Part 11
And as I passid in my preire[102] . ther prestis[103] were at messe, In a blessid borugh[104] . that Bristow[105] is named, In a temple of the trinite . the toune even amyddis,[106] That Cristis chirche is cleped[107] . amonge the comune peple, Sodeynly ther sourdid[108] . selcouthe[109] thingis, A grett wondir to wyse men . as it well mygth,[110] And dowtes[111] ffor to deme[112] . ffor drede comynge after. So sore were the sawis[113] . of bothe two sidis, Of Richard that regned . so riche and so noble, That whyle he werrid[114] be west . on the wilde Yrisshe, Henrri was entrid[115] . on the est half, Whom all the londe loued . in lengthe and in brede, And ros with him rapely[116] . to rightyn his wronge, Ffor he shulde hem serue . of the same after. Thus tales me troblid . ffor they trewe were, And amarride[117] my minde rith moche[118] . and my wittis eke:[119] Ffor it passid[120] my parceit[121] . and my preifis[122] also, How so wondirffull werkis . wolde haue an ende. But in sothe whan they sembled . some dede repente, As knowyn is in cumpas . of Cristen londis, That rewthe[123] was, if reson . ne had reffourmed The myssecheff and the mysserule . that men tho in endurid.[124] I had pete[125] of his passion . that prince was of Walis, And eke our crouned kynge . till Crist woll no lenger; And as a lord to his liage . though I lite[126] hade, All myn hoole herte[127] was his . while he in helthe regnid. And ffor I wuste not witterly[128] . what shulde ffall, Whedir God wolde geue[129] him grace . sone to amende, To be oure gioure[130] ageyn . or graunte it another, This made me to muse . many tyme and ofte, For to written him a writte[131] . to wissen[132] him better, And to meuve him of mysserewle . his mynde to reffresshe, Ffor to preise[133] the prynce . that paradise made, To fullfill him with ffeith . and ffortune aboue, And not to grucchen a grott[134] . ageine godis sonde[135] But mekely to suffre . what so him sente were.
* * * * *
PASSUS PRIMUS.
Now, Richard the redeless[136] . reweth[137] on you-self That lawelesse leddyn youre lyf . and youre peple bothe;[138] Ffor thoru the wyles and wronge . and wast in your tyme, Ye were lyghtlich y-lyfte . ffrom that you leef thoughte,[139] And ffrom youre willffull werkis: youre will was channgid, And rafte was youre riott . and rest,[140] ffor youre daiez Weren wikkid thoru youre cursid counceill . youre karis[141] weren newed, And coueitise hath crasid[142] . youre croune ffor euere!
_Radix omnium malorum cupiditas._[143]
Of alegeaunce now lerneth . a lesson other tweyne, Wher-by it standith . and stablithe moste-- By drede, or by dyntis[144] . or domes untrewe,[145] Or by creaunce of coyne . ffor castes of gile,[146] By pillynge[147] of youre peple . youre prynces to plese; Or that youre wylle were wroughte . though wisdom it nolde; Or be tallage of youre townes . without ony werre, By rewthles routus[148] . that ryffled euere, By preysinge of polaxis[149] . that no pete hadde, Or be dette ffor thi dees . deme as thou ffyndist; Or be ledinge of lawe . with loue well ytemprid,[150]
* * * * *
Ffor legiaunce without loue . litill thinge availith. But graceles gostis[151] . gylours[152] of hem-self, That neuere had harnesse . ne hayle-schouris,[153] But walwed in her willis[154] . ffor-weyned[155] in here youthe, They sawe no manere sizth . saff solas and ese,[156] And cowde no mysse amende . whan mysscheff was vp, But sorwed ffor her lustus . of lordschipe they hadde,[157] And neuere ffor her trespas[158] . oo tere wolde they lete![159]
* * * * *
PASSUS II.[160]
But moche now me merueilith[161] . and well may I in sothe, Of youre large leuerey[162] . to leodis[163] aboute, That ye so goodliche gaf[164] . but if gile letted,[165] As hertis y-heedyd[166] . and hornyd of kynde,[167] So ryff[168] as they ronne . youre rewme[169] thoru-oute That non at youre nede[170] . youre name wolde nempne,[171] In ffersnesse ne in ffoltheed,[172] . but ffaste ffle away-ward, And some stode astonyed[173] . and stared ffor drede, Ffor eye of the egle[174] . that oure helpe broughte.
* * * * *
Now liste[175] me to lerne . ho[176] me lere[177] coude, What kynnes conceyll[178] . that the kyng had, Or meued him most . to merke his liegis,[179] Or serue hem with signes[180] . that swarmed so thikke, Thoru-oute his lond . in lengthe and in brede, That ho so had hobblid . thoru holtes and tounes, Or y-passid the patthis . ther the prynce dwellyd, Of hertis or hyndis . on hassellis brestis, Or some lordis leveré . that the lawe stried, He should have ymette . mo than ynowe,[181] Ffor they accombrede[182] the contré . and many curse seruid,[183] And carped[184] to the Comounes . with the kyngys mouthe, Or with the lordis . ther they belefte[185] were That no renke[186] shulde rise . reson to schewe; They plucked the plomayle[187] . ffrom the pore skynnes, And schewed her signes[188] . ffor men shulde drede, To axe ony mendis . ffor her mys-dedis.[189]
* * * * *
So trouthe to telle . as toune-men said, Ffor on that ye merkyd[190] . ye myssed ten schore Of homeliche hertis[191] . that the harme hente. Thane was it ffoly . in ffeith, as me thynketh To sette siluer in signes . that of nought serued I not what you eylid[192] . but if it ese[193] were; Ffor frist at youre anoyntynge . alle were youre owene, Both hertis and hyndis . and helde of non other; No lede[194] of youre lond . but as a liege aughte,[195] Tyl ye, of youre dulnesse . deseuerance made, Thoru youre side[196] signes . that shente all the browet, And cast adoun the crokk . the colys amyd.[197]
FOOTNOTES:
[102] Prayer.
[103] Priests.
[104] Borough.
[105] Bristol.
[106] In the middle of.
[107] Named.
[108] Arose (Lat. _surgere_).
[109] Wonderful.
[110] Might.
[111] Doubts.
[112] Think.
[113] Sayings.
[114] Made war in.
[115] Entered.
[116] Rapidly.
[117] Disturbed.
[118] Very much.
[119] Also.
[120] Surpassed.
[121] Power of perception.
[122] Experience.
[123] Pity.
[124] Continued in.
[125] Pity.
[126] Little.
[127] My whole heart.
[128] Because I did not know for certain.
[129] Give.
[130] Guide.
[131] A writing.
[132] To show.
[133] More probably "preie" = pray.
[134] Not to grumble a groat--namely, not to grumble at all.
[135] God's visitation.
[136] Devoid of counsel (_cf._ Ethelred the _Unready_).
[137] Have pity.
[138] That lawless _led_ your life and _ruled_ your people.
[139] You were lightly lifted from that you thought dear.
[140] Your indulgence and rest were taken away.
[141] Cares.
[142] Covetousness has cracked.
[143] Cupidity is the root of all evils.
[144] Blows.
[145] Unjust judgments.
[146] By borrowing of coin for fraudulent contrivances.
[147] Pillaging.
[148] Ruthless gangs.
[149] Appraising by means of the King's officers. _Polaxis_ (= pole-axes) here denote the men who used them--_i.e._, the King's officers.
[150] The writer asks the King how is allegiance best promoted among subjects--by dread, blows, unjust judgments, bad coinage, pillage of the people, self-will of the King, taxes imposed in time of peace and exacted by pitiless plunderers, and "by debts thou contractest in dice-playing, judge as thou findest," or by guidance of the law, well tempered with love?
[151] Spirits. An allusion to the King's favourites--De Vere, De la Pole, etc.
[152] Deceivers.
[153] That never wore harness, nor felt showers of hail.
[154] Wallowed in their wills.
[155] Pampered.
[156] They saw no kind of sight, save amusement and ease.
[157] But sorrowed for their pleasures of lordship once enjoyed.
[158] Their trespasses.
[159] One tear would they let fall.
[160] The author is here inveighing against the King's servants, particularly against their wearing badges.
[161] I marvel.
[162] Livery.
[163] Men.
[164] Liberally gave.
[165] Unless fraud hindered.
[166] Antlered harts. The white hart was the favourite badge of Richard II.
[167] Horned by nature.
[168] Rife.
[169] Realm.
[170] In the time of your need.
[171] Name. Whoever wore a lord's livery was bound in honour to espouse the cause of the donor in any quarrel.
[172] Neither in fierceness nor in folly.
[173] Astonished.
[174] For awe of the eagle. The eagle represents Henry, Duke of Lancaster, afterwards Henry IV.
[175] It would please.
[176] Whoever.
[177] Teach.
[178] What sort of advice.
[179] To mark his servants.
[180] Or serve them with signs--_e.g._, badges.
[181] Whoso had travelled through woods and towns, or passed the roads where the Prince dwelt, would see more than enough of hearts and hinds on retainers' breasts, or else the livery of some lord who destroyed the law.
[182] Cumbered.
[183] Deserved.
[184] Talked.
[185] Left.
[186] Man.
[187] Plumage.
[188] Their badges.
[189] In order that men should be afraid to ask any amendment against their misdeeds.
[190] _I.e._, gave a badge to.
[191] Homely hearts. There is a play on the words "heart" and "hart": "For one that you marked with a hart's badge you lost ten score of homely hearts."
[192] Ailed.
[193] Luxuriousness.
[194] Man.
[195] Ought.
[196] Wide.
[197] That spilt all the broth and upset the pot among the coals.
ISABELLA OF FRANCE RETURNS TO HER OWN COUNTRY (1399).
SOURCE.--_Archæologia_ (London, 1824), xx. 237-241.
[Translation of a French Metrical History of the Deposition of Richard II.]
The English were disposed to fulfil her restoration to her country, together with all the jewels which she had, when, after her marriage, she quitted France. She then passed through France to Paris, where her coming caused many a tear and smile.[198] Let us now beseech God, who humbly suffered his naked body to be suspended upon the Cross, for the redemption and restoration of sinners from the false foes of hell, that he will speedily avenge the great evils and ingratitude, the outrage and injustice, which the wicked English have committed against their King and Queen. For I protest to you of a truth, that I greatly desire to behold this, on account of the wickedness which I have seen among them. And if every one knew their disposition and how they hate the French I firmly believe that before three months were passed we should see many a vessel filled with men and stores to make war upon them. For anyone may plainly see that they are a very wicked people and negligent to do well. And if I have spoken too freely of them in any way which may displease, I humbly and heartily beg pardon. For I solemnly declare that, according to my ability, I have uttered no evil or slander of them whereof they have not been guilty. Because I beheld their actions for seven whole months, and rode with them in many countries, and parts of Ireland and England. The good Earl of Salisbury also, when he was taken with King Richard, was pleased most earnestly to request, and humbly entreat me, that I would publish the whole of their bad behaviour and disloyal treason. And, certes, I promised it him with free will and loyal heart. For which cause, I have taken the trouble to fulfil the promise that I made him, in the great sorrow and peril in the which I left him. Besides, I am sure that the truth of the taking of the King, and how he was falsely drawn out of his strong and fair castles in Wales, by treaty and parley with the Earl of Northumberland, could have been little known. So I sincerely beseech all those, who shall read to the end of this treatise, which I have made concerning the English and their affairs, that if I have committed any fault in rhyme or in prose, or in elegance of rhyme, they would have me excused because I am not skilled therein. Amen.
FOOTNOTES:
[198] In Monstrellet's _Chronicle_ it is stated that though Isabella was "most honourably sent over," yet there was "no rent nor revenue assigned for her dowry; whereat many of the princes of France were not well content with the said King of England; and greatly desired that the King of France would prepare war upon him."
APPENDIX
EDUCATION IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY
A NORMAL SCHOOLBOY.
SOURCE.--Harleian MS. 2255, fols. 60-61_b_.
[From Dan John Lydgate's Testament. Lydgate was born in 1389, and probably sent at an early age to a monastic school.]
Duryng the tyme of this sesoun _ver_ I meene the seson / of my yeerys greene Gynning fro childhood / streechithe up so fer to the yeerys / accountyd ful Fifteene bexperience / as it was wel seene The gerisshe seson / straunge of condicions Dispoosyd to many / unbridlyd passiouns
Voyd of reson / yove to wilfulnesse Froward to vertu / of thrift gaf litil heede loth to lerne / lovid no besynesse Sauf pley or merthe / straunge to spelle or reede Folwyng al appetites / longng to childheede lihtly tournyng wylde / and seelde sad Weepyng for nouht / and anoon afftir glad
For litil wroth / to stryve with my felawe As my passiouns / did my bridil leede Of the yeerde somtyme / I stood in awe to be scooryd / that was al my dreede loth toward scole / lost my tyme in deede lik a yong colt / that ran with-owte brydil Made my freendys / ther good to spend in ydll
I hadde in custom / to come to scole late Nat for to lerne / but for a contenaunce With my felawys / reedy to debate to jangle and jape / was set al my plesaunce wherof rebukyd / this was my chevisaunce to forge a lesyng / and thereupon to muse Whan I trespasyd / my silven to excuse
To my bettre / did no reverence Of my sovereyns / gaf no fors at al Wex obstynat / by inobedience. Ran in to gardyns / applys ther I stal To gadre frutys / sparyd hegg nor wal to plukke grapys / in othir mennys vynes Was moor reedy / than for to seyn matynes
My lust was al / to scorne folk and jape Shrewde tornys / evir among to use to skoffe and mowe / lyk a wantoun Ape Whan I did evil / othre I did accuse. My wittys five / in wast I did abuse Rediere chirstoonys / for to telle Than gon to chirche / or heere the sacry belle.
Loth to ryse / lother to bedde at eve With unwassh handys / reedy to dyneer My _pater noster_ /, my _Crede_, or my beleeve Cast at the Cok /, loo this was my maneer Wavid with eche wynd / as doth a reed speer Snybbed of my frendys / such techchys for ta mende Made deff ere / lyst nat / to them attende.
ABRIDGED TRANSLATION.
During the years of my boyhood, up to fifteen, I was void of reason, prone to wilfulness, and loved no work but play and mirth. I loved to fight, but stood in awe of being scored by the rod. Loth towards school, I lost my time like a young colt without bridle. I came to school late, and was always ready to talk, and lied to get off blame. I mocked my masters, and was always disobedient. I stole apples and grapes. My delight was to mock and play tricks on people. I liked counting cherry stones better than church. I disliked getting up and going to bed: came to dinner with unwashed hands, and threw my _Pater noster_, etc., at the cook. I was deaf to the snubbings of my friends.
BEGGAR'S BRATS ARE BOOK-LEARNED.
SOURCE.--Langland's _Pierce the Ploughman's Crede_ (ed. Skeat), ll. 744-764.
Now mot ich soutere hys sone . seten to schole, And ich a beggares brol . on the book lerne, And worth to a writere . and with a lorde dwelle Other falsly to a frere . the fend for to serven; So of that beggares brol . a bychop shal worthen, Among the peres of the lond . prese to sytten, And lordes sones lowly . to the losels alowte, Knyghtes crouketh hem to . and cruccheth ful lowe; And his syre a soutere . y-suled in grees His teeth with toylyng of lether . tatered as a sawe Alaas! that lordes of the londe . leveth swiche wrecchen, And leveth swych lorels . for her lowe wordes. They shulden maken bichopes her owen bretheren childre Other to som gentil blod. And so yt best semed, And fostre none faytoures . ne swich false freres To maken fat and fulle . and her flesh combren. For her kynde were more . to y-clense diches Than ben to sopers y-set first . and served with sylver A grete bolle-ful of benen . were better in hys wombe And with the bandes of bakun . his baly for to fillen Than pertryches or plovers . or pecockes y-rosted.
ABRIDGED TRANSLATION.
Now every cobbler's son and beggar's brat becomes book-learned and a writer and dwells with a lord. The beggar's brat becomes a bishop, and lords' sons crouch before him, and his father a cobbler, soiled with grease, and his teeth jagged as a saw with working on leather! Alas! that the lords of the land love such as these; they should make gentlemen bishops, not these, who are more fit to clean dishes than sit in places of honour at supper, and be served with silver; and ought to eat beans and bacon rind, not partridges, or plovers, or roast peacocks.
CAUSES OF THE IMPAIRING OF OUR LANGUAGE.
SOURCE.--Malcom's _Manners and Customs of London_ (London, 1811), 65, [quoting Higden in his _Polychronicon_: translated by Trevisa].
"One is because children that go to school learn to speak first English, and then are compelled to construe their lessons in French, and that has been the custom since the Normans came to England. Also gentlemen's children are learned and taught from their youth to speak French, and uplandish men will counterfeit and liken themselves to gentlemen, and are busy to speak French, for to be more set by; wherefore it is said by the common proverb: 'Jack would be a gentleman if he could speak French.'"
[Trevisa, the translator, adds: "This manner was much used before the great death (1349 or 1361), but since it is some deal changed; for Sir John Cornwall, a master of grammar, changed the teaching in grammar schools and construction of French; and other schoolmasters use the same way now in the year of our Lord 1365, the 9th year of King Richard the Second, and leave all French in schools and use all construction in English; wherein they have advantage one way, that is, they learn the sooner their grammar; and in another, disadvantage, for now they learn no French, nor con none, which is hurt for them that shall pass the sea; and also gentlemen have much left[199] to teach these children to speak French."]
FOOTNOTES:
[199] Difficulty.
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY BILLING AND SONS, LTD., GUILDFORD AND ESHER.