Th' Egyptian band I did command, 25 With courage more by far, Than ever did a general His soldiers in the war. Being fear'd by all, both great and small, I liv'd most joyfullie: 30 O! curse upon this fate of mine, To hang upon a tree! As for my life, I do not care, If justice would take place, And bring my fellow plunderers 35 Unto this same disgrace. For Peter Brown, that notour loon, Escap'd and was made free; O! curse upon this fate of mine, To hang upon a tree! 40 Both law and justice buried are, And fraud and guile succeed; The guilty pass unpunished, If money intercede. The Laird of Grant, that Highland saint, 45 His mighty majestie, He pleads the cause of Peter Brown, And lets Macpherson die. The destiny of my life, contriv'd By those whom I oblig'd, 50 Rewarded me much ill for good, And left me no refuge. For Braco Duff, in rage enough, He first laid hands on me; And if that death would not prevent, 55 Avenged would I be. As for my life, it is but short, When I shall be no more; To part with life I am content, As any heretofore. 60 Therefore, good people all, take heed, This warning take by me, According to the lives you lead, Rewarded you shall be. BOOK VIII. THE FLEMISH INSURRECTION. The Flemings, having abandoned their legitimate sovereign and attached themselves to Philip the Fair, found at last cause to repent. In 1301, two citizens of Bruges, Peter de Koning, a draper, and John Breydel, a butcher, stirred up their townsmen to revolt, and drove out the French garrison. The next year, the Count d'Artois, with a superb army, was defeated by the insurgents at the battle of Courtrai. This ballad is found in MS. Harl. No. 2253, "of the reign of Edw. II." and has been printed in Ritson's _Ancient Songs_ (i. 51), and in Wright's _Political Songs_, p. 187. We have adopted the text of the latter. Lustneth, lordinges, bothe yonge ant olde, Of the Freynsshe men that were so proude ant bolde, Hou the Flemmysshe men bohten hem ant solde, Upon a Wednesday. Betere hem were at home in huere londe, 5 Then for te seche Flemmysshe by the see stronde, Whare thourh moni Frenshe wyf wryngeth hire honde, Ant singeth weylaway.