=Source.=--Ellis's _Original Letters_, Second Series, vol. i., pp.
110, 111.
+To the King our Sovereign Lord.+
Please it unto your Royal Majesty of your grace especially to grant
unto John Earl of Oxford, owner under God of a ship called the _Jesus
of Orwell_, that the said ship, without any fine or fee to be paid unto
you, may have licence, in the worship of God and of St. James, to make
the first voyage unto St. James[12] with as many persons as therein
would thitherward take their passage. Considering that by cause of the
loss of another ship ... the said Earl hath done upon the said ship
great cost to make it the more able to do you service and to withstand
your enemies in time of need.
_Endorsed_--Donné à n're Palais de Westm. le xxviij jour de Feverer,
l'an etc xxiij. [February 28, 1445.]
[12] The shrine of St. James of Compostella.
THE DISCOMFORTS OF PILGRIMS AT SEA (_circa_ 1445).
=Source.=--_Early Naval Ballads_, vol. ii., pp. 1-4. (Percy
Society.)
Man may leve all gamys,
That saylen to Seynt Jamys;
For many a man hit gramys,[13]
When they begyn to sayle.
For when they have take the sea,
At Sandwyche or at Wynchylsee,
At Brystow,[14] or where that hit bee,
Theyr herts begyn to fayle.
Anone the mastyr commaundeth fast
To hys shyp-men in all the hast,
To dresse hem soon about the mast
Theyr takeling to make.
With "howe! hissa!" then they cry,
"What, howte! mate, thou stondyst too ny,
Thy fellow may not hale the by;"
Thus they begyn to crake.
* * * * *
Thus menewhyle the pylgryms ly,
And have theyr bowls fast theym by,
And cry after hot malvesy,
"Thow helpe for to restore."
And some wold have a saltyd tost,
For they myght ete neyther sode ne rost;
A man myght soon pay for theyr cost,
As for one day or twayne.
Some layde theyr bookys on theyr knee,
And read so long they myght nat see,
"Allas! myne head woll cleve in three!"
Thus seyth another certayne.
Then commeth owre owner lyke a lorde,
And speketh many a royall worde,
And dresseth hym to the hygh borde,
To see all things be well
Anone he calleth a carpentere
And biddeth hym bryng his gere,
To make cabans here and there
With many a fabyl cell.
A sak of straw were there ryght good,
For some must lyg them in theyr hood;
I had as lefe be in the wood,
Without mete or drynk,
For when that we shall go to bedde,
The pump was nygh our bedde hede,
A man were as good to be dede,
As smell thereof the stynk.
[13] Troubles.
[14] Bristol.