[Footnote 37: a small round hat, not unlike the shapournette in heraldry, formerly worn by Ecclesiastics and Lawyers.] [Footnote 38: painted.] [Footnote 39: He told his beads backwards; a figurative expression to signify cursing.] [Footnote 40: poor, needy.] [Footnote 41: a cloke.] [Footnote 42: a loose white robe, worn by Priests.] [Footnote 43: A lord.] [Footnote 44: I believe this trade is still in being, though but seldom employed.] [Footnote 45: a beggar, or vagabond.] [Footnote 46: A short surplice, worn by Friars of an inferior class, and secular priests.] [Footnote 47: joy.] [Footnote 48: ease.] [Footnote 49: nought.] [Footnote 50: unhappy.] [Footnote 51: a short under-cloke.] [Footnote 52: Glory.] [Footnote 53: mighty, rich.] BATTLE OF HASTINGS. [No 1.] O Chryste, it is a grief for me to telle, How manie a nobil erle and valrous knyghte In fyghtynge for Kynge Harrold noblie fell, Al sleyne in Hastyngs feeld in bloudie fyghte. O sea-oerteeming Dovor! han thy floude, 5 Han anie fructuous entendement, Thou wouldst have rose and sank wyth tydes of bloude. Before Duke Wyllyam's knyghts han hither went; Whose cowart arrows manie erles sleyne, And brued the feeld wyth bloude as season rayne. 10 And of his knyghtes did eke full manie die, All passyng hie, of mickle myghte echone, Whose poygnant arrowes, typp'd with destynie, Caus'd manie wydowes to make myckle mone. Lordynges, avaunt, that chycken-harted are, 15 From out of hearynge quicklie now departe; Full well I wote, to synge of bloudie warre Will greeve your tenderlie and mayden harte. Go, do the weaklie womman inn mann's geare, And scond your mansion if grymm war come there. 20 Soone as the erlie maten belle was tolde, And sonne was come to byd us all good daie, Bothe armies on the feeld, both brave and bolde, Prepar'd for fyghte in champyon arraie. As when two bulles, destynde for Hocktide fyghte, 25 Are yoked bie the necke within a sparre, Theie rend the erthe, and travellyrs affryghte, Lackynge to gage the sportive bloudie warre; Soe lacked Harroldes menne to come to blowes, The Normans lacked for to wielde their bowes. 30 Kynge Harrolde turnynge to hys leegemen spake; My merrie men, be not caste downe in mynde; Your onlie lode for aye to mar or make, Before yon sunne has donde his welke, you'll fynde. Your lovyng wife, who erst dyd rid the londe 35 Of Lurdanes, and the treasure that you han, Wyll falle into the Normanne robber's honde, Unlesse with honde and harte you plaie the manne. Cheer up youre hartes, chase sorrowe farre awaie, Godde and Seyncte Cuthbert be the worde to daie. 40