In proprium jurata jugum, motuque minaci
Gens sibi degenerans, ut libera serviat, alta
Corruat, incolumis ægrotet, tuta pavescat,
Vendicat antiquas inimico consule leges;
Non legis libra, non juris luce, nec igne
Sacri consilii, sed nec lima rationis,
Fulgurat in vetitum spreta ratione voluntas.
¶ Prima fuit rabies proprio concepta tumore;
Altera belligeras Francorum traxerat alas;
Conduxit nigras Scottorum tertia turmas;
Flexit quarta leves tenui sub veste Galenses.
¶ Fœdera rumpuntur pacis, tonitrusque minaces;
Serpsit in attonitas corrupta licentia turres,
In quibus ægra fides latuit, medicumque salutis
Expectata diu, tandem de munere Christi
Convaluit, traxitque suas in bella cohortes.
¶ Hæc rabies patiente Deo permissa parumper
Non concessa fuit, ut molles fulmina mentes
Comburant, nec ut ira Dei confundat inermes.
Sed cordis scrutator oves deserta petentes
Errantesque diu proprio revocavit amore,
Vapulet ut meritas medicato verbere culpas,
Divinasque minas clementia patris amicans
Ubere materno lenivit verbera patris.
¶ Anglorum nutabat honor, regnique venustas,
Inclinata caput divini judicis iram
Senserat, et tumido timuit servire tyranno.
Pendula palma, diu dubio protracta favore,
Nunc risit Gallis, nunc risum contulit Anglis,
Verius applaudens istis, fallacius illis.
¶ Non tulit ulterius regem regnare furentem
Vindicis ira Dei; cecidit percussus ab illo
Cujus templa, domos, combusserat igne minaci.
A face fax oritur fati, flammæque furorem
Dum furit in regem febris vindicta fugavit.
Summus honos mors illa fuit, culmenque decoris
Attulit, in nullo quod erat superatus ab hoste,
Et tot erant hostes; victus victore superno,
Invictusque suos hostes moriendo momordit.
¶ Desinat ira tumens; discat servire potestas
Curvarique Deo, cui subdens colla resurget;
In surgendo cadet: brevis est humana potestas,
Et brevibus discat finem properare diebus.
¶ Planxerat extinctum regio viduata Johannem,
Degenerique timens sua subdere colla marito
Invocat Angligenas Anglorum lacrima vires;
Quo gravior dolor est, propior medicina doloris.
¶ Fulserat interea minimæ scintillula formæ,
Regia progenies, laceri spes unica regni,
Stella quasi succensa Deo, nubemque paternam
Exuit, irradians nova lux, stellasque fugatas
Fulmine de patrio pueri candela vocavit.
¶ O Pietas preciosa Dei! qui magna magistrat,
Fortia confundit, infirma levat, feritates
Fulminat, inflatos frangit, qui virginis alvo
Parvulus egressus, parvum suscepit alendum,
Ecclesiæque dedit gremio, quem matris in ulnas
Blanda parens recipit, nato blandita parentis
Obsequio, teneram capiti positura coronam.
Consilium cœleste fuit, quod consona sacri
Unio consilii regi parere puello
Non timuit, timuitque magis servire tyranno.
¶ Unio sacra novum maturat ad ardua regem;
Utilitas, pietasque, fides, concurrere fatis
Conjurant, cunctos[que] crucis signare sigillo;
Constiterant vexilla crucis, regemque novellum
Ambierant, bajulosque crucis crux alba decorans
Instabiles statuit fidei fundamine turmas.
¶ O famosa viri legatio, lima beati
Consilii, sidus recti, speculum rationis,
Gala dei cultor, curæ cristata galero!
Anglia victrices strinxit divinitus enses,
In commune bonum fundunt castella catervas
Signiferas, belloque truces, hostique minaces.
¶ Tempus erat quo terra novo pubescere partu
Cœperat, et teneras in crines solverat herbas,
Vellera pratorum redolens infantia florum
Pinxerat, et, renovas crispans coma primula silvas,
Innumeras avium revocavit ad organa linguas,
Gallica tum rabies aquilonis adhæserat Anglis,
Conjurata manus medios transire per Anglos,
Londoniis egressa suis, longasque latebras
Deseruit Lodovica cohors, comitesque superbos
Concessa pudet ire via, Montique Sorello
Subsidium ferale ferunt, nam quo magis illum
Major palma colit, graviorem ferre ruinam
Præcavet ira Dei; sed cautior inde recessit
Nobilitas comitum, fidei flos, regia virtus,
Cestrensis clipeus, donec frendente tumultu
Transierat rabies notum super ardua castrum,
Trigintæque latus, longique superbia belli
Fluxit ad obsessam matronæ nobilis arcem.
¶ Huc ubi fata feras fremitu flexere phalangas,
Fama volat, comitesque vocat, comitumque sodales
Cestrenses, crescitque seges clipeata virorum.
Regia signa micant, et conjurata sequuntur
Agmina, clara fides cum denique protrahit ora,
Candida signa crucis juvenum præstantia pingunt
Pectora, consolidat communis corda voluntas;
Vincendi spes una fuit, victoria cunctas
In facies præmissa patet, plausuque secundo
Permittunt socias in consona prælia dextras.
¶ Instabat sabbatum quo festa peracta superni
Flaminis, et trinum celebrat deitatis honorem
Vespera; sol prima lambebat lampade terras,
Cum tuba terribili dederat præludia cantu;
Bella movent ferrata duces, tot signa videres
Nutantes tremulo galeas superare volatu,
Tot clipeos vario mutantes signa colore.
Fulsit in armatas solaris gratia turmas,
Febricitabat iners, validabant corda feroces.
Venit ut attonitam constantia Martis ad urbem,
Terribili juvenes muros cinxere corona,
Rimanturque novos aditus; nec protinus urbem
Invasere duces; legatio mittitur intus
Sacrilegos revocare viros ad fœdera pacis.
Nec placuit pax ulla feris, convitia fundunt,
Legatos spernunt, adduntque minacia verba.
¶ Irrita legati postquam mandata reportant,
Magnanimos monet ire duces; tum bellicus horror
Infremuit, tonuere tubæ, mugitus in auras
Horridus insurgit, et, constrepitante tumultu,
Mirari poterant terrena tonitrua nubes.
Transiliunt fossas, transcendunt mœnia, portas
Confringunt, aditus rumpunt, et prælia miscent.
Et gladiis fecere viam; confusio digna
Sacrilegos sternit, fundunt examina Christi
Ferrigeras Mavortis apes, stimulisque timendis
Hostiles penetrant tunicas, squamosaque ferri
Texta secant, Saulosque trahunt ad vincula Pauli,
Reddidit et lepores conversio sacra leones.
¶ Hic Moyses in Monte stetit, Josue stationem
Fixerat hic solis, magnum premit inde Goliam
Funda lapisque David; vidit venerabile mirum
Lincolniensis honor, vidit maris ira trophæum
Imperiale Dei, vidit quadrangula pestis
In se victrici vexilla resurgere palma.
Vidit, et obstupuit, sensitque superbia belli
Pro puero pugnare Deum; nec sponte quievit,
Sed crepuit, pacisque pedes in colla recepit.
¶ O famosa dies, nostrum veneranda per ævum!
Bellica qua rabies latuit, qua pacifer ensis
Pestiferas domuit partes, qua gratia Christi
Dedecus extersit natum, fideique lavacro
Proluit inscriptum versa de fronte pudorem.
_Expliciunt versus de Guerra regis Johannis._
TRANSLATION.--A four-fold rage had crept upon the English
nation. Conspiring against its own government, and threatening
rebellion, the degenerate nation,--that it may change freedom
for slavery,--that it may fall from its high position, from
health to sickness, from safety to danger,--lays claim to ancient
laws under a hostile governor; not governed by the balance of
the law, not by the light of justice, nor by the fire of holy
counsel, nor yet by the file of reason, the will, in despite of
reason, darts like lightning into what is forbidden. ¶ The first
rage was conceived by its own pride; the second drew hither the
warlike legions of the French; the third conducted the black
troops of the Scots; the fourth bent the inconstant Welsh under
their light garment. ¶ The leagues of peace are broken, and the
threatening thunders follow; corrupt licence has crept into the
astonished towers, in which Faith lay hid and sick, and long
waiting a physician of health, at length by the generosity of
Christ she recovered, and drew out her bands to the wars. ¶ This
rage, by the sufferance of God, was permitted for a while, but
not allowed that the lightnings should burn the effeminate minds,
or that the anger of God should confound the defenceless. But
the Searcher of hearts recalled by his own love the sheep which
sought the desert and were long wandering, that he might correct
the deserving faults with a healing lash, and reconciling his
divine threats with paternal mercy, softened the corrections of
a father with the love of a mother. ¶ The honour of the English
bowed, and the comeliness of the Kingdom; its bending head had
felt the anger of the divine judge, and feared to serve the proud
tyrant. The balanced palm, long held out with dubious favour,
now smiled on the French, now turned its smile to the English,
applauding with more truth these latter, more deceitful to the
others. ¶ The anger of an avenging God allowed no longer the
furious king to reign; he fell, struck by him whose temples and
houses he had burnt with threatening fire. From this torch arises
the torch of fate, and the avenging fever, while it raged against
the king, drove away the rage of the flame. That death was the
highest honour, and was accompanied with the highest glory, that
he was in nothing overcome by the enemy, amidst so many enemies;
vanquished by the conqueror who is above, and unconquered, he
bit his own enemies even in his death. ¶ Let proud anger cease;
let power learn to serve and to bow to God, in submitting the
neck to whom she elevates herself; in rising she falls: short is
the power of man; and let it learn that the end approaches in
a few days. ¶ The widowed state had mourned the death of John,
and, fearing to bow the neck to a degenerate husband, the tear
of the English calls up the strength of England; the heavier the
grief, the nearer is its cure. ¶ Meanwhile had shone forth the
minute spark of most small beauty, the royal offspring, sole
hope of the torn Kingdom, a star, as it were, lit by God, it had
divested itself of the cloud that obscured its father, shining
forth a new light, and the candle of the child called back the
stars which had been scared by the father’s thunder. ¶ O precious
piety of God! who masters things that are great, confounds those
that are strong, raises such as are infirm, strikes ferocity with
lightning, breaks the haughty, who himself having come a child
out of the virgin’s womb, thus took a child to nourish, gave it
to the bosom of the Church, which the gentle parent receives in a
mother’s arms, rendered gentle by the obedience now newly born,
and about to place on its head a tender crown. It was heavenly
ordinance, that the consonant union of holy counsel feared not
to obey a boy king, and feared more to serve a tyrant. ¶ Sacred
union matures the new king to lofty things; utility, and piety,
and faith, swear together to concur with the fates, and to sign
them all with the seal of the Cross; they had raised together
the standard of the Cross and had ranged themselves round the
new King, and the white cross decorating the bearers of the
Cross fixed the unstable troops in the foundation of faith. ¶
O famous legation of a man! file of blessed council! star of
right! mirror of reason! helmet of the worship of God! crested
with the plume of care! England hath grasped her conquering
swords by impulse of God; her castles pour forth for the common
good the standard-bearing troops, fierce in war, and threatening
the enemy. ¶ What time the Earth had begun to bloom with new
fruitfulness, and had spread out her fresh grass in locks,
redolent of flowers had painted the young fleece of the fields,
and, whilst the new verdure curled the renascent woods, recalled
innumerable tongues of birds to the song; then the Gallic fury
had resolved to join the English of the north, the band having
conspired to pass through the midst of the English, having issued
from their London, the army of Louis deserted the long shades,
and the proud earls have the shame of going the way that is
open to them, and they carry fierce aid to Mountsorrel; for as
a greater victory attends it, so has the anger of God ordained
that it should not undergo a greater ruin. But with more caution
retires thence the nobility of earls, the flower of the faith,
the royal strength, the shield of Chester, until with roaring
tumult the rage of the others had passed the famous castle on the
heights (Nottingham), and the bank of Trent, and the pride of
long war had flown to the besieged citadel of the noble matron
(Lincoln). ¶ Hither when the fates have turned the fierce troops
with a murmuring noise, Fame flies, and calls the earls, and the
Cestrensian companions of the earls, and the shielded harvest of
men increases. The royal standards glitter, and the conspiring
bands follow, when clear faith at last draws out their faces,
the bright signs of the Cross paint the excelling breasts of
the youth, a common will strengthens their hearts; there was
one sole hope of conquering; victory was already stamped on all
their faces; and with a shout, ominous of good, they put forth
their associated hands to the accordant battle. ¶ The sabbath was
at hand in which the festival of the high God is performed, and
the eve celebrates the triune honour of the deity; the sun was
touching the earth with his first light, when the trumpet with
its terrible song had given the flourish; the leaders move iron
war; many were the standards you might see with tremulous flight
above the nodding helms, many the shields changing their ensigns
with various colours. The beauty of the sun shone upon the armed
troops; the coward became feverish; the brave strengthened their
hearts. When the constancy of war came to the astonished town,
the youth encircled the walls with a fearful wreath, and seek new
approaches; nor do the leaders immediately attack the city; a
legation is sent in to summon the sacrilegious men to the league
of peace. Yet no peace satisfied these fierce men; they utter
insults, despise the messengers, and add threatening words. ¶
When the messengers bring back the angry message, the leaders
order their bold followers to the attack; then the horror of
war roared, the trumpets thundered, a fearful noise rose into
the air, and in the resounding tumult the clouds might wonder
at earthly thunders. They leap over the fosses, mount over the
walls, break the gates, force the passages, and join battle. And
they made way with their swords; a merited confusion strikes the
sacrilegious men; the hives of Christ send forth the iron-girt
bees of war, and with fearful stings they penetrate the hostile
shirts, and cut the scaly textures of iron, and draw Sauls to the
chains of Paul, and the holy conversion turned hares into lions.
¶ Here stood Moses in the Mount; here Josua had fixed the station
of the sun; there the sling and stone of David overcome the great
Golias; the honour of Lincoln sees the venerable wonder; the
rage of the sea sees the imperial trophy of God; the four-fold
plague sees the standards rise again against it with conquering
palm. It saw, and was astonished; and the pride of war felt
that God fought for the boy; nor was it quiet by its own will,
but it burst, and received the feet of peace on its neck. ¶ O
famous day, to be venerated through our age! in which the rage of
war hid itself,--in which the peace-bringing sword subdued our
pestiferous divisions,--in which the grace of Christ washed out
the dishonour that had been brought forth, and, with the font of
faith, cleansed from the averted brow the disgrace which had been
inscribed on it.
* * * * *
All authorities agree in describing the great pride and avarice
and luxury of the nobles in general, but particularly of the
Romish prelates, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. The
following song is a fair specimen of the unsparing satire which was
universally directed against them by their contemporaries.
SONG ON THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE TIME.
[MS. Harl. No. 978. fol. 105, v^o. reign of Hen. III.]
_Contra avaros._
Quam sit lata scelerum et quam longa tela
Sub qua latent pectora vitiis anhela,
Musa vultu lugubri refer et revela,
Si curas cor spectantis tetigisse querela.
Pensant vota miseræ gentis et prophanæ
Non virtutis pretium, set lini vel lanæ;
Vespere quod agitur est infectum mane,
O curas hominum, o quantum est [in] rebus inane!
Est ad jura quilibet oculus obtusus;
Omnis ad injurias animus diffusus;
Ad fortunæ prodeunt aleas et usus
Mille hominum spes et rerum discolor usus.
Cum Sabinæ conferant saltum meretrici,
Pauperizent Arabes sub toga mendici,
Suo neget Tydeus fidem Polynici,
Spectatum admissi, risum teneatis, amici?
Singulos per singula si nosse labores,
Qui cultores otii, qui doli structores,
Qui ministri Mammonæ, qui Dei spretores,
Ætatis cujusque notandi sunt mores.
Puer pede certior, odit fores, foras
Fugit, minus minimis colit res, honoras,
Et iram post gaudia, breves rumpens moras,
Colligit et ponit, temere mutatur in horas.
A custode juvenis evolat et seris,
Gaudet equis, canibus, aleis, et meris,
Venator libidinis, auceps mulieris,
Utilium tardus provisor, prodigus æris.
Vir ut præsit civibus, imperet prætori,
Ut extendat prædia fune longiori,
Et impregnet scrinia censu pleniori;
Quærit opes et amicitias, inservit honori.
Multa circumveniunt senem casus duri,
Vel quod eget, abstinens, census perituri,
Vel quod tractat gelide res, ut prosint furi,
Dilator, spe longus, iners, avidusque futuri.
Sic ætates variat temporum respectus,
Transit ætas tenera cordis in affectus,
Vir in alta, sed ei quem torquet senectus,
Fervet avaritia miseraque cupidine pectus.
Omnis ad hoc hominum animus senescit,
Qui dum quærit extra se res, quærens se nescit,
Non rebus crescentibus ambitus quiescit;
Crescit amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit.
Sed hoc uno veniam vitium meretur,
Quod cum rerum dominis semper dominetur;
Tanto mens conspectius quæ nil reveretur
Crimen habet, quanto qui peccat major habetur.
Roma, turpitudinis jacens in profundis,
Virtutes præposterat opibus inmundis,
Vacillantis animi fluctuans sub undis,
Diruit, ædificat, mutat quadrata rotundis.
Vultus blandos asperat, quibus nunc arrisit;
Sinu fovet placido quos prius elisit;
Dum monetam recipit, tractat, et revisit;
Quod petiit, spernit, repetit quod nuper omisit.
Si non recte percipit quocumque modo rem,
Et quem primo didicit non oblita morem,
Morem testæ redolet, quæ diutiorem
Quo semel est inbuta recens servabit odorem.
Coram cardinalibus, coram patriarcha,
Libra libros, reos res, Marcum vincit marca,
Tantumque dat gratiæ lex non parco parca,
Quantum quisque sua nummorum servat in arca.
Si stateram judicum quæris, quæras ære,
Cum ab ære pendeat gratia stateræ;
Non quæras inducias, sed quod quærunt quære,
Unde habeas quærit nemo, sed oportet habere.
Commissus notario munera suffunde;
Statim causæ subtrahet, quando, cur, et unde,
Et formæ subjiciet canones rotundæ,
Quem res plus nimio delectavere secundæ.
Roma cunctos erudit ut ad opus transvolent,
Plus quam Deo Mammonæ cor et manus inmolent,
Sic nimirum palmites mala stirpe redolent,
Cui caput infirmum cetera membra dolent.
Calcant archipræsules colla cleri prona,
Et extorquent lacrimas ut emungant dona;
Nec, si ferunt miseri pauca, vel non bona,
Æquis accipient animis, donantve corona.
Si de contumelia cæperit quis conqueri,
Statim causæ porrigunt aurem, manum muneri;
Si semel acceperint rem pluralis numeri,
Cras poterunt fieri turpia sicut heri.
Diligit episcopus hilarem datorem,
Fas et nefas ausus post muneris odorem,
Nescius resumere, post lapsum pudorem,
Ejectum semel attrita de fronte ruborem.
Nec archidiacono minor turpitudo,
Quem semel arripuit serio vel ludo
Tenet, nec misertus est inopi vel nudo;
Non missura cutem nisi plena cruoris hirudo.
Decanus insidias natus ad æternas,
Ut exploret symbolum et res subalternas,
Mutans linguæ modulum et vestes hesternas,
Migrat in obscuras humili sermone tabernas.
Presbiter quæ mortui quæ dant vivi, quæque
Refert ad focariam, cui dat sua seque;
Ille sacri nominis, ille mentis æquæ,
Legem qui Domini meditatur nocte dieque.
Fulti verbis laici cleri delinquentis,
Non tam verbis inhiant quam famæ docentis:
Nec sensus sic flectere minis aut tormentis
Humanos edicta valent, quam vita regentis.
Regna movent principes statusque lascivi,
Ut ducant exercitus, pœnam donativi
Infligentes rustico miseroque civi;
Quicquid delirant reges plectuntur Achivi.
Qui regni vel curiæ curis accinguntur,
Dum arrident detrahunt, et dum blandiuntur
Jacturam vel dedecus semper moliuntur;
Nulla fides pietasve viris qui castra sequuntur.
Si te civis percipit, demollit ut urat,
Si dena contuleris mutuum futurat,
Te de tuo submovet, percipe, dum durat;
Pone merum et talos pereat, qui crastina curat.
Si quis ad forensium domos devolutus
Censum palam deferat, et minus astutus,
Nam cum cubans dormiet fessus et imbutus,
Vivitur ex rapto, non hospes ab hospite tutus.
Sic raptus, insidiæ, dolus, et simultas
Reddunt gentes devias, miseras, et stultas;
Sic inescant omnium mentes inconsultas
Ambitus, et luxus, et opum metuenda facultas.
Sed quid confert miseris luxus aut potestas
Qui spretis virtutibus colunt res funestas,
Aurum, gemmas, purpuram, et opes congestas?
Cum labor in dampno est, crescit mortalis egestas.
Quid ad rem, de purpura, gemmis, auro, rure?
Assunt cum divitiis odia, jacturæ,
Placita, jejunia, metus, et de jure
Insompnes longo veniunt ex agmine curæ.
Regnat pauper tutius quam rerum collator,
Qui, dum rapit domini gratiam delator,
Vel onustum spoliat prudens spoliator;
Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator.
Sæpe vivunt gratius rebus destituti,
Sub exili tegete lateris aut luti,
Quam in regum domibus mollibus induti;
Serviet æternum qui parvo nesciet uti.
Sed si quæris copiam veræ facultatis,
Rejice superflua, cole quod est satis,
Exue divitias, nudus cede fatis;
Tolle moram, nocuit semper differre paratis.
Si dum iter arripis ad utiliora,
Spem metus dissuadeat, vel successus mora,
Animum ne revoces, nec reflectas lora,
Grata superveniet quæ non sperabitur hora.
Thesaurizes illud quo non potes abuti,
Curam gerens inopis, cæci, claudi, muti;
Animæ, non animo servias vel cuti,
Pauca voluptati debentur, plura saluti.
Nemo regis solio tutus, vel asylo,
Cum nec lingua nequeat exprimi vel stilo
Quam sub fato pendulo vicinoque pilo,
Omina sunt hominum tenui pendentia filo.
Prospere dum navigas æquoris extremum,
Pensa non præsentia, sed futura demum,
Et puppim considerans, non proram vel remum,
Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum.