he in assembly never so ... of hand,--the learned (the clergy) so
lead us about;--if I chance to go on the earth with a maid,--I
shall fall before them and learn their lay,--and rue all their
counsels.--But unless I be on the foremost day in the land
before them,--I shall not escape so clear of their score,--they
cry on me so grimly,--that I may not lead myself there with my
law,--on all kinds of oaths that they will give me,--their books
as....--They turn over books that are not broad,--and make men
a month mad;--from hurt I will save myself,--and fly from my
companion;--she recked not what it were,--but she had it.
First, there sit an old churl in a black gown,--of all who sit
there he seems to be most the lord,--and lays his leg along.--A
hem in a cloak with hanging sleeves,--and more than forty before
him to write my bales,--in sins if I sung:--they pink with their
pens on their parchment,--and say I am briefed and brought in--of
all my fair wealth.--They are all ready to read my sorrow--there
I must out of respect give some bribe,--and gratefully thank
them.--Shall I thank them there before I go?--Yea, the master
and his men both.--If I am accused in their writing,--then am I
back-bitten,--for many men they make to know--woe from women.
Yet there sit somnours six or seven,--misjudging men all
alike,--and reach forth their roll;--herdsmen hate them, and each
man’s servant,--for every parish they put in pain,--and clatter
with their collar (?).--Now will each foolish clerk that is ...,
go to the bishop and buy bailywick;--there is no sense in his
head.--He comes creeping to the county court in a cope,--and
saying he hath proud privilege of the pope,--black and all
swollen.--Are they swollen for swearing (?)?--yea, the hatred
of hell be theirs!--for there they offer a book,--to say as I
baptism took;--they shall in hell on a hook--hang for it.
There stands up a yellow-man, and jogs with a rod,--and shouts
out aloud that all the assembly heard,--and calls Mag and
Mal;--and she comes be-mothered as a moor-hen,--and shrinks
for shame, and is ashamed on account of the men,--un-comely
under petticoat.--She begins to screech, and screams anon,--and
says, “by my gabbing, it shall not go so,--and that be on you
all;--that thou shalt wed me and have me to wife.”--But I would
rather with law lose my life,--than so fall at their feet.--Shall
I fall at the feet of my foes?--Yea, many she deceiveth so.--I
am there threatened by thralls,--who sit black and covered with
sweat,--there I must take me a command,--before I go home.
Such merchandise I buy at the chapter,--that makes many thrifty
men to be unthankful,--with very thin thanks:--and since I
go creeping to the consistory,--and fall at the foot of each
...,--theirs is the world’s joy,--since I played at the bishop’s
pleading.--But I had rather be drowned in the sea,--in sorrow
without sin.--At church and through the market like a dog I
am driven,--that I would rather be dead than so to live,--to
have care for all my kindred.--At the consistory they teach us
care,--and wish us evil and worse to fare;--a priest as proud
as a peacock--afterwards weds us both,--widely they work us
woe,--for women’s ware.
* * * * *
In the latter years of the thirteenth century, Edward became
involved in the Scottish wars; and the enmity of the two nations
was manifested in multitudes of songs, of which the greater part
are lost, although a few are preserved, and a fragment or two
of others are found in the old historians. The following song,
attributed in the several manuscripts to different writers, was (if
we may judge by the number of copies which remain,) very popular.
Different persons seem, from time to time, to have altered it and
added to it. It appears to have been composed in 1298, soon after
the sanguinary battle of Falkirk; but the latter stanzas, found
only in one manuscript, have apparently been added at a somewhat
later period.
SONG ON THE SCOTTISH WARS.
[MS. Cotton. Claudius, D. VI. fol. 182, v^o; of the beginning of
the fourteenth cent. (_C._ 1.)--MS. Cotton. Titus, A. XX. fol. 64,
v^o; of reign of Edw. III. (_C._ 2.)--MS. of Clare Hall, Cambridge,
of fourteenth cent. (_Cl._)--MS. Sloan. No. 4934, fol. 103, r^o;
a modern copy from a MS. not now known. (_Sl._)--MS. Bodl. Oxfd.
Rawl. B. 214, fol. 216, r^o; of the fifteenth cent.]
Ludere volentibus ludens paro lyram;
De mundi malitia rem demonstro miram;
Nil quod nocet referam, rem gestam requiram;
Scribo novam satyram, sed sic ne seminet iram.
Ira movet militum mentes modernorum,
Dum inermes detrahunt factis fortiorum;
VARIOUS READINGS.--2. _militia_, C. 2. & Cl. _demonstrans_, C.
2.--3. _perquiram_, Cl.--7. _sed vos non commoveant_, C. 1.
Te tamen non terreant dentes detractorum:
Cum recte vivas, ne cures verba malorum.
[Ira si duraverit, transit in livorem;
Livor non cohibitus agitat furorem;
Furor dies breviat, ducens in anguorem;
Ira odium generat, concordia nutrit amorem,
Amor orbis obiit, virus est in villa;
Prodiit ex odio pestis non pusilla; †10
Lator homicidii levavit vexilla:
Acrius invidia nichil est, nil nequius illa.
Invido nil nequius, nullus est qui nescit;
Nam de bono proximi dolor ejus crescit.
Unde justus proficit, hinc ipse tabescit.
Sincerum nisi vas, quodcumque infundis acescit.
Ut acescant igitur mentes malignorum,
Narrabo quæ noveram de gestis Anglorum.
VARIOUS READINGS.--8. Instead of this second tetrastich, the
Sloane and Cambridge MSS. have the four which are here given
in brackets.--[†7. _languorem_, Sl.--†9. _abiit_, Sl.--†12.
_Nequius ... nil est, nil acrius_, Sl.
Non verebor a modo voces invidorum.
Cum recte vivas, ne cures verba malorum.] †20
Malis inest proprium mala semper fari,
Validis detrahere, viles venerari. 10
Ex timore talium nolo vos turbari;
Laus est discretis a pravis vituperari.
Pravis enim displicet vitæ rectitudo:
Lex in eis læditur, et est lis pro ludo.
Ribaldorum requies est inquietudo;
Dum stultos revoco, quasi frigida ferra recudo.
Ferrum cudit frigidum quisquis obstinato
Consulit ut redeat de suo peccato;
Dicit enim sapiens sermone sensato,
Verba serit vento qui prædicat infatuato. 20
Prædicantur undique fraudes infidorum,
VARIOUS READINGS.--†19. _verebor animo_, Sl. _voces
malignorum_, Cl.]--9. _inest spiritum_, C. 2. _proprie_,
Cl.--10. _validos_, Sl.--11. _nubari_, Sl.--13. _sanctitudo_,
C. 1 and 2.--15. _reproborum_, C. 1.--16. _stultum_, C. 2.--18.
_suadet ut_, C. 1. _præcipit ut_, Sl. _ut fugiat_, Cl. _a suo_,
Sl.--19. _serato_, Sl.--21. _malignorum_, Cl.
Qui molestant Angliam viribus armorum;
Franci, Scoti, Wallici, potestatem quorum
Comprimat omnipotens qui continet alta polorum!
Polorum dispositor quem clamamus Deum,
Qui per multa populum protexit Hebræum,
Anglicis ex hostibus tribuat trophæum!
Mille viris præbere potest pincerna Lyæum.
Ut pincerna pluribus dat per velle potum,
Ita suis Dominus vires dat ad votum; 30
Edwardus rex inclitus istud habet notum;
Christo devotum studeat se tradere totum.
Totus Christo traditur rex noster Edwardus;
Velox est ad veniam, ad vindictam tardus;
Fugat adversarios tanquam leopardus;
Fama fœtet fatui, justus redolet quasi nardus.
VARIOUS READINGS.--24. _Destruat ipse Deus qui_, C. 1 and 2.
_possidet_, C. 2.--25. _clamavimus_, Sl.--26. _cuncta_, Cl.
_produxit_, C. 2.--29. _dare potest pot._ Cl. _paribus dare
possit p._ Sl. _sicut unus pluribus dat pincerna pot._ C.
1.--31. _illud habet_, Cl. et Sl.--34. _ad_ is omitted in C. 2
and Cl. In Sl. the two lines (34 and 35) are transposed.--35.
_Hostes fugat singulos t._ C. 1. _fugat hostes undique t._ C.
2.
Tanquam nardus redolet laus regis Anglorum,
Qui conatus reprimit hostium suorum;
Ipsum omnes timeant hostes Anglicorum:
Sæpe molossus ovem tollit de fauce luporum. 40
In luporum faucibus Angli sunt hiis annis;
Nam, devictis omnibus Walliæ tyrannis,
Scoti levant lanceas armati sub pannis;
In paucis annis oriuntur mira Johannis.
Johannes jam Scotiæ clemens rex et castus,
Regni tenens regimen, ut rex erat pastus,
Hunc tandem deposuit gentis suæ fastus.
Exulat ejectus de sede pia protoplastus.
Exulat et merito, quia, sicut legi,
VARIOUS READINGS.--36. C. _virtus redolet_, C. 1. _secet_, by
an error, for _fetet_, Sl. _istius redolet_, Sl. _fama replens
mundum fragrat velut optima n._ C. 2.--37. _quasi nardus_,
Cl. and Sl.--38, 39. _Qui regit rempublicam more Romanorum |
Innocentes erripit de manu pravorum_, C. 1. _Fama cujus attigit
fines seculorum; | Ipsum tr’imēt Scotici fures jumentorum_,
C. 2. _Dum conatus, &c._ Cl.--41. _faucibus hiis consistunt
annis_, Sl.--42. _devinctis_, Sl.--45. _J. rex Sc. quondam cl.
cast._ Cl. _quidem Scotiæ_, Sl.--47. _disposuit_, C. 1 et C.
2.--48. _sede sua_, C. 1 and Sl.--49. _Hic dum rexit Scotiam
prout dudum legi_, C. 1. _Hic dum sedem tenuit regnum d. l._
Sl. _Hic dum regnum tenuit in scriptis jam l._ Cl.
Spopondit homagium Anglicano regi; 50
Declinavit postea frango, frangis, fregi:
Omnia quæ pepigi prodendo pacta peregi.
Pactum prætergressus est princeps prænotatus,
Quando non compescuit pravorum conatus;
Vox in Rama sonuit, fletus et ploratus;
Mitis prælatus facit ignavos famulatus.
Ab ignavis famulis rex inhonoratur;
Sanctitas subvertitur, lex evacuatur;
Sæpe fit seditio, pax periclitatur.
Sit maledicta domus ubi quisque cliens dominatur! 60
Quando cliens imperat, et princeps obedit,
Tunc ruit respublica, requies recedit.
O quantos impietas inpunita lædit!
Inpius impunis semper se vincere credit.
Credebant duodecim Scotiæ prælati
VARIOUS READINGS.--50. _Quod fecit hom._ Cl. and Sl.--51. _sed
declinat_, C. 2.--55. _resonat_, Cl.--61-68, are omitted in
Cl.--64. _Inpius imprimis_, Sl.
Anglorum resistere magnæ probitati;
Ceciderunt igitur plures vulnerati.
Dixit bufo crati, “maledicti tot dominati!”
Dominantes plurimi sub duce tantillo,
Conspirant in Anglicos, rege tunc tranquillo; 70
Tandem simul obviant levato vexillo.
Flumina magna trahunt ortum de fonte pusillo.
De pusillis fontibus magni surgunt rivi;
Sic de gente Scotiæ conatus lascivi.
Plurimi propterea ducti sunt captivi:
Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi.
Plebs Achiva periit ad Dunbar in bello,
Ubi Scoti cæsi sunt Anglorum flagello.
Videres cadavera, velut in macello
Vilia vendentis, tunicato stricta popello. 80
Tunicatus populus multus et immanis,
VARIOUS READINGS.--68. _bufo cuncti_, Sl.--69. _sub dicto_, C.
1.--70. _Anglico_, Cl.--71. _obviat_, C. 1. _sibi obviant_, Sl.
_stulti levant lanceas armato v._ Cl.--74. _de Scotis miseris_,
C. 1. _de plebe Scotiæ_, Sl.--77. _ad Berwik_, C. 2.--80.
_Vilis_, C. 2. _strincta_, C. 2. et Cl. _cincta_, Sl.--81.
_inanis_, C. 1. _vilis et inanis_, Sl.
Qui solet detrahere viris Anglicanis,
Apud Dunbarre corruit, jam fœtet ut canis:
Sic faciunt stulti, quos gloria vexat inanis.
Vana fecit gloria populum fallacem
Diffiteri dominum Scotiæ veracem;
Facto tamen prælio veniunt ad pacem.
De fatuo quandoque facit fortuna sagacem.
Sagax est in prælio qui majori cedit;
Sed gens bruta Scotiæ cito fidem lædit. 90
Nemo potest tollere quod natura dedit:
Osse radicatum raro de carne recedit.
Recessit rex inclitus, parcens plebi tantæ;
Peragravit Scotiam turba comitante.
Angli castra muniunt, rege sic mandante;
Nam levius lædit quicquid providimus ante.
VARIOUS READINGS.--83. _cadebant in foveis_, C. 1. _cadebant
in prælio_, Sl.--85. _plebem contumacem_, C. 2. _facit ...
prophetam fal._ Sl.--86. _Edwardum contempnere dominum v._ C.
2.--88. _quemcunque facit_, Sl.--90. _Scotica_, C. 2.--92. _de
carne raro_, C. 1.--93. _recedit_, Sl. _rex igitur_, C. 1.--94.
_Scotiam pertransiit_, C. 1.--95. _rege procurante_, C. 1 and
Sl.--96. _prævidimus_, C. 1.
Regis providentia bella gubernantur;
Scoticani proceres Anglis subjugantur:
Statuuntur judices, leges renovantur;
Ipsæ etenim leges cupiunt ut jure regantur. 100
Rex ad regni regimen dignum deputavit,
Johannem Warenniæ, quem sæpe probavit.
Hic in quantum valuit leges observavit;
Elatos perdens, humiles in pace locavit.
Rex in pace rediit hiis ita patratis,
Comiti de Flandria succursurus gratis;
Magnam classem præparat tempestive satis;
Tolle moram, semper nocuit differe paratis.
Nec mora, conveniunt Scotici versuti;
Tactis Evangeliis sacris sunt locuti, 110
VARIOUS READINGS.--97. _valla_, C. 1.--98. _Scotiani_, C.
1.--99. _revocantur_, Sl. _prænotantur_, C. 1.--100. _ipse
rerum_, Sl.--102. _Johan Warenne_, C. 1.--103. _potuit Scotos
registravit_, C. 1. _valuit jura conservavit_, Sl.--104.
_prodens_, Sl. _levavit_, C. 1.--105. _in pace rex_, C.
1.--107. _Morari non patitur, navibus paratis_, C. 1. _Præparat
navigia tempestive satis_, Sl.--108. _deferre_, C. 1.
Quod Trentam non transient austro constituti:
Pauca voluptati debentur, plura saluti.
Scoticani proceres jurant omnes læte,
Et a rege singulis limitantur metæ:
Vide ne perjuri sint, et ruant in rete;
Nam miranda canunt, sed non credenda, poetæ.
Tunc rex mire credulus mare transfretavit,
Et Francos in Flandria potens expugnavit;
Senectutis inmemor multos non expavit.
Consilio pollet, cui vim natura negavit. 120
Non negavit Dominus robur et vigorem
Regi, quem constituit fore mundi florem;
Cujus acta singulos agunt in stuporem;
Quemvis namque potest animo sufferre laborem.
Labor novus oritur; Sathan suscitatur;
VARIOUS READINGS.--111. _Quod trugam non_, C. 2.--112. _P. v.
plura debent sal._ Sl.--113. _Per salutem regiam Scoti jurant
l._ C. 1 and Sl.--114. _singuli_, Sl.--115. _ac ruant_, C.
1.--119. _sententiæ immemor_, Sl.--120. _vis_, C. 2.--122.
_Regem, quem_, Sl.--123. _Ejus bella_, C. 1. _Actus ejus_,
Sl.--124. _namque animo potuit_, Sl.
Scotorum fidelitas procul effugatur;
Anglicorum probitas falso depravatur.
Arbitrii nostri non est, quod quisque loquatur.
Loquuntur ad invicem scurræ derelictæ;
“Ecce dantur Anglicis triumphales vittæ. 130
O! Guyllam de Wallia, nos ad ipsos mitte:
Loricam duram possunt penetrare sagittæ.
Omnes sagittarios nostros convocemus;
Ad custodem Scotiæ simul properemus.
Nam pro nostra patria fas est ut pugnemus:
Victorem a victo superari sæpe videmus.”
Custos ergo Scotiæ coarctatur nimis;
Et ad Strivelyne convenit gens corde sublimis;
Fraus occidit Anglicos, et ruunt in imis:
Non eodem cursu respondent ultima primis. 140
VARIOUS READINGS.--127. _Et Anglorum_, C. 1 and Sl.
_dampnatur_, Sl.--129. _turbæ de._ C. 2. _derilictæ_, C.
1.--131. _non ad_, Sl.--133. _Viros sag._ C. 1 and Sl. _omnes
con._ Sl.--134. _cito prop._ C. 2. This line and the following
are transposed in Sl.--135. _pat. est ut propugnemus_,
Sl.--138. _Strivelyn_, C. 1. _Strevelyn_, Sl. _properat gens_,
C. 2 and Sl.--139. _Defraudantur Anglici_, C. 2.
Primus pontem transiit comes dux Anglorum,
Penetrans audaciter cuneos Scotorum;
Sed seductus rediit, non ob vim virorum:
Fraus est materia multorum sæpe malorum.
Fraus effecit Anglicos rubore perfundi,
Dum suorum sanguinem passim vident fundi.
Reus fraudis Levenax est et Ricardus Lundi.
Quam brevis est risus, quam longaque lacrima mundi!
O mundi perfidia! quis te non miratur?
Dolus in domesticis latens occultatur; 150
Versutus pacifico semper adversatur:
Pastor oves minat baculo, lupus ore minatur.
Quid minatur barbara bruta gens et stulta?
Numquid hæc perfidia manebit inulta?
VARIOUS READINGS.--142. _audacter cuneas_, Sl.--144. _mater
multorum_, Sl.--145. _Fraus confecit_, C. 1. _robore_, Sl. _in
campo confundi_, C. 2.--146. _bello vident_, C. 1 and Sl.--147.
_le faux est et Ricardus secundi_, C. 1. _Letenax et_, C. 2.
_Reus fraus L._ Sl.--148. _usus quam_, C. 1. _longa lac._ C. 2
and Sl.--149. _O mundi malitia_, Sl.--151. _admiratur_, C. 1
and C. 2.--152. _bac. minat._ Sl.--153. _miraris_, Sl.--154.
_hæc injuria_, Sl. _hæc_ is omitted in C. 1.
Veniet rex Angliæ manu non occulta,
Multa super Priamo rogitans, super Hectore multa.
Multa sibi cumulat mala gens superba,
Anglicos ad prælia provocans acerba;
Verbera cum venient, tunc cessabunt verba:
Cum totum fecisse putas, latet anguis in herba. 160
[“Non latebit,” inquiunt, “nobis luce Phœbus;
Per nos ruent Anglici simul hiis diebus,
Nullus pervilibus percel speciebus.” (?)
Ludit in humanis divina potentia rebus.
O Dei potentia! te pro tuis peto!
Anglis in auxilium veni vultu læto!
Regis causam judicas, gratiam præbeto:
Tu sine principio non vincere falsa jubeto.]
Post hæc dux fallaciæ suum vocat cœtum,
VARIOUS READINGS.--157. _tibi cumulans_, Sl. _magna gens_,
C. 2.--158. _Nam fortes_, Sl.--159. _Numquid non intelligit
sapientis verba_, C. 1. _Non enim intel. sap. v._ C. 2.--160.
The eight lines which follow (included in brackets) are found
only in Sl.--161. _Statim dux fallacis_, C. 1. _Falsus d. f.
convocavit c._ Sl.
Sciens quod abierit rex noster trans fretum;
Cremare Northumbriam statuit decretum:
“Sæpe videmus,” ait, “post gaudia rumpere fletum.”
Lugeat Northumbria nimis desolata!
Facta est ut vidua filiis orbata.
Vescy, Morley, Somervile, Bertram sunt in fata:
O quibus, et quantis, et qualibet est viduata!
In hac, cum sit vidua, cunei Scotorum
Redigunt in cineres prædia multorum. 170
Willelmus de Wallia dux est indoctorum;
Gaudia stultorum cumulant augmenta dolorum.
Ad augmentum sceleris hactenus patrati,
Alnewyke dant ignibus viri scelerati;
Circumquaque cursitant velut incensati.
Electi pauci sunt, multi vero vocati.
VARIOUS READINGS.--165. _Luge nunc N._, Sl. _Northumbriæ_,
C. 1.--167. _V., Bertram, Sum., Merlaii_, C. 1. _Vessy ...
Borthram_, C. 2.--168. _in quantis_, C. 2. _es viduata_,
Sl.--169. _In hanc_, C. 1. _hac, ergo vid._ C. 2. _In te cum
sis_, Sl.--170. _in cinerem_, Sl. _Intrant et dant ignibus
prædia proborum_, C. 1.--172. _cumulat ... malorum_, C.
1.--173. _augmenta_, Sl.--174. _Alnewik_, C. 1. _Alnewyk_, Sl.
Multi quærunt mutuo qualiter sit factum,
Quod Newmonasterium non est igne tactum.
Dona spondent monachi, sed non solvunt pactum:
Sicut opus fuerat, sic res processit in actum. 180
Hujus rei gratia captivum ducerunt
Priorem cœnobii, quem tunc repererunt;
Captis rebus vacuas domos reliquerunt.
Munifici pauci, multi qui munera querunt.
Jam redit in Scotiam populus malignus;
Et Willelmo datum est militare pignus;
De prædone fit eques, ut de corvo cignus;
Accipit indignus sedem, cum non prope dignus.
Digno tandem principi litera præbetur,
In qua rei series tota continetur. 190
VARIOUS READINGS.--177. _sit actum_, Sl.--178. _Nōmonasterium
... sit_, C. 2. _Novummonasterium_, Sl.--179. _non tenent_,
C. 2.--180. _ad actum_, C. 2.--182. _invenerunt_, Sl.--183.
_domus_, C. 2.--184. _qui præmia_, C. 1 and Sl.--185. _suam
petit patriam pop._ C. 1. _suam petunt pat. pop._ Sl.--186.
_Et Wallensis accipit m. p._ Sl. _Et Wallensem accipit_, C.
1.--188. _quam non_, C. 2. _Si non_, Sl.--189. _Digno tamen_,
C. 1.
Si commotus fuerit, nullus admiretur:
Tranquillum nequit esse fretum, dum peste movetur.
Motus, suos milites sic cœpit affari:
“Adhuc vos pro patria decet præliari,--
Malo semel vincere, quam sæpe turbari:
Bella valent melius quam longa lite gravari,”
“Ne graveris,” inquiunt, “si Scotorum fures
Propriis capitibus acuant secures;
Unus Anglus perimet Scoticos quam plures.
Non est plaustelo barbati jungere mures.” 200
Vix est mure melior Walays, aut Gilmaurus,
Ad quorum victoriam nunquam crescet laurus;
Desunt enim robora, deestque thesaurus:
Bella movet citius cui desunt cornua taurus.
VARIOUS READINGS.--191. _Si turbatus_, C. 1 and Sl.--193. _Tunc
rex suos_, C. 1. _affare_, C. 2.--194. _detur præliari_.--195.
_Malo malos perdere, quam sic molestari_, C. 2. _Malos Scotos
perdere, quam sic conturbari_, Sl.--196. _volunt melius_, C.
1.--199. _perimet totum sicut plures_, C. 2. _Unus nam Anglicus
Scotos valet plures_, Sl.--200. _surgere mures_, C. 2. _mingere
m._ C. 1.--201. _Vix est murus melior mari ait(?) Gilm._ C. 1.
_melior Scotus Guilm._ Sl.--202. _Ad cujus vic. crescit_, C. 1
and Sl. _cresset_, C. 2.
Bello cadunt miseri die Magdalenæ;
Fere centum millia subdit rex arenæ;
Cæsorum cadaverum pascuæ sunt plenæ.
Oderunt peccare mali formidine pœnæ.
Pœnæ metu territus tergum dat tyrannus,
Cuï quondam placuit decurtatus pannus; 210
Fallax die prælii fugit ut trutannus.
Sæpe dat una dies quod totus denegat annus.
Una die miseri multi perimuntur;
Et Scotos qui fugerant Angli persequuntur;
Perforantur lanceis, vestesque tolluntur.
Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur.
Cadit, Waleys, tua laus, ut quid arma geris,
Ex quo gentem gladio tuam non tueris,
VARIOUS READINGS.--207. _cæsis cadaveribus_, C. 2 and Sl.--210.
_cui quidem_, Sl.--213. _Illa die plurimi Scoti per._ C.
1. _plurimi pravi puniuntur_, Sl.--214. _Fugientes miseros
Ang. per._ C. 1. _Fug. mis. Angl. prosequuntur_, Sl.--216.
_vaticinia_, Sl.--218. _Ex quo tuum populum tuens non tueris_,
C. 1. _Ex quo tuos gladio tutor non t._ Sl.
Jus est ut dominio tuo jam priveris.
Ast michi qui quondam semper asellus eris. 220
Eris in proverbium quod non præteribit;
Regnum tuum scissum est, et stare nequibit;
Potum quem paraveras, gens tua jam bibit.
Deridens alios, non inderisus abibit.
O res apta risui, patens hiis diebus!
Fortuna sub variis ludet speciebus.
Profugus de principe, de Juda fit Jebus.
Ludit in humanis divina potentia rebus.
Rebus sic ruentibus rura rex rimatur,
Et fures a foveis fugando venatur; 230
Omnis qui repertus est, gladio mactatur:
Exigit hoc justum, quod culpam pœna sequatur.
VARIOUS READINGS.--219. _Jam tuo dominio jus est ut pri._ C.
1. and Sl.--220. _acellus_, C. 2. In the Sl. MS. the song ends
with this line. In C. 1, it ends with l. 232, the last twelve
lines, however, being written by another and rather later hand.
The rest is found only in C. 2.--221. _scissum quod stare_, C.
1.--226. _ludis speciebus_, C. 1.--227. _Profugo sub p. ...
Gebus_, C. 1,--228. _divinis_, C. 1.--230. _a foveis fugat vel
ven._ C. 2. _Et suis_, C. 1.
[Consequenter redit rex, ut Francorum florem
Margaretam reginam ducat in uxorem;
Per hanc regna capiunt pacem pleniorem.
Ira cædem generat, concordia nutrit amorem.
Amor inter principes pullulans præclaros
Exulat a subditis gemitus amaros;
Jamque fit per nuncios firma pax non raros;
Hiis etenim rebus conjungit gratia caros. 240
Justus est gratiæ Scotis pars pusilla,
Quia non est impiis pax aut mens tranquilla.
Comyn, Karryk, Umfraville erigunt vexilla:
Acrius invidia nichil est, nil nequius illa.
Nequam sponte natio non vult obedire;
Regem cogit inclitum cum suis redire;
Jam timent qui necligunt ad pacem venire,
Sub gladio diræ mortis languendo perire.
Deperirent protinus patres et hæredes;
Nisi darent citius ad currendum pedes, 250
Fugientes renuunt villulas et ædes:
Idæos lepores puer exagitat Ganymedes.
Inter hæc rex Franciæ, mittens absque mora,
Regem rogat Angliæ pro treuga decora.
Annuit rex precibus, mox reflectens lora:
Grata superveniet quæ non sperabitur hora
Horam Scotis optimam fore quis ignorat,
In qua cessat gladius a plebe quæ plorat,
Rexque suos proceres unit et honorat.
Dum calor est et pulcra dies, formica laborat. 260
Post hos et hujusmodi bellicos labores,
Angli velut angeli semper sunt victores,
Scoticis et Wallicis sunt præstantiores;
Si vitam inspicias hominum sidereus (?) mores.
Quasi sus insurgeret leonis virtuti,
Sic expugnant Angliam Scotici polluti:
Et rex illos idcirco subdet servituti:
Serviet æterno qui parvo nesciet uti.]