Engleis, Tyeis, Franceis, Normant,
Omnes generaliter;
Ut vix nullus excludatur.
Ita capa declinatur,
Sed mantellus aliter.
Adhuc primo recens anno,
Nova pelle, novo panno,
In arca reconditur;
Recedente tandem pilo,
Juncturarum rupto filo,
Pellis circumciditur.
Sic mantellus fit apella;
Ci git li drap, e la pel là,
Post primum divortium;
A priore separata
Cum secundo reparata
Transit in consortium.
Quod delictum dices majus?
Istud palam est contra jus:
Nam si nupsit alteri,
Conjugium est violatum,
Dum fit novo copulatum
Reclamante veteri.
N’est de concille, ne de sene,
Deus dras espuser à une pene,
E si nus le juggium;
Permittunt hoc decreta? non:
Sed reclamat omnis canon
Non esse conjugium.
Pannus primum circumcisus,
Viduatus et divisus
A sua pellicula,
Jam expertus Judaismum,
Emundatur per baptismum
A quacumque macula.
Circumcisus mundatusque,
Est adeptus utriusque
Legis testimonium;
Quem baptismus emundavit,
Cum secunda secundavit
Pelle matrimonium.
Pilis expers, usu fractus,
Ex Esaü Jacob factus,
Quant li peil en est chaü,
Inversatur vice versa,
Rursus idem ex conversa
Ex Jacob fit Esaü.
Pars pilosa foris paret,
Sed introrsus pilis caret
Vetustas abscondita;
Datur tamen, k’il n’i eit perte,
Servienti, pur deserte,
Mantellus hypocrita.
TRANSLATION.--I have said, ye are gods; why should I omit the
service which should be said on festival days? Gods certainly
ye are, who can transform an old garment into the shape of a
new one.--The cloth, while fresh and new, is made either a cape
or mantle; but, in order of time, first it is a cape, after a
little space this is transformed into the other; thus ye “change
bodies.”--When it becomes old, the collar is cut off; when
deprived of the collar, it is made a mantle: thus, in the manner
of Proteus, are garments changed; nor is the law of metamorphosis
a new discovery.--With their shape they change their sex; the
primates of the church privately close up again what was before
torn; nor is it given, assuredly, till it has first undergone
the fortune of Tiresias.--When, at length, winter returns,
many engraft immediately upon the cape a capuce; then it is
squared; after being squared it is rounded; and so it becomes an
aumuce.--If there remain any morsels of the cloth or skin which
is cut, it does not want a use: of these are made gloves; a glove
is called in Greek “the placing of the hands.”--This is the
general manner they all make one robe out of another, English,
Germans, French, and Normans, with scarcely an exception. Thus
_cape_ is declined; but _mantle_ otherwise.--In the first year,
while it is still fresh, the skin and the cloth being both
new, it is laid up in a box; when, however, the fur begins to
be worn off, and the thread of the seams broken, the skin is
circumcised.--Thus the mantle is made a Jew; here lays the cloth,
there the skin, after the first divorce: being separated from
its former husband, after separation it passes in reparation
to marriage with a second husband.--But what will you say is a
greater crime? this is clearly against right; for if she have
married a second, the marriage is broken, when a new conjunction
is made in spite of the reclamations of the old partner.--It is
neither canonic nor wise to marry two cloths to one fur, and so
we judge it. Do the decretals permit this? No: on the contrary,
every canon declares, that it is no marriage.--The cloth having
been first circumcised, then widowed and separated from its skin,
now having experienced Judaism, is cleansed by baptism, from
every stain (_i. e._ it is dyed).--Being circumcised and cleaned,
and having obtained the testimony of both laws, he whom baptism
has cleansed, contracts a new marriage with a second skin.--Being
devoid of hair, and worn by use, from Esau having become Jacob,
when the hair is fallen from it, the process is inverted, and
again conversely from Jacob it becomes Esau.--The hairy part is
turned out, but the old part, concealed inwardly, is bare of
hairs. Now the hypocritical mantle, in order that there may be
nothing lost, is given to the servant for his wages.
* * * * *
We are now approaching the eventful period of the Barons’ wars.
The turbulent Welshmen were ever ready to seize an opportunity
of invading the Marches; and the following song, whether it were
composed by one of them, or be the work of one of the English who
took the opportunity of satirising them, gives us a fair picture of
the spirit in which they interfered.
THE SONG OF THE WELSH.
[From the Public Library of Leyden, MS. Vossius, No. 104, fol. 144,
r^o. of the 13th cent.]
Trucidare Saxones soliti Cambrenses
Ad cognatos Britones et Cornubienses;
Requirunt ut veniant per acutos enses,
Ad debellandos inimicos Saxonienses.
Venite jam strenue loricis armati;
Sunt pars magna Saxonum mutuo necati,
Erit pars residua per nos trucidati:--
Nunc documenta date qua sitis origine nati.
Mellinus veredicus nunquam dixit vanum;
Expellendum populum prædixit vexanum.
Et vos hoc consilium non servatis sanum;
Cernite fallaces quorum genus omne profanum.
Prædecessor validus rex noster Arturus
Si vixisset hodie, fuissem securus
Nullus ei Saxonum restitisset murus;
Esset ei[s] sicut meruerunt in prece durus.
Procuret omnipotens sibi successorem
Saltem sibi similem, nollem meliorem,
Qui tollat Britonibus antiquum dolorem,
Et sibi restituat patriam patriæque decorem.
Hoc Arturi patruus velit impetrare,
Sanctus [qui]dam maximus, Anglum ultra mare;
Scimus festum Martis kalendis instare,--
Ad natale solum Britones studeat revocare.
Virtuosos filii patres imitantur;
Sic Arturum Britones virtute sequantur:
Quam probo, quam strenuo monstrant procreantur;
Ut fuit Arturus sic victores habeantur!
Regnabat Parisius potestas Romana,
Frollo gygas strenuus, cujus mens ursana;
Hunc Arthurus perimit, credit fides sana,
Testis tentorium sit et insula Parisiana.
Insanit qui Britones necat generosos;
Videtur quod habeat sic eos exosos,
Namque per invidiam clamat odiosos
Semper et assidue, quos audit victoriosos.
Ex hac gente iiij^{or} sunt imperatores,
Arthurus, Broinsius, fortes bellatores,
Constantinus, Brennius, fere fortiores.
Hii monarchiam tenuerunt ut probiores.
Solum suum Karolum Francia præjectat;
Et Ricardum Anglia probitate jactat;
Paucitatem numerus major labefactat,
Virtutem regis quia quadrupla gloria mactat.
Istis suis finibus contigit regnare;
Illis duces, præsides, reges triumphare,
Quibus nullo merito se possint æquare;
Est quam regnare longe plus induperare.
TRANSLATION.--The Cambrians, who are used to slay the Saxons,
salute their relations the Britons and Cornish-men: they require
them to come with their sharp swords to conquer their Saxon
enemies.--Come now, vigorously, armed with coats of mail; a
great part of the Saxons are fallen in mutual slaughter, the
remainder shall be slain by us: now is the time for you to show
of what blood you are sprung.--The soothsayer Merlin never said
a thing that was vain; he foretold that the mad people should
be expelled. And you do not keep this wise counsel; observe
deceitful people of whom the whole race is accursed.--If our
valiant predecessor, King Arthur, had been now alive, I am sure
not one of the Saxon walls would have resisted him; he would
have been hard to them, spite of their prayers, as they have
deserved.--May the Omnipotent procure him a successor only
similar to him, I would not desire a better, who may deliver
the Britons from their old grievance, and restore to them their
country and their country’s glory.--May it please the uncle of
Arthur to obtain this for us, a certain very great saint, [to
send] the Englishman over the sea; we know that his festival
is approaching on the kalends of March (St. David’s day), may
he make it his study to recall the Britons to their native
land.--Sons imitate their virtuous fathers, so let the Britons
take Arthur for their example in valour; they show from what a
good and brave man they are descended; as Arthur was, so let them
be, conquerors!--The Roman power reigned at Paris, the bold giant
Frollo, with the bearish mind; him Arthur slew: every person
of good faith believes it: witness the tent and the Parisian
island.--He is a madman who kills the noble Britons: it seems
that he holds them thus hated; for he invidiously proclaims them
hateful always and incessantly, who he hears are victorious.--Of
this nation there have been four great commanders, Arthur and
Broinsius, powerful warriors; Constantine and Brennius, more
powerful, if it were possible; these held the monarchy by
reason of their being the best.--France can only boast of her
Charlemaine; and England glories in the valour of King Richard;
a larger number overcomes a smaller, because a four-fold glory
increases the valour of the King.--To these latter it was granted
to reign within their own bounds; to the others, to triumph,
over commanders, governors, and kings, with whom they can in no
respect claim equality: it is a far greater thing to command,
than to reign.
* * * * *
The following fragment of what appears once to have been a long
ballad, made to be sung in the halls of the Barons, seems to have
been written soon after the disturbances in London in 1263, though
there is not enough preserved to enable us to determine the precise
occasion on which it was composed. Several nobles are here joined
together, who afterwards took different sides.
THE SONG OF THE BARONS.
[A roll of parchment, of the 13th cent. in a private library.]
* * * *
Mès de Warenne ly bon quens,
Que tant ad richesses et biens,
Si ad apris de guere,
En Norfolk en cel pens[is]
Vint conquerrant ses enemis,
Mès ore ne ad que fere.
Sire Jon Giffard deit bien nomé,
Que n’out gueres un pem ... é
En cele chivauchée;
E si fu touz jors à devant,
Prus e sages et pernant,
E de grant renomée.
Et Sire Jon D’Ayvile,
Que onques ni aima treyson ne gile,
Fu en lur conpanie;
Et sire Peres de Montfort,
Si tint bien à lur acord,
Si out grant seignurie.
Et de Cliffort ly bon Roger
Se contint cum noble ber,
Si fu de grant justice;
Ne suffri pas petit ne grant,
Ne arère ne par devant,
Fere nul mesprise.
Et Sire Roger de Leyburne,
Que sà et là sovent se torne,
Mout ala conquerrant;
Assez mist paine de gainer,
Pur ses pertes restorer,
Que Sire Edward le fist avant.
Mout furent bons les barons;
Mès touz ne sai nomer lur nons,
Tant est grant la some:
Pur ce revenk al quens Simon,
Pur dire interpretison,
Coment hom le nome.
Il est apelé de Monfort,
Il est el mond et si est fort,
Si ad grant chevalerie;
Ce voir, et je m’acort,
Il eime dreit, et het le tort,
Si avera la mestrie.
El mond est veréement;
Là ou la comun à ly concent,
De la terre loée;
C’est ly quens de Leycestre,
Que baut et joius se puet estre
De cele renomée.
Ly eveske de Herefort
Sout bien que ly quens fu fort,
Kant il prist l’affère:
Devant ce esteit mult fer,
Les Engleis quida touz manger,
Mès ore ne set que fere.
Et ly pastors de Norwis,
Qui devoure ses berbis,
Assez sout de ce conte;
Mout en perdi de ses biens,
Mal ert que ly lessa riens,
Ke trop en saveit de honte.
Et Sire Jon de Langelé,
Soune chose fu gainé,
Deheiz eit que l’en pleine!
Tot le soen en fist porter
De Cliffort mi Sire Roger,
Ne vout que rien remeine.
Ne à Sire Mathi de Besile
Ne lesserent une bile,
En champ u en vile.
Tot le soen fu besilé,
E cointement fu detrussé
Par un treget sanz gile.
Mès mi Sire Jon de Gray
Vint à Lundres, si ne sai quoi,
Que must une destance
Par entre Lundres et ly,
Que tot son hernois en perdi,
Ce fu sa meschance.
Et Sire Willem le Latimer
Vint à Lundres pur juer,
* * * *
TRANSLATION.--But the good Earl of Warenne,--who has so much
riches and property,--and has skill in war,--in Norfolk in this
thought--he came conquering his enemies,--but now he has nothing
to do.
Sir John Gifford ought well to be named,--who had scarcely a
...--in this riding-bout;--and he was always forward,--valiant
and wise, and active,--and of great renown.
And Sir John Dayville,--who never loved treason or guile,--was in
their company;--and Sir Peter de Montfort,--he held firm to their
agreement,--and had great seignory.
And the good Roger de Clifford--behaved like a noble baron,--and
exercised great justice;--he suffered neither little nor
great,--neither behind or before,--to do any wrong.
And Sir Roger de Leyburne,--who often turns him on this side and
on that,--made great progress conquering;--he laboured much to
gain,--to restore his losses,--which Sir Edward had caused him
before.
Right good men were the barons;--but I cannot tell all their
names,--the number is so great:--therefore I return to Earl
Simon,--to give the interpretation,--what is his name.
He is called de Montfort;--he is in the world (_monde_), and he
is strong (_fort_);--and he has great chivalry:--this is true,
and I agree to it,--he loves right and hates wrong,--and he shall
have the mastery.
He is truly in the world,--there where the commons are in accord
with him--which are praised of the land;--it is the Count of
Leicester,--who may be glad and joyous--of this renown.
The Bishop of Hereford--knew well that the Earl was strong,--when
he took the matter in hand;--before that he (the bishop) was very
fierce;--he thought to eat up all the English;--but now he does
not know what to do.
And the pastor of Norwich,--who devours his own sheep,--knows
enough of this story;--he lost much of his goods;--it is pity
they left him anything,--who was too much acquainted with shame.
And Sir John de Langley,--his property was gained,--cursed
be he who complains of it;--all he had my lord Roger de
Clifford--caused to be carried away;--he would let nothing remain.
Neither to Sir Matthew de Besile--did they leave one
farthing,--in country or in town.--All his property was
ravaged,--and neatly was he stripped--by a ‘treget’ without guile.
But Sir John de Gray--came to London, and some thing or
other--made a quarrel--between London and him,--that he lost all
his harness;--that was his mischance.
And Sir William le Latimer--came to London to play, * * *
* * * * *
The following satyrical song seems to have been written on the
occasion of the intermediation of Louis IX. of France, between the
contending parties in England, in the beginning of the year 1264.
Much of its point consists in a rather gross play upon words which
cannot always be translated; it is written in a very broad dialect;
and the numerous instances of bad French, which are observed in it,
were, no doubt, committed intentionally, to increase the hilarity
of the listeners, at the expense of the English and their King.
SONG OF THE PEACE WITH ENGLAND.
[From a MS. of the thirteenth century, in the Bibl. du Roi, at
Paris, No. 7218, fol. 220, v^o.]
Or vint la tens de May, que ce ros panirra,
Que ce tens serra beles, roxinol chanterra,
Ces prez il serra verdes, ces gardons florrirra;
J’ai trova à ma cul .j. chos que je dirra.
De ma ray d’Ingleters qui fu à bon naviaus,
Chivaler vaelant, hardouin, et léaus,
Et d’Adouart sa filz qui fi blont sa chaviaus,
Mai covint que je faites .j. dit troute noviaus.
Et de ce rai de Frans, cestui longue baron,
Qui tenez Normandi à tort par mal choison;
Lonc tens fout-il croupier sor Parris son maison,
Qu’il onc for por .i. gaire ne chauça d’asperon.
Sinor, tendez à mai; ne devez pas rier:
Ce navel que je port doit tout le mont crier.
L’autr’ier je fi à Londres une grosse concier;
Là ne movra baron la meilleur ne la pier,
Que tout ne fout venez à ce grand plaidement.
Là arra fet tel chos, je craie vraiement,
Qu ’i farra rois François .i. grant poentement
De ce terres qu’il tient contre le Glaise gent.
Sinor, lonc tens fout-il que Mellins profita
Que Philippes de Frans, .i. sinor qui fi jà,
Conquerra tout ce ters quanqu’il fout par deçà,
Mès toute vois, dit je l’, qu’encore Glais l’arra.
Or sont-il vint le tans que Glais voura vauchier;
S’il trovez la François qui la voura groncier,
Qui parra si froirrous d’espé ou de levrier,
Qu’il n’arra talant por gondre Glais grondier.
Le bon rai d’Ingleter se traina à .i. part,
Li et Trichart sa frer irrous comme lipart.
Il suspire de cul, si se claima à l’art,--
“Hui Diex! com puis-je voir de Normandi ma part?”
“Ne vous maie mi,” dit la conte à Clocestre,
“Vous porra bien encors; tel chos poistron bien estre,
Se Diex salva ma cul, ma pié, et ma poing destre,
Tu sarra sus Parris encore troute mestre.”
La cont Vincestre dit au buer rai d’Ingletiere,
“Rai, rai, veus-tu sivier? Festes mouvoir ton guere,
Et je te conduira trestout ton gent à foire:
Tu porras Normandi à ce pointes conquerre.”
“Se je pois rai François à bataille contrier,
Et je porrai mon lance desus son cul poier,
Je crai que je ferra si dourrement chier
Qu’il se brisa son test, ou ma cul fu rompier.
Je prendrez bien droitur, se je puis, à Diex poise,
Quant j’arra en mon main Normandi et Pontoise;
Je ferra soz Parris achier mon gent Gloise,
Puis vondrai prender Frans, maugré conte d’Angoise.
Par la .v. plais à Diex, François maubali sont;
Si g’i la puis grapier, certes il chateront.
Quant Inglais irront là, mult bahot i serront;
Par la mort Dieu! je crai que toutes s’enfuiront.”
Sir Symon à Montfort atendi ce navel,
Doncques sailli à piez; il ne fout mie bel.
A dit à rai Inglais, “Par le cors saint Anel!
Lessiez or cesti chos:--François n’est mi anel.
Se vous aler seur leus, il se voudra dafandre:
Toute ta paveillons metra feu à la cendre.
Il n’a si vaelant qui l’ose mi atendre;
Mult sarra maubali qui le François puet prendre.”
“Qoi dites-vous, Symon?” pona Rogier Bigot;
“Bien tenez-vous la rai por binart et por sot?
Fout insi hardouin que vous sone plus mot,
Ne te pot besoner por vostre mileur cot!”
“Sir Rogier,” dit la rai, “por Dieu, ne vous chaele!
Ne sai mi si irrous contre ce merdaele.
Je ne dout mi Françoys tout qui sont une mele;
Je farra ma talent comment la chos aele.
Je pandra bien Parris, je suis toute certaine;
Je bouterra le fu en cele eve qui [fu] Saine;
La moulins arderra; ce fi chos mult gravaine
Se n’i menja de pain de troute la semaine.
[P]ar la .v. plais à Diex, Parris fout vil mult grant
Il i a .i. chapel dont je fi coetant;
Je le ferra portier, à .i. charrier rollant,
A Saint Amont à Londres toute droit en estant.
Quant j’arra soz Parris mené tout me naviaus,
Je ferra le moustier Saint Dinis la Chanciaus
Corronier d’Adouart soz sa blonde chaviaus.
La voudra vous toer de vaches à porciaus.
Je crai que vous verra là endret grosse fest,
Quant d’Adouart arra corroné France test.
Il l’a bien asservi, ma fil; il n’est pas best;
Il fout buen chivaler, hardouin, et honest.”
“Sir rai,” ce dit Rogier, “por Dieu à mai entent;
Tu m’as percé la cul, tel la pitié m’a prent.
Or doint Godelamit, par son culmandement,
Que tu fais cestui chos bien gloriousement!”
_Explicit la pais aus Englois._
TRANSLATION.--Now comes the time of May, when the rose will
open,--when the seasons will be fair, and the nightingale
sing,--the fields will be green, and the gardens will bloom;--I
have found behind me a thing which I will relate.
Of my King of England, who is in a good ship,--a valiant knight,
hardy, and loyal,--and of Edward his son, who hath flaxen
hair,--it pleases me to make a saying which is quite new.
And of that King of France, that long baron,--who held Normandy
wrongfully by ill event;--long time did he settle his house upon
Paris,--that he never but for a war alone put on his spur.
Lords, attend to me; you must not laugh:--all the world ought to
cry this news which I bring.--The other day there was at London
a great assembly;--there no baron, from the best to the worst,
would move,
But they would all come to this great debating.--There would have
been done such a thing, I believe truly,--that it would have
caused the French King a great fright--concerning the lands which
he holds against the English people.
Lords, it is a long time since Merlin prophecied--that Philip of
France, a lord who was formerly,--should conquer all the land,
such as it is, on this side;--but, at all events, I say it, the
English will still have it.
Now is come the time that the English would make an inroad,--if
he should find the French inclined to grumble,--who would appear
frightened by swords and by greyhounds(?),--that he would have no
courage to grumble against the English.
The good King of England drew himself on one side,--he and
Richard his brother, as angry as leopards.--He sighs from behind,
and so cries with alacrity,--“O God! how may I have my part of
Normandy?”
“Do not disturb yourself at all,” said the Earl of
Gloucester,--“you may still do it; such things may still
easily be,--if God preserve my backside, my foot, and my right
fist,--thou shalt still be entire master over Paris.”
The Earl of Winchester said to the noble King of England,--“King,
King, wilt thou follow? Set agoing the war,--and I will conduct
thee all thy people in abundance:--at this juncture thou wilt be
able to conquer Normandy.
“If I can constrain the King of France to a battle,--and I can
strike him with my lance behind,--I think that I shall make him
fall so hard--that he will break his head, or my tail will be
broken.
“I will take good right, if I can, with God’s will,--when I shall
have in my hand Normandy and Poitou,--I will make my English
people approach to Paris,--and then I will go to take France in
spite of the Earl of Anjou.
“By the five wounds of God! the French are in bad case;--if I
can lay hold upon them, truly they shall be punished.--When the
English go there, there will be a great disturbance;--God’s
death! I think they will all fly away.”
Sir Simon de Montfort heard this speech,--then he leaped on his
feet; he did not look very handsome.--Says he to the English
King, “By the body of the holy Lamb!--now let this thing alone;
the Frenchman is not a lamb.
“If you attack them, they will defend themselves:--he will burn
all thy tents to ashes.--There is no man so valiant who dare wait
for him;--they will be in ill case whom the Frenchman can catch.”
“What is that you say, Simon?” replied Roger Bigot;--“do you take
the King for a simpleton and a fool?--if you are so bold as to
say another word,--you will not serve yourself with your best
coat.”
“Sir Roger,” said the King, “for God’s sake! dont be in a
heat;--I am not so angry against this scamp.--I dont care half a
farthing for all the French that are;--I will do as I like, let
the matter go as it will.
“I will easily take Paris, I am quite certain;--I will set fire
to the river which is called Seine;--I will burn the mill; this
will be a very grievous thing,--if they eat no bread all the week.
“By the five wounds of God! Paris is a very great city!--There is
a chapel, of which I am desirous;--I will cause it to be carried
in a rolling cart,--straight to Saint Amont in London, just as it
stands.
“When I have led all my ships to Paris,--I will cause the
Chancellor in the monastery of St. Denis--to crown Edward on his
flaxen hair.--There I will kill for you cows and pigs.
“I believe that you will see there a great feast,--when France
shall have crowned Edward’s head. He has well deserved it, my
son; he is no fool;--he is a good knight, brave, and courteous.”
“Sir King,” said Roger, “for God’s sake, listen to me;--thou hast
pierced me behind, so much has pity overcome me;--Now may God
Almighty ordain by his commandment,--that thou perform this thing
very gloriously!”
* * * * *
The decisive battle of Lewes, in 1264, was the subject of great
exultation amongst the adherents of Simon de Montfort. The
following song, in English, is directed against the king’s brother,
Richard Earl of Cornwall, who had become very unpopular by his
foreign schemes of ambition. He took shelter at a windmill, after
he saw the king’s party defeated.
SONG AGAINST THE KING OF ALMAIGNE.
[MS. Harl. No. 2253, fol. 58 v^o, of the reign of Edw. II.]
Sitteth alle stille ant herkneth to me:
The Kyn of Alemaigne, bi mi leauté,
Thritti thousent pound askede he
For te make the pees in the countré,
ant so he dude more.
Richard, thah thou be ever trichard,
trichen shalt thou never more.
Richard of Alemaigne, whil that he wes kyng,
He spende al is tresour opon swyvyng;
Haveth he nout of Walingford o ferlyng:--
Let him habbe, ase he brew, bale to dryng,
maugre Wyndesore.
Richard, thah thou be ever, etc.