ful grete unto^® thys londe.

And thei bene laden,** I understonde,

Wyth woUen clothe alle ** manere of coloures,

By dyers crafbes fill djrverse that bene oures.*^

And they aventure fill gretly unto the Baye

Ffor salte, that is nedefiille wythoute naye.

Thus if they wolde not oure frendys bee,

Wee myght lyghtlye" stope hem in the see;

They shulde not passe oure stremes wythoutene leve,

It wolde not be, but if we shulde hem greve.

® Bere, bacon, osmonde, coppre, bowestaves, stele, wex, peltre-
ware, grey, pyche, larre, borde, fflex, Coleyne threde, ffustiane,
canvas, carde, bokerame, sylrer plate, wegges of silvere and metalL

» Spruce, T>.

' Flanders, laden ferre ieought, B.

« etele, D.

* Pdfyoare^B.

* hven, B., D.

* These two lines are added ftom
).

' Spruce, D.

• and, B.

* Beam, B. ; Beame, D.
" in, B

" lade agayn, B.

" ofaUe,B.

" whiche avaifleiherof is oureSfB,

" ffretfy, B.

172

POLITICAL POEMS.

Of the commoditees of the Januays, and here gi^tte
Tcarekkya} The vj. chapitle.

The Janueys oomyne in sondre wyses

Into this londe, wyth dyverse marchaundyses,

In grete karrekkis* arrayde wythouten lake,

Wyth clothes of golde, silke,' and pepir blake

They bringe wyth hem, and of wood * grete plent<5,

Wolle, oyle, woad aschen, by wesshelle* in the see,

Coton, roche-alum, and gode golde of Jene.^

And they be charged wyth wolle ageyne, I wene,

And woUene clothe of owres of colours alle.

And they aventure, as ofte it dothe by&tlle,

Into Flaundres wyth suche thynge as they bye,

That is here chefie staple sykerlye ;

And if they wolde be cure fulle ennemyse,

They shulde not passe our stremez with merchaundyse.

The commodites and nyceteea of Venicyans and
Florentynea, with there galeea. The vij. chapitle.

The grete galees of Venees and Fflorence

Be wel ladene wyth thynges of complacence,

Alle spicerye and of grocers ware,

Wyth swete wynes, alle manere of chaffare,

Apes, and japes, and marmusettes taylede,

Nifles, trifles,^ that liteUe have availede, ®

And thynges* wyth whiche they fetely blere oure eye,

Wyth thynges not enduryng that we bye^;^^

' earrikes, B,

* carrikea, B.

* silver, B. ; ofgdde and syluer, D,

* wood, B.

* vends, B.

* Gene,D.

' NufeUs and trufeUs, D.

* This line, omitted in A., is here
given from B.

* And oAer thyngeafB.

" Whiche^ thynges be not duryng
that we bye, B.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 173

P Ffor moche of thys clia£fare that is wastable
Mighte be forborne for dere and djrssevable.*
And that* I wene, as for infinnitees,
In oure Englonde is' suche oomoditees,
Wythowten helpe of any othere londe,
Whych by wytte and practike bethe ifounde,
That alle humors myght be voyded sure ;
Whych that we gledre wyth oure Englysh cure.
That wee shulde have no nede to skamonye,
Turbit, euforbe, correcte,* diagredie,**
<lRubarde, sen^, and yet' they bene to® nedefulle;
But I knowe thynges also^ spedefuDe,
That growene here, as these thynges seyde ;®
Lett of this matere no mane be dysmayde,
But that a man may voyde* infirmytee
Wythoute degrees fet'^ fro beyonde the see.-
And yetb" there shulde excepte be ony thynge,
It were but sugre, truste to my seyinge.**
He that trustith not to my seyinge and sentence,
Lett hym better serche experience.
In this mater I wole not ferthere prese, "
Who so not beleveth, let hym leve and sease.^^
Thus these galeise for this** lykynge ware,
And etynge ware^*® here hens oure beste chaffare,

^ Hie de materialibus et ingfedientibus reoeptas medicinales.
*i Of druges materiales for receytes of medicines.

' for thei ben duceivable, B.

«yi«,B.

■ are, B. ; our londe am, D.

* correcHd,!),

* Mgardye, B.

* two^B.

* But IhMr ben thynges oho, B.
•/avi««rf,B.

^byde^D.

** Without thise drugges, B. ;
drouggisfettj D.

"3e/;B.;(/;D.

» senynge, B.
"p&«,B.
" cease, B.
» theire, B.
«• stuffe, D,

174 POLITICAL POEBia

Clothe, wolle, and tynne, whiche, as I seyde ^ befome,

Oute of this londe werste myghte * be forborne.

Ffor eche other londe of ilecessit^

Have grete nede to by Bome of the thre ; ^

And wee resseyve of* hem into this cooste

Ware and ohaffare that lyghtlye wol be loste.

And wolde Jhesu that oure lordis wolde

Considre this wel, both yonge and olde ;

Namelye olde,^ that have experience,

That myghte the yonge exorten to prudence.

What harme, what hurt, and what hinderaunce

Is done to us unto youre® grete grevaunce,

Of suche londes and of suche ^ nadons ?

As experte men knowe ® by probacions ;

By wretynge as discured" oure counsayles,

And false coloure alwey the countertayles

Of oure '^ enmyes, that dothe us hinderinge

Unto oure goodes, oure reahne," and to the kynge ;

As wysse men have shewed welle at eye,

And alle this is colowred by marchaundrye.

An emsampelle of deseytte.

Also they here the golde owte of thys londe^
And souketh the thryfte awey oute of oure honde,
As the waffore ^* soukethe honye fro the bee^
So mynuceth^' oure commodity
Now wolle ye here how they in Cotteswolde
Were wonte to borowe, or they schulde'* be sold6,

> as is seid, B. ' B^ writyng are discovered^ B. ;

« myght worse, B. cmd diseuredy D.

• oneoflhise thre, B. lo aIU irey of our, D.

yZ'\ ^^therynge,!).

• elder, B. « -n Tk
« ' " waspe, B., D.
« oure, B. \ ^ '

» thise, B. ! " msffuiifshethe, B. ; mipisfshe, D.

• shew, B.; proved, D. ' " asitshold, B.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 175

Here woUe gode,' as for yere and yere,^.

Of clothe and t3mne they did in lych ' manere,

And in her galeys schyppe this marchaundye ?

Than sone at Venice of them men wol it bye,

Then utterjie* there the chaffare be the payse.

And lyghtly als* ther they make her reys.*

And whan tho gode bene at Venice solde,

Than to carrye her channge they ben fulle bolde

Into Flaundres, whan thei this money have,

They wyll it profre ther sofcelt^ to save,

To Englysshe marchaundis to yeve it oute by es-

chaunge,
To be paid agayn, thei make not strannge/
Here in Englonde, semynge for the better, '
At the reseyvinge and syght of the lettir,*
By iiij. pens lesse* in the noble rounde,
That is xij. pens in*^ the golden pounde.
And yf we wolle have of paymente,
A fulle monythe than moste hym nedes assente,
To viij. pens losse, that is sheUyngis tweyne,-
In the Englysshe pounde, as efbesones ageync
Ffor ij. monthes xij. pens must be paye,
In the Englysshe pounde, what is that to seye,
But iij. shyllingis, so that in pounde felle .
Ffor hurte and harme harde is wyth hem to delle.
And whenne Englysshe marchaundys" have contente
This eschaunge in Englonde of ^* assente,
That these seyde Veneciance have in wone,'*
And Florentynes, to here here golde sone

* tDoUes good, B.

* fro yere to yere, B., D.
» like, B., D.

« Tim utter, "B.

* ifMyef, D.

' This line is added from B. and D.

" Added also from D.
<> losse, B,

" xij, d. losse in, B.
" marchattnies, B.

** have mowen, D.

176 POLITICAL POKHS.

Overe the see into Flaundres ageyne.

And thus they lyve in Flaundres, sothe to sayne,

And in London, wyth suche chevesaunoe

That men calle nsur^, to oure losse and hinderaunce.

Anothere exemj)le of disceytte.

Now listen welle how they made us a baleys

Whan they borwed* at the towne of Caleys,

As they were wonte, ther wolle that was hem lente,

Ffor yere and* yere they schulde make paymente.

And some tyme als too yere and too yere ;

This was fayre lone,* but yett wolle ye here

How they to Bruges* wolde her woUes carye,

And for hem take paymente wythouten tarye,

And selle it &Bte for redy money in honde?

Ffor fifty pounde of money of losse they wolde not

wonde
In a thousande pounde, and lyve therebye,
Tylle the day of paymente easylye,
Some^ ageyne in exchaunge makynge,
Ffulle lyke usurie, as men make undertakynge.
Than whan thyB payment of a thowsande pounde
Was welle contente, they shulde have chaffare sounde,
Yff they wolde fi'o the staple foUe
Beseyve ageyne ther thousande ^ pounde in wolle.
And thus they wold, if we will beleve,
Wypen our nose with our owne sieve;
Thow this proverbe be homly and undew,
Yet be liklynesse it is for soth fuUe trew.^

borowed^ B., T),

« to,B.,D.

• love, D.

* Bridget, B.

» Come, R, D.

' tty. thousand, B.

' This aud the preceding three
lines 9,re added from D., irhich omits
the ibur which follow.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 177

In Cotteswolde also they ryde aboute,

And al Englonde, and bien, wythouten doufce,

Wliat them liste, wyfche fredome and fraunchise,

More then we Englisshe may getyn in any wyse.

But wolde God that, wythoute lenger delays?,

These galeise were unfi'aught in^ xl. dales,

And in tho xl. dayes charged ageyn'e;

And that they myght be put to certeyne '

To go to oste, as wee there wyth hem doo.**

It were expediente that they did right soo

As wee do there ; if the kynge wolde itt,

A ! what worschip wold falle to Englysshe witte !

What profite also to oure marchaundye,

Whiche wolde of nede be cherisshed hartelye !

Ffor I wolde wete why nowe owre navey fayleth,

Whan many a foo us at oure dorre assayleth,

r Now in * these dayes, that, if there come a nede,

What navey shulde wee have it is to drede.

In Denmarke ware fulle noble conquerours

In tyme passed, fulle worthy werriours,

s Whiche when they had here marchaundes destroyde,

To poverte they felle, thus were they noyede ;

And so they stonde at myscheffe at this daye ;

This lemed I late, welle wryten, this no naye.'*

Therefore be ware, I can no better wylle,**

Yf grace it wole of other mennys perylle ;

Ffor yef marchaundes were cherysshede to here spede,

We were not lykelye to fayle ^ in ony nede.

•" A woffoUe compleyn[te] of lake of navey if nede come.

" A storye of destruccion of Denmarke for destruocion of her
marchauntes, by presidente of master Richarde Barnet shewynf]^e in
a rolle.

* withyn, D.

- in.certayn, B., D.

•' as we in Flaunders dito, 1).

* This lerned I late, it is no nay,
B..D.
« while, D.

' at. D. , ' Wte to fulle, B.

VOL. II. M

178 POLITICAL POEMS.

Yff they bee riche, than in prosperity
Schalbe oure londe, lordes, and comont^.'
*And in worship nowe thinke I on the sonne
Of marchaimdy, Bicharde of Whitingdone,^
That loode-sterre* and chefe chosen floure,
Whate hathe by hym oure England of honoure ?
And whate profite hathe bene of his richesse ?
And yet lasteth dayly in worthinesse,
That penne and papere may not me suffice
Him to describe, so high he was of prise ;
Above marchaundis to sette him one of the beste,
I can no more, but God have hym in reste.'

Nov) the 2'>'i'inci}mlle matcve.

" What reason is it that wee schulde * go to oste'^
In there cuntrees, and in this EngHsshe coste
They schulde® not so, but have more liberte
Tlian wee oure selfe? now, alle so mot I the,
I wolde men shulde to geftes' take no hede
That lettith oure thinge publique for to spede ;
Ffor this wee see welle every day at ey^,
Geftes and festes stopene oure poUicye.

* Memoire of the sonne of marchaunde, Ric. of Wliytingdone.

•^ Nota, here is for to be notyde that sithene this seyde ordy-
naunce of writinge there have be ordeynede to go to oste in Lon-
done, etc*. But how this policie is subverted, it is men'elle to
knowe, be wyles and gyles, which e wol be in othere place de-
clarede.

* compnaltS, B. * shalle, B.

- Richard Whytingtony D. '• hoste^ I).

=* This passage relating to Richard *" shalle^ B.

Whittington is not found in B. " ijiftcsy B. ; giftisy D.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 179

Now se that fooles bene eyther they or wee,
But evere wee have the wai'se in this contr^,
Therefore lett hem unto coste^ go here,
Or be wee free wyth hem in like manere
In there cuntr^ ; and if it woUe not bee,
Compelle them unto coste,^ and ye*shalle see
Moche avauntage and muche profite arise,
Moche more than I write can in any wyse.

Of Olive charrje and discharge^ at her maHis.

Conseyve welle here that Englysshe men at martis

Be discharged, for alle her craftes and artes,

In the Braban of her marchaundy

In xiiij. dayes, and ageyne hastely

In the same dayes xiiij. are charged efte;

And yf they byde lenger alle is berefte,

Anone they schulde forfet here godes alle,

Or marchaundy, it schulde no bettere falle.

And wee to martis of Braban charged bene

Wyth Englyssh clothe, fulle gode and feyre to seyne,

Wee bene ageyne charged wyth merceyre,

Haburdasshere * ware, and wyth grocerye.

To whyche martis, that Englisshe men call fe3rres,

Iche nacion ofle maketh here repayeres,

Englysshe and Frensh, Lumbardes, Januayes,*'^

Cathalones,® theder they take here wayes,

Scottes, Spaynardes, Iresshmen there abydes,

Wythe grete plentd bringinge of salte hydes."

» hosty B., D. ; oste, Hakl.
« A(M^B-,D.; 0*/!?, Hakl.
' discharge and charge, B.

* Haberdassh, B. ; fiaburdashe,
1), I Irische hydes, D.

M 2

* Zombardift, Duchmen, and Sa^
voieSf D.

• Catolonesy D.
^ hryngen of Irissh hides, B. ;

Wiche Bruges grete plenti eatith of

1

180

POLITICAL POEMS.

And I here saye that wee in Braban lye,
Fflaundrea and Seland, wee bye more marchaundy ^
In comon use, then done alle other naeionA ;

This have I herde of marehanndes relacions.

And yfF the Engly&she be not in the martLs,

They bene febelle, and as noughte bene here* parto8-,

Ffor they bye more, and fro purse ^ put owte,

More * marchaundj^ tlian alio othere rowte.

Kepte than the see,^ shyppes schulde not bringo ne

feche,
And than the carreys wolde not theder streche ;
And so tho martes wolde full evel thee,
Yf wee manly kepte aboute the see.

Of the commoditeea of Brahan ' and Sekindc and-
Henauld^, and marchaitndyses cai^yed hy londe
to the maHes. The viij, chaintle.

Yit® marchaundy of Braban and Selande,^
vThe® madre and woode® that dyers take on hande
To dyne^® wyth, garleke and onyons,
And salt fj'sshe als for husbond and comons ;
But they of Holonde^* at Caleyse byene oure felles,
And oure woUes, that Englyshe men hem selles.
And the chefare that Englysshe men do byene
In the martis, that noman may denyene,

' Madere, woade, garleke, onyons, salt fysshe.

' And I here say that we in Brahan

bye
More plentS of theire marchaun-

dye, B., D.
And I here say that toe in Bra-
bant bye,
Flaunders and Zeland, more of
marchandy, Hakl.
' in their, T>.
^f re pens J T).

* For, B.

* And the see were kept that, B. ;
Kepe than, D.

« 7%«,B.

' Zehnde, D.

« Bethe, B.; By, D.

» wad, B.

" dyen, D.

" Selond.B.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 181

Is not made in Braban that cuntre,

It commeth frome oute of Henanlde, not be the see,

But alle by londe by carris,^ and firome Fraunce,

Burgoyne, Coleyne, Camerete,* in substaunce.

Therfore at martis yf there be a i^estreynte,

Men seyne pleynly, that liste no fibbles peynte,^

Yf Englysshe men be wythdrawene awey,

Is grete rebuke and losse to here afiraye,*

As^ though wee sent into the londe of Fraunce

Tenne thousande peple, men of gode puissaunce,®

To werre imto her hynderynge multiphary ; ^

So bene oure Englysshe marchauntes necessajy.

^ Yf it be thus assay, and we ® schall weten

Of men experte, by whome I have this wrytenc.

Ffor seyde is that this carted*^ marchaundye

Drawethe in valew as moche verralye'^

As alle the gode that commethe in shippes thedyre,

Whyche Englisshe men bye moste and bring it hedire.

Ffor here martis bene feble, shame to saye,

But Englisshe men thedire dresse here waye.

Conclusion of this deppenidinge of keiyimje of the see.

Than I conclude, yff nevere so moche by londe "
Werre by carres brought unto there honde,
Yff welle the see were kepte in governaunce,
They shulde by see have no delyveraimce,

'^' Not^ what oure marchaundes hye in that costis more than all
other, etc".

* icariedy B. j in carreSf D, * tx. thoiuand men of pwtsauncCf

• CamerUct Ct^ayn, B. j Camerik, ' B.

D. ; ^ muUiplye, B.

« fayn, D. ' yc, R

^ and lossCf and affray^ B. ; losse ' whan this carted^ B.

to their astraye^ D. I '^ as moc/ie to valew sikerly, B.

» Alle, D. I " Yfmen ao moche he o/lond, H.

182

POLITICAL POEMS.

Wee shulde hem sioppe, and wee shulde hem destroy,
Ah piysoners wee shulde hem brynge to noy ;
And so wee shulde of oui-e cruelle enmysse
^Make oure ffrendes for fere of marchaundysse,
YfF they ^ were not suffred for to pa&se
Into Fflaundi-es ; but wee be firayle as glasse,^
And also bretyUe,' not thought,* nevere abydynge,
But when grace shynetho sone ai-c wee slydjoige.
Wee woU it not reseyve in any wysse ;
That maken luste, envye, and covetysse.
Expoune me this, and ye shall sothe it fynde,
Bere it aweye, and kepe it in youre mynde.

Thcnaf/le of thys conclitsloiin.

Than shidde worshyp unto oure noble be,
In feet and forme to lorde and magest^ f
y Liche as the seale the grettest of thys londe
On the one syde hathe, as I understondc,
A prince rydynge wytli his swerde idraue,
In the othere syde sittynge, sothe it is in sawe,®
zBetokenynge goode reule and ponesshjnoigo
In verry dede^ of Englande by the kynge.
And hit is so, God blcssyd mote he bee ;
So one lyclie wysse I wolde were on the sec.
By the noble that swerde schulde have powere.
And the shippes one the see aboute us here.

^ Nota, of oure defautes lettynge oure gode spede in polycye.
y Nota, of the kynges grete seale.
* By Bepter and swerde*

» we,D.

^ but we fre as glasse, B. ) we be
frebfy as I gesse^ D.

' And as brasUe, 6. ; And also at
Brushia, D.

* tough, B.

^ Rather than to the duke and hU
meynye, D,

' sothe is this saw, H,, D.
' sede, B.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY.

183

What nedeth a garlande, whyclie is made of ivye,'
Shew a tavern wynelesse/'* also thryve I ;
Yf men were wysely,^ the Frenshmen and* Flemmynge
Shulde bere no state in see by werrynge.

Of Hanky lie Lyons?

^ Thane Hankyne Lyons shuldo not be so bolde®
To stoppo wyne, and shippes^ for to holde,
Unto our shame ; he hadde be betene thens.
Alias ! alias ! why dede wee these® offence,
Fftdly° to shende the olde Englisshe fames,"
And the profites of Englonde, and there names?
Why is thys powere called of covetise "
Wyth ffals colours caste befome oure eyes?
That if goode men ben called werryours
Wolde take the see for the comon socours,
And pm*ge the see^^ imto oure grete avayle,
And Wynne hem gode, and havc*^ up the sayle,
And one oure enmyes there lives to juparte/*
So that they myght there pryses well depai'te,
As reasone wolde, justice, and equity
To make this lande have lordeshyp of the see.

^ This tyme anno regis H. VI. lav^^ was Hankyne Lyons arche-
bere one the see, and afore Fety Pynson. Alias, alias !

''' Shevardours wiveles now aUo^ D.
^ tcifly, B. ; while, D.
* duke and tJte, D.
^ Of Hankyn Lyons, a rover on
the see, B. ; OfHankyng Lyons, I).
' shold not have ben so bold, B.
' stoppe us, and our shippes, B.
^ whi do ye this, B.

» Wafully,B.', F/oule,!),

"* shend our Englisshe foones, B.

^> this powdre called covetise, B.

»'^ The words for , . , see,
omitted by the scribe of MS. A., arc
supplied from B. and D.

" hale,B.,J).

'* coarte, D.

J84 POLITICAL POEMS.

A ifalm coloiu'C in e.fxttisyiuj of prises}

** Thane shalle Luinbardes and otiioro feyncd frendes
Make her chalenges by colom-c false of fendcs,
And sey there chafarc in the shippcs is,
And.chalenge alle, loke yf this be amisse.
Ffor thus may alle that men have brought to sorowc,*-
And ben excused and saved by false eoloiu'e.

^Be ware, ye men that bare® the gi-etc on honde,
That they destroy* the polycye of this londe,
By gifbe and goode, and the fyne golden clothes,
And silke and othere, sey ye nat this sothe is?
Bot if ye hadde verry experience,
That they take mede wythe pr3rv(? violence,
Carpettis, and thynges of price and of pleysaunce,
Whereby stopped shulde be^ gode governaunce.
And if it were as ye seye unto me,
Than wolde I seye, alias, cupidity !
That they that have here lyves put in dredc
Schal be sone oute* of wynnynge, al for mede,
And lese here costes, and brought to povevte,
That they shalle nevere have luste to go to sec.

^* Lumbardis are cause inoughe to hurte this lande, allethougli
there were none othere cause.

^ Alias! for bribes and gifte of goode festes and meanes that
fitoppen oure pollycye.

This title is omitted in A., but

supplied from B.
- so sworcy B.

•'• thci here, B.

* stoppid isy B.

* Schalle be sfionxn outf B., D.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 186

Stcryngc to an ovdhwAiiice (Hjois coloure of mof/Hr-
teners and excusers,

<^Ffor thys coloure that^ muste be seyde alofte,

And by declared of the gi*ete fulle ofte,

That oure seemeii wolle by many wysse^

Spoyllo oure frendys in stede of oiire enmyse ;

Ffor whyche coloure and Lumbardes mayntenaunce,

The kjnttgc it nedeth to make an ordinaunce

Wyth hys counselle, that may not fayle, I troue,

That frendes shuld frome enmyes welle be knoue,

Oure enmyes taken, and oure fi-endes spared ;

The remedy of hem muste be declared.

©Thus may the see be kept in no selle;*

Ffor if ought be taken, wotte ye weel,

Wee have the strokes, and enmyes have tlie wynnyng,

But maynteners ar parteners of the synnynge.

Wee lyfe^ in luste, and byde in covetyse,

This is oure reule* to mayntene marchauntyse,

And polycye that we have on the see;

And, but God helpe, it woll none other bee.

Of tlie coriiDiodltees of Ireloiule, and policye and
kepynge thei*eof and cojiquerynge of xvylde Iryshe,
wyth an incident of Walys. Tlte ix. chapitle.

1 caste to spekc of Ii-elonde but a lytelle,
Commoditees^ yit I woll entitelle,

*^ It is a merveyle thynge that so grete a sekcnesse and hurt of
tlic londe may have no remedy of so many as letten hem selfe \vysc-
men of govemaunce, etc*.

^ £t unde mors oritur inde vita resurgat.

' then.B. | * %,B.,D.

• toold in any wise^ B. * tale, B., D.

» be kept every dele, B., D. I • Tfie comodit€8j B., D.

186 POLITICAL POEMSw

Hydes, and fish, samon, hake, herynge,

Irish woUen, lynyn doth, Mdynge,

And martemus' gode, bene here marehaundyse,

Hertys* hydes, and other of venerye,

Skynnes of otere, squerel, and Iiysh are,^

Of shepe, lambe, and fox, is here chaffare,

Ffelles of kydde and conyes grete plentd.

So that yf Irelond halpe us to kepe the see,

Because the k3aige elepid* is rex Aiujlia\

And is domi/nus also Hibet'nicv,

Old possessyd* by progenitours,

The Triche men have caase lyke to oures

Oure londe and herres togedre defende,

That none enmye shulde hurte ne offende*

Yrelonde ne us, but as one comonte

Sliulde helpe to kepe welle aboute the see.

Ffor they have havenesse gi'ete and godely' bayes,

Surc,.wyde, and depe, of gode assayes,

Att Waterforde and coostis monye one,

And as men seyn in England, be there none

Better havenesse shyppes in to ryde,

Ne more sure for enmyes to abyde.

® Why speke I thus so muche of Yrelonde ?

Ffor also muche as I can understonde

It is fertyle for thynge® that there do growe

And multiplyen, loke who so lust to knowe ;

So large, so gode, and so comodyouse.

That to declare is straunge and merveylouse.

Ffor of sylvere and golde there is the oore

Amonge the wylde Yrishe, though they be \)OTe ;

martortut, D. ' ^rJ/y, B., D.

- Hert, D.

' Irishe Jtare, B., D.

« callid, D.

* O longe passed^ D.

" nor shende, B., D.

B. and D. insert here a new
title or rabric, ^n exhortacion to
kepe sikerly Irland.

^fructifuUe of thyngesj B. ; riche
for thingcSf D.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 187

Ffor they ar loide, and can thereone no skylle ;

So that if we had thelre pese and gode wylle,

To myne and fyne, and metalle for to pure,

In wylde YrLshe myght we fynde the cura

As in Londone seyth ^ a juellere,

Whych brought trom thens gold oore^ to us here,

Whereof was fyned metalle gode and clene,

As'^ the touche, no bettere coude be sene.

Nowe here be ware and hertly take entente,

As ye wolle answere at the laste jugemente,

That for sloughe and for racheshede*

Ye remembere, wyth alle youre myghte take liede

To kepe Yrelond, that it be^ not loste ;

Ffor it is a boterasse and a poste

Undre England, and Wales another. ^

God forbede but eche were othere brothere,

Of one ligeaunce dewe unto the kynge.

But I have pit^, in gode feythe, of thys thynge,

That I shaUe saye, wythe avysemente,

I ham aferde that Yrclonde wol be ® shente ;

It muste awey, it wolle be loste frome us,

But if thow helpe, thow Jhesu graciouse,

And yeve us grace alle sloughte to levc bysyde/

Ffor myche thynge in my hartc'is hyde,®

Whyche in anothere trety^e I caste to wrytte,

Made aUe onelye for that soyle and sitee"

Of fertile Yerelonde, whiche mythe not be forborne,

But if Englond were nyghe as gode as gone.*^

God forbede that a wylde Yrishe wyrlynge

Shulde be chosene for to be there kynge,

» seid, B. I ® shalle be, B.

' good ur€f B. | ^ alouthe to 8ette aside, B.

='^^B.,D. ^IkidcB.

* rechelesse/iede, B. ; rechelehede, » cete, D. These two lines are
D. omitted in B,

* were, B. " lorn, B. ; fornc, D.

188 POLITICAL POEMS.

Aftere here conqueste for oure laste' puisshaunce,

And hyndere us by other londes allyaunce.

Wyse mene seyne, whyche folyn not ne dotyn,*

That wylde Yrishe so muche of grounde have gotyne

There* upon us, as lykelynesse may be,

Lyke as England to sherish two or thrc*

Of thys oure londe is made comparable,

So wylde Yrishe have wonne unto us unable^

Yit" to defende, and of no^ powere

That oure grounde there is a lytelle comere,®

To alle Yrelonde in trewe eomparisone.

It nedeth no more this mater to expone,

Which if it be loste, as Criste Jhesu forbede,

Ffarewelle Wales, than Englond cometh to drede

Ffor alliaunce of Scotelonde and of Spayne,

And other moo, as the Pety® Bretayne,

And so have enmyes environ rounde aboute.

I beseche God that some prayers devoute

Mutt lett the seyde**^ apparaunce probable"

Thys disposed ^^ wythought feyned fable ;

But alle onely for perelle that I see

Thus ymynent as lykely for to be.'*

And welle I wote that frome hens to Rome,
And, as men sey, in alle Cristendome,
Ys no groimde ne lond to Yreland lyche,
So large, so gode, so plenteouse,'* so riche,
That to this worde doTiiinua dothe longe.
Than me semyth that ryght were, and not wronge,

' lossCf D. ^ cover, I).

" whiche listen not to doicu, B. ® litelle, B.

» That, D.: •• Might he seid, B.

• In Englond unto sheres two or ^^ provable, J),

thre, B. *" Thus dispouned, B.

• on Its have wonne unable, V. '* Whiche is like in short tyme to be,

• It, B. ; Hit, I). I B. ; Tkusjugemcnt likbj, D.

' defende with our power, D. i ^* plentevous, B.; plenty vous, D,

THE LIBEL OP ENGLISH POLICY. 189

To gete that lend, and it were piteoiise*

To us to lese thys liyghe uame domiinns.

And alle this^ worde dominus of name

Shiilde have the grounde obeisaunte, wyldo and tame.

Tlmt name and peple* togedere myght aceorde,

Alle* the grounde subjecte to the^ lorde;

And that it is possible to be subjecte

Unto the kynge, well shall it be detecte*^

In the lytelle boke that I of spake ;

I trowe reson alle this woUe imdertake.'

And I knowe welle with Irland* ho we it stant ;

Alias ! fortune begynneth so to stant,®

Or ellis grace, that dede is goveroaunce.

Ffor so mynusshytb partyes of oure puissaunce ^^

In that land, that we lesse" every yere

More grounde and more, as welle ^* as ye may here.

I herde a man^^ speke to me fulle late,

'Whyche was a lorde of ful grete astate,'**

That expensis '^ of one yere don in Fraunce

Werred '^ on men welle wylled of puissaunce,

Tliys seyd gi-ounde of Yrelonde to conquere.

And yit because Englonde*' myght not forbore

These seyde expensis gedred in one yere,

But in iij. yere or iiij. gadred up here,

' This lorde was the erle of Ormond, that told to me this mater,
that he wolde undretake it in peyne of lesse of all his lyveloode,
etc*; but tliis profere not by admitted; ergo male.

* pitevouSf B. '/or to stante, B.

= That of this, D. '• For m moche hssethe dayh/ oure

* And that same peple, B. puyssaunce, B.

* And, B. " that lesith, D.
'- her, B. ; their, D. « ashe welle, B.
^ And the kyng wold wele tlterto . ^'alord^B,

adverte, B. , '* Whiche was erle of Oimond, a
"* These two lines are omitted in lord and astate, B.

B. " experience, D,

" These two words are restored *• Wared^ B.

from B. and D. " And yf England, B.

190

POLITICAL POEMa

Myght Wynne Yrelonde to a fynalle conqnest
In one Boole yere,* to sett us alle in reste.
And how sone wolde thys be payde ageyne.
What were it worthe yerely, yf wee not feyne,
I wylle declare^ who so luste to looke,
I trowe fill pleynly in my lytele boke*
But covetyse and singularity
Of one' profite, envye, cruelty,*
Hathe done us harme, and doo us every daye,
And mustres^ made that shame it is to saye,
Oure money spente alle to Ijrtelle avayle ;
And oure enmyes so gretely done prevayle,
That what harme may feUe and overthwarte,^
I may unneth wiytte more for sore of herte,'

An exitortacion to the Vepynge of WahjR.

Be ware of Walys, Criste Jhesu mutt us * kcpe,

That it make not oure chilcleis® childe to we{»e,

No us also, if it go his waye

By unwarenesse ;^° seth that many a day

Men have be ferde of here rebellioun

By grete tokenes and ostentacioun."

Seche the menys wyth a discrete avyse,

And helpe that they rudely not aryse

Ffor to rebelle,^* that Criste it forbede ;

Loko wele aboute, for, God wote, we have nede,

» In too hole, D.

' These two lines are omitted in
B.

' oione, B. ; comon, D.

* cnvie and camaUtie, B. ; car'
nalite, D,

^ monaturisy D.

^ over whert, B ; ever weierte, D.

''for sorow in hert, B.
« iV, B. ; hity D.
'rA/Ww, B., D.
^* woundemesse, D.

" demonstracioun, B. ; o/osfenta'
chtun, D.

'2 to be rehelle, D.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 191

Unfayllyngly, unfeynynge,^ and unfeynte,

That concience for slought you not atteynte.

Kepe welle that grounde for liarme that may bene

used,
Or afore God mutt ye bene accused.

Of the oomodiua stokfyssJie of Yseloiide, and kejyynge
of the see, namely the oiarowe see, wyth an in-
cident of the Jcejyynge of Calyse, The ienne
chapitule.

Of Yseland to wryte is lytille nede,

Save of stokfische ; yit for sothe in dede

Out of Bristow, and costis many one,

Men have practised by nedle and by stone

Thider-wardes wytjiine a lytel whyUe,

Wythine xij. yere,* and wythoute penile,

Gone and comen, as men were wonte of olde

Of Scarborowgh unto the • costes colde ;

And now so fele shippes thys yere there were,

That moche losse for unfraught * they bare ;

Yselond myght not make hem to be fraught

Unto the hawys; this moche harme they caught."'

Tliene here I ende of the comoditees

Ffor whiche nede is well to kepe the sees;

Este and weste, sowthe and northe they be;

And chefely kepe the sharpe® narowe see,

Betwene Dover and Caleise, and as thus

That fosse passe ^ not wythought gode wyll** of us,

And they® abyde oure daunger in the lenghte,

What for oure costis and Caleise in oure '® strenghte.

» unfeylynghjf ttnMeiflyngh/, D.

- In yeresfew, B.

^ that, B.

* unfreyyht, D.

^ This and tho three preceding

« aharphf the, B.

' That oure foes passe^ B.

« leve, B.

" And 3(f they, B., D.

lines are omitted in B. '» with here, B.

192 POLITICAL POEMS.

An exortacioitn of the sure kejyyiige of Calhe,

And for the love of God and of his blisse,

Cherishe ye Caleise better than it ivS;

See welle therto, and here the grete compleynte

That trewe men tellen, that wooUe no lies peynte;

And as ye knowe that writynge commyth from thens,

Do not to England for sloughte so grete offens,

But that redressed it be for ony thynge,

Lest that * a songe of sorow that wee synge.

Ffor lytelle wenythe the fole, who so myght chese,"

What harme it were gode Caleise for to lese,

What woo it were for alle this Englysshe groimde.

Whiche welle conceyved the emperoure Sigesinonnde,

That of all joyes made it one of the moste.

That Caleise was soget unto Englysshe coste.

Hym thought it was a jewel moste of alle,

And so the same in Latyn did it calle.

And if ye woUe more of Caleise here and knowe,

I caste to writte wytliine a litelle scrowe;^

Like as I have done byforene by and bye

In othir parties of oure pollicie.

Loke welle how harde it was at the firste to gete,

And by my counselle lyghtly let not it leete.

For if wee leese it wyth shame of face

WylfuUy, it is* for lake of grace.

Howe was the Hareflewe^ cryed upon, and Rone,"

That it were likely for slought to be gone,

How was it warened and cryed on in Englonde,

I make recorde wyth this penne in myne honde.

It was warened plejmely in^ Normandye,

And in England, and I thereone® dyd crye.

» This word is inserted from B. * Harjleet, B.; Harflete, D.

Lesse than a songe, I). ^ at Bom, B., D.

* what myschefe, D. ' also of Gascoigne and, B.

* throw, B. ^ And alle Emjlond also theron,

* for it isy B. B.

i

THE LIBKL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 193

The worlde was defrauded, it^ betid ryght soo;
Ffiirewell Hareflewe ! * lewdely it was agoo ; ^
Now ware Caleise, I can sey no bettere,
My soule discharge I by this presente le£tere.

Aftere tlie chapitle of com/nwdUeea of dyverae landes,
ahewyth the coiiclusioun of Jcepynge of the see
environ by a ato'i^ye of Jcynge Edgare, and ij.
i/iicidentea of kynge Edwarde tlie iif^ and kynge
Herry the v'K The xi. chapitle.

Now see wee welle than that this rownde see

To oui-e noble by paryformytee/

Undere the shypp, shewyd there the sayle,

And oure kjmge of royalle apparaylle,

Wyth swerde drawe, bryght and extente,

Ffor to chastise enmyes vyolente,

Shulde be lorde of the see aboute,

To kepe enmys fro wythine, wythoute,*

To be boldo thorowgh cristianjrt^

Master and lorde enviroun of the see,

Alio lyvinge** men suche a' prince to drede

Of suche a regne to be aferde in dede.

fir Thus prove I welle that it was thus of olde,

Whiche by a cronicle anone shal be tolde,

' Dicit chronica, quod iste Edgarus, cunctis pncdccessoribus suis
felicior, null! sanctitate inferior, omnibus morum suavitate pne-
stantior, etc*, vixit ipse Anglis non minus memorabilis quam Cirus
Persis, Karolus Francis, Romulus de Romanis.

was deef, and it, B., D.

« HarJiete,D.

' Farewde Chtyen and Normandy^
lewdly it is ago, B.

* parformytiy B. ; he perfourmere,
D.

' enemyea withyn and withoule, D.

• lovynge, D.

^ 8uch as a,D^

VOL. IL N

194

POLITICAL POEMS.

Ryghte curiouse, but I wolle interprete

Hit into EngliBshe, as I did it gete.

Of kynge Edgare, oo ^ moste merveyllouse

Prince lyvynge, wytty, and chevalrouse,

So gode that none of his predecessours

Was to him lyche in prudens and honours.

He was fortunat, and more gracious

Then other before, and more glorious.

He was benethe no man* in holinesse,

He passed alle in vertuuse swetenesse.

Of Englysshe kynges was none so commendable

To Englysshe men, ne lasse* memoriable

Than Cirus was to Perse by puissaunce ; ^

And as grete Charlis was to them of Fraimce,

And as to Bomanis was grete Bomulus,

So was to England this worthy Edgarus.

I may not write more of his worthynesse,

Ffor lake of tyme, ne of his holynesse ;

But to my matere I hym examplifie,

Of condicions tweyne and of his policie.

Wythine his land was one, this is no doute,

And anothere in the see wythoute,

That in tyme of wynter^ and of werre,®

Whan boistous wyndes put see-men into ferre,^

Wythine his lande aboute bi alle provinces

He passyd thorowghe perceyvynge his princes,

Lordes, and othir of the commont^e,®

Who was oppressoure, and who to poverty

Was drawe and broughte, and who was clene in®

lyffe,
Any who^** was by myscheffe and by stryffe

^ ofie,B.

' He was a bksaid man, D.
' nor non more, D,
* Like Cirvs that gate Percy hy
puyssauncef B.
' of aventurefD^

• qfveer, B.
' feer.B.

^ comynaltiy B.

• of, B.

*" ThlB word is inserted from B.
andD.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 195

Wyth overeledynge and extorcioun ;

And gode and bad of eche condicioun

He aspied, and his mynisters als,

Who did tronght, and whiche of hem was fels ;

How the ryght and lawes of inn londe

Were execute, and who durste take on honde

To disobeye his statutes and decrees,

Yf they were welle kepte in alle cuntreea

Of these he made subtile investigacioun ^

By his owyne espye and other menis relacioun.

Amonge othyr was his grete besines

Welle to bene ware that grete men of rycchesse,

And men of myght in citee ner in toune,

Shuld to the pore doo none oppressione.

Thus was he wonte, as in this wynter tyde,

One suche enserchise busily to abyde;

This was his laboure for the pubUque thinge,

Thus was he* occupied, a passynge holy kynge.

*^Now to the purpose; in the somer flGayre,

Of lusty season, whan clered was the eyre,

He had redy shippes made byfore,

Grete and huge, not fewe but manye a score,

Ffulle thre' thousande and sex hundred also,

Statelye inowgh on oure see to goo.

The cronicles seyth these shippes were fuU boisteous;*

Suche thinges lojigen to kynges victorious.

^ Didt chronica, prseparaverat naves robustissimas numero tria
milia sezcentas, in quibus redeunte sestate omnem insulam, ad
teiTorem eztraneorum et ad suorum excitationem, cum maximo
apparatu ciicmnnavigare oonsueverat.

* enquiracioun^ B. ■ ' ti. m, D.

^ was is omitted in A. | * costious, D.

N 2

196 POLITICAL POEBfS.

In somere tide ^ wolde he have in wone,

And in cusfcome, to be fuUe redy sone,^

Wyth multitude of men of ^ gode array,

And instrumentis of werre of teste * assay ;

Who coude hem welle in ony wyse describe,

Hit were not lyght for ony man on lyve.

Thus he and his wolde entre shippes grete,

Habilementis havynge and the fete

Of see werres, that joyfull was to see

Suche a naveie, and lord of magestd

There present in persone hem amonge,

To saiJe and rowe environ alle on londe,*

So regaliche aboute^ the Englisshe yle,

To all straungeours terroure and perille;

Whose Sonne wente aboute ' in alle the worlde stoute,®

Unto grete fen-e of alle that be wythoute,

And exercise to knyghtis and his meynd

To hym longynge ® of his natalle ^® contrd

Ffor corage muste of nede have exercise,

Thus " occupied for esshewynge of vise.

This knewe the kynge, that policie espied,

W3aiter and somer he was thus occupied.

Thus conclude I by auctorit6

Of cronique, that enviroun the see

Shulde bene cures subies** unto the kynge.

And he be lorde therof for ony thynge,

Ffor grete worship, and for profite also,

To defende his londe fro every foo.

That worthy kynge I leve, Edgar by name.

And alle the cronique of his worthy fame ;

> time.B,

^ to hefortyfied aone, D,

• in, B.

^ jiood,^.

* alonge, B., D., and Hakl.
' He ransaked aboute, B.

' oaf, D,

• oftoiite, B., D.
® lawdingy D.
" jw6&, D.
" Yougihe, B.

" svbjeete to, B., D.; our suh-
jtcls, Hackluyt

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 197

Save onely this I may not passe away,
A word of myghty strenght til that * I seye,
>That grauntyd hym God suche worship here,
Ffor his meritis, he was wythoute pere,
That sumtyme at his grete festivity
Kynges and yerles of many a contre,
And provinces* fele, were there presente,
And mony lordes come thedire by assente
To his worship; but in a certayne daye
He bade shippes be ^ redy of arraye
Ffor to visite Seyiite Jonys chyrche he lyste,
Rowynge unto the gode holy Baptiste.
He assygned to yerles, lordes, knyghtes,
Many shippes ryght godely to syghtes ;
And for hym selfe and viij. kynges mo
Subdite * to hym, he made kepe one of tho,
A gode shipp, and entred into it,
Wyth viij, kynges, and doune did they sit,
And eche of them an ore toke in hande.
At ore-holes viij.,* as I understonde ;
And he hym selfe atte the shipp behynde
As steris-man, it hjma ® becam of kyude.
Suche another rowynge, I dare welle save.
Was not sene of princes many a day.

* Dicit chronica, et ut non minus quantam ei etiam in hac vita
bonorum operum mercedem donaverit, cum aliquando ad maximam
ejus festivitatem reges, comites, multarumque provinciarum protec-
tores, convenissent, quadam die naves jussit parari, gratum habens
ecdesise beati Johannis Baptists Tenete navigio petere ; cum itaque
comitibus et satrapis naves plurimas delegasset, ipse cum vi\j. re-
gibus sibi subditis navem unam intravit, ad octo itaque remos
regibus totidem coUocatis, ipse in puppe sedens gubematoris fun-
gebatur officio.

' A worde of myrthe and trouthe
yit woBe, B. ; tnyrth and truth, D.
' preence9y D.
* He had sheppes redy, B., D.

* SubJecte,B.

* This word is inserted from B,
« This word also from B.

198

POLITICAL POEMS.

Lo than how he on waters had* the price,
In land, in see, that I may not suffice
To telle, o right ! o magnanimity ! *
That kynge Edgar had upon the see.

An incident of the lorde of the see, kynge Edwarde
the thredde.

Of kynge Edwarde I passe, and his prowesse

On londe, on see, ye* knowe his worthynessc.

The siege of Caleise, ye wott welle alle the mater,

Eounde aboute by londe and by the water.

How it lasted, not yeres many agoo.

After the bataiUe of Crecy was idoo ;

How it was closed environ aboute,

Olde men saue it whiche leyvn, this is no doute.

Olde knyghtis sey that the duke of Burgoyne,

Late rebuked for all his golden coyne.

Of shipp and see made no besegynge there,

Ffor wante of shippes that durste not come for fere.

It was no thynge beseged by the see,

Thus caUe they it no seage for honest^.

Qonnes assayled, but assaute was there none,

No sege, but fiige, welle was he that myght gone.

This manere carpynge have knyghtes ferre in age,

Experte of olde this manere langage.^

But kynge Edwarde made a sege royalle.

And wanne the toune, and in especiaUe

The see was kepte, and thereof he was lorde.

Thus made he nobles coigned of recorde.

' This word from B., D.
' To telle the righte highe mag-
nanymit€y B.

3/,B.

* This and the nine prerioiui lines,
alluding to the siege of Calais by
the duke of Burgundy, in 1436, are
not found In B.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 199

In whose tyme was no navey in the see
That myght wythstonde of hys magest^.^
Bataylle of Sluce ye may rede every day,
How it was done, I leve and go my way ;
Hit was so late done that ye it knowe.
In eomparisone wythine a Ijrtel throwa
Ffor whiche to God yeve we honoure and glorye,
Ffor lorde of see the kynge was wyth victorie.

ATiothere incident of kepynge of the see, in the tyme
of the merveillouse werroure and victorious prince,
kynge Heivy the v^, cmd of his grete ahippea.

And yf I shulde conclude al by the kynge,

Henry the fifte, what was hys purposynge,

Whan at Hampton he made the grete dromons,

Which passed other grete shippes of alle the comons.

The Trinity, the Grace-Dieu, the Holy-Goste,

And other moo whiche as now be loste,

What hope ye was the kynges grette entente

Of tho shippes, and what in mynde he mente?

It was not ellis but that he caste to be

Lorde rounde aboute enviroun of the see.

And whan Harflew' had his sege aboute,'

There came carikkys* orrible, grete, and stoute.

In the narowe see wyllynge to abyde

To stoppe us there wyth multitude of pride.

My lorde of Bedeforde ' came one, and had the cure ;

Destroyde they were by that discomfiture.®

This was after the kynge Hareflew^ had wonne,

Whane oure enmyes to besege had begonne.

^ That cowd withstonde the myght
of his magesti, D.
^Harflete,!^.
^ had his swerd bought, D,

* a bataielle, B.

» The duke of Bedford, B.

* seon^fiture, B.

' Harflete, B.

200

POLITICAL POEMS,

That alle waa slayne or take, by treue relacioiin.

To his worship and of his Englisshe nacioun.

Ther was presente the kynges chamberleyne

At bothe batayles, whiche knowethe this in ceiiayne;

He can it telle other wyse than I ;

Aske hym, and wite ; I passe forthe hasteleye.*

What had this kynge of his * magnificens,

Of grete corage, of wysdome and prudence,

Provision, forewitte, audacitd,

Of fortitude, justice, agilit^,'

j Discrecioun, subtile avisifenesse,*

Atemperaunce, noblesse,' and worthynesse,

Science, proesce,** devocion, equyt^.

Of moste estate his magnanimity,

Liche to Edgare and the seyde Edwarde,

A braunche of bothe, lyche hem as in regarde.

Where was on lyve a man' more victoriouse.

And in so shorte tyme prince so mervelouse?

By lande and see so welle he hym acquite,

To speke of hym I stony in my witte.

Thus here I leve the® kynge wyth his nobelesse,

Henry the fifte, wyth whome alle my processe

Of this trewe boke of pure ® pollicie.

Of see kepjmge, entendynge '® victorie,

I leve endely, for aboute in the see

No better was prince of strenuit^."

J Nota de condildonibus quibusdam regis Hemici quinti, dc«
centibus magnanimitatem omnis magni principis, beUigeri, con«
quaestoris.

> This and the three preceding
lines are omitted in B.
< hie, B. ; suche, D.
" Of fortUudo Justice Anglice, D.
* avis^nes, 6, ; avisement, D.

• processe, B.

' ony lives man, B.

• this,B.

• trew,D,

»• entfyng, B.
" extrefiuftee, B.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 201

And if he Lad to this tyme lyved here,

^ He bad bene prince named wythoutene pere.

His grete shippes shulde have bene put in i^reffe,

1 Unto the ende that he mente of in cheffe.

Ffor doute it nat, but that he wolde have be

Lorde and master aboute the rounde see,

And kepte it sure, to stoppe oure enmyes hens.

And woime us gode, and wysely brought it thens.

That no passage shulde be wythought daungere

And his licence on see to meve and stere.

Of unite, shewynge of our kepyrige of the see, wyth
ane endely pi'ocesse of pease by auctoint^. The
xij. chaintule.

m Now than for love of Cryste and of his joye,
Brynge yit Englande out of trouble and noye,
Take herte and witte, and set a govemaunce,
Set many wittcs wythoutene variaunce
To one accorde and unanimity,
Put to gode wylle^ for to kepe the see.
Ffurste for worshypp and profite also,
And to rebuke of eche evyl wylled foo ;
Thus shalle richesse and worship to us longe ;
Than to the noble shalle wee do no wronge,
To here that coigne in figure and in dede,
To oure corage and oure enmyes to drede.

^ Nota, prince perelesse.

* Grace-Dieu, Holy-Gost, etc.

™ Exhortatio generalis in custodiam totius Anglise per dlligen-
tiam custodise circuitus maris circa litoram ejusdem, qiue debet
esse per unanimitatem consiliariorum regis et hominum bonae
voluntatis.

A«{pe, B.

\

202 POLITICAL ;POEMS.

^ Ffor whiche they muste dresse hem to pease in haste,

Or ellis there thrifte to standen and to^ waste,

As this processe hathe proved by and bye,

Alle by reason and experte policie,

And by stories whiche preved welle this parte ;

And elles I wolle my lyfFe put in jeparte,

But many landes wolde seche here pease for nede,

The see welle kepte, it muste be do for drede.

Thus muste Flaundres for nede have unit^

And pease wyth us, it wolle none other bee,

Wythine shorte while, and ambassiatours

Wolde bene here sone to trete for ther secours.

This unitd is to Qod plesaunce^

And pease after the werres variaunce ;

o The ende of bataile is pease sikerlye.

And power causeth pease finally.'

P Kepte * than the see abought in specialle,

Whiche of England is the rounde walle ;

As thoughe England were lykened to a cit^,

And the walle enviroim were the see.

Kepe than the see, that is the walle of Englond,

And than is Englond kepte by Goddes sonde ;

That is, for ony thinge that is wythoute,

Englande were at ease wythoutene doute.

And thus shulde everi lande one with another

Entrecomon*^ as brother wyth his brother,

^ Tres sunt causae pnedictse custodise, scilicet honor, et oom«
modum regni, et opprobrium inimids.

^ Finis belli est pax.

p De drcuitu maris, quod est quasi murus et vidna regni
Anglise.

> shaUe gone to, B.
' to Goddes p.y'B,
' And poverte causetke pease fy-
naUe verrebf, B.

« kepe, B., D.

^ Entrecome never, B.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 203

And life togedre werreles ^ in unit^,

Wythoute ranconre, in veny charity,

In reste and pese, to Cristis grete plesaunce,

Wythoute striflfe, debate, and variaunca

Whiche pease men shulde enserche' with besinesse,

And knytt it sadely holdyng in holynesse.

The apostil seyth, if ye liste to see,

q " Be ye busy for to kepe unit^

" Of the spirite in the bonde of pease/'

Which is nedefulle to alle, wythouten lesse.

The profete bideth us pease fore to enquere,

r To pursue it, this is holy desire.'

Oure Lorde Jhesu seith, "Blessed mot they be

" That maken pease, that is tranquillity. '^

8 " Ffor pease makers," as Mathew writeth arj^ght,

" Shull be called the sonnes of God allemighf

God yeve us grace the weyes for to- kepe

Of his preceptis, and singly not to slepe

In shame of synne, that oure verry foo

Mow be to us convers and tomed too.

Ffor in* Proverbis a text is to purpose,

Pleyne inowgh, wythoute ony glose,

" Whan mennes weyes please unto oure Lorde,

" It shalle converte and brjmge to accorde

" Mannes enmyes unto pease verray,

" In unit^, to life* to Goddis pay."

Which unitd, pease, reste, and charitd,

He that was here claude^ in humanity,

<i Ad Eph. 4 : " Solicit! sitis servare unitatem spiiitus in vinculo

" pads."
' In primo : '' Inquire pacem et persequere earn."
* Matheus 5^: "Beati pacifici, quoniam fOii Dei vocabuntur."
^ Proverbis : ** Cum placuerint Domino vise hominis, inimioos ejus

" convertet ad pacem."

> unthoitt toerre, B.
' inforse, B. ; encrese^ D.
^ And after it to puraew, with
hart clere, B.

* lyke, B. ; lave, T>,
' cladde, Hakl.

204 POUnCAL PO£M&

That came frome hevyne, and stiede up with our

nature,
" Or he aacendid he yafe to us cure.
And lefle wjrth us pease ageyne striffe and debate.
Mote gefe us pease so welle iradicate^
Here in this worlde, that after alle tliis' feste
Wee mowe have pease in the londe of byheste,
^ Jerusalem, which of pease is the sight,
Wyth his bryghtnes of etemalle lighte.
There glorified in reste wyth his tuicione,
The deitd to see wyth fuUe fhiicione,
He secunde persone in divinis is,'
He us assume,^ and brynge us to the blisse. Amen.

Here eTidithe tlie trewe proce^e of the libeUe^ of
Englysshe poUciCy exhortynge alle Englande to kepe
tlie see enviroun, and namely the narowe see;
aJiewynge whate worshipey profUe, and aalvacioun
comniethe thereof to the reigne of Englonde, etcf".

Go furthe, libelle,*' and mekely shewe thy face,

Apperynge evere wyth humble contynaunce;
And pray my lordes the to take in grace

In opposaile,'^ and cherisshynge the® avaunce
To hardynesse, if that not variaunce

Thow haste fro troughte** by full experience,
Auctours and reasone, yif ought faile^® in substaunce,

Bemitte to heme that yafe the this science.

* ** Pacem reliaquo vobis, pacem meam do vobis."
' ** Urbs beata, Jerusalem, dicta pacis visio, etc*."

* irradiaUf B.

' after at his^ B.

* in divituuessfi, ; divinenesse, Hac.

* asynfj, B.
» bible, D.

• lytle byUe, B., C.

* apposeU, C. ; especialle, D.
' scherische the and a,, C.

" hast sore thowt trowthe, B., C.
'yaUe, B., C.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY.

205

' That sythe it is sothe, in verray feythe,

That the wyse lorde baron of Hungerforde
Hathe the oversene, and verrily he seithe

That thoTv arte trewe, and thus he dothe recorde,
Nexte the gospell ; God wotte, it was his worde,

Whanne he the redde alle over in a nyghte.

Go forthe, trewe booke, and Criste defende thi
ryghte.

Explicit lihellus de policia consei'vaiiva marie.

Lament of the Duchess of Gloucester.*

Thorowowt a pales as I can passe,

I hard a lady make gret mone,
And ever she syked and sayd,, " Alas !

" Alle wordly joy ys from me gone ;
" And alle my frendes fipom me can fle ;

** Alas ! I am fuUe woo begon ;
" Alle women may be ware by me.

" Alle women that in this world be wrowght,
*' By me they may insaumpuUe take,

" As I that was browght up of nowght,
" A prince had chosyn me to his make;

> Instead of the lines -which
follow, B. has in conclusion :
To the gret prelate, the heygheet to
confessor,
The gret mayster of the gretest
housse,
Cheff tresorere of the gret socoitre,
Besschop, herle, and baroun pten-'

tivous,
Ofhighe wgttes lordes thre famous.
To examene thy doubled rendytee,
I offer the tham to be gracious,
To myn excuse, farwdle, my own
,treti.

MSS. C. and D. conclude in the
same words.

' The duchess of Gloucester per-
formed her penance on the 18th of
November 1441. The poem here
printed is presenred in a MS. of the
latter half of the fifteenth century,
in the Library of Balliol College,
Oxford, No. 354, foL169, ▼*», written
by a citizen of London named
Richard HiU, but the poem itself
appears to have been composed at
the time of the event to which it
refers.

206 POLITICAL POEMS.

" My sofferen lorde so to forsake,
" Yt was a dulfulle destenye.

'' Alas I for to sorow how shuld I slake ;
" Alle women may be ware by me.

" I was so high upon my whele,

" Myne owne estate I cowld not know,
" Therfor the gospelle seythe fulle welle,

" Who wille be high, he shalle be low.
" The whele of fortune, who may it trow,

" Alle ys but veyn and vanyt^;
" My flowris off joy be alle down blow ;

" Alle women may be ware by me.

" In worldly joy and worthynes

" I was besette on every side ;
" Of Glowcestere I was duches,

" Amonge alle women magnyfyed.
" As Lucyfer felle down for pryde,

" I felle ffrom alle felycj^;
" I hade no grace my self to gyde ;

" Alle women may be ware by me.

" Alas I what was myne adventure,

" So sodenly down for to falle,
" That hade alle London at my cure,

" To crok and knele, whan I wold calle?
" Now, feder of hevyn celestyalle,

" Of my complaynt have pyt^.
^' Now am I made sympulest of alle ;

" Alle women may be ware by me,

" Before the counselle of this londe,
" At Westmynster, upon a day,

'* Ffulle rewfully ther dide I stonde ;
" A worde for me durst no man say.

LAMENT OF THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER. 20

Owre Boverayn lorde withowt delay
" Was there he myght both here and see
And to his grace he toke me ay.
" Alle women may be ware by me.

Hys grace to me was evermore gayne,
" Thowgh I had done so gret offence;
The lawe wolde I hade bene slayn,
" And sum men dyde there delygence.
That worthy prynce of high prudence
" Of my sorow hade gret petye.
Honour to hym, with reverence!
" Alle women may be ware by me.

I come before the spirituality;

" Two cardynaJs, and byshoppis fyve,

And oder men of gret degr^,

** Examened me of alle my lyffe.

And openly I dyde me shryfie

" Of alle thyng that they asked me.

Than was I putt in penaunce belyffe ;

" Alle women may be ware by me.

Thorow London in many a strete,

" Of them that were most pryncypalle,

I went bare fote on my fette,

" That sum tyme was wonte to ride rialle.

Fader of hevyn and lorde ^f alle,

" As thou wilt, so must yt be.

The syne of pryde wille have a fiJle ;

" Alle women may be ware by me.

Ffarewelle, London, and have good day;
" At the I take my leve thia tyde.
Farewelle, Qrenwych, for ever and ay ;
" Ffiurewelle, fayer places on Temmys syde ;

208 POLITICAL POEMS.

" Ffarewelle, alle weltli and the world so wide.

" I am asigned where I shalle be ;
" Under mens kepyng I must abide.

" Alle women may be ware by me.

" Ffarewelle, damask and clothes of gold ;

" Ffio^welle. velvet, and clothes in grayn;
" Ffiirewelle, robes in many a folde;

" Ffarewelle, I se you never agayn.
" Ffarewelle, my lorde and sufFerayn ;

" Ffarewelle, that may no bettere be ;
" Owr partyng ys grownd of felyng payn.

" Alle women may be ware by me.

" Ffarewelle, my mynstrels, and alle your songe,

" That ofte hath made me for to daunce.
" Ffarewelle ; I wott I have done wronge ;

" And I wyte my mysgovemaunce.
" Now I lyste nother to pryke nor praunce;

" My pryde ys put to poverty.
" Thus, both in Englond and in Fraunce,

" Alle women may be ware by me.

" Ffarewelle, alle joy and lustynesse;

" Alle worldly myi*th I may forsake.
" I am so fulle of hevynesse,

" I wotte not to whom my mone to make.
" Unto hym I wille me take

" That for me dyed upon a tre.
" In prayer I wille both waJke and wake ;

" Alle women may be ware by me."

Here endith the lamytadon of the duches of
Oloivcettre.

ON. THE PROSPECrr OF PEACE. 209

On the Pbospect op Peace.*

Mercy and Trouthe mette on an hih mounteyn,
Briht as the sonne -^th his beemys cleer,

Pees and Justida walkyng on the pleyn.

And with foure sustryn, moost goodly of ther cheer,
List nat departe nor severe in no maneer,

Of oon aoooord by vertuous encrees

Joyned in charity, pryncesses moost enteer,

Mercy and Trouthe, Rihtwisnesse and Pees.

Misericordiaf ground and original

Of this processe, Poa? is conclusioun ;
Rihtwisnesse of vertues pryncipal.

The swerd to modefye of executioun,

With a sceptre of discrecioun ;
Ther sustir Equitaa wil put hir silf in prees^

Which with hir noble mediacioun
Sette alle vertues in quiete and in peea

In this woord Pdx ther be lettrys thre ;

P set tofom for polity k prudence;
A for augmentum and moore auctorit^;

X for Xpus, moost digne of reverence,

Which on a cros by mortal violence
With blood and watir wrot by a relees

Of our trespacys, and for ful confidence
With hym to regno in his eternal pees.

> This poem, by the well-known
monk of Bory, John Lydgate, ap-
pears to hare been composed daring
the negotiations for peace between

England and France in the latter
port of the year 1443. It is printed
from a nearly contemporary copy in
MS. Harl. No. 2265, foL 21, r».

VOL. II. O

210 POLITIGAL POEBOL

In inward pees ther is eek of the herte

Which callid is a pees of conscience ;
A pees set outward, which that doth ayerte

To worldly tresoiirs- with to gret dilUgence ;

Glad pees in povert, groundid on pacienoe,
Professyd to which was Diogenees,

Which gruchyd nevir for noon indigence,
Such as God sent, content in werre and peea

Ther is also a pees contemplati^

Of parfiht men in ther professioun ;
As some that leede a solitary lif,

In fastyng, prayng, and devout orisoun ;

Yisite the poore, and of compassioun,
Nakyd and needy, and hxmgry socourlees.

And poore in spirit, which shal have ihet guerdoun,
With Crist to regne in his eternal pees.

Pees is a princesse, douhtir to Charity,

Kepyng in reste citds and roial touns.
Folk that be froward, set in tranquyllit^,

Monarchies and famous regiouns ;

Pees preservyth them from divisiouns ;
As seith the philisophre callid Socratees,

Among alle vertues makith a discripcioun,
He moost comendith this vertu callid pees.

Pees is a vertu pacient and tretable,

Set in quyet discoord of neihboures,
Froward cheerys, pees makith amyable.

Of thorny roseers pees gadrith out the floures,

Makith the swerd to ruste of conqueroures,
Provided by poeetys nat slouh nor reklees,

And mediacioun of wise enbassitoures,
The spere maad blont, brouht in love and peea

ON THE PROSPECT OP PEACE. 211

And who that list plenty of pees possede,

Live in quyete fro sclaundre and diffame,
Our Lord Jhesus he muste love and drede,

Which shal preserve hym fro worldly trouble and
shame.

This woord Jhesus in Nazareth took his name,
Brouht by an angil, which put hym silf in prees,

Whan Qabriel cam, the gospeleer seith the same,
Brouht gladdest tydynges that evir was of peea

And in rejoisshyng of this glad tydyng,

Angelis song devoutly in the ayr
Gloria in eoccdsia, at oomyng of this kyng ;

And thre kynges havyng ther repayr,

With a sterre that shoon so briht and fayr,
Brouht hem to Bedleem, a place that they chees,

Of ther viage brouht out of despayr,
Where pooidy loggyd they fond the kyng of pees.

Briht was the sterre ovir the dongoun moost,

Wher the hevenly queen lay poorly in jesyne,
With the seven douhtren of the Hooly Goost

On hire awayt3mg, moodir and virgine;

Tofore whos face lowly they did enclyne,
Song laudea Deo pastores doutlees,

Ffyl doun to ground, bowyd bak and chyne.
And of ther song the refreit was of pees.

Of thes seven douhtren of the Hooly Goost,

Caritas in love brente briht as levene.
And for bicause that she lovyd moost,

Hir contemplacioun rauht up to the hevene.

The next sustir in ordre, as I can nevene,
Was Pacience, which put hir silf in prees.

And moost was besy, of alle the sustryn sevene,
Folk at diseoord to settyn hem in pees.

o 2

212 POLITICAL F0E1C&

Gaudium im, spiritu to lejoiflsbe every wrong,

Ffor Cristes comyng, among hir sostiys alle.
With a glad spirit this was hir newe song,

Owudete in DoTrdno, bom in an oxis stalle;

A new myiade in Bedleem is now fiJle,
Eyng Davidis heir, xnong prophetis periees,

Shal at Jerosalem, in that royal halle.
As lord of loidys, caDyd sovereyn lord of pee&

In thes seven sustiyn was no divisionn ;

Cheef of ther oonsayl was EvmUitas;
Content with litel was Discredonn ;

Moost meke of alle was Letorpaupertas ;

AUe of accord, cause that BeniffnitcLS
Set govemaunce that noon was rokless.

Of cardinal vertnes Perfeda-aocietaa,
What evir they wrouhte, condadid upon pees.

Thes sustryn aile, padent and pesible,

Lyk ther princesse moost feyr, moost gracious,

Callyd Maria, as ferro as was posible,
Ffulfilled with vertnes she was moos plentevons,
Queen of hevene, lay in a symple hous,

A pooro stable, mong beestys rewleless,
An oxe, an asse, no courseers costious,

In a streiht rakke lay ther the kyng of pees.

At Cristes birthe, as I reherse can,

This pees cam in, almoost at merk mydnyht,
Tyme of thempyre of Octovian,

Whan Cibile cast hir look upriht

Toward the Orient, and sauh an auhteer briht,
Callyd ara ccdi, of beut^ peerlees ;

Tiieron on empresse moost fayr of face and silit,
A child in hir armys callyd cheef lord of peea

ON THE PROSPECT OF PEACE. 213

The pees of grace long while did endure,

Tyme that iij. kynges wer conveyd with the steiTe,
Tyl Herodes of froward aventure

Geyn Jhesus by malys gan a werre,

Sent his knyhtes both nyh and ferre,
Slouh innocentys of malys gilUees,

In Bedleem boundys this tyraunt list so erre
Ageyn the prynce callyd soverayn lord of pees.

This Herodis tlraunt ful of pryde,

In his malys surquedqus and cruel,
Thoruh aUe the citees that stood there besyde

Slouh alle the childre, geyn Crist he was so feL

Of compassioun moost pitously Rachel
Wepte, whan she sauh the knyhtes mercilees

Slouh so hir childre bom in Israel,
Ffor his sake, sovereyn lord of pees.

Ther be figures dolorous of pit^,

Of fals tyrauntes vengable to do wraak ;
Caym slouh Abel for his great equity ;

Attwen Ismael was stryff and Isaak ;

Esaw wolde have founde a laak,
Cause that Jacob was put out of prees;

By Bebeoca a while set abaak,
Atwen the brethre tyl ther wer maad a pees.

The Apocalips remembryd of seyn Johan,
In his avisiouns the ewangelist took heede,

With a sharp swerd he sauh ridyng oon,
Ffers and proudly, upon a poleyn steede,
Of colour reed, his joum^ for to speede,

By his array vengable and reklees;

Whos power was bothe in lengthe and breede,

To make werre, and distroye pees.

214 POUnOAL POEMS.

His swerd wex bloody in the mortal werre

Attween Grekys and them of Troye toun,
Gan spreede abrood bothe nyh and ferre,

Thebes afom brouht to destruocioun ;

Kyng Alisaundre put Darye doun
In Perce and Meede, the crowne whan he chees ;

Yowes of the Peook the Ffrenash makith mencioun,
Pryde of the werrys, moost contrary imto pees.

Othir werrys that were of latter age,

Afftir Jerusaleem and gret Babiloon,
Werrys attween Boome and Cartage,

Of thre Sdpiouns, moost sovereyn of renoun ;

Bekne Hanybal, the proude champioun,
Brak Eome wallys, ftirious and reklees,

At the laste, stranglyd with poisoun,
Of marcial ire koude lyve nevir in pees.

At werrys dreedful vertuous pees is good ;

Striff is hatfiil, pees douhtir of plesaunce.
In Charlys tyme ther was shad gret blood;

God sende us pees twen Tnglond and Ffraunoel

"Werre causith povert, pees causith habundaimce,
And attween bothen, for ther moor encrees,

Withoute feynyng, fraude, or varyaunce,
Twen al cristene Crist Jhesu send us pees.

The ffifte Herry, preevyd a good knyht

By his prowesse and noble chivahye,
Sparyd nat to pursue his riht,

His title of Ffraunce and of Normandye,

Deyed in his conquest, and we shal alle dye.
God graunt us alle, now aftir his discees,

To sende us grace, attween ech partye,
By love and charyt^ to live in parfiht pees.

ON THE PROSPECT OP PEACE.

215

Criste cam with pees at his nativity,

Pees songe of angehs for gladnesse in Bedleem ;
And of his mercy to make us alle fre,

He suffiyd deth at Jerusaleem.

The day wex dirk, the sonne lost his beem;
The theef to paradyse by mercy gan in prees ;

Gladdest kalendis to every cristen reem,
Ffor us to come to evirlastyng pees.

Explicit quod Lydgate,

On the Truce of 1444.*

Sum man goth stille of wysdam and resoun

Afom provided can kepe weel scUence ;
Fful oflfte it noyeth, be recoord of Catoun,

Large language concludyng off no sentence ;

Speche is but fooly and sugryd elloquenco
Medlyd with language wheer men have noght to don ;

An old proverbe groundid on sapience,
Alle goo we stille, the cok hath lowe schoon.

To thynke mochyl, and seyn but smal,

Yiff thow art feerffulle to ottre thy language,
It is no wisdam a man to seyn out al ;

Sum bird can synge merily in his cage.

The stare wyl chatre and speke of long usage,
Though in his speche ther be no greet resoun ;

Kepe ay thy tounge fix) surfeet and outrage ;
Alle go we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

* This poem, also by Lydgate,
appears to ha^e been occasioned by
the trace condnded by the earl of
Suffolk in 1444, and the treaty of

marriage between Henry VI. and
Margaret of Argon. It is printed,
like the preceding, from MS. Harl.
No. 2255, fol. 181, V".

21G POUnCAL FO]

XJnavised spekc no ihyng toforn.

Nor of thy toange be nat r^kelees,
Uttre neyir no darnel with good com,

Begyn no trouble whan men trete of pees ;

Scilenee is good, and in every prees.
Which of debate yevith noon oocasyonn ;

Pacience preysed of pmdent Socratees ;
Alle go we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

Comonn astrologeer, as folk expert wed knowe,

To kepe the howiys and tydis of the nyght,
Sumtyme hih and snmlyine he syngith lowe;

Dam Pertelot sit with hire brood donn right;

The fox comjrth neer withoute candellyght
To trete of pees, menyng no tresomi.

To avoyde as gile and f&aude he hath behight,
Alle go we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

Undir fals pees ther may be covert ffiraude ;

Good cheer outward, with face of innocence ;
Ffeyned fflaterye, with language of greet laude ;

But what is wers than sbynyng apparence.

Whan it is prevyd fials in existence?
Al is dul shadwe whan Fhebus is doun goon,

Berkyng behynde, ffawnyng in presence;
Alle go we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

The royalle egle, with his ffetherys dunne.

Of nature so hih takith his flyght,
No bakke of kynde may looke ageyn the sunne,

Of flfrowardnesse yit wyl he ffleen be nyght

And quenche laumpys, though they brenne bright
Thynges contrarye may nevir accorde in oon;

A fowle gloowerm in dirknesse shewith a lyght;
Alle go we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

ON THE TRUCE OF Hik 217

The wourld is toumyd aJmoost up-so-doun,

XJndir prynoes ther dar noon ofSoeer,
Peyne of his lyff, do noon extorcioun ;

Ffreeiys dar nat fflatere, nor no pardowneer,
Where evir he wall^e al the longe yeer,

Awtentyk his seelys everychoon,

Up peyne of cursyng, I dar remembre heer,
AUe goo we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon,

Alle estatys of good condicioun

Wille noon of them offende his conscience.
Bysshoppis, prelaiys, of oon affeccioun

Kepe ther chargys of entieer dilligence ;

Avaunsyd persownys holde residence
Among ther parysshens, make a departysoun

Of ther tresours to folk in indigence ;
Alle goo we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

I saugh a kevelle, corpulent of stature,

Lyk a materas redlyd was his coote,
And theron was sowyd this scripture,

A good be stille is weel wourth a groote.

It costith nat mekyl to behoote,
And paye ryght nought whan the feyre is doon.

Suych labourerys synge may be roote,
Alle goo we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

Atwen a shipe with a large seyl

And a cokboot that goth in Tempse lowe,
The toon hath oorys, to his greet avayl,

To spede his passage whan the wynd doth blowe;

A blynd maryneer, that doth no sterre knowe,
His loodmannage to conveye doun;

A firessh comparisoun, a goshawk and a crowe ;
Alle go *we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

218 POUnOAL POEMS.

The royalle ^le, with his fetherys dunne,
Whoos eyen been so deer and so bryght

Off nature, he perce may the sunne ;
The owgly bakke wyl gladly fleen be nyght
Dirk cressetys and laumpys that been lyght;

The egle aloffte, the snayl goth lowe doun»
Darythe in his shelle, yit may he se no sight;

Alle go we stille, the ook hath lowe shpon.

The pecok hath ffetherys bryght and shene ;

The oormeraunt wyl daryn in the lake;
Popyngayes firoo Panidys oomyn al grene ;

Nyghtynggales al nyght syngen and wake,

For longe absence and wantyng of his make ;
Withoute avys make no comparysoun

Atween a laumperey and a shynyng snake ;
Alle go we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

Where is also a thyng incomparable,

By cleer repoort, in al the wourld thorugh right;
The ryche preferryd, the poore is ay cowpable,

In ony qnarelle gold hath ay moost myght.

Evir in dirknesse the owle takith his flight;
It were a straunge unkouth devisyoun,

Tersites wrecchyd, Ector moost wourthy knyght;
Alle goo we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

Is noon so proude, pompous in dignyt^,

As he that is so sodeynly preferryd
To hih estaat, and out of povdrt^ ;

Drdco volcma on nyght his tayl is stenyd;

SteUxB ermticcB nat ffix, for they been erryd;
Stable in the eyr is noon inpressioun ;

This wourld wer stable, yif it were nat werryd ;
Alle goo we stiUe, the ook hath lowe shoon. «

^

ON THE TRUCE OF 1444. 219

Among estatys whoo hath moost qniete?

Hih lordshippes be vexid with bataylle;
Tylthe of ploughmen ther labour wyl nat lete ;

Geyn Phebus uprist syngen wyl the quaylle ;

The amerous larke of nature wyl not faylle
Ageyn Aurora synge with hire mery sown;

No laboureer wyl nat for his travaylle;
AUe goo we stille, the cok hath lowe ahoon.

Foo unto hevys and enemy is the drane;

Men with a tabour may lyghtly cacche on hare ;
Bosard with botirflyes makith beytis for a crane ;

Brechelees beerys be betyn on the bare;

Hoimdys for favour wyl nat spare
To pynche his pylche with greet noyse and soun ;

Clepith he meiye that slombryth with greet care;
Alle goo we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

I sauh a krevys, with his klawes longe,

Pursewe a snayl, poore and impotent ;
Hows of this snayl, the wallys wer nat stionge,

A slender shelle, the sydes al torent.

Whoo hat|i no goold, his tresour soone spent;
The snaylis castel but a sklendir ooote;

Whoo seith trouthe, ofite he shalle be shent;
A good be stiQe is oflfte weel wourth a groote.

Whoo hath noon hors on a staff may ryde ;

Who hath no bed, may slepyn in his hood;
Whoo hath no dyneer, at leyser must abyde,

To staunche his hungir abyde upon his ffood. •

A beggers appetight is alwey flBressh and good,
With voyde walet, whan al his stuff is doon,

Ffor fawte of vitaylle may knele afore the skood ;
*Alle goo we stille, the cok hath loWe shoon.

220 POUnCAL POEBCa '

Tlie ryche man sit stuffyd at his stable ;

The poore man stant hmigiy at the gate.
Of remossaylles he wolde be partable ;

The awmeneer seyth he cam to late.

Off poore men doolys is no sekir date,
Smal or ryght nought whan the feeste is doon.

He may weel grucche and with his tounge prate ;
AUe goo we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

A good be stille is weel wourth a groote;

Large language causith repentaunce;
The kevel wroot in his rydlyd coote.

Out with al this marke in your remembraunce.

Whoo cast his joumd in Yngelond or in Ffraunce,
With gallyd hakeneys, whan men have moost to doon,

A ffool presumptuous, to cacche hym acqueyntaunce ;
Alle goo we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

Whoo that is hungry, and hath no thyng but boonys

To staunche his apetyght, is a froward foode ;
Among an hundryd oon chose out for the noonys

To dygestioun repastys be nat goode.

To chese suych vitaylles ther braynes wer to woode.
That lyoun is gredy iiat stranglith goos or capoun;

Fox and ffulmard, togidre whan they stoode,
Sang, be stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

Here al thyng and kepe thy pacience;

Take no quarelle, thynk mekyl and sey nought ;
A good be stille, with discreet sdlence

For a good grote may not wel be bought.

Keep cloos thy toimge, men sey that free is thought,
A thyng seid oonys, outhir late or soon,

Tyl it be loost, stoole thyng is nat sought ;
Alle goo we stille, the cok hath lowe shoon.

Explicit quod Lydgate.

ON THE POPULAR DISCONTENT, ETC.

221

On the Popular Discontent at the Disasters
IN France.^

(Written about 1449.)

Bedforde.* Gloucetter * ^

The Bote is ded, the Swanne is goone, ^
Excetter/
The firy Cressett hath lost his lyght ; '.
Therfore Inglond may make gret mone, .
Were not the helpe of Qodde ahnyght. .
Roone.*
The castelle is wonne where care begowne,
Somerset."
The Portecolys is leyde adowne; '■

Cardinalle.'^
Iclosid we have oure welevette hatte, .•

That keveryd us from mony stormys browne.t.

* The varioiiB erents alluded to
in these curious yerBos, such as the
deaths of the dukes of Gloucester
and Exeter and of cardinal Beaufort,
which occurred in 1447» and especi-
ally the loss of Rouen, which was
surrendered to the French in that
year, seem to ^ their composition
to the year following, or at latest to
1449. They are preserred in the
Cotton. Rolls* ii. 23, in the British
Museum. This was one of the songs
which payed the way for the popu-
larity of the house of York.

' John Flantagenet, duke of
Bedford, third son of king Henry
IV., and regent of France, had died
in 1435.

' Humphrey Flantagenet^ duke of
Gloucester, fourth son of Henry IV.,
died under arrest at Bury St. Ed-

munds in 1446, and is belieyed to
have heen murdered.

^ John Holland, duke of Exeter,
who died on the 5th of August
1446.

* Rouen was surrendered to the
French in 1447.

« Edmund Beaufort, earl of Somer-
set, under which title he was made
regent of France on the recall of
the duke of York in 1445, and cre-
ated duke of Somerset on the Slst
of March 1448. After the loss of
Rouen and Caen, he was recalled
from his command in France, and
had to encounter great unpopularity,
both for his mismanagemeut in
France, and because hr was one of
the court favourites.

' Cardinal Beaufort died on the
nth of April 1447.

fOUBCAL YOl

Natflifelke.'
The Wldie lioun is lejrde to sLepe,

Thoroa^ the envy of the Ape clogge ;
And he is bownden that oare dore shuld hspe.

That IS Talbott ome goode dogge:'
Fswkaibcige.'
The Fiffihere hathe l»t his hangolhoAe;

Gete theym agayne when it woDe ba
Wrllobj/
Oare MyUe-saylle irille not abowte.
Hit hath so longe gooiie emptya

The Bere is bound that was so wild,
Ffor he hath lost his ragged staffa
BokyngbanL.*
The Carte nathe is spokeles,

For the connseille that he gaffe.
DaiiTeUe.7
The Idly is both fiiire and grene ;

NoflCTB.*

The Connoite rennyth not, as I wena

> John de Movbrmy, duke of
Norfolk* The lefinenoe is profasbly
to the duke who died in 1432, and

who had <jig t ing ^ifl>^ Kimaglf in

the French wan wider Heniy V.

* The great warrior John Talbot,
earl of Shrewebory, who had been
recalled from acttre aenrke in
Fiance.

' William Neville lord Eanean-
berg, one of the diatingaiihed heroea
of the French wark

* Itobert lord WiOoBghby, another
of the heroea of the French wani

* Bichaid Neville, created earl of
Warwick on the 4th of May 1442.
He eapooaed the party of the dnke
of Y<nk, and waa taken and be-

headed at the batde of Wakefield.
He waa the fiuher of the king^
maker.

• Hnmphrey de StafiM, ercaled
dnke of Buckingham on the 14th
of September 1444. He waa killed
in die battle of Northampton, in
1460.

' Thomaa Daniel, ''armiger,* or
eaqoier, waa one of the napc^ralar
courtiera, who appeara in thia aame
Cottonian Boll, ii. 23, aa one of
thoae indicted at Bocheeter on the
feaat of the Aasmnption of the
Virgin, 29th Hen. VL (Angoat 15,
1451).

' John Norria, one of the offioen
of the hooaehold to Henry Yl

ON THE POPUIAB BISOOMTENT, ETC.

223

Trevilian.1
The Comysshe Chowgh oflPb with his trayne -^
Rex.
Hath made oure EguUe bljmde.
Arundelle.^
The White Harde is put out of mynde, ,

Because he wolle not to hem consent ;
Theifore the commyns saith is both trew and kynde
Bothe in Southesex and in Kent.
Bowser.*
The Water-Bowge and the Wyne-Botelle,
Prior of Saint Johanis.
With the Vetturlockes cheyne bene fast.
Eixcettur.
The Whete-yere wolle theym susteyne
As longe as he may endure and last
Devynshire.*
The Boore is fiurre into the west,
That shold us helpe with shilde and spere ;
Yorke.*
The Fawkoun fleyth, and hath no rest;

Tille he witte where to bigge his nest.

' Daniel Trerilian* mcloded in
the articles against the duke of
Snffolk. A John TteryUan is enu-
merated among the persons indicted
at Bocbester in 1451, as " nnper de
'* London, armiger."

' William Eitz-Alan, earl of
Anmdel.

' Henrj lord Bonrchier, whose
arms were argent, a cross ingrailed
gules, between four water-bougets,

sable. The wine-bottle maj per^
haps refer to James Butler, created
earl of Wiltshire in 1449.

^ Thomas Courtenaj, earl of
Devon, one of the heroes of the
French wars, and a staunch sup-
porter of the Lancastrian cause.

^The duke of York had at this
tune retired to his goyemment in
Ireland.

224

POLITICAL POSII&

On the Arrest of the Duke of Sttffolk.*

Now is the Pox • drevin to hole ; hoo to hym, hoo 1

hoo!
Ffor and he crepe out, he wille yow alle undo.
Now ye han founde parfite, love weUe your game ;
For and ye renne countre thenne be ye to blame.
Sum of yow holdith with the Fox, and rennythe hare ;
But he that tiede Talbot oure doge, evylle mot he fare !
Ffor now we mys the black doge withe the wide

mouthe ;
Ffor he wolde have ronnen welle at the Fox of the

southe.
And alle gooth bacwarde, and Donne is in the myre*;
As they han deservede, so pay they ther hire.
Now is tyme of Lent, the Fox is in the Towre ;
Therfore sende hym Salesbury to be his confessoure.'
Many mo ther bene, and we kowde hem knowe;
But wonne most b^;ynne the daunce, and alle come

arowe.
Loke that your hunte blowe welle thy chase;
But he do welle is part, I b^rew is £9M3e !
This Fox at Bury slowe oure grete gandere ;*
Therfore at Tybome mony monne one hym wondere.
Jack Napys, with his dogge,
Hath tiede Talbot oure gentUle dogge.

1 From the Cotton. Rolls, il 23.

' The duke of Suffolk, who was
accused, among other crimes, of
having promoted the murder of the
duke of Gloucester.

• Richard Neville, earl of Salis-

hury, was one of the great political
opponents of the duke of Suffolk.

* The duke of Gloucester, who
was accused and arrested when
attending the parliament held at
Bury St. Edmunds in 1446.

ON THE ARREST OP THE DUKE OP SUPPOLK. 225

Wherfore Beamownt,* that gentille rache,

Hath bronght Jack Napis in an eville cache.

Be ware, al menne, of that blame,

And namly ye of grete fame,

Spiiitualle and temperalle, be ware of this,

Or els hit wiUe not be welle, iwis.

Gave save the kynge, and God forbede

That he suche apes any mo fede.

And of the penile that may befiaJle

Be ware, dukes, erles, and baron* alle.

Gens erit australis rector r^ni generalis,
Et regit injuste, periet quoque postea juste.
He is wise that is wode, he is riche that hase no

goode;
He is blynde that may se, he is ridie that shalle

never ithe ;
He is fledde that is not ferde, and he abideth that

makethe alle your berde&

On Bishop Boothe.*

Boothe, be ware, bisshoppe* thoughe thou be,
Sithe that Symoun hym selff set the in thy sete,

Petur his pagent pleyed not with the;
Caro and Scmguie did pryvely plete;
Thy goode and thy catelle made the to mete ''

With the churche of Chester, whiche crieth, alas ! -

That to suche a mafflarde marryede she wa&

^ John lord Beaamont, lord consta-
ble of England, who in that capacity
arrested the duke of Suffolk.

« From the Cotton. Rolls, iL 23.
It -was evidenfly written in the
middle of the excitement against
thedukeofSolFolk.

'WiUiam Boothe, made bishop
of Coventry and Lichfield in 1447,
was promoted to the archbishopric
of York in 1453. This see was,
daring several centuries after the
Norman conquest, called popularly
the bishopric of Chester.

VOL. II. P

226 POIiITIGAL PpEMB.

Prese not to practise on the privets

Of prinoes powere, but pluk at the plonghe ;

Clayme thou a Carter crafty to be;

Medille the no ferthere, for that is ynoughe.

Thow hast getyne gret goode, thou wost welle how.

By symoni and usure bilde is thy bothe;

Alle the worlde wote welle this sawjns be sothe.

The psahnus of the sawter, or Salamonis boke,
Austyne or Ambrose, or othere tretyes ther are,

But Ktelle on the lessons lust the to loke.
Be not to bolde, but be thou wel ware.
The wit of this worlde wantonly ware,

And likenyde to lewdenes lome in my lore;

Shame sewith sone, whenne syn gooth byfora

Sum servyne silver, and sorow they doone seche ;

Synne is ther soveraigne, se what I say.
Loke on this lessoun, and leme of a leche,

Thy soule for to save with miserere mei.

The printe of a palsy wisith the thy way,
And shewith by thy semblant to sey the ther sothe,
That tyme is to course hens, and breke up the bothe.

Cast in thy condens clerkly to knowe,
Publique and privathe is aUe one;

Tullius hit tellith fiille trewly y trowe,
The regentes of Rome mony day gone,
In honours and havour lile hem allone.

And of the wide worlde worthiest they were,

To the commyne thynge in charity they kere.

But whenne they begane godes to encrese.

To prevat persons sorow and shame,
Dishonoure, dispite, rebuke dide in prese.

With alle maner myscheff disserityng ther feme ;

Lost alle ther lose of ther nobille name,
Disperpiled theyme in warde, and put theyme to dedyne ;
Bemembre now how Some felle to a ruyna

X ^

ON BISHOP BOOTHE. 227

Justice ne was egaly execute,

Fredome was forfarene for lak of liberty,

Right was repraysede and founde for no repute.
They were punysshede and tokyne in grd
Rigour of lawe hit wolle no better be ;

Dethe thoghe hit were, they my^t no better escape,

But the grate afid the goldede they made but a jape.

And lepe over lawe at ther owne lust ;

Ffavour and favelle, foulle faille they ferys,

Broghte forthe avarice fast by the fiste.
« « « « «

These were the rasours and the sharpe sheres,
These were the same that Rome overthrewe;
Wittenes of writyng alle this is trewe.

These made ther enmyes thenne to summyse,

And put fro ther powere with shenshippe and shame ;

Cronicols thise causis crafUy canne devise,

And tellene how trechery brought in the blame.
Hit is not in Englonde now the selff same ;

Discusse it with diligens, and telle iff hit be,

This pagent is pringnant, sir Pilat, pardd.

And ye in youre olde age put in pres,
And pecus the parlious youre parfettes to play,

And pray for the party to make his pees,

That alle the worlde crieth oute on, sotly to say.
The voyse of the pepiUe is clepede vox Dei ;

It is agayns grace and a gret griff

To maynetayne a mater of suche myscheffes

Vox oppreseorum one the prince plajmyth.
And one the priste eke, be warre yow off wreche ;

Juggement and justice tho that theym waynyth,
Serche out and se welle, sorow they seche.
The juge that is unjuste is a shrewede leche ;

Tent to the tale of Treviliane,

And ffynde by his falsed what worshippe he wan.

p 2

228 pouncix poems.

Be ware of this wamjmg, and wayte welle abonte,

I connselle the corse not, ne blame not the bille,

• • • • « ,

Tt is myche lesse harme to bylle thanne to kyUe.

Be no more blynde, but weynyth youre wille.
To set yow in 9ewrb6 holde up youre honde,
God save the kyng, his lawe, and his londe.

Men seyne that youre secte is opynly knowyne and

Condudede in condeus wonne of the tweyne,
That ye be ychone with tresoun aliede.

Or els hit is lucre that maketh you to leyne.

Pit^ for to here the people complayne,
And riken up the ragmanne of the hole rowte,
That servyth silvyre and levyth the law oute.

Se alle the set that for the swayne sewe,
Whether mony or mede make yow to mewe,

Try out the trouthe, myght he be trewe^
That covetise hath causede this gret myscheff.
By rapyne of richese put this in prefe ;

Muse one this mater^ and be no more blynde;

Be faithefiulle and feynte not fawtus to fynde.

God kepe oure kyng ay, and gide hym by grace,
Save hym fro Southefolkes, and frome his foois alle ;

The Pole is so parlyus men for to passe,

That fewe can ascape hit of the banck rialle
But set under suger he shewithe hem galle;

Witnes of Humfrey, Henry, and Johan,^

Whiche late were one lyve, and now be they goon.

And mony other that nedith not to telle,

Sum bene ago^ and summe abidene here;
Hit is a shrewde pole, pounde, or a welle,

■ Humphrey Plantagenet^doke of I dinal of Winchester; and John
Glonoester} Bmry Beaufort, car- I doke of Bedford.

ON BISHOP BOOTHS.

229

That drownythe the dowghty, and bryngethe hem
abeere.

And alle is for the lordane lovithe no pere.
Practyse his preff of alle that I sey,
God kepe oure kyng, and hym to convey.

Bridelle yow, bysshoppe, and be not to bolde.
And biddeth yowre beawperes se to the same;

Cast awey covetyse now be ye bolde,
This is alle emest that ye calle gama
The beelesire ye be, the more is youre blame.

Trowthe tellithe the tale, and wille it not hide;

Your laboure for lucre is playnly aspiede.

God, for his mercy alle this reme gyde.

A Wabhing to King Hbnby.*

Ye that have the kyng to demene,
And firauncheses gif theyme ageyne.

Or els I rede ye fle ;
Ffor ye have made the kyng so pore,
That now he beggeth fro dore to dore ;

Alas, hit shuld so be*

Tome of Say* and Danielle bothe,
To begyn be not to lothe;

Then shalle ye have no shame.
Who Mrille not, he shaUe not chese,
And his life he shalle lese.

No resoun wiUe us blame.

> From the Cotton. Charten,ii. 23.

'James Fienes, lord Saye and
Sele, lord treasm^r, was one of the
unpopular statesmen of tbe day, and
haying been, as a matter of policy,
committed to the Tower, he was

dragged thence by the mob in Jack
Cade's rebellion, and was beheaded
by them on the 4th of July 1451.
This song was written apparently
before this nobleman was thrown
into the Tower.

230 POLITICAL P0BBC8.

Trowthe and pore men ben appreflsede>
And myscheff is nothyng redressede ;

The kyng knowith not alle.
Thorowout alle Englonde,
On tho tbat holdene the £bJs bonde

Yengeaiince wille cry and calle.

The traytours wene they bene so aly,
That no mane can hem aspy;

We cane do theme no griffe.
We sweve by hym that hairwede heUe
They shalle no lenger in eresy dwelle,

Ne in ther Ma beleve.

So pore a kyng was never scene,
Nor richere lordes alle bydene ;

The commmies may no more.
The lorde Say biddeth holde hem downe,
That worthy dastarde of renowne,

He techithe a fals loore.

SuflTolk Normandy hath swolde,
To gete hyt agayne he is bolde,

How acordeth these to in one;
And he wenythe, withouten drede,
To make the kyng to avowe his dede,

And calle hit no tresoun.

We trow the kyng be to leere,

To seUe bothe menne and lond in feere;

Hit is agayne resouiL
But yef the commyns of Englonde
Helpe the kynge in his fonde>

SuflTolk wolle here the crowne.

Be ware, kynge Henrd, how thou doos ;
Let no lenger thy traitours go loos ;

They wille never be trewe.
The traytours are swome alle togedere
To holde fast as they were brother;

Let hem drynk as they hanne brewa

A WABNINO TO KING HENRT. 231

The chaunselere that Ust was hath staffes take^
Blanke charters, to done us wrake,

No nombre of them, hit is ferde.
He wolle not suffice the clerkes preche ;
Trowthe in no wise he wille not teche ;

He is the devels sheparde.

This bille is trewe ; who wille say nay,
In Smythfelde synge he a day,

And the helpe of the rode ;
That traitours shalle provide;
More resonn canne not be mevide ;

Ther shalle hit be made goode.

O rexy si rex es, rege te^ vel eris sine re rex ;
Nomen habes sine re, nisi te recte regas.

Vebses against the Duke of Suffolk.^

Ffor feer or for fiivoiir of ony fals mane.
Loose not the love of alle the commynalt^ ;

Be ware and sey, by seint Juliane,

Duke, jwge, baroun, archebisshope and he be.
He woUe repent it within this monthes thre.

Let ffolke accused excuse theym selff, and they cane;
Beseyve no goode, let soche bribry be;

Support not theyme this wo bygane,

And let theym suche clothis as they spane.
And take from theym ther wages and ther fed,

or, by God and seint Anne !
Som must go hens, hit may none othere weys be,
And els is lost alle this lond and we;

Hong up suche menne to oure soverayne lorde,
That ever counselde hym with fals men to be acorde.

Anno milleno Domini centumque quatemo
L. simplex pleno caveat omnis homo.

> From the Cottonian Rolls, ii 23.

232

POUTIGAL FOEBO.

On the Death of the Duke of Suffolk.*
May 3, 1450.

In the monethe of May, when gresse groweih grene.

Flagrant in her floures, with swete savour,
Jac Napes wolde one the see a maiyner to ben^

With his doge and his cheyn, to seke more tresour.

Suyche a payn prikkede hym, he asked a confessour.
Nicolas' sai<i "I am redi thi oonfessour to be;''

He was holden so that he ne passede that hour.
For Jac Napes soule Placebo and Dirige.

Who shalle execute his exequies with a solempnitd?

Bisshopes and lordes, as grete reson is;
Menkes, chanons, prestes, and other dergie.

Fray for this dukes soule that it might come to blis ;

And let never suyche another come after this;
EUs interfectours blessed might thei be.

And graunte them for ther dede to regno with
angelis ;
And for Jac Nape soule Placebo and Dirige.

" Placebo" begynnethe the bisshop of Herforde.*
"DUexi, for myn avauncement,'' saithe the bisshop
of Chestra*
" Rew md" saith Salisbury,^ " this gothe to ferre forthe."
''Ad Dominum cum tribularer," ssaith the abbot
of Gloucestre.®

> From MS. Ck»tton. Yespas. B.
xvi. foL 1, ▼*.

' Nicholas was the name of tho
ship which arrested the vessel on
which the duke of Snffolk was em-
harked.

' Bejpnald Baker, who had heen
promoted to this see ftom the abbacy
of Gloucester in 1450.

* Boothe, bishop of Coventry and
Litchfield. See the note, p. 225.

* Richard Beanchamp was elected
bishop of Salisbury in 145a

* Reginald, abbot of St Peter's in
Gloucester; he was one of the
unpopular courtiers indicted at
Rochester in 1451, according to the
Cottonian Roll

4,}

ON THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK. 233

" Damimia custodvt," saith the abbot of Boucbestre.
*' Levavi ooriloa" saith firere Stanbury, "volavi"

"Si imquitatea" saith the bisshop of Worcetre;*
''For Jac Nape sonle de profu/ndia damavi."

" Opera mcmmum tuarvm," seith the cardynal wisely,*

That brought forthe confitebor, for alle this Napes
reson.
''Audivi vocem," songe Allemightty God on hye ;

And therfore syng we "Magnificat anvma mea
" Bomvaum!'

Unto this dirige most we gon and come
This pascalle tyme, to say veiyli

Thre psahnes and thre lessouns, that alle is and somme.
For Jac Nape soule, Placebo and Dirige,

Executors of this office Dirige for to synge,
Shalle begyn the bisshop of synt Asse ; •

" Verba Toea auribus" saith abbot of Redynge ;
" Alle your joye and hope is come to alasse.''
" Committere, Domine, yet graunte us grace,"

Saith abbot of synt Albans ful sorily.

The abbot of the Toure hille, with his fat fiioe,

Quaketh and tremuleth for "Domvne, ne m furore.*'

Maister Water Liard* shal synge "Ne quando"
The abbot of Westmynstre, "Domine Deus meue, in
" te speravi ;

> John Carpenter, bishop of Wor-
cester, who was also a great supporter
of the high church party, and there-
fore of the court.

' John Kemp, archbishop of York,
had been made a cardinal at the close
of the year 1439.

* Thomas, bishop of St Asaph,

a prelate who appears to hare gained
no degree of celebritj.

* Walter Liard (in the ordinary
lists of bishops he is called Hart
and Lyhart) was bishop of Norwich
from 1445 to 1472. This name also
occurs in the list of unpopular
courtiers indicted at liochestcr.

2M

POLmcUi

*' Beqwiem aiemam gTMmte them alle (o oome ta*'
Therto a paier-noster saith the biaabop of synt Bavy^
For tbeB sooles that wise were and mi^^tty,

Suffolk, Moleyns, and Roos, ihes thie;'
And in especial for Jac Napes^ that ever was wyly.

For his souie PlacAo and Dirige.

Rise up, Say, rede paroe in JDomine,

" Nihil enirfi sunt dies mei," thou shalt synge.
The biaahop of Carlyle* sing " Credo" ful aora

To suyche fals traitours come foule endynge!

The baron of Dudley with grete momynge,
Bedethe, " Tosdet anirrumi meaTa vitcs m«B."

Who but Danyel qui Lasarum ahal syng ?
For Jac Nape aoule Placebo and Dirige,

John Say* redethe, ''Manus tuce feoermfvt me!'

^'Libera Tne" sjmgethe Trevilian, "warre the rere,
** That thei do no more so, requiescant in pace"

Thus prayes alle Englond ferre and nerre.

Where is Somerset? whi aperes he not here.
To synge *'Dies irce et miseries V

God graunte Englond alle in fere
For thes traitours to syng Placebo and Dirige.

Meny mo ther be behynde, the sothe for to telle,

That shal messes oppon thes do synga
1 pray som man do rynge the belle.

That these forsaiden may come to the saciynge ;

And that in brief tyme, without more tarienge,
That this messe may be ended in suyche degr^ ;

And that alle Englond joyfiille may sjmge
The commendacioun with Placebo and Dirige.

' John Delamere was consecrated
bishop of St David's in 1447.

' Lord Hungerford had at this
time succeeded, by right of his wife,
to the title of lord Molines. He
was B partizan of the house of Lan-

caster. Thomas Lord Ros was also
a stanch partlzan of the pArty of
Henry VL

* Nicholas Close.

* In the Rochester list, John Say
is described as <* esquire^ of London."

ON THE GORBUFTIOKS OT THE TIMES.

S35

On the Cobbuptions of the Times.^

Ffulfyllyd ys the profe[s]y for ay

That Merlyn sayd, and many on mo,
Wysdam ys wel ny away,

No man may knowe hys f[r]end fro foo.
Now gyllorys don gode men gye;

Ryjt gos redles alle behynde ;
Truthe ys tumyd to se trechery;

Ffor now the bysom ledys the blynde.

Now gloserjrs fulle gayly they go;

Pore men be perus of this land ;
Sertes sum tyme hyt was not so,

But sekyr alle this ys synnes sonde.
Now maynte[ne]rys be made justys.

And lewde men rewle the lawe of kynde ;
Nobulle men be holdyn wyse,

Ffor now the bysom ledys the blynde.

Truthe is set at lytyl prys;

Worschyp fro us longe hath be slawe;
Robberys now rewle ry^twysenesse,

And wyimerys with her sothe sawe;
Synne sothfsistnesse has slawe;

Myrth ys now out of mannys mynde ;
The dre^e of God ys al todrawe ;

Ffor now the bysom ledys the b[l]ynde.

1 From MS. Harl. 5396, fol. 295,
t*. Unfortunately two lines are
lost by the close cutting of the bot-
tom of the leaf. An entry on the
last page of the mannscript, in the

same handwriting as this poem,
giyes the date of St Bartholomew's
day, in the thirty-fonrth year of the
reign of Henry VI., t.e., August 24,
1456.

236 PouncAL poiais.

Now brocage ys mado ofiycerys ;
And baiatnr ys made bajly;

Enyttus be made cnstemeiys,

♦ » ♦ ♦

fiatererys be made kyngas peiys ;

Lordya be led alle out of kynde ;
Pore men ben kny^tns feiys;

Ffor now tbe bysom ledys the blynde.

The constery ya oombryd with coveytyae,

Ffor tronth his sonkyn undur the grounde;
W[ith] ofl^cyal nor den no fiBtvonr ther y%

But if air symony ahewe them aylver romide.
Ther among 6p[irit]nalt^ it ys founde,

Ffor pet^ ya dene out of ther mynde.
Lord, whan thy wylle ia, al ya confounde;

Ffor now the byaom ledya the blynde.

He ya lovyd that wele can lye;

And thevys tru men honge ;
To God I rede that we cry,

That this lyfe last not longa
This werld is tumyd np-so-doune among;

For frerys ar confessourys, ageyn a kynde.
To the chefe ladyes of this londe ;

Therfor the bysom ledys the blynde.

Lordys the lawe they lere,

• • • •

Japerys syt lordys ful nere;

Now hath the devylle alle hys devys;
Now growyth the gret flour-de-lys;

Wymmonis wyttes are fulle of wynd ;
Now ledres ladyn the leward at her debres;

For caus the bysom ledys [the] blynde.

ON THB GOBBUFTIONS 07 THE TIMES. 237

Now prelates don pardon selle,

And holy chyrche ys chaffare,
Holynes comyth out of helle,

Ffor absoluciouns waxyn ware.
Oabberys gloson eny whare,

And god© feyth comys alle byhynde;
Ho shalle be levyd the sothe wylle spare?

Ffor now the bysom ledys the blynde.

The grete wylle the sothe spare,

The eomonys love not the grete;
Therfor every man may care,

Lest the wade grow© over the whete.
Take hede how synne hath chastysyd Frauns,

Whan he was in hys fayrest kynde ;
How that Flaundrys hath myschannys;

Ffor cause the bysom ledyth the blynde.

Therfor every lord odur avanns,

And styfly stond yn ych a stoure ;
Among ^ou make no dystaimce,

But, lordys, buskys ^ou out of boure.
Ffor to hold up this londus honour,

With strenkyth our enmys for to bjmde,
That we may wynne the hevynly tour;

Ffor here the bysom ledys the blynde.

Eay>licU.

238 roLmoAL

On the CoBBUPnoFS of ths Tims&'

How myachawnce regnythe in Ingda/ndL

Now Qod, that syttyBt an' hyghe in trone,

Help thy peple in here greet nede,
That trowthe and resonn r^ne may sone.

For ihanne achal they leve owt of drede.

In that wyse conscience schal hem lede.
Hem to brynge onto good govemaunce;

That yt may sone be doon in dede;
Of alle oure aynnys* God, make a delyverannce.

And men wolde, and take good hede,

This lond ys nowfnll of inyquyt^;
And al that causyth the mayde Mede,

The wyche feer bannyd ys firom felycyt^.

There that sche regnyth ther ys no prosperyt^,
To holy cherche sche doth greet grevamice;

For of here apeyryd ys the hyghe dygnyt^,
Of al oure synnys, God, make a delyveraunce.

Mede makyth fele men for to weepe,

Wyth here frendys sche wol abyde,
The wyche cmine here goodys wysely kepe,

Be manye false weyes here wyttys gyde.

Untrowthe regnyth in many a syde,
For agayn here ys a gre^t distaiince,

That knowen ys fill feer and wyde;
Of al oure synnys, Good, make a delyveraunce.

* From a MS. in the Uniyersity I 184, y"*, in a handwriting of the
library, Cambridge, Ft 1. 6, foL I reignof Henry VL

ox THE COBBUPTIOKS OF THE TDTES. 239

Meed and fGiIseheed assocyed are ;

Trowthe bannyd ys, the blynde may not se ;
Manye a man they make fiille bare,

A strange compleynt ther ys of every degr^.

The way ys now past of tranquyllyt^,
The wyche causyth a full greet varyaunce;

Amange the comunys ther ys no game nor gle ;
Of al oure synnys, God, make a deljrveraunce.

And men myghte wel the hyghe wey fynde

Of trowthe and resomie, and where they dwelle ;
Meede wyth here help stand seholde behynde,

In dyspyte of alle the develys of helle.

XJntrowthe wyt many oon seholde no more melle;
Falsehed and sche byn bothe of oon substaunce,

Alle be they not worth an oyster-schelle ;
Of alle oure synnys, God, make a delyveraunce.

Murdre medelythe ful ofte, as men say ;

TJsure and rapyne stefly dothe stande,
Here abydynge ys wythe her that goon fill gay ;

For whaiine they wele they have hem in hande.

And thus they r^ne throughe thys lande;
Ful manye they brynge to myschaunce.

Wyse men, beholden, be wayr al afore hande;
Of alle oure synnys, God, make a delyveraunce.

Idylnesse and thefte ^yt have they no care,

Thoughe that thys worlde thus endure ever more ;
Oftyn tymes here wyde purse is full bare,

And other whylee here schoon be al totore ;

The mete that thei ete ys alle forlore;
On the galwys they seholde anhaunse ;

They greve the comunys, and that ryghte sore ;
Of alle oure synnys, God, make a delyveraunce.

240 POLTncAL POEna

Slowthe and neclygenoe ful sore empeche

Justise, that scholde r^ne contenually;
Coveytjse causyth that, for he dothe tecfae

Of all aatatis seme fiiUe besyly.

The prosperity of thys land thns they gy
Forthewyth togedere al to the dannce ;

A wronge way to werke alle they be redy;
Of alle oure synnys, God, make a delyverannoe.

Wyght ys blak, as many men seye.

And blak ys wyght, bnt somme men sey nay ;
Auctoryteys for hem they toleye ;

Large conscience cansyth they croked way.

In thys reame they make a foul aray.
Whanne the dyse renne, ther lakkythe a chaunce ;

Clene oonsden bakward goth alway;
Of al onre synnys, God, make a delyveraunoe.

Myscheef mengid ys, and that in every syde ;

Dyscord medelythe fill fast amonge;
Tlie gatis of glaterye standen np wyde,

Hem semytlie that al js ryghte and no wronge.

Thus endurid they have al to longe ;
Crosse and pyle standen in balaunce ;

Trowthe and resoun be no thynge stronge ;
Of alle onre synnys, God, make a delyveraunce.

Rychesse renewyd causithe the perdicioun

Of trowthe, that scholde stande in prosperyt^ ;
Between here and hope ys mayd a devisionn.

And that ys al for lak of charyt^ ;

Wherfore ther regnethe no tranquillyt^;
Thys mateer causithe the fool ignoraunce,

That the peple may not in eese be ;
Of alle oure synnys, God, make a delyveraunca

ON THE COBRUPTIONS OF THE TIMES. 241

He that hathe the word at hys owne wylle,
Helthe> lychesse, and oontTnual trauqiiillyt^,

Ech mannys hestee ys glad to folfylle^
He thenkyth upon noon deversitd
Ful unsewyr atte the laste may he be

To sette hys herte in swyche abundaunce;
Dampnadoun jt sche^v^he, as thenkythe me ;

Of alle oure sennys> Qod, make a delyveraanoe.

Wyghte is wyghte, ^yf jt leyd to blake ;

And soote ys swettere aftnr byttemesse;
And falsenesse ys evere drevene abake,
• Where tho thronghte ys rooiyd wytheowte dubbil-

nesse.
Wytheowte preef may not be sykemesse ;
Wherfore trowthe and resoun scholde hem avaimce,

For to take to hem stedefisiatnesse.
Of alle onre synnys, Qod, make a delyveraunce.

That unhappy insacyable simonia

Now regnethe in Ingeland, and that sore;
He sparithe not for closynge of alleluya ;

Woo worthe the tyme that evere was he bore!

Unavy^d derk soone may be forlore
Unto that theef to donne obeysannoe ;

For as afore God they ben forswore;
Of alle oure synnys, God, make a delyveraunce.

Hatrede and praptyk of fals audx)ritd

Al good consciende they putten owte;
Of trowthe and resoun lettynge the prosperytd ;

Wherfore concord ys put feer abowte.

And ^yf men wolde stonden owt of dowte
Drede of God, with a good atemperaonce

From these symiys scholde make hem schowte,
And put hem alle to a pleyne delyveraunce.

VOL. II. Q

242 POLTnCAI. POKII&

Yengeaonce and wrathe in an hastyvyt^,

Wyth an nnatedefiist speiyte of indyscrecioim.
Been the cause that men may not yn eese be ;

For here oonsentynge diawith to confiifiioan.

Al londys patten thys land in derifliomL
For thyff nsyd 3^8 oonly of acnstomannce,

^yf that day may oome of a good conchudomi^
Of alle onre synnys to make a delyverannoa

•
Men of holy cherche, that been ful wyse^

Scholde meekly preye with good devosioan.
That trowthe and resoun myghte sone aryse.

For to bryng away thys fidae tribnladonn ;

And that the heyere herd with good medytacioun
May the pore peple swych wyse avaunoe.

In the drede of Qod to sette here ocapacyonn.
Of al here synnys to make a delyverannce.

And men wolden weel hem self knowe,
Grace for to aske in here greet nede,

To God here hertis bowyng fbl lowe,
Almesse doynge weel to taken heede,
Fylgremage goyng to gete hem mede,

Prayeng and fiastynge with good rememoraunce,
Body and sowle so they may hem lede

Into blysse of etemaUe purvyatmoe.

Now, God, that art ful of al pletevousnesse.

Of al vertuys grace and charyt^,
Patte fix>m us al thys unsekymesse,

That we stande ynne in grete necessytd,

That agayn trowthe no varyeng be,
Al tymes that art founteyne of al felycit^,

Of al oure synnys thoa make a delyveramice.

AGAINST THE LOLLABBS. 243

AOAIKST THE LOLLABDfi.^

Lo, he that can be Cristes derci

And knowe the knottes of his crede»
Now may se a wonder werke

Of harde happes to take goud heede.

The dome of dethe is hevy diede
For hym that wol not mercy crie ;

Than is my rede^ for mucke ne mede
That no man melle of lollardrye.

I sey for meself, yut wist I never

But now late what hit shuld be,
And, by my trouthe, I have wel lever

No more kyn than my a, b, c.

To loUe so hie in suyche degr^
Hit is no perfit profecie;

Sauf seker sample to the and me
To be war of loUardia

The game is nott to loUe so hie
Ther fete faiien fondement;

And yut is a moche folie
For fiJs beleve to ben brent
Ther the Bibelle is al myswent

To jangle of Job or Jeremye,
That constnien hit after her entent

For lewde lust of loUardie.

* FkomMa Cotton. Vespa8.B.ZTi.
IbL a, T^ I hare pot together here
A few short pieces <m the religious
^^otes of this period. The first
beloiigSv pcfhaps, to arather esrlier

date, as it seems to contain a oonti-
nnons allusion to the ceiebnited Sir
John Oldcastle, who was pat to death
in 1418, bat aU the others bdong
evidently to the reign of Henry VL
Q 2

344 POLITICAL POEICS.

Hit is mikyndly for a kni^t,

That shuld a kynges castel kepe,
To bable the Bibel day and ni^t

In -restjmg tyme^when he shuld slepe ;

And earefoly awey to crepe,
For alle the chief of chivabie.

Wei anght hym to waile and wepe.
That suyche lust hath in loUardie.

An old castel, and not repaired.

With wast walles and wowes wide,
The wages ben fill yvel wared

With suiche a capitayn to abide;

That rerethe riot for to ride
Agayns the kynge and his dergie,

With priv^ peyne and pore pride;
Ther is a poynt of lollardie.

For many a man withyn a while

Shal aby his gult fuL sore;
So fele gostes to begile

Hym aught to rue evermore.

For his sorowe shal he never restore
That he venemed withenvye;

But ban the burthe that he was of bore,
Or ever had lust in lollardie.

Every shepe that shuld be fed in felde,
And kepte fro wolfes in her folde,

Hem nedethe nether spere ne shulde,
Ne in no castel to be withholds
For ther the pasture is fal colde.

In Bomer seson when hit is drie ;
And namly when the soyle is solde^

For lewde lu9t of lollardie, V . .

AGAINST THE LOLLABDS. 245

An old oastel draw al doun,

Hit is ful hard to rere hit newe,
With suyche a congregadoun

That cast hem to be untrewe.

When b^gers mow nether bake ne brewe,
Ne have wherwith to borow ne bie,

Than mot riot robbe or reve,
Unde[r] the colour of lollardie.

That castel is not for a kynge
That the walles ben overthrowe;

And yut wel wors abidynge
Whan the captayn away is flowe,
And fofsake spere and bowe,

To crepe fro kni^thode into dergie.
Ther is a bitter blast yblowe,

To be bawde of lollardie.

I trowe ther be no kni^t alyve

That wold have don so open a shame.
For that crafte to studi or strive,

Hit is no gentel mannes game ;

But if.'hym lust to have a name
Of pelour imder^ ipocrasie,

And that were a foule defame
To have suyche lose of lollardie.

And, pard^ loUe thei never so longe,

Yut wol lawe make hem lowte ;
' God wol not suflBre hem be so stronge
To bryng her purpos so abowte.
With saunz faUe and saunz doute,

To rere riot and robberie;

By reson thei shul not long route,

While the taile is docked of loUardie.

246 FOLmGAL poma

Of the hede hit is las duoge,

When grace wol not be his gide,
Ne soffie hym for to lepe at Iaige»

But hevely his hede to hide.

Where shuld he other route or ride
Agayns the chief of chivalrie,

Not haidi in no place to abide.
For alle the sekte of bUardie.

A I Ood, what nnkyndly goet

Shnid greve that God gruochede non^t !
Thes LoUardes that lothen yjoageB most

With mannes haades made and wrou^t^

And pilgrimages to be sou^t;
Ihei seien hit is but mawmentrie.

He that this lose first up bron^t^
Had gret lust in loUardie.

He wer fed lewde that wold byleve
In tigare mad of stok or stem,

Tut fourme shulde we none repreye.
Nether of Marie ne of Jon,
Petre, Poule, ne other none

Canonised by dergie ;
Than the seyntes everychone

Be litel holde to lollardie.

And namly James among hem alle.

For he twyes had tnmement,
Modie mischaunse mot him be&Ue

That last beheded hym in Kent ;

And alle that were of that assent.
To Crist of heven I depe and crie,

Sende hem the same jugement,
And alle the sekte of lollardie.

AQAINST THK LOLLABDa 247

For ihat vengans agayns kynde

Was a poynt of cowardyse ;
And namly suyche on to bete or bynde

That mi^t not stande, set, ne rise.

What dome wold ye hym devyse
By lawe of armes or gentrie.

Bat serve hym in the same wise.
And alle the sekte of loUardia

When fietlsnes faileth firele folie,
Pride wol preseyn sone amonge;

Than wiUerdome with old envy
Can none other way but wronga
For synne and shame with sorowe stronge,

So overset with ayutrie^

That fals beleve is ikyjx to fonge

The lewde lust of loUardie,

And under colour of suiche lollynge,

To shape sodeyn suireccioun
Agaynsb oure liege lord kynge,

With £aJs ymaginacioun.

And for that corsed conclusion.
By dome of kni^thode and dergie.

Now turneth to confusioun
The sory sekte of lollardie.

For holy writ berithe witnes.

He that fals is to his kynge,
That shamfiil dethe and hard distres,

Shal be his dome at his endynge.

Than double dethe for suyche loUynge
Is hevy, when we shul hennes hye.

Now, Lord, that madest of nou^t alle thinge,
Defende us alle fro lollardie.

248 POLrriGAii POEMa

To THK Kino.*

O rex AnglonuDi qu» stmt jam facta videto^
Dudmn gestonun signacula dura timeto.
Quid, rex, est clerum sic per laicos lanittri?
TJt &tear verum signat proceres superarL
En, rex, a Grsecis bellans fortuna recessit,
Cleri facta necis bi\jus prognostica gessit.
Signum, Boma, tibi quee nunc armis viduatur,
Cur? quia clems ibi nee floret nee dominatur.
En, rex, pro studio per singula regna timeris,
Tu quia de proprio clero responsa mereria
O rex, tu videas spes hie distantibus an sit,
Ut faculam foveas, scintilla decora remansit.
Bex, si sit per te cleri facies relevata,
Est tibi tunc certe victoria magna parata.
Si fons siccetur, laico regnante furore.
Miles vinoetur belli privatus honore. «

Tu miles juras cleri defendere jura,
Cur nunc non curas inflicta sibi mala dura.
Bex, princeps, miles, dero rogo consoda te,
Quisquis ad ista siles fugiet decus et vigor a te.
HsBC duo si coeant sociari juncta valore,
Non simt qui valeant nostros privare vigore.
Hoc sdo quod dero miles bonus bmnis adhseret.
Solus pro vero falsus sua prospera mceret.
OxonisB pereant rores et germina terras,
Singula te subeant strages et jurgia guerrse.
plebs ingrata regi, mala signa parasti,
Dura tibi fata veniant quia tanta patrastL
O rex invicte, pueros recolas spoliatos.
Sis rex vindictsB revocans terrore fugatos.

> From MS. Col. Merton, Oxozu No. 306, fioL 8, i«.

AGAINST THE FRIABS. 249

A Political Pbophect.^

When Rome is removith into Englonde,
And ilke preest baiit the popeis poure in hande^
Betuene the iij^ and the sixte, who wold onderstonde,
Moche were and wo schalle arysse in Englonda
Thayr ohalle tyde then a striffe be the stremis of

Hommonr,
That a northyne slave schalle follow him for ever,
The iij^ schalle recnire and rekyn of rulys,
That haiit lywith in Lowthe many longe days.
Than worthe upp, Walls, that vantithe no vylis,
And holpe up thi brother with brithe hardde brandis,
Thi kynnys men of Trlonde, lordes of honour,
Thy schalle spende ther speres with dentes of dolour.
To bringe owt of brawlis the kynd blod of Brutes^
The whiche schalle lyve on to lyve of landes.

Against the Feiabs .•

Freeres, freeres, wo ^e be!

Trmdstri mcdorvmi,
For many a mannes soule bringe ^e

ad pcBTUza mfernorum.
Whan seyntes felle firyst from hevene,

quo pri/ua habitdbcmt,
In erthe leyflHi the synnus viL,

et fratres (xm/m/miicoha/nt.

> fVom MS. Cotton. Cleopatra I ' From a MS. in Trin. Coll,
C. hr. foL 84, y^ | Cambridge, 0. 2, 40, fifteenth cent

2M POLmGAL POEMa

FalncB was the ffiyrt fflaiii^

qwB fratrtB pertulerufU;
For fiJnes and ffiils derei

muUi perierunL
Freeres, ye can weyl lye,

ad faUcmdwn gmtrnn;
And weyl can blere a mannns ye

pecuniaa kabentem.
Tf thei may no more* geytte,

fruges petwnt idi ;
For fiJnee walde thei not lette,

qm Tum aunt de grege ChrisH.
Lat a freer of sum ordor

tecum pemoctare,
Odur ihi wyff or thi don^tour

hie vuU violare;
Or ihi son he weyl prefor^

aicut fwrtom, fortis ;
God gyffe syche a freer peyne

in vnfemi portis!
Thei weyl assayUe boyth Jacke and Oyllc,

licet amt prwdanea ;
And parte off pennans take hem tylle,

qui 8U/nt latrones.
Ther may no lorde of this cantr^

He cBdifieare,
As may thes freeres, where thei be,

gm vadtumt mendicare.
Mony-makers I trow thei be^

regie prodUaree,
Therfore ylle mowyth thei thee,

falei deccptoree.
Fader fyrst in Trinity,
JUme, atque flamen.

Orrmee dicant Amen.

ON THE COBByPTIOK OF PUBLIC KANNEBS. 251

On the CoERUPnoN of Public Mannebs.*

Ye prowd galonttes hertlesse,
With your hyghe cappis wiUesse,
And youie schort gownys thriftleBae,
Have brought this londe in gret hevyneese.

With youre longe peked schone,
Therfor your thrifte is ahnost don,
And with youre long here into your eyen,
Han brought this lend to gret pyne.

Ye poopeholy prestis faUe of presomcioun,
Wiii your wyde ftirryd hodes voyd of discrecioun,
Unto your owyn prediyng of contrary condiciouin,
Wheche causithe the people to have lesse devociouiL

Avaundd by symony in cetees and townys,

Make schorter youre taylis and broder your crounys ;

Leve your schort stuffide dowbelettes and your pleytid

gownys,
And kepe your owjn howsyng, and passe not your

boundis.

Bepreve non other men, I schalle telle you whye,
Ye be so lewyd youer selfe, there settithe no man you

bye,
It is not but a schame y[e] wold be callyd holly.
And worse dysposyd people levythe not undir the skye.'

Ffirst make fire your selfe, that now to syne be

bounde,
Leve syne, and drede it, than may ye take on bond
Othir to repreve, and that I undirstonde,
Ye may amende alle other and biyng pese to londe.

> From MB. Had. No. 372, foL 113, i«, of tbetimd of Heoiy VL

262 POUTIGAL FOSHa

Epigbamb ok the Pubuc Eztbavagakcb.'

Lnffe, loffe, where is ihi reste?
Of Englond I am oute keste,

Thurgh air Enyye.
Thise longe berdes to middis the bieste
Has putt loife oate of his neste,

Thurgh fdonye.

Fleshly Instes and festes,
Furres of ferly bestes^
Costefcdle crouperes with crestes,

Fules that it first fonde;
Bobes made of scredes,
Qrisely othes and grete medee,
Flaterers and false dedes.

Has schent Englond.

On the Times.*

Now ys Tngland alle in fyght;
Moche peple of consyens lyght;
Many knyghtes, and lytyl of myght ;
Many lawys, and lytylle ryght;
Many actes of parlament,
And few kept wyth tni entent ;
Lytylle chaiyt^, and feyne to plese;
Many a galant penyles ;

1

From a MS. in the Library of i * From a MS. in Corp. Chr. CoL,
Corpus ChriBtiCoUege, Oxford, No. Oxford, No. 237, fol. 236, ▼«».
274,foi:i'65. I

ON THB TIMES. 263

And many a wondurfolle dysgyzyng^
By nnprudent and myssavyzyng ;
Qrete countenanse, and smalle wages ;
Many gentyJlemen, and few pages ;
Wyde gownys, and large slevys ;
Wele besene, and strong thevys;
Moch bost of there dothys,
But wele I wot they lake none othys.

On THB TnfEa^

De TrdBerrima responaione pcpuU gum jam instat.

Proh dolor ! o crudi gestns sparsim juvenescunt,
Barescunt ludi, solatia cuncta senescnnt
Crimen avariti89 dominatur ubique locorum,
Qnse quasi blanditiaa toUit terras miserorom.
Dormit militia vitiata cupidine reirum.
Pro quibus in vitia jam pugnat amor mnlierunL
Clems decrescit^ vestitu ynlgus olesdt,
Curia ditescit,, virtus in vOia cessit.
Heu ! ratio moritur, pretio judex hebetesdt,
Fraude fides premitur^ pietas cum lege recessit.
Sed» quidem consd pent entia pseudo-colons;
Inde sumus consi querula quocunque doloris:
Dico piarum prodest pro jure tribunal adire,
Dum ratio vivat qu© jus fadet revenira

> From a Ma in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Bodl. 833, fbl. 177, i^.

254 POLITICAL POEMS.

On ths Pbocbsbsuok to St. Paul's of the
Reoonciled Pabtibs.^

(March 25, 1458.)

Whan charity is choBen with states to stonde

Sted£BU3 and skille without distaunce.
Than wrathe may be exilede out of this londe.

And God onre gide to have the govemaunoe.

Wisdom and wellthe, with alle plesaunoe^
May rightful regne, and proqperit^;

For love hath imderlaide wrathefiil venjaunce,
Bejoise, Anglonde, onre lordes aeordede to be.

Rejoae, and thanke God for evermore.

For now shsJ encrese thi oonsolacion ;
Onre enemyes qnaken and dreden fol sore,

That peas is made ther was division.

Whiche to them is a gret confusion,
And to us joy and felicity.

God hold hem longe in every season,
That Anglonde may rejoise concord and unit^«

Now is sorowe with shame fled into Frannce,

As a felon that hathe forsworn this londe;
Love hath put out malicious govemaunce^

In every place bothe fre and bonde.

In Yorke, in Somerset, as I understonde,
In Warrewike, is love and chants.

In Sarisbury eke, and in Northumbrelande,
^That every man may rejoise concord and unitd.

> From MS. Cotton. yefpa8..B. zri. iolL 4, i^

ON THE PROCESSION TO ST. PAUL'a 255

Egremown and Clifford, with other forsaide,

Ben set in the same opynyon.
In every quarter love is thus laide;

Qraoe and wisdom hathe thus the dominadon*

Awake, welthe, and walke in this region,
Bounde aboute in toun and dt^;

And thanke them that brought hit to. this con-
clusion ;
Bejoise, Anglond, to concord and unit^.

At Foules in Londoun, with gret renoun,

On cure Ladi day in Lent this peas was wrought;

The kyng, the quene, with lordes many oone,
To worship that virgine as thei ought,
Wenten a procession, and spariden right nought.

In sighte of alle the comynalt^,

In token that love was in herte and thought;

Bejose, Anglond, in concorde and unit^.

Ther was bytwyn hem lovely countynaunce,

Whiche was gret joy to alle that ther were ;
That long tyme hadden be in variaunce,

As frendes for ever that had be in fere.

Thei wenten togeder and made goud dure.
France and Britayn repente shul thei;

For the bargayn shul thei abye ful dere ;
Bejose, Anglond, in concorde and unitd

Oure Boveraigne lord kynge Qod kepe alwey,

The queue, and the archebisshope of Canterbury,
And the bisshop of Wynchestre, (Canceller of Anglonde,
And other that ban labured to this love-day;

Qod preserve hem, we pray hertly,

And Londoun, for thei fill diligently
Eepten the peas in trowbd and adversity.

To biyng in reste thei labured ful truly;
Bejoise, Anglond, in concorde and unitd

266 POLITICAL poEaia

Of thre thynges I praise the worshipful dt^ ;

The firsts the true &ithe that thei have to the
kynge;
The seoonde, of love to the comynaltd ;

The thrid, goud rule for evermore kepynge;

The whiche God maynteyn evermore duryuge,
And save the znaier and aUe the worth! dt^;

And that is amys Gbd brynge to amendynge,
That Anglond may rejoise to Concorde and unitd

Epitaph fob Richabd Duke of York.*

A remembrer k tous ceurs de noblesse

Que ycy gist la fleur de gentillesse,

Le puissant due dTork, Rychart ot nom.

Prince royal, preudomme de renom,

Saige, vaniant, vertueux en sa vie,

Qui bien ama loyault^ sans envie,

Droyt heritier, prouv^ en mainte terre,

Des couronnez de France et d'Engleterre.

Ou parlement tenu k Yestmestre,

Bien fut congneu et trouv^ vray heir estre.

[Tbanslation.]

Let it be remembered by all noble hearts— that here lies
the flower of gentility, — the powerful duke of York, Richard
was. his name, — a royal prince, a gentleman of renown,— wise,
valiant, virtuous in his life,-*who loved well loyally with-
out enyy,— the right heir, proved in many a land,*— of the
crowns of France and England.-— In the parliament held at
Westminster— he was fully acknowledged and found to be

I From MS. Haxi No. 4S, foL 81, f^.

EPITAPH FOB BIOHARD DTJKE OF YORK. 257

Sy fut roygent et gouvemeur de France,
Normandie il garda d'encombrance,
Sur Pontaysse la ryviere passa,
Le roy Francoyez et son doulfin chassa.
En Erllande mist tel gouvemement,
Tout le pais rygla paisiblement.
D'Engleterre fut long temps prottetur,
Le peuple ama, et fut leur deffendeur.
Noble lygite ot d'enfens, que Dieu garde.
Dont Taysn^ fylz est nom4 Edouarde,
Qui est vray roy, et son droit conquessta,
Par grant labour qu'il en prinst Taqueta,
II est regnant solitaire ou jour d'uy,
Dieu et ses sainz sy le gardent d'enuy !
Ce noble due k Wacquefylde mourut,
Doux paix traitant force sur luy courut,
L'an soixnte, le xxx® de Deoembre,
Cinquante ans ot d'age, comme on remembre,
En priant Dieu et la tresbelle dame
Qu'en Paradiz puist reposser son ame !

Amen. Cheater le W.

the right heir. — ^And he was regent and governor of France,
— ^Normandy he guarded from danger, — he passed the river
at Pontoise, — and drove away the French king and his
dauphin. — In Ireland he established such government, —
that ho ruled all the country peaceably. — Of England he
was long protector, — ^he loved the people, and was their
defender. — He had a noble lineage of children, whom may
God have in his keeping. — ^The eldest of whom is named
Edward; — ^who is time king, and conquered his right, — ^ho
purchased it by great labour which he bestowed upon it, —
he is reigning singly at the present day, — God and his saints
preserve him from injury ! — This noble duke died at Wake-
field, — ^while treating of sweet peace, force rushed upon him,
— ^the year sixty, the thirtieth of December, — he was fifty
years of age, as people remember, — ^Praying God and the
very fair lady — that his soul may repose in Paradise ! — ^Amen.
Chester the Herald.

VOL, Il R

258

POLITICAL POEMS.

On the Civil WxRa*

Procesama aub brevibtb8 m metro bdli Ulius primi
quod actum erai apud vUlam Sancti Albani
temporibud regis Eermci aexti.

Martia Bplendiferum regerent cum sidera ^lucem,
Aspicerentque feros torvis aspectibus Anglos,
Albani villam tranquilla pace vigentem
Foedarunt multo violenter sanguine fuso.
Sex aderat praesens, secumque cohors satis ingens
De dominis regni; contrarius his Eboraci
Duxque duo comites Warwici et Sarsburiensis
Yenerunt ; media fit grandis pugna platea.
In qua corruerant qui nobilitate vigebant
De patiia SoreaB, comes insignis dominusque^
Comiit ac ipse qui belli causa fuisse
Fertur, dux magnus de Somerseth yocitatus,
Ac alii plures ; satis aspera sors f uit ipsis.
Multi fugerunt, aliter se non properarunt
Quam &ciunt trepids^ nisum fiigiendo columbse,
Insultumve canis damns, lepus, aut fera qusevis.
Bum fugiunt, nemora petierunt sive frutecta;
In quibus, ut pueri virgam metuendo magistri,
Se pudet id ferre, veoorditer occubuere.
Qui Aierant nostra propius penetralia tecta
Ad nos fagerunt, sub staUis et latuerunt,
Aut infra latebras; timor ingens duxerat ipsos.

J

* This piece, imtteii by the well-
known monk of St Alban*s, John
de Whethamstede, was evidently
composed immediately after the
decisive and sangninary battle of
Towton, which is mentioned in it.
The author seems to be chiefly

desirous of recording the ill-treat-
ment which the abbey of St Alban's
received fh>m the northern partixans
of the house of Lancaster. It is
printed fVom a manuscript in the
Bodleian Library, MS. Laud. No.
C97, fol. 29, r°.

ON THE CIVIL WABS, 259

Sic imbedllis teigam dedit hostibufi hostis,
Non Bine dedecore, nee nominis absque rabore.
Mors est, non vita, sub turpi vivere fama.
Et patet in paucis sors belli quce fiiit hujus,
Qualis et eventus domini ducis et comitatus.

Ter deno trino domini regis fiiit anno

Henrici sexti, fiu5ies hcBC obvia coeli,

In Maio mense bis dena bis quoque luce.

Providentia Dei rmsericordia meddaiione martyris
8ui Albcmi aetvmi esse crediTwas^ ut rex ad
viMam cv/m acdderet diverteret ae a monasterio
ac ad viUm mediv/ra properaret^ vmde quia ta/m
tanta tarn gratuita guce fueroM Tned/iatume 8ui
Toartyris vn» aalva/tionem sues eccleaicB miaeri-
cordia. donvmi plasmatcyns, idea in laudem et
gloriam utriusque scribitv/r uUeriua de hac
maieria metrice avJb hia verbia.

Dum Mains madidi flos floruit imbribus Austri,
MoUibus et Zephyrus refoveret flatibus arvos,
Flora velut riguos herbis ditaverat hortos,
Post glades inopes bos fecerat et locupletes,
Sic rapidis Stilbon praedonibus undique regnum
Bepleratque nimis, sic late sparserat ipsos,
Ut villam tandem tantus pervaderet istam
Illorum numerus, ut vix evaderet unus
Quin spolium lueret, spoliantes vel trepidaret.
Accidit ex causa spoliatio tam gravis ista;
Mars cceli dominus fuerat tunc, et soror ejus
In terris domina beUi Bellona vocata,
Unde malum multum signanter partibus istis
Contigit, et bellum fuit istis grande peractum,
Sanguis et effusus multus, dux et jugulatus
niius pugnsB qui fertur causa fuisse.
Bello finito, strepitu quoque pacificato,
Indultum est prsedsB, prsedones quippe fuere

R 2

\

\

260 POLITICAL POJEMS.

Yictores omnes, nuUi quasi compatientea.
Tunc rex, tunc proceres, tunc villani quoque plures,
Ac alii varii, fuerant rebus spoUati
Attamen ecdesia simul ecdesiad bona concta,
Infra qu8B fuerant sub dausuraque jacebant,
Manaerunt salva^ nee ei res defuit ulla.
Laus igitur Domino, laus in specieque patrono,
Cujus per media stabant sua singula salva,
Salvus et a cunctis simul abbas, frater, et omnes.
Spiritus ille bonus sine fiallo, spiritus almus,
Ad villam regem qui direxit venientem
IlUus ad medium, nee tunc permiserat ipsum
Ecclesiam petere, conservavit sua quseque.
Sed patronus erat qui pro monachis mediarat,
A raptore locumque suum servavit, et omnem
Ipsius omatum, foedari nee tulit ipsuuL
Si rex intrasset, secumque dueem sociasset,
Valvas ecclesisB, paruissent cuncta rapinee,
Nee poterat furias quisquam compescere plebis.
Laus igitur Domino rursus rursusque patrono !
Stat locus iste suo salvus munimine solo,
Salvaque supposita, sua salvaque pnedia cuncta.
Tempore dilapso miracula plura patrono
Concessum facere fuit, utique ab omnipotente
Laude celebrandum prsd cunctis creditur unum,
Quod dum preedator stabat pro tempore liber,
Et raperet varia, bene servavit sua cuncta,
Flere nee ecclesiam rem raptam pertulit uUam.

iSbte de hello apud Wacfeld hcMto.

Anno nulleno centimi quater, x. quoque seno,
Terdenoque die duodeno mense Decembre,
Infra Eboracensem juxta Vacfeld comitatum,
Dux dominus villse fertur pugnans habuisse
Conflictum grandem contra gentem borealem
Ac proceres plures pneerant qui gentibus ipsis ;

ON THE CIVIL WARS. 261

Quo docuit quia sors quod res fortuna secundas
Vifcat habere moras, cecidit dux, natus et ejus,
Ac comes insignis, sors belli sora fuit ipsis
Obvia, sicque satis regni fuerat brevis haeres,
Omen et id Isetum tulerat mutamine msestum,
Deflendum miiltis ; jus regni jus fuit ejus.

Processus beJU iUius swe p^'odii secv/ndi sub metrico
stylo, quod iifUer Australes et Boreales com/mis-
sum fuerai i/nfra et eoctra viUam Sancti Alhcmi.

M. semel x. seno centum quater et simul uno,

Gum lux septena fuerat mensis quoque dena,

Numinis illius venerantur quod morientes,

Inter Solares pugnantes et Boreales

Magna cohors cecidit, duo milia plebs numeravit,

Sors apud Albani villam protomartyiis almi

Et pugnsB campum cassis dedit et tumulatum.

Quod dolet ac doluit annis multisque dolebit

Villicus ac monacbus prope eos babitator et omnis.

Principio pugnse potiores marte fuere

Australes, tandem vidt Boreasque triumpbum

Abstulerat secum, stat sors mox versa retrorsum

Martis, ut eventum fore sdres sic dubiosum.

lit veniunt cinifes, culices, brucique, locustse,

Ac vastant segetes, bUbb musc» quoque multse,

Sic advenerunt similes illis Boreales

Ac vastaverunt segetes et opes populares

Austri totius ; bis judex sit Radamantus,

£t Minos CretsB conjimctus eis iEacusque,

Atque modum poense pensent seu demeruere.

Vix infemalis pro poena sufficit ipsis

Aut focus aut furisB, licet essent agmine mille.

Gens est Cerberea, gens Spbyngea, gens Briarea,

Latratu, raptu, spolii prsedaeque voratu,

JjAub hsQC, laus Boreae, laus est baec laus sine laude^

262 POLITICAL POEMS.

NuTic quia de viria Borealibus sit ecepe et acepius
mentio in proBmisais, ideo de eorv/m moribvs et
conditionibua acribitur hie uUeriiia metrice avh
hia verbia.

Qui mores plebis agnoscere vis borealis,
Perlege, pange metra, tibi dicent nil nisi vera.
Gens Bore®, gens Tisiphonae, gens aJta Meg8ei«,
Gens lactata Styge, potataque plebs Acheronte,
SaBvit in Anstrales, stimularet sen fiiror omnes,
Non vigor attrahere victus, non visve moveret,
Est fiiror aut fiiria quicquid gens egerit ista.
Gens BoresB, gens Cerberees linguaeque loquelae,
Latrat et elatrat et verba rudissima tractat.
Proditor est quisque vir nobilis ejus in ore,
Presbyter et monachus, puer et vir, sexus et omnis,
FcemineaB sive probri quod possit vilius edi,
Semper ut inficiat vir vilis vilia tracta.
Gens BoresB gens proluvie foedissima de se
Harpyiis similis violando vasa liquoris,
Ac mensas hominum, tabulatas ac mulierum.
Fcedior est fatu, bis turpior est moderatu,
Nescit honesta loqui vir foedsB progeniei.
Gens Bori89 gens perfidise, gens prompta rapinae,
Gens est centimano raptu similis Briarese,
Et Tityo jecore, Sisypho saxoque ruente ;
Et licet ulterius societur Tantalus istis,
Non portat metrum, mos est his pejor eoinim,
Diripiunt, rapiunt, post se vix saxa relinquit
Gens BoresB, gens nequitise, gens absque pietate,
Et sine lege veris vindex, sine judice juris.
Decisor quia vi vult cuncta re^ gladiali,
Moreve barbarico, licitum foret in spoliando,
Ut fierent propria^ per raptum i^es alienae.
Friguit aut caluit nimis id quod tollere noUet,
Gens Boreie, gens viperese pellis generisque,

ON THE CIVIL WAKS. 263

Mordet et emordet^ rodit, corrodit, et urget
Matris ad interitum, male sicut tendat ad ortum.
Devorat ad patriam qnse ssepe dbaverat ipsum.
Per matrisque modum dederat aibi lac ad edendum,
Et lingU89 stimulo noceat caudaeque veneno
Australi populo sibi res et opes rapiendo,
Austiterat prseda raptrix Boreasque rapina.
Eine gens, gens ista quia fertur tarn vitiosa,
Quod mihi, si centum linguae sint oraque centum,
Ferrea vox, et item vix singula dioere possem.
Hanc cantaream sibi qusesivit propriandam,
Extinctis cereis sonituque nolasque libellis,
Et pro perpetuo maledicta sit Arctos ab Austro.

Proceaaua aiib brevibiis mb fomvi et modo quibua
cornea Marckice^ fiivaa et hcerea domim dAida
Eborad interfecti, audita fama de morte em
patriae Tnox aeeociata eibi non pauca mvZtitud4/ne
plebia, ad partes Borealea eeceaeit contra proceres
et aUoa rebeUea pugnaturoe^ idea acribitv/r hie
uUeriua aub breuHoquio atylo Toetrico avh hia
verbia.

X. numero seni lapsi sunt drciter anni,
Postquam successit rex juris jureve rexit
Anglorum regnum, vis non jus rexerat ipsum ;
Jam nova progenies quia ooelo venit ab alto.
Batumi soboles qui nomine dicitur altro,
Edwardus quartu% Bicardo sauguine junctua
Creditur a multis redient Satumia nostris
Temporibus seda ; lis, visque, nefas simul una
Deperient ; jura^ lex, et pax sint reditura ;
Fraus etiamque dolus cessabunt, ac violentus
Baptus avaritiaa snbeunt verumque fidesque.
Eaec spes plebis erat, den chorus hsecque putabai
Det seu spemtur regnum Deus ut statuatur,
Et plebs tranquille vivat derusque quiete.

264 POLITICAL POEMS.

Deinde de tempore Ulius^ belli quo domUi atahant
Boreales, et prcBdomiti, pro exceamhua patratia
in pairia auatrali, vMerina metricc aic acribena
inquit

M. semel x. temo centum quatemi simul uno,

In Martis mense ter dena denique luce.

In patria Borese Ferebrius prope jugera villae

Pugna fuit plebis acris nimis et satis atrox.

Vicerat Arctos in belle martius heros

Junior Edwardus, Hector novus, alter Acliilles,

Prostravit midtos ; Austro tunc cesserat Arctos,

Et doluit casum supra x. bis millia, quorum

Quamplures domini, plures et erant generosi.

Illius patriro flos et sors tunc cecidere,

Et merito, quoniam spoliarunt nequiter Austrum.

Laus igitur Domino, sit honor, sit gloria Cliristo !

Cessat nunc flatus grandis Boreseque boatus,

Inque Austrum rediit, ^olus ventum variavit.

Est Boreas mordens et valde ventus adurens;

Est Auster Justus, vult morsu rodere morsus,

Et male mordentem vere vires toUere eidem ;

Est Zephyrus placidus, est suavis frater et ejus ;

Hinc Boreasque Aquilo pro tunc clauduntur in antro.

Quia in prcemiasia a'U mentio de titulia utHuaqtie
jam dicti regia, ideo in recenaio^iem et recitationia
recordationem acribitur hie ulteriua de vii*iaque
metrice avb horum verborum tenore.

In sibi conjunctis Edwardi semine natis
Ortus erat primo lionellus, Johannesque secundo;
Cedat lex regni vult junior ut seniorL
Attamen Henricus hseres genitusque Johannis,
Per vim sceptrigerum regimen tuleratque coronam,
Et tenuit muJtis sed non sine viribus annis.

ON THE CIVIL WABS. 265

Illi successit rex, qui si non caruisset
JustitisB titulo, non Hector 'dignior ipso,
Non judex jEacus, non or© politus Ulixes.
Ipso defuncto successit filius, in quo
Stirps ea cessavit; heeres rectus remeavit,
Scilicet Edwardus Leonelli proximus hseres.
Hie petiit regimen, rex obstat datquo negamen.
Bes agitur belli, vicit sanguis Leonelli
Et palmam tulerat, Henricus rex fugiebat.
Bello finito, multo quoque sanguine fuso^
Cum victor secum pabnam ferretque triumphum,
Vendicat hoc iterum, plebs applaudabat eidem,
Clamabatque sibi, vivat felicior omni
Rege vel Augusto, melior regat Octaviano.
Hsec vox cunctorum clamor fuit ac populorum.
Rex igitur factus, rex in solioque levatus,
Quod fractum fuerat iterum bene consolidabat,
Jureque quo potuit vim pressit, jus renovavit.
Sic vetus id dictum fuerat bene verificatum,
De male qusesitis vix gaudet tertius hseres,
Stare diuque nequit mala quicquid vis stabilivit;
Jus nescitque mori, valeat licet ense ferire;
Ex bene patratis bene crescit honos quoque vii-tus.
O rota versatilis nimis oque rotabilis axis,
Sorte novercante fetoque modum variante,
Corruit Henricus isto sub nomine sextus,
Et ca9um tulerat, titulus sibi deficiebat,
Defedtque bonus, heus ! pro moderamine sensus,
Proque bono campi cor defuit Herculis illi
Matris non patris fuit ortus filius excors,
Matrem nee coluit, nimis a patre degeneravit,
Quo melior miles non Teucer erat vel Atrides,
Sive timor Phrygiis Ajax robustus in armis.
Hie fuit in verbis rex mitis, rex pietatis,
Attamen in factis nixniae vir simplicitatis.
Hino postquam triginta novem rex prsefuit annis,
Cseca suam fortuna rotam, quasi fortis in armis,

266 POLITICAL POEM&

Yolverat^ et regimen rapiebat regis^ eundem
Compulit ac subito sic dioere^ ''sum sine regna"
O sors prosperior^ o gratia soiieque major,
Qui diutuma nimis fuit expectatio plebis,
Sod mittendus erat, jam dante Deo veniebat.
Hie Mariis soboles et nomine martins heros,
Marte triumphante jus soeptii jusque ooronae
XJt decuit sumpsit, ut debuit ac sibi jimxit.
Tunc bona spes fuerat sors prospera quod reveniret,
Lsetaque pro Toto coleret plebs secla sub ipso.
Det Deus ac fadat bona ne spes irrita fiat !
Qui veteres recolis veteranaque gesta revolvis,
Ferreque scis si vis there quis fuit ac pater ejus.
Die si legisti, legisseve te meministi,
Quenquam decrepitum qui oesserat opilionem^
Et steterat multis absens in partibus annis,
Rursus gestantem baculum baculoque r^entem
Conventum pecorum concordi voce legentum.
Bes hsec rata satis, nee contingens retroactis
Temporibus multis, nostris tamen accidit annis.
In patre qui sextus fuit ordine prime Johannis,
Sed post octavus bis prsefuerat quia dictus,-
Hoc duplex nomen sibi vendicat unus et idem,
Deque loco segetis pater est cognomine dictus,
Hac nimc in decade numerus qui didtur esse,
In qua totius residet perfectio legis,
Scriba suo calamo pausam finemque libeUo
Imposuit fessus, senio morboque repressus,
Csecutiens steterat, auditus defidebat,
Contractique manus digiti fuerant simul omnes,
Semper et ad valvas stabat mors improba pulsans;
Dixit et eodesisB, dispone tuo, moriere.
Hac igitur causa scriptor nihil addidit ultra;
Addere nee poterat, quia visus deficiebat.
Idem scribendi sibi finis eratque videndi.

Explicit, explidunt qualia sciripta ferunt

A POLITICAL RETEOSPECT. 267

A Political Retrospect.'

To have in mynde callyng to remembraunce

The gret wrongys doon of oold antiquity,
Unrightful heyres by wrong alyaunce

Usurpyng this royaume caused gret adversity ;

Kyng Richard the secounde, highe of dignytee,
Whiche of Ingeland was rightful enheritoure,

In whos tyme ther was habundaunco with plentee
Of welthe and erthcly joye, withou^t langoure.

Than cam Henry of Derby, by force and myght,

And undir the colour of fals perjury,
He toke this rightwys iiyng, Goddes trew knyght,

And hym in prison put perpetuelly,

Pyned to dethe, alas ! ful pj^uxly ;
Holy bisshop Scrope, the blyssed confessour.

In that quarel toke hys dethe ful padently,
That alle the world spak of that gret langoure.

Whos dethe ys a very trew evidence

To alle Ingeland for the just title and lyne,
Whiche for the trowthe by tyranny and violence

Was put doune and suspect holde venyrsyne ;

Many a trew lord then put to mortel fyne ;
Alway they have ben aboute withe rigoure

The lynaige of kyng Richard to undinnyne,
That longe have lyved in gret langoure.

* This poenH) "wliich appears to 1 maniucript in the Library of the
hare been composed in 1462 or I Society of Antiquaries, No. 101^
1463, is preserved in a contemporary I foL98, z^.

268 POLITICAL POKMS.

God smote the said Henry, for hys gret fersnesse,

With a lepre holdyng hym to hys ende fynally.
Next hym Henry the fyfte, of knyghtly prowesse,

Named the best of that lyne and progenyi

How be it he regned unrightftilly,
^it he upheld in Ingeland the honnonr;

Henry hys sone of Wy[n]desore, by gret foly,
Alle hathe retonmed unto huge langoure.

Callyng to mynde the fals engendred treson

-And myschyefz that were in hys dayes regnyng;
The good due of Gloucestre, in the season

Of the parlement at Buiy beyng,

Was put to dethe ; and ay sithe gret momyng
Hathe ben in Ingeland, with many a scharp schoure,

Falshode, myschyef, secret synne upholdyng,
Whiche hathe caused in Engeland endelez langoure.

Noo mervail though Engeland hathe ben unhappy,

Whiche hathe be mysrewled ^erys sertayne;
Scripture saithe heritage holdyn wrongfully

Schal never cheve ne with the thred heyre remayne.

As hathe be verified late ful playne,
Where as iij. kynges have, regned by erroure,

The thred put ou^te, and the right brought agayne,
Whos absence hathe caused endlez langoure.

Also scripture saithe, woo be to that regyon
Where ys a kyng unwyse or innocent;

Moreovyr it ys right a gret abusion,
A womman of a land to be a regent,
Qwene Margrete I mene, that ever hathe ment

To goveme alle Ehgeland with myght and poure,
And to destroye the ryght lyne was here entent,

Wherfore sche hathe a &1, to here gret langoure.

A POLTTIOAL BETBOSPECI. 269

And now Bche ne rought, so that ache myght attayne.

Though alle Engeland were brought to confusyon,
Sche and here wykked aifynit^ certayne

Entende uttyrly to destroye thys regioun;

For with theym ya but dethe and distruccioun,
Bobberye and vengeaunce, with alle rygoar,

Therfore alle that holde of that oppynioun,
God sende hem a schort ende witli meche langour.

it ys gretly agayne kynde and nature,
An Englyshe man to corrumpe hys owne nacion,

Will3mg straungiers for to reeure,

And in Engeland to have the domynacioun,
Wenyng thanne to be gret of reputacion ;

For sothe they that soo hope, least schal be theyre
pour;
He that woold be high schal be undir subjecioun,

And the fyrst that schal repente the langoure.

Wherfore I lykken England to a gardayne,

Whiche that hathe ben overgrowen many yere
Withe wedys, whiche must be mowen doune playne.

And than schul the pleasant swete herbes appere.

Wherfore aUe trewe Englyshe peuple, pray yn fere
For kyng Edward of Rouen, oure comfortoure.

That he kepe justice and make wedis clere,
Avoydyng the blak cloudys of langoure.

A gret signe it ys that God lovythe that knyght,
For alle thoo that woold have destroyed hym utterly,

Alle they ar myschyeved and put to flyght.
Than remembre hys fortune with chevalry
Whiche at Northamptoun gate the victory,

And at Mortimers Crosse he had the honnour;
On Palme Sonday he wan the palme of glorye,

And put hys enemyes to endelez langour.

270 POUnCAL POKMSL

And drave bys adyenary ou^t of the lande ;

Aftyr cam to London and was cronned kyng.
Ryght late God ^af bym grace to xindiistonde

The &Is traytonrs agayne hym jrmagynynge.
The prophede saithe^ there schal dere hym noo thinge,

He it y 8 that schal wynne castelle, tonne, and tonre ;

AUe lebeUyons nndyr he sdhal hem biynge,
Willyng to hys highenesse any kngonre.

Richard the erl of Warwyk, of knyghthode

Lodesterre, borne of a stok that evyr schal be
trewe,

Havyng the name of prowes and manhoode,
Hathe ay ben redy to helpe and resskewe
Kyng Edward, in hys right hym to endewe;

The commens therto have redy every houre ;
The voyx of the peuple, the voix of Jhcsu,

Who kepe and preserve hym from alle langoure.

Now blyssed saint George, pray the vierge immaculat
To be good mediatrix, praying her sonne

Tliat Edward of Rouen may be victorienx and for-
tunat.
Withe alle the trew lordes of hys regioun,
That they may se a good way and directioun

To make peas in Engeland, that riche and pouer
^^y joyfrilly ^y^^ ^t tlie conclusyon,

Welcom everlastjmg joye, and farewal langoure.

RECOVERY OF THE THRONE BY EDWARD IV. 271

On the Recovery of the Throne by Edward IV.^

Bemembyr with reverens the Maker of maukynde.
How myjty, how mercyfuUe, how glorius he is,

Alle erthly creaturus in thayre reasonys byn blynde,
Whan they compar with his power tiiay do alle

amys.
Agaynste his power no thynge impossible is ;

Wherefore lett ns say in wele and in woo

Good Lorde, evermore thy wille be doo.

How mervelous to man, how dowtfulle to drede,
How &r paste maonys resoun and mynde hath it
bee,
Tlie comyng of kjroge Edwarde, and his good spede,
Owte of Dochelonde into Englonde over the salte see.
In what parell and trowbiU, in what payne was
heel
Whan the salte water and tempest wrought hym

gret woo;
But in adversity and ever, Lorde, thy wille be doo.

His kny^tehode, his power, his ordinance, his ry^te,
Agajmst this trowblis tempest avaylid hym no
thynge.

What may manhode do agaynst Goddes my^te?
The wynde, the water spareth nodyr priynce ne kyng.
Haply that trowbill was for wickyd lyvyng;

God wolde every creature his Maker shulde know.

Wherefore, good Lorde, ever more thy wille be doo.

• From MS. Beg. 17 D. xv. fol. 3^7, rT

272 POLITIGAL P0E1I&

Lorde, the unkyndnes was shewid to kynge Ed^ward
that day !
At his londyng in Holdymes he had grett payne ;
His subjectes and people wolde not hym obey,
Off hym and his people thay had grett disdayne.
There schewid hym unkyndnes, and answerid hym
playne,
As for kynge he sholde not londe there for wele ne woo ;
Tett londid that gentill prynce, the will of God was soo.

To Yorke this nobille prynoe and his pepuU did passe,
Magr^ his enmyes, no man hym lett my^te ;

At wiche cit^ trowbeKd the ryalle prynce was,

Yett into the cit^ he enterid be Qoddes power and

my^te;
And whan the pepoU of his persone had a verrey sy^te,

Thayre malioe was quenchid, were they never so woo.

Wherefore, good Lorde, ever more thy wille be doo.

That shortly to ride that nobill prynce was redy,
By Pomfiiett castell he paste, his enmys not with-
stondyng.
Marques Mountigew of that passage was verrey hevy,
Wyth the prynce he durste not mete, but ther lay

the momyng ;
His tresoun in his mynde before done was remiyng,
Supposyng that kjmg Edwarde remembryd it also.
Wherefore, good Lorde, ever more thy wille be doo.

At Covyntrd that gentill piynce was trowblid mer-
velously,
Wyth the scourge of God thus betyn was hee.

Mete, dryncke, and logynge his pepulle lackyd certaynly,
Yett he pight his felde in placis thre.
To fyght with Warwicke and all his meny.

But he was afirayed, and his people also.

In every thynge, Lord, thy wille be doo.

BEOOVEBY OF THE THRONE BT EDWABD lY. 273

glorius God, how thou haste ajsaigned
Hertes disoeveryd to be stablisshyd ayene.

In love of matremonye thou haate hem jojrayd,

Eyng Edwarde and the duke of Clanmse gret

honour to attayne.
Thay were dysoeveryd by a sottell meane ;

Nature hath compellid hem agayne togere go;

Thus in every thyng, Lorde, thy wille be doo.

At Warwicke the knot was knytt agayne,

Unknowyng to many a man m this londe ;
God sent his grace by a sovereyne meane,
Yett the pepuUe ben blynde, they will not under-

stonde.
Stryve not with the peopull, ne the werkys of his
honde,
And thoncke hym hertely it plesith hym so to do ;
And lett us say, *' Good Lorde, ever thy wille be doo/'

Longe lay the kyng there, away wolde not hee,
Dayly he prophered batayle, his enmys durst not
fyghte;
Lacke of logynge and vitayle, it was grett pet^,
Causid the gentill prynce to remeve, suche was Goddes

myjte.
Lowe how the good Lorde his owne gentill kny^te,
BecausQ he shulde remembir hym in wele and in woo.
Thus in every thyng, Lorde, thy wille be doo.

As the priynce passid to Londone, God shewid ryghte

Secrett thyng to hym, tokyn of victory ;
In presence of the same priynce, by Goddes powere
and my^te,
And ymage wiche was closid brake opyn sodenly.
God sheid hym this comforte in the abbey of
Deyntr^,

VOL. II. s

274 POLinOAL POEMS.

Becaiise he shiQde be stidfast in wela and in woo;
The ymage was of saynt© Anne, God wolde it shulde
be BO.

The gentill priynce and his pepnll to Londone did passe,
Into the cit^ he enterid with a company of men trew.

For the wiche his enmys cryed, "Owte and alas!"
Thayre red colowrus chaungid to pale hewe.
Than the nobill prynce began werkys new.

He toke prisoners a kyng and a derke, loo,

How the will of God in every thynge is doo.

To Westmynster the kyng be water did glide,
Worshypfiilly resayvid with processionn in flfeet,

Ilesay vid with reverence, his dewt^ not denye ;
The cardenall uppone his hede the crowne did sett,
The septure in his honde, withowte intrumpcioun or
lett

Then to seynt Edwardes shryne the priynce did goo,

Thus in every thyng the wille of God is doo.

The kyng oomfortid the quene, and other ladyes eke ;

His swete babis fiill tendurly he did kys;
The yonge prijmoe he behelde, and in his armys did here.

Thus his bale tumyd hym to blis;

Aflur sorow joy, the course of the worlde is.
The sitte of his babis relesid parte of his woo ;
Thus the wiUe of God in eveiy thyng is doo.

How sodenly that tyme he was compeUid to parte
To the felde of Barnefc with his enmys to fyghte.

God lett never prynce be so hevy in his herte
As kynge Edwarde was all that hole ny^te.
And aftur that shone a ster over his hede full
bryjte,

The syght of the wiche made his enmys woo ;

It was a tokyn of victory, Goddis will was soo.

BEOOVERT OF THE THBONE BY EDWARD IV. 276

This piynoe it peroeyvid, and he let it passe and goo,
That was to Ciyst his creature he did calle,

To oure lady and to saynt George, and other seyntes
moo ;
Then sodenly uppone his knes the prynce did falle,
Beseohyng the good Lorde and his seyntes aUe

His ryght hym to sonde, and defende hym of his foo,

And said ever, "Good Lorde, thy wille be doo,"

Thow knowyst my ry^te, Lorde, and other men also ;
As it is my ry^te, Lorde, so thou me defende,

And the quarell that is wronge it may be overthrow.
And to ryght parte the victory thou sonde.
And I promesse the, good Lorde, my lyffe to amende,

I knolege me a synner wrappid in woo.

And all said with one voyse, "Lorde, thy will be
doo."

His meditacioun thus made, his herte hevy,
Yet his hede he up lyfte with a mery chore,

And said, " Frendis, to this jomey it is tyme we hye ;
" Latt us all call to Cryst and his seyntes in fere,
" As he uppone a crosse boght us lyght dere.

" I knolege me a synner wrappid in woo;

" In this adversity evir, Lorde, thy wille be doo."

" Avaunoe, baner,'' quod the kyng, " passe forthe anone,

'* In the name of the Trinytd and oure Lady

biyghte,

" Seynt Edward, seynt Anne, and swete seynt Johan,

" And in the name of seynt George, oure ladis

" kny^te,
" This day shew thy grett power and thy gret
*' myjte,
" And brynge thy trew subjectes owte of payne and

" woo;
" And as thy wille is, Lorde, thys jomey be doo/'

s 2

276 pouncAL poBifs.

There was shotyng of gonnjrs and arows plente ;
There waa ahowtyng and crying thai the erih did
quake;
There was hewyng of hames, pei^ was to see ;
For fere of that firay many man did shake.
There was tremelyng and tomyng tbayre woo did
waka
There was hewyng of hehnettes and salettes also ;
Hit plesid God that seasonn it shulde be soo.

There was jollyng, ther was rennyng for the sove>
reynt^^

There was rorynge and rumbelynge, pettf to here ;
Fajme was the waykyer away for to flee.

That day many a stowte man was ded there;

Warwicke and Mowntegew were slayne in fere,
Ejiy^tes and gentihnen and other men moo.
In all thynges, good Lorde, every thy wille be doo.

There was rydynge and rennyng ; sum ciyed, " Wayle-
« away 1 **

Unknowyng to many man who the better hadde.
Sum sou^te thayre maysters, sum hit thaym that day.

Sum ran here and tiiere like men that were madde ;

Sum were ryght hevy and harde bestadde,
Byght besy in thayre wittes away to goo.
Alle was for the best, oure Lorde wold it shulde be so.

Kynge Edward and his brothere, dowtyng no fere,
Lordis and other gentilmen in the kynges ry^te,
Stidfiistyly and worshypfiilly thayre parte did there,
Manly and freshely that day did tiiay fy^te.
To kynge Edwarde fiUe the victorye, throw Goddes
my^te.
Many one whan thay wist thay were ry^te woo.
Hit bootid hem not to stiyve, the wille of God was
soo.

BEOOYEBY OF THE THBONB BY EDWABD IV. 277

To London com the kyng whan the batell was doo,
Levyng behjmde hym many a dede man;

Sum hurte, Bum slayne, sum cryinge ^' Alas ! ''
Gretter multitude than I con telle.
Sum waloyng in blood, sum pale, sum wan.

Sum sekyng thayre frendis in care and in woo.

In every thynge. Lord, thy wiUe be doo.

In Sothwerke, at Bambere heth, and Eyngston eke,
The bastarde and Ids mean^ in the contr^ abowte,

Many grett men in London they made seke,
Man, wyff, ne childe there durst non rowte.
Oxin, shepe, and vetayle, withowtyn any dowte,

Thay stale away and carrid ever to and £roo.

Qod suffirs modie thyng, his wille to be doa

Moche sorow and shame the wrecchis thay wroughte,
Fayre placis thay brend on the water side.

Thayre myschevus dedis avaylid ham noughte,
SchamfuUy thay wrougte, and so thaym betyd.
Thay wolde not leve ther malice, but therin abyde,

Thay cryed kynge Edward and Warwicke also.

Thus the wille of God in every thynge is doo.

At Londone brygge thay made asawte, sham to see,
The utter gate on the brygge thay sett on fyre ;
Into Londone shott arows withowte petd

With gunnus thay were bett that sum lay in the

myre.
Thay askyd wage of the brygge, thay paid them
thayre hire.
Ever amonge thay had the worse, then wakynd thaire

woo.
False men most be poyneshyd, the will of God is soo.

278 pounoAL poms.

At Londone brige anodyr sawte thay made agayne,
Wyth gimpowdir and wildefire and straw ^e ;

Fro the gate to the drawbrygge thay brent down playne.
That X. myle men my^te se the smeke.
Thay were not of thayre entent the nere of a leke.

For into the dt^ thay my^te not com for wele ne
for woo;

God restid thayre malice, the wille of hym was soo.

At Algate thay sawtid in an ill seasoun;

Thay brente fayre howsi8> petd was to se.
Thus these false men did opyne tresoun,

Supposynge evermore to enture into cit^.

God and good seyntes thereof had pitA
Thayre malice was sesid and turned hem to woo.
Thus in every thynge, Lorde, thy will be doo.

The erle of Esex, and also the aldurmen,
At Bysshopus gate togedder thay mette,

And owte therat sewde like manly men.

Thay bete hem down, no man my^te hem lett;
Freshely on thayre enmyes that day did thay fyjte.

Thayre false treson broujte theym in woo;

Thus in every thynge, Lorde, tiiy wille be doo.

The erle Revers, that gentill kny^te,

Blessid be the tym tiiat he borne was!
By the power of God and his grett mytte,

Throw his enmyes that day did he passe.

The maryners were keUid, thay cryed "Alas!"
Thayre false tresoun brou^te hem in woo,
Thus in every thynge, Lorde, thy wiUe be doa

There aventurid the erle then into the honde^

Contravelde the welefaire of London that day ;
When the comens the skomfertour did understonde.

BEOOYERY OF THE THBONE BT EDWABD IV. 279

Thay seuyd owte freshly, thay kepud none araye ;

Glad with the Kentyschmen thay were for to fraye:
Thay were kyllid down, away thay my^te not goo.
Thus the wille of God is evermore doo.

God wolde the erle Revers there shulde be;

He purchesid grett love of the comyns that seasoun ;

Lovyngly the cetysens and hee
Pursuyd thayre enmyes, it was but reason,
And kyUid the peple for thayre false tresoun,

Or the chase were do, cc. and moo.

Thus in every thynge, Lorde, thy will be do.

When the Kentyschmen herd of that fraye,
Like maysterles men away thay wente,

Erly in the momyng, or it were day,

Throw halkys and hegges resortid into Kent.
Thay vanysshyd away as thayre tayles had be brente,

Remembrynge thayre fidse tresoun, in hertes woo.

Thus in every thynge, Lorde, thy will be doo.

O glorius God, what vexacioun was then

To the quene and the lordis and other lades eke,

To the mayre, and the comens^ and the aldurmen ;
Thay nedid no fere ne sorow to seke.
Then aftur kynge Edwarde thay cryed and did wepe ;

The lacke of liis presence made the pepull woo.

Thus the wille of God in every thynge is doo.

O that nobill prynce and emperour flouere.

To sitt at Londone resorte he than;
Nothur Alisaunder ne Artur, ne no conquerouere

No better were acompenyd with nobill men.

Like none of the rounde tabuUe were beseyn,
Ryally horsid and aparelde in the fere of thayre foo.
Thus victoriusly he come, Goddes wille was soa

280 POLITICAL POEHS.

The duke of Qlooetter, that nobill prynce,
Yonge of age and victorius in batayle,

To the honoure of Ectour that he myjte oomens,
Grace hym folowith, fortune, and good spede.
I suppose hes the same that derkis of rede,

Fortune hathe hym chosyn, and forthe wyth hym
will goo.

Her husbonde to be, the wille of God is soo.

In the kynges forwarde the prynoe did ride,

Withe nobill lordis of grefct renowne ;
The erle of Penbroke, the lorde chamberlayne be his
side;

Many other kny^tes and yomen of the crowne ;

With tru[m]ppus and clarions thay rode to Londone.
In the kynges forwarde were viij. m^ and moo.
Thus in every thynge the wille of God is doo.

The lordo ehambirlayne, that gentill kny^te,

Whiche failid his mayster nother in storme ne stoui^ ;

Off goodly men he had a faire sy^te,

Wiche rode afore the kynge to his honoure.

He hathe deservid thancke amonge other paramour,

In Dochelonde, in Englonde, in wele and in woo ;

He hath beddyn with his kynge, the wille of God
is soo.

Then the glorius prynce, victorius and ryalle,

Kynge Edwarde the iiij****, I wille ye undurstonde,

Viij. aldermen of Londone, I wille ye undyrstonde,
In the felde he dubbid tha3rm kny^tes, and bade

them up stonde,
Fulle nobille and worshypfuUy with his honde.

Wyth reverence and worshyp thay thanckyd hym also ;

He remembirde thayre trew hertes, God wolde soo.

RECOVERY OF THE THRONE BY EDWARD IV. 281

The duke of Claranse, that honorabill kny^te^

Can alowe the (AM notabully.
Hym to beholde it was a goodly syjte,

He is an excellent piynce oertaynly.

He thonckyd the cetisence of thayre fidelity ^

Done to the kynge, it plesid hym soo. n<

Thus in every thynge the wille of God is doo.

Then to the gate the kynge did ride,

His brethir and his lordis in ordre, a good si^te to see.
iiij. ml hamessid men the kynge did abide,

And worshypfuUy resayvid hym into the dtd.

Cryste preserve the pepull, for his grett pet^!
XX. m^ I suppose, and many one moo,
Weksomyd kyng Edward, the will of God was soo.

Throw the cit^ to Foulus thai did ride;

He was resayvid with prosessioun solemply;
His brether and his lordis knelyng hym beside,

Thayre offeiyng thay made devoutly,

Lovyng and thonckyng Qod of his victory.
His brether and his lordis said the same also.
Thus in every thynge, Lorde, thy wille be doo.

O qiiene Elizabeth, o blessid creature,

O glorius God, what payne had sche?
What langowr and angwiche did sche endure?

When hir lorde and sovereyn was in adversity.

To here of hir wepyng it was grett pet^,
When sche remembirde the kynge, sche was woo.
Thus in every thynge the wiUe of God is doo.

Here aftir, good lady, in youre felicity,

Remembir olde trowblis and thynges paste.
And thyncke that Cryste hym selfe is hee

That is kynge of kynges, and ever shall laste.

Knytt it in youre herte suerly and faste.
And thyncke ho hathe delyveryd you owte of woo ;
Hertly thoncke hym, hit plesith hym so to doo.

282

FOLmClL POEUB.

And ever, good lady, fo!" the love of Jhesa,
And his blessid modir in any wise,

Remembir suche personus as have be trewe,
Helpe every man to have justice.
And thes that wille othir maner maters device,

Thay love not the kynge, 1 dar say soo.

Besechyng ever God that his wille be doa

Explicit the baiet off the kynge.

On England's CoMatEitciAL Policy.*

AngUa, propter tuas naves et lanaa, oirniia regna te
eahitare debererd.

Goo forth, lybell, and mekly schew thy face
Afore my lordes, with humble countenaimss,
And pray thejmi all to take the to grace.
In appoysaylle and in cheryschyng the to avaunce.

Ffor thow mayst expertly be provyd by prudence,
Among alle discrete men havyng sapyence,
Ffor oone of the best that may be thought
Ffor the welth of Ynglond, yf it be well sowthe.

Ffor ther ys no reme in no maner degree,
Butt they have nede to oure Englysshe commodyt^;
And the cawse theroff I wylle to yow expresse,
The wiche ys soth as the gospelle of the masse.

> This poem was "wiitten to enforce
the same principles as those con-
tained in the larger tract of an
earlier date, the Libel of English
Policy, of which it is partly a sort
of abstract adapted to the time.

It is taken from a manuscript in the
British Museum, MS. Lansdowne,
No. 796, fbl. 2, v**, of about the
reign of Edward TV., at which
period it appears to ha^e been com-
posed.

ON ENGLAND'S COMUBRGIAL POLICT. S83

Ther yg noothir pope, 6mperovnr6) nor kyng,
Bysschop, cardyn&l, or any man levyng,
Of what condicion or what maner degree,
Duiyng theyre levyng thei must have thynges iij.

Mete, drynk, and doth, to every mannes sustynaimoe,

They leng alle i^., withowtt varyamioe»

Ffor who so lackyth any of thyse iij. tiiynges,

Be the popys or emperowrs^ or soo royall kynges,

Yt may not stonde with theym in any prosperyt^;
Ffor who so lackythe any of thyse, he snffryd

adversyt^;
Wilys this ys soth be yowre wyttes dysceme,
Of alle the remes in the worlde this beryth the

lanteme.

Ffor of everyche of thyse iij. by Ooddes ordynaunoe,
Wee have suffjrcyenly unto oure sustynaunce,
And with the supplusage of oone of thyse iij. thynges,
We mytgth rewle and goveme alle crystyn kyngea

And paynymys also we my^the mak theym ful tame,
Ffor the cause we take no hed we be mykylle to

blame ;
For of alle the pepylle that be lyvyng on grounde
To praye and to please God we be most bownde.

Ffor thow thei have met, diynke, in every kyngges

londe,
Yet they lacke clothe, as y und3n:Btonde ;
And for to determyn that the trouthe jrs soe,
Lestyn wel to me, and ye moste acord therto.

Ffor the marchauntes comme oure wollys for to bye,
Or elles the cloth that is made theroff sykyrly,
Oute of dyverse londes fer byyond the see,
To have thyse merchaundyss into theyr contr^

284 POLITICAL P0EBI8.

Ffirom ArteyBe, Pekardy, Henaude, and Normandy,
Bretayne, Fraunse, Petowe, and Barry,
Qasscoyne, Gyon, and also Aragun,
Portyngale, Spayne, and Naverun,

Castyle, Cesyle, Coleyn, and Swethyn,
Pruse-londe, Florence, Venyse, and Jene,
Mekne, Catelony, and alle Ttally,
Bewme, Hungry, Qreke, and gret Turky.

And many moo londes that I can not nevene.
But y dar sey alle that be unther hevyne,
Bothe crystyn [and] hethyn of alle maner degreys.
They have nede to oure Englysshe commodyteis.

Therfor let not owre woole be sold for now^te,
Neyther oure clothe, for they must be sowth ;
And in especyaUe restrayne strayttly the wool,
That the comyns of thys land may wyrke at the
fuUe.

And yf any wooll be sowlde of thys londe,
Lete yt be of the worst bothe to ffre and bonde.
And noone other in [no] maner wyse,
Ffor many dyverse cawsys, as y can devyse.

Yf the woole be corse, the doth is mykyll the worse.
Yet into lytyUe thei putt owtc of purse.
As myche for gardyng, spynnyng, and wevyng,
Ffullyng, rowyng, dyyng, and scherjmg.

And yet when suche clothe ys aUe ywrowte,

To the maker it waylyth lytylle or now^tte,

The pryce ys sympylle, the cost ys never the lesse,

They that wyrkkyd soche wooll in wytte be lyke an

ON England's oommbrcul pouct. 285

The oostes into lytyll trewly at the fiille
Ys as myche as yt were maad of the fyne woll,
Yet a ^erde of that oon ys worth v. of that other ;
Bettyr can not I seye, thow yt were to my brother.

Take hed to my leasoun that y have schewyd here,
Ffor yt ys necessary to every dothyer,
And the most prevayle to theym that may be fownde,
Yf they wylle take hede therto and yt undyrstonde.

A ordynaunee wolde be maad for the poore porayle,
That in thyse dayes have but lytyll avayle,
That is to sey for spynners, carders, wevers also,
Ffor toukers, dyers, and schermyn thereto.

For in thyse dayes ther is a hewsaunce,

That puttyth the pore pepylle to grett hynderaunce,

By a strange mene that is late in londe

Bygun and usyd as y undyrstonde

By merchaundes and cloth-makers, for Qodys sake

take kepe,
The wyche makythe the poreylle to mome and wepe ;
Lytyll thei take for theyre labur, yet halff ys mer-

chaundyse ;
AJas ! for rewthe, yt ys gret pyt&

That they take for vj^, yt ys dere ynow of iij.,
And thus thei be defrawdyd in every contr^,
The pore have the labur, the ryche the wyimyng ;
This acordythe now^te, it is a hevy partyng.

Butt to voyde fraude, and sett egaUytd,
That syche wjrrfolk be payd in good mon^,
Ffrom this tyme forthe by suffycyent ordynaunee
That the poreylle no more be putte to suche gre-
vaunce.

286 POLITICAL POKMa

For and ye knew the aorow and hevyneas

Of the pore pepyll levyng in dysfcreBS,

How ibei be oppresayd in alle maner of thyng,

T^ y^vyng theyxn to myehe weythe into the spynnyng.

Ffor ix}^ I wene they achalle take zij..
This ifl very trewthe, as y know my selff ;
Theyre wages be batyd, theyre weyte ys emsresyd^
Thus the spynneiB and carders araylys be alle seasyd.

Yt were profytabyl also and exspedyent for oure

kyng,
And a gret awawntage of myche wynnyng,
And a gret enscherychyng to alle the comynalt^,-
That dwelle abowte ther that the mynys be,

The wyche have hyt in usage
To myne in the ertbe to gete theyre sostynaunoe,
Ther myght be had x. tymys more wynnyng
Than ys now adayees with good govemyng.

For and ther were a myntte ordeynyd ny therby,
And a ordynaiinoe maad therto sykyrly.
That alle the sylver, whan yt fynyd were,
Thether schold be bro^tthe and yconyd there.

And mony to be caryyd into another place,
But oonly to be coynyd in a schort space,
Wherby that the wyrkfolk myghte trewly be payd,
Then I dar sey yt wold not be denayyd,

But ayenst oon man then schnld ye have z.,
For the good payment of the wyrkmen ;
And the moe peopyU that wyrk in the mynys,
The more sylver schuld be had up at aUe tymys.

ON englakd's gommebgial policy. 287

And thus the kyng sdbold be enrychyd for his parte.
More than he is now, I dare play[n]ly joparte,
After the rate of theyre gret wynnyng,
The wiche schold be to hjnn a profytable thyng.

And thus this lond may be enrychyd ageyne,
The kyng, the lordes, and alle maner of men,
Knyghtis, squyers, and alle the comynalt^,
They may playnly voyd alle poverty.

And so to contynow owtt of hevyness.
Fro penowiy and nede, and to be put owt of dystress ;
And for to cawse owre enmyss be this ordynaunss
To seke love and pese withowtt varyaunss.

And fiulle fayne that they may be subyet to this lond,
Tf we kepe the woollys straytly owt of theyre bond ;
For by the endraperyng theroff they have theyre

sustynaunce,
And thus owre enmys be supportyd to owre gret

hynderaunce.

And therfor, for the love of God in trinyt^,
Conceyve welle these matorss, and scherysshe the

comynalt^,
That theyre pover levyng synfulle and adversyt^
May be altratyd unto welth, rychess, and prosperyt^.

Here endythe the boke of Tnglysshe polysye,
That may cause alle the worlde yt to obeye ;
Ther may no man denye but that it ys sothe,
For every man must have met, drynk, and clothe.

THE END.

GLOSSARY AND INDEX OF MEDIEVAL LATIN

WORDS.

VOL. ir.

GLOSSARY AND INDEX OF MEDIEVAL LATIN WORDS.

A.

accidia^ i. 175 ; sloth, listless melan-
choly.

acroma, i. 118, for ocroafMi ; a
concert of muslo.

adamas, i. 286 ; the diamond*

adunare, i. 259 ; to unite, to bring
together in one.

affugere, i, 37 ] to fly from, to es-
cape.

aldirmannus, L 284 ; an alderman.

alle, i. 33.

alpha theos, i. 120.

ambassiator, i. 441 ; an ambassador.

amodo, i. 104 ; henceforth.

ancillare, i. 227 \ to bring into
subjection.

anigerulus, i. 285 ; an error for
avigerulus ; a dealer in birds.

antos, i, 43.

applaudare, ii. 265 ; to applaud.

arcta, ii. 157 ; the straits, between
Dover and Calais.

arestasio, i. 143 ; an arrest.

argumentare, i. 260 ; to argue, to
dispute.

armiger, i. 138 ; an esquire.

ars, i. 284, 287, &c. ; a trade, a
trading corporation.

artifex, i. 287 i an artican, a mem-
ber of a guild or company.

apothecarius, i. 284 , a dealer in
drugs, an apothecary.

applicare, i. 160 ; to apply one thing
to another.

assissB, i. 194 ; the assizes.

B.

baga, i. 185 ; a ring, a jewel.

balearea, ii. 150; shots from an
arbalest or military machine.

balearis, ii. 150 ; an arbalest, or
other military machine for throw-
ing missiles.

balliyus, i. 141 ; a baiLif.

bannire, i. 135 ; to banish, to pui
under ban.

bannitio, i. 136 ; ban, banishment.

bare, i. 110, 196, ii. 3 s a baron.

barra, i. 294 ; a bar.

barridus, i. 176, 177, 194, 196;
strong, powerful, proud.

barrus, L 196 ; an elephant.

bastardus, i. 108 ; a bastard.

bipartitus, i. 287 ; party-coloured.

bladum, i. 176 ; wheat, hU.
T 2

292

OLOSSART AND INDEX

bombinare, i. 183, 184 ; crepitum
edere,

bombus, i. 184 ; crepitus ventris.

bracus, i. 44 ; a sort of locust which
devours the vegetation.

bubo, i. 194 ; a camp-follower, a
scamp.

bumbardus, ii. 150 ; a gun, a can-
non.

burgensis, i. 166 ; a burgher, a
burgess.

bursista^ i. 285 ; a maker of purses.

caballus, i. 288 ; a horse, chevaL
calamizare, i. 192, 193 ; to sing joj-

foUy.
calippus, i. 27.

camerarius, i. 461 ; a chamberlain,
cancellarius, i. 228 ; a chancellor,
candelarius, i. 285 ; a maker of

candles,
cantarea^ ii. 263 ; a chantry,
capellare, i. 227 ; to put a hat on.
capi talis, i. 120 ; put to death,
capito, i. 194 ; a fish, the gurnard,
capitulum, i. 257 ; a chapter or

meeting of the monks,
capucium, i. 243 ; a capuce.
carbunculus, i. 286 ; a carbuncle,

the precious stone,
catalla. i. 418 ; chattels,
caudare, ii. 128 ; to give a tail to.
cerarius. i. 285 ; a maker of wax

tapers,
certificare, i. 105 ; to certify, to

give information of.
cervicatus, ii. 119; proud, over-
bearing.

ceses, i. 117.

chekmat, i. 29; a term in ihe
game of chess — checkmate.

chronica, i. 362 ; a chronicle. This
was the most common form of the
word in medieval Latin.

cirothecarius, i. 285 ; a glover.

cissura, i. 205 ; for scissura.

cistula, L 293 ; a musical instru-
ment.

clepere, i. 203 ; to steal.

cleptes, i. 201 ; a thief, a bandit.

dimat, i. 29 ; apparently a term in
chess.

clunagitare, i. 159, 160, 171 ; futuere.

coir, i. 28.

coliberti, i. 95^ 121 ; the free com-
panions, or freebooters, who,
under Duguesdin and other chiefs,
ravaged the provinces of France.
It is «n unusual sense of the
word.

collistrigium, 1. 230 ; the pillory.

comes, passim ; an earl.

comitissa, i. 461 ; a countess.

compotus, i. 33 ; an account, reck-
oning.

conjectuari, i. 124 ; to conjecture, to
divine.

consi, ii. 253 ; perhaps for conseii,
but the line appears to be corrupt.

conventiculum, i. 299 ; a conven-
ticle, an assembly in secret.

counare, i. 29 ; to collect, to amass.

crustum, i. 190 ; a crust of bread.

cuUus, i. 176, for cuius.

curtus, i. 201, ii. 127; short.

cy, i. 36.

OF MlSpiEVAL LATIN WOBPS.

293

D.

damus, ii. 258 ; for datna^
deztrariasy i. 236, 288 ; a war-horse,

destrier,
distractus, i. 134; drawn ; disiractus

et suspensus, drawn and hanged,
ducissa, i. 460 ; a duchess,
duellum, i. 1 1 1 ; a single combat
duplare, i. 282 ; to double,
dux, passim ; a duke.

E.

ethelinga, i. 98 ; a prince,
ezactivus, i. 39 ; exigent, one who

exacts,
excillare, i. 169, 171; manere cum

uxore propria.

fallare, ii. 250 ; to deceive.

fatare, i. 36; to be fated.

fayissor, i. 195 ; a favourer or main-
tainor.

feodum, i. 31 ; homage.

feriare, i. 9S\ apparently fovferire,
to strike.

finis, i. 188 ; a fine.

firet, i. 29 ; apparently a term in
the game of chess.

fortunium, i. 30 ; fortune ; fortunia
durUy misfortunes.

furire, L 118 ; to be mad with rage.

G.

garcio, i. 227 ; a lad, a camp-fol-
lower ?

gardianus, i. 257 ; the guardian.

gaudiosus, i. 192, 212 ; full of joy.

generosus, i. 125 ; vir generosus, a
gentleman, an esquire.

genulos, i. 120.

girfalco, i. 45 ; a large species of
falcon, a gerfalcon.

gith, i. 101; a plant, the corn-
cockle.

glabrlo, i. 173, 174 ; a beardless
man.

glomerare, i. 285 ; to assemble in a
cluster round anything.

gluto, i. 116, 118 ; a glutton, a loose
fellow, a ribald.

gi'iseus, i. 256; grey.

guerrhf passim; war.

hogg6> !• S^ ; a sort of ship, perhaps
the same word as the modem hoy.

I.

igris, i. 33.

immo, i. 99, &c. ; the usual medie-
val form of imo.

impetuensis, i. 204, 205; impetu-
ous.

improperare, i. 177; to reproach, to
abuse.

294

GL0B8ABT AND IKSSX

improperiimiy i. 177 ; reproach,

ftbaee, insnlt.
ingratuitas, i. 230 ; ingratitode.
ingredienSy ii. 173 ; an ingredient

(in medicine).
insaljicibiliSy iL 166 ; insabtniflaiTe,

nngoremable.
intrttsor, 1. 114 ; a UBUper.

jooariy i. 444 ; to r^joicO) to be glad

and joyful.
jnbiluB, i. 40, 263 ; a joyful shout
junctor, i. 285 ; a joiner (the trade),
justitia, i. 172 s a just claim, or

right

K.

koghe, i. 35 ; a sort of ship, usually
interpreted a cock*boat.

laboritium, L 259 ; properly, agri-
cultural labour.

lapides, L 160 ; testiculi.

latrones, i. 116; the free compa-
nies.

ligures, [i. 116 ; ribalds, camp-fol-
lowers, plunderers.

lista^ i. 192 ; the border or lis^ in
cloth.

liTaret, L 29; apparently an old
term in the game of chess.

lorinarius, L 285 ; more correctly
larmarimif a maker of horses'
bits.

magistrari, L 258 ; to take the de-
gree of master of arts.

maleys, L 27 ; an Anglo-^Nonnan
word, signifying uncomfortable.

maligni, L 436 ; the nudignants, a
term applied to the court party in
the reign of Bichard II. It
reminds us of the term as used by
the puritans at a later period.

mannus, i. 169 ; a horse, a palfrey.

marcha, i. 156 ; a mark (the coin).

marescalluB, i. 106 ; a marshal.

mediola, i. 247.

megarus, L 194 ; a mackareL

memoramen, ii. 129 ; a memorial, a
record.

mendicantes, i. 255 ; the mendicant
friars.

metrista, ii. 150 ; a versifier.

millus, i. 194, 196 ; for mullus, a
mullet (the fish).

minores, i. 256 ; the minorites, or
friars minors.

ministrallus, i. 143 ; a minstrel.

miserea, iL 114 ; a misery.

missa, i. 114; the senrice of the
mass.

monacordium, i. 293 ; a musical in-
strument with one istring, more
usually written monoehordum.

monacomus, i. 294; a unicorn.

mortificare, L 95 ; to kill.

moms, i. 194 s a haddock (the fish).

OF MEDIEyAL LATIN WOBDB.

296

mojs, i. 180) 182; water.
miUtarey i. 184 ; for mulctare,
malto, i. 126, 162, ha. ; a eheep,
mouton.

N.

nablum^ i. 293 ; a masical instra*
ment.

nobile, i. 139, ii. 159 ; a noble, the
name of a coin struck first in the
18th Ed. m.

notus, i. 94 ; for nothusy a bastard.

novalia, i. 236 ; some sort of tax
exacted by the church.

novercare, iL 265 ; to play the step-
mother, to treat with cruelty.

obstringillis, i. 176, 177 ; it appears
by the context to mean obstructed,
but according to Ducange obstriu'
gilli was a word signifying a sort
of loose shoes.

opponere, i. 124 ; to subscribe.

otiva^ i. 226.

P.

palafridusy L 169, palefiidus, i. 289;
a palirey.

pancratiatus, i. 161 ; punished, tor-
mented.

pandoxator, i. 285 ; a brewer.

pares, i. 57 ; the peers.

pellicia, i. 256; a Air cloaiky or
mantle.

penn% i. 346 ; a pen.

phy, i. 27 ; an exclamation of dis-
gust.

pilatus, i. 260 ; wearing a hat, the
mark of an academic degree.

pir, i. 180, 182 ; fire.

pirata, i. 194 ; a robber on the sea.

pirgus, i. 28 ; a way, a road.

pisticus, i. 30 ; pure, unadulterated.

plagare, L 109 ; to wound.

pomilio, i. 285 ; a fruiterer.

pos cy pes cy, i. 86.

possessionatus, L 2^5 ; endowed,
having possessions.

pour est ny, L 36.

prominentia, ii. 115 ; prerogative
or privilege.

prffitendere, i. 124; to assert, to
declare.

propiare, i. 288 ; to approach.

propriare, ii. 268 ; to appropriate.

provisores, i. 280 ; prorisioners ?

pugnalea, i. 56.

Q.

quietare, i. 124 ; to satisfy,
quietatio, i. 150 ; inactivity.

R

rate, i. 43, 162 ; a rat

recepta, ii. 173 ; a receipt.

rectores, 1.250; ecclesiastical dig-
nitaries.

reserare, i. 125, 126 ; to interpret,
reveal

reseratio, i 127 ; an interpreta-
tion.

296

iSJOBSASY AH1> VSDEX

ro0iiiii,L 118; for roMUM, red.
mmbiUy L 194 ; a kind of fish, the

stmg^eon.
mmi^iea^ L 37, 39 ; » jaTelin, a

djHTt

&

saligia^ L 173 ; a fictitiooB word,

explained in the text,
seacci, L 46 ; the game of chess,
acamumi, L 183, 186; for —

seortnniy u 140 ; in seorHsy in for-
nication ; scorta^ fornication.

flcntifer, L 138 ; a knjght.

scntom, L 137, 139 ; a coin, called
in English a noble, in French an
ieu.

eecU, L 285 ; a soit, uniformity of
dres% livery.

seduus, L 183, 185 ; one who lisps,
and cannot pronounce the letter s
properly.

senescallas, L 106 ; a seneschal^ or
steward.

seen, i. 29.

shopa^ L 254 ; a shop.

siba, i. 48.

singlaris, i. 28, 33 ; a wUd boar,
sanglier.

sitola, L 293 ; a musical Instrmnent.

sotilaris, i. 233 ; a shoe.

spata^ i. 119 ; a sword, epee.

statutum, i. 273 ; a statute.

staurum, i. 30, 47, 137, &c. ; pro-
visions of all kind, stores.

strata, 1. 288 ; a street.

strepaiius, i. 285; a maker of
stirrups.

snbarratQs, L 102 ; ei^;aged» bound
by duty?

sonmiare, L 117 ; to count, reAatu

mifragi^ L 257; soffivgies, ex-
plained in the taxi.

supponere, L 126 ; to be pot in tiie
place of somediing^ to re|H:^&-
senL

supponere, L 171, 172; to sop-
port.

supponere, u 248 ; to suppose,
supponere, L 160 ; futuere.

tantomodo, i. 259; to such a de-
gree.

taxa^ L 143 ; a tax.

taxare, i. 143 ; to levy a tax.

temerare, i. 27 ; to occupy by vio-
lence, to usurp*

temptare, i. 132 ; the medieval form
of tentarej to attempt

tenementum, i. 191 ; landed pro-
perty.

terminare, L 140 ; to decide.

terminus, i. 125, 127; a term, or
appellation.

tiro, tyro, i. 110, 115 ; a youth not
yet experienced in military affiurs.

tractatus, i. 450 ; treated.

tractatus, ii. 129 ; a treaty.

treuga^ i. 37, 39 ; et passim; used
generally in the plural, treug^^;
a truce.

triphones, i. 48.

truUa^ i. 184 ; crepitus ventris.

turmosus, i. 174 ; belonging to the
mob, or to the lower classes.

OF MEDIEVAL LATIN WORDa

297

U.

imusy passim; used for the in-
definite article a, Ft. un*

V.

yendicare, ii. 265 ; to claim ; vendi"
care sidiy i. 133.

venerinuSy i. 102 ; adulterine ;
frtUres veneriniy illegitimate
brothers.

vespilio, L 194 ; a thief, a robber.

veteratus, i. 206 ; antiquated.

vicarii, i. 280 ; vicars, in the eccle-
siastical sense of the word.

viella, i. 293 ; a fiddle, a violin.

villagium, i. 244 ; a village,
villanus, i. 140 ; a villain, a rustic,
vinceps, ii. 150.

ymas, i. 44.

ymon, i. 228.

ypotarus, L 194 ; a kind of fish ;
perhaps for ypotamus^ which is
found in the medieval glossaries
in the sense of a sea-horse.

Z.

zelotopatus, i. 204 ; struck with
jealousy.

GLOSSARY AND INDEX OF OBSOLETE
ENGLISH WORDS.

w^ww^ m MWMMW»^»w<»<»MW^

GLOSSARY AND INDEX OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

[As the letters t and y are so contmnally interchanged in English words of the fourteenth
and fifteenth centaries, it has been thought better to class them together in the
following Glossary, except in particular cases where y only is correct, and where it
commences a word. Q and y are also classed together.]

a, ii. 43 ; on ; leyen hem a watery put
them on water, or, as we should
say, to sea, t.e., overthrow them.

a, i. 70 ; at, a halfeb, at half ebb.

abate, i. 76 ; to reduce, put down.

abateth, i. 408 ; lowers, diminishes*

abated, ii. 14 ; diminished.

abeere, ii. 229 ; to their bier.

abide, ii. 281 ; to wait for.

abyde, ii. 191 ; to endure, to suffer.

abidyng, ii. 245 ; dwelling place.

abit, ii. 12 ; remains, endures.

abite, ii. 67 ; a habit.

aby, ii. 244 ; to be punished for, to
pay for.

a-cale, i. 305 ; cold.

achieved, ii. 5, 7 ; obtained, suc-
ceeded.

acombrede, i. 38, 415, 416 ; en-
cumbered, confused.

acountid, i. 399 ; reckoned, put to
account.

acresith, ii. 105 ; increaseth.

acustomaunce, ii. 242 ; habit, cus-
tom.

adoune, i. 378^ ; down.

adrad, ii. 6 ; in fear, in alamu

afefe, ii. 51 ; to enfeof, to give in
feof.

afferme, ii. 6 ; to strengthen, to con-
solidate.

afibrse, i. 413 ; by force, by neces-
sity.

affray e, ii. 181 ; fright, alarm.

afore, ii. 241 ; before.

afraie, i. 329 ; to frighteo.

agadred, i. 344 ; assembled.

against, i. 318 ; contrary to.

a^enward, ii. 66 ; back.

agilte, i. 343 ; to offend against

agoo, i. 404 ; gone.

agramed, i. 313 ; angered, displeased.

agrise, i. 314, 329 ; to be terrified.

aie, i. 330 ; an egg,

aielle, ii. 138 ; an ancestor.

ailed, i. 85 ; perhaps used in the
sense of diseased. * Ailed unsele,
in a bad or unfortunate condition
of healtL

aken, ii. 11 ; ache.

alblast, i. 69 ; an arbalest, or cross-
bow.

302

GLOaaABT AND INDKX

alee, i. 416; to the lee-ward.

algate, ii. 11 ; nevertheleeB.

alie, L 392 ; an ally.

aller, ii. 66 ; of all, plural.

alls, i. 60 ; also.

almesse, i. 819 ; alms.

alowe, ii. 281 ; to approve.

als,/NiMtm; as.

als, i. 337 ; also.

also, jpo^nm; as.

alsone, i. 251 ; as soon as,

altratyd, ii. 287 ; altered.

alumners, iL 110 ; disciples.

alweldand, i. 75 ; all ruling.

amarride, i. 369 ; macred.

ambassiatours, ii. 202 ; ambassadors.

amenusith, ii. 105 ; diminishes.

amorwe, i. 414 ; on the next day.

amoonteth, ii. 91 ; is, what it
amoonteth to.

an, ii. 124 ; on ; an Ay, on high,

ancres, ii. 64 ; anachorites.

viSiQ^ passim ; one.

anet, ii. 50 ; dill (the plant)

anewe, i. 392 ; to renew, to make
new.

angerliche, i. 323 ; in anger.

anhaunse, ii. 239 ; be raised up.

annuels, i. 267 ; payment for saying
anniversary masses for the dead.

annuellers, i. 80, 95 ; priests em-
ployed to sing anniversary masses
for the dead.

apaid,ii.23; apaiedy ii, 31; satisfied.

aparte, i. 316 ; openly.

apechyng, ii.*46; impeaching, ac-
cusing.

apeire, i. 372, 384 ; to impair.

apend, i. 323 ; belong.

aperid, i. 377 ; decayed, failed.

apertli, ii. 68 ; openly.

apis, ii. 76 ; i^*b.

aplace, ii. 5 ; into place; U come
apUteey has taken the place of
heathenism.

appoysaylle, iL 282 ; inquiry, ques-
tion.

appreffe, ii. 167 ; contrivance.

apprisist, ii. 113 ; settest value on.

araie, i. 326 ; array, dress.

are, i. 78 ; formerly, ere.

are, ii. 186 ; the hare.

areche, i. 412 ; to reach, to attain*

archebere, ii. 183 ; an archpirate.

aredy, i. 387 ; ready.

arere, i. 397 ; back.

aresoneth, ii. 40 ; argues against.

arith, i. 397 ; aright.

arouutid, i. 403 ; driven away ?

arowe, ii. 146 ; on a row.

arseworde, ii. 64 ; backwards.

astate, ii. 137 ; estate,

aschen, ii. 172 ; ashes.

aschonne, i. 390 ; to avoid.

ascry, i, 67 ; to proclaim or cry, to
report.

askapid, IL 156 ; escaped,

aspie, ii. 58 ; a spy, a scout.

assaute, ii. 195 ; assault.

assay, ii. 196 ; trial, proof; ofbeste
assa^y of the best description ; at
assay y i. 215, when brought to
trial ; of gode assayeSy ii. 186,
proved to be good.

asseye, ii. 41 ; inquire.

assised, ii. 11 ; judged, regulated.

assoille, ii. 131 ; absolve, pardon ;
assoiled, ii. 32 ; absolved.

assoiled, ii. 38, 113; answered or
solved a question.

astonye, ii. 51 ; to astonish, to con-
found.

OP OBSOLETB ENGLISH WOBDS.

SOS

astonjed, i. 380 ; astounded, stunned,
confounded.

fttamed, i. 392 ; tamed, diseipUned«

Atasten, ii. 90 ; to taste,

ataunt, ii. 171 } so much.

atcheved, ii. 5, 7 ; succeeded.

ate, ii. 6 s at the.

atempre, ii. 139 ; temperate.

atrete, i. 217 ; distinctly, positively.

attemperance, atemperaunce, ii. 143,
241 ; moderation.

atwen, ii. 213 ; between.

auters, ii. 42 j altars.

autorise, ii. 80 ; to allege authority
for.

ayaile, ii. 140; to descend, to go
down.

ayayle, ii. 286 ; advantage, profit ;
avaylysy 286 ; profits.

availed, ii. j profited, with advan-
tage.

avant, ii. 124 ; forward.

avaunt, ii. 156 ; a boast.

avys, avyse, i. 277, ii. 190 ; advice,
council, deliberation,

avysemente, ii. 187 ; counsel, deli-
beration.

avisifenesse, ii. 200 ; good counsel.

avisy, ii. 137 ; advised, cautious.

avow, ii. 1 1 ; to vow, to take a vow.

avowries, ii. 85 ; patrons, protec-
tors.

avutrie, ii. 247 ; adultery.

awgrym, L 414 ; arithmetic.

awmeneer, ii. 220 ; an almoner.

awne, i. 331 ; own.

axe, i. 381 ; to ask.

axist, ii. 69 ; thou askest.

ay, i. 267 ; always.

ayensty i. 325 ; against.

B.

bable, ii. 244 ; to talk childishly,
bablid, i. 395, 415 ; chattered.
ba%ng, ii. 53 ; barking,
baighteth, i. 323 ; baited,
bakke, ii. 216, 218 ; a bat.
baldely, i. 71 j boldly,
bale, i. 58, 74, 75 ; evil, mischief,

sorrow ; to brewe hale^ to breed

mischief,
baleys, ii. 176 ; a rod,
baUid, i.415; bald,
ban, i. 83, ii. 244 ; curse,
band, i. 72, 73 ; a bond,
bar, i. 216 ; bore,
baratur, ii. 236 ; a contentious

person,
bare, i. 74, 77 j a boar,
bargenyng, ii, 77 ; contending,
baselarde, L 331 ; a long dagger,
basonet, ii, 125 ; a bassenet, or light

helmet,
bastarde, ii. 160; a sort of wii^e

brought from Spain, mentioned

not unfrequently in old writers,
batail, i. 82 ; an army,
batailed, ii. 9 ; warred upon,
bated, i. 389 ; fluttered,
baterid, i. 388 ; battered,
batyd, ii. 286 ; abated, diminished,
battis, i. 409 ; bats, cudgels,
baudrike, i. 331 ] the sword-belt,
bawtid, i. 380 } abated?
bay, ii. 90 ; brynge you HI a bayy

bring you to bay (as in hunting),
bayed, i. 404 ; barked,
beawper^s, ii. 229 ; companions,
beddyn, ii. 280 ; remained,
bede, ii. 103 ; m prsjer.

304

QLOSSART AND IKDEX

bede, L 62 ; to proffer.

bede, L 71 ; to abide.

bedredy ii. 22 ; bed-ridden.

been, ii. 17 ; to be.

beelsire, ii. 229 ; literally, fair lord.

beerja, IL 219 ; bears.

behest, ii. 5 ; promise ; behestea,
ii. 145 ; promises.

bebote, i. 416 ; promised.

beboten, iL 33 ; they promise.

behoveli, ii. 12 ; necessary.

beytis, ii. 219 ; baits.

bdd, i. 75 ; protection, refuge.

belde, L 379 ; to protect, to bring
help.

beldid, ii. 77 ; built.

beleft, i. 381 ; left behind.

belyffe, ii. 207 ; immediately.

ben, i. 218 ; be.

bende, i. 275 ; a band.

bendes, i. 319 ; bonds.

bene, ii. 179 ; we are.

benyme, i. 372 ; to take from.

benysonn, iL 113 ; a blessing.

benome, ii. 159 ; taken away.

bent, ii. 127 ; a field, a plain.

bent, iL 125 ; indented.

beo, L 216 ; by.

beo, L 215 ; they are.

beoth, L 218 ; are.

berde, L 69 ; keped hym in the berde,
a phrase which perhaps signifies
to keep within bounds. The
Promptorium has the word berde
in the sense of margin or brink.

here, i. 73 ; a bier.

bere-bag, i. 62, 84 ; a bag carrier.
An injurious word, applied to the
Scots, who carried their provi-
sions, consisting of oatmeal, iu
bags on their backsw

berefle, iL 179 ; taken from,
bereved, L 387 ; depriyed oL
bereward, L 864 ; a bear^ward, or

keeper of a bear,
berkyne, iL 169 ; beer, ale.
berkyng, iL 216 ; barking,
berlingis, L 396 ; young bears,
heme, L 373 ; man.
beside^ ii. 19 ; aside,
besinesse, ii. 203 ; activity, earnest-
ness ; with besinesse, busily,
beste, L 371 ; beast, Le^ my cattle,
bestad, ii. 6 ; arranged,
bete, ii. 125 ; to strike,
bete, i. 62 ; to amend or relieve ;

bete their bale, to bring them

relief from misfortune,
bete, i. 62 ; to walk up and down ;

bete ham, iL 94; to address

themselves,
betid, ii. 198 ; happened,
betydyth, i. 384; it happens, it

betides,
bett, L 226 ; beat
beu, L 390 ; finci handsome,
bid, L 58 ; ask.
bidden, ii. 48 ; to pray,
bide, L 68, ii. 185 ; to remain, dwell,
byde, i. 216 ; to support^ bear,
byde, ii. 126 ; prayed,
bydene, i. 366 ; immediately ; at

bidene, forthwith, at once,
bye, ii. 160 ; to buy.
bye, i. 269 ; to aby, to make amends

for.
bien, ii. 177 ; they buy.
byfalle, L 269 ; to befall ; faire mot

byfalle, may they have good luck ;

foule mote him befalL i. 304 ;

may he have bad luck or fortune,
bifom, i. 66 ; before.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

305

big, i. 80; to take up one's dwelling.

big, i. 77 ; prepared,

bigge, ii. 223 ; to baild.

biging, i. 62 ; a dwelling.

biglj, ii. 57 ; strongly, boldly.

bjheste, ii. 204 ; promise.

biker, i. 71 ; to skirmish, to fight.

byleve, i, 269 ; belief.

bilevid, i. 64 ; remained.

bylle, ii. 228 ; to write a bill against,

to libel,
bylle, i. 274 ; to bell,
birde, i. 333 ; a gurl, yonng woman,
bysom, ii. 235 ; blind,
bysyde, ii. 187 ; beside ; to leve

by9yde^ to abandon,
bit, ii. 35; biddeth.
bitake, ii. 114; give, abandon to,

commit to.
bithoght, i. 74 ; bethought,
bitid, i. 61 ; befallen,
blaunchid, ii. 50; blanched,whitened.
blaw, i, 69 ; to blow,
ble, i. 269 ; colour, hue.
blent, i. 327 ; blinded,
blere, iL 172 ; to blear, to dim one's

sight,
blernyed, i. 389.
blea^, i. 217; blew.
Wynne, i. 266 ; blin, i. 72, 74 ; to

cease, to desist,
blith, i. 78 ; joyful,
blythid, i. 396; made joyful, gave

joy to.
blonder, i. 268 ; bustle, disturbance,
blwun, L 225.
bod, ii. 155 ; remained,
bodden, ii. 23 ; bidden,
boisteous, ii. 195; boistous, i. 307»

335 ; threatening, fearful, tur-

bulent, rude.
VOL. IL

bokerame, ii. 171 ; buckram,

boldid, i. 379 ; emboldened.

bole, ii. 84 ; a bull.

bolgit, ii. 155; bulged.

bolle, ii. 140; a bulL

bonde, i. 216 ; bonds, fetters.

bondus, i. 225 ; bondsmen, serfs.

bone, i. 68 ; a petition, prayer,

bone, L 58 ; a boon> a favour.

bonet, i. 415 ; a supplementary or
additional sail in a ship, fastened
with lacings to the feet of courses
or lower sails, in moderate or fair
winds, and the operation of apply*
ing it is still termed bending.

bonus, i. 277 ; bones.

boote, ii. 155 ; remedy.

bootid, iL 276 ; availed, helped.

bore, i. 72 ; a boar.

borowe, i. 415 ; a borough.

bosard, ii. 219 ; a buzzard, a kind of
moth.

bosse, i. 396.

host, L 218 ; to boast.

bot, passim ; but.

bot, i. 62, &c. ; without.

bote, i. 68,218, 365 ; remedy, help,
compensation.

botOt i. 65 ; a boat.

boterasse, ii. 187 ; a buttress.

bothe, ii. 226 ; a booth.

botirflyes, ii. 219 ; butterflies,

bougeth, ii. 161,

boun, i. 90 ; ready, going to do any-
thing.

boun, i. 268 ; ready.

bountevous, ii. 145 ; bountiful.

boure, i. 81 ; hour, i. 265; a chamber.

bown, ii. 154 ; ready.

boxonmesse, ii. 44 ; obedience.

boy, i. 272 ; a serving lad.
U

306

GL088ABT AND INDEX

bojnard, i. 389 ; hojJXBrdiHf u 379 ;
a low fellow.

brade, i. 71 ; broad.

brajd, i. 217 ; a Biroke.

braste, i. 396 ; burst.

bredd, i, 887 ; a bird.

bredder, i. 275 ; broader.

brede, 1. 369 ; breadth.

breme, i. 411 ; proud, haughty.

bremme, i. 384, 387 ; proud, swag-
gering.

bremli, ii. 62 ; fiercely.

brems, i. 72; (or brenis) corslets.

brene, i. 73, ii. 153 ; to bum.

brent, i. 269 ; brente, ii. 278 ; burnt.

brere, i. 78 ; a briar, bush, breris,
i. 395; briars.

brese, ii. 54 ; gadflies.

brest, i. 407 ; burst.

bretyllo, ii. 182 ; brittle.

bribith, ii. 40 ; begs, robs. The

word is used in both senses,
brid, i. 78 ; bryd, i. 364 ; a bird,
brid, i. 61 ; a lady, a bride,
brig, i. 77 ; a bridge,
brim, i. 71 ; sea, flood,
brymme, ii. 109 ; fierce,
brin, i. 64 ; burn,
brodid, i. 387 ; spread,
broylist, ii. 61 ; bringest up con-
fusedly, blunderest.
bromes, i. 391 ; brooms,
broud, i. 396; a bond (?).
bround, ii. 52 ; a firebrand,
brouute, i. 380 ; brought,
browet, i. 382 ; broth,
bud, i. 71 ; behoved, must
bud, i. 85 ; made, compelled,
bugee, i. 265; a sort of cloth,
buystousnesse, ii, 99; boiaterousness.
burgase, i. 70 ; the burghers.

burne. i. 400, 404 ; a man; buraes,

i. 379; men, fellows, barons,
bumesse, i. 404 ; baronage, nobility,
buraisched, i. 895 ; smoothed ( ?).
burthe, ii. 244 ; a birth, the act of

being bom.
buserde, ii. 98 ; the buzzard, a kind

of large moth,
busk, i, 62 : to go rapidly, busked,

i. 395 ; hurried, buskys, ii. 237;

haste you.
bus9he,i. 382; to but, to push, to busk.
busshinge, i. 378; busking, pushing,
bute, i. 5S, 70 ; compensation (for

bote),
byse, i. 265; a fine description of silk.
by, passim^ for be.

cacche, ii. 67 ; catch.

cakked,ii. 170; cacaverunt.

calkyn, ii. 61 ; to calculate.

can, i. 269, ii. 131, know, knows.

can, i. 226 ; began. Used with a
verb to form a sort of imperfect
tense. Can schatote, they
shouted, or were shouting — ^lite*
rally, they began to shout

canst, i. 334 ; knowest thou.

cant, i. 78 ; brisk, courageous.

cantly, i. 71 ; briskly, courageously.

carcckes, i. 320 ; figures, characters.

cared, ii. 4 ; been in care, or trouble.

carikkys, ii. 199 ; large ships.

carke, i. 310 ; to care.

carpe, i. 381 ; to talk, to converse,
carpist, ii. 68 ; talkest. carpynge,
ii. 198; talking.

OF OBSOLETE ENGUSH WORDS.

367

carpe, i. 414 ; talk, conversation.

carrejs, ii. 180 ; carracks, or large
ships.

carris, ii. 181 ; carts.

cassoi i. 364 ; case.

cast, ii. 90 ; contrived, formed a de-
sign.

castis, i. 896 ; contrivances, machi-
nations.

cataile, i. 84 ; goods.

catel, i. 217 ; chattels.

caatelle, i, 394 ; craft.

cantell, ii. 32 ; a stratagem, trick.

certejne, ii. 177 ; to certeynCy to a
limit J for a certeyn bi ^ere^ for so
much a year.

cease, ii. 6 ; to cause to cease, to
put a stop to.

cetisence, ii. 281 ; citizens.

chaffare, ii. 160; merchandize.

chaffren, i. 307 ; to barter.

chafyr, ii. 110 ; to trade.

chalengen, ii. 44 ; claim.

chaUe, i. 249 ; shaU.

chapitle, iL 160 ; a chapter.

chargeaunt, ii. 106 ; burthensome,
chargeable.

chefare, ii. 180 ; merchandize.

cheff, i. 402 ; cheffe, ii. 201 ; head,
chief.

chekonys, i. 387 ; chickens.

chele, i. 387 ; cold.

chepe, i. 247 ; to purchase.

cherichen, i. 387 ; cherish.

cherliche, i. 402 ; dearly.

chese, i. 252 ; ches, ii. 5 ; to
choose.

chesse, i. 378 ; chose.

chevalleris, i. 413 ; knights.

cheve, ii. 268 ; to flourish, to suc-
ceed.

chevitl), ii. 132 ; bringeth to a suc«

cessful issue, achieveth.
chevesaunce, ii. 169 ; bargain,

agreement,
chevetan, i. 225 ; chieftain, captain,
chevyteyns, i. 378 ; chieftains,
chief, ii. 147 ; head,
chire, ii. 225 ; cheer,
chyteryng, ii. 40 ; chattering,
chow^e, ii. 40; a chough (the bird),
christened, i. 306 ; a Christian,
churliche, i. 335 ; clownish, chur-
lish,
cisme, ii. 41 ; schism,
clappid, i. 416 ; talked,
claterers, i. 271 ; chatterers. ^
claterist, ii. 60 ; chatterist.
clatrid, ii. 76 ; talked loudly.
Claude, ii. 203 ; clothed, clad,
cleete, i. 217 ; a piece of wood(?).
clekkid, ii. 95.
cleme, i. 313 ; to claim,
clepe, ii. 32 ; call, cleped, i. 368,

395, called, clepest, ii. 148 ;

callest. clepen, i. 309 ; called.

clepen, i. 325 ; they call,
clip, i. 73 ; to embrace,
cliper, i. 215, 252 ; slippery,
clogge, ii. 222, 224, 232 ; a clog of

wood at the end of a chain or

rope,
cofren, i. 306 ; to put in coffers,
coyffes, i. 409 ; coifs,
coile, i. 402 ; choose (?).
cokil, ii. 143 ; the weed in com.
colectis, ii. 88 ; collections,
coleres, i. 275 ; collars,
colys, i. 382 ; coals,
colis, i. 413.

coloure, ii. 185 ; pretence,
combraunco, ii. 65 ; trouble.
U 2

308

OLOSSABT AND INDKX

combred, i. 377 ; confased.

combroiueli, iL 104; troablesomelj.

come, L 415 ; arriTal, coming.

comenB, ii. 280 ; to oonunence.

eomjne, i. 416 ; the comanaltj.

comjnliche, i. 378; cominonlj.

comliche, i. 413; in an elegant
manner^ comelj.

comonde, ii. 165; conunnnedy con-
yened.

comont^, ii. 178, 186 ; oommonaltj.

comsithy L 401 ; begins, commences,
comsidf 1. 413 ; began.

comu jnes, i. 250 ; the commons.

con, i. 250 ; can.

concludist, ii. 86 ; refutest.

confect, ii. 108 ; made, composed.

conyes, ii. 186 ; rabbits.

conig, i. 82 ; a rabbit

conne, ii. 4; are acquainted with.

constery, ii. 236 ; the consistory
court.

construen, ii. 243; interpret.

constrwe, i. 378; to construe.

contynaunce, i. 264, iL 204; be-
haviour, appearance.

contrarie, ii. 62; to act contrary to.

contraYelde,ii.278; Uboured with(?).

cordeweyne,ii. 163; Spanish leather,
brought from Cordova.

coroune, i. 86; a crown.

corouii, ii. 67; the priest's tonsure.

correcte, ii. 173.

corette, i. 371 ; to correct.

corrumpe, ii. 269; to corrupt.

corsed, ii. 247; cursed.

corvysers, ii. 109; shoemakers.

coste, ii. 179.

costened, i. 400; cost.

costes, ii. 184; expenses.

costious, ii. 212; costly.

costis, L 385, 390; regions,
cot-armers, ii. 126 ; men in eoal*

cotis, i. 401 ; coats.

ooude, L 396; knew.

cougioan, i. 393; perhaps eampiammj

a coward,
con^the, i. 371 ; knew how, could,
oonntred, ii. 154 ; encountered.
conntenance^ ii. 253 ; appeanmces,

ostentation,
countours, i. 328 ; arithmeticians,
courseera, ii. 212 ; highbred horses,
covetise, ii. 78 ; covaitise, i. 84 ;

covetousness.
covent, i. 225; assemblage,
covent, i. 68; convent, oorentis,

iL 64 ; convents,
covetour, i. 306; a coverture.
craUit, i. 308.

crasid, i. 373, 377; crushed, broken,
creaunce, i. 374; credit,
crepit, ii. 51 ; creeps,
cressetes, ii. 153, 218, cressets,

frames at the ends of poles in

which fires were lighted,
creste-clothe, ii. 164 ; a sort of fine

linen,
croys, L 269; a cross,
croisery, i. 317.
crok, ii. 206; to bend,
crokettes, i. 312; locks of hair,
crokk, i. 382; a pot, a pitcher,
cropun, ii, 47; crept (?),
crouche> i. 332; a cross,
crouperes, ii. 252; cruppers,
cuynde, i. 251 ; kind, nature,
culleth, i. 311, 321, 344; to cherish;

to enforce,
culorum, i. 372, 415; the conclusion

of a narrative.

OF OBSOLETl: EKOLISH WORDS.

309

cumberd, i. 78 ; cumbred, i. 252 ;
troubled, encumbered, entangled.

cumen, i. 63; come.

cumly, i. 66; comeljr.

cunne, i. 218; can.

cure, ii. 199; care.

cure, iL 206; service.

cure, ii. 187; remedy.

custumale, ii. 71; accustomed.

cutted, i. 332 ; jagged, alluding to
an extravagant fashion prevalent
in the reign of Richard IL

dagges, i. 401 ; slips, shreds, the
cuts in the fashionable dress.

dale, L 87.

daliaunce, ii. Ill ; tittle-tattle.

dare, i. 59, 250 ; to stare, to be
terrified, to be scared.

dareand, i. 59; staring.

dased, i. 344; confused, dazzled.

daunger, ii. 191; lordship or do-
minion.

dawe, ii. 44; day, daylight.

dawe, i. 323 ; dawis, i. 377; days.

debres, ii. 236.

ded, i. 80; deed.

dedde, i. 308; death.

dede, i. 74; death.

dede, ii. 189; dead.

dees, i. 374.

dey^ede, i. 218; died.

deyntis, i. 406; dainties.

del| i. 251; dele, i« 64; part, share.

dele, ii. 31 ; parts, a thousand dehj
a thousand times.

deleated, ii. 14; delayed.

delid, i. 79; dealt.

delith, ii. 110; distiibute-

delle, i. 371; part, deal.

dome, ii. 57; to judge.

demene, ii. 229; to direct, or lead.

demer, i. 383; a judge, one who
demes.

demin, i. 319; they judge.

den, ii. 236 ; a dean.

denayyd, ii. 286; denied.

dene, L 73; a den, or habitation.

denyene, ii. 180 ; to deny.

dent, ii. 126 ; a blow.

departe, ii. 183; to share.

departysoun, ii. 2l7f a distribution,
a sharing.

dere, ii. 270; to ii^ure.

dere, i. 78; dear.

derei, ii. 250; confusion, noise^
disturbance.

derid, i. 386; ii\jured, hurt, harmed.

derklich, i. 394; obscurely.

dem, i. 59 ; cruel, severe.

deme, i. 375, 377; secret.

derrere, ii. 89 ; dearer.

destrie, ii. 47; to destroy.

detecte, ii. 189; exposed, made
evident.

dever, ii. 73, 98; duty.

deversit^ ii. 241; change of for-
tune.

dewe, i. 394; due, legitimate.

diagredie, ii. 173.

dight, i. 70; prepared, made ready«

dy^ght, i. 226; arranged.

dighte, i. 76; to prepare oneself;
dighteth, i. 333 ; arranges, pre-
pares.

digness, i. 398 ; worthiness.

diking, i. 335; making ditches*

aio

QliOSSARY AND INDEX

dilaciouu, ii. 14o ; delay.

(lymc, i. 412 ; a teuth.

dimuuir, i. 216 ; d(finure, quiot.

dyne, ii. 180; to dye.

ditieth, i. 394; gives to dinner,

feeds,
diut, i. 73; a blow ; dyntcs, ii. 126;

biowri.
dirk, ii. 218; dark,
disclaunder, i. 336 ; to slander,
discryvc, i. 374 ; to describe,
discured, ii. 174 ; discovered,
disevt, ii. 64 ; a desert.
di.si)erpiied, ii. 226 ; scattered,
dissese, i. 383 ; uneasiness,
dyssevable, ii. 173 ; deceptive,
distance, i. 83 ; distaunoe, i. 339,

ii. 254 ; debate or discord,
doe, ii. 31 ; done,
dokkist, ii. 27 ; curtailest.
dole, i. 79, 80 ; in tlie latter instance

it means sorrow, grief; in the

former, perhaps, a portion, from

A. S. delan.
dolfyne, ii. 124 ; dolpbyn, ii. 133 ;

the dauphin of Prance,
dolosite, ii. Ill ; deceit,
dome, i. 309 ; judged, condemned,
dome, i. 308 ; judgment ; a/ dame^

i. 327 ; in judgment,
domes cart, i. 398; the exeontioner's

cart,
domes-day, i. 72 ; day of judgment,
domp, i. 88 ; to plunge, to tumble,
dongen, i. 77 ; struck,
dongen, ii. 152 ; the keep or main

tower of a castle ; dongoun^ ii. 21 1 ;

where it is applied to the place in

which Christ was born,
doolis, ii. 220 ; doles, shared,
doren, ii, 107 ; dare.

doth, ii. 7 ; causeth, maketh.

dotyn, ii. 188 ; dote.

dou^teth, i. 399 ; feareth.

dout, i. 73 ; to fear.

dout, i. 69, 324 ; fear, doubt.

dowtes, i. 368 ; doubts.

dowtfulle, ii. 271 ; fearful.

drad, i. 213 ; dradde, i. 417 ; feared.

draffe, ii. 84 ; dregs, refuse.

draggee, ii. 72 ; a draught (?).

draue, ii. 219; a drone.

dray, i. 81 ; noise, tumult,

draped, ii. 162 ; made into cloth.

drapcre, ii. 168 ; to make cloth.

dravc, ii. 270 ; drove.

drawte, i. 403 ; draught, shot.

dresce, i. 58 ; set right ?

dressen, i. 314 ; they prepare.

drewris, i. 78 ; jewels, valuable

things,
dride, i. 374 ; dread, fear,
drye, ii. 64 ; to suffer, to undergo^
drive, i. 71 ; to go quickly.
dromons, ii. 199 ; ships of war.
droupe, i. 250 ; to droop,
drouping, i. 344 ; drooping,
drowse, L 225 ; drew, dragged,
druy^e, i. 216 ; dry.
dubby, ii. 57 ;
dud, i. 225 ; did.
dude, i. 364 ; did.
dulfulle, ii. 206 ; gi*ievous, dolefbl.
dure, i. 215 ; to endure, last

E.

odder, i. 392 ; a snake, an adder.
eeoche, ii. 133.
eeris, i. 394 ; ears,
efte, ii. 179 ; again.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

311

eftsoouc, i. 322 ; soon again.

egallytd, ii. 285 ; equality, fairness.

cgg(^ i* ^06 ; to urge.

eghen, i. 77 ; eyes.

eyere, i. 388.

ei^e, i. 250 ; eyes.

eylid, i. 382 ; ailed.

eyne, i. 387 ; eyes.

eyre, ii. 195 ; air.

eyren, i. 393 ; eggs.

eyrer, i. 363 ; a brood of swans.

eyria, ii, 86; heii'8(?).

eirsyng, ii. 81 ;

elde, i. 372 ; old age.

elderne, i. 377 ; of the eiders, of tlie

men of old.
cliche, i. 377 ; alike, equally,
enbassitoures, ii. 210 ; ambassadors,
enbatailid, ii. 57 ; formed in order

of battle,
encensen, ii. 44 ; to cense, to per-
fume with or offer incense.

cncres, iL 9; increase.

endauntid, i. 398 ; feared (?)•

endely, ii. 201 ; final.

endraperyng, ii. 287 ; making into
cloth*

enhaunsid, ii. 41 ; raised.

enmysse, ii. 182 ; enemies.

enoignt, ii. 12 ; anointed.

enpechest, ii. 82 ; accusest.

enplede, i. 826 ; to implead.

enquere, ii. 203 ; to seek.

ensample, ii. 6 ; an example.

enscherychyng, ii. 286; a cherishing.

enserche, ii. 203 ; to seek.

enserchise, iii 195 ; inquiry.

ensise, i. 822 ; quality (?).

cntendement, ii. 13 ; meaning.

entent> i. 372, iL 199 ; intention, de-
sign.

entrecomon, ii. 202 ; to hold inter-
course, to intercommunicate.

enviroun, ii. 157 ; round about

eorthe, i. 251 ; earth. '

er, i. 266 ; before.

er, i. 59 ; are.

eron, i. 364 ; an eagle.

erste, ii. 124 ; first, before, formerly*

ert, i. 266, ii. 113; art.

ertou, i. 78 ; art thou.

es, passim ; is.

ese, i. 382 ; ease.

eth, i. 71 ; easy.

euforbe, ii. 173; a plant, spurge.

evangely, i. 306 ; the gospel.

even, ii. 39; equal ; her even Chris"
HaUy their fellow Christian.

evene, ii. 8 ; leyel ; in evene^ on a
firm footing ; al in evene^ i. 1 1, all
straight with one another.

eveiich, ii. 6 ; every one, everich on
livey everybody alive.

everichone, ii. 137 ; every one.

expoune, ii. 182 ; explain, expound.

eztente, ii. 193 ; stretched out, held
forth.

P.

fade, ii. 7 ; sad.

faght, i. 81 ; fought.

fay, L 215 ; faie, i. 330 ; faith.

failed, i. 395 ; deserted, abandoned.

fallen, ii. 243 ; want.

fain, i. 64 ; fayn, iL 155; glad.

faitours, i. 307 ; flatterers, deceivers.

faldynge, iL 186; a sort of rough

cloth,
fally, ii. 103 ; falsely.

312

GLOSSARY AND INDEX

fUnes, ii. 260 ; falseneM, deceit.

famed, i. 313 ; defamed.

fameiif i. 74 ; foe-men.

fand, i. 73 5 to try.

fare, i. 59 ; to go ; foulefare^ L 26;
to go ill, to misbehave, to fare
foully ; 261, to be ruined.

fare, i. 73 ; frankis fare^ the distri-
bution of your money ( ?).

fare, i. 69 ; going, expedition.

fare, i. 326 ; business, affiur (?).

fau^te, i. 386 ; fault, want.

faukyn, i. 388 ; fawcon, 389 ; a
falcon.

fawtis, i. 372 ; faults.

feblen, i. 391 ; become feeble.

federed, ii. 125; feathered, i. 9;
pierced with arrows, the feathers
of which appeared without.

feedrin, fedris, i. 388 ; feathers.

feer, ii. 241 ; fai*; feer abowte^ far
out of the way.

feet, ii, 182; deed, fact.

feet, i. 398 ; fetched.

feyned, i. 269 ; feigned, pretended.

feynt, ii. 162 ; to become weak.

felde, passim ; a field.

felde, ii. 166 ; felt.

fele, i. 63 ; many.

fell, i. 61, 70; crueL

fell, i. 77 ; to strike down.

felle whare, i. 399 ; fel-ware, feltry,
skins of wild animals.

felle, i. 391 ; the skin, felles, ii.
168 ; skins.

felliche, i. 389 ; cruelly.

felliest, ii. 17 ; most cruel.

fende, i. 252 ; the fiend, the devil.
fendeS) ii. 184 ; devils.

feole, i. 260 ; many.

fer, i. 269; far.

fer, L 71, 81 ; far, farther.

ferd, i. 68 ; afraid.

ferde» i. 67 ; fear.

ferde, i. 376 ; went.

fere, i. 73 ; a companion, a fellow.

fere, i. 340 ; company.

fere, i. 77 ; to frighten.

ferkyd, i. 396 ; hastened, fferkyd

hemfforthy they rushed forwards,
ferly, ii. 262 ; strange,
ferene, i. 68 ; fern,
ferli, ii. 61 ; wonderfully,
ferme, ii. 44 ; to strengthen,
ferme, i. 313 ; {arm.
ferre, ii. 194 ; fear,
ferrum, i. 77 ; oferrumy afar,
fers, it 126 ; fierce,
fersnesse, ii. 268 ; cruelty,
ferthe, ii. 4, 66 ; fourth,
festne, i. 269 ; to fasten,
fete, ii. 196 ; fact,
fete, ii. 243 ; feet,
fetely, ii. 172 ; cleverly, neatly,
ficul, ii. 82 ; fickle,
fyght, ii. 252 ; in fyght^ engaged in

fighting, in strife (?).
file, i. 79, 81 ; a worthless fellow, a

coward,
filowyng, ii. 133 ; following,
fyn, ii. 91 ; the end. afyfi^ in the

end.
fyne, ii. 134 ; to conclude, to put

an end to.
fyne, ii. 132 ; end, result
fyne, ii. 187 ; to refine, fynyd, ii.

286 ; refined,
finding, i. 327 ; board, living,
fyndyth, i. 414 ; support, keep, pro-
vide for.
figre,ii. 112; of figs, figre^tne^ a

fig-tree.

OF OfiSOL£T£ ENGLISH WORDS.

SU

fyth, i. 364 ; to fight.

flagrant, ii. 232 ; fragrant.

flaurd, ii. 250 ;

fle, i. 394 ; to fly.

fleand, i. 77 ; flying.

fleen, i. 64 ; fly.

flemed, ii. 40 ; flemid, i. 60 ; ba-
nished.

flex, ii. 171 ; flax.

flit, i. 88 ; to remove,

floter, i. 389 ; to flutter.

flour, i. 216 5 ii, 7 ; a flower.

flusshe, i. 389 ; to hop as a bird.

fode, i. 389 ; a child.

fodid, i. 387 ; fodid, ii. 12 ; che-
rished, bred up, fostered, fed*

fodith, i. 394 ; cherishes, feeds.

fode, i. 386 ; food.

fode, i. 74 ; a youth, a person.

foyne, i. 399 ; a polecat

fold, i. 81 ; the earth, the world.

folyn, ii. 188 ; go mad, or foolish.

foltheed, i. 380 ; folly (?).

folus, i. 225 ; fools.

fomen, L 218 ; foes.

fond, ii. 230 ; a dilemma (?).

fonde, i. 84 ; to endeavour, to at-
tempt.

fonde, i. 266 ; invented.

fonde, ii. 252 ; found.

fondement, ii. 243 ; foundation.

fone, fune, i. 62 ; foes.

fong, ii. 247 ; to take, embrace,
fongen, i. 414 ; we take, fongeth,
i. 333 i they take.

fonnedli, ii. 97 ; foolishly.

fonnest, ii. 85 ; becomest foolish.

foode, ii. 220; a young man, a
feUow : foodis, i. 398 ; fodis, 405 ;
youths.

foole, i. 395 ; fowls.

foon, ii. 127 ; foes.

forbode, i. 344 ; a forbidding.

for-by, ii. 158 ; near, past.

forckis, i. 379 ; the gallows.

fordyd, i. 371 ; apparently an error
for fondidf endeavoured.

fordone, i, 322, ii. 39 ; destroyed,
abolished, overthrown.

fordoth, i. 398 ; undoeth, ruineth,
destroyeth.

foreyns, ii. 143 ; stiangers, inter-
lopers.

forewitte, ii. 200; foreknowledge.

forfarene ; gone into exile.

forgard, i. 344.

forgone, i. 86 ; lost.

forgrowe, i. 363 ; overgrown.

forhele, ii. 45 ; conceal, or, perhaps,
withhold.

forjugid, ii. 79 ; judged to death.

forlith, ii. 7 ; violates.

forlorne, i. 365 ; lost^ spoilt.

forlore, ii. 241 ; ruined, lost in a
moral sense.

formed, i. 415 ; informed.

formere, iL 42 ; informer, teacher.

formyng, ii. 42 ; informing, infor-
mation.

forsings, i. 331 ; ruins by singing,
sings to ruin. '

forslokend, ii. 40; smothered, stifled.

forswore, ii. 241 ; perjured.

forth!, L 77 ; therefore.

forthinken, ii. 73 ; repent.

forthren, i. 336 ; to further, to pro-
mote.

forward, i. 86 ; an engagement,
promise.

forwarde, ii. 280 ; the front or van-
guard of an army.

314

OtOSa4&T AXD IBBKX

forweTiied, i. 374 ; weaned badlj,

Gomipied in the weaning,
forwrithen, iL 45; twisted, tar*

tuous.
forjete, i. 317, 325 ; forget.
fosse, iL 191 ; foes,
fostrid, i. 387 ; fostered,
foule, ii. 126 ; a fowL
foulen, i. 330 ; defonl.
foaljd, i. 388; fowled, hnnted birds,
foondament, ii. 9 ; foondation.
founded, L 59 ; tried,
founnores, iL 113 ; informers,
fra ; from.

fray, ii. 279 ; to fight,
fraine, ii. 38 ; to interrogate,
frankis, i. 73 ; francs, French

money (?).
frc, i. 67, 395 ; free, of gentle birth,
freyneth, ii. 42 ; inquireth, ques-

tioneth.
frek, i. 59, 68 ; eager,
frele, iL 247 ; fi-aiL
frely, i. 74 ; of gentle blood,
frelle, i. 373 ; frail
frentike, ii. 85 ; frenetic, frantic,
frers, i. 263 ; friars,
freted, L 387 ; eat.
fretyd, ii. 41.
fryst, ii. 249 ; first,
frith, L 63, 389 ; a low wood,
fuge, ii. 198 ; flight,
fuyre, i. 805 ; fire,
fules, iL 252 ; fools.
fullefiUe, L 370 ; to fill full,
fulmard, ii. 220 ; a polecat,
fumose, ii. 162 ; smoky (?)•
fnn, i. 83 ; found,
funden, u 81 ; fonnd.

O.

to je6t> to make

gabbe, L 269;
jest oL

gabberys, ii. 237 ; jesters.

gadering, L 326 ; gathering.

gaf, i. 69 ; gave.

gaglide, L 396 ; gaggled.

gayes, L 385 ;

gayne, iL 207 ; kind, generous.

gaJaye, i. 64 ; a galley.

galiote, L 65 ; a name of a par-
ticular sort of ship, a small galley.

gale, L 74 ; song, noise (?).

gayned, L 68 ; gayned k^ he got.

giJonttes, iL 251 ; gallants.

galpen, ii. 100 ; to yawn.

galwys^ ii. 239 ; the gaUows.

gardyng, ii. 284 ; carding (of wool)

gardoun, iL 112; reward.

gamement, ii. 70 ; garment

gamer, iL 99 ; a store-room.

gate, i. 267, way ; »o gatesy in thai
manner; weni my gaie, L 268^
went my way, went away.

gate, iL 269; obtained.

gate, ii. 146 ;

gaudes, L 61, 62 ; tricks.

geete, i. 216 ; to get

geffces, iL 178 ; gifts.

geyn, iL 213 ; against

gent, ii. 125 ; gentle, noble.

ger, i. 76 ; to make, to cause*

^erde, ii. 285; a yard.

^ere, L 79 ;

^eme, L 267 ; earnestly.

^ers, L 264 ; years.

gert, L 64 ; ceased.

OF OBSOLETE ENOUSH WORDS.

316

gery, i. 398 ; changeable, giddy.

gesi, i. 326 ; a guest ; gestes, i. 90,
guests.

get, i, 62, gain (?);bot get, may per-
haps mean without any gain (by
their treachery). Ritson explains
it as "an interjection of con-
tempt."

^even, ii. 67 ; to give.

gy-y ii. 240 ; rule, guide.

gie, i. 406 ; gye, i. 370 ; to guide,
to direct, to rule.

^yf, ^if, passim ; if. •

gigges, i. 326 ', loose womcn^

gild, ii. 244 ; beguiled.

gildyn, ii. 50 ; gilt.

gyle, i. 395 ; guile.

gylour, i. 374 ; a deceiver, a be-
guiler.

gyllorys, ii. 235 ; guilers.

gyn, i. 79 ; a trap.

gynne, ii. 141 ; begin.

gynningj'ii. 143; beginning.

gioure, i. 370; giour, ii. 109; a
ruler, leader, guide.

gy side, i. 399 ; disguised (?)•

^iste, i. 385 ;

^it, i. 79 ; yet.

gyuleris, L 398 j guilers.

glade, i. 71 ; to gladden.

glasen, ii. 100; made of glass.

glaterye, ii. 240 ; flattery (?)•

gle, i. 64, 68, ii. 239 ; game, mirth,
gladness.

glede, i. 344 ; a kite (the bird).

gledre, ii. 173.

glee, i. 406 ; joy, pleasure.

glose, ii. 40 ; flattery.

glosinge, i. 414 ; flattering.

god, ii. 152 ; goods, property.

goldede, ii. 227 ; possessed of gold,

wealthy,
gome, i.*400, 401 ; a man ; gomes, i.

388 ; men.
gong, i. 307 ; gonge, ii. 72, iv privy,
gonnes, ii. 198 ; gonnys, 276 ;

gunnus, 277 ; guns, cannons,
gospeleer, ii. 211 ; the evangelist,
gost, i. 37(^ 373 ; spirit, gostes,

ii. 244 ; spirits,
gotefel, ii. 150; goat's hides,
govemaile, i. 336 ; helm, rudder
^ovun, ii. 98 ; given,
gowe, i. 48.
graas, i. 251 ; grace,
grayn, ii. 208 ; a scarlet dye ;

clothes in ffrayny scai'let cloth,
graythest, i. 76 ; readiest, quickest,
grame, i. 70; grief, harm,
grame, i. 370; to be angry,
gras, i. 252 ; grace,
greable, ii. 112 ; agreeable,
gree, i. 313 ; pleasure,
grees, ii. 140 ; d^rees.
grey, ii. 171 ; badger skins or fur (?).
grennes, i 390 ; interpreted in the

margin as meaning greyhounds,
grete, ii. 125 ; a cry.
grete, i. 90; to greet, to salute,
grette, i. 377 ; great,
greves, i. 388 ; griefs,
griff; ii. 227 ; grief,
gryse, i. 250; to bo terrifled.
gryse, i. 265 ; a species of doth,
groche, i. 339 ; to grudge,
gromys, i. 272 j grooms,
gromes, i. 377 ; men.
gronde, i. 87 ; ground ; in the eee

gronde ; at the bottom of the sea.
groote, ii. 219 ; a groat, fourpence,
grost, ii. 47 ;

316

QLOSSABT AND IKDEX

grott, i. 370 ; » groat,
grotas, i. 395 ; groats,
grucche, ii. 76 ; grodge.
grucchen, i. 370 ; to grudge,
grw, ii. 91 ; Greek.
gait, ii. 244 ; guilt.

H,

habilemeut9, ii. 196 ; accoutrements.

haburjouus, ii. 64 ; breastplates.

hacchen, i. 387 ; hatch.

hay, i. 48 ;

haiit, ii. 249 5 has, possesses.

hayme, i. 266 ; them.

hairwede, ii. 230 ; harrowed, sacked.

halde, i. 74 ; to hold or keep a pro-
mise.

hale, ii. 169 ; to hawl.

halely, i. 69 ; wholly.

hales, i. 403 ; tents.

half-delle, i. 403 ; one half part.

halk, i. 318 ; a comer, halkys, ii.
279; comers.

halow, L 311 ; bless, consecrate*

halowed, ii. 60 ; consecrated.

halowid, i. 403 ; halooed at, hooted.

halteth, ii. 169 ; goes lamely, totters.

ham, i, 266 ; them.

han, i. 273 ; they have.

hangulhooke, ii. 222 ; a hook for
angling, a fish-hook.

hansell, i. 416 ; the first use.

happid, ii. 44; wrapped, covered.

haras, i. 392; a stud of colts.

harborow, ii. 97 ; lodging.

hardi, ii. 246 ; courageous, bold.

harys, ii. 171 ; hares.

harloite, i. 313; a scamp, a vaga-
bond. It was a term applied
properly to men. harloieSy iL 89.

harlotrie, ii. 99 ; ribaldry.

faasseUis, i. 381 ; hasels (?).

hastyvyt^ ii. 242 ; rashness, hasti-
ness.

hat, i. G9 ; hate, i. 317 ; is caUed.

hauntlere, i. 387 ; antlered, or su-
perior deer.

hauteyn, L 268; high, proud,
haughty.

hautesse, i. 391 ; highness.

haved, i. 86 ; had.

haves, i, 86 ; has.

havour, ii. 226 ; wealth.

hawys, ii. 191.

hed, ii. 283 ; heed, care.

heed, i. 386 ; head.

heerdes, i. 313; herds, keepers.

hegges, iL 279 ; hedges.

hegh, i. 269; high.

heyer, i. 396 ;

heyere, ii. 242 ; higher.

heih, i. 216 ; hei^e, i. 218 ; high.

heipeth, i. 393; lays(?).

heire, ii. 20; to hire.

heyres, ii. 267 ; heirs.

heyres, i. 193 ; eggs.

hele, i. 73, ii. 69 ; to cover, to con-
ceal.

hele, i. 372 ; health, prosperous con-
dition.

hele, i. 392, ii. 13 : salvation.

helys, i. 276 ; heels.

heliples, ii. 11 ; helpless.

hende, i. 388 ; gentle*

hende, i. 73; hinde, i. 86 ; gentle-
manly.

hens, hennes, henny s, passim ; hence«

hent, i. 320 ; taken.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

317

r

hente, i. 382 ; henten, i. 411 ; took,
. caDght.

heore, i. 215 ; their,
herbegage, ii. 94 ; lodging,
herborowe, i. 403 ; to lodge, to give

lodgixig, to harbour,
here, i. 73 ; to hear,
heres, i. 80 ; hear, listen ta
here, ii. 251 ; hair,
herie, 76 ; to spoil, to ravage,
hem, i. 318. heme, i. 402 ; a cor-
ner,
hemes, L 64 ; brains,
herre, ii. 9 ; a hinge ; out of herre^

out of hinge, unsettled,
herres, ii. 186 ; theirs,
hertis, i. 380. hertys, ii. 186 ; harts,

deer,
hertly, ii. 355 ; heartily,
hestes, i. 322 ; commandments,
hete, i. 74 ; to promise, hetes, i. 62 ;

promises,
betith, i. 393 ; warmth,
heve and hale, i. 330 ; a phrase

equivalent to might and main,
heved, i. 64 ; head, hevidles, i. %6 ;

headless,
heved, ii. 85 ; to behead,
hevyheed, i. 394 ; heavy-head,

dull-head,
hevys, ii. 219 ;
hewen, ii. 42 ; to labour,
hewsaunce, ii. 285; a usance, a

custom,
hyand, i. 269 ; going, hieing,
liicke, i. 394 ; a familiar appellation

of contempt,
bide — at hide, i. 59 ; secretly,
hye, ii. 247 ; go.
hied, i. 398 ; raised up high,
hiede, ii. 6 ; heed.

hyeghe go by, ii. 155 ; apparently

a similar phrase to the modem

heigh-go-mad.
hieles, ii. 7 ; heels,
hyen, ii. 86 ; to raise up.
hiere, ii. 5 ; here,
hiere, ii. 7 ; to hear,
bight, i. 75 ; was called,
hille, i. 409 : to cover,
hillyng, ii. 77 ; covering, roof,
hynderynge, ii. 181 ; hindrance,
hirte, i. 396 ; hurt,
hit, ii. 131 ; and passimy the original

and correct form of it.
ho, i. 276 ; who.
hobbis, i. 378 ; clowns (?).
hobblid, i. 381 ; hobbled, gone,
hoblid, i. 391 ; hobbled,
hoby, ii. 155 ; a small kind of horse,
bode, i. 266 ; a hood,
hodove, i. 196 ; a whale,
hog-hyerd, i. 269 ; a hog-herd, a

driver of pigs,
hold, ii. 23 ; holden, held,
hold, i. 317 ; a fortress, whence the

word stronghold.
holde, ii. 4 ; held,
hole, i. 326 ; whole,
holy, ii. 131 ; wholly,
holl, i. 88; ahole(?).
holly, i. 215; wholly, holliche,

i. 218.
holpen, i. 267 ; helped,
holsume, i. 402 ; wholesome,
holte, i. 391 ; holtes, i. 381 ; a

wood,
hone, i. 409 ;

hongen, L 331 ; they hang,
hongen, ii. 11 ; hung,
honsalle, i. 224 ; hansel,
hoole, i. 370 ; whole.

818

OLOaSABT AHD IXDKX

boot, iL 69; liot.

hope, ii, 199 ; expect, roppoee,

guess,
hope, L 218 ; to expect,
hoppeo, u 330 ; thej hop.
hor, i. 225 ; their,
hore, L 307 ; a whore,
horow, i. 337 ; hoar, monldj.
hortjng, i. 275 ; hnrtiiig.
hosel, ii. 46 ; to administer the

encharist
hosjn, L 275 ; hose (in the plural),
honaelin, i. 340 ; to administer the

eucharist.
hoaten, i. 330 ; thej hoot,
hovyn, 1. 388 ; to hover, hoyed,

i. 66 ; hovered, halted, hoveth,

i. 393 ; hovereth.
howsjng, ii. 251 ; honses.
hue, i. 393.
hund, L 82 ; a dog.
hante, ii. 224 ; a hunter,
hordis, i. 88 ; ropes.
hure, ii. 145; goode hurCy represents

the French word hanheur. happi-
ness, prosperity,
hurle, i. 392; to jostle.

icast, L 217 ; cast.

ich, i. 216 ; I.

ich, i. 372 ; iche, i. 400 ; each.

iclcpid, i. 305; called.

idoo, ii. 198 ; done.

idraue, ii. 182 ; drawn.

i^en, ii. 55 ; eyes.

ilcyd, i. 217 ; laid down.

ilka, I. 59 ; each, every.

ilkonep L 82 ; eaefa one, eveiy one.
impe, L 218 ; a q>nNit, sprig, ahoot.
ine, L 81, 86 ; a lodging,
ioe, i. 77 ; ejres.
infortune, ii. 5 ; misfortune,
inne, L 264 ; in, ike adverb.
inne, L 333 ; lodging,
ino^e, L 225 ; enough,
immien, L 335 ; taken, obtained.
inaanmpuUe, iL 205 ; example,
interfectours, iL 282 ; slayers,
intrikid, iL 55 ; interlaced,
intrumpcioun, ii. 274 ; interruption,
ipainted, i. 307 ; painted,
ipearled, L 308 ; adorned with

pearb.
ipent^ i. 332 ; pinned,
iradicate, IL 204 ; rooted,
irk, ii. 153 ; slow.
isei^e, i. 215 ; seen,
ithe, ii. 161 ; thrive,
ivel, L 313 ; evil,
iwis, J. 64 ; iwya, ii. 162 ; truly,

surely,
iye, i. 330 ; eyes,
iyme, ii. 153 ; iron.

J.

jaces, i. 398 ; fringes (?).

jake, i. 274; a jack, a defensive

coat,
jangle, i. 327, ii. 243 ; to prate.

jangelist, ii. 104 ; pratest.
jangeler, ii. 86 ; a prater,
jape, iL 227 ; a joke,
japes, i. 67, 266y ii. 172 ; jeers,

tricks, buffooneries (?).
jape, i, 270 ; futuere*

OF OBSOLBTiS ENGLISH WOBDS.

819

japid, ii. 75 ; mocked, deceived,

japerjs, ii. 236 ; jesters.

jawdewyne, ii. 86, 101 ; a term of
reproach.

jerorys, i. 273 ; jurors.

jesine, ii. 213 ; childbed.

jette, i. 399 ; fashion,

jewis, i. 410 ; justice.

joguloursy ii. 89 ; minstrels, jug-
glers.

joied, i. 399 ; rejoiced.

jolit^ i. 250, 251 ; joy, mirth.

joUyng, ii. 276 ; people coming into
collision with one another.

joparte, ii. 286; jeopard, risk, make
a wager.

jomay, i. 64 ; a voyage.

jorney, ii. 275 ; properly a day, or a
day's work, but usually applied to
a battle.

jospinel, ii. 105 ; a term of re-
proach.

Juylle, ii. 139 ; Juyl, 151 ; July.

juperdye, ii. 132; jeopardy.

juparfce, ii. 183 ; to jeopard, to put
in risk.

K.

kayes, i. 83 ; the keys,
kayser, i. 163 ; an emperor,
kayseceris, i. 378 ; emperors,
kare, i. 225 ; care, trouble,
karekkys, ii. 172 ; carricks or car-

racksy large ships, galeouR.
kareyne, i. 390 ; carrion,
kembe, i. 312 ; to comb
ken, i. 73 ; to know.

ken, i. 8 ; to teach, to make to

know,
kend, i. 85 ; kende, i. 318 ; taught,
kendly, ii. 65 ; kindly, naturally,
kenned, i. 390 ; knew,
kepe, ii. 285; take kepcy pay at-
tention,
kepud, ii. 279 ; kept,
kepen, ii. 65 ; keep, dwell,
kere, ii. 226.

kest, i. 226. keste, ii. 252 ; cast,
kettord, i. 363 ; diminished,
kevelle, ii. 217;

kevere, i. 391, 393 ; to discover,
kevereth, ii. 71 ; covers,
kew-kaw, i. 407 ; awry,
kid, i. 61 ; known,
kydefel, ii. 160 ; kid leather,
kime, i. 324 ; a simpleton,
kyn, ii. 243 ; know,
kynde, i. 380 ; nature,
kynde, i. 394 ; natural,
kynrede, ii. 141 ; kindred,
kirtell, i. 82 ; kyrtelle, i. 265 ; a

kirtle, a sort of cloak thrown over

the shoulders,
kith, i. 71 ; to make known, to

show,
kith, i. 218 ; a r^ion.
knave, ii. 76 ; a serving lad.
knelys, i. 275 ; kneel,
knokelys. i. 276; knuckled, with

knuckles,
knowlechen, ii. 43 ; acknowledge,
kogge, i. 72 ; a cock-boat,
konne, i. 393 ; to come to life> to be

hatched,
kouth, i. 71 ; knew,
kowth, ii. 144 ; known, celebrated,
krevys, ii. 219 ; a crab,
kud, i. 218 ; known, celebrated.

320

GLOSSABT AND INDEX

kuyttes, i. 388 ; kites (the bird),
kun, i. 83 ; can, knows how.
kunnjuge, i. 384 ; knowledge.

laak, ii. 213 ; a lack, a fault (?).

lacchide, i. 377 ; blamed.

ladde, I 377 ; led.

ladde, L 399 ; lad, people.

laddus, i. 225 ; lads.

lade, i. 264 ; a load.

ladyn, ii. 236 ;

laAe, i. 395 ; left, deserted.

layke, i. 64 ; a game, plaj.

lake, ii. 177 ; lack.

langour, ii. 267 ; faintness.

lare, i. 70 ; teaching.

lasse, ii. 7,45; less.

late, ii. 148 ; let.

late, ii. 83 ; leave.

latli, ii. 6 ; loath, hateful.

latte, i. 317 ; left.

lautte, i. 388 ; caught.

laurere, ii. 141 ; laurel.

law, i. 78 ; low.

leaud, i. 307, ii. 25; lewd, un-
learned.

leaut^, i. 269 ; lojaltj.

leche, ii. 226 ; a physician.

ledderr, i. 90 ; a ladder.

leddyn, i. 373 ; led.

lede, i. 382 ; people.

ledeing, i. 82 ; at his ledeing^ at his
rule, at his beck.

ledres, ii. 236.

leef, i. 373 ; dear, to be desired.

leef, i. 251 ; believe.

leere, ii. 230 ; empty.

lees, ii. 161 ; lies ; wythowgki leu,
truly.

lesinge, i. 399 ; falsehood.

leete, ii. 192 ; to abandon, to loee.

leggaunce, i. 217 ; allegiance*

leggen, i. 252 ; to lie down.

leggist, ii. 41 ; allegest.

legiance, i. 374 ; allegiance.

leyfft, ii. 249 ; left.

leyne, i. 387 ; laid.

leyne,iL228; tolie(?).

leisere»ii. 170; leisure.

lele, i. 326 ; loyal.

lele, i. 64 ; legal.

lely, i. 77 ; faithfully, truly.

lely, i, 89 ; the lily.

lelley, i, 383 ; loyally, faithfully.

lemed, ii. 52 ; shone.

lemes, i. 388 ; rays of brightness.

lemman, i. 313, 330 ; a concubine.

ten, i. 90 ; lend, give.

lend, i. 63 ; remained, dwelt.

lended, i. 81 ; remained.

lendys, i. 394 ; loins.

lene, i. 218 ; grant.

leode, i. 405 ; man, person.

leodis, i. 379 ; people, lads

leof, i. 215 ; dear.

lere, i. 70 ; to teach.

lered, i. 326. lend, ii. 25 ; learned,
educated.

lese, i. 386 ; a leash.

lese, ii. 6 ; to lose.

lesynges, ii. 40 ; falsehoods.

lesse, ii. 189 ; lose.

lesse,ii. 189 ; loss.

let, ii. 31 ; hinder, let, i, 251 ; pre-
vented, hindered.

lete, i. 215, 217 ; to leave, to aban-
don, to fail.

lete, i. 217 ; to care.

OF OBSOLETTE ENGLISH WOBDS.

821

letherin, i. 90 ; made of leather.

lett, i. 64, &c. ; to prevent, to put a
stop to.

lette, i. 384 ; to fail.

lette, i. 383 ; hindered, prevented.

letteroun, ii. 78 ; a lectern, or read-
ing-stand.

lead, i. 326 ; uneducated, ignorant.

Ieut6, i. 269 ; loyalty.

leve, i. 66^ 69 ; to believe,

leve, i. 392 ; to live.

leven, 1. 331 ; to believe.

leven, ii. 67 ; leave.

levene, ii. 211 ; lightning.

leverey, i. 379 ; levere, 381 ; leve-
rez, 383 ; livery.

levest, i. 388 ; dearest.

leved, i. 394 ; lived ?

levid, i. 60; left.

levyn, ii. 198 ; live.

leveste, i. 372 ; most willingly, es-
pecially.

leward, ii. 236,

lewde, 1. 382 ; uneducated, ignorant.

lewdely, ii. 193; vilely, ill-advisedly,

lewidheed, ii. 75 ; ignorance.

libel, ii. 157, 282 ; a little book, a
pamphlet.

liche, ii. 142, et passim; like.

licnesse, ii. 108 ; similitude, sem-
blance.

lieue, ii. 14 ; place.

lifes, i. 66 ; lives.

liflode, i. 366 ; lyfflode, i. 405 ; food,
sustenance.

lig, i. 77 ; to lie.

ligand, i. 82 ; lying.

lyje, i. 250 ; to lie.

ligeaunce, ii. 187 ; allegiance.

liggen, ii. 19 ; laid.

ligges, i. 65 ; lies,
vol.. IL

lightly, ii. 10 ; lyghtlye, ii. 174 ;
li^tly, ii. 43 ; lyghtlich, i. 373 ;
easily.

littles, ii. 43 ; without light, in the
dark.

lyke, i. 269 ; to please ; that lyhed
mcy it pleased me. liketh, ii. 113 ;
it pleases ; hoxo hem Itkith, how
it pleases them, likyde, i. 399 ;
pleased, lykynge, ii. 173; pleasing.

lykyng, i. 267, 392; pleasure, lust.

likne, i. 217, 343 ; to compare, to
liken, likynest, ii. 89 ; comparest.
lykken, ii. 269 ; compare.

lile, ii. 226 ;

lymitour, i. 265 ; limitors, ii. 21 ;
friars licensed to beg within cer-
tain limits.

list, ii. 141 ; likes, pleases.

list, i. 73; cunning, artifice (?).

liste, i. 392 ; to desire.

lite, i. 325, 369 ; little.

lith, i. 218 ; limb.

lithes, i. 58 ; listen.

livelich, i. 218 ; lively, vigorous.

lywith, ii. 249 ; lived.

loby, i. 389 ; a lubber.

loenge, ii. 14 ; praise.

Jo^e, L 225 ; laughed.

logges, ii. 50 ;

loggid, ii. 211 ; lodged.

lolle, ii. 243 ; to profess the doc-
trines of religious reform, to be a
lollard ; literally, to idle about.

lollers, i. 305 ; vagabonds.

londlese, i. 305 ; people without
settled abode.

longe, i. 21 7 ; to belong to. longid,
i. 389; belonged, longeth, i. 333;
longith, 393 ; belongs, longynge,
ii. 196 ; belonging.

322

GI^OSSARY AND INDEX

loDjd, i. 408 ;

loodmannage, ii.217 ; pilotage.

loode^sterre, ii. 178 ; lodesterre, ii.

270 ; the polar star,
lordane, ii. 229 ; an idle lout,
lordjns, i. 383 } lords, a form of fa*

mlliarity.
lore, i. 325 ; lost,
lore, i. 252, 401 ; teaching, doctrine,

lesson,
lorell, i. 314, 338, 389; a scoundrel,
lorn, i. 69 ; lost,
los, i. 218 ; lose, ii. 245 ; praise,

repute,
losell, i. 342 ; a scoundrel,
loseng^rie, i. 322 ; losengerj, ii. 27;

lying and flattery,
loste, ii. 167 ; ruined,
lotby, ii. 102 ; a concubine,
lothen, ii. 246 ; hate,
loure, i. 266, 377 ; to look discon*

tented or cross,
lousid, ii. 56 ; let loose,
lout, i. 73, 78; loute, i. 308 ; to stoop,

to bend, to bow, to make obei-
sance,
love-daies, ii. 52, 255 ; meetings for

arranging disputes amicably,
lovyng, ii. 281 ; praising,
lowede, ii. 165 ; loved,
lowte, i.226; lowth, ii. 153; to bow.
luf, i. 79 ; luffe, ii. 252 ; love,
lurker, i. 394 ; an intruder (?).
lusscheburne, i. 140 ; a debased

foreign coin, so named from

Luxemburgh, whence they were

brought.
luste,i. 393; to desire, lust, ii. 149;

pleases.

M.

ma, passim; more.

moddid, i. 376, 387 ; drove mad.

mafey, ii. 75 ; my faith ! (an ex-
clamation).

mafflarde, ii. 225 ; a fool.

mafflid, i. 415 ; stammered.

magr6, ii. 272 ; in spite of.

maine, i. 74 ; strength, force.

maistership, i. 338 ; office of itutho-
rity.

maisterfuUy, i, 323 ; authoritatively,
by force.

maistrie, i. 338 ; authority.

male, i. 307 ; a box, a chest.

malisoun, ii. 112 ; curse.

mals, i. 379 ;

manasinge, i. 60 ; a threat.

manciple, ii. 98; the purveyor of
provisions, or clerk of the kitchen.

mane, i. 65 ; moan, lament,

maners, i. 225 ; manors, mansion
houses.

manslaught, i. 273 ; manslaughter.

marcerye, i. 264 ; mercery.

marchandes, ii. 160 ; merchants.

marchandy, ii. 160 ; merchandise.

marches, ii. 12 ; borders, border dis-
tricts.

mare, i. 80 ; more.

markes, i. 267 ; marks (money).

merkis, i. 384 ; marks, signs, badges.

market-beaters, i. 330 ; swaggerers.

marmusettes, ii. 172 ; monkeys.

marren, ii. 72 ; to mar.

marternus, ii. 186 ; furs of the mar-
ten.

martis, ii. 179 ; marts, or fairs.

mase, i. 81 ; makes.

mastling, i. 308 ; mixed metal.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

323

mastry, i. 328 ; authority, force.

matjn, ii. 50 ; to confound,

mater, i. 273 ; matter.

materas, ii. 217 ; a mattress.

mawfesours, ii. 85; evil-doers.

maugr^, i, 330; in spite of.

mawgr6, i. 60, ii. 1 12 ; bad comfort,
spite, displeasure.

mawmentrie, ii. 246 ; idolatry.

meohe, ii. 42 ; much.

mede, i. 71, 332 ; reward, bribe,
modes, ii. 252 ; bribes.

medled, ii. 74 ; mixed.

megre, i. 264 ; meagre, thin.

meynd, ii. 196 s attendants, com-
pany.

meyntenourz, i. 405 ; maintainers.

mekill, i. 63 ; much.

mele, i. 250 ; to meddle, to treat.

mell, 1. 329; melle, ii. 243; to
meddle.

mellid, i. 388 ; mixed.

memoriable, ii. 194; to be remem-
bered, memorable.
^ mendis, i. 376, 381; amends.

men6, i. 408; household, retinue.

men^^, i. 61,66; retinue.

menged, ii. 161; mixed.

mengid, ii. 99; reminded.

menid, i. 70; meant, intended.

meny,ii. 167; people, maini.

menys, ii. 190; means.

mente, ii. 50 ; mint (the plant).

menuse, ii. 53; to diminish, to de-
tract from.

menusynge, ii. 85 ; detracting from.

mere, ii. 68; a mare.

merk, ii. 212 ; dark.

merke, i. 84 ; a mark.

meschef, i. 48, ii. 7 ; mishap, mis-
fortune.

messo, ii. 93 ; the mass.

messes, i. 327 ; dishes at table.

mete, ii. 86 ; boundary.

meteles, i. 264 ; without meat

meuve, i. 370 ; move.

meye, i, 378; move.

mewe, ii. 170; a close place; strictly

speaking, the place where falcons

were put to moult,
mewe, ii. 228; to moult,
mych, i.278; myche, ii. 187; much,
michel, ii. 45 ; great,
middis, ii. 252; the midst, the middle

of.
midel-erd, i. 58; the earth, the

world,
mylne, ii. 53 ; a mill,
mynged, i. 379; meddled, mixed;

though it may be an error for

mt/nded,
myngit, ii. 51 ; mixes,
mynys, ii. 286 ; mines,
myneth, ii. 58 ; undermines,
mynusshyth, ii. 189; diminishes,
myry, ii. 72 ; pleasant, merry,
mis, i. 252 ; error, wrong,
myschevyd, i. 272, ii. 269 ; plagued,

injured, brought into misfortune,
miscreantz, ii, 12 ; unbelievers, in-
fidels,
misfare, i. 89 ; to mischance, mishap,
misqueme, i. 323 ; to displease,
missaverynge, ii. 53 ; misunder-*

standing (?).
myssavyzyng, ii. 253 ; bad counsel,
myssetyme, ii. 58 ; to err.
myste, i. 378; might,
mistere, i. 309; need,
mystir, i. 409 ;
myswent, ii. 243; gone wrong, fulleu

into abuse.

X 2

324

GLOSSABT AVD INDEX

mjtird, ii. 146; mitred, luid their

mitres on*
myth, i. 364; mjthe, lu 187; might,
moche, ii. 243; great,
mochel, i. 268 ; mnch.
mode, i. 74; mod, iL 7; mind, spirit,
mody, i. 71; highminded, bniTe.
mold, i. 80 ; molde, i. 391 ; i. 406 ;

earth, world,
molde, L 388;
mon, i. 251; man.
mone, ii. 208 ; lamentation,
mon^, i. 64 ; money,
monest, iL 104 ; lamentest, moaaest.
monknjnde, i. 250 ; mankind,
monj, i. 252 ; njpmj.
moo, ii. 188 ; more,
moppis, i. 406 ; fools,
more, iL 21 ; greater,
more, L 83 ; a moor,
momjnge, ii. 76 ; mourning,
mot, i. 59 ; may.
mote, 1. 218 ; might,
moule, i. 342 ; to become mouldy,
monn, i. 400 ; may.
mouside, i. 396 ; mused,
mowe, i. 327; may.
mowen, ii. 269 ; mowed,
mowyth, it. 250 ; may.
mowtynge, i. 380 ; moulting,
mucke, ii. 243 ; used commonly as

a contemptuous term for money^

or wealth,
multiphary, ii. 181 ; multifarious,
mun, i. 73 ; may.
muse, i. 372 ; reflect, brood over,
mutt, ii. 188 ; might.

N.

naker, i. 69 ; a musical instrument,

a comet or brass horn,
nay, iL 126 ; this is no nay^ this

admits of no denial,
nayt, iL 62; naught,
nale, L 330 ; the ak.
namely, ii. 92 ; especially.
natlie, IL 222 ; the nave of a cart,
neaay, iL 156 ; none, not any.
nee, i. 274 ; the neck,
neft, i. 376 ;
neghe, i. 267 ; closely. ^ The land

is so closely sought by the friars,

that the secular priests can hardly

get any employment."
nelde, i. 327 ; a needle,
nempne, i. 376 ; to name, to men-
tion, to tell ; nempned, L 403 ;

called.
neXy passim; nor.
nere, L 403 ; nearer,
nere, i. 330 ; for ne taere^ were not.
neres, L 264 ; kidneys (?).
nevene, ii. 211, 284 ; name,
newe, ii. 49 ; anew, again,
newed, i. 373, 412 ; renewed,
neweth, i. 372 ; annoyeth.
uy, i. 392 ; near,
nyeth, L393; approacheth. nyhedy

i. 403 ; approached,
nifles, ii. 172 ; trifles, nicknacks.
nigges, i. 326 ; niggai*ds.
nyghed, i. 380 ; approached,
nil, L 313 ; contracted from ne will^

will not.
nis, i. 216 ; nys, 370 ; contraction of

ne isy is not.
nyset^, i. 399; delicacy, nicety,
nyst, L 415 ; knew not^ for ne wist.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

325

noble, ii. 169 ; the uaine of a coin
minted under Edward III.

nodyr, ii. 271 ; neither.

nodur, i. 365 ; no nodur^ for non
oduTy none other.

noy, ii. 182 ; injury, noyes, i. 372;
injuries, griefs, annoyances.

noien, ii. 56 ; to injui-e.

nokes, i. 75 ; comers, nooks.

nold^ i. 325 ; for ne woldy would not.

nolle, i. 374 ; the head, noddle.

nomen, i. 86 ; took.

not, i. 393 ;

nother, i. 392 ; neither.

nouther, i. 216 ; neither.

nownagis, i. 412 ; nonages.

0.

obeysaunty i. 308 ; making obeis-
sance.

obeisaunte, ii. 189 ; obedient.

obout, i, 61 ; about.

odur, ii. 250 ; or.

ogayn, i. 59 ; again, ogayne, i. 64 ;
against.

ogaines, i. 59 ; against.

oghne, ii. 9 ; own.

oght, i. 267 ; aught.

oilles, i. 401 ;

ok, i. 216 ; oak.

olive, i. 71 5 alive.

onde, i. 84 ; an error of the press
for londe.

one, i. 82 ; only.

onys, i. 371 ; once.

onthryfty, i. 272 ; that which coun-
teracts or destroys thrift.

00, i. 278 ; one.

oon, ii. 137 ; one.

oore, ii. 186; ore.

open, i. 70 ; upon.

opposaile, ii. 204 ; question, in-
quiry, argument, for apposaile.

or, i. 397 ; before.

ore, ii. 197 ; an oar.

osey, iu 163 ; a sort of wine.

osmonde, ii. 171 ; a sort of iron.

oste, ii. 177, 178, for hoste; to take
up lodgings (?).

ostentacioun, ii. 190 ; appearances,
demonstration.

otere, ii. 186; the otter.

ottre, ii. 215 ; to utter.

ouches, i. 331, 334; jewels.

ouris, ii. 68 ; ours.

outraye, i. 216; to outrage, to in-
jure.

outrayeng, ii. 143 ; erasing, ex-
pelling.

overeledynge, ii. 195 ; oppression.

oversene, ii. 205 ; overlooked, read
through.

overthwarte, ii. 190; to cross, to
embarras.

overwacche, i. 406 ; sitting up over
late.

oway, i. 78 ; away.

owgly, ii. 218 ; ugly.

owyn, i. 273 ; own.

paien, ii. 46 ; pay.
paiene, ii. 5 ; pagan,
paynen, i. 311 ; to labour,
paynymes, ii. 65 ; payujrmys, ii. 283 ;
I pagans.

326

OtOSHAST AKD DTDKX

pa!e«, iL 20«S ; a palace.

pal<'t, L 79 : the head, the pate.

fiall, L 78 ; fine cloth.

paone, i. 376. 394, 409 ; paiiDe«Y L

409 ; the ^kuIl, the head,
pang, ii. 66 ; pence,
panerifi, i. 390 ; netji, snares.
imragalA, i. 377 ; peer«, companioDf .
parage, i. 218 ; peerage (?;.
par-amonr, ii. 280 ; hj or for love

(used adverbiaUj).
parbrake, ii. 63 ; to romit.
parceit, i. 369 ; perception,
parde, passim; an cxclamatioi])

literally Inf God.
pardonjfitres, ii. 78 ; pardoners,
parfetten, ii. 227.

parfit, iL 9 ; the rule, the exemplar,
parfite, ii. 224.

par}'formytee, ii. 193 ; nimilitude.
parishen, i. 327 ; a parishioner,
parjsshens, ii. 217 ; parishioners,
parle, i. 414 ; to talk,
parlioufi, ii. 227 j perilous,
paroche, ii. 72 ; a parish,
partable, ii. 220 ; sharing in*
parten, ii. 98 ; to give a share of.
pavys, ii. 152 ; a sort of large

shield,
pease, i. 339 ; a pea.
pccus, ii. 227.

peedeugr^, ii. 131 ; a pedigree,
peere, i. 372 ; a pear,
peynys, i. 272 ; punishment,
pcynte, ii. 181 ; to paint,
peise, ii. 8 ; to weigh, to deliberate*
poked, ii. 251 ; peaked,
pelcrs, i. 62 ; pillars,
pelour, ii. 245; a plunderer, a

robber, pelour s, ii. 164 ; thieves.

. peiire-ware, iL 171 ; raw hides, per-
haps mote especially of wild
hiiea^t*-
I pelare, i. 265 ; Inr.

pencell i. 76 ; a streamtf, or orna-
mental f^.
. pende, L 323 ; to confine.*

ix-rij'lac. i. 398 ; want of money.

peraunter, iL 60; peradventore,
perhaps.

pcrde, iL 125 ; an exclamation of
affirmation, par Dieu,

perdurable, ii. 14 ; endurable, ever*
lasting.

pere, iL 201 ; a peer.

pere, L 59 ; a pear.

perfit, iL 243 ; perfect.

perlis, i. 375 ; pearb.

permagall, i. 307 ; probably a miii-
print for peregal^ equaL

perrie, i. 308 ; precious stones.

persen, iL 81 ; pierce.

persons, iL 30 ; persownys, ii. 217 ;
parsons, parish priests.

perswyaunce, ii. 242; continua-
tion (?).

pertli, ii. 51 ; openly, plainly, for
apertli.

pes, ii. 5 ; peace.

pese, ii. 251 ; peacCi

pesinge, L 400 ; piecing, joining the
pieces together.

^ie^ passim; pity.

piement, L 316 ; a sort of mixed
drink.

piereles, ii. 13 ; peerloiw, without
equaL

pight, i. 390 ; py^te, ii. 152; raised^
fixed, pitched.

piken, ii. 66 ; to steal.

pikers, ii. ^6 ; thieves.

OF OBSOLETi: ENGLISH WOBDS.

327

pylche, ii. 219 ; a leathern coat.

pyle, ii. 240 ; the obverse side of a
coin, the other side having a cross.
Hence the game of crosse and
pyle was equivalent to our
*' heads and tails."

pill, i. 314 ; to plunder.

pill3mge, i. 374 ; plundering.

pillour, i. 306 ; a pillow.

pine, i. 77, ii. 251 ; pain, punish-
ment.

pined, i. 318 ; pyned, ii. 267 ;
pynnyd, i. 389 ; tormented, pun-
ished.

pipoudris, i. 409 ; courts of pipou-
dei*e held at fairs and markets
for the speedy trial of offences
occurring there.

pirith, i. 393 ; peeps, watches.

pistles, ii. 63 ; epistles.

pitaile, i. 76 ; foot soldiers.

piteouse, pitevous, ii. 189 ; lament-
able.

pyteuxly, ii. 267 ; piteously.

playn, ii. 152, 269 ; even, level.

plain, ii. 13 ; simple, candid.

playne, i. 64; abundant (?).

plasmacion, i. 275 ; make, formation.

plate, i. 76 ; mail, armour.

pleasaunce, ii. 254 ; pleasure*

pleigne, ii. 8 ; pleyn, i. 77 j pleyne,
i. 376 ; to complain.

pleysaunce, ii. 184 ; pleasure,
tkynges of pleysauncCy orna-
mental objects.

plenili, ii. 89 ; fully.

plesand, i. 265 ; pleasing, agreeable.

plentevous, plenteouse, ii. 188, 212 ;
productive, producing plenty,
abundant.

plentevousnesse, ii. 242 ; abundance.

plete, i. 305, 410 ; to plead, to argue*

plewme, i. 389 ; plume.

plit, ii. 13 ; plight.

plytes, i. 399 ; pleats.

plomayle, i. 381 ; featliers, plumage.

pocys, ii. 139 ;

poynt-makers, ii. 160; makers of
the points, or laces, with which
the hose were fastened.

pokes, i. 332 ; sleeves.

pol, i. 389 ; the head.

poleyn, ii. 213 ; u poleyn sieede,
may mean either a young steed,
or a Polish steed.

polled, i. 79 ; shorn, shaved.

poopeholy, ii. 251, pretending to
great holiness.

porayle, ii. 285 ; the poor classes of
society.

port, i. 329; bearing.

portred, i, 307; pictured.

possessioners, i. 267; persons en-
dowed with land, referring here
apparently to the monks, in con-
tradistinction to the friai*s.

postilles, ii. 44; apostles.

pouge, i» 276; a pouch.

poure, ii. 249; power.

poure, i. 372 ; to pore.

pover, i. 66 ; poor.

povert, i. 270 ; poverty.

powch, i. 274 ; a purse, a pouch.

powchers, ii. 109 ; makers of
pouches.

power, ii. 25 ; poor.

praptyk, ii. 241 ; perhaps for prac*
tyky or practice.

pray, i. 314 ; prey (?).

prease, ii. 33 ; to urge, to press.

prease, i. 305; prison (?).

precith, i. 393 ; pressethi

328

GLOSSARY AND INDEX

preffe, iL 161 ; proof,

preififly i. 369 ; proofs, experience.

prejsing, i. 374 ; appraising, fixing
a value on.

presciousitee, ii. 68 ; value, pre-
cionsness.

prese, i. 61 ; press, crowd.

presejm, ii. 247; press (?).

presse, i. 401 ; to push.

presse, i. 250.

prest, i. 226, 326 ; ready.

prest, i. 71; pressed, in haste.

prevayle, ii. 285 (?).

prevy, ii. 285 ; private.

preve, i. 372 ; to prove.

price, ii. 198 ; a prize.

prikc, i. 62 ; pryke, ii. 208 ; to ride.

pringnant, ii. 227 ; pregnant (?).

prynte, i. 385 ; impression (?).

pi-ise, i. 59 ; ii. 14, 63 ; praise, value.

privyng, ii. 85 ; depriving.

privyte, ii. 75 ; privacy.

procuratour, i. 326; a proctor, an
attorney.

procure, ii, 34 ; to act by procura-
tion.

proesce, ii. 200; prowess.

prophete, i. 412 ; profit.

propurteS) i. 394; peculiarities,
characteristics.

prove, i. 76 ; to try.

pnissaunce, ii. 181 ; power.

puit, i. 215 ; put.

pulter, i. 389; poultry (?).

puplc, ii. 41 ; people.

pure, i. 391 ; poor.

purraile, i. 389; the common people,
the poor.

putree, i. 312 ; whoredom,
puttocke, i. 344 ; a kite (the bird).

; queint, i. 334 ; ingenious, quaint,
queintise, i. 322 ; cunning,
queme, i. 400; qweme, iL 142 ; to

please,
quentise, i. 385, 400; cunning,

artfulness,
quereie, ii. 14 ; the complaint,
quic, iL 74 ; alive,
quicke, L 326 ; alive,
quite, iL 12 ; requite,
quite, L 78 ; quit, relieved of.
quok, L 251 ; quaked,
quell, qwell, L 61, 70; to kill,
qwen, L 275 ; when,
qwere, L 273 ; ware, beware of.
qwere, L 274 ; where.

R

rabeyn, i. 388 ; rapine.

rache, ii. 225 ; a scenting hound.

racheshede, ii. 187 ; carelessness.

Apparently miswritten by the

scribe for racheteshede.
rad, ii. 132 ; read (part.)
rafte, i. 373 ; taken from you, reft,
ragmanne, ii. 228 ; a catalogue or

inventory,
ray, i. 398 ; array,
rayed, L 397 ; arrayed,
rayke, i. 264 ; to wander about
railed, L 69 ; set, placed,
ranes, ii. 6S ; snot,
rape, i. 82 ; a rope,
rapely, i. 74, 369 ; quickly, hastily^

OF OBSOLETE ENGUSH WOBDS.

329

rascaile, i. 386 ; rasskayle, 387 ;

raskalle, ib. ; the lower orders,
rasydy ii. 108 ; erased, diminished,
rasith, ii. 92 ; erascth, defaceth.
ratele, ii. 64 ; to rattl^ out, to talk

loudly and inconsiderately,
rathly, i. 77 ; speedily,
ratyn, ii. 110.
rauht, it. 211 ; reached,
raunsound, i. 323 ; ransomed,

fleeced,
ravinour, i. 326 ; a plunderer,
raw, i. 69; a row, a rank,
realles, i. 378 ; royals (regales).
reamys, ii. 132 ; realms,
rebellyous, ii. 270; rebels,
recchith, i. 397; care, reck,
recheless, ii. 133 ; reckless,
reclayme, i. 390 ; brought back, a

term in falconry,
recuire, ii. 249 ; recover,
recure, ii. 269 ; to recover,
red, rede, i. 218, 252 ; to counsel,

to advise,
rede, ii. 8 ; a reed,
rede, i. 6^ ; counsel,
redeles, i. 373 ; counsel-less, un-
advised,
redely, i. 371, 383 ; readily,
redles, i^ 73; unadvised, foolish,
redlyd, ii. 217 ; twisted,
reden, i. 376 ; rode,
reede, i. 398 ; counsel,
reevelle, i. 413 ; revel,
refreit, ii. 21 1 ; the burthen of a song,
regaliche, ii. 196 ; royally,
regalie, ii. 4 ; regalye, ii. 142 ;

royalty, royal position,
reght, i. 74 ; right,
regno, i. 266 ; to reign,
regne, ii. 157 ; a kingdom.

reyke, ii. 73 ; course, fling.

reynebowe, i. 404 ; the rainbow.

reys, ii. 175.

reisiu, ii. 109; raise.

rejoise, ii. 254 ; to enjoy ; rejoisyug,
ii. 144 ; enjoying.

reles, ii. 47 ; release.

reme, ii. 282 ; realm.

rememoraunce, ii. 242 ; remem-
brance, mindfulness.

remene, i. 216 ; to call to mind (?).

remevyd, ii. 123 ; removed.

remossaylles, ii. 220 ; remnants.

rcn, i. 73 ; to run.

renyd, ii. 77 ; ruined.

renk, i. 381 ; a man.

renne, i. 383 ; to run; ii. 132 ; run
(participle), rennen, ii. 74 ; they
run. rennyng, ii. 276 ; running.

renomed, ii. 133 ; renowned.

rent, i. 73.

renue, ii. 75 ; be restored.

reot, i. 413 ; riot, disorder.

repreff, i. 371 ; reproof.

repreve, i. 402 ; to reprove.

rere, ii. 245; to raise.

reremys, i. 406 ; bats.

rereth, ii. 244 ; raiseth.

rerewarde, ii. 57 ; the reai-guard of
an army.

resayvid, ii. 274 ; received.

resceyte, i. 385 ; receipt.

rese, i. 76; halting (?).

reste, ii. 252 ; dwelling place.

resteined, ii. 14 ; retained (?). Per-
haps it should be read resceivcd.

restid, ii. 278 ; arrested.

restore, i. 390 ;

retch, ii. 33 ; care, reck.

retourned, ii. 268; brought back
again.

330

GLOaSABT AXD ISDtX

rere, iL 51 ; to deprive, take from,
rere, iL 245 ; to plunder, rered,

i. OS ; plondCTedy robbed*
rereree, L 265 ; a term in dress*

makinz*
revere, iL 164 ; sea-robbers, pirates,
reward, L 218, iL 134 ; regard,
rewe, L 373 ; to me.
rewisy i. 371 ; rows, lines, or oooplet^*
rewleless, iL 212 ; without mle, nn-

goremed.
rewme, L 378, 396 ; a realm,
rewth, L 369 ; mtb.
rialle, L 398 ; rojal.
rialle, ii. 207 ; rojallj, like a king

or queen,
rybawdus, L 225 ; ribawdes, ii. 152;

ribalds, a low class of medieval

society,
ribaudery, i. 263 ; ribaldry,
richen, L 326 ; to enrich,
ryff, L 380 ; rife, freqaent
lyfHed, i. 374 ; rifled,
rifild, i. 62 ; plundered, rifled,
rig, L 77 ; rigge, L 407 ; the back,
ri^tyn, L 369; to correct, to set

right,
right wy 8, iL 267; rightwise, i. 314;

righteous,
rightwisenesse, ii. 8 ; righteousness,
riken, ii. 228 ; reckon,
riot, ii. 244 ; tumult,
riote, i. 263, 373 ; riot ; riotous

living,
riotours, i. 311 ; people who live in

extravagance and riot,
rith, i. 369 ; right,
riveling, i. 62 ; a rough shoe for-
merly worn by the Scots,
rode, i. 74, 89 ; a cross,
rofe, ii. 126 ; clove, split.

roll; i. 40I ; roof, vault.

romee^ iL 90 ; roar (?>•

ronneo, L 364 ; run.

rood,L 311 ; roode, iL 127; acroaa.

roother, L 216 ; a rudder.

roseers, iL 210 ; roae trees.

rote« iL 221 ; a musical instrument

resembling the hurdy-gurdy,
rotus, L 387 ; rootK.
ron^t, iL 269 ; recked, cared,
rou^t, L 366 ;
rou^te, L 396 ; rout,
roune^ L 380 ; to whisper,
route, iL 246 ; to go in company on

foot,
route, ii. 167 ; assemble,
routus, i. 374 ; rowts.
roven, i. 343 ; riven, separated,
rovers, ii. 164 ; robbers on the sea,

pirates,
rowyng, ii. 284;
rownde, iL 193 ; encircling. Tkis

rawnde see^ this sea round us.
rowners, L 271 ; whisperers,
rowte, i. 225, ii. 180; a company, a

crowd. g

rugh-fute, L 62 ; rough-footed,
rumbelynge, ii. 276; tumult.

S.

sacrynge, ii. 234 ; the conseci^ation

of the host.
sadde, ii. 47; serious,
sadly, ii. 38; seriouslyt
saff, i. 373; safe,
saff, i. 374 ; save,
sayle, i. 216; to assaiL
saine, i. 61 ; to say.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WOBDS.

331

saklcs, i. 61 ; blameless^ guiltless*

sale) 1. 75; shall.

sale, i. 307;

sail, L 73; shall.

saltou, i. 88; shalt thou.

salve, i. 70 ; to save*

sample, ii. 243; example.

sand, ii. 6 ; the act of sending, a

message,
sape, i. 266 ; soap*
sare, i. 59; sore,
saiy, i. 60; sore,
sairi, i. 218;

satyllyn, ii. 81; settle (?).
savere, i. 371 ; know (?).
sauf, ii. 243; save.
sauf, ii. 8 ; saved^ safe,
sauf, ii. 6; safe, possessing safety*
saul, 1. 63; saul^ i. 266; the soul,
sawd, ii. 94; pa3rment, hire*
sawe, i. 70, 86, ii. 182; a saying, a

report, sawis, i* 402, ii* 401 ; say*

ings.
sawte, ii. 277, 278; an assault*
sawtid, ii* 278; assaulted,
scant, ii. ^89 ; to become sCMity, to

fail
scaplerie, ii. 19; a scapulary, part of

the ecclesiastic dress*
Bcath^ i. 265 ; loss,
schac, i. 67; to shake*
schad, ii. 7; shed,
schawes, i. 89; woods*
sched, i. 252; the division of the

hair on the top of the head*
Bchedde, ii. 8; shed,
scheltron, i. 71 ; schilteroun, i« 72 ;

a squadron or division of soldiers*
Bchende, i. 73; to destroy,
schene, i. 71; bright,
schenty i. 225 ; ruined, destroyed.

scheimyu, ii. 285; shear-men, those
who shear the cloth.

schew, i. 415j show*

schewe, i. 394, 413; appeal'.

schides, ii. 53; planks*

schiperd, i. 84; shepherd.

schone, ii. 251; shoes.

schope, ii. 63; created.

schoppe, i. 403; to chop.

schemed, i* 404 ; scorned.

schour, i. 216 ; shower.

schour, ii. 268 ; schowre, i. 85 ; bat-
tle, conflict*

schrapid, i. 394; scraped, scratched.

schrevys, i. 413; sheriffs.

schrewed, i. 392 ; cursed*

schrive, i. 88; confess thyself.

schroff, i. 388;

schroup, i. 388;

scole, ii* 43; school*

scomferture, ii. 278; discomfiture.

scorte, i. 401 ; scorn*

scredes, ii. 252; shreds, alluding to
the cutting and jagging of the
cloth in dresses of that period*

scrowe, ii. 165, 192; a writing, a
scroU.

se, i. 63 ; the sea.

se, i. 378; a seat, a see*

seche, i. 392; to seek.

see, i. 410; a seat.

seggist, ii. 72; speakest.

sey, ii. 124 ; saw.

seie, i. 215; to say.

seye, i. 215 ; seen.

sei^e, i. 216; seen.

seimtis, i. 398 ; girdles.

seyn, ii. 17, 181 ; they say

seyne, ii. 179; to see.

seist) ii. 49; speakest.

seke, ii. 125; sick.

332

GLOSSARY AND INDEX

seker, i. 321; sure.

sekir, ii. 243; eure, certain.

selcouthe, i. 368 ; strange, wonder*

ful.
eele, ii. 125; time,
selde; i. 394; seldom,
selj, ii. 109; simple,
selle, ii. 185;
sembland, i. 78; like,
semble, ii. 125; an assembly, a meet-
ing together (here, in shock of

battle),
sembled, i. 369; assembled,
sen, i. 60; since,
sen, ii. 9; see.
senceres, ii. 42; censers,
sendal, ii. 68; a sort of valuable

cloth or silk,
sene, ii. 133; see.
senin, i. 86; since, afterwards,
seo, i. 250, &c.; see.
sere, i. 365; dry, withered,
sere, i. 86; several,
scrgantes, i. 70; servants,
serpentli, ii. 49; treacherously, like

a serpent.
Berteyne,ii. 152; certain; aserteyne,

in certain, for certain,
served, ii. 12; preserved,
servid, i. 381; deserved.
8esid,ii. 278; stopped.
sesse, ii. 104; cease,
severe, ii. 209 ; to separate,
sewde, ii. 278 ; seuyd, ii. 279 ;

issued,
sewe, ii. 228; sue.
sewis, i. 310; follows,
shadwe, ii» 216; shade, shadow,
shede, i. 311; separate,
shende, i. 344, ii. 183; to ruin, to

destroy.

shendship, ii, 45; 8henshepe,i. 405;
shenshippe, ii. 227 ; ruin, destruc-
tion.

shene, ii. 218 ; bright, shining.

shent, i. 269; shente, ii. 187; ruined,
destroyed, lost.

shepen, ii. 76; a sheep-cot.

sherish, ii. 188; shires.

shewyng, ii. 109; offering.

shipun, ii. 72; a sheep-cot.

shone, i. 266; shoes.

show, i. 317; a shoe.

shryfe, i. 265; to shrive.

shryffe, ii. 207; confess.

shrift, ii. 22 ; confession.

shrift-fathers, ii. 22 ; confessors.

shulde, ii. 244; shield.

sibbe, ii. 70; kindred.

sibbe, i. 392; kin, relation.

sicerly, ii. 49 ; surely.

siche, ii. 67; such.

sydus, i. 277; sides.

sie, i. 327; to see.

sigh, ii. 146; saw.

signement, ii. 147; assignment, as-
signation.

syked, ii. 205 ; sighed.

siker, i. 217; sure, secui-e.

sykerliche, i. 252; surely.

sykernesse, ii. 241 ; certainty.

sympylle, ii. 284 ; in the sense of
small.

synder, i. 216; sunder; in synder,
asunder.

syngyn, i. 270; to sing.

sir, i. 378, 379; a lord.

sit, ii. 5 ; becomes.

sitee, ii. 187; situation (?),

sytes, i. 268 ; sits.

sit^h, i. 374; a sight.

sith, ii. 22; since.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WOBDS.

333

Bythenne, i. 225 ; since, afterwards.

Bitte, ii. 5 ; becomes.

sitting, i. 393 ; incubation.

skall, i. 311; scab.

skamonje, ii. 173 ; scammonj, a

plant used in medicine,
skathed, L 385 ; injured,
skere, i. 333.
skylle, i. 385, ii. 188. skil, ii. 42 ;

reason, knowledge ; can thereone

no ikylley are quite ignorant in

the matter,
sklendir, ii. 219 ; slender,
skood, ii. 219.
skry, ii. 154 ; cry.
fikrith, i. 71 ; to escape (?).
slake, ii. 206 ; to desist, to cease,
slake, ii. 10 ; to be extinguished,
slaken, i. 86; to assuage, to quench,
slaveyn, i. 404 ; a sort of mantle,
slawe, ii. 235 ; slain,
sleen, ii. 134 ; to slay.
sleight, ii, 13 ; trickery, deception,
slen, ii. 10 ; to slay,
slent, ii. 112 ; slunk,
sleth, ii. 7 ; slayeth.
slew, i. 345 ; probably a misprint of

the black-letter edition for fleWy

i.e. put them to flight,
slewys, i. 273 ; sleeves,
slyndynge, ii. 182 ; slipping,
slike, i. 59, 60 ; such,
slite, i. 335.
slodc, i. 404 ; slided.
slogh, i. 64 ; slo^e, i. 225 ; slou^, i.

216 ; slew,
sloughe, sloughte, ii. 187; sloth,
slouh, ii. 13 ; he slew,
slowe, ii. 8 ; slew,
slugly, ii. 203 ; sluggishly,
smacchith, ii. 64 ; smacks, tastes of,

smere, i. 325 ; to smear, to daub

over,
smorthering, ii. 54 ; smothering.

Perhaps a mere error of the

scribe,
snaper, i. 88 { to stumble,
snarre, ii. 55 ; to ensnare,
snek-drawers, ii. 98 ; lifters of

latches,
snell, i. 70 ; quick,
snowcrie, ii. 111.
soeifrin, ii. 10 ; suffer,
sofferen, ii. 206 ; sovereign,
softe, ii. 8 ; mild,
soget, i. 272, ii. 192 ; subject,
soile, ii. 38 ; to assoil, to absolve,
sojoumant, i. 327 ; a sojourner,
soleyne, i. 415 ; sullen, or solemn,
somen, ii. 89; to summon,
somere, i. 380 ; summer,
sompne, i. 330 ; to summon,
sompnour, i, 313 ; the officer who

cited offenders before the consis-
tory court,
sonde, i. 370, ii. 202 ; that which is

sent, a message, sondis, i. 413 ;

messages,
sender, i. 268 ; to separate ; make

ham to sonder^ disperse them,
sondrid, i. 388 ; separated,
song, i. 267 ; singing,
songen, i. 79 ; sung.
Sonne, ii. 178, 196 ; the sun.
sool, ii. 103 ; soole, ii. 190 ; sole,

single,
sore, ii. 190 ; sorrow,
sorrowen, ii. 7 ; lament over,
sorwynge, ii. 40 ; lamenting,
sotch^, ii. 175 ; subtlety,
sothe, i. 266 ; truth,
sotil, ii. 85 ; subtle.

334

OLOSHABT AND INDEX

aottell, ii. 273 ; subtle.

souketh, ii. 174 ; sucks.

soukle, i, 304; to absorb moi8ture(?),

said of bad seed
Boule, i. 376.

soun, ii. 219 ; sound, yoioe.
soupe, i. 337 ; sup.
sourdldy i. 368 ; proceeded,
soure, i. 269 ; sourly,
sowed, i. 70 ; repented (?).
sowkid, i. 412 ; sucked, drunk in.
sowters, ii. 109 ; cobblers,
sowth, ii. 284 ; sought,
sparris, ii. 77 ; rafters, beams,
spas, i. 252 ; space,
specialifi, i. 276 ; sweethearts,
specionus, ii, 98 ; beautiful,
spyse, i, 265 ; spice,
spokeles, ii, 222 ; destitute of

spokes,
spone, i. 273 ; spun,
sporys, i, 275 ; spurs,
stable, ii. 8 ; to strengthen,
stable, i. 373, 404; to become strong,

or firm,
stakerth, ii. 40 ; staggers,
stalle, i. 389 ; stole,
standen, ii. 202 ; to be arrested, to

become stationary, not progres-
sing,
stane, i. 62 ; stone,
stant, passim, stands,
stappis, ii. 102 ; steps,
stare, ii. 215 ; the starling,
stareand, i. 64 ; stai-ing.
sted, i. 252 ; stede, i. 63, 76; ii. 14;

steedes, i. 304 ; place,
steeris, i. 405 ; oxen,
stefly, ii. 239 ; stiffly, firmly,
steken, ii. 97 ; to bar the door, to

shut out.

stelen, i. 386 ; stole.

stended, ii. 80 ; stinted, limited*

sterching, ii. 50 1 starching,

stere, ii. 6, 170 ; to stir.

stere, ii, 10 ; a steersman.

stere, ii. 125 ; stout, strong.

steren, i. 62 ; stem.

sterynge, ii. 185 ; stirring,

stern, i. 64 ; a star.

Sterne, i. 304 ; fierce,

styde, i, 365 ; place.

stiede, ii. 204 ; mounted,

stiel, ii. 133 ; style*

stiere, ii. 10 ; to steer,

stiere, ii. 10 ; a steersman,

stif, i. 398 ; firm, strong.

styfie, i, 394 ; to become strong, or
firm,

styffiieasey i, 405 ; strength, rigi-
dity.

stigh, ii. 9 ; mounted, ascended.

stile, ii. 171 ; steel.

stille, i. 269 ; quietly.

stint, i. 71 ; put an end to.

stynted, i. 386 ; desisted, ceaaed.

stirid, i. 379 ; stirred.

stirt, i. 90 ; stai'ted, rushed.

stonde, ii. Ill ; stoned.

stonden, ii. 241 ; to stand.

stony, ii. 200; am astonished, am
confounded.

stonyed, i. 386 ; astonished.

stent, i. 365 ; stands.

stopene, ii. 178 i stop, hinder.

stound, i. 72, 304 ; a moment, a
period of time ; in a slound, at
once.

stour, 216 ; battle.

stoute, ii. 196; strongly, power-
fully.

stownde> ii. 125 ; time, moment.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

3SS

stowTe, i. 61 ; fight, battle.

Htrajth, i. 275 ; 8ti*aight, tight,

Btrake, i. 416 } a stroke.

Btrate, i. 74 ; street or road (?).

streche, ii. 180 ; to go, to hasten,

Btrenkith, i. 89 ; strength,

strenuit^, ii. 200 ; courage, force of
character.

Btrevyn, i. 88 ; striven,

strie, i. 405; to destroy. Btried,i. 381 ;
destroyed.

strive, i. 71 ; strife.

Btryve, ii. 6 ; to make strife.

stroye, i. 398 ; stroy, i. 64 ; to
destroy, stroyed, i, 385 ; de-
stroyed,

Btronte, i. 401 5 to rant.

Btronters, i. 406 ; ranters.

Btrountynge, i. 397, 398 ; strontynge,
400 ; ranting.

Btrowun, ii. 110 ; strew, scatter,

sturte, i. 330 ; struggle (?).

Bubdite, ii. 197; subjected.

subies, ii. 196 ; Bubjects.

subjit, ii. 9 ; subject.

sufferayn, li. 208 ; sovereign.

Bugre, ii. 145 ; to sugar, to sweeten.

suld, i. 63 ; should.

Bummyse, ii. 227 ; subject.

superfine, ii. 70 ; superfluous.

Bupplusage, ii. 283 ; surplus.

surquedous, ii. 213; arrogant.

surreccioun, ii. 247 ; insurrection,

sustryn, ii. 209 ; sisters.

suwit, ii. 107 ; follows.

swa, i. 266 ; so.

swage, i. 218 ; to diminish.

swayne, ii. 228 ; 8wan(?).

swche, i. 278 ; such.

Bwelt, i. 89 5 died.

swych, passim ; such.

Bwink, i. 69 ; swynk, ii, 154 ; to

labour.
Bwire, i, 82, 341 ; neck.
Bwith, i. 71 ; quick.
Bwythe, i. 394 ; quickly, imme*

diately.
Bwoch, i. 271 ; such^
swolde, ii. 230 ; sold,
swot, ii. 51 ; sweet.

tabide, i. 327 ; to abide.

tables, ii. 24 ; tablets, table-books.

taburns, i. 87 ; tabors, drums.

taille, ii. 70 ; cutting, fashion.

take, i. 314 ; to give.

tale, ii. 73 ; count.

taliage, ii. 79 ; the king's tax.

tappe, ii. 95 ; to draw and sell ale.

tapsteres, ii. 95 ; ale-wives.

tarage, ii. 141 ; the flavour or cha-
racter of a thing.

tarette, i. 65 ; a sort of ship, per-
haps a large vessel with a tower.

targe, i. 217 ; a shield.

tary, ii. 166 ; delay.

telde, i. 388 ; told.

tempred, ii, 5 ; moderated, tem-
pered.

tene, i. 71 ; ii. 125 ; grief, sorrow,
affliction.

tene, i. 224 ; to afflict, to grieve,
tenet, afflicts, tenyd, i. 395 ;
injured, hurt.

tent, ii. 227 ; attend to, pay atten-
tion to.

tent, i. 384 ; tente, 385 ; entent.

336

GLOSSARY AND INDEX

tents, i. 339 ; tenths, tithes.

ten tze, ii. 12 ; the game of tennis.

termyne, ii. 144 ; to end, to deter-
mine.

ten'e, ii. 171 ; tar.

teschue, ii. 6 ; to escliue.

thanne, ii. 41 ; not for thanne, ne-
vertheless.

the, passim; for they.

the, ii. 159 ; to flourish, to thrive.

thee, i. 313, ii. 180 ; to thrive, to
flourish.

thefly, ii. 60, by theft.

thenayle, ii. 182(?).

thende, ii. 12 ; the end.

thenke, i. 216, 268 ; to seem, to
appear ; 7ne thenkesy it seems to
me.

there, passim; their.

thilke, ii. 37 ; that.

thynchith, i. 397 ; appears ; me
thynchith, it seems to me.

thir ; those.

thof, i. 265 ; though.

tholde, ii. 9 ; the old.

thonckyd, ii. 281 ; thinked.

thorowghe, ii. 194 ; through.

thorwe, i. 364 ; through.

thought, ii. 182 ; tough.

thred, ii. 268 ; third.

threo, i. 252 ; three.

throff, i. 398 ; throve,

throughte, ii. 241 ; truth.

throwe, ii. 199 ; space of time.

thurgh, ii. 5 ; through. .

tyde, i. 59, 269 ; time.

tyde, ii. 249 ; happen.

tiffelers, i. 309 ; busybodies,

tight, i. 72 ; turned (?).

til, i. 250 ; tyll, i. 58 j tille, i. 264 ;
to.

tille, ii. 83 ; to entice, to draw,
tillers, i. 376 ; tillers, husbandmen,
timber, i. 72 ; destruction,
tymed, i. 395.
tyne, i. 88 ; to lose,
tint, i. 79 ; lost,
tyrie, i. 48.

tithandes, i. 64 ; tidings,
tytheth, ii. 50 ; taketh tithes,
tobarst, i. 251 ; burst to pieces,
tobrake, ii. 10 ; broken,
tobroke, ii. 10 ; broken to pieces,
todongin, i. 79 ; knocked to pieces,
todrawe, i. 341, ii. 235 ; torn to

pieces,
tofalle, ii. 7 ; cuts off, crops (?).
tofore, ii. 10 ; before,
toforne, ii. 137 ; before,
toke, 1. 268, ii. 165 ; gave ; toke

ham to the devel yehone^ gave

them all to the devil,
tole, i. 314 ; toU.

tole, i. 331 ; a tool, an instrument,
toleye, ii. 240 ; to put forward,
tolled, i. 395 ; collected, took toll

of(?).
too, ii. 158, et passim; two.
toon, ii. 106 ; the one.
toothir, ii. 147 ; the other,
topull, i. 308 ; pull to pieces,
torace, i. 342 ; annihilate (?).
torent, ii. 219 ; rent to pieces, or

greatly rent,
tome, ii. 162 ; turn,
toseed, ii. 161 ; picked, pulled, as

wool, &c. A term used amon^

clothiers,
tote, i. 305 ; to spy.
totere, i. 311 ; to tear to pieces,
tothrete, i, 218 ; to threaten vio-
lently.

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

S37

totore, ii. 239 ; torn to pieces.

tourne, i. 340 ; to turn.

toukers, il 285 ; a class of dyers.

tray, i. 322 ; to betray.

tray, i. 72, ii. 125 ; grief, sorrow.

traylid, i. 376 ; treUis-worked (?).

traine, i. 322 ; they betray.

trais, i. 79 ; betray.

traiste, i. 68 ; to trust.

traitorie, ii. 28 ; treason.

trantes, i. 265 ; tricks, stratagems.

travayle, i. 218 ; to labour.

travailen, i. 335 ; laboured.

traveile, i. 371 ; to labour.

travell, ii. 23 ; labour.

travell, ii. 27 ; to labour.

trefte, i. 376.

treget, i. 79 ; deceit, imposition.

tremelyng, ii. 276 ; trembling.

trentall, ii. 21, trentel, 81 ; a ser-
vice of thirty masses for the dead.

trest, 1. 79 ; trust.

tretes, i. 307 ; treats (?),

trey, i. 72 ; vexation.

triacle, i. 388 ; a remedy, medicine*

trifflour, i.*397 ; a trifler (?).

tristi, i. 385 ; trusty.

tristith, i. 404 ; trust.

trompes, i. 87 ; trumpets.

troper, ii. 43 ; one of the service
books, the troparius*

trouble, ii. 131 ; troubled, dis-
turbed.

trought, ii. 163, 195 ; truth.

trowist, ii. 68 ; believest thou.

trowyth, i. 271 ; truth.

trumpe, i. 69 ; a trumpet.

trumpe, i. 70 ; to blow the trumpet.

trusse, i. 264, 326 ; to pack up and
depart, to pack off.

turbit, ii. 173.
VOL. IL

turmentour, i. 397 ; an executioner,
twen, ii. 214 ; between,
twye, twey, ii. 42 ; two.
twynned, i. 404 ; parted, separated,
twynte, i. 395 ; a jot.

U.

uch, i. 216 ; each.

umset, i. 77 ; surrounded.

umstride, i«68 ; to encircle with the
legs.

unability, ii. 134 ; inability, inca*
pacity.

unboxom, ii. 42 ; disobedient.

uncod, i, 364 ; unknown.

underfongen, ii. 11 ; undertaken.

underlaide, ii. 254 ; to lay under
foot, to tread down.

undermyn, ii. 84 ; undermine.

undernome, ii. 22 ; to take up, to
take to task.

undemomen, ii. 85 ; examined, ac-
cused.

understont, i. 327 ; understands.

unfraught, ii. 191 ; want of freight.

unhale, i. 74 ; diseased.

unhold, i. 317 ; faithless.

unkyndly, ii. 244 ; unnatural, con-
trary to the nature or profession
of any one.

unkunning, ii. 36 ; want of know-
ledge. Used as an adjective on
the next page.

unmightie, ii. 37 ; wanting power.

unnethe, i. 215 ; hardly.

unpower, ii, 36 j want of power.
Y

338

GLOSSARY AND INDEX

unsekymesae, iu 242; insecurity,
uncertainty.

unsele, i. 86 ; unfortunate.

unsewyr, ii. 241 ; insecure, uncer-
tain.

unsikcr, ii. 78 ; unsure.

unwarenesse, ii. 190 ; want of can*
tion, imprudence.

up-so-down, ii. 217, 236 ; upside-
down. This latter is apparently
only a corruption of the older
phrase.

ur, i. 216 ; our.

urniall, i. 313.

uttere, i. 403 ; further out.

utteme, ii. 176 ; they utter.

utterwarde, ii. 167 ; externally.

uvel, i. 225 ; evil.

yailable, ii. 8 ; profitable,
vaire, i. 265 ; a sort of fur.
vantith, ii. 249 ; boasts, vaunts,
varioure, ii. 132 ; a warrior,
vauwarde, ii. 57 ; the van of an

army,
venemed, ii. 244 ; poisoned,
venerye, ii. 186 ; game, animals

which were hunted,
vengeable, i. 328 ; revengeful,
venym, ii. 74 ; poison,
venyrsyne, ii. 267.
verrei, ii. 65 ; true,
verrie, ii. 167 ; for werrie^ make

war.
vierge, ii. 270 ; virgin,
vylis, ii. 249.
vys, i. 278 ; vice,
voyd, ii. 287 ; avoid,
voidli, ii. 103 ; vainly.

w.

wadmole, ii. 160 ; a coarse woollen

cloth,
waffore, ii. 174 ; a wasp (?).
waginge, ii. 50 ; wagging, taming

round,
wayke, i. 264 ; weak,
waykyer, ii. 276 ; the weaker,
waylyth, ii. 284 ; availeth.
waynyth, ii. 227; think, suppose (7).
wait, i. 60 ; to await (?).
wayt, ii. 127 ; watch,
waite, i. 371, 372 ; to watch, to

consider or think on, to pay atten-
tion to.
waited, ii. 10 ; watched, served,
wayve, i. 378 ; to remove (therr

fears),
wake, ii. 276 ; to awake,
wakkin, i. 72, 86 ; to awaken,
wale way, i. 48 ; alas!
wall, i. 312 ; a well,
walmed, i. 397 ; properly boiled up,

agitated,
waltrid, i. 390; weltered,
walwed, i. 374 ; wallowed,
wane, i. 65 ; plenty, frequency,
waniand, i. 70, 84, 87 ; the wane

of the moon,
wan, i. 264, 377 ; won, redeemed,
wapin, i. 71 ; a weapon,
wapind, i. 67 ; armed, provided with

weapons,
war, i. 59 ; were,
ware, i. 277- Perhaps on ware

should be printed ontoare^ in the

sense of unawares,
ware, i. 275 ; to beware.

OF OBSOLETE KKGLISH WORDS.

339

wared, ii. 244 ; expended,
warened, ii. 192 ; warned,
warie, i. 399 ; to curse,
warned, i. 404 ; forbade, warned^

ii. 4 ; refused,
wast, ii. 244 ; ruined,
wastable, ii. 173 ; subject to waste,
wate, i. 268 ; know,
wate, ii. 153; to watch,
wattis, i. 414 ; men of importance,
wawes, i. 216 ; waves,
wawlis, ii. 109 ; perhaps for waves,
waxen, i. 268 ; grown,
waxus, i. 365 ; waxes, grows,
weddis, i. 408 ; pledges,
wede, 1. 71, 85 ; appai*el, dress,
wede, i. 269 ; to go mad.
wederes, ii. 44 ; has perhaps here

the sense of tempests,
wedir, i. 387 ; weather,
wede, i. 397 ; dress,
weet, ii. 17 ; know,
wegges, ii. 171 ; wedges,
weie, ii. 6 ; weighed,
weythe, ii. 286 ; weight.
' welde, i. 306 ; to govern, to wield,
welders, ii. 78 ; possessors,
wele, i. 63 ; weal, prosperity,
wele, i. 62 ; well,
weleaway, ii. 112; an exclamation

of lamentation,
weleful, i. 81 ; prosperous,
wely, i. 267 ; prosperous, in good

condition,
welldith, i. 407 ; possesseth.
welle, i. 218 ; a fountain,
wenen, i. 267 ; suppose, think.

wened, i. 64 ; though, expected.

wenynge, ii. 166 ; supposing,
went, i. 271 ; gone,
weole, i. 250 ; weal, prosperity.

weor, i. 218 ; were.

wepeandy i. 82 ; weeping.

were, ii. 44 ; to defend, to protect.

were, L 59 ; to make war.

were, i. 77, 86 ; war ; were man^ a

man of war.
were, i. 215 ; to wear,
weryne, ii. 152 ; wei*e.
wermode, ii. 52 ; wormwood,
werned, ii. 5 ; refused,
werre, ii. 194 ; spring, for verre,
werred, ii. 189; expended,
werrid, i. 369 ; made war.
werrynge, ii. 183 ; making war.
werreles, ii. 203 ; without war.
werryours, ii. 183 ; warriors,
werroure, ii. 199 ; a warrior,
wescheth, ii. 53 ; screameth (?).
wesshe, i. 387 ; to wash,
weten, i. 329 ; they know.
wex, ii. 163 ; wax.
wexynge, ii. 143 ; growing,
whore, i. 387 ; were,
whete-yere, ii. 223 ; the wheatean
white, ii. 148 ; blame,
whote, i. 89 ; knowest.
wlate, i. 337; to loathe,
wlysp, i. 185 ; to lisp,
wy, i. 407 ; a man.
wickett, i. 404 ; the gate,
wiel, ii. 7 ; well,
wyenges, i. 269 ; wings,
wyght, i. 407 ; creature, wight,
wight, i. 69, 85 ; active, nimble,
wyghte, ii. 241 ; white,
wyghtly, i. 268 ; nimbly, quickly,
wiht, i. 250 ; a creature,
wyle, i. 369 ; while,
wyle, i. 273 ; will,
wylis, i. 386 ; wiles, tricks,
willerdome, ii. 247; wilfulness (?).
Y 2

340

OL0B8ABT AND INDEX

wilne, i. 306 ; to wish, to desire.

Wynne, i. 266 ; to gain access to*

wynt, i. 216 ; wind.

wirche, ii. 4 ; to work, wirching,
if. 134 ; working.

wyrfolk, ii. 285 ; workmen, work-
folk (?).

wyrkkyd, ii. 284 ; worked.

wyrlynge, ii. 187 ;

wysely, ii. 183; prudent.

wisith, ii. 226 ; shows, points out.

wisse, i. 310 ; warn.

wissen, i. 370 ; to teach, to warn.

wishen, i. 322 ; they knew.

wit, i. 70 ; to know.

wite, ii. 148 ; wyte, ii. 208 ; blame.

wyth, i. 364 ; for wights active.

withholde, ii. 244 ; defended, pro-
tected against.

wythoutene, ii. 202 ; without (the^
prep.).

withsay, i. 321 ; to deny.

wytte, i. 377 ; to blame, to lay to
one's blame.

witterly, i. 370, ii. 82 ; truly, cer-
tainly.

woday, i. 48 ; a day of woe (?).

wode, i. 74, ii. 167 ; mad, furious.

wolde, i. 218; tohold(?).

wolle, i. 273 ; wool. woUys, ii. 283 ;
wools.

woltow, ii. 148 ; for wilt thou.

wombis, i. 391 ; bellies.

won, ii. 87 ; wone, ii. 196 ; custom.

wonand, i. 74 ; dwelling, residing.

wonde, i. 84 ; stop, stay.

wonde, i. 216. If this be the correct
reading, it may mean a club.

wonder, i. 250 ; wonderful.

wouder, i. 251 ; wonderfully.

wonen, i, 77 ; won.

wones, i. 266 ; dwellings, residence.

woneth, i. 377 ; dwell.

woning, i, 06^ 89; dwelling, resi-
dence.

wonne, ii. 224 ; one.

wonnen, i. 267 ; to dwell, wonne,
i. 388.

wonnen, i. 71 ; won, gained.

wonnynges, i. 270 ; dwelling places.

woo, i. 364 ; sorrow, sorrowfuL

wood, i. 312 ; mad.

woode, ii. 180 ; woad.

woodnesse, ii. 55 ; madness.

woost, ii. 104 ; knowest.

worth, i. ^2 ; ii. 249 ; be, become.

worthli, i. 71 ; worthy.

wost, i. 370 ; knew.

woves, i, 390 ; waves.

wowes, ii. 244 ; walls, more espe-
cially the walls of houses*

wox, i. 251 ; waxed, grew.

wrake, i. 252, 375 ; ii. 53 ; wraak,
ii. 213 ; ruin, destruction, ven-
geance.

wrall, i. 314 ;

wreche, ii. 227 ; wreke, i. 89 ; re-
venge.

wrenchis, ii. 48 ; stratagems, frauds.

wrye, i. 384 ; go aside.

wiynkels, ii. 45.

writhyn, ii. 90 ; to twist, wriggle.

writte, i. 370 ; a letter.

wi'o, i. 305 ; a corner.

wroken, i. 61 ; revenged.

wrote, i. 73 ; to root up, to over^
throw.

wrowght, ii, 205 ; made, created.

wullus, i. 412 ; wools.

wun, i. 79 ; won.

wust, i. 337; protected (?).

OF OBSOLETE ENGLISH WORDS.

341

T, passim ; I.
y, i. 365 ; high (?).
y, i. 276 ; they,
yafe, i. 324 ; gave,
yall, i. 315, 345 ; to yell,
yame, i. 387 ; to desire eagerly,
yatesy i. 305 ; gates,
yeve, ii. 25 ; to give,
yblowe, ii. 245 ; blown,
ycharchid, i. 403 ; charged,
ychone, i. 267 ; everyone,
yconyd, ii. 286 ; coined,
ydemed, i. 403 ; judged,
ydo, i. 391 ; done,
ydountid, i. 375 ; feared,
yef, i. 333 ; give,
yefte, ii. 27 ; gifts,
yeme, i. 378 ; to guide or rule,
yerles, ii. 197; eai*les.
yever, ii. 25 ; a giver,
yfeyned, i. 371 ; feigned,
yfourmed, 11. 43 ; informed,
ygon, i. 385 ; gone,
ygrave, i. 375 ; engraved, sculp-
tured,
yheeded, i. 380 ; horned, heuded.
yhelid, i. 402 ; covered, roofed,
yhotte, i. 403 ; bidden,
ykende, i. 319 ; known.

ykep, L 865 ; kept.

yeveth, ii. 24 ; giveth.

ylafte, i. 413 ; left.

ylau^te, i. 309, 409 ; caught.

ylyste, i. 373 ; listed, taken.

yloke, i. 375 ; locked.

yluggyd, i. 409 ; pulled or lugged
about.

ymagynynge, ii. 270 ; plotting.

ympe, i. 218 ; a sprout, a young
sprig, a graft.

ymprise, ii. 152.

ymummyd, i. 410 ; compelled to
keep silence (?).

ynned, i. 398 ; harvested, brought
in.

ynnere, i. 401 ; further in.

ynowe, i. 386 ; enough.

yois, i. 272 ; pleasure, enjoyment.

yoven, ii. 140 ; given.

ypynned, i. 388 ; fledged, penned.

ypassid, i. 381 ; past.

yi'ent, i. 311 ; torn.

ysoupid, i. 414 ; supped.

ytakyn, i. 387 ; taken, caught.

ytemprid, i. 374 ; mixed, tempered.

ytoron, i. 366 ; torn.

ywys, i. 365 ; truely, surely.

yworewid, i. 395 ; worried.

y wounded, i. 403 ; wrapped, en-
veloped.

ywrowte, ii. 284 ; made.

INDEX.

INDEX.

^ ' ■■ A.

Aile, John of, i. 71.

Albemarle, the earl of Ratland made duke

of, i. 461.
Aldgate, London, attacked nnsnccessfully

by the followers of the bastard of

Panconberg, ii. 278.
Angelyn, Girard or Gerald, one of the

commanders in the army sent to

support Peter the Cmel, i. 106.
Anne of Bohemia, her marriage with

Kichaxd IL i. 458.
description of her, i. 286.
Armagh, Richard Pitz-Balph, archbishop

of, i. 259, 269.
Artois, Robert of, i. 2.

his TOW, i. 8.
Arundel, Richard Fitz-Alan, earl of, be-
headed, L 864, 392, 427, 430.
Thomas Pitx-Alan, earl of, restored,

i. 446.
William Fitz-Alan, earl of, ii. 223.
Asaph, Thomas, bishop of, ii. 233.
Aston, Sir John, one of the conunanders in

Calais in 1436, ii. 153.
Andenam, d', i. 95.
Azincourt, battle of, i. 123, 127.

B.

Padding, John, i. 71.
Badges, signs, &c. :

ape, the duke of Suffolk, ii. 222, 224.

bear, the earl of Warwick, i. 864»
892, 419 ; ii 222.-

Badges, signs, Scc-r-conL

boar, Edward III., i. 27, 28, 3i), et

passim.
boar, the earl of Devon, ii. 223.
boar, the earl of Oxford, i. 420.
bull, Edward in., i. 137.
cart, the duke of Buckingham, ii. 222.
chough, Trevilian, ii. 223.
cock, Edward the Black Prince, i. 203,

204.
colt, Thomas Pitz-Alan, I 392.
conduit, lord Norris, ii. 222.
cresset, the earl of Exeter, ii. 221.
dog, Talbot earl of Shrewsbury, ii.

222, 224.
eagle, Edward ILL, L 41, 46.
eagle, duke of Lancaster, i. 364, 380.
eagle, kmg Henry VI., ii. 223.
falcon, the duke of Lancaster, i. 389.
&lcon, Richard duke of York, ii. 223.
feather and crown, the earl marshal,

i. 419.
fetterlocks, the prior of St John's, ii.

223.
fisher, lord Pauconbei^, ii. 222.
fox, the duke of Suffolk, ii. 224.
greyhound, the Beauforts, i. 386.
horse, the earl of Arundel, i. 364, 392,

419.
leopard, Edward HI., i. 27, 31, 89.
lily, the king of France, 'i. 89.
Uly, Daniel, ii. 222.
lion, Philippe king of France, i. 41.
mill-sail, lord Willoughby, ii 222.
portcullis, the earl of Somerset, ii. 221.
" rote," the duke of Bedford, ii, 221.
sun, king Richard II., i 419.

346

INDEX.

Badges, signs, St,c.-^ont,

swan, Thomas of Woodstock, duke of

Gloucester, i. 362, 392, 419.
swan, Humphrey Plantagenet duke of

Gloucester, ii. 221.
water-bouget, lord Boorchier, ii. 223.
-white hart, the earl of Arundel, ii. 223.
white lion, the duke of Norfolk, IL 222.
wheatear, the earl of Exeter, ii. 223.

wine bottle, , iL 223.

Bagot, Sir William, i. 363, 367, 450, 462.
Baleares, islands, derivation of the name,

i. 107.
Balle, John, the insurgent in the reign of

Richard II., i. 231, 235.
Balliol,Edward, i. 83.

obtains the crown of Scotland, i. 142,
454.
, his goTemment, i. 178.
John de, king of Scotland, i. 454.
Bannockbum, battle of,i. 61, 132.
Bamet, master Richard, iu 177.

battie of, ii 274, 275.
Beauchamp, John lord, beheaded, i. 423.

Richard, i. 364.
Beaufort, Cardinal, the Libel of English
Policy addressed to him, il 157,
205.
his death, ii. 221.
Beaumont, John de, i. 17, 20, 221.

John lord, lord constable of England,
ii. 225.
Berwick taken by the Scots, L 176, 177.
recovered, i. 178.
taken by the Scots and recovered, i.

457.
taken and recovered again, i. 458.
Bedford, John Plantagenet duke of, regent
of France, ii. 132.
his victory at sea, ii. 199.
his death, ii. 221.
Bishopsgate, London, ii. 278.
Blois, Charles of, i. 160, 163, 176, 178.
Bohemia, king o^ L 18, 78, 456.

killed in the batUe of Crescy, i. 36,

139, 167.
its articles of commerce, ii. 171.

Bolingbroke Castle, the birthplace of Henry

IV., i. 99.
Botiler, killed in the battle of Slnys,

i. 456.
Bourbon, duke o^ made prisoner at Atm-

court, ii. 126.
Bourchier, Henry lord, ii 223.

Sir William, ii. 126.
Brabant, its articles of commerce, ii. 180.
Brambel, Nicholas, lord mayor of London,

hanged, i 423.
Bridlington, John of, his prophecies, and

account of him, i. 123.
Bristol, a trade with Iceland established
there at the b^inning of the reign
ofHenry VI., ii. 191.
Brittany, the wars of, i. 150.

its articles of commerce, H 164.
celebrated for its rovers or pirates, ib,
Bruce, Robert, 1. 47.

David, king of Scotland, taken prisoner
at Nevile's Cross, i. 41, 46, 83, 86,
157, 456.
disgraceftil anecdote of his infimcy,

i. 46.
his scandalous life, i. 141, 143.
obtains peace with England, i. 188.
Bruges, the '* staple " of Slanders, ii. 160.
Buckingham, Thomas of Woodstock made
earl of, i. 457.
his expedition into France, ib,
accompanies his brother to Scotland,

i. 468.
Humphrey de Stafford duke of, ii 222.
Burgundy, Philip duke of, absent firom the
battle of Azincourt) ii. 124.
John duke of, murdered by the dau-
phin, ii. 134, 149.
Philip duke of, supports the Bnglish

title to France, ii 136.
song against him on his defection

from the English alliance, ii. 148.
his relations with the king of Scotland,

ii. 150.
his expedition against Calais, il. 15S,
170.
Burley, Richard de, i 109.

Simon de, beheaded, i 428, 460,

INDEX.

347

Bury St. Edmimd's, prior of, slain by the
insurgents, temp, Bichard n., i 458.

Bushey, Sir John, i. 363, 367, 388, 436,
444, 462.

Caen taken by the English, i. 155.
Calais, siege of, by Edward III., i. 80, 158,
159, 221, 456 ; ii. 198.
feeling of the French in regard to the

English occupation, i. 301.
siege of, by the duke of Burgundy,

ii. 151, 198.
relieved by the duke of Gloucester,

ii. 166, 170.
the emperor Sigismund's opinion of

its importance, ii. 158.
on the necessity of securing it, ii. 192.
Calet or Calot, Laurence, author of a treatise
on the English title to the crown of
France, ii. 133, 138, 139.
Caletrapia, baron of, i. 121.
Calverley, Hugh de, i, 107, 118, 121, 457.
Camois, lord, one of the commanders at

Calais in 1436, ii. 153.
Canterbury, archbishop of, Simon de Sud-
bury, slain by the Kentish insur-
gents, i. 225, 457.
poem on that event, i. S27.
Henry Chichdey, officiated at the

coronation of Henry VI., ii. 147.
Thomas de Arundel deposed and
banished by Richard II., i. 425, 427,
434.
restored, i. 446.
returns with the duke of Lancaster to

England, i. 462.
Thomas Bottrchier, archbishop of, ii.
255.
Capet, Hughes, legends relating to him, i.

33.
Carlisle, Nicholas Closer bishop o^ ii. 234«

Cavendish, Sir John, chief justice, slain by
the insurgents under Richard IL, i.
457.

Chandos, John, L 95, 106, 118.

Charles, king of France, i. 35.

Charles VI., king of France, his acknow-
ledgment of the English title, ii.
136.
his death, ii. 138.

Charles VIL, king of France, ii. 130.

Cheap (Cheapside), i. 290, 398.

Cherbourg, bought of the king of Navarre,
i. 457.

Chester, love of king Richard H. for, i.
461.

Chester, William Boothe, bishop o^ songs
against him, ii. 225, 232.

Cheviot HiUs, peculiarities of the, i. 188.

Chichester, bishop of, flies into exile,
i. 421.

Christopher, the, captured by the French,
L 65.

Cirencester, insurrection against Henry IV.
suppressed at, i. 451.

Clarence, Lionel duke of, son of Edward
m., i. 26.
George Plantagenet, duke of, recon-
ciled with his brother Edward IV.,
ii. 278.
enters London with his brother after
the battle of Bamet, il. 281.

Clement, pope, his partiality to the French,
i. 155, 164, 221.

Clifford, L 134.

Clifford,Lord,ii4 255.

Clinton, Sir William, i. 7h

Clovis, king of France, i. 32.

Cobham, John lord, imprisoned by Ri-
chard II., i. 425, 433.
recalled from exile, i. 446.

Copland, John, captures king David Bruce
at Nevile's Cross, l 46, 85, 158.

Cosington, Stephen de, 1. 106, 118.

Cotteswold, the wool trade connected with
this district, ii. 174, 177.

Council of London in 1382, Latin song on
the, i. 253.

348

INDEX.

Cnaej, battle ot, i. 36, 52, 77, 156, 157,

221, 456.
dophorne, an opponent of the W jelilitci,

i. 261.
GroMde, one contemplated, L 183.

D.

Daniel, ii. 222, 229, 234.

Darid, king of Scotland. See Brace.

Derby, Heniy Plantagenet, earl of; i. 10,

15, 151.
Henry Plantagenet, earl of, afterwards

Henry IV., i. 419.
banished by king Richard II., i. 437,

440, 441,
made duke of Hereford, i.461.
Deschamps, Eustace, his poem on the

truceof 1394, i. 300.
Despencer, Thomas lord, his death, i. 451.

made earl of Gloucester, L 461.
Despenser, Hugh de, &ther and son, i. 133,

134, 135, 136.
Devon, Thomas Conrtenay, earl oi^ ii 223.
Doncaster, John of, his brayery in the

siege of Gnisnes, i. 90.
Dorset, John Beaufort, marquis of, i. 386.
Douglas, earl of, killed at Otterbum, i. 460.
Douglas, William, i. 49, 50.
Dover, its importance, 11. 158.
Dublin, duke o£ See Vere.
Dudley, John de Sutton, baron of, a com-
mander in Calais, ii. 153.
one of the court party, ii. 234.
Dunbar, Greorge earl of, i. 460.
Dundee, i. 60.
Dymmok, Philip, champion at the corona*

tionofHenry VI.,ii. 147.

E.

Eaithqoake of 1(1^, L 250, 253, 254.
Easterlings (peofh of the Hanie Tovns),

their articles of commeree, ii 169.
Edgar, king, his policy for the protectioa

of England within and withont, ii

193-198.
Edward n., king of England, his chancier,

i 131.
the place and time of his birth, i. 132.
his disastroos wars with the Scots,

i 132.
scandalous story relating to his birth,

il33.
his death, i 136.
Edward IIL, vows to make war on France,

i 6, 7.
expedition to Flanders, i. 24.
his virtues enumerated, i. 39, 40.
bora at Windsor, i 40.
his expeditions to Brabant, i 63, 66,

455.
his sons, i 96.
his character, i. 99.
pUce and date of his birth, i 135.
how he obtained the kingdom, i 135,

136.
character of, i. 137, et seq.
his Scottish wars, i 141.
his sister married to David king 'of

Scotland, i 141, 142.
his claims to the crown of France dis-
cussed, i. 144, et seq.
his first expedition to France, i. 147.
second expedition to Fktmce, i. 154.
his last expedition to France, i. 179.
English song on his death, i 215.
Latin poem on the same Bulject, i. 219.
his piety, i 220.

his accession to the throne, i. 454.
his death, i 457.

his policy towards Brittany, ii 165.
his care to be master of the sea, ii. 198.
Edward the Black Prince, his expedition

to Spain, i 94, 97, 456.

INDEX.

349

Edward the Black Prince — cont,

his conduct in the battle of Ni^'ara,

i. 114.
▼ictor at Poitiers, i. 174, 456.
lamentation for, i. 220.
bom, i455.
his death, i. 456.
Edward IV., king of England, ii. 257.
succeeds his father as dnke of York,
and marches against the Lancas-
trians, ii. 263; and defeats them, 264,
his chiims to the crown, ii. 264, 265.
praise of his government, ii. 265, 269.
poem on his return from Flanders and

recovery of the throne, ii. 271.
his triumphal entry into London after
the battle of Barnet, ii. 279.
Egremont, Thomas Percy lord, ii. 255.
Elizabeth, queen of Edward IV., her re-
ception of her husband after his
victory at Barnet, ii. 281.
Elmham, Thomas of, account of him, ii. 1 1 8.
Enrique, don, king of Castile, i. 101, 121.
Erghom, John, i. 123.
Erpingham, Thomas, i. 126, 462.
Essex, Henry Bourchier, earl of, ii. 278.
Exeter, the earl of Huntmgdon, made dnke
of, i. 461.
John Holland, duke of, his death, ii.
221, 223.

Falkirk, battle of, i. 141.
Fauconberg, William Neville lord, ii. 222.
the bastard o^ his attack on Lon-
don, ii,277.
Faokemont, Jean de, i. 19.
Fay, Godemars de, i. 14.
Felton, William de, i. 110.
Ferri^res, the baron de, slain at Najara, i.

115.
Ferrybridge, battle of, ii. 264.
Flanders, insurrection of the Flemings,
i. 150.
their character, i. 205.
its articles of commerce, ii. 160.

Flanders, Louis count o£, i. 15.
slam atCrecy, i. 157.
count o( reftues king Edward's dangh-
ter, i. 161.
Flemings, fought against the English at
Azincourt, ii. 127.
their contempt of the English, ii. 159.
Flenr^-Us of France, legend of them, ii.

142.
Florentines, their articles of commerce, ii.

172.
Fois, the count de, i. 104.
France, arms of, assumed by Philippe de
Valois, i. 26.
invective against, ib,
epigram on the assumption of the

ann8oi;byHenry VI., ii. 130.
metrical declaration of the English
claims to the crown of, 131.
French, character of the, i. 158, 173, 174.
their sufferiogs under their king John,

i. 173,175.
assist the Scots, i. 459.
dispute between the Englishman and

the Frenchman, i. 91.
venes against the English, and reply^
ii. 127.
Friars, the mendicants, their character, i*
255.
flian minors, i. 256, 268.
the grey friars, or Franciscans, i. 25G*
pied friars, 1. 262,
song against the friars, i. 263.
their conduct and opinions discussed

popularly, ii. 16-114.
satire on them, iL 249.
the Augustine friars in London, i. 430.

a

Garter, order of the, established, i. 150.
Gkiunt, John of, duke of Lancaster, i. 97.
Gaveston, Peter de, i. 133.

360

Iia)K3L

GenoMe, tlieir armlet of commerce, ii 179.
Gloncefter, Thomas of Woodctoek, duke
of, murdered, L 868, 892, 461.
arrefted at Plescy and murdered at

Calaifl, i. 427, 428, 429.
Thomas of Woodstock made dake of,

L 459.
Hsmphrej Flaatagenet, doke of, at

Aaincourt, ii. 125.
rescued Calais, iL 156, 170.
bis expedition into Flanders, ii 168.
his death, iL 221, 224, 268.
Bkhard Plantagenet, dnke of, ii. 280.
Eleanor, dachess of, ballad on her
condemnation and penance, ii. 205.
GbaoesCer, Hogh de Andley, earl of, i. 71.
Gloncester, lord Despenser made earl of, i.

461.
Gloucester, abbot o( ii. 232.
Godericus, i. 39.

Gold procured from Ireland, iL 187.
Gower, John, poems by him, i. 346, 356,

360,417 ; ii 1,4.
Goydonn, an opponent of the WycUiEtes,

L 260,
Greene, Sir Henry, i. 363, 388, 436, 444,

462.
Groine,the, L 112.
Guesclin, Bertrand da, 1. 95, 121.
Guisnes taken by Edward III., i. 89.
Gumey, Matthew de, i. 107.

H.

Hainault, its articles of commerce, ii. 181.
Hales, Sir Robert, slaughtered in Jack

Straw's rebellion, L 226, 457.
Halidon Hill, battle of, i. 41, 58, 143, 221,

455.
Hastings, Ralph de, L 110.
Helmebrigge, an active man among the
grey fHars, i. 256.

Henry IV., King of England, deeted,
447 ; and crowned, 448.
poems by Gower addressed to him,

ii. 1,4.
Klmham's poem on his death, ii. 1 18.
his death in the Bethlehem chamber at

Westminster, i 122.
branded as an nsuiper, L 267.
See Derby, Hereford, Lancaster.
Henry Y., created prince of Wales, i. 449.
Elmham's poem addressed to him, ii.

118.
his fiUher's adyioe to the prince, iL 1 20.
his expedition into France, ii. 123.
Latin verses on his death, iL 129.
his great ships, and care of the sea,

a 199.
his resolution to enforce his title to

Franoe, ii. 214.
his character by a Yorkist, iL 268.
Henry YL, king of England, his marriage,
ii. 136.
Lydgate*s roundel on him, ii. 140.
poem on his coronation, iL 141.
description of his coronation, ii. 146.
Latin verses addressed to him, ii. 248.
his party defeated by the Yorkists, iL

265.
his miserable government, ii. 268.
captured by Edward IV., iL 274.
Henry the bastard, king of Castile, i. 94.

See Enrique.
Hereford, Humphrey de Bohun, earl of,
L 123, 197.
Henry, earl of Derby, made duke of,

L 461.
accuses the duke of Norfolk of trea-
son, and is banished, L 461.
returns to England, i. 462.
afterwards Henry IV.
Ilerefbrd, Reginald Baker, bishop of, ii.

232.
Hereford, Nicholas, a leader of the Wy-

cliffite party, L 260, 262, 263.
Herminiac, count of, L 107, 113.
Heron, the vows of the, i. 1.

INDEX.

351

Holdeniefls, Edward IV. lands there, his

reception, ii. 272.
Holland (John de Holland, earl of Hunt-
ingdon), rises against Henry IV.,

i. 451,
Hospxtalers, master of the, slain at Creoy,

i. 157.
Homphrey Plantagenet, son of Thomas,

dnke of Gloacester, imprisoned in

Ireland, L 364.
his death, i. 446, 447.
Hnngary, its articles of commerce, ii. 171.
Hongerlbrd, Bobert lord, his opinion of the

libel of English PoUcj, ii. 205.
Huntingdon, Guichard de Angonldme made

earl of, 1. 457.
John de Holland, earl of, made duke

of Exeter, i. 461.
John Holland, earl of, present at Aain-

coort, ii. 125.
at the coronation of Henry YI., ii. 147.

I.

Iceland, its tradeehiefly in stockfish, ii. 191.

Ireland, dnke of. See Vere.

Ireland, expeditions of Richard II. to, i. 443,

460, 462.
its products, and its importance, ii.

185-190.
Isabella, queen of Edward H., i. 34, 136.
Isabella of France, queen of Richard H.,

brought to England and crowned,

i. 460.

J.

James I., king of Scotland, his relations
with the dnke of Burgundy, ii. 150.
John, king of France, i. 75, 76, 77.
ascends the throne, i. 168, 169.
taken prisoner at Poitiers, L 177.
Judges, six appointed by Edward III., i.
187.

Eeightley, Sir Richard, slain at Aiinconrt,

ii. 126.
Kent, Thomas Holland, earl of, beheaded

at Cirencester, i. 451
made duke of Surrey, i. 461.
King's evil, Philippe of Valois not able to

cure it, i. 32.
Knollis, Robert, i. 95, 108, 457.
Kyret, Hugh, commands the French at the

battie of the Sluys, i. 70.

Lancaster, Thomas duke o^ i. 132.
rebelled against the king, L 133.
his death, 134.
Lancaster, Henry Plantagenet, duke of,
i. 71.
the second Henry Plantagenet, duke

of, i. 95, 163.
his death, i. 182, 217.
John of Gaunt, duke of, i 97, 99, 100,

106, 108, 110, 113, 118, 120, 437.
his expedition to Scotland, i. 458.
his expedition to Spain, i. 459.
his death, L 442, 461.
Henry Plantagenet, duke of, i. 365,

366, 367, 380.
returns to England to assume the

crown, i. 438, 442, 462.
See Henry IV., king of England.
Latimer, killed in the battle of Sluys,

i. 456.
laart, Walter. See Norwich, bishop o£
Libel of English Policy, ii. 157.

a second <* libel ** on the same sulgect,
ii. 282.
Lidford, the law of, i. 399.
Lincoln, earl of^ one of the titles of the
duke of Lancaster, i. 99.

352

INDEX.

Lollards, poem against them, L 231.
poem in their defence, i 253.
Gower's account of them, i. 347.
Latin verses for and against them, ii.

128.
hostility to them, ii 143.
English ballad against them, 243.
Lomhards,£dward in.'8 statute concerning
them, ii. 167.
their behayiour, iL 184, 185.
I/)ndon, fidelity of the citizens to king
Henry IV., i. 451.
attacked by the bastard of Fauconberg,
ii.277.
Louis of Bavaria, the emperor, i. 63.
Louis, king of France, i. 35.
Ludgate, pageantry at, i. 293.
Lushebumes (Luxemburg), money brought

from Flanders, i 140.
Lydgate, John, his poem on the English
title to the crown of France, iL 131.
his poems on the prospect of peace,

il 209.
and on the truce of 1444, ii. 215.
Lyons, Hank in, the pirate, ii. 183.

M.

Maidstone, Richard of, account of him, i.
282.

Majorca, the king of, L 107.

March, Roger de Mortimer, earl of, his
death, i. 182.

March, Edmund de Mortimer, earl of^ ac-
companies Richard II. to Ireland,
i. 460.

Margaret, queen of Henry VI., her cha-
racter, 11. 268.

Marshal, Thomas de Mowbray, carl. See
Norfolk, duke of

Marton (Merton ?), John de, i. 97.

Mauny, Walter de, i. 13, 71.

Menteith, i. 50.

Mertoim. Dr., an opponent of the Wydif-

fites, i. 261.
Minot, Laurence, his songs on the wars of

Edward UI.,L 58.
I Molines, lord, ii 234.
Money, alterations in, in the reign of

Edward IIL, i. 139.
iUse, i. 140.
Monks, the Benedictines, I 258, 334.
Montagu, John Nevill, marquis o^ op-
I posed to Edward IV., ii. 272.

dain at Bamet field, ii. 276.
Montford, count of Brittany, I 150.
Montbermer, Thomas de, killed at the

battle of the Sluys, i. 456.
Morlay, Sir Robert de, i. 70.
Mortaign, earl of, ii. 153, 155.
Mortimer, Roger de, his character and

death, i. 139, 140.
Mortimers, rise against Edward H. in

Shropshire, L 133.
Mortimer's Cross, battle of, ii. 269.

N.

Nijara, battle of, i. 95, 113, 114, 456.
Navarre, king o^ i. 108.

taken prisoner, i 110.
Nevile*s Cross, battle of, i. 40, 41, 44, 52,

83, 157, 158,221,456.
Noble, the English coin, description of it,

ii. 159.
Norfolk, the countess of, made duchess of,
i. 461.
Thomas de Mowbray, duke of, i. 39G,

419, 461.
John de Mowbray, second duke of;
officiated as lord marshal at the
coronation of Henry VI., H. 147.
John de Mowbray, third duke of;
ii. 222.
Norreis, ii. 222.

INDEX.

353

Northamptoxi, William de Bohmi, earl o^
i. 71.
his death, i 182.
Northampton, battle of, ii. 269.
Northbory, John, i. 462.
Nortfanmberland, Henry de Percy, earl ot,
i. 419, 457.
condemned for the leas of Berwick,

L458.
joins the dnke of Lancaster, L 462.
Henry Percy, second earl o^ slain at

St Albania, ii. 258.
Henry Percy, third earl o^ ii. 254.
Norwich, Henry Spencer, bishop of, his
crosade against the heretics of
Flanders, i. 459.
Walter Liart [or Hart], biBhop of,
ii. 233.
Notingham, Thomas de Mowbray made
earl of, 1. 457.
accompanies Richard II. to Ireland,
i. 460.

o.

Oilr the holy, not fbmished ibr the coro-
nation of Philippe of Valois, i. 32.

OldcasUe, Sir John, the Lollard, ii. 243.

Onallns, i. 50.

Orleans, duke of, made prisoner at Azin-
conrt, ii. 126.

Ormond, James Bntler, earl of, his opinion
on the conquest of Ireland, ii. 189.

Otterbum, baUle of, i. 460.

Oxford, Robert de Vere, earl of, his defeat
and flight, i. 420. See Vere.
Richard de Vere, earl o^ engaged at
Azinconrt, il 125.

VOX.. IL

Paris, the Porte de I'Enfer, there, i. 212.
Paul's, St, cathedral, in London, i. 292,

293.
Palaces, list of the royal, ii. 78.
Pembroke, William Herbert, earl o( ii. 280.
Penda, L 98.
Pepin, king, i. 34.

Percy, Henry lord, i. 45, 158, 178. See
NorUinmberland.
Henry, jnnr., and Ralph, taken by

the Scots at Otterbnm, L 460.
Thomas, i. 457.

made earl of Westmoreland, 461.
Perrers, Alice, the mistress of Edward HI.,

proscribed, i. 457.
Pestilence, the great, i. 170.
the second, i. 180, 181.
in reign of Richard II, i. 252, 253,
279.
Peter the Cruel, king of Spain, i. 94, 95,

101, 107, 110.
Peterborough, Walter of, his poem on the
expedition of the Black Prince into
Spain, i. 97.
mentioned, i. 122.
Philippa of Hainault, queen of Edward IH.,
i. 18.
her vow, i. 23.
her marriage, i. 455.
Philippe le Bel, king of France, legend

relating to him, i. 207.
Philippe de Yalois, king of France, his
treatment of Robert of Artois, i. 3.
abused, i. 26, 27, 38.
incapable of curing the king's evil,

i.32.
defeated at Crecy, i. 1^7, 221.
made a threatof relieving Calais, i. 166.
his death, i. 168.
PictB, why the Scots were so called, i. 51.
Ploughman, complaint of the, i. 300.
Poitiers, battle ot, L 169, 176, 456.
Pole, William atte, i. 147.
Pomidres, the sire de, i. 104.

Z

354

IKDEX

Portugal, its articlefl of eommerce, ii 162.
Pnuna, its articles of commerce, ii. 169.

171.
Pnryeyors, statate against the, i. 222.
FynsoD, Pety, the pirate, ii 1 S3.

R.

Batclif, Sir John, lientenant-goremor of
Calais, il 153.

Beading, abbot o£ ii 233.^

Bepingdon, Philip, a supporter of the Wy-
cUffites, i. 262, 263.

Belies, given to the religions houses in
London by Edward m., i. 220.

Bichard II., king of England, i 219.
accession and coronation, i 457.
his reconciliation with the Londoners,

and solemn entry into the city,i 282.
poem by Gower on him, i 360.
English song on his ministers, i. 363.
poem on his deposition, i 368.
his errors, i 418.
agrees with the three great chiefis and

calls a parliament, i. 422.
his proceedings against the three lords,

i. 425-436.
his blank charters, i. 439, 461.
his last expedition to Ireland, i 443,462.
returns to Wales, i 444, 462 ; and sur-
renders to the duke of Lancaster,

i. 445.
carried to London, and deposed, i 446,

447.
his death, i 452,462.
his expedition into Scotland, i 459.
his first expedition to Ireland, i 46a
his extortions, i 461.
praise of his government by a later

Yorkist writer, ii 267.
Bichard of Maidstone. See Maidstone.

Biven, Antlumy Wldvile, Murl, iL S78.

Bobert of Artois, ii 2.

BocheUe, La, battle o^ i 164.

Bochester, abbot of, ii 283.

Boland, one of the dooxe pain of Chftrie-

magne, i 106.
Bonoesvalles, battle oi; i 105.
Boa, Thomas, baron de, ii 234.
Bouen, recovered by the French, ii. 221.
Bound table, festival of the, i 150.
Bussell, one of the creatoreaof Biohard IL,

i462.
Butland, earl o^ accompanies Bidiard IL

to Ireland, i 460.
made duke of Albem»ile, 461,

a

Saint Alban's, abbot of, ii 233.
first battle of, ii. 258.
second battle oi; ii 261.
Saint David's, John Delamere, bishop o^

ii. 234.
St John's, prior of, ii. 223.
St. Malo, a great harbour of pirates, ii.

164, 166.
St Michel, Mont, in Brittany, a harbour

of pirates, ii. 166.
Saint Paul's, procession to, in 1458, ii 254.
Salic law of Prench succession, legends
relating to its origin, i 33, 207.
the subject discussed, i 144» et seq,
Salisbury, WiUiam de Montacote^ earl ot,
i 10, 11.
John de Montacute, earl d, beheaded

at Cirencester, i 451.
Thomas de Montacute, earl ot,
officiated at the coronation of
Henry VL, ii. 147.
Bichard Neville, earl of, ii 224, 254.
Bichard Beauchamp, bishop of, ii
232.

INDEX.

355

Salyador, San, town o^ lumnden to Peter

the Crael, i, 109.
Sancho, illegitiinate ion of Alphonao, king

ofCastUe,!. 101, 181.
Saroy palace lyanit by the Kentish in-

torgents, 1. 296.
Say, John, ii. 229, 234.
Saye, James Fienes, lord* his nnpopuhirity,

ii. 230, 234.
Scarboroiigh, its trade with Iceland, ii.

191.
Scotland, its articles of oommerce, iL

168.
Scots, their eyil qualities, i. 42.

infest the English borders in the reign

of Edward n., 132.
Scrape, Sir William, eari of Wiltshire, i.

367, 388, 436, 444, 461, 462.
Ships built for Henry Y , at Southampton,

IL 199.
Sigismond, emperor of Germany, ii 143.
his Tisit to England, and opinion of

the importance of Calais, ii, 158, 192.
Slays, batae of, i. 35, 70, 148, 456; ii.

199,
Somerset, the earl o^ made marquis of,

L461.
Edmund Beaufort, earl of, in disgrace,

ii. 221.
one of the leaders of the court party,

ii. 234.
Henry Beanibrt, dnke of, 11. 354.
slain at St Alban's, ii 258, 259.
Southampton, attacked by the French, i

64.
Sonthwark, i. 288.

Spain, its articles of eommeroe, ii. 160.
Spaniards attack the English coast and are

defeated by Edward HI, i 222.
Stafford, Humphrey, earl of, officiated at

the coronation of Henry VI., ii.

147.
Stanbury, friar, ii 233.
Stokes, an opponent of the Wydiffites, i

261.

Straw, Jack, poem on his rebellion, i 224.
names of the most active insurgents,

i230,
his insurrection, i 458.
Suffolk, Biichael de la Pole, earl o( i 270.
flies into exile, i 421, 460.
made earl of, i. 459.
Michael de la Pole, third earl of, slain

at Azincourt, ii 126.
William de la Pole, duke o^ ii. 222.

arrested, ii 224.
the popular feeling against him, ii. 228.
accused of selling Normandy to the

French, ii 230.
verses against him, ii. 231.
ballad on his death, ii. 232.
Surrey, the earl of Kent, made duke of, i.

461.
Swyn. See Sluys.

Tails, the English reproached with having,

i 177.
Talbot, John, earl of Shrewsbury, ii. 222,

224.
Tello, illegitimate son of Alphonso, king

of Castile, i 101, 121, 122.
Templars, an allusion to their offences, i

267,
Temple Bar, i 294.
Tuel, Hugh, governor of the Isle of

Wight, i 457.
Toumay, siege of, i 72.
Tower Hill, abbot of, ii. 233.
Towton, battle of, ii. 264.
Trades, the, of London in the reign of

Richard H., i 284, 285.
Tnssilian, Sir Bobert, chief judge of the

king's bench, hanged, i 423 460.
Trevilian, ii. 223, 227, 234.

z2

856

INDEX.

Trois» treaty of, u. 136.

Trace of 1347, poem on, i. 53 ; trace with

Fnmoe in 1394, L 300 ; in 1444, ii.

215.

U.

Uffbrd, Sir Thomas, i. 95.

Yannes, siege of^ i. 150.

Venetians, their articles of commerce, it

172.
Vere, Bobert de, dnke of Ireland, i. 270,

367, 420, 459.
Yemeoil, battle of, ii. 132.
Vienne, Sir John de, goTemor of Calais, i.

83.
sent to resist the Scots, i 459.

W.

Wakefield, battle of, ii. 257, 260.

Waleri, St, batde of, 456.

Wales, needful to be held in sntiiectioD, iL

190.
Walsingham, John, the author of an alli-

teratiye poem against the Lollards,

iill4.
Walworth, Sir William, lord mayor of

London, i 227, 228.
Warbnldon (Warbnrton ?), Sir JeflBrey,

one of the commanders in Calais in

1436, ii 153.
Warwick, Thomas de Beanchamp, earl of,

banished to the Isle of Miin, i 364,

392.

Warwick, Thomas de Beaachamp— €tMi^
imprisoned, L 428.
banished, I 431.
set at liberty, i. 446.
employed Lgrdgate 1» write on the
Eng^ title to France, iL 131, 132,
139.
bore the king's train at his coronation^

iL 146.
Richard NcTille, first earl of, ii 222.
Richaid Kerille, earl d, the king-
maker, iL 254.
a great snpporter of Edward IV., 870.
opposed to Edward IV., 272.
slain in the battle of Bunet, 276.
Wells, John, an enemy of the Wydiffites,

L260.
Westminster, abbot of, ii. 233.
Westminster Hall, L 297.
Westmoteland, Sir Balph de Kerille made
earl of, L 461.
joins the duke of Lancaster, L 462.
Whappelode, an opponent of the Wydifiltes,

L261.
Whethamsted, John de^ his poems on the

wars of the Boaes, ii. 258.
Whittington, Richard, the merchant of

London, ii. 178.
Wight, Isle of; taken by the French, L

457.
Willonghby, Bobert k»d, IL 222.
Wiltshire, Sir William Serope made earl
* of, L 461. See Serope.
Winchester, William de Wainfleet, Inshop

of, ii. 255.
Windsor, William. L 457.
Worcester, Sir Thomas Percy made earl

of, L 461.
Worcester, John Carpenter, bishc^ of, iL

233.
WydiiTe, John, L 235, 258, 259, 260, 458;
ii. 45, 52, 53, 107.

INDEX.

367

York, Edmnnd Plantageaet ibade duke o(

L459.
Edward Flantagenet dnke of, slaizi at

Aaneonrt, ii. 125.
Bichard duke o^ retires to Ireland, ii.

223.
reconciled with the court, ii 254.
epitaph on him, il 266.
York, archbiehope of :

William de la Zouche, i. 158.
Alexander de NeriUe, flies into exile,

L 421, 460.

York, archbishops of^con^

Bichard Scrope, poem on his execu-
tion, ii 114.
his death lamented, 267.
John Kemp, cardinal, ii. 233.

Zealand, its articles of commerce, ii. 180.
Zouche, William de ]&, archbishop of York,
i 158.

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Social Condition of his Time. Edited by the Rev. H. R. Luard,
M. A., Fellow and Assistant Tutor of Trinity College, Cambridge.

The Works op Giraldus Cambrensis. Vol. II. Edited by the
Rev.' J. S. Brewer, M.A., Professor of English Literature, King's
College, London, and Reader at the Rolls.

Letters and Papers illustrative op the Wars op the English
IN France during the Reign op Henry the Sixth, King
op England. Vol. 11. Edited by the Rev, J. Stevenson, M.A.,
of University College, Durham, and Vicar of Leighton Buzzard.

Descriptive Catalogue op Manuscripts relating to the Early
History op Great Britain. Edited by T. Dupfus Hardy, Esq.

12

In Progress.

HxSTORiA MmoB Mattilsi Pabis* Edited by Sir F. Madden, K.H.,
Chief of the MS. Department of tlie British Museum.

CnnONICON AbBATLB EYESHAMENSISy AUCTOBIBUS DOMINICO PrIORE
EVESHAMUE £T ThOHA DE MaRLEBEBGE AbBATE, A FUNDA-

TiONE AD Annum 1213; una cum Continuatione ad Annum
1418. Edited by the Rev. W. D. Macrat, M.A., £odleiai>
Library, Oxford.

A EoLL OP THE Irish Pbivt Council op the 16th Year of the
Reign op Richard U. Edited by the Rev. James Graves.

Poltchronicon Ranulphi Higdeni, with Trevisa's Translation.
Edited by C. Babinoton, B.D., Fellow of St. John's College^
Cambridge.

June 1861.