A Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483: Written in the Fifteenth Century, and for the First Time Printed from MSS. in the British MuseumAnonymous
History
A Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483: Written in the Fifteenth Century, and for the First Time Printed from MSS. in the British Museum
Anonymous
London (England) -- History -- To 1500; London (England) -- Social life and customs -- To 1500
To London brigge thanne rood oure kyng,
The processions there they mette hym ryght,
'Ave Rex Anglor,' their gan syng,
'Flos mundi,' thei seyde, Goddys knyght.
To London brigge whan he com ryght,
Upon the gate ther stode on hy,
A gyaunt that was full grym of syght,
To teche the Frensshmen curtesye.
And at the drawe brigge, that is faste by,
To toures there were upright;
An antelope and a lyon stondyng hym by,
Above them seynt George oure lady knyght,
Besyde hym many an angell bright,
'Benedictus' thei gan synge,
'Qui venit in nomine domin.' goddes knyght,
'Gracia Dei' with yow doth sprynge.
Into London thanne rood oure kyng,
Full goodly there thei gonnen hym grete;
Thorugh out the town thanne gonne they syng,
For joy and merthe y yow behete;
Men and women for joye they alle,
Of his comyn thei weren so fayn,
That the Condyd bothe grete and smalle,
Ran wyn ich on as y herde sayn.
The tour of Cornhill that is so shene,
I may well say now as y knowe,
It was full of Patriarkes alle be dene,
'Cantate' thei songe upon a rowe;
There bryddes thei gon down throwe,
An hundred there flewe aboughte oure kyng,
'Laus ejus' bothe hyghe and lowe
'In ecclesia sanctorum' thei dyd syng.
Unto the Chepe thanne rood oure kyng;
To the Condyt whanne he com tho,
The XII apostelys thei gon syng,
'Benedict. anima domino'
XII kynges there were on a rowe,
They knelyd doun be on asent,
And obles aboughte oure kyng gan throwe,
And wolcomyd hym with good entent.
The Cros in Chepe verrament,
It was gret joy it for to beholde;
It was araied full reverent,
With a castell right as God wolde,
With baners brighte beten with gold.
And angelys senssyd hym that tyde;
With besaunts riche many a fold,
They strowed oure kyng on every syde.
Virgynes out of the castell gon glyde,
For joye of hym they were daunsyng,
They knelyd a doun alle in that tyde,
'Nowell,' 'Nowell,' alle thei gon syng.
Unto Poules thanne rood oure kyng,
XIIII bysshopes hym mette there right,
The grete bellys thanne did they ryng,
Upon his feet full faire he light.
And to the heighe auter he went right,
'Te Deum' for joye thanne thei gon syng;
And there he offred to God almyght:
And thanne to Westminster he wente withoute dwellyng.
In xv wokes forsothe, he wroughte al this,
Conquered Harfleu and Agincourt;
Crist brynge there soules all to blys,
That in that day were mort.
Crist that is oure hevene kyng,
His body and soule save and se;
Now all Ingelond may say and syng,
'Blyssyd mote be the Trinite,'
This jornay have ye herd now alle be dene,
The date of Crist I wot is was,
A thousand foure hundred and fyftene.
_Gloria tibi Trinitas._
Harflu fert Mauric Augincourt p'lia Crispin.
* * * * *
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