Chapter VIII: Appendix (6)

Non verebor a modo voces invidorum.
Cum recte vivas, ne cures verba malorum.] †20
Malis inest proprium mala semper fari,
Validis detrahere, viles venerari. 10
Ex timore talium nolo vos turbari;
Laus est discretis a pravis vituperari.
Pravis enim displicet vitæ rectitudo:
Lex in eis læditur, et est lis pro ludo.
Ribaldorum requies est inquietudo;
Dum stultos revoco, quasi frigida ferra recudo.
Ferrum cudit frigidum quisquis obstinato
Consulit ut redeat de suo peccato;
Dicit enim sapiens sermone sensato,
Verba serit vento qui prædicat infatuato. 20
Prædicantur undique fraudes infidorum,

VARIOUS READINGS.--†19. _verebor animo_, Sl. _voces
malignorum_, Cl.]--9. _inest spiritum_, C. 2. _proprie_,
Cl.--10. _validos_, Sl.--11. _nubari_, Sl.--13. _sanctitudo_,
C. 1 and 2.--15. _reproborum_, C. 1.--16. _stultum_, C. 2.--18.
_suadet ut_, C. 1. _præcipit ut_, Sl. _ut fugiat_, Cl. _a suo_,
Sl.--19. _serato_, Sl.--21. _malignorum_, Cl.

Qui molestant Angliam viribus armorum;
Franci, Scoti, Wallici, potestatem quorum
Comprimat omnipotens qui continet alta polorum!
Polorum dispositor quem clamamus Deum,
Qui per multa populum protexit Hebræum,
Anglicis ex hostibus tribuat trophæum!
Mille viris præbere potest pincerna Lyæum.
Ut pincerna pluribus dat per velle potum,
Ita suis Dominus vires dat ad votum; 30
Edwardus rex inclitus istud habet notum;
Christo devotum studeat se tradere totum.
Totus Christo traditur rex noster Edwardus;
Velox est ad veniam, ad vindictam tardus;
Fugat adversarios tanquam leopardus;
Fama fœtet fatui, justus redolet quasi nardus.

VARIOUS READINGS.--24. _Destruat ipse Deus qui_, C. 1 and 2.
_possidet_, C. 2.--25. _clamavimus_, Sl.--26. _cuncta_, Cl.
_produxit_, C. 2.--29. _dare potest pot._ Cl. _paribus dare
possit p._ Sl. _sicut unus pluribus dat pincerna pot._ C.
1.--31. _illud habet_, Cl. et Sl.--34. _ad_ is omitted in C. 2
and Cl. In Sl. the two lines (34 and 35) are transposed.--35.
_Hostes fugat singulos t._ C. 1. _fugat hostes undique t._ C.
2.

Tanquam nardus redolet laus regis Anglorum,
Qui conatus reprimit hostium suorum;
Ipsum omnes timeant hostes Anglicorum:
Sæpe molossus ovem tollit de fauce luporum. 40
In luporum faucibus Angli sunt hiis annis;
Nam, devictis omnibus Walliæ tyrannis,
Scoti levant lanceas armati sub pannis;
In paucis annis oriuntur mira Johannis.
Johannes jam Scotiæ clemens rex et castus,
Regni tenens regimen, ut rex erat pastus,
Hunc tandem deposuit gentis suæ fastus.
Exulat ejectus de sede pia protoplastus.
Exulat et merito, quia, sicut legi,

VARIOUS READINGS.--36. C. _virtus redolet_, C. 1. _secet_, by
an error, for _fetet_, Sl. _istius redolet_, Sl. _fama replens
mundum fragrat velut optima n._ C. 2.--37. _quasi nardus_,
Cl. and Sl.--38, 39. _Qui regit rempublicam more Romanorum |
Innocentes erripit de manu pravorum_, C. 1. _Fama cujus attigit
fines seculorum; | Ipsum tr’imēt Scotici fures jumentorum_,
C. 2. _Dum conatus, &c._ Cl.--41. _faucibus hiis consistunt
annis_, Sl.--42. _devinctis_, Sl.--45. _J. rex Sc. quondam cl.
cast._ Cl. _quidem Scotiæ_, Sl.--47. _disposuit_, C. 1 et C.
2.--48. _sede sua_, C. 1 and Sl.--49. _Hic dum rexit Scotiam
prout dudum legi_, C. 1. _Hic dum sedem tenuit regnum d. l._
Sl. _Hic dum regnum tenuit in scriptis jam l._ Cl.

Spopondit homagium Anglicano regi; 50
Declinavit postea frango, frangis, fregi:
Omnia quæ pepigi prodendo pacta peregi.
Pactum prætergressus est princeps prænotatus,
Quando non compescuit pravorum conatus;
Vox in Rama sonuit, fletus et ploratus;
Mitis prælatus facit ignavos famulatus.
Ab ignavis famulis rex inhonoratur;
Sanctitas subvertitur, lex evacuatur;
Sæpe fit seditio, pax periclitatur.
Sit maledicta domus ubi quisque cliens dominatur! 60
Quando cliens imperat, et princeps obedit,
Tunc ruit respublica, requies recedit.
O quantos impietas inpunita lædit!
Inpius impunis semper se vincere credit.
Credebant duodecim Scotiæ prælati

VARIOUS READINGS.--50. _Quod fecit hom._ Cl. and Sl.--51. _sed
declinat_, C. 2.--55. _resonat_, Cl.--61-68, are omitted in
Cl.--64. _Inpius imprimis_, Sl.

Anglorum resistere magnæ probitati;
Ceciderunt igitur plures vulnerati.
Dixit bufo crati, “maledicti tot dominati!”
Dominantes plurimi sub duce tantillo,
Conspirant in Anglicos, rege tunc tranquillo; 70
Tandem simul obviant levato vexillo.
Flumina magna trahunt ortum de fonte pusillo.
De pusillis fontibus magni surgunt rivi;
Sic de gente Scotiæ conatus lascivi.
Plurimi propterea ducti sunt captivi:
Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi.
Plebs Achiva periit ad Dunbar in bello,
Ubi Scoti cæsi sunt Anglorum flagello.
Videres cadavera, velut in macello
Vilia vendentis, tunicato stricta popello. 80
Tunicatus populus multus et immanis,

VARIOUS READINGS.--68. _bufo cuncti_, Sl.--69. _sub dicto_, C.
1.--70. _Anglico_, Cl.--71. _obviat_, C. 1. _sibi obviant_, Sl.
_stulti levant lanceas armato v._ Cl.--74. _de Scotis miseris_,
C. 1. _de plebe Scotiæ_, Sl.--77. _ad Berwik_, C. 2.--80.
_Vilis_, C. 2. _strincta_, C. 2. et Cl. _cincta_, Sl.--81.
_inanis_, C. 1. _vilis et inanis_, Sl.

Qui solet detrahere viris Anglicanis,
Apud Dunbarre corruit, jam fœtet ut canis:
Sic faciunt stulti, quos gloria vexat inanis.
Vana fecit gloria populum fallacem
Diffiteri dominum Scotiæ veracem;
Facto tamen prælio veniunt ad pacem.
De fatuo quandoque facit fortuna sagacem.
Sagax est in prælio qui majori cedit;
Sed gens bruta Scotiæ cito fidem lædit. 90
Nemo potest tollere quod natura dedit:
Osse radicatum raro de carne recedit.
Recessit rex inclitus, parcens plebi tantæ;
Peragravit Scotiam turba comitante.
Angli castra muniunt, rege sic mandante;
Nam levius lædit quicquid providimus ante.

VARIOUS READINGS.--83. _cadebant in foveis_, C. 1. _cadebant
in prælio_, Sl.--85. _plebem contumacem_, C. 2. _facit ...
prophetam fal._ Sl.--86. _Edwardum contempnere dominum v._ C.
2.--88. _quemcunque facit_, Sl.--90. _Scotica_, C. 2.--92. _de
carne raro_, C. 1.--93. _recedit_, Sl. _rex igitur_, C. 1.--94.
_Scotiam pertransiit_, C. 1.--95. _rege procurante_, C. 1 and
Sl.--96. _prævidimus_, C. 1.

Regis providentia bella gubernantur;
Scoticani proceres Anglis subjugantur:
Statuuntur judices, leges renovantur;
Ipsæ etenim leges cupiunt ut jure regantur. 100
Rex ad regni regimen dignum deputavit,
Johannem Warenniæ, quem sæpe probavit.
Hic in quantum valuit leges observavit;
Elatos perdens, humiles in pace locavit.
Rex in pace rediit hiis ita patratis,
Comiti de Flandria succursurus gratis;
Magnam classem præparat tempestive satis;
Tolle moram, semper nocuit differe paratis.
Nec mora, conveniunt Scotici versuti;
Tactis Evangeliis sacris sunt locuti, 110

VARIOUS READINGS.--97. _valla_, C. 1.--98. _Scotiani_, C.
1.--99. _revocantur_, Sl. _prænotantur_, C. 1.--100. _ipse
rerum_, Sl.--102. _Johan Warenne_, C. 1.--103. _potuit Scotos
registravit_, C. 1. _valuit jura conservavit_, Sl.--104.
_prodens_, Sl. _levavit_, C. 1.--105. _in pace rex_, C.
1.--107. _Morari non patitur, navibus paratis_, C. 1. _Præparat
navigia tempestive satis_, Sl.--108. _deferre_, C. 1.

Quod Trentam non transient austro constituti:
Pauca voluptati debentur, plura saluti.
Scoticani proceres jurant omnes læte,
Et a rege singulis limitantur metæ:
Vide ne perjuri sint, et ruant in rete;
Nam miranda canunt, sed non credenda, poetæ.
Tunc rex mire credulus mare transfretavit,
Et Francos in Flandria potens expugnavit;
Senectutis inmemor multos non expavit.
Consilio pollet, cui vim natura negavit. 120
Non negavit Dominus robur et vigorem
Regi, quem constituit fore mundi florem;
Cujus acta singulos agunt in stuporem;
Quemvis namque potest animo sufferre laborem.
Labor novus oritur; Sathan suscitatur;

VARIOUS READINGS.--111. _Quod trugam non_, C. 2.--112. _P. v.
plura debent sal._ Sl.--113. _Per salutem regiam Scoti jurant
l._ C. 1 and Sl.--114. _singuli_, Sl.--115. _ac ruant_, C.
1.--119. _sententiæ immemor_, Sl.--120. _vis_, C. 2.--122.
_Regem, quem_, Sl.--123. _Ejus bella_, C. 1. _Actus ejus_,
Sl.--124. _namque animo potuit_, Sl.

Scotorum fidelitas procul effugatur;
Anglicorum probitas falso depravatur.
Arbitrii nostri non est, quod quisque loquatur.
Loquuntur ad invicem scurræ derelictæ;
“Ecce dantur Anglicis triumphales vittæ. 130
O! Guyllam de Wallia, nos ad ipsos mitte:
Loricam duram possunt penetrare sagittæ.
Omnes sagittarios nostros convocemus;
Ad custodem Scotiæ simul properemus.
Nam pro nostra patria fas est ut pugnemus:
Victorem a victo superari sæpe videmus.”
Custos ergo Scotiæ coarctatur nimis;
Et ad Strivelyne convenit gens corde sublimis;
Fraus occidit Anglicos, et ruunt in imis:
Non eodem cursu respondent ultima primis. 140

VARIOUS READINGS.--127. _Et Anglorum_, C. 1 and Sl.
_dampnatur_, Sl.--129. _turbæ de._ C. 2. _derilictæ_, C.
1.--131. _non ad_, Sl.--133. _Viros sag._ C. 1 and Sl. _omnes
con._ Sl.--134. _cito prop._ C. 2. This line and the following
are transposed in Sl.--135. _pat. est ut propugnemus_,
Sl.--138. _Strivelyn_, C. 1. _Strevelyn_, Sl. _properat gens_,
C. 2 and Sl.--139. _Defraudantur Anglici_, C. 2.

Primus pontem transiit comes dux Anglorum,
Penetrans audaciter cuneos Scotorum;
Sed seductus rediit, non ob vim virorum:
Fraus est materia multorum sæpe malorum.
Fraus effecit Anglicos rubore perfundi,
Dum suorum sanguinem passim vident fundi.
Reus fraudis Levenax est et Ricardus Lundi.
Quam brevis est risus, quam longaque lacrima mundi!
O mundi perfidia! quis te non miratur?
Dolus in domesticis latens occultatur; 150
Versutus pacifico semper adversatur:
Pastor oves minat baculo, lupus ore minatur.
Quid minatur barbara bruta gens et stulta?
Numquid hæc perfidia manebit inulta?

VARIOUS READINGS.--142. _audacter cuneas_, Sl.--144. _mater
multorum_, Sl.--145. _Fraus confecit_, C. 1. _robore_, Sl. _in
campo confundi_, C. 2.--146. _bello vident_, C. 1 and Sl.--147.
_le faux est et Ricardus secundi_, C. 1. _Letenax et_, C. 2.
_Reus fraus L._ Sl.--148. _usus quam_, C. 1. _longa lac._ C. 2
and Sl.--149. _O mundi malitia_, Sl.--151. _admiratur_, C. 1
and C. 2.--152. _bac. minat._ Sl.--153. _miraris_, Sl.--154.
_hæc injuria_, Sl. _hæc_ is omitted in C. 1.

Veniet rex Angliæ manu non occulta,
Multa super Priamo rogitans, super Hectore multa.
Multa sibi cumulat mala gens superba,
Anglicos ad prælia provocans acerba;
Verbera cum venient, tunc cessabunt verba:
Cum totum fecisse putas, latet anguis in herba. 160
[“Non latebit,” inquiunt, “nobis luce Phœbus;
Per nos ruent Anglici simul hiis diebus,
Nullus pervilibus percel speciebus.” (?)
Ludit in humanis divina potentia rebus.
O Dei potentia! te pro tuis peto!
Anglis in auxilium veni vultu læto!
Regis causam judicas, gratiam præbeto:
Tu sine principio non vincere falsa jubeto.]
Post hæc dux fallaciæ suum vocat cœtum,

VARIOUS READINGS.--157. _tibi cumulans_, Sl. _magna gens_,
C. 2.--158. _Nam fortes_, Sl.--159. _Numquid non intelligit
sapientis verba_, C. 1. _Non enim intel. sap. v._ C. 2.--160.
The eight lines which follow (included in brackets) are found
only in Sl.--161. _Statim dux fallacis_, C. 1. _Falsus d. f.
convocavit c._ Sl.

Sciens quod abierit rex noster trans fretum;
Cremare Northumbriam statuit decretum:
“Sæpe videmus,” ait, “post gaudia rumpere fletum.”
Lugeat Northumbria nimis desolata!
Facta est ut vidua filiis orbata.
Vescy, Morley, Somervile, Bertram sunt in fata:
O quibus, et quantis, et qualibet est viduata!
In hac, cum sit vidua, cunei Scotorum
Redigunt in cineres prædia multorum. 170
Willelmus de Wallia dux est indoctorum;
Gaudia stultorum cumulant augmenta dolorum.
Ad augmentum sceleris hactenus patrati,
Alnewyke dant ignibus viri scelerati;
Circumquaque cursitant velut incensati.
Electi pauci sunt, multi vero vocati.

VARIOUS READINGS.--165. _Luge nunc N._, Sl. _Northumbriæ_,
C. 1.--167. _V., Bertram, Sum., Merlaii_, C. 1. _Vessy ...
Borthram_, C. 2.--168. _in quantis_, C. 2. _es viduata_,
Sl.--169. _In hanc_, C. 1. _hac, ergo vid._ C. 2. _In te cum
sis_, Sl.--170. _in cinerem_, Sl. _Intrant et dant ignibus
prædia proborum_, C. 1.--172. _cumulat ... malorum_, C.
1.--173. _augmenta_, Sl.--174. _Alnewik_, C. 1. _Alnewyk_, Sl.

Multi quærunt mutuo qualiter sit factum,
Quod Newmonasterium non est igne tactum.
Dona spondent monachi, sed non solvunt pactum:
Sicut opus fuerat, sic res processit in actum. 180
Hujus rei gratia captivum ducerunt
Priorem cœnobii, quem tunc repererunt;
Captis rebus vacuas domos reliquerunt.
Munifici pauci, multi qui munera querunt.
Jam redit in Scotiam populus malignus;
Et Willelmo datum est militare pignus;
De prædone fit eques, ut de corvo cignus;
Accipit indignus sedem, cum non prope dignus.
Digno tandem principi litera præbetur,
In qua rei series tota continetur. 190

VARIOUS READINGS.--177. _sit actum_, Sl.--178. _Nōmonasterium
... sit_, C. 2. _Novummonasterium_, Sl.--179. _non tenent_,
C. 2.--180. _ad actum_, C. 2.--182. _invenerunt_, Sl.--183.
_domus_, C. 2.--184. _qui præmia_, C. 1 and Sl.--185. _suam
petit patriam pop._ C. 1. _suam petunt pat. pop._ Sl.--186.
_Et Wallensis accipit m. p._ Sl. _Et Wallensem accipit_, C.
1.--188. _quam non_, C. 2. _Si non_, Sl.--189. _Digno tamen_,
C. 1.

Si commotus fuerit, nullus admiretur:
Tranquillum nequit esse fretum, dum peste movetur.
Motus, suos milites sic cœpit affari:
“Adhuc vos pro patria decet præliari,--
Malo semel vincere, quam sæpe turbari:
Bella valent melius quam longa lite gravari,”
“Ne graveris,” inquiunt, “si Scotorum fures
Propriis capitibus acuant secures;
Unus Anglus perimet Scoticos quam plures.
Non est plaustelo barbati jungere mures.” 200
Vix est mure melior Walays, aut Gilmaurus,
Ad quorum victoriam nunquam crescet laurus;
Desunt enim robora, deestque thesaurus:
Bella movet citius cui desunt cornua taurus.

VARIOUS READINGS.--191. _Si turbatus_, C. 1 and Sl.--193. _Tunc
rex suos_, C. 1. _affare_, C. 2.--194. _detur præliari_.--195.
_Malo malos perdere, quam sic molestari_, C. 2. _Malos Scotos
perdere, quam sic conturbari_, Sl.--196. _volunt melius_, C.
1.--199. _perimet totum sicut plures_, C. 2. _Unus nam Anglicus
Scotos valet plures_, Sl.--200. _surgere mures_, C. 2. _mingere
m._ C. 1.--201. _Vix est murus melior mari ait(?) Gilm._ C. 1.
_melior Scotus Guilm._ Sl.--202. _Ad cujus vic. crescit_, C. 1
and Sl. _cresset_, C. 2.

Bello cadunt miseri die Magdalenæ;
Fere centum millia subdit rex arenæ;
Cæsorum cadaverum pascuæ sunt plenæ.
Oderunt peccare mali formidine pœnæ.
Pœnæ metu territus tergum dat tyrannus,
Cuï quondam placuit decurtatus pannus; 210
Fallax die prælii fugit ut trutannus.
Sæpe dat una dies quod totus denegat annus.
Una die miseri multi perimuntur;
Et Scotos qui fugerant Angli persequuntur;
Perforantur lanceis, vestesque tolluntur.
Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur.
Cadit, Waleys, tua laus, ut quid arma geris,
Ex quo gentem gladio tuam non tueris,

VARIOUS READINGS.--207. _cæsis cadaveribus_, C. 2 and Sl.--210.
_cui quidem_, Sl.--213. _Illa die plurimi Scoti per._ C.
1. _plurimi pravi puniuntur_, Sl.--214. _Fugientes miseros
Ang. per._ C. 1. _Fug. mis. Angl. prosequuntur_, Sl.--216.
_vaticinia_, Sl.--218. _Ex quo tuum populum tuens non tueris_,
C. 1. _Ex quo tuos gladio tutor non t._ Sl.

Jus est ut dominio tuo jam priveris.
Ast michi qui quondam semper asellus eris. 220
Eris in proverbium quod non præteribit;
Regnum tuum scissum est, et stare nequibit;
Potum quem paraveras, gens tua jam bibit.
Deridens alios, non inderisus abibit.
O res apta risui, patens hiis diebus!
Fortuna sub variis ludet speciebus.
Profugus de principe, de Juda fit Jebus.
Ludit in humanis divina potentia rebus.
Rebus sic ruentibus rura rex rimatur,
Et fures a foveis fugando venatur; 230
Omnis qui repertus est, gladio mactatur:
Exigit hoc justum, quod culpam pœna sequatur.

VARIOUS READINGS.--219. _Jam tuo dominio jus est ut pri._ C.
1. and Sl.--220. _acellus_, C. 2. In the Sl. MS. the song ends
with this line. In C. 1, it ends with l. 232, the last twelve
lines, however, being written by another and rather later hand.
The rest is found only in C. 2.--221. _scissum quod stare_, C.
1.--226. _ludis speciebus_, C. 1.--227. _Profugo sub p. ...
Gebus_, C. 1,--228. _divinis_, C. 1.--230. _a foveis fugat vel
ven._ C. 2. _Et suis_, C. 1.

[Consequenter redit rex, ut Francorum florem
Margaretam reginam ducat in uxorem;
Per hanc regna capiunt pacem pleniorem.
Ira cædem generat, concordia nutrit amorem.
Amor inter principes pullulans præclaros
Exulat a subditis gemitus amaros;
Jamque fit per nuncios firma pax non raros;
Hiis etenim rebus conjungit gratia caros. 240
Justus est gratiæ Scotis pars pusilla,
Quia non est impiis pax aut mens tranquilla.
Comyn, Karryk, Umfraville erigunt vexilla:
Acrius invidia nichil est, nil nequius illa.
Nequam sponte natio non vult obedire;
Regem cogit inclitum cum suis redire;
Jam timent qui necligunt ad pacem venire,
Sub gladio diræ mortis languendo perire.
Deperirent protinus patres et hæredes;
Nisi darent citius ad currendum pedes, 250
Fugientes renuunt villulas et ædes:
Idæos lepores puer exagitat Ganymedes.
Inter hæc rex Franciæ, mittens absque mora,
Regem rogat Angliæ pro treuga decora.
Annuit rex precibus, mox reflectens lora:
Grata superveniet quæ non sperabitur hora
Horam Scotis optimam fore quis ignorat,
In qua cessat gladius a plebe quæ plorat,
Rexque suos proceres unit et honorat.
Dum calor est et pulcra dies, formica laborat. 260
Post hos et hujusmodi bellicos labores,
Angli velut angeli semper sunt victores,
Scoticis et Wallicis sunt præstantiores;
Si vitam inspicias hominum sidereus (?) mores.
Quasi sus insurgeret leonis virtuti,
Sic expugnant Angliam Scotici polluti:
Et rex illos idcirco subdet servituti:
Serviet æterno qui parvo nesciet uti.]

TRANSLATION.--I playing prepare a harp for those who desire to
play; I set forth a wonderful matter concerning the malice of the
world; I will tell nothing that is noxious, but will relate a
historical incident; I write a new satire, yet let it not on that
account sow anger.--Anger moves the minds of the soldiers of the
present day, since the weak detract from the praise of the deeds
of the strong; yet let not teeth of the detractors scare thee:
if you live well, you need not care for what evil men say.--[If
anger last, it turns into malice; malice if not restrained
drives people into rage; rage shortens our days, by bringing
us into anguish; anger breeds hatred, whilst concord nourishes
love.--The love which was in the world is gone, and poison has
taken its place; out of hatred has sprung no small plague; the
homicide has raised his standard; nothing is sharper than envy,
and nothing more wicked.--There is nothing more wicked than an
envious man, as every one knows; for his unhappiness increases
with the prosperity of his neighbour; he pines away by the very
cause which brings profit to the just man. Unless the vessel be
clean, whatever you pour in becomes soured.--In order, therefore,
that the minds of the wicked may be soured, I will relate what
I have learnt of the deeds of the English. Henceforward I will
not fear the words of the envious. If you live well, you need
not care for what evil men say.]--It is the property of wicked
men always to say evil, to detract from the able, to respect
the vile. I am unwilling that you should be disturbed by the
fear of such men; it is praiseworthy in the prudent to be abused
by the wicked.--For the wicked are displeased by rectitude of
life: the law is injured in them, and they esteem strife as a
joke. The repose of ribalds is inquietude; to attempt to convert
fools is, as it were, to put cold iron on the anvil.--Every one
strikes cold iron, who counsels the obstinate man to desert his
sins; for the wise man says very sensibly, “he sows words in the
wind who preaches to a madman.”--Every where are preached the
fraudulent actions of the faithless men, who molest England by
force of arms; the French, Scotch, and Welsh, whose power may the
Omnipotent who holds the world repress!--May the Governor of the
universe whom we address as God, who protected the Hebrew people
through many difficulties, give the English victory over their
enemies! The butler can furnish liquor to a thousand men.--As the
butler at will gives drink to many, so the Lord gives strength
at his will to those whom he has chosen; Edward the noble
King knows this; and he labours to devote himself entirely to
Christ.--Edward our King is entirely devoted to Christ; he is
quick to pardon, and slow to vengeance; he puts to flight his
adversaries like a leopard; the reputation of the fool stinks,
the just man smells sweet as spikenard.--Like spikenard smells
the fame of the King of the English, who represses the attempts
of his enemies; him let all the enemies of the English fear:
often the mastiff snatches the sheep from the wolves’ jaws.--In
the wolves’ jaws the English have been of late; for, when all the
turbulent chiefs of Wales were reduced, the Scotch raise their
spears armed in their rags: a few years exhibit the wonderful
fortune of John.--John being now King of Scotland, clement and
chaste, governing the kingdom as though he had been bred a king,
him at length the pride of his nation deposed. The first-created
was an exile, driven from his pious seat.--He, however, was
deservedly exiled, for, as I have read, he promised homage to the
English King; afterwards he declined the verb _frango_ (I break);
by breaking all which I had promised, (said he,) I performed
my agreement.--The aforesaid prince broke his promise, when he
did not restrain the attempts of the wicked; a voice was heard
in Rama, weeping and lamentation; a remiss master makes lazy
servants.--By slack servants the King is dishonoured; holiness
is overthrown, the law is made of no avail; there is frequent
sedition, the peace is endangered. Cursed be the house, where
every dependent is master!--When the dependant commands, and the
prince is a servant, then the state is in danger, and quietness
departs. O how many people impiety, when unpunished, injures!
The impious man unpunished always thinks that he conquers.--The
twelve rulers of Scotland thought that they could resist the
great valour of the English; therefore many of them fell by
the sword. Said the toad to the harrow, “cursed be so many
rulers!”--Many rulers under such a diminutive leader conspire
against the English, whilst the king was at peace; at length
they meet with standards raised. Great rivers take their rise
from a small fountain.--From small fountains great rivers arise;
so it is with the wanton attempts of the people of Scotland.
Many thereupon are led captives: whenever the kings run wild, it
is the subjects who suffer.--The subject populace perished in
battle at Dunbar, where the Scotch were slain by the flail of
the English. You might see the carcases, as in the shambles of
a seller of refuse meat, cut off from the kilted rabble.--The
kilted people, numerous and savage, who are accustomed to detract
from the Englishmen, fell at Dunbar, and now stink like a dog:
thus do fools, who are tormented by vain glory.--Vain glory made
the deceitful people deny the true lord of Scotland; but after
the battle they seek peace. Sometimes fortune makes a wise man of
a fool.--He is wise in battle who yields to his superior; but the
wild people of Scotland soon break their faith. No one can take
away what nature gave: the disease which is rooted in the bone,
can seldom be expelled from the flesh.--The noble king departed,
sparing so great a mass of populace; he traversed Scotland with a
crowd of attendants. The English fortify castles, by the king’s
command; for that hurts less which we have provided against.--The
wars are governed by the king’s providence; the Scottish nobles
are subdued to the English; judges are appointed, the laws
are revised; for the laws themselves require to be regulated
aright.--The king appointed a worthy man to the government of
the kingdom, John de Warenne, whom he had often proved. He to
the utmost of his power observed the laws; destroying the proud,
he placed the humble in peace.--The king, after these things had
been performed, returned in peace, preparing to aid gratuitously
the Count of Flanders; he prepares a great fleet as quickly as
he can; banish delay, to those who are prepared it is always
injurious to procrastinate.--Nor was there any delay, for the
cunning Scots meet together; with their hands on the gospels,
they have said that from their station in the south they will not
pass the Trent: little is owing to pleasure, more to safety.--The
Scottish nobles all swear with alacrity, and their boundaries
are limited to each by the king; see that they be not perjured,
and fall into the net; for the poets sing wonderful things that
are not to be believed.--Then the king, wonderfully credulous
in them, passed the sea, and powerfully warred against the
French in Flanders; unmindful of old age, he was not terrified
by numbers. He flourishes by counsel, to whom nature has denied
strength.--The Lord has not denied strength and vigour to the
king, whom he ordained to be the flower of the world; whose
acts excite everybody’s wonder; for his mind is capable of
undergoing every labour.--A new labour arises; Satan is raised
up; the fidelity of the Scots disappears entirely; the valour
of the English is undeservedly set at nought. What everybody
says, does not rest upon our opinion.--The abandoned scoffers
hold mutual conversations; “Lo! triumphant garlands are given to
the English. O William de Wallace! send us to them: arrows can
penetrate the hard mail.--Let us call together all our archers;
let us hasten together against the Guardian of Scotland. For it
is right that we should fight for our country: we often see the
conqueror overcome by the vanquished.”--Accordingly the Guardian
of Scotland is very hard pressed; and the people assemble at
Stirling, proud in spirit; treachery destroys the English, and
they are on the brink of ruin: the end does not correspond with
the beginning.--The Earl, who was leader of the English, first
passed the bridge, penetrating boldly into the Scotish columns;
but he was driven back by treachery, and not by the force of
arms: fraud is often the cause of many evils.--Fraud caused the
English to blush, whilst they saw on all sides the blood of their
own people flowing; Levenax and Richard Lundi are convicted of
fraud. How short is the joy, and how lasting the sorrow, of the
world!--O perfidiousness of the world! who is not astonished by
thee? Treachery lies hid, concealed among our household; the
cunning man is always opposed to the peaceful; the shepherd
leads his sheep with a staff, the wolf threatens them with his
mouth.--What does the barbarous brutal and foolish race threaten?
Will this perfidy remain unavenged? The King of England will
come with open force, inquiring much about Priam and much about
Hector.--The proud people raise a heap of evils for themselves,
provoking the English to the bitter contest; words will cease,
when the blows come; though you think you have finished entirely,
there is a snake concealed in the grass.--[“The sun,” they say,
“will not be concealed from us with his light; the time is come
when the English will all fall by our hands; no one....” The
Divine power plays with the prospects of men.--O power of God!
I petition thee in favour of thy people! come with a propitious
countenance to the aid of the English; judge the king’s cause,
and give him grace: thou who art without beginning, do not let
falseness triumph.]--After this the leader of the plot calls
together his party, knowing that our king would be gone over the
sea; he made an order to ravage Northumberland: “we oft see,”
says he, “weeping after joy.”--Northumberland, much desolated,
may weep! She is made as a widow robbed of her children. Vescy,
Morley, Somerville, Bertram are dead: Alas! of how many, and
how great men in every part is she widowed!--In her, since she
is a widow, the troops of the Scots reduce the estates of many
to cinders. William Wallace is the leader of these savages; the
rejoicings of fools breed increase of griefs.--To increase the
wickedness which they had hitherto perpetrated, these wicked
men deliver Alnwick to the flames; they run about on every side
like madmen. Few are chosen, but many are called.--Many ask
each other how it happened, that the Newminster was not touched
by the fire. The monks promise gifts, but they do not fulfil
their promise: as there was need, so was the thing carried into
effect.--On this account they led away captive the prior of the
monastery, whom they then found; having carried away the goods,
they left the houses empty. Few are munificent, but there are
many who seek after gifts.--Now the malignant people returns to
Scotland; and the honour of knighthood is given to William; from
a robber he becomes a knight, just as a swan is made out of a
raven; an unworthy man takes the seat, when a worthy man is not
by.--At length a letter reaches the worthy prince, in which the
whole course of events is told. Let nobody be surprized if he was
enraged at it: the sea cannot be quiet when the storm rages.--In
his anger he began thus to address his knights: “Again you must
prepare to fight for your country. I would rather conquer once,
than be often tormented; wars are better than being troubled
with lasting strife.”--“Do not be troubled,” said they, “if the
Scottish thieves sharpen axes for their own heads; one Englishman
will slay very many Scots. It is not the part of a man who has
a beard to join mice to a little cart.”--Wallace, or Gilmaurus,
is scarcely better than a mouse, to whose victory the laurel
will never grow; for they want strength and treasure: a bull
who has lost his horns is the more eager for the war.--On St.
Magdalen’s day the wretches fall in battle; the king subdues
in the field near a hundred thousand; the meadows are covered
with their carcases. The wicked hate sin from the fear of
punishment.--Scared by the fear of punishment the tyrant turns
his back, whom the short jacket once pleased; faithless in the
day of battle he flies like a truant. One day often gives what
the whole year denies.--In one day many wretches were slain; and
the English pursue the Scots who had fled; they are transfixed
with spears, and robbed of their clothes. The white thorns are
cut down, while the black bilberries are gathered.--Wallace, thy
reputation as a soldier is lost; since thou didst not defend thy
people with the sword, it is just thou shouldst now be deprived
of thy dominion.

But, in my view, thou wilt always be the ass thou wert
formerly.--Thou wilt pass into a lasting proverb; thy kingdom
is divided, and cannot stand; thy people now drink of the cup
which thou hast prepared. He who turns others into derision,
will not escape being derided.--O laughable thing, that has
been manifested in our time! Fortune will play in various ways.
The prince has been turned into an outcast, Judah into Jebus.
The Divine power plays with the prospects of men.--Things being
brought to this pass, the king searches the country, and hunts
the thieves out of their hiding places; every one who is found
is put to the sword: justice requires this, that the punishment
come after the fault.--[Next the king returns, that he may
marry Queen Margaret, the flower of the French; through her the
kingdoms receive a more complete peace. Anger begets slaughter,
concord nourishes love.--When love buds between great princes,
it drives away bitter sobs from their subjects; and now a firm
peace is negotiated by frequent messengers: for by these things
grace makes people friends.--It is just that the Scots should
have a small portion of grace, because the impious people have
neither peace nor quiet of mind. Comyn, Carrick, Umfraville raise
their standards: there is nothing more sharp than envy, nor more
wicked.--The nation, voluntarily wicked, will not be obedient;
it forces the illustrious king with his army to return; now they
fear who neglect to come to peace, lest they perish languishingly
by the sword of dire death.--Let them perish utterly both fathers
and sons; unless they quickly give their feet to flight, flying
they desert their towns and houses: the child Ganymedes drives
about the hares on mount Ida.--In the midst of these transactions
the King of France, sending without delay, asks an honourable
truce of the King of England. The king accedes to his request,
soon afterwards turning his reins: the grateful hour will arrive
when it is least expected.--Who knows not that that would be
the best hour for the Scots, in which the sword ceases from the
weeping commonalty, and the king unites and honours the nobles.
While it is warm and fair weather, the ant labours.--After
all these warlike labours, the English like angels are always
conquerors, they are more excellent than the Scotch and Welsh;
you will learn people’s manners by contemplating their lives.--As
though a swine should resist the valour of the lion, so the
filthy Scots attack England; and the king for that reason reduces
them to slavery: he will ever be a slave, who cannot be content
with the little which Providence has given him.]

* * * * *

The following verses seem to have been written immediately after John Baliol had retired to Normandy, in 1290. In the manuscript, they are accompanied by a picture representing a ship, full of people, passing the sea.

ON THE DEPOSITION OF BALIOL.

[From MS. Cotton. Julius, A. V. fol. 2, r^o. of beginning of 14th cent.]

Ecce dies veniunt Scoti sine principe fiunt;
Regnum Balliolus perdit, transit mare solus.
Defendi bello Scotus mucrone novello
Sperans Gallorum, vires expectat eorum.
De gwerra tuti Gallorum viribus uti
Congaudent Scoti; currunt ad prælia moti.
Gallia de parvo Scoto profecit in arvo.
Cur in conflictu Scotus ter corruit ictu?
Conflictu quarto Scoti ponuntur in arto:
Quales sunt et erunt, carmina plura ferunt,
Carmina qui didicit Trojam per prælia vicit,
Ovidius docuit quæ sibi causa fuit.
Percussis bellis, sterilis fit Troja puellis;
Finitis motis, sic fiet Scotia Scotis.
Vastantur gwerra Trojani, de prope terra
Castrorum plena, cum finibus est aliena.
Urbibus et villis proles dominatur Achillis;
Pyrrhus vastat eas, Priamum ploravit Æneas.
Merlinus scribit quod turba superba peribit;
Latrans exibit canis, et bos profugus ibit.
Tunc nemus Eutherium pennata fronde carebit;
Et genus Albaneum sua regna perire videbit.
Scote miser, plora, tibi flendi jam venit hora;
Nam regnum patruum desinet esse tuum.
Principe privaris, campo sic subpeditaris,
Quod meritis miseris semper asellus eris.
Vox de profundis Cambini te vocat undis,
Torquendum clade, quam non novit genus Adæ.
Illuc tende vias, et dæmonis assecla fias!
Amplius Andreas ducere nescit eas.

TRANSLATION.--Lo! the time is come when the Scots are without a
prince; Baliol loses the kingdom, and passes the sea alone. The
Scot, hoping to be defended in battle by the new spear of the
French, is waiting for their power. The Scots rejoice together
in the belief that they will have the better in the war by the
aid of the French; they rebel, and haste to fight. France will
profit little the Scot in the field. Why has the Scot been beaten
in three battles? By the fourth battle the Scots are reduced to
extremities: such as they are and will ever be, very many songs
tell. He who learnt songs conquered Troy in battle; Ovid has
told us what was the cause of it. After the war, Troy was barren
of maidens; when the rebellion is over, so will Scotland be of
Scots. Troy is ravaged by war, the land near about being full of
camps, it is with its boundaries become the property of another.
The son of Achilles rules over the cities and towns; Pyrrhus
lays them waste, Æneas has wept for Priam. Merlin writes that
the proud crowd shall perish; the barking dog shall depart, and
the ox shall go into exile. Then shall the Eutherian grove be
stripped of its feathered branches; and the Albanian race will
see their kingdom perish. Wretched Scot, lament, thy hour of
weeping is now come; for the kingdom of thy forefathers ceases
to be thine. Thou art deprived of a prince, and art so trodden
down in the field, that by thy ill merits thou wilt always be an
ass. A voice from the bottom of the Cambine waters calls thee,
to be punished with such slaughter as the race of Adam has not
yet seen. Hasten thither, and become the companion of the devil!
Andrew will no longer be their leader.

* * * * *

The general hatred to the Scots did not hinder the people from feeling grieved by the heavy taxes which were raised to support the war, and more particularly the expeditions into Flanders, (which latter were ill managed, and produced no results,) or from showing their dissatisfaction. The King’s measures of ambition were often thwarted by the stern opposition of the barons and the commons. The following song was directed more particularly against the unconstitutional seizure of wool, and generally against all the taxes raised for the Flemish war.

SONG AGAINST THE KING’S TAXES.

[MS. Harl. No. 2253, fol. 137, v^o, written in reign of Edw. II.]

Dieu, roy de magesté, ob personas trinas,
Nostre roy e sa meyné ne perire sinas;
Grantz mals ly fist aver gravesque ruinas,
Celi qe ly fist passer partes transmarinas.
Rex ut salvetur, falsis maledictio detur!

Roy ne doit à feore de gere extra regnum ire,
For si la commune de sa terre velint consentire:
Par tresoun voit honme sovent quam plures perire;
A quy en fier seurement nemo potest scire.
Non eat ex regno rex sine consilio.

Ore court en Engletere de anno in annum
Le quinzyme dener, pur fere sic commune dampnum.
E fet avaler que soleyent sedere super scamnum;
E vendre fet commune gent vaccas, vas, et pannum.
Non placet ad summum quindenum sic dare nummum.

Une chose est countre foy, unde gens gravatur,
Que la meyté ne vient al roy, in regno quod levatur.
Pur ce qu’il n’ad tot l’enter, prout sibi datur,
Le pueple doit le plus doner, et sic sincopatur.
Nam quæ taxantur, regi non omnia dantur.

Unquore plus greve à simple gent collectio lanarum,
Que vendre fet communement divitias earum.
Ne puet estre que tiel consail constat Deo carum,
Issi destrure le poverail pondus per amarum,
Non est lex sana, quod regi sit mea lana.

Uncore est plus outre peis, ut testantur gentes,
En le sac deus pers ou treis per vim retinentes.
A quy remeindra cele leyne? quidam respondentes,
Que jà n’avera roy ne reygne, sed tantum colligentes.
Pondus lanarum tam falsum constat amarum.

Depus que le roy vodera tam multum cepisse,
Entre les riches si purra satis invenisse;
E plus, à ce que m’est avys, et melius fecisse
Des grantz partie aver pris, et parvis pepercisse.
Qui capit argentum sine causa peccat egentum.

Honme ne doit à roy retter talem pravitatem,
Mès al maveis consiler per ferocitatem.
Le roy est jeovene bachiler, nec habet ætatem,
Nule malice compasser, sed omnem probitatem.
Consilium tale dampnum confert generale.

Rien greve les grantz graunter regi sic tributum;
Les simples deyvent tot doner, contra Dei nutum.
Cest consail n’est mye bien, sed vitiis pollutum;
Ceux que grauntent ne paient ren, est male constitutum.
Nam concedentes nil dant regi, sed egentes.

Coment fra honme bon espleit ex pauperum sudore,
Que les riches esparnyer doit, dono vel favore?
Des grantz um le dust lever, Dei pro timore;
Le pueple plus esparnyer, qui vivit in dolore.
Qui satis es dives, non sic ex paupere vives.

Je voy en siècle qu’ore court gentes superbire,
D’autre biens tenir grant court, quod cito vult transire.
Quant vendra le haut juggement, magna dies iræ,
S’il ne facent amendement, tunc debent perire.
Rex dicit reprobis, “ite:”--“venite,” probis.

Dieu, que fustes coronée cum acuta spina,
De vostre pueple eiez pitée gratia divina!
Que le siècle soit aleggée de tali ruina!
A dire grosse veritée est quasi rapina.
Res inopum capta, nisi gratis, est quasi rapta.

Tel tribut à nul feor diu nequit durare;
Devoyde qy puet doner, vel manibus tractare?
Gentz sunt à tiel meschief quod nequeunt plus dare;
Je me doute, s’ils ussent chief, quod vellent levare.
Sæpe facit stultas gentes vacuata facultas.

Yl y a tant escarceté monetæ inter gentes,
Qe honme puet en marché, quam parci sunt ementes,
Tot eyt honme drap ou blée, porcos vel bidentes,
Rien lever en verité, tam multi sunt egentes.
Gens non est læta, cum sit tam parca moneta.

Si le roy freyt moun consail, tunc vellem laudare,
D’argent prendre le vessel, monetamque parare;
Mieu valdreit de fust ma[n]ger, pro victu nummos dare,
Qe d’argent le cors servyr, et lignum pacare.
Est vitii signum pro victu solvere lignum.

Lur commissiouns sunt trochiers qui sunt ultra mare;
Ore lur terres n’ount povers eosdem sustentare.
Je ne say coment purrount animas salvare,
Que d’autrui vivre voderount, et propria servare.
Non dubitant pœnas cupientes res alienas.

Dieu pur soun seintime noun, confundat errores,
E ceux que pensent fere tresoun, et pacis turbatores!
E vengaunce en facez ad tales vexatores!
E confermez e grantez inter reges amores!
Perdat solamen qui pacem destruit! AMEN.

TRANSLATION.--O God, king of majesty, for the sake of the
Trinity,--do not permit our king and his household to
perish;--great hurt and great ruin he caused him to have,--who
made him pass over the sea.--In order that the king may prosper,
may his false advisers be accursed.

A king ought not to go out of his kingdom to make war,--unless
the commons of his land will consent:--by treason we often
see very many perish;--no one can tell in whom to trust with
certainty.--Let not the king go out of his kingdom without
counsel.

Now goes in England from year to year--the fifteenth penny, to
do thus a common harm.--And it makes them go down, who used to
sit upon a bench;--and it obliges the common people to sell both
cows, vessels, and clothes.--It does not please thus to pay the
fifteenth to the last penny.

One thing is against faith, whereby the people is
aggrieved,--that the half of what is raised in the kingdom does
not come to the king.--Since he has not the whole, as it is given
to him,--the people is obliged to give the more, and thus they
are cut short.--For the taxes which are raised are not all given
to the king.

The collecting of the wool grieves the common people still
more,--which drives them commonly to sell their property.--Such
counsel cannot be acceptable to God,--thus to destroy the poor
people by a bitter burthen.--It is not sound law, which gives my
wool to the king.

What is still more contrary to peace, as people witness,--they
retain two or three parts in the sack.--To whom shall remain
this wool? Some answer,--that neither king nor queen shall have
it, but only the collectors.--Such a false weight of wool is
manifestly a bitter thing.

Since the king is determined to take so much,--he may find enough
among the rich and he would get more and do better, as it appears
to me,--to have taken a part from the great, and to have spared
the little.--He sins who takes the money of the needy without
cause.

We ought not to lay such wickedness to the charge of the
king,--but to the bad counsellor, by his rapacity. The king is a
young bachelor, and is not of an age--to compass any malice, but
to do all probity.--Such counsel does general harm.

It is no trouble to the great thus to grant to the king a
tax; the simple must pay it all, which is contrary to God’s
will.--This counsel is not at all good, but polluted with
vice;--it is ill ordained, that those who grant should pay
nothing.--For those who make the grant give nothing to the king,
it is the needy only who give.

How will they perform good deeds out of the sweat of the
poor,--whom the rich ought to spare, by gift or favour?--they
ought to tax the great, for the fear of God;--and spare more the
people, who live in pain.--Thou who art rich enough, live not
thus upon the poor.

I see at the present day how people are proud,--with other
people’s goods they hold great court, which will quickly
pass.--When the high judgment comes, the great day of
wrath,--unless they make atonement, they must then perish.--The
King says to the bad, “Go:” to the good, “Come.”

O God, who wast crowned with the sharp thorn,--have pity with
divine grace upon thy people!--May the world be comforted of
such ruin!--To tell unvarnished truth, it is mere robbery.--The
property of the poor taken without their will, is as it were
stolen.

Such tribute can in no manner last long;--out of emptiness who
can give, or touch anything with his hands.--People are reduced
to such ill plight, that they can give no more;--I fear, if they
had a leader, they would rise in rebellion.--Loss of property
often makes people fools.

There is so much scarcity of money among people,--that people can
in the market, there are so few buyers,--although they may have
cloth or corn, swine or sheep,--make nothing of them, in truth,
there are so many needy people.--The people is not joyful, when
money is so scarce.

If the king would take my advice, I would praise him then,--to
take the vessels of silver, and make money of them;--it would be
better to eat out of wood, and to give money for victuals--than
to serve the body with silver, and pay with wood.--It is a sign
of vice, to pay for victuals with wood.

The commissions of those who are employed over sea are too
dear;--now the poor have not their lands to sustain the same.--I
do not know how they can save their souls,--who would live upon
other people’s goods, and save their own.--They cannot doubt but
they will be punished, who covet the property of others.

May God, for the sake of his holy name, confound errors,--and
those who meditate treason, and the disturbers of the peace!--and
take vengeance on such tormentors!--and confirm and grant love
between the kings!--May he lose consolation who breaks the peace!
Amen.

* * * * *

Although the English people were grieved by the King’s expensive and ill-conducted foreign wars, yet they were not wanting in commiseration for the Flemish burghers in their struggle against France. The song which follows was composed soon after the battle of Courtrai, in which the Comte d’Artois and his army were defeated and destroyed by the Flemings in 1302.

SONG ON THE FLEMISH INSURRECTION.

[MS. Harl. No. 2253, fol. 73, v^o. of reign of Edw. II.]

Lustneth, lordinges, bothe ȝonge ant olde,
Of the Freynsshe-men that were so proude ant bolde,
Hou the Flemmysshe-men bohten hem ant solde
upon a Wednesday.
Betere hem were at home in huere londe,
Then for te seche Flemmysshe by the see stronde,
Wharethourh moni Frenshe wyf wryngeth hire honde,
ant singeth, weylaway!

The Kyng of Fraunce made statuz newe
In the lond of Flaundres, among false ant trewe,
That the commun of Bruges ful sore con a-rewe,
ant seiden amonges hem,
“Gedere we us togedere hardilyche at ene,
Take we the bailifs by tuenty ant by tene,
Clappe we of the hevedes an oven o the grene,
ant caste we y the fen.”

The webbes ant the fullaris assembleden hem alle,
Ant makeden huere consail in huere commune halle;
Token Peter Conyng huere kyng to calle,
ant beo huere cheventeyn.
Hue nomen huere rouncyns out of the stalle,
Ant closeden the toun withinne the walle;
Sixti baylies ant ten hue maden a-doun falle,
ant moni another sweyn.

Tho wolde the baylies, that were come from Fraunce,
Dryve the Flemisshe that made the destaunce;
Hue turnden hem aȝeynes with suerd ant with launce,
stronge men ant lyht.
Y telle ou for sothe, for al huere bobaunce,
Ne for the avowerie of the Kyng of Fraunce,
Tuenti score ant fyve haden ther meschaunce
by day ant eke by nyht.

Sire Jakes de Seint Poul y-herde hou hit was;
Sixtene hundred of horsmen asemblede o the gras;
He wende toward Bruges _pas pur pas_,
with swithe gret mounde.
The Flemmysshe y-herden telle the cas;
A-gynneth to clynken huere basyns of bras,
Ant al hem to-dryven ase ston doth the glas,
ant fellen hem to grounde.

Sixtene hundred of horsmen hede ther here fyn;
Hue leyȝen y the stretes y-styked ase swyn;
Ther hue loren huere stedes, ant mony rouncyn,
thourh huere oune prude.
Sire Jakes ascapede by a coynte gyn,
Out at one posterne ther me solde wyn,
Out of the fyhte hom to ys yn,
in wel muchele drede.

Tho the Kyng of Fraunce y-herde this, anon
Assemblede he is dousse pers everuchon,
The proude Eorl of Artoys ant other mony on,
to come to Paris.
The barouns of Fraunce thider conne gon,
Into the paleis that paved is with ston,
To jugge the Flemmisshe to bernen ant to slon,
thourh the flour-de-lis.

Thenne seide the Kyng Philip, “Lustneth nou to me,
Myn eorles ant my barouns gentil ant fre,
Goth, faccheth me the tray tours y-bounde to my kne,
hastifliche ant blyve.”
Tho suor the Eorl of Seint Poul, “_Par la goule Dé!_
We shule facche the rybaus wher thi wille be,
Ant drawen hem [with] wilde hors out of the countré,
by thousendes fyve.”

“Sire Rauf Devel,” sayth the Eorl of Boloyne,
“_Nus ne lerrum en vie chanoun ne moyne_,
Wende we forth anon ritht withoute eny assoygne,
ne no lyves man.
We shule flo the Conyng, ant make roste is loyne;
The word shal springen of him into Coloyne,
So hit shal to Acres ant into Sesoyne,
ant maken him ful wan.”

Sevene eorles ant fourti barouns y-tolde,
Fiftene hundred knyhtes proude ant swythe bolde,
Sixti thousent swyers amonge ȝunge ant olde,
Flemmisshe to take.
The Flemmisshe hardeliche hem come to-ȝeynes;
This proude Freinsshe eorles, huere knyhtes, ant huere sweynes
A-quelleden ant slowen by hulles ant by pleynes,
al for huere kynges sake.

This Frenshe come to Flaundres so liht so the hare;
Er hit were mydnyht hit fel hem to care;
Hue were laht by the net so bryd is in snare,
with rouncin ant with stede.
The Flemmisshe hem dabbeth o the het bare;
Hue nolden take for huem raunsoun ne ware;
Hue doddeth of huere hevedes, fare so hit fare,
ant thareto haveth hue nede.

Thenne seith the Eorl of Artois, “Y ȝelde me to the,
Peter Conyng by thi nome, ȝef thou art hende ant free,
That y ne have no shame ne no vylté,
that y ne be noud ded.”
Thenne swor a bocher, “By my leauté!
Shalt thou ner more the Kyng of Fraunce se,
Ne in the toun of Bruges in prisone be,
thou woldest spene bred.”

Ther by were knulled y the put-falle,
This eorles ant barouns ant huere knyhtes alle;
Huere ledies huem mowe abide in boure ant in halle
wel longe.
For hem mot huere kyng other knyhtes calle,
Other stedes taken out of huere stalle:
Ther hi habbeth dronke bittrere then the galle,
upon the drue londe.

When the Kyng of Fraunce y-herde this tydynge,
He smot doun is heved, is honden gon he wrynge.
Thourhout al Fraunce the word bygon to springe;
wo wes huem tho!
Muche wes the sorewe ant the wepinge
That wes in al Fraunce among olde ant ȝynge:
The meste part of the lond bygon for te synge
“alas! ant weylawo!”

Awey thou ȝunge pope! whet shal the to rede?
Thou hast lore thin cardinals at thi meste nede;
Ne keverest thou hem nevere for nones kunnes mede,
for sothe y the telle.
Do the forth to Rome to amende thi misdede;
Bide gode halewen hue lete the betere spede:
Bote thou worche wysloker, thou losest lont ant lede,
the coroune wel the felle.

Alas! thou seli Fraunce, for the may thunche shome,
That are fewe fullaris maketh ou so tome;
Sixti thousent on a day hue maden fot lome,
with eorl ant knyht.
Herof habbeth the Flemysshe suithe god game,
Ant suereth bi Seint Omer ant eke bi Seint Jame,
Ȝef hy ther more cometh, hit falleth huem to shame,
with huem for te fyht.

I tell ou for sothe, the bataille thus bigon
Bituene Fraunce ant Flaundres, hou hue weren fon;
Vor Vrenshe the eorl of Flaundres in prison heden y-don,
with tresoun untrewe.
Ȝe[f] the Prince of Walis his lyf habbe mote,
Hit falleth the Kyng of Fraunce bittrore then the sote;
Bote he the rathere therof welle do bote,
wel sore hit shal hym rewe.

TRANSLATION.--Listen, Lordings, both young and old,--of the
Frenchmen that were so proud and bold,--how the Flemmish men
bought and sold them--upon a Wednesday.--Better it had been
for them at home in their country,--than to seek Flemings by
the sea-strand,--through which many a French woman wrings her
hands,--and sings, weladay!

The King of France made new statutes--in the land of Flanders,
among false and true,--that the commons of Bruges full sorely
began to rue,--and said amongst themselves,--“Let us assemble
together boldly in the evening,--let us take the bailiffs by
twenties and by tens,--let us clap off their heads above on the
green,--and let us cast them in the fen.”

The weavers and the fullers assembled them all,--and held
their council in their common hall,--they took Peter Conyng to
be called their king,--and to be their chieftain.--They took
their horses out of the stable,--and closed the town within the
wall;--seventy bailiffs they made down fall,--and many another
man.

Then would the bailiffs that were come from France--drive out
the Flemings who made the disturbance;--but they turned against
them with sword and with lance,--strong men and nimble.--I tell
you for truth, in spite of their vaunting,--and in spite of the
patronage of the King of France,--four hundred and five had there
mischance--by day and also by night.

Sir Jacques de St. Paul heard how it was:--he assembled sixteen
hundred knights on the grass;--they went towards Bruges step by
step,--with a very great body of people.--The Flemings heard tell
of the case; they begin to clink their basins of brass,--and they
break them all to pieces as a stone does glass,--and fell them to
the ground.

Sixteen hundred knights had there their end;--they lay in the
streets stuck like swine;--there they lost their steeds, and many
a horse,--through their own pride;--Sir Jacques escaped by a
cunning contrivance,--out at a postern where they sold wine,--out
of the fight home to his lodging,--in very great fear.

When the King of France heard this, anon--he assembled his douze
peers every one,--the proud Comte d’Artois and others many
a one,--to come to Paris.--The barons of France began to go
thither,--into the palace that is paved with stone,--to judge the
Flemings to be burnt and slain,--through the fleur-de-lis.

Then said King Philip, “Listen now to me,--my earls and my
barons gentle and free,--go, fetch me the traitors in bonds to
my knees,--hastily and quickly.”--Then swore the Comte de Saint
Paul, “By the throat of God!--we shall fetch the ribalds wherever
it be thy will,--and draw them with wild horses out of the
country--by five-thousands.”