Part 47 (1/2)

Now ys sorw with shame fled yn to Fraunce, As a felon that hath forsworne thys lond; Love hath put owte malicius governaunce, In every place both fee and bonde; In Yorke, in Somersett, as y undyrstonde, In Warwikke also ys love and charite, In Salisbury eke, and yn Northumberlond, That every man may reioyce the concord and unite.

Egremond,[257] and Clyfford,[258] and other forseyd, Ben sett yn the same opynyone; In every quartre love is thus leide, Grace and wisdome hath the dominacione; Awoke welth, and welk in thys regione, Rewnde abowte in towne and cite, And thonke them that brought it to thys conclusion; Reioyse Englond the concord and unite.

[Footnote 257: Thomas Percy, third son of Henry 3rd earl of Northumberland. He was created Baron of Egremont 20th December 1449, and died in 1460.]

[Footnote 258: Thomas Lord Clifford. He succeeded to his honours in 1422, and died in 1454.]

At Poules in London, with grete renowne, On oure Lady day the pes was wrought; The kyng, the quene, with lords many one, To worshyppe that virgine as they oght, Went a prosession, and sparyd right noght, In sight of alle the comonialte, In tokyn that love was in hert and thoght; Reioice Englond the concord and unite.

There was by twene them lovely countenaunce, Whyche was grete yoy to alle that there were, That long tyme hadd ben in variaunce, As frynds for ever they went yn fere, They went togedre, and made good chere; O Fraunce and Bretayne, repent shall ye, For the bergeyne shalle ye bye fulle dere; Reioice Englond the concord and unite.

Our sovereyn lord the kyng, G.o.d kepe alway, The quene and the bisshope of Canterbury,[259]

And other that have labored to thys love day, G.o.d preserve them we pray hertly; And Londone for they fulle diligently, Kept the pees in trobull and in adversite; To brynge yn rest they labored ful treuly; Reioice Englond the peas and unite.

[Footnote 259: Cardinal John Bourchier. He was translated from Ely to the Archiepiscopal see, on the 22nd April 1454, and died on the 30th March 1486.]

Off thre things, y preys thys worshypfull Citee: The ferst, of trewe feythe that they owe to the kyng; The secounde, of love of eache comonialte; The thyrde, of good rule evermore kepyng; The whyche G.o.d mayntene ever long durynge, And save the Maire and all the hole Citee, And that ys amys brynge to amendyng, That Englond may reioice the pees and unite.

IBID.

[_From the Cottonian MS._ Vespasia.n.u.s B. XVI.]

Whan Charite is chosen with states to stonde, Stedfas and stille without distaunce, Than wrathe may be exiled out of this londe, And G.o.d oure gide to have the governaunce.

Wisdom and wellthe with alle plesaunce, May rightful regne and prosperite, For love hath underlaide wrathful veniaunce; Reioise Anglond oure lordes acorded to be.

Reiose and thanke G.o.d, for evermore; For now shal encrese thi consolacion, Oure enemyes quaken and dreden fulsore, That peas is made ther was division,

Whiche to them is a gret confusion, And to us ioy and felicite; G.o.d hold them longe in every season: That Anglond may reioise concord and unite.

Now is sorowe with shame fled in to Fraunce, As a felon that hath forsworn this londe; Love hath put out malicious governaunce, In every place bothe fre and bonde;

In Yorke, in Somerset as I understonde, In Warrewik also is love and charite, In Sarisbury eke, and in Northumbrelande; That every man may reioise concord and unite.

Egremown, and Clifford, with other forsaide, Ben set in the same opynyon; In every quarter love is thus laide, Grace and wisdom hath thus the dominacion:

Awake Welthe, and walke in this region, Rounde aboute in toun and cite, And thanke them that brought hit to this concluson; Reioise Anglond to concorde and unite.

At Poules in Londone, with gret renoun, On oure Ladi day in Lente this peas was wrought; The kinge, the quene, with lordes many oone, To wors.h.i.+p that virgine as thei ought,

Wenten a procession, and spariden right nought, In sighte of alle the comynalte, In token that love was in herte and thought; Reiose Anglond in concorde and unite.

Ther was bytwyn them lovely contynaunce, Whiche was gret ioy to alle that ther were, That long tyme hadden be in variaunce; As frendes for ever that had be in fere,

Thei wenten togeder, and made goud chere; France and Britayn repente shul thei, For the bargayn shul thei abye ful dere; Reiose Anglond in concorde and unite.

Oure soveraigne lord kyng G.o.d kepe alwey, The quene, and the archbisshope of Canterbury, And the bisshop of Wynchestre chanceller of Anglond, And other that han labured to this love day.

G.o.d preserve them we pray hertly, And London for thei ful diligently, Kepten the peas in trowbel and adversite, To bryng in reste thei labured ful truly; Reioise Anglond in concorde and unite.