14^{o} R. Edw. 3^{ii}."

[Footnote 139: June 22, 1340.]

[Footnote 140: Dover.]

[Footnote 141: June 23.]

[Footnote 142: June 24.]

[Footnote 143: The Navy at the period consisted of ships, galleys, barges, batelli or boats, snakae or cutters, and cogee or COGS.—See the Observations prefixed to the Liber Quotidianus Contrarotulatoris Garderobae Anno Regni Regis Edwardi Primi vicesimo octavo, p. liv.]

[Footnote 144: June 28.]

* * * * *

P. 63. "And in this yere, that is to seye the yere of oure lord a m^{l} ccclvj^{to}, the xix day of Septembre, kyng John of Fraunce was taken at the bataill of Peyters be the doughty prynce Edward, the firste sone of kyng Edward." &c.

It would be difficult to name a more interesting document connected with English History than that by which, through the courtesy of Henry Woodthorpe, Esq., Town Clerk of the City of London, the passage in the text will be illustrated; namely, a copy of the letter from Edward the Black Prince to the Mayor, Aldermen and Comonalty of London, acquainting them with the achievement of the battle of Poictiers. This important record, which has never before been printed, occurs among the archives of the city, in a contemporary MS. entitled Letter G. fol. 53^{b}. and was, there can be little doubt, entered into that volume soon after the receipt of the original.

The greater part of the Prince's letter is occupied by the detail of the proceedings of the army for some days previous to the battle, and in describing the efforts of the Cardinal Peregort to produce a peace or truce between the kings of France and England; whilst the conflict itself is mentioned in a few words. Independently of the particulars of the English forces and their rencontres with the enemy which this letter so minutely relates, its most important statement is that of the precise day when the battle took place, for historians have differed materially upon the point. The Prince, however, expressly says that it occurred on the eve of the feast of St. Matthew, i.e. the 20th of September. His letter was dated at Bordeaux on the 22nd of the following month, and was sent to the Mayor of London by the Prince's chamberlain Sir Neel Loring; and the manner in which he refers the Mayor and Citizens to that distinguished knight for further information, cannot fail to be noticed, from its great similarity to the conclusion of a modern military dispatch. Another feature of this and other documents of the same nature in early periods, is the great simplicity and modesty with which they are written. An expression of gratitude to God alone interrupts the unadorned narrative; and the defeat of an army infinitely superior in numbers, and the capture of one of the most powerful sovereigns of the times together with his eldest son, are thus laconically related: "The battle took place on the eve of St. Matthew; and, praise be to God, the enemy were discomfited, and the king and his son were taken, and great numbers of other people taken and slain." To present as many contemporary documents as could be collected relative to this memorable event, two other letters are introduced, as well as the affidavit of an individual who claimed to have been the person to whom king John of France surrendered himself.

One of the letters alluded to, which is printed in the Archaeologia, vol. i. p. 213, is also from the Black Prince, to Reginald Bryan bishop of Worcester, dated at Bordeaux on the 20th of November, briefly informing him of his success, which he attributes in a great measure to the efficacy of that prelate's prayers.

The other letter is from Robert Prite to some English nobleman, dated on the 8th of December 1356, whose clerk, or probably priest, he styles himself, and is taken from the original on vellum in the Cottonian MS. Caligula D. III. f. 33. After mentioning the battle of Poictiers, the particulars of which he says he will learn from a knight whom the duke of Lancaster had sent into England to the king, the writer acquaints him with some other news of the time, as well as with what had occurred in some of his towns; and entreats him to come over as soon as possible. This letter, which is now for the first time printed, though not so important as the others, is nevertheless of interest, as connected with the battle of Poictiers, and with other public and private transactions of the period.

The third document on the subject is the solemn declaration of Bernard du Troy, a Gascon gentleman, made on his death-bed the 1st of July 1361, that he was the person who took the king of France prisoner at the battle of Poictiers; which point it is evident from this instrument, as well as from historians, had been much disputed. This very curious article, which also occurs in the Cottonian MS. just mentioned, is highly interesting; for it not only shows who were the claimants to the honour of having captured the king, but the ardour with which that claim was supported. It is however doubtful whether the love of fame or pecuniary interest prompted this declaration at so awful a moment; but his motive, like those of most other human actions, was probably of a mixed nature; for whatever might be the renown which was attached to the exploit, the ransom to which the true claimant would be entitled must have been an object of great consideration to him or to his heirs. Du Troy carefully provides, that those who would support his pretensions with their swords should partake of the benefits which might arise from their valour; and this circumstance presents a curious picture of the manners of the age. Sir Denys de Morbeque of whom he speaks, is thus noticed by Froissart. "There was much pressing at this time through eagerness of taking the king: and those that were nearest to him, and knew him, cried out 'Surrender yourself, surrender yourself, or you are a dead man.' In that part of the field was a young knight from St. Omer, who was engaged by a salary in the service of the king of England: his name was Denis de Morbeque, who for five years had attached himself to the English, on account of having been banished in his younger days from France for a murder committed in an affray at St. Omer. It fortunately happened for this knight, that he was at the time near to the king of France when he was so much pulled about. He by dint of force, for he was very strong and robust, pushed through the crowd and said to the king in good French, 'Sire, sire, surrender yourself.' The king, who found himself very disagreeably situated, turning to him, asked 'To whom shall I surrender myself; to whom? Where is my cousin the Prince of Wales? if I could see him I would speak to him.' 'Sire,' replied Sir Denys, 'he is not here; but surrender yourself to me, and I will lead you to him.' 'Who are you?' said the king. 'Sire, I am Denys de Morbeque, a knight from Artois, but I serve the king of England because I cannot belong to France, having forfeited all I possessed there.' The king then gave him his right-hand glove, and said 'I surrender myself to you.' There was much crowding and pushing about, for every one was eager to cry out 'I have taken him.'"

Most of the witnesses to Du Troy's declaration were celebrated peers and knights both of England and France.

L'RA D'NI EDWARDI PRINCIPIS GALL' MAIOR ALDR'S ET COM'ITATI CIVITATIS LONDON' DIRECTA DE NOV' BAT'I IUX^{ta} POYTERS.

Tresch'e et tres bien ameez endroit des novelles es p'ties ou nous sumes voillitz savoir qe puis l'eure qe nous certifiasmes a n're tresredoute S^{r} et piere le Roi qe no' estoions en p'pos de chivaucher env's les enemis es p'ties de Fraunce no' p'smes n're chemyn p' le pais de Peregort et de Lymosyn et tout droit v's Burges en Were ou no' entendismes davoir troues le fitz le Roi le counte de Peytiers et la sov'aigne cause de n're aler v's celles p'ties estoit qe nous entendismes davoir eu noveles de n're dit S^{r} et piere le Roi come de son passage et puis q' no' ne trovasmes le dit counte ne nul autre g'unt poair illeosqes nous no' treismes dev's leyre et maundasmes noz gentz au chivaucher a conoistre si no' p'uons nulle p't avoir trovez passage lesqueles gentz encontrerent les enemis et avoient faire assemble si qe les uns des ditz enemys estoient mortz et pris les queuz p'soners disoient qe le Roi de France avoient envoiee Grismoton q'estoit encelle compaignie p' lui faire asavoir c'teines novelles de no' et de n're poair et si avoit le dit Roi p' mesmes le cause envoie en autre p'tie le S^{r} de Creon Mons^{r} Busigaut le Mareschal de Clermount et aut's et disoient les ditz p'soners qe le dit Roi avoit p's certe in p'pos de combatre ovesq' nous a quele heure nous estoioms s^{r} le chymyn env's Tours et encostoavit dev's Orliens et lendemein la ou nous estoions loggiez aviens novelles qe les ditz Sire de Creon et Busigaut estoient en un chastel bien p's de n're loggiz et p'ismes p'pos de y aller et venismes loggier entour eux et acordasmes d'assailler le dit lieu lequel estoit gayne p' force ou estoient tout plein de lo'r gentz p's et mortz auxint les uns des n'res y furent mortz mes les ditz Sires de Creon et Busigaut se treerent en une fort Tour qil y avoit la quele se tenoit cynk jours avant qelle feust gaignee et la se rendirent ils et illeosqes estoions c'tifiez qe touz les pontz s^{r} leyre estoient debruses et qe nulle p't purriens avoir passage s^{r} qei nous p'ismes n're chemyn tout droit a Tours et la demourasmes devant la ville quatre iours deins quelle estoient le Counte Dangeo et le Mareschal de Clermount od g'nt poair des gentz. Et a n're dep'tir d'illeoqs no' p'ismes le chemyn p' passer ascuns daung' des eawes et en entente davoir encountree ovesqe n're tres ch' cosyn le ducs de Lancastre de qi no' aviens certeins novelles qil se voillent afforcier de trere dev's nous a quelle heure le Cardenal de Peregort vynt a nous a Monbezon a troiz lieues de Tours ou il no' p'la tout plein des choses touchauntes trewes et pees s^{r} quele p'lance no' lui fesoiens respounse qe la pees ne avient poair a ffaire ne qe nous ent voloiens meller saunz le comaundement et le volunte de n're tresch' S^{r} et piere le Roi ne de trewe nestoiens al heure avisez qe se eust estee le meillo' p' no^{q} de y avoir acordee car illeosqes estoiens non plus plenement c'tifiez qe le Roi se tailla p' toutes voies de combatre ove nous si q' nous no' treismes dilleoqes v's chastel Heraud sur le passage del eawe de la Vivane ou no' desmourasmes quatre iors ettendauntz de savoir plus la c'tein de lui le quel Roi vint od son poair a chaveny a cynk lues de nous p' passer mesme lewe v's Poyters et s^{r} ceo p'ismes p'pos de hastier dev's lui s^{r} le chemyn qil devereit passer p' estre combatuz ove lui mes ses batailles estoient passeez devant qe no' estoions venuz au lieu ou nous entendismes de lui avoir encountree hors pris p'tie des gentz de lour entour sept centz homes darmes qe se combatirent od les n'tres ou estoient p's le countes de Soussoire et de Junhy le S^{r} de Chastillion et tout plein dautres pris et mortz p'ties de lour et des n'res et puis les p'suievrent noz gentz tanq' a Chaveny bien a treis lieus loyns p'quoi il nous convienoit logger cel jour a plus pres de celle place qe nous poiens p' recoiller noz gentz et lendemeyn p'ismes n're chemyn tout droit dev's le Roi et mandasmes noz descov'res qe troverent lui od son poair p'st bataille es champs a une lue de Peiters et alasmes a plus p's de lui qe nos poiams p'ndre n're places et nous mesmes a pie et en arraie de bataille et p'st de combatre ove lui ou vynt le dit Cardinal requerraunt molt entierment p' une pettit suff'nce issint qe home purroit faire parler dasemble c'teins gentz des p'ties en atente d'acord et de bone pees quelle chose il emp'st qil amereit a bon fey sur quoi nous p'ismes avis et lui otreiasmes sa requeste sur quoi furent ordeyner c'teins gentz dune p't e d'autre a tretir sur celle matirs lequel trete ne p'st nul exploit Et adonqes volleit le dit Cardinal avoir purchace une trewe en destourbaunce de la bataille a son gree a quel treve ne voilloit assentir Et demaunderent les Fraunceys c'teins chivalers d'une p't et d'autre p' prendre owelle place issint qe la bataille ne se purroit en nulle man'e failler et en tieu man'e estoit cel jour delaiee et demourerent les batailles d'une p't et d'autre tote noet chescun en lour place et tanqe le demein entour un prime et p' ascuns forces qe estoient p' entre les ditz batailles nul ne voloit a autre taunte davauntage demp'ndre a venir l'un sur l'autre Et p' defaute des vitailles si bien p' aut's enchessons acorde estoit qe nous deveriens prendre n're chemyn encosteant p' devant eux en tieu man'e q' s'ils voilont la bataille ou trere dev's nous en lieu q' nestoit mye tres graundment a n're desavauntage qe nous le preindreins et ensint estoit fait s^{r} quoi le bataille se prist la surveile de seint Matheu et loiez ent soit dieux les enemys estoient desconfitz et pris le Roi et son fitz et tot plein des aut's g'ntz pris et mortz si come n're Tresch' ame bach'r Mons^{r} Neel Loereng n're chaumberlein port^{r} de cestes qu ent ad assetz pleine conisance vous sav'a plus pleinement dire a monstre come nous ne vous purroins escrire A qi voilletz pleine foi et credence doner Et n're seign^{r} vuis voille garder Donnez souz n're secre seal a Burdeux le xxij jour d'Octobr'.

LETTER FROM THE BLACK PRINCE TO THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER, DATED 20TH OCTOBER 1356, RELATING TO THE BATTLE OF POITIERS, WHEREIN THE FRENCH KING WAS MADE PRISONER, &C. EX REGISTRO REGINALDI BRIEN WIGORN. EPISCOPI. FOL. 113. COMMUNICATED TO THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES BY DR. LYTTELTON, DEAN OF EXETER.

[Archaeologia, Vol. I. No. XLIV. p. 213.]

L'RA D'NI PRINCIPIS WALL' DE CAPCIONE R. FRANCIAE PAR LE PRINCE DE GALES.

Reve'nt piere en Dieu, et tresch' ami. Nous vous mercions entierement de ce que nous avons entendu q' vous estes si bien et si naturelment porte dev's nous, en p'ant Dieux p'r nous et p'r n're exploit; et sumes tout certiens q' p'r cause de vous devoutes p'eres et dautres, Dieu nous a en toutes nos besoignes be' vueliz aide; de quoi nous sumes a touz jo's tenuz de lui grazier, en p'ant que v're part ancy vieullietz faire en continuant dev's nous come devant ces heures avetz fait, de quoi nous nous tenons g'n'ment tenuz a vous. Et, rev'ent piere, endroit de n're estat, dont nous penceons bien q' vous desirez la v're merci doier bones nouvelles, vuellietz entendre q' a la faisance de cestes estions sains et heures et tout en bon point, loiez en soit Dieux q' nous donit y ces mesmes de vous toutes soitz oir et saver, et de ce nous vueilletz certifier p'r vos l'res et p' les entrevenantz a plus souvent q' vous p'res bonement en droit de nouvelles ceandroitz. Vueilletz savoir q' la veille de la translation Saint Thomas de Canterbire, nouz commenceasmes a chivauch' ove n're povar v's les parties de France et souvraignement p' cause q' nous entendismes la venue de n're treshonn'e seign'r et piere le Roy la endroit, et si neismes dev's les parties de Burges en Berye, Orlions, et Tours, et avions nouvelles q' le Roy de France ove g'nt povar bien pres de celles marches venoit p' combattre ove no's, et approcheasmes tant q' la battaille se prist entre nous en tiele maniere q' les ennemis estoient disconfitez, grace en soit Dieux, et le dit Roi et son fils et plusiers autres g'ntz pris et mortz, les noms de queaux nous vous envions p' n're tresch' bachiler Mons' Roger de Cottesford portoir de cestes. Rev'ent piere en Dieux, et n're tresch' ami, le Saint Esprit vous ait toute jours en sa guarde. Donne souz n're seal a Birdeaux, le xx^{e} jour d' Octob'r.

[Tradita fuit ista l'ra Domino Reginaldo de Briene, Ep'o Wygorn, apud Alvech', pr'mo die Decemb', an' Dom' M^{o}. ccc. quinquagesimo sexto, cum cedula nomina continente capt' et mortuorum in bello praedicto, cujus cedulae tenor insequitur p' o'ia —— parte folii istius suprascriptus]

A Rev'ent Piere en Dieux Evesqe de Worcester, ces sont les noms de ceaux q' estoient pris a la battaile de Poyters p' le Prince de Gales fitz a noble Roi de Engleterre Edward Tierts.

John de Valoys, Roy de France. Mons. Philip son fitz. Arcevesque de Leyens.

{ Mons. Jakes de Bourbonn, Counte de Pountois. { Mons. John d'Artoys, Counte d'Eu. { Mons. Charles de Artoys, Counte de Souggevil. { Le Counte de Tankervill. { Le Counte de Ventadour. Countes { Le Counte de Saussier. { Le Counte de Salesberg. { Le Counte de Vendome. { Le Counte de Wademont. { Le Counte de Dammartyn. { Le Counte de John de Nasso. { Le Counte de Salerplok. { Le Chatelaine de Composta.

{ Le Visconte de Narbone. Viscontes { Le Visconte de Vychichoart. { Le Visconte de Walemont. { Le Visconte de Beaumont.

Le S. de Sully.

{ Mess. Arnold Doudinham. { Mess. Rauf de Coussy. { Le S. de Danbeney. Bannerets { Le S. de Denyn. { Le S. de Saint Dyser. { Le S. de la Tour. { Le S. Damboisa. { Le S. de Derval. { Le S. de Manhales. { Le S. de Planuche. { Le S. de Montagu. { Le S. de Beaufremont. { Le S. de Plamory.

Mons. Giscard D'Angle Seneschal de Sentonge. Mons. Moris Mauvinct Sen. de Tours en Toreyne. Mons. Renaud de Guilhon Sen. de Peyton.

{ Mons. Pierres de Creon. { Mons. Giscard de Arx. { Mons. Gauter de Castellion. { Mons. Giscard de Beanyon. { Le S. de Basentin.

Ceaux furent ceaux dessoutz p's devant la battaile a Remoartin.

{ Le S. de Acon. Bannerets { Mons. Busignaut. { Mons. Guy Turpin.

{ Mons. Guilliaume de Lorak. Bachelers { Mons. Folles de Forsela. { Mons. Jakelyn de Ponsey.

Et sont pris outre les noms dessus escptz des gentz d'armes. M. ix^{e}. xxxiii. Gaudete in Domino semper.

Les nomes de ceaux q'furent mortz a la dite battaile sont ceux.

{ Le Duc de Bourbon. Ducs. { Le Duc Datermes. { Le Evesque de Chalons.

Mons. Rob de Duras. Le Marischal de Clermont. Le Visconte de Vrons. Mons. Geffrei de Charsey. Mons. Renaud de Pointz. Le S. de Landas. Le S. de Chastel Vileyn. Le S. de Argenton. Le S. de Mountgay. Le S. de Malevrer. Mons. John de Sausar. Mons. Lewis de Broyse. Mons. Guilliem de Viele. Mons. John de Jole. Mons. Andrew de Chaveny. Mons. Eustas de Kirpemont.

Et outre le noms surnometz sont mortz des gentz d'armes M.M. ccccxxvi. Iterum dico gaudete.

A LETTER FROM ROBERT PRITE, CLERK, TO SOME ENGLISH NOBLEMAN, DATED 8^{th} DECEMBER 1356, GIVING HIM INFORMATION OF THE BATTLE OF POICTIERS, AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE.

[Original on vellum in the Cottonian MS. Caligula D. III. f. 33.]

Mon t'sg'nt et t'sredoute seign'. Nous tenons com'unement p'decea et p' c'tein q' le Roi de Fr'nce le duc d'Orliens deux filz du roi les deux mareschalx de [F'ance] et plusours autres g'ntz seign's ont este mortz en la bataille q'ad este entre le P'nce de Gales et eux et dit ho'me q' Mons^{r} Loys v're frere Mons^{r} Martin [le] Roi les Navarrois ont en la p'm'e bataille et ceux descomfirent la busoigne et tua Mons^{r} Martin le Roi et ce purrez vous savoir plus au plein p' un Chivaler qi le duc de Lancastr' ad envoie nadgaires en Englet're dev's le Roi. Et se p'ti de la busoigne le duc de Normandie qi sicome home dit est venuz a Paris et ad signifie ces novelles a Mons^{r} Rob't de Cleremont son lieutenant es p'ties de seint Loo. Des autres novelles de p'decea, plese vous savoir mon t'sredoute seignur q' le poeple de ce paiis est molt esbay de la longe demoer q' vous faites p'dela moemens les gentils genz; a qui Mons^{r} Godefrey de Harecourt p'lemente touz les iours et les enhorte estre oveges lui et de lui faire hom[age] come a lieutenant le Roi d'Englet're et especialement a ceux qi tenent p'decea fort'estes et fait pullier p'my voz villes q' qicunqes voudra estre a lui obeissant il ne serra greve de taillee ne aut's subsides p' qeconqz affaire q' ce soit et q' ceux il gardera et defendera contre vous et aut's dont plusours gentilz homes et autres bones villes lui ont entierement accordez sa volonte p' sa petite puissance q'ils veient q' vous avez et en outre ad fait le dit Godefrey mettre la main en la t're qe feust vassailles Honriot de Pemot J de Chesnos et en plusours aut's lieux et fait iniunccion q' nul ne obbeisse a vous s^{r} peine de la teste et tant d'autres choses plus g'nt q'si vous accordez a venir p'decea vous trouviez petit de voz gent qi p^{r}' vous face riens car de iour en iour. Il fait conu'tir le paiis et tiegne q' a son poair. Il lev'a de voz gentes de la seint Michel la greigunure p'tie et navez ja p'sent officer a qi la people voille ore obeir p' la doute de Godefrey, si vous voillez avancer sicome vous poez veer q' busugne est et p'dela mettez tiel remede come vouz verrez q' bon s'ra, car les Engleis p'decea tiennent sa p'tie, et si ne feust l'esp'ance, q' iai de v're brieve venue Je vous envoiasse p'chemement aucune finance. Mon t'sredoute S^{r} n're Seign^{r} vous doint bone vie et longe, et vous ait en sa seincte garde, t'stre a seint benet les viij^{ne} iour docenb'r.

V're Clerc

ROB^{T}. PRITE.

A DECLARATION OF BERNARD DU TROY, A GASCON GENTLEMAN, THAT HE WAS THE PERSON WHO TOOK KING JOHN OF FRANCE AT THE BATTLE OF POICTIERS.

[Lat. on vellum. Cottonian MSS. Caligula D. III. f. 74.]

In Dei Nomine Amen. Uniu'si nouerint p' p'n'tes q' Anno d'ni mill'imo ccc^{mo}. sexsagesimo primo die p^{i}ma mens' Julij Indict'one xiiij^{a} pontificat' s'cissimi in xp'o p'ris et dni. d'ni Innocentij pp^{e}. sexti anno nono inpresentia not' et testiu' subsc'ptor' p'sonal'r constitut'. discretus vir Bernardus deu Troy scutifer de vasconia. licet infirm' corpore mente t'n sanus et intellectu. Corpus sac^{a}tissimu' ih'u x'p'i. q'd ut fidel' xp'ian' Recip'e volebat p' ei' Ai'e saluat'one in manu sacerdotis habens p'oc'lis in domo habitato'is sue London' in Carreria et Rop'ia verba dixit et p'tulit que sequntur. Carissimi d'ni. q' nil certius morte nec incertius hora mortis. Et quia tempus p'ic'losum est vt nulli lat'e possit Jus meu'. et cu'ctis notu' fiat. Dico Ego Bernardus deu troy p'd'cs cor' vob' om'ib'. q' in p'ic'lo Ai'e mee et p' sac^{m} corpus ih'u x'p'i q'd hic cor' om'ib' est sac^{a}tum et intendo Recip'e p' saluato'e mee Ai'e pecat^{i}cis. q' die belli de poitiers Ego cepi Rege' francie. et se m^{i} Reddidit Rex p'd'cs et meus ver' p^{i}sionarius est et null' ali' ius habet in eo p'ter me de Jure u'l Rato'ne. Et querelam q^{a}m cora' d'no n'ro Rege Anglie. Et ei' consilio a d'co bello cit^{a} p'sequt' sum sup' d'to Rege francie p^{i}sionario meo est bona et in ea ut Attemptaui et p'sequt' sum volo mori tanq^{a}m bona et iust' querela. Al' corpus ih'u xp'i sac^{a}tissimu' quod ut sup^{a} dixi ut fidel' xp'ian' p' salute Ai'e mee volo Recip'e sit ad dampnato'em mea' q'd deus euertat. Et Rogo d'nm Geraldum de tartasia d'nm de poyana milite' hic p'ntem Eo casu quo de hac infirmitate decederem q' querela' mea' aucdacter Recipiat tanq^{a}' bona' cont^{a} d'nm denisium de morbek milite' et q'mcu'que aliu' Jus meum sup' d'co Rege francie vero p^{i}sionario meo vsurpar' nitente'. qui cont^{a} deu' et Justicia'. me et Jus meu' absorbet. et p' falsas suggestiones. et cautelas vsq' inp'ntem die' impediuit et impedit mi' iuste et d'cam q'relam p'seq^{a}tur ad fine' et bellu' faciat si Judicet' sup' hoc sub p'ic'lo Ai'e mee qua' quide' q'rela' d'c's d'ns de poyana ibi p'ns p'seq'ndam et finiendam ac bellu' si Indicetur aut Indicaret' in se suscipiendum et faciend' p'misit et fide sua media stipulauit. Eo Aute' casu quo dict' d'ns de poyana nollet d'cam querelam p'sequi aut no' posset morte aut impedimento aliquo impedit'. volo Ego Bernardus deu troy p'd'cs q' peleg^{i}n' deu cause socius me' in Armis d'cam q'relam p'seqatur et finiat Ac bellu' Recipiat et faciat p' d'ca q'rela si iudicatu' fuit sub p'ic'lo Anime mee ut p'dixi de comodo aute' et finantia qd' p'ue'iat ex d'co Rege francie vero p^{i}sionar' meo sup' quo d'n'm n'r'm Rege' eius Ai'am et conscientia' onero, volo q' deductis expen' illi' qui p'seq't' si bellu' subseq^{a}tur exinde bellu' faciens Ecia' p'te, habeat duas alias p'tes inter hered' meos, peleg^{i}nu' deu canse, et socios qui in Armis erant socij mei d'ca die, Rat'onab'l'r diuidant' sicut ordinaret' Rat'onab'l'r et Reperiretur ip'os Jus habere. si aute' bellu' non subseq^{a}tur ex querela p'd'ca qd' absit. volo q' de comodo qd' p'ue'iat deductis expen' p'seq'ut' Recipiat ip'e p'sequens iuxta ei' conscientia'. Residu' ut sup^{a} dc'm est diuidat'. Sup' d'co tamen p'ficus et emolume'to conscienta' d'ci d'ni n'ri Regis onero ut p'dixi. Rogans et Req^{i}rens magr^{m} guill'm. de Wolneston'. et magr'm philipu' de London'. et alios notarios hic p'ntes q' sup' hiis om'ibus faciant et Recipiant. Vnu' duo v'l pl'a publica instr'a que concessim' agenda in f—— et testimoniu' p'missor'. Acta sunt hec sub anno indict'one pontificat' mense die ... sup^{a}d'cis. Test' Nobiles viri d'ni Oliueri' de Clisson. Guill'm' de mont agut Bartholomeus de borearhs —— Rob'rt' de holand' thomas de Ros. Joh'n's de br—— Joh'n's —— ccl' de london' Ber^{dus} de Brotas. ger^{dus} de menta R'ndus se —— —— p—— a—— a—— Ber^{dus} de la quinnada petrus de brassas Ar^{dus} de ——

* * * * *

P. 73. "And at the Tour hill they beheded maistre Simond Sudbury, than erchebisshop of Caunterbury and chaunceler of Englond; and frere Robert Hales priour of seynt Jones house, than tresorer of Engelond," &c.

The rebellion noticed in the text is so important an event in the history of England as well as of the Metropolis, that no apology can be required for the insertion of an inedited document in any degree connected with it. In the Foedera, tom. vii. are several proclamations on the same subject, and among them one tested at London on the 15^{th} June 1381, directed to the sheriff of Kent; but the following, dated at Chelmsford on the 5^{th} of July in that year, has never, it is believed, been printed. It appears from it that the rebels had asserted that they were supported by the king's authority; and His Majesty therefore, not merely denies the fact, but commands the earl of Warwick and the other persons in that county to whom the instrument is addressed, to use every possible effort to suppress the disturbance of the public peace, in places under their jurisdiction.

COPIA PROCLAMATIONIS R. RICARDI II^{di} SUPER INSURRECTIONE JACK STRAW ET WAT TYLER.

[Cottonian MS. Caligula D. III. super Membr. f. 100.]

Ricardus dei gr'a Rex Angl' et Franc' et Dominus Hib'n' dil'cis et fidelib' suis Thome Comiti Warr' Joh'i Buttourt Joh'i de Bermyngeham Henr' de Arden' Will'o de Clynton Militib' Rob'to Burgilon' et Joh'i Catesby: sal't'm Satis vob' et aliis ligeis n'r'is credimus esse cognitum qualit' q^{a}mplures malef'c'ores iam nouit' cont^{a} pacem n'ra' in diu'sis Com' regni n'ri Angl' in maximam turbaco'em fideliu' ligeor' n'ror' in diu'sis congregac'o'ib' et conuenticulis illicitis quasi hostilit' insurrexerunt ven'abilem p'rem Simonem nup' Archiep'm Cantuar' tocius Angl' Primatem Cancellar' n'r'm et fr'em Rob'tum de Hales nup' Priorem Hospitalis s'ci Joh'is Jer'l'm in Angl' Thes' n'r'm Joh'em Cauendish nup' Capitalem Justic' n'r'm et q^{a}mplures alios ligeos et s'uientes et fideles n'ros absq' culpa crudelit' occidendo arsuras incendia p'straco'es et varias alias destrucco'es eccl'iar' Man'ior' domor' rer' et aliar' possessionu' fideliu' ligeor' n'ror' enormit' et p'peram p'petrando Quia v'o malef'c'ores p'd'ci falso et mendacit' asseruerunt et affirmarunt ip'os mala homicidia et dampna p'd'ca ex n'ris auctoritate et voluntate fecisse et p'petrasse vt ip'i sic maliciam suam continuare valeant et de p'missis licet indigni cicius excusent' ad v'ram et alior fideliu' ligeor' n'ror' quor'cumq' volum' p'uenire noticiam quod p'missa mala homicidia et dampna quecunq' ex auctoritate et voluntate n'ris minime p'cesserunt neq' fiunt set exinde vehemencius contristati ea in n'r'm maximu' vitup'iu' et Corone n're p'iudiciu' et tocius regni n'ri dampnu' et turbac'o'em non modica redundare sentimus. Et ideo vob' sup' fide et ligeancia quib' nob' tenemini firmit' munigendo mandamus qd' p'sens mandatum n'r'm in singulis locis infra Com' Warr' tam infra lib'tates q^{a}m ext^{a} ubi melius expedire videritis ex p'te n'ra publice p'clamari et vlt'ius inhiberi fac' ne qui cuiuscumq' status seu condico'is fu'int infra Com' p'd'c'm seu alibi insurg'e seu congregaco'es vel conuenticula huiusmodi fac'e vel levare seu quicq^{a}m aliud attemptare seu p'curare p'sumant seu p'sumat aliquis eor' p' quod pax n'ra ibidem infringi aut populus n'r inquietari aut turbari pot'it sub forisf'cura vite et membror' et o'i'm alior' que nob' forisfac'e pot'unt in futur' Damus eciam vob' et cuil't v'r'm et quibuscumq' aliis fidelib' n'ris tenore p'senciu' potestatem et mandatum sp'ale quibuscumq' malef'corib' cont^{a} pacem n'ram et quietem p'p'li n'ri insurg'e seu huiusmodi congraco'es et conuenticula illicita fac'e volentib' modis om'ib' quib' melius pot'itis vel sciu'itis eciam si oporteat manu forti tanq^{a}m rebellib' et inimicis n'ris et tocius regni n'ri resistendi et que'l't ip'or' iuxta eor' dem'ita et discreco'es v'ras castigandi et puniendi et insurrecc'o'es et turbac'o'es quascumq'. si que ibidem quod absit fiant pacificandi et sedandi et om'ia alia faciendi et exequendi que conseruaco'em pacis n're et quietem p'p'li n'ri conc'nere pot'unt in Com' p'd'co et p'tib' eiusdem quibuscumq'. In cuius rei testimoniu' has l'ras n'ras fieri fecim' patentes T' me ip'o apud Chelmersford' quinto die Julij Anno R' n' quinto.

p' ip'm Regem.

* * * * *

In pp. 99-102, as well as in pp. 157-159, an account is given of Henry the Fifth's expedition into France in the year 1415, and of the battle of Agincourt. In the Harleian MS. N^{o} 565, from which the preceding Chronicle was transcribed, the following Poem occurs on the same subject, a correct copy of which has never been published, though at the end of Hearne's edition of Elmham's Life of Henry the Fifth, a poem is inserted so very similar to the annexed that it may be presumed to have been taken from another copy of the same. It is said to have been transcribed from the Cottonian MS. Vitellius D. XII., which is not now extant: but upon collating this piece with the one printed by Hearne, it appears, after allowing for the various readings which frequently occur in different copies of an early poem, that many words were erroneously given by that zealous antiquary. Notwithstanding that it possesses but little claim to poetical merit, it is highly curious, from its being nearly if not quite contemporary with the events which it relates; for there can be no doubt of its having been a production of the prolific pen of that "drivelling monk," as he has been severely termed, the monk of Bury, John Lydgate, several of whose other pieces, from their presenting a faithful but rude picture of the manners and transactions of the times, are also inserted in this volume. The garrulous monk, in the article which is the subject of these remarks, particularly notices every circumstance in which the Mayor and Citizens of the Metropolis were concerned, and hence it is an appropriate illustration of a "CHRONICLE OF LONDON." It is worthy of observation, that the story of the tennis-balls having been sent as a satirical present from the Dauphin to Henry the Fifth, and to which Shakspeare alludes, is frequently mentioned in the poem, and furnishes the writer with several metaphors.

"Ambass. He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit, This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this, Desires you, let the dukedoms that you claim, Hear no more of you—This the Dauphin speaks.

K. Hen. What treasure, uncle?

Exeter. Tennis-balls, my liege.

K. Hen. We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us; His present, and your pains, we thank you for: When we have match'd our rackets to these balls, We will in France, by God's grace, play a set, Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard: Tell him, he hath made a match with such a wrangler, That all the courts of France will be disturb'd With chaces....

And tell the pleasant prince,—this mock of his Hath turn'd his balls to gun stones;[145] and his soul Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance That shall fly with them:"

Henry the Fifth, Act I. Scene II.

[Footnote 145: Thus Lydgate, infra,

"For they shall play with Harflete, A game at tynes, as y wene, Mine engynes that bethe so kene They shall be sett besyde this hill, Over all Harflew that they may sene For to loke if they play well; Go we to game be Godys grace, Myne children ben redy everych on Every greet gonne that there was, In his mouth he hadde a ston."

But Shakspeare's expressions are still more similar to those of an inedited Chronicler of the period: "And whan the kyng had hard ther wordis and the answere of the dolphynne, he was wondre sore agreved and right evell assayd towarde the Frensshmen, and toward the kyng and the Dolphynne, and thought to avenge hym upon them as sone as Good wold send hym grace and myght, and anon lette make tenys ballis for the Dolpynne in all the hast that they myght be made; and they were grete gonne stones for the Dolpynne to play wythall." Cottonian MSS. Claudius A. viii.]

But besides the historical information with which the poem abounds, and which is corroborated by the best authorities, it cannot fail to be considered of much interest, from the description of the magnificent reception of the king into London, after his return from France.

A POEM BY JOHN LYDGATE, MONK OF BURY, DESCRIBING THE EXPEDITION OF HENRY THE FIFTH INTO FRANCE IN 1415, THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT, AND THE KING'S RECEPTION INTO LONDON ON HIS RETURN.

[Harl. MSS. 565.]

God that all this world gan make And dyed for us on a tre, Save Ingelond for Mary sake, Sothfast God in Trinyte; And kepe oure kyng that is so free, That is gracious and good with all, And graunt hym evermore the gree, Curteys Crist oure kynge ryall.

Oure kyng sente into France ful rathe, Hys bassatours bothe faire and free; His owne right for to have, That is, Gyan and Normande; He bad delyvre that his schulde be, All that oughte kyng Edward, Or ellys tell hym certeynle, He itt gette with dynt of swerd. Wot ye right well that thus it was, Gloria tibi Trinitas.

And than answerde the dolfyn bold To oure bassatours sone ageyn, Me thinke youre kyng he is nought old, No werrys for to maynteyn; Grete well youre kyng, he seyde, so yonge That is bothe gentill and small; A tonne of tenys ballys I shall hym sende, For to pleye hym with all. Wot ye right well, &c.

A dien Sire, seide oure lordis alle, For there they wolde no longer lende: They token there leve, bothe grete and smalle, And hom to Ingelond they gum wende; And thanne they sette the tale on ende, All that the Dolfyn to them gon say; I schal hym thanke thanne, seyde our kynge, Be the grace of God if that y may. Wot ye right well, &c.

The kyng of Fraunce that is so old, Onto oure kyng he sente on hy, And prayde trews that he wolde hold For the love of seynt Mary. Oure Cherlys of Fraunce gret well, or ye wende, The Dolfyn prowed withinne his wall, Swyche tenys ballys I schal hym sende As schall tere the roof all of his all. Wot ye right well, &c.

Oure kyng ordeyned with all his myght, For to amende that is amys, And that is all for Engelond ryght, To geten agen that scholde ben his; That is, al Normandie forsothe y wys, Be right of eritage he scholde it have, Therof he seith he wyll nought mys, Crist kepe his body sounde and save. Wot ye right well, &c.

Oure kyng at Westmenster he lay, And his bretheren everych on; And other many lordes that is no nay, The kyng to them seyde anon, To Fraunce y thenke to take the way, Sires, he seyde, be swete seynt John; Of good counsaill y will yow pray, Wat is youre will what y shall don? Wot ye right well, &c.

The duk of Clarence, thanne seyd he, My lord it is my right full will, And other lordys right manye, We hold it right reson and skyll, To Fraunce we wolde yow redy bryng, With gladder will than we kon say. Gramercy, sires, seide our kyng, I schall yow qwyte if that y may. Wot ye right well, &c.

I warne yow he seyde bothe olde and yonge, Make yow redy withoughte delay; At Southampton to mete youre kynge, At Lammas on seynt Petrys day; Be the grace of God ant swete Mary Over the see y thenke to passe: The kyng let ordeyn sone in hy, What y mene ye knowe the casse. Wot ye right well, &c.

After anon, with right good chere, Hyse gret gonnys and engynes stronge, At London he schipped them alle in fere, And sone fro Westmenster then sprongye, With alle hyse lordys, sothe to saye: The mair was redy and mette hym there, With all the craftes in good araye, It is ful soth what nede to swere. Wot ye right well, &c.

Heyl, comely kyng, the mair gan say, The grace of God now be with the, And speed the well in thy jornay, Almyghti God in Trinite, And graunt the evermore the degre, To felle thin enemys bothe nyght and day; Amen, seyde alle the comunalte, Graunt mercy, sire, oure kyng gan say. Wot ye right well, &c.

To seynt Poulys he held the way; He offred there full worthyly: Fro thens to the quen that same day, And tok his leve ful hendely; And thorugh out London thanne gan he ryde; To seynt George he com in hye, And there he offred that iche tyde, And other lordys that weren hym bye. Wot ye right well, &c.

And fro thens to Suhthampton, unto that strond, For sothe he wold no longer there dwell: XV hundryd shippys redy there he fond, With riche sayles and heye topcastell. Lordys of this lond, oure kyng gan there sell, For a milion of gold as y herd say, Therfore there truayle was quyte them full well, For they wolde a mad a queynte aray. Wot ye right well, &c.

Therfore song it was wailaway; There lyvys they lost anon right in hast: And oure kyng with riall aray, To the se he past. And landyd in Normandye, at the water of Sayn, At the pyle of Ketecaus, the sothe y yow say, On oure lady even, the assumpcion, the thirdde yer of hys rayn, And boldely hys baner there he gan display. Wot ye right well, &c.

And to the town of Harflew there he tok the way, And mustred his meyne faire before the town, And many other lordys I dar well say, With baners brighte and many penoun: And there they pyght there tentys a down, That were embroudyd with armys gay; First, the kynges tente with the crown, And all othere lordes in good aray. Wot ye right well, &c.

My brother Clarence, oure kyng gan say, The tother syde shull ye kepe, With my doughter and hire maydyns gay, To wake the Frensshmen of there slepe. London he seyde shall with here mete, My gonnys shall lyn upon this grene, For they shall play with Harflete, A game at tynes as y wene. Wot ye right well, &c.

Mine engynes that bethe so kene, They shull be sett be syde this hill, Over all Harflewe that they may sene, For to loke if they play well. Go we to game be Godys grace, Myne children ben redy everych on, Every greet gonne that there was, In his mouth he hadde a ston. Wot ye right well, &c.

The Capteyn of Harflewe sone anon To oure kyne he sente on hy, To wyte what was his wille to don That he was come with his navy; Delivere me this toune, oure kyng gan say; Nay sire, he seyde, be seynt Denys; Thanne shall y it gete, if y may, Be the grace of God and myn devys. Wot ye right well, &c.

Myne pleyers that y have hedyr brought, Their ballys beth of stonys round, Be the helpe of hym that me dere bought, They shall youre wall have to ground. The Frensshmen cried 'Amound,' 'Amound;' This toun, they seyde, us moste kepe. The kyng, seith he, will nought fro this ground Or he have yolde this toun Harflete. Wot ye right well, &c.

Tenys seyde the grete gonne, How felawes go we to game, Among the houses of Harflewe roune, It dide the Frensshmen right gret grame; Fyftene before, seyd London, tho His ball wol faire he gan it throwe, That the stepyll of Harflete and bellys also, With his breth he dide down blowe. Wot ye right well, &c.

XXX^{ti} is myn, seyd Messagere, And smartly went his way; Ther wallys that were mad right sure, He brast them down the sothe to say. The kynges doughter, seyde here, how thei play, Herkenyth myne maydenys in this tyde; Fyve and forty that is no nay, The wallys wente doun on every syde. Wot ye right well, &c.

The engynes seide, to longe we abyde, Let us gon to ben on assent; Wherevere that the ball gan glyde, The houses of Harflew they all to rent. An Englyssh man the bulwerk brent, Women cryed alas! that they were bore, The Frensshmen seide now be we shent, From us this toun now it is lore. Wot ye right well, &c.

It is best now that we therfore, That we beseche the kyng of grace, That he asayle us now no more, For to dystroye us in this place; For but the Dolfyn us reskewe, This toun to delivere wyl we sikerly, Messagers thei let make newe, And to the kyng they come in hy. Wot ye right well, &c.

The lord Gaucourt certeynly, For he was capteyn in that place, And Gilliam Bocher com hym by, And othere also bothe more and lasse; To fore the kyng whan they com was, I wot they sette them on there kne; Heil comely kyng, thei seyde, in this plas, The grace of God now is with the. Wot ye right well, &c.

Of trews we wolde beseche the, Unto it be Sounday atte non, And but it thanne reskewyd be, We shall to yow delyvere this toun: The kyng thanne seyde to them ful son I graunte you grace al this tyde, Somme of yow go forth anon, The remenaunt with me shall abyde. Wot ye right well, &c.

The capteyn hied hym with al his myght, Unto Roon for to ryde, He wende the Dolfyn have founde there right But he was goon, durst he nought abyde. Of helpe the capteyn besowte that tyde, Harflew from us is lost for ay, The wallys ben doun on every syde, We may no longere it kepe, be God verray. Wot ye right well, &c.

Of good counsaill I wolde yow pray, What is youre will what shall y don, Bataill us moste thene be Soneday, Or ellys delivere hym the toun. The lordys of Roon togydere gon rown, And bad he sholde the town up yelde, The kyng of Ingelond is fers as lyon, We wil noughte mete hym in the felde. Wot ye right well, &c.

The capteyn went agen withoute lettyng, Before the kyng on kneys gan fall, Heyl, he seyde, comely kyng, Most worthy prynce in this world riall, Here y have brought yow the keyes alle, Of Harflew that faire toun, All is youre owne both towr and halle, At your will Lord and at your croun. Wot ye right well, &c.

I thanke God, thann eseyde oure kyng, And Mary his modir that is so fre; Myn uncle Dorset withoute lettyng, Capteyn of Harflewe schall ye be. And al that is in that toun, Wot stille shall abyde, To maken up that is adoun, That hath ben fellyd on every syde. Wot ye right well, &c.

Meyne, I now shall with yow ride, To se the toun there overall, Wyff no child lett non abyde, But have them ought bothe grete and small; And let stuffe the toun overall, With Englysshmen thereinne to be. They left no Frenssh blod withinne the wall, But hadde all oute the comunalte. Wot ye right well, &c.

Four hundred women and children men myght se, Whanne they wenten out sore gon they wepe; The grete gonnes engynes to the trewle, They were brought into Harflete, Oure kyng unto the castell yede, And restyd hym there as his will was Sire, he seyde, so God me spede To Caleys warde I thenke to pas Wot ye right well that thus it was, Gloria tibi Trinitas.

PASSUS SECUNDUS.

Whanne Harflete was getyn, that ryall toun, Through the grace of God omnipotent; Oure kyng he made hym redy bown, And to Caleys ward full faire he went, My brother Clarence verament, Ye shall ryde al be my syde, My cosyn York ye take entent, For ye shall also this tyde. Wot ye right well, &c.

My cosyn Huntyngdon shall with me ryde, The erl of Suffolk that is so fre, The erl of Oxenford shall not abyde, He shall comen forth with his meyne, Sire Thomas Erpyngham, that nevere dide faille, And yit another so mote y thee, Sire John the knyght of Cornewaille, He dar abyde and that know yee. Wot ye right well, &c.

Sire Gilbert Umfreville wil us avayle, The lord Clyfford so God me spede, Sire William Boucer that will not faille, They will us helpe when we hav nede. Toward Caleys full faire they yede, In the cuntrey of Picardie, And out of Normandie they gan ryde, Now Crist save all the cumpanye. Wot ye right well, &c.

Our kyng rood forth, blessed he be, He sparid neither dale ne doun, Be townes grete, and castell hyghe, Til he com to the water of Som; The brigge the Frensshemen hadde drawe a doun, That over the water he myght nought ryde; Oure kyng made hym redy bown, And to the water of Turwyn he com that tyde. Wot ye right well, &c.

Oure kyng rood forth thanne full good sped, Into the countrey of Turvyle, To Agyncourt now as he is ride, There as oure kyng dyd his bataile; Be the water of Swerdys withoute faile, The Frensshemen oure kyng thei did aspye, And there they thought him to asaile, All in that feld certeynlye. Wot ye right well, &c.

The Frensshemen hadde oure kynge umbast With bataill strong on every syde; The duke of Orlions seyde in hast, The kyng of Ingelond with us shall byde; He gaf hym leve this way to ryde, Be God, me thenke, he was not wys, Therefore shall y now be hys gyde, Or that he come to strong Caleys. Wot ye right well, &c.

The duke of Braban answerd then, And seyde, be God in Trinite Ther be so fewe of thise Inglysshmen I have no deynte them to se; Alas! he seyde, what nedith us alle To day so many for to comen here, XX^{ti} of us it will befalle Of them on prisonere. Wot ye right well, &c.

The duk of Burbon sware be seynt Denys, And other lordes many on, We will goo pleye them at dys, The lordys of Ingelond everych on, Ther gentilmen seide, be swete seynt John. Ther archers be sold full fayr plente, And alle the beste bowemen ich on, All for a blank of oure mone. Wot ye right well, &c.

And thanne answerde the duke of Barrye, With wordes that were full mochell of pryde, Be God, he seyde, y wil not sparye, Over the Englysshmen y thenke to ryde; And if that they dar us abyde We shall overthrowe them alle in fere, Goo we and slee them in this tyde, And come hom agen to oure dynere. Wot ye right well, &c.

Oure gracious kyng, that is so good, He batailyd hym ful rially; Stakes he hewe doun in a wood, Beforn our archers pyght them on hy; Oure ordynaunce the Frensshemen gan aspy, They that were ordeynyd for to ryde, They lighted doun with sorwe and cry, And on their feet their gon abyde. Wot ye right well, &c.

The duke of York thanne full son Before oure kyng he fell on kne, My liege lord, graunt me a bon, For his love that on croys gan die, The fore ward this day that ye graunt me, To be before yow in this feld; Be myn baner sleyn wil y be, Or y will turne my backe, or me yelde. Wot ye right well, &c.

Gramercy, cosyn, seyde our kyng, Thenk on the right of mery Ingelond; And thanne he gaff hym his blessyng, And bad the duke he sholde up stond; Crist, he seyde, that shop bothe sone and sonde, And art lord and kyng of myght, This day hold over me thin holy hond, And spede me well in al my right. Wot ye right well, &c.

Help seynt George oure lady knyght, Seynt Edward that is so fre, Oure lady that art Godys modyr bright, And seynt Thomas of Caunterbure; He bad alle men blithe to be, And seyde, Felas, well shall we spede, Every man in his degre, I shall yow quyte full well youre mede. Wot ye right well, &c.

Oure kyng seyde, Felas, what tyme of day? Sire, thei seyde, it is ner pryme: Go we anon to this jornay, Be the grace of God it is good tyme, For alle the seyntes that lyn in shryne, To God for us they be praieng; The religious of Ingelond all benynge, 'Ora pro nobis' for us they syng. Wot ye right well, &c.

The kyng knelyd doun in that stounde, And Englysshmen on every syde, And thries there kyssyd the grounde, And on there feet gon glyde: Crist, seyde the kyng, as y am thi knyght, This day me save for Ingelond sake, And lat nevere that good Reme for me be fright, Ne me on lyve this day be take. Wot ye right well, &c.

Avaunt baner, withoute lettyng. Seynt George before avowe we hyme, The baner of the Trynyte forth ye bryng, And seynte Edward baner at this tyme; Over, he seyde, Lady Hevene Quene, Myn own baner with hire shall be; The Frensshman seyde al be dene, Seynt George all over oure kyng they se. Wot ye right well, &c.

They triumpyd up full meryly, The grete bataille togyder yede; Oure archiers shotte full hertyly, And made Frensshmen faste to blede; There arwes wente full good sped, Oure enemyes therwith doun gon falle, Thorugh bresplate, habirion, and bassonet yede, Slayn there were xj thousand on a rowe alle. Wot ye right well, &c.

Oure gracious kyng men myghte knowe, That day he faught withe his owne hond, He sparyd nother heigh no lowe, There was no man his dynt myght stond; There was nevere no kyng yit in this lond, That evere dyd better in a day, Therfore all Ingelond may synge oo song, 'Laus Deo' we may well say. Wot ye right well, &c.

The duk of Gloucestre, that is no nay, That day full worthyly he wroughte, On every syde he made good way, The Frensshemen faste to grounde he brought. The erl of Huntyngdon sparyd nought; The erl of Oxenford layd on all soo; The yonge erl of Devenshire he ne rought; The Frensshmen faste to grounde gan goo. Wot ye right well, &c.

The duk of Orlions thanne was woo, That day was taken prisonere; The erl of Ewe he was also; The duke of Braband slayn was there; The duke of Barre fast hym by; The duke of Launson wente nevere away; Ne the erle Neverse certeynly, Ne many other lordes that y cannot say. Wot ye right well, &c.

The erl of Rychemond certeynly, That day was taken in the feld; The erl of Vendue was right sory; And Sir Bursegaunt he gan hym yeld. And thus oure kyng conqueryd the feld, Through the grace of God omnipotent; He toke his prisoners yonge and olde, And faire to Caleys ward thanne he went: The yere of his regne the thridde this was. Gloria tibi Trinitas.

PASSUS TERCIUS.

And there he restyd verrament, At his owne will whilys that it was, And shipped thanne in good entent, And at Dovorr landyd y ges; To Caunterbury full fair he past, And offered at Seynt Thomas shryne; Fro thens sone he rod in hast, To Eltham he cam in good tyme. Wot ye right well, &c.

The Mayr of London was redy bown, With alle the craftes of that cite, Alle clothyd in red thorugh out the town, A semely sight it was to se: To the Blak heth thanne rod he, And spredde the way on every syde; XX^{ti} M^{l} men myght well se, Our comely kyng for to abyde. Wot ye right well, &c.

The kyng from Eltham sone he cam, Hyse presenors with hym dede brynge, And to the Blak heth ful sone he cam, He saw London withoughte lesynge; Heil, ryall London, seyde oure kyng, Crist the kepe evere from care; And thanne gaf it his blessyng, And praied to Crist that it well fare.

The Mair hym mette with moche honour, With all the aldermen without lesyng; Heil, seyde the mair, the conquerour, The grace of God with the doth spryng; Heil duk, heil prynce, heil comely kyng, Most worthiest Lord undir Crist ryall, Heil rulere of Remes withoute lettyng, Heil flour of knyghts now over all.

Here is come youre citee all, Yow to worchepe and to magnyfye, To welcome yow, bothe gret and small, With yow everemore to lyve and dye. Grauntmercy, Sires, oure kyng gan say; And toward London he gan ride; This was upon seynt Clementys day, They wolcomed hym on every syde.

The lordes of Fraunce, thei gan say then, Ingelond is nought as we wen, It farith be these Englisshmen, As it doth be a swarm of ben; Ingland is like an hive withinne, There fleeres makith us full evell to wryng, Tho ben there arrowes sharpe and kene, Thorugh oure harneys they do us styng.

To London brigge thanne rood oure kyng, The processions there they mette hym ryght, 'Ave Rex Anglor,' their gan syng, 'Flos mundi,' thei seyde, Goddys knyght. To London brigge whan he com ryght, Upon the gate ther stode on hy, A gyaunt that was full grym of syght, To teche the Frensshmen curtesye.

And at the drawe brigge, that is faste by, To toures there were upright; An antelope and a lyon stondyng hym by, Above them seynt George oure lady knyght, Besyde hym many an angell bright, 'Benedictus' thei gan synge, 'Qui venit in nomine domin.' goddes knyght, 'Gracia Dei' with yow doth sprynge.

Into London thanne rood oure kyng, Full goodly there thei gonnen hym grete; Thorugh out the town thanne gonne they syng, For joy and merthe y yow behete; Men and women for joye they alle, Of his comyn thei weren so fayn, That the Condyd bothe grete and smalle, Ran wyn ich on as y herde sayn.

The tour of Cornhill that is so shene, I may well say now as y knowe, It was full of Patriarkes alle be dene, 'Cantate' thei songe upon a rowe; There bryddes thei gon down throwe, An hundred there flewe aboughte oure kyng, 'Laus ejus' bothe hyghe and lowe 'In ecclesia sanctorum' thei dyd syng.

Unto the Chepe thanne rood oure kyng; To the Condyt whanne he com tho, The XII apostelys thei gon syng, 'Benedict. anima domino' XII kynges there were on a rowe, They knelyd doun be on asent, And obles aboughte oure kyng gan throwe, And wolcomyd hym with good entent.

The Cros in Chepe verrament, It was gret joy it for to beholde; It was araied full reverent, With a castell right as God wolde, With baners brighte beten with gold. And angelys senssyd hym that tyde; With besaunts riche many a fold, They strowed oure kyng on every syde.

Virgynes out of the castell gon glyde, For joye of hym they were daunsyng, They knelyd a doun alle in that tyde, 'Nowell,' 'Nowell,' alle thei gon syng. Unto Poules thanne rood oure kyng, XIIII bysshopes hym mette there right, The grete bellys thanne did they ryng, Upon his feet full faire he light.

And to the heighe auter he went right, 'Te Deum' for joye thanne thei gon syng; And there he offred to God almyght: And thanne to Westminster he wente withoute dwellyng. In xv wokes forsothe, he wroughte al this, Conquered Harfleu and Agincourt; Crist brynge there soules all to blys, That in that day were mort.

Crist that is oure hevene kyng, His body and soule save and se; Now all Ingelond may say and syng, 'Blyssyd mote be the Trinite,' This jornay have ye herd now alle be dene, The date of Crist I wot is was, A thousand foure hundred and fyftene. Gloria tibi Trinitas.

Harflu fert Mauric Augincourt p'lia Crispin.

* * * * *

P. 119. [A^{o} 10 Hen. VI.]—"John Welles, grocer, maior. This same yere, the xvj day of Decembre, G beynge the dominical lettre, kyng Herry the vj^{te} was crowned kyng of Fraunce at Parys, in the chirche of Notre Dame, with gret solempnite and rialte; and anoon after he turned ayen into Engelond, and landed at Dovorr the ix day of Feverer', and come to London the xxj day of the same month, where he was ryally resceyved, alle the craftes rydynge ayens hym, all in white."

The following poem by Lydgate presents a very minute account of the manner in which the young monarch was received into London after his coronation as king of France, and of the pageant upon the occasion. Two copies exist in MS. in the British Museum; one in the Harleian MS. 565, which has been literally transcribed; the other in the Cottonian MS. Julius B. II; and the variations between them will be found in the notes. About one third of this article, taken from the former of those MSS., is printed in Malcolm's London, vol. ii. p. 89, but it conveys a very imperfect idea of the whole composition; for not only has the orthography of the extract been modernized, but the most interesting descriptions do not occur. The annexed is therefore, it is presumed, the only correct copy which has ever been published, and it cannot fail to be deemed an exceedingly curious illustration of the passage in "The Chronicle," as well as of the manners of the period. Lydgate does not mention upon what day of the month the circumstance took place, but says that it was "upon a Thorsday" "toward the ende of wyndy Februarie:" and as the 21st of February in 1431 fell on a Thursday, there is little doubt that it was on that day that Henry entered London.

"THE COMYNGE OF THE KYNG OUT OF FRAUNCE TO LONDON." BY JOHN LYDGATE "THE MONK OF BURY."

[Harleian MS. 565, and Cottonian MS. Julius B. II.]

Toward the ende of wyndy Februarie, Whanne Phebus was in the fysshe roune,[146] Out of the signe which callyd is Aquarie, Newe kalendas were entred and begonne, Of Marches comyng, and the mery sonne, Upon a Thorsday shed[147] hys bemys bright Upon London, to make them glad and light.

[Footnote 146: croune in Cotton MS. Julius B. II.]

[Footnote 147: shewed.]

The stormy reynes[148] of alle there hevynesse, Were passyd away, and alle there[149] grevaunce, For the sixte Henry, rote of there gladnesse, Ther hertys joye, ther worldis suffissaunce, Be trewe assent[150] crownyd kyng of Fraunce; The even[151] rejoysyng the day of his repaire, Made at his comynge the wedir to be so faire.

[Footnote 148: reyne.]

[Footnote 149: there old.]

[Footnote 150: dissent.]

[Footnote 151: hevene.]

A tyme, y trowe of God, for hym provydyd, In alle the hevenes there was no clowde sayne; From other daies that day was so devydyd, And fraunchisyd from mystys and from rayn; The erthe[152] attempred, the wyndes smothe and playne, The Citezeines thorugh out the Citee, Halwyd that day with gret solempnyte.

[Footnote 152: eyre.]

And lyk for David after his victorie, Rejoysyd was al Jerusalem, So this Cite with laude, pris, and glorie, For joye mustred lik the sonne bem, To geve ensample thorugh out this Reem; Al of assent who so can conceyve, There noble kyng were glad to resceyve.

There clothyng was of colour ful covenable; The noble Mair clad in red velwet, The Shireves, the Aldermen, ful notable, In furryd clokes, the colour of scarlet; In statly wyse whanne they were met, Ich on were wel horsyd, and mad no delay,[153] But with there Maire rood forth in there way.

[Footnote 153: Eche oon well horsed made no delay.]

The Citezeyns ich on of the Citee, In there entent that they were pure and clene; Ches them of whit a ful faire lyvere, In evry craft as it was wel sene; To shewe the trowthe that they dede mene, Toward the kyng hadde mad them feithfully, In sundry devyses embrowdyd richely.

And for to remembre of other alyens, First Geneweys, thorugh thei were strangers, Florantynys, and Venyciens, And Esterlyngs, clad[154] in there manere, Conveyd with seriaunts and othere officers, Statly horsyd, after the Mair ridyng, Passyd the subbarbes to mete with the kyng.

[Footnote 154: gladde.]

To the Blake heth whanne they dyd atteyne, The Mair of prudence in especialle, Made them hove in renges tweyne, A strete betwen ech party lik a walle, Alle clad in whit, and the most principalle, A fore in red, with the[155] Mair rydyng, Til tyme that he saw the kyng comyng;

[Footnote 155: theire.]

Thanne with his sporys, he tok his hors anone, That to beholde it was a noble sight, How lyk a man he to the kyng is gone, Right well cheryd of herte, glad, and light; Obeienge to hym, as hym ought of right: And after that he cunningly abraid, And to the kyng even thus he sayd;

"Sovereigne lord and noble kyng, ye be wolcome out of youre rem of Fraunce, into this youre blessyd rem of Ingelond, and in especial unto youre most notable Citee of London, otherwise callyd youre chambre, we thankynge Almyghty[156] God of the good and gracious athenyng of youre crowne of Fraunce, besechynge of his mercyful grace to sende yow prosperite and many yeris, to the comfort of alle your lovyng pepill."

[Footnote 156: Omitted.]

But for to tellen alle the circumstauncys, Of every thyng shewed in centencs, Noble devyses, diverse ordinauncys, Conveid be scripture with ful gret excellence; Al to declare, y have non eloquence, Therfore y pray to alle tho that it schal rede,[157] For to correcte where as they se nede.

[Footnote 157: that shall yt rede.]

First, whan they[158] passyd was the fabour, Entring the brigge of this noble town,[159] There was a peler reysyd lik a tour, And theron stod a sturdy champyone, Of look and chere, stern as a lyone; His swerd uprered, prowdly gan manace, Alle foreyn enemyes from the kyng to enchace;

[Footnote 158: he.]

[Footnote 159: citee.]

And in defens of his estat riall, The geaunt wolde abyde ech aventure, And alle assautes that were marcyall, For his sake he proudly wolde endure; In tokenynge wher of, he hadde a long[160] scripture, On either syde declaryng his entent, Whiche sayde thus, be good avisement.

[Footnote 160: Omitted.]

[Sidenote: Inimicos ejus induam confusione.]

"Alle tho that ben enemys to the kyng, I schal them clothe with confucione; Make hym myghti be vertuos levyng, His mortall fou to oppressen and bere a downe, And hym to encresene as Cristes champione; Alle myschevys from hym to abrigge, With the grace of God, at the entryng of this[161] brigge."

[Footnote 161: the.]

Too antilopis stondyng on either syde, With the armes of Ingelond and of Fraunce, In token that God schall for hym provide, As he hath title be juste eneritaunce, To regne in pees, plente, and alle plesaunce; Cesyng of werre, that men myghte ryden and[162] gone, As trewe liegis, there hertys mad bothe oone.

[Footnote 162: or.]

Forthermore, so as the kyng gan ryde, Middes of the brigge there was a toure on lofte; The lord of lordes beynge ay his gyde, As he hath be and yit wil be ful ofte. The tour araied with velwetty softe, Clothys of gold, silk, and tapicerie, As apperteynyth to his regalye.

And at his comyng, of excellent beaute, Benygne[163] of port, most womanly of chere, There issued out, empresses thre; There here displaied, as Phebus in his[164] spere, With crownettys of gold and stones clere; At whos out comyng thei gaf swyche a light, That the beholders were stonyed in there sight.

[Footnote 163: beyng.]

[Footnote 164: her.]

[Sidenote: Nature.]

[Sidenote: Grace.]

The first of them was callyd[165] NATURE, As sche that hath undyr here demayne, Man, beest, and foul, and every creature, Withinne the bondys of here goldyn cheyne;[166] Eke hevene, and erthe, and every creature,[167] This empresse of custum doth enbrace: And next here com here suster callyd GRACE.

[Footnote 165: called was.]

[Footnote 166: These lines are transposed.]

[Footnote 167: These lines are transposed.]

Passyng famous, and of gret reverence, Most desyryd in alle regions; For where that evere shewith here presence, She bryngeth gladnes to citees and to townys. Of alle welle fare she halt[168] the possessionys, For y dar sey, prosperite in no place, No while abidith, but if there be grace.

[Footnote 168: holdeth.]

[Sidenote: Fortune.]

In tokene that Grace shal[169] longe continue, Unto the kyng, she shewyd here ful benygne; And next here com the empresse FORTUNE, To hym aperyng with many a noble signe, And riall tokenys, to shew that he was digne, Of God disposyd as lust[170] ordeygne, Upon his hed to were crownes tweyne.

[Footnote 169: shuld.]

[Footnote 170: lyst.]

[Sidenote: Natura Gracia et Fortuna.]

These thre ladies, al of on entent, Thre goostly gyftes, hevynly, and devyne, Unto the kyng anon they dyd present; And to his hignesse they dyd anon enclyne, And what they weren pleynly to determyne; Grace gaf hym first at his comynge, Two riche gyftes, sciens and cunnynge.

[Sidenote: Intende prospere procede et regna.]

Nature gaf hym eke strengthe, and fayrnesse, For to be lovyd and dred of every wight; Fortune gaf hym eke prosperite, and richesse; With this scripture aperyng in ther sight, To hym applied of verey due right, "First undirstonde and wilfully procede, And longe to regne," the scripture seide in dede.

This is to mene, who so undirstondith aright, Thow shalt be fortune have long prosperite; And be nature thow shalt have strengthe, and myght, Forth to procede in long felicite; And grace also hath grauntyd unto the, Vertuously longe in thi roiall citee, With septre and crowne to regne in equyte.

On the right hand of these Empresses, Stode thir[171] maydenys verey celestialle; Like Phebus bemys shone there golden tresses, Upon there hedes ech havyng a crownalle, Of port and chere semyng immortalle: In sight transsendyng alle erthely creatures, So angelik they weren of there figures.

[Footnote 171: sevyn.]

Al clad in white, in tokene of clennesse, Liche pure virgynes as in there ententys, Schewynge outward an hevenly fresshe brightnesse; Stremyd with sonnys weren alle there garmentys, Aforne provyded for pure innocentys: Most colombyne of chere and of lokyng, Meekly roos up at the comyng of the kyng.

They had on bawdrikes al on saphire hewe, Goynge outward gan the kyng salue, Hym presentyng with ther gyftes newe, Lik as thei[172] thought it was to them due; Whiche gostly giftes, here in ordre suwe, Down descendyng as silver dewe from hevene, Al grace includyd[173] withinne the giftes sewene.

[Footnote 172: them.]

[Footnote 173: include.]

These riall giftes ben of vertu most Goostly corages, most soveraygnely delite, The[174] giftes callyd of the Holy Goost, Outward figuryd be seven dowys white; Seyenge[175] to hym, lik as clerkes write, "God the fulfille with intelligence And with a spirit of goostly sapience

[Footnote 174: these.]

[Footnote 175: And seyyng.]

[Sidenote: Impleat te Deus sp'u sapiciencie et intellectus sp'u consilii et fortitudinis sciencie et pietatis et sp'u timoris Domin'.]

God sende also to thi moost availe, The to preserve from alle hevynesse; A spirit of strenghthe, and of good counsaile, Of cunnyng, drede, pite, and of lownesse:" Thus thise ladies gan there gyftes dresse, Graciously at there out comyng, Be influence light upon the kyng.

These Empresses hadde on there left syde, Othere vij virgines, pure and clene, Be attendaunce continually to abyde, Al clad in whit, smete ful of sterrers shene; And to declare what they wolde mene, Unto the kyng with fulle gret reverence, These weren there gyftes shortly in sentence;

[Sidenote: Induat te Dominus corona glorie sceptro clemencie,[176] gladio iusticie,[177] pallio prudencie, scuto fidei, galea salutis, et vinculo pacis.]

[Footnote 176: Transposed.]

[Footnote 177: Transposed.]

God the endue with a crowne of glorie; And with a[178] septre of clennesse and pite; And with a sheld of right,[179] and victorie; And with a mantel of prudence clad thow be; A sheld of feith for to defende the; An helm of helthe wrought to thin encres; Girt with a girdell of love and perfight pees.

[Footnote 178: Omitted.]

[Footnote 179: swerde of might.]

These vij virgynes of sight most hevenly, With herte, body, and handys reioysyng, And of there[180] cheres aperid murely, For the kynges gracious hom comyng; And for gladnesse they began to synge, Most angelik with hevenly armonye, This same roundelle which y shal now specifie.

[Footnote 180: othir.]

Soverayne lord, Wolcome to youre Citee; Wolcome oure joye, and oure hertys plesaunce; Wolcome oure gladnes, Wolcome oure suffisaunce; Wolcome, Wolcome, right Wolcome, mote ye be; Syngyng to fore thi riall mageste, We seye of herte, withoughten variaunce, Soverayn lord, Wolcome, Wolcome, oure[181] joye;

[Footnote 181: ye be.]

Meir, Citezeins, and al the Comonte, At youre hom comyng newe out of Fraunce, Be grace relevyd of al ther olde grevaunce, Syng this day with gret solempnyte. Thus resceyvyd, an esy paas rydyng, The kyng is entred into this Citee; And in Cornhull anon at his comynge,

To do plesaunce to his mageste, A tabernacle surmontyng of beaute, There was ordeyned, be full fresshe entaille, Richely arraied with rialle apparaille; This tabernacle of moost magnyfycence, Was of this byldyng verrey imperiall, Mad for the lady callyd dame Sapience.

[Sidenote: Septem sciencie liberales.]

To for whos face moost statly and rialle, Were the vij sciences callyd liberalle; Rounde aboughte as makyd is memorie, Which never departyd from his[182] consistorie, Frist ther was Gramer, as y reherce can, Chef founder[183] and rote of al connyng, Whiche hadde afore here old Precian;

[Footnote 182: hire.]

[Footnote 183: founderesse.]

And Logyk hadde afore here ek[184] stondyng, Aristotill so clerkly disputyng; And Retoryk hadde eke in her presence, Tullius, callyd myrrour of eloquence; And Musyk hadde royde of all discorde, Boice, here clerk, with hevenly armonye, And instrumentis al of on acorde;

[Footnote 184: Omitted.]

For to practyse with sugryd melodye, He and his clerkes[185] there wittes dyd applye, With touche of strengys, on orgons we[186] playeng, There craft to shewe at the[187] comynge of oure kyng; And Arsmetrik, be castynge of nombrarie, Ches Pictogoras for here partye, Callyd chief clerk to governe here liberarie.

[Footnote 185: scolars.]

[Footnote 186: eke.]

[Footnote 187: Omitted.]

Euclude tok mesures be craft of gemetrie, And al ther heighest[188] stod Astronomye; Albunisar last with here of vij^{e}, With instrumentis that raught up into hevene; The chief princesse callyd dame Sapience, Hadde to fore here wrete[189] this scripture, Kynges, quod she, moost of excellence,

[Footnote 188: alderhyhest.]

[Footnote 189: writen.]

[Sidenote: Per me Reges regnant et gloriam sapiencie possidebunt.]

[Sidenote: Et nunc Reges intelligite et erudimini qui iudicatis terram.]

Be me thei regne, and moost in joye endure, For thorugh myn helpe, and my besy cure, To encrese ther glorie and high renone, They shull of wisdome have ful possession. And in the front of this tabernacle, Sapiens, a scripture gan devyse, Able to be reed withoughten a spectacle,

To yonge kynges seying in this wyse, Undirstondith and lernyth of the wyse, On right remembryng the highe lord to queme, Sith ye be juges other folk to deme; Forthermore the matir doth devyse. The kyng procedyng forth upon his way, Com to the Condyte mad in sercle wyse;

[Sidenote: Domina misericord' a dextris et domina veritat' a sinistris et cum clemencia roborabit' thronus eius.]

Whom to resceyve, ther was mad no delay, And myddys above in ful riche aray, There sat a child of beute procellyng, Middys of a[190] trone raid like a kyng, Whom to governe, there were assygned tweyne, A lady, Mercy, sat on his right syde; On his lefte honde yf y shall nought feyne,

[Footnote 190: the.]

[Sidenote: Misericordia et Veritas custodiunt Regem.]

The lady Trouthe, his domys to provyde; The lady Clemence on loft dyd a byde, Of God ordeyned in the same place, The kynges throne strongly to enbrace; For be the sentence of prudent Salamon, Mercy and Right kepen every kyng, And Clemence kepit be reson,

[Sidenote: Iudiciu' et Iusticiam.]

His myghti throne from myschief and fallyng, And makith it strong with longe abydyng; For y dar say these ladies thre, A kyng preserve in long felicite.[191] Thanne stod afore[192] also[193] the sayd kyng, Two juges, with ful highe noblesse; Viij^{te} seriauntes ich on representyng;

[Footnote 191: prosperytee.]

[Footnote 192: Transposed.]

[Footnote 193: Transposed.]

[Sidenote: Honor Regis iudiciu' dilig^{t}. Deus iudiciu' tuum Regi da, et justiciam tuam filio Regis.]

For comon profith doom and right wisnesse: Withe this scripture, whiche shalle expresse,[194] Honour of kyng is in every mannys sight,[195] Of comone custom lovyth equyte and right, Kyng Davyd wrot, the sawter berith witnes, Lord God, quod he, thi dome yif us[196] to the kyng, And yif thi trouthe, and thi right wysnes,

[Footnote 194:

Honour of kyng which I shall expresse, With this scripture in every manys sight.]

[Footnote 195:

Honour of kyng which I shall expresse, With this scripture in every manys sight.]

[Footnote 196: Omitted.]

To the kynges sone here in his levynge, To us declaryng, as be ther wrightyng, That kynges, prynces, sholde aboughte hym drawe, Folk that ben trewe, and wel expert in lawe. The kyng forthe rydyng entred Chepe anone, A lusty place, a place of alle delitis, Com to the Condyte, wher as cristalle ston,

[Sidenote: Thetis est dea aquar'.]

[Sidenote: Bachus est deus vini.]

The water ran, like welles of Paradys: The holsome licour, ful riche and of gret pris, Lik to the water of Archedeclyne, Whiche be meracle were turnyd to[197] wyn: Thetes, which that is of waters chief goddesse, Hadde of the wellys power non nor myght, For Bachus shewyd ther his fulsomnesse,

[Footnote 197: into.]

Of holsome wynes, to every maner wight: For wyn of nature makith hertys light, Wherfore Bachus, atte reverence of the kyng, Shedde out his plente at his hom comyng. Wyn is a lycour of[198] recreacione, That day presentyd in tokne of[199] gladnes, Into the kyngges famous highe renone,

[Footnote 198: of grete.]

[Footnote 199: of alle.]

From[200] to exile al maner hevynes, For with his comyng, the dede berith witnes, Out of this[201] lond he put away al trowble, And made of newe oure joyes to be dowble. Eke at thise welles, there were virgines thre, Whiche drew[202] up[203] wynes of joye and of plesance; Mercy, and Grace, there ther sustre eke Pite,

[Footnote 200: From us.]

[Footnote 201: the.]

[Footnote 202: transposed.]

[Footnote 203: transposed.]

Mercy mynystred wynes of attemperaunce; Grace shed here licour of good governaunce; And Pite preferryd with ful good foysone, Wynes of comfort and consolacione; The wyn of Mercy stanchith of[204] nature, The gredy thristes of cruelle hastynes; Grace with here licour cristallyn and pure,

[Footnote 204: by.]

Differith vengeaunce of furious wodnes, And Pite blemsyght the swerd of rightwysnes, Covenable welles, most holsome of savour, For to be tasted of every governour. O how thise wellys who so tok good hede, With there licours moost homsome to ataine, Afore devysyd notably in dede,

For to accorde with the Mairis name,[205] Whiche be report of his worthy fame, That day was besy in all his governaunce, Unto the kyng for to done plesaunce. There were ek trees, with levys fresshe of hewe, Al tyme of the yer ful of frutes lade, Of colour hevenly and evere eliche newe.

[Footnote 205: Nomen maioris Johannes Welles.]

Orenges, almondys, and the pomegarnade, Lymons, dates, there colours fresh and glade, Pypyns, quynces, blaundrellys to disport, And the pom cedre, corageus to recomfort: Eke othere frutes, whiche that more comown be, Quenyngges, peches, costardes, and wardons, And othere manye ful faire and freshe to se.

The pome water, and the gentil ricardouns, And agaynes hertes for mutegacions,[206] Damasyns, whiche with there tast delite, Ful gret plente bothe of blak and white. And besydes this gracious paradis, Al ioghe[207] and gladnesse for to multiplie, Two olde men, ful circumspect and wys,

[Footnote 206: murtygacions.]

[Footnote 207: joye.]

[Sidenote: Nichil proficiat inimicus in eo Et filius iniquitatis non apponat nocere ei.]

Ther did apere, like folkys faire:[208] The ton was Ennok, that[209] other Elye, The kyng presentyng ther gyftes ful notable; That God conferme his state ay to be stable, The firste seide, withe benynge chere, Gretly desyryng his prosperite, That non enemy have on hym powere,

[Footnote 208: off feyre.]

[Footnote 209: the.]

[Sidenote: Dominus conservet eum vivificet eum et beatum faciet eum &c.]

Nor no[210] child be fals inequyte, Perturble nevere his felicite; Thus old Ennok, the processe gan welle telle, And preid for the kyng as he rood be the welle. After Elias with his lokkes hore, Wel devoutly seyde,[211] lokyng on the kyng, God conserve the and kepe the evermore,

[Footnote 210: Nor that no.]

[Footnote 211: Seyd well devoutly.]

[Sidenote: Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus salvatoris.]

And make hym blessyd in erthe here levyng, And preserve hym in al manere thyng, And special among kynges alle, In enemyes handes that he nevere falle. And at the[212] frontour of these welles clere, Ther was a scripture comendyng ther[213] licour; Ye shall drawe waters with good chere,

[Footnote 212: Omitted.]

[Footnote 213: the.]

Out of wellys of oure savyour, Whiche han vertu to curyne al langour, Be influence of ther grete swetnesse, Hertys avoidyng of al ther hevynesse. Than from thise welles of fulsome abundaunce; With ther licours as any cristalle clere, The kyng rood forthe with sobre continaunce,

Toward a castell, beldyd[214] of jasper grene, Upon whos toures the sonne shone ful[215] shene; Ther clerly shewyd be notable remembraunce, The[216] kynges title of Ingelond and of Fraunce. To grene trees ther grew upright, From seynt Edward and from seynt Lowys, The roote etake,[217] palpable to the sight,

[Footnote 214: bilt.]

[Footnote 215: Omitted.]

[Footnote 216: This.]

[Footnote 217: ytake.]

Conveyd be[218] kynges of gret prys, Some bare lebardes, some bar flour de lys; In nowthir armes founde was ther no lak, Whiche the sixte Henry may now bere on his bak; The pedegre be iuste successione, As trewe cronycles trewly determyne, Unto the kyng is now descendyd down,

[Footnote 218: Conveyd by lynes be &c.]

From eyther party, right as any lyne: Upon whos hed now freshly done shyne, Two riche crownes, moost soverayne of plesaunce, To brynge in pees betwen Ingelond and Fraunce. Upon this castelle, on the tother syde, Ther was a tree, whiche sprang out of Jesse, Ordeyned of God ful longe to abyde,

Davyd first[219] crownyd[220] for his humylyte, The braunches conveide, as men myghte se, Lynyally, and[221] the genelogye, To Crist J'hu, that was borne of Marie; And whi the Jesse was sett on that partye, This was the cause in especialle; For next to Powlys y dar well specyfie,

[Footnote 219: Transposed.]

[Footnote 220: Transposed.]

[Footnote 221: Lynally and in, &c.]

Is the party moost chief and principalle, Callyd of Londone, the chirche cathedralle, Whiche oughte of resone the devys for[222] to excuse, To alle tho that wolde agen it frowne or muse. And fro that castelle the kyng forth gan hym dresse, Toward Poules chief chirche of this citee; And at the[223] Conduyt he[224] light and a liknesse,

[Footnote 222: Omitted.]

[Footnote 223: Omitted.]

[Footnote 224: Omitted.]

Indyvysyble mad of the Trinite, A throne compassyd of his riall se; Aboughte whiche shortly to conclude, Of hevenly angelles was[225] a gret multitude, To whom was gevyn a precept in scripture, Wreten in the front of the highe stage, That thei shuld do there besy cure,

[Footnote 225: wern.]

[Sidenote: Longitudinem dierum replebo eum et ostendam illi salutare meum.]

To kepe the kyng sure[226] from al damage, In his lyf here, duryng alle his age, His highe renone to shyne,[227] and sprede[228] ferre, Of hise too remes to sese the mortall werre. And last was wreten in the frontours, I shall fulfille hym with yoye and abundaunce And with lengthe of many[229] holsom yers;

[Footnote 226: Omitted.]

[Footnote 227: Transposed.]

[Footnote 228: Transposed.]

[Footnote 229: Omitted.]

And y shalle shewe hym my helthe[230] with al plesaunce, And of his lieges feithfull obeisaunce, Multiplie and encrese his lyne, And make his noblesse thorugh out[231] the world to shyne; Love of his peple, favour of alle strangers, In both hise remes, pees, reste, and unyte, Be influence of the nyne spers;

[Footnote 230: helpe.]

[Footnote 231: Omitted.]

Longe to contynue in his riall se, Grace to cherisshe the Mair and the Citee, Longe in his mynde to be conceyved, With how good will[232] that day he was resceyvyd. Comynge to Poules, there he light a down, Entred the chirche ful demure of chere, And there to mete hym with processione,

[Footnote 232: Their good will &c.]

Was the archebisshope and the chaunceler, Lincolne, and Bathe, of hol hert and entier, Salesbury, Norwych and Ely, In pontificall arayed richely; There was the bysshope of Rouchestre also, The deen of Poules, the chanons everyich on, Of dute as they oughte to do,

On processione with the kyng to gone, And though y can nought reherce them on be one, Yit dar y seye in[233] there entent, To done ther dever ful trewly they ment; Lyk ther estates forthe thei gan precede, With observaunces longyng for a kyng, Solempnely gan hym conreye in dede,

[Footnote 233: as in.]

Up in to the chirche, with ful devout syngyng; And whanne he had mad his offryng, The Mair, the Citezeins, abood, and lefte hym nought, Unto Westmynster til thei hadde hym brought; Where, all the covent in copis richely, Mette with hym of custome as they ought; The abbot after moost solempnely,

Among the relikes, the scripture[234] out he[235] sought, Of seynt Edward, and to the kyng he brought; Though it were longe, large, and of gret weighte, Yit on his shuldres the kyng bar it on heighte, In the mynstre, whiles alle the bellys ronge, Til that[236] he come to the heighe auter; And ful devoutly Te Deum there was songe.

[Footnote 234: sceptre.]

[Footnote 235: Omitted.]

[Footnote 236: Omitted.]

[Sidenote: Ex duabus arboribus viz s'c'i Edwardi et s'c'i Lodewyci.]

And all[237] the peple, glad of look and cher, Thankynge[238] God with alle there hertys entier, To se there kyng with too crownes shyne, From too trees treuly fet the lyne: And aftyr this,[239] it ys verrey sothe, Unto his palys of kyngly apparaile, With his lordes the kyng anon forth goth,

[Footnote 237: Omitted.]

[Footnote 238: Thanked.]

[Footnote 239: That this is the, &c.]

To take his reste after his travaile; And thanne of wysdom, whiche[240] may so moche availe, The Meir, the Citezeins, which al this[241] thing ded se, Be hom repaired in to there Citee. The Shirreves, the Aldermen in fere, The Satyrday alther next suyng, There Mair presentyd with all there hertes entere,

[Footnote 240: that.]

[Footnote 241: this dyd se.]

Goodly to be resceyved of the kyng; And at Westmenster confermed there[242] a thyng, The Mair and they with ful hol entent, Unto the kyng a gyfte gan[243] present; The whiche gifte, thei goodly han disposyd, Tok an hamper of gold that shene shone; A thousand pound of gold ther inne closyd:[244]

[Footnote 242: there askyng.]

[Footnote 243: gan to.]

[Footnote 244: yclosyd.]

And there with alle to the kyng they gone, And fill on knees to fore hym everych on, Ful humbly the trouthe to devyse, And to the Kyng the Mair seide in this wyse;

Moost cristen prince and noble kyng, the goode folke of youre moost notable Citee of London, other wyse callid[245] youre Chambre, besechyn in there moost lowly wyse they mow be recomaundyd to youre highnesse, and that it can like unto youre noble grace to resceyve this litel gyfte gevyne with as good a wille, trouthe,[246] and lounesse, as ever any gift was gevyn to any erthely prynce.

[Footnote 245: cleped.]

[Footnote 246: of trouthe.]

[Sidenote: V'ba t'nslat'.]

Be glad, O Londone, be glad ant make gret joye, Citee of Citees, of noblesse procellyng; In thi begynnyng called Newe Troye, For worthynesse thank God of all thing, Whiche hast this day resceyved so the[247] kyng, With many a signe and many an observaunce, To encrese thi name be newe remembraunce.

[Footnote 247: thy.]

Swyche joye was[248] in the consistorie, Mad for the tryumple with al the surpluage, Whan Cesar Julius com hom with his victorie, Ne for the conquest of Stepyon[249] in Cartage, As Londone made in every maner age, Out of Fraunce at his[250] hom comyng, In to this Citee of there noble kyng.

[Footnote 248: was nevere.]

[Footnote 249: Syprion.]

[Footnote 250: the.]

Of vij thinges y preyse this Citee; Of trewe menyng, and feithfull obeisaunce,[251] Of rightwysnesse, trouthe, and equyte, Of stabilnesse, ay kept in alegiaunce, And for of vertu, thou hast suche suffisaunce In this land here, and othere londes alle, The kynges Chaumbre, of custom men the calle.

[Footnote 251: observaunce.]

L'ENVOYE.

O noble Meir, be it into[252] youre plesaunce, And unto[253] alle that duellithe in this Citee, On my rudenes and on myn ignoraunce, Of grace and mercy for to have pite, My symple makyng for to take at gre; Considere this that in the[254] moost lowly wyse, My wille were good for to do[255] servyse.

[Footnote 252: unto.]

[Footnote 253: to.]

[Footnote 254: Omitted.]

[Footnote 255: for to do you servyse.]

Here endith the makyng of the Comynge of the Kyng out of Fraunce to Londone, Be the monk of Bery.—Deo gracias.[256]

[Footnote 256: This paragraph is omitted.]

* * * * *

P. 139. A^{o} 36 Hen. VI. "In this yere was a grete watch in London, and al the gates kepte every nyght, and ij aldermen watchyng: and withynne a while after the kyng and lordes were accorded, and went a procession in Paulis."

The temporary reconciliation between the adherents of the King and of the Duke of York, so briefly alluded to in the text, and which is best illustrated by the following extract from a contemporary letter, served, like every other event of his times, for the exercise of Lydgate's pen; but his description of it in the following ballad is infinitely more valuable from its historical accuracy, than its poetical merit. Of this article there are two copies extant; one in the Cottonian MS. Nero A. VI. and the other in the Cottonian MS. Vespasianus B. XVI.: the latter copy has been printed, though very erroneously, and with the orthography modernized, by Mr. Sharon Turner; but the former has not been before noticed. As they differ in some places from each other, and are very short, it has been thought advisable that both transcripts should be inserted.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM JOHN BOKKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF: DATED ON THE WEDNESDAY AFTER MID LENT SUNDAY, i.e. 15 MARCH, 1457.

[Paston Letters, vol. i. p. 154.]

"Lyke it your maistership to wyte, that as for tidings, the Counsell is, the fornone, at the blake Frires, for the ease of resortyng of the Lordes that ar withinne the toun; and at afternon at the white Frirers in Fletstrete, for the Lordis with owte the town; and all things shall come to a good conclusion with God is grace; for the Kyng shall come hidre this weke, and the Quene also, as some men sayn, and my Lord Buk and Stafford with hire, and muche puple. My Lord of Caunterbury takith grete peyne up on hym daily, and will write unto yow the certeynte of suche tidings as falle; and shuld have doon or this tyme, saf for that he wolde knowe an ende of the mattre."

UPON THE RECONCILIATION OF THE LORDS OF THE YORKIST FACTION WITH THE KYNG AND HIS ADHERENTS.

[Cottonian MS. Nero A. VI.]

Whan Charyte ys chosen with stats to stonde, Stedfast and styll, with oute distaunce, Then wreth may be exilid out of thys londe, And God oure gide to have governaunce; Wysdom and welthe with all plesaunce, May ryghtfulle reigne, and prosperite, For love hath underleyde wrethfull vengeaunce; Reioyse Enlond the lords acordid bee.

Reioyse, and thonke God, and sorw no more, For now shal encrese thi consolacone; Oure enemes quake for drede ful sore, That pees ys made that was divisione, Whiche ys to them grete confusione, And to us joy and felicite; God hold them longe in every seasone, That Englond may reioyce, the concord and unite.

Now ys sorw with shame fled yn to Fraunce, As a felon that hath forsworne thys lond; Love hath put owte malicius governaunce, In every place both fee and bonde; In Yorke, in Somersett, as y undyrstonde, In Warwikke also ys love and charite, In Salisbury eke, and yn Northumberlond, That every man may reioyce the concord and unite.

Egremond,[257] and Clyfford,[258] and other forseyd, Ben sett yn the same opynyone; In every quartre love is thus leide, Grace and wisdome hath the dominacione; Awoke welth, and welk in thys regione, Rewnde abowte in towne and cite, And thonke them that brought it to thys conclusion; Reioyse Englond the concord and unite.

[Footnote 257: Thomas Percy, third son of Henry 3rd earl of Northumberland. He was created Baron of Egremont 20th December 1449, and died in 1460.]

[Footnote 258: Thomas Lord Clifford. He succeeded to his honours in 1422, and died in 1454.]

At Poules in London, with grete renowne, On oure Lady day the pes was wrought; The kyng, the quene, with lords many one, To worshyppe that virgine as they oght, Went a prosession, and sparyd right noght, In sight of alle the comonialte, In tokyn that love was in hert and thoght; Reioice Englond the concord and unite.

There was by twene them lovely countenaunce, Whyche was grete yoy to alle that there were, That long tyme hadd ben in variaunce, As frynds for ever they went yn fere, They went togedre, and made good chere; O Fraunce and Bretayne, repent shall ye, For the bergeyne shalle ye bye fulle dere; Reioice Englond the concord and unite.

Our sovereyn lord the kyng, God kepe alway, The quene and the bisshope of Canterbury,[259] And other that have labored to thys love day, God preserve them we pray hertly; And Londone for they fulle diligently, Kept the pees in trobull and in adversite; To brynge yn rest they labored ful treuly; Reioice Englond the peas and unite.

[Footnote 259: Cardinal John Bourchier. He was translated from Ely to the Archiepiscopal see, on the 22nd April 1454, and died on the 30th March 1486.]

Off thre things, y preys thys worshypfull Citee: The ferst, of trewe feythe that they owe to the kyng; The secounde, of love of eache comonialte; The thyrde, of good rule evermore kepyng; The whyche God mayntene ever long durynge, And save the Maire and all the hole Citee, And that ys amys brynge to amendyng, That Englond may reioice the pees and unite.

IBID.

[From the Cottonian MS. Vespasianus B. XVI.]

Whan Charite is chosen with states to stonde, Stedfas and stille without distaunce, Than wrathe may be exiled out of this londe, And God oure gide to have the governaunce.

Wisdom and wellthe with alle plesaunce, May rightful regne and prosperite, For love hath underlaide wrathful veniaunce; Reioise Anglond oure lordes acorded to be.

Reiose and thanke God, for evermore; For now shal encrese thi consolacion, Oure enemyes quaken and dreden fulsore, That peas is made ther was division,

Whiche to them is a gret confusion, And to us ioy and felicite; God hold them longe in every season: That Anglond may reioise concord and unite.

Now is sorowe with shame fled in to Fraunce, As a felon that hath forsworn this londe; Love hath put out malicious governaunce, In every place bothe fre and bonde;