Chapter XIV: Appendix (2)

Whilst Sir Edward with earls and barons--caused Berwick to be
surrounded with ditches,--there are issued from Scotland three
earls, by name--Mar, Ross, and Menteith, with forty thousand
rascals;--they were going in the route in parties,--they reduced
Tindale to ashes and cinders,--the town of Corbridge and the
two monasteries--of Hexham and Lanercost they have destroyed
by fire,--they have made slaughter of the people of the
country,--carried off their goods, driven away the canons.--After
the ravage like fools and miserable wretches--they are gone to
Dunbar to their confusion.--They have taken the castle, and erect
their tents,--the houses belonged to the Earl of the March.--King
Edward heard tell of it, and issued summonses--to recover Dunbar,
and take the thieves--who had made destruction of holy church.--A
little before this time, through the regions,--the cardinal
returned from Cambrai with an answer--of the King of France, as
we shall hear afterwards;--Sire Amy de Savoy, a count of great
renown,--came in his company, and Otho de Grauntsoun.--The
latter came with his companions from Cyprus,--who, when Acres
was taken, escaped--by passing the neighbouring sea, without
other accidents.--I have told you before what evil and what
destruction--were done to holy church wrongfully and without
reason;--and you have often heard in the holy sermons--that God
is just in all his dealings:--Now hear of Dunbar, where without
evasions--the enemies of God are caught in a fold like sheep.

On the first Monday in the month of May,--at Berwick-upon-Tweed
the king heard say,--how the foolish rascals, who had
burnt--Hexham and Lanercost, nor spared the monasteries,--had
taken Dunbar, the castle by the sea,--where the Earl Patrick
kept his wife.--The King Sir Edward forthwith caused to be
sent there--the Earl of Warenne with all his power,--the Earl
of Warwick and Hugh le Despenser,--barons and vavasours,
knights, squires;--Southerns and Northerns went there right
courageously;--they take there footmen enough for their
need,--and come to Dunbar to besiege the castle.--They prepared
for the attack, and would not delay.--The foolish felons within
hoped to have aid;--they plotted together how to trick the
English.--Sir Richard Syward, who used to dwell--with our King
Edward, at robe and pay,--they send deceitfully to treat with our
English;--so he comes to them, and says, that very willingly--he
will cause the castle to be delivered to them, if they will
grant--three days’ respite, that they may consult--the King
Baliol, and tell him their condition.--And if he at that time
do not come to raise the siege,--they will deliver the castle
without further delay.--Forthwith he gives hostages, and causes
to be announced--to the host of Scotland in the same manner,--as
you will hear after, he caused it to be recorded.

The messenger goes, and soon came to--King John and to the host
which was with him,--he said to them as Siward had instructed
him:--“Sir King, your barons remain in hard strait--in the castle
of Dunbar, in danger of being driven out.--For when King Edward
knew of their being there,--he caused part of his host to be
sent thither.--The Englishman, when he came there, besieged the
castle.--Sir Richard Siward, who knew them all,--issued from the
castle, and talked them over so well,--that the English gave him
a truce for three days.--Wherefore the company, who were there on
your part,--commanded me to go to you as to their lord,--and to
say truly, that the man neither sits nor goes,--who can hinder
your coming, unless by some deceit,--within the term of truce
which the English has granted us.--To-morrow at the hour when
people eat and drink,--go hence hastily straight there;--ours
in the castle will watch for you;--they will issue upon the
English who do not expect their coming,--entrap them between you
and hold them so tight,--that they shall no more come in the
field to do annoyance to yours.--You have no other way that will
avail you.--Now arm, and let us go, and may no soul survive--who
shall have any mercy on our enemies when they are taken!--Strike
with the sword--Northumberland--will be yours by right;--All
England--by this war--you will that it be lost:--Never did
Albania--by stroke of the sword--do so great an exploit.”--On the
green--that keen generation--gathered like goats;--I reckon--on
some it is seen,--where the bit bit.

At the saying of the messenger the rout of vagabonds--begin to
arrange themselves in order of battle.--Sir Richard Siward, who
gave this counsel,--comes to the English, and says, “God help
me!--I see people coming in very great apparel,--as though they
would give battle, without number of footmen.--I go, if you think
well, to hinder them,--that they may not come nearer.”--Our
people say, “Do not trouble yourself!”--And they take Siward,
that he may proceed no further;--they place guards at the gate
and at the wall;--Humphrey de Bohun the younger is keeper of
the guard,--to hinder aid from the castle from attacking their
rear;--and they mount their steeds, and spur to the hill;--he who
can run fastest springs before the others.--The Scot sees them
come, and turns his tail like a quail,--he flies away as straw
does before the wind.--The English pursue them like a sheep--when
it flies at the sight of the wolf issuing from the wood.--The
proud Scot imagines that he is as good as--the Duke Sir Corineus,
who conquered Cornwall.--Of so many men at arms I marvel very
much--that there is not one of them all worth a farthing in
action,--except Patrick de Graham, who remains and strikes--with
the burnished sword, but he is slain without fail.--Ten thousand
and fifty-four are slain in the engagement;--they are all Scots,
I have the number by reckoning.--These were the caitiffs who
butchered the cattle--in Northumberland, and left the entrails to
the dogs.--They were excommunicated by book and candle,--because
neither holy church nor priest or clergy--they spared no more
than bake-house or barn.--Sin has driven them to such a hap--that
they have lost in the field the head with the ears.--The
foot-people--put the Scots in the poke,--and made bare their
backsides:--By way--heard I never tell--of readier pages,--to
pick--the robes off the men,--who in the field fell.--They took
of each man;--the rough ragged devil--tear them in hell!

In battle or encounter it was never recorded--that so many
people were destroyed so soon,--or thus turned their backs
without making any defence.--May the crows have the bodies,
and the devils the souls--of all that thus have conducted the
wars!--For of this part there was never once,--within town or
without, a good action proved,--but only prowling and robbing
the towns,--burning holy church, killing the clergy,--may God
be praised who has revenged it at Dunbar!--The earls who had
done the wicked deeds,--as soon as they knew and were aware--of
the defeat of their kindred,--have delivered the castle to
the English on their return,--and without conditions obliged
themselves--to the King Sir Edward, to do his will.--The king
next day came there to his baronage,--the prisoners who are taken
they have presented to him,--three earls, three barons, three
bannerets,--and besides them twenty-eight dubbed knights,--with
five score gentlemen who were found there;--two clerks and
two Picards are counted among them.--The Earls are sent to
the Tower of London.--Some of the barons are associated with
them;--the others are sent to different castles,--two by two
mounted together on a hackney;--some with their feet fettered
in carts;--in such kind of dance their game ended!--Throughout
England in every country--people will always talk of their
pride--as long as the world lasts, people have scoffed at
their action.--For the Scots--I reckon for sots,--and wretches
unwary;--ill luck--to give blows--drew them to Dunbar.

Now it is time to tell the plot--of the twelve peers of Scotland,
who thought surely--to destroy England, I will just tell you
how.--When the King of France, after the breaking off--of that
marriage which was often talked of,--would retain Gascony by
abatement,--and King Edward sent thither his people,--and re-took
a part by war from the French;--King John of Scotland, by the
enticement--of earls and barons, and of clerks also,--sent
to France by common agreement--the bishop of St. Andrew’s,
by whose procurement--the brother of the King of France,
namely, Charles,--made an alliance for the son of the King of
Scotland,--who was to marry his daughter, and afterwards by
oath--the French and Scots should go conjointly--into England
to destroy from the Tweed to Kent;--and that the King of France
should land,--when he would, suddenly in the Tweed,--forthwith
he should suddenly take all Northumberland,--and then all the
land without hindrance;--that he should not leave a man alive,
neither father nor kindred.--The traitorous negotiation being
entered upon without completion,--the seneschal of Scotland
is come in without more ado--to the King Sir Edward, with all
that belongs to him,--earls and barons and bishops fully,--are
come to his peace all at his desire.--King John and his son,
without land or tenement,--are led to London to support
judgment.--Now King Edward possesses Scotland entirely,--like
Albanac had it at the beginning.--The Welsh and Irish--to
our English--aid doughtily.--Whereby the Scots--have through
ours--imprisonment;--and that land--by this war--is lost for
ever.--The Welsh are gone home,--and the Irish returned--with
sail and with wind.--You English remain there;--you ought to pray
devoutly--that the Lord God forbid,--to take Aman into favour
again,--and exile Mardocheus,--in royal parliament.--Edward,
amid all your accusations,--please to remember the burnings,--of
the temple of God Almighty,--at Hexham, where that host--of
the cross made roast,--the figure of human salvation.--Herod
strikes there, the child dies,--in this anguish Rachael
weeps;--Edward, wreak vengeance for it.--Thou wilt be judge,
judge according to right;--let him hang who ought to hang,--the
law wills it certainly.--The punishment is hard and cruel,--for
it is everlasting,--for all who give judgment otherwise.--Now
chastise your enemies,--that they may not stir again--in a new
mischief.--We ought to have mercy;--but that ought not to avail a
traitor,--there the law suspends it.--For love nor for pence,--a
king ought not to spare,--so as not to judge equally.--If the
king will serve God,--it is right he should maintain the law;--if
he does not, he sins and errs very much.--In truth when John
Baliol--left his book at school,--he was too ill deceived.--¶
For bale bred in his book,--when he lost what he took--with the
kingdom;--for he has over-hopped,--his tippet is tipped,--his
tabard is empty.--He laughed while it pleased him,--his pack (?)
is pierced through,--he thought he was loyal;--....

Pride in a country, is like a nettle in the garden,--which
overgrows the rose and pushes it back;--so it is with Baliol,
that, by him the twelve peers--are fallen down for their wicked
proceeding,--he has lost his realm, and is gone to lodge--in the
Tower of London, at another’s expense.--The King Sir Edward makes
guard enough;--the Earl John de Warenne is chief justice,--and
Henry de Percy has Galway to rule;--at Berwick-upon-Tweed is
established the exchequer,--and Hugh de Cressingham is treasurer
there;--and Walter de Amundisham is chancellor.--The King to
nourish the peace causes his bench to be proclaimed there,--and
five judges to govern the law.--Sheriffs and bailiffs are
established for the need--of the English who could and would
judge according to right.--The guard is established so good and
so perfect,--neither Fleming nor Frenchman henceforth shall
have the power,--to enter into Scotland, unless it be for
commerce.--Of all those of most account who were to remain--the
homages are taken, the King makes them swear--that they will
be loyal by land and by sea.--They who began the war and the
advisers of it--are sent beyond the Trent to repose in the
south,--so long as the war lasts in Gascony.--Thus ought the lord
to chastise his men.--The bishop of Durham, who did much worthy
of praise,--in conquering the land was always the first,--were
it not for his activity and boldness of heart,--things now
finished would be to begin.--The twelve peers--go away to
the friars--to confess them,--the judgment--which awaits
them--they may fear.--Kambynoy--holds himself all coy,--he
will not help.--The sorcery--of Albania--cannot avail.--Andrew
sleeps,--or he is dead--at the monastery.--What will the Scot
do,--when he will hear--the King talk,--at St. Edmund’s,--and
of treason--accuse--earl and baron,--who by burning--destroys
the altar?--He can go no further,--there he must--stand like a
thief;--and by judgment--King Edward--determine.--And so may
man teach--the Scots to run,--and begin war.--To some is left
nothing--but his torn riveling--to hop therein.--Their King’s
seat of Scone--is driven over down,--and led to London.--In town
I heard tell,--the ... and the bell--are stolen and fled.

O God! how often Merlin said truth--in his prophecies! As you
read,--now are the two waters come into one,--which have been
separated by great mountains; and one realm is made out of two
different kingdoms,--which used to be governed by two kings.--Now
are the islanders all brought together,--and Albania is
rejoined to its regalities,--of which King Edward is proclaimed
lord;--Cornwall and Wales are in his power,--and Ireland the
great is at his will.--There is no longer any king of all the
countries--except King Edward who has thus visited them.--Arthur
had never so fully the feudalities.--Henceforth he has nothing
to do but to look after his goings,--to conquer his inheritance
from the King of France,--and then to carry the cross where Jesus
Christ was born.--His enemies,--thank God!--are chastised;--they
are all vanquished,--and taken like rats,--and bound.--He has
run about--and fought--quite enough,--with two kings--at one
time,--and overthrown them;--the one on this side--now goes
to that side--with his baronage.--John and Thomas--will not
leave him--unassisted;--Cuthbert comes to him,--who holds
with him--in the combats.--In God, I tell you,--Merlin of
him--prophesied;--three regions--in his possession--shall be
gained.--Let not be blamed--the prophecy--sinfully;--Lord
God Almighty,--at St. Edmund’s at the parliament--give him
counsel.--And on false Philip of France--by thy virtue to have
vengeance,--that he may never be advanced--for his mere falseness.

To the borough of St. Edmund, on the day which was fixed,--are
come the bishops, with the company--of laymen and clerks,
of whom the king prays--aid and courtesy of the goods of
holy church,--as they had promised before in the abbey--of
Westminster, whereby the king trusts to it--for the help of
his war which is not finished.--Earls and barons, with the
knights,--for themselves and for the people grant in aid--the
tenth penny, and for the merchants--the seventh part for the aid
of his treasury.--And the archbishop, who holds the primacy--of
the see of Canterbury, studies for an answer,--and explains to
the king by two bishops--the condition of holy church, which is
much impoverished.--The bishop afterwards goes to the king and
says,--“Sire, for God’s sake, do not grieve yourself at all about
that,--for all holy church, I certify thee,--under God there is
no soul alive in the world--who has over holy church power or
mastery,--except the pope of Rome, who holds the vicary--which
St. Peter the apostle had in keeping.--The pope is our head, he
keeps and rules us,--and he has made a statute which binds us
closely,--on privation of rent and of prelacy,--that neither
tenth, nor twentieth, nor half, nor part--none of us give to thee
or to any other,--without his commandment and allowance,--upon
it he solemnly excommunicates and curses--every son of a mother
that by lordship--injures holy church, which may God help in
its freedom!”--“Sir clerk,” said the King, “thou hast talked
folly;--promise is debt due, if faith be not forgotten;--but if
I saw thee here in possession of the bull--as well as all the
others, by the son of Mary!--you should not be relieved of this
aid.”

“Sire,” said the Archbishop, “very willingly--thee as our lord
we will all aid--with the leave of the pope, if thou wilt send
to him--by one of thy clerks with our messenger,--who could
relate to him thy condition and ours;--and according to the
message which the pope shall send us back,--we will as far as
our abilities go courteously aid thee.”--“Sir clerk,” says the
King again, “I have no need--for thee to advise me to consult
the pope;--but if thou wilt have respite in this case,--cause
thy clerks to assemble when thou wilt,--talk to them of
the promise, and treat heartily of it;--after St. Hilary’s
day come to Westminster,--and make the answer without more
talk!”--“Sire,” said the Archbishop, “for the sake of God and
St. Richard!--please to command here and there thy people,--who
are thy agents for the twelfth penny,--that they cause to be
molested neither us nor our tenants,--nor tax our temporalities
along with the layman.”--“Sir,” answers the King, “you need not
fear it,--for they shall do neither well nor ill to none of
thy power.--Nevertheless, fair Sir, I pray and require,--that
throughout thy diocese thou commandest to pray--for me and mine,
and to thank God,--who has done largely for us in our recent
affairs.”--The Archbishop grants it, and does his duty.--A little
before this time returned the treasurer--Walter de Langton,
who had passed the sea--with the cardinal, to treat of the
peace.--The answer which they bring no man can know,--except
those of the council who dare not reveal it.--Messengers
afterwards came to announce--to the King Sir Edward a form of
arranging--the strife of Gascony, and to cause him to agree--with
King Philip, without further war,--as the cardinals had caused
it to be ordained.--King Edward forthwith sent back--Walter de
Langton and Hugh le Despenser,--and John de Berwick, a clerk and
a valiant knight.--May God conduct them there, and bring them
well back again!

Of the barons of Scotland, at this parliament--reason was not
rendered, nor judgment given.--The King is so courteous, so
full of pity,--and of so great mercy, I believe certainly--that
his mercy will be the saving--of those who have fully
deserved death,--by their deeds attainted of felony.--The
great pity of heart which he has often had--upon the felons
of Wales, every body talks of it;--when he was most occupied
for his advancement,--they made war upon him, and cause a
diversion,--whereby he was obliged to leave his goings elsewhere.

After the day of St. Hilary, when the King thought (to
hold)--parliament at London, as he had ordained,--news came to
him by him who was then--come from Cambrai, and announced to
him--that the talk of peace was made with no intention of coming
to an end.--Wherefore King Edward remained and prepared--by
sea and by land that he might not be betrayed;--at Westminster
he collected his people--to treat about what aid the clergy
should give him.--The Lord of Canterbury held himself very
rigid on this matter,--he vowed to St. Thomas for him and his
parish,--that no one of his church should be any more taxed,--nor
placed in servage as long as he lived,--without command of the
pope, who ought to govern them.--The Lord of Lincoln agreed to
this,--Bishop Oliver, who was not used to bend.--The King was
so enraged against the clergy,--that he commanded them to be
judged out of his peace.--But now afterwards he repealed that
decree.--This did those bishops who willingly consented--to aid
their lord whereby to recover his right,--to defend holy church
from shame and loss.--The elect of York, who desired peace,--said
that willingly as far as concerned him--he would give the fifth
penny wherewith to defend holy church.--Not a soul spoke there
of the caitiff Scots:--they remained in keeping in the same
care,--as they were before, Dunbar caused them vexation.--For
there were they burnt ...--he ... them thither,--and drove to
dote.--For Scots at Dunbar--had at their ...--shame of their
note.--Never were dogs there--hurled out of....

* * * * *

THE TRAILEBASTONS, AND EXECUTION OF WALLACE.

[From MS. Cotton. Julius A. V. fol. 162, v^o. collated with MS. Reg. 20, A. II. fol. 144, r^o. (R. 1.); and with MS. Reg. 20, A. XI. fol. 125, r^o. (R. 2.)]

En Septembre après Estrivelyn est rendu;
Ly reys Sire Edwarde ses travayls ad sentu,
Vers Brustewik sur Humbre son chemyn ad tenu,

VARIOUS READINGS.--2. _au rei_, R. 2.--3. _est meu_, R. 1. _en
son ch. est meu_, R. 2.

Sugiour une pece i prist pur sa salu.
Sire Jon de Warenne, count been conu,
Mortz fu lors et prest à mette en sarcu.
Ly reys, ke Deu garde! en alaunt vers le su,
Par my Lendesey enquist de lu en lu,
Taunt com en Escoz en sa guere fu,
Ky out sa pees enfraynt, ki out sa pees tenu; 10
Pur taunt com il volait, remede fu purveu
Sur cil ke fust ataynt de sa pees rumpu.

Respouns ount fet au reys gentz de been voyllance,
Coment parmy la tere fet est grant grevaunce
Par comune contekours, ke sunt par fiaunce
Obligez ensemble à une purviaunce;
Traylbastouns sunt nomez de cel retenaunce,
En fayres et marchez se proferent fere covenaunce,

VARIOUS READINGS.--5. _Johan ... counte_, R. 1 and 2.--6.
_mort_, R. 2.--7. _le rei, le sieu_, R. 2.--8. _Lyndesey_,
R. 1.--10. _qi l’ount tenu_, R. 2.--11. _volait_, R. 1. _cum
avolait_, R. 2.--13. _au rei_, R. 2.--15. _comuns_, R. 2.

Pur treys souz ou .iiii., ou pur la valiaunce,
Batre un prodomme ke unk fist nosaunce 20
A cors Cristiene, par nuli temoygnaunce.
Si homme countredye à nul de l’aliaunce,
Ou marchaund de ses merz li vee fere creaunce,
En sa mesoun demené, sauntz altre daliaunce,
Batuz serrait been, ou pur l’acordaunce
Dora de ses deners et prendre aquitaunce.
Si en la riot ne seit fet desturbaunce,
Une commune guere se levera par chaunce.
Entendu ad ly reys la plaint et la parlaunce,
Escutez ore coment purveu est la vengaunce. 30

Parmy Engletere gentz de graunz resouns
Assignez sunt justizes sur les traylbastouns;
Les uns par enquest sunt jugez à prisouns;

VARIOUS READINGS.--19. _voillaunce_, R. 1.--20. _ne fist_, R.
2.--23. _vee de er._, R. 2.--26. _prendra_, R. 2.--31. _grant
resons_, R. 1. _gent de grant_, R. 2.

Li altre alez à fourches à pendre envirouns;
Plusours sunt privez de [lour] possessiouns;
Ke meyns mesfesaynt sunt passez par raunsouns.
Si chastiment ne fust de ribaldes et bricouns,
Osé ne serrait homme vivre en mesouns.
O! cum Deus est bons de drayturels guerdouns,
Ke taunt sovent nous ad vengé de felouns! 40
Novel avoms oy entre compaygnouns
De William le Walays, mestre de larouns;
Sire Jon de Meneteft li suist à talouns,
Enprès de sa puteyne li prist en tapisouns;
A Loundres le menait en ferges et laceouns,
Où jugez esteit sur cels condiciouns;
En primer à fourches fust trayné pur tresouns,
Pendu pur roberyes et pur occisiouns,

VARIOUS READINGS.--34. _altres_, R. 1 and 2.--36. _passé_, R.
2.--39. _est draiturels e de bone_, R. 1.--40. _vengés_, R.
2.--41. _Novels_, R. 1.--42. _des barouns_, R. 1.--43. _Johan
de Menetest_, R. 1. _Mentest_, R. 2.--44. _Semprès de sa_, R. 2.

Et pur ceo k’il avait ennenty par arsouns.
Viles et eglises et religiouns, 50
Avalez est de fourches, et overt les ventrouns,
Le quoer et la bowel brullez en carbouns,
Et copé la teste par tels mesprisiouns,
Pur ceo ke il avait par ces havyllouns
Maintenuz la guere, doné protecciouns,
Seysye seygnurye en ses subjecciouns
De altri realme par ses entrusiouns.
Copé li fust le cors en quatre porciouns,
Chescun pende par say en memor de ses nouns,
En lu de sa banere cels sunt ces gunfanouns. 60
Pur finir sa geste,
A Loundres est sa teste,
du cors est fet partye
En .iiii. bones viles,
Dount honurer les ylles

VARIOUS READINGS.--55. _meintenu_, R. 2.--56. _en sa_, R. 1.

ke sunt en Albanye.
And tus may you here,
A ladde to lere
to bigken in pais.
It falles in his eghe, 70
That hackes ovre heghe,
wit at Walays.

VARIOUS READINGS.--67. _thus_, R. 1 and 2. _mai men_, R.
2.--68. _te lere_, R. 2.--69. _biggen_, R. 1. _biggin_, R.
2.--70. _fallis ... iȝe_, R. 2.--71. _hagges_, R. 1. _hakkis
... hie_, R. 2.--72. _with that Waleis_, R. 2.

TRANSLATION.--In September after Stirling was delivered;--the
King Sir Edward was fatigued with his labours,--he held his way
towards Burstwick on Humber,--he remained there a while for his
health.--Sir John de Warenne, an Earl well known,--was then dead
and ready to be put in his coffin.--The King, whom God keep!
in going towards his own,--through Lindsey inquired from place
to place,--whilst he had been in Scotland in his war,--who had
broken his peace, and who had held it;--straight at his will,
remedy was provided--for him who was attainted of having broken
his peace.

People of good will have made answer to the King,--how a great
grievance is made in the land--by common squabblers, who are
by oath--obliged together to a purveyance;--this company are
called Trailebastons,--they offer to make conventions at fairs
and markets,--for three or four shillings, or merely to show
their courage,--to beat a good man, who never did hurt--to any
Christian body, by the testimony of no one.--If a man contradict
any one of the alliance,--or a merchant will not trust them
for his merchandise,--taken in his own house, without other
interference,--he shall be well beaten, or by agreement--he
shall give of his money and take acquittance.--If there were no
hindrance made to their riot,--a war among the commons would
by chance arise.--The King has heard the complaint and the
talk,--now hear how the punishment is provided.

Throughout England men of great account--are assigned as
judges on the Trailebastons;--some by inquest are judged
to prisons;--others to go to the gallows, to hang there
about;--many are deprived of their possessions;--those who
had done least ill are obliged to pay fines. If there was
not chastisement of ribalds and rascals,--people would not
dare to live in their houses.--O! how God is good in his just
dealings,--who has so often revenged us of felons!--We have
heard news among companions--of William Wallace, the master of
the thieves;--Sir John de Menteith followed him close at his
heels,--and took him in bed beside his strumpet;--he brought
him to London in fetters and bonds,--where he was judged on the
following conditions:--first to be drawn to the gallows for
his treasons,--to be hung for robbery and for slaughter,--and
because he had destroyed by burning--towns and churches and
monasteries,--he is taken down from the gallows, and his belly
opened,--the heart and bowels burnt to ashes,--and his head cut
off for such faults,--because he had by these ...,--maintained
war, given protections,--seized lordship into his subjection--of
the realm of another by his intrusions.--His body was cut
into four parts,--each hung by itself in memory of his
name,--instead of his banner these are his standards.--To finish
his history,--at London is his head,--his body is divided--in
four good towns,--whereby to honour the isles--that are in
Albania.--And thus may you hear,--a lad to learn--to build in
peace.--It falls in his eye,--who hacks too high,--with the
Wallace.

* * * * *

POEM ON THE EVIL TIMES OF EDWARD II.

[From the Auchinleck MS. fol. 328, r^o. written in the beginning of the reign of Edw. III. in the Advocates Library, at Edinburgh.]

_The Simonie._

Whii werre and wrake in londe and manslauht is i-come,
Whii hungger and derthe on eorthe the pore hath undernome,
Whii bestes ben thus storve, whii corn hath ben so dere,

GLOSSARY.--1. _werre and wrake_, war and mischief.--2.
_undernome_, undertaken, seized upon.--3. _storve_, starved,
perished.

Ȝe that wolen abide, listneth and ȝe muwen here
the skile.
I nelle liȝen for no man, herkne who so wile.

God greteth wel the clergie, and seith theih don amis,
And doth hem to understonde that litel treuthe ther is;
For at the court of Rome, ther treuthe sholde biginne,
Him is forboden the paleis, dar he noht com therinne 10
for doute;
And thouh the pope clepe him in, ȝit shal he stonde theroute.

Alle the popes clerkes ban taken hem to red,
If treuthe come amonges hem, that he shal be ded.
There dar he noht shewen him for doute to be slain,
Among none of the cardinaus dar he noht be sein,
for feerd,
If Symonie may mete wid him he wole shaken his berd.

Voiz of clerk is sielde i-herd at the court of Rome;
Ne were he nevere swich a clerk, silverles if he come, 20
Thouh he were the wiseste that evere was i-born,
But if he swete ar he go, al his weye is lorn
i-souht,
Or he shal singe _si dedero_, or al geineth him noht.

For if there be in countre an horeling, a shrewe,
Lat him come to the court hise nedes for to shewe,

GLOSSARY.--4. _wolen_, will (pl.). _muwen_, may.--5. _skile_,
cause, reason.--6. _nelle liȝen_, will not lie.--7. _theih_,
they.--10. _paleis_, palace.--11. _doute_, fear.--12. _clepe_,
call.--13. _han_, have (pl.). _red_, counsel.--19. _voiz_,
voice. _sielde i-herd_, seldom heard.--20. _swich_, such.--22.
_ar_, before.

And bringe wid him silver and non other wed,
Be he nevere so muchel a wrecche, hise nedes sholen be spede
ful stille,
For Coveytise and Symonie han the world to wille. 30

And erchebishop and bishop, that ouhte for to enquere
Off alle men of holi churche of what lif theih were,
Summe beth foles hemself, and leden a sory lif,
Therfore doren hii noht speke for rising of strif
thurw clerkes,
And that everich biwreied other of here wrecchede werkes.

But certes holi churche is muchel i-brouht ther doune,
Siththen Seint Thomas was slain and smiten of his croune.
He was a piler ariht to holden up holi churche,
Thise othere ben to slouwe, and feinteliche kunnen worche, 40
i-wis;
Therfore in holi churche hit fareth the more amis.

But everi man may wel i-wite, who so take ȝeme,
That no man may wel serve tweie lordes to queme.
Summe beth in ofice wid the king, and gaderen tresor to hepe,
And the fraunchise of holi churche hii laten ligge slepe
ful stille;
Al to manye ther beth swiche, if hit were Godes wille.

GLOSSARY.--27. _wed_, pledge.--28. _muchel a wrecche_, great
a wretch. _sholen be_, shall be.--29. _stille_, quietly.--34.
_doren hii_, dare they.--35. _thurw_, through.--36. _everich_,
every one. _biwreied_, accused.--38. _Siththen_, since.--39.
_piler_, pillar.--40. _slouwe_, slothful. _kunnen_, know
how.--41. _i-wis_, truely, in truth.--43. _i-wite_, know.
_ȝeme_, care (_take ȝeme_, pay attention).--44. _queme_,
pleasure.--45. _gaderen_, gather. _to hepe_, in a heap.

And thise ersedeknes that ben set to visite holi churche,
Everich fondeth hu he may shrewedelichest worche; 50
He wole take mede of that on and that other,
And late the parsoun have a wyf, and the prest another,
at wille;
Coveytise shal stoppen here mouth, and maken hem al stille.

For sone so a parsoun is ded and in eorthe i-don,
Thanne shal the patroun have ȝiftes anon;
The clerkes of the cuntré wolen him faste wowe,
And senden him faire ȝiftes and presentes i-nowe,
and the bishop;
And there shal Symonye ben taken bi the cop. 60

Coveytise upon his hors he wole be sone there,
And bringe the bishop silver, and rounen in his ere,
That alle the pore that ther comen, on ydel sholen theih worche,
For he that allermost may ȝive, he shal have the churche;
i-wis,
Everich man nu bi dawe may sen that thus hit is.

And whan this newe parsoun is institut in his churche,
He bithenketh him hu he may shrewedelichest worche;
Ne shal the corn in his berne ben eten wid no muis,

GLOSSARY.--49. _ersedeknes_, archdeacons.--50. _fondeth_,
seeketh, endeavours. _shrewedelichest worche_, work most
cursedly.--51. _mede_, bribe.--52. _late_, let.--54. _stoppen_,
stop.--55. _sone so_, as soon as.--57. _wowe_, woo, court.--58.
_i-nowe_, enough.--60. _cop_, head.--62. _rounen_, whisper.
_ere_, ear.--63. _on ydel_, fruitlessly, to no avail.--64.
_allermost_, most of all.--66. _nu bi dawe_, now-a-days.--68.
_hu_, how.--69. _muis_, mouse.

But hit shal ben i-spended in a shrewede huis; 70
if he may,
Al shal ben i-beten out or Cristemesse-day.

And whan he hath i-gadered markes and poundes,
He priketh out of toune wid haukes and wid houndes
Into a straunge contré, and halt a wenche in cracche;
And wel is hire that first may swich a parsoun kacche
in londe.
And thus theih serven the chapele, and laten the churche stonde.

He taketh al that he may, and maketh the churche pore,
And leveth thare behinde a theef and an hore, 80
A serjaunt and a deie that leden a sory lif;
Al so faire hii gon to bedde as housebonde and wif;
wid sorwe
Shal there no pore lif fare the bet nouther on even ne on morwe.

And whan he hath the silver of wolle and of lomb,
He put in his pautener an honne and a komb,
A myrour and a koeverchef to binde wid his crok,
And rat on the rouwe bible and on other bok
no mo;
But unthank have the bishop that lat hit so go. 90

For thouh the bishop hit wite, that hit bename kouth,
He may wid a litel silver stoppen his mouth;

GLOSSARY.--70. _huis_, house.--74. _priketh_, rideth.--75.
_cracche_, properly a manger, perhaps here, a cradle.--76. _wel
is hire_, it is well for her.--81. _deie_, dairymaid.--85.
_lomb_, lamb.--86. _pautener ... honne_,....--87. _koeverchef_,
kerchief. _crok_, crook.--88. _rat_, reads. _rouwe_,
rough.--89. _mo_, more.--91. _bename kouth_, could take in
hand. (?)

He medeth wid the clerkes, and halt forth the wenche,
And lat the parish for-worthe; the devel him adrenche
for his werk!
And sory may his fader ben, that evere made him clerk.

And if the parsoun have a prest of a clene lyf,
That be a god consailler to maiden and to wif,
Shal comen a daffe and putte him out for a litel lasse,
That can noht a ferthing worth of god, unnethe singe a masse 100
but ille.
And thus shal al the parish for lac of lore spille.

For riht me thinketh hit fareth bi a prest that is lewed,
As bi a jay in a kage, that himself hath bishrewed;
God Engelish he speketh, ac he wot nevere what;
No more wot a lewed prest in boke what he rat
bi day.
Thanne is a lewed prest no betir than a jay.

But everi man may wel i-wite, bi the swete rode!
Ther heth so manye prestes, hii ne muwe noht alle be gode. 110
And natheles thise gode men fallen oft in fame,
For thise wantoune prestes that pleien here nice game,
bi nihte,
Hii gon wid swerd and bokeler as men that wolde fihte.

GLOSSARY.--93. _medeth_, takes bribe.--94. _for-worthe_, go
to nought. _adrenche_, drown.--96. _ben_, be.--97. _prest_,
priest.--99. _daffe_, fool. _lasse_, less.--100. _unnethe_,
hardly.--102. _for lac of lore spille_, be ruined for want of
teaching.--104. _bishrewed_, cursed.--105. _wot_, knows.--106.
_rat_, reads.--109. _rode_, cross, rood.--110. _muwe_, may.

Summe bereth croune of acolite for the crumponde crok,
And ben ashamed of the merke the bishop hem bitok;
At even he set upon a koife, and kembeth the croket,
Adihteth him a gay wenche of the newe jet,
sanz doute;
And there hii clateren cumpelin whan the candel is oute. 120

And thise abbotes and priours don aȝein here rihtes;
Hii riden wid hauk and hound, and contrefeten knihtes.
Hii sholde leve swich pride, and ben religious;
And nu is pride maister in everich ordred hous;
i-wis,
Religioun is evele i-holde and fareth the more [amis.]

For if there come to an abey to pore men or thre,
And aske of hem helpe _par seinte charité_,
Unnethe wole any don his ernde other ȝong or old,
But late him coure ther al day in hunger and in cold, 130
and sterve.
Loke what love ther is to God, whom theih seien that hii serve!

But there come another and bringe a litel lettre,
In a box upon his hepe, he shal spede the betre;
And if he be wid eny man that may don the abot harm,
He shal be lad into the halle, and ben i-mad full warm
aboute the mawe.
And Godes man stant ther oute; sory is that lawe.

GLOSSARY.--115. _crumponde crok_, crumpled crook(?).--116.
_bitok_, gave, delivered to.--117. _kembeth_, combs. _croket_,
curl or lock of hair.--118. _Adihteth him_, fits himself
with.--121. _don aȝein_, do against.--126. _evele i-holde_,
evil held, in ill repute.--127. _to_, two.--129. _ernde_,
errand. _ȝong_, young.--130. _coure_, cower.--134. _hepe_,
pack (?).

Thus is God nu served thurwout religioun;
There is he al to sielde i-sein in eny devocioun; 140
His meyné is unwelcome, comen hii erliche or late;
The porter hath comaundement to holde hem widoute the gate,
in the fen.
Hu mihte theih loven that loverd, that serven thus his men?

This is the penaunce that monekes don for ure lordes love:
Hii weren sockes in here shon, and felted botes above;
He hath forsake for Godes love bothe hunger and cold;
But if he have hod and cappe fured, he nis noht i-told
in covent;
Ac certes wlaunknesse of wele hem hath al ablent. 150

Religioun was first founded duresce for to drie;
And nu is the moste del i-went to eise and glotonie.
Where shal men nu finde fattere or raddere of leres?
Or betre farende folk than monekes, chanons, and freres?
In uch toun
I wot non eysiere lyf than is religioun.

Religioun wot red I uch day what he shal don?
He ne carez noht to muche for his mete at non;
For hous-hire ne for clothes he ne carez noht;

GLOSSARY.--140. _to sielde i-sein_, too seldom seen.--141.
_meyné_ (_maisné_, Fr.), household, people. _erliche_,
early.--145. _ure_, our.--146. _Hii weren_, they wear. _shon_,
shoes. _botes_, boots.--148. _But if_, unless. _hod_, hood.
_fured_, furred. _he nis noht i-told_, he is not reckoned, or
esteemed.--150. _wlaunknesse_, pride. _wele_, weal. _ablent_,
blinded.--151. _duresce_, hardness. _drie_, bear, suffer.--152.
_nu_, now. _moste del_, greatest part.--153. _raddere of
leres_, redder of complexion.--155. _uch_, each.--156. _wot_,
know. _eysiere_, more easy.

But whan he cometh to the mete, he maketh his mawe touht 160
off the beste;
And anon therafter he fondeth to kacche reste.

And ȝit ther is another ordre, Menour and Jacobin,
And freres of the Carme, and of Seint Austin,
That wolde preche more for a busshel of whete,
Than for to bringe a soule from helle out of the hete
to rest.
And thus is coveytise loverd bothe est and west.

If a pore man come to a frere for to aske shrifte,
And ther come a ricchere and bringe him a ȝifte; 170
He shal into the freitur and ben i-mad ful glad;
And that other stant theroute, as a man that were mad
in sorwe;
Ȝit shal his ernde ben undon til that other morwe.

And if there be a riche man that evel hath undernome,
Thanne wolen thise freres al day thider come;
And if hit be a pore lyf in poverte and in care,
Sorwe on that o frere that kepeth come thare
ful loth;
Alle wite ȝe, gode men, hu the gamen goth. 180

And if the riche man deie that was of eny mihte,
Thanne wolen the freres for the cors fihte.

GLOSSARY.--160. _touht_, full.--162. _fondeth to kacche_,
seeketh to take.--163. _ȝit_, yet.--168. _loverd_, lord.--169.
_shrifte_, confession.--170. _ȝifte_, gift.--171. _freitur_,
refectory. _i-mad_, made.--172. _stant_, stands.--173.
_sorwe_, sorrow.--174. _ernde_, errand. _morwe_, morrow.--175.
_undernome_, undertaken.--178. _o_, one. _that kepeth_, that
cares.--180. _wite ȝe_, know ye. _gamen_, game.

Hit nis noht al for the calf that kow louweth,
Ac hit is for the grene gras that in the medewe grouweth
so god.
Alle wite ȝe what I mene, that kunnen eny god.

For als ich evere brouke min hod under min hat,
The frere wole to the direge, if the cors is fat;
Ac bi the feith I owe to God, if the cors is lene,
He wole wagge aboute the cloistre and kepen hise fet clene 190
in house.
Hu mihte theih faire forsake that hii ne ben coveytouse?

And officials and denes that chapitles sholden holde,
Theih sholde chastise the folk, and theih maken hem bolde.
Mak a present to the den ther thu thenkest to dwelle,
And have leve longe i-nouh to serve the fend of helle
to queme;
For have he silver, of sinne taketh he nevere ȝeme.

If a man have a wif, and he ne love hire noht,
Bringe hire to the constorie ther treuthe sholde be souht, 200
And bringge tweye false wid him and him self the thridde,
And he shal ben to-parted so faire as he wole bidde
from his wif;
He shal ben holpen wel i-nouh to lede a shrewede lyf.

GLOSSARY.--183. _Hit nis_, it is not. _louweth_, lows.--184.
_Ac_, but.--186. _kunnen_, know.--187. _als_, as. _brouke_,
use, hold.--192. _theih_, they.--193. _chapitles_,
chapters.--195. _ther_, where.--196. _i-nouh_, enough. _fend_,
fiend.--197. _queme_, pleasure.--198. _ȝeme_, care.--200.
_constorie_, consistory. _souht_, sought.--202. _to-parted_,
separated. _bidde_, ask.

And whan he is thus i-deled from his rihte spouse,
He taketh his neiheboures wif and bringeth hire to his house;
And whiles he hath eny silver the clerkes to sende,
He may holde hire at his wille to his lives ende
wid unskile;
And but that be wel i-loked, curs in here bile. 210

And ȝit ther is another craft that toucheth the clergie,
That ben thise false fisiciens that helpen men to die;
He wole wagge his urine in a vessel of glaz,
And swereth that he is sekere than evere ȝit he was,
and sein,
“Dame, for faute of helpe, thin housebonde is neih slain.”

Thus he wole afraien al that ther is inne,
And make many a lesing silver for to winne.
Ac afterward he fondeth to comforte the wif,
And seith, “Dame, for of thin I wole holde his lyf,” 220
a[n]d liȝe;
Thouh he wite no more than a gos wheither he wole live or die.

Anon he wole biginne to blere the wives eiȝe;
He wole aske half a pound to bien spicerie;
The .viij. shillinges sholen up to the win and the ale;
And bringe rotes and rindes bret ful a male
off noht;
Hit shal be dere on a lek, whan hit is al i-wrouht.

GLOSSARY.--205. _i-deled_, parted.--209. _wid unskile_, with
wrong.--210. _here_, their.--215. _sein_, say.--218. _lesing_,
falsehood.--219. _he fondeth_, he tries.--221. _liȝe_,
lie.--222. _gos_, goose.--223. _eiȝe_, eyes.--224. _bien_,
buy.--226. _bret ful_, broad full, filled up. _male_, chest,
pannier.--228. _on a lek_, for a leek. (?)

He wole preisen hit i-nohw, and sweren, as he were wod,
For the king of the lond the drink is riche and god; 230
And ȝeve the gode man drinke a god quantité,
And make him worsse than he was; evele mote he the!
that clerk,
That so geteth the silver, and can noht don his werk.

He doth the wif sethe a chapoun and piece beof,
Ne tit the gode man noht therof, he him nevere so leof;
The best he piketh up himself, and maketh his mawe touht;
And ȝeveth the gode man soupe, the lene broth that nis noht
for seke;
That so serveth eny man, Godes curs in his cheke! 240

And thilke that han al the wele in freth and in feld,
Bothen eorl and baroun and kniht of o sheld,
Alle theih beth i-sworne holi churche holde to rihte;
Therfore was the ordre mad for holi churche to fihte,
sanz faille;
And nu ben theih the ferste that hit sholen assaille.

Hii brewen strut and stuntise there as sholde be pes;
Hii sholde gon to the Holi Lond and maken there her res,
And fihte there for the croiz, and shewe the ordre of knihte,
And awreke Jhesu Crist wid launce and speir to fihte 250
and sheld;
And nu ben theih liouns in halle, and hares in the feld.

GLOSSARY.--229. _wod_, mad.--231. _ȝeve_, if.--232. _evele mote
he the!_ ill may he thrive!--234. _don_, do.--235. _doth_,
causeth. _sethe_, to boil.--236. _tit_, touches. _leof_, dear
(_i. e._ have he ever so much desire).--238. _nis noht_, is
nothing.--241. _freth_, wood.--247. _strut and stuntise_,
strife and debate(?).--248. _her res_, their assault,
onset.--249. _croiz_, cross.--250. _awreke_, revenge.

Knihtes sholde weren weden in here manere,
After that the ordre asketh also wel as a frere;
Nu ben theih so degysed and diverseliche i-diht,
Unnethe may men knowe a gleman from a kniht,
wel neih;
So is mieknesse driven adoun, and pride is risen on heih.

Thus is the ordre of kniht turned up-so-doun,
Also wel can a kniht chide as any skolde of a toun. 260
Hii sholde ben also hende as any levedi in londe,
And for to speke alle vilanie nel nu no kniht wonde
for shame;
And thus knihtshipe [is] acloied and waxen al fot lame.

Knihtshipe is acloied and deolfulliche i-diht;
Kunne a boy nu breke a spere, he shal be mad a kniht.
And thus ben knihtes gadered of unkinde blod,
And envenimeth that ordre that shold be so god
and hende;
Ac o shrewe in a court many man may shende. 270

And nu nis no squier of pris in this middel erd,
But if that he bere a babel and a long berd,
And swere Godes soule, and vuwe to God and hote;
But sholde he for everi fals uth lese kirtel or kote,

GLOSSARY.--253. _weden_, garments.--255. _degysed_, arrayed.
_i-diht_, arranged, clothed.--256. _unnethe_, scarcely.--258.
_mieknesse_, meekness.--261. _hende_, gentle. _levedi_,
lady.--262. _nel_, will not. _wonde_, stay.--264. _acloied_,
debased. _fot lame_, lame of foot.--265. _deolfulliche
i-diht_, lamentably arrayed.--270. _o_, one. _shende_,
ruin.--271. _middel erd_, world, middle earth.--272. _bere_,
carry. _babel_, fool’s bauble(?).--273. _vuwe_, vow. _hote_,
promise.--274. _uth_, oath.

I leve,
He sholde stonde starc naked twye o day or eve.

Godes soule is al day sworn, the knif stant a-strout,
And thouh the botes be torn, ȝit wole he maken hit stout;
The hod hangeth on his brest, as he wolde spewe therinne,
Ac shortliche al his contrefaiture is colour of sinne, 280
and bost,
To wraththe God and paien the fend hit serveth allermost.

A newe taille of squierie is nu in everi toun;
The raye is turned overthuert that sholde stonde adoun;
Hii ben degised as turmentours that comen from clerkes plei;
Hii ben i-laft wid pride, and cast nurture awey
in diche;
Gentille men that sholde ben, ne beth hii none i-liche.

And justises, shirreves, meires, baillifs, if I shal rede aricht,
Hii kunnen of the faire day make the derke niht; 290
Hii gon out of the heie wey, ne leven hii for no sklaundre,
And maken the mot-halle at hom in here chaumbre,
wid wouh;
For be the hond i-whited, it shal go god i-nouh.

If the king in his werre sent after mihti men,
To helpe him in his nede, of sum toun .ix. or .x.,

GLOSSARY.--275. _I leve_, I believe.--276. _twye_, twice.--277.
_a-strout_, sticking out (?).--282. _allermost_, most of
all.--283. _newe taille_, new cut.--284. _raye_, cloth,
garment. _overthuert_, crosswise.--286. _ben i-laft wid_,
have separated from, or have sent away.--289. _shirreves_,
sheriffs.--290. _kunnen_, know how, they can.--292.
_mot-halle_, hall of meeting, the justice-hall.--293. _wouh_,
wrong.--294. _i-whited_, whitened.

The stiffeste sholen bileve at hom for .x. shillinges or .xii.,
And sende forth a wrecche that may noht helpe himselve
at nede.
Thus is the king deceyved, and pore men shent for mede. 300

And if the king in his lond maketh a taxacioun,
And everi man is i-set to a certein raunczoun,
Hit shal be so for-pinched, to-toilled, and to-twiht,
That halvendel shal gon in the fendes fliht
off helle;
Ther beth so manye parteners may no tunge telle.

A man of .xl. poundes-worth god is leid to .xii. pans rounde;
And also much paieth another that poverte hath brouht to grounde,
And hath an hep of girles sittende aboute the flet.
Godes curs moten hii have! but that be wel set 310
and sworn,
That the pore is thus i-piled, and the riche forborn.

Ac if the king hit wiste, I trowe he wolde be wroth,
Hou the pore beth i-piled, and hu the silver goth;
Hit is so deskatered bothe hider and thidere,
That halvendel shal ben stole ar hit come togidere,
and acounted;
An if a pore man speke a word, he shal be foule afrounted.

GLOSSARY.--297. _bileve_, remain.--300. _shent_, ruined.
_mede_, reward, bribery.--303. _for-pinched_, pinched to
pieces. _to-toilled_, laboured away. _to-twiht_, twitted
away.--304. _halvendel_, one half.--307. _god_, goods. _pans_,
pence.--309. _flet_, floor.--312. _i-piled_, robbed.--315.
_deskatered_, scattered about.--318. _afrounted_, accosted
(French, _affronter_).

Ac were the king wel avised, and wolde worche bi skile,
Litel nede sholde he have swiche pore to pile; 320
Thurfte him noht seke tresor so fer, he mihte finde ner,
At justices, at shirreves, cheiturs, and chaunceler,
and at les;
Swiche mihte finde him i-nouh, and late pore men have pes.

For who so is in swich ofice, come he nevere so pore,
He fareth in a while as thouh he hadde silver ore;
Theih bien londes and ledes, ne may hem non astonde.
What sholde pore men [ben] i-piled, when swiche men beth in londe
so fele?
Theih pleien wid the kinges silver, and breden wod for wele. 330

Ac shrewedeliche for sothe hii don the kinges heste;
Whan everi man hath his part, the king hath the leste.
Everi man is aboute to fille his owen purs;
And the king hath the leste part, and he hath al the curs,
wid wronge.
God sende treuthe into this lond, for tricherie dureth to longe.

And baillifs and bedeles under the shirreve,
Everich fondeth hu he may pore men most greve.
The pore men beth over al somouned on assise;
And the riche sholen sitte at hom, and ther wole silver rise 340
to shon.
Godes curs moten hii have, but that be wel don!

GLOSSARY.--319. _skile_, reason, right.--320. _swiche_,
such.--321. _thurfte him_, need he. _ner_, near.--322.
_cheiturs_, escheators.--324. _pes_, peace.--327. _bien_, buy.
_ledes_, possessions. _astonde_, withstand.--329. _fele_,
many.--330. _wod_, wood.--331. _heste_, command.--332. _leste_,
least.--338. _fondeth_, tries, endeavours.--341. _shon_, to be
shewn, to be seen.--342. _moten_, may.

And countours in benche that stondeth at the barre,
Theih wolen bigile the in thin hond, but if thu be the warre.
He wole take .xl. pans for to do doun his hod,
And speke for the a word or to, and don the litel god,
I trouwe.
And have he turned the bak, he makketh the a mouwe.

Attourneis in cuntré theih geten silver for noht;
Theih maken men biginne that they nevere hadden thouht; 350
And whan theih comen to the ring, hoppe if hii kunne.
Al that theih muwen so gete, al thinketh hem i-wonne
wid skile.
Ne triste no man to hem, so false theih beth in the bile.

And sumtime were chapmen that treweliche bouhten and solde;
And nu is thilke assise broke, and nas noht ȝore holde.
Chaffare was woned to be meintened wid treuthe,
And nu is al turned to treccherie, and that is muchel reuthe
to wite,
That alle manere godnesse is thus adoun i-smite. 360

Unnethe is nu eny man that can eny craft,
That he nis a party los in the haft;
For falsnesse is so fer forth over al the londe i-sprunge,

GLOSSARY.--345. _pans_, pence.--348. _mouwe_, mow, contemptuous
gesture.--352. _muwen_, may. _i-wonne_, won.--353. _skile_,
reason.--354. _triste_, trust. _beth_, are.--355. _chapmen_,
merchants. _treweliche_, truly.--356. _nas noht ȝore holde_,
has not been held a long time.--357. _Chaffare_, traffic.--358.
_muchel reuthe_, great pity.--361. _can_, knows.--362. _party
los in the haft_,....

That wel neih nis no treuthe in hond, ne in tunge,
ne in herte;
And tharfore nis no wonder thouh al the world it smerte.

Ther was a gamen in Engelond that durede ȝer and other;
Erliche upon the Monenday uch man bishrewed other;
So longe lastede that gamen among lered and lewed, 369
That nolde theih nevere stinten, or al the world were bishrewed,
i-wis;
And therfore al that helpe sholde, fareth the more amis.

So that for that shrewedom that regneth in the lond,
I drede me that God us hath for-laft out of his hond,
Thurw wederes that he hath i-sent cold and unkinde;
And ȝit ne haveth no man of him the more minde
ariht;
Unnethe is any man aferd of Godes muchele miht.

God hath ben wroth wid the world, and that is wel i-sene;
For al that whilom was murthe, is turned to treie and tene. 380
He sente us plenté i-nouh, suffre whiles we wolde,
Off alle manere sustenaunce grouwende upon molde
so thicke;
And evere aȝeines his godnesse we weren i-liche wicke.

GLOSSARY.--367. _gamen_, game. _ȝer and other_, a year and an
other, _i. e._ two years.--369. _lered and lewed_, learned
and unlearned, clergy and laity.--370. _nolde theih_, they
would not. _stinten_, desist. _or_, before. _bishrewed_,
accursed.--373. _shrewedom_, cursedness.--374. _for-laft_,
dismissed.--375. _Thurw_, through. _wederes_, weathers.--380.
_treie and tene_, vexation and sorrow.--382. _grouwende_,
growing. _molde_, earth.--384. _i-liche wicke_, equally wicked.

Men sholde noht sumtime finde a boy for to bere a lettre,
That wolde eten eny mete, but it were the betre.
For beof ne for bakoun, ne for swich stor of house,
Unnethe wolde eny don a char, so were theih daungerouse
for wlaunke;
And siththen bicom ful reulich, that thanne weren so ranke. 390

For tho God seih that the world was so over gart,
He sente a derthe on eorthe, and made hit ful smart.
A busshel of whete was at foure shillinges or more,
And so men mihte han i-had a quarter noht ȝore
i-gon;
So can God make wane, ther rathere was won.

And thanne gan bleiken here ble, that arst lowen so loude,
And to waxen al hand-tame that rathere weren so proude.
A mannes herte mihte blede for to here the crie
Off pore men that gradden, “Allas! for hungger I die 400
up rihte!”
This auhte make men aferd of Godes muchele miht.

And after that ilke wante com eft wele i-nouh,
And plenté of alle gode grouwende on uch a bouh.
Tho god ȝer was aȝein i-come, and god chep of corn,
Tho were we also muchele shrewes as we were beforn,

GLOSSARY.--388. _don a char_, do a turn, or task.--389.
_wlaunke_, pride.--390. _siththen_, since. _reulich_,
pitiful.--391. _tho_, when. _over gart_, over proud.--394-95.
_noht ȝore i-gon_, not long ago.--397. _gan bleiken here
ble_, their complexion turned pale. _arst lowen_, formerly
laughed.--398. _rathere_, earlier, before.--400. _gradden_,
said lamentingly.--403. _eft_, again.--405-6. _Tho ... tho_,
when ... then.

or more;
Also swithe we forȝeten his wreche and his lore.

Tho com ther another sorwe that spradde over al the lond;
A thusent winter ther bifore com nevere non so strong. 410
To binde alle the mene men in mourning and in care,
The orf deiede al bidene, and maden the lond al bare,
so faste,
Com nevere wrecche into Engelond that made men more agaste.

And tho that qualm was astin[t] of beste that bar horn,
Tho sente God on eorthe another derthe of corn,
That spradde over al Engelond bothe north and south,
And made seli pore men afingred in here mouth
ful sore;
And ȝit unnethe any man dredeth God the more. 420