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

See other formats

Google

This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project
to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject
to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books
are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the
publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work 1s expensive, so in order to keep providing this resource, we have taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.

We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.

+ Refrain from automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.

+ Maintain attribution The Google *watermark" you see on each file is essential for informing people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web

atthtto://books.google.com/

| RERUM BRITANNICARUM MEDII EVI |
| SCRIPTORES,

CHRONICLES AND MEMORIALS OF GREAT BRITAIN
AND IRELAND ©

_ DURING

THE MIDDLE AGES.

. 9

THE CHRONICLES AND MEMORIALS

| OF

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
DURING THE MIDDLE AGES.

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF HER 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
purpose the most correct text should be formed from an
accugate 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.

™

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 of the Rolls with the sanction of the Treasury.

The Lords of Her Majesty's 'Treasury, after a careful
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 económy, 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 biographical account of the author,
so far as authentic materials existed for that purpose, and

an estimate of his historical credibility and value.

Rolls House,
December 1857.

POLITICAL POEMS AND SONGS.

RELATING TO

ENGLISH HISTORY,

COMPOSED DURING THE PERIOD

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

EDITED

THOMAS WRIGHT, ESQ., M.A., F.5.A., HON. M.R.S.L., ETC.,

CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE, :
(ACADÉMIE DES INSCRIPTIONS ET BELLES LETTRES.)

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HER MAJESTY'S
TREASURY, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS.

VOL. I.

LONDON: uv

LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS. .-:
| 07 # TUN
1859. | :

Ces U

106019

€
€ H-
Cecee
€ 6 €
& : t
CETTE
&
*
st
LO"
e
CA |
DIEN"
te
estes
F5^65 Ces
* *
ss eae”
$9 € «teu
* & + * e
ss +e étere
Dove #eevs
+
. oe” res
©
LA V ee
ver &
eee
weeee tite
Le L V
*evbüGév
eoecye Cut ee
e V
“+ eo re
wee, nn os
& . ev © &
"ect v6 .
Li IU D Bee Majesty’s Printers
vov
Vect Eye and SPOTIISWOODE, Her Maj v's .
CARE vv VV " À .
Seer For Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
eure ve.
~
. "LA
Lun Le
weer”
vVvvet€
& =
GLEE
verset .
ces
Vuelo
v.Luou
et v. .
& .
Ci Lt
LL ER
Iw ivi

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

A an You . . 0t "T .
Tur Vows or THE Heron à 6. .

t c^
zt ^U
Fd
8
V e
4.

29.
6.
v.
ee

10.
11.

“13,

14.
15.
16.
« 17.
18.
19.
120.

EPiGRAM ON THE ASSUMPTION OF THE ARMS OF

. FRANCE e e +, * CI e *
AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE e 0s ‘
On THE BATTLE or NEvriLE’s Cross . . «

ON THE BATTLE or NrvirE's Cross . 4 .

On Cricr AND NEVILE's Cross V + 2;
Ox vue Truck or 1347 ; . c. .
Sowas on Kina Epwanp's Wars ; by 1 Laurence
Minot . . 55 . . . e
Tae DisPUTE BETWEEN THE ENGLISHMAN AND
THE FRENCHMAN . . je . ” 8
On Prince EDWARD'S ExPEDITION INTO SPAIN
Prince Epwanp's EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN, AND
THE BATTLE OF NAJARA ; by Walter of Peter-
borough |. fg e . , . .
. JOHN or BRIDLINGTON . 20. « "
On THE DEATH or Epwarp III. (English. .
Ox tHe Deara or Epwarp III. (Latin.)
On THE REBELLION OF JACK STRAW . .
Ox THE SLAUGHTER OF ARCHBISHOP SUDBURY ,
AGAINST THE LOLLARDS . . . . >
On THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1382. . . .

ON THE Counciz or Lonpon 4

SONG AGAINST THE FRIARS . . . .

.123
215
219
224
227
231
250
253
263

vl | CONTENTS.
da. On THE MINORITE FRIARS oo
192. On THE Times, 1388 " . .
23. DisricH on THE YEAR 1391 . .

24. ON THE PESTILENCE (1391) . . 2004

25, THE RECONCILIATION oF RICHARD II. WITH THE
Crrx or Lonpon ; by Richard de Maidstone.

26. ON; THE TRUCE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE,
1394 ;,by Eustache Deschamps . . .

\ 27. TRE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN .. ,

28. ON THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE AGE, 1896-7 ; by

d ohn Gower . . . . .

29. ON.THE ,VICES OF THE DIFFERENT ORDERS OF
Socrery ; by John Gower . . C

"80. Ox ‘Kine RicHARD IL; by John Gower . '

x 81. On ‘Kine RICHARD” 8 Ministers . . .
32. ON THE EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF THE Duxe OF
LANCASTER T" . ‘ . .
su 88 On tHe Derosirion or RicHAnD IL. ^
34. Gower’s TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE , — .

35. Memoria, VERSES ON THE REIGNS OF EDWARD
III. anp Ricxarp II. . . … q

Page
268

270 |

278
279

282

800
304

946 .

396
360 |
363

366
368
417

. 454

INTRODUCTION.

THE documents which compose the two following Period.
volumes extend through some of the most interesting [9 Prisd
periods of our national annals. They begin at the poems.
moment when a weak and ill-advised monarch had
been violently deposed from.the throne, and his young
son substituted in his place; while his father's mar-
riage had brought to the latter rights in France which
led him into wars that raised the military glory of
England to such a height as it had never reached
before. The reign of Edward LIL, glorious in many
respects, was followed, as it had been preceded, by a
reign of weakness and vice, ending similarly in the
deposition of the reigning king, but involving in this
case a change of dynasty. Then came a short and.
peaceful reign under the first monarch of the house of
Laneaster, followed by the military glories of that of
Henry V. The weakness of his son and successor,
Henry VL, left the field open to the uncontrolled
struggle of personal interests and passions, as well as
of political principles, which soon became a more serious
contest of dynasties than had yet occurred, and which

. elosed the middle ages by introducing our country to .
a new political life. Our Political Poems, in fact,
occupy the whole space between what may bé con-
sidered, properly speaking, as the feudal age, and the
commencement of our modern history.

VOL. I, e

Anglo-
Norman
languag

x | INTRODUCTION.

*our eye through this collection of Political Poems and
Songs—the entire disappearance of the Anglo-Norman
language. Throughout the whole series there are only
two pieces in any dialect of the French language, and
those, though intimately connected with English poh- :
lies and history, were both composed abroad. On the

| other hand, the Latin language predominates largely
; during the whole of the fourteenth century, and even

during the earlier part of the fifteenth. This indicates,
no doubt, the very deep interest and active part taken
by the educated classes—those whose minds had been

Disappea- One circumstance strikes us especially when we run
ance of |

formed in the Universities—in the political events of

the time, and it shows further a considerable degree
of mental cultivation among the aristocracy in general,
to whom many of these Latin poems are addressed.
It is probable that this was much less the case as we
approach the age of the Wars of the Roses, when we
find Latin rarely used in these Political Poems, and
the few cases in which it is used are of a specially
clerical character. "Thus, à monk of St. Alban's re-
counts in Latin verse some of the events of the Wars
of the Roses which had happened chiefly in that part
of the country, but his object was evidently to remind
the monks of that house of the ill-treatment it had
experienced, especially from the men of the north.

Tus Vows ‘The first poem of this collection introduces us to

OF THE

HERON.

History of
Robert of

. Artois.

the commencement of the wars with France which
formed the grand feature of the reign of Edward III.

Among the most turbulent of the great barons of
Western Europe at the beginning of the fourteenth —
century was Robert of Artois, who was descended from
a younger son of St. Louis, and who claimed the
county of Artois against his aunt, the countess Mahaut,
and her daughters. He had made an unsuccessful
attempt to establish his claim by force of arms in
1316 ; and judgment had been given against him twiee

INTRODUCTION. XI

in a court of law. The three sons of Philippe-le-Bel,
Louis-Hutin, Philippe-le-Long, and Charles-le-Bel, had
reigned over France in succession during the short space
from 1314, when their father died, to 1328, leaving
the crown a doubtful heritage, for the only surviving
issue of the three brothers were daughters of the first
and third of those Princes, and there was at least a
strong. prejudice against the existence of the right of
succession in females. The French jurists, as is well
known, influenced by their national feelings, adjudged
the crown to Philippe of Valois. Robert of Artois,
who was the brother-in-law and confidential friend of
Philippe, and who had contributed more, perhaps, than
any single person to his elevation to the throne, stood
very high in court favour at the beginning of the new
reign, and, stimulated, it is believed, by his wife, the
king's sister, he resolved to bring again before a court
of law his claims to the county of Artois. As two
adverse Judgments had already been given, these could
only he set aside by the production of some new
titles, and documents for this purpose were forged
through the. agency of his wife. This new trial took
place in 1331, when the falseness of the documents
was discovered, the persons chiefly concerned in the
forgery confessed the whole plot, and several of them
were put to death or otherwise severely punished.
Their confessions fixed the guilt of this intrigue upon
the lady alone, and in all appearance Robert of Artois
was not at all aware that the documents were forged
until they were exposed in court; but the king, per-
haps glad of the opportunity of ridding himself of his
obligations to a too importunate friend and benefactor,
turned all his wrath against his brother-in-law, and
summoned him to appear before his Court of Peers at
Michaelmas, 1331. Robert, alarmed for his personal
safety, withdrew into Flanders, from whence he em-
ployed, not only the agency of assassins, but that of

c 2 !

King Ed-
ward's
quarrel
with
France,

xil | INTRODUCTION.

witchcraft, against the lives of his enemies, but with-
out success. The king of France, informed of these
proceedings, compelled the duke of Brabant and the
count of Namur to withdraw their protection from
him, and seized his wife and children and threw them
into different prisons. Robert of Artois, no longer safe
on the continent, made his escape, in the disguise of a
merchant, to England, where he met with a friendly
réception, and was taken into the ‘confidence of the
young king, Edward III. | ED
"Edward had already various subjects of complaint
against the king of France, and not only he himself,

but all his subjects, and even a considerable portion

of .the aristocracy of France, were convinced of his
superior right to the French succession. . Robert. of
Artois laboured assiduously to inflame. the young |
king’s ambition, and his success forms the subject of
the curious piece which stands at the head of the
present volume. The circumstances under which,
according to this poem, Edward was finally urged
into hostilities, were of a rather. singular character.

One day in the September of 1838, Robert of. Artois,

who was at the court of king Edward at. London, |
took his faleon and went hunting on the banks. of
the river, till he caught a heron. Robert returned to
the palace, where he went direct to the kitchen and
caused the bird to be immediately cooked and pre-
pared for the table, Now that day king Edward sat

ab dinner with his courtiers, occupied only with

thoughts of love and gallantry, and harbouring only
peaceful and indulgent feelings towards all his neigh-
bours, not excepting the king of France. Robert of
Artois suddenly presented himself in the hall, followed
by three minstrels and two noble maidens, the latter
of whom carried the heron ceremoniously laid between
two dishes. Robert proclaimed that as the heron had
the reputation of being the most cowardly of birds,

INTRODUCTION. xil

it was now destined for the greatest coward at the
table, and that, he said, was king Edward, who sub- |
mitted tamely to be deprived of the kingdom and :
crown of France, although he knew that they belonged

to him by right. Having thus proclaimed his design,

he presented the heron to the king, and, as was
customary on such occasions, asked him to make a

vow upon it. Edward, deeply stung by this reproach, King Ed-
made a vow that before the end of the year. he. would ward's
invade France with fire and sword, and that, if
Philippe of Valois ventured to resisé him, he would

fight him though he came with an army which was

ten times the number of his own. Robert was over-

joyed at the king's vow, and repeated to himself in
undertones the hopes he had of revenging his own
quarrel with king Philippe in the war which was

about to commence; and then, after making his own

vow, carrying the heron in the same ceremony, he
proceeded to collect the vows of the other guests.

King Edward's court presented at this moment,
according to the poem, a singular mixture of English

. nobles, foreign adventurers, and fugitive barons from

the other side of the Channel Robert addressed
himself first to the earl of Salisbury, who was sit- vows of
ting by the side of the daughter of the earl oftheearlof
Derby, of whom he was deeply enamoured. This »
gallant nobleman declared. that, if the queen of Heaven

were to descend upon earth and lay aside her divinity,

he should not be able to distinguish between her

. beauty and that of his mistress, and, after com-
plaining of the cruelty which the latter had shown
towards him, he begged her to lend him one of her
fingers and place it upon his eye The lady replied

by offering him two, and having placed them upon

his eye so that it was completely closed, he made

his vow that he would not open it again until he

xiv | INTRODUCTION.

had invaded France and fought king Philippe's people

in pitched battle in defence of the rights of the

te. king of England. Robert next received from the lady
of the earl herself a vow that she would accept no husband
of Derby, while Salisbury was engaged in the war, but would
. reserve herself for him on his return. After having
received the vow of this noble maiden, Robert pre-

sented himself before the celebrated warrior, Sir

_ of Gautier Gautier de Mauny, who made his vow that he would
de Mauny, attack and take by assault a strong town then held
by a French knight, Sir Godeman de Fay, and that

he would return from the attack without having sus-

of the earl tained any loss. The earl.of:Derby, who came next,
of Derby, threatened to attack the count of Flanders, one of
the great allies of Philippe of Valois. The earl of

of the earl Suffolk made his vow that he. would. single out
of Suffolk. especially the king of Bohemia, :and-that wherever he
met him in the field he would ‘attack him personally

and not cease until he had unhorsed him. Thereupon

Jean de Beaumont, who was nearly related to the

king of Bohemia, took offence. at this boast; he
declared that, though the king of Bohemia hated him,

yet he still loved that prince’ as his kinsman, ‘and

he threatened that, through his means, the earl

should be the king of Bohemia’s prisoner. Robert of

of Jean de Artois next addressed himself to Jean de Fauque-
ment mont, one of the most celebrated captains of the
adventurers or free companions of that time, who

made a vow in perfect keeping with the ferocity of

the class of troops he commanded. He declared that

if king Edward invaded France, he would go in
advance and burn the country, promising that he

would “neither spare church nor altar, neither woman

* with child nor infant, nor even his own kinsmen or

* friends" so long as they were opposed to the
English king. Jean de Beaumont, though so cele-

INTRODUCTION. XV

brated as a warrior, answered Roberts appeal with of Jean de
more modesty than the others. He told the courtiers caumont,
around him of the vanity of empty boasts made at

the festive table, and exhorted them to reserve their

valour for the time of action. Nevertheless he
promised that, in case king Edward invaded France,

he would be his marshal to conduct his host, and

that he would take part zealously in the war,
however much it might expose him to the vengeance

of the king of France. He declared at the same

time that, if king Philippe would make reparation

for the injuries he had inflicted upon him and recall

him from his banishment, he would quit Edward’s

service and return to that of his lawful king. After
hearing the vow of Jean de Beaumont, Robert of

Artois presented himself in the last place before the

queen of England. She first excused herself on the ofthe —
ground of being a married woman, but, on receiving Tneland.
permission from the king to do so, she uttered a vow
“which was not very remarkable for its feminine
delicacy. She stated, rather coarsely, that she was

with child, and vowed that the infant should never

issue from her body until the king had carried her

with him over the sea on his expedition against
France; that, rather than this should happen, she
would slay herself and her offspring. “The king

* thought of this gravely, and said, ‘Certainly no one

‘ will vow more," The heron was now carved and
Shared among the guests; and soon afterwards the
king made his preparations for his first campaign
on the continent.

I think there can be only one opinion on the Character
narrative contained in this poem, that it is entirely oem
deficient of historical truth. The allusion to the cap-
tivity of the earl of Suffolk proves that it cannot
have been composed before the year 1340,[and its

xvi INTRODUCTION.

object was no doubt, at a moment when the energy
of the French war was somewhat flagging, to magnify
in the minds of his own followers the influence which
Robert of Artois had exercised in dragging the king |
of England into it, The circumstances of the story

“are in themselves very far from probable, and I shall

not be surprised if documents be still found to prove
that the persons introduced in it could not have
been assembled together in London at any one time.
The date is of course wrong, as in September 1338
Edward had already been on the continent two months.
The only circumstances we are able to verify seem

all incorrect; and the composer was certainly mis-

taken in his story of the vow of the earl. of
Salisbury, for it is well known that that nobleman
was blind of one eye, in consequence of a, wound
recelved in the Scottish wars, in which he had dis-
tinguished himself Yet, it is still possible. that the
ground of the poem may have been some assembly
in which king Edward’s courtiers took such vows
upon them, and that a poet and partisan of Robert
of Artois had changed the circumstances, and built
upon them the above story. In this case it would not
be an untrue picture of the spirit of Edwards French

wars; for the historian Froissart alludes more than

Anecdotes .
told by
Froissart.

once to vows so similar to these that perhaps they were
those which the author of the poem had in view when
he wrote it. In describing the embassy sent by king

"Edward to Valenciennes, Froissart tells us that among
the envoys were seen a number of young *'bachelers"

who had each one eye covered with cloth, so that they

eould not see with it, and it was reported that these

had made vows among ladies of their country that

they would forego the use of one eye until they had
performed some feats of bravery in the kingdom of

France; but, he adds, they would not confess this to

Í
i

INTRODUCTION. xvii

those who questioned them, “and everybody wondered
* greatly at it"! A little further on, Froissart de-
seribes the commencement of the war, and he says
that, as soon as Edward's defiance of the king of
France was published and known, Gautier de Mauny
assembled “about forty lances of good companions,
“ sure and bold, and set out from Brabant, and rode
* both day and night, till they came into Hainault,
* and there they threw themselves into the wood of
*. Blaton, and as yet nobody knew what was his de-

* acquaintance that he bad promised in England,
* before ladies and lords, that be would be the first
* who entered France, and that he would take a
* castle or a strong town, and do there some deed
“ of arms, and that it was now his intention to ride
**io Mortaigne, and to surprise the town which
“ belongs to the kingdom of France”? Gautier was

successful, and set fire to the town of Mortaigne. - It

! 6 Etsiy avoit entr'eux plusieurs
* bacheliers qui avoient chaeun un
* geil couvert de drap vermeil,
* pourquoi il n'en put voir; et
disoit on que ceux avoient voué
entre dames .de leur pays que
* jamais ne verroient que d'un oeil
* jusqu'à ce qu'ils auroient fait
* aucunes prouesses de leurs corps

cé

** au royaume de Krance ; lesquels

* ils ne vouloient mie connoitre à
* eeux qui leur en demandoient ;
* si en avoit chacun grand mer-
** veille Froissart, ed. Buchon,
tom. i., p. 180.

26 Sitót qu'il put sentir et per-
* cevoir que le roi de France
* devoit ou pouvoit ótre defié, il
* pria et cueillit environ qnarante

* lances de bons compagnons sürs

* et hardis, et se partit de Brabant,
* et chevaucha tant de nuit que de
* jour, qu'ils vinrent en Hainaut,
* et se boutérent dedans le bois de
* Blaton, et encore ne savoit nul
* quelle chose il vouloit faire ;
“mais il s'en découvroit là à
* aucuns de ses plus secrets, et
* leur dit qu'il avoit promis et
* youé en Angleterre, présents
* dames. et seigneurs, que il seroit

* ]e premier qui entreroit en France,

* et prendroit chátel ou forte ville,

“et y feroit aucune appertise
* d'armes ; si étoit son entente de

* chevaucher jusques à Mortagne,
“ et de sousprendre la ville, qui
* se tient du royaume.” Froissart,
ed Buchon, tom. i, p. 222.

xvii INTRODUCTION.

can hardly be doubted, I think, that this exploit of
Gautier de Mauny is the one alluded to in the poem.
Ericram . Somewhat more than a year later, Edward assumed
er AB" the arms of France, and quartered them with those of
OF THE. England, an event which is commemorated in an

fs OP epigram in the present volume. The object of this
measure, which is said to have been suggested to him
by Jacob van Artaveldt, the popular leader of the men
of Ghent, was of course to place Edward in the
position of actual king of France, a title which he
now publiely assumed, and to give him the right of
treating as rebels all subjects of the French crown
"who remained faithful to Philippe of Valois. Thus, at
once, the ordinary feelings of hostility of two nations
temporanly at war with each other was converted
into all the bitterness of civil war. This bitterness
displays itself through the political poems which fol-
low. In the invective against France, published here,
: the character of France is painted in terms of the
Invective most extravagant reproach. To her are ascribed the
France, mingled qualities of the lynx, the viper, the fox, and
| the wolf. She had listened willingly to the seduc-

: tions of the usurper, Philippe of Valois, who had now

| brought upon her the severe vengeance of her right-

| ful sovereign, the boar, by which animal Edward III.

|is commonly designated in these poems. The sins and
\failings of Philippe of Valois are then rehearsed in

rather strong language; and the praise of king

Edward is set forth in no less extravagant terms.

. Arguments, too, are adduced, and those of a rather
singular character, to show the emptiness of Philippe's
claims to the «crown. Philippe had been proved
incapable of curing the king’s evil which was now
looked upon as one of the distinguishing characteristics
of royalty. Moreover, the vessel of sacred oil, which
had been sent down from heaven to anoint Clovis on
his coronation, and which had been ever since pre-

ac he ptt LPO NORE OUS UU INK OE CUE X t CL iy rec 62M sta,
amin Re em a ge

TAN
fretis cte emen am e
M— ev vss

INTRODUCTION. xix

served, was now found empty, and had thus refused

its sanction to the usurpation of Philippe of Valois.

À strange story, which appears to have been widelÿ Stories re
current at the time, is told of the origin of the só- ong 0o er
called Salic law relating to the succession of the succession.
crown of France. Hugh Capet, according to this
story, was à butcher, who changed his name to Pepin,
and having secured the good graces of the heiress of
France, married her; but subsequently obtained her
consent to a law, contrary to all justice and reason,
which deprived the: female sex of the right of inheri-
tance. In spite of this unjust law, Edward was still
the rightful heir to the crown of France, and his :
high qualities, his claims to the French succession, |
and the greatness of England, are dwelt upon with |
enthusiasm through the rest of the poem, which con- '
cludes with gn earnest exhortation to accept no truce,
for this, it was pretended, would only be a cunning
trap laid for him by his enemies.

From this general invective we pass immediately to
the details of history. No event caused greater
exultation ‘at this period of our history than the
battle of Nevile’s Cross, for it was fought in our own
island, it saved the people of England from imminent.
dangers, and it was a glorious victory over their old]
enemies the Scots. A few lines on this battle, some/Oy ne
of which are pilfered from the previous poem, contain BATTLE or
little worthy of remark ; but they are followed by a Cross.
longer Latin poem dedicated expressly to this subject.

The only detailed accounts of this battle hitherto
used by our historians are that of Froissarb and those
of the Seottish writers, the latter of which are far
from impartial The great inaccuracy of Froissart’s
account is shown clearly by the poem now printed,
which is certainly eontemporary with the event, and
written no doubt in the midst of the sensation caused
by it. It leaves no doubt of Froissarts error in

XX | INTRODUCTION.

supposing that Edward's queen was in the north, or

that she was in any way engaged in this affair, a

story which was fully adopted by Sharon Turner, and

" which Lingard did not venture entirely to reject ;!

for surely such an important circumstance would not
have been omitted in a poem written at the time of

the event, and for the especial purpose of commemora-

ting it. Our poem presents another very curious
discrepancy with the ordinary accounts ; it states that
king David was not taken fighting in the battle, but
that he was overtaken by John Copland in the flight
(Brus David auffugit . . . Coplond attingit fugientem
... vex fugiens capiWwr, p. 46) ; and it seems to be

Different further intimated that he attempted to conceal himself

accounts of .
the capture

of king
David
Bruce.

in the thick brushwood among the thorns (David in
spinis reperitur). The writer of this poem speaks of

the Scots with all the bitter animosity which the

English then nourished towards them ;'he describes
the motives of this Scottish invasion, and the self-
confidence and pride of the Scots, commemorates the
courage and patriotism of the Archbishop of York and
the lord Henry Percy, and recounts the defeat of the
invaders and the capture of the Scottish king by
Copland. He then proceeds to depict the charac-
ter of David Bruce in very reproachful language, and
repeats a not very delicate anecdote of the manner

1« Lord Hailes is not pleased
* that the queen should have
* shared in the bonour of the
* battle, and wished to doubt her
* presence, because Froissart is the
* only writer who states it. If we
“ disbelieve all the facts of this

* reign for which we have only

* Froissarts authority, our scep-
* ticism must take alarge sweep."—

Sh. Turner's * England during the

‘ Middle Ages,” vol. ii. p. 204, note
(2nd edit.) —* Queen Philippa, if we
* believe the improbable testimony
* of Froissart, emulating the ex-
* ample of the countess of Mount-
* fort, rode among them, and
* addressed them in kind and
* animating language."— Lingard,
* Hist. of Eng." vol iii. p. 142
(5th edit.)

INTRODUCTION. xxi

in which he defouled the water of the holy font at

his baptism, which he considers to have been a sign |

of his future disgraceful life. A shorter poem, which Crrcr ann
follows this, estimates the loss of the French in the N®vi-x's
battle of Crecy at thirty thousand men, and that of ROSS.

. the Scots at Nevile’s Cross at twelve thousand. The
concluding lines seem to imply the flight of king
David from the battle as told in the preceding poem.

- The great events of the. year 1346, and the sur-
render of Calais, led to a truce or armistice in the -
following year.. This truce was not altogether popular
in England, for the warlike ardour of the people ha
been inflamed by a series of brilliant victories, an
many, believing in the full justice of Edward’s clai
to the crown of: France, looked upon it as a derelictio
of duty to sheath the sword, even for a moment
until. the object of the war should be gained.. A poem On TRE
on the truce, printed in the present. volume, is written Baer ov ov
in this spirit. The king, it says, was not only

protected by the favour of heaven because his. cause
was ‘just, but .because in his army piety and charity;
prevailed, . and: .these virtues,: as : displayed by the

. warriors of England, are descanted upon through many

_ Jines. The writer -proclaims, as a proof that God
approved of the war and. disapproved of the armi-
stice, the cireumstance, mentioned by other writers,
that king Edward and his fleet had fair weather when
they sailed from England, while, on their return, they
encountered violent storms, and narrowly eseaped being
lost. God . was displeased, he says, that the king
Should return before. he had accomplished the grand
object of his expedition, by driving the usurper from

the throné of France. If, with the spring, king
Edward recommenced the war with vigour, no doubt
the same great qualities which he had hitherto dis-
played would carry him through to the end he
desired. Victory would be his reward if he continued

SONGS ON

Kine Ep- ~

WARD'S
WARS, BY
LAWRENCE
Minor.

victim of treachery and deceit.

xxii INTRODUCTION.

in a truce, he would only be the
The word treuga in
the Cornish language, we are told by the writer of.
his poem, signifies grief, and a truce at this time was
not a subject for rejoicing.

In the midst of these anonymous writings, we meet
with the name of a man who appears to have been
the professional song-writer of his age. He takes care
to let us know that his name was Laurence Minot.
Yet, though these songs must have been very popular,
and though they are certainly written with great
spirit, we should have lost all knowledge of them,

the war; but,

-and even the name of the author, had they not been

. them.

preserved in a very accidental manner. The songs
had enjoyed so much consideration among contempo-
raries, that the author was induced to publish them,
about the year 1352, in a collective form, adding
some connecting verses At a later period, in the
wars of Henry V., the records of popular feeling in
ihe reign of Edward Ill. were sought and copied
with eagerness; and among other such records, some
person copied in a very handsome manuscript these
poems of Laurence Minot. This manuscript has for-
tunately been preserved, and it is by it only we know
I have printed them collectively, as they were
published in 1352; but there can be little doubt that
they were written and published separately, on the

——————————————O——————————————— UE On

1 Ritson, "who printed Minot’s
poems, believed the manuscript to
be of the time of Richard IL, and
he and others have taken them as
representing the language of the
fourteenth century. In this they are
evidently wrong, for the language
of Minot's songs, as they are now
preserved, display too great a neglect
of important grammatical forms to

have been written before the fifteenth
century. lsee no reason to doubt
that it was written in the age of the
French wars of Henry V., when the
poems on the wars of Edward III.
were collected with eagerness. 'The
valuable Rawlinson MS., No. 215,
which has furnished so many
materials for the present volume,
was written at that date,

INTRODUCTION. xxiii

occurrence of the events they celebrate. The subject Battle of
of the first of these songs is the well-known battle of falé™
Halidon Hil, king Edward's first great victory. The
songster seems to accuse France of being the cause of

the Scottish hostilities, and relates how Philippe of
Valois attempted to send them assistance. He exults

over their sanguinary defeat at Halidon-hill which
compelled many of them to seek an asylum in the
dominions of king Philippe. In fact, the young king

of Scotland, David Bruce, with his wife (the sister

of king Edward), were carried for security to France

after this decisive battle. The second of Minot’s songs pate of
is a chant of exultation on the manner in which the Bannock-
defeat of Bannockburn had been revenged by the venged.
young king of England. The third song commemoO- Expedition
rates Edward’s expedition to Brabant in 1338, and te Brabant.
relates how, as soon as war had been proclaimed, the
French fleet attacked Southampton, and did consi-
derable harm, until they were surprised and beaten

off by the country people, and how atterwards they

made themselves masters of the great English ship,

the Ohristopher. The fourth song recounts the sequel First in-
of this campaign, and tells us how Edward entered vasion of
France, and how Philippe of Valois came against him, ane
and promised battle, but afterwards turned faint-
hearted, and made his retreat. The fifth of these Naval
songs celebrates the great naval battle of Sluys, or, Sluye. of
as the English generally termed it from the river

which there emptied itself into the sea, of the Swyne,

and gives some particulars, especially with regard to
individuals engaged in it, which are far from unin-
teresting. The sixth song has for its subject the siege giege of
of Tournai, and was written before Edward,—here de- Tournai
signated as the boar,— was compelled to abandon it.

The subject of the seventh is Edward's campaign in potue of
Normandy in 1346, and the memorable battle of Crécy.
Crécy. It is a song of triumph, composed in the

Siege of
Calais,

Battle of
Nevile's
Cross.

^. Naval vic-

tory ovcr
the Spa-
niards.

XX1V INTRODUCTION,

midst of the joy with which the news of this. great

victory was received. Another song commemorates

the siege of Calais; it describes the arrival of the
deputation of the burghers to deliver up the keys to
king Edward, but says nothing of the more dramatic
part of the scene which forms so prominent a part of
the narrative of the chroniclers. The ninth song —
perhaps the most spirited of them all,—commemorates
the battle of Nevile’s Cross, and the defeat and capture
of king David Bruce. Its negative evidence is equally.
strong with the other contemporary records against the
truth of Froissart’s story of the part which queen

Isabella was pretended to have taken in this battle.

It was by the counsel of Philippe of Valois that the
Scots invaded England, we are told, and they were
so confident in the belief that all the fighting men
had. been carried out of England to the French wars,
that king David talked of descending from his horse
at the palace of Westminster. “ When sir David the
*' Bruce sat on his steed, he set all England at de-
“fiance; but gentle John of Copland talked with
* David and taught him his creed. Sir David,—who
* had promised to visit the south,— had the fair
* Tower of London for his reward." The tenth of
these songs celebrates king Edward's naval. victory
over the Spaniards in 1350; and the eleventh and

Capture of last was composed immediately after the reduction of

Guines.

Disrure
BETWEEN
THE EN-
GLISHMAN
AND THE
FRENCH-
MAN,

the castle of Guines in the earlier part of the year
1352.

A Latin poem, which follows these songs, displays
in strong language the hatred which now existed

between the two countries, France and England. The
Frenchman is introduced replying to various reproaches

which were popularly hurled against his countrymen,
and he retaliates with a rather heavy volley of abuse,
which is curious for the light it throws on the manners
of the time on both parts. In tbe eyes of this French-

INTRODUCTION. — | XXV

man, England was “the dregs of men, the shame of
* the world, and the last of all things" It appears | -
that Frenchmen were accused of giving a large pro-
portion of care to the combing of their hair, of being |
pale-faced, of speaking effeminately, of walking in an —
affected manner, and also of great licentiousness in
their private morals. Our Frenchman seems to ac-
knowledge the first four charges, but urges that they
had been misinterpreted, and turned wrongly to bis
disadvantage. He then turns upon the English, and
accuses them of making a god of their bellies, and of
swilling themselves with ale. “We are nourished with
* the pure liquor of the grape," he says, * while no-
* thing but the dregs are sold to the English, who
* will "take anything for liquor which is liquid. ‘You
* drink dregs,” he goes on to say “and even those
are thought so much of, that it is only on festive
occasions that they are distributed to a few and in
small quantities" The Englishman replies in the
same tone, and accuses the French of unmanly effe-
minacy, telling them that all their gests and move-
ments betray the faults in their character. Lechery
and avarice, he says, were their prevailing vices. The
dregs of wine might be used in England at the servile
table, but it was the Frenchman who got only the poor
remains of the wine, while the Englishman revelled in
the pure liquor. Contemporary manuscripts have pre-
served more than one satirical piece of this description
written in prose.

The vear 1367 witnessed the expedition of the Black Prixce
Prince into Spain for the purpose of restoring Peter EDWARDS
the Cruel to his ill-merited throne. A short poem, TION INTO
written in a very affected style of versification, com- ni
memorates this event, and tells how, while England
was reposing in security on her laurels, and the prince
was ruling his conquered province of Gascony, the
court of the latter gave refuge to the fugitive prince

VOL. I. d

cé

Poem on
the same
subject, by
Walter of
Peterbo-
rough.

Causes of
the war.

xxvi INTRODUCTION.

who had been driven from the throne of Spain by his
people and had been succeeded in the occupation of it
by his bastard brother Henry (don Enrique) The
writer celebrates in few words the exploits of Edward
and his brother of Lancaster, of Ufford, and Chandos,
and Knollys, and exults especially over the defeat of
the French free companies (colliberti), and the capture
of their chiefs Du Quesclin, whom the English called
Claykyn, and D'Audenham, whose name is here cor-
rupted into Dondinham. A warm panegyrie on the
Black Prince concludes this short poem.

The Spanish expedition of the Black Prince had
inspired several writers, among whom was a Latin
poet of some pretension. Walter of Peterborough was
a monk of Revesby, in Lincolnshire, who held some
position in the household of prince Edward’s brother,
John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and appears to .
have accompanied him in this expedition for the .
restoration of Pedro the Cruel to the crown of Castile. :
He wrote a Latin poem to celebrate it, which he —
dedicated to the duke’s treasurer; and at some period :
subsequent to its composition these Latin political -
poems became so popular that they seem to bave been
introduced into the schools as -books for reading, and |
to have been accompanied with glosses, or commen- :
taries, both grammatical and historical Such a gloss .
is found attached to one copy, the manuscript of.
which is unfortunately imperfect, of Walter of Peter- .
borough, and the poem and the gloss together give us —

a rather full and particular account of this Spanish war. .

Walter of Peterborough, after giving in a prologue an :
account of himself and his writings, and indulging in à :
warm panegyrie of the prince of Wales, proceeds to relate _
the events of the war, which he describes as being one of :
three brothers against three brotbers, the first three being :
bastards and the other three legitimate. The former ;
were Enrique, Tello, and Sancho, the illegitimate sons |

INTRODUCTION. xxvii

of king Alphonso by Leonora de Guzman; the latter

were prince Edward, John of Gaunt, and king Pedro,

the claims of the latter to fraternity with the two

princes being of a very doubtful character. Pedro,

driven from the throne of Castile by his bastard

brother, and left entirely without friends, sought the

protection of prince Edward, who was moved by his

tears, and immediately undertook to assist him if he

could obtain the approval of his father, king Edward

of England. The messenger sent by the prince to

England seems to have been his brother, John of

Gaunt, who soon returned with king Edward’s autho-

rity to undertake the war. The prince, greatly re-

joiced, proceeded to assemble his army, but, in the

midst of his preparations, a messenger arrived, bearing

a letter from Don Enrique, who expostulated with the

prince on his hostility, but required him, if he would

not desist, to indicate the route by which he intended

to invade his dominions, in order that he might meet

him and give him battle The prince replied, and

summoned the bastard, as the condition of peace, to

restore to Pedro the throne of which he had deprived

him. The poet then describes the passage of the Passage of

Pyrenees, and the military arrangements of the troops, ‘2° Pyre-

whose principal leaders are enumerated. The first town

belonging to the king of Castile at which they ar-

rived was that of St. Salvador (Salvatierra) which

at first offered resistance, and Sir Richard de Burley

was wounded; but on second thoughts the townsmen

opened their gates to their rightful sovereign Pedro.

The next town they came to, Vittoria (villa Bœticensis),

followed the example of St. Salvador, and surrendered

at once, and the invaders here learnt that the enemy

was encamped in the mountains. One division of the

prince's forces, passing the night without suthcient

watch, was suddenly attacked at daybreak by the

troops of Don Enrique, who rushed upon them from
d 2

xxvlii INTRODUCTION.

the mountains, and made considerable havoc; many
were slain in their beds Among the killed was a
good English knight, Sir William de Felton, and
among the rather numerous prisoners taken by the
Spaniards was Sir Ralph de Hastings. The duke |
of Lancaster hastened to the assistance of the
division which had been thus attacked, and the
Spaniards, repulsed, withdrew into the mountains,
It was now resolved by the enemy to harass the
princes army by desultory attacks, while. by
seizing the passes they would coop them up in
the mountains, and eonquer them by famine; and the .
. English soon felt severely the effects of this policy.
They, nevertheless, made their way over the moun- .
tains, the difficulties of which are particularly described
. by the poet, and at length reached the town of the
. Groyne (Logroño), on the banks of the Ebro. It was
the Ist of April when the Black Prince, who had
established himself at Navarette, received another letter :
from the bastard, announcing that he was encamped
Batleof on the banks of the river Najara ready to give him
Najera. battle. This news spread joy through the English
army, which immediately made a movement in advance
to be nearer the enemy. The decisive battle . was
fought on the 3rd of April, and is described with in-
teresting minuteness through the remaining pages of
the poem of Walter of Peterborough, who complains :
at the end that his labours had met with no reward,
and that his poem was in the case of the pearl that -
was placed before swine.

S cn Nau, Vl eis ER a tre D. ase. e eleme tT M ee ommo

Zeit CS EN

.
ea a ea: ae ee

JOHN OF We now come to one of the most remarkable tracts
T ‘Ge . . »
TON. 0 in the present volume. When the period of Edwards :

great military successes had passed away, and the eyes |
of his subjects were less dazzled by the outward glory |
of his rule, they began to look more into the-national |
grievances, and a party in opposition to the govern- |
| ment was gradually forming, and was strengthened by }

INTRODUCTION. XXIX

the increasing errors of the court. Many of the younger /
nobility joined this opposition, and they fortified their

cause by assuming for it the popular name of the Black

Prince, who lent himself more and more to this oppo-i
sition to the court and to his unpopular brother the

duke of Lancaster. Among the chiefs of this party

we may probably reckon the young earl of Hereford,
Humphrey de Bohun, the last of the Bohuns who Humphrey
. held. that earldom.! Somewhere about the year 1370, 9€ Bobun.
or perhaps a little after, a writer who appears to

have been in his service drew. up and dedicated to

lim a political review of the reign of king Edward,

under the feigned character of a prophecy in Latin

verse, which in itself is obscure enough, but it is
rendered tolerably intelligible by a pretended prose

gloss or commentary. Thus, whatever there might be

of criticism or satire was sheltered under the name

of a prophetical writer who had long gone beyond the

reach of temporal punishment. This writer calls his

. prophet John of Bridlington, but he professes to con- _
.eeal his own name, and it seems very doubtful if. the

later bibliographers had any good reason for stating

that it was John Ergome. The reasons he assigns for
eoncealing his name are sufficiently curious; he feared,

first, the tongues of the envious, who might pursue him State of.
with their detractions; secondly, the power of the speech. of
nobles, whose vengeance he might provoke by what

would be taken as personal attacks; and third, the ©
‘indignation of wise and discreet men, who, strong in

1 Humphrey’s two daughters were | duke of Hereford, and became
married, the eldest to the duke of | eventually duke of Lancaster and
Gloucester, son of Edward IIL, and | king Henry IV. This last Bohun,
the youngest to the earl of Derby, | earl of Hereford, was only in his
son of John of Gaunt, who was | thirty-second year of age when he
subsequently raised to the title of | died in 1372.

XXX INTRODUCTION.

their own superior intelligence, might be offended that

he, a young man, should presume to meddle with a

: "Three pr¢-

. faces.

subject of so much profundity. To whatever degree
the crown might overlook freedom of speech, it is
evident that Eh was dangerous in face of an aris-
tocracy which had the power of vengeance in its own
hands, unless the offender was under very powerful pro-
tection. There are three distinct prefaces to this poem
and its commentary, in the first of which the writer
explains the causes and objects of the prophecy, and
the advantages which must follow from knowing and
understanding it. The second preface presents a sort

. of canon of interpretation, or rather it furnishes the

key to the obscurities in the text of the prophecy.
Thus the author, by making his text obscure, and by
giving an apparently hypothetical explanation, avoided
the danger which would have been incurred by a con-

temporary who openly published his political opinions.

The third preface explains the material arrangement
and division of the book. The prophet is represented
as suffering under the accesses of a sort of delirious
fever, under which the revelations of the future are
made to him. These accesses are three in number, in

Contentsof accordance with which the poem is divided into three

the three
distine-
tions.

“distinctions.” The first of these divisions includes
the period from the accession of Edward IL, for the
political treatise begins with the reign of this monarch,
as in some sort the base of the politics of that of his

successor, to the battle of Crécy, fought in 1846; the

second distinction extends from this latter date to A.D.
1361, the year of the second great pestilence; and the
third from that period to a rather indefinite date, the
end of the prophecy.

The three prefaces just mentioned belong professedly
to the commentary. The first chapter of the metrical
text is also a preface, in which the prophet describes

INTRODUCTION. XXXl

how he lay down on his bed under the influence of

his fever, and became inspired with the spirit of fore-

sight. The second chapter includes the reign of Edward Sketch of
of Caernarvon, on whose character the writer is by no reign of IL
means indulgent. Edward, he says, was à man with-

out knowledge and wisdom, who was defeated with
disgrace in all his wars, and who was always infatuated

with worthless favourites. Nevertheless, says the pro-

phet, he was “noble by birth;” which, adds the
commentator, was a contradiction to a vulgar error
which seems to have prevailed largely in the four-
teenth century. The want of noble feelings and the
rather low propensities displayed by the second Edward,

so widely different from his father's temper, made it

easily credible that he was not of the pure blood of

the Plantagenets, and a pretender was found in the Story
twelfth year of his reign, A.D. 1318, who laid claim to ID
the crown. He said that he was the eldest son of The car-
king Edward I, and that in his earliest infancy he te" son.
was entrusted to a nurse, who having negligently

left him in a low cradle, à sow entered the chamber,
seized upon the child, and tore it in such a manner

that the nurse dared not show it to its royal parents.

She, therefore, secretly changed it for the child of a

earler of the same age, and the latter was brought

up as the king's son; and the pretender' sought io

gain credence to his story by showing the marks

of the wounds he had received from the sow. It was
remarked that this story agreed very well with the

low tastes of the king, and, although this pretender

was seized and hanged at Northampton, there were
many who believed it. We may suppose, from the
manner in which this story is told by our commen-

tator, that it still found believers in his time, who

only dared not proclaim their belief because it would

be casting a doubt on the rights of Edward III.

to the English throne.'
the reign of Edward Il. are narrated concisely, and

xxxii INTRODUCTION.
The principal events of

the writer dwells on the manifold evils which are
brought upon a kingdom by misgovernment, and on its

. unhappy end:as illustrated in the case of this monarch.

A ecession
of Edward
II,

We are told, in the conclusion of the chapter, of the
birth of Edward of Windsor, how. he succeeded to the
throne before his father was dead, what were his
claims through his mother Isabella to the crown of
France, and for what reasons he received the title or
epithet of the bull (tawrus), under which he is com-

monly spoken of in this poem.

It is in the third chapter that we really enter upon
the grand subject of the pretended prophecy, the reign

of Edward III, to the events of whose youth it is
devoted. The prophet and his commentator ascribe a

Character
of Edward
III.

rather large array of virtues to the young king, such
as fortitude of body and mind, sobriety, chastity, just-
ness, humility, activity in doing good, and courage -
against his enemies. These, our writer tells us, were
the king’s virtues when young, but he confesses that
they did not all continue with him during his life.
Edward’s reign would be glorious to the end, there
would be abundance of the preduce of the earth, yet
he would be always in want of money. Lastly, he
would be a strong defender of his people, would subdue
his enemies, and overcome kings. He would be during

1 There is a less complete, but
supplementary allusion to this affair
in Capgrave’s Chronicle of England,
recently published under the direc-
tion of the Master of the Rolls,
p. 185 :—“In the xi. 3ere cam a
“ song man to Oxenforth, and
* there he prechid openly that he
* was son to kyng Edward the
* First, and very eyre of Ynglond.

* Eke he noysed that this Edward
“the Seeund was not the kyngis
* son, but a carter child, sotily
* broute into the queen. The
*-meyhir of Oxenforth took this
* man, and sent him to the kyng,
* that lay thanne at Norhampton,
* where he was hangged and drawe
* and qwartered.”

INTRODUCTION. xxxlii

his whole life a lover of justice. These, we are told,
were the king’s more durable qualities. Edward is
nexb spoken of as making various innovations in the

comage, among which was the introduction of a gold

coin, the noble, while the circulation of silver coinage
became very much diminished, in consequence of the
application of that metal to other purposes. The fall
of Mortimer is described in this chapter, and the op-
pression and violence which were practised among them-
. selves in the different classes of society. Fraud prevailed
among the merchants, as is illustrated in the importation
of the base coinage of Luxemburg, the lushburns, as
they were called ; and simony reigned in the church. |

The fourth chapter recounts the marriage of king rations
David of Scotland with king Edward’s sister, in the vain with Scot-

hope of establishing peace between the two countries’; T

the successful invasion of Scotland by Baliol, and the
misery of Scotland under two kings; Baliol's expulsion
and flight; and king Edward's great victory over the
Scots at Halidon-hill The chapter concludes with
some allusions to the vices of king David of Scotland,
who is spoken of by the title of the crab (cancer),
* on account of certain conditions of the king in which

* he resembled that animal" David is accused of Character
of David
Bruce.

treating his English wife with contempt, and of living
luxuriously with a number of concubines, so that the

licentiousness of his manners became a common subject.

for celebration among the minstrels and jongleurs, and
was proclaimed by them everywhere. His subjects

. looked upon him with no respect, and his wise men

esteemed him a fool.

The fifth chapter treats of the relations between

England aud France. The writer declares the “ pride”
of the French to have been the cause of the war
which followed, and complams of their continue

attempts to rob the king of England of his castles!
and territory on the continent. England was unwilling

elations
ith
rance,

XXxlv INTRODUCTION.

to engage in war, for there was an impression among
all classes in this country that France was then one of
the most powerful kingdoms in the world, and that
England was hardly able to contend with it. The
French themselves had a similar belief, and in their
{ pride they thought that with their gold alone they
4 were able to conquer England; “ but," says the writer,
/ * they were deceived, for the help of God with justice
“is worth more than many treasures.” The French
jurists had decided that according to the law of France
a female could neither inherit nor convey the right of
inberiting to her male descendants, but our writer
&dduces passages from the Bible to show that this
was contrary to the law of God.
Com- The first hostilities with France are the subject of
Tike ncn the sixth chapter. King Edward went to the continent
and placed himself at the head of a large army, com-
posed partly of Germans, who served for money and
could be trusted only as long as they were well paid,
and Flemings, who only served the English king
because their material interests bound them to England,
whence they derived the wool for their clothing manu-
factures. The French, instead of resisting in the field,
withdraw into their castles and strong places, and
Edward undertook the siege of Tournai; but he was
obliged to abandon it by the want of supplies, and he
returned to England to seek them. He raised money
by seizing upon the wool, and then, returning to the
Continent, gained the great naval victory of Sluys.
Progressof Another chapter (cap. vii.), concludes the first distinc-
the war. tion, and brings the political review down to the battle
of Crécy. The pope had interfered, and an unsub-
stantial peace, or rather an armistice, had been the ~
result; then arose the war in Britany, and the king
sailed over, and laid siege to Vannes; in his return
the king encountered a dreadful storm, from which he :
escaped with difficulty. A new truce was concluded ;

INTRODUCTION. XXXV

and Edward spent the interval in ostentatious revelry,
holding a “round table” at Windsor in supposed
imitation of the doings at the court of the legendary
king Arthur. The Flemings drove away their duke, .

who was unfriendly to England ; but, on the other hand,

pope Clement, who was a Frenchman himself, showed Conduct of
an undue partiality for his countrymen, which, however, PP. Cle-

did not prevent.them from experiencing a disgraceful

defeat by the earl of Derby. At this period of his com-
| position the poet or prophet was visited by an attack

"of his malady, which compelled him to bring to a
close the first distinction.

The second distinction of so called John of Bridlington
embraces the period from the year of Crécy to A.D. 1361.
The writer begins this second division of his work with
a chapter in which he again asserts the justice of king
Edwards claims to the French succession, and "aj |

on his victories as' evidence of God's approval In the Expedition
to Nor-
mandy..

month of July (1346) Edward again put to sea wit
his fleet, well furnished for the war, and landed in
Normandy, where he overrun the country, and made
a great destruction of his enemies, on whom God had.
sent this punishment on account of their notorious im-
morality. The French broke down the bridges before the
invaders, but in vain; and at the Pont-de-l' Arche (Pont-
large) the French lost a great number of men in their
attempt to prevent the passage of the river. The writer
goes on to tell of the taking of Caen by the English,
and of the loss sustained by the king of France in
passing a river (at Pontoise) He accuses the French
of falseness, because, he says, they made promises in
their necessities which they did not intend to keep;
and of pride, alleging, as an instance of the latter, their
refusal to yield to Edward's just claims to the throne
of France. |

The second chapter of this second distinction recounts Battle of
the victories of Crécy and Nevile’s Cross The war C»

^
Vas

xxxvi | INTRODUCTION.

was becoming more intense and more sanguinary, and
the writer implores the protection of the Virgin Mary
for his hero, king Edward. False Philippe, we are told,

.. fled from Crécy, and left his slaughtered people to their

Battle of -
Nevile's
Cross.

Siege of
Calais.

fate. The king of Bohemia, the count of Flanders,

and the master of the hospitalers, were all slain in the
battle with sixteen hundred and ten knights, whose
vain display of gems and precious stones in their
accoutrements did not save them from their fate. The
army of the “ just" Edward gained the mastery over
the French, and the English now regaled themselves’
without interruption on the good wines of France.
Meanwhile David of Scotland sought to destroy
England during the absence of its soldiery, but, after
be had been wounded by an arrow in the face, he was
made a prisoner by John de Coupelonde. It was a
just punishment for his numerous immoralities. The
devil was the leader of the Scots in this invasion,
which ended in their perdition ; but Christ protected
the English, who were few against many. There were
bishops in the hostile ranks, who loved strife better
ihan preaching, and who placed themselves under the .
protection of the shield rather than under that of the .
cross. —000— | | Cos d
The siege of Calais commences in the third chapter,
and we are here told that at first the English army .
suffered greatly from the want of provisions and of other

. supplies. To this statement is added a piece of court

Court
scandal.

scandal of the time, to which I am not aware that
we have any other allusion. The writer ,intimates
rather strongly and very coarsely, that king Edward
had a concubine who repaired to him before Calais,
and that her influence contributed in a great measure

to check his warlike ardour. She is designated by the

name of Diana, which in the commentary is supposed :
in the first instance to indicate the queen, but the :
sequel both of text and commentary show clearly that

INTRODUCTION. xxxvii

this was merely intended as a blind. While Edward,

we are told, was constantly occupied with this lady,

his army ran short of bread. There is further a rather
obscure intimat tion, that a son was born of this com-

merce, who is designated by the term latro, a robber.

This statement gives rise to some moral reflections on Edward's
the consequences of living incontinently, and the writer °°"
further intimates that this was one of the causes why
Edward was not allowed himself to gather the fruits

of his victories, but he excuses himself from entering

into further detail, lest he should draw upon himself

the enmity of the ladv in question:

“Si modo plus dicam, faciam mihi tune inimicam.”

These words, which are those of the prophet, betray
at once the subsequent writer, for the supposed
John of Bridlington, living, as: we are told, in the
earlier part of the commentary, at the beginning of
the reign of Edward IL, could hardly be afraid, by
uttering the words with which he pretended to be
inspired, of provoking the hostility of a woman, who,
whoever she may have been, was then probably not
born, and was destined to be a royal concubine only
in the middle of the following reign. On the other
hand, these words seem to show that the lady alluded
to was still alive, and possessed some degree of power at
the time when this book was really composed. . During
this time, we are told, king Edward had received an The count

of Flan-
affront from the count of Flanders, who had concluded ders. ™

1 The young count of Flanders— | one of the king of England's
his father was killed at Crécy—was | daughters, but he found his position
restored to the duchy by an agree. | so disagreeable, that he fled from
ment between the king of France | Flanders to the court of France, and
and the Flemings, one condition of | abandoned the treaty by which he
which, insisted upon by the count’s | had been restored, and with it the
subjects, was that he should marry | proposed marriage. :

xxxvi INTRODUCTION.

a matrimonial engagement with one of Edwards |
daughters, which he now refused contemptuously to
full. Edward's exhausted finances soon proved the
fidelity, or rather the want of fidelity, of his paid foreign
soldiers, for it was no sooner found that money was not
ready for their pay, than Brabanters, and Flemings, and
Germans began to desert his standard, and he found
s that he could depend only upon his own Englishmen. |
The king .. The fourth chapter opens with an eulogium of Edward
Calais. LIL, whose great qualities are enumerated, which had
uniformly merited victory over his enemies. During the |
winter, the king had obtained from England money and .
provisions, and this was no sooner known than soldiers
crowded from all sides to his standard. Moreover, his
brother, the duke of Lancaster, arrived with reinforce-
ments from Gascony, to his great joy; and the nobles
of England hastened to join him at the head of their
vassals. Thus the king was enabled to carry on with
vigour his great undertaking.

The fifth chapter is devoted to incidents which oc-
curred during the siege of Calais. Charles of Blois,
the claimant to the duchy of Britany against the
family of Montfort, having been attacked suddenly
while engaged in the siege of the castle of “ Rochele”
(La Roche-Derien) in the month of June, 1347, was

Capture of made prisoner by the English, and had been safely

rares of lodged in-the Tower of London, which was already -
|. the prison of king David of Scotland. Pope Clement,
Inter- also, interfered to make a new attempt to procure a
one Cle. peace, or rather, according to our writer, he interfered
. ment. io deceive the king of England, for he had always

acted with partiality for the king of France. He did
al he could, we axe here assured, to induce Edward .
to abandon his rights, but Edward put no trust in
the pope, but believed that the help of Christ was
much to be preferred to that of Clement, and so it
proved. “Hence,” says the comment, “it is to be

INTRODUCTION. ^ . XXXIX

* noted, that the pope may often err against Justice,

* and may excommunicate the true part, and give his

“ benediction to the false part, and" grant his in-

* dulgence to those who are fighting on the false

* side; and then God will give his benediction to

“ the true part, and the acts of the pope will not

* hurt it” The pope is greatly blamed for employing

the holy rights and the goods of the church to help
Philippe of Valois against the king of England, and

he is threatened with God's judgment for thus mis-

using them. The next chapter shows how Philippe Philippe’s
resolved to make an effort to save Calais, assembled ARR
a great army, and hastened to its relief. But, says fails.

our writer, it is in vain we contend against God's
ordinance and will, as Saul only met with defeat and
slaughter when he made war upon David, God's
anointed. So Philippe's great army approached Calais,
showed themselves, and then ran away. Philippe's
flight is explained in two ways: in the first place, he
had lost confidence in himself since his defeat at
Crécy ; ; and, secondly, heaven had abandoned him
since his cause was an unjust one.

The seventh chapter introduces us to the reign of Reign of
king Jean of France There was great rumour, we Eris Jean
learn, at the beginning of this king's reign, that the
French. would renew the war with England, and pre- :
parations were made for it, but they came to no
effect. Indeed, it is added, king Jean did not make
war upon the king of England from the beginning of
his reign till the year of the battle of Poitiers. A
famine was in part the cause of this, and the people
of France were not unwilhng to enjoy even a tem-
porary peace. The pomp and extravagance displayed
by king Jean was not destined to last two years,
either on account of the great pestilence, which came
in the second year of his reign, or “ because he was

xl INTRODUCTION.

* never afterwards so pompous as in these two first
“ years.” During this period a battle is pretended to
have occurred on the river ‘ Seyne,” with a loss of above
a thousand men, but the writer, in his commentary, |
professes not to know what battle is alluded to. The |
-writer proceeds to announce a series of mysterious dis-
| pensations of providence which occurred during the
The great following years. The first of these was the great pesti-
pestilence. Jence of the year 1349, which commenced in England in
the month of July. After desolating this island, it began
to cease here towards the end of August, and passed
over into France, and raged there with still greater
intensity. This pestilence compelled the king of England
to refrain from hostilities ; and the new pope, who was
_ also a Frenchman, interfered in the hope of turning
the armistice between the two kings into a perma-

. . nent peace, but in vain. |
/ Edward's The eighth chapter explains to us why Edward was |
(Vo back- not allowed to obtain the object of this war, his royal |

slidings . . . 0T. n. .

| inheritance in France. His inclination for strange 1
women lad gained upon him, and a certain maiden |
is here said to have obtained so complete an influence

over him as to make him neglect and almost separate

himself from his own queen. God, however, would :
not entirely destroy him for these sins, but in his |
mercy would only send upon him great temporary :
evils, from the effects of which he would raise him up |
again. The king had further provoked God's anger by 1
the slaughter of so many innocent people in France, 1|

+ vert

YX se | and by his rapine and oppressions in England. By his :
MES "E Y . e. . e
ZEE ' unjust exactions he had broken the laws of his king-

dom which he was bound to observe, and God punishes |
kings who do not properly observe their country’s 1
laws. He had, moreover, weakened the power of the.
country and his own by the destruction of his people, : |
whose means were exhausted by these arbitrary exac- |

INTRODUCTION. | xli

lions His conduct is compared with that of David,
who sinned against God in somewhat the same degree,
and was punished for his sins, but not destroyed.
Such also was to be the punishment of king Edward.

The sins of the French, as we are informed in the Siasof the
ninth chapter, were still more crying, and brought French.

upon them far greater misfortunes. Among these pride,
stood foremost, under the influence of which they had
refused king Edward his rightful inheritance. They had
received their first punishment for this in their great
disaster at Crécy; and the sin prevailed to such a;
degree, that the very princes of the royal family rose
up in rebellion against their father. Nor was this
their only fault; for, besides their pride, they were
guilty of all the rest of the seven deadly sins, avaricé,
luxury, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. The same:
judgment would come upon them as fell upon Babylon,

when God gave it up to Cyrus, king of the Persians. |
Their fields and vineyards were wasted, and their;

towns, formerly so joyful, were impoverished and
ruined by the war. <A further cause why these mis-

fortunes were. sent to them was their want of devo- .

tion, and the little reverence they paid to holy things,
and to the saints who might have interceded for them.
Their misery had been completed by the terrible visi-
tation (the pestilence) which had carried away a
seventh part of the land (sepiima pars terre).

The tenth and last chapter of this distinction relates
somewhat briefly the events of seven years, namely

from 1354 to 1361. The principal of these events Battle of
was the battle of Poitiers, gained in 1356 by the Poitiers.

Black Prince. After just ten years of peace between
the kings of France and England, during which each
party had spared nothing to irritate the other, for our
writer tells us the French spoke reproachfully of the

English, and, among other things, pretended that they .
were born with tails, according to a story which was

VOL. TI. e

Capture of
Berwick
by the
Scots.

xli INTRODUCTION.

then prevalent, and the English applying to the
French epithets equally opprobrious, the war recom-
menced, and the English proved their superiority over
their opponents in the battle in which king Jean and
one of his sons were made prisoners.. Before this, in
1354, according to our writer, the Scots surprised
Berwick, stealing into it by night, and expelled the
English inhabitants, after plundering them, and killing
many. This attack was made out of spite to Edward
de Baliol and to revenge the sanguinary defeat which

the English had formerly inflicted upon them at

Halidon-hill During the whole life of Edward
Baliol, we are told, the Scots were in subjection to
the English, on account of Baliol’s “justice” and of.
the assistance he received from the English barons;
but, on the death of Lord Henry de Percy (in 1351),
Baliol lost one of his chief supports The king of
England, returning from France, marched with an.

army to the northern borders; but Berwick was re-
Invasion of covered by the English before his arrival He, how-.

Scotland.

Edward's
last inva-
sion of
France.

ever, having purchased Baliol’s right to the Scottish:
crown, invaded Scotland, and ravaged the eountry in:
a dreadful manner, until his sister, the wife of king:
David, interceded, and obtained a peace. About this |
time accusations were brought against the lord Henry
de Percy of not being faithful in his allegiance, but;
our writer throws ‘discredit on these charges, and
appeals to his conduct in the battle of Nevile’s:
Cross. Afterwards (4. e, in 1356), Charles of Blois}
was ransomed and set at liberty. The last event}
described in this chapter is the invasion of France by
Edward IIL in 1359 and 1360; but in the midst;

DOVE NS

1 On this subject of the pretended ! prose, written about this time, an |
tails of the English, the reader will | printed in tbe Reliquiæ de
find a very eurious satire, in Latin | vol. ii. p. 230. |

INTRODUCTION. | xl

of describing the ravages committed by the invaders,
the “prophet” was attacked so violently by his
malady, that he was obliged to bring his second
distinction to a close.

The third distinction commences with the second Thesecond
great pestilence, in 1361, in which the duke of? estilence,
Lancaster and many other people of high rank in
England perished, and of which several particulars are
given. The king and queen escaped, but it is
intimated that other griefs were reserved for them.

The king, this time, returned from France, bringing
money with him, instead of coming, as formerly, to ask
for money to continue his wars. The peace of Bretigni
is passed over in silence, and, as the author approaches
the time at which he was writing, he becomes more ;
obscure in his allusions, many of which are not easily |
explained. This is the. case with the second chapter of
the third distinction, in which the writer touches upon !
some of the less known scandal and intrigues of the
court of Edward III. He begins by intimating that À new
many persons who had been frightened into devotion by ‘52%.
the late pestilence assumed the cross and went to the
Holy Land to fight against the enemies of the faith,
and that there their leader was slain! Who was the
leader of the English slain on this occasion is not
distinctly stated, but his name is concealed under the
Latin word rusticus, and the writer insinuates that it
may have been one which by its derivation suggested
the idea of peasants or churls, ‘ like Charls, or

—.* Charltoun, or something of this kind.” It is next More court
intimated that some woman again influenced the #4.
king; that she, by her dalliance, rendered him inactive
and effeminate, and prevented him from crossing the

Ü
:
i
r

! This was probably the expedition Cyprus. See Michaud, Hist. des
i led by Pierre de Lusignau, king of | Croisades, tom viii. pp. 149-151,

|
|

'Trea-
cherous

counsellors,

Deserip-
tion of
these.

indulges in a display of ill-humour against women .in

j Edward even allowed his prisoners to regain their
. liberty by the payment of ransoms! This, we are

xiv INTRODUCTION.

sea and pursuing his victories And the writer

general, Another cause of the failure of the war
against France was, we are assured, the want of God's
grace, which had been withdrawn from king Edward

on account of his wrong-doings, especially in unjustly |

taxing his people. Instead of standing firmly upon
his rights, and prosecuting his claims with vigour,

told, occurred in 1362. Our writer speaks next of
some great personage who enjoyed the king's familia-
rity and confidence, but who secretly deceived and
betrayed him, and whom he conceals under the appella-
tion of Traulus, a stutterer. This person, he says,
was à pompous and ostentatious man, who came to an

ill end. Other false and deceitful men who were near

the king's person are designated in the metres ascribed
to the prophet by the epithets seduus, blesus, hircus,
genitalia lesus, panniculos cœsus, glaucus, fulvus, and
obesus, words which the comment intimates described
some peculiarities in the persons or characters of the
individuals designated by them. “While these,” the
writer says, “carry honey in their mouths, but seek
* to sting the bull (Edward III.) from behind, their
“ treachery broke the pledge of love, but their fraud was
* discovered by the artfulness of their own partizans.”

The first of these epithets, seduus, meant, says the com- :
ment, a man who lisped ; the second, blæsus, one whose |

words were pleasant and fair in appearance, but false.

Hircus was a man who had the character and appear-
ance of a goat; genitalia lwsus described an accidental :

defect in the person to whom it was applied ; panni-

ie QA DE GEBEN RR UR E E RE E A Se d

! This alludes, apparently, to the | the fulfilment of the treaty of E

liberation of the hostages given for i Dretigni.

E . . .
ae Ri A iit Salen A re o o Re PP ne 5 a 7 a a e Dea atte a LA eo dia, marmo fe lice) Él a cmd ads Ske ri a san nc LS baht tated a vale eDiets re hr Sha ab ME Lane nL RE cn Hin bl A nai RÉ ER es ae Ac mt Lure een hit. s ne DA AIa M d ee sec dre Ln ARR

Mum yn n nmt

INTRODUCTION. | xlv

culos cœsus, one who wore to excess the jagged and

slit garments which were then coming into fashion;
glaucus and fulvus designated. the individuals by
their complexions, which are described more minutely
a few lines below ; obesus was, of course, a fat man.
After thus explaining the names, and informing us that
people would all know the persons they designated by
the descriptions, the writer, as though he thought he
had said too much, tries to mystify his subject

further by remarking that each word may singly

denote an individual, so that there would be eight in
all, or that two or three names might signify one
man, in which latter case, if carried to the furthest
limit it would allow, there would be at least two
individuals. “These things being premised,” he goes
on to say, “the aforesaid persons will be more easily
“ recognized ;" and he proceeds to explain the metrical

^ text, as quoted above, by saying that the honey they

carried in their mouths was pleasant and honeyed
words, by which they deluded the king, while they
plotied against him behind his back. Thus, they broke
the league of love, that is, as he says, ‘“‘ between the
“ king and the other lords, whom the king would have
* loved well but for their words, or perhaps between
“ different lands and kingdoms, against. which they
“ urged the king either to war or hatred.” It is thus
that the writer gives several explanations of his own
words when he comes near the time at which he
wrote, in order to cover the direct attack contained
in the first explanation. He goes on to say that their
fraud would be discovered (fraus illorum nudabitur)
by the artfulness of their own partizans (arte suorum),
that is, by some open act of treachery, or by some
man or men of theirs who, knowing their treasons,
should reveal them to the king. The writer, leaving
these individuals, proceeds to criticise the costume of
the day, complains bitterly of the evil of these jagged

Extrava-
gance in
dress.

Domestic

grievances. i,

Simony in

the church.

xlvi -: INTRODUCTION.

garments, and declares that there was a change of |
dress eleven times a year, which impoverished the .
nobility and gentry to such a degree that they were .
unable to furnish their tables, and were obliged to .
abandon their old hospitality. This sin of extravagance :

in dress was punished by a famine, and by the |

absolute want of those things in which extravagance .

in dress had obliged people to be sparing.

The subject of these domestic grievances is continued |
the third chapter of this third distinction The |

king had abandoned his expeditions against France,
and remained at home in peace. His domestic policy -
is represented as worse even than his foreign policy.
‘He sent out six censors or judges, who, instead of ©
relieving, oppressed the people. An archbishop of

Canterbury was raised to his see by simony and the

exercise of influence at the court of Rome; but he :
was deprived of his dignity by Satan, “or some other :

“ evil spirit,” who would not allow him to hold it
long. This can only refer to Simon de Langham, who
succeeded Simon de Islip in the see of Canterbury ©
in 1366, and perhaps there is an implied pun upon
his name. Langham retained the see of Canterbury —
only two years, but the Satan who deprived him of
it was the pope, who made him a cardinal and bishop |

Submissive of Præneste, in Italy. David king of Scotland about

conduct of
David
Bruce.

this time made peace with his brother-in-law the king -

of England; he was becoming aged and weak-minded, |
and he submitted readily to king Edward, but the :
writer represents this peace as an injudicious one, j
and the foundation of great evils which were to fall |
upon both countries. An unusual phenomenon in the j
Cheviot hills is next alluded to, and a disturbance in |
Scotland, which threatened to break the alliance :
between the two kings. The king of England sent :
out new judges instead of the six first appointed, and +
these were worse than the former, for, as the first .

ae AD arua. ewe de oe ete aee ce MH au ET a ist

. INTRODUCTION. | xlvii

judges tyrannized over the commonalty, and ruined
them by their extortions, the new judges attacked in
the same manner the superior classes of society.

The fourth chapter records the tribulations of the Edward's
English monareh at this period. The kingdom of tübula-
France was held back from him on account of his
sins and of the sins of his people. He was, or was to
to be, exposed to great dangers on the sea; he was
io pass the sea against bis enemies, and be obliged to
return by his necessities; he was to cross again, and
gain a victory, which was to be followed by a treaty;
and a third expedition was to end in a victory accom-
panied by great slaughter, which was to be followed
by another treaty. In this expedition the flower of
the English troops would perish. “This seems to have
“ been fulfilled," says the comment, * when the king
* was last in France, when many of the English war-
“ riors died, namely, about the year of Christ 1862 ;!
* or perhaps this is to come." Thus the writer goes
on concealing his attacks on the past and present by
supposing they may refer to the future. This expedi-
tion was to be accompanied or followed immediately
by a famine, which was to bear heavily upon the poor.

" More than this, all the four elements would conspire |
against the king to humiliate him. The earth was to
be shaken by an earthquake; on the sea he was to
. be endangered by furious tempests ; the air was to be
. infected with pestilence ; and fire was to be hostile to
him in à manner to which the allusion is more ob-
seure? . But the chapter concludes with the consoling

! The date is wrong, for Edward’s ? These tribulations seem to have
last expedition to France took place | been scattered over. several years.
in 1359 and 1360, and ended in the | The third pestilence, and a famine,
treaty of Bretigni. The sufferings occurred in 1369 ; the fire may pos-
of the English during this campaign sibly allude to the burning of the
are well known. English fleet by the Spaniards at

The kin g's
predicted
repentance.

xlvii INTRODUCTION.

reflection that, as sorrow often follows joy, so joy
might be expected in its: turn to come after sorrow. ©

Our writer, who seems to have been one of the
popular party who were rallying round the prince of
Wales, now begins to speculate on the future. In the
fifth chapter of this third distinction he proceeds to
show how king Edward would repent of his past mis-
deeds and reform his life. The king having thus, he
says, been purified by the elements, or, in other words,
having become convinced that these various visitations —
on earth and water, and by air and fire, were brought
upon him by his own conduct, will return to his war-

like life, which he had left against the intentions of —
Providence, will submit himself to be guided by the.

laws of his country, and will abandon the errors of
his youth. He will punish the wicked judges who had
indisposed him towards his nobles and people, turn .
the unjust public officers out of their places, which -
will be given to good men; and he will thus increase -
his revenue, which had been squandered away by his -
ministers. He will make good ordinances for the .
utility and profit of his kingdom, and will promote |
peace between the commons and the aristocracy. Taxes —
‘will then cease, and the people will sing and be joyful
during the rest of his reign. He will be a benefactor |
to churches and monasteries, yet will not seek to ex- -
tort money from his subjects. It is intimated, how- |
ever, that on some occasion the king would be tempted
to renew his extortions, and that, though money would
be allowed no longer to pervert justice by bribing the
judges, right would be defeated by perjury in the courts

a re a a s ae A S eee. mue ufi

La Rochelle ; and the tempest may | La Rochelle, Perbaps, however, the
be that which the same year drove | pestilence, famine, and earthquake
the king back when be would have | in 1349 are more especially alluded —
come with his fleet to the rescue of | to, U

INTRODUCTION. xlix

of law. Subsequently to this, the king will renew his
claim to the inheritance of France, but his backslidings
will again stand in his way, and it will not be given
to him to establish his rights.

The sixth and seventh chapters relate to a great Battle with
battle which was to take place between Scotland and the Sevis.
England, and which was to occur, according to the
calculations made ïin the comment, in the month of
May, 1373, in a plain -by a river side, and near a
fountain, to which woods and forests were adjacent.

The French and other foreign nations were to come

to the assistance of the Scots ; and among them there
would be a great king with his army, who is conjec-

tured to be the king of Denmark. The French were

to be infinitely numerous, and all the allies would be

bent. on the destruction of England. The king of
England would be obliged to trust entirely to the
bravery of his own subjects, as he would be without
foreign allies; and he would now regret the loss of so!
many good men as had been ruined and destroyed by

his wicked officers and unjust laws. Nevertheless, the [Patriotism
lords and knights of England would hasten to his fh
standard, and it is intimated that among these would | on
be the writer’s patron, Humphrey de Bohun, earl of | |
Hereford, who bore six lions or on his shield. Among}

the last to arrive at the general rendezvous would be/

the king’s sons, perhaps because it was supposed that

they would have to come from a greater distance. All

. these good English warriors would come to serve th

king voluntarily, and without wages. The king of
Scotland, who, by his habit of retrograding, bad me-/
rited the name of the crab, would turn tail at the

first shock, and the king of England, marching straight They are
against his enemies, would overcome the French and all fo be vie-
the other allies. An important part of the battle would

take place about. the well already alluded to. Various
imaginary details of this predicted battle are given to

l] . | INTRODUCTION.

throw more appearance of credit on the prophecy. It 1

is further intimated that some of the young English
nobles, and even the kings own son, would in the
sequel of the battle fall into an ambush by their own
rashness, and suffer severely.

The eighth chapter enters upon & new subject

year of his age, in 1362, by a general pardon and
amnesty, and by the confirmation of Magna Charta,

The kings but his people were now looking forward, it appears,

jubilee,

New
offences.

À legate
from the

pope.

to a greater jubilee. “It is to be noted," says the
comment, “that the jubilee of the bull (Edward III.)
*. will be the fiftieth year of his reign, and not of his
“ age, as the monks reckon it in the fiftieth year of
^ their monastie profession and not of their age." This
jubilee, he proceeds to reckon, would happen in the
year 1377. Peace would prevail during the interval
between the battle described in the two previous
chapters and the jubilee, and the king would
again repent of some backslidings against the church,

as it seems to be intimated, and would become so vir-

tuous that his people would look upon him as a god
upon earth. Sed pater in terra, the text goes on to
say, vie absolvet sine guerra. This line, we are told
in the comment, will admit of three interpretations.
In the first place it may mean that the father on
earth, i.e. the pope, will hardly absolve without war the
king of England, who then would be penitent for cer-
tain offences regarding the church. Secondly, it might
mean that the pope will hardly absolve or preserve
the kingdom of England without war against the
French. A third interpretation is, that the father
on earth, meaning king Edward, will hardly absolve
or preserve the land without war, which will, per-
haps, at that time be raised among the English barons.
At the time of this jubilee there would be a legate
of the pope in England, who would celebrate the

King Edward had celebrated his jubilee, or the fiftieth |

INTRODUCTION. h

jubilee, under compulsion of the king, at Canterbury,
of which see he would be made archbishop. Then even
the thief would be joyful, for every one would, be
liberated from prison, and captives would be ransomed.
* Whence it is to be noted," says the comment, * that
* it is probable that, if he shows such favour to these
* malefactors, he will do more for the commonalty of
* the kingdom and for good men." After the jubilee
the king was. to give himself up to- piety and good
works until his death.

The ninth chapter treats of the “cock” (gallus), Expected -
that is, of Edward the Black Prince, in whom now the Secession |
hopes of the nation were centred. According to the, Prince.
speculations of our writer, prince Edward was to suc
ceed his father on the throne, and to reign a mod
of greatness and of justice, and at the same time
gentleness towards good men, while he would be th
terror of his enemies. In his time there would be
great abundance of the necessaries of life, and his sub-
jects would flourish in martial vigour. He would
assemble an army in the north in order to invade
France and recover the rights transmitted to him by
his father; while the Flemings, afraid openly to op-
pose the English, would secretly meditate treason
against them and their monarch. That time, however,
the English would not succeed, on account of their
vanity; displayed in the diversity and Jagging of their
garments, and of their presumption.

In the tenth chapter we are told of a great A great
pestilence which was to fall upon the land in the pestilence.
reign of the “cock,” as a new punishment for the sins
of the people. This pestilence would last two years
and a half, and would carry away one half of the -
population. This would thwart the designs of the |^
king, and would humble the pride of the English
‘warriors. The “cock” would outlive the pestilence,
and after it was over the Scottish king would again

li INTRODUCTION.

Story of
Philippe le
Bewes.

Recovery
of the
crown of
France.

make war upon him, but, as on former occasions, he ]
would turn coward at the moment of decisive action. |
The “cock” would also be exposed to the treachery j
of the French; and here the writer repeats a popular 1
story relating to the origin of the law of succession in :
France, which is nearly identical with the one mentioned |
in a former poem. “It was the law in France," he says, 1
* that women should inherit until the time of Philippe 1
“ ‘le Bewes’ (le Bel), whom one of the heiresses of }
* France took from the shambles to make him her $
* husband, on aecount of his beauty, whence all the j
* kings of France since that time are the descendants of :
* butchers. It was thereupon ordained that in future 1
* women should not inherit, on account of the contempt |
* brought upon royalty by making a butcher a king” 4

The eleventh chapter tells us of a second pestilence |
which was to happen in the time of the “cock,” and its §
causes and consequences. After this second and most 1
severe pestilence, in which the king of Scotland would 1j
die, Edward was destined at last to obtain the 1
recognition of his rights and to succeed to the crown 1
of France. This event occupies the twelfth chapter of 1
the third distinction and the last chapter of the 3
book. It is predicted to take place in the year 1405, 1$
when the “cock” would have reached an age at j
which he certainly could not expect to live long to

enjoy his triumph. The book ends with an appeal to

the author's patron, earl Humphrey de Bohun, that
.he would not let it pass through the hands of many

people, and that, above all things, even with those to j
whom he might show it in the greatest confidence, he §
would earefully conceal the name of the writer. 4

Accomt of In spite of this appeal however, this “prophecy ” 4

the MSS.

soon found its way abroad, and became popular,
especially, as it would appear, among the clergy. The
three manuscripts I have used appear to be contem-

porary, or nearly contemporary, with the date at

INTRODUCTION. liii

which it was composed ; one, the Digby MS., belonged
to a dean of St. Paul's, in London; the other, the
MS. in the King's Library, belonged to the chapter of
Canterbury ; and I am inclined to think that the
Cottonian MS, from which the text is here taken, was
the original copy made by its author for the earl of
Hereford.. It is the best written manuscript of them all
It contains errors of the scribe, which have either been
copied into the others, or, in the latter, the attempt
to correct them has caused still greater corruption of
the text. In one instance, at the beginning of the
eighth chapter of the third. distinction, the second line
of the text has been accidentally omitted, as appears
. by the comment, in which nearly all the words which
composed it are preserved, but none of the other
manuscripts that I have consulted supply it. The
metrical text of the supposed prophecy became
afterwards popular, without the comment, which
nobody seems to have cared for after the reign of
Edward IIL, and then it was interpreted according to
the caprice ‘of the individual who quoted it. John
Capgrave, in his Chronicle, has taken two lines, and
entirely abandoned the old interpretation, in order to
apply them to the execution of archbishop Scrope in
1404. — |

. The author of this singular political tract describes Theau.
accurately the known events of English history hate met |
down to the period at which he wrote, but the case fulfilled.
is very different when he attempts to penetrate the
future. People were becoming weary of the oppres-
sive government of the latter part of Edwards reign,
and they looked forwards eagerly to the reign of a
successor who had already made himself extremely |
popular, and who was known to be opposed to the |

. '*- Capgrave's Chronicle of England, p. 290.

liv INTRODUCTION.

domestic policy of the government ; and whoever wrote ]

this book was no doubt catering to the popular taste, :
and doing service to his party. But the sequel of À
events soon proved that he was no prophet. Edward
did live to see the jubilee of his reign, on which
occasion he granted a general pardon for minor offences, 3
but it presented none of the joy which the would-be |

prophet looked forward to. Edward’s reign, under the |

influence of his evil advisers, had become more and :

more dishonourable, and he was at this time sinking 1

Deathof in health, and died four months afterwards. The :
xing Ed- Black Prince, the favourite of the people, had died in |
the preceding year, and the crown descended upon the 4
head of a mere child, whose subsequent reign presented -

ward.

a sorrowful contrast to that which was expected from 1
his father. People in general seem to have anticipated 4

the worst, and in the deep grief with which the death 1

of king Edward was received, they forgot the errors |

of his reign to remember only his greatness and his |
virtues. They saw themselves on the eve of a war |

with France, and all their great warriors were {

departed. :
ON THE These sentiments are strongly imprinted in the |
FORTE OF melancholy tone of an English song in this collection, 4
TII, which has for its burthen the transitory character of §

human greatness and the want of durability in |
popular gratitude. Once England had been a good +

England ship, of noble make, and with lofty tower—one of the
the good chief appendages of a ship of war at that time. It :
u weathered storm and tempest without fear and without |
damage. The ship was furnished with a rudder to @

steer and govern it, such as could not elsewhere be à

found in the world; and while rudder and ship held
together, they were proof against all dangers. A sure

mast belonged to the ship, with a strong and large 2

sail; and it had a barge, which set at nought the
whole power of France, and was the shieid - and

INTRODUCTION. lv

protection of England. The song goes on to tell us
that the rudder of this ship was not a rudder made
of oak or elm, but it was the noble prince Edward
the Third; and it was his son, tbe prince of Wales,
"who was never discomfited in fight, who bore up the
helm. The barge was duke Henry of Lancaster, who
never failed to chastise his enemies when they pro-
voked him. All these were now laid low, and, no
longer seen, they would soon be forgotten. The mast of /
. the ship represented the good commons, who maintained (
the war with their wealth ; and the wind which
filled the sail was “good prayers" Now, the |
songster laments, devoutness is cast away, and good |
deeds are clean forgotten. An imp, or offset, of the same |
root remained, and there was hope that when the;
child grew up to manhood he would not degenerate!
from his blood. There remained, however, nobody on
earth to compare with the warriors and rulers whom
England had lost. |
A short Latin poem which follows enters more Latin poem
particularly into the bright phases of Edwards reign. PN TUE or
After expressing a hope that the young king Richard Ep»wixp
might some day be equal to and thus worthy of UL
his father, he gives a sorrowing retrospect on Edward's
reign and his personal character. He was, he says,
remarkable for the regularity and frequency with which
he performed bis religious duties, and extremely liberal
in his gifts to the church Among the numerous Relies
relies which he distributed to the English religious Drought to
houses, the black monks, or Benedictines, received
from him the head of their founder, the abbot
Benediet, and the white monks or Cistercians that of
St. Anne, the grandmother of Christ. The latter was
at the East-Minster, or St. Pauls, and the former at
Westminster. Edward was happy in the number and in
the great qualities of his children; he was merciful as
‘well as just in his courts; and he was uniformly

King
Edward's
character.

lvi INTRODUCTION.

successful in his wars. Crécy, Calais, and three great :
victories over the Scots, were proofs of the latter, as 1
well as his vietory over the Spaniards at sea, and the -
numerous illustrious prisoners whom he brought to
England. His love towards his subjects was proved :
by his edict against the arbitrary violence of his pux-
veyors, who were required in future to take nothing 4
but what they paid for. In order to ensure an im-
partial administration of justice, he appointed to be
^ prefects" of provinces (profectos patriarum) men
who did not belong to the same county, so that, for
instance, à West-Saxon judge would be appointed to
Mercia, who could thus be biassed by no personal
feelings. He laboured strenuously to destroy the 1
nuïnerous banditti who infested the country, and suc- |
ceeded in greatly diminishing their number; and he :
was a terror to all transgressors of the laws. Yet, 1
after all so great and so noble a being, who was |
looked upon almost as a god, now lies low, and a ;
small stone is sufficient to cover him.

Troubles of We are now approaching times of popular turbu-
the reign fence, During Edward’s reign the desire for civil and

. Richard II.

. ets

religious liberty was becoming daily stronger, and a re- à
form movement was advancing steadily though silently, 1
and had numerous preachers busily employed among the :
middle and lower classes The dazzling glories of the
French wars, and the great feeling of personal attach- 14
ment to Edward III. which prevailed among the com- 1
mons of England, prevented for a long time any strong 1
or open demonstration of the popular sentiments, but 1
during the latter years of his reign the discontent |
had been gathering which soon broke out in scenes of
turbulence under the misgovernment of his grandson.
Unfortunately, the popular songs connected with these
events—and there undoubtedly were numerous popular
songs current at the time— were the least likely to be 4
preserved, as the class most interested in them were 1

INTRODUCTION. lvi

not in possession of books in which they could write
them. The only two poems I have found having for
their subject the great rebellion of the commons in,
1381 belong to the clerical or at least to the mor

learned class of society, for in one the whole and in
the other the alternate lines are written in Latin.
Hence, though they were evidently composed by persons,
who entertained different political opinions, they are
both hostile to what we should now call “ the mob."

The first of these poems is a song written evidently Ox rur
by an opponent of the government. He complains ÉFPFITION
that everybody had been ruined by “ tax,” and Srraw.
appeals, as a proof of his statement, to the deaths of
so many men of strength; yet most of the wealth
which was extorted from the people went into the
hands of the greedy collectors and courtiers, and a
very small part ever reached the King's treasury.

This misrule had hard “hansell,” and in the sequel
was productive only of grief; for the misdeeds of
‘the wicked are destructive of all reverence. The
trouble, we are told, began in Kent by an insurrection The insur.
against the rich, where the ribalds assembled in arms, rection,
and acted with the presumption of fools, which is not
to be wondered. at, since they had churls for their
chieftains. In this wicked manner they went from
Kent to London, depopulating the farms on their way,
proud in their first success, and little thinking of
their future defeats and misfortunes. They refused
to listen to any terms until they were freed from
their servile bondage, and obtained, in effect, charters
of their freedom; but the advantage they supposed
they had thus gained only led them into still greater
bondage, which they had merited by the outrages Outrages
they perpetrated. “Loud the lads laughed, and committed
“ shouted with sonorous voice, when they slew the rebels.
.* bishop, and many other persons of distinction;
“ they threw down some of the best manors in the

VOL. I. f

lviii INTRODUCTION.

" * kingdom, and did harm enough so long as their |

ON THE
SrAUGH-
TER OF
ARCHe
BISHOP
SUDBURY,

“ reins were slackened." Jack Straw was their great |
incendiary, and declared that all England should bow i
to the victorious populace. They slew Sir Robert Hales, 4
the treasurer, burnt the palace of the Savoy, and put ;
to death all who fell into their hands against whom 3
they had any spite. The young king displayed his 4
courage on this occasion, and, while others sought to $
escape and hide themselves, he rode into Smithfield, 1
and there, with God's assistance, cast down Jack |
Straw. The writer has either made a mistake in the 1
person who was killed in Smithfield, or he means j
that in Smithfield the king put down the insurrection, |
of which he looks upon Jack Straw as the chief |
promoter and leader. EE

The grand theme of the second of these pieces is |
the slaughter of archbishop Sudbury. The writer :
laments the confusion into which the kingdom had |
been thrown, in which the nobles had entirely lost i
their spirit and courage, while the mob ruled and j
ordered everything at its will The world, in fact, À
was turned upside down, for the nobles had sunk into 1
servility, and the serfs had become lords; the judge 4
was condemned, and the criminal occupied his seat. 1
England, having fallen under the pope's anathema for ]
her outrage upon the church, had lost all her good |
name. The young and feeble king was not yet feared à
by the populace, and hence the lower orders rose, |
went about furiously, slaughtering people, throwing |
down houses, plundering, and burning. They dragged 1
the archbishop out of the Tower, cut off his head, 1

Conduct of and stuck it up on London bridge; but it was taken 1

Sir John
Walworth.

down by Sir John Walworth (the lord mayor) and 1
reverently wrapped up in a pall. Next day the 1
populace behaved so threateningly towards the king 7
that they extorted from him letters of pardon ; never- *
theless their leader would have run the king through 1

INTRODUCTION. | lix

with his sword, had not Walworth struck off his
head, which was raised upon London bridge in place :
of that of the archbishop. The fate of the latter is
lamented in great bitterness, and the writer exults
over the various degrees of providential vengeance
which fell upon his murderers. He then gives way to
‘an invective, first against the English populace in
general, whose violence he describes, and next against
the people of Kent in particular. The poem ends
with a list of the rather grotesque names or nick-
names of the chief leaders of the rebellion, who had
all met with their due punishment. These were Jack
Sheep, “Tronche,” John Wrau, Tom the Miller, the
Tiler, Jack Straw, the earl of the Plough, Rake-too-
dear (7), Hob the Carter, and Rake-straw. The order
in which the names are given seems to have been
regulated merely by the desire to get them into two
hexameter lines.

Among the legacies which the reign of Edward lll. Wycliffe
had left to that of Richard IL were the religious ang ee
doctrines of the great reformer John Wycliffe. The
Wycliffites, or the Lollards, as they were called, had
been increasing rapidly during the latter years of
Edward’s reign, although they enjoyed the protection
. of the unpopular duke of Lancaster. This protection
however, gave them a great amount of freedom, which
they continued to enjoy under- the new reign, though
they soon began to be exposed to persecution. The in-
tellectual agitation caused by the promulgation of these
new doctrines, and the impatience of those who suffered
under the pressure of ecclesiastical intolerance, drove
many people much farther than Wycliffe and his party
ever contemplated; and there can be no doubt that the
religious feeling was deeply mixed up with the political
feeling in these popular troubles. In all periods of great
discontent with the existing forms and condition of
society there rises an extreme party which has for its

f 2

Medieval
socialism,

| John Balle.

AGAINST
THE Lor-
LARDS.

Ix INTRODUCTION.

standard the principle which in modern times has re-.

ceived the name of socialism, implying an absolute
equality of individuals and a common right in property;
and doctrines approaching closely to this, if not identical
with it, were preached to the populace in the reign of

Richard IT. by men of ardent tempers, who had been -

originally friars or monks, who had embraced the

reforming principles of Wycliffe, and who had subse- j

quently thrown themselves into this medieval socialism.

Among these was John Balle who had become so |
popular as a preacher of these extreme doctrines, that |
he had been selected as a special object of persecution :
by archbishop Sudbury and the bishop of London, and |
lay in prison at the time of the insurrection The :

rebels released him, made him their chief preacher,

and talked of appointing him primate of England. 1
After the suppression of the insurrection, Balle was |
arrested at Coventry, and carried to St. Albans, where 4
the king was holding his court ; and there, under the 1
influence of terror, he made, or was accounted to have 1j
made, a confession, by which the Wycliffites in general 4
were implicated in the insurrection. The opponents |
of Wycliffe, the old ecclesiastical party, grasped eagerly |
the weapon thus accidentally placed in their hands,.
snd they attacked the Wycliffites not only as heretics À

but as subverters of public order.

A curious manifesto against the Lollards, in Latin 1j
rhyming metres, which is here printed, was evidently |
written immediately after the insurrection and the 4
arrest and confession of John Balle. It seems to have 7
been intended to serve as so many memorial verses.
of the principal charges exhibited against the followers 1
of Wycliffe. It begins with an appeal to Christ, that .:
he. would cause the brambles and other noxious weeds , 3
to be extirpated from his garden, the church, which j
had hitherto been remarkable for the beauty and }
fruitfulness of its trees and plants. The old enemy 1

Nin cca La Rata heu de S. e TESA à ver 2 i: AGO ane ET art Li Ia am HAS AMA à one Nene à sese eta ce NS V e de ide

INTRODUCTION. | lxi

of mankind had, however, sown the tares in this |
garden, which were destroying all its beauty and
usefulness. These tares were the Lollards,—thorns,
brambles, and weeds (lolia), which laid waste the
Lord's vineyard. There never was a greater pestilence England
in the church, nor a more fruitful source of error. relieious
They had tongues of vipers, full of deceit; and under backslid-
the outward appearance of sanctity they allured the "8
unwise and simple into their nets. “ This plague now

* reigns without remedy in England, and in no other

.* Jand. . . . 'O now pestiferous land, thou wert

* formerly rife with all wholesome science; free from

“the stain of heresy, a stranger to all error, ‘and uncon-

* scious of all fallacy; but now thou art at the head

/'* of all schism,. discord, error, and madness; thou art

* the lewd follower of every nefarious sect and of all

» strange doctrine." The Lollards are accused of dis- rhe Lol-
| playing all sorts of outward mortifications, while they charged
privately indulged in luxuries While they pretended with hypo-
to be superior to all others, they were false teachers US
and false interpreters. They were the authors of
hatred and division among the clergy, and of sedition
among the populace, and they were the real disturbers

of the peace of the kingdom. To them is ascribed

the rebellion of the serfs and the slaughter and out-

rages which followed. “John Balle taught us this

“ when he was put to death for his wickedness ; that

“© sect was a nest which contained depraved chickens,

and nourished them for the ignominy of the king-

dom ; meaning thereby the sect of Wycliffe, which

was the primary cause of the strife which had

* terrified the whole kingdom." The sectaries had |

| €«

thus brought the kingdom to the very brink of ruin.
The writer then goes on to enumerate their particular
errors. They not only forbade tithes and other dues
to the clergy, but services and homages to the lords ;
that is, they preached against the spiritual and civil

Ixii | ‘INTRODUCTION.

oppression under which the commonalty then groaned.

The ordinary arguments in favour of the claims of the

Lollard
doctrines

concerning

the priest.
"hood. —

On the
pope.

On the
riches of
the church.

church to such offerings or dues are put forth in a °
popular form, coupling always rebellion against the |
state with resistance to the church. The Lollards pre- :
tended that a man who was notoriously immersed in 4
sin, though he might be an ecclesiastico, was not 1
capable of administering the sacraments of the church
or of duly performing any of the religious offices; to
which the writer of this poem objects the ordinary
argument that the power of administering was given by 1
Christ not to the man but to the office, and that it 4
was in no degree affected by the private character of 1
the individual. Besides, he urges, if we once adopt
this principle, who is to be the judge of any particular
priest, if he be privately à sinful man or not? The
power of confession and absolution, he says, as given
to the priesthood, is one of the most intimate and
necessary principles of Christ's church; yet the Lol-
lards denied it altogether, and held that God alone
was able to cleanse people of their sins. This, he says,
was à grave injury to the authority and discipline of
the church, as it deprived the clergy of the power of
judging of people's spiritual maladies, and applying
the proper remedy, as well as of holding under proper
restraint those who were running astray. The Lol-
lards again, he says, held the absurd opinion that one
pope was not enough, but that it was expedient to
have several ; as if there were not naturally in every
institution and body one head to rule and guide its :
various parts. Moreover, they pretended that if any . j
one of the faitliful were manifestly better than the 4
rest, he ought to be pope; the reply to which is that
God alone is the judge who is qualified to be pope
and who not. The Lollards, he says, complained of
the riches of the church; but it was not right or
expedient that the church should be deprived of the

INTRODUCTION. lxiii

property which enabled it to sustain its outward
respectability and command popular respect, or that
its priesthood should be allowed to die of hunger '
He accuses the Lollards of inconsistency, because they
carped equally at the temporal power of the clergy,
at the wealth of the monks, and at the poverty of
the friars; and he argues that all these different
qualities, however various, were approved by Christ
either by word or example. He declaims bitterly On the
against the rancour with which the followers of
Wycliffe pursued the four orders of friars, and the slan-
der which he accuses them of inventing and vomiting
against them. Lastly, he inveighs against the opinions
of the Wycliffites in regard to the doctrine of transub-
stantiation which was then held by the Catholic
church. After confuting these opinions in his way,
he concludes by calling down the wrath of heaven on
these would-be reformers. |

Amid all these contending principles in polities and
religion, and in presence not only of turbulence ámong
the people and oppression and misgovernment by the
court, but of threatening convulsions of nature, the
popular writings bear upon them the impress of alarm |
and sadness of spirit. An earthquake of a violent cha- Ox tHe
racter, unusual in this island, had just occurred, and DATE
filled people with terror; and an English poet of the 1382.
time made it the occasion for a short poem or ballad,
in which he pointed out the many warnings God had
sent to make people of all classes amend their lives.
The first of these warnings was the insurrection of
the commons, when, he says, there was no lord so |
great, but he quailed with fear, and laid aside all joy- -
fulness until the danger was past. If the lords had
been favoured with God's grace, they might easily
have put down the rising at its first start; but it
was God's will to show them for à moment their own
insignificance, and he left them to be terrified and
tyrannized over by the class of society which they

Effects of
the earth-
quake,

ON THE

Counc
or Lon-
DON.

lxiv INTRODUCTION. |

had most despised. Next came the earthquake, at 1
which people were equally terrified, though it was no !
sooner over than they all returned to their old vices. |
So utterly aghast were they, that they fled out 1
-of their houses, without caring for gold or silver; §
for “chambers and chimnies all burst to pieces; 1
* churches and castles fared foully ; and pinnaclesand 4
“ steeples were cast to the ground.” These two events, 4
eombined with a third, the pestilence, were sufficient 1
warnings for all reasonable people, but they had pro- a
duced..no effect, and the poet concludes with some 4

moral reflections on the corrupt state of the world.

_. The earthquake had happened, somewhat ominously, 1
at the very moment when. a council of the clergy | f
was sitting in London to pronounce judgment upon

Wycliffe and his adherents. It was St. Dunstan’s day,

Wednesday, the 19th of May, 1382. There is a sort of 3

balad upon this council, composed in Latin, with a

curious mixture of English words in the refrain or :

burthen. ‘The writer complains of the “ desolation”

which hung upon England, and how the good ship

stood in danger of being wrecked ; and prays that God

might bring the people to penitence, and especially E
that be would open the eyes of the young king to the |

wickedness and hypocrisy of the friars. A pestilence

was thinning the population. An earthquake had been . 3

sent as a warning to the people for their sins, for
Christ was almost forgotten in England. God's anger
was shown undoubtedly in this earthquake, for it oc-
curred at the very moment when the scribes and
pharisees were assembled with the high priests against
God's anointed. Winds and floods, such as had not
been known before, had swept away the harvest.’ The

—— —— ————— —— — — —

^ ——

! Stowe mentions the great floods | Dec, 21, when they could not have

of this year, but he says that they | affected the harvest, as they are à

occurred on St, Thomas's day, ?, e. | here stated to have done.

Ex s
|
E
+ RSS

E
ENS 4
Mo
ETS

S
No
X

an
; ARM
AW
ELA
RE
“Rss
rs
Eu
E pn^
"

INTRODUCTION. Ixv

cause of all these visitations was plain to be seen, for General
all orders of society had become equally wicked. In wickedness
the very shops the purchasers were deceived by the people.
use of false measures, and perjury and fraud reigned
everywhere; and no wonder, for the clergy, who ought

to be a mirror to the laity, were remarkable chietly

for their pride and licentiousness ; and those in power

only thought of plundering those whom it was their

duty to protect. Few of the prelates of the church

were promoted for their theological learning, but

they obtained their money by favour, or by simony,

or by flattery. Equally blameable were the monks

and friars, especially the latter, who in their outward

acts pretended to be like red roses, “ but the roses

* have faded, and their odour is like that of a dung-

“ hill” These built vast and magnificent houses, which

were no better spiritually than dens of wolves. There

was no monastery, however rich in lands, nor a king

or a bishop, who could raise a palace so quickly as

those whose daily profession was begging. In truth,

says our writer, “they are either thieves, or they

* make money, which is treason against the crown.”

They call themselves public mendicants, and they protect Tricks
themselves against the inclemency of the weather with practised
rich and expensive clothing, while they exclaim, with the friars.
pharisees, “ Lo, what we suffer for the love of Christ!”

These friars. preached everywhere that whoever died

in their habit would escape the torments of hell and

pass directly to heaven. If a rich man in the neigh-
bourhood was taken ill, one of the order would hasten

to him and labour to persuade him to give his corpse to

the friars ; but if a poor man in sickness went to them

to beg them to give him burial, the reply was that the
guardian was absent, and the supplicant was turned out

of doors. The friars, in their chapters, drew up letters Their
which they called suffrages, by which they made those '9"ffrages"
who paid for them partakers in all the masses, prayers,

. The Bene-
dictines.

Wycliffe.

John
Welles

attacks the °°? DE . | | qe.
Wyclifütes, stormy discourse, with a face the colour of gall, which

Ixvi INTRODUCTION.

and abstinences they said or performed for themselves, 4
caring little whether the purchasers were worthy or. |
not. So many shares were thus distributed, that the 1
writer conjectures they must have had very little left. 4
for themselves They were guilty of many greater |
crimes than these, of which, says the writer, “I will 4
* not here speak; but I say farewell to you, friars! 1j

* Whoever throws his net among you is sure to catch

* reprobates” He next turns to the monks of the order |
of St. Betiedict, who, he says, must have received their 1
name by the figure of speech called antiphrasis, or, in |
plain words, by contraries, for they deserved more 4j
truly to be called maledicti, or accursed. Although 1
the monks professed to abandon the world, nobody 1
indulged more in worldly enjoyments, and in none j
more than in eating and drinking. “I, who write |
* this, began by being a monk; I was shorn by them, 4
“but not yet professed; but I was soon tired of 4
* their society, and I left them to embrace Christ's
* rule. . : . For the Lord, seeing his sea so much E

* agitated, caused certain noblemen to be placed in

VM
2

* authority, in order that the faith of the church }
. * might be able to be restored, and to that end called 1
The call of« Wycliffe and his disciples—-these are the fishermen 4
“to whom the Lord has given to conduct Peters 4
* ship with caution” These good teachers reproached à

the monks for not keeping their rule, and admonished 3
them to avoid idleness and turn their hands to la-
bour; and the same reproach was made to the friars, j

who would rather beg than write. The mere mention
of work stirred up the indignation both of monks and

friars; and the former delegated to the latter the task

of preaching against the reformers, and they attacked
them with slander and falsehood. For this catise they
were now assembled in council and the monk of Ram-
John Welles, began the attack, in a windy and

DONNE NE tage deh ec jeg PRET E

INTRODUCTION. Jdxvii

displayed the temper it covered. Wycliffe himself was

not present, but his disciple, Nicholas Hereford, re- Nicholas
plied to Welles, and soon brought him to a stand in Rene
lis arguments. Then rose another pompous monk,
named Goydoun, — who was not a regular monk, but a Others
layman in monk’s clothing,—and undertook to prove flow.
that monks ought not to labour, and that friars, though
able-bodied men, and capable of earning their living,

ought to beg. Crophorne, a man of no fame, spoke

less to the purpose than his predecessors, and his ar-
guments were not worth unum stercus canis; he

and the resk of the monks did no more than “croak

* like frogs.” After the monks had done, the friars

began, and a Minorite doctor named Merton rose to

speak, but only babbled like a raven. Whappelode,

who followed, was a notorious liar, a hair-brained fel-

low, who only proved himself an empty talker. Stokes,

who spoke next, displayed a bilious-looking face and an
equally bilious temper, yet he laboured through several

days to convict the reformers of heresy, though to

little purpose. On the last day Nicholas Hereford Hereford
replied, and, with the assistance of Philip Repingdon, ?? ping don.
so confuted his accusers that they held down their
heads in confusion. Nevertheless, the monks and friars,
having filled their purses with the money of the poor,
hastened to London, prepared, as the writer says,
" to give large thongs out of other people's leather."
They presented themselves before the archbishop, and
proclaimed Nicholas Hereford a heretic and Philip
Repingdon a madman, while they anointed the pre-
late’s hand with money. The archbishop, thus pro-
_ pitiated, assented to all that the friars demanded.
Then the bishop and the friars cited Hereford and
| Repingdon to appear before them; but when they
| came they merely abused them, without alleging any
: substantial charges ; and the two objects of their per-
secution, perceiving their danger, appealed to the pope.

————— ——————M9— s emm

Ixviii INTRODUCTION.

Song "E The English song which follows contains a il
THE general attack on the friars, and is rich in satirica,
Frans. irony. Men might see by their appearance, the writer
says, that they were given to great penance, and that

their diet was simple and spare. ^I have lived forty.

* years, and I never saw men fatter about the.

* kidneys than are these friars.. Where they wander
* about the country, they are made so thin by want.
“ of meat, and are so reduced by penance, that each

* one is & horse-load, when he will truss out of town."

It is much to be lamented, he says, that they should

be allowed to go by two and two from town to:

/.. town to seek their sustenance, dealing in “divers.
Dealings of “ mercery,” as though they were pedlars. They
the friars. carried about in their bags purses, pins, and knives,
and girdles and gloves, and such articles, “ for wenches |

“and wives ;’ but wherever they haunted, the
husband * ever thrived backward," for during the.

* good man's" absence the friar would come to the :

dame, and “spared neither for sin nor shame but he —

* did his will" In fact, he says, the friars would

fare but poorly if they had no help of housewives in .

the husband's absence. They were far cleverer traders .

than an ordinary pedlar, and they knew, too, how tio
conjure; for one of them, with à pound of soap, would .

gain à kirtle and a cape, and if he gave a woman a.

knife that cost but twopence, he would have the value |

Their in- of ten knives from her before he went. The writer :
continente, oxt proceeds to warn his hearers who may have :
: handsome wives or daughters against allowing any ©

friars to come near them,-and describes the conse- .

quences in rather coarse language. He accuses them .

of maintaining men in sin, instead of teaching them -

virtue; for, he says, if a man had murdered all his :
kindred, and go make his confession to a friar, the :

' friar would absolve him clean and quickly for less :
than the value of a pair of shoes, and give him :

INTRODUCTION. lxix

assurance that his soul was cleansed of every sin

he had. done. The writer adds that the founder of

the four orders of friars was the first murderer Cain,

and that hence the four initials of their names
(Carmelites, Austins, Jacobins, and Minorites) formed

his name, which was spelt in the middle ages Caim.

Hell he says, was so thronged with the friars, on
account of their enormous wickedness, that soon there

would be no room for the souls of other people.

Their constant labour was to cry down the regular
clergy, but he prophecies that before long they would

suffer the same fate as that which had fallen upon
the Templars. He then goes on to explain their Their cx-
methods of extorting money from people, and concludes f?"tions. -
with a declaration which would lead one to suspect
that he was the same versifier who wrote the preced-

ing Latin ballad. “I was myself a friar full many

* & day, and thus I know the truth. But when I

“ saw that their living accorded not with their

* preaching, I cast off my friar’s clothing, and nimbly

* went my way. No other leave I took of them when

* I went, but I bequeathed them to the devil every

* one, the prior and the convent. Although I have

* left the order, I am not an apostate, for I was with '
“them a month and nine or ten days less than a

* twelvemonth. I made me ready to depart before

“the time of profession came, and went my way

« * publicly through the town."

A second English song on the friars is directed Ox rue
Chieffy | against the Minorites, who appear to be D NOR m

satirized in it for the use they made of pageants and |
theatrical shows to impose upon the uneducated classes.

The writer describes them as hanging up a represen-

tative of the Redeemer, with wings and other grotesque
accessories, on à tree (or wooden eross); ; while in another Pageantry
place a friar acted also the part of Christ, with a wound FPE
in his side, and others in his hands and feet; and further fears

ON THE
Times,
1388.

Corruption flatterers, who ruined the commonwealth. The upper | 4

Ixx INTRODUCTION.

on appeared a grey friar in a cart made of fire, of course |
intended to represent Elijah carried up to heaven in the j
fiery chariot. He suggests, in regard to the latter, that 4

fire was an appropriate accompaniment to any of the }
* four orders," as all friars deserved to be. burnt. j

* They are always preaching of poverty," he says, j
* though they love it not; the whole town is j
* searched to procure delicate meat for their mouths, 4
* and their dwellings are extensive and wonderfully 4
* wrought; but all these extravagancies were paid for j
* with money by which people had bought impunity 4

* in the commission of robbery and whoredom."

We have now to pass over a few more years, which 4
furnish us with no political poems known to exist, @

until we arrive at that period of political agitation, 4
when, in 1388, the party in opposition to the court j
had gained so much strength, that the king's favourite, 4
Robert de Vere, was obliged to fly with some others 3
of Richard's ministers to the continent. I think I am 4
right in ascribing to that year a poem in alternate 4
lines of English and Latin, which presents a sort of 4
general complaint of, or satire on, the corruptions of 3
society at that period. From the number of copies @
preserved, it was evidently popular. The writer of 4
this piece begins by lamenting the decadence of. 3
England, and the absence of all that manly character 3
which had formerly characterized its people. Lust and a

pride were now predominant in England, and truth
was entirely set aside. Friends were changed into

enemies, and the land was filled with dissension, while 3
the foes abroad threatened it with invasion. Internally “

there was nothing but confusion; truth had disappeared,
and the only persons listened to were whisperers and

of society. classes of society had become shamefully corrupt, and

_ showed no feeling of sympathy for the sufferings of the

poor, who were exposed to great oppression, In the

DRACOPEEM Sh

INTRODUCTION. lxxi

courts of justice money everywhere overcame right.
The king might perhaps do something to amend it, but
he was surrounded by people who concealed from him
the state of the kingdom. Jack and his fellow (Vere,
duke of Dublin, and the earl of Suffolk) had gone, and |
were not greatly sorrowed for, but plenty of bad people
remained behind. These walked about in new and Extrava-
extravagant fashions. They enlarged their shoulders gant fash-
. artificially, and made them broader than they were dress.
made by God, with wide and high collars, which, says
. the writer, made their necks look as if they were
prepared for the axe. They had long-pointed boots,
and great spurs at their heels, and their hose had a
straight band, which looked as if their thighs were
tied to the body. “ They may not," he adds, “as I
* suppose, bend their knees without trouble When
* other men kneel, offering up their prayers to Christ,
* these stand at their heels, not able to bend their
* legs They avoid bending themselves for fear of
* hurting their hose" They were thus obliged to
pray standing, and not only showed little piety
themselves, but they disturbed other people in their
devotions. Many other ridieulous and inconvenient,
fashions in dress are enumerated, which were but the
index to the vain and frivolous manners of those who
wore them, Drinking and swearing also had increased
to a deplorable extent, for which many in the end
would “sing a counter-tenor in Newgate.” Lastly,
simony had invaded the church, and the clergy were
equally corrupt with the laity.
A single distich commemorates the king s fourteenth Disrrcn
year, AD. 1390-1, by telling us that the axe was Si"
sharp at that time, and had a hard stock, but the 1391.
allusion is not very clear.

The pestilence of 1391 furnishes us with another Ow rux
ballad in rhyming Latin on the general corruption of Fest
society, by an anonymous writer, who complains that

Ixxii INTRODUCTION.

the whole world had turned to wickedness, and that E
Christ was entirely forgotten ; that peace and patience, 4
love and justice, had entirely disappeared ; that errors 4
and vices had taken their place; fraud prevailed 4

M . » : UL i ed 5. R20 rut as ae eee rae se
FP REN a EARN E RII RR EST tk RIE MAT OORT MO EE D

among merchants; the poor suffered through the 8
wickedness of the rich; and the flock of Christ was À

dispersed through the negligence of its shepherds.

Thekings The king's extravagance compelled him to resort
qur, to arbitrary expedients for raising money, and one 4

with the

city of of these brought him into a direct collision with 4

London. {he city of London. Many circumstances combinéd to 3
keep up a feeling of hostility between the citizens and E
the court, and at length, when in 1392 Richard asked 4

them for a loan of a thousand pounds sterling, he 1j
met with a flat refusal The Londoners, moreover, 1

are said to have ill-treated a Lombard merchant who À

| was willing to lend the king the money. Richard À

| was greatly enraged against the citizens, and he o3

i ordered the lord mayor, John Hinde, and the other @

| chief municipal officers, to appear before him at @
Nottingham, where he not only deposed them from 4

their offices, but committed them to different pri. @

sons, the mayor in the castle of Windsor, the two @

sheriffs severally in those of Wallingford and Odiham, ' à

and. others of the principal citizens in other places of : E

Change in confinement, The charters of the city were annulled, 4
the govern- its liberties withdrawn, and its laws abrogated; and : 4
1e 8

the king abolished the office of mayor, and appointed 4

a creature of his own to govern it under the title of @

city.

guardian or keeper. The first guardian, Sir Edward : à |

de Dalingrig, was soon removed, because, as it was à
said, he showed too much favour and indulgence to @
the citizens; and the king appointed in his place a :
sterner guardian, Sir Baldwin de Radington. Never- -
theless, after having treated the citizens with great :

| The king rigour during several months, the king suddenly
relents. relented, partly, it would appear, through the inter-

INTRODUCTION. Ixxiu

cession of queen Anne, though it is said, also, that

the duke of Gloucester was the friend of the Lon-
doners on this occasion. The citizens thus obtained

the restoration of their liberties, and the office of

lord mayor was restored, but the king took the
opportunity of extorting from them no less a sum

than ten. thousand pounds. Richard was residing at

his palace. of Shene, in Surrey, and he proceeded Is recon-
thence on the 29th of August, 1393,! to complete his eed the
reconciliation with the citizens by a pompous proces- city.
sion through the capital.

‘A Carmelite friar, named Richard de Maidstone, Recon-
who held some employment at court, was present in Cs
this grand ceremony, and has left us a minute account arp II.
of it in Latin elegiacs addressed to a friend who was "IT Curr
named like himself Richard. It is a curious picture pon; by
of medieval pageantry and medieval manners. Richard Richard de
of Maidstone, in the spirit of a thorough courtier,
sees nothing but virtue and perfection in Richard IL;

“there was not such another youth in the. whole

“ world, who, like him, knew how to rule his king-
“dom with the wisdom of Solomon.” Envious
tongues, our author confesses, had turned the king’s

mind against the citizens, and caused him to desert

his “ chamber,’ but even the power of detraction

could not keep him long away from it. Early on

this auspicious day the king’s “ guardian" warned the -
citizens to be prepared to meet their sovereign, and Prepara-
the warning was acted upon with the greatest tons ie the
alacrity. The streets were lined with rich tapestry, |
and decked with garlands of sweet-smelling flowers ;

while nearly the whole population poured out to meet

the king. There were a thousand and twenty young

men on horseback, and the number on foot could not

——À———

1 The 21st, according to the poem.
VOL. I. g

The
trades.

They meet
the king
and queen,

A homi-
cide par-
doned,

At the foot of the bridge, two valuable horses, with :

of the citizens, presented the sword of office of the | 1
his knights to keep until he had visited his capit

implored her intercession in their favour, which she
promised. The king and queen, followed by t

3
e

xxiv INTRODUCTION.

be counted. The guardian led the way, followed by]
the twenty-four aldermen, all clothed in red andj
white. Then followed the several trades, each dis-]
tinguished by its livery; and Richard of Maidstone; t
takes the opportunity of giving us a rather curious?
list of the various trades existing in London at thati
time. The approach of the king leads the poet into]
a rather flattering description of his person. Richa
was seated on a white horse, and was surrounded
his nobles and courtiers Queen Anne came imme-
diately after him, covered with jewels, and attended
by her ladies of honour. The guardian, in the name] ]

lord mayor and the keys of the city, in a veryi
humble address, to the king, who delivered them toi

to see whether his subjects knew how to appreciate
their sovereign. They next addressed the queen, a

citizens, then continued their route towards the city, 4
amid great rejoicing and loud clangor of musicali
instruments. Hitherto the day had been rainy and @ 3
stormy, which cast some gloom over people's spirits, à
but as they approached the capital the weather cleared 4

up and it became fine. In the midst of the street of i

Southwark, a man who had been exiled for homicide À
presented. himself before the king, with a wooden CTOSS 3

in his arm, and obtained the king's pardon in con- 4 4
sideration of the joyfulness of the occasion. Here also | 1
a rich crown was placed on the head of the queen. À

splendid trappings, were presented to the king, and -
very graciously accepted. A fair palfrey was similarly :
presented to the queen. As they approached the:
bridge much confusion was caused by the crowded :
state of the street, and the good friar describes -

E RAN ES € ut
- Re ens

INTRODUCTION. | lxxv

in not a very saintly tone the mirth of the spectators

when a chariot full of court ladies were upset,

and their persons exposed not very becomingly to

the vulgar gaze. He makes amends, however, by
moralizing on the accident, as ominous of the fall of

pride and luxury. Slowly they gained Chepe (Cheap- The pa-
side), the principal street, which was decked out with Gnome,
extraordinary magnificence, and its windows were

filled with beautiful women and maidens.. The foun-

tains in Chepe ran wine, and in the middle of the

street was raised a lofty tower, at the top of which

were à boy and a beautiful virgin, the frst in dis-

guise of an angel and the latter bearing a crown.

As the king and queen approached, these two
personages descended as though in a cloud, in a man.

ner which Richard of Maidstone professes not to have
understood, the boy, or angel holding in his hand a

eup of gold full of wine, and the maiden holding two

crowns of gold in her hand. The maiden delivered

her two crowns to the guardian, who presented them

to the king and queen, and both accepted them
gracefully, and drank of the cup with a smiling
countenance, which carried joy to the hearts of the
citizens. The second fountain. of Chepe, at the The foun-
entrance to St. Paul’s, was the scene of still more Cheapside.
elaborate pageantry ; and the music was so varied,

that the poet takes the opportunity of enumerating

all the musical instruments of which he could have

found the names in a medieval Latin dictionary. The

king and queen entered St. Paul’s, where they were
received by the clergy, and visited the shrine of St.
Erkenwold. Ludgate was the scene of another won-

derful pageant, from which angels threw flowers and
perfumes on the royal party. But the grandest Pageant at
pageant of all was at Temple-bar, on which was x emple-
represented à forest and desert filled with all kinds

of wild beasts. In the middle of it appeared John

g 2

Ixxvi . INTRODUCTION, | | 1

the Baptist with the agnus Dei. This subject was
cleverly and even artfully contrived. It appears that d
John the Baptist was king Richard's favourite saint, 1
and as his eyes fell upon this exhibition, he was seized à
with a sudden feeling of devotion, and all traces that 3
may have remained of his irritation against the citizens 4
of London disappeared. Besides John the Baptist, @
there was an angel at the summit of this pageant, 4
who descended suddenly as the king and queei 3
approached, holding a golden tablet or altar-piece in 4
Presenta. each hand, which he delivered to the guardian. The | E
tion of ;
golden latter presented one, on which there was a representa E
tablets. — tion of the crucifixion, to the king, which he touched, :
declared that he had entirely forgiven the citizens, and |
invited them to follow him to Westminster to hear j
his final determination with regard to them. The 3
other tablet, representing St. Anne, in allusion to her À
name, was presented to the queen, who received it |
equally graciously, and promised to do all in her |
power to complete the reconciliation of the citizens ?
The scene with the king. The king now rode without farther |
at West- delay, attended with similar. pomp and pageantry, t to 1

minster, OEE TO Ei Sg» Ug

in the hall, holding his sceptre in his hand, and | :
surrounded by his nobles. The queen, attended by @
her maids of honour, entered, threw herself at the
king's-feet, and interceded for the citizens of London.
The king graciously granted her request, and is made
to address the citizens in a long speech, in which he
reminds them of their past errors, and exhorts them .$
never again to provoke the anger of their prince or .:
to treat his courtiers with disrespect; to despise the
new doctrines in religion, and defend the Catholic ^
faith; to avoid injustice, fraud, and contention; or to 3
expect his severe displeasure if they did otherwise.
He restored to them the keys and the sword, with all
their old laws and privileges, and then dismissed them E

INTRODUCTION. __ Ixxvii

with the promise of his favour. Richard of Maidstone
concludes with a glowing picture of the joy of the
citizens at the king’s generosity, but he forgets
entirely the fine of ten thousand pounds sterling.

Since the beginning of the reign England had not Foreign
been at peace with France, and the greater part of it "élations.
had been passed in war more or less active, our
shores had been insulted, and our island threatened
with invasion; but during several years there had
been a succession of short armistices At length, in
the year 1394, a truce for four years was concluded,
which it was hoped would be converted into a lasting
peace, but the French were now averse to it. The
only one of Edward's conquests in France of any
importance which the English still preserved was
Calais, and the French had during the last few years
gone through such a rapid succession of recoveries,
that they were reluctant to relinquish the hope of
adding Calais to them. They were not willing, there- Ox rne
fore, to make a lasting peace, of which the restoration TRUE a
of Calais should not be a condition. This feeling is Exerawp
embodied in a song by the poet Eustache Deschamps, 32%, cx;by
which is printed in the present volume, During the Eustache
progress of the treaty a party of peasants are intro- amp.
duced conversing upon it, and they all agree in one
point, that there would be no peace until the English
restored Calais. France had, nevertheless, to wait a
century and a half before the town of Calais was re-

. covered. | | |

The religious agitation had been increasing instead Religious
of subsiding; for, although Richard II. did not agitation.
directly countenance the religious reformers, he was
not a persecutor, and there were so many other sub-
jects of agitation and discontent, that the Lollards
experienced a good deal of unintentional tolerance.

Under these circumstances the followers of Wycliffe
became bold and active, and preached openly against

MY recede,
m

Tue Com-

PLAINT OF

Pride and
warlike
character
of the
prelates,

Their
luxury.

Ixxviii | INTRODUCTION.

the corruptions of church and state Among the.
written records of the popular feelings of this time is
a poem of some length, composed probably in 1393:3
or 1394, and pretending to emanate from the
Ploughman, who since the publication of the Visions

of Piers Ploughman had been adopted as the repre- 3
sentative of religious and political purity. It. was the
embodiment of the pure democratic principle which
lay at the bottom of the opinions which now agitated! 4
the world. The writer of the poem alluded to, to: 4
which I have here given the title of the Complaint of:4
the Ploughman, who professes to have held an inde- 4
pendent position between the two parties, pretends toj
have heard in a wood a disputé between -two: 4
* fowls,” a griffon and a pelican, the first of which. j
was the advocate of the Romish church, and the other %
its opponent. The pelican begins by urging the j
meekness and humility preached by the Saviour, and $
contrasts with these the conduct of the prelates of his 4
day, who sought to amass wealth and worldly posses- a
sions, led men to battle (alluding, probably, to the war- *
like deeds of Spencer, bishop of Norwich), and aspired’ 4
to temporal sovereignty. They claimed, he says, to be |
the equals of kings and emperors, rode on horses with. *
gorgeous trappings, had daily change of rich clothing, :
and oppressed the poor. They “turned holy church :
* into a prostitute, and filed her belly with wine :
“and ale.” They kept luxurious tables, wore mitres .
and pastoral staffs of gold and jewels, claimed the :
right of judging people to death in this world and to E

. damnation in the next, and were ready to sell heaven :

Pride of
the pope.

and earth for.money. They compelled temporal lords :
to make obeisance to them, and, when they rode ©
out, they were attended by escorts like those of |
kings. Their head, the pope, was like them greedy ^
of worldly honours, and made kings kneel and bend :
to him, and dispensed power in. different degrees to -

INTRODUCTION, . ]xxix

all his subjects, but reserved very. little to Jesus
Christ When he sate upon his throne, he thought
he was superior to Christ himself They called Christ
only sanctus, but the pope was in their language

sancissumus. But their true head, he says, was
Belial, and their ungodly character was proved by |

the war which they were now carrying on among
themselves, alluding to the sanguimary struggles
between rival popes in the schism of the latter
part of the fourteenth century. He goes on to charge
the priests of the church with forcing people to swear
falsely, with using and encouraging simony, with
acting under the influence of envy and hatred, with
selling the sacraments of the church, with leading
immoral lives, and with oppression of their flocks in
an infinite variety of ways. They sold to people for
money absolution of their sins, however great. “ They
* say that Peter had the keys of heaven and hell"
continues the pelican, “but I trow he never sold sins
“ for money; nor had Peter so little wisdom as to
“ leave his keys to a wretch like those who now call
* themselves popes.” Men, who did not even know
their creed, were placed in authority in the church
through favour or bribery. When Christ was on
earth he had twelve apostles; but now there is only
one apostle, and no man may believe that he may
err, although Peter, from whom he claims his autho-

Faults of
the priests,

rity, erred more than the other apostles. A second The
part of the Complaint treats of the misdoings of the inferior

priests and inferior clergy, who are described as the
servants of Antichrist and not of Jesus. They are
represented as living in everything contrary to Christ's
example ; using pride instead of meekness, strife instead
of sufferance (forbearance), anger instead of soberness,
wilfulness instead of wisdom, outrageousness instead of
measure (moderation), lordly life instead of lowliness,
hasty judgment instead of mercy, covetousness instead

clergy.

Who are
permitted
to he

" preachers.

Extortiors .
of the
church.

Ixxx INTRODUCTION.

of largess, treachery instead of truth, envy instead of:
almsdoing, lechery instead of chastity, and self-indul-.
gence instead of penance. Their place in the other j
world shall be with Dives. These carried with them :
the badge of Antichrist ; and without that badge they 3
were not allowed to preach. Christ sent the poor, and à
not the rich, to preach; but now the poor are not“)
allowed to preach, and if any such are found, they 3
are suspended and thrown into prison, All such as :
have forsaken the world, and live lowly, shall be :à
carried into Antichrist’s prisons, and be beaten and à
bound. He accuses the Catholic priesthood in general 4
of taking Judas as their pattern. “If Christ were 3
* here on earth again, these would condemn him to 4
* die; they have overthrown all his hests, and say 4
“that his sayings are heresy, cry out against his j
* commandments, and condemn all his to be burnt... :
* These have more might here in England than hath 3
“the king and all his laws; they have purchased |
* them such power, that they take all who will not' 3
* acknowledge them, and say that their doctrine is’. 3
* heresy, and so send them to prison. It was not so E
“in the days of our forefathers. God for his merey 4
“amend it!” “The king," it is added, “taxeth his E
.* men only by the assent of the commonalty, but 3
* these every year will take from them by force more 43
* than he gets by the legal taxes. Their seals are ‘4
.* more worth yearly than the king’s, and their officers 3
“have greater fee. . . . For whoso will prove $4
* a will that is not worth ten pound, he shall pay =

“for the parchment the third part of all the

“money. . . . For a simple act of incontinence | $
“he shall pay twenty: shillings, and then have an :
* absolution and a licence to commit the sin the. .

* whole year. . . . Jt is a wonder that the par-

* liament, and all the lords of this land, have mot -

* paid more attention hereto, to help the people out

INTRODUCTION. | xxxi

* of their hands" In the third and last part the The Seen |
griffon interrupts the pelican to inquire his opinion of nos
the secular clergy, to which he replies that they

sought to obtain a plurality of benefices, and that

they occupied themselves much in gaining money, which -

some spent and others hoarded up, but very little in

the cure of souls. Those who hoarded their money
purchased lay fee with it, or expended it in building

great houses; but they spent nothing on the poor.

. Many of them lived in pride and jollity, and squan-

dered their incomes upon their concubines. So intent,

indeed, were they in getting money and collecting

their rents, that some could hardly find time to say

matins “for counting and court-holding," and others Their
Stored up the whole of their ecclesiastical revenue, ond cipes
while they neglected their parishes and went into ness to
the service of kings and earls to gain more money. money.
So strictly did they. collect their dues, that they would

put people in the stocks for the tithing of a duck,

or an apple or an egg. They were always to be

seen at the wrestling, and at the wake, and were

* chief chanters" at the ale. They went a hunting

with their packs of hounds, and could blow a horn

and cry “hey!” “And yet they must have some

“ stock or stone painted gaily and adorned proudly,

* to make people put their faith in and look upon it

“as full of might." To these images they induced Image
people to make pilgrimages and present offerings, all worship.
which went to increase their wealth. As their dealings.

-were unscrupulous, so their private life, as it is here -
described at some length, was without modesty or
shame. The griffon has heard enough of charges
against the priesthood, and he asks the pelican what

he has to say about the monks. Formerly, he says, the —
and according to the foundation of St. Benedict, they monks.
were poor and lived modestly, but this did not last

.long, and now they were rich, proud, and worldly

The friars.

The
charch
needs
power.

The re-

corners T pelican of envy, and says that because he cannot gain

charged
. with envy.

]xxxii INTRODUCTION.

minded, and kept houses and lived like lords. For -
his opinion of the friars, the pelican refers to the |
popular tract known as Piers Ploughman’s Creed.
The griffon next takes up the cause of holy church
and retorts somewhat bitterly on the attacks of the
pelican. “Should holy church," he asks, “have no :
* head or guider? If so, who is to direct or advise '
“her? If men assail the church with force, men must ^
* defend her with strength equally. If the pope were -
* poor and needy, he would be driven from door to —
* door, and the wicked would not be afraid of him. :
* People would live in their sins in spite of him.
“ To amend them he must have force, for wolves are
* driven away from the sheep with weapons. If the
“pope and prelates had to beg and ask, and |
“bow and borrow, holy church would stand full ©
* cold, and her servants would sit and sup sorrow." :
The pelican replied, that Christ was the head of the
Church, and that they ought to have no other head.
Christ had forbidden his priests to assume any
* mastership." Their rich clothing should be righteous- .
ness, their wealth charity, their lordship love, and
their rich vessels a clean conscience. Poverty of spirit
and humility were the legitimate defences of the
church. The griffon, losing his temper, accuses the

riches himself, he grieves at the prosperity of others.
* You speak against the seven sacraments as though
* ye were knowing people, against tithes, offerings,
* and tenths, and allege falsehoods about our Lord;
* and this ye do that ye may live at your ease,
* in the belief that there are no such things. It is
* the devil who brings in these new doctrines to
* disturb the peace of the church. Leave thy chat-
* tering, with bad luck to thee. If thou live well, —
€ what wilt thou. more? Let other men live as they
* list. Ye have no cure to answer for; why meddle

INTRODUCTION. Ixxxiii

“ ye with that which does not concern you? Let all
* men live as they have done of yore, for thou art not
* answerable for them." The pelican expostulates, and
urges that he did not despise the persons or the
sacraments, but complained of the misrule of the one
and of the misuse of the other. This reply makes the The
griffon still more furious, and after uttering various Hiro
threats against the pelican and the church reformers, griffon.
he flies away in a rage. The pelican meanwhile enters
into conversation with ihe ploughman, who has been
the listener to their dispute, and continues his remarks
on the corruptions of the church; but they are
interrupted by the return of the griffon with a
numerous flock of birds, his allies; such as ravens,
rooks, crows, magpies, buzzards, kites, and the like.
It was the turn of the pelican now to fly away in
alarm, but he also returned, after a rather long
absence, bringing with him the phoenix, who defeated
the griffon and his allies, slaughtering great numbers of
them, and driving the rest into places of concealment, |
from which there was no danger of their return. Thus
this curious poem ends.
Among the courtiers in the earlier part of Richard’ S John
reign was John Gower the poet. Gower was at first Gower the
poe
a courtier in every sense of the word, and he was
treated by the king with regard. Richard, one day,
while passing along the Thames, met the poet, who
was rowing in a boat, took him into the royal barge,
and asked him to employ himself upon some new poem
in the English language. The result was the English
poem by which Gower is best known, the Confessio
Amantis, in the introductory lines to which the poet
relates this anecdote, and speaks of his sovereign in
very flattering language. He evidently took a deep
interest in the political agitation of the day, and after
the great insurrection of the lower classes he wrote his
longest Latin poem, the Vox Clamantis, in which he

: Ixxxiv INTRODUCTION.

Gower's
sentiments
undergo a
change.

and to the other great lords who had put themselves :

We trace Gower’s political sentiments through the |

ON THE
Corxve-
TIONS OF
THE ÂGE:
by John
Gower.

Gower an:
enemy to.
the Lol- -
lards.

traces the cause of these troubles to the corrupt

manners and principles of all classes of society, and

he describes and satirizes these with considerable:
minuteness! He here still exhibits much attachment |

for the young king, though he expresses considerable
apprehension for the future. Soon afterwards he began

to be disgusted with the conduct of the court, and ^

attached himself more and more to the earl of Derby
(afterwards duke of Lancaster and king of England),

in opposition to Richard's misgovernment. A new

edition of his English poem was brought out, in which |

he omitted the prefatory story about king Richard, and
all the complimentary allusions to that monarch, and
substituted for them a dedication to the earl of Derby.

latter years of king Richard’s reign in a number of
short poems, all directed against the government. The
first of these was written in the twentieth year of
this reign, and has for its subject “the manifold
“ pestilence of vices, whereby our country was more
“ especially tainted in the time of Richard the second.”
He begins with a declaration that in times of national
danger it was the duty of every man who could to
speak out, and gives this as an excuse for the
employment of his pen. His first attack is directed
against “ Lollardy,” the cause of which, he says, was
Satan’s craftiness. In his English poem, and especially
in the Vox Clamantis, though Gower does not spare
the corruptions of the church, he displays*every where
a decided hostility to the Lollards. As he acknowledges
the corruptions in the papal church which the religious

à . — —— MM ———————
——— —M M A —— M —MÀÀÀ Á——— M9 — — o dd + e en À———À — ee — MÀ — - ———

! A. valuable edition of Gower's | printed, for the Roxburgh Club, by
Vox Clamantis has been edited, but | the Rev. H. O. Coxe, of Oxford,
a very small number of copies | 4to., 1850.

INTRODUCTION. lxxxv

reformers attacked, he is obliged to consider them in a
political light, a3 breeders of division in the church

and state. He adopts the derivation of Lollard from

the Latin word lolówm, and treats them as noxious |
weeds growing up among and spoiling the corn.

They were sent into the world by Satan, the author

of all evil, and brought with them a large share of

the old serpent’s falsehood and deceitfulness They
dressed in clothes of coarse wool, affected serious
countenances, but these were only covers for their
fraudulent designs. He warns people from lending

their ears. to the dangerous incantations of these new
sectarians, and urges the danger of not remaining
satisfied with the faith which had been handed down

from former ages. The next vice against which the priae, las-
poet inveighs is pride, which also originated with the berry,
evil one, and which now pervaded society, and wasand ^
displayed in vain and extravagant fashions in dress. ‘arice.
Next comes lasciviousness, which had gained possession

of all classes of society, the poor as well as the rich.
Perjury and avarice were, too, cognate vices, which
were then the cause of numerous and immense evils.
Gower assures us that he wrote these things with
weeping eyes, deeply affected with the sorrows of his
country, and the moral darkness which enveloped. it.

The attacks in this satire are very general, but in oy sn
another poem which follows, and which seems to have NiCES OF
been written nearly about the same time, the charges regex
are brought home rather more closely to the different ORDERS or
orders in society at that day. The poet engages in à by John
search for light, which had been concealed by the COW
darkness of vice, or at least he undertakes to direct
the search. Beginning at what was then considered a8 4), 4 ness
the head, he says that it would be in vain to seek for of the
light at Rome, where there were already two popes, court, "and
who of course contradicted each other, and if there was i the
any light among the clergy, it was concealed under a chureh,

Ixxxvi INTRODUCTION.

bushel, because it was rejected by the church itself.
There could be little light, it is intimated, in a church
where everything was governed by simony. Though, |
as we have seen, Gower was no friend to the Lollards,
he was not blind to the great corruptions of the papal
church. Among the monks and the secular clergy he -
tells us there was nothing but darkness. Their only lamps |
Darkness Were games, idleness, prostitutes, and taverns. Light
in the of was equally a stranger to the councils of kings, or
kings. otherwise they would have interfered to prevent the ~
divisions in the church, and would have united to
arrest the progress of the infidels who were threatening
Among the the safety of Christendom. There was no light among

Leight the nobles, who put trust in their own power, and by
| this self-confidence and the want of due precaution
were led on to their ruin Light had departed also
from the chivalry of the kingdom, which was intent
Among the only upon self-indulgence and rapine. Light among
jurists. the men of law had disappeared before the influence
of bribery, and law had no weight against money.
Among the Nor was there more light among merchants and
merchants. tradesmen, who sought. only to enrich themselves by
Among the means of usury and fraudulent dealings. The commons,
commons. or in the language of law, the country, was too
deeply immersed in ignorance to show much light,
and was overrun with robbers, homicides, and turbulent
characters of every description. The poet concludes by
avowing the grief which overwhelmed him in contem-
plating this universal darkness, and by praying that

God would send some light upon his country.

Ox Kme In a third Latin poem, Gower gives us some moral
BICHARD reflections on the goodness and. badness of kings;
John intended, of course, to be applied to Richard IL It
Gower. ig stated in the rubric to have been written at the
last period of king Richard’s life. Richard was, indeed,
now approaching rapidly towards the melancholy end
of his career. Two songs in the present volume, one

INTRODUCTION. Ixxxvil |

in Latin, the other in English, belong to the period
immediately preceding his fall. The first of these On Kixe
was evidently intended to be sung among theJPcmam»'s
people, and, though obscure enough to the modern wzxs.
reader, it presented no obscurity to those who felt
every allusion, and were familiar with.every nickname

it contained, especially with the puns and jokes which

were made .upon the three most obnoxious ministers,
Bushey, Greene, and Bagot. It is to these names, of
course, that the song writer alludes when he tells us

in his first stanzas of a bush which was already over-
grown, and which would soon go wild if it were not

well pruned and held low; of “grass, which was so

“ green,” that- it required to be mown and raked

away, to prevent its overgrowing the field; and of a

great bag, which required to be cut smaller, and
which had its bottom nearly out, and was so rotten

on every side that it would hardly bear mending.

Jokes like these, when levelled against their oppressors,

were richly relished by the English populace in the

reign of Richard II. The bush, the song goes on to The bush,
say, was the cause of the murder of a gentle swan the grass,
(the duke of Gloucester), who was of good brood, bag.
and profitable to the kingdom. The green grass, by

its length and rankness, slew a strong and sturdy
steed (the earl of Arundel) of which any king might
have been proud. It was a bear-ward (the earl of
Warwick, whose badge was the bear and ragged
staff) who found the rag of which he made the bag,
and all with very good intentions ; nevertheless, this
bag of his own making was the instrument of the
earl’s fall; he was condemned to death, but his punish-
ment was commuted for perpetual imprisonment. The
death of the swan had been the cause of grief to his
duchess, who was further deprived of her eldest son,
Humphrey Plantagenet, who was carried away to
Ireland, and imprisoned in the castle of Trim. The

The eagle.

Return of
the duke
of Lan
caster.

ON THE
EXPECTED
ARRIVAL
OF THE
DUKE OF
Lan-
CASTER,

Ixxxvill INTRODUCTION.

steed’s colt (Thomas, son and heir to the ear! of ^
Arundel) had made his escape on his father's death, ü
and had joined the eagle (Henry of Laneaster). They E

ati
cd

had taken the son of the bear-ward, who was & minor,

and married him according to their will, but he only *
waited the time for following in the footsteps of his ^
father. The eagle, however, was now up, had taken * :
his flight towards England, and had alighted in the ::
north country, bringing with him the steed's colt. ^:
The geese and the peacocks (perhaps signifying the ':
Pereies and the Nevilles) joined him in great numbers. *:
The eagle, it is hoped, will first settle on the bush, :
which he likes above all places for watching his prey; .
and then he will fall upon the green fiercely. The *.
bag is full of rotten corn,—treasures hoarded up to *-
little purpose; and it shall be emptied, and its contents % ,
distributed among the peacocks and geese, and among '.
other fowls; while the bush has become bare of leaves E :
and dry, and must be hewn down, crop and root. *.
The long grass, though it seem green, is unfit food for ' .
the cattle, which have become lean by it, and wil ~~

remain so until the bad portion of it be “ dinged out."

The great bag is so torn and worthless that the only '.
thing to be done with it is to hang it up to dry, and ^ :
after it has undergone this operation, it will be seen © :
whether it can be amended or not. When all this ^.
has been done, the lean beasts will have rest, and +

better pasture.

m d.c ver At gi To

The Latin song ought, perhaps, to have preeeded —
the other, for it appears to have been written before —

the duke of Lancaster landed in the north. It con- - |
tains the same complaints of the destruction of the :
nobles, of the insupportable burthen of taxes, and of E

ihe inordinate pride and tyranny of the court.
We come now io one of the most curious political

poems in this volume, but of which the only copy now _

known to exist is unfortunately imperfect. The great

INTRODUCTION. ]Ixxxix

reform poem of the fourteenth century was the work TheVisions
known by the title of the Visions of Piers Ploughman. Plough.
It possessed all those holds upon popularity which are man.
found in the writings of Bunyan. People seem to
have a natural taste for moral satire conveyed under
allegorical forms, and it was here clothed in that pure
Anglo-Saxon form of verse which seems to have been
preserved among the people alone, but which from this
moment came into great vogue. It will be remem-
bered that at the end of that celebrated poem, Con-
science sets out as a pilgrim to “walk as wide as the
“ world lasteth," in search of Piers Ploughman, in
order to obtain his assistance against Pride. The writer Ox rux
of the allitérative poem on the deposition of Richard II. pers
takes up the narrative here, and, apparently in the Ricnarp
person of Conscience, continues his wanderings, and’
becomes a witness of the strange events which were
then taking place. He. had arrived in. the town of
Bristol, and entered the church of the Trinity, which
was popularly called Christ Church, when extraordinary
rumours reached his ears, how, while king Richard
was warring on the wild Irish, Henry had entered
the kingdom on the “ east half,” and how the people,
who all loved him, had risen to join him and assist
in righting his wrongs, in the expectation that he
would afterwards assist them in obtaining a remedy
for their injuries. Troubled in mind at these rumours,
the more so as they were known to be true, and un-
easy about the result, which he could not see, the
wanderer resolved to write a letter to the king, re-
minding him of the errors of his reign, that he might
be induced to amend him of his misdeeds, and so per-
haps merit to be restored to his crown. “For,” he says, Tke
* as my body and my chattels ought to be at the ant Bor S
* disposal of my liege lord, so ought also my reason
“and my counsel to advise, if I could, my king and
^ the lords, and therefore I endeavoured, with all my

VOL. I. oh

xe INTRODUCTION.

. * five wits, to labour on this treatise" After this des:
elaration he lays aside his allegorical character, andj
appears as the author of a political tract, addressed tof
the king, in which he gives a popular sketch of the
errors of his reign. Accordingly, still addressing the:
king, he begs of him not to be satisfied with merely,
looking into it, and reading a hundred lines, but id;

Spirit of
the poem.

Richard's
misrule,

read it through calmly, and if he saw anything untrue:

or unwise in it, to cause it to be corrected by his:

council, for the writer intended to keep it secret until’
it had been approved by wiser wits than his own. He.
hoped, then, when it should be published in a cory:
rected form, that it would benefit the readers, both:

young and old; and he discards the supposition that.
he had any idea of offending his sovereign, or any :
other person. It could offend only those who were;
deserving of blame, and to them he could only say; :
whoever felt grieved in spirit, “let him govern himself :
* better, and not blame the man who made the book; ‘
# but his own wicked will and his words which sprung "

€ from it.”

In spite of these prefatory remarks, the writer ad- |
dresses the king in terms which are anything but re- :
spectful. “Richard the redeless (the unadvised)," he says, :

* rue on yourself, who led your life lawlessly and your -

* people also.” He goes on to tell him that, through .
pride and waste which prevailed in his time, and his :
own wilfulness, an end had been put to his "riot":
‘and he had been placed in a position to reflect upon -
the consequences of his misrule. He asks him whether.
‘allegiance be most established by dread and blows, :

and untrue judgments, by squandering the publie
money on bad ministers, by plundering the people for

- the sake of his favourites, by acting wilfully in de-
spite of wisdom, by taxing his towns when there was :
no war, by ruthless agents who were always robbing ©
people, and such like expedients, or by acting aecord-

INTRODUCTION. xol

ing to the law and displaying love towards his sub.
jects. Allegiance without love, he says, are little worth.
But there was a crowd of young courtiers who con-
sidered nothing but their own indulgence and ease,
and who were incapable of shedding a tear for any
degree of suffering they inflicted on the people. * Ye
* came to your kingdom," he says, * before ye knew.
* yourself, crowned with a crown such as no king
* under heaven could have bought a better" The
rich ornaments of this crown were, punishment of
wrong-doing, righteous judgment, and peace among the
people, with loyalty, love, and mercy. It would re-
quire, the writer tells us, some penetration to discover
what had become of this crown; nevertheless, he will
undertake to do it, and that without mentioning
names, except allusions which would be understood by
everybody. “ Full privily these men plucked thy Conduct of
“ powers away, they rode like kings throughout your {he young
* realm, and like tyrants took from the husbandmen favourites,
“ whatever they liked, paying them on their skulls |
* when money was not forthcoming. For none of
your people durst complain of their wrongs, for fear
of your dukes, and of their great power. Men might
“ag well have hunted a hare with a tabor as ask
* any amends for their misdeeds, or for those of their
* men, for all was fellows and fellowship where ye
* went." This impossibility of obtaining redress drove Movement
Richard's * men" to resistance. They, in obedience to against the
the laws, led the king to prosecute his “duke” for his
misdeeds, to the great joy of everybody. If his crown
had been kept to the satisfaction of the commons,
there would have been: no murder nor discord among
the nobles ; but by the deceit which the king had used
towards the commons he had ruined himself, so that
without God's help “his harvest was in." The king
had to. blame himself, and not his council, for the
misfortune which had thus fallen to faithless people,
h 2

Character
of the
courtiers,

Extra-
vagant
liveries.

Grievance
of the
king's
badges.

xeii INTRODUCTION.

and he was urged to weigh well the advice which was 3
now to be given to him. When the king, as he is. 4
here told, first mounted the throne, he chose for his 4
friends or councillors men who were too young of 3
years to govern such a realm. Some of them were.j
* hobbes," or low fellows, of Hurlewayn's kindred, ie, 3d
limbs of Satan, who refused to submit to the laws ?
which ought to have held the king and court within :
due limits. All these thought of was how to enrich :
and indulge themselves, and avoid ever being brought: :
to account for it. .“ But if ye had done your duty as :
* & sovereign ought, the first who instructed you +
“in such false conduct should have been hanged .;
* aloft on the gallows, though he had been your born E
* brother. Then would other such lewd fellows have “|
* been abashed, and would not have ventured upon :
* the same evil courses.” Thus the king and his fa- ;
vourites went on, until at last they raised up the E

storm under which they all came to ruin.

The writer of this poem has divided it, in imitation E

of that of Piers Ploughman, into Passus, or divisions,

answering somewhat to what were called in the popular E

Lidia vic Ola EUR

i +

En Le Re SR ER À E
3S ARES a oS PURA E

BEA

alla Tr e now enters 1 § 3
ballad poetry “fits” H ters into his second ::
Passus, in which he goes more into the consequences :

of the misdeeds of the court. He complains of the
extravagant liveries which the king gave to all about

him, to conciliate the horned harts (his favourites), who
roamed in pride over the kingdom, and who were all -
ready, now in his need, to forsake and disown him. -
Their only feeling was dread of the eagle (the duke of ..

Lancaster) who had come to save the people; and
they had fled precipitately to seek shelter in the
forests and fields. The writer asks what advice the
king could have acted upon when he allowed such a
numerous host of agents to bear his badges and over-
run the country, who troubled the land and talked to
the commons with the king’s authority, or with that

Du AE
Re, -

INTRODUCTION. xcii

of the court lords; they “plucked the feathers from
. * the skins of the poor,” and then showed their badges,
at which people were afraid to ask for any amends for
their misdeeds. Thus were the people oppressed by .
the king's liveries, and the poor lieges were borne
down by their tyranny. The folly of such misgovern-
ment was enough to astonish anybody. “For first, at
* your anointing, all weré your own, hearts and minds,
* and held of no other; no individual in your land
* held otherwise than a liege ought, until you by your
* dulness made a disseverance through your side
* badges, which spilt all the broth, and overthrew the
* crock into the midst of the coals.” After some Who
further remarks on these badges, which were the source y
of so much oppression, the author gives his opinion
that no maintainours should carry marks (badges), nor
have livery of lords, to impair the law, neither brag-
gards nor boasters, for all their swaggering talk ; but
that men possessing knowledge and conscience, firm
against temptation, strong in their intelligence, and
loyal in their lives, who lived by their own means,
and would not be influenced by bribery in trying the
truth between two sides, and whom no lord's power
would. prevent from sustaining the law when the poor
complained of being wronged—such men, in his
opinion, should have badges and “something by the
* year," that they might keep the country in quiet
and repose. Our writer charitably supposes that the
king might have had originally à good motive for this
multiplication of badges and liveries, but if it did not —
show a want of goodness of disposition, it showed a
great failing in judgment. If the good greyhound
(supposed to be the earl of Dorset) had not been ag-
grieved, but had been cherished as the chief of
Richard’s leash, king Richard might have had harts
enough at his command, that is, he might have had
plenty of loving subjects. That this was not the case,

The king's
want of
sympathy
with his
subjects.

Anecdote
: of the
hart.

Anecdote
of the
partridge.

XCIV INTRODUCTION.

however, ought not to be matter of wonder, for the:

king had never shown any care for the poor herd; @

who had become lean with hunger, because their pro-: 7

visions had been stolen from them by flatterers He 3

had fostered and fed a few only, and left uncared for
the common herd, who managed to endure until “ the
“ blessed bird" (Henry of Lancaster) came to spread
his wings over them and cover them from the cold,
as the house-hens cherish their chickens. The gentle
eagle had come in the harvest time to take care of
his birds, and he “battered” on the bushes (an allu-
sion to Bushy), and collected men as they walked on
the green (sir Henry Green), and the bag (Bagot) was.
taken and brought to justice. Thus the eagle hawked

&nd hovered about, until all the kites and crows and
other disloyal fowls submitted to him.

At the beginning of the third Passus we are treated.
with an anecdote from the medieval systems of natural
history, how the harts, when they grew old, seized
upon the serpents which would have attacked the
horses, and by killing them and eating their venom
became young again. The application of the story is
not very clear, but the writer tells us in the sequel,

that it was the nature of “clergy” not to grieve colts

(alluding to the young earl of Arundel), nor to con-
tend with horses (the elder earl of Arundel), nor to
strive with swans (the duke of Gloucester), nor to bait
or bind bears (the earl of Warwick.) According to
another zoological anecdote, it was the nature of the

partridge to sit diligently upon her own eggs, in the E

hope that before harvest time the young would be
hatched, but another cunning partridge came and
watched her opportunity, when the true mother quitted
the nest, to usurp her place, continue the process of
incubation, and bring up the young till they were
strong enough to leave the nest, and then, at the first
call of their true mother, they deserted their step-

J INTRODUCTION, xev

mother and followed her. So now, when the gentle

eagle made his appearance, all the birds who heard

the note “busked from the bushes and briars which

* annoyed them, and burnished their beaks, and bent

“ towards him, and followed him fiercely to fight for _

* their wrongs; they babbled with their bills how Applica.
“ they had been beaten and injured with twigs two i
* and twenty years. Thus they left the leader who

* had led them wrong, and who had taken from them

* by guile the corn which ought to have fed them."

. They were sorrowful in spirit for-the injury which

had been done to the horse (Arundel) and they
hastened to have the eagles help, “for he was
“head of them all, and highest in blood, to be

* guardian of the crown.” He set the bear (Warwick)

at liberty, and all the young bears crowded to his
standard. They demanded vengeance for the murder

of so many good knights, who had withstood stiff
storms for the commons, and their wrath was

great against the earl marshal for the part he had

taken against his unfortunate father-in-law, the earl

of Arundel, The writer again returns to Richard and Vanity and
his courtiers, and dwells at some length on their Canoe of
vanity, their outrageous fashions in dress, and their the court. —
other extravagances, A stranger made his appearance

in their hall, whose name, Wisdom, was no sooner
known than he was unceremoniously turned out of

doors. Yet it became the young men of whom the

king had- made his favourites to rule a kingdom about

as much as it did a cow to “hop in a cage.” Kings,

he says, were not made to live at their ease in the

world, but to labour on the laws no less than hus-
bandmen at the plough, and to look after and put

down all evil-doers.. The abuse of kingly power is

described, and the perversion of justice in the courts
of law.

xcvi INTRODUCTION.

King - The fourth Passus of this poem. introduces us to the 4
aat. compliant parliament of the twenty-first year of king à
_ parliament, Richard’s reign. The writer tells us that no other:
christian king was ever known that held half such.a 4
household. as king Richard held. All his revenues j
were far too little to support it, and besides. the money:
he raised illegally, he was obliged to call a parliament: :
to grant him. more. It was to be a “privy ". par- >
liament, that is one chosen to be compliant with j
the king’s will, and the sheriffs and other returning
officers received instructions to cause such to be
chose for members as would not be likely to offer
any opposition to the court. When this parliament —
was assembled, the “clerk,” who addressed them on’ :
the part of the crown, “moved for money more than :
“ anything else,” and the members of the House of .
Commons were told that they must meet again next —
morning, and agree to the king's wants before meat,
Behaviour Nevertheless, some of them, for sake of form, argued
| of the ers of against it. “ We are servants,” they said, “and receive .
parliament. “ salaries, and are sent from the shires to represent
* their grievances, and to speak for their profit, and *
* pass no further, and we are not to give their money :
* away wrongly, but only in case of war; and if we .-
“are false to those who pay us our wages, we shall _ E:
“ not be worthy to receive our hire" They did not :
all, however, speak in this manner. Some sat like a :
cipher in arithmetic, which makes a place but avails ~

nothing. Some had supped with Simon the night

before. Some were titulars, and gave private infor-

mation to the king of such as were opposed. to him.

Some slumbered on the benches and said little. Others

* maffled with the mouth," but knew not what they

meant, Some were bribed, and acted under the orders

of those who had bought them; while others looked

Solemn, but seemed not to know why. Some were so

V4 uo eR .
JO Roni. St s ue te A
SAILS shen NS ES SON AM EN DANCE IS

INTRODUCTION. xevil.

fierce ab the first start, that they appeared tó have put

on all sail to catch the wind, but they soon pulled

down their sail when the storm set in. Some had Their
been beforehand tampered with by the council and. motives,
knew well enough how it would end, or some of the.
assembly should repent of it. Some held with the
majority, however it went; and others talked pertly,

but they had more in view the coin which the king

was to give them than the interests of their constitu-
ents, and were promised “handsell” of the silver which
was to be given to the king. “Some were in dread of

p * dukes and forsook Do-well.”. Here, unfortunately,

| in the midst of this curious satirical description of king |
Richard's parliament, the scribe to whom we owe the
manuscript abruptly ceased from his labours.

At the time. when this poem was composed, king King
Richard was a captive, but the intention to depose captive. à
him appears not yet to have been made public.

Gower. now reappears, embittered more than ever
. against Richard’s government; and as that monarch
was not only deposed, but dead, and Henry IV. was ©
seated on the throne, the poet could proclaim his
opinions without fear of giving offence. The Tripartite Gower’s
. Chronicle is much more plain spoken, and more )@PA®
strictly speaking historical, than his previous poems. Curo-
lt is divided, as its name indicates, into three books, "9"
. embracing three political periods, the first of which he
. terms Opus humanum, because, he says, it ought to
be the work of humanity to seek and promote peace,
which the three nobles, Gloucester, Arundel, and War-
wick performed ; the second, Opus inferni, which was
that of king Richard, who disturbed the peace of the
kingdom, and put to death its rightiul champions ; and
the third, Opus in Christo, because it witnessed the
punishment of the wieked, and ended in the deposition
of king Richard, and the elevation of the duke of —
Lancaster to the throne. He begins with the year

xcviii INTRODUCTION.

1387, having told the earlier popular tumults in the :

Vou Clamantis. At that time the young king was

changing from bad to worse, and, taking none but

The king's
hostility to
the three
popular
nobles.

Defeat
of the
favourites,

Punish-

young men into his confidence, he rejected the council

of the old and experienced. Among the latter were

three of the old nobles whom the king especially dis-

liked, and whose death he sought to effect,—— Gloucester,
Arundel, and Warwick,— who are described through the
poem by their popular sobriquets, the swan, the horse,
and the bear. He consulted with his legal authorities,
who flattered him with the belief that his own will
was the supreme law, and put their names to advice
which was to lead to the ruin. of the three lords.
The latter, warned of their danger, strengthened them-
selves in their own defence, and were supported by

the earl Marshal, the earl of Derby, and the earl of 7

Northumberland. The king applied to the citizens of
London for assistance against the three lords, but they
refused it, knowing well the king’s malice. The earl of
Oxford (Vere), the king’s favourite, assembled an army
in Cheshire to make war upon the three lords ; but he
was met one Friday on the banks of the Thames, near
Oxford, and defeated by the duke of Gloucester, and he
fled to the continent, while his castles were razed. Others
of the king's favourites, informed of the disaster of
the earl of Oxford, followed his example, and sought
safety in exile. These were Alexander de Neville,
archbishop of York, and Michael de la Pole, earl of
Suffolk, and the king’s confessor, the bishop of Chi-
chester, the latter of whom is spoken of very reproach-
fully. The three lords repaired to the king in the
Tower, of which they took possession, and where they
held a consultation with Richard and obtained his
consent to holding a parliament in London. This
parliament condemned the ministers who had fled to

ment of the perpetual banishment, and then proceeded to bring

ministers.

to justice the king's evil advisers who remained in

INTRODUCTION. XCIX

England. Simon de Burley, the chamberlain, was
beheaded ; Sir John de Beauchamp, baron Bridgenorth,
steward of the king's household, underwent the same
fate ; and Nicholas Brembel, the lord mayor of London,
and Sir Robert Tressilian, the judge of tlie King's .
Bench, were both hanged. Brembel, or Brambre, was
accused, among other political crimes, of having sug-
gested a plan for alluring the duke of Gloucester into
the city of London, and murdering him there. The
other false judges who had signed the document
against the three lords, were, at the intercession of
the bishops, merely banished to Ireland. The friars,
who had been encouraged at court, and had been
willing and base instruments for promoting the king's
evil designs, were also sent away. All means were
tried to seduce and corrupt the three lords, but they .
remained firm to their principles, and persisted in
their patriotic conduct.

The second division relates the melancholy fates of King
the three popular nobles. Richard professed and Richard's
showed the greatest friendship for them, while he was and
secretly meditating their destruction. Not only were ‘#17.
they received familiarly, but they obtained from the
king assurances of his attachment in writing, and
under his hand. The king, in this manner, concealed
long his malice, which was especially directed against
his uncle, the duke of Gloucester. At length, when Seizure of
the duke was far from suspecting any evil, the king ne duke ot
went in person with a sufficient force to his castle of
Plescy, in Essex, arrested him there, and sent him a
prisoner to Calais. This act of treachery put the other
nobles on their guard; but they were not proof
against the profound and unprincipled cunning of
Richard IT The king called to him archbishop
Arundel, of Canterbury, and promised him upon oath
that, if his brother, the earl of Arundel, would come

and of the
earls of
Aruniet
and
Warwick.

| Murder of

CS INTRODUCTION.

voluntarily to his presence, he should not only be .
allowed to depart in liberty, and without any accusa- :
tion, but that he should continue to enjoy his steady :
friendship. The earl of Arundel unfortunately trusted !
to king Richard’s oath, presented himself at court, and :
was thrown into prison, The earl of Warwick re- :
mained in London, prepared for the worst; and he
was there arrested, and thrown into prison, like his :
colleagues. The king then called a parliament, which :
was chosen under court influence, and at which eight. E
appellants brought in the articles of impeachment

against the three lords, who were cited to appear before ..

the parliament to answer the charges brought against
them. The king was afraid to let the duke of Gloucester |
appear in person, knowing the strong feeling of the
people in bis favour; and he invented a new false-
hood, pretending that the duke was at Calais too ill
to be removed. He was accordingly condemned in bis
absence by the “pestiferous” king. Still, the king
had not the courage to brave public opinion so far as
to bring his illustrious victim to a publie execution ;

and he sent some of his creatures to Calais, who

the dukeof murdered the duke of Gloucester hy smothering him

Gloucester, :

Arundel
executed, |

Warwick
banished,

under a feather bed. The earl of Arundel replied to
the charges brought against him in parliament -without
hesitation, showed that they were all false, and pro-
duced the king’s charters of peace and concord; yet

-the king caused him to be condemned in defiance of

all justice, and to be executed on Tower hill. The
earl of Warwick trusted to the king's promise of par-
don, and made a confession of guilt; but Richard,
who only aimed by this trick to gain some informa-
tion which would criminate others, caused him, never-
theless, to be condemned, though the capital sentence
was subsequently commuted to imprisonment for life,
and he was sent away to the Isle of Man, The

————— — €

INTRODUCTION. Ci

innocent lord. Cobham, who had sought peace in the Lord
retirement of a Carthusian monastery, was next Cobham,
dragged before the parliament, and, though he easily
cleared himself from the charges brought against him,

and no judgment was recorded against him, was
banished from England by the king. The same fate

fell upon the ‘archbishop of Canterbury, whose chief
offence was his relationship to the earl of Arundel,

and his friendship for the others. So great was the

alarm created by these proceedings, that nobody dared

even to lament the fate of Richard’s victims ; and the

king's favourites and their creatures even made songs
in derision. of them. - |

The subject of the third division is the punishment
which followed upon these unjust and arbitrary acts, and
it is written in a tone of exultation. We are told how,
like a mole, the king gradually undermined his country
and the power of the parliament, how by various
means he oppressed and plundered the country more |
and more daily, until it could be supported no longer ;
and how he banished Henry earl of Derby, the son and Banish.
heir of the duke of Lancaster, who took up his resi- mentefthe
dence in France to watch the course of events. The Derby ;
earl of. Derby, having become duke of Lancaster by ¥ rh comes
the death of his father, repaired to Calais, with the duke of
intention of claiming his patrimony, and sailing thence Easter.
with the. archbishop of Canterbury and the heir to
the earl of Arundel, landed near Grimsby (the ordinary He returns.
authorities say at Ravenspur) The whole land rose
joyfully to welcome the exiles; while Richard, who
was in Ireland, ruined himself by his dilatoriness.
The king’s three evil advisers, Scrope, Green, and Execution
Bushey, were captured at Bristol and put to death. favourites.
King Richard, returning at length from Ireland, landed
in Wales, where he and his followers surrendered to
duke Henry, who carried him to London and lodged

ei INTRODUCTION.

him in the Tower. The duke of Lancaster recalled all
the banished lords, and summoned a parliament to
meet at Westminster at Michaelmas; but Humphrey, :
the son and heir of the duke of Gloucester, and his |
The duke mother, died in the interim. When the parliament —
Pons met, Richard's abdication of the crown was accepted
king as ^ and the duke of Lancaster was unanimously elected
Henry IV. ying of England as Henry IV. In this parliament,
also, king Henry's eldest son, also named Henry, re-
ceived the title of prince of Wales, and all the acts of
Gloucester’s parliament were confirmed, while those of
king Richard’s last parliament were annulled. The
supporters of the deposed king, having given their
adhesion to these acts of the parliament, were allowed
to go free, except that some of them were degraded
from their new titles, as the dukes of Albemarle,
Surrey, and Exeter, who became again earls of Rut-
. Conspiracy land, Kent, and Huntingdon. Gower concludes his
ofnobe& book with an account of the conspiracy of the four
lords, Holland, Kent, Salisbury, and Spencer, who,
* more wicked than Judas," sought to repay the
benefits they had received by treason. But God's
anger fell upon them in the town of Cirencester,
where the conspiracy was defeated by a rising of
the populace, in which the four lords were put to
death. The citizens of London were faithful to the
new dynasty, and took up arms in defence of the
Death of king and his children. When king Richard heard of
king Rich the defeat of this plot, and of the deaths of the lords,
he gave himself up to despair, refused to take any
food, and died of starvation. |
Memorut The last piece in the present volume is a brief
Mi um metrical abstract of the two reigns included in it,
Ræ16NS OF contemporary as far as regards the reign of Richard IL,
EpwARD . e. . "à . .
IH.Ax» and containing, with its prose comment, some historical
RicnARD notes which are perhaps worth preserving. It may

INTRODUCTION. cii

serve as a sort of summary of the period illustrated by
the political poems which precede.

Such are the contents of the volume now given to
the public, and this brief review of them will be
sufficient to show that it contains materials of con-
siderable value to the historian. They are varied in
character, and, of course, in importance, and some of
the Latin poems are very obscure. This arises from
several causes. In the first place, the style and
phraseology, full of quaint conceits and barbarisms
peculiar to the time at which they were written, are
in themselves not very intelligible to the modern
reader, who is better acquainted with classical forms;
secondly, the texts, as preserved, have been mostly
. written by very incorrect scribes, and are full of
clerical errors, which are the more difficult to correct
on account of their characteristic obscurity ; while
they are in most cases written in detestably bad
handwriting, with a multitude of contractions which
are neither of the usual character nor very easy to
make out. In the cases where we find more than one
copy of the same poem, they only partially assist us
in correcting the text, for in these poems of a political
character, different individuals who copied them, or had
them copied, evidently changed or modified words and
phrases at will, according to the strength of their own
political bias; and hence among several various readings
it is not possible to say with certainty which was the
reading of the original text. In such cases, the editor
has thought it most prudent to adhere to one manu-
script in the text, and merely give the variations of the
others in the notes. These various difficulties, he trusts,
will be accepted as the excuse for a few literal errors
which may have escaped him in correcting the proofs,
and which the eye of the reader will easily detect. It
may,. perhaps, also be right to remark that these

ev INTRODUCTION.

Political Poems are not all printed for the first time.
Some of them have appeared in print before, but
scattered in works where they are hardly known, and
often incorrectly edited ; and, as they are here edited
from the manuscripts, it has not been thought neces- .
sary to refer to the former editions.

POLITICAL POEMS, —

NAN AN.

Tur Vows or THE Heron!

1338.

Ens el mois de Setembre, qu'estés va à declin,
Que cil oisillon gay ont perdu lou latin,

Et si sekent les vignes, et meurent li rosin,
Et despoillent li arbre, et coeuvrent li chemin,

. [TnANsLATION.]

In the month of September, when summer is in the de-
cline,—whén the gay little birds have lost their note, —and
the vines dry up, and the grapes are ripe,—and the trees shed
their leaves, and the roads become covered with them,—in the

! This very curious poem is pre-

served in a MS. in the library of
Berne in Switzerland, No. 323, from
which it was printed, with some in-
accuracies, by Sainte-Palaye, in his
Mémoires sur l'aneienne Chevalerie.
It was no doubt composed by a
partizan, and probably a subject, of
Robert of Artois, and its object
seems to have been to vaunt the
part which Robert had acted in pro-
voking the English monarch into
the war against France, The writer
seems to have been acquainted with
ihe appearance of the different

English chieftains, but not to have
known much about them personally,
as we may judge by his mistake in

regard of the earl of Salisbury’s

blindness, and from one or two
other circumstances, As he alludes
to the imprisonment of the earl of
Suffolk in 1340, it must have been
written after thatevent,and probably

before the truce in the September

of that year, as the war is spoken

of more than ónce as having expe-

rienced no interruption. This poem

is written in a strong northern

dialect, very likely that of Artois.
A

2 POLITICAL POEMS.

L'an m.eccxxxviij, ainsi le vous affi,

Fu Edouars à Londres en son palais marbrin
Avecques lui seoient duc, conte, et palasin,

Et dames, et pucheles, et maint autre mechin.
Edouart Loeys lapelent si voisin.

Li rois seoit à table, sans penser mal engin,

En pensées d'amours tenant le chef enclin.

Du gentil roi de Franche s'apeloit il cousin ;

‘Et le tint en chiertée com son loiel voisin ;
Envers li ne pensoit bataille ne hustin.

Mais quant fortune tourne, ensi com je devin,
Tost moevent ces paroles dont il aist grant venin.
Ensi en avint-il en che propre termin,

Par un gentil vassal, qui etoit de grant lin,
Robers d'Artois ot non, ce dient palasin ;

Chie comencha la guerre et l'orible hustin,

Dont meint bon chevalier fu getó mort souvin,
Mainte dame en fu vesve, et main[t| povre orfelin,
Et maint bon maronier acourchiet son termin,

Et mainte preude femme mise à divers destin,

year 1838, as I assure you,—Edward was at London in his
palace of marble ;—with him sat dukes, earls, and courtiers,
—and ladies, and maidens, and many other females.— His
neighbours call him Edward Louis.—The king sat at table,
not thinking of mischief, —in thoughts of love looking down-
wards.—He was called cousin of the gentle king of France;
—-and he held him in affection as his loyal neighbour ;—he .
meditated against him neither battle nor strife.—But when
fortune turns, as I guess,—the words are soon agitated from
which he will have great bitterness.—So it happened at this
particular time,—by a gentle vassal, who was of great ancestry,
—named Robert of Artois, as the courtiers say ;—he began
the war and the horrible strife,—through which many a good
knight was cast down dead,—many a lady made a widow, and
. many & poor orphan,—and many a good mariner shortened
his life,——and many an honest woman put to different fates,—

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 3

Et tante belle eglise fu arse et mise à fin;
Et encore sera, se Jhesus n'i met fin.

Signour, à ichel temps de coy je vous devis,
Quant li airs se reffroide, apprés le douch tamps prin,
Et nature esvoisie dekiet de ses delis,

Et chil bos se deffoeillent, et prés sont defflouris,
Fu Edouars à Londres, avec lui ses marchis,

Mout y ot asanlé de gens de son pays. |

Là fu Robers d'Artois, un hons de moult grand pris.
Bannis estoit de Franche le nobile pays,

Escachiés de la terre roi Philippe o le cler vis;

Et n'osoit demourer de chà mer ou pais,

N'en Flandres, n'en Namur, n'en Auvergne autressi ;
Et li falirent tout, et parens, et amis,

Pour l'amour du bon roy qui tenoit Saint Denis,
Fors le roi d'Engleterre, dont bien fu recoeillis.
Chieux le prinst à tenser contre ses anemis;

Moult le tint en chierté, qu'il estoit ses amis,
Extrait de son lignage, de par les fleurs de lis.

and many a fair church was burnt and destroyed ;—and will
be again, unless Jesus put an'end to it.

Lords, at that time of which I am telling you,—when the ..
air is cooled, after the warm weather,—and nature after being |
joyous falls from its state of joy,—and the woods lose their
leaves, and the meadows their flowers, --Edward was at
London, and with him his nobles,—there was a great assem-
blage of people of his country.—There was Robert of Artois,
a man of great worth.—He was banished from France the
noble country, —driven from the land of king Philip with the
clear countenance,—and dared not remain in the country on
this side the sea,—neither in Flanders, nor in Namur, nor
in Auvergne either; — and he was deserted by all, both
kindred and friends,—for the love of the good king who held
St. Denis, —except the king of England, by whom he was
well received.— He protected him against his enemies ;—he
held him in great affection because he was his friend, —
derived from his lineage, on the side of the fleurs-de-lis.—

A 2

À | POLITICAL POEMS.

Che jour estoit à Londres quens Robers li marchis,
Et d'aler en gibier envie l'ot sousprins, -
Pour ce qu'il li souvint du très gentil pais :
De France lalosée, dont il estoit ravis.

Che jour ala voler par camps eb par larris,
Un petit faucon porte, qui de lui fu nourris,
Un faucon muskadin lapellent ou pais ;

Tant vola par riviere qu'il à un heron prins.
Si tot com ille prinst, si li rougi li vis,

Et dist quil le donra Edouart Loeys,

S'en fera faire veus à chiaux de son pais.
A. Londres s'en repaire, avec lui ses soubgis;
En la quisine entra, là fu li hairons mis ;

Et là fu il moult bien et plumés et farsis,
Et si fu quis en rost, ensi com si devis.
Entre deux plats d'argent fu li hairons assis;
Deux maistres de viele à quens Robers saisis,
Avoec un quistreneus, acordant par devis ;
Deux puchelles apele, filles de deux marchis ;

That day earl Robert the noble was at London,—and he
was seized with the desire of going to the chase,—because
he called to mind the very gentle couniry——of France the
lauded, from which he was banished.— That day he went fowling
over fields and over heaths,—he carries a little falcon which
he had bred, —they call it a muskadin falcon in that country ; .
—he went fowling along the river till he has caught a
heron.—As soon as he had caught it, his face reddened, —
and he says that he will give it to Edward Louis —and he
will make those of his country take vows upon it.—He re-
pairs to London, and his dependents with him ;—he entered
ihe kitchen, there was the heron put,— and there it was
very well both plumed and stuffed, .—and it was cooked in
roast, according to custom.— Between two dishes of silver was
the heron placed ;—count Robert has seized two players on the
fiddle,—with a player on the guitar, to accord with them ;—
he called two maidens, daughters of two nobles ;—they carried

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. . 5

Le hairon aporterent ens ou palais vautis. -

Les deux puchelles cantent aussi com par devis ;

Et chil Robers s’escrie hautement à haut cris:

* Voidiés les rens, voidiés, mauvaise gens salis,

* Laissiés passer les preus cui amours ont sousprins ;

* Vechi viande as preux, à chiaux qui sont soubgis

* As dames amoureuses, qui tant ont cler le vis.

“ Seigneur, jai un hairon que mes faucons a prins;

* Et chi ne doit mangier nuls couars, ce m'est vis,

* Fors li preus amoureus, qui d'amours son garnis.

* Le plus couart oysel ay prinst, ce m'est avis,

“ Qui soit de tous les autres, de che soit chescuns
fis ; | | |

* Car li hairons est tels de nature toudis,

* Si tost qu'il voit son umbre il est tous estordis,

* Tant fort s'escrie et brait com s'il fut à mort mis

* A li doivent vouer les gens de cest pais;

‘ Et puis que couers est, je dis à mon avis,

* C'au plus couart qui soit ne qui oncques fust vis -

the heron into the vaulted palace.—The two maidens sing also
as for pleasure ;—and Robert cries aloud with loud cries :—
* Open the ranks, open, wicked and dirty people ;—let pass
* the gentles who have been seized by love ;—here is food
* for the gentlemen, for those who are subjects—to the
* amorous ladies, who have such delicate complexions.—
* Lords, I have a heron which my falcon has taken ;—and
* here methinks there can be no coward sitting at table, —
* except the gentle lovers, who are furnished with love.—
* | have taken the most cowardly bird, methinks, — which
* there is of all others, of this let every one be sure;
—for the heron is such by its nature always,—as soon
as it sees its shadow it is all astounded,—it cries and
brays as loud as if it were being murdered.—The people
of this country ought to make their vows upon it ;—and
since it is a coward, I say in my opinion, —that to the
greatest coward who is or ever was alive-—-l will give

PA Uer i mart TRE e i

6 POLITICAL POEMS.

* Donrrai le hairon, ch’est Edouart Loeis,

‘ Deshiretés de Franche, le nobile pais,

* Qu'il en estoit drois hoirs; més cuers li est falis,
* Et por sa lasquethé en morra dessaisis ;

“ S’en dois bien au hairon voer le sien avis.”

Et quant li roys l'entent, tous li rousi li vis,

D'ire et de maltalent li est li coers fremis ;

Et dist: ^ Puis que couars est par devant moi mis,
* Drois est que mieux en vaille, j'en dirai mon avis,
* Et s'en verrai le fait se longuement je vis,

* Qu je moray en painne de mon veu acomplir;

Car je veu et prometh à Dieu de Paradis,

* Et à sa douche mere de qui il fu nourris,

* Que ains que chix ans soit passés ne acomplis,

* Que je deffierai le roy de Saint Denys,

. Et passerai la mer, avec moi mes subgis,

* Et droit parmi Heinau passerai Cambresis,
* Et dedans Vermendois logerei par devis;
* Et se ert li fus boutés par trestout le pais,

* the heron, that is Edward Louis,— disinherited from
* France, the noble country, — of which he was rightful
“heir; but heart has failed him,—and for his cowardice
* he will die deprived of it ;-—so he must vow on the heron
* what he thinks."— And when the king hears it, his face
became all reddened,—his heart chafes with anger and spite,
—and he says: “Since coward is thrown in my face,—it
* is right that I be more worth, I will tell my opinion,—
* and the deed shall be seen if I live long,—or I will die
* in labouring to accomplish my vow ;—for I vow and pro-
* mise to God of Paradise,—and to his sweet mother by
* whom he was nursed,—that before this year be passed
* or completed, —l will defy the king of St. Denis, —and
* I wil pass the sea, my subjects with me,—and right
* through Hainault I will pass Cambresis,— and within
*« Vermandois I wil lodge at my will;—and fire shall be

.* get through the whole country,—and there I will await

—_ --

nae nn stein emenda red —- oe

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 7

* Et là atenderay mes morteus anemis,

* Ch’est Philype de Valois qui porte fleur-de-lis,
* Un mois trestout entier, tant quil soit acomplis.
* Et s'il vient contre moi, avec lui ses subgis,

* A lui me combaterai, de ches soit il tous fis,

* Se seulement n’airoie que un home contre dix.
* Me cuide-il dont tolir mé terre et mon pais?
Si je li fis hommage, de coy je suis sousprins,
J’estoie jovene d’ans, se ne vaut deux espis.

Je le jur come rois Saint Jorge et Saint Denis,
Que puis le tamps Ector, Acilles, ne Paris,

* Ne le roi Alexandre, qui conquisé maint pais,

* Ne fist tel treu en Franche damoisiaux ne marchis,
* Que je le pense à faire ains l'an xlvi,

* S'encontre moi ne vient, avec lui ses subgis ;

* Més à li je renonche, sois en cherteins et fis,

* Car je le guerreray et en fais et en dis.

* Avec mon serment ay-je che veu pourprins."

Et quant Robert lentent, s'en a jeté un ris,

cé
«
«€

my mortal enemies,—that is Philip of Valois who bears
ihe fleur-de-lis, —one whole month, until it be finished.—
And if he come against me, and his subjects with him,—
I will fight him, of that let him be quite sure,—if I had
only one man against ten.—Does he think, then, he may
rob me of my lands and my country ?—If I did homage
to him, at which I am confounded,—I was young of years,
so that it is not worth two ears of corn—I swear it as
king, by St. George and St. Denis, —that since the time
of Hector, Achilles, or Paris, — or of king Alexander,
who conquered many a country,—no such truce was made
in France by bachelor or noble,—which I think to make
before the year forty-six,—if he come not to meet me,
his subjects with him ;—but I renounce him, whether in
castles or fiefs,—for I will make war upon him both in
deeds and in words.-—With my oath have I undertaken
* this vow."—And when Robert hears him, he has given

- 2.
ne
"y ‘

8 POLITICAL POEMS. -

Et dist tout en basset: “ Or ai-je m'en avis;

* Quant par ichel hairon, que aujourdevoi ay prins, -
* Commenchera grant guerre, selonc le mien avis, -
* Je dois bien avoir joie, par Dieu de Paradis;

* Car à tort du boin roi fuis sevrés et partis,

* Et banis fui de Franche, le nobile pais,

* Et desevrés à doel de tous mes boins amis;

* Et s'estoib mes serouges, et s'a ma femme prins,

* Ma fille, et mes enfans, et en sa prison mis.

* Mès, par la foi que je doy à filles et à fix,

* Ains que muire de mort, si plaist à Jhesu Crist,

* Me logeray en Franche, car jou i ai des amis; v dg
* De l'estracion sui monseigneur Saint Loys; E
“ Et là vesrai-je Philipe qui crie Saint Denys

* Monjole; au roi de Franche, qui est fors poestis,
* Du tamps qui fu regens de Franche et recessis,
* De son privé conseil fü, de che soiés tous fis,

* Loiaument en tous temps le consillay toudis ;

. way to a smile, —and said all in a whisper: “Now have I
| “my will ;—since through this heron, which I caught to-
* day,—great war will begin, according to my desire, — I
* ought well to have joy, by God of Paradise ;—for I was
* wrongfully dividéd and separated from the good king,—
* and I was banished from France, the noble country,—
* and dissevered with grief from all my good friends ;—and —
* he was my brother-in-law ; yet he has taken my wife,
* —my daughter, and my children, and put them in his
€ prison.—But, by the faith which I owe to daughters and
* sons,—before I die the death, if it please Jesus Christ, .—
* I will have a lodging in France, for I have friends there ;
* — I am descended from monseigneur St. Louis ; — and.
* there shall I see Philip, who cries St. Denis—Montjoie ;.
* to the king of France, who is very powerful, —at the
‘ time when he was established regent of France,—I was
* of his privy council, of this be ye all assured,— on all
* occasions I always counselled him loyally ;— for which I

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 9

* Dont mauvais guerredon m'en a: eté meris.

* Més, par icheli Dieu qui en la crois fu mis,

* Et ferus de la lanche du chevalier Longis,

* Je m'en irai en Franche, n'en suis mie esbahis,
* Et si me combaterai ains que soie partis.

* Or, aviegne qu'aviegne, si l'ai ensi emprins,

* Se je vis longuement mes veux est acomplis.”
Quant chil Robert d'Artois ot vod son talent,
Les deux plas a reprins, qui tout furent d'argent,
Et le hairon dedens, dont au roy fist present.

Et li dois menestral vielent douchement,

Avoec le guistreneu s'acordent ingaument ;

Et lès les deux pucheles contoient douchement,
* Je vois à la vredure, car amours le m'aprent."
Là peusiés veoir moult esvoisiement

De gieu et de solas grant esbaudissement.

Qui puis se di tourna à grant encombrement,
Et encore fera, se Dieux pité n'en prent.

Et chil Robert d'Artois ni fist arestement,

La table tressali tost et apertement ;

* have only been paid a bad reward.—But by that God who
‘ was put on the cross,—and was struck with the spear of
* the knight Longis,—I will go into France, I am not at all
* frightened, — and I will fight before I leave it.— Now,
* happen what may happen, I have undertaken it so,—if
* T live long my vow is accomplished.”

When this Robert of Artois had vowed his will,—he
took the two dishes again, which were entirely of silver,
—and the heron in them, of which he made a present
to the king.—And the two minstrels fiddle sweetly,—and
with the guitar-player they accord equally,—and hard by
the two maidens sung sweetly,—“I go to the verdure, for
* love instructs me to do so.”—-There you might see
very joyfully—great enjoyment of game and solace,—which
after that day turned to great disaster, — and will still,
unless God take pity on it.—Axnd this Robert of Artois did
not stay there,—he leaped over the table quickly and

10 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Au conte Salebrin ala premierement,

Qui sist dalès sa mie où grant amours apent,

Qui fu gente et courtoise, de biau contenement,
File au conte Derbi! qui l'amoit loialement.

Et Robers li à dist moult gracieusement,

* Biaux sire, vous qui estes plains de grant hardement,
* El nom de Jhesu Crist, à qui li mondes "pens
* Voués à no hairon le droit devouement,

* Sans faire nul delay, je vous prie humblement."
Et chieux li repondis, * Et pour coy ne comment
“ Porroie aventurer men cors si hautement,

“ Que peusse akiever nul veu parfaitement ?

* Car je sers la puchelle qui soit au fermament

* Selonc che que j'ay, et amours le m'aprent,

“ Se le Virge Marie estoit chi en present,

* Osté la deité de li tant seulement,

* Je ne saroie faire des deux deseiyrement.

openly ;—ío the earl of Salisbury he went first,—who sits
near his mistress io whom great love attaches,—who was
gentle and courtly, and of fair bearing,—daughter of the
earl of Derby, who loved him loyally.—And Robert said to
him very gracefully,—* Fair sir, you who are full of great
* boldness,—in the name of Jesus Christ, to whom the
* world belongs,—make a vow to our heron of true devo-
* tion,—without making any delay, I pray you humbly."—
And he replied to him, “And why and how—could I adven-
* ture my body so highly, —that I might be able to achieve
* any vow perfectly ?—For I serve the maiden who is chief
* in beauty—according to what I have, and as love teaches
* me,—if the Virgin Mary were here present, —if deity
* were only taken from her,—I should not be able to make

! Henry Plantagenet, earl of | bury, so that we may consider it at
Derby, who had two daughters and | least probable that the story in the
coheirs, Maude and Blanche,neither | text is a mere invention of the com-
of whom married the earl of Salis- | poser of this poem.

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. . 11

* D'amours li ay requis, mais elle se deffent ;

* Mais gracieux espoirs me donne entendement

* Qu’ encore aray merchi, se je vis longuement.

“ Si pri à la pucelle de ceur devotement,

* Qu'elle me preste un doit de sa main seulement,
* Et methe sur mon oeil destre parfaitement." ?

* Par foy," dist la pucelle, “moult feroit laskement
* Dame qui son amant rekiert parfaitement

* La forche de son cors avoir entierement,

* Se d'un doit à toukier faisoit refusement ;

* Et len presteray deux, ainsi l'ai en couvent."
Les deux dois sur l'oeil destre li mist isnelement,
Et se li à clos l'oeil et fremé fermement,

Et chix a demandé moult gracieusement,

* Bele, est-il bien clos?" “Oyl certainement."
Adonc dis de le bouche du ceur le pensement.

* Et je veu et prometh à Dieu omnipotent,

* à distinction between the two.—I have asked her for
* love, but she refuses ;—but gracious hope gives me to
* understand—that yet I shall have mercy, if I live long.—
* So I pray the maiden from my heart devoutly—that she
* lend me only a finger of her hand,—and put it entirely
* on my right eye.”—“ By my faith,” said the maiden,“ she
* would act basely,—the lady who requires of her lover
* fully—to have entirely the force of his body,—if she
* refused to touch him with one finger;—and I will
* lend him two, and so I am ready to do."—Immediately
she placed her two fingers on his right eye,—and so she
has elosed his eye and shut it up firmly. — And he
asked her very gracefully,.“Lady, is it quite closed ?”
** Yea, certainly."—Then he said with his mouth his heart’s
thought.—“ And I vow and promise to God Almighty,

2 William de Montaeute, eatl of | tends, affect blindness, but he had
Salisbury, one of Edward’s bravest | lost one of his eyes in the wars in
warriors, did not, as our poet pre- | Scotland.

12 POLITICAL POEMS.

* Et à sa douche mere que de beauté resplent,

* Qu'il n'ert jamais ouvers, pour ore ne pour vent,

* Pour mal ne pour martire, ne pour encombrement,

“ Si seray dedans Franche, où il a bonne gent,

* Et si arai le fu bouté entierement,

* Et serai combatus à grand efforchement

* Contre les gens Philype, qui tant a hardement ;

* Si ne sui en bataille prins, par boin ensient

“ Ed[ouart aid]erai à acomplir son talent.

* Or aviegne qu'aviegne, car il n'est autrement."

Adone osta son doit la puchelle au cors gent,

Et li iex clos demeure, si que |’ virent le gent.

Et quand Robert lentent, moult de joie l'enprent.
Quant li quens Salebrin ot voué son avis,

Et demoura l'oeil clos en la guerre toudis,

‘Li bers Robers d'Artois ne s’est mie alentis,

La puchelle apella, fille au conte Derbi;

* Damoiselle," dit-il, “ou non de Jhesu Crist,

.* Car voés au hairon le droit de chest pais."

* and to his sweet mother who is resplendent with beauty,—
* that it shall never be opened, for weather or wind,—for
* hurt or torture, or for disaster,—till I am within France,
* where there are good people,— and I shall have set fire
* everywhere,—and I shall have fought with great force—
against the people of Philip who has so much boldness.
« —]If I am not taken in battle, by good will—I will aid
* Edward to accomplish his design.—Now happen what may
* happen, for it is not otherwise.”—Then the maiden with
ihe elegant body withdrew her finger, —and the eye remained
closed, so that the people saw it.—And when Robert hears
it, he is seized with much joy.

When the earl of Salisbury had made his vow,—and the
eye remained elosed always in the war,—the noble Robert
of Artois did not remain idle,—he appealed to the maiden,
the daughter of the earl of Derby ;—“‘ Damsel" said he,
* in the name of Jesus Christ, —now vow on the heron

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. | 13

* Sire,” dist la puchelle, “tout à vostre devis ;

Car je veu et prometh à à Dieu de Paradis,

* Que je n'arai mari, pour homme qui soit vis,

* Pour due, conte, ne princhedomaine, ne marchis,

* Devant que chieux vassal aura tous acomplis

* Le veu que pour m'amour a si haut entreprins ;

* Et quant il revenra, s'il en escape vis,

* Le mien cors li otroie de bon coer à toudis.”

Quant li vassaux lentent, li coers li est sousprins,

Si en fu en son ceur plus liés et plus hardis.
Quant la gentix pucelle ot faite sa pensée

De son ami servir, car ensi li agrée,

li quens Robers d’Artois ni a fait demourée,

Les plats d'argent reprent, li porteres li agréé ;

Car serment se penoit en coer et en pensée

De dire tel parole dont Franche fut grevée,

Pour che qu'il ot perdu la nobile contrée,

Le pais agensi, dont fort li desagrée ;

À Wautier de Mauny a dite sa pensée,

* the right of this country (¢.e., the right of the English to
France)."—* Sire," said the maiden, “all 08 you will ;—for I
* vow and promise to God of Paradise,—that I will not have
a husband, for any man who is alive,—for duke, earl, or
sovereign prince, or marquis,—before this vassal has entirely
accomplished—the vow which for my love he has so loftily
undertaken ;—and when he shall return, if he escape alive,
—I give him my body cordially and for ever."—When the
vassal heard this, his heart was overcome,—and he was for
it in his heart more joyful and more courageous.

When the gentle maiden had expressed her thought—of
serving her friend, for so it pleased her,—the count Robert
of Artois made no delay, —he took again the dishes of
silver, the bearer gave them up ;—for he laboured hard in
heart and in thought—-to say such word as should bring
grief to France, —because he had lost the noble country,—
the country so rich, at which he was much grieved ;—
to Walter de Mauny he said his thougbt,—* Sir," said

it)

cé

14 POLITICAL POEMS.

“ Sire,” ce.dist Robert, “s’il vous plaist et agrée,

“ Voués à no hairon vo plaisanche honnorée.”

Et Wautiers respondi, * M'i a mestier chelée,

* Ne say faire voauche qui puist estre akievée ;

* Mais pour chou que chi voi une gent honorée,

* Me vaurai esprouver que mes honneurs soit gardée
* Car je veu et prometh à la vierge honnorée

* Qui porta cheli Dieu qui fist chil et rousée,

* Qu'en une bonne ville qui est de tours fremée, .
* Et de palus enclose, de tours avironnée,

* Godemars du Fay l'a longuement gardée,

* Mais, par le serement dont j'ai fait le vouée,

* @i bouterai le fu ens une matinée,

* Et sera de par moi celle ville gastée,

* fib ochise la gent gisant geule bée,

“ Et si m'en partirai en ichelle journée

“ Tous sains et tous haitiés, que ma char n'est navrée,
* Ne ma gent qu'avec moy est par dedans entrée.

“ Or me doinst Dieux pooir d'acomplir ma pensée.” —

Robert, * if it please and be agreeable to you,—vow to our
* heron your honourable pleasure.”—And Walter replies,
“I ought to be silent,—I know not how to make a
* vow which can be achieved ;—but because I see here
* à people that is honourable,—I would make an effort to
* guard my own honour ;—wherefore I vow and promise
* to the honoured virgin—who bore the God who made
* heaven and the dew,—that in a good town which is
* fortified. with towers,—and inclosed with marshes, and
* surrounded with towers,—-Godemars de Fay has long held
* it,—but, by the oath of which I have made the vow, —I
“ will set fire to it one morning,—and this town shall be
* ruined by me,—and the people slain and lie with their
* mouths gaping,—and I will go sway from it that same
* day—all sound and rejoicing, without a wound on my
* flesh, ——nor my people who with me entered therein.
* _Now may God give me power to accomplish my

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 15

Et quant Robert l’entent, moult forment li agrée,

Et dist, * Fors est la cose, s'ensi estoit passée,

* Mains preudons en morra ains ke soit akievée."
Quant Wautiers de Mauny ot le sien veu voué,

Robers, cheli d'Artois, dont j'ai devant parlé,

A reprins les deux plas, si les a relevés,

Et les trois menestreus ont leurs cordes tiré,

Et les deux pucelles ont en haut escrié, |

* Loyaux amours nous mainent, qui nous ont encanté.”

Le preu conte Derby a li quens apelé, —

Et li proie pour Dieu et pour la Trinité,

Que il veue au hairon son voloir et son gré;

Et li quens respondi par grant humilité,

* Robert, je le ferai à votre volenté,

* Et je veue et prometh, et si iert akievé,

* Que, se li rois Englès nous a delà mené

* En la terre de Franche, dont on a tant parlé,

“ Que encontre. un fort conte que on a tant redouté,

* Ch’est Loeys de Flandres, ainsi l'ont, apellé

“ thought !’—And when Robert hears him, he is greatly
** pleased, —and says, “ The thing is hard, if thus it were done,
* many a good man shall die before it is accomplished.”
When Walter de Mauny had vowed his vow,—Robert, he
of Artois, of whom I have spoken before,—has taken again
the two dishes, and has raised them up,—and the three
minstrels have drawn their cords,—and the two maidens
have sung aloud, —‘ Loyal loves lead us, which have en-
* chanted us.”——-The count has called upon the noble earl of
Derby,—and prays him, for the sake of God and the
Trinity,—that he vow to the heron his will and pleasure ;—
and the earl replied with great humility,—“ Robert, I will
* do it at your wish, —and I vow and promise, and it shall
* be achieved, —that when the English king has led us over
* there—into the land of France, of which so much has
* been said,—that against a powerful count who has been
* so much redoubted,——I mean Louis of Flanders, so have

16 | POLITICAL POEMS.

* Le mainie Philype de Valois le menbré,

* Qui se fait roi de Franche, més c'est contre le gré

* Le bon roi Edouart, qui tant a de fierté.

* Si m’ait Sains Thomas, j'ai en mon ceur voué,

* Tant cherqueray le conte, que je l'arai trouvé,

* Demanderay lui jouste, s’il à le cuer osé,

* Et sil ne vient à mi par très grant poesté,

* Par le foy que je doy Edouart le menbré,

* Que si trés prés de lui aray le fu bouté,

* Que bien sera par lui veu et esgardé;

* Or aviegne qu'aviegne, je l'ai ensi vous il

Et quant Robert lentent forment li vint à gré,

Et dist, “Si faite guerre me seroit amisté ;

* Encore venra li termes, se Dieux l'a destiné,

* Que mi enfans seront de prison delivré,

* Et si porai bien nuire chiaux qui tant m'ont grevé.”
Quant chiex Robert d'Artois ot dit chou qu'il pensa,

Les deux plas a reprins, et si les releva ;:

.* called him-—the people of Philip of Valois the strong-
* limbed,—who makes himself king of France, but it is
* against the will—of good king Edward, who has so
* much pride.—AÀs St. Thomas have me, I have vowed in
* my heart,—l will seek the count until I shall have found
* him,—I will demand justs of him, if he has the heart to
* dare it,—and if he does not meet me with very great
* power,—by the faith which I owe to Edward the strong-
* limbed,—so near to him I will have set the fire,
* — that it shall be well seen and looked at by him.—
* Now happen what may happen, I have vowed it so."—
And when Robert hears it, he is greatly pleased, —and
says, “War thus made will be friendship to me ;—the time
* will yet come, if God has destined it,—when my children
“ shall be delivered from prison, —snd I shall perhaps be
* able to injure those who have so much grieved me."
When this Robert of Artois had said what he thought,—
be took again the two dishes and raised them up,—to the

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 17

Au comte de Souffort s'en vint et dit ia:

* Biaux sires, vous qui estes des Englès par dela,
* Voés à no hairon, et Diex vous aidera."

Et li quens -respondi : * Ne vous en faurai ja,

* Car je veu et prometh, et mes cors le tenta,

“ Que, si li rois Englés nous amene delà |

* En la terre de Franche, où maint chevalier a,
* Que chertes le mien cors à toujours cachera

* Le fils d'un empereur, où moult de bonté a,

* Ch'est le roi de Behaigne, ne sai s'il i verra,

* Mès se mon cors l'encontre, par Dieu jà n'i faura
€ Qu'il n'ait bataille à mi; mon cors desiré l'a,

* Qu de glaive, ou d'espée, si qu'il le sentira,

* Si que il proprement à terre versera,

* Et s’arai son keval, ne sais s’il me donra.

* Or aviegne qu'aviegne, tout ainsi en sera."
Quant Jehans lentendit, chil qui Biaumont garda,
Par grant ire de ceur moult fort en souspira ;

Et sachiés de certain que forment l'en pesa,

earl of Suffolk he came and said to him:—* Fair sir, you
* who are of the English over there,—vow to our heron,
* and God shall aid you."—And the earl replied: “I will
not fail you,—for I vow and promise, and my body shall
* hold it,—that, if the English king lead us over there—
into the land of France, where there is many a knight, —
* that truly my body shall ever pursue—the son of an
emperor, who possesses much goodness,—I mean the king
* of Bohemia, I know not if he will come there, —but if
* my body meet him, by God, there will be no fail —that
* he shall have battle with me; my body has desired it,— -
* either with glaive or with sword, so that he shall feel

it,—so that he shall be clean thrown to the ground,—
and I will have his horse, I know not if he will give
it me.—Now happen what may happen, just so it shall
* be."—When John heard this, he who held Beaumont, —
with great anger of heart he sighed very deeply ;—and know
for certain that it annoyed him very much,—and he said,

VOL. 1. BO

18 POLITICAL POEMS,.

Et dist : * Outrageux veus vostre coer vouè a;

* Car jou qui suis parens au bon roy qui tant a

* Conkis en grant noblesse, et encore fera, .

* S me het, et je l'aime, et il est par delà,

* Ne li faurai-je mie quant li besoins sera,

* Que par icel Seigneur qui le monde estora,

* Qui nasqui de la virge quant l'estole leva,

* Je vous renderai prins, ne vous en faurai ja ;

* Li fors roys de Behaigne en prison vous tenra,’

“ Qui qu'en poist, ne qui non, autrement n'en ira."
Dist li quens de Souffort: “Or soit sans courouchier ;

* Amours, et hardemens, et li grant desirier |

* Que nous avons de Franche la terre calengier,

* Nous en fait le grand fais enprendre et enkerkier.

Chil amant par amours se doivent efforchier ;

* Car qui par amours aimme, il se doit avanchier,

* Your heart has vowed outrageous vows ;—for I who
* am kinsman to the good king who so much has—con-
* quered in great nobleness, and will do so. still,——though
* he hates me, and I love him, and he is over there,—I
* will not fail him when he is in need,—that by the Lord
* who created the world,—who was born of the Virgin
* when the star rose,—I will cause you to be taken, I will
* not fail you ; — the powerful king of Bohemia shall hold
* you in prison,—who is vexed, or who not, it shall not
* go otherwise." |
Said the earl of Suffolk: “Now let it be so. without
* anger ;—love, and courage, and the great desire—which
* we have to challenge the land of France—causes us to
* desire and seek the great task.— These lovers for love must
* be exerting themselves ;—for he who loves by love, he

ES uU

3 The earls of Salisbury and Suf- | severity, and the French king is
folk were taken prisoners in an | said to have proposed to put them
attempt upon Lislein Flanders, soon | to death as rebels, but they were
after the Easter of 1340,and carried | saved by the intermediation of the
to Paris, They were treated with | king of Bohemia.

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 19

* En parole ou en fait on se doit efforchier ;

* Chescuns le fera bien sil vient à Vaprochier ;

* Mais li plus fort sera du retourner arrier.”

Li quens Robert d'Artois ne si vault atergier,

Il fait les menestreux de viele efforchier,

Et ces dames danser, pour le proie essauchier.

Les deux plas à reprins et le hairon arier;

Jehan de Faukemont enprent à arrainnier.

Li bers Robers d'Artois n’i vaut plus arester ;

Jehan de Faukemont enprent à apeler.

* Et vous, sire, qu'en guerre vous faites si douter,

* Or voués au hairon le droit d'aventurer."

Et chil a repondu: “ Je ne dois m'en mesler

.* De veu de promesse; car je n'aài que donner;

* Car je suis povres hons, si ne m'en. voel mesler.

* Mais, pour l'amour de vous et pour mes honneurs
garder, | |

* Je veu et je prometh, et le voel affier,

‘ Que, si li rois Englois passoit delà la mer,

Et parmi Cambresis voloit en Franche entrer,

* must advance himself ;—one ought to labour in word and

.* in deed ;—every one will do it well when he comes to
* the approach,—but the hardest will be to return back." —
Count Robert of Artois would not delay there, —he makes
the minstrels labour on the fiddle,—and these ladies dance
to prepare the prey (i.e. to excite the ardour of those whom
Robert sought to entrap into making vows).—He has taken
again the two dishes and the heron baek ;—he begins to talk
to Jean de Faukemont.—The noble Robert of. Artois: would
make no delay ;—he proceeds to call on Jean de Faukemont.
— And you, sir, who make yourself so much feared in war,
* —now vow to the heron the right to adventure."-——And he
has replied: “I ought not to meddle—with vow of promise ;
'* for I have nothing to give ;—for I am a poor man, and
am not desirous of sharing in it.— But, for the love of you
and to keep my honours,—I vow and I promise, and I give
assurance of it, —that, if the English king passed beyond
‘the sea,—and would enter into France through Cam-

B 2

€

90 . POLITICAL POEMS.

* Que jiroie le fu par devant li bouter,

* Et si n'espargneroie ne moustier ne autel,

* Femme grosse n'enfant que je peusse trouver,

* Ne parent ne amis, tant me peust-il amer,

“ Pour tant que il vausist roy Edouart grever;

* Por son veu acomplir vorray mon cors pener.

* Or aviegne qu'aviegne, ji voel aventurer."

Et dist li uns à l'autre: “ Tes hons fait à amer,

* Qui l'onneur son seigneur voelt croistre et amonter."
Li quens Robers d'Artois ne va plus atargant,

Les plas d'argent reprent, qui sort fort et pesant,

Et les deux pucelles s'aloient escriant:

* Loyaus amours nous mainent, qui nous vont encanter.”

Robers a apellé un chevalier vaillant,

Che fu Jehan de Biaumont, un prinche conquerant,

Oncles au gentil conte de Henau le poissant;

Lors li a dit Robert moult gracieusement :

* Voués au hairon, sire, je vous en vois priant."

Dist Jehan de Biaumont: * Sire, à votre talent;

* bresis,—I would go and set fire before him,—and I would
* neither spare church nor altar, — neither woman with
* child nor infant that I could find,— nor kinsman nor
* friend, however much he might love me,—as long as he |
* should will to grieve king Edward ;—to accomplish his
* vow I would pain my body.—Now happen what may
* happen, I will incur the adventure."—And said one to the
other: “Such a man is to be loved, —who would i increase
* and raise the honour of his lord." |

Count Robert of Artois makes no more delay, —but takes
the plates of silver again, which are large and heavy,—
and the two maidens went crying:—'* Loyal loves lead us,
“ which go enchanting us.” — Robert has called a valiant
knight,—it was John de Beaumont, a conquering prince, —
uncle to the gentle count of Hainault, the powerful ; then
Robert said to him very gracefully :—“ Vow to the heron,
** sir, I pray you."— Said John de Beaumont: “ Sir, at your

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 91

* Mès de tant de paroles me vois moult merveillant

* Vantise ne vaut nient qui n'a achievement.

* Quant nous sommes en tavernes, de ches fors vins
boevant, | E

* Et ches dames de lós qui nous vont regardant,

* A ches gorgues polies ches colieres tirant,

* Chil oeil vair resplendissant de beauté souriant,

* Nature nous semont d'avoir ceur desirant _

* De contendre, à le fin de merchi atendant ;

* Adone conquerons nous Yaumont et Aguilant,

* Et li autre conquirent Olivier et Rolant.

* Mais quand sommes as camps, sor nos destriers
courans,

* Nos escus à nos cols, et nos lanches baissans,

“ Et le frodure grande nous va tous engelans,

* Li membre nous effendent et derriere et devant,

Et nos ennemis sont envers nous approchant ;

Adonc vauriemes estre en un chelier si grant

Que jamais ne faissons veu ne tant ne quant;

De si faite vantise ne donroie un besant.

Je ne dis pas pour cause que me voise escusant,

* will ;—but I marvel much at so much talk ;—boasting is
* worth nothing without it be accomplished.—When we are
* in taverns, drinking the strong wines,—and the. ladies
* near who look at us,—drawing the kerchiefs round their
* smooth necks,—their grey eyes resplendent with beauty
* smiling,—nature provokes us to have desire in our hearts
* —-to contend, looking for mercy as the result ;—then we
* conquer Yaumont and Aguilant,— and others conquer
* Oliver and Roland.—But when we are in the fields, on our
* swift war-horses,— our shields at our necks and our
spears lowered,— and the great cold benumbs us all,—
our limbs fail us both behind and before,—and our enemies
are approaching towards us,—then we should wish to be
in a cellar so great—that we should never make a vow
of one kind or other ;—for such boasting I would not
give a besant.—I do not say this for a ground to excuse

22 POLITICAL POEMS. .

* Car je veu et prometh au vrai cors Saint Amant,
* Que se li rois Englès voloit faire aitant,

* Qu'il entrat en. Hainau et passat en. Breubant,

* Et parmi Cambresis allat en Franche entrant,

* Son marisal seroie de son ost conduissant,

* Pour guerroier en Franche le riche roi poissant, .
* Que je ne li faurai pour nul homme vivant,

“ Et en tous ses besoingnes serai toudis devant,

* Pour tant perderai ma terre et quanques j'ai vaillant.
“ Mè si li roi de Franche voloit faire aitant, .

* Que de sa volonté il me fust rapellant

*. En Franche, dont bannis sui pour mon ensiant,

* D’Edouart partiroie, par Dieu le tout puissant,

* Isi honestement que nus, petit ne grant,

* Ne me poroit monstrer que fuisse meffaisant,

* Ne par traison nulle je li fuisse grevant.

* Et, se che ne veut faire, jai Dieu en convenant,
* Qu’au boin roy Edouart serai toudis aidant,

* Et parmis cette guerre serai la gent menant"

Et quant li rois l'entent, se l'en va merchiant.

* myself,—for I vow and promise on the true body of St.
* Amant,—that if the English king would do so much—as
* to enter into Hainault and pass into Brabant,—- and go
* through Cambresis to enter France,—I will be his marshal
* to conduct his host,—to make war in France upon the
* powerful rich king,—that I will not fail him for any man
* living,—and in all his needs I will be always before him,
though I shall lose my land and all I am worth.—But.
* if the king of France would do so much—as voluntarily
* io recal me—-into France, from which I am banished, as
* T know,—I would quit Edward, by God the Almighty,
* so honestly that no one, little or great,—could point to
* me as acting injuriously,—or that I was grieving him by
. any treason.—And, if he do not so, I make a covenant
“to God, —that I wil always be aiding the good king
* Edward,— and throughout this war I will be the leader
* of his people."—And when the king hears him, he thanks

him.

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 93

Quant Jehan de Beaumont ot dit ce quil pensa,
Robert, celi d'Artois, gaires ne demoura,
Les deux plas a reprins et si les releva,
Et les trois menestrels il mie n’oublia;
Les deux pucelles cantent, chescuns une emmena.
Par devant la roine Robert s'agenouilla,
Et dist que le hairon par tems departira,
Més que chou ait voué que le ceur li dira. -
* Vassal,” dist la roine, “or ne me parlés ja;
* Dame ne peut vouer, puis qu'elle seigneur a,
* Car s'elle veue riens, son mari pooir a
* Que bien puet rapeller chou qu'elle vouera ;
“ Et honnis soit h corps que jà si pensera, |
* Devant que mes chiers sires commandé le m'ara."
Et dist le roy: “ Voués, mes corps l’aquittera ;
“ Més que finer en puisse, mes corps s'en penera;
* Voués hardiement, et Dieux vous aidera."
Adonc dist la rome: “Je sais bien que piecha
* Que sui grosse d'enfant, que mon corps senti la,

When Jean de Beaufort had said what he thought, —Ro-
bert, he of Artois, did not stop long, —he has taken the two
dishes again and raised them up,—and the three minstrels
he did not forget;—the two maidens sing, each led away
one.—Robert knelt before the queen,—and said that the
heron he would distribute in time,—when she had vowed
that which her heart should tell her.—'* Vassal,” said the
queen, “ now talk to me no more ;—a lady cannot make a
* vow, because she has a lord ;—for if she vow anything, her
* husband has power—that he can fully revoke what she
* shall vow ;— and shame be to the body which should
* think of it,—before my dear lord shall have commanded
* it me."—And said the king: “Vow, my body shall
acquit it ;—but that I may accomplish it, my body shall
* Jabour ;—vow boldly, and God shall aid you." — Then
said the queen: “I know well for sometime — that I am
f* big with child, that my body has felt it, — it is only

94 . POLITICAL POEMS.

* Encore n'a il gaires qu'en mon corps se tourna ;
* Et je voue et prometh à Dieu qui me crea,

“ Qui nasqui de la vierge, que ses corps n'enpira,
* Et qui morut en crois, on le crucifia,

* Que ja li fruis de moi de mon corps n'istera,

* Si m'en arés menée ou pais par delà,

* Pour avanchier le veu que vo corps voué a.

* Et sil en voelh isir, quant besoins n'en sera,

* D'un grand coutel d'achier li miens corps s'ochira;
* Serai m'asme perdue et li fruis perira.” . |
Et quant li rois l’entent, moult forment l’en pensa,
Et dist: “ Certainement nuls plus ne vouera.”

Li hairons fu partis, la roine en mengna.

Adone, quant che fu fait, li rois s’apareilla,

iit fit garnir les nes, la roine i entra,

Et maint franc chevalier avecques lui mena.

De illoec en Anvers li rois ne s'arreta.

Quant outre sont venu, la dame delivra ;

D'un biau fils gracieux la dame s’acouka,

“ a little while since it moved in my body;—and I
* vow and promise to God who created me, — who was
“ born of the Virgin, while her body remained perfect, —
* and who died on the cross, they crucified him,—that my
* fruit shall never issue from my body,—until you have led
* me to the country over there, —to perform the vow that
* your body has vowed.—And if it should be ready to issue,
* when it will not be need,— with a great knife of steel
* my body shall slay itself ;—my life will be lost, and the
* fruit will perish."—And when the king hears this, he
thought of it very gravely,—and said: “ Certainly no one
* will vow more.”—The heron was divided, the queen ate of
it.—Then, after this was done, the king made his prepara-
tions,—and caused ships to be stored, the queen entered ;
—and led many a free knight with him.—From thence to
Antwerp the king made no halt.—When they had finished
their voyage, the queen was delivered ;—the lady was brought

THE VOWS OF THE HERON. 25

Lyon d'Anvers! ot non quant on le baptisa.
Ensi le franque dame le sien veu aquitta ;
Ains que soient tout fait, main[t] preudomme en morra,
Et maint bon chevalier dolent s'en clamera,
Et mainte preude femme pour lasse s'en tenra.
Adonc parti li cours des Englés par dela. |
- Chr finent leus veus du hoiron.

to bed of a graceful fair son, — Lion of Antwerp he was
called, when they baptized him.—Thus the noble dame ac-
quitted her vow ;— before they aré all acquitted, many a
good man will die for it, — and many a good knight will
lament,—and many a good woman will be tired of it.—' Then
went the court of the English over there.—Here end the
vows of the heron. |

1 Lionel duke of Clarence, King Edward's third son, was born at
Antwerp in 1338. _

. POLITICAL POEMS.

EPIGRAM ON THE ASSUMPTION OF THE ARMS. OF

FRANCE.!

1839.

Jus BE. regis Angliæ im regno Francorum.

Rex sum regnorum bina ratione duorum ;
Anglorum cerno me regem jure paterno;
Jure matris quidem rex Francorum vocor idem.
Hine est armorum variatio bina meorum,
M. ter centeno cum ter denoque noveno.

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE?

Written in the Autumn of 1346.

Francia, fœminea, pharisæa, vigoris idea,
Lynxea, viperea, vulpina, lupina, Medea,
Callida, syrena, crudelis, acerba, superba,

Es fellis? plena, mel dans latet anguis in herba,
Sub duce Philippo Valeys, cognomine lippo,
Amoris nomen famam cognomen et omen.

) From a manuscript in the Bod-
leian Library, MS. Rawlinson, No.
214, fol. 121, v°.

?'lhis poem bears internal evi-
dence of having been written very
soon after the battle of Crécy. I
have found it in three manuscripts,
MS. Cotton, Titus A. xx., fol. 78, r°
(A); MS. Bodl. 851, fol. 117, v?
(B); and MS. Rawlinson, No. 214,
fol. 115, v? (CO); in the last of
which it is entitled, Geste bellicosa
excellentissimi principis domini Ed-
wardi Wyndeshore regis Anglorum iij.,
et primo de bello Crescy et Nevyle
Crosse, It is here printed from the
first of these manuscripts. There

are considerable variations in the
manuscripts, which I have pointed
out in the notes; but I have here,
as in other similar cases, inten-
tionally been sparing in trans-
ferring the reading of one copy to
the other, because I think these
readings may often express the par-
ticular opinion or sentiment of the
individual from whom the copy
came. It should be stated that
the Rawlinson MS. belongs to the
fifteenth century.

s fillis, B

* So this line stands in the MS. ;
perhaps a line is lost which would
make sense of it.

| AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE. 27

Es nimis erecta, non grata cupidine tecta, —
Fraudibus infecta, despecta, timore refecta.
Quæris Philippum Valeys regem tibi lippum ;
Pes tuus ad cippum currit, defende calippum.
Philip barbareus jus prætoris! vitiavit,
Philippus gravius sceptrum regni temeravit. —
Hæredem quæris, Philip non est tuus heres ;
Prælia multa seris, vulnera plura? feres.
Tertius Edwardus, aper Anglicus et leopardus, -
Rex tuus est verus; veniens tibi dente severus,
Cor tibi confregit, tua legit, multa subegit,
Bella peregit, fortia fregit, jura redegit.
Invasor lippe regni, discede, Philippe ;
Oblique, lippe vidistà moris Agrippæ.
Phy fœtet, lippus oculis nocet, ergo Philippus
Dux? nocet et foetet, sordida fata metet.
O* Philippe Valeys, Xerxes, Darius, Bituitus ;
Te faciet maleys® Edwardus, aper polimitus. _
Sæpe reges dicti nimis in multis posuerunt;
À paucis victi, capti, vincti perierunt. ——
Ex paucis simus, in nos cogitando redimus,
Corde superbimus, præsumimus, ergo perimus.
Armant injusti se, multis jura recedunt;
Armant, se credunt Domino, re, nomine justi.
Pacem veracem prætendens fraude latente,
Belli fornacem succendis honore ruente. .
Multos? subegisti, non vi sed fraude lupina ;
Aprum fugisti, tua vis est alba pruina.
Te ferus infestat? rex inclitus ense molestat,
. Fama &ibi restat, vecordia te déhonestat.
Te timor emollit, aprum probitas manifestat ;
Jus sibi cor præstat, injuria cor tibi tollit.

! preturis, B. | *maloys, B.

? pauca, B. ? This and the five following lines
?* Hi, B —— ZEND are omitted in B.

4 es, B. | 8 multa, B.

5 Persis, A: ? incestat, A.

928. | POLITICAL POEMS.

Hic aper singlaris, silvestris, acumine fortis,
Humeris! præclaris, infert tibi spicula? mortis.
Francia, par milvis,? demonstrat se fore Scillam ; *
Rex aper ex silvis veniens exterminat, illam.
Dentibus aprinis infertur mors Parisinis ;

Sunt dentes tuti, mundi, fortes, et acuti.

Apro? vivente, prudenter regna regente,

Anglia dat lumen, dum Deus apri dat acumen.
Si paleas valeas, Valeys, depone timorem ;

In campo pateas, maneas, ostende vigorem.

Flos es, flore cares, in campo viribus ares,

Mane tegel? phares, lupus? et lynx non leo pares.
Lynx videt a longe pariter? simulat, machinatur ;
Insidie longs sibi sunt, dum nil operatur.

Dat? tibi lynx visum, sed non donat leo nisum;!?
Uti quidem nisu prodest regi sine visu.

Deponas nisus, fallaces indue visus,

Rex visus invisus, cito deficiat tibi visus.!!

Es flos in cameris, in bellis es quasi virgo,

In fraudis pirgo!? sperans tutamina quæris.

Plene, Valeys, sorde,:quee sint/? tua bella remorde ;
Ut mulier morde, vel sealpas, vir sine corde.

Sis cor regis habens, miserans, verax, sive clemens;
Sorde tuo tabens jam dimittit tua te mens.

Robur custodes regales coir’! male prodes ; |

Illis nudaris ergo rex non reputaris.!

Te regem monstra, vel regis desere nomen,

Est tibi cognomen Valeys, sunt gens tua monstra.

1 Culmis, B. { = V guid visu... n., D.

# specula, A. " nisus, C. This and the pre-
8 melius, A. ceding line are omitted in B.
4 cillam, B. 12 This word is glossed in MS.
5 Et pro, À. ex pro, C. C by punctus.

5 techel, C. | 18 sunt, B.

lepus, B. 4 So A and B ; cur, C.

8 patitur, B. N This and the three preceding

» Sat, À. lines are omitted in D.

-— aun mun ns PTT

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE. - 99

Æra counasti, peregrinari simulasti,

Qui male legisti sine fructu distribuisti.

Impugnans Christi dotem non prævaluisti ;

Corde tuo tristi reddes mihi que tenuisti.

Paetum compactum debellando mihi factum,

Vecors fregisti, latuisti, terga dedisti, -

Prælia movisti, loca tempora constituisti,

Jus prætendisti, fugisti, victus abisti. —

Fraudes fecisti, nullas treugas tenuisti ;

Pontes fregisti, pontes juris repulisti.!

Es pontis fractor vitæ terroris et actor.

Impius exactor, regni tu pseudo subactor.

Nomen pontificis renuisti, regis abusus

Nomine, confusus, nudis probitatis amicis.

Deficit Ogerus, Karolus, Rodland,? Oliverus,

Cor tibi pes leporis, dat aper tibi facta leporis.

In proprio climat? tibi dicet* aper cito ehekmat ;

Nec dices liveret, lepus es, aper est tibi firet.?

Apparens aurum purum fingis Minotaurum, —

Regnum thesaurum, non curas perdere laurum.

Cum seon in magnis regnas virtutis in avis,
Altus ut Anthiochus, res, vapor, umbra, focus.

Cur fugis? assiste, puero, Philippe, resiste,

In te subsiste, cur pugnas more sophist:e ?

Ostendet flores puer iste tibi graviores;

Fingis fervores, aper en tibi tollit honores.?

Francorum vittas? aper aufert dando sagittas,

Ut Jacob et Jonathas poenas? mittendo probatas.

! remuisti, B. 7 These two lines are omitted in

3 Roulond, B. Rowlond, C. B.

8 clunat, B. clymate, C.

4 tibi dicit, B.

5 fireth, B. firret, C. ? Gallis, C. This word is omitted

‘This and the three previous | altogether in A, and is supplied in
lines are omitted in B, the text from B.

8 vitas, B.

‘30 POLITICAL POEMS.

O sua virtutis miranda sagitta salutis,

Impetit astuta, metuenda petes et acuta.

Spiritus aspirans? bonus a te, Saule, recessit,

Ad David accessit, felicia prælia spirans.

Est David Edwardus, sancto cum crismate® clarens,

Philip corde carens Saul est ad prelia tardus.

Est aper* Edwardus, flos regum, pistica nardus,

Sol solus lucens, rosa mundi, stella reducens.

Est? probitas mundi, laus mundi, gloria mundi,

Thesaurus mundi, cor mundi, regula mundi.

Aurea seu rosea decet illum justa corona,

Fimea pellicea cedant, decet aurea zona.

Hunc juvat ecce Deus, quia nobilis? ut Machabæus,

Laudes dando pias, gladium dat ei Jeremias.

Limatus gladius, versatilis, aureus, oras

Francorum citius vincet, agendo foras.

Princeps tantillus, cæsus de monte lapillus,

Comminuet, franget, statuam grandem pius? anget.

Rerum natura modo nescit eo meliorem, | |

Francis terrorem dat et fortunia? dura.

Hie rex cuncta valet, omni pretiosior auro,

Ponitur in stauro, pneumatis igne calet, —

Portat scuta spei, fidei, pietatis, amoris,

Ut cunctis horis cogitet finem requiei.

Cum tali scuto, gladio fervoris acuto.

Militat in tuto, dejecto dæmone muto.

Hostibus immensis offert se non sine pensis,
Esuriens, sitiens, frigora, vim patiens.

Tuti dormimus cum raro dormiat ipse;

Tuti transimus cum spicula seminet ipse.!?

3 These two lines are omitted in 6 These two lines are omitted in B.

B. . 7 Deus, audax probus est ut, B.
? inspirans, D. 8 bonus, B.
* sancto karismate, B. 7 ? infortunia, B. et fortuna, À.
4 probus, B. ; * These two lines and the two

5 Es, B. which follow are transposed in B. .

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE, 31

Pro nobis donat sua, se, cor, corpus, et æra ;

Ut leo voce tonat deterrens corda severa.

Ergo pro nobis tantos subeundo labores,

Se donans nobis, nostros donamus! amores,

Ergo demus ei res, æs° cor, corpus, amorem ;

In virtute Dei tanto faciamus honorem.

Est nobis murus, virtus, valor? absque pavore;
Rex bonus* Arthurus, Francos replendo dolore.
Dentes aprini fient clavi Parisini;

Rex leopardinus est juste rex Parisinus.

Jure dati nati? belli meriti probioris,

Simus ei grati, solus regnat vir honoris.

Alia $ rubescunt, leopardis lilia crescunt ;

Per se vanescunt, leopardis victa quiescunt.

Alia miscentur, leopardis regna tremiscunt ;

Lex, pax serventur, Francorum corda gemiscunt.
Quondam seductus juvenis rex trans mare ductus,
Fraudibus adductus, Christi virtute reductus,
Philippo feci feodum? sub lege minorum ;

Major id infeci cum magna laude meorum. |

Si minor est lesus, ut lex vult restituetur ; |
Ergo? mihi detur quod? habet. Philippus obesus. n
Sentio me lesum, Philippe Valeys, fugis æquum ;
Corde tenendo Jhesum, disceptabo !? bene tecum.
Fraude, dolo ducto pupillo subvenietur,

Ægro seducto mihi Francia contribuetur.”

Me facit hæredem Francis responsio legis,

Ergo meam sedem cur fedas nomine regis ?™

! mercatur, B. 8 fiodum, B.

? os, B. ? Sie, A.

3 honor et valor, B. mE 10 guia, À.

* probus, B. | ‘| " abesus, A,

Snaio, C. —— | 12 deceptabo, B. |

€ Lilia, B. 18 seducto . . . mox redibetur, B.
7 Quondam seductus ultra mare rex 14 These two lines are omitted in

male ductus, B. | B.

59 POLITICAL POEMS.

In te, cognate, non sunt insignia regis ;!
Ergo resigna te tua mox mihi nomine legis.”
Morbum non sanas regalem, regna prophanas;?
Ne tua sit* vana gens, cor pavidum tibi sana.
Est morbus magnus, cor regis si sit ut agnus,
Ergo leoninum cor cum decet ac aquilinum.
Rege Cloodovio? Francorum primo renato,
Ungitur ex oleo de coeli culmine lato.
Tllo servato rex Francorum solet ungi,
Mirando fato Valeys nequit hae vice fungi.
Deficiens oleum te monstrat non fore regem, |
Conscius ergo gregem desere, quære Deum.
Nil dabat ampulla, sie unctio fit tua nulla;
Est tibi mens pulla, sit vestis. stricta, cuculla.f
Rex regum venit, intus pius aspera lenit,
Æqualis lancis ergo perit unctio Francis.
Francia debetur Edwardo, lippe videte, .
Compotus ornetur, aper audiet, ergo videte.
Vires? vi de te puer auferet, ergo videte.
Sensus vi de te puer auferet, ergo .videte.
Sceptrum vi de te puer auferet, ergo videte.
Si rex sis verus, Francis defende coronam,
Regis personam monstres, nil fingat Homerus.
Non facias leporem ne Francia perdat honorem,
Amittat florem signi regalis odorem.?
Tecum gens multa, sed eorum !? corda sepulta
Mollibus arescunt, vehemente timore timescunt.!! -
Ignorant mores Martis, sitiendo cruores,
Potant cum tiro, victi certamine diro.

—

! regum, B. * These two lines are omitted in D.
. * legum, B. 8 Virum, B.

5 This line is omitted in B. ® This and the three preceding

4 sint, B. lines are omitted in B.

5 Cleodovio, B. - V earum, B.

6 cucullo, À. U (umore tumescunt, À.

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE. 33

Dux Deus est secum, jus secum, gratia secum ;
Fraus, dolus est tecum, non lex tecum, fuga tecum.
Nobile cor secum, gratum cor, omnibus æquum ;
Cor muris tecum, miserabile, labile, cæcum.

Ergo Deo dante, vi viribus auxiliante,

Quærens justitiam, sperat superare Goliam.!

* Est mecum Dominus, mihi prelia nulla nocebunt,
* Pugnando cominus Francorum gaudia flebunt."?
Multi sunt milites vecordes Francigenarum ;

Rex regum pedites, equites regat, Angligenarum,
Psalle Deo, psalle, Valeys, dux Sardanapalle,
Falle duces, falle, Francorum destrues alle.
Elephas in monte pugnans eum rhinoceronte,

Cor gerit in fronte, cor habes cum camelionte.?
Vertis ei dorsum, faciem vertendo retrorsum ;

Sus gravem morsum patiens descende deorsum.*
Clericus in studio, tu miles prælia nescis;
Serpens in gremio, mus, igris? glis, requiescis.
Apro singlari depasceris et capieris,

Ense salutari perimeris et inficieris,

Ensem justitiæ, pietatis, vel probitatis,

Non geris ex acie, pictor dir; feritatis.

Ense columbino ferieris, corde supino;

Corde leonino privaris, tectus ovino.?

Francorum lege. mulieri regna negantur ;

A’ summo rege contraria jura dabantur.

Sub duce carnifice Capoth ? lex illa dabatur,

Ergo magnifice modo talis lex * reprobatur.
Capoth? carnificis Hugonis lex fuit illa ;

He lex ancilla merito privatur amicis.

1 This line and the seven. pre- 5 ingnis, B. ignis, C.

ceding are omitted in B. ‘This and the three preceding
2 corda, timebunt, B. lines are omitted in B.
3 camaleonte, C. 7 Capech, B.
* This and the seven preceding 8 rex, À.

lines are omitted in B. ? Capech, B.

YOL. I. C

94 " POLITICAL POEMS,

Nomen mutavit, dictus fuit ipse Pipinus,
Cautus, vulpinus, legem Domini reprobavit.
Heres Francorum regalis! nupta Pipino,
Munere divino vixit regina suorum.

Vir suus elatus, per eam nimium veneratus,
Stultus et ingratus, oblitus et insimulatus,?
Consentit legi quod foemina nulla futura
Succedat? regi, vel ei sit regia cura.

Carnifices pecorum componant jura suorum,
Reges regnorum vertex non tangat? eorum.
Carnificis plane lex est contraria sanæ

Voci divinæ, donabitur ergo ruins,

Vox est divina quod Salphays$ filia quina
Juri’ confesse patris heres vindicat? esse.
Postulant rem justam, rectam, ratione venustam,
Rem ratam, gratam, divina voce probatam.?
Lex a rege datur Domino cum quis moriatur,/°
Si tenuit bene jus, est!! hæres filius ejus.

Si mas defuerit, succedit !? filia patri;

Filia si deerit, dabitur possessio fratri.

Lex non distinguit, ergo distinguere nol;
Fraus non extinguit debita jura pol. |
Ergo duces, reges, plebem © lex tangere debet;

Francorum cor hebet, deficit ampla seges.

Mater Ysabella nostri regis, generosa,
Prudens, formosa, virtutum lucida stella,
Regis Francorum Philippi filia cara,
Nupserat Anglorum regi, pacis via clara.

! regales, À. ? These two lines are omitted in
? immoderatus, B. B.

8 Succedit, A. | 10 Summo rege datur lex quod cum
4 duorum, B. quis moriatur, B,

5 fangit, B. !! erit, B.

6 Salphad, B. 1? The word quia is added here in
? Ad jus, B. A, but it is evidently superfiuous.

8 vendicat, B and C. : '* omnes, B.

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE. 95

Ejus! tres fralres sine semine morte ruerunt,?
Lex, Deus, et patres? sibi regni jura dederunt.
Quicquid juris habet mater proli pia donat ;
Proles non tabet, sed matris dona coronat.
Est Judæorum Christus rex sub vice“ matris,
Ergo Francorum rex fiat? aper vice matris.
Dux Normannorum regnat vice progenitorum,
Victor Seotorum se vincens vita suorum.
Karolus imperator, rex patricius, dominator,
Colitus instructus, subito de corpore ductus,
Audivit dici per responsum. Lodewici,?
Quod rex regnaret sua filia quam generaret.
Nomine materno rexit, sed jure paterno.
Ergo magnifico credamus in hoc Lodewico.’
Ergo, Philippe comes, apro reddas sua jura ;
Est et? ventura dura timenda comes.
Plangas in fine, dux, tanta causa ruinæ,
Et mundi lucis defere regna ducis.
Parce eruori, parce dolori, parce rigori,
Parce rubori, parce labori, parcis? honori.
Sit tua mens!" pura stricte responsa datura,
Cum qual cura.dispensasti mea jura. |
Reddere non poteris, quia copia deficit æris ;
Ergo dolens venias, invenies venias.
Anglia regna, mundi rosa, flos sine spina,
Mel sine sentina, vicisti bella marina.
Francigenæ naves ut aves in rete ruerunt,
Sanguine fluxerunt, lectis caruere suaves.
Anglicus eece rogus Francos facit hogges et koghes,!

MES m mpm nare AS CE nte TNA EPP CPU. UD ra OOD er RAI LORD © rn aaa

! Eo, À. Tcredamus nos Lodowyco, B and
? fuerunt, A. C |

? ac pueris, À. 8 fibi, B.
.* sanguine, B. ? parce, À.

5 fiet, B and C. 10 Sit tibi mens, B.

8 Lodowyci, B and C. " ogges in ogus, B.

Cc 2

POLITICAL POEMS,

Disperiunt, saliunt, dissipiunt, fugiunt!
Chaan semen Chanaan regem pacis fugientem?
Edward Carnarivan dat morti se? perimentem.
Die pos cy pes cy* fidei, probitatis? honoris;
Die pour est ny? tremor, error, et arra doloris ;?
Dic pos cy pes cy,® cecidit flos Francigenarum, .
Demisit nos cy? rex inclitus Angligenarum.
In Cressi ® crevit laus Anglica, Francia flevit,
Decrevit, sævit, fugiens ut mos" inolevit.
Tres reges fortes contra nos applicuerunt,
De quibus insortes mortis duo mox ceciderunt.
Infortunatus cecidit rex male gravatus,"
Mire fatatus Anglorum sensit hiatus.
Tune aderat fato regis # nulla gratia nato;
Regis nomen ei, gratia nulla rei.’
Vir super? illustres rex Boemiz generosus,
Providus,'* annosus, cadit ad?’ Cressi sine lustris.
Cæcus erat plene qui prelia cæcus inivit,
Laudem quæsivit, cessant sibi laudis habenæ.'f

! Desipiunt . . . . diffugeunt,
pereunt, B, which MS. adds after
this line the following :—

Dnus millena fugat et duo millia
dena ;

Moribus arserunt ipsi quibus hi ca-
ruerunt,

Ipsos conclusit dominos qui vendidit
ils,

In se tantillos nos Christus posse
reclusit.

Dux Valeys hinnit, Francia grunnit,
territa tinnit.

Francia plorat, falsa colorat, se de-
honorat.

? pascens regem fugientem, B. fu-
gientes, À.

8 Edwardum Carnarvan aquilam
dat te, B.

$ poysi pouci, D.

5 virtutis, B.

8 ey, C.

* Dic gravius est jam pavor et
tremor, arra, B.

8 poici poici, B.

9 Devicit nos ci, B,

10 Christi, A.

1 nos, D.

12 This lineis omitted in A.

13 regum, C.

H These two lines are omitted in
B.

15 Nobilis, B.

16 Vir probus, B.

17 in, B.

18 These two lines, omitted in A
and C, are supplied from B,

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE. $7

Tertius affugit,! pictus rex ut leo rugit.

Est leo jactando, lepus a bello? remeando.
Barones, comites, proceres, pedites fugientes
Anglorum pedites occidunt terga sequentes.
Rex, supra sensus hominis? sunt prelia facta,
Ergo Deo census tribuas et bella peracta.
Rex, Christo corda, rationis te rege corda,
Tecum concorda, jungas discordia corda.

Esto Deo gratus, qui pro te mira patravit ;
Non sis elatus, benedic qui cuncta creavit.
Reges, magnates triginta duos sociavit
Benedal, elatos* quos mitis Achab superavit.
Senachereb videas, Nabugodenosor, Amasiam,
Antheochum doleas, Pharonem, Saul, Oziam.
Hi nimis elati contra Dominum fremuerunt,
Reges inflati proprio fastu perierunt.

Rex, lumbos, oculos, os, cor rege, templa tuere;
Te proceres populos fac Christi jussa tenere.
Christo confidens, in Christi nomine ridens,
Te lucra, damna videns, sis Francis rumphea stridens.
Nobis, Christe, fave, humiles vicere superbos,
Pacifici suaves vincunt duros et acerbos.
Paupertas devicit opes, et debile forte,

Ergo bona sorte proficiant inopes. -
Pestis, proditio, pavor, præsumptio treugæ
Cedant, rex, euge, te rege corde pio.
Insidians graviter se Francia tanta retraxit,

Se mare subiraxit, dat tibi flumen iter.
Transiit illesus populus noster sine fluctu,

. Miro conductu fit via nostra Jhesus.
Ergo via tah tuti transimus et imus,
Conjuncti simus Domino zelo speciali ;

! aufugit, B. | 4 Benadab ingratus, B.

2 campo, B. |
* hominum, Bs 5 Cedat, À.

38 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Unus millena fugat, et duo milia dena.

Moribus arserunt ipsi quibus hi caruerunt ;
Ipsos conclusit Dominus qui vendidit illos,

In se tantillos nos Christi posse reclusit.!
Cessat honos et amor, timor et spes, ergo peribis ;
Sit tibi verus amor, et tutus in omnibus ibis.
Spes, cor, amor jungat, tangat timor, ac honor ungat,
Ne nos disjungant pronomina vel mala pungant.
Valeys crudelis, piratica, raro fidelis,

Es? nostris telis sine navibus et sine velis.
Navibus infesta, cum nautis sæpe ? molesta,
Quæ tua sunt gesta, que vires nunc manifesta?
Multos cepisti,* destruxisti, rapuisti ;

Ergo tibi tristi veniat maledictio Christi.

Fel, mel in ore geris, patieris, jure ? mereris ;
Jam confunderis, incenderis, , perimeris. 6

Rex sibi non parcas, thalamos scruteris et arcas,
Libras et marcas capias dando sibi parcas.
Anglia conqueritur quod honor et amor sepelitur,
Vera fides moritur, lex, laus, pax non reperitur.
Quod male taxatur, quod divitiis spoliatur, |
Quod premitur, teritur, oppressa dolore politur.
Anglia, languore quondam langues? graviore,
Pisciculi more fulges majori valore.

Quos videt esse graves mercator sspe labores,
Esse putat suaves propter mercedis amores.
Regis facta legis, si te regis ordine legis,

Suffer damna gregis, qui tria lucra tegis.
Nomine quid melius, quid gratius omine? caro;
Rex tuus eximius te dicat nomine claro.

«
— — € à mnt ree eq a à A n A ELE

1 These four lines are omitted 4 Multa peremisti, B.
here in MS. B, which has inserted 5 pateris que juste, D.
them in another place. See a former 5 occideris, capieris, B.
note, — 7 territur, C.

? Fit, B.. | 5 languens, B.

? variis et sepe, P. ? nomine, &.

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST FRANCE. .. 89

Qui prius infame nomen fœtens habuisti.

Insignis famæ nomen sub eo meruisti.

Est mundo toti notus tuus arcus et omen,

Esto pii voti virtus, valor est tibi nomen..

Nomine ditaris, veneraris, nobilitaris, |

Laudis singularis maris et terre dominaris.

Anglicus angelieus Edwardus, juris amicus,

Bis rex pacificus, patiens, pius, atque pudicus,

Justus, munificus, clemens, moderatus, apricus,

Verax, magnificus, affabilis, ut Godericus.!

In Domino presto rex letus, sobrius esto,

Christo devotus, populo gratus, tibi notus. ?

Sis plebi largus, sapiens, oculatus ut? Argus.

In Christo credas, a mundi fraude recedas.

Christo confidens, in Christi nomine ridens,

Te lucra damna videns, sis Francis rumphea stridens

Treugæ pseudo more veniunt ex lampadis ore;
Rex, treugas caveas, ne per eas pereas. |

Rex mentis mundæ, gentis probitatis abunde ;

In propria gente Juda confide docente.

Gente sua propria victoris honore potitur,

Junetus amicitia Romanis more feritur.

— Fac, due, die, et fer, benefac, benedue, benedicas,

Lucifer es, benefer, Francorum collige spicas.

Rex exactivus,? vecors, injustus oditur,

Fortis diligitur, justus, ratione dativus. ?

Serves mandata, timeas et ames bene Christum ;

Est gens ingrata que mundum diligit istum.

Sint sancto more tibi lex, grex, pax, in honore,

Laus in duleore, sermo divinus in ore.’

ET ee aa S om

! Godoricus, B. 5 exacturus, À.

? votus, B. 6

* et, A. daturus, À.

* These two lines are supplied 7 These two lines are also supé

from MS. B. plied from MS. B.

40 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Francigenæ plorent, qui sunt victi! quasi picti;
Pro nobis orent omnes sancti benedicti.

Anglica gens humilis, pia, pauper, et absque vigore,
Vicit cum jubilis Francos labente cruore.

Ergo Deus dives, pauper rex Anglicus esto,

Est casus præsto, Christo stes? Anglia, vives.
Nostro preecarus® regi fit sanctus Omarus ;*
Sanctus præclarus proprie genti fit? amarus.
Rex regum, Christe, placeat tibi rex probus iste ;
Sis sibi" spes vite, cum dixeris, ite, venite.

Ejus tutamen, moderamen, dux, meditamen,
Gloria, solamen, sit Christus in omnibus. Amen.

ON THE BATTLE OF NEVILE’s Cross.’
Oct. 17, 1346.

Si valeas paleas, Valoyes, dimitte timorem ;

In campis maneas, pareas, ostende vigorem.
Flos es, flore cares, in campis viribus ares,
Mane techel fares, lepus es, lynx, non leo pares.
Francia flos florum, caput olim nobiliorum,

Jam contra mores leopardus tollit honores.
Subpedito florem, rapio florentis honorem,

Flos fueram, formido feram cum jubare veram.
In Wyndelesor natus Edwardus ad arma paratus,
Rex fortunatus, probus est hucusque vocatus;
Miles magnanimus est, et fidus bene securus,
Non est ambiguus, per mundi climata purus.

madame E T T S E Ee RE GT EE or e lr a m

! sitis victi, B. | * This short piece is printed from
? speres, A. | | a MS. in the British Museum, MS.
3 nostris præclarus, À. Reg. 13 A. xviii, fol. 211, 19. It
4 amarus, A. will be observed that the first four
^ sit, B. gentis, A. lines are taken from the preceding

8 sit, D. poem,

ON THE BATTLE OF NEVILES CROSS. 41

Multa libens dura patitur propter sua jura,

Sub duce secura tanto sunt oppida, rura.

Hie prope Berwycum populum superans inimicum,
Anglis plausificum fore se demonstrat amicum.
Admirans gentes Halidonhul ense ruentes,
Laudat currentes, pede non lento fugientes.
Meeroris plenam subiit illic Scotia poenam ;
Edwardi strenam sibi sentit adhuc fore threnam.
Ad Duram fleres, si bellum triste videres;
Occiderant proceres, pater occidit, occidit heres.
Multi fugerunt Scoti, multi perierunt,

Il vixerunt qui capti dona dederunt. —

Hujus eonflietus David Brus est memor, ictus
Sustinet, et victus capitur; rex sit benedictus.

On THE BATTLE oF NxvILES CRoss.!

Dux Valeys? hinnit, Francia grunnit, territa tinnit ;
Francia plorat, falsa colorat, se dehonorat.?
Fortes ecce greges, ventos, contraria fila,
Pugnabunt reges, rex leo, rex aquila;
Rex.leo vincetur, cor, cauda, caput ferietur;
Vincet rex aquila, regula, flos, simila.
Fictus non fortis, leo filius est cito mortis,
Se, regnum, gentes leo perdet* jure carentes.

Anglia gens, jubila, metuit ? leo nescius an sis;

Est leo rex Francus, Anglicus est aquila.

1 This poem is taken here from
the same three manuscripts which
furnished the poem on the French
wars, namely, MS. Cotton, 'Titus
A. xx., fol. 82, v? (A); MS. Bodl.
851, fol 116, r? (B); and MS.
Rawlinson, No. 214, fol. 122, r? (C).
In the last it has the title, Incipit
bellum Socie apud Duram, ubi David
rer Scotorum per excellentissimum
principem. dominum Edwardum 3"
regem Anglie fuit captus cum aliis.

It was evidently written amid the
exultation eaused by the important
vietory it celebrates, and contains
eurious incidents not found else-
where. 'The variations between the
different copies are, as will be seen.
considerable.

? Waleys, C.
3 dishonorat, C.
4 parde, À.

* metuus, À.

42 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Cæcus erat plene, qui prelia cæcus inivit.'
Laudem quæsivit, cessant sibi laudis habens.
Ecce Deus pro te, rex Edward, pugnat ubique;
Sis tibi sincerus cultor, faciens nil inique.
Injustus, cupidus, cecidit veracia nolens;

Elatus, rigidus, se bene non recolens.
Rex esto justus, patiens, dans, ore venustus,
Mitis et ignoscens, tacitus tua te bene noscens.
Contra nos populi multi veniunt, caveamus ;
Ad te sunt oculi nostri, Jhesu, ne pereamus.
Tu scis que cogitant in nos, nos respice, Christe;
Justitiam vitant, cor eorum destrue, Christe.
Bella premunt, et corda tremunt, nos respice, Christe ;
Mens gemit, arcte premit hostis, da, Christe, tuis te.
Non est pro nobis qui pugnet ni Deus unus,
Demus ei munus, dat se pro munere nobis.
Corda superborum Seotorum destrue, Christe;
Hostibus Anglorum Scotis, bone Christe, resiste.
Hydrarum capita sunt Scotis? cæsa polita;
Tres uno cesso crescunt * sine corpore leso.
Tutus Brus care cum? Francigenis sociatus,
JEstimat elatus Anglorum corda vorare.®
Res ut mercatur vendendo malum patiatur;
Nos sic? mercari voluit, nequit inde lucrari
Ecce spei fortis, intendens? spicula mortis,

Anglos invadit, in mala fata cadit.
Seotorum banna surgunt, clamemus osanna ;
Scotos subsanna, Deus, ut clamemus osanna.
Seoti Leviathan sunt, sint? Abiron, Chore, Dathan,
Felle nigro!? pleni, Gabal, Amon," Agareni.

Rn rr ern re — 2

temii, À. -— * vocare, B.
2 This word, omitted in the other ' male, B;
MSS., is supplied from C. 8 intentans. B.
3 Scoti, B. ; B ,
* surgunt, B. | fiant, . 8
5 Turbo David care Brus Fr, | | Fraude nigra, B.
B. | | V Gebár, Assur, Amon, B.

ON THE BATTLE OF'NEVILES CROSS. 48

Dum rex longinquas abiit noster! regiones,
Scoti felones guerras movere propinquas.

Falso? credentes boream virtute carere,
Insurrexere pomposo corde tumentes.

Se fore Sampsones, Machabæos, vel? Gedeones,
Credunt, ratones cito fugiunt velut et struthiones.f
Sub duce Brus David gens Scotica corda levavit,
Pars nobis David fit, reddet que spoliavit^ — —
Seoti vim faciunt, vastant® erraria jura,
Occidunt, rapiunt, faciunt incendia plura.
Multiplicem nummum quærunt, pacem fugientes ;
Ergo bonum summum confundantur renuentes?
Pro treugis brevibus immensa tributa petebant ;
Mutatis gradibus treugis vehementer egebant. —
Treugas felices præsumentes renuebant, ^
Post infelices treugas gratanter emebant.

Scotia præpropere treugas habuisset honore,
Quas modo summopere petit ac emit acta rubore?
Dum pax offertur Scotis motu pietatis,

Anglis infertur bellum dire feritatis.

Scoti collecti, serpentum felle refecti,

Stultitia tecti, miro conamine refecti?

Inveniunt terram '. boream probitate refertam,
Fidam, confertam, probitatis!! honore disertam.
Patria collecta, primate suo duce recta,

Concordi secta, probitatis amore refecta,

Hymnis insistens, Scotis ex corde resistens,

In sulcis cantos fecit divinitus antos. —

Oe on we ee rn ger eerie rer tn ARRON eNO NO re Stata A RR re ar c= ir A A OIA REECE 8, AB! PR ee 9e des d

! proprias abiit, B. ——— | ? These two lines ate omitted in

? False, A. B.

8 S. credebant et, B. 8 These six lines are only found

4 Fiunt ratones, ros, umbra, vapor, | in MS. B. |
struciones, B. MEE ? Sic MS. "These two lines are

* Nos infestavit, pactum fidei vio- | also only found in B.
lavit, B. E 10 certam, A,
$ spoliant, D. ! virtutis, B.

44 POLITICAL POEMS.

Terram defendit, et prelia dira rependit.’

Terrentur Scoti, mira formidine moti;

Exacuunt corda viri fidei sine corda.

Ruperunt pacta, nature, lege peracta;

Dictant confracta fera corda, timore subacta.

Elati cordis fuit auctrix Scotia cordis.*

Egressi mures ausi sunt bella movere,

Nolentes fures a bellis se cohibere.

In campo Duram statuunt pugnam subi? duram;

Nos protecturam dat Christi gratia curam. __

Confidunt in equis, in curribus, in probitate,

Credentes ne quis sit eis par nobilitate.

Est Domini nomen nobis fortissima turris,

À tantis scurris nos Christi protegat omen.

In sancti Lucæ festo, coeli duce luce,

Sub ductrice eruce Scoti periere caduce ;

Arcu, dente, bruco similes, pleni modo fuco;?

In Duram luco® morbo cecidere caduco.

Ut leo venerunt, dispergere? nos voluerunt,
Errabant ut oves et rediere boves.

Anglorum primas docet? nos eleyson et ymas ;

Scotorum primas sedes deduxit ad imas.

Cor, caput, ora, pedes fecit deponere sedes;

Seotorum sedes Anglorum proteget sedes?

Hydropiei'? Scoti sitiunt vertigine moti ;

Cum sitiit Scotus diros dedit Anglia motus."

Scotiæ militia perit, et multi moriuntur,"

Capti vincuntur, nos defendente Maria.

! reprendit, A. | 7 disperdere, B.
*This and the nine lines pre- ? dicens, B. |
ceding are not found in B. ® These two lines are omitted in
5 sibi, B and C. D, | |
* et æquitate, B. 10 Id repeti, A. Ydropici, B.
5 fere suco, B. !! potus, B.

6 Indurant luco, B. 12 malitia, perüt . . . perimuntur, B.

ON THE BATTLE OF NEVILES CROSS.

Rex regum Scotis facit ut servis Olofernis,'
Temporibus vernis nostris dulcedine fotis.?
Irruit immanis, tremor, ars, fuga, terror inanis;

Fugit consilium, dat fuga presidium.?
Inclitus Henricus Perci, vere * pacis amicus,
Fit Scotis amieus instans," obstans inimicus.
Mos girfalconis fuit illi cor Gedeonis,
Virtus Sampsonis, Joab ars, sensus Salomonis ; ©
Totus divinus, urbanus, ut ille Gawynus,

Fit sibi duleori nescia fama mori.
Se probus? armavit, et agmina? fortia stravit.
Sepe reintravit, acies fortes penetravit;
Scoti fugerunt, latuerunt, morte ruerunt ;
Percy persequitur, perimit, rapit? arte potitur.
Percy Machabæus fuit, et Brus David Etheus.
Percy non pigritat, se claro " nomine ditat!
Illustris miles, Titus, Hector, Brutus, Achilles.
Hune Deus instilles, Scotos fecit fore viles,
Fortis Perci leo, quasi gigas, par Machabzo,
Junctus amore Deo, necat hostes cum jubilmo;!?
Mittit ad infernum Scotos multos bene pictus,”
Semper in zternum suus ensis sit benedictus.
Et benedicantur generosi Perci parentes;
Sed maledieantur Scoti sibi mala'* volentes.
Utens lorica fidei, probitatis amica,
Pugnans magnifica vicit nobis inimica.
Magnates tales debemus semper amare,

! servis Olefernis, B. Holofernis, ? probet, A.
C. 8 carcia, A.

? Laudibus æternis nostris a cri- ? mutus rapit, C.
mine lotis, B. . 10 clari, A.

* These two lines are taken from " This and the five preceding lines

MS. B. are omitted in B.

4 Percy paro, B. Partis borealis ?? These two lines are also omitted

amicus, C. bere pacis, A, in B.
^ § constans, B. 13 suus ictus, B.

5 Pietas Loth, ars Sal., B. M Se, mala Percy, C.

46 |. "; "POLITICAL. POEMS. ...

Qui defensare quærunt populos, : animales,
.Seotos deludit, et aves post. falco recludit,
Victos eonfudit, et eorum viscera fudit.
Ut mors non parcit, nec qui marsupia farcit,
Christo confidit, Scotorum bella recidit.
Quos infestabat aquilo velocior omni, |
Temporibus somni vigilans dormire vetabat.'
Intrat in éclipse fines ejus David ipse,
Virus dans dipsæ frustrabitur? apocalipse.
Brus serpens dipsas, faciens guerras bibit ipsas?
Brus David auffugit, fugiendo contra leo rugit,.
Coplond attingit fugientem, vulnere cingit;* -
Regem persequitur, David in spinis reperitur?
Copland arestat David cito sé manifestat.
Rex fugiens capitur, et honos? regis sepelitur.
Regem Scotorum licuit captum? retinere,
Regem scaccorum jura vetant capere.
Copland cognomen, est Johannes? sibi nomen,
Qui Brus accepit, sibi gratia crescere coepit.!?
A re nomen habens, cui cognomen cape !! terram,
Capto Brus guerram finit sic Scotia. labens.
Armiger ipse bonus fugientes exanimavit,
Lætum cepit onus Brus capiendo David.
Prædæ mane rapax in vespere dividis escas,
Epicharis crescas, Bruys, probitate capax.!?
Expers duleoris fuit, expers est Bruys honoris,
Fercula fœtoris in primis obtulit horis.
Dum puerum David presul baptismate lavit,
Ventrem laxavit, baptisterium maculavit.

! This line and the eleven pre- | " honor, B.

ceding are omitted in B. 8 captum licuit, B.
2 frustabitur, C. ? Copland. . . est gratia John, B.
3 This line is taken from B. V David cepit et munera. grata re-
* tingit, B. . | cepit, B. |
5 This line is supplied from MS. ?! capere, B.

B. 1? These two lines are omitted in B.

6 Brus, B —— . 3 David fuit hic et honoris, B.

ON THE BATTLE OF NEVILES CROSS. 47

Fontem fœdavit in quo mingendo cacavit ;!

Sancta prophanavit, olei fzeces? reseravit.

Brus nimis emunxit, cum stercore sacra perunxit,

Se male disjunxit, urinæ stercora junxit.

Dum baptizatur altare Dei maculatur,?

Nam* super altare fertur mingendo cacare.

Fac? singularis puer hic cœlestibus aris
Optulit in primis stercora foeda nimis.

Discinctus lumbis mirum thimiama refudit? ^ -

Optulit et fudit? pro turture sive columbis.

Myrrham, thus, aurum? non optulit iste renatus,

Sed proprium staurum ventris rumpendo meatus.

Stercora concepit, peperit quee ventre recepit,

Qui nondum repit foedare tamen !? sacra cepit.

Sic domus alma Dei foede repletus !! odore,
Anthiochi more foetor adhæret ei.

Ecclesize Christi non competit hostia talis,

Laus baptismalis violatur munere tristi.

Credo prophetavit quod templa ** Dei violaret,

Facto firmavit quod ei mala gratia flaret.

Filius altare mox stercoribus temeravit, !?

Sanguine fœdare pater ecclesiam properavit.

Ergo prophetarunt H quod jus regni vitiarunt,

Ex quo sincere cultu!5 Domini caruere.

Prave vixerunt Manasses, Amon, duo rejes,

In sacras leges committere non timuerunt.

Rex? Bruys Robertus, feritatis mole refertus,

Dux homicida ferus, patens, et apertus."

Re ene Sn er A TUT

: 1 This line is omitted in A. ° thesaurum, A.
? oleum mirum, B. 10 Dei, B.
* baptizatus . . . maculatus, B. 1 repletur, B.
* Brus, B. m 12 sacra, B.
5 Fati, C. 35 cum fonte sacro t., B.
8 These two lines are omitted in H prophanarunt, B.
B. '5 sacrilege vere c., B.
* Distentis . . . fetens . . retudit, 36 Dux, B.
B.

U Ve rex insertus homicida patebit
8 Stercora diffudit, B. apertus, B.

48 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Filius uxorem ! contemnit, adulter adultus,
Stulte? consultus fidei modo perdit? amorem.
Non est ipse David manibus, vultu venerandus,
Ut siba* clamavit a rege David superandus.

In David forti nullas partes habet ille,
Tradendus morti forti privatur? Achille.

Fit lepra poena patri, confusio, captio® proli,
Quz proli soli superest sibi poena baratri.
Privatur prole quia conjugii bona sprevit,
Oppressus mole mala messuit et mala sevit.
Seotorum comites, quorum Patrik fuit unus,
Presto fuget,? comites sunt nobis nobile munus?
Clamabant “In a day gowe to the tyrie wyth hay." ?
Ipsis sit Waleway,"! meschef tristissima oda.

. Seoti triphones nos invenire tirones,

Hi sunt dolones, et eramus corde leones.!*

Hae vox fervoris !? fuit illis arra doloris ;

Nobis dulcoris fuit illa dies et honoris.*
Fitque dies Martis Scoto confusio partis.
Vincere credebant, Deus, homo, et jura vetabant,
Wo propinabant, sua pocula primo bibebant.
Quæ cum gustassent, et mortis dona Ÿ vorassent,
Nostri steterunt et pocula tela!" dederunt.
Ibant, gaudebant, deridentes veniebant,

Confusi flebant, victi redeundo dolebant.'?

David deductus est, sunt sua gaudia luctus.’

! Brus David uxorem, B.

? Stupor, A.

3 perdebat, B.

* Sic MS. These two lines are
wanting in B.

5 civili morti datus est privatus, B.

9 vilissima c., B.

T Ve, B. Sed, C.

8 fugit, À.

? These two lines are omitted in
this place in B.

tyre... . hay hay, C.

" Welaway, B.

2 These two lines are omitted
in B.

13 Quod voz fer., B.

4 This line is taken from MS. B.

15 hoc, B and C.

15 tela, B.

V riserunt . . . plura, B.

18 These two lines are omitted in
B.
5 Brus David abductus fuit, est

sua gratia luctus,

Infortunatus ut Achab miser est

reprobatus, B.

Za.

ON THE BATTLE OF NEVILES CROSS. » |» 49

Achab Micheæ non credit, sed Sedechiæ,

Præsumens ! nimias vires sine corde perito,
Surgit Amasias, corruit ipse cito?

Londonias? vere Seoti vovere venire,

Hoe votum mire* multi meruere tenere.

Scoti vicinæ sunt per mala vota ruins,

Est miser insultus sibi magna eausa tumultus.

Propter peccata laus est Scotis breviata,
Anglia nune timeat, crimina precaveat.®

Christo devotum genus electum sibi notum,

Turma® sacerdotum facit illos solvere votum.

Tales vovere debent qui vota? tenere -

Optant, et jurant, et ad hoc? se ponere curant.

Cor levitarum Seotis donat cor amarum,

Sit cor sanctorum benedictum ? presbyterorum.

Visio magnarum vovetur Londoniarum,

! Post sumens, D.

? MS, B here adds the following
lines, made up partly of lines omit.
ted elsewhere :— -

Seotorum comites, quorum Patrik.

fuit unus,
Præsto fugæ comites, sunt nobis
nobile munus. |
Callidus ipse comes metuens per
devia fugit ;

Fraus sibi cara, comes quasi bos
cornupeta mugit.

Hicnostræ fidei se falso seepe subegit,

Fraude fidem fregit, hie habet loca
nunc requiei.

Willelmus Duglas, sol Seotis, gloria
cara,

Fit nostris neu glas, cessant sua
lumina clara.

Est cibus absque sale, coce’ absque
sapore.

Scotia vive, vale, sine Duglas absque
vigore.

VOL. I.

Languens ponetur in carcere, nec
redimetur.
Duglas marcescit, sua vis ; ut cera
liquescit.
Vires nobilium per vos vicit Deus
almus ;
Scotorum psalmus migrat in exilium.
Propter peccata laus est Scotis
breviata ;
Anglia stas, timeas, crimina. præ-
caveas,
Inclita præfulges, Scotorum viscera
mulges ;
Seotis indulges, probitatis honore
. refulges.
* Lonodon’, B.
4 dire, B. |
5 This and the three lines pre-
ceding are omitted in B.
5 Turba, B.
7 vote, A.
Set hoc, A. sed et hoc, C.
9 benedictio, C.
D

50 POLITICAL POEMS,

Hi vovent vane quos votum perdit inane!

Invite solvent, venient? solvendo? dolebunt ;

Vires dissolvent, sibi nil sua vota valebunt.
Ibunt et flebunt, nolentes vota tenebunt;
Debent, debebuhit, se plus non“ posse tenebunt.
Callidus ille comes Patrik per devia fugit;

Fraus sibi cara, comes quasi bor? cornupeta rugit.

Hie nostre fidei quondam se pseudo subegit,
Sepe fidem fregit, nec habet loca nune requiei.

Mensis contritæ patuere sui trogloditæ,

Cæduntur rite quia non fugere perite.

. Gente reunita redit cum fraude polita,

Fraus sibi mentite, confusa fuit sua vita.
Willelmus Duglas? sal Scotis sit quasi nitrum,"
In bello Douglas sit nobis ductile vitrum.

Laudis honore caret fere Scotia, viribus aret;

Convenit tristis tibi sors in partibus istis.
Languens ponetur in carcere, nec redimetur.
Falsus marcescit, sua vis ut cera liquescit.
Vires nobilium vicit per nos Deus almus,
Scotorum palmus migrat in exilium.

' Mentif mentitur, in campo morte feritur,

Vivit, perdit vitam modica bonitate potitam.
Ecce senescallus Scotorum, falsus Onallus,
Festinans fugere non ‘cessat corde pavere.®
Anglia, letare, bellum Domini meditare,
Clernm preeclare collaudando venerare.
Ecclesiam, clerum, plebem moderando tuere ; °
Cultum sincerum discas sine fine fovere.

Qui bene fecisti bene profice nomine Christi;

1 This and the three preceding | quasi, a contraction, which Seems

lines are omitted in B. to mean conira.

| $ Dowglas, C.
2 venzens, B. . ? terra Salsa, Gloss in C,
3 solvent solvendo votum d., B. 8 This and the nineteen lines pre-

ceding are omitted in B.
® This and the following lines to
5 boore, B. A has, in place of | the end are only found in MS. B.

* sed non plus, B.

ON THE BATTLE OF NEVILES CROSS. 5]

Pugna mente bona, dabitur tibi justa corona.
Pugna pro lege, rebus, patria, grege, rege ;
Te lege, lege rege, te bene rege, tege.
Spem vires pronas, cor me Christum tibi ponas;
Crimina deponas, unicas debit ergo coronas.
Sunt Scoti dicti pro picto corpore Picti ;
Cordibus invicti, victi, re, nomine ficti.
Sunt parci victus, rictus meditantur et ictus,
Optant conflictus, mos talis sit maledictus.
Scoti more leves, animi fervore feroces,

Sævi, veloces, ‘sin probitate breves.
Scotia servire non vult, nec quærit amari,
Dire servire semper vult et dominari. 4
Ergo dabit saltum, quia cor sustollit in altum,
Scotia perdetur, timor ejus vi reprimetur. |
Anglia, cor bassum teneas, dicit Deus, assum,
Spes tua, conamen, victoriam, lux, relevamen.

Explicit de bello Scotiæ, ubi David Brus fuit captus,
qua erat rex eorum, et ali magnates.

Numerus interfectorum in bello, et dies belli, et con-
clusio fimalis.!

Fastu commotos percussit et Anglia Scotos ;

Sub regente David, quatuor ter milia stravit;

Cruxque novem ville, belli fit testis et ille;*

Qui verum scivit, quia Scotia victa subivit.

Pro festo Judæ lux Anglis dena vacavit,

Sed tune calcavit Scotos sors aspera Jude.

Sanguine stillante necat illos gens borealis,

Quos sibi regalis presumptio duxerat ante.

Explicit bellum.

1The verses which follow are | It will be seen that they are repeated -
taken from MS. C, where they form | in the short poem. which follows
a sort of eonelusion to the poem. | this.

D 2

59 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Est omnis Scotus Sampson, Salomon, leo totus.
Sampson se hecuit, Salomon post tdola travit,
Est leo famelicus, sic omnis Scotus iniquus.

ON Critcy AND NzviLES Cross.

Annis bis sex c, quater x., bis ter, simul et c,
Carmina pando lyra lune contingentia mira.
Gallia mota nimis declinat forte ruinis, |
Dum properat vesci bello sub nemore Cressi.
Corruit ense per E. subito gens Gallica sub P.,
Funeris ex poena pereunt tria millia dena.
Bina dies vere post festum Bartholomæi,
Heee virtute Dei testatur mira patere.
Plebs nitet Edwardi de gestu Machabæorum,
Laus patet Anglorum sub vexillo leopardi.
Fastu commotos percussit et Anglia Scotos,
Sub regente David, quatuor ter milia stravit.
Cruxque novem ville belli sit testis et ille,
Qui verum scivit quod Scotia victa subivit.
Pre festo Judæ lux Anglis dena vacavit,
Sed tune calcavit Scotos sors aspera rude.
Sanguine stillante necat illos gens borealis,
Quos ibi regalis præsumptio duxerat ante.
Reges, dux, et comites,
Barones et milites,
Qui tunc bellaverunt,
Prior aique præsules,
Plures viri nobiles,
Nece ceciderunt.

1 These lines are taken from MS. | fol. 121, r°, with the title, Mumerus
Cotton., Titus A. xx., fol. 86, r^. | annorum et interfectorum ti in bello de
The first ten lines are also found Crescy.
in the manuscript in the Bodleian ? contigentia, MS. Raw).
library, MS. Rawlinson, No. 214, 3 Crescy, MS. Rawl.

ON CRECY AND NEVILES CROSS. 53

Mox audaces Anglis,
Tune majores Scotis,
Fuga sequebantur,
Plures tacti vulnere,
. Rex et Duglas propere
Capti carcerantur.
Subdola Scotorum gens laudem perdit honorum.

Isti versus sunt de bellis de Cressi et de Nevilecros.

ON THE TRUCE oF 1347.

. Cantica lætitiæ mundi flos Anglia promat,
Hostes justitiæ fortes ubique domat.
Jus vires donat, fortuna favet, Deus astat,
Terras rex vastat, quia gratia cara coronat.
Turturis exemplo castietur ? foeda libido,
Ære dato templo discedat cæca cupido.
Regia sint castra pia, casta, fidelia, justa ;
Numine robusta, penetrantia moribus astra.
E castris procerum procul omnis fcmina cedat,
Ne proceres lædat foemina, gemma, merum.
Anglia devicit, quia jus habet, et mala vicit;
Culpæ mole caret, coelesti lumine claret. __
Libera, mundata, premit hostes sanctificata,
Ergo vincetur, si culpa sibi dominetur _

1 The allusions in this piece seem | former a later hand has written
to leave little doubt that it was writ- | “ Baston,” as an intimation that it
ten by some one of the war party at | was one of the productions of the
the time when the truce was in ne- | Latin poet named Robert Baston,
gotiation, soon after the surren- | whose history, however, is more
der of Calais, It is printed from a | connected with the Scottish wars
copy preserved in MS. Cotton. Titus, | of the reign of Edward IL, and I
A. xx. fol. 126, v°, compared with | think there is no sufficient reason
another in MS. Rawlinson, No. 214, | for ascribing the present lines to him.
fol 150, »°, In the margin of the | — ?castratur, Rawl. | |

54 POLITICAL POEMS.

Anglia peccatum, luxum, fastum, dominatum,
Reprimat, et flatum livoris et æris hiatumi.
Lis, injustitia, dolus, ars, injuria cedant;

Pax, lex, justitia, pietas amen sibi credant.
Propter peccata transferri regna legüntur ;
Vita juvat grata cum prelia dira geruntur.
Anglia dat flores, armatos, eximiores,

Inducens mores, virtutes nobiliores.

Mansuetos, humiles, cautos, probitate seniles,
Fortes, subtiles, claros, agiles dat heriles.

In nostra terra dulces flores patuerunt,
Advenit guerra florum vires micuerunt;

Flores palmarum verni, rosei violarum,

Dant annum carum nobis, Francis cor amárüim.
Anglorum fortes vident varias modo sortes;
Non timeant mortes Valoys! impügrnando cohortes.
Felices comites videat tune inde sequentes.

Ad bellum vadunt, Deus est éondüctor eundo;
Ad mala fata cadunt, Sathan est ductor redeundo.
Ad bellum vadunt, et eis contingit honeste;
In redeundo cadunt, contingit eis inhoneste.
His mare placare Deus aura placens adeundo,
En Deus, aura, mare contraria sunt redeundo?
Vadunt et veniunt ad portum premeditatum ;
Sed redeundo sciunt maris et venti cruciatuin.
Ergo Deo mire placet iré, vetando redire,
Usquequo perfecta fiat victoria recta.

Ergo magnates adeuntes non redeatis,

‘Donec vincatis, Francorum credite vates.

! Waieys, Rawl.

2 Aboute the fest of Seynt Mi-
. chael (1347), the kyng took the se
into Ynglond, and there had he
grete tempest, and mervelous wyndes;
and thanne he mad swech a com-

plynt onto oure lady, and seide, * O

* blessed imayde, what menyth al

“this? Evyr, whan I go to Frauns,
* T have fayre weddir; and whanne
*I turne to Ynglond intollerable
“ tempestés.^- Cápgrave's Chronicle,
p. 218. |

ON THE TRUCE OF 1347. 55

Flandria ridebit, canet Anglia, Francia flebit,
Seotia lugebit, Normannia victa pavebit.
Anglia gaudebit, fera Picardia dolebit,
Parys ardebit, Aquitannia fama patebit.
Francia languescit, viget Anglia, Flandria crescit,
Scotia marcescit, Hibernia sæva quiescit.
Cressci! decrescit, Arthosia pallida cessit,
Kaloys? arescit, Britannia parva fatescit.
Non salvat gladius, non arcubus Anglia speret ;
Salvat propitius Deus cui dulcis adhæret.
Sennacherib arcus, cor, spiritus, vires, tribuebant ;
Sed cordas arcus mures subito comedebant.
Sie rex ut vermis effectus, nudus, inermis,
Confusus rediit, turpiter et periit.
Ergo Dei flamen, nostris fortissima turris,
llis a scurris et culpis protegat; Amen.
In bello miles jacet in lecto moriturus,
Ergo sit purus dando preces humiles.
Lilia non tacta dulci flatu redolescunt ;
Lilia confracta cito putrescunt et olescunt. -
Anglia militia quasi lilia, laudis arnica,
‘Vincet magnifica stante pudicitia.
Subjecti Veneri multi fortes periere,
Effecti miseri confusi succubuere.
Armis invictum somnus, luxus, gula, victus,
Turbant, confundunt, turbant, sua viscera; fundunt.
Pauci vicere, quia mundi corde fuere;
Casti vixere, palmam belli meruere.
Sunt agni casti nostri domini generosi,
Constantes, casti, largi, mites, animosi,
Justi, prudentes, nulli fraudem facientes,
In spe gaudentes, et egenis compatientes.
Templa, Deum, clerum mutuo se semper honorent;
. Dicentes verum, Dominum devotius orent.

» tem ee De s cS. MAS ame qe oM. à

! Crescy, Rawl. | 7 Cales, Rawl.

56 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Ars, spes, justitia, bonitas, patientia vincunt,
Quando corda pia carnis contagia linquunt.
Quid facit in bello mulier? quid pulvis ocello ?
. Impedit et fodat mulier, nocet, ergo recedat.
Plures foeminea perimunt, maledicta venena,
Quam lynx, pugnalea, lupus, ursa, leo, vel hyena.
Bellis Romanis juris periere periti,
Bellis "Trojanis falsi cecidere mariti :
Anglorum proceres, uxoribus ergo fideles,
Sancti, sinceres pateant, Noe, Job, Danieles.
Se sua salvabunt, Dominum prudenter amabunt,
Dulciter orabunt, prospera bella dabunt.
‘Sint Loth, Sampsones, Salomones, et Scipiones,'
Non sint Achitopel, ire spargendo cito fel.
Sint casti, cari, Noe, Job, Daniel modo Zari,?
Cum contra jura fiant divortia plura,
Si sacramenti fidei prolis bona cedunt,
Lex, laus discedunt, et causa datur nocumenti.
Ergo magnati tria conjugii bona servent ;
Se bene præservent, quia vident purificati.
Sint in amore Dei fixi mites Nazarzi,
Ne qua sorde rei victi sunt ut Cananei.
Absolon ingratus lectum . patris: maculavit,
Stultus et elatus Sichem Dynam violavit.
Sampson, Adam, David, mulieribus infatuati,
Sunt male turbati, quos dulcis amor relevavit.
Temporibus veris rex noster castra movebit,
Factis austeris Deus illum bella docebit.
Rex ergo patiens, largus, mundus, moderatus ;
Rex ergo sapiens, justus, cordatus, amatus;
Rex ergo gratus, verax, clemens, miseratus;
Rex ergo plorans, humilis, maturus, et orans.
Rex est, ergo regit sapienter, more quieto;
Rex est, ergo legit sua de sermone faceto.

! Sapientes, Cotton. | * moderari, Cotton. |

ON THE TRUCE OF 1347. 57

Non a regnando rex est, sed jure regendo ;
Ergo rex stando memorat de jure tenendo.
Nulla superbia, palpo, pecunia regulet illum,
Nulla scientia, nulla potentia deprimat illum.
Se, sua dona dedit Christo cui totus obedit,
Diligit et credit, et ab omni sorde recedit.
Rex, bona bella gerens treugas componere quæris ;
Bellans victor eris; treugas cape, decipieris.
Lingua Cornubiea designat treuga dolores ;
Ergo falsidica cedat, quia tardat honores.
Pax, lex sint tecum, facias jus omnibus æquum ;
Pacem, justitias, rex, petis, has facias.
Si lex, fama, fides, amores,! pietas religantur,
Clara luce vides quod multa pericla parantur.
Fama, fides, pietas, amores? lex, pax habeantur.
Regnet sobrietas, ut juste regna regantur. |
Undenæ stellæ cor habent crudele, rebelle ;
Anglorum stelle subsint vel erunt sine pelle.
Præfulgens stella rex inclitus Angligenarum
Deponat sella parium modo Francigenarum.
Laude, fide pleni servite pares duodeni,

. Edwardo juveni, nobilitate seni.
Tales ergo pares sitis quod clareat ares,
Non pereat sua res servite sibi sine phares.
Bos dixit Romse, venerata, cave tibi, Roma,
Deficiunt Rom: lex, pax, et amoris aroma,
Anglia laudata, caveas tibi ne maculata,
Et nimis elata, pereat tua fama beata.
Sit tibi rex regum, rex? lex, spes, vis, cor, et arma;
Damnis per te* gregum de sanctis moribus arma.
Clare justitize,® fidei lorica paretur; —
Arcum lætitiæ capias, Christus comitetur.
Sanctum lex æqua tibi sit Christus cor adæqua.

1 amor hes, Rawl. 4 prece, Rawl.
2 amor hes, Rawl. '

» 5 justitia, Cotton.
3
grez, Cotton.

bs -

POLITICAL POEMS,

Judicium cerium galea signatur apertum,

Est fervens gladius, oratio fervida, munda.

Te regat eximius Cliristus cum mente jucunda,
Virgo Maria tibi sit rectrix et moderatrix ;!

Spes, consolatrix, da pia vota sibi.

Amen.

Sones on Kine Epwarp’s Was.

By Laurence Minot.?

Lithes, and I sall tell 3ow tyll
The bataile of H alidon hylt.

Trew king, that sittes in: trone,
Unto the I tell my tale,
And unto the I bid a bone,
For thou ert bute of all my bale.
Als thou made midel-erd and the mone,
And bestes and fowles grete and smale,
Unto me send thi socore sone,
And dresce my dedes in a dale.

.3 mediatriz, Rawl.

2'This interesting collection of
songs exists, as far as is known,
on]y in one manuscript, MS. Cotton.
Galba E., ix., fol. 49, 1?. Nothing is
known of the writer but his namé,
which he gives us himself. 'The
songs were evidently written sepa-
rately at the times of the events to
which they relate, but the author,
for some reason or other, collected
them together and united them in
one work by adding the metrical
titles, which serve as connecting
links. We may fix pretty accurately
the date at which they were thus
collected, from the circumstance
that the last of them commemorates
the capture of the castle of Guisnes,

| which was taken by thé English on

the 22nd of January, 1352, and

must have been written inithediately

after that event, as it begins by iri-
forming us that it was coraposed
before the winter was passed. It is
probable, therefore, that Minot ptib-
lished his songs in this collective
form in the course of the year 1352.
The manuscript which has pre-
served them belongs to the earlier
part of the fifteenth century, pro-
bably to the reign of Henry V.
'The dialect in which they are
here written is northern, but this
would only prove that the scribe
who copied it, and not the ori-
ginal author, was a north-country
man.

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS. 59

In this dale I droupe and dare,
For dern dedes that done me dere;
Of Ingland had my hert prete care,
When Edward founded first to were.
The Franche men war frek to fare
Ogaines him, with scheld and sperej
Thai turned ogayn with sides sare, ——
And al thaire pomp noght worth a pere.

A pere of prise es more sum tyde
. ^ Than all the boste of Normondye.
Thai sent thaire schippes on ilka side,
With flesch and wine and whete and rye;
With hert-and hand, es noght at hide,
For to help Seotland gan thai hye;
Thai fled; and durst no dede habide,
And all thaire fare noght würth a flye.

For all thaire fare, thai durst noght fight,
For dedes dint had thai shke dout;

Of Scotland had thai never sight,
Ay whils thai war of wordes stout.

Thai wald have mend tham at thairé might,
And besy war thai thareobout.

Now God help Edward in his right,
Amen, and all his redy rowt.

His redy rout mot Jhesu spede,
And save tham both by night and day
That Lord of Hevyn mot Edward lede,
And maintene hym als he wele may.
The Scottes now all wide will sprede,
For thai have failed of thaire pray;
Now er thai dareand all for drede,
That war bifore so stout and gay.

POLITICAL POEMS.

Gai thai war, and wele thai thoght
On the erle Morré and other ma;
Thai said it suld ful dere be boght,
The land that thai war flemid fra. |
Philip Valays wordes wroght, |
And said he suld thaire enmys sla;
Bot all thaire wordes was for noght,
Thai mun be met if thai war ma.

Ma manasinges 3it have thai maked,
Mawgré mot thai have to mede!
And many nightes als have thai waked
To dere all Ingland with thaire dede.
But, loved be God! the pride es slaked
Of tham that war so stout on stede;
And sum of tham es levid all naked
Noght fer fro Berwik opon Twede.

À litell fro that forsaid toune,
Halydon hil that es the name,
Thare was crakked many a crowne
Of wild Seottes, and alls of tame;
Thare was thaire baner born all doune;
To mak slike boste thai war to blame.

. Bot nevertheles ay er thai boune

To wait Ingland with sorow and schame.

Shame thai have, als I here say ;

At Dondé now es done thaire daunce ;
And wend thai most another way,

Evyn thurgh Flandres into France. —
On Filip Valas fast cri thai,

Thare for to dwell and him avaunce ;
And no thing list tham than of play,

Sen tham es tide this sary chance.

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS.

This sary chaunce tham es bitid,
For thai war fals and wonder fell ;
For cursed caitefes er thai kid,
And ful of treson, suth to tell.
Sir Jon the Comyn had thai hid,
. In haly kirk thai did him qwell ;
And tharfore many a Skottis brid
With dole er dight that thai most dwell.

Thare dwelled oure king, the suth io saine,
With his mensé, a litell while ;

He gaf gude confort on that plaine
To all his men obout a myle.

All if his men war mekill of maine,
Ever thai douted tham of gile,

The Seottes gaudes might no thing gain,
For all thai stumbilde at that stile.

Thus in that stowre thai left thaire live,
_ That war bifore so proud in prese;
Jhesu, for thi woundes five,
In Ingland help us to have pese.

Now for to tell gow will I turn
Of [the] batayt of Banocburn.

Skottes out of Berwik and of Abirdene,

At the Bannok burn war 2e to kene ;

Thare slogh 3e many sakles, als it was sene;

And now has king Edward wroken it, I wene.
It es wrokin, I wene, wele wurth the. while ;

War 3it with the Skottes, for thai er ful of gile.

62 POLITICAL POEMS.

Whare er 2e, Skottes of Saint Johnes toune ?
'The boste of 3owre baner es betin all doune ;
When 3e bosting will bède, sir Edward es boune
For to kindel ow care, and crak 3owre crowne.

He has crakked 3owré croune, wele worth the while;
Schame bityde the Skottes, for thai er full of gile.

Skottes of Striflin war steren and stout,

Of God ne of gude men bad thai no dout;

Now have thai the pelers priked obout,

Bot at the last sir Edward rifild thaire rout.
. He has rifild thaire rout, wele wurth the while ;
Bot ever er thai under, bot gaudes and gile.

Rugh-fute riveling, now kindels thi care, -

Bere-bag, with thi boste, thi biging es bare;

Fals wretche and forsworn, whider wiltou fare ;

Busk the unto brig, and abide thare.

. Thare, wretche, saltou won, and wery the while;
Thi dwelling in Dondé es done for thi gile.

The Skottes gase in burghes, and betes the stretes,
All thise Inglis men harmes he hetes;
Fast makes he his mone to men that he metes,
Bot fone frendes he findes that his bale betes.
Fune betes his bale, wele wurth the while ;
He uses all threting with gaudes and gile.

Bot many man thretes and spekes ful ill,

That sum tyme war better to be stane still;

The Skot in his wordes has wind for to spill,

. For at the last Edward sall have al his will,

. He had his will at Berwik, wele wurth the while ;
Skottes broght him the kayes, bot get for thaire

gile.

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS. 68

How Edward the king come im Braband,
And toke homage of all the land.

God, that schope both se and sand,
Save Edward king of Ingland,

Both body, saul, and life,

And grante him joy withowten strif ! p
For mani men to him er wroth,

In Fraunce and in Flandres both;
For he defendes fast his right,

And tharto Jhesu grante him might,
And so to do both night and day,
That yt may be to Goddes pay.

Oure king was cumen, trely to tell,

Into Brabant for to dwell;

The kayser Lowis of Bavere,

That in that land than had no pere,
He, and als his sons two,

And other princes many mo,
Bisschoppes and prelates war thare fele,
. That had ful mekill werldly wele,
Princes and pople, ald and 2ong,

Al that spac with Duche tung,

All thai come with grete honowre

Sir Edward to save and socoure,

And proferd him, with all thayre rede,
For to hald the kinges stede.

The duke of Braband, first of all,
Swore, for thing that might bifall,
That he suld both day and might
Help sir Edward in his right,

In toun, in feld, in frith and fen.
This swore the duke and all his men,
And al the lordes that with him lend,
And tharto held thai up thaire hend.
Than king Edward toke his rest

At Andwerp, whare him liked best;

POLITICAL POEMS.

And thare he made his moné playne, +
That no man suld say thare ogayne. :
His moné, that was gude and lele, —
Left in Braband ful mekill dele ;
And all that land, untill this day,
Fars the better for that jornay.

When Philip the Valas herd of this,

Tharat he was ful wroth iwis;

He gert assemble his barounes,

Princes and lordes of many tounes,

At Pariss toke thai thaire counsaile,

Whilk pointes might tham most availe ;

And in all wise thai tham bithought

To stroy Ingland and bring to nought
Schipmen sone war efter sent,

To here the kinges cumandment ;

And the galaies men also,

That wist both of wele and wo.

He cumand than that men suld fare

Til Ingland, and for no thing spare,

— Bot brin and sla both man and wife,

And childe, that none suld pas with life.
The galay men held up thaire handes,
And thanked God of thir tithandes.
At Hamton, als I understand,
Come the gaylayes unto land,
And ful fast thai slogh and brend,

Bot noght so makill als sum men wend.

For or thai wened war thai meti
With men that sone thaire laykes lett.
Sum was knokked on the hevyd,

That the body thare bilevid ;

Sum lay stareand on the m

And sum lay knoked out thaire hernes.
Than with tham was non other gle,
Bot ful fain war thai that might fle.
The galay men, the suth to say,

Most nedes turn another way;

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS.

Thai soght the stremis fer and wide,
In Flandres and in Seland syde.

Than saw thai whare Cristofer. stode,
At Armouth, opon the flude. |
Than wen[t] thai theder all bidene,
The galayes men, with hertes kene,
Vij. and xl galays, and mo,

And with tham als war tarettes two,
And other many of galiotes,

With grete noumber of smale botes;
All thai hoved on the flode

To stele sir Edward mens gode.

Edward oure king than was noght there,

But sone, when it come to his ere,
He sembled all his men full still,
And said to tham what was his will.
Ilk man made him redy then,

So went the king and all his men
Unto thaire schippes ful hastily,
Als men that war in dede doghty.

Thai fand the galay men grete wane,
À hundereth ever ogaynes ane;

The Inglis men put tham to were
Ful baldly, with bow and spere;
Thai slogh thare of the galaies men
Ever sexty ogaynes ten;
That sum ligges 3it in that mire
All hevidles, withowten hire.
The Inglis men war armed wele,
Both in yren and in stele ;
Thai faght ful fast, both day and night,
Als lang as tham lasted might,
Bot galay men war so many,
That Inglis men wex all wery ;
Help thai soght, bot thare come nane,
Than unto God thai made thaire mane.
VOL. I, E

POLITICAL POEMS.

Bot sen the time that God was born,

Ne a hundreth 3ere biforn,

Was never men better in fight

Than Ingliss men, whil thai had myght. :
Bot sone all maistri gan thai mis;

God bring thaire saules untill his blis!
And God assoyl tham of thaire sin, -

For the gude will that thai war in! Amen. .

Listens now, and leves me,
Who so lifes thai sall se

"That it mun be ful dere boght

That thir galay men have wroght. : :
Thai hoved still opon the flode, __
And reved pover men thaire gude ;

Thai robbed, and did mekill schame,
And ay bare Inglis men the blame. .
Now Jhesu save all Ingland,

And blis it with his holy hand! Amen.

Edward, oure cumly king,
In Braband has his woning,
With mani cumly knight ;
And in that land, trewly to tell,
Ordains he still for to dwell
To time he think to fight.

Now God, that es of mightes imaste,
Grant him grace of the Haly Gaste
His heritage to win! |
And Mary moder, of mercy fre,
_ Save oure king and his menzé
Fro sorow and schame and syn.

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS.

Thus in Braband has he bene,

Whare he bifore was seldom sene, .
For to prove thaire japes ;

Nów no langer wil he spare,

Bot unto Fraunce fast will he fare,
To confort hym with grapes.

Furth he ferd into France,

God save him fro mischance
And all his cumpany !

The nobil duc of Braband

With him went into that land,
Redy to lif or dy. |

Than the riche floure-de-lice

Wan thare ful litill prise,
Fast he fled for ferde ; |.

The right aire of that cuntré

Es cumen, with all bis knightes fre,
To schae him by the berd.

Sir Philip the Valayse,

With his men in tho dayes,
To batale had he thoght ;
He bad his men tham purvay

Withowten lenger delay,
But he ne held it noght.

He broght folk ful grete wone,

Ay sevyn ogains one,
That ful wele wapind were;

Bot sone when he herd ascry

That king Edward was nere tharby,
Than durst he noght cum nere.

E 2

POLITICAL POEMS.

In that morning fell à myst,

And when oure Ingliss men it wist,
It changed all thaire chere ;

Oure king unto God made his bone,

And God sent him gude confort sone,
The weder wex ful clere.

Oure king and his men held the felde
Stalwortly, with spere and schelde,
And thoght to win his right,
With lordes, and with knightes kene,
And other doghty men bydene,
That war ful frek to fight.

When sir Philip of France herd tell
That king Edward in feld walld dwell,
Than gayned him no gle;
He traisted of no better bote,
Bot both on hors and on fote
He hasted him to fle.

It semid he was ferd for strokes,

When he did fell his grete okes
Obout his pavilyoune ;

Abated was than all his pride,

For langer thare durst he noght bide,
His bost was broght all doune.

The king of Beme had cares colde,
That was ful! hardy and bolde
À stede to umstride ;
The king als of Naverne
War faire ferd? in the ferene
Thaire heviddes for to hide.

1 fur in the MS, — | *feld, MS.

SONGS ON KING EDWARDS WARS. 69

And leves wele, it es no lye,
The felde hat Flemangrye
That king Edward was in,
With princes that war strif and bolide,
And dukes that war doghty tolde
In batayle to bigin.

The princes, that war riche on raw,
Gert nakers strike and trumpes blaw,
And made mirth at thaire might;
Both alblast and many a bow
War redy railed opon a row,
And ful frek for to fight.

Gladly thai gaf mete and drink,
So that thai suld the better swink,

The wight men that thar ware. j
Sir Philip of Fraunce fled for dout, |
And hies him hame with all his rout; |

Coward, God giff him care!

For thare than had the lely flowre
Lorn all halely his honowre,
That sogat fled for ferd ;
Bot oure king Edward come ful still,
When that he trowed no harm him till,
And keped him in the berde.

Fem RE NE TTA RON AIO AI B e tg

70 e] POLITICAL POEMS.

Lithes, and the batail I sal bigyn
Of Inglisch men and Normandes in the Swyn.

Minot with mowth had menid to make

Suth sawes and sad for sum mens sake ;

The wordes of sir Edward makes me to wake,
Wald he salve us sone, mi sorow suld slake.

. War mi sorow slaked, sune wald I sing ;

When God will sir Edward sal us bute bring.
Sir Philip the Valas cast was in care,

And said sir Hugh Kyret to Flandres suld fare,

And have Normondes inogh to leve on his lare,

All Flandres to brin, and mak it all bare.

Bot, unkind coward, wo was him thare;
When he sailed in the Swin it sowed him sare.
Sare it tham smerted that ferd out of France ;
Thare lered Inglis men tham a new daunce.
The burjase of Bruge ne war noght to blame;
I pray Jhesu save tham fro sin and fro schame!
For thai war sone at the Sluse all by a name,
Whare many of the Normandes tok mekill grame.
When Brug and Ipyre hereof herd tell,
Thai sent Edward to wit, that was in Arwell;
Than had he no liking langer to dwell,
He hasted him to the Swin, with sergantes snell,
To mete with the No[r|mandes that fals war and fell,
That had ment, if thai might, al Flandres to quell.
King Edward unto sail was ful sune dight,
With erles and barons, and many kene knight;
Thai come byfor Blankebergh on Saint Jons night.
That was to the Normondes a well sary sight;
it trumped thai and daunced, with torches ful bright,
In the wilde waniand was thaire hertes light.
Opon the morn after, if I suth say,
A mery man, sir Robard out of Morlay,
A half eb in the Swin soght he the way ;
Thare lered men the Normandes at bukler to play.

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS. 71

Helpid tham no prayer that thai might pray,
The wreches es wonnen, thaire wapin es oway.
. The erle of Norhamton helpid at that nede,
Als wise man of wordes, and worthli in wede,
Sir Walter the Mawnay, God gif him mede !
Was bold of body in batayl to bede, |
The duc of Lankaster was dight for to drive,
With many mody man that thoght for to thrive ;
Wele and stalworthly stint he that strive,
That few of the Normandes left thai olive. -
Fone left thai olive, bot did tham to lepe ;
Men may find by the flode a c. on hepe.
Sir Wiliam of Klinton was eth for to knaw;
Mani stout bachilere broght he on raw;
It semid with thaire schoting als it war snaw.
The bost of the Normandes broghte thai ful law.
Thaire bost was abated, and thaire mekil pride.
Fer might thai noght fle, bot thaire bud tham bide.
The gude erle of Glowceter, God mot him glade!
Broght many bold men with bowes ful brade ;
To biker with the Normandes baldely thai bade, .
And in middes the flode did tham to wade.
To wade war tho wrecches casten in the brim;
The kaitefs come out of France at lere tham to swim.
I prays John Badding als one of the best;
Faire come he sayland out of the suth-west ;
To prove of tha Normandes was he ful prest,
Till he had foghten his fill, he had never rest.
John of Aile of the Sluys, with scheltron ful schene,
Was comen into Cagent cantly and kene;
But sone was his trumping turned to tene;
Of him had sir Edward his will, as I wene.
The schipmen of Ingland sailed ful swith,
That none of the Normandes fro tham might skrith ;
Who so kouth wele his craft thare might it kith.
Of al the gude that thai gat gaf thai no tithe.

72. POLITICAL POEMS,

Two hundreth and mo schippes in the sandes
Had oure Inglis men won with thaire handes;
The kogges of Ingland was broght out of bandes,
And also the Cristofir, that in the streme standes.
In that stound thai stode with stremers ful still,
Till thai wist full wele sir Edwardes will.

Sir Edward, oure gude king, wurthi in wall,
Faght wele on that flude, faire mot him fall!
Als it es custom of king to confort tham all,

So thanked he gudely the grete and the small.
He thanked tham gudely, God gif him mede!

Thus come oure king in the Swin till that gude dede.

This was the bataile that fell in the Swin,
Where many Normandes made mekill din;
Wale war thai armed up to the chin;

Bot God and sir Edward gert thaire boste blin.
Thus blinned thaire boste, als we wele ken;
God assoyle thaire sawls! said all Amen.

Herkins how hing Edward lay
With his men bifor Tournay.

Towrenay, 30w has tight

To timber, trey, and tene;
A bore with brems bright

Es broght opon 20wre grene.
That. es a semely sight,

With schiltercuns faire and schene
Thi domes-day es dight,

. Bot thou be war, I wene.

When all yowre wele es went,
2owre wo wakkins ful wide,
To sighing er 3e sent
With sorow on ilka syde;

Me
ime

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS.

Full rewfull es 3owre rent,
All redles may 3e ride.

The harmes that 3e have hent
Now may 3e hele and hide.

Hides and helis als hende,
For 3e er cast in care ;

Ful few find 3e 3owre frende,
For all 3owre frankis fare.

Sir Philip sall 3ow schende,
Whi leve 2e at his lare?

No bowes now thar 3ow bende;
Of blis 3e er all bare.

All bare er 3e of blis,

No bost may be 3owre bote;
All mirthes mun 3e mis;

Oure men sall with 20w mote,
Who sall 3ow clip and kys,

All fall 3owre folk to fote.
A were is wroght iwis, —

$owre walles with to wrote.

Wrote thai sal 3owre dene,
, Of dintes 2e may $ow dowt;
owre biginges sall men brene,
And breke 3owre walles obout.
Ful redles may 3e ren, -
With all 30wre rewful rout ;
With care men sall 3ow ken .
Edward 3owre lord to lout.

To lout 3owfre] lord in land,
With list men sall ow lere;
Zowre harmes cumes at hand, —

Als 3e sall hastly here.
Now frendschip suld 3e fand
Of sir Philip 20wre fere,
To bring 3ow out of band,
Or 3e be broght on bere.

POLITICAL POEMS.

On bere when 3e er broght,
Then cumes Philip to late ;
He hetes, and haldes 3ow noght ;
With hert 2e may him hate.
À bare now has him soght
Till Turnay the right gate,
That es ful wele bithoght
To stop Philip the strate,
| Ful still ;
Philip was fain he moght
Graunt sir Edward his- will.

If $e will trow my tale,

À duke tuke leve that tide,
À Braban br[e]wed that bale,
He bad no langer bide ;

Giftes grete and smale
War sent him on his side.
Gold gert all that gale, —
And made him rapely ride,
"Til dede.
In hert he was unhale,
He come thare moste for mede.

King Edward, frely fode, |
In Fraunce he will noght blin
To mak his famen wode
That er wonand tharein.
God, that rest on rode
For sake of Adams syn,
Strenkith him maine and mode,
His reght in France to win,
And have.
God grante him graces gode,

And fro all sins us save! Amen.

Ee
+

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS.

How Edward at Hogges unto land wan,

And rade thurgh France or ever he blan.

Men may rede in Romance right
Of a grete clerk that Merlin hight ;
Ful many bokes er of him v wreten,
Als thir clerkes wele may witten ;
And 3it in many privé nokes
May men find of Merlin bokes,
Merlin said thus with his mowth,
Out of the north into the sowth

. Suld cum a bare over the se,
That suld mak many man to fle;
And in these, he said ful right,
Suld he schew ful mekill might;
And in France he suld begin,
To mak tham wrath that er tharein,
Untill the se his taile reche sale,
All folk of France to mekill bale.
Thus have I mater for to make,
For a nobill prince sake ;
Help me God, my wit es thin;
Now Laurence Minot will begin.

A bore es broght on bankes bare,
With ful batail bifor his brest;
For John of France will he noght spare
In Normondy to tak his rest,
With princes that er proper and prest.
Alweldand God, of mightes maste,
He be his beld, for he may best,
Fader, and Sun, and Haly Gaste.

Haly Gaste, thou gif him grace
That he in gude time may bigin,
And send to him both might and spaee
His heritage wele for to win;

POLITICAL POEMS.

And sone assoyl him of his sin,
Hende God, that heried hell.
. For France now es he entrid in,
And thare he dightes him for to dwell.

He dwelled thare, the suth to tell,
Opon the coste of Normondy.
At Hogges fand he famen fell,
That war all ful of felony ;
To hun thai makked grete maistri,
And proved to ger the bare abyde.
Thurgh might of God and mild Mari,
The bare abated all thaire pride.

Mekill pride was thare in prese,
Both on pencell and on plate,
When the bare rade withouten rese
Unto Cane the graythest gate.
Thare fand he folk bifor the 3ate
Thretty thowsand stif on stede.
. Sir John of France come al to late;
The bare has gert thaire sides blede.

He gert blede, if thai war bolde,
For thare was slayne and wounded sore
Thretty thowsand, trewly tolde,
Of pitaile was thare mekill more.
Knightes war thare wele two score
That war new dubbed to that dance.
Helm ànd hevyd thai have forlore;
Than mishked John of France.

More misliking was thare then,
For fals treson alway thai wroght;
But fro thai met with Inglis men,
All thaire bargan dere thai boght,

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS. 77

Inglis men with site tham soght,
And hastily quit tham thaire hire ;

And at the last forgat thai noght,
The toun of Cane thai sett on fire.

That fire ful many folk gan fere,
When thai se brandes o ferrum flye;
This have thai wonen of the were, |
The fals folk of Normundy. |
I sai 2ow lely now thai lye
Dongen doun all in a daunce ;
Thaire frendes may ful faire forthi
Pleyn tham untill John of France.

Franche men put tham to pine

.. At Cressy, when thai brak the brig;

That saw Edward with both his ine.
Than likid him no langer to lig;
Ilk Inglis man on others rig

Over that water er thai went,
To batail er thai baldly big,

With brade ax and with bowes bent.

With bent bowes thai war ful bolde,
For to fell of the Frankisch men ;
Thai gert tham lig with cares colde,
Ful sari was sir Philip then.
He saw the toun o ferrum bren,
And folk for ferd war fast fleand ;
The teres he lete ful rathly ren
Out of his eghen, I understand.

Then come Philip, ful redy dight,
Toward the town with all his rowt,

With him come mani a kumly knight,
And all umset the bare obout.

F4
a

POLITICAL POEMS.

The bare made tham ful law to lout,
And delt tham knokkes to thaire mede:

He gert tham stumbill that war stout,
Thair helpid nowther staf ne stede.

Stedes strong bilevid still
Biside Cressy opon the grene.
Sir Philip wanted all his will,
That was wele on his sembland sene,
With spere and schelde and helmis schene,
The bare than durst thai noght habide.
The king of Deme was cant and kene,
Bot thare he left both play and pride.

Pride in prese ne prais I noght,
Omang thir princes prowd in pall ;
Princes suld be wele bithoght,
When kinges suld tham till! counsail call.
If he be rightwis king, thai sall
Maintene him both night and day;
Or els to lat his frendschip fall
On faire manere and fare oway.

Oway es all thi wele iwis,

Franche man, with all thi fare;
Of murni[n]g may thou never mys,

For thou ert cumberd all in care.

With speche ne moght thou never spare
To speke of Ingliss men despite ;

Now have thai made thi biging bare,
Of all thi catell ertou quite.

Quite ertou, that wele we knaw,

Of catell and of drewris dere.
Tharfore lies thi hert ful law, —

That are was blith als brid on brere.

! tol] in the MS,

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS.

Inglis men sall 2it to 3ere
Knok thi palet or thou pas,

And mak the polled like a frere ;
And 3it es Ingland als it was.

Was thou noght, Franceis, with thi wapin,
Bitwixen Cressy and Abvyle; |
Whare thi felaws lien and gapin,
For all thaire treget and thaire gile?
Bischoppes war thare in that while
That songen all withouten stole.
Philip the Valas was a file,
He fled, and durst noght tak his dole.

Men delid thare ful mani a dint
Omang the gentill Genevayse ;
Ful many man thaire lives tint,
For luf of Philip the Valays.
Unkind he was and uncurtayse,
I prais no thing his purviance ;
The best of France and of Artayse
War al to-dongyn in that daunce.

That daunce with treson was bygun,

To trais the bare with sum fals gyn.
The Franche men said, * All es wun,

* Now es it tyme that we bigin; -

* For here es welth inogh to win,
* To make us riche for evermore.” ©

Bot, thurgh thaire armure thick and thin,
Slaine thai war, and wounded sore.

Sore than sighed sir Philip,

Now wist he never what him was best;
For he es cast doun with a trip,

In John of France es all his trest;

POLITICAL POEMS.

For he was his frend faithfulest,
In him was full his affiance.

Bot sir Edward wald never rest,
Or thai war feld the best of France.

Of France was mekil wo iwis,
And in Paris tha high palays ;

Now had the bare with mekill blis
Bigged him bifor Calais. |
Heres now how the Romance sais,

How sir Edward, oure king with croune,
Held his sege bi nightes and dais,

With his men bifor Calays toune.

How Edward, als the Romance sais,
Held his sege bifor Calais.

Calais men, now may ye care,
And murning mun 3e have to mede;
Mirth on mold get 3e no mare,
Sir Edward sall ken 3ow 3owre crede.
Whilum war 3e wight in wede,
To robbing rathly for to ren ;
Men 30w sone of z0wre misdede,
$owre care es cumen, will 3e it ken.

Kend it es how 3e war kene —

Al Inglis men with dole to dere ;
Thaire gudes toke 2e al bidene,

No man born wald 3e forbere;

e spared noght with swerd ne spere

To stik tham, and thaire gudes to stele.

With wapin and with ded of were
Thus have 3e wonnen werldes wele.

. SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS. 81

Weleful men war 3e iwis ;

Bot fer on fold sall 3e noght fare. -
À bare sal now abate 30wre plis,

And wirk 30w bale on bankes bare.

He sall zow hunt, als hund dose hare,
That in no hole sall 3e 30W hide.

For all 3owre speche will he noght spare,
Bot bigges him right by 3owre side.

Biside 3ow here the bare bigins
To big his boure in winter tyde ;
And all bityme takes he his ines,
With semly se[r]gantes him biside.
The word of him walkes ful wide,
Jesu, save him fro mischance !
In bataill dar he wele habide
Sir Philip and sir John of France.

The Franche men er fers and fell,
And mase grete dray when thai er dight;
Of tham men herd slike tales tell,
With Edward think thai for to fight,
Him for to hald out of his right,
And do him treson with thaire tales.
That was thaire purpos, day and night,
Bi eounsail of the cardinales.

Cardinales, with hattes rede,
War fro Calays wele thre myle ;
Thai toke thaire counsail in that stede
How thai might sir Edward bigile.
Thai lended thare bot litill while, !
Til Franche men to grante thaire grace.
Sir Philip was funden a file,
He fled,.and faght noght in that place.

VOL. I. F

POLITICAL POEMS,

In that place the bare was blith,
For all was funden that he soght;
Philip the Valas fled ful swith,
With the batail that he had broght.
For to have Calays had he thoght,
All at his ledeing loud or still;
Bot all thaire wiles war for noght,
Edward wan it at his will.

Lystens now, and 3e may lere,
Als men the suth may understand;
The knightes that in Calais were _
Come to sir Edward sare wepeand,
In kirtell one, and swerd in hand,
And cried, “Sir Edward, thine. [we] are;
* Do now, lord, bi law of land,
« Thi will with us for evermare.”

The nobill burgase and the best
Come unto him to have thaire hire;
The comun puple war ful prest —
Rapes to bring obout thaire swire.
Thai said all, “Sir Philip, oure syre,
* And his sun, sir John of France,
* Has left us ligand in the mire,
* And broght us till this doleful dance.

* Qure horses, that war faire and fat,
* Er etin up ilkone bidene;
* Have we nowther conig ne cat,
“ That thai ne er etin, and hundes kene,
* All er etin up ful clene,
* Es nowther levid biche ne whelp ;
“ That es wele on oure sembland sene;
* And thai er fled that suld us help."

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS.

A knight that was of grete renowne,
Sir John de Viene was his name,
He was wardaine of the toune,
And had done Ingland mekill schame.
For all thaire boste thai er to blame,
Ful stalworthly thare have thai strevyn.
A bare es cumen to mak tham tame;
Kayes of the toun to him er gifen.

The kaies er 3olden him of the 3ate,

Lat him now kepe tham if he kun;
To Calais cum thai all to late,

Sir Philip and Sir John his sun.

Al war ful ferd that thare ware fun,
Thaire leders may thai barely ban.

All on this wise was Calais won;.
God save tham that it so gat wan.

Sir David had of his men grete loss,
With sir Edward, at the Nevil Cross.

Sir David the Bruse
Was at distance,
When Edward the Baliolfe
Rade with his lance ;
The north end of Ingland
Teclied him to daunce,
When he was met on the more
. With mekill mischance.
Sir Philip the Valayse
May him noght avance ;
The flowres that faire war
Er fallen in Fraunce.
The floures er now fallen
That fers war and fell;
À bare with his bataille
Has done tham to dwell.
| F2

POLITICAL POEMS.

Sir David the Bruse
Said he suld fonde

To ride thurgh all Ingland,
Wald he noght wonde;

| At the Westminster hall

Suld his stedes stonde,
Whils oure king Edward

War out of the onde.
But now has Sir David
. Missed of his merkes,
And Philip the Valays,

With all thaire grete clerkes.

Sir Philip the Valais,
Suth for to say,
Sent unto sir David
And faire gan him pray,
At ride thurgh Ingland
. Thaire fomen to flay,
And said, none es at home
To let hym the way.
None letes him the way,
To wende whore he will;
Bot with schiperd staves
Fand he bis fill.

Fro Philip the Valais

Was Sir David sent,
All Ingland to win
Fro Twede unto Trent.
He broght mani bere-bag
With bow redy bent;
Thai robbed and thai reved,
And held that thai hent.
It was in the waniand
That thai furth went;
Fro covaitise of eataile
Tho schrewes war schent.

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS. 85

Schent war tho schrewes,
And ailed unsele ;

For at the Nevil Cros
Nedes bud tham knele.

At the ersbisschop of ork
Now will I bigyn,
For he may with his right hand
Assoyl us of syn.
Both Dorem and Carlele
. Thai wald nevir blin
The wirschip of Ingland
With wappen to win.
Mekill wirschip thai wan,
And wele have thai waken;
For syr David the Bruse
Was in that tyme taken.

When sir David the Bruse
Satt on his stede,
He said of all Ingland
Haved he no drede.
Bot hinde John of Coupland,
A wight man in wede,
Talked to David,
And kend him his crede.
-Thare was sir David
So dughty in his dede,
The faire toure of Londen
Haved he to mede.

Sone than was sir David
Broght unto the toure,

And William the Dowglas,
With men of honowre.

Full swith redy servis |
Fand thai thare a schowre ;

_ 86

POLITICAL POEMS.

For first thai drank of the swete, .

And senin of the sowre.

Than sir David the Bruse
Makes his mone,

The faire eoroun of Scotland
Haves he forgone.

He luked furth into France,
Help had he none

Of sir Philip the Valais,
Ne 3it of sir John.

The pride of sir David
Bigon fast to slaken ;

For he wakkind the were
That held him self waken.

For Philyp the Valaise
Had be brede baken,

And in the toure of Londen
His ines er taken.

To be both in a place

Thaire forward thai nomen ;

Bot Philip fayled thare,
And David es cumin.

Sir David the Bruse

On this manere
Said unto sir Philip

Al thir sawes thus sere:
* Philip the Valais,
“ Thou made me be here ;
This es noght the forward
“ We made are to 3ere.
Fals es thi forward,

e
aA

^«
m

‘ And evyll mot thou fare;
For thou and sir John thi son

^
-

“ Haves kast me in care.”

SONGS ON KING EDWARD’S WARS. 87

The Scottes, with thaire falshede,
Thus went thai obout

For to win Ingland
Whils Edward was out.

For Cuthbert of Dorem
Haved thai no dout;

Tharfore at Nevel Cros
Law gan thai lout.

Thare louted thai law,
And leved allane.

Thus was David the Bruse
Into the toure tane,

Lo eum

How king Edward and his mené
Met with the Spaniardes in the see.

I wald noght spare for to speke,
Wist I to spede,

Of wight men with wapin
And worthly in wede,
That now er driven to dale,
And ded all thaire dede ;
Thai sail in the see gronde,

Fissches to fede. .
Fele fissches thaï fede,
For all thaire grete fare;
It was in the waniand
That thai come thare.

Thai sailed furth in the Swin
In a somers tyde,

With trompes and taburns,
And mekill other pride.

The word of tho weérkmen
Walked full wide ;

TTA UST TIT e t de re Ove lir PA RAND Ene rara
MEM

POLITICAL POEMS. .

The gudes that thai robbed,
In holl gan thai it hide.

In holl thàn thai hided
Grete welthes, als I wene,

. Of gold and of silver,

Of skarlet and grene.

When thai sailed westward,
The wight men in were,

Thaire hurdis thaire ankers
Hanged thai on here.

Wight men of the west
Neghed tham nerr,

. And gert tham snaper in the snare,

Might thai no ferr.
Fer might thai noght flit,
Bot. thare most thai fine,
And that thai bifore reved

— Than most thai tyne.

Boy, with thi blac berd,

I rede that thou blin,
And sone set the to schrive
With sorow of thi syn.

If thou were on Ingland,
Noght saltou win;

Cum thou more on that coste,
Thi bale sall bigin.

Thare kindels thi care ;
Kene men sall the kepe,

And do the dye on a day,
And domp in the depe.

e broght out of Bretayne .
owre custom with care;

e met with the marchandes,

And made tham ful bare.

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS. 89

It es gude reson and right
That 3e evill misfare,
When 3e wald in Ingland
Lere of a new lare.
New lare sall 3e lere,
Ser Edward to lout;
For when 3e stode in 3owre strenkith,
3e war all to stout.

How gentill sir Edward, with his grete engines,
Wan with his wight men the castell of Gynes.
War this winter oway,
Wele wald I wene
That somer suld schew him
In schawes ful schene ;
Both the lely and the lipard
Suld geder on a grene.
Mari, have minde of thi man,
| Thou whote wham I mene.
Lady, think what I mene;
I mak thee my mone;
Thou wreke gude king Edward
On wikked syr John.

Of Gynes ful gladly _
Now will I bigin,

We wote wele that woning
Was wikked for to win.
Crist, that swelt on the rode

For sake of mans syn,
Hald tham in gude hele
That now er tharein.
Inglis men er tharein,
The kastell to kepe ;
And John of France es so wroth,
For wo will he wepe.

POLITICAL POEMS.

Gentill John of Doncaster
Did a ful balde dede,

When he come toward Gines
To ken tham thaire crede.

He stirb unto the castell
Withowten any stede, |

Of folk that he fand tharé
Haved he no. drede.

Dred in herb had he none
Of all he fand thare;

Faine war thai to fle,
For all thaire grete fare.

A. letherin ledderr,

And a lang line, |
A small bote was tharby,
"That put tham fro pitié.
The folk that thai fand thare
Was faine for to fyne;
Sone thaire diner was dight,
And thare wald thai dine.
Thare was thaire purpose
To dine and to dwell,
For treson of the Franclie men
That fals war and fell.

Say now, sir John of France,
How saltou fare,

That both Calays and Gynes
Has kindeld thi care?

If thou be man of mekil might,
Lepe upon thi mare,

Take thi gate unto Gines,
And grete. tham wele thare.

Thare gretes thi gestes,
And wendes with wo;

King Edward has wonen
The kastell tham fro.

SONGS ON KING EDWARD'S WARS. |. 91

e men of Saint Omers,
Trus 2e this tide,

And puttes out 3owre paviliownes
With 3owre mekill pride.

Sendes efter sir John of Fraunce
To stand by 3owre syde;

A bore es boun 3ow to biker,
That wele dar habyde.

Wel dar he habide
Bataille to bede ;

And of 3owre sir John of Fraunce
Haves he no drede.

God save sir Edward his right
In ever ilka nede ;
And he that will noght so,
Evil mot he spede !
And len oure sir Edward
His life wele to lede,
That he may at his ending __
. Have hevin till his mede. Amen.

THE Diseure BETWEEN THE ENGLISHMAN AND THE
FRENCHMAN. !

Anglia, fex hominum, pudor orbis, et ultima rerum,
Res rea plus alüs, quid facis esse reum ?

Qua pice verborum premis aera, quo mihi telo
Tnsurgis, vel quod fulmen ab ore jacis ?

l'This short poem is preserved | as illustrating the irritation and
in a manuscript in the British | hatred between the two peoples
Museum, MS. Cotton, Titus A. xx., | which had arisen out of the French
fol 98, 1". It is chiefly curious | wars,

Meere me vem ns

92 POLITICAL POEMS.

Mentem sermo capit, sordes a pectore lingit,
Contrahit et virus mentis ab ore fluit.

Pullulat in ramum vitium radicis, et inde
Derivat facinus natio tota suum.

Omnia pervertis, doces, in crimina flectis,
Signum virtutis in vitiosa trahis.

Objicitur erinis pexus, gena pallida, sermo
Mollis, et obsequia deliciosa pedum.

Si regit ordo comas, et eas docet ordine comi,
Ne sinat hypocrisis passibus ire vagis. |

Si pallet facies, à Pallade pallor in ora
Exit, et à Venere non venit iste color.

Si molles expono sonos, aures primum asper
Verba reconciliat mollis in ore sonus.

Si pede subtili passus primum una modestus |
Instruit exterior interiora modus. | 4

Singula compta nitent, nitor intimus extima jungunt,
Et color interior exteriora colit.

Sed quia se vitio modico discrimine nectit,
Pro vitio virtus crimina sepe tulit.

Addis avaritiæ crimen, quia fine modesto
Unius et proli nolumus esse gulz.

Quos preter pecudes alit Anglia? venter eorum
Est Deus, et ventri sacrificare student,

Distendit stomachum gula prodiga gutture pleno,
Turget et est potius belua quam sit homo.

In potus usum segetis lacus ipse maritat ;
Hæc duo sunt aliqua, et tamen inde nihil.

Nos alit ipse liquor vitis, fex venditur Anglis,
Quz cum sit liquida creditur esse liquor.

Vos feecem bibitis, sed tantum tempore festo
Paucis et raro distribuendo venit.

Si tamen hauritis aliquid de more Lyæi,
Hoe signare decet carmine festa Dei:

Salve, festa, dies, toto venerabilis ævo,
Qua Deus in venas scandit et extra tenet.

DISPUTE BETWEEN ENGLISHMAN AND FRENCHMAN.

Anglus loquitur.

Scire velim quare me Gallicus urget in arma,

- Cum qua præsumas, Gallice, fronte loqui.

Que veniunt a fronte mins, quo murmure pectus
Involvis quid agunt mitibus ora suis?

Parce viris, societ mulierem lis mulieri,
Impar certamen cum muliere mari.

Quiequid agas gestu, quocunque feraris eidem,
Semper inest aliquid quod tibi crimen emat.

Si caput aspicias compto dum crine superbit,
Neseio qua reliquos suspicione trahit.

Si capitis motum nune hac nune vertitur illac,
Discurres tanquam non velit esse tuum.

Si faciem Veneris vitio prædante ruborem,
Eloquitur vitium pallida forma tuum.

Si linguam mollit pulsum, ne forte palatum
Obstrepat, et mulier fatur in ore viri

Si gressum tumidas suspendis in aere plantas,
Vix pede degustans anteriore vias.

Si partes alias muliebrem cedis in usum,

. Foemineo gestu dissimulante virum.
Si quia foemineos castravit Gallica Gallos,
Gallinæ, Galle, nomen et omen habe.

Ne Veneris solus Gallos sibi vendicet usus,
Contraxit cupidas cæca cupido manus.

Eloquar hoc crimen, sed non eget ore, quid ergo
Oris à mensa paupere disce fidem.

Servili mense Bacchus de fece reservat,
Et servit pauper paupere mensa cibo. .

Gallia de vite paleam metit, Anglia granum ;
Haurimus liquidum, cætera Gallus habet.

Cum Gallus talis maculet mentem contagio Galli;
Gallice præstat enim parcere, parce loqui.

Explicit quedam, disputatio inter Anglicum. et
Francum.

94 | POLITICAL POEMS.

ON PRINCE EDWARD’'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN.
1367.

Gloria cunctorum detur Domino dominorum,
Qui regit astrorum fabricam terræque polorum,
Per quem grandescit princeps nosterque valescit,
Bellis florescit, laudisque? valore virescit,
Anglia lætatur, Vasconia jam modulatur;
Francia tristatur, Hispania justificatur ;

Scotia languescit, et Flandria falsa timescit ;
Dacia decrescit, Hibernia victa quiescit.

Res nova, res mira, complentur prelia dira;
Omnis in orbe lyra pangat de principis ira.
Jam denis annis lapsis post bella Johannis,
Ferratis pannis cæsis captisque tyrannis,
Francia cum victa fuit, et lis tota relicta,

Et pax edicta per foedera regia stricta,
Princeps pergebat, genitor puta præcipiebat,
Totam subdebat sibi Vasconiamque regebat.
Spurius ingratus tune surgit ad arma paratus,
Quo rex cognatus Hispanus erat superatus.
Hie notus Henrieus fuit olim regis amicus;
Post fit falsidicus ejus latitans inimicus.

Rex Petrus dietus doluit languore relictus,
Nam metuens ictus fuit Henricus cito viotus.
Hic nothus infestus fugat, et fugit ille molestus,
Hos referens gestus stat coram principe quæstus.
Princeps miratur quando Petrus sibi fatur,

Et contristatur quia regno sic spoliatur ;

! From two manuscripts one in | which it has the title, Incipit
the British Museum, MS. Cotton. | bellum Hispaniæ per primogenitum
Titus A. xx., fol. 47, v", the other | dicti domini Edwardi regis Ed-
in the Bodleian Library, MS. Raw- | wardum.
linson, No, 214, fol 133, r°, in ? Bellum . , , . dandisque, Rawl,

ON PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN.

Donec eum decorat mansuete Petrus, et orat,
Tam tenere plorat aqua quod facies sibi rorat.
Princeps mandabat patrique suo referabat

Quæ sibi narrabat rex Petrus, opemque rogabat,
Tunc rex Anglorum stupuit ratione novorum,
Et fuit illoum motus pietate dolorum.

Annuit ergo pater, et transferat illico frater;
Bis, ter, sive quater benedixit eis sua mater.
Princeps gaudebat sibi pergere quando licebat ;
Secum ducebat Petrumque viam capiebat.

Spurius intendit princeps quod iter sibi prendit,

Se minus offendit, et ei pugnare tetendit.
Prælia junxerunt, ubi plures morte ruerunt,
Multi fugerunt, capti bis mille fuerunt.
Dux quos minavit Lancastrensis feriavit,
Francos prostravit, Hispanos mortificavit.

A dextro latere vires Offord! patuere,
Hispanos fugere qui fecit. eumque timere.
Ex reliqua parte Chandos, tali scitus arte?
Pugnat pro parte, ferior certamine Marte. -
Acriter instabat Knollis, qui non dubitabat,

. Vulnera multa dabat, acies audax penetrabat.
Princeps Edwardus stetit in medio puta pardus,
Est eui Ricardus sicut Paulo Leonardus.
. Rure cruentato victor nutat agmine strato,
Enseque. vibrato percussit millia. fato.

Francia fraudatur, quoniam Claykyn? superatur,

Carcere servatur, cui Doudinham sociatur,

Et colibertorum rostrum turba stat eorum.
Summa ducentorum fit Francorum dominorum.
Vera Deo detur laus, perpes honor societur,
Quo lis deletur Hispanis jusque tenetur.

! Sir Thomas Ufford, son of the 3 The form into which the English
earl of Suffolk. corrupted the name of Bertrand du

8 scius arte, Rawl. Guesclin,

96 . POLITICAL POEMS.

Sit benedictus herus, princeps orat utpote clerus,
Mitis et austerus, qui scit judex fore verus.

Sie informavit rex illum qui generavit,

Armis aptavit, et Christi lege dicavit.

Nam per sermonem doctum superat Salomonem,
Per vim Sampsonem, per justitiam Simeonem.
Tres portant flores gentiles ut meliores; |

Tres sunt victores Judæi lucidiores ;

Tres nostre fidei sunt ejusdem speciei;

Compar nullus ei dum extat dux aciei.

Ut radix Jesse rex Anglorum patet esse;

Sunt indefessæ cui vires stante necesse.

Quinque quidem natos genuit rex morigeratos,
Viribus ornatos, mites, doctos, ope gratos.

Rex fore jocundus tantis natis quid abundus,
Nam totus mundus per eos rex fit tremebundus.
Horum regina genetrix, Ánglis! medicina,
"Extat digna Sina requiescere cum Katerina.
Esse valet nata? in patre matreque lætificata,
Taliter ornata tot fratribus et decorata.

Visitet ergo thorum Deus, et conservet eorum,
Qui regit. Anglorum regnum sine fraude malorum.

Expliciunt versus de principis bello in Hispania,

! Anglie, Rawl. — | *eztat digne Syna, Rawl.

Bote 200077
$e . $e

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 97

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN, AND THE
BATTLE OF NAJARA.

By Walter of Peterborough.!

Incipit proemium panegyricum in opus sequens de
victoria bells in Hispania, per principem Ed-
wardum et Johannem confratrem ejus. ducem
Lancastriæ, pro Petro rege Hispanic.

Mi Martonensis, pater amplexande, Johannes,
Acceptetis opus hoc breve quaeso meum.

Principe pro nostro scripsi quondam ® Theotecon,
In Pictavensi marte, poeta suus.

Ad decus ecclesiæ super Ovidium vigilavi,
Jam duce pro nostro, proque salute sua,

® Id est Mariale suum, continens 5 m! versuum, exponendo
opus presens transmissum ad dominum Johannem Marthon the-
saurarium domini Johannis ducis Lancastriæ, amicum familia-
rissimum auctoris hujus operis.

Burgo), nothing further appears to
be known than that which he here
tells us, namely, that he was a monk
of. Revesby in Lincolnshire, that he
was the friend of John Marthon
(of Merton ?), treasurer to John of -
Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, to whose
serviee our author was also at-
tached, and that he was the author
of some other poems, one of which
is found in the same Digby MS.,
which has preserved his poem on
the expedition to Spain. He is
mentioned in the Chronicle of
Peterborough, M$. Cotton. Clau-
dius A. V, fol 43. v?, where he is

Of the author of this poem, Wal- | called “frater Walterus de Burgo,
ter of Peterborough (Gualterus de . * quondam monachus de Revesby.”

VOL. 1. | Ga

! This poem, on the Spanish ex-
. pedition of the Black Prince and
the battle of Najara, April 3, 1367,
is found in two manuscripts in the
Bodleian Library at Oxford, MS.
Digby, No. 166, fol. 97, r°, and MS.
Rawlinson, No. 214, fol, 188, r°.
The first of these contains the poem
complete, without the Proemium ;
while the Rawlinson MS., which
alone contains the Proemium, has
preserved only about one half (the
earlier part) ofthe poem. The Raw-
linson MS. contains also a continuous
interlinear gloss, which is here
printed in each page under the text.

so TS Pea D. Rn ae ee 0

98 | POLITICAL POEMS. —

Sacra Jhesu cecini sub carmine clausa poesis,
Prodens in lucem que latuere prius.
Chronica quicquid habet, ab Adam docet ad Julianum,
De >transformatis in tribus ille libros.
Cetera 9 promitto si sors 4 arrideat actis,
In presens tempus enucleabo libros. —
Porro Narcissum cum toto corde polirem,
Mellea de vobis personuere nova.
Qua Deus arte ducem magnum prius hic apud An-
glos, | |
Nune apud Hispanos magnificavit ibi.
Congaudere decet, quod idem vos nomen habetis
Cum duce tam magno, gloria “magna manet.
Nam nullum nomen magis est memorabile mundo
Quam vestrum, vobis gratia tanta Dei.
Postquam regna sua tres afflixere Johannes,
Viluit hoc nomen plebeiumque fuit.

Jam redit ad reges, redit ad papas duce tanto,
Tam divum nomen papa nothique timent.
Magnus *avis, major animis, modo maximus armis,

' Nomen quodeunque magnificare potest.

Tertius Edwardus post conquestum, pater ejus,
Carcere tot reges, regna tot ense terens,

Sufficit iste pater ad prolem magnificandam,
Anglia quo fulget, quo quasi luce micat.

"Teutonici generis mater regina Philippa,
Ergo de divis imperiique. dono.

Per sex Edwardos pensetur stirps ethelinga,
Si dux descendens sit generosus avis.

Quis dux, quis dominus, majores progenitores
Aut habet, aut habuit? secula longa lege.

lpse patris pulcher, Plato prudens, Penda procerus,
Ense potens, aris pronus, ubique pius,

b Metamorphosios.

* Exponere,

4. Liberæ expositionis.
* Progenitoribus.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 99

Fax fidei fortis, fuga fraudis, forma futuris,
Flos juvenum, felix conjuge, faustus avis.

Turris ad Anglos, Turnus ad hostes, tardus ad iram,
fTurtur anima, £ Turnus robore, } totus homo
Noster idux, noster i dominus, noster * dominator,

Nostrum !lumen, noster ™ leo, nostra 2 lyra.
Lumen ° conventu, leo P conflictu, lyra 4 cantu;
Ergo prudens, ergo probus, ergo pius. -
Per tot r signa sacra probat Edwardus genitores,
Et plus quo senior prædicat ipse patrem.
Arbor aromatica rex Edwardus pater ejus;
Splendida progenies, aurea poma sua.
Quantumcunque procul currat pomum, probat unde
Venit, et vulpes ventilat ejus avos. |
Quis regum, quamvis repetas ab Adam patriarcha,
‘Par probitate potens, plus pietate placens?
Quamvis percurras omnes ab origine reges,
De nullo poteris dicere, talis erat. .
Tam fortis gladio, tam felix prole beata,
Si radix sancta, ramus eritque sacer.
Novi Romanos et reges Israel omnes,
Gallos et Græcos, nemo latens in eis,
Nullus Romanus, nullus rex Israel ilo
Plus probus, immo pius, Numa, nec ipse David.
Compositos in compedibus regesque ducesque, :
Plus prece quam pretio solvit abire sinens.

Constantissime.
Fortissime.
Integerrime.
Lancastriz.
Comes Lincolniz.
Castri de Bullyngbroke.
Consulendo.
Protegendo.
Miserando.
Consilio.

Prælio.

Solatio.
Virtutum.

" i: TOR "KT * BH M"

a 2

100 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Quis nomen scit Cesaris? libertati dedit hostes,
Tlle sed iratus, iste misertus eis.

Semper enim sanguis vester, de semine divo,
Narrat si quid habet, notificatque patres.

Semen aromaticum semper duleem dat odorem,
Proxima quseque sua pascit odore sua.

At contra faciens digitos urtica perurens,
Tangentis tunicam lappa tenaxque ligat.

Semen adulteri cupidum, crudele, cruentum;
Qualis fons fuerit, proflua prodit aqua.

Ramus aromaticus, dominus princeps, dominus dux
Lancastriæ item, frater ubique fragrans.

A. patre rege satis apparet ramus uterque,
Pro pietate Petro, pro probitate nothis.

Balsama tanta metro mandare monet meus abbas,
Ac ex opposito notificare nothos.

Tanta metro tali socii constringere cogunt,
Si, pater, accipitis, vestrior! esse volo.

Natus eram Burgi, Petri nutritus in aula,
Nomine Walterus, arte poeta ducis.

Ordine sum tanti ducis inter sacra sacerdos,
Revesbiis monachus, vester ubique puer.

Sum simplex vester, mea mors, mea vita vagantur,
In manibus vestris vivere quæso queam.

Si benedixeritis, vox vestra dabit mihi vitam;
Si maledixeritis, mors mihi certa manet.

Perfecistis enim tres bellum, dux, Deus, et vos;
Dux mucrone, Deus munere, vosque prece.

Vos in monte, Deus in cœlo, dux in arena;
Josue dux, Moyses vos, Deus auctor erat.

Vobiseum Moyses in monte, vir almus Helyas,
Glorificate Deum, belligerante duce. .

Ipse? Deo debet dux grates, et Deus illi,
Quod sic alterutrum glorificare student.

1 vrior, MS. | ?Zpso MS.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 101

Ergo, benigne pater, exoro legatis in aures,
Cum ducis ad vultum venerit istud opus

À modo gesta ducis dicam, sed paupere lingua,
Heu nimis elinguis bella referre param.

Explicit proemium panegyricum. — Incipit victoria
belli in Hispania per tres confratres, scilicet do-
minos principem Edwardum, Johannem ducem
Lancastriæ, et Petrum regem, Hàspamio, contra tres
nothos, fiios Aldefonsi regis, scilicet H enricum,
Thilonem, et Senchium.

Bella referre paro fratrum de germine §claro,
Plus claros raro protulit *ulla caro.

"Nam tres contra tres inierunt prelia fratres,
Per multas matres causa fuere patres.

“vTres stupro geniti, reliqui tres lege mariti,
Illeitis liciti tres tribus oppositi.

Henricus primus, Thilo, Senchius,! ut reper imus;
Quartus legitimus est Petrus et minimus.

' WCardo, gith, urtica frumento sunt inimica,
In cujus? spica jam tria grana plica.

Spinas lethales contra totidem speciales,
Spicas vitales ecce videre vales.

8 Nobili.

* Ullus pater, vel ulla mater.

u Princeps E, dux J., et rex P. contra tres bastardos; duo,
scilicet, princeps et dux, fratres fuerunt genere, et tertius, scilicet
Petrus, frater fuit foedere eis.

* Hoe dicitur pro Aldefonso, qui preter uxorem tenuit coricu-
binas, de quibus genuit Henricum, Thilonem, et Senchium, sed
de uxore Petrum hæredem legitimum.

" Henricus, Tilo, Senchius, scilicet Petro. Hic ponit auctor
3°" comparationem contra nothos 3.

! Dance‘us, Digb. | ?*id est fodere, Gloss in Digb.

109 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Foetus regalis fragrat, et reficit xrosa talis,
Cum! sit legalis, est nisi? spina malis.

YSic de rege Petro Castelle, quem dabo metro,
Exilio tetro cogitur ire retro.

"Spina malis fuerat, si quis causam bene quærat,
Pravos perdiderat, hine odiosus erat?

Pulsus ab Henrico, bastardo cedit iniquo.
Rex proprio vico proditur in modico.

Henrieum bini firmant fratres venerini 5

. Plures vicini de patria domini.

»Petrum cognati duo restituunt® subarrati,
Fratres dignati tanta pericla > pati.

Petrus, legitimus heres, rex nuper copimus,
Fæx modo dfinitimus, exul ab urbe, fimus.

eAspiciab si quos per cuncta requirit famicos,
£Vix sibi pacificos inveniens aliquos.

bSic infelici non inveniuntur iamici,
Quondam? felici mille fuere vici.

Jam ponit auctor aliam comparationem ad rosam pro Petro.
Hic pandit auctor causam belli. |
i. rigidus.
Genere scilicet princeps Aquitäniæ, et dux Lancastriæ.
Pro Petro cognato eorum, filio legitimo Aldefonsi regis, et in
tamento ejus signo regio donatus,
i. dives et potens.
i juxta vel exira fines.
Ut inveniat aliquos.
Constantes,

€ Ipse nothus Henricus abjiciens regnum et potentia sua
fregerat tot.

h Petro regi abjecto.

| Unde Ovid :—
** Tempore felici multi numerantur amici,

Tempora cum fuerint nebula solus erit.'?

UO owc $5 m 'u Hk

e m o

1 Si, Rawl. 6 subporiant, Rawl.

2 vero, Rawl. ? infinitimus, Rawl.
* This line is omitted in the Digby 5 Dudum, RawL

MS. .* It need, perhaps, hardly be re-
4 i. fero, Gloss in Digb. marked that Ovid's words are not

* ¢. adulterini, Gloss in Digb. quite correctly quoted. |

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 103

j'Tandem cognatos, procul a regione moratos,
k Edwardi natos reperit! esse lratos.

m Neuter inurbanus? dominus, princeps Aquitanus
Et Petrus » Hispanus conseruere manus,

Consensere sibi, placuit tamen omnia 4 scribi,
Rex Edwarde, tibi que gererentur ibi.

r Ut lamenta legis, expulsi nuncia regis,
Natorum retegis tristis in aure gregis.

In transgressores aeuis natos juniores,
8 Præcipis ultores esse quod ipse t fores.

Si tempus sineret, et non? tua terra teneret,
Facta nothus fleret, "fecit et Y acta feret,

Filius accedit, dux Lancastrensis v obedit, -
Ad mare procedit, se ratibusque dedit.

Restitit aura Nothi Borea surgente remoti,
Sic duce summoti sunt veniente nothi.

i Dominum principem Adquitaniæ et fratrem ejus ducem Lan-
. Castriæ. |
k Regis Anglorum ambos filios.
1 Constantes amicos.
™ Dominus princeps nec rex Petrus.
a Castellanus.
9 Aquitaniæ.
P Miseris. |
2 Sub conditione quod si Edwardus patri principis placeret
initum fedus.
* literam principis de expulsione regis Petri.
* Hispanos.
t Ultor.
" Male.
Y Male,
v Patri suo regi.

! comperit, Rawl. $ nist te tua t., Digb.
? Neuterve urbanus, Rawl.

104 _ POLITICAL POEMS.

Intrat x Burdegale portum peritus generale,
Nil nisi verbale y tinnuit ave, vale.

Summe letatur princeps, ut eum speculatur ;
Si complectatur, quæstio vana datur.

Firmat eum 2 fratris sermo, benedictio matris,
Et *ruptis clathris litera lecta patris.

Tune Aquitanorum princeps et dux b Ceiirorum
Ac Hispanorum rex iniere chorum.

Hæc sacra grana tria jam spica juncta, ? Maria,
Protege propitia, sunt mea vita quia.

e Foodera junxerunt, se fratres composuerunt,
Amodo sanxerunt, tres velut unus erunt.

Curia densatur, dexercitus enumeratur,
Castris mandatur miles, eab urbe satur.

Qui sint tutores terre scribunt seniores,
Quosdam primores claudere clave f fores.

Sumunt £ Fagorum comes et baro Pomeriorum
Curam cunctorum principis usque torum,

Cetera plebs vadit, gratis sua nomina tradit,
Nemo suos radit, mensaque nulla cadit.

Castra per humbones numerando iduas legiones,
Anglos aut Britones, Vasconicosve Sones.

Ad bellum properant, divina juvamina sperant,
Cum nisi jus quærant, in pia bella gerant.

Metropolis Gasconiz.

Resonat.

Ducis Lancastriæ.

Apertis literis.

Castrensium. |

Princeps et dux cum rege Petro.
Exercitus congregatur.

Fastidiens urbem.

Ad custodiendum civitates.

Le count de Ffoys et le sire de Pomeres.
Pars scuti pro toto scuto est, figura metonymia.
14 millia armatorum.

sea et © À © gg Sf M" '«4 M

! Deirorum, Rawi. | — *Jrumenti sancta, Rawl.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 105

Cum sic armatur exercitus ut gradiatur,
Nuntius effatur,! jlitera vero datur.

Princeps admisit quz scripta nothus sibi misit,
Sæpius immisit quid sapiens ibi? sit

Litera lecta sonat quod princeps arma kreponat,
Aut iter exponat, sic erit !ante tonat.

Reddit personz princeps multa ratione
Responsum, prone concipe, ™scriba bone?

2 Foedera declarat que ° patrum cura patrarat,
Postea firmarat ipse patenter arat.

P Casum cognati miseratus habet pietati,
Damna arelegati de patre rege r sati.

Ergo nothus donet testata, Petrumque coronet,
Sie pacem ponet, litera tota monet;

Præco procedit, responsum principis edit,
Litera succedit, nuntius ergo redit.

Stipati pariter per legem præmoniti ter,
Nostri non aliter aggrediuntur iter. |

$ Per Cæsaræos aditus * montes Pirenæos,
Campos Navaræos prætereunt per eos.

à Litera prima quam bastardus misit ad principem, rogans eum
quod vellet sibi certificare per quam viam proponeret intrare
regnum Castelli, promittens quod cum auxilio amicorum obviam
ei veniret in manu forti. |

* Bellum deponat.

! Nous vous dirroms adevant.

™ Scriptor.

n Literam tnsalem (sic) domini principis.

? Fœdera domini Edwardi patris sui et Aldefonsi patris al-
terius.

P Exilium.

1 Exiliati.

r Geniti.

* j. transitum montis Pirenæos quem Cesar fecit, vel Han-
nibal melius aperiens montes Pirenæos cum aceto et plumbo.
Postea Carolus magnus rediens de Hispania amisit ibi Rothelande
et cæteros in Rowncivale sepultos.

! affatur, Raw]. 3 probatione, Digb.
2 sapidum sibi, Rawl. 4 predictus, Digb.

106 POLITICAL POEMS.

Affuit in pratis locus ample nobilitatis,
Omnibus armatis servitiisque satis.
Illic! sunt positi per tres acies *stabiliti,
Ne fieret liti eausa, famive siti.
"Princeps prelatus medio quasi corde locatus,
Cesar erat gratus, ut petit ille status. —
Junetos cuneos habuit, multos Machabæos,
Omnes Y Vacceos Angligenasve meos.
Quemlibet in numero fortem cognomine vero
Ponere non potero, nec tibi fictor ero.
Quidam v quæstores narrabo notabiliores,
Postea x prætores accipe si memor es.
y Summus legatus dextro cornu situatus,
Dux est prefatus frater ad arma datus.
2 Principis ex ore Chaundos quæstor ducis ors,
Noluit ex more tradere bella more.
O dea » Bellona, prætori P martia dona
De 9 Cosyngtona da moda multa bona.
Firmis tutelis, prætor 4 Girarde? fidelis,
e Angelus ex ceelis alter adesse velis.

* i. distincti inter se et mare.

" Dividens exercitum suum juxia Pampiloniam in Navaris,
positus est in media custodia, prout moderni vocant.

" Vascones.

v Senescallos.

* Marescallos.

¥ Summus status in exercitu sub consule. Unde Sylla quæstor
erat Mari apud Salustium de bello Jugurihino. Apud Vegetium et
veteres Romanos anterior custodia dicebatur dextrum cornu, cui
dominus dux Lancastriæ prepositus est a principe.

* Ex mandato principis dominus Johannes Chaundos senescallus
turmæ erat quz domino duci assignata est, quia mos est domini
Johannis Chaundos violenter irruere in hostes.

a Dea belli. | |

^ Mars est deus belli.

* Dominus Stephanus.

4 Alter marescallus.

* Angelyn nomine.

! Jlluc, Digb. | 3 Geralde, Rawl.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 107

fTota phalanx, vere ferro contecta vel ære,
Sub duce venere millia bina fere.

Post £cornu tale ductor dextræ fuit ale
Rex Petrus, hAÁspale! nec reor isse male.

iFultus personis est Calverlensis Hugonis, '
Armigeris pronis militibusque bonis.

Alter erat prætor Machutus? nomine irhetor,
k Gornaei letor, dicere plura vetor.

1 Ad lævam propero, quæstores dicere? quæro,
Sunt bini numero, quilibet ense fero.

Postea ™ pretores dabo, ? quæstores potiores,
Caudæ tutores, exigit hoc modo res.

Questor vulgaris rex majoris ° Balearis,
Militibus claris rex erat ille maris.

Ne quid ei desit, comes Herminacensis * P adhesit,
Ut castris præsit, officium bene scit.

f Tota turma domini ducis continebat mille armatos et octin-
gentos.

£ In alia dextra erat dominus Petrus cum Castellanis suis, sub
quo senescallus erat dominus Hugo de Calverle, et marescallus
dominus Matheus de Gorney,

bh Civitas in Hispania.

! Dominus princeps.

i Officii civilis.

k De Gorney. | |

! i. senescallum secunde custodiæ, que apud Vegetium et veteres
Romanos vocabatur sinistrum cornu.

* Marescallos,

? Senescallos.

9 Rex Majoricarum erat senescalfus in sinistro cornu ef cum
eo confrater ejus.

P In mar Adriatico sunt due insule dicte Baleares, quarum
major dicitur Majorica, eb minor dicitur Minorica, et dict» sunt
Baleares, id est Balestro, -tras, quod est Jacere, quia ibi primo invente
sunt funde, unde fundibularii dicuntur balesiarii,

! Haspale, Rawl. 3 ducere, Digb.
2 Mathutus, Rawl. * Blumacensis, Rawl.

108 Lo POLITICAL POEMS.

4 Hi eonservabant caudam, dorso vigilabant,
Ibant seu stabant, ultima tuta dabant.

Ala sinistra modo succedit eam, tibi prodo
Quo didici nodo, taliter hanc ego do.

Illic hastatus rex * Navarie dominatus,
8 Quæstor dictatus cinxerat! ense latus.

Sub quo tprætores duo sunt mundi meliores
Debellatores, nomina commemores.

Robert Knollonis,?? alter dominus u Cinisonis?
Si palmas ponis, dignus Y uterque thronis.

Sic assignatis castris patribus memoratis,
w Dux præit armatis millibus ante datis.

X'lerras hostiles terit armatus modo miles,
In scurras viles usquequo, mucro, siles.

In villas vade, sed pacem primo suade,
Nolentes y clade, claude, 7 cruore made.

a Spuria castra vides contra te stare, trucides ;
Tu non occides, sed sua fracta fides.

Nec pietate penes hostes tua fella refrenes,*
Quin? ferias juvenes præpositosque © senes.

4 Erant duces in sinistro cornu.

t Erat in alia sinistra.

* Senescallus.

+. Marescalli.
— * De Britannia.

* Eo quod erant fortissimi pugnatores.

" Lancastriæ.

* Figura apostrophe est hic, cum quis loquitur ad rem irratio-
nalem, ut auctor hic loquitur. ad gladium.

7 Pacem.

* Veloncium pacem.

* Bastardi.

! cunterat, Rawl. * trina fella facta refrenes, Raw.
? Robard Cnollonis, Rawl. 5 Quam, Rawl.

3 Clenisonis, Rawl. 5 ve, Rawl.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 109

b Decrepito, © pueri dcunis omnium, ac * mulieri,
Parce prece miseri, porro! rebelle f feri.?

£ Ville majoris illis cognomen in oris
Est Salvatoris, nostra stetere foris.

Castra ducis capere villam per vim voluere,
Sed 4 Petro propriæ i dissiliere® j serze.

Se deplorabant fregisse fidem, renovabant,
Claves portabant, introitumque dabant.

Ille plagatus est kmiles de Burlee vocatus,
Sed cito curatus lest equitare * ratus.

Villaque fecit idem ™ Petro Beticensis 2 eidem,
Deplorando quidem se violasse 9 fidem.

Hic nostri quærunt ubi spuria castra fuerunt,
Et responderunt montis opaca terunt?

Nostris ignoti montes, hosti bene noti,
Ergo Pmane 4 Noti more ruere nothi.

> Seni,

¢ Teneri.

4 Infanti, .

* Fœminæ.

f Percute.

$ Prima villa quz obvia stetit, dicta est Salvatoris, que primo
clausis portis præparavit se ad bellum, et vulneratus est ibi
dominus Ricardus de Burle, sed tandem gratis aperiebant portas
Petro regi.

bh Scilicet regi.

i Aperiebantur.

| Portarum.

x Dominus Ricardus.

! Ita quod potuit.

m Regi.

a Sicut villa Salvatoris.

9 Quia nothi ibi cum suis exercitibus erant roborati, et postea
fugerunt in montibus.

» Summo.

4 Bastardi descendunt cum impetu venti australis. .

! quodque, Raw), * equitando, Digb.
? fere, Rawl. |
3 proprie, Digb., dissiliere, Rawl. 5 optataque ferunt, Rawl.

110 POLITICAL POEMS.

Nostras invadunt rcameras, in vincula tradunt,
Multos *eradunt ensibus, hique cadunt.

Miles ibi cæsus tde Felton in "ilia lesus,
Summus ei Croesus annuat astra Jhesus.

Hastyngis ille Y baro cum fune ligatur amaro,
Si plus ignaro conflua! litus aro.

Captus et extiterat rex w Navariæ, quia sperat
Quod socius fuerat qui suus hostis erat.

Tunc didicit miles quid prosit habere viriles
Nocturnos vigiles, solicitos pugiles.

Nos irritarant? dum nostros sic tribularant,
Multos mactarant, sed? sibi flagra parant.

Sic x ducis armatur, acies campisque locatur,
Hostis pulsatur, montibus isse datur.

y Princeps speravit bellum Petrumque sacravit,
Collaphizavit, ferret ut arma David.

Omnes 7tyrones narrarem per stationes,
Sed tot + mucrones, Pmusa, tacere mones.

Dux Laneastrorum dedit ad 9bis sex juniorum
Ex auro lorum, ducere mille chorum.

dSpurius inventus lux crastina quando revenit,
Quod sibi convenit, vespera namque* venit.

* Ceperunt in lectis.

* Necant.

* Dominus Willelmus.

" Viscera.

* Dominus Radulphus.

Y Per quendam dominum Cliverum.

x Dominus dux processi cum exercitu, et hostes videntes re-
traxerunt se ad montes.

Dominus hoc tempore regem Castelli fecit militem et cum
gladio percussit in collo.

x Novos milites.

* Cujuscunque novi militis.

» Discretio.

€ 12 milites.

à Die sequenti usque ad vesperam nil agebatur.

1 confleo, Rawl. ? que, Rawl.
? irruerant, Digby. * eausaque, Rawl.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 1!1

Pars nos vexare 9 descendit, ad ima rotare,
Prona! jactare, tela, duella dare.

Ex his fter denis cæsis, totidemque catenis
Subdebant poenis corpora, eorda threnis.

8 Anglica pars rugit, pars b altera subjuga mugit ;-
iPars plagas sugit, pars tremebunda fugit.
Nocteque montana conscendunt, nos sua plana
Ope* belli vana sumpsimus ex Sathana.

Sic itraxere dies, Sathanæ fraus cognita fies,
Ut nostras acies opprimeret macies.

k Defectu panis erat omnis venter inanis,
Usibus humanis defuit ergo canis.

Si carnes !comedunt, nec in hoc jejunia lædunt,
Jus gladii credunt tergere quiequid edunt.

Accidit ergo piæ sacra festa venire m Maria,
Veris temperie tricesimaque die,

Princeps prefatis 2 patribus præcone citatis?
Narrat adunatis passa pericla ? satis.

Concludit fine Pfrumenta deesse coquinæ ;
Castris vicinæ sunt, famis ergo minæ.

Ad 4loca munita tulit hostis blada cupita,
Unde fame scita prelia tardat ita.

€ Tune quidam descenderunt ad sua singula certamina.
f 30 cæsi et 30 capti, ceteri fugati et vulnerati.
& Victrix ut leo.
^ Imbecillium jumentorum.
i Victa. |
i Id est, prout nos fame perderent.
* Nosti patiebantur magnam famem in terra quod carnes
. eomedebant.
. 1 Credebant causam suam esse tam justam quod in comedendo
non possunt peccare.
m Annunciationis.
a Ducibus exercitus sui.
© Quanta pericula passus fuerit exercitus.
? Panem deficere.
* Castella.

1 Omnia, Rawl. Avocats, Raw).
? Spes, Digb.

112 POLITICAL POEMS.

Hic! frustra stamus, dum proxima bella putamus,
Nostros vexamus ludibrioque damus.

r Castellum petere per dextram credo valere,
lllue *innumerz sunt sine clave sere.

Ilhe migremus, hostes post terga trahemus,
Tutius intremus, nam caret hoste nemus.

Præco preeit, sequitur acies, mons dexter aditur,
t Lævus deseritur quo nothus instruitur.

Nostri "reptabant preeruptaque ? gaxa probabant
Crebro saltabant, sepius? ergo labant

Dum descenderunt, jumenta petris perierunt;
Qui bene sciverunt multa fuisse ferunt.

Tandem valle freti cœnam sumpsere quieti,
Umbram v dumeti consuluere peti.

Fecit bruma trucem noctem, cernunt ¥ ubi lucem
Format quisque crucem fronte sequendo ducem.

x Transalpinabant, iterum tandem superabant,
"Vallem ycaleabant, dorsa jugisque * dabant.

Z Portum verrinum sic intravere? marinum,
Cives ad dominum displicuere sinum.

a ]lle sudore cessante cibo meliore,
b Pro provisore fit brevis hora mors.

* [d est, intrare regnum Castelle per aliam viam, quia montium
itinera bastardi obstruxerant.

* Quia ibi est libera copia omnium victualium.

* Sinister.

* Ascendendo montes.
E ' Requieverunt in parva silva.

"v Summo mane.

* Iterum alium montem ascenderunt.

¥ Descenderunt de montibus,

* Vocatur Le Groyne; est in mare ut rostrum porci, ubi in-
traverunt terram.

* Et sic aliquantulum ibi post multam penuriam victualium re-
creati sunt.

> Prima non sufficiebat.

! Sic, Rawl. * magisque, Raw].
? promptaque, Digb. 5 intuere, Rawl.
* crebrius, Raw). ? suum, Rawl.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 113

Martius exibat, et mensis Aprilis inibat,
Princeps 9 transibat, vix caro! castra cibat.

Castris metatis nostris in agris Navaratis,
Fertur 4 prelatis ¢ litera leta satis.

Narrat enim f Nazore fluvii ripa propiore,
£ Belligero more, spuria castra fore.

Offert protegere sua castra,? locumque placere,
Quem volet eligere lanx utriusque mere.

bh Dux ut id? audierat, acies quem sua præerat
Ad bellum properat, is suus ardor* erat

Princeps festinat, dorso ducis agmina minat,
Semper vicinat, ne procul esse sinat.

i Caudæ quæstores succedunt posteriores,
Dorsi tutores jscorpio ne qua? vores.

Hine pansis alis acies volat imperialis,
Oro Deum talis turma sit absque malis.

Venerat Aprilis lux tertia, quando fabrilis?
Cos acuit? pilis pila stilosque stilis.

* Primo die Aprilis.

4 i, melioribus.

*. Secunda bastardi.

Tenor erat literæ, quod paratus erat in tali loco ad bellum. | Rogat
etiam principem quod mitteret duos milites in castra sua, et illi duo
cum duobus militibus de suis eligerent locum certaminis pro utra-
que parte; sed hoc feriebat ut tali tractatu tempus belli differret,
et fame nostros perderet inedia dilatione ; sed cognita fraude, nostri
noluerunt respondere nisi peremptorie.

f Nomen fluvii.

$ Bastardi parati ad bellum.

» Lancastriæ.

i Rex Majoricarum et comes Herminacensis cum postrema acie.

3 Id est, aliquis adversarius.

! faba, Rawl. | * ne Sathan ulla, Raw).
: ounce, av * cum fera vilis, Rawl.
4j nio, Ravwl. | | "opposuit, Rawl.

VOL. I. IL

114 POLITICAL POEMS.

* * * * % *

Cum fera vilis opposuit pilis.'
Missis auditis nostris sacrisque potitis,
Omnibus unitis pugna stat una sitis.
Sacra sacerdotum sumpsisse gregem scio totum,
Omnibus est notum? posse tenere? nothum.
Princeps affatur fratrem, pensare precatur
Quæ res tractatur, quam sacra pugna datur.
Addit et, * O frater, moneat nos morbida mater,
“ Victor terve quater rex magis ipse pater. —
* Nati credamur, ne degeneres habeamur ;*
“ Si captivamur, fabula longa damur.
Juro malo mori quam subdere colla minori
* Huic intrusori tam sine lege tori?
Immo trucidemur, calidi zelo capiemur,
* Sancti dicemur morte sacrasse femur.
Ridebunt Scoti, Franci, Dani, modo Gothi,
* Si fugimus moti jure timore nothi ;
“ Ergo verborum finem favendo meorum,
* Mente tene quorum stirps es habesque forum.
Stirps invietorum patrum memor esto tuorum,
* Cui Lancastrorum dux dedit ipse torum.
Frater amans, dico tibi, sicut amicus amico,
* Non quod eges aliquo dogmate cote frico ;
Sed sie me doceo per fratrem, deque trophæo
* Certam spem teneo, te duce, dante Deo.
* Prosper procede tua cuncta, Deo rogo crede;
* Oscula concede, postea perge pede."
Post hee verba precum dux castra trahit sua secum,
Usque videat moschum nemo relinquit equum.
Descendunt ab equis nostri consensibus sequis,
Sed properet ne quis dux prohibere nequis.

Lei
rn

^
hoi

! The hexameter which ought to 3 ligare, Rawl.
precede this line is lost; neither ‘ videamur, Rawl.
line is found in MS. Rawl. . EM

? notum, omitted in Digby. 5 The Rawlinson MS. ends here.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 115

Omnes hastati dextris, levis clypeati,
Pergunt ferrati corpore, corde rati.

Tota phalanx graditur, levis armatura salitur,
Arcus negligitur, nec jaculum jacitur.

Jam tuba proloquitur, hastis certamen initur,
Punctim percutitur, seria res geritur.

Victima bellorum cecidit baro F'errariorum,
Dignus colorum martyr inire chorum.

Collegæ saliunt, feriores vulnere fiunt, -
Carnificem feriunt quem temerasse sciunt.

Dux etiam stridet, accurrit ut ipse trucidet,
Sed stans subridet dum cecidisse videt.

Hortatur cuneos, ostendit agros Nazoræos,
Ac Rotholandzos affore narrat eos.

Cum quidem conspicitur miles, minor hoste preitur,
Hostis corripitur, et suus eripitur.

À duce sic agitur quotiens vel tiro feritur,
Vel cruor egeritur, plagave consuitur.

Hostem sæpe ferit, cuneos irrumpere quærit,
letum nemo gerit quin moriendo perit.

Paueos exegit Anglos, et in agmina fregit,
Seuto colla tegit, ac iter ante legit.

Obstantes dejicit, trajicit, truncat, maledicit ;
Quis gladius sibi sit, altera pars ibi scit.

Ut tigris incedit, fortes terit, agmina cædit ;
Semper procedit fortior itve redit.

Fulminat in spata, resecatque secure levata,
Milla truncata membra per arvaque sata.

Cum fremit in framea, fit ea satis ampla platea ;
Nulla venit galea quin quatiatur ea.

Nune salit in denos dux hostes, nunc duodenos,
In cuneos plenos ingerit ense threnos.

Jam sci pugnare, stabili pede pergere, stare,
Ictus ferre, dare, scitve solumve mare.

Hostes qui juverat non Portigalia deerat;
Regulus affuerat, religiosus erat.

Custos calceti venit, tutorque "Toleti,
Falce ferire læti, dignus uterque meti.

H 2

116 POLITICAL POEMS.

Arma, cibos, cives mandavit Cordiba dives,
Quos vita prives, Christe, pluendo nives.
Ex Abulæ stabulo plebs venit equo, pede, mulo,
Perjuro populo se socians patulo. —
Multos Cartago misit quos monstrat imago,
Natos de pago Simone patreque mago.
Ex Arragonia prefectus cum politia
Venit et Hesperia tota patente via.
Ac Tripolitani, Libyes, Mauri, Gaditani,
Sensus insani, quos simulabo cani.
Terre pontifices inter lixas, meretrices,
Martis ibi replices instituisse vices.
Francorum fures aderant, ne nomina cures,
Ac alii plures, Teutonici ligures.
Omnes latrones numerantur sex legiones,
In tot glutones fulgura, Christe, tones.
Strages prædira fit in hos omnes ducis ira,
Tot dat vi mira mortis amara pyra.
Exemplum promo, perit Adam. perpete pomo
De quaecunque domo venerit omnis homo.
Sic pro peccato bastardi millia fato
Sunt data, prostrato corpore jure sato.
Angelus est Domini dux in gladio cherubini,
Vos Edwardini, si reminiscimini.
Nulli pareatis, bastardos ejiciatis,
Si comprendatis ponite vincla satis.
Nam nothus exilio reus est, dux fulmine dio
Urget ejus gladio flammigerante scio.
Si Sarazenus occurrat, Numida, Pcenus,
Dux fidit oretenus, oderat omne genus.
Per plures Poenos, ceses illic pice plenos,
Mauros millenos, commemorant bene nos.
Multos erroneos male credentes, ut Hebræos,
Dux videt inter eos, et necat ense reos.
Multos Judæos venisse nothis Nathinæos,
Monstrat Amorræos hos coluisse deos.
Omni parte fremit in eos, et ad infera demit,
Non clamore tremit, dum pede colla premit.

NM
fa

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN. 117

Irruit, occidit, ad humum vexilla relidit,
Dixit qui vidit arma virumque fidit.

Dux post signiferos super agmina cuncta proceros,
Inter scutiferos plebis et inter heros. |

Preter vulgares illic ceses populares,
Quos si summares, sunt et arena pares.

Hoe affirmaris, quod erat strages popularis,
In eampis claris, sicut arena maris.

Supra prostratum vulgus populumque necatum,
Horum magnatum perdidit ense statum.

Dux hos dejecit præfectos, et patefecit
Angliea gens quæ sit, quas alapas dare scit.

Petrus rex Scoticus ducis ense cadebat iniquus,
Tardus adest medicus Persa, Medusve, Licus.

Petrus juratus pariter perit excerebratus,
Spiritus efflatus est ad Averna datus.

Vaccensis Carolus cecidit sine vulnere solus,
Ore vomebat olus, hoe dabat ille dolus.

Et Jacobus Caroli valefecit hine ibi soli;
Flere virum noli, qui spernit astra poli.

Inter turmarum præfectos Rodo Rosarum
Ostendit clarum se valuisse parum. :

Plures occisi periere patres ibi visi,
Quosdam præmisi mentiar ista nisi.

Sub duce prostrati pendere patres memorati,
Saltem prelati succubuere crati.

Jam stratilates ducis ob multas probitates
Promeriti grates ista fuere crates.

Clara cohors petere tibi palmam gentis Iberæ,
Justo Christofere tu tua bella gere.

Millia non plena duo dilacerant in arena,
Plena quater dena milla terrigena.

Per populum totum dux se faciens ita notum,
Cogit ut ægrotum quemlibet ire nothum.

Millies in votis cupiit confligere totis
Viribus ignotis eum tribus ille nothis.

Porro nothi pavitant, confligere cum duce vitant,
Per turmas equitant, vota precesque beant.

118 ; POLITICAL POEMS.

Se retrahunt ab eo quasi muscæ de searabeso, |
Ense tot et clypeo ..... .nterit iste leo.
Omnem tironem jurares esse leonem,
Si sacra gesta tonem, si nisi nota sonem ;
Omnes lictores, majores sive minores,
Agri messores 81 prope monte fores; .
Omnes Angligenas velut athletas per habenas,
Per vires plenas hostis arare genas. —
Inter quæstores, Chaundos, præeundo reflores,
Cum tot agri flores ense metendo vores.
De Cosyngtona, prætor pretiose, corona
Ut sacra persona jam potiere bona.
Calverlensis Hugo, te nulla retraxit ærugo,
Nullaque ferrugo, liber es absque jugo.
Omnes prætores furiunt aquilis feriores,
Jam prope victores, nam properant eo res.
Propter nostrates, Deus, exsolvo tibi grates,
Nostros magnates semper amasse pates.
Laudum materia tibi surgit, sancta Maria,
Sors stab adhuc varia, perfice coepta pia.
O Petre, propria lege pro Christi prelia lege,
Proque Petro rege prelia nostra rege.
Omnibus in Roma sanctis sonet istud acroma,
Spuria castra doma, Cantuarita Thoma.
Rex Edwarde sacer, pro gente tua pugil acer,
Funde preces alacer, jam miserande macer.
Sancta Frideswitha, soror in coelo stabilita,
Anglorum capita cerne cruore lita.
Coelum stellosum, defende ducem generosum,
Ob scutum rosum corde pavens ego sum.
Corduba quem misit satrapam dux stando revisit,
Hee ait et risit, ^ Hie clypeus mibi sit.”
Truncat pollutum, trahit, et vellit sibi seutum,
Suppeditans mutum sicuti molle lutum.
Colla novo scuto tegit, regimine tuto;
Si veniat gluto, stabit ut ante puto.
Hastam vesanus vibrat quidam Lusitanus,
Sic jaciens vanus, deficiens ut anus.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN.

Hastam quippe jacit cum sollicitudine qua scit,
Trans lentas it, nec plura mala facit.

Sentit ut ad linum dux hoc ferrum peregrinum,
Mittens ad Dominum, mandat inire sinum.

Ila redit sceleri lapsu vix apta videri,
Pertransit miseri missile corpus heri.

Immo stupenda vi penetrat præcordia pravi,
Transilit ignavi fulmine corda gravi.
Lancea post equitem perimit quendam Tripolitem,
Quem stantem peditem stridula sternit item.
Neutrum salvabant sua scuta nec arma juvabant,
Quin sicut stabant dorsa supina dabant.

Plura paravit ibi dux magnus congrua scribi;
Lector, trado tibi talia bella bibi.

Clausus ab Hispanis dux noster sspe profanis
Stabat, ut immanis pardus ad ora canis;

Sic dux vallatus, capiendus sepe putatus,
Ferro salvatus exit ad omne latus.

Hune premit umbone, petit illum cum pugione,
Multos mucrone, grandia cete Jone.

119

* Dux ego sum,” clamat, praedicta, promptissimus hamat,

Stultos diffamat, nolle quod omnis amat,
Si sibi signata stetit ulla cohors tribulata,
Advolat in spata discere damna data.
Ipsius affatu reparatur, agitque ducatu

Plurima narratu digna ducisque statu.
Hostibus impuris jam prædicat Anglia securis,

In galeis duris miles ubique furis.

Ingens fit cædes, quam vix si dixero credes,
Tot super incedes brachia, crura, pedes. .
Hispani nutant, vitam cum sanguine sputant,

Podismus mutant, damna valere putant.

Se constipabant, latus ad latus associabant,

Tam se densabant, quod neque morte labant.
Hine post mucrones nostri rapiunt pugiones ;

Dux, in prædones ora ferire mones.

Anglus ab hac hora ferit in frontes et in ora,

Ut lupus in pecora; mors venit absque mora.

120 POLITICAL POEMS.

Ora, genas, oculos, nostri fodiendo genulos,
Interimunt populos inter agri tribulos.

Dux inter primos erat illie, esse cui mos, | |
Post illegitimos oppetit ense minimos. 2

Per medios cuneos quærit post tres Phoroneos,
Ad poenam piceos si daret alpha theos.

Respicit in clypeos satraparum, si basileos
Inter sanguineos forte videret eos. .

Dum sic pugnaret dux, et prope palma sonaret,
Princeps apparet ac pietate caret.

Hostes aggreditur, jam senior aspide scitur,
Qui prius aspicitur, agnus ubi loquitur.

Anglos instigat, Hispanos vero fatigat,
Fundit, fustigat, ac capiendo ligat.

Lumina dum præfert, ad fratrem quomodo se fert,

* * * * * *

Ex hoc innumeri passim perimuntur Iberi,
Conspiceres cineri millia multa teri.

Multos mortales cæsos, captos, capitales;
Sudores tales, dux, agitando cales.

Tali sudore palmæ potieris honore ;
Autumni more prælia credo fore.

Mittis in has segetes falcem, monet ecce cometes ; .
Palmam fine metes, præmia sero petes.

Laurum nemo legit nisi qui bene bella peregit ;
Laudes meta tegit, omnia cauda regit.

Instes ergo precor, vadas in humum vel in æquor,
Dum gero pectore eor, te poliendo sequor.

Dux satis afflatus salit in turmas galeatus,
Instat ut iratus muribus ipse catus.

Fortes affligit, ferit, et trans pectora figit,
Ad terram redigit si modicum tetigit.

Multa cadunt capita truncata secure polita,
Privatur vita Barbarus aique Scytha.

Talia cum fierent, et ad Anglos cuncta faverent,
Hispani moerent, nam cito frena ferent.

Veloces veteres, equites veteres, dixere quirites,
Hos in equis velites, jam sua gesta cites.

PRINCE EDWARD'S EXPEDITION INTO SPAIN.

Quingenti tales se constituere sodales,
Currus nostrales perdere resque sales.

Ilis opponis te, Calverlensis Hugonis
Virtus mucronis ictibus apta bonis.

Præstas ense trucis pulsi statuere caducis,
Telis, sol, tu scis dorsa ferire ducis.

Turma sagittifera volat obvia cum nive vera,
Turba fugit temera, peste pluente fera.

Dum velites fugiunt, et ubique cadavera fiunt,
Jam quo res abeunt spuria corda sciunt.

Abvolat Henricus, Tilo frater adhæret amicus,
Totus meestificus. huic populus reliquus.

Dux celer insequitur, jam cædes plebis oritur,
Creber homo moritur, creber homo capitur.

Vix locus in rure caruit cubito, pede, crure,
De Franco fure, Teutone vel ligure.

Loricis laceris, ruptis, galeisve galeris,
Mars, omnis generis arma per arva seris.

Per sata, per prata discurrunt agmina lata ;
Est fuga temptata palma meisque data.

Sunt Hispanorum sex millia cesa virorum,
Praeter mersorum quem tulit unda chorum.

Propter tot spolia tibi proprie sonet melodia,
Nam sunt indubia milla capta iria.

Summa, ducentorum sit Francorum dominorum
Dic captorum, narro virumque sporum.

Ac colibertorum rostrum fuit unus eorum,
Cleykyn, et illorum qui repulere chorum.

Sanccius exorat, laxari vincla laborat,
Petri laborat se temerasse Chorath.

Henrici soboles, Alfonse, tenerrima proles,
Dicere magna soles, jam tua dicta doles.

Magni prelati Jacobique Johannis amati,
Flagra catenati dorsa dedere pati.

Custos militie. Christi, baro Caletrapiæ,
Captus in hae acie nocte flet acta die.

Sanius indubie servasset claustra Maris,
Quam sic justitiæ frena parasse vie.

121

192 POLITICAL POEMS.

Seripsi captivos, et quos novi fugitivos,
Rumor plus divos exposuit mihi vos. |
Jam patris in sede resides, Petre, non sine cæde,
Justitiæ cede, sic sine fine sede.
Princeps ecce redit, sua dux ad agenda recedit ;
Terra tibi credit, sceptra fidemque dedit.
. Quadra virtute pro te populique salute,
Regnabis tute, nil trepidante cute.
Omnes tres domini, valeatis, opus dabo fini,
Si male quid cecini lector id ore lini. |
Henricus pone properat, cum fratre Tilone,
Ad te, patrone publice, papa bone.
Te sanctum flamen justi jubet esse juvamen,
Petri tutamen, Petre, precamur. Amen.

Metra malas grates fero pro vobis ego vates,
Inter primates sic modo, musa, scates.

Laudes sperabam, seu premia danda putabam; -
Frustra sudabam, vos metra quando dabam.

Sed margarita nunquam fuit ulla cupita,
Poreo plus placita stercora dentur ita.

Ergo, libelle, vale ; nomen cape non libro quale -
Munerat igne male te cocus absque sale. -

Explicit bellum Nasorense gestum, et sie digestum,
anno Domini Mccc"lævÿ, habens. versus quin-
genios sexaginta, per W. Burgensem.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON.

123

Joux or BRIDLINGTON.!

Venerabili domino et mira magnitudine extollendo, temporali
prædito potestate, scrutinio etiam excellenti, Humfredo de Bohun,
comiti Herefordie, Essexiæ, Norhamtoniæ, et constabulario Angliæ,
et domino de Breighnok, Dei gratia humilitatis servus, si super
consequenti notam caput miserationis velitis adjungere, nomen

obscurum et obsequium salutare.

! The following very curious
piece is a political retrospect of the
reign of Edward IIL, compiled in
a form which is by no means un-
known in modern literature, namely,
that of a supposed old text and of a
. recent commentary. It is here
printed from MS. Cotton. Domitian
ix., fol. 17, r^, compared with MS.
Reg. 8, C. xvii, both in a hand-
writing of the latter half of the
fourteenth century. In the former
itis given anonymously, but in the
other, as well as in a copy in the
Bodleian Library at Oxford, MS.
Digby, No. 89, the text is said to be
the prophecy of John of Bridlington,
and in the Digby MS. the commen-
tary is ascribed, in a hand only of
the sixteenth century, to John
Ergome. The old bibliographers
suppose the author of the prophecy
to have been John, prior of Brid-
lington, who died early in the
reign of Richard IL, which, how-
ever, is very improbable; and it is
much more likely that the prophet,
John of Bridlington, is a mere
invention. lle is said in the be-
ginning of the commentary here
printed to have been a canonicus, but
in a MS. in the Ashmolean Museum,
No. 1804, fol. 42, v°, he is called
laicus, a layman. It is hardly neces-
sary io remark that the text of the
prophecy must have been written at
the same date as the commentary,

Cum vestrum, domine, intel-

and that they are evidently by the
same writer. The text of the pre-
tended prophecies of John of Brid-
lington is, however, of rather com-

| mon oecurrence in manuscripts,

sometimes with the name, and at
others anonymously, so that it had
evidently become very popular. Tt
is quoted by the writers of the
fifteenth century. As will be seen
above, in the beginning of the com-
mentary,the author states that he
has concealed his name, and tells us
bis reasons for ihis concealment,
and it is only in the Bodleian MS.
just referred to that we are told that
it was Ergome. Who he was is not
very clear, for he cannot have been, -
as stated by the old biographers, the
John Erghom, a friar of York, who
flourished in the year 1490. See
Tanner, Bibliotheca, p. 263. The
date of this political tract is, indeed,
fixed within sufficiently narrow
limits, for the Humphrey de Bohun,
earl of Hereford, and constable of
England, to whom it is dedicated,
succeeded to the title and honours
in 1361, and died in 1372, in his
thirty-second year. As the third
book of the so-called prophecy and

| its commentary relates entirely to

events which took place, or which
the writer imagined would take
place, subsequently to the first of
these years, it is probable that it

. was written towards the year 1370.

124 POLITICAL POEMS.

lectum ad subtilitates quasdam video declinare, cupiens secundum
meam scientiam vestrum quietare appetitum, hæc scripta et anno-
tationes super versus prophetiales in honore vestri a me collectas
vestræ reverentiæ destinare celeriter non omisi, nomen quoque
meum, quod triplici de causa inferius notanda exprimere non
&udebam vestro intellectui, sub salutationis stylo est insertum.
Verebar namque linguas invidorum et dominorum timui potes-
tates, discretorum etiam cognovi indignationem, i. qui contra juve-
nem insurgerent talia interpretantem. ^ Quapropter subfugiendo
ne opus propter auctorem eclypsim patiatur, sub silentio nomi-
nis mei a triplici me occultavi inimico. Ut evidentius, domine,
intelhgantur quæ pretendo, non audeo opponere aperte nomen
meum in epistola hac vobis destinata, primo propter linguas in-
vidorum, secundum propter potestates dominorum, et tertio prop-
ter indignationem sapientum et discretorum; quia invidi auctorem
detraherent, et domini propter aliqua mala de eis inscripta odi-
rent, discreti etiam suo ingenio confidentes totum opus tanquam
fatuum deriderent. Sed vestre, domine, voluntati confidens et
benevolentiæ, quod merui super literam prophetiæ imaginando
conjectuari vestro dignemini occultare solatio, alienis dentibus
corrosioni non tradendum, quia laudem non quæro ulteriorem, si
vestræ placeat voluntati. ^ Valete in futurorum cognitione, ut a
superveniente pressura in domino consequamini effectum salu
tarem. |

Incipiunt iria preambula ante expositionem litere intra.

Comes reverende et domine mihi perpetuis temporibus vene-
rande, ad evidentiam hujus prophetie quam ob reverentiam ves-
tram suscepi declarandum, tria sunt præambula præmittenda, in
quibus plura patebunt ad hujus prophetiæ expositionem requisita.
: In primo præambulo, quatuor causas hujus prophetie declarabo.
: In secundo, modos occultandi prophetiæ reserabo. In tertio, divi-
sionem libri totalem ordinabo. Circa primum præambulum, in quo
declarabo quatuor causas hujus prophetis, sunt iij" notabilia
pertractanda. ^ Primum notabile est circa causam materialem
hujus prophetie, pro quo est notandum quod accidentia
a principio hujus prophetie usque ad ejus finem concernen-
tia regnum Anglie sunt materia hujus prophetis, que acci-
dentia in quatuor principaliter consistunt. Primo in accidenti-
bus bellorum, silicet à quibus fient, et quando fient, et in quo
loco, e& ad quem finem devenient talia bella. Secundo, in acci-
dentibus mores regni, sicut de eorum justitia, audacia, luxuria,
avaritia, et cæteris hujusmodi vitiis vel virtutibus, Tertio, in ac-
cidentibus qua concernunt mores dominorum et consiliariorum
regis et totius populi. Quarto, de accidentibus quæ conveniunt

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 125

populo in communi, sicut mutatio vestium, mutatio monet, pes-
tilentiæ, et fames, et estera hujusmodi, que omnia patebunt clare
in expositione prophetiæ loco competenti. Secundum notabile est
circa causam formalem hujus libri; pro quo est notandum quod
modus procedendi, auctor est forma hujus libr qui in tribus con-
sistit, Primo in modo scribendi, qui est metricus, videlicet in
versu, et non in prosa, propter triplicem causam quam super pro-
logum assignabo. Secundo in modo intelligendi, qui est obscurus
et prophetialis, quia dat alia intelligere quam termini secundum
communem usum loquenti significant. Tertio in modo ordinandi
partes hujus prophetiæ, quia ordinat partes secundum ordinem
gestorum quz facta sunt et fiendorum qu: futura sunt, sicut de-
clarabitur in tertio præambulo et in processu expositionis. Ter-
tium notabile est circa causam efficientem, silicet, quis fuit auctor
et compositor hujus prophetiæ, pro quo est sciendum, quod prin-
cipalis auctor fuit Spiritus Sanctus, qui inspiravit omnia secundum
ordinem, sicut, sunt scripta à secundario auctore, videlicet a cano-
nico regulari secundum communem opinionem vulgi, qui febri-
bus infirmatus istum librum composuit, sicut in prologo declara-
bitur. Quartum notabile est circa causam finalem, pro quo est
notandum quod finis rei est id propter quod aliqua res fit, vel
propter quod illa res est appetenda, pro quo est notandum quod
scientia hujus prophetis proper tria est appetenda, ad qua omnes
fines sunt deducendi. Primo est appetenda, propter utile vel uti-
litatem quae potest sequi ex cognitione hujus prophetiæ, pro quo
est notandum quod ille qui cognoscit istam prophetiam a peri-
culis imminentibus potest se custodire quando ignorantes præoc-
cupati gravabuntur. Secundo, potest præmunire amicos a periculis
imminentibus, ut se custodiant. 'l'ertio potest sibi ordinare ut sit
particeps in bonis que hic notantur futura, et etiam amici sui
per consilium suum. Secundo cognitio istius prophetie est ap-
petenda propter dilectationem quam cognoscens ex scientia conse-
quetur. Primo quod sciet aliqua dicere quæ sui compares nesciunt.
Secundo, quia sciet per consimilem modum reserare alias pro-
phetias quando sibi adducentur. Tertio, multum delectabitur in
Domino quando videt eum tantum curare de vita nostra quod
occulta, sua velit hominibus reserare, ut de futuris periculis pos-
sint precavere. Tertio, ista prophetia est appetenda propter
honestum quod sequetur scientiam ejus; valde enim honestum est
dominis et viris generosis qui habent ingenium bonum circa
talia occupari quæ non proveniunt ad cognitionem vulgi, et ideo
& populo reputabuntur ingeniosi et habiles ad regimen, unde
laudem sibi adquirent et favorem populi et timorem, qux dominis
maxime conveniunt. Et sic patent quatuor cause hujus pro-
phetiæ, scilicet causa materialis, causa formalis, causa efficiens, et
causa finalis; et primum præambulum sie finitur.

126 POLITICAL POEMS.

Sequitur preambulum secundum.

Circa secundum preambulum, in quo reserabo modos occultandi
hujus prophetie, est notandum quod occultatio ejus in decem
principaliter consistit. Prima occultatio est in extranea nomina-
fione propter aliquam convenientiam nominati cum illa re cui
nomen proprie convenit; verbi gratia, rex Anglice nominatur taurus,
rex Franciæ gallus, et rex Scotis cancer, et hoc propter certas
convenientias in quibus concordant cum animalibus habentibus
talia nomina. Secunda occultatio est in accidentali designatione
propter aliquod sécidens competens alicui in moribus vel dispo-
sitione corporali, vel ex nomine vel cognomine, vel ex armis sibi
convenientibus. Exemplum in moribus: aliquis designatur per
blesum propter pulehra verba et fasta quibus utitur. Exemplum
in dispositione corporali: aliquis dicitur genitalia lesus, propter
infirmitatem seu lesuram quam sustinet in genitalibus suis. Ex-
emplum in nomine vel cognomine: Willelmus la Zouche et Percy
designantur per suspicor et penetrans in isto versu:

* Suspicor et clerus penetrans cognomine verus."

Exemplum de armis: per glaucos leones designatur comes Here-
fordie, quos portat in armis suis in versu:

* Currunt multones fulvi glaucique leones."

Et similiter rex Scoti? per unum leonem aliquando designatur,
quia tantum unum portat in scuto suo, in versu:

* Sternet equos ligni, medio latitat leo signi."

Tertia occultatio consistit in aperta æquivocatione, quando ali-
quod nomen ponitur ad supponendum pro pluribus et ignoretur
pro quo supponit; sicut iste terminus cancer ponitur ad signifi-
candum piscem maris, signum coli, et regem Scotiæ, sicut clare
patebit in processu. Quarta occultatio consistit in transumptiva
locutione; verbi gratia, vocat naves equos ligni, quia deferunt
homines in mari sicut equi in terra. Similiter vocat funes et
cordas, qui retinent naves in portu, lora canabi, quia retinent
naves sicut lora retinent equos, ut infra patebit. Quinta occul-
tatio consistit in numerorum designatione propter aliquas literas
numerum significantes in aliqua dictione positas; verbi gratia in
isto versu:

* Milvi cædentur, cuculi silvis capientur.”
Intelligit quod tot occidentur quot significantur in isto termino

milvi, i. mille lvij, et tot capientur in silvis quot signantur in
isto termino eucul, scilicet, cc.lxj. Similiter in isto versu:

* Milvi sex lustra, cuculi vim non cape frustra.”

. : i wuzrst

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 197

Et in mulüs aliis locis ista occultatio invenitur, sicut infra patebit.
Sexta occultatio consistit in dietionum expositione quando ex
dictione vel dictionibus expositis aliquod nomen constituitur,
quod in eis secundum communem modum loquendi non intelli-
gitur; verbi gratia, per exposilionem istorum terminorum, ferra
vada, signatur hoc nomen, Herthford ; similiter per expositionem
istorum terminorum carus vicus, signatur istud nomen, Derby ; et
sic de multis alis. Septima occultatio consistit in nominis
diversa acceptatione; nam aliquando tenetur materialiter, aliquando
significative, sicut in isto versu:

* Si quis habet taurum, caput amputat, inde fit aurum.”

Ibi iste terminus, faurum, non accipitur pro animali, sed tantum
pro isto termino, aurum, quasi diceret deponere primam literam
hujus dictionis, faurum, et remanet tunc ista dictio, aurum. Et
ista occultatione multotiens utitur in ista prophetia. Octava
occultatio consistit in dictionum divisione, Ponit enim aliquas
sylabas unius dictionis primo, postea ponit aliam dictionem inter
ilas syllabas et alias syllabas ejusdem dictionis; verbi gratia, in
isto versu:

‘ Cantu cantabit arie plebs et jubilabit."

Vult dicere quod plebs Cantuariæ cantabit et jubilabit, et tamen
iste terminus, cantabit, mediat inter istas syllabas, cantu et
arie. Et isto modo pluries utitur in ista prophetia. Nona occul-
tatio consistit in ambigua locutione, quando una propositio æqui-
voea potest habere duplicem expositionem vel triplicem, et hoc
contingit multis modis stante eadem significatione terminorum,
sicut infra clare patebit. Decima occultatio consistit in syllabica
positione; ponit enim aliquando unam syllabam ad designandum
unum nomen; ut ibi:

* Ca. cadet in portis, ca. confundetur in ortis."

i civitas Caan, Similiter ibi, Pa. pariet pacem, etc, i. Papa
faciet pacem. Similiter ibi, Phi. falsus fugiet, i. Philippus rex
Francie fugiet. Et in multis aliis locis ista occultatio invenitur.
Et sic finitur istud secundum præambulum in reseratione occul-
tationum hujus prophetiæ.

Sequitur tj" præambulum.

Circa tertium præambulum, i quo ordinata est divisio totius
libri, est notandum quod ista prophetia primo dividitur in tres

distinctiones, secundum quod auctor iste tres pausationes facit et

excusationes de infirmitate capitis sui; unde credo quod tribus

128 POLITICAL POEMS.

diversis temporibus ista prophetia auctori fuit revelata seu ostensa.
Prima distinctio continet accidentia Anglie a principio hujus pro-
phetiæ pro tempore regis E. de Carnarvan usque ad præparationem
belli de Crecy, commissi anno Christo M*?cec"exlvjt. Secunda
distinctio continet accidentia Angliæ ab anno Christi M°ccc™xlyj°
usque ad secundam mortalitatem factam anno Christi M°ccc™lxj°.
Tertia distinctio contiet accidentia Anglie ab anno Christi
M°cce™lxj° usque ad finem prophetis. Notandum etiam quod
quælibet istarum trium distinctionum habet capitula in principio
sui designata propter facultatem inveniendi que inspector videre
desiderat in ista prophetia. Unde prima distinctio continet vij.
capitula.

Capitulum primum continet proemium, in quo ostenditur quo-
modo auctor dispositus recepit prophetiam, et qualiter est expo-
nenda.

Capitulum secundum determinat mores regis E. de Carnarvan
et accidentia regni Angliæ usque ad mortem ejus.

Capitulum iij? docet mores regis E. de Wyndesore et accidentia
regni tempore juventutis sue.

Capitulum iiij? ostendit accidentia inter regnum Anglie et
Scotiæ illo tempore usque ad inceptionem guerre de Francia.

Capitulum v" declarat qu acciderunt inter regnum Anglic et
Franciæ priusquam rex Anglie transivit mare contra Gallicos.

Capitulum vj" determinat de bellis et de dispositione bellorum
contra Gallicos usque ad primam pacem.

Capitulum vij" continet pacem inter Anglicos et Gallicos et
cætera accidentia usque ad præparationem belh de Crecy.

Capitulum j" continet proemium, in quo ostenditur
quomodo auctor dispositus recepit istam prophe-
fiam, et qualiter est exponenda.

Febribus infectus, requies fuerat mibi lectus,
Vexatus, mente dormivi nocte répente ; ;

Noscere futura facta fuerat mihi cura,

Scribere cum pennis docuit me scriba perennis;
Me masticare jussit librumque vorare.

Intus erat plene scriptus, redolens, et amoene.
Jussit de bellis me metrificare novellis

Qui sedet in stellis, dat cui vult carmina mellis.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 199

Si verum scribam, verum erede me fore scribam ;
Scripsero si vanum, caput est quia non mihi sanum.
Non mihi detractes, sed falsa per omnia mactes.
Nullus deliro credat pro carmine miro.

Sequitur expositio istorum versuum. | Istis igitur præambulis præ-
missis, ad expositionem litere est procedendum; et primo de
prologo, in quo &uctor tria docet. Primo, quomodo se habuit ante
receptionem prophetis in corporali dispositione; pro quo est
notandum quod communiter qui vident tales visiones sunt quasi
exinaniti per infirmitates corporales, ne caro fortis spiritum 're-
pugnet prophetiæ ; unde Daniel propheta antequam recepit spiritum
prophetiæ se absünuit a cibis regiis, et legumina comedebat et
aquam bibebat. Danielis primo. Et postea meruit esse propheta.
Et Johannes evangelista scripsit Apocalypsim in exilio in insula de
Patmos, quando sustinuit persecutionem. — Apoc. secundo. Et sic
de multis fuit prophetis, quos pretereo causa brevitatis, qui post
tales infirmitates ponunt se ad requiem, ubi Spiritus Sancti gratia
visitantur multotiens, et futurorum recipiunt cognitionem, Et sic
dicit de ista prophetia; unde dicit, febribus infectus, i. infirmatus
per febres, requies fuerat mihi lectus, in quo me posui ad requies-
cendum, et veratus mente per infirmitates praedictas, dormivi nocte
repente, in qua dormitione facta fuerat mihi cura noscere futura,
i. cognoscere quæ ventura sunt curavi, vel Deus non aliter ordi-
navit mihi curam et salutem de mes infirmitate nisi ostendendo
mihi futura ut ea cognoscerem ; et sic patet dispositio corporalis
hujus auctoris ante receptionem prophetis. Secundo ostendit
auctor quomodo recepit prophetiam per perennem scribam cum
spirituali instructione, ubi sunt quatuor notabilia. Primum notabile
est a quo doctore habuit istam prophetiam, et quomodo illam
addidicit, pro quo dieit, Scriba perennis docuit me, i. Spiritus
Sanctus fuit doctor meus in ista prophetia, ita quod ex me non
finxi, nec ab nomine corporali didici nec a spiritu recepi
maligno, quibus modis solet prophetia falsari. Sed Spiritus
Sanctus docuit me scribere, quasi diceret, Spiritus Sanctus voluit
quod ego scriberem istam prophetiam mihi ostensam, et non
alius, qui stylum meum vel sermones meos mutaret in scribendo,
cum pennis, i. scribendo materialiter, sicut faciunt scriptores, vel
cum lingua mea, que penna est et calamus scribe prenominati,
scilicet Spiritus Sancti, sicut. dicit Psalmista: “ Lingua mea cala-
* mus scrbze velocitur scribentis." Secundum notabile est, scire ad
quem finem scripsit istam prophetiam, et qualis fuit libr quem
scripsit; et ista ostendit clare in litera patenti, et primo ostendit
ad quem finem ordinatur, dicens, Me masticare jussit librumque
vorare, quasi diceret, jussit me disponere sententias prophetiæ

VOL. I. I

130 POLITICAL POEMS.

hujus in mente mea, sicut homo disponit per masticationem
cibum quem post in alimentum recipiet, et vorare veras senten-
_tias cognoscendo, et eas occultare ab hominibus, sicut vorata in
ventre a visu occultantur corporali. Secundo quale scriptum erat
ostendit, et qualis fuit liber, dicens, Intus erat plene scriptus; et
dicit intus scriptus, eo quod ille sententiae tunc tantomodo erant in
anima que interius est, vel quia ille sententiæ erant occulte que
dicuntur esse intus, quasi in interioribus claudantur, vel ad deno-
tandum quod ista prophetia tantum fuit in occultis que perintus
notantur, et non ad extra per planam scilicet significationem ver-
borum. Et dicit intus plene scriptus, ad denotandum quod
anima gratia Spiritus Sancti repleta in nulla parte vacua est, vel
quod nullum verbum hujus prophetie caret mysterio, sed est
plena sententiis; vel ad designandum quod quamvis foris erat
scriptum, scilicet, in aliquibus locis ad communem intellectum,
non fuit plene scriptum foris sicut intus. Et dicit, Redolens et
amene, quia talia inspirata per Spiritum Sanctum intellectui
humano sunt valde placita et amcena, vel quia ista prophetia fuit
valde redolens eam intelligentibus propter mysteria futurorum
que importat, vel quia ista prophetia, eo quod metrice scribitur,
delectationem et amoenitatem facit audientibus. "Tertium notabile
est, scire de qua materia sit iste liber, et quomodo illa sit interius
masticata, et ad communem hominum intellectum devenerunt.
Unde pro isto sunt tria primitus notanda. Primo est notandum
quod iste terminus metrificare idem significat quod versificare, vel
versus facere; unde nota quod duplex est modus scribendi, vide-
licet metricus, qui numero et pede mensuratur, et prosaicus, qui
consistit in plano dictamine, sicut literæ scribuntur et epistole.
Secundo est notandum quod triplex potest assignari ratio quare
iste auctor potius scripsit in metra quam in prosa; prima, quia
metra bene retinentur in mente; secunda, quia plurima continent
in verbis paucis; tertia, quia multum sunt delectabilia audientibus
et placita, unde versus:

** Metra juvant animos, componunt plurima paucis."

Tertio, notandum est quod in isto versu notantur tres cause
hujus prophetiæ, Primo, causa efficiens, i. jussit me, i. Spiritus
Sanctus jussit me esse factorem hujus libri; secundo, causa formalis,
quando dicit metrificare, i. scribere per metrum, quia est forma
hujus libri; tertio, causa materialis, qui dicit de bellis novellis,
de quibus tanquam de causa materiali in isto libro tractatur.
Dicit ergo, jussit me metrificare, i. scribere per metra seu per
versus de bellis novellis, futuris in brevi tempore sequenti, ut
homines a malis futuris et bellis se poterint custodire. "Tertio
declarat auctor quomodo ista prophetia est recipienda ab auditore
seu exponenda, et pro isto dicto quatuor tradit regulas. Prima

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 131

regula est ista, quod si aliqua vera dicta sunt in ista pro-
phetia Spiritui Sancto referendi sunt; unde dicit, Si verum scribam,
verum crede me fore scribam. Et in hoc vitat arrogantiam, quod
sibi non attribuit quod Deo est atiribuendum. Secunda regula
est, quod si qua vana et falsa scripta sunt, attribuenda sunt
scriptori propter capitis insanitatem ; unde dicit, Scripsero si vanum,
caput est quia non mihi sanum. Et hic incurrit humilitatem, quia
sibi assumit defectus eos à Deo removendo in quo nulla mala vel
imperfecta inveniuntur. Tertia regula est, quod auctor non debet
auctorem detrahere nec facta sua, sed potius corrigere vel mala
delere; unde dicit, Non mihi detractes, sed falsa per omnia. mactes.
Et ibi excludit presumptiones auditorum, qui proniores sunt ad
detrahendum quam ad laudandum facta aliorum vel corrigendum.
Quarta regula est, quod nullus debet eum credere errare, delirare,
propter modum mirum scribendi; unde dicit, Nullus deliro credat
pro carmine miro; ubi sapientum mundi excludit astutias, qui
eapiunt verba sicut sonant secundum communem expositionem, et
sic in proposito non sunt accipienda. Et sic terminatur prologi
hujus expositio. |

Capitulum 4j. determinat mores regis E. de Carnar-
van et accidentia Angliæ tempore suo usque ad
mortem ejus.

Rex insensatus est bellis undique stratus;
Nobilis est natus, qui dicitur infatuatus.
Nam perdet gentem regni pro jure loquentem,
Ac optimates nullus reddet sibi grates.
Perdet cognatos, pendere sinet veneratos.
Rex pietate carens Christo non fit bene parens;
Regnans perdetur, quia gentis non miseretur.
Mors infecta malis consumet tempora talis ;
Summus contritum tandem faciet redimitum.
Sole sagittante, frigido Boreæ remeante,
Ex hirco taurum gignet redimita per aurum,
Ex auris aurum ventis componitur aurum.
. Exiet et rediet firmatus nomine patris ;
Ejus et interiet genitor terebratus in atris.
Arte suæ matris regnum rapiet sui patris,
Funera post fratris quæret regalia maris.
12

132 POLITICAL POEMS.

Sequitur expositio—Rex insensatus. Hoc capitulum, in quo
determinat auctor mores regis E. de Carnarvan et accidentia
regni Angliæ in tempore suo, continet quinque dicta; sed ante
expositionem istius capituli sunt iria notanda. Primo est notan-
dum quod iste rex E., à quo iste auctor incipit prophetiam suam,
natus fuit apud Carnarvan in North-Wallia anno Christi M°cc®
octogesimo iiij®, anno regni patris ejus E. xj», in die Sancti Marci
evangeliste, cujus pater moriebatur anno Christi M°ccc.vij®, in
die translationis Sancti Thome, et ipse eodem anno xinj. kl.
Sept. apud Westmonasterium coronabatur in regni successorem.
Secundo est notandum quod, sicut apparet, iste auctor scripsit
istam prophetiam intra primum annum regni regis E. de Car-
narvan et xiij annum ejusdem in quo inceperunt bella baronum
conira eum pro jure regni tuendo, omnia enim narrat cum verbo
de presenti, ac si facta sint tempore suo usque ad illa bella, et
accidentia quæ tunc contingebant et consequenter narrat cum
verbo de futuro, tanquam in suo tempore non facta sed fienda,
dicens, Nam perdet gentem, etc. Tertio est notandum, secundum
Randulphum in Policronica sua, quod fuit vir corpore elegans,
viribus prestans, sed moribus, si vulgo creditur, multum discrepans,
sicut infra patebit. His præmissis sequitur expositio hujus capituli,
in quo ostendit auctor primo iij" conditiones prædicti regis E. de
C. principaliter sibi convenientes, Primam conditionem regis
ostendit, dicens, Rex insensatus, i. sine scientia et sapientia naturali
quibus regnum et seipsum regere debuisset. Et istud bene patet
per mores suos, quos Randulphus in sua Policronica sic describit,
quod parvipenso procerum contubernio, adhæsit scurris, cantoribus,
tragedis, aurigis, navigiis, et ceteris artis mechanics officiis, po-
tibus indulgens, secreta facile prodens, in dando prodigus, in con-
vivando splendidis, ore promptus, opere varius, unde propter istas
conditiones merito rex insensatus dicebatur. Secundam conditionem
ejus ostendit auctor, dicens, Est bellis undique stratus, i. devictus
in omni bello quod temptabat. Unde dicitur de eo in Policronica
quod fuit contra hostes infortunatus, et in domesticos effrenatus,
qui anno Christi M°ccc™°xiij®, regni sui anno vij? processit cum
proceribus regni, excepto Thoma Lancastriæ, ad Scotiam cum
pretioso suppellectili pompatice, et apud castrum Striveliniæ die
Sancti Johannis Baptiste, confligentes Anglici, imo potius fu-
gientes, tanta ignominia sunt detriti, ut, occisis nobilibus, amissis
thesauris, residui projectis armis sola sibi fuga consularent. De-
hine per xij annos continuos regnante hoc rege Scoti partes
Anglie boreales jugiter prostraverunt, unde propter ista et consi-
milia dicit auctor de eo quod est bellis undique stratus, "Tertiam
conditionem ostendit auctor de isto rege, dicens quod nobilis est
matus, i. de genere nobih, patre scilicet rege et maire regina. Et
nota quod in isto dicto tollitur error aliquorum qui credebant

s U w — dors EU ne ei tm

SE —-

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 133

eum fuisse filium aurigæ, proper dictum unius fatui tempore suo.
Surrexit enim unus fatuus et vendicabat sibi regnum Anglis,
dicens quod fuit primogenitus regis, eb ob negligentiam nutricis,
dum fuerat in cunabulis, quedam sus intrans delacerabat eum,
et nutri non audens illud manifestare, accepit filium juvenem
unius aurigæ, et custodiebat loco ejus, ponens eum in curam
aliorum ad nutriendum, et sic fuit ipse privatus regno, et Ed-
wardus assumptus; et ad hujus rei manifestationem ostendebat
vestigium vulneris a porca impressi. Etiam dicebat mores regis E.
cum moribus progeniti sui concordare, eo quod opera rusticorum
nimis diligebat, et propter talia dicta plures sibi adhærebant, et
dictis suis credebant, qui tandem tanquam falsus adjudicatus est
suspendio Norhamptoniæ. Ad tollendum igitur istam suspicionem
et errorem, dicit auctor de isto rege quod mobilis est natus. Quar-
tam conditionem hujus regis ostendit, dicens, qui dicitur infatuatus.
Pro quo est notandum quod ille proprie dicitur infatuatus qui,
propter amorem alicujus viri vel mulieris cui adhæret, non curat
quid faciat ad eis complacendum; et talem modum habuit iste
rex, sicut dicitur in Policronica, quod ad unum aliquem familiarem
ardenter adhæsit, quem summe coleret, ditaret, præferret, pre
ceteris honorare, ex quo utique impetu provenit amanti oppro-
brium, amasio obloquium, plebi scandalum, et regno detrimentum.
Unde suis primordiis taliter Petrum de Gavastone dilexerat, cujus
consortium. Edwardus iste paterno jussu abjuraverat, sed post pa-
tris obitum de partibus revocavit transmarinis, cujus comtempla-
tione reginam suam Isabellam neglexit et proceres suos parvipendit.
Sed et Petro extincto per magnates regni ob hanc causam, rex

ut prius alis adhæsit, unde per istam conditionem dicebatur

infatuatus. Secundo ostendit auctor quanta mala fecit iste rex
contra gentem et dominos regni jura tueri et custodire volentes;
pro quo est notandum quod post mortem predicti Petri rex ad-
haesit duobus Dispensatoribus, Hugoni patr et fiho ejusdem
nominis, quorum consilis euncta passim agebat, et multa contra
statuta quibus juratus fuerat. Ob hoc Thomas comes Lancas-
trie et multi nobiles mutuo sibi confederati regis vires adeo
attenuarunt, quod regis assensu saltem verbotenus adhibito, præ-
fatos milites exilio damnaverunt. Sed cito post hec ipse rex
ceteris inconsulüs utrumque revocavit. Exinde crescunt odia et
Schismata, parantur lites et bella, sed inter hec duo magnates de
Mortuomari, priusquam comes Lancastrie parari posset perpere
agentes, urbes quasdam in Marchia capiunt, regis milites profli-
gunt, donec ipse rex cum inspirata peditum multitudine Salo-
piam veniret, ubi magnates il de Mortuomari ad deditionem
sunt coacti. Quibus incarceratis rex ipse ad orientem tendens
versus villam de Burtone sub nivibus hyemalibus comitem Lan-
castrie cum suis complicibus mirabiliter dispersit, atque inde

134 POLITICAL POEMS.

usque ad castrum suum de Pontefracto fugere coegit. Inde
comes divertens versus Boream, captus est cum mulis nobilibus
apud pontem de Burghbrigge, indeque ad castrum suum de
Pontefracto adductus, multisque conviciis lacessitus, cum consilio
dominorum Dispensatorum decapitatus est, anno Christi M°ccc°xx?,
et optimates regni qui secum erant sunt distracti et suspensi;
et hoc est quod dicit iste auctor quod perdet gentem pro regni jure
loquentem, ac optimates, dominos regni, nullus reddet sibi grates pro
illo maleficio, et tunc perdet cognatos, scilicet dominum de Clif-
ford et alios, et pendere sinet veneratos in illo conflictu captos
cum comite. Circa predicta sunt tria notabilia. Primum notabile
quanta mala accidunt regno cujus rex fatuus est eb insipiens.
Primo enim regnum tempore suo est bellis prostratum et devic-
tum; secundo, loquentes pro jure regni perduntur et occiduntur;
tertio, magnates regni et sapientes perduntur, et insipientes ei
similes foventur, sicut patet in versibus prædictis. Secundum
notabile est quod sapiens et discretus debet ordinari ductor belli,
et non fatuus, licet fuerit multum generosus et fortis, quia sub
talibus populus communiter prosternitur et devincitur. Tertium
notabile, quod sub rege fatuo, vel sub domino insipiente, nullus
potest esse securus de vita sua nec de divitiis suis, quia nec lo-
quentes pro jure regni seu communitatis, nec habentes cogna-
tionem regiam, nec optimates regni, sicut patet in versibus pre-
dietis. Tertio ostendit auctor quomodo Deus punivit istum
regem pro maleficiis suis, dicens, Rez pietate carens, quia non
habuit pietatem de populo suo, sed posuit eos ad destructionem,
Christo non fit bene parens, i. non est obediens sive placens Christo.
Regnans perdetur, i. dum est in regnando talis destruetur, quia
gentis non miseretur. Mors infecta mahs, 1. mors cum magnis
miseris, Consumet tempora talis, i. destruet tempora talis regis;
que omnia conipleta sunt cum iste rex, dum adhuc viveret, in
regno sustinuit multa opprobria, et tandem miserabiliter occisus
est, sicut postea patebit; unde dicit, Summus faciet redimitum, i.
regem coronatum, tandem contritum, i. humiliatum et destructum
in regno suo. Sed aliter potest iste versus exponi sic: Summus
contritum, 1. Deus post contritionem regis de peccato suo faciet
eum redimitum, i. coronatum in colis, Hic sunt tria notabilia,
Primum notabile, quod rex qui caret pietate, et qui non miseretur
gentis sus, perdetur de regno suo. Secundum notabile, quod
talis rex non morietur bona morte, quia vel occidetur. in prelio,
vel morietur in carcere, vel interficietur persecutione regni sui.
Tertium notabile, quod Deus multotiens tales persecutiones bo-
norum in vita sua permittit contriri de peccatis, ut in colis coro-
nentur; unde dicit, Summus contritum, etc. Quarto ostendit auctor
generationem hujus regis qui ei succedit in regno. Nota, quod
oportet amodo ponere majorem diligentiam ad intelligendum,

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 185

procedit enim subtilius quam prius, ostendens in quatuor versibus
quatuor concernentia generationem Edwardi de Wyndesore. In
primo versu ostendit tempus anni in quo genitus fuit, dicens,
Sole sagittante, 1. dum sol fuit in signo sagittarii, vel tendens ad
sagittarium, quod magis videtur verum, quia natus fuit anno
Domini M?ecc.xij"* in festo Sancti Bricii, quo die sol non est
in sagittario, sed distat per tres gradus tendens ad eum, sicut
patet per tabulas astronomie. Frigido Boree remeante, i. dum fri-
giditas venti borealis revertitur, quod est illo tempore scilicet
mense Novembr. In secundo versu nominat auctor genitum et
progenitores suos figurative, dicens, Redimita per aurum, i, regina
cum auro coronata, gignet taurum, i. filium suum tauro assimi-
latum, ez hirco, i. ex rege patre suo hirco comparato propter
aliquas conditiones suas. In tertio versu ostendit locum in quo
fuit genitus, a quo cognomen recepit, dicens, ex auris aurum, i.
genitus qui erit auro coronatus, fuit ex auris, i. ex rege et re-
gina coronatis auro, ventis componitur aurum, i. nomen loci in quo
genibus est componitur ex significatione istorum duorum termi-
norum, ventis aurum, Anglice Wyndesbr. Aliter exponitur iste
versus propter eos qui dicunt quod hoe nomen aurum non habet
pluralem numerum, sic ex auris ventis, 1. ex significatione istius
termini aura, quando accipitur pro vento, Gallice or, quibus
junctis faciunt Wyndesor. Et nota quod auctor utitur hic sexta
occultatione et tertia, quia iste terminus aura est terminus æqui-
vocus, et plura significat, unde versus :

“Aura, favor, splendor, flatus dicatur, et aer."

Ideo notabiliter designat eum significare hic ventos, unde dicit,
ep auris ventis. In iiij versu ostendit quod erit nomen geniti,
dicens, Eziet, scilicet de utero ad baptismum, ef rediet de baptismo
firmatus nomine patris, i. habens nomen patris sui, scilicet Edwardi,
vel firmatus nomine patris, i. baptizatus in nomine Patris et Fili
et Spiritus Saneti, Aliter tamen exponitur iste versus in isto dicto
sequenti. Quinto ostendit iste auctor in quatuor versibus qualia
accident juveni Edwardo de Wyndesor, et quomodo recipiet regnum
Anglie patre suo vivente; unde in primo versu nota quomodo.
Edwardus juvenis missus fuit ad Franciam pro pace reformanda
inter regem Franciæ et regem Anglie patrem suum, quem rex
Francie pro homagio Vasconiæ non exhibita multum vexaverat,
ob quam causam regina prius transmissa fuerat ad fratrem suum
pacificandum. Ideo dicit auctor, Exiet, scilicet de Anglia ad Fran-
ciam, pro pace reformanda, sed matre et filio in partibus trans-
marinis sic demorantibus, nec redire volentibus, aut certe propter
metum Dispensatorum non audentibus, Dispensatoribus id audienti-
bus, Dispensatorum consilio in foro Londoniz publice banniti sunt.
Anno tamen Christi M°ccc™°*xxv}'*, cum parva manu Hanaldorum

136 POLITICAL POEMS.

circa festum Saneti Michaelis Angliam in Essexia apud Horwythe
applicuerunt, et ideo dicit auctor, et rediet, scilicet ad Angliam de
Francia. Qui in auxilio regni regem Edwardum de C. capiunt,
et custodibus demandant, Dispensatores etiam detrahunt et sus-
pendunt. Et in festo Purificationis proximo sequenti juvenis
Edwardus de Wyndesor xv. circiter annorum, paire viventi adhuc
sub custodia, apud Westmonasterium coronatus est, et ideo dicit
auctor quod est firmatus nomine patris, scilicet in regno pro patre
suo cum eodem nomine quo pater ejus prius vocabatur, scilicet
Edwardus rex. In secundo versu ostendit quomodo Edwardus de
Carnarvan, genitor Edwardi predict, post filii sui coronationem
interit. Pro quo est notandum quod tempore predicte coronatio-
nis, Edwardus ille servabatur in custodia seu carcere. | Custodes
autem sui scientes quod sibi vendicare, regnum si de carcere
evaderet, et palam non audentes eum occidere, mortem occultam
sibi ordinabant; unde dicebatur quod eum occiderant in locis
occultis, scilicet, in ano vel in locis genitalibus cum quodam in-
strumento, corneo vel ferreo, et hoc est quod dicit auctor, Ejws et
interiet genitor, i. pater Edwardi de Wyndesor morietur, ferebratus
in atris, i. in locis nigris et obscuris cum predicto instrumento.
In tertio versu ostendit quod E. de Wyndesor devenit ad regnum
Anglie per artem matris suæ, pro quo est notandum quod regina
graviter sustinebat predictam bannitionem sibi factam per con-
silium Dispensatorum, quia ab anno decapitationis Thome de
Lancastria usque ad sextum annum quo occisi sunt, coepit sors
invalescere. apud regem, et reginæ conditio ancillar. Ob hoc
regina post adventum suum ad Angliam per annos conspirabat
ad depositionem mariti sui de regno, et ad filii sui elevationem,
quem tenerrime diligebat, quia sibi comes fuerat itineris et laboris;
ideo dicit auctor de eo quod rapiet regnum patris sui, i. accipiet
violente regnum Anglie, arte sue matris, 1. per artem et consilium
matris suæ ; et ita factum est. In quarto versu ostendit quomodo
praedictus Edwardus de Wyndesor vendicabat sibi regnum Francie
ante mortem suam. Pro quo est notandum quod Isabella regina
Anglie fuit soror regis Francorum tune viventis, proximum jus
. habens in regno Francie si suus frater sine filiis moreretur; quod
contigit, unde Edwardus filius sive promogenitus, post mortem
illus regis, sibi regnum Franciæ vendicabat, tanquam hæredi-
latem sibi pertinentem ex parte matris suce. Hic sunt tria nota-
bilia. Primum notabile est de morte miserabili Edwardi de Car-
narvan, quod ille qui sanguinem innocentem effudit injuste morte
intemit abominabili et prius inaudita, quia moriebatur ferebratus
in atris. Secundum notabile est de acceptione regnorum penes
Edwardum de Wyndesor. Dicit enim auctor quod rapiet regnum
Anglie, et de regno Francie tantum dicit quod quæret illud, ad
denotandum forte quod tempore suo non recipiet regnum Franciz,

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 137

et tantummodo laborabit in quærendo, quia si reciperet regnum
Francie, ita faciliter potuit dixisse recipiet sicut queret. "Tertium
notabile est quod iste Edwardus potest dici taurus propter tres
conditiones in quibus videtur concordare cum tauro. Primo pro-
prietas est ista, secundum Plinium libro vij?: certum est quod
ejus maxima fortitudo est in collo et in cornibus ejus, sic forti-
tudo istius regis est in dominis Anglie et populo suo, qui per
cornua designantur ibi, Taurus cornutus stauro fultus bene tutus.
Secunda proprietas tauri est ista, secundum Aristotelem, quod
eligit sibi pascua pinguia, in quibus se depascit, sic iste eligit sibi
pinguia pascua Francie sibi de jure convenientia, ut infra dicetur :

“Tune taurus gregem ducet per pinguia prata."
Tertia proprietas tauri, secundum Aristotelem, est quod taurus
non relinquit pascua nisi tempore coitus, et tunc vaccis se asso-
ciat, sic credo quod iste rex impedietur per amorem mulierum a
regno Francie et’ pascuis suis. Unde auctor dicit infra:

* Hoc dico plane vulvam non laudo Diane,

* Que taurum mane mulcet verbum per inane."

Et hic terminatur secundum capitulum, continens accidentia regni
Anglie tempore Edwardi de Carnarvan.

Cupitulum tertium docet, mores Edwardi de Wynde-
sore, et accidentia regnt Angliæ tempore juven-
tutis sue, unde versus sequuntur.

Taurus erit fortis, metuens nil tristia mortis;
Sobrius et castus, justus, sine crimine fastus ;
Ad bona non tardus, audax veluti leopardus.
Semper erit taurus viridescens utpote laurus ;
Fertilis et plenus, nummorum semper egenus.
Agmina vaccarum defendet vi propriarum.
Hic subjugabit hostes, reges superabit ;

Vix mundi talis stauri ductor liberalis, _
Rex erit et custos, et diliget undique justos.
Temporibus tauri scutum portabitur auri;
Tune erit argentum per terras undique lentum.
Occultis portis lustris capiet mare mortis;
Illicitis scortis solitum cameris et in hortis.
Qui fuerat fortis, morietur turbine sortis.
Inter silvestres leges pennis volitabunt ;

Inter campestres. dolus et pax se sociabunt.

138 |. POLITICAL POEMS,

Inter scutiferos legis vires dominantur ;
Jura per armigeros subjectis dum reserantur.
Fraus mercatorum nummis pandetur eorum,
Dum pugnatorum cupiunt deducere lorum. _
Ecce Simon veniet cum militibus sociatus;
Ecclesias rapiet, cum muneribus laqueatus.

Taurus erit fortis. Istud tertium capitulum, docens mores regis
Edwardi de Wyndesore et accidentia regni tempore juventutis sus,
continet octo dicta. Primo ostendit mores regis Edwardi tempore
juventutis suc, quorum aliquos credo mutabit tempore medio vitæ
suc, aliquos circa finem; et circa istud dictum sunt tria notanda.
Primo est notandum quod auctor istius prophetiæ in tribus locis
ejusdem narrat diffuse de moribus istius regis, primo de moribus
juventutis suæ in isto capitulo, secundo de moribus quos habebit
in media ætate in quinto capitulo secunde distinctionis; unde in
tempore obsidionis de Caleys narrat mores ejus, et ibi aliquos
mores omitüt quos sibi hic attribuit, sicut sobrietatem, castitatem,
humilitatem, agilitatem operandi, innuens quod tunc illas omittet
conditiones. Tertio notat iste auctor de bonis moribus quos habe-
bit taurus circa finem suum, capitulo quinto distinctione tertia.
Secundo est notandum quod hic describit mores mutabiles juven-
tutis tauri in primo dicto hujus capituli, et in secundo ostendit |
aliquos mores quos per totam vitam suam continuabit, et in tertio
ostendit mores et accidentia sibi diversis temporibus setatis su
contingentia. "Tertio est notandum quod attribuit sibi in isto dicto
septem conditiones bonas pertinentes regi. Primo fortitudinem
mentis et corporis qua se in bello et populum potest defendere,
dicens, Taurus erit fortis, in virtute corporali, metuens nil tristia
mortis, scilicet in anima; ubi removet ab eo pusillanimitatem
spiritus et timorem, quia sine ista stante fortitudine prima nil
valeret. Secundo attribuit sibi sobrietatem contra gulam et
ebrietatem, quæ magnum vitium in rege æstimatur, dicens, Sobrius.
Tertio attribuit sibi castitatem contra luxuriam, dicens, ef castus.
Quarto attribuit regi justitiam contra injuriam, dicens quod erit et
Justus. Quinto attribuit regi humilitatem contra superbiam, dicens
quod erii sine crimine fastus. Sexto attribuit huic regi agilitatem
in bonis operibus, dicens, Ad bona non tardus. Septimo attribuit
sibi audaciam contra inimicos et malefactores regni, dicens quod
erit audax veluti leopardus, qui est animal magne audaciæ et
fortitudinis. Et nota quod comparat audaciam regis armis suis,
quia tres leopardos portat in scuto suo, et non sine causa, veluti
imaginari poterit. Secundo ostendit iste auctor mores regis E.
quos per totam vitam suam continuabit. Prima conditio est quod

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 139

ejus honor et virtus non marcescent in tempore suo, sed semper
augmentabuntur et crescent, unde dicit quod est faurus viridescens.
Et noia quod hic addit istum terminum semper quem in versibus
precedentibus non addebat ad designandum hujus honoris per-
manentiam, quia sicut viriditas lauri non marcescit hyeme vel æstate,
sie nec honor hujus regis juventute vel senectute peribit; ideo
dicit auctor, viridescens utpote laurus. Secunda que consequetur,
in regno toto tempore suo est fertilitas terre et plenitudo bono-
rum, quia terra erit fertilis in tempore suo et dabit fructum suum,
unde magna plenitudo bonorum regno evenit; unde dicit auctor
quod est fertilis et plenus. Tertia conditio consequens eum con-
tinue est egestas nummorum, quia toto tempore vite sus vel indi-
gebit nummis et pecunia propter guerras suas, vel propter avari-
liam suam; quando enim cessabit a guerris erit valde avarus
pecunie, et aliquando magis pecunie quam honorum, quod est
contra modum generosorum, unde dicit auctor quod erit xwmmo-
rum semper egenus. Quarta conditio consequens eum continue erit
bona defensio et conservatio regni Anglie, quod sibi datur quasi
regnum proprium, et ipse conservabit populum illius sicut bonus
taurus conservat agmina vaccarum. Ideo dicit auctor, Agmina vac-
carum defendet vi propriorum, i. defendet populum suum de Anglia
contra alia regna vi et fortitudine sua. Et sic patent qualuor con-
ditiones hujus regis semper ipsum comitantes. Tertio ponit iste
auctor conditiones regis in diversis temporibus vite suæ sibi con-
tingentes. Et nota quod omnes iste conditiones sunt de facto in
rege, ut in exposilione sequenti clare patebunt. Dicit enim, Hic
subjugabit hostes, quod impletum est in Scotia et Francia; reges
superabit, quod factum fuit in bello de Crecy, ubi rex Beomiæ fuit
occisus et rex Francie fugatus. Vir erit ductor talis in mundo, quia
in tempore suo reputabitur unus de optimis ducibus mundi, et vix
aliquis reputabitur ei æqualis, nec ita Jiberalis stauri, quia non
concedet populum suum, quem hic vocat staurum suum, ad plura
regna, scilicet ad Hiberniam, ad Scotiam, ad Britanniam, ad Fran-
ciam, ad magnas guerras et prelia. Rex erit et custos, scilicet. de
regno Anglie, et diliget undique justos, quod fecit omni tempore
suo, quos scilicet scivit et credidit esse justos. Quarto ostendit
imitationem et innovationem monete tempore hujus regis. Pro quo
est notandum quod tempore suo incepit moneta de auro, scilicet
nobile seu scutum auri, propter cujus multiplicationem argentum
illo tempore erat valde rarum in terra, eo quod domini et merca-
tores in alios usus varios illud transmutabat. Ideo dicit auctor,
scutum, portabitur, scilicet nobile, portabitur tempore tauri, quia tunc
incepit, tune erit argentum lentum et rarum undique per terras,
quia in alios usus tunc mutabitur. Quinto ostendit auctor captice .
nem et mortem domini Rogeri Mortimer tempore illo. Pro quo
est notabile quod iste dominus Rogerus concubuit cum regina

RAM aine,

140 POLITICAL POEMS,

ipse rege vivente, etiam post mortem ejus multo tempore, unde
omnia negotia regni per reginam et ipsum Rogerum terminaban-
tur, ita quod ipsa fuit quasi rex, et secundum opinionem aliquo-
rum ipse aspiravit ad regnum et ad destructionem regis E, occulte,
sicut poterat, ob quam causam predictus Edwardus amicorum
consilio illum accepit in scortis cum regina, quem distraxit et
suspendit; et hoc est quod dicit auctor. Rex Edwardus capiet
mare mortis, i. mortuum, et hic utitur sexta occultatione. Occultis

| portis, quia intraverunt ad eum! per portas occultas. Lwustris, i. in

speluncis vel cavernis terre, vel in locis occultis. — licitis scortis
solitum, quia solebat facere illicita scorta cum regina in cameris et
ín hortis, et qui fuerat fortis, scilicet ille Mortimer, qui fortis miles
et pulcher fuerat, morietur turbine sortis. Unde nota quod turbo
est ventus circumflexus, qui primo percutit terram et postea elevat
se in aera, et ibi finitur. Sic iste primo fuit tractus per terram,
inde elevatus in aera, et ibi finivit vitam suam per suspendium.
Sexto ostendit auctor iste variationem legis et debilitationem in
diverso statu tempore suo; pro quo est notandum quod auctor
ostendit status tres hominum in quibus illo tempore debilitabuntur,
primo inter silvestres et homines in montibus et silvis manentes,
secundo inter campestres et rurales, tertio inter scutiferos et domi-
nos, dicens, Inier silvestres, i. habitantes in silvis, leges pennis volita-
bunt, i. cum sagittis, quia tales homines non expectabunt alias
leges illo tempore nisi quod potentior inimicum suum opprimat
cum sagittis, qui est modus pugnandi inter tales. Inter campestres,
i. villanos qui habitant campos. Dolus et paz se sociabunt, 1, fir-
mabunt inter se pacem cum dolo, unde magis pacifici, si possent,
vicinum suum vellent destruere cum quo pacem similant. Inter
sculiferos, scilicet milites, legis vires dominantur, ut qui potentior
est in viribus habebit legem. Dum jura reserantur subjectis per
armigeros, i. dum domini non aliud faciunt de jure nisi mittunt
subjectis suis et armigeris ut vadant et destruant quem dominus
destruere nititur. Septimo ostendit quamdem fraudem mercatorum
illo tempore exortam de falsa moneta. Pro quo est notandum
quod illo tempore venit de transmarinis per mercatores falsa
moneta de cupro, quæ dicebatur lusscheburne, habens formam
denarii Anglicani, et de ista moneta dieit auctor fraus mercatorum
pandetur seu ostendetur nummis eorum, sicut de lussheburun, Dum
capiunt deducere lorum pugnatorum, i. facere monetam de loris pugna-
torum, i. de cupro, de quo illo tempore fuerunt lora, pugnatorum.
Octavo ostendit simoniam regnantem illo tempore, dicens, Ecce
Simon veniet, 1. Simonia, cum militibus sociatus, quia milites, qui olim
jurati. fuerunt ad conservandum justitias ecclesi, jam propter
munera et amicitias suos promovent clericos simoniace. Ecclesias
rapiet, scilicet Simonia seu Simon. Laqueatus cum muneribus, quia
sicut laqueus retinet avem ne posset evolare, ita munera retinent

JOHN OF DBRIDLINGTON, 141

ecclesias simoniace quod nullus jam sine munere ad aliquam vix
promovetur dignitatem. Sed beati qui possent, dicere cum propheta,
* Laqueus contritus est, et nos liberati sumus." Et sic terminatur
istud capitulum.

Capitulum y. ostendit accidentia inter regna
Angle et Scotiæ illo tempore «sque ad im-
ceptionem guerre de Francia.

Taurus regnabit, et mater confcederabit,
Cum Scotis nata Dyna cancro copulata.

Pax erit in terra, rediet sed Scotica guerra.
Quidam ballivus, armis jam nominativus,
Voce vocativus tauri, tauroque dativus,
Sternet equos ligni, medio latitat leo signi.
Ipsos ascendet, ad Scotica cornua tendet,
Militi:e gyrum Angli facient bene mirum,
Temporibus gentis cum pennatis ferientis.
Nam loco leto non sunt Scoti sine letho ;
Seotorum gentes terebrabunt arcitenentes,
Et viduæ flentes sponsos quærent morientes.
Sponsus coelestis taxatur, et incola restis,
Dum Scotis moestis regnant reges duo pestis.
In sacro monte pugnans gens Scotica sponte,
Ursina fronte cadent, Angli nam sine ponte.
Psalletur gestis David luxuria festis,

Qui tenet uxores uxore sua meliores.
Deficient mores regales, perdet honores.
Pignus amoris, pacta sororis non solidabunt,
Anterioris facta doloris nam reboabunt,
Sanguine Scotorum spoliatorum sociorum.

Sequitur expositio istorum versuum.— Taurus regnabit. In isto
li? capitulo ostendit auctor accidentalia inter regnum Anglic
et Scotiæ, et continet quinque dieta. In primo ostendit pacem
factam per filiam regis Anglie copulatam regi Scotis, qus pax
non durabit. Pro quo est notandum quod Scoti ab anno Christi
millesimo cc"? nonagesimo octavo, in quo Edwardus primus
post conquestum occidit 60,000 Scotorum spud Fawkyrke in

142 POLITICAL POEMS.

festo Sanctæ Mariæ Magdalenæ, per xxx. continuos annos usque
ad tempora Edwardi de Wyndesore, Anglicos et Angliæ loca vicina
jugiter pertriverunt, secundum Radulphum, ita quod in principio
prædicti Edwardi quasi per tres annos fuerunt contra Anglicos.
Tune mater sua ipso regnante copulavit filiam suam regi Scotiæ in
fredere pacis, quam postea Scoti fregerunt. Unde dicit auctor, Tau-
rus regnabit, scilicet in Anglia, ef mater confederabit, scilicet, regina
faciet foedus cum Scotis nata Dyna, i. filia sua domina, copulata, per
conjugium, cancro, scilicet regi Scotie, qui per aliquas conditiones
cum quibus concordat cum cancro dicitur cancer. Paz erit in terra,
scilicet Anglie, rediet sed Scotica guerra, quia pax illa diu non du-
rabit. Secundo ostendit quomodo et per quem pax inter Scotiam
et Angliam frangebatur. Pro quo est notandum quod isto tem-
pore aliqui domini Scotorum miserunt occulte Edwardo de Bal-
hholf quod veniret ad vendicandum sibi regnum Scotiæ, cujus ipse
erat verus hæres, et ipsum libenter in recto suo juvarent. At
ile dietis eorum commotus, primo venit ad Angliam, ubi meruit
auxilium contra Scotos per regis promissionem, licet aperte non
consentiebat propter pacem prædictam inter Angliam et Scotiam
factam per conjugium, et tunc le Balholle cum classe sua adivit
Seotiam et apud Kynkhorn applicuit, qui postea infra breves dies
maximam Scotorum stragem fecit apud Dipelingmore; et hoc di-
cit iste auctor, Quidam ballivus nominativus jam in armis, i. E. de
Balliolle, quia tune nominativus in armis fuit, et bellicosus repu-
tabatur. Vocativus voce tauri, quia taurus eum forte vocavit con-
tra Scotiam, vel quia voce tauri seu ejus nomine vocatus, scilicet
Edwardus. Tauroque dativus, vel quia aliqua dona prebuit regi
Anglie, vel forte sibi concessit subjectionem Scotiæ et pacem
inter regna postquam eam adquisiverit. Sfernet equos ligni, i.
naves; et hic utitur tertia occultatione. Medio latitat leo signi, 1.
leo seuti Scotiæ latitabat in medio navium, quem secum assump-
sit tanquam verus heres; et hic utitur secunda occultatione.
. Ipsos ascendet, scilicet naves. Ad Scotica cornua tendet, 1. ad
locum in Scotia ubi applicuit, qui dicitur lingua eorum Kynk-
horn, et lingua Latina Scotica cornua; et hic utitur sexta occul-
tatione. Tertio ostendit de loco belli et modo ejus, et fine;
dieit enim, 4ngli facient militie gyrum, scilicet in terra Scotiæ, vel
in exercitu, quando congregati sunt domini Scotorum, sagittarii
facient gyrum cum pennatis, scihcet sagittis. Temporibus geniis
flentis, i. in capitibus Scotorum, qui flendo pugnabant. Nam loco
leto, in loco scilicet belli ad quem venerunt Scoti cum magna
letitia et gaudio. Non sunt Scoti sine letho, i. morte, quia ibi
occisi fuerant. ^ Aliter post iste versus exponitur. Istud bellum
fuit commissum in loco qui dicitur Dipelyngmore, et in illo
est locus ubi fuit ingressio belli, et vocatur Gladeleye, quod lin-

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 143

gua eorum locus letus interpretatur, unde in illo loco non fue-
runt Scoti sine letho et morte; unde nota hic quod lætus, -ta, -tum,
Anglice dicitur glad, et hoc lethum, lethi, Anglice deth, unde hic
utitur auctor tertia occultatione. Arcitenentes, in illo bello, fere-
brabant gentes Scotie, i. perforabant cum sagittis suis, Et vidue
flentes, post occisionem maritorum, querent sponsos morientes, qui
in illo bello occidebantur. Quarto ostendit de bello de Halidone
et miseri Scotorum tempore quo duo reges regnabant. Pro
quo est notandum quod, post bellum predictum, E. de Balliolle
tenuit se in Scotia tanquam rex, et fecit magnam destructionem
de populo, ita quod illud regnum illo tempore fuit valde mestum
et dolorosum propter mala ab illis duobus regibus inflicta; tum
Scoti fugaverunt Edwardum usque Carleolum, qui postea auxilio
regis Angliæ bellum apud Halidone contra Scotos commisit, et
hujus mentionem facit auctor, dicens, Sponsus celestis taratur, i.
sacræ ecclesie rectores et gubernatores, episcopi scilicet et ab-
bates, qui sponsi coelestes dicuntur eo quod sacre sponsantur
ecclesie, ab illis regibus tune multum per taxam et injustas ex-
actiones gravabantur. Est incola restis, i. communitas terre
taxabatur per arestationes, vel per restas, 1. per funes et cordas,
eo quod aliqui incole tune temporis forte fuerunt suspensi. Dum.
duo reges pestis, scilicet David et Edwardus de Balliolle qui
fuerunt causa pestis, L mortis Scotorum, regnant Scotis mastis, et
doloris propter stragem et destructionem eis inflictam, nec habu-
erunt regem unde poterant juvari, quia David adhue fuerat juvenis
non valens arma portare bellica. Unde illo tempore Scoti disposu-
erunt se sponte ad pugnandum contra regem Anglie venientem pro
E. de Balliolle apud Halydone, unde auctor, gens Scotica pug-
nans in sacro monte, scihcet Halydone, ubi bellum commissum
fuit, sponte, i. propria voluntate, et Angli illo tempore cadebant
ursina fronte, Anglice Berwyke, vel Berefrount, sine ponte, quando
enim credebant transire per pontem, fuit destruetus, et ibi plures
occisi sunt. Quinto ostendit mores David regis Scotorum, dicens,
luœuria David psalletur festis et conviviis, quia sic solebant minis-
irali dicere opera strenua et bellicosa bonorum militum, ita de
isto David facient gesta luxuriosa. Qui tenet uxores uxore sua
meliores, non quia concubine quibus utebatur fuerunt meliores
quam regina, sed quia ministralh Scotorum volentes regi favere in
peccato suo dicebant eas meliores, vel quia voluerunt vituperare
reginam in despectu regis Anglie, cujus soror ipsa fuerat, vel
quia regi alim uxores videbantur meliores quia magis sibi placebant,
et in hoc deficient mores regales, in eo, et propterea perdet honores
qui regi pertinerent, quia homines sui eum non honoraverunt ut
regem, sed tanquam parem eum tractaverunt, et sapientes eorum
reputaverunt eum stultum et fatuum. Etiam pacta sororum,
scilicet regis Anglie, quam David accepit in uxorem pacto pacis.

144 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Non solidabunt pignus amoris, et pacem inter regna, quia fata
anterioris doloris, scilicet. in fortuna bellorum praecedentium, et
quomodo rex Anglie concessit Edwardo de Bailliolle adjutorium
contra Scotos et contra David, jam reboabunt, 1. iterum. sonabunt
et revertentur pro sanguine Scotorum spoliatorum sociorum, in
bellis precedentibus effuso. Et sic terminatur istud capitulum.

Capitulum, v" ostendit accidentia inter regem. An-
glie et Francie priusquam rex Angliæ trans-
wit mare contra Gallicos.

Fastus Francorum facinus faciet fatuorum.
Incipient guerras Anglorum perdere terras;
Subvertent castra tollentes se super astra,

Nec prece nec pretio cessabunt bella parare,
Anglos servitio credentes illaqueare.

Orabunt gentes Messiam bella verentes, |
Ut det maternum jus, salvet et ipse paternum.
Galli cessare non curant, vel renovare |
Pacem cum tauro, quia confidunt nimis auro.
Franci juridici tauro fient inimici,

Falsi schismatici, quia vera negant bene dici.
Legifer instituit terras habuisse sorores,
Quando mors rapuit sine natis progenitores.
Nunquam natura mutavit adhuc sua jura,
Fosmina quod cura propriorum sit caritura,
Jure sui matris summi natus quoque patris,
Rex Judæorum vocabatur miserorum.

Taurus adhuc crescit, miror quod Gallia nescit.
Matre sua dante rectum sibi quod fuit ante,
Regnum Gallorum sibi vendicat esse suorum,
Proximus extat hæres dum Gallica germina quæres ;
Clangunt rumores quod matris quærit honores.

Sequitur expositio inde.—Füstus Francorum. In isto v? capitulo,
ubi dicit auctor que acciderunt inter regem Anglie et Francie
antequam rex Ánglie disposuit se ad bellandum Franciam, sunt
quatuor dicta. Primo ostendit iniquitatem Gallicorum contra re-
gem Anglie ex eorum superbia procedentem, dicens, Fastus Fran-

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 145

corum fatuorum, i. superbia, faciet facinus, i, injustitiam et malitiam,
quia incipient guerras contra regem Anglorum. Anglorum perdere
terras, quas sibi voluerunt per injurias subjugare. Subvertent castra,
i. perünentia regi Anglie. Tollens super astra, per laudes quas
per talia facinora credebant se mereri. Unde, mec prece nec pretic
cessabunt bella parare, contra regem Anglie, Anglicos servitio cre- -
dentes illaqueare, quia credebant fecisse Anglicos et qui tenebant
de rege Angliæ sibi tributarios. Secundo ostendit auctor inno-
centiam Anglicorum contra omnia ista mala, dicens quod gentes
verentes bella, scilicet religiosi et clerici sæculares et multi domini
de Anglis, qui timuerunt potentiam Galliæ, quia reputabatur unum
de potentioribus regnis mundi, orabant Messiam, idem Christum
qui fuit Messias promissus in lege, ut det maternum, i. regnum
Francie, salvet et ipse paternum, scilicet regnum Anglie, quod jure
hæreditario post patrem suum possidebat; sed propter omnia ista
Galli non curant cessure ab injustitia sua, nec revocare pacem cum
tauro, sed semper continuabant malitiam suam, quia confidunt nimis
in auro, credebant enim se habuisse sufficiens auxilium contra reg-
num Anglie cum auro suo, sed fuerunt decepti, quia plus valet
auxilium Dei cum justitia quam multi thesauri. "Tertio ostendit
iste auctor quomodo juristæ Francorum dixerunt regem Anglie non
habere jus in regnum Francie, et contra eos arguit per duo argu-
menta, dicens, Franci juridici, i. professores juris de Francia, fient
tauro inimici, quia excludebant eum de regno per falsitates; et ideo,
sunt falsi schismatici, i, facientes divisionem et discordiam inter
regna, quia vera negant bene dici, contradicentes veris allegatis pro
rege Anglie. Sed contra istos adducit auctor duas leges probantes
quod filia debet, succedere in regno si pater vel frater moriatur sine
filio vel hærede; quod si isti Franci negant contra regem Anglis.
Pro prima historia est notandum, Num. xxvij dieitur de quatuor
filiabus Saphat, que * steterunt corem Moyse et Eliazoro sacerdote
* et cunctis principibus populi ad ostium tabernaculi foederis,
* atque dixerunt, Pater noster mortuus est in deserto, nec fuit
* in seditionem quæ concitata est contra Dominum sub Chore,
* sed in peccatis suis mortuus est. Hic non habuit mares filios.
* Cur tolliiur nomen illius de familia sua quia non habuit
* filium? Date nobis possessionem inter cognatos patris nostri.
* Retulit Moysis causam earum ad judicium Domini, qui dixit
* ad eum, Justam rem postulant filie Saphat, da eis possessionem
* inter cognatos patris sui, et ei in hæreditate succedant; ad
" filios autem Israel loqueris hzc. Homo cum mortuus fuerit
" absque filio, ad filham ejus transibit hzreditas; si filiam non
* habuit, habebit successores fratres suos; quod si fratrem non
* habuerit, dabit hereditatem fratribus patris sui; si autem
* patruos non habuerit, dabitur hæreditas his qui proximi ejus
* fuerint. Erit hoc filiis Israel sua lege perpetua, sicut precepit
VOL. 1. K

146 POLITICAL POEMS.

* Dominus Moysi." Istam historiam allegat auctor pro rege Angliæ,
dicens, Legifer instituit, i. Moyses ordinavit, ferras habuisse sorores,
sicut patet in historia predicta. Quando mors rapuit sine matis
progenitores, scilicet patrem cum filiis, sed nunquam natura mutavit
adhuc sua jura, quod femina sit caritura cura propriorum; quare
patet de jure matris quod rex Anglie est verus heres Francie se-
cundum istam historiam. Secunda historia qua iste auctor idem
probat est ista quod matus summá patris, scilicet Christus, vocita-
batur rex miserorum Judæorum, et hoc jure matris sue. Quarto
ostendit iste auctor quomodo iste rex vendicabat sibi regnum Fran-
cie et jus maternum, dicens, Taurus adhuc crescit, i. inter omnia
ista mala et adversa prosperatur in honore et reverentia. Miror
quod Gallia nescit que sua fuerat superbia obcæcata, credens eum
timore suo decrescere; sed ipso non obstante, vendicat sibi regnum
Gallorum esse suorum, matre sua dante rectum sibi quod fuit ante ;
quia forte mater ejus tunc concessit sibi executionem justitiæ quam
prius forte ei prohibuit, et ipse provimus extat heres Francim, dum
Gallica germina queres, i. si lineam perscrutaveris regalem. Clan-
gunt ergo rumores, in diversis terris, quod matris querit. honores,
scilicet regnum Francie, quod sibi ex maire contingebat.

Capitulum, vj" determinat de bellis et de d'isposi-
tione bellorum contra Gallicos usque ad primam
pacem. factam.

Jam reboant bella, fit causa movens Isabella;
Strident Germani nummorum tempore sani,
Frendent Barbani ambo nummis sine vani,

Et genus uxoris signum similabit amoris.

Vellere Flandrenses tunc fient Angligenenses,
Non per tres menses, nisi pro lucro, bene penses.
Fraude sua tandem fraudem patientur eandem.
Insurgent Galli metuentes grandine falli,

Ad sua confugient, victi formidine fient.

Jam redit ad staurum taurus, quia deficib aurum ;
Dum livor eandet Gallorum vellera mandet.
Cancro regnante Phoebo, calido geminante,
Ascendet proras, Gallorum tendet ad oras,

Bino cornutus stauro fultus bene tutus.

In canabi loris equitans Flandrensibus oris,
Gallorum proris assumet nomen honoris.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 144

Hie ter centena sternet castellaque dena;
Baptiste teslis fet quassatio pestis.
Conjunget flores leopardis deliciarum,

Per pugnatores dum regnum quæret avarum.
Conjuncti flores leopardis deliciarum,

Annos guerrarum tibi monstrat posteriores.

Sequitur expositio inde.—Jam reboant bella. In isto sexto capi-
tulo quatuor dicta continentur. Primo ostendit de transitu regis
in Franciam, et quales fuerunt in exercitu suo, dicens, Jam reboant
bella, i. incipiunt sonare sive manifestantur inter Angliam et Fran-
ciam. Fit causa movens Isabella, mater regis, unde jus regni
movebatur, et ad illa bella, strident Germani, i. homines de Ger-
mania, nummorum tempore sani, quia dum rex eis conferebat
nummos et stipendia, steterunt eum eo. Frendent Barbani, i. ho-
mines de Brabanna, sed ambo sunt vani sine nummis, quia non
remanebunt cum rege in bello nisi cum receperint nummos et
pecuniam ab eo. Ac genus uxoris, homines scilicet de Hannald, si-
milabit signum. amoris, i. apparebunt amici cum tauro in illis bellis.
Et Flandrenses tunc. fient. Angligenenses vellere, i. pro lana Angliæ
erunt cum rege. Sed penses bene, et cognoscas quod illud per
tres menses non facerent, misi pro lucro, quod habent de lanis An-
gliæ. Tandem, tamen, patientur eandem. fraudem ab Anglicis pro
fraude sua. — Secundo ostendit auctor quomodo Gallici se haoue-
" runt in adventu regis ad Franciam. Galli metuentes grandine falli,
quasi diceret, Gallici metuebant regem Anglie propter suam mag-
nam multitudinem, que grandinem assimilatur, putantes se falli
ab eis, vel vinci, ad sua confugient, scilicet, castella vel oppida, non
audentes arestare bellum contra eum, in tantum quod rex iunc
posuit obsidionem de Turnay, quia Gallici victi formidine fient.
Sed propter defectum auri et argenti dimisit illam obsidionem, et
ad Angliam rediit; unde dicit auctor, Jam redit ad staurum taurus,
i. ad Angliam, que semper tanquam in stauro remanebat, quia
deficit aurum. unde militibus stipendia reddere deberet. Et in illo
tempore, dum livor Gallorum candet, 1. dum ira eorum accenditur,
et fervescit taurus, mandet vellera, i. comedet in expensis bona
que recepta sunt pro lanis Angliæ, et mercatoribus suis, scilicet
Willelmo atte Pole et sociis suis. "Tertio ostendit præparationem
regis versus Franciam, et bellum navale apud Sclus commissum,
dicens primo de tempore quo rex se disposuit ad bellum, sic,
Phobo regnante in cancro, i. dum sol fuit regnans in signo cancri,
quod per octo dies ante illud bellum ingrediebatur, et calido gemi-
nante, illo enim tempore concaloret, quia sol tunc est in sua
maxima elevatione quantum ad nos. Tune taurus cornutus bino

K 2

148 POLITICAL POEMS.

stauro, i. de hominibus, et argento et auro, qui cornua tauri
dicuntur, quia sicut taurus defendit se de inimicis cum cornibus
suis, ita iste rex defendit se cum hominibus suis, et auro et ar-
gento, cum quibus illo tempore erat fultus bene tutus. Unde sic

dispositus, ascendet proras, i. classem. Gallorum tendet ad oras,
. i ad fines Francie se disposuerit, Et nota quod hic utitur tertia
occultatione in isto termino hora, que triplicem habet significa-
tionem. Primo signat xij™™ partem diei artificialis; secundo signat
extremam partem vestimenti, sicut dicitur hora [ora] clamidis ; tertio
dicitur signare finem seu terminum alicujus terre, et sic accipitur
hic. Sed iste taurus equitans Flandrensibus oris, scilicet apud
Sclus, ubi rex fuit cum classe sua equitans tn loris canabi, i. in
funibus et cordis, qui fuerunt de canabo, et dicuntur lora quia
sicut lora ferri retinent equos in terra, ita funes retinent naves
in portu; et hic utitur quarta occultatione. Et ibi assumet nomen
honoris, scilicet victoriam, quod est nomen maxime honorificum
post bellum. De proris Gallorum, scilicet, de navigio et classe
Francie, quia in illo conflictu bell navalis sternet castella ter
centena et dena, 1. navium, et quassatio hujus pestis, sive belli, fiet
Baptiste testis, scilicet, in nativitate beati Johannis Baptistæ, qui
testis Christi fuit; unde istud bellum apud Scelus commissum fuit
anno Christi M*cce?xls, vij? kl. Julii, sole existente in octavo gradu
cancri, in die nativitatis sancti Johannis Baptiste, ubi rex Anglis
devicit Gallicos in bello navali sternendo naves trecentenas decem,
et obtinuit victoram cum triumpho. Quarto ostendit auctor quod
rex illo tempore mutavit arma sua, dicens, Conjunget flores
deliciarum, scilicet. armorum Francie, cum leopardis regni Anglie.
Dum queret regnum. avarum, scilicet regnum Francie, quod avarum
dicitur quia desiderat illud injuste quod suum non est, per propug-
natores, sicut patet in bellis precedentibus. Et illi flores deliciorum
conjuncti cum leopardis demonstrant annos posteriores guerrarum,
scilicet quod erunt magna bella et multa annis sequentibus inter
Anglicos et Gallicos. Hic in isto capitula sunt aliqua notabilia.
Primum notabile est quod stipendiarii regum in bello non amplius
valent nisi in tempore lucri. Secundum notabile est quod
Flandrenses non diligunt Anglicos nisi pro lucro de lanis Angliæ,
qui tandem patientur eandem fraudem ab Anglis pro fraude sua.
'ertium notabile est quod qui primo victi sunt formidine et terrore
sine ictu, postea ut communiter non prevalent, sicut patet de istis
Gallicis, Et sic terminatur istud capitulum.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 149

Capitulum vij. docet de pace inter Anglicos et Gallicos,
et de ceteris accidentibus usque ad proparatio-
nem bella de Crecy.

Mandatis patris residentis culmine matris,
Treugas astringent Galli, vix dummodo mingent
Pacem servabunt, Britones sed fraude necabunt.
Æquorei pestis fiet, Britannia testis,

Nautis quassatis, sed Messias pietatis

Taurum salvabit, ad staurum qui remeabit.
Tristia post fata succedent tempora grata.

Festa rotundabit, segetes regni decimabit.

Qui vendet staurum capiet tunc temporis aurum.
Marcescent flores, fatuos dum querit honores,
Linquens errores, mutat sine crimine mores.
Omnia transibunt, et gaudia vana peribunt.
Perdent Flandrenses ductorem nocte per enses.
Pacificos menses vi reddent Angligenenses.

Tune Aquitanenses vibrabunt ictibus enses;
Partes burgenses non cædent Angligenenses.
Franeus fraude reus muletabitur ut Cananæus ;
Diceturque Deus Anglus quondam: Nazaræus.
Arcus habentes, tela ferentes, se sociabunt,
Arma gerentes, regna regentes, qui penetrabunt.
Clemens mente ferus, proprio non nomine merus,
Dum ruet Ángerus veniet benedicere serus.
Alis Clementis volitat benedictio lentis,

Dum carus vicus fit cognatis inimicus.

Me jam cessare capitis dolor urget amare;
Templis vesanis sensus vacillat inanis.

Gratia divina capiti fie& medicina.

Mandatis patris. Ystud capitulum septimum, continens pacem
inter Anglicos et Gallicos et cætera accidentia usque ad præparatio-
nem belli de Crecy, habet viij dicta. Primo ostendit pacem
factam inter regna ex mandato papse, quo tempore Gallici
Britanniam minorem expugnabant, dicens, Galli astringent treugas,

| 150 : POLITICAL POEMS.

et pacem inter eos et Anglicos, mandatis patris, scilicet papse, qui
pater est omnium Christianorum, residentis culmine matris, residet
enim pape in culmine et honore sancte matris ecclesie, ibi
occupans locum Christi; sed ista pax fuit brevis, ideo dicit quod
vir dummodo mingent, astringent pacem, et tune pacem servabunt
inter Franciam et Angliam. Britones sed fraude necabunt, scilicet
illos qui sunt contra Karulum de Bloys cum comite de Montheforde.
Secundo ostendit auctor naufragium regis in mare circa Britanniam,
de quo tamen ipse salvabatur. Pro quo est notandum quod rex,
videns Gallicos insurgere contra comitem de Mountforthe, ordinavit
cum navigio suo eum juvare, et posuit obsidionem apud civitatem
de Vanes, et tunc in reditu suo accidit sibi magna tempestas ita
quod tota classis sua fuit dispersa ad plures partes mundi. Unde
dicit auctor, Britannia erit testis, scilicet. homines de Britannia,
quia presentes fuerant, vel ad cujus aures rumores hujus naufragii
devenerunt, æquorei pestis, destructionis seu pestis maris. Nautis
quassatis, quia nautæ in illa tempestate quassabantur per mare.
Sed Messias pietatis, i. Christus, salvabit taurum, i. regem Anglix,
in illa tempestate. Ad staurum qui remeabit, i. revertitur ad
Angliam, quæ post omnem conflictum sibi remaneret pro stauro.
Tertio ostendit auctor actus tauri tempore pacis dum fuerat quietus
a bello, dicens quod tempora grata, i. tempora leta, succedent post
tristia fata, i. post istas tribulationes maris. Pro quo est
notandum quod rex illo tempore posuit se ad otium et quietem, et
ordinavit festum Saneti Georgii, congregans sibi bonos milites
Anglie, ut essent in illa societate propter opera sua strenua et
bellicosa, sicut narratur quod rex Arthurus fecit in tempore suo,
et vocavit milites illos milites de rotunda tabula; unde dicit auctor
quod festa rotundabit, i. faciet festum ad modum rotundæ tabulæ,
scilicet. festum Sancti Georgii apud Wyndesore. Segetes regni
decimabit, i. expendet decimam partem segetis, vel accipiet valorem
decem segetum vel ab ecclesia, et qui tunc vendet staurum, videlicet
de segete vel aliis rebus, capiet tunc temporis aurum, i, monetam
de auro que tune regnabit in terra. Quarto ostendit auctor quod
ista quietatio tauri multum impedivet honorem suum, quem potuit
adquisivisse tempore illo in Francia, dicens, Marcescent flores,
scilicet lilia. Francie que sibi assumpsit in armis, dum fatuos
querit honores, festi Sancti Georgii, qui fatui sunt, et stultum fuit
et vanum circa occupari dum regnum Francie sibi fuit vendicandum.
Sed illa omnia transibunt, et gaudia vana peribunt, circa que illo
tempore fuerant occupati. Quinto ostendit quomodo Flandrenses
ilo tempore contra comitem et ducem eorum resurrexerunt, dicens,
Perdent Flandrenses ductorem, i. comitem seu ducem eorum, non
quia eum occiderunt, sed quia voluerunt eum occidisse, et
fugaverunt eum nocte per enses, i. in gladiis suis. Sed Angligi-
nenses, tunc in Flandria manentes, reddent vi, et fortitudine sua,

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 151

pacificos menses, inter ducem et populum. Sed tunc Aquitanenses,
i homines de Aquitania, vibrabunt ictibus: enses, i. facient bellum
cum gladiis pro fuga illius ducis ad eum restituendum. Sed partes
ilhius belli non cedent burgenses Angligenenses, quia Anglicis
parcebant, in illo conflictu non eis occiderunt. Sexto ostendit
auctor unam destructionem Francorum propter fraudem suam eis
illo tempore ab Anglis inflictam, dicens, Francus fraude reus, i.
Gallicus propter fraudem, mulctabitur ut Cananeus, 1. calcabitur seu
destruetur admodum Cananzi quem destruxerunt fili Israel,
Dicetur quod illo tempore, quod Deus Nazareus fuit qnondam in
Anglia, propter bonam fortunam et prosperitatem quem Anglicis
iunc concedet. Arcus habentes, i. sagittarii, et tela ferentes,
homines cum lanceis et clypeis, se sociabunt contra Gallicos, et
arma: gerentes, scilicet milites Francie. Regna regentes et penetra-
bunt, i. percutient rectores Francie. Septimo ostendit quod benedictio
pape Clementis nimis tarde Gallicis illo tempore devenit. Pro
quo est notandum quod papa Clemens semper fuit Gallicis
affectuosus et non Anglicis, et in hoc a proprio nomine declinavit,
quod Clementia sonat; unde dicit auctor, Clemens mente ferus, i.
papa habens nomen Clementis, sed in mente et voluntate est
ferox, seu ferus. Proprio non momine merus, i. non habens
conditionem et proprietatem cum proprio nomine suo, quod sonat
clementiam. Dum uet Angerus, i. aliquis magnus ex parte
Gallorum. — Veniet benedicere serus, quia ejus benedictio veniet
nimis tarde super eum. Et benedictio Clementis, papæ, volitat alis
lentis, et tardis, quia Gallis in nullo proficiebat. Dum carus vicus,
Anglice Derby, fit cognatis inimicus, scilicet; cognatis pape, qui
Gallicus natione fuerat; unde hic notat auctor. quod comes Derbye
fuit auctor principalis illius conflictus. Octavo iste auctor excusando
se de infirmitate capitis sui hic primam facit quietationem,
dicens, Me jam cessare, a prophetia, urget dolor capitis amare, i.
cogit me dolor capitis. Sensus enim vacillat inanis, et stultus.
Templis vesanis, i. in tali parte capitis mei propter insanitatem.
Sed gratia dina, idem post istam quietationem fief capiti
medicina, ut postmodum resum et prophetiam. Et sic terminatur
prima distinctio in prima quietatione auctoris.

Incipit secunda distinctio hujus prophetic.

Post primam quietationum hujus auctoris, ubi terminatur prima
distinctio, resumit iste auctor prophetiam suam, continentem
accidentia Anglie a primo tempore dispositionis versus bellum de
Crecy, scilice& anno Christi M?cec?xlví?, per sexdecim annos usque
ad secundam mortalitatem factam anno Christi millesimo 1xj°; et
ista est secunda distinctio, continens decem capitula.

152 POLITICAL POEMS.

Capitulum primum ostendit accidentia et facta regis Edwardi de
Wyndesore a prima dispositione versus Crecy usque ad belli
commissionem.

Capitulum secundum ostendit accidentia et eventum bellorum de
Crecy et Dunolmia, quæ eodem anno fuerant commissa.

Capitulum tertium ostendit quomodo rex obsedit villam de
Caleys, et qualia sibi acciderunt in principio obsidionis.

Capitulum quartum ostendit conditiones tauri illo tempore, et
quomodo a dominis Anglie in illa obsidione recepit auxilium.

Capitulum quintum continet captionem Karoli de Bloys, et
falsitatem pape Clementis contra Anglicos in causa Francie.

Capitulum sextum pertractat de uno bello disposito contra
regem Angliz dum fuerat in obsidione de Caleys, et quomodo
bellum frustrabitur.

Capitulum septimum ostendit accidentia in principio regis
Johannis, quz acciderunt in Anglia et Francia.

Capitulum octavum ostendit quomodo rex Anglie tardatur a
proposito de Francia propter peccata sua.

Capitulum nonum ostendit quanta mala Gallici sustinuerunt
propter peccata sua.

Capitulum decimum continet bella et facta Anglorum ab anno
Christi M*cec.liiijj. usque ad annum Christi M™ccc™lxj™.

Capitulum, primum ostendat. accidentia, et facta. regis
E. de Wyndesore a prima dispositione versus
Crecy usque ad belli commissionem.

Jus cum justitia me cogit versificare,
Sunt mihi materia de tauro plura notare.
Gradibus inspectis, aliis causis bene lectis,
Tauri sunt bella per singula justa novella.
David eructavit, et psalterio modulavit,

" Est justus Dominus, hic justitias adamavit ;
Qui Deus est trinus, ac unus cuncta creavit,
Falsos prostravit, justis cœlumque paravit.
Armis robustos facit omnipotens fore justos,
Sub cauda tauri dum frondet virgula lauri.
Taurus cornutus stauro fultus bene tutus.
Ligni sternet equos, Messias diligit æquos,
Plangere vult mœchos sua lubrica linquere cæcos.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 153

Curva retrocedens dum fert vestigia cancer,
Grex curret cædens, taurus volitabit ut anser,
Ascendet proras, Gallorum tendet ad oras.
Qui tonat in colis det prospera flamina velis!
Plebs infidelis, sine suffultu Michaelis,
Transilient pontes, catapultæ sunt quia sontes,
Et ruet in fontes mallens transcurrere montes.
Areubus utentes viduas facient fore flentes.
Tunc propter falsum gustabit Neustria salsum,
Bastardi natos non invenient sibi gratos.

Ca. cadet in portis. Ca. confundetur in hortis;
Gallorum porte displodentur sibi sorte. |
Gallica plebsque cadet, dum taurus trans vada vadet.
Flumina non lædent, cui Christi munera cedent,
Missis Clementis, cathedra Petri residentis.
Gallorum ficta gens, subdola, gens maledicta,
Cum fuerint stricta prætendent munera picta.
Cum fuerit victa, spondebit morte relicta,

Sie erit astricta, quod vim capient sua dicta.
Nil prodest fastus dum deficit undique pastus.
Nam propter fastum patietur Gallia vastum;
Gallorum lastum vix perquiret sibi pastum,

Sequitur expositio istorum versuum.—Jus cum justitia. — Istud
capitulum, continens preparationem ad bellum de Crecy, continet
decem dicta. Primo ostendit iste auetor quod resumit suam
prophetiam iterum de tauro, propter justitiam quam habet taurus
in regno Francie, dicens, Jus cum justitia, quas scilicet habet
taurus in regno Francie, cogit me versificare ilerum de tauro et
prophetiam resumere, quia illa sunt mihi materia de quibus volo
de tauro plura notare, et ampliora describere, quia bella novella
tauri, que faciet, sunt per singula justa, et sine scrupulo con-
scientie. Gradibus inspectis, i. si gradus consanguinitatis bene
inspicias, ef alis causis bene lectis, i. bene legas alias causas, et
cognoscas quomodo Gallici sibi resistebant, nolentes permittere
eum habere regnum sibi debitum ex hereditate. Secundo ostendit
iste auctor ex auctoritate psalmistæ quod Deus roboravit taurum in
ista justa causa, et prostravit falsos sibi resistentes, dicens, David
eructavit, i. prophetando scripsit, psalterio modulavit, istam. auc-
toritatem sequentem quod justus est Dominus. Hic justitias et
amaverit, qui est Deus trinus et unus, ac cuncta creavit in prin»

154 . POLITICAL POEMS.

cipio, falsos prostravit in bells et operibus suis justus, coelumque
paravit post finem vite suc; et ile Deus vult Anglicos habere.
illam fortitudinem in armis et bellis contra Gallicos propter jus-
titiam quam habent in regno Francie. "Tertio ostendit auctor
tempus quo rex ordinavit navigium suum ad transeundum versus
Franciam. Pro quo est notandum quod in mense Maii, quando
sol est quasi in fine tauri, fecit rex navigium suum congregari et
præparari versus Franciam; ideo dicit auctor, Dum frondet virgula
lauri, i. dum laurus facit frondes et folia, sub cauda tauri, i. in
mense Maii, quando sol est in fine, sive in cauda signi tauri, quo
lempore arbores frondes emittunt. Tune faurus cornutus, i. rex
Anglie cum hominibus suis et fortitudine sua, bene fultus stauro,
et victualibus in navibus suis, et tutus, auxilio divino contra
inimicos suos. Sternet equos ligni, i. ordinavit naves et classem
Suam pro justitia sua vendicanda in Franciam; quia Messias di-
ligit equos, i. rectos et justos; et hic utitur tertia occultatione.
Et piangere vult mœchos, et luxuriosos Gallicos, propter peccata
sua, et sua lubrica linguere cecos, i. Gallicos, qui cæcos sunt in
malitiis et luxuriis suis, vult bnquere luxuriosa sua lubrica carnis |
per bellum et strages eis ab Anglicis infligenda; et hic est no-
tandum qualem punitionem receperunt isti Gallici pro luxuria
Sua. Quarto ostendit tempus quo rex transivit mare ad partes
Gallorum. Pro quo est notandum quod posuit se ad mare in
mense Juli, quo tempore sol est in cancro, et dies incipiunt ab-
breviari; unde dicit auctor, Dum cancer retrocedens, i. dum sol
est in signo cancri in quo retrocedit a capitibus nostris, fert ves-
tigia curva, i. abbreviat dies qui sunt vestigia solis super terram,
tune curret gre» cedens, i. populus Anglie qui cædem et stragem
magnam facient in Francia; curret ad naves, et faurus volitabit
ut anser, i. per aquam per quam anser multum desiderat volutare ;

et sic iste rex ascendet proras, 1. naves, Gallorum tendet ad oras, i.
ad fines Francie. Et auctor hie rogat proris prosperos ventos,
dicens, qui fonat in colis, i. Deus, cui est proprium tonare, det
^ prospera flamina velis, i. concedat prosperum ventum in illo navigio.
Quinto ostendit quomodo gens Gallica, seu Normandiæ, fregerunt
pontes in adventu Anglorum, quos tamen Anglici pertransibant
eos occidendo. Pro quo est notandum quod fregerunt Gallici
pontem quz est super Secanam et vocatur Pontlarge, ut Anglici
ibi non pertransirent, ubi tamen Gallicos cum sagittis debella-
bant et transierunt; unde dicit auctor, Plebs infidelis, i. gens

Francie, que infidelis contra regem Anglie fuerat, et sine suffuitu
Michaelis, 1. sine auxilio sancti cujus die predictum pontem forte

fregerunt ne Anglici transirent, famen transibunt pontes, per

auxilium sagittariorum. Catapulte sunt quia sontes, i. quia s8-

gittæ Gallicis sunt nocive, que catapulte dicuntur, ef ruet in

fontes, gens Francie resistens, mallens transire montes, et loca

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 155

altiora illo tempore occupasse. Sexto ostendit auctor quantam
stragem et destructionem facient sagittarii per Normanniam in
transitu suo, dicens, Arcubus utentes, i. sagittarii, facient viduas |
fore flentes, propter occisionem maritorum in illo transitu ; et tunc
Neustria, i. Normandia, gustabit salsum, i. amaritudinem et dolorem,
propter falsum, quia falsi fuerint contra regem Anglie, qui fuit
de genere Willelmi Bastardi, quondam ducis illus patrie; ideo
dicit auctor, quta non inveniet natos bastardi sibi gratos, sed in-
gratos et resistentes sibi in illo transitu. Septimo ostendit cap-
tionem de Caam in illo transitu. Pro quo est notandum quod
exercitus regis Angliæ posuit se ad accipiendum civitatem Caam
in iransitu per Normanniam, quz civitas habet unum pontem
introitu suo ante portas, ubi fecerunt magnum conflictum ante
captionem civitatis. Tandem tamen Anglici per illam portam
potiti sunt victoria et ceperunt civitalem ; unde dieit auctor, Ca.
cadet in portis, quia ibi incipient civitatem debellare. Ca. confun-
detur in hortis, i. ila civitas de Caam recipiet confusionem in
hortis post suam captionem, ef porte Gallorum, i. illius civitatis
Francie, displodentur sibi sorte, 1. aperientur tauro per fortunam
post magnam stragem et conflictum. — Octavo ostendit auctor de-
structionem Francorum in transitu regis super unum fluvium,
dicens, Gallia plebsque cadet, per bellum, dum taurus trans vada
vadet, i. dum transivit vadum illius fluvii, ubi Gallici in quodam
castello sibi resistebant, quod castellum ab Anglicis tunc captum
fuit. Sed flumina non ledent, in illo transitu cui Christi munera
cedent, i. cui gratia Christi dat locum ad transeundum. Missis
Clementis, 1. orationibus domini pape, residentis in cathedra Petri,
seu dignitate papal. Unde hic notat auctor quod aliqui de
Francia in transitu illus fluminis erant salvati per missas et
orationes papæ Clementis, qui in ista causa semper fuit pro Gallicis
contra Anglicos favorabili. Nono ostendit falsitates Gallorum in
promissionibus suis dum fuerant in necessitate, quas postea nolu-
erunt implere, dicens, Gallorum ficta gens, subdola, gens maledicta,
Hie ponit tres malas conditiones de Gallicis, Cum fuerint stricta,
potestate Anglicorum, pretendent munera picta, i. promittent
magna dona et multa. Cum fuerit victa spondebit morte relicta,
i, spondebit redemptionem pro vita sua ut mortem relinquat, et
tunc sic erit astricta et coacta per Anglicos, qui vim capient sua
dicta, quia reddent quantum promittebant vel amplius. Decimo
ostendit auctor quod fastus et superbia Gallorum nihil illo tem-
pore eis proficiebat, et propter eam multa mala patiebantur, dicens,
Nil prodest fastus et superbia Gallorum, dum deficit undique pastus,
quia cibus et pastus eorum tunc undique per Anglicos destrue-
bantur. Nam propter fastum, et superbiam, patietur Gallia vastum,
ab Anglicis illo tempore et destructionem, quia si non fuisset
superbia eorum reddidissent regi Angliæ regnum suum in prima

156 POLITICAL POEMS.

petitione, et ideo Gallorum lastum, i. lacinia vel superbia, via
perquiret sibi pastum, tanta erit penuria victualium illo tempore
propter guerram. Et sic terminatur istud capitulum.

Capitulum 4). ostendit accidentia, et eventum bellorum
de Crecy et Dunolmia, etc., eodem, anno commis-
sorum.

Jam crescunt bella, crescunt ter trina duella,
Alma maris stella, fer nunc vexilla, puella.
Bis dux vix feriet cum trecentis sociatis ;
Phi. falsus fugiet, non succurret nece stratis.
Rex, dux, et miles fient post funera viles.
Frangentur capita ducum gemmis redimita;
Non margarita salvabitur a nece vita.
Gaviso monte nullus transit sine sonte ;

Pro nulla marcha salvabitur ille hierarcha.
Exaltabuntur in Gallos cornua justi,
Lætificabuntur Angli pinguedine musti.
Nitens per guerras Anglorum perdere terras,
Testis erit culter, David perdetur adulter.
Suspicor et clerus, penetrans cognomine verus, |
Viscera Scotorum penetrabunt belligerorum.
Angusta spata ferientur vulnera lata ;

Nam Lucas medicus Scotis non fiet amicus.
Dæmone namque duce vincentur vespere Luce,
Teste nove cruce vill latitant sine luce.
Cum pauca gente Christo vexilla ferente,
Mundata mente, non fit victoria lente.

Sacri cornuti divino dogmate tuti,

Sub signo scuti fient hoc tempore tuti.

Non erit et mutum Scotos solvisse tributum.

Sequitur expositio versuum.—Jam . crescunt bella. Hoc capitulum,
continens accidentia bellorum de Crescy et Dunolmia, continet
octo dicta. Unde pro istis bellis est notandum quod illa fuerunt
commissa anno Christi M°ccc™xlvj, bellum de Crecy septimo
kal Octobr. et bellum Dunolmiæ xvj. kal Novembr. In primo
dicto ostendit auctor multitudinem bellorum futurorum implo-

C
-T

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. ]

rando auxilium beatz Marie virginis pro rege Edwardo, dicens,
Jam crescunt bella, quz inferius ostendentur, crescunt ter trina
duella, i. novem conflictus, qui forte ab illo bello de Crecy fient
inter homines duorum regnorum, vel forte tot erunt conflictus
singulares inter milites Anglice et Francie; quia duellum dicitur
proprie duorum bellum, unde pro istis bellis auctor invocat auxi-
lium beate Virginis sicut prius solebat, dicens, Alma maris stella,
scilicet virgo Maria, puella Christi, fer nunc vexilla, regis Edwardi
conira inimicos suos. Secundo ostendit auctor annum Christi in
quo ista duo bella fuerunt commissa, et quomodo Philippus rex
Francie fugiebat a bello de Crecy, dicens, Bis dux, i. M°xxx., qui
est numerus signatus per literas hujus dictionis dux duplicatus,
viz feriet, 1. copulat sexdecim, qui est numerus signatus per literas
hujus dictionis vix, cum trecentis sociatis, quia trecenta sociata seu
copulata cum numeris predictis ostendunt numerum annorum
Christi quo bellum fuit commissum, scilicet annum Christi
M.ccc.xlvj[ Et tune Phi. falsus fugiet, 3i. Philippus rex Francie de
illo bello, et nón succurret nece stratis, nec juvabit populum in illo
bello occisum et prostratum, sed eum derelinquet; et ita [factus
est. Tertio ostendit qui occiduntur in illo bello de magnis
dominis, Pro quo est notandum quod fuerunt ex parte regis
Francie rex Boemie, dux vel comes Flandrie, et magister hospi-
talariorum, qui omnes in illo bello occisi sunt cum multis aliis
valentibus ; unde dicit auctor, Rez, scilicet Boemiæ, duz, sive comes
Flandrie, et miles, sive milites, fient post funera viles, eo quod in
illo bello occisi sunt, et capita ducum, 1. virorum fortium vel tot
militum quod signantur per istum terminum ducum, i. M'dex.,
frangentur, licet gemmis fuerant redimita et lapidibus pretiosis in
galeis, quia vita non salvabitur in illo à nece, seu morte, pro mar-
garita, 1. lapidibus suis pretiosis. Et nullus transibit sine sonte, i.
dolore, gaviso monte, pro Mountjoye, quod fuit verbum Gallicum
quo utebantur Franci; vel nomen loci in quo bellum fuit commis-
sum. Et ipse hierarcha, i. magister hospitalariorum, pro nulla
marcha salvabitur, quia in illo bello fuit occisus. Quarto ostendit
finem belli, et gaudium Anglicorum post bellum, dicens, Exalta-
buntur in Gallos cornua justi, i. potestas et exercitus justi Edwardi
dominabuntur super Gallicos in illo conflictu, et Angli letificabun-
tur post ilud bellum pinguedine musti, i. per bona vina: que
bibent ad suorum confortationem transeundo per terram Franciz.
Quinto ostendit auctor quomodo David rex in bello Dunolmiæ
capietur. Pro quo est sciendum quod iste David rex, audiens
regem Anglie esse in Francia cum populo suo, collegit exercitum .
magnum contra Angliam, ut eam in regis absentia destrueret;
unde de illo dicit auctor, Nitens per guerras Anglorum perdere
terras, scilicet in regis absentia; sed culter erit testis, i. sagitta,
quod David perdetur adulter, quia sagittatus primo fuit in facie,

158 POLITICAL POEMS.

et deinde per Johannem de Coupelonde captus; qui adulter dici-
iur propter concubinas suas. Sexto ostendit, dicens qui fuerunt
duces. illius bell. Ex parte Angli fuerunt Willelmus de la
Souche, episcopus Eboracensis, et dominus de Percy, cum suis
militibus; unde dicit auctor, Suspicor et clerus, i. Willelmus de
la Souche et clerus qui cum eo erat, et penetrans cognomine verus,
i verus homo habens cognomen Percy, scilicet penetrans, et ipsi
penetrabunt viscera Scotorum belligerorum, cum lanceis et sagittis
quos in illo bello occident, e£ lata vulnera, et magna, ferientur
spata angusti, cum gladio angusto vel angustiæ in illo bello.
Septimo ostendit diem belli, et locum in quo Scoti vincentur et
occidentur. Pro quo est notandum quod bellum in vigilia Sancti
Luce evangelistoe fuit commissum, in loco juxta Dunolmiam, prope
crucem Neville, ubi Scoti occisi fuerunt; ideo dicit auctor, Nam
Lucas medicus, i. Sanctus Lucas evangelista, qui fuit arte medicus,
Scotis non fiet amicus, in illo bello, namque vincentur vespere Luce,
in vigilia Luez, xvj. kal. Novembr. Demone duce, quia per dia-
bolum ducti erant illo tempore ad Angliam; et latitant sine luce,
i. sine visu et vita post eorum occisionem, teste cruce move ville,
quia crux Neville perhibebit testimonium juxta quam sepulti sunt
post bellum. Octavo ostendit quod illa victoria fuit cum pauca
gente per auxilium Christi, dicens, Christo vexilla ferente, i. dum
Christus portat vexilla in illo bello, non fiet victoria lente, i. tarde,
sed cito, cum pauca gente mundata mente, i. pura conscientia ex
parte Anglorum, quia Anglici fuerunt in parvo numero valde ad
Scotos quos devicerunt auxilio et supportatione Christi. Nono
ostendit de episcopis qui fuerunt in illo bello sub scuto, quod
erant muti dogmate divino, dicens, Sacri cornuti, i. episcopi qui
cornua mitre in capite portant, muti dogmate divino, quia non
prædicant divinam legem seu evangelium, sicut deberent. Fient
hoc tempore tuti, et securi, sub signo scuti, i. sub scutis quibus se
custodiebant in illo bello, Sed mon erit mutum, seu occultum,
Scotos solvisse tributum, in illo bello; et hic dicit Scotis verbum
opprobriosum. Et sic istud capitulum terminatur.

Capitulum tertium, quomodo rex obsedit villam de
Caleys, et qualia sibi acciderunt. in principio
obsidionis.

Taurus pasturam post eliget undique duram ;
Attamen est sana juxta fontes bene plana.
Audivi verba, quod gregi deficit herba ;
Deficit ac aurum, non potest pascere staurum.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 159

Ad loca præfata veniet Diana parata,

Simia lactata dicetur clunagitata.

Vespere vel mane grex non satus est bene pane,
Taurus vesanæ lapidat dum crura Dianze.
Illecebris tritus vix potest esse peritus.

Tune excillabit, et latronem generabit.

Calles calcabit, colles fundo lapidabit.

Taurum vexabit amor, et taurum superabit,
Subdola vesanæ dum complet vota Dianæ.

Est opus insigne fraudem vitare maligne ;
Dalida Sampsonem decepit, amor Salamonem,
Decipit et multos fallax dilectio stultos.

Si modo plus dicam, faciam mihi tunc inimicam.
Dedita gens scortis morietur fulmine sortis ;
Scribitur in portis, meretrix est janua moris.
Propter peccata venient immania fata ;

Virgo Deo grata precibus conservet amata.
Spernetur Dyna, comitis fiet inde ruina ;

Dat lex divina, mors falsis fit medicina.

Est quia Brabani non incipient fore sani,
Trippi Germani sine nummis sunt Madiani;
Necnon Flandrenses partim sunt Francigenenses.
Expediet teuro proprio confidere stauro.

Sequitur expositio inde—Taurus pasturam. Hoc tertium capitu-
lum, ostendens obsidionem de Caleys, et alia facta in principio
obsidionis, continet septem dicta. Primo dicit de obsidione, et de
defectu victualium et expensarum in principio ejus. Pro quo est
notandum quod eodem anno quo bellum de Crecy commissum
fuit, rex Anglie posuit obsidionem apud Caleys; unde dicit auctor,
Taurus eliget post, scilicet bellum de Crecy, undique duram pas-
turam, et terram sterilem juxta Caleys, ubi populus non potuit
sustentari. Aéfamen illa pastura est sana, propter aerem et bene
plana juxta fontes et rivos aquarum. Dicit tamen auctor, sed
audivi verba, scilicet a Spiritu Sancto, quod gregi deficit herba,
i populo Anglie, qui grex tauri dicitur, victualia defecerunt. Ac
defuit aurum illo tempore regi. Non potest pascere staurum, i. po-
pulum suum propter defectum auri. Secundo ostendit auctor
adventum reginæ ad Cales, et defectum vietualium illo tempore,
ad loca prefata, scilicet Cales, veniet Diana parata, i. regina
Anglie. Simia lactata, i. regina predicta, vel alia mulier habens

160 POLITICAL POEMS.

conditiones simiæ lactate, vel habens lae in uberibus suis; que
dicitur clunagitata, i. supposita per regem vel alium qui cum ea
concubuit. Clunus enim nates dicitur, et componetur cum isto
termino agitata, qui idem signat quod mota, inde clunagitata,
i. nates mota, seu vitiata. Et dum taurus lapidat crura vesane
Diane, i. dum concumbit cum ea, que vesana seu male sana
dicitur, eo quod eum in illo facto impedivit; et vocat hic lapides
tauri testiculos ejus, qui crura vesane Dianæ lapidabat ad ejus
libidinem perfruendam in illo tempore. Vespere vel mane, i. nulla
hora, diei, gre» non satus est bene pane; i. panem non habuit ad
sufficientiam, tanta inter eos pro tune fuerat penuria. "Tertio
ostendit auctor quod taurus illo tempore amore vesanæ Diane
superabatur, unde multa habuit impedimenta, dicens quod taurus
tritus illecebris, et operibus illicitis deditus, via potest esse peritus
et sapiens in operibus suis; quasi diceret quod taurus tune fiet
imperitus propter luxuriam suam; et func excillabit, i. coibit cum
uxore sua, quia excillare est manere cum uxore propria, secundum
Catholicon. Et latronem generabit, nescio quis sit ille latro, si sit
aliquis filius regis tunc generatus in tempore obsidionis vel
qui proximo fuit generatus post illam obsidionem, vel quod faciet
populum suum latronem et præderi ab eo declinacem, qui sibi
victum et stipendia præbebabat, dum talibus indulgebat male-
ficiis, et illo tempore Calles calcabit, per semitas transeundo
occultas eas faciet communes. Colles fundis lapidabit, qus fecit
pro tempore obsidionis, quando cum fundis colles et muros civi-
tatis cum lapidibus nitebatur obruere, dum complet subdola vota,
et falsa, Diane vesane predicte, que sibi suggerit ad libitum
suum perficiendum, quia taurum verabit amor, illo tempore, et
taurum superabit, quia, propter amorem superatus, faciet secun-
dum concilium predicte mulieris. Quarto ostendit auctor quod
.est opus magnum et insigne vitare fraudes et falsitates maligne
mulieris et falsæ, dicens, Est opus insigne, et magnum, fraudem
vitare maligne, et falsitatem male mulieris declinare seu evadere,
quia Dalida Sampsonem decepit, qui fuit homo fortissimus, et amor
decepit Salamonem, qui fuit sapientissimus; et fallax dilectio muli-
erum et falsa decepit multos stultos, qui capti amoris ahcujus
mulieris nesciunt dimittere. Sed si modo plus dicam, de muliere
falsa, faciam mihi tune inimicam, scilicet de muliere predicta, quasi
diceret si appliearem ista predicta ad reginam Anglia, seu ad
predictam mulierem, quod ipsa regem infatuat et decipit, sicut
predicte mulieres viros enarratos deceperunt, facerem eam inimi-
cam mihi, Quinto ostendit auctor quanta mala venient propter
luxuriam et scortum populo et genti, dicens quod gens dedita
scortis et luxurie, morietur fulmine sortis, i, mala morte per simi-
litudinem fulminis, vel cum fulmine; et ideo scribitur in portis,
tanquam commune proverbium, quod meretriæ est janua mortis,
i. qua homo cito adducitur ad mortem, Nota quod apparet hie

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 161

auctorem invenire quod taurus concubuit tunc cum alia muliere
quam regina, quia aliter non diceretur scortum illud peccatum
luxurie, nec tantum ponderat illud factum cum uxore propris,
nec tanta vindicta sequeretur quanta innuit hic auctor, dicens
quod immania fata, i. magne destructionis et nocumenta, venient
propter peccata, que enumeravit regis Angliæ et populo suo, sed
virgo Deo grata, scilicel Sancta Maria, precibus conservet amata,
i regem et populum apud Deum cum precibus suis a predicta
ruin& quam propier peccata sua meruerunt. Sexto ostendit quo-
modo comes Flandrie spernet filiam regis Anglie, quam prius
concessit recipere in conjugem, unde ejus ruina eveniet; dicit
enim, Spernetur Dyna, i. filia regis, et comitis fiet inde ruina, 1.
comitis Flandrie, eo quod eam sic delusit; quia dat lex divina,
ex ordinatione Dei, quod mors falsis fit medicina, quia falsi ante
mortem ut communiter non corriguntur; et ideo dicit istum ver-
sum, quia forte ille comes recipiet mortem suam per illam falsi-
tatem, vel per vindictam Dei, vel per manus Anglicorum, qui
eum forte occident. Septimo ostendit quod omnes fere stipendiarii
regis illo tempore eum derelinquent, et tunc sua confidentia tota
in proprio stauro consistet; unde dicit, E? quia Brabani, i. homi-
nes de Brabantia, non incipient fore sani, regi Anglie in bello
suo, et Trippi Germani, qui secum fuerant, sine nummis sint
Madiani, i. falsi et divisi ab eo. Necnon Flandrenses, i. homines
de Flandria, sunt partim. Francigenenses, i. aliqualiter se inclinabunt
ad partes regis Francie. Et tunc expcdiet tauro, scilicet regi
Anglie, proprio confidere stauro, i. hominibus de Anglia. Et sic
terminatur istud capitulum,

Capitulum dj" ostendit conditiones tawri circa, ista,
tempora, quomodo a dominis Anglie in illa
obsidione recepit auxiliwm. —
Eulogium didici, tauri perient inimici.
Nam rex robustus armis, per singula justus,
Rex bonus et fortis, cui nulla nocent mala mortis,
Rex nunquam victus, gladii cui non nocet ictus;
Emanuel dictus, cum quo fit copia victus,
In mundo talis non est pugnans generalis ;
Nobilis hie miles acies ducet juveniles,
Dum fuerint grati, peccatis non maculati,
Moribus aptati, nunquam fient superati.
Pondere peccati sunt plures pancratiati.

VOL. I. mE L

162 ^ . POLITICAL POEMS,

Post hyemis frigidum milvus faciet sibi nidum.
Exiet edictum, teurum promittere victum,

Pascua foecunda dabit atque virentia, munda.
Jam grex letatur, taurumque juvare paratur;
Nam longum castrum, armis rutilans velut astrum,
Læsis emplastrum, veniet cædens quasi rastrum,
Unabit staurum, confortabit bene taurum.

Tunc vituli multique canes juvenes et adulti,
Ursi, multones, leopardi, sicque leones,

Ad taurum venient, qui victores bene fient.

Sequitur expositio istorum versuum.—ÆEulogium didici. Istud quar-
tum capitulum, ostendens tauri victoriam propter suas bonas con-
ditiones, et quomodo in illa obsidione recepit auxilium a dominis
Anglie, continet quinque dicta. Primo ostendit quomodo taurus
habebit vietoriam de inimicis suis propter bonos mores suos, quos
hie enumerat, dicens, Eulogium didici, i. bonum sermonem a Spi-
ritu Sancto, quod, éauri perient inimici, i. Gallici obsessi in civitate
de Calesia, qui propter famem equos et ratones comedebant, et
multi mortui sunt in civitate per penuria, qui tandem civitatem
. regi obtulerunt; nam rex robustus in armis, hic quasi assignat ra-
lionem istius expeditionis, et quare rex iste est ita fortis in armis,
quia est per singula justus, in vendicatione Francie, et est-rex bonus
et fortis, i. virtute corporali; cue nulla nocent mala mortis, quia
nec pestilentia nec gladius nec victoria, qui est rex nunquam victus,
ab inimicis suis; gladii cui non nocet ictus, quia creditur quod illo
tempore nunquam recepit ictum nocivum in bello; qui Emanuel
est dictus, i. nobiscum, Deus, quia Deus in omni tempore suo erit
cum Anglicis. Cum quo fit copia victus, quia licet aliquando pa-
tiebatur in victualibus, nunquam iamen fuit aliquis rex in Anglia
in cujus tempore tanta fuerat copia victualium. Et in mundo talis
non est pugnans generalis, qui ita generaliter pugnat sicut iste rex.
Secundo ostendit iste auctor quod dum iste rex duxerit mi-
lites suos sine peccato, semper habebit victoriam ; unde dicit, No-
bilis hic miles, i. rex Anglie, acies ducet juveniles, acilicet in
exercitu suo, qui nunquam fient superati, ab inimicis suis, dum
fuerant grati, Deo et regi suo, et peccatis non maculati, scilicet
in conscientia, sed bonis moribus aptati, Sed auctor jam dicit de
eis quod plures sunt pancratiati, i. gravati et depressi, pondere
peccati, quod isti portant in conscientiis suis propter maleficia
sua. "Tertio ostendit auctor quomodo rex post hyemem congre-
gavit sibi populum, eis victualia et stipendia tribuendo. Pro quo
est notandum quod rex, videns quod populus recessit ab eo, misit
ad Angliam pro auro, et argento, et victualibus, ut populum sibi

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 163

congregare, et ita factum est, ‘Populus enim post hyemem rever-
tebatur sibi, audiens quod omni revertenti promiserat stipendia et
expensas; unde dicit auctor, Milous faciet sibi nidum, i. vex Anglice,
qui milvo assimilabatur propter pusillanimitatem suam, faciet ob-
sidionem circa villam de Caleys ad modum nidi, post hyemis
frigidum, 1. postquam frigiditas hyemis reoessib. Et exiet edictum,
_ et mandatum regis, faurum promittere victum, scilicet quod taurus

promittit vietum omnibus venientibus, et dabit pascug fecunda, 1.
victualia ad sufficientiam, afque virentia, munda, i. bona et placita
in tempore virenti et mundo, seilicet in vere. Jam grex letatur,
post illud promissum, faurumque juvare paratur, i. parat se in ad-
jutorium tauri in illa obsidione. Quarto ostendit quomodo dux
Lancastriæ in illa obsidione veniebat ad auxiliandum tauro. Pro
quo est notandum quod dux illo tempore venit de Vasconia ad
obsidionem de Calays; unde dicit, Nam longum castrum, i. dux Lan-
castriæ, armis rutilans velut astrum, quasi dicereb quod in armis
fuit splendens et rutilans sieut stella cali, qui fuit Jesis emplas-
trum, quia sicut emplastrum curat infirmitates et allevat, ita ipse
lesis et percussis valebat in bello, Veniet cedens quasi rastrun,
rastrum est instrumentum magnum et horribile, et sie iste fuit
horribilis in bello et nocivus inimicis suis. Unabit staurum, i.
populum ad regem, et confortabit bene taurum, in adventu suo.
Et istud est valde notabile dietum de illo bono duce, per quem -
Anglia multos recepit honores et magnam gloriam per opera aua
bellica et labores magnos quos sustinuit, Quinto ostendit auctor
multitudinem dominorum et populi venientem tauro ad illam ob- .
sidionem post edictum regis de victualibus; unde dicit auctor, Tunc
vituli multi, i. fortes juvenes ad similitudinem vitulorum, que eanes
juvenes et adulti, i. populus valde mordax et nocivus in bello ad
similitudinem canum in juventute et senectute existens. Ursi,
aliqui habentes conditiones ursorum; et mullones, mores ovinos
habentes in simplicitate; leopardi, portantes leopardos in scutis
suis; sicque leones, i, domini portantes leones in armis suis. Om-
nes isli ad faurum venient existentem in obsidione de Calays, —
qui victores bene fient, qui obtinuerunt civitatem de inimicis suis.
Et sic finitur istud capitulum,

Capitulum v. continet. captionem. Karoli de Bloys et
falsitatem papa Clementis contra Angham n
causa Francie,

De miris gestis psallentur cantica festis ;

De Gallis moestis, cæsis, Britannia testis,

Carceribus captus Karolus lustris erit aptus;
L 2

164 POLITICAL POEMS.

Non ut perdatur, auro sed ut hic redimatur,
Vix sine fermentis est pastor cunctipotentis.
Taurus Clementis non confidet documentis,
Plus quam Clementis valet auxilium redimentis.
_ Gratia nam Christi succurret concito tristi.
Mundatis mente currit charisma repente ;
Vanis Clementis volitat benedictio ventis.
Non vivit sane qui dispendit sacra vane;
Gentis Romanz pastor erit alter inane,
Qui Petri plane solium capiet sibi mane. —
Balthasar in cœnis vasis potavit amcenis,
Summo dicatis, de templo vi spoliatis ;
Per techel et mane phares discussaque plane,
Quod fuit inane didicit sacra tangere vane.

Sequitur expositio inde.—De miris gestis, Istud quintum capitu-
lum, continens captionem Karol de Bloys et falsitatem pape
Clementis contra Anglicos, habet quinque dicta. Primo ostendit
quomodo Karolus de Bloys fuit captus et ductus London. ad
carcerem donec solvat redemptionem suam, dicens quod cantica
psallentur in festis, i. conviviis, de miris gestis, i. magnis, de Gallis
mestis, cesis, qui scilicet fuerant moesti et dolorosi propter cedem
et stragem quam ab Anglicis patiebantur. Britannia festis, i.
Britannia erit testis hujus dicti, ubi Gallici fuerunt occisi juxta
castellum de Rochele, quod capere nitebantur. Et Karolus cap-
. fus lustris, vel locis densis et occultis in illo bello, carceribus
erit aptus, qui post illud bellum posuerunt eum ad carcerem; vel
lustris, i. per decem annos, que duo lustre dicuntur, qui per
tantum tempus fere stetit in carcere. Non ut perdatur, sive ut
occidatur, positus fuit in carceribus; auro sed ut hic redimatur,
1, ut reddat aurum pro redemptione sua; et ita factum fuit. Se-
eundo ostendit auctor quod papa circa illud tempus voluit de-
cepisse regem, cujus documentis rex non confidit. Pro quo est
notandum quod papa Clemens semper in quantum potuit fuit
cum Gallicis contra Anglicos, et induxit regem in quantum potuit
per literas et nuncios quod dimitteret bellum suum et vendica-
tionem regni Francie, in quo nullum jus habuit nec justitiam; et
hoe innuit auctor, dicens quod viz sine fermentis, i. falsa simula-
latione, es? pastor cunctipotentis, i. papa, qui pastor Dei est, habens
gregem Christi in custodia sua, qui false et dolose docuit regem
Anglie. Sed taurus non confidens in documentis Clementis pape,
qui fuerunt contra honorem suum, sed suam causam in manum
Dei omnipotentis committit, quia plus valet auwilium redimentis, i.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 165

Domini nostri Jhesu Christi, quam auxilium. Clementis pape, quod
bene invenerunt Anglici in causa sua. Tertio ostendit auctor
quomodo papa Clemens Gallicis concessit benedictionem in causa
sua, sed Anglici Christi benedictionem receperunt; unde dicit
auctor, Gratia nam Christi, scilicet benedictio Dei, succurret con-
cito tristi, i. regis Anglie, qui fuit tristis quando vidit ecclesiam
contra eum, vel propter peccata sua, et charisma, 1. donum episcopi
sancti, curret repente et cito, mundatis mente, 1. Anglicis, qui con-
scientiam suam mundaverunt de peccatis suis, et benedictio Clementis,
scilicet pape, volitat vanis ventis, quia non proficiet Gallicis in
aliquo, quia data fuit contra justitiam, Unde hic est notandum
quod papa potest errare multotiens contra justitiam, et excom-
municare partem veram, et benedicere partem falsam, et dare
indulgentias pugnantibus in parte falsa; et tunc Deus apponit
benedictionem suam parti vere, ut alia lata a papa ei non no-
ceat. Quarto reprobat auctor modum faciendi pape, et quod
nimis erravit in factis suis, dicens, Non vivit sane, i. vita bona
et Deo placita, qui dispendit sacra vane; et hoc dicit propter
papam qui sacra et bona ecclesie quibus adjuvit regem Francie
contra regem Anglie vane expendidit et male, et mane erit pastor
alter, et successor Sancti Petri ad regimen gentis Romane, i.
ecclesie Roman: et sancti Dei, qui capiet sibi solium. Petri plane,
i. expendit res ecclesie pertinentes ad solium Sancti Petri plane
secundum voluntatem suam, et non secundum justitiam, nec ad
conservationem justitiæ; sed sibi mane, i. ad suam destructionem,
quia mane est verbum Græcum signans quod numeravit Deus
regnum tuum et complevit illud, Danielis quinto, et sic Deus
regnum pape et ejus vitam abbreviabit propter peccata sua.
. Quinto ostendit auctor unam historiam conira papam, ostendendo
quod mala fecit expendendo sacra ecclesi?) vane. Pro quo est
notandum quod Danielis quinto habetur quomodo Baltasar rex
Babylonis in convivio quod fecit optimatibus precepit afferre vasa
aurea que tulerat pater ejus rex Nabugodonosor de templo Jeru-
salem, ut biberent in eis rex et optimates ejus uxoresque ejus et
concubine. Idcirco a Deo est missus articulus manus, qui scripsit
in pariete, vidente rege, Mane, techel, phares, et hsc est inter-
pretatio sermonis: Mane, numeravit Deus regnum tuum et com-
plevit illud; techel, appensum est in statera et inventum est
minus habens; phares, divisum est regnum iuum et datum est
Medis et Persis. Hanc historiam tangit auctor, dicens quod
Balthasar in conis, quas optimatibus suis fecerat, potavit vasis
munis, que fuerant de auro et argento, summo dicatis, 1. sacratis
summo Deo eterno, de templo vt spoliotis, per Nabugodonosor
regem et patrem predicti Balthasar, et ille didicit, scilicet in cona,
per techel et mane, phares, i. per scripturam istam, seu per ista
verba, discussa plane, i. clare exposita, quod fuit inane, et nimis

166 — POLITICAL POEMS.

gràve peccatum, sücra tangere vane, illa que Deo sacrata fuerunt,
quia pro illo facto fuit privatus regno. Et istam historiam in-
tendit auctor adducere contra papam Clementem, qui male bona
ecclesiæ expéndidit fovendo falsam causam Francie.

Capitulum uy pertractat unum bellum dispositum
contra regem, Anglie dum fuerat dw obsidione
Calesit, et quomodo frustrabatur.

Vix cum vi culli bis septem se sociabunt,

Gallorum pulli tauro bellum renovabunt.

Jam reboant bella, fer adhue vexilla, puella;

Rex Saul erravit querens occidere David,

Quem Deus elegit, ejus mandataque fregit,

Sortilegis credens, et ab ejus lege recedens.

In bello stratus fuit inde Saul sceleratus.

Est opus inane Christo contendere vane.

Cum comitatenses vibrabunt eminus enses,

Bussi burgenses, Bolones, Francigenenses,

Tanti pugnantes vix mundo sunt equitantes,

Quanti pro bellis veniunt fugientque novellis.

Judice cœlorum rumpetur turma malorum;

Falsus non stabit, Phi et lippus fugitabit,

Cum sit conflictus non expectabit ad ictus;

Qui semel est victus, est armis postea fictus,

Est nimis afflictus a Christo quisque relictus,

Descendensque fora descendet ad inferiora.

Non valet immo cadet qui victus ad infera vadit.

Regnum éceleste non cernet demone teste.

Sequitur expositio inde.—Viz cum vi culi, Istud capitulum, per-
iractans dispositionem belli contra regem Anglie existentem in
obsidione Calesiæ, continet quinque dieta. Unde pro isto bello est
notagdum quod Calesienses obsessi miserunt regi Franciæ Philippo
per nuncios quod non poterant amplius custodire villam sine ejus
auxilio propter famem quam sustinuerunt; unde Philippus collegit
magnum exercitum contra Anglicos, ut eos expugnaret in illa
obsidione, et venit versus Calesiam, qui per nuncios audiens dis-

positionem et fortitudinem Anglicorum perterritus fugit sine adju:
torio prestito Calesiensibus; et ista est materia hujus capituli;

JOHN OF BBIDLINGTON. 167

Primo igitur ostendit auctor annum Domini in quo istud bellum
disposuerunt, et invocat auxilium beate "Virginis pro rege Ed.
wardo. Pro quo est notandum quod istud bellum fuit dispositum
primo anno post bellum de Crecy, licet non pervenit ad effectum,
scilicet anno Christi millesimo cce™xlvij™°; unde dicit auctor,
Vie cum vi culli, i. numerus signatus per literas istarum dic-
tionum, et bis septem, i. quatuordecem, se sociabunt in uno nu-
mero, dum resultat numerus annorum Christi M.ccc.xlvij, in quo
Gallorum pulli, i. homines de Francia, tauro bellum renovabunt, ad
removendum eum de obsidione Calesiæ. Jam reboant bella, contra
regem Angliæ, ideo tu Maria, mater Christi, fer adhue vemilla,
puella, régis Edwardi contra inimicos suos. Secundo ostendit auc-
tor per historiam quod vanum est pugnare seu contendere conira
ordinationem divinam et ejus voluntatem. Pro quo est notanda
historia quod Saul rex, postquam audivit a Samuelo propheta quod
Deus deponeret eum de regno et daret proximo suo David, perse-
cutus est David multotiens ut eum destrueret, qui tandem in bello
coangustatus suscitavit Samuelem per phitonissam, unde in bello
die sequente fuit occisus secundum responsum Samuelis. Et
hane historiam alludit auctor, dicens, Rex Saul erravit, et male
fecit, volens occidere David, quem Deus elegit, ad regnum Israel,
eb ipse Saul ejus mandataque fregit, sortilegis credens, quando
per phitonissam suscitavit Samuelem, quod fuit contra mandatum
legis, recedens igitur fuit in hoc ab ejus lege, et inde Saul scele-
ratus, e& malus, fuit in bello stratus, in die sequente contra Philis-
tæos ; unde patet ex ista historia quod est opus inane, et fatuum,
- Christi. contendere vane, et pugnare fatue contra voluntatem
Christi. Nota quod istam historiam adducit contra regem Fran-
cie, qui vane pugnat contra regem Anglie, cui Deus ordinavit
regnum Francie vel suis successoribus. Tertio ostendit pugna-
tores congregatos pro illo bello, et qualiter virtute Dei rumpe-
bantur sine conflictu; unde dicit, Cum comitatenses, i. homines de
comitatibus, vibrabunt eminus enses, i. disponunt se ad bellum, a
longe non audentes appropinquare, et Busst burgenses, Bolones,
Francigenenses, qui omnes congregati fuerunt in illo bello, et tanti
pugnantes vio mundo sunt equitantes quanti pro bellis veniun
Jugientque novellis, ita quod hic auctor innuit quod iste magnus
numerus populi sicut venit ita fugiet sine conflictu, quia, Judice
colorum, i, virtute Dei qui est justus judex colorum, rumpetur
turma malorum, i. societas Francorum, qui recesserunt ad propria
sicut venerant. Quarto ostendit auctor quod Philippus rex Fran:
cie propter istam totam congregationem non expectabit ad pug-
nandum, sed ante conflictum fugiet, dicens, Falsus non stabit,
scilicet ad pugnandum, Phi et lippus fugitabit, et rex Francie
Philippus fugiet. Cum sit conflictus, i. si fuisset conflictus, non
expectabit ad ictus, quia, qui semel est victus, in bello, est armia

168 8 POLITICAL POEMS.

postea fictus, et non audens aggredi bellum pro timore, quia
quisque relictus a Christo, in operibus suis est nimis affictus ; ita
quod innuit auctor duplicem causam fuge hujus regis. Prima
causa fuit pusillanimitas de timore alterius belli in quo fuit
victus. Secunda causa fuit quod Christus eum reliquit in ista
“causa sine auxilio, quia fuit injusta. Quinto ostendit finem
damnabilem hujus regis, dicens, Descendensque fora, i. Parisius, ubi
est principale forum Francie, descendet ad inferiora, i. inferna,
propter falsitatem suam. Non valet, i. non habet nomen verum
Valoys, immo cadit, scilicet a valore, qui victus est ad infera
vadit, i. post omnia bella quibus victus fuerat transibit ad in-
fernum, quia regnum cœleste non cernet nec videbit, demone teste,
qui eum habebit in inferno. Et sic terminatur istud capitulum.

Capitulum vij" ostendit accidentia, inter — regna,
Angliæ et Francie circa principium regni Jo-
hannis de Francia, unde versus.

Fama boat cannis Jo. dum sponsabitur annis,
Quod cum tyrannis edictis undique bannis,
Confidens mannis tauro nova bella parabit,
Non visis pannis tauri tamen hic fugitabit. :
Nam fame vincetur, ipsum quoque turma sequetur.
Non binis annis durabit pompa Johannis,

In sano fonte perient milvi sine ponte,
Averso fronte qui nolunt cedere sponte.
Plangent infantes genitores bella parantes,

In postris verbis reseram tibi mystica ter bis.
Si bene rimentur, falsi non invenientur;

Si fuerit metrum falsum bene discute tetrum.
Cum canis intrabit, leo cum tauro volitabit ;
Ambo mordebunt, canis et leo letha manebunt.
Augusti portis veniet pars optima sortis,
Serutinium mortis disperdet seuta cohortis,
Gallorum fortis qui post capietur in hortis.
Ca. per mordacem taurus capiet cruciatam,

Pa. pariet pacem pariendo perpetuatam.

Fama boat cannis. Istud capitulum, continens accidentia inter
regna Anglie et Francie circa principium regni Johannis de
Francia, habet sex dicta. Et tria sunt notanda in principio hujus

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 169

capituli. Primo est notandum quod Johannes quasi secundo anno
post bellum de Crecy fuit coronatus, anno scilicet Christi
M°ccc™xlviij., post quem annum dicta in isto capitulo acciderunt.
Secundo est notandum quod circa idem tempus fuit secundo uxora-
tus post mortem prime uxoris. Tertio est notandum quod anno
sequenti fuit illa generalis pestilentia qua tot hominum millia
mortui sunt, anno scilicet. Christi M°ccc™xlix®. His promissis se-
quitur expositio literæ. Primo ostendit auctor quomodo fama fuit
in Francia in principio regni Johannis quod ipse bellum tauro
renovaret, dicens, Fama boat cannis, i. fama, seu rumor, per ora
hominum mulüplicatur; canna enim nomen æquivocum est, et
ponitur pro arundine in qua canit, et pro canna gulæ, et pro
quodam fluvio, sed hic accipitur pro canna gulæ in qua sonus
rumorum formatur. Jo. dum sponsabitur annis, i. illo tempore quo .
Johannes disponsabitur, quod cum tyrannis, i. magnis dominis,
quibus jungetur ex parte uxoris, edictis undique bamnis, i. dum
facta fuit solemnizatio et proclamatio matrimoni quod papa con-
fidens mannis, i. equis et palafridis suis. Mannus enim palafridus
dicitur. Tauro nova bella parabit, i. ordinavit nova contra regem
Anglie; et nota quod ista ordinatio et fama non pervenit ad
effectum, sieut cito patebit. Secundo ostendit auctor quomodo ista
fama frustrabatur nec pervenit ad effectum. Pro quo est notan-
dum quod rex Johannes non fecit bellum contra regem Angliæ a
principio regni sui usque ad bellum de Peyters, in quo captus
fuit; unde dicit auctor, Non visis pannis tauri, i. licet. non videbat
regem Anglie, tamen hic fugitabit, i. desistet a proposito suo.
. Nam fame vincetur, i. pro penuria victualium non perficiet pro-
positum suum. Ipsum quoque turma sequetur, i. communitas cum
eo a proposito suo desistet, quia forte illo tempore cogitaverunt
Gallii aliquod malum contra regem Anglie, quod iamen non
perficiebant. Non binis annis durabit pompa Johannis, vel quia in
secundo anno coronationis suæ fuit mortalitas magna per quam
sua pompa fuit remissa, vel quia nunquam fuit ita pomposus
sicut fuii in duobus primis annis regni sui. "Tertio ostendit
stragem magnam hominum in quodam flumine de Sayn, dicens,
Milvi perient sine ponte, i. tot homines quot signantur per literas
hujus dictionis milvi, i. m'lvij., in sano fonte, i. in tali aqua ha-
bente nomen Sayne, ubi ill occisi sunt, qui nolunt cedere sponte,
seu dare liberum transitum, averso fronte, ab eis, et plangent
infantes, i. pueri, genitores bella parantes, qui in illo loco occisi
fuerunt; sed quando istud bellum factum fuerit, nescio. Scientes
tamen historiam bene cognoscent. Quarto ostendit auctor quod
in versibus sequentibus sunt mystica per magnum studium
cognoscenda. In postris verbis, i. in versibus sequentibus, reseram
tibs mystica ter bis. Et istud verbum potest tripliciter exponi.
Primo, sic dicam tibi sex mirabilis que futura sunt. Secundo,

0 POLITICAL POEMS.

dicam tibi mystica et occulta sex annorum, scilicet a secundo anno
regni Johannis usque ad bellum de Payters, incipiens ibi completo
pleno. Tertio potest exponi per quintam occultationem Gallice sic,
mystica ter bis, i, mervailles tresons, quia forte aliqui fuerunt illo
tempore falsi homines regi. Sed istam tertium occultationem seu
sententiani non intelligit auctor hic; unde dicit, Si bene rimentur,
illa scilicet verba, falsi non invenientur, i. ibi non accipientur pro
falsis hominibus, seu pro tresons, et vel si isti versus sequentes bene
rimentur, el exponentur, falsi non invenientur, licet ad comniunem in-
tellectum falsi appareant, et ideo si fuerit metrum falsum, accipiendo
intellectum versus sicut litera sonat. Bene discute tetrum, i. bene
discutias occultam sententiam litere et obscuram per occultationes
auctoris, et sic veritas invenietur. Et nota quod illa sex occulta
yj annorum patebunt i in istis tribus capitulis sequentibus. Quinto
ostendit aucto? primum mysticum, scilicet. primam magnami pes-
tilentiam, factam anno Christi M°ccc°xlix®, dicens, Cum canis intrabit,
i. cum ille stella nociva in coelo que canis primus dicitur oriatur
cum sole, quod est quando sol est in fine cancri in mense Julii
in diebus canicularibus, qui sic dicuntur ab illa stella, tunc Jeo
cum tauro volitabil, i. illa duo signa in cœlo, se quartili aspectu
respicientia, in colo citcumvolverunt, et in leonem sol cito post
intrabit, et tunc ambo mordebunt canis et leo, per aeris pesti-
lentiam quem cavebunt in terram, mordebunt et destruent ho-
mines, et letha manebunt, i. mortalitatem facient, Hoc lethum, lethi,
idem est quod iors, et ista pestilentia predicta illo tempore
anni incepit sicut innuit iste auctor. Sexto ostendit quando illa
pestilentia se transtulit ad Franciam ad Anglicorum utilitatem,
dicens, Pars optima sortis veniet, i. bona fortuna et bona sors .
Anglicis accidit, Augusti portis, i. in fine mensis Augusti, quia
illo tempore incepit pestilentia in Anglia cessare, et transivit ad
#Franciam, ubi scrutinium mortis, i. operatio illius pestilentiæ, dis-
perdet scuta cohortis, i i. fortitudinem et arma communitatis Francie ;
quia cohors proprie dicitur multitudo rusticorum, ilos forte
ordinavit Johannes ad resistendum regi Anglie in primo conflictu
si declinasset tunc ad Franciam, sed per pestilentiam Deus dis-
perdet scuta cohortis. Gallorum fortis, i. illorum Gallorum regis
Johannes quem fortem hic dicit, qui post capietur in — hortis,
in bello scilicet de Peyters; et hic aperte prædixit captionem regis
Johannis de Francia. Septimo ostendit auctor quomodo rex
Anglie propter illam pestilentiam expectavit a bellis suis, et
quomodo papa nitebatur fecisse pacem inter regna, dicens, quod
laurus eapiet crucialam, i. dolorem et cruciatum de morte gentis
Sus. Ca. per mordacem, i. per canem mordacem predictum, scilicet
stella. Pa, pariet pacem, i. papa faciet pacem inter regna, pariendo
ferpetuatüm, volens facere eam perpetuatam, quamvis ita non fac-
tum fuent, Et sic terminatur capitulum,

JOHN ÓF BRIDLINGTON. 171

Capitulum viij* ostendit quomodo rex Anglic tardatur
a proposito suo de Francia.

Virgine vibrante non excillabit ut ante,

Immo Deo dante confinget cum fugitante.

Non collidetur taurus cum ipse. labetur ;

Nam supponetur per eum qui justa tuetur.
Gratia tardatur cum peccatum dominatur;

Qui nimis inflatur peccato non vacuatur.
Spreta mensura vacilant undique jura;

Inter omne quod est mensuram ponere prodest.
Clamor bidentis boat auribus omnipotentis,
Innocus gentis sanguis quæritur morientis.
Non sine tormentis rapitur lana gregis egentis ;
Dilanians gregem rex non servat bene legem.
Cedentem legem summus fert cedere regem;
Excorians staurum, staurum consumit et aurum.
David peccavit quia Barsabe clunagitavit, ———
Et magis erravit Uriam cum nece stravit;
Tertio peccavit cum gentem connumeravit.
Omnipotens tandem culpam punivit eandem,
Non tamen omnino, veluti pro crimine irino,
David mactare, seu cum ponis macerare ;
Justus erat David, ideo bona multiplicavit.
Contritus corde meruit esse sine sorde,
Eructans vere * Deus, alme, mei miserere."

Sequitur empositib bersuum.—Virginé vibrante. Ystud capitulum,
ostendens quomodo rex Anglie tardatur a proposito suo propter
peccata sua, continet quinque dicta. Primo ostendit quod rex
Anglie illo tempore declinabat ad alias mulieres quam ad uxorem
suam, unde punietur, sed non ad mortem, dicens, Virgime vibrante,
i. dum aliqua virgo quam rex diliget vibrabit se et se præbuerit
placitam regi et amabilem, non excillabit ut ante, i. non manebit
cum uxore sicut prius, quia illa virgo forte subtrahet appetitum
et dilectionem regis ab uxore sua; et nota quod excillare idem est
quod manere cum uxore propria. Sed Deo dante, i. permittente,
laurus confinget cum fugitante, i, faciet et finget sibi excusationes

172 POLITICAL POEMS. .

recedere a regina ut cum predicta virgine. manere poterit. Sed
propter illud peccatum non collidetur taurus, i. punietur ad mortem ;
cum ipse labetur, i. recipiet. aliquod grande malum propter illud
peccatum, de quo tamen relevabitur ; 2am supponetur, i. supportabitur,
per eum qui justa tuetur, i. per Deum qui custodiet eum ad
vendicandum justitiam suam in Francia. Secundo ostendit quo-
modo gratia regis tardatur illo tempore propter peccata sua, dicens,
Gratia tardatur, a rege, cum peccatum dominatur in eo, quia
spreta mensura, quando scilicet mensura spernitur ab aliquo,
vacillant undique jura, et debilitantur, et ideo, inter omne quod
est, mensuram ponere prodest. Innuit auctor quod reges illo
tempore excessit mensuram in factis suis, et primo in peccato
predicto. Secundo propter occisione gentis innocentis in Francia.
Tertio propter rapinam et exactionem in Anglia; unde dicit auctor,
Clamor bidentis, 1. rumor et oratio duarum gentium Angliæ et Franciæ,
boat auribus omnipotentis, i. devenit ad aures Dei, ubi innocue
gentis sanguis queritur morientis, i. sanguis communitatis Franciæ,
quie nihil ei nocebat quæritur apud Deum, et lana gregis egentis,
Anglie quem ab eis abstulit. Non rapitur sine tormentis, quibus
pro istis factis rex postea punietur. "Tertio ostendit auctor quod
rex ilo facto tria mala incurrebat. Primo fregit legem quam
obligatur observare; unde dicit auctor, Dilanians gregem. rez, i.
populum suum destruendo per injustas exactiones, nom servat bene
legem, ad quam obligatur. Secundo submittit se magnis periculis
per hoc quod egit conira legem, quia summus fert cedere regem,
i Deus permittit regem percuti et castigari, cedentem legem, illum
scilicet qui non servat legem, sed frangit. Et tertio rex sic
faciendo destruit et populum et thesaurum suum; quia rex
eæcorians staurum, i. expolians populum, staurum consumit et aurum,
quia destruet populum suum et aurum quod ab eis habere
potuerit si indigeret. Quarto inducit historiam de rege David,
ostendens ejus triplex peccatum. Pro quo est notandum quod
David in tribus principaliter peccavit; primo in luxuria, quando
concubuit cum Bersabee uxore Uriz marito suo vivente; secundo
in homicidio, quando Uriam fecit occidere ut Bersabe haberet in
uxorem; tertio in superbia, quando fecit populum suum numerare,
unde magnam stragem sustinuit per mortalitatem factam angelo
ultore. Et ista tangit auctor, dicens, David peccavit, quia Bersabe
chunagitavit, i. quia concubuit cum Bersabe ; ef magis erravit Uriam
cum nece stravit, 1. quando fecit illum bonum militem pro uxore sua
occidi. Tertio peccavit, quia gentem connumeravit, populum suum
ut cognosceret quantum populum ad arma bellica haberet. Quinto
ostendit auctor quod Deus non punivit David ad poenam condig-
nam triplici peccato propter poenitentiam et justitiam suam, dicens,
Omnipotens tandem culpam punivit eandem, in David per multas
tribulationes, quando proprius filius eum in regno prosequebatur,

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 173

et tanta strages per &ngelum fiebat in populo. Non famen Deus
punivit eum omnino, véluti pro crimine trino, nec voluit David
mactare seu cum pœnis macerare, et causa fuit, quia justus fuit
David, ideo bona multiplicavit, et contritus corde, de peccatis suis,
merut esse sine sorde, i. labe peccati. Eructans vere, i. clamans ad
Deum, in psalmo. Deus, alme, mei miserere, i. invocando divinam
misericordiam. Nota quod auctor inducit istam historiam in hoc
loco pro rege, qui jam multis maculatur peccatis, ad similitudinem
David; Deus tamen non puniet eum ad plenum pro omnibus illis
peccatis, sed pro aliquibus, propter misericordiam quam a Deo
recipiet pro justitia et contritione sua, Et sic terminatur istud
capitulum.

Capitulum x" ostendit quanta mala Gallici sus-
tinuerunt propter eorum, superbiam, et alia pec-
cata ; wnde versus.

In ccelis natus fastus fuit et reprobatus ;
Corruit in terram, commovit undique guerram.
Inter cognatos bellum commovit amatos ;
Fecit et ingratos proprio patri fore natos.
Gallos cæcavit et eos saligia stravit ;
Destruxit Cyrus ob peccatum Babylones;
Peccati virus sic Gallorum glabriones.

Blado vastato, vineto non reparato,

Urbes fœcundæ fient statim sitibundæ ;
Urbes jocundæ ferientur fulmine funds.
Deficiet granum, castrum fiet cito vanum.
Destructis granis, deerit mox copia panis;
Poena fames panis, venter fluxu fit inanis.
Membris sanctorum loca que fuerant decorata,
Laudibus illorum dum parent sunt mediata.
Septima pars terre periet post iristia guerre ;
Oportet ferre, consumunt pinguia terre.
Summum leserunt cui jussa decem perierunt.

Sequitur expositio versuum.—In colis natus. Istud capitulum,
confinens stragem Gallorum pro peccatis suis, habet quinque
dicta. In primo declarat conditiones superbie, et quomodo per
eam, et propter alia mortalia peccata, destruentur. Pro quo est

174 POLITICAL POEMS.

notandum quod Gallici primo propter fastum et superbiam eorum
ineeperunt bella inter regna, sicut habetur capitulo quinto primæ
distinctionis; secundo propter superbiam et fastum patiebantur
destructionem et famem tempore belli de Crecy, capitulo primo
hujus distinctionis; et tertio jam specialiter ostendit mala eis su-
pervenientia propter peccata sua, et specialiter propter fastum
eorum, dicens, Festus fuit in colis natus, ubi Lucifer primo in-
cepit superbiam, quando voluit esse similis Altissimo, et ibi fastus
ejus fuit reprobatus, quando ilum angelum pulcherrimum ad

poenas inferni æternaliter propter suam superbiam detrudit; et.

tune superbia corruit in terram, cum illo angelo damnato, et com-
movit undique guerram, et prelia, in tantum quod inter cognatos
bellum commovit amatos, Et hoc dicit auctor propter bellum
commotum inter regem Anglie et Francie, qui cognati fuerant.
Fecit et ingratos proprio patri fore natos, i. superbia fecit filios
proprio patri fore ingratos; et hoc dicit auctor, quia filii regis
Johannis erunt ingrati proprio patri, et sic resistentes in. regno
Francie, Gallos cecavit superbia et fastus, non permittendo eos
videre justitiam regis Angliæ, nec casum eis inflictum a Deo, quia
justitiæ resistebant, et ideo eos saligia stravit, i. septem peccata

mortalia eos destruxerunt et straverunt, sub potestate Anglicorum..

Et nota quod in iste dictione saligia continentur septem literæ
designantes septem peccata mortalia. Per s, primam literam, de-
signatur superbia, que est primum peccatum mortale; per a, se-
. cundam literam, designatur avaritia, secundum peccatum mortale ;
. per À, tertiam literam, designatur luxuria, tertium peccatum mor-

tale; per 5, quartam literam, designatur invidia, quartum peccatum |

mortale; per g, quintam literam, designatur gula, quintum pecca-
ium mortale; per i, sextam literam, designatur ira, sextum pec-
catum mortale; per a, septimam literam, designatur accidia,
sepümum peccatum mortale. Quia igitur Gallici omni peccato
mortali fuerant maculati, unde strati sunt ab Anglicis, dicit auc-
tor et eos saligia stravit. Secundo ostendit auctor per historiam
quod sicut Cyrus rex Persarum destruxit Babylones propter pec-
cata sua, ita Gallici propter peccata sua destruentur. Primo est
notandum quod Cyrus rex Persarum subjugavit sibi quasi totum
regnum orientis, inter quz regna destruxit regnum Babyloniæ
. propter. peccatum Nabugodonosor, qui Jerusalem destruxit et
vasa de templo Domini abstulit. Unde dicit auctor, Destruxit
Cyrus ob peccatum Babylones, i.. homines de. Babilonia, propter
peccata sua, et sic peccati virus, et malitia, destruet Gallorum
glabriones, i. populum de Gallia. Et nota quod secundum Ca-
tholicon glabrio tria significat, scilicet imberbem, calvum, tur
mosum; et designat quod tria genera hominum destruentur a
bellis in Francia. Per calvum designantur senes, calvitia infecti;
per imberbem designantur juvenes sine barbis; per turmosum

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 175

designantur pauperes, sive communitates populi, qui destruentur
in Francia per bella et alias strages supervenientes propter peocata
sua. "Tertio ostendit auctor destructionem bladi et vini per An-
glicos in Francia futuram, et famem in civitatibus; unde dicit
auctor, Blado vastato, i. quando bladum vastatur. Et nota quod
bladum dicitur seges dum est viridis in bladis et folis existens,
et sic signat Anglicos tali tempore anni ad Franciam venturos.
- Et vineto non reparato, i. dum non poterant reparare vineas suas
propter guerram, et tuno urbes fœcunde, i. nobiles de Francia, flent
cito sitibunde, i. famelici, propter destructionem bladi et vini in
Francia. Et urbes jocunde, in ludis et solatiis, ferientur fulmine
Sunde, i. percutientur cum lapide funde, Anglice engyn, qui modo
fulminis percutit magna vi et virtute; et illo tempore deficiet
granum in Francia, et casírum fiet cito vanum, qyia sine pane et
vino et victualibus castrum non valet praebere auxilium, et, de-
structis granis, in Francia, deerit mov copia panis, ita quod illo
tempore erii Gallicorum pena fames panis, quia non comedent
panem in saturitate, et venter flumu fit inanis, vel forte propter
fluxum quem illo tempore sustinebunt, vel quia venter sit inanis
ad fluxum, quia non comedent, unde fluxus ventris rationabiliter
causaretur. Quarto ostendi quod una causa destructionis Galli-
corum fuit eorum indevotio, quod sanctos suos non digne hono-
rabant; unde dicit quod /oca que fuerant decorata membris
sanclorum, ubi sancti sepulti sunt, dum parent laudibus eorum, i.
dum laudaverunt ils sanctos et confidebant in eorum auxiliis,
sunt mediata, i. fuerunt in mediatione coram Deo per preces
illorum sanctorum, et conservata a ruina; quasi dicere quod
quia Gallici desistent a laudibus sanctorum et a bona devotione,
. eveniet super eos destructio per Anglicos in multis bellis. Quinto
ostendit finaliter magnam stragem propter inobedientiam | decem
mandatorum Dei, que non conservabant; unde dicit, Septima pars
terre, i. Francie, periet post tristia. guerre, 1. in illo tempore pacis
post guerram et prelia; et hoc oportet ferre Gallicos et sustinere.
Consumunt pinguia terre, illa videlicet quæ post prelia relicta sunt :
tunc consumunt Gallici, vel quia Anglici supervenientes illa con-
sument pinguia. Et dictum est quod sic destruantur Gallici quia
summum læserunt in peccatis suis, cui jussa decem perierunt, i.
decem mandata Dei neglexerunt, seu non custodierunt, et propter
negligentiam decem preceptorum septima pars terre destruetur.
Et sic terminatur istud capitulum.

176 | . POLITICAL POEMS.

Capitulum x" continet bella et facta Anglicorum ab
anno Christi M°ccelitij®, etc. Versus.

Completo pleno bellorum tempore deno,

Pax erit in terra, rediet sed barrida guerra.
Milvi sex lustra, cuculi vim non cape frustra;
In precedenti da tempore que fero menti; |
Hoe quatuor cullos Gallorum tempore pullos
Vincent caudati, pro caudis improperati.
Seotorum terra ballivi pro vice guerra,

Plebs obstringillis stringetur cedere villis ;
Nam mors pupillis se festinabit in illis.

Rex qui cuneta regit falsos per bella subegit.
Scotos ballivus domitabit dummodo vivus ;
Nam penetrativus erit auxili sibi rivus.

Ast ablativus erit ipsi morte nocivus,
Accusativus quia non fiet genitivus.

Propter mercedem taurum firmabit hæredem,
Eb soror insignis, precibus mulcendo benignis,
Scotis indignis feret optima pacta malignis.
Laus et honor érescet penetranti quando senescet.
Quod sit fidelis David pandetur obelis.

Turrim mactarum Karolus dux Londoniarum
Intrabit, taurum capitabit et afferet aurum.
Tauro signatum remanet tamen intemeratum.
Lux cuculum fallit, dum ter sex cantica psallit. —
Tune taurus gregem ducet per pinguia prata;
Non metuet regem grex quin rapiet sibi grata.
Nullus deliro credat pro carmine miro.

Jam canis intravit, rugiens leo me maceravit ;
Expedit ut credo taceam, cerebrum quia lodo.

Completo pleno. Istud capitulum, continens bella et facta Anglico-
rum per vij annos, habet ix. dicta. Primo ostendit auctor tempora
belli de Peyters contra Gallicos et captionis Berewyci per Scotos.
Pro quo tria sunt notanda, Primo notandum est quod iste auctor
primo ponit tempus belli de Peyters quam captionis Berewyci,

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 177

quamvis captio Berewyci precessit; et causa est quia numerus
belli de Peyters dependet ex versibus præcedentibus, et numerus
captionis Berewyci clare in numeris ostendetur. Secundo est notan-
dum quod eodem ordine ponit bellum de Peyters ante captionem
Berewyci, sicut posuit tempora, ut in expositione patebit. Tertio
est notandum quod a bello de Crecy usque ad bellum de Peyters
fuerunt decem anni completi preter quinque dies. His premissis,
sequitur expositio. Completo pleno bellorun tempore deno, i. dum
plene completur tempus decem annorum a principio bellorum que
inceperunt apud Crecy, Pax erit in terra, infra illos annos quando
rex multum quievit a bellis, illis tamen decem annis plene com-
pletis, rediet sed barrida guerra, i. forte bellum ; et ita factum est,
quia completis plene decem annis a bello de Crecy, commisso
anno Christi M°ccc™xlyj®, xiij. kal. Octobr. rediet bellum de
Peyters, commissum anno Christi M°ccc™lyj®, xiij. kal. Octobr. ; et
sic ostendit auctor tempus hujus belli. Ostendit tempus captionis
Berewyci, dicens, Milvi, sex lustra, cuculi vim non cape frustra,
quasi diceret numerum signatum per istam dictionem milvi et sex
lustra, i. triginta annos, lustrum enim est spatium quinque anno-
rum, et numerum signatum per literas hujus dictionis cuculi ; sed
vim non cape frustra, i. numerum signatum per ultimam literam
hujus dictionis vim, quia superflueret et esset frustra, sed omni-
bus alis numeris conjunctis efficitur numerus annorum Christi
M.cec.liüj, qui fuit annus Christi tempore captionis Berewyci.
Unde dicit auctor, In precedenti de tempore que fero menti, i. in
predictis versibus dicas et cognoscas tempora quæ ego habeo in
mente mea, Et nota quod dicit notabiliter tempora ad designan-
dum quod in prædictis versibus duos numeros ostendebat, sig-
nantes dua tempora praedicta, "Secundo ostendit auctor bellum de
Peyters et victoriam Anglicorum super Gallieos in illo conflictu.
Pro quoest notandum quod Edwardus de Wodestoke, primogenitus
et heres regis Anglie, commisit, bellum in Francia contra Gallicos
apud Peyters, ubi Johannes rex Francorum captus est, cum mili-
tibus nobilibus Francie, anno Christi M.ccc.lvj? ; unde dicit auctor,
Hoc tempore caudati pro caudis improperati, i. Anglici, qui &
Gallicis caudati dicuntur in improperium, vincent Gallorum pullos,
i. homines de Gallia, quatuor cullos, i. regem cum tribus filiis,
quos auctor vocat improperando cullos, sicut. Gallici vocant nos
caudatos. Et illi quatuor victi fuerant in illo bello, ubi rex cum
uno filio captus est, et duo alii de bello fugierunt. Tertio ostendit
auctor captionem Berwyci et destructionem per Scotos factam. Pro
quo est notandum quod Scoti furtive de nocte intraverunt, Berwycum
super muros, eb Anglicos ejecerunt de civitate, eos expoliando
et occidendo multos eorum, anno Christi M.cec.liij ut predictum
est; unde dicit auctor, Plebs obstringillis, i. obstructa et captiva,
stringetur cedere villis, i. cogetur recedere de villis Berwyci, que

VOL I. M

178 POLITICAL POEMS, _ .

sita est Scotorum terra, pro guerra et bells, pro vice ballivi, quia
tune rediderunt Scoti vicem Anglicis pro destructione quam
habuerint per bellum Edwardi de Balliolle apud Halydoun, quo
tempore Anglici ceperunt Berwycum. Nam mors pupillis se festi-
nabit in illis, per stragem Scotorum in illo conflictu, quia Rex qui
euncta regit, 3. Deus, falsos per bella subegit, i. Anglicos, qui tunc
propter falsitatem suam subacti sunt et spoliati per bella predicta.
Quarto ostendit auctor quod per totum tempus vitæ Edwardi de
Balliolle Scoti semper erunt subjecti Anglicis, propter ejus justi-
tiam et auxihum dominorum Anglie sibi adhærentium; unde dicit
auctor, Scotos ballivus domitabit dummodo vivus, i. Edwardus de
Balliolle domitabit Scotos per totam vitam suam. Nam penetra-
tivus, i. dominus de Percy, erit auxilii sibi rivus, i. erit sibi in
auxilium. Ast ablotivus erit ibi morte nocivus, i. auferens eum
de vita ad mortem ipsi nocebit, quia per mortem domini de
Percy Edwardus de Balliole multum perdidit auxilium. Ablativus
erit Edwardus de Scotia, quia non fiet genitivus, nec habebit pro-
geniem qua post mortem suam poterit regnum Scotiæ vendicare.
Et nota quod auctor loquendo de isto Edwardo, tribuit sibi
omnem casum declinationis in quarto capitulo prime distinctionis,
et in isto, scilicet, nominativum, genitivum, dativum, accusativum,
vocativum, ablativum. Quinto ostendit quomodo predictus Ed.
wardus de Baliollé firmabit regem Anglie hæredem suum, et
quomodo soror regis Anglie juvabit Scotos illo tempore. Pro
quo est notandum quod rex Anglie graviter sustinens captionem
Berwyci, ordinavit se contra Scotiam circa natalitium Domini,
prius sibi jure predict Edwardi concesso quod habuit in Scotia;
ideo dicit auctor de eo, Propter mercedem taurum firmabit . here-
dem, i. propter aliquod quod rex Anglie sibi donabit, concedet
sibi justitiam hæreditatis in regno Scotis. Sed postquam villa
Berwyci per adventum regis Anglicis reddita fuerat, regina Scotia,
Soror regis Anglie, precibus suis pactum pacis apud fratrem
suum meruit; ideo dicit auctor, Et soror insignis, i. nobilis, regis
Anglie, precibus mulcendo benignis fratrem suum, Scotis indignis,
propter falsitates suas, fert optima pacta malignis, inter eos et
regem Anglie. Sexto removet falsum rumorem de domino de
Percy, qui infidelis regi Angliæ a pluribus dicebatur, dicens, Laus
et honor crescet penetranti quando senescet, i. domino de Percy in
senectute sua, scilice& apud Dunolmiam, in quo bello ipse fuit
unus de principalibus ducibus quando rex Scotiæ captus erat, ubi
sua fidelitas ostendebatur; quod sit fidelis David pandetur obelis,
i. ostendetur ejus fidelitas cum sagittis quibus David percussus
fuerat in facie in bello predicto. Septimo ostendit liberationem
Karol de Bloys de turri Londoniarum, facta sua redemptione,
dicens quod Karolus dur mactarum, i. gregum occisarum seu
populi destructi, intrabit turrim. Londoniarum, ubi incarceratus

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON, 179

fuerat, capitabit taurum, i. deponet primam literam hujus dictionis
laurum, et afferet aurum, pro sua redemptione, quod remanebit
de ista dictione taurum ; prima litera deposita, efficitur aurum.
Tauro signatum, i . Bolutum, remanet tamen intemeratum, i. infrac-
tum, quod iste Karolus remanebat ad propria. Octavo ostendit
auctor transitum regis Anglie in Francia anno Christi M.ccc™lx.,
et destructionem illo tempore factum. Pro quo est notandum
quod rex Anglie illo tempore transivit ad Franciam cum magno
exercitu; et multam ibi fecit destructionem, cujus tempus auctor
ostendit, dicens, Luz cuculum fallit, i. numerus signatus. per literas
istarum duarum dictionum lux et cuculum decipit calculantem,
dum ter sex cantica psallit, i. dum iste numerus signatus per ter
sex accipitur secundum signationem dictionis quod tunc tantum
signaret xviij.; sed debet accipi per signationem litere, scilicet x.
et tunc sunt xxx. qui numerus cónjunctus cum numero signato
per literas duarum dictionum praecedentium, scilicet lux et cuculus,
faciunt numerum annorum Christi M.cce.lx. Tune taurus gregem
ducet per pinguia prata, et bona Francie, et non mefuet regem grex
quin capiet sibi grata, i. placita in terra Francie predicta. Et hic
impletur prophetia exposita in capitulo precedenti, ubi dicit auctor
de destructione Gallorum propter peccata sua, quod oportet ferre,
consumunt pinguia terre. Nono auctor tacendo propter capitis in-
firmitatem secundam distinctionem hujus prophetis terminat,
dicens, Nullus deliro credat pro carmine miro, quasi diceret, nullus
credat me errare propter mirabilem modum scribendi. Jam canis
intravit, i. stella quee canis primus dicitur oritur; rugiens leo me
maceravit,i. color solis existentis in leone impedivit me multum in
infirmitate mea, et ideo expedit ut credo taceam, a prophetia,
cerebrum quia ledo, propter æstus illius temporis, et forte in isto
versu prædixit infirmitatem capitis ex qua multi homines morie-
bantur, quz accidit sole existente in leone, anno Christi millesimo
ccc°lxj° ; vel per canem et leonem notat bestias sibi apparentes
tempore prophetie, quæ sibi dixerunt seu ostenderunt quod qui-
esceret à prophetia propter cerebri lesionem, Et sic terminatur
secunda distinctio hujus prophetis...

Hic incipit tertia, distinctio istius prophetiae. Capitu-
lum 4., unde versus.

Me timor invadit describere quæ nocitura ;
Stultus sepe cadit, reputans se scire futura,
Sed quia sunt pura tauri per singula jura,
Sic mihi fit cura de tauro scribere plura.

M 2

180 . POLITICAL POEMS.

Nam pater in colis, qui verbo cuncta creavit,
Tauri fidelis rectum bene notificavit.

Bic ego de justo scribam, madeo quia musto,
Signis obscuras hie derivabo figuras.

Qui mala præfatur de magnis improperatur,
Et plus culpatur qui falsidicus reprobatur.
Quam, mala præcinere de magnis malo tacere;
Solus secura novit Deus ipse futura.
Auctorum dietis eonfidas carmine fictis,
Quicquid delirant reges plectuntur Achivi;
Qui calles gyrant ferientur in inguine vivi.
Seribitur in libris, fluxus nocet undique fibris;
Extirpat fluxus pollutos crimine luxus.

Cari perdentur, planctus David rapientur,
Namque repentina fiet gregis ipsa morina;
Rex cum regina transibunt absque ruina.
Classes quassabit moys et pir tecta cremabit.
Quem sublimabit Deus ipsum purificabit ;
Et castigabit in mundo quem decorabit.
Unda maris lavit quos luxus contaminavit ;
Ignis purgavit quos fastus commaculavit.
Taurus ad étaurum remeabit et afferet aurum.

Sequitur expositio istorum. versuum.—Me timor. stis igitur capi-
tulis sic premissis, sequitur de expositione litere, primitus de
capitulo primo, in quo auctor resumit suam prophetiam et præ-
dicit unam pestilentiam fluxus et destructionem hominum per
ignem et aquam; et istud capitulum continet quatuor dicta.
Primo enim dicit se timere describere nociva que sequuntur,
iamen propier jura pura tauri ea describit, dicens, Me timor in-
vadit, quasi diceret ego timeo, describere que nocitura, i. ista quie
sequuntur, que sunt valde nociva per pestilentias et per destruc-
tiones hominum multis modis, et propter mala statuta, sive propter
fegimen regni illo tempore, vel propter tribulationes quas taurus
sustinebit, de quibus. dicetur capitulo quarto, et ostendit causam,
quia stultus sepe cadit, in errores, reputans. se scire futura, i. cre-
dens se scire futura cum tamen ignoret. Sed isto non obstante,
quia jura tauri, que scilicet habet in regno Francie, sunt pura
per singula, i. sine scrupulo conscientiæ, ideo sic fit mihi cura, i.
voluntas et desiderium, de fauro scribere plura, que contingent
sibi. Nam puter in colis, scilicet pater æternus, qui verbo cuncta

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. _ “181

creavit, in principio, rectum bene notificavit, i. jus tauri fidelis,
scilicet regis Anglie. Secundo ostendit quod consequenter obscure
scribit per figuras, quia de magnis malis non vult dicere aperte, .
ne sibi improperetur, dicens, Ego scribam sic de justo, scilicet de
rege Anglie, et hic derivabo obscuras figuras, i. diversos modos
" loquendi et obscurandi in signis, i. in occultatibus in principio
libri notatis in secundo preambulo. Quia madeo musto, i. quia
inspiratus sum potu et doctrina Spiritus Sancti, de cujus doctrina
dicitur, musto madere deputant, quos spiritus repleverat, et volo
dicere occulte; quia qui male prefatur de magnis, i. prædicit aliqua
mala de dominis sive de malis que accidunt regno, improperatur,
scilicet ab aliis dominis qui ejus librum audiunt, sicut quondam
fuit de prophetis Judæorum, qui puniti erant et interfecti pre
veris prophetis. Sed cum propheta plus culpatur, scilicet a Deo et
hominibus, qui falstdicus reprobatur, in suis dictis, et ideo malo
facere de magnis et silere de istis periculis magnis infra notandis,
quam mala precinere quse ventura sunt. Sed quia ego sum in-
structus et doctus per Spiritum Sanctum, et oportet quod faciam
secundum voluntatem sui, non accipias istam prophetiam tanquam
ex voluntate et ordinatione mea procedentem, sed ex voluntate et
doctrina Dei, qui non fallitur, quia ipse solus Deus, et non homo
nec angelus, novit futura secura, i. qus venient ex certa se-
curitate. Tertio ostendit unam pestilentiam de fluxu futuram
propter peecata regum, quam rex et regina bene transibunt
sine morte; et forte istam pestilentiam sustinuerunt bellatores,
quando rex fuit in Francia juxta Parisius, quando multi mortui
sunt, vel forte ventura est adhuc infra breve; dicit enim, confidas
dictis fictis, i. des credulidatem dictis poeticis auctoris, scilicet
Horati carmine, i. primo libro epistolario, ubi versus sequens
ponitur, Quicquid delirant reges, i. errando committunt, plectuntur
Achivi,i. milites et homines qui luent, quasi diceret quod populus
propter peccata regum punietur, quod contingit, quia qui calles
gyrant, i. qui circuent occultas semitas, cujusmodi sunt exploratores
in bellis, vel qui circuent terras debellare eas, ferientur in in-
guine vivi, i. punientur in ano seu in inguine dum vivunt; quia
scribitur in libris, scilicet medicorum et aliorum auctorum, quod
Juaus nocet undique fibris, i. ventri et venis interioribus, quod jam
continget propier peccata luxurie vel regis vel pape, quia qui
gaudent in locis occultis per luxuriam in loco digne punientur
secrete. Unde fluxus extirpat, i. destruit et occidit pollutos et
maculatos crimine luxus, per luxuriam. Cart perdentur, scilicet in
ila pestilentia, et nimis dilecti regis et aliis, et eos planctus David
rapientur, quia amici dolebunt de morte eorum, sicut David de
morte Saul et Jonathæ, secundo Regum capitulo primo, ubi di-
citur; * Planxit autem David planctum bujus super Saul et
* Jonatham filium ejus," et jussit flere Israel de interfectis suis et

182 __ POLITICAL POEMS.

vulneratis. Et forte isti fuerunt domini qui moriebantur in Anglia
. infra breve tempus, sicu$ dux Lancastriæ, comes del Marche, comes
Northamptoniæ, et ali domini. Namque repentina fiet gregis ipsa
morina, que facta fuit anno Christi M.ccc™lxj., circa illud tempus
quo ista dicta sunt. Sed rez ef regina, scilicet Anglie, transibunt
absque ruina, morts in ila pestilentia. Quarto ostendit unam
destructionem futuram Anglicorum per ignem super terram et per
undas maris, dicens, Moys, i. aqua, quassabit classes, 1. franget seu
debilitabit et per tempestates totaliter destruet, et pir, i. ignis,
cremabit, 1. ardet, fecta, quia forte superveniet aliquis magnus
ignis super Angliam, vel super regem in aliqua obsidione, sicut
patebit in quarto capitulo hujus distinctionis, ubi istam materiam
clarius pertractat. Quia quem Deus sublimabit, scilicet ad vitam
æternam, ipsum purificabit, per tales tribulationes et angustias in
ista vita pro peccatis suis, et in mundo castigabit, per tales pres-
suras, quem decorabit, scilicet corona glorie in vita eterna; et
hoc cum condignis poenis, quia unda maris lavit, scilicet in nau-
fragio, quos lusus contaminavit, i. illos qui fuerant maculati cum
luxuria, et ignis purgavit quos fastus, i. superbia, commaculavit.
Unde nota propter luxuriam et superbiam fient istæ duæ destruc-
tiones et pestilenti: ; et sequitur quod taurus remeabit ad stau-
rum, scilices de Francia, illo tempore, anno Christi scilicet
M°ccc.lxj°, ad Angliam, et afferet aurum, quasi diceret quod non
venit propter defectum auri, sicut multotiens solebat, sed afferet
et reportabit secum aurum ad Angliam. Et sic terminatur istud
capitulum.

Capitulum. ij” ostendit accidentia, regni post illom,
pestilentiam, et conditiones diversorum hominum
allo tempore, et opera, eorwm.

Omnibus hoe dico, ne se subdant inimico.
Frontibus in stauri contrita litera prima
Sculpetur, tauri ne grex feriatur in ima.
Tau consignati mare transibunt meditati.
Nomen virtutis est taurus, sicque salutis.
Tau crux formatur, rus rusticus insinuatur;

. Rusticus ipse crucis transibit ad ardua lucis.
Hoe dico plane, vulvam non laudo Diane,
Quz taurum mane mulcet verbum per inane.
Dum vacat his bellis, hane mallem cedere cellis;
Regnantem stellis preeibus rogitare novellis.

JOHN OF BBIDLINGTON. 188

"Est mihi res certa, mulier sit fraude referta ;
. Fereula fert fellis bombinans feemina bellis.
Dum multat taxa, non fiet gratia laxa.

‘Sic opus inceptum laxum patietur ineptum,
Ac fient tuti Galli pro nomine scuti.

Nulla pejor pestis quam familiaris amicus ;
Traulus erit testis, qui tauro fieb iniquus. -
Spirans ut Saulus, tandem periet male traulus.
Seduus et blæsus, hircus genitalia lesus,
Pannieulos cæsus, glaucus, sic fulvus, obesus.
Dum mel in ore gerent, taurum retro pungere quærent.
Fraudibus ilorum pignus rumpetur amorum ;.
Fraus tamen illorum nudabitur arte suorum.

Per pannos cæsos animos monstro tibi lesos ;

In bello tales nulli fient speciales.

Undecies anno fiet mutatio panno.

Sic variis pannis erit exul copia scannis.

Curtate vestes, ærumnæ sunt mihi testes,
Omneque peccatum manet undecimum irreputatum.
Et quia mortale dum se notat exitiale, |
Ante Dei vultüm nihil unquam transit inultum ;
Nemo Dei cultum presumat dicere stultum.

Quæ peccata latent ignoto tempore patent.

Sequitur expositio versuum.— Omnibus hoc dico. In isto capitulo
ostendit accidentia Angliæ post illas pestilentias et conditiones di-
versorum hominum illo tempore, et sunt sex dicta. Primo enim
ostendit, ut mihi videtur, quod aliqui domini Anglie accipient
signum tau, seu signum crucis, ad Terram Sanctam contra inimicos
Christi, propter pestilentiam seu malitiam fluxus, et ibi dux eorum
occidetur; unde dicit, Omnibus hoc dico, scilicet istud accidens
futurum, quod sequitur, ne se subdant inimico, scilicet diabolo.
Unde contrita litera prima, i. deposita, in frontibus staurt, scilicet
s de prima syllaba hujus dictionis stauri, et remanet tau, quod
sculpetur super transeuntes, ne grew tauri, i. regis Anglic, feriatur
in ima, per aliquam pestilentiam fluxus; Secundo sic exponitur
iste versus; contrita prima litera in frontibus stauri, scilicet s,
consequenter prima litera tauri sculpetur, scilicet £, que est prima
litera hujus dictionis tauri, que signum tau designat, ne grex
vel populus Angliæ feriatur in ima, in inguine scilicet, vel in

184 POLITICAL POEMS.

ano, per fluxum. Tertio sic exponitur. Contrita prima litera
tauri, à. ablata ¢, quod signum tau denotat, sculpetur. in fron-
tibus stauri, scilicet. in frontibus hominum regis Angliæ, me grex
feriatur in ima. Et iste expositiones perveniunt quasi ad unam
sententiam. Tunc tau consignati, scilicet, homines Anglie signo
crucis seu tau accepto, £ransibunt mare meditati, i. per medi-
tationem et per bonum consilium et maturum; et daurus est
nomen salutis, i. continet salutem in se, sicque virtutis, quia
continet in se multam virtutem, et hoc per duas syllabas quas
iste terminus continet, quia prima syllaba, scilicet. tau, est sig-
num crucis, unde provenit salus Christianorum ; ideo dicit, Tau
crux formatur, i. tau est forma crucis qua isti qui transibunt
mare signabuntur. Rus rusticus insinuatur, i. per secundam syl-
labam istius dictionis, rus, insinuatur rusticus, qui est nomen
virtutis, quo designatur aliquis dominus qui ducet istum po-
pulum conira paganos et inimicos Christianorum virtuose, qui
rusticus forte dicitur, eo quod sit rudus in moribus ad modum
rusticorum, vel eo quod habet nomen vel cognomen pertinens,
sicut Charls, vel Charltoun, vel aliquod hujusmodi. Sed ipse
rusticus crucis, i. ductor, transibit ad ardua lucis, i. ad vitam
æternam, quia in aliquo bello forte contra Sarracenos occidetur
pro nomine Christi, unde merebitur vitam eternam. Secundo
loquitur contra reginam Anglie, seu conira aliam mulierem cujus
amore et consilio rex à multis bonis bellis impedietur illo tempore,
. dicens, Hoc dico plane, i. manifeste, scilicet quod vulvam non laudo
Diane, 1. regi vel alterius mulieris, que mulcet. taurum mane,
i. effœminat eum et facit eum quietare a bellis, dum scilicet jacent
mane; per verbum inane, quod sibi excitando eum ne mare
transeat, sed quod domi remaneat ad sui placitum et ad luxu-
riam. exercendum ; unde dicit auctor quod mallem, i. citius vel-
lem, hene cedere cellis, i. esse in ecclesus et oratoriis suis, et
rogitaret regnantem in stellis, scihcet Deum eternum, precibus
novellis, et bonis, dum iste vacat bellis, 1i. habet bella perficienda
in Francia, seu disponit se ad bella, quam ipsa sic mulcerit ad
quietem et luxuriam. Sed ecce quid auctor dicit. Est mihi res
eerta, i. cognosco certitudinaliter, quod mulier sit referta, i. repleta,
et plena fraude, quia per fraudem suam eum decipiet; quia fe-
mina bombinans, i. requiescens in bombis et trullis suis, fert fercula
fellis, i. amaritudinem et malitiam, bellis, que non deberent et
ordinari quiete, sed amaritudine laboris et sudore. "Tertio ostendit
quod opus bonum inceptum contra Francos isto tempore pro de-
fectu gratiæ deficiet, dicens, Dum multat taxa, i. dum recipit taxam
et exactiones de regno, gratia non fiet lava sibi et larga, sed de-
ficiet, et sic opus inceptum et larum quod fuit de captione regis
| Francie, quando uos habuimus inceptionem et latam viam ad

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 185

conquerendum regnum Francie, patietur ineptum, 1. deficiet seu de-
struetur. Et hoc tempore fient Galli tuti, i. securi ad redeundum
ad patriam suam et libertates suas de captivitate, pro nomine scuti, i.
pro auro quod scutum dicitur. Unde iste auctor notat quod iste
modus faciendi multum fuit contra Angliam, et nota quod istud
factum fuit anno Christi M*ecc.lxi. Quarto ostendit de quodam
inimico tauri isto tempore, qui male tandem finietur, dicens, Nulla
pejor pestis, nec aliquid -es& majus timendum, quam familiaris
amicus, i. quam ipse qui se prætendit familiarem amicum, sed non
est, sed est falsus interius, sed ipse pejor quam inimicus, et ad
versificandum istam auctoritatem, Traulus erit testis, qui apparet
amicus tauri, sed tauro fiet iniquus et decipiens eum in aliquibus
factis suis seu dictis. Et nota quod traulus proprie dicitur ille
homo qui non potest bene proferre regi, sed peccat in ejus pro-
latione, et iste erib spirans ut Saulus, i. faciens magnas minas et
magna verba pomposa, sed tandem periet male traulus, i. habebit
malum finem. Quinto ostendit circa illud opus falsos homines
circa regem et eorum mores, dicens, Seduus, i. homo qui non
potest bene dicere s, qui Anglice dicitur w/ysp, et blesus est
aliquis qui habet verba delectabilia et pulchra, falsa tamen. Hircus
est aliquis homo pilosus ad modum hirci, vel fœtidus et malus et
incompositus in moribus, vel luxuriosus. Genitalia lesus, est
Aliquis qui habet lesuram per casum, vel in bello, vel per frac-
turam, in locis genitalibus et secretis. Panniculos caesus est ali-
quis qui nimis et ultra communem modum utitur pannis cesis.
Glaucus est homo habens talem colorem in facie, vel qui uti-
tur tali colore in vestibus vel bagis suis. Fulvus, per easdem
conditiones exponitur. Obesus est aliquis homo carnosus, pinguis,
et crassus, qui excedit communes homines in pinguedine. Ad
ampliorem intelligentiam istorum versuum est notandum primo
quod illi qui volunt cognoscere istos homines, oportet eos con-
siderare mores eorum et cognoscere eos in societate, ef tunc ap-
plicare nomina predicta eis secundum conditiones. Secundo est
notandum quod quodlibet nomen potest signare dominum sive
hominem per se secundum diversitatem conditionum, et sic erunt
octo in toto, vel duo nomina vel tria possunt signare unum
hominem, eo quod habeat conditiones pertinentes, cum signatione
istorum nominum, et ad minus sic erunt duo. Tertio est notan-
dum circa significationem istorum terminorum fulvus et glaucus,
qui signant colorem, quod fulvus est color rubeus ad modum ful-
minis cujusmodi et colora auri, ut infra habetur, current ad tau-
rum cui fulvum defecit aurum. Et iste terminus glaucus signat
coloren subnigrum, sicut est color ferri, aliqualiter declinans a
nigro, et veniens ad viride vel album. Istis premissis melius
possunt persona premisse cognosci, de quibus dicit auctor, Dum

186 '- POLITICAL. POEMS. :

mel im ore gerent, i. dum habent bona verba et dulcis in ore cunt
rege et mellita, et querent pingere taurum, i. decipere seu detrahere
reiro et in absentia sua cum complicibus suis vel alis dominis |
diversorum forte regnorum, et sic rumpetur pignus amorum, scili-
cet inter regem et alios dominos quos bene rex diligeret si non
essent verba eorum; vel forte rumpetur pignus amorum inter di-
versas terras et regna, contra que adducent regem ad pugnam vel
odium. Fraudibus illorum, quia semper in operibus suis intendent
regem defraudare; tamen in fine fraus nudabitur eorum, i. cognos-
cetur a rege, arte suorum, i. per aliquam falsitatem aperiam seu
per aliquem hominem, vel per aliquos homines suos, eorum falsi-
tates cognoscentes, qui fraudes eorum regi revelabunt. Sexto
ostendit quanta mala erunt in Anglia per pannos cesos, i. per fre-
quentem mutationem pannorum, dicens, Monstro tibi amimos lesos,
scilicet peccatum superbie: et aliorum vitiorum, per pannos cæsos,
quia habitus multotiens ostendit exempla qualis anima interius
existat; et tales nulli fient. speciales, seu specialiter diligentes in bello
ad adjuvandum seu pugnandum, quia timent forte occidi in bello
pro peecatis suis, vel quia magis cupiunt delectabile quam hono-
rem belli, et ideo non audent aggredi tristia bellorum, unde honor
sequeretur. Et isto tempore wndecies fiet mutatio panno in anno,
i. undecim ‘vicibus infra annum, et sic copia, scilicet ciborum et
potuum, erit exul, 1. remota, de scannis et mensis quibus come-
dent, variis pannis, i. per variam mutationem pannorum, quia forte
tantum expendent in pannis suis, quod non habebunt aliquid ad
comedendum; vel Deus, propier illud peccatum, castigabit illos
per famem, quam forte mittet in terram Anglie ilis temporibus.
Et ideo dicit, Curtate vestes, quibus homines utuntur. Sunt mihi
testes ærumne, i, alicujus magni mali seu destructionis in regno, et
causa est quia istud peccatum in anno undecies est iteratum, vel
per duodecim annos contractum a tempore quo incepit usque ad
ejus punitionem, et omne peccatum undecimum, scilice& per undecim
annos contractum, vel facium undecies, manet irreputatum, scilicet
in conspectu Dei ad vindictam, quia dum est mortale, scilicet
tale peccatum, dignum morte puniri, se notat exitiale, i. pericu-
losum propter mala que sequuntur ex eo; quia nil transit unquam
Ínultum, i. nullum peccatum transit sine ultione et vindicta, ante
Dei vultum, scilicet ante ejus facialem cognitionem, et ideo nemo
presumat seu audeat dicere cultum Dei esse stultum, sicut multi
reputant qui sunt multis peccatis involuti, et Deus permittet eos
stare in peccatis suis occultis sine ultione, sed hoc non debet
monere eos, quia illa peccata que latent, i. qui homines facient
latentur per se; de quibus alii nesciunt, patent, i. manifesta erunt;
ignoto tempore, scilicet in tempore quo non credunt, vel quando
ea nollent manifestari; Et sic terminatur istud capitulum,

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 187

Ü Capitulum dij" ostendit quomodo taurus quiescit a

bellis, et qualia ordinabit illo tempore 4n de-
structionem regn.

Tempore rex dicto, Gallorum calle relicto,
Anglorum terra pacem statuet sine guerra.
Mittet censores sex, dæmone deteriores,
Qui per terrores dispergent inferiores,
Exactorque gregis fiet pacto sine legis.
| | Successor Thomae sublatus munere Rome,
Hune Satel a sede rapiet subito, mihi crede.
David eructavit, veniam genibus rogitavit,
Sed delictorum veniam feret esse suorum,
Ast genus uxoris pactum tractabit amoris,
Radix erroris quod fiet posterioris.
Tartareæ portæ frangentur vertice tortæ,
Inficient morte rumpentia flumina forte.
Scoti captivi fient hoc tempore vivi.
Mittet tortores alios his deteriores,
Qui per raptores confundent nobiliores,
Qui staurum fine spoliabunt undique trina.
Judicium rectum non permittent fore lectum.
Qui capitat staurum, bene formabit sibi taurum,
Sed capitans taurum taurum convertet in aurum ;
Sie staurus taurum, taurus generabit et aurum.
Dum tamen obliquis hi tres flectentur iniquis,
Hi tres consortes sunt armis undique fortes.

Sequitur expositio istorum versuum, sic.— Tempore rex. In isto
capitulo, ubi ostendit ordinationes tauri in tempore quietis, sunt
octo dicta. Primo ostendit quomodo taurus illo tempore faciet
pacem inter Angliam et Franciam, dicens quod rex Anglie statuet
pacem in terra Anglorum, dicto fempore, i. in illo tempore, re-
lieto. calle Gallorum, quia tunc non ibit contra Gallicos ad pugnan-
dum per aliquas vias vel calles, sed manebit in terra sua in quiete.
Secundo ostendit quomodo ordinabit malos judices illo tempore
ad destruetionem regni, dicens, Mittet censores sex, i. judices morum;
scilicet qui judicant de furto, de homicidio, et hujusmodi que

188 POLITICAL POEMS.

pertinent ad mores hominum regni, qui per diversa loca erunt positi
numero sex; qui scilicet judices dispergent inferiores, scilicet. po-
pulum sub suo judicio existentem, per falsa judicia et ferrores,
quos populo infligendo extirpabunt terram. Tertio ostendit de
quodam episcopo Cantuariensi simoniace exaltando et cito depo-
nendo, dicens, Exactorque gregis, i. aliquis clericus qui faciet exac-
tiones injustas in populo ad preceptum regis fiet successor
Thome episcopi Cantuariensis, sine pacto legis, i. contra ordina-
tionem juris canonici; quia erit sublatus, i. exaltatus, munere
Rome, i. per simoniam veniet ad illam dignitatem. Sed crede
mihi, dicit auctor, quod Satel, i. diabolus, vel aliquis malus, ra-
pret hunc a sede, vel scilicet. eum deponendo a sede episcopali,
vel forte eum occidendo, quod diu non reget episcopatum. Quarto
ostendit de pace quz debet fieri inter David regem Scotorum et
Anglicos illo tempore, dicens, David eructavit et rogitavit veniam
genibus, i. cum fletu et magna humilitate, a rege Anglie pro de-
lictis quæ contra eum multotiens fecit, sed ipse feret veniam esse
delictorum suorum, quia rex Anglise sibi omnia concedet; et genus
uxoris, i. aliquis de genere regis Angliæ, qui fuit filius uxoris David,
tractabat pactum amoris, inter regna Scotiæ, scilicet, et Anglis.
Sed istud pactum erit principium erroris qui postea fiet inter
regna Anglie et Scotis, scilicet in magno prelio futuro de quo
dicetur infra capitulo sexto et septimo. Quinto ostendit unum
accidens quod fiet in. Borea illo tempore in monte qui vocatur
Chevyot, pro quo est notandum quod de illo monte contra pesti-
lentias et bella seu caristias prorumpent flumina qua occident fere
pisces omnium rivulorum ilius patrie, de quo dicitur, Tartaree
porte, i. Chevyhot, inferni, forte, i. declives, frangentur vertice, i.
in summitate montis, et illa flumina rupentia forte, i. per fortitu-
dinem, inficient morte scilicet. alias aquas et torrentes in partibus
ilis. Sexto ostendit unum accidens concernens Scotos, dicens
quod Scoti captivi, scilicet, qui fuerunt captivi Anglicis vel qui sunt
captivi Anglicis, fient hoc tempore vivi, i. volentes pugnas renovare
contra Anglicos, vel liberati sua vi a potestate Anglicorum et
captivitate. Septimo ostendit quod rex constituet alios judices pe-
jores sex precedentibus, qui confundent nobiliores regni sicut
primi judices communitatem destruxerunt, dicens, Mittet tortores,
Scilicet rex, deteriores et pejores, his sex scilicet predictis qui
jussu eorum rapient bona sua ab eis, quia spoliabunt staurum, i.
dominos Anglie qui sunt staurum regis. Undique, scilicet per
totam terram, fine trina, quia cogent eos facere tres fines pro
terris suis per cautelas et falsitates suas. Vel fine trina, 1. terna
vice in qualibet fine regni spoliabunt staurum, et non permittent
Judicium rectum fore lectum, seu visitatum in Anglia illo tempore.
Octavo ostendit iria qua maxime fortificant bellum, si in ea con-
sortiantur, et quomodo placebit ista exspoliatio dominorum, dicens

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 189.

qui capitat staurum, i. aliquis istorum judicum qui accipit capitalem
honorem isto modo de dominis, bene formabit sibi taurum, 1. ad-
quiret dilectionem et honorem ab eo. Sed capitans taurum, i. ali-
quis qui accipit bona tauri ipso forte nesciente, taurum generabit,
i aurum, quia mulium aurum habebit et divitias de tauro. Se-
cunda expositio hujus versus, sed capitans taurum, non curando de
ejus honore capitali, generabit et aurum, i. colliget illo tempore
multum aurum de regno. "Tertio expositio, taurus generabit et
aurum, i. taurus generabit filium vel filium cujus cognomen Han-
doner, sicut nomina filiorum regis dantur a loco generationis.
Quarta expositio est ista, aliquis erit capitans faurum, forte in
aliquo prelio, et tunc taurus generabit et aurum, quod solvet pro
sua redemptione, et qui tunc capitat staurum, i. accipiet staurum
de Anglia, ad eum juvandum, dene formabit sibi taurum, qui ad-
quiret suam amicitiam in illo facto. Quinta expositio est secundum
aliam occultationem sic, qui capitat staurum, i. qui deponit literam
capitalem hujus dictionis staurum, scilicet s, bene formabit sibi
taurum, i. istam dictionem taurum, que tunc remanebit, sed ca-
pitans taurum, scilicet deponendo f, de ista dictione taurum, taurus
generabit et aurum, quia de ista dictione taurum tune remanebit
aurum, et dum hi tres termini, staurum, taurus, et aurum, flectentur -
iniquis, obliquis talibus scilicet decapitationibus. Hi fres consortes,
1, si ista tria consortiantur adinvicem, scilicet. staurum, taurus, et
aurum, sunt bello undique fortes, quasi diceret, si taurus habeat
staurum, i. homines de Anglia, et aurum, scilicet expensas pro eis,
undique fortificatur, et adquiret victoriam. Eligat auctor exposi-
sitionem quem voluerit. Et sic terminatur istud capitulum. |

Capitulum | dWj" ostendit quot mala, impedimenta,
et labores taurus sustinebit propter. peccata, illo
tempore.

Ut didici referam, mercedem non mihi quæram ;
Propter peccata tardantur munera grata.

Scriba velut scribit, præsumptio falsa peribit.
Omnia transibunt, et gaudia vana peribunt.
Taurus transibit maris undas, vique redibit.

Vix mare transibit, periet semel atque redibit ;
Ibit, transibit, pugnabit, quibit, inibit ;

Quibit et exibit, omnis mortalis obibit.

Dum pertransibit ad terram terra redibit ;
Vincere non quibit, cum terra terra coibit.

190 . POLITICAL POEMS,

Tune decus Ánglorum transibit belligerorum.
In mensis justà pandetur eopia crusti ;
Fundis falsorum premet arcta fames famulorum.
. Bie cognoscetur cujus omnipotens miseretur.
Ne nimis elatus sit taurus magnificatus,
Singula tormenta tauro facient elementa.
Tellus namque tremet, sic undique bella parabit,
Æquoris unda fremet, commotus aer violabit.
_ Nautas quassabit infectus aerque necabit.
Obses arma gemet, ignis dum tegmina demet;
Per pelagi metas tristes feret ipse dietas.
. Propter peccata venient discrimina lata,
Tristia post leta, post tristia sspe quieta,

Sequitur expositio istorum versuum precedentium.—Ut didici. In
isto quarto capitulo docet auctor impedimenta et labores quos
iaurus sustinebit propter peccata sua et regni sui, et continet
quatuor dicta. Primo enim ostendi quod grata scilicet. regnum
Francie tardatur propter peccato varia que sine profectu per-
transibunt, dicens, Uf didici referam, 1. scribam ut docuit me
Spiritus Sanctus, et non occultabo mala futura, quia non quæram
mercedem, scilicet de ista prophetia ab ilis quibus prophetabo;
sicut. qui multi scribunt propter lucrum et mercedem, occultant
mala et dicunt bona, sed aperte dicam veritatem ; quod munera
grata, i. bona que Deus gratis dat, scilicet regna Francie, tar-
dantur ab Anglicis propter peccata sua. Et nota quod dicit
tardantur, quod licet jam non veniant, postea tameu recipientur;
et velut scriba scribit, i. Spiritus Sanctus dieit mihi, presumptio
falsa peribit, quam jam habent Anglici per tribulationem cito
futuram, et omnia transibunt, scilicet que inter eos jam ordi-
nantur, ef gaudia vana, que sibi fingunt, peribunt et deficient.
Secundo addit multas tribulationes quas taurus sustinebit vel
sustinuit pro peccatis suis. Unde est notandum quod iste tribu-
lationes sunt quas sustinebit post predicta secundum prophetiam,
seu quas sustinuit a principio bellorum diversis vicibus quando
mare transivit, quas auctor hic colligit summatim, dicens, Taurus
transibit undas maris, scilicet in Franciam, et redibit vi et fortitu-
dine bellatorum qui resistent ei, vel propter aliquam necessitatem,
sicut forte expensarum; et hoc forte fuit in primo transitu suo,
quando revertebatur propter defectum expensarum, vel forte adhuc
est venturum, quod cogetur virtute hominum redire ad Angliam,
et in illo transitu ad Angliam viz transibit mare, propter peri-
cula maris et tempestates, quia perief semel, naves perdendo

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 191

multas in illo iransitu, dum cogetur per tempestates applicare ad
extranea litera. Sed tandem in Angliam redibit, et post illum
reditum ibit et disponet se versus Franciam, et transibit mare
illa vice, e& pugnabit cum Gallicis ante reditum suum, et quibit,
i. habebit potestatem et victoriam in illo, et inibit, scilicet foedus
pacis cum eis pro illo tempore. Tertio dicit quod transibit, sci-
licet mare, et quibit, i. habebit potestatem et victoriam, et
expugnabit, scilicet inimicos suos, in illo bello, et præibit eis,
scilicet obvia in aliqua fuga, et quibit, i. habebit victoriam, ibi
iterum de eis, et exibit tunc forte de terra Franciæ; et omnis
mortalis obibit, scilicet in illo. bello. ex parté Francie; et dum
pertransibit, scilicet mare, post illud bellum, iterumque Gallicis re-
dibit, scilicet ad Angliam sive terram suam, de terra Francie, |
quia non quibit vincere eos "illo tempore, et func ferra coibit,

concordabit, cum terra, scilicet Francie, in foedere pacis, et tune
decus Anglorum belligerorum transibit, i. morietur, quod videtur
fuisse verum quando rex ultimo fuit in Francia, quando bella-
tores Anglie multi moriebantur, scilicet circa annum Christi
M.ecc.lxij.; vel forte hoc venturum est, vel sic videtur quod rex
faciet, tale pactum cum Francia, et propter illud pactum decus
Anglorum belligerorum, i. fortitudo regni Angli transibit ver-
sus Franciam ad eam debellandam, et illud ultimum credo
verum. Tertio ostendit quod illo tempore erit quzdam fames
ventura, vel forte toto regno, vel tantum illis qui erunt in illo
bello; unde dicit quod copia crusti, i. abundantia panis, pande-
tur et ostendetur, in mensis justi, i. bonorum hominum. Sed
arcta fames, i. magna famulorum, premet, i. regnabit, in fundis,
i. tenementis, falsorum hominum, scilicet non habebunt unde
suam familiam poterunt sustentare. Ex quo patet quod paupe-
res illo tempore male stabunt propter penuriam victualium, et
tunc cognoscetur, scilicet illo tempore, cujus omnipotens miseretur,
ei sufficienter vietum tribuendo. Quarto ostendit quod omnia
quatuor elementa insurgent contra taurum ad eum humiliandum,
ne nimis exaltetur propter suam magnificentiam, dicens, Ne taurus
magnificatus, propter sua bona opera et bellicosa que gessit,
sit nimis exaltatus, in corde suo per superbiam, singula ele-
menta facient tauro tormenta et tribulationes, quia tellus namque,

primum elementum, i. terrà, tremet tempore suo, ac parabit un-

dique bella, contra eum, et unda æquoris, i. maris, quod est secun-

dum elementum, fremet, scilicet per tempestatem ei nocendo; et

aer commotus, sive infectus per pestilentias, qui est tertium ele-

mentum, mnecabit, scilicet homines .suos, quod factum est in

diversis pestilentiis, et obses, scilicet dum est in aliqua obsidione,

gemet arma, i. dolebit pro armis destructis, dum ignis demet teg-

mina, i comburit locum suum ubi erit cum armis suis; et sic
ignis, qui est quartum elementum, ei faciet tormenta; et ipse feret,

192 . POLITICAL POEMS.

i. sustinebit, tristes dietas, i. labores dierum, per metas pelagi, 1.
per terminos maris. Et ista discrimina lata, i. labores diversi,
venient propter peccata qux ipse vel populus suus commisit.
Ita quod. sepe post leta, i. gaudia, venient tristia, et sepe post
tristia, 1. dolorosa, venient quieta, i. gaudiosa, a laboribus. Et

sic terminatur istud capitulum, in quo ostendit tribulationes quæ

evenient tauro propter peccata sua.

Capitulum v ostendit quomodo taurus corriget vitam
suam post tales tribulationes.

Sic emundatus elementis, purificatus,
Belligeram vitam taurus ducet redimitam,
Legibus aptatam, virtutibus atque probatam,
Atque juventutis mutabit lubrica tutis.
Antiquos mores mutabit et in meliores,
Falsos censores torquentes inferiores.
Conspiratores non tractabit per amores,
Qui per pressuras staurum disperdere duras,
Justos torquere quondam solitique fuere.
Falsos mutabit, sic censum multiplicabit ;
Leges firmabit, et pacem continuabit.

Hie exaltabit justos, soliisque locabit ;
Taxaque cessabit, extortio non fugitabit.
Gens calamizabit omni quo tempore stabit ;
Delubra ditabit, staurum dum subpeditabit.
Leges pugnabunt, perjuria sed superabunt. -
Tunc taxet listas, pannus quia tendit aristas. |
Taurus cornutus, ex patris germine Brutus,

. Anglicus est natus, Gallus de matre creatus;
. Anglicus et Brutus, Gallus certamine tutus,

Triplex natura perquiret pristina jura.
Omnia dat gratis divine fons pietatis.

Grata superveniet qua non sperabitur hora,
Usurpans. periet, succedent prosperiora.

Sequitur expositio versuum pracedentium.— Sic emundatus. In isto
ví? capitulo docet auctor quomodo taurus mutabit vitam suam
malam in conditiones bonas, et continet quinque dicta, Primo

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 198

ostendit quod post emundationem elementorum taurus ducel vitam
belligeram et virtuosam, vitam lubricam dimittendo, dicens, Taurus
sic emundatus, 1. purificatus, elementis, i. tribulationibus omnium ele-
mentorum, ut prætactum est, tune ducet vitam belligeram, scilicet in
bellis, redimitam, 1. coronatam, et aptatam legibus, acilicet. dominii
regni, "atque probatam virtutibus, quas tunc exercebit, vitia sua dimit-
tendo; quia mutabit lubrica juventutis, que sunt gula, luxuria, otium,
et hujusmodi, que temptant hominem in juventute, pro futis, i. bonis
actibus quibus ab illo tempore utetur, et tunc antiquos mores, i. per-
versos, mutabit in meliores, bene et juste vivendo, pro injuste vivendo.
Secundo ostendit quomodo injustos malos mutabit quos prius ordi-
naverat in regno ad populi inquietationem, dicens, Non íractabit
falsos censores, scilicet judices predictos, qui fuerant conspiratores,
contra dominos regni et conira communem populum, et forguentes
inferiores, ab eis bona sua rapiendo per injustas exactiones. Et qui
soliti fuere disperdere staurum, i. regnum et populum, per duras
pressuras et censuras, i. justas exactiones quas fecerunt in suis
judiciis, et qui soliti fuere justos torquere, vel ab eis accipiendo
bona sua temporalia, vel eos in carcerem mittendo. Sed justus falsos
mutabit, scilicet de officiis ‘suis, et bonos in locis eorum constituet ;
et sic multiplicabit censum, 3. aurum et argentum, quod habebit
forte ab illis malis in suorum malorum redemptionem, vel a bonis
quos constituit propter fidelitatem suam, qui sibi plus adquirent
quam falsi, qui multum quod regi pertinebat penes se retinebant.
Tertio ostendit aliquas bonas ordinationes in utilitatem et profectum
regni sui, que prius per falsos predictos infirmabantur, et con-
. tinuabit pacem in regno suo inter vulgus et dominos, et exaliabit
justos, in loco falsorum judicum, solisque locabit, i. ponet eos in
cathedras et sedes ad judicia. Tazaque cessabit, illo tempore in
regno Angliæ. Sed extortio non fugitabit ; quamvis enim taxam
ab eis non recipiet, tamen accipiet extortionem. Gens calamiza-
bit, i. cantabit leta et jocunda ab illo tempore, omni quo tempore
stabit, i. per totum tempus regni sui Nota quod hic habetur
articulum quod iste non erit gallus, quia in tempore galli erit
magnus dolor et tristitia pro duabus pestilentüs futuris tempore
suo. Et taurus ilo tempore delubra ditabit, i. sacra templa et
monasteria augebit, qus delubra dicuntur, quia in eis umbra
delentur peccatorum per sacramenta baptismatis et confessionis.
Dum subpeditabit staurum, 1, dum ponit staurum, aurum scilicet
et argentum, sub pedibus, de eo sicut prius non curando, vel
quia illo tempore forte recipiet aliquam extortionem a populo
Anglie, eos aliqualiter suppeditando, quia quamvis omnia predicta
bene ordinabit pro utilitate communi, ita quod leges pugnabunt
pro justis, illo tamen tempore eo quod falsi non poterunt cum
auro vel argento, seu exenniis, vel per terrores, habere propositum
suum et extortionem in placitis, et cogitabunt novam malitiam, i.
VOL, I, N

194 . POLITICAL POEMS.

facinus novum, scilicet facere perjuria in assisis per falsos homines,
et sic illo tempore habebunt victoriam contra leges. Nam dicit,
perjuria sed superabunt. Quarto ostendit quomodo taurus post
omnia ista falsa, vindicabit sibi pristina jura Franciæ, dicens, Taurus
cornutus, scilicet per homines suos, Brutus ex germine patris, quia
pater ejus in Wallia fuit natus, ubi est locus germinis ‘Bruti,
Anglicus est natus, scilicet apud Wyndesore in castello Angli,
Gallus de matre creatus, quia mater ejus fuit de Gallia, unde vendi-
cat sibi regnum Francie. Patet ergo quod ipse est Anglicus, propter
locum in quo genitus fuit, et ipse est Brutus ex patre et Gallus de
matre, In certamine tutus, quia fere in omni bello obtinet vic-
toriam. Tripler ergo natura, scilicet Anglicus, Brutus, et Gallus,
pergquiret pristina jura, scilicet regnum Francie. Quinto ostendit
quod illa regna Francie propter usurpationem tunc temporis sibi
non advenient, dicens quod fons divine bonitatis dat omnia gratis,
. quia non per potentias regum vel per eorum merita, sed gratis

quando sibi placet reddet ea, i. talia grata, quia scilicet Deus
reddet, veniet hora qua non sperabitur, i. non tempore quo aliquis
credit ea adquirere per bella, sed usurpans periet, i. peribit per
presumptionem a proposito suo, quia forte credit tunc per po-
testatem aliam adquirere regnum Franciæ quod tune non recipiet,
sed succedunt prosperiora, scilicet in bello proximo sequente, ubi
habebit vietoriam, vel in tempore filii sui in quo ad manus Anglo-
rum regnum Francie deveniet. Et sic terminatur istud capi-
tulum. |... |

Capitulum, seatum, ostendens wnum bellum fiendum
inter Anglicos et Scotos, et nominat. bellatores
utriusque partis.

" Sed nimis acerba tune audivi nova verba;
Barrida nam bella cancer parat ipse novella.
Pro cancro venient delphines, graudia cete,

- Consortesque fient focæ mercede diet,

Turdi, salmones, mori, milli, capitones.

.Horum nam numerum tibi nescio dicere verum.
Rumbus ab oceano venit squamis redimitus, .
Arripiet plano juxta fontem sibi litus. |
Conducet megaros ac ypotaros sibi caros;
.Ducet bubones, piratas, vespiliones,

Et Gallos tantos tibi nescio dicere quantos.

4 —————————

names -——--.—-—

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 195

. Tauri pasturam satagent corrodere puram, ..
Contra naturam tauri disperdere curam.

Nune opus est tauro proprio confidere stauro,
Propter destructum staurum deducere luctum,
Atque favissores pereunctari meliores.

Jam reboant bella, fer adhue vexilla, puella ;

Gratia divina taurum regat absque ruina.

Morte repentina falsos liberet libitina.

Ecce canes eani, boves currunt veterani,

Currunt multones, fulvi glaucique leones.

Non fiunt tardi, currunt vituli, leopardi.

Trans mare, trans montes currunt, trans flumina,
fontes ; |

Currunt ad taurum, eui fulvum deficit aurum.

Attamen ingrati non sunt ad bella parati.

Sed nimis acerba tunc audivi. In isto sexto capitulo ostendit
bellatores et dominos qui erunt in bello committendo inter
Scotiam et Angliam ex utraque parte; sed pro isto capitulo et
sequenti sunt aliqua primitus notanda. Primo est notandum
quod subirahendum numerum annorum et dierum pacis inter illud
et jubilæum tauri, qui sunt tres anni, ix. menses, et duo dies, ut

infra patebit, ab anno jubileo tauri, scilicet anno Christi millesimo

ecc"e|]xxvij, propter quod istud bellum erit anno Christi millesimo
eecme|xxij, in mense Maii, x. kal. Junii, vel circa illud tempus.
Sed potest patere bene calculanti, Secundo est notandum quod
istud bellum committetur in uno plano campo juxta rivum et
fontem aquarum, cui silvæ et nemora situantur, sicut in exposi-
lione patebit. Ideo qui voluerit illum locum cognoscere, primo
imaginetur ubi est verisimile quod applicent, et ad quam partem
regni declinabunt, in quantum transibunt antequam bellum habe-
bunt, et ibi inveniat locum predictum. "Tertio est notandum
quod omnes qui venient ex parte Scotiæ per pisces figurantur,
vel quia venient per mare in navibus, vel quia in gurgite fontis '
devincentur ad modum piscis; sed Anglici per animalia terrestria
designantur, quia sunt intranei, et non venient a transmarinis, vel
quia ad modum animalium terrestrium. in bello custodient cam- :

pum, et non transibunt ad fontem sicut alii. His igitur præ-

missis, sequitur expositio litere, ubi septem dicta notantur. Primo

enim ostendit in quo illa bella movebuntur, dicens, Sed tune

audivi, seilicet post predictam expositionem regis, verba nova, .

scilicet de bello futuro, nimis acerbe, quia gravia et difficilia nun-
N 2

196 | | "POLITICAL POEMS.

ciabant. Nam ipse cancer, scilicet rex Scotis, parat barrida bella. |
Unde est notandum quod est terminus barrida; vel descendit a
barri, quod est grave, vel forte quia illud bellum. erit grave et
forte sicut patet, vel derivatur a barro, -nis, eo quod in illo bello.
erunt barones multorum regnorum, vel dicitur a barrus, barri, qui
est elephans, eo quod elephantes forte adducentur per trans mare
ad illud prelium, que dicuntur bella novella, quia de novo -
venient infra breve fient, vel quia omnia futura novela vocat in
ista prophetia. Secundo ostendit multitudinem dominorum qui
venient ad auxiliandum cancro in illo bello, dicens, Quod delphines
venient pro cancro, id est aliquis dominus. portans delphines in
scuto suo, vel habens tale nomen vel cognomen, sicut princeps et
heres Francie, vel servi sui sub nomine suo, “et ipse. non veniet.
transmarini qui venient pro cancro. Consortes fient foce, i ‘aliqui
domini qui focæ dicuntur propter suam magnitüdiriem, - vel propter
arma, vel conditiones convenientes cum focis. “Mercede. diete, quia
recipient mercede pro' labore. dierum qui erünt . 'tondücti,. Sicut .

turdi, salmones, mori, milli, i. quidam piscis rubei. coloris, capitones, -

Anglice gurnardes, cum ‘magno capite; et ista quinque genera pis-
cium signant homines "h&bentés éertas condifiones: concordantes -

cum illis piscibus qui venient cum foca contfa-Anglicos : propter v
mercedem diete, qui erunt-in tam magno numero quod nescio tibi- :
dicere verum mumerum, i. equalem horum. Tertio: ostendit. specia: 7
liter de uno magno. rege. cum suo exercitu, | -qui venient in
auxilium cum. rege Scotorüm, dicens, Rumbus ab oceano ; et credo |
quod ista sit rex. Daneniarche, qui. veniet ultra. magnum © mare
oceanum, squamis, in: nayibus. scilicet. cum vento-- “et. remis qui.

serviunt hominibus tb mari sicut squamæ piscibus. . ; Redimitus; :

i. coronatus, quia rex erit, eb. arripiet, scilicet . cum. classe sua, .

litus in plano, i. in campum. planum in litore; | justa, foütem; c

j juxte aquam ubi. bellum committetur, qui lócus forte dicetur
Playneclyf, vel Evynclyf, vel . Smethelyf, vel Smethefeld ;: imaginetur: |
sic qui voluerit nomen loci. Et iste conductt. sic secum sex
genera hominum, megaros ac ypotauros - sibi caros, vel scilicet in -
suo regno convictos, et ducet bubones, i. aliquos: homines qui raro
veniunt ad bella, vel qui bubonibus propter aliqham: proprietatem
assimilantur, vel piratas, vel fures et. spoliatères marinos, et

vespiliones, scilicet fures nocturnos et occultos, qui vespere spo- . .

liant homines. Ht Gallos tantos, scilicet homines de Francia,
quod nescio dicere quantos, propter eorum multitudinem. Et omnes
isti satagent, i. nitentur, corrodere, i. destruere, . .puram pasturam
tauri, scilicet regnum Anglie, quod sibi obtinet ‘inter omnia tan-
quam purum dominium et hereditatem tibi debitam, in qua se

. . depascat; et satagent disperdere curam tauri, i. destruere regnum

Anglie, de quo taurus habet curam, contra naturam, quia est

. JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 197

contra: naturam. piscium se occupare circa pasturam tauri vel ipsi
vendicant sibi regnum Anglie contra naturam, quia eis non debe.
tur, vel esset, contra naturam quod pisces in terra taurum debel-
larent. Quarto ostendit quid sit faciendum tauro tempore hujus
belli, et quomodo in: Anglia tunc consisüt suum auxilium, dicens,
Nunc. opus est tauro, i. taurus habet necessitatem, proprio confidere
stauro, i. dominis et viris bellatoribus de terra Anglie, et deducere
luctum, i. facere dolorem et gemitum, propter staurum destructum;
i propter homines quos destruet per malos officiarios suos et in-
justas leges, ut praedictum est in tertio capitulo precedenti ante
illud bellum. Et nota quod semper in omni necessitate iste
taurus non habet auxilium de alienigenis, sed tantum de terra
Anglie, sicut in pluribus patet locis. Quinto facit iste auctor
invocationem pro &uxilio tauri, et. primo — ad .beatam virginem
Mariam, dicens, Jam reboant bella, i sonus de bellis et rumor,
fer munc verilla, puella, i. tu, virgo Maria, Christi fer vexilla
regis Edwardi, et gratia divina regat taurum, in illo. bello, absque
ruina, ut ipse non cadat in prelio conira inimicos, sed Jlibitina,
i. feretrum in quo ferunt corpora mortuorum, liberet falsos,
i, portet falsos pugnatores. contra regem, morte repentina, i. subi-
tanea morte quam ‘in illo bello percipient. Sexto ostendit qui
venient ad auxilium ‘regis Edwardi adversus hostes suos in illo
prelio, dicens, Ecce canes cani current, i. antiqui domini et homi-
nes regni Anglie eum canitie propter etatem, curruntque boves
velerani, i. antiqui domini milites qui cum rege fortiter laborave-
runt, vel aliqui domini portantes boves in scuto suo vel in crestis
suis, vel aliqui habentes tale nomen vel cognomen, currunt mul- -
tones, i. aliqui. habentes multones in possessione, vel in aliquo sibi ©
pertinenti, vel in nomine vel cognomine, sicut si forte aliquis
diceretur Multoun, vel Sheptoun, vel cetera hujusmodi, vel
Multoun dicitur communitas populi, quae ovibus assimilantur
propter éorum simplicitatem. Fulvi leones, i. leones de colore auri
quos comes. Herforde portät in scuto suo, et nullus est dominus
Anglie qui multos portat preter ipsum, qui portat sex. Glaucique
leones, signant: alium: dominum tale portantem scutum, vel plures
dominos, vel eunderñ comitem Herford, quia color qui fulvus
dicitur" Latine, Gallice arma describendo dicitur seu glaucus; et
ideo in isto versu düo termini fulvi et glauci non signant diver-
sos, sed eundem secundum diversum modum loquendi. Vituli
non fiunt tardi, i. juvenes de regno qui suni in sua maxima for-
titudine, non fient tardi ad taurum, sed veloces. Currunt leopardi,
i. aliqui domini portantes leopardos in scuto suo, cujusmodi sunt
filii regis. Et nota quod ut credo domini hie non enumerantur
secundum valorem suum in ordine, sed qui primo venient primo
enumerentur, et qui ultimo venient ultimo enumerantur, sicut
filius regis, qui hic forte ultimo venit, ultimo enumeratur. Septimo

198 : . ; POLITICAL POEMS. :

ostendit loca a quibus isti venient ad gratitudinem eorum penes
taurum illo tempore, dicens quod aliqui currunt trans mare, aliqui
trans montes, aliqui trans flumina, fontes; ita quod denotat ho-
mines sibi venire quasi ex omnibus partibus Anglie, qui currant ad
taurum cui fulvum deficit aurum, eo quod non habebit aurum pro
stipendiis illo tempore. Attamen illi parati ad bella, kamen tauro
non suni ingrati, quia stabunt secum gratis sine stipendio pro ex-
pensis in illo bello. . Et sic terminatur istud capitulum in quo
hujusmodi proelii bellatores declarantur.

Capitulum, vij" ostendit quomodo erit de pugna el
fine belli prœdicti, ete.

Cancer natura semper retrogradietur,
Nullus cura procedens efficietur ;
Taurus pastura ductor gregis efficietur,

— Vaecarum jura procedens vique tuetur.
Cancer non stabit in primo, sed latitabit ;
Taurus pugnabit, pisces, gallos superabit.
Nune opus est contis eontrari gurgite fontis;
Necnon pennatas opus est transmittere latas.
Rumbus rumpetur, pinnas pennis ferietur ;
Branchia cum squamis rumbi lacerabitur hamis.
Pro tauri ccena capietur et ipse sagena.
lignis pennatis ferientur grandia cete ;

' Delphines spatis, focæ perient quoque rete.

. Pinnas frangentur salmones dum capientur ;
Caudam monstrabunt alii, pinnis fugitabunt ;
Non expectabunt pro contis dum reboabunt.
Galli terga dabunt, catapultæ dum volitabunt.
Milvi cædentur, cuculi silvis capientur.
Grossos multones occident vespiliones ;

. Et vitulos multos inventos vespere stultos;

_ Et leo lædetur, sed lesus non perimetur.
Pessima falsorum mors est, pretiosa bonorum.

. Plus tibi de bellis nolo narrare novellis,

.Quie cancer faciet, semper victus quia fiet.
Semper, taure, vale, tibi sib decus imperiale!
"Tantum vel tale decet omnia numina quale.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 199

Cancer. natura. Istud capitulum septimum, in quo ostendit
quomodo erii de pugna et de fine belli predict, continet sex
dicta. Primo ostendit quomodo illi reges se habebunt in congressu
belli; unde primo dicit de cancro, Cancer, i. rex Scotiæ, natura
semper retrogradietur, in illo bello; quia semper in omni bello suo
sic fecit, ad modum piscis qui vocatur cancer, qui semper retrogra-
dietur et nunquam anterior procedit, quia nullius cura nec aliquo
modo seu alicujus doctrina eficietur procedens, ad bellum, sed
taurus efficietur ductor gregis, quia ducet exercitum suum recte ad
pugnam, pastura, in illo campo in quo pugnabit, et procedens et
non retrogradiendo sicut cancer. Vique tuetur, i. fortitudine exer-
citus sui custodie, jura vaccarum, Y regnum Angliæ et bellum .
populi sui. Cancer non stabit in primo, i. rex Scotiæ non stabit
in primo ad pugnandum ; sed latitabit, i. abscondet se, sed taurus
pugnabit, scilicet in illo bello, et superabit pisces, i. dominos desig-
natos per pisces predictos, et Gallos, i. dominos et bellatores de
Francia qui venient contra eum. Secundo ostendit quomodo et
ubi Anglici melius debent debellare inimicos suos; unde nota quod
in transitu, sive gurgite fontis, juxia quem pugnabunt, maxime
mitentur evadere, et ibi ponendum esset obstaculum, dicens, Nunc
opus est, i. Anglicis in illo bello, contrari, i. perscrutari ad modum
piscatorum, in gurgite fontis, qui forte dicetur Waterforthe, vel
Forthe, vel Welworthe, vel aliquod hujusmodi nomen habens, à
quo populus a bello fugiet, et ibi debent confrari cum contis,
i. cum lanceis; conti enim lancee sunt piscatorum secundum
Catholicon, quibus investigant pisces in flumine. Necnon opus est,
i necesse Anglicis, transmittere latas pennatas, i. sagittas ad occi-
dendum eos in transitu fontis, quia forte multi transibunt ab
hominibus bellantibus cum lanceis si non apponunt remedium per
&rchitenentes, ut eos in transitu occident. Tertio ostendit de
his qui capientur in illo prelio, et quomodo capientur, dicens,
Rumbus rumpetur, i. exercitus illius regis qui per rumbum desig-
natur, et pennis pinnas ferietur, i. homines sui exercitus, qui sic
dicuntur pinne in illo exercitu ferientur cum sagittis, et lacera-
buntur brachia, quia milites qui magis sibi appropinquant lacera-
buntur, i. occidentur, cum squamis rumbi, i. cum illis qui sunt
juxta cum hamis, i. in lorica et armatura sua cum Janceis et
gladiis, et ipse capietur pro cena tauri, i. ad repræsentandum
tauro in cœna in sagena, quando vellet forte transisse gurgitem
fontis et fugere, et grandia cete, i. domini per tales pisces designati,
ferientur lignis pennatis, i. sagittis, que sunt ligna pennata, et
delphines, 1. domini qui tales pisces designati, perient spatis, i.
transitu aquarum seu fontis predicti; et foce, i. domini per tales
pisces designati, perient rete, qui capientur vel occidentur; et
salmones frangentur pinnas, 1i. homines designati per salmones pere

200 POLITICAL POEMS.

dent homines suos, dum capientur, in illo scilicet bello. Quarto
ostendit de illis qui fugient de illo bello, et quomodo fiet de eis,
dicens, Caudam monstrabunt alii, i. prenominatis sua posteriora, et
pinnis fugitabunt, 1. fugient cum suis hominibus et exercitu, non
expectabunt pro contis, i. pro lenceis et gladiis quos fugient pro
timore et terrore, dum reboabunt, 1. dum [facient sonitum cum
tubis ad pugnandum. Galli terga dabunt, scilicet fugiendo de præ-
lio, catapulte dum volitabunt, scilicet dum sagittæ magne volant
que catapultæ dicuntur. Milvi cedentur, i. ex illis qui fugient
occidentur tot quot signantur in isto termino milvi, M.l.vij.
Cuculi silvis capientur, i. tot capientur in silvis quot signantur
in isto termino cuculi, cc.lxj. Ex hoc patet quod istud bellum
committetur prope unam sylvam in qua isti fugitivi se recepta-
bunt. Quinto ostendit quomodo Anglici occidentur in illo bello
propier sui fatuitatem et imprudentiam, dicens quod vespiliones,
1. nocturni latrones praedicti, occident grossos multones, i. homines
designatos per multones ut prædictum est, et vitulos multos,
homines scilicet designatos per vitulos, inventos vespere stultos,
quia forte invenientur in aliquo loco propter sui stultitiam ubi
non poterunt habere refugium ab exercitu, et ipsi sic erunt dis-
positi, vel forte dormiendo vel vigilando, quod seipsos non
poterunt defendere ab hominibus fugientibus a bello qui ipsos in
nocte occident. Et leo ledetur, i. filius regis qui leo dicitur, qui
forte invenietur inter predictos, vel alius qui leonem in armis
suis portat, sed lesus non perimetur, quia illo tempore evadet cum
lesura sua sine morte. Sed mors falsorum est pessima, qui post
suam occisionem descendent ad infernum, pretiosa bonorum, qui
recipient vilam æternam; unde psalmista: * Pretiosa in conspectu
* Domini mors sanctorum ejus." Sexto facit finem de bello cancri,
et laudat taurum ei bona prædicando, dicens, Nolo narrare tibi
plus de bellis novellis, que cancer faciet, semper victus quia fet.
Hic nota quod iste cancer faciet plura bella que iste auctor non
vult narrare, quia cancer semper vincetur, et ideo dicit tauro,
Scilicet regi Angliæ, Taure, semper vale, i. valeas, tibi sit decus
imperiale, vel forte erit imperator, vel quia auctor vellet eum esse
imperatorem, quia tantum vel tale decet tibi, quantum et. quale
decet omnia numina, i. deos omnes quos antiqui numina yoca-
bant. Et sic terminatur istud capitulum, in quo eventus belli
declaratur,

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 201:

Capitulum viij" ostendit de jubileo tauri, et acci-
dentibus contingentibus contra eum.

Me carmen lene dumus modulantis amoœne.'
Ad jubilum tendo, gallo mea carmina pendo.
A. vi tolle ducum, cuculi vim discute fucum.
Pacis erunt dies, belli terrore remoto,
Tauri curta quies si cedat Gallia voto ;
Planget facta reus dum proximus est jubilæus, ©
Diceturque Deus Anglus quondam Nazaræus.
Sed pater in terra vix absolvat sine guerra.

_ Legatus Rome, vi regis sed sede Thome,
Cantu cantabit arie plebs et jubilabit.
Per ferias septem letum nosces fore cleptem ;
Vineti solventur, sed captivi redimentur.
Pignora eum natis firmabuntur copulatis ;
Sed Satel antiquus, bellorum semper amicus,
Impediet pacta, nisi sit sua fraus prece fracta.
Divine legis fie& meditatio regis,
Quæ temptabuntur per eum tunc prosperabuntur.

Me carmen lene. ln isto capitulo vij? intendit auctor determi-
nare de jubileo tauri, et de accidentibus et contingentibus contra
eum. Primo quod annus jubilæus secundum Magistrum in historiis
est annus quinquagesimus septimana hebdomadorum annorum
continens, in quo omnes destructiones rerum ad pristinos redibant.
Eodem anno requiescebat terra, et servi liberi dimittebantur, et sep-
tem diebus ac noctibus solemnizabant ante ipsum, clangentes tubis,
et ista et multa alia que causa brevitatis omitto patent in historiis
suis leniter et hoc, Secundo notandum est quod jubilæus tauri
ert annus quinquagesimus regni sui, et non ætatis, quod faciunt
religiosi in annuo quinquagesimo religionis suc et non etatis.
Tertio est notandum quod annus Domini M.ceclxxvij erit annus
jubileus regis Edwardi, qui coronatus fuit anno Christi M.ccc.xxvj.,
setatis suze anno xiiij. in festo conversionis Sancti Pauli. His præ-
missis, procedendum est ad expositionem litere, in qua septem dicta
continentur. Primo enim transfert se auctor ad loquendum de ju-
bilæc tauri, de Gallo interim expectando. Et nota quod loquitur

1 The commentary seems to show | line in the text, but it is not found
that a line is wanting after the first | in the MSS.

202 .. POLITICAL POEMS.

ac si fuisset in una silva sonora, ubi cantus audisset philomenæ
et concentus nemorum proportionatos eum excitantes jubilæum
tauri discribendum, dicens, Me carmen lene, i. dulce et amcenum,
dumus modulantis amœæne, 1. silvae amœne sonantis et modulantis, ©
et cantus philomene, i. talis avis dulcissime canentis, Anglice nyght-
yngale. Vocita me plene, ad jubileum tauri scilicet describendum.
Et nota quod dicit plene quod iste numerus hic dicendus plene
ostenditur et ducitur usque ad tempus jubilei tauri, vel quia
jubilæum hic perfecte describitur omnia alia omittendo, dicens,
Ad jubilum tendo, scilicet describendum, gallo mea carmina pendo, i.
expecto de carmine galli; donec tauri descripsero jubileum, et
tune describam galli conditiones, in capitulo nono. Secundo
ostendit quantitatem temporis inter bellum predictum et jubilæum
in quo requiescit taurus. Et nota quod litera fuit indifficilis,
dicit enim auctor, vi tolle ducum, i. a numero contento in isto
termino ducum, scilicet M.dex., subtrahas cuculi vim, 1i. numerum
contentum in isto termino cuculi, scilicet cc.lxj., e£ discute fucum, i.
vide obscurum numerum inde remanentem, scilicet M.ccc.xlix., qui
est numerus remianens post subtractionem, pacis erunt dies, sci-
licet ille numerus remanens signat numerum dierum pacis a
tempore belli predicti usque jubileum tauri qui numerus si
dividatur in annis erunt tres anni novem menses et duo dies,
faciendo mensem de xxvij diebus, et istud erit tempus pacis
tauri. Belli terrore remoto, sed si Gallia cedat voto, i. habeat
voluntatem quam intendit, fauri quies erit curta, 1. brevis. "Tertio
ostendit correctionem tauri ante tempus jubilæi, dicens, reus, i.
Edwardus, culpabilis in aliquibus peccatis, planget facta, i. pec-
cata sua, dum prowimus est jubileus, i. per modicum ante
jubilæum, qui in tantam mutabitur bonitatem quod dicetur a
populo quod Deus Nazareus fuit quondam Galileus, sed pater in
terra viz absolvet sine guerra. Nota quod iste versus potest habere
triplicem expositionem. Prima est ista, quod pater in terra, i.
papa, vie absolve sine guerra, regem Anglie tuno contritum de
aliquibus peccatis ad ecclesiam pertinentibus. Secunda expositio est
ista, papa via absolvet, seu custodiet regnum Anglie, sine guerra
contra Gallicos. Tertia expositio est ista, quod pater in terra,
Edwardus, viz absolvet, seu custodiet, terram, sine guerra, quie forte
iunc temporis excitabitur inter dominos Ánglie. Quarto ostendit
de quodam legato Romæ, qui erit Cantuariæ tempore jubilæi ad
faciendum solemnitatem, dicens, Legatus Rome, qui forte mittetur
a papa ad Angliam pro aliqua causa forte tractanda in regno vel
in ecclesia Anglicana, cantabit Cantuarie gens, i. faciet solemni-
latem jubilæi in civitate Cantuariæ, ubi forte constituetur epi-
scopus, vt regis, quia rex forte coget eum stare in regno vel facere
solemnitatem contra voluntatem suam. Sed sede Thome, i. Can:
tuaria, quem sedem Sanctus Thomas regebat, et plebs jubilabit,
que ibi congregabitur ad solemnitatem propter aliquam remissio:

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 208

nem quam forte tunc temporis .rex faciet populo et communitati.
Quinto ostendit que bona faciet latronibus et captivis in tempore
jubilzi, dicens, Nosces, i. cognosces, cleptem fore letum, qui fur
dicitur eo quod res sibi clepit et collegit alienas, et ferias septem,
quia per unam. septimanam tantam facit clementiam et° gratiam,
quod «vincti solventur, scilicet de carcere, et captivi redimentur,
scilicet de captivitate, ad similitudimem jubilei Judæorum, ut præ-
tactum est in principio hujus capituli. Unde nota quod verisimile
est quod. si tantam faciet gratiam istis malefactoribus, quod am-
plius facie£ communitati regni et bonis viris. Sexto ostendit
aliqua pacta pacis fieri per conjugium, dicens, Pignora firmabuntur,
id est pacis, illo tempore, cum natis, cum filis et filiabus regis vel
aliorum dominorum, copulatis, scilicet per conjugium, sed Satan
antiquus, id est diabolus, semper amicus bellorum, quia nollet pacem,
sed semper guerram, impediet pacta, scilicet ista que fuerunt per
conjugium facta, nisi sua fraus, i. deceptio, sit fracta, i. destructa,
prece aliquorum bonorum. Hic tria notantur. Primo notandum
est quod illo tempore fient pacta de pace: per aliqua conjugia que
postea servabuntur cum magna difficultate. Secundo notandum
est quod diabolus semper in quantum potest excitat homines ad
bela, quia sicut Deus est amicus et auctor pacis, ita diabolus
est amicus bellorum. Tertio est notandum quod fraus diaboli, i.
ejus malitia, quando excitat homines ad bella vel alia mala con-
similia, debet per preces frangi bonorum. Septimo ostendit vitam
regis post tempus jubilæi, dicens quod meditatio regis fiet, scilicet
tunc.temporis, divine legis, Scilicet in meditatione et oratione, non
curando de temporalibus, et que tunc temptabuntur, per eum pros-
perabuntur, scilicet ad vitam æternam. Et nota quod his alludit
auctoritati in quo ostendit David in primo psalmo beati virgini,
dicens, “ In lege Domini voluntas ejus, et in lege ejus meditabitur
* die et nocte, et sequitur, omnia quecunque faciet semper pros.
* perabuntur,” ad denotandum quod ab isto tempore jubilæi rex ^
ponet se ad bona opera et adquirendum bonitatem æternam. Et
sic terminatur istud capitulum.

Capitulum nonum, in quo intendit auctor tractare de
gallo quem credit regnarre post taurum et ei
succedere.

, Amodo de tauro taceo, gallo tibi psallo ;
Gallum de bruto nosces genitum fore scuto.
In mundo talis nullus gallus volat alis.
Ad gallum nomen tauri transibit et omen ;
Nomen mutatur, species sed continuatur.

904 POLITICAL POEMS.

Gallus erit magnus, justus, mansuetus ut agnus ;
Ut taurus fortis, equalis munere sortis.

Victus fertilitas hunc gallum nobilitabit ;

Actus nobilitas decus illius geminabit.

Tempore brumali gallus nido boreali

Pullos unabit, et se volitare parabit.

Fient pennati pro caudis improperati ;

Sie gallo grati, statim volitare parati.

Porci Flandrenses non cedent Angligenenses ;
Falsi sunt penses, cum possint impetuenses.
Pacem tractabunt, sed fraudem subtus arabunt.
Non fient falsi fideles sunt nisi salsi. |
Fient caudati nimium tunc infatuati,

Pennis cristati, vestitu degenerati.

Regnum Gallorum reputabunt esse suorum;

Sed remanet multum quod eor pensat modo stultum.
Advolat in vento sine tempore penna memento ;
Penna volans gratis descendet zelotopatis.

Non venient sana dum turgent talia vana.

Amodo de tauro taceo. In isto capitulo nono incipit tractare de
galo quem credo regnaturum post taurum, et ei succedere in
regno, et continet sex dicta. In primo ostendit quomodo trans-
fertur à tauro ad loquendum de gallo, et qualis erit iste gallus,
dicens, Amodo taceo de tauro, quasi diceret, non loquar amplius
quam proposui in contemplatione divine legis post jubileum; sed
gallo tibi psallo, i. faciam carmina et versus sequentes de te et de
actibus tuis, sicut prius feci de tauro, sed tu, lector, nosces gallum
fore genitum, i. procreatum, de bruto scuto, i. de Wodestok, quia
brutus, -ta, -tum, Anglice wod dicitur, et scutum, Anglice sfok,
ex antiquo, quia antiqui talibus loco scuti utebantur, quibus
junctis faciunt Wodestoke, et sic habemus cognomen galli; et
nullus talis gallus, sicut ipse, volat in mundo alis, quia non erit
gallus volans, sed gradiens in terra, quia homo, vel quia nullus
Gallus vel homo de Gallia volat, cum alis, i. cum tanta militia
Sicut ille, et nomen tauri, scilicel patris sui Edwardi, et omen,
i hæreditas et vendicatio regni Francie et regnum Anglie, transi-
bunt ad gallum; quia gellus vocabitur Edwardus rex, sicut pater
ejus prius vocabatur. Nomen mutatur, scilicet galh, quia gallus
vocabitur, et rex quomodo prius non vocabatur, et alia nomina sua
dimittentur. Species sed continuatur, quia erit idem homo in specie

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 205

et natura sicut prius, quamvis aliter vocabitur. Secundo describit
mores istius galli, quos habebit in tempore suo, dicens, Gallus erit
magnus, vel in statura corporali, vel in honore, vel in bellis; justus,
scilicet in regno suo contra malefactores et iniquos homines,
mansuetus ut agnus, bonis viris et justis de regno suo; uf taurus
fortis, scilicet in bellis contra inimicos suos erit fortis sicut pater
ejus. fuit, et. eri? equalis tauro munere sortis, quia multa bona
recipiet per fortunam et munera sortis quz per consilium suorum
. nunquam cogitabuntur, sicut talia acciderunt tauro patri suo. Et
nota istud quod est bonum verbum. Victus fertilitas, i. abun-
dantia ciborum et victualium, nobilitabit hunc gallum, quia libenter
recipiet homines ad prandium suum, et erit in dapibus valde
liberalis, et nobilitas actus, scilicet in. bellis, geminabit decus illius,
id est duplicabit honorem suum, quia primo laudabitur de dono et
abundantia victualium, secundo de operibus bellorum. "Tertio
ostendit quomodo iste gallus congregabit exercitum in Borea ad
unum bellum, dicens, Pullos unabit, i. congregabit in unum, pullos,
homines scilicet bellatores sui regni, in tempore brumali, scilicet
in hyeme, quando dies abbreviantur, in mido boreali, id est in
aliquo loco in Borea; et parabit se volitare, id est, transire ultra
mare ad debellandum contra Gallicos pro suo regno. — Ef pennati,
i. architenentes, qui sagittis pennatis pennati dicuntur, improperati
pro caudis, a Gallicis, quia vocant eos caudatos in despectu,
fient grati cum gallo, ilo tempore, et parati volitare contra
Gallicos. Quarto ostendit falsitates Flandrensium contra gallum,
dicens, Porci Flandrenses, id est, vocat eos porcos propter eorum
immunditiam et bestialitatem, non cedent Angligenenses, id est,
non erunt contra Anglicos illo tempore propter aliquod commodum
quod de regno tunc habebunt. Sed penses, i. cognosces, quod
falsi sunt contra Anglicos, cum possint impetuenses, quia erunt
contra gallum cum impetu si crederent habere victoriam seu non
timerent perdere utilitatem quam habent de Anglia; unde pacem
tractabunt, scilicet cum gallo, sed fraudem subtus arabunt, cum
Gallicis forte contra eum. Quinto ostendit quomodo Anglici illo
tempore frustrabuntur a proposito suo propter fatuitatem, dicens
quod caudati, id est Anglici, qui reprobantur pro caudis, fient tunc
nimis infatuati, propter opera que facient in illo bello, et propter
eorum superbiam ; quia vestitu sunt degenerati, propter diversum
modum vestimentorum et cissuram eorum, ef quia reputabunt
regnum Gallorum esse suorum, unde credent forte quod regnum
Francie sit totaliter in manibus suis, sed remanet mulium, id est,
multum distat, sive multa sunt facienda priusquam illud fiat, quod
cor pensat modo stultum, id est, quod cor stultum eorum pensat
factum et completum. Sexto ostendit quomodo finis illius itineris
frustrabitur, diceus, Memento, id est, cognoscas firmiter in mente
tua, quod penna, id est, sagitta pennata, advolat in vento, id est in

206 .. POLITICAL POEMS,

aere, sine fempore, id est extra tempus, quia forte perdent sagittas
suas frustra in aliquo facto ante tempus belli, et pensa volans
gratis, scilicet necesse vel utilitate, descendit zelotopatis, id est
aliquibus dominis forte qui manent in castello cum uxoribus
propter zelotypiam, cirea qualia castella Anglici forte occupabuntur
debellando, donec expendiderint sagittas suas, id est, dum talia vana
turgent, id est, fiunt per Anglicos. Non venient sana, scilicet illa
que intendit, et frustrabuntur a proposito s suo, Ek sic terminatur
istud. vapitapum,

Capitulum decimum, in quo loquitur auctor de
pestilentia tempore galli.

Heu! quod peccatum tanto mundo sit amatum !
Mors pro peccato ruet in terram veterato.
Me fore delirum dices, si dixero mirum;
Mors faciet gyrum per terras undique dirum.
Non consummabit carnem sed dimidiabit,
Quantum durabit medium lustri reserabit,
Et pennatorum fastum feriet fatuorum,
Tune mors vesana disperdet gaudia vana;
Deponent pennas, metuent intrare Gehennas.
Gallus adhue stabit et nomen continuabit.

. Cum gallo bella cancer pingetque novella,
Sed frangit pactum cum gallus tendet ad actum.
Fortunare bonam renuet Jo. namque coronam.

' Nunquam Gallorum cessabit fraus patruorum, |
Carnificum nati patrui de stirpe creati,
Jura paterna pati renuent quia: magnificati.
Prædecessores proprii quia non meminere
Jura per uxoris qui regnum ccepit habere.
Dedecus artificem fit propria faeta negare,
Necnon carnificem decreta patris reprobare,

Heu! quod peccatum. In isto capitulo decimo loquitur auctor
de pestilentia in tempore galli fienda, et aliis accidentibus illo
lempore, et continet quatuor dicta. Prima condolendo ostendit
iam pestilentiam futuram propter peccatum, dicens, Heu! quod
peccatum. tantum. amatum sit mundo, quod mors, seu mortalitas,
ruet, id est accidet, in terram Anglie, pro peccato veterato, quod

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON, | 207

Anglici ex antiquo continuabant; sed tu, lector, dices me fore de-
lirum, id est errantem, si direro mirum, de illa pestilentia, quod
mors tunc temporis faciet gyrum, id est circuitum, dirum, id est
crudelem, wndique per terras, et erit pestilentia universalis in omni
terra, sed non consummabit, id est omnem viventem, carnem sed
dimidiabit, id est accipiet unam medietatem hominum, et medium
lustri, id est medietas quinque annorum, reserabit quantum dura-
bit, quia durabit tantum, seilicet duos annos et dimidium. Unde
patet quod ista pestilentia non præteriit, quia præcedentium
nulla tantum duravit. Secundo ostendit quomodo ista pestilen-
tia impedit propositum galli de bello predicto, dicens, Et feriet
fastum, i. superbiam destruet, pennatorum fatuorum, i. architenen-
tium Anglie, qui fatui erunt illo tempore, ut predictum est; et
sic mors vesana, i. dira pestilentia, disperdet gaudia vana, que
prius habuerunt credentes se habuisse victoriam et regnum
Francia per suam potentiam, qui tantum per istam pestilen-
tiam erunt humiliati, quod deponent pennas, i. sagittas et arcus,
vel pennas quas portant in capillis suis, quia metuent intrare
Gehennas, i. poenam æternam propter peccata sua. Tertio osten-
dit quod gallus vivet post istam pestilentiam, et rex Scotiæ
bella movebit, sed non expectabit ad conflictum, dicens, Gallus
adhue stabit, scilicet post illam pestilentiam ; et nomen continuabit,
quod prius habebat, et cancer pinget, i. faciet seu similabit,
bella novella cum gallo, cum predicto scilicet rege Anglie; sed
cum gallus tendet, i. disponet se ad actum, non expectabit sed
fugiet, et franget pactum, quod faciet de pugna. Quarto osten-
dit fraudes et falsitates Francorum illo tempore, dicens, Fortu-
nare bonam renuet Jo. namque coronam. Unde pro isía litera
sunt tria notanda. Primo est notandum quod lex fuit in Francia
. quod mulieres deberent portare hereditatem. usque ad tempus
Philippi le Bewes, quem una de heredibus Francie tulit sik;
in conjugem de macello propter ejus pulchritudinem, et tune
ordinatum fuit quod mulieres: non gauderent hæreditate propter
despectum personæ, quod carnifex factus fuit rex; unde omnes
reges Francie ab illo tempore de genere fuerunt carnificum.
Seeundo est notandum quod iste terminus fortunare idem sig-
nificat quod fœcundare, prosperum facere, vel emundare. Tertio
est notandum quod iste terminus patruus proprie dicitur frater
patris mei, et avunculus dieitur proprie frater matris, His præ-
missis, sequitur expositio litere. Fortunare bonam renuet Jo. namque
coronam. Iste versus habet duplicem expositionem. Prima est
quod Jo. renuet, Johannes rex Francie refutabit, fortunare bonam
' eoronam, i. prosperam facere vel honorare coronam Francie, quia
forte destruet vel mutabit aliqua quc pertinent ad dignitatem
coronæ et regni, ut perdet aliqua pertinentia ad coronam conira
aliquem dominum sui regni vel alterius, vel qui impediet eos

908 . POLITICAL POEMS.

coronari quibus de jure .competeret corona, et qui melius eam

regerent quem ipse, et amplior fortuna sequeretur. Secunda

expositio hujus versus est ista: fortunare, i. per fortunam ut ac-
cipiatur nominaliter in ablativo casu, renuet Jo. bonam coronam,
quia forte permittet aliquem filiorum suorum coronari suo tempore
voluntate propria ad instantiam regni, vel forte hoc erit contra vo-
luntatem suam, per aliquod infortunium, seu per fraudem regni -et

ilorum de sanguine suo in quibus confidit; unde dicit, Fraus gal- —

lorum patruorum, i. descendentium a patre, scilice& Philippo Bewes
carnifice, #unguam cessabit, quia volunt esse certi de alio rege, ut

rex Angliæ non vendicet regnum Francie tempore quo esset siné

rege, quia in quantum possunt semper per fraudes et falsitates
suas nitentur impedire gallum de Francia et excludere a regno
Francie; unde auctor reprobat eos, dicens, Carnificum nati, i. de
genere carnificis, creati de stirpe patrui, qui de stirpe Philippi
Bewes processerunt, renuent pati jura paterna, i. sustinere leges
antiquorum . patrum a quibus ordinabatur quod mulieres deberent
habere hereditatem sicut mares, si pater sine mare decederet vel
fratre, et hoc faciunt quia magnificati fuerant et exaltati per for-
tunam Philippi predicti, qui ccpit habere regnum Francie per
jura uxoris, scilicet. per idem jus quod modo reprobant; unde
est dedecus artificem reprobare decreta — palris, i. leges patrum,
videlicet quibus ipse fuit promotus, et elevatus in regnum. Et sic
terminatur istud capitulum.

Capitulum, aj. ostendit, secundam, pestilentiam. tem-
. pore galli futuram, et causam, inde, et alia, ac-
f" eidentia.

Est Notus infestus Saturni cum ruet æstus,
Assub quando cadet, mors per terre vada vadet.
A peccatore salus est longe brevis hore.

. Mors infecta malis pernicibus evolat alis.
Mors veniet demens, vix evadet bene clemens.
Keclesize patres solvent hoc tempore fratres.
Flebunt discreti maculas formidine lethi ;
Hostia divina mundis fiet, medicina.

A nece tam tristi salvabit visio Christi.
Non est res mira summi si percutit ira ;
Non est in mundo dives qui dicit, abundo.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 209

Pax et justitia strinxerunt basia dudum ;
Fastus, avaritia destruxerunt modo ludum.
Verum de terra nune non oritur sine guerra.
Justum de cœlo non metuitur sine telo;

Et nimis ingrata jam plebs de fonte renata
Munera tam grata non est summi meditata.
Ast impinguata, per delicias jaculata,
Summi mandata renuit servare beata.
Gratia tardatur, et sic vindicta paratur;
Universalis nam mors erit exitialis.
Decrescet luna, cancer decrescet, et una _
Perdet fallacem, mors coget stringere pacem.

Est Notus. In isto undecimo capitulo, ubi pertractat de se-
cunda pestilentia tempore galli et aliis actibus, et continet v. dicta,
primo ostendit causas et signa pestilenti: secunde, a quibus
transibit, et quis capiat, unde tria sunt hic primitus notanda.
Primo est notandum quod Saturnus est stella maxime nociva
terre et inductiva pestilentiarum, unde secundum Misaelem Satur-
nus est planeta malevolus, frigidus, siccus, ponderosus, et noc-
turnus, et secundum Catholicon in judicis signat mororem et
tristitiam. Secundo est notandum quod Assub est excutio que
apparet in nocte ac si stelle caderent de colo, et signat mag-
nam siccitatem et æstum seu calorem in aere. "Tertio est notan-
dum quod quando ista duo simul apparent, sunt signa mortalitatis
et pestilentiæ ex aere infeeto propter zstum nimium et siccitatem
inordinatam in aere, ita quod ibi deficiat humidum sufficienter

vite conservativum. Et his premissis clarius patebit expositio. -

Dicit, cum «stus Saturni, i. calor inordinatus sive destructivus
causatus ex natura Saturni, ruef, i. fiet vel accidet in terra, quod
continget per modicum tempus ante annum Christi M™ccc™™y™,
sicut expressius alias calculabo per astronomiam; tunc erit Notus
infestus, i. ventus inter Austrum et Orientem qui Notus dicitur,
erii contrarius et destructivus ex infectione constellationis Sa-
turni; et quando Assub cadet, de colo in noctibus serenis, tunc
mors vadet, i. transibit, per vada terre, i. per Herforthe; et hic
utitur sexta occultatione, quia credo quod vilam de Herforthe
dimittet, et alias villas occupabit, vel quia non nocebit comiti de
Hertforde quando multi alii domini per illam pestilentiam morien-
tur, quia illo tempore forte comes de Herforthe bonus erit et
Deo devotus, et ali mali et peccatores, qui in illa pestilentia
maxime morientur; unde dicit, quod salus brevis hore, i. iius
pestilentiæ, est longe a peccatore, quia tunc peccatores morientur
VOL. I. O

210 . POLITICAL POEMS,

et non salvabuntur. Mors infecta malis, i. hominibus quos tunc
accipiet, vel multis malis vel multis miseriis quo in illa pestilentia
contingent morientibus. Pernicibus evolat alis, i. velocibus alis
volat de terr& in terram, ita quod cito occupabit. plures partes
mundi, Mors: veniet demens, illo tempore scilicet quod non parcet
alicui, neo diviti nec pauperi, in tantum quod via evadet bene
clemens, scilicet de ista pestilentia. Et nota quod iste terminus
clemens potest accipi pro quolibet bono homine et clementi, vel
pro papa qui forte tunc temporis Clemens vocabitur, qui evadet
de illa pestilentia." Secundo notat auctor unum accidens quod illo
tempore fiet circa fratres mendicantes, dicens, Ecclesie patres, scili-
cet episcopi et cardinales, solvent hoc tempore fratres, i. destruent
eorum religionem, quod amplius non erunt ligati ad eam; vel illo
tempore erit tanta penuria sacerdotum sæcularium propter pesti-
lentiam præcedentem, quod papa et episcopi solvent illam consti-
tutionem in qua cavetur quod fratres non ministrant sacramenta
secularibus nisi confessionem, et tunc concedent eis plenariam
executionem sacramentorum, sicut jam habent rectores et sacer-
dotes parochiales; vel tunc temporis propter penuriam secularium
recipient fratres ab ecclesia Romana prebendas et dignitates eccle- :
sie et terras a dominis devotis, sicut nunc faciunt. monachi, et
non tenebuntur amplius tunc ad tantam paupertatem ut hostiatim
mendicent. Vel potest aliter exponi quod fratres illo tempore
Solvent patres ecclesiæ secundum bonam expositionem ; lector re-
cipiet. sicut placet, quia de prelatis ecclesie nolo aliqua mala in-
ferre, Tertio ostendit dolorem hominum illo. tempore,. ét eorum
salvationem per medicinam, in tribus versibus, dicens, Discreti fle-
bunt maculas, i. sapientes erunt contriti de maculis peccatorum
suorum, formidine lethi, 1. pro timore mortis; sed illo tempore Aost?a
divina, i. sacramentum altaris, fief medicina mundis, scilicet ad
vitam sternam ; quia per illud sacramentum mundi salvabuntur,
vel mundis fiet medicina eos liberando ab infirmitate corporali; et
visio Christi, scilicet in sacramento altaris, vel propter aliam cor-
poralem apparitionem qua forte tunc temporis. se ostendet mundis,
vel forte in cœlesti patria, salvabit a nece tam tristi, scilicet. ab
ista magna pestilentia; dicens, Non est res mira, i. non est miran-
dum, si tra summi Dei percutit, per istam scilicet pestilentiam,
primo propter avaritiam divitum, quia non est in mundo dives qui
dicit abundo, i. nulli diviti videtur quod habeat ad abundantiam;
et sic exponas cæteros versus ad literam, quia non continent dif-
ficultatem. Quinto ostendit quod illa mors erit universalis; et
quod rex Scotiæ iu ila pestilentia morietur, dicens, Gratia tar-
datur, scilicet propter ista peccata, et sic vindicta paratur, per istam
pestilentiam predictam; nam mors ezitialis, et destruens, erif uni-
versalis, scilicet per diversas terras; et luna decrescet, et dominetur
ac si dicatur Scotice in the wanyand, cancer decrescet, 1. rex Scotiæ

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON, 211

infirmabitur, e£ una perdet fallacem, quia forte una mulier enit
causa suc mortis vel destructionis suc, qui falsus et fallax fuit
ad Ángliam tempore suo, et tunc ista mors coget stringere pacem,
quia ab illo tempore firmabitur pax inter Angliam et Scotiam,
qua per multos annos non continuobitur, Et sic terminatur
istud capitulum.

Capitulum xij” ostendit. quomodo gallus recipiet
Franciam.

Lethum præcedet, tune gallo Gallia cedet ;
Quod Deus ipse dare vult nemo valet revocare.
Inferni porta gallus transibit adorta,
Anglorum causa longinquo tempore clausa.

. Dum perdet centum, feriet caput et nece lentum.
Tristia post letha venient vix tempora leta,
Mors dum purgabit, cum gallo non jubilabit.
Stirps Parisatina periet confrissa ruina.
Non divinavi mendacia, sed simulavi;
Plurima narravi, sed somnia vera putavi,
Et magis erravi, .quia non mea dicta probavi.
Qui nil audivit, nil vidit, nil bene scivit ;
Qui bene nil scivit, describere nil bene quivit.
Universalis defectus fit mihi talis,
Visus et auditus testis fortunamque peribus,
Solus secura novit Deus ipse futura.
Omnia formavit veluti voluit et amavit.
Quod deliravi sermonibus insinuavi.
Per summum juro, te credere non mihi curo.
Judicium facie gestorum quisque suorum ;
Mercedem capiet laborum quisque suorum.

. Ad mortem tendo, morti mea carmina pendo.

Expositio.—Lethum præcedet. In isto xij capitulo auctor osten-
dit quomodo gallus recipiet regna Francie, et finit prophetiam
suam, et continet quinque dicta. In primis duobus versibus
ostendit quomodo gallus recipiet regnum Francie, dicens, Lethum
precedet, ista pestilentia predicta prius erit, et tunc Gallia cedet,
i, dabit locum, gallo, scilicet regi Anglie predicto, quia quod. Deus

0 2

212 POLITICAL POEMS.

vult dare, nemo potest vel valet revocare, seu impedire. Secundo
ostendit auctor ubi et quomodo gallus recipiet. Franciam ; unde.
pro expositione illius dicti sunt tria notanda. Primo est notan-
dum quod hoc dictum, adoría, potest esse una dictio, scilicet. par-
ticipium, ab hoc verbo adorior, adoriris, et tunc signat idem quod
hoc participium aggressus ante vel juxta hortus vel mansionem
secundum Papiam ; et potest esse duse dictiones, scilicet ad .et
ortus, -ta, -tum, i. natus vel genitus. Secundo est notandum
quod si accipiatur primo modo, sic est ablativus casus, et adjec-
tivum hujus dictionis porta; si secundo modo, est accusativus
pluralis cum praepositione ad. "Tertio est notandum quod Parisius
est una porta qus vocatur porta inferni, quam claudebant sive
murabant Galliei propter causam exortam inter Ángliam et Fran-
ciam. stis promissis, sequitur expositio literæ sic. Primo potest
exponi: porta inferni, scilicet baratri, adorta, i. invasa sive
aggressa, que scilicet fuit clausa longinquo tempore, pro causa
Anglorum ; tune gallus transibit ; sed non ostendit ad quem locum
debet transire isto modo exponendo. Secundo potest sic exponi:
gallus transibit porta inferni, i. per portam inferni, quse fuit
clausa longinquo tempore pro causa Anglorum adorta, i. ad genitos
suos seu natos per progenitores, qui eum ad infernum præcesse-
runt. Tertio potest sic exponi: porta inferni adoría, i. quando
porta inferni Parisius est aggressa per bellum seu invasa, que
fuit clausa longinquo tempore pro causa Anglorum, ut per eam
Anglici civitatem non intrarent, gallus transibit, scilicet ad civi-
tatem accipiendum. Quarto sic exponitur: gallus transibit. adorta,
i. ad regna ex origine sibi data per matrem, scilicet ad regnum
Francie, porta inferni, scilicet per portam inferni Parisius, que
fuit clausa longinquo tempore pro causa Anglorum; et secundas
duas expositiones reputo veriores. Tertio ostendit modum et
tempus adquirendi Franciam in isto versu, dum perdet centum, pro
eujus expositione sunt tria notanda. Primo est notandum, quod
iste terminus dum potest accipi dupliciter; primo pro adverbio
temporis, sicut communiter accipitur; secundo pro numero quem
litere in eodem contentæ signant, qui est M. d. v. Secundo est
notandum quod iste terminus caput accipitur tripliciter; primo
pro parte corporis, scilicet in qua sensus maxime vigent; secundo
pro domino capitali seu principali alicujus rei, sicut dicimus quod
rex est caput regni, vel vir est caput mulieris; tertio pro aliqua
re inanimata excellenti, sicut dicimus quod Roma est caput civi-
tatum Italie, London. caput civitatum Anglie, et Parisius caput
civitatum Francie. Tertio est notandum quod lethum est æquivo-
cum; quando dicitur hoc lethum, idem est quod mors; quando
dicitur lætus, -ta, -tum, idem est quod gaudiosus, -a, -um. His
premissis, sequitur expositio hujus versus, qui tripliciter exponitur
sic. Dum perdet centum, iste numerus designatur per literas con-

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. | 213

tentas in ista dictione dum, scilicet M. d. v. perdet centum per
subtractionem seu diminutionem, et remsneant. M.iij v., qui
numerus signat annos Domini in quo gallus feriet caput, i. civi-
tatem principalem Francie, nece lentum, i. debilitatum per . necem
et mortem præcedentem de hominibus suis, ita quod non sufficiet
gallo resistere. Secunda expositio est quod anno predicto Jferiet .
caput, i. dominum capitalem, qui erit lentus nece, i. fatigatus per
pestilentiam præcedentem. Tertio exponitur sic: dum gallus per-
det centum, i. illo tempore quo gallus perdet centum milites vel
homines pugnantes contra civitatem vel regem devincendum,
feriet caput et nece lentum, i. occidet ductorem capitalem illius
prelü, vel illam civitatem capitalem predictam contra quam
pugnant. Et post illa tristia letha, i. pestilentias predictas, vel
post tristem mortem illus bell, vi» venient tempora leta, et
gaudiosa, tanta erit destructio hominum illo tempore vel tanta
malitia et nequitia post illud tempus erit inter homines. Et
iste versus aliter exponitur, quod pos? ilia tristia letha, centum
hominum quos perdet aggressu conira inimicos, venient vir tem-
nora leta, i. tot anni let et gaudiosi venient gallo, qui in
illo prelio adquiret regnum Francie, quot sunt unitates desig-
nate per literas hujus dictionis vix, qus sunt xvj, quia forte
tantum tempus gaudebit in regno Francie aute mortem suam,
vel per xiijjB[ secundum aliam expositionem illius dictionis; eli-
gat lector expositionem quam voluerit. - Quarto: ostendit qualia
accident gallo in illo conflictu vel post, sicut eligere poterit
lector in expositione, quia isti versus habent duplicem exposi-
tionem. Prima expositio quod dum mors purgabit, i. faciet
purgationem de peccatoribus eos extirpando, non Jjubilabit cum
-gallo, i. non faciet jubilum seu gaudium cum gallo, quia ho-
mines sui tune morientur, vel quia forte ipsemet morietur, qui
stirps Parisatina dicitur forte quia processit ex illa generatione
que tunc periet, seu peribit, confrissa ruina, 1. per aliam ruinam,
vel per bellum quod sibi fiet, ita quod illa generatio non am-
plius regnabit seu durabit. Secunda expositio est ista, quod
dum mors purgabit, scilicet occidendo homines et eos destruendo,
stirps Parisatina non. jubilabit cum gallo, i. forte aliqua mulier
de genere vel de stirpe Parisatina, que erit uxor galli, vel
forte sibi amicabilis, non jubilabit vel. gaudebit amplius cum
gallo, quia periet seu peribit, confrissa ruina, mortis, vel occisa ;
vel forte morietur in partu per violentiam alicujus ruine;- et
utraque istarum expositionum potest verificari pro tempore quo
civitas predicta capietur, vel pro xvj? anno post, vel xiiij, sicut
dieitur in predicta expositione precedenti super istam dictionem
vix. Quinto ostendit de modo suo prophetandi et respondendi
quatuor questionibus, seu dubiis, quz poterant; moveri contra
eum in prophetia sua. Primo potest aliquis quærere ab eo, ex

214 | .. POLITICAL POEMS.

quo scribit prophetiam, et prophetia deberet continere totaliter
veritatem, quare divinavit et prophetavit mendacia, Dicit «on
divinavi mendacia, i. non scripsi que sunt mendacia pro seipsis,
sed ad signandum alia per aliquam simihtudinem, ut præexpo-
sita est, et ideo simulavi et locutus sum per similitudinem. Se-
eunda quæstio possit moveri contra istum auctorem, quare tot
et talia narravit, cum propheta deberet pauca dicere, et in verbis
paucis multa continere Huic questioni seu dubio respondit,
dicens, Plurima narravi, i. scripsi narrando in dietis meis, quia
putavi somnia vera, quasi diceret quia que Spiritus. Sanctus re-
velavit mihi in somnis putavi vera, ideo ea scripsi ad intelli-
gentiam auditoris. Tertia quæstio possit moveri, quare erravit
aliquando et male scripsit, et non secundum veritatem, nec secun-
dum ordinem; et respondit huic questioni, dicens, Ht magis erravi,
scilicet non scribendo clare et aperte, quia non probari dicta mea,
ged fui alienatus in sensibus corporalibus, nil audiendo, nil vi-
dendo, nil sciendo; sed qui mil audivit, sed auditu fuit privatus,
nil vidit, scilicet oculo, nit bene scivit, sed scientia bona ex visu
procedit vel auditu, et qui nil bene scivit, de aliquibus nil. quivit,
seu poterit, bene describere; et talis defectus, scilicet visus et
auditus, fit mihi universalis, quia nec potul videre nec audire,
namque fit testis peritus, i. Spiritus Sanctus est testis si alia est
causa quare erravi et neseivi secure seu certitudinaliter future,
.quia ipse solus Deus novit futura secura, sciliceb que venient
certitudinaliter, qui formavit omnia veluti voluit, i,-secundum
voluntatem suam, et secundum quod amavit. Quarta quæstio,
seu dubium, poterit esse, ex quo iste erravit in scribendo et
deliravit, quomodo aliquis deberet credere sibi, seu dare fiduciam
dictis suis; et huie quæstioni respondet, dicens, Insinuavi et os-
iendi quod deliravi in sermonibus, et in verbis occultis, sed non
in sententiis; quasi diceret, licet. verba mea appareant deliramenta
et falsa propter occulium modum loquendi, si tamen bene ex-
ponantur continent veritates, et ideo sic est mihi credendum, et
ai volueris mihi credere, seu dictis meis, per Deum juro non curo,
quia quisque faciet Judicium gestorum suorum, i. judicabit istam
prophetiam esse veram secundum illud . quod sibi accidit, et
quisque accipit mercedem laborum suorum, pro gestis et factis
suis. Et quia ego tendo ad mortem, propter febres et infirmitates
meas, pendo seu finio carmina mea morti, quia amplius scribere
non valeo. | MEE

Et sie sententiam hujus libri, comes reverende, ob vesiraim
declaravi reverentiam, non affirmans istum librum tanquam pro:
phetiam, et tanquam versus multis difficultatibus implicatos ex-
posui, nec dico me in omnibus invenisse veritatem; sed ut
inagis mihi videbatur pro tempore expositionis ad sententiam,
literæ cum occultationibus convenientibus: deduxi intellectum.

JOHN OF BRIDLINGTON. 215

Rogo, si vestre placuerit reverentie, quod iste liber manibus
multorum non tradatur, et si secretioribus aliquotiens contingat
ostendi, nomen iamen auctoris occultatur, ne incurram aliorum
indignationem propter opus quod vestram tantum curavi hones-
tere dignitatem. ^ Valete ad mundi honores cum spirituali - incre-
mento per preces humilitatis. servi vestri, cui talem. decet vene-
rar sublimantem. Explicit expositio seus prophetie,

ON THE DEATH or Epwarp III!

1977.

À! dere God, what may this be,
That alle thing weres and wasteth away ?
Frendschyp is but a vanyté,
Unnethe hit dures al a day,
Thei beo so cliper? at assay,
So leof to han, and loth to lete, .
And so fikel in heore fay,
That selden iseize is sone forzete.

I sei hit not withouten a cause, B
And therfore takes riht god hede;
For 3if ye construwe wel this clause,
I puit zou holly out of drede,
That puire schame Zor hert wold blede, .
And 3e this matere wysly trete.
He that was ur most spede
Is selden seye and sone for3ete. |

! This English song on the death
of King Edward IIL. is preserved in
two manuscripis, one in the British
Museum, MS. addit, No. 22,283,
fol. 132, r°,
Bodleian Library at Oxford, known
as MS. Vernon, fol. 410, v°. The
latter manuseript is well known
to antiquaries by the title of the
Vernon manuscript; the former
has been recently purchased by the

the other in the.

Briish Museum, and, singularly
enough, the two manuscripts re-

-semble each other in shape, in

handwriting, and in their contents;
so closely, that there can, be no

doubt of their having come from

the hand ofthe samescribe. 'Thesong
is here printed from the Museum
MS., with the only variations of any
importance of the other.

? sliper, Vernon MS.

216 . POLITICAL POEMS.

! honde, Vern. |

Sum tyme an Englis schip we had,

Nobel hit was, and heih of tour;

. Thorw al Christendam hit was drad,

And stif wold stonde in uch a stour,

And best dorst byde a scharp schour,
And other stormes smale and grete; _

Nou is that schip, that bar the flour,
Selden seize and sone for3ete.

Into that schip ther longeth a roothur,
That steered the schip, and governed hit ;
In al this world nis such anothur,
As me thenketh in my wit.
Whil schip and rothur togeder was knit,
Thei dredde nother tempest, druy3e, nor wete ;
Nou be thei bothe in synder flit ;
That selden seize is sone for?ete.

Seharpe wawes that schip has sayled,
And sayed alle sees at aventur ;
For wynt ne wederes never hit fayled,
Wil the roothur miht enduir.
Thou; the see were rou3, or elles dimuuir,
Gode havenes that schip wold geete.
Nou is that schip, I am wel suir,
Selde iseye and sone for3ete.

This good schip I. may remene

To the chivalrye of this londe;
Sum tyme thei counted nou3zt a bene

. Beo al Fraunce, ich understonde.

Thei toke and slouz hem with her wonde,!
The power of Fraunce, bethe smale and grete;.

And -brouzt the kyng hider to byde her bonde;?

And nou riht sone hit is forzete.

? bote, MS. Addit.

ooh

ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD III. 217

That schip hadde a ful siker mast,

. And a sayl strong and large,

That made the gode schip never agas
To undertake a thinge of charge.
And to that schip ther longed a barge, Ó

Of al Fraunce 3af nou3t a cleete.
To us hit was a siker targe ;

And now riht clene hit is forzete,

The rother was nouther ok ne elm,
Hit was Edward the thridde the noble kniht :
The prince his sone bar up his helm,
That never scoumfited was in fiht.
The kyng him rod and rouwed ariht,
The prince dredde nouther stok nor streete.
Nou of hem we lete ful liht ;
That selden is seize is sone forzete.

The swifte barge was duk Henri,
That noble kniht, and wel assayed;
. And in his leggaunce worthily
He abod mony a bitter brayd.
$if that his enemys out outrayed,
To chasteis hem wolde he not lete.
Nou is that lord ful lowe ileyd ;
That selde is seize is sone forzete,

This gode comunes, bi the rode,

I likne hem to the schipes mast;

That with heore catel and with heore goode
Mayntened the werre both furst and last.
The wynd that bleu? the schip with blast,

Hit was gode prezeres, I sey hit atrete ;
Nou is devoutnes out icast,

And mony gode dedes ben clene for3ete.

218

POLITICAL POEMS,

Thus ben this lordes ileid ful lowe;
The stok is of the same rote;

Àn ympe biginnes for to growe,
And 3it I hope schal ben ur bote,
To wolde! his fomen underfote,

And as a lord be set in sete.

Crist, lene that he so mote,

That selden isei3e be not forzete.

Weor that impe ffully growe,
That he had sarri? sap, and pith,

I hope.he schulde be kud and knowe
For conquerour of moni a kith. ^ —
He is ful livelich in lyme and lith

In armes to travayle and to swete.

- Crist, live we so fare him with,

That selden seije be never forjete. |

And therfore holliche I ou rede,
Til that this ympe beo fulli growe,
That: uch a mon up with the hede,
And mayntene him bothe heize and lowe. —
The Frensche men cunne bothe bost and blowe,
And with heore scornes us to-threte ;
And we beoth bothe unkuynde and slowe,

That selden seize is gone forzete.

And therfore, gode sires, taketh reward
Of zor douhti kyng that deyzede in age,
And to his sone prince Edward
That welle was of alle corage.
Suche two lordes of heize parage |
_Is not in eorthe whom we schal gete.
And nou heore los beginneth to swage,
That selde iseize is sone forgete.

! holde, Vern: | * surr, Vern;

ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD Itt. 219

ON tHe DEATH or Epwarp IIL!

Proemium in epitaphium | domini | Edwardi regis
Anglorum, terti.

Regis in Edwardi bene debeo funere flere,
Anglicus armatus sepius ense suo. -

Per mare, per terras totiens pertriverat hostes,
Quod nec adhue audent jure referre minas.

Is pugil abscessit anima poscens paradisum,
Rex sibi succedens æquiparatur ei.

Par proprio patri sit, avo par, sit proavis par,
Parque Ricardo sit, par quia non habuit.

Ile David dormit, Salomon silet, ac obit Obeth,
Mors sua me flere jam memorata facit.

Heroicum carmen lacrimabor eum lucubrandum,
Heroico metro si mihi, musa, faves.

Explicit Proemium. Incipit epitaphium | domni
Edwardi regis Anglorum. tertii.

Qui quinquaginta felices fecerat annos

In solio regni, rex noster nobis olim,
Tertius Edwardus, bene notus nomine tanto,
Nam genitor gessit et progenitor præhabebat.
Dulee Deo.nomen donatum pollice pingui,
Ad tres Cæsareos apud Anglos. sceptrigerantes,
Post conquestorem rebus regnoque potitos,
Quorum gemma, jubar, rosa regum, regula regni,
Luciferum luna lunam sieut superat sol.
Sic meritis, sic militia, sic moribus altis,
Inclitus Edwardus, excellentissimus ille,
Omnes præradians obscuravit præeuntes,

! Taken from a manuseript in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, MS:
Rawlinson, No. 214, fol, 180, F r^

220 POLITICAL POEMS.

Gestum Ad sacratam supplex quod toto tempore vitæ,
Pe isterio Post duplices matutinas horasque diei,

divin. Cotidie missam dexter committeret auri,
Mane die Martis, sed sexta pace petente
Accumulans altare Dei dono pretioso,
Nune auro, nune argento, nune veste valoris,
Codicibus, cum calicibus bene commemorandis,
Sacras reliquias sanctorum ssepius addens,
Ut monachis nigris caput abbatis Benedicti,
Ac monachis albis caput Annæ progenitricis
Christi, Londoniæ letantur utroque jocali.
Est hoe ad Estmynster, ad Westmynster caput illud.
Fertilita- Tam summus sobole quod totum terruit orbem
om i Per primogeniti preclari principis arma ;
regis et in- Fregit enim Francos, regem reliquosque rebelles

tri . ° . . .
Principis Londonias ducens in vincula dura ligandos ;

Edwardi Intrans Hispanos princeps feriendo fugavit
Tdwar Omnes obstantes, captivans milia multa.

primo. , Dux Leonellus, duxque Johannes, germina regis,
gm Dux Edmundus, duxque Thomas, nam juniores,
Willelmique duo parvi pueri morientes.
Foeminei sexus fuerant Ysabella, Johanna,
Blaunchia de Turri, Britonumque ducissa Maria ;
Ultima Margareta fuit, Pembroke comitissa.
Misericore Tam timuit coelum cum portaret gladium rex,
diam Stam Ob malefactores muletandos cuspidis ictu,
domini ^ Quod non occidit unquam proprio pugione,
dcin. © Talem tollendum quietus qualibet ira,
quentes More suo sancto, sed justitiarius ejus
Posceret a presentato pro crimine quovis,
Quid responderet ad crimen tale relatum.
Si se purgaret ad perjuratos duodenos -
De convicinis, sua mors sua vitave venit.
Victoriam «uot per eum cæsos inito certamine belli
domini — Mercurius nullus numeraret mille lapillis ;
d MM Semper enim victor et nunquam victus abibat.

Crescy et Tam ferus et fortis, et formidatus in armis,
obsidionem
Calays.

ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD III. 99T

Ad Fraricos fuerat, quod apüd campestriam 'Orescy,
Dum dominus princeps acie prima peracutus
Fortius infremeret geminos reges jugulando,

Ac occursantes omnes occideret ense.

Tune ubi Francorum vidit adesse Philippus
Edwardi regis aciem validam venientem,

Fronte sagittatus negat ultra nosce sagittas,
Festinus fugere, fidens pedibus palefridi.

Sicut apud Crescy, sic claruit ante Caletum,
Dum rapidus fugeret rex et totum quasi regnum,
Dorsa duodecies ibi centum milia dando.

Tam felix Scotis, quod primo flore juvente, Victoriam
"n | domini
Ipso rege duce, discumbebat Halydona regis E.
Monte quadraginta Seotorum milia cæsa, , Super |
Bello-mount duce cognomine cum Baliolo, Scotos in

i À 8 præliis.
Milia Scotorum tune sexaginta cadebant ;

In castra mora fuit hoe bellum bene factum,
Milleque quingenti fuimus, qui nos numerasset.
Dunelmi campis dux archiepiscopus illie
Mortua Scotorum viginti millia vidit.
Sie variis vicibus vel per se perve suorum
Prælia de Scotis tribus his bellis perierunt
Centum milia, rex Scotorum vinclaque cepit.
Tam super equum erat audax et amarus in Victoriam

| domini
hostem, . a . regis super .
Quod quinquaginta Francorum milia fudit Francos, et
Extra sola classe collecta nomine papse ; fallaciam
M . . pape Cle-
Sed nobis inimica nimis mala multa minata est. mentis
Rex ut hoc invenit, invasit, et in mare mersit, ‘Anglos

De toto numero fugere decem nisi naves.

Papa Clemens sextus, gazis papse Benedicti,

Hos ad Jerusalem conductitios adi viros,
Procurante via Francorum rege Philippo,

Misit et amisit, quia percuterent prius Anglos;

Ac Anglis domitis tunc Joppen adire minaret,

Sed Deus Angligenas bene salvans sit benedictus! —

292 POLITICAL POEMS,

Victoriam Torvus in Hispanos, qui clara classe superbi
| regis super Litora cum ferro feriebant nostra frequenter,
Hispanos. Tollentes prædas, tradebant predia flammis,
Non puero parvo parcentes seu seniori,
Quin cunctas aninias crudeli morte metebant,
Sic semel effrenos rigido rex ense recepit,
Transfodiens nautas, subigens naves, bona vorans,
Classe duæ naves de tota diffugiebant ;
Sed velo veloce magis citius revocantur
In similem sortem quam sustinuere sorores.
Victoriam Ex hoc in presens navalia prelia multa,
regis super Fer mare cautus erat.
mare. Tam fortunatus victor vitam faciebat
. Per tantum tractum, prope septuaginta per annos,
Semper supponens inimicos inferiores ;
Dum princeps prosper dicti duces equitabant,
Ac comites clari nunquam nomen minuentes; -
Pingues prisones tune Londoniis lacrimati,
Rex Francorum, rex Scotorum, duxque Britannus,
Immo duces, immo comites, immo numerosi
De cunctis gradibus in vincula nostra cadebant.
Quos dominus rex dimisit, quosdam domini papæ,
Quosdam florenis, et quosdam fcedere facto,
Quamplures eonfugerunt de carcere furto.
Statuta Tam pius in plebem, quod serenissimus æqui
“wide — Edidit edicto durandum dulce statutum =
capienda, Ejus in iconomos, populum prius excoriantes,
- Quod provisores annonæ regis in aulam
. Non animalia, sed nec oves, nec aves, nec avenas,
Perciperent de pauperibus, viduisve micellis,
Sed de divitibus digno pretio comitante.
Confusam curam primus projecit eorum,
Qui plures proprias perdebant quolibet anno
Depopulando domos depascebant sata cuncta,
Dilapidando thoros meretrices mille trahebant,
Horrea frangentes sua firmabant bona regni.

ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD III.

Tam prudens dum præfectos posuit patriarum, |

Quod cunctis patrüs ignotos intitulavit,

Jura: volens fieri, neque flecti qualibet arte,

Ut mihi Mercensi judex Westsaxo veniret;

Sed Westsaxo satis ignoto jus sequeretur,

In neutram partem portandus amore vel ira ;

Pervertunt amor vel odium quod judicis iram.

Hine statuit patrüs alienum semper adesse,

Qui nullo voto loqueretur libera jura.

Is non audiret verba potentis amici,

Nec contra condemnaret capiens inimicum.
Tam plenus stabili studio mala tollere terra,

Sicut sacrilegos per compita cuncta latrones,

Qui pulsi procul à patria quacunque querela

In silvis se servabant vacuando viantum

Ex nummis loculos, ex vita corpora crebra,

Hos multum minuit rex optimus ordine tali.
Archipredones captos post crimina poenis

Taliter absolvit, ut præsidis ante tribunal

Discipulos appellarent, agerentque duello, -

Damnandos furcis, vel digna morte perirent

Ipsi prædones qui crimina tanta patrarant.

Terruit innumeros tunc turgida lingua latronum.

Talia plura darem, sed tandem terminus instat.
Milleque trecenti jam septuagintaque septem

Anni sunt Domini, dum tantus transit ad astra;
Tantus rex, tam magnificus, tanquam Deus esset,
Sed modo tam | modicus quod eum claudit petra

parva. |

Parvus homo parvo tumulo dum clauditur isto,
Conarer cantare dominum, sua singula pensans,
Tot palmas, talem prolem, tam nobile tempus,
Tot sacra judicia, tam plena fide pretiosa,
Ipsum semideum saltem, sine fine faterer, .

Recta reclamaret nisi mors hominem manifestans.
Non Deus est, sed homo, quia sic homo terminat omnis.

223

Judiciarios
per eum

- eonstitutos
pro jure
servando.

Statuta

- domini

regis
contra

.. juris trans-

gressores,
et poenas
eisdem
debitas
adjudican-
das.

Transitum
domini
regis ex
hoc mundo
ad cœlum.

224 POLITICAL POEMS. | | | z

Te libeat, lector, tot themata vera videre,

Quæ resonant regem nunquamque fuisse tyrannum.
Si Sathanas fregit carnem, fragiles sumus omnes ;
Hine homines hominem, fragiles fragilem, caro carnem,
Vel pia gens pugilem, pro qua fera prælia fecit,
Saltem pro Sathana precibus munite meantem ;
Dicite quæso pater noster aveque Maria

Pro tam rege bono, qui regnum tam bene rexit.
Coetibus angelicis societur in æthere summo,

Qui supra vident duleem faciem deitatis.

Sumat eum sanctum Michael, precor, in paradisum,

Conjubilant ubi cum Christo f quicunque, beati. Amen.
| saneti sociali.

Explicit epitaphiwm: excellentissimi principis et floris
militie domini Edwardi regis Anglie 3*.

| ON THE REBELLION OF JACK SrRAW.!

1381.

T Tax has tenet us alle, |
| probat hoc mors tot validorum,
The kyng therof hade smalle,
fuit in manibus cupidorum ;
Hit hade harde honsalle,
dans causam, fine dolorum ;
Revrawnee nede most falle,
propter peccato, malorum.

1 From MS. Corpus Chr. Coll. | another MS. preserved in the Bod-
Cambridge, No. 369, with additions | leian Library at Oxford, MS. Digby,
(printed here in parenthesis) from | No, 196,

ON THE REBELLION OF JACK STRAW.

In Kent this kare began,
mov infestando potentes,
In rowte the rybawdus ran,
sua pomis arma ferentes ;
Folus dred no mon, |
regni regem neque gentes,
Churles were hor chevetan,
vulgo pwre dominantes.

Thus hor wayes thay wente,
pravis pravos œmulantes,

To London fro Kent |
sunt predia depopulantes ;

Ther was an uvel covent, |
astral parte vagantes ;

Sythenne they sone were schent,
qui tune fuerant superantes.

Bondus they blwun bost,
nolentes lege domari,
Nede they fre be most,
vel nollent pacificam ;
Charters were endost,
hos labertate morari ;
Ther hor fredam thay lost,
digni pro cede megan.

Laddus loude thay loge,
clamantes voce sonora,
The bisschop wen thay sloze.
eb corpora plura decora ;
Maners down thay drow3e,
. 4n regno non meliora ;
Harme thay dud ino3e,
habuerunt libera lora.

J VOL. I,

226

POLITICAL POEMS.

[Jak Strawe made yt stowte
in profusa comitiva,

And seyd al schuld hem lowte
Anglorum, corpora viva.

Sadly can they schowte,
pulsant pietatis olia,

The -wycche were wont to lowte,
aratrum traducere otiva.

Hales, that dowghty knysght,
quo splenduit Anglia tota,

Dolefuly was he dysght, |
cum stultus pace remola,

There he my3ght not fyght,
nec Chrosto solvere vota.

Savoy semely sette, |

heu ! funditus igne cadebat,
Arcadon there they bett,

et eos virtute premebat,
Deth was ther dewe dett,

qui captum quisque ferebat.] -

Owre kyng hadde no rest,
alie latuere caverna,
To ride he was ful prest,
recolendo gesta paterna ;
Jak Straw down he kest
Smythfeld virtute superna.
Lord, as thou may best, |
regem defende, guberna.

Vulpes eum cauda caneat. cum cantat alauda,
Ne rapide pecus voculus capiatur et equus.

-—

ON THE SLAUGHTER OF ARCHBISHOP SUDBURY. 227

ON THE SLAUGHTER OF ARCHBISHOP SUDBURY!
Versus de tempore Johannis Straw,

Proh dolor! accrevit nuper confusio rerum ;
Dum virtus procerum silet, et vulgus? male sævit, -
Servit nobilitas, et rusticitas dominatur,

Ad res illieitas omnis plebs præcipitatur.

Garcio bacchatur et ingenuos agitatur ;

Judex damnatur, reus et in sede levatur;

Lex ancillatur, injuria jugis amatur ;

Sanguine mucro satur, actus miseros operatur.
Anglia, quid gaudes? cum sis anathemate cincta ;
Quomodo sic audes patriarchz sanguine tincta.
Vel modo perpende tibi quid fortuna paravit,
Laus tua cessavit, insurgunt res metuendæ.

Rex imbecillis nec adhuc a plebe timetur ;
Ruribus et villis hine vulgus ad arma movetur.
Exercent edes? frendentes more ferino ;
Præcipitant ædes, spoliant, dant atque camino. *
Ætatis tenere quia tunc erat ipse hierarcha,
Mactatur temere sine judicio patriarcha ;
Ecclesi» princeps, patronus, et archithronatus,
Est decollatus, restat vindicta deinceps.

Votis scurrarum caput arripitur patriarchæ,

Non procul ex arce que fertur Lundoniarum. |
Insuper a lixis caput est in ponte levatum,
Aique capellatum clavis in? vertice fixis.
Walword tunc? miles caput abstulit inde patenter,

! From two manuscripts at Cam- ? procerum contra | vulgus,
bridge, one in the University | Corp. C.
Library, with the shelf-mark Dd. 3 edes, MS. Corp. C.
4, 35, fol. 44, r°, the other in the 4 canino, MS. Corp. C.
Library of Corpus Christi College, 5 clavis est in, MS. Corp. C.
No. 59. | . $it, MS. Corp. C.
P 2

MS.

228 — POLITICAL POEMS.

In pallas habiles involvit idem reverenter.
Posteriore die plebs tam fuit impia regi,
Scripta sibi venie quod rex dedit obvia legi.
Regem transfodere ductor. vulgi voluisset,

Ni Walword propere caput ejus preripuisset ;
Quod jubet in ponte sursum super altera poni,
Ac ea deponi vulgi superaddita sponte.

Sie moritur Symon de bacca dictus et austri,
Ecclesi plaustri rota, dux, auriga, vel ymon.
Rector erat regis et cancellarius iste, |

. O facinus triste! perit hic sine judice legis.
Festo! Basilii sexta rutilante diei,

Post ictus gladii Symon datus est requiei.
Gleba fuit capiti de nocte reddita tandem,
Pectore contriti cives comitanter eandem,
Versus metropolim, Cantuaria que vocitatur,
Bustum portatur,? quo presul præfuit olim.
Post tempus multum Dorobernia corpus humavit,
Atque decoravit cathedrali sede sepultum.
Ultio monstratur dum tortores cruciantur,
Sensu privantur duo, tertius et jugulatur.
Quidam plectuntur, quidam subito moriuntur;
Carcere truduntur alii, nec adhue redimuntur.
Multorum capita detruncant Lundonienses,
Hæc bene sanctita digno libramine penses.
Qui feriunt gladio, gladio debere perire ;

Hoe in evangelio Christi poteris reperire ;
Hoe juste fieri dictant civilia jura, _

Ne pateat sceleri via sed mors inde futura.
Nune gemat ecclesia? tanto patre sic viduata,
Cujus in opprobria vigilant discrimina lata.
Hostes exterius feriunt vibramine guerræ,
Vulgus et interius devastant viscera terre.

——— —— — MÀ me — A | ctl AM —— à cod +

! Festa, MS. Corp. C. | 3 gema ecclesie, M$. Corp. C.
? portantur, MS, Corp. C... .

ON THE SLAUGHTER OF ARCHBÍSHOP SUDBURY. 229

Culpant innocuos ub eos de crimine plectant,
Arctant ingenuos ut et! ad servilia flectant.
Rusticus in magnis? aperit temerarius ora,

Ac? ad dedecora fremit et furit ut lupus agnis.
Tandem post modicum proceres simul* arma resumunt,
Pravos eonsumunt, vulgus capiunt inimieum.
Horum pejores et conspirando priores,

Ob pravos mores, detruncant ut proditores.
Mactant signiferos, nec eis? curant misereri,
Ut doceant miseros proditoria tanta vereri.
Hoc faciunt domini regno pacem reparando,
Non debacchando quasi vieti robore vini.

Sic mediante? Deo respirat pax recidiva,"

Ne duce stramineo pereat plebs crismate diva.
Sed mihi? lamenta renovant tua, Cantia, facta,
Nam nihil es tenta que stabas ante beata;
Regni metropolis de gestis plaudere nolis,

Cum sis facta dolis paterne? conscia molis.
Patria plena bonis, grege, milite, sive colonis,
Preedita patronis, doctis templo Salomonis. !?
Gratuitate cares, et amoris viribus ares, —
Indeque plorares quod contigit arte tua res.
Quae fueras prima celebris baptismate Christi,
Omine nune tristi Babylonis mergis in ima.
Nec modo diceris solum sunplex homicida ;
Sed quia pejor eris lupa, demens, trux, parricida,
Et quia peccasti patrem proprium jugulando,
Regnum turbasti patriotas depopulando,

rr rs —— Aga ————À € e

! Omitted in the MS. of the ' residiva, MS. Corp. C.

University Lib. 8 in, MS. Univ.
? agnis, MS, Corp. C. 5 .
* Hae, MS. Corp. C. patriciæ? MS. Corp. C.
4 tune, MS. Corp. C. 0 These two lines are wanting
5 eos, MS. Corp. C. in the MS. of Corpus Christi

? moderante, MS. Corp. C, College.

280 | . POLITICAL POEMS.

Amodo despecta reputaberis ac odiosa,

Utpote suspecta, temeratrix, impetuosa.

Hane tibi dat! poenam vindex ingratuitatis,

Ut de peccatis veni; revoces tibi venam.

Est Deus infestus regno pro crimine nostro ;

Fastus et incestus regnant quia quilibet ostro ;

Incola vestitur, et philacteria tendit,

Crimina defendit, sic sie atrocius itur. _

Hine orare Deum lucrum foret atque necesse,

Ut miserando reum strages dignetur abesse,

Temperet indigenas, et motos? terreat hostes,

Per fidei postes horas restauret amcenas

Annum mil ter c. octogesimumque coerce,

Sunt mala prefata vulgo furiente patrata ;

In quarto regis Ricardi posterioris,

Anno sunt pestes hæ præsumptæ per agrestes.

_ Jak Chep,? Tronche, Jon Wrau, * Thom Myllere, Tyler,
Jak Strawe,

Erle of the Plo, Rak to, Deer, et Hob Carter, Rak-
strawe ;°

Isti ductores in plebe fuere priores,

Per quos mœærores creverunt atque dolores.

Istorum capita collistrigiis® modo vernant,

Ut populi cernant ne cupiant vetita.

ic Explicit.

! det, MS. Corp. C, ‘ Wram, MS. Corp. C.
? more, MS. Corp. C. 5, Rakestrawe, MS. Corp. C.
3 Schep, MS. Corp. C. 8 super portas, MS. Corp. C.

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS.

231

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS.!
1381,

Dissipa gentes que bella volunt, Domine Jhesu.

1. Presta, Jhesu, quod postulo,

Fac quod in tuo populo
Nulla labes resideat ;

Hortolanus in hortulo

Secat salutis sarculo
Veprem, ne crescens noceat.

Fac quod non emineat,

Et quod nusquam absorbeat
Semen, cum serpit clanculo.

Fac quod hortus revireat,

Et novo fructu floreat,
Vernans ornatu sedulo.

2. Hie hortus est ecclesia,
Dudum spirans fragrantia,
Fulvis decora floribus,

Ut Paradisi patria,
Omni 'repleta copia,
Sacris onusta fructibus ;
: Conclusa magnis moenibus,
Signataque custodibus,
Velut regalis curia ;
Fructiferis arboribus,
Cunctisque aromatibus |
Fluens in abundantia.

——

! This eurious metrical manifesto
against the Lollards is taken from a
manuscript in the British Museum,

MS. Cotton. Vespas. D. ix. fol. 165, |

r°. The confessions extorted from
the ex priest John Balle, one of the
most active agents in the popular
insurrections of the year 1381, had

eompromised some of the leaders |

of the Wyclifäte party, and fur-
nished an occasion for a general
attack upon the religious reformers.
The way in which John Balle is
mentioned in this document shows
that it was one of the compositions
which originated in these circum-
stances, and it probably appeared in
the latter part of the year referred to.

232

POLITICAL POEMS.

3. Sed hostis tui populi,

Auctor omnis periculi,
Gravi spumans invidia,
In humo hujus hortuli
De fundo sui saeculi
Modo jecit. zizania ;
Quæ suffocant virentia,
Velut frumentum lollia,
Ac spins, vepres, tribuli ;
Sie florida marcentia,
Fragrantia foetentia, |
Sicci sunt fontis rivuli.

. Lollardi sunt zizania,

Spine, vepres, ac lollia,
Quæ vastant hortum vines;
Nam pejor pestilentia
Non fuit in ecclesia,
Incedens tam erronee.
Quorum linguæ vipereæ,
Et dentes sunt ut frames,
Omni pleni fallacia.
Hi tele sunt aranes,
Parvis et magnis foveæ,
Cunctis occultant retia.

Sub sanctitatis specie
Virus vomunt malitiæ

Cunctis qui ipsos audiunt.
Zelatores ecclesiæ,
Sectatores justitiæ,

Seipsos esse garriunt.
Sic simplices decipiunt,
Et mobiles inficiunt

Sub simulata facie.
Vulpes incautos rapiunt,
Lupi in agnos sæviunt,

.. Hostes omnis clementiæ,

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS. 233

6. Hzc pestis jam in Anglia,
Et nulla gente alia, |
Regnat sine remedio ;
Ni Christus suà gratia
Reducat hanc in omnia,
Ac tollat hane de medio.
His tanta fit preesumptio,
Fr Ex plausu fiet nimio,
Quod astruunt enormia.
Omnis quidem religio,
Omnis status, conditio,
Censetur his stultitia.

7. O terra jam pestifera,
Dudum eras puerpera
Omnis sanz scientiæ ;
Hæresis labe libera,
Omni errore extera,
Exsors omnis fallaciæ.
Jam schismatis, discordiæ,
Erroris, et insane =
Extas noster sceptigera ;
Omnis sectæ nefariæ,
Omnis doctrinæ variæ,
Tu es sectatrix perpera.

8. Villarum in exitibus
Se nudant sotilaribus
Cum populum ludificant,
Nudis incedunt pedibus,
Cum appropinquant foribus
Locorum quibus prædicant,
Pœnas foris amplificant,
Intus tamen lætificant
Se multis voluptatibus.
Seipsos sic magnificant,
Quod alios parvificant
Multis pravis sermonibus.

294

p E

10.

11.

POLITICAL POEMS.

Nullus ut Paulus judicat,
Nisi sit missus prædicat,

Nec sumit scamnum dogmatis,
Nee doctoratum vendicat,

Nisi quum judex applicat,

Et præbet normam thematis.
Sed hi doctrinam schismatis,

A nullis missi satrapis,

Docent quæ cunctos toxicat.
Pestem pravi problematis,!
Fraudem ficti sophismatis,”

Docent, qus plures implicat.

Cum prædicant ad populum,
Preponunt pacis titulum,

Pacem primo pronunciant.
Totum post hoc præambulum
Est irz, fellis jaculum,

Sie ledunt et sauciant :
Omnem statum dilaniant, —
Et fama bona spoliant,

Per os, sepulerum patulum.
Brigis et rixis satiant,

Felle cunctos inebriant

Per Babylonis poculum.

Omnis prior hæreticus,
Ínsanus, seu schismaticus,
Errat in uno aliquo;
Nec est quis sie hereticus,
Quin saltem sit catholicus

In magno vel in modico.
In statu evangelico,
In sacramento mystico,
Exrat Lollardus laicus ;
Omni dicto prophetico
Et scripto apostolico
Interpres est falsidicus.

1 Pplettis, MS. | # sop'stis, MS.

— ——M — — —————— — s

12.

13.

14.

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS. 235

Summa quidem perfectio
Est veræ pacis unio,
Qua fulgent regni filii ©
Sic schismatis divisio,
Ac statuum detractio,
Erant, qui sunt regni spurii.
Hi sunt auctores odii
Cleri, vulgi dissidii,
Et regni perturbatio.
Hine clades, homicidii,
Venit et fax incendii,
Servilis ac rebellio. .

Johannes Balle hoe docuit,
Quando morti succubuit
Propter suam nequitiam.
Quod quidem nidus tenuit -
Pullos pravos, et aluit
In regni ignominiam.
Monstrans Wycleffe familiam,

. Causam brigæ primariam,

Que totum regnum terruit.
Præbens experientiam
Quam gravidam stultitiam
He secta vulgus inbuit.

Horum fuit contentio,
Et plebis informatio,

Atque scriptum pestiferum,
Quod subditis correctio
Incumbit et frænatio

Magnatum sive procerum.
Ex quo caput sceptigerum
Ejus agmen belligerum

Petebant homicidio.

Sic regnum, olim prosperum,
Triste fuit et exterum
Et pronum exterminio.

POLITICAL POÉMS.

15. Vetant dari stipendia,

16.

17.

Decimas ac novalia,

Curatis dum sunt miseri ;
Nec dominis servitia,
Redditus, vel homagia, —

Quamdiu se dant sceleri.
Non medium plus repperi
Per quod sie possent conteri

Cuncta jura civilia.
Regnarent sic pestiferi,

Fine claudentur celeri

Cuncta mundi dominia.

Christus a sceptro sceleris,

.Neenon a jugo oneris

Nullum fidelem excipit ;
Solvit didragma stateris,
Et Cesari quae Cæsaris

Cuncta persolvi precipit.

Justus perversum suscipit,

Regem tyrannum recipit,

. Et servus præest liberis.

Ergo Lollardus decipit,

Cum contra verum accipit
Sacris inscriptum literis.

Thronum regale numinis,
Fastigium regiminis,

Sepe committit frivolis ;
Petrus honorem culminis
Jubet impendi dominis

Modestis atque discolis.
Nonne tu scriptum reperis
Quid nato pravæ indolis

Commisit parvi luminis ?
Ergo sicut benevolis,

Sic dari vult malevolis,

Quod juris est et hominis.

18.

19.

20.

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS.

Decimæ ac primitiæ
Fidelium sunt hostis,
Divino date cultui;
Deo dantur primariæ,
Cedentes secundariæ
Presbyterorum usui.
Sacrantur primo ritui,
Secundo darent statui,
Et non persons dubiæ.
Ascribi debet raptui,
Si ratione fatui
Quicquid defalces latrise..

Hoe Christus plane docuit,
Quando leprosos instruit
Offerre legis hostias ;
Quæque minuta monuit
Decimare ut congruit,

Velut res magnas alias.
Quas pravis in delicias,
Transireque lacinias

Sibi satis innotuit:
Istas tamen excubias,
Propter horum malitias,

Omitti nusquam voluit.

Ne fiat diis detractio,
Aut principi rebellio,

Lex scripti dat Mosaic ;
Ex quo patet conclusio,
Quod major non judicio

Minoris debet subjici.
Nee ipsi tanquam judici
Parere neque vindici,

Pro quovis maleficio.
Nam omnis lex sic instrui,
Ac omnis rex sic dejici,

Servorum potest. odio,

237

238

21.

22,

23,

POLITICAL POEMS.

Item grande prodigium
Erroris et elogium
In horum dictis patuit,
Quod sceleris mancipium
Nec dare quid sacrarium,
Nec sacramenta potuit; .
Absolvere nec valuit,
Nec ordines contribuit,
Nec celebrat connubium.
Ergo qui istud astruit,
Omnem fidem mox destruit,
Et totum ponit dubium.

Quis novit si quis presulum |
Peccati portet cumulum,
Quando largitur ordines;
Et cum corfessat populum,
Si de peccato scrupulum
Habet, tu nusquam retines.
Ergo fidem non obtines,
Quod saeros ritus detines,
Vel an sis mortis pabulum.
Coeli non intret cardines,
Qui ponit tot caligines
In fidei periculum.

An consecret quis hostiam,
Vel agat idolatriam,
Nullus jam novit hominum ;
Aut si per poenitentiam,
Vel confessoris curiam,
Remissio si criminum ;
Vel per baptisma fluminum
Quis purget catechuminum,
Non habet quis scientiam.
Hie ergo spernit Dominum
Qui sacramentis terminum ~~
Dat, ponens hane stultitiam,

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS.

24. Virtute Christi sanguinis,
Non consecrantis hominis,
Vim sacramenta obtinent;
Vigore Dei nominis,
Ex flatu sacri flaminis, —
Effectum solum retinent.
Ad ipsa nihil pertinent,
Nec ipsis quicquam attinent,
Res meriti vel criminis;
Per hoc nec vires possident,
Nec a virtute desident
Impulsu turpitudinis.

25. Est argumentum editum
Cum prophetiæ spiritum
Pravo dedit pontifici,
Viri non pensat meritum,
Sed statum sacrum inclitum,
Virtus doni deifici.
Per hoc jam potest. conjici
Stat donum sacri mystici,
Quamvis per pravos traditum.
Virtus collati cœlici
Nequaquam potest infici
Per virum culpis subditum.

26. Major plebis coercio,
Profundaque subjectio
Quæ fuit jam ecclesise,
Vocalis est confessio,
Per quod curati ditio
Magn: fit efficientis.
Nam tante est potentiæ,
Quod. solvit. vim sententiæ
Dei, ejus absolutio,
Clavem exsolvit venis,
Portas ccelestis curis
Ejus lingue laxatio.

239

240

POLITICAL POEMS.

27. Nam proprium consilium,

28.

29.

Post Ads primi vitium,

Nobis juste secluditur ;
Sacrum dat hoc eloquium,
Alius per judicium

Vita nostra nunc regitur.

Nec sibi quis committitur,
Sed quisquis reus sequitur
. Alterius arbitrium.
Ex hoc plane committitur,
Sacerdos instituitur

Ut fiat directorium.

Videtur hoc innuere,.
Præceptaque statuere,
Antiquæ legis litera,
Presbyteris committere
Sagaciter distinguere
Inter leprarum genera;
Ac inter legis munera
Est his potestas libera,

Quod juris est discernere ;

Hinc ratio est propria,
Bona plebis et scelera
Incumbit his discutere. .

Sed hoe Lollardi renuunt,
Cum soli Deo instruunt
Nostras culpas detergere.
Ergo qui istud astruunt,
Ecclesiam destituunt
Et gravi ledunt vulnere.
Vultum gregis agnoscere,
Ægrorum curas gerere,
Isti proterve renuunt;
Curati jura spernere,
Leve jugum abjicere

Audacter vulgus instruunt.

90.

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS,

Dicunt quod est expediens,
Et nullum inconveniens

Paparum multiplicitas ;
Unus non est sufficiens,

Ut patet aliquotiens,

Et sacra dat antiquitas.
Quantorum hee fatuitas —
Malorum sit causalitas,

Quid inde sit proveniens,

Homeri nam loquacitas, —

3l.

Maronis seu subtilitas,
Effari est deficiens.

In omni re jam publica,
Necnon persona mystica,
Est unum caput omnium.
Metrum mensura practica
Oportet quod sit unica,
Non multitudo. plurium.
Sie corpus Christi varium,
Membrorumque divortium, |
Compago vite lubrica ;
Sie dissonum est servitium,
Ac ordinis diffugium, ©
Et secta diabolica.

32. Dicunt, siquis fidelium,

_ VOL. KE

Si melior sit omnium,
Gradu papali præsidet,
Penes ipsum jus clavium
Et jurium papalium
Plena potestas residet.
Quantus error hunc obsidet,
Articulum .et possidet,
Non concipit lux vitium
Papatui quid insidit,
Scire quis cunctis eminet,
Colli Deo est proprium.

249 POLITICAL POEMS,

33. Collatæ sunt divitiæ
Sacræ dudum ecclesiæ
Causa quidem multiplici ;
Ne servientes latriæ
Cogantur ex esurie
Squalore famis affici.
Egeni possent refici,
Honorem queant clerici
Habere reverentiæ ;
Pravorum cervix dejici,
Substerni possent laici
Jugo obedientiæ.

94. Timeret quis ecclesiam

Jam nisi per potentiam
Posset pravis resistere?

Utilitatem aliam

Si non conferrent quampiam,
Ista posset sufficere.

Videntur hi desipere,

Qui templo Dei demere
Ejus querunt substantiam;

Regnare vellent libere

Pravos, atque despicere
Totam Christi familiam.

35. Jam horum est opinio,
Defensio, dotatio,
Catholics: ecclesiæ,
Necnon Silvestri ditio
Ac Sancti Thomæ passio
Sint species insaniæ.
In actu pœnitentiæ
Quæsissent locum veni,
His esset ignis torsio ;
Sic honor reverentiæ
Quem damus istis dubie
Grandis esset abusio.

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS, 243

36. Isti condemnant nimium
Virorum differentium

Sectam vivendi variam,
In clericis dominium,

In monachis peculium, .

In fratribus penuriam.
Non curant quam contrariam
De sectis dent sententiam,

Et dissonum judicium ;

In plausu non letitiam, |
In planctu non tristitiam,
Monstrant, sed solum odium.

37. Qui opibus renunciant,
.. Et bonis sé exspoliant,
Atque mendicant libere,
Dicunt quod isti deveniant,
Et vanam vitam somniant,
Et velint se occidere.
Sed nolunt hi perpendere,
Quod non potest deficere
Fidem quam: ipsi laniant.
De pietatis opere
Null debent diffidere,
Sed fidem rectam sapiant.

38. Si Christus panem proprium
Mendicavit per hostium,

Sacris non patet literis ;
Sicut si quod caputium
Habuerit, vel pallium,

In libris nusquam reperis,

Si statim hunc cum cæteris
Commune sibi dixeris,

Nullum profers mendacium ; -
Dempta mercede operis,
Omisso dono muneris,

Tune mendicasset prandium. -
Q 2

944 . POLITICAL POEMS.

89. Quod Christus gessit; patulum
Mendicantis titulum,

Ex multis liquet credere ;
Hoe dat præsepe, stabulum,
Ac aliorum pabulum

Quas cogebatur sumere.
Non habuit quie vendere
Quibat, nec quiequam emere,

Nec proprium latibulum ;
Ex alieno munere
Ac manuali opere

Vixit, aut per miraculum.

40. Ut patet intuentibus
In rebus temporalibus,

Christus non sumpsit proprium,
In agris seu pecoribus,
Thesauris seu proventibus,

Nec grandi lucro mercium ;
Nec quovis domicilium,

Nec castrum nec villagium,

Nec quiequam in terrestribus.

Vixit donis fidelium,
Sive per laboritium,
Aut mendicatis panibus.

41. Jam mendicantes lacerant,
Horum statum vituperant,
Depravunt viiam, opera.
Ne detur istis imperant,
Blasphemant et improperant
Multa nefanda scelera.
Dicunt quod non ad supera,
Sed potius ad infera,
Transire fratres properant,
Ut inferant pestifera, |
Et quæque dicant aspera,
Globatim se confederant.

42.

43.

44.

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS. 245

Sic horum prædicatio |
Est vilis diffamatio,
Probrosumque convitium ;
Fidei extirpatio,
Statuum detractio,
Virtutum exterminium.
Rancoris est exordium,
Amoris est exilium,
Et morum relegatio ;
Antichristi mysterium,
Et secto lunæ præsagium,
Et Satanæ delusio.

Prælatorum coercio,
Et fratrum prædicatio,
Sunt dus sacri gladii.
Satis ex evangelio
Patet horum incisio
Quod lima sit flagitii.
Sed fumus horum odii
Rubigoque obloquii
Ipsos privat officio,
Sie quod in die proelii,
Quo sterni solent impii,
In nullo sunt auxilio.

Amorem dat extaticum,
Cum sacramentum mysticum
In cibum nobis contulit ;
Arram et pignus ccelitum,
Jocale quoque unicum
Nostris thesauris intulit.
Cunctis sacris hoc prætulit,
Suis fastis hoc extulit
Cunctis fore viaticum.
Memoriam quam pertulit
Mortis, dedit et detulit
Munus magis salvificum.

246 . POLITICAL POEMS.

45. Nil fidem sic pulchrificat,
Nec Dei posse explicat,

Cum hoc sit mirabilius ;
Nil iram sic pacificat,

Nee animam vivificat,

Cum nil sit hoc salubrius.
Nil isto unit fortius
Mentem, nec stringit arctius,

Quam sibi indemnificat ;
Nil isto sapit dulcius,

Nil replet abundantius,
Nil mentem sie lætificat.

46. Sed hoe Lollardus minime
Curat, dum struat pessime
De hoc sacro donario.

Fidei antiquissimæ
Repugnat in hoe maxime

Hujus séctæ opinio.
Nam transubstantiatio,
Videtur his delusio,

Et velut res vanissimss ;
Postquam fit eonsecratio
Manet ut in principio

Carnis cibus non anime.

47. Auctor secte primarius

In hoc erravit stultius,
Quse ejus est confessio,

Quem siquis diligentius

. Attendat, quod profundius
Sciet quz est opinio,

Ut unum in vinario

Signo, sicut calcario,
Fit Christus, et non smplius

Vestra corda conventio,

Ut vestra sit discretio,
Quid potest diei nequius ?

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS. 947

48. Rursus hic doctor asserit,
Quod ubicunque fuerit
Christus presentialiter,
Septempedalis aderit,
Nec hane mensuram deserit,
Nee usquam fuit aliter.
Re patet aliqualiter,
Quod Christus corporaliter
Sacramento non inerit,
Si sic carnis quam nequiter
Ecclesia fallaciter
. Hucusque nos decéperit.

49. Jam nuper hæc opinio
Doctorum magno studio
Probata fuit frivola.
Ergo si hanc discutio,
Stillam in mare jacéo,

Et silvis do ligneola.
Nam cum juris incola .
Ullam dicar sic sciola

Que istis sint confusio,
Ullam dabo mediola,
Concludam séu malevola,

Quin pejor sit cóntentio.!

50. Si Christus in hoc ferculo,
Ut vinum est in circulo,

Falsam do reverentiam,
Nonne in loco patulo,

Ac coram omni populo,
Committo idolatriam ?
Nam cum adoro hóstiam,

Impendo sibi latriam

Et sanguini in poculo,
Cum colo eukaristiam,
Tunc lzedo conscientiam,

Trabes ponens in oculo.

! This sentence, in which the MS. is followed exactly, is evidently
written incorrectly; | .

51.

53.

POLITICAL POEMS.

Universi perfectio
Est Christi generatio,

Ut valet quis concludere ;
Sie perturbatio |
Ejusdem est completio,

Si quis velit advertere.
Sic in utroque genere,

Ac omni Dei opere,

Est vera circulatio.

In isto ergo munere
Nullus debet supponere
Panem inesse proprio. |

. Non fuit septennario

Constrictus pedum spatio:
Cum ventre matris latuit,
Nec cum signato hostio
Intravit, stans in medio,
Non hanc mensuram tenuit.
Cur igitur non potuit,

" Aut cur idem noluerit *

In hoe sacro mysterio,

In libris non innotuit,

Nec quisquam auctor docuit,
Nec hoe concludit ratio.

Nullus periculosius

Errat, vel dicit stultius,
Quam in hae sacra hostia;

Nihil fidem perfectius

Extollit vel sublimius
Inter Christi magnalia.

Quanta ergo dementia

Vexat horum ingenia,
Excæcatque profundius !

Se propria malitia

Tanta ponunt mendacia,
Et errant velut ebrius.

C21
or

56.

AGAINST THE LOLLARDS.

In hortum nune introeas,
Duleis Jhesu, et videas

Quot clades ipsum obruunt ;
Liga vulpes erroneas,
Quz sic devastant vineas,

Et gravem pestem instruunt.

Ejus sepes jam destruunt,
Grandes insultus irruunt
Per bestias extraneas ;
Ejus flores jam defluunt,
Et fructus fere renuunt,
Hine curam ejus habeas.

. Ex te fides quam sequimur,

Ab ipsis omnes pascimur
Tus doctrine epulis :

Hine, si errore fallimur,

Per te false decipimur, .
Seducti vanis fabulis.

De te ac tuis famulis,

Tanquam de nugigerulis,

. Juste modo conquerimur ;

Quod tot transactis seculis

Cum falsis fictis garrulis
Hucusque sic deludimur.

Sed nefas est hoc credere,
Quod quemquam vis decipere,
Cum tu sis ipsa veritas;
Aut velis quemquam perdere,

Vel oberrare temere,

Cum sis suprema bonitas.
Hine hujus sectæ novitas,
Præsumptio, temeritas,

Quam fidem vult abducere,
Erroris est impietas,

Et Antichristi falsitas,
Qua mundum habet fallere.

249

250 POLITICAL POEMS.

ON THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1389.

Yit is God a courteis lord,
And mekeliche con schewé his miht,
Fayn he wolde bringe til àcord
Monkuynde to live in treuthe ariht.
Allas! why set we that lord so liht,
And al to foule with hym we fare?
In world is non so wys no wiht,
That thei ne have warnyng to be ware.

We may not sey, but 3if we ly3e,

That God wol vengaunce on us stele.
For openly we seo with eize |

This warnynges beoth wonder and feole.

But non this wrecched worldes weole
Maketh us live in synne and care;

Of mony merveyles I may of mele,
And al is warnyhge to be ware.

Whon the comuyiies began to ryse,
Was non so gret lord, as Y gesse,
That thei in herte bigon to gryse,
And leide heore jolité in presse.
Wher was thenne heore worthinesse,
Whon thei made lordes droupe and dare!
Of alle wyse men I take witnesse,
This was à warnyhg to be ware.

pme—-———————————————————————— qq tt

1This song is preserved in a | Bodleian Library at Oxford, fof.
iüanuseript in the British Museum, | 411, 1*. See before the note on
MS. additional, No. 22,283, fol. 132, | p. 215. It is here printed from the
v5, and in the Vernon MS. in the | MS. in the British Museum.

ON THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1382. 251

Bifore, 3if men hedde haad a grasa,
Lordes mihte wonder weel

Han let the rysing that ther was;
But that God thougte zit sum del
That lordes schulde his lordschup feel,

And of heore lordschipe make hem bare.
Trust therto as trewe as steel,

This was a warnyng to be ware.

And also whon this eorthe qwok,
Was non so proud he nas agast,
And al his jolité forsok,
And thou3t on God whil that hit last.
And alsone as hit was over past,
Men wox as uvel as thei dede are.
Uche mon in his herte may cast,
This was a warnyng to be ware.

For sothe this was a Lord to drede,
So sodeynly mad mon agast ;
Of gold and selver thei tok non hede,
But out of ther houses ful sone thei past.
Chaumbres, chymeneys, al to-barst,
Chirches and castelles foule gon fare;
Pinacles, steples, to grounde hit cast;
And al was for warnyng to be ware.

The mevyng of this eorthe iwis, |
That [s]chulde bi cuynde be ferm and stabele,
À pure verrey toknyng hit is
That mennes hertes ben chaungabele,
And that to falsed tbei ben most abele.
For with good feith wol we not fare.
Leef hit wel, withouten fabele,
This was a warnyng to be ware.

POLITICAL POEMS, .

The rysyng of the comuynes in londe,
The pestilens, and the eorthe-qwake,
Theose threo thinges, I understonde, .
Beoth tokenes the grete vengaunce and wrake
That schulde falle for synnes sake, ©
As this clerkes conne declare.
Now may we chese to leve or take,
For warnyng have we to be ware.

Evere I drede, bi my trouthe,
Ther may no warnyng stande in sted ;
We ben so ful of synne and slouthe,
The schame is passed the sched of hede,
And we leggen riht bevy as led,
Cumbred in the fendes snare.
] leeve this beo ur best red,
To thenke on this warnyng and be ware.

Sykerliche I dar wel say,
In such a plyt this world is in,

— Mony for wynnyng wold bitraye

Father and moder and al his kyn. .
Nou were heih tyme to bigyn
To amende ur mis, and wel to fare;
Ur bagge hongeth on a cliper pyn,
Bote we of this warnyng be ware.

Be war, for I con sey no more;
Be war, for vengaunce of trespas ;

. Be war, and thenk uppon this lore;

Be war of this sodeyn cas.
And 3it be war while we have spas ;
And thonke that child that Marie bare,
Of his gret godnesse and his gras,
Sende us such warnyng to be ware.
‘ |

ON THE COUNCIL OF LONDON.

253

On THE CounciL or LONDON:

1382,

Heu ! quanta desolatio Angliæ præstatur,
Cujus regnum quodlibet hine inde minatur,
Et hujus navigium pene conquassatur ;
Regnum nec consilio nec ope juvatur.
With an O and an I, pre dolore ventris,
Meum jam consilium jacet in vi mentis.

Sed ad poenitentiam convertat Deus gentem,

Et dirigat divinitus nostri regis mentem,

Ut tortuosum lucide cognoscat serpentem,

Monachis et fratribus hypocrisim latentem.
With an O and an I, ne istis attendat,
Sanctorum oratio ad cœlos ascendat.

In nos pestilentia seva jam crescit,
Quod virorum fortium jam populus decrescit,
Quæ diversis partibus adhue invalescit,
Cum noster jubilus totaliter recessit.
With an O and an I, huic finem ruine
Addat qui supremus est auctor medicine.

—Ó— MÀ MM — —

! This Latin song is taken from
MS. Cotton. Cleopatra B. ii. fol. 59,
r^. Its date, and the events to which
it refers, are indicated by the allu.
sions to the pestilence, to the in-
surrection of the serfs (servi), and
to the earthquake which happened
at the very moment when the
council was proceeding to business,

as well as by the names of a certain |

number of individuals concerned
in the acts of the council. In the
manuscript, which contains also
the two following English songs
of the same class, these compo-
sitions have been crossed through,
no doubt by some friar, or opponent
of the reformers, who had become
possessed of it after they were
written.

954 POLITICAL POEMS,

In maligno positus nunc est mundus totus, :
A viris Angligenis non est Christus notus; 7
Pro peccato populi venit terreemotus ; E
In religiosis jam nullus est devotus.
With an O and an I, debacchantur servi,
Et in servos Domini nimis sunt protervi.

In hoc terræmotu ab hora diei,
Quia tunc convenerant scribz, Pharisæi,
Cum summis sacerdotibus contra Christum Dei,
Vultus ire patuit divine faciei. |
With an O and an I, sanctos diffamarunt,
Per hæreses et schismata qus falsa patrarunt.

Heu! jam mala plurima de nobis sunt scita;

Per ventos et flumina jacent grana trita;

Ab antiquis patribus hæc sunt inaudita;

Qui campos conspicitis, scitis quod est ita.
With an O and an I, causam si quæratis,
Dico quod hoc accidit nobis pro peccatis.

Si status conspicimus, nullus excusatur ;
Quod in shopis venditur male mensuratur ;
Quilibet perjurio vel fraude lucratur; —
Sed quod sic adquiritur adquirens furatur.
With an O and an I, res male quæsita,
Ut indies conspicimus, sepe vadit ita.

Clerici qui speculum forent laicorum,

In fastum libidinis multi laxant lorum.

Rectores jam rapiunt bona subditorum.

Scitis quod hee omnia signa sunt dolorum.
With an O and an I, sie est mundus versus,
Qui luceret aliis, tenebris est mersus.

ON THE COUNCIL.OF LONDON. .. 255

Ultra si progredimur, ubi sunt prelati ?

Nescio; sed certum est, multi sunt elati,

Scholis theologicis pauci baptizati,

Sed prece vel pretio vel penna sublimati.
With an O and an I, libens scire quare
Penna viros erigens facit non volare.

Quid dicemus præter hæc de religiosis ?
Immo mendicantibus, falsis, et mendosis,
Qui se fingunt similes actu rubris rosis,
Cum mores odoriferos exemplum morosis.
With an O and an I, rose marcuerunt,
Instar sterquilinium saporem dederunt.

Hi domos conficiunt mire largitatis,

Politis lapidibus, quibusdam quadratis ;

Totum tectum tegitur lignis levigatis ;

Sed transgressum regule probant ista satis.
With an O and an I, facta vestra tabent,
Christus cum sic dixerat, foveas vulpes habent.

Qualiter ædificant vere non est mirum;
Ingens opus construunt quasi magnum Tyrum;
Qualitercunque fuerit cireumvallant gyrum.
Si decretum verum sit, est totum delirum.
With an O and.an I, destructis fundatis,
Nova statim construant, pecuniis paratis.

Non est monasterium tam possessionatum,
Nec rex nec episcopus, ut satis est probatum,
Habens opus aliquod tam cito paratum,
Sicut qui cotidie vadunt mendicatum.
With an O and an I, vel sunt furatores,
Vel faciunt numismata, regni proditores.

956 / POLITICAL POEMS,

Se mendicos publicos clamant cunctis horis;
Non tamen dedecoris, sed magni honoris,
Habitu se protegunt panni melioris,
Tunicis, pelliciis frigus claudunt foris.
With an O and an I, dicunt Pharisæi,
* Ecce quanta patimur pro amore Dei.”

Si quis impugnat hoe, dant responsum gratum,
Quod ad usum proprium nobis est hoc datum ;
Bonum vident intime, non accedunt statum,
Sed preceptum regule sic est vacuatum.
With an O and an I, per idem possunt isti,
Uti roba rubea pro amore Christi.

Minores induerent pannum viliorem,
Et de eorda cannabi induerent cinctorem ;
Sed ut locum teneant fastis altiorem,
Semetipsos induunt regium colorem.
. With an O and an I, exivi de Paradiso,
Absconditur sub modio, papa sit deriso.

Inter fratres griseos sic est ordinatum,

Quod nullum velle mortuum post erit mutatum ;

Si conventum videant penuriis gravatum,

Non' donabunt aliquid, sed monstrant legatum.
With an O and an I, Helmebrigge testatum,
Firmum stat cum Fraunces dicunt dispensatum.

Isti fratres prædicant per villas et forum,
Quod si mortem gustet quis in habitu minorum,
Non intrabit postea locum tormentorum,
Sed statim perducitur ad régna coelorum.
With an O and an I, habitu eum zona
Adquiritur ab Helmebrigge fratribus annona.

ON THE COUNCIL OF LONDON. 257

Si dives in patria quisquis infirmetur,

Illue frater properans et currens monetur ;

Et statim cum venerit infirmo loquetur, |

. Ut cadaver mortuum fratribus donetur. |
With an O and an I, ore petunt ista,
Dum cor et memoria simul sunt in cista.

Quod si pauper adiens fratres infirmetur,
Et petat ut inter hos sepulture detur,
Gardianus absens est, statim respondetur, |
Et sie satis breviter pauper excludetur.
With an O and an I, quilibet est negans,
Quod quis ibi veniat nisi dans vel legans.

Fratres in capitulis solent compilare

Literas, suffragia quas solent vocare ;

Vere sunt naufragia, debent nominare,

Pueros cum præcipitent in profundum mare.
With an O and an I, quod papa non audet,
Falsus frater annuit, et spe lucri gaudet.

In his sunt participes omnium missarum,

Et precum similiter et abstinentiarum ;

Num personz dignæ sunt, curant valde parum;

Numquid tales literæ sunt de usu Sarum ?
With an O and an I, tot partes dederunt,
Quod ipsis non aliquæ credo remanserunt.

Tam vivis quam mortuis tales partes dantur,
Sed blasphemi publici doctores probantur;
Hæc et his similia fratres operantur;
Quæ restant gravissima hic non recitantur.
With an O and an I, vos, fratres, valete,
In vos capiet pravos, si quis trahat rete.
VOI. I. | R

258: 0l POLITICAL POEMS.

Quid dicam de monachis sancti Benedicti ?
Dicti per antiphrasim, sed sunt maledicti,
Nam non servant regulas quibus sunt astricti;
Ab antiquo Mamona minus sunt deficti.
With an O and an I, leporem venari
Malunt quam Jeronomi vitam contemplari.

Nulli sunt in sæculo qui magis se dederunt,
Quam illi: qui seculo renunciaverunt ;
Ut canes ad vomitum, tales redierunt,
Manus dantes aratro retro respexerunt.
With an O and an I, hoc peccato rei,
Nullo modo dicti sunt apti regno Dei _

Monachus qui proprium solet abnegare,

Obbam die quolibet vult appropriare,

Nee vult ciphum socii sed proprium potare,

Et ni discus plenus sit, hic vult murmurare.
With an O and an I, fuit dictum prisco!
Monachus mundo mortuus vivens est in disco.

Hæc ego qui feceram, monachus agressus,
Per hos rasus fueram, sed nondum professus;
Sed de magnis ocreis cito fui fessus, ,
Et ad Christi regulam statim sum egressus.
With an O and an I, de visis in domo,
Cum juratus fuerim, nuncquam sciet homo.

Tantos motus intuens Dominus in mari,
Quosdam viros nobiles fecit magistrari,
Ut fides ecclesise possit restaurari,
Wyclif et discipulos voluit vocari.
With an O and I, hi sunt viri nautæ,
Ducentes a Domino navem Petri caute.

! Presto in the MS.

ON THE COUNCIL OF LONDON. 259.

Hi doctores monachos solent increpare, .

Quia nolunt proprias regulas servare,

Injungentes monachis otium vitare, -

Et dant per quod medium debent laborare. -
With an O and and I, monachi pinguati,
Laborare manibus hoc non possunt pati.

Tune fratres ulterius probant delirare,

Nullo modo validi debent mendicare,

Sed aptantur regula manu laborare, -

Quia quam accipere beatius est dare.
With an O and an I, Fraunces laboravit,
Ut posteri sic facerent, primus exemplavit.

' acto laboritio fratres furiebant,
Et ex parte propria monachi timebant.
Monachi tune proprie fratribus mittebant,
Qui, læti de nuntio, leti veniebant.
With an O and an I, sit Deus beatus,
Hie amici facti sunt Herodes et Pilatus.

Armacan,! quem codo Dominus coronavit,
Discordes tantomodo fratres adunavit ;
Sed magno miraculo Wyclif coruscavit,
Cum fratres et monachos simul collocavit.
With an O and an I, consortes effecti,
Quovis adversario dicunt sunt protecti.

Factum est cum monachis simul concordarent,

Atque falsas fabulas fratres prædicarent,

Et.doctores ordinum scholis doctrinarent,

Per quas famas floridas in sonitum migrarent.
With and O and an I, viri veritatis
Multum diffamati sunt dietis contractatis.

! Richard Fitz Ralph, archbishop | the mendieantfriars, and may be
of Armagh, who died in November, | regarded justly as the precursor of
1360. He was a great opponent of t. Wycliffe.

R Z

260- . POLITICAL POEMS.

. Tunc primus determinans est Johannes Wellis,'
. Istos viros reprobans eum. verbis tenellis, - |
Multum conversatus est ventis et procellis ;
Hinc in ejus facie patet color fellis. |
With an O and an I, in scholis non prodest,
Imago faciei monstrat qualis hic est. |

Hie promisit in scholis quod vellet probare
Wyclif et Herford* simul dictis repugnare ;
Sed eum hic nescierat plus argumentare,
Nichol solvens omnia jussit Bayard stare.
With an O and an I, Wellis replicabat ;
Sed postquam Nichol solverat, tune Johannes
Stabat. |

Tune successit alius, Goydoun nuncupatus,
In monachis egregius, et vir magni status;
Propter meum dicere nemo sit iratus,
Hie non erat clericus, sed laicus literatus.
With an O and an I, sub veste monachatus,
Goydoun fere laicus est clam piliatus.

Hic dixit quod monachi non debent laborare,
. Sed quod fratres validi deberent mendicare ;
Sed ejus asserere vel sui negare _
Non est factum aliquod liquide probare.
With an O and an I, magis audax pecus,
Quod in biga cernitur extat Bayard cocus.

! John Welles was & monk of | was one of the most eminent fol-
Ramsey, and the great enemy of | lowers of Wycliffe. In the sequel
the Wycliffites. He was an active | of these proceedings he was obliged
member of the council of London, to recant his opinions, and is said

? Nicholas Hereford, or Herford, | to have died a Romanist, | |

ON THÉ COUNCIL OF LONDON. 961

. Tune Crophorne accesserat, omnibus ignotus,
Non Anglicus nec Gallieus, nec Francus nec Scotus,
Non claustro, sed sæculo se donabat totus;
Apostata jam publicus a nobis sit remotus.
With an O and an I, a claustro sic dempti,
Christi non sunt, quare sic? quia sunt adempti.

Tu, Crophorne stultissime, credo quod insanis,
. Ut quod scholas occupas frivolis et vanis;
Dicta tua non valent unum stercus canis,
Omnes isti monachi coaxant cum ranis.
. With an O and an I, dixit bufo crati, -
Maledieti desuper sint tot dominati.

Facto fine monachis, frater sequebatur,

Doctor de minoribus, qui Mertoun vocatur ;

Sed quia balbutiens tanquam corvus fatur,

Nihil quod proposuit tunc reportabatur.
With an O and an I, sileat ut mutus,
"Donee per Franciscum sit loquele restitutus.

Tune processit Whappelode, fere .cerebrosus,
Non arguens sed garrulans, et nimis mendosus ;
Cujus labor quilibet est infructuosus,
Cum sit pro mendaciis omnibus exosus.
With an O and an I, talis frater fictus,
Est frater æquivoce, sicut frater pictus.

Tune accessit alius, Stokis nominatus, -

Rufus naturaliter, et veste dealbatus,

Omnibus impatiens, et nimis elatus, —

Et contra veridicos dirigens conatus. |

-. With an O and an I, sub tam rubra pelle,
Animus non habitat nisi unetus felle,

262 . A POLITICAL POEMS.

Hie per dies plurimos doctor laboravit,
Nihil ad propositum quod argumentavit,
Allegans quod fœminæ Christus imperavit,
Ut potum porrigeret, ipsa ministravit. —
With an O and an I, si tunc tacuisses,
Tu nune stulto similis: philosophus: fuisses.

Si legas a- sæculo non erat inventum

À quibus hæc religio cepit fundamentum ;

Pollimitum primitus habebat indumentum ;

Sed cur hse despicitur est magnum portentum.
With an O and an I, fuerunt pyed freres ;
Quomodo . mutati sunt rogo dicat Pers.

Horum quidam prædicant quod sunt ex Maria P
Alii tamen asserunt quod sunt ex Helia.
Cum istorum quilibet discordet a via, ©
Nullus talis veniet cceli monachia. ——
With an O and an I, si fundator detur,
Ipse dedit regulam quse rogo monstretur.

Post hec die postera Nichol? veniebat,

Et ad tacta singula clare respondebat ; |

Et Philippus Repyndoun? omnia solvebat,

Que Petrus apochryphus in scholis tangebat.
With an O and an I, postquam sie voluerunt,
Fratres tune et monachi vultum depresserunt.

—-

1 Nicholas Hereford.

2 Philip Repingdon, or Repping-
ton, canon of Leicester, was also
one of the ablest and warmest. sup-
porters of the Wyclifiite opinions.
Nevertheless, he not only recanted

his opinions after the council of Lon-

don, büt he was afterwards made

bishop of Lincoln (1405), and be-

eame a great persecutor of the
Lollards, Philip Repingdon's re-
cantation of his opinions was
made at Oxford on the 24th of
November, 1382, before which date
we must suppose our wong to have
been written; |

ON THE COUNCIL OF LONDON. 263

Monachi cum fratribus pariter videntes

Quæ facere poterant versus innocentes,

Pauperum pecuniis loculos replentes,

Quantum possunt properant Londonias currentes. -
With an O and an I, pro quæstu sanctorum,
Largas dant corrigias de bonis aliorum.

Post hæc simul adeunt metropolitanum,
Nichol Herford asserunt hæreticum profanum,
Et Philippum Repyndoun proclamant insanum,
Presulis pecuniis liniantes manum.
With an O and an I, pecuniis placatus,
Quicquid fratres cupiunt, dicit, * sum paratus."

. Tune ipsos episcopus et fratres citabant ;
Contra quos cum venerant nihil allegabant ;
Qui multis injüriis ipsos aggravabant,

Qui visis periculis ad papam appellabant.
With an O and an I, filius et flamen
Hos cum paire dirigant in agendis Amen.

Explicit.

^ SONG AGAINST THE Friars! |
Preste, ne monke, ne 316 chanoun,
Ne no man of religioun,
Gyfen hem so to devocioun, .
As done thes holy frers.
For summe gyven ham to chyvalry,
Somme to riote and ribaudery ;
Bot ffrers gyven ham to grete study,
And to grete prayers,
Who so kepes thair reule al,
. bothe in worde and dede;
I am ful siker that he shal
have heven blis to mede.

! From MS. Cotton. Cleopatra, | Script which has furnished the pré:
B. ii. fol. 62, v?^, the same manu- | ceding song in Latin

$64 — POLITICAL POEMS.

Men may se by thair contynaunce,
That thai are men of grete penaunce,
And also that thair sustynaunce
Simple is and wayke.
I have lyved now fourty 3ers,
And fatter men about the neres
it sawe I never then are these frers,
In eontreys ther thai rayke,
Meteles so megre are thai made,
and penaunce so puttes ham doun,
That ichone is an hors-lade,
when he shal trusse of toun.

Allas! that ever it shuld be so,

Suche clerkes as thai about shuld go,

Fro toun to toun by two and two, —
To seke thair sustynaunce.

By God that al this world wan,

"He that that ordre first bygan,

Me thynk certes it was a man

y Of simple ordynaunce. _

“ For thai have noght to lyve by,
thai wandren here and there,

And dele with dyvers marcerye,

right as thai pedlers were. #

Thai dele with purses, pynnes, and knyves,
With gyrdles, gloves, for wenches and wyves;
Bot ever bacward the husband thryves
Ther thai are haunted tille.
For when the gode man is fro hame,
And the frere comes to oure dame, |
He spares nauther for synne ne shame,
That he ne dos his wille.
3if thai no helpe of houswyves had,
when husbandes are not inne,
The freres welfare were ful bad,
for thai shuld brewe ful thynne.

SONG AGAINST THE FRIARS. 265

Somme frers beren pelure aboute,
For grete ladys and wenches stoute,
To reverce with thair clothes withoute ; .
Al after that thai ere.
For somme vaire, and somme gryse,
For somme bugee, and for somme byse,
And also many a dyvers spyse,
In bagges about thai bere.
Al that for women is plesand
ful redy certes have thai;
Bot lytel gyfe thai the husband,
— that for al shal pay.

Trantes thai can, and many a jape;
For somme can with a pound of sape
Gete him a kyrtelle and a cape,
And som what els therto.
Wherto shuld I othes swere?
Ther is no pedler that pak can bere,
That half so dere can selle his gere,
Then a frer can do. |
For if he gife à wyfe a knyfe
that cost bot penys two, |
Worthe ten knyves, so mot I thryfo,
he wyl have er he go.

Iche man that here shal lede his life,
That has a faire doghter or a wyfe,
Be war that no frer ham shryfe,
Nauther loude ne stille.
Thof women seme of hert ful stable,
With faire byhest and with fable
Thai ean make thair hertes chaungeable,
And thair likynges fulfille. —
Be ‘war ay with the lymitour,
and with his felawe bathe,
And thai make maystries in thi bour, —
it shal turne the to scathe.

PEN
UR

.266 POLITICAL POEMS.

Were I a man that hous helde,
If any woman with me dwelde,
Ther is no frer, bot he were gelde,
Shuld com within my wones.
For may he til à woman wynne,
In priveyté, he wyl not blynne,
Er he a childe put hir withinne, :
And perchaunce two at ones.
Thof he loure under his hode, .
with semblaunt quaynte and mylde,
If thou him trust, or dos him gode, —
by God, thou ert bygyld.

Thai say that thai distroye synne,
And thai mayntene men moste therinne;
For had a man slayn al his kynne, |
Go shryve him at a frere,
And for lesse then a payre of shone’:
He wyl assoil him clene and sone,
And say the synne that he has done |.
His saule shal never dere.
It semes sothe that men sayne of hayme
in many dyvers londe,
That that caytyfe cursed Cayme |
first this order fonde.

Nou se the sothe whedre it be swa, -- —
That frer Carmes come of a K,
The frer Austynes come of à.
Frer Jacobynes of i,
Of m. comen the frer Menours ;
Thus grounded Caym thes four ordours,
That fillen the world ful of errours,
And of ypoerisy.
Alle wyckednes that men ean telle
regnes ham among; ^
Ther shal no saule have rowme in helle,
of frers ther is suche throng.

SONG AGAINST THE FRIARS.

Thai travele 3erne and bysily, ©
To brynge doun the clergye ;
Thai speken therof ay vilany,
. . And therof thai done wrong.
Whoso lyves oght many 3ers,
Shal se that it shal falle of frers,
As it dyd of the templers,
That wonned here us among.
For thai held no religioun,
bot lyved after lykyng,
Thai were distroyed and broght adoun,
thurgh ordynance of the kyng. —

Thes frers haunten a dredful thing, -
That never shal come to gode endyng;
. O frer for eght or nyen shal syng, -
For ten or for elleven.
And when his terme is fully gone,
Conseience then has he none,
That he ne dar take of ycbone -
Markes sixe or seven. E
Suche annuels has made thes frers,
so wely and so gay, |
That ther may no possessioners _
mayntene thair array.

Tham felle to lyve al on purchace,
Of almes geten fro place to place,
And for alle that tham holpen has,
.. Shuld thai pray and syng.
Bot now this londe so neghe soght is,
. That unnethe may prestes seculers :
Gete any service for thes frers,
That is wondre thing,
This is a quaynt custome
ordeyned ham among, .
That frers shal annuel prestes bycomé,
and so gates selle ther song:

9267 |

268

POLITICAL POEMS.

Ful wysely can thai preche and say;
Bot as thai preche no thing do thai.
I was a frere ful many a day,
Therefor the sothe I wate.
Bot when I sawe that thair lyvyng
Acordyd not to thair preching,
Of I cast my frer clothing,
And wyghtly went my gate.
Other leve ne toke I none,
fro ham when I went,
" Bot toke ham to the devel ychone,
the priour and the covent.

Out of the ordre thof I be gone,
Apostota ne am I none,
Of twelve monethes me wanted one,
And odde days nyen or ten.
Away to wende I made me boun ;
Or tyme come of professioun,
I went my way thurghout the toun,
In syght of many men.
Lord God, that with paynes ille
mankynde boght so dere, -
Let never man after me have wille
for to make him frere.

ON THE MINORITE FRIARS.!

Of thes frer mynours me thenkes moch wonder,
That waxen are thus hauteyn, that som tyme. weren

under ;

Among men of holy chirch thai maken mochel blonder;

M — ———

Nou he that sytes.us above make ham sone to sonder!

. With an O and an I, thai praysen not seynt Poule,
Thai lyen on seal] Fraunesys by my fader soule.

a rt

1 From MS: Cotton. Cleop. B. ii, fol. 64, v*:

ON THE MINORITE FRIARS. 269

First thai gabben on God, that alle men may se, -
When thai hangen him on hegh on a grene tre,
With leves and with blossemes that bright are of ble ;
That was never Goddes son, by my leuté.
With an O and an I, men wenen that thai wede,
To carpe so of elergy, thai can not thair crede.

Thai have done him on a croys fer up in the skye,

And festned on hym wyenges, as he shuld flie.

This fals feyned byleve shal thai soure bye,

On that lovelych Lord so for to lye.

| With an O and an I, one sayd ful stille,
Armachan distroy ham, if it is Goddes wille.

Ther comes one out of the skye in a grey goun,
As it were an hog-hyerd hyand to toun;
Thai have mo goddes then we, I say by Mahoun,
Alle men under ham, that ever beres croun.
With an O and an I, why shuld thai not be shent?

Ther wantes noght bot a fyre that thai nere alle
brent. |

Went I forther on my way in that same tyde ;

Ther I sawe a frere blede in myddes of his syde;

Bothe in hondes and in fete had he woundes wyde.

To serve to that same frer, the pope mot abyde.
With an O and an I, I wonder of thes dedes,
To se a pope holde a dische whyl the frer bledes.

A cart was made al of fyre, as it shuld be;

A gray frer I sawe therinne, that best lyked me.

Wele I wote thai shal be brent, by my leauté ;

God graunt me that grace that I may it se.
With an O and an I, brent be thai alle!
And alle that helpes therto faire mot byfalle.

270. | : POLITICAL POEMS,

Thai preche alle of povert, bot that love thai noght;

For gode mete to thair mouthe the toun is thurgh

soght.

Wyde are thair wonnynges, and wonderfully wroght ;
Murdre and horedome ful dere has it boght.

With an O and an I, for sixe pens er thai fayle,
Sle thi fadre, and jape thi modre, and thai wy!

the assoile.

On THE TrwES.! :

1388.

Syngyn y wolde, but, alas!
.. descendunt? prospera grata ;
Englond sum tyme was
regnorum gemma vocata ;
Of manhod the flowre
4bi quondam floruit omnis ;
Now gon ys that honowr,’
traduntur talia, somnis.

l'This piece is found in two
manuscripts in the British Museum,
MS. HarL, No. 536, fol. 34, r° (A),
and MS. Harl, No. 941, fol, 21, v?
(B), and in a third in the library
of Trinity College, Dublin, E.5,
10 (C). It is here printed from
the last of these manuscripts, which
appears to be on the whole the best,
collated with the others. The de-
seription of the costume and other
circumstances point to the reign
of Richard II. as the date of this
poem, and some rather obscure

allusions would lead us to think
that it was composed among the
politieal troubles of the year 1388.
The retreat of “Jacke” accom-
panied with “ Jacke Noble,” to
* regna remota,” in all probability
refers to the flight of the king’s
favourite, Robert de Vere duke of

Dublin, with Michael de la Pole

earl of Suffolk, to the continent,

? procedunt, C, with discendunt
written above it, Descendunt, A,
with decedunt above,

Stour, À. oure, B.

^od

ON THE TIMES. ,

Lechery, lust, and pryde, |
hee sunt quibus Anglia paret ;
Sone trowyth? ys set asyde,
dic qualiter Anglia staret.
Where® owre frendis were,
nostri sunt jam* inimici,
With bowes, scheld, and spere;
_ poterunt heu !? talia, dici.
Oftyn tyme have we here
mala nobis esse futura ;
But ever have we desire
. a nobis commoda® plura.
Lo! within owre lond .
insurgunt wndique guerre;
But God-put to his hond, |
fiet. destructio terre. [| |
On water and on lond,
que quondam nos timuerunt,
Now many a thowsand 14
nos parva’ per mare querunt.
Dred of God is went,
- humanis. sed timor astat ;
Ho seythe® truth he® is schent,
regn um violentia vastat ;
Rowners! and flatreres,
he regno sunt nocituri ;
Wolde God swoch claterers "
sua subdant colla, securi.

. Englond, awake now,

nune consurgunt jugiter hostes,

-And good heede take thow,

! slouthe, A. slewthe, B. | 8 commercia, À.
2 sith trouthe, A. Sethyn trewth | — " pro ens, C.
was sett o syde, B. | 8 sayth the, B.
3 Whiche, A | ? he is omitted in A and B.
* nostri fienti. À, 10 Robberes, C.
5 en, À, |

fac hostia, dirige postes.

eq + + Pe ere ee en

1 flaterars, C.

me mer

979 POLITICAL POEMS.

The ryche make mery,
sed vulgus collachrimatur ;
The pepul ys weri,'
quia ferme depopulatur.
The chyrche is grevyd,
guia spiritualia, cedunt ;
And so sume be? myschevyd,
plus damni crescere credunt.
Englond goth to noght,
et plus hoc facit ut vitiosus ;?
To the lust man is broght, |
nimis est* homo deliciosus.
Goddes dere® halydayys ar noght,
non observantur honeste ;
For onthryfty pley ys worght,®
regnat im eis manifeste,
Unthryfty lust and vois ——
steriles et luxuriosi,
Gentyl, gromys, and boyys,
socit sunt atque gulosi.
Soget® and sovereynys
umo quasi fune? trakuntur ;
Put these to the peynys,'?
ad. eos quicunque loquuntur.
At Westmyster halle |
legis sunt valde scientes ;
Never the lesse for hem alle,
ibi vincuntur jura, potentes.

nn es —

1 wer, C. 7 unthrifte and wombe joye, A.
2 Som bethe, A. ;

8 plus fecit homo vitiosus, À. 3 Sojetlys, A.

* Nummis, C. ? - ? fine, A and C.
5 dere is omitted in A, and the
two last words of the line are 10 put thei be to peyne, À.

found in neither of the London " Noght ellys before thayme alle,

MSS. |
8 These two words are found only B. Jor hem wolle, C.
in C. | 2 jura, omitted in C,

.ON THE TIMES.

In that he never herd the cause!
juramento moderavit ;?
The mater wyl he have,’
et justum damnificabit ; —
And an obligacion,
| ac de jure‘ valitura ;
Thorgh a fals cavelacion,
erit affectum 9. caritura.
His owyn cause? many a man
nune judicat et moderatur ;
Law helpyth noght than,’
. ergo lex? evacuatur.
Manslaught and thefte
_ crucis ad votum redimuntur ;
Qwere ille spone wolle,®
.. dona pravos pravo sequuntur.
Jerorys han!! peyntyd slewys,
vnopes famuli dominorum ; *
This hurtys and prevys,
movit Deus vpse deorum.
Gret hurt to this lond —
est usurpala potestas ;
Therfor put to ys hond
regis metuenda majestas.
For harme that wyle!? falle,
non ulla™ statuta, parantur ;
"The kyng knowyth not alle,
mon sunt qui vera? loquuntur.

1 That never herd the caas, À, | * Beware of evel spon
2 j. tune mediabunt, A. Be warre of ylle sponon w
3 Than the mater wolle thei face, A. © [ocuntur, C.

4 de jure satis v., A and B. ! Jurrours with, A.

5 effectu, À. 2 inops ficti, C. ?

6 caas, À. 3 mow, À,

* hem, A. 1? nonnulla, À,

8 ergo heu! lex e., A. 5 sunt vera que, C.

VOL. I. m

273

wefle, À.
eft, B.

oe OS drin endi edi Ed AE E A ned code den ent ee see

POLITICAL POEMS,

He and he seyd wel,
et sermo placere videtur ;

The cattys nec to bylle'

hic et hic? ligare veretur.
Qwat is the cause of this?

vere ‘violatio® legis ;
Amen[de] that is amys

poterit clementia, regis.
Noght with a jake,*

paucos timuit remanere ;
Sum hath hym on his bak,

an® bursa mallet habere.

Good Jake, qwere is thi Jon?

ubi gratia nune requiescit ?

Jake, now grace is gon,

ad regna remota recessit ;
Jake nobil with hym ys, -
_ Alter insimul arrypuerunt ; 7
Of bothe ys gret mys,

alos multi modo querunt.

Galauntes, purs penyles.

per vicos ecce vagantur ;*
Yf yt be as I gesse, ——

male solvunt quod mutuatur.
On with another anon

satagit. commitiere guerram ;

Now is he here, and now is he gon,

discurrit® ut advena terram.
Fresch of? the newe towch,
incedunt ridiculose,
Lityl or noght in her powch,
pascuntur deliciose.

! do the belle, À. mu | 5 pauci metuunt, À. paucos tuimur,

? ille, À.

3 violentia, A, B:

B.
$ sed, B.
' iterum simul accipierunt, C.
3 destruxit, À.

* now without a jacke, À. MEN ? freshe and of, B. freie of, À

.ON THE TIMES, . 275

Bredder than ever God made

humeri sunt. arte tumentes ; 1
Narow? they be, they? seme brode,

vana sunt hoc facite, gentes.*

They bere a newe fascion,

humeris in pectore tergo ;
Goddes plasmacion |

non iillis complacet® ergo.
Wyde coleres and hye,

ei gladio sunt colla, parata ;
Ware 3e the prophecye -

contra tales recitata.
Long sporys on her helys,

et rostra® fovent ocrearum ;
They thynke it do welle,

cum non sit regula Sarum.
A strayth bende hath here hose,

laqueant ad corpora crura ; ?
They may noght, I suppose,

curvare genu sine cura ;
Qwen oder men knelys,

pia Christo vota ferentes, -
Thei stond at here helys,®

sua non curvare valentes?
For hortyng of here'hosyn,

non inclinare laborant ;
I trow, for here long toos,

dum stant ferialiter orant.
Many a man!? thes let

et twrbant ad sacra stando ;
Crystes curse they get,

nist desistant ! aliquando.

1 timentes, C.

| 7 laqueantur a corpore crura, A.
? Narugh, A.
|

Son here helis, A.

9 volentes, C,

3 » thous thei, A.

* nova sunt factio gentis, A.
* contulit compacet ergo, C.
* rastra, C.

10 Many men, À.
1! nisi Deus instat, À.

216

POLITICAL POEMS.

.Women lo! with here brestes !

procedunt arte profana ;*
Prechers ne pristes

non possunt haoc pellere vana.
With poyntys ful strong |

caligas de more sigillant,
Now shorte and now longe,

ventus velwt? ecce vacillant.
Her* knokelys elbowys.

_ manice laqueant lacerate ;

In frost and in snow, :

ut aves spectant laqueate. .
Qwhan frost awakys,

tune stringunt frigore gentes,
Here chekys than quakys?

8686 quasi conculientes.

Qwan men rest takyn,

noctis sommo recreati, |
Swoch felawys wakyn,

ad damna, patrata paratis '
Ful oftyn tyme iwys _

gelido fervent” in amore,
Here specialis yf y kys,”

distillat nasus 4n ore.
Of a galaunt the towch,?

unguentum stillat amoris.
I wolde ful were here pouge!°

tanti dulcedine roris !
Lo! this for a gret nede,

sua miscent ora libenter.
Ho so ever take hede,

manet liquor irreverenter.

! wantounly brestes, A. womonly, B. “These two lines are given
2 pro fama, C. further on in A and B.
3 ut venter, À.. 7 frement, C.

3 Theyer Anokuld, B. Now kno- 8 Ther special whan thei his, A.

helyd, A.

? Huf a galaunt thee atowche, A.

5 Than ther teth quakis, A. | 3° pouche, A,

ON THE TIMES. 277

* Wyv sa belle"! thei cry,
fragrantia vina, bibentes,

Thei drynke ‘tyl they be dry,
lingua sensugue carentes.

Thei cry, “Fyl the bowles !

* bonus est liquor, hic maneamnvus ;
« For alle crystone sowllys,

* dum durant vasa, bibamvus !”
Armys, sydus, and bonus,*

horum quidam, vecitabit ;
Yit whan he ys most wode,

tunc blandus sermo donabit.
Paraventure on ware?

post sumptum temporis plausus,

A cowntur-tenur at Newgat?

cantabit carcere clausus.
Of the chyrche that I dredef .

non placet? sibs psalms ;
Nowt I say for despyte,° |
| Bie me Deus adjuvet almus,

Alas, and welawey !

decus ecclesiam. tenebrascit ;
Ly3t wyl falle that y say,

Sanctus nunc Spiritus assit.
Symon, that fals man,

doctor potat ecclesiarum ;
Moch sorow he began,

virus diffudit " amarum.

And that false avys,!!

satis ecclesiam. laqueasti,

— — ——À— —ÀÀ QE

1 Vive la belle, A. 8 write, A.

* blode, A. 7 non forte placet, A.

3 Peraventure at an houre, À. 8 Now sey I for this dispite, À.
4 poscunt hi tempora plausis, À. ? Lyght wol fayle, I dar say, A.

Sat Newgat, omitted in the © vino defendit, C. |
{London MSS. | V And than false avarise, A.

278 . POLITICAL POEMS.

With many other a vys! |
Christi sponsam violasti. —
Here mych more myght I say,”
cum ordo vetat seriarum ;
Of swché more se he? may
in. libris. ecclesiarwm.
The lanterne of lyghtte
non fulget. luce serena ;
Yt ys not alle aryght, —
populus bibit ecce venena.
Ouer kynge and his-lond
8ervet, regat, et teneatur ;*
Oo God with ys hond .
cœlum, terram. moderatur.
In age as he growyt,
sua crescat gratia fructu ;
Ful welle that he knowe,
quanto dolet? Anglia luctu.
O rex, si rex es, rege te, vel eris sine re rex,
Nomen habes sine re, nisi te recteque regas, rex.

Explicit autem seriptum. Nunc finem fect, da mihi
quod merui.

DisricH ON THE YEAR 13891.

The ax was sharpe, the stokke was harde,
In the xiij. yere of kyng Richarde.

Te T a) BIO rn T UP I e uU PS BI PUT UI CO AP ORE s vri e dri P: GE 5 4 m umm WOU im me aas e rabia a inane UU.

“a tudatur, C.
sucum sit, C.

Jepyl vice, A. With mony other |.
A. | * From a manuscript in the
|

vice, D.
? Here myghi I more sey,
Here not more myght I sey, B

‘3e, À

library of St. John's Coll., Oxford,
Ne 0. 209.

ED
kr
Y
Te
‘ Ed

ON THE PESTILENCE. | 279

ON THE PESTILENCE! -

Ecce dolet Anglia luctibus imbuta,
Gens tremit tristitia sordibus polluta,
Necat pestilentia viros atque bruta,

Cur? quia flagitia regnant resoluta, *

Heu! jam totus vertitur mundus in malignum,
Inter gentes quæritur ubi cor bénignum; .
Christus non recolitur mortuus per lignum,
Ergo plebs perimitur in vindictæ signum.

Pax et patientia penitus orbantur;

Amor et justitia domi non morantur;
Errores et vitia gentes amplexantur ;
Patrum pro malitia parvuli necantur.

Pastorum pigritia greges disperguntur ;
Insontes astutia mercantum falluntur ; ;.
Fraus et avaritia sorores junguntur ;

Divitum rnequitia pauperes plecbuntur.

Simonia colitur, Simon Magus vivit ;
ZEquitas opprimitur, veritas abivit.
Christi grex dispergitur, lupus insanivit :
Pestisque diffunditur, agnos deglutivit.

‘This short poem is printed

from a manuscript in the Uni-

versity Library, Canibridge, Ee. vi.
29, fol. 27, r°. "The MS. appears to
belong to the close of the fourteenth
century, and its allusions, which

probably do, apply to the grea

pestilence of 1391, but there is no

‘internal evidence of a direct kind

which will enable us to fix its date
with certainty, while its form of
versifieation resembles that. of an

are vague and general, may, and ! earlier date:

280

"POLITICAL POEMS,

Favor non scientia promovet rectores;
Intrudit potentia servos ob labores;

Et regum clementia quosdam per favores
Æs et amicitia invadit provisores.

Fortes Christi. milites modo recesserunt ;
Sathanæ satellites templum subverterunt ;
Laceras et.debiles oves. perdiderunt;
Cueuli degeneres nisis successerunt.

Patres quondam. nobiles: Desin fugarunt,
Et in fide ‘stabiles Janguidos sanarunt ;
Vita. venerabiles signis coruscarunt,

- Actus per laudabiles Christo militarunt.

Tales erant vestibus asperis vestiti,
Ut moderni mollibus raro sunt potiti;
Hi praeclaris moribus erant insigniti.
Juvenes a sordibus sacris eruditi.

Heu! nune mercenarii, nec veri pastores,
Rectores, vicarii mutaverunt mores; _
Ambitu denarii subeunt labores.

Tales operarii merentur mcerores.

Isti pro eiliciis utuntur pellus i

. Ferciunt deliciis ventres tota cura;
Dant post spurcitis se sine mensura;
Suffulti divitiis vivunt contra jura.

Dum capella tegitur nobili vestura,
Sponsa Christi capitur nudata tectura; |

Vinea destruitur porcorum usura,

Et vitis evellitur carens jam cultura.

ON THE PESTILENCE. 981

Sacerdotes Domini sunt incontinentes ;
Actus suo nomini non sunt respondentes
Sacra dantes homini forent et docentes;
Sui mores ordini non sunt congruentes.

Ista super æthera sanguine scribantur,
Ut patenti litera sæculis legantur;

Ignibus cum vetera peccata purgantur,
Sua ferant onera jam qui dominantur.

En! amor et caritas regnis refrigescunt ;
Livor et severitas gentibus ardescunt ;
Cleri, plebis veritas et fides tepescunt.
. Hine regni nobilitas et fama quiescunt.

Fœminæ fragilitas omni caret laude;

Mercantum subtilitas versatur in fraude ;
Et fratrum dolositas jungit caput caudæ.
Homo, si jam veritas te gubernat, gaude.

Explicit.

282 -. POLITICAL POEMS. :

THE RECONCILIATION oF RicHanRD II. WITH THE CITY
OF LONDON.

By Richard de Maidstone:

Richardi Maydiston de concordia inter regem Ric. II.
|... € civitatem London. |

Tullus in laudem tantam sustollit amicos,
Quod licet, his demptis, optima nil valeant:

* Stes,” ait, “in coelis, videas ibi quseque beata,
* Hauriat auris in his utraque dulce melos,

* Quiequid adhue sensus poterit tibi pascere quinos
* Nil valet acceptum, si nec amicus adest.

“ Si careas socio, cui sata placentia narres,
* Hee eadem senties non placuisse tibi."

Hine tibi, Riearde, duplante jugo mihi juncte,
(Nomen et omen habes, sic socius meus es,)

Gaudia visa mihi Trenovantum nuper in urbe,
Actus amicitia, glisco referre modo.

. Et licet incultum carmen tibi condere eurem, —

Parce precor curæ, parcere debet amor.

M. cape, ter quoque c. deciesque novem, duo junge,
Hune numerum anni supputo dando notis.

——— ——

degree of doctor in theology in the
hostle of the Carmelites in Oxford,
and seems to have been chiefly
Museo, No. 94, fol. 8, v?. The | known by his theological writings.
author is said to have been a native | He was, however, in favour at court,

1 This Latin poem is preserved
of Maidstone, in Kent, and, after and this poem, which commemorates

in a manuscript in the Bodleian
Library at Oxford, MS. Bodl E

being a fellow of Merton College, | the king's visit to London to be
Oxford, he became a Carmelite | publicly reconciled with the citizens
friar in the convent of Aylesford, | on the 29th of August, 1393, seems
near Maidstone, where he died and | to have been the produce of his
was buried in.1396. He took the | zeal as a courtier,

ÁN
FAN

RECONCILIATION OF RIC. II. WITH CITY OF LONDON. 283

Tune bis ter Phœbo fuerat soror associata,
Cum bona felici sunt, Nova "Troja, tibi.

Mensis ut Augusti ter septima fulsit in orbem
Lux, tibi, Londonie, rumor amoœænus adest.

Namque tuum regem, sponsum, dominumque tuumque,
Quem tibi sustulerat perfida lingua, capis.

Invidiosa cohors regem tibi vertit in iram,
Desereret thalamum sponsus ut ipse suum.

Sed quia totus amor tuus est, et amantis imago
Formosior Paride, nescit odisse, diu. |

Adde quod in miseros semper solet hic misereri,
Nec habet ultrices rex pius iste manus.

Quot mala, quot mortes tenero sit passus ab sevo,
Quamque sit inultus, Anglia tota videt.

Quid cupit hic servire Deo, nisi semper eb esse
Pacificum, lotum, nilque perire bonum ?

Sic fovet ecclesiam statuens statuum moderamen,
Sternere ne liceat quod statuere patres.

Effugat ingratos, cupidos, stolidos, truculentos,
Quisque decent regem hzc rapit ipse sibi.

Talis adolescens toto non restat in orbe,
Qui sciat ut Salomon regna tenere sua.

Hic licet accensus foret in te, Troja, parumper,
Grata modo facies se docet esse piam.

Non poterat mordax detractans lingua tenere,
Quin cuperet thalamum sponsus adire suum.

Qui libertates solitas tibi dempserat omnes,
Nune redit, et plures reddere promptus eas. —

Hic prœparat se civitas im occursum regis.

Urbis custodem miles quem rex ibi signat,
Alloguitur cives sic, rutilante die:

“ Regis in occursum vestri vos este parati,
“ Percipiatque palam quam bene nune veniat.

984 .— | POLITICAL POEMS.

* Totius ecclesiz fiat processio cleri,
* Omnis et ordo suas se ferat ante cruces.

* Nulla sit ars urbis, que non distincta seorsum
« Splendidius solito trans vada vadat eques.

* Quiequid in urbe probum fuerit promatur, in Asta
* Nam gaudete die, pax tribuetur," ait.

His animata loquelis tota cohors sociatur,
Preparat et cultu se meliore suo.

Ornat et interea se pulchre quæque platea,
Vestibus auratis urbs micat innumeris.

Floris odoriferi specie fragrante platea,
Pendula perque domos purpura nulla deest;

Aurea, cocéinea, bissinaque, tinctaque vestis,
Pinxerat hic ccelum arte juvante novum.

Quos tulit ante dies istos plebs ista labores,
Quas tulit expensas, os reserare nequit.

Quid moror ? ecce dies transit! properatur ab urbe
Regis in occursum conjugis atque suse.

Quis numerare queat numerum turbæ numerose,
Que velut astra poli densius inde fluit? —

Millia viginti juvenes numerantur equestres;
Qui pedibus pergunt, non capit hos numerus.

Custos præcedit, comitantur eumque quater sex,

. Quos aldirmannos urbs habet ut proceres.

Jure senatorio urbs his regitur quasi Roma,
Hisque præest major, quem populus legerit.

His erat ornatus albus color et rubicundus,
Hos partita toga segregat a reliquis. . |

Clavibus assumptis, urbis gladio quoque, custos
Præcedit proceres, subque sequuntur eum.

Hos sequitur phalerata cohors cujuslibet artis ;
Secta docet sortem quæque tenere suam.

Hie argentarius, hic piscarius, secus illum
Mercibus hie deditus, venditor atque meri _

Hie. apothecarius, pistor, pictor, lathomusque ;
Hie cultellarius, tonsor, et armifaber.

RECONCILIATION OF RIC, II. WITH CITY OF LONDON. 285

Hic carpentarius, scissor, sartor, ibi sutor ;
Hic pelliparius, fulloque, mango, faber.
Hie sunt artifices, ibi carnifices, ibi tector ;
Hie lorinarius, pannariusque simul.
Ibi vaginator, hie zonarius, ibi textor;
Hic candelarius, cerarius pariter.
Hie pandoxator, ibi streparius, ibi junctor ;
Est ibi pomilio, sic anigerulus hic.
À super r gratis stat in artibus hie numeratis,
o0 5 * # ch & # * *
Hie cirothecarius, bursistaque, caupo, coquusque :
Ars patet ex secta singula quseque sua.
Cerneret has turmas quisquis, puto non dubitaret
Cernere se formas ordinis angelici.
Tam valido solet auxilio, qui martius exstat,
Prælia suffultus nulla timere pugil.
Quælibet ut proprias est ars sortita phalangas,
Mille quatuor stadiis omne repletur iter.

Hic occurrunt cives regi.

Psallite nune, cives, regi nune psallite vestro,
En! rex vester adest, psallite quod sapit hic.

Rege propinquante comites glomerantur heriles,
Ha mihi! quam pulchrum cernere credis eos.

Dum niveo resideret equo, se quique retractant,
Ut pateat populo rex pius ipse suo.

Vernula quam facies fulvis redimita capillis,

_ Comptaque sub serto præradiante coma!

Fulget et ex auro vestis sua rubra colore,
Quæ tenet interius membra venusta nimis.

Iste velut Troilus, vel ut Absolon ipse decorus,
Captivat sensum respicientis eum.

Non opus est omnem regis describere formam,
Regibus in eunctis non habet ille parem,

286 POLITICAL POEMS.

Larga decoris ei si plus natura dedisset,
Clauderet hune thalamis invida forte Venus.
Sistit ut in medias super arva repleta catervas,

Nobilibus regni cingitur, ut decuit.
Nec procul est conjunx regina suis comitata,
Anna sibi nomen, re sit et Anna precor!
Pulchra quidem pulchris stat circumcincta puellis,
Vincit Amazonibus Troja novella sub his.
Sternitur ex gemmis nitidis sparsim sua vestis,
Ad caput a planta nil nisi gemma patet.
Nulla deest adamas, carbunculus, atque beryllus,
Qui lapis est pretii, sternitur inde caput.
Quod nitet in fronte nitida, radiatque per aures,
Verberat obtuitum, ne foret inde satur.

| Hie reddit se civitas domino regi.

Aurea rex dum frena trahit, et sistere cogit
Dextrarium, proceres mox populusque silent.
Accessit propius custos, secumque togati,
Claves leva manus, dextra tenet gladium.
Ad se converso puncto mucronis ad instar
Tristis captivi, sic sua verba refert:
* En] rex, cujus ut est nimium metuenda potestas,
* Sic et amanda nimis, nec reverenda minus.
* En! humiles cives, vestris pedibus provoluti,
* Reddunt se vobis, et sua cuncta simul.
* Clavibus his gladioque renunciat urbs modo sponte,
. * Vestre voluntati prompta subesse venit.
* Hoc rogat assidue lachrymis madefacta deintus,
* Mitis ub in cameram rex velit ire suam. :
* Non laceret, non dilaniet: pulcherrima regni
* Moenia, nam sua sunt, quicquid et exstat in his.
* Non oderit thalamum sponsus quem semper amavit,
* Nulla subest causa eur minuatur amor,"

RECONCILIATION OF RIC, If, WITH CITY OF LONDON. 287

Sumit ad hee gladium, claves quoque Londoniarum
Rex, cito militibus tradit utrosque suis.
Acceptamus,” ait, “tam vos, quam reddere vestrum,
“ Et placet ornatus exhibitus mihi nunc.

Sed quid in urbe mea geritur modo tendo videre,

" Si scierit regem gens mea nosse suum.”

-^
nw

-
. nm

. Hie veniunt cives ad reginam.
Transit et interea custos comitatus eisdem
Sex quater, et sistunt regia terga retro. .
Reginam propius veniunt humili quoque vultu
Valde precantur eam, spondet et ipsa bonum.
Corde favet, sed valde dolet, quia regis in iram
Urbs tam clara ruit; “spes tamen exstat," ait.

Hic tendit. rez eum lota. cohorte versus > urbem.

His velut est dictum gestis, properatur ad urbem ;
Ars artem sequitur, est prior ultima nunc.

Ut valor est artis retinet loca digna valori,
Gaudet honore suo quælibet atque gradu.

Nigris, purpureis, albis, fulvis, bene tinctis,
Viridibus, rubris, puniceisque togis, s

Ac bipartitis sunt vestibus atque phalangis —
Artes distincts, quod decet artifices.

Illa prius, hec posterius ars tendit ad urbem,
Vix exercitui sufficiebat iter ;
Turba premit turbam, jacet hie, ruit hic, cadit iste,
+ * # # ^t MEE. * *
Musica nulla tacet, cantus, strepitus, neque clangor
Altaque concussit æthera dulce melos.

Dumque chori fratrum psallunt, regemque salutant,
Incipit amplecti mox venerando cruces.

Basia dat crucibus, imitatur eum sua conjunx,
Et rogat ut regnum servat uterque Deus,

288 .. POLITICAL POEMS.

De pluvia, que tune accidit.

Tune respirare coepit tristis prius aura,
Tempestas entenim turbinis ante fuit.

Sie pluebat quod tristis erat tunc sexus uterque,
Turbari metuens turbine tam valido.

Ast notus ut distat, lenisque favonius astat,
Aura serena micat, urbs modo nil trepidat.

De venia data exuli in Southaverk.

Strata foras urbem, qua pulchra suburbia restant,
Hee Opus Australe dicitur, est etenim:
Obviat hie regi vir in exilium modo missus,
Arboreamque crucem fert homicida reus.
Pronus ut ante pedes jacuit prostratus equinos,
Flens rogitat veniam, rex sibi donat eam.
Sicque pium miseri miseret solitum misereri,
_ Gratia quam tribuat, restituatur el |

Ho fuit regina coronaia.

Aurea reginæ super erigitur caput Annæ
Pulchra corona, parum non valet illa putes.
Mirificum opus hoc lapidum radiosa venustas
Ditat, et eximiam efficit illa lucem.
Grata fuit facies vario redimita monili,
Cultus enim patrie pulchrius ornat eam.

Hie presentat civitas regt duos dextrarios per
custodent.

Pontis ut usque pedem propiat rex, stant ibi cives,
Dextrariique duo, inclita dona nimis.

Purpura cum bisso tegit hos partita caballos,
Cesar honorifice supra sederet eos.

RECONCILIATION OF RIC. II. WITH CITY OF LONDON. 289

Hos ducit ad regem eustos deputatus in urbe,

Urbis et ex parte talia verba refert:

Rex pie, rex prudens, rex pacifice, dominator,

* Nil nisi pax petitur vestra, rogamus eam.

En ligios vestros lætos foris, intus ovantes!

* Gaudia magna nimis his tulit ista dies.

Quod ducitis dignum thalamum jam visere vestrum,
* Quas valet urbs grates, tota referre cupit.

Sed quia quiequid habet nimis parvum dare regi,

* Hos tamen optat. equos vestra manus capiat.
Dantur in hoc signum, quod se reddunt modo cives
* Corpora, divitias, pergama quseque sua.

In vestris manibus sit eorum vitaque morsque,

* Et regat ad libitum regia virga su0s.”

Rex contentus ad hse, “Et nos,” ait, “ ista placenter

© Munera suscipimus, iraque nostra cadit.
Concedimus pacem genti quse restat in urbe,
* Plebs mea nune erit hæc, rex et ero sibi nunc.”

Hee ut ait vultu solido satis atque sereno,

Lætificat moestos vox ea mille viros.

Hie prœsentant reginæ palefridum.

Ordine consimili conjunx ubi regia pausat

sé

€

Led

Pergitur, et custos taliter inquit ei:
O generosaque nobilis imperatoria proles,
* Stipite nata quidem magnifici generis.

. Vos Deus elegit ad sceptra Britannica digne,

* Imperii consors estis et apta fore.

Flectere regales poterit regina rigores,

* Mitis ub in gentem rex velit esse suam. |
Mollit amore virum mulier, Deus huie dedit illam ;
* Tendat ad hoc vester, o pia, duleis amor.

Læta eupit faeiem plebs hæc modo cernere vestram,

* In qua consistunt et salus et sua spes.
VOL I. . T

290 POLITICAL POEMS.

* En! presentat equum vobis, licet hoc minus æquo
* Extiterit donum, corde tamen hilari.

* Est nam qui teneros vestros leniter ferat artus,
* Ambulat, et nunquam cespitat in phaleris ;

* Partiti tegitur equus hic ex veste coloris
* Purpurei bissi, sic fuerant reliqui.

* Accipiat domina, modicum licet hoc modo munus,
* Supplieat instanter integra nostra cohors."

Suscipit jam datum grates referendo benignas,
Spondet et auxilium quod valet illa suum.

Voce lieet tenui loqueretur, et ut muliebri,
Grata tamen facies urbis amica fuit.

Hic progreditur rex ewm, tota. cohorte versus Chepe.

. Taliter his gestis gaudenter itur in urbem,
Turba premit turbam, sie iter arctat eam.
Venit ut ad portam pontis regina, patenter
Sors bona prodigium mox dedit, ecce! novum.
Namque sequuntur eam currus duo cum dominabus ;
Rexerat hos Phaeton, unus enim cecidit.
Foemina fœminea sua dum sie fcemina nudat,
Vix poterat risum plebs retinere suum.
Casus et iste placet, veniat, rogo, quod mihi signat,
. Corruat ut luxus et malus omnis amor.
Pergitur hine, rutilant, fulgent, splendentque platere,
Omnibus in,vicis plauditur et canitur.
Spectantur pulchre dum spectant ista puelle;
Nulla fenestra fuit has nisi que tenuit.
Virgineas facies qui cerneret urbis in alto,
Quod pecus est imo sperneret ut nihilum.
Quippe satis lento passu transitur in urbe,
Coneursu populi præpediente viam.
At ubi perventum medium fuit urbis et usque
Introitum vici (dicitur ille Forum),

RECONCILIATION OF RIC. 11. WITH CITY OF LONDON. 291

Quales texture picturarumque figure, ~
Qualis et ornatus, scribere quis poterit ?
Nempe videtur ibi de summis usque deorsum
Nil nisi divitie, vultus et angelici. |

Quomodo aquæductus det vinum, et de ornatw ejus.

Stillat aquæductus Bacchum, nec adest ibi Thetis, -
Rubra dat iste liquor pocula mille viris. |

Hujus et in'tecto steterat ccelicus ordo,
Qui canit angelicos arte juvante melos.

Densa velut folia seu flores sic volat aurum,
Undique virginea discutiente manu. |

De turri marabili in medio Chepe. —

Itur abhine mediam dum rex venit usque plateam,
Cernit ibi castrum, stat, stupet hinc nimium.

Pendula per funes est fabrica totaque turris,
Ætheris et medium vendicat illa locum.

Stant et in hac turri juvenis formosaque virgo,
Hie velut angelus est, heec coronata fuit.

Cerneret has facies quisquis, puto, non dubitaret
Nil fore sub codo quod sibi plus placeat.

Rex reginaque tunc astant bene discutientes
Quid velit hzc turris alta, vel hi juvenes.

Descendunt ab ea juvenis simul ipsaque virgo,
Nulla fuit scala, nec patuere gradus.

Nubibus inclusi veniunt, et in æthere pendunt,
Quo tamen ingenio nescio, crede mihi.

Iste tenet ciphum, geminas gerit illa coronas, -
Hee nitidis gemmis, plenus et iste mero.

Hæc rutilante novo fabricata quidem satis auro —
Singula, testatur fulgida materies. |

T 2

299 | . POLITICAL POEMS.

Materiam superavit opus, patet hoc et in artis B
Et simul artificis subtilitate nova. 7

Obtulit ergo suas custodi virgo coronas,

Quas in utraque manu sic eloquendo tenet:

‘Hie offert custos coronas regi et regine. -

* Rex," ait, “illustris, reginaque nobilis, ambos
* Custodiat semper vos Deus incolumes! z

* Qui dat terreni vobis diademata regni,
“ Regna perennia coelestia, donet item. |

“ Cernite jam plebem. vestram. quam leta salutat

. * Vos, et honorare gliscit; ut ipsa valet, |

* Nititur ex studio sensum quoque quod habet omne,
* Pendere nunc vobis intime quod placeat ;

* Mittit et hine, binas vobis referendo coronas,
* Innumeras grates, si capiatis eas.

* Non decet hoe alios donum, rogitat tamen ipsa, -

— * Sumat ut hoc placite vestra benigna manus.’

Contentantur ad hæc tam rex quam regia conjux,
Subridendo parum sumit uterque datum.

Ridet et ad vinum roseum quod ridet in auro,
Quodque propinat eis portitor angelicus. :

Spem tulit ex ridente gena tune plebs, utriusque
Obsequiis animos se quietasse suos.

Invisis gradibus simul angelus ipsaque virgo
Nubibus inclusi mox loca prima petunt.

De ornatu secundi aqueductus ad portam Pauli.

Usque monasterium Pauli cito tunc properatur,
Cujus et ante fores mira patet species.

Trino thronus ibi circumdatus undique giro
Angelici præfert ordinis effigiem.

RECONCILIATION OF RIC. IT. WITH CITY OF LONDON. 293

Angelicisque choris sie virginei sociantur,
Psallentes pariter quisque canore suo. | |
Sicque micat facies juvenum tam in his quam in illis,
Fiat ut extaticus intime respiciens. —
Nam puerilis ætas juvenum sexus utriusque
Extat ut est major sedibus inferior. . .
Supra sedebat eos Juvenis, quasi sit Deus ipse,
Lux radiosa sibi solis ad instar inest.
Flammigerum vultum gerit hic, niveas quoque vestes,
Supra hierarchias cœlicas ille sedet.
Organa pulsat ibi, mentem rapit hee melodia,
Vocibus angelicis dum canit ille chorus.
Hine decor, hinc duleor oculos recreatur et aures,
Singula cernentes obstupuere simul.
Quot putas hic musas, quot et instrumenta canora,
Quam quoque multimodum hie genus organicum !
Fistula, cistula, tibia, timpana, cum monacordo,
Organa, psalteria, cimbala, cumque lyra .
Zambuca, citharæ, situlæque, tubæque, vielle,
Buccina cum nablis, simphonicisque choris.
Singula scripturo deerit mibi sensus et hora,
Plurima namque mihi sustulit ipse stupor.

Hic intravit rex monasterium sancti Pau li, equis
velictis.

Rex reginaque mox post hzc pedites adierunt
Sacra monasterii tunc visitare loca.

Occurrunt pariter prímas et episcopus urbis,
Obviat et clerus illius ecclesiz.

Concomitatur eos in cultu pontificali
Ad Erkenwaldi sancta sepulchra simul.

Quippe Deo precibus sanctoque datis venerato,
Concito scandit equum, qui fuit ante pedes. —

Est plus adhue, transitur abhine, in Lud quoque porta
Consimilis cultus stat, similisque. nitor.

294 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Ad fluvii pontem nimium bene culta refulgent .
Agmina spirituum, hi quoque dulce canunt.

Hi dant incensum, hi psallunt, hi quoque salutant,
Floribus hi sternunt singula subter eos.

De deserto et Johanne Baptista ad barram Templi.

Ast ubi perventum fuit ad barram cito Templi,
Silva super portze tecta, locata fuit.

Hæc quasi desertum tenuit genus omne ferarum,
Mixtum reptilibus, vermibus et variis.

Sunt ibi spineta, sunt dumi, suntque rubeta,
Fraxinus et corulus, quercus et alta pirus.

Prunus, acer, pepulus, populus quoque, tilia, fagus,
Ulmus, lentiscus, palma, salix tremulus.

Hie lupus, hic leo, pardus, et ursus, et hic monacornus,
Hic elephas, castor, simia, tigris, aper. |

. Hie onager, cervus celer, hic panteraque, dama,
Hic vulpes fcetens, taxus, ibique lepus.

Currunt, discurrunt, pugnant, mordent, saliuntque,
Ut solet ad vastum bestia seva nemus.

Astitit his medius sanctus Baptista Johannes,
Indicat hie digito, agnus et ecce Dei!

Inspicit attente rex hune, quia quem notat iste,

. lilius ut meminit mitior inde fuit.

Nam -quia devotus colit hune constanter, eidem
Pre reliquis sanctis porrigit ipse preces.

Hujus ad intuitum, si quid sibi manserat ire
Extitit exstinctum protinus usque nihil.

Hic datur regi et regine duæ tabule pretiosæ cum
imaginibus,

Angelus a lecto descendens mox satis alto,
Splendida dona nimis fert in utraque manu.

Sunt etenim tabulæ sacris altaribus aptæ,
Quas nequit inspiciens immemor esse Dei.

RECONCILIATION OF RIC, IL, WITH CITY OF LONDON. 295

Inde crucifixi Christi stat sculpta figura,
Discipuli flentis, matris et extaticæ.
Seulpitur hic et uterque latro velut in cruce pendens;
Ut Deus est passus, tota patet series, |
Quod minus extat in his, quod vilius hoc fuit aurum,
Multimodis gemmis pingitur istud opus.
Non fuerant vise tabulæ prius orbis in amplo,
Qui deceant velut hee tam bene sceptrigeram.
Sumit ab angelicis manibus tabulas modo dictas
Custos, sicque sua publice verba refert.

De verbis custodis ad regem. in dando tabulas.

Salve, pater popuh, rex, dux, princeps, modo salve,
* Salvet et omnipotens vos Deus, alma salus!
Quam fuit hee preclara dies his civibus, in qua
* Constituit regem vos Deus esse suum !
Prole patrissante Ricardi, quod fuit ante
* Nomen, adhue repetit quiequid honoris erat.
* Regibus ergo probis patribusque bonis bona proles

“ Successura fuit, sors dedit ut decuit.
* Nobilitas generis, virtus proba, formaque pulchra,
. * Gratia, prosperitas, ingeniumque sagax.
Quæque decent regem persona simul capit una,
* Una proculdubio non nisi vestra scio.
Sed super hæc pietas, compassio veraque cordis,
* Dignifieans animum, vos probat esse probum.
Spes entenim populi potior fit, eb ad pietatem
* Qua datur his venia, regis et ira cadit.
Significant satis hoc tabulæ quas cernitis iste,
* Quas regi pia plebs obtulit ecce pio.
Orat ut inspiciat has rex cum tangitur ira,
* Mortis et ut Christi mox vellet esse memor:
* Parcat et ignaris, veluti rex ccelicus ille

* Hostibus indulgens semper inultus erat.
* Principis est, potuisse suas extendere vires
* In tantum externos quos oderit populos:

Las
CN

Las
La

906 | . POLITICAL POEMS.

* Rex et apum caret omnis acu, tamen extat eo plus
* Sponte timendus ab his quos ferit ipse nihil.
* Sumat et hinc vestra manus hoc modicum modo
“ munus, | |
* In signum pacis quam rogat hic populus."

Hi 46 tetigit - vex tabulas areas 3 sibi datas.

Extendendo manum rex tune sacra munera tangens, |
* Pax,” ait, “huic urbi; civibus atque meis;
* Intuitu Christi, matrisque suse generose,
* Baptistæque Johannis mihi præcipui,
* Necnon sanctorum quorum modo cerno figuras,
* Sponte remitto mes crimina cuncta plebis.
* Sed veniatis,” ait “ad nostra palatia cuncti,
* Plenis enim finis pax quoque fiet ibi."

Hie dantur tabule domino regum, ejusdem figura.

Rex transit, regina venit, conformia custos
Munera præsentans, intulit ista sibi :
* [nclita Czesareo soboles propagata parente,
* Quam decor eb forma nobilitant nimium,
* Matris Christiferæ nomen sortita Marie, -
* Quod titulis Anna gratia sonat idem.
* Non decet hune titulum vacuum fore, num gerit illum
“ Gratia quae populis nunc valet esse suis,
* Vos ideo meminisse decet, pia dux dominarum,
* Sanguinis et generis, nominis et proprii.
* Grata loqui pro gente sua regina valebit,
* Quod vir non audet, sola potest mulier.
* Hester ut Assueri trepidans stetit ante tribunal,
* Irntat dicta quse prius ipse tulit.
* Nec dubium quin ob hoc vos omnipotens dedit hujus
.* Participem regni, sitis ut Hester ei. |
.* Propterea. petit urbs vestrum prostrata benignum -
* Auxilium, in quo plus habet ipsa spei.

RECONCILIATION OF RIC. IL. WITH CITY OF LONDON. 297

* Donat et has vobis tabulas altaribus aptas,
* Ut stent ante Deum, vos tamen ante virum.
* Cernitis has quotiens, toliens meminisse velitis.
* Urbis, et efficere rex sit amicus ei.”
llla refert grates nimias pro munere tanto:
* In me, si quid erit, perficietur," ait. .

Hic progreditur rex versus Wesimonasterium, et
cives sequuntur,

Itur abhinc, cunctis equitantibus ordine pulchro,
Westque monasterium, rege jubente, petunt.
Quis fuit ornatus, aule quis cultus ibidem,
. Seribere difficile, nec reserare leve.
Nam ea textrili fuit arte domus cooperta,
Jam prius insolita, quod stupet intuitus.
Summa tenet summi thronus regis loca scamni,
Aurea tegmina quem splendida sola tegunt. —
Sceptriger hoe nitidum scandit rex ecce tribunal,
Circumstant proceres, moxque silere jubent.

Quomodo regina corruit. ante regem, pro civibus.

Inpreditur regina suis comitata puellis,
Pronaque regales corruit ante pedes.

Erigitur, mandante viro, “ Quid," ait, “ petis, Anna,
“ Exprime, de votis expediere 1 tuis."

Supplicatio reginæ pro eisdem. civibus.
* Dulcis," ait, “mi rex, mihi vir, mihi vis, mihi vita,
* Dulcis amor, sine quo vivere fit mihi mors.
* Regibus in cunetis similem quis possidet urbem,
* Que velut hec hodie magnificaret eum ?
* Quis cultus! quis honor! qui sumptus! munera quanta
* Sunt impensa modo, rex venerande, tibi!

998 ^. A POLITICAL POEMS.

* Nos quoque mortales, et ut hi velut umbra caduci,
* Simus in his mortis absit ut immemores.
* Quo majorem sumit honorem quisquis, eo plus
* Est humilis et erit, si sapiens fuerit.
* Hine, mi rex, mi dulcis amor, memor esse velitis,
* Supplico prostrata, quid modo contigerit.
* Tempora post Bruti regumque peracta priorum,
* Quamvis et Arthurus annumeretur eis,
* Non fuerat euiquam regi datus hie morituro
* Tantus honor quantum contulit ista dies.
" Major enim si facta foret reverentia regi,
* Tangeret injuria publica forte Deum.
Hine super hos cives, super urbem sic reverentem
* Tam vos quam vestros, intime condoleo ;
Et rogo constanter per eum quem fertis amorem
* Àd me, condignum si quid amore gero,
* Parcere dignemini plebibus, qui tanta dedere
* Munera tam prompte nobis ad obsequia.
* Et placeat veteri nune urbem reddere juri,
* Ac libertates restituisse suas." |

_ Responsio domini regis ad reginam.

Sumo placenter," ait tunc rex, "carissima conjux,
* Quæque petita modo, nec nego quod.rogitas.
* Consessura mecum scandas dulcissima thronum,

* Namque loquar populo paucula verba meo."
Sedibus ut teneros regina sedens locat artus,
Rege loquente, duces, plebs quoque tota silet.

Hic alloquitur veæ cives, et reddit libertates.

* Vos" ait, “o cives, vos regia gens specialis,
* Nostri quos aliis plus refovere patres.

^ Vobis in hoe regno nullos fore liberiores

* Constat, et extollit vos favor hic nimium.

Lai
Lal

^
«^

rn
^

“
^

Py
EN

wn
^

^
LS

e
nr

e^
Pad

^
EN

Ca
nn

Lej
[ad

wn
nw

[14

RECONCILIATION OF RIC. IX. WITH CITY OF LONDON. 299

Propter opes nimias, magnos quoque propter honores,

.* Degenerasse potest urbs mea forte mode. .

Nune ubi sunt juste leges, ubi rectaque jura,

* Quo timor in dominos, quo modo fugit amor ?
Quo bona nune pietas, inopum protectio grata, —

“ Quo socialis amor omnis abhinc periit ?

Quippe potest tante fieri modo causa ruins,

* Quse generat fastum tam bona prosperitas.

Quod ego si scirem, sciat urbs hac, nam bene sciret,
“ Urbibus in reliquis non foret ista prior.
Antiquus tamen ille favor, quem pristina regum

* Approbat auctoritas, non minuetur adhuc. |
Sentit enim vestrum mea mens per signa timorem,
* Vos quoque spero per hoc ad meliora trahi.
Sumptus enim video vestros, data munera penso,

“ Conjugis atque mez pondero valde preces.

Vos ideoque cavete deinceps principis iras,

* Contemptu proceres non habetote meos.
Antiquam servate fidem, nova dogmata semper

* Spernite, quæ veteres non didicere paires.
Ecclesiam quoque catholicam defendite totam,

* Non habet illa gradum, quin colat ipse Deum.
Judicibus vestris insit timor omnipotentis,

* Pauperis in causam fraus mala ne veniat.

Sie et in urbe mea bona pax, contentio nulla,

* Nec conventiculum fœderis insoliti.

Si nostras etenim rumor penetraverit aures

* Obvius his monitis, urbs luet, haud dubium.

Sed modo suscipite claves, gladium quoque vestrum,
* Legibus antiquis hane regitote plebem.

Antea quod licuit, heeat modo, dum tamen æquum
* Extiterit, solitum non variando modum.
Præmineat major electus, qui regat urbem, ©

* Regis et ut solito suppleat ille vices.

Vos quoque felices dulci jam pace potiti,

“ Pergite gaudentes ad loca quisque sua.”

300 - ''" . pOLITICAL POEMS,

Congratuatio civium pro restitutione libertatum, et
vecessu8 eovwm.

Gaudet ad hzc turba, prostrata ruit, jacet humo,
Acclamat laudes vocibus altisonis. |

* Vivat rex! vivat semper! vivat! bene vivat !
se Longa sit in regno sospite vita suo!

* Sint sibi felices anni, mensesque, diesque,
* Floreat et victis hostibus ipse suis!"

Dumque strepunt abeunt, redeunt, regem benedicunt
. Exitus est operi terminus iste rei. |

ON THE TRUCE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE,
1394.!

By Eustache Deschamps. .

Antre Beauraym * et le pare de Hedin,
Ou moys d'Aoust, qu'on soye les fromens,
M'en aloye jouer par un matin;
Si vi bergiers et bergieres aux cbamps,
Qui tenoient là leurs parliers moult grans,

[TnaxsLATION.]

Between Beaurain and the park of Hédin,—in the
month of August, when they reap ihe wheat,—I went to
seek recreation one morning ;—and I saw shepherds and
shepherdesses in the fields,—who held there great talk,—

! This short “ balade " is by the | It is interesting as showing tbe
French poet Eustache Deschamps, | general feeling in France at this
the friend and admirer of our own | time with regard to the occupation
poet Chaucer. Itis here printed from | of Calais by the English.

a manuscript in the Imperial Li- | 7? Beaurain, a small town near
brary in Paris, No. 7219, fol. 113, v^. | Hédin in Artois,

ON THE TRUCE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE 301

Tant que Bochiers dist à Margot la broingne, -
Que l'en aloit au traittié à Bouloigne,
Et que François et Anglois feront paix.
Elle respont: « Foy que doy Magueloigne,
* Paix n'arez ja s’ilz ne rendent Calays."

Lors vint avant Berthelot du Jardin, -
Qui respondit: * La paix suis desirans ;

“Car je n'ose descouchier le matin, |
* Pour les Anglois qui nous sont destruisans ;
* Mais dire oy, il à passé dix ans,

.* Qu'à leur dessoulz quierent toudis aloingne

* Pour mettre sus leur fait et leur besoigne,
“ Et puis courent le regne à grans eslays ;

* Maint lont veu, et pour ce je tesmoigne,
* Paix n'arez jà silz ne rendent Calays.”

Après parla par grant courroux Robin: |
À Berthelot, et lui dist: “Tu te mens,

* Car les Francois et les Anglois enfin
* Veulent la paix, il en est dés or temps;
* Trop a duré la guerre et li contens, |

till Bochiers said to Margot the stout,—that people were
going to the treoty at Boulogne,—and that French and
English will make peace. —She replied : ** By the faith I owe
* the Magdalene,—you will never have peace unless they
5* restore Calais.”

. Then came forward Ber thelot of the Garden who re-
plied: “ Of the peace I am desirous ;—for I dare not rise
.* from bed in a morning,—for the English who go about
* destroying us ;—but I have heard say, ten years ago,—that
* underneath they seek always delay-—to cover what they
* do and want,—and then overrun the kingdom with great
rapidity ;—many have seen it, and therefore I bear witness,
* ——you will never have peace unless they restore Calais."

Next spoke in great rage Robin—to Berthelot, and said
to him : * Thou liest,—for- the French and the English at
* length—will have peace, it is high time for it ;—too long
** has lasted the war and contention,—nor do I see any one

NÉE RE

302 Á ^ |. :. ‘POLITICAL POEMS, -

* Ne je ne voy nul qui ne la ressoingne."
* Certes tout ce ne vault une escaloingne,"
Ce lui respont Henris li contrefais :

* Encor faulra chascun [prengne] sa broingne :
* Paix n'arez ja silz ne rendent Calays.

* Car l’autre jour oy maistre Martin,
* Qui racontoit le roy est mendre d'ans,
* Et quil estoit une loy en Latin
* Qui deffendoit rien vendre des enfans.
“Hn Guyenne sont deux mille et cinq cens
* Villes, chasteauls, qu'Angleis veulent qu'on doingne,
* Et grant tas d'or, et que le roy esloigne
* De roy en duc lommaige qui est fais.”
* Qui fera ce?” respon sote Caroingne;
* Paix n'arez j& silz ne rendent Calays.”

Guichars li bruns, qui fu nez à Seclin,
Dist que cilz faiz est doubteux et pesans ;
Voire, et qu'Englés y pensent mal engin
. De retenir ce port, qui est constans.
* Se ce ne fust, bien le fussent rendans ;

* who does not fear it."—** Truly all that is not worth an
* onion,"— replied Henri the deformed ;—* every one will
‘# still have to take his cuirass ;—you will never have peace
* unless they restore Calais.

* For the other day I heard master Martin, who related .
* that the king is a minor,—and that there was a law in
4 Latin—which prohibited the selling of any property of
* children.—In Guienne there are two thousand and five
* hundred—towns and castles, which the English will have
* given to them,—and a great heap of gold, and that the
« king alienate—from king to duke the homage which is
* made."—* Who will do that,” replied fool Caroigne ;—
* you will never have peace unless they restore Calais."

“Guichard the brown, who was born at Seclin,—said that
this fact is doubtful and grave ;—it is true that the English
have an ill design 1 in their thoughts—to retain this port,
which is constant." If this were not the case, they would

ON THE TRUCE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE. 303

* Mais ils pensent barat, guerre, et alloingne

“Faire au derrain. Ne le due de Bourgoingne
“Et de Berry ne feroient jamais |

“Tel paix à eux. Qui voulra si me perdoingne ;
* Paix n'arez jà silz ne rendent Calays."

. Envoy.
Princes, là fa Bertrisons, et Hersans,
Et Alizons, qui moult orent de sens;
Et jugierent, quand li parlers fu fait,.
Que telle paix seroit orde et meschans ;
Et concluirent aux bergiers eulx disans :
— * Paix n'arez jà s'ilz ne rendent Calays.”

* surely restore it ;—but they think only strife, war, and
* delay —io make it last. Nor will the duke of Burgundy—
* or [the duke] of Berri ever make—such a peace with
* them. Who will, let him pardon me ;—you will not have
* peace unless they restore Calais."

Envoy. — Princes, there was Bertrison, and Hersant,—
and Alison, who had much sense ;— and judged, when the
talk was ended,—that such a peace would be disgraceful
and injurious ;— and concluded with the shepherds by

saying to them:—* You will not have peace unless you
* restore Calais.”

304

. POLITICAL POEMS,

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN.!

À sterne strife is stirred newe,
In many steedes in à stound,
Of sundry seeds that ben sewe,
It seemeth that some been unsound.
For some be great growne on ground,
Some been soukle, simple, and small ;
Whether of hem is falser found,
The falser foule mote him befall.

1 This poem seems to have created
considerable interest in the six-
teenth century, when it was foisted

that work, and when it was in

vogue among the party of reform,
The allusions in Piers Ploughman’s

into the black-letter folio editions of a gaCrede, especially that to the pro.

Chaucer as one of the Canterbury
Tales, under the title of the Plow-
man's Tale. Speght, in inserting it
in his edition, says, “ I have seene
“ it in written hand in John Stowes
* librarie in a booke of such anti-
* quitie as seemeth to have been
* written neare to Chaucers time,"
Unfortunately no manuscript of it
appears now to exist, but internal
evidence is in favour of its belong-
ing to the latter part of the reign of
Richard II. The writer, in the
character of course of the plough-
man, refers to another work for his
opinion of the friars :—

“ Of freres I have told before
* In a making of a crede."

There can be no doubt that this
refers to the well-known satire en-
titled Piers Ploughman's Crede, and
it implies that the present poem was

written soon after the publication of |

Mae * eedings against Walter Br ut, which

took place in 1391, would lead us to

fix the date of it to the end of that

year, or more probubly to the year
following, and I have ventured
to suppose that this complaint of
beeploughman was written as early

NJRo3 or 1394. We appear to

Mo better text than the printed
editions of the sixteenth century,
which are of no value in a philo-
logical point of view. Todd, in his
Illustrations of Gower and Chaucer
(Introduc. p. xxxix.), describes an
early separate edition, in a black-
letter tract, formerly in the posses-

sion of Conybeare, the Anglo-Saxon |

professor at Oxford, the text of

which varied considerably from the
one now printed ; but I have not
been able to-ascertain what has be-
come of this book. I have therefore
here printed it from the black-letter
of Speght. _

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. ‘305

That one side is, that I of tell,
Popes, cardinals, and prelates,
Parsons, monkes, and freres fell,
Priours, abbots, of great estates;
Of heaven and hell they keepe the yates,
And Peters successours they been all;
This is deemed by old dates,
But falshed foule mote it befall.

The other side ben poore and pale,
And people put out of prease,
And seeme caitives sore a-cale,
And ever in one without encrease;
Icleped lollers and londlese ;
Who toteth on hem, they ben untall,
They ben araied all for the peace,
But falshed foule mote it befall.

Meny a countrey have I sought,
To know the falser of these two :
But ever my travaile was for nought,
All so ferre as I have go.
But as I wandred in a wro,
In a wood beside a wall,
Two foules saw I sitten tho
The falser foule mote him befall.

That one did plete on the popes side,
A griffon of a primme stature ;
A pellicane withouten pride
To these lollers laied his lure ;
He mused his matter in measure,
To counsaile Christ ever gan he call;
The griffon shewed a.sharpe fuyre,
But falshed foule mote it befall.
VOL. I. | U

306 EE POLITICAL POEMS. .

The pellicane began to preach
Both of mercie and of meekenesse;
And saied that Christ so gan us teach,
And meeke and merciable gan blesse,
The evangely beareth witnesse; _
A lambe he likeneth Christ over all,
In tokening that he meekest was,
Sith pride was out. of heaven fall.

And so should every christened be ;
Priestes, Peters successours,.
Beth lowliche and of low degree,
And usen none earthly honours; -
Neither. croune, ne curious covetours,
Ne pillour, ne other proud pall,
Ne nought to cofren up great treasours;
For falshed foule mote it befall, —

Priestes should for no cattell plede,
But chasten hem in charité ; |
Ne to no battaile should men lede,
For inhaunsing of her owne degree;
.. Nat wilne sittings in high see,
Ne soveraignty in hous ne hall;
All wordly worship defie and flee;
For who willeth highnes, foule shal fall. . .

Alas! who may such saints call,
That wilneth welde earthly honour,
As low as Lucifere such shal fall
In balefull blackesse to builden her boure ;
That eggeth the people to errour,
And maketh them to hem thrall ;
To Christ I hold such one traitour,
As low as Lucifer such one shall fall

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN.

That willeth to be kings peeres,
And higher than the emperour ;
And some that were but poore freres,
Now wollen waxe à warriour.
God is not her governour, —
That holdeth no man his permagall ;
_ While covetisse is her counsaïlour,
All such falshed mote need fall. |

That high on horse willeth ride

In glitterande gold of great array, -

. lpainted and portred all in pride,
No common knight may go so gay ;
Chaunge of clothing every day,

With golden girdles great and small;
As boistous as is beare at bay;

All such falshed mote need fall.

With pride punisbeth they the poore,
And some they sustaine with sale;
. Of holy church make they an hore,

And filleth her wombe with wine and ale;

With money fill they many a male,
And. chaffren churches when they fall,

And telleth the people a leaud tale;
Such false .faitours foule hem befall.

With chaunge of many manner meates,

. With song and solas sitting long, |
And filleth her wombe, and fast tretes,
And from the meat to the gong;

And after meat with harpe and song ;

And each man mote hem lords call;
And hote spices ever among;
Such false faitours foule hem fall.

307

-308 /' — POLITICAL POEMS.

And miters mo than one or two,
Ipearled as the queenes head;
A. staffe of gold, and perrie, lo,

As heavie as it were made of lead ;
With cloth of gold both new and redde,
With glitterande gold as greene as gall; mE
By dome they damne man to dedde ;

All such faitours foule hem fall.

And Christs people proudly curse, —
Withe broad boke, and braying bell;
To put pennies in her purse, |
They wol sell both heaven and hell.
And in her sentence and thou wilt dwell,
They willen gesse in her gay hall,
And thou the sooth of hem will tell,
In great cursing shalt thou fall |

That is blessed, that they blesse,
And cursed that they curse woll ;
And thus the people they oppresse,
And have their lordships at full’
And many be marchaunts of wull,
And to purse pennies woll come thrall ;
_ The poore people they all to-pull ;
Such falsé faitours foule hem fall.

Lords also mote to hem loute,
Obeysaunt to her brode blessing.
They riden with her royall route
On a courser, as it were a king;
With saddle of gold glittering,
With curious harneis quaintly erallit,
Stirrops gay of gold masthng ;
All such falshed foul befall it.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN.

Christes ministers clepen they beene,
And rulen all in robberie ;

But Antichrist they serven clene,
Attired all in tyrannie.
Witnesse of Johns prophecie,

That Antichrist is her admirall ;
Tiffelers attired in trecherie ;

All such faitous foule hem fall.

Who saith that some of hem may sinne,
. He shall be dome to be ded:
Some of hem woll gladly winne,
All ayenst that which God forbed.
All holiest they clepen her head,
That of her rule is regall:
Alas! that ever they eaten bread,
For all such falshed wol foule fall.

Her head loveth all honour,

And to be worshipped in :word and dede;

Kings mote to hem kneele and coure,

To the apostles that Christ forbede.

To popes hestes such taketh more hede,
Than to keepe Christs commaundement.

Of gold and silver mote been her wede,
They holdeth him hole omnipotent.

He ordaineth by his ordinaunce

To parish priestes a powere ;
To another a greater avaunce,

A greater point to his mistere.

Bot.for he is highest in earth here,
To him reserves he many a point ;

. But to Christ, that hath no pere,
Reserves he neither opin ne joint.

309

310

POLITICAL POEMS.

So seemeth he above all,

And Ohrist above bim no thing ;

When he sitteth in his stall, | |
He damneth and saveth as him thinke.
Such pride tofore God stinke ;

An angell bad John to him knele,

But onely to God doe his bowing ;
Such willers of worship must need evil feele.

They ne clepen Christ but sanctus Deus,
And clepen' her head sanctissimus ; —
They that such a sect sewis,
I trowe they taken hem amisse ;
In earth here they have her blisse ;
Her high maister is Beliall; |
Christes people from hem. wisse,
For all such false will foule fall.

They mowe both: binde and lose,

: And all is for her holy life;

To save or damne they mow chose,
Betweene hem now is great strife.
Many a man is killed with knife,

To wete which of hem have lordship shall ;
For such Christ suffred wounds five

For all such falshed will foule fall.

Christ said, qué gladio percutit,

With swerd surely he shall die;
He bad his priests peace and grith,

And bad hem not drede for to die.

And bad them be both simple and slie,
And carke not for no cattell,

And trusteth on God that sitteth on hie, |
For all false shall full foule fall. |

—- PE

-——

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 811

These wollen make men to swere -
" Ayenst Christes commaundement ;
And Christes members all to-tere,
On rood as he were new yrent.
Such lawes they maken by common assent,
Each one it throweth as a ball;
Thus the poore be fully shent,
But ever falshed foule it befall.

. They usen no simonie, |

. But sellen churches and priories ;
Ne they usen no envie,

But eursen all hem contraries,

And hireth men by daies and yeares,
With strength to hold hem in her stall;

And. culleth all her adversaries ;
Therefore falshed foule thou fall

With purse they purchase personage ;
With purse they paynen hem to plede ;
And men of warre they woll wage
To bring her enemies to the dede;
And lords lives they woll lede,
And:much take, and give but small.
: But he it so get, from it shall shede,
And make such false right foule fall

They halow no thing but for hire,
Church, ne font, ne vestement ;
And make orders in everie shire,
But priestes pay for the parchment.
Of riotours they taken rent,
Therewith they smere the shepes skall;
For many churches ben oft suspent,
And all such falshed foule it fall — —

312 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Some liveth not in lecherie, :
But haunt wenches, widowes, and wives,
And punisheth the poore for putrec ;
Them selfe it useth all their lives.
And but a man to them lim shrives,
To heven come he never shall ; |
He shall be cursed as be caitives ;
To hell they saine that he shall fall.

There was more mercy in Maximien,
And in Nero, that never was good,
Than is now in some of them,
When he hath on his furred hood.
They follow Christ that shed his blood
'l'o heaven, as buckette into the wall.
Such wretches ben worse than wood,
And all such faitours foule hem fall.

They give her almes to the riche,
To mainteynours, and men of lawe;
For to lords they woll be liche,
An harlots sonne not worth an hawe.
Sothfastnesse all such han slawe ;
They kembe her crokettes with christall ;
. And drede of God they have doune drawe;
Al such faitours foule hem fall.

They maken parsons for the pennie,

And canons, and her cardinals ;
Unnethes amonges hem all is any,

That he ne hath glosed the gospell fals.

For Christ made never no cathedrals,
Ne with him was no cardinall,

With a redde hatte, as usen minstrals;
But falshed foule mote it befall.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN.

Their tithing, and her offering both,
They clemeth it by possession ; .
Thereof nil they none forgo,
But robben men as raunsome.
The tithing of turpe lucrum
With these massters is urniall ;!
Tithing of brybry and larson
Will make falshood full foule to fall.

They taken to ferme her sompnours,

To harme the people what they may ;
To pardoners and false faitours

Sell her seales, I dare well say;

And al to holden great araie,
To multiply hem more metall ; |

They drede full little domes-day,
When all such falshed shal foule fall.

Such harlottes shul men disclaunder,
For they shullen make hem gree;
And ben as proude as Alexander,
And saine to the poore, “ Woe be ye!
_ By yere eche priest shal pay his fee,
To encrease his lemmans call;
Such heerdes shul wel ivel thee,
And al such false shul foule fall.

And if à man be falsely famed,
And wol make purgatioun,

Than woll the officers be agramed,
And assigne him fro toune to toun.
So need he must pay raunsome,

Though he be clene as is christall ;
And then have an absolution ; ©
But al such false shull foule fall.

1 So in Speght; meynall, in the earlier edition.

318 —

314 2 POLITICAL POEMS.

Though he be giltie of the dede,
And that he may money paie,

A] the while his purse wol blede,
He may use it fro day to day.
The bishops officers gone ful gay,

And this game they usen over al;
The poore to pill is all their pray ;

Al such false shul foule fal ——

Alas! God ordained never such lawe,
Ne no such craft of covetise :

He forbad it by his sawe,
Such governours mowen of God agrise.
For al his rules is rightwise ;

These new points ben papall;
And all Gods lawe they dispise ;

All such faitours shul foule fall.

They saine that Peter had the key
Of heven and hel, to have and hold.
I trowe Peter tooke no money |
For no sinnes that he sold.
Such successours ben to bold,
In winning al their wit they wral;
Her conscience is waxen cold;
And al such faitours foule hem fal.

Peter was never so great a fole

To leave his key with such a lorell,
Or take such cursed soch a. tole,

He was advised no thing well.

I trowe they have the key. of hell;
Their master is of that place marshall;

For there they dressen hem to dwel,
And with false Lucifer there to fall.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE .PLOUGHMAN.

. They been as proud as Lucifarre, |
As angry, and as envious; .

From good fayth they been full farre,
In covetise they been curious;
To catch cattle as covetous

As hound that for hunger woll yall;
Ungodly and ungracious ;

And needly such falshed shall foule fall.

The pope, and he were Peters heire,
Me thinke he erreth in this case,
When chose of bishops is in dispaire
To chosen. hem in divers place.
A lord shall write to him for grace,
For his clerke anone pray he shall ;
So shall he speed his purchase;
And all such false foule hem fall.

Though he can doe no good,
A. lords praier. shall be sped ;
Though he be wild of will or wood,

Not understanding what men han red,

A leud boster, and that God forbed,
As good a bishop is my horse Ball;
Such a pope is foule bested,
And at last he woll foule fall -

He maketh bishops for earthly thanke,
And no thing at all for Christs sake ;
Such that been full fat and ranke,
To soule-heale none heed they take.
All is well done whatever they make,
They shall answere at ones for all;

For worlds thanke such worch and wake,

And all such false shall foule fall.

315

316 POLITICAL POEMS.

Such that cannot say her crede,

With praier shull be made prelates ;
Nother can the gospell rede,

Such shull now weld. high estates.

The bigh Gods friendship hem makes ;
They toteth on her summe totall ;

Such bere the keyes of hell yates ;
And such false shal foule fall.

They forsake, for Christs love, -
Travaile, hunger, thirst, and cold ;
For they ben ordred over all above,
Out of youth till they ben old.
By the dore they goe not into the fold,
To helpe their sheep they nought travall ;
Hired men all such I hold,
And all such false foule hem fall.

For Christ our king they woll forsake,
And know him nought for his poverte.
For Christs love they wol wake,
And drinke piement and ale aparte.
Of God they seeme no thing aferd,
As lusty liveth as did Lamual;
. And driven her sheepe into desert;
All such faitours shul foule fal. |

Christ hath xij apostles here ;
Now say they, there may be but one,
That may not erre in no manere;
Who leveth not this ben lost echone.
Peter erred, so did not Jhon;
Why is he cleped the principall ?
Christ cleped him Peter, but himselfe the stone ;
All false faitours foule hem fall.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 317

Why cursen they the croisery
Christes christen creatures ?
For betweene hem is now envy,
To be enhanssed in honours.
And christen livers with her labours,
For they levin on no man mortal,
Been do to death with dishonours;
And al such false foule hem fal. |

What knoweth a tillour at.the plow
The popes name and what he hate?
His crede suffiseth to him inow,
And knoweth a cardinall by his hatte.
Thus is the poore unrightly latte,
That knoweth Christ his God royal;
Such matters be no worth a gnatte;
But such false faitours foule hem fal.

À king shall kneele and kisse his show;
Christ suffered a sinful to kisse his fete.
Me thinketh he holdeth him high ynow;
So Lucifer did, that high set.
Such one me thinketh himselfe foryet,
Either to the trouth he was not cal;
Christ, that suffered wounds wete,
Shal make such falshed foule fal.

They laieth out her large nettes,
For to take silver and gold;
Fillen coffers, and sackes fettes,
There as they soules catch shold.
Her servants be to them unhold,
But they can doublin their rentall,
To bigge hem castles, and bigge hem hold;
And all such false foule hem fall.

Here endeth. the first part of this tale, and hereafter
followeth the second.

318 POLITICAL POEMS.

To accorde with this worde fall
No more English can I finde;
Shewe another nowe I shall, |
For I have. much to say behinde ;
How priests han the people pinde,
As curteis Christ hath me kende,
And put this matter in my minde,
To make these manner men amend,

Shortly to shend hem and shew now
How wrongfully they werch and walke;
O high God! nothing they tell, ne how,
But in Gods word tilleth many a balke ;
In hernes hold hem and in halke,
And preachen of tithes and offrend,
And untruly of the gospel talke.
For his mercy God it amend.

What is Antichrist to say,
But even Christs adversarie ?
Such hath now ben many a day,
To Christs bidding ful contrarie,
That from the truth cleane varry, -
Out of the way they ben wend,
And Christs people untruly . carry ;
God for his pitie amend.

They liven contrary to Christs life,
In high pride against meekenesse ;
Against suffraunce they usen strife,
And anger ayenst sobernesse ;
Against wisdome wilfulnesse ;
To Christs tales little tend ;
Against measure outrageousnesse ;
But when God wol, it may amend.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN,

Lordly life ayenst lowlinesse,
And demin al without mercie; -
And covetise ayenst largesse,
Against treweth trecherie ;
And against almesse envie ;
Against Christ they comprehend, |
For chastitie they maintaine lecherie ;
God for his grace this amend! -

Against pennaunce they use delights ;
Against suffraunce strong defence ;
Ayenst God they usen evil rights ;
Ayenst pitie punishments ;
Open. evil ayenst continence ;

Her wicked winning they worse dispend ;

- Sobernesse they sette into dispense ;
But God for his goodnesse it amend!

Why cleimen they wholy his powere,
And wranglen ayenst al his hests?

His living folow they no thing here,
But liven worse than witlesse beests.
Of fish and flesh they loven feests,

As lords they ben brode ykende; .
Of Gods poore they haten gests,

God for his mercy this amend!

With Dives such shal have her dome,

That saine that they be Christes friendes,

And do no thing as they should done ;
All such been falser than ben fiendes.
On the people they ley such bendes,

As God is in earth they han offend.
Succour fro such Christ now send us,

And for his mercy this amend!’

319

320 ^ ''" ' POLITICAL POEMS,

À token of Antichrist they be,
His careckes ben now wide iknow.
Received to preach shal no man be,
Without token of him, I trow.

' Ech christen priest to preachen owe;
From God above they ben send, '
Gods word to al folke for to show, |
Sinful man for to amend. |

Christ sent the poore for to preach,
The royall rich he did not so;
Now dare no poore the people teach,
For Antichrist is over all her foe.
Among the people he mote go,
He hath bidden all such suspend ;
Some hath he hent, and thinketh yet mo ;
But al this God may well amend,

Al they that han the world forsake,
And liven lowly, as God bad,
Into her prison shullen be take,
Betin and bounden, and forth lad.
Hereof I rede no man be drad,
Christ said, his should be shend ;
Ech man ought hereof be glad,
For God ful wel it wol amend.

They take on hem royall powere,
And say they have swerds two,

One eurse to hel, one slee men here;
For at his taking Christ had no mo.
Yet Peter had one of tho;

But Christ, to Peter smite gan defend,
And into the sheath bad put it tho;

And all such mischeves God amend,

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 321

Christ bad Peter keepe his sheepe,
And with his sword forbade him smite;
Swerd is no toole with sheepe to keepe,
But to shepheards that sheepe wol bite.
Me thinketh such shepheards ben to wite,
Ayen her sheepe with swerd that contend;
They drive her sheepe with great despite ;
But all this God may well amend,

So successours to Peter be they nought,
Whom Christ made cheefe-pasture. |
A swerd no shepheard usen ought,

But he would slea; as a butchoure.
For who so were Peters successoure,
Should bere his shepe til his backe bend,

And shaddow hem from every shoure ;
And al this God may well amend.

Successours to Peter ben these

. In that, that Peter Christ forsooke,

" That had lever the love of God lese,
Than a shepheard had to lese his hooke.
He culleth the sheepe as doth the cooke,

Of hem seeken the wool to rend,

And falsely glose the gospell booke ;

God for his mercy them amend !

After Christ had take Peter the kay,
= Christ said, he must die for man;
That Peter to Christ gan withsay,
Christ bad him go behind Sathan.
Such counsailours many of these men han,
For worlds wele, God to offend. |
Peters successours they ben for than ;
But al such God may wel amend.
VOL. I. x

CST

322 POLITICAL POEMS,

For Sathan is to say no more
But he that contrary to Christ is
In this they learne Peters lore,
They sewen him when he did misse.
They follow Peter, forsooth, in this,
In al that Christ would Peter reprehend;
But not in that that longeth to heven blisse.
- God for his mercy hem amend.

. Some of the apostles they sewen in case
Of ought that I can understond,
Him that betrayed Christ, Judas,
That bare the purse in every lond;
And al that he might set on hond,
He hidde and stale, and mispend ;
His rule these traitors han in hond ;
Almightte God, hem all amend!

And at the last his Lord gan tray,
Cursedly, through his false covetise :
So would these traine him for money,
And they wisten in what wise.
They be seker of the selfe ensise,
From all soothnesse they ben friend,
And covetise chaungen with queintise.
Almighty God, all such amend!

DESI

Were Christ on earth here eftsoone,

These would damne him to die;
All his hestes they han fordone,

And saine his sawes ben heresie ;

And ayenst his commaundemente they crie,
And damne all his to be brend.

For it liketh not hem such losengerie ;
God Almighty hem amend!

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN.

These han more might in England here,
Than hath the king and all his lawe :
They han purchased hem such powere,
To taken hem whom list not knawe ;
And say that heresie is her sawe,
And so to prison wol hem send;
It was not so by elder dawe;
God for his mercy it amend!

The kings law wol no man deme
Angerliche without answere ;
But if any man these misqueme,
He shal be baighteth as a bere;
And yet wel worse they wol him tere,
And in prison woll him pende,
In gives, and in other gere;
When God woll, it may amend.

The king taxeth not his men
But by assent of the comminalté ;
But these ech yeare woll raunsome hem
Maisterfully, more than doth he.
Her seales by yeare better be
Than is the kings in extend;
Her officers han greater fee;
But this mischeefe God amend!

For who so woll prove a testament,
That is not all worth tenne pound,

He shall pay for the parchement.
The third of the money all round ;
lhus the people is raunsound.

They say such part to hem should apend ;

. There as they gripen, it goeth to ground;

God for his mercy it amend!

x 2

323

‘324 . POLITICAL POEMS.

For a simple fornication |
Twenty shillings he shall pay ;
And then have an absolution,
And al the yere usen it forth he may.
Thus they letten hem go astray, |
They recke not though the soule be brend.
These keepen evill Peters kay ;
And all such shepheards God amend !

Wonder is that the parliament,

And all the lords of this lond,
Hereto taken so little entent,

To helpe the people out of her hond.

For they ben harder in their bond,
Worse beat and bitter brend,

Than to the king is understond.
God him helpe this to amend !

What bishops, what religions,
Han in this lande as muche lay fee,
Lordshippes and possessions mE
More than lordes, it semeth me.
That maketh hem lese charité ; :
They mowe not to God attende,
In earth they have so high degré.
God for his mercie it amende !

. The emperour yafe the pope somtime
So high lordeship him about,
That at last the silly kime
The proude pope put him out.
So of this realme is in dout;
But lords beware, and them defende; *
For now these folkes be wonders stout ;
The king and lordes now this amende !

Thus endeth the second part of this tale, and hereafier
Jolloweth the third.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 325

Moyses lawe forbode it tho,

That priestes should no lordshippes welde ;
Christes gospell biddeth also

That they should no lordshippes helde.

Ne Christes apostles were never so bold,
No such lordshippe to hem enbrace ;

But smeren her shepe and kepe her fold;
God amend hem for his grace! |

For they ne ben but counterfete,
Man may know hem by her fruite,

Her greatnesse maketh hem God foryete,
And take his mekenesse in dispite.
And they wer pore, and had but lite,

They nold nat demen after the face,

But nourish her shepe, and hem not bite.

God amend hem for his grace!

Griffon. What canst thou preach ayenst chanons
That men clepen seculere ?
. Pela. They ben curates of many tounes,
On earth they have great powere ;
They have great prebendes and dere,
Some two or three, and some mo;
A, personage to ben a playing fere,
And yet they serve the king also.

And let to ferme all that fare,
To whom that woll most give ther efore ;
Some woll spend, and some woll spare,
And some woll lay it up in store.
A cure of soule they care not fore,
So that they mowe much money take,
Whether her soules be wonne or lore,
Her profites they woll not forsake.

POLITICAL POEMS.

They have a gadering procuratour,

That can the poore people enplede,
And robben hem as a ravinour,

And to his lord the money lede;

And catch of quicke and eke of dede, .
And richen him, and his lord eke; |
And to robbe can give good rede,
Of olde and yonge, of hole and sicke.

| Therewith they purchase hem lay fee,
In londe there hem liketh best ;
And builde also as brod as a cité,

Both in the east, and eke in the west.
To purchase thus they ben full prest,
But on the poore they woll nought spende,

Ne no good give to Goddes gest,
Ne sende him some that all hath sende.

By her service such woll live,
And trusse that other into treasure ;
Though all her parish die unshrive,
They woll not give a rose floure.
Her life should be as a mirrour,
Both to lered and to leude also ;
And teache the people her lele labour;
Soche mister men been all misso.

Some of them been hard nigges ;

And some of hem been proude and gaie;
Some spende her goodes upon gigges,

And finden hem of great araie. |

Alas! what thinke these men to sale,
That thus dispenden Goddes good?

At the dreadfull domesdaie, |
Soche wreches shull be worse than wood.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN.

Some her churches never ne sie,

Ne never o pennie thider ne send;
Though the poore parishens for hunger die,
O pennie on hem woll they not spend.

Have they receiving of the rent,
They recke never of the remenaunt.
Alas! the devill hath cleane hem, blent,
Soche one is Sathanas sojournaunt.

And usen horedome and harlottrie,
Covetise, pompe, and pride,
Slothe, wrath, and eke envie,
And sewen sinne by everie side.
Alas! where thinke such tabide ?
How woll they accomptes yelde?

From high God they mowe hem not hide;

Soche willers witte is not worth a nelde.

They ben so rooted 1n richesses,
That Christes povert is foryet ;
Served with so many messes,
Hem thinketh that manna is no meat.
All is good that they mowen geat;
They wene to live evermore ;
But when God at dome is seat,
Soch treasour is a feble store.

Unneth mote they matins saie,

For counting and cour t-holding
And yet he jangleth as a jaie,

And understont him selfe no thing.

He woll serve both erle and king
For his finding and his fee;

And hide his tithing and his offring ;
This is a feble charité.

327

328

POLITICAL POEMS.

Other they been proude, or covetous ;
Or they been hard, or hungrie; —
Or they ben liberall, or lecherous ;
Or els medlers with marchandry ;
Or mainteiners of men with mastry ;
Or stewards, countours, or pleadours,
And serve God in ypocrisie ;
Soch priests been Christes false traitours.

They been false, they been vengeable,
And begilen men in Christs name ;
They been unstedfast and unstable, |
To traie her Lord hem thinketh no shame.
To serve God they been full lame,
Gods theeves, and falsely steale,
And falsely Gods worde defame; |

In winning is her worldes weale.

Antichrist these serve all.
I praie thee who may say naie?
With Antichrist soch shull fall,
They followen him in deede and faie ;
They serven him in rich arraie,
To serve Christ such falsely fain.
Why, at the dreadfull domes-day
Shull they not folowe him to pain!

That knowen hem selfe that they doen ill,
Ayenst Christes commaundement ;
And amend hem never ne will,
But serve Sathan by one assent.
Who saieth sothe he shall be shent,
Or speaketh ayenst her false living ;
Who so well liveth shall be brent;
For soche been greater than the king.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN.

Popes, bishops, and. cardinals,
Chanons, parsons, and vicare,

In Goddes service I trowe been fals,
That sacraments sellen here ;
And been as proude as Lucifere ;

Eche man looke whether that I lie.

Who so speketh ayenst her powere,

It shal be holden heresie.

Loke how many orders take
. Onely of Christ, for his service,
That the worldes goodes forsake.
Who so taketh orders otherwise,
I trowe that they shall sore agrise,
For all the glose that they conne. |
All sewen not this assise,
In evill time they thus begonne.

Loke how many among hem all
Holden not this hie waie;

With Antichrist they shullen fall,
For they wullen God betraie.
God amende them that best maie!

For many men they maken shende ;
They weten well the sothe I say,

But the devill hath foule hem blende.

Some on her churches dwell,

Apparailled poorely, proude of port ;

The seven sacraments they doen sell,
In cattel catching is her comfort.
Of eche matter they wollen mell,

To doen hem wrong is her disport;
To afraie the people they been fell,

And hold hem lower than doeth the lord.

329

330.

POLITICAL POEMS.

For the tithing of a ducke
Or of an apple, or an aie,

They make man swere upon a boke ;
Thus they foulen Christes faie.
Soche bearen evill heaven kaie ;

They mowen assoile, they mowe shrive
With mennes wives strongly plaie,

With true tillers sturte and strive

At the wrastling, and at the wake,
And chiefe chauntours at the nale;
Market-beaters, and medling make,
Hoppen and houten with heve and hale. .
At faire fresh, and at wine stale;
Dine and drinke, and make debate:
The seven sacraments set a saile ;
How kepe soche the kaies of heaven gate?

Mennes wives they wollen hold,

And though that they been right sorye,
To speake they shull not be so bold,

For sompning to the consistorye :

And make hem saie mouth I lie,
Though they it sawe with her iye;

His lemmen holden openly,
No man so hardy to aske why.

He woll have tithing and offring,
Maugré who so ever it grutch ;
And twise on the day he woll sing ;
Goddes priestes neré none soche.

He mote on hunting with dogge and bich,
And blowen his horne, and crien, hey!
And sorcerie usen as a witch.

Soche kepen evill Peters key.. -

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN.

Yet they mote have some stocke or stone,

Gaily painted, and proudly dight,
To maken men leven upon,

And saie that it is full of might.
About such men set up great light
Other soche stockes shull stande thereby,

As darke as it were midnight,
For it maie make no mastrie.

That it leud people see mow,

Thou, Mary, thou worchest wonder things:

About that, that ‘men offren to now,
Hongen broches, ouches, and rings.
The priest purchaseth the offerings,

But he will offer to none image;
Woe is the soule that he for-sings,

That preacheth for soche a pilgrimage.

To men and women that been poore, —
That been Christes awne likenesse,
Men shullen offer at her doore,
"That suffre hunger and distresse ;
And to soche images offer lesse,
That mow. not feele thurst ne cold;
The poore in spirite gan Christ blésse, .
Therefore offreth to feble and old.

Bucklers brode, and sweardes long, |
Baudrike, with baselardes kene,

Soche toles about her necke they hong:
With Antichrist soche priestes been,
Upon her deedes it is well seen

Whome they serven, whom they honouren;
Antichristes they been clene,

And Goddes goodes falsely devouren.

331

332.

POLITICAL POEMS.

Of scarlet and grene gaie gounes,
That mote bee shape of the newe;

To clippen and kissen they counten in tounes
The damoseles that to the daunce sewe ;
Cutted clothes to shewe her hewe,

With long pikes on her shone.

Our Goddes gospell is not true,

Either they serven the devill or none.

Now been pristes pokes so wide,

That men must enlarge the vestiment ;
The holy gospell they doen hide,

For they contrarien in raiment.

Soche priestes of Lucifer been sent,
like conquerours they been araied,

The proude pendaunts at her arsis ipent ;
Falsely the trueth they han betraied.

Shrift-silver soche wollen aske,

And woll men crepe to the crouche ;
None of the sacraments save aske

Without mede shall no man touch.

On her bishop their warant vouch,
That is lawe of the decré; —

With mede and money thus. they mouch ;
And this they sain is charité.

In the middes of her masse
They nill have no man but for hire;
And full shortly let forth passe,
Such shull men find in each shire,
That parsonages for profite desire,
To live in liking and in lusts ;
I dare not saine, sans ose je dire,
That such been Antichrists priests.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. “333

For they yef the bishops why, _
Or they mote been in his service,
And holden forth her harlottry ;
. Buch prelates been of feeble empr ise.
Of Gods graine such men agrise,
For such. matters that taken mede;
How they excuse hem, and in what wise,
Me thinketh they ought greatly drede.

They saine that it to no man longeth

. To reprove them though they erre ;
But falsely Goddes goodes they fongeth,
And therewith meintein wo and werre.
Her deedes should be as bright as sterre,

Her living leud mannes light;
They saie the pope may not erre,

Nede must that passe mannes might.

Though a priest lye with his lemman all night,
And tellen his felowe, and he him;
He goth to masse anon right, —
And saieth he singeth out of sinne.
His birde abideth him at his inne,
And dighteth his diner the meane while.
He singeth his masse, for he would winne ;
And so he weneth God begile.

Hem thinketh long till they be met,
And that they usen forth all the yere ;
Emong the folke whan he is set,
He holdeth no man halfe his pere.
Of the bishop he hath powere
To soilé men or els they been lore ;
His absolution may them skere,
And wo is the soule that he singeth for.

834 0c POLITICAL POEMS,

The griffon began for to threte,
And saiéd: “ Of monkes canst thou ought?”
The pellican said: * They been full grete,
* And in this world much wo hath wrought.
* Saint Benet, that her order brought,
* Ne made hem never on such manere;
* [ trowe it came never in his thought,
« That they should use so great powere.

EN
-

That a man should a monke lord call,
* Ne serve on knees, as a king;
He is as proud as prince in pall,
* In meat, and drinke, and all thing.
* Some wearen mitre and ring,
‘ With double worsted well ydight,

* With royall meat and rich drinke,
* And rideth on a courser as a knight,

^
^

* With hauke and with hounds eke,

* With brooches or ouches on his hood.
* Sume say no masse in all a week,

* Of deinties is her most food.

* They have lordships and bondmen ;
* This is a royall religion;

* Saint Benet made never none of hem
* To have lordshipe of man ne toun. |

Now they ben queint and curious,

* With fine cloth clad, and served cleane:
* Proud, angrie, and envious ;

* Mallice is much that they meane.

* In catching, eraftie and covetous,
Lordly they liven in great liking ;

This living is not religious,

*- According to Benet in his living.

n
rn

mm
w

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 335

* They ben elerkes, her courts they oversee,
* Her poore tenaunce fully they slite;:
The higher that à man amerced be,

. © The gladlier they woll it write.

“ This is farre from Christes poverty,
For all with covetise they endite,

* On the poore they have no pity,

* Ne never hem cherish, but ever hem bite.

^
CN

^
^

e
^

And commonly such been comen

* Of poore people, and of hem begete,
That this perfection han inomen,

* Her fathers riden not but on her fete,
* And travailen sore for that they eate,
* In povert liveth yong and old;

ON
^

* And all this these monkes han forsake,
. * For Christes love and Saint Benete ;
* To pride and ease have take;
* This religion is evill beseate.
* Had they been out of religion,
* They must have hanged at the plowe,
“ Threshing and diking fro toune to toune,
* With sorrie meat, and not halfe ynowe.

“Therefore they han this all forsake, _
* And taken to riches, pride, and ease;
* Full few for God woll monkes hem make,
* Little is such order for to praise.
* Saint Benet ordained it not so,
But bad hem be churchliche,
* In churliche manner live and go,
* Boistous in earth and not lordliche.

n
La)

336

«4

Lej
^

La
La]

^
nw

an
=

Lei
«

e^
-^

Lej]
La

Le
e^

e
DN

POLITICAL POEMS.

"They disclaunder Saint Benet, .

* Therefore they have his holy curse. |
Saint Benet with hem never met,

* But if they thought to robbe his purse.
* T ean no more hereof tell,

But they ben like tho before,

* And cleane serve the devill of hell,
And ben his treasure and his store.

And all such other counterfaitours, |
* Chanons, canons, and such disguised,
Been Gods enemies and traitours, |

# His true religion han foule despised.

* Of freres I have told before,

In a making of a Crede; |

* And yet I could tell worse and more,
But men would werien it to rede.

As Gods goodnesse no man tell might,

“ Write ne speake, ne thinke in thought,
So her falshed, and her unright,

* May no man tell that ever God wrought."
The griffon saied: “Thou canst no good,
Thou came never of no gentle kind ;

* Other I trowe thou waxest wood,

Or els thou hast lost they mind.

Should holy church have no hedde ?

* Who should be her governaile?

Who should her rule, who should her redde?

* Who should her forthren, who should availe ?
* Ech man shall live by his travaile, —

Who best doeth shall have most mede.

«* With strength if men the church assaile,
With strength men must defend her nede.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 937

-
^

And the pope were purely poore,

* Needie, and nothing ne had,

* He should be driven from doore to doore :
* The wicked of him nolde not be drad.

* Of such an head men would be sad,
And sinfully liven as hem lust ;

“ With strength to amend such be made,
With wepen wolves from sheepe be wust.

4
PAN

Lej
CON

* If the pope and prelates would
“ So begge and bid, bow, and borrow,
“ Holy church should stand full cold,
* Her servaunts sit and soupe sorrow.
* And they were noughtie, foule, and horow,
* To worship God men would wlate,
* Both on even and on morow ;
“ Such harlottrie men would hate. .

* Therefore men of holy church
* Should be honest in all thing,
Worshipfully Gods workes werch.

_“ So seemeth it to serve Christ her king
* [n honest and in cleane clothing,

* With vessels of gold and clothes rich,

* To God honestly to make offring ;
* To his lordship none is liche,"

e
n

The pellican cast an huge crie, |
And saied : “Alas! why saiest thou so?
Christ is our head that sitteth on hie,
* Heads ne ought we have no mo.
« We ben his members both also,
* And father he taught us to call him als;
* Masters to be called defended he tho;
* All. other masters ben wicked and fais.
VOL. I | Y

Le]

338

^
f

(

nw
CN

wn
wr

[11

~
wn

ow
CN

^
CN

wn
CS

cé

POLITICAL POEMS,

That taketh maistrie in his name

“ Ghostly, and for yearthly good,

Kings and lords should lordship have,

* And rule the people with mild mood.
* Christ for us that shed his blood,
Bad his priests no maistership have,

* Ne carke not for cloth ne food,

From every mischeefe he will hem save.

Her rich clothing shall be right wisenesse ;

* Her treasure true life shall be ;
Charity shall be her richesse ;

* Her lordship shall be unité;

* Hope in God her honesté ;
Her vessel cleane conscience ;

“ Poore in spirit and humilité
Shall be holy churches defence.”

What, " saied the griffon, “may thee greve,

* That other folkes faren wele ?

What hast thou to doen with her live?
“ Thy falshed ech man may fele.

“ For thou canst no cattell gete,

But livest in lond as a lorell,
* With glosing gettest thou thy mete;
So fareth the devill that wonneth in hell.

He would that ech man there should dwell,
“ For he liveth in cleane envie ;

So with the tales that thou doest tell

“ With your glose and your heresie ;

For ye can live no better life,

* But cleane in hypocrisie,

And bringest thee in woe and strife.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 339

* And therewith have not to doen,

.. * For ye ne have here no cure;

Ye serve the devill, neither God ne man,
* And he shall paie you your hire.

* For ye woll fare well at feastes,

* And warme clothed for the cold,

* Therefore ye glose Goddes heestes, -
And begile the people yong and old. . -

a!
^

(

* And all the seaven sacraments
*'Ye speake ayenst, as ye were slie, -
Ayenst tithinges, offringes, and tents,
. * And on our Lordes bodie falsely lie.

* And all this ye doen to live in ease,
* As who saieth, there been none soche;

€

* And this commeth in by fendes, _
* To bring the christen in distaunce, -
For they would that no man were frendes.
* Leave thy chattring with mischaunce ;
* If thou live well, what wilt thou more?
* Let other, men live as hem list;

* Spende in good, or keepe in store ;:
* Other mens conscience never thou nist.

wn
nw

* Ye han no cure to answere fore, 0
* What meddle ye, that han not to doen?
* Let men live as they han doen yore,
* For thou shalt answere for no man."
The Pellican sayd: “Sir, naie, —
* [ dispised not the pope;
* Ne-no sacrament, soth to saie, ..
* But spèake in..charité and god hope.
| v 2

940 | POLITICAL POEMS.

* But I dispise her hye pride,

* Her richesse, that should be poore in spirite;
* Her wickednesse is known so wide,

They serve God [in] false habite ;

* And tournen mekenesse into pride, | |
* And lowlinesse into high degree ; : 4

* And Goddes wordes tourne and hide;
* And that am I moved by charité, —

t^
v^

To let men to live 80,
_ * With all my cunning and my might,
* And to warne men of her wo,
* And to tellen hem trouth and right.
* The sacraments be soule-heale,
* If they been used in good use;
* Ayenst that speake I never a deale,
‘For then were I no thing wise.

Sg.

But they that usen hem in misse manere, OX
* Or set hem up to any sale, | |
I trow they shall abie hem dere,

* This my reason, this is my tale.

* Who so taketh hem unrightfulliche,
* Ayenst the ten commaundements,

* Or by glose wrechedliche
* Selleth any of the sacraments, 3

La
^

9^
^

^
Lai

I trow they doe the devill homage,

* In that they weten they doe wrong;

* And thereto I dare well wage, 4
“ They server Sathan for all her song. | i

* To tithen and offren is holesome life, ;

So it be done in due mannere ;

* À man to houselin and to shrive,

* Wedding, and all the other in fere. -

Lai
nm

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 341

* So it be nother sold ne bought,
“ Ne take ne give for covetise ;
* And it be so taken, it is nought,
* Who selleth hem so may sore agrise.
* On our Lords body I doe not lie,
* I say sooth through true rede, .
* His flesh and blood through his misterie
* [s there, in the forme of brede.

.* How it is there it needeth not strive,
* Whether it be subget or accident,
* But as Christ was when he was on live,
* So is he there verament.
* If pope or cardinall live good.live,
* As Christ commaunded in his gospell,
* Ayenst that woll I not strive;
* But me thinketh they live not well.

* For if the pope lived as God bedde,
* Pride and highnesse he should despise,
“ Richesse, covetise, and croune on hedde ;
* Meekenesse and poverte he should use."
The griffon saied he should abie;
“Thou shall be brent in balefull fire,
* And all thy sect I shall destrie ;
* Ye shall be hanged by the swire.

* Ye shullen be hanged and to-draw,
* Who giveth you leave for to preach?
“ Or speake against Gods law, |
* And the people thus falsely teach?
“ Thou shalt be cursed with booke and bell,
* And dissevered from holy church,
“ And cleane ydamned into hell,
* Otherwise but ye woll worch.”

342

POLITICAL POEMS.

The pellican saied : “That I ne drede,
* Your cursing is of little value ;

* Of God I hope to have my mede,.
^. For it is falshed that ye sewe.
* For ye been out of charité,

* And wilneth vengeaunce, as did Nero

- '" To suffren I woll ready be,

* TI drede not that thou canst do.

* Christ bad ones suffer for his love;
* And so he taught all his servaunts.
* And but thou amend for his sake above,
* T drede not all thy maintenaunce, |
* For if I drede the worlds hate,
Me thinketh I were little to preise;
* I drede no thing your high estate,
* Ne I drede not your disease.

Lol

* Woll ye tourne and leave your pride,
* Your high port, and your richesse ?

“ Your cursing should not go so wide,

* God bring you into rightwisenesse |

* For I drede not your tirannie,

For no thing. that ye can done;

“ To suffer 1 am all readie, |

“ Siker I recke never how soone."

€

The griffon grinned as he were wood,
And looked lovely as an owle,
And swore by cocks heart blood,
. He would him teare every doule.
© Holy church thou disclaundrest foule ;
* For thy reasons I woll thee all to-race,
* And make thy flesh to rot and moule,
* Losell, thou shalt have hard grace.”

«EM

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. 343

The griffon flew forth on his way ;
The pellican did sit and weepe,
And to himselfe he gan say:
* God would that any of Christ shepe
* Had heard, and ytaken keepe
* Of each word that here saied was;
* And would it write and well it keepe ;.
* God would it were all for his grace!"

. Plowman. I answerd, and saied I would,
If for my travaille any man would pay.
Peli. He saied: “ Yes, these that God han sold,
* For they han store of money."
Plowman. Y saied : “Tell me and thou may,
.* Why tellest thou mens trespace ?" |
Pellican. He saied: “To amend hem in good fay,
If God woll give me any grace.

&«

For Christ himselfe is likened to me,
* That for his people died on rood;

“ As fare I, right so fareth he,

“ He feedeth his birds with his blood.
* But these doen evill agenst good,
And ben his foen under friends face ;
“TI told hem how her living stood ;
God amend hem for his grace!"

sé

Plowman. “ What aileth the griffon, tell why
* That he holdeth on the other side?”
Pelli. * For they two been hkely,
* And with her kinds roven wide.
* The foule betokeneth pride,
“-As Lucifer, that high flew was,
* And sith he did him in evill hide ;
“ For he agilted Gods grace.

944

POLITICAL POEMS.

* As bird flieth up in the aire,
* And liveth by. birds that been meke,
So these been flow up into despaire,
* And shenden silly soules eke.
* The soules that been in sinnes seke,
He culleth hem kneele ; therefore, ‘alas!
:* For briberie Gods. forbode breke;
* God amend it for his grace! | |

wn
m

=,
a:

^
Las

The hinder part is a lioun,

* À robber and a ravinere,

That robbeth the people in earth doune,

* And in earth holdeth none his pere;
=“ So fareth this foule both ferre and nere,

. And with temporell strength the people chase,
* As a lion proud in earth here;
“ God amend hem for his grace!"

CN
+ Las

Lai
ex

Pellican. He flew forth with his wings twaine,
All drouping, dased, and dull;

. But soone the griffon came againe,

Of his foules the earth was full;
The pellican he had cast to pull,

So great a number never seene there was,
What manner of foules tellen I woll,

If God woll give me of his grace.

With the griffon comen foules fele,
Ravins, rokes, crowes, and pie,
Gray foules, agadred wele,
I gurde above they would hie ;
Gledes and buzzards werren hem by, |
White moles, and puttockes token her place,
And lapwings, that well conneth lie;
This fellowship han forgard her grace.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE PLOUGHMAN. : 845

Long the pellican was out,
But at last he commeth againe ;

And brought with him the phenix stout.
The griffon would have flow full faine ;
His foules that flewen as thicke as rame,

The phenix tho began hem chace.

To flie from him it was in vaine,
For he did vengeaunce, and no grace.
Hé slew hem downe without mereie,

There astart neither free ne thrall;
On him they cast a rufull crie,

When the griffon doun was fall.

He beat hem not, but slew hem all,
Whither he hem drove no man may trace;
Under the earth me thought they yall,

Alas! they had a feeble grace.

The pelliean then asked right,
For my writing if I have blame,
Who woll for me fight or flight? —
Who shall sheld me from shame?
He that had a maid to dame,
And the lambe that slaine was |
Shall sheld me from ghostly blame,
For earthly harme is Gods grace.

Therefore I pray every man,
Of my writing have me excused ;
This writing writeth the pellican,
That thus these people hath despised.
For I am fresh fully advised,
I nill not maintaine his menace ;
For the devill is often disguised, .

To bring a man to evill grace.

846 - | POLITICAL POEMS.

Witeth the pellican and not me,
For hereof I will not avow ;
In high ne in low, ne in no degree,
But as a fable take it ye mowe.
To holy church I will me bow
Ech man to amend him Christ send space;
And for my writing me allow
He that is almighty for his grace.

ON THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE AGE. 1396-7.!
By John .Gower.

Carmen super multiplici vitiorum . pestilentia unde
tempore Ricardr secunda partes nostra: @ specialius
4nficiebantur.

Non excusatur qui verum non fateatur,
Ut sic ponatur modus unde fides recolatur.
Qui magis ornatur sensu sua verba loquatur,
Ne lex frangatur qua Christus sanctificatur.
Hoe res testatur, virtus ita nunc vitiatur,
Quod vix firmatur aliquis quin transgrediatur.
Hine contristatur mea mens, quse sepe gravatur,
Dum contemplatur vitium quod continuatur.
Sed quia speratur quod vera fides aperatur,
Quod Deus hortatur mihi seribere penna paratur.
Ut describatur eur mundus sie variatur,

Ecce malignatur quæ modo causa datur.

Putruerunt et corruptæ sunt cicatrices a facie
insipientiæ, sed priusquam mors ex morbo finem

— — MÀ M HM A A i S — ——— t a — — — M 9€ e —À — €—— — — ————— ——— —

are found in the MSS. of Gower's
Latin poems, but they present no
|. variations of any importance, as far
| as I have eollated them.

1 The date of this poem is given |
by Gower himself It is here
printed from MS. Cotton. Tiber.
A. iv. fol, 167, r7. Other copies

ON THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE AGE. . 947

repente concludat, sapientie medicinam detectis plagis
cum omni diligentia sapienter investigare debemus;
unde ego, non medicus sed medicine procurator,
qui tanti periculi gravitatem deplangens intime con-
tristor, qusdam vulnera majori corruptione putrida
evidenti distinctione, ut inde medicos pro salute
interpellam, consequenter declarare propono, anno regni
regis Ricardi secundi vicesimo.

Contra demonis astutiam in causa Lollardice.

Quod patet ad limen instanti tempore crimen

Describam primo, quo pallent alta sub imo.

Nescio quid signat, plebs ccelica jura resignat,

Dum laicus clausas fidei vult solvere causas,

Quæ Deus incepit, et homo servanda recepit.

Jam magis enervant populi quam scripta reservant,
Unde magis clarum seribere tendo parum.

Lollia messis habens granum perturbat, et ipsum
Talia qui patitur horrea sepe gravat.

Semina perfidiæ sacros dispersa per agros
Ecclesie turbant subdola sicque fidem.

Inventor sceleris, sceleratus apostata, primus
Angelicas turmas polluit ipse prius,

Postque ruit nostros Paradisi sede parentes,
Morteque vitales fecerat esse reos.

Callidus hie serpens, nec adhue desistit in orbe,
Quin magis in Christi lollia messe serit.

Ecce novam sectam mittit, quz plebis in aures
Ad fidei damnum scandala plura canit.

Sic vetus insurgit heresis, quasi Joviniani,
Unde moderna fides commaculata dolet.

Usurpando fidem vultum mentitur honestum,
Cautius ut fraudem palleat inde suam.

Sub grossa lana linum subtile tenetur,
Simplicitas vultus corda dolosa tegit.

2848 -. ^ . A POLITICAL POEMS,

Fermento. veteri talis corrumpit acervum,
Qui nova conspergit, et dubitanda movet.

Dum magis incantat, obtura tu magis aures,
Fortius et cordis ostia claude tui.

_ Simplicitate tua ne credas omne quod audis,
Qua docet ambiguus auctor aborta cave.

Nil novitatis habens tua mens fantastica cedat,
Ut pater ante tuus credidit acta cole.

Vera fides Christi non hæsitat, immo fideles
Efficit ut credant cordis amore sui.

Nil valet illa fides ubi res dabit experimentum,
Spes tamen in Christo sola requirit eum.

Recta fides quiequid rectum petit, omne meretur,
Quiequid possibile creditur ipsa potest.

Argumenta fides dat rerum quæ neque sciri

. Nec possunt verbo nec ratione capi.

Subde tuam fidei mentem, quia mortis imago
Judicis æterni mystica scire nequit..

Ut solus facere voluit, sic scire volebat
Solus, et hoc nulli participavit opus.

Una quid ad solem scintilla valet, vel ad æquor
Gutta, vel ad cœlum quid cinis esse potest?

Leetitiam luc us, mors vitam, gaudia fletus,
Non noruri, nec quie sunt deitatis homo.

Non tenebre solem capiunt, non lumina cæcus,
Infima mens hominis non capit alta Dei.

Nempe sacri flatus arcanum nobile nunquam
Serutari debes, quod penetrare nequis.

Cum non sit nostrum vel mundi tempora nosse,
Unde creaturas nosse laborat homo?

. Nos sentire fidem nostra ratione probatam,
Non foret humanis viribus illud opus.

Humanum non est opus ut transcendat ad astra,
Quod mortalis homo non ratione capit.

Ingenium tante transit virtutis in altum,
Transcurrit superos, in deitate manet.

ON THE CORRUPIIONS OF THE AGE. 349

Qui sapienter agit. sapiat moderanter in istis,
Postulet ut rectam possit habere fidem.
Committat fidei quod non poterit rationi,
Quod non dat ratio det tibi firma fides.
Quod vocet ecclesia tu tantum crede, nec ultra
Quam tibi scire datur quomodocumque stude.
Sufficit ut credas, est ars ubi nulla sciendi,
Quanta potest Dominus scire nec ullus habet.
Est Deus omnipotens, et qui negat omnipotenti
Credere posse suum, denegat esse Deum.
Sie incarnatum tu debes credere Christum
Virginis ex utero, qui Deus est et homo.
Vis salvus fieri, pete, crede, stude, revereri,
Absque magis quæri lex jubet ista geri.
Has phantasias aliter quæ dant hæresias
. Damnat Messias, sobrius ergo scias,
Tempore Ricardi super his que fata tulerunt,
Schismata Lollardi de novitate serunt.
Obstet principiis tribulos, purgareque vadat
Cultor in ecclesiis, ne rosa forte cadat.

Contra mentis sœvitiam in causa swperbic.

Deficit in verbo sensus quo cuncta superbo,
Scribere delieta nequeo quse sunt mihi dicta.
Radix peccati fuit ille prius scelerati

Ex quo damnati perierunt prævaricati.

Desuper a cœlis dejecit eum Michaelis

Ensis ad inferni tenebras de luce superni.

Nee Paradisus ei prebere locum requiei
Spondet, ubi vere sibi gaudia posset habere.

Sic quia deceptus alibi nequit esse receptus,
Mundum deposcit, ut in illo vivere possit.

Sie adhibendo moram venit ille superbus ad horam,
Quem mea mens tristis in partibus asserit istis.
Hune ubi ponemus hostem quem semper habemus,
Nam magis infecta veniens facit omnia tecta.

350 . . POLITICAL POEMS.

Laus ibi non lucet, ubi vana superbia ducet —

Regna superborum, docet hoc vestitus eorum. -

Cum valet ornatum sibi vanus habere paratum,

Non quasi mortalis sed ut angelus evolat alis.

Militis ad formam modo pauper habet sibi normam, .

Vana sit ut vestis, erit inde superbia testis.

Exterius signum cor signat habere malignum,

Cordis et errore fortuna carebit honore.

Nos igitur talem non consociare sodalem

Expedit, ut tuti reddamur in orbe saluti. -

Quod Deus odivit reprobos, David hoc bene scivit,

Ipseque Psalmista scripsit de talibus ista;

Elatas mentes posuit de sede potentes,

Et sublimavit humiles quos semper amavit;

Vanus non durat, quem vana superbia curat ;

Hsec sed eum ducet ubi gratia nulla reducit.

Culpa quidem fontes, latices dabit hze Acherontis,

Unde bibunt vani mortem quasi quotidiani -

Omne quod est natum stat ab hoc vitio vitiatum,

Quo magis immundum vir vanus habet sibi mundum ; ;

Sed qui mentali de pondere judiciali

Istud libraret, puto quod meliora pararet.

Hoc ham mortale vitium stat sic generale,

Quod mundum fregit, ubi singula regna subegit.

Hæc etenim esdes nostras ut dicitur sedes

Vertit, et insana dat tempora quotidiana.

O Deus sterne, culpe miserere moderne,

Facque pias mentes sub lege tua poenitentes.
Corpus, opes, vires, sapiens, non sic stabilires.

Dumque superbires subita quin sorte perires.

Sunt qus majores humiles patientia mores

Nutrit, et errores vitii facit esse minores.

Ergo tuam vera mentem moderare statera,

Sit.laus vel labes, pectore pondus habes.

ON THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE AGE. 35]

Contra carnis lasciviam im causa concupiscentic,

O sexus fragilis, ex quo natura virilis
Carnea procedit,: animæque robora legit.
O natura viri carnalis, que stabiliri
Non valet ut pura carnalia sint sibi jura.
Foedera sponsorum quæ sunt sacrata virorum,
Heu! caro dissolvit, nec ibi sua debita solvit.
Tempore presenti de carne quasi furienti
Turpia sunt plura quæ signant damna futura;
He desponsatis sunt metuenda satis.
Philosophus quidam, carnis -de labe remorsus,
Plebis in exemplum talia verba refert.
Unam de variis poenam sortitur adulter,
Ejus ut amplexus vivus in orbe luat.
Aut membrum perdet, aut carceris antra subibit,
Aut cadet infamis non reputandus homo.
Aut sibi pauperies infortunata resiste,
Aut moriens subito transit ab orbe reus.

Et sic luxuries fatuis sua dona refundit, .
Vertit et e contra quiequid ab ante tulit.
Quod prius est dulce, demonstrat finis amarum,
Quo caro non tantum spiritus immo. cadit.

Sic oculus cordis, carnis caligine cæcus,
Errat, et in damnum decidit ipse suum.

Sie jubar humani sensus fuscatur in umbra
Carnis, et in carnem mens rationis abit.

Dum carnalis amor animum tenet illaqueatum,
Sensati ratio fit rationis egens.

Stans hominis ratio calcata per omnia carni
Servit, et ancille vix tenet ipsa locum.

Non locus est in quo maneant consueta libido
Et ratio pariter, quin magis una vacat.

Bella libido movet, favet et vecordia carnis,
Et sua dat foedo colla premenda jugo.

852 lU POLITICAL POEMS.

Libera sed ratio mentem de morte remordet,
Carnis in obsequio, statque pudica Deo.
Nil commune gerunt luxus sibi cum ratione,
Ista Deum retinet, illa cadaver habet.
Sie patet ut nihil est quiequid peritura voluptas,
Appetit in carne que velut umbra fugit.
Pluribus exemplis tibi luxus erit fugiendus,
Biblia quæ docuit; respice facta David.
Consilio Balaam luxus decepit Hebræos,
Quos caro commaculat, carnea culpa premit.
Discat homo juvenis, celeri pede labitur setas,
Nuncia dum mortis curva senecta venit.
Ecce senilis hyems tremulo venit horrida passu,
Et rapit a juvene quod reparare nequit.
Vir sapiens igitur sua tempora mente revolvat,
Erigat et currum quam. prius inde cadat.
Heu ! sed in hoc vitio plebis quasi tota propago
Carnis in obsequio stat vitiata modo.
Ex causa fragili causatur fictilis setas, -
^. Quo nune de facili frangitur omnis homo.
Carnis enim vilia sunt sic communiter acta,
Quod de continuis vix pudet usus eis.
Caecus amor fatuos cæcos sic ducit amantes,
Quod sibi quid deceat non videt ullus amans.
Pendula res amor est, subito collapsa dolore,
Ordine preecipiti miraque facta parat;
Sique tuam velles flammam compescere tutus,
. Artem provideas quam prius inde cadas.
Cum vitiis aliis pugna, jubet hsc tibi Paulus.
Carnis et a bello tu fuge solus homo.
Et quia vulnifico fixurus pectora telo
Vibrat amor caute, longius inde fuge.
Vinces si fugias, vinceris sique resistas ;
Ne leo vincaris, tu lepus ergo fuge.
Mente tui cordis memorare novissima carnis,
Et speculo mortis respice qualis eris,

ON THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE AGE. 353

Oscula fœtor erunt, amplexus vermis, et omne
Quod fuerat placidum. poena resolvet opus.
Occupat extrema stultorum gaudia luctus,
Et risum lachryma plena dolore madet.
Vana salus. hominis quam terminat ægra voluptas
Tollit et seternum vivere vita brevis.

Crede satis tutum tenet hoc natura statutum,
Quo caro pollutum reddet ad ima lutum.
Cum fera mors stabit, et terram terra vorabit,
Tune homo gustabit quid sibi culpa dabit.

Est ubi munditia carnis sine labe reatus,
Casta pudicitia gaudet ad omne latus.

Sat nota bina solo quo luxus non dominatur,

Pax manet absque dolo, longaque vita datur.

Contra mundi fallaciam in causa perjurii et
avaritia.

Sunt duo cognati vitiorum consociati,

Orbem qui lædunt pariter, nec ab orbe recedunt.

Iste fidem raram perjurat, et alter avaram

Causam custodit; socios tales Deus odit.

Primo perj urum describam, postque futurum.

Est ubi jus rarum scriptura remordet avarum,
Ex vitio tali fertur origo mali.

Nemo Dei nomen assumere debet inane,
Falsa nec.ut juret os prohibere malo.

Lex vetus hoc statuit, sed proh dolor! ecce modernos
Munere corruptos jam novus error agit. -

Nil nisi dona videt, dum se perjurat avarus;
Ejus enim sensum census ubique regit.

Sic non liber homo librum sine pondere librat,
Servit et ad libras quas sua libra trahit.

“Sed quia perjurus defraudat jura superni,
Jurat eum Dominus jure perire suo.

Sie lucrum sitiens laqueos incurrit, et ejus
Lingua prius mendax premia mortis habet.

VOL. I. | |. Z

954 ^ A POLITICAL POEMS,

Sie vendens et emens vacuus non transiet, immo
Munera quz capiet sulphur et ignis erunt.
Vendere justitiam nihil est.nisi vendere Christum,
Expectat damnum qui facit inde forum.
Testis erit Judas quid erit sibi fine doloris,
Dum crepuit medius culpa subibat onus.
Pœnituit culpamque semel nisi fecerat illam,
Quot tulit et lucrum reddidit ipse statim.
Sic nec.eo veniam meruit, nec habere salutem,
Jam valet exemplum tale movere virum. .
Vendidit ipse semel justum, nos quotidianum,
Ob lucri pretium vendimus omne malum.
Ile restauravit sed nos restringimus aurum ;
Poenituit, sed nos absque pavore sumus.
Sic et avaritia tanta feritate perurget
Corda viri, quod ab hoc vix homo liber abit.
Cessat justitia, cessatque fides sociata,
Fraus, dolus atque suum jam subiere locum.
Plebs.sine jure manet, non est qui jura tuetur,
Non est qui dicat jura tenere decet.
Omnibus in causis ubi gentes commoda quærunt,
Nune modus estque fides non habuisse fidem.
Vox levis illa Jacob, Esau manus hispida nuper,
Que foret ista dies signa futura dabant.
Alterius casu stat supplantator, et ejus
Qui fuerat socius fraude subinirat opes.
Ex damno fratris frater sua commoda quærit ;
Unus si præsit, invidet alter ei.
Filius ante diem patruos jam spectat in annos,
Nec videt ex oculis cæca cupido suis.
Nune amor est solus, nec sentit habere secundum,
Stans odioque tibi diligit ipse tua.
Quid modo eumque manus mentitur dextra sinistre .
Dicam, sed caveat qui sapienter agit.
Vivitur en velle, non amplius est via tuta,
Cuneta licent cupido, dum vacat ipse lucro.

Land]

ON THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE AGE.

Arma, rapina, dolus, amor ambitiosus habendi,
Amplius ad proprium velle sequuntuur iter.

Lex silet, e& nummus loquitur, jus dormit, et aurum

Pervigil insidüs vincit ubique suis. -

Hasta nocet, ferri gladius, sed plus nocet auri,
Regna terit mundi, nilque resistit ei.

Sed quia mors dubium concludit ad omnia finem,
Est nihil hic certum preter amare Deum.

Rebus. in. humanis semper quid deficit, et sic
Ista nihil plenum. fertile vita tenet.

Quod tibi dat proprium, mundus tibi tollit id ipsum,
Deridensque tuum linquit inane forum.

Quam prius in finem mundi devenerit hujus,

. Nulla: potest certo munere vita frui.

Heu! quid opes opibus cumulas, qui propria queris,
Cum se nemo queat appropriare sibi?

. Hune igitur mundum quia perdes, quære futurum,

Est aliter vacuum tempus utrumque tuum.

Mammona transibit, et avara cupido peribit,
In cineres ibit, mors tua fata bibit.
Pauper ab hac vita, sic princeps, sie heremita,
Mortuus ad merita transiit omnis ita.
Quicquid homo volvit, mors mundi cuncta revolvit,
Nemoque dissolvit quum morti debita solvit.
Hæc qui mente capit gaudia raro sapit.
Sed sibi viventi qui consilio sapienti
Providet ingenti merito ; placet omnipotenti.
Tempore presenti quæ sunt mala proxima genti,
Ex oculo flenti Gower canit ista legenti.
Quisque suæ menti qui concipit aure patenti
Mittat, et argenti det munera largus egenti.
' Stat nam mortalis terra repleta malis.

Hoe ego bis deno Ricardi regis in anno
Compatiens animo carmen lacrimabile scribo.
Vox sonab in populo, fidei jam deficit ordo,
Unde magis solito cessat laus debita Christo. -
Z 2

355 —

Salomon.
Memorare
novissima
et in æter-
num non
peccabis,

Item.
Omnia fac
cum eon-
silio, et in
teternum
non peni-
tebis.

356 | | POLITICAL POEMS,

Quem peperit virgo genitum de flamine sacro,

Hie Deus est et homo, perfecta salus manet in quo.

Ejus ab imperio processit pacis origo,

Quse dabitur justo patiens qui credit in ipso.

Vir qui vult ideo pacem componere undo,
Pacificet primo jura tenenda Deo.

ON THE VICES: OF THE DIFFERENT ORDERS OF
|. Socrery.

_ By John Gower.

Incipit tractatus de lucis scrutinio, quam ad dew
vitiorum tenebro, proh dolor! suffocarunt, se-
eundum illud in evangelio, Qui ambulat in
tenebris nescit quo vadat.

Heu! quia per crebras humus est vitiata tenebras,
Vix iter humanum locus ullus habet sibi planum.
^Si Romam pergas, ut ibi tua lumina tergas,
Lumina mira cape, quia Rome sunt duo pape.
Et si plus cleri jam debent lumina quæri,

Sub modio tecta latitat lucerna rejecta.

Præsulis officia mundus tegit absque sophia ;
Stat sua lux nulla, dum Simonis est ibi bulla.
Est iter hoe vile, qui taliter intrat ovile,

Nec bene discernit lucem, qui lumina spernit.

Sie caput obscurum de membris nil fore purum,
Efficit et secum sic cæcus habet sibi cæcum.

* Nota, quod eorum lucerna minime clarescit quos in ecelesia per
antipapam avaritia promotos ditescit.

————————————————————————————M—————————— o —————M imd

! From MS. Cotton. Tiberius A. | found also, with Gower's other
iv. fol, 171, v?, compared with MS. | Latin poems, in the MS. in All
Harl No. 6291, fol 156, r^, It is | Souls College, Oxford.

eo.

VICES OF THE DIFFERENT ORDERS OF SOCIETY. 357

bÀut si vis gressus claros, non ordo professus
Hos tibi prestabit, quos cautius umbra fugabit.
Ordine claustrali manifestus in speciali,

Lux ibi pallescit, quam mens magis invida nescit;
Lux et mortalis tenebrescit presbyteralis. |
Clara dies transit, nec eis lucerna remansit;

Sunt ibi.lucernæ jocus, otia, scorta, tabernæ,
Quorum velamen vitiis fert sepe juvamen.

Sic perit exemplum lucis, quo turbida templum
Nebula perfudit, que lumina quseque recludit.
Bie vice pastorum quos Christus ab ante bonorum
Legerat, ecce chorum statuit jam mundus eorum.

«Si lux præsentum scrutetur in orbe regentum,

Horum de guerra pallet sine lumine terra.

Ne pereant leges, jam Roma petit sibi reges,
Noscat ut ille pater que sit sibi credula mater.
Schisma modernorum patrum novitate duorum
Reges delerent, si Christi jura viderent.

Lux ita regalis decet ecclesiam specialis,

Qua domus alma Dei maneat sub spe requiei.
Teste paganorum bello furiente deorum,

Raro fides crescit, ubi regia lux tenebrescit.

H»c tamen audimus, sed et hzc verissima scimus,
Nec capit hæc mentis oculis de luce regentis.
Ulterius quære, cupias si lumen habere;

Lumina namque David sibi cæca magis titulavit.

. 4Si regni proceres aliter pro lumine queres,
Aspice quod plenum non est ibi.tempus amcenum.
Dumque putas stare, palpabis iter quia clare,
Nemo videt quando veniet de turbine grando.
Divitiæ cæcæ fallunt sine lumine sese ;

b De luce ordinis professi. |

* Nota, quod si regum lucerna in manu charitatis devotius gesta-
retur, ecclesia nunc divisa eorum auxilio discretus reformaretur,
etiam et incursus paganorum a Christi finibus eorum probitate
eminus expelleretur.

3 De luce procerum.

358 : POLITICAL POEMS.

Quam prius ille cadat vix cernit habens ubi vadat.
Sic via secura procerum non est sine cura ;
Stans honor ex onere sibi convenit acta videre.
Qui tamen extentum modo viderit experimentum,
De procerum sphera non surgunt lumina vera.
eSi bellatorum lucem scrutabor, eorum
Lucerns lator tenebrosus adest gladiator.
Sunt ibi doctrina, luxus, jactura, rapina,
Que non splendorem quærunt, sed habere cruorem.
Et sic armatus lucem pre labe reatus
Non videt, unde status suus errat in orbe gravatus.
fSi lex scrutetur, ibi lux non invenietur,
Quin vis aut velle jus concitat esse rebelle.
Non populo lucet judex quem Mammona ducet,
Efficit et secum quo sæpe reflectitur æquum.
Jus sine jure datur si nummus in aure loquatur,
Auri splendore tenebrescit lumen in ore.
Omnis legista vivit quasi lege sub ista,
Quo magis ex glosa loculi fit lex tenebrosa.
8Si mercatorum quærantur lumina morum,
Lux non fulgebit ubi fraus cum cive manebit.
Contegit usuræ subtilis forma figure,
Vultum larvatum quem dives habet similatam.
Si dolus in villa tua poscit habere sigilla,
Vix reddes clarus bona quæ tibi prestat avarus.
Et sic majores fallunt quam sspe minores;
Unde dolent turbæ sub murmure plebis in urbe.
Sic inter cives errat sine lumine dives,
Dumque fidem nescit, lux pacis ab urbe recessit.
h Si patriam quæro, nec ibi mihi lumina spero ;
Nam via vulgaris tenebris vitiatur amaris.
Plebs ratione carens, hsc est sine moribus arens,
Cujus subjectam vix Christus habet sibi sectam.

* De luce militum et aliorum qui bella sequuntur.
f De luce legistarum.

* De luce mercatorum.

^ De luce vulgari, que patriam conservat, -

VICES OF THE DIFFERENT ORDERS OF SOCIETY. 359

Sunt aliqui tales quos mundus habet speciales,
Fures, raptores, homicide, turbidiores ;
Sunt et conducti quidam pro munere ducti,
Quos facit assisa perjuros luce recisa.
Rustica ruralis non est ibi spes aliqualis,
Quo nimis obscura pallent sine lumine rura.
‘Sic magis illeeebras mundanas quisque tenebras
Nune petit, et vota non sunt ad lumina mota.
Sic prior est mundus, et si Deus esse secundus
Posset, adhue talis foret in spe lux aliqualis.
Sed quasi nunc totus Deus est à luce remotus;
Sic absente duce perit orbis iter sine luce.
iOminis orbatus varii de labe reatus,
Omnis in orbe status modo stat quasi prævaricatus. .
Cum tamen errantes alios, sine lege vagantes,
Cæcos deplango, mea propria viscera tango ;
Cæcus ut ignorat quo pergere dumque laborat,
Bie iter explorat mea mens, que flebilis orat.
| Et quia perpendo quod lucis ad ultima tendo,
Nunc iter attendo quo perfruar in moriendo.
| Tu qui formasti lucem, tenebrasque creasti,
| Crimina condones, et sic tua lumina dones.
In terram sero tunc quando cubicula quæro,
Confer candelam, potero qua ferre medelam.
: Heec Gower scribit, lucem dum quærere quibit,
| Sub spe transibit ubi gaudia lucis adhibit.
| Lucis solamen det sibi Christus Amen.

i Hic in fine tenebras deplangens pro luce obtinenda Deum exorat:

Ox Kine Ricuarp II.
By John Gower. —

Carmen quod Johannes Gower tempore regis Ricardi
dum via ultimo composuit.

O Deus immense, sub quo dominantur in ense
Quidam morosi reges, quidam vitiosi,

Disparibus meritis, sic pax, sic motio litis,
Publica regnorum manifestant gesta suorum.
Quicquid delirant reges plectuntur Achivi, .
Quo mala respirant ubi mores sunt fugitivi.
Laus et honor regum foret observatio legum,

Ad quas jurati sunt prima sorte vocati |
Ut celeste bonum puto concilium fore donum,
Quo prius in terris pax contulit oscula guerris.
Concilium dignum regem facit esse benignum ;
Est aliter signum quo spergitur omne malignum.
In bonitate pares sumat sibi conciliares

Rex bonus, et cuncta venient sibi prospera juncta.
Qui regit obtentum de concilio sapientum, -
Regnum non ledit, sed ab omni labe recedit.
Concilium tortum scelus omne refundit ab ortum
Regis in errorem, regni quo perdit amorem.

. Vee! qui prædaris, Ysaias clamat avaris ;

Sie verbis claris loquitur tibi qui dominaris.
Rex qui plus aurum populi quam corda thesaurum |
Computat, a mente populi cadit ipse repente.

Os ubi vulgare non audet verba sonare,

Stat magis obseura sub murmure mens locutura.

! From MS. Cotton. Tiberius A. | MS. Harl. 6291, fol. 158, v°, and in
iv. fol. 174, 1^, It is found also in | the All Souls’ College MS.

- c t — on ts wv

ON KING RICHARD II. 361

Quæ stupet in villa citius plebs murmurat illa,

. Unde malum crescit, sapiens quo sepe pavescit.

Est tibi eredendum murmur satis esse timendum,
Cum sit commune, tune se super omnia mune.
Lingua nequit fari mala, cor nee præmeditari, —
Quæ parat obliquus sub fraude dolosus amicus.
Mundus erit testis vir talis ut altera pestis
Inficit occulto regnum de crimine multo.

Blandus adulator, et avarus conciliator,

Quamvis non velles, plures facit esse rebelles.
Sæpius ex herbis morbus curatur acerbis ;

Sæpe loquela gravis juvat, et nocet illa suavis.
Qui falsum pingunt sub fraudeque vera refingunt,
Hi sunt qui blando sermone nocent aliquando.
Rex qui conducit tales, sibi scandala ducit,
Nomen et abducit quod nobile raro reducit.
Quod viguit mane sibi vespere transit inane,
Dummodo creduntur que verba dolosa loquuntur.
Concilio tali regnum magis in speciali
Undique turbatur, quo regis honor variatur.
Nunc ita sicut heri poterit res ista videri,

Unde magis plangit populus quem lesio tangit.
Sed præmunitus non fallitur, inde peritus,

Quod videt ante manum, fugit omen notabile vanum.
Cum laqueatur avis, cavet altera, sicque suavis
Rex pius in eura semper timet ipse futura.

Rex insensatus nullos putat esse reatus,

Quam prius ante fores casus sibi sint graviores ;
Sed qui præscire vult causas, expedit ire

Plebis et audire voces, per easque redire.

Si sib in errore regis vel in ejus honore,

Hoc de clamore populi prefertur ab ore.

Est qui morosus rex, non erif ambitiosus, —

Sed sub eo tutum regni manet omne statutum.
Nomine præclarus nunquam fuit ullus avarus,
Larga manus nomen cum laude meretur et omen.
Nomen regale populi vox dat tibi, quale, -

Sit bene sive male, Deus illud habet speciale. -

362 POLITICAL POEMS.

Rex qui tutus eris, si temet noscere quæris,
Ad vocem plebis aures sapienter habebis. .
Culpe vellaudis ex plebe creatur ut audis
Fama, ferens verba que dulcia sunt et acerba.
Fama cito crescit, subito tamen illa vanescit ;
Saltem fortuna stabilis quia non manet una.
Principio scire fortunam seu stabilire,
Non est humanum super hoc quid ponere planum.
Fine sed expertum valet omnis dicere certum _
Qualia sunt facta, quia tune probat exitus acta.
Rex qui laudari cupit et de fine beari,
Sint sua facta bona, recoletur ut inde corona.
Regia præcedant benefactaque crimina cedant,
Vivat ut æterno sic rex cum rege superno.
Absque Deo vana cum sit tibi quotidiana
Pompa, recorderis sine laude Dei morieris.
Rex sibi qui mundum præfert Christumque secundum
Linquit, adbærebit ubi finis laude carebit. ——
Regis enim vita cum sit sine laude sopita,
. Nomen erat quale dabit ultima chronica tale.
Et sic concludo breviter de carmine nudo,
Ordine quo regnant reges sua nomina pregnant.
Quo caput infirmum nihil est de corpore firmum,
Plebs neque firmatur ubi virtus non dominatur.
Rex qui securam laudis vult carpere curam, _
Christum præponat, reges qui laude coronat.
Nam qui præsumit de se, cum plus sibi sumit,
Fine carens laude stat fama retrograda caude.
Omni viventi schola pertinet ista regenti, 4
Displicet hic genti qui non placet omnipotenti. 3
. Gratia succedit meritis ubi culpa recedit,
Qui sic non credit sua rex regalia ledit.
Non ex fatali casu sed judiciali
Pondere regali stat medicina mali . -
Plebs ut ovile gregis, mors, vitaque, regula legis
Sub manibus regis sunt ea quanta legis.
Tanta lieet pronus pro tempore det sibi thronus;
. Sit nisi fine bonus non honor est sed onus.

(OS
E
3

'8
3
3

E
3
"E
D
"wá
E
UA
UR
um
3

——— — ——— Án

—- +

uo!
EN

t. On KING RicHARD’s MINISTERS!

ON KING RICHARD II. 863

Rex igitur videat cum curru quomodo vadat,
Et sibi provideat ne rota versa cadat.

Cœlorum regi pateant que scripta peregi,
Namque sub legi res nequit ulla tegi.

1399.

Ther is a busch? that is forgrowe ;

Crop hit welle, and hold hit lowe,
or elles hit wolle be wilde.

The long gras that is so grene,®

Hit most be mowe, and raked clene ;
forgrowen hit hath the fellde.

The grete bagge,* that is so mykille,
Hit schal be kettord, and maked litelle ;
the bothom is ny oust.
Hit is so roton on ych a side,
Ther nul no stych with odur abyde,
to set theron a clout.

Thorw the busch a swan? was sclayn ;
Of that sclawtur fewe wer fayne ;
. .alas! that hit betyddé!
Hit was a eyrer good and able,
. To his lord ry3t profitable ;
hit was a gentel bryde.

1 This eurious song is preserved
in a MS. formerly in the possession
of W. Hamper, Esq., of Deritend

' House, Birmingham, from which it

was printed in the twenty-first
volume of the Archæologia.
- * Sir John Bushey. |

3 Sir Henry Greene.

* Sir William Bagot.

5 The dukeof Gloucester (Thomas
of Woodstock), who was arrested in
his castle of Plescy, and carried to
Calais, where he was murdered,
in 1397.

Z 6 +

364.

POLITICAL POEMS.

The grene gras that was so long,

Hit hath sclayn a stede! strong, |
that worthy was and wyth.

Wat kyng had that stede on holde,

To juste on hym he my3t be bold,
als schulde he go to fyth.

A bereward? fond a rag;
Of the rag he made a bag ;
he dude in gode entent.
Thorwe the bag the bereward is taken;
Alle his beres han hym forsaken ;
. thus is the berewarde schent.

The : swan is ded; his make is woo ;

Her eldes[t] bryd 8 his taken her fro,
into an uncod place.

The stedes colt* is ronnon away |

An eron® hath taken hym to his praye;
hit is à wondur casse. |

The berewardes sone? is tendur of age,
He is put to mariage, -

askyng wille 3owe telle.
Sut he hoputh, thorw myth and grace,
With the beres to make solas,

and led hem at his wille.

3 A horse was the crest of the
eai] of Arundel, who was pud
in the 21st Rie. II.

? The earl of Warwick banished
to Isle of Man.

3 Humphrey, Gloucester’s only
son, was, after his father's death,
carried to Ireland and imprisoned
in the castle of Trim.

*'Ihomas earl of Arundel, son
of the earl beheaded in the 21st
Ric. IL

5 Henry duke of Lancaster.
6 Richard Beauchamp, under
nineteen, was at this time married

to Elisabeth, daughter of Thomas
lord Berkeley.

ON KING RICHARD'S MINISTERS. 365

À eron is up, and toke his flyt; |
In the noth contré he is li;t;
thus here 3e alle men saye.
The stede colt with hym he brynges;
These buth wonder and y thinges,
to se bem thus to playe. |

The gees han mad a parlement,
Toward the eron are they went,
mo then I con telle. |
The pecokes, that buth so fayr in sy3t,
To hym ben comen with alle hur my3t,
they thenke with hym to dwelle.

Upon the busch the eron wolle reste,

Of alle places it liketh hym beste, -
to loke aftur his pray.

He wolle falle upon the grene ;

There he falleth, hit wille be sene,
they wille not welle away.

The bag is ful of roton corne,
So long ykep, hit is forlorne,
hit wille stonde no stalle.
The pecokes and the ges alleso,
And odor fowles mony on mo,
-- schuld be fed withalle.

The busch is bare and waxus sere,

Hit may no lengur leves bere; _
now stont hit in no styde. —

Ywys l con no nodur bote,

But hewe hit downe erop and rote,.
and to the toun hit lede,

566 -.. POLITICAL POEMS.

The long gras that semeth grene,
Hit is roton alle bydene,
hit is non best mete.
Til the roton be dynged out,
Our lene bestes schul not rou3t,
hur liflode to gete.

The grete bage is so ytoron,

Hit nyl holde neyther mele ne corne ; ;
hong hit up to drye. |
Wen hit is drye, then schalt thou se
$yf hit wil amended be,
(a beger for to bye.

| New God, that mykelle is of myst
Grant us grace to se that syst, E
yf hit be thy wille ; E

Our lene bestes to have reste. | E
In place that hem lyketh [beste], | *
that were in point to spylle. :

ON THE EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF og
LANCASTER. » | E

. O Deus in coelis disponens cuncta fidelis,
Deprecor exaudi reddentes nos tus laudi,
Ablue pennatos fallentes perfide natos,

Ut tormentorum noscant recepisse dolorem.

De regno flores nostros tollunt meliores,
Taxas de gente pro defectu moriente.
Hi sunt inflati, pro nummis infatuati,
Quærunt ditari, pro gazis delapidari.

From the Bodleian Library, | It must have been composed in
MS, Rawlinson, No. 429, fol; 94, r°. |: June or July, 1399,

EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, 367

Tllustrent vulpes fraude lividi sine laude,
| Plus quærunt aurum quam cœli terre thesaurum;
Dissimulant verba ponentes mortis acerba : ;
Hos regni terra mactent et aspera ferra.

| Gens male taxatur, provocante furia sequatur; —
n Consilium tale pareat a sede regali; |. .— I
Dux, perlustrator constans sis an dominator,

Et fac tractari falsos et decapitari.

Milleni fantur quod plures associantur, -
Privatur vita, clamat gens coelitus ita.
Quondam pejores sunt facti jam meliores,
| Tales pomposi de stercore sunt generosi.

Fraus latet illorum propter thesaurum,

Scrope,! Bagge? Ver, dumus, * tormentorum parat
humus.

Damnarunt forti justorum corpora morti,

Sanguis qui quorum vindicta clamat eorum.

Ut cunctas digna quæ plurima passa maligna,
Ad nostrum ducem Lancastriæ reddite lucem,

|
| Invidia centum revocatur parliamentum,
Hujus consortes estote per omnia fortes.

Heu! pereunt jura, nisi sint beneficia plura;

| Lux, laus, Henricus Lancastriæ factus amicus,
Scutis et armis nos protegat undique pronos,

Taxa regnante semper post cessit et ante.

Hujus dux causa pateat sibi janua clausa;

Pannis indutus plusquam vivit modo mutus,

Mox suspendatur, si verum lingua loquatur.
Expedit armare nos, a somno vigilare.

3 Serope, earl of Wiltshire, lord 2 Robert de Vere, duke of Ireland,

treasurer, . aq hov.
? Sir William Bagot. Sir John Bushey.

968 .

POLITICAL. POEMS.

Gallica per artes nostras vult perdere partes
Rex, fallunt illa qus fixa penna sigilla,
- Seriptum Draconis, verbum spernit Salomonis,

Gallus cantabit causas, eaulis latitabit.

Aquila! dux austro salvabit nos alabastro,
Tilius coetum præstet Christus fore lectum.

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD - IT 3

And as I passid i in my preiere
ther prestis were at messe,
. in a blessid borugh

-that Bristow is named,
in a temple of the Trinité,
ihe toune even amyddis,
that Christis Chirche is cleped
amonge the comune peple,
sodeynly ther sourdid
seleouthe thingis,
a grett wondir to wyse men,
as it well my3th, |

and dowtes ffor to deme,
ffor drede comynge after.

! The name of the eagle is applied
in all these poems to Henry duke of
Lancaster.

3 This very curious alliterative
poem, which is unfortunately in-
complete, has been preserved in a
manuscript in the public library of
the University of Cambridge (Ll. 4,
14) where it follows a copy of
Piers Ploughman, to which it
seems to have been intended as
a sort of continuation, The scribe
appears from a side note not to

have partaken in the political
sentiments of the author, for which
cause perhaps, or because he disco-
vered that it did not form a part
of Piers Ploughman, he left off
abruptly. It was evidently com-
posed after the time when Richard
II. fell into the hands of his
enemies, and before the intention of
deposing bim was publicly made
known, that is, probably, in the
earlier half of the month of
September, 1399.

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II.

so Sore were the sawis

of bothe two sidis,

of Richard that regned

so riche and so noble,
that wyle he werrid be west
on the wilde Yrisshe,
Henrri was entrid

on the est half

whom all the [onde loved
in lengthe and in brede,
and rosse with him rapely
to ristyn his wronge ;

ffor he shullde hem serve
of the same after. -

Thus tales me troblid,

ffor they trewe where,
and amarride my mynde
rith moche, and my. wittis eke:
ffor it passid my. parceit,
and my preifis also,

how so wondirífull werkis
wolde have an ende.

But in sothe whan they sembled,

some dede repente,
as knowyn is in cumpas
of eristen londis, |

that rewthe was, if reson -

ne had reffourmed |
the myssecheff and the mysserule
that men tho in endurid. .

I had peté of his passion

that prince was. of Wallis,

and eke oure crouned kynge,
tile Crist wolle no lenger:

and as a lord to his liage,

VOL, I.

thou; I lite hade,

369

970 -— POLITICAL POEMS.

alle myn hoole herte was his,

while he in helthe regnid.

And ffor I wost not witterly .

what shulde falle,

whedir God wolde eve him

grace sone to amende,

to be oure gioure azeyn,

or graunte it another,

this made me to muse

many tyme and ofte,

for to written him a writte,

to wissen him better, |
| and to meuve him of mysserewle,
. his mynde to reffresshe,

ffor to preise the prynce

that paradise made,

io ffullefille him with ffeith,

and ffortune above,

and not to grucchen a grott

azeine Godis sonde,

but mekely to suffre

what so him sente were.

And 3if him list to loke

a leef other tweyne,

that made is to mende him

of his myssededis,

and to kepe him in confforte

in Crist, and nou3t ellis,

I wolde be gladde that his gost

my3te glade “be my wordis,

and grame if it greved him,

be God that me bou3te.

Ther nys no governour on the grounde

ne sholde gye him the better,

and every cristen kyng

that ony grounde bereth,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD IL | 971

so he were lerned on the langage,
my lyf durst I wedde,

gif he waite welle the wordis,
‘and so werche therafter ;

ffor alle ig tresour of the Trinité

that turneth men to gode.

And as my body and my beste
oute to be my liegis,

so rithffully be reson

my rede shuld also,

ffor to conceille, and I cousthe,

my kyng and the lordis ;

and therffor I ffordyd,

with alle my ffyve wyttis,

to traveile on this tretis,

to teche men therafter

to be war of wylffulnesse,

lest wondris arise.

And if it happe to 3oure honde,

beholde the book onys, _

and redeth on him redely

rewis an hundrid, |

and if 3e savere sum delle,

se it fforth overe ;

ffor reson is no repreif, —

be the rode of Chester.
And if 3e ffynde ffables

or ffoly ther amonge, -

or ony ffantasie yffeyned

that no ffrute is in,

lete zoure conceille corette it,

and clerkis togedyr,

and amende that ys amysse,
and make it more better,

Ffor zit it is secrette,

and so it shalle lenger,

À À 2

372

POLITICAL POEMS.

tylle wyser wittis

han waytid it overe,

that it be lore lawefulle,
and lusty to here.

Ffor witterly my wille is
that it welle liked

zou and alle 3ouris,

and yonge men leveste, .
to benyme hem her noyes,
that neweth hem ofte.
Ffor and they muse theron
to the myddwardis, |
they shalle ffele ffawtis
ffoure score and odde,

that youghe weneth alwey

that it be witt evere.

And thou; that elde opyn it
other while amonge, .

and poure on it prevyly,

and preve it well after,

and constrewe ich clause
with the culorum, . .-

it shulde not apeire hem.a peere,
a prynce thou; he were,

ne harme nother hurte

the hyghest of the rewme,
but to holde him in hele, |
and helpe alle his ffrendis.
And if ony word write be
that wrothe make myghte
my sovereyne, that suget

I shulde to be, |

I put me in his power,

and preie him of grace, — ..
to take the entent of my trouthe,
that thouste non ylle,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD IL ^ 873

ffor to wrath no wyght |
be my wylle nevere, .
as my soule be saff
ffrom synne at myn ende.
The story is of non estate
that stryven with her lustus, -
but tho that ffolwyn her flesshe
and here ffrelle thou3tis; |
so.if my conceylle be clere,
I can saie no more, |
but ho be greved in his gost,
governe him better, |
and blame not the berne
that the book made,
but the wickyd will,
and the werkis after. .
Now, Richard the redeles,
reweth on zou self, -
that lawelesse leddyn 3oure lyf
and 3oure peple bothe ;
for thoru the wyles and wronge
and wast in 2oure tyme,
ze were lyghtlich ylyste .
ffrom that 3ou leef thouste,
and ffrom 2oure willeffulle werkis,
. $oure wille was chaungid,
.and rafte was zoure riott,
and rest, flor 3oure daiez
weren wikkid thoru 3oure cursid counceille,
joure karis weren newed,
and coveitise hath crasid
3oure croune ffor evere.
Of alegeaunce now lerneth
. a lesson other tweyne,
wherby it standith
and stablithe moste,

POLITICAL POEMS.

by dride, or be dyntis,

or domes untrewe,

or by creaunce of coyne

ffor castes of pile;

by pillynge of 3oure peple
3oure prynces to plese,

or that 3oure wylle were wrou3te,
thou? wisdom it nolde ;

or be tallage of 2oure townnes
without ony werre ;

by rewthles routus

that ryfiled evere,

by preysing of polaxis

that no peté hadde;

. Or be dette ffor thi dees,

deme as thu ffyndist ;

or be ledinge of lawe

with love welle ytemprid.
Though this be derklich endited

ffor a dulle nolle,

miche nede is it not

to mwse theron ;

ffor as mad as I am,

thout3 I litille kunne,

l cowde it discryve

in a ffewe wordys.

Ffor legiance without love

litille thinge availith,

but graceles gestis,

gylours of hem self,

that nevere had harnesse,

ne hayle schouris ;

but walwed in her willis,

fforweyned in here youthe,

they sawe no manere sitzh,

saff solas and ese,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II. 375

and cowde no mysse amende
whan mysscheff was up,
but sorwed ffor her lustus
of lordseh[i]pe they hadde,
and nevere ffor her trespass
oo tere wolde they lete.
$e come to 5oure kyngdom
er 3e $oure self knewe,
erouned with à croune,
that kynge under hevene
mizte not a better

have bouzte, as I trowé; —
so ffulle was it ffilled

with vertuous stones,

with perlis of prise

to punnysshe the wrongis,
with rubies rede

the rizth for to deme,

with gemmes and juellis
joyned togedir,

and pees amonge the peplé
ffor peyne of thi lawis.

It was ffulle goodeliche ygrave |
with gold al abouste ;

the braunchis above

boren grett charge;

with diamauntis derne
ydountid of alle
that wroute ony wrake
within or withoute ;

with lewté and love

yloke to thi peeris,

and sapheris swete

that sou3te alle wrongis,
ypoudride wyth peté

ther it be ou3te,

376.

POLITICAL POEMS.

and traylid with trouthe,
and trefte al aboute, .
ffor ony christen kynge
a croune well ymakyd.

But where this croune bicome,
a clerk were that wuste ;
but so as I can, | .
declare it I thenke, .
and nempne no name,
but tho that neft were.
Ffulle prevyly they pineku
thy power awey, . _
and reden with realté
3oure rewme thoruoute,

and as tyrauntis of tiliers

token what hem liste, _ |
and paide hem on ber pannes,
whan her penyes lacked. |
Ffor non of 3oure peple

durste pleyne of here wrongis, —
ffor drede of zoure dukys, ——
and of here double harmes.

Men my3tten as welle have huntyd

an hare with a tabre,

as aske ony mendis

ffor that thei mysdede,

or of ony of her men,
thou; men wulde plete ;
ffor alle was ffelawis and ffelawschepe
that 3e with fferde,

to punnyshe the wrongis;
and that maddid thi men,
as thei nede muste.

Ffor wo they ne wuste

to whom ffor to pleyne ;

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD 1I.

ffor as it is said

by elderne dawis,

ther gromes and the goodmen
beth alle eliche greite,

wolle wo beth the wones,

and all that woneth therin.

_ They ladde zou with love,

that 2oure lawe dradde,

to deme $oure dukys myssdedis,
so derne thei were.

Thus was 3oure croune crasid,
till he was cast newe, |
thoru partinge of 3oure powere
to 3oure paragals. .

Thus laechide they with laughinge
and lourid longe after,

but ffrist sawe they it not,

ne youre self nother.

. Ffor alle was wisliche ywrou3te,
as 2oure witte demed,

and no ffauutis yffounde,

tille ffortune aperid.

But had joure croune be kepte,
that comons it wiste,

ther nadde morder ne mysscheff
be amonge the grette.

Thus 3oure cautelle to the comoune

hath combred zou alle,

that, but if God helpe,

Zoure hervest is ynne.

Wytteth it not zoure counceille,
but wyte[t]h it more zoure self,
the ffortune that ffallyn is

to ffeitheles peple,

and wayte welle my wordis,
and wrappe hem togedir,

377

878 | POLITICAL POEMS.

and constrwe clergie

the clause in thin herte,

of maters that I thenke

io meve ffor the best,

ffor kyngis and kayseceris
comynge hereafter. |

Whane 3e were sette in 3oure se,
as à sir aughte,

ther carpinge comynliche

of conceille arisith,

the chevyteyns cheef

that 3e chesse evere, |
weren alle to yonge of 3eris

, to yeme swyche a rewme,

other hobbis 2e hadden -
of Hurlewaynis kynne,
reffusynge the reule

of realles kynde.

And whane zoure counceille I knewe,
3e come so at ones,

ffor to leve on her lore,
and be led be hem,

ffor drede that they had

of demynge therafter, .

and ffor caringe of hem self,
cried on 30u evere, |
ffor to hente hele

of her owen greves,

more than ffor wurschepe
that they. to $ou owed,

they made zou to leve

that regne 3e ne myste,
withoute busshinge adoune
of alle 3oure best ffrendis,
be a ffals colour

her caris to wayve,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD IL. 979

and to holde hem in hele,

if it happe my3te.

Ffor trostith rith treuly,

and in no tale better,

alle that they moved

or mynged in the mater,

was to be sure of hem self,
and siris to ben ycallid ;

ffor that was alle her werchinge
in worde and in dede.

But had 2e do duly,

and as à duke oughte,

the ffrist that zou fformed

to that ffals dede,

he shulde have hadde hongynge
on hie on the fforckis,

thou? 3oure brother yborn -
had be the same.

Than wolde other boynardis
have ben abasshyd,

to have meved 20u to ony mals
that myss[clheff had ben ynne.
But fior 3e cleved to knavis,

in this cas I avowe,

that boldid thi burnes

to belde uppon sorowe,

and stirid zou stouttely

tille ze stombled alle

Passus secundus.

But moche now me merveilith,
and welle may I in sothe,
of zoure large leverey —
to leodis abouste,
that 3e so goodliche 3af,
but if gile letted,

380 - "^ POLITICAL POEMS.

and hertis yheedyd
and hornyd of kynde,
so ryff as they roune
joure rewme thoruoute,
that non at $oure nede
goure name wolde nempne
in ffersnesse ne in ffoltheed,
but ffaste flle away ward.
. And some. stode astonyed
and stared ffor drede,
ffor eye of the egle!
that oure helpe brouute ;
and also in sothe
. the seson was paste,
- ffor hertis yheedid
so hy and so noble
to make ony myrthe,
ffor mowtynge that nyghed.
"That bawtid zoure bestiis
of here bolde chere ; |
they severid and sondrid
ffor somere hem ffaylid,
and flowen into fforest
and ffeldis abouste,
all the hoole herde
that helde so [to]gedir ;
but get they had hornes
half [a] 3ere after.
Now liste me to lerne,

ho me lere coude,
what kynnes conceylle

that the kyng bad,
or meved him most
to merke his liegis, | .

———— —

—— A € — | a un ia

! The eagle represents Henry duke of Lancaster, afterwards king
.Henry IV. . |

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II. 381

or serve hem with signes
that swarmed so thikke
thoruoute his lond

in lengthe and in brede,
that ho so had hobblid
thoru holtes and tounes,
or ypassid the patthis
ther the prynce dwellyd,
or hertis or hyndis

on hassellis brestis,

or some lordis leveré
that the lawe stried,

he shulde have ymette
mo than ynowe.. .

Ffor they acombrede the contré,
and many curse servid,
and carped to the comounes
with the kyngys mouthe,
or with the lordis,
ther they belefte were,
ihat no renke shulde rise
reson to schewe ;

they plucked the plomayle
ffrom the pore skynnes,
and schewed her signes,
ffor men shulde drede

to axe ony mendis

ffor her mysdedis. .

Thus leverez overe loked
oure liegis ichonne ;

ffor tho that had hertis
on hie on her brestis
ffor the more partie,

I may well avowe,

they bare hem the bolder
ffor her gay broches,

382

POLITICAL POEMS, —

and busshid with her brestis,
and bare adoune the povere
lieges that loved 30u

the lesse ffor her yvelle dedis.

So trouthe. to telle,

as toune men said,

ffor on that 3e merkyd,
e myssed ten. schore

of homeliche hertis,

that the harme hente.
Thane was it ffoly, —

in ffeith as me thynketh,

- to sette silver in signés

that of nou3t served.

E not what zou eylid,

but if it ese were;

ffor firist at zoure anoyntynge
. alle were joure owene,

both hertis and hyndis,
and helde of non other;
no lede of 2oure lond,
but as a liege aughte,
ty[lle] 3e of 2oure dulnesse
deseveraunce made,
thoru 3oure side signes,
that shente alle the browet,
and cast adoun the crokk
the colys amyd.

it am I lewde
and litille good shewe,
to coveyte knowliche
of kyngis wittis,
or wilne to witte
how was the mevynge
that 3ou to lykynge
zoure liegis to merke,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II. 383.

that loved zou fulle lelly
or leverez begynne,
and.as redy to ride
or renne at 3oure heste,
as wyghte myghte wilne
wonnynge uppon .erthe,
tylle leverez hem lette,
and lordyns wrongis ;
as 3oure selfe ffonde welle
whane ffortune 30u ffolwyd.
Ffor whan 3e list to lene
to $oure owen lymmes,
they were so ffeble and ffeynte
ffor ffauste of 2oure lawe,
and so ffeble and wayke
wexe in the hammes,
that they had no myghte
to amende 3oure greves,
ne to bere byrthen
joure banere to helpe.
But it longith to no liegeman
his lord to anoye, —
. nother in werk ne in word,
but if his witt ffayle. |
“No, redely," quod reson,
* that reule I alowe,
* displese not thi demer .
* in dede ne in wordis, —
“ but if the liste ffor to lede
* thy lyf in dissese. —
* But 3if God have grauntyd
* the grace ffor to knowe
* ony manere mysscheff
“ that my3tte be amendyd,
“ schewe that to thi sovereyne
* to schelde him ffrom harmes,

384

POLITICAL POEMS,

^ ffor and he be blessid,

* the better the betydyth,
* in tyme ffor to telle him,
* ffor thi trewe herte."
Now, ffor to telle trouthe,
thus than me thynketh,
that no manere. meyntenour
shulde merkis bere,

ne have lordis leveré

the lawe to apeire,.

neither bragger ne boster,
ffor no bremme wordis ;

. but ho so had kunnynge

and conscience bothe,

" to stonde unstombled

and stronge in his wittis,
lele in his levynge,

levyd be his owen,

that no manere mede
shulde make him wrye,
ffor to trien a trouthe
betwynne two sidis,

and lette ffor. no lordschep .

. the lawe to susteyne,

whane the pore pleyned
that put were to wrongis.
And I were of conceille,
by Crist that me boujte,
he.shuld have a signe,
and sumwhat be 3ere,
ffor to kepe his contré

in quiete and in reste.
This were a good grounde,
so me God helpe !

and a trewe tente |

to take and to 3eve,

DES
Uh

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II,

VOL, I.

. and ony lord of this londe

that leverez usith.

But how the gayes han ygon,
God wotte the sothe,
amonge my3tfulle men,

alle these many 2eris ;

and whedir the grounde of 3iste

were good other ille,
trouthe hathe determyned
the tente to the ende,
and reson hath rehersid
the resceyte of alle.
it I trowe 3oure entente
at the ffrist tyme
was, as I wene, gif I welle thenke,
in multitude of peple,
that 3e were the more my3tier
ffor the many signes
that 3e.and 3oure servauntis
abouzte so thikke sowid ;
and that they were more tristi
and trewer than other,
to love zou ffor the leveré .
that legaunce stroied ;
or ellis ffor a skylle
that skathed 3oure self,

that comounes of contré

and costis abouzte

sholde knowe be hir quentise
that the kyng loved hem,
ffor her privy prynte
passinge another.

Sif that was 3oure purpos,

it passith my wittis

to deme discrecioun

of zoure welle doynge.

385

386

POLITICAL POEMS.

Thus were 3e disceyved

thoru goure duble hertis,

that nevere weren to truste,

so God save my soule!

But had the good greehonde”
be not agreyved,

But cherisched as a cheffeteyne
and cheff of 3oure lese,

ze hadde had hertis ynowe at zoure wille
to go and to ride.

And also in serteyne,

the sothe ffor to telle,

I wondir not hyly thou;

heed dere thu ffailid ;

for litille on zoure lyf

the list ffor to rewe

on rascaile that rorid

with ribbis so lene, .

ffor ffauste of her ffode

that filateris stelen,

and evere with here wylis and wast
ofte they hem anoyed, _

that poverte hem prickid

ffulle prevyliche to pleyne,
but where they ne wyste

ne ho it wolde amende. _
Thus 3e derid hem unduly
with droppis of anger, -

and stonyed hem with stormes
that stynted nevere,

but plucked and pulled hem
anon to the skynnes,

! The greyhound was the cogni- | fort, marquis of Dorset, who was
zance of the Beauforts. It may | one of the accusers of the duke of
perhaps here refer to John Beau- ! Gloucester.

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II. 387

that the ffresinge ffrost
ffreted to here hertis.
So whanne 20ure hauntelere dere
whore alle ytakyn,
was non of the rasskayle
aredy ffull growe,
to bere ony bremme heed,
as a best aughte,
so wyntris wedir
hem wesshe with the snowis,
with many derke mystis |
that maddid her eyne.
Fior welle mowe 3e wyttyn,
and so mowe we alle,
that harde is the somer
ther sonne schyneth nevere.
e ffostrid and ffodid

à ffewe of the best,
and leyde on hem lordschipe,
a leyne uppon other,
and bereved the raskalle
that rith wolde ther hadde,
and knewe not the caris
ne cursis that walkyd ;
but mesure is à meri mene, .
thou? men much yerne.
Thus be the rotus
zoure raskall endurid,
tylle the blessid bredd
brodid his wingis, — -
to covere hem ffrom colde,
as his kynde wolde.
Rith as the hous hennes
uppon londe hacchen,
and cherichen her chekonys
ffro chele of the wynter,

| BB 2

388

POLITICAL POEMS.

ryth so the hende egle,

the eyere of hem alle,

hasteth him in hervest

to hovyn his bryddis,

and besieth him besely

to breden hem ffeedrin,

tylle her ffre ffedris

be ffulliche ypynned, |
that they have wynge at her wylle
to wonne uppon hille ;

ffor venym on the valeye

hadde ffoule with hem ffare,
tylle trouthe the triacle

telde somme her sothes,

Thus baterid this bred —

on busshes! abou3te,

and gaderid gomes

on grene? ther as they walkyd,
that alle the schroff and schroup?
sondrid ffrom other.

He mellid so the metalle

with the hand molde,

that lost lemes

the levest that they had.

Bushey.

Sir Henry Green, another of
king Richard’s creatures,

Thus ffoulyd this ffaukyn
on fiyldis abou3te,

and cauzte of the kuyttis |
a cartfulle at ones,

that rentis and robis

with rabeyn evere laugte.

Richards great favourite, William —
Scrope, earl of Wiltshire, the lord
chamberlain.

* A yon on the name of sir John | * An “allusion, probably, to king

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II 389

ib was not the ffawcon!

ffull ffed at his likynge,

ffor it cam him not of kynde

kytes to love. - |

Than bated he boldeliche,

as à brid wolde,

to plewme on his prày

the pol ffro the nekk ;

but the blernyed boynard

that his bagg stalle,

where purraile is pulter,

was pynnyd ffulle ofte,

made the ffawcon to filoter

and filusshe ffor anger,

that the boy hadd be bounde

that the bagge kepte. |

But sone therafter

in a schorte tyme,

as ffortune ffolwith

ech ffode tille his ende,

this lorelle that hadde

this loby awey _

overe ffrithe and Horde,

ffor his ffals dedis, |

lyghte on the lordschepe

that to the brid longid,
and was ffelliche ylau3te,

and luggid ffull ylle,

and brou3te to the brydd,

and his blames rehersid

prevyly at the parlement

amonge alle the peple.

Thus hawkyd this egle,

and hoved above,

eee Pte osama —À
— € —— ee te ame —

1 The duke of Lancaster.

390

POLITICAL POEMS.

. that, as God wolde,

that governeth alle thingis,
ther nas kyte ne krowe
that kareyne hantid,

that he ne with his lynage |
ne lovyd ffulle sone.
Ffor wher so they fferde,
be ffryth or be woves,

was non of hem alle

that him hide my3th,

but cam with him a reclayme
ffro costis abou3te,

and ffelle with her ffetheris
flat uppon the erthe,

as madde of her mynde,
and mercy besou3te ;

they my3te not aschonne
the sorowe they had served,
so lymed leves

were leyde allabouste,

and panteris prevyliche
pight uppon the grounde,
with grennes of good heere
that God him self made,
that where so thay walkid
they waltrid dounwardis. _
And evere hoved the egle
on hie on the skyes,

and kenned clerliche,

. as his kynde axith,

alle the prevy poyntis

that the pies wrou$ih.

Passus tertius.

Now leve we this beu brid,
till I restore,

- M + ian ee

)

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II.

ffor mater that my mynde
is meved in now,

that whi the hie hertis
her hele so mysside, —

that pasture axid rith

to here pure wombis ;

.l wolle schewe as I sawe,

tile I se better,

and if I walke out of the wey,
I wolle me repente.

Now herkeneth, hende men,
how ihat me thynkyth,
savynge sovereynes

and sages avyse,

that the moste myscheff
uppon molde on .

is demed the dede

ydo azeins kynde.

Sit clereth this clause

no thinge my wittis,
without more mater, _
what it mene wolde.

I mene of the hertis

that hautesse of 3eris,

that pasture prikkyth,

and her prevy age,

whan they han hoblid on the. holte

an hundrid of 3eris,

that they ffeblen in fileisshe,
in ffelle and in bonis ;

her kynde is to kevere,

if they cacche mysth,

adders that. [h]armen

alle hende bestis,
thoru busschis and bromes
this beste of his kynde

9391

392

POLITICAL POEMS.

secheth and sercheth

tho schrewed wormes,

that steleth on the stedes

to stynge hem to deth ;

and whanne it happeth the herte
to hente the edder,

he puttyth him to peyne,

as his pray asketh,

and ffedith him on the venym,

his ffelle to anewe,

io leve at more lykynge
a longe tyme after.

This is clergie hir kynde,
coltis! [nat] to greve,

ne to hurlle with haras,

ne hors? well atamed ;
ne io stryve with swan,°
thou; it sholle werre ;
ne to bayten on the bere,’
ne bynde him nother,

ne to wilne to woo,

that were hem ny sibbe ;
ne to liste ffor to loke
that her alie bledde.

This was ajeins kynde,
as clerkis me tolde ;

and therffor the hertis
hire hele so myssid,

! The colt is intended as an allu- 3 The swan was Thomas, duke of
sion to Thomas Fitz-Alan, son of | Gloucester, murdered at Calais.
the earl of Arundel. 4 The bear was the badge of the

? Richard Fitz-Alan, earl of | Beauchamps, and here represents
Arundel, beheaded in the 21st | Thomas de Beauchamp, earl of
Richard IIl. A horse was the | Warwick, who was banished to the
cognizance of this family. Isle of Man by Ricbard II.

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II. 393

and my3te nat passe the poynte
of her prime age. |
Now constrew ho so kunne,
I can saie no more,
but ffare I wolle to the ffowle
that I beffore tolde.
Off alle billid breddis
that the bough spareth,
the propirté of partriche .
to preise me lustith, —
that in the somer seson,
whanne sittinpe nyeth,
that ich ffoule with his ffere
ffolwith his kynde,
this brid be a bank
bildith his nest,
and heipeth his heires,
and hetith hem after.
And whane the dame hath ydo
that to the dede longith,
and hopith ffor to hacche
or hervest begynne,
thanne cometh ther a cougioun,
with a grey cote,
as not of his nolle,
as he the nest made,
another proud partriche,
and precyth to the nest,
and prevyliche pirith
tille the dame passe,
and sesith on hir sete,
with hir softe plumes,
and hoveth the eyren
that the hue laide,
and with hir corps kevereth hem
tille that they kenne,

394

POLITICAL POEMS.

and ffostrith and ffodith,

tille ffedris schewe,

and cotis of kynde

hem kevere alle abou3te.
But as sone as they styffe,
and that they steppe kunne,
than cometh and crieth —
her owen kynde dame,
and they ffolwith the vois,
at the ffrist note,

and leveth the lurker
that hem er ladde,

ffor the schrewe schrapid
to selde ffor her wombis,

. that her lendys were lene,

and leved with hunger.
But than the dewe dame
dineth hem swythe, .

and ffostrith hem fforthe
tille they flle kunne.

* What is this to mene, man?”
maiste thu axe,

* ffor it is derklich endited
“ffor a dulle panne;

* wherffore I wilne,

“ gif it thi wille were, .
* the partriche propurtés

.* by whom that thu menest.”

A! hicke hevyheed! |
hard is thi nolle, |

to cacche ony kunnynge,
but cautelle bigynne. |
Herdist thu not with eeris
how that I er tellde,

. how the egle in the est

entrid his owene,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD IL - 395

and cried and clepid

after his owen kynde briddis,
that weren anoyed in his nest,
and norished full ille,

and welle ny yworewid

with a wronge leder?

But the nedy nestlingis,

whan they the note herde

of the [h]ende egle,

the heyer of hem alle,

they busked ffro the busches
and breris that hem noyed,
and burnisched her beekis,
and bent to him-wardis,

and ffolowid him ffersly

to ffighte ffor the wrongis ;
they bablid with her billis
how thei bete were,

and tenyd with twiggis,

two and twenty 3eris.

Thus lafte they the leder
that hem wrong ladde,

and tymed no twynte, |

but tolled her cornes,

And gaderid the grotus

with gyle, as I trowe.

Than ffolwid they her ffre ffader,

as good ffeith wolde,

that he hem ffede shulde,

and ffostre fforther,

and bringe hem out of bondage,
. that they were brousth inne.

Thanne sighed the swymmers,

ffor the swan ffailid,

and ffolwid this ffaucoun

thoru ffeldus and tounes,

with many ffaire ffoole,
thou? they ffeynte were,

396 | POLITICAL POEMS.

and hevy ffor the hirte
that the hors hadde.
it they fferkyd hem fforth
as ffaste as they my3te,
to have the egles helpe
of harme that they hadde ;
ffor he was heed of hem alle,
and hieste of kynde, |
to kepe the croune,
as cronecle tellith.
He blythid the beere,
and his broud braste,
and lete him go at large

_ to lepe where he wolde.

^. But tho alle the berlingis
brast out at ones,
as ffayne was the ffoule
that flieth on the skyes
that bosse was unbounde
and brouute to his owene.
They gaderid hem togedir
on à grette rou3te,
to helpe the heeris
that had many wrongis ; :
they gaglide fforth on the grene, 1
ffor they greved were,
that her ffrendis were ffalle
thoru ffelouns castis.
They mornyd ffor the morthir
of manffulle kny3tis,
that many a styff storme | |j
withstode ffor the comunes;
the[y] mouside the marchalle!
ffor his myssedede,
that evelle coude his craft,
whan he ¢ eloped the stede.

1 Thomas de Mowbray, earl marshal, afterwards created duke of Norfolk,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II.

And evere as they ffolwide
this ffaucoun abouste,
at iche mevinge ffotte,
venyaunce they asked
on alle that assentid
to that synfulle dede.

Arere now to Richard,
and reste here a while, ©
ffor & prevy poynt
that persith my wittis,
of ffauutis I ffynde
that ffrist dede engendre
cursidnesse and combraunce
amonge the yonge lordis,
and the wikkid werchinge
that walmed in her daies,
and 3it wolle hereafter,
but wisdome it lette.
That were a lord of lond _
that lawe hathe in honde,
that to lyghtliche leveth,
or lewié apere,
the tale of a trifflour
in turmentours wede,
that nevere reed good rewle,
ne resons bookis ;
ffor ben they rayed arith
they recchith no -fforther,
but studieth alle in strountynge,
and stireth amys evere ;
ffor alle his witte in his wede
ys wrappid fforsothe,
more than in mater to amende
ihe peple that ben mysled.
Ffor I say ffor my self,
and schewe, as me thynchith,

398

POLITICAL POEMS.

that ho is rialle of his ray,
that light reede him ffolwith, —
316 swiche ffresshe ffoodis

beth ffeet into chambris,

and ffor her dignesse endauntid
of dullisshe nollis. |

And if thu welle waite

of no wight ellis,

than waite mo wayes

how the while turneth,

with gyuleris joyffulle

ffor here gery jaces,

and ffor her wedis so wyde
wise beth yholde;

. they casteth hem to creaunce

the courte ffor to plese,

and hopen to be hied

in hast, yif they my3the,
thoru swiche stif strountynge
that stroyeth the rewme ;

but here wey is alle wronge
ther wisdom is ynned,

But they lepith als lyghly,

at the longe goynge,

out of the domes carte,

as he that throff nevere.

For they kepeth no coyne
that cometh te here hondis,
but chaunchyth it ffor cheynes
that in Chepe hangith,

and settith alle her silver

in seimtis and hornes,

and ffordoth the coyne,

and many other craftis,

and maketh the peple ffor penslac
in pointe ffor to wepe;

—--

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II.

and 3it they beth ytake fforth,
and her tale leved,

and ffor her newe nyseté
nexte to the lordis. —

Now be the law of Lydfford,
in londe ne in water,

thilke lewde ladde

ouzte evylle to thryve,

that hongith on his hippis
more than he wynneth,

and dou$teth no dette,

so dukis hem preise,

. but beggith and borwith

of burgeis in tounes

ffurris of ffoyne |

and other ffelle whare,

and not the better of a bene,
thou; they boru evere.

And but if the slevis

slide on the erthe,

thei wolle be wroth as the wynde

and warie hem that it made:

and 3if it were elbowis :
adown to the helis,

or passinge the knee,

it was not acounted ;

and if Pernelle preisid

the plytis bihynde,

the costis were acountid,
paye whan he my3th.

The leesinge so likyde
ladies and other,

that they joied of the jette,
and gyside hem therunder ;
and if Ffelice ffonde

ony ffaute thenne of the makynge,

399

400

POLITICAL POEMS. -

yt was ysent sone

to shape of the newe.
But now ther is à gyse,
the queyntest of alle,

a wondir coriouse crafte,
ycome. now late,

“that men clepith kerving

the clothe alle to pecis,

that sevene goode sowers.
sixe wekes after —

moun not sett the seemes,
ne sewe hem ageyn. |

But ther is a pr[o]ffith in that pride,
that I preise evere.
Ffor thei ffor the pesinge
paieth pens ten duble

that the clothe costened,

the craft is so dere..

Now if I sothe shalle saie,
and shonne side tales,

ther is as moche good witte
in swyche gomes nollis,

as thu shuldist mete of a myst
ffro morwe tylle even.

3it blame I no burne

to be as him .ouste,

in comliche clothinge,

as his statt, axith ;

but to ledyn her lust

alle here lyff daies

in quentise of clothinge,

ffor to queme sir Pride,

and evere more strontynge,
and no store kepe,

and iche day a newe devyse,
it dullith my wittis

o — Y .—À à PP

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II.

that ony lord of a.lond

shulde leve swiche thingis,

or clepe to his conceille |
swiche manere cotis, _ Iu
that loveth more her lustis :
than the lore of oure Lord.

And if a lord his leveré

lyste flor to 3eve,

ther may no gome ffor goodnesse
gette therof but lite,

ffor curtesie, ffor comlynesse,

ne ffor his kynde herte ;

but rather ffor his rancour

and rennynge overe peple,

ffor braggynge and ffor bostynge,
and beringe uppon oilles,

ffor cursidnes of conscience,

and comynge to the assizes.
This makyth men mysdo

more than ouzte ellis,

and to stronte and to stare,
and stryve a3eyn vertu.

So clergie the cause

comsith in: grette,

of alle manere myscheff

* that men here usyn.

VOL, I.

Ffor wolde they blame the burnes
that brouzte newe gysis,

and dryve out the dagges,

and alle the Duche cotis;
and sette hem aside,
and seorte of hem telle,
and lete hem pleye in the porche,
and presse non ynnere,
ne no proude peniles
with his peynte sleve ;
e €

401 —

402

and eke repreve robbers .
and riffleris of peple,

fflateris and ffals men

that no ffeith useth, — —

and alle deabolik doeris —
dispise hem ichone ; '
and coile out the knystys
that knowe welle hem self, —
that were sad of her sawis,
and suffre welle couude,

and had traveilid in her tyme
and temprid hem self,

and cherliche cheriche hem

as cheff in the halle,

ffor to ordeyne officeris

and alle other thyngis ;

men shuld wete in a while
that the world wolde amende,
so vertue wolde fflowe

whan vicis were ebbid.

But now so the mater

that I beffore meved,

of thé gomes so gay

that grace hadde offendid,

and how stille that steddeffaste
stode amonge this reccheles peple,
that had awilled his wylle

as wisdom him taughte ;

ffor he drough him to an herne
at the halle. ende,

welle homelich yhelid

in an holsume gyse,

not overe lenge, but ordeyned

in the olde schappe,
with grette browis ybente,
and a berde eke, 07

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD IL 403

and.ywounde in his wedis,
as the wedir axith ; |
he wondrid in his wittis,
as he welle my3the, |
that the hie houusinge
herborowe ne myghte
half-delle the houshoulde,
but hales hem helped ;
but ffor crafte that he couude
caste thenne or bethenke,
he my3te not wonne in the wones,
ffor witt that he usid,
but arouutid ffor his ray,
and rebuked ofte,
he had leve of the lord,
and of ladies alle,
ffor his good governaunce,
to go or he drank.
Ther was non of the mené,
that they ne merveilid moche,
how he cam to the courte,
and was not yknowe ;
but als sone as they wiste
that Witt was his name,
and that the kyng knewe him not,
ne non of his kny3tis, |
he was halowid and yhuntid,
and yhotte trusse, |
and his dwellinge ydemed
a bowe drawte ffrom hem,
and ich man ycharchid —
to schoppe at his eroune,
if he nyhed hem ony nere
than they had him nempned.
The portir with his pikis
tho put him uttere, |

404

POLITICAL POEMS.

and warned him the wickett
while the wacche durid.
* Lete slé him !" quod the sleves

that slode uppon the erthe ;

and alle the berdles burnes
bayed on him evere,

and schorned him for his slaveyn
was of the olde schappe.

Thus Malaperte was mystffulle
and maister of hous,

and evere wandrid Wisdom
without the 3atis.

“ By him that wrou$te this world 1”

quod Wisdom in wrath,

“ but 2if 2e wolle sum tyme -
* I walke in amonge 30u,

* I shalle fforbede zou burnesse,
* the best on this erthe,

* that is governance of gettinge,
* and grace that him ffollwith ;
* ffor these two trewly

* twynned et nevere.”

And so it ffelle on hem, in ffeith,
ffor ffaustis that they usid,

. that her grace was agoo,
ffor grucchinge chere,

ffor the wronge that they wrou$te
to Wisdom affore.

Ffor tristith als trewly

as tyllinge us helpeth,

that iche rewme undir roff

of the reynebowe

sholde stable and stonde

be these thre degrés:

by governaunce of grete

and of good age ;

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD IL, 405

by styffnesse and strengthe
of steeris welle y-yokyd,
that beth my3thffulle men,
of the mydille age;

and be laboreris of lond,
that lyffiode ne ffayle.
Thanne wolde reule,

if reson where amongis us,
that ich leode lokide

what longid to his age,
and nevere ffor to passe more
oo poynt fforther,

to usurpe the service

that to sages bilongith,

to become conselleris

er they kunne rede,

in schenshepe of sovereynes,
and shame at the last.
Ffor it ffallith as welle

to ffodis of xxiiij. 2eris,

or yonge men of yistirday
to 3eve good redis,

as becometh à kow

to hoppe in a cage.

It is not unknowen

to kunnynge leodis,

that rewlers of rewmes
around alle the erthe

were not yffoundid,

at the ffrist tyme,

to leve al at likynge

and lust of the world,

but to laboure on the lawe,
as lewde men on plowes,
and to merke meyntenourz
with maces ichonne,

406 . POLITICAL POEMS.

and to strie stronters
that sterede ajeine rithis,
and alle the myssedoers
that they my3te ffynde,
to put hem in preson,
a peere thou? he were;
and to rewle as reremys,
and rest on the daies,
and spende of the spicerié
more than it nedid,
bothe wexe and wyn,
in wast alle abou2te,
with deyntis ydoublid,
. . and daunsinge to pipis,
- ~ in myrthe with moppis,
myrrours of synne.
ib fforbede I no burne
to be blithe sum while;
but alle thinge hath tyme,
— ffor to tempre glees ;
ffor caste alle the countis
that the kyng holdith,
and loke how these lordis
loggen hem self,
and evere shalle thu ffynde,
| as ffer as thu walkiste, |
Nota, nota, that! wisdom and overwacche
nota," wonneth ffer asundre ;
but whane the governaunce goth ther
with tho the hous gie shulde, _
and letith lyghte of the lawe,
and lesse of the peple,

a - ;

) What, in the MS. the MS., and expresses the senti-
* This note is in the margin of | ment of the scribe.

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II. 407

and herkeneth alle to honour,
and to ese eke,

and that ich wyght with his wittis
waite on him evere,

to do hem reverence aright,
thou; the rigge brest,

this warmnesse in welth,

with wy uppon erthe, ,

my3te not longe dure,

as doctourz us tellith. _

Ffor ho so thus leved -

his lyff to the ende,

evere wrappid in welle,

and with no wo mette,

my3te saie that he sawe

ihat seie was nevere,

that hevene were unhonge

out of the hookis,

and were boun at his bidding,
jif it be myste.

But clerkis kne[w] I non 3ete Propter -
: du ingratitudi-

that 8o couude rede | nem liber
.in bokis ybounde, hie revoca-
u tur in ser-

thou? 3e brouzte alle, | vitutem,

that ony wy welldith | ut in sti-

à erthe mulo com-
wonnynge uppon ertne, punctionis
ffor in welle and in woo NET

. Cl "

the werld evere turneth.
it ther is kew-kaw,

thou? he come late,

a new thing that noyeth

nedy men and other,

———————— AER Lm E ERE

l'This marginal note, by the | approved of the sentiments con-
writer of the manuseript, shows that | tained in the poem. The word
he was not a partizan of the house | servitulem. seems to imply a pun
of Lancaster, and that he dis. | upon liber.

408

POLITICAL POEMS.

whanne realles remeveth,
and ridith thoru tounes,

and carieth overe contré
ther comunes dwelleth,

io preson the pillourz

that overe the pore renneth;
for that were evene in her weye,
if they welle ride.

But 3it ther is a ffoule ffauste
that I ffynde ofte,

they prien affter presentis

or pleyntis ben yclepid, -
and abateth alle the billis

of tho that nou3th bringith ;
and ho so grucche or grone
azeins her grette wiles,

may lese her lyff lyghtly,
and no lesse weddis.

Thus is the lawe lonyd,
thoru my3hty lordis willys,
that meyneteyne myssdoers
more than other peple;

ffor meynetenaunce many day,
welle more is the reuthe!
hath yhad mo men

at mete and at melis

than ony cristen kynge

that 3e knewe evere.

Ffor as reson and rith
rehersid to me ones,

tho ben men of this molde
that most harme worchen.
Ffor chyders of Chester
where chose many daies

io ben of conceille ffor causis
that in the court hangid,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD IL 409

and pledid pipoudris,

alle manere pleyntis.

They cared ffor no coyffes -
that men of court usyn,
but meved many maters
that man never thou3te,
and ffeyned ffalshed

till they a ffyne had,

and knewe no manere cause,
as comunes tolde;

thei had non other signe
to schewe the lawe

but a prevy pallette

her pannes to kepe, . _
to hille here lewde heed

. in stede of an hone.

They constrewed quarellis
to quenche the peple,
and pletid with pollaxis
and poyntis of swerdis ;
and at the dome 3evynge
drowe out the bladis,
aud lente men levere
of her longe battis.
They lacked. alle vertues
that a juge shulde have;

_ ffor, er a tale were ytolde,
they wolde trie the harmes,
without ony answere,
but ho bis lyf hatid, |
and ho so pleyned to the prince
that pees shulde kepe, —
of these mystir men,
medlers of wrongis,
he was lygh[t]liche ylauste,
and yluggyd of many,

410 | POLITICAL POEMS.

and ymummyd on the mouthe,
and manaced to the deth..
They leid on thi leigis, Richard,
lasshis ynowe, |

and drede nevere a dele

the dome of the lawe.

Ther nas rial of the rewme
that hem durste rebuke,

ne juge ne justice

ihat jewis durste hem deme,
ffor oute that thei toke

or trespassid to the peple.
This was a wondir world,

ho so well lokyd,

that gromes overegrewe

so many grette maistris ;

ffor this was the rewle in this rewme,
while they here regnyd.

Thou; I satte sevene-nyght,
and slepte ffulle selde,

of many mo wrongis -

than I write couude ;

ffor selde were the serigauntis
souzte ffor to. plete,

or ony prentise of courte
preied of his wittis, —

the while the Dogonys domes
weren so endauntid.

Tile oure sire in his see,
above the vijre sterris, |
sawe the many mysschevys
that these men dede, |
and no mendis ymade,

but menteyne it evere,

of him that was hiest .
yholde [for] to kepe ..

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II. 411

his legis in lawe,

and so her love gette.

He sente ffor his servantis,
that sembled many,

of baronys and baccheleris,
with many brizth helmes,
with the comunes the contrés
they cam alle at ones,

and, as a duke dou3ty

in dedis of armes,

in fulle realle aray

he rood uppon hem evere,
tyl Degon and Dobyn,

that mennys doris brastyn,
and were ydubbid of a duke
ffor her while domes,

and awakyd ffor wecchis
and wast that they usid,

and ffor her breme blastis |
buffettis henten.

Than gan it to calme

and clere alle abouste,

that iche man my3te,

ho so mynde hadde,

se be the sonne,

that so briste schewed, —

the mone at the mydday
meve and the sterris,
ffolwinge ffelouns

ffor her ffalse dedis,
devourours of vetaile

that ffou?ten er thei paide .-

Passus quartus.
Ffor where was evere ony cristen kynge,
that 3e evere knewe,

412

POLITICAL POEMS.

that helde swiche an household
be the half-delle

as Richard in this rewme,
thoru myserule of other;

that alle his ffynys ffor flaustis,
ne his ffee ffermes,

ne fforffeyturis ffele

that ffelle in his daies ;

ne the nownagis

that newed him evere,

as Marche and Moubray,

‘and many mo other;

ne alle the issues of court
that to the kyng longid ;

ne sellynge that sowkid

silver rith faste ;

ne halle the prophete of the lond
that the prince owed,

whane the countis were caste,
with the custom of wullus,
my3te not areche,

ne his rent nother,

to paie the pore peple

that his purvyours toke,
withoute preiere at a parliament,
a poundage biside,

and a fifteneth

and a dyme eke,

and withalle the custum of the clothe
that cometh to ffayres ;

and 3et ne had creaunce

icome at the last ende,

with the comunes curse

that cleved on hem evere,

they had be drawe to the devylle
for dette that they owed.

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II. 413

And whanne the reot and the reevelle
the rent thus passid,

and no thing ylafte

but the bare baggis,

than ffelle it afforse

to fille hem ageyne,

and ffeyned sum ffolie,

that ffailid hem never,

and cast it be colis,

with her conceille at evene,
to have prevy parlement

for propfhtt of hem self;
and lete write writtis

alle in wex closid,

ffor peeris and prelatis,

that thei apere shuld ;

and sente side sondis

to schrevys abouste,

to chese swiche chevalleris
as the charge wold,

io schewe ffor the schire

in company with the grete.
And whanne it drowe to the day
of the dede doynge,

that sovereynes were semblid,
and the schire kny3tis,

than as her fforme is,

ffrist they begynne to declare
the cause of her comynge,
and than the kyngis wille.
Comliche a clerk than

comsid the wordis,

and pronouncid the poyntis
aparte to hem alle,

and meved ffor mony

more than ffor out ellis,

414

POLITICAL POEMS,

in.glosinge of grette,

lest greyves arise,

and whanne the tale was tolde
anon to the ende,

amorwe thei must, affore mete,
mete togedir,

the kny3tis of the comuneté,
and carpe of the maters,

with citiseyns of shiris

ysent ffor the same,

to reherse the articles

and graunte alle her askynge.
But 3it ffor the manere,

to make men blynde,

somme argued azein rith

then a good while,

and said, “We beth servauntis
* and sallere ffongen,

“ and ysente ffro the shiris

* to shewe what hem greveth,
‘ and to parle ffor her prophete,
* and passe no fferthere,

* and to graunte of her gold
* to the grett watts

* by no manere wronge way,
* but if werre were;

* and if we ben ffals

* to tho us here ffyndyth,

“ evylle be we worthy

*.to welden oure hire.”

Than satte summe,

as siphre doth in awgrym,
that noteth a place,

and no thing availith ;

and some had ysoupid

with Symond .overe even,

ON THE DEPOSITION. OF RICHARD II.

and schewed ffor the shire,
and here schew lost; _
and somme were tituleris,
and to the kyng wente,

. and fformed him of foos,
that good ffrendis weren,
that bablid ffor the best
and no blame served,
of kynge ne conceille,
ne of the comunes nother, |
ho so toke good kepe |
to the culorum; .

. and somme slombrid and slepte,
and said but a hte;

and somme mafflid with the mouth,

and nyst what they ment;

. and somme had hire,
and helde therwith evere,

. and wolde no fforther a ffoot,
ffor ffer of her maistris; |
and some were so soleyne
and sad of her wittis,
that er they come to the clos
acombred they were,
that thei the conelucioun .
than constrewe ne couthe,
no burne of the benche,
of borowe nother ellis, .
so blynde and so balhid | |
and bare was the reson ;
and somme were. 80 fers
at the ffrist come,
that they bente on a bonet,
and bare à topte. saile
affor the wynde ffresshely,
to make a good flare.

418

416

POLITICAL POEMS.

Than lay the lordis alee

with laste and with charge,

and bare abouzte the barge,
and blamed the maister, |
that knewe not the kynde cours
that to the crafte longid, -

and warned him wisely

of the wedir side.

Thanne the maste in the myddis
at the monthe ende, t.
bowid ffor brestynge,

and brouste hem to lond ;

' ffor ne had thei striked a strake,

and sterid hem the better,

.and abated a bonet,

or the blast come,

they had be throwe overe the borde,
backewarde ichonne.

And some were acombrid

with the conceille beffore,

and wiste welle ynow

how it sholde ende,

or some of the semblé

shulde repente.

Some helde with the mo,

how it evere wente;

and somme dede rith so,

and wolld go no fforther ;

some parled às perte,

as provyd welle after,

and clappid more ffor the coyne
that the kyng owed hem,

thanne ffor comfforte of the comyne
that her cost paied,

and were behote hansell,

if they helpe wolde,

ON THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II 417

to be servyd sekirly
of the same silvere ;
and some dradde dukis--

and Üowelle Horsoke . , ..,
* a * *

GOWER’S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE!

«Ista tripartita sequitur quee mente perita
Chronica servetur, nam pars que prima videtur
Est opus humanum, pars illa secunda profanum
Est opus inferni, pars tertia jure superni
Est opus in Christo; vir qui bene sentit in isto
Scire potest mira, quid amor sit, quid sit et ira;

Est tamen hoc clamor, Omnia vincit amor.

b Tolle caput mundi, c. ter sex? lustra fer illi,
Et decies quinque cum septem. post superadde ;
Tempus tale nota, quia tunc fuit Anglia mota, -
Dum stat commotus Ricardus amore remotus.

* Opus humanum est inquirere pacem et prosequi eam; hoc
enim fecerunt hi tres proceres de quibus infra fit mentio ubi fides
interfuit. Opus inferni est pacem turbare justosque regni inter-
ficere; hoc enim Ricardus capitosus dolosa cireumventione facere
non timuit, Opus in Christo est deponere superbos de sede et
exaltare humiles; hoc enim Deus fecit, odiosum Ricardum de solio.
suo projecit, et pium Henricum omni dilectione gratissimum cum
gloria sublimari constituit.

> Hic in prima parte chronicæ compositor tempora. distinguens,.
causas unde regnum fuit in se divisum postmodum per singula
tractabit.

1 This interesting political poem | Souls’ College, Oxford. The vari-
is here printed from two manu- | ations between the MSS. are incon-
scripts in the British Museum, MS. | siderable, andit has not been thought
Cotton. "Tiberius A. iv. fol, 152, 1? ; | necessary to carry the collations
MS. Harl No. 6291, fol. 134, r°; | further than these three manuscripts.
and a well-known MS. of Gower's ? fer et sex, MS. Cot. and Harl.
Latin poems in the library, All |

VOL. I. DD

418 POLITICAL POEMS.

Principio regis oritur transgressio legis, .

Quo fortuna cadit, et humus retrograda vadit;
Quomodo surrexit populus, quem non bene rexit.
Tempus adhue plangit super hoc quod chronica tangit;
Libro testante stat chronica scripta per ante;

Est alibi dicta, transit nec ab aure relicta.

Audistis mira vulgaris que tulit ira ;

Omnibus in villis timuit vir justus ab illis.

* Rex induratum cor semper habet, neque fatum
Tale remordebat mala semper quin faciebat!
Stultorum vile.sibi consilium juvenile
Legerat, et sectam senium dedit esse rejectam ;
Consilio juvenum spiraverat ille venenum,

Quo bona prædaret procerum quos mortificaret.
Sie malus ipse malis adhæsit, eisque sodalis
Efficitur, tota regis pietate remota.

Tune aecusare quosdam præsumpsit avare;
Unde catallorum gazas spoliare. eorum.

Tres sunt antiqui proceres, quos regis iniqui
Ira magis novit, et eos occidere vovit.

4 Et sic qui cati pellem cupit excoriati,
Fingebat causas fallaci pectore clausas,

Cautius ut factum sibi possit habere subactum.
Leges conduxit pro parte suaque reduxit.
Munere corrupti, suadente timoreque rupti,
Legis in errorem regi tribuere favorem.

Hi tune legistæ, quiequid rex dixerat ipse,
Foedera componuntque sigila sub ordine ponunt.
Tum rex letatur super hoc quod fortificatur,

4 Nota de Judicibus illis qui, ut regis errorem precipue contra
illos tres proceres quos occidere vellet justificarent, literas sub
eorum sigillis scriptas erronice composuerunt,

——

! qui faciebat, MS. Cotton. ipsum qui jure carebat, MS. All Souls’ Col.

GOWERS TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 419

Quo magis ad plenum diffundat ille venenum.
Tunc aderant tales juvenes qui sunt speciales,
Laudantes regem quia vertit sic sibi legem.
e Hoe concernentes aliique dolos metuentes,
Ad defendendum statuunt cito quid sit agendum.
Tune rex festinat, et ad hoc suajussa propina,
Ut tres quærantur ubi sunt et ibi capiantur.
Tune tres, qui justi fuerant et ad arma robusti,
Factum. disponunt et ad hoe sua robora ponunt.
Qui fuerant isti proceres in nomine Christi
Expedit ut dicam, referens et eis benedicam. .
Si non directe procerum cognomina, recte
Hee tamen obscura referam latitante figura.
Scribere qus tendo, si mystica verba legendo
Auribus apportant, verum tamen illa reportant.
fSunt olor, ursus, equus ; stat eorum quilibet æquus,
Non hi divisi, sed in unum sunt quasi visi
g Penna coronata tribus. his fuit associata;
h Qui gerit s tandem turmam comitatur eandem.
Nobilis ille quidem probus et juvenis fuit idem,
Sic quasi de coelis interfuit ille fidelis.
i Hac sub fortuna presens aquilonica luna,
Non fuit ad sortem, sequitur sed mente cohortem.
jJQui solem gessit tenebrosus lumina nescit, —
In Trojæ metas dum vendicat ipse disetas.
Troja fuit prima, per quam sol tendit ad ima,
Pallet in eclipsi populus, quia non favet ipsi.
Obsistunt turbæ Phœbo ne scandat in urbe,
Dumque suis alis cygnus fuit imperialis.

* Qualiter tres proceres predicti, de regis malitia certius præ-
muniti, in sui defensionem roborati sunt.

f Nota de nominibus trium procerum predictorum sub figura.

8 Comes Marescallus.

^ Strenuissimus comes Derbeiz. |

! Comes Northumbriæ, cujus signum fuit luna crescens.

5 Qualiter rex, cujus signum sol erat, cives Londonienses pro
auxilio ab eis contra dictos tres proceres obtinendo requisivit, sed
ilh regis malitiam perplectentes eidem nullatenus consenserunt,

D D 2

490 POLITICAL POEMS,

k Fraus tamen obliquas nubes commovit iniquas,
Extera dum rebus tentavit lumina Phoebus.
Cestria surrexit, aper in qua lumina rexit,

Regis vexillum fatue signaverat illum,

Sed conspiranti Deus obstat et insidianti, .
Quo dolus exosos involvit fine dolosos.:

Auxilio cygni regis pro parte maligni

Si vis quæratur, contraria vis operatur.

Quærit aper latebras fraudis mortisque tenebras,
Quo regnum pereat regisque superbia fiat.

Cygnus et expresse super his quæ cernit adesse
Providet, et curam regni colit ipse futuram.

Ducit aper gentes, quas concitat arma gerentes -
Liber ut his pergat proceresque per omina spergat,
lOygnus ut hoc scivit, venientibus obvius ivit

Belliger, et purgat regnum quo vita resurgat.
Cum Venus incepit lucem sors bella recepit;
Stat Thetis a parte, cecidit dum Cestria marte;
Thamisiæ fluctus capiunt de sanguine luctus;
Vicit olor pennis, sit ei quo vita perennis.

Tune aper Oxoniæ recidit de sede sophiæ,

Cum prope stab villam, maledixerat impius illam.
Non ibi permansit fugiens sed aper vada transit,
Infortunatus fit ibi de fonte renatus.

De vulpis cauda velox aper est ut alauda,
Cauda ruit castra quo sunt numero velut astra.
Sic quia deliquit, vacuus sua castra reliquit,
Pauper et exposcit foveam qua vivere possit.

k Qualiter rex comitem Oxoniæ, qui per aprum designatur, ut
ipse contra tres proceres antedictos gentes bellatrices secum duceret,
in partes Cestriæ una cum regio vexillo destinavit.

! Qualiter quodam die Veneris comes Oxoniæ cum suis sequen-
tibus, in conspectu ducis Glovernie, qui tunc vulpis caudam in
lancea gessit, prope villam Oxoniæ iu fugam se vertit, et castra,
qui ipse familie sus pro signo gestanda attribuerat, ad terram
absque relevamine finaliter projecta sunt. Nam et ipse comes,
ut securiori modo vitam servaret, profugus ultra mare navigio
transiit.

GOWERS TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 421

Sed neque castrorum juvat aprum pompa suorum,
Nec sibi fossa datur, dum profugus inde fugatur.
He ita cum vidit, quod eum fortuna rescidit,
Per mare transivit, alibi quo vivere quivit.

Sic àper in leporem mutatus perdit honorem,
Amplius et certus locus est sibi nullus apertus.

m Nil odor incensi tunc profuit Eboracensi,
Sed nec mitra choris, nec opes, nec culmen honoris;
Ad regale latus cum plus sit ad alta lévatus,
Corruit a sede, sic transit presul ab ede.

Cure mercator primas fuit et spoliator,

Pauper et abscessit, quem previa culpa repressit.
Sic fugit hic prædo cleri nova villa Macedo,
Quem quia sic vixit pater ecclesi maledixit.

n Est comes elatus, fallax, cupidus, sceleratus,
Fraudes per mille stat cancellarius ille.

Hic proceres odit, e& eorum nomina rodit
Morsibus a tergo, fit tandem profugus ergo.
Sic Deus in ccelis mala de puteo Michaelis
Acriter expurgat, ne plus comes ille resurgat.

o Alter et est talis sub regis qui cubat alis,
Mollis confessor, blandus scelerisque professor ; !
Extitit hic frater qui stat foris intus et ater,
Cujus nigredo fœdat loca regia credo.

Hic fuit obliquus procerum latitans inimicus,
Semper in augendo magis iram quam minuendo.
Hic tamen in fine fugit, et de sorte ruins

* Qualiter statim post fugam dicti comitis Oxoniæ, Alexander
de Neville, tunc Eboracensis archiepiscopus, qui etiam cum rege
in suis erroribus particeps erat, tunc metu ductus consimili fuga
per mare reus evasit.

n Qualiter Michael de la Pole, comes Suffolciæ, qui tunc regis
cancellarius erat, dum se culpabilem sentiit, trans mare etiam
navigando ad sui salutem alibi se munivit.

? Qualiter etiam episcopus Cicestrie, tunc regis confessor, con-
scius culpe, extera loca petens propria fugiendo reliquit.

! confessor, MS. A. S. C.

422 | POLITICAL POEMS. |

Quas mala spondebat alis prius ipse luebat.
Sunt ita predicti cordis formidine victi,
De propria vivi terra quod sunt fugitivi.

PTunc tres personæ, qui pleni sunt ratione,
Justitiam quærunt, regem super hoc adierunt.
Rex fuit ad muros Turris, proceresque futuros
Vidit, et ex visu cognovit se sine risu.

Armatis turbis portas intrantibus urbis,
Intrant audaces proceres in pace sequaces ;
Turrim ceperunt, ubi regis honore steterunt.
Ejus ut a latere vitium poterint removere,
Est iter inventum statuunt quo parliamentum,
Ut sic purgarent regnique statum repararent.

q Terra counata fuerat de lege vocata,

Rex sedet, et tutum fuit os commune locutum.
Dicit enim tales qui regis collaterales

Extiterant, gentes super hoe quod sunt fugientes,
Judicium tale fuit exilium generale; __

De terra dempti sic sunt, non ense perempti ;
Est ita dilata procerum sententia lata.

r Hoc facto quærunt alios qui tunc latuerunt,
Quorum regalis camerarius est capitalis. |
Corruit in fata gladii vestis stragulata,

Stat quia non recta magis est culpanda senecta;
Lachryma reginæ dum poscit opem medicinæ,
Obrutus amittit caput et sua funera mittit.

» Qualiter tres proceres de querela antedicti Londoniis pariter
advenientes, cum rege tunc apud Turrim existente, pro remedio
in premissis obtinendo, servata regis reverentia, colloquium pacifi-
cum habuerunt; unde de regis consensu parliamentum infra breve
Londoniis tenendum obtinuerunt. EM

4 Qualiter in principio parliamenti concordatum est quod ab-
sentia tunc illorum qui, ut premittitur, a regno sponte fugierunt;
in perpetuum exilium absque redemptione judicaretur. |

* Qualiter parliamentum gradatim processit, precipue contrà
illos qui regis iniqui fautores iniqui fuerunt, quorum Simon de
Burlee miles, tunc regis camerarius, in judicio convictus mortis
sententia decollatus est.

GOWER’S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. .. 493

5 Ecce senescalli non tantum lucra catalli,

Quse mala quæsivit, sceleris fortuna sitivit ;

Sed magis in mortem decrevit curia sortem,

Dum caput inclinat, gladius sibi jura propinat.
Ile quidem cygnum despexit, aprumque malignum
Semper laudavit, cor regis et infatuavit ;

Fallax, versutus, quasi vulpis fraude volutus,
Invidus et paci lingua fuit ille loquaci.

Nomen baronis cecidit, sic pons aquilonis,

Hoc rex erroris posuit sibi nomen honoris.

* Major erat ville, tribulus dictus fuit ille,
Qui proceres pungit regisque dolos magis unit.
Hune quasi consortem dilexit rex, quia sortem
Consili cepit, quo mortem fine recepit.

Furcis pendebat quem primo terra trahebat;
Ictum sic ensis non sentit Londoniensis.

uIn baneo regis qui librat pondera legis,

Juraque cognovit, aliis plus jura removit,
Cornubiensis erat; si quis sua crimina quærat,
Pejor eo nullus, nec eo fallacior ullus.
Hie scelus instigat proceres quos sspe fatigat,
Unde fatigatus tandem perit hie sceleratus.
Crimine præstante super hoc quod fecerat ante,
Ad furcas tractus fit ibi pendendo subactus.
Pendula sors tristis morientibus accidit istis,
In manibus quorum pendebant jura virorum.

v Judicibus reliquis falsisque scienter iniquis,

* Qualiter etiam Johannes Beauchamp miles, tunc regis hospitii
senescallus, quem rex baronem de Briggenorth vocari constituit,
amisso capite de cura recessit.

* Qualiter Nicholaus Brembel, qui civis et major Londoniarum
fuerat, ad furcas tractus et ibi suspensus, suam urbis libertatem
turpiter amisit.

" Qualiter etiam Robertus Tresilian miles, qui tune de banco
regis judex capitals extitit; sub eadem furcarum pœna diem vite
suæ judicialiter clausit extremum.

* Qualiter judices ali, qui originales regis excessus, ut pre:

3 amicis, MS. A. S. C.

424 | . POLITICAL POEMS.

Ui patet ante nota, conclamat curia tota ;

Urbs, ager, et villa damnarunt falsa sigilla,

Que dederant causam sceleris regi magis ausam.

Non fuit hsec poena, deletis quæ fore plena

Posset, et hoc certe vox plebis dixit aperte.

Sed nimis ornate poenam ficta pietate:

Pontifices regis moderantur ab ordine legis.

Sic non ense cadunt, sed in exilium mare vadunt;

Quos inconsultos suscepit Hibernia stultos.

Legiferi tales super omnes sunt speciales,

Regis ad errorem qui plus tribuere favorem.

Sie non sorte pari statuit sors fata parari,

Ut reus incepit sic de mercede recepit ;

Exulat iste status, fuit alter decapitatus.

Hi cum cæduntur ad funera fune trahuntur;

Dispar erat munus, fuerat tamen exitus unus;

Quiequid homo volvit tandem mors omnia solvit.
W Ut rex purgetur, ut regnum clarificetur,

Restat adhue quæri poterit quo culpa mederi.

Absque Deo fratres fuerant hoc tempore paires,

Nee sibi confessa per eos est culpa repressa.

In vilis arent, vitium qui mundificarent ;

Morum more carent, mores qui multiplicarent.

Fraudis in exemplum sic errat ab ordine templum,

Nee cavet ille status solita de sorde reatus.

Sunt ita transgressi fratres ad sacra professi,

Quod personarum Deus extitit ultor earum.

Ad regale latus non est status immaculatus,

.Quo plusquam centum removentur abinde clientum ;

Lugent cantores, perdunt quia cantus honores;

Plangunt scriptores scriptos de fraude rigores.

Transit adulator, sceleratus et insidiator,

Consilii fautor, inventor, et invidus auctor.

fertur, sigills suis contra proceres roborarunt, ad instantiari
prélatorum absque mortis judicio in partes Hiberniæ exules ab
Anglia transierunt.

^ © Qualiter diversi fratres, diversarum curiarum tunc confessores,
una cum alis ministris quampluribus, quasi paleæ inutiles, per. loca
disperguntur.

GOWER'S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 425

x Stat manus extenta, nec cessat curia tenta,
Donec purgetur dolus omnis et evacuetur.
Falsi tentarunt justos, sed non superarunt
Nec prece nec dono, Christo mediante patrono.
Tempore quo stabant hi tres regnum solidabant ;
Regem firmabant, vitiataque jura fugabant.
Sic emendatum regem faciunt renovatum,
Certius ut credunt, et sic cum laude recedunt.
Concinit omne forum benefactaque laudat eorum ;
Talia dicentes sunt undique laude canentes.

In Christi signo sit semper gloria cygno;
Laus et in hoc mundo sit equo, quem signat hirundo ;
Ursus et ex ore populi fungatur honore.
Hi tres Anglorum fuerant exempla bonorum ;
Regnum supportant alienaque pondera portant.
Reddat eis munus tribus qui est trinus et unus. Amen.

Explicit prima pars chronica, et incipit secunda.

Hic in sécunda parte chronicæ declarat qualiter rex,
sub umbra fictæ concordie pacem dissimulans tres pro-
ceres prædictos dolose circumvenit, ita quod unum ex
istis jugulari, alium decollari, fecit, tertium vero, una
cum domino de Cobham, qui regni verus amicus
semper extitit, in exilium mancipari tyrannica potes-
tate, proh dolor, destinavit. Insuper et, quod detesta-
bile fuit, idem crudelissimus rex reverendum in Christo
patrem Thomam Arundelliæ, tune Cantuariæ archi-
episcopum, de sede sua penitus expulit, ipsumque pro
perpetuo in exilium delegari crudelissime constituit.

* Qualiter proceres praedicti de querela principales, si precibus
aut donis flecti possent, sepissime blandiuntur, sed illi tanquam
Vere justitiæ executores, usque in suze querela consummationem
constanter astiterunt. |

Y Hic in fine compositor gesta dictorum trium procerum lau:
dabiliter commendans, pro eis apud altissimum devotius exorat.

496 POLITICAL POEMS.

40 dolor in mente, sed, proh dolor, ore loquente! |
Heuque mez penne, scribam quia facta gehennæ,
Obice, singultu, lachrymis, pallenteque vultu;

Vix mea lingua! sonat hee que mihi chronica donat.
Ut prius audistis, hi tres quibus Anglia tristis,

Plus delectatur, magis hos fortuna iminatur ;

Rex facie bina fallax, latitante ruina,

Omnia fingebatque dolos sub fraude legebat.

b Ad regale latus quasi fraler et sociatus
Cygnus erat factus, et eos quos vult facit actus.
Taliter est et equus regis de carmine cecus,

Quod non discernit ea quæ fallacia cernit.

Est incantatus etiam quasi magnificatus

Ursus, et ignorat finem, qua sorte laborat.

Sed magis ut tuii maneant de lege statuti,

Hi regis quærunt cartas, quas obtinuerunt.

Sie se conformant, sic se cum rege reformant,
Quod vivunt more quasi grex pastoris amore.
Hoc credunt plane, sed transit tempus inane,
Cum se stare putant, subito sua tempora mutant.

€ Ecce scelus magnum latitans quasi vulpus in agnum ;
Sic dolus expectat quos ira tyrannica spectat.

O fraus! oque dolus! quos rex sub imagine solus,
Dum scelus exhausit, tam longo tempore clausit.
Sed magis ad plenum tunc fuderat ille venenum,
Quo prius inflatus quam sæpe dolet sceleratus ;
Turbinis ut ventus, sic irruit acra juventus

. In cygnum spretum, dum se putat esse quietum.

* In hae secunda parte chronicæ compositor primo ea que
postsequuntur dolorosa infortünia doloroso corde deplangit.

> Qualiter ut hi tres proceres de quibus audistis cum rege,
quem dolosum sciebant, pacem securiorem habere possent, : cartas
concordie ab ipso impettatas obtinuerunt.

* Qualiter rex, ut ipse sub dissimulatæ pacis concordia proceres
decipiat, vulpe fallacior; continua circumyentione dolos machinatur:

! penna; MS. A. 8. C.

GOWER’S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 497

4O quam fortuna stabilis non permanet una!
Exemplum cujus stat in ordine carminis hujus.
Rex agit, et cygnus patitur de corde benignus,
Illeque prostratus non est de rege levatus:
Ad Plescy captus tune est velut hostia raptus.
Rex jubet arma geri nec eo voluit misereri.
Cum sponsa nati lugent quasi morte gravati,
Plusque lupo sævit rex dummodo foemina flevit.
Nil pietas munit, quem tune manus invida punit,
Rex stetit obliquus, nec erat tunc unus amicus.
O regale genus! princeps quasi pauper egenus
Turpiter attractus jacet et sine jure subactus.
Sunt ibi fautores regis de sorte priores,
Qui cygnum prendunt, ubi captum ducere tendunt.
Sic ducendo ducem perdit sine lumine lucem
Anglia, quæ tota tenebrescit luce remota.
Trans mare natavit, regnum qui semper amavit ;
Flent centum mille, quia cygnus præterit ille.
Calisie portus petit, unde dolus latet ortus,
Error quem regis genuit putredine legis,
Carcere conclusus subito fuit ille reclusus,
Nescit quo fine sit vite sive ruint&.
Tune rex elatum sumpsit quasi falco volatum,
Unde suas gentes perdit custode carentes.

e Amoto cygno, rex fervens corde maligno

4 Qualiter rex sui pectoris odium, quod & diu latuit, ad ex-
pressam vindictam primo contra ducem Gloverniæ, qui cygnus
dicitur, in oculis omnium fulmine plus subito produxit. Nam et
ipse rex in propria persona dictum ducem apud Plescy improvisum
manu forti cepit, et eum sic captum Calisias indilate produc), et
ibi sub arcta custodia strictius incarcerari, constituit.

* Qualiter rex, qui per mille meandros procerum corda exagi-
tans inquietavit Ricardum comitem Arundelliæ, qui dicitur equus,
fraudulenter decepit. Erat enim tune frater dicti comitis Thomas
Cantuariæ archiepiscopus, cui rex sub. juramento fidem prestitit
quod, si dictus comes ad sui regis presentiam obediens sponte
veniret, liber ex tunc absque calumnia ubicumque transire vellet
cum firma regis amicitia fiducialiter permaneret; et sic veniens
probus comes ab improbe rege decipitur.

498 POLITICAL POEMS.

Prendere quærit equum, super hocque revolvere secum
Cautius in mente conspirat, fraude latente.
Perjurans Christum comitem sic decipit istum :
Ipse libro tacto jurat, firmanteque pacto
Promisit, certeque fidem donavit aperte,
Dicens quod tutus nulla de fraude volutus
Liber transiret ad eum, si quando veniret.
Hoc juramentum frater comitis manu tentum
Primas fervore regis suscepit ab ore.
Præsul letus erat, sub tali foedere sperat,
Et sic cautelis captus fuit ille fidelis.

fUrsus ut audivit, non ergo remotus abivit,
Signans se Christo mentem stabilivit in isto.
Non faeit excursus patiensque plissimus ursus,
Sed magis attendit mala que fortuna rependit.
Londoniis mansit, nec ab urbis cardine transit,
Quo captivatus fuit hic sine labe reatus.
Sic tres persons, vi sed non jure coronæ,
Carceribus stricti remanent velut umbra relicti.
Celsius in scanno tune crevit pompa tyranno;
Nulli parcebat, sibi dum fortuna favebat.
Stat scelus extentum statuit quo parliamentum ;
Ut sit finalis sic ultio judicialis.

Z'Tunc appellantes fuerant octo dominantes,
Qui tres appellant, ut eos a luce repellant,
O quis pensare posset quin fleret. amare,

. f Qualiter Thomas, alio nomine ursus, tunc comes de Warwyk,
a regis satellitibus Londoniæ captus et in carcerem missus immu-
nis culpe patiens succubuit. Super quo suum parliamentum
apud Westmonasterium in proximo pronunciandum rex tyrannus
decrevit,

€ Qualiter pronunciato parliamento octo tunc appellantes contra
dictos tres proceres ad eorum perditionem promptissimi interfue-
runt, et quia rex propier metum populi ducem Glovernie coram
eo personaliter in parliamento comparere noluit, subtili mendacio
finxit eum in lecto mortuum fuisse, quia adhuc superstes in carcere

Calisiæ sub clave tenebatur; et sic ducem absentem absque respon-
sione rex pestifer falsissime condemnavit,

GOWERS TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 429

Dum scelus explorat, per quod magis Anglia plorat.
Ecce dies mortis aderant, qua pompa cohortis
Regem pomposum statuit magis esse dolosum.
Pro regis parte subtili fingitur arte,

Cygnum tam purum sine responso moriturum.
Cum magis expresse rex novit eum superesse,
Finxit eum lecto transisse sub ordine recto.

Sie non invento cygno nil parliamento

Pro se respondit, quem rex sub clave recondit.
Cum non apparet ut se de lege juvaret,

Hune condemnarunt subito quem post spoliarunt.
^ O scelus inferni, poterunt quo flere moderni,
De jugulo cygni quod constituere maligni.
Occulte quærunt quod aperte non patuerunt ;
Dumque timent gentes clam sunt sua facta gerentes.
Assunt tortores de nocteque fervidiores,

Cygnum prostratum jugulant quasi martyrizatum.
Calisiis actum sceleris fuit hoc malefactum,

Regis precepto, jugulo qui gaudet adepto.

Sie nece devictum, sic corpus ab hoste relictum,
Clam de conclavi susceperat Anglia navi;

Per mare regreditur corpus, nec adhuc sepelitur,
Namque sepulturam defendit rex sibi puram.
Desuper a latere patris loca justa tenere
Dummodo quæsivit, vix bassa sepulchra subivit.
Oque nefas tale, quod nec jus imperiale,

Sed neque lex Christi, proceri sie contulit isti ;
Ejus enim vita periit sine jure sopita,

Et mors ejus ita negat esse sepulchra petita.
Heu! quis jam vivit unquam qui talia seivit,

» Qualiter rex, cum ipse ducem prenotatum cautelose sicut
audistis condemnari spiraverat, postea infra tempus quosdam tor-
tores sibi quasi ab inferno confederatos Calisias, ubi dux adhuc
vivus incarceratus est, transmisit, qui illuc advenientes ad regis
preceptum de jugulo pre manibus excogitato, ducem improvisum
clanculo de nocte sub pondere lecti plumalis mortaliter depressum
absque pietate subito suffocarunt, . |

430 . POLITICAL POEMS.

Sie regis natum per regem mortificatum ?

Heu! quia regalis stirps Anglica tam specialis
Regis precepto periit sine crimine coepto.

Heu! quia tortorum quidam de sorte malorum |
Sic ducis electi plumarum de pondere lecti

Corpus quassatum jugulantque necant jugulatum;

. Quod nimis ingratum dolet Anglia tota relatum. .
Det Deus hoc fatum, sic adhue quod corpus humatum
Spiritus atque statum teneat sine fine beatum.
.iEst recitandus equus, cygnus quia preterit æquus,
Non hos morte pari voluit sors sequiparari.

Rex sedet, et cuncti fautores tunc sibi juncti

Sunt ibi presentes, ad equum mala plura loquentes.
Isteque solus eratque Deum solummodo sperat,

Quo pius et fortis permansit ad ultima mortis.

Rex prius aecusat, et equus scelus omne recusat,
Prætendens regisque sigilla sub ordine legis

Cartam monstravit, qua tutior esse putavit;

Non fuit absque nota prius est concordia nota.

Sed rex cautelis comitis responsa fidelis |
Cautius extinxitque dolos sub fraude refinxit.

Tune conspirati cum regeque magnificati, |

Regis prædicta firmarunt omnia dicta.

Heu! nimis ingrate tunc est sententia lata,
Horrida, mortalis, quia poena fuit capitalis.

Per loca, per vicos, ductus respexit amicos,

i Qualiter comes Arundelliæ, ab impio rege in parliamento ac-
cusatus, ad ea quæ sibi objiciuntur intrepidus respondit; et primo
singula quæ per ipsum fiebant secundum suæ intentionis propo-
situm ad regis honorem facta fuisse claro sermone justificavit ;
secundo enim regis cartas super hoc pacem et concordiam specia-
liter testificantes in auribus omnium manifestius pronunciavit; sed
ille, coram quo nullum jus procedit, rex impius comitis responsa
non acceptans, ex propria malitia ipsum, mortali sententia damna-
tum, in impetu furoris apud montem Turris Londoniarum decol-
Jari fecit, ubi fratres Augustinenses corpus cum capite secum
&d eorum ecclesiam cum psalmis deferentes in loco congruo devote
sepelierunt,

GOWERS TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 431

Qui magis oceulta dederant suspiria multa.
Undique tunc flebant qui talia fata videbant,
Cum prece devota facientes plurima vota.

Sunt et fallaces alii pro rege sequaces

Qui veniunt equites, neque justi sed neque mites;
Hi poenam talem proclamant tune capitalem,

Ad loca signataque jubent procedere fata.

Tunc comes ad Christum sermonem dixerat istum :
^ Omnia tu nosti; moriar, quia sic placet hosti;
* Hostibus exactus pereo, sine jure subactus ;

* Immunis pergo, miserere mihi precor ergo."
Expansis palmisque sonantibus undique psalmis,
Sie patitur tandem, pœnamque subintrat eandem.
Quin caput amittit sibi gratia nulla remittit,
Millia quo centum maledicunt parliamentum.
Corpus ad ima cadit, dum salvus ad æthera vadit
Spiritus in coelis, ubi vivit amore fidelis.
Augustinenses fratres tune Londonienses

Hune magis extolluntque caput cum corpore tollunt.
Vix tamen audebant hoc ponere quo cupiebant ;
Sed magis occultum condunt pro rege sepultum.
Det Deus hoc sciri, poterit quod adhuc sepeliri,
Ejus et heredes proprias habeant sibi sedes.

j Jam refrænato violenter equoque gravato,
Ursum quærebant, quem tune agitare volebant ;
Pestiferique canes aderant tune regis inanes, __
Undique latrando pacem nec habent aliquando.
Ad latus omne terunt, sed ad hoc quod plus potuerunt
Non magis attendit, quin rex sua retia tendit.

j Qualiter comes de Warwyk ex regis collusione circumventus,
in parliamento se culpabilem recognovit, sperans per hoe certissi-
mam regis veniam, ut sibi promittebatur, infallibiliter promeruisse.
Sed rex omni fallaciæ intendens, qui per talem recognitionem alios
de querela convicisse putavit, dicto comiti mala pro bonis retri-
buens, ipsum pro mercede exhæredatum, in partes longinquas, ut
ibi in carcere servaretur, exulem pro perpetuo mancipavit.

! sepulchrum, MS. A. S. C.

432 | POLITICAL POEMS.

oO quam. subtilis or itur tune fraus juvenilis,

Per quam tune fraudem nequit ursus carpere laudem.
Hoe rex testatur, ursus quod si fateatur

Quod reus existat, nec ad illa relata resistat,

Rex sibi præstabit veniam, qua curia stabit,

Et sic transibit sine morteque liber. abibit ;

Sieque recognoscat aliter sibi juraque poscat,

Incidet in mortem, trahat hanc quam vult sibi sortem.

Qui cum rege pares fuerant tunc consiliares,

Ursum tentarunt, ejus quoque velle probarunt.

Hie vitam portat, alius mortemque reportat ;

Hie eonsolatur, alius quandoque minatur.

Quisque- dolor fingit, quibus ursi pectora stringit,
Quo minus agnoscit quid regi dicere possit.

Sieque fatigatus tandem de labe reatus

Se fore convictum reddit; fuit hoc maledictum.
Tali sermone concrescunt jura coronæ ;

Rex tres devicit unus quia talia dicit. .

Ad regis vota fuit ursi dictio tota,

Omneque respondit verbum quod rex sibi spondet.
Sed eum sic vere regi putat ipse placere,

Regis et ad nutum sperabat se fore tutum,

Tune magis amisit, quæ rex sibi foedera misit.

Nam quod promisit rex pactum denique risit,

Et sic delusus fuit ursus ab ore reclusus ;

Unde pium verbum gustu magis extat acerbum.
Heu! quam res tristis! heu! quam fuit error in istis,
Quando suum pactum rex non produxit in actum ! .
Fingit et ignorat quie rex tune fraude colorat,

De quibus extentum finis docet experimentum.
Ursus poscebat, quod rex non perficiebat,

Nee pudet hoc gestum fraudis quod erat manifestum.
Ursum contemptum, nulla pietate redemptum,

Exilio demptum statuit rex esse peremptum.

Insula tune hominis longinquaque plena ruinis,
Carcere concludit ursum, quem pœna retrudit.

Quod sic ledebat regi non sufficiebat,

Sed capit ex toto terras hærede remoto;

2 s br
vast au Ne ees
uova Leste dE cel ik th

GOWER'S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 433

Nec sibi dimissam solam fovet hic comitissam,
Sed magis amovit inopem quam curia novit.
Sic rex delevit quem tota provincia flevit, |

Ne plures ledat moriens prius ipse recedat.
Restat adhue dira mons Æthna latente sub ira
Regis, dumque faces magis obtinet inde voraces.
Quem ‘rex iratus quamvis sine labe reatus
Tangit in ardore, subito perit ille dolore.

Cum plus morosus sib homo, magis est vitiosus,
Regi qui sævit pestis quo pessima crevit.

k Unus erat dignus, patiens, pius, atque benignus,
Providus et justus, morum virtute. robustus,
Non erat obliquus regni sed verus amicus;
Hune rex odivit, in quo bona talia scivit.

Ut dieunt mille, dominus Cobham fuit ille,
Chronica quos læsit, quibus ille fidelis adhæsit ;
Christo sed vere voluit quia fine placere,
Transtulit ad sedem se Carthusiensis ad sedem.
Sic cepit Christus, voluit quem tollere fiscus ;
Quem Christus duxit, fiscus sine jure reduxit.
Rex scelus accusat, Cobham scelus omne recusat,
Justificans factum, sic res processit in actum.
Que sapit hæc loquitur, nee in hoc vecors reperitur;
Immo quod est éértum regi manifestat apertum.
Sie, quia veridicus tribus est constanter amicus,
Rex condemnavit. Cobliam, sed non maculavit.
Sic non convictus, gladii non sentiit ictus,
Exili lora subiit tamen exteriora.

Hine rogo quod purus redeat cum laude futurus,
Ut sic feliei reditu letentur amici,

* Qualiter rex, omnes quoscunque ledere posset querens, tan-
dem innocentem dominum de Cobham, qui per prius seculo re-
nuntians in domo Carthusiensi tunc moram traxit, etiam in judi-
cium parliamenti produxit. Sed ille, nullo minarum terrore aut
blandimentorum exhortatione locum tyranno prebens, in omnibus
suis responsionibus fidelissimus inveniebatur; unde rex, quasi con-
fusus, ejus constantiam abhorrens, ipsum pre verecundia absque
mortis sententia in exilium longius ab Anglia destinavit.

VOL. I. MEN EE

434 | POLITICAL POEMS,

lHeu! mea penna madet lachrymis, dum scribere
suadet | |
Infortunata sceleris quibus horreo fata,
Non satis egb regem mundi deflectere legem,
Ut pereant gentes sub eo sine lege manentes,
Sed magis in Christum sævit, quapropter ad istum
Casum deflendum non est mihi credo tacendum.
Anglorun primas, supremo culmine primas
Qui tenuit sedes melius dum sperat in sedes,
Hune rex compellit, et eum de sede repellit,
Dum Simon Rome supplantat foedera Thome.
Hic Thomas natus comitis fuit intitulatus,
Clericus aptatus, doctor de jure creatus,
: Legibus ornatus, facundus, morigeratus,
Cum Christo gratus, in plebeque magnificatus.
O quam prelatus! tam purus et immaculatus!
Ad regale latus tandem fuit illaqueatus.
Tramite subtili latitans plus vulpe senili,
Rex studet in fine Thomam prostrare ruins.

m De tribus audistis, eum rex scelus intulit istis,
Presul ut adjutor fuit his quodammodo tutor,
Non contra legem, sed ab ira flectere regem
Nomine pastoris tentaverat omnibus horis;
Semper erab talis, restat dum spes aliqualis,

Si contra mortem poterat salvasse cohortem.
Rex tulit hoe triste, quia cancellarius iste

! Qualiter rex, qui nec Deum timet nec hominem veretur,
contra reverendissimum in Christo patrem Thomam Arundelliæ, tunc
Cantuarie archiepiscopum, dum inter eos major putabatur dilectio,
occasiones discordie importabiles ductus avaritia fingere non eru-
buit. Unde idem Thomas, de archiepiscopo in non archiepiscopum
subito mutatus, omnia bona sua tam temporalia quam spiritualia
dolosa regis ciroumventione penitus amisit; expulsusque insuper
absque ullo mundi relevamine, solum Deum reclamans exul et
pauper ab Anglia recessit.

* Hic declarat aliqualiter figmenta causarum per quas pontifex
supradictus a parliamento tunc absens contra omnem justitiam, ut
audistis, exilii sententiam ab improviso quasi nescius incurrebat.

GOWER'S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE, 435

Tempore quo stabat, hos tres constanter amabat;

Sic procurator pius extitit et mediator.

Cartas quod regis habuerunt munere legis,

Pontificis more summi, pro regis amore.

Sic pacem mittit mortis gladiumque remittit ;

Hec ita fecisset, pactum si rex tenuisset,

Sed quz juravit hodie cras verba negavit.

Cernite pro quali culpa magis in speciali

Pontifice tali sine causa materiali

Rex fuit iratus, sed et altera causa reatus

Est plus secreta, tunc Rom: quando moneta

Simonis ex parte papam concludit in arte.

Ecce per has causas, sub regis pectore clausas,

Hoe scelus objecit Thomæ, qui nil malefecit.

Regis fautores super hoc tamen anteriores,

Fraudibus obtentum eoncludunt parliamentum.

Sic de finali rex pondere judiciali .

Exilio demit Thomam, nec amore redemit.

Sie pater absque pare, quem rex spoliavit avare,

Partes ignotas tunc quærit habere remotas.

Tune pius antistes casus pro tempore tristes

Sustinet, et curam sperat revocare futuram.

Christus eum ducat, salvetque, salute reducat,

Nic ut uterque status sit ei cum laude beatus.
2Q dolor! hoe anno quo crevit pompa tyranno!

Qui ferus ut dieit, voluit quos vincere, vicit.

Dum scelus hoe restat, super omnes tres manifestat,

De quibus in gente stat vox variata repente.

Quidam constricti, quidam de munere victi,

Ad mala ducuntur, quia multi multa loquuntur.

Tunc olor, nrsus, equus, non unus dicitur æquus ;

Heri laudati fuerant, nune vituperati.

Fama fugit prima, quia sors descendit ad ima,

" Hic narrat qualiter vix unus aut de morte aut de exilio pre-
cipue irum procerum supradictorum aliquod verbum lamentabile
in aperto proferre tunc audebat; sed potius seandalum quam
laudem pre timore regis ad invicem -confabulati. sunt.

E E 2

436 .. . $OLITICAL POEMS,

Sorteque cessante, cessab laus omnis ab ante.
Vertitur obliquus amor, est ibi nullus amicus,

Quo tres prædicti pereunt velut umbra relicti.
Tune consanguinitas aufert de sanguine vitas,
Denegat et sexus procerum dissolvere nexus ;

Nil genus obstabat, ratio nec eos reparabat ;

Sic transformata fuit illa dies scelerata,

Stirps extirpatur, flos arboris evacuatur,

Quo maneat nomen, hzres non percipit omen ; ;

Ut pater intravit, ita solus ab orbe migravit.

Sic vice jam versa spergens fuit unio spersa,

Heri rectores, hodie magis inferiores, |

Et sic derisi fuerant quodammodo visi.

Portas elauserunt, ubi claves non habuerunt :

Nee tamen exclusus fuerat tunc regis abusus.
Non se convertit in pejus qui male vertit,

Dum mala queruntur in eo pejora sequuntur.
Tres interfecit proceres, dum. pessima fecit,

Quo nimis elatum sumpsit sua pompa volatum.
Tune delusores, quos curia turbidiores .

Novit, ridebant super his quz gesta videbant.
Frivola componunt tribus et tria scandala ponunt;
Tale fuit dictum, nec adhue stat ab ore relictum.
* *Non olor in pennis, nec equus stat crine perennis;
* Jam depennatus olor est, equus excoriatus ;

* Ursus non mordet, quem stricta catena remordet."
Sic fatus turbæ.vox conclamabat in urbe. —
Omnia gue dici poterant dicunt inimici,

Pluraque fingentes mendacia sunt parientes.
Grene, Scrop, Bussy, cordis sine lumine fusci,
Omne nefas querunt quo ledere plus potuerunt.
Rex fuit instructus per eos, et ad omnia ductus .
Quæ mala post gessit, quibus Anglia tota pavescit.
intra se flebat populus, qui damna videbat,
.Cum non audebat vocem proferre, tacebat.

|. * Canticum quod composueré maligni in | derigu procerum tyran-
nice interfectorum. | |

GOWER’S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 437

. PO dux immense! tu Gallica regna sub ense -
Militis ex more bellasti regis honore.
O comes! inque mari pro rege tuo superari
Classem fecisti Francorum, quos domuisti.
Heu! rex, qui tales fraudasti collaterales,
. Sit tbi de fine vindex forbuna ruins,
Principio rerum placido quam sepe dierum
Finis adest tristis; ideo speculemur in istis;
Estque fides rara modo, quam mens nescit avara.
Dum favet os fraudis, ne credas omne quod audis.
Fingere fingenti schola nuper erat sapienti;
Talis at hesterna fuit, est schola nune hodierna.
Fallitur incertum, sed quando videbis apertum
Finem cum cauda, tunc demum tempora lauda,
Anno bis dena primo de sanguine pleno,
Septembris mense, feritas dominatur in ense.
Tristis ut audivi carmen scribendo subivi ;
Plangite vos vivi; quia planctus Sunt residivi.
Doctoris verba sunt hzc que miror acerba;
Dum melius fecisse putes, latet anguis in herba,
Quicquid homo fatur, quiequid facit aut meditatur,
Stat fortuna rei semper in ore Dei

Explicit secunda pars chronico, et incipit teria. —

Hic in tertia parte chronicæ finaliter scribit qualiter
rex antedictus, utroque Dei et hominum jure post-
posito, strenuissimum principem dominum Henricum,
tunc Derbeiæ comitem, patre suo duce Lancastriæ
adhuc vivente, per decennium capitose in exilium
delegavit. ^ Postea vero, patre defuncto filioque in
partibus Francie tunc existente, idem rex omnis
malitiæ plenus, quasi per infinitas doli circumventiones,

? Hic circa finem probitates ducis Gloverniæ necnon comitis
Arundellie magis in speciali commemorans, eorum gesta laudabiliter
commendat. Consulat insuper quod, per ea quz præterita sunt,
presentes utinam discreto pectore sibi contra futura providere
nullatenus omittant.

488 POLITICAL. PORMS.

lam in ipsius absentis personam quam in ejus. heredi-
latem occasiones malitiose fulminari decrevit. Sed
qui verum a falso discernit Summus Judex, tantas
malitiæ abominationes impune non ferens, dictum
dominum Henrieum,: tunc post obitum petris sui
ducem, Lancastrie, in Angliam sua divina providentia, |
invito rege, remeare fecit; ob cujus adventum universi
regni fideles tam proceres quam communes, Deum
quasi ex uno ore callaudantes, pestiferum Ricardum
suis ex demeritis regno renunciantem penitus a gradu
suo deposuerunt, — gratissimumque ducer | dominum
Henrieum prænotatum in solium repiæ majestatis reg-
naturum coronantes cüm gaudio sublimarunt, tertio-
decimo die mensis Octobris anno Domini millesimo
tricentesimo nonagesimo nono. | |

a Tristia post leta, post tristia sæpé quieta,
Si bene pensemus, satis hæc manifesta videmus.
Regnum confractum, regis feritate subactum
Nuper deflevi lachrymas sed abinde quievit ;
Regnum purgatum probitate ducis renovatum
Amodo ridebo, nec ab ejus laude tacebo.
O res laudanda! O res sine fine notanda !
Ad laudem Christi, qui nos de carcere tristi -
R. tunc custodis, quasi sit regnantis Herodis,
Gratius eduxit et ad inclyta regna reduxit.

b Novit enim mundus, Ricardus quando secundus
Justos delevit proceres, quos Anglia flevit ;
Ipse superbire sic spirat et altius ire,
Quod dedignatur proprium regnumque minatur ;
Amplius ex more solito latitante furore
Sævit, et oppressit populum cui parcere hescit.
Sicut humum todit evertens talpaque rodit,

* Hic in terüa parte chroniez compositor in principio finem
praemeditans sub spe glorie future lætatur.

^ Qualiter ad modum talpæ, quæ semper tertam effodiens eani
continue subvertit, rex Ricardus, ut suum regnum tyrannice dis-

perdat, assiduis imaginationibus ad populi destructionem omnes.
suas cautelas indesinenter conjectat.

GOWERS TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 439

Unde caret requie, sic alter nocte dieque
Ut magis evertat regnum quod demere certat; —
Sie scelus apponit, et ad hoc sua robora ponit,
Ut princeps baratri furiens regit acta theatri,
Pondera præbebat populum quibus ipse premebat.
Utpote salsarum furiosa Charybdis aquarum
Gurgite fervoris bibit, evomit omnibus horis;
Sic sibi collectum facinus sub pectore tectum
Rex vomit in gentem, ve! ve! sine lege manenterü.

¢ Per prius obtentum semper sibi parliamentum
Per loca coriservat, in quo mala quæqué teservat.
Est ubi persona regis residente corona
Corpore ‘presenti stat ibi vis parliamenti ;
Sic, ubicunque sedet presentia regia, lædet,
Quod nullus scivit sceleris que facta subivit.
Hoc factum regis fuit abominatio legis,
Quo fremuit certé populus, sed nullus aperte;
Sic tamen ut staret et tempora continuaret,
Rex sibi papales bullas habuit speciales. —
Si quis in extento prius aub post parliamento
Quid contradicit, in eum sententia vicit.
Ad scelus implendum tune rex habet omne timendum,
Excepto Christo, qui non fuit auctor in isto;
Quiequid enim dicit clerus, populus maledicit,
Invocat et Christi vindictam pectore tristi.
Inde sed oblitüs rex pestifer hos sibi ritus,
Quos prius elegit, maledicto fine peregit,
Consensu, tactu, visuque ferocior actu.
In regnum sævit, qui post sua crimina flevit.
Quz non audivit auris nec cor mala scivit,
Tristia conjectat, populum quo perdere spectat.

d Chartæ seribuntur et in omni parte leguntur,

© Nota qualiter rex subtili fraude concessum sibi obtinuit, quod
ubicunque sedere velle& cum certis personis sibi assignatis per
prius inceptum continuare posset parliamentum.

4 Nota de primis chartis, quas scriptas ex regis bompulsione tam
elerüs quàm populus formidans sigillavit, tali enim subtillitate rex
varias regni sul patrias spoliando destruxit,

440 POLITICAL POEMS.

Hasque sigillari jubet omnibus et venerari.
Perficit hoc clerus, si debeo dicere verus,

Nescio, sed gentes sua sunt exempla sequentes ;
Nescia plebs legis, dum sperat premia regis,
Ut dicebatur, ad regia jussa. paratur. :

Urbs, ager, et villa chartis posuere sigilla,

Quo magis ad plenum. conspergitur omne venenum.
Fallitur ex illo quisquis cum firma sigillo

Culpa recordetur, qua proditor omnis habetur. |
Cum sie quisque status sib in his chartis vitiatus,
Ut veniam portet sibi solvere quiequid oportet,
Tunc exactores baratro magis avidiores _
Absolvunt gentes, pacem quasi sint redimentes. .
He sed cautela nihil est nisi ficta; medela,

Nam magis insanus stat morbus quotidianus ;
"Rex populum pressit, et abinde quiescere nescit,
Semper turbatur, semper sua regna minatur.

e Post primas chartas alias statuit magis arctas,

Sed de scriptura patuit non una figura ;

Has etiam villis jubet affirmare sigillis.

Qualis finis erit. quisquis sub murmure quærit ?
Et sic velata facie: -plebs illaqueata, - |
Quod facit ignorat, ita dum fortuna laborat.

f Accidit interea. dum terra fuit Pharisza, |
Est nova lis mota, quam noverat Anglia tota.
Nobilis Henricus, omnis probitatis amicus, —
Hic tunc florebat super omnes plusque- valebat ;
Ut rosa flos florum, melior fuit ille bonorum .
Custos Anglorum, per quem lux fulsit eorum ;
Exemplar morumque probatior ille proborum,
Ad loca bellorum leo conterit arma luporum.
Ejus cognomen venerabile. percipit, omen,

.* Nota de secundis chartis quee blanche chartres vulgariter nun-
cupantur. |

f Qualiter rex Ricardus, omnis malitiæ plenus, strenuissimum
dominum Henrieum tunc Derbeiæ comitem, ducisque Lancastriæ
filium et heredem, sola ex invidia ut ipsum perderet in exilium
projecit.

GOWER'S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 441

Quod nunquam victum rutilat Lancastria dictum. :
Hune paire vivente de sorte superveniente
Rex delegavit, et eum sine labe fugavit; -
Rex etenim novit ad eum quod patria vovit,
Unde timens sortem dolet ejus habere cohortem. -
Invidus hane causam gestat sub pectore clausam, :
Donec disperdat justum sine jureque perdat.
Hic tamen ex more solito pro regis honore
Semper promptus erat, aliter quo premia sperat,
Sic nihil offendit, quo rex sibi damna rependit. -
. Bed quia cunctorum rex oderat acta proborum, .:
Singula non scripsi quee dux bona contulit ipsi.
Si meritum detur, tunc dux mala nulla meretur.
Exilium tortum gremio de regis abortum
Hoc pro finali mercede datur speciali.

£ Purus ad omne latus sic exulat immaculatus,
Et quem decepit rex Anglus, Francia cepit.
Stans ibi præclarus regno fuit undique carus,
Quo sibi concrevit requies, sed non requievit.
Dum genus exquirit, in quo sibi jura requirit,
Quem Deus absolvit patri mors omnia solvit ;
Sic patre defuncto, de consilio sibi juncto
Est tune querendum melius sibi quid sit agendum.
Et sic consultus velut hæres miles adultus,
Qua sua cognoscit post patrem propria poscit.
Hos per rumores adeunt ambassiatores,
Regem quærentes legem super hocque petentes,
Sed qui cuneta vorat, non audit quod pius! orat,
Exhæredatum sed eum jubet esse fugatum.
Et sic nec regem justum justam neque legem
Dux probus invenit, dum vox sibi nuntia venit.
Tune confiscatus rapitur sine jure ducatus,
Quo se confortat dux commoda nulla reportat.

8 Qualiter nobilis Henricus antedictus in partes Franciæ, ut ibi
tempore exilii moraretur, animo constanti viriliter se transtulit.

oe mms anh noe m—— m

1 prius, MS. A. S. O.

449 : POLITICAL POEMS.

Pulli corvorum pascit quos mater éorum,
Non ita proclamant, quin plus sibi castra réclamant
Regis fautores terrasque ducatus honores. |
Rex bona dispergit, qui non sine erimine pergit,
Distribuens sortes, ditescat ut inde cohortes.
Quod sie deérevit rex fama perämbüla crevit,
Per mundum totum scelus hoc érit amodo notum.

h OQ quam plura sinit Deus! et, cum tenipora finit,
Omnia tune certe qua sunt demonstrat aperte.
Dux inspiratus tandem, quasi sit renovatus, _
Singula compensat perfecto cordeque pensat.
Tortorem regem tortam crevisseque legem
Cernit, et érrores in utroque statu graviores.
Signans se Christo quæsivit opem stiper isto,
Qui bene dum sperat jubet ut sta propria quærat.
Ex subito more, salvo sibi semper honore,
Partes subtiles Francorum dux quasi miles!
Cum paucis transit, nec ibi tardando remansit.
Calisias ivit, ubi propria regna petivit
Cum modica classe, sic magnanimum reméassé
Constat, et in navi dux ducitur indé sua vi.
Primas Anglorüm, tunc exul fraude malorum,
Thomas devote stat ibi, comitante nepote.
Hos dux regalis, veluti gallina sub alis,
Secum votiva salvos duxit comitiva.

i Dux, comes, antistes, pàriter solamina tristes —
Quærunt sperántés, ubi venti sunt agitantés.

h Nota qualité? post obitum pâtris sui ducis Lancastrie, nobi-
lissimus fihus suus comes antedictus, tunc de jure dux, ut ipse
hereditatem suam vendicaret, de partibus Francie proviso sapienter
itinere Calisias adiit, ubi cum domino Thoma Cantuarie archi-
episcopo, necnon Thoma filio et herede Ricardi comitis Arundélliæ,
ut prefertur defuncti, ut in Angliam transfretaret, Christo se
commendans navem ascendit.

i Qualiter nobilis Henricus, tune dux Lancastriæ, per mare
havigando portum quærens tandem prope Grymmesby, Christo
mediante, littora pacifica sortitus est.

! viles, MS. A. 8. O.

GOWER' S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 448

Vela petunt portum, quem sors prope contulit ortum ;

Ut dux concepit, aquilonica litéra cépit.

Tune magis audaci vultu, cum plebe sequaci,

Exultans dicit, quod in hoe quasi prelia vicit.

Ex animo forti dederat bona corda cohorti,

Quod bene sperarent, quiequid sibi fata pararent.

Sic congaudentes sub speque nihil metuentes, |

Quo melius querunt, naves simul applicuerunt.

Dux prius egressus disponit humo sibi gressus,

Primitus exoratque Deum genuflexus adorat

Votis sincere mentis, quod possit habere

Victoris palmas, extendit ad sthera& palmas; ——

Utque scelus guerre superet, dedit oscula terre,

Pluraque devota dux fecit ibl pia vota.

De prece surrexit, sürgendoque se crüce texit,

Et tunc quam iætas incepit adire dietas.

j Patria cum scirét quod salvüs dux reveniret,

Totus ei mundus occurrit ubique jocundus.

k Tune rex Ricardus lepus est, et non leopardus,

Quem timor astrinxit, alibi sua robora finxit ;

Hic ducis adventum priescivit ab ore scientum,

Quo celer exivit, et Hibernica regna petivit.

Sepe silens plangit, quem tune vecordia tangit,

Ex quo singultus plures rex cepit adultus, -

Sic redit absente dux noster rege timente,

Nec quid præsumit, sua propria dumque résumit.
! Dux probus audaci vultu cum plebé sequaci

Regnum scrutatur, si proditor inveniatur.

Sie tres exosos magis omnibus, ambitiosos,

Regni tortores invenerat ipse priores ;

| Qualiter ad servitium nobilis ducis quasi universa. terra gra-
tanter se obtulit. |

* Qualiter rex Ricardus, tempore quo nobilis dux Henricus
applicuit, in partibus Hibernie inutiles dies ad sui confusionem
infortunate consunipsit.

! Qualiter apud Bristolliam enpti et decapitati fuerunt tres
precipue regis fautores, qui in mortis articulo dicli regis condi-
tiones multipliciter aceusarunt.

444: POLITICAL POEMS.

Ense repereussi pereunt Scrop, Greneque, Bussy,
Hi quasi regales fuerant cum rege sodales.
Scrope comes et miles, ejus Bristollia viles -
Actus declarat, quo mors sua fata pararat ;
Greneque sorte pari statuit dux decapitari; —
Bussy.convietus similes quoque sustinet ictus.
. Unanimes mente pariter mors una repente
Hos tres prostravit, gladius quos fine voravit.
Sicut et egerunt aliis, sic hi ceciderunt ;
Quo dux laudatur regnumque per omne jocatur,
Sunt tamen Henrici quamplures tunc inimici,
Tales qui quærunt obsistere, nec potuerunt;
Sæpius effantur, et eum post terga minantur ;
Sed non audebant, faciem cum respiciebant.

m Tempore sic stante stat rex ubi stabat ab ante,
Donec commota tremit ejus concio tota. .
Sie magis ignari sceleris fiunt quasi rari,
Omnes sorte pari dubitant qua parte juvari.
Tunc fortuna rotam divertit abinde remotam, |
Cæcaque permansit, dum rex super æquora transit.
Quos laqueos fecit, in eos sua culpa rejecit,
Qui laqueatus erit, patrio dum littora quærit.
Hoc non obstante, vento tamen exagitante,
Portum fatalem sors reddit ei specialem ;
Inque suas claves cepit fera Wallia naves,
Quas cito dissolvit, regis cum facta revolvit.
Rex mittens sortes mandavit habere cohortes,
Sed nihil invenit, ubi gratia nulla revenit.
Hoc ita cumque vident, quidam sub murmure rident,
Et quidam flentes fuerant de corde dolentes.
Prospera quæ nescit tunc regia pompa recessit,
Quisque viam vertit subito, nec ad arma revertit.
Tune rex, ut dicit, sua fata dolens maledicit,
Nee timet hine Christum, mundum nec abhorruit istum.
Non est contritus, nec vult dimittere ritus,

m Qualiter Ricardus rex, de partibus Hibernie rediens, Walliæ
littora cepit.

GOWER’S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 445

Ut prius erravit, sic semper continuavit.
Sic furit ipse malis semper sine lege feralis,
Principio qualis steterat stat fineque talis.
Cautus ut invadit agnos quos ledere vadit,
Vulpes in occulto, sic rex. a tempore multo,
Pectore subtili juvenis sub fraude senili,
Omne scelus. poscit regnum quo perdere possit.
Tune super omne tamen conspirat habere levamen,
Unde dueis sortem fallat fugiatque cohortem. -
Hine perserutatur dolus, et fraus continuatur,
Si quid prodesse poterit cogente necesse.
Est ibi vis nulla, velut os perit absque medulla,
Rex qui posse caret pro tune sine viribus aret.
Per loca, per castra fugit, et si tune super astra
Seandere scivisset, transcendere tune voluisset.
Sic tumor elatus, nuper tam magnificatus,
Est timor effectus, latitans quasi talpa rejectus.
Quem non preservat Christus se non homo servat;
Et, quamvis tarde, de te loquor ista, Ricarde.
» Pervigil à somnis quod dicitur audiat omnis,
Et quod dicetur.regnis exemplificetur.
Est rota fortunæ quodammodo regula lunæ,
Quæ prius albescit de nocteque post tenebrescit ;
Sic de quo scripsi Ricardo contigit ipsi.
Dum stetit ad plenum, steterat sibi tempus amcenum ;
Sed cum decrescit, lucem tunc nebula nescit;
Cum se pervertit, sua sphæra retrograda vertit.
Nil sibi de bellis, quia stat sibi terra rebellis,
Nec mare succurrit, fugiens quia nauta recurrit.
Spes sibi collata non est, sed et undique fata
Ipsum torquebant, et ad ima repente ruebant.
Non ita secreta loca sunt neque castra quieta,
Quz nune! secura fuerant pro sorte futura.

? Qualiter rex Ricardus cum suis fautoribus nobili duci Henrico
eisdem in Wallia occurrenti se reddiderunt.

———— e—— e ——À ——— — —————

—————Ó € € iR e

! tunc, MS. Cotton. -

446 E POLITICAL POEMS.

Finis adest, actus capitur, rex fitque subactus,
Et reliqui tales, sibi sunt qui collaterales,
Caute ducuntur capti, qui fata sequuntur ;

Nic rex præventus ducis est virtute retentus.

? Augusti mensis. dedit hoe, quo Londoniensis
Urbs congaudebatque ducem cum laude canebat.
Sicut arena maris occursus adest popularis,

Tanti victoris benedicens gesta vigoris.
In Turrim transit R., sub custode remansit ;
Sie caput Anglorum minimus jacet ipse minorum.

P Ut sit opus planum nihil et deponere vanum,
Apponendo manum dux purgat ad horrea granum;
Justos laudavit, injustos vituperavit,

Hos confirmavit, hos deprimit, hos relevavit.
Regni primatem, crudelem per feritatem

Quem rex explantat, dux ex pietate replantat ;
Humfredum natum patre defuncto spoliatum,
Quem rex transduxit, hune dux probitate reduxit.
Nil tibi desperes, Arundelliæ profugus hæres;
Prosperà namque ducis fatis tua fata reducis.
Warwici comitem, cujus sine crimine litem

Dux pius agnovit, salvum de carcere movit ;
Cobham sorte pari dux fecit et hune revocari,
Exilio demptus justus redit ille, redemptus

Neo prece nec dono, Christo mediante patrono.
Tanta tulit gratis primordia dux bonitatis ;

Ut bona tam grata super hoc sint continuata,
Christus adhuc mentem ducis efficit esse manentem.
q Londoniis festo Michaelis tune manifesto,

* Qualiter nobilis Henricus una cum rege Ricardo et aliis Lon-
doniam veniunt, ubi dictus rex in Turrim posttus per aliquod
tempus sub custodia remansit.

P Qualiter nobilis dux Henricus proceres quoscumque, per regem
Ricardum in exilium delegatos, ad propria mitissime revocavit.

à Qualiter assignatum fuit parliamentum tenendum apud West-
monasterium ad festum saneti Michaelis tunc proximi, et in-
terim Humfredus, filius et heres ducis Glovernie, una cum maire
sua corporis infirmitate mortui sunt.

GOWER'S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. AAT

Sunt ut ibi tuta sunt parliamenta statuta;
Quilibet attendit qus sors sibi fata rependit, .
Semper et in gente fit murmur rege regente.
Interea transit moriens, nec in orbe remansit,
Humfredus dietus, redit ille Deo benedictus ;
Defuncto nato, cito post de fine beato
Mater transivit, nati dum funera scivit.
Primo decessit cygnus, dolor unde repressit —
Matrem cum pullo, sibi mors nec parcit in ullo.
Est apud antiquos dictum, defunctus amicos
Vix habet a tergo, caveat sibi quihbet ergo; .
Quisque suum pectus tangat vivens homo rectus,
Nee sic gaudebit, quia singula vana videbit.
Scribere jam restat, que mundus adhuc manifestat, —
Ut sit opus tale cunctis speculum generale.

T Tune prius incepta sunt parliamenta recepta,
De quibus abstractus Ricardi desinit actus.
Ecce dies Martis nec adest presentia partis,
Nec sedet in sede, quem culpa repellit ab ede.
Denegat in stanno loca tunc fortuna tyranno,
À visu gentis quem terruit actio mentis;

R. non comparet, alibi sed dummodo staret
Causas assignat quibus H. sua sceptra resignat.
Substituit aliquos proceres tunc juris amicos,
Ad quos confessus proprio fuit ore repressus.
His circumspectis, aliisque sub ordine lectis,

R. qui deliquit, hune curia tota reliquit :
Hune deponebant plenum quem labe sciebant,
Nec quis eum purgat, iterum ne forte resurgat.
Tune decus Anglorum, sed eb optimus illé bonorum,
H. fuit electus regno, magis est quia rectus,

* Qualiter primo die parlamenti rex Ricardus personaliter non
comparuit, sed alibi existens titulo coronæ suce sub forma magis
authentica penitus renunciavib; super quo nobilis Henricus, uni-
verso populo in ejus laudem conclamante ut rex efficiatur, electus
est, |

448 POLITICAL POEMS.

Sola dies tentum tulit istud parliamentum, -

Nec magis expressit pro tuné, sed abinde recessit.
H. tamen extenti nova tempora parliamenti .
Proxima decrevit, quo regni gloria crevit.
Quando coronatus foret et de fine levatus,
Tune processus erit super hoc quod curia queerit ;
Interea gentes vivunt sub spe recolentes,

Quod novus errores rex conteret anteriores.

s Sexta dies stabat Octobris, quando parabat |
Rex novus optata sua parliamenta novata ; | n
Curia verbalis fuit et non judicialis, . EE E
Ad tempus restat nihil et depondere prestat; EE
Dicitur expletum quod nil valet esse quietum, -

Donec persona regis sit operta corona ;
Sieque coronari, quem Christus vult venerari, — | :
Corditer exultat plebs omnis et inde resultat. | 3

tQui res disponit, et eisdem tempora ponit, 0848
Ille diem fixit Henricum quo benedixit ; 3
Prædestinavit Deus illum quem titulavit,

Ut rex regnaret sua regnaque justificaret.

Quem Deus elegit, regali laude peregit,

Unde coronatur in honoreque magnificatur. EE
Tempore felici poterunt solemnia dici, - E
Quz tam sacratis horis patuere beatis; .
Edwardi festa confessoris manifesta

Henrici festum regis testatur honestum.

Plebs canit in:menteque resultat in ore loquente, |
Quisque colit Christum, quia regem suscitat istum. B
Vix homo pensare poterit seu dinumerare, |
Quæ tune fulserunt, solemnia quanta fuerunt.

Omnis terra Deum laudatque canit jubilæum,

Henricum justumque piumque ferumque robustum.

, Qualiter parliamentum continuatum foit usque post corona-
tionem. | |
_t Qualiter in die solemni nobilis Henricus, in solium regiæ
majestatis sublimatus, cum omni gaudio coronatur.

GOWER’S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 449

v Unde coronatur trino de jure probatur:
Regnum conquestatque per hoc sibi jus manifestat ;
Regno succedit hæres, nec abinde recedit ;
Insuper eligitur a plebeque sic stabilitur ;
Ut sit compactum, juris nil defuit actum ;
Singula respondent Henrici juraque spondent.
. * Fama volans crevit, que climata cuncta replevit,
Quo laus vexilli super omnes præfuit illi.
Sie regnat magnus reprobis leo, mitibus agnus,
Hostes antiquos qui terret et auget amicos. :
Luna diem donat, qua regem terra coronat,
Marsque sequens terræ dat parliamenta referre.
Rex sedet et cuncti proceres resident sibi juncti,
Stant et presentes communes plus sapientes ;
Tempus. erat tale communeque judiciale,
Quod bene provisum nihil est a jure rescisum.
Est quia protectus letatur sic homo rectus,
Et metuunt reliqui sua damna dolenter iniqui.

x Sed quia plus dignum prius est recitare benignum,
Quæ sunt majora scribens recitabo priora;
Henrici natus Henricus, honore beatus,
Est confirmatus hæres princepsque vocatus,
Sic pars abscisa, summo de judice visa,
Arboris est uncta veteri stipitique rejuncta.
Istud fatatum fuit a sanctisque relatum ;
Quod tune complevit Deus, ex quo terra quievit,
Hoc facto leta stupet Anglia laude repleta,
Cordeque letatur, quia stirps de stirpe levatur.

y Tunc de consensu regis, procerum quoque sensu,

* Nota, qualiter jura coronæ serenissimo jam regi nostro Henrico
quarto tribus modis accrescunt, primo successione, secundo elec-
tione, tertio conquestu sine sanguinis effusione.

" Qualiter parliamentum adhue fuit continuatum.

* Qualiter Henricus, regis tunc. Henrici primogenitus, statumque
nomen principis de consensu omnium gloriose adeptus est.

Y Qualiter ea que nuper in parliamento tempore Ricardi per
ducem. Glovernive et socios suos gesta fuerunt, presens parlia-
mentum confirmavit; et ea qui Ricardus in ultimo suo parlie-
mento constituit, presens etiam parliamentum penitus cassavit.

VOL. I. | FF

450 | POLITICAL POEMS.

Plebe reclamante, stant parliamenta per ante;

Sie procedebant super his, quse gesta videbant

Ad commune bonum, recolentes gesta baronum.
Qus prius ursus, equus, et olor, qui dicitur æquus,
Nuper fecerunt, firmissima, constituerunt ;

Et qus pomposa perversaque fraude dolosa
Ricardus fecit, hæc curia tota rejecit.

Et tune tractatum fuit illud opus sceleratum,

Quo dudum cygnus periit sine labe! benignus.

Justitiæ vere vindictam clamat habere

Omnis ob hoc funus populus, quasi vir foret unus ;

Sie communis amor popularis et undique clamor.

Extitit acceptus a regeque lege receptus.
ZInfortunatus Ricardus, plus sceleratus,

Omnibus ingratus, fuit undique tune maculatus;

Sic quasi damnatus abiit pre labe reatus,

Quo stetit elatus sub carcere magnificatus.

Ejus fautores, qui sunt de sorte priores,

Tune aecusati sunt ad responsa vocali.

Hi responsales submittunt se speciales

Judicio regis, per quem silet ultio legis.

Regia nam pietas sic temperat undique metas,
Quod nil mortale datur illis judiciale. .

Est tamen ablatum, quod eis fuit ante beatum
Vocibus Anglorum venerabile nomen eorum ;
Corpora stant tuta, cecidit sed fama minuta.
Dux redit in comitem, quatit et sic curia litem ;
Labitur exosus Bagot, quem rex pietosus —
Erigit, et mite prolongat tempora vite.

Sie pius Henricus, inimico non inimicus,

5 Qualiter Ricardo suis ex demeritis judicialiter condemnato,

cæteri qui cum eo accusati erant tantummodo ex mera regis pietate
quieti permanserunt, |

! jure, MS. A. S. C.

GOWER’S TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE. 451

Appetit, et Christo placuisse putavit in isto.
Non tamen in gente placet hoc, sed in ore loquente
Publica vox dicit, leges quod Mammona vicit.
Justitiam quæri plebs vult, rex vult misereri ;
Et sic fortuna pro tempore non fuit una;
Rex excusatur, nam dicunt quod variatur
. Consilio tali quo res latet in speciali.

» Quatuor auctores sceleris, Juda nequiores,
Ore dabunt laudes, tacito sub cordeque fraudes;
Holand, Kent, Sarum, Spenser, quasi fellis amarum,
Fœdera strinxerunt, quibus H. seducere quærunt ;
Vivere quos fecit pius H., nec eis malefecit.
Hi mala conjectant in eum, quem perdere spectant.
H. etenim pacem dedit illis, hique minacem
Ejus spirantes mortem sunt arma parantes.
Sic nimis ingrati mala retribuunt bonitati.
In caput illorum tamen est vindicta malorum ;
Nam qui cunctorum cognoscit corda virorum,
Detegit occulta, quibus accidit ultio multa.
Cum magis instabant subitoque nocere putabant,
Ex improviso pereunt discrimine viso.
Per loca diversa fuit horum concio spersa,
Quos Deus extinxit, nee in hoc miracula finxit.
De populo patrie nato comitante Marise
Quatuor elati perierunt decapitati.
Ecce Dei munus! populus, quasi vir foret unus,
Surgit ad omne latus, sit ut H. ita fortificatus.

b Quod satis est carum, concives Londoniarum
Nobilis Henrici steterant constanter amici.
Rex jubet et prompti fuerant armis cito compti,

^ Qualiter, finito parliamento, infra breve post quidam impii,
instigante diabolo, ut ipsi pium regem Henricum cum sua progenie
& terra delerent, proditorie conspirantes insurrexerunt, quos ira Dei
præveniens in villa de Circestre per manus vulgi interfectos mira-
culosa destruxit. *

* Qualiter regis nati in custodia tune majoris Londoniarum pro
securitate secundum tempus fidelissime servabantur, -

FF 2

459 2 POLITICAL POEMS. |

Ejus et in sortem magnam tribuere cohortem.

Urbs fuit adjutrix, quæ regis tune quasi nutrix |

Natos servavit, et eos quasi mater amavit;

Regis enim camera fuit urbs hoc tempore vera,

In qua confisus multum fuit ille gavisus.

Sie pius in Christo pietatem sentit in isto,

Quo præservatur et regnum clarificatur.

Anglicus &' somnis quasi surgens vir canit omnis,

R. cadit, H. regnat, quo regnum gaudia pregnat. -
* Tempore quo facta sunt hse, Ricardus ad acta

Non foris exivit; qui quando pericula scivit, |

Quod sors falsorum destructa fuit sociorum,

Fortunam sprevit et eorum funera flevit.

Tunc bene videbat quod ei fraus nulla valebat,

Quo contristatus doluit quasi morte gravatus.

Ecce dolor talis suus est, quod spes aliqualis

Amodo viventem nequiit convertere flentem.

Qui tamen, astabant custodes sepe juvabant, —

Ne desperaret, dum tristia continuaret.

Sed neque verborum solamina cepit eorum,

Dum lachrymas spersit, sibimet nec amore pepercit,

Sie se consumit, quod vix si prandia sumit,

Aut si sponte bibit vinum, quo vivere quibit.

Semper enim plorat, semper de sorte laborat,

Qua cadit, et tales meminit! periisse sodalés.

Solam deposcit mortem, ne vivere possit

Amplius, est et ita moriens sua pompa sopita.

Anglia gaudebat, quia quem plebs plus metuebat

Christus delevit, quo libera terra quievit.

Sed probus Henricus, pietatis semper amicus,

Ad Christi cultum corpus dedit esse sepultum

Sollemni more, quamvis sine laudis honore.

* Qualiter Ricardus, cum ipse nova de morte illorum qui apud
Circestre, ut praedictum est, interierunt audisset, seipsum omni cibo
renunciantem pre doloris augustia morientem extinxit.

à mémorat, MS. A. S. C,

GOWERS TRIPARTITE CHRONICLE,

Langele testatur, quod ibi Ricardus humatur ;
- Ipse loco tali magis omnibus in speciali
Corpus donavit, quod mundus habere negavit.
Sie bona proque malis H. mitis et imperialis
Reddit ei mite, qui clauserat ultima vits.

Mortuus R. transit, vivens probus H.que remansit,
Quem Deus extollit, e& ab R. sua prospera tollit.

dQ quam pensando mores variosque notando,
Si bene scrutetur, R. ab H. distare videtur!
Clarus sermone, tenebrosus et intus agone,
R. paeem fingit, dum mortis foedera stringit.
Duplex cautelis fuit R, pius H.que fidelis ;
. R. pestem mittit, mortem pius H.que remittit ;
R. servitutem statuit, pius H.que salutem ;
R. plebem taxat, taxas pius H.que relaxat.
R. proceres odit et eorum prædia rodit ;
H. fovet hæredesque suas restaurat in aedes.

R. regnum vastat vindex et in omnibus astat ;

Mulcet terrorem pius H.que reducit amorem.

O Deus, Henrico, quem diligo, quem benedico,

. Da regnum tutum nulla gravitate volutum.

Vite presentis pariter vitæque sequentis

Da sibi quodcumque felicius est ad utrumque.
eChronica Ricardi, qui sceptra tulit leopardi,

Ut patet, est dicta populo sed non benedicta.

Ut speculum mundi, quo, lux nequit ulla refundi,

Sic vacuus transit, sibi nil nisi culpa remansit.

Unde superbus erat, modo si præconia querat,

Ejus honor sordet, laus culpat, gloria mordet.

453

4 Nota hic, secundum commune dictum de pietate serenissimi
regis Henrici necnon de impietate qua crudelissimus Ricardus

regnum dum potuit tyrannice vexavit.

* Hie in fine chronicam regis Ricardi secundum sua demerita

breviter determinat. !

.! Hie in exemplum. aliorum. Ricardi demerita / commemorans — finaliter

recapitulat, MS. A. S.C.

454 POLITICAL POEMS.

Hoc concernentes caveant qui sunt sapientes,

Nam male viventes Deus odit in orbe regentes.

Est qui peccator non esse potest dominator,

Ricardo teste, finis probat hoc manifeste.

Post sua demerita periit sua pompa sopita,
Qualis erat vita, chronica stabit ita.

Explicit chronica prœsentibusque futwris vigili corde
| regibus commemoranda.

MEMORIAL VERSES ON THE REIGNS oF Epwarp III.
AND RicuarpD IL!

a Tertius Edwardus vivo genitore coronam
Suscipit, et merito dignus in orbe coli.

Quartus et annus erat quo Bayllol jura Johannis
Scottorum regis filio deveniunt —— MEE

Edwardo, proceres qui congregat undique regni
In regnum pergant et sibi subveniant. -

. Armantur plures, et classica magna parantur;

Intrant Scottorum limina marte fero.

^ Edwardus de Wyndesore, filius Edwardi secundi, vivente patre
Suo, coronatur in regem Anglie, dum xvj. esse annorum, vir
‘strenuus valde et illustris. . Hujus anno quarto Edwardus de
Balliolo, filius et hzeres domini Johannis de Balliolo regis Scotorum,
cupiens regnum jure hæreditario debitum recuperare, barones et
nobiles ad bella fortes secum per maritima in Scotiam conduxit.
Quibus advenientibus obviam habuerunt Scottorum exercitum in
tribus aciebus, ubi apud Gledmore atrociter pugnatum fuit, et mons
fuit interfectorum altitudinis scilicet Scottorum xx. pedum. Deinde
rex Scotiæ transiit usque Scone, ubi coronatus fuit, et magnates
ei fidelitatem juraverunt, quam modico tempore observabant, nam
ipsum cito post a regno fugaverunt.

! From MS. Harl No. 1808, | English history, and are in part at
fol. 41, v?. "These form the latter | least the recollections of a con-
portion, and the only valuable part, | temporary, who seems to have had
of a series of memorial verses on | a certain political bias. .:

ll3d:enke
asa LN.

FORM

MEMORIAL VERSES ON EDW. IIL AND RIC. U. 455

Obsistunt Scotti, Gledmor pugnatur utrinque,
Edwardus Baillol victor eos superat.

Hie terram Scoticam peragrans virtute potenti
Debita magnatum jura recepit ibi.

Ad villam Sconæ cepit diadema coronæ,
Juratur sibi pax, nee tenet illa diu.

Insurgunt Scotti, regem regnoque fugarunt,
Pervenit ut nudus concito Karliolum. _

i EE | |

| bf Anglorum regi Scottus rex nuncia misit,
1 Promittens terras ut sibi subveniat,

| | Et regnum de se Scottorum jure tenere;

j | Rex ut subveniat protinus arma parat.

: Berwicum tendunt ambo reges, ubi bellum |
Fit Halidon, moritur Scottus ubique manens.

Millia centena subeunt discrimina mortis.

. Seottorum populi, redditur urbsque dolens.

Adque Novum Castrum devenit rex homo regis;
Pro regno Seotus prestitit inde fidem.

SEE DI JL. CAE. Iu

Hanaldi comitis natam rex ipse Philippam
Pro consorte capit, nobilis illa fuit;

Edwardum de qua genuit, qui postea princeps
Wallorum fuerat, inclitus orbis apex.

{ Deinde petit Flandros, et postea Cesaris arva,
Bavarros etenim consilando sibi.

€ Armis juncta suis Francorum miscuit arma,
Inde redit, Gallos opprimit, arva vorat.

b Edwardus rex Scotiæ misit nuncios suos ad regem Anglie,
promittens se omnes terras suas citra mare Scoticanum eidem
daturum, et pro regno ejusdem homagium et fidelitatem facturum,
ut sibi pro eodem recuperando auxilium prestare dignaretur.
Unde rex Angliæ cum exercitu pugnavit apud Halidonhille, ubi
x. millia Scottorum corruerunt, et villa redditur regi.

.* Junguntur arma Francie armis Anglorum.

4 Lc M. ‘ v Aim PN .. mile, adilbaQnss o. LER, à MR

VPS TERT BSE Z

CORDES OURS TA TRS NH GE
RTS ee, Le lin, ES. nr 7

"uu as

EIS

456 Á . s :.. POLITICAL -POEMS.

d Et boreas partes ad Tornacum simul ardet, 0$
Festo Baptistæ per mare carpit iter. E

Fit conflietus ibi cum Francis, sunt data letho
Viginti quinque millia mersa mari

Kt simul occisi Mounthérmer, sic Latymerque,
Willelmus Botiler, fata tulere necis. |

eS Juxta. Wallericum dantur morti duo mille,
Secanico fracto ponte notante necem.

ff Bellum de Cresey magnum peragunt. duo reges;
Philippus fugiit, fit timor atque cedes.
Mäjoricæque Bohem reges moriuntur ibidem,
Lothariæque comes, Senonis atque presul —
David Scottorum rex captus eratque Dunelmi,
Maxima summa notat, quaque redemptus - erat.
gIn bello Payters capitur sub principe nostro
Gloria Francorum, subditur .hine et obit. -

2 Victus bastardus fugit bello Nazareo,

| _ Principe sub nostro restituente Petrum.
Et regis nato, de Gaunt dictoque Johanni

Lancastri nata traditur uxor ovans. _

dq Edwardus princeps paire vivente tumulatur,
. Unde gemunt arma Marsque ducesque simul.

4 De bello super mare anno Domini millesimo cccxl.

* Discomfitura Francorum ad pontem Secane juxta sanctum
Walericum.

f Bellum de Crescy fuit anno Mecoo?xlyj. , ubi vietus est rex
Franciæ, Et eodem anno bellum Dunelmiæ. Et eodem anno rex
Edwardus obsedit Calesiam, quam ante annum completum obtinuit.
. € Bellum de Payters, ubi Johannes rex Francorum captus est,
anno Domini Meecclvj'*.
| à . Bellum Hispanie apud Nazers, ubi devictus. est bastardus,
anno gratie M°ccclvi. |

! Edwardus princeps moritur.

TOR à

ER à

^q. ce conti SITS,

MEMORIAL VERSES ON EDW. IIL AND RIC IL 457

j{ Condolet Edwardus de nati morte benigni,
Proh dolor! et moritur prztereundo dies.

Septem septuagin, ter c, junctis sibi mille,
Sub Junii mense permeat in requiem.

. k Turbida succedunt juvenalis tempora regis,
Nomine Ricardi, eui diadema datur. |
Quatuor hic proceres comitum succinxit honore,
Plurima contulit his predia grata nimis.

Berwicus capitur Scottorum fraude, sed illos —
. . Expellit Percy, sed necat ense feros.
14 Francia vastatur patruo regis peragrante
Terras, cum prædis itur ad Armoricam.

ÿ Obüt rex Edwardus anno M°ccelxxvij°.

k Anno gratie M°ccclxxvij®, xvj die Juli, apud Westmonaste-
rium, coronatio Ricardi de Burdegalia, fihi Edwardi principis
Walliæ, cum xj. esset annorum, ubi in die coronationis suæ
creavit quatuor comites, scilicet "Thomam Wodstoke, avunculum
suum, in comitem Bukingham, Thomam Moubray in comitem
Notyngham, Guichardum de Engolismo-in comitem de Huntyng-
done, et Henricum Percy in comitem Northumbriæ. ^ Proscribitur
hoc anno domina Alicia Perreres per proceres in parliamento.
Insula Vecta capta fuit ef redempta pro M! marcis, sub custodia
Hugonis Tirelle militis. Anno M°ccc™lxxviij®, et regis Ricardi
secundo, eapitur castrum Berwici et per octo dies tentum recupe-
ratur industria comitis Northumbriæ, et Scoti jbidem occisi sunt.
Hoc anno vila de Cherburghe acquiritur pro certa summa sol-
vendum regi Navarriæ.

! Anno Domini Meccciüj®, et regis Ricardi tertio, Thomas
Wodstok, comes de Bukingham, cum Hugone de Calverley, Roberto
Knolles, Thoma Percy, Willelmo Wyndesore, et aliis, destinatus in
auxilium ducis Britanniæ, dum recto cursu propter galeas in
Britanniam navigare non poterat, trajectus est Calesiam, a quo
loco suam incipiens equitationem, per gyrum Franciæ nullo resis-
tente equitavit in Britanniam, salvis hominibus et jumentis. Anno
Domini M°ccciiij*j., et regis Ricardi quarto, mense Junii, facta est
insurrectio communium contra regem et dominos; in quo tumultu
occisi sunt à communibus magister Simon Sudbury, Cantuariensis
archiepiscopus et regni cancellarius, Robertus Hales, thesaurarius, et
dominus Johannes Cavendisshe, capitalis justiciarius, prior sancti

458 POLITICAL POEMS. |

*| Assumpsit Wyclyf multas hæreses violando
Catholieamque fidem, dogmata falsa serens.

* Vulgaris populus in regem sub duce Jak Straw
Consurgitque necat, et loca plura cremat.

Quo mox depresso, reliqui pacem violantes
Suspensi pereunt, et fugiendo ruunt.

m Applicat Anna cito terre, regina futura,
Regis adusque thorum nupta remansit ovans.

n Norwici presul cruce signatus, vice pape,
Flandrenses contra protulit arma nova. .

Appropiat villam Dunkirk, quo schismaticorum
Millia bisque novem corruerant mutuo.

€ Dux Lancastrensis Scoticanas destruit oras,
Predam distribuit, deinde domum rediit.

° Seoti Berwicum capiunt per proditionem,
Et damnatur ob hoc inclitus ille comes

Edmundi de Bury, et alii, diversis in locis. Qué insurrectio cito
fuit compressa, et turbatores pacis per totam Angham requisiti
tractu et suspendio vitam finierunt.

* Eodem anno mense Decembris applicuit Anna, soror Wencelai
regis Bohemie, in terram istam, regina futura, ob quam causam
parliamentum quod tunc fuerat inchoatum dissolvitur et differtur
usque post regales nuptias et natale Domini quod instabat, post
— eujus festum, xiij die Fébr. desponsatur regina.
cus Spencer, episcopus Norwici, cruce signatur contra Gallicos et
Flandrenses schismaticos, accepta prius inaudita potestate a papa
Urbano, unde circa medium Maii profectus est in Flandriam, ubi
cepit villas de Graveling et Dunkirk, et conflixit cum schismatibus,
et occidit ex eis xvii. milia. Anno Domini M*ccciiij"iiij'^^, et regis
Ricardi vij, Johannes dux Lancastrie, cum Thoma fratre suo
comite de Bokyngham, profectus est in Scotiam, et cum multa
preda et sine pugna reversus est.

* Anno Domini Mecce"lxxxitijte, Johannes dux Lancastriæ cum
exercitu transit in Scotiam, assistente sibi Thoma fratre suo
comite Bukingham, ubi Scoti tune prudenter agentes subtraxerunt
se ad nemora fugientes, bellum nolentes inferre, ubi nostri plurimis
de exercitu amissis et captis, sine fructu victori in patriam
redierunt. Anno eodem in parliamento apud Westmonasterium
tento Henricus Percy, comes Northumbriæ, publice damnatus est

. to. : Me.
toa . H uve HARUM SEEN UU.
. B I^ PEE
. we . + " N . e Nt
I Rost clad oxann so Al reta "M SICH a
ER Iw AREER eg wh uix Em ee ens XU p den. TN
Rs TOR uc Ba e oh dde, v Ed etd at. WORD CELA V Ron

MEMORIAL VERSES ON EDW. II. AND RIC. IL 459

Northumbrs, sed ei villam sub conditione
Restituunt, marcis mille bis inde datis.

P" Innumeris populis rex nobilis induit arma,
In Boream tendit ense vorante Scotos ;

Et sine congressu partes proprias remeavit,
Arrepta preda, Scotica regna dolent.

{ Patruus Edmundus regis fit dux Eboraci,
Sie alterque: Thomas Claudiocestra petit.

Ver comes Oxoniæ Dublinensis marchio fertur,
Australes Michael Pool comes it populos.

{ Transit in Hispanos dux Lancastri, simul atque
Gens numerosa nimis, Anglicus atque Brito.

Jure vocante ducem, quia fit Constantia causa,
Papalis veniam contulit inde favor.

a Conspirant mutuo proceres, nam pars sibi regem
Attrahit ad votum, pars levat ultra tamen.

pro amissione castri de Berewik, quod quidam de suis ipso
ignorante Scotis prodiderat. Regis autem indulgentia honori
atque bonis est restitutus, et se transtulit versus Berwicum, obsedit
castrum, sed pactione duorum millium marcarum Scotis solven-
darum, illud de eorum manibus recuperavit.

P Anno gratie M°ccclxxxy”, et anno regis Ricardi secundi
octavo, Galli duce Johanne de Vienna venerunt in Scotiam, ut
juncti Scotis regnum Anglie facilius infestarent. Habebat rex
Francise apud Sclusam regalem exercitum paratum ad ingrediendum
Angliam, dum nostri in Scotiam bello contra Gallicos tenerentur.
Quamobrem rex Angliæ cum cec. milibus hominum et equorum
Scotiam est ingressus, sed hostibus fugientibus vel non apparenti-
bus, est reversus patria concremata. Eodem anno Robertus Ver
comes Oxonie fit marchio Dubliniæ, Thomas Wodstoke comes
Bokyngham fit dux Gloucestriæ, et frater suus Edmundus dux
Eboraci, qui prius fuit comes Cantabrigiæ, et Michael Pole fit
comes Suffolchiæ. Anno gratie millesimo ccelxxxvj*?, Johannes
dux Lancastriæ in regnum Hispaniæ jure uxoris sui Constantiæ
debitum proficiscitur, filie. senioris Petri quondam regis Hispaniz.

4 Anno Domini millesimo ccclxxxvij., et regis Ricardi decimo,
Robertus de Veer, tune dux Hibernie, cul rex tantum prebuit
favorem ut pre aliis sibi carissimus haberetur, in tantum extollitur
ut indignantibus inde duce Glovernie, comitibusque Arundeliæ,

460 . . POLITICAL POEMS.

Judicio procerum quidam capiuntur ad horam,.
Quidam suspensi, decapitantur item.

r9 Henricum Percy notet Otterburn fore captum ;
Occubuit Douglas, nocte ferente necem.

s{ Transit Hibernenses rex partes, ut sibi reges
Subjectos faciat et sua colla premat.

tf Rex natam sponsat Francorum connubiali.
Foedere complacitam, deinde coronat eam.

Warwici, Derby, et Notingham, cum aliis, regeque semper eosdem
dominos destruere proponente, qui cum dominis congredi præparens,
apud Rathcotebrigge fugiit a facie eorum devictus. Ob hoc
fugierunt Michael Pole comes Southfolchiæ, Alexander archiepi-
scopus Eboracensis, Robertus Tresilian, et alii Symon Burle
suspenditur, et quidam justieiarii damnantur.

© Anno Domini Meecclxxxviijo, et regis Ricardi secundi xj",
Scoti, quietis nescii, intrantes Angliam improvisis provincialibus,
agebant cedes et rapinas, multos captivantes, et villas conflagrantes,
duce eorum comite Douglas. Quibus occurrit dominus Henricus
Percy junior, cum fratre suo Radulpho Percy, contigitque
Henricum Percy in primo congressu dictum comitem occidere, sed
mox idem Henricus cum fratre suo capitur a Georgio comite
Dunbarre, occisis ex Anglicis ibidem multis noctanter. Sed Scoti
non audentes expectare adventum aliorum procerum. fugerunt,
Eodem anno in parliamento creatus est Johannes Holande, frater
regis ex parte matris, in comitem Huntyngdone. |

* Anno grati; Meccelxxxxiiij, rex Angliæ Ricardus, circa festum
nativitatis beatze Maris, cum duce Gloverniz et comitibus Marchiæ,
Notyngham, et Rutlande, ac exercitu magno, in Hiberniam
transfretavit, ubi perterriti reguli terre se regi submiserunt,
videlicet Power cum filio suo, Ocelle Onelon cum filio suo, Abron
Makmorthe cum presbytero — Powerensi, Dymyl Dangwithe
Dendymysin, et Archay. |

* Anno gratie M°ccelxxxxvj®, et regis Ricardi xix?, in quodam
loco ultra Calesiam convenerunt reges Anglie et Francie ad
colloquium, ubi tentoria magnifice sunt erecta, et ibidem maritagia

erant firmata, comendataque est Isabella filia regis Francie

dominabus Anglorum, quz eam conduxerunt usque Calesiam, cum
xij. curribus dominabus et mulienbus onustis, ubi rex Anglix
dictam Isabellam duxit in uxorem, pusiolam non octennem. Cito
post rediit rex cum regina in Angliam pro solemnitate corona-
tionis sux.

. eia. et . ^

Ua SM n nuu RE RA e s e Vae
do ie M tee getty net LAVE UM
DR MR e ME VS Ae. MAG xs

mes AU ce DA
d DEREN ER

E
ng
>
3
Ss
*
“
4
x
od
2M
I

MEMORIAL VERSES ON EDW. III. AND Ric. IL 461

u{ Rex nomen sumpsit Cestrensis priucipis, atque:
Parliamento novos concreat hine dominos.

Ast Glovernensemque ducem jussit jugulare,
Atque duces binos trusit in exilium,

Unum pro semper, alium sed tempore certo ;
Extorsit populum, nam sua cuique rapit.

v f| Rex cartas albas per totum denique. regnum,
Adque sigillandas mittit ubique viris.

" Anno regis Ricardi xxj. incipiente, rex assumpsit sibi nomen
principis Cestrie, ob amorem populi Cestriæ, in parliamento, ubi
novi domini creantur, scilicet Henricus comes Derby in ducem
Herefordize, comes Marescallus in ducem Norfolk, comes Rutland
in ducem Albemarliæ, comes Cantiæ in. ducem Surriæ, comes
Huntyngdone in ducem Excestrie, comitissa Northfolchiæ in
ducissam Northfolchiæ, comes Somerset in marchionem de
Somerset, dominus Despenser i in comitem Gloucestriæ, Radulphum
dominum de Neville in comitem Westmerlandie, dominum
Willelmum Scrope, camerarium regis, in comitem Wilteschire,
dominum Thomam Percy, senescallum domus regie in comitem
Wigornie; et tunc addidit rex armis suis arma sancti Edwardi
confessoris et regis. Anno gratie M°ccclxxxxviij®, et regis Ricardi
xxj, tenuit rex natale solemniter apud Lichefelde, quo peracto
transiit Salopiam, ubi . parliamentum interruptum — reincipitur,
interempto prius et suffocato i ignominiose Thoma duce Gloucestriæ
apud Caleys. In quo quidem parliamento dux Herefordiæ
appellavit Thomam ducem Norfolchiæ de proditione, unde uterque
ad duellum se properavit coram rege apud Coventree; quo per
regem cassato, perpetuo exilio dux Norfolchiæ damnatus est,
ducemque Herefordiæ ad decennium relegavit. Rex iste populum
vexabat graviter, pecunias. extorquens, equos et quadrigas exigens,
nil resolvens.

* Parum ante obierat Johannes dux Lancastriæ, scilicet. in
crastino purificationis beatæ Mariæ, cujus corpus ipso rege inter-
essente solemniter sepultum est London. in ecclesia sancti Pauli.
Ex cujus morte rex sumens occasionem malignandi contra filium
suum et heredem, Henricum ducem Herefordiæ, quem relegaverat
prius per decennium, exulare decrevit in perpetuum, ut si manus
injiceret suis amplis possessionibus, et ea sibimet appropriare vel
inter sibi adherentes distribuere. Extorsit autem a populo xvij.
comitatuum Anglie grandiores summas, imponens eis quod contra
eum equitaturam fecerant cum duce Gloucestrie, quare paratus

462 __: POLITICAL POEMS,

w Rex ad Hibernica regna ferocia vi properavit,
Appulit interea dux sua jura petens.

Rex renuit regnum, dux rex fit, sicque coronam
Suscipit, et regnum sceptra tenendo regit.

erat super eos equitare tanquam.super publicos hostes suos. Ad
cartas eliam albas suos ligeos universaliter apponere sigilla sua
compulit, ut quotiens grassari vellet im plebem facultatem haberet
licet illicitam opprimendi quameunque personam.

w Circa finem Pentecostes, rex Ricardus cum Cestrensibus et
ducibus Albemarlie et Excestriæ aliisque dominis, una cum filis
ducum Gloucestriæ et Herefordiæ, transivit in Hiberniam, captisque
secum regni thesauris, coronis quinque, reliquiis, et jocalibus régni
Angliz, ubi Hibernenses terruit, prostravit, et afflixit. Dum sic rex
ageret in Hibernia, dux Herefordiæ, ut per mortem patris sui recu-

peraret- hzreditatem suam in Anglia, aeceptis spiritibus, cum Thoma
Arundell nuper archiepiscopo Cantuariæ, filio similiter comitis

Arundelliæ et hærede, Thoma Erpyngham, et Johanne Northburye,
juxta Ravenesere applicuit in Angliam. Et advocatis sibi auxili-
arüs partis Borealis, videlicet Henrico Percy comite Northumbriæ,
Henrico filio suo, Radulpho de Neville comite. Westmerlandiæ,
qui sororem ejusdem ducis desponsaverat, aliisque innumeris,
terram versus partes Australes festinavit, et Bristolliam pervenit,
ubi, castro reddito duci, regis consiliari, scilicet Willelmus Scrope
comes Wilteschire, Bagot, Bussy, Grene, et Russel, capti sunt,
et ut falsi proditores regni decapitati sunt, et ut hostes publici
proclamati. Interea applicuit rex Ricardus apud Milforde pugnare
proponens, sed . meticulosus non audens congredi cum duce,
commisit domino Thomæ Percy, senescallo suo, familam suam,
et ipse cum paucis fugit ad castrum de Flynt, postea aliquando
ad Angleseyam, Coneway, Beaumarys, et Holte. Tandem deside-
rante rege colloquium habere cum duce, mediantibus internunciis,
apud castrum de Flynt ambo interloquuntur, deinde simul usque
Cestriam pervenire, deinde Londonias usque ad Turrim, ubi,
summonito parliamento, rex noscens se indignum, resignavit
regnum cum corona, et meritis exigentibus depositus est. Unde
procerum et communi assensu, dux, clamans regnum, coronatur
die translationis sancti Edwardi, et inungitur. Rex autem Ricardus
per decretum communitatis perpetuo carceri traditur, et in castro
Pontefracti ultamas efflavit auras.

END OF VOL. I.

LONDON:

Printed by GzorGe E. Evgz and WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE,
Printers to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty.

For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

d civis Miti

LIST OF WORKS

By the late Record and State Paper Commissioners,
or under the Direction of the Right Hon. the
Master of the Rolls, which may be had of
Messrs. Longman and Co.

PUBLIC RECORDS AND STATE PAPERS.

RorTULORUM ORIGINALIUM IN CURIA SCACCARII ABBREVIATIO. Henry
IIL—Edward III. Edited by Henry Prayrorn, Esq. 2 vols.
folio (1805—1810). Price, boards, 12s. 6d. each, or 25s.

CALENDARIUM INQUISITIONTM POST MORTEM sIvE ESCAETARUM.
Henry IIL— Richard III. | Edited by Jonn CALEY AND J.
Bay ey, Esqrs. 4 vols. folio (1806—1808 ; 1821-—1828), boards:
vols. 2 and 3, separately, price, boards, each 21s.; vol. 4, boards,
24s.

Nonarum INQUISITIONES IN Curta Scaccaru, temp, Edward III.
Edited by GrorGe VANDERZEE, Esq. 1 vol. folio (1807), boards.
Price, 18s. | |

LiBbRoRUM MANUSCRIPTORUM BIBLIOTHECUE HARLEIANZ CATALOGUS.
Vol. 4. Edited by The Rev. T. H. Horne, (1812) folio, boards.
Price 18s.

ABBREVIATIO PLACITORUM, Richard L—Edward IT. Edited by The
Right Hon. GEORGE ROSE, AND W. ILLINGWORTH, Esq. 1 vol.
folio (1811), boards. Price 185.

Lisgi CENsuALIS vocati Domespay-Bookx, Inprons, Edited by Sir
Henry Erris. Small folio (1816), boards (Domesday-Book,
vol. 8). Price 21s.

Lisri CENsUALIS vocati DOMESDAY, ADDITAMENTA EX Copic. ANTI-
Quiss. Edited by Sir Henry Errrs. Small folio (1816), boards
(Domesday-Book, vol. 4). Price 21s. |

[P, P.] ed

STATUTES OF THE REALM, in very large folio. Vols. 4 to 11, includ-
.ing 2 vols. of Indices (1810—1828). .Edited by Sir T. E. Tom-
Lins, JOHN RAITHBY, JOHN CALEY, and Wm. ErriorT, Esqrs.
Price 31s. 6d. each,

*,* The Alphabetical and Chronological Indices may be had separately,
price 30s. each.

Varor EccLEsIASTIOUS, temp. Henry VIIL, . Auctoritate Regia insti-
tutus. Edited by Joux Carey, Esq. and the Rev. JoskPH
HuwTER. Vols. 4 to 6, folio (1810, &e.), boards. Price 25s, each.

*,* The Introduction is also published i in 8vo. cloth. Price 2s. 6d.

Roturi Scotia mv Tuner LoNDINENSI ET In Domo Carrro.art Wesr-
MONASTERIENSI ASSERVATI. 19 Edward I1—Henry VIIL Edited
by Davip MacPuxnsoN, JOHN CALEY, AND W. ILLINGWORTH,
Esqrs. and the Rev. T. H. Horne. 2 vols. folio (1814—1819),

. boards. Price 42s.

* FP EgDERA, CONVENTIONES, Litters,” &e. ; or, Rymer’s Fœdera, A.D.
1066—1391. New Edition, Vol. 2, Part 2, and Vol. 3, Parts 1

and 2, folio (1821—1830). Edited by Jouw Carry and FRED,

HOLBROOKE, Esqrs. Price 21s. each Part.

Ducarus LANCASTRLE CALENDARIUM INQUISITIONUM POST MORTEM,
&e. Part 3, Ducatus Lancastriæ. Calendar to the Pleadings, &c.

Henry VIL.—Ph. and M.; and Calendar to Pleadings, 1—13
. Elizabeth. Part 4, Calendar to Pleadings to end of Elizabeth. :

Edited by KR. J. Harper, Jomw Carey, and Ww. Minc,
Esqrs. Part 8 (or Vol. 2) (1827 —1834), price Bs. 6d. ; and
Part 4 (or Vol. 3), boards, folio, price 21s.

CALENDARS OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN CHANCERY IN THE REIGN OF
QUEEN ELIZABETH, to which are prefixed examples of earlier
proceedings in that Court from Richard Il. to Elizabeth, from the
originals in the Tower. Edited by Joun Bayzey, Esq. Vols. 2
and 3 (1830—1832), boards, each, folio, price 21s.

PARLIAMENTARY Writs AND Writs OF Mititary Summons, together
with the Records and Muniments relating to the Suit and Service
due and performed to the King’s High Court of Parliament and
the Councils of the Realm. Edward I, IL Edited by Sir Francis
PALGRAVE. (1830—1834). Vol. 2, Division 1, Edward IL, 21s. ;
Vol. 2, Division 2, 21s.; Vol. 2, Division 3, folio, boards, price 42s.

Rotor LirTERARUM CLAUSARUM IN Torri LONDINENSI ASSERVATI.
2 vols. folio (1833—1844). The first volume commences A.D. 1204
to 1224, The second volume 1224— 1227. Edited by Tuomas
Durrus Harpy, Esq. Together, price 81s. cloth ; or the volumes
may be had separately. Vol. 1, price 63s. cloth ; Vol, 2, cloth,
price 18s.

vd
CX
Dd

SE
XE
4
»

De
Des
W.
CV
CER
A 1
AN
À

. 24
c8
T

a
PEE
DE
E

THE Gneat RoOLLS OF THE PIPE FOR THE SECOND, THIRD, AND
FourtH YEARS oF THE Reign or Kine HENRY THE SECOND,
1155—1158. Edited by the Rev. JOSEPH HUNTER. 1 vol. royal
8vo. (1844), cloth. Price 4s. 6d. |

Tue Great RoLL or THE PIPE FOR THE FIRST Yrar OF THE
Reiex or Kine RicHARD THE First, 1189— 1190. Edited by
the Rev. Joseem Hunter. 1 vol royal 8vo. (1844), cloth. :
Price 65. - ; E | |

PROCEEDINGS AND: Onpiwances or THE Privy Councit or Ene-
LAND, commencing 10 Richard II.—33 Henry VIII. Edited by
Sir N. Harris NicoLAs. 7 vols. royal 8vo. (1834—1837), cloth
98s.; or any of the volumes may be had separately, cloth.
Price 14s. each.

Roruzr LiTTERARUM PATENTIUM IN TuRRI LONDINENSI ASSERVATI,
A.D. 1201 to 1216. Edited by Tuomas Durrus Harpy, Esq.
1 vol. folio (1835), cloth. Price 31s. 6d.

*,* The Introduction is also published in 8vo., cloth. Price 9s.

Boro Curia Regis. Rolls and Records of the Court held before
the King’s Justiciars or Justices. 6 Richard L—1 John. Edited
by Sir Francis PALGRAVE. 2 vols. royal 8vo. (1835), cloth.
Price 28s.

Rotott NORMANNIÆ IN TURRI LONDINENSI ASSERVATI, A.D. 1200—
1206. Also from 1417 to 1418. Edited by Tuomas Durrvs
Harpy, Esq. 1 vol. royal 8vo. (1835), cloth. Price 12s. 6d.

RorurLi De OsLATIS et FiwIBUS IN Turrt LONDINENSI ASSERYATI,
tempore Regis Johannis. Edited by Tuomas Durrus Harpy,
Esq. 1 vol. royal 8vo. (1835), cloth. Price 18s.

Excerpta E RoTuzis Finium is Turri LONDINENSI ASSERVATIS.

Henry IIL, 1216—1272. Edited by Cuarcxs Roserts, Esq.
2 vols. royal 8vo. (1835, 1836), cloth, price 32s. ; or the volumes
may be had separately, Vol. 1, price 14s. ; Vol. 2, cloth, price 18s.

FINES sIVE Pepes Finium sive PiNALES Concorpiæ IN Curra
Dowrwi Reers. 7 Richard IL.—16 John (1195—1214). Edited by
the Rev. JosegeH Hunter. In Counties. 2 vols. royal 8vo.
(1835— 1844), together, cloth, price 11s. ; or the volumes may be

had separately, Vol. 1, price 8s. 6d.; Vol. 2, cloth, price 2s. 6d.

ANCIENT KALENDARS AND INVENTORIES (THE) or THE TREASURY
or His Masesty’s ExCHEQUER ; together with Documents illus-
trating the History of that Repository. Edited by Sir Francis
PALGRAVE. 3 vols. royal 8vo. (1836), cloth. Price 42s. -

DocuMENTs AND RECORDS illustrating the History of Scotland, and the
Transactions between the Crowns of Scotland and England;
preserved in the Treasury of Her Majesty's Exchequer. Edited
by Sir Francis PanaRavE. 1 vol royal 8vo, (1837), cloth.
Price 18s.

e & 2

RoTruLI CHARTARUM IN TuRRI LONDINENSI ASSERVATI, A.D. 1199—

1216. Edited by Tuomas Durrus Harpy, Esq. 1 vol. folio.

(1837), cloth. Price 30s.

REaisTRUM vulgariter nuneupatum “The Record of Caernarvon,” e

codice MS. Harleiano, 696, descriptum. Edited by Sir HENRY
Errss. 1 vol. folio (1858), cloth. Price 31s. 6d.

Ancrent Laws AND INSTITUTES OF ENGLAND ; ; comprising Laws
enacted under the Anglo-Saxon Kings, from JEthelbirht to Cnut,
with an "English Translation of the Saxon; the Laws called
Edward the Confessor's ; the Laws of William the Conqueror, and
those ascribed to Henry the First ; also, Monumenta Ecclesiastica
Anglicana, from the 7th to the 10th century ; ; and the Ancient
Latin Version of the Anglo-Saxon Laws; with a compendious
Glossary, &e. Edited by Bensamin "Tnonrz, Esq. 1 vol. folio
(1840), cloth. Price 40s.

—— 2 vols. royal 8vo. cloth. Price 30s.

ANCIENT LAWS AND INSTITUTES OF WALES; comprising Laws supposed

to be enacted by Howel the Good ; modified by subsequent Regu- -

lations under the Native Princes, prior to the Conquest by Edward
the First ; and anomalous Laws, consisting principally of Insti-

tutions which, by the Statute of Ruddlan, were admitted to continue 05

in force. With an English Translation of the Welsh Text. To
which are added a few Latin Transcripts, containing Digests of
the Welsh Laws, principally of the Dimetian Code. : With

Indices and Glossary. Edited by AneuriN Owen, Esq. .1 vol —

folio (1841), cloth. Price 44s...
2 vols. royal 8vo. cloth. Price 36s.

RorTuL: DE LisERATE AC DE Misis ET Prastitis, Regnante Johanne.

Edited by Taomas Durrus Harpy, Esq. l vol royal 8vo.

(1844), cloth. Price 6s.

DocuxENTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH History in the 13th and 14th

centuries, selected from the Records in the Exchequer. Edited .

by Henry Corr, Esq. 1 vol. fep. folio (1844), cloth. Price
45s. 6d. | |

Mopus TENENDI PARLIAMENTUM. An Ancient Treatise on the Mode
of holding the Parliament in England. Edited by 'l'HowAs
Durrus Harpy, Esq. 1 vol. 8vo. (1846), cloth. Price 2s. 6d.

REPORTS OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE RecorD Commissioners, 1800
to 1819, 2 vols. folio, boards. Price 5l. 5s. From 1819 to 1831
their proceedings have not been printed. A third volume of
Reports of their Proceedings, 1831 to 1837, folio, boards, 8s.
9 vols. together, boards. Price 5l. 13s. |

ncs

“a vga See

Tue Acts OF THE PARLIAMENTS OF ScOTLAND. 11 vols. folio (1814—
1844). Vol. I. Edited by THomas THomson and Cosmo Innes,
. Esqrs. Price 42s.
*,* Also, Vols. 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 10s. 6d. each Vol.

Tue Acts or THE Lorps or CounciL IN Crviz CAUSES. A.D. 1478—
1495. Edited by Tuomas THomson, Esq. Folio ” (1889). Price
. 105.64. m

Tue AcTS OF THE Lorps AUDITORS. OF Causes AND COMPLAINTS.
A.D. 1466—1494. Edited by Tuomas THomson, Esq. Folio
.(1889). Price 10s. 6d. |

REGISTRUM MAGNI SIGILLI REGUM SCOTORUM in Archivis Publicis
asservatum. A.D. 1306—1424. Edited by THomas 'THOoMsON,
Esq. Folio (1814). Price 15s.

Issue Rott or THomas DE BRANTINGHAM, Bishop of Exeter, Lord
| High Treasurer of England, containing Payments out of His
Majesty's Revenue, 44 Edward IIL, 1370. Edited by FREDERICK
Devon, Esq. 1 vol. 4to. (1835), cloth. Price 85s.

Royal 8vo. cloth, Price 25s.

Issues OF THE EXCHEQUER, containing similar matter to the above,
temp. Jac. L, extracted from the Pell Records. Edited by
F REDERICE Devon, Esq. 1 vol. 4to. (1836), cloth. Price 30s.

Royal 8vo. cloth.* Price 215.

ISSUES OF THE EXCHEQUER, containing like matter to the above, ex-
tracted from the Pell Records ; Henry III. to Henry VI. inclusive.
Edited by Freveriox Devon, Esq. 1 vol. 4to. (1887), cloth.
Price 40s.

Royal 8vo. cloth. Price 30s.

Liner MuxERUM Pusiicorum HisERNLE, ab an. 1152 usque ad
1827 ; or, The Establishments of Ireland from the 19th of King
Stephen to the 7th of George IV., during a period of 675 years ;
being the Report of Rowley Lascelles, of the Middle Temple,
Barrister-at-Law. Extracted from the Records and other autho-
rities, by Special Command, pursuant to an Address, an. 1810,
of the Commons of the United Kingdom. With Introductory
Observations by F. S. Tuomas, Esq. (1852.) 2 vols. folio.
Price 42s.

NorEs or MATERIALS FOR THE HrisToRY or PusLic DEPARTMENTS.
By F. S. Tuomas, Esq. Demy folio (1846). Price 10s.

HANDBOOK. TO THE Pusric Recorps. By F. 5S. THowas, Esq. Royal
8vo. (1853.) Price 12s.

G G 3

_ STATE PAPERS DURING THE REIGN oF HENRY THE EidHTH. 11 vols.
4to. (1830—1852) completing the work in its present form, with
Indices of Persons and Places to the whole. Price al. 15s. 6d.

Vol. I. contains Domestic Correspondence. -

Vols. IL & IIL.—Correspondence relating to Ireland.

Vols. IV. & V.— Correspondence relating to Scotland.

Vols. VI. to XI-—Correspondence between England and Foreign
- Courts.

*,* Any Volume may be purchased separately, price 10s. 6d.

MONUMENTA
Britain from the earliest period. Vol. 1 , extending to the Norman
Conquest. Prepared, and illustrated "with Notes, by the late
Henry Persie, Esq., F.S.A., Keeper of the Records in the Tower

of London, assisted by the Rev. JoHN SHARPE, Rector of Castle.

Eaton, Wilts. Finally completed for publication, and with an
Introduction, by Tomas: Durrus Harpy, Esq., Assistant Keeper

of Records. (Printed by command of Her Majesty.) Folio |

(1848). . Price 42s.

Historica, Norges RELATIVE TO THE History or ENGLAND; em- -
bracing the Period from the Accession of King Henry VIII. to -

the Death of Queen Anne inclusive (1509 to 1714). Designed as
a Book of instant Reference for the purpose of ascertaining the

Dates of Events mentioned in History and in Manuscripts. The —

Name of every Person and Event mentioned in History within
the above period is placed in Alphabetical and Chronological Order,
and the Authority from whence taken is given in each case,
whether from Printed History or from Manuscripts. By F. S.

THomas, Esq., Secretary of the Public Record Office. 3 vols. 8vo. —

(1856.) Price 40s.

H&ronrcA Brrrannica, or, Materials for the History of -

CALENDARS OF STATE PAPERS.

[IwPERrAL 8vo. Price lós. each Volume.] .

CALENDAR OF STATE PAPERS, Domestic SERIES, OF THE REIGNS OF
Epwarp VI, Mary, Exvizasets, 1547—1580, preserved in the
State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office.
Edited by Roprert Lemon, Esq. F.S.A. 1856.

CALENDAR OF STATE Papers, Domestic SERIES, OF THE REIGN OF
JAMES l, preserved in the State Paper Department of Her
Majesty's Public Record Office. Edited by Mary ANNE EVERETT
GREEN. 1857~-1859. | |

Vol. I.—1603.—1610. | m.
Vol. IT. —1611-——1618.

Vol. IIT.—1619—-1623.

Vol. IV.—1623-—1625, with Addenda.

CALENDAR OF STATE Papers, Domgsric SERIES, OF THE REIGN OF
CHARLES I. preserved in the State Paper Department of Her
Majestys Public Record Office. .Edited by Joux Bruce, Esq.,
V.P.S.A. 1868. |

Vol. I.—1625-1626,
Vol. IT.—1627-1628.

CALENDAR OF THE STATE Papers relating to SCOTLAND, preserved in
the State Paper Department of Her Majesty’s Public Record
Office. Edited by MARKHAM doux Taorpg, Esq., of St. Edmund
Hall Oxford. 1858. |

Vol. I, the Scottish Series, of the Reigns of Henry VIL,
Edward VI. Mary, Elizabeth, 1509—1589.
Vol. IL, the Scottish Series, of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth,
1589—1603 ; an Appendix to the Scottish Series, 1543
1592; and the State Papers relating to Mary Queen
of Scots during her Detention in England, 1568—1587.

8 .

In the Press.

CALENDAR OF THE STATE Parers RELATING TO IRELAND, preserved i in
the State Paper Department of Her Majesty" 8. Public Record
Office. Edited by H. C. HAMILTON, Esq.

CALENDAR OF STATE PAPERS, ‘Domestic SERIES, OF THE - Reren or
CHARLES L, preserved in the State Paper Department of Her . .
Majesty’s ‘Public Record Office. Edited by JOHN Bruce, Esq., B
V.P.S.A. | z

Vol; III.

m Progress.

CALENDAR OF THE SrATE Papers, DoMESTIC Serres, OF THE | REIGN
or CHARLES Ir. preserved in the State Paper Department of
Her Majesty’s Public. Record Office. Edited by Mary .ANNE
EVERETT GREEN. . |

fs
5

THE CHRONICLES AND MEMORIALS OF GREAT BRITAIN
AND IRELAND DURING T THE MIDDLE AGES.

[Rorar 8 8vo. Price 85. 6d. each Van] |

1. Te CrrnoNIOLE OF ENGLAND, by JOHN CAPGRAVE. Edited by ihe
Rev. F. C. HixcEsTON, M. A., of Exeter College, Oxford.

2. CHRONICON MoNasTERII DE ABINGDON. Vols. I. and II. Edited by
the Rev. J. Stevenson, M.A,, of University College, Durham,
_ and Vicar of Leighton Buzzard.

8. Lives or Epwarp THE Conressor. I.—La Estoire de Seint Aed- -
ward le Rei. IL—Vita Beati Edvardi Regis et Confessoris.
1II.— Vita Æduuardi Regis qui apud Westmonasteritim requiescit.

| Edited by H. R. Luarp, M.A., Fellow and Assistant Tutor of
Trinity College, Cambridge.

4. MONUMENTA FRANCISCANA ; scilicet, I.—' Thomas de Eccleston de
Adventu Fratrum Minorum in Angliam. Il.—Adz de Marisco
Epistole. III.— Registrum Fratrum Minorum Londoniæ. Edited
by the Rev. J. S. Brewer, M.A., Professor of English Literature,
King's College, London, and Reader at the Rolls.

. FascrcuLi ZizANi0RUM Macistrr JOHANNIS WyCLIF cum TRITICO.
Ascribed to THomas Netter, of WALDEN, Provincial of the
Carmelite Order in England, and Confessor to King Henry the

Fifth. Edited by the Rev. W. W. Surrey, M.A., Tutor and late
Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford.

6. THE Burk or THE CRONICLIS OF SCOTLAND ; or, A Metrical
Version of the History of Hector Boece ; by WILLIAM STEWART.
Vols. L, IL, and UI. Edited by W. B. TunNBULL, Esq. of
Lincoln” s Inn, Barrister-at-Law.

7. JOHANNIS CAPGRAVE LIBER DE ILLUSTRIBUS Henricis. ÆEdited
. by the Rev. F. C. HixaEsTON, M.A., of Exeter College, Oxford.

8. Historia Monasteri $. AUGUSTINT CANTUARIENSIS, by THomas
or ELMHAM, formerly Monk and Treasurer of that Foundation.
Edited by C. HanRpwick, M.A., Fellow of St. Catharine’s Hall,
and Christian Advocate in the University of Cambridge.

9. EuroaiuM (HisroRiaARUM sivE Temporis), Chronicon ab Orbe
condito usque ad Annum Domini 1366; a Monacho quodam
Malmesbiriensi exaratum. Vol. I. E dited by F. S. HAYDON,
Esq., B.A.

10 .

10. Memorrazs or Kine HENRY THE SrzveNTH : Bernardi Andree

Tholosatis de Vita Regis Henrici Septimi Historia ; necnon ~ |

alia quedam ad eundem Regem spectantia, Edited by J.
_ GarRDNER, Esq. EE |
11. Memoriais or HENRY THE FurrH. I—Vita "Henrici Quinti,

Roberto Redmanno auctore, lIi.—Versus Rhythmici in laudem

Regis Henrici Quinti. IIT.—Elmhami - Liber Metricus de

Henrico V. Edited by C. A. Cors, Esq. *

Custumarum, et Liber Horn, in -archivis Gildhalle asservati.

Vol. I, Liber Albus, Edited by H. T. River, Esq., MA, Bar- m

_ rister-at-Law. |
13. CHRONICA JOHANNIS DE OXXENEDES. Edited by Sir. H. Eurus, K. H.

14, A CorrecrioN oF PortrTICAL PoEMS FROM THE Acorssron

. or Epwarp IIL to tue Reign or Henry VIII. Vor. E
. , Edited by T. Wricut, Esq. M.A.

E au

In the Press.

Tae REPRESSER OF OVER MUCH BLAMING or THE CLERGY. By
REGINALD Pecock, sometime Bishop of Chichester. Edited by
C. BABINGTON, B.D., Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge.

RIcARDI DE CIRENCESTRIA SPECULUM HisTORIALE DE GESTIS
REGUM Anetra. (A.D. 447—1066.) Edited by J. E. B.
Mayor, M.A., Fellow and Assistant Tutor of St. John's College,
Cambridge.

THE ANcLo-SaAxoN CHRONICLE. Edited by B. TgozPz, Esq.

| Le LivERE DE Reis DE BRITTANIE. Edited by J. GLOVER, M.A.,
Chaplain of Trinity College, Cambridge.

REGUEIL DES CRONIQUES ET ANCHIENNES IsTORIES DE LA GRANT
BRETAIGNE A PRESENT NOMME ENGLETERRE, par JEHAN DE
WaAUuRIN. .Edited by W. Harpy, Esq. |

Tux Wars oF THE DANES IN IRELAND: written in the Irish language.
* Edited by the Rev. Dr. Topp, Librarian of the University of
Dublin. |

The “Opus Tertrum” and “Opus Minus” of RocER Bacon.
Edited by the Rev. J. S. Brewer, M.A., Professor of English
Literature, King’s College, London, and Reader at the Rolls.

BARTHOLOMÆI DE Corton, Monacat Norwicensis, HIstoria
ANGLICANA (A.D. 449—1298). Edited by H. R. Luarp, M.A.,
Fellow and Assistant Tutor of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Bes

,
MEA
M
DE

‘i
aa
"i
LG
L2
E:
Le
88
ink
LE

ow
«

Hi
e

MUNIMENTA GILDHALLZ LONDONIENSIS ; Liber Albus, Liber Custu-
marum, et Liber Horn, in archivis Gildhalle asservati. Vol. II,
Liber Custumarum. Edited by H. T. RBinkey, Esq., M.A., Bar-
rister-at-Law. |

. The Brut x TYWYSOGION, or, The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales ;

and. the ANNALES CAMBRLE. Edited by the Rev. J. WILLIAMS
AB ÎTHEL. |

A COLLECTION OF Rovaz AND HisroRrcAL LETTERS DURING THE
Rzrews or Henry IV. Henry V., AND Henry VI. Edited by -—
the Rev. F. C. HixaxEsToN, M.A., of Exeter College, Oxford.

EurLoeiruw (HisrogiARUM SIVE Temporis), Chronicon ab Orbe
condito usque ad Annum Domini 1366 ; a Monacho quodam
Malmesbiriensi exaratüm. Vol. II. Edited by F. S. Haypon,
Esq., B.A.

A CoLLECTION or PoLiTICAL Poems FROM THE ACCESSION OF
Epwarp Ill. to tHe REIGN or Henry VIII Vor IL.
Edited by T. Wricut, Esq., M.A.

CHRoNICON RADULPHI ABBATIS Cocczsmarensis Majus. Edited by
* the Rev. J. Stevenson, M.A. of University College, Durham,
and Vicar of Leighton Buzzard.

A COLLECTION OF SAGAS AND OTHER HisTORICAL Documents relating
to the Settlements and Descents of the Northmen on the British
Isles. Edited by Grorce W. Dasent, Esq., D.C.L. Oxon.

DzscgiPTIVE CATALOGUE OF MANUSCRIPTS RELATING TO THE EARLY
History or Great Britain. Edited by T. Durrus Harpy, Esq.

In Progress.

Historia Minor Marrazær Paris. Edited by Sir F. Mappen, K.H.,
Chief of the MS. Department of the British Museum. :

PoLYCHRONICON RANULPHI Hiepent, with Trevisa’s Translation.

October 1859.

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

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

See other formats