Anonymous: Historical Poems (Harley 2253) (5) (576 words)

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page 21


1

5. THE DEATH OF EDWARD I (1307)


2

3Alle þat beoþ of huerte trewe,
4a stounde herkneþ to my song,
5of duel þat deþ haþ diht vs newe,
6þat makeþ me syke ant sorewe among;
7of a knyht þat wes so strong,
8of wham god haþ don ys wille;
9me þuncheþ þat deþ haþ don vs wrong,
10þat he so sone shal ligge stille.

11

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12al englond ahte forte knowe
13of wham þat song is þat y synge -
14of edward kyng þat liþ so lowe,
15ȝent al þis world is nome con springe.
16trewest mon of alle þinge,
17ant in werre war ant wys,
18for him we ahte oure honden wrynge,
19of cristendome he ber þe pris.

20

21byfore þat oure kyng wes ded,
22he spek ase mon þat wes in care.
23"Clerkes, knyhtes, barouns," he sayde,
24"y charge ou by oure sware,
25þat ȝe to engelonde be trewe.
26y deȝe, y ne may lyuen na more;
27helpeþ mi sone & crouneþ him newe,
28for he is nest to buen y-core.

29

30"Ich bi-queþe myn herte aryht,
31þat hit be write at mi deuys,
32ouer þe see þat hue be diht,
33wiþ four-score knyhtes al of pris,
34In werre þat buen war & wys,
35aȝein þe heþene forte fyhte,
36to wynne þe croiȝ þat lowe lys.
37myself ycholde ȝef þat y myhte."

38

39kyng of fraunce, þou heuedest sunne,
40þat þou þe counsail woldest fonde,
41to latte þe wille of kyng edward
42to wende to þe holy londe;
43þat oure kyng hede take on honde
44al engelond to ȝeme & wysse,
45to wenden in-to þe holy londe,
46to wynnen vs heuenriche blisse.

47

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48þe messager to þe pope com,
49& seyde þat oure kyng wes ded;
50ys oune hond þe lettre he nom,
51y-wis is herte wes ful gret.
52þe pope him-self þe lettre redde,
53ant spec a word of gret honour -
54"alas!" he seide, "is Edward ded?
55of cristendome he ber þe flour!"

56

57þe pope to is chaumbre wende,
58for del ne mihte he speke na more;
59ant after cardinals he sende,
60þat muche couþen of cristes lore,
61boþe þe lasse ant eke þe more,
62bed hem boþe rede & synge;
63gret deol me myhte se þore,
64mony mon is honde wrynge.

65

66þe pope of peyters stod at is masse,
67wiþ ful gret solempnete;
68þer me con þe soule blesse:
69"kyng edward, honoured þou be!
70god lene þi sone come after þe
71bringe to ende þat þou hast bygonne;
72þe holy crois y-mad of tre,
73so fain þou woldest hit han y-wonne.

74

75"Ierusalem, þou hast i-lore
76þe flour of al chiualerie!
77Nou kyng edward liueþ na more,
78alas! þat he ȝet shulde deye!
79he wolde ha rered vp fol heyȝe
80oure baners, þat bueþ broht to grounde;
81wel longe we mowe clepe & crie
82er we a such kyng han y-founde!"

83

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84Nou is Edward of Carnaruan
85king of engelond al aplyht,
86god lete him ner be worse man
87þen is fader, ne lasse of myht
88to holden is pore men to ryht,
89ant vnderstonde good consail,
90al engeland forte wisse ant diht,
91of gode knyhtes darh him nout fail.

92

93þah mi tonge were mad of stel,
94ant min herte y-ȝote of bras,
95þe godnesse myht y neuer telle
96þat wiþ kyng edward was.
97kyng, as þou art cleped conquerour,
98in vch bataille þou hadest pris;
99god bringe þi soule to þe honour
100þat euer wes & euer ys,
101þat lesteþ ay wiþ-outen ende!
102bidde we god ant oure ledy,
103to þilke blisse iesus vs sende.
104Amen.