[Footnote 4: rays.] [Footnote 5: hidden, secret.] [Footnote 6: broke, rent.] [Footnote 7: small pieces.] [Footnote 8: pulled, rent.] [Footnote 9: vapours, meteors.] [Footnote 10: emblaunched.] [Editor's note: _Title: See Introduction_ p. xli] [Footnote 11: Ridges, rising waves.] [Footnotes 12, 13: unknown tremour.] [Footnote 14: fastened, chained, congealed.] [Footnote 15: boundeth.] [Footnote 16: swelling.] [Footnote 17: armed.] [Footnote 18: companions.] [Footnote 19: livid.] [Footnote 20: a confused noise.] [Footnote 21: Anointed.] [Footnote 22: enlightened.] [Footnote 23: alloyed.] [Footnote 24: savage barbarity.] [Footnote 25: mystic.] [Footnote 26: polished.] [Footnote 27: a princely robe.] [Footnote 28: defeated.] [Footnote 29: warring.] [Footnote 30: Like.] [Footnote 31: sweet.] [Footnote 32: oft.] [Footnote 33: a tale.] [Footnote 34: assembled.] [Footnote 35: revenge.] [Footnote 36: heated, enraged.] [Footnote 37: Mighty.] [Footnote 38: apparel.] [Footnote 39: esteem, favour.] [Footnote 40: glittering.] [Footnote 41: settled.] [Footnote 42: help.] [Footnote 43: adventure.] [Footnote 44: Many.] [Footnote 45: guide.] [Footnote 46: tost.] [Footnote 47: astonish.] [Footnote 48: glassy, reflecting.] [Footnote 49: lessen, alloy.] [Footnote 50: hollow.] [Footnote 51: Bewildered, curious.] [Footnote 52: hid, covered.] [Footnote 53: huge, bulky.] [Footnote 54: dispatched.] [Footnote 55: red lightning.] [Footnote 56: cruel.] [Footnote 57: flames, rays.] AN EXCELENTE BALADE OF CHARITIE: As wroten bie the gode Prieste THOMAS ROWLEY[1], 1464. In Virgyne the sweltrie sun gan sheene, And hotte upon the mees[2] did caste his raie; The apple rodded[3] from its palie greene, And the mole[4] peare did bende the leafy spraie; The peede chelandri[5] sunge the livelong daie; 5 'Twas nowe the pride, the manhode of the yeare, And eke the grounde was dighte[6] in its mose defte[7] aumere[8]. The sun was glemeing in the midde of daie, Deadde still the aire, and eke the welken[9] blue, When from the sea arist[10] in drear arraie 10 A hepe of cloudes of sable sullen hue, The which full fast unto the woodlande drewe, Hiltring[11] attenes[12] the sunnis fetive[13] face, And the blacke tempeste swolne and gatherd up apace. Beneathe an holme, faste by a pathwaie side, 15 Which dide unto Seyncte Godwine's covent[14] lede, A hapless pilgrim moneynge did abide, Pore in his viewe, ungentle[15] in his weede, Longe bretful[16] of the miseries of neede, Where from the hail-stone coulde the almer[17] flie? 20 He had no housen theere, ne anie covent nie.