Þe swifte barge was Duk Henri, 65 Þat noble kniht and wel assayed, And in his leggaunce worþili He abod mony a bitter brayd. Ȝif þat his enemys ouȝt outrayed, To chastis hem wolde he not lete. 70 Nou is þat lord ful lowe ileyd: Þat selde is seȝe is sone forȝete. Þis gode Comunes, bi þe rode! I likne hem to the schipes mast, Þat with heore catel and heore goode 75 Mayntened þe werre boþ furst and last, Þe wynd þat bleuȝ þe schip wiþ blast Hit was gode preȝers, I sei hit atrete. Nou is deuoutnes out icast, And mony gode dedes ben clen forȝete. 80 Þus ben þis lordes ileid ful lowe: Þe stok is of þe same rote; An ympe biginnes for to growe And ȝit I hope schal ben vr bote, To holde his fomen vnder fote, 85 And as a lord be set in sete. Crist leue þat he so mote, Þat selden iseȝe be not forȝete! Weor þat impe fully growe, Þat he had sarri sap and piþ, 90 I hope he schulde be kud and knowe For conquerour of moni a kiþ. He is ful lyflich in lyme and liþ In armes to trauayle and to swete. Crist leeue we so fare him wiþ 95 Þat selden seȝe be neuer forȝete! And þerfore holliche I ou rede, Til þat þis ympe beo fully growe, Þat vch a mon vp wiþ þe hede And mayntene him, boþe heiȝe and lowe. 100 Þe Frensche men cunne boþe boste and blowe, And wiþ heore scornes vs toþrete, And we beoþ boþe vnkuynde and slowe, Þat selden seȝe is sone forȝete. And þerfore, gode sires, takeþ reward 105 Of ȝor douhti kyng þat dyȝede in age, And to his sone, Prince Edward, Þat welle was of alle corage. Suche two lordes of heiȝ parage I not in eorþe whon we schal gete; 110 And nou heore los biginneþ to swage, Þat selde iseȝe is sone forȝete. [Foot-note: 42 chilualrye _MS._] [Foot-note: 110 I] In _MS._] D. JOHN BALL'S LETTER TO THE PEASANTS OF ESSEX, 1381. St. Albans MS. British Museum Royal 13. E. ix (about 1400), f. 287 a. Iohon Schep, som tyme Seynte Marie prest of Ȝork, and now of Colchestre, greteth wel Iohan Nameles, and Iohan þe Mullere, and Iohon Cartere, and biddeþ hem þat þei bee war of gyle in borugh, and stondeth togidre in Godes name, and biddeþ Peres Plouȝman go to his werk, and chastise {5} wel Hobbe þe Robbere, and takeþ wiþ ȝow Iohan Trewman, and alle hiis felawes, and no mo, and loke schappe ȝou to on heued, and no mo.