men and young;--of many a thing that is in land,--whoever might
understand it,--thus have I told with tongue.
Rich and poor, bond and free,--that love is good, ye may
see;--love calls every man brother;--for that for which he may be
to blame,--forgive it him in charity,--although he do other.
Love we God, and may he love us all,--who was born in an oxe’s
stable,--and for us placed on the cross.--His sweet heart’s blood
he shed--for us, and bade us fairly--that we should be good.
Be we now good and steadfast,--so that we may at last--have the
bliss of heaven.--To God Almighty I pray,--let us never die in
sin,--to miss that joy.
But grant us all so to do here,--and live in love and good
manner,--the devil for to shame;--that we may all in company--see
him that bought us dearly,--in joy everlasting. AMEN.
* * * * *
Edward’s wretched favourite, Peter de Gaveston, was beheaded by
the Barons in the May of 1312. The two following songs exhibit the
general feeling of exultation which attended this execution. It is
scarcely necessary to say that they are parodies on two hymns in
the old church service.
SONGS ON THE DEATH OF PETER DE GAVESTON.
[MS. Trin. Coll. Cambr. O. 9. 38. 15th cent. on paper.]
I.
_De Petro de Gaverstone._
Vexilla regni prodeunt,
fulget cometa comitum,
Comes dico Lancastriæ
qui domuit indomitum;
Quo vulneratus pestifer
mucronibus Walensium,
Truncatus est atrociter
in sexto mense mensium.
Impleta sunt quæ censuit
auctoritas sublimium;
Mors Petri sero patuit,--
regnavit diu nimium.
Arbor mala succiditur,
dum collo Petrus cæditur:--
Sit benedicta framea
quæ Petrum sic aggreditur!
Beata manus jugulans!
beatus jubens jugulum!
Beatum ferrum feriens
quem ferre nollet sæculum!
O crux, quæ pati pateris
hanc miseram miseriam,
Tu nobis omnem subtrahe
miseriæ materiam!
Te, summa Deus Trinitas,
oramus prece sedula,
Fautores Petri destruas
et conteras per sæcula! AMEN.
II.
Pange, lingua, necem Petri qui turbavit Angliam,
Quem rex amans super omnem prætulit Cornubiam;
Vult hinc comes, et non Petrus, dici per superbiam.
Gens est regni de thesauri fraude facta condolens,
Quando Petrus de thesauro prodige fit insolens,
Quid ventura sibi dies pariat non recolens.
Hoc opus nostræ salutis, quod Petrus interiit;
Multiformis proditoris ars tota deperiit;
Ex nunc omen cor lætetur, quia væ præteriit.
Quando venit apta rei plenitudo temporis,
Est præcisum caput ei de junctura corporis;
Turbans turbas intra regnum nunc turbatur a foris.
Nulli volens comparari, summo fastu præditus,
Se nolente subdit collum passioni deditus;
De condigna morte cujus est hic hympnus editus.
Perdit caput qui se caput paribus præposuit:
Rite corpus perforatur cujus cor sic tumuit:
Terra, pontus, astra, mundus, plaudant quod hic corruit.
Trux, crudelis inter omnes, nunc a pompis abstinet;
Jam non ultra sicut comes, vel ut rex, se continet;
Vir indignus, morte dignus, mortem dignam sustinet.
Flexis ramis arbor illa ruit in proverbia;
Nam rigor lentescit ille quem dedit superbia;
Sic debet humiliari qui sapit sublimia.
Ædes Petri qua tenetur non sit fulta robore;
Sit prophanus alter locus, sit et in dedecore,
Quem fœdus cruor fœdavit fusus Petri corpore!
Gloria sit creatori! gloria comitibus
Qui fecerunt Petrum mori cum suis carminibus!
A modo sit pax et plausus in Anglorum finibus! AMEN.
TRANSLATION.--I. The banners of the kingdom go forth, the comet
of Earls shines, I mean the Earl of Lancaster, who tamed him whom
nobody else could tame; whereby the pestiferous one being wounded
by the blades of the Welsh, was disgracefully beheaded in the
sixth month. What the authority of the powers above willed has
been fulfilled; the death of Peter at last has been effected,--he
reigned much too long. The bad tree is cut down, when Peter is
struck on the neck:--Blessed be the weapon which thus approached
Peter! Blessed be the hand which executed him! blessed the man
who ordered the execution! blessed the steel which struck him
whom the world would not bear any longer! O Cross, which allowed
to be suffered this wretched misery, do thou take from us all
the material of misery. Thee, highest God in Trinity, we pray
earnestly, destroy and crush for ever the maintainers of Peter.
AMEN.
II. Celebrate, my tongue, the death of Peter who disturbed
England, whom the king in his love for him placed over all
Cornwall; hence in his pride he will be called Earl, and not
Peter.--The people of the kingdom was made sorrowful for the
fraud upon the treasure, when Peter becomes wastefully insolent
with the treasury, not bearing in mind what the future day may
produce for him.--This is the work of our salvation, that Peter
is dead; all the artfulness of the multifarious traitor has
perished; henceforth let the good omen rejoice our hearts, for
sorrow is past.--When the fulness of time which was fit for the
thing came, his head is cut off from the juncture of the body;
he who raised troubles within the kingdom is now troubled from
without.--He who was unwilling to have an equal, clothed in
the extreme of pride, against his will bends his neck to the
executioner; of whose merited death this hymn is set forth.--He
who placed himself as a head above his equals, loses his own
head; justly his body is pierced, whose heart was so puffed up;
both land, sea, stars, and world, rejoice in his fall.--Ferocious
and cruel among all men, he ceases now from his pomp; now he no
longer behaves himself like an earl, or a king; the unworthy man,
worthy of death, undergoes the death which he merits.--This tree
with its branches bent falls into a proverb; for the stiffness
which pride gave is softened; thus ought the ambitious and
aspiring man to be humbled.--May the house of Peter, in which he
is held, not be supported in strength; may the other place be
profane, and may it be in disgrace, which the filthy gore spilled
from Peter’s body has defiled!--Glory be to the Creator! Glory to
the Earls who have made Peter die with his charms! Henceforth may
there be peace and rejoicing throughout England! AMEN.
* * * * *
The events of the Scottish war during the reign of Edward II. were
not of a character to draw forth the songs of triumph which had
attended the campaigns of his father. The loss of his father’s
conquests, and the reverses of his own arms, while they produced
universal dejection, only tended to widen the breach which his
own folly had made between himself and his people. The following
song was made in 1313, immediately after the disastrous battle of
Bannockburn, where the Earl of Gloucester was slain. The writer,
while he laments the humiliation to which his country had been
reduced, glances from time to time at the evil counsels which had
led to it.
THE BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN.
[From MS. Cotton. Titus, A. XX., fol. 68 r^o. written in the reign
of Ed. III.]
_Quomodo comes Gloverniæ fuerat occisus apud Strivelyn, et Anglici
victi._
Me cordis augustia cogit mira fari,
Scotiæ quod Anglia cæpit subjugari:
Nova jam prodigia dicitur patrari,
Quando matri filia sumit dominari.
Regionum Anglia plurium matrona,
Cuï tributaria jam dabantur dona,
Proth dolor! nunc cogitur nimis esse prona
Filiæ, qua læditur materna corona.
Exiit per Angliam edictum vulgare,
Admonendo quempiam arma præparare,
Ut adiret Scotiam phalanx vendicare
Jura, vel injuriam posse vindicare.
Ad quod thema debeam nimis protelare:
Rex cæpit militiam suam adunare,
Inconsultus abiit Scotos debellare.
Ira sponte rediit nolens plus obstare.
Erant in excercitu plures generosi,
Milites in exitu nimis et pomposi;
Cum ad bellum venerant tot impetuosi,
Satis promti fuerant hostes animosi.
Animosi fuerant et hoc apparebat;
Cum partes certaverant, illa permanebat
Stabilis, sed fugiit quæ superbiebat.
Inproba succubuit, astuta vincebat.
Inauditus ingruit inter hos conflictus;
Primitus prosiliit Acteus invictus,
Comes heu! Gloverniæ dans funestos ictus;
Assistens in acie qui fit derelictus.
Hic phalangas hostium disrupi coegit,
Et virorum fortium corpora subegit;
Sed fautor domesticus sibi quem elegit,
Hic non erat putitus quando factum fregit.
Hic est proditorius vir Bartholomeus,
In cunctis victoriis quem confundat Deus!
Domino quod varius fit ut Pharisæus.
Hinc Judæ vicarius morte fiet reus.
Videns contra dominum hostes desævire,
Fingit se sex seminum longius abire;
Domino quod renuit suo subvenire,
Proditor hic meruit tormenta obire.
Plures sunt quem perperam comes est seductus,
Ut ovis ad victimam et ad mortem ductus,
Qui [sunt] per quos oritur tam vulgaris luctus,
Hoc satis cognoscitur per eorum fructus.
Quorum virus Anglia tota toxicatur;
Vulgaris justitia sic et enervatur;
Regale judicium per hos offuscatur;
Ex hoc in exilium fides relegatur.
Victa jacet caritas, et virtus calcatur;
Viret ingratuitas, et fraus dominatur;
Quicquid in hiis finibus mali perpetratur,
Dictis proditoribus totum inputatur.
Iste deceptorius vir non erat solus,
Per quem proditorius jam fiebat dolus;
Alter sed interfuit, quem non celet polus,
Et fiat ut meruit infernalis bolus.
Hujusmodi milites, regno pervicaces,
Sathanæ satellites, sunt nimis rapaces;
Regis si sint judices undique veraces,
Destruent veneficos suos et sequaces.
Capitis sententiam pati meruerunt,
Cum sponte militiam talem prodiderunt;
Qui fuerunt rustici, sicut permanserunt,
Comitis domestici fugam elegerunt.
Hii fraude multiplica virum prodiderunt,
Inpia gens Scotica quem circumdederunt;
Ipsum a dextrario suo prostraverunt,
Et prostrati vario modo ceciderunt
Fideles armigeri qui secum fuerunt;
Milites et cæteri secum corruerunt;
Cum sui succurrere sibi voluerunt,
Hostibus resistere tot non valuerunt.
Sic comes occubuit præ cunctis insignis,
Qui sua distribuit prædia malignis;
Sibi quisque caveat istis intersignis,
Jam fidem ne præbeat talibus indignis.
Ex hoc illi comites actibus periti,
Adhuc qui superstites sunt, fiant muniti,
Alias in prælio cum sistant uniti,
Ne sic proditorio telo sint attriti.
Cruciatur Anglia nimio dolore,
Tali quod versutia privatur honore,
Muniatur cautius mentis cum labore,
Error ne novissimus pejor sit priore.
Consulo comitibus adhuc qui sunt vivi,
Quod sint proditoribus amodo nocivi;
Sic et per industriam omnes sint captivi:
Anglici ad Scotiam fiant progressivi.
Credo verum dicere, non mentiri conor;
Jam cæpit deficere nostri gentis honor;
Comitem cum lividus mortis texit color,
Angliæ tunc horridus statim crevit dolor.
Nostræ gentis Angliæ quidam sunt captivi;
Currebant ab acie quidam semivivi;
Qui fuerunt divites fiunt redemptivi;
Quod delirant nobiles plectuntur Achivi.
Mentes ducum Angliæ sunt studendo fessæ,
Nam fœdus justitiæ certo caret esse;
Ergo rex potentiæ stirps radice Jessæ,
Fautores perfidiæ ducat ad non esse!
Quando sævit aquilum, affricus quievit;
Et australi populo dampnum mortis crevit.
Anglia victoria frui consuëvit,
Sed prolis perfidia mater inolevit.
Si scires, Glovernia, tua fata, fleres,
Eo quod in Scotia tuus ruit hæres;
Te privigni capient quorum probra feres;
Ne te far ... facient, presens regnum teres.
Facta es ut domina viro viduata,
Cujus sunt solamina in luctum mutata;
Tu es sola civitas capite truncata;
Tuos casus Trinitas fæcundet beata!
TRANSLATION.--Perplexity of heart compels me to tell wonderful
things, that England begins to be subjected to Scotland: it is
said that new prodigies are now performed, when the daughter
takes upon her to lord it over the mother.--England the matron
of many regions, to whom tributary gifts were given, is now,
alas! constrained too much to be prostrate to the daughter, by
whom the maternal crown is injured.--A general proclamation went
through England, admonishing everybody to take up arms, that the
army might go to Scotland to vindicate our rights, or to be able
to avenge our injury.--To which theme I ought to procrastinate
very much; the king began to assemble his troops, unadvisedly he
went to make war on the Scots: his anger voluntarily subsided,
unwilling longer to hold out.--There were in the army many
nobles, knights who were too showy and pompous; when so many
impetuous men came to the conflict, the courageous enemies
were ready enough.--They were courageous, as will appear; when
the two sides engaged, that one remained firm, but that which
had shown so much pride fled. The wicked party succumbed, the
cunning one conquered.--An unheard-of battle thickened between
them; first rushed forward the unconquered Actæus, the Earl of
Gloucester, alas! giving fatal blows; who, standing in the thick
of the battle, is deserted.--He compelled the troops of the
enemy to break, and subdued the bodies of strong men; but one of
his own chosen retainers, he was not a fool when he ruined the
affair.--This is the traitorous man, Bartholomew, whom in all
victories may God confound! Because he has been to his master
as changeable as a Pharisee. Hence as the representative of
Judas he shall be condemned to death.--Seeing the enemy’s rage
against his master, he pretends that he had been out more than
six weeks; because he refused to come to his master’s support,
this traitor has deserved to be put to the rack.--Many are they
whereby the Earl was seduced, led like a sheep to the sacrifice
and to death; through whom such common lamentation arises,
is sufficiently known by their fruits.--With whose venom all
England is poisoned; and thus common justice is weakened; by
these the royal judgment is darkened; in consequence of this,
faith is driven into exile.--Charity lies subdued, and virtue is
trodden down; ingratitude flourishes, and fraud rules; whatever
of evil is perpetrated in this country, is all the work of the
aforesaid traitors.--This deceitful man was not the only one
by whom the art of treason was now exercised; but there was
another concerned in it, whom may heaven not conceal, and may
he become, as he deserves, a morsel of hell.--Knights such
as these, obstinate against the kingdom, retainers of Satan,
are too rapacious; if the King’s judges every where are true,
they will destroy the enchanters and their followers.--They
deserved to suffer judgment of decapitation, since voluntarily
they have betrayed such a soldiery; the Earl’s domestics, who
were clowns, as they have remained, took to flight.--These by
a multifarious treason betrayed their lord, whom the impious
people of Scotland surrounded; they struck him down from his
steed, and the faithful esquires who were with him fell struck
down in different ways; the knights and others fell along with
him; when his friends tried to succour him, they were not able to
resist so many enemies.--Thus died an Earl who was distinguished
above all others, who had given his property to wicked men; let
every one have a care to himself, after these examples, that
he give not henceforth trust to such unworthy people.--By this
let those Earls who are still alive, learning from experience,
be on their guard, when at another time they stand united
in battle, that they be not thus bruised by the weapon of
treason.--England is tormented with very much grief, that she is
deprived of her honour by such craftiness; let her be fortified
more cautiously, with labour of mind, that the last error be
not worse than the former.--I advise the Earls who are still
alive, that henceforward they destroy traitors; and thus by their
industry let them all be made prisoners; let the English thus
make their way into Scotland.--I believe that I tell the truth,
I endeavour not to say what is false; now the honour of our
nation begins to decline; when the livid colour of death spread
itself over the Earl, then immediately grew the terrible grief
of England.--Of our people of England some are in captivity;
some ran away from the battle half dead; they who were rich are
made ransom; because the nobles go mad, the common people are
the sufferers.--The minds of the chieftains of England are weary
with studying, for the league of justice is without any certain
existence; may therefore the King of power, who sprang from the
root of Jesse, destroy utterly the maintainers of perfidy!--When
the north-east wind rages, the south-west wind dropped; and to
the people of the south the pain of death increased. England
used to obtain victory, but by the treachery of the offspring
the mother hath lost her savour.--If you knew, Gloucester, your
fate, you would weep, because your heir perishes in Scotland; thy
sons-in-law will take thee, from whom thou wilt suffer disgrace;
lest they should make thee ... thou will bruise the present
government.--Thou art made as a lady widowed of her husband,
whose comfort is changed into weeping; thou art a solitary city
deprived of thy head; may the blessed Trinity amend thy fortune!
* * * * *
The last piece in our collection is rather different in character
from those which have preceded it. One of the most unpopular acts
of this weak reign was the execution of the Earl of Lancaster in
1322. The love which the people bore towards him, led them to
sanctify his memory. A martyr in what was loudly proclaimed to be
the cause of God, his countrymen believed that he testified his
unshaken love for those in whose defence he had fallen by miracles
performed at his tomb, and a regular form of service was composed
for his worship.
THE OFFICE OF ST. THOMAS OF LANCASTER.
[MS. Reg. 12, c. XII. fol. 1, r^o. of the end of the reign of
Edward II., or beginning of that of Edw. III., written all as
prose.]
_Ant._--Gaude Thoma, ducum decus, lucerna Lancastriæ,
Qui per necem imitaris Thomam Cantuariæ;
Cujus caput conculcatur pacem ob ecclesiæ,
Atque tuum detruncatur causa pacis Angliæ;
Esto nobis pius tutor in omni discrimine.
_Oratio._--Deus, qui, pro pace et tranquillitate regnicolarum
Angliæ, beatum Thomam martyrem tuum atque comitem gladio
persecutoris occumbere voluisti, concede propitius, ut omnes qui
ejus memoriam devote venerantur in terris, præmia condigna cum ipso
consequi mereantur in cœlis, ꝑ đn. ñ.
_Prosa._--Sospitati dat ægrotos precum Thomæ fusio;
Comes pius mox languentum adest in præsidio;
Relevantur ab infirmis infirmi suffragio.
Sancti Thomæ quod monstratur signorum indicio.
Vas regale trucidatur regni pro remedio.
O quam probat sanctum ducem morborum curatio!
Ergo laudes Thomæ sancto canamus cum gaudio;
Nam devote poscens illum, statim proculdubio
sospes regreditur.
_Sequentia._--Summum regem honoremus,
dulcis pro memoria
Martyris, quem collaudemus
summa reverentia.
Thomas comes appellatur,
stemmate egregio;
Sine causa condempnatur,
natus thoro regio.
Qui cum plebem totam cernit
labi sub naufragio,
Non pro jure mori spernit,
lætali commercio.
O flos militum regalis,
tuam hanc familiam
Semper conserves a malis,
perducens ad gloriam! AMEN.
Pange, lingua, gloriosi comitis martyrium,
Sanguinisque præciosi Thomæ floris militum,
Germinisque generosi laudis, lucis comitum.
De parentis utriusque regali prosapia
Prodit Thomas, cujus pater proles erat regia,
Matrem atque sublimavit reginam Navarria.
Dux fidelis suum gregem dum dispersum conspicit,
Æmulumque suum regem sibi motum meminit,
Mox carnalem juxta legem in mirum contremuit.
Benedicti benedictus capitur vigilia,
Agonista fit invictus statim die tertia,
Diræ neci est addictus, ob quod luget Anglia.
Proht dolor! acephalatur plebis pro juvamine,
Suorumque desolatur militum stipamine,
Dum dolose defiandatur per sudam Hoylandiæ.
Ad sepulcrum cujus fiunt frequenter miracula,
Cæci, claudi, surdi, muti, membra paralytica,
Prece sua consequuntur optata præsidia.
Trinitati laus et honor, virtus et potentia
Patri, proli, flaminique sacro sit per sæcula,
Quæ nos salvat a peccatis Thomæ per suffragia! AMEN.
O jam Christi pietas,
Atque Thomæ caritas
palam elucescit!
Heu! nunc languet æquitas,
Viget et impietas,
veritas vilescit!
Nempe Thomæ bonitas,
Ejus atque sanctitas,
indies acrescit;
Ad cujus tumbam sospitas
Ægris datur, ut veritas
cunctis nunc clarescit.
Copiosæ caritatis
Thoma pugil strenue,
Qui pro lege libertatis
decertasti Angliæ,
Interpella pro peccatis
nostris patrem gloriæ
Ut ascribat cum beatis
nos cœlestis curiæ. AMEN.
TRANSLATION.--_Anthem._--Rejoice, Thomas, the glory of
chieftains, the light of Lancaster, who by thy death imitatest
Thomas of Canterbury; whose head was broken on account of the
peace of the Church, and thine is cut off for the cause of the
peace of England; be to us an affectionate guardian in every
difficulty.
_Prayer._ O God, who, for the peace and tranquillity of the
inhabitants of England, willed that the blessed Thomas thy martyr
and Earl should fall by the sword of the persecutor, grant
propitious, that all who devoutly reverence his memory on earth,
may merit to obtain worthy reward along with him in heaven,
through our Lord.
_Prosa._ The pouring out of prayers to Thomas restores the sick
to health; the pious Earl comes immediately to the aid of those
who are feeble; they are relieved from their infirmities by
the suffrage of one who was infirm. So that it is shown by the
evidence of the miracles of St. Thomas, that the royal vessel is
beheaded for the cure of the kingdom. O how the cure of diseases
declares the sainted leader! Therefore with rejoicing let us sing
praises to St. Thomas; for he who asks him devoutly, immediately
without doubt he will return healed.
_Sequence._ Let us honour the highest King, for the memory of the
sweet martyr, whom we join in praising with the utmost reverence.
He is called Earl Thomas, of an illustrious race; he is condemned
without cause, who was born of a royal bed. Who when he perceived
that the whole commons were falling into wreck, did not shrink
from dying for the right, in the fatal commerce. O royal flower
of knights, preserve ever from evils this thy family, bringing
them to glory! AMEN.
Declare, my tongue, the martyrdom of the glorious Earl, and
of the precious blood of Thomas the flower of knights, and of
the praise of the noble sprout, the light of Earls.--Thomas
sprang from a royal race by both his parents, whose father
was the son of a king, and whose mother Navarre raised to be
a queen.--The faithful leader when he saw that his flock was
dispersed, and he called to mind that his king was moved with
jealousy towards him, soon according to the law of the flesh he
trembled wonderfully.--The blessed man is taken on the vigil of
St. Benet, on the third day he is suddenly made an unconquered
champion, he is delivered to dire death, on account of which
England mourns.--Alas! he is beheaded for the aid of the commons,
he is deserted by the company of his knights, whilst he is
treacherously deserted by Robert de Hoyland.--At whose tomb are
frequently performed miracles; the blind, the lame, the deaf,
the dumb, and paralytics, by his prayer obtain the help they
desire.--Praise and honour, virtue and power be to the Trinity,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for ever, which preserve us from sin
through the intercession of Thomas! AMEN.
O now the piety of Christ, and the charity of Thomas, shine
openly! Alas! equity now pines away, and impiety flourishes,
truth is made vile! Yet the goodness of Thomas, and his sanctity,
daily increase; at whose tomb health is given to the sick, that
the truth may now be clear to all.
O Thomas, strenuous champion of plentiful charity, who didst
combat for the law of England’s liberty, intercede for our sins
with the Father of Glory, that he may give us a place with the
blessed in the heavenly court. AMEN.
APPENDIX.
EXTRACTS FROM PETER LANGTOFT’S CHRONICLE.
EDWARD THE FIRST’S WAR WITH SCOTLAND IN 1294.
[From a MS. in the Public Library of the University of Cambridge,
Gg. I. 1, fol. 337, written early in the reign of Edw. II.--The
Collations are from MS. Cotton. Julius, A. V. fol. 137, v^o.
(_C._), of about the same age; and MSS. Reg. 20, A. II. fol. 123,
r^o. (_R._ 1), and 20, A. XI. fol. 105, r^o. (_R._ 2), both of the
fourteenth century.]
* * * * *
Gales soit maldit de Deus e de Saint Symoun!
Car tuz jours ad esté pleins de tresoun.