Chapter 8
Satire
Satire is a protean term. Together with its derivatives, it is one of the most heavily-worked literary designations and one of the most imprecise. The great English lexicographer Samuel Johnson defined satire as ‘a poem in which wickedness or folly is censured’, and more elaborate definitions are rarely more satisfactory. No strict definition can encompass the complexity of a word that signifies, on the one hand, a kind of literature … and, on the other, a mocking spirit or tone that manifests itself in many literary genres but can also enter into almost any kind of human communication. Whenever wit is employed to expose something foolish or vicious to criticism, there satire exists, whether it be in song or sermon, in painting or in political debate, on television or in the movies. In this sense satire is everywhere.
It certainly seems to be almost everywhere in medieval England. From this period, although much has been lost — or was never written down — there survives a mass of satirical writing, in both verse and prose. Alongside a tradition of popular satire there was of course a ‘learned’ one, rooted (remotely) in ancient classical satire and (more obviously) in that of the Old Testament prophets, their successors among the early fathers of the church, and the extensive and often brilliant satirical works in medieval Latin. This learned tradition in England includes writers like Chaucer, Gower, Lydgate, and Dunbar and Skelton. The popular tradition, which overlaps and interacts with it, rarely has the wit or the precision shown by such writers: it prefers a direct, heavy blow, sometimes delivered ‘below the belt’. We seem to be in a world of homely taunts and stereotypes, mockery and invective. In its attempts to expose folly and vice it will employ ridicule and simple abuse. But it is a tradition not only vehement and aggressive, but also varied. The attitudes behind our examples show a remarkable range, from outright venom — sometimes close to the feared nith of earlier satire to a more relaxed and almost urbane attitude (as in The Land of Cokaygne), or in the high-spirited burlesque of the Tournament of Tottenham. Modern readers quickly become impatient with the general ‘complaints’ on the wickedness of the age, but we need to remember that such complaints could be telling and pointed if quoted in a particular context to an audience of receptive listeners. And if context is important, so is performance, whether in song or recitation or, visually, in the satirical ‘bills’ posted in public places. The simple, direct style of some pieces seems to bring us close to the style of the now lost satirical songs of the oral tradition, as we find it in the few fragments quoted by chroniclers. The popular flyting, an exchange of taunts, is known to us mainly through its appearance as a kind of courtly game in the writings of Dunbar and Skelton. But its oral antecedents could still be heard in medieval streets: Dunbar, addressing the merchants of Edinburgh, remarks that no one can pass through the city’s streets ‘for stink of haddockis and of scattis [skates], For cryis of carlingis [old women] and debbaittis [quarrels], For feusum [foul] flyttingis of defame’. It seems that Keats’s remark, that it was hateful to see quarrelling in the streets, but ‘the energies displayed are fine’, may have been as true of this period as it was of the eighteenth century.
In this chapter I have attempted to present examples which have something of the strange energy of satire, both destructive and creative. We begin with an introductory group of ‘snatches’: poems referred to or quoted by chroniclers (the words of these are the nearest we can come to the actual words of the oral song). These songs seem to have been common. Our no. (ii) is a poem attributed to John Ball at the time of the Peasants’ Revolt, a poem related to the general laments on the wickedness of the contemporary world, like the common ‘Abuses of the Age’, and which also shows how these ‘general’ poems may be given a pointedness in a particular political context. No. (iii) introduces us to the writing of satirical or threatening bills which could be displayed on doors or gates. Sadly, the verses in question — ‘englische billes rymed in partie’ (perhaps a reference to the doggerel verse sometimes used) — have not survived. A well-known example, ‘The Cat, the Rat, and Lovel our Dog Rule all England under a Hog’, was fixed to the doors of St Pauls. There follows a group of poems on various wickednesses, culminating in London Lickpenny, a satirical journey around the streets and institutions of London by one who lacks money; and brief examples of medical and religious satire. Poems against Scots and Flemings bring us to verses directed at individuals, like the hated Suffolk. We end with examples of parody and burlesque, where high spirits rather than satirical venom seem to rule. If Chaucer’s Sir Thopas is a witty and elegant literary burlesque of popular romance, The Tournament of Tottenham gives us a more forthright and boisterous example.
A. Snatches: Popular Satire in Action
i)
Maydenes of Engelande, sare may ye morne,
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For tyntº ye have uoure lemmans at Bannokes bornº
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lost / Bannockburn
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What wendeº the kyng of Engeland have ygeteº Scotlande
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thought / taken
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ii)
Now raygneth pride in price,º
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high esteem
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Envye raygneth with reason,
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And sloathº is taken in gret season.
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sloth
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God doe booteº for nowe is time.
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bring remedy
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(iii) Scottish Derision
Makyth Englande thryfteles.
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B. The Wickedness of the World
iv) Now the Bisson Leads the Blind [vv. 1–24]
Fulfyllyd ys the profesy for ay
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That Merlyn sayd and many on moº
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more
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No man may knowe hys frend fro foº
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foe
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Now gyllorysº don gode men gye,º
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deceivers / guide
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Ryghtº gos redlesº all behynde,
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justice / without counsel
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Truthe ys turnyd to trechery,
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For now the bysomº ledys the blynde.
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purblind
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Now gloserysº full gayly they go.
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flatterers
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Pore men be perusº of this land —
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peers
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Sertes sum tymeº hyt was not so,
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once
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But sekyrº all this is synnys sondeº —
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surely / dispensation
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Now mayntenerysº be made justysº
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those who interfere in litigation / justices
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And lewdeº men rewle the lawe of kynde,º
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ignorant / as by right
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Nobull men be holdyn wyse,
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For now the bysom ledys the blynde ….
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v) Where is Truth?
God be with trewthe qwerº he be —
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wherever
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I wold he were in this cuntre!
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A man that shuldº of trewthe telle,
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would
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With grete lordys he may not dwelle —
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In trewe story, as klerkes telle,
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Trewthe is put in low degree.º
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station
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In ladyis chaumberys comit he not —
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Ther dare trewthe settyn non fot;º
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foot
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Thow he wolde, he may not
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Comyn among the heye mene.º
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noble company
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With men of lawe he haght non spasº —
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hath no room
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They loven trewthe in no plas,º
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place
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Me thinkit they han a rewly grace,º
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have sorry manners
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That trewrthe is putº at swych degree.º
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placed / level, esteem
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In holy cherche he may not sytte —
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Fro man to man they shuln hym flytte;º
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drive, pass on
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It rewit me sore,º in myn wytte —
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it grieves me sorely
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Ofº trewthe I have grete pete,
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for
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Relygiusº that shulde be good —
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those in religious orders
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If trewthe cum ther I holde hym wood!º
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mad
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They shuldyn hym ryndeº cote and hood,
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tear from him
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And make hym bare for to fle.º
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flee
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A man that shulde of trewthe aspyre,º
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long for
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He must sekyn esylieº
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quietly
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For there he is forsothe.º
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truly
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vi) Abuses of the Age
Bissop lorles,º
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without learning
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Kyng redeles,º
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lacking counsel
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Yung man rechles,º
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heedless
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Womman ssamles.º
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shameless
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Thos beth five litherº thing,
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evil
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vii) Sir Penny is a Bold Knight
Go bet,º Peny, go bet, go
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better
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For thou matº makyn bothe frynd and fo.
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may
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Peny, of wrong he makyt right
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In every cuntre qwer he goo.
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Thow I have a man islaweº
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killed
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And forfetyd the kynges lawe,
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I shal fyndyn a man of lawe
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Wil takyn myn peny and let me goo.
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And if I have to donº fer or ner
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things to do
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And Peny be my massanger,
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Than am I no thing in dwerº —
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doubt
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My cause shal be wel idoo,º
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done
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And if I have pens bothe good and fyn,
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Men wyl byddyn me to the wyn —
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‘That I have shal be thi[n]!’
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Sekyrlyº thei wyl seyn so.
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certainly
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And quan I have non in myn purs,
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Peny betº ne peny wers,º
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better / worse
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Of me thei holdyn but lytil forsº —
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take little account
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‘He was a man; let hym goo.’
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viii) London Lickpenny
To London once my stepps I bent,
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Where trouth in no wyse should be faynt,
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To Westmynster-ward I forthwith went,
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To a man of law to make compleynt.
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I sayd, ‘For Marys love, that holy saynt,
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Pyty the poore that wolde proceede!’º
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go to law
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But for lack of mony I cold not spede.º
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prosper
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And as I thrust the preseº amonge,
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crowd
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By frowardº chaunce my hood was gone,
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evil
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Yet for all that I stayd not longe,
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Tyll at the Kynges Benche I was come,
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Before the Judge I kneled anon,º
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at once
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And prayd hym for Gods sake to take heede —
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But for lack of mony I myght not spede.
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Beneth them sat clarkes a gret rout,º
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crowd
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Which fast dyd wryte by one assent;
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There stoode up one and cryed about,
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‘Rychard, Robert, and John of Kent!’
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I wystº not well what this man ment;
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knew
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He cryed so thyckeº there in dede —
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quickly (indistinctly)
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But he that lackt mony myght not spede.
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Unto the Common Placeº I yode thoo,º
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Common Pleas / went then
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Where sat one with a sylken hoode;
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Dyd hym reverence for I ought to do so,
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And told my case as well as I coolde.
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How my goodes were defrauded me by falsehood.
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I gat not a mumº of his mouth for my meedº —
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word / reward
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And for lack of mony I myght not spede.
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Unto the Rolls I gat me from thence,
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Before thee clarkes of the Chauncerye
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Where many I found earning of pence,
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But none at all once regarded mee.
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I gave them my playnt uppon my knee.
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They liked it well, when they had it reade —
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But lackyng mony I could not be sped.
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In Westmynster Hall I found out one,
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Which went in a long gown of raye,º
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striped cloth
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I crowched and kneled before hym anon —
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For Maryes love, of helpe I hym praye.
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‘I wot not what thou meanest,’ gan he say;
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To get me thence he dyd me bedeº —
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order
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For lack of mony I cold not speede.
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Within this hall nether rych nor yett poor
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Wold do for me ought, although I shold dye;
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Which seing, I gat me out of the doore,
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Where Flemynges began on me for to cry,
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‘Master, what will you copenº or by?
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purchase
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Fyne felt hates, or spectacles to reede?º
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read
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Lay down your sylver, and here you may speede!’
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Then to Westmynster gate I presently went,
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When the sonn was at hyghe pryme;º
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Prime
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Cookes to me they tooke good entent,º
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attention
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And proffered me bread with ale and wyne,
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Rybbs of befe, both fat and ful fineº
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thin
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A fayre cloth they gan for to sprede —
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But wantyng mony I might not speede.
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Then unto London I dyd me hye,
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Of all the land it beareth the pryse.º
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is pre-eminent
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‘Hot pescodes!’º one began to crye.
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pea pods
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‘Strabery rype!’ and ‘cherryes in the ryse!’º
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on the branch
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One bad me come nere and by some spyce;
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Peper and safforne they gan me bedeº —
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offer
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But for lack of mony I might not spede.
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Then to the Chepeº I gan me drawne,
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Cheapside
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Where mutch people I saw for to stand;
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One ofred me velvet, sylke, and lawne;º
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fine linen
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Another he taketh me by the hande,
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‘Here is Parys thred, the finest in the land!’
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I never was used to such thynges in dede,
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And wanting mony I myght not spede.
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Then went I forth by London stone,
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Throughout all Canwykeº Streete;
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Candlewick
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Drapers mutch cloth me offred anone;
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Then comes one, cryed, ‘hot shepes feete!’
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One cryde, ‘makerell!’; ‘ryshesº grene!’ another gan greete.º
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rushes / shouted
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On bad me by a hood to cover my head —
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But for want of mony I myght not be sped.
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Then I hyed ne into Estchepe,º
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Eastcheap
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One cryes, ‘rybbs of befe, and many a pye!’
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Pewter pottes they clattered on a heape;
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There was harpe, pype, and mynstrelsye.
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‘Yea, by cock!’º ‘Nay, by cock!’ some began crye;
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by God
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Some songe of Jenken and Julyan for there mede —
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But for lack of mony I might not spede.
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Then into Cornhyllº anon I yode,
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Cornhill
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Where was mutch stolen gere amonge;
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I saw where hongeº myne owne hoode,
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was hanging
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That I had lost amonge the thronge.
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To by my own hood I thought it wronge —
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I knew it well as I dyd my crede;
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But for lack of mony I could not spede.
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The taverner tooke me by the sleve,
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‘Sir,’ sayth he, ‘wyll you our wyne assay?’º
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try
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I answerd, ‘that can not mutch me greve;
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A peny can do no more than it may.’
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I drank a pynt, and for it dyd paye,
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Yet sore ahungerd fron thence I yede,
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And wanting mony I not spede.
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Then hyed I me to Belyngsgate,º
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Billingsgate
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And one cryed, ‘Hoo! Go we hence!’
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I prayd a bargeman, for Gods sake,
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That he wold spare me my expence.
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‘Thou scapstº not here,’ quod he, ‘under .ii. pence;
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escape
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I lystº not yet bestow my almes-dede!’
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wish
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Thus, lackyng mony, I could not spede,
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Then I conveyed me into Kent,
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For ofº the law wold Y meddle no more,
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with
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Because no man to me tooke enten.º
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paid attention
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I dyght me to do as I dyd before.
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Now Jesus that in Bethlem was bore,
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Save London, and send trew lawyers there mede!
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For whoso wants mony, with them shall not spede.
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C. Particular Abuses and Wicked Deeds
Medical and religious satire: although quack doctors and their remedies figure in popular drama, both medieval and later, English satirical poems on them have not survived in great numbers. We include one simple burlesque example. Here the more learned tradition produced one little masterpiece in Henryson’s Sum Practysis of Medecyne, a dazzling performance which unites the style of ‘flyting’ with a wonderfully wild sense of fantasy: the ‘remedies’ include ‘sevin sobbis of ane selche’ [seal] and ‘the lug of ane lempet’. The much more extensive surviving corpus of religious satire — Lollard attacks on the church, orthodox attacks on Lollards — also presents problems for an anthologist of popular literature, since many examples seem more learned and ‘literary’. We simply present two poems against friars.
ix) A Good Medicine for Sore Eyes
For a man that is almost blynd:
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La hym go barhedº all day ageyn the wynd
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bare-headed
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Tyll the soyneº be sette;
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sun
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At evyn wrap hym in a cloke
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And put hym in a hows full of smoke,
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And loke that every hol be well shet.º
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shut
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And whan hys eyen begyne to rope,º
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water
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Fyl hem full of brynston and sope.
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And hyllº hym well and warme;
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cover
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And yf he se not by the next moneº
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moon
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As well at mydnyght as at none
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I schall leseº my ryght arme.
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lose
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x) These Friars
This poem is more lively than many anti-fraternal attacks, but it is sometimes obscure. The author seems to be thinking of wall-paintings in a church, such as are found in the large churches of the preaching friars.
Of thes frer mynorsº me thenkes noch wonder,
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Minorites
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That waxen areº thus hauteyn,º that som tyme were under,
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are grown / haughty
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Among men of holy chirch thai maken mochel blonderº
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confusion
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Nou He that sytes us above, make hamº sone to sonder!º
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them / scatter
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With an O and an I, thai praysen not seynt Poule,
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Thai lyenº seyn Fraunceys, by my fader soule!
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tell lies about
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First thai gabbenº on God that all men may se,
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mock
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When thai hangen him on high on a grene tre,
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With leves and with blossemes that bright are of ble,º
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colour
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That was never Goddes son by my leute.º
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faith
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With an O and an I, men wenenº that thai wede,º
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think / go mad
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To carpeº so of clergyº that can not thair crede.
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prate / learning
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Thai have done him on a croysº fer up in the skye,
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cross
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And festned in hym wyenges,º as he shuld flie.
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wings
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This fals, feyned byleve shal thai soure bye,º
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pay for dearly
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On that lovelych lord, so for to lye.
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With an O and an I, one sayd ful still,º
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quietly
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Armachanº distroy ham, if it is Goddes will.
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Archbishop of Armagh
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Ther comes one out of the skye in a grey goun
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As it were a hog-hyerdº hyandº to toun;
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shepherd / hurrying
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Thai have moº goddess then we, I say, by Mahoun,
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more
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All men under ham that ever beres croun,º
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tonsure
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With an O and an I, why shuld thai not be shent?º
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destroyed
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Ther wants noght bot a fyre that thai nereº all brent!
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were not
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Went I forther on my way in that same tyde,º
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time
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Ther I sawe a frere bled in myddes of his syde,
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Bothe in hondes and in fete he had woundes wyde;
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To serve to that same frer, the pope mot abyde.º
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must wait
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With an O and an I, I wonder of thes dedes,
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To se a pope holde a dische whyl the frer bledes.
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A cart was made al of fyre, as it shuld be,
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A gray frer I sawe therinne, that best liked me
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Wele I wute thai shal be brent, by my leaute —
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God graunt me that grace that I may it se.
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With an O and an I, brent be thai all,
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And all that helpes therto faire mot befall.º
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may it prosper
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Thai preche all of povert,º but that love thai noght —
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poverty
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For gode meteº to thair mouthe the toun is thurghsoght;º
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food / searched
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Wyde are thair wonnyngesº and wonderfully wroght —
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dwellings
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Murdre and horedome ful dere has it boght.º
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paid for
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With an O and an I, for sixe pens, erº thai fayle,
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before
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Sleº thi fadre and japeº thi modre, and thai wyl the assoille!º
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kill / seduce / absolve
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xi) Thou that Sellest the Word of God
Thou that sellest the worde of God
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Be thou berfot,º be thou shod,
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bare-foot
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Is the worde of God, all and sum,º
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the whole of it
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That thou sellest, lewedº frere,
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ignorant
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Any gostlyº thinge;
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spiritual
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Therfore, frere, go as thou come,
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And hold the in thi hows at home
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Tyl we the almisº brynge.
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alms
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Goddes lawe ye reverson,º
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overthrow
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And mennes howsis ye persen,º
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get into
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As mydday develis goynge abowte,
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For money lowleº ye lowte,º
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lowly / bow
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Flatteringe boythe more and lesse.º
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great and small
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D. Against Particular Groups or Individuals
Satirical verses against foreigners: a number have survived, mostly against Flemings and Scots. Those against the Scots are more numerous, and also more eloquent; and there are some sharp Scottish ripostes: Scots and English seem to have exchanged ‘males chansons’.
xii) Against the Rebellious Scots [1296]
Tprutº Scot rivellingº
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(exclamation of contempt) / rascal (lit. a rough boot)
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Crop thuº ut of kage.
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you crept
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xiii) A Scottish song against Edward I when he besieged Berwick
Wenes kyng Edward, with his longe shankes
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Forto wyn Berwik, al oure unthankes?º
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against our wishes
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Gas pikesº him!
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go pierce
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xiv) Black Agnes at the siege of Dunbar [1388]
An English soldiers’ song recorded by a Scottish chronicler
… Off this ilk segeº in hethingº
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siege / derision
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The Ingllismen maid oft carping:º
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complaint
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‘I wowº to God, schoº beris hir weill,
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vow / she
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The Scottis wenche with her ploddeill;º
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band of ruffians
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For cum I airly,º cum I lait,
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early
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I fynde ay Annes at the gate!’
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xv) The Execution of Sir Simon Fraser
Sir Simon Fraser (or Frisell) was captured by the English at the battle of Methven or Kirkencliff (1306). He was taken to London and executed in that year. Perhaps the poem was written shortly after the execution, by a professional ballad-maker; it seems generally similar to the ‘news ballads’ found in later popular literature. [vv. 169–208]
For al is grete poer,º yet he wes ylaht:º
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power / caught
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Falsnesse and swykedomº al hit geth to naht.º
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treachery / nought
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Thoº he wes in Scotland, lutel wes ys thoht
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when
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Of the harde jugement that hym wes bysohtº
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sought, demanded
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He wes foure sitheº forsworeº
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times / perjured
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And that him brohte to grounde.º
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brought down
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With feteres and with gyves ichotº he wes todrowe,º
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I know / drawn
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From the Tour of Londone, that monie myhte knowe,º
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so that many be aware
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In a curtel of burelº a selketheº wyse.
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tunic of sackcloth / strange
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Ant a garland on ys heved of the newe guyse,
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Thurh Cheepe.º
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through Cheapside
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Thidewardº con lepe.º
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thither / did run
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Thoº he com to galewes, furst he wes anhonge,
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when
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Al quicº byheveded, thah him thohteº longe.
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living / though it / seemed to him
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Seththeº he wes yopened, isº bowels ybrend;º
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then / his / burnt
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The heved to Londone Brugge wes send
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So ich ever mote the:º
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may prosper
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Sum whileº wendeº he
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once / expected
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Heº rideth thourh the site,º as I telle may,
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they / city
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With gomen and wyth solas,º that wes here pay
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games and fun
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To Londone Brugge hee nomeº the way —
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they took
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Mony wes the wyves chilº that theron loketh aº day,
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child / by
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And sovilliche forloreº
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vilely undone
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So feir monº as he was.
|
man
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Nou stont the heved above the tubrugge,º
|
drawbridge
|
Faste bi Waleis,º soth forte sugge;º
|
Wallace / say
|
After socour of Scotlond longe he mowe prye.º
|
gaze
|
And after help of Fraunce wet halt it to lye,º
|
what profits it to lie
|
Betere him were in Scotlond
|
To pleyen oº the grene.
|
on
|
xvi) Revenge for Bannockburn
The Englishman Laurence Minot wrote a series of poems celebrating the deeds of Edward III against the Scots and his other enemies. This vigorous example is occasioned by the English victory at Halidon Hill (1333), which he sees as a triumphant revenge for the Scots’ defeat of the English by Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn (1314). Minot sees the Scots as rough and boastful — and untrustworthy.
Skottes out of Berwik and of Abirdene,
|
At the Bannok burn war ye to kene;º
|
bold
|
Thare sloghº ye many sakles,º als it wes sene,
|
slew / innocent
|
And now has king Edward wrokenº it, I wene,
|
avenged
|
It is wroken, I wene, wele wurth the while,º
|
happy the day!
|
War yit withº the Skottes, for thai er ful of gile.
|
still watch out for
|
Whare er ye, Skottes of saint Johnes toune?º
|
Perth
|
The bosteº of yowre baner es betin al doune;
|
pride
|
When ye bosting wll bede,º sir Edward es bouneº
|
offer / ready
|
For to kindle yow care and crak yowre crowne.
|
He has cracked yowre croune, wele wurth the while!
|
Schame bitydeº the Skottes, for thai er ful of gile.
|
befall
|
Skottes of Striflinº war steren and stout,º
|
Stirling / fierce and strong
|
Of God ne of gude men had thai no dout;º
|
fear
|
Nou have thai, the pelers,º prikedº obout,
|
robbers / galloped
|
Bot at the last sir Edward rifildº thaire rout.º
|
stripped / host
|
He has rifild thaire rout, wel wurth the while!
|
Bot ever er thai underº bot gaudesº and gile.
|
underneath / tricks
|
Rughfute riveling,º now kindels thi care,
|
rough-footed rascal (with brogues)
|
Berebagº with thi boste, thi bigingº es bare;
|
bag-carrier / dwelling
|
Fals wretche and forsworn, whider wiltou fare?
|
Buskº the into Brig,º and abide thare.
|
hurry / Bruges
|
Thare, wretche, saltou wonº and weryº the while;
|
live / curse
|
Thi dwelling in Dondeº es doneº for thi gile.
|
Dundee / finished
|
The Skotte gase in Burghesº and betesº the stretes,
|
Bruges / frequents
|
All thise Inglis men harmes he hetes,º
|
promises
|
Fast makes he his moneº to men that he metes,
|
complaint
|
But foneº frendes he finds that his bale betes.º
|
few / misery assuages
|
Funeº betes his bale, wele wurth the while,
|
few
|
He uses all threting with gaudes and gile.
|
Bot many man thretes and spekes ful ill.
|
That sum tyme war better to be stane-still,º
|
silent as stone
|
The Skot in his wordes has wind for to spill,º
|
waste
|
For at the kast Edward sall have al his will.
|
He had his will at Berwik, wele wurth the while,
|
Skottes broght him the kayesº — bot getº for thaire gile.
|
keys / watch out
|
xvii) The Fall of Suffolk [1450]
Popular resentment at events in England and France had become centred on William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, ‘the Fox of the South’: he was blamed for the unpopular marriage of Henry VI to Margaret of Anjou, for recent defeats and losses in France, and for his suspected role in the death of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester (1447). He was indicted and held in the Tower prior to banishment. The poem was written at this point, probably in February 1450. Later in 1450 he set out for France, but was intercepted and murdered. Another satirical poem ‘celebrates’ his death. The ‘fox’ poem makes some play with animal names and heraldic imagery: Talbot ‘our dog’, the Earl of Shrewsbury, one of the great English generals (a talbot is a kind of hound); Jack Napes, a tame ape, suggested by Suffolk’s badge of clog and chain; John Beaumont, Constable of England, is ‘that gentill rache’ (hunting dog), and ‘beaumont’ was the name of a hound; ‘oure grete gandere’ is Duke Humphrey, whose badge was a swan.
Now is the fox drevinº to hole! Hoo to hym, hoo, hoo!
|
driven
|
For andº he crepe out, he will yow alle undo,
|
if
|
Now ye han foundeº parfite, love well your game;
|
have discovered game
|
For and ye ren countre,º then be ye to blame.
|
in the opposite direction
|
Sum of yow holdith with the fox and rennyth hare;
|
But he that tied Talbot our doge, evyll mote he fare!
|
For now we mys the black dog with the wide mouth,
|
For he wold have ronnen well at the fox of the south.
|
And all gooth backward, and don isº in the myre,
|
is put, or stuck
|
As they han deserved, so pay they ther hire.
|
Now is tyme of Lent; the fox is in the towre;
|
Therfore send hym Salesburyº to be his confessoure.
|
Bishop Ayscough of Salisbury
|
Many mo ther ben, and we kowd hem knowe,º
|
make known
|
But wonº most begyn the daunce, and all com arowe,º
|
one / in a line
|
Loke that your hunteº blowe well thy chase;º
|
huntsman / pursuit
|
Butº he do well is part, I beshreweº is face!
|
unless / curse
|
This fox at Bury slowe oure grete gandere;
|
Therfore at Tyborn mony mon on hym wondere.
|
Jack Napes, with his clogge
|
Hath tied Talbot, oure gentill dogge,
|
Wherfore Beaumownt, that gentill rache,
|
Hath brought Jack Napiis in an evill cache.º
|
pursuit
|
Be ware, al men, of that blame,
|
And namlyº ye of grete fame,
|
especially
|
Spirituall and temperall, be ware of this,
|
Or els hit will not be well, iwis.
|
God save the kyng, and God forbade
|
That he suche apes any mo fede,
|
And of the perille that may befall
|
Be ware, dukes, erles, and barouns alle.
|
E. Parody and Burlesque
Two examples of verse satire which make good use of the extensive and deep-rooted tradition.
xviii) The Land of Cokaygne
This Early Middle English poem, with its witty combination of anti-monastic satire and parody of the delights of the Eathly Paradise, manages to create a glorious vision of a comic utopia; and the (monastic) world upside down. [vv. 51–166]
… Ther is a wel fair abbei
|
Of white monkes and of grei;
|
Ther beth bowrisº and halles —
|
chambers
|
Al of pasteisº beth the walles,
|
pasties
|
Of fleis,º of fisse, and rich met,º
|
meat / food
|
The likfullistº that man mai et,
|
most delightful
|
Flurenº cakes beth the schinglesº alle
|
of flour / shingles
|
Of cherche, cloister, boure, and halle;
|
The pinnesº beth fat podingesº —
|
fastening pegs / sausages
|
Rich met to princes and kings.
|
Manº mai therof et inoghº
|
one / enough
|
Al with right and noght with wogh;º
|
wrong
|
Al is commune to yung and old,
|
To stoute and sterne, mek and bold.
|
Ther is a cloister, fair and light,
|
Brod and lang, of sembli sight;º
|
handsome appearance
|
The pilers of that cloister alle
|
Beth iturned ofº cristale,
|
shaped from
|
With har basº and capitale
|
their base
|
Of grene jaspeº and rede corale.
|
jasper
|
In the praerº is a tre,
|
meadow
|
Swithe likfulº for to se —
|
very pleasant
|
The roteº is gingevirº and galingale,
|
root / ginger
|
The siounsº beth al sedwaleº
|
shoots / zedoary
|
Trie macesº beth the flure,
|
excellent mace
|
The rind canelº of swet odur,
|
bark cinnamon
|
The frute gilofreº of gode smakke;º
|
clove / taste
|
Of cucubesº ther is no lakke.
|
cubebs
|
Ther beth rosis of rede ble,º
|
colour
|
And the lilie likfulº forto se
|
delightful
|
That falowethº never dai no night
|
withers
|
This aghtº be a swet sight,
|
ought
|
Ther beth .iiii. willisº in the abbey,
|
wells
|
Of treacleº and halwei,º
|
medicine / healing water
|
Of baumº and ek piementº …
|
balm / also spiced wine
|
[There are precious stones, and many birds.]
|
… Ther beth briddes mani and faleº …
|
numerous
|
The gees irostidº on the spitte
|
roasted
|
Fleesº to that abbey, God hit wot,º
|
fly / knows it
|
And gredith,º ‘Gees, al hote! al hot!’
|
call out
|
Hiº bringeth garlek, grete plente,
|
they
|
The best idightº that man mai se.
|
prepared
|
The leverokes,º that beth cuth,º
|
larks / esteemed
|
Lightith adunº to manis muth,
|
down
|
Idight in stu,º ful swatheº wel,
|
cooked in a pot / very
|
Pudridº with gilofre and canel.
|
powdered
|
Nis no spechº of no drink;
|
nothing is said of
|
Ak takeº inogh withute swinkº …
|
but taken / labour
|
… The yung monkes euchº dai
|
each
|
Aftiir metº goth to plai;
|
food
|
Nis ther hauk no fuleº so swifte
|
hawk nor bird
|
Bettir fleingº be the lifte,º
|
flying / through the air
|
Than the monkes heigh of modeº
|
in high spirits
|
With harº slevis and har hode.
|
their
|
Whan the abbot seeth ham flee,º
|
sees them fly
|
That he holt forº moch glee;º
|
regards as / amusement
|
Ak natheles,º al ther amang,º
|
but nevertheless / in the midst of it all
|
He biddith ham light to evesang.º
|
come down to evensong
|
The monkes lightith noght adun,
|
Ac furreº fleeth in o randun.º
|
but further / headlong
|
Whan the abbot him iseeth
|
That is monkes fram him fleeth,
|
He takith a maidin of the routeº
|
crowd
|
And turnith up har white toute,º
|
bottom
|
And betith the tabursº with is hond
|
as a drum
|
To make is monkes light to lond.
|
Whan is monkes that iseeth,
|
To the maid dun hi fleeth.
|
And goth the wench al abute
|
And thakkethº al hir white toute.
|
pat
|
And sith aftir her swinkeº
|
their toil
|
Wendith meklich hom to drink,
|
And goth to har collacione
|
Another abbei is therbi —
|
Forsoth, a gret fair nunnerie,
|
Upº a river of swet milke,
|
upon
|
Whar is gret plente of silk.º
|
such
|
Whan the someris dai is hote,
|
The yung nunnes takith a bote
|
And doth ham forthin that river,
|
Both with oris and with stere.º
|
oars and rudder
|
Whan hi beth furº fram the abbei
|
far
|
Hi makith ham naked forto plei.
|
And lepith dune into the brimmeº
|
water
|
And doth ham sleilichº forto swimme.
|
skilfully
|
The yung monkes that hi seeth,º
|
see them
|
Hi doth ham upº and forth hi fleeth,
|
get up
|
And cummith to the nunnes anon,º
|
quickly
|
And euch monke him taketh on,º
|
one
|
And snellichº berith forth har prei
|
quickly
|
To the mochil greiº abbei,
|
large grey
|
And techith the nunnes an oreisunº
|
prayer
|
With jambleveº up and doun ….
|
legs raised
|
xix) The Tournament of Tottenham
A merry burlesque of a chivalric event, played out by humble locals rather than by armed knights. [vv. 1–90]
Of alle these kene conqueroures to carpe it were kynde,
|
Off feleº feghtyng folk ferlyº we fynde.
|
fierce / wondrously
|
The tournament of Totenham have we in mynde —
|
It were harme sich hardynesse were holdyn behynde.
|
Off theym that were dughtyº
|
valiant
|
Hit befell in Totenham on a dere day,
|
Ther was made a schartyngº be the hy way —
|
festival
|
Thider com alle the men of tho contray.
|
Of Hyssylton, of Hygate, and of Hakenay.
|
And alle the swete swynkers.º
|
toilers
|
Ther heppedº Hawkyn,
|
hopped
|
Ther trumpedº Tomkyn,
|
trumpeted
|
And alle were trewe drynkers.
|
Tyl the day was gon and evesong past,
|
That thay shuld rekyn ther skot and ther counts caste
|
Perkyn the potter into the pressº past
|
crowd
|
And seid, ‘Rondol the refe,º a doghter thou hast,
|
reeve
|
Therfor wytº wold I,
|
know
|
Whych of all this bachelery
|
To wed her to his fere.’º
|
consort
|
Upsterte thos gadelyngysº with ther lang staves
|
fellows
|
And sayd, ‘Rondol the refe, Lo, this lad raves!
|
Baldely amang us thy doghter he craves,
|
And we er richer men than he, and more godº haves
|
property
|
Then sayd Perkyn to Tybbe, ‘I have hyghtº
|
promised
|
That I schal be always redy in my right
|
If that it schulkd be thys dat sevenyght
|
Then seid Randolfe the refe, ‘Ever be he waryd,º
|
cursed
|
That about thys carping lenger wold be taryed,
|
I wold not my doghter that sche were myscaryed,
|
But at her most worschypº I wold she were maryed,
|
honour
|
Therfor a tournament schal begyn
|
With a flayle for to fight.
|
And he that ys of most myght
|
Schal broukeº hur with wynne.º
|
enjoy / pleasure
|
Whoso berys hym best in the tournament,
|
Hym shal be granted the greº be the common assent,
|
prize
|
For to wynne my doghter with dughtyness of dent,º
|
blows
|
And Coppeld my brodeº henne, was broght out of Kent,
|
brood
|
For no spens wyl I spare,
|
For no catell wyl I care,
|
He schal have my gray mare,
|
Ther was many a bold lad ther bodyes to bede;
|
Than thay toke thayre leve, and hamward thei yede,º
|
went
|
And alle the woke afterward thay graythed ther wede,º
|
prepared their equipment
|
Tyll it come to the day that thay suld do ther dede.
|
Thay armed ham in mattes;
|
Thay set on ther nollys,º
|
heads
|
For to kepe ther pollys,º
|
guard their heads
|
Gode blake bollysº
|
bowls
|
For batryngº of battes;
|
against battering
|
They sewed tham in schepe skynnes, for they suld not brest,
|
And ilkon toke a black hatte instead of a crest.
|
A harrow brodº as a fanne abouneº on ther brest,
|
broad / above
|
And a flayle in ther hande, for to fight prest.º
|
ready
|
Ther was kyd mekylº fors,
|
shown great
|
Who schuld best fend his cors.º
|
defend his body
|
He that had no gode hors,
|
Sych another gadryng have I not sene oft,
|
When all the gret company come rydand to the croft:
|
Tyb on a gray mare was set upon loft
|
On a sekº full of feerysº for she shuld syt soft,
|
sack / feathers
|
Forther wold not Tyb then
|
For crying of al the men,
|
Tyl scho had hur gode brode hen
|
A gay gyrdyl Tyb had on, borwed for the monys,º
|
for the occasion
|
And a garland on hur hed ful of rounde bones.
|
And a broche on hur brest, ful of saferº stones,
|
sapphire
|
Wyth the haly rude tokening was wrethyn for tho nonys.
|
No catel was ther spared.
|
When joly Gyb saw hure hare,
|
That she lete a faucon-fareº
|
fart
|
At the rerewarde.º
|
at the back end
|
[The company proceeds to make vows, one after the other in the manner of Charlemagne’s knights in Voeux du Paon. vv. 145–71]
|
When thay had ther othes made, furth gan they hyeº
|
hasten
|
With flayles and hornes and trumpes mad of tre.º
|
wood
|
Ther were all the bachelerys of that contre,
|
Thay were dyght in aray as thamselfe wold be —
|
Thayr baner was full bright
|
Of an pled raton fell,º
|
rat skin
|
The cheveroneº of a ploo mellº
|
chevron / plough mallet
|
And the schadow of a bell,
|
Quartered with the mone light.
|
I wot it ys no childer game whan thay togedyr met,
|
When ich freke in the feld on his felayº bet,
|
fellow
|
And layd on styfly — for nothyng wold thay let,
|
And faght ferly fast, tyl ther horses swet.
|
Ther were flayles al to-slatred,
|
Ther were scheldys al to-flatred,
|
Bollys and dyschis al to-schatred,
|
Ther was clynkyng of cart sadellys and clattiryng of connes,º
|
canes
|
Of fele frekis in the feld brokyn were ther fannesº
|
winnowing shovels
|
Of sum were the hedys brokyn, of sum the brayn panes.
|
And yll ware thay beseyn orº they went thens,
|
before
|
Wuth swyppyng of swepyllys.º
|
striking of flail-ends
|
The boyes were so wery for-fught,º
|
fought to a standstill
|
That thay might not fight mare oloft.
|
But creped then about in the croft,
|
As thay were crokid crypils.
|
[vv. 190–214] Perkyn turnyd hym about in that ych thrange,
|
Among thos wery boyes he wrest and he wrang,
|
When he saw Tirry away with Tyb fang,
|
And wold have lad hir away with a luf song,
|
And of hys hors he hym droghº
|
pulled
|
And gaf hym of hys flayle inogh.
|
‘We, te-he,’ quod Tyb, and lughº
|
laughed
|
Thus thay tugged and rugged tyl yt was nere nyght,
|
Alle the wyves of Totenham come to se that syght,
|
With wyspys and kexis and ryschys ther light,
|
To fech hom ther husbandes, that were tham trouth-plight,
|
And sum broght gret harwesº
|
sledges
|
Ther husbandes hom for to fech;
|
Sum on dores and sum on hech,º
|
gratings
|
Sum on hyrdyllys and sum on crech,º
|
crutch
|
They gaderyd Perkyn about everych syde
|
And grant hym ther the gre,º the moreº was his pride.
|
prize / greater
|
Tyb and he with gret myrthe homward can they ride,
|
And were al nyght togedyr tyl the morn tide,
|
And thay in fereº assent:
|
together
|
So wele his nedys he has sped,
|
That dere Tyb he had wed …
|
[And there is a rich feast …]
|