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[^TEXT:  HISTORICAL POEMS (HARLEY 2253).
HISTORICAL POEMS OF THE XIVTH
AND XVTH CENTURIES.
ED. R. H. ROBBINS.
NEW YORK: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1959.
PP. 9.1  - 13.136 (3)
PP. 14.1 - 21.233 (4)
PP. 21.1 - 24.92  (5)^]

<P 9>
[} [\3. THE FLEMISH INSURRECTION (1302)\] }]

Lustne+t, lordinges, bo+te +gonge ant olde,
of +te freynsshe-men +tat were so proude ant bolde,
hou +te flemmysshe men bohten hem ant solde
vpon a wednesday.
betere hem were at home in huere londe
+ten forte seche flemmysshe by +te see stronde,
whare+tourh moni frenshe wyf wrynge+t hire honde,
ant singe+t "weylaway!"

<P 10>
+te kyng of fraunce made statu+g newe
in +te lond of flaundres, among false ant trewe,
+tat +te commun of bruges ful sore con arewe,
ant seiden amonges hem:
"gedere we vs to-gedere hardilyche at ene;
take we +te bailifs bi tuenty ant by tene,
clappe we of the heuedes an-ouen o +te grene,
ant caste we y +te fen."

+te webbes ant +te fullaris assembleden hem alle,
ant makeden huere consail in huere commune halle;
token Peter Conyng huere kyng to calle,
ant beo huere cheueuteyn.
hue nomen huere rouncyns out of +te stalle,
ant closeden +te toun wi+t-inne +te walle;
sixti baylies ant ten hue maden a-doun falle,
ant moni an-o+ter sweyn.

+to wolde +te baylies, +tat were come from fraunce,
dryue +te flemisshe +tat made +te destaunce;
hue turnden hem a+geynes wi+t suerd & wi+t launce,
stronge men ant lyht.
y telle ou for so+te, for al huere bobaunce,
ne for +te auowerie of +te kyng of fraunce,
tuenti score ant fyue haden +ter meschaunce,
by day ant eke by nyht. 

Sire Iakes de seint poul yherde hou hit was,
sixtene hundred of horsmen asemblede o +te gras;
he wende toward bruges pas pur pas,
wi+t swi+te gret mounde.
+te flemmysshe yherden telle +te cas,
a-gynne+t to clynken huere basyns of bras,
ant al hem to-dryuen ase ston do+t +te glas,
ant fellen hem to grounde.

<P 11>
sixtene hundred of horsmen hede +ter here fyn;
hue ley+gen y +te stretes y-styked ase swyn;
+ter hue loren huere stedes any mony rouncyn
+tourh huere oune prude.
sire Iakes ascapede by a coynte gyn,
out at one posterne +ter me solde wyn,
out of +te fyhte hom to ys yn,
in wel muchele drede.

+to +te kyng of fraunce y-herde +tis, anon
assemblede he is dousse pers eueruchon,
+te proude eorl of artoys ant o+ter mony on,
to come to paris.
+te barouns of fraunce +tider conne gon,
Into +te paleis +tat paued is wi+t ston,
to iugge +te flemmisshe to bernen ant to slon,
+tourh +te flour-de-lis.

+tenne seide +te kyng Phelip, "lustne+t nou to me,
Myn eorles ant my barouns gentil ant fre,
go+t, facche+t me +te traytours y-bounde to my kne,
hastifliche ant blyue."
+to suor +te eorl of seint Poul, " (\par la goule de!\)
we shule facche +te rybaus wher +ti wille be,
ant drawen hem wi+t wilde hors out of +te countre,
by +tousendes fyue!"

" (\sire Rauf de nel\) ," say+t +te eorl of boloyne,
" (\nus ne lerrum en vie chanoun ne moyne\) ,
wende we for+t anon ri+tt wi+toute eny assoygne,
Ne no lyues man.
we shule flo +te Conyng, & make roste is loyne;
+te word shal springen of him in-to coloyne,
so hit shal to Acres, & in-to sesoyne,
ant maken him ful wan."

<P 12>
seuene eorles ant fourti barouns y-tolde,
fyftene hundred knyhtes proude & swy+te bolde,
sixti +tousent swyers among +gunge ant olde,
flemmisshe to take.
+te flemmisshe hardeliche hem com to-+geynes;
+tis proude freinsshe eorles, huere knyhtes, & huere sweynes
aquelleden ant slowen by hulles & by pleynes,
al for huere kynges sake.

+tis frenshe come to flaundres so liht so +te hare,
er hit were mydnyht hit fel hem to care;
hue were laht by +te net so bryd is in snare,
wi+t rouncin & wi+t stede.
+te flemmisshe hem dabbe+t o +te het bare;
hue nolden take for huem raunsoun ne ware;
hue dodde+t of huere heuedes, fare so hit fare,
Ant +tare-to haue+t hue nede.

+tenne sey+t +te eorl of Artois, "y +gelde me to +te,
Peter Conyng by +ti nome, +gef +tou art hende ant fre,
+tat y ne haue no shame ne no vylte,
+tat y ne be noud ded."
+tenne swor a bocher, "by my leaute!
shalt +tou ner more +te kyng of fraunce se,
ne in +te toun of bruges in prisone be,
+tou woldest spene bred."

+ter hy were knulled y +te put-falle,
+tis eorles ant barouns & huere knyhtes alle;
huere ledies huem mowe abide in boure & in halle
wel longe.
for hem mot huere kyng o+ter knyhtes calle,
o+ter stedes taken out of huere stalle;
+ter hi habbe+t dronke bittrere +ten +te galle,
vpon +te drue londe.

<P 13>
when +te kyng of fraunce y-herde +tis tydynge,
he smot doun is heued, is honden gon he wrynge;
+tourhout al fraunce +te word bygon to springe.
wo wes huem +to!
Muche wes +te sorewe ant +te wepinge
+tat wes in al fraunce among olde ant +gynge;
+te meste part of +te lond bygon forte synge,
"alas, ant weylawo!"

awey, +tou +gunge pope! whet shal +te to rede?
+tou hast lore +tin cardinals at +ti meste nede;
ne keuerest +tou hem neuere for nones kunnes mede,
for so+te y +te telle.
do +te for+t to rome to amende +ti misdede;
bide gode halewen hue lete +te betere spede;
bote +tou worche wysloker, +tou losest lond & lede,
+te coroune wel +te felle.

Alas! +tou seli fraunce, for +te may +tunche shome,
+tat ane fewe fullaris make+t ou so tome;
sixti +tousent on a day hue maden fot-lome,
wi+t eorl & knyht.
her-of habbe+t +te flemysshe sui+te god game,
ant suere+t bi seint omer & eke bi seint Iame,
+gef hy +ter more come+t hit falle+t huem to shame,
wi+t huem forte fyht.

I telle ou for so+te, +te bataille +tus bigon
bituene fraunce ant flaundres, hou hue weren fon;
vor vrenshe +te eorl of flaundres in prison heden y-don,
wi+t tresoun vntrewe.
+gef +te prince of walis his lyf habbe mote,
hit falle+t +te kyng of fraunce bittrore +ten +te sote,
bote he +te ra+tere +ter-of welle do bote,
wel sore hit shal hym rewe.

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<P 14>
[} [\4. THE EXECUTION OF SIR SIMON FRASER (1306)\] }]

Lystne+t, lordynges, a newe song ichulle bigynne
of +te traytours of scotlond +tat take be+t wy+t gynne.
Mon +tat loue+t falsnesse & nule neuer blynne,
sore may him drede +te lyf +tat he is ynne,
Ich vnderstonde.
Selde wes he glad,
+tat neuer nes a-sad
of ny+te ant of onde.

+tat y sugge by +tis scottes +tat bue+t nou to-drawe -       
+te heuedes o londone brugge whose con y-knawe;
he wenden han buen kynges, ant seiden so in sawe;
betere hem were han y-be barouns ant libbe in godes lawe,
wy+t loue. 
whose hate+t soth ant ryht,
lutel he doute+t godes myht,
+te heye kyng aboue.

To warny alle +te gentilmen +tat bue+t in scotlonde,
+te waleis wos to-drawe, se+t+te he wos an-honge,
al quic biheueded, ys bowels y-brend,
+te heued to londone brugge wos send
To abyde.
after simond frysel,
+tat wes traytour ant fykel,
ant y-cud ful wyde.

<P 15>
Sire edward oure kyng, +tat ful ys of piete,
+te waleis quarters sende to is oune contre,
on four half to honge, huere myrour to be,
+ter-opon to +tenche, +tat monie myhten se
Ant drede.
why nolden he be war
of +te bataile of donbar,
hou euele hem con spede?

Bysshopes ant barouns come to +te kynges pes,
ase men +tat weren fals, fykel, ant les,
o+tes hue him sworen in stude +ter he wes,
to buen him hold ant trewe for alles cunnes res,
+tryes.
+tat hue ne shulden a+geyn him go,
so hue were temed +to. 
weht halt hit to lye?

To +te kyng edward hii fasten huere fay;
fals wes here foreward so forst is in may,
+tat sonne from +te southward wype+t away:
Moni proud scot +ter-of mene may
to +gere. 
Nes neuer scot-lond
wi+t dunt of monnes hond
allinge aboht so duere.

+te bisshop of glascou, ychot he was ylaht;
+te bisshop of seint Andre, bo+te, he be+t ycaht;
+te abbot of scon wi+t +te kyng nis nouht saht;
al here purpos ycome hit ys to naht,
+turh ryhte.
hii were vnwis,
when hii +tohte pris
a+geyn huere kyng to fyhte.

<P 16>
+tourh consail of +tes bisshopes y-nemned byfore,
sire Robert +te bruyc+g furst kyng wes y-core.
he mai eueruche day ys fon him se byfore;
+gef hee mowen him hente, ichot he bi+t forlore,
saunt+g fayle.
soht forte sugge,
duere he shal abugge
+tat he bigon batayle.

hii +tat him crounede proude were ant bolde;
hii maden kyng of somere, so hii ner ne sholde;
hii setten on ys heued a croune of rede golde,
Ant token a kyne-+gerde (so me kyng sholde)
to deme.
+to he wes set in see,
lutel god cou+te he,
kyne-riche to +geme.

Nou kyng hobbe in +te mures +gonge+t,
forte come to toune nout him ne longe+t.
+te barouns of engelond, myhte hue him gripe,
he him wolde techen on englysshe to pype,
+tourh streyn+te.
Ne be he ner so stout,
+get he bi+t y-soht out
o brede ant o leyn+te.

sire Edward of carnaruan - iesu him saue and see -  
sire Emer de valence, gentil knyht ant free,
habbe+t y-suore huere oht +tat par la grace dee
hee wolle+t ous delyuren of +tat false contre,
+gef hii conne.
Muche ha+t scotlond forlore,
whet a-last, whet bifore,
ant lutel pris wonne.

<P 17>
Nou ichulle fonge +ter ich er let,
ant tellen ou of frisel, ase ich ou by-het.
In +te batayle of kyrkenclyf ffrysel was ytake -  
ys continaunce abatede eny bost to make
biside striuelyn -  
knyhtes ant sweynes,
ffremen ant +teynes,
monye wi+t hym.

so hii weren byset on eueruche halue,
somme slaye were, ant somme dreynte hem-selue.
sire Iohan of lyndeseye nolde nout abyde,
he wod into +te water, his feren him bysyde,
to adrenche.
whi nolden hii be war?
+ter nis non a+geyn star, 
why nolden hii hem by-+tenche?

+tis wes byfore seint bartholomeus masse,
+tat ffrysel wes y-take, were hit more o+ter lasse;
To sire Thomas of Multone, gentil baroun ant fre,
ant to sire Iohan Iose, by-take +to wes he
to honde.
he wes yfetered weel,
bo+te wi+t yrn ant wy+t steel,
to bringen of scotlonde.

Sone +ter-after +te tydynge to +te kyng com.
he him sende to londone wi+t mony armed grom;
he com yn at newegate, y telle yt ou a-plyht,
a gerland of leues on ys hed y-dyht
of grene;
ffor he shulde ben yknowe,
bo+te of he+ge ant of lowe,
for treytour, y wene.

<P 18>
y-fetered were ys legges vnder his horse wombe;
bo+te wi+t yrn ant wi+t stel mankled were ys honde;
A gerland of peruenke set on ys heued;
Muche wes +te poer +tat him wes byreyed
In londe. 
so god me amende,
lutel he wende
so be broht in honde.

sire herbert of Morham, feyr knyht ant bold,
for +te loue of frysel ys lyf wes y-sold;
a waiour he made, so hit wes y-told,
ys heued of to smhyte +gef me him brohte in hold,
wat so bytyde.
sory wos he +tenne,
+to he myhte him kenne
+tourh +te toun ryde.

+tenne seide ys scwyer a word anon ryht,
"sire, we be+t ded, ne helpe+t hit no wyht!"
(Thomas de boys +te scwyer wes to nome)
"Nou ychot oure waiour turne+t ous to grome,
so y bate."
y do ou to wyte, 
here heued wes of smyte
byfore +te tour gate.

+tis wes on oure leuedy euen, for sothe ych understonde,
+te iustices seten for +te knyhtes of scotlonde:
sire Thomas of Multone, an hendy knyht ant wys,
ant sire Rauf of sondwych, +tat muchel is told in pris,
ant sire Iohan Abel,
Mo y mihte telle by tale,
bo+te of grete ant of smale,
+ge knowen suy+te wel.

<P 19>
+tenne saide +te iustice, +tat gentil is ant fre,
"sire simond ffrysel, +te kynges traytour hast +tou be,
In water ant in londe, +tat monie myhten se.
what sayst +tou +tareto? hou wolt +tou quite +te?
do say!"
so foul he him wiste,
nede waron truste,
forto segge nay.

+ter he wes ydemed, so hit wes londes lawe,
for +tat he wes lord-swyke; furst, he wes to-drawe;
vpon a re+teres hude for+t he wes ytuht,
sum while in ys time he wes a modi knyht
In huerte.
wickednesse & sunne -  
hit is lutel wunne
+tat make+t +te body smerte.

ffor al is grete poer, +get he wes ylaht; 
ffalsnesse & swykedom al hit ge+t to naht.
+to he wes in scotlond, lutel wes ys +toht
of +te harde iugement +tat him wes bysoht
In stounde.
he wes four si+te for-swore
to +te kyng +ter bifore,
& +tat him brohte to grounde.

wi+t feteres & wi+t gyues ichot he wes to-drowe,
ffrom +te tour of londone, +tat monie myhte knowe,
In a curtel of burel a selke+te wyse,
ant a gerland on ys heued of +te newe guyse,
+turh cheepe.
Moni mon of engelond
forto se symond
+tideward con lepe.

<P 20>
+to he com to galewes, furst he wes an-honge
al quic byheueded, +tah him +tohte longe.
se+t+te he wes y-opened, is boweles ybrend;
+te heued to londone brugge wes send
to shonde.
so ich euer mote +te,
sum while wende he
+ter lutel to stonde.

he ride+t +tourh +te site, as y telle may,
wi+t gomen & wy+t solas, +tat wes here play;
to londone brugge hee nome +te way -  
Moni wes +te wyues chil +tat +ter-on loke+t a day,
Ant seide alas,
+tat he wes ibore
& so villiche forlore,
so feir mon ase he was.

Nou stont +te heued aboue +te tubrugge,
ffaste bi waleis, so+t forte sugge;
after socour of scotlond longe he mowe prye,
ant after help of fraunce wet halt hit to lye,
Ich wene.
betere him were in scotlond
wi+t is ax in ys hond,
to pleyen o +te grene.

Ant +te body honge+t at +te galewes faste,
wi+t yrnene claspes longe to laste;
fforte wyte wel +te body, & scottysh to gaste,
foure ant tuenti +ter beo+t to so+te ate laste
by nyhte,
+gef eny were so hardi
+te body to remuy,
also to dyhte.

<P 21>
were sire robert +te bruyc+g y-come to +tis londe,
ant +te erl of asseles, +tat harde is an honde,
alle +te o+ter pouraille, forso+te ich vnderstonde,
mihten be ful bly+te ant +tonke godes sonde
wy+t ryhte.
+tenne myhte vch mon 
bo+t riden & gon
in pes wi+t-oute vyhte.

+te traytours of scotlond token hem to rede,
+te barouns of engelond to brynge to dede;
Charles of fraunce, so moni mon tolde,
wi+t myht & streyn+te hem helpe wolde,
his +tonkes!
Tprot, scot, for +ti strif!
hand vp +tyn hachet ant +ti knyf,
whil him laste+t +te lyf
wi+t +te longe shonkes.

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<P 21>
[} [\5. THE DEATH OF EDWARD I (1307)\] }]

Alle +tat beo+t of huerte trewe, 
a stounde herkne+t to my song,
of duel +tat de+t ha+t diht vs newe,
+tat make+t me syke ant sorewe among;
of a knyht +tat wes so strong,
of wham god ha+t don ys wille;
me +tunche+t +tat de+t ha+t don vs wrong,
+tat he so sone shal ligge stille.

<P 22>
al englond ahte forte knowe
of wham +tat song is +tat y synge - 
of edward kyng +tat li+t so lowe,
+gent al +tis world is nome con springe.
trewest mon of alle +tinge,
ant in werre war ant wys,
for him we ahte oure honden wrynge,
of cristendome he ber +te pris.

byfore +tat oure kyng wes ded, 
he spek ase mon +tat wes in care.
"Clerkes, knyhtes, barouns," he sayde,
"y charge ou by oure sware,
+tat +ge to engelonde be trewe.
y de+ge, y ne may lyuen na more;
helpe+t mi sone & croune+t him newe, 
for he is nest to buen y-core.

"Ich bi-que+te myn herte aryht,
+tat hit be write at mi deuys,
ouer +te see +tat hue be diht,
wi+t four-score knyhtes al of pris,
In werre +tat buen war & wys,
a+gein +te he+tene forte fyhte,
to wynne +te croi+g +tat lowe lys.
myself ycholde +gef +tat y myhte."

kyng of fraunce, +tou heuedest sunne,
+tat +tou +te counsail woldest fonde,
to latte +te wille of kyng edward
to wende to +te holy londe;
+tat oure kyng hede take on honde
al engelond to +geme & wysse,
to wenden in-to +te holy londe,
to wynnen vs heuenriche blisse.

<P 23>
+te messager to +te pope com,
& seyde +tat oure kyng wes ded;
ys oune hond +te lettre he nom,
y-wis is herte wes ful gret.
+te pope him-self +te lettre redde,
ant spec a word of gret honour - 
"alas!" he seide, "is Edward ded?
of cristendome he ber +te flour!"

+te pope to is chaumbre wende,
for del ne mihte he speke na more;
ant after cardinals he sende,
+tat muche cou+ten of cristes lore,
bo+te +te lasse ant eke +te more,
bed hem bo+te rede & synge;
gret deol me myhte se +tore,
mony mon is honde wrynge.

+te pope of peyters stod at is masse,
wi+t ful gret solempnete;
+ter me con +te soule blesse:
"kyng edward, honoured +tou be!
god lene +ti sone come after +te
bringe to ende +tat +tou hast bygonne;
+te holy crois y-mad of tre,
so fain +tou woldest hit han y-wonne.

"Ierusalem, +tou hast i-lore
+te flour of al chiualerie!
Nou kyng edward liue+t na more,
alas! +tat he +get shulde deye!
he wolde ha rered vp fol hey+ge
oure baners, +tat bue+t broht to grounde;
wel longe we mowe clepe & crie
er we a such kyng han y-founde!"

<P 24>
Nou is Edward of Carnaruan
king of engelond al aplyht,
god lete him ner be worse man
+ten is fader, ne lasse of myht
to holden is pore men to ryht,
ant vnderstonde good consail,
al engeland forte wisse ant diht,
of gode knyhtes darh him nout fail.

+tah mi tonge were mad of stel,
ant min herte y-+gote of bras,
+te godnesse myht y neuer telle
+tat wi+t kyng edward was.
kyng, as +tou art cleped conquerour,
in vch bataille +tou hadest pris;
god bringe +ti soule to +te honour
+tat euer wes & euer ys,
+tat leste+t ay wi+t-outen ende!
bidde we god ant oure ledy,
to +tilke blisse iesus vs sende.
Amen.



